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UNlVERS:iV  CF 
\  AMHERST,  SaSS. 


V  .  i.  o 


A 


•Journal: 

•  DELVoT 

To  •Be: ^ 

•andHoNEV- 
7\RD  HOME. 
•iMTE.PlEST4> 


I-KooT- 

rAEDINAOmO 


Vol.  XX. 


JANUARY  1,  1892. 


No.  1. 


Stray  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 

Thk.  hkst  MOTii-Kxci.rDEK.  the  Bee-keepers' 
Mdiltizine  says,  is  the  bee.     Right. 

Most  hkksw.w.  R.  F.  Holteniiann  thini<s.  is 
iiijurt'ii  by  too  much  iicatiiig  in  rendering. 

N.M'THAi.iXK.  the  I'.  B.  J.  suggests,  when 
used  in  a  liive.  may  injure  the  flavor  of  the 
lioney. 

Thk  Bee-keepers'  MtKjdz'ine  is  the  latest  name 
of  the  monthly  started  in  Minnesota  that  was 
flrst  Tlie  Bee  journal  and  then  Northwestern 
Bee  Journiil. 

EiiiHT  YKA!!s  the  Bee-keepers'  Union  has  ex- 
isted, and  the  same  otticers  have  been  elected 
each  yeai'.  Tlu'  manager  urges  the  election  of 
new  men.     He"s  light. 

Axu  xow  ifs  out  what  ails  Hasty.  He's  a 
posy-loverl  Areifl  you  ashamed.  Hasty?  But 
if  tiiH  bees  like  flowers  so  well,  what  else  can  be 
expected  of  their  owners'? 

Thk  C.  B.  J.  proposes  to  open  a  free  intelli- 
gence ollice  for  those  who  want  to  .serve  an 
apprenticespip  at  bee-keeping,  and  for  those 
who  want  such  apprentices. 

I  WONDER  the  senior  editor  didn't  start  a 
carp-pond  with  the  waste  from  that  artesian 
well  in  Dakota  I  suppose  he'll  erect  an  arte- 
sian well  in  Medina  when  he  gets  home. 

Sthay  Straws  in  last  number  of  Gleanings 
says  each  .State  at  the  World's  Fair  would  have 
ten  sciuare  feet  U)Y  a  bee-show.  The  tyijcs  or  I 
made  a  mistake.     It  should  be  ten  feet  square. 

••  Dangkrous  advice  "  is  what  the  C.  B.  J. 
terms  the  advice  of  the  B.  B.  J.  to  disinfect  the 
combs  of  foul-broody  stocks  with  the  fumes  of 
burning  sulphur,  said  combs  to  be  then  used  as 
safe. 

A  MAM.MOTH  CONVENTION  of  bee-keepei'S  at 
the  Woi'ld"s  Fair,  lasting  one  or  two  weeks, 
with  all  the  great  bee-lights  of  Europe  and 
America  present,  is  proposed  by  D.  A.  Jones. 
Why  not? 

In  France  they  are  cultivating  a  plant  par- 
asite that  is  death  to  the  white  grub,  the  larva 
of  the  May  beetle.  What  a  blessing  if  we  could 
have  some  parasite  for  wax-moths  and  foul- 
brood  germs  1 

The  a.  B.  J.  has  no  less  distinguished  a  cor- 
respondent than  Thos.  Wm.  Cowan,  of  the  B. 
B.  T.  The  occasion  was  an  article  in  favor  of 
Funics,  and  Mr.  Cowan  rather  more  than  hints 
that  there  are  no  such  bees. 

So.  Mr8.  Harrison,  bees  "  have  a  picker  but 
uo  biter."  Well,  well:  Root,  Cheshire,  and  all 
the  authorities  will  have  to  correct  their  books. 
Say.  do  bees  use  their  ''pickers'"  down  your 
way  to  climb  out  of  feeders? 


AiJ>.\UGirs  NKW  METHOD  of  handling  bees 
comes  in  for  a  good  deal  of  discussion  in  C.  B.J,, 
and  great  things  ai-i' claimed  for  it:  but  so  far 
it  is  a  profound  secret,  and  Mr.  Aipaugh  him- 
self is  expressively  silent  about  it. 

The  Bee-keepers'  Union  is  on  the  up  grade. 
Fifty  per  cent  increase  of  members  in  one  yearl 
It's  doing  good  work,  and  the  membership  ought 
to  more  than  double  for  the  coming  year.  Send 
*1  to  T.  (J.  Newman,  and  become  a  member.  It 
may  save  you  S^IOO. 

Scientists  must  be  suppressed  along  with 
anarchists  and  all  other  ists.  Here  they've 
gone  and  invented  microbes,  bacteria,  and 
things  of  that  sort,  to  give  us  grip,  foul  brood, 
and  every  thing  else.  Fifty  years  ago  the  air 
wasn't  full  of  such  things,  and  people  got  along 
better  without  them. 

Secretary  Hutchinson,  speaking  of  the 
action  of  the  Chicago  convention  relative  to 
grading  comb  honey,  says,  in  his  report,  "The 
adoption  of  these  rules  was  really  the  most  im- 
portant work  done  by  the  convention,  and  per- 
haps the  most  important  that  will  be  done  by 
any  convention  this  year." 

Vaseline,  the  C.  B.  J.  thinks,  might  be  a 
good  thing  to  paint  lightly  over  a  queen  to  be 
introduced,  with  the  supposition  that,  as  it 
drives  robbers  away,  it  would  drive  away  from 
the  queen  any  bees  that  might  try  to  sting  her. 
I'd  rather  tiy  it  on  a  cheap  queen  first.  It 
might  have  just  the  opposite  effect. 

A  correspondent  says  he  has  been  watch- 
ing Gleanings  in  vain  to  see  what  was  my  crop 
of  honey  the  past  year.  From  'iSii  colonies  I  got 
about  8<)00  lbs.  of  comb  honey,  or  3()'.,  lbs.  per 
colony.  Although  living  not  L'O  miles  away,  he 
took  only  150  lbs.  from  80  colonies,  or  about  2 
lbs.  per  colony.  But  he  sometimes  gets  honey, 
I  think,  when  I  fail. 

After  zero  weather  it  is  again  milder,  and 
Dec.  20  bees  could  fly  outdoors,  the  first  time 
since  the  last  week  in  October.  So  you  see 
there  was  nothing  gained  by  leaving  them  out 
after  the  last  of  October,  unless  they  were  left 
out  till  Dec.  20,  and  I'm  afraid  the  flight  on 
that  day  would  not  counterbalance  the  harm 
done  by  the  previous  zero  weather. 

What  makes  people  paint  the  inside  wood- 
work of  their  houses,  when  pine  or  any  other 
wood  is  so  much  handsomer,  and  costs  no  more 
finished  off  in  its  nattn-al  color?  I'd  rather 
have  it  finished  with  nothing  but  linseed  oil 
rubbed  on  with  a  rag  than  to  have  the  finest 
job  of  painting.  But  I'd  like  still  more  to  have 
something  itetter  than  the  oil  and  rag. 

Grading  honey  is  one  of  the  things  that  I 
suspect  will  not  be  .settled  in  a  day,  and  it  may 
be  well  to  thoroughly  discuss  the  matter  in 
print.  I'm  anxiously  "waiting  to  see  what  was 
done  about  it  at  Albany,  but  I  suspect  it  will 
still  be  open  for  discussion.     Unless  thev  modi- 


10 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  1. 


ii  good  tiling,  and  will  prove  a  boon  to  bee- 
l«H-pf'i's.  It  is  likely  that  further  improvements 
will  be  made  in  the  near  future:  and  if  he  will 
adopt  such  suggestions  as  are  valuable,  much 
will  be  gained.^  In  these  days  of  study  and  in- 
vention, one  man  can  hardly  hope  to  know  it 
all:  in  fact,  most  of  the  implements  used  in 
bee-keeping  are  the  joint  invention  of  many. 

There  is  one  thing  more  that  I  wish  to  men- 
tion in  connection  with  the  hiver:  and  that  is. 
that  we  often  have  hives  containing  comb  and 
honey  that  we  wisli  to  put  our  lirst  swarms  into. 
Now."  it  will  not  do  to  place  such  hives  to  re- 
ceive the  swarms,  on  account  of  moths  and  rob- 
bers. In  such  cases  I  use  an  emptv  super  on 
top  (how  would  it  look  if  placed  on  the  side?). 
Now.  when  the  swarm  is  in  the  air.  and  the 
queen  in  the  upper  part  of  the  swarmer.  I  un- 
hook it  from  the  super  and  slip  a  piece  of  tin 
behind  it.  so  the  queen  can  not  escape.  Remove 
the  old  hive,  and  place  the  one  with  combs  in 
on  the  old  stand,  and  the  part  of  the  swarmer 
with  queen  in.  in  front  of  the  entrance,  remov- 
ing the  tin.  It  is  not  best  to  remove  the  swarm- 
er for  several  davs.  as  the  bees  may  take  a 
notion  to  abscond.'  I  have  several  times  liber- 
ated the  queen  an  hour  or  two  after  the  swarm 
was  hived  in  this  way.  but  soon  found  them  all 
in  the  air  again,  and  had  my  work  to  do  over. 

I  can  fully  agree  with  Mr.  Alley,  that  the 
swarmer  greatly  lessens  and  retards  swarming. 
On  this  account,  as  well  as  not  tolerating  a 
horde  of  drones  in  every  hive,  bees  will  gather 
more  honey  per  colony  uith  the  swarmers  than 
without  them.  Mr.  A.  is  certainly. mistaken  in 
his  statement,  made  some  time  ago.  that  two  or 
more  swarms  issuing  at  the  same  time  through 
the  swarmers  would  each  return  to  its  own 
hive.  They  won't  do  that  in  Illinois.  I  have 
used  swarm -catchers  for  more  than  fifteen 
years,  and  in  such  cases  I  still  use  them,  and 
they  are  just  as  good  with  the  hivers  to  prevent 
doubling  up  as  ever.  C.  H.  Dihbekn. 

M-ilan.  111. 


GIVING  A  LAYING  QUEEN  TO  A  PARENT 
COLONY. 

1A)CATI()N.  AN1>  ITS  HE.\KlNf^   ON   THK  (QUESTION. 

(Question  197,  found  on  page  '.>28,  December  1. 
regarding  the  giviiig  of  a  laying  queen  to  a 
colony  having  just  cast  a  swarm,  is  a  very  in- 
teresting one,  and  one  that  has  much  to  do  with 
our  honey  crop  if  we  are  situated  in  certain 
localities."  This  whole  matter  of  i)rotit.  resting 
on  whether  we  should  give  such  a  (lueen  or  not. 
must  be  decided  by  our  location.  If  the  loca- 
tion gives  a  continuous  yield  of  honey,  then  the 
giving  of  a  laying  queen  iiinnediately  after 
swarming  will  prove  a  prodtable  investment; 
but  if  the  location  is  one  lik((  the  average  loca- 
tion, which  gives  a  good  yield  of  honey  at  one 
or  two  stated  periods  during  the  season,  then 
the  giving  of  a  laying  queen  at  the  time  of 
swarming  will  generally  prove  decidedly  un- 
prolitable.  We  have  been  told  for  years  that 
the  bee-keeper  who  wished  to  secure  the  best 
results  from  his  bees  should  have  on  hand,  and 
give  to  swarming'  colonies,  queens  as  above: 
and  the  reason  advanced  for  so  doing  has  al- 
ways been,  that  the  time  lost  by  th(!  ])arent  col- 
ony in  rearing  a  (jueen  was  equivalent  to  a 
swarm.  I  have  experimented  largely  on  this 
line:  and  tlie  truth  of  the  statement,  that  the 
time  lost  by  the  bees  in  rearing  a  queen  in  nat- 
ural swarming  is  equivalent  to  a  swarm  of  bees, 
is  tlu'  first  reason  that  it  will  not  prove  a  suc- 
cess in  locations  similar  to  my  own.  which 
gives,  at  most,  only  two  honey-yields  each  year. 


If  it  were  bees  I  were  after,  the  case  would  be 
different.  With  me  white  clover  yields  only 
enough  honey  to  keep  the  bees  breeding  nicely, 
and  prepares"  them  so  that  they  swarm  mainly 
from  June  '.'O  to  July  1.  Our  honey-harvest  is 
from  basswood.  which  blooms  from  July  in  to  Hi. 
Now.  all  who  are  familiar  with  natural  swarm- 
ing know  that  the  bees  are  comparatively  few 
in  numbers  in  spring,  and  increase  by  the  rap- 
idly increasing  brood  produced  by  the  queen, 
which,  in  due  time,  hatch  into  bees  until  a 
swarm  is  the  result.  Hy  giving  a  laying  queen 
to  a  colony  immediately  after  it  has  cast  a 
swarm,  we  bring  about  the  same  result  (swarm- 
ing) as  before,  for  we  place  the  bees  in  the  same 
condition.  The  only  dilTerence  is,  that,  having 
plenty  of  brood,  they  build  up  quicker,  and  are 
prepared  to  swarm  in  a  shorter  time.  As  this 
second  prime  swarming,  brought  about  by  giv- 
ing the  laying  queen,  comes  right  in  our  bass- 
wood-honey  harvest,  it  cuts  off  the  surplus 
honey;  for  it  is  well  known  that  bees,  having 
the  swarming  fever,  do  little  or  no  work  in  the 
sections;  and  if  allowed  to  swarm,  the  object 
we  have  sought  after  (section  honey)  is  beyond 
our  reach.  If  this  laying  queen  had  not  been 
given,  and  we  had  worked  so  that  no  after- 
swarms  had  issued,  we  should  have  found  that 
the  young  queen,  which  was  to  become  the 
mother  of  the  colony,  would  have  hatched,  as 
a  rule,  in  eight  days  after  the  swarm  issued, 
and  in  ten  days  more  she  would  be  ready  to  lay. 
which  would  bring  the  time  of  her  laying  at 
about  the  time  basswood  would  be  yielding 
honey  nicely.  During  this  period,  between  the 
time  when  the  swarm  issued  and  the  young 
queen  commences  to  lay.  the  bees,  not  having 
any  brood  to  nurse  for  the  last  half  of  the  time, 
consume  but  little  honey:  hence,  as  fast  as  the 
young  bees  emerge  from  the  cells,  they  are  lilled 
with  honey:  for  bees  not  having  a  laying  queen 
seldom  build  comb  in  the  sections.  Thus,  when 
the  young  queen  is  ready  to  lay  she  finds  every 
available  cell  stored  with  well-ripened  honey. 
At  this  point  the  instinct  of  the  bees  teaches 
them  that  they  must  have  brood  or  they  will 
soon  cease  to  e.xist  as  a  colony.  A  general  rush 
is  made  for  the  sections;  the  honey  from  below 
is  carried  above,  so  as  to  give  the  queen  room, 
and  in  a  week  we  have,  as  a  result,  the  sections 
nearly  tilled  with  honey,  and  later  completed, 
if  the  season  is  not  unusually  unfavorable.  In 
this  way  good  ivsults  aie  obtained  in  such  a 
location  as  this,  while,  if  a  laying  queen  is  giv- 
en, the  basswood-honey  season  is  nearly  or 
quite  used  up  by  the  colony  becoming  "sulky"" 
with  the  swarming  fever,  if  they  can  not  have 
their  own  way. 

After  basswood  we  have  a  honey-dearth, 
hence  the  b(»es  from  the  introduced  queen  are 
of  no  value,  but.  on  the  contrary- bt'come  use- 
less consunu'rs.  On  an  average,  it  takes  :ll 
days,  from  the  time  the  egg  is  laid,  to  the  per- 
fect bee  ready  to  emerge  from  the  cell.  Then. 
if  the  colony  is  in  a  normal  condition,  this  bee 
does  not  commence  labor  in  the  Held  till  Ki  days 
old;  hence  the  egg  for  the  honey-gathei'ing  bee 
must  be  deposited  in  the  cell  37  days  before  the 
honey-harvest  ends,  or  else  they  are  of  no  value 
as  honey-producers.  As  the  basswood  is  all 
gone  before  the  eggs  of  the  introduced  queen 
i^ecome  honey-producing  bees,  and  as  the  larger 
part  of  them  die  of  old  age  before  buckwheat  or 
fall  flowers  yield  honey,  a  great  gain  is  made 
by  letting  each  old  colony,  having  cast  a  swarm, 
rear  their  own  queens,  for  thereby  we  save  the 
expensive  feeding  of  the  larva?,  which  are  in 
turn  to  become  expensive  consumei'sof  the  hon- 
ey of  the  hive. 

These  things  are  well  worth  looking  into  by 
every  bee-keeper;  and  if  brood-rearing  is  used 
advisedly,  with  an  eye  on  our  location,  we  shall 


1S<I-.' 


(;ij:.\nix(!s  in  i{ki<:  cTii/ruifK. 


u 


tiiul    iliiii    ;.Mc;il    id-olii    will    result     tlicn't'ioni.  insi  (■(luiitry.  iirid    then'   arc  biil   IVw  clcvatioiis 

'Pill'   llainlilfr  hits  very  close  at   (his   matter  in  that  rise  to  the  dij^'iiitvdf  hills,  ami  an   Kast.ei'ii 

his  answer  to  iim'iy  I'.iT.  where  he  says.  "  1  want  travelei-   limls  a  Join  iiey  monotonous:   and   our 

eirK-liiyliifi   lo  iio  o\\    hrisUly   when    there   is  u  friemJ.  w  ho  had  heeti  hei-((  for  several    moiilhs. 

prospei't  of  t hose  ejoriis  hali-liins   hees  that  will  missed  his  native  hills.    In  the  evening  we  i>aid 

srather   honey."     In  other  words,  if   these  e}X}is  our  respects  to  I'rof.  C'ooU,  wiio.  after  t  he  ardii- 

won't  haleli  iiees  that  will  y:alher   honey,  don't  ous  hihoi's  of  the  day.  was  resting  in  I  lie  coolin^r 

allow  tin'  e^irs  to  he  deiiosited.     Mr.  France  also  shades  of  llie  veranda, 
comes  ri;:ht.  to  th(>  |ioiiit  where  lie  says.  "  If  we 


should  introdnce  a  laying  ip"'''"  nfter  tiie  s(^a- 
son  was  so  far  advancd,  bees  hatched  from  her 
esu"^  woidd  never  fiat  her  any  surplus  honey  for 
US.  as  the  season  wdnld  he  over  before  tliey 
would  hatch  out.  I  would  much  rather  not 
feed  hrood  at  that  time." 

Reader,  here  is  somethin.tr  worth  carefully 
thiiiKiiiir  over,  for  by  such  thinking  along  these 
lines  inticii  prolit  may  come  to  you. 

Horodino.  X.  V..  Dec.  17.    C.  Nl.  Dooi.trTT.F. 

[Your  points,  as  usual,  are  well  taken.  Lo- 
cation, no  doubt,  does  iiavi'  a  strong  bearing 
ui)on  the  question.  Right  liere  may  we  sug- 
gest tliat  this  is  one  of  tlie  reasons  why  some 
of  the  large  honi'y  -  producers  remove  their 
(pteens  during  the  honey  season?-  priiriarily,  of 
course,  to  sto^j  swarming  for  the  time  being, 
and.  secondarily,  reduce  the  working  force  of 
bees  at  a  time  of  year  when  th(M'e  is  no  honey  to 
be  liad.  Hee-keepers  should  study  well  their 
locality.  They  should  manage  somehow  to 
have  a  strong  working  force  of  the  right  age 
when  they  do  havi-  a  honey-flow,  and  as  light  a 
force  as  possible  when  tliere  is  no  honey  to  be 
had.  and  when  tlie  bees  tliat  remain  ari'  simply 
consumers.! 


RAMBLE  NO.  50. 

MKHKiAX    AGKICTLTIKAI-   C()I,I,K(;E. 


""ITS— I     ,^ 


■y>.. 


Lansing,  the  capital  of  Michigan,  is  another 
name  made  familiar  to  a  considerable  class  of 
people  through  the  name  of  one  man.  and  that 
is  A.  J.  Cook.  Professor  of  F^ntomology  in  the 
Agricultural  College.  His  wide  range  of  writ- 
ings, and  his  valuable  hook  on  bee  culture,  have 
made  his  name  familiar  to  all  progressive  bee- 
keepers. Recently  calling  to  his  aid  my  old- 
time  friend  J.  H.  Larrabee.  of  Vermont,  the  col- 
lege had  a  sort  of  magnetic  influence  over  the 
Rambler.  We  had  together  tramped  the  hills 
of  Vermont  and  New  York:  rowed  and  fished 
for  i)ickerel  on  their  lakes,  and  can  you  wonder 
tliat.  late  one  afternoon.  I  was  in  Lansing, 
hunting  for  the  stage  that  would  take  me  out 
to  the  College,  three  miles  distant  ?  At  4  o'clock 
the  stag<»  started  from  the  postoftice.  and.  with 
a  load  of  students,  a  keg  of  |)ickles,  and  some 
other  groci'fies.  we  started.  The  road  was  ex- 
cell(>nt.  but  somehow  the  horses  had  a  discour- 
aged gait,  and  it  was  a  relief  to  arrive  upon 
th'^  college  grounds  and  have  sometliing  else  to 
look  at.  I  soon  found  the  apiary,  and.  antici- 
pating that  I  would  immediately  see  my  friend 
fjarrabee.  I  was  astonished  when  a  young  uuiii 
came  to  the  door,  his  face  lathered  for  a  shave, 
and.  speaking  Frenchly.  he  was  -sdus  xkjurtit: 
but  he  evidently  didn't  "care  a  darn."  and  told 
me  to  sit  down.  ^Vhen  he  linished  his  toilet  hi' 
blossomed  out  into  a  g(jod-looking  young  man. 
and  I  will  intiodiiceyou  to  Fred,  Hro.  Larrabee's 
chum,  studying  engineering.  If  I  remember 
right,  he  informed  me  that  Mr.  Larrabee  was 
in  the  college  kitchen  experimenting  in  gas- 
tronomy. Our  friend  soon  came  in:  and  from 
his  flushed  ajjpearance,  his  labors  must  have 
been  arduous.  We  placed  ourselves  in  a  vis-a- 
vis position,  and  conv(>rsed  on  eastern  themes, 
and  particularly  of  the  lakes  and  grand  hills  of 
Vermont.    This   portion  of  Michigan  is  a  roll- 


PHOF.   COOK    AND    HIS    f'L.iVSS   IX   AI'IC'UI.TURE. 

Th(>  Michigan  Agricultural  College  was  es- 
tablished in  1857,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the 
country.  It  has  a  farm  of  (100  acres,  all  under 
culture,  and  nicely  located  on  a  good  stream  of 
water.  The  many  buildings  scattered  here  and 
there  among  the  trees  remind  one  of  those 
pretty  summer-resort  villages  in  Northern  New 
York,  Near  the  center  is  a  campus,  or  play- 
ground, of  several  acres,  where  the  students  are 
put  through  military  drill,  and  are  taught  to 
handle  not  only  the  musket  but  the  big  guns  on 
the  far  side  of  the  campus.  Base  ball  and  other 
athletic  games  are  indulged  in.  It  is  an  inter- 
esting and  long  journey  to  go  through  all  of  the 
departments  and  over  the  farm.  I  sptjnt  several 
days  at  the  college,  and  found  something  new 
to  study  every  day.  A  portion  of  the  farm  is 
devoted  to  experimental  crops.    In  one  section 


.MK  HIGA.N    AUKICLI/rURAL    C'OLLECtK   AIMARV. 

were  a  large  number  of  varieties  of  wheat:  in 
another,  oats,  and  so  with  all  seeds  that  will 
grow  in  this  climate,  all  tested  as  to  yield,  arid 
effect  of  ditlerent  fertilizers,  etc.  Three  hun- 
dred young  men  are  hei'i'  i)reparing  themselves 
for  future  usefulness.  The  plan  piu'sued  is  to 
give  the  theoretical  or  scientific  education,  and 
then  put  in   the  practical — study  in  th(!  class- 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  1. 


room,  and  practice  in  tlie  field.  In  the  study  of 
entomology,  for  instance,  when  the  insect  AiJis 
melUnca  is  studied  in  the  class,  a  section  of  the 
class,"  headed  by  Prof.  Cook,  go  out  into  the 
apiary,  and  the  students  manipulate  the  hive 
while"  Prof.  Cook  explains  and  directs.  Our 
camera  caught  a  very  good  view  of  the  class 


this  endless  menagerie  and  call  tliem  all  pet 
names! 

After  an  arduous  day  we  sought  rest  with  our 
friend  in  his  boudoir;  but  that  museum  was 
too  much  for  me.  and  I  shall  let  the  artist  tell 
the  nature  of  my  di'eams. 

The  present  president  of  the  college  is  Mr.  O. 


and  kept  as  beautiful  as  a  lawn.  The  hives 
used  are  one-third  Gullup,  which  I  believe  is 
the  professor's  hobby;  one-third  L.,  and  one- 
third  Heddon. 

I  A  commodious  honey-house  is  located  atone 
side;  two  rooms  are. devoted  to  the  apiary. 
Another  is  Mr.  Larrabee's  reception-room,  and 
in   the  rear  is   his  boudoir,  with  a  bed   and  a    1 


thus  occupied.  Nearly  all  protect  themselves  Clute,  who,  a  great  many  may  be  pleased  to 
with  veils:  but  Prof.  C.  will  be  seen  at  the  left  know,  is  the  John  Allen  who  wrote  "Blessed 
in  the  center  of  the  group,  without  a  veil.    Bro.    Bees." 

Larrabee  is  approaching  with  a  bold  shirt-front.  The  glorious  Fourth  of  July  was  ushered  in 
Many  graduates  of  the  college  have  taken  up  with  the  distant  boom  of  cannon.  The  college 
bee-keeping  as  a  business;  and  among  those  boys  had  made  preparations  to  boom  the  big 
who  have  made  a  stir  in  apicultural  'ranks  is  guns  on  the  campus;  but  a  lady  in  one  of  the 
Frank  Benton.  cottages  near  was  critically  ill,  and  a  request 

The  college  apiary  contains  about  80  colonies,  for  quiet  stilled  all  noisy  demonstrations,  show- 
nicely  arranged  on  sloping  ground,  and  shaded  ine  that  the  young  men  were  truly  gentlemen 
with  grapevines.    The    grotinds  are_in  grass,    in   their  deference  to  the  suftei-ings  of  othei-s. 

As  there  were  celebrations  in  many  towns  a 
few  miles  out.  the  college  was  nearly  deserted 
at  an  early  hour.    John  H.  L.  said  we  would  go 
to  Grand    Ledge,   about  13  miles    out,   where 
there  was  to  be  a  great  celebration.    On  the 
way  we  would   hunt  up  Mr.  Jacob  T.  Timpe, 
the  bee-man.     We  walked  to  town,  secured  a 
ivery  rig.  and  journeyed  out  through  a  monot- 
onous country.    We  commented  on 
i  .,         the  various    phases  of   farm    life, 

large  farms,  small  houses,  and  no 
barns:  we  saw  but  few  places  that 
came  up  to  our  eastern  ideas  of 
such  things.  The  monotony  of  our 
journey  was  at  length  I'elieved  by 
coming  to  a  considerable  hill.  Bro. 
L.'s  love  of  home  and  his  hills,  and 
his  glowing  patriotism,  got  the 
best  of  him.  and  he  was  going  to 
enjoy  that  hill,  even  if  it  took  all 
day.  Hurrah  for  the  hill!  The 
Rambler  shared  somewhat  his  en- 
thusiasm, and,  after  an  exhaust- 
ive time,  swinging  our  bandanas 
and  hats,  we  proceeded  to  Mr. 
Timpe's.  We  found  him  hard  at 
work  in  his  apiary,  close  beside 
the  road.  Said  he  to  Bro.  L.. 
whom  he  had  previously  met.  "Is 
that  the  Rambler  feller  you  have 
with  you?" 

Mr.  T.  had  his  yard  full  of  hives 
and  nuclei,  and  was  raising  (lueens 
at  a  high-pressure  rate.    We   first 
had  the  impression  that  the  hives 
were    arranged   by  driving  a  load 
into    the    yard  and    letting  them 
drop  out  at  the  rear,  as  we  once 
read  in   Gleanings;    but  Mr.  T. 
didn't   do    that    way.    A    cyclone 
must  have  picked  up  a  hive  here 
and   thei'e  in  various  States,  with 
a  few  board   fences  and   chicken- 
coops,  and   landed  them  all  in   Mr.   T.'s  yard. 
But  Mr.  T.  had  a  new  yard   in   mind,  and  no 
doubt    he    now   has    one  equal   to  the  college 
apiary.     He  handled  his  bees  without  smoKe  or 
veil,  and  seemed  to   be    proof    against   stings. 
Mr.  T.'s  were  of  the  tive-banded  order,  and  his 
method  of  rearing  a  combination  affair.     Strips 
of    drone  comb  were  cut  ((  /*(  .'\lley.  laivie  in- 
serted (I  lit  Doolittle.  and  the   stiip   pinned   on 
the  side  of  a  comb  a  la  Timpe.    We  were  shown 
several  very   Hue  queens.     Mr.  T.   is  a  young 
man,  and  evidently   cut  out  for  a   progressive 
bee-keeper. 

We  went  to  Grand  Ledge  to  celebrate;  found 
the  little  town  full  of  people  celebrating  on  a 
roller  toboggan  slide,  and  rowing  around  in  a 
sort  of  duck-pond.  The  Grand  Ledge  from 
which  the  town  received  its  name  was  about  50 
feet  liigh.  We  soon  tired  of  this  tame  celebra- 
tion, and  returned  to  Lansing  via  another  route. 
I  dare  not  trust  my  friend  near  that  hill  again. 


UAMBI-ER  AT  THE   AGBICUI.TUKAL  COLLEGE   MUSEUM 


cot.  Every  thing  in  the  house  and  apiary  is 
kept  in  excellent  order,  and  the  Rambler  really 
enjoyed  the  few  days'  sojourn.  It  was  ('(lual  to 
camping  on  Lake  George.  Several  experiments 
of  a  minor  nature  were  in  progress,  and  others 
will  be  followed  up.  Our  friend  Larrabee  was 
just  getting  used  to  his  new  duties,  and  the 
fraternity  should  not  expect  too  much  from  the 
first  yeai's  etforts.  If  bee-keepers  have  great 
problems  they  can  not  solve,  send  them  to  Bro. 
Larrabee,  and  he  will  give  them  due  considera- 
tion. This  place,  if  any  in  the  world,  can  con- 
duct careful  experiments,  for  tht^y  have  all  fa- 
cilities for  practicing  them. 

Connected  with  the  college  is  a  large  and 
growing  museum.  In  it  are  specimens  of  beasts 
of  the  field,  historic  and  pre-hisioric;  l)irds  of 
the  air;  fishes,  great  and  small:  insects  of  all 
imaginable  sizes,  shapes,  and  colors;  horned 
toads-  lizards,  centipedes,  repulsive  spiders, 
and.  just  to  think  of  it!  Prof.  Cook  can  go  into 


IS'.II? 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


13 


Th«'  fiDSsip  iifomid  tlw  I'limpiis  the  ncM  iliiy 
was  iihont  the  cpisdilcs  of  ilic  Kourlli.  I'vrtl 
liiid  won  a  pri/.f  in  a  foot-nu-c:  another  stiulcnl. 
was  in  a  tijilit:  aiiotluT  oainc  back  tiit>  worse 
from  beer.  So  thi'  I'oiirth  passed  into  liistoiy. 
and  on  bis  journey  ii;,Min  passos  tlie 

Rambi.kk. 

[The  Micbijian  Asricuitnral  College  is  a 
jirand  place  to  visit.  It  is  an  institution  that 
tlie  State  of  Micbisian  may  well  be  proud  of. 
Hy  no  means  tbe  least  important  jx-i'sonage 
of  the  i^olieixe  is  I'rof.  ("ook.  In  faet.  he  is  more 
widely  known  for  his  researches  and  writings 
than  anv  other  instructor  or  professoi- in  the 
collesie.] 


BOUNTY  ON  HONEY. 


A    <.OVI-:iiNMKN  1      STAMf    O.N    IIO.NKV.    A.Nl)    WIIV. 


The  meeting  of  the  Illinois  State  Bee-keepers" 
Society  at  Springlield,  on  the  16th  and  17th. 
was  pretty  well  attended.  es])ecially  by  bee- 
kt'epers  near  Spiinglield.  1  was  quite  soii-y  not 
to  see  Messrs.  Miller.  Dadaiit.  and  Newman 
present.  Still.  I  l)elieve  tiuitn'onsiderable  good 
has  been  accomplished.  Tlie  proposition  of  the 
Northwestern  was  gladly  received,  and  the  re- 
quest to  meet  in  Chicago  once  each  year  was 
unanimously  accedeil  to.  There,  now.  brother 
bee-keepers,  not  only  of  th(>  nortliern  part  of 
the  State  of  Illinois,  but  all  of  you  in  r.-ach  of 
Chicago,  come  and  help  us  make  the  Illinois 
State  Bee-keepers'  Association  what  it  ought 
to  be.  Our  interests  are  one;  and  the  same,  and 
we  ought  to  set^  to  it  that  the  annual  appropria- 
tion is  well  expended.  This  society  ought  to 
take  hold  of  the  World's  Fair  business.  Of 
course.  I  don't  think  that  it  ought  to  try  to 
monopolize  the  honey  and  supply  exhibit,  but  it 
ought  to  have  a  committee  there,  at  least,  to 
welcome  the  bee-keepei's  from  other  States  and 
from  all  over  the  world. 

There  is  one  thing  that  I  think  ought  to  be 
agitated  everywhere,  and  as  often  as  possible: 
and  that  is  the  two-cent  bounty  on  extracted 
iioney.  The  comb-honey  production  doesn't 
need  it.  Now.  were  the  bounty  the  only  thing 
in  it  I  don't  know  that  1  should  think  it  so  im- 
portant. But.  here:  let  tlie  government  goto 
placing  a  stamp  on  what  honey  is  actually  pro- 
duced here  in  this  country,  and  the  adulteration 
of  extracted  honey  is  at  an  end.  See  what  the 
government  does  for  the  lirjuor  interest.  It  not 
only  labels  and  stamps  their  difiei'ent  brands. 
but  places  a  penalty  on  using  their  packages  a 
second  time.  If  we  can  only  get  this  bounty  on 
extracted  honey  it  will  do  more  to  lift  up  the 
bee-l)usiness  and  encourage  the  bee-keepers 
than  any  thing  else  I  know  of.  for  it  will  soon 
riiak<'  an  almost  unlimited  market  for  extracted 
honey,  for  every  one  will  then  have  confidence 
in  tlie  purity  of  what  he  is  purchasing,  for  then 
there  will  be  the  gctvernment's  guarantee  as  to 
its  purity  on  every  package.  What  more  could 
any  ijiirchaser  ask  for'.'  IJesides  this,  there  is 
nfi  doubt  that  the  darker  grades  of  honey  have 
got  to  come  in  direct  competition  with  sugar 
that  does  gel  a  bounty  from  the  government. 
Now.  why  should  the  sugar  interests  have  an 
advantagi' of  over  :.'.")  per  cent  on  their  output. 
and  the  honey  interests  be  forced  to  compete 
with  tln'ni  foi'  ;i  market  '?  Such  a  condition  of 
affairs  is  manifestly  unjust,  to  say  nothing  of 
being  forced  to  compete  with  a  mixture  of  glu- 
cose. The  government  Wfmld.  in  this  way. 
lake  the  very  best  census  of  the  bee-keeping  in- 
terest that  it  would  be  possible  for  us  to  have. 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  visiting  the  Lincoln 
Monument  in  company  with  Mrs.  Harrison. 
N\  hih'  at  Springlield.     .Sheagi'eed  with  me  that. 


if  we  could  get  this  government  stamp  on  ex- 
tracted honey,  it  would  be  of  immense  advan- 
tage to  bee-keepers.  She  seemed  to  think,  also, 
that  the  l)ee-business  is  tiecfiming  rather  risky, 
with  the  present  prices  for  honey,  ami  the  fact 
that  the  bee-pastuiage  is  year  by  year  becom- 
ing i)oorer  and  poorei'  since  the  amount  of  land 
that  is  not  tilled  is  t)ecoming  less  and  less.  IjOW 
wet  places,  that  were  forn\erly  too  wet  to  be 
cultivated,  were  tlie  natural  home  of  plants 
producing  honey,  but  they  are  now  either  lieing 
ditched  out  or  el.se  underdrained.  At  I'eoria, 
where  her  bees  used  to  get  an  abundant  har- 
vest, it  is  now  occupied  by  a  thriving  city. 

Fri{MSIlI\(;    HKl'OKTKKS   MATTKH    HKI.ATINCi    TO 
CO.NVKNTIONS. 

In  r<'tnriiing  home,  a  reiiorter  \\iio  had  seen 
me  in  the  meeting  came  and  sat  down  by  me. 
and  began  to  make  iruiuiries  about  bees  and 
honey,  and  aliout  the  association.  He  went  on 
to  say  that  they  would  liave  been  glad  to  give 
the  bee-keepers  two  or  tiiree  columns  of  matter 
in  their  journal,  while  there  at  Springfield,  if 
they  had  had  any  way  of  getting  the  copy.  I 
wonder  if  we  can't  get  the  conventions  to  take 
the  hint,  and  have  a  committee  to  preiiare  copy 
for  the  reporters  when  they  come  around — have 
it  ready  for  thein.  In  this  way  a  large  part  of 
the  public  can  be  reached  and  educated  in  re- 
gard to  honey  and  bees  that  can  not  be  reached 
so  easily  in  any  other  way.  Instead  of  growl- 
ing at  what  daily  and  weekly  newspapers  pub- 
lish, try  giving  them  facts,  in  a  readable  shape, 
to  publish.  A.  N.  Dhapek. 

Upper  Alton.  111..  Dec.  lit. 

[We  believe  this  is  an  important  question, 
but  it  is  one  on  which  we  are  not  yet  prepared 
to  give  an  opinion.  We  hope  it  will  be  thor- 
oughly discussed  in  the  next  few  weeks,  both 
as  to  the  desirability  and  feasibility  of  having  a 
bounty  on  honey.  Mr.  Elwood  touches  on  this 
.same  point  in  his  president's  address,  which  we 
will  publish  in  our  next  issue.] 


BEES  OF  ITALY,  AGAIN. 


ITALIANS  A  fixp:i)  kace:  amekicans  trying 

TO  IMPROVE   THEM. 


I  noticed  a  communication  by  Arthur  T. 
Goldsborough.  on  page  842.  1891,  in  which  he 
asserts  that  the  bees  of  Italy  are  not  three- 
banded.  I  was  in  hopes  some  of  the  older  writ- 
ers would  give  us  a  chapter  on  the  color  of  the 
Italian  bee:  but  so  far  I  have  not  seen  such  a 
communication.  It  seems  strange  that  this 
writer,  being  as  close  an  observer  as  he  claims 
to  be.  should  asseit  that  no  bee  would  show 
more  than  one  yellow  band.  Now.  the  fact  is, 
among  all  classes  of  bees,  all  mixtures  and 
crosses.  I  have  never  been  able  to  find  a  single 
bee  with  only  one  yellow  band.  Wherever  I 
find  a  bee  with  yellow  on  any  bands,  there  is 
yellow  on  the  three;  and,  again,  if  the  bees  of 
Italy  are  not  three-l)anded.  how  comes  it  that, 
of  all  the  bees  that  are  yearly  imported  from 
there,  no  importer  has  received  a  single  bee 
that  does  not  show  the  three  yellow  bands'? 
Any  imi)ortcr  will  guarantee  this.  Another 
thing,  all  the  (pieens  that  are  brought  from 
Italy  are  not  tested  quiMiUs.  Especially  last 
spriiig.  the  breeders  of  Italy  could  not  fill  all 
their  early  orders  with  tested  queens,  and  get 
tliem  here  as  soon  as  the  importers  wanted 
them:  and  yet  the  liees  of  Italy,  so  far  as  I 
have  seen  them  (and  I  have  received  queens 
from  several  breeders  in  various  parts  of  Italy), 
are  three-banded.  The  bands  are  not  bright 
vellow,  but   more  inclined  to  be  red:  and  I  be- 


14 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


J  AX.  1. 


lieve  the  dcirker  colored  these  bands  are,  the 
better  ivorkers  the  bees  prone  to  be. 

I  uotice,  both  by  the  circulars  of  breeders  and 
by  several  letters  which  I  have,  that  the  first 
thing  the  avei'age  American  ti'ies  to  do  is  to 
improve  the  Italian  bee.  This  is  a  character- 
istic of  the  American,  and  '"improvement"  is 
his  motto;  but  liow  is  a  person  to  undertake  to 
improve  a  thing  tliat  already  has  fixed  charac- 
teristics? I  find  that  this  "  improvement"  (?) 
consists  in  making  it  yellow,  yelloirer,  yellow- 
est. 

While  I  liave  no  objection  whatever  to  these 
yellow  bees,  and  liave  and  intend  to  continue 
to  keep  the  yellowest  bees  procurable,  yet  I 
will  say  for  them  that  they  will  not  reproduce 
themselves.  Out  of  ten  queens  from  a  five- 
banded  mother,  mated  in  an  apiary  where 
drones  from  five-banded  mothers  abound,  not 
more  than  two  of  the  untested  queens  will  prove 
to  be  five-banded.  I  find  the  iive-banded  liees 
as  gentle  as  the  imported  stock;  but  the  l^ees 
from  queens  of  five-banded  stock  that  produce 
bees  with  only  three  bands  are  not  gentle. 

Last  season  there  were  many  of  these  queens 
sold.  Last  fall  at  the  fairs  I  found  many  dis- 
appointed purchasers  of  them.  They  had  bought 
untested  queens  of  tliem,  expecting  to  get  some 
five-banded.  They  had  failed,  and  consequently 
they  were  disappointed. 

The  Americans  have  bi'ed  tlie  short-horn 
until  he  is  a  fac-simile  of  the  Devon.  Tliey 
have  bred  the  Poland -China  until  a  whole  field 
full  of  experts  can  not  tell  a  Poland -China  from 
a  Berkshire,  ears  alone  excepted.  And  they 
have  bred  the  Italian  bee  until  it  is  identical 
with  the  Cyprian.  Now,  this  has  not  all  been 
done  by  "  judicious  selection." 

When  there  is  a  demand  foi- anv  type  of  ani- 
mal or  bee,  the  Americans  are  going  to  supply 
that  demand,  and  do  it  right  spi'edily. 

Why  is  it.  Mr.  Editor,  kiiowinir  as  you  do  the 
nature  of  the  imported  bees  to  produce  workers 
almost  identically  the  same,  you  charge  about 
double  for  a  queen  from  an  imported  mother, 
that  herself  happens  to  be  a  little  yellower  than 
ordinary?  W.  C.  Frazikk. 

Atlantic,  la.,  Dec.  KJ. 

[Our  experience  as  importers  is  quite  in  line 
with  yours.  Next  to  tVie  Italian  bee-keepers 
themselves,  the  importers  who  receive  annually 
large  consignments  of  queens  from  that  country 
ought  to  be  in  position  to  judge  of  the  general 
cliaracteristics  of  the  bees.  It  is  our  experience 
that  imported  Italians  are  as  fixed  as  any  race 
of  bees  known,  in  their  general  characteristics, 
with  the  possible  exception  of  the  black,  or  Ger- 
man race.  Of  tlie  hundreds  of  queens  we  have 
imported  from  Italy,  we  never  saw  any  four  or 
five  banded  progeny  from  any  of  them;  neither 
have  we  seen  any  one-banded  progeny.  They 
have  been  uniformly  three-banded  bees,  though 
in  the  progeny  of  a  few  the  third  band  was 
quite  indistinct,  and  some  would  pronounce 
them  only  two-banded.  It  is  remarkable  that 
the  bees  of  Italy  should  show  .so  generally  such 
fixed  qualities,  and  that  these  qualities  should 
duplicate  themselves  so  nearly  in  the  first  gen- 
eration. It  is  a  fact,  as  w(;  iiave  often  I'epeated, 
the  bands  of  the  importeds  are  leather-colored, 
or,  at  least,  a  dark  yellow;  and  these  darker 
bees  have  so  far  given  better  results  in  lioney. 
We  therefore  take  the  liberty  of  putting  in  ital- 
ics what  you  say  on  this  point. 

It  is  true,  that  Americans  will  endeavor  to 
give  people  what  they  want:  and  because  thei'e 
is  a  demand  for  yellow  qiie(-ns,  and  Ijecause  of 
the  fact  that  only  a  few  of  thcni  are  among  the 
daughters  of  itnpoi'tcd  mothers,  we  have  had  to 
charge  more  foi"  them:  hut  as  we  say  in  our 
price  list,  tlit^r  bees  will    have   no   more   than 


three  yellow  bands,  nor  will  they  be  any  better 
honey -gatherers  than  those  from  darker  daugh- 
ters. In  regard  to  the  article  of  Mr.  Golds- 
borough,  you  will  see.  by  turning  to  page  'J48, 
Dec.  l.").  that  he  must  have  visited  only  a  few 
localities  in  Italy,  or  else  lie  observed  very  care- 
lessly. Although  not  intending  to  misrepresent, 
his  article  gave  a  very  incorrect  idea  of  the 
kind  of  bees  found  in  Italy.] 


THE  HUBBARD  BEE -HIVE. 


ITS    MERITS   SET   FORTH. 

Friend  Root: — As  brood-frames  witli  fixed 
distances  have  attracted  so  much  attention  of 
late,  I  think  it  possible  you  will  lie  interested 
with  a  description  of  the  Hubbaid  hive,  which 
in  a  measure  combines  both  fixed  and  movable 
distances.  It  was  patented  Jan.  Ifi.  18S3.  The 
main  objects  attained  by  having  my  brood- 
fi'ames  hung  in  tliis  way  are: 

1.  They  can  be  swung  out  to  tlie  left,  giving 
plenty  of  space  in  which  to  remove  combs  with- 
out danger  of  scraping  them  together. 

2.  They  are  spaced  l^o  inches  from  center  to 
center,  at  the  fiont  end.  and  at  the  reai'  end  of 
the  frames  a  long  staple  sets  in  fine,  deep,  saw- 
tooth notches  which  allow  the  frames  to  liave 
their  distances  varied,  and  at  the  same  time 
stay  where  they  are  put.  as  the  frames  will  not 
move  unless  the  hive  is  turned  on  its  side.  The 
adjustment  at  the  reai-  end  allows  a  queen-cage 
to  be  introduced,  or  the  distance  to  be  varied 
to  accommodate  combs  of  different  thickness. 

3.  Each  end  of  the  frame  has  a  projecting 
nail  at  the  upper  left-hand  corner  and  a  long 
shallow  staple  below:  therefore  the  frames  may 
be  hung  eitlier  end  front. 

4.  Frame  -  bearings  are  metal,  and.  lieing. 
small,  do  not  get  waxed  fast. 

5.  This  accomplislies  the  fixed-distance  idea 
without  danger  of  crushing  bees  between  wide 
end-bars  or  top-bars,  and  with  no  projecting 
top-bars  to  catcli  them. 

(5.  The  staples  in  the  bottom  of  the  frames 
k(^ep  liees  from  being  crushed  under  the  bottom- 
bar  when  you  set  a  frame  to  one  side  on  a  flat 
surface. 

7.  When  returning  a  frame  to  the  hive  you 
find  it  practically  self-adjusting.  Get  it  some- 
where near  its  place,  and  lai'ge  notches  in  its 
tin  bearings  at  the  front  end  guide  it  instantly 
to  its  place,  wliile  you  swing  it  to  the  point  at 
which  you  wish  it  at  the  rear. 


S.  Hives  ought  always  to  slant  a  little  toward 
tlie  entrance.  This  hive  does;  and  by  having  a 
frame — hanging  below  at  the  front  end,  a  bee- 
passage  is  always  maintained;  the  frame  does 
not  sag  and  get  waxed  fast,  nor  make  a  harbor- 
ing-place for  vermin. 


IS'C' 


(;lkanix(;s  in  kkk  <  ri/rruK. 


1;-) 


•».  Tlic  iipiiuist  (loi'S  lidi  hrcaU  liis  hiu'U  looU- 
iiiK  over  his  hrdotl-i-oiiihs.  Scvnal  years  a^d. 
wlicn  out"  friiMiil  Hiiti-liinsoii  was  in  llic  (lui'cii- 
busiiicss,  he  ii;\\o  lis  a  tifsiTlntion  of  tin-  l)ai'i<- 
ai"ln'  from  liaiicllinsr  Im-cs  tliat  many  will  ic- 
nii'iiiln'r.  Well,  with  tins  sidc-opcuiiifi  liivc 
you  tliii|i  down  on  one  l<n<'c,  sit  on  your  Ix-ci. 
-.umI  iiandii'  \(>ur  iiccs  w  ith  an  case  ydu  would 
l\ardly  liclicvi'  possil)l(\  As  to  tindin^r  tiuccns. 
it  is  usually  doni'  w  itliont  rt'niovinfi  tlu'  iVaini's 
from  tlicii'  front  lianijintjs:  swiu'jr  tlicm  around 
and  lool<  down  hctwcm  them. 

Arc  these  |)oints  honestly  taken '.'  Come  and 
see  foi'  your-;elf.  Seven  miles  from  the  city  is 
AlbtMt  11.  (Jrover's  lluhhard-hive  apiary  of 
from  f.V)  to  l.V)  eolonies.  Tliis  is  where  my  bees 
and  (iiieens  are  raised.  Any  man  within,  say, 
:!(K)  miles  of  here,  who  will  shij)  .">()  colonies  of 
Italian  bees  to  this  apiary  in  any  othei'  hive, 
and  tind  all  tlie  queens  as  (piickly  and  easily  as 
Ml'.  (Irt)ver  will  from  .">()  of  his  colonit^s  of  etiual 
strengtli.  will  havi'  his  moving  expenses  paid. 
and  good  wages  foi-  his  time.  Is  the  hive  ex- 
pensive'.' No  more  than  oth(^r  single- walled 
hives.  Is  it  complicated  ?  Many  I^iactical  bee- 
keepers, after  seeing  the  hive  itself,  say  it  is 
mucii  more  simple  than  they  expected  after 
reading  piinted  description.  A  break  -  joint 
honey-board  is  used  t)etween  brood  -  chamber 
and  super.  Several  thousand  of  the  hives  are 
in  use  in  over  twenty  States.   (}.  K.  Ht^BHARD. 

Fort  Wayne.  Ind..  Dec.  13. 

[.\s  the  question  of  fixed  distances  and  the 
hnding  of  the  queen  by  /io<  removing  the  frames 
has  of  late  been  agitated,  we  asked  Mr.  Ilub- 
lianl  to  give  us  some  of  his  eN|)erience  along 
this  line,  in  connection  with  his  hiv<'.  We  have 
no  doubt  that  he  can.  iTiany  times,  tind  the 
(pieen  without  removing  a  frame;  but  for  some 
reason  of  other,  side-opening  hives  have  never 
been  popular  with  the  masses  of  bee-keepers.] 


THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  SEPARATORS. 


.SIIAI.I,     WOODEX       SKI'AKATOHS      UK     TURK     OJ! 

THIN?   THE     SEKIOI'S     INCOXVKNIKNCE   AXD 

CO.ST   IX   HAVIXG   THEM   WKT   WHEN    PUT 

IX    SECTIOX-CASES. 

I  have  always  had  quite  an  opinion  as  to  the 
importance  of  separators,  and  latterly  I  have 
raised  myo|>inion  as  to  their  importance.  A 
good  many  imperfect  sections  I  have  traced  to 
imperfect  separators.  That  is.  if  a  section  is 
nearly  linished.  and  then  is  moved  to  some  oth- 
er part  of  the  super  where  the  separator  is  not 
exactly  like  the  one  where  it  had  been,  then 
wherever  the  separator  comi's  a  little  too  close 
to  the  .section  the  comb  is  likely  to  tje  gnawed 
aAvay.  and  little  bridges  of  wax  built  from  the 
comb  to  the  separator.  I  have  seen  a  section, 
one  side  of  which  was  entirely  finished,  have  its 
finished  side  nearly  all  unsealed  just  because. 
when  moved,  the  s[)ace  between  comb  and  s(>p- 
arator  was  not  as  great  as  it  had  been  in  its  first 
position.  And  although  lam  not  sure  of  it.  I 
think  thi're  have  been  cases  where  the  warping 
of  a  separator  made  trouble  with  a  section, 
although  its  position  had  never  been  changed. 

I  think  it  is  pretty  gen(u-ally  agreed  that  wood 
is  better  than  tin  for  loose  separators;  and  as  a 
large  proportion  of  seinirators  us(;d  are  loose. 
it  becomes  an  important  matter  to  know  just 
what  is  the  best  wood  separator.  I  have  seen 
separators  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick,  and  it 
always  seemed  to  me  like  a  waste  of  lumixM' 
and  super  room.  Still.  I  never  u.sed  any  of  that 
thickness,  and  it  is  i)ossible  that  thev  mav  have 
advantages  of  which    I   do   not   know.   'Wln-n 


wood  canu'  to  III'  hii'gi'ly  U'^cil  Im-  se|»arators, 
and  liiey  consequently  came  down  to  a  vj^ry 
moderate  |irice,  I  (leci<led  that,  the  labor  of 
cleaning  tiiem  of  propitlis  aftei'  being  used  was 
worth  nH)re  than  tlie  cost  of  new  sepafat<irs. 
So  for  several  years  I  have  used  for  kindling- 
wdod  mostof  my  old  separator's. 

Then  the(|uestion  arose:  if  they  are  to  be  n-^ed 
but  once,  is  it  not  worth  while  to  try  \ery  thin 
separators'.'  So  1  have  tried  dilferent  thick- 
nesses, from  .',,  of  an  inch  to  ,\;  or  thicker.  The 
very  thin  ones  seemed  to  me  more  desii'able 
because  they  would  take  up  less  room,  make  a 
little  less  chance  foi'  propolis  in  cracks,  and 
especially  because  they  were  tougher.  For  it 
seems  to  be  trm-  that  a  very  thin  se|)arat,or  will 
be  sliced  oft'  without  breaking  the  grain  of  tin? 
wood  as  much  as  it  is  broken  in  one  tw  ice  as 
thick'.  Hut  upon  ti'ial  1  di<i  not  find  the  very 
thin  separators  (lesiral)le.  Sometimes  the  bees 
would  gnaw  away  a  considerable  portion  of  one 
edge,  and  sometimes  the  sei)arator  would  curl, 
as  it  a|)peared  to  me.  solely  because  it  w  as  so 
thin.     On  the  w  hole.  /,;  may  be  the  l)est. 

A  knot  in  the  wood,  no  matter  how  small,  is 
fatal  to  its  fitness  for  a  good  separator.  Some- 
times a  sejiarator  will  be  curled  a  quarter  or 
half  inch  out  of  true  where  no  knot  can  be 
seen:  but  the  grain  of  the  wood  shows  that  it 
was  in  the  neighborhood  of  a  knot,  and  for 
some  distance  from  a  knot  th(^  grain  is  generally 
twisted  enough  to  allow  considerable  warping 
in  a  very  thin  piece. 

I  don't  know  what  is  the  best  wood,  but  I  am 
inclined  to  the  belief  that  poplar  or  whitewoo(i 
is  not  so  likely  to  curl  as  lindc^i.  It  is  possible, 
however,  that  more  knots  were  allowed  in  the 
linden  that  I  tried  than  in  the  poplar. 

I  once  got  a  lot  of  separators  that  were  not 
thoroughly  seasoned.  In  fact,  they  were  quite 
wet.  Yon  would  hardly  believe  the  damage 
those  separators  were  to  me.  Being  wet.  they 
were  too  wide,  so  that  I  could  not  put  ili  the 
little  14-inch  separators  on  top;  and  the  curl- 
ingl  and  the  twisting!  In  some  cases,  in  .spite 
of  their  being  pressed  between  the  sections,  they 
bent  over  fully  half  an  inch  out  of  place.  And 
if  a  section  had  its  ])lace  changed,  or  if  a  num- 
ber of  unfinislied  ones  were  put  together  in  a 
super  to  be  finished  up.  then  there  was  fun. 
Many  a  one  of  those  sections  came  out  of  the 
super  more  unfinished  than  when  it  went  in. 
If  I  ever  get  any  more  wet  separators  I'll  put 
them  in  the  tire  to  dry,  and  I'll  let  them  stay 
there  till  they've  dried  into  ashes. 

What  should  be  the  length  of  separators? 
I'm  not  sure  about  it.  but  I  think  about  an 
eighth  of  an  inch  shorter  than  the  inside  of  tlie 
su|)i'r.  That's  tlu^  length  I've  used  them,  but 
possibly  I  might  like  better  to  have  them  only 
a  sixteenth  shorter.  If  the  least  bit  longer  than 
the  space  they  are  to  till,  they  are  vin-y  trouble- 
some to  get  in,  and  can  hi\  got  in  only  by  a  beiiu 
somewhere  in  their  length.  If  too  short,  one 
end  gets  inside  of  a  section,  and  then  the  trouble 
is  still  worse. 

A  further  trial,  during  the  jiast  season,  in  all 
■my  supers,  of  the  little  separators  on  top,  con- 
firms me  in  my  liking  for  them.  Although  I 
had  forgottiMi  about  it.  I  first  saw  them  used  by 
\i.  Taylor.  My  supi-rs  are  17%  inchi's  long  in- 
side, and  four  414  sections  take  u|)  17  inches  of 
that,  leaving  a  -Ift-inch  play  at  top.  for  the  T 
tins  take  up  the  play  at  ixjitoin.  Now.  that  % 
at  tlu!  tf)p  is  entirely  too  convenient  a  i)lace  for 
bees  to  fill  with  jiropolis.  and  I  want  it  eiitirelij 
filled  with  sonu'thing  else.  Thi'ee  seijarators, 
each  '4x'„.  just  exactly  fill  it.  I  supposed  the 
fit  would  be  so  tight  that  it  would  be  almost  im- 
|)Ossible  to  force  these  little  separators  into 
place:  but  in  actual  practice  I  tind  no  great  dif- 
ficulty.    Besides  ki'eping  out  glue,  they  are  use- 


16 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  1. 


fill  in  keeping  sections  perfectly  square.  I  had 
a  box  of  sections  that  made  up  so  much  out  of 
square  that  I  set  them  aside  and  stopped  mak- 
ing them.  Many  of  them  were  so  much  out  of 
square  that,  when  put  in  the  super,  one  corner 
of  the  section  stood  up  a  quarter  of  an  inch  or 
more  higher  than  it  ought.  If  pushed  down 
into  place,  they  would  immediately  spring  up 
again.  But  with  the  little  separators  I  found  I 
could  use  those  same  sections.  They  were 
squeezed  so  tight  that,  when  pressed  down  into 
place,  they  were  held  there.  I  heaitily  com- 
mend these  little  separators  to  every  one  who 
uses  the  T  super.  C.  C.  ^NIillkk. 

Marengo,  111.,  Dec.  1."). 

[Your  experience  seems  to  be  quite  in  line 
with  our  orders.  The  call  has  been  for  separat- 
ors, as  a  general  thing,  not  thinner  than  ^^jj  of 
an  inch.  Some  have  called  foi'  even  thicker 
ones.  When  sliced  up,  the  grain  is  more  or  less 
broken.  It  would  be  desirable  if  we  could  saw 
them  and  yet  not  have  them  expensive.] 


FEEDING  BEES  CANDY  FOR  WINTER. 


a.  n.  dkaper   goes   thk<)u(ih  a  ijtti.k    kx- 
pekience;. 


On  page  9  of  '•  Advanced  Bee  Culture,'"  Mr. 
Hutchinson  says:  "If  by  any  hook  or  crook  the 
bees  have  gone  into  winter  quarters  short  of 
stores,  and  there  are  fears  that  some  may  be 
starving,  it  is  better  that  they  be  examined  and 
fed  if  needed,  even  though  the  task  is  unpleas- 
ant. There  need  be  no  hesitancy  in  thus  dis- 
turbing the  bees  for  fear  that  it  may  do  them 
some  injury,  for,  as  a  rule,  it  will  not.  If  some 
colonies  must  be  fed.  and  no  honey  is  available, 
the  best  substitute  for  honey  is  candy  made  of 
granylated  sugar,  put  in  sufficient  water  to  dis- 
solve the  sugar:  then  boil  the  syrup  until  it  will 
harden  in  cooling.  Watch  it  carefully  and  try 
it  frequently.  As  soon  as  it  is  sufficiently  hard, 
remove  it  from  the  stove  and  pour  it  into  shal- 
low dishes  to  cool.  Be  careful  not  to  get  it  too 
hard." 

On  page  1.54  of  "'  Bees  and  Honey,"  Mr.  New- 
man says:  "For  winter  feeding,  use  four  parts 
coffee  A  sugar  and  one  part  water:  simmer 
until  it  becomes  quite  hard  on  being  cooled; 
mold  into  frames  of  one  inch  in  thickness,  and 
lay  it  on  top  the  frames,  using  sticks  under- 
neath, one-half  inch  square:  or  mold  into 
brood -frames;  tie  hemp  twine  around  to  hold  it 
in  place,  and  put  it  in  the  center  of  the  brood- 
chamber." 

There,  I  tried  to  do  it  I  but  I  suppose  that 
botli  my  ABC  book  and  Langstroth  Revised 
have  been  loaned,  or  else  sold,  as  neither  one  of 
tlieni  cDulil  be  found.  It  was  real  cold,  and  an 
out-apiary  of  about  70  hives,  in  which  I  have 
only  a  half-interest,  and  which  is  about  eight 
miles  away,  was  found  to  be  almost  destitute  of 
stoi-es.  As  I  had  becMi  badly  crowded  all  the, 
fall  with  my  business.  I  had  left  the  cai'e  of 
this  ai)iary  to  Mr.  Horsey,  and  he  prol)ably 
overestimated  the  amount  of  stores  that  these 
hives  contained.  None  of  them  had  been  mov- 
ed to  the  lake,  and  had  had  the  honey-dew  tak- 
en off  in  August.  They  ai'e  in  eight -frame 
Simplicity  hives,  consequently  too  nuich  of 
what  they  had  on  hand  in  August  was  taken 
away  from  them.  Well.  I  made  up  my  mind  that 
the  best  way  that  these  bees  could  be  led  would 
be  with  ■■  candy."  How  can  I  manage  to  get 
enough  shallow  vessels  to  hold  a  bai'rel  of  syr- 
up? After  thinking  a  while  I  concluded  that 
No.  ')  butter-trays  w(>re  what  I  needed,  so  I 
sent  down  for  a  crate  containing  ;^50  of  them. 
It  cost  me  7.5  cents.     I  have  a  large  stove-kettle. 


capable  of  holding  30  gallons.  I  use  a  tin  can 
inside  of  this  kettle  for  liquefying  candied  hon- 
ey. If  the  syrup  is  made  inside  of  the  can  with 
water  around  it  there  would  be  no  danger  of 
getting  the  candy  scorched.  If  scorched,  it 
would  be  worthless  for  winter  feed.  But  then, 
if  I  get  it  too  thin  it  would  be  a  slow  job  to  cook 
it  down,  in  this  manner.  As  it  had  been  thor- 
oughly cooked  in  making  the  sugar,  what  good 
would  it  be  to  put  a  lot  of  water  in  it  to  boil 
out  again  ? 

I  made  the  candy  in  this  way:  I  tirst  weigh- 
ed 2.5  lbs.  of  water  and  placed  in  the  can.  When 
it  got  boiling  hot  I  weighed  25  lbs.  of  granu- 
lated sugar,  poured  into  the  water,  stirred  it  un- 
til it  dissolved,  then  poured  in  25  lbs.  moi'e  su- 
gar, and  stirred  until  it  dissolved.  One  hundred 
pounds  of  sugar  will  all  dissolve;  but  in  order 
to  get  it  to  harden  so  that  it  will  harden  suffi- 
ciently to  haul  to  an  out-apiary  it  is  necessary 
to  put  in  from  15  to  20  lbs.  more  of  sugar.  Now, 
it  is  necessary  to  place  the  butter-trays  on  the 
floor,  or  on  shelves  with  a  small  stick  under 
each  side  of  the  trays,  to  prevent  them  from 
turning  over  when  tilling,  and  while  the  candy 
is  hardening.  The  trays  hold  about  2  lbs.  of 
candy  each.  I  fixed  up  nearly  a  barrel  in  this 
way,  and  took  it  out  and  placed  it  on  top  of  51 
hives.  The  following  card,  received  from  Mr. 
Dorsey.  will  explain  matters. 

Dear  Hiincy :—Youv  candy  is  g'oing  fast.  It  is  dry 
and  hard,  and  all  g-oiie  back  to  sug-ar.  I  think  they 
are  carrying  most  ot  it  outside.  Better  come  t)Ut 
riglit  awav  before  it  is  all  wasted.  Doksev. 

Moro,  111.,  De(_-.  11. 

There  1  A.  N.  Draper. 

Upper  Alton,  HI.,  Dec.  15. 

[Now.  look  here,  friend  D.  You  led  us  to  be- 
lieve you  were  going  to  make  a  grand  success 
of  your  venture:  and  just  at  the  point  when  our 
expectations  were  raised  to  the  highest  notch, 
you  turn  the  tables  by  quoting  a  card  from  your 
neighbor  Dorsey.  As  Josh  Billings  said, 
•■  Eggsperiens  teeches  a  goo'd  skule,  but  the 
tuishun  comes  purty  hi."  Joking  aside,  as 
nearly  as  we  can  make  out  you  did  not  follow 
directions  carefully.  Your  candy  was  too  hard. 
Notice  the  last  clause  from  your  quotation  from 
Hutchinson.  In  order  to  be  suitable  for  the 
bees  there  should  be  enough  water  incorporat- 
ed in  it  to  make  it  tolerably  soft,  and  yet  hard 
enough  to  hold  its  own.  We  have  made  candy, 
and  poured  it  on  butter-dishes,  as  you  say,  aiid 
it  worked  beautifully.  It  might  not  have  been 
a  bad  idea  for  you  to  have  tried  a  little  at  first, 
before  melting  up  the  whole  batch.  We  have 
had  some  experience  ourselves:  and  if  you  were 
to  turn  to  the  subject  of  Candy  in  the  ABC 
book  you  would  find  this:  "  Perhaps  you  had 
b(;tter  try  a  pound  or  two  first,  whih^  you  get 
your  hand  in.  Our  fii'st  (Wijeriment  was  with 
iifty  pounds.  It  all  got  "  scorched  "  "  sonu'how.'  " 
You  might  have  used  Good  (oi'  rather  Scholz) 
candy  and  been  piM'fectly  safe.] 


MELILOT. 

SO.MK      INTKKESTING     EXPEHI.MEXTS     FROM    U.    R. 
BOA  RDM  AX. 

Dr.  C.  C.  Miller  sends  a  letter  which  he  has 
received  from  H.  R.  Boardman.  and  suggests, 
as  it  comes  from  such  a  source,  and  as  it  seems 
to  be  so  well  worthy  of  publication,  that  we 
give  it  insertion  in  our  columns.  This  we  are 
veiy  glad  to  do  :  and  if  friend  Boardman  has 
any  further  facts  we  should  be  much  pleased 
to   h(>ar   from   him   again,  more  in  detail.     We 


IS'.)-.' 


(;li;.\mn(;s  in  I{|«;k  (  ii/itije. 


arc  vi'i'\  ■^urc  he  \\  ill  iiavr  im  nhjcci  imi 
iiiSR'"'!  iiilo  |ii'iiit  ill  this  \\;iy. 

/>;•.  Miller: — Von  may  icmi'iiihcr  thai,  at  ilir 
('ohiiiit)ns  i-onvt'iition.  I  cxitrcssci!  a  i^oimI  deal 
of  I'oiiliiiciu-c  in  ri'irard  in  liicNaliic  of  sweet 
I'lDvcr  as  a  Idiairi'-iilaiil  for  slock.  Tlid'c  was 
roiisi(l('ial)li' (iisciissioii  on  llic  snl).ji'iM.  If  1  fc- 
nuMiilu'i'  lifilitly  you  were  among  tliosc  who 
syniiiatlii/t'ii  witli  my  own  viows.  Tlic  proof 
of  tilt'  piuldinR.  yon  l<no\\.  is  in  catiiifi.  I  am 
I'olit'i'iinir  some  of  this  sann'  i<iii(l  of  jiroofin 
rogai'ti  to  swcci  i-iovcr.  I  am  now  fccdiiig  it 
to  my  fow  oiu'c  a  day.  Slic  seems  to  eat  witli 
u  relisli  all  that  1  give  hef,  to  tlie  leasiand  hist 
leaf  and  stalk.  'I'his  elover  was  of  tlH>  tifst 
year's  gn)wth  from  the  seed,  and  grew  thick 
and  line,  and  wascni'ed  in  good  condition  late 
in  the  season.  I  feed  ii  to  my  hofses.  They 
vat  it.  hut  I  think  it  is  hettcf' foe  cattle  and 
slieei).  A  fai'mer  living  near  m(^  with  whom  I 
am  W(M1  ac(iuainted.  has  a  slrij)  of  sweet  clover 
gfowing  along  one  side  of  a  lot  next  to  the  rail- 
road, where  it  sjji'ead  from  the  railroad  etn- 
hankment.  He  pastured  a  Hock  of  sheep  in 
this  lot  last  summer,  and  he  said  to  me  those 
sheo])  persisted  in  eating  this  clovtn' when  the 
feed  was  ahundaiit  elsewhere  in  the  lot.  He 
supposed  nothing  would  eat  it:  but  they  did, 
and  kept  it  fed  down  close.  They  seemed  to 
prefer  it.  He  did  not  know  why.  He  regarded 
it  as  a  nuisanc(\  notwithstanding  the  evidence 
he  gave  in  its  favor.  He  is  not  a  bee-man. 
So  much  for  a  bad  reputation. 

1  have  seven  acre.s.  sown  last  year.  It  will 
bloom  next  season.  lam  sure  it  can  be  raised 
on  our  hard  clay  land,  and  made  profitable. 

H.  R.   KOAKDMAN. 

East  Tow  nsend.  O..  Dec.  1. 


•iiiLT     i;.    McKnighl.     I 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  CONVENTION  AT 
ALBANY. 


liKI'OinKL)   BY    KWNKST. 

The  Albany  convention  lias  come  and  gone. 
and  only  memory  remains  to  recall  the  feast  of 
good  things.  It  was  indeed  ;i  representative 
■convention,  perhaps  moi'e  States  being  repre- 
sented, and  more  miles  traveled  by  bee-keep- 
<'rs,  than  to  any  other  convention  in  the  history 
■of  the  iissociation.  Something  over  KM)  railroad 
fares  were  paid  to  Albany,  and  many  of  these 
fares  covered  long  distances.  As  wasexpected, 
there  was  a  large  number  of  distinguished  bee- 
keepers present,  although  not  all  that  we  hoped 
would  be.  A.  E.  Maiium  and  Mr.  I<'iaiik  Hen- 
ton  were;  detained  on  account  of  sickness,  as 
were  also  the  two  doctors.  Mason  and  Miller, 
much  to  the  regret  of  all  present.  The  doctors 
are  a  whole  team  in  themselves,  and  are  enough 
to  make  any  meeting  bubbl(>  o\-er  with  eiithiisi- 
asm.  ]}nt  we  had  other  good  men.  Capt.  J.  E. 
Hetherington.  the  one  bee-keeper  wiio  enjoys 
the  distinction  of  being  the  largest  honey- pi-o- 
dncer  in  the  world,  was  present.  He  is  full  of 
vim  and  busine>s  push,  it  w  as  easy  to  S(M'.  A 
delightful  and  interesting  speaker,  he  fairly 
captivated  the  whole  convention  by  liis  joviali- 
ty and  enthusiasm.  (J.  .M.  Doolittle  was  another 
bright  light.  I  had  always  supposed  that  he 
was  more  of  a  writer  than  a  convention  man: 
but  I  was  very  agreeably  siirpiised.  Like  Mr. 
Hetherington.  he  is  a  clear  and  foireful  speak- 
er. ('.  I'.  Dadant  and  Hon.  .1.  M.  Ilambaugh 
came  from  the  Mississijipi  Valley,  and  Eugene 
Secor  came  from  beyond  the  Mississijipi  River. 
They  had  come  the  furthest  of  any  of  the  bee- 
keepers. Of  these  Til  tell  you  mure  in  our  next 
issue.  There  were  also  two  representatives  from 
I'anada.  in  the  persons  of  R.  F.  Ilolteiniann  and 


.-,■■- lir\e    iii'jirly   every    one    of 

llie  New  England  Slalis  had  oih'  or  moie  icp- 
leseiilative.s.  The  .New  Hampshire  lOxperiment 
Station  actually  sent  one  of  its  insiructors.  a 
Mr.  Wood,  to  tiie  con vention,  t he  ultimate  ob- 
ject being  to  establish  a  school  of  aiiiciiltiire  Of 
course,  the  Vork  State  bee-keepei-s  tiii-ned  out 
(11  (/la.sNr.  among  them  being, I.  II.  .\ellis.  of  t  lie 
former  iiic-iiciicis'  H.kIki injr  :  .luliiis  lloll- 
inan.  I'.  II.  Elwood.  (J.  II.  K iiickeriiocker.  .\.  I). 
Wesi.  W.  E.  (lark  (he's  iiiiitc  a  driver  in  con- 
ventioni.  Thomas  I'ierce.  the  two  Coggshalls.  I. 
Scholield  I  guess  \'(\  better  sto|).  or  somebody 
will  feel  hurt  because  1  didirtmeiitioii  his  name. 

This  convention,  while  it  lacked  stnne  of  the 
eiitliusiasm  of  ot  her  iiieeiingsof  the  association, 
was  remarkable  in  that  I  here  was  not  a,  woi'd  of 
discord  uttered.  The  pl(;asaiit(^st  and  best  of 
feeling  prevailed  at  every  session.  With  Drs. 
Mason  and  Miller,  supported  by  Caiit-.  Hether- 
ington and  Doolittle  and  the  r(!St,  the  enthusi- 
asm would  have  run  high.  As  it  was,  it  did  not 
go  down  to  ;i  very  low  ehb. 

Were  there  any  women -folks  present '.'  Only 
one  or  two  at  a  time,  and  that.  too.  after  all  I 
had  said  about  bi-ingiug  along  the  wives,  sweet- 
hearts, and  daughters:  I'm  not  discoiirau-ed. 
ril  invite  "em  to  come  to  \Vashiiigt(>n  next  yeai-, 
and  they'll  come. 

Well,  what  about  the  convention?  What  did 
th(n'  say  and  do?  More  things  than  I  have 
space  to  tell  you.  A  very  full  report  by  that 
prince  of  reiiort.ers.  W.  Z.  Hutchinson,  will  ap- 
Ijeai'  in  iht'  AiiKrlnm  Bee  JounutJ:  and  if  you 
are  not  already  a  suhsci'ilier  of  that  journal, 
send  10  cents  for  a  few  sample  copies,  and  you 
will  be  amply  rt^jaid.  I  will  attempt  to  give 
you  only  a  gist  of  the  subjects  discussed.  The 
president's  addiess  is  so  excellent  and  impor- 
tant in  its  suggestions  that  we  have  decided  to 
publish  it  entire  in  uni-  next  issue. 

INCOUPOKATION.O.VND   WHATrIT   MKANS. 

The  North  American  is  now  incorporated  un- 
der the  laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  At  the 
first  session  it  was  asked  what  incorjioration 
meant,  and  why  any  particular  State  should 
take  jurisdiction.  It  was  explained  that  incor- 
poration signiHed  t  he  making  of  the  society  into 
a  legal  body.  and.  so  to  speak,  an  individual  ca- 
pable of  transacting  business — one  that  can  sue 
and  be  sued.  As  to  localizing  the  incorporation, 
it  was  explained  that  a  society,  in  order  to  be 
incorporated  in  the  United  States,  has  to  come 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  some  particular  State; 
and  as  Illinois  is  centrally  located,  as  far  as  the 
Northern  bee-keepers  are  concerned.  Chicago 
was  thought  t(j  be  an  appropriate  place  for  its 
headquarters.  All  other  societies  that  are  in- 
corporated, whether  fraternal  or  otherwise,  are 
under  the  laws  of  some  (larticular  .State,  though 
in  their  practical  workings  they  may  be  nation- 
al. The  North  .American  bad  also  procured 
medals,  as  |)er  the  clause  in  its  constitution,  and 
was  ready  to  distribme  them  to  afliliatcd  socie- 
ties when  called  for. 

HEES,   THK    I.OCATIO.N',   AND   THK    MAN. 

Mr.  Doolittle  gave  us  an  exct^llent  talk  on  the 
subject  above.  The  tifst  thing  of  prime  impor- 
tance; is  the  (iiieen.  \V(»  should  not  have  excess- 
ive biood-rearing  after  the  honey-season,  but 
encourage  it  by  all  jiossible  means  hrfoi'c,  so  as 
to  have  a  U>vco  of  bees  of  honey-gathering  age 
come  on  at  the  right  time.  As  to  location,  most 
of  us.  Mr.  Doolittle  said,  are  bound  iiy  our  eii- 
vironmeiils.  and  therefoi'e  the  location  may  be 
good  or  bad:  but  all  honor  to  the  man  who  se- 
cures good  crops  in  a  poor  location.  As  to  the 
man.  he  must  be  one  of  push — one  not  woi'king 
to  fill  out  so  many  hours,  but  wcjikiiig  for  a  cer- 
tain delinite  result.     He  must   eniov  bis  work: 


18 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  L 


and   the  bee-kepper  who  has  made  a  success 
must  be  an  enthusiast. 

BEES  BETTEK  THAX   FARMING  ;    CAX  BEE-KEEP- 
ING   BE    MADE    A    SPECIALTY  ? 

A  lively  discussion  followed  after  Mr.  Doolit- 
tle  sat  down.  It  assumed  all  sorts  of  phases. 
For  instance,  "Do  bees  pay  better  than  farm- 
ing?" The  reply  was  made  that  it  did.  As  to 
whether  it  paid  to  make  the  bees  a  specialty,  or 
mix  in  other  things,  was  also  discussed  in  a 
lively  manner.  While  the  majority  evidently 
seemed  to  think  it  did  pay.  a  few  insisted  that 
it  did  not.  Capt.  Hetherington  was  not  sure 
whethei'  he  was  a  specialist  or  not.  When  a 
boy  sixteen  years  old  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Quinby. 
asking  whether  he  had  better  make  bees  a  spe- 
cialty. Mr.  (}.  advised  him  not  to  do  so.  and 
suggested  connecting  it  with  dairying  or  school- 
teaching.  The  captain  asked  us  to  note  how 
very  few  of  the  old  bee-keepers  who  had  made 
bee-keeping  a  specialty  had  made  it  a  success. 
Mr.  Doolittle  was  then  asked  the  question  as  to 
whether  he  was  a  specialist  or  not.  He  was 
hardly  prepared  to  say  that  he  was.  His  main 
business  now  was  queen-rearing,  while,  years 
ago.  he  produced  comb  honey.  Why  didn't  he 
do  so  now?  some  one  asked.  Because,  years 
ago.  he  got  ;.'8  cents  a  pound,  and  now  it  has 
come  down  to  13  and  l.">.  While  queen-i"earing 
paid  him.  he  also  thought  the  production  of 
honey  would  pay. even  now.  The  feeling  seem- 
ed to  prevail  that  it  is  not  wise  to  embark  in 
liee-keeping  hastily  as  a  specialty.  If  you  have 
already  something  that  pays  you  well,  don't 
dabble  in  bees. 

CONTROLLING    SWARMING. 

A  paper  from  W.  F.  Clarke  was  read,  on  the 
pi'evention  of  swarming.  By  knowing  the  cause 
we  may  bring  about  a  cui-e.  He  asked.  "  Are 
not  our  hives  too  small,  oi'  overcrowded  ?'"  and 
added,  '•  Is  not  swarming  a  great  deal  like  emi- 
gration?" He  believed  in  plenty  of  room,  and 
in  keeping  the  hives  in  a  shady  place. 

Quite  a  discussion  followed  the  reading  of 
this  paper.  Most  of  those  present  seemed  to 
acknowledge  their  inability  to  control  swarm-, 
ing.  and  some  others  averivd  that  they  did  not 
care  to  do  so— it  is  nature,  and  nature  should  be 
gratitfed.  because  more  honey  is  secured  there- 
by. It  was  easy  enough  to  control  swarming 
when  running  for  exinivicd  honey,  by  the  use  of 
Ijerforated  zinc:  but  when  it  comes  to  the  pi'o- 
duction  of  comb  hon<'y.  it  was  another  maitei'. 
Thi'  (|uestion  then  came  up  as  to  controlling 
swarming  by  caging  or  i-emoving  the  queens,  as 
is  practiced  bv  El  wood.  Hetherington.  and  A.  E. 
Manum.  (i.  M.  Doolittle  and  .1.  E.  Crane  could 
not  mak(>  it  work.  President  Elwood  was  then 
called  upon.  Some  varieties  of  bees,  he  said, 
are  much  more  inclined  to  swarm  than  others. 
They  ran  about  iK)U  colonies  for  comb  honey, 
and  thcM'e  was  not  one  strong  colony  out  of  all 
tliat  number  that  did  not  attempt 'to  swarm. 
Half  of  this  number  they  suhse(]uently  reduced 
in  strenglh.  and  from  the  other  half  they  re- 
moved the  que(>ns.  From  the  latter  thev  got 
more  honey.  Mr.  West  succeeded  in  controlling 
the  desire  to  a  very  great  extent  by  the  use  of 
his(iueen-cell  protectoi's— that  is.  he  would  de- 
stroy all  old  queens  just  before  the  swarming 
season,  and  insert  crils  from  choice  (juef'us  in 
his  protectoi's  in  the  colonies  made  (pieenless. 
When  the  young  iiueens  got  to  hivinjr.  the 
swarming  fever  would  be  over. 

THE    ITALIAN   BEE.   AND    HOW   SHAM,    IT    1!K 
MARKED? 

Mr.  Knickeibocker  I'ead  an  essay  on  the  Ital- 
ian bee.  showing  tli<'  piincipal  points  of  excel- 
lence. Italians.  In-  .-aid.  w oik  earlier  and  later, 
and   iireed  uj)  earlici'.  and    store   hoiiev  in   the 


brood-nest.  As  to  which  quality  we  should 
give  the  preference,  that  depended  upon  cir- 
cumstances. If  we  want  bright  colors,  breed 
for  them:  if  we  want  honey,  ])reed  for  honey 
and  good  wintering  qualities,  rather  than  for 
bright  colors  or  particular  markings.  But  Ital- 
ians have  certain  general  characteristics  and 
markings;  and  it  would  be  very  desirable  to 
have  a  standard  that  the  National  Association 
could  agree  upon.  It  is  now  an  undisputed 
fact,  he  said,  that  many  Italians  have  been 
sent  out  that  were  mixed  with  Cyprian  blood. 
Italians  must  be  Italians,  and  nothing  else. 

A  lively  discussion  followed  the  reading  of 
this  paper.  Many  took  the  ground  that  a  stan- 
dard could  not  be  made:  and  the  point  came  up 
as  to  whether  the  Italians  are  a  pure  race  of 
bees  or  hybrids.  The  dkscussion  grew  "  redhot,'^ 
as  the  boy  said ;  but  every  one  "  kept  sweet." 
Doolittle  averred  that  the  Italians  were  hybrid, 
because  they  were  so  much  inclined  to  sport, 
and  that  the  black  bee  was  the  only  pure  race. 
Dadant  and  one  or  two  others  insisted  that  the 
black  bee  was  not  a  pure  bee— that  there  were 
varieties  or  sports  of  this  I'ace.  The  discussion 
waxed  warm  until  a  committee  was  appointed 
by  tbe  chair  to  follow  out  Mr.  Knickerbocker's 
suggestions — that  is.  draw  up  a  standard  with  a 
scale  of  markings  for  recommendation  to  the 
convention.  This  committee  was  composed  of 
G.  H.  Knickerbocker,  G.  M.  Doolittle,  C.  P.  Da- 
dant, and  .1.  E.  Ci'ane.  When  the  committee  as- 
sembled, the  old  bone  of  contention  was  renew- 
ed, and  they  took  sides,  neither  party  being 
willing  to  yield  to  the  other.  I  longed  for  a 
Kodak,  or  something  to  photogra])h  them.  It 
was  a  real  sight  to  see  them  argue  with  their 
index  fingers  pointed  toward  each  other.  They 
finally  compromised  matters  very  nicely,  and 
the  report,  with  one  or  two  amendments  as 
adopted  by  the  convention,  is  as  follows: 

WHAT  CONSTITUTES  AN   ITALIAN   BEE';' 

Italian  liees  must  adhere  to  the  combs  when  proi)- 
erly  liandled,  and  not  cluster  about,  or  i-usli  around 
and  fall  to  the  ground.  They  nuist  have  tliree 
liands,  of  a  color  ranging-  from  golden  yellow  to 
leather  coloi'.  They  must  he  quiet  when  well  han- 
dled, and  in  time  of  scai'city  must  place  their  honey 
in  a  compact  shape. 

SCHEDVLE  OF  MARKING. 

Comb-building,  10.  Wintering,  15. 

Honey-gatheiing,  35.  Gentleness,  10. 

Proliflcness,  15.  Color,  5. 

APICULTURE   AT    THE    C()LUMBL\N    EXPOSITION. 

A  paper  was  read  by  Dr.  Mason,  on  the  out- 
look of  apiculture  at  the  Columbian  Exposition. 
From  it  we  learned  that  all  exhibitors  are  to  be 
on  the  ground  by  April  1.  1893.  and  that  each 
State,  for  its  honey-exhibit,  would  be  allowed 
only  100  .square  feet.  Colorado  bee  -  keepers 
alone  had  applied  for  1000  square  feet.  This 
was  a  poser.  In  the  discussion  which  followed, 
it  was  urged  that  we  ask  for  tuore  space,  as  1(X) 
square  feet  per  State  would  be  insufficient.  But 
over  against  thisit  was  urged  that  all  the  States 
would  not  attempt  to  make  an  exhibit  of  honey.' 
and  their  apportioiuuent  of  space  would  go  to 
help  make  up  the  allotnu'Ut  of  the  States  that 
did  wisli  to  exhibit.  Dui'ing  the  cour.«e  of  the 
discussion.  Capt.  Hetherington.  wlio  has  had 
much  experience,  told  us.  in  a  very  intei'esting 
way.  of  the  honey-exhihit  wliich  he  pi-epared 
for  the  Centennial  in  ISTCi — an  exhibit  wliich  at- 
tracted so  general  attention  at  the  time.  He 
gave  us  many  interesting  suggestion^ — sugges- 
tions which  the  commitiee  will  probably  make 
use  of.  A  committee  of  tliree.  consisting  of  Dr. 
Mason,  P.  H.  Elwood,  and  Hon.  .1.  ^V.  Hain- 
baugh.  with  Dr.  ]Mason  as  chaii'inan,  was  ap- 
IJointed  to  confer  with  the  |iroper  authtirities  of 
the  exposition  at  Cliiciigo.  with  reference  to  an 
apiarian  exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair.     As  here- 


IS'.f.' 


cLKAMNMJs  IN  HKK  cn^'nin'; 


lofori',  llic  i-(iiiv cm  ion  \\;is  iihmit  tn  ii'cuiiiiiirii(l 
\)i.  A.  I>.  Miisim  as  ilii'  rijilii  iiiaii  tn  lakr 
fharirc  of  tin-  liom-v -cxliihit.  Sonic  one.  I  l)i'- 
licvc  it  was  Mi'.  Dadaiit.  said  it  was  an  nnncc- 
I'ssary  step,  as  liic  i-ontmissioncrs  wonld  follow 
tht'ii'  own  sweet  will,  no  matter  wiiat  reconi- 
niendation  we  niiy:lit  inal<e.  In  tiie  jfeneial  dis- 
eiissionit  was  ictraided  tliat  tliis was  tiie  <joiden 

oi)|ioftnnit\   now   Ix'fore    the    h ixeepers  of  t  lie 

I'nited  States  to  niaivc  a  iriaiid  exiiiliit- oin' 
that  wonld  be  edneationai.  and  of  nineh  iini)or- 
lanee  to  tiie  indnstry.  It  was  not  an  opportuni- 
ty tliiit  we  eoiild  afToid  to  let  slip  l)y.  and  it 
was  iioped  that  the  committee  appointed  would 
give  tiie  matter  tiie  attention  it  deserved. 

SI'KAVINli     l-litlT-TlU'.KS    .\ND    1'OISONINO    HKKS. 

At  one  of  tlie  sessions  Pfof.  Somebody  (I  liave 
lost  the  memorandum  of  liis  name).of  tlie  I)e- 
pai'tment  of  lOntomolojiy  of  the  State  of  New 
YoiU.  was  introduced  to  the  c'onventi(jn.  Tiie 
pi'ofessor  desirini  to  aseeftain  to  wliat  extent 
hee-l\eepei-s  had  expericMU'ed  trouble  from  the 
poisoiiinji  of  tlieir  bees  as  the  result  of  arseni- 
cal sprayings  of  tre(^s  during  fruit-bloom.  He 
had  always  urged,  in  his  advice  to  fruit-grow- 
ers, to  spray  the  trees  just  before  and  just  after 
blossoming.  Imt  lie  said  it  wonld  be  a  great  ad- 
vantage if  tliey  could,  w  ithout  detriment  to  tlie 
b<'e-kee])ei'"s  interests,  spray  ihiriiKj  fi-iiit- 
bloom.  It  was  his  opinion  that  the  arsenical 
lioisoiis  were  so  weak  that  tlioy  would  do  no 
harm  to  the  bees,  even  if  the  blossoms  were 
si)rayed  during  full  bloom.  As  this  was  a  con- 
vention of  rei)i-esentative  bee-l<oepers  from  all 
over  the  land,  he  desired  expert  t<^stimony.  and 
sat  down. 

Very  promptly  C.  P.  Dadant.  supported  by 
Hon.  J.  M.  Hambangli.  told  of  an  instance  of  a 
neighbor's  bees  that  had  been  poisoned  by  the 
thousands — in  fact,  the  apiary  was  almost  ex- 
terminated by  the  spraying  of  fruit-trees  dur- 
ing tlie  time  of  blo.s.s()niing.  The  professor 
seemed  hardly  satisfied  with  this  and  wished 
better  proof.  He  desii'ed  to  know  whether  a 
chemist  had  made  an  analysis  of  the  contents 
•of  the  honey-sacs.  The  gentlemen  replied  that 
the  chemist  liad  not  done  so.  as  they  regarded 
the  jiroof  sufiHcient.  The  professor  would  not 
ri'gard  this  us  a  scicntitir  jiroof.  The  bees,  he 
thought,  might  have  died  from  otVier  causes, 
liut  THidant  and  Hambaugh  insisted  that  it 
was  .-igniticaiit  that  the  bees  died  just  at  the 
time  of  sj)raying:  and  when  the  s|jraying  had 
stopped,  the  dying-off'  of  the  bees  stoiified  also. 
Still  the  professor  was  a  doubting  Tliomas. 
The  Hon.  .1.  M.  Hambaugh  said  he  intro- 
duced the  bill  in  his  own  State.  Illinois,  for  for- 
bidding the  spraying  of  fiMiit-trees  during  the 
time  iilossoms  wei'e  on.  and  the  bill  had  nearly 
passed.  He  was  urged  to  draw  uj)  this  hill  by  a 
pressure  of  bee-kr'cpers  from  all  ovei'  that  State, 
who  had  complained  of  poisoning  fi-om  tlie 
sjirayings.  About  this  time  expert  testimony 
began  to  pour  in  from  all  parts  of  the  conven- 
tion. J.  E.  Crane,  of  N'ermont.  and  somebody 
else,  teslitied  that  they  hud  actually  .seen  be(>s 
dead  and  dving  iindi-r  trees  that  had  been 
sprayed  with  arsenical  poisons:  and  the  doses 
for  till'  s|)raying  were  no  strong<'r  than  was  rec- 
ommended. I  was  niv.^elf  surprised  at  the 
number  who  had  seen  bees  jioisoned  from  the 
spraying  of  fruit.  If  a  iniiltitnde  of  testimonies 
and  a  stiong  array  of  circumstantial  evidence 
mean  any  thing,  tlie  professor  must  undoiibted- 
ly  have  iieen  convinced,  even  biirrini:  the  chem- 
ical analysis  of  the  bees"  stomach^.  At  anv 
rate,  he  seemed  sati-tied.  and  said  he  would 
continur-  to  advise  as  he  had  done  heretofore,  to 
spray  lieforr-  and  after  lilossomiiig.  A  vote  of 
tlianks  was  then  tendered  hini  for  his  kind  con- 
siiieration  in  our  behalf. 


One  of  the  \  aluable  >e|  \  ices  I  hat   t  his  com' I'll - 

tion  has  i-eiidcrcd  is  lo  lia\ f  the  bad  resiiltsof 
spraying  during  fruit-bloom.  It  also  showed 
that  the  interests  of  the  fiuit-grower  and  hon- 
ey-raiser' are  one:  tliat  all  the  results  that  can 
be  (Icsii'cd  can  be  accomplished  after  tlu^  petals 
have  fallen  off  from  IIm'  ininialure  fruit.  Pi'of. 
('ook'"s  alilc  paper,  read  before  tln^  Association 
for  the  advancement  (d'  Agricultural  Sciencr". 
at  \\'ashinglon.  and  pulilished  on  page  73;i.  ISUI. 
was  introduced  in  evidence. 

rWO   SIZKS   OK   SI<X'[1()NS    K0I{    \    SI'.\NI)AIU). 

An  essay  was  read  from  Dr.  ('.('.  Miller,  on 
th(>  subject  as  above.  The  doctor  discussed  the 
desirability  and  feasibility  of  having  two  sizes 
as  standard.  Tlmy  iiece.ssarily  cost  the  supply- 
dealer  more,  and  therefore  indirectly  the  bee- 
keejier.  It  would  be  desirable,  he  thought,  to 
have  only  one  standard:  but  in  the  present 
condition  of  things,  that  seemed  imijossible. 
He  ratiier  objected  to  IK  sections  for  one  of  the 
standards,  because  they  hold  less  than  a  pound, 
and  iiecause  the  consumer  buys  it  for  an  osten- 
sible pound  package,  when  it  was  not.  He  did 
not  wish  to  lie  a  party  in  any  such  business. 
In  connection  with  th(^  essay  were  read  two 
letters,  one  from  W.  T.  Falconer,  and  the  other 
from  the  (i.  H.  Lmvis  Manufacturing  Co.  Both 
held  tlie  ground  that  it  was  desirable  to  have  a 
standard  if  it  could  be  adopted.  The  l'^^x4liKi}4 
comes  as  near  as  aiiy  thing  to  being  a  standard: 
but  bi'sides  thi'se  there  are  dozens  of  other  sizes 
whicli  they  are  obliged  to  keep  in  stock. 

A  number  of  commission  men  were  present, 
and  objected  to  the  point  made  by  the  doctor 
on  small-size  or  under-weight  .sections.  The 
"  under- weights  "  were  accepted  readily.  Con- 
sumers would  ask.  "  How  much  is  honey  a 
pound?"'  The  reply  would  be.  for  instance. 
■"Eighteen  ccuits.'"  The  consumer  would  call 
for  a  section.  When  the  change  was  made  out 
he  would  be  charged  only  1(5  cents:  but  let 
there  be  an  over-weight  section,  and  there 
would  be  complaint.  Commission  men  seemed 
to  prefer  large  and  thiniuu'  combs,  of  a  tritie 
under  a  pound,  and  this  is  one  reason  why  per- 
hapsa4^oX4'._.  section,  seven  to  the  foot,  has  been 
coming  into  prominence.  H.  R.  Wright  showed 
his  under-weight  tall  section,  a  trifle  taller  than 
wide.  The  display  was  a  little  better,  he  said, 
and  consumers  readily  took  it. 

GRADING   OF    IIONEV. 

The  di.scussion  Hnally  tni'ned  to  the  all-impor- 
tant question,  (jradiiuj  honey.  The  system 
adopted  by  the  Northwestern  at  Chicago  was 
discussed  "pretty  thoroughly.  The  first  grade 
at  that  convention  was  "  superfine.""  (Irade 
No.  2  also  calls  foi'  very  fine  honey:  but  the 
mere  fact  of  its  being  classed  as  No.  2  puts  a 
stigma  upon  it  that  it  does  not  deserve.  The 
Alliany  convention,  as  well  as  commission  men 
readily  saw  the  need. of  a  change  here.  A  large 
committee  was  afipointed.  comprising  a  num- 
ber of  prominent  iiee-keepei's  and  commission 
men  iireseiit.  to  draw  up  a  new  schedule  id' 
grading,  and  report  to  the  convention.  The  re- 
port as  adopted  is  as  follows: 

HKI'OKT   OK  COMMITTKK   ON    OK.>M)li\(i    COMli    HOXKV. 

Hone.v  sliall  lie  M'i'adfd  in  two  grades,  tlie  tlrst  to 
\n-  known  in  llii-  trade  as  "faiicv.'"  or  "fancy 
white,"  and  to  lie  marked  "A."  It  shall  lie  coin- 
posed  of  well-tilled  sections  of  lifilit -colored  lionies. 
One  fiij-e  of  eacli  section  sliail  l)e  leifei't  in  appenr- 
aiice,  fully  sealed,  except  the  IiiH'  of  cells  toucliinj!' 
tlie  wood.  The  other  side  of  tlie  section  sliail  t-illier 
be  perfect  in  I'olor  and  sealiiifr.  or  lu'arly  so. 

1'he  second  grade  sliall  lie  known  in  the  trade  as 
fair  1o  good,  while,  and  lie  inarkefl  "'('."  and  shall 
he  packed  to  meet  t  he  refpiireiuents  of  those  desir- 
ing a  good  honey,  but  who  care  little  for  outside 
ai)i.earance.  It  shall  lie  conipo>cd  of  honey  tlir.iwn 
out  of  the  Hist    grade,  irregular  and   travel-stained 


20 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  1. 


combs,  sec'.ioiis  not  perfectly  tilled,  but  yet  having- 
liut  little  unsealed  honey. 

White  honey,  third  grade,  nii.ved  with  inferior 
honey,  includiuK  buckwheat  and  fall  ttowers,  sliall 
be  graded  by  itself,  and  mark(<l"M."  We  desire 
that  combs  so  badly  grained  as  to  lia\'('  the  appear- 
ance of  saffron  be  thrown  into  lliis  grade. 

Buckwheat  honey  .shall  be  packed  tiv  itself  and 
shall  be  maiked  "B." 

Tliose  bte-ketpeis  stnding  lo  market  bo.xes 
known  as '■  pieces  "  sliall  i>ut  upon  them  a  private 
mark  of  their  own.  '1  his  should  also  apply  to  hon- 
ey-dew and  any  other  kind  not  falling  in  regular 
grades. 

1  was  out  when  the  report  was  read,  and  now 
thai  it  is  .sent  in — well,  it  is  not  quite  to  my  no- 
tion. W.  Z.  Hutchinson  e.xpresses  liinisclfin  a 
private  letter  as  being  not  quite  satisfied.  He 
and  I  were  both  in  hopes  the  Chicago  grading 
might  t>e  taken  as  the  basis,  and  the  munc  of 
the  grades  changed.  But  Albany  and  Chicago 
are  two  very  different  localities,  and  it  would 
be  hard  for  them  to  agree  upon  one  system  of 
grading. 

RENDEKING   \VA.\. 

A  paper  was  read  by  R.  F.  Holtermann,  on 
some  facts  not  generally  known  about  render- 
ing beeswa.x.  By  experiments  which  he  had 
made,  he  was  perfectly  salislicd  that  wax  is  oft- 
en overheated,  therefore  injuring  it  to  a  great 
extent  for  foundation. 

Dadant  took  the  ground  that  it  was  not  over- 
heating, but  steam,  that  did  the  mischief:  that 
it  was  the  incorporation  of  water  into  the  wax 
that  made  the  trouble.  Mr.  Cornell  was  not  of 
the  opinion  that  overheating  would  hurt  wax. 
In  fact,  in  some  experiments  in  melting  wax 
in  a  double  -  walled  solar  wax  -  extractor, 
he  had  maintained  a  temperature,  on  a  num- 
ber of  successive  days,  of  320  degrees.  It 
might  have  injured  it.  but  it  was  his  opinion 
that  it  did  not.  Mr.  Dadant  then  showed  us 
samples  of  foundation,  one  in  which  too  much 
steam  had  entered  into  tlu^  wax.  and  one  in 
which  it  had  not.  The  former  had  a  milky  color, 
and  the  latter  wasof  a  transparent  beautiful  am- 
ber. The  former  he  made  transpai'ent  by  sub- 
jecting it  to  the  heat  of  a  gas-jet. 

NEXT   PI-ACE   OF    .MKETING. 

When  we  came  to  talk  about  the  next  place 
of  meeting,  a  number  of  points  were  considered. 
We  were  very  much  undecided  where  to  go  un- 
til Captain  Hetherington  urged  the  claims  of 
Washington.  In  a  very  neat  and  felicitous 
speech  he  made,  it  was  evident  that  he  had 
carried  the  day;  and  evei-ybody  began  to  talk 
and  urge  Washington.  When  it  came  to  a  vote 
by  ballot,  the  decision  was  almost  unanimous 
in  favor  of  the  city  on  the  Potomac. 

Washington  is  the  Mecca,  it  was  urged,  of  all 
true  Americans;  and  every  bee-keeper  is  a 
loyal  man,  and  desires  some  day  to  visit  the 
national  capital.  Some  one  else"  said  that  it 
would  be  a  grand  place  to  take  the  women- 
folks and  children,  and  that  what  might  be 
lacking  in  local  attendance  for  the  next  meet- 
ing would  he  more  than  made  up  by  those  who 
had  come  to  see  the  capital  as  well  as  to  attend 
the  convention;  that  is, a  double  interest  would 
attract  many,  whereas  the  single  interest  of 
the  bee-convention  might  not. 

The  election  of  officers  resulted  as  follows: 
President,  Eugene  Secor,  of  Iowa;  Vice-presi- 
dent, Captain  J.  E.  Hetherington,  of  New  York; 
Secretary.  W.  Z.  Hutchinson,  of  Michigan; 
Treasurer.  E.  R.  Hoot,  of  Ohio. 


ALBANY  CONVENTION  SIDELIGHTS. 


chats  with  this  one  and  that  one.  During  the 
recesses  tlun'e  would  Ijea  lotof  bee-keepers  who 
would  rush  to  the  room  where  bee-keeping  im- 
plements wei'e  exhibited.  There  were  lots  of 
hives  and  fixin"s  there.  A  variety  of  double- 
walled  hives  were  shown,  and  other  imple- 
niiMits  over  which  one  bee-keeper  would  lie  very 
enthusiastic,  and  yet  another  one  would  not 
have  them  as  a  gift. 

Several  times  some  small  bee-keeper  would 
explain  some  new  lixing  of  his  own.  Why.  he 
had  experienced  lots  of  comfort  with  it  during 
the  past  season,  and  wished  his  bee-keeping 
friends  to  know  it.  Some  of  the  veterans — those 
who  nuinl)er  their  colonies  by  the  several  hun- 
dreds, would  look  on  and  smile,  and  remark, 
aside.  •■(Jood  enough  for  him,  but  (re  can  not 
tolerate  such  a  roundabout  way  of  doing  things." 

I  had  long  wanted  to  see  the  extractor  of 
W.  L.  Coggshall.  that  West  Groton  bee-keeper 
who  produces  so  many  tons  of  extracted  honey, 
and  there  it  was,  among  the  other  exhibits. 
He  wouldn't  have  any  of  the  commercial  ma- 
chines, as  they  are  not  made  to  suit  him.  He 
uses  a  Langstroth  frame,  and  wants  it  to  hang 
in  the  extractor  just  as  it  does  in  the  hive.  A 
very  little  talk  with  him  will  convince  you  that 
he  has  some  very  good  reasons  for  such  a  pref- 
erence. Of  course,  it  makes  the  extractor  large 
and  ungainly.  Why.  it  is  as  large  as  the  Stan- 
ley automatic,  and  the  combs  are  not  reversible 
either.  It  is  a  four-frame  machine;  and  instead 
of  combs  being  put  in  the  four  sides  of  the 
basket,  they  are  put  in  in  pairs,  with  a  strip  of 
tin  between.  Of  course,  the  two  inside  combs 
are  nearer  the  center-shaft;  but  he  says  that 
makes  no  practical  difference.  The  idea  is  not 
so  crude  as  it  might  be. 

Some  one  jokingly  asked  Mr.  C.  why  he  did 
not  make  his  extractor  large  enough  to  take  in 
a  whole  ui)pei'  story,  one  on  each  side  of  the 
basket.  A  number  of  prominent  bee-men  were 
present:  and  as  if  it  were  a  huge  joke,  tiiey  be- 
gan to  outline  the  plan.  "Why,"  said  one,  "  all 
you  need  is  some  sort  of  an  tuicapping-machine 
that  will  lull  between  the  combs  just  as  they 
are  in  the  hive.  Then  slip  in  a  sheet  of  tin  be- 
tween each  pair  of  combs.  Put  two  supers  of 
this  kind  in  the  extractor,  and  let  it  whirl.  The 
honey  will  fly  out  and  strike  the  sheets  of  tin, 
and  drain  out  below:  then  reverse  the  supers 
the  other  side  out.  and  start  the  machine,  and, 
presto  I  there  would  be  two  whole  supers,  each 
containing  ten  Langstroth  frames,  with  the 
honey  all  extracted,  without  so  much  as  a 
frame  being  removed."  I  began  to  think  of  the 
Heddon  supers,  and  the  thought  came  to  me 
that  there  were  possiMfitJes  in  the  line  of  un- 
capping combs  without  removing  a  frame,  es- 
pecially with  fixed  frames.  There  was  also  a 
possibility  of  having  sheets  of  tin  so  fastened 
that  they  would  be  held  at  equal  distances; 
and  these  sheets  or  rack  of  spaced  sheets  could 
be  dropped  between  the  spaces  between  the 
combs.  We  all  had  a  big  laugh  over  the  big 
invention,  and  it  turned  somewhat  at  friend 
Coggshall's  expense.  "See  here,"  I  said,  "  gen- 
tlemen, there  may  be  a  bigger  thing  in  this 
than  you  think,  taken  in  connection  with  the 
shallow  extracting  supers  with  fixed  frames." 
Nobody  can  patent  this,  because  reliable  wit- 
nesses will  testify  that  the  invention  was  Iwrn  at 
Albany,  even  if  it  does  seem  now  like  a  big  joke. 
Understand,  I  do  not  say  it  is  practicable,  but 
some  day  somethiny  might  come  of  it. 


IN    HETAVEE.N    SKS.SION- 


To  me,  the  best   part  of  any  convention  is  the 
intermissions— the  hand-shakings  and  the  little 


I  had  a  very  pleasant  visit  with  i  aptaiu 
Hetherington.  The  impression  has.  perhaps, 
gone  abroad  that  he  is  a  recluse,  and  a  man 
who  keeps  all  the  good  things  to  himself. 
Nothing  could  be  further  from   the  truth.     He 


18!fJ 


(JLKAMNciS  IN   KKK  (  ll/riKK. 


tistnl  ti)  bi>  pi'omiiifiit  ;ii  cniiv  iMitioiis.  iiiid  his 
inuiu>  aMpoarcd  frciinciitly  in  hcc-joiirniils:  hut 
it  tMiiailt'd  siu'li  ail  iminciisc  anuiiint  of  coiics- 
pmuiciu'i',  ami  itroiiiiiil  Sd  iiiaiiy  visitors  to  liis 
plaoc.  tliat  lie  foiiiHl  lie  w  as  ohliiicd  to  w  itii- 
(iraw  liimsclf  from  the  piihiii-.  As  he  was 
iicitliiM"  an  t'llitor  nor  siipijjy-ilcaicr.  siicli  an 
amount  of  iHiirt'spomiiMUT.  amisomany  visitors, 
not  only  bot'anm  a  irrcat  hufdi'n,  tmt  could  l)o  of 
no  possible  service  to  him:  and  ln>  was  too  po- 
lite not  loanswcrhiseorrespondents.aiid  toiu'oi- 
dial  not  to  entertain,  ami  so  the  only  alternati\'e 
was  to  out  otT  the  oii<rinal  source  that  broujrlit 
it  about.  Now  that  W(>  iiave  so  many  excel- 
lent liee-books  and  bee-papers.  I  sincerely  hope 
the  liay  is  past  when  it  was  nocossary  to  go  and 
intfM'view  and  taUe  the  time  of  some  of  thes(^ 
extensive  bee-keeix'rs.  at  least  uninvited,  and 
durinc  the  busv  rush  of  the  honev-season. 


1  had  delightful  chats  with  J.  H.  Nellis.  of 
the  former  Bic-kcejwrs'  ExclKimje.  and  with 
.lulius  Hott'man.  the  man  who  invented  the 
ilotVman  frame.  I  showed  him  our  modified 
HotVman  frame  foi- the  L.  hive,  and  explained 
to  him  how  it  was  we  were  obliged  to  use  a 
straight  top-bar.  After  looking  it  all  over  he 
readily  acquiesced  with  our  modification,  and 
said  that  it  was  better  for  the  L.  size.  At 
one  of  the  intei'inissions  Mr.  Ilott'man  favored 
us  with  some  music  on  th<»  piano.  It  was  easy 
to  see  that  it  was  a  master's  hand  that  touched 
the  keys,  for  indeed  he  is  one  ()f  the  most  accom- 
plished musicians  in  the  country-  I  vvas  sorry 
afterward  that  I  did  not  think  in  time  to  suggest 
the  propriety  of  his  favoring  the  whole  conven- 
tion with  rnusic.  Perhaps  he  can  at  some  fu- 
ture time.  

Some  of  those  large  honey-producers  of  York 
State — those  who  produce  their  honey  by  the 
ton  and  carload,  are  a  little  sensitive  about 
liaving  their  crops  made  public.  One  reason  is. 
it  creates  a  wrong  impression,  and  leads  out- 
side liee-keepers  to  think  that  they  are  making 
a  mint  of  money,  and  quite  frequently  it  is  the 
cause  of  others  coming  into  their  locality,  and 
crowding  upon  their  fields.  When  these  large 
crops  are  published,  small  one-horse  bee-keep- 
ers are  apt  to  forget  the  enormous  expense  and 
labor  required  to  harvest  the  crop:  and  wiien 
they  come  in,  with  little  or  no  knowledge  of  the 
locali  y.  they  are  sure  to  make  a  failure  for 
themselves,  and  to  seriously  interfere  with  the 
average  per  colony  of  those  bee-keepers  who 
were  lirst  in  the  field. 

While  sitting  at  the  dinner-table  at  the  hotel. 
Mr.  McKnight.  of  Owen  Sound.  Canada,  gave 
us  a  very  interesting  account  of  the.  Colonial 
Exhibition  in  i.oudon.  and  how  the  Canadian 
hcjiiey  was  gatheri'd  up.  how  i*  was  shijjjjed. 
how  it  was  displayed,  and  finally  sold.  The 
information  he  gave  us  was  very  valuable,  and 
we  hopi'  he  will  some  day  give  us  the  benefit  of 
the  information  througli  an  article  or  two.  in 
order  that  the  bee-kee])ers  of  this  country  who 
are  about  to  prepare  a  mammoth  exhibit  of 
honey  for  the  World's  Fair  may  profit  l)y  his 
experience  and  suggestions.  W(-  will  not  at- 
tempt to  reproduce  Mr.  McK night's  account 
here,  as  we  fear  we  might  not  get  all  the  facts 
straight. 


W.  Z.  HUTCHINSON'S  VISIT  TO  MEDINA. 

wiiA  I    hi;  thinks  of   ihi;  homk  of   iiik    Ho.\- 
i:v-i!Ki:s. 

We  were  going  to '•  wiite  up"VV.  Z.'s  visit 
here:  but  the  following.  tak<Mi  from  the  Decem- 
ber /?c)'/ei/'.  is  so  much   better  than   anything 


\\e  could  give,  u e  take  pleasure  ill  repioducing 
it  instead. 

Tilts  is  written  sitliiiK  at  Ernest's  de.sk  at  tlie 
"Home  ol'  llie  Honey  -  liees"  in  Medina,  Ohi(». 
.\i-(nm(i  me  is  tlie  click  of  typc-selt  Iiik  and  type- 
wiilers,  while  fioiii  below  comes  1  lie  wliiriiiitr  sound 
of  iiiiicliiiiery  ill  mot  ion.  I'or  :i  loiij.;'  tiiiu'  I  li;ivi'  de- 
sired to  visil  I  liis  esl;ililisliiiieiit.  I  lime  often  tried 
to  imagine  how  I  should  feel  when  walkiiijr  over 
from  ;lie  st;il  ion  ;iii(l  loolviiiji- uji  at  tluil  stone  liee- 
lii\-e  o\-er  the  inseriiil  ion.  "  In  (iod  we  Trust."  Yes- 
tei(l;i\  iiioiiiintr  I  experienced  lli;it  sensation,  and- 
found  it  fully  as  pleasurable  as  I  had  expecte<i  it 
would  l)e. 

The  tiist  man  to  discover  and  welcome  mc  wa,s 
W.  I'.  Koot.  the  [iroof  -  reader  and  stenographer. 
We  had  often  correspoiuled  in  slioilhaiid.  Intact, 
I  once  wrote  an  ai'ticle  on  windmills  in  slioitiiaiul 
for  (ii.io.VNiNCiS.  and  W.  I',  put  it  in  type  dii'ectly 
from  the  shorthand  maiiiisciipt.  He  Mi"isped  my 
hand  and  s;iid:  "  You  are  the  man  I  lia\e  lonjr  l)eeii 
waiitiiifi'  lo  see."  and  led  the  way  up  to  I  lie  otlice. 

I  had  heard  thai  nearl.v  every  visitor  to  the  Hoot 
estalilislimeiit  had  lieen  sur))rised  at  its  maffiiitude, 
C()iise(|Uently  1  had  niadt'  up  m.v  mind  that  I  was 
not  g'oiiig'  to  he  suii)rised.  but  I  was.  I  was  not  sur- 
prised at  th(>  outsitte  of  the  hiiildiiiK's— tlie  illustra- 
tions in  GIjEanings  have  shown  these  quite  fairly  — 
Imt  it  .seemed  to  me  as  thoiifi-li  they  were  about 
three  times  as  larg'e  inside  as  they  were  outside. 
Medina  is  not  a  larg'e  city— about  'MM  inhaliitants  — 
and  almost  from  necessity  many  trades  must  lie 
represented  at  this  one  institution.  Tliesendinji- 
away  for  repairs,  and  delays  from  fretting- out  of 
many  thiiiM's,- would  be  too  expensive.  Tlieie  are 
many  thin.us  that  Puniest  said  he  would  tfladl.v  driip, 
and  rid  himself  of  so  much  worry,  hut  it  seemed 
well-nig:li  impossible  to  do  so.  Ernest  showed  me 
over  the  establishment,  then  b.\-  a  sort  of  tacit 
agreement  he  went  alxiut  his  work  and  allowed  me 
to  roam  about  at  my  own  sweet  will.  You  see,  we 
were  to  go  on  togethei-  to  Albanj',  and  we  both 
knew  that  we  would  liave  plenty  of  opportunity  for 
visiting  wlille  on  the  road.  The  beauty  of  m.v  visit 
was  that  everybod.v  seemed  to  know  me  at  once. 
This  ma.v  be  accounted  for  tiy  tlu^  fact  that  eveiy 
employe  receives  a  copy  of  Gleanings.  In  live 
minutes  the*  pi-e.ssman  and  I  were  deep  in  the  dis- 
cu.ssion  of  hard  and  soft  "  packing"  for  cylinder 
presses,  of  the  kind  of  jiaper  needed  for  the  various 
kinds  of  work,  the  liest  inks,  etc.  Then  he  fished 
out  his  printers'  magazines,  and  we  kioked  them 
over.  This  is  a  fair  sample  of  how  I  put  in  mj' 
time. 

I  don't  remember  ever  going  through  so  lai'ge  an 
establishment  where  every  thing  was  quite  so  neat 
and  clean.  Eiiiest  remarked,  in  a  joking  way,  in  a  re- 
cent issue  of  Glkanings,  that  if  folks  would  only 
let  them  }nii>w  when  the.v  were  coming,  they  W(mld 
have  a  "  clarin' u])  "  spell  before  their  arrival.  Of 
course,  my  visit  was  known  in  advance;  but  some- 
how 1  feel  just  as  though  there  was  no  "clarin"  up" 
spell  on  that  account.  Most  of  the  rooms  were  just 
as  clean  as  a  dwelling-house;  .ves.  far  more  so  than 
some  I  have  seen.  Then  ever.v  thing  was  so  liand.v 
and  convenient — so  sjstematizedl  Each  had  a  i)ar- 
ticular  dut.v  to  jierform.  and  the  manner  in  which 
these  duties  were  performed  pleased  me  exceeding- 
l.v.     It  was  with  a  sort  of  pride  in  the  work. 

Yes.  I  went  out  with  Ernest  and  looked  at  the 
bees.  The  apiar.v  is  very  pleasantlj  located.  The 
view  lately  given  iuGLE.iNiNGS  of  the  Shane  ai>iary, 
after  it  had  been  brought  home,  is  tin-  onlyone  that 
does  justice  to  tlu>  Ilea  lit  y  of  the  .vard.  This  view, 
however,  does  not  show  the  whole  yard.  The  evei^ 
greens  on  the  north  and  west  sides  stand  in  as  neat 
and  symmetrical  rows  jts  T  ever  saw.  .\s  an  orna- 
ment and  windbreak  t hey  are  a  suc<-ess.  Ernest  is 
exiierimenting  quite  a  little  now  as  to  the  use  or 
non-use  of  absorlients.  It  looks  now  as  though  ab- 
sorbents might  be  an  actual  detriment.  Eet  the 
bees  seal  tlie  covers  down  tightly,  so  no  moisture 
will  escape,  then  use  ]jrotectioii  of  some  kiiifl  out- 
side tlie  hives,  where  the  moisture  can  not  reach  it. 
The  management  of  the  apial•.^•  and  of  Gleanings 
is  left  largel\'  lo  Ernest,  while  the  liusiness  manage- 
menl  is  ill  the  hand-,  of  Mr.  Calvert,  tiardening  is 
Mr.  A.  I.  Root's  liolibj-  now;  the  "  lioys,"  as  A.  1. 
calls  them,  being  allowed  a  wide  latitude  in  their 
departments.  They  are  more  gi\-eii  to  the  "  trying 
of  new  things"  than  is  the  case  with  A.  I.,  although 
no  momentous  step  is  taken  without  his  advice  or 
consent. 
One   of    the    new   things    that    are    about     to    lie 


(;leaning.s  in  bee  culture. 


Jan.  1. 


broiiglit  out  is  a  revei-sihle  hyney-extractor.  Tt  is 
not  automatic,  but  tlie  liaskets  can  he  reversed  so 
(juickly  that  but  little  time  is  lost,  while  much  is 
jfaiiied  in  the  way  of  making-  the  can  smaller,  and 
in  lesseninof  the  expense. 

Yes.  T  saw  tliat  biig-lit  joung-ster  of  eifi^ht  months, 
Lehind  Ives,  wlio  is  now  able  to  sit  u|)  in  a  high- 
chair  and  make  a  noise  in  the  world.  T  did  feel  a 
little  {iuilty  for  .coiiiint!-  away  without  calling-  on 
his  new  cousin,  Howard  Hoot  Calvert;  but  he  is  so 
young-  that  1  feared  he  wouldn  t  take  much  notice  of 
ine. 

As  some  of  you  may  know,  Ernest's  liobbj',  or  one 
of  his  hobbies,  is  that  of  photog-i-aphy;  and  when  I 
tell  you  that  he  brought  home  his  fourth  or  fi/(?i 
camera  on  the  day  of  my  arrival,  it  is  not  to  be  won- 
dered that  his  wife  said,  "What!  oy«/f/)er  one '•'"  us- 
ing the  same  tone  and  expression  that  my  wife 
sometimes  uses  when  T  bring  liome  a  new  font  of 
displa.v  type. 

When  I  woke  up  in  the  night  it  took  me  some  little 
time  to  decide  that  it  was  A.  I. 's  windmill  that  was 
going  "  squeak,  squeak,  s-q-u-e-a-k."  "  Yes,"  T 
thought  to  myself,  "  its  master's  hand  is  away  in 
the  West.  If  it  were  here  that  windmill  would  be— 
greased." 

But,  enougli  of  incidents.  I  could  till  the  Review 
with  them,  but  there  are  so  many  things  that  must 
go  in  this  issue  that  I  must  cl().se  by  saying,  "  Suc- 
cess to  the  Home  of  the  Honey-bees  and  those  who 
work  therein." 

[Brother  Hutchinson  in  a  few  words  has  de- 
scribed very  vividly  the  inside  workings  of  the 
Home  of  the  Honey-bees.  If  we  do  indeed  de- 
serve all  the  kind  things  he  has  said  of  us.  we 
are  pleased.  We  really  vvere  not  aware  that 
we  kept  things  neat,  although  we  have  for 
some  time  back  taken  considerable  pride  in  our 
system. 

\Ye  had  a  delightful  visit,  and  freely  talked 
over  all  the  kinks  of  the  trade.  No  secrets  or 
pointers  were  held  back  for  fear  that  the  "  other 
fellow  ■■  might  get  the  advantage.  The  feeling 
was  that  we  were  all  of  one  family,  and  need 
not  be  jealous  of  each  other's  prosperity  or  new 
hits. 

We  enjoyed  ]Mr.  Hutchinson's  vi.sit  because 
he  is  somewhat  of  a  hobbyist  himself.  Yes,  he 
guessed  right.  It  was  the  fifth  camera  that  we 
brought  in  that  day.  Mrs.  R.  does  not  object  to 
the  camera  craze,  only  the  wonder  is.  what  we 
are  going  to  do  with'  so  many  instruments. 
Well,  to  tell  the  truth,  by  the  death  of  a  rela- 
tive we  came  in  possession  of  quite  a  lot  of  pho- 
tographic apparatus.  Two  of  the  cameras  are 
very  tine  ones,  and  we  advertise  them  in  this 
number  for  about  half  their  original  cost.  Five 
cameras!  Even  (ce  have  no  use  for  so  many. 
Bro.  H.  is  peculiarly  graphic  when  he  speaks  of 
the  windmill  "  .squeak."  We  presume  the  sen- 
ior editor  will  see  this,  and  wonder  whether  it 
is  .squeaking  now.  After  W.  Z.  H.  spoke  of  it 
we  forthwith  sent  a  man  up  to  oil  it.  It  does 
not  squeak  nosv. 

We  not  only  enjoyed  our  visit  together,  but 
we  traveled  together  to  Albany,  occupied  the 
same  sleeper  and  the  same  berth:  and.  as  if 
that  were  not  enough,  when  we  got  to  the  hotel 
we  registered  together  for  the  same  room;  and, 
fiu'thermore,  we  were  frequently  seen  walking 
up  and  down  the  streets  together.  It  was  a  sort 
of  contindriim  to  luany  at  the  bee-convention 
how  two  bee-editors  could  with  conflicting  in- 
ten^sts  agree  .so  well  together.  Mav  this  feeling 
long  continue:  and  we  hope  the  day  of  old  jeal- 
ousies between  bee-editors  is  past  and  gone.] 


GRADING  HONEY.  AND  ITS  IMPORTANCE. 

HOW      CIIK.M'       (;I{.\NII,.\TEI)      STGAR      IS      .SUP- 
I'LANriXG    HO.NKV    IX    BAKKKIES, 


of  the  Albany  convention.  However,  one  fact 
we  will  state:  and  that  is,  that  the  commence- 
ment at  the  Northwestern  convention,  relative 
to  grading  honey,  was  a  step  in  the  right  di- 
rection: and  now  if  a  bee-iuan  writes  that  he 
has  a  first  grade  of  buckwheat  honey  we  know 
that  it  is  such.  If  he  writes  he  has  a  third 
grade  of  basswood  honey,  we  can  also  answer 
him  intelligently  as  to  what  it  would  sell  for  in 
this  market.  Color  and  flavor  should  not  be 
considered  in  gi'ading.  by  any  means. 

A  point  that  has  been  much  argued,  namely, 
■•  Does  the  low  price  of  sugar  afifect  the  sale  of 
extracted  honey '?""  we  desire  to  answer  by  stat- 
ing that  a  manufacturing  firm  to  whom  in  past 
seasons  we  have  sold  carloads  of  honey  in  one 
order  writes  that,  after  having  e.\i)erimented 
with  granulated  sugar,  they  find  it  far  superior 
to  honey,  since  the  article  manufactured,  with 
honey  as  an  ingredient,  will  sour  in  time,  while 
with  granulated  sugar  it  will  not:  and  since  it 
is  cheaper  in  future  thev  will  not  ptirchase  any 
honey.  "         S.  T.  Fish  .<:  Co.  ' 

Chicago,  111.,  Dec.  19. 

[This  is  certainly  not  welcome  news,  if  it  is 
becoming  general  among  bakers.  We  should 
like  further  information  from  others  on  this 
point,  from  those  who  are  in  position  to  know. 
By  all  means  let  us  face  the  lion,  if  there  is 
one.  that  we  may  be  prepai-ed  to  tight  it.] 


CUBA  A  BEE-KEEPER'S  PARADISE. 


We  perused  with  interest  the  article  of  Mi.ss 
Wil.son  on  page  VMi().  and  would  respond  thereto 
at  length,  but  we  desiie  tirst  to  learn  the  action 


AX     IXTEKESTING     LETTER     FROM     FRED   fH.W- 
CRAFT,   OF   .irVENILE   GI.EAXIXGS. 

Deitr  Sir: — I  am  in  Cuba.  You  will  ask. 
'•  Who  are  you  f  I  will  refei'  you  to  Juvexilk 
Gleanings  of  July.  1883.  page  4.5.  There  you 
will  see  that  you  give  a  ten-year-old  bee-boy 
credit  for  being  the  cause  of  your  starting  the 
••Juvenile."  You  will  see.  on  page  (31,  my 
name  appears  in  connection  with  our  friend 
E.  E.  Hasty  as  one  of  the  boys  who  weighed  the 
bees  and  their  loads.  lam  still  with  the  bees, 
and  love  them  dearly.  I  came  here  from  Astor 
Park.  Fla..  in  October;  and  through  the  kind- 
ness of  Mr.  Osborn  I  secured  the  situation 
which  I  now  occupy.  Before  coming  to  my 
new  home  I  spent  a  few  days  with  Mr.  Osbnrii 
at  Punta  Brava  in  looking  over  his  large  apiary 
and  admiring  his  mammoth  e.xtractor:  and  I 
also  had  the  great  pleasure  of  seeing  it  run.  It 
is  a  fine  piece  of  workmanship,  and  runs  as 
smoothly  as  a  sewing-machine.  The  apiary 
which  I  have  charge  of.  called  the  "•  Two  Sis- 
ters,"' owned  by  Mr.  Manuel  Gomez,  Portuguese 
consul-general  at  Havana,  is  only  a  small  one 
now,  it  being  the  desire  of  the  proprietor  to 
■have  the  bees  increased  to  an  apiary  of  .500  or 
•MX)  colonies,  and  then  put  in  an  extractor  run 
by  steam.  Mr.  Gomez  has  contemplated  hav- 
ing an  apiary  here  for  some  time,  and  has  built 
sheds  to  put  the  bees  under,  and  also  a  large 
honey-house  and  workshop,  all  furnished  with 
every  thing  needed  for  taking  care  of  a  large 
apiary:  but  he  has  not  had  time  to  give  it  his 
personal  attention,  he  having  one  of  the  largest 
importing  and  comtuission  houses  in  Havana. 

The  kind  of  hive  in  use  here  is  diff'erent  from 
the  Simplicity.  It  is  a  two-story  hive,  the  sec- 
ond story  being  used  to  extract  from.  The  size 
of  each  is  13  x  Ki.  and  lO'.j  inches  deep,  each 
story  containing  nine  frames  10xl.">.  set  cross- 
wise to  the  entrance.  When  I  came  here  the 
bees  were  not  getting  much  honey,  owing  to 
rain  and  stormy  weather:  but  we  are  having 
better  weather  now,  and  the  bees  are  doing 
well.  The  principal  honey  source,  the  campa- 
nola.  is  just  beginning   to  bloom,  but  there  are 


18<»-.' 


ChKANlXCiS  IN   15K10  (  Tl/rURE. 


•-'3 


always  plenty  of  llu\\('r>  lure.  Tlif  lircs  :iri' 
WDi-kiiiR  MOW  on  tlu'  royal  pahu-irci'.  li  is  sim- 
ilar to  tilt'  raliliaiTf-pahnt'i  to  of  Florida,  only, 
insii-ad  of  Itloominy:  two  or  tlircc  wccUs.  likr 
till"  palnit!tto.  it  blooms  all  the  year.  As  soon 
as  oni' st«MU  of  lilossoms  is  (lone,  another  taUes 
it^  place:  and  a  small  ai»iary  eould  store  snr- 
pliis   honey  almost  all  the  yeai'  from  that  alone. 

'Phis  is  a  heaiitiriil  i-oiintry.  Instead  of  hein}; 
low  and  swampy,  as  many  people  suppose,  it  is 
hiirh  anil  rollinij:.  w  illi  mimy  hills  that  mijilit 
almost  he  diirnilied  Ity  the  name  of  monntains. 
The  place  where  I  am  located  is  eifxhtcen  miles 
east  of  Havana  by  one  of  the  tincst  roads  on 
the  island.  TIk'  farm  consists  of  about  8(M) 
acres,  all  in  fruits,  suirar-cane.  and  i)astnre 
land.  There  are  a  ujreat  many  kinds  of  fruit 
here,  amonsj:  which  I  nilfiht  mention  oranges, 
lemons,  limes,  fii'aiu'-fruit.  bananas,  plantains, 
niamayas.  coi-oanuts.  mangoes.  cotTee,  and 
many  otiiers  that  are  strange  to  the  eyes  of  an 
American. 

In  describing  some  of  the  many  things  to  be 
seen  here  one  can  not  fail  to  mention  the  roads. 
This  is  a  limestone  country,  and  the  rocks  are 
))nt  to  a  good  use  in  paving  th(>  roads.  The 
road  leading  fiom  Havana  to  San  .lose,  two 
miles  from  heie  and  twenty  fioin  Havana,  is  as 
smooth  as  a  race-track,  and  lined  on  each  side 
with  palm-tfees.  This  is  certainly  the  bee- 
keepef"s  paradise,  and  will  one  day  lead  the 
world  in  the  production  of  honey. 

P'red  L.  Chayckaft. 

Havana.  Cuba.  Nov.  17. 

[We  are  glad  to  hear  from  you.  friend  C'lay- 
craft.  We  were  about  to  say  "•  friiMid  Freddie:'' 
but  after  all  these  years  you  must  have  grown 
to  the  stature  of  a  man.  We  remember  very 
distinctly  the  part  yon  took  in  the  early  Juvk- 
xiLK  Gleanings,  especially  when  you  weighed 
the  bee-loads  a  Id  Hasty.  We  trust  the  same 
spirit  of  investigation  will  follow  you  in  your 
new  quarters,  and  that  you  will  give  us  further 
of  your  impressions  in  that  land  of  flowers.] 


Lad/es'  Conversazione. 


WAX  BOUQUET  OF  AUTUMN  LEAVES. 


SOMETHING    TO   PO    IN    AVINTKK. 


No  prettier  ornament  for  the  parlor  can  be  de- 
vised than  wax  leaves  and  flowei's;  and  as  win- 
ter is  the  time  when  bee-keeping  ladies  or  their 
daughters  have  leisure  for  fancy-work,  if  ever. 
1  will  tell  how  to  make  a  bouipiet  of  autumn 
leaves;  and  next  month,  if  desi)(.d.  I  will  tell 
liow  to  make  a  wreath  of  wax  flowers,  or  a 
white  cross  in  wax. 

r.,eaves  are  made  by  pressing  thin  sheets  of 
beeswax  lUJon  a  leaf-mold  until  they  are  veined 
and  cut  oft.  Urst  wet  the  mold.  Cov^r  a  wire 
for  a  stem,  with  strips  of  wax  |)ressed  around 
smoothly,  oi'  use  one  coveri'd  with  thread  (such 
as  are  used  in  ladies"  hats).  !,ay  tlu'  st<'ni  on 
the  whole  length  of  the  leaf:  then  lay  on  an- 
other sheet  of  wax.  and  press  on  tightly  (but  do 
not  press  on  the  wire)  till  cut  off  smooth  all 
around. 

I''or  autumn  leaves,  use  iliin  sheets  of  y(;llow 
beeswax — just  such  as  are  used  to  make  founda- 
tion for  sections:  the  thinner  the  Ix^tter.  so  that 
there  are  no  holes  in  the  wax.  Wet  the  mold: 
I>ress  on  the  yellow  wax.  and  cut  ofl':  then, 
while  the  leaf  is  still  on  the  mold,  rub  on  to  it 
some  red.  green,  or  t)rown  |)aint.  as  fancy  dic- 
tates. Do  not  rub  on  too  mucli.  as  the  lining 
will  not  stick.     Now  lay  on  a  su-ni  covered  with 


wax.  and  press  on  the  mold  again  another  bit  of 
yellow  wax.  'I'his  last  forms  the  lining  to  the 
leaf.  Now  press  on  ai'ouud  the  edges  until  they 
are  cut  (itV  smooth.  The  ro(tm  should  be  warm, 
so  that  the  wax  will  work  easily  and  not  break 
-just  comfortably  warm  issuflicient. 

The  lea\cs  may  tie  made  entirely  of  beeswax 
which  is  more  pliable  than  wiuit  we  buy.  or  thi' 
upi)er  sni-face  may  be  ruad<' of  slieeied  wax  pre- 
pared for  the  |)urpose,  and  sold  in  packages 
generally  kept  by  drujjgisls.  or  it  may  be  or- 
dered by  them,  both  gieen  and  variegated. 

After  the  upiier  surface  of  boughten  wax  is 
made,  lay  on  the  wire  stem  that  has  been  cov- 
ered with  wax.  and  for  a  lining  use  sheeted 
beeswax.  If  the  upper  surface  is  green,  or  near- 
ly so.  then  the  lining  should  be  of  giceri  wax. 
Hut  if  the  upper  siu'face  is  of  yellow  wax.  to  im- 
itate an  autumn  leaf  the  lining  should  be  of 
yellow  wax  also;  and  as  the  wax  we  buy  is  so 
brittle  I  always  prefer  to  use  a  lining  to  the 
leaves  of  beesw  ax. 

There  should  be  a  variety  of  leaves  made,  to 
look  well  in  a  bouiiuet,  placing  the  smaller  ones 
at  the  top,  and  grading  down  to  the  largest  for 
the  bottom  leaves,  i'.egin  at  the  top  to  nail 
them  on  to  a  prepared  board  lined  with  white 
paper.  Nail  each  leaf  on  s<^parately.  then  tlie 
next  leaf  so  as  to  cover  the  stem  of  the  one 
above  it.  and  so  on  until  all  the  stems  are  cov- 
ered and  the  leaves  nailed  on.  Now  linish  by 
making  a  few  large  green  stems,  and  press  on 
underneath  the  leaves,  causing  the  cluster  of 
leaves  to  look  as  if  one  could  hold  the  bou<|uet 
in  his  hand  by  th<>  stems.  Around  the  stem  ar- 
range a  wax  ribbon  so  cut  and  stuck  on  as  to 
imitate  a  ribbon  tied  in  a  bow-knot.  Cut  each 
bow  separately,  and  stick  on;  then  the  short 
strings  below  the  bow,  and  stick  each  one  on 
.separately;  them  a  short  strip  of  the  wax  stuck 
on  in  the  center,  to  form  the  center  knot. 

Four  or  five  leaf-molds  will  be  needed  to  give 
the  best  eflfect,  altiiough  a  very  pretty  bouquet 
may  be  made  on  but  one  or  two  molds. 

For  sheeters  to  make  up  sheets  of  green  wax 
and  small  quantities  of  yellow  wax.  I  form  them 
of  plaster  of  Paris  by  stirring  up  a  pint  bowl 
half  full  of  it  and  pouring  it  into  a  large  break- 
fast-plate. Before  this  hardens,  put  in  some- 
thing iron  for  a  handle — three  or  four  large 
nails  stuck  into  a  potato,  with  the  heads  all 
even;  then  hold  the  heads  down  into  the  plas- 
ter until  it  hardens,  just  escaping  the  bottom  of 
the  plate.  In  r.'4  hours  heat  the  plate  and  then 
take  it  out;  soak  it  10  minutes  in  lukewarm  wa- 
ter, then  dip  it  into  the  melted  wax  (previously 
colored  with  a  little  thin  bag  of  green  paint, 
Paris  green,  pressed  out  with  an  iron  spoon). 
Do  not  use  too  much  green  paint,  as  it  makes 
the  wax  brittle.  Dip  again  into  the  water,  caus- 
ing the  wax  to  peel  off  the  sheiiter  just  as  it  does 
in  sheeting  wax  to  be  pres.sed  into  foundation, 
except  that  this  sheeter  makes  a  round  sheet. 
Yellow  wax  may  be  sheeted  the  same  way,  but 
not  colored.  If'the  wax  is  too  hot  it  will  be  full 
of  bubbles,  which  shoidd  be  skimmed  otf.  as 
thev  will  make  the  shei-ts  full  of  holes;  and  if 
too  cold,  the  sheets  will  be  too  thick.  Do  not 
trv  to  make  flowers  out  of  such  wax,  as  it  is  too 
thick:  but  it  is  just  right  for  leaves. 

After  th('  leaves  are  formed  into  a  bouquet, 
tack  on  the  side  pieces,  which  should  be  about 
an  inch  and  a  half  or  two  inclu^s  deep,  forming 
a  box  to  preserve  the  leaves  from  being  broken. 
Over  this  may  \m\  tacked  a  pane  of  glass;  but  a 
picture-frami'  looks  much  better. 

L'se  some  green  leaves  in  the  bouquet,  and 
rub  on  to  the"  yellow.  Use  quit*!  freely  of  red. 
brown,  or  greeii  paints,  so  that  the  botiquetmay 
not  have  too  yellow  an  appearanc<>. 

The  leaves  should  lie  flat,  yet  stand  out  dis- 
tinct froTu  each  (tther.  nearly  touching  the  glass. 


24 


GLEANI1*»G.S  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  1. 


Wire  stiff  enough  to  hold  the  leaves  in  place 
should  be  used.  Do  not  use  long  wires,  but  tack 
each  leaf  on  close  to  the  leaf,  with  a  carpet- 
tack.  The  board  to  form  the  back  should  not 
be  too  thin— »K  of  an  inch  is  about  right.  Use  a 
small  hammer,  and  a  nail-set  to  drive  the  tacks 
with,  and  cover  the  heads  with  other  leaves  or 
green  moss.  Line  the  bo.x  with  white  printing- 
paper. 

A  few  dead  and  dried  bees  stuck  on  are  pr^'t- 
tv:  but  as  honey-bees  dry  up  so  small.  I  prefei- 
queens  or  drones,  or  butterflies.  Stick  a  small 
black-headed  pin  through  them  before  they  are 
fully  dried,  and  stick  it  through  a  leaf.  The 
yellow-headed  bumble-bees  also  look  natuial  on 
wax  leaves  or  flowers. 

I'OTATO-BAI.T.   BREAD. 

This  is  the  bread  for  swarming-time.  Why? 
Because  it  never  sours  within  any  reasonable 
length  of  time.  If  made  uii  at  night,  and  mixed 
the  first  thing  in  the  morning,  it  will  be  ready 
to  hake  before  the  bees  begin  to  swarm  in  the 
forenoon.  Or,  the  yeast  may  be  set  in  the 
morning,  and  attended  to  through  the  day  just 
when  there  is  nothing  else  pressing,  only  so 
that  it  gets  light:  but  it  does  not  sour  by  being 
left  some  time  after  being  light.  It  may  smell 
somewhat  sour:  but  by  being  mixed  it  takes 
the  sourness  all  out  of  it.  although  it  may  have 
been  as  light  as  a  puffball.  and  is  always  good 
if  not  allowed  to  get  too  light  before  being 
baked. 

HOW    TO    MAKE    IT. 

Take  two  or  more  fresh  yeast-cakes  and  soak 
them  soft.  Stii' into  a  pint  of  mashed  potatoes 
the  yeast,  one  teaspoonful  of  salt,  one  teacup  of 
sugar  (half  a  cup  of  sugar  will  do  after  the 
yeast  has  been  started).  Use  no  water  nor 
flour.  Set  this  away  for  four  days  in  summer. 
or  one  week  in  winter. 

To  make  bread,  take  one  quart  of  finely  mash- 
ed potatoes,  cool  enough  not  to  scald  the  yeast. 
Stir  the  potato-ball  in  thoroughly,  and  save  out 
two-thirds  of  a  pint  for  bread  next  time.  Now 
stir  into  the  remainder  about  one-fourth  teacup 
of  water  (use  no  flour),  and  let  it  stand  over 
night  or  until  light:  then  add  one  quart  of  wa- 
ter, and  flour  enough  to  make  a  sponge.  Beat 
well  and  let  it  stand  until  light  again,  or  until 
you  are  ready  to  mix  (it  never  needs  soda  to 
sweeten  it):  then  make  out  into  loaves.  Oil  the 
top  of  the  loaves:  when  light,  bake  in  small 
loaves,  as  such  do  not  require  being  baked  so 
long  as  larger  ones,  consequently  the  crust  is 
not  so  hard.  If  two  loaves  are  made  in  one  pan 
they  may  be  broken  apart  to  see  when  done, 
and  yet  "not  injure  the  bread.  If  one  has  any 
trouble  to  guess  when  the  bread  is  done  (as 
Ijread  is  often  injuied  by  being  baked  too  long), 
handle  gently  when  setting  it  in  the  oven,  as 
jarring  and  shaking  will  not  allow  of  its  being 
so  light. 

If  graham  bi'cad  is  wanted,  use  half  the  po- 
tato sponge  for  graham  sponge,  and  the  other 
half  for  white  l)read.  When  light,  mix  it  stiff 
with  white  (loin-,  and  treat  the  same  as  for 
white  bread,  only  be  careful  not  to  get  it  quite 
as  stiff  as  for  white  bread.  If  too  stiff',  work  in 
more  water.  Both  the  white  and  brown  bread 
should  be  made  u\)  so  stiff  they  do  not  require 
more  flour  when  w()rked  out  into  loaves. 

I?ake  it  nicely,  neither  too  fast  nor  too  slow, 
and  you  will  have  good  bread  every  time  with 
even  fair  flour.  Much  bread  that  otherwise 
would  be  good  is  spoih'd  in  baking. 

The  tire  to  bake  tli(>  bread  should  be  started 
immediately  after  the  bread  is  mixed  into 
loaves.  If  there  is  fire  in  the  stove  already,  and 
the  oven-doors  closed,  and  the  dampfU'  to  heat 
the  oven  adjusted,  all  well:  but  if  there  is  no 
tire,  then  it  should   be  started  before  the  bread 


is  made  out  into  loaves.  Many  persons  wait 
until  the  bi'ead  is  ready  to  go  into  the  oven  be- 
fore any  attempt  to  heat  the  oven  is  made,, 
which  carelessness  allows  the  bread  to  run  over, 
or  get  too  light,  and  then  the  fire  is  hurried  up 
so  fast  that  the  bread  is  burned.  The  heat  of 
the  oven  bakes  much  the  nicest  after  being 
heated  quite  hot.  and  is  Ijeginning  to  cool.  Oft- 
en the  last  loaf  baked  is  baked  the  best. 

SMALL   POTATOES. 

These  may  thus  be  used  up  for  bread,  as  the 
large  ones  are  nicer  for  table  use.  I  put  them 
into  a  wire  basket  and  set  them  in  a  kettle  with 
plenty  of  boiling  water.  When  done,  lift  out 
the  basket  and  pour  a  few  into  the  potato- 
masher  while  hot.  Press  the  lever,  and  the 
potato  is  pressed  through  the  perforated  metal. 
The  skins  are  retained  in  the  masher.  This 
leaves  no  lumps  in  the  bread,  uses  up  the  small 
potatoes,  and  saves  time  and  potatoes  in  paring 
them. 

By  the  way,  this  same  potato-masher  makes 
potatoes  very  nice  for  table  use.  Boil  nice 
large  ones,  and,  just  before  sending  to  the  table, 
run  them  through  this  masher,  sprinkling  in  a 
little  salt,  or  salt  in  boiling.  As  fast  as  mashed, 
pour  out  into  a  dish,  and  cover  them.  Pour 
over  them  some  hot  rich  cream,  in  which  a  lit- 
tle buttpr  has  Ijeen  beaten  up.  and  you  have  a 
most  delicious  plate  of  potatoes  as  light  as  a 
puffball.  Uo  not  stir  them  after  being  mashed 
or  pressed  thiough  the  masher,  as  it  will  take 
the  lightness  out  of  them. 

I  mention  the  above  way  of  making  bread, 
l:)ecause.  in  swarming  time,  it  sometimes  seems 
very  difficult  to  get  bread  made  when  the  cook 
has  the  swarms  to  look  after.  Two  summers  I 
have  had  help  who  could  not  make  bread. 
Though  I  had  three  girls  one  sumnKM-.  none  of 
them  could  make  bread,  and  were  inexperienced 
in  bee-work  also.  The  bees  swarmed  incessant- 
ly that  summer,  and  gathered  much  honey. 
Mr.  Axtell  took  sick  about  that  time,  and  I  had 
both  yards  to  look  after.  With  the  help  of  the 
gills,  I  could  only  get  time  to  mix  up  biscuit 
dough  and  bake  for  bread  in  the  morning  be- 
fore bee-woi'k  began. 

Another  summer  I  undertook  to  mix  light 
bread  outdoors  where  I  could  watch  the  yeast 
when  light,  as  I  had  set  it  in  the  sun  to  rise, 
as  the  girl  could  not  make  bread,  and  was  in- 
experienced in  bee-work  also.  I  had  just  got 
my  hands  into  the  dough  to  mix  the  bread, 
when  out  came  a  swarm.  I  rubbed  oft'  the 
dough  and  ran  for  the  queen,  and  took  care  of 
the  swarm.  By  this  time  the  dough  had  dried 
pretty  well  upon  my  hand,  which  took  me 
a  long  time  to  wash.  I  had  just  got  into  the 
dough  again,  when  out  came  another  swarm. 
I  could  hot  take  time  to  get  the  dough  off  my 
hands  very  well,  for  I  was  afraid  I  should  lose 
the  queen:  so  I  found  from  experience  that 
bread  -  making  and  queen  -  catching  did  not 
work  well  together. 

VENTILATION   THROUGH   THE    HIVE. 

In  your  article  on  page  889,  in  the  Nov.  1.5tii 
issue  "of  Gleanings,  you  say  so  many  bees  died 
in  hives  that  were  not  protected  by  outside 
cases,  I  wondered,  as  I  read,  whether  there 
would  have  l)eeu  thi'  same  loss  if  there  had 
lieen  passages  through  the  center  of  the  hive. 
a  la  Heddon  or  Mr.  B.  Taylor,  or  holes  punched 
through  the  tops  of  the  combs,  as  we  u.sed  to  do 
a  good  many  years  ago  for  winter  passages.  I 
have  seen  the  same  things  happen  to  colonies 
we  were  preparing  for  winter,  and  had  set  some 
of  the  brood-combs  outside  of  the  division- 
boards  for  the  bees  to  carry  thi^  honey  in.  One 
cool  night  had  caught  them,  and  they  drew  uji 
into  a  cluster,  leaving  small    clusters  on   tlie 


CI.KAMNliS  IN   UVA<:  (  ri^TIIlK. 


".'5 


cumlis  ilial  wi'ii'  uulsidc  ilic  (livisioii-lioard. 
Tlu'sc  hci's  sciMUt'd  (lead  w  Iwii  foiiiui:  luit  if  Ihc 
h(>('s  well'  let  almic.  ami  a  w  arm  spell  w  as  not 
too  loMi;  in  comiiiir.  I  tliinU  tlicv  w  ai'mcd  u|)  and 
cfawli'd  i)aid<  into  tlic  iiivc  a;xaiti,.jnst  as  I  lia\i' 
socn  hers  do  \\  lien  1  liavi'  fi'd  them  out  of  doors 
more  syi-iip  lliaii  lliry  i-onid  carfv  in  hdoir  it 
btH'aiiic  too  I'ooi  in  the  I'vcninii.  Tlicy  would  l)c 
seen  sittintr  afouml  upon  the  feeder,  as  if  deail : 
t>nt  if.  next  day.  the  warm  sun  shone  upon  tliem 
they  w  tiuld  all  or  nearly  all  re\  ive  and  llv  lilaeU 
to  their  hive.  Hut  I  liaxi'  an  idea  tliat  sui-li  ex- 
posure sliortens  tlieir  Mncs. 

Evanirelist  .1.  H.  \\'o!f.  who  is  editoiof  John 
7'/i /■(■('->'(. i7(C/(.  sa\s,  in  the  Xo\(Mnl)er  number. 
"Mr.  Harry  haliirop.  of  lirowtown.  Wis.,  sent 
us  ah(Mit  40  il)s.  of  the  linest  liom-y  it  ha;'  l)een 
ourprivileiie  to  test  for  a  lony:time."  I  suppose 
it  is  Unown  that  Uro.  Wolf  is.  witii  other  lielp- 
ers.  oarryiusr  on  an  Indian  orplianaiie  and  train- 
ing-school in  \'iiiita.  Indian  'I'erritory.  'I'he 
funds  tliat  sustain  them  are  siven  in  answer  t,o 
prayer,  and  by  friends  of  tlie  mission.  .lust  now 
the  little  orphans,  aged  from  S  lo  Ki  years,  aiv 
in  need  of  shoes  and  stockings,  as  winter  is  com- 
ing on.  There  are  a  thousand  other  ways  in 
wliich  help  would  he  appreciated  Just  now. 
Will  not  many  more  iirol hers  and  sisters  remem- 
ber IJro.  \\()\f  and  his  large  family  of  orphan 
children,  with  substantial  aid  now  as  the  holi- 
days draw  near".'  Remember  the  words  of  the 
Lord  .lesus.  "  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to 
receive.'"  I  will  send  yon  two  pictures  of  the 
older  orphan  children.        Mns.  L.  ('.  Axtkt.l. 

Hoseville.  111..  Dec.  V.K 


POULTRY-RAISING. 

now      Nor     TO     IIAVK     FAIIATKES;      BY     .\      BKK- 

ke?:per. 


Ever  since  reading  Mrs.  Stnith's  letter  in 
Gi>EANiXGs  about  raising  poultry.  I  have  felt 
like  telling  a  little  of  my  experience.  WMiile 
whati  have  to  tell  may  be  nothing  exactly  new, 
still  there  may  be  something  that  may  be  a  help 
to  her. 

We  generally  have  pretty  good  success  with 
our  poultry,  and  raise  a  good  many  chickens, 
ducks,  turkeys,  geese,  and  guineas.  The  first 
thing  to  be  looked  out  for  is  the  parent  birds, 
which  shonld  be  two  years  old.  to  have  the  best 
success.  If  tiiey  are  younger,  the  offspring  are 
apt  to  be  weak  and  delicate. 

The  next  thing  is  food.  Perhaps  some  people 
can  feed  all  other  poultry  the  same  as  they 
would  little  chickens,  and  have  good  luck  with 
them,  but  I  can't:  for  while  little  chickens 
will  thrive  and  do  well  if  fed  plenty  of  corn 
meal,  no  other  kind  of  poultry  will,  for  me 
at  least.  When  they  are  small,  the  best  food 
for  them  is  bread  and  milk,  or  cheese  made 
from  thick  sour  milk,  and  seasoned  with  a  little 
pepper  and  salt,  just  tlu;  same  as  though  it 
were  to  be  eaten  by  boys  and  girls  in  i)lace  of 
baby  turkeys  and  geese.  As  they  grow  older, 
scraps  from  the  table,  and  almost  any  thing  ex- 
cept raw  corn  meal,  will  do  for  them,  and  they 
will  pick  a  great  part  of  tlicir  living  if  allowed 
to  run. 

The  next,  and  perhaps  a  still  moi-e  important 
point,  is  to  keep  them  '7/-i/ and  ii'dnii.  It  will 
not  do  to  provide  them  with  good  coops  and 
think  they  will  tiike  care  of  themselves,  no 
matter  w'hether  they  have  hen  -  mothers  (jr 
mothers  of  their  own  kind.  A  run  through  the 
wet  grass  in  the  early  morning,  or  a  cold  driz- 
zling rain,  will  put  an  (effectual  damper  on  the 
enthusiasm  of  almost  any  poultry  man.  or 
woman  either.  Although  water-  fowls,  little 
goslings  and  ducklings  Ix-come  chilled,  and  die. 


just  the  same  as  littli'  turkeys,  if  they  get  wet. 
e\en  when  I  hey  are  uearls'  half  grown:  so  we 
make  a  yard  around  their  coops.  .\  hoard  on<; 
foot  w  ide  is  high  enough  to  keep  them  in  in  the 
morning  till  the  grass  is  di"y,  or  on  days  when  it 
is  rainy. 

Last  s|)ring.  about  tin-  middle  of  May  we  had 
over  lifty  little  turkeys,  and  some  ducklings 
and  goslings,  when  there  came  a  colfl  rainy 
spell  that  lasted  for  three  or  four  days.  The 
ground,  and  every  thing  ontsich^  was  thorough- 
ly wet  and  chilled.  I  put  the  little  fellows  in 
some  liifge  boxes,  and  brought  them  intf)  the 
hous(>  and  kept  them  by  the  lire  (the  mothers 
wei'e  left  outside),  till  the  storm  was  over.  A 
few  of  them  died:  but  over  twenty  of  the  tur- 
keys went  to  marked,  for  Thanksgiving,  and 
there  are  some  more  to  go  for  Christmas.  They 
brought  a  good  price,  as  they  were  early,  and  so 
were  larg(!  and  well  grow  n. 

Mi;s.  A.  L.  Hali.enbeck. 

Millard.  .Neb..  Dec.  1891. 


A   NUT   FOli   I)K.    .Mir.LEK  TO   CliACK. 

Please  ask  Dr.  C.  C.  Miller  what  he  meaiis  by 
the  expr(>ssion,  "Pretty  good  for  Missouri."' 
Did  he  not  know  that  lie  would  stir  up  a  hor- 
net's nest'.'  Why  should  not  Missouri,  with  an 
area  nearly  equal  to  all  of  New  England,  be  up 
with  most  of  "em".'  Where  is  the  State  that  has 
great(M'  natural  advantages  in  bonify  Mora,  cli- 
mate, and  all  that  goes  toward  making  success- 
ful bee- keepers?  And  then  to  have  one  of  the 
liig  doctors  say,  '"  Pretty  good  for  Missouri,"  as 
though  we  were  some  out-of-the-way  corner, 
when  in  reality  we  are  the  very  heart  of  this 
great  United  States!  Now  let  him  rise  and  ex- 
plain. Miis.  .1.  M.  NuLi,. 

Miami.  Mo. 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS 


THE  NEW   frame;   A   REVKRSIBI.E  HOFFMAN. 

I  am  glad  that  bee-men  are  coming  to  reason 
as  to  frames  being  spaced.  What  an  idea,  to  do 
a  thing  at  guess  as  one  has  to  with  a  loose 
frame! — no  room  in  one  place  and  too  much  in 
another.  Again,  what  a  sad  blunder  it  was  to 
use  a  9h  top- bar — sad  unless  we  i-eversed  often. 

The  cuts  of  your  frame  in  last  Gleanings 
show  some  very  excellent  frames.  I  shouldn't 
like  the  narrow  bottom-bar,  for  it  is  a  loafing- 
place  for  bees.  I  mean  to  use  all  the  room  to 
good  advantag(!:  and  to  fill  the  frame,  I  will 
reverse.  I  have  a  rcn'crsible  wire-  of  my  own, 
and  I'm  now  workMng  on  a  hive  to  n^vei'se.  and 
use  the  regular  Hoffman  frame.  It  is  a  wonder 
to  me  how  a  frame  closed  the  whole  h'ligth.  and 
close  to  the  hive-ends,  can  please  one.  I  bought 
one  such  this  fall,  and  it  was  impossible  to  get 
a  frame  out^perfectly  glued  everywhere.  I 
shall  ti'ansfei'  them  in  tlu;  spring. 

I  can  haidly  see  the  need  of  a  follower  in  your 
hive.  Why  not  wedg(^  the  ends  of  frame,  and 
save  so  much  extra?  Make  a  wedge  one  way  M' 
wide,  one  way  %,  and  you  can  make  one  width 
answer.  I  know  t hat  extra  board  makes  more 
work  and  cost,  and  takes  up  valuabh^  room. 

Hallowell,  ]\I(!.,  D(!c.  21.     E.  P.  Churchill. 

[All  that  is  necessary  to  make  a  hive  of  Hoff- 
man frames  reversible  is  to  wedge  or  key  up  the 
frames.  Lay  a  cou[)le  of  sticks  X-i'it*^'  square 
across  the  frames,  and  at  each  end.  Put  a  bot- 
tom-board on,  turn  the  hive  over,  replact;  the 
cover,  and  the  work   is  done.     Leave  the   hive 


2() 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


.Tax.  1. 


thus  until  the  bees  have  built  the  combs  down, 
and  then  restore  to  its  normal  position.  With 
the  Dovetailed  hive  this  can  be  done  very  nice- 
ly. We  put  in  a  follower  or  division-board  be- 
cause, when  removed,  it  gives  more  room  for 
handling  frames.  ]Many  times  all  that  is  nec- 
essaiy  is  to  pull  out  the  follower,  shove  the 
frames  apart  in  the  center,  look  down  between 
the  combs,  and  close  up  without  removing  a 
frame.  Then  for  any  thing  less  than  eight 
frames  the  division-board  is  a  necessity.  This 
often  occurs  when  preparing  for  winter,  or  in 
queen -rearing.]     

THE   NEW   top-bar;    THE    MOLDED   C'OMB-(irlDE 
NOT   NEW. 

In  the  last  issue  you  say,  "  It  seems  almost  a 
wonder  that  somebody  did  not  think  of  this  be- 
fore." Somebody  did' think  of  this.  The  tri- 
angular top-bar  comes  pretty  near  it.  only  the 
little  buzz-saws  would  pei'sist  in  making  the 
bevel  a  plane  instead  of  a  concave  surface. 
About  fifteen  years  ago  a  sash  and  blind  factory 
in  Vermont  made  some  top-bars  in  just  this 
form  by  lunning  them  thi'ough  the  "  sticker." 
which  was  provided  with  knives  ground  in  the 
form  of  two  intei'secting  arcs  of  a  circle.  The 
frames  were  made  to  ordei'  for  a  neighbor  of 
mine.  I  believe  they  were  quite  satisfactory, 
yet  we  did  not  recognize  any  gain  in  making 
them  concave. 

An  advantage  in  making  the  bottom- bar  nar- 
row would  be  found  when  we  attempt  to  lift  a 
frame  from  between  two  others,  the  imrrow 
bottom  being  less  likely  to  ci'ush  bees  oi'  scrape 
the  adjoining  combs.  A  disadvantage  is.  that 
this  form  is  no  better  adapted  to  winter  use 
than  the  loose  one. 

In  your  experiments  in  wintering,  why  not 
ti"y  a  few  colonies  in  single-walled  hives  out- 
doois?  It  would  act  as  a  check  upon  hasty  con- 
clusions, and  help  to  determine  how  much  of 
your  success  is  due  to  the  hive  and  packings, 
and  how  much  to  thorough  preparation  before- 
hand. W.  H.  Upton. 

Morning  Sun,  Iowa,  Dec.  2\. 

[The  top-bar  you  describe  is  not  exactly  like 
our  own.  Our  cut.  as  we  explained,  did  not 
quite  do  justice  to  the  comb-guide.  This  latter 
projects  down  about  \  inch  below  the  two  in- 
tersected arcs,  forming  a  bead,  and  an  excellent 
plaQe  for  the  fastening  of  foundation,  as  we 
shall  shortly  explain.  In  your  top-bai' you  dis- 
covered no  gain  beeau'^e  there  was  practically 
no  comb-guide.  Our  top-bar  has  the  comb- 
guide  part  and  parcel  of  it. 

We  (lid  not  claim  that  there  was  any  advan- 
tage in  such  a  bottom-bar  for  wintering.  It 
riiulilii't  make  any  difference. 

In  rcg;ird  to  wiutci'ing  in  single-walled  hives 
outdiiors  hrside  tii()s(>  in  double-walled  hives — 
that  is  just  what  we  have  been  doing.  Bees  in 
single-walled  hives  have  died  for  us  before  the 
first  of  .Januai  y.  We  have  had  most  disastrous 
results  in  trying  to  winter  outdoors  in  hives 
not  piotected.  We  don"t  think,  hut  we  know, 
hives  must  be  protected  with  cases.] 


I  also  put  it  the  same  way  in  the  upper  cham- 
ber, where  it  works  as  well.  I  do  not  think  it 
pays  to  use  full  sheets  of  foundation. 

Now  about  a  queen  you  sent  me  last  year,  a 
select  and  tested  one.  Last  spring  I  wanted  to 
raise  some  early  drones  if  I  could,  so  I  fed  well 
and  put  drone  comb  into  the  brood-nest,  but  1 
could  not  get  a  drone.  I  tried  all  summer  to 
get  her  to  fill  a  frame  of  drone  comb,  but  could 
not  get  her  to  lay  a  drone  egg.  She  filled  the 
brood-nest  froiu  a  foiu'-frame  nucleus  to  a 
twelve-frame  colony,  with  eggs.  Besides  that. 
I  got  42  lbs.  of  extracted  honey:  and  if  there  is- 
a  non-swaiming  race  of  bees  I  think  her  bees 
belong  to  it,  as  there  was  not  a  swarm  cast 
from  that  colony.  I  received  her  a  year  ago 
the  ;.'lst  of  last  September. 

Dr.  C.  H.  Peabody. 

Providence.  R.  I.,  Nov.  3L 

[You  can  use  starters,  and  the  bees  will  build 
them  out  into  combs  over  wires;  but  you  are 
liable  to  get  drone-cells  instead  of  worker-cells. 
For  this  reason  the  majority  of  bee-keepers  de- 
cide that  they  must  have  full  sheets  of  founda- 
tion in  the  brood-nest.  The  rearing  of  many 
drones  is  pretty  apt  to  be  prognostic  of  swarm- 
ing. Inversely,  the  rearing  of  ?io  drones  means 
little  or  no  swarming.  It  has  been  noticed,  also, 
during  the  past  summer,  that  drone-traps  at 
the  entrance  curtail  swarming  because  they 
kill  the  drones.  Therefore  one  reason  why  the 
progeny  of  your  select  tested  queen  did  not 
swarm  was  because  no  drones  were  reared.] 


ISIMi    STARTERS    FOR  WIRED  FRAMES:    A  QUEEX 

WHOSE    PROGENY    WOI'LDN'T   RAISE 

DRONES,    OR    SWARM. 

J  see  articles  in  every  Gleanings  about  wir- 
ing frames.  Now.  I  let  the  bees  do  most  of 
theii- own  wiring.  I  do  it  in  this  way:  I  wire 
the  frames  as  you  recommend  in  A  B  C:  put  in 
a  st artel' about '.".J  in.  deep;  put  the  frann-  be- 
tween two  full  fi'aines  of  comb  and  brood.  The 
result  is.  that  I  get  the  comb  l>uilt  clear  to  the 
bottom-bar.  and  no  sagging,  as  straight  and 
sTuootii  as  a  planed  board.  iVs  a  rule,  by  the 
time  the  comb  is  built  down  it  is  full  of  lirood. 


HOW  TO   MAKE  A  DAMP  CELLAR   DRY   FOR  BEES; 
INFORMATION   WANTED. 

Can  some  one  tell  me  how  a  bee-cellar  can  be 
remedied  to  prevent  it  from  being  too  damp 
during  the  time  the  bees  are  confined  thenMn? 
The  cellar  was  dug  eight  feet  deep  with  good 
thick  walls  from  the  bottom  to  the  top.  and  the 
floor  made  of  cement.  The  laud  lies  perfectly 
level  for  quite  a  distance  around,  and  a  race  of 
water  runs  on  the  west  side  about  8  rods  from 
the  cellar.  The  soil  is  what  would  be  called 
clay  for  the  depth  of  (i  feet,  then  comes  sand. 
The  cellai'  was  so  damp  last  winter  that  it 
molded  the  combs  considerably:  and  as  the  old 
bees  crawled  out  and  died.  they.  too.  would  be- 
come moldy  very  soon  thereafter.  There  was 
an  abundance  of  good  ventilation  in  the  cellar. 
This  cellar  has  cost  the  owner  now  not  far 
from  ^100.  as  it  now  is,  and  he  does  not  like  the 
idea  of  casting  it  aside  and  building  something 
else,  so  he  asks  if  there  is  not  some  way  the 
evil  may  be  remedied  without  going  to  the  ex- 
pense of  making  another.  A. 

[If  your  soil  is  porous,  with  a  race  of  water  S(^ 
near  as  you  say.  it  would  be  difficult  to  make 
the  cellar  dry.  A  grout  cement  bottom  is  sup- 
posed to  remedy  the  evil  if  any  thing  will.] 


HOW  TO  RENDER  OUT  OI-D  COMBS. 

I  wish  to  ask  what  is  the  best  method  of  ex- 
tracting the  wax  from  old  combs.  Do  the  ex- 
tractors accom|)lisli  that  object  better  than  any 
other  way  of  separating  the  wax  from  old 
combs;  i.  e..  can  you  get  more  wax  than  by 
boiling  and  straining  and  using  a  squeezer?  I 
should  like  to  know  thi'  experience  of  your  con- 
tributors. It  is  certainly  a  rather  unpleasant 
job  when  done  in  the  old-fashioned  way  of  boil- 
ing and  straining.  A.  P.  Fletcher. 

Ludlow.  Vt..  Dec.  1">. 

[The  Dadants  say.  Wait  till  cold  weather, 
and  then  nuish  "em  all  up  fine,  after  which  ren- 
der them  by  any  of  the  well-known  methods. 
There  is  no  betti-r  method  for  getting  out  all 
the  wax  than  by  biiiling.  straining,  and   squeez- 


189',' 


ci.KANiMis  i\  HKK  cii/rriiio. 


illK  tllf  rcsitlllr.  Iin  lUilllrr  liy  wllilt  killil  111 
iiuicliiiiiTy  il  is  (lone.  It  slumld  l>f  rcii.aiki'tl. 
liowi'Vcr.  lliiit  Moiir  of  tlic  n'>itlii('  slioiild  tic 
tlnown  away,  li  should  be  troaicd  to  snlpliu- 
lio  ai'id.  as  dJ'SiTilicd  in  last  ycai-'s  voliiiiu'.] 


THK    NKW   1>0\  1.1  AII,KI>   CIIAIK    III\  K.  AM)    lldW 
IT    IM.KASKS. 

Tlii>  live  siiifilc-stoi'v  chatV  hives  I  imri'iiascd 
<if  you  ill  till'  (hit  last  iiimiih  went  losrthrr 
iiii'fly.  I'^vi'iy  pirrc  was  ai'curatcly  si/cd.  and 
tilt'  whiilc  of  flood  material,  and  made  in  a 
worlvinanliKi'  iiiaiiiuT.  1  traiisfcrfcd  my  hoes 
to  tlii'iii  with  casi'.  Tlicy  will  siirtdy  1h>  a  siu-- 
oessfiil  oiitdtu)!'  wiiUtM-  hive  and  for  summtT 
tln'V  ait'  .jiist  as  handy  as  the  singlc-walU'd 
hivi'.  Voii  have  not. asked  my  advice,  and  may 
not  thank  me  for  it:  but  I  would  su!;g<'^t.  how- 
ever, that,  if  the  ooveis  were  made  one  inch 
wider  they  woiiM  be  better,  as  the  sliuht  mai- 
jrin  tliey  liow  have  will  sometimes  let  the  wet 
in.  .Ias.  S.  .Simontox. 

West  RichtielU.  ()..  Dec.  V!. 

[We  make  a  wider  and  deeper  cover  for  those 
who  prefer  it.  For  winter  us(>  it  is  not  intend- 
ed that  the  flat  cover  shall  be  put  on  the  hive. 
Put  a  super  on,  and  then  the  covers.] 

riir.     i,Ai;(;i:    and    smai-I-    bki<:-kkkpek.    and 

riNKEHING    WITH    ITiAI'S. 

It  is  (juite  amusing  to  I'ead  the  descriptions  of 
the  many  traps  and  notions  that,  some  of  your 
correspondents  sct'm  to  icgard  as  absolutely 
necessary  to  success.  One  who  keeps  a  few 
colonies  "of  bees  for  pleasure  may  enjoy  "  tinker- 
ing" witli  all  the  "new  notions;"  but  for  those 
who  keej)  bees  for  prolit.  and  ki'cp  them  by  the 
hundreds  or  thousands,  as  is  done  by  many  per- 
sons in  Califoi'iiia.  it  won't  pay.  and  there  is  no 
time  for  fooling  in  tliese  large  apiaries.  Many 
things  that  might  be  applicable  in  the  East 
would  be  useless  liere.  Dklos  Woon. 

Santa  Harbara.  Cal. 

[Yes.  there  is  a  difference  in  localities,  and  a 
difference  in  be<^-keepers.  We  can't  all  like  the 
same  thing.]  

WHAT   I.S  A  (iOUl)    MAX    IX    THE    AI'IAKY  WOHTll'.' 

How  mucli  can  the  owner  aflford  to  pay,  per 
colony,  to  a  practical  apiarist,  in  money,  to 
manage,  say.  not  less  than  •.'.">o  or  :'()()  colonies  of 
liees  that  are  in  good  coiHillion  and  in  a  fail'  ht- 
cation?  The  owner  is  to  furnish  all  material 
necessary  for  the  successful  management  of  the 
bees.  The  apiarist  is  to  furnish  all  the  labor. 
How  much  w  hen  bees  are  in  bad  condition  and 
in  bad  hivesV  S.  15. 

[We  would  advise  hiring  your  lielp  by  th(> 
day.  It  would  be  (iil'ticnlt  if  not  imi)ossihle  to 
make  a  fair  schedule  on  the  other  plan.  Labor 
in  tile  apiary  is  worth  from  2^)  to  ,50  per  cent 
more  than  common  labor,  and  the  price  of  this 
varies  as  to  locality.] 

MOI.KS     IN    THE    APIARY:     HOW    TO    CiET    HID   OF 
THE.M. 

I  should  like  to  have  some  information  on  the 
following:  I  have  on  my  farm,  south  of  this 
eity.  an  apiary  of  fifty  colonies.  They  are  lo- 
cated on  the  south  side  of  my  residi-uce,  and  I 
do  iKjt  care  to  movi'  them:  but  moles  are  un- 
dermining the  ground  in  that  particular  place 
so  badly  that  my  hives  are  sinking  into  the 
ground.     What  can  I  do  in  this  case? 

Columbus.  O.  E.VKLE  Ceic'KEN<;eh. 

[We  would  not  move  the  bees,  but  poison  the 
moles.  ■•  Rough  on  Rats"  ought  to  extermi- 
nate them.  If  you  do  not  like  to  use  poison, 
procure  a  good  cat  oi-  rat-terrier.] 


KiioMiDi';  OI'  i'oi'Assu'm;  a  cai'iion. 
Fiiiiiil  liiinl:  1  wish  to  call  your  attention 
to  what  Dr.  .1.  II.  Kellogg  says  iii  f^oor/  Ihdllh. 
N\)V.  No.,  page  :{41,  about  bromideof  potassium. 
He  says, '■  A  vast  amount  of  harm  has  been 
done  liy  the  use  of  this  nostrum."  Some  years 
since.  I  received  apiiai'i'Ul ly  temporarv  benelit 
from  the  use  of  this  drug,  and  was  toid  by  our 
family  physician  that  it  would  do  me  no  harm: 
but  I  very  soon  found  out  that  it  was  injurious 
lo  me.  and  I  (luil  the  use  of  it,. 

W.   r.  AsI'lN  \VA  1. 1.. 

Harrison.  M  inn..  Di'c.  4. 


I'tUK    ri'AI.lAX    (^UKKNS  THAT    AUK    lil.AfK. 

I  had  an  occasion  to  start  a  lot  of  iiueen-cells. 
and  one  of  the  second  lot  of  (|ueens  Miriii'd  out 
to  be  black.  She  was  as  black  as  the  blackest 
luni])  of  coal  you  ever  saw.  I  kept  her,  and 
she  throws  good  Italian  bees.  Did  you  ever 
know  of  a  jet-black  Itiilian  queen? 

HufTalo.  X.  'S'.  James  Kodixson. 

[We  have  had  Italian  (|ueens  that  were  per- 
fectly black,  and  yet  tlieir  bees  were  perfectly 
marked  Italians  with  three  distinct  yellow 
bands,  and.  besides  this,  they  showed  all  the 
other  qualities  of  pure  Italians.  This  is  a  fact 
we  hav(!  mentioned  in  oui'  price  list.  Italian 
queens  may  \>c  any  color  from  black  to  yellow, 
but  their  Ijees  should  show  three  yellow  l)ands.J 


A    DISAPI'OIXTIXG   SEASON'. 

The  past  season  has  been  rather  disappoint- 
ing to  the  bee-keepers  in  most  of  New  Jersey. 
Although  both  cIovtM'  and  buckwheat  were 
never  more  promising  than  at  the  oj)eiiing  of 
the  past  season,  yet.  owing  to  excessively  wet 
weather  following,  mv  vield  from  :>H  colonies 
was  bill  '.»'>5  lbs.  W.  W.  Case. 

l^aptisttown.  N.  J..  Dec.  1. 


THE    five-banded   BEES. 

On  reading  the  report  of  Mr.  Wm.  L.  Ewing. 
page  930.  1891.  about  Hve-banded  golden  Ital- 
ian bees.  I  wish  to  say  that  I  have  tried  them 
and  found  them  very  gentle  to  handle,  and  tine 
honey-gatherers.  I  must  say  that  they  did  bet- 
ter than  the  three-banded.  R.  E.  Smith. 

Tilbury  Center,  Out.,  Can.,  Dec.  8. 


KKM)    LUS.    FliOM    11    colonies,   AND     INCIJEASED 
Tf)   2i. 

It  has  been  a  very  good  year  for  bees.  I  had 
loOO  Ibsi  of  comb  honey  from  11  colonies,  spring 
count:  increased  to  ~;4.  (t.  J.  Hobaht. 

Westford.  Vt.,  Dec.  7. 

[You  have  done  exceedingly  w'ell.] 

Can  you  tell  me  what  is  the  cause  of  brood- 
combs  being  of  a  moldy  color  at  this  season  of 
the  year,  when  thi^re  is  a  strong  colony  of  bees 
in  the  hive?  G.  A.  Latimeh. 

Norfolk.  Neb.,  Nov.  -T). 

[Dampness  is  the  cause.  The  use  of  ab.sorb- 
ents  will  cause  this.  It  will  probably  do  no 
harm.]  

GARDENING    HETTEK  THAN    KEE-KEEPING. 

(hardening  pays  better  than  bee-keeping  here, 
although  I  am  much  attached  to  ray  bees;  but 
the  range  is  not  good  for  them. 

John  Franklin. 

Round  Itock,  Texas.  Dec.  18. 


A  California  cheiTy-grower  claims  that  bees 
are  necessary  to  grow  a  successful  crop  of  cher- 
ries, and  says  that  the  question  is,  to  bee  or  not 
to  hpe.—Rurtil  Neir-Yorher. 


28. 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  1. 


DK.  MILLERS   FLAX   OF    WIXTERING  ALL  RIGHT. 

Tell  Dr.  Miller  that  I  have  wintered  with 
perfect  success  in  single-walled  hives  packed 
with  straw,  similar  to  his  plan,  only  I  left  them 
where  they  stood,  and  put  a  cushion  over  the 
frames  and  piled  straw  up  around  the  sides. 
All  mv  hives  face  the  south;  and  unless  the 
winter  is  severe  I  do  not  protect  the  south  side. 
If  you  use  good  long  oat  straw  there  is  no  trou- 
ble about  its  wetting  in;  at  least,  I  have  had 
none  in  six  vears'  experience.  The  only  trouble 
is  its  untidy  looks:  but  if  it  is  neatly  done  it 
doesn't  look  so  bad.  It  is  no  more  trouble  to 
put  on  and  take  off  than  outside  cases,  and  is 
decidedly  cheaper:  and.  besides,  there  is  not  a 
lot  of  loose  traps  to  house.  We  have  to  winter 
outdoors  here,  as  all  the  cellars  are  very  damp. 
Do  vou  remember  my  speaking  of  having  trou- 
ble with  mv  bees  going  to  a  neighbor"s  well  of 
soft  water  last  summer?  Well.  I  took  A.  I.  R."s 
advice,  and  drilled  for  that  vein  of  soft  water, 
and  got  it:  and  since  then  my  bees  trouble  no- 
body's well  but  my  own.  John  Eurk. 

Bracevilie,  111..  Dec.  21. 

THE   KAWEAH   COLONY   A   THING   OF    THE    PAST. 

A  few  months  ago  I  wrote  Gleanings  a  let- 
ter, denouncing  the  above  colony  as  a  fraud  and 
a  swindle  (see  page  .59.5  for  July  1.5.  1891).  I  re- 
ceived some  very  sharp  replies  to  said  article. 
As  I  stated.  I  had  investigated  the  workings  of 
said  colony,  and  I  knew  there  was  dishonesty 
and  rascality  in  the  management  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  it  was  sure  to  come  to  naught.  A  few 
rogues  were  gaining  money  in  handsome  sums 
of  the  poor,  honest,  and  confiding  toilers,  by 
misrepresentations,  iics' weie  the  game.  lam 
happy  to  infoi'm  your  readers  that  Kaweah 
Colony  is  a  thing  of  the  past.  It  has  gradually 
sunk  into  its  inevitable  fate.  It  is  dead— so 
recognized  by  its  leaders,  and  almost  if  not  all 
of  its  members  here  in  Tulare  County.  They 
have  sent  out  a  circular  to  that  effect,  and  sev- 
eral leading  papers  have  published  long  articles 
on  the  same.  J.  G.  (Jilstrap. 

Last.  Cal.,  Dec.  25, 1891. 

pure  GRANULATED  SUGAR  FOR  BEES. 

Friend  Root: — It  occurs  to  me  that  the  sub- 
ject of  pure  sugar  for  food  for  bees  is  one  of  na- 
tional importance  to  bee-keepers,  and  ought  to 
receive  the  attention  due  it.  Last  fall  I  fed 
two  colonies  with  syrup  made  of  granulated 
sugar,  with  about  3€  extracted  honey  added.  I 
now  find  that  the  sugar  is  not  only  granulated, 
but  caked  hard  in  the  combs. 

We  are  having  nice  warm  weather,  bees  fly- 
ing, and  1  have  taken  advantage  of  this  to  ex- 
amine some  of  my  bees,  and  I  fear  I  shall  lose 
the  two  fed  with  sugar.  I  have  seen  it  stated 
somewhere  that  confectioner's  "  A  "  sugar  is 
better  and  purer  than  granulated:  that  bees 
fed  the  granulated  went  through  the  winter  in 
a  weakened  condition,  and  would  soon  die  out. 
I  am  no  chemist:  but  this  seems  to  me  to  be 
very  reasonable.  Could  not  Prof.  Cook  analyze 
the  two  grades  of  sugar,  and  report  through  the 
Ijee- journals?  Can't  you  arrange  to  have  him 
doit?  Would  it  not  be  better  still  to  have  a 
pure  sugar  manufactured  especially  for  bee- 
keepers—one that  would  not  easily  granulate  ? 
It  occurs  to  me  that  the  Bee-keepers'  Union 
could  arrange  with  some  reliable  manufacturer 
to  have  such  a  sugar  made  and  sold  to  bee- 
keepers at  wholesale  prices  for  about  the  same 
as  granulated  sugar.  It  might  be  furnished  to 
members  of  the  Union  at  wholesale  prices,  and 
charge  a  small  advance  to  those  not  members. 
This  might  be  the  means  of  greatly  increasing 
the  membership  of  the  Union.  I  am  going  to 
join  the  Union  myself  this  coming  year,  and 
expect  to  remain  a  member  of  it.    If  such  a 


sugar  is  made  I  will  take  10  barrels  next  July 
and  would  take  15  to  20  barrels  every  year 
thereafter.  I  would  also  suggest  that  it  be  put 
up  in  barrels  of  a  uniform  size  of  350  lbs.  each. 

T.  K.  Massie. 
Concord  Church.  W.  Va..  Dec.  23. 

[We  have  not  been  able  to  detect  any  differ- 
ence in  granulated  sugar.  We  have  used  a 
great  deal,  in  feeding,  that  made  from  the  beet, 
and  some  from  cane  sugar,  but  we  were  not 
aljle  to  notice  any  difference  in  results.  We 
have  always  regarded  granulated  sugar  as  a 
pure  article,  and  the  most  uniform  and  pure  of 
any  sweet  known.  '  It  is  next  thing  to  impossi- 
ble to  adulterate  it  with  cheaper  sweets,  and 
yet  have  the  fact  concealed.  Still,  we  may  be 
mistaken,  and  therefore  solicit  facts  from  those 
who  are  in  a  position  to  know.] 


Notes  of  Travel 

FROM   A.    .   ROOT. 
AT   COLOR.\DO   SPRINGS. 

Dec.  I. — I  met  Prof.  Cook,  his  good  wife,  and 
their  son.  Albert  Cook,  but  we  usually  call  him 
•■  Bert,"  for  short. 

As  I  described  things  fully,  thi'ee  years  ago, 
along  here,  I  have  not  thought  best  to  write 
them  up  again  now.  Bert  is  a  fine  strong  active 
boy  of  18,  and  bids  fair  to  be  his  father  over 
again. 

Although  we  were  having  very  fair  summer 
weather.  1  told  my  companions  that,  before  we 
got  over  the  mountain  summit,  we  should  have 
winter,  and  perhaps  sleighing:  but  they  laugh- 
ed at  my  prediction;  but  when  a  two-horse 
sleigh  at  Leadville  took  us  from  the  station  to 
the  hotel  they  began  to  have  more  respect  for 
my  knowledge  of  mountains  and  altitudes.  Bert 
took  occasion,  after  supper,  to  have  a  skate  in  a 
city  whose  altitude  is  greater  than  any  other  of 
its  size  in  the  world.  One  would  suppose,  of 
course,  that  lead  was  the  principal  mineral  in 
and  around  Lcf(f7ville:  but  not  so.  Gold  and 
silver  aiv  thi-  minerals  that  give  the  place  its 
celebrity.  The  grand  canyons  of  the  Arkansas 
and  Rio  Grande,  with  their  rocks  and  strata, 
gave,  of  course,  much  food  for  talk  and  study; 
but  Prof.  Cook  tells  us  that  geologists  nowadays 
do  not  give  earthquakes  much  credit  in  ac- 
counting for  this  wonderful  region.  The  con- 
traction of  the  earth  in  cooling,  and  the  action 
of  water,  which  has  very  evidently,  at  some 
time,  covered  much  if  not  all  of  this  region,  it 
is  thought,  has  done  most  of  it. 

The  convention  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Dec.  3  and 
4.  was  fairly  well  attended,  and  our  efforts  re- 
sulted in  getting  well  under  way  a  pennanent 
organization.  This  seems  much  needed  for  sev- 
eral reasons.  Foul  brood  has  been  making 
great  havoc  in  some  localities  around  here:  and 
for  some  time  back,  but  little  has  been  done 
about  it.  The  market  price  of  honey  has  also 
been  a  good  deal  demoralized.  The  price  has 
been  allowed  to  go  down  because  no  one  has 
gathered  up  the  product  and  sent  it  off  where  it 
would  command  a  proper  price.  I  am  greatly 
indebted  to  two  bee-friends.  Henry  Taufer  and 
J.  C.  Swaner.  for  making  my  visit  pleasant. 
Salt  Lake  has  now  over  .50,000  inhabitants,  and 
over  75  miles  of  electric  street-cars.  Three 
years  ago  such  a  thing  was  unknown  here;  but 
now  they  have  runs  equal  to  12  miles  in  a  single 
straight  line,  and  they  run  up  the  mountain- 
side, and  along  the  "mesa  "*  wherever  cottages 
are  found,  until  horses  and  wagons  are  almost 

*Mesa  is  a  Spanish  word  meaning  table,  or  any 
level  spot  on  the  mountain  side  or  summit. 


I  S'.f.' 


(;i,i;.\MN(iS  IN   MKH  CULTURE. 


r.".t 


urmi'i'i'ssiiiA  .  IliTi'  1  lirsl  fdiiml  rais /uv/N'i/by 
clci'tricily.  1  hiivc  lonji  Ix'cii  fxpi'i-tiiig  this: 
and  iu)\v.  dear  friciiils.  clcfti-icity  is  hen-,  ready 
not  only  t(t  iijilit  our  iioiiscs  and  do  tiii>  woi'lv. 
but  it  is  alffady  triviii!;  lu-at.  Heat.  lii,Mit.  ami 
power  ai'<'  iiivcn  w  lici r  wanted,  tliidutrli  tiie 
medium  of  a  sintide  wire.  Let  us  liuni  n|)  all 
souives  of  power  not  only  our  luituiul  water- 
falls and  rivi'rs,  but  our  artesian  wells,  tras- 
wells  -  let  us  stither  the  power  tliey  fiive,  then 
witli  a  simple  wire  we  have  i)owei-  to  carry  our- 
selves ami  our  burdens  from  place  to  i)lace: 
liilht  to  make  our  i-ities  ami  dwellin<is  as  bright 
as  day.  even  at  inidnifihl:  and  last.  I)ut  not 
least.  )((■((/  to  warm  our  homes  comes  also,  along 
tliis  self-same  wire.  To  warm  a  car,  they  have 
a  lieater  in  each  corner,  under  the  seat.  1  burn- 
ed mv  tinners  in  exploring  into  it.  so  I  (Might  to 
know'.  Ves.  I  fully  believe  that,  through  the 
medium  of  eh>ctricity.  this  restless  and  at  times 
unmanageable  servant  of  ours,  the  irlnd,  is  ul- 
timately to  give  power,  light,  and  heat;  audit 
is  to  In'  inaih'  tdinc.  !<tc<i(hi.  and  ihicilc.  Von 
see  •? 

ONE  OK  OIK  i;NTKKri{istN(i  i!i;i-;-Mt;x. 

Woodniansop  is  already  talkingof  getting  pow- 
er to  run  his  bee-hivo  inanufactory  from  one  of 
the  street-car  companies;  and  he  says  if  he 
could  use  tlie  power  all' the  time  (they  rent  it 
by  the  month)  it  would  be  cheai)er  than  steam. 

Natural  gas  has  just  l)etMi  added  to  the  long 
list  of  Utah's  luitiiral  products;  and  yesterday 
(Dec.  7)  a  party  of  us  went  out  by  Great  Salt 
Lak<»  to  see  a  new  well.  The  gas  has  a  pressure 
of  over  100  lbs.:  and  when  let  off  it  is  the  great- 
est ■■  mud-slinger."  perhaps,  the  world  ever  saw. 
Some  of  the  papers  suggest  that  it  be  utilized 
in  the  next  political  campaign.  Well,  it  has 
covered  the  tools  and  derrick,  and  the  landscape 
for  acres  around,  with  the  mud  it  has  belched 
forth.  In  some  places  we  found  great  holes  in 
the  ground,  big  enough  to  bury  a  small  dog, 
made  by  immense  chunks  of  mud  hurled  to  such 
a  height  that,  when  they  came  down,  they 
buried  themselves  and  left  a  hole  above  them. 
After  we  had  examined  the  well,  as  it  was  win- 
ter weather  our  partv  of  about  thirty  adjourn- 
ed to  the  nearest  house,  owned  by  E.  Garn. 
Centerville.  Davis  Co..  Utah,  to  get  warm. 
Said  house  is  warmed  by  natural  gas,  and  has 
been  for  five  years  past.  He  drilled,  or  rather 
drove,  down  an  iron  pipe  about  (JO  feet.  He  got 
water  and  gas  too.  and.  like  a  Yankee,  he  put  a 
tight  barrel  over  the  top  of  the  tube.  Near  the 
bottom  of  the  barrel  a  stream  of  water  runs 
out  constantly;  and  exactly  in  the  top  he  put  a 
tube,  made  part  of  iron  and  part  of  rubber  hose, 
so  as  to  carry  the  gas  into  his  cook-stove. 
While  we  were  tramping  the  mnv  kind  of  mud 
all  over  his  floors  I  happened  to  look  out  of  the 
window  and  saw  quite  a  row  of  bee-hives.  Don't 
it  beat  all,  how  you  find  a  bee-man  around 
when  you  least  expect  him?  Pretty  soon  they 
bantered  him  for  honey;  and  Ijefore  the  train 
got  along  he  had  loaded  up  almost  every  last 
man  with  one  or  more  sections  of  alfalfa  honey. 
Our  crowd  had  rather  more  knowledge  of  bees 
(but  a  little  less  silver)  whi-n  they  boarded  the 
train.  I  was  rather  glad,  for  it  will  cost  him 
something  to  clean  up  his  floors.  His  honey 
was  all  stored  in  J  -lb.  S(?ctions.  of  course. 

In  this  region  artesian  wells  are  so  common 
that,  when  a  farmer  wants  water  in  a  particu- 
lar pastnri'  lot,  he  just  drives  down  an  iron  piije, 
and  then  h^ts  the  water  pour  over  into  a  trough. 
In  one  place  the  well  had  nuide  the  ground  so 
swampy  that  they  tried  to  plug  it  up:  but  the 
plug  didn't  tit  very  well,  and  so  it  sent  the  wa- 
ter in  jets  on  the  trees  and  every  thing  aroiuid. 
where  it  had  frozen  in  all  sorts  of  comical 
-shapes.  I  mention  this  otdy  to  illustrate  how  not 


only  intlcr  but  poircr  is  allowed  to  run  to  waste 
jnsi  through  neglect,  and,  shall  I  say— stupidi- 
ty ?  In  the  same  locality  are  hot  springs— al- 
mosi  as  hot  as  you  can  bear  your  hand  in  the 
water.  It  comes  out  from  under  a  beautiful 
iialuial  tioulder  a  boulder  so  large  that  it  is  a 
small  mountain,  and  the  w  ater  is  most  wonder- 
fully clear  and  sparkling,  even  if  it,  is  hot. 
Well,  the  pei)bly  bottom  is  composed  of  patchi'S 
of  the  most  brilliant  blue,  green,  yellow,  and, 
in  short,  almost  all  the  colors  of  the;  rainbow, 
these  colors  being,  I  suppose,  caused  by  the. 
pri'cipitation  of  tin'  various  cheniicals  fouiid  in 
the  wati-r.  It  boils  and  bubbles  up  in  sucii  vol- 
umes that  it  would  lill,  I  think,  a  twelve-inch 
pipe,  and  then  it  goes  steaming  otT  across  tlie 
fields  until  it  linally  forms  a  warm  lake;  and  as 
it  doesn't  freeze  over,  ducks  and  water-fowls 
come  there  to  sw  iin  all  winter  long,  making  ita 
favorite  hunting-giound.  No  oiii'  has  yet  ev(!r 
undertaken  to  utilize  the  immense  qiuintities  of 
heat  going  to  waste  here.  It  would  heat 
greenhouses  and  hotbeds,  miles  of  them,  and 
would  comfortably  warm  all  the  dwellings  in  a 
fair-sized  city.  The  tenii)eratuie  is  absolute 
and  steady,  and  tin;  expense  nothing,  after  the 
pipes  are  laid  to  lead  the  water.  At  present 
it  is  utilized  only  for  bathing-houses. 

I  find  I  must  break  the  thread  of  my  luirra- 
tive  at  this  point  in  order  to  say  something 
more  about  the  town  of  Greeley,  referred  to  in 
the  latter  part  of  my  previous  letter,  Dec.  1.5, 
and  to  relate  a  pleasant  little  incident  which 
happened  to  me  there. 

When  our  good  friend  Horace  Greeley  said, 
"Young  man,  go  west."'  he  set  the  example 
himself  by  going  west  and  starting  a  beautiful 
town  which  still  bears  his  name,  and  still  does 
him  honor,  by  being  a  strictly  temperance  town; 
for  every  foot  of  land  was  so  deeded  that  the 
owner  lo'^es  it  the  minute  he  engages  in  the  liq- 
uor-traltic.  It  is  inteicsting  to  know  that  a 
town  can  be  started  and  kept  sober  for  at  least 
a  long  term  of  years,  in  just  this  way.  The 
people,  buildings,  and  every  thing  about  the 
place,  show  the  good  effects  of  it. 

At  the  convention  we  had  a  good  joke  on  Mr. 
Theo.  V.  Jessup.  Before  he  knew  I  was  to  be 
present  he  was  very  earnestly  engaged  in  solic- 
iting subscriptions  for  Gleanixgs,  and  even 
came  to  me,  handed  me  a  copy,  and  commenced 
extolling  its  merits.  When  some  mutual  friend 
came  forward  and  introduced  us,  he  looked  em- 
barrassed enough. 

"Never  mind,  good  friend."  said  I.  "You 
needn't  feel  troubled.  I  believe  this  is  the  first 
time  in  my  life  that  I  have  been  urged  to  sub- 
scribe for  iny  own  journal." 

The  electric  plant  for  lighting  Salt  Lake  City 
is,  I  think,  the  largest  and  finest  I  have  ever 
yet  seen  in  any  city.  There  are  ten  immense 
boilers,  giving,  all  together,  1:300  horse-power, 
and  the  dynamos  for  generating  the  electricity 
compose  the  latest  and  finest  that  are  now 
know'n.  A  smoke  -  consuming  apparatus  is 
already  attached  to  a  number  of  the  boilers, 
and  it  w-orks  .so  perfectly  that  not  a  ray  of  black 
smoke  can  be  seen  coming  from  the  top  of  the 
stack.  If  this  thing  really  succeeds,  oh  what  a 
blessing  it  will  be  to  the  smoky,  dingy,  and 
blackened  cities  all  over  our  land  I 

Utah  not  only  claims  to  beat  the  world  in  va- 
riety of  mineral  produc^ts,  but  she  has  produc- 
ed liearly  1000  bushels  of  potatoes  to  the  acre, 
and  80  bushels  of  wheat.  Besides  producing 
almost  every  thing  grown  in  any  northern 
State,  she  is  growing  successfully  both  raisin 
grapes  and  cotton.  A  new  beet-sugar  factory 
is  uow  in  succe.ssful  operation,  and  candy  is 
shown  in  her  confectioners'  window.s,  made 
from  sugar  of  her  own  production.  Even 
though   her  public  schools  are   new.  like  her 


30 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jax.  1. 


electric  rail  ways,  tiiey  are  "'  getting  there  "  all 
the  same.  Of  course.  I  couldn't  go  to  nil  the 
churches,  but  I  attended  two  different  Congre- 
gational, and  found  large  and  intelligent  audi- 
ences. At  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Sunday  afternoon  I 
found  a  larger  attendance  than  iu  any  other 
city  where  I  have  traveled.  I  talked  to  them 
for  perhaps  five  minutes,  and  I  think  more 
came  to  me  to  shake  hands,  when  the  meeting 
closed,  than  in  any  other  place  I  liave  visited. 
With  open  saloons,  of  course  they  have  interri- 
perance:  and  the  swearing  on  the  streets  in 
some  parts  of  the  city  is  pretty  bad:  but  I  saw 
notices  in  some  of  the  public  buildings  forbid- 
ding it,  and  calling  attention  to  the  law  in  re- 
gard to  it. 

Dec.  .<^.— I  am  off  for  Washington  this  morning. 
The  raili-oad  takes  its  course  along  the  Salt 
Lake  Valley,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains.  In 
many  places  the  number  of  springs  at  the  foot 
of  the  hills  is  so  great  1  am  told  no  irriga- 
tion is  needed  to  get  immense  crops.  In  these 
spring  runs,  a  great  abundance  of  most  beauti- 
ful water-cress  is  found  all  winter  long.  In 
fact,  I  saw  where  wagonloads  of  it  might  easily 
be  gathered.  Hot  springs  are  also  found  at 
many  i)oints.  My  impression  is,  the  heat  comes 
from  chemical  action  rather  than  from  volcanic 
fires  in  the  interior  of  the  earth.  I  find  the  hot 
spring  water  is  all  more  or  less  charged  with 
mineral  salts.  Well,  the  water  from  the  melt- 
ing snows  on  the  mountains  sinks  into  the 
earth;  and  where  minerals  and  chemical  salts 
are  so  abundant  it  is  not  strange  that  this  wa- 
ter soon  becomes  a  strong  solution  of  some- 
thing. Now,  it  is  well  known  in  chemistry  that 
two  solutions  poured  together  often  give  out 
violent  heat.  Sulphuric  acid  and  water  is  a 
familiar  example.  This  will  become  boiling 
hot  if  mixed  in  the  right  proportion.  The  hot 
spring  of  Salt  Lake  is  heavily  charged  with 
sulphur,  and  at  the  same  time  is  very  strong  of 
common  salt.  If  you  stand  to  the  windward 
side,  the  sulphur  fumes,  as  they  come  off  in 
the  vapor,  are  quite  unpleasant. 

LETTER  TO   HUBEK. 

Well,  my  boy,  there  are  several  funny  things 
true  of  your  papa  this  afternoon.     Let  us  see: 

First,  I  am  away  up  in  the  clouds — yes,  al- 
most a  mile  high.  You  see,  the  mountains  are 
up  in  the  clouds;  and  as  we  have  to  cross  them 
we  had  to  go  up  into  the  clouds  too.  Oh,  myl 
but  you  ought  to  see  it  snow  up  here.  You 
know  you  wanted  it  to  snow  when  I  left  home. 
Second.  I  am  away  off  in  the  State  of  Idaho. 
If  you  look  on  the  map  you  can  find  it.  There 
are  a  great  many  mountains  in  Idaho,  and  lots 
of  pretty  valleys  full  of  hoi'Ses  and  cattle.  There 
are  some  very  good  horses  here.  Two  men  just 
jumped  on  their  horses  and  bounded  off'  through 
the  snow  and  sage  brush.  How  the  horses  did 
make  the  new  soft  snow  fly  with  their  hoofs! 
If  it  were  me  I  should  almost  be  afraid  of  get- 
ting snowed  under.  The  sage  brush  is  about  as 
large  as  current-bushes,  and  so  close  you  can 
just  get  between  them.  There  are  miles  and 
miles  of  it.  I  think  the  bees  might  get  honey 
from  it  in  the  summer  time.  vVe  just  saw  a 
farmei'  out  among  the  sage  brush,  living  in  a 
t<Mit— yes,  a  tent  in  a  snowstorm.  Shouldn't 
you  think  he  would  get  pretty  cold  ? 

The  third  thingis — what  do  you  think?  Why, 
to-day  is  the  first  time  in  my  life  that  I  was  .52 
years  old.  Funny,  ain't  it?  that  my  birthday 
should  come  when  I  am  away  off  up  in  the 
clouds,  in  a  big  snowxtonn,  out  iu  Iclitho. 

Near  McCammon,  Idaho,  are  some  strange 
I'ock  formations.  At  first  I  thought  a  carload 
of  railroad-ties  had  been  stood  on  end  for  some 
purpose,  and  tliat  they  had  them  all  tumbleil 
every   which   way.    Then   came   another  such 


heap,  then  lots  more.  Soon  I  saw  they  were 
long  stones,  split  out  by  Nature's  hand.  The 
queer  rock  all  seems  to  be  on  end,  and  the  rain 
and  frost  have  split  it  up  like  blocks  cut  off  for 
firewood,  and  the  sticks  just  lie  tumbled  about. 
Many  of  them  would  make  beautiful  fence  or 
hitching  jiosts.  In  one  place  they  are  long 
enough  for  rails,  or  short  thick  telegraph- 
poles;  but  the  most  of  them  are  about  the 
length  and  size  of  ties.  They  stand  along  the 
track  for  miles,  and  on  some  of  the  bluff's  there 
are  just  acres  of  them.  I  tried  the  Kodak  on 
them:  but  as  the  train  didn't  stop,  I  am  afraid 
the  picture  won't  be  very  good. 

All  through  Idaho  we  find  the  strange  rocks  I 
have  described.  A  bunch  of  them  stick  up  on 
the  piain,  and  the  pieces  are  scattered  all  about. 
Toward  the  eastern  line  the  rocks  are  nearer 
cubical,  say  from  two  to  three  feet  on  a  side; 
and  scattered  here  and  there  over  the  desert 
waste  are  huge  building  blocks  of  stone,  spread 
out,  as  it  were,  just  right  for  the  mason  to  go  to 
work  at.  There  are  enough  such  blocks  of  stone 
for  all  the  cities  and  villages  Idaho  will  ever 
build. 

Dec.  10. — To-day  my  heart  is  rejoiced  to  see  a 
real  genuine  rail  fence.  After  traveling  for 
three  weeks  over  miles  and  miles  with  no  nat- 
ural forests,  it  is  not  strange  that  I  hungered 
for  the  sight  of  old  familiar  scenes.  Even  the 
horses  and  cattle  seemed  more  natural,  and 
more  at  home,  on  the  other  side  of  a  rail  fence. 
At  Pleasant  Valley,  Oregon,  I  saw,  also,  great 
piles  of  native  lumber  about  a  sawmill.  Y"ou 
may  think  strange  I  make  so  much  of  this;  but, 
dear  reader,  what  is  our  great  United  States  to 
do  for  lumberwhen  tlie  native  forests  are  gone? 
How  are  we  to  continue  to  build  when  the 
trees  are  cut  down  ?  I  should  say  that  at 
least  nine  -  tenths  of  our  land  is  timberles-^. 
and  yet  in  many  places  the  great  effort  seems  to 
be  to  destroy  and  waste  it.  Since  getting  into 
Oregon  I  am  also  rejoiced  to  see  nice  patches  of 
fruit  surrounding  every  home.  Thrifty  or- 
'chards  and  patches  of  small  fruit  seem  to  go 
well  with  rail  fences.  Our  conductor  just  pass- 
ed through  the  cai",  exhibiting  an  immense  ap- 
ple, and  a  perfect  beauty.  He  said  a  man  just 
gave  it  him  who  raised  it  on  his  farm  up  among 
the  hills. 

Along  here  the  rocks  and  cliffs  are  penciled 
with  a  delicate  green,  shading  off  into  many 
tints  of  yellow.  The  effect  is  very  fine.  I  think 
it  must  be  owing  to  the  minei'als  and  chemicals 
dissolved  by  the  water. 

Dec.  11. — Long  before  daylight  I  was  at  my 
post  by  the  car-window.  The  pine-trees  are  so 
large  and  so  many,  the  daylight  has  been  slow- 
in  getting  through;  but  the  scenery  as  we  ap- 
proach Portland  is  wonderful.  The  track  runs 
between  the  Columbia  River  and  the  cliffs,  and 
said  cliffs  are,  some  of  them,  almost  if  not 
quite  half  a  mile  high.  Well,  to  add  to  the 
charm  of  the  evergreen  trees  and  the  cliffs, 
beautiful  waterfalls  come  pouring  and  leaping 
down  the  cliff  at  frequent  intervals.  Some  of 
those  falls  almost  spatter  the  car  -  windows, 
they  are  so  close;  and  when  I  tell  you  that  one 
of  them,  Multnomah,  pours  down  eight  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  you  need  not  be  siu'prised  that  I 
was  enraptured.  Besides  the  falls.  Nature  has 
clothed  the  rocks  and  cliffs  with  beautiful 
green  mosses  and  ferns,  and  I  suppose  this  is  the 
effect  of  the  abundance  of  rain;  for  now,  dear 
reader,  we  have  |»ass('(l  the  thousands  of  miles 
of  rainless  regions,  and  here  in  Oregon  it  rains 
both  winter  and  summer.  In  fact,  the  abun- 
dance of  rain  here  is  one  of  the  standing  jokes. 
A  passenger,  who  overheard  my  questions,  re- 
marked with  a  laugh,  '"  Why,  my  friend,  some- 
times here  with  us  it  rains  twice  on  the  same 
dav." 


IS'.fJ 


(;i,KA\lN(iS  IN   IlKK  rl   I/I'IIM-:. 


31 


-  wjtei 


In  ihi'  imiltitiulo  of  oouiisflors  tht-ro  is  safety. —PR.  II:  14. 

Willi. K  this  issii(>  is  goiiiR  to  v»n»ss  we  cxpcot 
to  t:il<<'  ill  tlif  Mioiiigan  oonvontion  at  (irand 
liapids.  w  hii'ii  will  be  hold  1)ih'.  31  ami  .Ian.  !. 

Wk  have  siivtMi  iniitc  a  long  lepoit  ul'  the 
North  .Vnicrifan  in  this  issue,  but  by  no  means 
so  full  as  will  ai)pt\ir  in  tiic  Amerinin  Bee 
.Inurniil.  of  ("hiiMSO.  Thomas  (!.  Newman  i^ 
Son.  publishers,  will  be  glail  to  mail  you  sam- 
ple copies.  

Thk  December  Bee-Keepers'  Hevleir  comes 
out  with  a  new  feature;  i.  e..  a  small  portrait, 
in  half-tone,  of  its  regulai-  con-espondents,  at, 
the  head  of  llieir  afticles.  At  conventions  we 
like  to  see  as  well  as  h(>ar  the  big  bee-guns. 
Ijro.  llutchiiiM)!!  is  going  to  gi-atify  that  desire, 
so  fai'  as  it  can  ho  done  on  paper,  for  a  time  at 
least.  

Wk  receive  a  great  many  kind  letters,  espe- 
cially at  this  time  of  the  year.  They  are  of  the 
real,  homelike,  chatty  sort,  containing  words  of 
cheer  and  encouragement.  Such  letters  are 
always  welcome,  and  have  their  influence  in 
molding  the  future  policy  of  the  journal.  It  is 
impossible  to  answer  them  all.  but  we  extend 
our  thanks  here  to  one  and  all. 


It  has  been  observed  that  bees  will  winter  on 
honey-dew:  but  just  how  much  better  they 
would  have  done  on  sugar  syrup  is  somewhat 
of  an  open  question.  Here  is  a  little  item  in 
point,  from  a  subscriber,  Mr.  E.  E.  Smith,  of 
Carpenter.  III.     He  writes: 

Bees  wintering' on  honey-dew  are  rearing  brood; 
Imt  there  are  about  twice  as  many  dead  bees  in 
front  of  theii-  hives  as  there  are  of  tho.se  fed  on 
siifrar  s.\  r\ip.  

TnK  senior  editor  is  not  "  enjoying  "  the  best 
of  health.  He  has  had  one  or  two  slight  re- 
lapses, the  last  one  being  at  Portland.  On'gon. 
At  last  reports  he  luid  left  Portland  for  Fidal- 
go.  Washington,  the  place  where  H.  A.  March. 
a  bee-keeper  and  supply-dealer,  holds  forth. 
From  his  last  letter  we  presume  he  is.  ere  this, 
on  his  way  to  a  convention  in  Los  Angeles,  to 
be  held  .Ian.  <■,  and  7.  When  he  gets  that  far 
south,  we  hope  that  his  malaria.  f)r  tendency  to 
fever  and  chills,  will  entirely  disappear. 

SixcE  our  article  in  our  last  issue,  we  have 
had  some  iniiuiries  as  to  whether  the  improved 
HotTman  frame  will  go  in  the  Dovetailed 
hive.  Why.  to  be  sure.-  The  real  purpose  of 
the  article  was  to  explain  how  the  Hoffman 
frame  had  been  adapted  to  that  hive.  Yes. 
this  frame  will  go  in  any  standard  I.angstroth 
hive,  such  as  the  Dovetailed.  All  our  frames 
of  standard  size  are  interchangeable  with  any  of 
our  standard  hives.  The  new  Hoffman  wilfgo 
in  the  old-style  Simplicity  as  well  as  in  the  lat- 
est Dovetailed  hi\^^^ 

No  one  should  attempt  to  secure  a  patent  on 
some  device  unless  he  is  passably  familiar  with 
the  literature'  relating  to  it — certainly  not  until 
he  has  read  one  or  more  of  the  excellent  text- 
books. The  patent-offii'c  rejioi-ts  show  that 
even  now  patents  are  being  granted  to  parties 
who  are  lamentably  ignorant  of  the  first  princi- 
ples of  bee-keeping  and  of  what  it  requires. 
<li-KAXix«s  of  to-day  is  not  opposed  to  i)atents 


granted  to  practical  mum:  Inii  it  uniti'swilh  the 
Aiiierii(tn  Bee  .hninidl  in  protesting  against 
lliN  u.seless  waste  of  money  when  tlie  pali'iil 
ran  lie  of  no  possible  usi>  lo  i  he  ow  ner. 

\Vk  ai'e  soj-ry  to  note  that  la  gri|)pe  is  still 
seiioiisly  inconveniencing  Thomas  (1.  Newman 
iV  .Son.  it  has  tiiken  a  severe  hold  upon  tin' 
junior  nminber  of  the  lii'in.  contining  him  to  his 
residence;  and  even  Thomas  (i.  himself  is  near- 
ly ill.  We  sincerelv  hope  for  their  speedy  re- 
covery to  hciilth.  \Ve  have  already  ourselves 
had  a  mild  attack  of  trrii).  inlluen/.a.  or  some- 
thing else,  but  we  are  liapp.\'  to  say.  at  this  writ- 
ing, that  we  are  on  top.  Dr.  ('.  C  .Miller  is  an- 
other one  who  has  been  sufVei-ing  (piite  s(^verely 
from  the  ravages  of  the  epidemic.  Although 
quite  weak,  he  is  still  able  tcj  attend  tf)  some  of 
his  correspondence^ 

I.\  one  of  our  subscription  blanks,  the  follow- 
ing woi'ds  are  written:  "' I'lease  discontinm'." 
No  name  oi' atldress  was  signed.  .\s  this  thing 
is  continually  coming  up,  both  for  discontinu- 
ances and  for  renewals,  accompanied  with  re- 
mittances, we  must  remind  our  sul)scribers 
again  to  please  let  us  know  who  they  ai<'.  We 
have  no  way  but  to  wail  for  a  growl,  and  per- 
liaps  oui'  subscriber  who  desired  us  to  discon- 
tinue may  be  very  iinicJi  tttad  because  we  do 
not  obey  orders;  and  no  doubt  tne  other  fellow 
who  has  sent  us  a  dollar  for  renewal  will  be 
very  much  put  out  because  the  date  of  his 
journal  wrapper  has  not  been  changed  in  due 
time.  

Ix  another  column  8.  T.  Fish  A:  Co.  give  us 
some  startling  news,  to  the  effect  that  at  least 
one  large  bakery  has  abandoned  the  use  of  ex- 
tracted honey,  and  is  now  using,  and  will  con- 
tinue to  use.  granulated  sugar,  because  it  is  so 
cheap,  and  because  it  is  so  much  better.  We 
have  been  a  little  skeptical  about  the  low  price 
of  sugar  affecting  the  honey-business,  hut  per- 
haps we  shall  have  to  give  up.  If  it  does  any 
thing,  it  will  affect  only  the  sale  of  the  poorer 
gradi's  of  I'Xtracted  honey.  Comb  honey  of  all 
kinds  will  hold  its  own  just  the  same.  The 
Ijoorer  and  darker  grades  ol  e.rtntrted  may  suf- 
fer considerably  from  competition  in  just  this 
wav.     Let  us  have  the;  facts. 


Eememhkr.  any  subscriber  may  have  his 
journal  stopped  at  the  time  paid  for  if  he  will 
simi)ly  so  order  when  remitting.  Those  who 
are  of  this  class  can  be  accommodated  as  well 
as  those  who  are  in  the  great  majority,  who  do 
not  want  their  journal  stopped,  and  who  will 
remit  as  soon  as  they  can  make  it  convenient. 
But  all  should  remember  that  we  do  not  allow 
any  one  to  get  very  far  in  arrears  before  his 
journal  is  stopped,  or,  at  least,  some  arrange- 
ment has  been  made  whereby  it  can  be  con- 
tinued. We  are  glad  to  state  that  we  have  no 
deadheads  on  our  list.  It  is  practically  all  paid 
up.  Our  advertisers  get  the  advantage  of  a  list 
of  live  subscribers.  A  deadhead  list,  however 
large,  would  be  of  no  practical  benefit  to  adver- 
tisers, but  a  large  expense  to  us. 

It  is  no  doubt  a  fact  that  more  Imyje  bee- 
keepers were  present  at  the  North  American  at 
Albany,  and.  as  a  natural  result,  a  larger  ag- 
gregate number  of  colonii'S  weic  re|)i-(vsented. 
than  at  any  other  bee-convention  in  the  history 
of  the  North  Ann-rican.  There  have  been 
larger  attendances  at  other  conventions,  but 
never  a  larger  nutuber  of  men  who  count  their 
colonies  by  tlie  seveial  hundreds.  There  was 
not  only  present  th(.'  largest  bee-keeper  in  the 
world,  but  a  considerabh;  number  who  own  in- 
dividually in  the  neighborhood  of  3(K)  or  4(X)  col- 
onies; and   yet  they   are   not  always   the  ones 


32 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jax.  1. 


who  say  and  do  the  most  in  conventions;  but 
when  it  conies  to  practical  experience  as  touch- 
ing the  production  of  comb  or  extracted  honey 
—well,  they  know  how  to  "  get  th(!rp." 

The  American  ApicuUurist  for  January  lias 
got  things  just  a  little  mixed  in  regard  to  the 
Albany  convention.  On  page  11  this  sentence 
occurs:  "The  great  convention  has  met.  and 
was  a  grand  blank,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  re- 
port of  its  proceedings  in  this  issue."  In  justice 
to  that  convention,  and  to  Mr.  Henry  Alley,  we 
gladly  make  an  explanation.  INIr.  Alley  says 
he  originally  wrote  that  the  convention  was  a 
grand  sitcc'ess.  At  the  time  the  galley  proof 
passed  through  his  hands  he  was  not  sure 
whether  it  was  a  success  or  a  failure,  and  so 
drew  his  pen  across  the  word  "  success  "  and 
wi-ote  in  the  margin,  "  Leave  this  blank."  Mr. 
A.  closes  up  his  letter  thus:  "  I'll  be  blast  if  the 
girl  didn't  insert  the  woi'd  hhmk.  What  a 
blunder!"  Yes.  Mr.  Alley,  it  was  quite  a  blun- 
der. We  would  suggest  the  propriety  of  read- 
ing the  page  as  well  as  the  galley  proofs.  We 
members  of  the  Albany  convention  will  forgive 
you  this  time.        

J.  W.  PoRTEU.  of  Charlottesville. Va.,  sends  us 
the  following  letter  from   the  Assistant  Secre- 
tary of  Agriculture,  Edwin  Willits.  which  will 
explain  itself : 
DEPT.  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

WASHINGTON,   D.   C. 

OfBce  of  Assistant  Secretary. 

December  7,  1891. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Porter:— Yours  of  tlie  4tl)  instant, 
mailed  the  evening-  of  the  5th,  reached  rue  this 
morning-,  with  reference  to  tlie  meeting  of  the  North 
American  Bee  keepers'  Association  next  year  in 
Washing-ton,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Department 
of  Agriculture. 

In  answer  I  have  to  say  it  will  he  gratifying-  to 
this  Department  to  have  such  meeting  held  here  at 
1  lie  time  indicated,  and  we  shall  be  most  happy  to 
furnish  your  Association  with  every  facility  ni  our 
[lower,  both  as  to  rooms  for  the  meeting  of  the  as- 
sociation, and  as  to  cooperation  in  other  respects 
<in  our  part.  Will  you  please  communicate  this 
fact  to  the  association,  and  oblige 
Yours  truly. 

Edwin  Willits,  Assistant  Sec'y? 

Good!  We  have  a  friend  in  court.  Mr. 
Willits  will  beliemerabered  as  former  president 
of  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  and  as 
an  old  friend  and  co- laborer  of  Prof.  A.  J.  Cook. 
He  has,  therefore,  more  than  an  oi'diuary  inter- 
est in  bees  and  bee-keepers.  We  feel  that  we 
but  voice  the  sentiment  of  the  association  when 
we  express  our  thanks  to  him  for  his  interest  in 
our  behalf.  Mr.  Porter  wrote  a  letter  to  the 
writer,  urging  that  the  next  meeting  of  the 
North  American  be  held  in  Washington.  When 
Capt.  Heth(>rington  proposed  the  capital  of  the 
United  States,  we  stated  the  contents  of  Mr. 
P.'s  letter,  and  fell  in  with  the  scheme  at  once. 
You  know  the  rest. 

After  Oliver  Foster,  of  Mt.  Vernon,  la.,  se- 
cured a  lower  freight  classili cation  on  honey, 
granulated,  shipped  in  pails,  we  asked  for  a 
simpler  method  of  solidifying  honey  on  short  no- 
tice. Th(»  ijroblem  had  been,  not  how  tf)  gran- 
ulate it,  but  how  to  keep  it  from  doing  so;  but 
thei-e  an^  certain  reasons  wliy,  in  some  cases, 
it  would  be  desirable  Ui  have  the  liquid  product 
candi(^d  on  short  notice,  trranulated  honey 
ships  more  readily,  and  consumers  are  already 
demanding  it  that  way  for  table  use.  No  one 
seems  to  have  answered  our  inquiry;  but  quite 
by  accident  we  ran  across  the  following,  in  the 
British  Bee  Journal,  the  editor  of  which  ti-ans- 
lates  it  from  a  French  bee-journal.  Lc  BuUetin 
Apicule: 


If  the  bee-keeper  wislies  to  have  liis  honey  grranu- 
lated  witliout  having  to  wait  six  or  seven  weeks,  he 
can,  after  a  week,  churn  it  the  same  as  is  done  wltli 
cream  to  obtain  butter.  Honey  treated  in  this  way 
granulates  with  a  ver.v  fine  grain.  We  have  just 
tried  this  process  on  lioiiey  that  had  been  exti-acted 
eight  days,  and  in  flfteen  minutes  the  lioney,  in  a 
one-pound  bottle,  passed  from  tlie  thin  liquid  state 
to  a  thick  syrui>.  Sometimes  honey  granulates  in 
coarse  grains,  wliich  makes  purchasers  think  that 
it  is  adulterated,  ft  can  be  melted  in  a  water  hath 
and  tlieii  exposed  to  cold,  wlien  it  will  granulate 
very  flue. 

There,  friend  Foster,  and  everybody  else  who 
is  interested,  here  is  a  plan  that  will  probably 
work — that  is,  if  you  can't  wait  till  cold  weath- 
er.   

"HONEY   GLrCOSED   BY   THE   HUNDREDS   OF 
TONS." 

We  have  just  received  the  following  letter 
from  M.  H.  Tweed,  which  will  explain  itself: 

Friend  Rixjt: — I  don't  understand  why  lioney- 
producers  as  an  organized  body  do  not  do  some- 
thing toward  helping  on  the  time  when  this  nation 
will  have  a  pure-food  law,  such  as  every  even 
half  ci^^lized  nation  has  all  over  the  world,  except- 
ing tills.  It  would  help  the  bee-keeper  wonderfully. 
Thousands  of  people  in  cities  do  not  use  honey  to 
any  extent,  not  liet'ause  they  do  not  like  it,  but  sim- 
ply because  they  have  no  coiitidence  in  the  article 
they  l)uy,  whether  it  he  comb  or  extracted.  Now,  to 
show  how  such  a  law  would  help,  take  a  look  at  the 
good  that  is  done  by  the  one  in  Ohio.  You  ask  a 
dealer  in  maple  syruii  ill  Pittsburg  if  he  has  pure 
maple  .syrup.  He  will,  if  he  has  any  ( >liio  syrup  on 
hand,  at  once  say,  "Yes,  this  is  from  Ohio,  and  I 
can  guarantee  it  pure,  for  they  have  a  strict  law 
there  against  the  adulteration  of  it."  It  inspires 
coiitideiii-e  ill  llie  article  at  once— .so  much  so  that 
the  (lislioiiest  dealer  says  his  syrup  is  from  Ohio, 
whether  it  be  the  truth  or  not.  And  another  advan- 
tage would  be  that,  instead  of  hundreds  of  tons  of 
glucose  being  sold  in  our  cities  as  honey,  there 
would  be  that  quantity  of  honej'  sold  Instead. 

Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  Dec,  1891.        M.  H.  Tweed. 

Mr.  Tweed  makes  a  good  point,  providing 
glucose  is  sold  by  the  hundreds  of  tons  for  hon- 
ey, or  mixed  with  extracted  honey.  But  we  can 
not  believe  that  such  a  state  of  things  exists; 
that  is.  we  think  our  correspondent  is  misin- 
formed. If  so,  we  should  have  had  some  ink- 
ling of  it  before  this.  We  have  carefully  trac- 
ed down  all  these  cases  of  glucosing  extracted 
honey,  and,  with  the  exception  of  one  case  in 
Detroit  and  one  in  Chicago  ferreted  out  by  Mr. 
Newman  we  found  that  nothing  but  pure  honey 
was  sold.  We  do  not  deny  the  existence  of 
mistrust  on  the  part  of  consumers  as  to  the 
purity  of  extracted  honey;  and  this  mistrust, 
although  i  luay  be  entirely  unfounded  in  fact, 
does  almost  the  damage  if  the  practice  existed 
in  reality.  Now.  let  us  have  the  facts.  Let  us 
face  the  lion  in  his  den.  //extracted  honey 
is  glucosed  to  any  great  extent  it  would  be 
folly  for  bee-keepers  and  bee- papers  to  try  to 
cover  it  up  for  fear  of  the  bad  effect  on  the 
general  public.  Gleanings  is  willing  to  invest 
some  money  in  liaving  the  truth  brought  to 
light.  We  should  be  glad  to  have  those  wlio 
have  positive  evidence  give  us  information, 
and  we  will  see  what  can  be  done.  Bee-keep- 
ers may  depend  upon  it  that  they  will  have  the 
hearty  support  of  ail  the  bee-papers  and  of  all 
bee-associations,  including  the  North  Ameri- 
can and  the  H(^e-k'<M'iiers'  Union.  Now,  we  as 
bee-keepers  should  handle  this  matter  delicate- 
ly and  wisely,  and  be  very  careful  about  raising 
a  false  alarm  unless  there'  is  real  ground  for 
alarm;  and  if  glucosing  does  exist  to  any  con- 
siderable extent,  by  all  means  let  us  go  in  for  a 
pure-food  law  that  will  include  honey — not 
only  for  the  State  of  Ohio,  but  for  every  State. 

\Vhatever  we  do.  it  should  be  thoroughly  un- 
derstood that  coinh  honey  can  not  be  glucosed; 


ix>.r 


(ii,i;.\MN(is  IX  UKK  cn/rrKK. 


:vA 


liat  i^.  trt'dill^  lllf  hrrs  the  stiill.  Would  lir  r\- 
oiM'iliiiirly  iiiipi'olitaltlf.  ll  is  only  tlic  lioiic.N  in 
the  liiiithi  form,  tliat  miKlit  !>•'  Kiiu-osed.  1! 
tluTc  is  any  of  ihc  paclvinj;  iionscs  tliat  ai'c 
Kiiilty  of  tliis  hilicr  upon  satisfai-ioiy  cvidcni'c, 
we  will  SIM'  iliat  tlii'V  arc  tliorou«lily  advertised 
and  I  In-  pubiii-  dniy  warned  ajiainst,  Miem.  Yes, 
wcwillsio  one  step  fiirtliiT.  if  recourses  to  the 
courts  w  ill  lielp  us. 


Spec/al  Notices. 


HIRLAP  ADVANCKU. 

'ri\e  hurlap  we  liave  l)een  sellinti"  for  the  last  year 
or  two  lias  lieen  rat  liei' lijrlit,  Ix-iiifr  onlj'  T'j  ounces 
totlieyard.  \Vc  liavi-  JU'^I  Ixiutrlit  a  new  bale,  10 
ouiu'e>  to  t  lie  yard.  and.  of  course,  it  is  worth  iiioic. 
The  price  from  now  un  will  lie  1(1  cts.  ;i  \iird;  10  \(ls., 
•Wets.;  by  the  baleof  ::<l(l  yds..  ~^  cts. 

Enamel  cloth  has  afrain  declined  in  pi-ice.  so  we 
are  able  to  offer  it  at  the  old  inice  of  'M  ct^.  a  yard, 
or  t'~'i-^  per  |)iece  of  13  yai'ds. 


Ht)NKV-TrMltl,KKS    ADVANCED. 

( )win>r  to  the  failure  of  nat  ural  jias  for  use  in  the 
jf  lass-factories  of  Pittsbury'  and  \icinit.\'.  the  makers 
are  obliged  to  advance  the  price,  owinti'  to  the  in- 
creased cost  of  production.  The  ()nl.\-  chanofe  for 
the  present  will  be  on  Nos.  78H  and  7S9  tund)lers, 
listed,  patre  31)  of  .Ian.  1st  catalos-ue.  The  price  by 
the  bairel  will  be  |i")..")0  instead  of  >f.5.(IO;  and  for  the 
nested.  *!t."Oin.stead  of  $8.70.  The  middle  sheet  of 
the  price  list  wa.s  printed  before  we  received  notice 
of  this  advance.        

KA(5LE  ArT()M.\TIC   INDELIHLE   PKNCIL   FOU   •'V  DIME. 

We  have  for  yi'ars  been  selliiiiSf  the  Eag'le  auto- 
matic Indelible  pemdl  at  2ilc.  We  recently  got  track 
of  a  job  lot  of  the  latest  style  of  these  pencils  with 
stop-fraufi'e,  and  we  boufi'ht  them  so  low  we  are  able 
to  furnish  them  for  lilc  ea<di;  by  mail.  2e  extia. 
This  stoii^rauKe  i>revents  the  lead  fiom  fallinji' out 
any  further  tiian  .\'ou  want  it  1o  write  with,  and  the 
lead  can  be  exposed  for  use  with  one  liand,  without 
the  necessity  of  di-ojiping-  it  on  to  the  other  hand  or 
on  to  the  table,  to  prevent  its  fallinjr  out. 


EAULY-ORDER  DISCOUNT. 
Wit  h  t  hiN  date  t  Ir'  disi'ount  for  earl\-  orders  drops 
to  ;i  in'r  cent.  All  orders  received  this  month  for 
goods  listed  on  pafCN  10  to  ;J9  of  our  new  piice  list 
will  be  entitled  to  a  cash  discount  of  3  ))er  cent . 
You  will  ha\e  received,  befoic  you  get  this  numbei-, 
our  new  pi-ice  list  for  1^93.  Send  in  .vour  order 
early,  that  you  may  have  the  goods  m;ide  up  i-eady 
for  the  bees  wiien  t hev  are  7'eadv  foi-  them.  Notice 
what  1)1-.  Millei' says  in  •' Stray  "Straws,"  Dec.  1,5th 
number,  about  ordeiingeaily.  It  is  gri-atly  to  your 
advantagi' and  protlt,  and  It  greatly  a.ssists  us  in 
taking  can;  of  oi-ders  i))-omi)tl.y  in  the  busy  .season. 


WINTER   CARE   OF  HORSES  .\Nn  CATTI^E. 

This  is  the  title  of  one  of  oui'  rural  books  written 
hy  T.  R.  Teiiy.  one  of  our  most  popvdar  and  practi- 
cal agricultin-al  writers.  Ever.\  oni>  wlio  has  the 
cart,' of  li\-e  stock  will  tind  jirolit  in  the  perusal  of 
this  little  work  from  his  hand.  It  is  esi>eciall.v 
valual)leat  this  season  of  the  jcar  when  you  caii 
put  its  hints  into  i)raciice  and  have  the  time  to  read 
it  during  the  long  winter'  evenings.  We  ha\c  made 
the  price  iiiriforin  with  our-  other-  i-ural  books— Sfi 
(rt-s.  wit h  other- goods;  by  trjail,  posti)aid.  38  cts.  A 
copy  is  giverr  fi-ee  for-  one  new  subscriber  foi- 
Gleaninos,  with  ^l.QO. 

MAPLE  SUri.\R    AND  THE   SUiiAK-Bl'SU. 

The  time  is  near-  at  haird  wlieir  those  who  have 
maple-tr(;es  will  be  actively  engaged  irr  producirrg 
maple  sugar-  arrfl  syrup;  arrd  to  do  so  to  t  hi;  best  ad- 
vantage .vol!  can  not  atfoi-d  tot)e  without  this  valua- 
ble work,  by  Piof.  A.  .1.  Cook,  of  Michigarr.  It  is 
writterr  from  actual  experience  in  the  busli  iir  pr-o- 
duciirg  syrup  of  the  finest  (pi;ilit.\-.  Other's  as  well 
a.s  maple-sugar  makers  will  be  interested  in  reading 
it.  as  any  thing  fi-om  the  pen  of  Prof.  Cook  could 
not  well  be  othei-wi.se  than  interesting  arrd  pr-ofilable 
reading.  Price  :i5  cts. ;  by  mail,  postpaid,  38  cts.  It 
i.s  given  free  for  one  new  subscriber  to  Gleanings, 
with  ?1.0(). 


■riiicK-r-iu'  riroMiD-rrt  \.Mr:s  wnn  di\  idem  row 
In  milking  rrp  thick-lop  fi-,-imes  we  get  on  marry 
boards  ;i  piece  not  wide  enorrgh  foi' a  top-bai',  but 
which  will  make  half  of  one.  Two  of  llicse  h.-rlv(!s 
rirake  wlnit  we  c;ill  ii  di\  ideil  I  op-bar-,  which  man.\- 
use  and  prefer-.  In)iut(lng  (he  f  rames  (ogcl  her-,  "a 
niece  of  foiindal  ion  can  be  placed  l)el  weerr  I  lie  I  wo 
iialves.  to  firslen  it.  .Mair.\  go  (o  Ihr  expense  of 
havinglop-b;rr-ssplil  fr-onioneerrd  neai-l.\-  111  rough  to 
t  lie  other-  for- 1  he  purpose  of  insei-ling  ilie  sheet  of 
foundation  when  these  di\  ided  tops  would  ariswer- 
.iiist  as  well,  and  can  in-  lurnished  much  cheaper-. 
Since  we  began  saving  the  pieces  iis  above  we  have 
arr  accumulation  of  several  Ihousiind  thick -toj) 
fr-ariies  with  these  divided  tops  nioi-e  than  wehax'i! 
had  calls  for-.  Our-  regular-  thick-top  Ir-ames  sell  for- 
.•fl.ritl  per-  lIKI;  but  to  close  these  out,  we  oiler- them 
at  .1il.:iO  per  KHI,  or-  ^'i.!:^  per  bo.x  of  250:  aOO  or-  riror-e  at 
*1.00  per-    IIKI,  in    the    Hat.  without    cotrrb-guides.     If 

you    want     w leri     comb-guldes,   add    Kic    per-    KMl. 

Most  of  them  are  packed  350  in  a  box 


Sl-;COND-HAND    FOUNDATION-M  I  r .l,S. 

We  ha\e  the  following  second-haird  foundation- 
mills  in  Stock  that  some  may  r-ather-  lane  at  the 
price  than  a  irew  one.  Of  course,  we'd  rather  sell 
you  a  new  machine  than  one  of  these,  ;iird  t  liink, 
also,  that  it  would  give  better  sat  isf;ii-tion  usually; 
still,  for-  those  who  wish  to  make  only  for-  their-  own 
use,  or  in  limited  quantities,  one  of  these  machines 
will  iirobably  do  you  as  well  as  a  new  one.  We  have 
quite  an  a.ssor-tment  to  choose  from,  and  the  list  will 
be  corrected  as  they  are  solfl.  The  ear-liest  orders 
will  have  the  best  choice. 

One  old-style  10-inch,  our  make,  with  rounil  cell, 
for  medium  brood  foundation;  has  been  used  \er-y 
little,  and  is  ;is  good  now  as  a  new  mill  at  the  tini'i- 
this  was  iiuule,  although  not  to  Ik;  i-ompared  with 
our  present  make.  A  rrew  mill  of  this  size  .sells  for- 
^30.00.    We  offer  this  foi-  $13.00. 

One  10-iucli,  which  answers  to  the  same  descriptioir 
as  above,  but  made  later-,  arrd  is  a  little  better 
machine.     Will  sell  for  t I4.(KI. 

One  ]3irieh  lie.xagon;il  cell,  medium  or  heavy 
brood  mill  of  the  original  Washliui-n  make,  and  in 
excellent  condition.  It'  wax  is  dipped  the  right, 
thickness  this  will  make  excellent- found;ition.  I  be- 
lieve it  oi-igiriall.\  sold  for-  ^^511.00.  We  otter  it  now 
form.OO. 

One  13-incli  Dunham  round-cell  heavy-brood  mill. 
This  was  original  l.\- used  hy  the  Dadants,  arrd  will 
make  good  foundation  yet.     We  offer  it  for- -lilS. 00. 

One  13-incli  Dunliam  r-ound-cell  hea\y-br-ood  mill, 
in  excellent  condiiioir.  We  took  this  fr-bnr  E.  France 
&  Son.  in  exchange  for-  a  new  mill  to  make  lighter 
foundation  more  feet  to  the  iioiind.  Their  only  ob- 
.iecl ion  was  that  it  made  foundation  heavier  than 
they  wished  to  use.  Its  condition  is  pi-.-ictically  as 
gootl  as  new,  although  it  makes  foundation  about  4 
feet  to  the  pound  uidess  the  sheets  arc  dip])ed  thin 
enough  to  make  it  lighter-.  AVeotler  this  for-  $:,'0.00. 
which  is  two-thirds  the  )ir-ice  of  ji  new  inai-liine  this 
size. 

If  any  prefer  we  can  submit  .samples  of  foundation 
from  any  of  these  machines  before  you  buy.  We 
shall  be  pleased  to  .send  samples  fi-om  new  ma'i;Iiines 
if  you  would  rather  have  that  kind. 


lftQ9    ROOT'S  Dovetailed    Hive    IOA9 
\QJ3L     at  his  prices.    Circular  free.  IO9& 


Geo.  W.  Cook.  Spring  Hill,  Kan. 


OTTUMWA  BEE-HIVE  FACTORY. 

liee-l<ei-per-s,   look  to  your    intei-ests.     Evi-r-j'  thing 
In     the    line   of    liee-siipplies    conslanth'   on    hand. 
Price  list  flee.         GREGORY  BROS.  &  SON, 
l-13d  Ottumwa,  la.    Soiilliside. 

tj^ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkanings. 


WILL  EXCHANGE  foundation  for  wax  or  cash. 
Also  make  wax  into  foundation,  wlien  sent  to 
me,  at  the-  lowest  pi-ice  in  the  world.  ."Send  for-  sam- 
ples and  |ir-ices  to  Jficob  WoUorsheim,  Eaukauna,  Wis.  >\ 

SECTIONS. 

$2.50  to  $3.50  per  ITI.    Bee-Hlve»«  and  Fix- 
tures cheap.  NOVELTY    CO., 

etfdb  Rock  Falls,  Illinois. 

i:^"lii  respoiidini^  to  this  adviTtiMiMcnt   imnlioji  Gl,i;A.MN<iS. 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


Jax.  1. 


Dovetailed  Hives,   Simplicity  Hives, 

SHCr/O/VS,  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGE     CATALOGUE. 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 

ENGINES. 

\'es.  wo  build  a  few.  We  liave,  in  counectioii  witli  our 
large  l)ee-|ilaiit,  a  fli-st-class,  well-equipiied  macliiue-slioj), 
in  which  we  build  all  kinds  of  bee-hive  marhinery,  saw-uian- 
drels,  saw-tables,  dovetailing-machiues,  foundation-mills, 
extractor-gearings,  etc.,  and,  when  our  men  liave  uotlung 
else  to  do,  engines.  Tliese  are  upright  in  style,  and  econo- 
mize floor  space.  They  are  built  under  the  special  supervi- 
sion of  an  expert  machinist  of  many  years'  experience.  The 
rods  are  all  of  flnislied  steel.  The  cross-heads  and  slides  are 
of  the  substantial  locomotive  style.  Tlie  cylinders  are 
lagged  with  Russia  iron,  and  are  brass-Iaound.  Tlie  I)oxes 
are  babbitted,  and  can  be  easily  taljen  up  for  wear.  Tlie 
piston-head  is  provided  with  two  exi)ansion- lings.  The 
bright  parts  shine  like  a  dollar.  The  governor  is  a  Waters, 
substantial  and  reliable.  We  have  three  of  these  engines 
running  in  our  works.  One  has  heen  running  two  years, 
with  excellent  results.  Making  them,  as  we  do,  during  our 
dull  season,  they  are  immeasurably  superior  to  the  ordinary 
engines  of  their  kind,  and  the  price  is  low,  considering  the 
very  fine  quality  of  the  work.  Price  of  the  3>^-horse-power 
engine,  governor  and  governor-belt,  all  ready  to  attach  to  a 
boiler,  875;  5  h.  p.,  $1U0;  "I'A  h.  p.,  13.i;  10  h.  p.,  81.50.  These 
prices  are  net,  although  we  will  make  the  usual  discount  for  • 
cash.  If  you  want  a  thoroughly  well-made  engine,  you  can 
not  do  better  than  to  select  one  of  these,  providing  the 
range  of  power  is  within  what  you  need.  While  we  com- 
pete in  quality  of  workmanshij)  we  can  not  compete  in  ])rice 
with  some  of  the  cheap  engines  on  the  market. 

fl.  I.   f^OOT,    MEDlflfl,    OHIO. 


IMPORTED  QUEENS. 

In  May  and  June,  each $3.00 

In  July  and  August,  each 1.80 

In  September  and  Octobei',  each 1.60 

Money  must  be  sent  in  advance.  Safe  arrival 
guaranteed.  Queens  that  die  en  route,  if  returned 
in  the  letter,  will  lie  replaced  by  mail,  postpaid.  No 
order  for  less  than  8  queens  by  fxpress  will  be  accept- 
ed. CHAS.  BIANCONCINI, 
1-lld  Bologna,  Italy. 
Please  mention  this  paper.  7d 


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  &  KEITH, 
14tfdb  New  London,  Wis. 
In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

Syracuse,  New  York, 

FOR  ALL  OF  A.  I.  ROOT'S  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES. 

FOUNDATION    is    Our    0%vn    IVIake. 

F.  A.  SALISBURY. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.        Itfdb 


CAMERAS  CHEAP. 

By  the  death  of  a  relative,  as  explained  in  anoth- 
er column,  I  have  come  in  iiossession  of  two  very 
fine  photographic  cameras.  One  of  them  is  a 
Hawkeye,  4x5,  with  a  jointed  tripod.  It  has  three 
dry-plate  holders,  and  three  cut-film  liolders.  Be- 
sides this,  it  has  a  lens  that  cost  uriginallj-  835.00. 
with  a  triplex  Prosch  pneumatic  shutter  worth  810 
more.  The  whole  outfit  cost  oi-iginally  about  875. 
The  camera-box  has  been  newly  finished,  and  looks 
like  a  brand-new  instrument.  It  will  also  take  a 
roll-holder  when  desired.  I  will  place  my  guarantee 
upon  the  instrument  as  being  first-class  in  every 
I'espect.  It  has  a  far  better  lens  than  the  average 
Hawkeye  camera.  Samples  of  the  work  will  be 
mailed  tipon  application.  Desiring  to  give  imme- 
diate returns  to  the  family  of  the  deceased,  I  offer 
this  camera  for  $35  cash.  It  is  a  bargain  for  some 
one  who  desires  something  really  fine  in  this  line. 
Speak  quick  if  you  want  it,  as  it  will  probably  be 
snapped  up.  I  would,  under  lu)  circumstances,  let 
it  go;  but,  as  I  have  already  said,  I  have  two  or 
three  other  good  cameras  of  my  own. 

A  5x8  PHOTOGRAPHIC  CAMERA  CHEAP. 

From  the  same  source  I  also  Iiavea5.\8  sliding- 
front  swing-back  revol\-iiig-back  camera.  It  has 
no  lens.  It  lias  three  dry-plate  holders,  tripod,  car- 
rying-case, and  focusing-cloth.  Its  original  cost 
was  about  825.  As  it  is  second-hand,  I  will  disjiose 
of  it  for  an  even  810.  A  good  lens  for  it  can  be 
bought  for  about  84..50;  or  for  814.50  1  will  include 
the  lens.  E.  R.  ROOT,  Medina,  O. 


18'.rj 


(;i-KANl\(;s  IN   HKIO  CLTLTURl'J. 


Everybody 
Admihs. 

OTHERSEEDSi^FQUALLY^^RELIABLE 

^eed  Annual  Free,    -         Wrii-g  Far  ih  NOW! 
A.W.LIVINGSTON'S  SONSj 
BOX  273,  COLUMBUS^ OHIO. 

Srin  respondlns  to  this  advertivenient  mention  Olkaninosl 


HALF  A  MILLION 

Sectiinis.  3511  Coloiiies  of  Ik'^s,  etc.    Must  he  sold,  i\t 
bottom  prices.     Send  for  ()rice  list  to 

E.  T.  FLANAGAN.  15ox  783,  Belleville,  111. 
l-12dh  Please  mention  this  paper. 


WILL  EXCHANGE  fouiulatioii  for  wax  or  cash. 
Also  make  wax  into  fouiidiition.  wlieii  sent  to 
me,  at  the  lowest  price  in  the  world.  StMid  for  sain- 
ples  and  prices  to         Jacot  Wollorsheim,  Kaukauna,  Wis. 

SECTIONS. 

$2.60  to  $3.50  per  M.    Bee-Hives  and  Fix- 
tures clieup.  NOVELTY    CO., 

«tfdb  Rock  Falls,  Illinois. 

I3^1m  respDiitliiij;  to  tliis  advertisfiiitTit  inrntiini  <ii,K.\MM;^ 

•»fBEST    OIT    EAIITS4^ 

ELEVEN  YEARS 

WITHOUT  A 
PARALLEL,  AND 

THE  STAND- 
ARD   IN    EVERY 
CIVILIZED 
COUNTRY. 

Bingham  &,  Hetherington 

Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 

Standard    Size. 

Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 

Six  Sizes  and  Prices. 

Doctor  Smoker,      3}i 
Conqueror    "  3 

Larife  "  2V4 

Extra  (wide  shield)  2 
Plain  (narrow  "  )2 
Little  Wonder,  IM 

Uncapping  Knife 

Sent  promptly  on   receipt  of   price.    To 
sell  again,  send  for  dozen  and  half-dozen  rates. 


postpaid  . 

.$3.00 

.    1.75 

.    1.50 

.    1.25 

.    1.00 

.      65 

..115 

Milledgeville,  111.,  March  8, 1890. 
Sirs: — Smokers  received*  to-day.  and   count  cor- 
rectly.   Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  I  do 
your  trade  will  boom.  Truly,       F.  A.  Snell. 

Vermillion,  S.  Dak.,  Feb.  17, 1890. 
Sirs:— I  consider  your  smokers  the  best  made  for 
any  purpose.    I  have  had  15  years'  experience  with 
300  or  400  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak. 
Very  truly^ R.  A.  Morgan. 

Sarahsville.  Ohio,  March  12, 1890. 
Sirs:— The  smoker  I  have  has  done  good  service 
since  1883.        Yours  truly,        Daniki.  Brothers. 

Send  for  descriptive  circular  and  testimonials  to 

Itfdb  BiMOHAM  Si  HETHEBiHaTON,  Abronia,  Mich. 


TEXAS. 

I'liclid-.  I  li:i\c  some  line  Ic-lrd  (lucciis.  j  will 
,M-11  .IS  llic.N  conic  :it  i-l  :i.'..  .Miiich  and  .Vpril.  I  do 
this  lo  get  m\  4-1'iatne  nuclei  (luceiiless.  Untested, 
March,  .Vpril,  iirid  .May.  $ l.dO  each ;  six.  ^^5.00;  aft<!r, 
'.5c  each;  six.  M.:'0,  or  $.s.ii0  per  do/.en,  Discount  on 
larger  ordcis.  Coiilracts  niadt'  to  furtii.sli  certjiin 
number  weekly-.  The  ab()\e  are  tin-  t  hiee-baiided 
Italians.  I  also  breed  the  live  handed  strains  at 
above  price  except  toted,  of  which  1  will  have 
none  till  Ai>iil  l.ith.  A  few  tine  breedets,  either 
i-ace,  *5.0II.  I  li;i\-e  cli;ing<'d  my  )H)sto(li<'e  from 
Farnu'rs\ille,  Texas,  lo  l'lo\(l.  .Monc\ -order  olhce 
Greenville.  JENNIE  ATCHLEY, 

Itfdb  Ft-OYO.  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 

tirin  respondinK  to  thisodvertiseinciit  nit'iition  Olkaninqs. 

ScMid  for  our 
new  pi-ice  list 
of  Bi'c  supplies 
and  Fi-iiit  oack- 
ages.  A  liber- 
al discount  al- 
lowed on  win- 
ter orders.  Ad- 
dress 

MERLIN 

FlU  IT   BOX 

CO., 

Berlin  Heights 

Erie  Co., 

Ohio. 

l-6db 

^^In  responding  to  tJiis  advertisement  mention  Glkaninqm. 

SOUTHERN    BEE-KEEPERS, 

Our  location  enables  us  lo  fuiiiish  jou  with  sup- 
plies at  .50  per  cent  less  freight  rates  than  any 
other  house  in  the  country.    Send  for  cii'cular 

I.J.STRINGHAM,  92  BARCLAY  ST.,  N.  Y. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  


1892 


Itfdb 

Improve  your  stock  '.  Get  the 
l)est  :  Beautiful  yellow  Italian 
Qut'ens  from  stock  bred  for  busi- 
ness, as  well  as  beauty.  Orders 
booked  now.  1(48  queens  sold,  and  never  iieard  of 
but  two  mismated.  Will  be  ready  to  begin  ship- 
ping by  May  1st.  Warranted  (lueen,  $1.00;  6  for 
$4.50.  "IV.  H.  liAU^S,  liavaea,  Arit.    l-2d 

Bee  -  Keepers'  *  SuppM 

We  are  prepared  to  furni.sh  bee-keei)ers  with  sup- 
plies promptly  and  at  lowest  i-ates.  Est iniatesgladly 
furnished,  and  correspondence  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  tirst-class  in  quality  and  worknianship.  Cat- 
alogue sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling,  111.     Addiess  l-34db 

WITI.  I»1«<;|  NE  A   <  O., 

Nterliiiiu;,  llliiioi!!^. 

t^In  respond! ntr  to  thl-.  .i.lvi  ■ii-.ni.nt  (neniion  fJi.KA.viNOS. 

"hatch  chickens  by  steawT^ 
ExcimifR  INCUBATOR 

Liowest-priced  Firat-claas   Hatcher  made. 
Simple,  Perfect*  £il!>|^BRa^^lillicBuli*tins. 


t^ln  i-espoiidlinr  to  lliis  aiiverli 


It  nifiitioii  (ii.i 


iyMfBOvEO  t;.;cc: 


ThonsandB  in  sue- 
kceMMful  operation.  ■ 

■  Guaranteed  to  hktch 
I  a  larger  percentage 
I  of  fertile  eggs   nt   bsa 

'■list  than  any  other  incubator. 

Send  6c.  for  lUus.  Catalogue. 

^GEO.H.STAHL,0uincy.in. 


40 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


.Ian.  15. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Absorbents 

Adulteration  of  Honey  

Bee-disease,  Peculiar 

Brood-frames,  The  Best.... 

Burr-combs 

Cowan  Reversible  Basket.. 
Dadant  and  Hambaugh  — 
Daisv  Foundation  Fastener 

Distances,  Fixed 

Editor's  Notes 

El  wood's  Address 

Epilobium 

Essays  at  Conventioris 

Extractor  Gearing 

Foundation,  Imbedding  .., 
Foundation,  Thickness  of.. 

Frame,  New  Hoffman 

Frame,  Non-burr-comb 

Frames,  Fastening 

Frames,  Wiring 


Grading  Honey t3. 

Grand  Rapids  Contention. 

Hibernation 

Hive-hobby  Riding 

Hoffman's  Success 

Honey,  Grading 

Honev,  Estimate  of  Cost  ..  m>  Gould.     Postpaid  25c. 

Kodak  Fiend 69 

Man  Who  Knows  It  All 

March,  H.  A 

Funics  or  Tunisians 

Queens,  12  to  .Australia 

Rauibler  at  Heddou's 

Reports  for  Daily  Papers . . . 

Snow  and  Honey 

Spraying  Fruit  58, 

Top-ijars,  Wide 

Tuui.viMn  Bees 

Willow  herl)   

Wintering,  Outdoor 


FOR  SAIiE,  13  Coloiiie»i  of  Italian  Bees, 
4  ill  Laiifrstroth,  1  Simplicity,  Id  Dovetailed 
hives,  with  T  supers,  section  luilders,  3(JU  sections, 
everv  tiling'  complete.  $40. 

HENRY  \VIN(4ERT,  Loveland,  Ohio. 


GRAPE  CULTURE." ,^,K^^^rA?:^T 

W.  E.  aOULD,  VILLA  EIDGE,  ILL. 

BOARD  SIGNS  AT  A   LOW   PRICE. 

We  have  just  made  a  iiuiclia.se  of  about  .50IM) 
board  and  clotli  sig-ns.  Fouiof  tlie  board  sig-ns  are 
as  follows: 


HONEY 


FOR   SALE. 


DO  VOVi  \^\\0>M        B 


EE-KEEPERS'  SUPPLIES 

FOR  SALE. 


tliat  your  success  iu  securiiiy  a  good  cro[>  depends 
almost  entirely  on  the  queen  V  Then  WHY  toler- 
ate old  W(n-n-out  queens,  at  a  loss  of  "^i  to  $5  per 
colony  in  honey  each  yeai-,  when  you  can  buy 
young,  vigorous  (lueens,  of  the  liest  strain  Leather- 
back  Italians,  during- March  and  April,  at  M2.(M)  per 
dozen,  i^l.2."i  each?  Ten  per  <-ent  discount  on  orders 
booked  3u  davs  in  advance. 

A.  F.  BROWN, 

HUNTINGTON,  PTTNAM  CO.,  FLA, 
Agent  Southern  Express  Co, 

Xeiifl  for  Pricf  List  to 

R.  E.  HARBAUGH, 

Man-f'r  ami   Itiitlt-r  iu    li<  e-  Kct'p'-rs'   Supj^f  *''■'<• 

Breeder    of    Italian    and    Carniolan     Bees    and 

Queens,  Liglit  and  Dark  Colored  Ferrets, 

35th  a  lift  CUitf  Stu..      -        -        -        St.  .Tosfph.  Mo. 


OC5  rOliOMES  Black  Bees  in  a  patterii  of  Sim- 
^O  plicitv  hive,  for  $1U0, 
.].  M.  OVENSHIKE.  D,  D,S..  Dundee,  Yates  Co..  N.Y. 


FOR  RENT. 

NO  HUNTING  OR  SHOOTING 
ALLOWED   ON  THIS   FARM. 

They  ai'e  6  in.  by  2  feet,  neatly  in-inted  in  black  on 
smooth  white  painted  boards.  Price  is  10  cts.  each; 
or  b.y  mall,  2.5  cts.  In  quantities  not  prepaid,  we 
will  sell  3  for  2.5c;  6  foi'  40c;  12  for  7.5c,  or  a  bunch  of 
25  for  $1  2.i,  all  of  one  kind.  We  will  furnish  them, 
as.sorted  kinds,  as  follows:  6for.5'>c;  13  for  90c;  25 
for  $1,.50. 

We  have,  besides  tlie  three  old  .signs.  "  HoneySfor 
Sale.*'  "Bees  and  Queens  for  Sale,"  and  "This 
Propertv  for  Sale.'"  4V^xl8  inches,  and  a  sign— "This 
Propeitv  for  Sale."  6x36  inches,  all  at  lOc  each;  80c 
foi-  10.     .^11  but  the  last  is  niail.ililc  at  6c  extra. 

A.  I.  Root.  Medina. O. 


EHGINES. 

Yes,  we  build  a  few.  We  have,  in  connection  with  our 
large  bee-plant,  a  lirst-class,  well-equipped  machine-shop, 
in  which  we  build  all  kinds  of  bee-hive  m;icliinery,  saw-man- 
drels, saw-tables,  dovetailing-machines,  foundation-mills, 
extractor-gearings,  etc.,  and,  when  our  men  have  nothing 
else  to  do,  engines.  These  are  upilght  in  style,  and  econo- 
mize tioor  sviace.  They  ai'e  built  under  the  special  supervi- 
.sion  of  an  expert  machinist  of  many  years"  experience.  The 
rods  are  all  of  flnislied  steel.  The  cross-heads  and  slides  are 
of  the  substantial  hicomotive  style.  The  cylinders  are 
lagged  with  Russia  iron,  and  are  liras.s-bound.  The  boxes 
are  babbitted,  and  can  be  i-asliy  taken  uj)  for  wear.  The 
])iston-head  is  provided  with  two  expansion- rings.  The 
bright  parts  shine  like  a  dollar.  The  governor  is  a  Waters, 
.sulistantial  and  reliable.  We  have  three  of  the.se  engines 
running  in  our  works.  One  has  been  running  two  years, 
with  exci'llent  i-esnlts.  .Making  them,  as  we  do,  during  oui- 
dull  season,  they  ai-e  Immeasurably  superior  to  the  ordinary 
engines  of  their  kind,  and  the  price  is  low,  considering  the 
very  flue  quality  of  the  work.  Pi'ice  of  the  2.;<-horse-powei- 
engine,  governor  and  governor-lielt,  all  ready  to  attach  to  a 
boiler,  $75;  5  h.  p.,  *100;  7)^  h,  p.,  $125;  lOh.  p„$l,50.  These 
pi'ices  are  net.  although  \\v  will  make  the  usual  discount  for 
(■a.sh.  If  you  want  a  thoi-oughly  well-made  engine,  you  can 
not  do  better  than  to  select  one  of  these.  While  we  com- 
pete in  qmility  of  workmanship  we  can  not  compete  in  price 
with  some  of  the  cheap  engines  on  the  market.  These  en- 
gines are  also  connected  with  boilers.    Wiite  for  prices. 

R.   I.    t^OOT,    ]VIEDIHR,    OHIO. 


l»V> 


(.I,i;.\MN(iS  IX   HKK  ClL'rrKK. 


Honey  Column. 


CITY   MAUKhrrfi. 

MlNM'.vroi.is.  -  Hiiiiiji.  'I'lif  (l('iii;iii(l  lui  white 
lumoj  in  this  iiiatkcl  is  jrood  ;it  ISr;  diiik  liimt'.\  is 
sUiw  "saK- ;ii  !:.'(«  !•':  wliilc  t  licic  is  vt-iy  little  (lernaiid 
for  extraeted  li(>iie\'  at  Sc.  'I'liefe  lias  nut  been  ii 
time  this  season  when  the  nitli'kot  here  has  lieen 
oveislockeil  with  fancy  white  honej  ,  and.  in  faet,  as 
a  fiile.  an\  lliinjr  dt'siiahle  iti  the  line  of  fancj' 
stock  is  usually  shipped  to  ChieajiO  of  othef  I'astecn 
niai'kels.  whicli  is  soinet  hiiin' we  call  not  account 
fof,  as  we  hii\i'  watched  I  he  dillcfent  inai'kets,  and 
oiii-niaiket  ha--  been  from  Ic  to  :*c  hinhef  than  tlit^ 
«-:Lstel!i  Of  soul  hef  n  mafkets  all  the  season. 

Bct'-gwiix  is  scaicelv  calli'd  fof  al  :i5c. 

.1.  A.  SUKA  \-  (  ().. 

.1)111.  (>.  Miiinea))olis,  Minn. 

('iNCiN.N.\ii.--Hi)/itj/.-  Thcfe  is  no  change  in  the 
hone.v-markt't.  While  demand  is  jfood  for  family 
use,  demand  fi'oin  manufacltiiefs  is  slowei"  Ihaii  we 
ever  kiU'W  it  lo  be.  Cheaii  sujijir,  no  doubt,  is  an 
impoiiaiit  factor  in  this  connt'clion.  We  quote: 
14((' Ki  fof  best  comb  in  the  jobbing  way ;  .")@»«  for 
»'.\tracte<l  on  arfival. 

Br«',sit»(ir  is  ill  srood  demand,  at  33(ai2.")  for  g-ood  to 
<-lioice  yellow  on  affi\al.    Affivals  afe  jroofl- 

Ch.\s.  F.  Muth  tV  Son. 

,lan.  U.  Cincinnati,  O. 

K.ANS.AS  City.— Honey.  —  Di'iiiand  poof.  Supi)ly 
lai'xe  of  comb.  1-lb.  fancy  white,  Vv,  dark,  l:i.  Ex- 
ti-acted,  li{<ht  demand,  suppl.>'  lig-ht,  white,  7@7/^; 
<lafk,  .5(^t).  B''(,-swax,  none  on  the  market;  weather 
cold  with  lifrht  trade.  Ha.mulin  &  Be.\rss, 

Dei-.  21.  .514  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Detroit.— Himej/. — Comb  honey  continues  to  sell 
;vt  la.st  ijuotatlons;  viz.,  r2@Uc.  Extraeted.  7@8c. 
Beeswax,  26027.  M.  H.  Hunt. 

Jan.  a.  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

Kans.\s  City.— H(»ip?/.— Hone.y  is  moviiifr  rather 
slow.  Supplj"  ample.  Wliite  comb,  14@1.5;  dark, 
9@I2.  E.vtraeted,  white.  7V4;  dark,  .5@6.  Beeswax, 
light  supply,  and  demand  at  :J;5@26. 

Clemons,  Mason  &  Co,, 

Jan.  11.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Chicago.— Honey.— Fancy  white  comb  honey  sell- 
ing at  16;  other  grades,  10@14.  Extracted,  slow  de- 
maiid  6H®7'A.    Beeswax,  ;J6. 

S.  T.  Fish  &  Co., 

Jan.  7.  189  So.  Water  St..  Chicago,  111. 


Boston.— Hojieif.  —  One-pound  comb.  13@15;  no 
2-Ib.  on  hand.  Extracted,  7@j8c.  BecsRida:,  none  on 
hand.    Demand  light,  and  supply  ample. 

Bl,AKE  &  KiPIiEY, 

Jan.  11.  Bo.ston,  Mass. 

CniCAC'.o.— Hd/icj/.— Hone.\  selling  fairly  well  for 
season  of  year,  at  l.")(516  for  white  comb.  Duik  sells 
slowly,  an"d  prices  are  not  ceitain.  l)ul  ran.ue  from 
12((i.l3.  Extrai-Ied,  without  special  change,  biings 
6@7@8.    Beeswax,  27.  It.  A.  Bubnett. 

Jan.  8.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago.  III. 


St.  Louis.— Honey. — No  change  to  note;  inquiries 
light;  sales  few.    Bee«u'ax.  prime,  24^<;. 

D.  O.  TUTT  GrRO.  Co., 

.Ian.  9.  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Philai)EM'hi.\.— HoTiey.— Dull;    14@1.5.     Beeawax, 
vellow  ciioice,  24@23.       Shoemaker  &  S<  hultz, 
Jan.  11.        No.  311  S.  Water  St.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

For  Sale.— 6000 lbs.  extracted  honej', in  60-lb.  cans. 
C.  H.  Stokddck,  Durand,  Win)iel)ago  Co,,  111. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 

Notices  will  ho  Inserted  umler  tliis  hrail  at  one  hull'  uiir  U8U- 
al  ratcK.  All  aclverttseiiiciits  inleiideil  lor  this  ilepartment 
must  not  exeecd  live  lines,  and  you  Piiiisl  say  ymi  want  your 
adv't  ill  tins  deiiartinent.  or  we  will  not  he  lespunsihle  tor  er- 
roi».  You  eaii  liavi'  the  notice  as  iiittii.v  lines  as  you  please; 
but  all  oviT  tlve  lines  will  cost  you  according  to  our  regr>ilaf 
rates.  This  deparlinent  is  intended  only  for  hona-lldo  ex- 
chantres.  Exchaiijris  for  cash  or  for  price  lists,  or  notices  of- 
ferintr  nrlii-Ies  lot  sale,  can  not  he  insirtcil  under  this  head. 
Kor  sii.h  onr  n^'iil.-i  !■  rales  of  ■;ii  ,ts.  u  line  "III  !>.■  charifcd.and 
tliev  will  he  Mill  wilh  the  icruhu- ad  veil  ismi.nls.  We  can  not 
he  responsihic  for  dissatislaelion  arisintf  from  these  "swnpB." 


WANTED.— A  good  Christian  housekeeper  with- 
out incumbrance,  to  keei>  house  for  a  family  of 
three  adult  persons.  22-23d 

J.  L.  Ci.ark,  Apalai-hicola,  Frjinklln  Co.,  Fla. 

WANTED.-  To  exchange  for  honey  or  oflers,  Vic- 
tor Safety  bicycle,  in  No.  1  condition,  Barnes 
foot-power  saw,  Stanley  automatic  honey  extractor, 
new;  No.  ,5  Novice  e.\1  factor,  4V4x.")'/4  photographic 
outfit ;  queens,  to  be  sent  ne.vt  season. 
24tfdl)  J.  A.  Gheen,  Dayton.  111. 


W 


ANTED.— To  exchange  purt!  Scotch  collie  pups 
for  any  thing  useful  on  fariu  or  in  bet^-yard. 
N.  A.  Knai'I',  Rochester.  Lorain  Co.,  O. 

ANTED.     Extriicted    honey,   etc.       Have  Dove- 
t!iil(>d  hiscs.  printing,  large  lot  of  electrotypes, 
nice  lot  of  apple  trees.  schmIs,   etc.,  to  offer  in  ex- 
change.        CulilSTIAN  WeCKESSEK. 

l-2d Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y. 

U/ANTED.— A  buyer  fora6  h.  p.  "Monarch"  en- 
VT  gine.  with  12  h.  p.  holler,  nearly  new.  A  bar- 
gain for  .somebody.  For  description  and  i>rice  ad- 
dress      l-2d    J.  W.  Buchanan  &  Bro.,  Eldora,  la. 

A  SUPPLY  DEALER  wants    prices  on  sections, 
foundation,  and  smokers.    W.  H.  Putnwm,  Itfdb 
River  Falls.  Pierce  Co.,  Wis. 

ANTED.— To  exchange   fruit  trees  for  .section 
boxes.       Jas.  HAEr>ENHECK,  Altamont,  N.  Y. 


W 


For  SaIvE  Cheap.— lo  bbls.  e.vtraeted  honey  mixed 
with  honey-<iew.  Quality  good.  Will  sell  in  any 
quantity  desired.  Price  on  application.  Sample 
sent  for  a  two-cent  stamp. 

Emie  J.  Ba.vteh,  Nauvoo,  Hancock  Co.,  111. 


For  S.*.ee.— Extracted  lioney.  ba.sswood,  mesquite, 
alfalfa,  sage,  and  other  varieties.  Lowest  prices. 
Correspond  with  us.  23-2db 

S.  T.  Fish  &  Co.,  189  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111. 


FOR    EXCHANGE. -100    Squash    boxes,    painted, 
made  at  the  Home  of    the  Honey-Bees.     Want- 
ed, Cotswold  and  Shropshire  ewes.    Address 
l-2d       Cedar  Grove  Farm.  North  Madison,  Ind. 

WANTED.— A  young  man  to  work  in   an   apiary; 
either  an  exi)erienced  man   or  one  with   sonie 
experience.    State  exi)erien(;e.  and  wages  wanted. 
Address  Apiarist,  Biownstown,  WMs.  P.  O.  box  26. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  bliickberry,  raspberry, 
and  strawberiy  plants,  for  books  on  bees, 
farming,  stock,  poultry,  and  garden,  or  for  tested 
queens,  w;ix,  or  otters.  C.  B.  J.\ckson, 

2d  Eau  Claire,  Eau  Claire  Co.,  Wis. 

ri7  ANTED. —Bee-keepers  to  have  choice  white- 
VT  clover  comb  honey  stored  in  various  sizes  of 
fancy  styles  of  glass  jars  this  next  season.  For  i)ar- 
ticulars  write  J.  B.  Keine,  Sec'y 

2d  Chicag(J  Bee-keepers'  Supply  Co.,  Topeka,  Kan. 

WANTED.-60  colonies  of  bees,  for  magic-lantern, 
369  pictures;  picture  12  ft.  diameter;    World 
type-writer.  Correspondence  invited.        2d 

Jas.  M.  S.MITH,  Perkiomeiiville,  Montg.  Co..  Pa. 

ANl'ED.-Totiadea,  large  lot  of   Heddon   hives, 
nicely  made  and  good  as  new;  some  with  <-ombs 
comiilete  for  honey,  now  oi'  after  cro))  of  '.12.    Write 
for  pai'ticulars.    Address  D.  S.  Hall, 

2tfdb South  Cabot,  Vt. 

ANTED.- To  exchange,   for  any   thing  useful. 

Silver  Dorking  i*hickens.  fox-hound  dog  i)up.s, 

and  one  bull  terrier,  female.    This  will  not  appear 

again.    Address  at  once  Elias  Fox,  Hillsboro,  Wis. 


W 


AN 

loi 


VTED.— To  exchange  town  lot  50x142  feet,  well 

ocated  in  city  of  Larned,  for  good  bicycle.    2d 

Address       A.  H.  Dufk,  Larned,  Kan.sas. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  honey  or  bees,  for  foun- 
dation mill;  Platform   scale,  400  lb.s.  or  more; 
or  a  Rapid  rectilinear  k-ns. 
2-3<l  F.  W.  Stevens,  Moore's  Hill,  Ind. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  S.3.5.00  saw-table.  Stover's 
Ideal  Feed  Mill  and  power  combined,  and  a  lot 
of  job  tyjie.  Want  sections,  foundation,  and  honey. 
2tfdb  O.  H.  Hyatt,  Shenandoah,  Page  Co.,  la. 


42 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  1.5 


C  :i8-p;ige    RESTRICTOR    book.     How 

■■  I*  A  A  to  avoid  swarms,  brace-combs,  and  losses 
■  ■  Wl  j,^  winter.  How  to  gret  bees  into  sections 
iiioneliour;  and  rear  queens  in  full  colonies,  etc., 
same  old  fixtures.        C.  W.  Dayton.  Clinton,  Wis. 

24-.;.'Sdb  Please  mention  this  paper 

EARLY  QUEENS, 

In  March  and  April,  from  apiary  in  Te.xas,  the 
choicest  .5-banded  Italian  stock,  warranted  jjiirely 
mat(>d.    One,  $1.35:  6  for  !f6.00. 

BREEDING  QUEENS. 
$3.00  to  $5.00  eacli.  Ail  oideis  flllcd  promptly.  Send 
your  name  NOW  for  full  partii'iilars.  Safe  arrival 
and  entire  i<(ttisfiictii»i  (jtiannitn  d  or  money  refund- 
ed. Orders  hooked  now,  pay  wlien  you  want  the 
queens.  l-24dl) 

S.  /=■.  <e  I.  TREGO,  SwEDONA,  li-u. 
In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper 

YELLOW   QUIeNS^  GIVEN    away; 

SEND  NOW  FOR  PARTICULARS. 

J.  A.  ROE,  Union  City,  Bandolph  Co.,  Indiana. 

Please  mention  this  ijajier.  Itfdb 

BEE-HIVESrSECtlONS,^tc: 

We  make  the  be.st  goods  and  sell  tliem  eheaii. 

Our  Sections  ai'C  far  the  best  oq  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  g'oods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world. 

Our  g-oods  are  known  as  the  best  throug-hout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS  CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

Please  mention  this  papei-.  Ittdb 

EVERY     THING 

bee-7eepers. 

EDWAED  E.  NEWCOMB. 
Pleasant  Valley,  N.  T. 

^.  C 

A 

T 
A 
L 
O 

c 


Three  Back  Numbeis  of  the 

f^EVlECn 

FOt^    10    CEHTS. 

One  of  tlie  numbers  is  that  of  Dec,  1891,  contain- 
ing-8  extra  pagres  (36  in  all)  7  lialf-tone  portraits  of 
leading  bee-keepeis.  illustrated  description  of  the 
best  self-hiver  known,  choii-e  bits  of  information 
gathered  at  the  Chicago  convention,  and  a  most 
instructive  and  interesting  discussion  of  "Rem- 
edies foi'  Poor  Seasons."  It  is  the  lai'gest  and 
Ijest  number  of  the  Review  yet  issued.  These 
numbi'is  ai'i'  ottered  at  this  low  inice  that  bee- 
keeiiers  may  be  iiidiu-ed  to  send  for  them,  and  thus 
become  acquainted  with  the  Review;  its  editor 
knowing-  ftill  well  thai  such  acquaintani-e  will 
prove  of  mutual  benettt.  With  the  numbers  will  he 
sent  a  list  of  the  sjiecial  topics  that  have  lieen  dis- 
cussed, the  issues  in  which  they  appeared,  and  the 
pj-iee  at  which  the\-  mav  be  obtained.  The  Review 
is  $1.00  a  veai-.  The  book,  '•  Advanced  Bee  Culture," 
is  .50  cts.  Both  for  $1.25.  The  Review  for  1893  will 
be  better,  brightei-,  and  more  "  crispy  "  than  ever. 
AH  new  subscribers  for  1893  will  receive  the  Dec, 
1891,  issue,  free.    Address 

BEE-KEEPERS'   REVIEW, 
lotfrti)  Flint.  Mich. 

l^'ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

DUTjT  SUPPLIES 

I   V  i    1  1    1    Everytliiiiy-  used  in  the  Apiary. 

^^  mmJkM-M    Greatest  variety  and  largest  stock 
in   the  West.     New   catalog,  54   illustrated   pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.        E.  KEETOEMEE,  BED  OAK,  IOWA. 
In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

PnilNn/kTinN  ^^^  sections  are  my 
UUnUHIIUIl  Specialties.  No.  1  V-groove 
Sections  at  $3.00  per  thousand.     Sped 


RETAIL 

—  AND  — 

WHOLESALE. 


price  list   of 


prices 
every 


^'% 


JL    to  dealers.    Send   for   fi 

thing-  needed  in  the  apiary 

2tfdb  M.  H.  HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

TO  MAIL  YOU.  FREE. 
Sections,  etc. 
LATEST  IMPROVEMENTS  in  hives  and  frames. 

DiMCOiiiitM  foi-  eailv  oi-deis. 
Itfdl)        JTSO.  N£BELi  &  SON.  High  Hill,  Mo. 


1892     CIRCULAR  rxnttaiUd   hive> 


ntion  this  paper. 


POULTRY. 


Choice  Fowls  and  Eggs  for  sale  at 
all  times.     Finely  illustrated  circu- 
lar free.       (lEER  BROS..  St.  Maivs,  Mo.     21tfdb 


APRAY  im  FRUIT  TREES ;  VINES 


6 


Wormy  Fruit  and  Leaf  Blight  of  Applei,  Peats,  Cherries,  CVPCI  ClflD  8PRATIN« 
Grape  and  Potato  Rot,  Flam  Onrcnlia  prevented  by  using  LAULLOIUii   OUTFITIi. 
PERFECT  FRUIT  ALWAYS  SELLS  AT  GOOD  PRICES.  Catalogue  show, 
ing  all  injorions  insects  to  Emits  mailed  free.     i,arge  stork  of  Fruit  Trees,  Vines, 
and  Berry  Plants  at  Bottom  Prices.    Address  WM.  iSTAHL,  Quincy,  Ills. 

It^"ln  responiliiit;  lo  this  advertisement  mention  (!i,KANINu». 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  Itest  escape  known,  and  far 
supeiior  to  all  others.  If,  on  tiial  of  from  one  to  adoz- 
en,  you  do  not  find  thenj  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  e\-ery  wa.\-.  leturn  them  l)y  mail  within  90 
days  aflei-  receipt.  ;nid  we  will  refund  \tmv  money. 

PRICES:-  Each,  by   mail,   postpaid. 'with    full    direc- 
tions, :.'0(-;  pel-  dozen.  &:.'.'>.     Send  for  cir(-ulai-  and  testi- 
monials.    Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb    R.  «£  £■.   C.  PORTER.  LEWISTOWN.  ILL. 

»#"!  M  res|ioridintr  to  this  advertisement 


mention  (tLKa.mn<i 


PATENT  WIRED  FOUNDATION. 


The  Greatest  FOLLY  of  MODERN  BEE-KEEPING  is  WIRING  BROOD-FRAMES. 

-Dr.  G.  L.  Tinker. 

OUR  WIRED  BROOD  FOUNDATION  is  BETTER,  CHEAPER,  and  not  HALF  the  trouble 
to  use  that  it  is  to  WIRE  FRAMES  Many  may  confound  the  t-svo,  but  they  are  ENTIRELY 
different.  J.  VAN  WEI'SKN  Ac  S4»NS,  Sole  Manufactnreis,  Sprout  Brook,  Mont.  Co..  N.  Y. 

CSrin  respondinir  to  this  advertisement  mention  OLFivivfji  6-4d 


•Journal: 

•  DELVoTF_D-  ., 

•To  -B  E.  ELS   -**$*-/!,.. 

•ANDHoNE.Y•;.^^«C/ 

'ANDHOMEL-     ■"' 


li6HrDBY(^l-r\P0r- 
?5perYeai^   \^    A^cdinaOhiO 


Vol.  XX. 


JANUARY  15,  1892. 


No.  2. 


GRADING  HONEY. 


.1.  A.  (iitr.KX  I'HorosKs  anotiiki:  svsrI;^[. 


1  must  siiy  iliat  I  iiin  not  at  all  satistied  witli 
oitluT  of  tli'o  systi'iiis  of  shading  i-oinb  hon(>y 
that  liavi'  lu>i'ii  pfoposcd.  That  adopti'd  at  the 
Xorthwestorn  coiiviMitioii  was  ratlior  too  exact- 
ing in  sonu>  of  its  rcciiiirciiicnts.  and  in  some  re- 
spects was  incomplete.  I  think  this  would  be 
admitted  by  a  good  share  of  those  wlio  voted 
for  it.  At"  best,  it  was  a  compromise  adopted 
with  the  expectation  that  it  would  be  fnrther 
revised  before  being  accepted  as  a  uniform  sys- 
tem of  grading.  But  while  it  placed  tlie  stand- 
ard too  liigh.  I  think  the  system  adopted  at  the 
North  American  convention  went  to  the  other 
extreme.  Any  bee-keeper  who  is  up  to  the 
times  in  the  production  of  comb  honey  can 
readily  select,  after  a  good  yield  from  white 
clover,  linden,  or  any  other  source  of  white 
honey,  a  large  proportion  of  sections  that  are 
almost,  if  not  quite  perfect  in  every  respect- 
such  honey,  in  fact,  as  would  be  graded  No.  1 
according  to  the  Northwestern  scale.  It  pays 
to  have  such  a  grade:  and  any  one  who  under- 
stands selling  honey  can  readily  get  a  fancy 
price  for  it.  With  this  grade  added  I  would  not 
liave  much  fault  to  find  with  th<>  Albany  sys- 
tem of  grading. 

There  are  excellent  reasons  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  superfine  grade  of  honey,  and  there 
are  also  gootl  reasons  for  using  names  or  letters, 
instead  of  numtiers.  to  indicate  the  grades, 
though  I  have  always  used  numbers  for  all  but 
the  best,  which  I  call  •' extra  select."  following 
with  numbers  1.  •.'.  and  3.  My  system  of  grad- 
ing might  be  formulated  about  as  follows,  us- 
ing letters  advocated  by  the  Albany  committee: 

KXTKA    SKI.KCT. 

Light  -  I'olored  lioney.  uf  ffoofi  tiavor;  comh.' 
straight,  well  built  out,  of  even  tliickness.  and  near- 
ly uniform  weight,  attached  to  tiie  section  on  all 
side^:  ;dl  cells  sealed,  with  white  <'a|)|iiugs,  and 
with  both  comb  and  sections  unsoile<l  hy  liuvel- 
stain  or  otherwise. 

"a"  gradk. 

Light  -  colored  honey,  of  good  Havor;  combs 
straiglit  and  well  built  out,  with  eaijpings  white,  or 
l)ut  sliglitly  amtjer-i-olori'd;  one  face  of  each  comi) 
perfect  in  appearance,  fully  scaled,  except  the  line 
of  cells  toiii-liing  the  wood.  The  other  side  shall  be 
perfei't  in  color  and  sealing,  or  nearly  so,  and  sec- 
tion not  badly  soiled. 

•'  (;"    GRADK. 

Honey  of  good  ijuality.  In  tliis  grade  shall  be 
plaet'd  all  irregular  ••otnbs,  or  those  containing  pol- 
len, and  all  in  which  the  capping  is  dark  or  consid- 
erably soiled.  Sections  must  be  nearly  filled,  with 
few  or  no  unsealed  cells. 


"  M  "   GRADK. 

In  tills  gi'ade  shall  bi'  placed  all  honey  of  inferior 
(inality,  all  combs  containing  nun-h  jjollen.  or  badly 
ti;Lvel-stained,  oi'othei-wise  objcctioTialile.  Sections 
must  be  ;it  least  three-fontths  fnll.  with  one -side 
M-ell  sealed. 

The  above  is  ?/ijy  system  of  grading— what  I 
use  in  actual  practice.  I  do  not  expect  that  it 
will  satisfy  everybody.  In  fact.  I  think  we 
shall  find  it  hard  to  establish  any  system  that 
will  be  satisfactory  in  all  parts  of  our  country. 
This  is  evident  when  we  see  that  the  eastern 
men  want  the  saffron-colored  comb  of  the  Miss- 
issippi bottoms  placed  in  the  third  grade,  while 
the  men  who  produce  it  insisted  at  Chicago 
that  it  ought  to  be  graded  No.  1.  The  eastern 
men.  too,  want  buckwheat  honey  graded  by  it- 
self, though  they  do  not  seem  to  care  about 
other  kinds.  I  believe  there  is  but  little  buck- 
wheat honey  producc^d  in  the  West,  though 
there  are  other  kinds  tliat  deserve  to  be  graded 
by  themselves  quite  as  much  as  buckwheat. 
As  buckwheat  honey  is  well  known  to  the 
trade,  it  might  be  well  enough  to  keep  it  in  a 
grade  by  itself,  though  no  doubt  much  honey  is 
sold  as  buckwheat  that  was  never  near  a  buck- 
wheat-field. But  if  we  decide  that  there  may 
be  a  first,  second,  and  third  grade  of  each  kind 
of  honey,  as  was  voted  at  Chicago,  we  do  away 
with  one  of  the  jjrincipal  objects  of  grading, 
and  open  the  way  to  almost  as  many  disputes 
and  differences  of  opinion  as  were  possible  un- 
der the  old  system — or  lack  of  it. 

It  will  be  difficult  to  make  some  bee-keepers 
understand  why  their  first-class  honey,  gather- 
ed from  autumn  wild  flowers,  should  bring  a 
lower  price  than  another  man's  second  or  third 
class  clover,  although  the  commission  man  un- 
derstands it  perfectly.  Would  it  not  be  better 
to  put  it  in  the  second  or  third  grade  on  the 
start,  and  so  class  it?  Again,  it  is  undesirable 
that  the  selling  value  of  comb  honey  depend 
more  upon  its  appearance  than  any  other  one 
quality — provided,  of  course,  it  has  not  an  act- 
ually disagreeable  taste.  The  kinds  of  honey 
are  legion.  Unless  a  man  is  familiar  with  all 
these  varieties,  which  is  something  hardly  pos- 
sible, how  is  he  going  to  be  able  to  make  a 
guess  at  the  value  of  honey  offered  him  from 
another  locality?  Even  if  he  is  familiar  with 
the  kind  of  honey  offered,  there  is  much  chance 
for  misunderstanding,  for  the  average  bee- 
keeper is  very  much  at  sea  with  regard  to  the 
sources  from  which  his  honey  was  gathered. 
Moreover,  there  are  very  few  localities  where 
any  one  variety  of  honey  may  be  secured  free 
from  admixture.  The  varying  nature  of  this 
admixture  so  changes  the  character  of  the  hon- 
ey, that  what  passes  for  white-clover  honey  in 


44 


(rLEANlNGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  1.5. 


(iiic  locality  may  ht^  a  very  different  article  from 
the  white-clover  honey  of  somewhere  else. 

If  honev  is  graded  according  to  my  rules,  and 
a  sample  "of  the  honey  sent  in  a  small  vial  by 
mail,  the  purchaser  may  know  just  what  to 
expect,  or  the  commission  man  will  be  l^etter 
able  to  inform  the  intending  shipper  what  liis 
honey  will  bring.  J.  A.  Ghken. 

Dayton,  111.,  Jan.  8. 

[See  editorial  comment  elsewhere  in  this 
issue.] 


PRESIDENT'S  ADDRESS. 

KEAD     AT    THE    NOliTH    A.MErIcAX     BEE-KEEP 
EKS'   CONVENTION,   AT   AI.BANY,  N.  Y. 


The  labors  and  experiences  of  another  season 
are  ended,  and  its  lessons  largely  learned.  A 
bee-keeper  of  my  acquaintance  devotes  this 
part  of  the  year  to  a  careful  comparison  of  the 
main  points  in  the  season's  experience  with 
those  of  previous  years.  The  facts  are  then  still 
fresh  in  mind,  and  the  conclusions  are  useful. 
In  proof  that  he  is  eminently  successful  in  his 
business,  I  might  mention  his  name  but  for  fear 
of  his  modest  presence  with  us.  So  we,  in  con- 
vention assembled,  may  compare  our  varied  ex- 
periences during  the  season  just  closed,  and,  on 
doubtful  points,  gather  wisdom  more  rapidly 
and  cheaply  than  to  work  it  out  in  our  own  bee- 
yards. 

With  so  large  a  ci'op  in  one  part  of  our  coun- 
try that  the  markets  are  surfeited,  while  much 
of  the  remaining  portion  is  begging  for  choice 
comb  honey,  it  may  be  that  we  shall  learn  a 
useful  lesson  on  the  distribution  of  our  products. 
What  are  the  hindrances  to  a  better  distribution 
of  honey? 

1.  Our  method  of  marketing,  which  hurries 
it  oft'  to  market  without  waiting  to  learn  where 
it  is  needed. 

2.  Freight  rates  are  too  high.  and.  what  is 
wor.se,  honey  is  handled  carelessly  by  railroad 
men,  making  it  difficult  to  reach  distant  mar- 
kets. 

After  signing  a  release  and  loading  and  un- 
loading his  own  honey,  the  bee-keeper  is  charged 
double  the  rates  he  ought  to  pay,  by  these  ser- 
vants of  the  people. 

A  recent  ruling,  which  compelled  the  shipper 
to  cover  the  glass,  that  has  been  used  for  a 
score  of  years,  chiefly  to  secure  more  can^ful 
handling,  is  a  fair  sample  of  the  treatment  we 
receive. 

This  association  should  vigorously  protest 
against  tl:i>  unuui-ranted  intei'fcrcnee  with  oui- 
rights,  and  a  coinniitUie  should  be  appointed  to 
work  diligently  until  reduced  I'ates  and  better 
treatment  are  secured.  We  have;  had  such  a 
committee  in  our  State  Association,  but  we  need 
a  united  effort  throughout  the  counti'y. 

3.  I..ack  of  iiniformity  of  packages  and  grad- 
ing is  a  barriei-  to  a  pioper  distribution.  VVhat 
is  accepted  in  on(!  market  is  not  in  another. 
Put  up  the  honey  to  mef-t  tlu;  demands  of  the 
markets  to  which  it  is  sent,  has  been  the  ad- 
vice. This  sounds  too  mucli  like  the  cry  of  the 
sensational  or  Sunday  newspap(tr  num,  who 
says.  "We  publish  \\hal  the  people  di'nuuid," 
and  the  pajx'r  gels  down  lower  ami  lower  all  the 
tim(^  Tlu!  (jeople  are  oft(Mi  not  th<'  best  judges 
of  th<Mr  needs,  and  often  have  to  l>e  educated. 

Starting  with  the  two-pound  box.  glassed,  we 
have  succe.ssfully  met  and  catered  to  the  de- 
mand for  one-pound  sections,  glassed  and  un- 
glassed,  full  weights  and  light  weights,  paper 
cartons  and  pasteboard  boxes,  wood  and  mica 
sides,  thick  (,2-inch)  boxes  and  thin  boxes.  1%. 
V}^  down   to   1 '.J -inch,    square   boxes  and   tall 


boxes,  until  there  is  the  greatest  diversity  in 
packages,  and  it  is  difficult  for  a  dealer  to  du- 
plicate an  oi'der  for  any  quality  unless  it  is  from 
the  same  consignment.  The  producer  has 
wasted  his  substance  in  continual  changes,  and. 
like  the  sensational  editor,  has  been  but  a  pup- 
pet to  a  senseless  demand. 

We  should  adopta  stand:  and  if  glassed  honey 
looks  better,  cari'ies  lietter.  and  keeps  better, 
why  not  gradually  enlarge  the  production  of 
this  kind,  and,  if  possible,  educate  the  consumer- 
to  buy  honey  in  the  standard  box. or  "'section"? 

I  have  this  year  had  calls  for  glassed  honey 
from  the  West,  and  yearly  the  demand  for  this 
kind  is  increasing  in  the  East. 

In  the  reduction  of  duty  on  sugar,  no  bee- 
keeper, to  my  knowledge,  was  consulted:  and 
fearing  that,  in  the  contemplated  treaty  with 
Spain,  we  might  again  be  overlooked,  I  thought 
it  my  duty,  as  an  elected  representative  of  the 
bee-keeping  interests  of  this  country,  to  address 
a  protest  early  in  the  year  to  the  State  Depart- 
ment against  the  free  admission  of  honey  from 
Cuba.    A  copy  of  the  letter  is  here  appended: 

Starkville.  May  14.  1801. 
Hon.   James    G.    Blaine.    State    Department, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

Mr.  Secretary: — Information  reaches  me 
that  this  country  and  Spain  will  probably  agree 
upon  a  treaty  of  i-eciprocity.  With  sucli  prob- 
abilities ahead.  I  desire  to  be  informed,  as  rep- 
resentative of  the  bee-keeping  industry,  wheth- 
er honey  is  upon  the  free  list.  If  so.  I  wish  at 
this  early  day  to  enter  an  emphatic  protest 
against  any  change  in  the  tariff'. 

The  contemplated  removal  of  the  duty  on 
honey  in  the  Spanish-American  treaty  a  few 
years  since  was  met  by  a  most  emphatic  protest 
"from  the  300.000  bee-keepers  of  the  United  States 
of  America.  Much  better  reason  have  they 
now  for  protesting,  since  the  great  reduction  in 
the  price  of  cane  sugar,  tlie  chief  competitor  of 
liquid  or  strained  hon(>y. 

The  removal  of  the  duty  on  foreign  sugar  was 
followed  by  a  bounty  to  our  domestic  sugai'- 
l)roditcers.  e\-en  to  the  pioducers  of  maple  su- 
gar, which  is  chiefly  an  article  of  luxury  and 
not  a  competitor  of  cane  sugar  in  the  manufac- 
ture as  is  "strained"  honey.  Our  legislator's 
who  so  kindly  ri^memb<'r(^d  the  sugai'-growers. 
entirely  forgot  the  honey-produeei's.  whose 
product  is  tint  sugar  undi  r  another  name.  In 
the  manufactuie  of  certain  products,  honey  is 
superior  to  sugar,  although  not  so  much  supe- 
rioi'  but  that  we  shall  have  to  lower  present 
prices  in  many  cases  to  avoid  the  sulistitution 
of  the  inferioi'  and  cheaper  article. 

Now.  to  permit  ('\il)an  honey  to  enter  free, 
and  still  fui'ther  reduei'  prices,  would  be  an  act 
of  iujustice  that  could  hardly  be  forgiven.  In 
fact,  it  is  que-^tionable  whether  our  industry 
could  survive,  unless  it  should  be  that  limited 
hi'anch  of  it  devoted  to  the  production  of  comb 
and  li(|uid  hon(^y  for  table  use.  Cuba  is  pi-ob- 
ably  the  tinest  honey-producing  country  in  the 
woi'ld.  and  capable  of  ])roducing  an  immense 
amount  of  honc^y.  So  supei-ior  is  it  in  this  re- 
spect that  sevei'al  of  our  most  int<'lligent  bee- 
keepers have  left  all  the  advantages  of  their  na- 
tive land  to  engage  in  the  production  of  honey 
there. 

Our  industry  is  still  in  its  infancy:  and  while 
we  already  produce  many  million  pounds  of 
honey,  it  is  capable  of  an  expansion  .so  great  as 
to  wholly  eclipse  the  prt'sent  production  of  su- 
gar from  the  sugar-cane.  Four  contiguous 
counties  hav(i  produced  in  one  season  over  four 
million  pouiuis  of  honey,  and  this  represents 
but  a  fractional  part  of  what  might  have  been 
gathered. 

Knowing  well  the  genuine   interest  von   take 


ISSfJ 


(JLKAMNdS  IN   I;KK  (  ILTliliK. 


4;% 


ill  the  uflfair  lit  ilic  i)i'ii|)lc  (if  ymir  (•(MiiUiy.  1 
;im  I'onlidciii  that  yon  w  ill  nivc  tliis  siilijriM  llic 
aitt'iiiion  its  iniinirtam'c  (icscrves.  Slioiild  tiicir 
Id- any  |i<)iiiis  on  wliicli  yon  dcsit'c  adiiitional 
inf(iriiiati(iii.  i-oinniand  iix-  at  yiiiir  pleasure. 
Vdurs.  (Mr..  I'.  11.  Ki.wooi). 

I'lcsideiit  (if  tlie  North  .Vniefieaii  l{ee-Ke('|i- 
ers"  .\ss()i'iati(iii.  also  President  of  the  United 
Stales  lloney-Produceis"  K\(,'iiange.  and  i'lesi- 
dent  of  New   York  l{ee-Kee|)eis"  Assoeiation. 

The  letter  1  received  in  ici)ly  is  n(it  at  hand, 
but  it  stated  t  hat  tli(>  snbject  should  liave  the 
attention  its  imi>oftanee  seemed  to  deiiumd.  1 
am  fiiad  to  say  that  the  treaty  maUes  uochanfje 
in  tile  present  duty. 

As  tlie  hand  of  our  Icfjisiatofs  lias  one(^  been 
laid  heavily  upon  us.  and  may  lie  again.  1  sug- 
gest  tiiat  a  standing  ■"  watch-dog  ""  committee 
on  legislaiiou  be  appointed.  Also,  if  you  tliinU 
liest.  this  committei>  may  be  authori/ed  to  dfaft 
a  bill  regulating  the  uso  of  arsenical  jioisons  on 
fruits  and  vegetables,  liy  siiraying  and  othei' 
processes.  That  bill  should  be  in  suitable  foi'm 
tor  submission  to  the  several  State  Legislatures. 

The  Committee  on  Medals  liave  completed 
their  labors,  suitable  dies  have  been  obtained. 
and  medals  stamped  fordistribution  to  affiliated 
societies,  as  called  for  in  the  constitution.  Much 
credit  is  due  to  Mr.  Thomas  (i.  Newnuin,  who 
worked  oil  this  committee  with  his  usual  vigor 
and  ability.  A  few  extra  medals  to  be  awarded 
for  meritorious  inventions,  discoveries,  and  ex- 
periments, would  help  our  society  and  pursuit. 

The  original  experimeins  made  by  Professoi' 
("ook  on  ■■  Fertilization  by  the  Honey-bee."  read 
at  Washington,  is  w(3rthy  of  a  medal:  but  prob- 
ably our  awards  should  b(>  conditioned  (in  hav- 
ing the  rejiort  tirst  made  to  this  society.  I  hope 
Professor  Cook  has  continued  his  experiments 
^o  as  to  include  buckwheat,  as  farmers  have  but 
little  idea  of  the  great  beneiit  to  be  derived 
from  the  honey-bee  in  the  fertilization  of  this 
grain. 

A  medal  should  be  offered  for  the  best  essay 
for  general  distribution  on  "The  I^se  of  Honey 
in  the  Arts  and  Manufactures."  When  we 
know  that  a  single  tirm  of  bakers  within  a  few 
months  bought  *13.(XX)  worth  of  honey  to  use  in 
their  business,  we  are  led  to  believe  that  its  use 
might  be  largely  extended. 

Manufacturers  have  leained  that  certain 
chemical  processes  take  place  with  honey  that 
do  not  witli  sugar. 

In  medicine.  Jioney  might  often  besubstituted 
for  syrup,  to  the  benefit  of  t  he  patient,  as  it  is 
more  easily  digested,  and  in  lung  and  throatdis- 
easesit  is  a  valuable  medicine. 

Formerly  it  was  the  custom  of  our  .secretaries 
to  prepare  a  cojiy  of  our  proceedings  for  the 
press,  or  a  copy  from  wViicli  reporters  could 
make  extracts.  I  advise  that  we  naurn  to  this 
custom.  Reporters  are  not  familiar  with  bee- 
keeping; and  while  we  sometimes  have  (>,xcel- 
lent  reports,  usually  those  published  in  our 
dailies  are  not  creditable  to  either  the  b(>e-men 
or  to  the  papers  that  [luhlish  them.  I  therefore 
ask  that  our  secretary  furnish  a  report  for  the 
[iress. 

We  are  pleased  to  have  with  us  in  this  nK^et- 
ing  many  representative  bee-keepers  who  have 
not  met  with  us  heretofore.  Mr.  Frank  Benton, 
who  has  nearly  compassed  the  world  in  search 
of  new  varieties  of  be(^s,  and  to  wh(jm  bee-keej)- 
ers  are  under  lasting  obligations,  has  promi.sed 
to  be  here. 

One  whom  we  have  been  accustomed  to  meet 
at  our  State  Conventions  is  not  hen^.  Mr.  G.  H. 
Ashby,  whom  we  held  in  liigh  est(^eni  for  his  su- 
perior qualities  of  head  and  heart,  will  be  sadly 
missed  on  the  floor  of  this  convention. 

P.  H.  Ei.wooT). 


WHAT  IS  HIBERNATION  7 
rut:  !u;sr  iK.Mi'i'.icxTfiti-;  Foit  Hi:i;-fKi,i,.VKs. 

A  correspondent  writes.  "At  what  tempera- 
lure  should  liees  be  kept  so  tliatthey  will  liiber- 
iiate  ?" 

Well,  that  d<>pcnds  on  what  is  meant  by  "  hi- 
bernate." If  that  word  is  to  be  so  turned  from 
its  legitimate  meaning  that  it  means  getting 
i|uiet.  then  experience,  in  my  case,  proves  that  a 
temperature  of  alioiit  4.'.'  to  4()°  is  as  near  as  I 
can  come  to  it.  If  it  means  a  sinking  into  that 
torpid  stateinto  which  ants,  wa.sps.  woodcliiicks, 
and  such  like  things  go.  then  if  such  a  state 
were  possible  with  the  bees,  which  I  can  not  ac- 
cept, they  would  require  a  very  low  tempera- 
ture, and  said  low  lemiieratiire  would  not  only 
be  required  outside  of  tli(>  clustei',  but  the  same 
or  neafly  so  would  obtain  inside  of  the  cluster 
also.  That  1  never  found  the  temperature  low- 
er than  <)0°  inside  of  any  cluster  of  bees,  in  all 
my  experiments  to  a.sceitain  the  temperature  of 
the  cluster  of  bees  in  winter,  even  where  the 
temperature  was  as  low  as  10°  below  zero  out- 
side, proves  conclusively  to  my  mind  that  bees 
never  hib(!rnate  ill  th(>  true  sense  of  the  word. 
Ants,  wasps,  and  hornets,  freeze  up  solid,  and 
often  stay  so  for  months  at  a  time,  in  which  case 
they  can  be  truly  said  to  be  hibernating;  but  all 
know  that,  if  any  colony  of  bees  ever  come  to 
this  point,  even  for  a  single  day,  they  would 
never  revive  with  the  warming  breath  of 
spring. 

This  correspondent  next  asks,  "  Is  it  advisable 
to  keep  them  at  such  a  temperature  that  they 
will  hibernate?"  In  the  above  he  will  see  that, 
if  true  hibernation  is  meant,  only  loss  can  occur 
if  the  bei^s  da  hibernate,  even  if  for  only  a  short 
time.  But  if  he  means  a  state  of  quietude  in- 
stead of  hibernation,  then  I  should  say  tiiat  it 
is  advisable.  The  more  quiet  bees  can  be  kept 
during  winter,  the  better:  and  I  find  that  the 
temperature  as  above  given  is  the  one  in  which 
bees  are  the  most  quiet:  but  under  conditions 
different  from  those  existing  with  me,  a  temper- 
ature varying  from  this  might  be  the  best.  Ac- 
tual observation  in  any  case  will  be  found  of 
far  greater  value  then  set  rules  from  a  different 
locality.  Try  for  yourself;  and  when  you  have 
f(mnd  the  temperature  in  which  your  bees  are 
the  most  quiet,  then  stick  to  that  till  experience 
points  out  something  better.  Seasons  some- 
times vary,  and  you  may  find  that  the  tempera- 
ture of  a  previous  winter  will  not  work  (equally 
well  the  next.  One  thing  is  always  to  be 
borne  in  mind,  which  is,  that  b(M'S  are  inclined 
toward  a  dormant  state  in  the  fall,  and  toward 
an  active  state  in  the  spring.  Bees  go  into  a 
state  of  rest  in  October,  and  remain  more  or  less 
in  this  condition,  in  any  temperature  varying 
from  fi.5°  above  to 30  below  zero,  until  interrupted 
by  somedisturbance,  or  aroused  toactivity  by  the 
commencement  of  brood-bearing,  which  occurs 
anywhere  from  the  first  of  January  to  the  first 
of  April,  in  all  well-regulated  colonies,  accord- 
ing to  the  climate  they  are  in.  After  brood- 
bearing  has  commenced,  more  or  less  uneasi- 
ness will  pr(!vail  from  this  lime  until  the  bees 
have  the  benefit  of  warm  weather  and  frequent 
flights.  A  mild  temperature  in  preserving  ani- 
mal vitality  is  to  be  desired,  and  a  uniform  tem- 
perature is  the  most  congenial,  the  disturbance 
of  sudden  changes  being  avoided  as  much  as 
possible. 

That  the  reader  may  know  a  little  more  explic- 
itly regarding  the  matter.  I  will  say  that,  where 
a  colony  is  wintering  just  as  I  should  like,  they 
will  not  be  disturbed  at  once  by  the  rays  of  light 
from  a  candle  or  lamp  falling  upon  them.  When 
I  go  into  my  bee-cellar  and  hold  the  candle  so 
the  rays  of  light  fall  upon  the  cluster  where  the 


46 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  15. 


bens  are  to  be  seen  at  the  bottoms  of  the  combs, 
all  that  is  to  be  seen  of  the  bees  is  a  row  of 
pointed  abdomens  standing  out  in  all  directions, 
all  quiet  and  motionless,  they  remaining  so  for  a 
moment  or  two.  if  no  jar  is  made  nor  heat  from 
the  candle  or  my  breath  allowed  to  I'oach  them. 
After  a  time,  if  the  light  is  held  steadily  upon 
them,  a  few  will  begin  to  stir  slowly,  and,  if 
held  long  enough,  the  whole  colony  will  raise  an 
uproar.  When  viewed  from  the  top,  by  lifting 
the  covering  over  them  a  few  will  slowly  stir, 
perhaps  putting  out  their  stings  and  giving  otf  a 
buzzing  sound,  as  much  as  to  say.  "  We  wish  you 
would  go  off  and  leave  us."  When  in  this  condi- 
tion. I  consider  that  colony  wintering  splendid- 
ly. If,  on  the  contrary,  I  am  greeted  with  bees 
flying  to  the  light  as  soon  as  I  enter  the  cellar, 
and  upon  looking  at  the  cluster  at  the  bottom  of 
the  combs  they  are  found  all  uneasy,  crawling 
about  and  ready  to  fly  at  the  light,  with  the 
hives  full  of  restless  bees  clear  to  the  ends  of  the 
frames  at  the  top,  I  know  that,  unless  this  col- 
ony can  be  gotten  quiet,  they  will  prove  of  little 
or  no  value  in  the  spring,  if  this  happens  as 
early  in  the  season  as  the  middle  of  February, 
while  the  colony  will  be  much  damaged  if  as 
late  as  the  middle  of  March. 

Another  correspondent  writes,  wishing  to 
know  whether  his  cellar  is  suitable  for  bees, 
saying.  "It  is  frost-proof,  with  a  dry  earthen 
floor,  well  ventilated,  but  there  is  usually  stored 
in  it  all  the  vegetables  used  by  the  family,  and 
frequently  from  30  to  1(X)  bushels  of  apples.  Are 
these  injurious  to  the  bees?  If  not.  I  should  like 
to  store  mv  bees  in  this  cellar  in  years  to  come." 

I  should' consider  the  cellar  suitable  for  win- 
tering bees,  and  the  presence  of  the  apples  and 
vegetables  no  objection,  if  the  temperature  can 
be  controlled  between  42  and  48°.  If  the  tem- 
perature can  not  be  thus  controlled.  I  should 
prefer  to  winter  the  bees  on  their  summer 
stands.  If  I  had  been  successful,  or  even  com- 
paratively so,  in  the  past,  I  would  go  slow  on 
the  cellar,  trying  only  a  few  in  it  the  first  year, 
putting  in  more  and  more  eaeh  winter,  accord- 
ing as  I  was  successful.  Decaying  vegetables 
should  not  be  allowed  in  any  cellar,  whether 
there  are  bees  in  it  or  not;  and  the  bees  should 
not  be  disturbed,  by  jarring  or  otherwise,  when 
entering  the  cellar  after  any  thing  stored  therein. 

Borodino,  N.  Y.  G.  M.  Doolittle. 

[Your  statements  quite  agree  with  our  obser- 
vations, which  we  have  been  making  of  late.] 


SUCCESS  IN  BEE-KEEPING. 


ELEMENTS    OF    IT   IN   JULIUS   HOFFMAN    AND   IN 
HIS   METHODS. 


In  a  former  article  we  outlined  Mr.  Hoffman 
in  his  career  as  a  bee-keeper.  In  this  we  shall 
endeavor  to  point  out  some  of  the  reasons  for  his 
unparalleled  success.  When  we  claim  his  suc- 
cess to  be  without  parallel,  we  qualify— i.  e.,  we 
take  into  account  his  uniformly  good  results; 
his  small  outlay  for  labor;  his  extraordinary 
success  in  getting  bees  through  the  severe  win- 
ters, and  his  large  yields  of  lioney  per  colony. 
Other  b('e-kei'[)('rs  produce  greater  quantities  of 
honey,  but  require  more  bees;  and  the  cost  for 
labor,  and  the  lack  of  general  economy,  leaves 
smaller  net  profits. 

After  Mr.  Hoffman  settled  at  Fort  Plain  it  be- 
came a  matter  of  great  interest  for  \is  to  visit 
him  in  his  liome  apiary,  as  before  stated,  we 
discerned  in  him  a  bee-master  of  no  small  cali- 
ber. 

We  found  in  liim  a  man  of  intense  energy  who 
is  ever  busy;  a  man  thorougly  educated  in  his 
calling,  and  well  trained  to  ex(^cute  his  knowl- 


edge; a  finished  wood-worker  who  realizes  the 
great  importance  of  having  hives,  frames,  sec- 
tion-cases, etc.,  made  from  good  material,  and 
exactly  alike,  so  that  no  time  be  lost  when  time 
is  exceedingly  valuable.  To  these  qualities  may 
be  added  another,  which  requires  that  all  work 
be  done  properly  and  in  season. 

His  location  was  peculiarly  fitted  to  bees  in 
autumn  and  spring  by  reason  of  being  sheltered 
from  the  west  and  north  winds;  and  its  sunny 
exposure  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  his 
exceptional  success  in  wintering. 

We  saw  the  fact  demonstrated,  that,  in  prop- 
erly shaped  hives,  packed  with  warm  material, 
in  a  sheltered  sunny  position,  bees  become  and 
remain  strong  much  better  than  when  condi- 
tions are  different. 

Mr.  Hoft'man's  frame  is  about  13  inches  dei'p 
and  11  inches  wide,  and  (i  to  8  of  these  form  a 
chamber,  or  nest,  similar  to  the  old-fashioned 
box  hive,  than  which,  when  properly  handled, 
no  hive  ever  gave  better  results  in  wintering. 

Tlie  real  Hoffman  frames,  in  use.  confine  the 
warmth  at  the  top  and  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance down  the  sides,  and  thus  virtually  make  a 
box  hive.  Indeed,  as  Mr.  Hoffman  uses  them 
they  are  warmer  than  the  box  hive,  for  the 
walls  at  the  sides  and  tops  of  the  frames  are 
double,  and  nearly  so  at  the  ends,  added  to 
which  he  applies  several  thicknesses  of  burlap 
or  sacking  over  and  upon  the  side?  of  the  frames. 
LiThere  are  some  facts  that  amateurs  can  not 
learn  too  soon.  One  is,  that  bees  naturally  revel 
in  warmth,  and  that  for  this  reason  they  should 
be  kept  as  warm  as  possible,  during  fall  and 
spring,  no  matter  where  or  how  they  are  win- 
tered. To  accomplish  this  result,  double  walls 
and  packing  are  needed  through  most  or  all  of 
the  year.  This  packing,  in  sunny  weather,  acts 
like  a  balance-wheel  to  a  machine,  i.  e.,  the 
warmth  accumulated  during  the  day  goes  far 
through  the  night:  and  at  all  times,  when  sud- 
den changes  of  temperature  arise,  the  clus- 
ter need  not  expand  or  contract  fast  enough  to 
disarrange  it. 

Another  fact  is,  that  ventilation  of  every  de- 
scription should  be  prevented  at  the  top  of  the 
hive.  Openings  at  or  near  the  top  carry  away 
the  warmth  of  the  cluster,  and  allow  the  moist- 
ure to  escape,  both  sure  to  work  disastrously. 

Mr.  Hoffman  understood  these  points  some 
years  before  many  of  us  had  learned  them,  and 
profited  by  his  application  of  the  knowledge. 

The  following  incident,  that  transpired  dur- 
ing the  seventies,  made  a  deep  impression  on 
the  writer's  mind.  and.  after  long  meditation, 
led  to  the  conclusions  stated  as  facts,  in  the 
•  preceding  paragraphs. 

We  visited  Mr.  Hoffman  during  the  winter, 
and  took  a  look  into  liis  cellar.  As  wp  recollect, 
4CM)  or  .500  colonies  were  placed  in  it,  and  the 
temperature  was  rather  high.  Tlie  hives  had 
no  projections,  and  were  packed  in  double  rows, 
several  tiers  deep,  leaving  aisles  for  passing  be- 
tween them.  As  placed,  they  were  packed  like 
bricks,  and  the  warmth  of  the  different  col- 
onies was  communicated  to  the  mass,  making  it 
homogeneous.  The  result  was,  not  a  few  of  the 
strong  colonies  clustered  upon  the  outside  of 
the  hives.  Indeed,  upon  some  hives  several 
quarts  of  bees  were  gathered.  These  bees  were 
quiet — in  fact,  so  dormant  that  th^y  scarce- 
ly moved;  and,  wlu^n  disturbed,  they  tiirned 
up  their  stings,  filling  the  air  with  the  odor  of 
poison. 

We  did  not  understand  the  situation  then,  but 
have  since  concluded  that  their  repose  was  due 
to  a  perfect  state  of  health  caused  by  good  man- 
agement before  thev  went  into  winter  quarters. 

Mr.  Hoffman's  nive  is  W^  inches  long,  hence, 
when  filled,  it  holds  eleven  or  twelve  frames. 
Except  for  extracting,  not  over  eight  frames  are 


lS!f,' 


(JMOANINCJS  IN  HEE  (UI/rUK. 


47 


used,  hciu'c  th(M>xtni  sn!H't>  adinils  two  follow- 
(>rs  uiul  jrivt's  room  foi- liitci'ul  movement  of  tlie 
frames.  The  value  of  the  lIolTmaii  fiam(>  for 
rapid  inaiiipiilalion  (iepfiHis  upon  this  al)ility  to 
separate  tiie  frames  wiiiionl  lifliiiii;  ami  liei'e- 
in.  perliaps.  as  miieh  as  in  any  t)ne  point,  lies 
the  seciei  of  his  aliility  to  rare,  almost  unaided, 
for  sueli  laisie  numl)ers  of  l)ees. 

\V«>  liave  touched  hurriedly  upon  tliecausesof 
Mr.  llotTman"s  sneeess.  and  may  have  omitted 
some  points.  If  ain  readei- desires  mori'  lisht. 
we  will  ffladly  resixmd  if  in  (Hir  power.  In  oui- 
next  we  will  tell  something  about  how  W(>  ap- 
ply and  use  tlie  HolTman  frame. 

Canajolijirie.  N.  V.  J.  H.  Xkij.is. 

[Mr.  Hoffman  is  one  of  those  bee-keepers  who 
always  meet  witli  a  fair  measure  of  success; 
and  this  success  is  due  in  no  little  degrree  to  his 
short-cut  metliods.  hive,  and  frame.  The  mere 
fact  of  liis  handlinsr  4<X>  or  .">()()  colonies.  i)ractic- 
ally  alone,  is  a  powerful  ai"tiunient  foi'  his 
frame.  This  is  right  in  lin<>  with  l'r(>sident 
Taylor's  address,  published  elsewliere.  The 
reason  why  some  bee-keeix-rs  can  not  make  the 
business  pay  is  because,  theii-  methods  ai'e  so 
lal)orious.  recpiiring  .so  much  hired  hi>l|)  that 
the  iioney  costs  about  as  much  as  they  get  for 
it.  Such  bee-keepers  can  never  make  money 
out  of  the  business  during  poor  yeai's.  When 
Ihev  can  average  .")0  lbs.  of  comb  hon(!y.  or  T.t  to 
l()o"lbs.  of  extracted,  they  do  faii'ly  well.  The 
successful  bee-keepei-  of  the  future  is  the  one 
who  will,  with  a  small  average  crop  of  honey, 
(say  ■-'.">  Ibs.i.  miike  a  fair  margin  of  prolit:  and 
wlien  lie  has  a  larg<'  croi)  he  simply  has  a  bo- 
nanza. Now.  Mr.  Hoffman  is  one  who  secures 
his  crop  of  honey  with  the  greatest  minimum 
of  labor,  and  he  is  l)ound  to  make  some  profit, 
even  if  he  has  only  a  small  yield.  Hut  lie  gen- 
erally securi'S  pretty  good  yields.  Perhaps 
some  of  you  may  think  We  are  "  putting"  Mr. 
Hoffman  again.  We  have  no  desire  to  do  this. 
but  sim])ly  to  call  attention  to  ftJiorPcut  uieth- 
o'/.s-.  As  long  as  we  have  editoiial  control  of 
this  journal  we  are  going  to  do  all  w(^  can  to 
cry  d(jwn  many  of  the  old-fashioned  long,  labo- 
rious methods  in  honey-production.) 


.W  years  ago,  when  he  refused  t«  meet  with  the 
best  bee-keepers  of  his  tinn*.  when  bee-liter- 
ature was  hai'dly  in  its  infancy. 

Naples.  N.  >'..  .Ian.  7.  !■'.  (ii-.Ki.NKi!. 


THE  MAN  WHO  KNOWS  IT  ALL. 


i)/.ii;i:zoN  AND  GUNi)i:i.ArH. 


Dr.  .lolin  D/.ierzon  will  reach  his  81st  year 
Jan.  Hith.  IS'.t:.'.  He  is  enjoying  good  health,  is 
engage<l  in  kei^'fting  bees  to  (juiK^  an  extent,  and 
is  still  one  of  the  best  if  not  tiie  ablest  writer  on 
apicultural  matters  in  his  native  country.  Ger- 
many. 

The  3i)th  (Jerman-.Ausfrian  Hee-ketipers'  As- 
sociation met  in  Luebeck.  (iei-many.  Sept.  ;i.5-38. 
18'Jl.  The  tirst  one  of  these  conventions  was 
held  in  th(^  '40"s.  if  I  am  not  greatly  mistaken: 
and  accoiding  to  Dzierzon  an  invitation  was  also 
extended  to  the  (at  that  timeidistinguished  bee- 
keeper  (iundelach.  His  reply.  liowe\-ei'.  to 
Dzierzon  was  that  he  thought  lie  could  not  learn 
any  thing  more  in  connection  with  be(;-keeping, 
and  therefore  should  not  attend.  How  selfish 
and  foolish  the  conduct  of  this  man  appears  in 
view  of  tiie  present  light  of  apiculture — in  view 
of  the  wondi'rful  discoveries,  the  many  liighly 
pi'ized  inventions!  Hut  iiave  we  reached  the 
climax?  are  we  on  the  top-round  of  the  apicul- 
tural ladder?  Hy  no  means.  Much  may  we 
know:  but  more  is  to  be  revealed  in  the  future: 
and  the  man  who  "  knows  it  all  "  (?)  and  does 
not  try  to  keep  himself  posted  by  attending  con- 
ventions or  reading  some  of  tiie  best  br-e-pei'iod- 
Icals  exhibits  as  little  wisdom  astiundelach  Wor 


THE  NEW  HOFFMAN  FRAME. 

I)l{.  MII.I.KH's  8UGQK8TIONS  AND    CKITIf;iS.MS. 

Before  me  lies  (Ji^kam.ncs  for  Dec.  l.'i,  open  at 
Ijage  U.")().  and  also  one  of  th(^  new  frames  dc- 
scribed  on  that  page.  I  hav(^  be(Mi  wanting  to 
have  my  say  about  that  frame  for  some  days, 
but  la  grippe  has  had  its  heavy  hand  upon  me. 
Now.  however,  on  this  bright  28tli  of  December 
I  begin  to  fi'cl  that "'  Hicliard  is  hinis(df  again." 
And  how  good  it  do(!S  seem  I 

Hut,  about  that  frame,  Mr.  Editor.  First.  I 
don't  see  why  you  should  callyit  a  "  modilicnl  " 
HolTman.  Why.  you've  modi  Med  tlie  llr)tTmaii 
all  (tut^of  it.  The  soul  and  ess(Mice  of  the  Hoff- 
man is  the  closing-tog(!tli(^r  of  the  top-Pars  at 
theends  along  with  the  closingof  theend-bars  at 
the  top.  so  that  no  bee  can  (>nter  from  above  to 
deposit  propolis.  I'm  not  saying  that  you  don't 
accomiilish  the  same  thing  as  with  the  HolTman, 
but  that  doesn't  make  it  a  Hofl'man  any  more 
than  a  steam-engine  is  a  modified  horse  because 
it  does  the  work  of  a  liorse. 

lint  let  us  examine  the  frame  itself.  That  it 
can  be  used  in  the  liives  already  in  use,  is  in  its 
favor.  True,  to  get  its  full  benefit  the  fieculiar 
tin  rabbet  must  go  with  it.  but  it  often  com(!S 
handy  to  mix  up  frames  in  the  old  hives.  That 
tin  rabl^et  strikes  me  as  a  good  thing.  It  giv(!S 
the  advantage  of  allowing  the  frames  to  slide 
along  even  more  readily  than  tlie  HofTman. 

As  to  the  top-bar,  I  must  say  I  am  just  a  bit 
skeptical  ai)out  .^^i:!^  bcnng  as  good  for  thickness  as 
%.  The  little  experience  I  have  had  says  %  is 
more  secure  against  burrs  and  braces.  It  is 
possible  that,  with  every  thing  else  just  right, 
however,  that  %  is  sufficient;  and  if  it  will  do, 
wecertainly  don't wantany  unnecessary  lumber. 
In  any  case,  that  bead  looks  like  a  good  thing. 
One  object  in  having  a  thick  top-bar  is  to  pre- 
vent the  possibility  of  the  least  sagging;  and 
that  bead  will  prevent  tlie  sagging  of  the 
top-bar  perliaps  more  than  the  same  weight  of 
wood  added  to  the  top-bar  in  any  other  way. 
There  are  also  some  other  advantages  in  having 
a  comb-guide,  that  I  never  thoughtof  sufticient 
value  to  make  me  use  a  loose  one;  but  it  is  well 
enough  to  have  them  when  we  can  have  them 
with  no  extra  trouble  along  witli  the  other  ad- 
vantages. The  straight  end  of  the  top-bar  will 
not  kill  bees  like  tlie  Hoffman,  and  perhaps  that 
will  more  than  counterbalance  the  advantage; 
of  warmth  in  winter  of  tiie  Hoffman. 

Tlie  end-bar  varies  from  the  Hoffman  in  hav- 
ing one  side  cut  to  a  V  edge.  While  new  it  will 
mash  fewer  bees;  but  it  is  a  question  whether  it 
will  when  it  has  been  in  use  some  time.  That 
V  edge  leaves  an  angle  l)etween  it  and  the  next 
end-bar.  and  an  acute  angle  at  that,  giving  the 
bees  a  pressing  invitation  to  fill  it  with  propolis, 
and  they  will  be  very  poor  hands  at  the  glu(^  bus- 
iness if  they  don't  i^rom  lit  ly  accept  the  invitation. 
Incieed.  if  they  are  good  gltiers  they  will  be  likf^- 
ly  to  fill  the  angle  on  Uie  outside  of  the  V  edge 
as  well  as  on  the  inside.  When  these  two 
angles  are  filled,  the  frame  will  be  worse  than 
without  tlie  V  edg(\  for  it  will  b(^  much  harder 
to  move  the  framt^s.  and  I  suspect  a  good  many 
more  bees  will  be  killed  than  if  no  V  edge  had 
been  cut. 

The  bottom-bar  squints  toward  a  radical 
change.  You  may  remember  that,  some  time  ago. 
I  suggested  that,  while  the  best  form  of  the  frame 
was  in  an  unsetth-d  state,  it  might  be  well  to 
consider  the  advisability  of  trying  the  bottom- 


48 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


.L\x.  15. 


bar  as  used  by  D.  A.  Jones  and  others.  But  why 
not  go  the  whole  figure?  If  I  remember  cor- 
rectly, the  bottom -bar  that  Jones  uses  is  only 
about  an  eighth  of  inch  thick  laterally,  and 
perhaps  ^^  inch  deep.  Yours  contains  as  much 
or  more  lumber,  but  its  width  is  greater  than  its 
vertical  thickness.  Whafsa  bottom-bar  for,  any 
way?  For  one  thing  it  keeps  the  lower  end  of 
the  end-bars  at  the  proper  distance  apai't,  and 
I'm  not  so  sure  that  it  has  any  other  use.  You 
may  say  that  it  makes  the  bees  build  the  comb 
down  to  the  right  place;  but  the  bottom-bar  in 
general  u.^e  does  nothing  of  the  kind.  The  bot- 
tom-bar is  just  where  we  should  like  the  lower 
edge  of  the  comb  to  be,  but  the  bees  stop  build- 
ing about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  above  the  bottom - 
bar.  I  have  had  some  combs  built  in  frames 
without  any  bottom-bars,  and  they  were  quite 
satisfactory.  Now,  if  bees  will  build  down  bet- 
ter to  a  bottom-bar  I4  inch  wide  than  they  will 
to  one  Js  wide,  will  they  not  do  still  better  if 
the  bottom-bar  is  only  }%  wide?  Would' not  a 
bottom-bar  Jg  wide  and  ^i  deep  answer  every 
purpose?  While  we  are  at  it,  lefs  make  a  sure 
thing  of  having  the  comb  built  down  to  the 
bottom -bar,  with  no  holes  between  comb  and 
bottom-bar  for  the  queen  to  hide  in.  With  such 
a  small  bottom-bar,  if  the  bees  are  still  inclined 
to  leave  hiding-places,  the  foundation  might 
come  down  over  the  upper  edge  of  the  bottom- 
bar  and  be  fastened  there  so  as  to  make,  proba- 
bly, a  sure  thing.  If  the  }ix%  bottom-bar  is 
retained,  would  it  not  be  a  good  thing  to  cut  in 
it  a  rabbet  V^H'  to  fasten  the  lower  edge  of  the 
foundation  in? 

Since  you've  given  up  the  Hoffman  idea  of 
keeping  the  bees  off  the  rabbets.^perhaps  it 
would  not  be  so  bad  a  plan  to  cut  away  all  of 
that  V  edge  except  3-t  or  }i  an  inch  at  "the  up- 
pei'  end,  and  the  same  at  the  lower  end.  Oi'.  it 
might  be  bef.er  still  to  have  no  V  edge,  and 
then  cut  away  enough  to  make  bee-space  be- 
tween end-bars,  leaving  only  enough  at  the  top 
and  three  inches  lower  down  to  hold  the  frames 
at  the  right  distance  apart.  I  think  that  would 
kill  fewer  bees  than  the  end-bars  you  now  have. 

Now.  if  you  think  I  am  inclined  to  modify  too 
much  your  modified  frame,  just  remember  that 
I  am  not  yet  entirely  free  from  the  influence  of 
that  great  modifier,  the  grip. 

Marengo,  111,  C.  C.  Miller. 

[It  may  surprise  you,  doctor,  if  we  tell  you 
that  the  new  Hoffman  frame  is  more  a  Hoff- 
man in  its  real  essence  of  working  than  the 
one  we  offered  last  year.  While  we  have  left 
out  one  feature  of  the  original  frame,  that  of  the 
widening  of  the  ends  of  the  top-bar.  we  added 
another,  that  of  V-ing  the  end-bar<.  which  the 
inventor  regards  as  very  important.  You  seem 
to  have  the  impression  that  this  is  an  addition 
of  our  own.  By  turning  to  (tlkanixg.s  for  July 
1,  I8S1O.  page  48i),  you  will  Sf>e  this  V  edge  illus- 
trated and  described  by  Mr.  Hoffman  himself. 
As  many  may  not  have  the  back  number  in 
question,  we  quote  Mr.  H.'s  words:  "One  of 
tne  edges  of  the  uprights  orjends  of  the  fiame.  as 
far  as  they  are  close-fitting,  should  be  l)eveled 
otT  to  a  little  less  than  ^  of  an  inch,  so  as  to 
meet  the  center  of  the  scpiare  edge  of  the  next 
franiH.  This  will  prevent  the  gluing  and  the 
sticking-together  of  the  frames,  also  squeezing 
of  the  bees  to  a  largi^  extent,  and  allow  faster 
working  of  them."  You  se(^  from  that  this  V 
edge  is  not  a  matter  of  experiment,  and  that 
your  fears  as  to  the  effect  of  the  proijolis  are 
groundlc^;^  in  fact.  It  was  natural  for  you  to 
think  as  you  did;  so  did  we.  We  might  add. 
further,  that  the  V  edge  requires  no  wedging, 
and  this  is  a  big  point. 

We  used  somi^thing  over  .">(X)  thick-top  frames 
last  season,  only  S  inch  thick;   and  although 


most  of  the  frames  were  loaded  with  honey 
there  were  only  two  or  three  of  these  frames 
that  showed  sagging  of  the  top-bars.  This  sag- 
ging was  so  slight  that  it  could  be  detected  only 
by  a  straight-edge,  or  by  sighting  across  the  top. 
These  would  not  have  sagged:  but  the  grain  of 
the  wood  favoi'ed  it.  Pi'actically.  then,  there  was 
no  sagging;  but  to  our  new  thick-tops  we  havp 
added  a  comb-guide,  which  will  be  more  than 
the  equivalent  of  a  top-bar  ;^4  inch  thick. 

The  new  Iwttom  Cno.  it's  old)  has  been  most 
heartily  indorsed  —  in  fact,  so  has  the  whole 
frame.  We  may  get  the  bottoiu-bar  a  trifle 
narrower— say  %  square ;  }ix%  deep  we  fear 
would  be  too  much  of  a  good  thing. 

With  regard  to  the  whole  frame,  a  number  of 
the  Michigan  bee-keepers  at  their  State  conven- 
tion said,  in  private  conversation,  they  were 
much  pleased  with  the  modified  Hoffman;  in 
fact,  we  never  offered  any  bee- keeping  appliance 
that  has  been  so  heartily  indorsed  by  so  many 
letters  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  in  so  short 
a  time,  as  the  new  Hoffman  frame.] 


OUTDOOR  "WINTERING. 


FKANCE    CKITICISES   Dlt.  MII.LEK  S  PLAN.  AX1> 
AL.SO   DESCRIBES   HIS   OWN   METHOD. 


On  page  9.i.5  Dr.  C.  C.  ^Miller  has  an  article  on 
the  above  subject.  He  asks,  "  What  are  the  ob- 
jections to  this  plan,  and  what  improvements 
are  suggested?  '" 

First  objection,  it  is  too  much  work,  as  we  can 
accomplish  the  same  thing  with  less  work.  His 
fence  arrangements  would  be  sure  to  catch  snow- 
drifts if  there  were  snow  to  drift.  His  boards 
standing  up  in  front  of  the  hives  would  catch 
rain,  and  lead  it  down  to  the  entrance  of  the 
hives,  and  make  trouble;  and  his  great  pile  of 
straw  over  the  hives  would  get  wet,  and  al.so 
make  a  harbor  for  I'ats  and  mice.  We  have 
been  running  out-apiaries  several  years,  and  we 
never  haul  bees  home  to  winter  —  no  need  of  it. 
If  they  are  properly  fixed  they  can  just  as  well 
stay  on  their  summer  stands;  and  as  most  of  our 
out-apiaries  are  located  in  pasture-grounds 
where  cattle,  sheep,  horses,  and  hogs  all  have  a 
free  run.  what  would  become  of  Dr.  Miller's 
pile  of  straw  that  he  puts  over  his  hives?  Of 
course,  if  he  fenced  around  the  hives  he  could 
keep  the  stock  away,  or  perhaps  he  could  fence 
the  whole  apiary:  but  that  is  too  much  work; 
and,  in  fact,  I'd  rather  have  the  stock  run 
among  the  hives,  as  they  keep  down  the  grass 
and  weeds,  and  the  stock  don't  do  any  hurt — 
nothing  but  a  blind  horse.  Keep  the  blind  horse 
away. 

Now,  how  am  I  going  to  improve  on  Mr.  M.'s 
plan?  When  he  has  his  four  hives  in  a  bunch, 
he  is  very  near  right;  but  instead  of  having 
four  single  hives  I  make  the  four  all  into  one 
hive— make  the  lower  story  all  solid  together, 
having  partitions  running  through  the  hive 
both  ways,  and  have  u  bee-entrance  on  each  of 
the  four  sides.  Then  our  upper  stories  are  made 
single — each  one  rests  on  one  division  of  the 
lower  hive.  We  can  tier  them  uiias  high  as  we 
wish.  We  use  two  tier-^  of  single  stories,  making 
a  three-story  hive  during  the  summer  and  work- 
ing season.  When  we  put  them  into  winter 
quarters  we  tak&  off  the  "third,  or  upper  story; 
s<'lect  the  best  frantes  of  honey — enough  to  fill 
the  second  story  with  t'liU  frames  of  honey — I 
don't  want  th(^  bottom  frames  to  have  too  much 
honey  in  them;  in  fact.  I  don't  care  if  they  are 
empty  combs,  as  tne  bees  want  empty  combs  be- 
low the  honey,  to  cluster  in.  Then  as  they  eat 
the  honey  out  of  the  second  story  they  work  up; 
so  when  spring  arrives  the  bees  \\\\\  be  in  the 


is<i-: 


(JLKAMMJS  IN    HKK  (Tl/ri   KK 


4» 


iipptT  sioiv  and  will  I'oiiimi'iici'  hiood-rcaiiiij; 
up  there.  When  t  hey  ciuiinienee  l(t  store  honey 
we  put  the  brood  below  and  tiie  empty  combs 
up:  ami  wlieii  tlieeoioiiy  yets  stions  eiu)U}j;li  we 
jrive  them  the  thiid  set  of  I'oinbs.  \V«>  use  an 
oiiflit-fiame  hive  tlial  is.  in  a  set.  r.'4  in  all 
—  when  the  third  story  is  on. 

These  hives  an-  ehatV-liited  ail  around  the 
tmtside.  and  have  a  jiabie-roofed  I'ovtM'  deep 
eiiousli  to  eover  one  S(>t  of  n|)i)ef  stories  and 
still  s:i\e  room  fof  stiaw  ovef  the  bees  in  win- 
ter. We  use  a  "s-iiudi  honey-board  over  the  l)eos 
at  all  times.  The  eover  is  made  in  halves, 
iiinjied  on  top.  so  wc  can  tnr:i  one  half  of  tlio 
rover  on  to  the  otiuM'  half:  then  we  can  work 
two  of  the  colonies,  then  slnit  down  the.  cover 
and  turn  up  the  other  side,  which  fiives  us  a 
chance  to  work  the  otlier  two  colonies. 

We  inak(>  a  stand  for  the  hives  by  driving 
six  slakes  into  the  ffiound  and  nailing  three 
strips  of  boards  across  from  one  stake  to  an- 
other: make  all  level  with  a  spirit-level:  then 
set  the  hive  on.  Have  the  stand  lour  or  live 
inches  from  the  ground.  If  we  have  four  good 
strong  colonies  in  one  of  these  hives,  eacli  one 
has  a  (lueen  and  eiglit  frames  /((//  nf  haucn  in 
the  second  story.  If  the  apiary  is  put  in  a  place 
sheltered  from  the  wind  there  is  not  a  bit  of 
danger  of  winter  loss.  I'd  rather  have  them 
out  than  in  the  cellar.  I  liave  over  UK)  colonies 
in  niy  home  yard,  outsiile.  with  two  good  cellars 
-one  in  the  centerof  tlie  yard,  under  the  shop, 
and  one  at  one  corner  of  the  yard  under  a 
storeliouse  :30x:?0  feet.  All  the  use  I  mak(>  of 
the  cellars  is  to  winter  a  few  barrels  of  vinegar 
in  the  shop-cellar.  The  cellars  were  both  made 
on  purpose  to  winter  bees  in:  l)ut  after  trying  to 
winter  some  in  the  cellar  and  some  out  I  gave 
up  the  cellars  and  now  winter  all  out. 
~  I  am  aware  that  you  will  object  to  my  large 
hive,  as  it  is  too  big  and  heavy  to  handle.  There 
is  no  occasion  to  handle  the  liive  at  all.  When 
it  is  placed  on  its  stand  let  it  remain,  unless  you 
want  to  move  it  to  an  out-apiary  or  sell  it.  In 
that  case  three  or  four  m(!n  will  load  it  on  a 
wagon. 

The  advantages  of  this  large  hive  are,  the 
wind  won't  blow  it  over  very  easily:  stock  won't 
push  them  over:  thieves  won't  pick  one  up  and 
go  otT  with  it.  as  they  could  a  small  hive.  Hav- 
ing four  colonies  in  one  bunch  they  receive  mu- 
tual benefit  from  each  other  during  the  winter: 
help  keep  each  otlier  warm,  enabling  us  to  win- 
ter safely  outdoors,  thereby  saving  the  trouble 
of  housing  them.  With  these  large  hives  there 
is  no  necessity  of  hauling  an  out-apiary  lioiue 
to  winter.  Just  leave  them  on  their  summer 
stands,  and  save  all  the  work  and  worry  of  mov- 
ing home  and  back  again  in  spring.  The  four- 
colony  hive  is  just  as  good  for  comb  honey  as  a 
single  hive. 

If  any  one  has  any  questions  to  ask  about 
these  hives,  sail  in:  I  am  here. 

Flatt«ville.  Wis..  ,Iaii.  1  K.  Fhaxck. 

[We  have  no  doubt  tliat  youi'  tenement  hives 
work  very  nicely.  We  had  one  for  a  few  years, 
but  abandoned  it  liiuilly.  Tlie  only  objection  to 
them  for  out-apiaries  is.  that  most  of  our  out- 
yard  locations  are  not  permanent  enough  in 
their  honey-llows.  This  is  esi)ecially  true  in 
certain  portions  of  York  State,  and  in  other  lo- 
calities where  basswood  is  being  cut  off.  As 
we  have  before  explained,  the  inroads  of  civili- 
zation, large  wheat-fields,  and  the  raising  of 
other  agricultural  crops,  cut  off  clover,  the 
original  source  of  honey,  ^\■itll  many  of  us.  we 
want  a  hive  that  can  Ije  easily  moved  to  a  new 
location.  For  four  or  tivi-  years  one  location 
may  be  good,  and  then  it  happens  that  another 
one  is  better.  Migratory  bee-keeping  is  corning 
more  and   more   in   practicf;:    and   your    large 


hives  would  be  ill  adapietl  lo  that  kind  of  bee- 
kee|)ing.  We  have  no  doubt,  however,  tluit 
tiiey  answer  your  reiiuiiements  perfectly,  as 
your  locations  are  permanent  as  to  their  re- 
.sources  for  lioni'V.J 


Recent  Developments. 

BY  E.   R.  ROOT. 

For  some  time  back  we  have  been  convinced 
that  the  most  satisfactory  method  of  fastening 
starters  is  by  tlie  use  of  a  heated  plate,  or 
tongue,  so  arfang(>d  as  to  pass  under  the  strip 
of  fouiKlation,  melting  its  edge.  The  tongue  is 
then  ((iiickly  withdrawn,  allowing  the  founda- 
tion, with  its  niell<'d  edge,  to  come  immediately 
in  contact  with  the  wood  of  the  section.  This 
principle  is  quite  old.  but  we  have  been  very 
slow  to  see  its  merits.  We  have  made  this  ap- 
plication of  the  princii)le  on  various  machines 
during  the  past  summer:  but  up  tociuite  recent- 
Iv  we  have  been  unable,  to  construct  oik-  that 
could  be  sold  for  less  than  *:i.")()  retail.  Tiiis 
figure  w  (>  considered  as  almost  prohibitory  for 
the  use  of  the  machine.  Besides,  there  were 
some  other  defects  wliich  we  were  not  able  to 
overcome  entirely.  During  the  last  month  we 
hit  upon  a  plan  for  overcoming  the  defects  of 
foimei  m.M  bines,  and  at  the  same  time  making 
It  so  simple  that  it  would  not  cost  at  retail  more 
than  ^1  00   including  the  lamp  and  directions. 

Fig.  1  shows  simply  two 
boards  of  unequal  length, 
hinged  together  as  shown 
in  the  cut.  The  board  in 
the  rear  rests  again.st  the 
table  at  an  angle,  and  to 
it  is  attached  a  lamp- 
shelf  for  holding  the  lamp 
as  shown.  On  the  top  of 
said  board  is  fastened  a 
piece  of  steel  plate,  or 
tongue.  4  inches  wide,  at 
right  angles,  and  long 
e  n  o  u  g  li  to  project 
clear  through  a  slot  in 
the  front  board.  The 
latter  is  made  as  shown, 
with  a  little  shelf  for 
holding  the  section.  A 
spacing-block  3:^4  square 
(and  thick  enough  to  cen- 
ter the  foundation)  is 
fastened  at  the  right  dis- 
tance above  the  shelf,  so 
the  section  can  slide  un- 
der it.  Bcitween  the  two 
boards  is  a  spiral  spring, 
and  the  pressure  of  the 
front  bf)ard  causes  tlie  two  to  come  together  at 
the  top.  making  the  pi(>ce  of  steel  plate  heated 
by  the  lamp  below  to  pass  under  the  strip 
oi'  foundation  resting  against  the  spacing- 
block.  On  one  side  of  the  operator  is  supposed 
to  be  a  pile  of  foundation  starters:  on  the  other 
side,  a  large  empty  basket  for  receiving  sections 
with  the  starters  after  being  attached.  To  put 
in  the  foundation,  sit  in  a  cliair  with  your  feet 
on  each  side  of  the  machine.  With  tlie  left 
hand  pick  up  a  section;  set  it  on  thi;  litth*  shelf, 
and  with  the  i-ight  hand  at  the  same  time  put  a 
foundation  starter  on  the  spacing-block  just 
above  where  the  heated  tongue  will  come 
through.  Press  slightly  upon  the  front  board 
or  section,  and  this  will  cause  the  heated  tongue 
to  protrude  directly  under  the  foundation 
starter.  Let  the  starter  drop  and  come  in  con- 
tact witli  the  tongue,  then  release  the  pressur*!, 
and   let   the  foundation  drop  on  to  the  section. 


Vi^.  1.      THE    DAISV 

FOUNDATION- 

FASTENEH. 


50 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  1.5. 


It  will  bo  instantly  attached,  and  can  be  thrown 
immediately  into  the  basket,  without  danger  of 
the  starter  dropping  out.  It  does  not  make  any 
difference  whether  the  day  is  hot  or  cold,  or 
what  the  condition  of  the  wax  is.  With  this 
machine  about  ICKX)  starters  can  be  put  in  in  an 
hour:  and  it  is  so  far  ahead  of  any  thing  else 
we  have  ever  seen  or  tried,  it  is  with  great 
pleasure  that  we  present  it  to  the  bee-keeping 
public. 

WIIUNG    FRAMES,   AND    FASTEXINCi    FRAMES   TO 
TOP-BAKS. 

For  some  time  back  the  Dadants  have  told 
the  bee-keeping  public  in  their  excellent  work, 
the  Revised  Langstroth,  the  best  and  most  sat- 
isfactory way  of  wiring  frames  and  fastening 
foundation  to  the  top-bar.  The  writer  person- 
ally has  been  somewhat  interested  in  the  plan, 
but  never  "got  around  "  to  put  it  into  execu- 
tion. From  the  test  we  made  last  summer  we 
were  convinced  that  the  JwrizonUil  wiring  as 
described  by  the  Dadants  was  tne  simplest,  and 
most  satisfactory  in  its  results,  of  any  plan  we 
have  tried,  and  you  know  we  have  tried  a  good 
many.  We  once  thought  that  foundation  would 
buckle  or  bulge  out  between  the  horizontal 
wires;  but  by  observing  the  precaution  of  not 
drawing  the  wires  tight — just  tight  enough  to 
take  up  the  slack,  there  will  be  no  trouble  with 
buckling,  even  with  the  thinnest  foundation. 
Our  experience,  as  well  as  that  of  the  most 
practical  and  extensive  bee-keepers  who  have 
tried  it.  say  that  it  is  so:  and  the  bee-keeper 
who  won't  try  it  is  not  doing  himself  justice. 

For  the  L.  frame  we  place  the  wires  '2}4  inches 
apart.  This  makes  three  wires,  the  first  wire 
being  2^4  inches  from  the  top-bar,  and  the  bot- 
tom wire  %  incli  from  the  bottom-bar.  Of 
course,  the  end-bars  should  be  pierced  in  the 
first  place  by  your  supply-dealer:  but  if  they 
are  not.  you  can  do  it  with  a  brad -awl  very 
quickly  if  you  use  a  little  ingenuity.  The  wires 
are  imbedded  in  the  regular  way.  with  the 
foundation-imbedder.  While  the  Cai'lin  tool 
works  very  nicely,  it  is  by  no  means  equal  to  a 
spur-wheel  such  as  is  shown  in  the  accompany- 
ing cut. 


Formerly  we  have  rubbed  the  foundation  on 
the  comb-guide  —  an  operation  which,  while 
satisfactory  in  its  results,  was  too  slow.    We 


Fig.  ;J.      IMBKDDIXG   FOUNDATION. 

The  cut  above  shows  the  horizontal  wiring 
such  as  we  have  described,  and  how  the  wire  is 
pressed  into  the  foundation.  The  special  fea- 
ture of  this  little  notched-wluM'l  tool  over  the 
other  is.  that  you  do  not  have  to  lift  it  up  to 
take  a  "  fresh  bite:"  and  another  thing,  it  will 
run  clear  up  to  the  end-bars,  whih;  with  the 
other  tool  you  must  "backup,"  as  it  were,  mak- 
ing an  extra  operation.  We  gave  oui-  girls  who 
imbed  foundation  for  us  the  choice  of  the  two 
implements.  As  we  had  only  one  of  th(\se 
wheel  tools,  they  almost  quarreled,  som(!tinies. 
about  it,  especially  when  they  were  imbedding 
by  piece  ivork. 

now  TO  FASTEN   FOUNDATION  TO  THE   TOI'-BAK. 

Our  new  top-bar,  while  it  is  a  most  perfect 
comb-guide,  is  especially  adapted  to  fastening 
foundation. 


Fig.  H.      FASTKNlN(i     FOUNDATION   TO   THE    NEW 
TOP-BAK. 

finally  devised  the  tool  after  the  Hambaugh 
device,  as  described  in  Dadant's  book.  As 
shown  in  Figs.  3  and  3.  it  is  simply  a  wooden 
handle  notched  out  to  receive  a  wood(>n  wheel 
1J-.2  inches  in  diameter.  The  edge  of  this  wheel 
is  rounding,  and  V  inch  thick.  The  operation 
of  fastening  foundation  is  simply  to  run  the 
wheel  along  the  edge  of  the  foundation  against 
the  comb-guide.  A  couple  of  "sweeps  "  make 
the  fastening  so  perfect  that  the  foundation 
will  tear  off  before  it  will  pull  off.  Another 
thing,  it  does  not  matter  whether  the  wax  is 
cold  or  warm :  and  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  dip 
the  wheel  into  water  occasionally,  to  prevent 
sticking  to  the  foundation.  This  is  really  cop- 
ied after  the  Hambaugh  device.  We  hesitated 
to  christen  it  by  that  name,  as  it  might  make 
confusion  with  a  different  model  of  the  same 
device  originally  designed  by  "  the  gentleman 
from  Illinois." 

IMPROVEMENTS    IN   EXTRACTORS. 

Within  the  last  two  or  three  months  Mr. 
Washburn,  the  foreman  of  the  machine-shop, 
that  expert  mechanic  who  first  perfected  foun- 
dation-rolls, has  been  asked  to  turn  his  atten- 
tion to  the  construction  of  extractors.  We  have 
had  frequent  complaints  of  the  old  Novice  gear- 
ing being  too  light,  and  accordingly  ISIi'.  Wash- 
burn was  asked  to  make  drawings  for  a  cast- 
iron  arm  to  reach  clear  across  tlie  can.  We 
furthei' stipulated  in  our  instructions  that  the 
gearing  was  to  have  the  handle  at  the  outer 
edge  of  the  can,  so  that  there  will  be  as  little  as 
possible  in  the  way  of  putting  in  and  with- 
drawing the  combs  in  the  baskets.  The  follow- 
ine  cut  shows  the  result. 


Fig.  4.    THE   NEW    HoKIZON'rAL   EXTRACTOR- 
GEARING. 

This  gearing,  as  well  as  the  cross-arm.  is  old 
in  principle:  but  it  is  new  in  connection  with 
the  Novice  extractor.  We  have  been  corres- 
ponding, as  well  as  asking  the  opinion,  at  con- 
ventions, of   large  extracted-honey  men.  as  to 


ISitt 


(il.KANlNCS  IN   lUCH  (  ULTURE. 


51 


tlio  kind  of  Ki-arinp  tlit'v  prcfrrrctl:  and  tlir 
4i('iMsi(Mi  lias  IxM'ii  iiiiif()iiiil\  lor  one  like  tlic  one 
shown  in  till- cut,  FJ!;.  1.  "•  Wliatcv  cr'  yoii  do,"' 
tJi(\v  said,  "dtin"!  make  yoni'  jjt'ariiiif  too  weak. 
Kit  on  llic  side  of  making  it  too  slionK.  if  any 
lliinc.  I'vi'ii  to  tlic  apncaiaiK'c  of  hciiiji  clmnsy." 
Tlic  last  jjcaf  \M'  inati'-  is  sii-oiifj.  hut  not  cliiinsy : 
and  to  a|>pii'i'iat»'  tlir  dltlcrcni't'  one  lias  only  to 
ivy  the  two  kinds.  It  costs  a  little  iiioic.  and 
fof  tho  |)i('S(Mit  we  shall  liavr  to  cliaifi'' a  lit  tic 
inorc;  and  those  who  wish  this  tfcai'inK  will 
liavi'  lo  specify  it  in  tlieir  oideis. 

HKVKHSim.K    KXTK ACTOKS. 

The  one  frreat  ti'onhle  with  leveisible.  extract- 
•ors  has  heen  that  they  are  very  ex()ensive.  and 
tile  can  so  laffie  as  to  foihid  tluir  in>\n<i  I  hfoiisli 
an  ordinary  door.  and.  in  ffeneial.  laijre  and  un- 
wieldy to  handle.  .Mi'.  Waslihuiii.  at  onr  sug- 
gestion, has  linally  peifi-cted  a  reversible  two- 
frame  machine  that  will  go  inside  of  a  :i()- inch 
can  —  that  is.  one  of  the  small  standard 
sizes  of  cans.  Furthennore.  we  have  disix'ii.sed 
with  the  center-shaft  and  the  chain  that  is 
•objectionahle  in  other  extractors  of  the  kind. 
While  the  extiactor  is  not  automatic,  it  is  next 
thing  to  it.  The  minute  xhc  machine  stops,  by 
twisting  a  cou|)le  of  thumb-screws,  not  shown 
in  the  cut.  it  will  reverse  the  comh-pockets  in 
the  fraction  of  a  second,  and  the  machine  set 
a-si)inning.  with  the  other  surfaces  of  the  combs 
exposed  to  the  can.  We  have  tested  the  machine 
in  actual  extracting,  and  know  that  it  will 
work.  We  have  also  sent  one  to  be  tested  by 
some  of  the  large  honey-pi'odncei's  of  York 
State,  and  we  are  at  present  awaiting  sugges- 
tions and  criticisms.  This  is  the  same  princi- 
ple that  was  reeommendi^d  and  indorsed  abont 
two  years  ago.  by  that  extensive  Calii'ornia  bee- 
keeper. .1.  V.  Mclntyre.  of  Fillmore,  Cal. 


the  llcc-l.ccprrx'  Rcvhir,  examined  it  very  criti- 
cally when  he  was  at  onr  place:  aii<l  he  made 
the  stiitement  t  hat .  i f  he  w ere  to  purchase  an 
extractor,  this  would  lii'  the  one  he  would  select. 


,     THK   COWAX   KAI'ID   KKVEHSIHI.K, 
EXTRACTOn-BASKET. 

We  have  christened  the  machine  the  "■  Cowan 
Rapid  "  because  it  is  a  copy,  with  .some  of  our 
own  improvements,  from  a  machine  invented 
by  Thomas  Wm.  Cowan,  editor  of  the  Britlsk 
Bee  jDurnal.  The  cut  shows  how  the  baskets 
are  hinged  on  the  opposite  sides  of  the  frame. 
A  couple  of  convenii-nt  fJnirnb-serews;  attached 
to  the  top  hinges,  will  cause  revensing  to  be 
■done  in  as  short  a  time  as  if  the  machin.e  were 
automatic,  after  a  little  practice.  The  ring 
•encompassing  the  frame  is  to  stop  the  baskets 
as  they  reverse,  and  disi)enses  with  the  annoy- 
ance of  hitching  and  catching  of  th(!  chains. 
The  whole  inside  of  the  framework  is  made 
very  strong:  and  the  fact  that  Mr.  W'ashbnrn 
has  supervisf'd  its  construction  is  a  guarantee 
to  that  effect.  This  whole  extractor  com- 
plete, in  a  .japanned  can.  sell-;  for  little  more 
than  the  non-reversing  machines. 

We  may  say  here,  that  W.  /.  Hutchinson,  of 


TUNISIAN  OR  PUNIC  BEES    WHICH  ^ 

.\I!K    rilKV    O.NE    AND   Till-;    SAMI)".' 

.Vt  the  .\o\'eiiiher  meeting  of  the  lOlltomolog- 
ical  Society.  Mi'.  W.  I''.  Ivirhy  exliiliited  a  ser- 
ies of  a  dark-coloi'ed  form  of  .\iils  reared  by 
Mr.  .].  Hewitt  from  bees  said  to  be  imported 
from  Tunis.  We  have  had  an  opportunity  of 
se(>iiig  these  liees.  and.  so  far  as  we  can  .judge 
from  dried  specimens,  they  are  no  other  than 
ordinary  Tunisian  bees,  which  vv(^  have  already 
described  as  being  similar  to  t-liosi^  from  Algeria 
and  Morocco,  and  not  a  new  species  at  all.  Mr. 
ixirby  stated  that  Mr.  Ilewit*  proposed  to  call 
them  "runic""  bees,  iiiid  he  stated  that  they 
wei'e  difl'ereiit  from  the  oi'diuar\'  'I'unisian  l)(>es. 
We  fail  to  see  any  difference,  and  there  will  be 
some  dilficult-y  in  (persuading  entomologists  to 
adoptanmv  nam<- for  well-known  bees.  We  were 
also  toUl  that  these  bees  would  not  sting,  which 
made  us  smile,  more  especially  as  wo  remem- 
ber'ed  what  Mr.  Kenton  had  said  alxiiit  them. 
Here  are  his  own  words  wh(ni  he  wrote  from 
Tunis,  March  :.'().  KS8.").  "They  are  also  active, 
energetic  workers,  but.  unlike  Cyprians  and 
Syrians,  they  are  liable  at  times  to  lly  at  one 
and  sting  him  when  he  aiMiroaches  the  apiary, 
and  yet  does  not  molest  iln^  hives. '" 

There  is  a  great  deal  we  could  say  about  Tu- 
nisian bees;  abont  the  "'Kassartyr"  apiary  of 
forty  hives;  about  a  French  gentleman  (whose 
name,  for  obvious  reasons,  we  at  present  with- 
liold).  whose  apiary  is  not  quite  on  the  border 
of  the  Sahara  desert,  whoexportsTunisian  bees 
to  England,  and  upon  whom  (if  not  in  Paris), 
amongst  other  bee-keepers  we  intend  to  call 
when  wego  toTunis  forthe  purpose  of  ascertain- 
ing why  Tunisian  Itees,  w  Inch  an?  of  the  same 
race  as  those  of  Algeria  and  .Morocco,  and,  we 
may  add,  (jf  the  Haleariclslands.sometimesshow 
yellow,  which  the  bees  of  the  last  three  places 
do  not.  Of  course,  we  have  our  own  theory  on 
this  matter,  but  we  wish  to  verify  it  on  the  spot 
by  personal  observation.  We  hojie.  also.  Ixsfore 
long,  to  be  able  to  show  specimens  of  these  bees 
from  all  the  above  places  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Entomological  Society,  and  also  of  the  Linnean 
Society.  Wo  were  much  amused  when  Mr. 
Kirby  told  us  that  the  importer  wished  these 
classified  as  Apis  nhjer.  As  they  are  alr(*ady 
classitied  as  ^/>/.s  inellificd.  it  is  not  likely  that 
the  name  will  be  changed  for  Tunisian  bees, 
which  are  onlv  a  variety  of  this  species. — British 
Bcc-Joj<;-/K/f."Uec.  17.  1891. 


BURE-COMBS  AND  WIDE  TOP-BARS. 


FHO.M    (INK 


i)K  rilK   i'l(lNKKi;S  0,N    IIIK  N<  tX- lUIil!- 

(  OMH  t^i^Ksriox. 


The  above  topic  has  betui  discussed  many 
times  in  (Jleanings  during  the  past  two  or 
three  years;  and  every  time  I  see  an  article  on 
the  subject  I  am  tempted  to  rewrite  an  article  I 
wrot<'  a  few  years  ago  for  (ri.KANiX(is.  which 
was  refused  |)iil)licati(<n.  and  returned  for  the 
nsason  (as  1  suppose)  that  the  idea  of  wid<?  top- 
bars  was  not  tJieit  popular.  Now  that  wide 
top-bars  are  popular  I  hardly  think  this  article 
will  be  n^fused.  Several  years  ago  some  one 
asked  through  (Jr.E.vxixGs  wliat  was  the  cause 
of  so  many  burr-combs  in  his  hives:  and  A.  I. 
Root  replied  that  he  conld  not  tell:  thereupon  I 


52 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  l."i. 


wrote  ail  article  hi  answer  to  the  question, 
which  was.  in  substance,  as  follows: 

The  reason  was.  on  account  of  narrow  top- 
bars.  I  gave,  for  instance  and  proof,  that,  if  our 
top-bars  were  very  narrow,  say  }4  inch  or  less, 
that  the  bees  would  of  necessity  extend  their 
cells  out  past  them,  and,  as  a  natural  conse- 
quence, would  build  the  combs  upward  on  each 
side  of  the  top-bar.  and  fasten  them  to  the  sec- 
tion-case; therefore  I  argued  tliatwide  top-bars 
would  be  the  remedy. 

Now,  It  is  txseless  to  say  that  I  am  pleased  to 
note  that  the  narrow  top-bar  has  proved,  as  I 
said  several  years  ago,  to  be  the  trouble.  Some 
lay  great  stress  on  ihicli  top-bars:  but  I  think 
that,  after  it  is  thick  enough  to  prevent  sagging. 
any  greater  thickness  avails  nothing.  As  to  the 
widtli  of  the  top-bar,  it  depends  on  how  far  the 
combs  are  spaced  from  center  to  center.  If 
spaced  19^,  the  top-bar  will  do  1^\^  in.  wide:  but 
if  spaced  l}i.  they  should  be  not  less  than  Ih 
inches  wide.'  I  think  the  new  thick  top-bar.  as 
you  now  make  it  with  molded  comb- guide,  is  a 
great  improvement,  as  also  your  improved  Hoff- 
man frame. 

It  is  encouraging  to  see  the  improvements 
that  have  come  up  in  the  last  few  years.  I  have 
often  been  amtised  to  see  the  younger  Root  tak- 
ing up  with  the  improvements  of  the  times,  and 
breaking  oft' from  many  of  the  appliances  that 
the  older  Root  has  hung  on  to  so  tcnju-ionsly  for 
these  many  years:  but  as  improvements  come  up 
we  riuist  take  advantage  of  them  or  we  shall  be 
left  in  the  race.  W.  S.  Vaxdkuff. 

Waynesburg,  Pa. .Jan.  4. 

[Even  the  younger  Root,  wliile  disposed  to  ac- 
cept new  things,  has  opposed  some  ideas  that, 
afterward,  he  was  very  glad  to  accept.  Some 
of  us  require  more  proof  tiian  others.] 


THOS.  G.  NEWMAN  AND   DR.  MILLER  ON 
ESSAYS. 


AVITH  A  GOOD    PRE.SIDEXT  THEY   AKE    X(»T  NEED- 
ED  FOK   f  ONVENTIOXS. 


Essays  at  conventions  are  sometimes  quite 
unnecessary,  as  they  were  at  the  late  conven- 
tion at  Chicago.  At  some  conventions,  we  know 
that  th(>y  are  not  only  desirable,  but  very  neces- 
sary. Dr.  Miller,  in  the  last  Gleanings,  in  his 
usual  happy  vein,  writes  thus  on  this  subject: 

AVheii  Newman,  of  the  American  Bee  Jnurnal, 
cliaiiges  his  mind,  he  makes  no  bones  of  saying'  so. 
Foimei'iy  he  aig'iiert  tliat  essays  at  a  convention 
were  essential.  Now  lie  says,  in  the  most  unreserv- 
ed manner:  "The  Northwesleni  was  a  convention 
without  essays,  and  it  was  a  c'harining'  success. 
Tliere  was  no  want  of  subject-matter  to  discuss,  and 
no  la_'k  of  eutlnisiasin." 

It  was  only  the  doctor's  extreme  modesty 
which  prevented  him  from  quoting  the  whole 
item.  The  r(>st  of  it.  on  page  709.  reads  thus: 
•■  With  sucii  a  president  as  Dr.  Miller,  no  essays 
or  programs  are  ever  needed."  And  that  is  the 
i<ey  to  tlie  situation. 

If  tile  president  is  thoroughly  capable  of  be- 
ing the  i)rogram  himself— if  lie'is"full  and  run- 
ning over"'  with  subject-matter— if  he  is  so 
well  acquainted  with  the  iiKMiiliers  as  to  grasp 
instantly  their  individual  opinions  and  views, 
so  as  to  call  out  a  fnll  discussion,  by  continually 
suggesting  that  Mr.  .So-and-.so  ■■  holds  a  diffei'- 
ent  view,  and  we  should  like  to  hear  from  him 
on  the  subject."  or  words  to  that  effect— then 
neither  program  nor  essay  has  any  place  in  such 
a  meeting. 

I'resident  Miller  is  so  much  at  home  as  chair- 
man of  a  bee-keepers' assembly  thai  he  knows 
how  long  to  cairy  on  a  discussion —in  what 
channel  to  direct  it.  when  to  stop,  so  as   not   to 


weary  the  membei'S,  and  has  a  happy  manner 
of  saying  so — that  he  is  a  whole  convention  in 
himself,  including  essays  and  program. 

The  doctor's  extreme  modesty  led  him  into 
this  '•  expostxre,"  and  he  must  not  now  com- 
plain. So  far  as  the  item  in  Geeanings  was 
concerned,  it  did  not  represent  us  correctly 
without  the  last  sentence — and  so  it  was  neces- 
sary for  us  to  correct  it. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Vance  wisely  remarks  thus  in  the 
Wisconsin  Farmer,  on  this  subject: 

The  American  Bee  Jmirual  says  tliere  were  UO' 
essays  read  at  tlie  recent  meeting  of  tiie  Northwest- 
ern Bee-keepers'  Association,  and  yet  tliere  was  no 
lack  of  sul)ject-maiter  for  discussion,  nor  want  of 
eutliusiasm.  The  convention  was  an  eminent  suc- 
cess. The  editor  adds:  '"With  such  a  president  as 
Dr.  jVIiller,  no  essays  or  programs  are  needed." 

Iain  inclined  to  thinlt  too  many  or  too  lengthy 
essays  are  not  g'ood  for  our  annual  meetings.  Gen- 
erally we  have  had  g'ood  essays,  but  the  greatest  in- 
terest of  the  meeting' has  centered  uiion  the  dicu.s- 
sions,  which  often  liad  to  lie  cut  short  when  at  tlie 
most  interesting'  point. 

Essays  should  lead  only  far  enough  to  suggest 
points  for  discussion,  and  in  that  way  they  are 
very  good.  But  if  they  overpowiu'  and  crowd 
out  disctission.  tliey  are  worse  than  useless. — 
Amerie(tti  Bee  Jnurual. 


ABSORBENTS   OR  NON  -  ABSORBENTS 
OUTDOOR  PACKING  FOR  "WINTER. 


FOR 


WHO  WAS   THE   FIRST  TO   PROPOSE   LETTING    THE 

BEES   SEAE   THE   COVERS   TIGHT   FOR 

WINTER? 

Frieitd  Root: — I  have  been  much  interested 
in  reading  your  review  of  G.  R.  Pierce's  book, 
••The  Winter  Problem  in  Bee-keeping."  and 
your  experiments  along  this  line.  I  beg  to  call 
your  attention  to  my  articles  in  the  American 
Bee-keeper,  whicli  were  commenced  in  the 
Bee  World.  On  page  1(34.  American  Bee- 
liceper  for  November,  you  will  see  that  I  there 
used  almost  the  identical  ideas  you  have  ex- 
pressed. This  was  before  you  or  friend  Pierce 
either  ever  made  public  the  idea  of  having  a 
board  sealed  down  ovei-  the  bees.  Please  give 
me  credit  in  your  next  issue  for  being  the  first 
to  publish  this  idea.  I  also  said  that  the  pollen 
theory  cut  no  figure  in  my  locality.  To  save 
you  the  trouble  of  hunting  up  the  item  I  clip 
from  the  Bee  World  the  same  item,  with  the 
points  to  which  I  b(»g  your  att(Mition  specially, 
marked.  This  article  first  appeared  in  the  Bee 
World  for  July.  ISltl.  Give  credit  to  whom  it-is 
due.     It  was  original  with  me. 

T.  K.  Massie. 

Concord  Church.  W.  Va..  Dec.  :i'S. 

We  have  made  an  extract  from  the  article  re- 
ferred to  in  the  American  Bee-keeper,  which  is 
as  follows: 

The  l)ox-lii^-e  brethren  "  rob"  their  bees  In  June, 
or  eail>' i)ait  of  Jul.\  .  Tlu'  head  is  tlien  nailed  on 
tight  and  daubed  around  witli  nioitar.  The  bees 
also  go  "chinking'"  up  the  cracks  and  crevices  on 
tlie  inside  with  propolis,  so  that,  t>y  the  time  cold 
weather  comes  on,  the  hives  are  just  about  air- 
tight, a  iifl  upward  ventilation  is  an  impossiliility. 
Tlie  sealing  of  proi)olis  is  not  broken  in  the  fall  to 
remove  pollen,  or  for  an.^•  other  ))iii'pose.  The  bees, 
as  previously  stated,  come  out  strong  and  healtliy 
in  the  spring.  From  tliese  facts  I  have  drawn  the 
conclusion  that  the  pollen  theory  and  upward  ven- 
tilation cut  no  tlgure  in  the  winter  in'obleni  ill  my 
localit.v.  It  nia.v  lie  said  that  the  box  hives  luue 
the  larg-er  entrance,  and  therefore  more  ventilation 
at  the  Ixittom.  True;  liut  this  is  easy  to  remed.v, 
and  it  seems  to  me  Dr.  Tink(>r  is  a  long  step  in  ad- 
\ance  in  this  respect  b.v  this  arrangement  for  ven- 
t  ilatiiig'  his  liix'es  through  the  bottom  of  his  winter 
case. 


Us«i'.' 


OLEANINMiS  IN  HKH  ClI/rrUH. 


53 


Now.  if  Wf  i>l:ii'i' :i  lliiii  li();ir<l  iluwn  Noliil  mi  t  In 
1<tl)-lmrs  of  (Mil-  l)r(io(l-fi"imcs  i-,i\\\  cnoiiyli  inllic 
fall  for  tin-  l)rfS  lo  rIiic  up  the  <Tcvii-c>,  tuid 
tluis  prt-vt'iit  all  air  cmnMils  fioni  passiiiif  up 
tliroiivrli  <»ir  liivi-s,  wo  nyaiu  rcI  even  with 
our  box  -  hive  hrrtliion;  and  wIutc  wc  prcMMit 
all  ra<liatioii  of  lical  is  by  plariiiK  a  iMisliiou 
on  lop  of  tlii>  board  llio  sanii'  as  we  do  the  sido; 
and.  fiiitlicr.  in  spiiii>r  and  caily  stininicr  wlicn  we 
>rivf  our  bco  jnsi  i  he  vciil  ilalioii  ii-quiicd  b>  lais- 
inKlliis  board  we  an-  anollicr  loiijf  step  iilioad  of 
tluMU.  This  board  should  be  lliin.  so  that  it  will 
warm  thi-oujrli  i|uickl\'  whrn  wo  i-cinovt'  lln'  ousli- 
ion,  and  lot  tlio  stin's  rays  stiiko  it.  His  just  as 
>roo(i.  or  l>ottor,  an  absorbont  of  nioisi  uro  than  tlio 
Hill  dovico.  or  stioks  and  cluilV  cushion. 

[Y(>s,  tluit  is  (|iu"t('  ill  liiiowitli  our  i'\[)(M-i- 
nioiits.  S'oii  afo  not  t lie  tirsloiic  to  make  pub- 
lic this  niattt-r  of  sciiicd  covers  imdor  pacising. 
Tiiis  is  ji  vory  old.  old  idea,  and  was  made  pub- 
lic yi'urs  ago!  Wo  have  not  takoii  tine  to  look 
ov<'f  the  tiles  of  the  hpe-joufiials.  but  we  call  to 
iiiiiul  Mr.  Francis  l)aii/.eiil)aker.  now  of  Wash- 
iiii^toii.  1).  r..  who  wrote  an  article  some  two  of 
tiiree  v<'afs  ago.  emphasizing  this  point  very 
strongfv.  .\ftor  all.  it  does  not  matt(>r  very 
much  as  to  who  lirst  made  the  iiiatt(>r  public. 
The  real  (iiiestion  should  be.  "  Are  absorbents  a 
iletriment?  and  if  so.  is  a  .sealed  cover,  or  a 
board  over  the  frames,  better?"  .So  far  we 
agree  with  you  that  it  is.  Mr.  IMerce.  you  will 
remember,  has  tx'oii  working  on  this  same  idea 
for  the  last  four  or  live  years.  Probably  this 
will  call  forth  information  as  to  who  made  the 
iiiattei-  pulilic  sonn-  years  ago.  There  may  be  a 
satisfaction  in  knowing,  even  if  there  is  no 
(H'ai'tical  importance  attached  to  it. J 


RAMBLE  NO.   51. 


pets.  I  pushed  on  to  a  rear  room,  and  was  met 
by  a  large,  well-regulated,  benevolent-looking 
nian.  with  sandy  hair  ami  beard,  who  informed 
me  that  .Mr.  Ile'ddonwas  not  only  out.  luit  out 
of  town,  bul  would  soon  return.  This  was  en- 
couraging  ni'ws:  and  after  a  lunch  at  the  hotel 


At     I)0\VA(il.\C 


My  friends,  did  you  ever  see  an  emery  wheel 
at  work  ?  Of  course,  you  have:  and  you  have 
seen  what  a  smart  wln^el  it  is  too.  An  emery 
wheel  at  work  means  business.  .Mark  a  point 
back  on  your  piece  of  hard  steel,  and  apply 
pressure,  and  the  wheel  soon  gets  there.  To 
get  theri'  is  second  nature  to  an  emery  wheel: 
uiid  what  a  reckless  way  it  has  of  showering 
stars,  comets,  and  whole  constellations  around 
it!  how  the  streams  of  tire  scintillate,  glow,  and 
snap  !  and  iiow  we  admire  them  I 

\Ve  have  to  go  to  the  material  world  some- 
times for  a  comparison  for  certain  men  we  meet. 
Should  you  meet  the  man  I  met  in  Dowagiae, 
Mich.,  and  call  him  a  sitting  hen.  everybody 
would  laugh  at  the  preposterous  comparison. 
Some  men  are  called  foxy:  but  this  man  is  not. 
for  he  is  not  after  things  that  do  not  belong  to 
him:  neither  is  he  a  snake  in  the  grass.  All 
know  just  where  he  stands:  so  the  brilliant 
scintilations  of  the  emery  wheel  remind  me  of 
the  remark  of  a  i)rominent  bee-keeper  in  Mich- 
igan, that  I  would  meet  the  smartest  bee-keep- 
er in  -America  in  Dowagiae.  My  comparison  is 
I'orrect.  and  .lames  Ileddon  is  the  man.  Ifliis 
inventions,  his  writings. and  the  discussions  and 
stir  caused  by  them  during  the  past  few  years, 
have  not  been  a  sort  of  pyrotechnic  display. 
then  our  comparison  is  vain;  and  whatever 
may  b(»  said  of  the  man  or  his  methods,  there 
lias  certainly  l)een  an  ad\  ance  in  pi'actical  bee 
<-ultiire  since  the  display  commem-cd. 

I  found  Mr.  Heddon  a  prominent  factor  in  the 
pretty  little  town  of  Dowagiae.  As  a  live  edit- 
or of  the  leading  news|)api'r  of  the  county  he 
has  a  d<'e|)  interest  in  tin'  welfares  and  develop- 
ment of  the  town.  It  was  to  this  oftice  I  wend- 
ed my  way  after  alighting  fiom  the  train,  find- 
ing the  office  occupied  only  by  writing-tables, 
type-writers,  and  a  profusion  of  books  and  pa- 


IIIK    t!.V.MHl.i:i!    .\NI)    Ills    JC.MIOI'.V  WHKKI,. 

I  found  Mr.  Ifeddon.  or.  rather,  he  found  the 
Rambler,  and  in  a  short  liine  thereafter  we 
were  doing  the  town  behind  a  horse  that  was 
7.5  per  ceift  fasti^r  than  that  "slow  poke'"  of 
E.  R.  Root's.  We  were  bowling  along  over  the 
level  roads,  taking  in  the  beauties  of  the  town, 
when  a  young  man  was  oviM'taken  and  invited 
to  ride.  This  was  Mr.  IIeddoii"s  apiarist.  Mr. 
McNiel.  The  young  man  looked  lonesome  on 
the  rear  s<>at  alone,  and  another  man  was  called 
in  to  keep  him  company:  and  it  was  that  be- 
nevolent-looking man  I  first  saw  in  the  print- 
ing-office. The  introduction  given  here  in  the 
wagon  awakened  a  lively  interest  in  my 
thoughts  towai'd  the  m:iti.  It  was  Mr.  Her- 
bert A.  Rtirch.  Mr.  Hitrch  a  few  years  ago,  as 
will  be  remembered  by  the  older  bee-keepers, 
was  an  apiarist,  and  an  instructive  writer  upon 
the  various  phases  of  be(\  culture.  Winter 
losses,  confidence  in  those;  unworthy  of  it.  and 
perhaps  mistakes  in  business  calculations, 
threw  a  cloud  over  his  name,  and  he  retired 
from  the  business.  That  he  is  now  Mr.  Iled- 
don"s  trusted  manager  of  the  Uowagiac  T'lmea, 
and  has  done  all  he  could  to  straighten  out  the 
tangles  of  the  past,  the  Rambler  believes 
should  be  known:  and  I  otter  this  as  a  slight 
tribute  to  a  man  who  may  have  suffered  silent- 
ly, but  who  deserves  the  sympathy  of  the  many 
who  have  made  mistakes  and  had  misfortunes. 

In  the  evening  our  party  was  increased  by 
the  ijresence  of  Mr.  St(jlley.  a  bee-keeper,  and 
.Mr.  II. 's  two  sons:  and  under  the  lirillianl- elec- 
tric lights  we  listened  to  the  past,  present,  and 
future  conditions  and  methods  of  bee  culture. 

Mr.  Ileddon  is  rapid  in  the  use  of  language, 
positive  in  expression,  and  emi)hasizes  his  words 
by  muscular  action.  .\  rocking-chair  is  made 
for  ease  and  cotnfort:  it  was  proljaiily  a  com- 
fort to  Mr.  H..  but  the  chair  had  a  hard  time  of 
it.  It  was  well  made,  howevi-r.  iind  stood  the 
racket.  Mr.  II.  is  a  universal  genius,  .\mong 
other  trades  he  has  been  a  shoemaker,  tinsmith, 
blacksmith,  carpenter,  teacher  in  dancing, 
and  .Sunday-school  superintendent.  The  latter 
occupation  iiiitst  have  occupied  attention  sev- 
<'ral  years  ago.     I  judge  so  from   the    nature  of 


54 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


.Tax.  15. 


the  story  he  told  us  about  the  Devil  and  the 
minister. 

Mr.  H.  is  now  editor  of  the  Dowagiac  Times. 
a"clean-cut  political  paper  of  Democratic  pro- 
clivities. "Tl^ 

Still,  for  the  money  invested,  time  and  ex- 
pense and  work,  the  apiary  was  the  best  paying 
business  in  which  Mr.  H.  had  ever  engaged. 
My  call  was  made  in  the  height  of  the  bass- 
wood  season,  and  that  day  the  bees  were  boom- 
ing on  it.  During  the  night,  heavy  thunder 
showers  prevailed.  The  electric  lights  of  the 
street  were  set  to  dancing  by  the  vivid  dis- 
charges above:  and  when  the  day  finally  dawn- 
ed, a  cool  north  wind  prevailed.  Tlie  horse  was 
called  to  duty  again,  and  his  fleet  feet  covered 
several  miles  ere  we  returned.  Several  bass- 
wood  gloves  w(>i'e  passed.    The  north  wind  was 


which  water  could  be  drawn,  cans  of  honey  plac- 
ed, and  all  heated  from  a  stove  in  the  cellar.  A 
large  amount  of  candied  honey  can  be  quickly 
and  safely  prepared  for  market.  The  Rambler 
would  have  been  pleased  to  present  with  this  a 
photo  of  the  apiary:  but  our  camera  was  at  the 
hotel,  and  Mr.  H.  has  never  had  a  photo  taken, 
as  there  is  no  place,  according  to  his  mind,  to 
get  a  good  view  of  it.  iZZ 

Upon  entering  the  apiary  one  becomes  aware 
of  the  fact  that  but  few  of  the  new  divisible 
brood-chamber  hives  are  used;,  here.  Mr.  Hed- 
don,  being  an  economical  man,  he  will  not  de- 
stroy his  good  L.  hives,  but  prefers  to  replace 
them  gradually,  and  run  his  out-apiaries  with 
the  new  hive.  The  idea  has  never  been  con- 
veyed that  any  more  honey  can  be  obtained  in 
the  new  hive  than  in  any  other  standard   hive» 


HivE-iioimv  riding:  the  race  for  supremacy. 


swaying  thp  pendent  blossoms  to  and  fro,  but 
not  a  honey-bee  was  at  work.  "  This  means 
$75  out  of  my  pocket  to-day,  and  every  day 
this  lasts,"  anxiously  said  my  friend. 

Many  clumFJS  of  pleurisy  were  pointed  out 
here  and  there  in  the  fields:  and  that  great 
nortliern  honey-plant,  epilolnuni.  had  put  in 
an  appearance  further  north,  and  given  Mr.  H. 
an  enthusiastic  hope  of  its  further  rapid  ad- 
vance. 

The  home  yard  in  tiu>  outskirts  of  the  town 
contained  about  2(M)  colonies  of  bees,  with  a 
commodious  honey-house  upon  one  side,  and 
all  surrounded  by  a  high  and  tight  board  fence. 
Every  thing  in  the  interior  of  house  and  yard 
was  neat  and  tidy.  A  large  double-geared  Stan- 
ley honey-extractor  was  on  duty.  One  very  con- 
venient   arrangement    was  a  large    tank,  into 


but  that  it  can  be  obtained  easier,  and  with  less- 
manipulation.  The  Rambler  has  used  the  H. 
hive  to  some  extent,  and  wishes  here  to  sum- 
marize some  of  the  good  points.  While  I  do  not 
insist  upon  a  divisible  brood -chamber,  I  still 
find  many  good  points  in  it  that,  after  much 
questioning  in  my  own  mind,  lead  me  to  pre- 
fer it.  Contraction  can  be  accomplished  in  a 
moment,  and  the  whole  force  confined  to  one 
case.  Expansion  can  be  as  (juickly  accomplish- 
ed, and  a  colony  built  up  rapidly,  and  not  a 
frame  removed.  If  it  is  desired  to  increase  the 
number  of  swarms  early,  the  shallow  cases  ac- 
complish it  with  the  least  amount  of  labor. 
The  queen-excluding  honey-board  has  come  to- 
stay,  and  it  can  be  used  to  greater  advantage, 
and  toa  wider  extent,  than  upon  any  other  hive. 
The  latest  improvement  before  the   fraternity. 


IS'.fJ 


r.LEANINCS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


and  tilt'  full  iiupnit  of  w  liicli  is  not  vft  fully  ap- 
prcriattMi  is  tlic  Ponci-  bcc-cscapc  (which  is 
rt'ully  tilt' luilv  i;<H)(l  csraptv  'IMiis  can  In- usfil 
most  siu'i'cssfully  wilh  the  shallow  i-asc,  and 
with  no  othor.  With  this  casi'  the  hot.  disa- 
prt'cablc  wofU  of  liiiishiiiir  bees  fiotn  the  coinhs 
is  at  an  i-nd;  also  tht>  rxposuit^  of  diippiiiii 
conihs  when  fiMiifucd  to  the  hive.  .\n(l  now 
the  only  thinij  in  the  way  of  cnalilins  one  man 
to  fxifact  fi'oin  douhh'  the  nuinbcf  of  i-oloiiics 
ho  now  dtti's  is  an  nncaiipinfi-inachinc  and  a 
olu>ap  inotof:  and  lot  ino  tril  you.  fiicuds,  elec- 
tricity is  fioins  to  do  it. 

The  I.,  fiainc  is  a  {rood  cnoufrh  frame  in  the 
l)i()od-clianilii'r  foe  piobably  a  iricat  nui.jority 
of  lM'(>-ktH>pi'rs:  but  tin'  tendency  of  the  times 
is  to  liavc  every  thing  iialf  story  above  it. 
There  are  other  favorable  points  in  the  sliallow 
liive  in  relation  to  feeding,  wintering,  and  niov- 
injr.  and  the  above  pt);nts  were  arri\('d  at 
amont;  the  hills  of  New  ^'ork.  in  actual  work 
with  over  a  hundred  boomin^r  colonies.  When 
the  prejudice  and  factional  feeling  tiiat  has 
been  aroused  by  perhaps  a  too  acrimonious  dis- 
cussion subsides,  the  di\isible  brood -chain  her 
will  occupy  a  more  prominent  place  in  the 
liroad  tield  of  apiciiltural  pursuit.  The  race  for 
suiui'inacy  is  for  the  most  deserving:  and  in 
the  hours  of  tli(>  night,  and  while  in  the  elegant 
home  of  Mr.  Heddon.  an<l  w  hile  the  tlnmders 
were  rolling  and  the  lightning  flashing,  our 
disturbed  slumbers  saw  the  grand  race  tor  the 
prize.    •'  Who  will  win  ?"  is  the  query  of  the 

R A. M  HI, Eli. 

[The  junior  editor  has  never  had  the  pleasure 
of  meeting  Mr.  Heddon  personally,  although 
we  have  talked  back  and  forth  pretty  freely 
over  the  typewriter.  We  expected  to  meet  him 
at  the  Michigan  State  convention  at  Gi'and 
Rapids,  but  for  some  reason  or  other  our  Dowa- 
giac  friend  did  not  make  his  aiipearance.  It  is 
DO  dout)t  true,  that  Mr.  Heddon  has  contributed 
to  the  world  several  useful  inventions.  He  has 
a  keen  perception  of  what  is  useful  and  practic- 
al for  the  apiary. 

Well,  now.  about  that  dream.  You  have  put 
Heddon  in  the  lead,  but  we  hope  he  is  not  after 
the  sugar-barrel  only.  It  is  "Success  in  Bee 
Culture"  that  he  is  after,  not  sugar.  We  sup- 
pose that  is  Dr.  Tinker  who  has  hitched  his 
hive  to  Mr.  Heddon's.  Possibly  Tinker  may 
object  to  that  im[)ersonation:  if  so.  let  him  score 
the  Rambler.  That  man  I'orter  is  getting  there 
too;  and  the  other  fellows  who  would  be  his 
rivals  seem  to  be  utterly  demoralized  in  the 
race.  And  there  comes  Bro.  Newman,  of  the 
Amerlr/iii  Bee  JourudJ.  He  seems  to  be  com- 
batting successfully  some  imps  which  we  sup- 
pose to  be  new.spaper  canards.  The  oin-  he  has 
slain  is  probably  tiie  wily  Wiley  of  aitihcial- 
comb  notoriety.  We  wonder  whether  some  of 
those  imps  are  not  grip  seeds  floating  around 
seeking  a  lodging-place.  If  so.  we  hope  Bro. 
Newman  will  make  them  all  bite  the;  dust. 
Bro.  Doolittle  is  riding  on  a  log  skep  as  an  em- 
blem of  nature,  and  carrying  along  his  two 
hobbies,  his  telescope  and  rifle.  Hello,  tliere  is 
Alley  riding  Runic  bees  uj)  I'unic  Alley  for  his 
hobby:  and  E.  L.  Pratt  seems  to  be  jiretty  well 
on  top.  Who  is  that  gentleman  by  the  stump'.' 
Why.  that  must  be  Dr.  ('.  ('.  Miller.  In  his  on- 
waifi  tlighl  he  must  have  encountered,  with  his 
personal  pronoun/,  the  editorial  'cc  in  the  shape 
of  a  snag  or  stump.  How  could  you.  Rambler? 
You  have  gone  and  cartooned  both  the  senior 
and  junior  editor:  aiifi.  worse  than  all.  you 
have  got  Heddoii'x  liive  nearer  the  goal  tlian 
the  Dcnetailed.  \Ve  suppose  the  little  fellow 
behind,  with  glasses,  on  the  Safety  bicycle, 
must  be  the  chaj)  who  went  through  York 
State,  and  came  Ijack  home  crazy  on  tixed  -iis- 
tances. 


There.  Just  as  we  exoei'led.  The  onward 
rush  has  lieen  so  great  tnat  the  Kambler  has 
tinally  lainied  in  the  (iulf  of  California;  and 
(Uir  friend  the  artist  is  l)arely  able  to  keep  his 
head  above  water.  Well,  dreams  are  (h'cef)- 
tive:  hut  sometimes  tlwy  come  "awfully  near" 
picturing  ti'uth.l 


MICHIGAN  STATE  BEE-KEEPERS'  CONVEN- 
TION AT  GRAND  RAPIDS. 


NOTES   15 Y   KKNEST    1{.    liOOl'. 

I  arrived  at  (Jrand  Rapids  on  the  morning  of 
the  31st  of  December.  After  registering  at  the 
hotel  I  intiuired  wherc^  the  bee-keei)ers'  con- 
vention-room w  as.  As  I  did  so,  somebody  who 
looked  very  much  like  the  Rambler  turned  and 
inquired  whether  I  was  Ernest.  In  the  language 
of  the  Rambler,  we  "exchanged  our  identity.'" 
Instead  of  being  the  California  man,  however, 
it  was  none  other  than  a  bee-ki'cpi'r  whose 
acquaintance  I  had  long  desired  to  mak(> — 
(Jeorge  E.  Hilton,  of  F'remont,  Mich.  Mr.  Hil- 
ton explained  that  only  a  few  had  come,  and 
tliat  most  of  the  trains  on  which  th(!  bee-keepers 
would  come  aii'ived  aft(M'  on(^  o'clock.  After 
making  the  acquaintance  of  the  few  who  were 
present,  we  adjourned  to  Mr.  Hilton's  room, 
where  we  had  one  of  those  delightful,  informal 
conventions. 

It  was  not  e.xpected  that  the  attendance 
w  ould  be  very  large,  or  even  up  to  what  it  had 
been  formerly.  Michigan  bee-keepers  had  pass- 
ed through  another  very  poor  honey  season. 
Very  few  indeed  there  were  who  could  report 
an  average  yield  of  more  than  10  lbs.  per  colony. 
But  there  was  a  fair  attendance  at  the  opening 
of  the  convention,  in  the  afternoon.  After  the 
transaction  of  a  little  business  we  listened  to 
President  Taylor's  address.  I  was  prejjared  to 
take  notes  in  the  usual  way;  but  as  I  listened  I 
became  more  and  more  convinced  that  the  ad- 
dress was  so  valuable,  and  so  vital  to  the  inter- 
ests of  all  bee-keepers,  that  it  would  be  an  ag- 
gravation for  you  to  read  only  a  brief  resume 
of  it.  I  accordingly  stopped  taking  notes,  and 
at  recess  requested  a  copy  of  the  address  in  full, 
which  I  am  glad  to  present  and  recommend  to 
the  careful  perusal  of  every  bee-keeper.  Mr. 
Taylor  prefaced  the  reading  of  his  address  by 
stating  that  he  had  chosen  for  his  subject, 

EfONOMY  IN  HONEY  PRODUCTION. 

Another  year  has  come,  bestowing  its  bless- 
ings where  it  listed,  and  is  gone;  and  whether 
it  lias  favored  us  as  we  had  hoped  and  desired 
or  not.  we  may  well  look,  and  in  no  complain- 
ing spirit,  to  discover,  if  we  may,  by  what  rule 
its  largesses  hav(^  been  bestowed,  and  why  our 
expectations  ha\'e  not  been  met.  To  the  coun- 
try at  larg<>.  its  bounties  have  been  unexampled; 
y)ut  to  t-iiose  who  pursue  that  vocation  which 
this  convention  is  met  to  promote,  they  have 
been,  we  will  pretty  generally  agree,  in  one 
point  at  least,  rather  meager.  But  are  we  al- 
together right  ill  our  estimate  '.*  Are  we  not  too 
much  given  to  cultivating  a  feeling  of  disap- 
pointment, that  we  do  not  get  a  heavy  crop, 
rather  than  to  accepting  an  average  crop  with 
gratilicatioii.  oi'  to  making  the  most  of  a  small 
crop".'  Relatively  we  have,  of  course,  had  a 
bad  year.  .•  .Some  have  even  had  no  surplus  at 
all;  but.  on  the  average,  has  the  year  been 
necessarily  an  nnprofitaole  oiu^'.^  I  say  necex- 
s(irU]i.  because  sometimes  one  has  notions  of 
the  prolitable  character  of  the  venture  he  is 
about  tp  engage  in  S(j  elevated  that  he  wastes 
sut'ticient  to  make  a  fair  profit. 

Once,  many  years  ago,  a  craze  for  the  pro- 
duction of  hops  took  possession  of  the  farmers 
ill  a  certain  localitv  near  where  I  lived.    Prices 


56 


GLEANIN(iS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


.Ian.  l.V 


werp  high:  llie  crop,  in  their  esiimaiion,  cer- 
tain, and  so  they  were  impressed  with  the  cer- 
tainty that  in<'vitable  wealth  must  fall  to  every 
one  engaging  in  liop-raising.  Tlicn.  natiii'ally. 
the  absolute  cejtainty  of  coming  wealtli  usher- 
ed in  a  feeling  that  it  was  already  in  possession. 
At  furthest  the  gold  was  only  over  the  fence,  in 
the  soil  of  tlie  hop-licld.  and  a  little  plowing 
and  liarrowing  in  tlie  spiing  would  secure  it: 
so  they  were  already  wealtiiy,  and  acted  on  the 
assumption.  No  effort  was  made  to  secure  a 
line  of  retreat.  Victory  was  sure.  Extrava- 
gance in  the  building  of  liop-houses,  in  laying 
in  supiilies  for  the  pickers,  and  for  the  han- 
dling, weighing,  diying.  and  packing  of  the 
hops,  ruled  the  hour.  But  the  storm  came. 
Insects  infested  the  hops:  the  quantity,  quality, 
and  price  were  all  lessened,  and  bankruptcy 
overtook  nearly  all  of  them.  The  same  thing 
is  illustrated  by  num(!rous  instances  in  the 
pine-lumber  business.  High  expectations  ob- 
scured the  necessity  of  cai'<^  and  economy,  and 
waste  kicked  the  profits  out  of  doors,  and  let  in 
disappointment  and  failure. 

Ruminating  upon  these  things  in  conneclion 
with  the  business  of  honey-pioduction,  the  idea 
suggested  itself  that  perhai)s  our  notions  of  the 
status  of  bee-keeping  with  respect  to  profits 
and  necessary  expenses  need  readjusting,  and 
that  the  present  series  of  bad  years  would  be  a 
good  time  to  consider  the  subject. 

It  may  be,  f  tliought,  that  we  are  risking  a 
chance  of  failure  by  encouraging  fanciful  pros- 
pects of  success  which  are  much  too  highly  col- 
ored, so  that  we  become  content  to  calculate 
that,  though  by  the  spending  of  time  in  the 
useless  manipulation  of  the  bees,  and  by  the 
purchase  of  elaborate  lines  of  machinery  and 
supplies  we  make  the  cost  of  comb  honey  13  or 
14  cents,  we  may  yet  be  sure  of  a  crop  lai'ge 
enough  so  that  the  difference  between  those 
figures  and  the  selling  price  will  yield  a  good 
profit.  I  do  not  question  the  prospect  of  profits 
in  fair  seasons,  with  good  management:  l)ut  I 
wish  to  call  attention  to  the  danger  of  putting 
too  much  reliance  on  the  profits,  trusting  that 
they  will  carry  us  through,  no  matter  what  the 
seasons  are  or  to  what  a  high  point  we  run  ex- 
penses. If  one  practices  proper  economy,  and 
thereby  keeps  ('X])(Mises  down  to  the  lowest 
reasonable  point,  he  has  still  no  bonanza,  to  be 
sure,  but  a  safe,  comfoi'table  business.  The 
criterion  of  expensesshould  be  actual  needs— not 
what  it  may  be  supposed  the  business  will  beai-. 
If  we  make  this  latter  the  test,  as  the  majority 
are  greatly  inclined  to  do,  we  are  all  sufficiently 
optimistic  to  fall  into  the  fatal  error  of  putting 
the  average  yearly  production  too  high,  and. 
as  a  consequence,  to  encounter  failure  in  the 
end. 

Mr.  G.  M.  Doolittle  has  said,  that,  if  laboi' 
and  capital  get  their  due  rewai'd.  the  cost  of 
comb  honey  is  1:5  c<'nts  per  pound.  It  would 
be  interesting  to  know  how  he  arrived  at  his 
conclusion.  Did  he  take  the  average  of  the 
seasons,  as  they  are  with  him.  as  a  basis?  In 
that  ca.se.  as  the  seasons  with  him  average  bet- 
ter than  with  bee-keepers  genei-ally,  to  them 
the  cost  would  be  even  greater  thaii  to  him. 
Then  I  should  like  to  know  how  much  of  the 
cost  is  labor,  and  how  much  capital.  May  be 
he  is  extravagant  with  laboi-.  Not  long  since. 
if  I  remember  correctly,  lie  gave  it  as  a  reason 
why  lu!  prefei'red  a  liiv(>  whose  frames  re(iuir(>d 
handling  to  one  which  coulil  be  handled  in  two 
sections  to  accomplish  the  same  purpose,  that 
he  enjoyed  handling  the  frames— thai  h(>  got 
his  pay  in  fun.  It  may  be  that  Mr.  D.  and  some 
other  bee-keepers  nuiy  grow  fat  on  fun;  but  I 
am  ijretty  sure  that  our  wives  and  children  will 
not  grow  fat  on  the  fun  that  we  alone  enjoy. 
We  may  well  imiuirc.  too.  whether  he  figures  in 


this  kind  of  labor  to  make  up  the  13  cents  cost, 
and  so  is  contriving  to  get  full  pay  from  each 
of  two  sources.  At  all  events,  it  requires  no 
argument  to  show  that  it  would  not  do  to  per- 
mit the  cost  of  honey  to  reach  13  cents  per  lb. 
If  it  were  a  necessity  to  permit  it.  but  few  of  us 
would  I'emain  in  the  business. 

There  is  no  one  but  will  admit  that  we  should 
keep  the  cost  down  to  the  lowest  possible  point, 
and  all  would  be  glad  to  know  what  that  point 
is.  Of  course,  there  must  be  no  extravagance 
in  buildings  nor  in  supplies,  and  there  must  be 
no  loss  of  valuable  time.  I  have  made,  and 
submit  tentatively  some  estimates  which  may, 
at  least,  serve  as  a  stimulus  to  further  calcula- 
tions, as  well  as  a  conclusion  to  the  suggestions 
I  am  making.  For  my  figures  I  have  taken  150 
colonies  as  perhaps  the  average  number  that 
could  be  kept  profitably  in  one  place.  The  ex- 
pense is  made  up  of  what  may  be  called  the 
fixed  charges;  i.  e.,  tliose  that'  are  the  same, 
whether  the  crop  is  large  or  small,  and  the  vari- 
able charges,  which  are  made  up  of  those  ex- 
penses which  vary  with  the  amoiuit  of  the  crop. 
The  larger  the  crop,  the  less,  of  course,  is  the 
cost  per  pound;  and  my  figures  are  made  so  as 
to  bring  this  out  somewhat  in  detail.  I  esti- 
mate the  value  of  the  necessary  plant  as  fol- 
lows: 

Sliop  luid  cellar $300 

Tools,  cases,  and  extras 150 

loO  colonies  of  bees  at  $5.00 750 

^_^__^  Total $1200 

So  my  table  will'stand  thus: 

FIXED  CHARGES. 

Interest  and  wear  and  tear  on  plant,  at  10  per 

cent  nil  $1200 $120 

One  m;ui  6  weeks  during-  lioney-harvest 45 

Takina'  l)t't's  into  and  out  of  cellar 5 

Otlier  manipulations 5 

Total $175 

VARIABLK   I'HAKGES. 

Cost  pt'i'  (.'acli  1.500  ll)s.  siii'phis,  being  an   average  of 
10  lbs.  per  coloiij'. 

2(100  sfCtions S  7.00 

Foundation lO.UO 

Fastening  in  tV)niidatioii 1.00 

Putting:  sections  togethi'i- 1.00 

("rates 10.00 

Packing 4.00 

Conimissioii  and  fieiglit 17.00 

Total $50.00 

Total  cost  of  a  ciop  of  10  ll)s.  on  the  average,  or 
ir.uii  lbs.,  $225. 

To  this  must  be  added  $50  for  each  additional 
average  of  10  lbs.,  whence  we  get  the  following 
restilts: 

With  an  a\-e)-age  of  10  lbs.,  the  cost  per  lb.  is  235 
di\ided  1)\'  lodO,  which  gives  .15. 

Witli  an  a^•eI■ag■e  of  20  lljs..  the  cost  per  II).  is  275 
divided  by  :iOii(i,  wliieb  gives  .0916. 

With  an  average  of  30  lbs.,  the  cost  per  lb.  is  325 
divirleil  l).v  4.'')00.  or  .(.72. 

With  an  average  of  40  11)s.,  tlie  cost  per  lb.  is  375 
divided  by  60(i0,  or  .0625. 

Willi  an  average  of  .")0  Ills.,  tlie  cost  per  lb.  is  425 
divided  by  751)0.  or  .056. 

With  an  average  of  60  lbs.,  tlie  cost  per  lb.  is  475 
divided  by  91(10,  or  .0.52. 

With  an  average  of  70  11)S.,  the  cost  \<ov  lb.  is  5;.'5 
divided  by  10,.500,  or  .05. 

Calling  the  market  [irice  15  cents,  and  taking 
a  further  step,  we  have  the  net  profit  in  each 
case  as  follo\\'s: 

Value.       Cost.      Net  profit. 


Crop,  lbs. 

Price. 

1.5C0 

15  cts. 

3000 

4.500 

(iOOO 

7500 

9000 

1(1.500 

$  225 

$225 

$  — 

450 

275 

175 

675 

325 

350 

900 

375 

525 

1125 

425 

7tKJ 

13.50 

475 

875 

1.575 

.525 

1050 

1WI2 


(ii.KAMXtJs  IN  iJKK  (  II,  rii;i;. 


'I'lu'sc  liiriirrs  arc  far  t'loiii  <lisiMiiiriiKiiifi.  l>ui 
th(>y  speak  powcil'iillv  for  kccpiiip  cxpciisi's 
(iown.  Ill  an  avcras''  ItK-aticiii.  (iiic  wliospciuls 
:ni.">ilays  ill  till'  year  (III  l.V)  colonics  can  not  ex- 
pect to  tfet  licli;  liiil  by  iiiaUiii);  six  or  seven 
w  eeUs  do.  lie  can  make  his  invest  meiii  pay  well. 
ilie  ditl'ereiice  in  t lie  luuiihei- of  colonies  in  dif- 
ferent apiaries,  the  presence  of  hnildiiii^s  or 
cellars  that  can  he  used  witlioiit  expeiis(>  of 
niakinjr  special  hiiildinsjs  and  cellars,  and  the 
dilTerenci"  in  avcrai^e  yiel(l>  in  dilVerent  locali- 
ties makes  a  jjreat  dilteience  in  the  nei  cost  of 
honey:  yet  tlioiisili  our  circiiinstaiices  vary 
greatly  in  many  ways,  we  can.  neverlliel(>ss.  hy 
severally  i"aU'iiiatinii  the  i-ost  in  our  ri'sjiective 
cases,  assist  one  another  in  put  tins;  the  business 
on  a  more  stable  basis  than  it  has  hitherto  oc- 
cupied. I{.  L.  'r.\  vi>on. 

Tiie  presiileiit  was  so  modest  that  lie  jiassed 
riirlit  on  to  the  lu^xt  topic  on  the  projrram  before 
tlie  bee-keepe|-s  present  could  enter  into  any 
discussion.  Hut  duriiifi  all  the  sessions  the 
subject  of  the  address  would  lU'op  out.  .1.  II. 
Larrabee.  of  the  Michigan  Agricultural  Col- 
lege, thoii.sht  he  could  perform  all  necessary 
work  in  a  well  regulated  apiary — in  fact,  do 
every  thing  in  connection  \\ith  the  business. 
from  the  folding  (d'  sections  to  putting  in  start- 
ers, to  the  linal  disposition  of  the  honey  crop 
on  the  market,  and  yet  allow  only  half  a  day's 
time  for  each  colony.  That  is.  150  colonies 
would  re(iuire  75  days  300  colonies.  1.50  days. 
It  was  suggested  that  the  average  bee-keeper 
could  not  afford  to  do  (('I  the  work — that  it 
would  be  cheaiKM'  ffir  liim  to  hire  cheap  labor 
to  perform  such  work  as  folding  sections,  put- 
ting in  starters,  pi'oviding  crates  for  the  hives, 
scraping  the  sections,  etc.;  that  the  time  for 
each  colony  might  l)e  thei-eby  rc^duced  very 
malerialiy.  leaving  the  exi)ert  or  owner  of  the 
liees  to  do  expert  labor,  such  as  getting  the  bees 
into  proper  condition  for  a  honey  crop,  manag- 
ing the  swarming,  putting  on  and  taking  off 
the  sections.  Some  argued  that  Mr.  Larrabee 
was  too  economical  of  lime,  and  wanted  to 
know  what  would  be  done  about  swarms.  Some 
one  suggested  caging  queens  until  the  swarm- 
ing season  was  over;  others  dividing,  and  still 
others  using  drone-trapsor  autcmiatic  swarmers. 
It  wp.s  too  expensive  to  keep  a  man  in  each  yard 
to  look  aft<'r  swarms. 

The  iiuestion  finally  turned  to  the  importance 
of  handling  hives  instead  of  fraines.  I  was 
called  upon  to  tell  what  I  knew  about  it.  As  I 
liave  already  made  myself  sufficiently  plain  in 
previous  numbers.  I  will  not  go  over  the  ground 
here  again.  Mr.  Taylor  then  explained  how  he 
could  find  (|iieens  in  the  Ileddon  hive  with  the 
shake-(jut  function,  and  how  he  cmild  ascertain 
the  amount  of  bi'ood  by  simplv  dividing  two 
sections  of  the  brood -nest. 

Taking  every  thing  into  consideration,  it  was 
plain  that  l)ee-kee|)ers  had  become  accustomed 
to  putting  too  much  time  iipcjii  their  bees:  that 
the  (jiily  way  tf)  reduce  the  cost  of  honey  per 
pound  was  by  handliii<r  hives  instead  of  frames. 
or.  as  some  of  us  ju-eferred  to  put  it.  diagnosing 
hives  more  and  liandling  fi'ames  Ukss.  As  to  the 
c(jst  of  comb  honey  pei'  ixiund.  S(H'retary  Hilton 
said  that,  prior  to  four  or  five  years  ago.  his 
crop  averaged  him.  from  one  year  to  another, 
about4cts.:  but  during  the  last  three  or  four 
years  it  had  gone  up  jM-etty  high.  In  one  yard 
which  he  had  on  shai'es.  if  I  i-emember  correct- 
ly, he  said  the  aveiage  cost  of  comb  honey  pei- 
pound  was  $1.00.     Me  had  had  enough  of  that.c 

There  Is  one  very  encouraging  featnrej^in 
I'resident  Tayloi-'s  address:  and  that  is.  that  a 
hee-kee|)er  may  make  a  slight  margin  of  profit, 
even  whiMi  his  average  is  only  "jo  lbs.  jier  colony. 
This   is  a  fruitful    theme,  and    Mr.  Hilton    lu'is 


promised  to  give  us  >ome  more  posiiiverdata  on 
the  subject  in  a  fuiiire  issue. 

ItKsr.-.M.I.-ITKI'OSK    HI!uol>-KI{.\.MK. 

Mr.  Larrabee.  in  a  well-written  paper,  dis- 
cussed this  subject.  It  was  not  dillicult,  for 
each  one.  he  said,  to  decide  upon  one  for  him- 
self; but  no  coin'ciitiiin  of  bee-keepers  could 
agree.  The  essential  feal-iire  of  an  all-purpose 
brood-frame  was,  that  it  should  have  a  top- 
bar  thick  enough  so  as  not  to  sag.  and  from 
l/,;tol'n  in  width.  lie  liked  the  narrow  bot- 
tom-bar that  Hro.  Root  had  recently  introduced, 
for  the  reason  that  bees  build  combs  down  to  it 
better:  and  with  such  a  frame,  when  with- 
drawn from  the  hive,  there  was  less  danger  of 
rolling  over  or  killing  bees.  The  (pieen  also 
was  less  likely  to  liiid  a  hiding-place  between 
the  bottom  edge  of  the  comb  and  the  bottom- 
bar.  Fraine-eiids  should  be  at  least  %  inch 
thick.  As  to  whether  theyjis  a  whole  should 
be  of  the  lixeii  or  self-spacing  style  was  a  ])oint 
upon  which  he  had  not  yet  decided,  lie  urged 
that  all  bee-keepers,  as  soon  as  practicable, 
adopt  a  staiidai'd  size:  and  that  standarti  size, 
in  the  I'liited  Stales  at  least,  was  the  Lang- 
stroth.  Mr.  Larrabee  then  read  replies  from  a 
number  of  [irominent,  siipply-d<'alers.  all  of 
which,  with  one  exception,  indicated  that  thick 
to|)-bars  iwe  about  to  displace  all  frames  with 
the  narrow  and  thin  lop-bar. 

I  was  called  upon  to  giv(^  my  exjierience  with 
the  thick  toiJ-liar.  Most  of  our  readers  know 
what  1  think  about  them,  so  I  will  not  take 
space  to  repeat  it  here.  But  I  was  surprised  to 
see  how  many  there  were  who  leslili(!d  to  the 
value  of  the  non-burr-eomb  frame,  after  an 
experience  of  from  one  to  three  years.  I  was 
interested  to  note,  also,  how  many,  both  in  con- 
vention and  in  between  sessions,  signifii^d  their 
intention  of  adopting  Hoffman  end-bars.;  or 
some  st.yle  of  fixed  frame. 

;epii-<)1uum.  ok  wili>ow-iiehh. 

I  was  indeed  surprised  to  hear  so  many  testi- 
fy to  the  value  of  epilohium  as  a  hon(>y-plant. 
In  some  places  it  is  called  willow-herb,  and  in 
others.  I  believe,  tireweed.  In  localities  wher(> 
it  grew  profusely,  even  during  the  last  poor 
seasons,  it  has  yielded  well.  At  tln^  hotel  table 
it  was  my  jdeasure  to  sample  some  of  that  Mr. 
Hilton  had  brought  in,  on  buckwheat  cakes. 
In  l)ody  and  color  it  was  all  that  could  be  desir- 
ed, and  in  flavor  superb.  If  I  had  taken  it  at 
the  first  course,  my  opinion  as  to  its  qualities 
miglit  be  taken  at  some  discount:  tint  I  tasted 
it  after  having  eaten  a  liearty  dinner:  and  or- 
dinarily the  keen  relish  of  taste  must'have  been 
dulled  S()ir'> 

THVINCi    .VEVV     r}IIX(iS. 

W.  Z.  Hutchinson,  of  the  Bee-keepers'  Revieiv, 
read  a  very  interesting  paper  on  th(^  subject 
above.  Hee-keepers.  he  said,  are  given  to  try- 
ing new  things.  They  are  ready  and  eager  to 
invest  their  hard-eanu'd  dollars  in  new-fangled 
traps.  It  is  unwise  to  invest  in  and  accept 
every  thing  that  is  new,  as  good:  and  it  is 
equally  iinwist!  to  re.ject  ev<'ry  thing  simjily  be- 
cause it  is  new.  \\e  are  to  choose  wisely.  To 
an  experienced  bee-keeper  a  description  of  an 
article,  device,  or  method,  is  all  he  may  possibly 
need  to  decide  regarding  its  practicability;  but 
many  are  given  to  juin|)ing  at  conclusions  with- 
out carefully  weighing  and  testing.  .Among 
the  new  things,  he  mentioned  the  later  varieties 
of  bees,  automatic  swarming -[devices,  cbee- 
escapes.  etc.  

At  the  conclusion  ofj  his  !paper  a  lively  dis- 
cussion look  plai-e  in  regard  to  the  I'linic.  five- 
banded,  and  Carniolan  iiees.  The  two  latter 
had    their  advocates,  as  well-as  those  who  had 


58 


GLEANINOS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


.Tax.  l.i 


found  llu'iu  wauling:  but  the  Pnnics  no  one 
seemed  to  know  verj'  much  about. 

AUTOMATIC   SVVARMmG-I)p;VICES 

was  another  new  fad  that  was  discussed.  A 
few  had  faith  iu  them,  and  thought  they  would 
some  time  amount  to  someihing;  but  tlie  chief 
objection  seemed  to  be  their  expense,  and  fail- 
ure to  get  ail  oi-  a  large  part  of  tlie  bees  of  the 
swarm  into  the  new  hive.  It  ^vas  argued  by 
President  Taylor  and  others  that  the  labor  of 
attaching  them  to  the  hive,  and  helping  them 
to  complete  the  unfinished  work,  would  be  very 
nearly  as  much  as  hiving  the  swarms  outright. 
Mr.  Hutchinson  had  faith  in  them. 

THE   I5EE-ESCAPE. 

Thei-e  was  no  dissenting  voice,  so  far  as  I 
can  remember,  as  to  the  great  value  of  this 
labor-saving  device.  A  number  testified  how 
much  time  it  had  saved  them,  and  what  fun  it 
was  to  take  off  crops  of  honey.  Mi-.  Larrabee 
said  his  brother  had  taken  off  r.'700  lbs.  of  e.\- 
tracted  honey  without  so  much  as  brushing  or 
shaking  the  combs,  the  bees  being  freed  fiom 
the  supers  by  the  bee-escape.  Some  one  asked 
Mr.  Larrabee  what  sort  of  escape  his  brother 
used.  It  was  one  of  his  own  construction,  on 
the  horizontal-cone  plan.  As  many  of  our  read- 
ers may  be  interested  in  this  escape,  we  hereby 
ask  one  of  the  Larrabees  to  send  us  one  of  the 
escapes,  with  description,  and  we  shall  be 
pleased  to  place  it  before  our  readers. 

Mr.  Ray  and  President  Taylor  had  used  with 
satisfaction  Dr.  Miller's  bee-tent,  the  same 
thing  that  was  described  in  Gleanings  several 
years  ago.  They  piled  up  the  supers,  put  one 
of  these  bee-tents  on  the  top  case,  and  let  the 
bees  crawl  out  at  their  will.  I  believe  they 
said  they  hastened  the  matter  by  shaking  out 
as  many  bees  as  possible  in  the  first  place,  and 
then  smoking  them  upward. 

Among  other  new  things  were  the  late  meth- 
ods of  wiring.  M.  H.  Hunt  preferred  the  old 
style,  with  perpendicular  wires,  and  secured 
perfect  combs.  One  or  two  others  had  tried  the 
Keeney  plan  with  good  results:  but  I,  of  course, 
argued  for  the  horizontal  wiring,  as  being 
cheaper  and  requiring  less  labor. 

WINTEKING    IN   MICHIGAN. 

A.  J.  Acker,  Martiney.  Mich.,  gave  us  an  in- 
teresting talk  on  the  subject  of  cellar  versus 
outdoor  wintering.  He  did  not  have  success 
with  the  outdoor  plan,  and  finally  necessity 
obliged  him  to  winter  indoors.  His  plan  was, 
to  have  the  covers  sealed  down,  and  set 
the  hives  on  top  of  trays  four  inches  deep, 
one  end  of  the  tray  being  open  for  an  en- 
trance. This  gave  ample  bottom  ventilation. 
F^oi'  a  winter  repository  he  used  an  upground 
cellar,  something  as  G.  M.  Doolittle  has  lately 
described.  In  these  he  puts  his  colonies,  pil- 
ing them  in  closely,  but  each  hive  having  a 
four-inch  space  under  the  frames.  The  results 
had  been  most  excellent.  J.  P.  Berg.  Traverse 
City,  Mich.,  the  fun-maker  at  this  convention, 
not  so  much  for  what  he  said  as  for  his  innnner 
of  saying  it.  wintered  both  ways:  but  colonies 
that  wintered  outdoors  in  chaff  hives  not  only 
wintered  the  best,  but  were  stronger  in  the 
spring,  and  cast  swarms  earlier.  Geo.  E.  Hil- 
ton. M.  H.  Hunt,  and  J.  H.  Larrabee  corrobo- 
rated this  testimony,  and  stated  that  that  was 
the  general  expc^rience  in  their  localities.  I'res- 
ident  Taylor  could  do  nothing  at  outdoor  win- 
tering, but  indoors  he  had  success.  There  were 
advocates  at  this  convention  of  both  plans:  and 
it  .seemed  to  me.  as  I  listened  to  their  testimo- 
nies, that,  while  one  wintered  indoors  and  the 
other  outdoors,  the  result  was  due  largely  to 
locality.  I  learned  afterward  that  there  was  a 
great  difference  in  Michigan  localities.    Where 


it  was  very  cold,  there  cellar  wintering  gener- 
ally prevails:  and  in  milder  places  the  outdoor 
plan  gives  better  results. 

BKK-KKEPING   AND   OTHER   BUSINESS. 

Mr.  \V.  E.  (lould  discussed  the  question  as  to 
what  business  can  be  combined  with  V)ee-keep- 
ing:  and  Mr.  A.  .1.  Pieice,  a  little  later  on,  the 
subject  of  bees,  poultry,  and  fruit.  The  two 
topics  naturally  covered  the  same  ground:  and 
in  order  to  save  space  I  will  endeavor  to  give 
the  gist  of  both  discussions  in  one.  Mr.  Gould 
argued  that,  where  one  had  two  or  three  out- 
apiaries,  he  was.  in  a  sense,  a  specialist,  and 
therefore  would  hardly  have  time  to  do  much 
with  any  other  business:  but  if  he  had  only  one 
yard  of  only  a  hundred  colonies,  it  might  be 
well  for  him  to  consider  what  other  business  he 
could  combine  profitably  with  it.  Localities 
and  men  differ  very  much:  and  what  would  be 
a  success  with  one  would  not  necessarily  be  so 
with  other  men  in  other  locations.  Other  things 
might  be  combined  with  the  bee-business,  such 
as  fruit  culture,  teaching  school,  and  poultry- 
business.  Mr.  Pierce,  from  the  standpoint  of 
the  fi'uit-grower.  gave  some  valuable  sugges- 
tions along  this  line.  Fi'uit  and  poultry  com- 
bine very  nicely  together.  The  latter  help  very 
materially  to  diminish  insects  on  the  fruits, 
such  as  the  destructive  curculio  on  the  plums. 
The  small  breeds  of  poultry,  such  as  the  Leg- 
horns, are  bettei-  for  this  purpose.  The  Asiatic 
kinds  are  not  so  good  foragers.  The  manure 
from  eight  hens  is  equal  in  fertilizing  value  to 
that  from  one  cow.  As  with  bees,  fruit-men 
sometimes  experience  poor  seasons.  At  such 
times  the  poultry  and  bees  are  a  great  help,  and 
make  all  the  diflference  between  profit  and  loss. 
It  seems  to  be  a  recognized  fact,  said  Mr.  Pierce, 
among  all  fruit-men.  that  bees  are  necessary  to 
the  proper  fertilization  of  the  blossoms;  and  if 
his  neighbor  didn't  own  bees,  he  must  have  a 
few  colonies  for  himself.  It  would  pay  him, 
even  if  he  secured  no  honey.  Mr.  Berg  gave  us 
some  excellent  suggestions  along  this  line.  He 
is  both  a  fruit-grower  and  a  bee-keeper,  and  he 
found  that  his  poultry  had  so  reduced  the  evil 
resulting  from  the  curculios  in  his  plum- 
orchai'ds  that  the  cui'culio  was  not  to  him  a 
pest.  In  fact,  he  wanted  a  few  to  kill  off  some 
of  the  fruit,  as  his  trees  would  bear  too  heavily 
otherwise.  Along  with  these  discussions  came 
up  the  matter  of 

SPRAYING   FRUIT   AND   POISONING    BEES. 

This  convention,  like  the  North  American  at 
Albany,  furnished  abundant  proof  to  the  eflfect 
that  bees  have  been  poisoned  in  great  numbers 
when  the  trees  have  been  sprayed  during  the 
time  of  blossoming.  Mr.  Pierce  gave  us  some 
of  his  own  experience.  He  had  had  his  apiary 
nearly  cleaned  out  by  a  neighbor  who  had 
sprayed  his  trees  during  the  time  of  bloom. 
This  neighbor  did  it  ignorantly.  and  stopped  at 
once  when  he  learned  of  the  consequences.  The 
bees  had  becm  in  the  most  promising  condition 
for  a  good  honey  crop;  but  the  spraying  had 
utterly  ruined  its  prospects.  The  neighbor  in 
question  followed  the  directions  of  the  pump- 
maker;  and  it  was  suggested  that  all  pump- 
makers  or  manufactuivi's  of  spraying-apparatus 
be  labored  with,  who  advise  spraying  during 
fruit-bloom.  Two  oi'  three  bee-keepers.  Mr. 
}*ierce  among  the  number,  said  that,  so  far  as 
they  had  learned,  they  were  all  very  glad  to 
modify  their  directions  as  soon  as  they  were 
informed  of  the  evil  results  to  the  bees.  The 
opinion  seemed  to  i)revail  that,  as  soon  as  fruit- 
men  and  manufacturers  of  spraying -outfits 
were  properly  informed,  bee-keepers  would 
have  no  fui'ther  trouble:  although  it  was  urged 
that  every  State  pass  a  bill,  more  for  its  educa- 
tional effect  than  for  legal  coercion. 


lS\r.' 


(;i.i:anin(;s  in  hkk  cii/ruKio. 


■.'.t 


A    l'i;(  ri.lAli    ltl,K-I>lSl.ASK    OU    MA1.A1)\. 

TluMV  WHS  only  OIK*  liidy.  Mrs.  Delia  Coop. 
pn>S(<iit  at  this  covcntioii,  iinii  sill'  had  romc  to 
seek  litrht  on  a  I'i'i'taiii  iiccwliar  malatiy  which 
she  had  found  in  her  a|)iaiy.  She  was  not  sure 
wild hi'i"  or  not  it  was  loiil  iirood.  The  hi'ood  in 
the  iinajro  state  <li('d  hcforc  in)nnn}i  to  niatniity. 
'riuM'i'  was  no  foul  odor:  and  the  |iecnliarity  of 
the  w  hole  rase  wiis.  that  the  iniinatnre  bees, 
instead  of  haviiiij  heads  turned  tow  ard  the  cap- 
pings,  were  reversed,  with  their  heads  toward 
the  midrib  of  the  comb.  The  troul)le  seemed 
to  lie  coniafrious  and  constitutional.  Tiie  dis- 
ease or  malady  had  existed  in  her  apiary  for  a 
couple  of  years,  but  was  not  present  in  any 
olhor  yards  in  the  same  vicinity.  Toison  was 
sntrarested  as  a  possible  cause:  that  the  larva\ 
weai<i'ned  thereby,  were  nnaliie.  just  before  en- 
tering upon  the  imago  state,  to  leverse  tlndr 
heads  for  the  last  time,  and  in  their  unnatural 
condition  died,  lint  the  lady  explained  that 
the  iiees  had  had  no  access  to  poison,  as  it  was 
past  si)raying-time.  or  when  other  poisons  were 
used.  We  were  unable  at  the  convention  to 
suggest  any  tiling  else  tlian  Xho  ])oison  theory: 
but  as  this  will  a|)|)ear  befor*^  thousands  of 
readers,  there  may  be  others  who  have  seen 
similar  cases,  and  have  ascertained  its  cause. 
If  they  are  able  to  give  us  any  light  on  this 
point,  we  shall  be  glad  to  have  them  do  so. 

THK   rSE   AND   AHU.SK.S  OF  FOUXDATIOX. 

Mr.  M.  H.  Hunt,  of  Hell  Hranch,  read  an 
essay  on  this  subject.  The  intelligent  use  of 
foundation,  he  said,  had  added  to  the  profit  and 
pleasure  of  bee-keeping.  Attempts  had  been 
made  to  make  combs  the  full  depth  of  cells,  and 
all  had  led  to  failuri*.  Even  if  successful,  such 
combs  would  t)e  of  no  practical  value  to  the 
bee-keeper,  their  bulk  being  so  great  that 
freight-rates  would  forbid  their  use.  He  rec- 
ommended full  sheets  of  light  brood  foundation, 
wired  on  the  perpendicular  plan — the  sheets  to 
be  cut  to  the  exact  full  inside  measurement  of 
the  frames.  By  the  us(>  of  starters  in  brood- 
frames.  i)erhaps  bees  will  enti-r  sections  sooner, 
but  tliat  is  not  the  only  thing  desired.  Drone 
comb  would  be  apt  to  be  the  result  unless  great 
precautions  were  taken,  such  as  young  queens 
and  tirst  swarms.  The  abuse  of  foundation  was 
the  manner  of  putting  it  in.  As  his  sheets  were 
cut  to  the  full  siz("  of  the  frame,  he  fastens  the 
edge^'  by  pouring  melted  wax  from  a  spoon 
around  the  edges,  the  point  of  the  spoon  being 
narrowed  to  make  a  fine  stream. 

The  election  of  officers  resulted  as  follows: 
President,  R.  L.  Taylor:  Vice-president.  J.  H. 
Larriiboe:  Treasurer.  M.  H.  Hunt:  Secretary. 
G.  K.  Hilton.  The  next  place  of  meeting  is 
Lansing. 


THE  VISIT   OF  MR.  C.  P.  DADANT  AND 
J.  M.  HAMBAUGH. 


HON. 


TIIK     K()I).\K     FI?:XI):     THK     WIXTKK    IM;oliI.i:.M : 
I'OTJTKS   .\xn    BKE-KKKP1X(;. 


By  Ernest  R.  Root. 


The  Dadants  have  been  perfectly  free  in  giving 
us  some  of  the  kinks  of  the  trade  in  foundation- 
making,  and  I  have  long  desired  to  reciprocate. 
In  response  to  my  repeated  invitations  to  visit 
Medina.  Mr.  Dadant  finally  told  me.  at  the  Al- 
bany convention,  that  he  had  decided  to  go 
home  with  me.'. taking  with  him  his  fi-iend,  the 
Hon.  .1.  M.  Hambaugli.  Tliis  was  indeed  a 
double  pleasure. 

I  have  sufficiently  introduced  the  representa- 
tive of  the  largest  foundation  establishment  in 
tlie  world,  so  that   our  readers  are  quite   well 


ac(|uainted  with  him:  but  with  .Mi.  Ilain- 
iiaiigh  t  here  may  not  be  the  same  acquaintance, 
and  I  am  very  glad  of  this  opportunity  of  in- 
troducing him  iiioic  fully. 

Hon.  .I.M.  Hainbaugh  is  not  only  a  promi- 
nent and  successful  bee-keeper  of  Illinois,  but 
one  of  their  leirislatois.  He  was  elected  as  a 
member  of  the  House  of  ileliresent  a  t  i  ves.  and 
was  oneof  the  famous  101  l)eim)ci'ats  w  ho  liiial- 
ly  succeeded  in  electing  .1.  M.  Palmer  to  tiie 
V .  S.  Senate.  Those  who  are  familiar  with  the 
facts  will  r(>membei'  that,  in  the  Ilniise  of  Rep- 
resentatives of  the. State  of  Illinois,  there  wen; 
101  Democrats  and  KK)  Republicans.  I'.esides 
these  there  were  three  Farmers"  .\lliaiice  men. 
In  order  to  elect  their  senator,  the  Republicans 
would  have  to  win  over  to  them  the  three  Alli- 
ance! men,  or  the  Demot'iats  two  of  them.  Aft- 
er voting  and  ad.jonining  day  aftei'  day.  with 
no  result,  the  Democrats  linally  elecK-d  their 
candidate  by  secui-ing  two  of  the  Alliance  men. 
Mr.  Hambaugh.  besides  being  one  of  this  fa- 
mous 101,  w  ill  !)(•  remembered  as  the  one  who 
introduced  the  bill,  which  passed  tioth  houses, 
securing  to  the  Stati'  Hee-kee|jei-s"  Association 
an  appropriation  of  .*."■>( K)  annually.  He  also  in- 
troduced another  bill,  which  nearly  passed, 
regulating  the  matter  of  spraying  fruit-trees  in 
such  a  way  as  not  to  be  detrimental  to  bee- 
keepers. This  bill  would  have  passed,  but  it 
was  near  the  close  of  the  session,  and  was  sim- 
ply held  over. 

At  the  close  of  the  last  day  of  tin;  Albany 
convention,  Mr.  Dadant  and  Mr.  Hambaugh, 
together  with  your  humble  servant,  boarded 
the  train  for  Medina.  And  then  we  talked  as 
only  three  bee-keepers  can.  We  covered  tlie 
whole  round  of  bee-keeping:  but  as  we  had  an 
"  honorable  gentleman  "  in  our  crowd,  w'e  drift- 
ed more  or  less  into  politics.  Messrs.  Dadant 
and  Hambaugh  would  continually  fall  into  ar- 
gument, while  the  third  member  of  the  trio 
listened.  I  do  not  know  how  the  other  two  felt 
after  they  arrived  at  Medina:  but  it  is  sufficient 
to  say  that  my  sides  w-ere  sore  from  laughing 
over  tlie  good-natured  sparring  that  passed 
back  and  forth  between  the  two  Illinois  men. 

We  arrived  at  Medina  on  Saturday  morning, 
and  the  visitors  were  then  escorted  about  the 
Root  establishment  by  our  business  manager, 
Mr.  Calvert,  while  your  humble  servant  looked 
after  the  matters  that  had  been  left  until  his 
return.  In  the  afternoon,  as  they  were  obliged 
to  take  the  evening  train  I  went  w  ith  them 
through  some  of  tlie  other  departments.  We 
tarried  some  little  time  in  our  foundation-room. 
I  noticed  Mr.  I),  watching  one  of  the  girls  rcll 
off  foundation.  A  smile  began  to  play  over  his 
face. 

■■  What  now  ?"  said  I. 

"  I  guess."  said  he.  "  theise  is  one  of  the  kinks 
that  you  people  haven't  learned  yet."" 

Mr.  Dadant  observ(!d  that  the  foundation  had 
a  fashion  of  sticking  to  both  rolls  asitcam(; 
out.  tearing  the  wax,  and  making  it  difficult 
to  secure  the  end  free  from  both  rolls.  He 
stepped  foiward  and  dipijed  his  hand  into  some 
cold  water,  and  allowed  the  water  to  drip  on 
the  uiipei'  lol  I.  and.  presto  I  as  if  by  magic  the 
foundation  stuck  tli(>  next  time  to  th<'  upper 
roll,  and  pulled  oft'  easily.  This  was  something 
that  we  hadn't  yet  got  hold  of,  and  we  are  glad 
to  give  it  to  the  bee-piihlic  for  what  it  is  woi'th. 
Mr.  Dailant  explained  that  tlie  reason  the  foun- 
dation stuck  to  both  lolls  was  because  tliey 
were  of  the  same  temperature:  that  you  could 
make  th(!  wax  stick  to  the  upp(>r  roll  by  cooling 
it  slightly. 

After  looking  over  things  inside  of  the  build- 
ings, we  rambled  over  to  the  "' yellow  house,"' 
as  we  call  it,  where  we  keep  all  sorts  of  imple- 
ments  that  are  sent  in  for  our  approval  or  crit- 


6() 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  1*. 


istc 


i.l,K.\\l\i.S  IN    |{1:K  Cll/l'IKH. 


01 


ii'isiii.  AiMunir  (itliiT  tliintr>.  I  >lit>\\  cd  i  he  ;;cii- 
tlcnu'ii  tlu'  llt'ilirrintfloii-<,>iiiiil)y  liivi'.  and  liou 
it  difTcri'd  fnnii  iIk- (triirinal  «^)iiiiihy.  Wliilc  Mr. 
Dadiint  acUiiowlrdircd  iliaiitwas  tu'ilcr  tliaii 
tli<-  (ui^inal  liivc  and  w  liilf  it  iniixhl  l)t>  llic 
only  tliinir  thai  the  hcc-Ui'ciMMs  in  S'orU  Stali'. 
aim  Ml  IT  I  In-  hills,  could  nsr.  he  i-ould  not  toi('i"al<' 
it  tor  his  section  id'  countiT  he  was  snrc  Mr. 
Ilamhaiisrh  took  no  particular  side  in  this  dis- 
iMission.  \N'e  next  wtMit  out  into  the  apiary, 
where  I  showed  them  w  hat  experiments  I  was 
maUinji  in  the  mallei-  of  outdoor  w  iiilerinii - 
why  I  was  <;i-adiially  leaiiinj;  toward  liavinu;  no 
absorbents  over  chalT-packed  colonies,  and  w  by 
I  was  lieirinniiiir  to  believe  that  a  sealed  cover. 
covered  with  plenty  of  |)acl<inff  material,  was 
belter.  Mr.  Dadaiit  disagreed  again.  Of  all 
the  experiments  ihey  had  made,  they  had  coiue 
to  the  decision  that  absorbents  are  (piite  neces- 
sary for  outdoor  wiiiterinir.  1  showed  tlnin 
outdoor  colonies  packed  both  ways:  Imt  it  was 
too  early  in  the  season  to  notice  any  practical 
difference.  We  finally  strolli'd  over  to  that  por- 
tion of  the  yard  where  the  Shane  bees  are 
located,  and  which  was  illnsiiated  recently. 
Tiie  hives  of  tliis  apiary  are  all  inside  of  our 
new  outside  w  inter  packing-cases.  Mr.  Ifam- 
bangli  and  Mr.  Dadaiit  both  seemed  to  like  the 
arrangement. 

liut  I  must  not  forget  to  tell  you  a  little  inci- 
dent that  liappened  while  w(^  were  in  the  yard. 
The  two  Illinois  men  were  discussing  the  meth- 
ods of  wintering  outdoors.  .\s  they  disagreed 
on  politics,  so  they  disagreed  here.  Of  coui'se.  I 
<lid  all  I  could  to  make  the  discussion  wax 
warm:  but  to  me  they  paid  no  attention,  so 
intent  was  each  in  making  his  point.  Very 
fortunately  for  our  readers,  a  Kodak  tieiid 
happened  to  be  near  the  scene,  and  secured  a 
picture  while  they  were  in  the  height  of  dis- 
<'USsion.  Fig.  1  is  the  result — a  snap  shot,  as 
you  see. 

A  few  minutes  later,  they  came  to  an  under- 
standing: and  after  all  their  talk  they  found 
they  agreed  after  all.  At  this  juncture  this 
same  Kodak  tiend  took  another  pictui'e.  Well, 
he  and  the  writi'r  were  working  in  collusion, 
and  I  have  sei-ured  the  pictures. 

Those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  gentle 
men  will  at  once  recognize  them:  and  Fig.  2 
shows  the  disputants  just  as  they  had  come  to 
an  agreement,  and  had.  said.  "Oh I  I  .see  now 
what  you  mean."  Hut  even  then  they  would 
not  listen  to  me.  although  I  had  been  talking 
to  them  about  the  winter  case.  They  finally 
turned  to  me.  and  I  i)resume  they  noticed  a 
smile  of  triumphant  pleasure  on  my  face,  for  I 
had  just  seen  the  Kodak  tiend  slip  out  of  sight 
with  his  treasures  of  pictui'es.  '•  Root  is  cooking 
up  some  mischief."  said  Dadant:  but  I  pi'otest- 
ed  my  innocence.  When  I  bade  them  good-by 
as  they  took  leave  on  the  tiain.  they  botli  seem- 
ed to  think  that  I  had  gotten  them  into  some 
sort  of  "trap."  Their  last  words  were,  as  thev 
siuig  out.  "  We'll  get  even  with  you." 


FIXED  DISTANCES. 


\VII.\T    AN    .\f.STK.\I,lA.\    THINKS   OF    TIIK.M. 

I  am  somewhat  i)uzzled  at  s()m(^  of  your  bee- 
men  advocating  eight  fianies  in  the  bi'ood-nest. 
I  am  using  tin.  Laiigstroth  size,  and  tliest;  are 
not  sufticieiit  foi-  thi-  queen,  and  she  takes 
chai'ge  of  three  of  foui'  frames  in  the  up|)er 
chamber.  With  regaid  to  frames  at  fixed  dis- 
tances, about  six  years  asjo  1  gave  you  a  de- 
scription, will)  drawings,  of  the  hive  and  frames 
I  devised  and  iiad  in  use.  Vou  pronounced  it  a 
good  hive.  l)ut  said  bee-keepers  in  .America 
t-ould    not    toleiate    frames   at    fixed    distances. 


However.  I  have  stuck  to  it.  and  havi'  laken 
lirst  iioMors  eveiy  time  at  the  exhibitions:  and 
now  I  lind  the  Americans  are  <'oming  around  to 
my  way  of  I  liinking.  and  I  don't  think  thev  will 
r<'gi'''t  it.  'I'lioM.vs  Dixon. 

.Mastertdii.  New  Zealand.  .Nov.  :.'.S. 

I  Difference  in  localion  makes  considerable 
difference  as  to  the  size  of  hive.  The  S-frame 
hive  gives  the  best  results  foi'  most  localities.] 


Ladies  Conversazione. 


SPRAYING 


FRUIT-TREES     AN 
BEES. 


INJURY     TO 


OIT- Al'l  AlilKS    I.\    I'OOi;    SK.\S()X> 


Have  any  of  the  fiiends  in  i)e<'  culture  experi- 
enced troubli'  from  bees  dying  off  bet'ause  fi'uit- 
ti'ees  were  si)i'ayed  near  their  apiary".'  Mr. 
Axtell  sprayed  our  fruit-trees  and  vines  four 
different  times,  but  sjirayed  none  while  in  blos- 
som. l>ut  at  the  right  lime  after  th<' fruit  had 
set.  as  per  A.  J.  Cook  and  Wm.  Stalil.  of 
<^iincy.  III.  Our  bees,  when  taken  from  the 
cellar,  were  in  fair  condition,  and  seemed  to 
piosper  as  well  as  bees  usually  do  in  tlie  si)i-ing. 
all  the  while  having  all  the  biood  they  could 
take  care  of.  so  that  the  most  of  our  colonies, 
we  thought,  would  be  strong  enough  to  gather 
honey  w  lien  w  hite  clover  canu'.  without  fui'tlier 
building  up.  This  time  of  looking  througli 
them  was  about  the  time  api)le-trees  were 
sprayed.  Two  weeks  later,  in  looking  tlirougli 
they  were  no  stronger,  and  we  feared  that  not 
many  would  be  strong  enough  for  the  honey 
harvest,  so  we  took  out  brood  fr-om  some  and 
built  up  others,  so  as  to  have  as  many  sti'ong  as 
possible,  and  yet  ih(>y  did  not  build  up.  There 
seemed  to  be  but  few  old  bees  in  the  hives  the 
first  of  .June,  although  the  combs  all  the  while 
were  full  of  brood,  and  cover(>d  with  young 
bees:  but  they  seemed  to  die  off  as  soon  as  they 
began  to  work.  This  was  the  condition  of  the 
hives  all  through  .lune  in  our  home  apiary. 

At  our  out-apiary,  four  miles  away,  ne'ai' the 
timber,  thecolonies  were  not  thusaffected.  They 
were  wintei-ed  out  of  doors,  and  built  upinto  line 
strong  colonies  by  the  lirst  of  .lune.  neai'ly  eve- 
ry colony,  and  gathered  some  .^OO  lbs.  of  surplus 
from  honey-d(!\v  l)esides  increasing  to  as  sti'ong 
colonies  as  I  ever  saw:  yet  theic  was  no  swarm- 
ing. They  seemed  to  know  what  a  hmg  dearth 
of  iuuiey  was  before  them. 

In  the  home;  apiary  there  were  so  few  old  bees 
that  they  could  not  (!ven  fill  up  their  brood- 
combs  with  honey.  There  was  a  strip  of  hick- 
ory timber  about  one  mile  away,  from  which 
they  gathered  .som(^  honey-dew — enough  to 
have  caused  the  colonies  to  become  pojjulous. 
They  were  not  so  strong  on  tlu^  first  of  July 
as  th<'y  often  are  no  th<!  first  of  June.  Could 
this  have  been  a  case  of  common  p])ring 
dwindling'.'  It.seemed  different  from  any  thing 
we  ever  had  before,  as,  in  othei'  years  when  we 
had  spring  dwindling,  they  died  off  as  soon  as 
taken  from  the  cellai'.  which  they  did  not  do 
this  spring.  They  acted  just  as  if  some  one 
had  |)oisoned  them:  but  we  have  no  r(;ason  to 
think  any  neighbor  or  any  one  el.se  would  do  so. 
If  poisoned  they  must  have  got  it  from  the  vines 
and  trees  at  home,  perhaps  si|)ping  water  fiom 
the  leaves  or  from  the  forks  of  the  branches  or 
limbs  of  the  tn-es  weeks  after.  Mi'.  Axtell 
thinks  it  was  not  from  spraying  the  trees, 
as  he  watched  tiie  bees  for  several  days  after, 
and  could  never  see  bees  sippi:ig  water  from  the 
leaves.  Hut  I  have  feared  that  it  was.  What 
do  others   think'.'     Have   thev  heard  of  such  a 


6S 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jax.  15. 


case  before?  I  think  I  shall  feel  sorry  to  have 
our  trees  sprayed  again,  for  our  honey  crop  is 
worth  much  more  than  our  fruit  crop,  when  we 
have  clover  honey;  besides,  our  apples  are  just 
as  wormy  as  those  of  our  neighbors  who  did  not 
spray  their  trees.  The  apple-trees  were  spray- 
ed three  times— twice  with  London  purple  and 
once  with  Bordeaux  mixture.  They  fell  off 
badly  through  the  fall  also.  If  it  were  poison- 
ing from  spraying.  T  should  not  have  thought  it 
would  have  lasted  so  long.  I  could  not  see  any 
more  dead  bees  in  front  of  the  hives  or  in  the 
apiary  than  usual.  I  could  see  no  dead  bees  or 
dying  bees,  that  acted  as  if  they  had  the  name- 
less bee-disease.  The  rest  of  the  season  they 
did  as  well  as  bees  could  that  gathered  scarcely 
any  honey.  The  last  of  June  we  took  40  colo- 
nies to  another  location  near  a  timber  three 
miles  away,  and  2()  to  another  location  in  an 
opposite  direction,  hoping,  by  leaving  but 
about  70  at  home,  they  would  all  build  up  with- 
out feeding  all  summer,  as  they  were  getting  a 
living  at  home,  and  storing  honey  at  our  out- 
apiary  where  there  were  over  100  colonies.  We 
visited  each  little  out- apiary,  and  saw  they 
were  improving,  and  thought  they  would  take 
care  of  themselves,  as  there  were  so  few  of 
them:  but  we  fed  the  home  apiary  some  the 
middle  of  August. 

This  fall,  when  we  visited  them,  expecting  to 
find  they  had  enough  foi-  winter,  we  found  very 
weak  colonies,  so  that  we  brought  them  all 
home  again  and  doubled  them  up.  putting  two 
and  three  together  to  winter  them,  and  fed  all 
or  nearly  all  their  winter  stores.  ]Sow,  if  we  had 
left  them  at  home,  and  fed  them  in  August  a 
few  dollars'  worth  of  sugar  syrup,  to  the  amount 
of  the  expense  of  moving  them,  they  would 
have  been  much  better  off,  so  that  we  have 
concluded  it  pays  better  in  poor  years  to  keep 
our  bees  at  home  and  feed  some.  During  good 
years  this  location  can  as  easily  support  12.5  or 
150  colonies  as  .50.  If  they  are  away  from  home 
we  are  apt  to  neglect  them  much  more  than  at 
home.  It  is  an  easy  matter  to  run  out  to  the 
feeder  with  a  few  pails  of  sugar  syrup,  and  give 
them  a  feed  now  and  then;  but  when  we  have 
to  feed  at  an  out-apiary  it  is  much  more  labori- 
ous. 

At  the  timber  apiary,  in  the  spring  we  had 
several  hundred  brood-combs  not  in  use.  We 
gave  them  to  colonies  to  put  the  honey-dew  in, 
rather  than  have  so  mucli  stoi'ed  in  sections. 
The  colonies  built  up  very  strong— nearly  as 
strong,  it  seemed  to  me,  as  colonies  do  at 
swarming  time,  but  none  swarmed.  They 
must  have  had  from  40  to  90  lbs.  in  the  brood- 
nest,  so  that  w(!  felt  quite  sure  of  having  strong 
colonies  this  fall  to  gather  the  fall  harvest,  and 
so  we  did;  but  they  had  used  up  nearly  all 
their  honey:  and  as  there  was  no  honey  com- 
ing in  to  cause  the  queen  to  keep  up  laying, 
when  we  came  to  feed  this  fall  we  found  the 
colonies  were  only  about  as  large  as  those  at 
home.  Some  colonies  which  I  saw  had  two  or 
three  comics  of  eggs.  The  eggs  wei'e  all  re- 
moved— because  no  honey  was  coming  in.  I 
suppose.  So  I  think  it  i.s  only  guesswork  as  to 
which  is  the  better  plan — to  have  strong  colo- 
nies at  the  close  of  the  spring  lion<'y  harvest, 
that  eat  much  honey  through  the  summer,  and 
are  sti'ong  in  time  io  gather  the  fall  harvest, 
which  fails  us  about  half  the  time,  or  to  have 
small  colonies  during  summer  that  do  not  re- 
quire so  much  honey  to  live  upon,  and  are 
small,  consc^quentlv.  when  the  September  har- 
vest comes  in.  \\'('  fed.  both  liome  and  out- 
apiary,  granulated-sugai'  syru|)  in  the  spring — 
nearly  all  they  had  to  livi'  on,  so  that  it  was 
not  poor  feed  that  caused  one  apiary  to  dwin- 
dle and  the  otln^i-  to  prosper. 

Roseville,  111.,  Nov.  10.    Mks.  L,  C.  Axteli,. 


[We  can  hardly  believe  that,  if  you  followed 
spraying  as  directed  by  Prof.  Cook,  the  bees  at 
your  home  yard  suffered  from  it.  Some  other 
cause  is  more  likely  responsible  for  it.  So  far 
the  testimony  has  always  been  that  no  bad  re- 
sults followed  the  spraying  if  administered 
after  the  falling  of  the  blossoms.  Perhaps 
some  of  our  extensive  be<'  and  fruit  men  of 
Michigan  or  elsewhere  can  give  us  some  light 
on  this  matter.  We  presume  that,  ere  this,  you 
have  seen  the  testimony  in  the  Albany  con- 
vention report,  and  in  the  Michigan,  in  this 
issue,  to  the  effect  that  spraying  during  fruit- 
bloom   is  decidedly  destructive  to  bees. J 


Notes  of  Travel 

FROM  A.  I.  ROOT. 

Dec.  I'-i.—Oh.  yes!  about  that  pretty  moss 
that  coats  and  covers  the  rocks.  Well,  that  is 
not  all  it  does,  for,  on  going  about  the  city,  I 
find  that  it  even  covers  the  roofs  of  the  houses, 
and  it  does  make  them  look  funny  enough. 
Every  roof  of  any  age  at  all.  with  its  "  moss 
back,"  makes  one  think  of  the  '•  old  oaken 
bucket"  of  childhood's  memory — '"the  moss- 
covered  bucket,"  in  very  truth.  My  friends 
tell  me  this  heavy  coat  of  moss  does  not  rot  the 
shingles  very  much;  but  as  I  see  our  next-door 
neighbors  taking  the  pains  to  scrape  it  off,  I 
confess  to  being  a  little  skeptical.  These  mag- 
nificent forests,  the  thrifty  -  looking  fruit- 
orchards,  the  beautiful  waterfalls,  and  last,  but 
not  least,  the  moss  on  the  roofs,  is  the  result  of 
the  frequent  and  copious  showers,  both  winter 
and  summer,  and,  in  fact,  the  year  round.  Add 
to  this,  rivers  and  bays,  so  that  steamboats  go> 
almost  eveiywhere,  and  do  you  wonder  that 
there  has  been  a  great  stampede  for  Oregon 
and  Washington? 

Dec.  24.  I  suppose  I  might  as  well  own  up 
that  I  have  been  sick.  I  thought  for  quite  a 
spell  I  would  say  nothing  about  it:  for  you  have- 
heard  almost  enough  about  doctors  and  medi- 
cine already;  but  as  there  seems  to  be  quite  a 
lesson  right  here,  I  think  I  will  give  it  to  you. 

Well,  you  know  I  advised  calling  a  doctoiv 
when  you  need  one,  from  among  your  own 
neighbors — a  good  man  from  among  your  ac- 
quaintances. But  suppose  you  are  a  stranger  in 
a  strange  land,  what  then?  Why.  inquire  about 
and  find  a  doctor  in  good  practice  that  is  gener- 
ally well  recommended.  That  is  just  what  I 
did  in  Portland.  Oregon.  I  had  been  suffering 
from  a  severe  cold  for  almost  two  weeks,  and  it 
had  settled  into  a  fever,  so  I  thought  it  must  be 
"  lung  fever."  The  doctor,  however,  said  very 
decidedly  that  it  wasn't  lung  fever.  After  a  lit- 
tle examination  he  said,  "  Your  lungs  are  quite 
sound.  Your  cough  and  cold  is  a  bronchial 
trouble." 

I  could  hardly  believe  this:  but  as  it  is  the 
third  time  I  have  been  told  much  the  same  thing 
by  as  many  prominent  physicians,  I  was  obliged 
to  believe  it.  Then  he  said  almost  exactly  what 
our  doctors  away  back  in  Ohio  had  said—  "  My 
dear  sir,  the  real  seat  of  your  trouble  is  a  broken- 
down  nervous  system:  and  if  you  have  at  pres- 
ent any  business  on  your  hands,  just  get  out  of 
it  as  soon  as  you  can." 

I  told  him  I  was  on  a  pleasure-trip  solely  for 
my  health:  and  he  resumed: 

■■  The  immediate  trouble  just  now  is,  how- 
(>ver.  that  you  are  bilious.  Before  the  quinine 
you  have  been  taking  for  your  cold  can  do  any 
good  you  must  get  your  stomach  in  trim.  What 
have  you  been  eating  lately?" 

•'  Why,  doctor,  that  is  the  great  trouble.  I 
can't  eat  any  thing— nothing  tastes  natural,  un- 


IS'.IJ 


GLEANIX(;s  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


<;:{ 


h'ss  it  is  oiMiiRi's.  priipt's,  lemonade,  or  soinc- 
thinji  (if  thiit  sort." 

"OliI  hut  tlicsc  are  the  verv  Ihiii^rs  you  inust 
>i(»f  eat.  ril  ^fei  you  out  of  t  liis  snarl ;  and  now  , 
mind  yon,  you  ai'e  to  iia\  <■  only  niill<,  meal  hidth, 
p\nH'  w  ater  "  stfaifilit."  no  lemons  or  susar.  nof 
any  tiiinp  of  tiiat  sort." 

'•  Itut.  <ioi'toi".  how  al)out  the  '  cravings  of  na- 
ture heiiiii  an  infallihle  jiuide.'  etc'.'.*" 

••  TIh^  i-ravinsis  of  nature  may  be  all  right, 
and,  aitain,  they  may  be  all  irrong.  Rea.son 
and  experieiu-e  must  guide  and  direct  even  na- 
ture's ealls." 

lie  prescribed  for  me,  and  thought  I  wonld  be 
ready  to  go  on  in  a  day  or  so;  hut  one  day,  l)ofore 
1  had  got  free  from  the  fever,  a  friend  drove  up 
witii  a  liuggy,  and  wraps  enough  to  give  even  a 
sick  person  an  aii'ing  safely,  and  I  cor.sented  to 
go  over  to  Mt.  Taltor  to  see  a  iield  of  Everbear- 
ing strawlierries.  Tlie  day  was  pheasant  aild 
warm,  and  I  thought  tlie  air  wonld  do  me  good. 
Dear  reader,  don't  ever  try  to  take  a  buggy-ride 
\<hile  you  havi'  a  fever.  Itdoesn't  work  well. 
In  two  or  thiee  days  we  called  the  doctor  again, 
for  I  was  having  cliills  and  fever  evei-y  day.  He 
pronounced  it  nervous  malarial  f(!V(M',  the  same 
as  I   had  last  August. 

•'  Now  look  h(>re.  doctor,  has  this  fever  got  to 
have  a  run  of  three  or  more  weeks?  and  liad  I 
not  lietter  send  at  once  to  Ohio  for  my  wih>'.*" 

"Oil,  dearl  no— at  least  not  just  yet.  I'll  tix 
that  fever,  at  least  I  tliink  I  will.'' 

"  But,  doctor,  this  cough  1  have  every  night 
will  kill  me  if  it  isn't  stopped." 

He  left  a  pri'scription  for  the  fever  and  anoth- 
er for  the  cough,  and  said  he  didn't  think  I 
would  need  to  liave  him  called  again;  but  if  I 
did  not  get  right  along,  to  send  him  word. 

Now.  I  was  inclined  to  get  exasperated.  He 
wasn't  In  the  hous<^  more  than  twenty  minute.s, 
and  yet  seemed  so  sure.  He  said  my  lungs  were 
all  right,  that  I  wouldn't  ha\e  another  run  of 
the  fever,  and  that  he  could  stop  the  cough.  He 
charged  82.50  for  (»ach  visit,  and  I  was  very 
much  inclined  to  lose  faith  in  him,  and  doctors 
and  humanity  in  general.  But  everybody  said 
that  Dr.  Gels'ce  was  all  right,  and  so  I  submit- 
ted. The  fever  next  day  was  later  and  milder; 
and  the  day  after  still  more  so;  and  the  cough 
began  to  abate,  so  I  became  more  reconciled  to 
my  milk-and-water  diet,  and  in  a  week  I  was 
ready  to  travel  again;  but  I  felt  very  much  as  I 
did  after  my  fever  of  last  fall.  The  moral  of 
this  is.  that,  without  a  physician's  advice.  I 
should  have  done  just  the  wrong  things.  An- 
other moral  is.  that  there  is  progress  in  medicine 
as  well  as  in  otlu'i'  things.  H  the  intelligent, 
educated  young  doctor  of  the  present  can  tell 
you  in  twenty  minutes  just  what  you  n(>ed  to  do 
to  get  well,  it  is  cheaper  to  pay  ^2.M  for  it  than  to 
have  a  doctor  call  in  every  day  for  a  week,  even 
if  you  pay  him  only  S].()o  for  each  visit.  I  am 
pleased,  also,  to  note  the  perfect  agreement  Ix^- 
tween  the  skilled  physicians  of  Ohio  and  one 
from  so  far  ofT  as  Portland.  Oregon. 

Now,  d<'ar  reader.  I  am  ready  to  go  on  with 
my  story. 

Portland.  Oregon,  is  a  progressive  city  of 
about  <X).(XK)  ijeople.  They  don't  have  any  cel- 
lars under  th(^ir  houses,  because  stuff  so  seldom 
freezes  in  their  ordinary  rooms,  and  because  so 
much  rain  would  till  their  cellars.  Neither  do 
they  have  cisterns.  The  water  out  of  the  river, 
sent  all  over  the  town  by  the  waterworks,  is  so 
very  soft  they  thju't  bother  to  makt;  cisterns. 
They  don't  have  any  alley  oi'  back  slr<!ets.  Ev- 
ery street  is  a  front  str(,'et.  Tin;  consequence  is. 
all  rubbish  is  pitched  out  in  front.  As  every 
one  burns  wood,  and  as  the  wood  is  all  pine  or 
cedar,  which  isquiti-  bulky,  the  wood  business 
is  quite  an  industry.  Tiie  woofl.  in  four-foot 
lengths,  is  dumped  in  front  of  each   dwelling. 


Then  the  wood-sawing  nuichine  comes  along. 
It  is  a  two-horse  engine  aad  lioiler,  mounted  on 
something  like  a  dray,  drau  u  i)y  one  large  horse. 
.\  huge  l)u//.-saw  stands  at  the  rear  end  of  Ihi' 
dray,  and  two  men  will  saw  up  a  cord  of  foui- 
fool  wood  in  ten  or  lifteen  minutes.  As  they  gca 
."lO  els.  i)ei' cord,  fuel  to  run  the  engine  thrown 
in,  they  do  very  well.  The  wood  is  then  got  in- 
to the  woodhouse  and  split  as  needed.  As  it 
"  always  rains  "  in  Portland,  it  is  one  of  tlie  line 
arts  to  get  the  wood  dry. 

1  have  never  seen  in  any  city  such  beautiful 
lawns,  and  .so  many  of  them,  as  J  .saw  in 
Portland.  Tiie  abundant  rains,  and  no  frost  to 
make  the  lawns  ever  look  brown,  (explains  it. 
I  saw  hardy  roses  in  full  bloom  in  the  ojien  air. 
in  the  mitltlle  of  I)eceml)er.  Peojile  wcic  nuik- 
ing  garden  and  planting  pi^as  at  I  he  same  date. 
The  peas  come  up  and  grow  more  or  less  all 
winter;  and  when  spring  comes,  they  push  up 
and  make  iiods  very  (piickly.  Cabbage-plants 
are  also  s(>t  out  in  th(!  fall,  and  any  time  during 
the  winter  when  most  con V(mi lent. 

I  had  a  very  pleasant  visit  from  Mr.  I). 
Ivaulfman,  of  Needy.  Oregon.  He  told  rae 
of  having  his  l)ees  gather  hoiu-y  from  the 
willow  in  February,  during  om?  .season,  so  they 
stored  in  the  sections  as  high  as  30  lbs.  per  col- 
ony. The  princii)al  honey-|)lant  among  the 
nuiuntains  is  an  evergrc-en  shrub  called  "fal- 
lal." Friend  Kauttman  very  kindly  presented 
m«^  and  the  friends  with  whom  I  was  staying,  a 
nice  lot  of  beautiful  honey  from  that  source. 
oThere  are  a  good  many  Chinese  in  Portland, 
and  Tiiany  of  them,  I  am  told,  are  men  of 
wealth.  For  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  saw  here 
a  Chinese  woman  on  the  streets.  She  was  rich- 
ly dressed,  much  as  the  men  dress,  only  she  wore 
nothing  on  the  head.  I  am  told  they  are  al- 
ways bareheaded  when  on  the  streets,  no  mat- 
ter what  the  weather  is.  .Judging  from  a  sin- 
gle specimen,  I  should  call  Chinese  women  very 
graceful  and  pretty. 

As  I  moved  out  of  Portland  (Dec.  21)  on  the 
way  to  Seattle,  Washington,  I  was  much  stirred 
by  the  sight  of  the  steamboats  on  the  river.  It 
reminded  me  vividly  of  a  similai'  sight  when  I 
was  attending  school,  aliuost  40  years  ago,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Ohio  River.  Oh  what  beauti- 
ful green  fields,  right  here  in  winter  time!  Yes. 
and  gardens  too,  and  orchards,  where  the  apples 
are  not  yet  i)icked. 

Very  likely  almost  everybody  knows  that 
there  are  feiiy boats  large  enough  to  carry  a 
whole  train  of  cars;  but  I  shall  have  to  confess 
1  had  no  thought  of  such  a  thing  until  our  train 
actually  ran  on  such  a  ferry  to  cross  the  Colum- 
bia River.  Thei'e  were  three  tracks  on  the 
ferryboat,  and  the  train  was  divided  into  three 
sections.  The  boat  was  so  large  that  the  weight 
of  the  locomotive  and  train  hardly  sank  it  per- 
ceptibly. As  we  left  the  ferry  I  saw  men  pull- 
ing sturgeons  out  of  a  fishing-boat,  many  of  the 
lisli  being  as  large  as  the  men  who  raised  them 
with  pulley  and  tackle. 

The  Columbia  River  salmon  is  a  inost  delicious 
lish.  as  1  happen  t,o  Ifnow.  for  tln^  doctoi'  told  me. 
when  I  needed  some  solid  food  besides  my  milk- 
and-hrotli  diet,  to  eat  fresh  tish.  Se;ittle  is  an- 
other new  and  pretty  city  of  about  ,50.000  inhab- 
itants. 

A  great  deal  of  fault  is  found  with  railroad 
companii^s,  express  and  telegraph  companies, 
etc.  1  want  to  say  a.  word  of  luaise  for  the  lat- 
ter. On  Monday,  Dec.  21,  my  good  wife  felt  as 
if  she  could  stand  itno  longer  to  think  I  w-assick 
with  my  old  fever,  and  she  not  near  me,  so 
Ernest  .sent  nn;  the  following  telegram:  "Moth- 
er wants  to  go,  if  you  are  willing.  Wire  an- 
swer." 

I  do  not  know  what  time  Monday  this  was 
sent,    but  it  went  to  Portland;   and.   tinding   1 


64 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


J  AX.    1.5. 


had  gone  on.  it  traced  me  to  Seattle,  found  the 
liotel  where  niv  name  was  registered,  and  at 
twenty  minnti's  before  midnight  the  clerk  wak- 
ened me  and  lianded  it  in  my  door.  Before  the 
clock  had  got  to  VI  I  wii-ed  back,  "I  am  quite 
well  now.     Better  await  letter  from  me." 

Well,  even  at  that  hour  of  the  night  the  te.le- 
gi-aph  company  sent  a  messenger  to  receive  and 
send  off  my  answer,  without  charge.  That  is, 
they  made  no  charge  for  sending  a  boy  at  that 
time  of  night  to  get  the  telegram.  Tbi>  hotel 
clerk  simply  pressed  a  button,  and  this  notified 
the  office  to  send  a  boy  to  get  an  important  mes- 
sage. For  $!2.(X).  or  about  that  sum,  my  family 
in  Ohio  called  to  me  in  Seattle.  Washington,  to 
know  ••  how  I  was."  The  hotel  clerk  woke  me 
up.  and'l  called  back  to  them,  nearly  3000  miles. 
•'  I  am  quite  well  now."  Isn't  it  worth  some- 
thing to  live  in  a  country  whei'e  such  a  thing  is 
possible?  And  is  it  not  true  that  we  have  a 
good  many  people  who  acce])t  responsibility, 
and  discharge  these  duties  faithfully  and  well? 
I  am  proud  of  our  people,  and  I  feel  it  a  pleas- 
ure to  pay  them  for  their  faithful  service. 

Probably  most  of  our  readers  have  heard  of 
H.  A.  March,  of  Fldalgo.  on  Puget  Sound. 
Washington.  Years  ago  friend  March  gave  us 
some  valuable  facts  on  how  far  bees  tly.  and 
these  facts  are  embodied  in  our  A  B  C  book.  Lat- 
er friend  M.  has  becoiue  famous  as  almost  the 
onlv  man  in  Aiuerica  who  grows  successfully, 
on  our  shores,  cauliflower  seed.  Right  near  my 
elbow,  while  I  write,  stands  a  bag  of  this  seed, 
worth  about  $1000:  and  there  is  more  than 
double  this  amount  in  cabbage  and  cauliflower 
seed  in  the  house:  but  I  haven't  got  quite  ready 
vet  to  tell  you  about  friend  March's  gardening. 
While  in  Salt  Lake  City  I  received  a  letter  from 
friend  M..  saying  he  should  feel  greatly  honor- 
ed if  the  President  of  the  U.  S.  should  conclude 
to  pay  him  a  visit,  and  that  he  would  do  his 
level  best  to  make  the  visit  a  pleasant  one:  but 
that,  could  he  have  his  choice,  he  rather  thought 
he  would  prefer  a  visit  from  A.  I.  Root.  Well, 
this  explains  why  you  find  me  away  up  here  at 
Seattle,  waiting  for  the  steamer  "Wasco"  to 
take  me  to  Fidalgo.  I  was  so  weak  after  my  sick- 
ness that  I  felt  faint  when  I  stepped  on  board: 
but  something  seemed  to  tell  me  I  was  going  to 
find  health  and  strength  there.  As  we  pushed 
out  into  the  waves,  which  were  already  running 
high,  I  stationed  myself  near  the  bow.  where  I 
could  readily  imagine  the  steamer  was  a  fast 
horse  and  I  the  rider.  Reader,  if  you  ever  get 
seasick,  try  my  plan.  Look  straight  ahead,  in 
the  direction  the  steamer  is  going:  brace  your- 
self; lean  a  little  forward,  and  hold  on.  I  soon 
began  to  enjoy  it.  Sea-gulls  were  all  about  us, 
even  flying  so  close  you  could  look  into  their 
eyes.  And  ducks  and  geese— oh  my !  how  thick 
they  are  up  here  I  There  are  so  many  varieties 
of  both,  I  feared  I  should  never  learn  them:  and 
then  there  is  a  most  handsome  water-fowl  they 
call  "  brant."  It  is  about  half  way  between  a 
duck  and  a  goose.  Hunting  water-fowls  is  a 
trade  here:  and  when  the  day  is  suitable,  the 
cracking  of  the  guns  is  heift-d  "almost  incessant- 
ly. Puget  Sound  is  almost  alive  with  ducks  and 
geese,  and  very  often  the  air  is  full  of  them. 
Sometimes  their  cackling  and  singing  makes  a 
constant,  steady  nois(\  When  we  got  out  into 
thi^  open  salt  water  the  steamer  rolled  and  tum- 
bled a  good  deal:  but  I  rather  enjoyed  it.  W(^ 
pa-<sed  one  steamboat  that  had  got  into  a  trough 
in  the  waves,  and  sin;  couldn't  get  out.  First 
her  wheel  would  be  clear  up  in  the  air,  then  way 
down  under  water.  She  tried  to  go  back,  then 
ahead,  and  we  left  her  floundering,  with  the 
crew  looking  out  with  troubled  faces.  Soon  we 
made  a  landing,  and  then,  to  get  under  the  shel- 
ter of  an  island,  our  boat  started  across  in  th»> 
trough  of  tlu'  waves.    Ohl  but  LUdn't  she  roll 


and  pitch!  The  waves  went  right  over  her,  and 
did  the  neatest  job  of  washing  and  scrubbing  off 
the  decksiyou  ever  saw.  Yes,  the  waters  even 
washed  the  window  where  I  was  looking  out. 
until  I  couldn't  see  ahead.  It  really  .'teemed  as 
if  the  great  steamer  had  taken  a  sudden  notion 
to  dive,  head  first,  clear  down  to  the  bottom  of 
the  sound:  but  just  befoi'e  she  got  clear  under 
water  she  would  strike  something  so  solid  I 
really  thought  at  first  shi'  was  bumping  her 
head  against  the  bottom.  When  I  suggested  as 
much,  don't  you  believe  my  fellow -passengers 
were  rude  enough  to  have  a  big  laugh  at  my 
simplicity!  ''Bumped  against  the  bottom!"' 
and  then  they  "  haw-hawed  "  again.  Well,  it 
seemed  just  like  a  big  load  in  a  buggy  that 
makes  the  spi'ings  strike  together  every  now  and 
then.  Finally  some  one  >aid  it  was  the  front 
part  of  the  boat  striking  the  surface  of  the 
water,  as  she  came  down  upon  it.  The  wind  in- 
creased, and  so  did  my  enjoyment,  until  toward 
night,  when  it  was  so  high  they  tried  again  and 
again  to  tie  up  at  a  landing.  Somebody  said 
they  would  have  to  give  it  up  and  go  by:  but 
one  of  the  crew  said  we  had  got  to  lonrJ.  for  they 
were  out  of  both  wood  and  water.  Well,  they 
finally  got  her  tied  up:  but  when  she  was  loaded, 
the  captain  said  it  was  not  prudent  to  start  out 
in  such  a  gale  and  such  utter  darknes-s.  Then  I 
discovered  that  I  had  eaten  three  pretty  good 
meals;  and  after  the  clei'k  had  stowed  me  away 
in  a  nice  warm  berth.  I  foi'got  about  being  sick, 
and  went  right  to  sleep. 

About  3  o'clock  the  whistle  blew  and  we  pull- 
ed loose  again.  I  looked  out:  and  as  the  moon 
was  shining  I  dressed  and  came  out  to  see  the 
rest  of  the  fun.  We  soon  landed  at  Anacortes, 
a  town  of  over  two  thousand  inhabitants, 
where,  only  ?^>  months  ago.  was  an  entire  wil- 
derness. This  is  a  fair  example  of  the  way  they 
get  up  booms  up  here  in  this  northwestern 
country.  About  a  dozen  steamers  touch  at  An- 
acortes every  day.  They  have  already  two 
railroads  and  an  electric-motor  railway,  eleven 
miles  in  length.  Of  coul•S(^  there  has  been  a 
wild  excitement  in  selling  land  and  lots  for  the 
past  year. 

I  landed  at  the  wharf,  went  to  a  hotel,  and,  as 
it  was  at  least  two  hours  until  daylight,  the 
landlord  built  a  fire  for  me  in  the  ladies'  parlor. 
.  and  at  the  proper  time  gave  me  a  nice  breakfast, 
and  charged  only  35  cts.  for  all.  So  you  see  these 
new  towns  that  "start  up  so  suddenly  do  not  al- 
ways charge  exorbitant  prices.  At  Seattle  I 
paid  75  cts.  for  breakfast,  and  no  better,  to  my 
notion,  than  tlie  25-centone. 

I  must  not  forget  to  mention  that,  away  up 
here  near  the  north  pole,  the  days  are  very 
short.  It  gets  night  about  4  o'clock,  and  it  isn't 
morning  much  before  8.  Business  men.  many 
of  them,  open  their  stores  at  about  9  in  the 
morning.  The  sun  pops  up  a  little,  away  off  in 
the  south,  duiing  the  middle  of  thi^  day,  and 
then  pops  down  again.  But  in  thesummer  time, 
oh  what  a  difference!  I)awn  then  comtnences 
a  little  after  3  in  the  morning,  and  fiiend  March 
says  lie  can  r(>ad  a  paper  out  in  his  dooryard 
until  almost  10  at  night. 

From  Anacortes  I  went  3  miles  by  rail  to  Fi- 
dalgo. and  then  I  had  a  mile  through  beautiful 
woods  of  pine  and  fir  to  the  March  ranch  I  have 
read  about  and  seen  for  years,  only  in  imagina- 
tion. Salt  water  is  everywhere,  for  this  whole 
country  is  islands,  peninsulas,  bays,  and  sounds. 
The  forest- trees  are  immense,  and  the  perfume 
of  the  firs  and  other  evergreens  is  wonderfully 
delicious,  especially  to  one  who  has  been  sick. 
I  always  love  to  see  running  water,  and  here  I 
found  enough  of  it,  as  it  has  been  raining  so 
much.  The  shrubbery  and  und(M'growth  are  so 
thick  in  these  woods  one  can  hardly  get  through 
unless   he   follows  the  wagon-roads.     I  passed 


IS'.rJ 


(.li:a.\in(;s  in  hkk  cliltuue. 


over  till'  Mitnmil  i>t  I'icialirn  I>l;iii(l.  iiml  ciiiiif 
<li)\vn  on  till-  casU'rii  side.  X'cry  somi  I'liciul 
Mmrli's  itanliMi  was  lu'lorc  mi-.  While  in  the 
woods.  liowc\i"c.  1  was  atlracifd  by  nurnlxTS  of 
poultry-lidiiscs  that  riMnimicd  nn- of  Stoddard's 
'■  cjrii-i'atin."  Tlicy  were  I'iirlit  out  in  tlii'i-dsi'' 
<»f  till-  pini'  woods,  cai'li  lioiise  ni-ally  wliiic- 
waslicd  and  jnsi  lii<('  its  nciiihlior,  may  lie  :.'n 
rods  away.  'I'lic  hens,  mostly  {..cfiliorns.  wcic 
briglit  loi>l<in«  aii<l  licaitliy.  and  tlio  cackliiif? 
poinsron  told  of  eirjis.  even  if  it.  was  the  last  of 
|)tH't>mhi'i'.  The  lloofs  wci'r  all  raised  a  i-ouple 
of  feet  fi'oni  the  tri'onnd.  doiii)tless  to  avoid 
dami)ness.  and  padioi'ks  on  the  doors  indieatcd 
that  things  were  not  iiian;igt>d  in  a  loose  way. 
As  1  neared  the  fence  that  dividi-d  the  wood 
land  from  llie  garden.  I  notieed  tiie  rain-water 
ruiiniiifj  in  a  series  of  silt-basins,  and  from 
these  a  sei'iesof  niulerdrains  led  down  through 
liis  srardens  to  the  hcaeh.  Oh  what,  ei  lei'N  sreei- 
<'d  my  evesi  Thei-e  are  at  least  •.'.">  or  lid  ditlerent 
oulbiiildinsrs  around  his  home.  1  passed  throntrh 
the  gardiMi.  through  the  apiary,  and  under  a 
broad  low  shed  at  the  back  of  the  honse.  Here  1 
stopped  and  looked  abont.  An  eldei-Iy  man  ap- 
proachi'd.  and  1  told  him  I  was  A.  I.  Koot.  \(>\\ 
ought  to  hive  seen  us  laugh  aud-talk.  Here  is 
friend  Mart-li.  just  as  I  saw  him. 


-m 


H.A.   MAKrH.   Kll)Al-(iO.    SKACilT   CO.,  WASH..    Till'. 
VKTKHAN    HKK-KKKt'KR.  f  AULIFI.OVVKU- 

sKi:i)  (;nowp:H.  o.vrdkxki!.    .wd 
iMioi'uiirroH   OF   rM"<;KT 

sol  XI)    KG(;-KAr,M. 

Ill  less  time  than  I  can  tell  it  the  whole  ranch 
was  at  my  disposal.  I  began  to  take  in  great 
lireaths  of  strength  and  enthusiasm  all  at  the 
same  time.  In  the  tirst  place,  foi'  the  first  time 
in  my  life  I  saw  before  me  a  .siircessful  egg- 
farm.  Friend  M.  has  raised  eggs  as  a  bnsinc^ss 
for  more  than  twenty  years  past.  He  runs  incu- 
bators, and  hatches  over  2000  chicks  each  year. 
His  SrjO  laying  hens  are  in  about  twenty  differ- 
ent houses.  While  all  have  unlimited  rang(\ 
they  all  go  where  they  belong,  to  roost.  They 
are  always  fed  in  their  houses,  and  the  eggs  are 
laid.  also,  in  nests  made  in  the  buildings. 
They  are  now  getting  daily  from  1.50  toriOO  eggs: 
and  at  37'. J  cts.  per  dozen  they  more  than  pay 
all  expenses.     I  went  over,  one  by  one.   the  dif- 


Icn  III  olistaclo  u>iiall\  iiiei  In  keeping  poultry 
by  the  tiioiisand.  I'ri  nd  .M.aiid  Ins  boys  have 
met  each  (haw  l)ack.  and  rou«:ht  through  it. 
Kats. disease,  \erinin.  w  ild  animals  in  tlie  wooils, 
etc..  are  held  In  chi^ck  only  by  ■'eternal  vigi- 
lance." It,  is  the  same  way  with  his  wonderful 
achieveineiils  In  markel-gaideiiing.  (Jo  over 
his  place  and  talk  with  liliii.  and  you  can  well 
understand  why  he  succeeds  when  everybody 
else  fails. 

l>ei  me  give  you  an  iiicldciii characteristic  of 
the  man:  When  lie  look  a  noiion.  about  ten 
years  ago.  to  raise  caiillllowcrseed  hesoon  toiiiid 
lie  musi,  have  water  for  irrigation.  Hack  in  the 
woods,  on  ihe  hillside,  he  found  a  weak  spring 
of  w  aier.  This  spring  w  as  near  a  line  fence  be- 
twc(Mi  himself  and  neighbor.  As  Ills  means 
well!  then  limited  he  niaile  troughs  of  boards, 
nailed  together  and  supported  sawlior.se  lasliioii, 
locally  the  water  clear  down  to  liis  garden. 
He  succeeded,  and  began  to  make  some  money 
witli  his  seeds.  As  more  water  was  needed  he 
began  opening  up  the  spring  until  It  came  clear 
up  to  the  line  fence.  At  this  point  his  inuglibor 
bi'gan  looking  on  and  linally  demanded  .'*:.'.").0()  a 
year  for  the  water  that  came  out  under  the 
fence.  Friend  March  refused  to  pay  it,  and  tiu; 
neighbor  shut  the  water  off,  to  bring  him  to 
terms.  Friend  M.  '■  looked  the  ground  over." 
and  found  a  wet-looking  place  on  iiis  side  of  the 
fence,  a  little  further  up.  so  he  and  his  men 
turned  their  ditch  alongside  of  tlie  fence  up 
toward  this  wet  spot.  They  kept  going  into  the 
hill,  until  at  the  upperend  they  were  14 feet  be- 
low the  surface.  While  the  work  was  going  on 
he  hajipened  to  be  going  up  with  his  son,  and 
they  noticed  a  great  volume  of  water  pouring 
down  the  troughs.  Supposing  the  men  had 
probably  let  it  off  where  they  had  dammed  it  up 
lie  remarked: 

••  Al.  1  would  give  a  thousand  dollars  for  a 
spring  that  would  give  us  water  likt^  that,"  and 
.just  at  this  moment  the  men  came  rushing  down 
to  say  they  had  struck  a  spring  as  big  as  a  man's 
arm.  Here  was  all  the  water  lie  wanted  on  his 
own  land,  and,  behold,  his  neighbor's  little 
spring  had  suddenly  become  dry:  for  all  the 
water,  so  it  transpired,  came  from  tliis  one  big 
vein.  Now  he  could  not  only  raise  all  the  cauli- 
llowerseed  he  wished,  but  he  could  raise  cab- 
bages, celery,  strawberries,  and  any  thing  he 
wished,  on  his  whole  12  acres  of  uiiderdrained 
and  enriched  market-garden  ground.  All  the 
underdiaining  liere  is  done  witii  red  cedar,  and 
this  U-lool  trench  was  soon  bridged  over  clear 
to  the  spring.  A  huge  tank  was  then  construct- 
ed on  the  upiier  side  of  his  garden,  where  the 
water  is  warmed  up  by  the  sun  before  putting 
it  on  the  plants.  Our  friend  had  no  money  to 
buy  iron  pipes,  ami  his  ground  does  not  lie  so  he 
can  run  the  water  in  trenches,  so  he  lay  awake 
nights,  as  bee-men  often  do,  studying  out  his 
apparatus  for  irrigation,  and  this  is  what  he 
did: 

He  bought  some  heavy  ducking,  or  sail  cloth, 
and  made  his  own  cloth  hose.  A  wiiole  piece  is 
iinrolleil,  t'lit  from  end  to  end  in  three  equal 
strips.  Each  strip  is  rolled  u[)  and  made  into  a 
hose  by  double  seaming  on  a  sowing-machine. 
Then  h(^  put  tliis  cloth  lio.se  into  a  tub  contain- 
ing boiled  linseed  oil  and  tar,  one  gallon  of  tar 
to  live  of  oil.  The  sni[)lus  oil  is  now  iiressed 
out  by  running  the  hose  througn  a  common 
clothes-wringer,  and.  when  dry,  there  is  oil 
enough  to  hold  the  water,  h'or  connecting 
these  cloth  tubes,  a  short  tube  of  heavy  tin  is 
pushed  into  the  cloth  tube,  and  tied  with  a  stout 
piece  of  twin(\  To  prevent  it  from  slipping 
apart,  a  bead  is  turned  near  each  end  of  the 
short  tin  tube.  He  has  about  :.'000  feet  of  this 
canvas  hose,  and  it  cost  liini  only  about  :i  cts. 
|)i'r  foot.     He  has  ii.sed  some  of  it  for  five  years, 


(W 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jan.  1."). 


and  It  has  not  broken  anywhere  yet.  This  is 
rf  ally  doing  better  than  rubber  hose  that  cost  us 
about  12  cts.  per  foot. 

To  irrigate  a  field  the  cloth  hose  is  laid  to  the 
point  in  the  lot  furthest  from  the  tank.  One 
of  his  men  now  takes  the  end  of  the  hose  in  hand 
and  thoroughly  waters  nine  rows  of  plants — four 
rows  each  side  of  him,  and  the  one  between  his 
feet.  As  he  gets  the  ground  well  soaked  he 
walks  backward:  and  when  he  gets  back  to  a 
coupling  in  the  hose  he  pulls  the  bow-knot  in 
the  string,  and  drops  one  length  of  hose. 
This  he  repeats  until  the  nine  rows  are  watered 
the  whole  length  of  the  field;  then  he  puts  his 
hose  together  and  waters  nine  rows  more,  and 
soon.  A  good  man  will  thoroughly  soak  an 
acre  in  a  day.  When  dry  enough  the  cultivator 
is  put  on,  and  then  a  lump-pulverizer — a  ma- 
chine of  March's  invention.  This  machine 
scrapes  all  the  lumps  into  the  middle  of  the  row. 
and  then  mashes  them  up  fine.  Is  all  this  too 
nmch  bother?  By  and  by  I  will  show  you  a 
Kodak  view  of  a  dozen  stalks  of  his  irrigated 
celery.  They  are  about  all  I  should  want  to 
carry.  I  hardly  dare  tell  you  what  crops  friend 
Marcli  h<ts  secured  by  his  high-pressui'e  garden- 
ing: but  I  will  say  this:  He  has,  under  the  most 
favorable  conditions,  had  a  slmjlc  C(tlifloiver- 
plant  give  him  -?.5.0(t  worth  of  seed.  Now,  mind 
yoti,  this  has  been  accomplished  only  by  years  of 
labor  with  brain  and  muscle.  He  has  fought 
insect-enemies  with  all  the  insecticides  known: 
and  after  that,  he  and  his  men  have  gone  down 
on  their  knees  and  dug  out  the  worms,  one  by 
one,  that  were  gnawing  at  the  vitals  of  his  seed 
cauliflowers.  They  cut  them  off  the  living 
stalk,  and  the  plants  healed  up  and  bore  seed. 
He  never  gives  up  to  any  foe:  and  in  seed-raising 
he  is  so  untiring  in  selecting  the  very  best  plants 
to  raise  seed  from  that  it  is  not  strange  that  the 
experiment  stations  of  almost  every  State  in  the 
Union  are  reporting  that  no  such  seed  has  ever 
been  tested  as  his.  At  present  there  is  probably 
no  other  man  living  in  America  who  is  succeed- 
ing in  raising  cauliflower  seed.  Very  likely 
no  other  locality  is  so  favorable  for  the  industry. 
In  one  of  his  cold-frames  I  was  shown  a  single 
choice  head  of  Wakefield  cabbage.  This  one 
head  is  to  furnish  stock  seed  for  nexfyear.  All 
the  seeds  it  produces  are  to  make  heads  next 
year,  to  be  used  for  seed  in  18U.H.  Thus  you  see 
how  preparation  must  be  made  so  long  ahead 
for  the  best  kinds  of  seed.  He  has  three  large 
iiouses  filled  with  the  choicest  Golden  Self- 
blanching  celery  then*  is,  probably,  on  the  face 
of  the  earth.  I  am  quite  sure  there  is  none  in 
the  ivorhl  to  compare  with  it.  Oi-dinary  celery 
is  sold  for  18,  '20.  ;.'5.  and  may  be  30  cts.  per  dozen 
roots.  Friend  March  gets  a  dolltir  a  dozen,  and 
it  is  cheap  at  tiiat.  First,  he  raised  a  strain  of 
-seed  that  suited  him:  next,  he  manured  the 
ground  with  stable  manure  and  tish  guano 
until  the  amount  of  manure  under  each  row 
suited  him.  Then  he  poured  on  the  water  un- 
til that  suited  him.  and  now  he  gets  over  .?70(;o 
for  the  ct^lery  that  grows  on  a  single  acre. 

I  must  not  forget  a  point  I  got  from  friend 
March  on  the  advantage  of  warm  instead  of 
cold  spring  water  for  irrigating.  After  he  was 
satisfied  the  latter  was  positively  damaging  to 
caidiflower-plants  he  nuide  his  present  arrange- 
ment for  running  the  water  about  one-fourth 
milcMn  the  V-shaped  wooden  spouts,  and  then 
into  a  storage- tank.  The  home- made  duck  liose 
I  have  described  is  attached  to  this  tank.  The 
wooden  spouts  are  supported  so  high  up  from 
the  ground  that  a  common  wagon  easily  passes 
under  them  the  most  of  the  way.  The  sun  and 
warm  air  raise  the  temperature  of  the  spring 
water  to  that  of  the  ground  by  the  time  it  is 
used  for  irrigating. 

Now  a  word  about  his  manure:     He  found  on 


his  premises,  years  ago.  a  peat-swamp:  and 
every  summer,  when  there  is  a  dry  spell,  loads 
of  this  dried  muck  are  piled  under  sheds  close  to 
his  horse-stables,  cow-stables,  poultry-houses, 
and.  in  fact,  near  all  kinds  of  stock  that  furnish 
manure,  either  solid  or  liquid,  and  dry  dust 
is  made  to  absorb  every  particle.  Before  spring 
all  the  manure  is  mixed  thoroughly,  and  water 
enough  added  to  start  fermentation.  When 
sufficiently  rotted  it  goes  under  the  rows  of  cel- 
ery, as  I  have  explained.  In  these  western  re- 
gions, when  there  is  a  lack  of  rain  in  summer 
time  there  is  an  objection  to  stable  manure  be- 
cause it  makes  the  ground  dry  out  quicker,  and 
nothing  but  plenty  of  water  for  irrigation  can 
reinedy  this,  especially  where  manure  is  put  on 
in  such  quantities  as  market-gardeners  use. 


In  the  muUUude  of  counselors  there  is  safety.~PR,  11: 14. 

We  are  having  plenty  of  snow  and  good 
sleighing.  What  effect  this  will  have  on  the 
honey  the  coming  season  will  be  seen  later. 


Wk  regret  that  we  are  unable  to  publish  the 
usual  installment  of  Stray  Straws  at  the  head 
of  this  journal.  They  are  evidently  lost  in  the 
mails,  as  Dr.  Miller  has  recovered  from  the  grip. 
It  was  too  late  to  wire  for  another  copy,  as  we 
were  expecting  daily  that  they  would  surely 
come.  As  it  is,  we  put  in  a  valuable  article 
from  J.  A.  Green  in  their  place. 


It  is  with  much  pleasure  that  we  publish  the 
presidents'  addresses,  both  of  the  North  Amer- 
ican and  the  Michigan  State  Bee-keepers'  As- 
sociation. Usually  presidents'  addresses  cover 
about  the  same  old  routine,  and  everybody  is 
glad  when  they  are  dis])0sed  of.  But  these  two 
were  decided  exceptions.  They  both  call  atten- 
tion to  interests  that  are  vital  to  every  bee- 
keepe'-,  and  we  hope  they  will  be  carefully  read. 

Wk  are  glad  to  announce  that  the  health  of 
the  senior  editor  is  improving.  He  is  not  strong 
yet,  by  any  means,  but  is  doing  well.  Mrs.  A.  I. 
Root  met  him  at  San  P'rancisco.  as  per  arrange- 
ment, and  together  they  will  travel  for  the  rest 
of  their  journey.  In  his  last  letter  he  was  just 
on  his  way  to  attend  the  bee-keepers'  conven- 
tion at  Los  Angeles.  Jan.  7.  We  thought  for  a 
time  he  would  not  be  able  to  attend  this  meet- 
ing. We  presume  Prof.  Cook,  as  per  announce- 
ment, was  present  also. 

We  have  purchased  a  lot  of  large  signs,  which 
read:  "A.  I.  Root.  Medina.  (>..  Manufacturer  of 
Apiarian  Supplies.'"  These  signs  are  to  be 
tacked  across  the  sides  of  the  loaded  cars  as 
they  come  from  our  factory.  Our  carloads  are 
now  beginning  to  leave  the  Home  of  the  Honey- 
bees: and  may  be  if  you  are  on  the  lookout  you 
may  see  some  of  these  signs  "  skylarking  " 
around  the  country.  There  is  nothing  like 
keeping  vour  name  constantlv  befoi'e  the  public. 
See  •?       "  '_ 

On  page  18,  the  per  cent  of  the  schedule  of 
the  marking  of  the  Italian  bee.  as  reported  by 
the  committee  at  the  North  American  at  Al- 
bany, does  not  seem  complete.  The  total  foot- 
ing amounts  to  only  90  per  cent.  The  committee 
in  their  hurry  failed  to  notice  it.  We  would 
suggest  that  honey-gathering  be  made  40,  and 
prolificness   20.    This    will    make    the   footing 


IS'.f.' 


(;i-KAMN(;s  IN  uKi:  (  i  i/nuK. 


(iT 


conrot.     Mr.  T.  (J.  Ncwniiiii  callcMl   tun    ;iiirii- 
tiori  to  till'  miitt«'i\ 

1  r  li;is  oftt'ii  bi'i'ii  S!ii<l  tluU  Ix-c-cdnx  iiil  itiii>. 
si)  loiijr  as  we  Imvo  siirli  cxc'cllciit  liiM'-litc'i;ilnrc. 
art'  i)f  no  value,  cxcfpt,  tlic  soi-ial  lcatm<'  ol 
ilii'iii.  Tliis  is  piirtly  tfiie;  hut  soint' of  llif  iiuisi 
\  alual'li' and  iinporiant  (lucstions  laUc  root  in 
I'ouvciuions  and  iiivc  food  for  fuithcrdisrussion 
tiirouirii  till-  licc-journals.  NNC  refer  to  the 
matter  of  sprayinfj  fruit-trees  and  poisoninii 
bees,  irradinir  honey,  etc.  .\  convention  of  l)i'e- 
l<eepeis  can  better  |>rot.est  ugainsl  injurious  le<^- 
ishilion  tiian  all  the  bpo-journals  put  together. 

Oti;  booU  review,  on  page  !>.">■.'.  Dee.  1.  of  Mr.  (i. 
U.  rieree"s  booU.  "The  Winter  I'robleiii  in  Hee- 
keepiiifr,"  has  ealh'd  forth  nuu'ii  eoniinendation 
and  corroborative  testimony.  We  ar(^  unable  to 
siive  place  to  all  that  has  been  written  on  the 
s\ib.ii'ct,  but  we  will  {live  somethins  more  in  our 
next  issue.  It  si'(>ms  t  liatothers  ha\'e  been  ex- 
lierimentiu};  in  regard  to  the  use  of  absorbents 
versus  non-absorbents;  and  the  results  of  ex- 
pei-imeiit,s  so  far  seem  to  justify  the  use  of  a 
sealed  cover  properly  protected  with  packing. 
We  would  suggest,  that  as  many  of  our  readei's 
as  can.  conveniently,  test  tlie  two  side  by  side. 
What  might  be  true  of  one  locality  might  not 
be  of  am)thi'r.  Let  us  see  whether  non-absorb- 
ents are  bt'tter— that  is.  give  tlie  best  results 
for  all  localities. 

Hko.  Nkwmax.  of  t\u^  Aincririni  Bee  Journiil. 
seems  to  deplore  the  fact  that  the  matter  of 
spraying  fruit-trees,  as  introduced  by  Prof. 
Lintner.  at  the  Albany  convention,  was  not  ex- 
Ijunged  from  the  records.  The  mere  fact  that 
the  professor  seemed,  for  a  time,  to  reject  the 
statement  of  Dadant  and  Hambaugh  as  lacking 
proof,  called  forth  such  overirhchnuKj  testimo- 
nies that  neither  lie  nor  anyboily  else  could 
doubt  that  spi'ayiiig  fruit-hloom  is  decidedly 
injurious  and  destructive  to  bees.  Hee-keepei-s 
wlio  have  not  had  experience  in  the  matter  of 
spraying  have  not  been  positive  tiiat  it  was  a 
damage  to  the  bees.  But  Prof.  Lintner's  skep- 
tical attitude  has  called  forth  such  overwhelm- 
ing facts  that  we  for  one  are  glatl  that  the  mat- 
ter came  up  as  it  did. 

A   FAI.SK    ALAR.M:     ADUI.TEKATlOX     OF    IIOXRV, 
ETC. 

0.\  page  23.  .Tan.  1.  8.  T.  Fish  v<:  Co.  state  that 
a  certain  manufacturing  firm  to  whom  in  past 
seasons  they  had  sold  carloads  of  honey,  after 
iiaving  experimented  with  granulated  sugar 
found  it  far  sutierior  to  honey,  since  the  article 
manufactured  with  honey  as  an  ingi'edient 
would  sour  in  time.  From  this  language  we 
gathered  that  it  was  a  bakery  tirm.  and  so  stat- 
ed it  editorially  on  page  ."Jl  of  the  same  issue. 
We  have  just  received  a  lettei-  from  S.  T.  Fisli 
\-  Co..  stating  that  it  was  not  a  baking  concern, 
l)ut  a  tobacco  firm.     They  say: 

<)u  p;ige  2:2  you  quote  us  as  havinK  said  it  was  a 
l)akery  iliat  refused  to  purchase  liouex .  Now,  we 
did  not  flesire  to  mention  the  line  of  Imsiiiess  in 
wliicli  they  refused  to  liaiidle  Imncy  this  season, 
siiii'e  we  thoug'ht  it  of  no  si)ecial  benefit  to  the  lead- 
eis;  tmt  since  you  tlioufrht  llie  same  oujrht  to  lie 
Kiven  we  will  set  you  rijrlit  in  the  matter  by  statinif 
tliat  it  wa.s  ;i  tol)aceo  Hrni.  No  doubt  you  are  awai'e 
thatapreat  deal  of  lione.v  is  used  annually  tiy  to- 
bacco nianufacturei-s;  t)iit  whenever  fault  is  fiuind 
tlie.v  endeavor  to  reruedy  l)y  e.\|ierini(!ntinK';  aiifl 
oiii'  fa<-tory  did  this  in  the"  beUef  that  the  hi)ne.\- 
liad  soured  the  tobacco  after  it  had  been  in  the 
liaiifls  of  t  he  jol)bers.  We  exi>lained  to  them  that 
tlii'i-e  is  a  difference  in  lione.v,  and  we  reg'ret  tliat 
aii.v  lione.v  was  Sold  them  that  should  not  have  met 
with  their  entire  satisfaction. 

Relative  to  the  ai-tieli'  from  M,  H.  Tweed,  on  nage 
:J2,  we  quite  agree  with  him;  and  while  we  iis  sellei-s 
can  not  |ilai-e  oui'selves  in  a  positiun   open   to  crlti- 


rism,  we  ha\  1'  rm  (iciiibl  I  ha  I  \  nii  «  (iiilil  he  in  a  pi)si- 
lioii  (d  lliid  nioi'e  Ih.iri  I  wo  iliiiis  in  Ihc  West  who 
luaUr  a  business  of  adull eial  ion.  We  a I'e  nut  of 
the  opinion  tlial  >iiu  I'oiild  Rain  a  n.\  t  hluK  by  pub- 
lishing tlieni;  but  whene\-ei-  it  is  decided  to  lake 
aii.\  art  ion.  and  we  are  con  stilled,  we  believe  wf!  can 
jii\i'  \oii  consideiable  information. 
Chicago,  III..  .Ian.  K.  S.  T.  Kisii  &  Co. 

\V('  shall  be  very  glad  to  avail  ourselves  of 
your  assistance  in  ferreting  out  this  matter  of 
adulteration.  The  editor  of  the  .1 //k'/'K'ok  Bcr 
JiiiniKil.  who  is  also  manager  of  the  ISee-keep- 
ers"  I'liion.  of  your  city,  Mr.  T.  (;.  \ewman,  !!)'.» 
East  Randolph  St..  is  the  one  the  most  compe- 
tent to  deal  with  the  matter.  We  suggest  that 
you  confer  with  him  at  an  (!arly  dav  in  regard 
to  it. 

SNOW.   A.NI)    rrs    IJKI.ATIO.N    TO   TIIK    KAII.IUIO     OF 
TIIK    IIO.NKV    CKOl'. 

Wnii-K  we  were  sitting  at  the  table  in  tln^ 
hotiil  at  Grand  Rapids  it  was  our  phnisuri*  to 
make  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  A.  .1.  Pierce, 
whose  name  we  have  referrtMi  to  in  our  conven- 
tion repoi't.  In  speaking  of  the  past  four  or  live 
years  of  almost  total  failure  in  bee-keeping  in 
Michigan,  he  gave  it  as  his  ojiinion  that  it  was 
owing  to  the  lack  of  snow  in  winter.  He  be- 
lieved that  it  was  necessary  to  pi-eserve  the 
young  clover,  and  also  to  give  it  sufficient  mois- 
ture for  its  best  development.  We  had  never 
thought  of  this  before:  but.  as  nearly  as  we  can 
lecollect.  there  has  been  rather  a  scarcity  of 
snow  for  the  last  three  or  four  winters,  in  re- 
gions whei'e  bee-keeping  has  been  almost  a 
total  failure.  There  was  no  snow  last  year — at 
least,  none  of  any  account,  in  Michigan,  and  a 
poor  season  for  bees  followed.  In  York  State 
and  Vermont  last  winter  they  had  very  heavy 
snows,  and  through  all  that  section  of  country 
they  had  a  good  year  foi'  the  bees.  It  might  be 
interesting  to  have  some  statistics  prepared,  to 
see  what  relation  there  is  between  snow  and 
poor  honey  years.  Possibly  there  is  no  relation 
at  all:  and  what  seems  to  point  that  way  may 
be  only  a  mere  coincidences  Perhaps  some  of 
our  readers  may  be  able  to  furnish  us  some 
statistics  or  facts  as  to  whether  winter  snow 
has  any  bearing  on  the  mattei'. 


keports  of  hee-c()nvention.h  ix  the  daily 
papers;  a  np;wspaper  reporter's 
version  of  one  of  the  essays 
read  at  grand  rapids. 
On  page  4.").  cturiuit  issue,  President  Elwood. 
in  his  address,  makes  an  excellent  suggestion, 
to  the  effect  that  the  .secretary  furnish  news- 
paper reporters  reliable  matter  for  their  papers. 
It  is  very  well  known  that  they  do  sometimes 
make  ridiculous  bungles,  and  some  bee-keepers 
have  been  too  much  disgusted  to  even  turn 
their  hand  over  to  help  them.  The  reports  tliat 
appeared  in  the  daily  papers  of  Grand  Rapids, 
of  the  Michigan  convention,  were  very  good  as 
a  whole;  but  to  show  how  tiven  the  best  of  re- 
porters do  S(mietimi's  get  things  mixed,  we  will 
give  you  an  illustration.  In  our  essay  on  the 
subject  of  •'  Bicycle  vs.  Horse  for  Out-apiary 
Trips"  we  incidentally  referred  to  th(i  fact  that 
we  had  on  this  machine  visited  bee-keepers  in 
localities  in  New  \'ork  State  wiiere  there  were 
thousands  of  colonies.  In  anotluM"  part  of  the 
paper  we  had  referred  to  the  use  of  the  bicycle 
in  visiting  out-apiaries,  and  told  how  we  had 
gone  seven  miles  to  the  yard,  and  returned. 
Well,  how  do  you  think  the  reporter  got  it? 
We  failed  to  secure  a  cojiy  of  the  paper  for  our 
own  use:  but  as  wv  remember,  it  was  something 
like  this:  "  E.  R.  Root  has  used  the  bicycle  to 
good  advantage.  On  it  he  has  gone  seven  miles 
into  York  State,  and  visited  thousands  of  apia- 
ries. He  thought  the  bicycle  a  good  thing  for 
tlie  bee-keeper."     A  bee-keeper  would  natually 


(W 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jak.  1.>. 


think  that  apiaries  must  be  pretty  thick  along 
that  seven-mile  route  in  York  State,  or  else 
that  we  were  greatly  given  to  exaggei'ation. 
It's  too  bad  it  is  not  true,  for  here  would  have 
been  a  grand  chance  for  the  advocates  of  bee- 
legislation,  or  priority  of  location.  The  report- 
er had  doubtless  heard  us  use  the  word  "'  thou- 
sand" as  referring  to  colonies,  and.  as  nearly  as 
he  could  recollect,  it  was  tltousdnds  of  apiaries. 
Whew!  This  is  worse  than  Alley's  version  of 
the  North  American.  We  would  suggest  the 
propriety  of  each  one,  who  pi'epares  an  essay  or 
paper  for  convention,  writing  out  a  brief  digest 
of  it — yes,  two  or  three  of  them,  to  hand  to  re- 
porters. They  will  appreciate  the  favor,  and 
will  be  glad  to  give  a  correct  version.  It  is  the 
fault  of  bee-keepers,  not  of  the  reporters,  that 
such  garbled  notes  app^^ar  in  the  daily  press. 
Bee-keepers  should  avail  themselves  of  the  free 
notices  in  regard  to  our  conventions;  but  let  us 
by  all  means  have  correct  reports. 

M.  H.  htjxt's  non-burr-comh  fha.me. 
itAt  the  Grand  Rapids  convention  iNIr.  M.  H. 
Hunt  exhibited  his  uon-burr-comb  frame.  It 
is  a  double  top-bar,  with  a  bee-space  between, 
and  is  the  same  as  that  suggested  by  I.  H. 
xVmes,  Hudson,  Mich.  (Gleanings,  p.  204,  18tX)), 
with  this  difference:  The  upper  bar  is  only  % 
inch  wide,  to  give  plenty  of  room  to  the  fingers 
in  handling.  The  lower  bar  is  l3s  wide.  This, 
he  says,  is  an  absolute  prevention  of  burr- 
combs,  and  we  do  not  doubt  it.  When  the  mat- 
ter originally  came  up.  you  will  remember  we 
were  quite  enthusiastic  on  this  double  top-bar. 
It  answers  the  purpose  of  a  Hill  device  in  win- 
ter, and  also  allows  the  enamel  cloth  to  lie  flat, 
and  to  be  scaled  on  the  frames  for  winter — a 
very  desirable  desideratum,  by  the  way.  The 
I'eason  we  preferred  the  thick  top-bar  was  be- 
cause it  is  cheaper,  and  th^re  are  fewer  pieces: 
and,  barring  the  Hill-device  feature,  it  was 
every  way  as  good.  Another  difficulty  with 
the  double  top-bar  was  the  trouble  of  putting 
in  a  suitable  comb-guide.  As  Mr.  Hunt  wires 
on  the  perpendicular  plan,  a  comb-guide  is  un- 
necessary.   

(iRADING    HONKY. 

On  the  first  page  of  this  issue, . I.  A.  Green 
otters  some  good  suggestions  on  grading.  Be- 
fore reading  his  article,  howevei',  our  idea  was 
to  use  the  Chicago  system  as  the  basis,  calling 
the  first  grade  "Fancy:"  second  grade  "A," 
and  the  other  grades  by  the  letters  of  the  alpha- 
bet in  their  order.  The  Chicago  scheme  of 
leaving  out  color  as  a  quality  in  each  grade,  we 
thought  a  good  one,  leaving  the  matter  of  color 
to  be  decided  entirely  by  the  kiiid  of  honey. 
Foi'  instance,  a  fancy  buckwheat  could  come 
under  the  highest  grade;  but  the  name  "'buck- 
wheat" would  describe  a  dark  honey.  But 
perhaps  there  is  a  ditficuly  here.  The  general 
public,  and  many  of  the  commission  houses, 
probably  would  not  know  what  is  meant  by 
'•  Fancy  "  or  "A"  grade  smartweed  or  Spanish- 
need  le  honey:  and  they  would  be  utterly  in  the 
dark  as  to  what  would  be  their  respective  colors. 
The  trade  call  all  wiiite  honeys  clover;  that  is, 
it  prefers  to  do  so,  as  its  customers  are  not  ac- 
ijuainted  with  th(>  many  sources:  but  when  a 
honey  is  described  as  ••whit(>„'"  it  has  some  sig- 
nificance. On  the  whole,  then,  we  would  indorse 
Green's  system.  It  seems  to  be  an  improve- 
ment on  both  the  Chicago  and  .\lbany  classifi- 
cations. We  should  be  glad  to  have  this  subject 
discussed  further.  It  would  be  a  great  boon  to 
bee-keepers  and  honey-merchants  if  a  national 
system  of  gi'ading  could  be  adopted.  It  sliould 
be  broad  enough  to  l)e  frei-  from  local  interests. 
and  yet  be  six'ci tic  (Miough  to  cover  e\ei'y  sort 
of  honey. 


HEAVY    AS.   LIGHT   BROOD   FOUNDATION. 

Many  of  our  readers,  in  anticipation  of  send- 
ing in  their  orders  soon  to  their  supply-dealer, 
are  debating  the  question  whether  they  shall  use 
heavy  or  light  brood  foundation.  We  have 
formerly  given  the  advice  that,  whei'e  frames 
were  not  wired,  to  use  the  heavy  brood.  As  the 
horizontal  plan  of  wiring  described  elsewhere  is 
so  cheap,  and  so  little  laljor,  every  one  will  find 
it  cheaper  and  vastly  more  satisfactory  in  its 
results  to  purchase  medium  or  light  brood 
foundation,  and  wire,  than  to  purchase  the 
heavy  article  and  not  wire.  There  are  a  good 
many  bee-keepers  who  think  it  is  unnecessary 
to  wire;  but  we  fancy  that,  if  they  knew  they 
could  wire  and  yet  get  good  combs  for  less 
money  they  would  do  it.  While  in  this  connec- 
tion, we  might  I'emark  that  a  certain  German 
supply-dealer  is  ordering  all  his  foundation- 
mills  made  for  extra  heavy  brood  foundation. 
The  walls  are  so  deep  that  the  foundation  is  J4 
inch  thick.  We  have  tested  this  foundation; 
and  while  it  makes  beautiful  combs,  it  is  an 
awful  expense.  Only  about  three  Langstroth 
sheets  to  the  i)ound  can  be  obtained;  whereas, 
of  the  light  brood  there  are  about  eight  sheets. 
With  the  ordinary  heavy  brood  there  are  from 
four  to  five.  With  these  figures  before  you, 
considering  tliat  light  brood  costs  only  six  per 
cent  more  than  the  lieavy  brood,  with  nearly 
twice  as  many  sheets  to  the  pound,  the  reader 
can  figure  out  for  himself  which  foundation  he 
prefers.  It  is  immaterial  to  us  or  to  any  man- 
ufacturer which  grade  the  be«>-keepers  order. 
We  do.  however,  want  them  to  look  after  their 
own  interests.       

SUCCESSFUL    MAILING     OF     Ir.'    QUEENS   TO  AUS- 
TRALIA. 

Aloxc;  last  September  we  sent  by  mail  some 
thirteen  ([ueens  toditlVrent  parties  in  Australia. 
The  r(>ports  are  now  in,  and  show  that  twelve  of 
the  thirteen  arrived  alive,  and  eleven  are  now 
successfully  introduced.  We  make  extracts 
from  the  letters,  that  will  speak  for  themselves: 

Tlie  queen  you  ordered  from  G.  M.  Doolittle  ai-- 
rived  siife  with  six  workers  alive.  R.  J.  Crib. 

Brisbane,  Queensland,  Sept.  22. 

lamg-lad  toiuform  youbotli  queens  came  through 
in  tiptop  condition.  Tliey  arrived  here,  and  wei-e 
safely  introduced  Nov.  14-tli.  You  can  mention  the 
fact  "in  Gleanings,  stating-  tliat  Mr.  Bell,  of  Bris- 
l)ane,  received  and  safely  introduced  the  queens  on 
my  belialf.  S.  H.  Bateman. 

Kedlaiid  Bay,  Aus.,  Nov.  22. 

You  will  lie  pleased  to  hear  that  the  three  Italian 
(lueens  mailed  l)yyou  Oct.  8  were  received  Nov.  10 
all  alive  and  in  ^ood  condition.  In  one  cage  there 
were  two  (k'a<l  workers;  in  anotlier,  six;  and  in  the 
otiier.  tliiitet'H.  They  had  ronsiuned  in  each  case 
about  two-thirds  of  tiieii-  food;  and  althougli  tliey 
were  reci'ived  and  introdui-ed  in  cold  wet  weather,  I 
was  successful  with  them  all.         Thomas  Dixon. 

Masterton,  New  Zealand.  Nov.  28. 

Tile  (jueeiis  arrived  heie  on  the  evening  of  Nov. 
14.  so  that  tliey  were  37  days  coming.  Two  out  of 
your  tliree  arrived  in  good  shape;  the  other  one 
"(liees  and  queen)  had  seemingly  been  dead  a  long- 
time. Out  of  friend  Doolittles  three,  only  one 
((jueen  and  two  bees)  arrived  alive,  and  tlie  (jueeii 
died  in  the  intioduciiig--eag-e  a  few  days  after.  I 
may  say  tliat  1  lost  one  of  yours  in  introducing,  so 
that  1  ria\e  only  one  left  out  of  the  six. 

Lyndhurst.  Victoria,  Nov.  26.    .lAS.  McFaklane. 

1  am  hai)i>>  to  lie  al)le  to  inform  you  that  tlie  three 
Italian  ((uet'iis  arrived  liert^  (piite  safe  on  Saturday, 
tlie  14th  insl.  The  only  living  liee  in  one  of  the 
cages  was  the  (lueeii,  and  in  one  of  the  other  cages 
tliere  weri-  seven  alivt'  liesides  the  <|ueen,  and  in  tlie 
third  one  tlieie  were  only  tliree  liees  dead,  and  they 
were  stuck  in  their  footl,  and  that  was  tlie  cause  of 
most  of  the  deaths,  I  believe.  As  soon  a.s  they  ar- 
rived I  introduced  them  liy  cagiiif  them  on  the 
comli,  as  per  instructions  in  the  A  15  C,  and  yester- 


is».r.' 


(;i,i:AMN(is  IN  iu;i:  (  t  i/iiKK. 


(I;iy  tlu'V  li!i(l  K'iiil\M<i  mil  :iiiil  were  hij  iiiK,  :iiiil.  I  d 
:iU  :i|>|i(';ii':iiu-c.  in  Ilir  hcsl  of  IicmIIIi;  sii,  in  a  slmil 
linn-  1  (Xiicct  III  liavi' all  iiij  hiai'k  (iiii'viis  iciilaccd 
xviih  \  flliiw  iiiii'N.  lam  iiiclintil  ti)  liclirxc  in  llic 
llaliaii  liifi'il.  (il.KA\lN(;s  lia>  a  \cl\  wide  cii  rnla- 
lioii  lll^l>Il^ill  all  thf  cDliiiiif^.  and  iin"  doiilil  iilciil\ 
of  jdiir  readers  wiiiild  liii|uirl  lar>iel.\  fi-oni  \(iii  in 
(|il('eii>.  (inl.v  llie\  are  afraid  ipf  the  risk;  liul  if  tlie.\ 
send  aboiM  AiiKllsl  I  lie\  will  >ret  the  niieens  onl  in 
Noveinlier.  Tliat  isjiisl  llieriKlit  1  line  lo  intrndnce 
llieiii;  and  111.'  facl  of  Ihiee«iilt  of  lliree  heiiiK  land- 
ed in  l»iili')o  lo  nie  will  show  that  there  is  little  or 
no  ri-k  in  iiii|>oilin>j:  them.  ('.  Pkakck. 

Dubho.  N.  S.  W.,  Nov.  17. 

It  siM'ins  .Mr.  Dooliltle  (lidnt  have  (|iiite  the 
siu'cess  we  did.  It  is  possilije  iiis  t-aiidy  was  iiol 
just  riirlil:  but  lie  will  <;et  the  kiiark  (if  ii  if 
any  one  oiui.  .\s  it  is.  we  oaii  say  uiifcseivedly 
liiat  till'  inailiiijr  oi  queens  across  tiic  oi'caii. 
even  lo  iiall'  way  around  the  globe*,  is  no  cxpcri- 
nieiit.  but  a  siK-eess.  Our  in»>tiiod  of  jin-pariiiEC 
tile  mail  pai'liafics  was  dosorihed  in  delail  in 
our  Dec.  l.'th  ninntxT.  pago  itTO. 


COWVEJNTION  NOTICES. 


IlIK    I. OS    .\NGEI,ES  CONVKNTION". 

.IisT  as  we  go  to  pi-oss.  a  note  from  A.  I. 
Ivoot.  addressed  to  the  "folks  at  home'"  comes  to 
hand.  .\s  we  have  liad  many  iiuiuiries  regard- 
ing  liiin.  aiui  the  condition  of  his  health,  we 
make  an  extract  from  tiie  lettci'.  which  answers 
for  itself. 

Tlif  convention  is  over,  and  «e  \\-avv  had  a  most 
splendid  time-- not  a  breath  of  tiisrord.  I  wanted  to 
write  up  notes  of  it;  but  Prof.  Cook  makes  a  \elie- 
ment  protest.  He  sa.\s  that,  if  t  don't  stop  working' 
every  da.\  and  hour.  1  shall  be  little  bi'tter  ott  here 
than  at  home.  He  advises  an  apiary  out  in  some 
of  these  mountain  ranches,  and  says  that,  with  Mvs. 
l{oot  to  take  care  of  me,  I  mia'ht  live  to  a  frood  old 
a>re.  Well,  I  am  jiroin};-  to  live  to  a  good  old  ag'e  any 
way,  if  1  eontinue  to  eat  and  sleep  as  I  do  now. 

While  tiiero  is  little  probability  that  the  sen- 
ior editor  will  establish  an  apiary  in  California 
for  his  health.  Prof,  ("ook's  advice  to  husband 
his  strength  is  sound,  and  the  Roots,  big  and 
little,  add  tluMr  heartv  indorsement. 


Onto  bee-keepers  should  remcunber  that  the 
State  convention  meets  this  year  at  Cincinnati. 
Feb.  10  to  V2.  at  the  West  End  Turner  Hall,  on 
Freeman  Avenue.  It  is  especially  di'Sired  that 
those  who  expect  to  attend  seinl  tlieir  names  to 
the  secretary,  S.  K.  .Morris.  Bloomingburg.  O. 
The  fact  that  Charles  F.  Mtith  is  president  is 
a  guarantee  that  tlu'  arrangements  at  Cincin- 
nati uill  be  complete.  Mr.  .Muth  desires  us  to 
iinite  also  the  bee-keepers  of  Kentucky  and 
Indiana,  as  the  place  (>(  nteeting  is  on  the  bor- 
der of  three  Stiites. 


TuosK  of  our  readers  who  are  poiiltrymen 
will  take  great  intei'est  in  reading  the  senior 
editor's  noti'S  of  travel,  especially  where  he 
speaks  of  his  visit  to  H.  .\.  March's. 


CIRCULAHS  KECEIVED 


Tlie  tolluwin^  pai-tifs  liave  sent  us  llieir  price  li>t  foi-  IXliri: 

The  Berlin  Fruit-box  Co..  Berlin  Huigrhts,  O. 

The  St.  Joseph  .\piary  Co..  St.  Joseph,  Mo. 

G.  B.  Lewis  &  Co..  Waterti.wn,  Wis. 

S  F.  &  I.  Trepc.  s»e<lona.  III. 

We  have  just  printed  foi-  Colwick  cV  Colwick,  .Norse,  Ho-vciue 
i'o.  Texas,  their  annual  catalogue  ot  supplies  for  the  apiary. 
Karlv  <iueens  a  suecialtv. 

John  Neliel  &  Son,  Hiih  Hill.  Mo.,  open  the  canipaii^n  of  189-2 
liy  issuing-  a  neat  catalotfue  of  apiarian  supplies  which  the 
triends  will  do  well  to  send  for.    Printed  at  this  office. 

We  have  just  printed  the  annual  apiarian  catalogue  of  Cli. 
H.  Thies,  Steeleville.  111. 

J.  B.  Mason,  Mechani<-  Falls.  Me.,  is  now  roady  to  mail  to  his 
friends  his  annual  catalogue  of  bees,  queens,  etc.  Printed  at 
this  office. 

We  have  just  printed  a  mammoth  edition  of  A.  T.  Cook's 
irarden-seed  catalogue  for  1892.  It  is  a  curiosity.  Send  for  a 
copy.     Hyde  Park.  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. 


Tlie  Ontario  Co.  H.  e  keepers' Associaiion  will  hold  its  (hint 
Miiniial  iiieetlnif  In  CanaiidaiKUa,  N    V.,  Jan.  SI.  :il. 

KlTII  !•;.  Tavi.ou,  See. 

The  seventeenth  uniiual  coiiviiilion  of  the  Veriiioiil  Bee 
kcipeis'  .\ssociatlon  will  h.'  held  in  die  |iail.ii  h  of  the  .Xdilison 
U.M.se.  Middle  liny  \  t.  Jan.  aj.  ^8  I'ni^raiiis  mailed  on  appll- 
<allon  to  the  Secretary,  Maicia  A,  DoURlds,  Shoieliaiu.  Vl! 

Tlie  121  h  annual  convention  of  I  he  Xoi  Ih.iisl.rn  Ohio.  Norlli- 
ciii  l'.in.>.vlv,uiia.,iiiil  W.slein  New  York  Bie-keipers'  Asso- 
.•lai.on  will  |„.  |„ld  in  Asl.laliula,  (I,  Jan. 'iT,  •J8.  in  in,.  p«,-|ors 
ol  he  ll,,ic  .lanes.  ArcmI  i.rot'iaiii  i-  pr,  pared.  The  .lUes- 
ion-  .,,x  will  be  a  pioiiun.nl  tealuie.  I'loiframs  wiUbe  sent 
lo  all  WHO  ilcMie  Ihein.     .\ II  are  invited, 

(iKO.  Spiti.ku,  Sei'.,  .Mosieitown,  Crawford  (h>..  Pa, 

The  Minuet, la  Bee  k<'<  pers'  A>s..ri,ition  will  niecl  in  Owaton- 

MM    .Alinn     on  the  ■;»ll,„,ul-;i.,  of  January.  I8'j;.    I',- nteitain- 

luiit  XMll  hepn.vi.le.l  l,,i-  th..-e  alteiKllMH.  I.y  the  eilizeiisof 
Owat,.ii„a..uMl  11  i>ex|Hrle.l  that  Ihe  railroads  will  carry,  at 
lediiced  rates,  those  .■.itendi.iK-.  Th.i  State  HorticuUnral  Soci- 
ety Holds  Its  annual  ineelin(i;  at  the  same  time. 

UedwniK,  Minn. W.  Dankokth,  .Sec. 

The  Oliio  .Slate  Beekeepers' .\sso.-iation  will  hold  its  next 
annual  nieetiiiK-  at  the  w,  st  Knd  Turner  Hail,  Freeman  Ave.. 
I  in.'.niiati.  lei,.  l.Mo  r;,  l,S!f.'.  bet'innhifr  at  10  a.  m.  on  the  10th. 
All  local  associations  sli.nild  endeavor  to  meet  with  us  or  .send 

their  deletrales.    Tb,,se  int,.M,lin(;  u pivsenl    -vill    , .'" 

send  their  names  to  the  seeretarv  at  their  earliest  conven- 
ience. The  president.  C.  F.  Muth.  Will  endeavor  to  t'.-t  reduced 
railroad  rates,  and  lediiced  rates  at  hotels.  The  proKram  will 
soon  be  issued,  and  all  particulars  published. 

BloomuiBburg,  O.  s.  R.  MoKHis,  See. 


Spec/A L  Notices. 


ALSIKE  CLOVER  SEED  ADVANCED. 

In  order  to  get  stmie  choice  alsikc  to  fill  present 
orders,  we  were  oblifred  to  pay  more  than  the  ad- 
vertised luiccliiour  list.  ('<iuntiiiH-  bairs  and  freight 
it  co.st  us  about  *lll  a  bushel ;  and  as  the  demand  for 
this  seed  is  very  stitf  we  slioiild  not  be  surinised  to 
see  it  g'o  still  higher;  therefore  for  the  ijiesent  our 
prices  will  be  as  follows,  bags  included:  lib  25e- 
1  peck,  $3,30:  '^  bushel,  *f;.]n;  i  liushel,  U'^.W.  If 
any  of  rnir  readers  have  any  choice  seed  to  sell  we 
.should  be  pleased  to  has'e  them  submit  samiiles 
and  we  will  write  you  what  we  can  attord  to  pay  for 
It.  We  can  also  pa.v  a  higher  price  for  .Japanese 
buckwheat  than  \ye  ha\-e  lieeii  offering.  Anybody 
liaving  any  to  sell  will  please  .send  us  a  sample,  sav- 
ing how  nuich  they  have,  and  we  will  make  otters.' 

1S90  PATTERN  DOVETAILED   HIVES  ALL  GONE. 

The  thousand  old-style  Dovetailed  hives  offered  in 
this  column  six  weeks  ag<i  haveall  been  disposed  of 
We  ai'e  prepared,  however,  to  furnish  you  with  all 
you  can  use  of  the  latest  impioved  hives  at  cata- 
logue prices,  with  3  per  cent  off  for  orders  this 
month.  It  may  not  be  out  of  plai-e  in  this  connec- 
tion to  .say  that  we  have  added  ipiite  a  num- 
ber of  im|)i'oveinents  to  this  hive  since  we  tirst  in- 
troduced it  three  years  ago  ill  March.  In  this  less 
than  three  years  it  has  become  .so  popular  that  it 
bids  fair  to  eclipse  anything  before  it  in  the  hive 
line  in  pointof  sales.  The  demand  for  it  is  so  uni- 
ver.saJ  that,  practically,  all  the  de:ilers  and  manu- 
facturers are  ottering  them  for  sal(>.  .\s  we  are  the 
pioneers  in  its  introduction  and  imi'rovement  it 
would  seem  as  though  you  stood  a  better  chance  of 
getting  the  latest  improved  hives  by  buving  of  us 
or  one  of  our  dealers.  Joseph  Nysewa'nder  Des 
Moines.  Iowa;  Harteldes  &  Co.,  Denver,  Col"  and 
(Jolwick  &;  Colwick,  Norse,  Bosque  Co..  Te.va.s  are 
sui)plied  with  ourhitest  hives  in  carload  (luantitv 
Weexi>ect  to  ship  very  soon  to  sujiplv  F.  L.  Posseii 
&  Co.,  Portland.  Oregon;. Ino,  Nebel  &  Son,  High 
Hill.  Mo. :  Oliver  Hoover  &  Co.,  Hiverside,  Pa  and 
our  eastern  branch  at  Syracuse,  F.  A.  SalisbtU'v 
agent.  Hesides  these,  and  others  who  buy  in  cat- 
load  lots,  there  afe  manj'  others  who  buy  in  less 
(quantities  to  sell  again.  To  all  regular  dea'lers  who 
will  handle  our  supplies  we  make  special  terms  and 
inducements,  sent  only  to  tlio.se  who  ajiply 


My  Catalogue  of  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES 
for  1892  is  free  ;  My  Pamphlet,  "HOW  I 
PRODUCE  COMB  HONEY,"  by  Mail,  5  cts. 

GEO.  E.  HILTON,  Fremont.  Mich. 

Please  mention  Gleaninos.  '^-13db 


70 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jax.  15. 


Dovetailed  Hives,   Simplicity  Hives, 

SECTIONS.  EXTRACTORS.  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGE     CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M-  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


C^lii  responauisr  to  lin.s  udveixi^eiut-ii 


Itloll   til.KANJN(iM 


Tlie  above  is  a  representation  of  our  factory.  BUILT  AND  EQUIPPED  EXCLUSIVELY  FOB 
THE  MANUFACTURE  OF  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES.  We  liave  in  connection  with  our  business  a 
LUMBER  YARD,  A  TIN-SHOP,  and  a  PRINTING-OFFICE.  All  this  enables  us  to  manufacture  and 
sell  almost  all  kinds  of  goods  very  CHEAP.  We  have  sold  over  FOUR  CARLOADS  of  supplies 
since  November  1,  and  of  those  contemplating  buying,  either  in  SMALL  or  LARGE  QUANTITIES, 
we  ask  a  TRIAL.  Remember  we  will  not  be  UNDERSOLD  or  EXCELLED  IN  QUALITY,  i'4-page 
catalogue  free.      Address 


liEAHV    ^'F'G    CO.,  Higginsville,  Mo. 


tW\n  respondiDg  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANli'Gs, 


$4  or  $5 

Will  buy  ONE  HIVE  of  ITALIAN  BEES 
AND  QUEEN.  Simplicity  Hive  and  Frame  or 
Hoffman  Closed-End  Frame  and  Hive. 

JOHN   A.  THORNTON, 
^^'"^  Lima,  Illinois. 

Please  mention  thispaoer 

Eoot's  saw-tiU)le.  3  saws,  gauges  and   belt,  $2.5.00, 
also  small  grist-mill,  cheap.  Addi'oss  for  particulars 
2d  A.  A.  LEWIS,  Watcibury,  Vermont. 

Syracuse,  New  York, 

FOR  ALL  OF  A.  I.  ROOT'S  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES. 

FOUNDATION    Is    Our    Own    ITIake. 

F.  A.  SALISBURY. 

In  writing:  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.       4tf(lb 

Cash  for  Beeswax! 

Will  pay  2.10  per  lb.  easli,  or  28c  in  trade  for  any 
quantity  of  good,  fair,  average  beeswax,  delivered 
at  our  R.  R.  station.  Tbe  same  will  be  sold  to  those 
who  wish  to  purchase,  at31e  per  lb.,  or  35e  for  best 
selected  wax. 

Unless  you  put  your  name  on  the  box,  and  notify 
us  by  mail  of  amount  sent,  1  can  not  hold  myself 
responsible  for  mistakes.  It  will  not  pay  as  a  gen- 
eral thing  to  send  wax  by  express. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio 


CAMERAS  CHEAP. 

By  the  death  ot  a  relative,  as  explained  in  anoth- 
er column,  I  have  come  in  possession  of  two  very 
fine  photographic  cameras.  One  of  them  is  a 
Hawkeye,  4x.5,  with  a  jointed  tripod.  It  has  three 
dry-plate  holders,  and  three  cut-fllm  holders.  Be- 
sides this,  it  has  a  lens  that  cost  originally  J35.00, 
with  a  triplex  Prosch  i)neumatic  shutter  worth  $10 
more.  The  whole  outfit  cost  originally  about  $7.5. 
Tlie  camera-box  has  been  newly  finished,  and  looks 
like  a  brand-new  instinment.  It  will  also  take  a 
roll-holder  when  desired.  I  will  place  my  guarantee 
upon  the  instrument  as  being  first-class  in  every 
respect.  It  has  a  far  lietter  lens  than  the  average 
Hawkeye  camera.  Samples  of  tiie  work  will  be 
mailed  upon  apiilication.  Desiring  to  give  imme- 
diate returns  to  the  f:nnily  of  the  deceased,  I  offer 
this  camera  for  $3'>  casli.  It  is  a  bargain  for  .some 
one  who  desires  sometliing  really  fine  in  this  line. 
Speak  (juick  if  you  want  it,  as  it  will  probably  be 
snapped  up.  I  would,  under  no  circumstances,  let 
it  go;  but,  as  I  have  already  said,  I  have  two  or 
three  other  good  cameras  of  my  own. 

E.   R.   ROOT,  Medina,  O. 

VT03MXATIC    COSffB 

rourrDATioir  mills. 

2-7db  —  MADK  nv— 

W.  C.  PELHAM,  Maysville,  Kentucky. 

Please  mention  this  ]).<iper. 

TAKE   NOTICE! 

BEFORE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
for  prices  on  One-Piece  Basswond  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,   Shipping-Crates,  Frames,   Foundation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
14tfdb  New  London,  Wis. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


1893 


iii,i;.\MN(;s  IN  HKi<:  (ri;ri;i;i': 


Bees  For  Sale  Cheap! 

IIS  TolDiiifS  ill  I,.  fniiiH"  liivi's,  ;it  Cliillif.il  lie,  .\I< 
Fur  imriicnlars  aiitln">s 

3tfill)  .1.  .1.  Tl'CKKK,  Nevada,  Mo. 

l-1'.Mti  Please  mention  this  paper. 


WILL  EXCHANGE  foiiiuialioii  for  wux  or  cash. 
Alsd  make  wax  iiilo  f(iiiiul:il  ion.  wiicii  si'iit  to 
liu'.  at  till"  lowest  piifc  ill  t  III' worUl.  SimkI  for  sain- 
l>k'-  ami  iH'iccs  to  Jacol:  WoUcrshoim,  Kankauna,  Wis. 

OTTUMWA  BEE-HIVE  FACTORY. 

Hfc-kccinMs.  lo()kto\oiii'   iiitcri'sls.     E\i'i\  tliiii;.;' 
ill     till'    line   of    bi't'-sui'plirs    coiisl aiil Ij'   on    liaiul. 
Pri.'i'  list  five.        GREGORY  BROS.  &  SON, 
l-l:.M  Oil imiw a,  la.    8oiitliside. 

tiriu  resijonclinit  to  tlii.s  iulv.iii.-.i.|]ii  iii  nuiilioii  lii.K.\NiNOS. 


*ClOK  SALIi.— APIARY  OF  110   COLOINIES 

^  Italian  Hei's.  in  2-story  Simplicity  and  new 
HiHldoii  liivcs,  includiiifr  3  lots  and  liouscs  in  this 
town.  Tins  is  an  I'.vccllcnt  location  for  bees,  and  a 
fail'  market  for  lioiiev.  Also  'Z  tons  of  extracted 
honey  for  sale.  "  H.  HEYMAN, 

3-4d  Rrackett.  Kinney  Co.,  Texas. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

My  Catalogue  of  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES 
for  1892  is  free  ;  My  Pamphlet,  "HOW  I 
PRODUCE  COMB  HONEY,"  by  Mail,  5  cts. 

GEO.  E.  HILTON,  Fremont,  Mich. 

Please  mention  GLKA^^NGs.  'i-lSdb 


Hatch  Chickens  by  Steam. 

IPLOVED  EXCELSIOR  INCUBATOR 

kWill  do  it.  Thousands  in  saccessfnl  oper- 

Tation.  Simple.  Perfect  and  Sr1j'~Heyuliitinq, 
rLowest-pnced  first-class  H.atcher  made. 
I  Guaranteed  to  hatch  a  larger  percent^fre 
of  fertile  e^esat  less  cost  tnan  any  otber. 
Sendee,  forlllas.  CataloK.  UUO.  U.STAIlL,(juing7,  lil. 
f^lii  >f.~iioiiaiUi£  to  mis  tujvi  Tii^eiueiit  meutum  OLKAJSlNGa. 

ELEVEN  YEARS 

WITHOUT  A 
PARALLEL,  AND 

THE  STAND- 
ARD   IN    EVERY 
CIVILIZED 
COUNTRY. 

Bingham  &  Hetherington 

Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 

Standard    Size. 

Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 

Six  Sizes  and  Prices. 

Doctor  Smoker,      3X  in.,  postpaid 

Conqueror    "  3       " 

Lar?e  "  2^    "  " 

Extra  (wide  shield)  2       "  " 

Plain  (narrow    "    )2       "  " 

Little  Wonder,         IX    "  "        ...      6.") 

Uncapping  Knife ..1.15 

Sent   promptly  on  receipt  of   price.    To 
sell  atfain,  send  for  dozen  and  half-dozen  rates. 


.$2.00 
.  1.7.5 
.  1.50 
.  1.25 
.    1.00 


Milledgeville,  111.,  March  8, 1890. 
Sirs:— Smokers  received  to-day,  and  count  cor- 
rectly.   Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  I  do 
your  trade  will  boom.  Truly,       F.  A.  Snell. 

Vermillion,  S.  Dak.,  Feb.  17, 1890. 
Sirs:— I  consider  your  smokers  the  best  made  for 
any  purpose.    I  have  had  15  years'  experience  with 
300  or  400  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak. 
Very  truly^ R.  A.  Morgan. 

Sarahsville.  Ohio,  March  12,1890. 
Sirs:— The  smoker  1  have  has  done  good  service 
since  188,3.       Yours  truly,       Daniel  Brothers. 

Send  for  descriptive  circular  and  testimonials  to 

Itfdb  BiKQEAii  ii  HsTBEBnTOTON,  Abronia,  Mich. 

l^rin  resix*ndin^  to  this  utlvti'tisejufiit  iiieiititJii  Gl-KAMN^i's. 


Everybody 
Admil-Sc 

Other  SEEDS^^guALLY^RELiABiE 

-Jped  Annual  Free,    '         wriie  For  W  NOW! 
A^.LIVINGSTON'5  SONS. 
BOX  273,  COLUMBUS^OHIO. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


IMPORTED  QUEENS. 

in  May  and  .June,  each $2.00 

In  July  and  August,  each 1.80 

In  September  and  October,  each 1.60 

Money  must  be  .sent  in  advance.  Safe  arrival 
gnaianteed.  Queens  that  die  en  route,  if  returned 
in  the  letter,  will  be  replaced  by  mail,  postpaid.  No 
order  for  less  than  8  queens  hy  express  will  be  accept- 
ed. CHAS.  BIANCONCINI, 
1-lld  Bologna,  Italy. 
Please  mention  this  paper.  7d 


M«\\N   \lOT 


Take  a  hint  V    See  Gleanings  for  .lanuary  15tli. 

A.  F.  BROWN, 

HUNTINGTON,  PUTNAM  CO.,  FLA. 
Agent  Soutliei'ii  E.xpress  Co. 
I^rin  responuiiiyr  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEAjnNQS. 

J^.  C.   SAYLES, 

HARTFORD,  WIS., 

Manufactures  Apiarian  Supplies  op  Embry 

Description.     Catalogue  Free  to 

All.    Seno  Your  Address. 

3tfdb  Please  mention  this  paper. 

queens::  drones:: 

Send  foi'  ))rice  list  of  Italian  Queens,  Drones, 
Hives,  Smoliers,  Foundation,  etc.  Finest  breeding 
(jueen.  after  March  1.  if-l.OO.  Tested.  ^2.00;  3  for  ROO. 
Untested,  in  April,  $1.00;  6  for  $5.00,  or  $9.00  per  doz- 
en by  mail.  Safe  arrival  guaranteed.  Orders  for 
Queens  booked  for  20  days  or  more,  5  per  cent  dis- 
count. Make  money  oideis  iKnable  at  Clifton. 
3tfdl)       COLWIOK  &  COLWICK,  NOESE.  BOSaUE  CO.,  TEXAS. 

Pl<'a>e  mention  this  paper. 

-V— JWuth's 

Honey  -  Extt^actot^. 

Squafe  Glass  Honey-Jafs, 

Tin  Buekets,  Bee~hives. 
Honey-Scetions,  &e.,  &c. 

Pepfeetion  Cold-Blast  Smokeps. 

APPLY  TO  -^^%^%^v.^v.^v.^^>-^^ 

CHAS.  F.  IVIOTH  &  SOfl,  Cineinnati,  O. 

Send  10-ct   stamp  for  "Pi:ictical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  1. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


At»sorbents  in  Winter 

Australia. Queens  to 

Bottom-bars.  Narrow 

Bounty.  Object  of... 

Bounty,  Dr.  Miller  on 

Bounty.  Government 

Bumhie-bee— .\  Poem 

Candy  for  Feeding 88 

Closed-end  Fr's  in  Aust'iia. 
Clover.  Hw  eet.  in  the  South. 

Colorado  Let  ter 

Comb.  Artificial 1 

Contraction,  Theory  of 

Edit!  .r  at  H.  A.  March's 

Extr.icting  from  Supers  — 
Frames,  Fixed.  Axtell's. . . . 


Garden  City Hit 

Glucosinjj  Honev 9:i 

Hibernation 98 

Hoffman's  Residence  ...89.91 
Honev.  Frazier's  Grading..  9.3 

Italians  in  Italy 83 

Man  or  Hive? 8.i 

Melilotus  Alba 91 

OntariM  B.  K.  A.  Secedes....  10,5 

Rambler  in  Chicago 95 

Salt  for  Foul  Brood 84 

Strawberry,  Everbearing.. .103 

Sugar  vs.  Honey 81 

Swarmer,  Automatic 93 

Sweet  Ciovei- 91 

Wax -melting 84 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


The  Ohio  State  Bee-keepers'  Association  will  hold  its  next 
annual  meeting  at  the  West  End  Turner  Hail,  Freeman  Ave., 
Cincinnati.  Feb.  10  to  12. 1892,  beginning  at  10  A.  M.  on  the  10th. 

The  following  is  the  program : 
Report  of  ser-retarv,  and  routine  business,  10  a.m..  Feb.  10. 

Fir.st  day,  1 ;  30  P.M.— Essay  by  Miss  Dema  Bennett,  Bedford.  O, 
••  Taking  up  bee  keeping  fn  a'  general  way.  and  managing  the 
apiarv.'' 

Discussion— Which  is  better  for  the  present  bee-keeper— that 
the  number  of  bee  and  honey  producers  be  increased  or  di- 
minisheii; 

7  p  M.— What  is  a  standard  section?— Di-.  C  C.  Miller,  Maren- 
go, 111. 

Discussion— How  can  bees  be  helped  artiflcially,  so  that  the 
apiarist  will  be  benefited  (inaneiallv? 

Second  (lay,  9  a  ji. -Essay  liy  G  W.  Demaree.  Cbristiansburg. 
Kv.      ■  How'io  pi  event  swaiiiiing  during  a  good  honey-rtow?" 

biscussion-Are  absorbents  important! 

Grading  of  hcmey,  and  bounty  thereon.— H.  R.  Boardman, 
East  Toivnsend.  O. 

1:30  p. M —Packing  bees  for  outdoor  wintering.— E  R.  Root, 
Medina,  O. 

D:scussiou— Istop  ventilation  preferable  to  bottom  ventila- 
tion during  the  winter  months? 

7  P.M.— Paper  by  Dr.  A.  B.  Mason.  Auburndale,  Ohio.  "  Foul 
brood." 

Are  closed-end  bars  of  brood-frames  preferable  to  ones?— Dr. 
G.  L.  Tinker.  New  Philadelphia,  0. 

Third  day.  9  a.m.— Discussion— Is  honey-dew  injurious  to  bees 
as  a  winter  feed? 

Are  artificial  swarms  less  vigorous  than  natural  imes?— O.  A. 
Corev,  Frankfort.  O. 

Discussion  —  .Are  bees  injurious  or  are  they  beneficial  to 
grapes  and  finiit  in  general? 

Music  will  be  intersiiersed  each  da.v  as  convenient. 

KAlLRilAD  KATES. 

The  Central  Traffic  Association  of  Chicago  has  agreed  to  give 
us  I!*  tare  on  all  roads  leading  into  Cincinnati,  providing  we 
haVe'liH)  persons  in  attendance.  Everybody  buying  a  ticket  to 
Cincinnaii  snoiild  ask  the  agent  for  a  certiticate  for  the  con- 
vention. Tliis  certiticate, -igned  by  Sec'y  Morris,  may  entitle 
the  hoick-!- to  a  one-third  faie  home.  It  positively  will  not.  if 
less  than  lOO  tickets  are  sold,  on  all  branches  of  the  Cincinnati, 
Hamilton  &  D  lyton  Railroad.  Hotel  rates  will  be  announced 
at  the  convention. 

Bloomingburg,  O.  S.  R .  Morris,  See. 


Special  Notices. 


ALSIKE  CLOVER   .SEED. 

We  liave  secured  a  choice  lot  of  seed  since  our 
last,  in  such  quantity  uud  at  such  a  price  that  we 
can  otTer  it  at  the  following  price  till  further  no- 
tice: 2.5c  per  lb.;  l)y  mail,  :i4c;  *2.8.)  per  peck;  ^5  51 
per  >2-husliel;  $10.50  pel'  bushel,  or  2  busiiels  for 
120.00,  bags  included.  The  time  for  sowing-  this 
seed  is  near  at  hand,  and  we  regaid  it  a  safe  invest- 
ment to  secure  your  seed  at  tliese  prici-s,  ;is  it  is 
almost  sure  to  be  higher  later  in  tlie  season. 


root's  goods   FOK  the  EAST. 

Bee-keepers  of  New  ^'ork,  Veimont,  and  the  East 
should  bear  in  mind  tlmt  we  have  establislied  at 
S.vriicuse  an  liiaslern  bi;inch  where  our  staple  bee- 
keepers' sup|)lies  are  ke|)t  for  sale  and  in-onipt 
shipment.  You  can  save  time  and  freight  by  order- 
ing from  our  E:istern  branch.  We  ha\e  engaged 
Mr.  F.  A.  Salisbury  lo  take  charge  of  this  business, 
and  he  will  treat  you  well,  .\ddress  all  orders, 
Eastern  Branch,  F.  A.  Salisbury,  .\gcni.  lti:C)  (leii- 
esee  Street,  Syracu.se,  N.  Y. 


with  tliem,  especially  in  view  of  the  splendid  edible 
(jualities  of  the  Puritan  and  Monroe  Seedling.  This 
idea  will  lie  better  appreriated  when  it  is  considered 
that  the  Monroe  Seedling.  Lee's  Pa^•ol■ite.  and  even 
the  Puritan,  will,  if  jjlanted  about  the  first  of  June 
(in  this  region),  keep  until  new  potatoes  come  again. 

TO  THE  FRIENDS   OF  THE  G.ARDEN. 

We  wish  to  apologize  for  being  a  little  later  than 
usual  with  our  seed  catalogue.  We  are  so  well 
pleased  with  the  selection  of  varieties  we  offered 
last  year,  and  our  cu.stomers  report  such  good  suc- 
cessVith  them,  that  we  make  compai'iitively  few 
changes  in  the  kinds.  We  otter  our  friends  better 
seeds  this  year  than  we  ever  have  before.  The 
most  of  them  are  our  own  rai.sing.  and  saved  only 
from  carefull>'  selected  stock.  The  new  catalogue 
will  be  out  in  a  few  days  now;  but  if  you  are  in  a 
hurry  for  your  seeds,  send  on  your  order;  we  will 
fill  it  from  new  stock  just  the  same,  and  send  you 
a  new  catalogue  as  soon  as  they  can  be  got  ready. 
There  ai'e  a  few  changes  in  prices  al.so.  Stime 
things  do  not  cost  so  much  as  last  year,  and,  owing 
to  failure  of  crops,  and  our  determin-ation  to  fur- 
nish only  the  best  of  seed,  a  few  things  will  cost  a 
little  more.  We  have  a  nice  lot  of  plants  .started  and 
will  be  ready  to  sliip  as  soon  as  the  weather  will 
permit.  We  can  ship  cabbage-plants,  asparagus 
roots,  and  pot;itoes  to  the  South  between  blizzards 
if  ovir  friends  want  them  right  awa.v. 


HEADQUARTERS    IN   THE    SOUTH 

BEE  -  KEEPERS'  SUPPLIES, 


DOVETAILED      HIVES      MADE      OF    CYPRESS 

LUMBER,    A    SPECIALTY,    AT    A.    I, 

ROOTS    PRICES, 


SEED  POTATOES. 

We  would  call  special  attention  to  our  li.st  of  seed 
potatoes.  We  have  a  tine  stock  of  all  the  varieties 
we  advertise.  You  will  notice  our  list  comprises 
from  the  earliest  to  the  best  of  the  medium  late. 
The  very  latest  kinds  are  so  much  more  ex|)ensive 
to  raise,  on  account  of  the  long  time  they  must  be 
cared  for,  that  we  do  not  advise  anybodj'  to  bother 


SPECIAL    DISCOUNTS   TO  DEALERS. 


H>  arc    srt     Arrnnf/f(t    tlmt    iff    Can    Xow    (live 
Special     L'tic     I'rchflit   Untcf. 


Early  4-rrame  Nuclei  and  Italian  ftueens. 


SATISFACTION     GUARANTEED     ON     ALL 
TRANSACTIONS. 


If   you    need   any    Bee -Hives,    Frames,    Sections, 

Foundation,  etc.,  send  tor  14th  annual 

catalogue. 

P.     L.     VIALLON     M'F'G    CO., 
BAYOU    GOULA,  LA. 

350    Colonies 

1,000.000  Sections, 
Foundation,  &c. 

KS?~Send  for  price  list. 
E.  T.  FLANAGAN, 

BELLEVILLE,  ILL. 

tSrin  responding  to  this  adveilisement  mention  r;LE.\.\iNr;s 

Manchester    Nurseries. 

All  of  the  leading  varieties  of  BBEKISS,  CUEEAHTS, 
and  OEAPES.  Bei-ry-plants  at  one-half  the  usual 
price.  Introducer  of  SUITES  PEOLIFi:  EASPBEEEY. 
Best  new  black  raspberry  out.  Send  postal  card 
for  prices,  and  desciipiitm  of  new  berr\-. 

EZRA    G.  SMITH, 
Manchester,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y. 

J^In  responding  to  tbis  aWveiti.seineut  mention  Olka.N'INGS. 


BEES 


18«fJ 


(II.K.WIXCS  IN  HEK  CUI/rURE. 


Honey  Column. 


lftQ9    ROOT'S  Dovetailed    Hive 

IQ9£     Mt  his  pi'ji-cs.     rirc'iihii   I'i'ci'. 


1892 


CITY  MARKETS. 

Ai.HANY.  /f.i)i!j/.-"M;ifki'(  Vfiydull  on  ciiiiil)  luiii- 
i-y.  Small  lots  are  St  ill  cominvr  fuiwani.  I)iil  tlifri' 
is  but  very  lilllf  <Iciikiii<I.  K.vtrarird  in  lictl(>r  de- 
inaiid.  and  stoi-k  1)11  liaiid  wrv  small.  We  (|iiiilc: 
t'lovor,  ll((ti:«:  l>iK-kwli.-at,  S(i>ilti.  Rxiiactod.  lifrlit. 
T@8;  dark.  ti.icV.     /Jir.siC(i.c,  :i'iGii~>>. 

Jan.  31.                            Cn.\s.  Miri'f.r,()cii  &("().. 
Albany,  N.  Y. 

Huston.— /full. !/.  Tiic  demand  for  lioiicy  is  lifriit. 
and  ilu'  supply  is  amplf.  Prii-c  of  conib.  14@].'j. 
Kxtiaotoii,  tidi.T.    Bri:-<ir<ix.  none  on  band. 

Ht,AKK  &  KlPLEY, 

Jan.  21.  Boston.  Ma.ss. 

Kansas  City.— /four. i/. —  I)c-mand  pooiv  Supply 
laijrc  of  coiiib.  l-lb.  fancy  wliilc.  1.");  dark.  l(((a  1~.  E.\- 
iracti'd.  li>fht  domaiid.  supply  lif^lit,  wliite,  T®?^ ; 
diU'U.  ."i(<0tj.  ZJ''t>'W((.r,  none  on  the  inai'kt't;  woathtT 
oold  with  lifrlit  trade.  Hamhi,i.n  &  Hearss, 

Jan.  3ii.  514  Walnut  St..  Kansas  Citv,  Mo. 


Xkw  Yokk.  —  Hri»i(  jy.  -No  demand;  .stocks  ex- 
bausti'd.  Extracted,  fail' demand,  supply  moderate. 
<'alifornia.  lijrlit  amber,  TXf'T'i;  Florida,  TfSTi^; 
Bui-kwbeal,  6@.S;2.    Beexwnx.  s;-arce  Ti{a?M. 

Jan.  2ii.                           r.  G.  Stkoumkykh  &  Co., 
New  York. 

CHic.Ar.o.—Hoiiej/.— Honey  selling;-  fairly  well  for 
season  of  year,  at  l.")@16  for  wbile  comb.  Dark  sells 
slowly,  and  prices  are  not  certain,  but  ning'i' from 
13(??  13.  Extracted,  witliout  special  cliang-t;,  brings 
6(S)7@8.    Bee«wax,  27.  R.  A.  Huknett, 

Jan.  19.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Cliicago,  El. 


Detroit.— Wioiei/.— Comb  honey  is  selling-  slowly 
at  13<'a)l4e.  Extracted.  7@8.  Bfeswdx.  in  fair  de- 
mand'at  36(527.  M.  H.  Hunt. 

Jan.  30.  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

St.  Louis.— Wonej/.-White-clovei',  fancv  to  choice, 
17'?18;  fair.  U@il.5;  pood.  12@13.   Extracted,  in  cans, 
7@8;  buckwheat,  5!4;  dark,  in  bhis.,  4'/^@.">. 
Bee^twax.  3.').                              W.  B.  Westcott., 
Jan.  30.  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Kansas  City.— Hrmew. —Market  well  supplied. 
.-^elliiiK  slow.  One-pound  white  comb,  14@15;  dark, 
9@13.  Extracted,  white.  7'/2 ;  dark,  5@6.  Beeswax, 
lig-lit  supply;  selling  at  2:3@36. 

Clemons,  Mason  &  Co., 

Jan.  31.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

For  Sale.— 6  jog  lbs.  extracted  honey,  in  60-lb.  cans. 
C.  H.  Stordock,  Durand.  Winnebago  Co.,  111. 


For  S.ale  Cije.\p.— 10  blils.  extracted  honey  mixed 
with  hone.v-dew.  Quality  good.  Will  sell  in  any 
quantity  desired.  Price  on  api)lication.  Sample 
sent  for  a  two-cent  stiimp. 

E.MiL  J.  Baxter,  Nauvoo,  Hancock  Co.,  111. 


For  Sale.— About  2  tons  of  nice  granidated  hon- 
ey, in  lard  cans,  holding  about  7ii  lbs.  each. 

K.  Hevman.  Hrackett,  Kinney  Co.,  Texas. 


BEE-HIVES  AND  FIXTURES     wholesale 
FOR  SALE  CHEAP.  re7a°l. 

.Send  for  illu.st rated  catalogue.  Send  35  cents  foi- 
"Amateur  Bee-Keeper,"  bj'  J.  W.  Kouse,  a  book  de- 
signe.fl  for  beg^inners,  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of 
price.  J.  W.  ROUSE  &  CO.,  Mexico,  Mo. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

UNTESTED  aUEENS,  $100. 
LASGE,'PnTE,  GENTLE,  AND  BEED 
for  business.  Re;idy  about  March  3*1.  Dealers  send 
for  prices.  Fine  tested,  n.od  to  i'ZM.  A  few  breed- 
ers, Italian  or  Golden,  ivl  to  $5.  :Jlfdb 

J.  B.  CASE,  Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 

Please  mentiun  this  paper. 


TT.  A  T?  T.TT  aOLDEN, 


BrF-krrPFRS  wsHiNc  TO  use  my 
Dcc-i\ccrcno  Hive  and  methods 

Please    write    fur    piin's    on     l;iiin     light      .-iml 
sample   hive.     A;:ents   write   for   terms. 

JOHN  CONSER,  Sedaua,  Mo. 
Reference  First  .National  Bank.  .Mo. 


W 


Wants  or  Excl'ange  Department. 

Notices  Hill  lie  inserted  umler  this  head  at  one  hall  our  usu- 
al i-ates.  All  advertisenieiits  intendeil  for  this  department 
must  not  exceed  five  lines,  and  you  must  say  you  want  your 
adv't  in  this  dejiartinent.  m-  we  vvill  not  he  responsihle  for  ei-- 
roi-8.  You  can  have  the  notice  as  many  lines  as  vou  please; 
but  all  over  five  lines  will  cost  you  ae<-ordniK  to  our  reg-ular 
rates.  This  department  is  intended  only  for  liona-tide  e.x- 
chang-es.  Exchanges  for  cash  or  for  i)riee'  lists,  or  notices  of- 
ferinparti.les  f.n-  sale,  cm  not  be  inseited  under  this  head. 
For  such  our  r.jfular  rates  of '.iOcts.  a  line  will  be  charged,  and 
they  will  he  put  with  the  regular  advertisements.  We  can  not 
be  responsible  for  dissatisfaction  aiisiug  from  these  "swaps." 

WANTED.— To  exchange  for  honey  or  offers,  Vic- 
tor Safety  bicycle,  in  No.  1  condition,  Barnes 
foot-power  saw,  Stanley  automatic  hone.N  exiractor, 
new;  No.  5  Ntmce  extractor,  4)4x5i4  photographic 
outfit;  queens,  to  be  sent  ne.xt  season. 
24tfdl)  J.  A.  Green,  Dayton,  ni. 

ANTED.— To  exchange  pure  Scotch  collie  pups 
for  any  thin^  useful  on  farm  or  in  bee-yard. 
N.  A.  Knapi',  Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 

SL^PPLY  DEALER  wants    prices  on  sections, 
foundation,  and  smokers.    W.  H.  Putnam.  Itfdb 
River  Falls,  Pierce  Co.,  Wis. 

WANTED.— To  trade  a  large  lot  of  Heddon  hives, 
nicely  made  and  good  as  new;  some  with  combs 
complete  for  honey,  now  or  after  crop  of  '92.  Write 
for  particulars.    Address  D.  S.  Hall, 

2tfdb Scjuth  Cabot,  Vt. 

n/ ANTED.— To  exchange  honey  m- bees,  for  foun- 
V?    dation  mill;  Platform  scale,  -100  lbs.  or  more; 
or  a  Rapid  rectilinear  lens. 
3-:5d  F.  W.  Stevens,  Moore's  Hill,  Ind. 

WANTED.— To  exchang-e  $;3.5.00  saw-table.  Stover's 
Ideal  Feed  Mill  and  iiower  combined,  and  a  lot 
of  job  type.  Want  sections,  foundation,  and  honey. 
2tfdb  O.  H.  Hyatt,  Shenandoah,  Page  Co.,  la. 

mANTED.— To  exchange  one  fine  old  Hopf  violin, 
V?  with  fine  lonp  bow,  for  pair  of  Poland-China 
pigs.       3-4d       W.  C.  Gathrioht,  Toccopola,  Miss. 


A 


WANTED.— To  exchange  a  Columbia  bicycle,  48 
in..  Pope  M'f'g-  Co.,  Mass.,  with  bell  and  tool- 
bag.    Cost  $90.    Will  trade  for  Italian  bees. 

H.  P.  Kettering,  Greeihsbuig,  Pa. 

yv  ANTED. —An  apiarist  to  tend  190  colonies  bees; 
Vy    foundation-mill,  3  extractors,  and  2(10  lbs.  comb 
fuinished;    also  wagon  and   team.     Will  g'ive  one- 
half  bees  (increase)  and  one-half  honey. 
:J-4d  E.  Y.  Tekral,  Cameron,  Texas. 

ANTED.— Situation  with   a   bee-keeper.    I  have 

four  years'  experit e.     Address 

Henry  Earhart,  Courtei',  Miami  Co.,  Ind. 


W 


JO.  1  Sections  only  .$3.00  per  M. 
'  free.    J.  M.  Kinzie,  Rochester 


20-pag'e  price  list 
Oakland  Co.,  Mich. 


WANTED— .To  exchange  bees  in  frame  hives,  for 
pure-bred  sheep,  poultry,  cash,  or  offers. 

C.  G.  Strong,  Atoka,  Tenn. 

WANTED.— A  situation  with  a  bee-keeper  in  the 
west  or  southwest,  b.v  a  .voung  man  with  four 
years'  experience.    Address 

J.  M.  Worthen,  Bonaparte,  Iowa. 


rs 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fkk.  1. 


wp  28-page  RESTRICTOK  book.  How 
W  VA  A  to  avoid  swarms,  brace-combs,  and  losses 
i  ■  ww»  in  wniiter.  How  to  get  bees  into  sections 
in  one  hour;  and  rear  qneens  in  full  colonies,  etc., 
same  old  fixtures.  C.  W.  D.\.yTON,  Clinton,  Wis. 
24-23db  Please  mention  this  paper 

EARLY    QUEEITS, 

TyUi^.TI  our  brancli  Apiary  in  Texas,  which  is 
""  three  miles  from  anv  other  bees,  and  none  but 
the  best  FIVE-BASI»ED  Cioldeii  Italian 
QueeniK  used  to  rear  t.iiieeiis  and  tDiones.  Our 
bees  are  the  g-entlest,  best  workers,  and  most  beau- 
tiful bees  known.  Safe  arrival  and  eiitiro  satis- 
faction g-uaranteed.  one  Warranted  Queen,  March 
and  April,  $1.35;  6  for  ^ti.dO.  If  yon  want  the  besl, 
send  for  our  circular  at  on«'e.  l-34db 

S.  F".  <£  I.  TREGO,  SwEDONA,  /Li.. 
In  writiner  rua>lvei-ti.-iers  please  in.nti.iii  I  pis  paper. 

We  make  the  best  g-oods  and  sell  tliem  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world. 

Our  goods  are  known  as  the  best  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Euroi)e. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalo;^uc  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS  CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  Itfdb 


^NLy  654: 

Colonies 

of  Ita^lisins 

Are  wintering  well,  and,  as  usual,  I  will  sell  a  lim- 
ited number  of  them  to  reduce  stock  to  the  required 
number.  Each  hive  shipped  to  my  customers  will 
contain  a  full  prosperous  colony  of  Italian  bees, 
with  a  last  years  tested  queen,  on  eight  Hoffman 
frames  of  brtxid  and  honey.  As  my  main  object  in 
handling  bees  is  honey,  we  raise  all  our  queens  in 
full  colonies  from  cells  built  under  the  swarming 
impulse,  using  the  choicest  and  most  profitable 
stock  to  breed  from. 

Safe  arrival  guaranteed  in  May  and  first  half  of 
June.    For  terms  please  address 


3-8db 


JULIUS  HOFFMAN, 


CANAJOHARIE,  N.  Y. 


tayin  respontlinir  to  this 


CANADA  BEE  KEEPERS 

Will  sa\i'  niDuv.v  by  i>urchasing  supiilies  fiom  T. 
Phillips  &  Co..  bril'lia,  Ontario,  who  manufacture 
all  styles  of  Hives.  Sections.  Frames,  Foundation, 
Extractors,  and  Smokers.  Also  many  new  things 
not  handled  by  other  dealers.  Send  for  catalogue 
and  samples  of  foundation,  free. 

T.  PHILLIPS  &    CO., 

3-5d  ORILUA,  ONTARIO.  CAN. 


THH     dAHOAHY 

REVIECn 

Is  now  out.  It  contains  articles  from  W.  F.  Clarke, 
and  Ernest  Root,  upon  "Writing  for  the  Bee  Jour- 
nals." R.  L.  Taylor  shows  liow  mucli  it  costs,  or 
ought  to  cost,  to  i.roducc  <-omb  lioiiey.  Mr.  S.  Cor- 
nell explains  how,  with  liut  little  trouble  and  ex- 
pense, any  one  may  know  if  his  bee-cellar  is  too 
damp.  R".  C  Aikin  furnislies  a  long,  interesting  ac- 
count of  "Colorado,  its  Soil,  Climate,  and  Alfalfa 
Farming,  and  how  the  latter  furnishes  Honey." 
The  inimitable  Hasty  begins  in  this  issue  what  is  to 
be  a  series  of  articles  entitled:  "Comments  on  a 
Beg'inner's  Day -Book."  This  "Day -Book"  was 
kept  by  Mr.  Hasty  when  he  first  began  bee-keeping. 
E.  T  Klanagan  tells  how  he  has  bridged  over  poor 
seasons.  Mo.st  of  the  articles  are  embellished  with 
a  portrait  of  the  author.  There  are  the  usual  ex- 
tracts and  editorials,  including  an  account  of  the 
trip  to  Albany,  and  a  "leader"  ujion  the  special 
topic  for  the  February  issue,  viz.,  "Grading-  Hon- 
ey." If  you  would  like  to  see  this  number,  send  ten 
cents,  and  with  it  will  be  sent  the  December  num- 
ber ;  and  whenthe  Feljruary  number  is  out,  that 
too  will  be  .sent.  The  Review  is  $1.00  a  year.  The 
book,  "Advanced  Bee  Culture,"  is  60  cts.  Both  for 
$1.25.  All  new  subscribers  for  1893  will  receive  the 
December,  1891,  issue  free.    Address 

BEE-KEEPERS'   REVIEW, 
lotfdb  Flint.  Mich. 

tSfln  re.sponding  to  this  .-wl  vertisement  mention  Gi.kanings. 


BEE 


SUPPLIES 


POUNOATION  f~Sau,» 


RETAIL 

—AND— 

WHOLESALE. 

Everylliiiig  used  in  the  Apiary. 

Greatest  vtuiety  and  largest  stock 
in  the  West.  New  catalog,  54  illustrated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  ZEETOHMEE.  EED  OAK,  IOWA. 

In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

SECTIONS    are    my 

No.  1  V-groove 

r   Sections  at  $3.00  per  tliousand.    Special   prices 
to  dealers.    Send  for  free   price  list  of    every 
thing  needed  in  the  apiary. 
2tfdb  M.  H.  HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

t;^lnresnon<linL^t.'iiii     :..!' .  -.i-ei.i.  i.i   rn.-iiti,.n  oi.kanings. 

'IfiQO  riDriTT  SP  READY  TO  MAIL  YOU,  FREE. 
iOtJL  KjIRKjULAR  Dovetailed  hives.  Sections,  etc. 
LATEST  IMPROVEMENTS  in  hives  and  frames,   jg 

Discounts  for  early  orders. 
Itfdb        JINO.  NEBEl.  &  SON,  Higli  Hill,  Mo. 

nnill  TRY  Choice  Fowls  and  Eggs  for  sale  at 
■•UU  U  I  n  I .  all  times.  Finely  illustrated  circu- 
■     lar  free.      GEER  BROS.,  St.  Marys,  Mo.    31tfdb 

Send  for  Price  lAst  to 

R.  E.  HARBAUGH. 
IWanuf'r  atid  Itenler  in   Hov- Keepers'  Supplies. 

Breeder   of    Italian    and    Carnit)lan    Bees    and 

Queens,  Lig-ht  and  Dark  Colored  Ferrets. 

25th  and  Clay  Sts..      -        -       -       St.  Joseph,  Mo. 


OPRAY  \m  FRUIT  TREES  i  VINES 

Wormy  Frnit  and  Leaf  Blight  of  Applet.  Pean,  Oherries,  CVPCI  CinD  SPRATTNCI 
Grapeand  Potato  Rot,  Plain  Oarenlia  preyentedbyasinK  LAULLOlUn  OUTFITS. 
PERFECT  FRUIT  ALWAYS  SELLS  AT  GOOD  PRICES.  Catalogne show, 
ing  all  ininrioaB  ineeots  to  Prnits  mailed  free,  Liarge  stock  of  Fruit  Trees,  Vines, 
sad  Berry  Plants  at  Bottom  Prices.    Address  Win.  KTAHL,  Quincy,  Ills. 


icarin  respondinK  to  this  adv 


it  mention  Glkandjqs. 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  fai' 
superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  doz- 
en, you  do  not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  every  waj',  return  them  by  mail  within  9J 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  \y\\\  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with  full  direc- 
tions, 20c;  per  dozen,  $3.35.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb    R.  (£  E.  C.  PORTER,  LEWISTOWN,   ILL. 

t  grill  rispoiulinn  to  this  tidvertlsenient  mention  GuKANiNGa. 


•andHoNL>- 
•ARDHOMEL-       ■' 


'uBii^Heo  BY  (j^' r  r\0  0  P 

ErYeai^    \^     fAEDINAOHlO 


Vol.  XX. 


FEBRUARY  1,  1892. 


No.  3. 


Stray  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 

DooLiTTLE  is  to  talk  b(^es  in  tiio  N('\v  Yoik 
Voice.  Ho'll  have  a  big  audience.  They'll  have 
a  good  man. 

TiiK  British  Bee  Journal  thinks  Messrs.  Alley 
and  Pratt  are  somewhat  changeable  in  their 
views  about  Carniolans. 

Wn.L    FHiKXi)    Dhapek    please  tell   us  wlnj 
'"comb-honey   production    doesn't   need  it."   if 
e.xtracted  honey  needs  a  two-cent  bounty  ? 
La  Gkii'I'kI   La  Grippe! 
You  old  rip. 
How  you  sip 
The  very  life  out  of  a  body  I 

AiroMATic  swARMiNG-DEViCEs  (p.  58)  Were 
discussed  at  the  Michigan  convention.  I  don't 
need  any  swarming-device.  My  bees  swarm  too 
much  now. 

DooijTTLE,  bees  do  hibernate.  I  know  yours 
don't,  neither  do  mine;  but  the  kind  that  work 
wax  with  their  stings  as  ti'owels  hibernate  any 
cold  night. 

R.AMBLEH  takes  the  "■  we"  and '' I"  business 
hard.  Even  in  his  dreams  it  troubles  him. 
Wonder  if  ifs  a  bad  conscience,  or  if  they  fed 
him  something  wrong  at  Dowagiac. 

The  Revicio  has  struck  out  in  a  new  line  by 
giving  at  the  head  of  each  article  a  picture  of 
the  writer.  Some  of  the  likenesses  are  excel- 
lent: but  mine  was  taken  when  I  was  bad  with 
the  smallpox. 

Tell  A.  L  Root  that  they  are  sending  around 
some  of  that  lumber  he  saw  in  Oregon  where  it 
will  do  most  good.  My  house  was  covered  last 
fall  with  red-cedar  shingles  from  Oregon.  They 
cost,  but  they  last. 

SoMEBODV  must  have  read  my  paper  crooked 
at  Albany  to  make  me  object  to  43^x43^xl>< 
sections.  Why.  I'd  rather  have  all  43^  sections 
so  thin  that  no  one  could  be  cheated  into  buy- 
ing one  for  a  full  pound. 

The  big  New  Yoijk  bee-men,  wc  are  told 
on  page  21,  are  shy  of  reporting  their  crops,  for 
fear  of  some  one  crowding  in  on  their  territory. 
Wonder  if  they  would  object  to  having  legal 
control  of  their  terriUjry. 

Naphth.\line  is  reported  in  B.  B.  J.  as  a 
cure  for  asthma,  and  also  for  whooping-cough. 
For  asthma,  a  sm(!il  of  the  drng  before  going  to 
bed,  and  for  whooping-cough  the  room  to  be 
filled  with  the  fumes  from  %  of  an  ounce  placed 
on  a  hot  metal  dish. 

Exactness  is  important  in  all  bee-fixtures, 
as  a  general  rule.  Now,  there  is  one  thing  that 
often  nulHKes  all  efforts  at  exactness — warping. 
Before  me  is  a  piece  of  beautiful  workmanship; 


one  piec(>.  however.  iV,  thick,  has  warped  ^^^  out 
of  true,  and  a  piece  an  inch  thick  shows  warp 
I)lainly.  Can  Mr.  Warni^r  or  any  one  else  tell 
US  the  secret  of  selecting  lumber  that  will  not 
warp  ? 

A.  I.  Root  better  couk;  home  and  see  to  those 
boys.  They'v(!  gone  and  painted  th(i  cover  of 
my  la-it  GEEANiN(is  another  color,  so  I  didn't 
recognize  it  when  I  took  it  out  of  the  postofifice. 
I  like  the  change,  though.  May  be  they'll  give 
us  a  different  color  each  year,  so  we  can  tell  at 
a  glance  to  what  year  any  number  belongs. 

George  W^ashington  "couldn't  tell  a  lie." 
I'm  different— I  can.  But  I  won't.  And  the 
plain  truth  is.  that  the  installment  of  Stray 
Straws  for  the  Jan.  1.5th  number  of  Gleanings 
was  not  lost  in  the  mail,  but  was  gently  repos- 
ing in  the  pocket  of  my  second-best  coat,  where 
I  had  forgotten  them.  Moral— Don't  have  more 
than  one  coat. 

Adam  GRUnr  showed  me  a  cellar  that  he  had 
just  built,  with  a  cement  bottom,  with  which 
he  was  pleased,  but  on  trial  he  found  it  a  fail- 
ure. I  had  a  cement  bottom  purposely  made 
for  bees,  but  don't  use  it.  Bees  winter  better  in 
the  part  not  cemented.  Before  building  a  new 
cellar.  "A''  (see  p.  26)  might  try  tearing  out  his 
cement  floor. 

The  honey  faihre  is  laid  to  the  weather 
by  Hon.  R.  L.  Taylor,  in  Review.  He  proposes 
to  remedy  the  matter  by  dosing  the  weather 
with  condition  powders.  I  have  no  faith  in 
such  a  thing,  and  warn  all  bee-keepers  not  to 
buy  of  him.  He  is  a  good  law-maker  and  a 
good  bee-keeper,  but  has  no  regular  medical 
education.  If  your  weather  is  out  of  order, 
send  $1.00.  with  description  of  weather,  to  Dr. 
Tinker  or  me. 

The  space  below  frames,  two  or  three  inches 
deep,  for  winter,  is  a  "pet  notion"  with  the  B. 
B.  J.  That  shows  that  the  B.  B.  J.  is  wise  in 
its  selection  of  pets.  As  proof  of  the  benefits 
other  than  prevention  of  clogging,  the  editor 
says,  "What  bee-keeper  of  experience  has  fail- 
ed to  notice  how  well  second  swarms,  which 
have  only  half  filled  their  hives  with  combs, 
will  winter,  and  how  healthy  and  vigorous  they 
will  be  in  spring?" 

Feeding  sugar  to  produce  honey,  in  the 
shape  of  the  Wiley  lie,  has  kept  us  fighting  for 
years;  and  now  comes  a  correspondent  of  the 
Revieiv  and  gravely  raises  the  question  wheth- 
er, in  bad  seasons,  we  may  not  have  good  comb 
honey  made  by  feeding  sugar  in  the  right  way 
and  at  the  right  distance.  The  W'iley  affair 
was  an  attempt  at  murder;  the  present  effort, 
coming  from  one  of  our  best  men,  in  one  of  our 
best  journals,  is  an  attempt  at  suicide. 

I'm  beginning  to  get  mad.  There's  so  much 
said  nowadays  about  "handling  hives  more 
and  frames  less,"  and  now  Hutchinson  says 
that  the  use  of  frames  is  to  have  us  learn  the 


80 


(JLEANIXG8  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  1. 


mysteries  of  the  hive,  and,  "having  in  a  large 
degree  mastered  these,  there  is  little  need  in 
practical  bee-koeping  to  handle  combs."  Now, 
J"d  like  to  handle  frames  less,  but  I  don't  want 
to  handle  hives  "  more."  If  W.  Z.  is  right,  we 
can  learn  the  mysteries  from  books,  and  keep 
box  hives. 

That  m't  of  Mrs.  NiilFs  on  page  2.5.  Struck 
it  wrong,  and  hit  your  finger  instead  of  the  nut, 
sister  Null.  Why.  bless  your  heart,  the  nut's 
all  right,  and  there's  a  good  meat  in  it.  So  far 
as  I  know,  Missouii  has  beaten  all  other  States 
in  getting  up  a  large  State  society  at  the  start, 
and  it's  onlv  because  I'm  not  handy  in  the  use 
of  the  English  language  that  I  didn't  i)roperly 
express  the  admii'ation  that  I  really  felt.  I 
think  the  start  made  is  "  pretty  good  "  for  any 
State,  even  such  a  central  State  as  Missouri. 
Now  we're  friends  again,  aren't  we,  Mrs.  Null  ? 


BOUNTY  ON  HONEY. 


IS   IT  DESIRABLE  OR  FEASIBLE  ?  DO   SUGAK  AND 
CANNED  FRUIT  COMPETE  WITH  HONEY? 


The  matter  of  making  an  effort  to  secure  a 
bounty  ou  honey  was  lightly  discussed  at  Chi- 
cago, and  it  also  came  up  at  Albany.  The 
editor,  on  page  13,  seems  anxious  for  light  as  to 
its  desirability  and  feasibility.  Perhaps  it 
might  be  better  to  discuss  its  justice  and  feasi- 
bility, although,  in  the  highest  sense,  if  it  is  not 
right  it  is  not  desirable.  Unless  there  is  both 
justice  and  feasibility,  it  is  not  worth  while 
spending  lime  talking  about  it.  If  there  is 
justice  in  the  case.  I  have  no  great  doubt  as  to 
feasibility.  The  simple  fact  that  justice  de- 
mands a  bounty,  ought  to  be  enough  to  secure 
it.  Still,  it  is  not  always  enough.  But  I  think 
a  sufificient  amount  of  united  effort  would  be 
effectual. 

Therefore,  before  discussing  how  we  are  to 
obtain  a  bounty  let  us  first  settle  conclusively 
that  we  ought  to  have  it.  To  say  that  I  should 
like  it  is  one  thing:  to  say  that  of  i-ight  I  am 
entitled  to  it  is  quite  another.  As  a  premise  in 
the  case,  we  may  start  out  with  the  fact  that  a 
bounty  of  two  cents  per  pound  has  been  granted 
to  sugar-makers.  The  truth  of  its  accomplish- 
ment is  a  strong  argument  as  to  its  being  a 
righteous  act,  and  indeed  I  do  not  know  that  its 
righteousness  hats  been  called  in  question,  al- 
though I  am  not  politician  enough  to  know. 

Granted,  then,  that  sugar  has  a  right  to  the 
bounty,  can  honey  make  the  same  claim?  I 
believe  the  argument  in  favor  of  sugar  is.  that, 
when  the  tariff'  on  sugar  was  lowered,  it  let  in 
foreign  sugar  at  a  so  much  lowei'  rate  that  the 
home  product  could  not  successfully  compete 
with  it.  and  for  the  sake  of  encouraging  the 
latter  the  bounty  was  allowed.  Whether  that 
argument  will  bear  the  clo.sest  scrutiny  I  am 
not  prepared  to  say:  but.  admitting  its  correct- 
ness, will  it,  or  will  it  not,  apply  with  equal 
force  to  honey  ?  If  it  can  be  established  that, 
there  is  competition  between  sugar  and  honey, 
then  I  can  see  no  reason  why  the  same  argu- 
ment that  applies  to  domestic  sugar  will  not 
apply  to  honey.  Indeed,  if  there  is  any  differ- 
ence, the  argument  for  honey  is  a  little  stronger 
than  for  sugar,  always  provided  that  sugar 
competes  with  honey.  P'or,  by  a  direct  act  of 
government,  sugar  has  a  bounty  of  two  cents 
per  pound,  thus  giving  it  an  advantage  of  two 
cents  per  pound  over  honey,  whenever  the  two 
come  in  comix'tition.  Therefore;  justice  de- 
mands that  the  injury  done  to  the  honey  mar- 
ket, by  putting  it  in  competition  with  the 
bountied  sugar,  be  righted  by  a  compensating 
bounty  on  honey.    The  only  question   in   that 


case  is  whether  the  bounty  should  be  two  cents 
per  pound,  or  proportionally  greater  according 
to  the  relative  values  of  the  two  products.  Pos- 
sibly it  should  be  somewhat  according  to  value. 
That  is.  if  honey  is  .50  pei-  cent  more  than  sugar 
in  price,  then  the  bounty  on  honey  should  he 
.50  per  cent  more  on  honry,  or  three  cents  jier 
pound.  But  that  can.  perhaps,  not  be  claimed, 
for  it  would  be  replied  that  a  dollar's  worth  of 
honey  does  not  compete  with  a  dollar's  worth 
of  sugar,  but  that  a  pound  of  honey  competes 
with  a  pound  of  sugar. 

Now.  let  us  see  how  far  we  have  got.  If  thej'e 
is  no  leak  in  my  logic,  we  have  about  settled 
that,  if  sugar  is  entitled  to  a  bounty,  and  if  su- 
gar competes  with  honey,  then  honey  is  entitled 
to  a  bounty.  Now  let  us  ccmsider  the  question 
as  to  whether  the  price  of  sugar  has  any  effect 
on  the  price  of  honey:  in  olher  woi'ds.  whether 
the  two  are  really  compi'titors.  Before  having 
written  thus  far,  I  spent  some  time  thinking 
over  the  problem,  and  it  occurred  to  me  that 
one  who  used  considerable  quantities  of  both 
would  be  a  proper  person  to  help  decide  how  far 
they  can  be  considered  competitors.  So  I  w«nt 
down  to  the  sitting-room,  where  my  wife  sat 
sewing,  and,  after  telling  her  that  bee-keepers 
were  agitating  the  question  of  a  bounty  on  hon- 
ey, I  said, '"  I  hardly  know  which  sid(»  of  the 
question  I  am  on."'  "But."  said  she.  •"the 
chance  for  rascality  in  claiming  a  bounty  on 
more  honey  than  has  been  raised,  just  like"  the 
dishonesty  in  the  pension  business  I" 

"Ohl  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  ques- 
tion in  hand,"  said  I,  a  little  nettled  at  the  insin- 
uation that  there  were  dishonest  men  among 
bee-keepers.  Then,  aftei'  sitting  foi'  a  little 
time  looking  at  the  glowing  anthracite  in  the 
Howe  ventilator.  I  said.  "  Does  the  price  of  su- 
gar have  any  thing  to  do  with  the  amount  of 
fruit  that  is  put  up.  or  used  for  sauce?" 

•■  Oh.  certainly!  a  great  deal  to  do  with  it." 

■■  What  has  it  to  do  with  it?" 

■'Why.  if  sugar  were,  say,  a  half  higher  than 
it  was  this  year,  I  wouldn't  have  put  up  nearly 
as  much.    Get  along  witli  less — that's  all." 

After  studying  the  coal  tii'e  a  little  longer.  I 
asked.  "'  Does  the  amount  of  fruit  sauce  or  can- 
ned fruit  make  any  difference  as  to  the  amount 
of  honey  used  in  a  faiuily  ?" 

She  answered,  somewhat  slowly  and  hesitat- 
ingly. "  Why.  I  should  think  it  would."  Then 
in  a  more  decided  mann(T.  "Yes.  certainly  it 
would.'"  Then.  ;ifier  sewing  a  few  moments  in 
silence,  she  added,  "  Because,  when  you  have 
those  things  you  don't  caieso  much  for  honey." 
After  sitting  a  minute.  I  said, '"  As  it  looks  to 
me  now.  I'm  in  favor  of  the  bounty,"  and  then 
went  back  \ij)  stairs. 

My  wife's  view  of  the  case  looks  reasonable, 
and  she  speaks  from  expei'ience.  Grocers  have 
also  told  me  that,  when  fruit  was  scarce,  honey 
sold  more  readily,  and  vice  versa,  showing  that 
a  diminnti(m  in  the  amountof  fruit  sauce  used 
helps  the  sale  of  honey.  Of  course,  if  the  high 
price  of  fruit  helps  the  sale  of  honey,  so  would 
the  high  price  of  sugar,  for  either  one  would 
make  the  sauce  more  expensive. 
.  I  think  it  is  a  very  clear  case  that  molasses 
and  syrups  are  in  competition  with  honey,  but 
I'm  not  so  sure  that  the  prices  of  these  are 
directly  affected  by  the  price  of  sugar.  But 
where  the  syrup  is  home-made,  simply  melted 
sugar,  as  it  is  often  used  on  hot  cakes,  then  the 
competition  is  evident. 

Supposing  that  it  may  iie  clearly  shown  that 
the  allowance  of  a  bounty  is  the  correct  thing, 
it  is  just  possible  that  another  question  may 
arise  in  something  like  this  form:  "Will  a 
bounty,  in  the  long  run.  be  a  benefit  to  the  pro- 
ducer, or  will  it  be  only  to  the  consumer?" 

Marengo.  111..  .Ian.  S.  C.  C.  Miller. 


1S«.>'? 


(;i,i:A\IN(iS  IN   I5KE  Cl'I/rURE. 


81 


SUGAR  VS.  HONEY. 

Tin:  (  oMiKi  1  HON    tu--  <  iii.ai'  .-^i  i.ai;.  .ii;i,i,ii;s. 

AM>     OIIIKI!     l)i:i,l(A(  IK.s.     (IN      lloNKV: 
lUSCKlMlN  A  riN(;      I.KOISI.ATION 

A(iAiNsT    Tin:    ni:i;- 

KKKl'Kl!. 

Tli<>  idea  lias  hccii  .■Jmcral  tiiiics  a(lvaiic(>(l.  in 
Ihc.sc  rolumnsaiul  clscwiicii'.  iliat  olK^ap  siifiai' 
doi's  not  in  any  \va\  ounit"  into  i'onip<'titioii  witli 
coiiil)  lioiu'V.  and  iliat  it  is  only  llic  clicapcr 
graiii's  of  cxtiai'ttHi  lioiu\v  that  siilTci- from  sncli 
competition.  I  think  both  of  these  opinions  in'e 
fallaeioiis.  as  a  little  study  of  tli(>  (piestion  will 
show.  I'eojjle  do  not  iisnaljy  eat  honey  simply 
because  it  »V  hoiiev.  Some  eat  it  simply  because 
it  is  one  of  the  family  of  sweets  for  all  of  which 
they  have  a  natural  craving.  This  craving  can 
be  satistied  Just  as  well  with  sugai'.  or  some 
sweet  made  from  it.  as  with  honey,  (ienerally 
honey  is  oaten  because  it  is  a  palatable  table 
sauce,  a  pleasant  addition  to  the  bread  and 
butter  and  other  articles  of  food.  In  this  direc- 
tion it  has  many  rivals. 

Ditl  you  never,  as  you  sat  at  the  table,  hesi- 
tate' as  to  whether  you  would  take  jelly,  honey. 
or  plum  preserves'.'  Or.  perhaps  it  was  a  nice 
dish  of  cranbeiri<'s  or  other  stewed  or  canned 
fruit,  or  any  of  the  long  line  of  similar  delica- 
cies that  divided  your  liking.  Just  as  you  hes- 
itated, the  housekeeper  hesitates  in  furnishing 
her  table,  anil  in  making  her  choice,  if  she  is 
thrifty  and  careful— and  generally  she  is:  she  is 
influenced  largely  by  considerations  of  economy. 

When  honey  is  plentiful  and  cheap,  she  may 
buy  of  it  freely  and  often:  but  when  it  is  scarce 
and  high,  as  we  well  know  to  our  sorrow,  she 
selects  something  else  to  iill  its  place.  When 
sugar  is  cheap  she  puis  u]j  large  quantities  of 
fruit,  with  jams  and  jellies  galore.  Witli  all 
this  array  of  good  things  ui)Oii  her  pantry- 
slielves  she  does  not  see  any  ne(>d  of  buying 
honey,  unless  very  occasioiuilly.  just  as  a  change. 
If  she  is  not  of  the  providing  kind  her  family 
are  not  allowed  to  suffer.  In  every  grocery 
store  sh<^  may  find  a  tempting  array  of  jellies 
and  of  fruit  butters  at  astonishingly  low  prices: 
and  since  sugar  has  taken  the  place  of  th(^ 
gluco.se  that  was  formerly  a  chief  ingredient  of 
very  fair  quality,  the  growtli  of  the  trade  in 
such  articles  has  Immmi  enormous  of  late,  and  no 
doubt  will  continue. 

One  has  only  to  visit  some  of  the  groceries 
where  they  ladli' their  jellies  and  fruit  butters 
out  of  barrels,  when,  only  two  or  three  years 
ago.  a  few  half-pint  tumblers  constituted  their 
entire  stock  of  such  articles,  to  realize  that  here 
is  our  most  foiTuiilable  rival. 

Honey  is  called  a  lu.vury.  and  must  be  .so  con- 
sidered: but  by  comparing  the  sales  at  the  dif- 
ferent classes" of  groceries  I  have  discovered 
what  seems  at  tirst  sight  a  little  peculiar.  It  is 
not  the  rich  nor  yet  what  arc  called  the  upper 
middle  classes  that  use  tin;  most  honey  in  pro- 
portion to  their  nnmber.s,  l>ut  those  who  are 
only  in  comfortable  circumstances,  the  families 
of  artisans  and  laborers.  The  foi'mer.  with 
tlieir  stores  of  table  delicacies  laid  up.  or  readi- 
ly procurable,  have  felt  no  need  of  buying  honey 
but  get  it  only  as  the  fancy  siiikes  them.  The 
latter,  living  more  ••  from  hand  to  mouth."  must 
buy  such  things  as  they  are  needed.  Often  in 
their  search  for  sweets  for  the  table  they  have 
found  h(»ney  as  the  only  competitor  to  the  sugar 
and  mola.sses  baiTols.  But  witii  cheaj)  sugar, 
that  is  l)eing  changed:  and  a  great  variety  of 
fruit  preparations  are  for  sale  at  low  prices. 
This  competition  will.nodoubt.be  stimulated, 
and  bi'come  stronger.  We  do  not  perceive  its 
full  etlects  yet.  because  of  the  scarcity  of  our 
product.    But  let  a  large  crop  of  honey  be  put 


upon  our  markets,  and  we  slK>nld  speedily  see 
to  what  I'Xtenl  we  have  been  injur(>d  Ity  dis- 
criminating legislation. 

The  same  inlluences  that  alfecl  the  sale  of 
comb  honey  are  also  operative  against  the  .sale 
of  extfacli'd  honey  i'or  table  use.  It  is  in  anoth- 
er direction,  however,  that  we  have  most  to 
fear.  Within  the  past  three  or  four  years  the 
use  of  honey  in  the  arts  has  beiui  much  extcnd- 
(>d.  Now.  just  as  we  are  congratulating  onr- 
.selves  on  the  market  thus  gained,  comes  the 
unwelcome  m-ws  that  the  cheaper  sugar  is  be- 
ing substituted  for  the  honey.  Now.  even 
though  it  be  true  that  only  the  poorer  qualities 
of  honey  have  been  thus  supplanted,  this  can 
not  fail  to  have  an  elTecton  the  general  market. 
When  the  outlet  has  been  cfo.sed  for  these 
grades  of  honey  they  must  seek  a  market  (>lse- 
where.  In  doing  this  they  must  come  into 
competition  with  other  (|u"aiities.  and  tend  to 
force  their  prices  down.  It  is  said,  that  no  par- 
ticle of  matter,  however  minute,  can  change  its 
position  without  affecting  the  entire  iiniver.se. 
So  every  pound  of  honey  placed  upon  tin;  gen- 
eral market  must  affect  in  some  degree  the 
price  of  all  honey  sold.  So.  too.  the  government 
can  not  interfere  with  the  natural  ciianiu'ls  of 
trade  in  any  industry  witliout  affecting  to  some 
extent  all  others.  In  this  case  we  are  the  ones 
who  are  pincluHi.  Of  course,  we  squeal.  We 
ought  to.  Let  the  bounty  on  sugar  be  removed, 
or  let  us  receive  a  bounty  and  so  pass  the  bur- 
den on  to  somelx)dy  else. 

The  point  touched  upon  by  A.  N.  Drajjer  on 
page  13  might  be  an  important  one  if  it  were 
true  that  the  government  placed  its  stamp  upon 
all  packages  of  sugar  upon  which  a  bounty  is 
paid.  If  I  am  coiTect.  it  does  not  do  this— cer- 
tainly not  to  the  extent  and  with  the  thorough- 
ness that  it  does  in  the  liquor  and  tobacco  busi- 
ness. I  think  that,  when  the  producer  furnish- 
es satisfactory  proof  that  he  has  actually  pro- 
duced a  certain  amount  of  sugar,  he  is  paid 
the  bounty,  and  that  ends  the  matter.  I  see 
maple  sugar  in  the  stores  nearly  everyday:  but 
there  is  nothing  about  it  to  indicate  whether  it 
came  from  a  Vermont,  sugar-camp  or  a  Chicago 
mixing-establishment.  J.  A.  Gkeen. 

Davton.  III..  .Ian.  7. 


A    GOVERNMENT    BOUNTY 
HONEY. 


OR    TAX    ON 


KEASOXS   WHY    IT     WOULD     WOKK    SILSCIilEF   TO 

BEE -keepers;     IT     WOULD   NOT    HINDER   OR 

PRETEXT   ADULTERATION. 


As  the  subject  of  a  government  bounty  on 
honey  has  been  spoken  of  in  Oleanixgs,  and  a 
discussion  of  the  subject  invited,  will  you  allow 
me  to  say  a  few  words  in  regard  to  it,  and  also 
comment  on  what  was  said  on  page  13  by  A.  N. 
Draper?  He  refers  to  the  connection  "Of  the 
government  with  the  I iquor-t rattle  as  an  illus- 
tration of  how  a  bounty  would  lielp  the  honey- 
business.  That  the  laws  of  the  natioiuil  gov- 
ernment foster  and  make  more  powerful  the 
liquor-traftic.  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt;  but 
that  it  hinders  adulteration,  we  know  is  not 
true,  but  just  the  reverse.  By  protecting  it  for 
the  revenue,  it  creates  a  vas£  monopoly;  and 
by  taxing  the  manufacture  and  sale,  it  en- 
hances the  price  more  than  fourfold,  and  con- 
sequently makes  adulteration  (when  it  goes 
into  the  retailer's  hands)  very  profitable:  when 
the  fact  is.  that,  if  it  weie  not  for  the  tax  that  it 
pays,  the  original  liquor  would  not  be  more 
than  2.T  cents  a  gallon  for  whisky,  and  at  that 
price  there  would  be  no  profit  iii  its  adultera- 
tion. Then,  in  order  to  make  the  liquor  and 
honey  business  similar,  a  tax  should  be  put  on 


82 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  1. 


honey,  and  the  government  conkl  put  its  stamp 
on  the  package  to  show  that  the  tax  was  paid ', 
but  how  is  the  government  to  know  that  every 
package  is  pure  honey  when  so  much  disagree- 
ment has  been  shown  among  the  chemists  who 
have  analyzed  samples  heretofore?  Honey  is 
alreadv  on  the  protective-tariff  list,  and  now 
we  would  have  Uncle  Samuel  put  his  hand  into 
other  people's  pockets  and  take  out  their  money 
to  give  to  us  so  much  a  pound  because  we  are 
producing  a  different  kind  of  article  from  that 
•which  they  produce.  Our  government  can  not 
get  money  except  by  taxing,  directly  or  in- 
directly, the  people;  and  every  dollar  paid 
as  a  bounty  on  sugar  is  taken  from  the  peo- 
ple as  a  whole  and  given  to  a  class  who  pro- 
duce sugar.  The  hundred  million  or  so  a  year 
that  is  the  government's  share  in  the  liquor- 
business  comes  from  those  who  drink  it,  and,  in 
consequence,  hundreds  of  thousands  of  poverty- 
stricken  wives  and  children  of  drunkards  are 
deprived  of  food  and  clothing,  and  the  other 
necessaries  of  life,  that  the  liquor-monopolists 
and  its  powerful  partner,  "  Uncle  Samuel,"  may 
fill  their  pockets,  while  the  great  proportion  of 
the  remainder  of  the  government's  revenue  is 
derived  from  the  consumers  of  the  tariff-pro- 
tected articles  imported  into  the  United  States. 
Now,  again,  I  ask,  by  what  principle  of  justice 
can  the  government  put  its  strong  hand  into 
my  pocket  and  take  my  money  and  (jlve  to 
somebody  else  because  he  is  engaged  in  another 
kind  of  business?  I  make  some  butter,  as  well 
as  produce  some  honey;  and  as  prices  have 
been  for  a  number  of  years,  I  have  not  netted 
two  per  cent  on  the  capital  Invested,  with  labor 
thrown  in;  please  tell  me  why  I  should  not 
have  a  bounty  of  5  cents  per  pound  on  my  but- 
ter; and  then  the  men  who  produce  pork,  beef, 
wheat,  oats,  potatoes,  and,  in  fact,  every  prod- 
uct of  labor,  should  not  have  a  bounty,  for  the 
producers  all  say,  and  truly,  that  they  can  not 
make  reasonable  profits  on  their  business.  A 
man  who  desires  the  government  to  take  other 
people's  money  and  gire  to //im  for  no  equiva- 
lent is  either  very  selfish  orelse  he  has  not  look- 
ed the  matter  over  carefully;  for  it  indisputa- 
bly would  be  a  violation  of  every  principle  of 
justice.  Let  us  use  our  efforts  to  get  stringent 
laws  passed  in  all  of  the  States  against  the 
adulteration  of  honey,  and  then  get,  if  we  can, 
executive  officers  elected  who  will  not  neglect 
their  enforcement;  and  that  is  the  best  we  can 
do.  VoLNEv  White. 

Findley's  Lake,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  7. 


THE  OBJECT  OF  A  BOUNTY 
EFITS. 


WHOM  IT  BEN- 


BOUNTY  ON  HONEY  NOT  DESIRABLE. 


I  notice  in  the  Jan.  1st  issue  of  Gleanings  a 
letter  by  A.  N.  Draper,  taking  up  the  topic  of  a 
bounty  on  honey,  and  treating  from  a  point  of 
view  that  might  for  a  while  result  more  favora- 
bly in  some  particulars  to  the  producer  of  hon- 
ey. (By  the  way,  an  outsider  would  naturally 
draw  the  inference  that  Mr.  D.  is  a  producer  of 
the  extracted  article,  as  he  says  comb  honey 
needs  no  bounty.)  As  the  question  of  the 
bounty  on  sugar  is  understood  in  this  part  of 
the  country,  the  bounty  is  not  primarily  intend- 
ed so  much  for  the  benefit  of  the  party  or  par- 
ties producing  the  sugar,  though,  of  course, 
that  is  where  the  benefit  first  alights;  but  it  is 
to  foster  and  help  the  growth  of  an  industry 
that  will  be  an  infinite  benefit  to  the  country  at 
large.  It  is  also  supposed  to  act  as  an  induce- 
ment to  timid  capitalists  to  invest  enormous 
sums  of  money  in  factories  for  working  up  large 
amounts  of  material  into  a  product  that  the 


people  have  been  sending  their  money  abroad 
for  in  vast  amounts  foi"  many  years  past;  the 
idea  being  kept  in  sight  at  all  times,  that,  in  a 
very  few  years,  these  plants  or  factories  will 
not  only  be  self-sustaining,  but  that  they  will 
return  the  money  paid  them  in  bounties  by  the 
government  much  larger  sums  to  the  people  in 
the  form  of  cheaper  sugar. 

Now,  honey  is  not  a  thing  that  the  country  in 
general  considers  a  nec<'ssity,  neither  is  it  a 
thing  that  they  should  or  would  be  willing  to 
be  taxed  to  pay  a  bounty  on  for  the  benefit  of 
the  producer.  Honey-yjroducing  is  an  industry 
that  has  been  developed  pretty  extensively  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  that  can  stand  on  its 
own  bottom,  with  a  little  assistance  in  the 
way  of  a  tariff  duty  on  the  imported  article, 
which  it  already  has.  He  says,  further.  "  Let 
the  government  stamp  what  honey  is  actually 
produced  in  this  countiy.  and  adulteration  will 
cease;"  and  likens  honey-producing  to  whisky- 
producing.  Has  the  government  ever  paid  a 
bounty  on  the  production  of  whisky  ?  If  so,  it 
was  before  my  time.  Tiie  stamps  affixed  to  the 
packages  of  whisky  cost  the  producers  of  that 
article  quite  a  tidy  sum,  and  I  believe  the  gov- 
ernment does  not  undertake  to  certify  to  the 
purity  or  wiiolesomeness  of  any  package  to 
which  the  stamp  is  attached;  further,  liquors 
which  Ijear  government  stamps  and  inspectors' 
marks  are  popularly  supposed  to  be  as  rank  and 
vile  mixtures  of  adulterators  as  is  possible  for 
them  to  concoct;  at  least,  so  we  were  taught  by 
the  truly  good  prohibition  brethren  last  cam- 
paign in  Nebraska,  so  there  falls  one  of  his 
principal  points.  So  long  as  learned  chemists 
pronounce  pure  honey  from  the  bees  as  adulter- 
ated with  glucose,  as  has  been  done  on  several 
occasions,  so  long  must  consumers  take  their 
chances  of  a  mixture;  and  so  long  as  a  cheaper 
product  can  be  mixed  with  the  genuine  honey, 
to  the  financial  advantage  of  the  mixer,  so  long 
will  a  mixture  be  on  the  market  unless  we  get 
in  force  a  severe  and  stringent  law  punishing  the 
seller  of  a  product  that  is  sold  for  what  it  is  not. 
It  is  really  too  bad  that  Mrs.  H.'s  chances  of 
a  crop  are  getting  a  trifie  risky  at  Peoria  be- 
cause her  field  is  covered  by  a  city.  It  has 
never  been  considered  a  function  of  the  govern- 
ment, however,  to  assume  all  risks  in  the  busi- 
ness ventures  of  its  citizens,  and  guarantee 
them  a  profit.  I  can  see  only  one  of  two  reme- 
dies in  her  dilemma.  She  might  persuade  the 
Peorians  to  go  west  and  uncover  her  field,  or, 
failing  in  that,  she  might  come  out.  possibly, 
herself  with  her  bees  where  we  have  many 
broad  fields  yet  uncovered  by  cities,  and  we 
would  make  either  Peoria  or  Mrs.  H.  awfully 
welcome  too. 

I  am  probably  wi'ong,  but  it  seems  to  me  a 
good  deal  disgusting— ilie  howl  that  is  ascend- 
ing to  the  skies  for  something  to  be  given  to 
this  class  and  that.  It  seems  to  be  getting  to 
be  a  mania  to  want  to  pull  at  the  public  teat  in 
some  manner.  Farmers  want  government  to 
build  them  warehouses  in  which  to  store  their 
crops:  and  not  only  that,  but  to  give  them  the 
money  for  their  crops,  and  hold  it  till  they  can 
starve  those  needing  it  into  giving  all  they 
choose  to  ask  for  it.  Not  only  that,  but,  after 
the  government  has  given  tnillions  of  farms  to 
the  present  owners,  they  now  want  the  govern- 
ment to  let  them  have  the  worth  of  their  farms 
in  money  without  interest,  and  keep  their  farms 
too!  Bee-keepers  want  other  people  to  pay  them 
two  cents  for  their  honey,  and  allow  them  to 
keep  their  honey.  Sugar-men  want  two  cents 
per  pound  for  all  the  sugar  they  can  make.  But 
here  is  some  return — they  sell  the  sugar  two 
cents  per  pound  cheaper  than  they  did  before 
the  bounty  was  granted,  so  there  the  people  are 
nothing  out  for  their  liberality,  while  in  a  few 


1S<I-J 


OI.HAXINCS  IN  lUOK  CULTURE. 


83 


vt'ars  tln'i"<'  is  cNciy  prospect  of  ilicir  liciiig 
liirili'ly  i:;iini'i-s  f<ii-  (licir  foifsiurlil.  A  hoiiiily 
on  lioiii'v  \vi)ukl  piohulily  liavc  a  liUc  ctVccI  in 
tlu'  ooniso  of  a  very  few  seasons,  as  it  would 
lurirt'ly  inrroase  tii(>  supply  of  extracted,  witli- 
out  a  coii-esi)oii(lins  incfease  in  the  (ieniand, 
except  at  a  lower  price;  conseipiently  the  l)ee- 
keejiers  would  he  in  the  same  lix  as  now.  only 
with  an  increased  nnini)er  of  producers  in  the 
field.  The  trouhle  with  hee-Ueepers.  as  I  plain- 
ly sei' it.  is.  thiit  the  pnttlications  of  the  craft 
arc  too  much  interested  in  fiiMliiifi  new  i)lood  in 
tiic  business  instead  of  well  heatitifj  tip  the 
jiround  that  is  already  occii|iied.  They  seem  to 
feid  it  their  ilnty  to  attempt  to  convince  every 
individual  with  whom  tln'y  come  in  contact 
that  it  is  the  rosiest  bnsini'ss  in  the  universe, 
and  that  their  whole  duty  will  not  ho  performed 
until  they  hecome  bee- Keepers.  It  is  the  only 
trade.  |)rofession.  or  business  in  the  uni\'ers(> 
that  makes  constant  and  \itiorous  etTorts  to  in- 
crease its  supply  and  decrease  th«^  demand  for 
the  products  of  its  labors.  I  "  am  a  bee-keeper 
for  pleasure"  (and  protit):  but  when  I  con- 
stantly tryto  jiet  others  to  start  in  the  business, 
and  begin  to  shout  for  a  little  assistance  in  the 
way  of  a  bounty  for  the  lioney  I  produce.  I  am 
going  to  decide  there  is  no  fun  in  the  business. 
and  resign.  At  the  same  time,  if  the  philan- 
thropists insist  on  putting  into  otir  pockets  a 
few  extra  dollars  as  they  did  for  the  maple- 
sugar  men  (which  was  an  outrage).  I  am  not 
going  to  make  a  heavy  kick,  but  it  will  be  a 
fraud  just  the  same.  ('.  F.  Tiio.mas. 

Dorchester,  Neb..  .Ian.  7. 


ITALIANS  IN  ITALY. 

TH08.  B.   HI-OW,   OF   f:XGLAND.   WHO   HAS   TRAV 
ELED   IX   ITALY.    SAYS   THE   BEES   IN   ITALY- 
ARE   NOT   t'NIP^OK.M  AS   TO   COLOR   OK 
MARKINGS. 


De(ir  Mr.  Root: — I  have  read  with  interest 
your  note  to  the  letter  on  Italians  in  Italy. 
Now.  I  know  that,  of  all  things,  you  wish  to 
get  at  the  truth  in  these  matters,  and  also  to 
show  where  the  advantage  or  otherwise  to  the 
bee-keeper  comes  in. 

As  to  color.  I  think  far  too  much  stress  has 
been  laid  upon  tliis.  What  we  should  strive 
after  is.  rather,  working  qualities.  Bright- 
colored  three-banded  Italians  are  very  prcaty, 
and  all  that:  but  what  the  bee-beeper  wants  is 
not  beauty  altogether,  but  work — honey-gath- 
■ring.  There  is  no  question  at  all  but  that 
plenty  of  bright-colored,  three-banded  bees  do 
exist  in  North  Italy,  and  especially  arc;  they 
found  (by  selection,  of  course)  in  the  large  api- 
aries of  the  (lueen-raisers.'  Tiie  bet!  of  North 
Italy  does  vary  a  good  deal  in  color,  and  often 
is  very  dark.  This  fact  is  well  known  to  those 
who  have  studied  the  question  on  the  spot  (and, 
by  the  way,  one  of  the  persons  wiiom  Mr.  Bian- 
concini  mi'iitions  in  his  letter  as  an  eniineiil 
authority,  has,  I  believe,  never  been  in  Italy  at 
all.  but  has  been  simply  an  importer  of  bees, 
and  is  not  accepted  iiere  as  an  authority  in 
this  particular  subject).  To  my  own  certain 
knf)W  ledge,  at  one  time  Cyprians  were  used  in 
some  of  the  <iueen-iaising  a|)iari<!S.  with  a  view 
to  improving  the  color,  though  I  believe  this 
plan  is  now  abandoned,  and  rightly  too.  The 
bi'St  observers  in  (Jrr'at  Britain  are.  I  think, 
agreed  that  the  Italian  lice,  as  imijorted  at  the 
present  time  from  many  qiiei-n-raising  apiaries. 
is  qinte  an  inferior  article  to  tho.<e  sent  over  in 
the  early  days:  and  to  such  an  extent  has  this 
opinion  gained  ground  that  the  importation  of 
Italians  to  this  country  has,  to  a  great  extent, 
ceased. 


Allot  her  jioint  agiiinst  them  has  been  t  he  siis- 
jticion  (well  gi-ounded,  I  believe)  that  a  very 
virulent  foi'ni  of  foul  i)rood  has  been  intrioduced 
by  them.  Of  this  I  think  there  can  be  no  doubt, 
as  I  liave  personally  seen  tlie  way  that  bees 
were  collected  in  Itahinthe  autumn,  for  the 
sake  of  the  queens,  which  were  siniplj-  taken 
from  th<'  colonies  (l)ought  from  the  country 
people),  and  packed  off  whoh'sale — young  or 
old.  diseased  or  healthy.  At  that  time  I  wrote 
and  protested  against  this  system,  and  I  imag- 
ine that  it  does  not  now  prevail  to  sucli  an 
extent,  the  business  being  now  mainly  in  the 
hands  of  honest  (lueen-raisers  who  take  some 
pride  in  the  (|uality  of  the  article  they  raise — 
esjK'cially  the  color  of  it.  My  own  (;xperi(Mice 
—gained  by  many  visits  to  Italy— is,  that  it  is 
not  from  tln^  largest  (pnM'ii-raisiiig  ai)iaries  that 
we  get  the  very  linest  Itees;  and  the  locality, 
too.  is  important,  the  bees  from  the  liigher  dis- 
tricts iHung  much  hardier  than  those,  from  the 
hot  plains.  I  could  mention  the  names  of  sev- 
eral people  who  certainly  produce  only  a  limit- 
ed number  of  (piecMis;  but  each  one  is  a  queen 
of  the  right  sort.  Tho.mas  B.  Blow. 

Welwyn.  England,  Dec.  30. 

[We  must  admit  that  there  are  some  dark 
bees  in  Italy:  and  it  is  possible  that  there  are 
some  dealers  who  are  unscrupulous  in  the  fill- 
ing of  orders:  but  the  stock  that  we  have  re- 
ceived in  the  last  ten  or  fifteen  years  from  Italy 
has  been  from  only  one  or  two  breeders,  and 
their  queens  have  been  of  the  very  best— at 
least,  as  a  general  rule  they  have  excelled  our 
home-bred  stock,  although  there  are  exceptions 
to  the  rule.  Whatever  may  be  the  bees  in  Italy, 
the  conditions  for  rearing  queens  are  better 
there  than  in  this  country  — at  least,  results 
seem  to  point  that  way.  We  quite  agree  with 
you.  that  it  is  not  the  golden-banded  or  highly- 
colored  queens  that  usually  give  the  best  results 
in  the  production  of  honey.  As  you  may  know, 
we  have  been  trying  to  educate  the  general 
bee-keeping  public  toward  procuring  queens 
that  are  bred  for  business  rather  than  for  color. 
The  leather-colored  ones  have  generally  given 
us  the  best  results.  In  Italy  they  have  not  got 
the  rage  for  queens  for  beauty — as  least,  not  to 
the  same  extent  that  they  have  in  this  country.] 


THE  ITALIAN  BEE  IN  ITALY. 


IS     IT   A    HYBRID     OR     SIMPLY'   A    VARIETY   OF    A 
WELL-KNOWN   SPECIES? 

Mr.  Doolittle  propounded  the  theory  at  Al- 
bany, and  I  have  also  seen  it  elsewhere  in 
his  writings,  that  "  the  Italian  bee  is  a  hybrid." 
The  meaning  of  tlie  word  "hybrid  "is,  I  be- 
lieve. "  mongrel,  or  the  production  of  two  spe- 
cies." In  natural  history,  by  "species"  is 
understood  th(>  original  type,  and  the  changes 
piTMhiced  in  that  original  type  by  climate  and 
ditt'erent  natural  surroundings,  are  called  "va- 
rieties." 

If  by  thr;  term  "hybrid"  Mr.  Doolittle  means 
that  the  yellow  Italian  bee  (I  use  the  word 
"  yellow  ■"  advisedly)  is  a  variety  of  the  black, 
or  (ierman  bee,  it's  possible  that  he  is  cot  rect, 
though  there  are  several  distinguished  natural- 
ists who  hold  that  the  yellow  bee  is  th(!  species 
and  the  t)lack  the  variety.  But  if  Mr.  Doolittle 
means  that  the  crossing  of  the  two  species  is  so 
rr>cent  that  the  type  is  not  suHiciently  fixed  for 
the  Italians  to  be  called  even  a  variety.  I  con- 
tend that  he  is  w-rong:  for  in  its  natiH'al  locality 
it  has  a  fixed  type  thai  has  not  changed  since 
Virgil  first  wrote  of  the  yellow-banded  be<%  as 
can  be  shown  by  comparing  the  descriptions 
of  Spinola.  who,  in  18().>.  called  them  Ligurians; 


84 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fkb.  1. 


of  Dziw'zon.  who  intioduced  them  into  Ger- 
many in  1853,  with  that  given  on  page  14  in 
January  Gleanings.  That  there  are  changes 
under  different  climatic  and  geological  condi- 
tions. I  admit;  and  it  is  to  be  expected,  reason- 
ing from  the  changes  that  are  common  in  both 
animals  and  plants  when  removed  from  their 
natural  home  (see  page  14  as  above). 

The  original  location  of  the  Italian  bee,  I  be- 
lieve to  be  the  mountain-ranges  of  Northern 
Italy  and  Switzerland;  hence  Spinola's  natne. 
Ligurians.  Mr.  Woodbury,  of  Devonshire,  ob- 
tained the  first  Italians,  imported  into  England 
in  18:V.),  from  M.  Hernuin,  of  Samin  by  Chur, 
Switzerland,  who,  in  a  pamphlet  publislied 
about  that  time,  says:  ''The  yellow  Italian  bee 
is  a  mountain  insect,  found  between  two  moun- 
tain-chains left  of  Lombardy  and  the  Rhoetian 
Alps,  thriving  up  to  4.500  feet  above  sea-level. 
The  Alps  are  their  native  country."' 

This,  their  home,  has  very  marked  character- 
istics—high mountain-ranges  with  perpetual 
snow  on  their  summits,  while  in  numerous  shel- 
tered valleys  there  is  almost  perpetual  spring. 
Such  a  district  would  naturally  impart  peculiar 
traits  to  all  its  inhabitants;  and  what  wonder 
if.  when  transplanted  to  less  rigorous  climes,  a 
change,  improvement  or  otherwise,  occurs,  as 
emphasized  by  Mr.  Herman  in  his  pamphlet 
quoted  before?  "The  further  one  goes  from 
the  Alps,  tlae  less  handsome  they  are,  until  in 
lower  Italy  they  are  entirely  lost  in  the  black 
species." 

Perhaps  here  luay  be  found  the  e.xplanation 
of  A.  T.  Goldsborough's  letter  in  a  recent  num- 
ber; and,  to  carry  the  point  still  further,  but  in 
an  opposite  direction,  in  more  ways  than  one, 
turn  to  page  .50(5  and  read  what  J.  P.  Israel  says 
of  the  Italian  bee  in  California.  There  in  the 
mountains  it  found  a  country  more  nearly  ap- 
proaching its  native  land  than  elsewhere  in 
America. 

I  conclude,  then.  that,  as  the  points  which 
give  the  Italian  bee  superiority  over  others  are 
due  to  its  natural  environment,  we »shall  con- 
tinually need  to  import  fresh  stock  from  its  na- 
tive Alps  to  get  home-bred  queens  superior  to 
instead  of  deteriorating  from  the  natural  type. 

Avery,  La.  H.  Fitz  Hart. 


THE  SALT  KEMEDY  FOR  FOUL  BROOD. 


Wn,L   IT   CURK   IF   PKOPERI-Y   APPLIEI)? 


On  page  822,  1890.  W.  L.  Coggshall.  of  West 
Groton.  N.  Y..  says:  "'I  have  (500  colonies  of 
bees.  My  e.xperieiice  with  bees  has  taught  me 
that,  as  soon  as  they  begin  to  tly  in  spring,  and 
to  breed,  they  require  salt;  and  I  know  that,  if 
salt  is  used  propeily,  it  will  cure  foul  brood  and 
other  diseases." 

On  i)age  S:.*<(,  same  issue,  the  editor  says: 
'•  Friend  Coggshall  forgets  that  the  salt  remedy 
has  been  thoroughly  discussed  at  conventions, 
and  carefully  tested  by  scientilic  men.  until  it  is 

Eretty  certain  that  common  salt  or  salt  water 
as  no  effect  whatevei-  on  foul  l)rood." 

On  page  006,  sam(!  volume.  th(>  editor  refers  to 
the  alleged  salt  cure  again,  and  says:  "Dur- 
ing th(!  whole  time  that  foul  brood  prevailed  in 
our  apiary  we  used  salt  in  front  of  the  hives, 
for  keeping  down  weeds.  Whenever  there  was 
a  rain,  or  even  a  heavy  dew.  the  bees  could  b(^ 
seen  in  the  sawdust  aroiuid  the  entrances,  help- 
ing themselves  to  their  hearts"  content.  Prof. 
Cook,  or  some  one  els(\  has  reported  testing  the 
matter  with  scientilic  exactness,  and  the  salt 
water  had  no  effect  whatever  on  tlie  foul 
brood." 

Now.  it  seems  to  me  that  the  better  way.  in 
order  to  discuss  the  salt  remedy  intelligently, 


would  be  to  request  friend  Coggshall  to  write 
out  his  experi(Mice  with  salt,  as  indicated,  and 
then  publish  the  same  in  Gleanings.  It  seems 
to  me  that  a  bee-keeper  who  has  000  colonies  of 
bees,  and  who  says  that  he  knmus  salt  will  cure 
foul  brood,  when  used  properly,  ought  to  know 
what  he  is  talking  about.  When  he  gives  his 
expeiience  in  print  we  may  then  tind  that 
friend  (.'.  does  not  use  salt  for  the  cure  of  foul 
brood  by  sprinkling  it  over  "  weeds  "  and  "  saw- 
dust." but  that  he  lias  some  special  way  of 
using  it,  for  he  says  it  must  be  used  properly. 

The  writer  of  this  is  by  no  means  a  novice  in 
the  management  of  apiaries  afflicted  with  foul 
brood.  My  experience  with  foul  brood  began 
some  30  years  ago  in  westein  New  York,  and 
has  continued  at  intervals  from  that  time  to  the 
present.  My  experience  has  taught  me  that  a 
foul-brood  apiary  can  be  made  about  as  profit- 
able as  a  healthy  one.  and  that  the  disease  can 
also  be  exterminated  therefrom  when  so  de- 
sired. Put  there  may  be  a  better  way  than 
mine,  or  any  tiiat  has  been  made  public,  to  rid 
an  apiary  of  foul  brood:  and  this  is  why  I  de- 
sire to  know  the  details  of  friend  Coggshall's 
plan,  and  to  have  the  same  published  in 
Gleanings.  M.  M.  Paldridge. 

St.  Charles.  111..  Jan.  10. 

[Mr.  Coggsliall  is  a  prominent  and  successful 
bee-keeper,  and  we  hereby  solicit  him  to  reply.] 


"WAX-MELTING. 


WHY    FOrNDATION   IS   MII,KY    IX   COLOR. 

There  are  some  who  think  steam  makes  foun- 
dation milky,  and  some  that  heating  hot  injun>s 
wax.  Now,  steam,  if  not  used  right,  will  make 
poor  foundation,  and  heating  hot  will  spoil  wax; 
but  wax  heated  in  water  can  not  be  heated  too 
hot.  and  steam  used  rightly  increases  its  value. 
When  melting  wax,  if  steam  is  used  direct.be 
sure  to  let  all  boil  together  (water  and  wax) 
furiously  for  15  minutes.  Then  let  it  stand 
five  hours,  and  the  wax  will  be  perfectly  clear — 
so  clear  that  you  can  see  to  the  bottom  of  a 
dipi)erful.  There  is  now  no  water  with  the 
wax.  If  the  wax  is  dijjjjcd  inHuediately  over 
into  the  dipping-can  aftei'  melting,  or  if  the 
wax  is  not  heated  fcot.  but  only  enough  to  just 
melt  it,  the  wax  will  be  milky",  and  foundation 
made  from  it  will  look  as  though  full  of  sand. 
At  our  State  fair  there  was  1.50  lbs.  which  we 
clarified  foi' a  bee-keeper,  and  it  took  the  first 
premium.  It  ceitainly  would  not  if  it  had  been 
sandy.  Every  one  that  has  rendered  wax  is 
accjuainted  with  the  refuse  on  the  bottom  of 
the  cakes.  Some  of  it  is  loose,  and  is  easily 
scraped  off.  This  is  in  the  same  condition  that 
the  w  lK)le  cake  would  have  been  if  it  had  been 
heated  only  just  enougli  to  melt,  and  given  a 
good  stiiring.  If  you  ever  have  a  cake  of  wax 
in  this  condition,  to  remedy  it  put  the  cake  in 
some  watei'  and  heat  to  the  boiling-point  and 
boil  hard  for  15  minutes,  then  set  off'  the  stove, 
distui'l>ing  it  as  liitle  as  jjossible:  covei'  up  so  as 
to  keep  in  a  melted  state  as  long  as  you  can. 
Let  it  stand  for  :.'4  hoins.  when  you  can  take  off 
a  cake  of  wax  just  as  good  as  it  ever  was.  Save 
all  tiie  scrapings  from  the  bottom  of  your  cakes, 
and  try  this.  You  will  get  enough  wax  from 
them  every  year  to  more  than  pay  for  Gi^e.^n- 

INGS. 

1  wonder  whetlier  those  who  say  steam  in- 
jures wax  have  melted  much  that  way.  We 
rendered  about  1000  lbs.  of  wax  from  old  combs 
this  last  year,  and  challenge  any  one  to  show  as 
nice  a  lot.  It  was  rendeied  by  steam  at  a  pre.ss- 
ure  of  .80  lbs.,  blowing  directly  into  the  water 
containing  the    coiubs.     I   don't  know  of  any 


1S9-? 


(H.KAXIXdS  IX  moK  cn/riMiK. 


way  to  ial<('\\a\  tlial  I'onn-  to  us.  iliai  w  a-- 
r<'iulri-('(l  ill  iiiiii  iiti'iisils.  and  iiial<i'  it  ydinw  . 
unless  it  is  tlic  one  i)f  llioroiijiliiy  lioiiiiiK  it  in 
JU'idiilatcil  walcf.  'rhi>  acid  coniiiincs  wiili  tiic 
ifon.  and  sinixs  in  tlic  inntdiii  w  itii  t  lie  water, 
leaviiiir  tile  \\a\  (vcr  IVuiii  ii.  wiiic-h  niad<'  it 
dark  in  I'liior. 

One  tiiinsr  1  sliHiild  Iii<e  to  eornrl.  Tiie  aeid 
does  not  eailioni/e  or  Imiii  tlie  ofganie  niattei\ 
but  eonihlnes  witli  tln' iron.  ele..  iluit  is  in  the 
wax.  also  w  itii  tlie  water.  inaUinfr  i(  easier  for 
tlw  water  to  soak  into  tiie  impurities.  Tiie 
liotter  tiie  water  and  wax.  the  more  easily  tlie 
refuse  will  settle.  In  rendering  old  combs,  if 
we  could  use  soniethinii  in  the  iilace  of  water 
that  wiiuld  soak  up  the  cot-oous  so  as  to  make 
them  heavi(>rthan  wax.  the  process  of  getting 
the  wax  from  the  combs  would  be  vei-y  simple. 

I  have  used  water  and  acid,  half  and  half  by 
measure,  on  old  combs,  and  have  succeede<l  in 
getting  (f// the  refuse  cocoons  and  everything 
els«»  to  settle:  but  cm  heating  to  get  the  wax  to 
rise,  the  refuse  would  come  to  the  top.  caused 
by  the  steam  fiom  the  boiler  condensing  and 
mingling  with  what  water  was  there  before. 
and  making  the  refuse  lighter.  1  now  have 
another  idea  in  my  head  to  try.  It  is.  to  wash 
out  the  wax  while  all  is  boiling  hot.  I  believe 
1  liave  something  that  will  work,  and  some- 
thing that  every  iiee-keeper  can  us(>. 

F.  A.  Sai.i.siuky. 

Syracuse.  X.  Y..  .Ian.  I'l.  IS'.i:?. 

[So  far  as  our  experience  goes  you  are  coiTect. 
although  you  are  the  first  one  to  discover  the 
plan  to  us.  We  may  aild.  incidentully.  that 
any  foundation,  after  having  l)een  rolled,  that 
is  milky,  instead  of  yellow  and  transparent. 
may  be  brought  to  the  latter  condition  by  ex- 
posure to  the  rays  of  the  sun  before  a  window 
for  a  fesv  minutes,  or  by  exposure  to  artificial 
hear.  .-Vny  foundation  that  is  used  for  exhibi- 
tion purpos(>s  can  Thus  be  very  much  improved 
where  otherwise  it  might  pass  for  a  second 
grade.] 


COLORADO. 


Mi:.  JKSStI'    KXfl.AINS    I  NCLP;    A.MO.S     JOKE. 


It  is  now  the  11th  of  January,  and  in  this 
time  the  bees  have  had  four  days  "in  wiiich  they 
could  en.joy  a  cleansing  flight  since  Jan.  1.  and 
you  may  rest  assured  tliey  enjoyed  themselves. 

Well,  friends,  since  Uncle  Amos  has  started 
the  .joke  a  going  I  might  as  well  aeknowledg<' 
it.  and  say  that  it  is  my  treat:  but  since  I 
neither  smoke  nor  drink,  and  don't  think  that 
any  of  the  rest  of  the  bee-k<'epers  do,  I  suppose 
I  shall  liav(!  to  set  up  the  candy.  To  make  a 
long  story  short.  I  will  tell  you  how  it  was  I 
came  to  ask  the  senior  editor  to  subscribe  for 
his  own  journal.  We  are  all  liable  to  make 
mistakes,  and  of  course  I  knew  ht;  was  expected 
there:  but  I  was  so  sure  that  he  was  another 
man  that  I  did  show  him  (JLK.wixcis.  and  ask- 
r-d  him  to  subscribe:  for.  as  Uncle  A.  I.  says.  I 
was  very  deeply  engaged  in  soliciting  subscrip- 
tions for  it.  and  I  wanted  that  man  to  ■siihsarihe 
for  it.  Howe\»er.  it  is  only  a  joke,  and  I  am 
one  who  can  take  a  joke  in  as  good  play  as  any 
one.  when  it  is  a  truthful  one. 

nil-;    FIJATKHXAI-   FEKI.ING    KKTWKEX    HKK- 
KDITOK.S. 

And  right  here,  while  I  think  about  it,  is 
something  that  I  would  speak  about:  It  is  the 
general  good  nature  displayed  by  our  brother 
bee-keepr'i-s.  Take  for.  instance,  the  case  of 
A\".  Z.  Hutchinson  and  Ernest,  as  described  by 
W.  Z.  himself  when  they  were  at  Albany  to- 
gether,  and    note    the   perfect    good    will"  and 


bnillieiix  kiiidiie-v  sjiow  II  ill  ilieir  travels,  and 
also  notice  the  liiscription  of  the  discussion, 
too,  how  their  discussion  grew  •"redhot,"  and 
still  they  kept  '•  sw<>et:"  and  you  might  ask 
why  they  ilid.  Hecaiise  it  is  hard  to  liinl  a  man 
who  has  passed  i  lie  experiiiient  a  I  stage  <so  to 
speak)  of  bee-keeping,  but  has  learned  tin- 
great  lesson  of  obedience  and  (Midurance  to  such 
an  extent  that  he  can  at  all  times  control  his 
t<'mper.  They  have  sweetened  them  with  hon- 
ey, perhaps. 

A\ell.  friends,  in  conclusion  I  want  to  say 
that  my  dr<>ams  of  years  are  fast  being  realized. 
I  have  at  last  secured  me  a  farm,  and  am  jire- 
paring  to  settle  down  and  make  me  a  home;  and 
1  wish  to  say  to  my  friends  a,ud  brother  bee- 
keei)ers  in  the  East,  that,  w  hen  you  are  visiting 
ill  the  West  just  come  around  and  I  will  en- 
deavoi-  to  make  youi' visit  as  pleasant-  as  it,  is 
possible  to  do.  I  am  located  just  six  miles  east 
of  Greeley,  on  the  south  side  of  the  l*latte  Riv- 
er, and  my  apiary  shall  be  known  as  the  Aurora 
Fai'm  Apiary.  1  hope  to  be  abl(>  to  give  you  a 
Ijlioto  of  my  home  and  apiary  some  time  during 
th(^  coming  autumn.  Thko.  V.  .Ikssi:i'. 

(xreeley.  Colo. 


THE  MAN  OR  THE  HIVE-WHICH  1 

t)()()I,ITTr,K  GIVES   SOME   OF   THE  KEQUIHEMEXTS 
OF   SUCCESSFUL   BEE-lvEEPIN'G. 

From  the  many  (piestions  from  different  cor- 
respondents which  I  r(>ceive  nearly  every  day, 
and  fiom  the  many  who  are  seeking  after  the 
best  hive,  a  hive  which  will  "give  big  results  " 
every  time,  it  would  seem  that  all  one  has  to 
do  is  to  procure  a  iloot  Dovetailed,  a  Ileddon 
divisible.  Hoffman.  Langstroth.  (Jallu]).  or 
some  other  good  hive,  to  meet  willi  ccrt<i\u  suc- 
cess in  apiculture.  No  matter  how  little 
thought  is  given  to  the  field,  location,  or  secur- 
ing the  l)ees  in  time  for  the  harvest,  or  how- 
poorly  attended  to.  if  we  have  only  a  good  hive 
we  certainly  shall  have  honey.  From  the 
many  failut'es  in  the  b(M!-business,  and  the 
shipwreck  ending  in  disaster  of  so  many  who 
started  out  joyously  when  embarking  in  the 
business,  it  would  seem  as  if  they  depended 
simply  on  using,  or  having  in  their  bee-yard, 
good  hives.  Wliile  a  good  hive  has  very  much 
to  do  wnth  the  results  of  bee-keeping,  the  nuin 
has  much  more  to  do  with  success  or  failure;,  so 
far  as  dollars  and  ci'uts  are  concerned.  Does  a 
mau  bu.y  a  choice  lot  of  i)oultry,  put  them  in  a 
nice,  well-finished  building  and  inclosure  for 
the  same,  and  let  them  take  care  of  themselves, 
expecting  a  larg(!  [nolit  from  them?  No:  tlu^ 
man  spares  no  pains  to  have  them  pioperly 
cared  for.  and  gives  them  every  chance  in  his 
power  which  will  tend  toward  success.  Yet 
this  very  same  individual,  or  many  very  similar 
to  him,"  will  ex|)ect  a  large  incomi^  from  the 
same  number  of  colonies  of  bees  if  thc-y  only 
have  them  in  good  hives,  no  matter  whether 
they  do  any  thing  for  them  once  in  six  months 
or  liot.  The  idea  that '•  bees  work  for  nothing 
and  board  themselves"  must  be  banished 
from  our  thoughts  before  we  secure  much 
profit  from  them,  and  yet  this  very  idea  seems 
to  take  possession  of  very  many  when  they 
embark  in  the  bee-business.  Work,  for  a  man 
with  bi-ains  enough  to  know  that  he  must  leave 
no  stone  unturned  that  tends  toward  success,  is 
what  successful  bee-keei)ing  means.  A  good 
hive  in  the  hands  of  such  a  nuiu  is  a  pow'er 
wiiich  can  be  used  to  roll  up  tons  of  honey,  and 
show  to  the  masses  of  tlie  people  that  there  is 
money  in  the  bee-business.  Such  a  man  will 
have  his  bees  in  readiness  for  the  honey  harvest 
whether  that  harvest  comes  from  white  clover, 


86 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  1. 


basswood,  or  fall  flowers,  and  he  will  do  things 
in  just  the  I'ight  time  to  secure  the  best  results, 
lam  often  asked."  What  advantage  has  a  mov- 
able-frame hive  over  a  box  hive?"  Muc'?(, every 
way,  in  the  hands  of  the  skillful  apiarist,  but 
none  at  all  with  the  man  who  does  not  take  ad- 
vantage of  its  principles  or  of  the  benelits  de- 
rived by  a  judicious  use  of  the  same,  such  as 
knowing  in  the  spring  that  each  "colony  has 
sufficient  stores  to  last  till  flowers  bloom, 
or  in  the  fall  that  it  has  plenty  of  stores 
for  winier,  or  that  each  colony  has  a  good 
prolific  queen,  or  giving  stores  to  the  needy 
by  taking  them  from  those  having  an  abun- 
dance, etc.  What  are  the  movable  frames 
good  for  if  not  for  the  above  purpose?  and  yet 
we  have  those  all  over  the  land  who  do  not  take 
a  frame  out  of  a  hive  once  in  a  year,  yet  call 
themselves  bee-keepers,  and  wonder  why  they 
do  not  succeed  in  securing  some  pi'oHt  fjom 
their  bees  as  do  some  of  their  more  successful 
neighbors.  They  have  the  same  hives,  they  are 
sure.  They  are  like  some  persons  I  know  of, 
who,  when  asked  how  the  bees  prosper,  say, 
"  Pretty  well,  I  guess:  the  hives  were  all  heavy 
when  I  set  them  out  of  the  cellar,  and  I  guess 
they  are  yet.  Here  is  a  good  one.  I  have  lifted 
it  several  times,  and  it  is  always  heavy.  That 
one  will  give  me  lots  of  honeythis  year."  We 
step  to  the  entrance,  and  there  is  scarcely  a  bee 
flying,  while  from  others,  near  by.  the  working 
force  shows  three  times  their  numbers.  L^pon 
asking  about  one  of  these  the  owner  lifts  the 
hive,  and,  when  finding  it  much  lighter  than 
the  other,  says,  "  That  is  lighter,  and  I  do  not 
think  it  is  as  good  as  the  other."  We  next  ask 
if  each  has  a  good  queen  and  plenty  of  brood, 
as  it  is  now  near  the  tenth  of  May.  and  are  met 
with  the  reply,  "I  can't  tell:  I  have  not  had 
the  frames  out  of  the  hive  since  the  bees  were 
put  in  it.  I  do  not  believe  in  fussing  with  my 
bees  as  some  do." 

Thus  we  find  plenty  of  bee-keepers,  or  those 
calling  themselves  such,  all  over  the  land.  Is 
it  any  wonder  that  we  have  plenty  of  candi- 
dates for  blasted  hopes?  These  men  do  not 
seem  to  realize  that  it  is  just  this  "  fussing."  as 
they  call  it.  which  makes  the  success  of  the 
prosperous  ones  about  them.  I  do  not  want  to 
be  understood  that  a  person  is  to  be  continually 
overhauling  his  hives  (as  most  of  the  readers  of 
Gleanings  are  aware,  from  what  I  have  writ- 
ten during  the  immediate  past),  that  such  a 
person  may  be  successful.  No.  not  that.  What 
I  mean  is,  that,  when  a  gain  is  to  be  made  by 
looking  inside  of  a  hive,  do  It,  and  do  it  at  just 
the  time  it  is  needed.  Tend  to  the  bees  in  the 
spring  in  just  the  right  time:  put  on  the  sec- 
lions  in  the  right  time:  see  that  all  colonies 
have  good  prolific  queens  at  the  time  they  are 
needed,  and  so  on  with  all  the  work  of  the 
apiary.  Do  not  keep  any  more  colonies  of  bees 
than  you  can  care  for  and  have  every  thing 
done  in  good  order.  Better  results  can  be  se- 
cured from  twenty- five  colonies  properly  at- 
tended to  than  with  one  hundred  colonies  left 
to  care  for  themselves.  What  I  wish  to  im- 
press on  the  mind  of  every  reader  of  this  arti- 
cle is  this:  That  a  thorough,  practical  apiarist 
will  succeed  with  almost  any  of  the  frame  hives 
now  in  use,  while  a  careless,  "  go  as  you  please  " 
man,  will  not  pay  his  way  with  the  best  hive 
ever  invented;  and  it  is  for  the  reader  of  this  to 
know  to  which  of  these  classes  he  or  she  be- 
longs. If  to  the  latter  class,  reform  should  be 
the  motto  to  be  pasted  in  your  hat. 

G.  M.  DooLrrxi.E. 
Borodino,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  14. 

[As  usual  we  quite  agree  with  you  in  every 
statement  you  make.  With  almost  any  hive, 
given  a  good  season,  a  good   bee-keeper,  and  a 


good  locality,  a  honey  crop  and  a  reasonable 
amount  of  profit  is  sure.  Yes,  even  a  box  hive, 
under  these  conditions,  could  be  made  to  yield 
excellent  results,  for  its  conditions  are.  "to  a 
certain  extent,  under  the  control  of  the  apiarist. 
M.  Quinby  made  money  with  it.  But  while  we 
look  at  this  side  we  must  not  overlook  the  con- 
venieuce  of  the  modern  appliances.] 


ABSORBENTS  IN  WINTER. 


some    kxpekience  that  pkoves   them   det- 
rimental. 


Friend  Root: — In  your  review  of  the  book. 
"Winter  Problem  in  Bee-keeping."  you  ask, 
toward  the  close,  to  have  the  subject  thorough- 
ly discussed.  Well,  while  the  author.  Mr. 
Pierce,  is  opposed  to  absorbents  next  to  the 
bees,  and  yourself  and  your  apiarist.  Mr.  Spaf- 
ford.  seem  to  coincide  with  him.  I  can  not.  even 
"  for  the  sake  of  ai'gument."  take  the  opposite 
side,  but  must  follow  right  along  in  the  same 
line  with  the  author  whom  you  quote,  leaving 
othei's.  whose  experience  may  justify  it,  to  take 
the  other  side. 

When  I  first  commenced  keeping  bees,  some 
eight  years  ago.  most  of  the  books  I  had  read,  as 
well  as  the  journals  devoted  to  bee  culture, 
favored  absorbents  in  the  form  of  chaff,  leaves, 
or  sawdust,  either  in  cushions  or  loose,  next  to 
the  bees,  with  a  cloth  of  some  kind  intervening. 
Accordingly,  having  no  opinion  of  my  own  at 
the  time.  I  thus  prepared  sixteen  colonies  for 
outdoor  wintering,  using  chaff  for  an  absorbent. 
The  bees  were  in  eight  and  ten  frame  L.  hives, 
which  were  mostly  contracted  to  form  four  to 
six  frames  each:  these  were  placed  in  the  cen- 
t'-r  of  the  hive:  and  over  them,  reaching  to  the 
bottom-board  on  each  side,  was  placed  a  piece 
of  burlajK  the  spaces  left  on  the  sides  were  then 
filled  with  chaff,  and  on  top  of  the  frames  was 
placed  a  chaff  cushion  about  three  inches  thick. 
The  hives  were  then  grouped  in  a  row  on  the 
south  side  of  a  fence,  leaving  a  foot  space  be- 
tween hives  and  fence,  and  about  fifteen  inches 
between  the  hives.  Straw  was  then  piled  over 
and  around  the  hives  on  three  sides— the  front 
end  being  left  exposed  and  topped  out  with 
timothy  hay.  The  straw  extended  over  the 
fronts  of  the  hives  sufficiently  to  keep  them 
perfectly  dry:  and  in  severe  weather,  planks  a 
foot  wide  were  placed  in  front  to  keep  the  wind 
from  blowing  in  at  the  entrances.  Snow  was 
not  allowed  to  accumulate  in  frontof  hives,  and 
in  fine  weather  the  planks  were  turned  down  to 
afford  the  bees  an  unobstructed  passageway. 

Thus  cared  for,  I  was  confident  they  would 
winter  perfectly:  but  what  was  my  surprise, 
when  I  unpacked  them  in  the  spring,  to  find 
eight  colonies  dead,  and  the  survivors  weak, 
and  afflicted  with  diaj'rheal  The  whole  interi- 
or of  the  hives  occupied  by  the  dead  colonies 
was  damp  and  moldy,  reaching  well  into  the 
packing,  which,  in  places,  was  actually  wet. 
When  the  bees  flew  in  winter  the  fecal  dis- 
charges were  yellow  and  unnatural,  showing 
that  diarrhea  was  prevalent  among  them,  and 
they  no  doubt  died  from  the  effects  of  this  dis- 
ease, which,  I  am  confident,  was  brought  on  by 
excessive  dampness  within  the  hives. 

At  the  time.  I  thought  that  too  much  pack- 
ing over  the  hives  was  the  cause  of  all  the 
trouble.  I  now  think  it  had  little  to  do  with  it: 
for,  following  on  the  former  conclusion,  two 
years  ago  I  again  packed  148  colonies  en  the 
summer  stands:  130  were  in  double-walled 
hives,  packed  with  chaff,  a  chaff-packed  rim 
placed  over  the  frames,  with  the  chaff  piled  on 
till  it  was  six  to  eiglit  inches  deep  over  the 
frames.    Some  of  the  ten-frame  hives  were  con- 


is'.t-: 


(ii.i:ANiN(;s  IN  iJKK  <  ri/rrin:. 


.S7 


tnioU'd  li>  six  and  s('v<'ii  frames  facli.  while 
some  of  tlie  stl'oii;;est were  left  t  lie  wliole  ti'll 
frames.  The  iii\es  taeed  south,  and  those'  oon- 
triuMod  had  their  fiames  shoved  to  the  east 
side  of  the  hive;  a  pieee  of  hiiilai)  was  put  over 
the  flames,  reai'liiuir  to  the  hdttom-board,  and 
the  spare  on  the  west  side  tilled  with  clialT.  A 
t'Mi-ineh  supv'i'  was  i)laeeii  on  each  hive,  and 
lilled  nearly  to  tlw  lid  with  ohafT. 

Now.  although  the  wiiiti>r  was  excpodingly 
mild.  Ix-es  llyinsi  almost  eveiy  day  during  l)e- 
cetnher  and  .lanuaiy.  and  exeeptionally  ilry, 
there  heinsr  no  lain  of  any  i'onse(iuenee.  tin; 
hives  were  all  somewhat  damj)  inside — tliose 
witli  the  least  chatT  oviM'  the  frames  being  tiie 
dryest.  The  ten-frame  hives,  with  nearly  ten 
inches  of  ehatf  over  tlie  frames,  were  no  better 
off  tlian  tho.se  in  the  double-walled  liives,  while 
the  ehalV  next  the  frames  was  damiier — in  faet, 
the  burlaps,  which  were  sound  and  good  when 
put  on  in  the  fall,  were  .so  lotlen  that,  in  most 
cases,  they  pulled  to  pieces  wlien  taken  fr'om 
the  frames.  Still,  the  colonies  were  generally 
strong,  excejiting  three  that  were  attacked  with 
paralysis,  blind  -  staggers,  or  whatever  yon 
clioose  to  call  it.  and  left  to  go  it  alone,  "  pe- 
tered out." 

I  am  now  tirmly  convinced  that  absorbents 
next  th(>  bees  are  a  detriment,  for  the  reason 
that  they  take  up  and  irt(tiii  the  moisture  that, 
from  the  adverse  action  of  the  heat  and  cold, 
will  accumulate  on  the  inside  of  hives  wintered 
outdoors  in  this  latitude.  I  believe  they  also 
absorb,  and  hold  for  a  time,  the  nitrogenous 
gases  emanating  from  the  cluster;  and  when 
they  became  saturated  they  precipitate  both 
moisture  and  poison  upon  tlie  occupants  of  the 
hive.  I  believe  hives  should  be  packed,  but 
tliat  a  i)ine  board,  and  not  a  chaff'  cushion, 
should  go  next  to  the  bees.     W.  .1.  Cui-LINAN. 

yuincy.  111.,  Jan.,  ^S9^2. 

[Your  experiments  only  negatively  confirm 
the  sealed  -cover  non-absorbent  idea,  tf  you  liad 
tried,  alongside  of  tliose  colonies  packed  with 
chaff  abxirbents.  others  also  packed  in  chaff, 
but  with  a  sealed  cover  over  them,  the  experi- 
ment might  liave  been  more  conclusive.] 


CONTRACTION. 

ITS   THKOKY,   OIJ.JECT,   AND   RESULTS. 


Some  years  ago.  at  a  convention  in  Chicago.  I 
was  sitting  talking  with  E.  J.  Oatman  before 
tlie  opening  of  the  session.  I  told  him  I  would 
give  a  good  deal  to  know  of  some  way  to  pre- 
vent swarming  when  working  for  comb  honey. 
A  little  to  my  surprise  he  replied,"!  would 
rather  have  every  colony  cast  a  prime  swarm." 
Then  putting  his  hand  to  one  side  of  his  mouth, 
and  speaking  in  a  very  low  tone,  he  said.  "The 
secret  of  it  is  to  hive  each  sw  arm  on  four  frames, 
and  let  them  store  for  all  they're  worth,  and  then 
double  up  in  the  fall."  That  was  th(>  first  I  had 
heard  of  contraction. 

Contraction ists  have  been  a  good  deal  mis- 
understood. Some  of  the  theory  is  easily  under- 
stood. Su[)pose  a  queen  i<  capable  of  keejiing 
seven  frames  full  of  brood.  It  seems  very  easy 
to  understand  that,  if  the  colony  of  that  queen 
be  kept  in  a  hive  of  six  frames  all  the  year 
round,  wlien  the  harvest  comes,  if  the  queen 
keeps  the  whole  six  frames  tilled  with  bniod. 
the  bees  can  have  no  lielp  foi-  it  but  to  put  all 
their  surplus  in  the  supers  for  want  of  any  oth- 
er place.  Without  taking  tim(>  to  give  reasons, 
let  it  suffice  to  say  that,  in  actual  practice,  a 
six-fi-ame  hive  all  the  year  round  is  a  faihiic. 
and  no  genuine  conlractionist  stops  his  theory 
in  that  bound.     Yet  that  is  about  all  the  idea  a 


great  many  seem  to  have  of  contraction,  that  it 
simply  means  to  ki'ep  tiie  room  for  lirood-rear- 
iiig  reslrict-ed. 

As  Doolittle  has  so  vehemently  urged,  the 
most  important  part  of  contfaction  is  expansion. 
I'se  all  metiiis  t(i  lia  ve  as  strong  a  I'oi'ce  as  pos- 
silile  at  the  beginning  of  the  liai'vesi.  and  no 
six-frame  hive  will  t\i)  for  that.  '/Vm/i,  when  the 
harvest  commenco.  limil  llie  room  in  the 
brood-chamber,  and  that  is  the  contraction  of 
coiitfactionists. 

Contraction  or  rm  rontraction.  few  will  (jues- 
tion  the  wisdom  uf  getting  the  strong  force 
ready  for  the  haiAcst.  Heyoiid  this  tlieri;  is 
room  for  difference  of  o|)inifMi.  Crowding  the 
(pieen  awakens  the  swaTming  impulse,  unless, 
indecMi.  there  can  be  awakened  such  a  gr<'ed  for 
storing  that  queen  and  all  hands  may  turn  their 
attention  in  that  direction.  Is  there  not  nat- 
urally a  tendency  that  way  in  any  heavy  hai"- 
v(>st?  Still,  there  can  be  no  (piestion  that  un- 
limited laying  room  t<'iids  to  discourage  swarm- 
ing, and  hardly  more  question  that  a  colony 
that  never  has  the  ilcxhc  to  swarm  is  the  better 
for  storing,  other  things  being  eciual.  So.  on 
the  whole,  it  is  prol)al)ly  right  to  set  down  the 
tendency  to  swarm  as  a  pretty  serious  objec- 
tion against  contraction. 

"  Contraction  stops  raising  a  horde  that  will 
be  too  late  to  be  of  service  in  the  harvest,  and 
will  help  consume  that  harvest  after  it  is  gath- 
ered." I  confess  I  have  been  gradually  losing 
faith  in  that  till  I  have  come  to  the  point  that 
I  do  not  believe  it  at  all.  Mind,  I  don't  say 
that  I  fc/ion' there  is  nothing  in  it.  only  I  don't 
believe  there  is.  The  argument  is  something 
like  this:  Suppose  the  harvest  stops  July  1.5. 
It  is  clear  that  all  eggs  laid  in  the  21  days  next 
preceding  July  15  will  raise  bees  that  can  not 
touch  that  harvest;  and  as  workers  do  not  take 
to  the  field  till  Ifi  days  old.  we  can  add  that  10 
to  the  21,  making  37.  so  there's  no  use  in  having 
the  queen  lay  after  June  8,  which  is  37  days 
before  July  15.  But,  is  it  true  that  bees  do  not 
become  field-workers  till  10  days  old'.'  Al- 
though that  luay  be  what  ordinarily  happens, 
is  it  not  governed  by  the  needs  of  tlie  case?  I 
have  seen  bees  live  days  old  cairying  in  pollen, 
and  I  suspect  that  those  same  bees  might  have 
been  kept  from  field  work  till  they  were  much 
more  than  16  days  old.  Even  if  they  do  not  go 
to  the  fields  for  i(j  days,  they  can  do  housework 
during  that  time  and  allow  just  that  many  oth- 
er bees  to  go,  that  but  for  th((m  would  be  oblig- 
ed to  stay  at  home.  But.  tlieoretically,  there 
ought  to  be  a  gain  on  that  harvest,  to  stop  the 
queen  laying  to  her  full  capacity  31  days  before 
the  cessation  of  the  flow:  for  during  that  21 
days  none  of  the  eggs  will  hatch  into  bees,  and 
it  costs  honey  to  feed  th(>  brood  and  hoes  to 
nurse  it,  which  bees  might  otherwise  he  at 
work  in  the  field.  You  see  that  the  argument 
that  bees  may  work  in  the  Held  before  Kidays 
old  works  in  favor  of  contraction  at  this  point. 

But  then  comes  the  question:  "' If  the  queen 
is  limited  at  this  time,  will  it  not  work  against 
the  futures  prosperity  of  the  colony  V  VVhen  I 
have  practiced  caging  queens,  time  and  again 
my  assistant  has  insisted  that  this  colony  and 
that  colony  had  sw  ai'ined.  when  I  knew  that  it 
was  nothing  but  the  rapid  depletion  taking 
place  without  any  young  bees  to  replace  the 
older  ones  that  had  worked  themselves  to 
death.  Will  not  such  colonies  continue  to  be 
weaker? — weaker  for  winter?  weaker  for  the 
next  spring  ? 

But  for  all  that  I  have  said,  contraction  may 
be  right,  and  I  don't  think  theory  would  have 
made  me  give  it  u)>.  I  had  the  theory  all 
straight,  and  expected  good  results  from  it:  but 
somehow  the  liees  wife  so  stupid  they  didn't 
seem  to  see  the  advantages  I  was  offering  them. 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fkb.  1. 


Facts  are  stubborn  things,  and  I  don't  under- 
stand now  why  my  tlieories  haven't  worked 
better.  I  don't  understand  why.  last  year.  I 
didn't  get  as  much  from  two  colonies  united  at 
the  beginning  of  the  harvest  as  I  had  i-eason  to 
expect  from  the  same  iwo  colonies  if  they  had 
been  kept  separate.  I  know  that,  in  ail  my 
attempts  at  contraction,  however  varied.  I  have 
not  done  as  well  as  when  I  allowed  each  colony 
to  have  ten  frames  all  the  year  round.  I  may 
as  well  say  here,  by  way  of  pai-enthesis.  that  I 
don't  believe  I  want  larger  than  eight-fi'ame 
hives,  but  I  can't  take  time  just  now  to  explain. 
The  difference  in  seasons  is  so  great  that  it  may 
account  for  all.  but  I  doubt  it. 

Then  there  are  those  two  miserable  French- 
men down  at  Hamilton,  allowing  their  queens 
to  lay  all  over  creation,  and  yet  getting  big 
crops.  True,  they  woik  for  extracted  honey, 
but  they  have  it  stored  in  supers,  and  don't  dis- 
turb the  brood -nest.  I  read  also  of  the  big 
crops  harvested  in  France,  in  the  Layens  hive 
with  its  20  or  more  frames,  and  nothing  like 
the  labor  given  to  the  contraction  system. 

To  sum  it  up.  contraction  makes  more  work. 
and  I  can't  feel  sure  that  it  makes  more  honey. 
I  am  an  expa-iisionist.  and  it's  only  fair  to  say 
that  all  true  contractionists  are:  but  when  it 
comes  to  contracting  down  to  any  less  space 
than  will  allow  the  queen  to  lay  all  she  will, 
then  I  feel,  to  say  the  least,  that  I  am  in  doubt- 
ful company.  C.  C.  Mili.kr. 

Marengo.  111. 


EXTRACTING    FROM    SUPERS    'WITHOUT    RE- 
MOVING FRAMES, 

J.  A.  GREEN  CONSIDERS  THE  MATTER  POSSIBLE, 
AND   SUGGESTS   HOW. 

I  see  that,  at  the  Albany  convention,  there 
was  some  talk,  though  ])erhaps  only  in  a  joking 
way.  of  putting  a  whole  supei-  into  the  extractor 
at  once,  without  removing  a  frame.  Somewhere 
back  in  Gleanings  I  mentioned  this  idea, 
which  at  that  time  had  shaped  itself  in  my 
mind.  You  do  not  seem  to  have  thought  of  the 
practical  way -to  do  it.  I  consider  it  entirely 
possible,  and  I  have  considerable  faith  that  it 
will  prove  practicable  to  extract  honey  in  this 
way.  If  it  should  prove  so  it  will  lead  to  an 
entire  revolution  in  the  methods  of  ijroducing 
extracted  honey. 

In  th(!  first  place,  the  ordinary  method  of 
])lacing  the  frames  in  the  extractoi'  would  prob- 
ably have  to  be  given  up  for  tlie  radial  method. 
That  is.  the  combs  should  be  placed  at  right 
angles  to  the  usual  position,  so  that  the  sides  of 
the  combs  are  on  lines  drawn  from  center  to 
circumference.  Iik(>  the  spok<'S  of  a  \\  heel.  This 
plan  has  been  i)roposed  before.  I  am  not  sure 
whether  it  has  been  tested  in  actual  practice, 
but  I  am  cei'tain  tliat  it  could  be  nuide  to  work. 
The  extractor  I  have  in  my  mind's  eye  is  a 
large  one,  in  which  eight  or  more  supers  could 
be  placed  at  one  time.  By  steam  or  other  pow- 
er the  whole  would  then  be  revolved  so  rapidly 
that  all  th(^  honey  would  be  thrown  out  atone 
operation,  no  reveisiug  or  sheets  of  tin  between 
the  combs  Ix-ing  necessary.  An  uncai)|)ing-ma- 
chine  couUl  be  nuide  to  run  between  the  combs. 
Uncapping-nuichines  have  been  illustrated  in 
the  foi'eign  bee-journals,  though  I  can  not  say 
as  to  w  hetlier  any  one  uses  them. 

My  plan,  though,  does  not  contemplate  hav- 
ing any  uncapping  to  do.  I  would  take  the 
honey  from  the  lii\'es  before  any  of  it  was  cap- 
ped. This  thin  unsealed  honey  could  l)e  ex- 
tracted in  the  manner  I  have  outlined,  witiiont 
any  doubt. 

iiy  the  use  of  the   bee-escape  and    plenty  of 


empty  combs  it  would  be  entirely  practicable  to 
extract  all  the  honey  in  a  large  apiary  every 
day  if  necessary,  leaving  the  bees  free  to  do 
their  utmost  in  the  way  of  gathering  nectar. 
Swarming  would  be  entirely  done  away  with, 
the  amount  of  labor  required  reduced  to  a  min- 
imum, and.  in  short,  the  business  of  producing 
extracted  honey  reduced  to  a  sound  business 
basis. 

•'What  would  you  do  with  that  raw  unripen- 
ed  nectar?" 

Well,  ••  there's  the  rub."  Show  me  how  to 
change  this  nectar  into  good,  well-ripened  hon- 
ey in  a  simple,  inexpensive  way.  and  I  will  pro- 
duce extracted  honey  at  a  profit  at  half  the  or- 
dinary prices. 

I  have  said  but  little  about  this  before,  be- 
cause I  wanted  to  experiment  for  myself  before 
saying  much  about  it.  But  experiments,  to  be 
conclusive,  would  cost  nutre  time  and  money 
than  I  can  at  present  devote  to  them,  so  I  will 
ask  others  to  help  me  in  them.  Perhaps  Mr. 
Larrabee  can  take  hold  of  the  matter. 

Two  methods  of  disposing  of  the  nectar  occur 
tome.  One  is.  to  evaporate  it  by  natural  or 
artificial  heat  into  a  salable  article  of  honey. 
The  other  is  to  feed  it  liack  to  the  bees  for  the 
I)roduction  of  comb  honey.  It  might  be  kept 
without  fermentation  until  the  honey-flow  was 
over,  and  then  fed  back  to  selected  colonies. 

I  know  that,  to  many,  this  will  look  wild  and 
visional  y.  To  such  I  can  only  say,  "  Wait  and 
see." 

CANDY   FOR   FEEDtNG. 

The  experience  of  ^fr.  A.  N.  Draper,  on  page 
1(),  is  a  common  one  with  those  who  attempt  to 
make  bee-candy  for  the  first  time.  Tf  the  direc- 
tions in  the  A  1}  C  book  are  cai-efully  followed, 
the  beginner  should  have  no  trouble  in  making 
good  candy,  though  he  is  apt  to  get  it  a  little 
too  hard.  It  is  wonderful  what  an  amount  of 
water  can  he  stirred  up  into  dry  candy.  In 
making  candy  I  woiihl  use  a  kettle  large  enough 
to  hold  a  con'siderabl<>  quantity.  Dissolve  the 
sugar  in  as  little  water  as  possible — about  four 
ptirts  of  sugar,  by  weight,  to  one  of  water. 
When  you  think  it  is  almost  done,  let  it  boil 
very  slowly  while  you  are  testing  it.  Do  this 
by  putting  a  little  into  a  saucer  and  stiiring  it 
vigorously  until  cold.  .lust  as  soon  as  you  can 
get  it  to  become  hard  by  stiiTing  it  is  done,  and 
should  not  be  allowed  to  boil  any  more,  though 
it  may  beset  on  the  back  of  the  stove  to  keep 
warm.  Take  a  convenient  quantity  of  this,  and 
stir  it  until  it  is  just  beginning  to  harden,  then 
pour  it  into  your  dishes  or  other  receptacles. 
Von  will  find  thatyou  can  make  dry  solid  candy 
of  what  would  have  be(>n  only  syrup  if  allowed 
1o  cool  without  StiiTing.  If  you  want  a  candy 
that  will-  not  readily  dry  oiit.  boil  it  a  little 
longer  and  add  a  little  iioney  after  removing  it 
from  the  fire. 

It  is  some  time  since  I  made  any  candy,  and  I 
am  not  sure  about  the  |)roportions:  but  I  think 
I  have  stirred  in  as  much  as  one-eighth  honey, 
making  a  nice,  soft-grained  candy  that  will 
keep  moist  a  long  time.  This  nuikes  delicious 
confectionery.    Try  it. 

The  candy  made  of  honey  and  pulverized  su- 
gar is  rather  the  best  for  feeding:  but  it  is  more 
expensive,  as  well  as  more  troublesome  to  make 
on  a  large  scale. 

Friedman  Greiner's  position  on  artificial  hon- 
ey is  sound.  I've  got  something  to  say  on  that 
point  soon. 

I  am  sure,  though,  he  is  mistaken  about  comb 
honey  being  damaged  when  bee -escapes  are 
used:  at  least,  it  doesn't  work  that  way  with 
me. 

I  am  surprised  to  see  in  the  pages  of  Glean- 
ings such  a  recipe  as  that  on  page  8.  And  sent 
by  Di'.   Miller  tool     Well,   well!     What's  that 


18«t2 


t;i,i:.\MN(;s  in  mee  rui/ruup:. 


Si) 


yi'iist  for.  Dr.  M.?  Ami  \\li;ii  wdiiUi  lir  i  he  ctVi'ci 
on  a  mail  wlio  drank  a  (|iiail  itr  so  after  il  was 
■•y:oo(l  for  iisi- "•.'  .1.  A.  Ckkkn. 

Dayton.  111.,  Jan.  r.. 

I  ^'o^  lia\  (•  hit  it  (vacllx  :  ami  allliouy;li  snmi' 
limy  still  lu>  iiu-limd  to  rcsjafd  it  as  a  joixiiitr 
inatti'f.  a  tiiinir  lifxoml  i)o>sii)|i'  ai'hitnciucnt. 
we  oiilv  voice  yt)ni'  words,  ■•\\ail  and  .sec." 
Yoiiwili  rtMiKMulu'r  that,  on  pa^cs  CiS;!  and  77:5. 
Vol.  XVI..  we  e\i)erimented  unite  a  little  witii 
the  extractor  on  the  radial  |ilan--tliat  is.  with 
combs  arrans''d  liUe  the  spukes  of  a  wheel,  how 
we  trii'd  soini"  coml)s  of  ijnite  tiiick  honey,  said 
combs  liaxiiis  b(>en  left  in  a  room  tiear  tlie 
frei-zinjr- point.  Tiiis  new  scIkmhc  of  <>xtractor 
didn't  cleati  the  ceils  as  perfectly  as  on(>  on  the 
ordinary  ph\ii:  but.  oh  niyl  it  would  extract 
unripened  iioney  as  well  as  the  ordiiuiry  ex- 
tractoi.  ^'ou  seem  to  consider  the  scheme 
practicable  if  ytm  only  had  some  way  to  ripen 
tlie  raw  nectar.  A.  \V.  Osbmn.  of  Ciiba;  J.  F. 
Mclntyre.  of  t'aiifornia:  Thomas  Wm.  Cowan, 
of  England:  L.  (\  Root,  of  ('oiiiH'cticnt:  G.  M. 
Doolittle.  of  New  York,  and  oilier  bee-keepers 
of  iiote  and  large  experience,  insist  tliat  the 
artilicially  ripened  honey  is  as  good  as  thai 
ripened  by  tlie  bees.  Tiie  two  lirst  mentioned, 
if  we  are  correct.  inaK'e  it  a  practice  to  extract 
tlie  raw  lioney.  and  ripen  il  in  large  vats.  But 
tiiey  have  an  advantage  in  locality  that  many 
of  us  do  not  possess.  Now.  tlien,  wlio  will  liave 
the  Itonor  to  lie  tiie  tirst  lucky  ciiap  to  extract 
the  lirst  ton  of  honey  by  this  new  scheme?  If 
this  same  chap  will  then  ripen  it  so  that  the 
average  consumer  can  not  tell  it  from  the  hon- 
ey just  as  it  comes  from  the  hive,  the  North 
American  Association  ought  to  give  him  a 
medal  and  a  chromo.  This  may  seem  like  a 
castle  in  the  air,  and  perhaps  that  is  all  there 
will  be  to  it:  but  .\\  hen  there  is  (iveii.a  gJim- 
mcriiKj  of  a  possihi'lity  of  sometliiug  big.  why 
not  investigate".'] 


JULIUS  HOFFMAN'S  HOME. 


A   .SKinCH   OF    IT  BY   .J.    11.    NELLIS. 


Reader,  are  you  di.scouraged  ?  Has  bee-keep- 
ing failed  to  yield  the  profit  you  expected? 
Have  your  hard  work  and  well-laid  plans  mis- 
carried? and  do  you  lack  tin;  returns  you  an- 
ticipated? Then  go  with  us.  in  imagination,  to 
the  homeof  a  man.  who,  unaided  except  by  his 
strong  will,  untiring  energy,  and  intelligent 
action,  has,  in  the  space  of  eighteen  years, 
built  up  two  places:  who.  in  this  time,  has  ac- 
cumulated the  paraijhr-rnalia  to  carry  on  his 
extensive  apiaries:  who.  at  this  writing,  is 
thoroughly  equipped:  has  nearly  reared  a 
bright,  intelligent  family:  has  provided  for 
iliem  the  comforts  of  a  ])leasant  and  substan- 
tial home,  and  who  lo-day.  through  his  ripened 
and  extensive  experience,  will  be  able  to  pro- 
duce a  competence  to  carry  him  through  his 
declining  years,  and  give;  pecuniary  aid  to  his 
children.  This  man  is  none  other  than  .lulius 
Hoflman.  whom  we  had  the  pleasure  to  visit 
and  interview  a  few  days  ago.  Indeed,  to  an 
intelligent  bee-keeper  who.  through  practice 
and  experience,  has  a  keen  appreciation  of  ad- 
vanced methods,  a  visit  to  Mr.  Hoffman's  is  a 
feast  long  to  be  rememhered. 

The  pleasure  of  such  a  visit  is  greatly  in- 
creased through  the  hospitality  of  .Sirs.  Hoff- 
man, and  by  an  hour  passed  in  listening  to  the 
beautiful  and  diOicult  music  produced  by  Mr. 
Hoffman  with  his  violin,  assisted  by  his  daugh- 
ter Hattie  up(jii  organ  or  liiano.  To  assist  the 
reader,  friend  Root  has  pioduced  from  a  photo- 
graph this  view  of  Mr.  Hotfmairs  home. 


rnfortunati'ly  this  ;s  not  the  best  point  from 
which  to  see  the  |)lemises.  but  it  Was  used  I  e- 
cause  it  included  a  immlierof  liives.  The  read- 
er looks  toward  the  northeast— i.  (>.,  the  hoii.so 
fiiMits  the  south.  The  bees  shown  in  the  en- 
graving are  not  the  home  ajiiary,  but  a  lot 
liroiight  from  out-apiaries,  and  placed  here  (>x- 
pressl_\  to  show  in  tlii^  picture.  'I'lu'  man  near 
th(>  center,  in  shirt -sleeves,  is  Mr.  ilolfnian. 
To  his  right  stands  hisdaiighti'r  iJ/./.ie.  a  pret- 
ty assistant  of  no  nieun  value.  To  the  extreme 
right  is  Mrs.  Hoffman,  and  in  the  background 
may  be  seen  other  members  of  the  family.  At 
tli(>  left  ajipears  Mr.  lIofTman's  faithful  man, 
who  has  helped  for  some  years. 

liehind  the  young  man,  to  the  left,  can  be 
seen  the  barn,  wagon-house,  and  farm  build- 
ings. To  the  extreme  right,  and  partially  hid- 
den, is  the  shop  and  honey-house,  a  two-story 
liiiilding  about  ??x32  feet.  On  the  upper  floor 
are  stored  the  box  honey,  and  fixtures  used  in 
its  production.  L'ndernealh  is  a  cellar  about 
l!)x2()  feet.  Thiscellai'is  of  ordinary  construc- 
tion, about  ()  feet  4  inches  deep,  and  has  a 
ground  floor,  in  wet  seasons  quite  damp  and 
muddy.  Over  a  small  space,  in  the  vacant  end, 
watei'  stood  upon  the  ground  when  we  visited  it. 

The  temperature  of  all  the  cellars  is  kept  as 
near  4o°  Fall r.  as  possible.  At  this  time  about 
:U0  colonies  are  stored  in  it.  The  bottom  hives 
are  placed  upon  summer  stands  (which  we  will 
describe  later  on),  and  other  hives  are  piliKl 
upon  these  until  foui'  tiers  d(^ep.  The  hives 
are  setasclose  logeiheras  possible. and  aconsid- 
erable  space  at  one  end  of  the  cellar  is  occupied 
by  the  stairs  and  a  large  pileof  tnangel-wurtz(!ls. 
Five  luindi'ed  hives  could  be  placed  in  this  cel- 
lar: but  this  is  not  advisable,  for  the  tempera- 
ture gets  too  high,  and  good  air  is  not  .so  easily 
provided.  Huilding-paper  covers  the  floor  tim- 
bers on  the  under  side,  and  these  are  frequently 
besttidded  with  huge  drops  of  water.  Next 
season  this  shop  and  cel.lar  are  to  be  (>nlarged  to 
double  their  present  capacity.  Under  no  cir- 
cumstances would  Mr.  H.  cement  or  flag  the 
bee-cellars,  for  he  believes  that  the  ground 
imrilies  the  air  and  gives  off  gases  beneficial  to 
the  bees. 

At  the  middle  of  .lanuary.  probably  not  a 
peck  of  bees  could  be  gathered  from  that  cellar- 
liottom.  There  is  no  unnatural  hum  oi'  indica- 
tion of  uneasiness.  To  some  hiviis  the  upper 
entrance  holes  were  liiled  with  hees  to  the  outer 
surface. 

Mr;  H.  overhauls  and  prepares  his  bees  for 
winter  during  September  and  October,  and  ?0 
pounds  of  honey  is  considered  necessary  to  take 
a  colony  through  the  winter.  By  lifting  the 
hives  he  determines  the  supply.  Eight  frames 
are  left  in  each  hive,  thus  providing  nearly  two 
inches  of  space  bet-ween  the  followers  aiui  ends 
of  hive.  IJefore  the  hives  go  into  winter  quar- 
ters, the  enamel-cloth  sheets  used  to  confine 
the  bees  in  summer  are  removed,  and  .several 
thicknes.s(>s  of  sacking  placed  over  and  tucked 
down  into  these  spaces.  Formerly  this  enamel 
cloth  was  left  on:  but  some  combs  were 
moldy  in  s|)iing.  which  is  avoided  now.  The 
bees  wiutci'  equally  well  whelhei-  tlie  enamel 
cloth  is  left  on  or  removed.  These  covers  of 
sackin,g  confine  the  bees  securely  and  quickly — 
a  great  advantage  peculiar  to  the  closc^d  ends 
of  the  Hoit'man  top-bars.  The  hive-caps  are 
not  taken  iiilo  the  cellars.  "    'j 

.,Mr.  Hoffman  has  about  10.5  colonies  under  the 
living-i'ooms,  in  his  house  cellar,  and  1.50  in  tin; 
cellai' of  a  tenant  house,  a  short  distance  from 
his  residence.  He  placed  6.5.5  colonies  in  the 
three  cellars.  Two  men  bring  the  bees,  and  i\Ir. 
H.  places  them.  The  three  can  put  the  whole 
number  in  the  cellars  in  about  ten  hours.  How^ 
they  are  able  to  handle  this   number  so  quickly 


90 


txLEAXIXC.S  IN   ISEE  CULTURE. 


Fe:;.  1. 


IS'fJ 


(JLEANINCS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


'.II 


\\  ill  ii|i|)i'ar  w  litii  \\c  (ii'si'iilic  tlic  liivcs.  jiiir- 
iii^r  the  iMTJotl  fitiiii  Nov.  l."i  In  Nov.  ■.'.").  .M  r. 
lliilTmaii  ri'llais  liis  liccs. 

If  the  wcallicr  pcriniis-i.  c.  if  no  loose  snow 
is  upon  tiic  jirouiui.  uiul  tlic  day  is  warm.  Mi-. 
II.  would  fihullv  rcmovr  all  tlir  Ihts  from  a 
ot'llar  and  let  llirm  lly  durin-r  mid-winter. 
Tliis  work  can  he  done  for  abonl  ?1.(K»  ^ler  lOd 
eoionies.  Wiien  Ihcs  remain  in  eellars  tonr  or 
live  months,  tlu'  mortality  arises  chielly  from 
the  inahility  to  i-etain  tin'  f;eces.  If  one  flood 
flv  oeenrs  diirinfi  mid-winter.  Mr.  II.  is  liappy. 
aiid  is  tlien  assnn-d  that  liis  bees  will  eoiiH!  otil 
witii  little  or  no  morialily.  and  he  stron}^. 

Mr.  lioHman  assuics  us  that  sntiar  syrup  is 
better  than  honey  for  bees  in  winter:  but  the 
sufiar  syrup  is  not  nearly  as  good  as  honey 
when  lirood-rearinfr  begins  and  progresses. 
Mr.  II.  is  certain  that  buckwheat  honey  is  su- 
perior to  white  honey  for  i)r()od-rearing.  \\hile 
sugar  syrup  is  best  for  wintering.  Mr.  11.  could 
not  be  induced  to  replace  tlie  honey  with  syrup, 
for  I  he  work  and  exiienso  arc  too  great.  He  has 
encountered  honey-dew.  and  finds  more  ditli- 
culty  in  wintering"  bees  at  such  times.  At  the 
approach  of  cold  weather,  honey-dew  solidities, 
and  Mr.  H.  discovered  that,  in  tiie  damp  cellar 
under  tlie  sliop,  bees  wintered  mucli  bettei-  than 
in  the  cellars  not  so  damp.  The  conclusion: 
Moisture  rendered  the  honey-dew  .softer  and 
more  acceptable.  Mr.  H.  believes  that,  when 
honey-dew  is  present,  or  at  any  time  when  the 
cellar  is  very  dry,  a  supply  of  water,  fed  regu- 
larly, is  worth  the  cost.  He  says  many  of  the 
("lerinan  bee-keepers  supply  water  during  win- 
ter and  spring.  As  soon  as  possible  after  the 
bees  are  set  out  in  spring,  the  enamel-cloth 
covers  are  replaced,  for  then  the  moisture 
should  be  carefully  retained. 

Mr.  Hoflman  scouts  the  theory  that  b(vs  void 
the  faeces  in  a  dry  state.  He  never  saw  any 
thing  to  warrant  this  conclusion,  and  is  satis- 
tied  that  it  never  occurs. 

Mr.  Hoffman  has  experimented  with  colonies 
wintered  outdoors  packed  with  chafT  and  other 
materials.  He  has  been  tolerably  successful, 
but  would  not  practice  that  system,  for  it  is  too 
e.\])ensive  in  the  material  used  and  labor  of 
packing,  and  in  the  cost  and  bulk  ot  the  hives 
and  the  extra  trouble  and  expense  for  moving 
them  fioni  place  to  place. 

The  home  apiary  is  located  some  rods  l)ehind 
the  shop,  so  far  to  the  right  that  the  photogra- 
pher did  not  include  it.  In  spring  this  apiary 
usually  contains  about  1:2.5  colonies,  and  the 
out -apiaries.  .SO  colonies  each. 

In  our  next,  we  will  describe  the  hives  and 
SOUK- of  their  advantages,  and  explain  the  meth- 
ods employed  to  secure  surplus  honey  and  in- 
crease. .1.  H.  Ni:i-i.is. 

Canajoharie,  N.  Y. 

[Mr.  Hoffman  is  one  of  those  extensive  Ijee- 
keepers  who  say  but  little  at  conventions,  but 
who  neveitheless  are  wonderfully  s\iccessful. 
We  prei-uTue  that  there  are  not  a  dozen  other 
bee- keepers  in  the  land  who  have  had  better  or 
even  equal  success.  His  pli-asant  home  and 
surroundings  all  bespeak  it.  He  is  so  modest 
that  we  are  glad  to  have  him  shoved  forward. 
He  is  an  intelligent  (lerman.  and  is  therefore 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  researches  and 
experiments  of  the  bee-kee))eis  of  his  mother- 
country  :  and.  besides  this,  he  has  thorough 
familiarity  with  American  bee-literaturf-;  and 
hence,  coupled  with  his  large  expeiience.  he  is 
able  tos]jeak  with  authority  on  many  subjects. 
Mr.  Nellis  has  touched  upon  many  things  that 
possibly  the  reader  might  like  to  know  more 
about.  If  so,  please  let  us  know,  and  we  feel 
sure  that  lie  will  feel  glad  to  give  us  the  desired 
information.    There   is  one   point  which   may 


interest  some  of  the  readers;  and  that  is.  that 
M  r.  I  loll'man  has  success  in  wintering  in  i}<ttnp 
cellars.  Many  of  us  have  concluded  that  damp- 
ness is  decitleilly  deleierious  in  cellar  wiiiteiing: 
and  yet  we  have  a  good  many  reports  of  indoor 
w  intering  w  here  t he  cellais  were  '•  reeking  with 
dainitness."  This  would  be  a  good  topic  to  dis- 
cuss, now  that  our  liees  are  in  the  cellar,  when 
we  can  make  chjse  observations.] 


MELILOTUS  ALBA,  OR  SWEET  CLOVER. 

IIOAV     IT     i:i:STOl{KS     1  AliiM      I..\M):      VAI.IAIU.K 

TK.STI.MONV    FKO.M    TIIOSK    WHO    AliK    NOT 

I{I:K    KKKPKKS. 


You  ask  for  more  testimony  from  the  South 
on  th(>.  subjei't  of  sweet  clover.  About,  a  year 
or  more  ago  I  sent  an  extract  from  a  hotter  by 
I'rof.  Tracy,  of  our  A.  and  M.  College,  to 
Gleaninos  regarding  tlie  value  of  sweet  clover 
as  a  forage  i)lant.  from  exi)eriinents  derived  in 
the  cultivation  of  about  KiU  acres  of  it,  on  the 
college  farm,  in  which,  both  for  pasture  and 
hay,  he  gave  it  high  praise:  but  in  that  let- 
ter he  advanced  the  doubt  as  to  the  plant 
tiourishing  on  other  than  limestone  soils.  I 
now  hav(!the  pleasure  of  handing  you  a  commu- 
nication from  General  S.  D.  Lee.  president  of  the 
same  college,  to  the  Stodnaan  and  Farmer,  giv- 
ing his  personal  experience  with  it  as  a  "  forage 
and  restorative  crop'"  on  one  of  his  private 
farms. 

Editor  Southeni  Stockman  and  Farmer:— In  reply 
to  your  recent  note  a.s  to  my  e.vperience  with  meli- 
lotus  as  a  forage  and  restorative  crop,  I  take  plea- 
sure in  inclosing  a  letter  of  Mr.  Emmel  Dantzler,  of 
Noxubee  County,  wlio  lias  cliarge  of  my  planting 
Interest  in  that  county.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  large 
e.\i)eiience.  and  in  tlie  six  years  he  has  been  asso- 
ciated witli  me  has  not  made  a  single  failure  in 
crops. 

He  protested  vigorously  against  planting  meli- 
lotus;  but  now,  after  five  years'  experience,  he  is  a 
thorough  convert,  and  is  gradually  substituting  it 
for  red  clover,  both  as  hay  and  as  a  re-storer  of  fer 
tilitj'  to  worn  lands.  The  backbone  of  my  planta- 
tion, which  was  about  worn  out,  with  this  crop 
(melilotus)  is  now  Ht)out  the  most  productive  land 
on  the  place,  and  is  making  1 1(X)  pounds  of  seed 
cotton  to  the  acre,  wheieas  it  made  only  6W  jxiuiids 
three  years  ago,  and  3(i  bushels  of  corn,  wlu-reas  it 
made  only  in  busheis  three  years  ago.  1  consider 
melilotus  :i:")  jjer  cent  lietter  in  restoring  feitility 
tliaii  red  clovei-.  They  liave  been  tried  side  l)y  side 
for  live  yeais.  My  niuU's  and  cattle  prefer  melilotus 
as  a  hay  to  clo\'er,  and  it  does  not  slol)ber  my  mules. 
It  furnishes  two  and  sdinetimes  three  cuttings  the 
first  year's  planting,  and  one  good  cutting  the  sec- 
ond year,  when  it  goes  to  seed.  The  roots  are  larger 
tlian  tlie  roots  of  red  clover;  and  consequently, 
when  they  rot  the  second  year,  it  drains  the  land 
better.  Melilotus  stands  drouth  better  than  red 
clover,  and  it  grows  on  poor  land,  whereas  it  re- 
quires pretty  good  land  to  insure  a  catch  of  red 
clover.  Mr.  Dantzler  has  had  from  tifty  to  one  hun- 
dred acres  each  of  melilotus  and  red  chner  for  five 
years.  He  is  now- dropping  red  clover  and  increas- 
ing acres  in  melilotus.  as  all  the  conditions  for  hay, 
restoring  fertilitj-,  drainage,  and  more  certain  crop, 
are  on  the  side  ot  melilotus. 

These  facts  are  ti'iu'  on  our  prairie  lands,  and  are 
vouclied  for  only  for  tliese  lime  lands.  I  regai'd 
melilotus  as  the  "God-send  "  for  restoring  fertility 
to  our  worn  prairie  lands,  and  in  laying  the  road 
for  changing  from  cotton  to  stock  in  our  system  of 
farming.  1  can  not  too  earnestly  urge  our  praiiii!- 
land  owners  to  ti-yit.  My  j)lan'  has  been  for  five 
yeai-s  to  keep  one-third  of  "my  place  in  red  clovei-, 
melilotus,  and  lespede/.a.  and  change  crops  so  as  to 
gradually  get  ail  my  place  in  grass  every  four  or 
five  years. 

The  following  letter  is  from  Mr.  E.  E.  Dantz- 
ler. Cliftonville,  Miss.,  to  (ien.  Lee.  Mr.  D.  is 
the  manager  of  Gen.  Lee's  plantation. 

Dear  Sir;— Yours,  relative  to  melilotus,  at  hand. 
In  reply  I  would  state  that  I  have  had  five  years' 


92 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fkb.  1. 


experienco  with  it.  It  slmtild  be  planted  in  Februa- 
ry, but  will  do  as  late  as  tlie  lutli  of  April.  There 
should  be  three-fourths  bushel  of  seed  sown  per 
acre  to  secure  a  thick  stand,  but  half  a  busliel  does 
very  well.  The  land  should  be  broken  up  broad- 
cast, and  harrowed  well  before  sowing-.  The  plant 
seeds  tlie  second  year,  then  the  roots  die— but  not 
until  it  goes  to  seed.  It  has  but  one  superior  as  a 
hay  crop,  wliich  is  our  lespedeza,  and  it  sliould  be 
cut  for  liaj- wlien  it  is  about  fifteen  ini;hes  high; 
after  tluvt  time  it  is  too  woodj-  for  good  hay.  I 
have  mowed  it  tliree  times  in  one  year,  but  general- 
ly twice. 

Ifliid  it  to  be  a  bettei' fertilizer  than  either  peas 
or  red  clover.  T  appreciate  red  clover  very  hig-hly, 
but  ha\e  abandoned  it  entirely  since  I  found  the 
advaiuayes  melilotus  had  over  it,  l^oth  as  a  fertiliz- 
er and  liay  crop.  I  had  a  cut  of  poor  land  which 
would  not  produce  more  than  ten  bushels  of  corn 
per  acre.  I  sowed  it  down  in  melilotus.  I  then  put 
corn  back  in  it  after  running' it  in  melilotus  two 
years,  and  gathered  28  Inishels  per  acre.  Cotton 
land  which  made  600  pounds  of  cotton  to  the  acre 
makes  now  UOO  pounds  after  two  yearsin  melilotus. 
I  find  it  stand.s  the  droutli  and  cold  bftter  than 
any  other  clover.  It  is  adapted  to  our  black  and 
worn-out  white  lands.  I  don't  think  it  will  prove  a 
success  on  our  red  post-oak  land,  although  I  have  not 
given  it  a  fair  trial.  Any  information  I  can  g-ive 
you  about  this  g-rand  plant,  write  me  and  I  will 
cheerfully  respond.    With  kind  wishes, 

E.  E.  Dantzler. 

These  experiments  afford  excellent  proof  of  the 
value  of  melilotus.  TJie  experimeutai  stage  has 
been  passed,  and  the  fact  seems  clearly  estab- 
lished. The  only  remaining  questions  to  be  solv- 
ed in  regard  to  the  great  usefulness  of  this  clo- 
ver ill  tile  near  future  are:  Will  it  grow  advan- 
tageously on  other  than  limestone  soils?  and  if 
so.  will  it  take  hold  of  impoverished  lands  and 
restore  tliem  as  rapidly  as  will  cow-peas  and 
other  restorative  crops  ? 

I  am  convinced  that  it  will  grow  and  thrive 
on  soil  not  of  limestone  formation,  hereon  our 
average  loam  on  red-clay  foundaMon,  but  deep 
and  rich.  My  experience  does  not  extend  to 
poorer  or  worn-out  land.  The  small  patch  I 
have  is  as  luxuriant  as  any  one  could  desire, 
growing  to  (5  or  8  feet  high,  and  so  dense  that  it 
is  a  heavy  task  to  go  through  it — a  solid  mass 
of  bloom  in  its  season,  and  swarming  with  bees 
from  daylight  till  dark. 

Scattci-ed  about  on  the  place  where  seed  have 
been  carried  in  souk;  way  are  bunches  of  it,  and 
many  of  them  on  poor  red  clay  with  little  soil 
on  it;  and  these  bundles  of  it,  while  not  as  tall 
as  on  the  rich  spot  wliere  I  sowed  it,  gi'ow  3  to  4 
feet,  and  look  green  and  flourishing,  besides 
yearly  getting  lai'ger.  showing  they  are  more 
than  ■•  holding  their  own."  From  this,  though 
I  have  not  tried  sowing  a  plat  of  poor  laud  to 
it,  I  have  faith  to  believe  if  such  soil  is  well 
prepared,  and  some  cheap  fertilizer  like  ashes 
or  air-slacked  lime  is  sown  broadcast  ovei'  it  be- 
fore or  wlien  the  seed  is  sown,  it  will  catch,  and 
that,  if  it  ■' catches,"  it  will  ••hold."'  I  shall 
give  it  a  fair  trial  before  admitting  sweet 
clover  is  a  failure  on  poor  land. 

Unfortunately  it  blooms  here  with  bitterweed, 
and  for  this  reason  it  is  hard  to  get  at  tlie  facts 
regarding  its  honey  value,  quality,  quantity 
per  acre.  etc.  But  I  feel  conlident  it  would 
equal  alfalfa,  if  grown  to  the  same  extent,  and 
that  it  would  supplant  bitterweed  with  the 
bees,  whicli  seem  to  utilize  bitterweed  only 
when  sweet  nectar  to  the  extent  needed  is  not 
available,  evidence  of  which  we  have;  every 
fall  by  securing  nice  sweet  honey  as  soon  as  as- 
ters and  goldeni-od  come  in,  though  bitterweed 
is  still  in  bloom. 

One  mor(>  point  I  desire  to  notice  regarding 
sweet  clover.  The  piece  of  ground  I  hav(^ 
seeded  to  it  is  part  of  an  orchard:  and  though 
it  has  th(;  deepest,  richest  soil  on  llie  place, 
there  seemed  to  be  some  property  lacking,  as 
the  trees  grew   vei'y  slowly,  being  outstripiied 


four  to  one  by  those  on  very  much  poorer  land. 
Since  the  dense  clovei'  growth,  and  without 
cultivation,  which  they  previously  had,  these 
trees  have  >hot  up  like  Jack's  beanstalk.  The 
clover  roots,  aided  by  tlie  densi^  mulching  on 
the  surface,  did  tlie  business.  For  two  weeks 
hogs  have  been  allowed  the  run  of  this  orchard, 
and  I  find  they  greedily  eat  both  stem  and  root, 
having  torn  the  place  literally  topsy-tui'vy  to 
get  at  the  roots:  and  the  result  will  be,  no  clo- 
ver crop  this  year,  except  from  the  reseeding. 

My  crop  of  honey  for  1891  was:  :.'1.56  lbs.  of 
extracted  from  :.*3  colonies:  14fi  lbs.  of  section 
from  2  colonies— 3302  lbs.  in  all,  from  the  25 
colonies.  April  and  May  crop  was  white;  June 
and  July  crop  was  dark,  but  clear,  well  ripened, 
and  of  good  flavor  and  line  body,  and  sold  at 
7  to  7K  cents,  and  gave  satisfaction.  I  have 
inquiries  for  it  now  at  s  cents,  which  goes  to 
prove  that  all  honey-di^w  is  not  low  grade,  for 
this  later  honey  was  mixed  with  honey-dew. 

My  bees  went  into  winter  quarters  full,  both 
stories.  '  C.  P.  Coffix. 

Pontotoc,  Miss.,  Jan.  11. 

[Many  thanks  for  the  facts  that  you  have 
presented  us.  Wherever  it  can  be  grown,  it 
would  be  a  great  boon  to  bee-keepers,  to  say 
nothing  of  its  enriching  farm  lands.  This  fact 
alone  will  induce  farmers  to  take  hold  of  it. 
We  hope  that  bee-keepei-s  who  are  also  farmers 
will  try  a  small  patch,  and  report.  The  matter 
is  too  important  to  let  go  by.] 


A  SUCCESSFUL  AUTOMATIC  SWAEMEE. 

A   NKW   YOKK    MAN   SAYS   IT  IS   NOT  A  FAILURE. 

How  about  automatic  hivers?  All  total  fail- 
ures, you  fellows  say;  or.  hold  on  I  there  is  Dib- 
bern,  who  says  his  device,  with  a  leader  from 
the  lower  hive  to  one  on  top,  is  all  right.  Tell 
Mr.  D.  I  published  this  exact  device  in  the 
American  Bee  Journal  two  years  ago.  I  am 
inclined  to  believe  it  would  be  folly — yes,  fool- 
ish— for  me  to  explain  how  to  run  successfully 
thi'ee  or  four  yai-ds  of  bees  five  and  seven  miles 
from  home,  entirely  alone,  and  have  entire  cou- 
tiol  of  the  swarms— yes,  or  prevent  swarms,  and 
take  either  box  or  e.xtracted  honey. 

••Why,  Dibble,"  you  say,  '•you  must  be 
crazy." 

'•Yes.  yes;  I  am.  I  liave  been  for  15  years, 
and  am  actually  getting  worse  all  the  time. 
For  15  years  I  have  been  putting  into  practice 
all  of  the  different  devices— bee-hives,  section- 
cases,  clap-traps  in  general.  (Isn't  this  good 
evidence?)  lam  aware  that  your  wortliy  cor- 
respondence for  Gleanings  is  mighty  good 
evidence  on  any  and  all  subjects  pertaining  to 
bees;  but  theory  isn't  practice.  Send  some  of 
those  fellows  over  to  Middlebnrgh.  .Schoharie 
Co..  N.  Y..  next  summer,  in  June.  July,  or  Au- 
gust, and  I  will  show  them  how  to  hive  swarms 
in  the  absence  of  the  bee-keeper:  how  to  pre- 
vent swarming,  to  a  certainty,  by  the  proper 
control  of  the  queen;  liow  to  supersede  an  old 
queen,  or  an  inferior  one,  without  losing  a  mo- 
ment's time  in  egg-laying. 

These  three  tilings  I  lulieve  are  bothering  the 
bee-keep(M's  more  to-day  t  lian  any  or  all  the  com- 
bined things  put  together.  I  am  crazy  enough  to 
say,  and  invite  your  especial  attendance  for 
proof,  or  llanililer's,  that,  with  your  hive,  (>ight 
frames  and  attachments,  such  as  I  am  using, 
and  in  this  locality,  knowing  the  honey  re- 
sources as  I  do,  it  is  no  longer  an  experiment 
with  me,  but  facts  proven  from  practice,  in  my 
yards,  that  these  three  things  are  easy,  sure, 
and  practicable. 

I  can't  make  a  speech;  I  can't  write   much, 


IS'.fJ 


(;i,i:anin»;s  i\  i:i;k  cn/riKK. 


'.»;( 


and  1  iloii'i  I'Xpci't  lo  siR'i'ccil  ill  iiiaUiiiK  lli«' 
b<>o-k('c|)(  IS  tliinix  tlio  moon  is  iiiadi' of  I'lici-sc. 
as  soiiir  otht'i's  do:  l)iit  runic  and  sec  iis.  t  liosc 
w  lid  an- iiilcirslcd  in  wlial  1  am  lalkiiiK  alioui. 


Middi.'l.iiri:li.  N.  V..  .Ian.  t. 


W.  Diiuii.K 


[You  lire  hist  the  man  we  want  to  hear  t'loni. 
friend  DilibU*:  and  we  hereby  invite  you  to  send 
us  a  trood  photojiraiili.  aeeompunied  witii  a  de- 
seription  of  your  aiitomatie  swanning-device. 
Tell  us.  also,  in  another  arlich'.  how  you  con- 
trol swarminix.  and  how  you  supersede  an  old 
queen  without  losinir  a  moment  of  time — that 
is.  i>rovidinsi  you  do  not  intend  to  Ueep  it  a  pro- 
found seeret.  as  we  |iresume  you  do  not.  Per- 
iuiiis  some  of  our  readers  will  recoRuize  in  Mr. 
Dibble  the  t)ee-iuan  whom  we  called  upon  in 
8ehoharie  ("o..  while  on  our  bicycle  tour.  We 
arrived  at  his  place  about  noon,  just  in  time 
for  dinner.  We  had  a  very  jileasant  chat  with 
Mr.  Ditible.  and  I'ound  him  to  be  an  intelligent 
and  progressive  bee-keeper.  At  the  lime,  we 
urged  liimtolet  his  light  shine  more.  When 
we  wrote  up  oui'  tra\'els  we  presented  our  lead- 
ers with  a  l<odak'  view  of  the  swarmer.  but  no 
donin  Mr.  Dilible  has  perlVcled  it.  and  would 
be  glad  to  show  it  to  the  bee-kt>epiiig  public,  as 
it  will  be  impossible  for  us  ail  to  visit  him.  W'e 
suggest  the  w  isdom  of  our  friend  not  making 
ills  invitation  too  broad,  or  he  will  be  swamped 
with  callers.! 


GRADING  HONEY. 


HOW     W.    C.    FHAZIKi;    DOKS   IT. 


w  hile  tho>e  w  ho  are  I'ortuiiale  enough  lo  secure 
white  honey  in  tiist-class  style  could  mark 
their  product  ■'I''ancy  A."  The  grade  marked 
■•  Family"  will  lind  a  much  more  ready  sale,  at 
a  better  price,  than  the  same  honey  would 
bring  if  marked  :'.(l  or  4th  grade,  it  would  not 
take  tlu-  honey-producers  long  to  learn  that 
"A"  means  white.  ■■  IT'  yellow  or  amber,  and 
••("■  dark,  and  then  to  grade  according  to  con- 
dition: and  there  is  no  use  in  having  four  or 
five  ditTereiit  grades  so  that  it  would  take  an 
expert  to  jiack  honey.  Tlie  three  grades  of 
condition  are  enough — •■  Fancy  "  for  the  best; 
'•('iioice"  for  good  honey,  slightly  bulged  or 
travel-stained:  "Family"  for  wliai/s  left  after 
the  two  above  gra<!es  are  taken  out.  Then  the 
letters  can  be  used  for  grading  exiracted  honey: 
as  it  is  graded  mostly  according  to  color,  they 
would  be  as  api)lical)le  to  (extracted  as  to  comb. 

These  suggestions  I  olt'er.  Others  may  have 
better  systems:  but  what  we  want  is  a  simple 
system  that  all  can  tindersttmd.  and  one  that 
w'ill  be  applicable  to  all  honeys  produced  from 
Maine  to  California.  NV.  ('.  Fua/.ikh. 

Atlantic,  la..  .Ian.  18. 

[You  have  given  us  quitt;  a  scheme:  and  al- 
though it  may  not  be  free  from  fault  it  will 
inak'e  a  good  basis  fioni  which  to  work.  All  the 
dillei'ent  systems  of  gradings  need  to  be  thor- 
oughlydigested— as  somebody  says.  "  wrassl'd 
with.'"  until  we  may  be  able  to  ofl'er  something 
that  will  he  accpjited  as  satisfactory.  The  fact 
that   there   has   been   so  much   discussion   of  it 

lately  shows  that   there  is  great   n 1   of  some- 

thintr  of  the  kind.l 


Since  the  North  American  does  not  seem  to 
have  adopted  the  classiticalion  of  the  Noi'tli- 
wstern  at  (  liicago.  nor  any  thing  like  it:  and 
as  a  uniform  system  of  grading  would,  w  ithout 
doubt.  b(!  a  great  benefit  to  b(»tli  producer  and 
consignee,  there  remains  nothing  to  be  done 
except  to  suggest  methods,  and  hoi)e  tliat  there 
may  be.  at  some  time  in  the  near  future,  a  sys- 
tem to  w  hich  all  can  agree.  I  would  therefore 
olTer  the  following,  hoping  there  may  be  some- 
tiiing  in  it  worthy  of  attention. 

COI.OH. 

Guide  ''A.'' 
White  honey,  clover,  basswood.  and   kindred 
hone\  -.  which  are  wliite  or  light  colored. 
(inide  "  B." 
Hoiu'vs  which   are  yellow  or  amlwr.  such   as 
alfalfa.  .Spanish  needle,  etc. 

Grade  "  C." 
All  dark  honeys,  buckwheat,  etc. 

COXDITIOX. 

•■  Fam-y." 

Combs  wliich  are  well   sealed,  straight,  and 
even:    .sufticienlly    attached     to   ship   without 
breaking:  combs  and  sections  unsoiled. 
'('holee." 

Combs  well   filleri.  lirmly  attaclied:  not    more 
than  one-fourth  of  t  he  surface   can    be   tiavi'l- 
stained  or  unsealed.  i)Ut  may  be  bulged. 
"  Fdmilii" 

All  honeys  who.se  condition  does  not  warrant 
placing  them  in  either  of  the  above  grades. 

Now.  in  support  of  the  above  I  have  not  much 
argument  to  offer,  as  I  think  it  is  simple,  not 
nearly  as  complex  as  any  that  ha\e  lierelofore 
been  offered:  also,  by  it  all  honey  raised  in 
this  country  could  be  giath-d.  and  its  exact 
quality  known.  For  instance,  the  best  honey 
from  California  would  be  marked  "  Fancy  ]}." 
The  regions  that  iirodiice  buckwheat  honey 
would  mark  their  best  comb  honey  "Fancy  C." 


'GLUCOSING  HONEY. 


HOW    IT    IS    SAID    TO    1!K    DONi:    I-V    PITTSBUHG. 


Mr.  B()<it:—\\\  Gi.kanings  you  seem  to  doubt 
M.  H.  Tweed's  statement  about  extracted  honey 
being  glucosed.  There  is  no  doubt  that  Mr. 
Tweed's  statement  is  tnn;  in  regard  to  packers 
or  firms  that  make  a  busiu(>ss  of  putting  up 
honev  in  tumblers  and   other  small    packages. 

The Co..  of  f'ittsburg.  have  been  selling 

tumblers  with  something  called  honey.  Tliey 
have  a  piece  of  comb  in  them,  and  tilled  with 
liquid.  They  are  not  labeled  honey  or  any  thing 
else,  but  simply  a  strip  of  paper  round  llie  edge 
of  the  lid.  giving  the  linn's  lumie.  The  way 
their  are  labeled  is  a  violation  of  Ohio  law,  as  it 
does  not  say  what  the  contents  are.  nor  \vh<;re 
put  up.  In  asking  the  parties  that  offer  it  for 
sale  tliey  always  say  that  is  pure  hom-y:  that 
the  firm' [Hitting  it  up  guarantee's  it  to  be  pure. 
I  have  no  analysis  made  of  it  to  prove  that  it  is 
not  honey:  but  it  has  not  the  least  bit  of  honey 
taste:  on"  the  other  hand,  the  taste  is  disagree- 
able to  me.  1  have  liad  samples  of  a  great 
many  kinds  of  honey,  but  ni'ver  had  any  that 
tasted  as  this  does.  It  is  not  the  amount  tliat  is 
sold  that  hurts  the  trade:  but  when  a  customer 
who  knows  what  good  hoiu-y  is  buys  some  of 
this  it  makes  him  suspicious  of  honey.  I  should 
liki'  to  know  the  pro|'er  way  to  deal  with  the 
Ijarties  Selling  such  stuff,  and  how  to  provethat 
it  is  adulterated.  If  you  would  like.  I  shall  be 
glad  to  send  vou  a  sample.  11.  CJ.  CA.\ir. 

Winona.  0.\  .Ian.  IH,  189:2. 

[We  have  suppressed  the  name  of  the  (inn  for 
the  pie>ent.  and  in  the  meantime  will  write  and 
find  out  what  they  have  to  say  for  themselves. 
We  hereby  invite'all  th<>  testimony  you  can  se- 
cure. If  this  testimony  is  sufiicient  to  convict, 
and  there  are  laws  in  Pennsylvania  that  will 
cover  such  cases,  we  will  see  what  can  he  done. 
Now.  we  are  not  yet    i)repared   to  admit  that 


94: 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  1. 


honev  is  being  adulU'rated— at  least,  by  the 
'•  hundreds  of  tons,"  as  averred  by  Mr.  Tweed. 
We  should  glad  to  have  bee-keepers  all  over 
the  country  give  us  the  I'acts,  where  they  have 
good  reason  to  believe  that  packing-houses  are 
adulterating.  AVe  may  not  be  able  to  accom- 
plish anything:  but  if  we  do  this  much  we  shall 
find  whether  there  is  iveu  a  belief  among  bee- 
keepers as  to  the  adultiMalion  of  our  product. 
It  just  occurs  to  us  that,  if  there  is  any  adul- 
teration at  all.  it  is  lu'cause  the  newspapers 
have  been  trying  to  make  us  believe  that  it  was 
done  on  a  gigantic  scale,  and  therefore  a  few  of 
those  who  are  inclined  to  adulterate  would 
argue  that,  if  they  were  not  in  good  company, 
they  were  in  a  large  one.  There  may  be  a  few 
concerns  that  would  stoop  to  such  low  busi- 
ness. 


CLOSED-END  FRAMES  IN  AUSTRALIA. 


A    SUCCESS    WHEKE    I'KOPOLIS    IS    THE    WORST. 

In  your  issue  of  Sept.  1.5,  p.  729,  appears  a  let- 
ter from  J.  A.  Green,  giving  his  decision  to  use 
half-depth  frames  closed -end.  You  express 
great  interest  in  his  letter,  in  your  footnote,  so 
perhaps  another  on  the  same  subject,  although 
somewhat  late  in  appearing,  may  be  of  interest 
to  you  and  others  dissatistied  with  the  loose 
hanging  frame. 

As  one  of  the  chief  objections  raised  against 
closed-end  frames  has  been  that  of  propolis.  I 
should  like  to  say,  first,  that,  in  thi^s  district, 
there  is  an  abundant  supply  of  it  lying  around 
on  the  ground  and  under  the  remains  of  the 
grass-tree,  or  yuccas,  and  the  bees  bestow  a  lib- 
eral share  on  every  crack  and  joint  in  the  hives. 
It  would  compete  favorably.  I  fee]  contident,  for 
tenacity  when  cold,  and  stickiness  when  warm, 
with  that  of  Cuba,  described  in  your  issue  of 
Oct.  1,'  p.  7(5U.  by  Mr.  T.  O.  Somerford.  I  have 
tested  some  100  hives,  with  closed -end  frames 
5t^  deep,  alongside  of  some  .50  Simplicity  loose- 
frame  hives  in  this  apiary  for  two  years.  The 
frames  have  1^^  end-pieces,  KX]^  top-bars;  (sX 
J^  bottom-bars,  with  bee-space  back  and  front 
of  the  end-bars,  frames  hanging,  top-bars  liHg 
long.  With  these  frames  closed  up  by  two  iron 
thumbscrews  and  a  dummy.  I  have  no  more 
difficulty  individually  than  in  moving  any  indi- 
vidual frame  in  the  Simplicity  hiv(;.  One  tuin 
of  the  screws  gives  about  >«  to  tk  side  play;  the 
frame  neai'  the  center  is  pried  apart  from  its 
two  neighbors  with  the  fingers  easily,  in  warm 
weather,  and  lifted  vertically  up.  and  replaced 
as  Mr.  Green  describes,  the  adjacent  frames  be- 
ing close,  l^.j  inches  apart  at  most.  There  are 
no  bees  caught  between  end-bars  as  the  frame 
descends.  Contrary  to  what  Mr.  Somerford 
says,  these  combs  can  be  put  into  any  position 
in  the  hives  when  replaced,  and  1  take  no  par- 
ticular care  to  put  them  back, except  for  other 
rea.sons  that  hold  good  for  every  kind  of  hive. 
I  never  have  to  ''emove  the  dummy:  and  while 
I  can  handle  a  single  frame  of  either  kind,  out 
and  in.  in  about  the  same  time  I  can  handle  a 
set  of  frames  of  the  closed-end  type  in  any  mat- 
ter that  involves  disarranging  and  arranging 
(or  spacing)  them  again  quicker  and  easier  than 
loose  fi'ames.  Besides  this,  many  operations,  as 
set  forth  by  Mr.  Heddon  and  others,  can  be  per- 
formed upon  a  whole  colony  at  considerable 
gain  in  time  over  a  similar  one  upon  loose 
frames.  One  occurs  to  me  just  now  with  double 
force,  as  I  jiainfully  learned  the  difference  to- 
day. Go  to  one  of  these  hives  in  the  apiary  just 
now  —  swarming  time  —  and  a  nice  honey-flow 
till  to-day.  The  (lueen  has  possession  of  three 
brood-cases  of  eight  frames  each  (before  swafm- 

ng).      With  a  chisel  the  lid  is  loosened,  and  the 


cases  over  the  queen-excluder  are  lifted  off;  a 
few  jars  and  shakes,  and  a  light  tap  of  one  cor- 
ner on  the  ground,  and  four-fifths  of  the  bees, 
Cyprian  and  Italian  crosses,  are  out  before  rob- 
bers (of  which  yesterday  there  were  none,  but  a 
plenty  to-day)  can  well  dive  in:  the  cover  is  on, 
and  the  supers  are  piled  up  with  others  near  the 
honey-room,  with  a  Dibbern  horizontal  escape- 
board  on  top  of  the  pile,  'to  drain  out  the  re- 
mainder of  the  bees.  Now  open  a  Simplicity 
two-stoi'y  hiv<^  of  twenty  frames.  Ten  times 
combs  have  to  be  lifted  -and  shaken;  ten  times 
the  bucket  has  to  be  opi'ued,  and  ten  times  the 
robbers  dive  into  the  sticky  bucket  and  still 
open  hive,  kejjt  open  for.  say,  four  or  five  times 
the  period  of  the  former  hive. 

But  this  is  not  all.  The  real  superiority  at 
this  time  is  proved  when  the  empty  combs  are 
being  replaced  later  on.  If  there  is  the  least 
slack  in  the  honey-flow  with  us,  the  first  comb 
put  back,  sticky  and  odorous,  means  bees  bent 
on  stinging.  By  the  time  ten  are  put  back  and 
spaced  properly,  the  uproar  and  stings  are  to  be 
deplored.  On  the  othei' we  lift  the  cover  with 
one  hand:  with  the  other  we  put  on  the  case  of 
eight  combs,  all  ready  spaced,  and  close  up.  In 
less  time  than  it  takes  to  space  two  loose  frames 
it  can  be  done.  And  their  advantaged  have 
not  seen  it  mentioned)  is,  that  full  sheets  of 
foundation,  about  7  feet  to  the  pound,  can  be 
safely  used,  even  in  our  hot  climate,  in  frames 
only  5  in.  deep;  nor  do  I  now  wire  these  frames. 
Tlie  frames  in  the  brood-cases  and  supers  are 
all  alike,  as  described  above.  As  a  recent  writ- 
er pointed  out  in  the  Bee-keepers'  Review,  the 
fjiU  advantages  of  handling  hives  vs.  "  frame- 
handling  "  can  not  be  realized  where  foul  brood 
is  prevalent.  As  we  have  ever  to  be  on  the 
alert  here  for  that  enemy,  there  is  considerable 
advantage  that  our  closed-end-frame  hives  pos- 
sess lost  to  us  through  the  necessity  of  con- 
stantly examining  combs. 

There  are  only  two  advantages  that  I  know 
of  in  the  loose-frame  Simplicity  hives.  They 
are  made  up  more  quickly  from  the  flat,  and 
cheaper,  and  the  frames  are  turned  a  little 
quicker  in  the  extractor  than  two  small  frames, 
though  there  is  less  difference  here  when  used 
to  the  small  frame  than  might  be  supposed. 
The  smaller  frames  are  more  speedily  capped 
over,  and  uncapped  too.  I  find,  which  compen- 
sates for  the  former  advantage. 

For  building  up.  disposing  of  brood  at  swarm- 
ing time,  without  increase,  and  at  all  times 
where  hive-lifting  and  comb-carrying,  full  or 
empty,  is  to  be  done,  my  testimony  is  in  favor  of 
the  shallow  cases  of  closed-end  frames,  as  being 
less  laborious,  tedious,  and  painful,  and  more 
economical  of  time. 

It  may  be  thought  an  additional  commenda- 
tion when  I  state  that,  from  W  hives,  spring 
count,  I  took  11.000  lbs.  of  honey,  mostly  ex- 
tracted, last  season,  mostly  taken  in  January 
and  February  last.  T.  Boi.ton. 

Dunkeld,  Victoria,  Australia,  Nov.  IS.  isni. 

[Propolis  is  apt  to  be  much  worse  in  warm  or 
semi-tropical  countries.  It  has  been  stated  by 
some  of  our  coiTcspondents.  and  no  doubt  with  a 
good  deal  of  truth,  that  it  is  very  bad  in  Cuba— 
so  much  of  it,  in  fact,  being  deposited  on  the 
frames  and  other  parts  of  the  hive  that  fix(xl 
distances  in  the  shape  of  Hoffman  or  closed-end 
frames  would  b(^  out  of  the  question.  But  sev- 
eral correspondents  have  stated  several  times, 
yoiu'Self  among  the  number,  that  propolis  is 
probably  as  bad  in  South  Australia  as  anywhere 
else  on  "the  face  of  the  globe,  and  yet  you  say 
fixed  frames  are  a  success  notwithstanding.  You 
have  stated  quite  forcibly  and  clearly  why  fi.xed 
frames  are  superior  to  loose  frames  that  require 
to  be  spaced.     We  feel  (luite  sure  that  bee-keep- 


1892 


(;i,KA\lN(;s  IN  HKK  CULTURE. 


95 


<  IS  will)  o(iiit*Mui  tliat  lixctl  lianits  can  not  he 
liaiidlfd  as  lapiilly.  will  tind.  stMnicr  or  later, 
iliai  iIk'v  art-  lu'iiiir  Irli  in  the  race  for  profit.] 


RAMBLE  NO.   52. 

IN    CllKAfio. 

.Vftt'i'  Icavin-r  Dow  asjiat-  tlic  route  is  ovci' a 
♦Iciiirlit  fill  portion  of  fonniry.  On  one  side  we 
oati-li  friiinpscs  of  the  spari<linvr  waters  (d'  Lake 
.Mii'hiiian.  and  on  the  olhi'r  llic  level  and  rioli 
farniinji  lands  of  Nortlieiii  Indiana.  Wheat- 
tields  \\(>re  (|nite  conitnon  ilironsili  XortiM-rn 
Ohio  and  in  Micliitran:  hnt  luM'e  tliey  Ix'canie 
more  nunieions  and  laiii<'>':  tJie  waving  lields 
were  ready  for  the  harvester,  and  many  of 
these  machines  liad  eommeneed  their  labors.  All 
availahle  hell),  inehulinj?  women.  W(>re  at  work, 
und  here  I  tirst  saw  women  engaired  in  the  stal- 
wart lalior  of  piteliing  hay  upon  wagons,  and 
they  .seemed  to  nse  tile  i)itelifork  as  dextronsly 
as  any  man.  From  appearances  they  were 
German  families  who  had  bronght  their  fatiier- 
land  love  of  work,  strength,  and  tiiiift  with 
them.  Tlie  average  .\meiii-an  can  not  endure 
to  see  a  woman  at  work'  in  the  lields:  the  spec- 
tacle of  petticoats  behind  a  pitchfork  or  a  hoe 
is  not  very  snggestive  of  a  very  gentle,  refined 
lady,  which  an  American  loves  to  honor.  The 
shivery  of  the  kitchen  is.  however,  quite  as 
great,  or  even  a  greater  bai'rier  to  refinement 
than  a  judicious  amount  of  outdoor  labor,  and 
its  attendant  pure  air  and  health-giving  exer- 
cise. 

Soon  large  gardening  areas  take  the  place  of 
wheat-Helds;  the  villages  become  more  nu- 
merous and  larger,  and  the  traveler  ;kno\vs 
from  these  unmistakable  signs  that  he  is  ap- 
proaching a  large  city.  Soon  the  houses  be- 
come continuous:  and  as  we  glide  smoothly  into 
a  large  depot,  the  breakeraan  shouts  out  that 
talismanic  word.  "  Chicagol""  How  often' this 
wonderful  inland  city  is  brijught  to  our  atten- 
tion by,some  stirring  episode  within  its  borders! 


o.\-niKi:i.\(;  itav  in  indi.xna. 

How  often  we  think  of  its  marvelous  gi-invth. 
and  imagine  the  greatness  of  its  futnrel  And 
now  for  two  years  or  more  all  eyes  in  the  civi- 
lized world  will  be  centered  on  this  city,  and 
will  place  here  on  exhibition  their  best  efforts 
of  brain  and  muscle. 

Chicago  is  not  dejected  at  all  over  the  hercu- 
lean-task  before   her,  but  extends  the  hand  of 


hi'arty  welcome  to  all  lu-w  arrivals.  A  whole 
delegation  of  her  heterogeneous  citizens  met 
the  Hainbler.  and  every  one  was  vociferous  to 
shake  hands.  Seli-ciing  a  bi'oad-shoulden^d 
iiibei'nian  to  shake  with,  1  was  landed  uncere- 
moniously into  his  elegant  >liay,  and  ra|)idly 
sliayed  away,  with  several  other' di>liiigirished 
jiersons.  to  the  Comnreicial  Hotel.  This  hotid 
will  aecommodate  KXH)  pc^ople,  more  oi' less.  It 
is  iirn  on  the  Americair  plan — so  much  for  a 
r'oorii.  and  a  good  price  for  what  you   don't  eat. 


SOCIALISTIC   "  CIMF.X  LECTUI.AIUUS  "  (BEDBUG). 

The  fatigue  of  the  journey  .sent  me  early  to 
bed  via  the  elevator.  The  Chicago  night  air, 
the  evening  cuisine  of  the  hoteT,  or  somfe  an- 
terior circumstance,  caused  the  Rambler  to 
arouse  toward  morning  with  a  fearful  sick 
headache,  and  all  day  the  bed  was  occupied 
with  a  despondently  sick  person.  A  good  rest 
the  second  night  enabled  me  the  next  day  to 
eat  a  little  and  make  a  few  short  trips  on  the 
streets.  It  is  said  that  first  impressions  are 
lasting.  As  this  was  a  severe  stomachic  on(\  it 
will  be  remembered.  My  next  impression  was 
through  my  generoirs  olfactory  organ  as  I  ap- 
proached the  Chicago  River.  A  celebrated 
comedian  is  said  to  have  remarked,  before  a 
Chicago  audience,  that  he  heard  them  talking 
much  about  tilling  irr  and  beautifying  along  the 
lake  front:  but  he  would  advise  them  to  win 
renown  by.lilling  in  that  immense  filthy  sewer 
called  the  Chicago  River.  The  river,  though 
filthy  and  loud-smelling,  is  full  of  shipping  and 
trafhc.  and.  entering  the  lake  thr-ough  the 
business  por'Jon  of  the  city,  it  is  spanned  by 
over  t)0  drawbi'idges.  and  rrndermined  by  two 
tunnels,  .ludging  Chicago  from  the  river  point 
of  view,  the  impression  is  irot  good. 
•  The  Comnrercial  Hotel,  charging  me  for  all 
the  meals  I  missed  •(liu'ing  my  indisposition.  I 
changed  to  a  splendi<i  hotel  orr  the  Eiu'opean 
plan.  I  was  here  highly  enteitained  dining  the 
night  —  by  several  specimens  of  the  genus 
Clrnex  lectHlaruis,\\'\iO  wei-e  evidently  in  seai'ch 
of  rations  on  the  help-yourself,  socialistic  plan. 
After  this  interview  I  felt  decidedly  better,  and 
was  on  th(!  str-eet  at  an  eai'ly  horu'.  Wishing  to 
get  a  gerrer-al  view  of  the  city  I  ascended 
the  tower  of  the  Auditorium  building,  and 
saw  on  one  side  Lake  Michigan,  calm  and 
peaceful:  on  the  other  side  what  I  called 
smoke  witli  a  few  church-spires  struggling 
through  it.  A  closer  obser'vation.  however, 
revealed  it  to  be  genuine  Chicago  gas.    Every 


06 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  1. 


resident  ill  the  city  is  in  duty  bound  to  emit  a 
hundred  cubic  feet  of  gas  per  minute,  all 
about  the  greatness  of  Chicago.  If  this  gaseous 
condition  continues  to  augment,  it  is  predicted, 
by  the  oldest  inhabitant,  that  the  wonderful 
tower  to  be  erected  will  be  completely  envelop- 
ed in  this  gaseous  haze,  and  be  utterly  useless 
as  an  obseivatory. 

After  leaving  the  Auditorium  I  went  directly 
up  Madison  St.  to  tiie  office  of  the -<4/»er(C(f7i 
Bee  J(iur)i(d.  Upon  entering  this  famous  es- 
tablishment I  found  confusion  in  every  depart- 
ment. I  didn't  know  at  first  but  too  much 
Chicago  gas  here  had  caused  an  explosion:  but 
I  soon  found  the  tiue  cause.  Our  friend^  were 
having  a  moving  agony,  and  were  going  to 
larger  and  more  commodious  quarters.  Mr. 
Newman  is  agenteel-appearing  man  of  medium 
height  and  breadth,  and  would  be  readily  rec- 
ognized by  any  one  who  has  seen  his  photo  in 
the  journals.  The  son  Alfred  is  a  chip  fi-oni 
the  old  block,  as  far  as  appearance  is  conceru(>d : 
and  beneath  the  exterior  I  have  reason  to  know 
there  beats  a  kindly  and  fraternal  heart. 

My  first  acquaintance  with  the  American 
Bee  Journal  dates  back  to  about  the  fourth 
volume,  or  when  edited  by  its  founder.  Samuel 
Wagner,  and  only  a  short  time  pi-evious  to  his 
death.  The  old  numbers  of  those  early  volumes 
are  carefully  preserved.  The  editorials  have  a 
scientific  cast,  showing  that  tlie  founder  had  a 
love  for  research,  and  a  power  to  impart  the 
same  spirit  to  others.  The  Ramblei-'s  first  es- 
say in  the  interests  of  bee  culture  will  be  found 
in  these  early  volumes,  over  the  name  of 
'■  Scientific."  and  not  much  science  about  them 
either.  Aftei-  the  death  of  Mr.  Wagner  I  lost 
interest  in  the  journal  until  it  was  revived  by 
the  present  editor,  since  which  time  I  have 
been  quite  regularly  its  ])atron.  The  enter- 
prise of  the  present  editor  needs  no  turther 
comment  than  to  refer  to  the  fact  that  he  was 
the  first  to  give  the  fraternity  a  weekly  paper. 
I  do  not  know  whether  the  editor  ever  becomes 
discouraged  or  not:  but  between  the  grip  and 
the  low  price  at  which  the  paper  is  publishi'd  it 
would  be  no  more  than  human  if  he  did. 

Let  us  see — occupying  the  position  it  does  in 
the  apicultural  ranks,  and  the  legal  status  it 
has  given  to  bee-keeping  ihrough  the  Bee- 
keepers' Union,  its  circulation  should  be  great. 
It  costs  the  reader  less  than  2  cents  per  week. 
Now.  whatever  circulation  the  journal  may 
have,  I  feel  that  an  addition  of  ten  thousand 
more  would  give  it  such  a  boom  that,  though 
valuable  now,  it  would  be  enabled  to  become 
doubly  so.  That  such  a  state  of  things  may  be 
accomplished  is  the  wish  of  the 

Ramiu.ei!. 

[Gr.KAXiNRS  desires  to  second  your  wish  in 
regard  to  the  old  Aiiiermm  Bee  Jijunial.] 


LADIES'  Conversazione. 


CANDY  FOR  BEES. 


WHY  A.  X.  drapp;k  had  bad   i.uck  with    his 

candy;    how  to  make  cream  candy 

for  home  consumption. 

After  reading  Mr.  Drapers  article  on  feeding 
bees  candy  for  winter.  Dr.  JNIiller  wished  me  to 
write  .soiuetliing  alioul:  candy-making,  not  be- 
cause I  hav(>  had  any  experience  in  making 
candy  for  bees,  but  because  I  have  had  a  good 
deal  of  experience  in  making  candy  for  our  own 
consumption,  and  he  thought  some  of  the 
points  might  be  of  use  just  here.  First,  Mr. 
Root,  I  turned   to  the  A  B  C  to  read   your  in- 


structions for  making.  You  say.  "Into  a  tin 
saucepan  put  some  granulated  sugar,  with  a 
little  water— a  very  little  water  will  do."'  When 
I  make  candy  I  like  to  know  exactly  what  pro- 
portion of  sugar  and  water  to  use."  I  think  it 
makes  a  great  difference  in  results  if  you  know. 
You  also  say.  •' Make  it  boil,  and  stir  it.''  Do 
you  mean  to  stir  it  when  boiling?  I  can  hardly 
believe  you  mean  that,  as  I  think  it  will  inev- 
itably give  you  just  what  you  started  with— 
granulated  sugar.  I  have  often  had  it  granu- 
late without  stirring,  and  cream  of  tartar  in 
it  besides,  while  the  slightest  stirring  when 
boiling  is  sure  to  make  it  granulate.  Some 
sugar  is  worse  about  granulating  than  others. 

I  suppose  your  bee-caady  is  what  confection- 
ers call  "'creamed''  candy,  which  is  used  in 
candy-making  as  the  basis  of  a  great  many 
different  kinds.  If  properly  creamed  it  will  not 
granulate,  and  will  keep  for  a  long  time.  In 
making.  I  use  7  lbs.  of  sugar.  2  teaspoonfuls 
cream  of  tartar,  and  three  pints  of  water,  or  in 
that  proportion,  and  never  stii'  in  the  least 
when  boiling.  Let  it  boil  till  it  reaches  the 
■'  feathery  "  stage,  as  confectioners  call  it,  which 
is  determined  liy  dipping  a  skimmer  in  the 
syrup  and  blowing  haid  through  it.  Whenever 
you  can  blow  i^ubbles  ihrough  the  holes  in  the 
skimmer,  it  is  done  and  must  be  taken  from  the 
fire  instantly.  A  great  deal  depends  on  taking 
it  off'  at  just  the  right  time. 

I  now  tuin  the  syrup  into  a  large  bowl  and 
stir  very  hai'd  until  thdroughly  creamed,  when 
it  will  be  milk-white.  If  too  hard  it  can  be 
mad(»  softer  by  adding  a  few  drops  of  water, 
stirring  it  thoroughly.  If  too  much  water  is 
added,  the  candy  will  be  too  soft. 

I  believe  Mr.  Draper  made  three  mistakes. 
First,  he  had  too  much  sugar  for  the  amount  of 
water  used:  second,  he  stirred  wiu^n  boiling; 
third,  he  did  not  cook  it  enough.  He  says  he 
set  the  can  with  the  syrup  inside  the  kettle  of 
water,  and  water  can  be  heated  only  to  2J2°; 
and  although  I  do  not  know  how  hot  the  syrup 
must  be  before  it  reaclu^s  the  rijjrht  point.  I  feel 
pretty  sure  it  is  considi-rably  hotier'  than  2\2°. 
I  tliink  syrup  boils  at  a  good  deal  higher  tem- 
perature than  water.  If  you  have  some  syrup 
on  the  stove  boiling,  and  let  it  cool  down  till 
perfectly  still,  then  drop  a  little  cold  water  in 
the  syrup,  that  water  immediately  boils,  show- 
ing that  the  syrup  must  have  Ix'en  consid(>rably 
above  212°  before  it  stopped  boiling. 

It  was  not  only  not  sufficiently  cooked,  but.  if 
I  understand  Mr.  Di'ai)er.  the  sugar  was  not  all 
dissolved,  for  he  says.  "  ItiS  pounds  of  sugar  will 
all  dissolve:  but  in  order  to  get  it  to  harden 
enough  to  haul  to  an  out-apiary  it  is  necessary 
to  put  in  from  b")  to  20  pounds  more  sugar,'"  in- 
timating that  the  sugar  was  not  all  dissolved. 

You  say  in  your  footnote.  Mr.  Editor,  that  his 
candy  was  too  hard.  I  don't  see  how  it  could 
be  too  hard.  It  doesn't  seehi  to  me  it  could  be 
called  candy  until  it  had  had  more  cooking. 
Wasn't  it  simply  water  with  all  the  sugar  stirred 
in  that  it  would  dissolve,  then  a  little  more 
sugar  put  in  to  thicken  if?  What  was  there  to 
prevent  its  being  granulated  sugar  again  when 
the  water  evaporatecl  2  Isn't  it  the  boiling 
alone  that  mak(>s  all  the  difference  between  wet 
sugar  and  candy?  Even  if  every  thing  else 
had  been  right,  I  should  imagine  that  stirring 
when  boiling  would  alone  be  sufficient  to  spoil  it. 

Since  writing  th(>  above  I  have  just  discover- 
ed that  you  give  fuller  instructions  for  candy- 
making  on  the  next  page  of  the  A  B  C.  On 
page  .57  you  say.  "  Make  it  boil,  and  stir."  which 
seems  to  mean  to  stir  while  boiling.  On  page 
.58  you  say,  "Take  it  olf  the  stove  at  once;  and 
as  soon  as  it  begins  to  harden  around  the  side, 
give  it  a  good  stirring,  and  keep  it  up  until  it 
gets  so  thick  you  can  just  pour  it."    In  this 


IS'.rj 


(iLKAMNtIs  L\   I5KK  (.TLTUllE. 


case  yoii  say  not liiiiir  altmil  stiriiiijj  iiiilil  il  is 
tak<Mi  fnim  llic  lin- ami  hciiiiis  to  cool.  'IMial"s 
^ooil.  Stiniiisi  wliilf  Imiliiiir  will  iiiaKr  j^raini- 
iatiMJ  -iu^ar.  Siiri'lii!;  ai'tt'i' taKiiitr  IVotn  the  tire. 
if  taUfii  at  just  the  risJtlit  tiiiir.  will  cream  it. 
w  hii'li  is  w  liat  I  tliiiiU  we  want. 
Marcniio.  III.  IOmma   Wilson. 

i  \Vc  holicvc.  Miss  \\  ilsoii.  yoii  have  ('Xplaiiicd 
why  .Mr.  Draprr  iiatl  siioli  Itad  liU'U  with  his 
iMiiily.  I'lMsoiially.  thr  juiuor  ciiitof  lias  had 
MO  <'.\pcri('iu'i>  in  making  candy  for  bci^s.  Th<! 
aiticic  on  oanily  In  tlii'  A  15  V  liook  was  wiittcn 
l>y  .\.  I.  Koot.  It  is  (uir  impression,  however, 
tiiat  iiedesire<i  (o  have  it  iiraniilate  to  a  certain 
extent.  When  lie  sees  this  he  will  prol)al)ly  ex- 
l)lain.l 


FIXED  FRAMES. 


>Ii:s.    AXTKI.I,     EXPLAINS    THIMH    QX'IXBY    HIVE: 
IIS    XlEPHOl)   OF    .MANIPL'LATIOX.  ETC. 


I  have  an  idea  tliat  a  large  frame  woiks  bet- 
ter as  a  lixed  closed-end  frame  than  a  small 
one  wonld.  as  a  large  frame  gives  more  spac(>  for 
the  bees  to  gatlier  in  the  center  than  a  small 
frame,  and  so  is  less  liai)le  to  kill  bees  in  manip- 
ulating thein. 

Our  (^uinby  hive  is  just  like  Elwood's,  as 
shown  in  cut  in  (iLEAXixos.  except  that  the 
sides  and  ends  are  clamped  together  at  the 
cornel's  iiisiead  of  being  nailed  as  his  is.  and  slip- 
ped down  over  the  top  with  the  top  nailed  fast, 
if  I  can  rightly  see  it  from  the  cut  in  (tleax- 
iX(is.  His  hive-body.  1  see.  does  not  come  cl(>ar 
down  to  the  bottom-board  eitiier,  while  ours 
docs,  and  is  lu'ld  in  place  by  a  dowel -pin  in 
each  side,  tliat  drops  into  a  socket  in  tlie  liot- 
tom-l)oard.  Onr  hive  has  a  Hat  board  on  top, 
tinned  over  w  iih  an  inch  rim  around  the  sides. 
When  we  work  through  u  hive  we  take  off  the 
top  and  take  down  the  liack-board  and  unclasp 
one  front  corner,  which  lets  one  side  lean  over, 
as  the  dowel-jtin  in  the  bottom  holds  it  up.  We 
can  then  take  out  one  frame  or  all  the  frames, 
and  replace  them;  then  push  up  the  side  board 
that  acts  as  a  vise  and  shoves  the  frames  up 
lightly.  This  is  the  hive  we  use  in  the  honn^ 
apiary  :  but  tlie  one  wi'  use  at  the  out-apiary 
holds  twelve  frames,  and  a  dummy  the  width 
of  3  franu'S.  or  16  frames  without  the  dummy  or 
tiller.  The  lirst  hive  w(>  bought  uirect  of  (^liin- 
by,  and  we  made  about  1(X)  of  them:  but  linding 
they  were  heavy  to  handle,  and  as  w'e  wi-;hed  to 
tier  up  instead  of  getting  section  honey  at  the 
sides  of  the  bees  we  mad<' smaller  hiv<-s.  hold- 
ing r.'  frames.  Since  tlu^n  we  have  put  in  dum- 
mies the  width  of  three  frames,  and  now  use 
only  7  frames  to  the  liive.  with  the  dummy  and 
super  holding  31)  sections  resting  on  top.  as  we 
found  we  got  tlu_^  nicest  com!)  honey  above  the 
bees.  In  the  large  hives  at  the  out-apiary  we 
use  only  7  or  8  combs  with  a  dumnfy  atone  side, 
and  a  division-board  at  the  other  side,  which 
leaves  f  nipty  sfiace  in  theliivesduringsummer: 
but  in  winter  it  makes  an  excellent  outdoor 
hive  for  outdoor  wintering.  Iiy  setting  the  bees 
in  the  center  and  lilling  in  the  sidt's  and  on  top 
with  chatf.  We  also  lift  the  bees  up  from  the 
bottom-board  about  i}i  inches.  We  used  to  turn 
them  around  in  the  hive  so  as  to  have  chaff  on 
all  foursides.  but  that  makes  more  work. 

The  hives  at  the  home  apiary,  holding  but  7 
combs,  do  not  winter  outdoors  so  w'cll  as  the 
larger  hives.  We  used  to  remove  the  dummy 
and  fill  in  with  chatf.  and  chaff  on  top:  imt  for 
two  winters  we  have  not  used  chaff  in  the  hives 
put  into  the  cellar,  and  I  think  thesis  do  better, 
as  the  mice  worked  in  them  .so  badly:  and  warm 
winteis  it  wasdifficult  to  keep  them  cool  enough 


with  from  l:.'.">  to  l.V)  in  one  cellar.  We  raise 
them  u|)  also  from  the  bottom-board.  In  these 
large  hives  we  loosen  that  viselike  ai'iange- 
ment  and  simply  shove  the  frames  up  tightly 
together.  ^Vith  care  wc  kill  but  very  few  liees. 
.Mr.  ('.  I*.  Dadant  says  in  (Ji.EANixcis  thi-y  are 
■  pei'fect  liee-mashers."  and  lu;  has  seen  such 
ini-n  as  Axtell  handle  them  :  but  he  is  mis- 
taken about  ever  seeing  Mr.  i\xtell  handle  iiees 
in  the  (^)uinby  hive,  as  he  has  never  been  at 
our  house,  and  Mr.  .\xiell  has  never  be^'u  in 
an  apiary  with  him  except  in  his  own  apiary, 
and  1  believe  he  does  not  use  the  lixed   frames. 

\\'itli  care  one  does  not  n('ed  to  kill  bees  any 
more  with  lixi'd  frames  than  with  the  loose 
frame.  1  should  not  think  so.  at  least,,  although 
I  havi>-  never  handled  the  loose;  frames  much. 
With  tight  end-l)ars.  and  boards  at  t  h(>.  sides  of 
frames,  one  can  mal<e  a  very  warm  liive  for 
winter  without  chaff  when  set  in  the  cellar,  or 
packed  with  dry  chaff  and  left  out  of  doors. 

We  keep  our  chaff  from  one  yinir  to  another 
rather  than  gather  up  fresh  cliaif  each  year,  as 
it  is  more  apt  to  be  damp  when  freshly  gathered. 

The  movabhi  side  clamped  at  the  corners  is  a 
feature  we  very  much  like  in  .some  respects. 
AVe  do  not  need  to  remove  the  supers  on  top  to 
know  the  condition  of  the  colony.  Simply  un- 
clasp one  side  and  lake  it  out:  lift  out  one  or 
more  frames  and  set  them  back  without  dis- 
turbing the  surplus:  but  unless  the  frames  fit 
the  hives  loosely,  w  hen  first  made,  or  if  they  fit 
tight,  cari^  must  be  taken  to  keep  the  propolis 
scraped  off  from  both  front  and  back  board,  or 
they  will  get  to  fitting  so  tight  it  is  not  so  easy 
to  clamo  tlie  corners.         Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtell. 

Roseville,  Ills.,  Nov.  9. 

[Your  hive  differs  from  the  Hetherington- 
Quinby  quite  a  little.  Mr.  Hetherington  and 
Ehvood  do  not  use  the  loose  sides  and  top,  and 
the  clamping  arrangement.  AVhen  they  are 
not  running  for  surplus,  that  outside  case,  or 
box,  sits  clear  down  on  to  the  bottom-board. 
We  believe  you  said,  in  one  of  your  former  arti- 
eles,  that  you  did  not  kill  bees,  but  that  your 
helpers  would  mash  a  good  many  when  they 
put  on  the  end  and  side  boards.  This  can  not 
occur  with  the  Hetherington -Quinby  hive. 
Mr.  Hetherington  evidently  regarded  the  origi- 
nal Quinby  as  too  large:  and  while  he  [ireserved 
the  depth  of  the  frame,  he  shortened  it  by  about 
two  inches.  Mr.  Elwood  uses  only  six  frames 
on  the  average.  We  notice  that  you  reduced 
the  size  of  your  original  Quinby.  and  cut  it 
down  to  seven  frames.] 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 


XARHOW  VS.  WIDE  BOTTO.M-BAKS. 

Friend  Root: — Tlie  change;  you  have  made  in 
bottom -bars  is  a  good  one.  I  have  had  a  few 
such  frames  in  use  several  years,  they  having 
come  with  some  b(>es  that  1  bought.  I  do  not 
know  who  made  them.  I  adopted  the  narrow 
bottom-bars  and  made  all  my  thick-top  frames 
with  them  last  year.  I  have  not  used  many  of 
them  in  my  apiary  yet.  but  my  experience  leads 
me  to  believe  that  the  narrow  l)ottoin-bar  is 
better  than  the  %.  There  is  less  tendency  on 
the  part  of  the  bees  to  build  brace-combs  to 
narrow  bars,  therefore  the  frames  are  more 
easily  and  quickly  handled.  I  have  not  observ- 
ed any  tendency  in  the  bees  to  draw  the  comb 
down  closer  to  the  bottom-bar  tlian  to  the  wide 
— at  least.  I  have  not  seen  any  combs  connected 
with  the  bottom-bar  l)y  the  bee.s. 


98 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  L 


I  make  the  bottom-bar  kxfV  and  they  go  on 
wide  side  up.  I  intend  to  try  them  abontthe 
same  size  with  the  edge  up.  That  will  give  less 
surtace  underneath,  and  more  stiffness  to  the 
frames  when  pulled  upward.  Bottom-bars 
might  be  dispensed  wilh  altogether  were  it  not 
for  the  fact  that  they  are  needed  to  give 
strength  to  the  frame:  therefore  the  smaller  we 
can  make  them,  and  preserve  the  requisite 
strength  to  the  frame,  the  better  it  will  be. 

Wetumpka,  Ala.,  Jan.  20.      J.  M.  Jenkins. 


SUCCESSFl'L   MAILING   OF  QUEENS   TO   AUSTRAL- 
IA,   AGAIN. 

The  two  queens  arrived  on  the  12th  of  Sept. 
They  were  both  in  splendid  condition.  The 
first  that  T  opened  had  eight  dead  bees  in  the 
box,  and  the  other  one  had  only  one  dead  one. 
The  box  with  the  eight  (h-ad  ouf^s  had  consumed 
the  most  stores,  and  the  inside  of  the  box  was 
very  dirty.  The  other  box  was  almost  as 
clean  as  the  day  it  was  made.  The  bees  balled 
one  of  the  queens  after  they  had  liberated  her. 
but  I  saw  them  in  time,  for  she  is  laying  all 
right,  and  does  not  seem  any  the  worse.  She 
has  now  got  four  combs  tilled  with  eggs  and 
brood.  The  other  one  is  a  little  ahead  of  her. 
as  she  has  eggs  and  brood  in  Hve  combs.  We 
have  every  promise  of  a  good  season.  The  bees 
are  beginning  to  swarm.  We  have  been 
troubled  very  much  with  foul  brood,  but  I  am 
happy  to  say  that  mine  are  free  from  it  now. 
Jamks  Adamson. 

Hastings,  Hawkes  Bay,  New  Zealand,  Oct.  6. 


ANOTHER   VICTIM   TO   GRIP. 

Baxter  C.  Griffith,  one  of  our  brightest  young 
apiarists,  has  gone  to  join  the  great  majority. 
His  illness  was  short — only  eight  days.  Grip  was 
followed  by  pneumonia.  The  only  child  of 
aged  parents;  the  father  of  five  lovely  girls,  and 
the  owner  of  a  large  apiary,  with  no  one  left  to 
manage  it — all  go  to  make  his  death  a  peculiarly 
sad  one.  His  place  in  church,  in  state,  in  api- 
culture, and  in  society,  will  be  hard  to  fill.  He 
was  a  bee-keeper  of  only  a  few  years;  but  by 
his  untiring  efforts,  and  the  knowledge  gleaned 
from  his  many  text-books  and  journals,  it  is 
safe  to  say  he  was  well  advanced  in  the  art  of 
bee-keeping.  He  was  a  consistent  member  of 
the  A.  R.  P.  church,  and  his  pastor's  loss  is 
hardly  second  to  that  of  his  family.  To  his  be- 
reaved wife  we  can  only  tender  our  sympathy, 
and  point  her  to  Him  who  does  all  things  well. 

Pineville,  N.  G. A  Friend. 

MR.   DOOLITTLE   ON   HIBERNATION. 

I  find  but  little  to  controvert  in  Mr.  Doolittle's 
article  on  p.  45,  except  his  narrow  definition  of 
hibernation.  It  is  not  turning  the  word  from  its 
legitimate  meaning  to  make  it  designate  the 
state  of  quietude,  torpor,  or  semi-torpor,  which 
he  describes,  and  which  is  necessary  to  the  best 
wintering  of  bees,  wlu^ther  out  of  doors  or  in- 
doors. Bears  hibernate,  but  they  do  not'"  freeze 
up  solid."  If  a  thermometer  could  be  introduc- 
ed into  a  beai''s  internal  economy  while  in  a 
state  of  hibernation  it  would  register  higher 
than  f)0  degrees.  The  bee-cluster  is  a  kind  of 
entity  during  winter  cjuietudc  oi'  torpor.  Hi- 
bernation is  not  a  fixed  condition.  It  has  its 
degrees  and  variations.  See  Kirby  and  Spence's 
Entomology,  and  other  similar  works. 

Guelph,  Out.,  Jan.  23.  Wm.  F.  Clarke. 


fully  fill  your  father's  place  as  editor  of  Glean- 
ings? I  venture  the  assertion,  that  the  ques- 
tion has  been  propounded  thousands  of  times,  "  I 
wonder  how  Gleanings  will  prosper  when  A.  I. 
Root  is  taken  away."  But  He  that  doeth  all 
things  well  has  pi'ovided  for  the  continuance 
and  prosperity  of  that,  of  which  from  its  birth 
he  has  had  a  controlling  interest.  May  you 
both  be  spared  yet  many  years  to  enjoy  its  pros- 
perity is  my  prayer.  I  want  to  thank  you  for 
the  kind  words,  and  prominence  you  have  given 
me  in  your  very  nice  report  of  our  convention. 
I  am  sorry  the  meeting  was  not  up  to  the  aver- 
age, but  you  have  made  the  reason  very  plain., 
D Fremont,  Mich.,  Jan.  19.      Geo.  E.  Hilton. 

[Thanks.  For  the  last  five  years'we[have  had 
editorial  charge  of  Gleanings  so  far  as  it  relates 
to  bees.  If  we  have  done  well  on  the  last  three 
or  four  numfjers  of  Gi>eanings  it  only  shows 
that  it  is  not  new  business  to  us.  We  have  just 
been  keeping  on  in  the  even  tenor  of  our  way.] 


AN   average     of   160    LBS.   OF   HONEY   FROM'6.5. 

colonies,  and  ajj  increase  of  20 
colonies. 

I  keep  my  bees  near  the  Mississippi  jRiver.  on 
the  west  side.  and.  you  might  say.  in  a  perfect 
wilderness  of  wild  flowers  on  which  they  work 
from  the  lattei'  part  of  February  until  about 
the  1st  of  November.  I  commenced  in  the 
spring  of  1S91  with  tw  colonies  in  fair  condition, 
and  inci<'ase(l  to  S~^  colonies.  I  left  plenty  in 
hive  to  do  them  through  the  winter,  and  took, 
in  1-lb.  sections.  280(i  lbs.;  extracted.  780u  lbs., 
an  average  of  KiO  lbs.  of  honey  per  colony.  Be- 
sides that  I  saved  122  lbs.  of  beeswax.  I  have 
had  to  sell  lower  than  heretofore,  parties  back 
of  Memphis,  my  best  market,  underselling  me. 
R.  J.  Mathews. 

Rosedale.  Miss.,  Jan.  1.  1892. 


THE  FESTIVE  BUMBLE-BEE. 


A    LITTLE    PRACTICAL   EXPKKIENCE. 


GLEANINGS   FOR  .TAN.    1.5.   AND   THE   .lUNIOR   ED- 
ITOR. 

Dear  Bro.  ^r/icxf.-— Gleanings  for  the  15th 
is  here,  filled  to  the  covers  with  good  things. 
Do  you  know  that  it  is  wonderfully  gratifying 
to  the  bee-keeping  world  to  see  that  you  can  so 


Wlien  a  g'entle  kind  of  stirring-  "iieatli  a  tuft  of 
grass  1  see. 

And  1  hear  the  g^entle  buzzing-  of  a  lonely  bumble- 
bee. 

Then  I  know  tliat  I  shall  catch  it,  and  my  flesh  in 
fancy  itches, 

As  I  feel  its  little  stinger  througli  tlie  seat  of  my 
old  breeches. 

Every  tingle  of  a  shingle  has  an  echo  as  it  hits; 

But  a  thousand  burning  fancies  from  a  bee-sting- 
always  flit; 

While  a  thousand  bees  and  hornets  'neath  my  coat- 
tail  seemed  to  swarm, 

For  there's  nothing  like  a  bumble-bee  Ui  make  a 
fellow  warm. 

Away  out 'cit)ss  the  meadow  I  thought  the  thing 
had  passed. 

But  soon  beneath  my  coat-tail  I  knew  'twas  stick- 
ing fast; 

And  there  it  kept  a  buzzing,  and  merrily  did  sing. 

And  all  the  time  kept  playing  with  its  dainty  little 
sting. 

There  was  an   intermission,  and  I  thought,  "  Now, 
here's  my  clianee;" 

And  so  1  struek  at  Mr.  Bee,  but  only  hit  my  pants. 

For  that  cross   bee  soon  showed  me  that  it  could 

swiftly  fly- 
It  came  around  so  quickly  and  hit  me  o'er  the  eye  I 

It  never  stopped  a  moment,  but  quickly  flew  aloft — 

My  eye,  it  swelled  to  blindness— my  other  end  got 
soft. 

Oh  loving,  tender  mercy!  cast  your  pitying  glances 
down, 

For  I'm  the  worst  used  fellow  in  all  this  Hawkeye 
town. 

I've  had,  of  fun  and  spoit,  all  I  ever  care  to  see. 

And  I  never  more  will   mimkey  with  a  festive  bum- 
ble-bee. 
Muscatine,  Iowa.  JOHN  E.  Fcltz. 


1892 


(il-KAMNCS  IN  HlOE  1'lM/n.TRE. 


'.I'.) 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM   A.  I.  ROOT. 


I.KTTKK   TO    IirHKIt. 

Wfll.  my  boy.  if  yon  wcri'  will,  |in|i;i  ihis 
nioniiiigk  lu'  oouUi  show  you  ;i  Im  ol  runny 
things.  Right  in  front  of  the  window  wiiciv  1 
vfvite  is  a  pnMty  dooryard  full  of  tioos.  losc- 
hvishfS.  oto.  A  i)ath  runs  down  to  tlic  fiatc: 
and  you  would  cxpfcl.  oulsidc  ihc  fjatc  a  wau;- 
on-i'oad.  of  I'onrsc.  Well,  now  .  tluMc  isn't  any 
waiion-road  outside  tlu'fjatt'  at  all.  Conic  down 
witli  mo  and  sc(>.  It  is  just  a  iin-at  lake  of  n  alcr; 
and  wliiMi  till'  tide  is  liisili.  tiu'  water  comes  al- 
most up  to  tlie  jjate.  Tliis  water  is  the"  wagon- 
road  "  tiiey  liave  otT  iiere.  Do  you  want  to  see 
tlie"  wagons'.'""  Well,  lH>re  is  one  in  full  sail.  It 
is  a  very  pretty  boat,  piovided  l)otli  with  oars 
and  a  sail.     ".\1  ""  and  1  w(>nt  over  to  tlie  post- 


it  up  near  enough  to  i  be  siiore  for  me  to  get  in. 
^'ou  see.  the  bottom  of  the  boat  sti'uck  tlie 
gravel,  and  1  conldii"!  wade  in  the  walei-  as  Al 
did.  because  I  ha<i  lieen  sicl<.  So  I  went  out  on 
tin'  railroad  l)iidge.  and  Al  rowed  tlie  boat  uj) 
against  one  of  the  lung  piles,  or  timbers,  that 
bold  up  till'  liridge.  and  then  you  ought,  to  have 
seen  nie  ■■  shin  down"  the  post  into  the  boat. 
The  lo^  was  so  big  I  could  baldly  reacli 
around  it. 

There  ai'c  lots  of  Indians  around  here:  and 
as  I  was  very  anxious  t,o  .see  them.  .Mr.  March 
told  me  Christmas  morning  there  was  a  tribe  of 
tluMii  camiiing  out  right  neai' our  liouse.  The 
ground  was  frozen,  and  cov(ired  with  a  thin 
coating  of  snow  and  ic(^:  but  w(^  found  them 
camping  right  on  the  frozen  ground.  The  wind 
was  blowing  such  a  gale  I  could  hardly  stand 
it  with  my  overcoat  and  all  my  flannels;  but 
one  of  the  Indian  women  was.  sitting  on  the 
ground,  bareh(>aded  and  Irdvvfooted,  nursing  her 


H.    A.    MAKCH  S   YACHT. 


office  in  the  boat.  Al  is  Mr.  March's  oldest  boy. 
He  is  18  years  old.  He  put  up  the  sail,  and  I 
sat  in  the  stern  to  steer.  It  is  real  fun  to  steer 
a  boat  when  the  wind  just  makes  it  plow 
through  the  water.  The  wild  ducks  and  wild 
geese  were  just  a  gabbling  and  diving  all 
around  us.  Al  shot  some  snipes,  and  they  flew 
out  into  the  water:  but  the  dog  that  was  with 
us.  he  just  plunged  into  the  salt  water  and 
swam  out  after  them,  and  brought  in  every  last 
snipe.  Al  killed  I'.i  at  two  shots.  When  we 
went  around  the  point.  Al  told  me  several  times 
to  steer  pretty  well  out,  as  a  bar  of  gravel  ran 
out  into  the  sea.  I  told  him  I  would  be  sure 
and  keep  out  in  deep  water;  but,  what  do  you 
think?  All  at  once  the  boat  struck  bottom  and 
plowed  away  up  into  the  gravel,  and  we  were 
••  stuck "  sure.  Al  took  a  pole,  however,  and 
finally  pushed  us  out  into  the  water  again. 

We  went  up  to  the  depot  and  got  our  freight, 
and,  after  it  was  put  into  the  boat,  it  made  it 
sink  in  the  water  .so  much  that  Al  couldn't  get 


baby  with  perfect  unconcern.  The  baby  turned 
to  look  at  me,  but  the  wind  blew  his  straight 
black  hair  all  over  his  eyes  so  he  could  hardly 
see.  Several  other  women  were  going  aljout 
ban^footed,  often  stepping  into  wau^r  with  ice 
in  it,  with  perfect  unconcern.  Mr.  March  says 
they  go  barefoot  all  winter  long,  but  never  take 
cold.  They  have  mats  made  of  a  kind  of  cat- 
tail, that  they  sit  on  and  sleep  on.  These  mats 
are  also  used  for  shelter,  making  a  kind  of  wig- 
wam. Oh!  I  forgot  to  say  the  men  all  wear 
rubber  boots,  while  the  women  go  barefoot.  As 
we  started  to  go  away,  tb(!  old  chief  motioned 
to  us  and  pointed  to  "their  boat.  This  was  the 
boat  that  brought  them  th(>re,  and  Mr.  March 
said  th(>y  wanted  us  to  look  at  it  and  see  what 
a  nice  one  it  was.  I  went  down,  and  was  very 
much  surprised  to  lind  a  boat  large  enough  to 
lake  (juite  a  tribe  of  Indians.  It  was  made,  or, 
rather,  cut  out.  of  a  single  log  of  wood.  It  was 
beautifully  light  and  gracefully  fashioned,  and 
all  done  by  the   Indians  themselves.    It  takes 


1()0 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  1. 


an  Indian  two  or  three  years  to  make  such  a 
boat.  This  is  because  the\-  won't  use  an  ax  or 
an  adze,  but  just  cut  out  little  bits  at  a  time 
with  a  little  tool  of  their  own.  Lately,  how- 
ever, the  younger  Indians  are  learning  to  use 
modern  carpenter  tools.  The  young  Indian 
girls  also  wear  shoes  and  stockings:  it  is  mostly 
the  middle-aged  or  older  women  who  persist  in 
sticking  to  their  old  customs. 

Well,  after  I  had  examined  the  boat  all  over, 
and  praised  it.  the  old  chief  wasn't  satisfied. 
He  made  motions,  took  hold  of  the  boat,  and 
grunted,  and  then  we  understood  that  he  didn't 
mean  us  to  see  the  boat,  but  to  take  hold  and 
help  pull  it  up  on  shore  where  the  waves 
wouldn't  wash  it  off  into  the  water.  Friend 
March  commenced  to  help  pull  it  up:  but  as  I 
had  been  sick.  I  thought  I  wouldn't  lift  any: 
but  this  didn't  suit  the  old  chief.  He  made  mo- 
tions to  me  to  take  hold,  and  then  grunted 
again,  to  indicate  I  was  to  pull  and  lift  too,  and 
to  lift  hard.  So  I  had  to  take  hold,  and  at  least 
make  helieve  that  I  was  pulling  a  big  lot. 

The  Indians  are  what  they  call  "  Flatheads." 
They  used  to  fasten  a  board  over  every  baby's 
head,  so  as  to  flatten  down  its  forehead.  You 
can  find  pictui'es  of  them  in  some  of  your  geog- 
raphies. Mr.  March  can  "  talk  'Injun' "'  a  good 
deal,  and  he  sells  them  apples  and  all  sorts  of 
garden  stuff.  The  Indians  live  mostly  on  fish 
and  game.  They  cure  their  fish  so  it  looks  a 
good  deal  like  dried  codfish.  This  they  put  on 
sticks  stuck  in  the  ground  close  to  the  fire  in 
front  of  the  door  of  their  tents,  and  toast  it  as 
we  toast  cheese.  1  rather  wanted  some  myself: 
but  as  I  didn't  pull  on  the  boat  very  much.  I 
was  rather  bashful  about  asking  for  apiece. 
Since  I  have  got  well  I  am  hungry  about  all  the 
time,  and  I  can  eat  any  thing  anybody  else 
eats. 

Among  the  other  kinds  of  water-fowl  we  saw 
in  such  abundance  on  the  bay  were  "  Mother 
Carey's  chickens."  They  are  just  as  cute  as 
can  be:  but  if  you  just  shake  your  finger  at 
them  they  dive  down  out  of  siglit  in  a  most 
comical  w'ay.  There  an^  all  sorts  of  divers  and 
ducks  that  are  not  good  to  eat.  They  say  it  is 
becausethey  live  altogether  on  fish.  The  ducks 
and  geese  that  are  good  to  cook'  live  on  seaweed 
and  other  vegetable  products.  Besides  the 
ducks  and  geese,  there  are  tliousands  of  sea- 
gulls. These  are  about  as  large  as  a  common 
chicken,  but  have  much  longer  wings.  They 
follow  the  steamboats  in  great  droves,  just  to 
get  the  leavings  of  the  table  after  the  meals. 
You  see.  they  just  follow  the  boats  until  some- 
body'"shakes  the  table-cloth."  and  then, '"oh 
my  I""  what  a  scampering!  Th<'y  dive  right 
down  into  the  water,  like  a  lot  of  bees  after 
some  honey.  They  drop  into  the  water,  and 
swim  and  dive  in  a  wonderful  way.  They  also 
skim  over  the  surface  without  moving  a  wing, 
until  you  begin  to  think  they  fiy  without  any 
motion  at  all.  They  will  skim  along  by  the 
boat,  moving  just  as  fast  as  tlie  boat  does,  but 
scarcely  moving  otherwise,  until  it  seems  like 
witchcraft.  There  is  a  law  against  shooting 
them,  as  they  clean  up  so  much  rubbish  and 
refus(>  matter,  and  so  have  becom(>  very  tame. 
They  will  sail  so  close  to  you  that  you  can  al- 
most reach  them.  I  think  I  have  studied  out 
how  they  fly  or  sail  so  long  without  moving 
tlieir  wings.  They  collect  in  a  flock,  on  a  cer- 
tain side  of  the  boat,  and  keep  right  there  for 
miles.  This  place  is  where  the  wind  strikes  the 
boat  and  is  turned  upward.  We  call  it  an  "  as- 
cending cuirent  of  air,"  Well,  as  long  as  they 
keep  in  this  it  keeps  them  up.  If  it  blows  up- 
ward too  hard,  they  tip  their  iu^ads  down  and 
sail  downward.  If  not  hard  enough,  they  will 
have  to  flop  their  wings  a  little  occasionally  to 
keep  up.    They  must  be  loonderfuHy  expert  in 


flying,  to  keep  right  in  this  wind  that  blows 
constantly  upward,  and  still  keep  at  just  such  a 
height  all  the  time.  When  the  wind  was  blow- 
ing very  strong,  once  in  a  while  a  bird  would  get 
out  of  the  current  I  have  syx)ken-of.  and  away 
he  would  go  like  a  shot.  Why,  he  would  have 
to  fly  with  all  his  miglit  for  quite  a  spell  to  get 
back  to  his  place  witli  his  comrades.  I  took  a 
lot  of  them  with  the  Kodak,  and  hope  to  show 
them  to  you  when  I  get  home.  They  are  of  all 
colois,  from  pure  white  to  ever  so  many  shades, 
and  some  of  them  are  beautifully  mottled, 
si)eckled.  and  striped,  in  the  most  fantastic  way. 
There,  Huber.  I  think  this  letter  is  long  enough 
for  on(!  time. 

Before  I  take  leave  of  our  good  friend  March 
and  his  poultry,  celery,  cabbage,  cauliflower, 
etc.,  I  want  to  tell  you  of  a  plan  of  getting  two 
heads  of  cabbage  from  one  plant.  Put  out 
your  Jersey  Wakefield  in  the  usual  way,  only 
use  the  very  best  strong  plants,  and  set  them 
on  your  very  ricliest  land;  and  when  the  heads 
are  ready  to  sell,  cut  out  the  head,  leaving  all 
the  outside  leaves  attached  to  the  stump;  that 
i.s,  cutout  tlu^  head  so  as  to  have  no  leaves  to 
strip  ott'  and  throw  away,  foi'  the  leaves  are  all 
left  on  the  stump.  Now  keep  cultivating  these 
stumps  along  with  the  other  cabbages  that 
have  not  yet  headed,  and  very  soon  small  heads 
will  start  out  on  the  stump.  Pull  off  all  these 
little  heads  but  the  best  one.  and  this  will 
soon  make  a  head  as  good  as.  and  may  be  better 
than,  the  first  one.  I  piesurae  this  is  not  new  to 
many  of  you.  unless  it  is  the  picking-otf  of  all 
the  little  heads  except  one.  Vei'y  well:  now, 
these  second-crop  heads  will,  many  of  them, 
mature  so  late  they  may  be  wintered  over  in 
the  usual  way,  and  these  are  the  ones  friend 
March  gets  his  choice  cabbage  seed  from.  Do 
you  see  the  point?  To  keep  up  the  Jersey 
Wakefield  to  its  best  for  an  early  cabbage  we 
want  to  select  seed  from  the  first  and  best  heads 
made  in  the  spring:  but  I  never  knew  how  this 
could  be  done  until  now.  Simply  select  the 
first  good  nice  head  of  early  cabbage  you  get 
next  spring;  cut  out  the  head  as  above,  and  let 
it  make  another,  and  this  last  one  yon  can  win- 
ter over.  Set  it  out  in  the  spring,  and  you  can 
raise  your  own  seed,  and  have  it  from  your 
best  and  choicest  specimen.  Or,  if  you  don't 
want  to  raise  seed,  you  can  have  a  spring  crop 
and  a  fall  crop  from  the  one  cabbage- patch. 

THE  GREAT  NORTHWEST,  AND  ITS  FUTURE. 

When  friend  March  sent  me  his  kind  invita- 
tion, he  mentioned  the  wonderful  new  town, 
only  three  miles  from  his  ranch,  a  town  of  25.50 
population,  which,  only  twenty  njoiiths  ago, 
was  a  wilderness.  This  town  is  Anacortes. 
There  may  have  been  instances  of  like  rapid 
-growth  on  n^cord;  but  if  so.  I  have  never  heard 
of  it.  I  expected  to  find  it  made  up  chiefly  of 
buildings  of  unplaned  lumber,  put  up  in  *the 
cheapest  possible  manner.  Not  so.  I  was 
greatly  astonished  to  see  fine  brick  buildings  and 
handsome,  stylish  residences  witlu)ul  number. 
Their  waterworks  cost  them  about  ^SoO.OOt); 
electric  railway  of  eleven  miles.  $2.5(),0()()  ;  ten 
miles  of  planked  and  graded  streets,  S10b,000. 
An  electric-light  plant  is  all  comi)let('d.  and  a 
daily  paper  has  been  going  for  some  linu'.  as 
well  as  two  weekly  ones.  A  school-building  to 
cost  $40,000  is  nearly  finished.  A  Presbyterian 
church  is  completed,  and  a  Methodist  church 
will  be  ready  by  spring.  I  need  not  tell  you  of 
the  craze  and  boom  in  real  estate  here  during 
the  last  two  years.  Land  worth  two  yeai'S  ago 
$;30.00  per  acre  is  now  valued  at.  and  has  been 
sold  for— well,  let  us  say  many  thousands  per 
acre.  Poor  men  sold  half  their  small  farms, 
where  they  had  lived  for  years  from   hand  to 


ISU2                                (;i,i;.\MMis  IX  m:K  cii/rrKK.                                  loi 

iiioulli.  ami  ici'i'ivcd  ill  ^()1(1  nioi'i'  iuomcn  iIkiii  doin  (if  (iod  iiiid  his  litrlitcoiisiics^'.'  ^'..M.('.  A. 
llicy  fVt'i' I'Niu'oli'd  to  sec.  TiuMi  the  man  w  Im  icadins-fooms  and  l)iiildiii>;s  afc  I'oiiiid  in  mosl 
paid  tlii'm  so  mm-li  iruld  sold  lialf  of //i.s' halt,  in  towns  (tf  any  si/c;  and  at.  Tort  Townsciid  t.hn 
less  than  lluTc  (hiys  afiiT  liis  iiniidiasc,  for  nuiii'  linildiim  was  Ictlcri'd.  on  tlic  side  frontinfr  \ho. 
ii\an  he  paiil  foi'  all.  Saloons  spian;;  np  nntil  liay.  with  h'ttci's  so  laifji' they  oonid  he  plainly 
almost  every  othei-  house,  in  some  pai'ls  of  the  icad  from  vessels  thai  passed  lliioiifih  the  hay; 
town,  was  a  saloon.  iSiii  eliiiii-h  people  were  and  I  saw  the  saini'  at  oIIht  towns.  This  is 
im  haml.  and  chiiivhes  wefe  started  lo  keep  paee  suiily  liopelnl.  Why  shonlil  not,  the  l.,oixl"s 
with  them.  The  \V.  ('.  T.  l'.  has  lixetj  nji  a  ea\ise  he  plainly  advertised  as  well  as  the  S'"<'Jit 
very  pi'i'tiN  I'eadiiiK  room.  liuht  in  Ihe  htisiness  hotels  and  saloons?  A\  AnaeoiMcs  they  have  a 
pail  of  the  town:  ami  when  I  went  in  so  many  hotel  ealled  "  Nohai'  Hotel."  and  so  the  sif^n 
were  maUin.i:  use  of  it  that  a  man  fose  up  and  leads  in  lai'^c  lettei's.  meaning  thai  no  har  for  iIks 
otl'ered  me  his  seat.  Sunday  eveniiifr.  1  was  sale  of  liipiors  is  eoniieeled  with  it.  Aiidthis  re- 
asked  to  talk  to  the  l-^nwdith  lieagiii'  of  the  minds  me  that  there  are  more  or  less  \acant 
Metliodist  C'linivh  hefore  ihe  regular  service  at  hotels  in  nearly  all  these  new  towns.  As  most 
7  o'clock.  I  chose  for  my  text.  *'  V(;  are  tlie  salt  of  tlu;  liotids  have  a  baf.  1  have  been  wondering 
of  tlie  earth."'  and  applied  it  to  the  Christian  if  it  is  not  one  reason  for  it.  Building  a  great 
people.  espiH'ially  to  tln>  \(»iing  Christians  of  hotel  when  a  town  is  to  he  stalled  seems  to  be  a 
.\iiacortes.  The  audience  was  good  and  very  sort  of  mania:  and  great  hotels  that  have  never 
attentive:  and  the  president  of  tlie  league,  and  bei'ii  occupied  at  all  an-seen  quite  freriuently. 
al>o  the  pastor  of  the  church,  both  indorsed  Town-building  is  not  always  a  success;  for  at 
with  exceeding  kindness  tlie  points  in  my  talk,  many  of  the  railroad  stations  we  lind  deserted 
Many  of  the  saloons  have  alr(>ady  starved  out.  tow  ns.  buildings  almost  all  vacant,  and  boards 
and.  when  closely  examined,  are  found  to  be  nailed  over  the  windows.  If  those  who  go  into 
only  a  sign  and  an  em|)ty  room.  .\t  I''idalgo.  such  towns  would  start  right  into  gardening, 
w  Ill-re  fiiend  March  gets  his  mall,  they  tried  to  poultry,  Ix'cs,  and  such  industries,  the  future  of 
start  a  saloon.  The  matter  was  hotly  contested  the  town  would  be  assured;  for  the  steamers 
by  vote,  but  the  friends  of  temperance  gave  up  and  railroads  take  any  kind  of  produce,  and 
with  sad  hearts,  and  much  dismal  foreboding,  pay  good  prices.  In  fact,  pi'ices  are  better  here 
when  they  were  beaten  by  a  vote  of  one.  The  for  almost  every  thing  than  in  the  East.  Great 
saloon-man  was  triumphant,  paid  for  a  license;,  hop-lields  are  found  here  and  there:  and  were  it 
and  opened  up  business.  Xow.  what  do  you  not  for  the  hoi)-aphis  this  region  would  [jrohably 
think?  Why.  he  never  received  money  enough  sujiply  the  world.  I  confess,  however,  the  in- 
foriiis  liquors  to  get  back  what  he  paid  for  his  11-  dustry  does  not  make  me  feel  happy.  If  all 
cense,  let  alone  profit,  and  i;ow /(is- building,  too.  the  hops  raised  were  to  be  used  foi"-  making 
is  an  empty  room  with  a  sign  over  it.  When  a  bread,  then  might  we  rejoice;  but  as  by  far  the 
saloon-kee])er  is  starved  out  he  hasn't  energy  greater  pai't  of  them  is  for  the  support  of  the 
and  ambition  enough  left  to  take  his  sign  down,  breweries  it  is  a  serious  matter.  As  we  come 
1  tell  you.  friends,  there  is  something  hopeful  in  outof  Tacoma.  toward  Portland,  on  each  side 
all  this.  Public  sentiment  is  advancing,  of  lh(>  railroad  are  some  of  *,he  finest-looking 
("hristianity  h  getting  to  be  "the  salt  of  the  farming  lands  I  have  ever  S(H>n.  All  the  under- 
earth:'"  and  sometimes  we.  Christians,  in  oui  i)ru-li  has  been  cut  out.  leaving  only  handsoijie 
want  of  faith,  don't  even  suspect  how  rapidly  we  young  lirs  and  cedars.  These  arc;  in  clumps,  or 
lire  gaining  ground.  Do  you  wish  to  know  scattered  here  and  there  tlirough  the  field.  The 
what  I  think  of  the  future  of  Anacortes,  and  a  grass  is  just  like  a  beautiful  lawn,  and  for  miles 
liuiidred  other  towns  growing  in  like  manner,  and  mil(\s  it  looks  like  a  handsome  park.  This 
but  |)i'rhaps  not  so  fa-^t?  Well.  I  think  this:  If  may  have  beisn  done  by  real-estate  owners  or 
Christians  will  renuMnber  tlieir  divine  commis-  by  the  railwjad  com|)any:  but  evim  if  it  has,  one 
sion.  and  push  the  cause  right  along  with,  and  can  not  help  admiring  their  taste, 
side  by  side  of.  th(^  boom  and  leal-estate  excite-  For  fear  the  boys  will  neglect  the  Tobacco 
ment,  tlie  outcome  will  b<'  all  right.  Hut.  oh  Column  while  I  am  gone.  I  think  T  w^ill  put  in 
let  us  beware  that  oui-  "'salt  "  does  not  "lose  its  an  item  hej-e.  Some  years  ago  friend  March  re- 
savor."  for  then  shall  Satan  triumph,  and  the  ceived  a  smoker  and  gave  up  tobacco,  even 
end  will  be  i-uin.  The  wild  speculation  in  though  he  had  used  it  40  years.  It  was  a  hard, 
building  up  a  new  town  can  not  last  long:  and.  bitter  struggle,  but  Ik-  came  through  victorious, 
in  fact,  to  make  it  iiold  out,  people  must  go  to  As  he  had  a  smoker  already,  he  set  the  new  one 
work.  If  there  were  more  like  friend  March,  upon  a  litth;  slielf,  or  bracket;  ami  when  sorely 
who  likes  to  make  money  by  raising  eggs,  eel-  tempted  he  would  go  and  look  at  the  smoker, 
ery.  cabbages,  and  seeds,  there  would  lie  need  of  and  remember  his  pledgi^given  tlirough  (tI.kax- 
towns  and  cities;  and  I  was  {ileased  to  note  how  i.Nos.  and  th(>  eft'ect  it  would  probably  liave 
many  of  his  neighbors  were  succeeding  with  should  be  pay  foi' the  smoker,  and  own  up  h(>at- 
fruit  and  other  like  industries.  I'uget  Sound  en  by  tobacco.  The  smoker  as  an  object- les.son 
has  wondi'rful  resources  in  tish.  minerals,  and  hel|)ed  him  to  "  overcome." 
agriculture,  and  both  railroads  and  i)oals  are  "Mi-.  Poot.'' said  he,  as  heext(uided  his  liand 
right  at  hand  to  move  her  produce.  I  am  told  at  aim's  length  before  me,  "  can  yf)u  hold  your 
that  the  lisherm(-n  of  the  sound  employ  .3(KJ()  hand  any  stiller  than  mine;  is?"  I  had  to  con- 
men,  and  the  product  is  something  like  a  mil-  less  I  could  not.  for  there  wasn't  (n«m  so  niucli 
lion  dollars  yearly.  Seattle,  with  a  population  as  a  tremor  in  one  of  his  lingers;  and  he  resum- 
at  present  of  4:^.(KM).  has  grow  n  uji  much  in  the  ed.  "  Wt-ll.  when  I  was  using  tobacco  my  hand 
the  same  way  as  Anacortes.  but  perhaps  not  so  would  shake  so  I  could  hardly  write  nij-  name, 
rapidly,  and  is  now  a  beautiful  city,  with  all  the  and  I  supposed  it  was  because  I  was  growing 
equipments  of  one  of  the  finest  eastern  cities,  old;  but  it  was  only  the  poison  of  tobacco."' 
Tacoma.  a  lival  city,  abftut  50  miles  distant,  has  Now.  dear  reader,  here  is  a  text  and  a  lesson 
40.(X)0  inhabitants,  and  is  in  many  respects  a  for  you.  If  you  are  a  tobacco-user,  hold  out 
beautiful  place.  The  largest  ocean  steamers  your  liand  as  fricmd  March  did.  Let  your  good 
run  into  all  these  places,  and  sail  from  thence  to  wife  say  whether  it  shakes  or  not;  and  if  it 
every  part  of  the  world.  Even  Anacortes  does,  stop  before  you  are  a  day  older, 
boasts  that  twenty  different  steamers  and  Now.  this  isn't  all  the  story  of  that  smoker, 
steamboats  touch  her  landings  every  day.  ()  After  he  had  conqtiei-ed,  and  it  did  not  trouble 
my  dear  friends!  who  in  this  wide  world  has  him  more  than  a  year,  he  still  kept  that  bright 
even  a  conception  of  the  things  God  has  in  store  smoker  in  plain  sight  on  that  bracket.  You  see, 
for  those  who  are  daily   seeking,  first,  tlie  king-  he  had  some  boys  in  their  teens,  and  it  was  well 


102 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  1. 


he  broke  off  when  he  did.  Well,  one  day  a  stur- 
dy German  neighbor  came  to  see  him,  and  to 
learn  about  bee-keeping.  While  he  looked  on 
and  listened  he  smoked  a  meerschaum  pipe. 
Hiseve  caughton  the  new  unused  smoker,  and  he 
wanted  to  buy  it.  Friend  M..  with  a  twinkle  in 
his  eye,  told  him  inoiicy  could  not  buy  it,  but 
that  he  would  gii?c  it  to  him  on  one  condition. 
Then  he  lold  him  the  story.  Our  sturdy 
brother  looUed  at  his  favorite  pipe,  and  stood 
aghast  at  the  fearful  price  he  was  to  pay,  and 
then  he  doubtless  reflected  that  his  nerves,  too, 
were  suffering  from  the  nicotine  poison.  He 
forgot  about  the  bees,  and  looked  first  at  his 
pipe  and  then  at  the  new  smoker  on  the  shelf. 
For  a  couple  of  hours  he  fought  the  battle,  and 
considered  the  matter  in  all  its  bearings.  Did 
you  ever  see  a  German  deliberate  on  a  trade? 
No  doubt  he  smoked  his  pipe  all  the  harder,  as 
he  made  up  his  mind.  But  it  was  finally  made 
up.  and  he  answered,  "All  right!  I  take  him." 
He  gave  friend  March  his  pipe  and  took  down 
the  smoker:  and  although  years  have  passed,  he 
has  never  used  tobacco  since,  and.  like  friend 
M.,  is  rejoicing  in  the  renewal  of  youthful 
nerves. 

While  in  the  office  of  Posson  &  Son,  Portland, 
who  handle  bee-supplies  for  us,  a  man  came 
into  the  inner  office,  where  a  lady  works  the 
typewriter,  with  a  cigar  in  his  mouth.  As  he 
went  out  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  looked 
at  me  and  remarked  that  the  man  had  unusual 
cheek.  I  asked  him  if  he  had  read  Gleanings 
enough  to  know  where  I  stood  on  tobacco.  Said 
he.  "Mr.Root,  although  I  have  used  more  to- 
bacco than  enough  to  balance  my  weight,  you 
can't  hate  it  worse  than  I  do;"  and  then  he  told 
me  his  experience.  Years  ago  his  wife  was  in 
poor  health;  and  one  day  he  thought  a  buggy- 
ride  would  do  her  good.  When  a  little  way  from 
home  she  looked  so  deathly  pale  he  turned  his 
horse  about  in  alarm,  to  take  her  back  home. 
As  he  turned,  the  wind  blew  the  smoke  of  the 
cigar  the  other  way  and  she  revived.  But  even 
then  the  good  and'  patient  wife  tried  to  hide 
from  him  the  real  cause  of  her  sickness.  He 
guessed  it.  however,  and  threw  awaj  his  cigar, 
and  they  finished  their  ride  with  no  more  of  the 
faintness.    He  has  never  used  tobacco  since. 

Oh!  hold  on!  There  is  one  very  important 
point  in  friend  March's  experience  I  came  near 
omitting.  In  one  corner  of  the  room  is  a  book- 
rack,  tilled  with  choice  books,  almost  from  floor 
to  ceiling;  in  another  corner  there  are  as  many 
more.  Said  our  good  friend,  with  a  wave  of  his 
hands: 

"  Friend  Root,  there  is  my  tobacco."  and. 
pointing  to  the  other  corner,  he  said,  "there  is 
more  of  my  tobacco.  When  I  gave  it  up  and  took 
a  smoker  I  resolved  to  use  an  amount,  to  buy  me 
a  library,  equal  to  the  amount  I  had  been  using 
for  the  purchase  of  tobacco,  and  there  is  the 
library  of  good,  useful  books." 

Now,  it  seems  to  me,  dear  friends,  all  this  tes- 
timony ought  to  give  the  Tobacco  Column  a 
"boom."  It  is  a  .sn/e  thing  to  boom,  as  I  sup- 
pose you  will  all  agree;  and  as  I  sit  here  and 
write  (in  a  neat  little  room  in  the  McLallen 
House.  Roseberg,  Oregon)  it  is  New  Year's  day 
—the  day  for  starting  every  thing  good.  Of 
course,  it  will  be  long  past  that  day  when  this 
reaches  your  eye;  but  remember  that,  when  the 
above  was  written.  I  prayed  that  God  might 
bless  my  feeble  words  in  such  a  way  that  r/oof?. 
fruit  may  be  the  result  of  this  testimony  of  such 
weight  and  convincing  power.  A  bright  new- 
smoker  stands  all  the  while  on  friend  March's 
raantlepiece.  I  presume  it  is  to  keep  fresh  in 
his  mind  the  fierce  battle  he  fought  and  tvon. 
Oh!  wait  a  little.  I  am  not  quite  done  yet. 
When  I  was  at  vSeattle,  Mr.  C.  M.  Sheafe  and 
family  entertained  me  most  royally:  and  while 


talking  over  their  plans  for  the  education  of 
their  three  boys  (all  in  their  teens,  I  believe), 
the  subject  of  tobacco  came  up.  Friend  S. 
broke  square  off  from  the  habit  Nov.  21,  so  he 
was  right  in  the  midsi  of  the  battle  at  the  time 
of  my  visit,  and  I  oflVrcd  him  what  encourage- 
ment I  could.  I  picked  up  his  good  wife's  little 
Bible,  and  read  from  tlie  third  chapter  of  Reve- 
lation, the  5th,  12th,  and  21st  verses.  Dear 
reader,  if  you  are  striving  to  overcome  <tny  bad 
habit,  suppose  you  read  them. 

Friend  March  gave  tne  the  following  actual 
occurrence,  which  forcibly  reminds  me  of  the 
truth  of  the  little  text.  "  Love  ye  youreuemies; 
do  good  to  them  that  hate  you."  Across  the  bay 
from  Anacortes  lived  a  man  noted  for  his  intense 
hatred  of  Christians  and  Christianity.  He  was 
terribly  profane  and  blasphemous,  and  could 
not  find  words  to  express  his  contemnt  for  min- 
isters, especially  for  one  particular  minister  in 
Anacortes.  One  blustering,  windy  night  his 
house  took  fire,  and  burned  so  fiercely  that  he 
and  his  wife  did  not  save  even  clothes  to  pro- 
tect them  from  the  winter  weather.  Well,  this 
minister  he  had  abused  so  much  started  out  be- 
fore the  house  was  done  burning,  and  raised 
him  money  enough  to  build  again;  and  with  the 
money,  and  clothing  for  them  to  put  on  at  once, 
he  went  over  in  a  boat  and  did  his  errand  as  if 
they  had  been  warm  friends  all  their  lives.  I 
hardly  need  tell  you  tlie  result.  He  was  hum- 
bled to  the  dust,  took  back  all  he  had  ever 
said,  and  has  never  been  heard  to  swear 
since  then.  If  any  of  his  old  comrades  now 
commence  to  abuse  Christians,  and  denounce 
the  Christian  religion,  he  turns  on  his  heel  and 
leaves  the  crowd  so  quickly  that  his  silent  pro- 
test is  perhaps  more  effective  than  any  words 
he  could  use.  I  think  Anacortes  may  well  be 
proud  of  stich  a  minister:  and.  by  the  way.  how 
many  such  ministers  have  you  in  your  town? 
How  many  laymen?  Why.  my  friend,  there  is  an 
undeveloped  (lold-mhie  in  these  seven  little 
words  spoken  by  our  Lord  and  Master:  "  Do 
good— to  those — that  Jiate  you." 

The  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Posson  & 
Son  took  me  over  to  see  an  Italian  market-gar- 
den. After  spending  nearly  three  weeks  in 
Portland  and  Washington  I  had  made  up  my 
mind  pretty  well  what  might  be  done  with 
hardy  vegetables  in  the  open  air,  even  during 
winter  time;  therefore  I  was  not  surprised  to 
find  outdoors,  without  protection,  beets,  turnips, 
radishes,  lettuce,  carrots,  peas,  spinach,  cab- 
bage, cauliflower,  onions,  and  corn  salad.  Rad- 
ishes were  in  all  stages  of  growth,  some,  in  fact, 
just  coming  up.  Early  peas  they  plant  about 
as  we  plant  corn,  only  they  put  from  a  dozen  to 
twenty  peas  in  a  hill.  A  whole  field  of  them 
was  just  coming  up,  and  they  looked  so  much 
like  corn,  I  climbed  the  fence  and  pulled  up 
some.  I  think  such  an  arrangement  would  have 
some  advantages  for  dwarf  peas  that  are  not  to 
be  brushed  or  supported.  Turnips,  beets,  and 
onions  are  sown  at  intervals  so  as  to  be  young  ■ 
and  fresh  all  winter  long.  The  ownersaid  that, 
once  in  a  while,  they  had  a  winter  so  severe 
some  of  the  stuff  was  injured,  butso  seldom  that 
they  take  the  chances.  As  the  stuff  is  carried  to 
market  every  day  all  winter  they  are  pretty 
sure  to  sell  a  good  deal  of  it  any  way.  Mr. 
Posson  was  so  determined  I  should  see  the  famed 
Will«?i-mette  (put  your  accent  on  the  second  syl- 
lable) Valley,  and  for  other  reasons.  I  swapped 
my  steamer  ticket  for  one  by  rail.  This  valley 
is  indeed  one  of  the  finest  agricultural  regions 
in  the  world.  I  saw  grapevines  as  thick  as  my 
arm.  These  were  trained  on  trellises  similar  to 
the  Fuller  system.  Even  on  this  New  Year's 
day  I  saw  apples  on  the  ground  under  the  trees 
in  such  quantities  that  the  ground  was  more 
than  covered.    I  feel   sure  they   were  in   good 


185fJ 


(;iJv\NIN(;s  IN   KKK  (  I   l/riKIO. 


lO.T 


I'omlitidll.  lull  I  I'illi'l  sec  w  li\  I  111'  (i\\  iifis  slmiild 
l<>uv«>  them  iliiis  w  lien  iliry  luiii^r  sin-li  uomi 
pricos  liiTr.  Till'  sriMUTv  is  hi'iiulifiil.  rvrii  at 
tills  si'ason  of  lln'  yrar.  and  tiir  liciirht  colnrs  of 
the  many  sliadrs  of  jri'i'i'ii  tlial  aiioiii  I  iir 
spnuM's,  liriiilorUs.  ami  vaiioiis  i-nlais  tliat 
covrr  till'  hills,  an-  liai'd  t()dt'sciil)i'.  Tin-  land  is 
iirctty  mm-li  all  fiMu-cd  and  under  ciiltlvatloii. 
\VintiM'  ulicat  st'cms  to  hi'  a  Ki'i'iit  staph'  in  tin- 
vicinity  of  Sali'in:  ami  as  tlir  sun  striki's  it.il 
adds  not  a  littlr  to  the  l)rauty  of  ihi'  iandscaiu'. 
Wlirn  1  susfft'sti'd  to  a  passi'n^cr  that  this  mild 
moist  wcatlun"  would  make  t,h»>  whoat  giow  too 
fast  for  ♦he  srason.  he  told  mo  it  would:  but 
tliey  pastiui'  it  down,  and  I  ai-tiially  saw  sheep 
turiii'd  on  till- wheat  to-day.  wIutc  the  <iround 
is  just  saturated  with  rain  water.  I  wonder 
what  Terry  would  say  tosueh  farming.  1  saw  a 
jrreat  many  tools  out  in  the  tields, and.  as  a  rule, 
farmers  liere  do  not  have  any  sueh  barns  or 
tool -houses  as  we  do  east.  They  say  the  stock 
does  not  need  such  shelter  as  we  give:  and  as 
no  shelter  is  provided,  there  is  no  i)lace  to  put 
the  tools  under  shelter.  I  am  sure  this  is 
very  bad  policy,  for  it  rains  here  for  weeks  to- 
gether, and  every  thing  is  saturated  with  wet, 
if  it  is  possible  to  (jd  it  saturated. 

I  was  greatly  interested  in  the  falls  at  Oregon 
City — the  more  so  as  there  is  a  little  building. 
clear  out  in  the  stream,  that  utilizes  the  fall  to 
run  dynamos  that  send  electricity  fourteen 
miles  to  the  city  of  Portland.  About  30  wires  on 
telegraph-poles  carry  the  current  which  now 
lights  the  city,  and  they  have  power  to  let. 
These  falls  on  the  Willamette  River  would  fur- 
nish power  and  light  enough  for  the  whole  city. 
and.  very  likely,  some  to  spare.  It  seems  to  me 
this  is  one  of  the  initiatory  steps  toward  a  great 
revolution  in  power  and  light,  and.  probably, 
Iteat  loo.  River  steamboats  i  uii  up  the  rivcsr  as 
far  as  Salem,  and  some,  of  light  draft,  as 
far  as  Albany.  Moss  not  only  covers  the  rock? 
and  ground,  but  a  species  somewhat  like  the 
Spanish  moss  of  the  South  covers  almost  all  the 
trees.  The  apple-orchards,  when  the  trees  get 
to  be  of  any  size,  are  so  loaded  down  with  it  one 
might  almost  think  they  were  all  killed:  but 
the  people  say  it  does  not  hurt  them.  In  proof 
of  this  they  point  to  the  great  crops  of  apples 
lliat  the  trees  are  loaded  with.  No  doubt  the 
moss  sets  tiie  trees  to  bedrlng.  but  it  does  seem 
to  me  it  shortens  in  the  tips.  and.  may  be.  acts 
.something  like  pruning.  For  some  reason  it 
seldom  if  ever  attaches  itself  to  the  evergreens. 

THK   0HKf40X   EVEIiBEAKING    STR.\WHEHRY. 

I  saw  this  on  Mt.  Tabor,  near  Portland,  where 
it  is  raised  by  the  acre.  It  is  certainly  no  hum- 
bug, as  has  been  intimated,  for  it  has  for  years 
given  considerable  crops  of  berries,  all  along  in 
the  fall,  and  sometimes  almost  up  to  the  holi- 
days. •'In  fact.  I  saw  ijuite  a  field  of  them  cov- 
ered with  blossoms  and  green  berries,  the  latter 
having  been  injured  by  an  unusually  heavy 
frost  in  the  early  part  of  December. 

•' Now.  th(!  point  is  right  here."  said  I  to  the 
owner  of  the  grounds:  ••  is  it  youi'  clintate,  with 
its  warm  weather  and  abundance  of  rain,  or  is 
it  the  plant?  You  have  the  common  varieties 
of  strawberries  here  in  your  grounds,  have  you 
not?" 

"Oh,  yesi  "  replied  he:  and  he  pointed  to  sev- 
eral popular  kinds. 

"  Well,  do  they  produce  blossoms  and  fruit,  in 
the  fall,  like  the"  Everbearing?  " 

"  I  have  never  sei^n  any:  at  least,  nothing  like 
the  Everbearing.    Let  us  look." 

We  examined  a  patch  of  Cumberlands,  near 
by,  but  not  a  bloom  or  green  berry  was  found. 
He  told  me  the  Everbearing  did  not  succ(>ed  as 
it  did  on  his  grounds,  in  some  places  right  in  the 
immediate  vicinity.    He  has  tor  several   years 


sold  these  lierries  from  .August,  to  Decemher.  and 
made  a  nice  thing  with  them.  Me  sells  only 
the  fruit  and  not  t  he  plants. 


-     fl^ 


^^' 


.^;^^i^^^-^l°°  VERYEARj 


In  the  multitude  of  cuunselors  there  i.s  safety.— Pr.  U:  U. 

A  nouNTV  or  no  bounty  »n  honey— that's  the 
question. 

Dk.  Mii,i.ki{  says  somebody  did  not  report 
him  correctly  at  Albany.  We  suppose  he  means 
us.     Well,  doctor,  we  accept  your  correction. 

The  old  Missoiiri  Bee-heeper,  as  per  previous 
announceTuent,  comes  out  under  a  new  name — 
Tlie  PnxjresHive  Bee-keeper.  The  paper  is\<'e]l 
edited,  as  usual,  and  well  deservi^s  patronage, 
not  only  for  the  State  of  Missouri,  but  for  all 
the  States. 

We  are  glad  to  renew  our  regular  installment 
of  Stray  Straws,  and  we  hope  no  other  unlucky 
accident  will  prevent  their  regular  appearance. 
The  sii'aws  in  this  issue  are  unusually  fresh, 
and  sparkling  with  good  nature.  The  doctor 
tits  the  place  well. 

FoK  the  last  month  we  have  been  having 
quite  severe  weather.  If  it  should  continue 
thus  it  might  go  hard  with  bees  throughout  the 
country.  For  our  locality,  however,  we  are 
glad  of  it,  as  it  puts  our  winter  cases  to  a  .se- 
vere test.  Our  self  -  registering  thermometer 
showed  that  the  temperature  went  down  as  low 
as  11>^  degrees  below  zero  on  the  night  of  the 
19th.  Since  then  we  have  had  some  cold  snaps, 
but  not  so  low.      

Cement  or  grout  cellar-bottoms  are  not  rec- 
oraiuended  in  this  issue  by  such  good  authori- 
ties as  Dr.  C.  C.  Miller  and  Julius  Hoffman. 
As  many,  possibly,  may  be  proposing  to  put  in 
such  bottoms,  perhaps  they  had  better  wait  and 
investigate  a  little  before  going  to  any  great 
expense  for  something  that  luight  be  useless  or 
even  wor.se  than  useless.  We  should  like  to 
have  reports  fi'om  those  who  are  in  position  to 
give  us  facts  in  this  matter. 

If  you  discover  any  lack  of  editorial  sifting  in 
this  issue,  please  lay  it  to  that  old  fiend  La 
(Jrippe.  It  did  not  get  hold  of  us  this  time,  but 
it  laid  low  the  business  manager.  .7.  T.  Calvert: 
and  the  consequence  was.  we  were  obliged  to 
take  up  his  work  for  a  week,  and  part  of  the 
time  work  nights  on  (ii>EANiNGs.  Mr.  Calvert 
is  now  back  at  his  post  as  usual,  but  little  if 
any  worse  for  his  siege  of  grip,  and  things  are 
going  on  as  usual  again.  We  i)resume  Pro. 
Newnuui.  of  the  ^liiicricdii  Bee  Joitnidl.  knows 
how  to  ai)pr<'ciate  the  position  we  were  in  a 
few  days  ago. 

■  It  has  been  rumored  that  there  is  another 
chap  who  is  about  to  place  on  the  market  arti- 
ficial honey-comb,  filled  with  glucose,  deftly 
capped  over  by  ap|)i-opiiate  machinery.  As 
.M.  II.  Hiuitsaid  in  his  paper  at  the  convention 
of  the  Michigan  .State  Pee-keepers"  Association, 
the  prospective  luaiuifacturers  of  honey-comb 
jiever  get  any  furtlnsr  than  they  are  "going  to," 
or  "are  about  to  do  so."  Bee-keepers  need 
not  worry.  The  newspaper  canards  have  made 
some  fools  believe  that  it  could  actually  be 
done,  and  that  there  was  a  mint  of  monev  in  it. 


104 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fei5.  1. 


But  they   are  deceived.    It  never  will  be  done, 
so   that  "the    product   can    be    told    from    the 

genuine.  

Remembeu  the  Ohio  State  Bet-keepers"  con- 
vention at  Cincinnati.  announceintMits  and  pro- 
gram of  which  are  given  elsewhere.  Nothing 
preventing,  we  expect  to  be  represented  by  J.  T. 
Calvert.  VVe  have  been  informed  that  Dr.  C.  C. 
Miller  will  be  there  also.  His  presence  insures 
a  good  meeting. 

The  last  letter  from  A.  I.  Root  was  to  the  ef- 
fect that  he  was  over  his  nervous  chills,  and 
was  quite  himself  again.  One  day  he  walked 
eight  miles  and  another  thirteen,  climbing  the 
mountains.  But  our  fatherly  advice  in  another 
column  (now  on  the  press)  still  holds  good.  We 
want  him  to  get  permanently  well  and  so  save 
himself  for  many  years  of  usefulness. 

The  watchword  has  always  been,  "Order 
early;"  yet,  in  spite  of  this  sensible  advice,  bee- 
keepers fail  to  get  their  supplies  in  time,  even 
though  their  dealer  is  prompt  in  making  ship- 
ment. A  customer  to  whom  we  made  a  ship- 
ment of  goods  some  two  months  ago.  and  who 
has  not  vet  received  them,  even  though  we 
have  sent  two  tracers,  wrote  us,  "What  would 
I  do  if  this  were  the  honey  season?  or,  worse 
still,  in  the  height,  without  any  goods?  lam 
mighty  glad  I  ordered  early,  for  there  will  be 
some  chance  of  my  getting  them  in  time  yet." 
Bee-keepers,  no  matter  of  whom  they  order 
their  goods,  should  remember  that  freight  ship- 
ments are  sometimes  delayed  or  lost.  It  some- 
times takes  a  couple  of  months  to  recover  goods, 
and  sometimes  even  four. 

Some  of  our  customers  even  yet  do  not  quite 
understand  why  we  require  cash  or  reference  of 
those  with  whom  we  have  nevei'  had  any  deal. 
Perhaps  some  of  these  people  are  bee-keepers 
whom  we  have  met  at  conventions,  and  with 
whom  we  have  enjoyed  pleasant  chats.  It 
seems  a  little  hard  to  refuse  them  credit;  but 
the  strict  rules  of  business  require  that  we 
know  whether  such  a  person  is  responsible  in 
money  matters,  a  man  may  be  affable  and 
pleasant— in  fact,  a  leader  in  society,  and,  we 
are  sorry  to  say.  in  a  few  cases,  a  leader  in  the 
church,  and  yet  be  very  poor  pay.  If  our 
friends  would  only  understand  that,  even 
though  they  are  perfectly  responsible,  we  must 
liave  some  "evidence  of  it.  and  that,  when  we 
requii-e  cash  or  i-eferences,  we  do  not  necessarily 
impeach  their  honesty,  it  would  save  trouble. 

One  of  our  subscribers.  Mr.  F.  J.  Miller,  of 
London,  Ontario,  Canada,  writes: 

Has  not  A.  E.  Miiimm  loCDVered  yet  from  liis  hon- 
eymoon seiisoii  V  Surely  tluit  '"  queen  "  is  receiving 
more  than  usuiil  eai-e.  or  lie  would  luive  found  time 
to  let  us  know  liow  he  succeeded  with  those  five 
apiaries  alone.  No  wonder  he  required  help  before 
the  season  was  over. 

Mr.  Manum  promised,  some  two  or  three 
months  ago.  to  write  again,  and  we  trust  now 
that  he  will  resume  his  pen,  seeing  that  the 
invitation  has  been  renewed.  This  is  not  the 
first  inquiry  we  have  had  from  subscribers,  by 
any  means',  and  we  trust  that  his  new  queen 
will  spur  him  up  to  duty.  Ye.s,  wo  do  want  to 
know  how  he  got  along  with  those  live  apiaries 
alone.  There  was  a  tolerably  good  honey-flow 
in  Vermont  last  season,  and  we  are  anxious  to 
know  all  about  it. 

We  take  great  pride  in  our  short  symposium, 
in  this  issue,  on  the  subject,  "A  Bounty  on  Hon- 
ey." It  is  a  cause  of  congratulation  to  bee- 
keepers that  they  have  among  their  number 
men  who  are  able  to  discuss  these  deep  and 
weighty  questions  in  so  admirable  and  candid  a 


way.  The  discussion  on  both  sides  is  very  fair- 
ly and  well  sustained,  and  we  hold  our  columns 
open  for  its  further  consideration.  Pei'liaps 
some  of  our  readers  would  like  to  know  our 
own  individual  opinion.  As  Gi.eaxings  is 
neither  sectarian  nor  partisan,  we  think  it  wise 
to  withhold,  at  least  for  the  present,  our  own 
position.  We  are  sure  a  little  further  discus- 
sion will,  in  any  event,  reveal  the  right  or  jus- 
tice of  the  thing,  one  way  or  the  other.  There 
is  one  thing,  however,  we  ought  to  say:  and 
that  is,  bee-keepers  should  look  beyond  their 
own  interests  enough  to  consider  the  geneial 
public  good.  So  many  selfish  and  conflicting 
interests  are  the  bane  of  our  politics. 

the  locality  of  g.\i!i)ex   city.  kax..  as  a 

bee-country;    a    little   ai>vice   to 

the  bee-kkepeks  who  move  to 

PASTUKKS   >EW. 

Two  or  three  months  ago  one  of  our  corre- 
spondents spoke  very  highly  of  the  region  round 
about  Garden  City,  Kan.,  as  a  bee-country, 
stating  that  colonies  would  average  90  lbs.  of  the 
very  nicest  honey,  that  as  high  as  180  lbs.  had 
been  secured  in  some  cases,  and  that  alfalfa 
was  on  the  increase.  A  resident  bee-keeper 
sent  in  a  communication  which  we  published 
shortly  after,  protesting  that  their  country  M-as 
no  better  than  many  places  in  the  East;  that 
bee-keepers  would  be  disappointed  if  they  came 
there  with  any  great  expectancy  of  obtaining 
great  things.  Since  the  appearance  of  these 
two  articles  we  have  received  a  number  of  com- 
munications from  parties  on  both  sides  of  the 
controversy:  and  as  much  of  it  is  too  personal, 
and  as  both  sides  have  luid  a  hearing,  we  think 
best  to  have  the  discussion  stop  where  it  is. 
Perhaps  we  ought  to  say  this:  That  any  bee- 
keeper who  would  rush  into  a  new  bee-country 
that  has  been  loudly  applauded,  without  nuik- 
ing  proper  investigation,  such  as  writing  to  a 
number  of  resident  bee-keepers,  would  be.  we 
were  going  to  say.  a  fool;  but  perhaps  "  foolish 
man  "  would  be  a  more  respectable  term.  Well, 
there  is  truth  on  both  sides  of  the  controversy 
relative  to  Garden  City.  As  nearly  as  Me  can 
make  out,  it  is  something  like"  this:  Two 
knights  of  old.  riding  along  the  I'oad.  met  under 
a  suspended  shield,  one  side  of  which  was  red 
and  the  other  blue.  After  a  fight  in  regard  to 
the  color,  they  discovered  that  theywei'e  both 
right.  They  had  not  examined  hDtli  sidcx  of  the 
shield.  Although  only  a  little  of  the  Garden 
City  controversy  has  appeared  in  our  columns, 
we  wish  to  say  to  all  parties  concerned  that  we 
believe  there  fs  truth  on  l)oth  sides.  It  makes 
all  the  difference  on  whirJi  side  of  the  shield  we 
are  looking.  This  same  thing  happened  over  A. 
,J.  King's  graphic  coloring  of  Arizona,  as  seen 
on  page  Cc'S  of  last  year.  No  sooner  was  it  pub- 
lished than  his  bright  colors  were  greatly  shad- 
ed by  a  letter  from  J.  W.  Johnson,  on  page  7<)»3; 
and  on  page  7(i5.  same  issue.  Mr.  King  has  an- 
other  enthusiastic  lettei'  in  regard  to  Arizona, 
hut  not  so  much  so  as  his  first  one. 


:M1!.   and    MRS.    A.    I.   ROOT  S   CONTE.VIPL.\TED 
VISIT   TO    FLORIDA. 

Within  the  past  few  weeks  the  whole  rem- 
nant of  Rootville  have,  in  their  letters,  been 
urging  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Root  to  prolong  their  trip 
in  California.  The  weather  has  been  so  very 
cold  here  in  Ohio.  and.  as  the  senior  editor's 
health  since  he  has  been  away  has  not  been  of 
the  best,  we  made  up  our  minds,  now  that  he 
was  already  in  the  land  of  flowers  and  perpetu- 
al sunshine,  it  would  be  folly  for  him  to  rush 
home  again  before  the  C^ifornia  climate  and 
its  surroundings  could  have  its  legitimate  effect 
in  dispersing  his  chills.  It  has  always  been 
his  habit  to  be  on  the   rush  wherever  he  has 


ISif.' 


(iLKANiNcis  L\  iu:i:  cLi/n'Ri':. 


105 


licfii:  :iM(l  now  it  is  nl'  ilic  iitiiuist  iniix'i  l:iiu'<' 
tliat  Ik-  tiikc  t  liiiiirs  slow  l\ .  ;iii(l  trivc  N;il  iiii- ;i 
KOdil  liiy:  I'haiu'i'.  aw  ;iy  from  hiisini'ss  ami  lis 
atlciitiaiil  cares.  We  cMimkI  to  liini  a  lillle 
"•  falhi'ily  ailvii'f  *■  over  llic  piinlcil  pafic  ami 
\vt'  pit'siimt'  he  will  areopt  il.  even  if  the  tables 
are  tm-iie<1  w  itii  respeet  \o  riMationsliip. 

\\'el!.  we  have  also  heeii  iiriziiiLr  thcin.  as  soon 
as  they  reaeh  New  Orleans  hy  the  Soiitheni 
I'aeitie.  ffoiii  Califoniia.  to  taUe  the  boat  ami 
run  over  to  Kloi'ida.  ami  inaUe  a  short  sojoiiiii 
thi'fe.  This  tii(\v  liave  partially  consented  to 
do.  Now.  tiiere  ai'e  donltlless  l)ee-l<e(>pei's.  both 
at  New  Orleans  and  in  Florida,  w  l\o  would  liUe 
to  meet  lliem.  or.  |ierliai>s.  would  b(>  irlad  to 
have  them  call  on  them  at  their  homes.  If  any 
of  our  bo(>-Ueepiiifr  friends  in  tlie  vicinities 
named  desire  to  take  advantasieof  this  ojipor- 
tunity.  write  A.  I.  Root  at  X(>w  Orleans,  care  of 
,1.  W."  Winder.  .")T<".  :\IaKa/.ine  St.  Mr.  Winder  is 
an  old  bee-Uei'pinir  friend  of  oiu's,  and  we  take 
tile  litierty  of  iiavinji  tlie  correspondence  reach 
him  via  iiis  name.  They  may  iiot  reach  New 
Orleans  before  tlie  middle  of  February,  and 
hence  you  may  not  get  an  immediate  reply  to 
your  letters. 

Now.  you  need  not  tell  him  any  tiling  about 
it.  but  we  have  been  working  a  little  scheme. 
They  would  say  it  would  be  impossible  for 
them  to  go  to  Cuba  :  but  if  w(>  could  once  get 
them  to  Florida,  we  are  then  in  liopes  of  coaxing 
ttiem  to  go  down  to  the  '"gem  ''  of  the  West  In- 
ilies.  and  take  a  look  at  bee-kee])ing  in  its  ex- 
tensive projiortions  in  that  fa\'ored  clime.  Mi. 
and  Mrs.  Moot  an'  not  expected  to  reach  home 
before  the  first  of  March:  but  the  weather  will 
still  be  quite  cold  at  that  time,  and  we  hope 
they  may  be  prevailed  on  to  remain  until  some 
time  in  April.  They  have  been  skylarking 
around  the  country  so  fast  that  we  have  ?iot 
been  able  to  follow  them  noi'  to  give  them  any 
fatherly  advice  as  readily  as  we  might  have 
wished!  We  are  sure  that  Gleanings  will 
reach  them  at  the  earliest  possible  moment, 
for  it  goes  everv where. 


TIIK      ONUAKIO      BEE    -    KEEPERS'      ASSOriATION 
SEVERS   ITS   CONNECTION    WITH    TlIE 

Noirrn  American. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  report  of  the 
committee  appointed  by  the  Ontai'io  Bee-keep- 
ers' Association,  to  consider  the  advisability  of 
again  alliliating  with  the  N.  A.  I>.  K.  A.:  said 
report  being  subsequently  adopted  in  conven- 
tion: 

TO  THE     PUESIDENT     AND     MEMBEHS     OF  THE   ONTA- 
JUO    BEE-KEEPERS'   ASSOCIATION. 

Yuur  coiiiniittee  to  whom  was  referred  tlie  rela- 
tion of  Canadian  boe-keei>eistothe  North  Ameiicun 
Bee-keeiiers'  Association  lieff  leav(!  to  lepoi't : 

Tliat  the  North  Anieiican  Bee-kee|jers'  Associa- 
tion (as  its  name  implies)  was  oi-ifriiially  founded  on 
an  international  basis,  the  United  Stati's  and  Cana- 
da being-  parties toand  partners  in  (lie  orjfanization. 
Fur  upward  of  twenty  years,  and  until  a  veiy 
recent  period,  this  international  character  lias  been 
maintained,  notwitlistanding-  tlie  manifestation  of 
a  disposition  on  the  part  of  some  United  Stati-s  liee- 
keepers  to  rejtrard  and  speak  of  it  as  a  national 
institution.  This  feel  in  tr  took  detinite  and  formal 
sliape  at  the  annual  meeting-  lield  at  Keokuk,  Iowa, 
last  }-ear,  when  a  projiosal  to  inr-orporate  tlie  asso- 
ciation under  tlie  State  laws  of  Illinois  was  made 
and  ag-reed  to. 

Tlie  delegates  from  this  association,  pre.sent  at 
that  meeting,  met  tlie  proposal  with  earnest  reinoii- 
sti-!iiice,  emi>lia1ic  protest,  and  firm  oiipositioii;  but 
in  spite  of  their  efforts  a  cf)ni!iiittee  was  appointed 
to  incorporate  tlie  body,  with  headquarters  'it 
Chicago.  One  of  your  delegates  was  named  as  a 
memljer  of  that  committee;  hut  from  what  subse- 
quent l.v  transpired  he  was  led  to  believe  that  those 
with  whom  he  was  as.sociated  cared  little  for  his 
opinion  on  the  subject.  Moreover,  we  liave  reasons 
for  believing  that  the  official  report  of  the  Keokuk 


meeting,  in  tlie  niallrr  of  llir  |iiolcsls  made  liy 
.\nni-  rcpnvciilalivcs  llicrc,  i>  largclj  eliioai'terl/.ed 
Uy  t\  mi  iipii. ■'Sill  mi ;  that  coniniiinir,-il  ions  snii  |)y 
tluiii  to  two  leading  liee-p:ipcrs  in  t  Ije  l' lilted  Slates, 
diseii-^siiig  the  Mil).ie<t.  were  mil  inibl  islieil,  a  iid  Ilia  I 
the  gie;il  mass  of  liee-keepe|-s  wllliin  the  jiiiisilir- 
I  ion  of  I  lie  association  were  denied  I  lie  informal  Ion 
nei-essary  to  a  full  and  proper  coiisideiat  ion  of  t  he 
nuitter.  and  of  the  means  of  ari-i\lng  at  a  discreet 
and  .just  derision  as  to  the  etlect  ot  incoipoiation  If 
i-aiiied  out  as  proposed.  A  few  weeks  ago  it  was 
amioniii-ed  In  l]w  Ainrriain  Drr  Jiiuiniil  that  incor- 
poration had  been  elVeeterl.  No  paillculars  were 
thenghen.  ,Vt  the  aiinnal  ineeling  held  a  month 
ago  In  Albany,  N.  ^■..  the  report  of  the  Incoipora- 
tioii  Commlllee  (which  repoil  had  never  been  sub- 
mitted 1o  yoin-  repi-esent alive  on  the  comiiilttee. 
and  who  was  present  at  the  meeting)  was  presented 
and  adopted.  In  bie\ily  and  iiiiivitr  i\  is  an  olliclal 
(■iiii<isll>-.  No  infoi  inalion  Is  \-onchsafed  as  to  the 
tei-ms  and  conditlnns  of  incorjioral  ion.  The  bald 
statement  is.  "The  association  Is  iiu-orporated  un- 
der the  State  laws  of  Illinois;"  l hat  "  t  he  fi'es  are 
paid,  and  the  certilicate  in  the  hands  of  the  secre- 
tar.\-."  Not  a  word  Is  said  as  tii  its  inoliable  etlect 
in  the  other  States  of  the  Union,  or  here  in  Canada: 
Iml  it  enibiaces  the  important  announcenieiil  that 
the  incorporators  are  tlii'  "  life-members  lexUh'iit  in 
the  Uiiiliii  Slatrx."  The  life  members  resident  in 
Cnimdn  are  (|uietly  ignored.  Hetore  the  tinal  adoj)- 
tion  of  this  i-e])oit,  one  of  your  lepresentallves  at 
the  Albany  meeting  asked  whether  '•  Incorporation, 
as  now  etfected,  did  not  localize  the  .jnrisfliction  of 
the  association,  and  make  it  an  Illinois  institntion," 
and  was  answered  that  the  association  was  "now 
\ni-n\.  hut  ittf  infliiinci'  wniild  he  iiatii»ial."  Wlien  he 
put  the  (jnestion  in  another  form,  he  was  told,  "  It 
was  necessary  to  iiicoriiorate  under  a  State  law.  hut 
the  oi-ganization  would  he  natiuniil  in  its  charai'ter." 

Vour  committee  is  not  in  a,  position  to  express  an 
oiiinioii  on  the  futii.e  intluence  of  the  association, 
or  to  closely  sci-ulinize  its  character;  nor  is  it  with- 
in its  province  to  inquire  what  yiarticular  relation- 
ship it  bears  to  the  bee-keepers  of  the  United 
Stiites  resident  o((  »-i(te  the  limits  of  Illinois;  Imt  it 
has  come  to  the  conclusion  that  Canada  has  no 
rights  under  the  new  state  of  things,  and  that  it 
was  not  intended  she  should.  This  is  amply  clear 
from  the  fact  that  her  life-members  are  iiol'among- 
the  incorporators,  and  that  tlie  widest  character 
and  intiuence  claimed  for  it,  by  its  promoters,  are 
"  national  "  and  not  international. 

Your  conimil  tee  considers  that  the  changed  nature 
of  the  association  is  not  a  mere  innovation,  but  a 
complete  revolution  in  tlie  grouiKhvork  and  nature 
of  the  institution  as  it  w^as  lieretofore  constituted. 
Befori'.  it  was  broad  and  international;  now  it  is 
local,  with  hut  a  declaied  mitioiial  influence,  and 
your  committee  look  upon  this  change  of  organiza- 
tion as  a  gross  violatit)n  of  an  existing-  compai^t,  de- 
liberately carried  into  etlect  in  the  face  of  the  vig- 
orous protests  of  your  repi-esentativiis. 

Your  committee  are  unanimously  of  tlie  opinion 
that  the  oiil.v  couise  open  to  the  bee-keepers  of 
Canada.  <'on8isleii1  with  indeiiendence,  self-i-espect, 
and  national  dlgnltj',  is  to  retire  f lom  a  iiosition 
which  has  become,  through  no  fault  ot  theirs, 
anomalous  if  not  hiiiiiiliatlng,  and  therefore  recom- 
mend that  the  Ontario  Bee-keepers'  Association  do 
not  continue  in  alliliation  with  the  so-called  North 
American  Bee-keepers'  Association. 

Your  committee  has  no  hesitation  in  expressing 
the  helit^f  that  the  bee-keepers  of  Canada  regret  the 
cii'ciimstances  that  compel  the  severance  of  ties 
wdiich  have  pleasamly  (existed  for  more  tlian  a 
score  of  years,  and  in  their  name  lender  to  the 
great  body  of  American  bee-keepers,  which  it  be- 
li^'ves  are  not  resiionslble.  the  assurance  of  our  con- 
tinued fraternal  good  will,  our  high  consideration 
and  jordial  regards,  and  of  our  readiness  at  all 
times  to  co-operate  with  tlieni  in  any  enterprise 
calculated  to  further  the  interests  of  the  industry 
in  which  we  are  alike  engaged. 

All  of  whicli  is  respectfully  submitted. 

K.  MClvMGHT. 

Wm.  F.  Ci.au ke. 

S.  CoilNEIlj. 

Allen  Pringle. 

The  abovi?  came  to  hand  from  the  secretary, 
and  his  language  is  couched  in  such  a  form 
that  one  miijlit  get  the  impression  that  in  llie 
sending  of  it  lie  was  doing  a  disagreeable  duty, 
and  simply  acting  under  instructions.    We  were 


106 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  1. 


greatly  surprised  and  pained  upon  reading  it- 
surprised,  because  we  are  certain  ttiat  none  of 
the  niemljers  wiio  were  instrumental  in  liaving 
the  N.  A.  B.  K.  A.  incorporated  had  the  least 
thoufilit  that  that  action  would  cause  the  Cana- 
dian' brethren  to  withdraw.  We  were  pained, 
too,  because  of  some  statements  in  the  report 
that  are  calculated  to  carry  the  impression  that 
we  desired  to  put  out  from  the  N.  A.  B.  K.  A. 
the  Canadians  and  break  down  their  '•  national 
dignity."  etc.  Nothing  could  be  further  from 
the  real  truth.  We  have  since  received  a  pri- 
vate letter  from  one  of  the  members  of  the  com- 
mittee, to  the  effect  that  the  grievance  was  not 
against  the  bee-keepers  of  the  U.  S.  as  a  body, 
but  against  a/eu;  of  the  leaders,  and  mentioned 
Thomas  G.  Newman.  Dr.  A.  B.  Mason.  Dr.  C.  C. 
Miller,  and  the  two  Roots.  We  know  that  every 
one  of  the  gentlemen  named  will  be  as  much 
surprised  as  ourselves;  but  they  will  doubtless 
speak  for  themselves. 

VVe  greatly  regi'et  that  the  two  members  who 
were  present  at  Keokuk  should  still  misunder- 
stand (we  can  not  believe  intentionally)  the 
purpose  of  incorporation.  Although  it  has 
been  explained  heretofore,  it  seems  they  have 
entirely  overlooked  the  fact  that  organizations 
in  the  United  States  that  are  national  or  inter- 
national in  their  character  and  influence,  are, 
or  should  be,  incorporated  under  the  laws  of 
some  one  particular  State;  and.  as  was  also 
ably  explained  by  Capt.  J.  E.  Hetherington,  at 
the  Albany  convention,  incorporation  does  not 
make  the  association  local,  but  a  legal  body 
politic,  amenable  to  the  laws,with  special  func- 
tions, rights,  duties,  and  liabilities;  capable  of 
suing  and  of  being  sued — in  short,  transacting 
business.  It  is  quite  probable  that  the  mem- 
bers of  the  O.  B.  K.  A.  as  a  boOy,  not  being  fa- 
miliar with  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  were 
not  in  position  to  appreciate  what  incorpora- 
tion on  this  side  of  the  line  means.  We  could 
not  incorporate  under  both  the  national  govern- 
ments, nor  under  the  laws  of  the  United  States, 
but  under  the  laws  of  some  one  State.  But,  we 
repeat  again,  the  North  American  is  not  less 
international  now  than  before.  Let  us  give  one 
illustration  of  what  the  society  now  under  in- 
corporation is  capable  of  doing: 

As  a  body  it  can  sue  any  packing-houses  in 
any  State,  where  the  laws  are  strict  enough, 
that  may  be  engaged  in  the  adulteration  of 
honey.  It  is  in  better  position,  also,  to  protest 
against  injurious  legislation  from  national  or 
State  governments,  because  it  is  an  incorporat- 
ed body. 

Nine-tenths  of  the  bee-keepers  of  the  North 
American  are  residents  of  the  United  States; 
and  Chicago,  the  place  of  incorporation,  is  the 
most  central  of  any  point  for  those  bee-keepers. 
The  great  mass  of  them  in  the  United  States 
are  in  the  North.  This  our  subscription-books 
show  very  decidedlv.  Nothing  was  more  nat- 
ural than  that  the  iState  of  Illinois  should  have 
been  selected;  and  it  seems  to  us,  to  speak  plain- 
ly and  in  all  kindness,  that  nothing  but  a  parti- 
san spirit,  or  a  silly  quibble  on  technicalities  on 
the  part  of  the  committee,  could  make  any  ©b- 
jection  to  it.  We  have  no  grievance  against 
the  body  of  the  Canadians  who  voted  for  the 
adoption  of  the  i-eport,  for  they  were  acting  in 
good  faith.  Some  of  our  warmest  and  best 
friends  we  number  among  the  Canadians. 

The  report  goes  on  to  say,  "  We  have  reasons 
for  believing  that  the  official  report  of  the  Keo- 
kuk meeting,  in  the  matter  of  the  protest  made 
by  your  representatives  there,  is  largely  char- 
acterized by  a  suppressio  veri;  that  commu- 
nications sent  by  them  to  two  leading  bee- 
papers  .  .  .  were  not  published."  We  have 
before  us  the  report  of  the  Keokuk  convention, 
as  written  by  the  secretary,  C.  P.  Dadant.    The 


report  had  to  be  brief,  necessarily,  on  almost 
every  subject  that  was  discussed:  and  yet  it 
seems,  as  we  look  it  over,  that  the  Canadian 
brethren  were  given  a  fair  hearing.  Glean- 
ings was  one  of  the  leading  l)ee-pubiications 
designated,  that  is  sold  to  have  suppn-ssed 
one  of  the  communications.  The  matter  at  the 
time  was  "  not  available;"  and,  moreover,  we 
weresure  thewriter  did  not  properly  understand 
what  incorporation  meant  on  this  side  of  the 
line,  and  we  thoughtit  useless  to  stir  up  discord 
or  partisan  feeling  over  misconception  and 
misunderstanding.  We  were  not  aware,  until 
we  read  the  report  as  above,  that  the  life- 
members  in  the  United  States  only  were  the 
incorporators.  We  are  very  sui'e  that  the  Can- 
adian life-members  were  left  out  for  no  other 
reason  than  that  the  laws  of  incorporation  re- 
quire that  the  incorporators  be  residents  of  the 
United  States.  By  the  way,  if  we  are  correct 
there  is  only  one  life-member  in  Canada,  and 
twelve  in  the  United  States.  The  Canadian 
member  is  D.  A.  Jones,  and  we  are  sure  he 
would  never  quarrel  with  us  on  that  point;  and 
of  the  committee  who  make  thisasa  big  handle, 
not  one  is  a  life-member. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  fact  that  bee- 
keepei's  on  this  side  have  called  the  North 
American  "'national."  As  we  had  no  really  dis- 
tinct national  association,  the  nearest  to  it  was 
the  North  American  Bee-keepers'  Association; 
and  when  "  national"  was  used  it  was  employ- 
ed as  a  convenient  term,  without  any  thought 
of  excluding  Canada. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  fraternal  feeling,  we 
presume  it  will  do  no  harm  to  let  out  the  secret 
that  there  was  a  strong  effort  on  foot  at  Albany 
to  put  S.  Corneil,  a  Canadian,  in  as  president  of 
the  N.  A.  B.  K.  A.  for  the  ensuing  year.  A 
number  of  members,  including  President  EI- 
wood,  approached  the  writer  on  the  subject, 
asking  whether  he  would  vote  for  him.  and 
what  he  thought  of  our  CanadianT)rother  for 
the  position.  We  not  only  indorsed  the  name, 
but  said  we  would  give  our  support  to  it.  which 
we  did.  Those  who  were  present  at  the  Albany 
convention  know  well  that  Mr.  Corneil  would 
have  been  elected  president  if  he  had  not  abso- 
lutely refused  to  accept  the  honor.  After  this 
we  were  a  little  surprised  that  his  name  should 
appear  among  the  members  of  the  committee 
who  drafted  the  report  as  above.  This  ought 
to  show,  beyond  a  question  of  doubt,  that  the 
American  bee-keepers,  who  are  members  of  the 
North  American,  desired  to  recognize  Canada, 
and  desired,  also,  to  continue  their  past  pleas- 
ant relations,  as  we  had  done  heretofore.  Mark 
this:  The  very  bee-keepers  who  voted  to  elect 
Mr.  Corneil  are  the  same  ones  who  voted  to 
adopt  the  article  of  incorporation. 

Now,  brotiter  bee-keepers  across  the  line,  does 
this  not  show  that  the  idea  of  crowding  Cana- 
dians outside  of  the  association  was  the  fur- 
thest from  our  thoughts?  and  does  it  not  prove 
that  we  on  our  part  desired  to  continue  otir 
pleasant  fraternal  relations  ? 

We  have  taken  a  good  deal  of  space  to  reply 
to  this;  but  the  reason  we  have  done  so  is  be- 
cause it  is  an  international  matter;  and  now 
that  the  O.  B.  K.  A.  has  taken  the  action  that 
it  has.  it  is  proper  that,  as  one  of  the  Roots,  and 
as  a  member  of  the  N.  A.  B.  K.  A.,  we  should 
explain  our  side  so  that  our  Canadian  brethren 
can  see  that  we  were  not  intending  to  break 
down,  nor  even  thinking  of  breaking  down, 
their  "  independence,  self-respect,  and  national 
dignity."  If  the  Canadians  refuse  to  reconsider, 
of  course  that  will  leave  our  association  dis- 
tinctly national,  for  Canada  has  been  the  only 
nation,  outside  of  the  United  States,  which  had 
a  voice  in  the  proceedings  of  the  North  Ameri- 
can. 


tS<.»".' 


cMvW'iNiis  IX  UKE  (  ri/ri;RE. 


Ill 


^Tn>fl^- 


Everybody^ 
Admihs. 

OtherSeeds^^Iqually^^Reliabie 

5eed  Annual  free,    '^         Wri^e  For  ih  NOW! 
A.Vf. LIVINGSTON'S  SONS. 
BOX  213,  COLUMBU5> OHIO. 

eflnrt'sp.iiuliiit.'l..  ihi.-a.lv.iiix-iu.  Ill   111.  1,1  II. 11  ui.KAMN(; 


mw,S' 


HATCH  CHICKENS  BY  STEAM: 

ExcelsiorMNCUBATOR 

Lowrst-prircd   FirBt-clans   lliitoher  made. 
Simple,  Perfect^  KSSlSBa^t^lMiegulatiiig. 


GEO.H.STAHL,0uincy.iiL 


It  mention  GLEANINGS. 


Ipoii  our  L'3i)  acres  ul  iXuiscr)  w  c  nave  ev- 
ery family  of  Trees  and  Plants  hardy  in  a 
northern  climate;  whether  fruit,  ornamental, 
nut,  or  flovverio'^.  Among  the  numerous 
choice  new  sorts  are  Lovett's  Best  Blackberry, 
Beebe  and.I.ovett's  Early  Strawberries,  Japan 
Wineberry,  dreen  Mt.  Grape,  Lincoln  Plum, 
Hardy  Orange,  JapanWalnuts,  Ice  King  IVim- 
rone,  Everblooming  Spiraeas,  etc. 

All  are  accurately  described  and  quotetl  at 
half  the  price  of  solicitors  in  Lovett's  Guide 
to  Horticulture,  the  most  complete  and  elab- 
orate catalogue  published  by  any  nursery  es- 
tablishment in  the  world.  The  book  is  richly 
illustrated  and  is  replete  with  notes  on  purchas- 
ing, planting,  pruning,  care  and  culture. 
Mailed  free;  with  colored  plates,  loc. 
Shipments  to  distant  points  a  Specialty. 
J.T.  Lovett  Co.,  Little  SiVer,  N.  J. 

S3'"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkandjosl 


Is  a  beautiful   book  of  one  hundred  pages,   elegautly  printed   with  true 
pholo-engravings  and    colored    plates    and  plain,   truthful   and  reasonable 
descriptions.    It  is  a  Mirror  of  American  Horticulture  to  date,  and 
with  less  brag  and  exaggeration  to  the  square  inch  than  most  books  of  this 
kind.     We  show  that  in  one  order,  from  under  one  roof,  we   furnish  all 
Seeds,  Plants,  Bulbs  and  Gardening  Helps,  a  combination  not  possible  else- 
where. We  offer  completeness  in  every  department  and  have  a  record 
in  each;    famous  Chicago  Market  Vegetables     Grand   Chicago  Parks 
Bedding  Pansies  and  Lawn  Seed,  i6  Mammoth  Greenhouses  with  all 
Roses,  Chrysanthemums,  Palms,—  new  or  old.  from  home  or  abroad. 
««=    IX    TELI^S    XHK    "WHOI^K    STORY    "<Ba 
for  the  Garden,  Lawn  and  Farm,  and  is  a  work  of  art  and  of 
FACTS.     The  book  tells  you  our  plans  for  Horticulture  at  the 
World's   Fair  of  '93  and   we   cordially   and  earnestly  invite 
every  flower  lover  to  register  in  our  Columbian  Directory. 
You    will   not  regret  it.     (John   Thorpe  says  1893  wtU 
advance  American  Horticulture  25  years 

THE  OFFER : 


To  record  .  v^rv  friend  of  H'lrticultiire  f  >r  our  World's  Fair  Edition 
of  '93,  we  will  imil  Five  Grand  Specialties  if  vou  mention  this 
paper.  S'^fveet  Pea  BlailCtie  Kerry,  large  pink  and  white, 
10  days  earlier  than  any  other;  profuse  bloomer  on  long  stems;  very  sweet 
Pansy  Velvet  Ciein,  nearer  red  than  anv other  Pansy  many  reddish 
shaiies  in  its  v  iriations.  ^^sturtiuttl  Aurora,  vellow  with  carmine 
lid  purple,  a  distinct  novelty.  .Tll^fiionette,  Oiant  <iabriele, 
very  handsome  fliwers.  thick,  heavy  spikes.  Carnation  Mar}jfaret, 
the  greatest  novelty,  flowering  in  12  to  15  weeks  from  seed,  full  double 
flowers  in  all  the  shades  of  this  favorite  flower.  These  five  and  our  1892 
Book  "Gardening  Illustrated",  with  cover  illustration  of  flower  girl  in  ten 
colors  and  gold,  FOR  OXLY  25c.,  less  than  half  price.  We  make  this 
offer  only  to  secure    your    address  as  above.     Come  with   us   now.     Seed   CAtalosrue 


alone  free. 


VAUGHAN'SSEED  STORE,  ^^ttbi^lto^lt  CHICAGO 

C3riii  rcsijoiuiing  to  tills  advertisement  mention  GlkaXI\o.s. 


1V2 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fkk.  15. 


Contents  of  this  Number.!    Grand  Rapids  LETTUCE 


Absorbents.  Moisture 128 

Ants,  Plants,  and  Bees 131 

Bees  in  Pumpkin Ij* 

Bees  in  Texas 13' 

Bicycles .,■  ...122.m 

Bounty  Not  Desirable 11» 

Canadian  Imbroglio 117 

Covers,  Sealed l^J 

Editor  in  California 134 

End-bar,  V  ing  Sides  133 

Extracted  Honey,  Poor I'^l 

Foul  Brood  in  Nebraska       133 
Frames,  Non-burr  comb  — 119 


Frames.  Closed -end 127 

Glass  Bottle,  Bees  in  128 

Hibtiiiation.by  Elwood. .   .124 

Hniirv  in  ^Vint^ows 132 

Hcjiiev.  Aititioial  Comb 139 

HoiieV,('">t  of 119,121 

l';utnVi>hii) 122 

Rambler's  Hive-hobby 119 

Kambler  in  Salt  Lake  City  129 

Swarms.  Returning 116 

Ventilation.  Upward 128 

Winter  Problem— Pierce...  .125 
Wintering,  by  Mrs.  Axtell...l33 


CIRCULAKS  BECEIVED. 

Catalogues  have  lately  been  received  fv>iii  llu-  following; 

W.  W.  Bliss.  Duarte,  Cal. 

S.  C.  Gorham   York,  Neb. 

Harris  &  Brown,  Laniine.  Mo. 

E.  T.  Flanatran.  Belleville,  111. 

(4.  W.  O  lok.  Spring  Hill,  Kan. 

M.  H.  Hunt,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

G   K   Hubbard.  Fort  Wayne.  Iiid. 

Mrs.  Jennie  Atchley.  Floyd.  Texas. 

Gregory  Bros  &  Son.  Ottumwa.  la. 

St.  Joseph  Apiary  Co.,  St  Joseph,  Mo. 

I  J.  Stringham.  93  Barclav  St.,  New  » '>rK; 

W.  T.  Falconer  Mfg.  Co  .  Jiimestown,  N.  i  . 

We  are  now  printing  a  tine  catalogue  for  L'vering  Brothers, 
Wiota,  la.  We  have  ,ju>t  liiiished  the  annual  price  lists  otE. 
H.  Trurapers.  Bankers.  .Mich.,  and  J.  B.  LaMontagne,  Winter 
Park,  Florida. 

We  have  iust  printed  W.  S.  Pouder's  annual  price  list  of  api- 
arian supplies.  32  pages-17.5  East  Walnut  Street,  Indianapolis, 
Ind  Friend  Ponder  has  also  just  published  a  primer  on  api 
culture,  entitled  ■'  The  Busy  Bees,  and  How  to  Manage  Them." 
It  Is  sold  at  the  nominal  price  of  10  cents,  and  tairly  bristles 
with  good  points  for  these  who  have  had  a  little  experience 
with  bees,  but  who  meet  dirticulties  ot  various  kinds.  It  is 
worth  the  price  to  any  bee-keeper. 


Chicago  Bee-Keepers"  Supply  Co., 

Are  Maniihctarers  of  and  Wholesale  and  Eetail  Dealers  in 
BEE-HIVES,    HONEY   SECTIONS,  FOUNDATION, 

.iNI)  OKNERAL  sri'I'MKS   KOH    HEE-KKErKRS. 

Write  for  circular  with   special  prices.     Agents  wanted. 
Office  68  &70  So.  Canal  St.,  I        TOPEKA 

CHiCACO,  ILL.  1  KANSAS. 

4tfdb  Please  mention  this  paper. 

LOCATIOIT 


Is  a  \)ig  piiint.  ill  siu'pl.ving' 
low  freig-lit  rates.  As  we  sel 
our  circular  of  supplies. 


mods;  ours  g'lves   jou 
low,  you  sliould  have 
l-18db 


I.  J.  STRINGHAM,  92  BARCLAY  ST.,  N.  Y. 

mention  thi^  paper. 


Now  is  the  lime  t 

moiitlis.    We  liave 

the  following  i>rirt 

condition  of  the  iii; 

1  lb.,  postpaid,  dl 

1  lb.  witli  otliei 


I  sow,  and   during-  tlie  next  two 

I  fiood  suppl.v  of  chiiice  seed  at 

,,  wliicli  are  low  for  tlie   jiresent 

rket: 

;  ;i  Ills,  for  iFl.dO. 

ods.  -Z^r:  4  ll)s.  for  tI.IKI. 


i  peck  (15  Ills.),  .K.<sit:   'A  bushel.  ^h.U). 
1  bushel,  no..o(i;  '.i  bushels.  *-'(i.on. 
I5ag-  inchided  in  every  case. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina.  O. 

ipfllirslofM 

Tlie  tlne.st  honey -gatlierers  in  the  land.  Tested, 
$1.50  each.  Select  tested,  $3.00  eacli.  Untested.  $1.00 
each,  or  $9.00  per  doz.  Queens  ready  to  ship  by  April 
first.  I  guarantee  safe  arrival  and  satisfaction,  by 
mail.  Orders  lioolced  now  and  pay  when  you  want 
queens.  J.  W.  TAYLOR, 
4tfdb Ozan,  Ark 

nnill  TnV    L-    Brahina.s,    P.    Cochins,    B.  Ply. 
rlllll    In!     Hocks,   and  S.C.Brown   Legliorns. 
I   uuuiiii      s^.,,d  for  instructive  catalogue. 
4lfdli    O.  E.  SKINNER,  roliiiiibus,  Kani»a«. 


Seed,  35  lbs.  for  $25.00,  or  $1.00  per  single  lb.    Grown 
from  Root's  seed  and 

OUAKAyTJ^'HI)     SmiCTLi      I'lJiJi. 

This  seed  was  grown  especially  for  a  friend,  wlio 
is  unable  to  use  it;  now  we  offer  itsat  the  above 
price  in  order  to  .sell  (juick.  References  given  if 
required.  S.  F.  &  I.  TREGO,  Swedona,  111. 

Choice  Fowls  and  Eggs  for  sale  at 

all  limes     Finely  illustrated  circu- 

GEEK  BROS.,  St.  Marys.  Mo.     21tfdb 


POULTRY 

■         l-.iv   fri...  I 


lar  fret 

We  have  the  latest  hive  out,  and  the  onlv  full 
.stock  of  supplies.    Write  E.  T.  ABBOTT.  4tfdb 

POSITIVELY  by  return  mail  I  will  ship  war- 
ranted purely  mated  Italian  queens  at  $1  each; 
testi  d,  $1.5  I;  select  tested,  yellow  to  the  tip,  $2. 
I  guarantee  salisf action,  and  refer  you  to  A.  I. 
Root,  W.  Z.  Hutchinson,  D.  A.  Jones,  or  my  thou- 
.sands  of  customers. 

W.  H.  LAWS,  Lavaca,  Seb.  Co.,  Ark. 

Sugar-Making  Supplies. 

Maple-sugar-making  time  is  at  hand,  and  some 
are  iniiuiring  the  price  of  sujiplies.  First,  you 
should  supply  yourself  with  that  excellent  book  by 
Prof.  Cook.  "Maple  Susar  and  the  Sugar-Bush;" 
price  35  cents;  by  mail,  38c.  By  studying  this  you 
may  save  many  times  the  prit-e  of  it.  Notwith- 
standing the  advance  in  the  cost  of  tin,  we  are  able 
to  offei-  you  .sap-buckets  and  spiles  and  <-ans  at  last 
year's  prices,  as  below: 


Abovt    { ut   shows  <i  bucket  hui 
with  hinged  tin  co\ei,  ind  manner 


ig  on 
of  em 


wire  loop, 
ptying. 


IMPROVKI)    KFX'OHD   S.\I»-S1>()IIT. 

Record  sap-siHuits,  $l.iui  iier  ]ii();  $s.(  0  per  1000 

10-qt,  buckets.  IC  tin,  $1H01  per  KiO;  IX  tin.  $1S.()0. 

12-(il.  buckets,  IC  tin,  $l7.t  0  per  100;  IX  tin,  $19.00. 

Patent  hinged  covers.  $6  00  per  100.  Reversible 
wood  covers,  $4  5: 1  jier  100.  Wire  loops  for  wood 
pails,  30c  per  100;  for  tin  pails,  25c  per  100.  1-gal. 
SQuare  cans.  50  or  101  in  a  crate,  $12.(10  per  100.  Box- 
ea  10  in  a  lio.v,  for  re-shipment  when  filled,  $1..50  per 
box;  $14.00  for  10  boxes. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Mfedina,  Ohio. 


IS'.fJ 


(ILKAMNciS  IN   lilOK  rUI/rURK. 


Honey  Column. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

DktuiHT.  //iikci/ — No  cIciii;.''!'  ill  piiiT  ^i  ikt  last 
4|ti(italii<iis.  Tin-  siipi'ly  is  ili-ci  rasiiiv.  and  II  ic  iniir- 
kct  will  lie  hare  Ix'fmo  I  lie  iirw  .-loii  is  ica<l\. 

li.  WKdJ-.  -^'Bft^'T.  M  .    II.    1  I  r  NT. 

Foil.  8.  \M\  Uraii.-h,  .Mirli. 

Chicaoo.— H<i/iP(/.  -TlKMU'iiiand  is  not  vvvy  lai'vc 
l)iit   I'linico  coml)   is  st>lljiiK'  at  I5({{ilti;  oilier  ff ratios 
an- slow  at  iiiH'criaiii   v.ilius.    'I'lic  (Icniaml  for  ox- 
Jrai'lcd  is  fair  with  prices  lanjiiiia-  I'roin  ti(f(  7(5*8. 
Uccmciw.  ~'r  Willi  (K'luaiul  tfooil. 

K.  A.  IJuilNKXT. 
161  So.  Water  Si...  Cliicafro.  III. 


B 


EE-HIVESAND  FIXTURES 
FOR  SALE  CHEAP. 


in 

WHOLESALE 

AND 

RETAIL. 

SciiiM'oi-  illii^l  lalril  cilaloKiic.  Sciid  :.'.'»  cents  foi' 
"Aiiiiiloiir  Hi'e-Ke<!|nT."  l).v  J.  VV.  House,  a  liook  du- 
sijfiu'd  for  Itejfimiers,  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of 
price.  .1.  W.  HOUSE  &  CO.,  Mexico,  Mo. 

Please  meiiMun  MiIh  paper. 


Feb.  S. 


CiXfiNXATi.  //i.n)/.  Demand  is  trood  for  ex- 
tracted lioiiey  at  ".(??.8  on  arrival.  <\iml)  honey  is  in 
fair  demand"  al  I :i(r(  I ti  in  a  jobhintr  way,  for  best 
wliite.  /JiT.s-iniJ- in  jj'ood  deniuiid.  at  r.'IS'fl :.'.')  for  good 
to  choice  >ellow  on  arrival.  (has.  F.  Murii, 

Tel).  8.  ('iiiciiinati,  Ohio. 

Kansas  rn-v.—Zfojicj/.  — Demand  poor.  Supply 
liirg-e  of  comb,  l-lb.  fancy  white,  lo;  dark,  8^9.  Ex- 
tracted, lifrht  demaud.  supply  lijiht;  white,  7@7>^; 
■dark,  .t(^(!.     Bfcsitxix,  none  on  ihe  market. 

HaMISI.IN  &  I5EARSS, 

Feb.  .s.  -.U  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Saint  Louis.  Hokcj/.  -Market  tame:  little  In- 
■quiry.  CVmib  M  to  12.  Extracted,  cans,  (!'/4@7. 
Barrels,  4i4@5i.i.     Beesivax,  piime,  2rt. 

Feb.  8.  D.  G.  Turr  Cko.  Co., 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

S.\N  Fkancisco.—  H'iney  —  Honey  remains  very 
firm,  as  the  prospects  foi- next  season,  at  the  pi-esent 
time,  are  i)oor.  We  quote:  extracted  honey,  6@6JiC; 
and  comb  honey,  Mb.  11@13;  2-lb..  S(»li.  Bieswax, 
scarce,  24fa.2B.  Schacht,  Lemcke  &  Steineh, 

Jan.  23.  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

PoKTLANi).  — 7i  i/ieiy.— The  honey -trade  has  been 
^somewhat  dull  since  tlie  holidays,  and  prices  foi- 
-.•omb  are  not  s)  stitf  as  they  were,  altlioug-h  stocks 
generally  are  li^ht.  Fancy  wiiite,  1-lb.,  sell  to-day 
at  lt)@l7":  darker  {grades.  13@.15.  Two-pounds,  Ic  per 
lb.  less  all  around.  White  extracted,  8c;  liyht  am- 
ber, 7c.    Beeswax,  not  quotable. 

Jan.  11.                                  Lew,  Spiegl  &  Co., 
Portland,  Or. 

Kansas  Citv.— HoHej/.— The  market  is  well  sup- 
plied with  both  comb  and  extracted,  selling-  slow. 
1-lb.  white  comb,14(gil5;  dark,  s(<^'  12;  white  extracted, 
■7X;  dark,  .5(®6.  Bee^u'ax,  light  si i| (ply,  tfood  demand 
iit  2:i@26.  Clemons,  Mason  &  Co., 

Feb.  8.  Kan-sas  City,  Mo. 

At^BANV.— H(/nev.— The  demand  for  comb  honey 
■continues  lifrht.  and  the  supply  is  ample.  Plxtracted 
in  jyrood  demand  with  a  small  stock  on  the  market. 
We  quote:  White-clover,  1-lb..  llfT/ 1:^;  mixed,  lil@ll. 
Buckwheat,  8®l(l.    Extracted,  lifrht,  7^.8;  dark,  6@7. 

Feb.  11.                           Chas.  McCiM.oCH&Co., 
Albany,  N.  Y. 

New  York.— H')?tejy.— Little  demand  for  comb 
honev,witli  suflicient  stock.  We  quote:  Comb  honey, 
white,  1-lb..  Vmii;  off  grades,  11;  buckwheat,  9. 
Extracted,  basswood  and  clover,  7@7>^;  California, 
7@7J.  Southern,  6.5@70c  g-allon.  Beeswax,  scari-e 
and  advancinfr,  2S(r/2!t. 

Feb.  9.  liii.uKETH  Bros.  &  Segelken. 

28  &  :i(l  West  Broadway,  New  Y'ork. 


For  Sale. — California  2-lb.  section  comb  honey  at 
12c  per  lb.  Wis.  and  Mich.  1-lb.  section  candied 
comb  honey  at  lie  per  lb.  If  you  want  honey  of 
any  description,  write  us.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co.. 

4-.5-6d  189  So.  Water  St ..  ( 'hicag-o.  111. 


1892 


A  PQ^LTRV 


Called  "The  Chiekeii  Busi- 
ness, and  How  to  .Make  it 
I'ay."  Tells  till  about  it. 
Dl'^t'M^  I'inel\  illustrated,  |ii  act  ical,  and  orijri- 
llWVyrX  I,;, I,  |.,.i,.(.  ,-,11  cents,  postpaid.  An  il- 
^~^"~  lust  rated  I'ircular  free,  {rivin>r  particu- 
lars al)out  Ihe  book,  and  prices  of  pure-bred  fowls 
and  eg:gs  for  sale  hv  the  author,  4tfdb 

H.  B.  CEER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 


Wants  or  Excl^anje  Department. 

ASll'l'LV  DE.ALER  wants    prices  on  sections, 
foundiit  ion,  and  smokers.    W.H.  Putnam,  Itfdb 
River  Palls,  Pierce  Co.,  Wis. 

WANTED.— To  trade  a  laifre  lot  of  Heddon  hives, 
nicely  made  and  frood  as  new;  some  with  combs 
complete  foi-  honey,  now  or  after  crop  of  '92.  Write 
for  particulars.    Acldri'ss  D.  S.  Hall, 

2tfdb South  Cabot,  Vt. 

ly  ANTED. —An  apiarist  to  tend  190  colonies  bees; 

Vy    foundation-mill,  2  extractors,  and  200  lbs.  comb 
furnished;    also  wagon  and  team.    Will  give  one- 
half  bees  (iiicreasei  and  one-half  honey. 
3-4d  E.  Y.  Tehral,  Cameron,  Texas. 

WANTED.— To  exchang:ea  »ew  22-cal.  Stevens  ri- 
fle, with  g-lobe  sights,   cost  $20.00,  for  an  incu- 
bator; must  he  in  No.  1  condition.  4d 
J.  S.  Waknek,  Medina,  O. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  $a5.00  saw-table.  Stover's 
ideal  feed-mill  and  horse-power  combined,  and 
a  lot  of  job  type.    Want  supplies  and  honey. 
2tfdb  O.  H.  Hvatt,  Shenandoah,  Page  Co.,  la. 


WANTED.— To  exchange,  red  raspberry  and  Ijlack- 
berry  plants  for  pure  Italian   queens,  or  eggs 
from  pure  poultry.  E.  R.  Miller, 

4-.M  Garden  City,  Cass  Co.,  Mo. 


WANTED.— For  1892,  as  learners,  two  young  men, 
brisk,  honest,  and  temperate.  Can  back  in- 
struction by  iii)  years  of  active  experience  in  apiary. 
4-5-6  S.  I.  Freeborn,  Richland  Centre,  Wis." 


w 


ANTED.— A  man  to  handle  my  bees  the  coming 
season.  Filmore  Cole,  Lima,  O.    4tfdb 


WANTED.— To   exchange  a  flne  target  gun    tVjr 
foundation. 

D.  Bennett,  Union  Furnace,  Ohio. 


W 


J  ANTED. —Situation  in  an  apiary,  a  single  young- 
man  of  four  years' experience.  "    4-.5d 
A.  C.  Fuhrman,  Plea.sant  Home,  O. 

WILL  exchange  Italian   queens  for  Brown  Leg- 
hoi'ii  fowls  or  eggs.           W.  C.  Gathright, 
4d Toccopola,  Miss. 

U/ILL  exchange  lot  .5(1  x  143  feet,  well  located,  in 
Vt      Larned  City,  for  high-grade  bicycle,  typewriter, 
or  Barnes  foot-power  machinery.      A.  H.  Duff, 
4d  Larned,  Kansas. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  60  straight  brood-combs 
ill   L.  frames  at  12  cents  each   for  supplies  in 
flat.        E.  1).  Barton.  Flast  Hampton,  Mid.  Co..  Ct. 


Improve    your    stock  !     G(,'t    the 
best  1       Beautiful     jellow     Italian 
(Queens  from  stock   bred   for   busi- 
ness,   as    well    as    beauty.     Orders  i 
booked   now.    1^48  queens  sold,  and  never  heard  of  i 
but  two  misniated.    Will  be  ready  to   tiegin  ship-  j 
ping    bv   Mav  1st.    Warranted  (jueen,   ^I.IK);    6  for 
-54..")".      ■  '  W.  H.  l..\  WS,  Lavac-a,  Ark.    l-2d 


WANTED.— At  once,  a  man  to  go  to  Lake  Wortli, 
Dade  Co.,  Florida.  One  who  is  comi)etent  to 
rear  que^jiisaiid  take  full  managementof  an  apiary. 
State  age,  experience,  and  salary  exjjected  per  year. 
Harry  Stites,  M.  D.,  l.'.OO  Sixth  St.,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 


yiT  ANTED.— By  young  man,  agreeable  outdoor  em- 
\)  ployment  during  summer,  in  a  pleasant, 
healtliful  locality.  Have  a  little  knowledge  of  bee- 
keeping.        Address  H.  B.,  Box  1.51,  Bellevue,  Pa. 


114 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feh.  15. 


Free 


28-piig-e  RESTRICTOK  book.  How- 
to  avoid  swarms,  brace-combs,  and  losses 
in  winter.  How  to  get  bees  into  sections 

inoneliour;  and  rear  queens  in   full  colonies,  etc.. 

same  old  fixtures.         C.  W.  D.vyton.  Clinton,  AN  is. 

24--23db  Please  mention  this  paper 

EARLV    QUEEITS, 

FKOM  our  brancli  Ajnary  in  Texas,  whicli  is 
three  miles  from  anv  other  bees,  and  none  but 
tlie  best  FIVE -BANDED  Ooldeii  lialiaii 
QiieeUK  used  to  rear  Queens  and  Drones.  Our 
bees  aretlie  g-entlest,  best  woi-kers.  and  most  beau- 
tiful bees  known.  Safe  arrival  and  eiitln-  satis- 
faction g-uaranteed.  one  Wari-atUed  Queen,  March 
and  April,  $1.2.5;  6  for  $6.00.  If  you  want  the  best, 
send  for  our  circular  at  once.  l-24db 

S.  F.  <e  I.  TRBGO,  SwEDONA.  luu. 
In  wrltlnR  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

BEE^HIVEST^^TIONS,  ETC. 

We  make  the  best  goods  and  sell  them  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world.  ,  ,       ^  ..., 

Our  goods  are  known  as  the  best  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Europe.  .      ,.  .. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  calalouueund  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS  CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  Itfdb 


THE     JflNUAl^Y 


Colonies 


REVIECa 

Is  now  out.  It  contains  articles  from  W.  F.  Clarke, 
and  Ernest  Hoot,  upon  "Writing  for  the  Bee  Jour- 
nals." R.  L.  Taylor  shows  how  much  it  co.sts,  or 
inniht  to  cost,  to  produce  comb  honey.  Mr.  S.  Cor- 
neil  explains  how,  with  but  little  trouble  and  ex- 
l>ense,  any  one  may  know  if  his  bee-cellar  is  too 
damp.  R.  C.  Aikin  furnishes  a  long,  interesting  ac- 
count of  '"Colorado,  its  Soil,  Climate,  and  Alfalfa 
Farming,  and  how  the  latter  fuinislies  Hone}'." 
The  inimital>le  Hasty  bejiins  in  this  issue  what  is  to 
Ilea  seiit's  of  ai'ticles  entitled:  "Comments  on  a 
Bej;iinier's  Day  -  Book."  This  "Daj'-Iiook"  was 
kei'T  by  Mr.  Hasty  when  be  first  began  Ijee-keeping-. 
E.  T.  Hanagan  tells  how  he  has  bridged  over  poor 
seasons.  Most  of  the  articles  are  emliellished  with 
a  portrait  of  1  he  author.  There  are  the  usual  ex- 
tracts and  edit(jrials,  including  an  account  of  the 
trip  to  Albany,  and  a  "leader"  upon  the  special 
topic  for  the  February  issue,  viz.,  "Grading-  Hon- 
ey." If  you  would  like  to  see  this  number,  send  ten 
cents,  and  with  it  will  be  .sent  the  December  num- 
ber ;  and  whenthe  February  number  is  out,  that 
too  will  be  sent.  The  Review  is  $100  a  year.  The 
book,  "Advanced  Bee  Culture,"  is  50  cts.  Both  for 
$1.2.5.  All  new  subscribers  for  1892  will  receive  tlie 
Decemlier,  1891,  issue  free.    Address 

BEE-KEEPERS'   REVIEW, 
lotfdb  Flint,  Mich. 

[^"In  responding  to  this  adverti.<eiiient  mention  Oi.EA.viXGa. 


Of  Italians    RECORD    BOOKS 


Are  wintering  well,  and,  as  usual,  I  will  sell  a  lim 
ited  number  of  them  to  reduce  stock  to  the  required 
number.  Each  hive  sliippxl  to  my  customers  will 
contain  a  full  prosperous  colony  of  Italian  bees, 
with  a  last  year's  tested  queen,  on  eight  Hoffman 
frames  of  brood  and  honey.  As  ray  main  object  in 
handling  bees  is  honey,  we  raise  all  our  queens  in 
full  colonies  from  cells  built  under  the  swarming 
impulse,  using  the  choicest  and  most  profitable 
stock  to  breed  from. 

Safe  arrival  guaranteed  in  May  and  first  half  of 
June.    For  terms  please  address 


3-8db 


JULIUS  HOFFIVIAIM, 

CANAJOHARIE,  N.  Y. 


Show  that  requecning,  early  in  the  spring,  colonies 
having  idd  wnrn-unt  queens,  more  than  duuhlen  the 
yield  (It  surpluii.  and  tends  to 

PREVENT  SWARMING. 

I  make  a  specialty  of  contract  ordeis  for  queens 
of  the  Leather-back  strain  of  Italians.  Queens 
readv  to  ship  Isl  to  luth  of  March. 

A.  F.  BROWN, 

HUNTINGTON,  PL'TNAM  CO.,  FLA. 

4-.')d  Ag-ent  Soutliern  E.xpress  Co. 

|^"Iii  respond! lit;  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleaninqs. 


egrin  responding  to  this  advenisenient  men 


UL.l!;At<LNU». 


Good  Queens  Cheap. 

300  tested  Italian  queens,  raised  last  season,  for 
.sale  at  $1;  $10  per  doz.  A  few  hybrids  at  25f  each. 
Tliev  will  be  shipped  about  June  ].5th  to  35th,  or 
later  if  desired.  Have  order  b(»oked  now  and  send 
monev  when  vou  want  them.  My  bees  have  been 
HRKO  Fttk  KI'siS t'.'^s.  and  these  are  bar- 
gains.    Nuclei  and  full  colonies  at  very  low  rates. 

Send  3.5c  for  sami>le  liy  mail  of 

THE  UTILITY  BEE-ESCAPE. 

Thoroughly  tested,  praclical  and  cheap.  It  cleans 
them  out  and  they  stay  out.  Any  one  ,--an  make  it. 
Get  a  sample  ;ind  make  your  own.  4tfdb 

J-  A.  GREEU,  Day-boxi,  111. 

C^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gi.eanings 


SUPPLIES 


RETAIL 

—  SXI) 

WHOLESALE. 


Everylliliig  used  in  tlie  .tpiary. 

Gi'(  atest  variety  and  lar;;-  ^l  stock 
in  the  West.  New  catalig.  .54  illustrated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E  EEETOHMEE  EED  OAK,  IOWA. 

In  writuiK  advertisei^  pka^t^  mention  tins  paper. 

FnilNnATinN  *^"*  sections  are  my 
UU raUH  I  lUil  Specialties.  No.  1  V-groove 
Sections  at  ^^J.(HI  per  thousand.  Si)ecial  prices 
to  dealers.  Si'nd  for  free  price  list  of  every 
thing  needed  in  the  apiarv. 
3tfdb  M.  H.  HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

I^"In  resoondiner  to  tlii- .-iilv.-r.  i-ement  rii.nli.in  (4LE.\NiNas. 

Send  for  Price  l,i.it  to 

R.  E.  HARBAUGH. 
Ufamifr  and   Healer  in    Hee- Keepers'  Supplies. 

Breeder    of    Italian    and    Carniolan    Bees    and 

Queens,  Light  and  Dark  Colored  Ferrets. 

25th  and  Clay  Sts.,      -        -       -        St.  Joseph.  Mo. 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 


We  guarantee  it  to  be  tlie  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  doz- 
en, you  do  not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  .sat- 
isfactory in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  within  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  raonej'. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  iJostpaid,  with   full  direc- 
tions, 20c;  per  dozen,  $3.2.5.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb    R.  <£  E.  C.  PORTER,  LEWISTOWN,  ILL. 


tyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkanikgs 


•  DELVoTED. 

•ANCHoNL^ 
'ARDHOMEL- 


e^'liltOOr- 
f^EDiMA  Ohio 


Vol.  XX. 


FEBRUARY  15,  1892. 


No.  4. 


Stray  Straws 

FROM      DR.    C.    C.    MILLER. 

Pi'Xic  HKKs  arc  tluoatciiiiig  a  libfi  suift  in 
England. 

Aij'auoh's  t^koket  is  now  ?2.  I'd  liU<!  to 
know,  but— no  uso  trj'ing.  I  couldn't  kocp  it 
sec  rot. 

The  IiJ.ixois  State  society  ent(>r<>d  an  nar- 
nost  in-otest  against  opening  tlio  World's  Fail' 
on  Sunday. 

Tiihee-sixteenths  of  an  incli  is  advocated 
as  a  bee-spaco  by  no  less  anthoiMty  tlian  J.  B. 
Hall,  of  Canada. 

That's  HKiiiT.  Mi'.  Editor.  Keep  A.  I.  down 
in  Florida  and  Ciilia  till  settled  warm  weather, 
then  lie  won't  spring  dwindle. 

Pkogrkssive  Bee-kep:pp:r  is  the  new  name 
oi  \\w  Missouri  Bec-liceper.  It  can't  progress 
any  further  in  getting  up  a  neat,  clear  page. 

Now  Tii.\T  ther<'  seems  a  general  tendency 
toward  4'4x4i4  as  a  standard  section.it  seems 
loo  bad  to  start  up  43'.<x4J^2  as  a  desirable  size. 

So  it's  a  few.  and  not  the  mass  of  bee-keep- 
ers tills  side  the  line  that  are  making  trouble 
with  tlie  Canadians.  T  wonder,  however,  if  those 
few  are  not  the  other  side  the  line. 

Fx'iiTMEi!  xoirrii.  say  in  Wisconsin,  although 
colder,  may  bi'  a  safer  jilace  for  outdoor  winter- 
ing than  in  Northern  Illinois.  The  greater 
amount  of  snow  there  makes  it  safer  for  the 
bees. 

Bi.ACK  HEE8  are  best,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
White  Mountain  Apiai-ist.  and  Italians  are 
being  boomed  by  editors  and  others.  But  isn't 
it  a  rather  long-continued  boom.  Bro.  Ellin- 
wood  ■? 

The  two  Caxadiaxs,  Cornell  and  Jones,  are 
having  a  lively  tussle  over  bacillus  alvei.  Jones 
says  it's  in  honey.  Cornell  says  "'no."  There's 
lots  of  grit  and  ability  on  both  sides.  May  the 
truth  win. 

Color,  in  the  scale  of  marking  the  Italian 
bee.  as  adopted  by  the  North  American  conven- 
tion, counts  5  in  a  scale  of  1(X).  Doesn't  it  gen- 
erally count  about  .50?  I  think  there  were 
some  level  heads  at  Albany. 

Ceelarixg  has  one  advantage— greater  se- 
curity against  thieves.  Two  combs  have  been 
taken  out  of  one  of  my  outside  hives  this  win- 
ter, and  a  Wisconsin  bee-keeper  has  had  13 
hives  of  bees  stolen  within  a  few  years. 

Alfalfa  fields  don't,  one  tenth  of  them, 
yield  honey,  according  to  R.  C.  Aikiii  in  a  valu- 
able article  in  the  Review.  They're  cut  for  hay 
before  full  bloom,  and  it's  only  fields  left  for 
seed,  or  scattering  plants,  that  yield  the  honey. 


Foul  Huooi)  may  or  may  not  be  as  plentiful 
as  it  has  be(^n,  but  it  exists  in  Illinois  where  its 
proprietors  defy  any  interference:  and  if  it 
should  break  out  to-morrow  near  you.  you'd 
wish  a  law  to  meet  the  case  had  Ijeen  made  a 
year  ago. 

Dadant's  method  of  rendeiing  old  combs, 
as  given  at  bottom  of  p.  20,  is  all  right  as  far  as 
it  goe.s— mash  'em  up  line  when  cold— but  a  very 
important  part  is  left  out.  6'offA"  in  water,  and 
then  the  broken  cocoons  can't  absorb  a  good 
share  of  the  wax. 

Hox.  EiKiENE  Secok  edits  the  '"bee  column" 
of  The  Fanner  and  Breeder,  of  Cedar  Rapids, 
lie  knows  enough  to  make  a  good  editor,  besides 
being  president  of  the  Iowa  Stat<'  Society  and 
of  the  North  American,  and  a  really  nice  man 
at  the  same  time. 

I'm  glad  that  bright  bee-keeper,  Capt.  Heth- 
erington,  couldn't  stand  it  to  keep  in  his  shell 
any  longer,  but  had  to  go  to  the  convention  at 
Albany.  But  I've  never  blamed  him  one  bit. 
I'd  rather  be  a  recluse  than  to  run  a  free  tavern 
with  an  information-bureau  attachment. 

A  REE- SPACE— formerly  it  was  ^g"  of  an  inch, 
now  it  is  scant  3€.  But  doesn't  it  make  a  little 
difference  where  it  is?  Any  horizontal  space 
over  the  bees  needs  to  be  less  than  a  perpendic- 
ular space  to  one  side.  Isn't  the  old  ^^  space 
about  right  still,  between  end-bars  and  end  of 
hive? 

The  Guide  darkly  hints  that  the  life-members 
of  the  N.  A.  B.  K.  A.  expect  to  have  control  of 
the  World's  Fair  e.xhibits.  and  that  outsiders 
may  have  trouble  getting  their  traps  on  show. 
First  I'd  heard  of  it.  But  say,  friend  Hill,  if 
that's  so.  bring  on  your  things;  I'll  promise  to 
get  you  in. 

That  drlxk  on  page  8  troubles  J.  A.  Green. 
I  think  that  drink's  all  right,  Jimmie.  The 
yeast  is  to  make  it  good.  So  it  is  in  bread.  The 
effect  of  a  quart,  or,  for  that  matter,  a  gallon  of 
it,  after  it  is  "good  for  use,"  would  be  just  the 
same  as  so  much  water  sweetened  with  honey. 
Did  you  thought  it  was  'tosticatin'? 

The  Dadaxt  hive  is  very  popular  in  France. 
The  apicultural  congress  at  Paris  decided  to 
change  the  size  of  the  frame  from  l()..5x  10.6  to 
1.5.7x11.8  inches  inside  measure.  Mr.  Dadant, 
in  Revue  Internationale,  very  properly  protests 
against  having  the  name  "  Dadant  frame"  ap- 
plied to  any  thing  so  different  from  what  he 
approvi's. 

Foul  brood,  where  it  has  been  killed  out 
and  reappears  again,  F.  Morel-Fredel,  in  the 
French  Revue,  thinks,  may  have  been  preserved 
by  wasps,  bumble-bees,  or  hoi'nets,  from  which 
the  bees  are  infected  anew.  lie  also  thinks  the 
disease  may  be  acquired  by  sound  bees  work- 
ing on  flowers  which  have  be<Mi  visited  by  fonl- 
broodv  bees. 


116 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fkh.  1.>. 


( "ri.ADSTONK  says:  "  1  have  always  taken  great 
delight  in  my  garden,  and  do  not  think  I  shall 
ever  be  old  enoiigii  to  lose  my  interest  in  seeing 
things  grow.  If  the  season  is  propitious  I  fre- 
quently spend  the  half-hour  before  breakfast 
among  my  flowers."  T  wonder  if  that  has  some- 
thing to  do  with  his  vigorous  mental  powers  in 
his  83d  year. 

QuEKN-EXCi.uDEKS  Under  surplus-chambers, 
a  correspondent  of  the  B.  B.  J.  thinks,  are  not 
needed  over  the  whole  surface  of  the  hive,  but 
only  at  the  front  and  back  end,  and  a  thin 
board  over  the  rest.  He  says  the  bees  don't 
go  up  through  the  middle  of  the  brood -nest, 
and  the  full-sized  excluder  gives  much  more 
room  than  is  needed  for  bees  to  go  up.  Some- 
how I'm  afraid  the  bees  will  not  work  quite  so 
well  over  the  board:  but  actual  experiment  only 
would  settle  it. 


KETURNING  SWARMS  TO  THE  PARENT  HIVE. 


DADAMT     EXPLAINS     HOW   TO  DO     IT    AND     NOT 
HAVE   THEM   SWARM   OUT  AGAIN. 


Fnend  Root: — The  inclosed  letter  from  . I.  S. 
Willard  explains  itself.  Mr.  W.  desires  that 
we  should  give  in  Gleanings  the  particulars 
of  ovir  plan  of  returning  the  swarms  to  the  par- 
ent colonies  to  keep  down  increase.  You  will 
remember  that  this  was  mentioned  in  Glean- 
ings for  1891,  page  .541.  and  called  forth  a  num- 
ber of  inquiries  from  bee-keepers  in  different 
localities. 

Messrs. Dadant  &  Sun;— In  describing-  your  plan  of 
keeping-  down  increase  l)y  reluming-  tlie  swarm  in 
48  hours,  you  do  not  say  where  to  hive  the  swarm  in 
order  to  save  tlie  bees  that  have  tlieir  new  home 
located;  and,  also,  would  you  hive  them  in  an  emp- 
ty hive  on  starters  ?  A  friend  of  mine  wanted 
me  to  write  you  for  particulars  about  tliat  plan  of 
returning:  tlie  swarms;  and,  in  fact,  I  tlioug-lit  I 
should  Ulje  it  myself  too,  and  very  likely  several  of 
the  readers  of  Gleanings  would  like  to  have  you  de- 
scribe the  plan  more  minutely;  and  if  y  >}i  tliink  so, 
you  can  write  a  letter  to  Gleanings  at  your  leisure. 

Bedford,  Iowa,  Feb..  1S93.  .7.  S.  Willard. 

We  wish  to  say,  first,  that  this  plan  is  not  of 
our  originating.  We  saw  it  lirst  in  the  Cours 
(V Apiculture,  of  Hamet,  published  in  Paris 
years  ago.  Hamet  advised  this  plan  more  par- 
ticularly for  the  secondary  swarms.  In  those 
days  of  box-hive  bee-keeping  there  was  but 
little  need  of  returning  primai'y  swarms  to  their 
colony.  But  we  tried  this  method  on  primary 
swarms,  and  with  good  success.  We  notice, 
also,  that  a  number  of  apiarists  have  tried  it 
the  past  summer  with  fair  results.  Hamet 
says:  "'The  swarm  which  is  to  be  i-eturned  to 
the  parent  colony  should  be  hived  like  any  oth- 
er swarm,  and  placed  as  close  to  the  old  colony 
as  practicable.  The  next  day,  or  the  day  follow- 
ing, the  swarm  should  be  shaken  in  front  of  the 
parent  hive,  just  as  is  done  in  uniting  several 
swarms  together.  They  should  mwer  be  re- 
turned the  same  day,  as  they  would  surely 
start  out  again  in  24  hours.  When  they  are 
returned  after  a  lapse  of  time  there  is  a  fight 
between  the  queens,  if  the  young  ones  are 
hatched,  or  the  returning  queen  destroys  the 
others  in  the  cells." 

Collin,  in  his  book.  "  ic  Guide  du  proprie- 
taire  d^Ahellles"  advises  the  apiarist  to  place 
the  swarm  on  the  old  stand  and  revnove  the  old 
colony  to  a  ncnv  location,  wailing  till  the  queens 
ai-e all  hatched  before  bringing  it  back.  But  this 
method  has  one  objection — the  swai-m  remains 
too  long  in  the  new  hive,  and  raises  brood  in  it, 
and  this  bi'ood  is  practically  lost. 

The  plan  that  we  followed,  and  which  we 
recommend,  is  to  hive  the  swarm  into  an  empty 
hive  with  frames  and  guides  of  foundation,  ex- 


actly as  if  it  were  intended  to  be  kept,  and  to 
place  it  near  the  old  colony.  In  24  to  48  hours, 
shake  all  the  bees  in  front  of  the  old  colony. 
The  combs  that  have  been  built  in  the  nu-an- 
while  will  never  come  amiss,  and  the  few  eggs 
laid  will  hurt  nothing.  It  would  be  still  better 
to  remove  the  old  colony  from  its  stand,  and 
return  it  when  removing  the  swarm,  and  also 
to  destroy  the  queen  that  has  the  least  value — 
the  queen  of  the  swarm  if  very  old,  or  the 
young  queen  if  the  old  one  is  valuable.  In  fact, 
it  is  better  that  the  old  queen  should  remain,  as 
bees  are  more  likely  to  swarm  with  an  unini- 
pregnated  queen  than  with  a  laying  one. 

We  believe  that  this  method  prevents  further 
swarming,  only  when  the  hive  is  in  such  con- 
dition that  it  would  not  have  sent  forth  a  sec- 
ond swarm.  The  issue  of  the  first  swarm  puts 
an  end  to  the  swarming  fever,  the  supplemen- 
tary queen-cells  are  destroyed  by  the  young 
queen,  and  one  of  the  two  queens  vanishes  in  a 
duel  when  the  swarm  is  returned.  Unless  the 
season  is  very  favorable,  the  time  for  swarming 
passes  away  before  the  bees  find  out  that  they 
have  been  fooled  by  the  apiarist,  especially  if 
he  has  provided  ample  room  for  their  surplus 
honey. 

As  mostof  our  bee-keeping  friendswell  know, 
we  are  no  longer  comb-honey  producers.  For  a 
number  of  years  we  have  raised  nothing  but  ex- 
tracted honey,  and  ther(>fore  have  no  need  of 
this  method  of  prev(Miting  increase,  for  (Dr. 
Miller  to  the  contrai-y  notwithstanding)  in  an 
apiary  pi-operly  run  for  extracted  honey,  there 
is  no  swarming  to  speak  of.  Every  time  that 
we  have  had  swarming  to  any  extent  it  was 
when  we  had  infringed  upon  the  I'ules  that  re- 
quire that  a  colony  of  bees  be  supplied  with  a 
sufificient  amountof  empty  combs  ahead  of  need, 
during  the  entire  honey  season.  It  may  be  of 
interest  to  oui'  readers  to  know  how  we  found 
out  the  value  of  Hamet's  advice  on  the  I'eturn 
of  the  first  swarm  to  the  parent  colony.  It  was 
in  1870.  We  had  a  number  of  colonies  of  bees  in 
the  apiary  of  our  friend  A.  Daugherty,  residing 
in  Rocky-Run  township,  some  14  miles  from  us, 
in  a  very  good  honey- producing  district.  The 
season  was  a  rushing  one.  and  we  were  behind. 
The  bees  were  swarming  wherevei-  they  had 
not  been  provided  with  a  large  stock  of  empty 
combs.  Friend  Daugherty,  who  had  some  80 
hives  of  bees,  including  ouis.  found  himself 
short  of  empty  hives,  and  began  harvesting  the 
swarms  in  any  kind  of  l)ox.  in  nail-kegs,  in 
fiour-bari-els.  When  oui'  junior  reached  his 
apiary  with  a  wagonload  of  empty  hives,  there 
were  .some  12  hives  full  of  bees,  that  were  not 
hives  at  all.  So  we  began  transferring  the  bees 
out  of  these  boxes  into  the  movable  -  frame 
hives,  by  shaking  them  out  in  front.  The  bees 
had  been  hived  from  one  to  three  days  previous- 
ly, and  had  but  very  little  comb  biiilt  in  their 
odd-shaped  homes.  Strange  to  say,  they  were 
so  ill  satisfied  with  the  unceremonious  transfer 
that  every  swarm  left  the  new  hives  provided 
for  them,  and  went  back  home  to  their  parent 
hive.  None  of  these  hives  swarmed  •subse- 
quently; and  as  the  latter  part  of  the  season 
was  unfavorable  they  were  the  hives  that  made 
the  best  crop. 

We  hope  the  above  is  a  sufficient  explanation, 
and  that  Mr.  Willard  and  others  will  find  in  it 
enough  to  pay  them  for  the  trouble  of  pciusing 
it.  Dadant  i^  Son. 

Hamilton,  III..  Feb..  1802. 

[If  we  understand  the  matter  the  whole  se- 
cret is  this:  The  hiving  of  the  swarm  in  a  sep- 
arate hive  beside  the  old  one  and  allowing  them 
to  nmiain  there  for  a  day  oi'  two  gives  sufficient 
time  for  the  bees  of  both  colonies  to  feed  them- 
selves   as    belonging    to    separate    households. 


IS'.t'.' 


(iLKAXINcJS  IN   KKK  (l   l/rrUK. 


117 


TIh'M  w  lull  tlit>yarr  miitcd  thcrt-  is  w  ar  w  il  li 
lh«'  qiit't'ii.  and  tlic  swanniiijj  fever  is  fornoltcii. 
This  is  il  valiialile  iiein.  ami  we  sluuild  like  to 
jrel  re|)(irts  from  others.] 


THAT   CANADIAN    IMBROGLIO. 

I>i;.    MlI.I.KK    OKFKKS    .SOMK     NT'I-     I'Ol!    1111'.    oN- 
lAKIl)    COMMITTKK    TO    (   KACK. 

Notw  illistaiuliii.si  the  faet  tiiat  1  am  siiifiled 
oiit  as  one  of  the  evil  few  who  were  anxious  tit 
oust  Canadians  from  the  North  American  l>(>o- 
keepers"  .Vssoeiatioii.  the  aetioii  taken  by  the 
Ontario  liee-keepers"  Assofiat.ion  came  to  m(^ 
with  a  sni'iirise  as  niter  as  it  was  painful. 
What!  desire  to  be  disassociateii  fi-om  that  l>ody 
of  be(>-keepers  whiidi  includes  in  its  numbers 
many  whom  I  highly  esteem,  men  whom  I  love 
as  brotliersi  Have  I  so  soon  forjjotten  the  kind- 
ly spirit  sliown  by  the  Canadians  at  thi'  Toronto 
convention'.'  If.  in  n>ality.  1  had  any  desire  to 
remain  separate  from  them  iieieafter,  then  I 
should  certainly  liave  no  word  to  otTer  in  reply. 
Or.  if  the  action  of  the  Ontario  were  simply  a 
withdrawal  because  fui'ther  atliliatioii  were 
considered  unpleasant  or  uni)rolitable.  then  I 
could  only  regri't  the  loss  and  submit  in  silence. 
Kut  when  false  charges  are  made,  even  if  they 
arise  entirely. from  misconception,  then,  for  the 
sake  of  those  whose  good  opinion  I  value.  I  may 
be  allowed  a  reidy. 

Tile  first  cliarge  made  is  the  feeling  "on  the 
part  of  some  I'liited  States  bee-keeper.s  to 
regard  and  speak  of  the  North  American  as  a 
national  institution."  It  is  true,  that  the  soci- 
ety was  often  called  the '•National"  for  short, 
aiid  I  think  that  is  all  the  evidence  there  was 
of  such  feeling,  or.  rather,  of  such  supposed 
feeling,  for  I  am  sure  that  for  one  I  never  had 
anv  other  thought  than  considering  the  Cana- 
dians just  as  much  brethren  as  the  Georgians 
or  Texans.  Looking  over  the  pages  of  the  his- 
tory of  the  society,  characterized  by  Rev.  W. 
F.  Clarke  as  that  "admirable  compend"  for 
which  ■■  we  all  owe  a  debt  f)f  gratitude  to  our 
friend  Thomas  (J.  Newman."  I  find  it  called  the 
'•  National  Society"  in  the  minutes  of  1878:  and 
in  1SS4  a  motion  seconded  by  a  Canadian,  S.  T. 
Pettit.  appoints  a  committee  "  to  consider  what 
moditicatioiis,  if  any.  should  be  made  in  the 
NiitiiDKtl  .Soci(!ty."  "'Rev.  \Vm.  F.  Clarke,  of 
Ontario,  spoke  at  some  length  on  this  resolution. 
.  .  .  He  said  it  was  first  intendcid  to  call  tlu^ 
society  by  the  name  'National,'  but  at  his  re- 
quest it  was  called  'North  American,'  so  as  to 
include  Canada.  It  was  often  called  the  "  Na- 
tional Society."  l)ut  it  would  be  inoni  proper  to 
call  it  the  International,  for  such  was  its  real 
character,  and  such  he  hop(;d  it  would  con- 
tinue.'" In  all  this  it  hardly  appears  that  tlie 
term.  "■National '"  was  looked  ii|>on  as  any  thing 
betokening  any  wrong  feeling,  and  it  is  hardly 
possible  that  Mr.  Clark<!  so  considered  it.  As 
corroborating  this  view,  Mr.  Clarke,  in  a  written 
address  at  the  convention  of  ISiio.  said.  "  I  do 
not  know  of  any  ill-feeling  that  rankUrs  among 
us.""  So  I  think  it  looks  itretly  clear  that.  .Mr. 
Clarke  liimself  bcdng  judge,  there  was  nothing 
to  complain  of  up  to  the  convention  at  Keokuk 
in  18<)0. 

It  may  be  well,  also,  to  mention  that  at  Co- 
lumbus, in  1888,  the  name  of  tlui  .society  was 
changed  to  "  International  American  Hee-Asso- 
ciation."  .\s  iif)  other  countries  tiian  the  United 
States  and  Canada  were  represented  in  the  soci- 
ety, it  certainly  does  not  .seem  that  tlie  adoption 
of  the  name  International  contemplated  driving 
out  the  Canadians.  Moreover,  the  adoption  of 
this  name  was  at  the  instigation  of  Thomas  G. 
Newman,  who  is  held  up  as  one  of  the  bad  few. 


'I'wo  yeai^  later  the  ii;iMie  was  again  ehanged 
to  the  present  one.  Mr.  (larke  himself  propos- 
ing the  change. 

1  think'  it  is  pretty  clear,  thereldre.  that,  up  to 
the  meeting  at  K'eokuk.  all  was  smooth  sailing. 
At  that  mei'ting  it  w  as  proposed  that  the  society 
be  incorporated.  That  incorporation  was  and 
is  the  hea<l  and  front  of  our  olVending.  The 
committee  on  organization  and  incorporation 
in  their  report,  right  in  the  viM'y  act  of  fur- 
thering the  matter  of  incorporation,  recom- 
mended that  the  constitution  should  read  in  its 
lirst  sentence  that  the  society  ■"shall  includes 
in  its  territory  all  of  the  I'nited  .States  and 
Canada."  Does  that  look  as  though  thi'y  sup- 
posf^d  incorporation  would  throw  out  Canada".' 
It  is  true,  that  .Mr.  Clarke  objected  that  incor- 
poration would  atl'ect  the  international  char- 
acter of  the  sot'ii^ty:  but,  his  thinking  so  did  not 
make  it  so.  and  it  was  explained  that  th(!re 
would  be  no  abridgment  of  its  powers  or  limita- 
tion of  its  scope?  by  means  of  incorporation. 

The  Ontario  report  comitlains  that  at  AI1)any 
the  committee  on  incorporation  vouchsafed  no 
information  as  to  the  terms,  conditions,  or  ef- 
fects of  incori)oration,  but  conHned  themselves 
to  the  bald  statement  that  they  had  doiK!  as 
they  were  bidden.  Why  should  they  say  any 
thing  more  ?  They  were  directed  to  do  a  specific 
thing— to  get  an  advantage  for  the  society. 
They  did  as  instructed,  and  then  came  saying, 
"  We've  got  the  advantage."  What  more  was 
necessary '? 

The  Ontario  report  recites  that  at  Albany  one 
of  the  committee,  in  answer  to  a  question,  was 
told  that  the  association  was  now  local,  but  its 
influence  would  be  national.  This  does  not 
agree  with  the  printed  minutes,  in  which  E.  R. 
Root  replied  to  Mr.  McKnight's  question,  "  It  is 
incorporated  under  a  State  law,  but  its  influ- 
ence is  national." 

Objection  is  made  to  the  word  "national." 
Now.  if  the  mental  machinery  of  others  is  like 
mine  they  would  think  of  Ontario.  New  York, 
Illinois,  etc.,  as  all  one,  when  speaking  of  the 
society,  and  the  word  ■"national,"  in  that  case, 
would  have  just  the  same  meaning  as  the  word 
"international."  I  feel  pretty  sure  that  Mr. 
Root  and  Capt.  Hetherington  both  used  it  with 
that  signification,  and  still  more  sure  that  Mr. 
McKnight  .so  used  it  in  his  question.  "  Is  not  in- 
corporating it  under  a  State  law  making  a  local 
.society  of  what  was  a  national  body'?" 

The  Ontario  committee  says  it  has  "come  to 
the  conclusion  that  Canada  has  no  rights  under 
the  new  state  of  things,  and  that  it  was  not 
intended  she  sliould."  The  committee  has  sim- 
ply come  to  two  very  false  conclusions.  I  don't 
believe  that  a  single  man  that  favored  incor- 
poration believed  that  it  would  take  away  any 
of  Canada's  rights,  and  I  fondly  liope  that  some 
of  my  Canadian  friends  have  still  conlidence 
enough  in  my  word,  vile  oftender  though  I  am 
held  up  to  be.  to  Ijelieve  me  when  I  say  that  I 
liad  not  th(?  most  remote  intention  or  desire  to 
do  any  thing  to  make  the  rights  of  Canada  less. 
I  am  very  confident  that  tlie  rest  of  the  vile  few 
wei-e  of  the  same  mind. 

The  hint  is  given  that  the  States  other  than 
Illinois  sutler  from  the  same  limitation  as  Can- 
ada. Most  assuredly  thciy  are  afTected  in  the 
same  way,  and  yet  it  has  not  come  to  my  knowl- 
edge tliat  a  single  word  of  protest  has  gone  up 
from  any  one  of  them.  Surely,  the  committee 
ought  to  find  in  "the  great  body  of  American 
bee-keepers,  which  it  believes  are  not  responsi- 
ble," and  to  which  il  tenders  "assurance  of 
continued  fraternal  good  will,  high  c(msidera- 
tion,  and  cordial  regards" — surely  among  these 
these  there  ought  to  be  found  not  a  few  ready 
to  rise  up  in  earnest  pi'otest  against  any  wrong 
done  to  Canada  and  the  States  f)Utside  of  Illinois. 


118 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  15. 


Now.  in  all  c-andoi-.  let  me  ask  what  harm  has 
iiK'drpoiation  done?  What  right,  just  tell  one 
little,  lone  right,  that  Canada  had  before  incor- 
poration that  she  now  lacks?  In  what  way  is 
the  North  American  any  less  "broad  and  inter- 
national "  so  far  as  the  society  itself  is  concern- 
ed, than  it  was  before?  Will  the  meeting  in 
Washington  be  any  moie  local  than  its  prede- 
cessors? What  single  thing  has  ever  been  done 
by  the  society  that  it  could  not  equally  have  done 
if  it  had  been  incorporated  at  its  first  organ- 
ization ?  What  single  thing  is  there  that  it  can 
not  do  in  the  future  that  it  could  do  if  it  were 
not  incorporated?  ^Vill  any  one  of  the  four 
gentlemen  who  signed  that  report  answer  these 
questions?  1  am  sure  that  room  for  their  re- 
plies will  be  given  in  the  same  columns  that 
admit  the  questions. 

I  have  too  high  esteem  for  the  sound  heads 
and  kind  hearts  of  Canadian  bee-keepers  to 
believe  that  any  misunderstanding,  as  I  am  sure 
it  is  a  misunderstanding,  shall  l<>ad  to  any  per- 
manent estrangement.  The  truth  will  come 
uppermost,  and  we  shall  know  each  other  better. 

Marengo,  111.  C  C.  Miller. 


A  BOUNTY  ON  HONEY  NOT  DESIRABLE. 


THE    OB.JECT    OF    rKOTECTION;     ClIEAl'     SUGAR, 
ETC. 


Our  prohibition  friends  have  a  good  deal  to 
say  concerning  special  privileges  granted  by  the 
government  to  the  liquor-traftic.  A  class  of 
"  reformers  "  demand  that  the  government  shall 
provide  ouildings  for  the  storage  of  agricultural 
products,  and  insist  that  they  are  asking  no 
more  than  about  what  is  now  granted  the 
liquor-traffic.  Now,  it  seems  that  a  few  bee- 
keepers are  disposed  to  ask  that  honey  shall  be 
granted  special  favors  similar  to  those  suppos- 
ed to  be  granted  whisky.  Did  it  ever  occur  to 
these  friends  to  account  for  the  reluctance  of 
whisky  in  accepting  these  special  favors?  Why! 
it  requires  an  army  of  vigilant  officials,  assisted, 
in  some  instances,  by  Winchester  rifles,  to  per- 
suade the  whiskey-men  to  accept  these  alleged 
special  favors. 

"Hie  object  of  a  protective  duty  is  to  guard  a 
domestic  product  against  the  lUthUity  of  being 
(rrowded  out  of  our  own  market  by  a  foreign 
competitor.  From  Root's  piice  list  we  ascertain 
that  the  prices  of  some  grades  of  tin  plate  are  as 
low  now  as  they  were  three  months  before  the 
"McKinley  Bill"'  was  reported  to  the  House, 
and  on  no  grade  has  the  price  been  enhanced 
to  the  extent  of  the  additional  duty  levied  by 
that  bill.  To  protect  tin  plate  it  does  not 
necessarily  follow  that  the  prices  which  obtain- 
ed two  years  ago  shall  be  advanced  or  even  sus- 
tained; but  it  is  necessary  to  guard  against  a 
repetition  of  that  kind  of  competition  which 
quickly  suppressed  former  attempts  to  manufac- 
ture the  article  in  this  country. 

Yes,  when  sugar  was  admitted  free  the  price 
to  the  consumer  was  cheapened  to  the  e.xtent  of 
the  duty  removed;  but  does  any  one  believe 
that  a  like  reduction  could  or  would  take  place 
in  the  prices  of  salt,  linseed  oil,  and  wire  nails 
were  they  placed  on  the  free  list?  Does  any 
one  know  of  a  locality  or  of  a  country  where 
manufacturers  sell  salt  at  10  cents  a  barrel,  or 
where  consumers  can  buy  linseed  oil  at  1.5  cents 
a  gallon,  and  wire  nails  at  ^\.m  per  100  lbs.? 
When  coffee  was  put  on  tln^  free  list,  did  ihe 
price,  in  spite  of  trusts,  go  down  and  remain 
down  ?  1  merely  refer  to  these  subjects  to  indi- 
cate the  difficulties  to  be  met  in  any  attempt  to 
formulate  cast-iron  rules  concerning  the  eftects 
of  tariff  prices. 

The  protective  system   aims  to  build  up  all 


important  American  industries;  but,  to  date, 
the  sugar  industry  has  not  built  up  to  speak  of 
— it's  a  going  to.  Now  the  beet  sugar  is  making 
promises.  The  existence  of  this  iudustry,  at 
present,  seems  to  depend  upon  protection;  and 
as  it  has  been  clearly  demonstrated  that  the 
consume!'  pays  the  full  amount  of  the  duty 
levied  on  sugar,  and  that  the  price  of  the  do- 
mestic article,  in  this  instance,  is  also  enhanced 
to  the  full  extent  of  the  duty  levied  on  the  im- 
ported article,  it  seems  that  it  would  be  better 
foi'  our  people  to  pay  only  the  duty  on  the  small 
amount  pioduced  here.  Under  the  present  law 
we  pay  no  more  to  the  producers  of  domestic 
sugar  than  we  had  been  paying  to  them  during 
the  last  two  decades. 

But  is  honey,  under  present  conditions,  entitl- 
ed to  bounty  ?  To  get  it.  it  will  require  a  much 
stronger  case  than  has  been  made  up  yet;  and 
you  may  rest  assured  that  there  is  no  immediate 
danger  of  biding  incumbered  Ijy  a  bounty  on 
honey. 

A  few  years  ago  strawberry -growers — some  of 
them — were  demanding  protection  against  ba- 
nanas and  a  few  oth(>r  foreign  fruits.  I  believe 
their  demand  was  not  complied  with;  but  straw- 
berries are  still  grown,  and  the  demand  for 
them  continues  good.  At  present  I  feel  like 
classing  this  demand  for  a  bounty  on  honey 
with  that  demand  of  the  strawberry-growers. 

E.  Springfield,  O.  R.  M.  Reynolds. 


BOUNTY  NOT  DESIRABLE. 

SEALED.  COVER,    ETC. 


An  impression  seems  to  have  gone  abroad 
(and  I  Hnd  it  in  last  Gleanings)  that  the  comb- 
honey  industry  is  independent  of  the  price  of  ex- 
tracted honey.  Let  us  not  be  over-contident. 
I  find  a  class  of  customers  who  would  rather 
have  comb  honey,  but  are  willing  to  pay  only 
about  2  cents  per  lb.  more  than  the  price  of  ex- 
tracted. It  would  be  only  just,  no  doubt,  to 
have  a  government  bounty  on  honey:  but  1  am 
sure  all  kinds  will  need  it  alike.  But  I  fear  the 
"  Govei'nment  Stamp"  as  a  protection  to  bee- 
keepers (page  13)  would  prove  a  delusion  and  a 
snare,  and  so  would  the  "  trade-mark." 

THE   winter   problem. 

I  believe  Ernest  and  G.  R.  Pierce  (p.  9.52)  are 
on  the  I'ight  track.  My  top  cushions  are  often 
very  damp,  and  in  this  condition  combs  are  apt 
to  become  moldy  and  bees  sickly.  If  upward 
ventilation  is  the  thing,  why  do  bees  always 
seal  every  thing  except  the  entrance  as  tight  as 
a  drum?  I  think  I  should  like  yonr  new  Dove- 
tailed chaff  hive,  only  I  fear  the  chati'  wall  is 
not  thick  enough  for  our  climate.  We  require 
a  thermometer  which  is  very  long  at  the  Unver 
end. 

Then  for  the  new-old  system  of  wintering 
mentioned  above,  it  would  need  a  bee-space  over 
the  frames  to  take  the  place  of  the  Hill  device 
used  under  cushions;  also  several  years'  experi- 
ence on  a  small  scale  leads  me  to  favor  Dr.  Mil- 
ler's idea  of  an  inch  or  more  under  the  bottom- 
bars.  This,  of  course,  would  be  impossible  in 
bodies  intended  to  be  interchangeable  with  su- 
pers, but  the  chaff-hive  body  is  permanent. 

WHO  IS  the  inventor? 

It  may  be  easy  to  determine  who  is  entitled  to 
the  credit  of  introducing  this  or  that  improve- 
ment; but  the  name  of  the  inventor  may  be  Le- 
gion. Take,  for  instance,  your  new  hive-rabbet. 
Not  liking  the  sharp  edges  of  your  old  rabbet,  I 
several  years  ago  devised  the  identical  form 
which  you  have  adopted;  but  not  finding  a  tin- 
ner who  had  a  folder  which  would  make  it.  I 
continued  to  use  "  linger-cutters." 


\S\r2 


(iLKANINCS  IX   lUOK  ("lII/rURE. 


ll'.i 


NON-inUK-COMll     KUAMKS. 

I  niiit'f  witl)  M.  II.  limit  iisiotioiihlc  lop-liMr- 
ill  inodilicd  llolTinaii  frames.  Tlicv  arc /xr.^v- 
tii'ii  ill  incvfiiiiii:;  liiiir-coinlis.  and  cxci'llciu  in 
otinT  r(>s|ii'fis:  and  w  iicii  made  of  one  jiit'oi'. 
with  till'  hci'-spaoc  out  out  with  a  saw,  us  you 
siiRi^i'stiMi  last  spring  (or  was  it  longer  ago?) 
llicy  could  not  he  vory  expensive  or  coiii- 
nlii-ated.  Then.  too.  the  new  (•(Hiili-guide  could 
lie  made  the  same  as  in  your  new  thick-top 
fr.ime.  HiKiiKiT  IIasskit. 

Monaii'.  low  a.  Jan.  ■.'".». 


RAMBLERS  HIVE-HOBBY  RIDING. 


Pli.     llNKKi;     KX1M..\1.NS     Ills    IIIXK    .\N1)    SVSTKM. 
AM)    now     111'.    (  .^MK    TO    OUKilNATK    IT. 


II  was  possiiiiy  unintentional  on  the  part  of 
Kamliler,  in  i'is  sketch  of  hive-hoiiby  riding, 
page  .54.  to  convey  a  wrong  impression  to  the 
pul>lic  coiu-erning  m>'  hive.  The  idea  sought 
\o  be  conveyed  in  hitching  my  hive  to  Heddon's 
is.  that  I  have  copied  after  or  borrowed  from 
the  New  Heddoii  hive.  If  I  have  an  incorroct 
view  of  the  matter,  and  it  was  intended  on  the. 
part  of  Rambler  solely  as  a  bit  of  his  inimitable 
and  ever  appreciated  good  liiimor.  1  shall  hope 
he  will  set  me  right.  I  desires  to  state,  liowevei'. 
once  and  for  all.  that  my  liive  is  not  copied 
after  the  Ileddon  hive,  'ind  that  I  do  not  jirac- 
tice  nor  recommend  any  part  of  the  Heddon 
system. 

The  hive  I  use  and  recommend  is  a  Lang- 
strotli  hive,  and  represents  no  principle  not 
embodied  in  the  Langstroth  invention.  It  is 
constructed  with  the  bee-spaces  and  the  simple 
suspended  broofl-frames  of  the  great  inventor, 
that  are  now  in  use  by  bee-kee|)ers  the  world 
over.  It  di tiers  from  the  standard  iiiveonlyin 
size:  and  it  may  be  of  interest  to  know  why  I 
made  such  a  hive. 

III  ISSl  .Mr.  Doolittle  gave  to  bee-keepers  the 
first  iiublished  ideas  on  the  subject  of  contract- 
ing 1  (food -chain hers  in  the  production  of  comb 
honey.  To  him  also  belongs  the  credit  of  de- 
veloping the  idea,  by  writing  several  articles 
upon  the  subject,  until  many  bee-keepers,  in- 
cluding niyseif.  were  interested.  About  this 
lime  (18K1I  think)  Mr.  I).  A.  .Jones  introduced 
(iueeii-excluding  zinc  to  this  i-ountry.  and  the 
bee-keepers  were  not  a  few  who  saw  that,  if  we 
contracted  our  brood -chambers,  we  should  be 
compelled  to  u.se  a  queen-excluder  between  the 
brood  and  sections.  So  the  new  zinc  came  into 
immediate  use.  and  I  began  contracting  all  of 
my  hives  used  for  swarms  by  means  of  the  zinc 
Atxiiit  this  time  I  made  the  now  well-known 
wood-zinc  queen-excluder,  and  put  it  to  use 
extensively.  The  proper  size  of  a  brood-cham- 
ber for  a  swarm  to  be  worked  for  comb  honey 
U)  the  best  advantage  was  soon  determined. 
It  was  found  that,  if  the  tirood-spaci;  given  was 
too  small,  much  pollen  would  go  into  the  .sec- 
tions: and  if  too  large,  the  bees  stored  a  part  or 
all  of  their  best  honey  in  the  brood-chamber. 
After  many  experiments  I  decided  ihal  all  that 
was  necessary  during  the  active  working 
season,  both  for  swarms  and  fcjr  full  colo- 
nies, was  a  •■  iiroodchamber  for  brood,"  as  I 
have  so  many  times  stated  in  the  bee-papers, 
and  that  such  a  brood -chambiM'  contains  about 
8(X)  squai'e  inches  of  brood  comb.  It  is  then  not 
a  half  or  a  divisional  part  of  a  brood-chamber. 
as  in  the  Heddon  hive,  although  it  is  smaller 
than  the  standard;  but  it  represents  the  utmost 
limit  of  profitable  contraction,  and  requires  an 
extra  story  for  spring  breeding.  As  I  used  a 
hive  of  this  capacity  long  before  Mr.  Ileddon 
made  known  his  invention,  and  am  also  original 


in  its  use.  I  believe  that,  my  rights  to  it  will  be 
resjiected  by  the  mass  of  bee- keejiers. 

For  several  years  I  made  the  hives  with 
t,)uinby  frames,  but  tinally.  alioiit  six  years  ago, 
changed  to  the  suspended  Langstroth  frame 
without  altering  the  capacity  of  the  original 
frame  used  in  my  experiments.  I  have  since 
used  no  other  hive  or  frame. 

I  call  it  a  "storifying"  hive  bi^cause  it  is 
made  on  the  principle  of  the  Simplicity  and 
Cowan  bee-hives  that  wr-re  so  made  that  th(i 
stories  could  be  piled  one  upon  another  as  high 
as  desired.  In  using  the  hive  for  comb  honey 
the  sections  are  always  placed  upon  th<^  lirst 
story:  and  any  extra  stories  that  may  be  on  tln^ 
hive  are  carried  to  th(i  top  of  the  s(!ctions.  I5y 
conducting  these  operations  at  tlii;  propc^r  time 
I  am  able  lo  prevent  swarming,  as  a  rule;  and 
if  an  occasional  swafin  does  issue  in  an  apiary 
it  is  very  easily  re-united  with  the  parent  colo- 
ny, thus  disposing  of  all  undesirable  increase. 
In  this  management  I  am  also  original  so  far  as 
1  know. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  my  hive  stands  upon 
its  own  bottom,  and  is  neither  borrowed  from 
Heddon's  nor  from  any  one  else,  nor  is  the  man- 
agement advised  tlu;  same  in  any  particular, 
except  in  so  fai' as  bee-hives  have  always  been 
managed.  Dr.  (J.  L.  Tinkkh. 

New  Philadelphia.  O. 

[The  Tinker  hive,  although  shallower  than 
the  Langstroth.  may  resemble  somewhat  the 
Heddoii  hive:  but  from  the  reading  of  Dr. 
Tinker's  book,  the  system  of  manipulating  it  is 
very  ditl'ei-ent  from  the  plan  used  by  Mr.  Hed- 
don with  his  hive.1 


COST   OF  COMB  HONEY. 


Ml!.    DOOLirTLK    CONSIl)KH> 
FIOURKS. 


.MR.    TAVI.OH 


Along  in  the  seventies,  a  bee-keeper  living 
some  three  miles  from  here  was  afflicted  with  a 
cancer.  He  went  to  a  distant  city  to  be  cured 
of  the  same.  While  away  he  wrote  me  that  he 
wislied  I  would  go  to  his  place  and  put  his  bees 
in  the  cellar  for  him.  as  it  was  then  time  of  year 
for  the  bees  to  go  in.  I  went  and  did  as  he  re- 
quested, being  gone  from  home  half  a  day, 
for  which  1  chuiged  him  .Sl.OO.  On  his  return  I 
asked  him  if  he  found  the  bees  in  good  shape, 
and  he  replied  that  they  were  in  splendid  order. 
He  then  asked  ine  how  mucli  he  was  to  pay  me, 
and  I  told  him.  Although  quite  a  wealthy 
man.  he  thought  I  had  charged  him  too  much, 
and  said  he  could  have  got  such  a  one,  men- 
tioning a  man  whose  capacity  pi-ople  consider- 
ed worth  about  his  board,  to  have  set  the  bees 
in  for  2.5  cts.  I  said  nothing  at  the  time,  but  led 
him  out  about  the  curing  of  his  cancer,  and 
asked  him  how  long  the  doctor  was,  all  told,  in 
taking  out  the  cancer  and  dnissing  the  wound. 
He  thouglit  that,  if  all  the  time  he  saw  the 
doctor  was  put  together,  it  might  amount  to 
about  two  hours.  I  then  asked  him  what  he 
had  to  pay  him  for  taking  out  the  cancer,  and 
he  said  ?=.'>().  I  next  asked  him  why  he  did  not 
get  ■"such  a  one,'"  meaning  the  2.')-cent  man 
alluded  to  above,  to  take  out  his  cancer,  and 
thus  save  the  extra  ^49.75  he  had  paid  the  doc- 
tor. He  saw  the  point  at  once,  and,  without  a 
word  further,  handed  me  out  the  dollar. 

I  was  reminded  very  forcibly  of  this  little 
incident  in  n-ading  what  R.  L.  Taylor  has  to 
sav  regarding  the  cost  of  comb  honey  on  page 
5fi"  of  a  late  issue  of  (Jlkanixgs.  It  seems 
strange  to  me  that  Mr.  Taylor  should  be  will- 
ing to  so  belittle  our  pursuit  as  to  allow  only 
-*45  for  an  apiarist  who  has  suflicient  brains  U> 


120 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Ykb.  15. 


do  all  thft  necessary  work  which  150  colonies  of 
bees  require  during  six  weeks  in  the  height  of 
the  honey  season.  Whyl  the  man  who  has 
only  brains  enough  to  break  stone  on  the  high- 
way is  not  asked  to  work  that  length  of  time 
for  a  penny  short  of  .*52..50.  in  York  State,  that 
being  S10..i0  more  than  Mr.  Taylor  allows  him- 
self, who  is  said  to  be  a  noted  lawyer,  a  senator, 
and  a  man  of  unusual  ability.  I  wonder  if  he 
would  not  have  been  mad  if  it  had  been  said 
that  the  Hon.  R.  L.  Taylor  earned  only  #45  for 
the  six  weeks  he  represented  his  State  at  the 
capitol.  And  is  not  his  time  worth  just  as 
much  in  the  apiary  as  it  is  in  the  senate  or  any- 
where else?  1  do  not  see  any  need  of  this  low- 
ering the  standard  of  our  calling,  that  a  large 
"'net  profiV^  can  be  published  to  the  world. 
Where  is  James  Heddon,  that  we  hear  no  warn- 
ing from  him  about  putting  the  rosy  side  of 
bee-keeping  before  the  world?  Is  the  keeping 
of  bees  such  a  menial  service  that  the  one  who 
works  at  the  calling  can  be  allowed  only  §1.07 
a  day  and  board  himself,  while  the  profits  on 
that  same  labor  amount  to  $10.50.  should  the 
season  prove  an  extra  good  one?  I  protest 
against  any  such  showing.  He  leaves  out 
many  items  of  cost,  such  as  our  bee-papers  and 
books,  time  to  read  them,  attending  conven- 
tions, taxes  on  bees,  hives  to  put  the  bees  in, 
sugar  for  winter,  feeders,  and  work  of  feeding, 
etc. 

Let  me  try  my  hand  at  the  matter,  and  let 
Mr.  Taylor  rest  assured  that  I  shall  make  no 
charges  for  the  fun  part  of  our  pursuit,  which 
he  fears  the  "wife  and  children  will  not  grow 
fat  on."  Interest  on  bees,  and  wear  and  tear  on 
plant. S120;  double  intereston  1.50  Heddon  hives, 
$.54;  taxes,  $(>;  sections.  $25;  foundation.  $30: 
shipping-crates.  $40;  hauling  honey  to  railroad, 
freight,  and  commission.  $125;  bee  papers  and 
books.  $5;  attending  conventions.  $20;  sugar 
for  winter  stores  (10  lbs.  per  colony  where  the 
Heddon  hive  is  used,  as  the  combs  are  expected 
to  be  nearly  empty  in  the  fall),  $70;  time  spent, 
as  follows:  Reading  bee  books  and  papers,  at- 
tending conventions,  feeding,  making  crates 
and  sections,  fastening  in  foundation,  packing 
honey  for  market,  taking  bees  in  and  out  of  cel- 
lar, and  other  manipulation.  40  days,  together 
with  41  days  required  during  the  honey  harvest, 
making  81  days  needed  during  the  year  to  prop- 
erly care  for  an  apiaiy  of  150  colonies.  This 
time  at  $5.(X)  a  day  (not  an  unreasonable  figure 
for  an  intelligent  apiarist),  amounts  to  $405. 
which,  together  with  the  other  items  of  expense 
mentioned  above  (which  foot  up  $495).  makes 
$900  as  the  cost  of  running  an  apiary  properly 
for  one  year. 

Now  for  the  income:  Seasons,  oi'  something 
else,  seems  to  have  changed:  and  where  .50 
pounds  of  comb  honey  was  considered  an  aver- 
age yield  per  colony  12  years  ago.  and  45  pounds 
five  years  ago,  the  average  yield  at  the  present 
time  can  not  well  be  called  more  than  40 
pounds,  according  as  I  have  summed  up  our 
yields  during  the  past  three  or  four  years.  At 
an  average  of  40  pounds  for  the  1.50  colonies,  we 
should  have  (jOOO  pounds  of  honey  as  the  income 
from  the  bees,  which,  at  15  cts.  per  pound, 
would  amount  to  $<.>0(\  or  the  same  amount  that 
the  cost  vvas.  Hence  I  conclude  that  the  cost 
of  a  pound  of  comb  honey  at  the  present  time  is 
15  cents,  and  all  that  it  brings  us  over  those  fig- 
ures is  net  profit.  When  I  gave  figures  very 
similar  to  the  above  to  the  N.  A.  H.  K.  A.,  in 
1S87,  according  to  the  repoi't  of  that  convention. 
Mr.  R.  L.  Taylor  was  the  first  man  on  his  feet, 
and  said.  -'In  the  cost  of  honey  there  are  many 
points  to  be  considered,  and  Mr.  Doolittle  has 
not  mentioned  all  of  them:  for  instance,  the 
losses  in  winter  and  from  disease.  I  think  the 
prices  given  are  too  low.''    Italics  are  mine.    I 


then  called  the  average  yield  45  pounds,  and 
arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  the  cost  of  a 
pound  of  comb  honey  was  13  cents,  and  Mr. 
Taylor  immediately  arises  and  says  it  is '"  too 
low."  .What  has  hap])ened  on  the  hoiizon  of 
his  vision  that  has  so  changed  his  opinion  dur- 
ing only  about  four  years  of  time?  I  there  al- 
lowed the  man  the  whole  year  to  work  th<^  bees 
at  $1.25  per  day:  but  if  valuable  time  is  to  be 
used,  as  Mr.  Taylor  puts  it.  and  a  less  number 
of  days  be  spent,  then  •■*5  a  day  is  none  too  much 
for  xkilhil  labor.  G.  M.  Dooijtti.e. 

Borodino.  N.  Y. 

[This  question  is  somewhat  complicated,  and 
there  is  plenty  of  opportunity  for  error  and  in- 
correct assumptions;  and  pei'haps  our  corres- 
pondent, though  usually  so  accurate,  has  laid 
himself  open  a  little.  A  merchant,  after  a 
year's  successful  business,  after  deducting  ex- 
penses, has  a  certain  amount  of  profit.  This 
profit  usually  represents  the  price  for  his  labor. 
So  in  like  manner  the  amount  paid  for  ordinary 
labor  represents  so  much  profit  to  the  laborer. 
It  is  not  quite  clear  how  INIr.  Doolittle  makes 
his  honey  cost  15  cts.  Ills  crop  being  sold,  at  a 
charge  of  $5.00  per  day  for  his  labor,  he  has  $405 
in  pocket  —  all  this  made  off  the  bees.  This 
we  regard  as  largely  profit,  although  it  would 
appear,  from  what  Mr.  Doolittle  says,  there  is  no 
money  in  comb-honey  production  for  him.  But 
Mr.  Doolittle  did.  or  does,  as  he  has  said  at  oth- 
er times,  all  or  nearly  all  the  work  himself, 
hiring  no  laboi'.  Much  of  the  preparatoiw  work 
which  he  does  himself  at  $5.00  per  day  could  be 
done  just  as  well  by  a  girl  or  woman  at  75  cts. 
or  $1.00  per  day;  foi'  instance,  folding  sections, 
putting  in  starters,  tilling  hives  -  crates  with 
sections,  scraping  sections  aftei'  being  filled,  and 
much  other  work,  could  be  done  by  cheap  help. 
If  his  time  is  worth  to  him  $5.00  per  day  it 
would  put  more  money  in  his  pocket  to  devote 
it  entirely  to  expert  work,  leaving  the  non- 
expert work  to  chea))  help.  This  would  save 
him  $4.00  per  day  foi-  much  of  the  work,  and  a 
dollar  sav(^d  is  a  dollar  earned. 

Now  with  regard  to  the  work  in  the  apiary. 
We  have  no  trouble  in  getting  good  apiarists — 
those  who  can  do  any  thing  among  bees,  such 
as  producing  a  high  grade  of  queens,  or  produc- 
ing honey,  for  from  $1..50  to  $2.00  per  day.  and 
they  will  do  it  just  as  well  as  we.  providing  we 
supervise  or  superintend  the  \\'oik.  The,  cost 
of  doing  certain  kinds  of  labor  should  not  he 
regulated  by  what  irc  can  do  it  for,  but  by  what 
we  can  hire  it  done  for,  and  yet  have  it  done  as 
well.  If  Mr.  Taylor  can  hire  his  work  among 
the  bees  done  for  $1.07  per  day.  under  his  direc- 
tion, while  he  can  earn  by  his  profession  from 
ten  to  twenty  dollars  i)er  day.  it  is  to  his  inter- 
est to  do  so.  We  can  hardly  see  why.  then,  he 
ought  to  figure  labor  in  his  apiary  at  ten  or 
more  dollars  per  day,  when,  in  fact,  lie  can  get 
it  done  for  $1.07  per  day. 

A  farmer  once  said,  who  valued  his  labor  at 
$2.(X)  per  day,  that  he  couldn't  make  any  thing 
raising  crops  because  they  cost  him  to  raise 
them  all  he  got  for  them.  If  he  received  cash 
to  cover  cost  accoi'ding  to  his  way  of  thinking, 
the  fallacy  of  this  argument  is  shown  by  the 
fact  that  he  pockets  $2.00  for  every  day  he 
worked  on  the  crops  just  as  soon  as  he  received 
the  cash. 

From  these  and  othei-  considerations  we  can 
not  see  how  Mr.  Doolittle's  honey  costs  him  15 
cts.  per  pound.  He  doesn't  produce  honey  or 
raise  queens  and  sell  at  cost.  He  is.  as  we  all 
know,  a  successful  bee-keeper;  and  when  he 
charges  himself  $5.00  per  day  for  labor,  and  gets 
that  much  in  return,  he  is  getting  good  pay.  or. 
if  you  please,  profit.  The  fact  that  he  has  a 
beautiful  and  comfortable  home,  and  something 


IS'.  IV 


(!LKANIN«iS  IN    HKK  CUl/rURE. 


1;.>1 


luid  up  l)('sid(>s  for  a  ruiiiy  day,  as  lie  lias  told 
us,  proves  tliis.  li  is  iniito  possible  that  Mr. 
Taylor  tnay  liaxf  lisrurrd  the  prirc  of  labor  and 
the  I'ost  of  ooioiiies  in  lleddoii  liivi'S  too  low; 
and  it  is  possible  that  he  has  not  allowed 
enouffh  for  the  cost  of  ineideiitals.  We  would 
not.  ho\\ev(>r,  lifjiire  "fioiii!;  to  conventions"  in 
fh((  cost  of  prodiicint:  honey,  for  this  is  the 
*'  fun  ■'  part  of  l)ee-  keeping.  Keadinji  i)e(>-j()iir- 
uals  and  bee-hooUs  is  usually  to  be  done  at  otld 
hours  in  theevenintr.  and  this  really  should  not 
ligure  very  laifrely  in  the  cost. 

It  will  be  seen,  however,  that  Mi'.  Hilton  |)Ut 
the  cost  even  lower  than  did  Mi.  Tayloi".  He; 
is  11  careful  and  practical  bee-keeper,  and  (tno 
who  has  made  money  witli  bees.  We  are  jilad 
to  jrive  his  article  right  here. 


have  luade  no  aci'ouiil  of  tpuMuis  sold,  nuclei, 
full  colonies,  etc,  Whil(!  tlu^se  come  from  the 
sixty  colonies  spring  count,  it  is  another  ac- 
count whicli  pays  for  all  these  and  l(^av<is  a 
marj^in. 

Since  coinmenciiifi  this  report  the  .lantuiry 
number  of  the  licr-Krrixrx'  Revleir  has  he(Mi 
placed  on  my  desk.  I  have  stopped  long  enou}<h 
to  read  an  ai'licli'  from  the  pen  of  K.  M.  lioot, 
and  will  iirolit  by  his  ailvice,  and  make  this 
report  short.  (Jko.  K.  Mii.to.n. 

Fremont,  Mich. 

[We  should  be,  .sorry  to  have  this  discussion 
stop  right  here,  and  we  hope  our  b(;e-keeping 
friends  will  gi\  <■  us  furtlHM'data  along  this  line.) 


HOW  MUCH  IT  COSTS  TO  PRODUCE  COMB 
HONEY 

FOK    A    I'KKIOI)    OF   TWKIAK    VIlAIiS. 

The  cost  of  th(!  production  of  comb  honey, 
like  tlu'  wintej'iug  problem,  the  grading  of  hon- 
ey, and  many  other  things  in  which  latitude 
and  locality  are  controlling  factors,  will  never, 
in  luy  (>i)inion.  be  satisfactorily  settled.  Could 
I  have  made  this  report  four  years  ago.  when 
my  average  for  eight  years  had  l)een  75  lbs.. 
1  could  have  shown  the  minimum  cost  in 
this  locality.  Hut  the  past  four  years  have  re- 
duced my  average  for  a  pei'iod  of  twelve  years 
to  Tid  lbs.  per  colony.  In  making  this  report  I 
shall  mass  the  twelve  years"  effort  into  a  single 
report;  and  while  this  (my  home  yard)  has  va- 
ried from  ;{.■>  to  !»()  colonies.  I  lind  th(>  average 
has  been  sixty,  or  tlie 

Total  iiuniber  for  twelve  years 720 

Pounds  of  Money  produced 36,0C0 

« 'asli  receipts *.">,200 

COST   OF  PRODUCTION. 

Value  of  apiary        *3,600 

Interest  on  same  at  8  per  cent 288 

Cost  of  manipulation 36il 

4!),(.0.l  sect  ions  at  ^..iO 14D 

;»0  Il)s.  foundation  at  55c 165 

3illK)  slii|ii)iiig-cases  at  8c 240 

Total  i-ost  of  i)roducl ion ..  )i;ll<)3.00 

Cost  <if  production  ikt  |)ound 3i\ie 

Net  profits  iti  twelve  yeai-s.  with  an  av- 

erajre  of  si.xty  colonies  each  yeai'...  4i;07.00 
Net  profits  pel-  pound lln.c 

I  suppose  this  reiK)rtwill  be  criticised.  I<"riend 
Taylor,  in  his  very  able  report,  places  the,  cost 
of  production,  with  an  average  of  .50  lbs.,  at 
.'),<i^c:  but  he  has  a  list  of  items  of  costs  that 
are.  with  me.  all  included  in  the  cost  of  produc- 
tion, as  my  work  is  done  principally  by  stu- 
dents. The  work  of  putting  up  sections,  put- 
ting in  foundation,  packing  honey  in  shipping- 
cases,  etc.,  is  all  done  during  the  honey  season, 
or  immediately  at  its  close.  Friend  Taylor  also 
figures  his  gross  receipts  at  1")  cents,  and  de- 
ducts freiglit  and  commission  from  this,  while 
my  sales  have  averaged  me  1")  cents,  freight 
and  commission  deducted,  which  would  in 
part  account  for  Ww  difference.  You  will  also 
see  that  my  labor  costs  me  much  less  than 
Mr.  Taylor's.  The  work  is  all  done  with  a  sys- 
tem, and  up(Mi  general  principles — so  much  so 
that  my  students  tind  much  time  for  otlier 
work,  in  fact,  sliould  I  give  the  apiary  credit 
for  what  they  help  me  in  the  supply  depart- 
ment it  would  nearly  jjay  their  wages.  Our 
manner  of  manipulation  might  be  of  iuterciSt. 
but  would  be  out  of  place  here.  I  admit  tliere 
are  other  expenses  in  the  ajjiary  than  the  above 
— foundation  for  the  lirood-nest;  hives  and  fix- 
tures   for  th<'   increase:    imt   in    the   aliove   we 


EXTRACTED  HONEY. 

KFFKCT   OK   I'OOK   QUALITY  UPON    THK    POPUI.AK 

NOTION    THAT   KXTRACTEI)    HONKY    IS 

l-AHOKLY    IMPUKE. 

I  got  both  a  setback  and  an  uplift  from  a 
grocer  in  Springfield  the  other  day.  1  want(^d 
him  to  help  us  out  at  our  fair  by  oifering  pn;- 
miumson  honey  extracted  on  the  grouiid.s.  He 
said,  emphatically,  "  No;  it  would  not  pay  me 
or  any  one  else.  Exhibiting  an  extractor,  even 
in  operation."  he  said.  "  would  have  little  or  no 
effect  in  r.'moving  the  largely  prevalent  opin- 
ion that  extracted  honey  is  generally  manufac- 
tured or  adulterated;"'  that  the  only  way  to  do 
that  is  to  produce  and  put  on  the  market  honey 
of  first-class  (juality.  He  said  good  (juality 
would  sooner  (jr  later  remove  the  prejudice 
against  any  thing.  He  cited  butterine  as  an  il- 
lustration. That,  he  said,  is  now  made  of  such 
excellent  quality  that  many  prefer  it  to  butter: 
that  it  is.  in  fact. />cttcr  than  half  the  country 
butti'f.  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  that  were 
so.  that  many  Chicago  merchants  advertise. 
••  We  sell  butterine."  Hut  much  or  all  of  the 
popular  suspicion  as  to  the  purity  of  honey  is 
due  to  its  inferiority;  and  that  a  high  standard 
of  excellence  would  sooner  or  later  remove  that 
impression,  we  feel  sure.  He  has  handled  con- 
siderable of  my  honey,  labeled  with  my  name 
and  addiess.  and  he  says  that,  after  a  ti'ial.  his 
customers  cease  to  (luestion  its  purity.  The 
above  reminds  me  tluit  a  lady  acquaintance, 
who  has  been  living  in  Chicago  for  a  few  years, 
was  back  on  a  visit  last  summer,  and  (•aim^  to 
me  for  some  lion(>y.  While  h(^re  she  told  nw 
she  could  hardly  get  any  kind  of  honey  there 
but  extracted,  and  that  was  hard  to  get  pure. 
I  expressed  my  doubt  as  to  its  impurity  as  po- 
litely as  I  could  ;  but  she  insisted  that  she  had 
iKiught  some  she  km'w  had  been  adulterated, 
because  it  was  not  good — it  did  not  taste  like 
honey.  Then  I  told  her  it  was  probably  honey 
that  had  been  injured  some  way  after  it  was 
extracted:  that,  to  care  for  honey  properly,  is  a 
very  choice  matter,  and  that  I  feared  many  who 
produce  considerable  of  it  were  quite  ignorant 
on  that  point.  1  admitted  to  Mr.  ii.,  the  grocer, 
that  honey,  if  ill  cared  for.  would  deterioi'ate 
until  it  would  ijrobabl>-  become  inferior  to  the 
spurious  article. 

Of  course.  I  argued  with  Mr.  H.  that  an  ex- 
tractor in  operation  would  pro\-e  a  great  edu- 
cator; but  I  had  to  own  myself  convinced,  that, 
to  a  great  extent,  what  \h\  .said  was  doubtless 
true;  and  I  take  the  aliove  method  of  introduc- 
ing the  subject  here.  Is  it  not  true,  that  a  great 
deal  of  very  (loor  honey  is  produced  and  mar- 
keted when  it  need  not  be  so?  I  know  an  intel- 
ligent bee-keepei'  who  said  he  kept  his  honey 
tightly  bunged  up  in  a  barrel  in  the  cellar,  and 
thought  it  kept  very  well.  This  honey  he  after- 
ward   shipped    to    market.     I    would    not    risk 


123 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fkb.  If,. 


storing  mine  tlius.  I  never  tried  exactly  that 
expedient:  but  some  yeai-s  ago  I  filled  some 
waxed  kegs  with  honey,  bunged  them  closely, 
and  left  them  on  the  ground  for  awhile— how 
long  I  do  not  now  remembei'.  At  anothei'  time 
I  had  a  stone  jar  full,  into  which  I  think  a  little 
water  leaked:  if  not  that,  it  was  not  sufficiently 
rip(Mied  when  it  was  extracted.  In  both  cases 
the  honey  became  fiat  in  flavor  from  a  loss  of 
its  I'ichness,  and  at  the  same  time  acquii'ed  a 
sharp,  acid  taste.  To  allow  honey  to  absorb  a 
little  foreign  dami)ness,  especially  if  it  is  after- 
ward exposed  to  even  a  moderate  summer  tem- 
perature, or  to  exti'act  it  while  yet  I'ank  and 
watery,  will  always  have  that  effect  upon  it. 
Hence  honey  can  not  be  safely  kept  in  a  cellar 
— I  doubt  whether  even  in  a  cemented  one.  un- 
less it  is  so  sealed  as  to  be  proof  against  air  and 
moisture.  But  if  it  is  stored  in  a  warm  dry 
room  it  will  steadily  improve  in  body  and 
richness.  This  second  or  third  rate  honey  may 
do  for  use  in  curing  tol^acco.  but  not  generally 
for  table  use;  and  it  is  very  easy  and  natural  for 
the  consumer,  ignorant  of  the  nature  and  differ- 
ent qualities  of  honey,  to  conclude  that  such  is 
adulterated.  I  once  sampled  some  honey  in  a 
store,  nicely  granulated,  that  I  would  not  give 
one  cent  a  pound  for. 

Now.  I  submit,  is  there  not  a  great  deal  of  ig- 
norance or  carelessness  on  tlie  part  of  large 
producers  in  caring  for  honey,  or  even  down- 
right dishonesty  on  the  part  of  some  in  putting 
such  honey  on  the  market?  And  is  not  the 
abundance  of  such  an  inferior  article,  to  a  con- 
siderable extent,  the  ground  of  the  prevalent 
belief  that  honey  is  largely  a  bogus  commodity? 
I  incline  to  think,  from  the  evidence  I  have  ob- 
tained, that  bee-keepers  are  themselves  to  a 
gi'eat  extent  responsible  for  the  state  of  things 
which  they  so  much  deplore. 

PARTNERS   IN   THE    II0NP:Y-HUSINESS. 

I  saw  in  Mr.  B.'s  store  some  beautiful  white 
honey  in  one-pound  sections,  put  vip  in  nice 
pasteboard  cartons,  bearing  the  name  and  ad- 
dress of  some  Smitli.  from  somewhere  in  Ver- 
mont. He  got  it  from  a  house  in  Indianapolis, 
and.  freight  charges  included,  it  cost  him  a 
little  over  15  cts.  per  pound.  I  wonder  if  it  did 
not  go  through  a  commission  house  in  New 
York,  or  some  place  else.  I  thought.  "  How 
many  people  made  a  little  money  out  of  that 
little  lot  of  honey— a  part  of  their  living,  if  you 
please!  "  Of  course,  the  gi'ocer  gets  a  little  him- 
self. Then  the  lailroads  between  Indianapolis 
and  Springfield  got  a  little:  the  firm  at  the 
former  city  got  a  little:  the  railroads  from  Ver- 
mont got  a  little,  the  maker  and  printer  of  the 
cartons  got  a  little,  the  manufacturer  of  the 
sections  got  a  little,  the  foundation-maker  got 
a  little,  and  it  may  be  a  firm  in  New  York  and 
another  railroad  got  a  little.  What  a  stir  a 
little  honey  or  a  little  hog  can  make  in  the 
business  world  !  A  wonderful  fabric,  this  coun- 
try— this  world  of  ours!  Query:  How  much 
did  Smith  get?  Geo.  F.  Robbins. 

Mechanicsburg.  111.,  Jan.  25. 


BICYCLE  OR  TEAM. 


E.  FHANfR   S.\YS    A    lUCYC'LE  WOUI-DN'T   DO   FOR 
HIM. 


Ernest  R.  Root  tries  to  make  us  think  that  the 
bicycle  is  the  cheapest  thing  to  be  used,  in  vis- 
iting out-apiaries.  Well,  for  him  perhaps  it  is. 
It  depends  altogether  on  why  you  are  going  to 
make  the  visit.  If  you  have  local  help  at  the 
apiary  to  do  most  of  the  work,  and  yon  are 
just  going  to  call  to  see  how  things  are  running, 
or  are  going  to  get  a  few  ([ueens  to  take   home 


to  fill  orders,  or  .something  of  that  kind,  then 
the  bicycle  is  all  right.  But  I  can  not  see  how 
it  would  do  for  me,  or  any  of  our  large  bee- 
keepers. We  always  have  too  much  to  take 
along.  We  usually  make  our  first  trips  around 
the  last  of  March  or  first  of  Api-il — an  inspection 
visit:  then  we  carry  a  keg  of  liouey,  l.V)  lbs., 
and  fifty  3-lb.  feeders.  I  don't  know  that  we 
shall  want  to  feed,  but  we  want  the  feed  and 
feeders  along,  and  must  take  the  team.  After 
this  first  trip  around  we  make  two  or  three 
more  trips,  before  the  extracting  season  com- 
mences, to  see  that  all  is  right,  clip  queens,  etc.. 
and  always  take  our  keg  of  feed  along.  When 
white  clover  blossoms  enough  so  the  betis  are 
making  a  living,  then  we  take  along  the  ex- 
tractor and  some  help,  so  we  can  take  out  every 
drop  of  honey  there  is  in  the  hives  so  it  will  not 
be  mixed  with  the  white  honey.  We  must  have 
a  team.  Then  when  honey-gathering  is  in  full 
blast,  and  we  expect  to  take  out  2000  lbs.  of 
honey  per  day.  we  have  to  go  with  two  teams — 
one  team  to  haul  the  honey,  and  the  other  one 
to  haul  the  help.  etc.  We  have  two  horses  of 
our  own.  and  hire  two  more  at  the  livery.  Dur- 
ing the  extracting  season  we  have  all  the  wag- 
ons we  want  of  our  own.  We  are  also  working 
a  little  farm  of  twenty  acres,  and  have  to  have 
one  team. 

DO  THE  BEES  OF  THE  LARGE  BEE-KEEPERS 
USE  UP  THE  BEES  OF  THE  SMALLER  ONES? 

The  small  bee-keepers  are  apt  to  think  that 
their  bees  stand  a  poor  chance  when  there  is  a 
large  apiary  near  them.  When  I  first  began  to 
keep  bees  around  about  Platteville  there  were  a 
great  many  farmers  who  had  each  a  few  colo- 
nies of  bees,  and  some  of  them  as  many  as  100 
stands.  Now  there  are  but  few  wiio  try  to  keep 
bees  at  all.  How  often  I  hear  complaints  about 
my  bees  like  this  I  They  say.  "  France's  bees 
have  robbed  all  my  bees — stole  all  the  honey, 
and  killed  all  the  bees.  I  can  not  keep  bees 
any  more.  France  gets  them  all."  We  have 
had  poor  seasons,  and  bees  not  properly  cared 
for  have  starved  out.  But  the  blame  all 
falls  on  my  bees.  In  one  sense,  peihaps  my 
bees  have  done  some  of  the  nu'schief,  inas- 
much as  they  have  picked  up  the  honey  pretty 
close.  Rut  did  not  their  few  stand  just  as  good 
a  chance  as  my  many?  Of  course,  they  did. 
Well,  what  is  the  nnitttM'  then?  It  is  all  in 
knowing  how  to  take  care  of  the  bees.  Can 
we  expect  a  man  to  prosper  in  any  busine.ss 
unless  he  knows  how  to  run  that  business?  A 
great  deal  depends  upon  small  details— little 
things  that  appear  to  be  of  no  consequence. 
It  is  a  small  thing  to  look  into  a  hive  and  see 
whether  there  is  feed  to  last  through  the  win- 
ter. ■' Why."  h(!  says.  "I  simply  took  off  the 
honey  that  was  stored  on  top  in  the  boxes,  and 
the  bees  have  all  the  hive  full  below:"  when,  if 
he  had  looked  carefully  thiough  the  iiive,  he 
would  have  found  that  he  had  taken  off' about 
all  the  honey  they  had  in  those  boxes;  then  the 
bees  die  for  want  of  feed.  Then  he  blames  an- 
other man's  bees  for  his  loss,  when  it  was  his 
own  ignorance. 

In  wintering  our  bees  outdoors,  what  shall  we 
put  over  them — a  cushion  or  a  honey-board 
sealed  down  tight?  This  is  a  question  that  I 
am  asked  to  answer  through  Gleanings.  I 
suppose  that  you  are  aware  that  we  winter  all 
of  our  bees  out  of  doors — at  present  between  .500 
and  <)(X)  colonies.  We  have  wintered  outdoors 
most  of  the  time  for  thirty  years,  and  have  had 
very  good  success.  We  have  tried  a  great  many 
plans  to  insui'(^  the  safety  of  the  bees.  We  now 
use  a  hou(>y-board  over  the  bees — that  is,  a  board 
made  of  %-iiieh  pine,  cleated  at  both  ends  to 
prevent  warping,  and  large  enough  to  cover  the 
colony  tight  and  let  the  bees  seal  it  down  with 


ISSCJ 


tiLKANINMiS  IN   ItKK  (  I'l/riKK. 


1:33 


prtipolis.  \Vi"  (1(1  all  Ilial  is  to  lie  doiic  Idilln' 
Ix't'S  by  the  middir  of  Sc|U('rnliri-.  i  ticii  li-l  itic 
b('t>s  seal  I lir  Ixiard  duw  ii  liLrlil.  and  don't  hirak 
till'  si-aiint;  anain  until  tiic  lii>t  of  April,  and 
then  only  to  stM- if  all  is  rijriil.  I  don't  want  a 
pjvrtii'lc  of  ail'  to  pa^s  np  tlii'onirh  tin-  l)i'cs  diir- 
uiS  tilt'  wintiT:  jiivi'  tlicin  some  vent  at  the 
(MitraniM'.  hut  none  on  lop.  WIumi  tlir  lioncy- 
lioard  is  on  ami  scaled  down.  plai'<'  a  cushion, 
."i  Of  1)  ini'hi's  deep,  over  the  honi-y-hoa rd,  or'  lill 
tlio  top  ohainbcr  with  straw.  This  top  rovcrintj 
lu'lps  to  retain  the  heat.  I'nt  your  hand  under 
this  eoverin£r  in  winter,  and  the  honey-hoard 
feels  warm  in  fact,  warm  enonijli  to  melt  snow 
in  the  C()ldest  weather.  W'e  have  tried  pultiniic 
a  six-incli  chatl  cushion  on  the  i)ees  below  the 
honey-board;  but  that  won't  do.  as  the  cliafT  in 
the  cnsliion  becomes  wr>t.  and  the  bees  dw  indie 
l>ad  and  conii'  out  weak  in  spriiif;;.  I  believe 
that  the  l)ees"  instinct  to  .seal  u|)  all  cracks  and 
openinijs  in  ihc  lii\('  is  correct — at  least,  as  far 
as  the  ioi)  of  the  hive  is  concerned,  for  ()Utd(Jor 
wintering.  When  you  put  bees  indoors  to  win- 
ter, you  iri\('  them  an  unnatiu'iil  i)lac(^  to  i)ass 
tiie  winter,  and  they  may  i'e(piii-e  difi'erent 
treatment.  I  have  no  doubt  thai  they  do.  In 
fad.  I  never  learned  to  winter  bees  successfully 
in  the  cellar:  but  having,  of  ni'cessity.  to  win- 
ter on  summer  stands.  I  have  studied  and  ex- 
perimented a  gr'eat  deal  on  how  to  winter  out- 
doors, and  [  think  we  have  the  thins  now  down 
to  a  safe  point.  Use  a  large  deep  hive.  If  the 
i...  frames  use  two  stories,  have  the  u|)per  story 
tilled  with  good  honey.  Put  on  a  tight  honey- 
board  early  enough  to  get  it  sealed  down,  with 
straw  or  other  good  packing  above  the  board. 
(Jive  them  a  good  wlndbi'eak.  and  then  let  them 
alone  until  spi'ihg.  A  (piadruple  hive  is  better 
than  a  singl(>  hive.  K    Fisaxce. 

Piaileville.  Wis..  Jan.  '.'."i. 

|Wliy.  friend  Fiance,  wc  are  afr;iid  you  did 
not  read  our  essay  very  carefully.  We  did  n(jt 
recommend  the  bicycle  for  every  one — only  for 
the  bee-keeper  who  runs  one  or  two  out-apia- 
ries. In  the  spring,  wlien  we  go  out  on  the 
bicycle,  we  give  the  stores  by  alternating 
comlis.  liy  a  little  intelligent  forethought, 
many  tilings  can  be  so  arranged  as  to  make  it 
unneceiSsary  to  carry  things  on  the  wheel,  even 
though  it  were  practical.  At  the  request  of 
several  friends  I  have  presented  the  essay  as  it 
was  read  at  the  convention.] 


BICYCLES  VERSUS   HORSES  FOR  OUT-APIARY 
TRIPS. 


AN    KSS.VV    BY   K.  K.  1500T.    I{KAI>    .\T   TIIK    MK  III- 
GAX    .STATE   CONVENTION. 

One  of  the  obstacles  in  the  way  of  establish- 
ing out-apiaries  is  the  expense'  necessary  to 
make  the  trips  to  these  yards.  That  expense 
usually  involves  the  keeping  of  a  horse  and 
buggy:  and  when  it  is  further  incn'ased  by  bad 
roads  for  six  months  in  the  year  (during  which 
time  the  capital  invested  in' the  horse,  buggy, 
harns.  etc..  is  lying  idle,  to  say  notliing  of  tlii' 
ilaily  labor*  it  becomes  (piite  a  serious  obstacle 
indeed.  I  have  had  experience  in  the  horse- 
business,  as  some  of  yon  may  know.  I  know 
•what  it  is  to  have  almost  impassible  roads  for 
six  or  seven  months  in  the  year,  during  which 
a  horse  can  not  be  dri\en  either  for  business  or 
pleasure.  I  know  what  it  is  during  this  time  to 
clean  the  stable,  doctor  a  horse  for  mud-fever, 
for  a  month  or  six  weeks:  I  have  experi«'nced 
the  lively  sensation  of  being  kicked  clear  across 
the  barn,  and  then  on  my  back,  panting  for 
breath,    scarcely    knowing    wh«'ther    I   had    a 


w  hole  bone  (If  not.  I  ha\('  iieen  inn  away  witJi 
a  couple  of  limes,  and  know  how cxliilarating 
it  is  to  feel  that  your  life  is  hanging  on  a  thread. 
I  know  what  it  is  to  have  horses  get  into  bee 
scrapes,  having  had  one  horse  killed  in  one 
such,  as  you  may  remember-  a  noble  animal 
for  which  I  was  olVered  *17."i  that  very  day.  I 
know  something  of  the  cost  of  keeping  buggies 
horses,  stables,  etc..  in  repair.  After  having 
had  this  experii^ice,  my  ardor  in  tlie  horse- 
business  has  gradually  waned.  I  must  make 
trips  to  out-apiaries;  and  to  walk  to  tliein 
would  be  too  slow;  and  to  use  one  of  my  father's 
horses— well,  they  were  always  busy  cultivat- 
ing, or  something  of  the  sort,  in  the  garden. 

As  soon  as  I  sold  my  last  high-ljyer  I  forth- 
with tiought  me  a  high-grade  Safety  Victor 
bicycle;  and  most  of  you  know  the  rest.  After 
having  ridden  it  several  hundred  miles  among 
the  bee-keepers  of  the  Fasi.  I  found  it  indeed  a 
iiKtst  serviceable  horse  for  making  trips  t(j  our 
out-yards.  On  arrival  at  the  yard  I  could  leave 
it  leaning  against  the  teiicc^  and  not  be  in  mor- 
tal terror  that  the  thing  would  be  stung  by  a 
bee.  and  cut  up  some  awful  caper. 

I  am  no  expert  rider,  but  1  found  that  I  could 
make  trips  to  our  ont-apiary.  on  an  average, 
seven  miles,  in  about  three-quarters  of  an  hour! 
When  I  tried  to  do  something  real  smart.  I  rode 
ten  miles,  bought  an  apiary  of  so  colonies, 
returned  home,  all  inside  of  iwo  hours.  As  it 
took  me  about  ;i()  minutes  to  complete  the  bar- 
gain, the  total  time  on  the  road  of  :.'0  miles  was 
a  little  ov(!r  an  honr  and  a  half.  IJut  the  roads 
were  good.  On  other  occasions  I  have  made  .SO 
miles  in  three  hours;  4.")  miles  in  live  hours. 
The  latter  distancj' was  made  over  the  hills  of 
York  State.  Now.  this,  no  doubt,  may  look  like 
a  big  yarn  to  some  of  the  uninitiated  bicycle- 
riders;  but  I  am  stating  absolute  facts.  I  do 
not  give  these  figuivs  to  boast,  but  simply  to 
show  what  an  average  man  has  done  with  a 
machine  after  a  little  i}ractice.  Now  then:  It 
will  be  seen  that  the  bicycle  is  a  great  time- 
saver  in  making  trips  to  out-apiaries.  No  horse 
—at  least  very  few— would  undertake  to  make 
such  time.  "But."  yon  say.  "such  rates  of 
speed  must  be  a  severe  strain  upon  the  consti- 
tution of  the  rider."  Experience  in  my  case 
proves  that  it  is  not.  but,  on  the  contrary,  it 
proves  to  be  a  wonderful  tonic  to  the  constitu- 
tion. The  muscles  of  the  leg  develop  wonder- 
fully. But  how  is  it,  yon  may  ask.  that  a  man 
can  travel  so  much  faster  tlian  the  average 
horse'.'  The  cushioned  tires,  ball  bearings,  and 
the  gearing,  give  him  an  immense  advantage 
over  his  dumb  friend. 

Perhaps  some  young  bee-keeper  will  say,  "  I 
would  have  a  bicycle  if  I  thought  I  could  "ride 
it."  It,  is  no  trick  at  all  to  balance  one.  Almost 
any  one  can  be  taught  to  ride  them  in  half  an 
hour's  time.  Even  our  fricuid  W.  Z..  I  am  told, 
masterc^d  the  machine  in  twenty  minutes;  but 
in  order  to  make  speed  and  cover  distance,  it 
takes  a  little  time  to  develop  the  muscles,  and 
learn  a  few  nice  points  in  guiding, 

"  But,"  you  ask.  "doesn't  riding  seven  miles 
to  an  out-apiary  make  you  very  tired— in  fact, 
weary  —  too  much  so  to  do  a  day's  work'?" 
Strange  as  it  may  seem,  it  does  not.  Riding  is 
one  sort  of  exercise,  and  working  over  the  hives 
is  another.  A  different  .set  of  muscles  in  either 
case  is  called  into  action.  Most  of  the  care  of 
our  out-apiary  last  summer  devolved  upon  the 
writer  personally.  I  have  taken  a  trip  down  in 
tlic  morning,  worked  all  day,  and  come  back  in 
the  evening,  tired,  perhaijs.  a  little,  but  no  more 
so  than  any  one  (>lse  who  has  done  a  full  day's 
work.  At  other  times,  when  I  have  had  a  spare 
hour  or  two.  I  would  mount  the  wheel,  run 
down  to  the  apiary,  diagnose  the  hives,  and 
give  such  attention  as  might  be  needed  to  this 


124 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  15. 


or  that  colony,  thmi  return,  after  about  two 
hours'  work.  Now,  the  point  I  am  getting  at 
is  this:  A  bicycle  can  be  purchased  for  less  than 
the  price  of  an  average  good  horse.  The  repair 
might  be  fifteen  cents  a  year;  oil  for  lubricating 
the  healings,  perhaps  another  fifteen  cents. 
Outside  of  that  there  is  no  other  expense.  Place 
this  balance-sheet  over  against  that  for  the 
expense  of  a  hoise,  barn,  hay.  labor,  i-epairs,  etc. 
Now  see  how  your  account  will  stand.  Well,  a 
young  man  can  make  his  trips  to  his  out-yards, 
on  the  wheel — yes.  make  nine-tenths  of  his 
trips  in  that  way.  How  about  hauling  the  bees 
home?  As  a  general  thing,  a  farmer  in  the 
vicinity,  with  his  double  team,  can  be  hired  to 
do  the  work  foi'  you— that  is,  hauling— for  a 
crate  of  honey  or  a  small  consideration  in 
money.  He  can  also  be  hired  to  haul  home 
your  crop  of  honey,  and  bring  hack  all  the  sup- 
plies that  you  may  need.  With  a  little  fore- 
thought, all  these  things  can  be  carried  in  a  few 
trips.  In  the  spring,  for  hauling  the  bees  to  the 
out-apiaries,  if  the  services  of  a  farmei'  are  not 
available  at  that  time,  a  livery  may  be  hired  at 
about  two  dollars  a  day.  Ten  dollars  ought  to 
cover  all  the  expense  of  hauling  for  at  least  one 
yard,  and  possibly  two.  Even  if  it  were  twenty, 
this  would  be  a  great  deal  cheaper  than  taking 
care  of  a  horse  for  one  year,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  other  expense,  first  cost,  interest  on  the 
money,  and  other  risks. 

If  you  are  a  bee-keeper  and  also  a  farmer, 
then  the  horse  would  be  more  serviceable.  But 
the  point  I  would  urge,  in  a  nutshell,  is  this: 
That  a  young  man  in  a  locality  where  the  roads 
are  not  sandy,  can  manage  a  systetn  of  two  or 
three  yards  cheaper  with  a  good  bicycle,  sup- 
plemented by  the  aid  of  a  farmer  or  liveryman, 
than  he  could  to  keep  a  horse,  buggy,  and  all 
the  other  paraphernalia  connected  with  the 
horse-business.  I  have  tried  the  scheme  for 
one  year,  and  I  think  I  know  something  of  what 
I  am  tarlking  about. 

In  conclusion,  let  me  add  that  I  do  not  advise 
the  use  of  a  bicycle  for  elderly  men. 

[The  above  we  had  not  intended  to  imblish  in 
our  own  journal:  but  as  there  has  been  some 
inquiry  as  to  what  we  had  to  say  on  that  subject. 
we  give  it  in  answer  thereto.] 


THE  HIBERNATION  OF  THE  HONEY-BEE. 


TKITE    HIBKliNATION    EXI'LAINKI)     l!V     Ml!.    I'.    II. 
EIAVOOD. 


Mr.  S.  Corneil,  of  Lindsey,  Ontario.  Canada, 
writes  us  that  Mr.  Doolittle's  article  on  hiber- 
nation, page  4.").  is  somewhat  misleading,  and 
hoped  we  might  see  our  way  clear  to  i)iiblish  an 
article  by  P.  H.  EI\\ood,  in  the  Canaduui  Bee 
Journal,  page  "iSl,  188().  This  article,  he  says, 
was  a '"settler"  when  the  subject  was  up  for 
discussion  several  years  ago.  No  one  ever  at- 
tempted to  answer  it.  We  have  looked  up  the 
article  in  (luestioii:  and  as  it  seems  to  cover  the 
subject  so  thoroughly  we  are  glad  to  make  the 
accompanying  <'\tract  from  it: 

What  is  hibfriiMtinnV  Marsludl  Hall  sa.\s.  "Slei-p 
and  liiberiiatioii  are  similar  peiiodical  piu'iionicna 
leading'  tu  similar  results,  and  (liftViinji'  only  in  de- 
cree." As  Dr.  Hall  is  piobably  tlic  liijihcst  author- 
ity we  liave  on  the  subject,  and  as  his  di'linition  has 
been  accepted  1)>  all  invcstijiatois,  it  would  scfin  to 
l)e  well  foi'  smattcifis  in  st-ieiH'c  to  look  u))  the 
standard  definition  and  accept  it.  lallier  tliaii  to 
coin  another  which  shall  be  accurate  oidy  iu  niea- 
surinK  the  want  of  knowledjre  of  its  author.  The 
Germans  recognize  liil)ernation  as  a  i)ecidiarly  deep 
sleep,  and  their  name  for  it  is  winter  sleep  (See  Uur- 
Uiw't^  Winter  Schlaf,  livrlln).  Do  honey-bet's  hibei- 
natt',  or  is  the  ([Uiel  of  winter  onl>'  a  sleep,  or  has  it 
passed  l)eyond  sleep  into  hibernation':'    Di'.  Edward 


Smith  says  a  man  in  deep  sleep  expired  i.'y  g-raius  of 
carbonic  acid  jier  minute:  on  the  t  readwlieel,  43.36 
grains  ]iev  minute.  A  waking  hedgehog  yielded  SO.S 
times  more  carbonic  acid  than  one  in  a  state  of  hi- 
bernation. Tliuswe  have  a  ratio  between  sleep  and 
waking  of  1  to  10,  nearly;  between  hibernation  (not 
piofound)  and  waking,  "l  to  20.5.  If,  instead  of  the 
treadwheel,  we  take  walking  at  three  miles  per 
liour  rZn  grains  carbonic  acid  per  minute),  which  ex- 
ertion would  coriesiHuid  more  neaily  witli  thatof 
the  hedgehog,  we  have  a  ratio  less  than  1  to  6.  Car- 
penter says  of  the  liee:  "  When  breeding,  the  evolu- 
tit)n  of  heat  and  consinnjition  of  o.\>  gen  takes  place- 
at  least  twenty  times  as  rapidly  as  when  in  a  state 
of  repose."  Tlus  is  the  same  ratio  that  exists  be- 
tween the  hedgehog's  hibernation  and  waking. 
But,  diopping  these  comparisons  as  illogical,  we- 
may  note  the  number  of  inspirations  and  the 
amount  of  food  taken  during  the  winter,  which 
jiroves  conclusi\ely  that,  in  its  winter  repose,  tlie 
honey-bee  luis  passed  far  beyond  the  jihysiological 
limits  of  sleep  into  hibernation.  You  will  notice  hy 
the  definition,  that,  where  sleep  ends,  hibernation 
begins — there  is  no  "((uiescence"  between.  The 
daily  summer  sleep  of  the  bat  and  dormouse  is  a 
true  hibernation.  Dr.  Hall  says,  "Tlie  (juantity  of 
respiration  is  inversely  as  the  degree  of  irritability 
of  the  muscular  tiber.tlie  former  being  marked  by 
the  quantity  of  oxygen  consumed  in  a  given  time 
ascertained  by  the  imeumatometer.  the  latter  by 
the  force  of  galvanism  necessary  to  demonstrate  its 
existence."  The  cajiability  of  |iassing  into  a  state 
of  hibernati(m  depends  upon  the  capability  of  tak- 
ing on  an  incieased  muscidar  irritaliility.  Were  the 
respiration  diminished  without  the  increased  mus- 
cular irritability,  deatli  would  take  place  from  the 
torpoi- of  slow  asphyxia;  and  were  the  respiration 
increased  without  the  diminution  of  the  irritaliility, 
the  animal  would  die  from  over-stimulation,  as  in 
those  suddenly  aroused  from  the  state  of  hiberna- 
tion." As  such  tiitilng  causes  as  walking- over  the 
floor,  touching  the  oijei'atiiig-table,  etc.,  are  sviflH- 
cient  to  excite  respiration,  hibernating  animals 
adopt  various  means  of  securing  themselves  from 
disturbance;  and  when  the  temperature  approach- 
es ."iO  °  tliej'  seek  out  their  hibernacles  in  trees, 
caves,  and  burrows  in  the  earth.  It  was  foimd 
that  hibernating  bats  died  when  subjected  to  the 
motion  of  ;i  stage-coach  foracou|ile  of  days.  The 
same  treatmeiU  would  \nidoubtedly  seriously  injure 
a  hibernating  swai-m  of  bees.  It  was  that  close  ol)- 
si'rver,  Mr.  L.  C.  Root,  who  first  called  my  attention 
to  the  injurious  conse<|uences  of  the  needless  dis- 
turbance of  liees  dining  their  winter  sleep.  And 
ever}'  farmer  boy  knows  how  unwholesome  it  is  to 
be  suddeidy  aroused  from  a  deep  sleep  to  immedi- 
ately participate  in  the  active  diUies  of  the  day. 
How  comforting  to  the  iisi)ig  generation  that  the 
doctors  now  say  the  process  of  awakening  should 
tie  a  gradual  one  ! 

Hibernation  differs  widely  in  different  animals. 
While  pt)s.sessing-  the  same  general  characteristics, 
yet  in  no  two  is  it  exactly  alike:  and  we  must  7U)t 
exiH'ct  the  honey-bee.  which  differs  so  much  from 
every  thing  else  of  the  animal  kind,  to  conform  in 
every  particular  to  the  already  observed  conditions 
of  hibernation.  In  some  animals,  hibernation  is- 
very  profound:  in  others,  not.  I  have  already  giv- 
en an  illustration  of  the  latter.  A  Inljernating-  bat, 
in  a  i)neumatometer.  consumed  but  one  seventy- 
second  part  as  nuich  oxygen  as  one  awake.  The 
bat  may  be  said  to  belong  to  the  former  class.  In 
some  animals,  before  the  period  of  hibernation  a 
lai'ge  amount  of  fat  is  stored  in  the  body.  Tins  iiy- 
dro-ca\bonaccous  dejiosit  sei-ves  as  a  store  of  lieat 
and  force  during  that  i>eriod.  In  this  class  of  pro- 
founil  hibei-nators,  the  total  loss  of  weight  is  some- 
times 40  per  cent,  or  fully  as  nuu'h  as  usually  .sus- 
tained in  starvation.  Another  class  of  hiliernating- 
animals  stoi-e  their  chief  supply  of  food  outside  of 
the  l)od>,  and  awake  atinter\als  to  i>aitake  of  it. 
The  marmot,  liedgehog.  squirrels,  flornuce,  etc.,  be- 
long- to  this  class.  To  this  class  w(>  must  assign  the 
honey-bee,  the  honey  being  the  stored  suijply  of 
heat  and  force.  Some  of  this  class  liave  a  partial 
depenfl(>nce  upon  the  fat  of  the  bod>.  but  it  is  not- 
asseited  that  this  is  the  case  with  tlie  honey-liee. 
Somi'  lu'e-pldlosophers,  howevei',  maintain  that  bees 
Ue)  t  on  a  short  allowance  through  t  lu'  fall  and  su])- 
lilied  later  for  winter,  do  not  usually  come  thiough 
so  well.  Tliere  is  also  a  small  school  of  physiologists 
who  assert  that  all  cai'bonaceous  food  must  first  be 
convei'ted  into  adipose  tissue  before  it  can  be  use- 
ful foi-  the  production  of  heat  and   foi-ce.    Tlus  ap- 


IS'.fJ 


(;M':\XIN(iS  IN   liKE  CULTURE. 


I '-^5 


plies  M/ii.i/y.l/  11, n  tu  the  ll.)iu\  of  I  he  \<rr  iislnllif 
i|ii;iils  <if  (lil  t'OMMinu'd  liyllu'  l-'s(|iiiinaii.  Accord- 
iiijf  111  Dr.  IImII,  till'  ln'il>ivln>y.  in  ;i  Iciiipci-it  iiii-  v:i- 
rxiii)..'  fi-Diii  foily-tlvc  to  llf(.\  tioKi»"i's,  iiwiiltcs 
In  (Ml  :i1  inlciMils  of  two  of  tlii'i'f  iliix  s.  do- 
ln'iidln.ir  upon  this  slisflil  ilillcicncc  In  tt-nipriii- 
tmt'.  'riu>  (loitiiouso.  w  liicli  sonicl  hncs  hiliciiiiitcs 
in  lu'c  -  lii\  t>s.  :i\v;iki'>  (l:iil\  in  nioilcrntr  Icin- 
p('i"iIiiros.  Dr.  Hci'NCS  s!i\s.  "Lower  li'nipoi;it me 
lie>rin>  at  the  surface  of  the  liody  and  >;r;nlinill.\  ap- 
piomdie-.  I  lie  (•enter."  This  central  part,  as  Dr. 
Hall,  Spallan/i,  and  others  haxc  proven,  remains 
peiniaiienil\  at  a  hiaher  tetnpeiiil  mo.  In  hibeina- 
lioii.as  at  other  times,  a  swarm  or  cluster  of  bees 
iniist  he  taken  as  a  unit .  Mealing  this  in  mind,  it 
is.  as  we  should  e.vpect.that  I  he  center  of  a  hihei- 
naiiiiy  cliislei  i>  formed  of  a  higher  lemperaliire 
than  the  oiii>ide,  as  Doolittle.  Tinker.  ;iiid  others 
have  noted.  Most  bee-keepers  lunc  not  iced,  on  sud- 
denl.\(li\idni!.'-  .a  cluslci'  of  bees  in  cold  we.il  her, 
that  the  outside  bees  are  --omewhat  let liarj;ie,  while 
those  in^^idc  .-ire  livel.x'  and  apt  to  tl.v  out  and  stiiis; 
while  if  an.\  of  t  hes'e  half-awaUc  "oulsde  bees  ll.\ 
t  hcv  appear  not  to  haxc  control  of  t  heir  movements, 
and  fall  to  the  fiiound. 

The  heat  of  reptiles  is  from  four  to  tifleeu  de- 
jrrees  F.  above  the  heat  of  their  medium,  while  the 
heat  of  individual  insects  is  from  I  wo  to  ten  de- 
irrees  more  Ihan  that  of  tho  air.  Therefore  it  can 
not  he  said  that  reptiles  or  solitary  insects  hilx'i- 
iiate  as  w.-irm-blooded  mammalia  do.  The  same  ma.\ 
besaidofthe  Individual  bee.  If  is  oid.\  when  aji- 
jrrejrated  in  clusters  Ihal  a  hisrh  Hiul  independent 
temperature  is  niiintainel.  Hibernation  must  not 
he  c'lmt'ouiided  wit  h  torpidity.  The  Amrrk-o)!  E)t- 
fj/ffiiycdirt  sa\s:  "The  torpor  produced  by  extreme 
«  old  is  ver.\' (lilferent  from  true  hibernation."  And 
.•ifrain.  In  another  edition.  ■  Ext  feme  cold  will  arouse 
a  hibi'i-natinjr  animal  from  its  lethaifiy,  and  speed- 
ily kill  it."  We  all  know  that  cold  arouses  bees. 
These,  then,  appear  to  be  some  of  the  leadinji'  chac- 
:icteiistics  of  liibernation:  An  activit.v  similar  to 
but  less  than  in  sleep,  with  diminished  respiration, 
but  i'lcreased  muscular  irritaliilit y;  lower  temper- 
ature, lowest  at  the  surface  of  t  he  !>  id.\,  diminished 
need  of  foo  1.  and.  when  stored  outside  of  the  bod.\-. 
partaken  of  only  at  inter\als  of  awakeninj;-.  loss  of 
vohiiitary  in  ilioii.  but  continuance  of  involuntar.x' 
motion.  As  bees  p  )ssess  .so  mai.vof  the  <'onditions 
of  liibernation.  it  seems  i-easonable  to  cnaeliide  that 
they  hibernate.        *        *        *  P.  H.  Elwcjod. 

[The  artielo,  shows  mncli  painstaking  care  in 
its  pi-ei)aration.  and.  wiiliout  doiiht.  thi'  state- 
mi'iils  are  correct,  fiom  a  scieiiiKic  point  of 
view.  Hibernation —  at  least  with  the  bce- 
keepers  on  this  side  of  tiie  line — was  pretty  well 
worn  out  yeai's  ajro  in  discussion:  but  we,  trust 
there  will  be  no  objection  on  the  part  of  our 
readers  to  our  jjiviii!^  wiiat  is  both  iiiten>sting 
and  valuable.  We  pi'(>siiine  Mr.  Doolittle  meant 
the  same  thing,  even  if  he  did  not  state  it  (|uile 
as  scientifically.] 


THE  WINTER  PROBLEM  IN  BEE-KEEPING. 


MOHTAI.ITV     OF      BKKS       FOH       TlIK      I. .VST     FKW 

VKARS:    WHO   FIKST    OHIGINATKI)   TIIK    IDK,\ 

OF    \     SKALKD     COVEK?     .SI'ACK     U.VDKI! 

FRAMKS   IN   WI.VTEKING;    VAI,L'.\KI,K 

FACTS      HY     a.     U.     ITKRCK.     THK 

AUTHOK   OF   Til?;     NEW   IJOOK 

O.N    WINTEKING. 


Mr.  E.  R.  Riiiit: — In  your  review  of  tlu'  above 
hook,  page '.).'.-.'.( Jr. E.\N I N'<;s  for  IS'.d.  you  make 
one  criticism  which  I  think  iieinis  n  reply  on  my 
part,  which  1  do.  not  with  the  design  of  [irovok- 
ing  discussion,  but  simply  to  arrive,  if  possible. 
Ht  the  actual  facts  of  the  case.  The  criticism  1 
refer  to  is  as  follows: 

"Tlie  author  has  evidently  placed  the  per- 
*;eiitage  of  loss  beyond  what  itn^ally  is.  Twenty- 
live  per  cent  would  be  nearer  correct:  and. 
among  intelligent  bee-keepers,  ten  jier  cent." 

When  I  first  commenced  tin;  study  in  a  con- 
secutive manner — of  the  stib.ject  of  bee-moitali- 
ly  in  winter.  I  endeavored    to  learn   something 


positive  in  i-egard  to  the  aiiproximate  average 
loss  among  bee-keepers;  but  1  soon  found  that 
I  he  i|Uesiioii  was  a  most,  intricate  one.  ami  thiit 
no  .solution  could  be  reached  wiiicli  would  al 
once  commend  itself  to  the  bee-keeping  fra- 
leriiity.  The  reason  for  iirriviiig  at  this  con- 
clusion may  be  formulated  as  follows: 

(/.  'I'here  are  no  Stat  istics.  State  or  National, 
in  regard  to  the  bee-kee|)ing  industry  worthy 
of  the  name. 

/).  lOveii  the  reports  of  bee-keei'ers,  as  given 
in  the  periodicals(agriciiltiiral  and  apicultiiral), 
w  hen  taken  as  a  wiioie  are  found  to  lie  utterly 
\alueless  when  scriitini/ed  closely  and  compar- 
ed with  pie\ious  reports  made  by  thi'  same  per- 
son. In  order  to  illustrate  this  assertion,  let  us 
take  a  suppo.sed  case,  whicii  may  be  verified  by 
any  ow  who  wislit^s  to  lie  informed  on  the  sub- 
ject in  (lui'stion.  IjCt  us  siiitpose  tluit  .Mr.  ]{.  is 
an  intclligeni  bee-keei)er  wlio  has  Kio  colonies 
whicli  were  placed  in  winter  (|iiai'ters  in  good 
condition.  About  the  lirst  or  middle  of  Aiiril. 
Mr.  B.  writes  to  (ii.E.vNiNiis,  giving  his  experi- 
ence during  the  winter,  and  saying  that  his 
loss  has  been.  say.  only  .">  per  cent,  which  is  un- 
doubtedly true.  liiit  in  tht;  September  and 
October  following.  Mr.  H.  wi'ites  again  to 
(;i,E.\NIN(iS.  tells  of  the  prosp(>ct  of  the  honey 
crop  in  his  neighborhood,  gives  liis  experi(Mic(> 
and  opinion  in  regard  to  .some  of  thi^  metliods  or 
diniccs  used  in  honey  production,  and  closes  by 
reporting  his  yield  at.  say,  ;iO(X)  lbs.  from  In  col- 
onies. xprUiij  roinit.  Now.  Mr.  B.'s  two  reports, 
when  takeii  together,  show  that  :.'0  colonies 
have  mysteriously  disappeared.  It  may  be  that 
Mr.  B.  is  a  breeder  of  queens,  or  that  the  :3()  col- 
onies were  sold.  I  have  no  doubt  that  many  of 
tiie  reports  given  could  beexiilained  in  this  way. 
There  is  no  iiiiestion.  however,  that  v.-ry  many 
—in  fact,  the  great  majority,  of  the  reports 
given  in  the  press  are  misleading  in  this  partic- 
ular regard— no  figures  being  given  of  total  loss 
—only  that  which  is  apparent  at  the  opening  of 
spring. 

Now,  I  do  not  wish  to  l)e  understiiod  as  re- 
llecting  upon  the  honor  of  the  men  wlio  from 
time  to  time  give  their  experience  through  the 
press.  I  believe  they  aim  to  give  the  facts  as 
they  understand  them;  but.  owing  to  the  i)rac- 
tice  of  reporting  losses  as  soon  as  tlu;  bees  com- 
mence to  fly,  they  virtually  ignore  the  subject 
of  sprinij  niorttility.  and  yet  the  loss  during  the 
winter  inonths  is  a  mere  bagatelle  compared 
with  that  occurring  during  the  months  of 
March.  Ajiril.  and  i)art  of  May  if  the  latter 
hapjieiis  to  l)e  a  cold  month.  It  is  only  w  hen 
the  sveather  becomes  settled,  giving  continuous- 
ly warm  days  and  nights,  that  the  effects  of  de- 
fective mc^thodsof  wintering  are  fully  apparent. 

Again,  there  is  another  reason  why  reports  of 
bee-keepers  are.  to  a  certain  extent,  unieliiible 
as  data  upon  which  to  base  an  opinion  of  the 
percentage  of  loss. 

Bee-keepers  have  just  about  as  much  hiunan 
nature  in  thidr  comiiosition  as  any  other  class 
of  people.  The  "  prominent  bee-keeper"  of  a 
community  is  looked  upon  as  an  oracle  in  all 
matters  relating  to  bees,  and  usually  he  does 
not  exert  himself  to  lower  this  public  estimate, 
but.  rather,  enhances  it  by  giving  greattir  [jrom- 
inence  to  his  success  than  to  his  failuivs.  He; 
may  not  do  this  intentionally,  but  the  result  is 
thesaine  nevertheless:  he  is  judged  to  be  u/ii- 
fnnnhj  successful — a  conclusion  whicli  the 
facts,  if  known,  would  not  wanant. 

I  have  found  it  exceedingly  difficult  to  get 
figures  from  some  bee-kt  epers  as  to  their  aver- 
age annual  loss  of  colonies.  Tliere  is  no  difil- 
dence  in  giving  information  in  regard  to  yield 
of  honey,  or  incresise  in  colonies;  but  when  the 
subject"  of  loss  is  broached,  there  is  a  disposi- 
tion to  dispose  of  it  as  of  no  matter. 


126 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feb.  15. 


Several  years  ago  I  was  considerably  amused 
by  a  conversation  I  had  on  the  cars  with  a  bee- 
keeper from  Illinois.  I  was  deeply  interested  in 
the  subject  of  wintering  bees,  and  the  talk  very 
soon  drifted  into  this  channel.  1  was  soon 
given  to  undci'stand  that  my  fellow-traveler 
knew  (?)  all  about  bees,  if  nota  little  more  than 
all.  From  his  standpoint  the  wintering  ques- 
tion was  of  no  particular  importance — was  more 
the  result  ot  ignorance  than  an  unsolved  mys- 
tery: he  had  no  trouble  in  wintering  bees,  and 
did  not  see  why  other  bee-keepers  should.  See- 
ing that  loquacity  was  his  weakness  I  content- 
ed myself  with  listening,  only  now  and  then 
asking  a  question  at  a  favorable  opportunity. 
I  learned  a  great  deal  from  this  man — so  much 
that  I  could  not  mentally  digest  it:  and  when  I 
asked  him  to  explain,  instead  of  doing  so  he 
suddenly  became  comparatively  dumb,  and,  at 
the  first  opportunity,  retired  to  another  car. 
Now.  this  man  was  as  well  posted  on  bee-keep- 
ing as  the  average:  but  he  was  keeping  bees 
from  year  to  year,  apparently  ignorant  of  the 
fact  that  a  large  percentage  of  his  colonies  died 
every  wiutei'  and  spring,  simply  from  want  of 
proper  care.  I  know  this  to  be  the  fact,  because, 
in  reply  to  my  interjected  questions,  he  gave 
me  the  following  information: 

a.  He  had  about  T.')  colonies:  5  years  before, 
he  had  60. 

/).  He  very  seldom  sold  bees — no  buyers. 

';.  He  never  "'  took  uj)bees,"  that  is,  destroyed 
them. 

d.  He  usually  doubled  his  number  of  colonies 
each  year. 

e.  He  seldom  lost  in  wintf-ring  more  than  two 
or  three  colonies — quite  a  trivial  matter. 

The  average  reader  can  readily  sec  tlie  point. 

When  I  commenced  to  devote  attention  to  the 
subject  in  question  I  supposed  that  2.5  per  cent 
was  a  fair  estimate  of  the  average  loss  of  colo- 
nies in  the  Northern  Stat<>s;  but  after  a  careful 
comparison  of  repoits  given  in  the  bee-periodi- 
cals, and  from  my  knowledge  of  the  usual  rate 
of  loss  in  my  neighborhood.  1  am  constrained  to 
believe  that  the  figures  given  in  "  The  Winter 
Problem  "  are  not  in  excess  of  the  facts.  It  is 
true,  that  there  are  some  apiarists  who  winter 
with  very  small  loss;  thei'e  are  also  seasons 
when  this  loss  is  comparatively  small  in  some 
localities;  but  in  a  decade  this  does  not  cut 
down  the  figures  to  a  very  great  extent. 

PRIORITY   OF   DISCOVERY. 

Mr.  Massie.  of  West  Virginia,  in  Gi.kanings 
of  Jan.  15.  page  52,  is  rather  disposed  to  claim 
the  honor  of  being  the  first  to  advocate  letting 
the  bees  seal  the  covers  for  winter.  Very  well ! 
I  do  not  claim  any  discovery  in  that  direction, 
for  I  know  from  personal  knowledge  that  the 
idea  is  at  least  25  yeai'S  old,  and  I  I'ather  think 
it  is  as  old  as  bee-keeping.  When  tiie  Lang- 
stroth  hive  was  first  introduced  in  Wisconsin, 
the  main  objections  urged  against  it  were,  that 
it  was  too  shallow  for  the  bees  to  winter  well: 
and  that  the  top.  being  loose,  more  or  less  of 
the  warm  air  from  the  colony  would  escape. 
The  objections  were  met,  by  those  interested, 
by  the  argument  that  the  loose  cover  could  be 
secui-ely  sealed  by  the  bees  after  the  honey  sea- 
son was  over,  and  that  the  hive  might!  with 
but  little  labor  or  expense,  have  an  additional 
covering  of  hay  or  straw.  There  are  hundreds 
of  bee-keepers  who  have  for  the  past  ten  or 
fifteen  years  kept  bees  on  this  plan. 

Neither  do  I  claim  to  have  first  discovered 
the  method  of  wintering  in  cases  as  described 
in  my  book,  though  I  first  used  it  during  the 
winter  of  1882.  The  plan  is  a  very  simi)le  and  ra- 
tional one.  and  is  only  an  improvement  on  the 
old  method  of  covering  with  hay  or  straw. 

A    careful     perusal   of     my    book,    "Winter 


Problem."  will  show  that  the  seiting-forth  of 
new  methods  or  d(nices  was  not  the  object  in 
view;  in  fact,  this  is  just  what  I  wish  to  avoid. 
What  I  have  aimed  to  do  is  to  explain  trliy  bees 
perish  in  winter,  and  theicby  show  what  co7i- 
(7if)VnKs  are  essential  and  vital  to  healthv  bee- 
life. 

There  is  a  wide  difference  between  knowing' 
7io»' a  thing  should  be  done  and  (c/ii/ it  should 
be  done.  The  foinx'i'  knowledge  is  acquired  by 
experience — is  empirical:  the  latter  can  be 
gained  only  by  an  investigation  into  the  work- 
ing of  the  laws  gov<'rning  the  subject  under 
consideration — is  scientific.  Empirical  knowl- 
edge may  often  be  acquii'ed  simply  by  the  use 
of  sight — and  memory:  but  scientific  knowl- 
edge can  be  obtained  only  by  a  study  of  the  re- 
lation of  cause  to  effect.  Let  me  illusti'ate  the 
difference  when  ai)plied  to  some  of  th<' opera- 
tions of  bee-keeping. 

I  have  noticed  of  late  that  several  of  our 
prominent  bee-keepeis  recommend  the  use  of  a 
rim  under  the  hive  in  order  to  have  an  empty 
space  about  two  inches  deep— this,  of  course^ 
only  during  the  winter.  I  believe  Mi'.  Hutch- 
inson has,  in  one  of  his  articles  on  wintering, 
said  that  colonies  prepared  in  this  way  seemed 
to  do  better  than  those  placed  directly  on  the 
bottom-board,  but  frankly  admits  that  he  is 
unable  to  explain  why  this  is  the  case.  Dr. 
C.  C.  Miller,  also,  in  "Stray  Straws."'  Feb.  1. 
gives  a  quotation  from  the  British  BeeJournal. 
favoring  the  use  of  the  space  below  the  frames. 

If  I  remember  aright,  this  plan  was  first  pro- 
posed by  W.  F.  Clarke,  of  Canada,  about  the 
time  that  he  introduced  his  "  hibernation 
theory.'"  and,  as  soon  as  I  found  it  convenient,  1 
tested  the  plan  thoroughly  in  the  following 
manner: 

Ten  colonies  were  wintered  on  their  summer 
stands,  prepared  as  usual,  the  hive  resting  on 
the  bottom-board,  and  ten  were  placed  with  an 
empty  hive — frames  removed— under  each  one. 
These  twenty  colonies  averaged  nearly  equal 
strength  in  honey  stores  and  bees. 

When  winter  set  in  I  noticed  that,  during 
every  sunny  day  after  a  cold  snap,  the  bees  in 
those  hives  I'esting  on  the  bottom-board  would 
be  busy  carrying  out  dead  bees.  The  colonies 
ovei'  the  empty  hivi's  did  not.  of  course,  need  to 
do  this,  and  this  gave  me  the  opportunity  to 
-see  that  many  more  bees  perished  from  the 
hives  prepared  in  the  usual  manner  than  from 
those  having  the  under  air-space.  All  experi- 
ments made  in  this  mannei'  confirmed  the 
claim  made  for  this  method  of  wintering:  and 
had  I  been  satisfied  to  let  the  matter  rest  at 
this  point  it  would  have  been  positive  evidence 
to  me  that  an  air-space  under  each  hive  was  an 
absolute  necessity.  But  this  was  the  how  of 
the  matter,  not  the  tvhy.  The  placing  of  the 
empty  hive  under  the  several  colonies  was  sim- 
ply following  a  suggestion  which  had  been 
proposed  by  another  person:  the  explanation  of 
the  phenomenon  was  quite  another  mattei-. 

The  first  fact  that  attracted  my  attention 
was,  that  the  gi-eatest  loss  of  bees  from  the 
hives  lacking  the  air-space  occurred  in  the 
strongest  colonies,  judging  trt)m  the  appear- 
ance of  the  cluster  at  the;  bottom.  This  was 
rather  remarkable,  and  the  reader  might  ex- 
plain it  by  saying  that  these  colonies  contained 
the  largest  percentage  of  old  bees;  but  this  was 
evidently  not  so;  toi'  it  is  not  likely  that  all  the 
coloniesso  constituted  would  be  found  in  one 
class. 

Again,  another  fact  was  presented:  The  loss 
was  greatest  in  those  hives  where  the  bee- 
clustei'  touched  the  hottom-hoard. 

I  have  not  time  to  set  forth  all  the  methods 
adopted  to  solve  the  question,  so  I  will  explain 
and  set  forth  the  conclusion  reached. 


isod 


(Jl-KAMNCS  IN   HKK  (  TI/IM-RK. 


1:27 


Of  alMlii'  liivr  walls,  the  lupllum  islhi'  ciihicsl, 
ami  its  icmiH'ralmc  iipproximaU's  tliat  of  tlif 
oxtcriuil  air;  tlit'iffoic.  w  licii  tln>  wcatiuT  is 
very  riiiil.  say  Kl  to  15  hi-low  /.no  ( l'\).  iiiili'ss 
the  lii\>'  is  well  prolct'lcd.  tin-  hccs  toiiclnii^ 
tliisi'old  siirfai-f  w  ill  lu'citinc  I'liillcd.  and  tliis 
loss  will  oi-riir  to  tlu>  i-oioiiy  at  every  colt!  inter- 
val until,  by  its  losses,  it.  is  enabled  to  clnsier 
\v<>ll  up  anions  th(>  eoinhs  and  away  from  tlie 
deatli-dealinii  liottont-hoaiii.  This  explains.  I 
thin!;,  w  liai  iiee-kecpiMs  have  sieneiaily  ciaiin- 
ed.  that  hees  winter  better  on  deep  ilian  on 
shallow  frames;  and  yet  I  do  not  think  that  an 
air-spaei'  below  the  hive  is  absolutely  essential: 
for  if  the  top  of  a  hive  is  kept  warm  as  1  iiave 
described  in  '■  Winter  rrobliMii."  tlie  bees  will 
naturally  cluster  aw  ay  from  the  colder  bottom: 
at  all  events,  no  rim  would  be  needed  exc(>[)t 
under  those  hives  in  which  the  bees  clustered 
iti  such  a  manner  as  to  toucli.  or  be  (luite  close 
to.  the  bottom. 

When  1  lirst  commenced  to  kec^p  bees  the 
winterinir  <iuestion  w  as.  duiiiiii  the  cold  season. 
the  all-atii-orbing  to|)ic;  and  yet  none  of  the 
books  treating;  of  be(>s  entered  into  a  real  prac- 
tical discussion  of  this  particular  part  of  the 
sub.ject;  and.  jiidfrinfr  from  some  of  the  ques- 
tions proposed  in  tlii'  (juery  column  of  the 
Aincrhitn  Bee  Joiinuil  nui\  (;i,kamx<;s.  I  sur- 
mise that  the  beginner  now  fails  to  tind  com- 
fort in  the  bee-keeping  text-books  of  to-day  oi' 
he  would  not  ask  such  a  question  as.  "  Wlutt  ix 
the  iiroiici  tonpenttiirc  fur  (I  relUir  containing 
5()  colonies.'"  for  he  would  know  that  a  proper 
answer  to  such  a  question  requir<'S  a  knowledge 
of  all  the  conditions  involved  in  his  particular 
case.  The  same  temperature  will  not  do  for  a 
damp  cellar  as  for  a  dry  one:  and  where  the 
colonies  are  in  warm,  well-sealed  hives,  the  air 
must  be  kept  cooler  than  when  they  are  in  loose- 
toj)  hives.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  some  bee- 
ke(>pers  keep  their  bee-cellars  at  (luite  a  high 
temperature,  while  for  my  part  I  pay  no  atten- 
tion to  low  temperature  as  long  as  water  in  the 
cellar  will  not  freeze:  in  fact.  I  regard  a  ther- 
mometer in  a  bee-cellar  as  of  just  about  as 
much  real  utility  as  four  legs  to  a  wheelbariow . 

IJIairstown,  la..  Feb.  3.  (J.  R.  Pif:HCK. 

[It  is  to  be  regretted  tliat  we  have  not  more 
accurate  statistics  upon  which  to  roly:  but 
from  those  which  have  appeared  in  Gleanings 
in  the  last  three  or  foui'  years,  tlie  percentage 
of  bee  mortality,  as  nearly  as  we  can  ascertain. 
was  lower  than  what  you  put  it.  Still,  these 
statistics  may  have  been  very  misleading.] 


SEALED  COVERS  FOR  WINTER. 


akha.\«k.mf:nt  of  iiiviis  i\  (iuoi  i- 


I  have  not  been  a  bee-keeper  very  long.  I  am 
following  the  advice  of  the  A  15  ('  book,  to  ""go 
slowly  and  carefully."  After  transferring  a 
colony  from  a  box  liive  I  set  the  hive  bottom 
up.  and  found  it  was  so  thoroughly  glued  over 
inside  tliat  it  would  hold  water  as  well  as  a 
copper  kettle.  This  made  me  skeptical  atioiit 
absorbents  over  a  colony  of  bi'cs.  It  is  not  their 
nature  to  thus  prepare  for  winter.  I  have  seen 
hundreds  of  bees  in  autumn  gatliering  gum 
from  gum-trees,  and  carrying  it  on  thiMr  legs 
Ukc  pollen,  to  the  hive,  but  I  have  nevei'  yet 
Seen  them  gatliei-ing  foiest-leaves.swam[)-nioss. 
or  even  straw,  and  carrying  it  to  their  home  as 
a  protection  from  winter  stoi'ms.  Now-,  your 
idea  of  sealed  covers  over  tin;  frames  is  right: 
that  is  the  way  the  bees  would  have  it:  and 
if  you  can  not  put  on  the  board  in  time  for  the 
bees  to  glue  it.  why  not  paint  the  under  side 
with  a  solution  of  beeswax   and   propolis,  and 


\N  a\  I  he  <'dg('S  w ell.  I  Inn  |iui  on  all  I  he  packing 
you  desiri'.  lo  keep  the  moisture  and  cold  from 
gelling  lo  the  hiveV 

There  has  been  a  Kie;'l  deal  siiid  in  (ii.KA.N- 
iNiis  lately  aboni  the  arraiigemeni  of  hives  for 
convenience  in  handling  in  summer,  and  much 
is  also  said  alioni  difTerent  methods  of  packing 
for  winter.  I  will  give  you  my  plan:  and  if 
you  think  it  wort h  a  place  you  are  welcome  lo  it. 


:l  1 1 


h 


I  arrange  my  liiv(>s  on  a  paltern  of  Heddon's 
hive-stand,  placing  four  in  a  group,  as  you  will 
see  by  the  diagram.  Fig.  1  is  placed  for  using 
the  smoker  in  the  left  hand:  Fig.  2  for  using  llu^ 
smoker  in  the  right  hand.  If  I  want  to  look 
into  hive  c  1  sit  down  on  '/.  lay  tools  on  a.  puff 
smoke  in  at  entrance  o  with  left  hand,  take  otf 
tlie  cover  with  the  right  hand:  lay  it  on  /*,  then 
1  am  ready  for  business.  In  Fig.  :.'  the  smoker 
is  held  in  the  right  hand,  and  the  work  done 
with  the  left. 

For  packing  for  wintei'  I  take  a  box  made  of 
any  cheap  lumber,  thai  will  answer,  3}.}  feet 
square,  and  about  14  inches  deep:  remove  the 
hives  from  their  stand;  set  the  box  on.  and 
then  place  the  hives  in  the  box,  in  the  saine  po- 
sition as  before,  with  entrances  in  the  sarnie 
place.  Of  course,  four  entrance's  aiM^  cut  in  the 
box  to  fit  the  hive-entrances.  I  then  put  in 
packing  to  suit  ray  notion.  Next  winter  I  shall 
thoroughly  paint  boards  with  beeswax  and 
piopolis.  and  seal  down  tight  on  the  frames  be- 
fore putting  in  the  packing.  M.  M.  Rick. 

Dickeyville.  Ind. 

[We  have  grouped  hives  as  you  describe;  but 
the  objection  to  it  is  that  the  bees  are  flying  in 
all  directions.  The  S.  E.  Miller  plan,  which  W(' 
recommend,  see  page  922.  1891.  allows  an  alley- 
way for  the  bees  for  bee-flight,  and  an  alleyway 
for'the  apiarist.] 


CLOSED-END  FRAMES. 


C.  I".  DADANT   KEI'IJES. 


Friend  Ernest: — Allow  me  to  correct  a  state- 
ment made  by  Mrs.  Axtell.  in  the  Feb.  1st  num- 
ber of  Gleanings,  pase  97.  saying  that  I  never 
saw  Mr.  Axtell  handle  the  closed-end  frame. 
Mrs.  Axtell  is  not  to  blame  for  the  mistake 
made,  for  the  reason  that  she  was  not  present. 
The  aiiiary  where  1  saw  Mr.  Axtell  handle  the 
closed-end  frame  was  that  of  K.  A.  Hanchet. 
Burlington.  Iowa.  May  8.  1878.  You  see  that  it 
dates  back  (piite  a  finv  days,  and  it  is  not  to  be 
wondered  that  friend  Axtell  has  forgotten  all 
about  it.  As  it  was  the  first  time  that  I  had 
seen  others  than  ourselves  handle  tlie  closed-end 
frame,  it  made  some  impression  on  my  mind. 
Some  of  oui' friends  will  perha]js  wonder  howl 
can  so  well  remember  the  dale.  It  is  because 
this  happened  during  tlie  meeting  of  tlie  West- 
ern Illinois  and  Eastern  Iowa  Bee-Keepers'  As- 
.sociation.  a  very  nice  meeting,  at  which  we  first 
met  Mr.  Newman  and  many  others.  Mr.  Axtell 
aniong  them,  though  I  believe  we  had  met  Mr. 
Axtell  befori-;  and  I  find  the  date  in  the  old 
Arnericdn  Bee  Journal.  We  were  the  guests  of 
Mr.  Hanchet:  and  at  the  dinner-hour  a  swarm 
came  out  and  was  hived.  My  remembrance  is. 
that  the  <jueen  could  not  be  found,  and  that,  as 
the  swarm  seeined  restle-ss,  and  it  was  necessary 
to  make  sure   before  going   back  to  the  liall  of 


128 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fkh.  15. 


meeting,  botli  the  parent  hive  and  the  new  hive 
were  opened  by  JMr.  Axtell.  It  was  then  that 
we  both  wondered  how  so  pi'actical  a  man  as 
iMr.  Axtell  could  advise  tiie  use  of  this  hive. 

I  have  no  desire  to  find  fault  with  anybody's 
hive  or  frame;  but  I  can  not  help  noticing  that 
even  Mrs.  Axtell  acknowledges  thatbees  are  kill- 
ed in  this  hive,  even"  with  care."  It  is  certainly 
more  ditticult  to  avoid  killing  bees  with  this 
hive  than  with  the  hanging-frame  liive.  But 
we  all  have  our  pets,  and  there  are  probably  a 
hundred  or  more  different  styles  of  good  hives 
now  in  use;  and  each  owner  would  pi'efer  his  to 
any  of  the  others,  even  if  he  saw  them  manipu- 
lated with  greater  success.         C.  P.  Dadant. 

Hamilton,  111. 


WILL  BEES  LIVE  IN  A  GLASS  BOTTLE  T 


THE   EXPERIMENT  TKIED. 


Five  years  ago  I  procured  a  glass  jar,  some- 
thing in  the  shape  of  a  pear,  24  inches  high, 
largest  diameter  12  in.;  smallest,  .5  in.,  and  an 
eight-inch  opening  at  the  neck.  I  made  a  stand 
and  box  to  cover  it.  and  left  an  opening  Xx?;'., 
inches  in  the  front.  I  have  put  a  swarm  in  that 
jar  every  year  for  the  last  five  years.  They  did 
very  well  until  November  or  December,  then 
they  just  died.  Why?  Well,  "I  don't  know." 
There's  the  rub.   At  the  time  I  first  put  a  swarm 


A    GLASS-150TTLE   FOK    WINTERING    IJEKS. 

in,  in  1887.  I  thought  it  would  be  beautiful  to 
see  them  working,  which  it  was.  and  at  that 
time  there  was  a  great  deal  of  talk  about  upper 
and  lovv(>r  ventilation,  so  I  thought  this  would 
settle  the  question. 

I  said  I  put  a  swarm  in  every  year.  Well, 
tliere  were  never  any  bees  living  in  it  on  the  1st 
of  January.  Tiiey  generally  died  a  little  after 
the  first  cold  spell,  always  leaving  lots  of  honey, 
none  of  the  queens  over  two  years  old.  1  have 
had  blacks,  hybrids,  and  Italians  in  it.  but  they 
all  died.  About  the  1st  of  December  I  took  a 
look  at  my  bee-yard  to  see  whether  any  tops 
had  blown  off.  I  found  the  bees  in  this  jar 
dead,  and  combs  very  moldy.    I  cleaned  it  out 


and  got  four  Mason  quart  jars  of  strained  hon- 
ey. Last  fall  this  was  one  of  the  finest  swarms. 
It  had  a  queen  one  year  old.  Nov.  1st  1  had  llf> 
swarms.  They  are  all  O.  K.  up  to  date.  Jan.  9, 
except  the  jar.  Why  is  it '.'  I  give  my  hives  no 
protection  whatever;  but  this  jar  was  packed 
in  bran.  Of  course.  I  shall  try  again  and  keep 
trying.  In  no  year  did  the  bees  starve.  They 
always  had  plenty  of  honey.  J.  F.  Long. 

Scott  Center.  Mo..  .Jan.  '.i. 

[We  are  surpi'ised  that  the  bees  should  have 
died  as  soon  as  they  did.  and  the  experiment 
was  apparently  a  failure.  It  was  J.  A.  Green, 
who  once  wrote  about  wintering  bees  in  a  large 
wide-mouth  liottle,  and  here  he  gives  some- 
thing furthei'  on  the  subject. 


UPWARD  VENTILATION  AND   MOISTURE 
ABSORBENTS  IN  WINTERING. 


interesting    suggestions    from   J.   A.    (iUEEN. 


When  I  first  wrote  on  this  subject,  nine  years 
ago,  there  seemed  to  be  an  almost  universal 
belief  that,  to  winter  bees  successfully,  there 
must  be  a  porous  covering  to  the  hive,  with 
absorbing  material  above.  The  object  of  this, 
we  were  told,  was  to  prevent  the  moisture  gen- 
erated by  the  bees  from  being  deposited  on  the 
combs  and  inside  of  the  hive  in  the  shape  of 
frost  and  ice.  The  current  of  air  thus  permitted 
to  circulate  through  the  hive,  passing  out  at 
the  top,  carried  with  it  the  moisture.  Under 
some  circumstances  this  vapor-laden  aii'  passed 
out  of  the  hive  without  depositing  much  of  its 
moisture,  in  which  case  little  immediate  harm 
was  done.  Very  often,  though,  the  moisture 
was  condensed  in  the  jiacking  material,  some- 
times making  it  quite  wet,  which  was  injurious, 
beyond  doubt.  The  effects  of  this  more  or  less 
pronounced  draft  through  the  hive,  together 
with  the  wet  packing,  were  most  plainly  seen 
in  the  spring,  if  the  colony  survived  until  then. 
The  heat  necessary  for  brood -rearing  was  kept 
up  with  difficulty,  and  colonies  built  up  slowly. 
Strong  colonies,  of  course,  suffered  least. 

Having  observed  these  things.  I  decided  that 
the  system  of  ventilation  that  had  b(»en  found 
best  for  human  residences  was  also  best  for  bee- 
hives; namely,  that  the  air  to  be  I'emoved 
should  be  taken  out  at  the  bottom  of  the  room 
instead  of  at  the  top.  I  accordingly  made  my 
hives  as  tight  as  possible  at  the  top,  and  left 
the  entrance  large  enough  so  that  the  moisture- 
laden  air  might  easily  find  an  exit  there.  The 
I'esult  justified  my  expectations,  and  since  then 
"upward  ventilation"  and  "' absorbents"  have 
been  things  I  have  carefully  avoided. 

.In  a  footnote  to  one  of  my  earlier  articles,  the 
experiment  you  refer  toon  page '.)53  was  pro- 
posed. Although  I  never  wintered  bees  in  a 
glass  bottle,  I  did  winter  several  colonies  in  tin 
cans  and  in  other  ways,  by  which  I  made  sure 
that  no  particle  of  moisture  could  escape  from 
the  hives  except  at  the  entrance.  These  tests 
were  entirely  satisfactory,  as  all  the  bees  so 
treated  wintered  excellently.  They  were  never 
reported,  because,  by  the  time  they  were  con- 
cluded, interest  in  the  matter  had  largely  died 
out,  and  other  things  occupied  the  bee-keeping 
mind.  Since  that  time  the  current  of  opinion 
has  been  slowly,;changing.  until  now  I  tliink 
the  majority  of  advanced  bee-keepers  would 
say  that  it  is  better  to  have  the  top  of  the  hive 
sealed  perfectly  tight.  Your  experiments  with 
hives  having  sheets  of  glass  sealed  tight  to  the 
top  are  interesting,  because  by  them  you  can 
see  that  hives  tight  at  the  top  and  properly 
protected    remain    dry   inside.      I   once   had   a 


I  SUV 


(;i,i:anin(;s  in  hkk  rri/iTUE. 


!•.".» 


colony  of  l>tM>s  in  a  Ih)\  lii\i'  witli  a  tihiss  side, 
and  for  over  a  rnonlli  of  tl\<'  t-oldcsl  winter 
wcatliiT  tlioy  wen-  close  to  tlif  Rlass.  wliit-li 
remained  |icrfi'ctly  clear,  so  tlial  I  conld  see 
ttuMii  at  any  time  hy  renun  infi  tin"  wooden  slide 
over  the  tilass.  I  nsed  to  look  at  tlieni  often,  as 
I  was  anxious  to  learn  tiie  idTeet  on  tlieni  of 
distnrlianee  in  cold  weatlier.  Tliey  would  read- 
ily resjunui  to  a  tap  on  tlw  sjlass,  hnt  paid  no 
attention  to  tlie  passing  of  trains  only  a  few 
r»)ds  away.  Kven  heavy  ehaiKes  of  dynamite, 
used  ill  hlasting  oidy  a  lumdred  feet  asvay.  i)ro- 
dui-ed  only  a  nioin(>ntary  tlutter  of  tlieir  winjTS. 
and.  in  spite  of  all  tlu^  tlistnrbance  they  were 
subjei'ted  to.  they  wintered  well. 

It  is  true,  that  there  are  some  very  sneeessfnl 
bee-Ueepers  wlio  think  a  certain  ainonnt  of 
upward  veniilalion  is  necessary.  I  think  that 
all  of  these  use  very  larfje  hives."  ami  carry  on  a 
system  that  elves  them  very  strons  colonies  for 
winter.  Sncli  colonies  are  well  adapted  to  re- 
sist the  bad  effects  of  upward  ventilation,  which 
is  almost  a  necessity  wlien  such  hives  are  used. 
A  colony  of  bees  can  ea.'ily  keep  a  small  win- 
tering apartment  warm  and  dry.  especially  if 
no  heat  is  allowed  to  escaiie  at  the  top  of  the 
hive.  Hut  a  large  hive  can  not  be  kept  warm. 
The  ntoisture-laden  air.  instead  of  passing  out 
at  the  entrance  before  it  condenses,  wandei's  off 
into  the  cold  corners,  and  there  deposits  its 
moisture  in  the  sliape  of  frost.  This,  with  very 
large  and  especially  very  tall  hives,  is  unavoid- 
able e\c<'pt  by  allowing  a  current  of  air  to  jjass 
out  at  th(^  top  of  the  hive.  In  this,  as  in  so 
many  other  things.  dilTerent  systems  require 
different  methods  of  management.  I  think  a 
very  large  majority  of  practical  Ix'O-keepers 
will  agree  that  a  small  hive,  tightly  .sealed  at 
the  top,  is  best  for  winter,  and  especially  so  for 
spring. 

Those  who  are  interested  in  looking  up  what 
hiis  been  said  on  the  subject  will  find  articles 
by  me  on  pages  42.  S8.  and  3.=)!t,  of  (Jlkanino.s 
for  ISSfi.  Tlie  matter  was  brought  up  several 
vears  before,  but  was  not  discussed  much  until 
1880. 

A    COKUKCTIOX. 

In  my  article  on  first  page  of  Jan.  1.5th  tli.EAX- 
iNGs.  the  word  ••  luidesirable  ■■  (second  column, 
right  margin) should  have  been  "indisputable." 
The  cliange  of  words,  you  see.  makes  a  material 
change  in  tlie  meaning.  It  is  iudiNp}it(t})lc  that 
tile  Si  lling  value  of  comb  honey  depends  prin- 
cipally uiion  its  appearance.  This  iiunj  also  b(> 
vndcNirahle:  but  that  is  not  what  I  meant  to 
say.  Of  course,  in  selling  iioney  the  kind  and 
qn<dity  should  be  madc^  known  as  far  as  possi- 
ble: but  when  the  (jrice  (iepends  mostly  ujion 
appearance,  let  aiJpearance  be  our  i)riiicipal 
guide  in  grading.  If  there  is  any  dealer  or 
commission  man  who  can  get  more  for  a  fancy 
article  of  dark  lioiiey  tiian  for  a  second  or  third 
grade  of  white,  in  markets  wliere  they  come 
into  free  competition,  let  him  stand  up  and  be 
heard.  J.  A.  (Irkkx. 

Davton.  III..  .Ian.  Hi. 


RAMBLE  NO.  53. 


KHOM    {  HI(:.\(4()   TO 


Al.r    l.AKK    (11^ 


The  ne.xt  move  on  the  I!am bier's  in'ogram 
was  the  purchase  of  a  far-r(!aching  ticket — a 
ticket  that  would  land  the  possessor  at  San 
Francisco  and  the  (lolden  (Jale.  .\s  the  train 
rolled  out  into  the  vast  jjiaii'ies  of  Illinois  tliat 
bright  .Inly  afternoon  I  felt  happy  again:  and 
what  a  burst  of  poeiry  lloated  through  my 
niiiull     Here  it  is: 


I'm  MlIiriK^  ill  :i  iliinlili-Juiiiletl  cliiiir,  jii>fKiiiR  uliinwr. 
Out  o'ei'  llie  vast  priiii-le,  prjiised  .•^o  niucli  in  souk. 
Says  I.  "I  do  lulU've  111  have  to  lide   and    ride  for 

her. 
'I'oKet   lie\onilIlie   sini'llili^'- of  t li.-it    lilaek    CliirilKo 

Rivl'i-.' 

A  female  in  a  cliair  ahead  had  a  bottit;  to  her  nose; 
Says   1.   "Madam.    It's  a    heudMihe  your   havliiK.^1 

s'|)ose."  "• 

She  I'iz  rltrht  up.  (ui'iied  i-ound  with  hand  upon"  her 

liver. 
.\iiil  snee/.ed  and  hawked  and   spit,  and    snapped, 

'■  Cliirajjro  Kiver." 


ItAMULP;!?  S    REVKlilK   OX    THK    TH.XIN. 

I  was  right  in  the  middle  of  the  next  stanza 
wlien  the  ticket- jjuncher  came  along  and  so 
distracted  my  attention  that  the  burst  poem  lias 
never  returned.  My  elbow  neighbor  in  the  next 
reclining  chair  was  a  young  man.  posted  on 
prairie  matters,  and  gave  me  much  information 
upon  that  subject.  The  shades  of  night  put  a 
stop  to  viewing  the  cotmtry,  and  we  tilted  our 
chairs  back  into  the  lajjs  of  those  in  the  rear  of 
us.  and  sought  repose.  My  young  friend  had  to 
get  off  the  train  about  2  o'clock  at  Cobble  Hol- 
low, somewhere  in  Missouri,  so  I  kept  awake 
on  purpose  to  wake  him  up:  so  you  may  know- 
that  I  felt  outraged  and  d(^frauded  when  he 
awoke  himself  ten  minutes  before  it  was  time. 

Another  young  man  came  in  and  occupied 
his  vacant  chaii-:  but  I  wasted  but  little  time 
upon  him.  turned  my  face  to  the  window,  and 
slept. 

Early  in  the  morning  Kansas  City  was  enter- 
ed, and  an  hour  given  for  us  to  work  out  our 
salvation  upon  th<^  delectable  viands  found  in  a 
railroad  restaurant.  I  became  ({uite  well  ae- 
(piainted  with  my  li'aveling  comi)anion  during 
this  hour,  and,  [jicking  up  a  diiinimei-  who  was 
going  our  \Nay.  we  three  had  a  very  jileasant 
day  of  it  all  through  Kansas.  The'length  of 
this  State  will  lie  n^alized  when  it  is  crossed: 
also  the  distance  from  the  Missouri  River  to 
the  Rocky  .Mountains.  All  day  and  all  night 
we  rapidly  sjied  our  way  wiistward.  Tli<^  inag- 
nilicent  wiieat-tields  of  Central  Kansas  were 
really  for  the  i-eaper.  ami  the  crop  was  never 
befoie  so  bountiful.  All  night  it  was  Kansas 
soil  we  were  upon.  Away  to  the  north  the 
darkness  of  the  night  was  broken  by  the  tlash- 
ing  of  lightning:  a  fearful  storm  was  raging 
away  over  the  distant  jirairie— not  a  mountain 
or  hill  to  bi'eak  the  view.  The  electric  dis|)lay 
low  down  upon  the  horizon,  and  as  far  east  and 
west  as  the  eye  could  scan,  presented  a  .scene 
not  soon  to  bi'  forgotten.  Morning  dawned, 
and  still  upon  Kansas  soil:  but  the  distant 
Rockies  begin  U)  apiiear;  tin;  liiK^  is  [lassed  into 
Colorado,  and  before  noon  the  city  of  Denver  is 
entered.    Our  stop  is   too  short  to  let   us  see 


130 


(ILEANINGvS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fkb.  15. 


much  of  the  city,  and  we  are  off  again,  passing 
in  sight  of  Pike's  Peak,  through  Pueblo,  where 
we  see  the  first  adobe  houses  and  the  Mexicans: 
througli  the  Royal  (Jorge  and  tliose  lofty  moun- 
tains we  never  liic  of  looking  at.  It  was  in 
these  mountains  that  my  new  acquaintances 
left  me:  and  for  a  time  I  felt  lonely.  Night 
again  shut  down  upon  the  scenery,  and.  this 
being  the  third  night  on  the  rails.  I  slept  quite 
sotindly.  In  the  morning  1  looked  out  upon  the 
most  desolate  country  imaginable — not  a  living 
thing  in  sight:  not  even  a  bush  or  a  green  spear 
of  grass  to  enliven  the  red  soil  or  the  mounds 
and  distant  cliffs.  One  station  passed  was 
named  Solitude,  and  rightly,  for  there  was  not 
a  house  or  living  being  in  sight.  A  stake  and  a 
cross-board  with  the  name  was  all. 

It  was  on  this  day's  ride  that  I  cultivated  the 
acquaintance  of  a  cowboy.  He  had  been  all  the 
way  to  Grand  Junction  to  attend  a  caravan. 

Approaching  the  Great  Salt  Lake  Valley  the 
road  follows  the  winding  canyon  and  water- 
couise.  This  watiM'-course  can  be  traced  for 
miles  by  the  narrow  fringe  of  green  on  either 
bank,  consisting  of  eucalyptus- trees  and  farm 
products:  all  outside  this  narrow  fringe  is  dry 
and  barren.  The  residences  along  this  route 
are  nearly  all  of  the  most  primitive  character; 
and  I  remarked  to  ray  new  friend  that  people 
seemed  to  live  in  almost  any  thing,  from  a  good 
house  to  a  hole  In  the  ground. 

"Yes,"  said  he.  "and  some  haven't  even  the 
hole  in  the  ground." 

Just  before  entering  the  valley  I  saw  the  first 
Utah  apiary.  The  hives  were  strung  along  in 
an  irregular  row.  with  stones  on  the  covers.  I 
wanted  to  get  my  Ilawkeye  to  wink  at  it.  but 
the  train  was  in  too  great  a  hurry,  and  it  was 
soon  out  of  sight.  After  entering  the  vall<>y. 
many  thriving  and  pretty  towns  are  passed: 
but  Provo  was  the  first  having  the  real  bustle 
and  bootn  so  readily  noticed  in  the  West.  The 
train  was  full  of  smiling  talkative  people  in 
holiday  attire.  My  cowboy  friend  left  me  at  a 
previous  station,  and  now  a  sturdy  Milesian, 
who  had  lived  in  Utah  20  years,  was  discoursing 
to  me  about  the  great  advantages  of  Utah,  and 
especially  of  Provo.  as  a  place  in  which  to  make 
one's  life-abode.  His  remarks  were  strongly 
emphasized  by  wildly  swinging  his  arm  out  of 
the  car  window,  pointing  out  the  variety  of 
fruit-orchards,  the  enormous  growth  of  alfalfa. 
and  the  general  prosperity  seen  on  every  hand. 
I  expected  to  see  his  arm  irreparably  damaged 
by  coming  in  contact  with  a  telegraph-pole:  but 
he  luckily  escaped.  His  loud  remarks  called  a 
young  man  to  our  vicinity,  who  wanted  to  sell 
real  estate  in  Provo,  the  coming  metropolis  of 
the  great  interior  basin.  Arrival  at  Salt  Lake 
City  closed  the  importunities  of  these  friends. 

vSalt  Lake  City  has  had  such  a  reputation  in 
the  history  of  our  country  that  I  resolved  to 
spend  one  day  in  this  center  of  Mormondom. 
In  the  morning  I  sought  the  residence  of  Mr. 
John  C.  Swaner,  and  was  disappointed  when 
informed  that  he  was  some  miles  away  manag- 
ing a  large  apiary.  I  found  the  name  of  another 
person  who  kept  bees,  and  sought  the  street 
and  number,  and  was  led  out  of  the  city  where 
I  could  look  all  creation  in  the  face.  This  was 
my  first  experience  with  the  magnificent  dis- 
tances found  in  the  West,  and  of  which  I  shall 
have  more  to  say  when  I  get  further.  I  devoted 
the  rest  of  the  day  to  looking  ov<'r  the  business 
portion  of  Salt  Lake  City,  and  really  fell  in  love 
with  the  pliic(\  The  clear  cold  mountain  water, 
purling  like  a  mild  brook  down  each  street,  has 
a  special  charm  to  it:  and  then  the  wealth  of 
the  water  in  producing  so  much  vegetation  for 
the  sustenance  of  a  large  population,  where, 
but  com  para  tivi'ly  a  few  years  ago.  thtu'e  was 
nothing  but  barren  sand-;. 


A  visit  to  the  center  of  Mormon  worship  was 
my  next  desire.  The  magnificent  temple  is  not 
yet  completed.  The  Tabernacle,  now  used  for 
worship,  and  several  other  buildings,  are  all 
within  a  high  adobe-wall  inclosure,  and  it  is 
termed  Temple  Square,  from  which  point  all 
streets  are  numbered. 

There  is  nothing  ornamental  about  the  ex- 
terior of  the  Tabernacle;  in  fact,  its  roof  looks 
like  an  immense  turtle.  The  interior  is.  how- 
ever, noted  for  its  elegance,  its  seating  capacity 
(over  10,000),  its  wonderful  organ,  and  its  acous- 
tic properties.  A  whisper,  a  rubbing-together 
of  the  hands,  the  dropping  of  a  pin  tipon  the 
altar-rail,  can  be  heard  in  the  most  remote  por- 
tion of  the  immense  room.  It  was  while  per- 
ambulating around  the  Temple  Square  that  the 
Rambler  struck  another  friend.  We  discoursed 
pleasantly  on  all  we  saw,  and  then  started 
down  the  street  to  see  the  beautiful  house 
Brigham  Young  built  for  his  favorite  wife. 
My  friend  knew  just  where  it  was,  and  he  was 
a  wonderfully  pleasant  talker,  this  man  from 
Denver.  We  had  walked  about  a  block  when 
my  friend  said  he  must  have  a  cigar,  and  step- 
ped off  the  sidewalk  into  a  littie  cigar-store, 
offering  to  treat;  but  when  I  declined  he  pro- 
ceeded to  light  his  own,  and  while  doing  so  his 
eye  caught  several  specimens  of  gold  and  silver 
ore  on  the  show-case;  and.  being  a  mining  man 
from  Denver,  he  was  immediately  interested. 

"Oh,  yesi"  said  the  man  behind  the  case; 
"that's  Utah  ore.  and  here  in  the  case  are 
watches  made  from  it;  and  in  order  to  adver- 
tise our  Utah  mines  and  factory,  we  give  any 
one  a  chance  to  draw  an  envelope  from  this 
box,  upon  the  payment  of  S^l.OO.  But."  said  he, 
"  you  two  are  strangers:  just  draw  for  fun,  and 
see  what  you  get."' 

The  Rambler  is  always  ready  for  fun  in  a 
quiet  way,  so  I  drew  an  envelope  that  entitled 
me  to  a  gold  watch.  The  envelopes  were  put 
back  in  such  a  mannei'  that  we  could  see  the 
one  I  drew,  and  my  Denver  friend  said  he  could 
draw  the  same  one  again,  and  bet  -^r.'O  he  could, 
and  put  up  the  money,  and  drew  a  watch.  I 
suppose  it  was  my  turn  to  bet  next;  but  up  to 
this  very  point  1  had  iu)t  a  suspicion  as   to  the 


.jiriTKU  : 


nature  of  the  men;  but  it  came  all  of  a  sudden, 
and  I  exclaimed  in  a  loud  voice,  "Bunco,  by 
Jupiter!"  My  friends  protested  their  inno- 
cence, but  I  suddenly  left  them  to  their  own 
cogitations. 

In  all  the  large  cities  of  the  East  I  had  been 
on  the  alert  for  such  fellows,  and  had  frequent- 
ly met  them;   but  I  was  vexed  to  think   that. 


1 8<.f,' 


(;i-KAN'IN(;s  IN   HKK  C'lTl/rHUK. 


i:n 


a\v;i\  Ikti'  in  Salt  Lal<<'  City.  I  sliduhi  Im'  su 
romplcti'ly  slccird  into  a  hmu'o-room. 

That  cviMiiiii:  I  iiui'snni  my  way  atraiii  toward 
Califoniia. 

I  Icai'iii'd  fioiii  Mf.  Swancr.  that,  in  I'tali.  a 
tiiodilii-alion  of  llic  Aini'iicaii  liivc  is  used. 
I'lotiis  art'  used  over  ilif  fr'amt's,  ami  iinicli  care 
has  to  he  (>\('rfiscd  in  w  inlciinii. 

I'tali  is  a  prcat  frnit-ronntry.  and  many  aiii- 
arios  arc  found  in  tin'  oivliaids.  Frnit  tMiltnic 
and  lioiu'y  iii'iMliu-tion  liius  ijo  iiand  in  liand.  as 
iIm'v  slioiiid.  Ram}U,i:i;. 


ANTS.  PLANTS.  AND   BEES. 


(  1  mors    WAYS    1\    NATl'lM':  S    KfONoNn  . 

The  following,  sent  ns  by  Mr.  1*.  11.  i!aldt>n- 
sporgcr.  our  eorivspondcMit.  in  llic  Holy  Land,  is 
a  translation  niado  by  him  ffom  a  German  peri- 
odical. It  contains  so  many  points  of  interest, 
well  authenticated,  that  we  believe  our  readers 
will  be  pleased  and  benefited  by  its  perusal. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact,  that  plants  offer  to 
bees,  butterflies,  and  Mies,  the  delicate  nectar. 
In  return,  the  insects  unconsciously  fertilize  the 
flowers  by  carrying  the  pollen  from  one  loan- 
other,  liut  very  often  the  in.sects.  forg(>tting 
their  duty,  instead  of  creeping  into  the  flowers 
simi)ly  cut  open  the  flowei-  outside  the  corolla, 
where  the  ncctai'  is  deposited,  thus  carrying 
away  the  sweet  without  touching  ttie  anthers, 
and  so  omit  the  fertilization.  TIk;  bumble-bee 
finds  it  a  good  deal  easier  to  cut  open  the  tube 
of  a  red-clover  blossom  than  to  creep  into  the 
bottom  of  the  llower  about  -'h  of  an  inch  deep. 
Darwin  found  alnu)st  every  liowei-  of  a  kind  of 
heather.  ErUtu  tctnilix,  cut  open  in  tliis  way, 
and  the  hon^y  carried  off.  But  this  way  of 
robbing,  contrary  to  nature's  design,  is  very 
tiring  too.  as  is  repfuted  l)y  I'rof.  Magnus,  who 
observed  bees  on  the  lion's -mouths  {Antirrhi- 
niiin  iiKijix.  L.)  trying  the  experiment,  but  they 
could  not  hold  tlieir  position  long  on  account  of 
the  evenness.  They  stopped  only  a  few  seconds 
and  had  to  fly  further,  while  otherwise  they 
would  stay  a  miniiU^  or  two  inside  the  flower, 
and  by  degi'ees  they  found  plenty  inside,  and 
would  again  try  to  cut  open  the  jdant.  <2uite  a 
number  of  tropical  plants  have  a  special  pre- 
ventive system  against  such  culprits.  Accord- 
ing to  Dr.  Kurck.  of  the  Botanical  Garden  in 
Buitenzorg.  .lava,  many  |)lants  have  ant-guards 
against  these  robbers.  Plants  and  ants  an;  on 
friendly  terms,  as  is  known  by  divers  kinds  of 
South  American  trees  wiiich  have  numbers  of 
protecting  ants  at  their  disposal,  and  they  are 
fed  liberally,  and  are  ready  to  tight  the  leaf-cut- 
ting ants.  They  do  their  business  very  thor- 
oughly. According  to  Dr.  Burck's  observa- 
tions, the  ant -guard  systfni  is  enlarged  in  a 
very  peculiar  way.  The  entici'ment  by  which 
these  pli'uts  gather  the  ant-guards  around  them 
consi^is  in  the  .secretion  of  hoiK-y  outside  the 
fk)wer  at  the  corolla,  just  at  the  point  where 
the  danger  is  apparent:  consequently  there  are 
already  some  busy  ants  licking  this  seeretion. 
The  honey-glands,  where  this  is  secreted,  ar(^ 
called  the  outer  nuptial  nectaries,  to  distinguish 
them  from  the  inner  ones,  as  they  are  not  meant 
for  fertilization.  As  soon  as  a  bee  observes  the 
ant-guards  on  thr'outsid(!  it  enters  the  flower  in 
the  natural  way.  Should  it  venture  among  the 
ants,  it  would  be  immediately  laid  hold  of  by  its 
anteniue  and  legs,  and  it  would  be  "done  "  with 
her.  Besides  this,  it  is  seen  that  flr)wers  with- 
out this  guard,  as  the  Fnujraui  oxyphylki,  of 
xhe  LogunUtcetr  order.  p<jssessing  no  extra-nup- 


tial nectaiies.  luive  li'.i  pel- cent  of  injured  How - 
ci's.  (lone  by  t  he  carpenter  bee  (  xylocopa  ).  An- 
other kind.  /''/•.  rr<issifi)li(i,  has  a  few  nectaries, 
on  which  .Mr.  Burck  found  only  70  per  cent  in- 
jured. Mill  Fr.  littonilis  has  more  such  n<'cta- 
ries.  and  only  10  i)er  cent  injured.  Dr.  Burck 
lemarked.  moreo\-er.  that  a  carixuiter  l)ee  which 
had  cut  open  :.'o  or  :«)  blossoms  of  the  Fr.  fixji- 
l>liylltt.;iud  tried  Fr.  littinitlis  in  the  same  fash- 
ion, had  to  give  up  at  oiu-f^  and  entei'  the  flower 
on  account  of  the  ant -guards,  though  the  thre(' 
kinds  of  Fniijnvii  resemble  each  other  in  shape, 
size,  and  color.  Several  such  plants  even  pro- 
vide' their  protectors  with  lodging,  in  shape  of  a 
recurved  ear-shaped  booth.  alTording  shelter  to 
these  ants.  \'ery  often  they  also  furnish  these 
soldiers  with  ammunition  —  bread  giowing  out 
at  the  flowers,  having  an  albuminous  and  nu- 
tritious substance. 

Thiiiiliiriiid  iinnuUflord  more  liberally  feeds 
(|uite  a  nutnl)er  of  ants  the  year  roiuid  with 
such  aliments:  con.sequently  the  carpenter  bee 
nc^ver  approach(!S  tiie  outside  of  these  flowers, 
but  is  obliged  to  look  out  for  its  business,  and 
take  the  natural  way. 

I'lt.  .).  Bai.dk.vsi'khkkk. 

.latTa.  Svria.  .Ian..  IS'.iri. 


MANAGEMENT  OF  BEES  IN  TEXAS. 


now  I,,  stachelhausex  does  it. 

On  page  SSCi  of  last  year's  Gi,eanin(}.s,  Mr.  A. 
('.  Brown,  of  Smithtield,  Texas,  asks  for  infor- 
mation how  to  double  his  4.5  colonies;  and  the 
answer  of  E.  R.  is  just  what  we  should  expect 
from  a  bee-keeper  with  experience  in  theNorth- 
ern  States.  With  my  experience  in  bee-keeping 
in  Texas  I  would  advise  as  follows: 

Keep  your  colonic^s  in  the  one-story  hive,  and 
let  them  swarm  as  they  please.  If  you  get 
small  after-swarms,  put  two  or  three  of  them 
together  in  one  hive.  In  a  good  year  you  will 
get  as  much  honey,  or  more,  from  the  swarms 
'J>i/7the  parent  colonies,  than  you  would  do  if 
the  old  colonies  had  not  swarmed  out  at  all.  If 
th(?  s[)ring  is  not  favorable  your  bees  will  not, 
swarm  much,  and  then  it  is  better  if  you  do  not 
increase  at  all.  Do  not  divide  or  make  artificial 
swarms  in  any  othei'  way.  To  the  new  swarms 
you  give  no  comb  foundation,  but  starters  of 
foundation  about  on(!  inch  wide. securely  fasten- 
ed to  the  comb-guides.  Do  not  fuss  with  stim- 
ulativf^  feeding,  spreading  brood,  etc.:  it  does 
not  pay  in  Texas.  Of  course,  you  have  to  feed 
your  colonies,  if  they  are  short  of  stores  and  no 
honey  is  coming  in:  fjut.  so  far  as  I  know,  the 
bees  will  gat hei' i^ollen  in  the  spring  anywhere 
in  Texas.  If  the  main  honey-flow  comm(!nces, 
do  not  fail  to  give  i)lenty  of  room  to  every  colo- 
ny in  an  upper  story;  and  now  I  would  recom- 
mend full  sheets  of  foundation  in  wired  frames. 

I  have  to  explain  to  other  bi-e-keepers  why  I 
recommend  this  way,  so  entirely  difTei-ent  from 
the  rules  generally  adopted  in  the  Northern 
Stales.  K.  R.  says,  very  correctly,  that  it  is  not 
the  large  number  of  colonies  that  brings  the 
Ijrofit.  but  the  rousing  heavy  colonies;  but  it  is 
certain  that  two  such  strong  colonies  can  do 
more  than  a  single  one.  In  most  localities  in 
Texas  W(!  have  a  moderate  honey -flow  fi'om 
early  spring  till  the  end  of  May,  and  then  com- 
mences our  main  honey-flow  fiom  horsemint. 
The  bees  swaiin  ^^ix  f)r  eight  weeks  before  the 
horsemint  is  in  bloom,  so  it  is  in  good  time  foi- 
the  swarm  as  well  as  for  the  old  colony  to  gi'ow 
to  a  rousing  big  colony.  .Just  before  swarming 
time  the  hive  is  full  of  l)ees;  and  if  swarming  Is 
previMited  in  any  way,  the  number  of  bees  In 
this  hive  will   increase  very  little  if  anv.    So  it 


132 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fkb.  15. 


is  plain  that,  in  similar  ciroiimstanct'S,  it  is  mon- 
profitable  to  increase  the  colonies  than  to  pre- 
vent swarming.  True,  \v<'  have  some  bad  hon- 
ej' years,  and  the  last  three  years  in  succession 
were  such  in  my  locality.  This  is  the  reason  I 
did  not  recommend  artificial  increase.  If  the 
spring  is  so  unfavorable  that  the  colonies  do  not 
build  up  very  fast,  and  consequently  do  not 
swarm,  we  should  damage  our  colonies  by  arti- 
ficial swarming.  These  swarms  would  be  in  a 
poor,  starving  condition;  and  if  the  horsemint 
will  give  some  honey,  swarm  and  parent  colony 
are  not  strong  enough  to  give  any  surplus.  We 
may  be  glad  if  they  store  enough  honey  to  pull 
through  summer,  fall,  and  winter.  If  thi-  colo- 
ny remains  undivided  it  will  give  more  or  less 
honey  in  even  a  bad  year.  It  takes  an  experi- 
enced bee-keeper,  who  is  acquainted  with  his 
locality,  to  decide  when  artificial  swarming  shall 
be  practiced  and  wlu-n  not. 

I  recommended  the  giving  of  starters  to  new 
swarms  only.  After  many  experiments  with 
combs  and  full  sheets  of  foundation  I  settled  on 
this  practice,  and  recommended  it  for  many 
years  in  the  ApiciiUurist  when  all  the  other 
bee-keepers  of  the  United  States  used  and 
abused  foundation.  The  reason,  and  my  ideas 
about  wax-secretion.  1  will  give  in  another  issue. 

MY    MAX,\GEMEXT. 

This,  at  swarming  time,  is  the  same.  I  work 
for  extracted  honey,  and  use  large  hives  to 
make  use  of  all  the  laying  capacity  of  any 
queen;  but  neverthel(>ss,  my  bees  swarm.  In 
the  home  yard  I  take  the  natural  swarms.  In 
out-apiaries  I  make  artificial  swarms  if  the 
spring  is  favorable.  If  the  spring  is  so  unfavor- 
able that  the  bees  do  not  store  any  new  honey, 
but  use  up  some  of  the  old  stores,  it  may  happen 
that  a  sudden  honey-flow  may  cause  my  colo- 
nies in  the  out-apiaries  to  swarm,  and  I  should 
lose  ♦hem.  To  prevent  this  I  set  one  of  my 
shallow  cases  with  full  sheets  of  foundation  un- 
der every  hive  (in  the  out-apiary),  and  one  of 
the  brood-cases  without  queen  on  top  over  an 
excluder.  This  previ'nts  swarming  for  at  least 
two  weeks;  and  if  the  conditions  change  I  can 
make  artificial  swarms  of  them  just  as  well. 

When  the  horsemint-flow  is  over,  and  all  the 
honey  extracted,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  increase 
the  number  of  colonies.  I  reunite.  This  is  done 
very  easily.  I  set  the  first  hive  with  comb, 
brood,  bees,  and  queen,  on  a  new  stand,  and  the 
secoiid  one  on  top  of  it.  without  any  ceremony. 
I  let  the  bees  decide  which  queen  they  want. 
The  old  bees  will  My  hack  to  the  old  stand,  and, 
finding  no  hive  there,  will  unite  with  some 
neighboring  colony.  If  some  of  them  are  not 
accepted  it  is  no  loss  for  me.  They  would  die 
before  winter,  and  there  is  nothing  more  for 
them  to  do  this  year.  According  to  my  obser- 
vation, very  few  are  lost  this  way,  but  are  usu- 
ally accepted.  Both  colonies  losing  their  home, 
the  old  bees  are  not  inclined  to  bile  or  fight. 
They  unite  peaceably,  and  I  do  not  rememb(M' 
that  one  of  these  colonies  became  queenless.  I 
call  this  a  short  cut.  Thus  I  have  a  great  force 
of  bees  in  the  main  honey-flow,  and  few  bees 
when  tliey  use  up  their  stores.  I  let  the  bees 
build  up  to  a  strong  colony,  and,  if  possible,  to 
even  two  strong  colonies,  and  have  only  one  col- 
ony all  the  rest  of  the  year.  Bui  1  like  to  have 
this  one  colony  strong  all  the  time,  because  a 
weak  colony  in  the  fall  will  not  be  stronger  in 
spring,  and  a  weak  colony  in  spring  does  not 
grow  fast  enough  in  even  a  good  year;  w  hih;  a 
good  colony  with  a  good  (lueen  will  be  a  rous- 
ing one  in  a  very  short  time  without  any  fuss- 
ing, such  as  spreading  the  brood,  stimulative 
feeding,  etc.,  and  this  is  another  sliort  cut. 

L.  Stachei,hausf:.v. 

Selma.  Texas.  .Ian.  :i().  IStf.'. 


Ud/es-  Conversazione. 


THE  APPEARANCE  OF  HONEY  IN  STORE 
WINDOWS. 


MISS    WII.SO.V    MAKES    A    GOOD    St  GGESTION. 

I  fe(^l  very  much  aggrieved,  and  my  special 
grievence  is  with  commission  men  this  time. 
1  wonder  why  they  don't  make  their  honey  look 
a  little  more  attractive.  In  passing  down  South 
Water  Street,  Chicago,  I  saw  very  little,  if  any, 
honey  chat  looked  very  tempting.  Perhaps  i 
don't  know  very  much  about  the  cii'cumstances, 
and  it  may  be  they  were  making  the  vei'y  best 
display  they  could  with  what  they  had  on  hand. 
It  is  very  easy  to  find  fault. 

However.  I  know  that  one  house  might  Iiave 
done  b(>tlei'.  for  they  had  some  very  nice  honey 
upstairs,  while  the  display  in  the  window  was 
very  pooV.  The  I'oom  upstaii's  was  dark,  and 
the  htmey  could  be  seen  only  by  scratching  a 
match,  or  by  the  use  of  a  lamp.  The  reason 
given  for  not  having  a  better  display  downstairs 
was,  that  they  were  expecting  a  very  much  nicer 
lot  of  honey  in  a  few  days,  and  were  waiting  for 
that. 

It  may  be  that  it  was  a  very  inopportune 
time  to  "visit.  Perhaps  they  were  all  waiting, 
expecting  something  nicer.  I  hope  so.  I'm  sure. 
I  hope  they  got  it.  too.  and  made  their  windows 
look  so  nice  with  it  that  people  passing  felt  they 
wanted  some  of  that  honey  right  away. 

I  know  that  comnussion  men  have  a  great 
many  obstacles  to  contend  with,  and  not  the  least 
of  tliese  is  a  lack  of  room.  With  much  of  the 
honey  seen,  the  fault  was  not  with  the  commis- 
sion men,  as  no  amount  of  painstaking  on  their 
part  could  have  made  it  look  attractive.  I  only 
wondered  if  it  was  the  best  they  had  on  hand. 
If  so,  the  trouble  was  with  the  producers,  and 
they  were  to  blame  for  sending  it  to  market  in 
such  sliape.  and  ought  not  to  complain  if  they 
did  not  get  a  good  price  for  it.  as  much  of  it 
could  not  have  gone  any  higher  than  fourth 
grade  by  either  the  Chicago  or  the  Albany  grad- 
ing. To  be  sure,  some  sections  in  some  of  the 
cases  might  have  passed  for  first  grade,  if  they 
had  not  been  mixed  with  the  others.  Some  cases 
shown  were  mostly  nice,  white  honey,  but  sev- 
eral sections  containing  a  good  deal  of  pollen 
had  been  put  in.  There  were  other  cases  con- 
taining sections  of  beautiful  white  comb  and 
honey,  but  a  few  of  the  sections  were  soiled, 
and  a  few  containing  honey-dew  had  been  put 
in.  Now,  the  commission  man  was  not  to  blame 
if  he  did  not  get  a  good  price  for  that  honey. 
Putting  the  bad  in  with  the  good  did  not  bring 
the  bad  up  to  a  higher  grade,  but  did  bring  the 
good  down  to  a  lower  grade,  and  the  producer 
has  no  right  to  expect  the  commission  man  to 
assort  his  honey  for  him.  putting  it  in  the 
grade  where  it  belongs.  He  must  do  that  for 
himself,  or  be  willing  to  take  the  lower  price 
his  honey  will  bring  on  account  of  the  shape  in 
which  it  is  put  up. 

I  must  say  my  fingers  fairly  ached  to  have 
some  good  honey  with  which  to  arrange  some  of 
those  windows,  to  make  them  look  attractive. 
When  we  are  getting  our  honey  ready  for  mar- 
ket, we  take  a  great  deal  of  pains  to  pile  it  up 
to  look  nice  just  for  our  own  gratification,  al- 
though it  is  going  to  stay  there  only  a  few  days, 
and  its  looking  nice  will  make  no  difference  in 
the  price  to  us.  This  year  we  piled  the  cases  all 
around  the  sides  of  the  honey-room,  glass  side 
facing  us.  and.  when  ready  to  ship,  we  had  a 
room  completely  walled  with  honey;  and  unless 
you  have  tried  it  you  have  no  idea  how  nice  it 
looked.  Of  course,  commission  men  have  not 
the  same  chance,   as    they    haven't    sufficient 


IS'X' 


(^MOANINIJS  IN  1U-:K  Cl'I/PlTRE. 


133 


nKiin:  Imt  i-nuldii"!    i  li(\  di 
it? 
MaiTiiiro,  111. 


niiic'thinsj   towiud 
Mm  MA  W II, SON. 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 


SOME  NOTES  ON  WINTERING.  ETC. 


WISK    IIINIS    KKOM    MK 


1  woiiili'i' iiow  till'  friciulsiil  ilic  lloiiicor  the 
IIohi'v-Im'cs,  aiul  also  oihci's  of  our  in'c-kccijinii 
frii'iuis,  iiiaiia;;!'  to  kvf\\  liwir  bees  in  llic  i-cjlar 
oool  (Mioiiiili  this  svaiiii  Dt'ct'inbcr  woaiiicr.  \Vi' 
Ikivo  R':*  foloiiifs  in  our  ccllaf.  '.'0  x  :.'()  f(>ot.  nn- 
dt'i-  our  house,  and  no  tire  above,  cxecpt  at  one 
ooriii'r.  Thi'v  arc  lliitiiiiz:  out  (|uiti'  a  yooil  deal. 
We  inishl  open  one  or  morf  windows  w  hii-h  we 
piastiM'fd  lip.  cxpi'i'liiiff  a  I'oid  winter:  iMit  Mr. 
Axtt'li  thi'iUs  if  h(>  docs  open  tlicni  he  will  have 
tlicin  to  plaster  up  again  in  a  day  or  two.  'i'h(>y 
now  have  one  window  and  a  <ioor.  and  a  sub- 
eartli  veiililalor.  all  opcninir  outdoors. 

I  can't  help  fcariiiix  that  one  reason  for  so 
many  (littinu  out  is  honcy-dcw:  and  yet  1  can't 
see  that  tiicrc  are  many  more  on  tlie  lluor  under 
stioh  iiivos  than  there  are  under  th(^  hivc^s 
where  fed  on  sugar  syrup,  as  thosi;  fed  on  sugar 
syrup  an>  marked  for  the  W(>aker  ones,  and  ar(> 
put  in  the  center  of  tlic  cellar.  Hut  surely  If 
this  great  waste  of  bees  goes  on  all  winter  as  it 
has  thus  far.  t lie  colonies  can't  be  very  strong 
by  spring  unless  they  rear  brood  in  the  cellar; 
and  yet.  unless  there  were  a  good  many  bees  per 
colony.  1  don't  sec  how  they  kcej)  the  waimtli 
of  the  cellar  to  4'.'  and  even  to  4('.  and  4S.  At  4:.' 
they  don't  Hit  much.  I.,ast  night  it  was  above 
M  for  the  first  time.  I  don't  know  but  it  would 
have  been  better  to  put  in  fewer  colonies.  We 
have  a  large  entrance  by  raising  u])  the  front 
hoard  an  inch  or  so:  and  this  winter  and  last  we 
have  left  out  the  chaff',  with  the  honey-board 
on  top  of  the  lices  turned  ovci-  from  what  it  was 
in  the  summer  when  on  top  of  the  surplus. 

I  look  for  a  great  loss  of  bees  this  winter,  both 
in  oiir  apiary  and  throughout  the  West. 

Tlierc  seems  to  be  no  royal  road  to  prevent 
bees  from  swarming.  The  devices  all  cost  too 
much  to  come  into  general  use.  and  will  be  par- 
tial failures:  but  out  of  this  agitation  some- 
thing will  assuredly  grow.  Except  for  the  loss 
of  time  to  the  bees  I  would  rather  a  few  would 
swarm  than  to  tit  swarm-catchers  to  eacli  hive 
and  have  to  remove  them  again  in  the  fall,  and 
no  swarms  issue. 

For  my  part,  I  think  where  the  greatest  fail- 
ure in  be(!-keeping  is.  is  in  not  getting  the  colo- 
nies strong  enough  to  swarm,  and  the  fault  is 
away  back  the  fall  before.  We  always  get  a 
good  crop  of  lioney  when  we  get  lots  of  swarms: 
and  if  we  could  only  do  with  our  bees  as  well  as 
we  know  how,  they  would  pay  us  better. 

Tell  the  lady  who  lost  so  many  of  her  chick- 
ens from  cholera  to  k'cc])  copperas  in  their 
drinking-vessel — about  a  lablr'spoonfiil  to  a  pail 
of  water — and  give  them  i)li'iuy  of  shai'ij  gi'avel. 
If  they  do  not  have  any.  pound  up  broken  crock- 
ery and  feed  them.  Also  burn  corn  and  feed 
them  n<  '-harcoal.  A  few  chickens  will  keep 
heallUN  without  much  care:  l)ul  when  oueut- 
tempts  to  raise  a  large  nunil)er  they  need  a 
great  deal  more  care  to  keei)  them  healthy.  An 
ounce  of  prevention  is  belter  than  a  poiind  of 
cure  among  poultry.  Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtem.. 

Roscville.  Ills..  iV'c.  I'.i.  18!tl. 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 

The  9th  Sfiui  aiiiiuul  ine<.tiii;.'  ni  the  Susquehanna  Co.  liee- 
keepers  will  be  at  Biillard's  Hotel,  in  Brooklyn,  on  Thnis- 
(lay.  Majr  R.  at  10  a.m.,  at  which  time  tlie  officers  tor  the  ensuinp 
year  will  be  elei-ted.    -All  are  cordially  inyjted. 

H   M.Seei.f.y.  Sec.  Harford.  Pa. 

The  Cortland  Union  Bee-keepers'  Asfoeiation  will  hold  it> 
annual  meeting  in  the  W  C.  T.  U  rooms.  Cortland,  on  Tues.. 
Feb. !«.    Allinviu-d.  M.  H.  F.ilKBA.NKs.  Sec.  Homer.  X.  Y. 


FOITI,    KKOOT)    R.VOl.NO    IN    .NPiimASKA;     .\N    KAK- 

NMOST    Afl'i:AI,    KOU    ACTIO.N   TO   ST.W 

rrs   i'KO(iKK.s,s. 

1  send  you  by  this  mail  a  jMice  list  sent  to  inc. 
Look  on  |)agcs  !!()  and  31.  \\)\\  said  at  the  .\1- 
t)any  comention  you  thought,  foul  brood  was 
diininisliing.  If  the  oi)eratioiis  of  some  of  the 
l)ec-kccpers  of  Nebraska  are  a  fair  sample  of 
the  country,  then  I  beg  to  dilTci'  with  you.  Here 
is  a  i)rice  list  published  here.  otVering  to  take 
bees  in  exchange  for  sui)|)lies,  jtroliaijly  to  l)c 
used  in  tilling  orders.  Here  is  a  section  of  coun- 
try that  I  believe  it  would  be  haid  to  find  one 
a|)iary  in  that  is  free  from  foul  i)rood.  I  hon- 
estly do  not  liclieve  there  is  one.  Here  is  a 
littli'  city  where  there  were  rotten  combs 
thrown  out  in  the  street  last  summer.  This  is 
a  n^gular  hotbed  of  (ilth  and  corruption  as  far 
as  lices  are  concerned.  I  find  it  impo.ssibl(%  on 
account  of  diseased  robber-bees  of  neighbor- 
ing bee-keepers,  to  keep  my  bees  <Mitirely  free 
from  it,  although  I  can  easily  keep  it  in  check 
so  that  it  does  not  hurt  them  for  honey- 
gathering.  We  have  the  genuine  article  here — 
at  least.  Prof.  Cook  so  pronounced  the  samples 
I  sent  him  last  .lune.  Can  you  deny  that  the 
Canadian  law  would  be  a  good  thing  for  these 
parts,  with  a  man  at  the  head  who  knows  th«^ 
disease  in  all  its  stages,  with  nervt!  enough  to 
enforce  the  law  without  partiality?  I  do  not 
believe  that  all  the  bee-keepers  in  Nebraska 
are  dead  in  the  shell.  It  is  about  time  some  one 
made  a  move  in  this  matter.  Are  we  all  wait- 
ing for  each  other?  If  so  I  will  start  tlu- ball 
rolling.  We  have  a  State  law  on  foul  brood. 
i)ut  it  is  perfectly  worthless  as  it  stands.  It 
would  do  very  well  if  it  had  only  a  little  intelli- 
gent tinkering  done  to  it.  Ei.mer  Todd. 

York.  Xeb.,  Jan.  ~'8. 

[We  said  at  Albany,  that,  so  far  as  we  could 
judge  from  reports,  foul  brood  was  not  only 
diminishing  in  tlie  United  States,  but  that 
there  was  very  little  of  it.  Our  remarks  applied 
to  the  whole  of  the  United  States,  without  ref- 
ei-ence  to  any  particular  State:  and  so  far  we 
still  insist  on  the  truth  of  the  statement.  Foul 
brood  may  have  gotten  a  bad  start  in  Nebraska, 
and  bee-keepers  of  that  State  should  b(^  u])  and 
doing  at  once.  See  that  the  State  law  is  amend- 
ed so  as  to  be  etfectual,  and  then  follow  the 
examjile  of  the  Canadians,  and  wipe  out  the 
ppst.l  

THE   I.MPHOVED    HOFF.MAN    FRAME;    OB.JECTIOXS 
TO   V'ING   THE    SIDES   OF   THE   END-BAK. 

I  see  that  Dr.  Miller  has  ventured  to  criticise 
your  new  HotTman  frame  in  (ii.EANiNos  of  .Ian. 
1.5lh.  Now  .  my  experience  with  that  frame!,  in 
regard  to  those  V-shapcd  end -bars,  is  just  as 
hi'  surmises:  that  the  bees  will  Mil  the  space  in 
the  V-shaped  end-bar  with  propolis,  so  as  to 
make  thciii  a  nuisance:  at  least,  that  is  what 
they  w  ill  do  in  Northern  New  York. 

The  first  Hoffman  frames  that  I  us(>d  were 
made  that  way.  and  I  was  obliged  to  discard 
them  on  that  account.  I  then  made  them  with 
straight  edges,  when  I  had  no  trouble  as  long 
as  they  were  kept  close  together;  but  I  could 
devise  no  way  to  accomplish  this  except  by  a 
follower  at  the  sides;  and  as  my  hives  did  not 
admit  of  any  contraction,  I  did  not  experiment 
with  them. 

The  Hoffman  frame,  or  any  other  closed-end 
frame,  must  be  held  firmly  ♦ogether  to  pi'event 
the  bees  from  propolizing  the  joints.  1  do  not 
believe   it  can   be  accomplished   in  any  other 


134 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feu.  ir>. 


way.  I  found  iliat  the  least  separation  would 
start  them:  and  then,  if  they  were  not  repeat- 
edly scraped,  they  would  soon  be  so  that  I  could 
not  get  all  the  frames  into  the  hive. 

Now  just  a  word  as  to  that  tin  rabbet  that 
you  illustrate  in  the  same  issue  of  Gleanings. 
That  is  a  good  thing.  That  is  the  only  common- 
sense  tin  rabbet  that  I  have  ever  seen:  but. 
hold!  it  is  identical  in  every  way  with  the  one 
that  I  devised  some  three  years  since,  and  failed 
to  get  you  intei'ested  enough  in  to  make  me  a 
supply  for  my  hives  when  I  was  making  them 
all  over  new.  If  I  could  have  got  you  to 
make  them  for  me  then  I  would  now  have  all 
of  my  130  hives  fitted  with  them.  I  can  not  but 
think  that  you  might  save  us  bee-keepers  many 
dollars  if  you  pursued  a  different  course  than 
you  do  sometimes.  It  would  certainly  save  us 
much  trouble  and  anxiety. 

I  do  not  know  that  I  understand  how  your 
new  top- bar  is  intended  to  be  at  the  ends:  but 
I  found  that  it  was  necessary  to  have  a  bee- 
space  at  the  end  of  the  bar  to  prevent  the  end 
from  being  fastened  to  the  hive.  'This  also  al- 
lows the  frames  to  be  moved  endwise  in  putting 
them  together,  and  shoving  the  bees  out  of  the 
way.  (iKo.  A.  Wai.i:ath. 

Norwood,  N.  Y.,  Jan  21. 

[That  is  what  we  want,  friend  Walrath — tes- 
timony for  and  against  the  Vingof  the  end- 
bar.  We  saw  its  great  advantage  in  so  many 
places  in  York  State,  and  were  assured  on  every 
side  that  propolis  did  not  make  any  serious 
trouble,  that  we  did  not  regard  it  as  an  experi- 
ment or  an  unwise  move  in  putting  the  V  on 
the  end-bars.  Perhaps  youi-  frames  were  not 
made  right,  or  were  not  V"d  properly:  but  there 
are  many  friends  of  the  Hoffman  fi'ame  who 
have  given  theii'  testimony  on  the  other  side. 
We  should  like  to  hear  from  Mr.  Hoffman  him- 
self. Practical  bee-keepers  would  not  tolerate 
at  the  end  of  the  top-bar  any  more  space  than 
just  enough  to  allow  easy  handling.] 


hiv(!S  very  little  after  some  three  weeks  of  con- 
finement. I  sincerely  wish  I  was  as  sure  of 
having  solved  the  wintering  problem  at  this 
date  as  Ernest  and  his  friends  seem  to  be  in 
the  picture,  page  (iO.  S.  A.  Utley. 

Mt.  Washington.  Mo..  Jan.  28. 


OXK    OF    NATURE'S    BEE-IIIVES    IN   CAIJFORNIA. 

I  have  a  remnant  from  one  of  nature's  bee- 
hives, brought  in  from  the  ranch  of  Mr.  Louis 
Walker.  Mr.  W.  had  been  burning  mustard- 
stalks  on  a  side  hill  near  his  house.  After  it 
had  burned  off',  one  of  his  helpers  noticed  honey 
and  beeswax  running  over  the  ground:  and 
upon  investigation  it  was  found  to  come  from 
what  was  left  of  the  shell  of  a  pumpkin.  Near- 
ly three  years  ago  Mr.  W.  had  pumpkins  on 
this  side  hill.  Many  of  them  were  of  large  size. 
It  appears  that  a  gopher  or  squirrel  had  eaten 
a  hole  into  this  pumpkin.  at(^  up  the  contents, 
leaving  the  shell,  which  dried  in  good  shape  for 
the  bees  to  inhabit.  Since  that  time  the  mus- 
tard had  grown  up  and  hidden  all  from  view. 

I  have  taken  two  immense  swarms  from 
badger-holes  the  past  season.  These  are  the 
few  of  the  many  odd  places  that  swarms  occupy 
in  this  section.  M.  H.  Menih.eson. 

Ventura,  Cal.,  Jan.  2.5. 

[The  curious  places  that  absconding  swarms 
select  as  their  future  abiding-places,  and  the 
further  fact  that  they  seem  to  thrive,  only 
proves  what  a  wonderful  bee-country  Califor- 
nia is.  The  old  statement  of  Quinby  or  Gallup, 
that  bees  will  do  as  well  in  a  nail-keg  as  in  the 
best  constructed  hive,  seem  to  be  verified  in 
California.]  

OOOI)  winteking. 
My  110  colonies  seem  to  be  in  fine  condition 
after  our  cold  snap.  Every  one  was  alive  a  day 
or  two  ago.  I  am  wintering  outdoors,  packed  in 
chaff.  Nearly  all  of  their  stores  are  sugar  syrup, 
with  a  little  honey-dew.    The  bees  spotted  their 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM   A.  I.  ROOT. 


J((«.  2.— As  we  approaciied  the  line  between 
Oregon  and  California  we  saw  acres  and  acres  of 
the  most  beautiful,  thrifty-looking  fruit-trees 
of  various  kinds,  and  the  moss  that  has  hereto- 
fore disfigured  them  to  have  mostly,  if  notquite. 
given  way.  What  does  it  mean,  such  quantities 
of  apples  on  the  ground  undei'  the  trees,  red.  yel- 
low, and  white,  and  the  trees  have  been  so  full 
there  is  not  room  on  the  ground,  without  piling 
them  on  each  otlieiV  I  judge  we  have  passed 
thousands  of  bushels,  seemingly  in  good  condi- 
tion. At  the  depots,  boys  are  offering  most 
hedutlful  apples  at  a  very  low  price,  so  I  .judge 
there  must  be  a  glut  in  the  market  in  this  lo- 
cality. 

We  are  on  the  mountain-tops,  and  the  snow  is 
over  the  tops  of  the  fences.  _Fo((r  locomotives 
are  pulling  th(^  train,  and  gangs  of  men  are 
shoveling  oft'  the  snow.  In  some  places  it  is 
drifted  up  to  the  eaves  of  the  hou.se.  and  gi'eat 
channels  ai'e  cut  so  as  to  get  out  and  in.  Not 
two  hours  ago  it  was  as  mild  as  May  down  in 
the  valleys;  but  now  we  see  gi'eat  icicles,  as 
large  as  a  man's  body,  hanging  from  the  eaves. 
At  half-past  2  p.  m.  Mt.  Shasta  first  came  in 
sight  from  our  elevation  on  the  mountain-tops. 
It  aid  not  at  first  seem  much  difterent  from  nor 
mucli  largi'i'  than  nuiuy  other  p<'aks.  only  that 
it  was.  at  least  the  upper  part  of  it.  of  snowy 
whiteness.  No  speck  of  timber,  vegetation,  or 
rock,  marred  its  waxy  whiteness.  Again,  it  has 
for  an  hour  been  almost  constantly  in  sight, 
first  on  one  side  of  the  car  and  then  on  the 
other,  as  we  wind  about  in  our  descent  toward 
its  foot.  This  distinguishes  a  high  mountain 
from  other  peaks — its  perpetual  snow,  and  the 
fashion  of  looking  just  about  the  same,  even 
while  you  travel  to  or  from  it,  for  hours.  It 
now  occurs  to  me  I  have  said  but  little  about 
the  mountains  as  yet.  When  I  first  visited  friend 
March's  he  told  me  that,  right  over  his 
front  gate,  was  a  beautiful  large  mountain, 
to  be  seen  only  on  a  clear  day.  It  seemed 
to  me  for  several  days  that,  if  a  mountain  was 
there.  I  ought  to  see  it:  but  not  until  a  clear 
briglit  day  did  old  Mt.  Bakei'show  itself.  Then 
it  loomed \ip  in  all  its  icy  brightness  until  one 
was  lost  in  awe  and  wonder.  Friend  M.  says 
he  does  not  believe  any  human  being  has  ever 
reached  the  top.  although  one  or  more  have  lost 
their  lives  in  the  attempt.  The  trouble  is,  that 
it  is  always  covered  with  ice,  and  in  summer  the 
sun  melts  caverns  in  this  ice.  with  only  a  shell 
over  the  top.  that  often  breaks  through,  precipi- 
tating the  explorer  into  crevices  from  which  he 
may  never  get  out.  From  the  same  point  of 
view  we  see  two  pretty  smaller  mountains. 
These  are  the  Twin  Sisters,  and  they  are  clear 
up  in  British  America.  All  these  are  between 
(•)0  and  70  miles  distant.  From  Portland  we  see 
Mt.  Hood  and  Mt.  St.  Helen,  when  the  day  is 
clear.  The  former  is  a  rugged  peak,  and  over 
11.000  feet  high,  and  last  July  a  party  was  sent 
to  its  summit  to  burn  red  lights  on  the  eve  of 
the  Fourth.  By  starting  several  days  ahead 
they  made  the  ascent,  and  gave  an  exhibition 
of  fire-works  that  could  be  seen  for  a  hundred 
miles.  St.  Helen  is  not  quite  10,000  feet,  but  it 
is  the  most  symmetrical  mountain,  probably,  in 


IS'.IJ 


(W.KANINCS  IN   I5I0K  cri/irUK. 


1  x, 


tlif  world.  At  liisi  ^iKllt  il  sfi'iiicti  lo  iiic  llial 
some  huttiT-womaii  must  have  taken  licr 
paildlt'.  ami.  by  tlcNtroiis  strokes,  rasliioiied  a 
tliiim  of  lieaii'ty.  Ml.  Slia^ta  is  oii(>  of  the 
lii^rliest  |M  aks  in  the  I'niteii  Siati-s.  Iiejni:  11.11'.' 
feet.  Tlie  railfoads  afe  veiy  aeeoiiimodatiiifi  in 
nimiinfj  tlie  roail  almost  tip  to  ti>e  foot  of  llie 
monntain.  The  drifting  snow  can  lie  plainly 
seen  with  tin-  naked  eye.  ami  the  elond  of  snow- 
that  is  lieinu  eonstantly  whirled  over  the  sum- 
mit mnst  he  sinni'thinsi  like  a  half  or  a  (iiiaiter 
of  a  inih'  long.  1  took  three  koilak  views  of 
Shasta:  hvit  pliotography  ean  not  do  a  rail 
innuntaiii  jnstiee.  One  fails  to  reeogni/.e  the 
distaiu-es  and  enormons  height.  A  monntain 
two  or  three  miles  high  might  he  estimated  at 
less  tlian  a  quarter  as  inm-h. 

J(ni.4,  ISH'J. — YesttM'day  w  as  an  .'venlfnl  (hiy 
to  me.  The  deep  snows  on  the  mountain  threw 
the  train  behind,  so  that  I  was  eompelled  to 
travel  on  .Sunday  until  m-arly  noon.  While 
speaking  of  the  deep  snow  I  am  reminded  that  a 
fellow-traveler  explaiiu'd  how  they  clear  the 
traek.  Thev  have  an  imnn-nse  maehine.  pro- 
pelltHJ  by  steam,  that  might  t)e  likened  to  a  huge 
earpet-sweeper.  It  takes  up  the  snow  while  it 
is  vet  light,  just  after  it  falls,  and  throws  it 
over  In-  the  side  of  the  track.  When  il  has  lin- 
islied  the  job.  the  snow  lies  in  a  beautiful  tegu- 
lar slope,  exactly  so  far  from  the  track,  and  this 
.slone  is  at  such  an  angle  that  it  doo^s  not  often 
sliiie  or  cave  in. 

In  coming  in  to  San  Francisco  we  crossed  two 
ferries.  The  first  took  the  whole  train,  entire, 
without  even  dividing  it:  and  I  was  told  this 
ferryboat  is  the  largest  oik^  in  the  world.  The 
whole  lieavy  train,  locomotive  and  all.  did  not 
sink  the  great  floating  monster  even  one  inch, 
so  far  as  I  could  see.  The  second  terry  that 
landed  us  in  the  city,  by  a  system  of  gates  and 
portiMs.  took  all  on  the  train  and  nobody  (>lse. 
It  was  a  beautiful  morning,  and  the  crowds  all 
around  me  were  dressed  in  their  best,  but  noth- 
ing seemed  to  indicate  that  any  one  thought 
that  it  was  GdiI's:  holy  day.  I  felt  uneasy,  and 
my  conscience  troubled  nie.  As  it  neai-ed  church 
time  I  began  to  fear  1  should  miss  the  morning 
service,  and  it  seemed  as  if  I  could  hardly  stand 
it.  T  had  selected  from  th(^  various  advertis- 
ments  a  temperance  hotel,  and  so  I  pushed  past 
all  the   hackmen.  telling   them    I  was  going  to 

stop  at  the  () House.     Finally  one  of  them 

said,  •' Oh,  yesi  then  I  am  your  man  (exactly." 
As  I  got  into  his  wretched  vehicle  I  thought  it 
strange  a  temjierance  institution  should  send 
out  such  a  rig  and  man:  and  when  he  liegan 
threading  the  lowest  part  of  the  city  I  l)ecame 
uneasy;  but  he  explained  it  by  saying  th(!  direct 
route  to  their  place  wascut  up  by  laying  a  cable 
car-track,  and  that  they  were  temporarily 
obliged  to  go  quite  a  piiM-e  around,  and  tinally 
he  dn)pped  me  before  a  low-lived  whisky-shop. 
The  office  of  the  hotel  was  in  said  shop. 
"My  dear  sir.  you  told  me  you  belonged  to  the 

O House.      How  does   this  come?"'   and   I 

pointed  to  the  sign  oyer  the  <loor. 

"Ohltliat  is  all  right.""  he  hastened  to  ex- 
plain.   "This  liouse  is  owned  by  llx!  satne  man 

that  owns  the  O .     They  are  exactly  alike." 

I  looked  atmy  watch,  and  saw  I  had  just  time  to 
dress  for  chui-ch.  if  I  went  right  at  it  and  wast- 
ed no  more  time.  So  I  explained  I  wa.s  in  a 
iiiirry  to  get  to  church,  and  ask'ed  for  a  room. 
If  it  hadn't  been  Sunday  I  should  have  Ijeen 
temptefl  to  use  the  Kodak  to  give  (^ur  readers  a 
vi<!W-  of  that  room.  I  was  careful  to  hang  my 
clothes  on  the  hooks,  wliile  I  hastily  changed: 
and  if  I  had  dropped  any  article  on  the  floor,  it 
would  hav(!  required  brisk  hrushing  to  get  it 
clean  again,  although  the  dirty  woman  we  met 
at  the  door  assured  us  the  room  was  all  in  "  nice 
order.""    When   I  asked   to  be  directed  to   the 


nearest  (  ongregal iona I  church  the  bloated- 
faced  clerk  went  for  somebody  who  kni-w  about 
chtM'ches.  I'"inally  a  policeman  was  found,  and 
he  said  he  knew  of  a  new  church,  not  faraway, 
that  he  ■■  tat  her  ijiicsscd  "  was  Ihesoil  I  wanted. 
This  policeman.  I)y  the  wa\-.  could  hariily  talk 
English  so  as  to  be  understood.  My  conscience 
begii\s  to  tell  mi'  now-,  however,  that  I  havi'  found 
fault  enough.  After  all  my  fidgeting  I  wasoneof 
the  lirstin  that  pretty  new  church.  The  jani- 
tor welcomed  me  witli  a  handshake,  foinid  out 
where  I  was  from,  and  introduced  m<!  to  the 
ditleriMit  members  as  they  came  in,  and  linaily 
to  th(>  good,  kindly-looking  pastor.  Dear  rc^ad- 
er,  if  a  stranger  happt'iis  into  your  church  are 
you  mire  he  will  get  such  a  welcome?  Why,  it 
made  me  feel  at  home,  and  happy  at  once. 
How  good  their  faces  looked,  contrasted  with 
thos(!  of  the  crowd  I  had  met  on  th(!  ferry  1  We 
liad  an  excc^Uent  sermon:  but  the  best  part  of  it 
was  near  the  close,  something  lik(i  this, 

"  Dear  brothers  and  sislefs.  I  am  extremely 
happy  to  tell  you  that  my  appi'al  a  week  ago 
brought  a  contribution  tliat  i)aid  tii)  every  last 
cent  of  our  debt,  so  we  can  start  out  this  new- 
year  with  our  church  and  every  tiling  about  it 
paid  for."' 

Many  of  the  members  siioke  broken  English, 
showing  they  wore  of  dilTerent  nationalities, 
and.  in  fact,  the  church  was  in  a  part  of  the 
town  where  it  could  not  well  be  otherwise;  but 
notwitlistanding  this  they  w-ere  clean  and  pure 
men  and  women.  "•  washed  in  the  blood  of  the 
Ijamb,"  and  made  lit  for  the  communion  of 
saints.  The  contrast  between  them  and  the 
rough,  blaspheming,  and  drinking  crowd,  was 
indeed  wonderful.  I  was  urged  on  all  sides  to 
stay  to  Sunday-school,  and,  in  fact,  by  a  perfect 
drove  of  children,  chattering  and  prattling 
around  the  church  (ioor  and  steps,  toward  the 
close  of  the  sermon,  until  the  janitor  had  to 
look  out  several  timi's  and  motion  to  them  to 
keep  still.  I  was  happy  and  joyous  then;  but 
little  did  I  dream  of  a  new  happiness  just  then 
right  before  me.     Let  us  go  back  a  little. 

I  have  l^efore  mentioned  that  Mrs.  Root  is 
rather  backward  and  diffident  about  going  out 
in  the  world  among  people.  When  I  started  on 
this  trip,  our  entreaties  were  all  in  vain  to  get 
her  to  come.  It  made  her  sick  to  travel,  and 
she  could  not  sleep  nights:  and,  besides,  she  did 
not  care  for  new  countries  and  scenery  as  much 
as  I  did.  So  we  reluctantly  gave  it  up.  By 
••  we  '"  I  mean  myself  and  the  children.  When 
I  had  a  relapse  of  the  fever,  how-ever,  she  said 
she  must  come  to  mc;;  and,  in  fact,  she  could 
hardly  wait  until  I  could  direct  her  how  to 
come.  Finally  she  wired  me  that  she  had 
started  on  Wednesday,  the  30th  of  December. 
You  may  be  sure  that  I  did  not  forget  her  in  my 
prayers  "during  these  four  days.  During  the  fe- 
verish, sleepless  nights  I  had  just  passed,  my 
mind  was  almost  constantly  drawn  toward  her. 
I  dreamed  of  her  nights,  and  while  on  the 
streets  during  the  day.  If  any  figure  in  the 
least  resembled  her.  it  set  my  heart  to  beating 
at  once.  Some  of  mv  yonngi-r  readers  may 
smile  at  this.  All  right.  I  am  glad  to  have, 
you  smile,  and  I  liojii'  the  older  ones  will  smile. 
Yes;  and  n^Jiilc  you  smile,  take  that  dear  hand 
in  yours  that  has  worked  for  you  so  faithfully, 
and  tell  her  that  brother  Root  is  not  theo?i7jy 
man  who  has  a  heart  that  beats  young  again  as 
he  .sees  the  dear  form  or  hears  her  footstep. 
More  than  thirty  years  ago  I  had  a  sort  of  boy- 
ish notion  that  I  could  not  be  liapiiy  without 
her.  Since  then  I  have  seen  her  work  untiring- 
ly in  molding  and  fashioning  the  mind  and  soul 
of  each  little  new  comer  that  (Jod  sent  into  our 
household.  I  didn't  know  lier  thirty  years  ago, 
but  I  do  know  her  know.  While  I  was  sick,  and 
thousands  of  miles  awav  from  home,  memory 


]3« 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fkk.  15. 


went  over  it  all.  step  by  step.  As  soon  as  she 
started  I  began  to  pray  that  she  might  not  be 
made  sick  by  so  much  travel.  1  prayed,  and 
then  worried  for  fear  she  migltt  get  sick  and 
have  to  wire  me  or  Ernest.  I  kept  thinking 
she  might  get  thi'oiigh  on  that  eventful  Sun- 
day :  but  experienced  travelers  and  railroad 
men  told  me  it  was  impossible  before  Monday. 
and  so  1  was  going  to  all  the  churches  and  Sun- 
day-schools, to  pass  the  time  until  I  might  look 
for  her. 

Let  me  now  go  back  again  to  that  Fourth 
Congregational  church  in  San  P"'rancisco.  In- 
stead of  staying  at  Sunday-school  I  thought  I 
would  just  go  over  to  the  place  we  had  arrang- 
ed for  our  meeting. 

"  Right  there  is  Hill  Street,"  said  the  con- 
ductor of  the  street-car;  '"and  if  you  will  walk 
up  on  this  side  you  will  soon  come  to  No.  20." 

I  looked  at  the  numbers,  and  walked  along. 
Sure  enough,  here  is  No.  30,  and  somebody  is 
just  closing  the  door.  As  I  rang  the  bell  a  gen- 
tleman opened  the  door,  and,  with  a  smile,  said: 

"  And  this  is  Mr.  Root,  I  believe." 

His  next  words  seemed  to  stun  me.  I  could 
not  take  in  his  meaning  until  he  repeated  them. 
He  said : 

"  Your  wife  has  just  arrived.'" 

"  You  surely  do  not  mean  she  is  here  now.  in 
this  house  f '" 

"  Yes,  I  do:  and  she  is  right  in  that  room." 

I  saw  that  the  door  was  ajar.  The  fever  had 
made  me  nervous.  I  pushed  open  the  door,  and 
there  she  stood — not  used  up  and  woi'u  out  with 
travel,  but  looking  unusually  well,  happy,  and 
just  a  ti'ifle  saucy.  My  prayers  were  all  ans- 
wered— yes,  7norc  than  answered,  and,  as  usual, 
I  \\2if.  astonished. 

"  O  thou  of  little  faith!  \pherefore  didst  thou 
doubt?" 

The  night  before  she  started  she  had  been 
awake  a  good  deal;  but  after  she  really  got  on 
the  way  she  slept  soundly  every  night;  yes.  and 
she  enjoyed  the  scenery  on  the  way  as  she  nev- 
er enjoyed  any  thing  before.  As  she  did  not 
leave  the  Pullman  car  for  three  days  and  four 
nights,  the  inmates  got  pretty  well  acquainted, 
and  she  says  she  never  before  met  so  many  good 
and  kind  people  in  her  life.  I  give  all  this  in 
detail,  for  I  feel  sure  that  others  may  have  the 
same  mistaken  notions  in  regard  to  ti'avel  at 
the  present  day.  There  are  many  advantages 
in  having  your  wife  with  you  in  traveling.  In 
fact,  Mrs.  Root  ha>  saved  expense  in  many 
ways.  When  we  came  to  Los  Angeles  a  hotel- 
keeper  wanted  S14.0()  for  just  a  room,  without 
any  meals,  for  one  week  I  Sue  declared  we 
would  not  stay  there  a  single  night:  and  she 
very  soon  found  the  pretty  room,  where  I  am 
writing  now,  for  only  ^4.50  per  week.  It  is  nice- 
ly furnished  (in  fact,  better  than  the  one  at  the 
hotel),  of  good  size,  gas  and  other  conveniences, 
near  the  business  part  of  the  city,  and  has  a 
very  pretty  bay-window  reaching  out  over  the 
street.  We  can  see  up  street  or  down,  and 
street-cars  are  all  around  us,  going  for  miles  in 
any  direction.  We  can  get  our  meals  at  a 
choice  of  more  than  fifty  restaurants:  and  there 
is  scarcely  an  article  of  food  to  be  had  in  the 
world  that  is  not  to  be  found  here.  There  are 
so  many  nice  dishes  served  for  only  five  cents 
each,  that,  if  one  wishes  to  use  economy,  he 
can  live  very  cheaply.  Our  meals  usually  cost 
us  30  or  40  cents  for  J>oth  of  us;  and  a  few  days 
ago  we  got  every  thing  we  wanted,  and  the  bill 
was  on]y  tJt'entji- five  cents  for  both.  The  gro- 
cers, bakers,  and  restaui'ants  have  such  a  great 
nuiltitude  of  things,  in  the  most  convenient 
form,  that,  with  the  help  of  a  little  coal-oil 
stove,  a  good  meal  can  be  quickly  prepared,  for 
only  a  few  cents.  Many  restaurants  make  a 
great  specialty  of  fifteen -cent  meals.    You  get 


almost  any  kind  of  nn^at  or  fish,  including  plen- 
ty of  potatoes,  bread  and  butter,  and  a  large 
cup  of  good  coffee,  foi-  the  15  cents.  Fruits  of 
all  kinds  known  are  in  wonderful  abundance, 
and  are  also  very  cheap.  As  neither  of  us  car- 
ries a  trunk,  we  can  leave  our  baggage  at  the 
depot  until  we  look  up  a  furnished  room  to  suit 
us,  both  in  location  and  quality.  Some  of  you 
may  think  it  not  much  style  to  travel  in  this 
way.  We  don't  care  for  styli'  very  much,  and 
some  of  the  finest  people  who  travel  do  just  this 
way.  In  fact,  a  lady  in  the  Pullman  car  told 
me  about  it,  and  gave  us  the  address  of  parties 
having  nice  furnished  rooms  to  let. 

As  my  sickness  had  thrown  me  back  on  my 
appointments  we  missed  many  points  around 
San  Francisco.  In  fact,  we  were  obliged  to  start 
off  Monday  so  as  to  be  in  time  at  the  convention 
in  Los  Angeles.  I  mention  this  that  the  friends 
around  San  Francisco  may  not  think  we  passed 
them  by  intentionally.  Our  kind  friends,  Mr. 
Bostwick,  father  and  sons,  did  us  very  great 
•service  in  showing  us  around  the  city.  You 
should  have  seen  Mrs.  Root  open  her  eyes  as 
she  saw  the  beautiful  yards  with  their  strange 
new  forms  of  vegetation.  Mr.  Frank  Bostwick 
seemed  to  be  a  privileged  character  in  China- 
town, and  he  even  went  so  far  as  to  get  tis  a 
pass  into  a  Joss  house  during  some  great  feast 
or  event.  We  saw  the  idol,  and  the  temple  and 
worshipei's.  Their  ceremonies  and  incantations, 
and  the  wonderful  and  varied  apparatus,  are 
wonderfully  complicated.  One  would  think, 
from  their  motions,  that  they  were  performing 
complicated  problems  and  computations  in  as- 
tronomy or  mathematics,  while  the  real  fact  is 
there  is  no  more  sense  in  it  than  in  the  ravings 
and  jargon  of  a  maniac  in  some  asylum.  We 
saw  Chinese,  both  women  and  children.  If  the 
latter  could  be  educated,  as  we  educate  every 
other  race,  there  would  be  some  hope.  Aban- 
doning their  queue  means  abandoning  their  re- 
ligion, and  there  is  no  real  hope  for  them  until 
they  do  that.  There  are  a  few  business  men 
who  have  done  that,  and  in  Los  Angeles  we 
have  a  converted  Chinese  who  is  a  minister  of 
the  gospel.  I  am  sure  it  is  all  wrong  to  have  so 
many  men  and  almost  /lo  uornen.  with  any  race 
of  peoole.  It  seems  to  me  there  should  be  some 
law  against  it.  I  do  not  mean  by  this  to  tread 
on  the  toes  of  any  of  my  bachelor  friends. 

We  made  one  very  interesting  excursion  to  a 
beautiful  park,  where  we  saw  seals  climbing 
out  of  the  ocean  and  clamliering  up  on  the 
rocks.  These  are  not  the  fur-bearing  seals,  but 
are  much  like  them.  Their  bark  sounds  like 
that  from  a  lot  of  dogs,  and  one  can  hear  them 
frolic  half  a  mile  away. 

Between  San  Francisco  and  Los  Angeles  we 
did  not  see  much  of  particular  interest  until  we 
came  to  the  Mojave  (pronounced  Mo-/ir(/i-vay) 
Desert.  In  many  places  vegetation  is  almost 
entirely  lacking,  and  only  the  sandy  gravel 
covers  the  boundless  waste;  and  at  noonday, 
even  in  the  month  of  January,  the  glare  and 
glitter  of  the  sun's  rays  seemed  oppressive.  I 
am  told  that,  in  the  summer  time,  it  has  been  as 
hot  as  11(1°  in  the  shade.  I  began  to  look  for  the 
bones  of  animals  that  had  perished,  and  soon 
found  plenty  of  them,  even  in  plain  sight  along 
the  railroad  track;  and  befon^  long  not  only 
the  bones  were  visible,  but  their  partially  de- 
cayed bodies.  The  air  is  so  dry  that  no  at- 
tempt is  luade  to  bury  them,  for  they  soon  dry 
up,  giving  oft'  little  or  no  offensive  smell. 

Not  far  away  is  the  far-famed  Death  Valley, 
where  not  only  horses  and  cattle,  but  even  hu- 
man beings,  have  died  in  such  numbers  that 
skeletons  are  said  to  be  in  plain  sight  every- 
where. In  former  times  a  superstition  sur- 
rounded this  place;  but  now  travelers  well  pro- 
vided for  and  well  attended  go  through  it  safe- 


IS'.f.' 


t;M;.\MN(;s  in  kkio  culturio. 


1:57 


ly.  'riir  Ileal  is  iMosi  iniciisf:  ami  as  it  Mrs 
Itiw.  ituTc  is  very  little  air.  'I'liis  alone  would 
l)e  eiioiifili  to  indiiee  fevers  ami  ileliriiim;  Imi 
add  to  that  the  fad  tliat  the  water  toumi  there 
is  so  alUaliiie.  ami  oiiaincd  wilii  iniiieials,  iJial 
it  is  almost  poisoitous.  is  it,  any  wondei-  tiiat  aii- 
iiuais  and  men  liecome  ofazed  and  so  insane 
they  nevi'i-  lind  tlieir  way  out?  On  the  edtres  of 
tiio  Mojave  IV'seit  ai'e  some  vei  y  tine  bee- 
ranches:  and  tile  fifeat  iieat  diiriiifj  the  honey 
season  is  tiionaht  to  assist  in  iiiviiifj  a  lai'fi*' 
honey-llow  w  hen  tliey  do  not  gel  it  in  othef  lo 
ealilies.  Mis.  IJoot.  was  veiy  anxious  to  see  a 
mifaiie  in  the  ileseiM.  IM'etty  soon  I  showed  her 
a  lake  of  water,  witii  the  sage  brush  and  i)usn- 
es  relleoted  in  it. 

"Oh!  but  that  ix  a  lake!"  she  replied,  almost 
as  soon  as  1  pointed  it  out.  I  told  her  to  wait 
until  we  rai>  u\)  nearer  to  it  and  she  would  sei! 
it  disappear:  Imt  when  we  got  w  liere  the  lak<' 
should  have  been.  she.  •"  woman -like."  was  very 
miu'h  inelined  to  stick  to  ln'r  lirst  nosition,  and 
totleelare  that  tin-  railway  had  turned  and  gone 
away  from  it.  I  luentioii  this  lo  show  you  how 
rail  is  a  mirage. 

At  San  Francisco  there  was  plenty  of  rain; 
but  w  hen  we  neared  the  desert  the  weather  was 
very  dry,  and  it  is  still  dry  here  at  Los  .Vngeles. 
We  arehaving.  in  fact,  the  most  beautiful  sum- 
mer weather  here,  riglit  in  the  midst  of  .Janua- 
ry. Ow  iiig  to  my  sickness  I  was  obliged  lo  give 
up  many  points  I  inteiuled  to  visit,  and,  in  fact, 
it  was  only  by  pushing  ahead  as  fast  as  possi- 
ble tliat  we  succeeded  in  getting  here  the  day  of 
the  convention.  I  think  I  never  attended  a 
convention  before  wiiere  therc^  was  a  better 
feeling  among  all  present  than  at  this  one  on 
the  tjth  and  Ttli  of  .January.  In  fact,  nothing 
came  up  during  any  of  the  sessions  that  savored 
in  the  least  of  any  sort  of  discord.  Many  of  the 
bee-keepers  brought  their  wives,  and  Mrs.  Root 
soon  found  herself  among  the  best  of  friends. 
As  soon  as  we  were  up  and  dressed  on  our  first 
morning  in  IjOS  Angeles  I  was  in  a  great  hurry 
to  have  Mrs.  Root  see  the  strange  new  vegeta- 
tion of  this  semi-tropical  land.  It  was  a  treat 
to  see  her  look,  and  to  hear  her  (exclamations  of 
wonder  as  we  passed  some  of  the  tine  dooryards. 
The  palms  and  pahnettcjs.  perhaps,  attracted 
the  most  attention.  A  beautiful  park  m/ar  the 
First  Congregational  church  furnished  no  end 
of  w-onderful  plants  and  trees.  After  the  con- 
vention our  gooil  friend  Woodljerry  took  us  on  a 
drive  through  the  mountain -|iasses  from  (ilen- 
dale  to  Pasadena,  on  one  route,  and  back  again 
on  another  one.  Mrs.  Root  asked  me  at  night 
whether  there  were  any  more  places  in  Califor- 
nia so  beautiful.  A  few  days  after.  w<^  visited 
Ventura,  and  with  a  livery  team  we  drov(i  20 
miles  up  into  the  Malilija  (pronounced  Mah-til- 
c-hah)  Canyon.  There  is  a  particular  spot  near 
the  hot  springs  that  affected  me  so  ijowerfully 
that  I  watched  her  anxiously  to  .see  whether  it 
would  be  the  same  with  her.  When  I  had  triced 
to  tell  her  about  it,  away  back  in  Ohio.  sIk;  said 
she<lid  not  believe  she  cared  for  natural  scenery 
as  I  did:  l)ut  when  we  came  to  the  point  in 
question  I  was  satisfied.  Jler  exijri-ssions  of 
wonder  and  awe,  became  stronger  and  .stronger. 
uiUil  human  language  became  too  weak  to  ex- 
press the  emotions  of  the  soul.  No  one  can  de- 
scribe a  mountain.  No  picture  can  do  it  just- 
ice. There  are  points  wheni  the  eye  and  feel- 
ings, and  all  previous  judgment  and  experi- 
ence, are  compelh^d  to  confess  their  utter  help- 
lessness. You  can"t  t<^ll  whether  th«!  road  is 
going  down  or  up.  for  you  liav(^  actually  seen 
the  rivulet  at  th('  roadside  so  perver.sc-  as  to  run 
up  hill.  You  at  the  same  time  confess  you  do 
not  know  whether  the  rocky  cliff  is  near  at 
hand  or  far  away:  neithctr  do  you  know^  wheth- 
er it  is  five  hundred  or  a  thousand  feet  iiigh. 


'l"he  great  rocks  and  clill>  appall  von;  and.  t,o 
add  to  the  illnsldii  that  ii  must  be  an  enchant- 
ed land,  the  sprini;  lliat  biibliles  foi  I  h  at  your 
feet  is  tin  I  Ik  il  to  drink.  We  went,  a  mile  furtlH^r 
up  tile  rugged  canyon  on  foot,  and  found  an 
apiary  of  several  hundred  colonies.  Its  owner 
stays  there  only  in  the  summer  time;  in  fact,  he 
uses  it  for  a  summer  residence,  and  moves  l)ack 
into  town  when  the  hoiu^y  season  is  over. 

While  friend  \Vilkin  and  I  walked  up  to  the 
apiary,  the  wonuwi-folks  took  a  liath  in  the 
rud(^  tent  right  in  the  bed  cjf  the  creek.  The 
sun  was  getting  low  and  the  air  chilly,  bnt  1 
felt  I  could  not  go  back  until  I  loo  had  taken  a 
bath.  I  told  tiK'in  1  could  be  ready  to  step  into 
the  carriage  in  ten  or  twelve  minuies.  The  tent 
looked  open,  and  1  feared  I  should  take  cold: 
but  when  I  closed  the  curtain  partially  I  foumi 
it  pretty  wafin,  for  the  hot  air  i)oured  out  of 
every  crack.  How  delicious  and  soothing  the 
water  seemed!  It  is  .so  highly  cliarged  with 
chemicals  that  one  can  hardly  keep  hi-;  body 
under  —  it  buoys  him  up  like  the  salt  water  of 
the  ocean.  Afie'r  I  had  got  ch^ar  under,  all  but 
my  nose,  mouth,  and  eyes.  I  enjoyed  it  so  much 
that  I  decided  they  would  have  to  wait  in  the 
cari'iage  five  or  six  minutes  more.  So  much 
clambering  about  and  traveling  had  made  my 
toes  quite  dirty.  Now,  don't  be  in  a  hurry  to 
say  that  I  am  not  n(>at  in  my  habits,  l^or  I  did  it 
on  purpo.se.  1  told  .Mrs.  Root  I  wanted  to  test 
the  cleansing  pro[)erties  of  this  water,  without 
soap,  and  that  slie  must  let  my  feet  stay  so  till 
we  got  to  the  hot  springs.  Well,  I  watched  the 
chemicals  at  work,  for  the  water  is  so  clear  that 
you  can  see  in  it  for  a  foot  or  two,  almost  as 
well  as  through  air.  Sure  enough,  without  a 
bit  of  rubbing,  the  dirt  faded  away  right  before 
my  eyes,  until  my  toes  were  as  pink  and  clean 
as  a  baby's,  and  so  it  was  with  my  whole  body. 
I  held  my  head  under  the  spout,  and  rubbed  it 
until  the  scalp  was  cleaner  than  any  barber's 
shampoo  ever  made  it.  The  horses  and  inmates 
of  the  carriage  were  impatient,  and  I  hustled 
on  my  clothes,  having  been  in  the  tent  18  min- 
utes. I  tried  to  give  the  proprietor  his  usual 
half-dollar;  but  he  said  my  notice  of  the  spring 
three  years  ago  had  made  him  many  times  my 
debtor;  and  wlien  I  talked  to  him  about  green- 
hou.ses  and  incubators  with  the  surplus  water, 
he  told  me  water  and  the  grounds  were  all  at 
my  service,  free  of  cost,  whenever  I  might 
choose  to  come  and  utilize  it.  I  was  prepared 
to  hear  Mrs.  Root  say  many  times  that  the 
mountain  roads  of  the  canyon  were  unsafe  for 
even  a  ijood  driver;  and  I  knew%  too.  that  she 
considered  me  a  poor  one,  so  I  let  the  team 
"out"  gradually;  and  as  they  wanted  to  go 
home,  we  W(Mit  up  and  down  with  a  rush,  now 
within  an  inch  of  the  sharp  granite  rocks  on  one 
side,  and  about  as  near  a  sharp  precipice  on  the 
other,  dodging  boulders,  and  ever  and  anon 
plunging  into  the  mountain-torrent  as  we  cross- 
ed the  stream  from  one  side  to  the  other.  I  do 
not  know  when  I  have  enjoyed  any  thing  more 
than  that  mountain-drive:  and  wiien  we  got 
home,  just  as  the  last  glimiise  of  the  twilight 
was  fading,  she  wiiispered  that  she  had  more 
faith  in  her  husband  than  sh<i  ever  had  before, 
•'  as  a  driver! "  Had  we  taken  the  regular 
stage  it  would  have  cost  ^G.tX),  and  we  should 
haves  had  to  stay  at  the  springs  over  night. 
With  the  livery  we  started  after  10,  took  a  cou- 
ple of  friends  with  us.  stayed  an  hour  and  a 
half  at  the  springs,  and  got  back  soon  after  0 
o'clock,  and  I  had  the  fun  of  driving  a  spirited 
team  forty  mil(!s.  When  we  were;  married  my 
wife  and  I  took  a  steamboat-ride  on  the'  Ohio 
River,  for  a  wedding-tour.  Well,  during  all 
these  thirty  years  we  two  have  never  since 
had  a  boat-ride  together.  When  sh(s  saw  the 
great  ocean,  and  heard  the  roar  of  the  waves, 


13S 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Fei$.  1."». 


she  naturally  longed  for  a  trip  on  it.  By  the 
way,  slip  camp  aci'oss  the  Atlantic  from  "  Mer- 
rie  England"  when  she  was  eight  years  old. 


j,^  .i|i^iY 


---^--J^^-^lo^  PER  YEARj 


In  the  multitude  of  counselors  there  is  safety.— Pr.  11 :  14. 

The  Vermont  bee- keepers,  in  the  State  con- 
vention, report  a  good  honey-yield  for  the  last 
season.    They  were  quite  enthusiastic  over  it. 


The  report  of  the  N.  A.  B.  K.  A.  is  now  pub- 
lished in  pamphlet  form.  As  usual,  it  is  neatly 
and  well  bound.  A  noticeable  feature  about 
the  report  is  the  portrait  engravings  of  the  of- 
ficers for  1891  and  '92.  It  can  be  obtained  of 
Thos.  G.  Newman  &  Son,  Chicago,  for  250. 


TiiEiJE  seems  to  be  a  great  deal  of  disagree- 
ment as  to  the  rule  that  should  be  laid  down 
for  grading  honey.  But  light  is  surely  break- 
ing in;  and  even  should  we  be  obliged  to  adopt 
a  schedule  that  might  be  regarded  as  quite  im- 
perfect, it  would  manifestly  be  better  than 
nothing.  

In  spite  uf  the  cold  snap  we  have  been  having 
throughout  tlie  country,  reports  aie  daily  com- 
ing in  to  the  effect  that  bees  are  wintering  well. 
We  feared  that  there  might  he  some  heavy 
losses  in  some  quarters.  Of  course,  the  winter 
is  not  yet  over;  but  the  fact  that  bees  are  doing 
unusually  well  at  the  present  time  is  encourag- 
ing.   

The  foul-brood  inspector  for  the  province  of 
Ontario.  Canada.  Mr.  McEvoy.  is  doing  some 
effective  work.  At  the  present  rate,  owing 
to  tlie  excellence  of  their  law.  and  the  effective- 
ness and  promptness  of  their  inspector,  foul 
brood  in  the  province  will,  at  this  rate,  soon  be  a 
thing  of  the  past.  We  hope  the  State  of  Ne- 
braska, where  the  disease  is  said  to  be  bad.  will 
copy  the  example  of  the  Canadians. 


Reports  are  now  in.  and  show  that,  of  the 
queens  sent  to  Australia  and  adjacent  islands 
by  mail,  only  about  ten  per  cent  failed  to  get 
through  alive.  A  part  of  this  loss,  as  one  or 
two  reports  show,  was  due  to  an  unusual  douse 
of  sea-water.  G.  M.  Doolittle  has  likewise  had 
remarkable  success.  By  the  way.  he  was  the 
first  one  to  send  a  queen  successfully  to  Austra- 
lia, and  that  was  away  back  in  1SS4.  We  will 
shortly  publish  from  him  a  couple  of  interesting 
articles  on  the  subject. 

C.  P.  D.\DANT  says  that  sections  open  on 
three  sides  are  the  coming  style.  They  can  be 
so  arranged  that  the  tops  are  entirely  closed— 
that  is.  the  closed  sides  being  on  top.  This  may 
be  some  advantage  to  those  bee-keepers  who 
prefer  to  have  their  colonies  fill  only  one  tier  of 
sections  at  a  time.  There  is  another  class  who 
like  open -side  sections,  and  this  three-way 
style  will  accommodate  them:  and  then,  once 
more,  these  sections  can  be  used  like  the  ordi- 
nary, with  only  tops  and  bottoms  open. 


We  have  received  a  number  of  letters  from 
prominent  bee-keep<'rs  all  over  the;  land,  con- 
gratulating us  on  the  candor  and  fairness  of 
our  reply  to  th(?  report  of  the  Ontario  Bee- 
keepers' Association.   This  we  naturally  accept 


as  an  indorsement  of  every  point  we  made  on 
the  part  of  the  bee-keepers  as  a  whole  through- 
out the  United  States.  Brother  Newman,  of 
the  American.  Bee  Jfiurnal.  not  only  indorses 
our  reply,  but  published  it  in  full  in  his  own 
journal,  and  then  added  some  telling  points 
that  fully  justify  his  action  in  the  matter  of 
incorporation. 

We  have  just  been  favored  with  a  visit  from 
Mr.  Frank  McNay.  of  Mansion,  Juneau  Co., 
Wis.  He  is  a  bee-keeperwho  manages  success- 
fully some  .500  colonies.  He  has  not  occupied  a 
very  conspicuous  position  in  the  bee-journals 
of  late,  but  he  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful bee-keepers  of  his  State.  He  runs  al- 
most entirely  for  extracted  honey.  In  talking 
with  him  in  regard  to  exti'actors.  beseemed  to 
favor  the  idea  of  lh(^  new  Cowan  reversible. 
We  have  promised  to  send  him  one.  and  no 
doubt  ne  will  report  later  in  regard  to  its  work- 
ings.   

At  almost  every  convention  there  is  more  or 
less  discussion  in  regard  to  indoor  and  outdoor 
wintering.  One  party  will  have  entire  success 
with  one.  and  another  will  have  failure  with 
the  other;  and  oftentimes  some  feeling  is  stirred 
up  needlessly  in  the  discussion.  After  having 
examined  the  matter  very  closely  we  have 
com(^  to  the  conclusion  that  k)cality  determines 
in  a  very  great  measure  whether  bees  should 
be  wintered  outdoors  or  indoors.  At  the  late 
convention  at  Grand  Rapids  it  was  interesting 
to  observe  what  a  ditference  there  was  in  local- 
ities only  a  few  miles  apart,  as  to  the  coldness 
of  the  winter.  Where  the  winters  were  very 
severe,  cellar  wintering  seems  to  prevail.  In 
fact,  it  was  the  only  method  that  gave  success. 
Where  the  winters  were  moderate  the  outdoor 
plan  gave  altogether  the  best  results.  In  cer- 
tain parts  of  York  State,  cellar  wintering  is  the 
only  plan  that  gives  satisfactory  results.  In 
other  parts  the  outdoor  plan  is  preferred.  We 
shall  have  to  conclude,  then,  in  view  of  these 
facts,  that,  in  localities  where  the  winter  is  so 
cold  that  the  temperature  is.  for  a  good  part  of 
the  time,  down  to  or  below  zero,  the  indoor  plan 
is  the  preferable  one.  But  where  bees  have  an 
opportunity  for  occasional  flights,  the  outdoo 
plan  will  probably  give  the  best  results. 


BAKHAIUTV   TO   KEES. 

One  of  the  editorial  writers  in  the  New  York 
Tribune  seems  to  be  greatly  exercised  over  the 
fact  that  we  have,  on  one  or  two  occasions, 
pulled  out  10.000  stings  from  as  many  liees.  the 
stings  being  used  to  supply  a  large  pharmacy 
concern  who  pi"epare  a  certain  powerful  and  val- 
uable medicine.  Mr.  W.  T.  Doty,  in  the  Orange 
County  Farmer,  in  commenting  on  this,  says: 
••  It  remains  for  modern  barbarism  to  devise  the 
refinement  of  cruelty  and  nonsense  in  the  use  of 
apis  mellifica."  Neither  of  the  above  writers  is 
attacking  as  any  more  than  the  whole  medical 
fraternity  of  homeopathy.  As  to  the  utility  of 
the  medicine,  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  us. 
They  are  both  trying  to  stir  up  much  ado  about 
nothing,  to  get  the  people  to  hold  up  their  hands 
in  holy  horror  at  such  "cruelty"  and  "non- 
sense."' As  well,  with  equal  consistency,  they 
might  decry  the  butchering  of  beef,  dehorning 
of  cattle,  the  gelding  of  male  animals,  bobbing 
of  lambs'  tails,  or  the  cropping  of  bulldogs'  ears. 
Gentlemen  of  the  quill,  there  is  a  broad  field 
here;  you  seem  to  entirely  overlook  the  fact  that 
the  bee  does  not  possess  the  same  intricate  and 
delicate  nervous  system,  and  therefore  is  by  no 
means  as  susceptible  to  pain.  If  you  had  raised 
your  voice  against  the  dehorning  of  cattle,  there 
might  be  some  consistency  about  it.    The  ex- 


IS'.rJ 


(il.HANIMJS  IN   |:KK  el  I. 


KK. 


\:\'.i 


traoliiiii  of  siiii^is  w  ;is  (lone  alinosl  iiistaiitaiK'- 
(iiisly.  ami  lln'  l>i'i'  was  iuumIv  cnislicd  oul  of 
.•xisti'm-f.  ami  possihlc  pain,  in  anotlu'i'  instant. 
We  (In  not  sec  that  we  ucff  incnnsisiciit  Willi 
iiiir  piDlVssiiins  or  tlir  iclincd  smsc  of  liuinam' 
tiratnii'nt  of  oni' ilnnili  animals  of  tiic  nirscni 
day.  Hy  tin-  way.  tin-  wiitiM'  for  t.li((  'Irihunc 
docs  not  sitrn  lil.s  nam*'.  I)nt  liidcs  in  liis  attuck 
under  tln-i'ditoiial  ■"  we."  If  In-  scofi'S  anybody, 
li't  him  si-ofc  tlic  junior  editor.  If  a  lU)  worse 
cliarue  is  ever  entered  against  him.  lie  will  he 
happy. 

.MSril'ICl.M.  ('.')    IIOXKY-COMH  \T    I. .VST. 

On  page  KK?  (»f  our  last,  issm>  we  stated  edito- 
rially that  thiM'e  were  rumors  abroad  to  the 
etieot  that  another  chai)  was  about  to  place  on 
the  market  artiticial  lioney-comh  tilled  with 
•rliK'ose;  and  now  samijjes  are  out.  This  morn- 
intr.  as  we  eame  into  the  otTiee.  one  of  the  clerks 
lianded  \is  a  box  and  a  letter,  and  added,  w  ith  a 
laconic  smile.  "  Here  goes  yonr  tlionsand  dollars 
as  a  reward  for  artilicial  honey-coml)."  As  the 
information  struck  ns  from  a  pecuniary  point 
of  view .  wt'  were  inti'rested  at  once.  Mi'fore  we 
tell  you  about  the  comb,  we  present  you  the 
letter  accomi)anyins  the  mysterious  box.  .lust 
read: 

K.\NSAsCiTV,  Feb.  1,  1893. 
A    I  Rixit,- 

De:tr  Si/:— I  send  you  this  day  iiei-  expce.ss.  chaij^es 
prepaid,  sample  or  tlie  artificial  comb.  One  side  is 
re:idy  for  the  liees  to  fill  mill  cap  over,  and  tlie  other 
side  "is  tilled  with  pure  lioiiey  and  capped  over,  so 
yon  see  tliat  I  lie  TliinK  can  lie  done,  antl  is  done. 
My  Idea  is  not  so  mucli  to  make  artificial  coml)  lion- 
ey,  a>  to  siipplj'  the  l)ee-keepers  witli  artificial 
honey-conil)  so  as  to  enalile  tlieiii  to  produce  just 
six  times  more  than  they  are  now  doing';  as  some 
.say  that  it  takes  T  lbs.  of  honey  t(j  produce  1  U).  of 
wax.  This  making  comljs  is  no  exi)erinient,  but  a 
fact,  and  they  can  l3e  produced  very  eheai>.  Tliis  sam- 
ple is  some  of  tlie  very  fliNt  turni'd  out;  and  l:)y  a  lit- 
tle more  work  and  pains  it  can  be  produced  so  near 
like  wliat  the  bees  make  that  you  can  not  tell  them 
apart.  I  expect  to  hiivv  mj' patent-papers  in  a  few 
(lays;  and  if  you  wish  to  manufacture  tlie  comti 
under  a  i-oyalty,  I  sliould  lie  glad  to  figure  with  you. 
as  I  shall  devote  this  month  to  several  concerns— 
l)igr  ones  like  your  own — making'  ari-aiigemeiits  to 
maimfacture  under  a  royalty.  This  is  a  great  in- 
vention, and  a  long-needed  want  .soon  supplied. 
Now  the  liee-keepers  will  rejoice,  and  tlie  piiiiiic 
will  rejoice,  liecause  they  can  get  all  the  hone}  they 
want;  and  no  doubt  1  shall  receive  the  reward  b.\ 
return  mail,  of  a  New  York  exchange  for  ?1(1(J0,  as 
pulilished  1)\-  you.  1  also  send  you  a  samjileof  brood 
coml).     Witii  best  wishes  1  am 

Yours  triilv. 

T 

Of  all  the  Imngling  attem|)ts  made  to  imitate 
artiticial  honey-comb,  this  is  the  worst.  A  piece 
of  this  imitation  was  inserted  in  an  ordinary 
pound  section.  We  puslied  the  comb  out  (or. 
rather,  cake  of  wax  with  holes  in  it)  and  weigh- 
ed it.  By  a  little  calculation  we  found  that  it 
would  take  iibont  8  ounces  of  wax  to  hold  a 
pound  of  honey  (a  stnall  fraction  of  an  ounce  of 
imtiinti  comb  will  hold  a  pound  of  honey):  in 
other  words,  it  would  take  lo  cents'  worth  of 
wax  made  into  this  imitation'?)  to  hold  a  pound 
of  honey,  and  the  very  best  coml)  honey  whole- 
sales at  from  ]:.'  to  1.')  cents.  But  this  \:,  cents" 
worth  of  wax  does  not  include  the  cost  of  man- 
nfactur(?  and  of  royalties,  and  for  these  two 
items  we  must  add  at  least  .5  cents  more.  This 
makes  20  cents' worth  of  bogus  honey-comb  to 

hold  a  pound  of  honey:  and   yet   Mr.  T 

says  it  can  be  made  very  rheni).  But.  hold  a 
minute:  The  sides  of  the  "cells,  instead  of  being 
2I7;  of  an  inch  thick,  as  in  the  natural  comb,  are 
about  ^.  We  are  bee-keeper  enough  to  know 
that  the  bees  would  probably  repudiate  any  such 
imitation.  We  have  tested  very  much  better 
samples  of  so-called    artificial   comb,   hut  the 


bees  lltterlv    refused    til    I'ecogni/e    them.       While 

the  iuljacent  combs  were  tilled  with  honey  and 
brood,  the  artiticial  thing  was  left  entirefy  un- 
touched. 

In  the  mvsterioiis  box  was  anoihei- sample  of 
comb  that  contaim-d  honey.  One  side  of  the 
comb,  we  sii iiiniftc.  was  intended  to  represent 
artiticial  capping.  The  side  was  perfectly  flat, 
without  corrugations  or  indentations,  and  re- 
sembled very  closely  the  side  of  an  iiniiolished 
marble  slab  more  or  less  soiled  with  smoke  and 
dirt.  We  showed  it  to  a  number  of  the  ein- 
ployi'S,  but  they  could  hardly  believe  that  any 
one  meant  that  for  capped  comb  honey. 

The  manufacturer  of  tlie  adulterated  product 
above  is  evidently  not  a  very  skilled  bee-keeper, 
for  he  proposes  to  supply  them  with  an  article 
that  ■■  tcill  ciKthh  lliciii  to  iinxlucc  just  xi.r  times 
more  tluDt  tlicy  (ire  nnic  tluiiKj."  Even  if  the 
comb  could  be  made  an  exact  duplicate  of  the 
natural  article,  this  statement  could  not  possi- 
bly be  true. 

After  making  due  allowance  for  the  fact  that 
the  sample  was  among  the  first  made,  we  are 
not  in  the  least  afraid  of  losing  our  thousand 
dollars,  i'erhaps  it  would  be  well  to  slate  right 
here  that  our  otl'er  covered  comb  honey  manu- 
factured by  appropriate  machinery— that  is, 
making  the  comb,  tilling  it  with  glucose.  ;ind 
capping  it  over,  lint  the  candidate,  in  order  to 
be  eligibh^  to  the  prize,  must  make  his  artilicial 
stufT  so  iierfect  that  it  would  be  mistake;!!  foi' 
the  genuine  article.  If  the  sample  .sent  is  the 
acme  of  perfection,  no  doubt,  if  the  senior  editor 
were  heie.  he  would  increase  the  ofTer  to$20(X): 

but  we   piesume  that,  of   course,   Mi'.  T 

means  the  last  as  a  joke. 

It  may  appear  to  some  that  we  are  a  little 

hard  on   Mr.  T :  but  we  wish  it  clearly 

understood  how  far  shoit  his  artificial  comb 
comes  of  the  genuine  pioduct.  The  genei'al 
public  would  not  rejoice.  Just  imagine  the 
pater  familkis  sitting  down  at  the  table,  taking 
a  bite  of  the  stnflf,  and,  for  every  ounce  of  honey 
that  he  swallows,  spitting  out  half  an  ounce 
of  wax!  Bee-keepers,  so  far  fi'om  rejoicing, 
would   only  laugh   in   I'idicule  at  such  a  crude 

attempt.     "Does  Mr.  T suppo.se  that  con- 

sumeis  would  eat  this  down  as  pni'e  comb 
honey?  and  does  he  suppose  that  they  would 
knowingly  eat  bogus  comb  honey? 

We  can  assiu'e  oui'  friend  that  there  is  no 
nianufactui'ei'  of  supplies  who  would  for  a  mo- 
ment considei'  the  advisability  of  manufactur- 
ing such  stuff.  W(!  would  advis(>  him  to  place 
samples  of  it  in  the  hives,  and  .see  how  quickly 
the  hecs' will  "doctor"  them,  and  that  will  for 
ever  convince  him,  if  what  we  have  said  is  not 
sufficient,  that  they  ai'e  exceedingly  fastidious 
as  to  the  kind  of  honey -comb  they  have;  in  the 
hive.  They  will  accept  the  midrib,  or  embossed 
wax  sheets!  or.  as  we  bee-keepers  term  it,/ot<?j- 
(httii)ii.  and  build  it  out  into  beautiful  comb. 

Foundation  can  lie  shipped,  as  it  w(M'e.  in  the 
flat:  w  hei'(>as  artificial  lioney-comb,  or  even 
natural  cotubs,  would  have  to  go  at  a  high  rate 
of  freight:  and  even  if  the  artificial  product 
could  be  manufactur(>d  so  as  to  be  iicceptable  to 
the  bees,  bee-keepeis  could  not  alTord  to  use  it, 
on  account  of  fieight  rates.  When  it  is  remem- 
bei'ed  that  foundation,  in  the  height  of  the  sea- 
son, will  be  drawn  out  by  the  bees  insid<>  of  24 
hours,  it  will  be  leadily  seen  that  bee-keepers 
have  no  need  of  foundation  with  full-depth 
walls,  as  it  were.  Another  thing,  even  if  the 
artificial  comb  could  be  made,  it  would  have  to 
Ije  sold  for  ivlutt  it  is.  or  else  be  under  the'ban  of 
the  law.  If  our  friend  has  not  already  secured 
a  patent,  we  would  suggest  to  him  the  wisdoin 
of  consulting  two  or  three  bee-keepers  before 
he  wastes  his  money.  We  would  name,  for  in- 
stance, E.  M.  Uayhurst,  of  Kansas  City. 


1-K) 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Feh.  15. 


Special  Notices. 


HOFFMAN-FRAiME   END-BAKS. 

We  are  having  a  number  of  inquiries  for  the 
prices  of  the  Hoffruan-frame  end-hars  alone.  We 
furnish  the  frames  complete  in  the  flat  at  $1.70  per 
100;  *15.00  per  1000;  the  end-t)ars  alone  for  .50c  per 
100 ;  $4.50  per  1000  pieces ;  top-bars  alone  at  60c  per 
100;  $.5.00  per  1000.    

CABBAGE-PLANTS,  FEBRUARY,   1893. 

We  have  a  limited  stock  of  extra  nice  cold-frame 
cabbape-plants  that  we  ai'e  ready  to  sliip  now.  Va- 
riety, Jersey  Wakefield.  See  our  seed  catalogue  for 
1893.  We  can  guarantee  safe  arrival  at  any  post- 
oflfice  in  tlie  United  States  or  Canada;  but  do  not 
throw  your  plants  away  if  most  of  the  leaves  ap- 
pear yellow  and  the  roots  quite  dry.  Put  the  plants 
in  a  pail  of  water,  which  you  should  take  into  the 
field  with  you;  takeout  one  plant  at  a  time;  put  It 
into  freahiy  worked  soil,  pack  the  fine  earth  closely 
around  the  rnuts.  not  the  stalk;  draw  a  handful  of 
soft  earth  an)und-  the  plants,  over  the  .soil  you 
packed  down  around  the  roots.  Do  not  water  unless 
very  dry;  do  not  hoe  until  after  a  rain  or  until  tlie 
plant  has  commenced  to  send  out  new  leaves,  and 
you  need  lose  st-arcely  a  single  plant  out  of  the 
average  one  hundred  sent  you. 


Colonies,  Nuclei,    H 


Queens. 


ss  1892. 

re  3 

Qi  O  Address      S.  D.  McLean, 

^  Box  190,  Columbia,  Tenn. 


CO  -n 
o 


Early  Queens  from  Texas. 

From  my  choice  3  or  .5  banded  stock.  My  bees  are 
very  gentle,  good  workers,  and  beautiful.  Safe  ar- 
rival and  saiisfact'on  guaranteed.  One  untested 
queen,  March  and  April,  $1.50;  May,  $1.00;  later,  75c. 
Orders  booked  now ;  money  sent  when  queens  are 
wanted.    Send  for  pric-e  list.  4a 

J.  D.  Civens,  Lisbon,  Tex. 

Pleaso  mention  this  paper. 

Bee-Hives  ^  Sections 

A  specialty.     Foundation,  Smokers,  etc.,   in   stock. 
Send  lor  new  list.  free. 
4tfdb  "W.  D.  SOPER.  Jackson,  Mich. 

I       I II  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  CtLeanings. 

Oak  Hill  Poultry  Farm.Troy,  Pa, 

FINE  PLYMOUTH  ROCKS. 

Orders  for  eggs  at  $1.5)  per  13  booked  now  for 
spring  delivery.  One-tliird  off  on  all  orders  before 
April  15  thiit  mention  this  paper. 


75 

For 

S 
A 
L 

E 


IVIoneyl    Honey!    Bees! 

75  Colonies  ol  Italijin  Bees,  in  ten-frame 
Root's  Simplicity  liives.  Everything  in 
tirst-class  ordif.  This  "Daisy"  apiary  is 
situated  under  the  large  live  oaks,  on  the 
lianks  of  the  waters  of  Eagle  Lake,  in 
Colorado  County,  Texas.  Plenty  of  wa- 
ter, fish,  and  hoiicy.  Dovetailed  "hives  on 
hand  for  this  spring's  swarming.     4-5d 

J.  H.  MULLIN  &  SON. 
Oakland,  Tex.,  Jan'y  25. 

Mention  tins  pai)er. 

SAVE  MONEY — Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  .supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 

IMPORTED     ITAIilAN     QUEENS,    $3.50, 
June  l.st.    Order  now. 
4tfd  W.  C.  FRAZIER,  Atlantic,  Iowa.      i 


Bees  For  Sale  Cheap! 

118  Colonies  in  L.  frame  hives,  at  Cliillicotlie.  Mo. 
For  particidars  address 
3tfdb  J.  .1.  TUCKER,  Nevada.  Mo. 

l-12db  Please  mention  this  paper. 


WILL  EXCHANGE  foundation  for  wax  or  cash. 
Also  make  wax  into  foundation,  when  sent  to 
me,  at  the  lowest  price  in  the  world.  Send  for  sam- 
ples and  prices  to         Jaool  WoUersheim,  Saukauna,  Wis. 


V  OLINS 


GUI  TAR  SI 


MANDOLIKS 


■f.-tptjiniinji  to  Lius  aa\frti.^e]iienl  infiilion 


32  pages— $1.00  a  year— Sample  Free. 

The  oldest,  largest  and  cheapest  Weekly  bee-paper 

THOMAS  G.  NEWIVIAN   &  SON, 

CHICAGO.  ILI* 

-TTi  A  T?  T  TT  30LDE1T,  UNTESTED  aUEEKS.  $1.00. 
'**''***^'*J  *  LAEOE,  FINE,  GENTLE,  AND  BRED 
for  l)ii>iness.  Ready  about  March  ™0.  Dealers  send 
for  prices.  Fine  tested,  -^.,50  to  ^S^.dO.  A  few  breed- 
ers, Italian  or  Golden,  $3  to  *.5.  3tfdb 
J.  B.  CASE,  Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

NO.  1  Sections  only  ^.00  per  M.    20-page  price  list 
free.    J.  M.  Kinzie,  Rochester,  Oakland  Co..  Mich. 

ANTE1>.— To   send     you    my    catalogue    of 
Queens,  Bees,  and  Supplies,  cheap.         4tfdh 
Chas.  H.  Thies,  Steeleville,  HI. 


VT 


AVTOIMCATZC    CO»ZB 
FOUrrDATIOBT    naiZiLS. 

2-7dl)  —made  bv— 

W.  C.  PELHAM,  Maysville,  Kentucky. 

Plfuse  mention  tlii>-  pijifr. 


SECTIONS. 

$2.5U  to  $3.50  per  M.    Bee-Hives  and  Fix- 
tures clieup.  NOVELTY    CO., 

6tfdb  Rock  Falls,  Illinois. 

t^Iii  i-fspoiiilim,' to  this  ailvi-Tii^errn-rit  nienluiM  (ii,K.\.\iv'^s 

Western  Bee-Keepers'  Supply  House 

Root'?  Coode  can  be  had  at  Pes  Moint!- 
I      fewa,  at  Root's   Prices.    " 

The  largest  supply  business 
Ik  the  Weat.  Established  1886 
Itovetailed    Hives,  Seo- 
laons,    Foundation,   Ex- 
tractors, Smokers  VeilS; 
Crates,  Feeders,  Clover  ' 
Seeds, etc.    Imported 
Italian  Queens.    Queens  and^ 
Bees      Sample   copy   of   our 
Bee  Journal.  "The  West-  ' 

em    Bee  -  Keeper."   and    Latest 

Catalogue  mailed  Free  to  Bee-keepers. 

,  JOSEFS  ITTSSWAITSEB.  DES  UOIITES.  lOWi. 

^"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

Bee -Keepers'  ^^  Supplies. 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  witli  sup- 

j  plies  promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladly 

!  furnished,  and  c<)ries))iiiidciice  sdlicitcd.    Our  goods 

I  are  all  first -class  in  quality  and  w  (prkmaiiship.     Cat- 

nlogue  soil  free.    Kefereni-e,   First  National   Bank, 

Sterling,  HI.    Address  ]-24db 

V%'M.  McCLNE  &  €0., 

Sterliniu;,  Illfnols. 

t^In  responding  to  this  riilvdlisi'Miiiit  mention  (iLKANlNGS, 


IWJ 


(JI.KANINCS  IN   HKE  rUI/IM'K, 


()iir->tr;iin  i>l'  I  TALIANS  li.ixr  tciiclu'd 
till-  lop.  Tlicy  iiit"  MIMMKHS  wli.ii  ydii 
Want  i)(>fs  for  lioiifx.     t,)iu'<Mis  hrnl  fur 

,  ,  liiisiiU'SS.     Make  aiia  iikimiiciiIs  in  (iidcr 

V^tWAVy  now.  to  lHMl.'liv«T.-<l  wli.M  waiilc.l. 

^^V/     liEK  SVri'LfKS  AT  WHOLr.SALK 
»'°^-<  A\n  liKTAlL. 

Fof  fiirtlu'i-    iiifiiiiiialiim    til)uiit    lit-c- 
t1xlui-os,  send  for  i-irciilni-. 
PRICES  .INO.  NKHKL  <<:  SON. 

LOW.       Itfdl)  Hioil  lliLi,,  .Mo. 

I'li'iisf  iiu-iitioii  tills  paper. 

^[uth's 

Honey  -  Exti^aetot^. 

Square  Glass  Honey-Jars, 

Tin  Buekets,  Bee-hives. 
Honey-Seetions,  &e.,  &e. 

Perfection  Cold-Blast  Smokers. 

APPLY  TO  ^x^./-...^v.rv.^^^v^^y^ 

CHAS.  F.  IWUTH  &  SOf4,  Cincinnati,  O. 


Send  lOct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers.' 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

rOlt  SALE.— APIARl  OF  110  COI.ONIES 
Italian  IJees.  in  3-story  Simplicity  and  new 
Ht'ddon  liivcs.  im-Uidinfr  Slots  and  liou.scs  in  this 
town.  This  is  an  excellent  location  for  hees.  and  si 
fair  market  for  hoiiev.  Also  3  tons  of  extracted 
lioiiev  for  sale.  K.  HEYMAN. 

3-4(1  Brackett.  Kinney  Co.,  Texas. 

Please  mention  vhis  paper. 

My  Catalogue  of  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES 
for  1892  is  free  :  My  Pamphlet,  "HOW  I 
PRODUCE  COMB  HONEY,"  by  Mail,  5  ots. 

GEO.  E.  HILTON,  Fremont,  Mich. 

Please  mention  Gleanings.  2-13db 


TAKE   NOTICE! 

BEKOKK  placiiiK  your  onh'i's  for  SlIl'I'MES,  write 
for  prices  on  Oiic-Piece  Ua.sswood  Sections,  Boe- 
Hives,  Shippiiig'-Orates,   Frames.   Foundation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  l'A(JR&  KEITH, 
Utfdb  New  London,  Wis. 
Pleaxe  mention  this  paper. 

TEXAS. 

Friends,  I  have  some  line  tested  (jueens.  I  will 
sell  as  they  come  at  $1.3."),  March  and  April.  I  do 
this  to  get  mj' 4-framo  nuclei  (pieenless.  Untested, 
March,  April,  and  May,  *l.(i()  each;  six,  $.5.00;  after, 
'i'5e  each;  six,  $4.3(1,  or  $K.(K)  per  (Uizen.  Discount  on 
iartrei- orders.  Contracts  made  to  furnish  certain 
number  weekl.v.  The  above  ai'C  the  t  hiee-l)anded 
Italians.  I  al.so  br(!ed  tlu;  flve-lmnded  strains  at 
above  price  except  tested,  of  which  I  will  have 
none  till  April  15th.  A  few  fine  breeders,  either 
race,  $5.00.  I  have  chanjfed  my  postoftice  from 
Farmersville,  Texa.s.  to  Floyd.  Money-order  olHce, 
Green^^lle.  JENNIE  ATCHLEY, 

Itfdb  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 

carin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  ULKANlNoe. 

Send  for  our 
new  price  list 
of  Bee  supplies 
and  Fruit  pack- 
ajres.  A  liber- 
al discount  al- 
low^ed  on  win- 
ter orders.  Ad- 
dress 

BERLIN 
FRUIT  BOX 

CO., 

Berlin  Heights 

Erie  Co.. 

Ohio. 

l-6db 

HTln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLBANiNoa 


J.  C.    SAY 

HARTFORD,  WIS., 

Manufactures  Apiarian  Supplies  of  Every 

Description.     Catalogue  Free  to 

All.    Send  Your  Address. 

Stfdl)  Please  mention  thi.-~  paper. 

queens::  drones:: 

Si-nd  for  ]iric(!  list  of  Italian  Queens,  Drones, 
Hives.  Smokers,  Foundation,  etc.  Finest  breeding 
queen,  after  March  1.  M.OO.  Tested.  *:.'.(^0;  3  f or  !?.^.0(). 
Untested,  in  April,  *1.00;  6  for  $5,110,  or  $9.00  per  doz- 
en by  mail.  Safe  arrival  guaranteed.  Orders  ff)r 
Queens  booked  for  31'  da.\  s  >  ir  more.  5  jjer  cent  (lis- 
couiit.  Mtike  morH\  oideis  pa\able  at  Clifton. 
3tfdb       COLWIOZ  4  COLWICK,  NOESE.  BOSttUE  CO.,  TEZAS. 


$4  or  $5 

Will  buy  ONK  HIVE  ..k  ITALIAN  iJEES 
AN'i)  QUEEN.  Simplicity  Hive  and  Frame  or 
HofTniaii  Closed-End  Fraiiii'  and  Hive. 

JOHN   A.  THORNTON, 
^''"^  Lima,  Illinois. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

M  ■■  Hi  Jf\  350    Colonies 

[  J  i      i      11     1.000,000  Sections, 
■K  Hi    ^B     ^^        Foundation,  &c. 

■^B  B^      W^     —^^   Jr-r"  Send  for  price  list. 

m  m  m     I mj  e.  t.  flanagan, 

■V  ■■  ■■  ^^  BELLEVILLE, 

lyin  responding  to  this!  advei-ti.-enient  mention  Gi.ea.ninhs 


ELEVEN  YEARS 

WITHOUT  A 
PARALLEL,  AND 

THE  STAND- 
ARD   IN    EVERY 
CIVILIZED 
COUNTRY. 

Bingham  &  Hetherington 

Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 

Standard   Size. 

Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 

Six  Sizes  and  Prices. 

Doctor  Smoker,      3X  in.,  postpaid  ...$3.00 
Conqueror    "  3       "  "         ...    1.75 

Large  "  2%    "  "         ...    1.5(1 

Extra  (wide  shield)  3       "  "         ...    1.35 

Plain  (narrow    "    )2       "  "        ...   100 

Little  Wonder.         IX    "  "  ■•      65 

Uncapping  Knife 115 

Sent  promptly  on   receipt  of   price.    To 
sell  again,  send  for  dozen  and  half-dozen  rates. 

Milledgeville,  111.,  March  8, 1890. 
Sirs: — Smokers  received  to-day.  and  count  cor- 
rectly.   Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  1  do 
your  trade  will  boom.  Truly,       F.  A.  Snell. 

Vermillion,  S.  Dak.,  Feb.  17, 1890. 
Sirs:— 1  consider  your  smokers  the  best  made  for 
any  purpose.    1  have  had  15  years'  experience  with 
300  ot  400  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak. 
Very  truly^ R.  A.  MORGAN. 

Sarahsville.  Ohio,  March  13, 1890. 
Sirs:— The  smoker  1  have  has  done  good  service 
since  1883.       Yours  truly,        Daniel,  Brothers. 

Send  for  descriptive  circular  and  testimonials  to 

Itfdb  BuraBAU  Ss  HxTHESiHaTOir,  Alsronia,  Mich. 

t^In  respondlnti  to  this  a<lverliseiiient  mention  GLKA.viNGi 


142 


(iLHANINGS  IN   KKK  CUI/i'URE 


Feu.  1") 


Dovetailed   Hives,   Simplicity  Hives, 

S£"Cr/OA/S,  EXTRACTORS.  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPER  S'     SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGE    CATALOGUE.  iTfdh 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


t^Ill   r.-J.|Mlll.lHI       t.i  11. N  ;ul\l-lti,~ 


it i. Ill  (tI.kanini 


The  above  is  a  repivsciilation  of  our  factory.  BUILT  AND  EQUIPPED  EXCLUSIVELY  FOB 
THE  MANUFACTURE  OF  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES.  We  have  in  connection  witii  onr  business  a 
LUMBER  YARD,  A  TIN-SHOP,  and  a  PRINTING-OFFICE.  All  tliis  enaliles  us  to  manufacture  and 
sell  almost  all  kinds  of  goods  very  CHEAP.  We  have  sohl  over  FOUR  CARLOADS  of  supplies 
since  November  1.  and  of  those  contemplating  buying,  either  in  SMALL  or  LARGE  QUANTITIES, 
we  ask  a  TRIAL.  Remember  we  will  not  be  UNDERSOLD  or  EXCELLED  IN  QUALITY.  :M-page 
catalogue  free.      Address 

liERHV    M'F'G    CO.,   Higginsville,   IWo. 

HTInresponding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkand'G.s, 

OPRAY  lO!!!!  FRUIT  TREES  I  VINES 


& 


Wormy  Fraitand  Leaf  BUgrhtof  Applet,  Pean, OherriM,  CVPCI  ClflD  8PRATIN* 
Grapeand  Potato Eot, Flam  OorenliA  preTentedbjnBinK  LAUlLOIUiI   OUTFITM. 
PERFECT  FRUIT  ALWAYS  SELLS  AT  GOOD  PRICES.  Ostalogne shoir. 
ing  all  tninrioDB  insects  to  Fmits  mailed  free     Liarge  stuck af  Fruit  Trees.  Fines* 
and  Berry  Plants  at  Bottom  Prices.    Address  WM.  MTAUL.,  Quincy,  Ills. 


':SrUi  resell 


■lit  iiii'iition  Gleanings. 


PATENT  WIRED  FOUNDATION. 

The  Greatest  FOLLY  of  MODERN  BEE-KEEPING  is  WIRING  BROOD-FRAMES. 

—Dr.  G.  L.  Tinlier. 

OUR  WIRED  BROOD  FOUNDATION  is  BETTER,  CHEAPER,  and  not  HALF  the  trouble 
to  use  that  it  is  to  WIRE  FRAMES  Many  may  conlound  the  two,  but  they  are  ENTIRELY 
different.  J.  VAN  I»EIT!sK>  A:  SONS,  Sole  Mannfactureis.  Sprout  Brook,  Mont.  Co..  N.  Y.D 

C:^"Iii  respondine  to  tliis  advertisement  mention  Ri.FiKTMf:«  g.j,! 

ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

D83r    In    JVl inCl  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  established  at  Syracuse  an  ESStCm     BrBllCh 

where  our  Bee-keepers' Supplies  arc  kept  for  sale,  and    prompt  sliipnuMit.     Voii   can  savn  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.     Wr  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.     He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  ke[)t  in  stock. 
Adchess  all  orders. 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.   A.   SALISBURY,    Agent,    Syracuse,    N.  Y. 


IS9'2 


CI.KAMNCJS  IN  iUOH  cn/rURE. 


147 


Everybody^ 
Admihs.         

Other  5  eeds  ^-b^Fqually^^Reliable 

Sesi  Annual  Free,    -          write  For  ih  NDW! 
A.Vf. LIVINGSTON'S  SOliSj 
80X273,  COLUMBU5>  OH  ID. 

^*ln  respomiintr  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

CANADA  BEE  KEEPERS 

Will  s;i\i'  mimt-y  liy  |iiirch;i>inK'  supplies  from  T. 
Fliillil>s  \  Co..  i)rilli;i,  Ontario,  wlio  iiiaiiufnctiire 
all  stylos  of  Hives.  Soctions.  Flames.  Foundation, 
Extractoi-s.  and  Smokei-s.  Also  insiny  new  tiling's 
not  handled  1)>'  other  dealefs.  Send  for  catalog'ue 
and  samples  oi'  foundation,  free. 

T.  PHILLIPS  &    CO., 

ORILUA,  ONTARIO.  CAN. 


3-5d 


I'lease  mention  this  paper. 


Chicago  Bee-Keepers"  Supply  Co.. 

Are  Mi;':fic:a:ers  of  and  Wholesale  aai  Retail  Dealers  in 
BEE-HIVES,    HONEY   SECTIONS,  FOUNDATION, 

.V.NIi  liKSKR-VL  SIITI.Ip;.-;   KOI!    MEE  KEEI'EKS. 

Wiitr   lor  lir.nhir   with    siiefial   prires.     Afrents  wanted. 

Office  68  &.  70  So.  Canal  St.,  TOPEKA 

CHICAGO,  ILL.  KANSAS. 

4trtil>  b'lea-'e  mention  tliis  paper. 

LOCATIOIT 

Isahijr  piuiif,  in  .siiiiplying'  goods;  ours  g'ives  j'on 
low  freight  i-ates.    As  we  sf>ll  low.  von  should  have 


mr  ciri-iilar  of  -up|ili( 


1-ISdl) 


I.J.  STRINGHAM,  92  BARCLAY  ST.,  N.  Y. 

Please  iiieiiiion  this  pjiper. 

ALSIKE. 

Now  is  the  time  to  sow,  and  rhiring-  the  next  two 
months.  We  have  a  g-ood  suppl.v  of  choice  seed  at 
the  following  prices,  which  are  low  for  the  i^re.sent 
condition  of  the  market: 

1  11).,  postpaid.  8tc;  3  11)s.  fortl.t.O. 

1  II).  with  other  {roods.  •ZT^v;  4  lbs.  for  II.IKI. 

1  peck  (15  Ibs.i.  *:.'.so:  y„  bushel.  .t.").tO. 

1  bushel,  II(l..")ii:  ;.'  bushels.  fin.Oll. 

Bag  included  in  ever\'  case. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  O. 


Honey  -  Extractoi^. 

Square  Glass  Honey-Jat»s, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee-hives. 
Jloney-Seetions,  &c.,  &e. 

Peffeetion  Cold-Blast  Smokefs. 

APPLY  TO  -v.^..^.^^^^.^>.^v^ 

CHAS.  F.  IVIUTH  &  SON,  Cinelnnatl,  O. 

SendlO-ct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


30oc*To«90ooor»>r*:o_»  • -..•*: 

1WIQU  J'^i'ry  reader  of  this  paiMV  QTrilQ 
TTIOn  to  try  luy  HiiiM-rior,  tcHtcd  uLLUu. 
I  (.lie  r  the  fellowiiiK  ••ST.\U  COl.l.Kt  'IK  )N" 
mr'tWO  DniES.  (topuy  i.ost:i(-'i  .pacliiiiK,  1  le.) 
w.\ti;k.»ii:i.<»ns. 

■  II)  Varirli.  s  i-,.iMpii:-iiiL,'  .\M, 

,  111.  lir-T>l.,;niii-ts\v.-cti  standi 
,♦  l>.-.--t  til  ciiltivali.ii    .\  SHIM  Hi  c'  1- 

h  lei'tioll  l>l'tll,-lM.i,|   <l,Ii,-jr,\|s  V 

j5  t<'riuel(nis  in  eii.   lar^T  packat: 

";         Mrsiv-.>ii;i.ON.s. 

,  inVarlities.  .\  >.Tati(l  iissiirtineiit 
t  el' )iiii^t  (lilicious  niiisk-iiieleiis. 
;      VIK^KTAIII.t:  I'KAC'II.       -*^ 

Tliis  hcatitifiil  veiretalilc  =  liist  iiitro- 
(liiciil  by  nie.  is  exa-t  ciilor,  sliaiH'.  and  ) 
!<izc  el'  a  laive  oraiii-'i ■'.  line  I'oriiianu-fiea  I 
jinsirvis:  exeilli  ut  t'rjid:  aiul    make  j 
the  liicst  (lilicious  swi-.t  pirl,lr 
C;OM)KN  II  r.SK-TO:U.\TO. 

This  rart^  tomato  is  mninialliil  for? 
jiiis.  ei'isirves.  tomato  fi^is  etc.     >  iior- 
moiish   pi'0(liii-ti\i-.  and  « .11   l<i<  p   in 
til.-  liiislis  all  v.iiit.  r.     IMaiiy  consicler  ^ 
tliiiii  luUv  ((pial  to  the  strawherrv. 

*  kN.-|/  -\  supc  I'll  collei'tioii  of  the  most  bean- ( 

*  _Xa//^  tifulllowrv.^— alltlio  old  favorites,  and 

*  ^=^16^=  hinidn  (Is  ofnew  ones— a  larjre  packag'e.  J 
ft  tsWtT^  ir^"  2  Valualil.i  NOVETTIE.S  will 
S    A"STA^"  hes,.„tfr,.,.toall  uhoo,',l,rpro„,ptl.v, 

Q      and  wlio  wdlul  pbasi  .1  ishow 

Q  thisolLi'toafou  fri.iids. 

5<TheRT.\Reoll.ctioii  is  ■'ele  aj.at  *l.l«r' 
I*  but.  Ito  inti'odiKv  ]  villbos.'iit  postpaiil  , 
ff— with  mv  lUnslrat.  (I  Catalog,  for  only 
;!*;20  ci-nts  if  ordered  at  oneo.  Ih.u't  delay. 
S  Name  this  paper,  and  address, 

C  A.  T.  COOK.  HYDE  PARK,  N.  T. 

^"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

C\/CDPDCCIilC      300  Varieties,  Natives  of 
CVLnUllLLllOf    EveryLand.    Lists  Free 


tf»»v*i»F  i*FT,wy7H«'wr"  r>'f*|>^ 


EVERGREEN  NURSERIES,        EVERGREEN,  WIS. 

t^rin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Oi.kantng.s. 

QUEENS I :    DRONES I : 

Send  for  price  list  of  Italian  (,»u«ens.  Drones, 
Hives,  Smokers,  Foundation,  etc.  Finest  breeding 
queen,  after  March  1.  $4.00.  Tested,  |2.('0;  3  for  $.5.00. 
Untested,  in  April,  $1.00;  ti  for  $.5.00,  or  $9.(iii  per  doz- 
en by  mail.  Safe  arrival  guaranteed.  Orders  for 
Queens  booked  for  20  days  or  more,  5  per  cent  dis- 
count. Make  money  orders  i)ayable  at  Clifton. 
3tfdb       COLWIGE  &  OOLWIOE,  NOKSE.  BOSaHE  CO..  TE^JAS. 

k  ?riii  responding'  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANINGS. 

HARTFORD,  WIS., 

Manufactures  Apiarian  Supplies  of  Every 

Description.     Catalogue  Free  to 

All.    Send  Your  Address. 

3tfdl)  Please  mention  this  paper. 

$4  or  $5 

Will  buy  ONE  HIVE  of  ITALIAN  BEES 
AND  QUEEN.  Simplicity  Hive  and  Frame  or 
Hoffiuan  ('lo.^e(l-Eiid  Fianie  and  Hive. 

JOHN  A.  THORNTON, 
^"'"^  Lima,  Illinois. 

Please  mention  this  paper 

Pnill  TRV  <'lioice  Fowls  and  Eggs  for  sale  at 
UUU  I  n  I  .  all  times.  Finely  illustrated  circu- 
lar free.       fiEEK  BROS..  St.  Marys,  Mo.    21tfdb 


148 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mar.   1. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Alsike 165 

Apjai-y  on  Platform 162 

Apiary,  Hoffman's l')2 

Bees  Cutting  Combs 170 

Bounty  Discussed 159 

California  Association 169 

Clover.  Alsike 165 

Corey.  J.  G 171 

Covers,  Sealed,  Advantage  168 

Doolittle's  Method 170 

Editor  in  California 171 

Flowei-s.  Wax 166 

Foundation  for  Br.  Cham'r.l69 

Glucosingin  Chicago 163 

Grading,  Albany 1.54 

Grading.  Dr.  Miller  on 1S6 


Grading.  The  Chicago 157 

Hi  vers,  .\utomatic 16* 

Mnmim— Th.at  Honej'moon.  168 

Maniim  Meditating 168 

Ohio  Convention 165 

Piiplar  Honey,  Grading  it.. 170 

Pi  otection.  Outdoor 168 

Punics.  Temper  of 162 

Oueen  Restriction 16t 

Queens  to  .\ustr.alia.  First. .160 

Rambler  in  Cilifornia 161 

Tinker  on  Hotfman  Frame. 169 

Ventilating  Our  Homes 167 

Virgin  Queens.  Trade  in  . .  .163 

Wax  Flowers 166 

Zinc,  Propolizing 1C9 


Black  and  Hybrid  Queens  For  Sale. 

Black  queens  by  return  mail,  30c:  liydrids.  50,  as 
long  as  I  have  tliem.  Stamps  taken;  one-cent  pre- 
ferred. Jennie  Atchley,  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 

IQQ9    ROOT'S  Dovetailed    Hive    IQQO 

I|l9b    at  Ills  prices.    Circular  free.  IQ9C 

Itfd  Geo.  W.  Cook,  Spring-  Hill,  Kan. 

$5   FIVE  DOLLARS   $5 

^i&e^u  weeJcB  BULBS,  and  SMALL  FRUITS, 

of  pleasure.     Roses,    Carnal  ions.   Lilies.    Gladiolii, 
Tuberoses,  Fine  Frencli  Cannas,  Small  Fruits,  etc. 

theodoke:  je:imnin(;k, 

o-8d         P.  O.  Box  69.        Port  Chester,  N.  V. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


Shamrock  Pumpkin. 

Best  for  pies.    Seed  saved  from  specimens  weigli-  i 
ing  .5U  lbs.  or  over.    Hesli  4  inches  tliick.    Can   get 
seed  nowliere  else.    Sure  winner  at  fairs.    'Zr>  cents  ! 
per  pkt.    B.  Leghorn  Eags  from   prize-winning  I 
coop  at  State  Fair;  ~,t  cts.  per  13;  H  \wr  :.'fi.  .5d      | 

C.  M.  GOODSPEED,  P.  M.,  Shamrock,  N.  Y. 

Please  mention  Glrani.nos. 

lURRAH  FOR  THE  GRAY  CARNIOLANS! 

Bee-keepers,  if  you  want  a  race  of  bees  that  will 
just  pile  in  tlie  honey,  get  the  gray  (only  pure)  Car-  , 
niolans.    P'or  instance,  here  is  a  report  of  one  of  j 
our  apiaries  of  50  colonies  for  tlie  season   of  1891  :  i 
Honey  crop,  7000  lbs.    Yield  of  best  colony,  aSO  lbs. 
Increase    by   natural    swarming,    15   ci>lonies.    For 
furtlier  information  write  for  circular  and  price 
list.       F.  A.  LocKH.-VRT  &  Co.,  Lake  George,  N.  Y. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  .i-6d 

PiTT"r)r)T  TT7n  Langstrotli  Bee-lnves,  and 
^1  r  r  I  jl  Tj^  every  thing  needed  in  tlie 
KJ\^J  1.    L   AJj^i^hU.  |^^.p  y.^^.^^.  3o.,,.,„.^  catalogue 

^^^■iB^^^i^  free.    "  BUSY  BEES."  a 

pamphlet  telling  how  to  manage  then},  10  cents  in 
Stamps.  WALTER  S.  POUDER,       .^-l-'db 

175  E.  Walnut  St.,  Indianapolis.  Ind. 

tyin  responding  to  tliis  advertisement  mention  GLEANINGa 

Wholesale  and  Retail  Manufacturer 

andLealerin      BEE-KEEPERS'    SUPPLIES. 
ONE-PIECE  SECTIONS  A  SPECIALTY. 

AS  GOOD  AS  THE  BEST. 
Send  for  catalogue.  W.  E.  SMITH, 

.5tfdb  SuccesKiir  to  Smith  A  Sinitli, 

Kenton,  Hardin  Co..  Ohio. 

In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

OAK  HILl.  POULTBV  FABM,  TBOY,  PA. 
FINE    PLYMOUTH    ROCKS. 

Orders  for  eggs  at  11.50  per  13  booked  now  for 
spring  delivery.  One-third  off  on  all  orders  before 
April  15  that  mention  this  paper. 


The  Best  IVIade,     SECTION 

Handiest,  QIIDITD 

and  Cheapest       oUrLK 

In  the  Country. 

ALSO    THE    BEST    DOVETAILED    HIVES.  SEC- 
TION-BOXES, COMB  FOUNDATION,  ETC. 

—  SEND  TO   THE— 

Largest   Supply   Factory   in    Massachusetts,    for 

Free  Price  List  that  will  interest  all 

Bee-Keepers. 

Address  DUDLEY  BOX  CO..  or  F.  M.  TAINTOE. 

Manager,  Greenfield,  Mass. 

Please  mention  this  paper 

r^HAFF  HIVES.  SINGLE- 
^^  WALLED  HIVES,  AND 
HIVE-PRDTECTORS  for  fL.oO 

1  will  ship  you  a  complete 
s:iini>le  of  the  three,  with  tlie 
(lilticult  parts  nailed,  and  all 
crated,  to  be  shipped  as  sec- 
ond-class freight.  Write  for 
pi-ice  list. 
p  GEO.  H.  KIRKPATRICK. 
Union  City,  Ind. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

HEADQUARTERS    FOR 

ALBINO    AND    ITALIAN 
QUEENS  ANA   BEES  for   1892. 

We  never  had  such  a  large  stock  of  sujierior 
uueens  and  bees  as  we  have  at  present,  and  sliall  do 
oui' utmost  to  give  satisfaction  Also  manufactur- 
ers and  dealers  in  Bee-Hives,  Sections.  Comb  Foun- 
dation, Notice's  Honey-Extractor,  and  all  apiarian 
.supplies.    Address  S.  VAL.ENTI1NE, 

5-^  Ha^erstown,  Wash.  Co.^  md. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


CAA  Colonies  of  Sees  Devot- 
^'VV  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  for  piices  on  large  (luantitics. 

TWO    MILLION      SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS, 

Write  for  prices  on  large  ipiaiitities. 

Send    for  our    24-Page    Catalogue    of  Dovetailed 

Hives.  Smokers,  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  M'F'Gr  CO.,  Higginsville,  Missouri. 

Please  mention  this  pajfor.  Stfdb 

Bees    For    Sa.le- 

COLONIES, 

NUCLEI, 
AND         QUEENS. 

at  living  rates.    Send  for 
t-irciilar  and  price  list  to 


1^^^  C.  C.  VAUGHN  &  CO., 
W\^       Columbia,  Tenn. 


In  writingjto  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper,    .i-lildb 

APIARIST  WANTEU.— I  want  a  man  to  run  a 
small  apiary.  Time  not  spent  with  bees  to  be 
devoted  to  gardening  and  general  chore  work.  Will 
pay  $2J.00amon1h  and  board,  or  $35.00  a  month 
without  I)oard,  to  the  api>licant  who  will  furnish 
good  references  as  to  chaiacter,  etc.  Stead.v  em- 
ployment tlie  year  loiind  will  be  given  the  right  sort 
of  man.  JAIUES   HOIEROCKS, 

5d  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. 

FflR   ^Al  F    Seventy -Ave  colonies  of  bees  In 
run    OnL.ti     Simplicity  hives.    Price  14  a  colo- 
ny. Address       W.m.  G.  Griffiths, 
.5d        Chew,  opp.  Sliarpneck  St.,  Germantown,  Pa. 


\H'.t 


(iMOAMNds  IN  iu:k  (I'l/n  lao. 


H9 


Hof^Er  Column. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

AlillANY.  //(iHn/-— 'I'Ik'  i"i:irlvi'I  iirfsonts  no  in-w 
fi'iitiiri'.  We  hiivi' rt'i-chi'd  M  mitnijiM'  of  sni;ill  coii- 
sifrnnu'iits  >inro  oiif  l;isi  icporl ;  liiit  llu-  (Icimind 
foi- i-omb  lioiu'v  I'oiiliniifs  vfvy  slow.  Ivxtiactcd  is 
ill  iH'ttor  (It'iiiiliHi.  :iiul  slock  on  tlu'  niiirl<ct  sniiill. 
We  ;iro  tMitiri'ly  out  of  lijrlil,  iiiul  not  iiiucli  darlv  on 
lirtiid.    Prioi's  iVmaiii  niicliniitrcil. 

I'cl).  :.'(•.                         CiiAs.  MiC'i'i,i-orH  &("<).. 
Alhiiny,  N.  V. 

■    Kansas    Citv.— Hoiicj/.— Li^rlit    doimind;    supply 
ainplo.     Wliitc  <onib.  Mb..  Hfilf);  daik,  !t@r„'.    Ex- 
tiiu-tfd.  wliitc.  7'/4;  da fk, .")(??.().    iJctv<u'OT.  lijrlit  snp- 
|ilv;  dfiiiaiid  jrood.  at  ^3ft?i".'t). 
Fob.  :.M.  (LKMOxs.  Mason  &  Co.. 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Saint  Lons.  Hkiicj/.  -Market  tame;  little  in- 
quiry. Tomb  1(1  to  12.  Kxtracted,  can.s,  6^@7. 
Haritls,  •t'-s@.'>,S..    Be<sivax.  piinu%3ti. 

Fi'b.  2  t.                                    D.  G.  TUTT  Gko.  Co., 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

PoKTLAMi.  Honey. — White  comb  hoiiev,  l-Ui.,  15; 
2-lb.,  U:  litihi  amber,  Mb..  U;  2-lb..  i:i;  white  ex- 
tracted. 7;  lijrlit  amber,  O^™.  Sto<-ks  li}ihl  all  around. 
L«»cal  product  about  exliausti'd,  and  California 
practically  supplyiii^^  the  market  now.    Bee»wax,  25. 

Feb.  12.                                   Lew.  Spieol  &  Co., 
Portland,  Or. 

Detroit. --Honey. —Comb  honey  is  quoted  at 
13@14;  the  latter  tigrure  is  obtainable  only  for  the 
choicest.  Extrai'ted,  7(S"'8.  Tiee>iWiix.\\\  fair  demand 
at  36@27.  M.  H.  Hunt, 

Feb.  19. Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

Kansas  City.— Hojiej/-  —  Demand  poor,  with  larg'e 
.supply  of  comb.  We  quote:  Comb,  Mb.,  fancy, 
im\a'\  dark,  8@9.  Extracted,  white.  7;  dark,  .5@6. 
Beeswax,  none  on  the  market,  light  demand. 

Feb.  2ti.  Ha.mblin  &  Bearss, 

514  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Chicago.— Ho/iey.— Our  market  is  more  active 
than  it  has  been  of  late  on  eouib  honey;  but  prices 
are  no  higher.  Best  lines  lniiiK  l.')(®16;  dark  and  off 
grades,  uncertain  in  price.  Kxtracted  selling-  freely, 
at6@7@H,  according-  to  kind  and  quality. 

R.  A.  BUKXETT, 

Feb.  19.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicag-o,  111. 


BoSTOX.—HoHey.— We  quote:  White  comb  honey, 
Mb.,  14@15;  no  2-lb.  on  hand.  Extracted,  6@7. 
Market  well  supplied,  demand  fair. 

Feb.  20.  Blake  &  Ripley, 

Boston,  Mass. 

Cincinnati.  —  Honey.  —  Trade  is  quiet.  Choice 
comb  honey  bring-s  14@16  in  a  jobbing-  way.  Ex- 
tract<'d,  5@S  on  arrival.  Becsivax.  demand  g-ood  at 
28@25  for  g-ood  tn  choice  yellow  on  arrival. 

Chas.  F.  Muth, 

Feb.  23.  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

For  Sale. — California  2-lb.  secticjii  comb  honey  at 
13<"  per  lb.  Wis.  and  Mich.  Mb.  section  candied 
comb  lioney  at  lie  per  lb.  If  you  want  honey  of 
anv  description,  write  us.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co., 

4-.5-<5d  189  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 


WANTED.— A  man   capable    of    luniiing-    an   api- 
ary of   a   hundred    colonies  foi-  comb    noney 
*>n  shares,   in   one  (jf   the   best   localities,  and   has 
all  modern  fixtures. 
E.  L.  Westcott,  Smith's  Ba-sin,  Wash.  Co.  N.  Y. 


WANTED.  To  i-xchange  for  Italian  bees,  complete 
set  last  edition  American  Cyclopedia,  half  Tur- 
key, in  pel  feet  condition,  22  volumes,  ci)sl  $7  a  vol. 
Audre.ssCi;i)Ai(  (iiioVE  Farm.  North  Madis Ind. 

II/ANTKD.  Position  as  apiarist.  Have  had  cun- 
Vl  siderable  experience  in  raising-  queens  and 
producing- e\t  !-a<-ted  honey.  Have  good  habits,  and 
am  4S  years  old.  Am  willing  to  work  in  any  part  of 
the  U.  S.      N.  F.  Case,  Gleiisdale,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y, 


WANTED.— To  exchange  !}^{5.00  saw-table.  Stover's 
lde.-il  feed-mill  and    hoise-|iowei- combined,  and 
a  lot  of  job  t.\pe.     Want   supplies  and  honey. 
2tfdl)  O.  II.  Hyatt,  Slienando;ili,  Page  Co.,  la. 


WANTED.— To  exchange,  red  raspberry  and  black- 
Vt  berry  plants  for  pure  Italian  (pieens.  oi- eggs 
from  pure  ptmltry.  K.  I{.  .Miller, 

4-5d  Garden  City.  C^iss  Co.,  Mo. 

WANTl'il).— For  1892,  as  learners,  two  young  men, 
brisk,  honest,  and  temperate.  Can  back  in- 
struction by  35  years  of  active  experience  in  apiarj'. 
4-S-6  S.  I.  Freeborn,  Richland  Centre,  Wis. 


W 'ANTED.— To  exchange  for  si  rawberiy-plaiits, 
raspberry  oiany  small(fiuil.  the  F.clipse  berry- 
box  machines  at  4^7.(1(1;  full  descriplinii  sent  on  ap- 
plication. Spealc  (piick.  A.M.  Murray,  (Josheii,  Ind. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  apiary  of  75  colonies, 
with  eveiy  thing  needed  In  the  business,  for 
laud  or  other  innpeity  or  oilers.  Several  \'aluable 
town  lots  in  live  railroad  town;  no  bi.'tter  location 
for  bees  in  Iowa  oi- Wis(;onsin.  Correspondence  in- 
vited.      5-6d        B.  F.  Little,  Brush  <'ieek,  Iowa. 


UTANTED.-To  trade  a  large  lot  of   Heddon   hives, 
IT    nicely  made  and  good  as  new;  some  with  combs 
complete  for  honey,  now  oi-  after  crop  of  '92.    Write 
for  particulars.    Address  D.  S.  Hall, 

gtfdb South  Cabot,  Vt. 


WILL  exchange  lot  .50  x  143  feet,  well  located,  in 
Larned  City,  for  high-grade  bicycle,  typewi-iter, 
Barnes  foot-power  machinery,  or  nursery  stock. 
A.  H.  Duff,  Larned,  Kansas. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  a  special  Columbia  bicy- 
cle, 48  in.,  Pope  M'fg  Co..  Mass.,  with  bell  and 
tool-l)ag;  cost  $125.    Will   trade  for  Italian  bees.    5d 
H.  P.  Kettering,  Greensburg,  Pa. 

WILL  exchange  P.  Rock  eggs  and  fowls.  White 
Holland  eggs  and  toms,  Pekin  duck  and  Tou- 
louse geese  eggs  for  bees,  improved  hives,  nursery 
stock  or  otters.  C.  H.  Wallace,  Homer,  111.    5d 

WANTED.— To     exchange     Graham's    shorthand 
text-books  for  sections  or  foundation. 
5d  W.  A.  Campbell,  Sum;ich,  Ga. 

WANTED. — To  exchange  correspondence  with  par- 
ties  living  in  Tenn.,  Ky.,  and  Mo.,  who  deal  in 
thoroughbred  sheep.  H.  C.  Duty,  Walnut  Hill.  Ark. 

11/ ANTED.— A  good  enei-getic  business  man  of  ex- 
VV      perience,  who  can  put  in  $1000  to  $20U0,  to  take 
hold  of,  and  introduce  a  patent  machine  foi-  making 
berry-boxes;  a  splendid  chance.       J.  F.  Adams. 
.5d  ■     Van  Buren,  Ark. 

TANTED.— One  or  more  pairs  of  ferrets.  Will  ex- 
change choice  Pekin  ducks  t)r  pay  cash.  5d 
Address  Chas.  McCi.ave,  New  London,  Ohio. 


W 


riTANTED.— A  position  in  an  apiary.    South  pre- 
VV     ferred.  Ample  experience;  references  good. 
5d  WiLMER  W.  McNeil,  Wheelersburg,  Ohio. 


Il/ANTED.— A  Christian  young  man  who  has  had' 
Vl  some  exiH-rieiice  in  care  of  bees,  to  work  in 
garden  and  orchard.  State  experience,  and  wages 
wanted.  J.  H.  Evans,  Lewiston,  Idalio.    5-6d 


WAN'1"'ED.— A  bee-keeper  to  work  in  our  apiary. 
A  young  man  who  understands  queen-rearing 
preferred.  Address  at  once,  giving  references,  ex- 
pectations, etc.  P.  L.  ViALLON  Mf'g  Co., 

Bayou  Goiila,  La. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  80  acres  of  good  timber 
land  for  bees.    Land  close  to  a  railroad,  to  a 
good  sawmill,  and  close  to  a  good  village.    State 
what  kind  of  a  iiive  bees  are  in.     Bert  Handy, 
5-6d Richland  Center,  Wis. 

.•^NTED.— Situation  in  an  apiary,  a  single  young- 
man  of  four  years  t'xperience.  4-5d 
A.  (',.  FuHRMAN,  Pleasant  Home.  Ohio. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  60  straight  brood-coml)s 
in   L.  frames  at  12  cents  each   for  supplies  in 
fiat.        E.  D.  Barton,  Ea.st  Hampton,  Mid.  Co.,  Ct. 

ANTED.— A  man  to  handle  my  bees  the  c-oming 
.season.  Fii. more  Cole,  Lima.  O.    4tfdb 


W 


fiat 

W 


150 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mai;.  1. 


REVIECU 

In  most  cases  gives,  at  the  liead  of  eacli  ai-ticle,  a 
neat,  half-tone  portrait  of  the  autlior.  Beg-iiiiiing- 
witli  the  Mar.  No.,  it  will  also  give  a  sliort  biog-raiJh- 
ical  sketeli  of  each  writer  amh'ss  loo  well  known  to 
need  it)  when  histirst  article  appears.  If  you  would 
like  to  sfc  i>ort raits  of  aliont  a  dozen  of  the  Keview's 
contril)iitors,send  ten  cents  for  the  last  three  issues. 
The  Reviiw  is  Sl.UOa  year;  the  book, "Advanced  Hee 
Cultuie,"  ."lO  cents;  both  for  $1.25.  New  suliscribers 
for  1892  get  the  Dec,  1891,  No.  free. 

W.  Z.  HUTCHINSON, 

FuNT.  Mich. 

tyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

^CORD  BOOKS 

Show  tliat  requeeniug-,  early  in  the  spring-,  colonies 
having-  ()}d  wurn-out  queens,  miyre  than  douhlen  the 

yield  nf  xiivyiIus.  and  tends  to 

G.  B.  LEWIS  CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS.         PREVENT  SWARMING. 


r  38-page    KESTKICTOR    book.     How 

b  I'O  A  to  avoid  swarms,  Ijrace-combs,  and  losses 
I  ■  WW!  in  -winter.  How  to  get  bees  into  sections 
in  one  hour;  and  rear  queens  in  full  colonies,  etc., 
same  old  fl.xtures.         C.  W.  Dayton,  Clinton,  Wis. 

24-23db  Please  mention  this  paper 

EAKI-Y    QIJEEITS, 

■tTROrn  our  branch  Apiary  in  Texas,  which  is 
•  three  miles  from  anv  otlier  bees,  and  none  but 
the  best  FIVE  -  BANOED  Goldeu  Italian 
Queeii!i>  used  to  rear  Queens  and  Drones.  Our 
bees  are  the  gentlest,  best  wor-kers,  and  most  beau- 
tiful bees  known.  Safe  arrival  and  eutiro  satis- 
faction guaranteed,  one  Warranted  Queen,  March 
and  April,  $1.35;  6  for  $6.00.  If  you  want  the  best, 
send  for  our  circular  at  once.  1-^dh 

S.  F.  <&  I.  TREGO,  SwEDONA,  III. 
In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

BEE^mVEST^ECTMONSTET^ 

We  make  the  best  g-oods  and  sell  them  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  oq  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
rj'  in  the  world.  ,  .,  .       ^  ^, 

Our  goods  are  known  as  the  best  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Europe.  ,       •      ,  w 

Write  lor  free,  illustrated  catalofiue  and  price  list. 


Please  mention  this  paper. 


WLy  654r 

Colonies 

of  ItalisLiis 

Are  wintering  well.  and.  as  usual,  I  will  sell  a  lim- 
ited number  of  them  to  reduce  stock  to  the  requu-ed 
number.  Eacli  hive  shipped  to  my  customeis  will 
contain  a  full  prosperous  colony  of  llalian  bees, 
with  a  last  year's  tested  queen,  on  eight  Hoffman 
frames  of  brood  and  honey.  As  my  main  object  in 
handling  bees  is  honey,  we  raise  all  our  queens  in 
full  colonies  from  cells  built  under  the  swarming- 
impulse,  using  the  choicest  and  most  profitable 
stock  to  breed  from.  i  «    ^  i    i*     t 

Safe  arrival  guaranteed  in  ISIay  and  first  half  of 
June.    Foi-  terms  please  address 


I  make  a  specialty  of  contract  orders  for  queens 
'of    tlie   Leather-back   strain    of    Italians.    Queens 
ready  to  ship  1st  to  10th  of  March. 

A.  F.  BROWN, 

HUNTINGTON,  PUTNAM  CO.,  FLA. 

4-5d  Agent  Soutliern  Expi-ess  Co. 

£^ln  responuiritr  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleantngs. 


RETAIL 

— .\ND— 

WHOLESALE. 


3-8db 


JULIUS  HOFFMAN, 


CANAJOHARIE,  N.  Y. 


t^In  respondini.'  to  lliis  .^dveiTi-H 


Good  Queens  Cheap. 

300  tested  Italian  queens,  raised  last  season,  for 
sale  at  %l;  SiO  per  doz.  A  few  hybrids  at  25c  each. 
They  will  be  shipped  about  June  I5th  to  2.5th,  or 
later  if  desired.  Have  order  booked  now  and  send 
money  when  jou  want  them.  My  bees  have  been 
KRtJD  FttR  RVSINKss.  and  tliese  are  bar- 
g-alns.     Nuclei  and  full  colonies  at  very  low  rates. 

Send  25c  for  sample  liy  mail  of 

THE  UTILITY  BEE-ESCAPE. 


leap.    It  cleans 
e  can   make  it. 
Itfdb 


Thoroughly  tested,  practical  and 
them  out  and  they  stay  out.  Any  i 
Get  a  sample  and  make  yi)ur  own. 

J.  A.  anEEU,  Day-boxa.,  111. 

|^"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings 


TiVV  SUPPLIES 

i  VI    1  i    1     Everytlilng  used  in  the  Apiary. 

H^  ^J^BlA  Greatest  variety  and  larg:ei«t  stock 
in  the  West.  New  cataloj;-.  54  illustrated  jtages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       B.  KEETOHMEE.  BED  OAZ,  IOWA. 

In  writing  advertisers  please  meiltiou  this  paper. 

FnilNHATinN  ^^^  SECTIONS  are  my 
UU raUH  I  lUll  Specialties.  No.  1  V-groove 
Sections  at  ^.00  per  thousand.  Special  prices 
to  dealers.  Send  for  free  price  list  of  every 
thing  needed  in  tlie  apiary. 
2tfdb  M.  H.  HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Midi. 

C^In  resnondinij  to  this  ailvtTii.-eimiit  mentii'ii  ({lkanings. 

FOR  ^Al  F  For  May  delivery,  Italian  and  Hv- 
riili  OnUt,!  i,j.ifi  Bees  in  light  shipping-case's, 
s  I>.  flames.  Price,  for  Italians.  *+.(iU;  hybrids,  $3.00 
each,  free  on  hoard  cars  here.  I  uuaraiitee  safe  de- 
livery. A.  ^V.  O.^KIIIMKK, 
5-8dl)  Ceiiterville,  ITIirh. 
Ci^ln  respoiulintr  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleamngs. 

I  ONE  STAR  APIARY.  It.ai.ian  Qorens.  Un- 
^  tested,  but  warranted  in  April,  May,  June,  July, 
$1  each  ;  i)er  V2  doz.  *5;  per  doz.  $8.  Te.sted  after  May 
1,  W.50;  pel-  doz.,  *15.00.  M<)iu>y  orders  payable  at  Ft. 
Worth,  Tex.  Book  orders  now.        •  "  5-7cl 

W.  A.  (  AKTra£:L,L.  Crowley,  Tex. 

Send  for  I'rlrf  I.i.ft  to 

R.  B.  HARBAUGH, 
Bfnniif'r  anil   Ifentcr  in    Ht-e-  lin'pf-r.s'  Supplies. 

Breeder   of    Italian    and    Carniolan    Bees    and 

Queens,  Light  and  Dark  Colored  Ferrets. 

ii.'tth  anrl  (htf/  fits.,      -        -        -        St.  ,Toseph,  Mo, 

tS*Iii  responding  to  this  advert i.seiiicMt  mention  Gleanings. 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superioi-  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  tvoia  one  to  a  doz- 
en, you  df)  not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  every  way,  return  them  liy  mail  witliin  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  ytmr  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with  full  direc- 
tions, 20i,-;  per  dozen,  $2.25.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealeis,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb    R.  c£  £■.  C.  PORTER,  LEWiSTOWN,  ILL. 

CSriii  respiiiuting  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings 


*^ri»5' 


^)0UKHA\zy 
•  DELVOTI 

•To-'Bele.^   ,. 
•andHoNEV- 
•AND  HOME.-     -^ 
•INTE-i^EST^ 


medby^^It^OoT' 
\©)     r^EDINAOHlO 


Vol.  XX. 


MARCH  1,  1892. 


No.  5. 


STR/ir  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 

Thk  iiiJiP  has  paid  its  coniplinionts  to  both 
editors  of  the  B.  B. ./". 

IIoAV  MiTfii  doos  it  cost  yon  to  raise  a  pound 
of  lioney".'    Tliat's  tlio  question. 

Ci.iriMNG  (;r?:KXs.  in  reply  to  a  queiy  in  ^t. 
11.  J.,  showed  14  in  fa\'or  and  '.»  against. 

CAinsoi.ir-.xfii)  treatment  for  bee-|)aralysis  is 
excellent,  says  .1.  li.  IJaniage  in  A.  B.  J. 

ExPKXSivK  iiiVKS  are  advised  against  in 
li.  D.  J.    How  would  the  Dovetailed  suit'.' 

I'm  o.v  thk  fi:xck  on  the  bounty  question, 
looking  for  u  good  place  to  alight  on  the  other 
side. 

Full  sheets  of  foundation  in  sections  are 
preferred  bv  10  out  of  ".*:!  repjiers  to  queries  in 
.1.  B. ./. 

Hoxi:v-i)Kw  is  worked  into  vinegar  by  \V.  1'. 
Odendahl  f^.  B. ./.).  and  priim*  white  vinegar 
it  is  making. 

The  wrxn.MiLL  at  Medina  had  a  delected 
look,  and  the  gi'eenhouse  seemed  very  "lonely 
without  A.  I. 

A  wHLspEK  conies  that  railroad  rates  to  the 
convention  at  Washington  next  fall  will  be  sur- 
prisingly low.     Let's  go. 

SfKATf-HEs  in  horses,  a  correspond(>nt  in  Tlir 
Stockmtiii  says,  can  be  easily  cured  by  bathing 
with  thick  sour  buttermilk. 

"HoXEY  fKEAMs"  and  '■  Honey  Scotch  ■■  seem 
to  be  two  items  of  confectionery  on  the  British 
market  that  ai'e  made  from  genuine  honey. 

Cost  of  phodicixg  honey  was  discuss(!d  at 
the  Colorado  State  Convention.  Porter  said  4c 
per  lb.:  Aikin  and  Rauchfuss  s.  and  Adams 
103^. 

E.  BAKTJiUM,  D.  J).,  in  B.  B.J..  warns  against 
low  hives,  on  account  of  backacln^  from  stoop- 
ing. Sit  down,  doctor,  sit  down,  and  take  it 
comfortably. 

(Jkavukahds  were  in  the  majority  at  the 
Ohio  State  Bee -keepers'  Convention.  Never 
saw  so  large  a  proportion  in  a  gathering  of  bee- 
keepei-s. 

The  C.  B.  J.  thinks  the  Ontario  conv(!ntion 
would  have  Vjeen  better  if  there  had  been  more 
bee-talk  in  it.  Bee-talk  is  a  good  thing  in  a 
bee  convention. 

P>)rxi)ATiox-MiLi-s  making  4}^  cells  to  tiie 
inch,  they  told  me  at  Medina,  were  ordered— 
nine  of  them.  I  think— from  Russia.  I  wonder 
if  Ru.^sian  "swear  words"  won't  be  overtaxed 
next  fall. 


The  British  goveknmkxt  makes  an  appro- 
jtriation  through  which  county  councils  provide 
lectures  and  technical  instruction  in  bee-keep- 
ing,   (iood  for  the  Britishers! 

The  Wliite  Mountain  Ap(V(;t.v^  suggests  that 
"some  bee-keeper  living  in  or  neai'  Cliicago 
open  a  boarding-house  for  bee-keepers  during 
the  World's  Fail-  in  1S'.)3." 

M.X'i'  is  the  sunniest  month  bee-keepers  have 
in  England,  and  yet  in  that  month  the  sun  does 
not  shine  half  the  time  it  is  above  the  horizon. 
We  might  swap  them  somt;  of  our  "scorchers." 

Editor  Newman  looks  a  good  deal  as  if  a 
train  of  cars  had  run  over  him.  But  the  grip 
hasn't  taken  all  the  grit  out  of  him.  Just  say 
"adulteration"  to  him.  and  you'll  find  he's  not 
dead  yet. 

Pkof.  .1.  L.  BuDi)  recommends  sowing  or- 
chards with  Japan  buckwheat  about  the  first 
of  July.  Makes  largei,  cleaner,  liealthier  trees 
than  the  usual  cultivation,  and  the  fruit  more 
abundant  and  uniform  in  size. 

Ax  almanac  is  very  handy  in  a  family  to 
keei)  track  of  the  days  of  the  month:  but  if  you 
subscribe  for  the  "old  reliable"  ^-ImeciMnt  Bee 
Jonvtuil  it  will  keep  you  straight  as  to  the  day 
of  the  week.     Never  misses. 

Dox't  teli-  what  per  cent  you  lost  in  winter- 
ing till  your  bees  are  past  all  danger  of  si)ring 
dwindling.  I  can  winter  1()()  per  cent  every 
winter  by  taking  out  of  the  cellar  in  January, 
but  I  wouldn't  have  many  left  in  June. 

I  don't  know  what  those  Frenchnu'u  are 
hinting  at  on  jjage  110.  I  know  the  Dadants 
have  "  no  swarming  to  speak  of."  and  I  think 
if  I  should  run  for  extracted  honey  I  wouldn't 
have  a  tithe  of  the  trouble  with  swarming  I  do 
with  comb  honey. 

When  a  max  gets  uj)  in  a  convention  and  be- 
gins. "  I  am  only  a  learner,  but  I  wanted  to  ask 
the  best  way  to  do'' so  and  so,  you  may  look 
out  for  a  plan  of  his  own  that  he'll  tight  for  as 
away  ahead  of  any  other,  and  nine  times  out  of 
ten  it's  either  old  or  worthless. 

The  RifiHT  TKMi'EUATiTHE  for  cellai's.  Fve  al- 
ways said,  each  oik;  must  find  out  for  himself, 
as  cellars  diffei'  so.  I  don't  know  of  any  better 
way  yi't:  but  if  they  keep  on  fooling  with  wet 
and  dry  bulb  thermometers  they  may  yet  give 
us  some  rule  of  universal  application. 

Have  vou  ordered  yoiw  supplies  for  the 
season  yet?  You  can  tell  just  about  as  well 
now  as  any  time  how  many  sections  you'll  want, 
unless  you  wait  till  the  bees  are  storing,  and 
you  may  have  trouble  in  getting  them  in  time 
then.  Better  be  in  time,  and  have  enough  too. 
Yes.  be  sure  to  have  a  little  //tore  than  you 
want,  for  there's  no  harm  in  having  something 
left  over  tor  the  next  season. 


152 


(rLEANlN(;.S  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


Mak.  1. 


Hutchinson  has  a  new  pic Ui re  of  me.  taken 
in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health.  His  pictures 
ai-e  ail  right  now,  and  are  a  very  pleasant  fea- 
ture of  his  journal.  As  I  look  at  the  one  of  E. 
Taylor,  it  seems  as  if  he  were  just  about  to 
make  some  droll  remark,  ending  up  with  liis 
inimitable  drawl. 

Getting  poli.en  out  of  combs.  Jlere's  a 
good  way  from  Doolittle  in  :<tockman.  .Shake 
together"  '.i  qts.  boiling  water  and  1  lb.  honey. 
Put  in  sprinkling-pot  and  sprinkle  combs. 
I^eave  in  warm  room  till  fermentation  throws 
out  most  of  the  pollen.  Rinse  with  warm  water, 
shake  off  water,  and  put  in  liives  at  night,  one 
comb  in  each  strong  colony. 

An  AVERAGE  CROP  of  houey— what  is  if?  It 
seems  as  though  some  one  might  find  out  what 
has  been  the  average  per  colony,  the  country 
over,  for  the  last  ten  years.  But  each  one  can 
find  out  his  own  average  for  himself;  and  I 
don't  believe  half  the  bee-keepers  who  say 
"I've  had  an  average  crop"  have  any  definite 
idea  of  what  they  are  talking  about. 

Henderson,  referring  to  the  editorial  remark 
about  "good  sleighing."  on  page  6(1,  wants  to 
know  whether  sleigliing  hurts  the  honey-plants 
in  embryo,  or  whether  the  matter  is  with  the 
comb,  or  the  secretion  of  wax.  All  wrong,  Bro. 
H.  It's  the  weight  of  the  snow  that  holds  the 
clover  down,  and  makes  it  so  dark  it  can't  see 
to  throw  up  blossoms  to  be  killed  right  in  the 
middle  of  winter. 

G.  E.  Tufts,  Spring  Bluff.  Wis.,  says  for  sev- 
eral winters  he  has,  with  very  little  loss,  win- 
tered bees  much  as  I  described  in  Gleanings. 
He  uses  chaff  instead  of  straw,  which  he  thinks 
better  for  their  40°  below  zero;  lets  the  hives 
drift  under  out  of  sight,  and  remain  so  all  win- 
ter. He  doesn't  take  any  special  pains  about 
moving,  and  bees  don't  fight;  and  if  they  do  mix 
and  equalize,  what  harm? 

Ceipping  queens,  the  B.  B.  J.  thinks,  is  a 
cruel  habit,  and  one  which  is  dying  out.  Is  it 
any  more  cruel  than  many  other  things  we  do 
for  our  own  benefit  with  creatures  under  our 
control?  Of  the  hundreds  of  queens  I  have 
clipped,  I  never  saw  one  show  any  sign  of  suf- 
fering, nor  did  I  ever  know  it  to  check  laying 
in  the  least.  As  to  the  habit  dying  out,  what 
proof  have  you,  dear  B.  B.  J.-' 

I  WISH  you  could  all  see  that  specimen  of  ar- 
tificial honey-comb  and  comb  honey  they  have 
at  Medina.  The  latter,  except  as  to  shape, 
looks  a  good  deal  like  a  doughnut  with  sugar 
sifted  over  it.  only  not  so  inviting.  The  empty 
comb  looks  as  though  some  little  girls  had 
formed  cups  of  wax  over  the  end  of  a  slate  pen- 
cil and  set  them  together.  But  language  fails 
to  describe  it.     You  just  ought  to  see  it! 

I  GOT  an  oil -stove.  Delighted  with  it  I — car- 
ried it  into  any  room,  heat  it  up  so  easily  foi' 
almost  nothing.  Nice  thing  for  bee-cellar.  I 
left  the  oil-stove  in  a  closed  bedroom  three 
hours,  then  went  in  with  lamp.  The  blaze  of 
the  lamp  dropped  right  down.  I  then  took  the 
lamp  out  into  the  hall,  and  the  blaze  came  up 
bright.  I  took  the  lamp  back  into  the  room- 
blaze  dropped;  took  oil-stove  back  to  hardware 
store.    No  more  oil -stove  for  me. 

There's  much  in  getting  the  knack  of  a 
thing.  I  saw  Ernest  work  a  Daisy  foundation- 
fastener.  I  was  delighted  with  its  working. 
Then  I  tried  it.  The  thing  balked.  Then  it 
went  all  right  for  Ernest  every  time,  but  I 
couldn't  make  it  go.  I  don't  think  I'm  stupid. 
I'm  only  bashful.  If  he  hadn't  been  watching 
mel  could  have  made  the  thing  go.  I'm  going 
to  get  one  of  my  own,  and  learn.  I  don't  pro- 
pose to  be  outdone  by  a  young  ui)Start  like 
Ernest. 


JULIUS    HOFFMAN,    AND    HIS 
THE  APIARY. 

HIS   SHORT     CUTS,   AND     UOW     II 
PAY. 


METHODS    IN 


MAKES    RKES 


During  the  long  evenings  that  have  interviMi- 
ed  since  we  described  I\lr.  Hoffman,  his  home, 
his  cellars,  his  ideas,  and  modes  of  wintering 
bees,  we  trust  you  have  giasped  the  salient 
points  and  can  apply  them  to  your  own  prac- 
tice. True,  if  you  live  in  a  mild  climate,  or  use 
a  very  different  hive,  you  may  fail  to  get  much 
benefit  fjom  the  experience  of  Mr.  H.  If  so, 
this  article  may  prove  more  interesting. 

After  much  "study  and  observation  Mr.  H. 
adopts  the  following  arrangement  of  hives  in 
his  apiaries. 


D 
D 


D 
D 


D 
D 


n 
n 


n 
n 


■DQ  -nn-  -an-  -an- 


n 

D 

D 

D 

n 

D 

D 

D 

D 

D 

-DD-   -DD-   -DD-   -aO- 

As  the  bees  fly  from  so  many  directions,  there 
is  much  less  mixing  up  than  when  all  face  the 
same  way.  By  reference  to  the  engraving  in 
Gleanings  for  Feb.  1,  page  90,  you  see  the 
covers  are  flat;  hence,  by  setting  the  hives  in 
pairs  one  makes  a  convenient  stand  for  the 
smoker,  etc..  while  the  other  is  being  operated 
upon. 

The  stand  upon  which  each  hive  rests  is  sim- 
ply two  pieces  of  2x4  scantling.  To  one  end  of 
each  a  board  4  inches  wide  is  nailed.  Over  the 
edge  of  this,  and  extending  over  the  two  sills,  a 
board  about  five  inches  wide  is  fastened.  This 
is  the  alighting-board;  and  when  the  ground  is 
smooth  and  level,  bees  can  not  get  under  the 
hive.  A  glance  at  the  engraving  referred  to 
will  make  all  plain. 

Hy  way  of  paienthesis.  we  told  Mr.  Hoff'man, 
and  state  here  for  the  benefitof  the  reader,  that, 
if  all  these  pieces  are  well  soaked  with  crude  pe- 
troleum before  being  nailed  together,  they  will 
last  more  than  twice  as  long  as  though  simply 
painted  or  left  unprotected.  Crude  petroleum 
costs  very  little;  and  when  its  merits  as  a  wood- 
preserver  are  generally  known  it  will  be  largely 
used. 

Mr.  Hoffman's  hive  is  14  inches  deep,  lny^ 
long,  and  ll}4  wide,  made  of  K  pine.  A  rabbet, 
about  I4  incli  deep  and  ^%  wide,  is  cut  into  the 
long  pieces,  hence  the  frames  are  even  with  the 
top,  and  extend  across  the  hive.  The  bottom  is 
nailed  on,  making  a  strong  box  not  easily 
racked  out  of  shape.  About  %  of  an  inch  from 
the  upper  edge  a  rim  of  ^s  strips  is  nailed 
around.  This  supports  the  cover,  the  upper 
story  when  extracting,  or  the  sui'plus  box 
honey-case.  Half  the  thickness  of  the  upper 
edge  of  this  rim  is  beveled  down  to  prevent  rain 
from  woi'king  in. 

We  said,  "  Mr.  Hoffman,  why  don't  you  rab- 
bet the  covers,  and  dispense  with  this  rim,  and 
cut  handles  into  the  hives  to  carry  them  by?" 

He  replied,  "That  would  retard  in  handling 
and  carrying  the  hives,  and  would  cause  loss  of 
time  in  the  busy  season." 

Mr.  H.  stated  that,  for  some  years,  his  chief 
study  is  to  shorten  methods  and  dispense  with 
loose  pieces,  and  reduce  the   manipulation  to  a 


IMI'.' 


(;i.KANIN(;s  IN   HKK  CUI/rUKE. 


15:< 


jcictiiT;  i.  ('..  (li'piMul  uiMHi  I'l'itaiii  oi)ri;itioii<  til 
n'tiirn  imifoiinly  tin'  -^ami'  rrsiilis. 

Tilt' oinMiiiiiis  I'll- till' IxTs  all'  tliiri'  I'-iiich 
holes,  fai'iufl  till'  liivc.  oin'  in  the  left  t'lul.  two 
in  ffont  (si'f  the  fiiitraviiiff  on  pant' *.•(»). 

Till'  lowiT  one  in  front  is  only  '4  inch  I'loin 
lilt'  hottoai-hoanl.  Mr.  llotTiiiaii  has  used  tin 
slides,  iron  slides,  and  wooden  slides,  to  cover 
bi'e-lii\e  entiaiiees.  luit  none  of  them  ever 
pleased  him.  .\t  last  he  solved  the  prolilem. 
A  stfip  ahoiit  live  inches  lonjj;.  :.'  inches  w  idi', 
iind  'm  inch  thick,  has  a  small  hole  in  the  cen- 
ter. Near  one  end  a  l'...-inch  hole  is  bored,  and 
enoiisili  ol  the  thickness  cut  otV  to  nail  on  a 
block  of  wire  cloth.  This  strip  is  then  ready  to 
fasten,  by  a  screw  to  the  hive,  wire  side  down. 
()ne  way  it  ventilates;  the  other  it  closes  the 
hive  or  iii":i<liii»t»>s  the  size  of  the  entrance  to 
suit  the  operator.  The  first  hive  on  the  left 
shows  an  olilong  enti'ance  at  the  bottom;  but 
this  hive  was  made  by  anotlu'r,  and  was  taken 
on  a  debt. 

The  followers  ii.sed  at  the  sides  of  the  frames 
are  ha  If -inch  stuff.  A  strip  is  nailed  to  the 
bottom  ed^re  and  one  at  the  top.  The  latter 
rests  upon  the  rabbets  as  do  the  frames.  These 
fcrilowers  reach  to  within  about '•s  inch  of  the 
bottom,  and  are  •'.<  inch  narrow  at  both  sides. 
A  thin  saw-kerf  is  cut  into  both  edges  at  the 
sides  for  live  or  six  inch's  from  the  top  end. 
Into  each  of  these  a  piece  of  thin  rubber  pack- 
iiis  is  fastened  extending  out  %  inch.  Now  the 
followers  are  close-litting  at  the  sides  for  four 
or  live  inches  only. 

When  colonies  are  to  be  drawn  toout-apiaries, 
or  vice  verna.  the  operation  is  very  rapid.  The 
bottoms  are  fast:  the  frames  are  propolized 
enough  to  hold  in  a  spring  wagon;  the  wire 
cloth  ends  of  the  buttons  or  circular  slides  are 
quickly  .set  in  position:  u  piece  of  sacking,  a 
tritle  larger  than  the  hive,  is  laid  on.  and  the 
cap  pri'ssed  down  over  it.  Drive  up  th(?  wagon 
and  set  the  hives  on.  Mr.  Hoffman's  man  can 
and  has  hitched  tlie  team. and  prepared,  loaded, 
and  roped.  :.'8  hives  in  150  minute.s,  i-eady  to 
driv(M)tl'.  Who  can  equal  this?  The  ventila- 
tor in  the  end  of  the  hive  now  answers  a  splen- 
did purjiose.  The  bees  have  full  range,  and 
some  cluslei-  in  the  open  space  where  plenty  of 
air  is  supijlied.  The  cap  and  rim  on  the  hive 
make  it  impossible  to  cut  otl'  a  supply  of  air  be- 
tween tiie  hives  whii(!  on  the  wagon.  The  hole 
in  the  end  of  the  hive  also  makes  it  convenient 
to  rear  an  extra  queen  or  divide  the  colony 
early,  thus  economizing  warmth.  A  division- 
boai'd  for  this  purpose  is  made  exactly  like  the 
followers,  except  that  the  rubber  strips  extend 
around  both  sides  and  the  bottom.  The  bees 
are  thus  effectually  separated.  When  a  nucleus 
is  cut  off  from  the  main  colony,  the  hive  is 
turned  partially  around,  so  that  the  stream  of 
bees  coming  from  the  tield  is  divided.  A  little 
ob.servaticn  will  show  wh(!ther  this  is  properly 
accomplished. 

The  cap  ^or  cover)  of  th(?  hive  is  simply  a 
rim  two  or  three  inches  deep,  covered  with 
boards,  over  which  a  sheet  of  iron  is  placed, 
the  edges  of  which  extend  down  over,  and  are 
tacked  to  the  sides  of  the  cap. 

Extracted  surplus  honey  is  obtained  as  fol- 
lows: One  follower  is  removed,  and  ten  frames 
occupy  the  hive.  Tin;  sjiace  between  the  fol- 
lower left  in  and  the  end  of  the  hive  is  3^  or  X 
inch.  Over  the  frames  and  edgi;  of  the  follower 
a  sheet  of  heavy  enamid  cloth  is  placed.  On 
this  a  bottomless  hive  is  put.  Frames  of  comb 
for  surplus  are  placed  in  the  upper  hive,  begin- 
ning at  the  end  near  the  follower.  The  only 
access  the  bees  have  is  below  and  at  the  sides  of 
th(!  follower.  The  queen  seldom  gets  into  this  up- 
per story,  and  the  bees  work  up  very  satisfac- 
toril.T.     Every  eight  or  nine  days,  when   honey 


is  coming,  tliesr  hives  are  ovei'haiiled.  'I'lie  top 
story  is  remoNcd.  'I'he  three  first  frames  ari- 
i'\amined.  If  the  hives  are  well  fillid  with 
bees,  and  iliesr  fi-aines  contain  brood,  one.  two, 
or  iliri'c  are  renioved.  the  lin-s  paitiallv  shaken 
off  and  replaced  with  empty  combs.  All  fram(\s 
containing  honey  are  taken  from  the  iijiper 
story,  and  enijity  combs  substituted.  These  are 
put  in  racks,  and  go  home  to  be  e\t-racted. 
\Vheii  eight  frames  of  brood  are  I'cady  they  are 
set  into  an  empty  hive.  A  strong  colony  is 
moved  a  short  distance,  and  this  hive  placc^d  so 
that  part  of  tln^  bees  go  into  it.  The  operation  is 
repeated  througliout  the  yard.  None  of  the 
frames  in  the  lower  hive  are  moved,  except 
the  first  three. 

Mr.  H.  says  if  they  are  handled,  bees  are  more 
apt  to  swarm.    This  was  new  to  us. 

A  strong  colony  containing  a  select  queen  is 
made  queenless.  The  combs  ai'e  examined,  to 
be  sure  that  no  capped  queen -cells  are  present. 
In  eight  or  nine  days  the  process  described 
above  is  repeated,  except  that  the  eight  frames 
of  brood  in  empty  hive  are  generally  placed  on 
the  stands  occupied  by  the  tiew  colonies  madt; 
eight  or  nine;  days  before.  This  is  done  to 
weaken  them,  so  that  a  luitching  queen  shall 
not  be  molested.  Th(>  colonies  made-  on  the 
previous  occasion  are  overhauled,  and  all 
queen-cells  destroyed.  Before  the  work  of  thi; 
day  is  over,  a  lot  of  cells  are  cut  from  the  hive 
of  choice  brood  made  (jueenless  at  the;  former 
visit,  and  one  is  set  between  two  combs  of  each 
of  the  queenless  hives.  If  necessary  the  frames 
are  separated  a  little,  and  the  cells  pressed  in  a 
trifle.  At  the  next  visit,  if  the  cells  appear  to 
have  hatched,  no  examination  is  then  made. 
About  a  dozen  thin  twigs  from  apple  or  similar 
trees  are  securely  tied  together.  With  this  the 
bees  are  removed  from  the  combs.  No  wing  or 
brush  is  used. 

If  the  queen  ever  gets  into  the  upper  (or  sur- 
plus) story  she  is  shaken  down  in  front  of  the 
hive,  and  the  brood  treated  like  the  rest. 

Mr.  Hoffman  said,  "  I  wonder  how  many  of 
the  readers  of  (Ji-f;axixgs  remember  to  use 
grass  in  the  entrances  to  prevent  robbing."  We 
replied. '•  How  many  of  them  use  similar  en- 
trances, and  can  successfully  employ  grass  for 
that  purpose  ?"'    The  process  is  as  follows: 

Before  a  hive  is  opened,  a  handful  of  grass  is 
stuffed  loosely  into  the  entrance.  This  ob- 
structs the  bees  that  belong  in  the  hive  and  in- 
creases the  guard;  at  the  same  time,  the  rob- 
bers are  not  able  to  dart  in  unchallenged.  No 
attention  is  paid  to  the  grass.  It  gradually 
dries  and  shrinks,  and  the  bees  carry  it  away. 

We  said,  '"  Mr.  Hoffman,  if  you  hadn't  a  hive 
in  the  world,  and  could  start  all  over,  what  size 
frame  would  you  adoiit?"  He  answered,  "I 
would  make  no  change  unless  I  made  the 
frames  one  inch  shallower.  This  I  would  do,  if 
at  all.  only  because  14-inch  boards  are  not  easi- 
ly obtained,  and  are  rather  expensive." 

Mr.  Hollman's  family  consist  of  four  girls  and 
two  boys.  His  good  sense  is  demonstrated  in 
that,  when  the  children  are  young,  they  are 
taught  only  German.  As  they  grow  older.  Eng- 
lish comes  as  a  matter  of  necessity.  The  love 
of  music  is  inborn.  The  youngest,  a  girl  only 
two  years  old,  unconsciously  hummed  a  popu- 
lar air,  to  our  great  satisfaction. 

Mr.  IT.  says  his  boys  do  not '"  take  to  bees," 
hence  he  will  give  them  practical  lessons  in 
organ-building.  A  dozen  are  to  be  manufac- 
tured, and  the  boys  are  to  assist. 

Modesty  prevents  Mr.  H.  from  stating  the 
facts;  but,  aside  from  his  management  of  600  or 
800  colonies,  he  does  a  good  deal  of  other  work, 
and  has  a  revenue  of  several  liundred  a  year, 
exclusive  of  the  income  from  his  bees. 

Canajoharie,  N.  Y.  J.  H.  Nkli.is. 


154 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Ma\{.  1. 


fYou  have  givPii  inanv  valuablo  points,  friend 
N  in  regard  to  our  modest  friend  Mr.  Hoffman 
Tiiid  his  methods  of  \vorl<  in  tli<^  ai)iai'y.  For  the 
hi ^t  fifteen  years  he  has  been  working  quietly 
in  tliis  way.  while  tlie  ontside  world  knew  little 
or  nothing  of  hiin.  much  less  that  he  had  a 
brood-frame  that  now  seems  to  be  taking  the 
apiarian  world  by  storm.  .  .,  ^   . 

When  we  visited  Mr.  Hoffman  we  failed  to 
observe  that  he  had  his  hives  arranged  in 
pairs-  yet  manv  intelligent  bee-keepers  are  be- 
o-inning  to  think  it  economy  lo  put  hives  either 
fn  pairs  or  groups.  In  Mr.  Hoffman's  method 
of  arranging  hives,  the  entrances  all  point 
toward  each  other:  and  the  bees,  as  it  were,  in 
their  flight  are  focused  toward  one  spot;  and 
that  spot  is  in  the  center  of  a  group  of  four 
hives  We  have  never  tried  exactly  this  ar- 
rangement, but  something  similar  to  it.  At 
nresent  we  rather  prefer  the  plan  we  advocated 
on  page  922.  Dec.  1,  and  959.  Dec.  1.5,  of  having 
the  bees  occupy  one  alleyway  for  their  flight, 
while  the  other  would  be  comparatively  tree  tor 

the  apiarist.  Ar;ii„.. 

Mr.  Hoffman  is  a  good  deal  like  Dr.  Millei  — 
he  wants  a  good  substantial  cleat  with  which  to 
nick  up  his  hive.  We  can  readily  understand 
how  one  who  has  become  thoroughly  accus- 
tomed to  the  cleats  would  not  readily  be  satis- 
fied with  handholes  made  with  a  wabbling 
saw  We  who  have  always  been  accustomed  to 
handholes  find  no  particular  inconvenience  in 
lifting  hives  by  them  to  the  wagon,  or  tor  any 
other  general  handling. 

When  we  visited  INIr.  Hoffman  we  were  par- 
ticularly interested  in  his  kind  of  entrances. 
This  together  with  several  other  things  we 
saw'^about  the  place,  convinced  us  that  he  was 
pre-eminently  a  bee-keeper  who  used  short 
(Mifi  '■  These  entrance  -  holes  can  be  very 
uuicklv  closed:  and  they  have,  besides  certain 
other  advantages.  If  bee-k;eepers  could  be  con- 
tent to  use  hives  with  tight  bottoms,  perhaps 
these  entrances  would  be  preferable  to  a 
Ion"  slot:  but  there  are  advantages  in  long 
narrow  entrances  not  possessed  by  114-inch 
holes  The  former,  the  mice  can  not  get 
thron'o-h-  and  where  frames  are  shallow,  like 
the  Langstroth.  the  long  narrow  entrance  is 
better,  because  it  gives  more  alighting  room  for 
the  bees  when  coming  in  laden  with  lioney. 

On  nage  737.  S(>pt.  l.''>th  issue,  last  year's  vol- 
ume, you  will  remcmbrr  that  two  of  us  pre - 
naredand  loaded  57  hiv(>s  m  an  hour  and  a  halt. 
At  the  time,  we  made,  this  statement  to  prove 
that  bees  could  be  handled  on  Hoffman  traraes 
rapidly,  and  that  hives  containing  such  trames 
could  be  quickly  loaded  on  to  the  wagon  for 
moving.  We  thought  we  w(M-e  doing  pretty  big 
things? and  so  did'  our  friend  A.  .\.  Draper,  of 
Upper  Alton.  111.  On  page  4(;H  ot  th-  A>ncnmn 
Bee  Jnurnnl,  Oct.  S.  he  cha  leng.-d  th.-  state- 
ment But  it  seems  that  Mr.  Hoffman  s  man 
prepared  and  loaded  28  in  30  minutes  alone,  and 
this  would  be  .5()  hives  in  one  hour.  We  two 
loaded  only  .57  in  an  hour  and  a  halt,  l^rom 
this  it  would  appear  that  Mr.  Hoffman  s  man 
did  the  work  in  about  two-lhirds  the  time  that 
tiro  of  us  did.  According  to  the  way  in  which 
we  worked,  one  of  us  would  have  loaded  .0. 
hives  in  three  hours;  but  Mr.  Hoffman  s  man 
would  have  loaded  .5(5  hives  in  one  hour.  Ihis 
will  be  a  poser  for  friend  Draper.  I  our  teat 
seemed  difficult  of  accomplishment,  what  must 
he  say  of  the  apiarist  of  Canajoharie.'  After 
all  \he  credit  is  not  due  to  him  but  to  his  em- 
oloVer  Mr..Iulius  Hoffnum.  And  this  shows 
Suite  conclusively  how  Mr.  H..  with  his  appli- 
ances, manages  his  apiaries  with  the  minimum 
of  labor  and  expense,  and  how  he  would  make 
money  when  others  would  lose. 
There  are  two    other    points    to  whicli   we 


should  call  attention:  That  handling  frames  or 
disturbing  the  brood-nest  is  liable  to  increase 
the  desire  for  swarming.  If  any  of  our  readers 
liave  made  observations  on  this  point  we  should 
be  glad  to  hear  from  them. 

Another  point  is  the  use  of  grass  in  stopping 
robbing.  Dr.  Miller  has  used  the  same  scheme, 
especially  when  working  with  out-apiaries. 
The  entrances  may  he  plugged  tightly  with 
grass,  and.  in  a  couple  of  hoiirs  after  the  rob- 
bers have  given  up  and  (luit  their  nonsense,  the 
grass  will  have  wilted,  and  opened  the  entrances 
automatically,  although  the  apiarist  may  be 
miles  away.] 


THE  ALBANY  GRADING. 


MM.    ELWOOD    EXPLAINS   IT. 

In  a  recent  issue  of  Gleanings  the  editor 
calls  attention  to  the  fact  that,  in  the  markings 
for  the  Italian  bee,  the  numbers  do  not  foot  up 
an  even  hundred.  As  I  remember,  the  missing 
ten  should  be  added  to  wintering,  making  it 
twenty-five,  and' the  whole  scale  substantially 
the  same  as  Mr.  Knickerbocker  put  it  in  his 
essay.  The  only  change  made  was  five  taken  from 
color  and  added  to  honey-gathering  and  comb- 
building  qualities.  In  future  it  may  be  thought 
best  to  divide  the  last-mentioned  points  and 
give  each  one  a  separate  marking.  Bee-keepers 
do  not  object  to  handsome  bees,  but  they  do 
object  to  having  this  accomplished  by  in-and- 
in  breeding  to  the  exclusion  of  the  far  more 
important  qualities.  The  original  report  was 
hurriedly  corrected  in  pencil:  and  although  Mr. 
Hutchinson  prides  himself  on  being  skillful 
in  decii)heriug  hieroglyphics,  it  is  perhaps  not 
strange  that  he  failed  on  this.  Probably  for 
the  same  reason  the  report  on  grading  honey 
was  not  given  correctly.  The  report  says. 
"Honey  shall  be  graded  in  two  grades,'"  and 
then  proceeds  to  name  four  regular  grades.  It 
should  read.  ■■  White  honey  shall  be  graded  in 
two  grades.'"  The  description  of  the  third 
grade  is  also  defective.  The  comph^te  report 
should  read  as  follows: 
White  honey  sliall  be  graded  in  two  g-rades: 
The  first  to  1)6  known  in  the  trade  as  "  fancy,"  or 
"  fancy  wliite,"  and  to  be  marked  "  A."  It  sliall  be 
composed  of  well-flUed  sections  of  ligl it-colored 
lioiK'ys.  Out"  f  ;ice  of  eacli  section  sliall  he  i)erfect 
ill  ;iii"i)e;ii-:iiice.  I'uUy  sealed,  except  tlio  line  of  cells 
toLicliiiiK  the  wood.  The  other  side  of  the  section 
shall  eiliiei'  be  jiei'fect  in  color  and  sealing-,  or  near- 
ly so. 

Tlie  second  grade  shall  be  known  in  the  trade  as 
"fair  to  good  white,"  and  be  marked  "C,"  and 
shall  be  packed  to  meet  tlie  requirements  of  those 
desbing  a  good  lioney,  but  who  care  little  for  out- 
side appeiiraiK-e.  It  shall  be  composed  of  honey 
thrown  out  of  the  first  grade,  irregular  and  travel- 
stained  combs,  sections  not  perfectly  filled,  hut  yet 
lia\'ing  but  little  unsealed  honey. 

The  third  grade  shall  be  known  as  "'mixed 
honey,"  and  shall  be  composed  of  white  honey 
ciiii'tiy,  mixed  with  inferior  hone,y,  including  l)u<-k- 
wheat  and  fall  Howers,  and  shall  be  marked '- M." 
We  advise  thatconilis  so  l)adly  stained  as  In  ha\-e 
tlie  color  of  salfron  be  thrown  into  this  grade. 

tUickwheat  honej'  shall  be  packed  by  itself  and  be 
marked  "  15." 

Those  bee-keepers  sending  to  market  boxes 
known  as  "pieces"  shall  put  upon  them  a  private 
mark  of  their  own.  This  should  also  apply  to  lioney- 
(lew,  and  aiij' other  kind  not  falling  into  regnhir 
grades. 

This  report  was  made  with  the  knowledge 
that  bee-keepers  usually  stencil  their  honey 
with  their  full  address,  thus  giving  the  State 
and  locality  in  which  the  honey  is  produced, 
whicli  is  important  in  judging  of  quality. 
While  the  first  and  second  grades  are  composed 
of  light-colored  honeys  it  is,  of  course,  expected 
that  the   lightest  colored  will   go  into  the  first 


1S'.»-' 


(;i.HANiN(;s  IN  nvA-:  t  ri/ruKK. 


ir)5 


firadf.  ami  the  (hirkrsi  nl  iln' litjlii  litnirys  iiiio 
the  si'niiul.  (Irt'at  cuvr  sliould  he  taki'ii  tlial 
mixed  iioiii-ys.  i)f  honeys  of  too  <iarl<  a  siiaiii'.  lie 
not  put  into  tlie  "  t"  "  praiie.  It  is  impossilile  to 
•'Xpress  on  paper  tlii'  siiglit  variation  in  shade 
of  lioney  that  will  often  thfow  it  ffoni  one 
sri'ade  to  anotlief.  (Jfadinir  honey  is  one  of 
the  most  ditlii-nit  tasks  the  liee-keeper  lia>  to 
do:  and  no  one  with  niui-li  exjierieiu-e  is  lookiiifi 
forshoit.  explicit  inlesthat  will  coverall  cases. 
It  is  somethinfj  that  can  not  he  done  hy  lamp- 
liffht.  and  veiy  seldom,  indeed,  hy  pfoxy. 

The  committet-  ihousht  liest  to  use  the  letter 
■■  A  ■■  on  tifsi  sfad«'.  "  A  "  has  l)een  nsed  l'oi- 
many  years  (fifteen)  for  the  liist  ^rade:  and  as 
it  is  "the  (ii-st  letter  of  tlie  alphabet,  nothiiifj  cag 
fro  ahead  of  it.  Should  some  amhilions  inclivid- 
nal  use  it  donhle.  it  would  express  less  rather 
than  more.  For  the  second  srade.  "C.'"  the  old 
mark  for  clover  or  white  honey,  was  chosen  rath- 
er than  '■  H."  which  has  always  been  the  mark 
for  bnckwheat  honey.  To  have  chantred  these 
letters  would  have  caused  confusion:  and.  be- 
sides, the  lettering  would  have  been  in  nowise 
descriptive.  Then,  again,  if  the  letters  had 
been  taken  in  regular  al|)habetical  order  (A.  H. 
CD),  it  would  imply  that  the  quality  followed 
in  the  same  order,  making  it  little  l(>ss  objec- 
tionable than  the  numerals  1.  2.  3.  4.  It  would 
also  place  buckwheat  honey  tliird  in  (|uality. 
whereas  it  stan<is  lirst  in  iiuality  with  many 
consuiuers.  and  in  some  markets  it  is  also  first 
in  demand.  I5y  the  system  of  independent 
lettering,  each  grade  stands  on  its  own  merit 
for  quality.  Any  attemjit  to  grade  or  pack 
biickwlieat  honey  with  other  dark  honeys,  as 
suggested  by  Mr.  Fra/.ier,  in  the  last  issue  of 
(Ji-KAXiXGs.  will  provi'  a  complete  failure. 
Those  who  buy  buckwheat  honey  buy  it  be- 
cause they  like  its  flavor.  They  want  nothing 
else,  and  it  should  be  nuifked  so  that  it  may  be 
known.  Mr.  Frazier  makes  nine  (jualities. 
which  is  double  the  number  necessary,  and 
twice  as  many  as  dealei-s  will  accept.  His 
classification,  however,  is  a  wonderful  improve- 
ment over  the  Chicago  grading,  which  is  worth- 
less. It  is  worse  than  worthli'ss.  for  it  supplants 
better  methods  and  jiractices.  It  was  not  se- 
verely criticised  at  Albany,  for  it  was  felt  to  be 
a  piece  of  bungling  work  that,  the  less  said 
about,  the  better.  The  recent  attempt  to  revive 
many  of  its  objectionable  features  calls  for  a 
few  remarks. 

It  will  tu)t  do  to  throw  out  a  section  from  the 
••  fancy  "  grade  because  it  is  not  firmly  attached 
to  the  bottom.  Some  of  the  finest  honey  ever 
marketed  is  of  that  kind,  and  all  the  trouble 
it  causes  is  in  j)ackinir.  wlx-n  it  .shoulfl  lie 
turned  upside  down.  Then,  again,  nearly  all 
sections  show  travel  or-  projjolis  stains,  even 
after  careful  scrafjing.  and  it  will  not  do  to 
throw  these  out  for  the  very  slight  stains  re- 
maining. Not  only  are  such  thrown  out  of  the 
first  grade,  but  out  of  the  secoiul  as  well.  It 
will  not  do  at  all  to  grade  honey  by  the  color  of 
the  box.  and  say  nothing  about  the  coloi- of  the 
honey.  I'.y  the  modern  system  of  mai'keting.  in 
which  orders  are  given  to  canvassing  grocers. 
and  goofis  delivered,  honey-boxes  are  not  usu- 
ally seen  l)y  the  consumer,  and  the  honey  itself 
not  seen  until  ufion  the  table.  This  fact  was 
taken  into  consideration  when  the  Albany 
<'ommittee  derided  that  a  box  of  honey,  very 
slightly  imperfect  on  one  side,  might  be  graded 
as '•fancy."  The  best  side  always  goes  uj)  on 
the  table,  when  in  appearance  and  otlier  (piali- 
ties  it  is  strictly  "  fancy."  In  the  first  l'hic;igo 
grade  all  cells  are  to  be  sealed,  including  the 
line  of  cells  touching  the  wood.  Now.  a  sec- 
tion is  just  as  fancy — just  as  good  in  every  way 
— if  these  cells  are  not  sealed.  The  honey  also 
carries  fully  as  well,  for  any   straining  of  the 


box  will  crack  the  sealing  of  thi>  line  of  cells, 
and  cause  il  to  leak  badly.  When  these  cells 
are  unsealed  the  bees  usually  remove  the  honey 
liefore  t.lie  sect  ion  is  remo\'ed  from  the  hive.  In 
I  heir  third  grade  go  such  sections  as  are  l«!ss 
than  three-fourths  filled  with  lioney.  and  these 
nuiy  be  partly  or  w  holly  inisealed  at  that.  Such 
sections  ougiil  to  be  lei'l  at  lutme.  as  the  gener- 
al marketing  of  these  can  not  fail  to  injuria  the 
market.  When  they  are  sliip|)e(l.  let  the  pro- 
ducer place  on  them  his  private  mark,  and  nev- 
er fonirt  to  add  his  full  luime  and  residence. 
The  same  may  lie  said  of  si'ctions  containing 
cliiniks  of  tiee-bread.  The  man  who  buys  one 
of  these  last  will  not  want  any  more  lioiu^y  for 
some  time. 

Three  grades  of  each  kind  of  honev  is  more 
tjuin  the  market  will  bear.  NVhiti-  clover,  al- 
sike.  alfalfa.  Iiasswood.  poplar,  sourwood,  lo- 
cust, blue  tlii>tle.  white  sage,  blue  sage,  su- 
mac, buckwheat,  goldenrod,  and  a  do/.en  other 
kinds  multiplied  by  three,  would  strike  terror 
to  the  heart  of  the  dealer.  Had  Mr.  Haldridge's 
complete  draft  been  adopted  it  would  have  re- 
duced the  qualities  to  ten  or  twelve,  and.  in 
justice  to  Mr.  1!..  ought  td  ha\c  been  done,  so  as 
to  have  nuide  sense  of  the  remaiiider. 

Some  of  our  committee  rather  favored  anoth- 
er grade  of  white  honey;  but  th(>  honey-mer- 
chants present  vigorously  protested  against 
having  so  many  grades,  as  it  would  only  bring 
confusion.  It  was  thought  by  the  majority 
that  light  honey  would  bring  more  in  two 
grades.  If  in  three  grades  the  first  (a  small 
(luantitv)  would  bring  more:  but.tbe  second  (a 
much  larger  {piantity)  would  bring  less,  as  it 
woiiUI  luit  be  as  nice.  p]ven  if  so  small  a  quan- 
tity were  taken  fi'om  it  as  to  make  no  [lercepti- 
ble  dinVrence  in  quality,  the  knowledge  that 
this  was  not  the  best  would  weaken  jirices.  The 
third  (or  mixedi  grade  will  take  all  honey  not 
light  enough  to  go  into  the  second  grade,  ex- 
cept buckwheat,  which,  as  before  stated,  must 
be  packed  by  itself. 

I  notice  that  our  secretary  (W.  Z.  H.)  says  in 
the  report,  that  "•  these  rules  were  not  the  sen- 
timent of  the  majority  of  the  members  of  the 
convention."  I  had  supposed  the  duties  of  the 
secretary  weri>  clerical,  and  that  any  opinions 
he  wished  to  have  appear  in  the  printed  report 
would  first  have  to  be  pronounced  before  the 
convention.  It  is  hariily  fair  that  a  state- 
ment of  this  kind  should  appear  in  our  an- 
nual report,  as  the  facts  in  the  case  will 
not  warrant  the  assertion.  A  large  part  of 
the  honey  sent  to  eastern  markets,  particularly 
to  New  York,  is  graded  l)y  substantially  these 
same  rules,  with  somewhat  different  letterings, 
and  they  are  the  result  of  many  years' experi- 
ence in  iiuirkeiing  honey.  The  unifnrtTi  satis- 
faction given  hy  this  system  of  grading  does 
not  make  it  perfect,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that, 
after  discussion  in  a  full  convention,  made  uf) 
so  largely  of  east<'rn  men.  the  report  would 
have  been  adopt<'il  with  no  radical  change. 

Starkville.  N.  Y.  1'.  H.  Ei.wood. 

7'o  }tc  ((illtilllicd. 

[!^'rhai)S  we  shall  have  to  own  up  that  we 
here  at  the  Home  of  the  Honey-bees  took  the 
original  drafts  of  the  comtnittee  on  grading  the 
Italian  bee.  and  sent  copies  of  the  same 
to  the  editors  of  the  Bcc  -  keeiierK'  Review 
and  Atnericnn  Bee  Jintrmd.  and  therefore  we 
shall  have  to  shoulder  the  inaccuracies  of  the, 
report  on  grading  and  accept  the  correction. 

Mr.  Elwdocfs  article  throws  much  light  upon 
the  Albany  grading:  and  as  h<'  explains  it  we 
have  bul'little  fault  to  find  with  it.  Unlike 
some  of  the  other  gradiiigs.  it  is  not  baM'd  upon 
theory,  hut  upon  fifteen  years"  experience,  of 
the  largest  bee-keepers   in   the  world,  together 


lod 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mak.  1. 


with  that  of  the  largest  honey-merchanls.  The 
fact  that  it  is  accepted  in  the  East,  and  been 
practically  in  vogue  all  these  tifteen  years,  is 
much  in  its  favor.  We  feel  compelled  to  ac- 
knowledge that  any  system  of  grading  that 
calls  for  a  large  variety  of  classes  will  fail  of 
adoption.  It  must  be  something  simple  and 
[jractical. 

Buckwheat  honey  is  not  called  an  inferior 
article  in  the  East.  As  we  have  before  stated, 
we  reiterate  again— there  are  thousands  of  con- 
sumers who  consider  this  the  only  nice  honey. 
Our  travels  and  sojourns  in  the  East  among  the 
consumers  and  bee-keepei's.  and  our  conversa- 
tions with  boarders  at  hotels,  pi'ove  this  beyond 
question.  It  is  a  mistake  to  place  other  dark 
lioneys  along  with  buckwheat;  and  any  at- 
tempt to  do  this  will  be  rejected  by  bee-keepei;s, 
honey-mei'chants,  and  consumers  in  the  East. 

In  the  West  there  are  several  tine  grades  of 
honey,  such  as  heart's-ease  and  fireweed  (or 
epilobium)  that  have  a  cream  color  of  capping, 
but  are  regarded  as  first-class  honey.  All  fine 
honeys  of  the  East  are  either  white  or  the  color 
of  buckwheat;  and  considering  th(>se  two  dif- 
ferences in  localities,  it  begins  to  seem  to  us 
now  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  adopt  one 
system  of  grading  that  would  be  accepted  by 
the  bee-keepers  of  both  East  and  West,  and 
therefore  two  systems  will  be  the  natural  result. 
There  is  nothing  impracticable  in  this;  for 
when  bee-keepers  wish  to  ?end  honey  to  a  dis- 
tant market,  they  can  say  that  their  honey  is 
gi'aded  either  by  the  Eastern  or  Westei'n  sched- 
ule and  the  b,uyer  can  consult  either  schedule, 
to  see  what  he  Is  buying,  or  about  to  buy,  and 
be  governed  accordingly.  We  know  that  rail- 
loads  make  a  distinction  as  to  locality,  and 
they  have  therefore  what  they  call  their  Eastern 
and  Western  classification  in  freight,  and  why 
not  two  schedules  for  honey  ? 

As  this  is  to  be  a  sort  of  symposium  on  grad- 
ing we  have  thought  best  to  reprint  the  sched- 
ule of  grading  recommended  by  J.  A.  Green,  as 
it  is  referred  to  several  times  by  Di'.  IMiller  in 
the  article  immediately  following.] 

EXTRA   SELECT. 

LiKlit  -  colored  lioiiey,  of  good  flavor;  combs 
straight,  well  built  out,  of  even  thickness,  and  near- 
ly uniform  weight,  attached  to  tlie  section  on  all 
sides;  hU  cells  sealed,  with  white  cappings,  and 
with  both  comb  and  sections  uusoiled  by  travel- 
stain  or  otherwise. 

"  A  "    GRADE. 

lyight  -  colored  honey,  of  good  flavor;  combs 
straight  and  well  built  out,  with  caiipiiigs  wliite.  or 
liut  sHglitly  unilier-eolored;  one  face  of  cacli  comb 
perffct  in  appearance,  fully  sealed,  e.\i-ept  the  line 
of  cells  toucliiiig  the  wood.  The  other  side  shall  lie 
I)erfect  in  color  and  sealing,  or  nearly  so,  and  sec- 
tion not  badly  soiled. 

"C"    GRADE. 

Honey  of  good  quality.  In  this  grade  shall  be 
placed  all  irregular  c-ombs,  or  those  cimtaining  pol- 
len, and  all  in  which  the  capping  is  dark  or  consid- 
erably soiled.  Sections  must  be  nearly  flUed,  with 
few  or  no  unsealed  cells. 

"m"   grade. 

la  this  grade  shall  be  placed  all  lioiiey  of  inferior 
quality,  all  combs  containing  much  pollen,  or  liadly 
travel-stained,  or  otherwise  objectionable.  Section's 
must  1)6  at  least  three-fourths  full,  with  one  side 
well  sealed. 


GRADING  HONEY. 


DR.  MILLEK  DISCl'SSKS  THE  DIFFEKENT  Gli.\l)ES. 


When  the  subject  of  grading  honey  came  up 
at  Chicago  I  felt  we  had  struck  a  topic  of  live 
interest;  and  although  the  system  there  adopt- 
ed did  not  seem  to  me  one  likely  to  go  into  gen- 
eral  use,  still  it  was  a  start:  and.  a  start  once 


made,  the  matter  was  not  likely  to  rest  until  it 
grew  into  what  was  good  and  practicable,  if 
such  a  conclusion  is  possible;  for  it  can  not  well 
be  denied  that  there  are  real  difficulties  to  over- 
come on  account  of  the  great  diversity  in  honey 
in  difterenl  parts  of  the  country;  In  proof  of 
the  difficulty  of  arriving  at  any  system  that 
shall  be  satisfactory  to  all.  it  is  only  necessary 
to  recall  the  action  at  Chicago:  and.  indeed,  I 
think,  from  the  report,  that  much  the  same 
thing  was  repeated  at  Albany.  At  Chicago  an 
intelligent  and  honest  committee  utteiiy  failed 
to  come  to  any  satisfactory  agreement,  although 
continued  from  session  to  session.  Then  in 
general  session  an  agreement  was  reached  only 
by  each  one  being  willing  to  yield  much,  with 
the  feeling  that  any  thing  was  better  than  not 
to  make  a  start  at  all. 

I  suspect  that  any  thing  like  a  satisfactory 
system  will  be  reached,  if  reached  at  all.  only 
by  a  great  deal  of  discussion:  and  it  will  be 
well  that  such  discussion  go  on  now  without 
waiting  for  any  convention  to  meet  next  fall  or 
winter.  So  far,  I  think  good  has  been  done. 
We  have  now  the  Chicago  system,  the  .Albany 
system,  and  that  of  J.  A.  Green,  each  one  im- 
proving, at  least  in  some  respects,  on  what  had 
gone  before. 

Now,  I  suppose  you  will  be  asking  tue  what 
my  system  is.  Frankly,  I  haven't  any.  Dr. 
Mason  reported  at  Chicago  that  no  two  of  the 
committee  could  agree.  1  believe  that  it  was 
admitted  that  one  meiuber  of  the  committee 
had  no  difficulty  in  coming  to  an  agreement  but 
for  the  stubbornness  of  the  other  five.  Well, 
Tm  worse  than  the  Chicago  committee,  for  I 
can't  even  agree  with  myself.  But  it  may  do 
some  good  to  examine  somewhat  the  merits  and 
demerits  of  the  two  later  systems.  You  know  it 
is  a  good  deal  easier  to  talk  about  what  others 
have  done  than  to  say  what  ought  to  be  done 
yourself. 

Flavor  is  not  mentioned  in  the  Albany  grad- 
ing; but  Mr.  Green  requires  good  flavor  in  his 
two  highest  grades.  I  suppose,  although  I  do 
not  know,  that  the  same  is  required  in  the  third 
(or  C)  grade,  as  it  says,  "  Honey  of  good  quali- 
ty." Indeed,  if  there  is  any  difference  Mr. 
Green's  C  grade  must  be  better  in  quality  than 
the  previous  grades,  for  we  can  hardly  have 
"good  quality""  without  "good  flavor."  al- 
though we  might  have  good  flavor  without 
good  quality  if  the  honey  were  too  thin. 

Friend  Green  says,  "It  is  undesirable*  that  the 
selling  value  of  comb  honey  depends  more  upon 
its  appearance  than  any  other  one  quality.""' 
Entirely  right.  Almost  any  bee-keeper,  for  his 
own  eating,  would  prefer  a  honey  of  best  flavor, 
and  rich  in  texture,  even  if  the  cappings  were 
qtiite  dark,  to  one  of  poorer  flavor.  Years  ago 
I  undertook  the  education  of  a  grocer  in  Chica- 
go. He  said  his  customers  wanted  very  white 
combs.  I  told  hiiu  that  honey  was  better  to  be 
left  in  the  hives  till  the  bees  had  thoroughly 
ripened  it.  and  the  darker  shadt-  of  the  comb 
was  only  a  proof  that  tho  honey  inside  was  bet- 
ter. I  continued  for  some  time  to  leave  the 
combs  on  the  hive,  to  be  more  fully  ripened, 
determined  that  his  customers  should  have 
what  I  knew  was  the  best,  and  he  continued  to 
buy  of  somebody  else.  I  have  concluded  that 
education  in  that  line  is  a  matter  of  very  slow 
growth,  and  that  it  must  be  left  prettv  much  to 
itself. 

Sometimes  we  must  deal  with  what  l-s,  rather 
than  with  what  (intjht  Ui  he.  However  undesir- 
able it  may  be  "that  the  selling  value  of  comb 
honey  depend  more  upon  its  appearance  than 
upon   any  other  quality,"  I  think  the  simple 

*Mr.  Green  wrote  indigputnble.  "  undesirable  "  be- 
ing a  typographical  error.    See  last  issue. — Ed. 


l"^'.l'.' 


(U.KAXIXCS  IN   nVA<:  ClM/rilRK. 


l.V 


fan  miiaiiis  thai  it  il'ifs  do  tluil  very  thiiiK: 
and  in  any  attiMnpt  lo  I'stablisli  a  system  of 
pra<1in»r.  it  will  not  do  to  leave  out  of  eonsidei'- 
ation  tlie  demands  of  i-iislomei's.  The  day  may 
come  «  Inn  aiipeiiianee  will  he  of  less  eonse- 
queiK'c  than  llaxor;  and  when  it  does  einne. 
pradJMK  must  he  rhanijed  to  meet  changed 
conditions.  At  present  the  consumer  do(>s  not 
asli  any  thin;;  fni'thef  tiian  as  to  the  appntr- 
•/jjrt'of  the  article;  and.  w  luMher  we  liUe  it  or 
not.  we  must  pay  some  at  ten  lion  to  his  demands. 

It  is  possible,  however,  that,  the  {traders  a1. 
Alliany  did  not  alloixether  ijjnore  t  h(>  nutttcr  of 
flavor,  hut  i-onsidereii  that  there  was  no  iioney 
of  iifjlit  color  delicient  in  flavor.  There  is  a 
difTi'rence  in  the  flavor  of  white  honeys:  hut.  if 
I  am  not  mistaken,  any  of  it  is  good  enough  in 
flavor  to  l«^  taU'en  by  tlie  consumer  at  tiie  liigli- 
esl  piice.  providing  it  is  all  right  in  looks. 

Slraight  eoml)S  are  demanded  in  fricmd 
Green's  two  best  grades,  but  nothing  was  said 
about  sti'aight  combs  at  .Mbany.  The  less  cum- 
bfM'some  the  wording  in  <lescriliing  a  grade  tiie 
better,  providing  nothing  essential  is  omitted: 
ami  it  is  a  question  w  hether  one  .s<'ction  could 
he  found  in  a  thousand  which  would  be  crooked 
enoush  to  throw  it  out  of  a  grade,  if  it  were  all 
rigiit  in  other  res|)(>cts.  Possibly  there  may  i)e 
something  in  this  that  I  either  do  not  now  think 
of  or  do  not  know  about :  but  just  as  it  appears 
to  me  at  present,  it  s<'enis  hardly  necessary  to 
demand  straight  combs.  (Jreen's  A  grade  de- 
mands white  cai)pings;  but  that  is  evidently 
meant  for  o\w  sid(\  as  afterward  one  side  is 
allowed  to  be  "nearly  p<'rfect  in  color."  The 
Albany  .\  grade  says  nothing  about  white  cap- 
pings:  hut  as  perfect  color  is  demanded,  I  sup- 
pose it  amounts  to  the  same. 

There  are  other  points  worthy  of  notice,  but  I 
ntust  defer  mention  till  next  issue. 

Marengo.  111.  C.  ('.  Mili.kh. 

[If  we  understand  Dr.  Miller  correctly,  he 
rather  leans  toward  the  Alljany  grading,  and 
will  probably  do  so  more  yet  after  reading  Mr. 
Elwood's  article.) 


GRADING  COMB  HONEY. 


CIIICAGO     6KAIHX«i     .\ND     .MI.SS 
CKITICT.SM    Ci:iTICISF,I). 


In  ( Jr.KAXi.vos  for  Dec.  1.5.  1891.  Miss  Emma 
Wilsr)!!  writes  about  some  of  the  woik  done  at 
the  Chicago  convention,  and  attemi)ts  to  give 
from  memory  the  instructions  for  grading  comb 
honey,  as  adopted  by  the  convention,  and  then 
criticises  thr'  same.  That  any  one  should  at- 
tempt to  give  such  instructions  from  memory, 
was  and  is  a  gri-at  siu-prise  to  me.  and  especial- 
ly when  the  aitparent  [jurpose  was  for  passing 
criticisms  upon  them.  As  might  have  been 
expected,  the  instructions  as  adopted  by  the 
eonvi'Ution  are  not.  in  some  impoi'tant  respects, 
the  instructions  as  given  fiom  memory  by  Miss 
Wilson:  and  as  they  have  become  ijulilic"  prop- 
erty, and  are  to  he  "  picked  to  pieces."  it  seems 
to  me  that  (Jr.ioANTXOs  ought  to  find  room  to 
give  them  precisely  as  adopted,  so  that  all  of  its 
readers  may  see  for  themselves  what  they  are. 
I  expected  (ii-KANixos  would  have  done  so 
before  this,  or  I  should  have  made  this  request 
some  time  ago. 

Miss  Wilson  .says  that  the  instructions  for 
both  the  first  grade  and  s(?cond  grade  require 
that  each  section  shall  be  "perfectly  filled :'" 
whereas  the  words  •'well  filled "  are  used  in- 
stead in  the  rules  adopted,  which  makes  quite 
a  difference.  She  says  each  section  in  the  .sec- 
ond grade  may  have"  as  many  as  three  cells  of 
pollen,   whereas  the   word   "pollen"  or  "bee- 


bread '"  does  not  appear  In  any  of  thi- instruc- 
tions adopted.  This  was  oiK^  of  the  essentials 
that  should  havi'  been  attended  to.  as  wcdl  as 
both  combs  and  wood  l)eing  .s7/f//it?j/  soihid  by 
Ira\'el-siain.  propolis,  or  oiherwise.  Personally 
I  should  not  ol),ject,  to  these  modi  Meat  ions  l)eing 
incorporated  in  the  rules  for  the  second  grade; 
still.  I  dini't  l)eliev(!  it  is  for  the  best,  that  any 
bee-keeper  be  encouraged  to  produci^  comb 
honey  with  moic  or  less  pollen  in  it,  nor  to  have 
the  comb  and  wood  soiled  even  slightly  by 
Iravel-stain  or  ol  herwise. 

Miss  Wilson  says  there  wei'e  <juil<'  a  number 
at  the  convention  who  thought  tlnn'e  would  in 
future  be  very  little  lirsl-grade  honey  put  upon 
the  market  under  thr-  instructions.  On  the  con- 
trary. I  think'  there  will  be  enough  to  supply 
the  demand  at  a  fancy  price,  and  a  gri-at  deal 
more  than  may  hv.  anticipated.  And  why? 
Hecause  it  will  in  future  pay  to  producer  first- 
grade  comb  honey.  There  are  always  plenty 
who  are  able  to  supply  the  demand  for  any 
commodity  w  henever  it  jiays  to  do  so. 

The  fo/(u' of  comb  honey  seems  to  give  some 
bee-keepei's  a  deal  of  trouble.  Th(^y  seem  to 
think  that  only  white  honey  should  Ik^  first- 
class,  whereas  colorshonld  iioi.  aside  from  being 
unifoi'm,  l)(;  considered  at  all.  And  why?  ]}e- 
caus(^  some  consumers  prefer  dark  honey  to 
white,  without  regard  to  price,  when  of  the 
same  grade.  Now,  this  is  not  guesswork  by  any 
means.  Iteing  almost  constantly  in  the  honey- 
trade,  and  dealing  diiectly  with  consumers.  I 
know  that  what  I  have  stated  is  true.  The  col- 
or of  honey  may  be  designated  as  white,  dark, 
and  medium.  I  se(^  no  reason  why  theie  should 
be  more  colors  designated.  This  being  the  case, 
there  will  be  only  three  colors  to  mention,  or  to 
be  kept  in  view,  for  each  grade. 

Miss  Wilson  says;  "Suppose  you  receive  an 
order  lor  a  lot  of  lirst-class  honey,  and  you  send 
buckwheat  honey,  do  you  suppose  the  party 
will  be  satislied?"  If  this  party  orders  first- 
grade  daik  honey,  he  or  she  will,  in  that  case, 
have  no  just  cause  for  complaint.  No  one 
would  or  should  ship  buckwheat  or  any  otlier 
dark  honey  to  a  party  who  orders  white  honey. 
Really.  1  see  no  trouljle  in  the  direction  indicat- 
ed. M.  M.  Baldkidok. 

St.  Charles,  111.,  Feb.  4. 

[We  should  have  published  the  Chicago  grad- 
ing befote.  but  overloolvcd  it,  and  therefore  take 
pleasure  in  giving  it  to  our  readers  now,  more 
particularly  as  some  of  its  features  have  been 
criticised  by  Mr.  Elwood. 

FIRST  (JKADE. 

All  sections  to  lie  well  tilled;  coimIjs  striiig-lit.  of 
even  thiclsness,  and  firmly  attached  to  all  four  sides; 
l)oth  wood  and  coml)  to  Ix;  un.soilcd  by  travel-stain 
or  otlierwlse;  all  the  cells  sealed,  and  tlie  hnnoy  of 
uniform  color. 

SECOND  GRADE. 

All  sections  well  filled,  t)ut  with  coml)s  uneven  oi- 
croolced,  detached  at  the  bottom,  or  witli  but  few 
cells  unsealed;  both  wood  and  comb  un.soiled  by 
travel-stain,  or  otherwise,  and  the  lionej'of  unil'ortn 
color. 

THIRD  (iRADE. 

Sections  with  wood  or  coniljoi-ljoth.  travel-stained 
or  otherwise  much  soiled,  and  such  as  are  less  than 
three- fourths  tilled  with  honey,  whether  sealed  or 
unsealed;  and  crates  coiitaininf»-  two  or  more  colors. 

Tli(>  Society  voted  to  adopt  the  forefjroinfr  rules  as 
a  whole,  and  to  request  the  Secretary  to  i^resent 
tliemtothe  North  American  Bee-keepers' Associa- 
tion, at  its  next  meelinj.'',  at  Albany,  for  (;on.sidera- 
tion,  i-evision,  and  adoption. 

Following  the  above  rules,  Mr.  Baldridge  had  a 
note,  whii-li  read  as  ffillows: 

Nntr,  —The  color  of  the  Iioney  to  l)e  known  as 
lifrht.  medium,  and  dark;  the  crates  to  be  unsoiled; 
l^ut  if  otherwise,  the  honey  in  such  crates  to  be 
classed  in  the  next  grade  below  tlie  one  indicated  in 
the  instructions. 


158 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mau.  1. 


FOUKTH   GKAUE. 

All  crates  tilled  with  lioney  ni)t  described  in  anj" 
of  the  foieg-oing- grades. 

While  the  Cliicago  committer'  agreed  to  disa- 
gi'ee.  it  should  h(>  observed  that  tlie  committee 
on  grading  ai  Albany  agreed  to  a  unit,  and 
that  the  schedule,  when  pi-eseuted  in  conven- 
tion, was  adopted  as  a  whole.  In  all  these  dis- 
cussions we  must  not  forget  the  beaiingof  local- 
ity, and  its  relation  to  the  markets.] 


A.  E.  MANTJM  AND  HIS  NEIGHBOR. 


HOAV   HE    SUCC?;EDED    in    MAXAGIXG   FIVE   API- 
ARIES ALONE. 

A  ring  of  the  bell  brings  Mrs.  M.  to  the  door. 

"  Good- morning,  Mrs.  Manum:  is  Mr.  M.  at 
home  '?" 

"Yes.  sir.     Will  you  walk  in,  Mr.  McGee?" 

"Hello,  Manum  I  what  is  the  matter  with 
you  ?  Have  you  got  the  blues,  or  are  you  study- 
ing up  some  new  invention?  You  seem  to  be 
in  such  deep  meditation  that  I  know  there  is  a 
cause  for  it.  I  am  sure  something  useful  to 
bee-keepers  or  to  farmers  will  come  out  of  this 
deep  study.    I  hope  I  am  not  intruding." 


MANIM    ME1)[TATIX(;. 

"OhI  no,  Charles — no  Intrusion  whatever.  I 
am  only  too  glad  to  see  you.  And  right  now  I 
ought  to  give  you  a  Scotch  blessing  for  not  be- 
ing more  neighborly.  But  I  suppose  you  are 
very  busy,  like  the  rest  of  us.  preparing  for  an- 
other season's  campaign." 

"  Yes,  Mannni.  I  am  doing  a  little  in  that  line, 
though  I  am  not  driving  business  as  yet." 

"  Well,  neither  am  I,  as  I  do  not  expect  the 
coming  season  to  be  a  very  good  one  for  honey, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  it  is  the  off  year  for  bass- 
wood;  and  the  open  winter  we  are  liaving  I 
fear  will   injure  the  clovers.    However,  I  am 


putting  up  20,000  sections  so  as  to  be  ready  to 
catch  whatever  may  come." 

"  What  effect  do  you  think  the  ice-.^torm  we 
have  just  had  will  have  on  the  honey  crop?" 

"Well,  Charles.  I  fear  the  terrible  "sleet,  with 
which  the  trees  are  still  loaded,  will  cause 
much  damage  to  the  fi'uit-buds  as  well  as  rasp- 
berries and  other  shrubs,  which  I  fear  will  les- 
sen the  bloom  another  year  at  least  a  half: 
hence  we  can  expect  but  very  little  if  any  sur- 
plus next  season.  But  notwithstanding  the 
outlook  is  unfavoi-able,  I  propose  to  be  ready  to 
take  a  fair  crop  of  honey." 

"  You  finally  did  not  attend  the  North  Ameri- 
can convention  at  Albany,  as  you  intended,  did 
you,  Manum  ?" 

"  No,  Charles;  owing  to  sickness  and  company 
T  was  obliged  to  remain  at  home,  much  to  my 
legret.  and  I  think  it  a  shame  that  more  of  our 
Vermont  bee-keepers  did  not  attend.  Really.  I 
thought  a  goodly  number  would  be  in  atten- 
dance. But  we  must  all  make  up  our  minds  to 
meet  in  Washington  next  fall." 

"  Now.  Manum.  what  were  you  meditating 
upon  when  I  came  in?" 

"Well.  Charles.  I  will  tell  you.  Within  the 
last  two  months  I  have  received  a  number  of 
letters  from  b(>e-keepers.  asl^ing  me  to  give 
them  my  methods,  in  detail,  of  management  the 
past  season,  without  help:  and  not  a  few  have 
requested  that  I  give  it  in  book  form:  therefore, 
as  you  came  in  I  was  thinking  the  matter  over, 
whetiier  it  would  be  advisable  for  me  to  do  so 
or  not.  There  are  so  many  bee- books  befoi'e 
the  public  already  that  I  rather  liesitate  about 
making  the  attempt.  And.  again,  I  can  not 
w  rite  out  my  method  of  management  foi'  tln^ 
season  through  to  each  sepaiati'  individual  who 
asks  for  it,  as  I  have  something  else  to  do  be- 
sides writing;  and  were  I  to  do  so  it  would  take 
all  mv  time." 

■■  Well.  Manum.  what  are  your  conclusions 
regarding  the  book,  and  why  don't  you  give 
your  methods  in  Gleanings?" 

■•  There  it  is.  Charles— that  is  just  what  I  was 
meditating  upon.  On  the  one  hand,  were  I  to 
attempt  to  give  my  methods  in  Gleanings  I 
fear  the  editor  would  cut  it  down  so  much  that 
It  would  spoil  the  whole  thing — or.  at  least,  its 
usefulness — for  the  reason  that  thei'e  are  so 
imtjnj  little  things  that  are  worthy  of  mention. 
and,  in  fact,  so  very  tieecssin-y  to  the  successful 
mainigement  of  out-apiaries — without  help — 
that,  to  leave  them  out.  would  spoil  all;  and  to 
publish  (tU  as  I  should  wish  to  give  it.  I  fear, 
would  discourage  if  not  disgust  the  editor.  And. 
again,  were  I  to  give  my  methods  in  book  form 
I  in  cheap  pamphlet  form)  I  fear  the  expense 
wtRild  be  much  more  than  the  receipts:  and. 
furthermore.  I  am  hardly  prepared  to  publish  a 
book,  as  I  am  conducting  some  experiments 
which  will  require  another  season  to  develop: 
and  if  these  experiments  prove  satisfactory,  as 
1  hope  they  will.  I  shall  want  to  incorporate 
them  in  whatever  I  might  give  tt)  the  public. 
Hence  I  have  concluded  to  defer  the  book  busi- 
ness until  another  year  at  least,  and  in  the 
mean  time  give  a  synopsis  of  my  method,  in 
Gleanings.'' 

••  I  have  wanted  for  a  long  titnetoask  you. 
Manum,  how  you  succeeded  last  season  in 
managing  five  apijiries  alone;  and  wliether  re- 
moving the  queens  before  swarming  was  a  suc- 
cess, and  just  how  you  did  it." 

••  Well,  there  it  is.  Charles.  Like  all  the  oth- 
ers you  want  me  to  give  you  the  whole  method 
of  management  from  May  to  September;  and 
were  I  to  do  so  in  detail  it  would  take  all  day, 
and  may  be  all  night,  and  then  you  would  not 
i'emember  a  half  I  would  tell  you,  especially 
some  of  the  tine  points  tliat  would  seem  of  no 
great    consequence,   but  which    are  really   of 


ISifJ 


(JLKAMXiiS  IN    UHK  (  I'l/mnO. 


150 


KH'al  iinpnit;iiicc.  I  will,  luiwcvcr,  answer 
ytinr  (jin'stidiis  in  pail.  and  will  from  time  to 
iiini'  irivf  yon  nunc.  I'Mi'st.  von  asl<  how  I  sm-- 
ft'ctifii  in  my  miinaiicnifni  of  several  apiaries 
alone.  I  answer,  t liat  the  aitempl  was  a  suc- 
cess. Ihonjih  but  liltle  llesh  icmaiin'd  on  niy 
bones  ai  the  close  of  the  season,  lint  I  am 
pleased  to  say  that  I  have  rejrained  •.'()  jhs.  of 
the  lost  llesh.  l''rom  the  live  apiaries  I  secured 
7  tons  of  coinl)  honey  in  sei-tions.  and  l'.'(H)  ll)s. 
of  extracti'd.  'I'his  w  as  all  sei-nreil  and  lianh^d 
home  wiihimt  helj),  lu'sjdes  cabins  and  mailiiiK 
■.'S'J  queens,  and  writing-  well.  I  don't  Unow 
how  many  lett<>rs.  From  these  live  apiaries 
the  queens  were  removed  as  soon  as  esrgs  were 
found  in  queen-cells,  and  in  from  I'J  to  IS  days 
virjjin  (pieens  were  Efiven  iliese  (pieenless  colo- 
nies. This  I  do  by  running  them  in  the  sec- 
tions that  are  usually  on  at  this  season.  I  will 
give  yon  mor(>  when  yon  call  aj^ain.  (Jood- 
ilav."  "  A.  E.  Mamm. 

IJristol.  Vt..  Feb.  l.'i 

{To  he  continued.) 

[We  are  very  glad  that  our  correspondent  has 
resumed  the  iise  of  his  pen  again,  and  w(^  hope 
he  will  not  wast(»  any  time  in  the  book-business. 
That  department  of  bee-literature  is  already 
overdone.  He  will  reach  a,  far  greater  number 
of  readiM's  through  the  bee-periodicals,  and  we 
trust  he  will  favor  us  with  the  items  of  his  ex- 
perience during  the  jjast  summer.  Detailsl 
these  are  just  the  very  things  be '-keepers  are 
clamoring  for.  Too  much  of  our  beo-literature 
is  made  up  of  g(>neralities.  We  once  said  to  Dr. 
Miller  thai  one  valuable  feature  of  his  "  Year 
.\mong  the  Hees"  was  that  he  told  all  about  the 
liiUc  thinijs  that  are  so  necessary  to  know.  We 
are  not  at  all  afraid  that  our  busy  friend  Mi-. 
Manum  will  give  too  many  details— the  more 
the  better.  Now.  instead  of  writing  iiersonal 
letters  to  so  many  individuals  we  trust  he  will 
tell  his  experience  through  the  columns  of 
Gle.\n'ixos.  and  thus  save  himself  a  great  deal 
of  time,  and  do  a  vast  amount  of  good  besides.] 


A  BOUNTY  NOT  DESIRABLE. 

ANOTHEK   PHASE   OF   THE   SI  BJE(  T. 

As  the  discussion  of  "  bounty  or  no  bounty"" 
is  ou.  allow  me  to  say  just  a  few  words  on  the 
negative  side  of  the  question.  It  seems  there 
are  three  points  to  consider:  First,  if  the  gov- 
ernment gives  a  bounty  on  sugar,  shonid  we 
not  also  have  a  bounty  on  honey?  Most  as- 
suredly we  ought:  for  any  one  who  has  studied 
the  sui)ject  at  all  knows  that  sugar  does  com- 
pete with  honey  to  HO)nc  extent.  Second,  is  it 
right  and  projx'r  for  the  government  to  give  a 
V)ounty  on  sugar,  honey,  or  any  thing  els<;?  I 
say  no.  The  functions  of  government  do  not 
include  the  right  to  tax  the  great  mass  of  its 
citizens  for  the  benelit  of  a  favored  few.  The 
principle  underlying  tin;  whoh;  system  of  boun- 
ties is  wrong  in  the  alistract. 

Dr.  .Miller  argues,  with  I 'ope.  that "' whatever 
is.  is  riglit.""  To  many  persons  this  kind  of 
reasoning  savors  strongly  of  that  of  the  Middle 
Ages,  when  monarchs  claimed  that  every  thing 
tliey  did  was  right  because  a  king  i-onl'dn't  do 
wrong,  evr-n  if  he  tried.  Again.  Dr.  .M.  says  lie 
isn't  politician  enough  to  know  whether  the 
giving  of  the  sugar  bounty  was  a  righteous  act 
or  not.  riease  ask  him  if  he  has  forgotten  that, 
"for  an  intelligent  and  studious  people,  a  re- 
publican form  of  government  is  the  best  in  the 
world:  for  an  ignyrant  or  indifferent,  the 
woist:""  and  "it  is  the  first  duty  of  every  Amer- 
ican citizen  to  study  and  understand  economic 
government. 


Lastly,  is  the  bounty  on  honey  desirable  if 
light  ■.'  I  don't  believe  it  is,  because,  though  it^ 
would  pill  some  extra  money  into  the  bee-keejj- 
I'l's"  pockets  at  lirst.  within  a  few  years  a  niiilti- 
liide  of  honey-producers  would  ari.se  and  over- 
stock the  market,  causing  the  bottom  to  drop 
out  of  already  low  prices.        R.  ('.  Ewi.vci,  .Jit. 

Libertv.  Mo..  I'"eb.  10. 


BOUNTY  ON  HONEY. 


XOT    DESIH.^ni.K    IK    .\or    KltillT. 


in  discussing  this  question  on  page  so.  Dr. 
Miller"s  logic  all  rests  on  a  good  many  iffi:  and 
if  the  lirst  if  is  displaced,  his  whole  fabric  of 
logic  comes  tumbling  to  the  ground,  as  others 
of  like  character  do.  Tlie  fact  that  we  have  a 
law  that  (jives  two  cent,s  a  pound  to  tlios(!  who 
make  .■)()()  pounds  of  sugar  or  over,  does  not 
prov<'  that  the  law  is  right.  But  I  suppose  that 
Dr.  Miller  could  give  no  other  r"'0()f  of  its  jus- 
tice excejit  that  "  whatever  is.  is  right.'"  The 
righteousness  of  it  hds  lieen  (luestioned.  |  do 
not  believe  that  our  law-making  power  has  yet 
advanced  so  far  that  it  is  infalliiile.  I  know  that 
it  once  authorized  and  protected  slavery.  I 
know  that  it  has  legalized,  and  in  some  places 
does  now  legalize,  gambling:  and  I  know  that 
it  does  to-day.  in  the  gn^ater  portion  of  our 
country,  and  in  every  Christian  nati(m,  legalize 
and  take  its  shaie  of  the  piotits  in  that  crown- 
ing shame  of  civilization,  the  drink -traffic. 
Therefore  the  simple  fact  that  a  law. has  been 
enacted  is  not  conclusive  evidence  that  the 
principle  recognized  by  it  is  just.  But  we  are 
not  left  in  uncertainty  on  the  point  under  dis- 
cussion by  the  courts,  for  we  have  many  deci- 
sions by  them,  and,  so  far  as  I  know,  they  are 
all  to  the  effect  that  taxation  for  the  purjiose  of 
giving  bounties  (excepting  bounties  for  ilu'  de- 
struction of  wild  and  ferocious  animals,  and 
mischievous  vermin,  and  the  like)  is  not  legiti- 
mate, and  soiue  of  them  characterize  it  as  rob- 
bery. The  State  of  Pennsylvania  (and  probably 
others)  has  prohibited  it  in  its  constitution": 
and  no  town,  village,  or  city,  can  l(>gally  levy  a 
tax  to  give  a  bounty  to  any  individual  or  cor- 
poration for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  or  car- 
rying on  any  kind  of  manufactming  or  other 
business.  The  principle  is  plain  and  simple,  as 
laid  down  by  the  courts,  that  the  goveinmewit 
can  not  take  /»y  money  by  taxation,  and  cjive 
to  some  one  else.  It  can  tax  me  for  the  neces- 
sary expenses  of  the  governnient  only. 

Now,  it  is  a  fact  that  two  wrongs  can  not 
make  one  right:  and  if  a  bounty  on  sugar  is 
wi;ong  in  principle,  and  results  "in  a  special 
injury  to  the  lioney-prodiicer  by  com|)etiIiou 
(which  it  does  not),  it  will  not  make  it  right  to 
I'liact  another  law  on  a  wrong  pi'inciijle  by  pay- 
ing a  bounty  on  honey.  But  the  only  wav  to 
make  it  right  would  be  to  undo  the  lirst  wrong 
by  repealing  the  sugar  bounty.  But  is  it  the 
bounty  ou  sugar  that  makes  it  cheap?  I  think 
not.  It  v'dff  t((hin(i  off  tlie  tariff.  On  any  arti- 
cle that  we  do  not  produce  enough  of,  for  hoiue 
consumi)tion,  a  duty  \\ill  inevitably  increase 
the  pi'ice.  and  the  removal  of  it  will  reduce  the 
price,  as  is  proved  by  the  removal  of  tln^  duty 
on  sugar:  and  the  bounty  has  no  efTect  what- 
ever. exce[)t  to  stimulate  home  production. 

I  have  dwelt  entirely  on  the  (piestion  of  the 
justice  of  the  proposed  law,  because  I  think, 
with  Dr.  Miller,  that,  if  it  is  not  right,  it  is  not 
desirable;  and  the  only  thing  in  the  article  of 
('.  F.  Thomas  that  I  can  not  indorse  is  the  in- 
timation that,  although  he  would  consider  a 
bounty  on  honey  a  fraud  on  soinehody,  yet.  as  it 
would  benelit  liiin,  he  would  not  object  very 
strongly  to  it  for  that  reason.     Let    us   be  just 


160 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mai;.  1. 


as  willing  to  do  justice  to  others  as  we  are  to 
have  justice  done  ourselves,  and  then  we  shall 
have  that  most  satisfying  of  all  things,  a  clear 
conscience.  Volney  Whitk. 

Findlev's  Lake.  N.  Y.,  Feb.  10. 


QUEENS  BY  MAIL  TO  AUSTRALIA,  11.500 
MILES  AWAY. 


A   BIT   OF    IIISrORV. 

Perhaps  the  readers  of  Gleanings  would  be 
interested  in  a  brief  history  of  mailing  (lueens. 
before  any  thing  is  said  regarding  the  title  of 
this  article.  The  first  queen  ever  sent  by  mail 
was  sent  out  by  C.  J.  Robinson,  of  New  York.  I 
believe,  he  sending  the  same  to  Rev.  L.  L. 
Langstroth  in  the  early  sixties.  Froiu  this 
sprang  the  sending  of  queens  through  the  mail, 
although  most  queens  were  sent  by  express 
previous  to  the  seventies.  About  ISTo.  mailing 
queens  became  quite  common:  but  for  them  to 
reach  their  destination  in  good  order,  at  that 
time,  where  shipped  more  than  lOOu  miles,  was 
the  exception  rather  than  the  rule.  During 
the  early  eighties  this  part  of  our  business  had 
so  advanced  that  nearly  all  were  successrul  in 
sending  queens  to  all  but  the  more  remote  parts 
of  the  United  States  and  Canada.  At  that  time 
I  had  no  trouble  in  having  nearly  every  queen 
go  alive,  except  when  sent  to  the  more  remote 
parts  of  Texas.  California.  Oregon,  and  the 
Northwest  Territory  of  Canada.  I  can  well 
remember  the  losses  we  had  in  trying  for  tliesc 
places,  especially  in  Southern  Texas,  where  the 
queens  had  to  endure  fi'om  two  to  six  days  of 
staging  in  the  hot  sun,  confined  in  a  close  mail- 
bag,  on  the  last  end  of  the  route,  when  their 
vitality  was  W(>ll-nigh  exhausted  by  the  rough 
usage  they  must  previously  endure.  I  also 
remember  what  a  feeling  of  relief  came  ovcm- 
me  when,  through  the  Good  candy  and  a  modi- 
fication of  our  cages.  I  had  no  longei'  any  trou- 
ble in  having  (lueens  ri'acli  these  moi'e  remott^ 
parts  in  safety.  Having  accomplished  this  I 
next  tried  sending  a  queen  across  the  Atlantic 
Ocean,  to  Scotland,  a  distance  of  about  H.")()l) 
miles,  which  went  safely.  This  was  in  August, 
1883,  an  account  of  which  will  be  found  on  page 
599  of  Gleanings  for  that  year.  Mr.  Cameron, 
to  whom  this  queen  was  sent,  thought  this  was 
th(^  first  queen  that  ever  crossed  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  by  mail,  and  so  wrote;  but  I  believe  later 
facts  reveal  that  the  honor  of  sending  the  first 
queen  across  the  ocean  belongs  to  Frank  Ben- 
ton, he  sending  them  from  the  Old  World  over 
here.  Since  188.3  I  iiave  sent  several  queens  to 
the  British  Isles  and  the  West  Indies,  having 
little  more  trouble  in  sending  to  these  countries 
than  in  sending  to  the  more  remote  parts  of  our 
own  country.  In  August,  1884. 1  mailed  a  queen 
to  New  Zealand,  the  same  reaching  there  just 
alive,  as  is  given  on  page  :24  of  Gleanings"  for 
188.">.  The  next  trial  proved  a  failure,  as  this 
last  queen  was  7r.'  days  oi  route,  I  knowing 
nothing  at  that  time  regarding  the  running 
time  of  the  steamers  which  ply  between  here 
and  that  country.  After  1885  I  made  no  effort 
to  mail  queens  a  greater  distance  than  4000 
miles,  till  the  present  season,  during  which  I 
have  mailed  1,')  to  Australia. 

HOW   SEND? 

By  "how  send?"  I  mean,  shall  tliey  go  hy 
letter  postage,  or  what  is  termed  first-class  nuit- 
tei-,  when  sending  queens  to  foreign  countries, 
or  shall  they  go  as  samples  of  merclKiu(lis(>.  or 
by  sample  iM)st?  Page  7".'  of  Gi,i;ANiN(is  for 
1891.  and  also  page  970,  tells  us  to  put  on  letter 
postage  when  sending  queens  to  New  Zealand 
or  Australia,  or.  in  other  words,  send   them  as 


first-class  matter.  If  friend  Root  will  read  his 
third  paragraph  in  second  column  on  page  72 
(that  part  of  it  which  is  taken  from  the  Postal 
Guide)  over  again  I  think  he  will  see  that  he 
made  a  mistake.  As  I  read  the  Postal  Guide 
and  also  his  quotation,  to  all  the  countries 
mentioned  pi'evious  to  Australia,  queens  go  as 
samples  of  merchandise,  or  as  fourth-class  mat- 
tei'.  hence  are  not  subject  to  letter  postage, 
which  he  says  we  should  put  on.  Wherever  I 
speak  of  the  Postal  Guide  in  this  article  I  mean 
the  January  edition.  1891,  as.  so  far,  the  edition 
for  1892  has  not  reached  us.  Australia  has 
since  then  gone  into  the  Universal  Postal 
Union,  which  affects  the  postage  on  letters  to 
that  country:  but,  if  I  am  right,  the  postage  on 
samples  of  merchandise  remains  unchanged. 
Page  849  of  the  Guide,  in  speaking  of  proliit)ited 
articles,  to  (tU  foreign  countries,  mentions  in 
the  list  ■■  live  or  dead  animals  or  insects."  which, 
of  course,  includes  bees.  But  to  this  there  are 
certain  exceptions,  and  one  of  these  exceptions 
is  the  one  alluded  to  by  friend  Root  on  page  72, 
wher<^  (jueen-bees  can  be  sent  to  certain  coun- 
tries in  cages  .5x2xl>2  inches.  I  also  note  that 
"other  articles  *  *  *  may  be  transmitted  in 
the  mails  to  foreign  countries  *  *  *  and  ex- 
changeable in  the  mails  with  said  countries 
when  inclosed  in  the  form  prescribed  for  such 
articles  in  domestic  mails."  Now.  as  queen- 
bees  can  go  to  the  Hawaiian  Kingdom  (Sand- 
wich Islands)  as  samples  of  merchandise;  and 
as  the  same  steamers  which  carry  the  mails 
from  San  Francisco.  Cal..  to  this  kingdom  go 
on  through  to  New  Zealand  and  Australia,  I 
take  it  for  granted  that  "when  inclosed  in  the 
form  prescribed  for  sucli  (trtU'les  in  domestic 
mails."  queen-bees  can  go  right  through  to 
Australia  as  samples  uf  merchandise,  or  by 
sample  post,  if  they  can  go  tlirough  at  all. 
Now.  if  lam  right  in  this  matter,  the  size  of 
cage  (5x2xU._, )  has  nothing  to  do  with  queens  to 
Australia;  foi-  if  they  are  allowed  to  go  there 
at  all  they  will  go  in  any  cage  that  would  be 
allowed  in  our  domestic  mails,  and  the  dimen- 
sions or  limit  in  size  to  such  cages  has  never 
yet  be(Mi  fixed,  that  I  am  aware  of.  Taking 
this  view  of  the  mattei-,  I  acted  accordingly, 
and  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
queens  by  parcel  post  at  four  cents  postage  for 
each  four  ounces  or  fraction  thereof  reached 
their  destination  in  better  condition  than  when 
sent  as  first-class  matter,  as  a  part  of  the  l."> 
were  sent. 

Before  closing  this  part  of  the  article.  I  wish 
to  say  that,  when  we  come  down  to  strict  right. 
I  don't  think  that  bees  are  really  lawful  in  the 
mails  to  Australia,  and  hope  that  some  effort 
will  be  made  through  the  Bee-keepers'  Union 
or  otherwise  so  tliat  it  may.  in  the  nea-  future, 
be  lawful  to  so  send  them,  not  only  to  Austra- 
lia, but  to  all  parts  of  the  woi-ld.  for.  evidently, 
the  infusing  of  new  blood  into  our  apiaries 
every  few  years  is  to  be  of  gi'eat  advantage  to 
all.  "  G.  M.  DooLiTTi.E. 

Borodino.  X.  Y. 

To  he  (■(iiithiiictl. 

[Our  reasons  for  putting  lettei'  postage  on 
packages  of  queen-bees  addressed  to  New  Zea- 
land and  Australia  are  found  in  the  following 
extracts  from  Postal  Guide,  .lanuarv.  1892,  page 
905: 

Queen-bees,  ill  wooden  boxes  not  exceeding' .5x2x 
1'/^  inches  in  sizi\  closed  witli  a  wiie  screen  protect- 
ed hy  a  niovahle  wooden  lid,  may  be  sent  to  the 
Ai'yentine  Ueiiuhli<\  Belfriuni.  Huljiaiia,  Cliili,  Co- 
lombia, Confio.  tlie  Dutcli  West  Indies,  the  Danisli 
West  Indies,  Kg-ypt,  Guatemala.  Haytl,  Sandwicli 
Islands,  tlie  Republic  of  Honduras,  India  (Biitish), 
Italy,  Liberia,  Mexico,  tlie  Netlierl  mds,  East  Indies, 
Pariig'uay,  Portug:al  and  the  Portuguese  Colonies. 
Koumania,  Siani.  Spain,  and  Swilzeiland.  as  samples 


is<i-j 


(iKKANINdS  IX   UKH  (ri>TLlKE. 


101 


vf  imrchandixi-:  uiid  to  Aiistiin.  HiiiiRiii\.  I'niiicc. 
<iiMiii:ii)y.  Cifi'i-i".  l.ii.\('int)iiiMr.  tlio  Ni'llici'ljitids 
aiui  Nellicrlaiuls  (iuiann,  Ni>i\va.\  and  Sweden,  pio- 
vided  piistaKe  I  hereon  is  Ai//;?/  prepaid  al  I  he  letter 
rate:  vi/...  5  i-enl>  per 'i  o/- oi   fraelionof  i  o/.. 

No  provision  has  been  made  for  tlie  exchange  1)\ 
mail  of  samples  like  those  above  referred  to.  witli 
any  foreijrn  eounlries  .ir/ic/- ///km  thiiKi-  herein  iiamid. 

Italies  afe  oiii-s:  and,  as  we  tiiulerstandil.il 
makes  it  unlawful  lu  send  (|iii'ens  at  sainple 
rates  to  New  Zealand  atid  Aiisii-alia.  The  Post- 
al IJiiide  says  fiirtiiof.  page  '.lOti: 

It  is  for-hidden  to  send  b)  miil:  Articles  other 
than  letters  whieli  are  not  piepaid  at  least  partiv. 
or  which  do  not  fitltilt  Uir  coitdil i<in:i  miiiirni  in  I'n- 
der  to  enjoy  the  reduced  rate.  Paeki^ts  of  samples 
of  merchandise  not  fullj-  prepaid  at  letter  rates, 
which  have  a  salable  value,  etc. 

SiiK'o  llie  two  couiurjes  iu  (iiieslioii  aie  not, 
nn'iitioiH'd  in  the  list  of  ontmities  to  whicli  we 
mail  send  qiiiMMis  bv  mail,  tliev  slioitld  go  al 
letter  fates,  if  at  all. 

We  quite  agfi-e  with  you.  that  W(>  have  no 
difeot  perniissiou  to  send  nueeiis  to  Austfalia. 
and  it  might  be  coiisidei-ed  uiilawfiil.  We  will 
see  what  can  be  done  in  the  way  of  liavitig 
Austi-alia  and  New  Zealand  iiK-rtided  in  ihe 
countries  named.] 


RAMBLE  NO.  54. 


IN   TUE   GOLDIO-V    .STATI-:. 


In  tin'  Sdi-ratnciito  VitUcy. — After  leaving 
Utah  and  the  e.\tensiv(>  white  salt  plains  noitii 
of  Salt  Lake  City,  we  encounter  nitich  the  same 
kind  of  barren  plaitis  we  found  on  Ihe  east  of 
Utah,  except  that  here  is  a  stunted  growth  of 
sage  bushe*,  and  the  soil  is  whit"  with  alkali. 
It  was  a  hot  day,  and  a  little  air  from  an  o])en 
window  would  have  beeti  refreshing:  but  any 
one  having  the  temerity  to  rais(i  a  window  tlie 
least  would  soon  feel  the  etTectsof  the  tire  pun- 
gent dust.  All  night  and  half  a  day  in  dust 
was  enough  to  endure,  and  it  was  with  pleasure 
we  noticed  more  thriving  towns,  and  thernsh- 
ing  waters  again  brought  vigor  to  vegetation. 
We  follow  the  course  of  the  Truckee  Kiver  for 
a  lotig  distance,  climbing  u[)  the  Siei'ras,  pass- 
ing the  noted  Donner  Lake,  surrounded  by  lofty 
mountains,  and  looking  v<'ry  pictures(iue  as  we 
look  down  upon  it  from  the  mountain-side.  Tt 
is  in  this  region  that  we  |)ass  through  40  miles 
of  snow-sheds,  and    at   last    night  closes  down 


^3 


I'oCKFCT-r  I.KANKKS. 

tipon  US  jtist  as  we  reach  tht;  very  stimmit  of 
the  Sierras.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  we 
were   arotised   atiil    told    that  our  long  journey 


was  at  ill!  end.iind  that  wf  were  iti  Sticramenbt. 
The  rest  of  the  night,  and  until  a  late  hour  iti 
the  tuortiitig.  we  rested  sweetly  iu  the  Western 
Ibdel.  They  lieic  expect  iOastcrti  I ra\'e|ers  will 
come,  dust -coveted  atid  weary.  an<l  are  amply 
proviiied  with  ablution  coiivetiiences  for  cleuu- 
itig  and  polishing  a  fellow  from  hejid  to  shoes. 
There  is  even  ail  effectiNe  pocket-cleaner  in  a 
back  rootu,  ciilled  a  faro  batil<:  and  from  all 
ai-c(nints  many  ()aironi/.e  it.  The  i.'aiiil)lef  put 
himself  throtigh  all  of  till'  ch^aners  (>.\cept  the 
pocket-cleaiief.  preferring  to  have;  liis  pock<;ts 
liltbv  with  w  hat  little  lucre  he  had  left. 


Jt.VMHI.KK     I1KI,1'IXG   TO   GATin;ii    (A  NTAI.Oll'E.S 
IN   CAMFOKNIA. 

Having  a  kinsman  in  the  city,  at  the  head  of 
the  l*ioneer  Box  Co..  we  were  soon  installed 
into  his  household,  and  were  also  .soon  busy  at 
work  in  the  factory  running  a  band-saw,  and 
making  5-lb.  grape-baskets.  This  occupation 
continued  about  three  months.  The  Rambler 
was  then  turned  loose  among  the  California 
bee-keepers. 

And  now,  my  friends,  I  wish  to  say  to  you 
who  have  followed  our  wanderings  in  the  past, 
that,  when  these  Rambles  comtuenced.  we  had 
not  the  lemotest  idea  of  ever  seeing  far-away 
Califortiia:  and  now  being  in  the  (Jolden  State 
we  shall  not  try  to  predict  where  next  our  feet 
shall  wander. 

California  bee  culture  has  beeti  mtich  written 
about:  but  as  we  hav<' bei'ii  into  the  highways 
and  byways  of  California,  into  some  of  its  Can- 
yons and  tipon  its  rugged  motiutains,  and  lived 
for  a  time  in  the  lonely  htit,  perliaps  we  have 
leceived  some  impressiotis  that  aie  new,  even 
to  the  readers  of  (li.EAMNGs:  atid  if.  with  (nil- 
photos,  an  occasional  cartoon  is  thrown  in,  we 
trust  the  staid  readers  will  grant  their  pardon. 
It  is  a  sort  of  chronic  habit  we  iTave.  If  any 
one  is  thinking  of  coming  to  this  State  to  en- 
uage  in  bee  culture  these  rambles  will  try  to 
set  the  bee-keeping  of  California  forth  just  as 
it  is.  and  then  yon  can  take  your  choice. 

The  bees  lirst  shipped  to  Califoi'tiia  were  lo- 
cated in  the  Sacramento  Valley.  It  was  here 
that  Harbison  won  a  good  share  of  his  fame  as 
a  bee-keeper.  But  now  the  Eastern  man  is 
surprised  to  tind  but  few  largti  apiaries  in  this 
portion  of  the  State.  In  Sacramento  City  theie 
are  a  few  small  apiaries:  and  Mr.  Lewis,  living 
in  the  city,  has  an  apiary  of  over  100  colonies 
out  in  the  country.  The  most  extensive  bee- 
keeper in  the  county  is  'Sir.  Adam  Warner,!:.' 
miles  down  the  river:  and  learning  that  he  had 
over  :.'()0  colonies,   and    was  (piite  a  successful 


162 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


MXK.  1. 


honey-producer,  we  availpd  ourselfof  the  first 
opportunity  to  call  upon  him.  To  get  the  13 
miles  we  followed  the  sinuous  course  of  the 
Sacramento  River  for  20  miles  on  one  of  those 
boats  that  have  a  large  paddle-wheel  in  the 
rear.  In  early  limes  the  river  was  noted  for  its 
purity;  but  liow  it  lias  a  very  dirty  and  even 
muddy  appearance.  This  is  caused  by  hy- 
draulic mining  on  the  American.  Feather,  and 
other  of  its  tributaries.  The  lands  on  both 
sides  of  the  river  ai'e  subject  to  oveiflow  in  the 
rainy  season,  and  it  is  held  in  its  course  by 
levees. 

Arriving  in  Clarksburg  about  2  p.  m..  we  soon 
found  Mr.  Warners  residence,  and  found  him 
and  his  ten-year-old  daughter  gathering  musk- 
melons,  or  cantaloupes,  as  they  call  them  here. 
and  they  grow  with  wondeiful  vigor  and  pro- 
ductiveness. We  could  easily  see  that  Mr.  W. 
was  in  some  anxiety  about  getting  the  canta- 
loupes picked  before  dark,  so  the  Rambler  got 
on  his  lot  row  evei'y  time,  and  helped  tinish  the 
job. 

Mr.  Warnei'  is  a  sturdy  German,  and  has  been 
upon  his  present  I'anch  for  20  years.  He  has 
substantial  farm  -  buildings,  and  his  barn  is 
large  and  much  like  an  Eastern  one.  which  is 
not  often  seen  in  this  country.  His  honey- 
house  was  the  largest  and  best  we  have  seen  in 
California.  It  is  mounted  on  posts,  the  lower 
ends  resting  in  a  pan  of  tar  to  exclude  ants,  and 
it  is  effectual  in  operation.  Mr.  W.  uses  the 
old-style  Harbison  hive  exclusively,  and  raises 
comb  honey.  There  was  no  apiary  in  sight  of 
the  house,  and  we  were  informed  they  were  out 
in  the  tules  (pronounced  tH-lesi.  Tules  are  very 
large  rushes  that  have  a  luxuriant  growth  upon 
these  low  lands.  We  found  the  home  apiary 
out  about  80  rods  fiom  the  house,  and  it  was 
the  most  novel  apiary  we  ever  saw.  The  hives 
were  mounted  upon  platforms  over  eight  feet  in 
height,  wide  enough  for  two  rows  of  hives, 
and  an  alley  between  them,  with  stairs  at  the 
end.  Some  2.5  or  3.5  hives  were  mounted  on 
these  platforms,  and  Mr.  W.  had  several  apia- 
ries all  mounted  in  the  same  way.  The  reason 
for  this  high  elevation  is  because  of  the  annual 


peared  to  me  as  little  better  than  an  old-time 
box  hive.  Mr.  W.  was  pleased  with  the  hive, 
however,  because  he  could  so  easily  move  it 
from  place  to  place  and  carry  it  up  those  steep 
stall's.  His  hives  were  all  made  to  take  the 
old-style  two-pound  Harbison  section:  but  the 
markets  calling  for  the  one-pound  section  it 
was  with  regret  he  had  substituted  them.  This 
using  a  shallow  crate  left  two  inches  of  space 
above,  which  the  bees  made  haste  to  fill  also. 
To  prevent  this,  Mr.  W.  had  two-inch  plank 
sawed  just  the  size  to  slip  in  on  the  top  of  the 
crates.  When  asked  why  he  did  not  knock  off 
the  cover  and  put  on  a  rim.  and  put  on  two 
crates  of  sections,  he  said  it  would  cost  too 
much.  We  could  see  but  little  difference  be- 
tween the  cost  of  the  necessary  shallow  rim 
and  the  plank  while  there  was  a  certainty  of 
getting  good  I'eturns  from  the  space  occupied  by 
the  plank. 

Mr.  W.  emi)loys  no  one  to  attend  to  his  out- 
apiaries:  and  to  prevent  swarming  he  practices 
division,  paying  no  attention  to  which  part  has 
the  queen.  But  in  spite  of  the  division  many 
swarms  absconded,  and  a  church  was  pointed 
out  that  had  four  swarms  in  as  many  spires.  A 
schoolhouse  had  several,  and  many  dwellings 
were  also  pestered  with  bees  in  many  places. 
During  the  past  season  Mr.  W.  obtained  only  a 
light  crop  of  honey:  but  taking  a  series  of  years 
he  has  found  honey-production  profitable,  even 
here  in  these  low  lands,  and  has  found  n  ready 
market  in  Sacramento.  There  is  much  fruit 
near  his  apiaries — alfalfa,  clover,  and  hundreds 
of  kinds  of  wild  flowers.  We  enjoyed  true 
German  hospitality  for  the  night,  and  returned 
to  Sacramento  by  four-horse  stage  the  next 
morning,  through  a  country  devoted  to  fruit 
and  wheat  raising.  Rambi.ek. 


PUNIC  BEES;  TKEIK  TEMPER. 


BY    IIAI-LAMSHIKE   BKF-KEErKK. 


In  y 
Punic 


A   CAI-IFOnXIA   ATIAIiY   l.X   A   IJEGION   SUB-JIXT  TO   INUN 
DATION. 


give 
ive- 


overfiow  of  this  tule  land.  The  photo  wc 
is  a  portion  of  the  home  apiary  near  some 
oak  trees. 

This  was  our  first  view  of  the  Harbison  hive, 
and  it  was  with  much  curiosity  we  examined  it. 
The  rear-opening  door,  tlie  nearly  square 
frames  resting  in  mortises  at  three  corners,  and 
room   above  for  only  one  crate  of  .sections,  ap- 


our  Nov.  1st  issue  you  say.  respecting  the 
_bees,  that  they  will  sting  like  othei'  bees, 
though  it  has  been  claimed  that  they 
won"t.  If  you  will  please  look  up  my 
descriptions  of  these  bees  I  don't  tliink 
you  will  find  any  words  of  7Jii?u'  that 
can  be  construed  to  mean  or  imply  that 
they  are  stiiKjIess.  or  can  not  sting: 
in  fact,  when  they  have  the  swarming 
fever  on  tiiey  are  eavily  provoked  into 
stinging,  but  not  more  so  than  any  oth- 
er race  under  the  same  influence:  and, 
nior(M)ver.  they  are  more  easily  kept 
under  control  at  this  time  by  means 
of  smoke  or  carbolic  acid.  As  soon  as 
I  saw  that  the  idea  was  being  spread 
about,  that  they  coiihl  not  sfiiiij,  I  pub- 
lished an  article  on  the  subject  in  the 
JdiiiiKil  of  HortioiltKrc  for  .\ug.  20th 
last,  and  I  am  surprised  you  have  not 
copied  what  1  say  on  the  matter. 

TEMPER    OF    PUMC'S. 

While  not  for  a  moment  goiiisr  so  far 
as  to  say  they  can  not  sting.  I  do  say 
they  are  the  tamest  and  gentlest  bees 
I  have  ever  seen,  and  this  includes 
every  race  that  has  ever  reached 
America:  putting  their  stings  out  is  no  evi- 
dence that  they  are  ready  to  use  them:  more- 
over, when  they  do  sting  it  is  the  least  painful 
of  any.  while  Syrians  are  the  most  painful: 
and.  hiriher  than  this.  I  have  not  seen  nor 
heard  of  a  cross-tempered  stock  of  Injhiid 
Punic  bees.  When  going  to  the  heather  last 
August  I  nailed  labels  on  .50  hives  of  Punics. 


VIK(ilN   (QUEENS. 

You  have  pcM'sistcutly  tabrKjcd  tlicsf.  saying 
th»n"  could  not  he  safely  sent  a  distaiicc  aiitl 
then  safi'ly  inirodui'cd.  For  three  yeais  I  have 
been  sending  out  very  hirtre  numbers  all  ov(>r 
the  Hiitish  Ish>s:  and  when'  the  instructitjns  I 
sent  wei'e  followed,  not  one  failure  litis  reNiilled. 
How  fai'  I  atn  boastinsi  can  be  judged  liy  the 
fact  tluit  every  virgin  (|ueen  I  sent  to  America 
the  past  season,  that  landed  alive,  was  safely 
introduced:  and  though  Dr.  Miller  and  Mr. 
Newman  lost  them  sulise(juenth .  in  a  nuinner 
unaccountable  to  me.  that  fact,  itiat.  though 
they  were  sir  days  ohl  irhen  in(iUe<1.  and  at 
least  one  mated  and  got  to  laying,  should  be 
proof  that  buying  and  selling  vii'gin  queens  is  a 
solved  problem:  anyhow,  it  is  here,  and  I  guess 
that  friend  Pratt  has  fdund  it  so  too.  What  is 
now  \\ante<l  is  to  let,  peoph;  undei'stand  there 
are  parties  willing  and  anxious  to  guarantee 
safe  introduction  for  a  slated  price. 

Theri'  is  no  jugglei-y  in  the  matter.  I  [lointcd 
out  in  an  article  in  the  .Iniirnal  af  Hurticulture 
foi' April  :.'(5.  lt<S8,  scientilically,  both  the  cause 
of  past  failures  and  how  to  be  successful.  Vii'- 
gin queens  will  atiout  rexolutionize  bee-keejjing; 
as.  when  qniK^  undeislood.  most  will  buy  all 
their  queens  as  viigins.  Here  in  England  I 
sell  them  at  IR)  cents,  delivered  free,  guaranteed 
agaiii-t  loss  in  delivery,  introduction,  mating, 
or  winter  dysentery.  1  guarantee  the  latter, 
because  I  clain'  that  this  disease  is  solely  the 
result  of  tlie  way  qui'eiis  are  rean^d.  Each 
queen  is  si.x  days  old  when  .sent  out,  so  may 
mate  in  two  days,  and  be  equal  to  a  laying 
(pieen.  A  II  ai.i.a.mshikk  Hke-keei'eh. 

.Shetlield,  Eng..  Dec.  l.'.  ISUl. 

[^Ve  do  not  know  thai  any  of  the  ad\«)cutes  of 
Tunics  stated  positively  that  such  bees  would 
not  sting:  but  the  impression  lefl  upon  oui' 
minds  from  the  reading  of  (heir  articles  was 
such.  In  fact,  others  seem  to  have  understood 
it  as  we  did.  In  regard  to  the  Jonriuil  of  Hor- 
ticulture, it  would  be  (|uite  im|)ossible  f(ir  us  to 
nuike  an  extract  from  ii.  inasmuch  as  tliere  an; 
very  few  of  the  foreign  exchanges  thai  we  can 
I'ead.  and  those  are  all  in  the  bee-journal  line. 
It  is  utterly  impossible  for  us  to  cover  even  all 
the  agricultural  papeis  in  this  country. 

We  do  not  think  the  iraflic  in  virgin  queens  is 
proliial)le.  either  to  the  queen  breedi-r  or  to  the 
leceiver  of  such  (jueens.  iliongh  there  maybe 
exceptions  in  ca^es  of  new  races  of  bees,  when; 
it  is  desii-able  to  te<t  a  cross,  as  you  say  the 
crossof  the  Punic  with  any  othi  )•  lace  is  superior 
to  the  original  stock.  As  some  of  our  readers 
may  not  know  tiie  method  by  which  Hallam- 
shire  I{ee-ki'eper  accomplishes  virgin-ipieen  in- 


itio 

truduction.  we  inaUe  :ih  evtracl  from  one  (d'  Ids 
I'irculars: 

On  receiiil  (.1  iIOn.  pirpMic  ciilonics  to  rei-ci\-e 
lheliia>  fiillow>.:  Tukc  llircc  oi-  mote  coiiihs  wil  h 
some  food  in,  l)iit  no  k/cki/i  d  brood  of  ejrtrs.  :ind  put 
them  ilia  lii\c;  then  shiike  iiiln  t  licse  coinlis  the 
liees  oH  Iwo  coiiihs  a(  lc,i>l,  from  ;i  Kood  stroiiji' 
slock,  liikiiifi'  r;iie  that  the  ipieeii  is  liol  anionfr 
llicni.  Now  iciiioxe  tliis  slroiif  stock  lo  a  fresh 
Nt.'iiid.  ami  set  1  his  new  one  in  its  phice.  wiiich  will 
receive  most  of  llie  tlyiiiff  bees  iijso. 

I  do  not  :i(l\isc  iisiiij;  any  of  tlie  combs  fi'oiii  the 
strong  slock,  on  jic<-ountof  the  risk  of  jfcttinR  one 
wil  h  :iii  ftij!  or  iwo  in  it. 

^'oii  ina.\  prepare  :i  colonj-  for  tiie  queens  in  other 
ways  as  loiifr  as  no  (lucen  oi'  means  of  rearing  one  is 
lefl;  bill  I  tind  I  he  above  I  III'  most  convenient  and 
salisl'acioiy  wa>()f  any.  'I'lie  l)ees  must  lie  (pieeii- 
less,  and  iiave  no  means  of  rearing-  ont;.  forty  hours 
al  leasl.  or  you  will  fail  to  introduce  tlie  queens  wi- 
aic  seiidiiif;'  \()n. 

As  soon  as  ydu  receive  the  iiueens  drop  Ilieml)e- 
tween  the  combs  anioiiff  the  bees  a/Yo- diuA,  alone. 
On  no  account  must  tlie,\-  bo  cajred.  scented,  or 
daubed  with  honey.  In  two  days,  sealed  l)rood  may 
be  Kiveii  tliein;  but  unseak'd  "bi-ood  or  <  gjrs  must 
not  l)e  triven  tliem  until  the  quiH'ns  bi'^in  to  lay. 
or  tiiey  will  be  almost  certainly  "  balled"  at  tlie  en- 
trance on  retui'inng-  fi-om  tlie  l)ridal  ti'ip. 

It  is  no  doubt  the  method  used  by  Dr.  Miller 
with  success,  on  the  (pleens  which  he  received 
from  Hallamshiri!  Bee-kee[)er.] 


MORE  GLUCOSING. 


BVHOX    WAI.KKK     TEI.I..S   AX    AI..\K.\ll.NO     STOIJV 


From  the  comments  made  on  the  article  of 
Mr.  Tweed,  page  32,  Jan.  1.  I  see  that  you.  in 
common  with  several  othei-  editors  of  papers 
devoted  to  our  pursuit,  ard  inclined  to  discredit 
the  testimony  given  by  Mr.  T.  As  I  had  al- 
ready I'epeatedly  given  evidence  on  this  point 
at  length,  when  this  subject  was  ttp  for  discus- 
sion last  year  in  the  EevlcH'.  and  also  in  the 
Ainericdu  Bee  Jour nnl.  I  have  hesitated  to  say 
any  thing  fnrtbei'  until  others  had  had  their  say. 
As  you  evidei.'.iy  have  not  accepted  tlie  state- 
ments made  byniy.self  at  the  time  referred  to 
as  true,  perhaps  it  is  hardly  worth  while  to  re- 
peat them  now. 

I  will  simply  say  here,  that,  aftei'  spending 
several  months  on  the  Chicago  market,  I  fully 
agree  with  Mr.  T.'s  vicnvs.  There  are  in  this 
city  alone  about  a  dozen  establishments  who 
put  up  glucose  honey  for  sale.  Among  them 
are  three  of  the  largest  wholesale  grocery 
houses  in  the  country,  one  of  which,  whose 
salesman  has  charge  of  that  dei)artmeiit.  in- 
formed me  they  sold  last  year  :i(M).(HM)  llis.  of 
honey.  You  can  judge  of  the  charactei' of  the 
goods  sent  out  w  hen  I  tell  you  that  they  deliver 
at  till'  doors  of  retail  groceries,  in  any  part  of 
the  city,  these  goods  in  glass  packages  holding 
over  tliree-fourths  of  a  pound  of  the  mixture, 
at  87'.j  cts.  per  dozen  in  single-dozen  lots.  I 
know  what  I  am  talking  about  svhen  I  say  that 
a  large  majority  of  the  grocer>  of  this  city  han- 
dl(^  such  goods,  and  that  not  one  grociM'  in  a 
hundred  keeps  pure  extracterl  lioney  for  sale,  or 
can  be  induced  to  buy  such  at  a  price  not  much 
higher  than  he  is  jiaying  for  tlie  adulterated 
goods.  All  hough  tiie  past  season  has  been  such 
a  poor  oiii'  for  Western  bee-keepei's.  the  city 
markets  are  overstocked  with  extracted  honey 
at  present  low  prices.  We  may  will  ask."  What 
will  the  result  be  when  there  is  a  full  crojj  to 
market".'"  'I'here  is  no  doubt  in  my  mind  that, 
had  we  siu'li  a  law  as  you  suggest,  with  proper 
provisions  for  its  enforcement,  the  demand  for 
extracted  honey  for  table  use  and  for  medicinal 
purposes  would  be  tiiifold  greater  than  it  now 
is  in  city  markets,  and   prices  would  h(!  much 


164 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mar.  I. 


more  satisfactory.  The  question  of  the  hour 
is,  "  Shall  bee-keepers  bend  every  energy  to  the 
production  of  honey  so  clieaply  that  glucose 
mixers  can't  undersell  us  (glucose  is  now  worth 
less  than  2  cts.  pel-  lb.  in  car  lots),  or  shall  we 
devote  a  portion  of  th<se  (Miei'gies  to  securing 
such  a  law,  and  to  seeing  that  it  is  enforced 
when  secured?  livRON  Wai,kek. 

Chicago,  Jan.  25. 

[See  editorial  elsewhei'e.l 


ftUEEN  RESTRICTION. 

THE    KXrE>.SE    OF    SOME    UP"    THE    NEW    DEVIf  E- 
BOtTNTIKS. 


I  have  noticed  for  a  while  back  a  book  adver- 
tised in  Gi.EANiXGs  that  tells  all  about  '•  Queen 
Restriction."  I  sent  for  it.  and  have  given  it  a 
pretty  thorough  examination.  The  gi'eat  ques- 
tion of  the  honey  problem  of  the  day  is."how  to 
produce  more  honey  at  less  cost."  The  idea  is 
advanced  by  quite  a  number  of  prominent  apia- 
rists, that  this  end  can  lie  attained  by  either 
restricting  or  altogether  i<'moving  the  queen, 
thereby  preventing  swarming.  I  remember 
reading  an  article  in  the  Rcj'/cir  of  June.  1891, 
from  Mr.  Aikin.  of  Colorado,  who,  while  living 
in  Iowa.  I  think,  practiced  the  removal  of 
queens  at  the  beginning  of  the  honey  season, 
and  allowing  the  colonies  to  I'ear  another  queen, 
by  which  method  claiming  to  increase  his  hon- 
ey product  very  largely,  and  also  preventing 
swarms.  For  increase  he  gave  the  best  old 
queens  a  frame  or  two  of  brood  and  allowed 
them  to  build  up. 

Now.  this  is  an  intf'resting  question,  not  only 
to  myself  but  to  many  of  th(>  bee-keepers  of  this 
county,  and,  I  think,  to  the  fraternity  every- 
where. P^or  this  reason  I  wish  to  discuss  the 
claims  advanced  for  queen  lestriction,  and  will 
leave  the  queen-removal  plan  to  be  discussed 
by  Ml'.  Aikin  and  others  who  have  tested  it. 

In  the  pamphlet  before  me  on  this  subject, 
the  author  claims  for  his  restrictor  (which  con- 
tines  by  queen-excluding  zinc  the  queen  to  one 
or  more  frames.  He  seems  to  think  four  frames 
about  the  right  number),  that,  by  its  use,  he 
can  get  a  much  larger  yield  with  much  less 
labor  than  by  the  plan  of  removal.  He  com- 
ments to  a  considerabhi  extent  upon  the  back- 
breaking  process  of  removing  (jueens  and  cut- 
ting out  queen-cells.  We  are  all  well  aware  of 
this  fact,  and  I  have  never  found  any  more  dis- 
agreeable job,  during  the  hot  days  of  June, 
than  that  very  thing.  Hut  the  average  bee- 
man  expects  work,  and  lots  of  it,  so  we  must 
offset  the  work  by  the  cost  of  the  restrictor. 
For  a  four-frame  restrictor  the  price  is  (59  cents 
each,  or  ^(J.TO  for  10.  It  stiikes  me  that,  in  a 
large  apiary,  that  would  be  quite  expensive. 

Now.  on  the  other  side,  take  the  labor  on  ten 
hives.  By  my  plan  ojf  j'emoving  (|ueens  I  want 
only  ten  minutes  to  each  colony,  and  fifteen 
minutes  for  cutting  out  cells.  Of  this  plan  I 
juay  wiite  further  before  the  honey  season. 
However,  we  will  allow  thirty  minutes,  so  as  to 
give  plenty  of  time  for  each  operation.  That 
gives  one  hour  for  each  colony,  to  I'emove 
queens  and  cut  out  cells.  At  $2.(X)  per  day  the 
cost  foi'  the  ten  hives  is  just  •■?2.()0  for  ten  houi's' 
work.  I>ut  I  claim  that  the  young  (jueens  rais- 
ed by  this  method  would  be  enough  b(!tter  to 
nu)re  than  compensate  for  the  day's  work.  Am 
I  not  right? 

I  do  not  desin^  to  disparage  the  (pieen-restrict- 
or.  I  nn^  si7n|)l\'  counting  the  cost,  and  that 
must  l)e  done,  in  order  to  solve  the  problem. 

I  may  also  slate,  in  behalf  of  this  method, 
tluu  the  author  advises  wide   frames  and  sec- 


tions in  the  lower  story  in  connection  with  the 
restrictor.  I  have  never  tried  getting  honey 
fiom  the  lower  story,  but  we  have  lots  of  men 
who  have  tried  it.  Let  them  tell  us  something 
about  it.  I  hope  this  will  provoke  a  general 
discussion  all  along  the  line  upon  this  qu(>stion, 
as  I  am  sui'e  that  it  is  an  important  one.  and  I 
for  one  want  to  weigh  the  evidence  before  the 
season  opens.  After  woi king-time  conies  we 
can  operate  on  a  more  matured  basis. 

AITOMATIC   SWARM-HIVERS. 

In  these  we  have  another  "  restrictoi;"' and 
while  they  may  eventually  be  perfected  so  as  to 
fill  the  bill,  which  does  not  seem  to  be  the  case 
yet.  still  the  question  of  cost  must  be  consider- 
ed. In  the  most  of  these  devices  it  is  necessary 
to  provide  an  extra  hive,  whether  it  will  be 
utilized  or  not.  which  of  itself  is  quite  an  ex- 
pense, and.  to  my  mind,  an  unnecessary  one; 
for  if  we  are  to  produce  the  most  honey  at  least 
cost  we  must  avoid  swarming  except  for  desira- 
ble increase.  The  device  itself,  also,  is  too 
much  expense  to  be  used  in  an  extensive  apiary 
when  there  is  so  mttch  uncertainty  as  to 
whether  many  swarms  will  issue  or  not:  there- 
fore, in  summing  up  I  must  incline  to  the  belief 
that  dequeening  has  the  floor. 

BOUNTY. 

And  now.  as  if  there  were  not  enough  trouble- 
some things  to  perplex  the  bee-keeper,  up  pops 
an  entirely  new  idea.  I  want  to  say  that  I  am 
opposed  to  bounties.  If  the  government  had 
given  sugar  industries  and  capitalists  a  bonus 
and  a  stipulated  sum  for  the  first  10(),(XX)  lbs. 
pi-oduced,  and  then  stopped  at  that,  and  at  the 
same  time  limited  the  time  to  five  years  or  less, 
then  the  matter  would  have  been  disposed  of  in 
a  comparatively  short  time,  and  prices  would 
have  become  settled,  and  experimenters  and  in- 
vestors would  liave  been  aiuply  remiuierated  for 
advancing  the  industries  of  the  company.  Hut 
as  it  is.  the  thing  may  go  on  indefinitely,  and 
finally  become  a  bone  of  contention  between 
the  political  parties,  and  then — God  have  mercy 
on  usi  Another  thing  about  "boosting"  up 
any  particular  business  or  pursuit,  is,  that  it  is 
apt  to  cause  prejudice  in  the  minds  of  consum- 
ers and  therel)y  defeat  the  object  aimed  at. 
Bee-keepers  generally  depend  upon  a  local  mar- 
ket, which  renders  them  a  mark  of  displeasure 
on  the  part  of  those  not  benefited,  which  would 
not  be  so  much  shared  by  their  more  distant 
colleagues,  the  sugar-producers.  We  as  honey- 
pi'oducers  would  better  bend  our  energies  to 
have  the  sugai'  bounty  ari'anged  as  mentioned 
than  to  try  to  otf'set  it  by  anothei'  bounty  on 
honey.  S.  A.  Dyke. 

Pomeroy,  O..  Feb.  8. 

[It  seems  to  us  that  our  coirespoudent  has 
been  too  liberal  with  his  time  in  hunting  up 
queens.  We  have  on  several  occasions  in 
about  two  years,  opened  up.  found  the  queen, 
and  done  such  other  work  as  clipping  wings 
and  tearing  down  queen-cells,  at  the  rate  of 
about  forty  hives  in  two  houi'S.  Some  of  these 
colonies  were  two-story.  We  did  not  examine 
all  the  brood  surface,  but  went  thi'ough  the 
hive  pretty  thoroughly— a  thing  we  like  to  do 
once  or  twice;  during  the  season.  This  would 
allow  only  thre(Mninutes  i)er  hive;  and  yet  we 
do  not  tiiink  we  particularly  hurried  to  get 
through  the  work.  But.  as  we  have  before  ex- 
plained, we  can,  a  good  share  of  the  time,  diag- 
nose the  colony  with  little  or  no  frame  manipu- 
lation. 

We  rather  hesitate  to  speak  about  the  cost  of 
queen-restrictors.  t)ecause  it  might  appear  that 
we  were  interested  in  pushing  the  sale  of  our 
own  articles;  and  we  will  only  add  that  the  ob- 
ject of  queen   restriction,  advocated  by  C.   W. 


18i« 


r,i.EANiN(i.s  IN  HER  cii/nin-: 


U>-i 


Dayloii.  is  iiriiiiaiily,  as  we  iiiidtMslaiul  it,  to 
control  iimu'ft'ssary  lii-ood-rt'ariiin  out  of  sea- 
son, ami  thus  prrvciit  a  laiiri"  f(iii'<'of  consiinuMs 
at  a  tiinr  of  >iar\\lifh  tlific  is  no  liom-y  to  lie 
Sallicft'd.  .Itist  iiow  far  it  will  prevent  swarnt- 
intf  we  are  not  alile  to  sa\ .] 


THE  OHIO  STATE  CONVENTION. 


DI!.    MII.I.KH  S    KKI'OIM     OI" 


The  Ohio  Siai(>  eoiiNiMition  at  ('iiu'lMuali. 
Fell.  ID- rj.  was  (lilTei-ent  eniuiirh  from  the  prexi- 
ons  nieetinjj:  of  tin'  same  sdeit'ty.  so  far  as  mem- 
bers in  attendance  were  concerned,  to  have 
been  a  meeting  in  a  difTerent  State.  Hiit  Ohio 
is  a  good-sized  State,  and  Cincinnati  is  at  the 
sonthc  rn  extrcinity.  The  meeting  was  not  un- 
wieldy on  account  of  great  numbers,  hut  there 
was  no  lack  of  interest  from  beginning  to  end. 
Some  matters  came  in  for  more  discussion 
sometimes  than  they  i)robably  would  havi'  had 
if  the  veteians  had  been  out  in  fuliiM'  force. 

1  hadn't  seen  the  i)r(^sident.  C.  V.  Muth.  for 
several  years,  and  was  sur[)rised  not  to  lind  him 
older  looking.  Oni"  Thinij  that  undoubtedly 
helps  to  keep  iiim  young  is  the  f.ict  that  he  has 
a  son  so  competent  to  take  his  father's  place  in 
business  matters,  and  this  allows  the  father 
less  anxiety  and  more  outdoors.  At  one  of  the 
sessions  of  the  conx'eutiou  (lus  came  in  to  speak 
to  his  father  about  something,  in  a  w  hisper: 
and  as  he  did  so.  standing  behind  his  father's 
chair,  he  stooped  forward  and  put  his  hand  on 
his  father's  sluiulder  and  partly  about  liis  neck 
in  that  easy,  good-natured  way  that  said  more 
plainly  than  woi-ds.  '•  \\'e're  old  cronies,  and 
fully  undei-stand  each  otliei."  It  did  me  good 
clear  through. 

That  same  long  geared  (ierman.  ('.  F.  Muth, 
is  a  tlioroughly  wi^ll-iiostcd  bee-keeper,  and  you 
can  not  hear  him  take  up  any  topic  in  bee- 
keeping without  being  lil<e!y  to  learn  something 
from  him.  He  mentioned  an  item  as  to  ship- 
ping bees  that  I  do  not  remembei-  to  have  heard 
heforft.  He  has  had  a  good  deal  of  experiiMice 
in  having  bees  shipped  long  distances  from  the 
South:  and  his  instructions  are.  to  move  to  a 
new  location  any  colony  to  b(^  shipped  so  that  it 
may  -rand  there  a  day  or  two  before  shipment. 
and  allow  its  flying  forci-  to  go  back  to  the  old 
location.  This  leaves  only  young  bees  to  be 
shijiped.  and  he  says  they  will  stand  along  con- 
finement. I  believe  he  allows  another  cokmy  to 
be  on  or  near  the  old  stand,  to  catch  the  return- 
ing bees,  and  I'm  not  sure  but  he  sometimes 
may  allow  young  bees  from  other  colonies  to  be 
shaken  in  front  of  the  one  to  be  shipped. 

^Vithout  attempting  to  srive  any  report  of  thi' 
conv(>ntion.  I  will  mention  some  of  the  points 
that  seemed  of  special  interest.  It,  was  asseitcd 
that,  when  bees  woik  on  asters,  a  sour  smell  is 
readily  di.scernible.  even  at  some  distance  from 
tho  hivfis.  somethinff  like  tlie  smell  of  old  sour 
milk. 

Rev.  L.  Johnson  said  aster  honey  was  all  right 
till  fi-o<t:  but  if  Im'cs  wuiked  on  it  after  it  had 
h<'en  frosted. such  honey  was  poisonous  to  them. 

In  peddling  extracted  honey  in  the  city.  Mr. 
Titus,  insti'ad  of  weighing  it.  measured  it  out 
in  a  lioiind  or  a  two-poiuid  bottle,  letting  the 
purchaser  furnish  his  f)\\  n  dish.  -Some  honey 
would  slick  to  the  bottle  each  time,  but  his 
honey  didn't  any  more  than  hold  out  in  weight, 
because  the  amount,  tasted  in  sampling  balanced 
what  stuck  to  the  boiih  ^. 

Quite  a  discussion  oc  urrod  as  to  how  much 
help  the  bees  .should  have  in  cleaning  out  theii- 
hives  in  s[)ring.  Mr.  Mulh  said  he  had  given 
HI)    helping   the   bees   elean    house,  as  he  fouiid 


much  of  the  snulV-lilo'  material  found  undej- 
bottom-bars  was  wax  which  the  bees  used  over 
again  to  cap  their  brooil.  .Mr.  Haines  held  that, 
it  wasinainl\  f;eces,  au<l  asked  bee-keepers  to 
note  w  hellier.  in  the  spiing.  such  material  was 
not  always  fdiind  direclly  under  the  cluster,  in- 
stead of  under  the  outside  seams,  wheri'  some 
argued  it  would  lie  found,  dropped  by  the  bees 
as  cappings  gnawed  from  the  outside  combs  in 
uncapping  them. 

The  unjust  railroad  rates  on  extracted  honey 
were  vi-ntilated.  Mr.  Muth  said  it  costal. 50  to 
get  a  barrel  of  molas.ses  or  syrup  from  New 
<)rl(>ans  to  Cincinnati,  and  ?r),5i)  for  a  barrel  of 
extiacted  honey.  The  ditTcrence  between  the 
two.  if  it  had  any  elVect  on  the  rate  of  freight 
at  all.  should  lie  in  favor  of  the  honey,  for  hon- 
ey is  a  little  heavier  for  the  same  bulk,  and,  if 
granulated,  not  so  likely  to  leak. 

Comparing  the  ditferent  kinds  of  comb  honey 
as  to  toughness  of  comb.  Mi'.  Muth  said  linden 
comb  is  vei-y  tender,  hence  liable  to  be  brok(Mi 
in  shipment:  clover  not  so  tender,  and  alfalfa 
very  lough. 

A  bee-keeper  had  shipped  honey  to  Mr.  Muth 
in  a  glucose-barrel,  the  barrel  showing  what  it 
had  previously  contained;  and  this  barrel,  being 
seen  at  his  place  of  iiusiness,  had  secured  for 
him  a  little  free  advertising  in  the  newspapeis, 
for  which  he  was  not  anxious. 

Mora?.— Don't  ship  honey  in  any  thing  that 
I()()];s  like  adulteration. 

At  this  convention  I  had  occasion  again  to 
notice  the  importance  of  having  outside  condi- 
tions all  right  at  a  convention.  The  meetings 
were  held  in  a  hall  having  the  very  coniiuon 
fault  of  being  too  large,  making  it  very  difficult 
to  hear  some  of  the  things  said,  even  if  all  were 
perfectly  still,  and  the  difficulty  was  further  in- 
cri-ased  by  the  hall  facing  on  one  of  the  princi- 
pal streets  with  its  constant  rumble  and  lattle. 
On  the  second  evening  the  session  was  held  in  a 
comparatively  small  inside  room,  frotu  which 
the  noise  of  the  street  could  not  be  heard.  The 
contrast  made  a  very  favorable  iiupresslon  in 
favor  of  the  smaller  room.  C.  C.  Mii.i.kr. 

Marengo.  111..  Feb.  :.'.'.. 


Ud/es'  Conversazione. 


ALSIKE  CLOVER. 


IIS     V.VI.IK.     AND     HOW     TO     HAISK     VV . 

Th<' value  of  alsike  to  the  bee-keeiier  makes 
it  worth  his  while  to  extend  its  culture  in  every 
way  possible.  In  inducing  his  farmer  neigh- 
bors to  grow  it  he  not  only  benefits  himself  but 
also  his  neighliors  as  well.  Few  appreciate  its 
value.  Riglitly  managed  it  may  be  made  to 
yield  three  products— honey,  hay,  and  seed, 
which,  in  a  little  tuore  than  a  year,  are  equal  in 
value  to  the  land  on  which  it  grows. 

With  suitable;  soii.  and  in  compi'tent  haiuis. 
ten  bushels  of  s<'ed  to  the  acre  is  a  possibh' 
yield,  which,  at  the  pi<'-ent  prices. .^T-TiO  to  Sii.tK). 
will  pui-chase  an  acre  of  good  farming  land  al- 
most anywhere.  There  are.  besides,  the  hay 
and  honey. 

WIkmi  the  cultivation  of  alsike  is  recomtnend- 
ed  to  farmers,  one  or  more  of  the  following  ob- 
jections ari-  usually  offered:  1.  It  does  not 
germinate  well:  :.'.  It  does  not  produce  a  paying 
crop  of  seed:  3.  It  does  not  produce  as  much 
hay  as  i-ed  clover:  4.  The  hay  is  of  inferior 
<iuality.  If  fi'd  to  milch  cows.the  butter  pro- 
duced is  white. 

In    the   first  case,  either  the  seed  was  poor  or 


1()(5 


GLEANINGS  IN  KEE  CULTURE. 


Mai:.  1. 


the  ground  was  not  in  proper  condition.  A  sam- 
ple of  seed  should  be  tested  before  pui'chasing. 

In  the  second  case,  a  short  crop  of  seed  is 
generally  due  to  a  lack  of  judgment  as  to  the 
right  time  for  cutting,  and  to  improper  han- 
dling afterward.  . 

In  answer  to  the  third  objection,  it  way  be 
stated  that,  though  the  yield  of  hay  may  not  be 
as  great,  the  value  of  the  whole  product  is 
greatei-. 

Finally,  the  hay  is  better  than  red-clover  hay, 
the  steins  beingless  woody,  and  devoid  of  the 
tine  hairs  which  i-ender  red  clover  hay  "dusty." 
In  this  market,  timothy  mixed  with  alsike  is 
beginning  to  be  rated  No.  1,  while  timothy  mix- 
ed with  red  clover  is  No.  2.  As  to  its  effect  upon 
butler,  a  few  roots,  carrots  or  the  like,  fed  to 
cows  will  I'emedy  that.  Often  failure  is  the 
ivsult  of  making  a  trial  on  so  small  a  scale  that 
the  crop  is  neglected;  then  the  grower  thinks, 
of  course,  it  is  "  no  good." 

A  neighbor.  Mi'.  McCall.  has  given  to  the  al- 
sike-clover  plant  the  same  kind  of  intelligent 
and  careful  study  that  Mi'.  Terry  has  given  to 
the  potato,  with  equally  satisfactory  financial 
results.  Mr.  McCall  is  too  busy  "compelling 
success"  to  write  of  his  methods  for  the  benefit 
of  others;  so.  believing  that  they  would  be  in- 
teresting and  profitable  to  many.  I  interviewed 
him  one  evening.  The  following  are  the  facts 
brought  out: 

Mr.  McCall  raises  alsike  for  the  seed,  so  his 
methods  accord  with  his  aim. 

The  most  suitable  soil  is  a  clay  loam,  with  a 
good  proportion  of  the  vegetable  matter;  but  it 
may  be  grown  on  almost  any  kind  of  land. 

The  land,  having  been  deeply  plowed  and 
thoroughly  pulverized  the  previous  autumn, 
and  sown  to  wheat,  is  hai'rowed  in  the  spring 
with  a  fine-toothed  hari'ow — an  opei-ation  great- 
ly benefiting  the  growing  wheat.  The  clover 
seed  is  then  sown  at  the  rate  of  8  to  10  pounds 
to  the  acre.  A  lighter  seeding  is  often  recom- 
mended, but  Mr.  M.  believes  that  better  results 
on  the  whole  are  obtained  by  a  more  generous 
seeding.  The  sowing  should  be  done  as  early 
as  possible,  so  that  the  seed  may  catch  some  of 
the  spring  rains.  Here,  the  first  of  April  is 
about  right.  It  is  important  that  the  seeding 
be  even.  Bare  spaces  certainly  lessen  the  crop, 
while  overcrowded  ones  do  not  increase  it.  It 
is  by  attention  to  small  details  that  success 
is  won  in  this  as  in  any  other  undertaking.  If 
the  seeding  is  done  by  hand,  mixing  the  seed 
thorowiJily  with  several  times  its  bulk  of  sand 
may  aid  in  its  even  distribution. 

The  s(^<'d  may  be  sown  with  oats,  if  preferred, 
provided  the  ground  can  be  put  into  proper  con- 
dition early  enough. 

Soon  after  the  removal  of  the  wheat  from  the 
ground,  the  young  clover-plants  should  cover 
it.  They  often  make  such  growth  as  to  blos- 
som and  mature  seed  the  first  season.  Possibly, 
by  sowing  the  seed  alone,  and  under  the  most 
favorable  conditions,  a  fair  crop  of  seed  might 
be  obtained  the  first  season:  but  the  second 
season  is  the  one  depended  upon  for  the  main 
crop,  under  ordinary  circumstances.  In  the  au- 
tumn and  early  spring  the  field  may  be  lightly 
pastured,  preferably  by  sheep,  but  care  should 
be  taken  to  remove  the  stock  before  damage  is 
don(>.  By  early  .June  the  clover-field  should  be 
a  sheet  of  vivid  green,  with  no  earth  visible. 
Later,  tlie  pink  and  white  lilossorns  appear, 
borne  at  the  ends  of  llie  main  stalk  and  brancli- 
es.  'I'his  is  the  bloom  which  will  furnish  the 
largest  and  best  i)art  of  thi'  seed  crop.  Keep 
watch  of  them,  for  they  soon  disappear  under  a 
set  of  somcnvhat  smaller  blossoms,  which  in 
turn  give  way  to  another,  the  bloom  continuing 
several  weeks.  During  this  time  tiie  bee  does 
double  duty  in  imi)roving  the  yield  of  seed  by 


cross-fertilization  and  in  gatiiering  the  nectar 
with  which  the  florets  are  abundantly  stored. 
Mr.  M.,  realizing  the  value  of  its  labors,  pur- 
chased ten  colonies,  and  feels  that  they  paid  for 
themselves  in  the  first  season  by  increasing  the 
yield  of  clover  seed,  to  say  nothing  of  their  gath- 
ering .300  lbs.  of  the  finest  honey  in  the  world. 
Had  he  been  an  experienced  bee-keeper,  instead 
of  the  beginner  that  he  was,  the  honey  crop 
would  have  been  twice  as  great.  A  week  or 
more  of  bloom  passed  before  the  boxes  were  put 
on  at  all. 

To  go  back  to  those  first  clover-blossoms — 
they  will  have  become  a  rich  brown  in  color, 
and  nediiji  dry.  Now  is  the  time  to  cut  it. 
Just  here  is  where  a  day's  delay  means  partial 
ifnot  total  failure.  Waiting  for  the  later  and 
inferior  heads  to  ripen,  the  earlier  and  more 
valuable  ones,  becoming  entirely  dry.  burst 
their  pods  and  scatter  the  seed  upon  the  ground. 
When  cut  at  the  proper  stage,  a  large  part  of 
the  foliage  is  green  and  tender,  and,  with  the 
immature  heads,  furnishes  a  hay  equal  if  not 
superior  to  that  from  the  fii'st  growth  of  red 
clover. 

After  it  is  cut.  moisture  does  not  injure  al- 
sike as  readily  as  it  does  other  hay.  To  avoid 
scattering  the  seed,  the  liay  should  be  handled 
as  little  as  possible  during  the  curing,  and  then 
only  when  there  is  moisture  enough  in  the  at- 
mosphere to  keep  the  stems  pliable — never  in 
the  heat  of  the  day.  This  is  the  second  point 
of  extreme  importance.  Drawing  should  be 
done  during  the  earlier  part  of  the  day.  after 
the  dew  is  off,  and  again  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  afternoon.  Subsequent  operations  need  no 
comment  until  the  seed  is  ready  for  the  clean- 
ing process.  In  order  to  command  the  highest 
price  in  the  market,  the  seed  must  be  perfectly 
clean:  but  as  it  is  so  much  smaller  than  any 
other  seed  which  a  fanner  handles,  the  fanning- 
mill  requires  finer  screens  than  those  ordinarily 
used,  and  the  blast  controlled  so  that  seed  is 
not  blown  off  in  the  chaff.  Though  it  requires 
skill  and  a  good  machine  to  perfectly  clean 
seed  without  waste,  caie  and  ingenuity  will 
often  accomplish  the  desired  result  with  slight 
expense,  and  add  many  dollars  to  the  value  of 
the  crop. 

The  first  seeding  may  lie  allowed  to  remain 
on  the  ground  during  the  third  and  fourth  sea- 
sons, and  possibly  fair  crops  may  be  had;  but. 
on  the  whole,  it  is  probably  better  to  turn  it 
under  after  the  first  cutting,  and  use  the  ground 
for  some  other  crop— potatoes  for  instance. 

Tlie  past  season  was  an  exceedingly  poor  one 
for  clover  in  this  locality;  but  alsike  yielded 
double  the  amount  of  seed  obtained  from  red 
clover  when  the  latter  was  worth  the  cutting. 
Many  did  not  cut  it  at  all. 

P'lint.  Mich..  FVb.  l.'i.  Emit.v  E.  Wkst. 


WAX  FLOWERS. 


MKS.  AXTELL  TEI.I.S  HOW  TO  MAKK  THKM. 

As  bee-keepers  are  the  producers  of  wax.  it  is 
very  befitting  that  their  homes  be  adorned  with 
wax  flowers,  which  imitate  the  natural  flower 
more  nearly  than  any  thing  else.  Often,  when 
I  have  been  making  flowers,  some  one  would 
come  in,  not  noticing  the  material  and  tools, 
and  remark.  ••  What  pretty  flowers  I ""  I  would 
hand  them  to  them,  and  tell  them  lo  smell  of 
them,  \\hich  they  would  do.  thinking  they  were 
natural  flowers;  but  the  smell  of  the  wax  would 
reveal  tlnur  nature. 

To  make  a  large  wreath,  a  glass  the  size  of  32x 
"24,  three  packages  of  single  white  wax  sheets, 
one  of  double-strength  white  for  pond-lily,  one 
of  red.  one  of  green,  one  of  yellow,  and  one  of  or- 


IS'.r.' 


(:m:.\nin(;s  in  mkk  (ri/rnRH 


H)7 


;inKi'.  will  hi' rt'tiniri'd.  Tho  \\  a\  cosis  ahoiu  1'.".. 
I't^.  \)vr  paoUajrc  of  l:.'  sheets,  ami  thai  an<i  the 
otlief  supplies  can  he  piii-chaseil  at  almost  any 
iaiiri' liriitTstore.  If  not  on  hand,  the  |troprietor 
will  oiilei-  it.  He  oai'efnl  to  octler  pnre  white 
wa\  -not  ilinsiy  or  ei-eam-wliile. 

Otlief  eolors  may  he  used  if  desired,  hut  1 
think  a  wreatli  looks  hetler  without  solid  hlne. 
purple,  or  pink  colors,  and  hut  little  vellow. 
Colors  can  he  shaded  hy  mixing  more  or  less  ar- 
rowroot with  the  jiaint.  whicli  will  give  a  hlooiii 
or  velvety  appearance  to  the  !l(i\\(>r. 

Two  littli"  idund-headed  tools  to  mold  tlie 
petals  into  sliape  will  he  needed,  one  of  the 
lieads  about  as  larsre  as  a  hazelnut,  and  the  oth- 
er the  size  of  a  liickoryinit.  with  handles  two 
inches  or  so  lonir.  one  sharp-pointed,  anil  the 
other  rountlinii:  also  a  hunch  or  two  of  red  and 
yellow  stamens  for  the  center  of  the  flowers. 
Sometimes  those  can  he  found  in  old  artificial 
flowers  in  the  house.  Strips  of  yellow  wax. 
fringed  linely.  will  answer  for  many  flowi'rs. 
You  will  also  need  live  cents"  worth  of  powder- 
ed mica  (called  also  diamond  dust) :  one  cent's 
worth  of  coarse  wire,  ahout  twice  as  stiti'  as 
broom  wire:  one  cent's  worth  of  broom  wire, 
and  tlie  same  of  Prussian  blue;  English  car- 
niino.  a  dime's  worth:  four  or  five  leaf-molds, 
sucli  as  a  rose-l(>af.  a  small  ivy-leaf,  suitable 
for  making  a  white  cross,  and  some  larger 
leaves,  as  camelia.  pond-lily,  and  maple. 

The  room  to  work  in  should  be  warm,  so  the 
wax  will  not  break— rather  more  than  comfort- 
ably warm  in  winter  weather,  choosing  days  to 
work  w  hen  the  wind  is  not  blowiiig. 

Take  natural  or  artificial  flowers  and  pick  to 
pieces,  and  cut  patterns  from  them.  Hav(i  an- 
other flower,  as  nearly  like  it  as  possible,  to  pat- 
tern after,  or  fashion  them  after  flowers  in 
paintings.  After  one  has  made  a  wreath,  using 
some  colored  v%ax.  then  he  might  learn  To  paint 
and  tint  tlie  wax  instead  of  using  one  solid  col- 
or, as  I  think  flowers  thus  made  ar(>  more  natu- 
ral and  delicate  in  color  than  when  of  one  solid 
color,  which  is  doiK!  by  ruljhing  the  paints  on 
the  under  side  of  the  white  wax  petals,  or  on  the 
center  <'nd  of  each  petal,  leaving  the  points 
white,  or  just  tinted.  Do  not  get  any  paint  or 
bloom  upon  the  base  of  the  petals,  or  they  will 
not  stick  to  the  stem.s.  Colors  can  be  shaded  by 
mixing  more  or  less  of  tlie  arrowroot  bloom  with 
the  (laint.  If  the  bloom  is  used,  the  diamond 
<lust  will  not  stick  well,  or  vice  versa.  The 
diamond  dust,  or  powdered  mica,  is  to  give  it  a 
spai'kling  appearance  like  frostwork. 

To  make  a  rose. — p'rom  three  sheets  of  wax 
laid  evenly  together,  having  first  bc-en  wet  to 
keep  from  sticking,  cut  fifteen  or  more  petals, 
thus  cutting  three  at  a  time,  with  scissors  loose 
in  the  rivet  (although  any  sci.ssors  will  answer). 
Hefore  picking  the  edge.s  of  the  petals  apart, 
smooth  them  by  rubbing  around  them  a  little 
with  the  finger.  For  the  stem  of  tin-  flower, 
take  a  piece  of  coarse  wire,  about  twice  as  large 
as  broom  wire:  loop  one  end  down  to  keep  the 
flower  from  being  pulled  ofT'  as  it  works  ofT  the 
wire.  In  making,  cover  loop  wilh  yellow  sheet 
beeswax  ijn  ssed  into  a  little  oblong  ball.  Stick 
on  to  this  tift<'en  or  twenty  yellow  rose-stamens, 
or  some  botighten  yellow  sheet  wax  fringed 
very  fine,  and  firmly  wrapped  around  and  curl- 
ed toward  the  center.  Now  stick  on  niori> 
pieces  of  yellow  beeswax:  then  proceed  to  mold 
the  petals.  Lay  one  by  one  in  the  palm  of  tin; 
hand.  and.  with  the  point  of  the  molder.  curl 
the  small  ones.  The  larger  ones  should  be 
molded  with  the  head  of  tlie  molder.  The  cen- 
ter petals  should  curl  toward  the  center,  and 
the  others  made  to  curl  gradually  outward  un- 
til the  last  leaves  curl  toward  the  stem. 

For  half-blown  buds,  make  the  same  as  a 
rose,  only  more  closed,  and  leave  out  the  sta- 


mens. i'"or  a  closed  bud.  put  wax  upon  a  loop- 
ed stem  and  a  few  oetals  closed.  I'ut  iiroiind 
the  buds  some  green  leaves  iMit  like  the  letter  \'. 
and  rubbed  lengthwise  wilh  a  molder  so  as  to 
curl  over  the  bud.  Press  smoothly  around  the 
stem.  .Now  put  on  gi'een  wax  eiiougli  to  make 
a  bud-sliajied  base  for  the  buds,  and  pifss  and 
roll  until  neatly  finished.  A  little  natural  green 
moss  stuck  on  adds  to  its  beauty.  .loin  all  to- 
gether, adding  green  leaves  and  one  autumn 
leaf,  and  cover  the  stem  with  strips  of  green 
wax.     <'oi)y  from  nature  as  much  as  jiossible. 

Canirlia  and  buds  are  made  the  same  as  the 
rose,  but  cut  the  petals  nearly  as  large  again, 
and  as  many  more.  Use  camelia  stamens,  or  a 
little  white  wax  fringed,  and  dijiped  in  carmine.- 

l'"or  dahlia,  maki'  a.  heading  as  large  as  a 
small  acorn,  on  stiff  wiic.  with  a  little  yellow 
or  pea-green  fringe  in  the  center.  I'ut  on  twen- 
ty fine  petals,  twenty  a  size  larger,  and  forty 
still  larger.  Both  sides  of  the  petals  curl  up 
and  around,  and  touch  at  top.  Press  flat  at  the 
point  where  stuck  to  the  stem.  A  little  red 
paint  on  the  fringes,  and  rubbed  on  the  under 
side  of  the  tips  of  each  petal  of  a  white  or  a  yel- 
low dahlia,  is  pretty:  or.  rub  the  paint  on  the 
point  where  it  sticks  to  the  st(>m.  sliowing  .just 
a  shade  of  color  in  the  dahlia  when  finished, 
leaving  the  points  of  the  petals  white. 

For  fuchsia,  take  a  piece  of  wire  five  inches 
long.  Cover  it  with  green  wax:  bend  it  down  a 
little;  loop,  and  stick  on  a  little  heading  of 
green  or  yellow  wax:  then  six  long  stamens.  on<' 
in  the  center  a  little  longer  than  the  rest:  or. 
use  fuchsia-centers,  then  cut  four  small  white 
petals  hollow'  in  the  center,  with  the  small 
molder;  stick  them  to  the  stem  standing  up, 
showing  three-fourths  of  an  inch  of  the  sta- 
mens. If  possible,  have  a  real  flower,  or  the 
picture  of  one.  to  look  at.  Now  cut  six  long 
petals:  roll  lengthwise  with  the  small  molder  to 
curl  th(>m  hack.  Lay  a  little  fold  in  each  petal 
where  it  touches  the  stem,  to  give  room  for  all 
the  petals,  and  to  make  them  strong.  The  long 
and  small  petals  should  be  of  ditterent  colors; 
as,  purple  for  the  center,  or  standing  petals,  and 
scarlet  for  outside;  or  pink  for  center,  and  white 
for  outside. 

Bridal  wreatl)  is  made  very  much  as  is  ilie 
fuchsia.  It  should  be  of  white  or  lemon  color. 
Leave  out  the  small  petals  in  the  center,  adding 
long  and  drooping  stamens. 

In  the  next  issue  will  be  directions  for  mak- 
ing fruit-lilossoms  etc.,  and  for  framing  the 
wreaths  when  done.  Miis.  L.  C.  Axtki-l. 

Roseville.  111. 


VENTILATING  OUR  HOMES. 


now      I»H.    (.    C.     MII.r.EI!    "HAISKS    TIIp;    WIND. 

Some  time  ago  the  subject  of  having  our 
homes  comfortably  heated  and  at  the  same  time 
w<'ll  ventilated  was  discussed  in  (Ji,k.\xix6s. 
It  seemed  a  sormnvhat  difficult  problem  to  solve 
— to  do  this  for  any  thing  like  a  inoflerate  sum. 
Dr.  Miller  has  considered  the  matter  of  pure  air 
of  so  much  importance  that  w(;  have  always 
used  the  o|)en-grate  Franklin  stove,  and  on  no 
account  would  lie  think  of  having  a  base-burn- 
er, as  he  could  not  tolerate  the  bad  air. 

Would  you  believcutV  This  winter  he  has  a 
mnv  base-burjier.  and  we  have  taken  an  im- 
mense amount  of  comforM  with  it  too.  Hut  this 
stove,  tiie  Howe  ventilator,  is  radically  different 
from  the  ordinary  base-iuirner  in  the  matter  of 
jiure  air.  It  takes  the  place  of  three  stoves — 
heats  the  sitting-room,  dining-room,  and  an  up- 
stairs bedroom,  and  could  be  made  to  heat  more 
if  necessary.  It  is  very  easily  taken  care  of. 
It  simply  neids  to  be   tilled   uii  and   the   ashes 


168 


GLEANlNlrS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mar.  1. 


taken  out  pvery  morning,  and  it's  all  right  till 
the  next  morning.  It  is  so  much  cleaner  than 
the  Franklin,  or  Low-down,  as  it  was  impossible 
to  keep  things  free  from  dust  witli  that,  dust  as 
often  as  you  miglul 

But  the  best  of  all  is  ihc  pure  air.  The  air  in 
the  house  is  as  good  as  that  outdoors,  and  no 
headache  in  it.  as  with  the  ordinary  base-burn- 
er. There  is  a  cold-air  pipe  passing  through 
the  cellar  wall  (it  may  pass  through  a  cellar 
window)  and  up  through  the  floor,  directly  un- 
der the  stove  and  into  the  stove.  Theie  is  a 
current  of  fresh  outdooi' air  passing  constantly 
through  lliis  cold-air  pipe  into  the  stove:  and, 
being  heated  by  its  passage  through  the  stove, 
it  comes  out  into  the  room  as  warm  air.  Of 
course,  this  fresh  aii-  does  not  go  into  the  tire, 
as  in  that  case  there  would  be  smoke  and  gas  In 
the  room.  It  passers  up  through  outside  cham- 
bers something  like  the  dead-air  space  in  a 
double-walled  hive.  There  is  also  an  arrange- 
ment at  the  lower  part  of  the  stove  to  cany  off 
the  foul  air.  One  need  only  to  look  at  the  rich 
dark-gi'een  foliage  of  our  house-plants,  that 
look  almost  if  not  quite  as  luxurious  as  if  grow- 
ing outdoors,  to  know  that  the  air  is  pure. 
Next  to  the  pure  air  is  the  saving  of  labor.  Be- 
fore we  got  our  new  stove  we  had  a  lai'ge  wood- 
stove  in  the  dining-room,  and  a  small  coal-stove 
in  the  room  upstairs.  Now  they  are  lioth  taken 
down.  Think  of  tiie  amount  of  work  saved  in 
not  having  to  run  those'  two  stoves,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  dirt  and  dust  they  would  cause, 
wliich  is  no  small  item!  Folding-doors  between 
the  .sitting-room  and  dining-rootn  make  it  eas- 
ier to  heat  the  latter.  The  room  upstaii'S  is 
heated  by  means  of  a  hot-air  pipe  passing 
through  the  ceiling,  terminating  in  a  small  reg- 
ister. This  room  i-^  wtii-mer  than  it  was  with 
the  small  stove.  The  aii-  tiiat  comes  out  of  this 
register  is  not  aii-  that  has  already  biien  used  in 
the  room  below,  but  is  fresh  air  that  has  come 
directly  from  outdoors,  merelv  lieated  in  its 
passage  thi'ough  the  stove. 

The  stove,  set  up  ready  to  light,  costs  just  an 
even  fifty  dollars.  We  think  that,  in  two  win- 
ters, that  amount  will  be  saved  in  fuel,  to  say 
nothing  about  what  is  gained  in  health  and 
comfort.  E>rMA  Wilsox. 

Marengo,  111. 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 


PROTECTION   V?:KSUS   NO   PROTECTION    FOR   OITT- 
DOORS. 

The  question  of  wintei'  protection  can  not  be 
emphasized  too  sti'ong.  Not  having  the  pleas- 
ure of  a  cellar,  my  bees  winter  on  tlieir  summcM' 
stands.  With  good  windbreaks  both  north  and 
west,  the  loss  for  sevei-al  winters  (with  the  mild 
winters  too)  has  been  small  indeed.  The  ten- 
frame  Simplicity  hives  have  the  upper  story 
tilled  with  heaves.  These  are  in  tine  condition, 
and  have  hardly  any  traces  of  dianiiea.  The 
one-story  Simplicity  (eight-frame)  hives  are 
placed  inside  of  goods-boxes,  with  leaves  around 
and  above  the  hives.  These  aj-e  going  through 
the  winter  in  excellent  shape.  A  few  are  left 
on  summer  stands  without  any  protection  what- 
ever. Th(>.se  are  eight- fi'ame  one-stoiy  Simplic- 
ity hives.  These  aiv  having  a  rough  time  of  it. 
The  diairhea  has  overtaken  them,  and  death  is 
certain. 

Colonies  well  protected  are  doing  well  in 
spite  of  "  bug-juice  "  for  winter  stores.  For  me 
to  meet  a  cold  winter  successfully  I  would  have 
plenty  of  bees  hatched  in  .August  and  Septem- 


ber, little  or  no  pollen,  bees  put  on  eight-frames, 
plenty  of  good  honey — not  "' bug-j\iice '" — six  to 
ten  inches  of  leaves  all  around  the  hive,  ex- 
cept the  fronts  and  l)ottoms.  and  the  entrance 
open  full  width.  With  this  arrangement  no 
fears  need  be  enteitained  because  of  a  .severe 
winter.  .7.  F.  Michael. 

German.  O.,  Jan.  2n. 

[You  have  given  us  good  pi'oof  of  the  value  of 
pi'otection.  Our  expeiience  so  far  confirms  it. 
For  us.  colonies  in  a  cold  winter  outdoors  un- 
protected won't  live  until  Januaiy.] 

ADVANTAGE     OF     SEALED      COVER     AND     WIDE 
ENTRANCE   FOR  WINTERING. 

As  the  question  of  absoibents  over  the  brood- 
chamber  is  now  being  agitated  I  will  add  my 
mite.  Some  four  years  ago  I  wrot(>  the  senior 
editoi'of  Cleanings,  that,  from  observation  of 
the  effort  of  bees.  I  was  led  to  believe  an  air- 
light  covering  better  than  a  porous  one,  and 
that,  acting  on  that  idea.  I  had  utilized  the  leath- 
er from  our  family  cariiage.  cutting  it  to  tit  neat- 
ly and  applying  it  eaily.  directly  on  the  frames, 
and  letting  the  bees  jnopolize  all  air-holes.  This 
with  three  hives.  They  came  thiough  well,  and 
built  up  early.  A  fair-sized  chaff'  cushion  was 
placed  over  llie  leaiher.  He  replied  that  the 
leather  was  loious.  He  might  lu.ve  thought 
differently  had  he  seen  it.  The  following  au- 
tumn 1  ventured  on  seven  with  leather  for  cov- 
ering, and  o\('r  this  a  close-fitting  ><  thick 
white-pine  lioaid.  and  ovt  r  all  several  newspa- 
pers, and  du  tin  in  the  canvas  u^ed  during  the 
season.  This  was  in  the  lattei'  part  of  Ociolier. 
Of  couise.  in  all  cases  I  us(  d  chaff'  over  all.  1 
now  aim  to  have  all  hives  as  near  air-tight,  ex- 
cept beneath,  as  I  can.  Without  being  tedious 
1  will  say.  lo-s  none  thus  far:  but  the  great  ad- 
vantage I  claim  for  the  method  is.  early  brood- 
ing and  no  spring  dwindling.  ]SIy  top-bar  has 
a  passageway  for  the  bees,  and  I  thereby  avoid 
the  use  of  a  boney-boai'd.  W.  S.  Ad.xms. 

Guys.  Md..  I-Vb.  U. 

MANUM    EXPLAINS    AHOLT     THAT     HONEYMOON. 

Friend  Rixjt:— You  may  say  to  our  Canadian 
friend.  Mr.  F.  .).  Miller  (page  104),  and  otheis. 
that  A.  E.  Manum  has  not  fully  recovered  from 
his  "  honeymoon  season."  and  hopes  he  never 
will,  trusting  that  said  "•  honeymoon  "  will  con- 
tinue to  shine  in  hei'  fullest  splendoi'.  Nevei'- 
thelt'ss,  Mr.  Editor,  1  will  endeavor,  in  a  very 
few  days,  to  respond,  through  (tI.eanings.  to 
the  many  calls  from  our  friends.  I  have  been 
so  busy  since  last  May  with  the  bees,  house-re- 
pairing, and  entertaining  visitors,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  '■  new  queen,"  that  the  readers  of  Glean- 
ings have  necessarily  been  neglected.  Thank- 
ing them  all  for  their  confidence  and  kind 
woi-ds.  I  remain 

Yours  truly, 

^  A.  E.  Manum. 

COLORADO:    SNOW   TILL    VOU   CAN'T    REST. 

I  once  more  find  time  to  send  in  a  few  lines 
from  this  part  of  the  moral  vineyard.  It  is  win- 
ter— winter  in  good  shape — snow  till  you  can't 
rest,  if  I  must  use  the  expression — any  way. 
snow  all  over  every  thing — liill,  mountain,  and 
valley.  The  largest  snow  of  the  season  fell  on 
the  4th  of  this  month.  If  snow  is  a  sign  of  a 
good  honey  year,  this  has  the  appearance  of  be- 
ing one  of  unprecedented  greatness,  for  we  have 
iiad  more  snow  than  we  had  last  year.  The 
past  season  would  have  been  a  good  one  but  for 
the  heavy  rains  that  came  just  as  the  lioney- 
flow  was  coming  on.  I  have  been  keeping  the 
snow  away  from  the  front  of  my  Inves.  The 
last  time  I  was  out  I  was  wondering  to  myself 
how  many  of  the  brother  bee-keepers  were  at- 


18it'J 


(;m:amn(;s  in  iuok  ciii/ruiiE. 


16Q 


t4'ii(iiiiC  ii>  till'  saiiH'  hnsim's>  I  was.  Wlim  I 
siTapfd  tlic  snow  away,  liow  they  l)ii//.f(l.  just  as 
if  tlicy  wen-  ff\m\  lliat  I  was  attfiidiii};  In  tlirin. 
and  tiu'y  wantid  \o  let  mt'  Uiitiw  it. 

In  looUinR  over  (!i,i;amN(js  I  sec  a  fxrcat  deal 
is  said  aliiMil  fiinihininji  lice  l<criiiiiji  w  ii  ii  ot  lici- 
l)Msin('ss.  and  tin'  Ix'st  kiiui  nl'  Inisjucss  to  car'ry 
aliMig  with  it.  I  do  not  w  ant  to  hfiiig  uji  any 
thing  to  make  ar^nnicnts:  Init  if  it  is  not  out  of 
pliVC*^  I  wonid  like  to  tell  what  I  cxjxH't  to  do 
tliis  season:  I  am  !.roin5;  to  conihinc  sianli'ninn 
with  h('('-kr('iiJnK.  and  raise  a  laitrc  lot  oronlons. 
in  eonnt'i'lion  with  iai<ins  caii'  ol  about  iio  oi'  .'(.■) 
old  colonies  anil  the  inosi  of  the  iww    ones. 

CJrceh'V.  Col..  Keii.  is.  T.  \'.  .Ikssui'. 

[Wo  should  he  glad  to  have  yon  report  your 
success  or  failure.] 


I  do  not  lielieve  that  there  is  any  form  ofclosed- 
end  frame  that  will  ever  heccnne  popular. 
New  rhiladera,  ().,  Feb.  4.      (i.  L.  Tink'ki;. 


TO  riii;  <  ai.ii-(>i;m.\    hf.k-kkki'Kks. 

Through  the  inlluence  of  I'l'of.  A.  .).  Cook, 
California  hec^-keepers  may  .join  the  .State  Asso- 
ciation hy  simply  sentling  .">()  cts.  to  the  Secre- 
tary. J.  li.  Martin.  Riverside,  Cal.  All  the  read- 
ers of  Cii.K.wiNiis  know  him  as  the  •"  Karnbler." 
California  can  noL  support  a  bee-jouinal,  but 
we  can  have  a  large  State  association,  and  I 
would  urge  every  reader  of  CxLk.vxixgs  in  thi' 
State  to  send  M  cts.  and  bcconn'  a  inembei'. 
Even  if  you  can  not  attend  the  conventions  \()ii 
can  vole  by  proxy,  and  will  receive!  the  printed 
matter  sent  to  members.  The  dues  are  only 
.")0  cl^.  per  anniuu.  and  it  's  worth  that  to  be  in 
touch  with  the  leading  bee-keepers  of  the  Stale. 

Fillmore  Cal.  .1.  F.  McIntyhk. 

[The  following  is  a  clipping  which  friend  Mc- 
Intyre  sent  along,  which  will  speak  for  itself:] 

OUOANIZATIO.N   OF    A    CAMKOHNIA    ST.\TE    ASSOriA- 
TIO.N  -ELECTION   OF  OFFICERS. 

The  bee-keepers  assembled  ajjain  yesterday  niorn- 
injr  at  9::5il  o'clock,  and  proceeded  to  organize  a  State 
:iss(iciation,  to  be  known  as  tiie  Calirornia  State 
Bee-keepers*  Associal ion. 

The  following  officers  were  elected:  President, 
J.  F.  Mi'Iiiijre,  of  Fillmore;  vice-presidwits,  L.  T. 
Rowley,  of  Ix)s  Angeles  County  ;  F.  H.  Hunt,  of  San 
Bernardino  Comity,  and  J.  A.  Odell.  of  San  Dietfo 
County  ;  secretary  .1.  H.  Mariin,  of  Rivei-side  ; 
treasuVei'.  G.  W.  Brodbeck,  of  Los  Angeles. 

Tlu'  E.vecutive  Committee  will  consist  of  the  offi- 
cers of  the  a.ssociation,  and  Messrs.  Allen  Barnett,  of 
Wliitiier.  and  J.  W.  Sti'oug. 

The  association  starts  out  with  a  rnembersliip  of 
forty-three,  besides  three  honorary  members.  Prof. 
C'ook  and  .Mr.  and  .Mi's.  A.  I.  Koot.  The  next  meeting 
will  lie  held  in  Los  Angeles,  at  a  date  to  be  Ii.\ed  b.v 
the  E.xeciuive  Committee.  An  oppoitunitj'  was 
given  the  gentlenu'ii  to  become  members  of  the  Bee- 
keepers' Union,  and  thirteen  joined. 

In  the  afternoon  Pr-of.  Cook  gave  a  most  enter- 
taining talk  on  the  anatom.\- of  the  l)ee.  The  pro- 
fessor is  a  fascinating  si)eak(i'.  having  been  all  his 
life  a  close  student  of  nature.  He  has  studied  care- 
fully all  the  various  cream ri's  of  the  animal  king- 
dom, and  unhesitatingly  ))ronounces  the  lioiu;y-l)ee 
the  most  wonderful  of  them  all.  After  listeniiig  to 
his  interesting  address  yesterday  it  was  not  al  all 
difficult  to  see  how  he  has  so  satisfactorily  tilled  a 
chair  in  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College  for 
years  il  devi'loped  the  fact  that  there  was  more 
satisfaciioii  in  bee-kei;ping  than  merely  that  of 
dollars  and  cents.  This  exanuning  so  closely  into 
nature  makes  nien  purer;  and  the  further  he  delves 
into  her  secrets,  the  closer  is  he  drawn  to  all  lier 
c  reatures. 

After  an  interesting  atldress  by  .^Ir.  Root  the  asso- 
ciation adjourned. 


WHAT    Di:.   TINKEK  THINKS  OF   TIIK    NKW     HOFF- 
MAN    FKAMK. 

Fiienil  Root:—  I  believe  you  Medina  folks 
are  upon  the  right  track  in  sticking  to  the  L. 
frame,  and  not  advocating  a  closed-end  frame. 
As  you  now  have  it.  it  is  simply  a  li.xing  and 
spacing  device  to  keep  the   L.  frames   in   place. 


TIIK    NO.N-HlIRB-fOMH    FKAMKS. 

lOiiiesi  is  light  on  frames.  I  put  (ni  ".'(Ki  lltjll- 
maiis  last  year,  and  they  are  the  best:  also  UK) 
•s  X  1  ^  lop- bar  frames, and  had  no  burr-combs. 

Mt.  fMeasant,  Te.x.    G.  VV.  J{ristijnk,  M.D. 


IMF,    r();.oi{Ai)()  ST.VTK  hi<:i:-kkp:i*kks'  associ- 

ATIO.N. 

.\.  1.  Koot  was  with  us  when  we  organized, 
and  helped  to  make  our  meeting  a  succx^ss.  We 
shall  miss  him  at  our  next  meeting;  but  we  can 
rejoice  to  know  that  our  loss  will  be  (j<t'm  to 
others,  where  hi'  may  chance  to  be.  Since  I 
lirst  nu't  Mr.  Root  last  November,  how^  often  I 
have  wished  thai  this  world  were  full  of  just 
such  good  Christian  ineu!  From  what  little  I 
have  heard  him  sav,  and  from  all  his  writings, it 
would  seem  as  though  he  is  forever  battling 
against  sin,  and  doing  something  for  the  cause 
of  Christ.  .1.  A.  Akiu'cki-k. 

Clieelev,  Colo.,  Feb.  1."). 


PKOPOMZlNfi   TIIK    HOLES  OF    I'KKFOIIATKI)   ZINC. 

I  have  been  very  unfortunate  this  year  with 
my  bees  :  for.  though  I  have  not  lost  any,  yet  I 
luivenot  had  one  spoonful  of  surplus  honey,  al- 
though excellent  gAtlu'iings  are  reported  by 
neighbors  not  over  three  miles  distant,  on  the 
cieek  low  lands.  1  have  had  a  curious  experi- 
ence, which  may  make  vou  smile.  Owing  to 
the  fact.  I  think,  that  my  range  is  poor,  and  my 
bees,  of  course,  have  more  time  than  they  know 
how  to  use  righllv,  they  have  got  into  the  habit 
of  propolizing  heavily;  and  in  oi'der  to  offset 
that  I  used  this  year  zinc  excludei's,  but,  so  far 
from  being  a  success,  I  find  that  all  the  colonies 
but  one  have  propolized  the  holes  in  the  exclud- 
ers until  they  are  all  stopped  up.  Of  course, 
had  they  had  any  honey  the  case  would  have 
been  different;  but  as  it  is,  it  looks  somewhat 
comical.  1  suppose  they  do  it  as  an  amusement 
or  pastime.  A.  Sign. 

Kyle.  Texas,  Dec.  ;.'8. 

[Your  experience  with  the  perforated  zinc  has 
been  quite  unusual.  Has  any  oiu'  else  had  a 
similar  experince'?] 

A   NOTE   TO   A.   I.   ROOT. 

I  have  lieen  greatly  interested  in  "  Moles  of 
Travel  "  from  A.  I.  Root,  and  wish  to  enter  an 
earnest  wish  mat  he  may  extend  his  trip  to 
Florida  and  thence  to  Cuba— most  especially  to 
Cuba.  Tell  him  not  to  be  in  a  hurry  to  return 
to  Medina.  The  improvement  of  his  health  is  a 
matter  of  great  importance  to  his  patrons,  as 
well  as  to  himself  and  family.  I  think  t  here  are 
over  10,0(10  i)eople  w  ho  will  agrei;  with  nu^  in  the 
desire  to  have  him  prolong  his  journey  so  as  to 
give  us  some  interesting  notes  direct  from  Flor- 
ida and  Cuba,  the  lands  of  flowers  and  honey. 
Don't  come  home  till  April.  A.  I.  I  also  hope 
that  Rambler  was  rescued  from  drow  ning  in  the 
gulf  of  Calih)rnia,  and  that  the  junior  editor  of 
(Jleani.nos  did  not  get  a  lictnler  from  his  bicy- 
cle. A.  v.  Flktcher. 

Ludlow,  Vl.,  Dec.  1.5. 

LIGHT  BHOOI)    VS.    HEAVY    HKOOI)    FOUNDATION 
FOK   THE   BKOon-ril.V.MBEH. 

Friend  Root:— I  have  noticed  you  rather  favor 
the  use  of  thin  foundation  for  brood-chamber. 
There  certainly  is  a  great  difference  in  locality. 
We  often  have  a  great  scarcity  of  honey  the 
last  of  Mav  and  lirst  of  .lune,  and  I  have  been 
ti-oubled  very  much  bv  having  the  thin  founda- 
tion eaten   full   of  holes,  and   I  believe  it  w^ill 


170 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


:\Iak.  1. 


stretch  some,  even  when  it  is  wired,  and  there 
will  ht'  drone  comb  drawn  ont.  I  wonld  not  use 
thiir  fonndation  in  hrood-chamherif  the  medium 
oi'  heavy  cost  doiibl(>  prici-;  and  I  never  put  in 
foundation  withoni  wii  ins.  What  use  is  there 
in  saving  a  iitth'  expense  and  failing  to  accom- 
plish one  of  the  objects  of  using  foundation — 
viz..  to  prevent  dione  coml)?  It  can  not  be  too 
thin  for  sections.  J.  F.  Van  Pkttkn. 

Linn.  Kan..  Jan.  27. 


THP:    M  KIXI.KY   BIM..   on    ADUI/rKHATEI)    IIOXKV 
ANI>   I.OW-I'inCKD    HONKV. 

It  is  al?nost  impossible  to  sell  honey  not  sTict- 
ly  firstclass.  TheMcIvinley  bill  has  done  us  in- 
calculable injury;  and  if  something  is  not  done 
soon  to  right  the  wi'ong  flone  ns.  prolitable  bee 
keeping  will  be  a  thing  of  the  past.  Why  are 
not  steps  t!il<cn  at  once  by  the  [{ee-l<(>ppers*  [^^n- 
ion  to  lay  the  matter  befoie  tlie  proper  commit- 
tee of  Congress?  Emu.  .1.  Kaxtki!. 

Nauvoo.  TIL.  Feb.  1. 

[While  the  low  price  of  sugar,  as  provided  for 
in  the  McKinli'V  l)ill.  may  have  some  effect  on 
the  price  of  honey,  it  is  only  slight  in  compari- 
son with  the  way  some  packing-honsos  are  [jut- 
ting up  glucosed  honey  and  calling  it  the  pure 
article.  It  is  quite  useless  to  attribute  all  un- 
pleasant business  phenomona  to  the  McKinley 
bill:  but  against  these  adultcriited  goods  on  the 
market,  bee-keepers  must  i-ise  and  do  some- 
thing. We  were  quite  di-;inclined  to  believe 
there  was  any  such  di-repntable  business  going 
on:  but  facts  coming  in  are  opening  our  eyes 
somewhat.    See  editoi'i;il  comments  elsewhere]. 

Whenever  it  is  a  little  warm,  the  bees  come  out 
of  every  hive  and  mark  all  over  the  ends  of 
them  as  they  do  in  spring,  and  a  large  lot  of 
them  fall  on  the  snow  and  die.  and  I  am  afraid 
that]  am  going  to  lose  them.  What  shall  I  do 
to  prevent  the  slanshtei-  of  my  bees?  I  have 
thought  sometimes!  wonld  put  a  wire  screen  ovei' 
the  enti'ance.  but  have  been  fearful  to  do  so. 
My  hives  all  stand  on  the  noi'th  side  of  my 
house,  but  all  face  tlie  south.  Although  thev 
are  somewhat  shaded  with  trees  and  vines.rthe 
sun  warms  them  quite  readilv. 

Kent,  O.,  Feb.  '?.  H.  W.  Doncasteh. 

[Bees  are  quite  apt  to  fly  out  and  die  as  you 
describe.  We  think  nothing  serious  will  come 
of  it  unless  your  hix'es  have  bad  or  poorly  ripen- 
ed stores.  If  the  entrances  aii'  slnided  tlie 
bees  wonld  he  less  liable  to  tlv  out.  Whatever 
youdo.  don't  shut  tlu>  bees  in  ] 


SUf'CKSS    WITH    nOOI.ITTT.K  8    MKTHoO    OF     I!KAK- 
ING     gUKK.NS. 

We  can  not  se(>  how  any  one  can  fail  to  raise 
queens  iiy  Dool  it  tie's  plan.  We  have  had  a 
poor  vear.  and  yet  we  have  never  tried  a  colony 
and  failed.  We  have  always  raised  some  cells 
(on  an  average  nine),  and  w(^  considered  that 
good.  We  think  the  b(-e-keepers  owe  brotlier 
Doolittle  a  vote  of  thanks  for  what  he  has  given 
to  the  bee-keeping  world:  and  lie  does  it  in  a 
good  way.  not  claiming  all  the  credit  himself. 
That  is  what  I  like  about  it. 

Buffalo.  Jan.  IT.  McKini.ky  i<:  Co. 


WHY   THEV    CUT   DOWN   THE   CO.MBS. 

What  is  the  cau-^e  of  the  bees  cutting 
tlie  comlis  in  tlie  surplus  chamber  in 
queen-excluders  for  extratcting?  What 
remedy?  S.  F.  Mii.i 

N.  Manchester,  hid.,  Feb.  3. 

[We  can  suggest  no  cause   unless  you 
spaced  your  combs  closer  than  I'V  or  closer 
your  custom.    The  (lueen-excliiders  could 
no  influence  on  the  matter.] 


dowir 
using 
is  the 

/EH. 

have 
than 
have 


IX     WHAT     CI.-\SS     OF     THE     AI.BAXV     GliADINO 

WOULD   SOUTHERN   POI'L.VK  OR  Tri.IP 

HOKEY    fOME  ? 

I  see  from  the  reports  of  the  convention  re- 
cently held  at  Albany,  that  there  was  adopted 
a  standard  of  grading  honey:  and  fi'om  the 
way  I  understand  the  matter.  I  think  our  class 
of  honey  is  left  out.  Our  lioney  is  mostly  from 
the  poplar,  or  tulip:  is  of  good  flavor,  and  am- 
ber in  color.  We  have  some  honey-dew,  but  we 
don't  put  it  on  the  market.  If  I  have  not  mis- 
construed the  meaning  of  the  report  adopted. 
I  could  not  tell  what  class  to  put  my  honey  in. 
I  should  like  to  have  a  little  more  light  on  the 
subject.  L.  B.  Tot.an. 

Kerr vi lie.  Tenn.,  Feb.  8. 


HOW    LOXG    M.\Y   A   COLONY   LIVE? 

The  folks  here  tell  me  there  is  a  swarm  of 
bees'near  here  that  has  never  swarmed,  to  their 
knowledge.  Can  you  tell  me  the  reason  why 
they  do  not?  How  long  will  as  warm  of  bees 
live?  L.  Oz.MUN. 

PeEU,  Wash..  Jan.  l.>. 

[A  colony  of  bees  may  exist  for  fifty  years  or 
longer.  In  garrets  tliey  have  been  known  to 
live  for  many  years  without  swarming.  But  it 
should  be  understood  that  the  individual  bees 
and  queens  live  no  longer  than  the  average — 
the  continuance  of  the  colony  depending  upon 
the  infusion  of  new  blood. 1 


TWO     I'OOI!     SEASONS.     BUT    NOT    DISCOURAGED. 

I  am  largely  dependent  on  my  bees  for  an  in- 
come. We  have  had  two  flat  failures  in  succes- 
sion— no  honey  last  year,  and  only  two  or  three 
pounds  per  colony  the  year  before,  and  a  heavy 
feed-bill  to  foot:  but  I  am  not  discouraged,  and 
I  think  I  score  a  point  when  I  say  that  we  need 
to  keep  posted  more  now  than  ever. 

Monroe.  la..  Jan.  12.  J.  A.  Mash. 


GOOD   WINTERINO. 

My  bees  had  a  tine  flight  to-day.  They  bring 
in  a  good  deal  of  pollen.  They  have  "a  good 
supijly  of  food — no  winter  loss.  They  wintered 
outdoors  in  my  own  hives.  Many  of  my  hives 
have  no  frames  in  the  lower  or  brood  story.  I 
have  a  movable  rack  in  the  top  of  the  lower 
story,  with  spaced  joists  to  fasten  strips. 

O'Quiiin,  Texas.  Feb.  2.         J.  C.  Melcher. 


A  GOOD    YIELD   FOR   INI)L\X^   TERRITORY. 

My  crop  of  honey  for  1891  was  ,3().5o  lbs.  from 
;t2  colonies,  spring  count:  ;{loO  lbs.  of  comb  hon- 
ey, and  .50U  lbs.  extracted,  from  unfinished  sec- 
tions. I  increased  to  10.5  colonies — an  average 
of  70  lbs.  per  colony.  .My  best  hive  yielded  1.57 
lbs.,  all  comb  honey.  This  crop  of  honey 
brought  me  a  little  over  $.500.        M.  Herman.  ' 

Berwyn,  Ind.  Ter.,  Jan.  25. 


a   good    INVESTMENT. 

I  have  had  only  two  years  of  experience  in 
bee  culture,  and  it  has  been  both  a  pleasure  and 
profit.  I  began  two  years  ago  svith  four  hives, 
which  cost  me  ten  dollars.  They  gave  me  200 
lbs.  of  nice  comb  honey,  worth  j<20.00.  My  in- 
crea.se  was  two  swarms.  I  could  see  a  net 
profit  in  the  small  purchase  of  .*15.0(),  so  last 
spring  I  bought  iiuite  a  lot  of  colonies  which 
yielded  as  well  as  the  first.  1  now  have  in- 
creased my  stock  to  1(14  hives. 

W.  M.  Scruggs. 

Tracy  City,  Tenn.,  Jan.  1,  1892. 

SOME    HEAVY   SHIPMENTS  OF   HONEY. 

Mr.  E.  R.  Root: — Your  father  desired  me  to 
send  you  a  statement  of  the  amount  of  honey 


ISifJ 


<;i,i:anin(;s  ix  hkk  (Ti/itiik. 


in 


>lii|)lif(l  !)>•  <nir  assoriatioii  lii>I  year.  We  sliip- 
|M'il  l.">:.7tHl  llis.  cxtiaclcd  liorii'V.  IS'.t.'.MO  iicl : 
TS.iMHi  Ills,  cuiiili  hdiicy.  ".'u.iiii'.'  iM't:  ci^^lit  car- 
loatls:  two  went  lo  Nrw  >'imI<.  the  icsi  to  Clii- 
(•airo.  .1.  A.  K.  IiaiNi;. 

IMiiriiix.  Aii/.oiia.  l-i'li.  1">. 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM  A.  I.  ROOT. 


.\M«>N(.  nil.  i;i;k-ki;ki'i:i!s  in  tiik  .mointai.ns. 

As  uc  wiTi'  stamiiii'i  on  tlu'  i>oroh  at  friend 
Moivim'.s.  taikiiisr  about  it.  wiiat  should  friend 
M.  set'  l)ut  an  oeean  sleaniei?  Slie  was  to  leave 
at  luilf-pasl  ten.  and  so  we  liad  to  luistje.  I  was 
told  tlie  Methodist  minister  and  wife  wanted 
to  meet  me.  even  if  for  only  a  very  few  niiiuites. 
so  we  hail  a  lilile  talk:  bin  1  hardly  felt  satis- 
lied,  ami  it  seemed  they  didn't  ei llier,  for  they 
came  after  us  down  to  tiie  wharf.  Friend  Mer- 
cer and  his  wife  had  consented  to  go  too,  and 
we  four  got  the  minister  and  his  wife  on  board, 
sent  back  word  to  their  friends,  and  took  them 
witli  us.  just  as  tliey  were.  Tiie  Ivev.  Mr.  Pet- 
tinger.  of  Ventura,  has  a  strange  history.  When 
he  was  a  young  man.  during  the  days  of  the  re- 
bellion, lie.  with  about  twenty  others,  captured 
a  train  in  the  South,  and  attempted  to  run  it  iiii 
into  our  lines.  So  many  freight  and  other  kinds 
of  trains  were  in  the  way.  however,  that  they 
got  only  al)out  a  hundred  miles.  They  were  ta- 
ken, and  eight  of  their  number  wei-e  put  to 
death  at  once.  The  remaining  twelve  or  foui- 
tpen,  with  death  right  before  them,  went  down 
on  their  knees  and  made  their  peace  with  (Jod 
as  best  they  could  under  such  circuinstanci<. 
At,  this  crisis  our  government  interfered  ami 
succeeded  in  stopping  the  executions,  and  friend 
P.  linally  made  his  escape.  Well,  how  did  all 
this  "  death-bed  repentance''  turn  out?  I  am 
very  glad  to  say  that  the  most  of  them  lived 
good  pure  Christian  lives  ever  after:  and  friend 
P..  after  that  experience,  gave  his  life  to  tlir 
ministry.  Now.  please  don't  scoff  or  langli  ai 
this,  any  of  you.  These  twenty  or  more  youn- 
men  had  volunteered  to  give  their  lives  in  tin- 
.service  of  their  country.  Nay,  more:  like  tln' 
man  who  undertook  to  blow  up  the  iron-clad 
gunboat  bidonging  to  the  South,  they  volun- 
teered a  task  that  was  almost  sure  death.  They 
were  men  of  no  ordinary  courage  and  bravery. 
Such  men.  when  they  dropped  on  their  knees 
together,  and  said.  "  Lord,  have  mercy  on  me  a 
sinner,"  meant,  as  a  rule,  w  hat  they  said,  deal  h 
or  no  death,  and  so  it  turned  out.  I  wondi  i 
how  often  they  remcmljer  that  solemn  and  kh- 
fiil  little  prayer-meeting.  Do  they  sometinn  - 
have  a  reunion  and  talk  it  over?  Very  like] \ 
this  printed  page  will  meet  the  eye  of  one  or 
more  of  them,  for  (ri.EAXiNGS  i.s  now  read  fui - 
ther  and  wider  than  many  of  us  know.  If  I  am 
correct,  every  one  of  that  fourteen  knelt  and 
prayed.  Von.  my  friend,  have  probably,  at 
some  time  in  your  life,  promised  (Jod.  in  a  simi- 
lar way.  to  be(/oor7and  trite.  Have  you  kept  that 
promise? 

Well,  that  boat-ride  to  Santa  Barbara  was 
one  long  to  be  remembered.  P'or  the  first  time 
we  saw  pelicans  in  their  native  state.  They 
were  so  wild,  however,  it  was  only  by  the  aid  of 
a  glass  that  we  could  get  a  view  of  their  strange 
■'dinner-basket.'"  as  some  one  called  it — the  ap- 
pendage, or  sack,  that  hangs  from  the  under 
side  o'f  the  bill.  The  bird  is  about  as  large  as  a 
good -sized  goose,  with  long  wide-spreading 
wings.  We  also  saw  the  wonderful  marine 
plant  called  kelp,  or  giant  seaweed.  The  root 
is  something  like  a  great  onion;  and  the  trunk. 


wiih  its  bushy  foliage,  is  like  a  great  tree.  As 
it  grows  in  water  Iroin  l:J  to  :.'()  feet  deep,  it  is  a 
plant  of  no  small  dimensions.  As  it  reaches  the 
surface,  long  branches,  or  leaf-stems,  extend 
out  in  iveiy  diieciion.  some  of  lliein  almost  or 
(luiie  :.'()  feet  long.  Thuseaidi  plain  covers  an 
immense  surface.  Sometimes  the  foliage  is  of  a 
beautiful  lich  red.  not  unlike  the  colors  of  au- 
tumn leaves. 

The  mayor  id'  Santa  Uarbaia  was  very  sick 
with  the  grip,  and  our  time  was  too  limited  to 
reach  any  (jf  the  oiln  r  liee-fi  lends,  so  uc  visited 
the  old  museum  there,  ami  took  the  cars  back. 
This  miiM'iim  is  still  kept  up,  and  veritable 
•■  monks  ""  of  olden  time  have  i^  in  charge.  The 
most  of  them  niMther  s(>e  any  one  of  thi' outside 
world,  nor  are  they  to  be  seen.  Vi-^itoi-s  ai'e 
permitted  to  go  into  one  small  room,  iiiid  they 
can  also  go  into  the  church.  Some  of  tlie  old 
paintings  in  the  church  are  very  line,  and  ])rob- 
ably  (|uite  valuable.  They  would  be  very  help- 
ful in  oui-  modi'iii  Sunday-schools  andl'.ible- 
teaching.  and  perhaps  they  are  used  in  some 
similar  way— we  hope  so.  I  do  hope,  however, 
that  the  idea  that  any  human  being  can  be  a 
bettei' C'hrislian  by  being  kept  out  of  sight,  and 
away  from  humanity,  may  soon  be  unknown  in 
any  clime.  ■•  I  pra.v  not  that  thou  snonldest 
take  th(!in  out  of  the  world,  but  that  thou 
shouldest  keep  them  from  the  evil." 


.1.  (..  (  ■•\:l.\. 

Our  older  readers  will  ivmember  the  story  of 
tiie  cold-blast  smoker,  and  the  part  that  friend 
Corey,  of  Santa  Paula,  had  to  do  with  it.  We 
stayed  with  him  over  night,  and  he  gav(!  us 
many  valuable  facts  in  regard  to  the  introduc- 
tion of  Italian  bi'cs  into  California.  In  l.S.V.)  he 
paid  SIOO  for  a  single  colony,  and  then  carried 
them  on  foot  one  humlred  miles,  and  walked 
on  snow-shoes  to  do  it.  He  made  a  light  case, 
to  hold  .iust  combs  enough  to  take  bees  and 
stores  (only :«)  lbs.),  and  strapped  it  on  his  back. 
As  he  had  been  employed  by  an  express  coin[)a- 


nil 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mar.  1. 


ny  to  carry  pxpivss  in  this  way.  he  was.  as  it 
were,  trained  foi'  the  job.  Vi-ry  likely  a  bee- 
keepers enthiisias^ni  helped  him  to  carry  out  his 
scheme.  His  bees  lived,  and  he  sold  enough  of 
the  increase,  the  first  season,  to  amount  to 
.S600.  He  tried  to  buy  bees  of  Mr.  Harbison,  to 
get  a  start,  hut  Mr.  II.  wanted  .?1.5fl  per  colony. 
Before  we  find  fault  with  these  prices,  we  must 
remember  what  it  cost  to  gel  bees,  before  there 
were  any  I'ailroads.  Of  course,  bee-keepers  had 
a  bonanza  for  a  while,  raising  queens,  and  in- 
creasing, for  they  could  do  it  almost  every 
month  in  the  year,  if  they  wanted  to. 

Santa  Paula  is  the  oil  city  of  Ventura  County. 
The  oil  comes  from  the  mountains  in  pipes,  and 
Is  here  refined.  As  a  consequence  they  have  im- 
mense tanks  and  quite  extensive  buildings,  with 
the  necessary  refining  machinery.  They  have 
just  commenced  the  manufacture  of  printing- 
ink,  from  lampblack  and  oil,  both  made  from 
the  products  of  the  refineries.  Here  I  for  the 
first  time  saw  a  gas-engine,  run  by  gasoline.  A 
certain  amount  of  gas,  generated  from  gasoline, 
is  exploded  inside  the  cylinder,  and  this  gives 
the  power.  A  small  engine  was  running  a  ma- 
chine-shop and  other  machinery.  No  governor 
was  used,  more  than  a  very  heavy  fly-wheel,  to 
equalize  the  force  given  out  by  each  explosion.  ^ 

From  Fillmore  station  we  reach  the  bee-ranch 
of  friend  Mclntyre.  that  has  been  recently  il- 
lustrated and  described  on  these  pages.  It  re- 
minded me  again  and  again  of  T.  B.  Terry, 
while  I  looked  over  the  ranch  and  talked  with 
our  enterprising  friend.  Like  Terry,  and  like 
H.  A.  March,  he  pays  for  everything  as  he  goes 
along:  and  if  he  can't  pay  for  it.  he  doesn't 
have  it.  He  owes  nobody,  and  has  something 
ahead  to  enable  him  to  grasp  good  chances 
when  they  come  his  way.  Many  of  the  bee- 
men  of  California  can  not  have  their  bees  and 
their  families  in  the  same  place,  and  this  is  in- 
deed a  serious  drawback.  The  best  places  for 
bees  are  away  back  in  the  mountains,  where 
there  are  no  schools  foi'  the  children,  and  where 
their  wives  are  so  far  from  neighbors  and  from 
society  It  is  not  pleasant  for  them.  Friend  M., 
however,  got  his  ground  before  the  fruit-men: 
and  if  they  do  come  into  his  neighborhood,  they 
can  not  very  well  presume  to  drive  him  out. 
Besides,  he  is  a  fruit-man  himself,  and  he  has 
orange-trees  that  he  estimates  will  give  him 
$10  per  tree  in  fruit  this  year.  He  also  raises 
young  orange-trees.  These,  when  budded,  bring 
from  .50  cents  to  $l.,iO  each.  Three  years  ago  I 
was  absolutely  astonished  at  the  prices  paid  for 
these  trees:  and  although  thousands  upon  thou- 
sands have  been  raised,  the  price  for  good  trees 
remains  much  the  same.  It  is  the  old  story 
over  again.  Friend  M.  gets  wonderful  results 
from  only  a  small  part  of  an  acre  of  seedling 
orange-trees.  His  neighbors,  seeing  how  he  is 
making  money  at  it,  try  to  do  the  same  thing 
themselves,  but  they  have  bad  luck  —  the  trees 
die,  etc.  You  see,  he  prepares  the  ground  so 
thoroughly,  and  watches  the  trees  so  closely, 
they  can't  die.  The  great  mass  of  humanity 
vnll  not  pay  the  price  (in  diligence  and  atten- 
tion) of  success.  Reader,  are  jyoK  letting  prop- 
erty go  to  waste  in  just  this  way?  ISIay  be  your 
wife  or  your  mother  can  point  out  just  where  it 
is.  I  saw  th<>  little  water-motor  that  does  their 
washing,  and  which  is  to  carry  the  honey- 
extractor  the  coming  season.  Then  friend  M. 
took  us  up  into  the  canyon,  where  the  oil-wells 
are  located  that  furnish  a  part  of  the  oil  for  the 
pi])e-line  that  leads  to  Santa  Paula.  The  wells 
in  California  are  mostly  located  up  in  the  moun- 
tains, and  the  oil  comes  from  a  peculiar  oil- 
bearing  rock.  While  the  quantity  is  not  equal 
to  the  wells  of  the  East,  it  is  found  nearer  the 
surface,  few  of  the  wells  being  more  than  ,500  to 
600  feet  deep.     We  found  a  single  engine  pump- 


ing four  wells,  and  one  engineer  looking  after 
all.  This  engiue  gives  a  vibration  to  something 
like  an  old-fashioned  horsepower.  Each  arm 
works  a  wire  leading  to  one  of  the  distant  wells. 
Each  well  has  two  wires:  and  these  two  wires, 
one  and  then  the  other,  pulling  alternately, 
work  a  walking-beam  that  does  the  pumping. 
The  tools  for  drilling  are  exactly  like  those 
used  in  the  East;  and.  in  fact,  I  found  both 
men  and  tools  had  been  brought  from  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  seemed  (|uite  glad  to  meet  visit- 
ors, and  quite  willing  to  talk:  and  I  do  not 
wonder  that  they  sometimes  get  lonely  away 
up  among  these  rocky  fastnes.ses.  We  next  went 
away  up  into  another  canyon  to  a  wild,  fearful- 
looking  place  called  the  Devil's  Gate.  Rocks, 
all  the  way  from  the  size  of  an  egg  up  to  a  fair- 
sized  meeting-house,  were  so  thick  in  the  bed  of 
tlu^  mountain  stream  that  it  was  really  fright- 
ful climbing  up  among  them.  Lest  we  might 
indulge  in  reckless  leaping  from  one  to  the  oth- 
er, friend  M.  showed  where  a  man  slipped  and 
fell,  a  few  years  ago.  and  lost  his  life.  As  no 
one  could  find  his  friends  or  relatives,  nor  even 
his  luime.  for  that  matter,  he  was  buried  on  a 
little  bank  beneath  a  bi'anching  live-oak.  The 
stones,  big  and  little,  liave  been  tumbled  and 
rolled  by  the  water  for  so  many  ages  that  most 
of  them  are  beautifully  rounded  and  polished; 
hence  it  is  all  the  more  risky  clambering  among 
them.  In  places  the  water  comes  down  so  steep 
that  it  is  really  a  succession  of  rapids.  The 
water  of  these  mountain  streams  is  usually 
beautifully  clear,  pure,  and  cool:  and  although 
I  indulge  again  and  again  in  copious  draughts, 
it  never  harms  me  so  long  as  1  am  exercising  in 
the  mountains.  Mrs.  Root  followed  as  long  as 
her  strength  held  out.  and  then  she  rested  "  un- 
der the  shadow  of  a  rock  '"  until  we  came  back; 
but,  (lidn't  we  do  justice  to  Mrs.  Mclntyre's 
good  bread,  and  table /«?(  of  good  things  when 
we  got  back  1 

After  dinner  our  host  took  us  over  to  see  his 
neighbor,  "Tommy  Irondale.''  His  name  is 
Arundel;  but  the  bee-men  think  the  former  is 
easier  to  remember  and  pronounce,  and,  possi- 
bly, a  little  more  stylish.  Friend  A.,  as  some  of 
you  may  remember,  has  solved  tlie  problem  of 
being  with  his  wife  and  children  by  locating  his 
apiary  away  up  in  the  mountains  where  no 
fruit-men  will  be  likely  to  want  to  locate.  He 
has  nuide  a  road  up  through  the  canyon,  at  his 
own  expense,  that  is  so  winding  (both  up  and 
down  as  well  as  sidewise)  that  Mrs.  Root  said, 
just  before  Mr.  Mclntyre  crossed  the  stream 
with  his  horse  and  buggy  the  eleventh  time: 

"  If  Mr.  Irondale  had  asked  me  to  become  his 
wife,  with  a  view  of  living  away  up  here,  I 
think  I  should  have  said  '  no"  very  decidedly." 

Now,  shedid  not  expect  me  tell  this,  of  course; 
but  when  we  all  got  around  the  breakfast-table 
it  occurred  to  me  that  it  was  too  good  to  keep, 
and  so  I  told  it,  even  if  Mr.  A.  and  Mrs.  Root 
did  look  a  good  deal  confused.  Well,  it  helped 
us  all  to  become  acquainted,  any  way;  and 
when  I  announced  at  dinner,  that,  after  Mrs. 
Jloot  had  seen  the  wondei'ful  view  of  the  valley 
from  the  fields  above  the  house,  she  had  chang- 
ed her  mind,  and  concluded  she  would  not  have 
said  "'no"  after  all,  she  accused  me  of  willful 
and  deliberate  false  statements.  Now.  she  cer- 
tainly did  say  she  "wouldn't  mind  living  up 
tliere  verxj  much,  after  all;"  and  I  am  going  to 
leave  it  to  the  I'eaders  of  Gleanings  to  say 
whether  it  doesn't  amount  to  the  same  thing. 

Friend  A.  has  certainly  a  very  pretty  farm  up 
there  in  the  mountain-tops,  and  his  horses  seem 
to  have  learned  the  knack  of  moving  great 
loads  either  up  or  down  very  steep  places.  Tlie 
children  (five  in  number)  certainly  do  have  a 
long  way  to  go  to  school;  but,  my  dear  friend, 
look  about  you  and  see  if  the  greatest  men  have 


IS'.fJ 


(;i,iv\.\iN«;s  IN  HKK  I  ri/pri;K 


in 


not.  as  a  )»/(.  lived  out  in  ilic  (■oiiiilrv  several 
miles  fniiii  si'luml.  I  \\  anted  lo  aild.  v\tx\\\  here, 
ihal  /  lived  iwo  miles  and  a  half  iVuni  the 
sclioollunise;  hiil  Mrs.  Kool  dee  lures /(lo.v/  /»(/.si- 
tirclii  thai  I  must  not  say  a  wurd  iihctiit  it.  You 
see.  sin-  is  ■•sort  of ""  looking  after  me  sini'e  I 
liave  l>een  siek.  Mrs.  Koot  and  1  deeided  that 
Mrs.  Melntyre  madi' about  the/«.s7  bread  in  the 
world:  l)iit  aftei'  we  i-limbed  the  mountains,  and 
went  lip  the  eanyoii  to  the  falls,  we  bcfrmi  to 
think  that  Mrs.  .Vruiulel  was  fully  her  e(Hial: 
and  when  I  be^an  lo  try  to  express  it,  her  hus- 
band, in  ills  own  iiuaint.  oomie  way,  said: 

•■  Lives  there  a  man  with  soul  so  dead 
Who  never  to  himself  hath  s;iid. 
This  is  luy  own.  my  dear  wife's  bread'.'"" 

I  suppose  most,  of  you  know  that  the  b(H>-meii 
of  our  land  are.  as  a  rule,  a  little  brislitei",  more 
sni-alu'ad.  and  more  respet-talile  than  theaver- 
atre  men  of  other  callinirs:  but  of  late  I  am 
impressed  with  the  fael  that  bee-keeiiers"  irircs 
are  i-apable  of  standing  riKhl  up  side  by  side 
with  thi'ir  husbands.  I  picsume  it  has  becMi  tlui 
ease  for  somi'  time  back:  but.  like  many  (Ulu^r 
things,  we  luidn't  found  it  (Uit.  Friend  .Meln- 
lyre  placed  us  in  position  at  the  falls.  "  took 
hold  of  tlu>  crank"'  hims(>lf.  and  in  due  tinu!  I 
hojje  to  present  you  with  a  Kodak  view  of  the 
whole  thing.  Hy  the  way.  friend  M.  told  his 
wife  he  would  be  back  that  night:  but  it  got  so 
awful  dark  before  his  i)atient  horse  had  got  us 
there  up  tin'  mountain,  he  decided  to  stay  for 
supper.  After  supi)er  the  luoon  came  up:  but 
there  was  so  much  visiting  to  do  that  lie  did 
not  get  away:  and  when  he  carried  us  back  to 
the  station  next  day  it  was  afternoon.  Mrs. 
Root  was  worried  for  fear  that  his  wife  would 
be  uneasy.  We  got  a  pleasant  letter  a  day  or 
two  after,  in  which  he  said  his  wife  didn't  wor- 
ry a  bit.  for  she  gave  him  the  credit  of  "  having 
sense  enough  to  take  care  of  himself."  — 

l-'rom  Fillmore  we  went  to  Piru  Station.  1 
wanted  to  take  Mrs.  Root  up  the  Piru  Valley, 
for  two  reasons:  First.  I  wanted  to  have  her  see 
my  good  fi'iends  the  Reasoners:  and  I  wanted, 
also,  to  drive  through  David  Cook's  ranch  of 
1.3.0(X)  acres.  I  didn't  know  any  one  in  Pirn,  and 
there  wasn't  a  liv(>ry-stable  there.  I  told  Mrs. 
Root  to  sit  down  in  the  shade;  and  I  would  hunt 
up  a  vehicle.  The  station  agent  said  he  thought 
I  could  get  one  of  a  Siiaiiiard  just  over  the  way. 
I  went  to  his  house,  hut  the  young  lady  I  found 
there  only  smihid,  and  signilied  that  she  could 
not  talk  our  language.  I  thought  if  she  could 
■sinilc  ill  English  she  could  cei'tainly  talk  it  a 
little:  but  I  had  to  giv(!  it  up.  Then  I  found 
her  father:  but  he  couldn't  talk  English  either, 
so  he  called  his  boy  to  act  as  interpreter.  It  was 
real  fun  for  me  to  hear  the  boy's  plain,  clear 
English  translation  of  the  musical  and  some- 
what romantic  Spanish.  The  .Spanish  jieople 
have  always  been  interesting  to  me,  aiul  they 
were  doubly  so  that  day.  I  got  the  directions, 
or  at  least  thought  I  did.  and  started  off.  Pret- 
ty soon  something  else;  interesting  took  my  at- 
tention, ami  I  lost  my  way.  Did  you  neviM'  no- 
tice how  vveii-d  and  strange  things  look  when 
you  are  lost'.'  Well,  they  look  doubly  so  in  Cal- 
ifornia. I  finally  got  into  a  very  pretty  garden, 
and  found  a  luan  cultivating,  t  told  him  what 
I  wanted,  and  lie  soon  rigged  me  out.  Then  we 
talked  something  like  this: 

•■  My  friend.  I  am  an  entire  stranger  here,  and 
how  do  you  know  1  won't  run  off  with  your 
horse  and  l)uggy?'" 

He  didn't  say  much,  but  I  thought  he  looked 
as  if  my  question  was  certainly  a  reasonable 
one.  It  just  then  occurred  to  m(!  that  it  was 
g<'ttiiig  late,  and  Mrs.  Root  must  be  wondering 
where  I  was.  Just  then  I  espied  sonu;  bee-hives 
jiiled  up  against  a  barn. 

"If  that  mail  over  there  is  a  bt^e-keeper  I 


think  he  has  heard  id  me  and  can  convince  you 
that  1  am  whom  I  claiiii  lo  i)e  A.  I.  Root,  of 
Ohio." 

You  ought  to  have  .seen  the  look  of  pleasure 
as  he  came  up  to  me  and  put  out  his  hand. 

"Mr.  Root,  it  is  a  great  pleasure  tometosee 
one  whom  I  have  often  longed  to  see,  but  cer- 
tainly never  expected  to  see  al  my  own  home." 

■■  \Vhy,  how  should  you.  who  an-  not  a,  bee- 
keeper, know  of  me".' " 

"OhI  our  pastor.  Mr.  Petlinger.  loaned  me  a 
lot  of  your  journals." 

"  Mr.  P(>ttingerl  oh!  that  reminds  nie  he  told 
me  I  must  be  sun^  to  hunt  up  a  man  in  Piru  who 
raises  strawberries  all  winter.  Does  he  live 
anywhere  near  you'.' " 

"  Yes,  sir.  and  1  am  the  man;  and  as  you  will 
need  to  hurry  if  you  go  to  Mr.  Reasoner's  and 
back  b(;fore  train  time,  I  will  gc^t  your  horse 
ready.  While  I  am  doing  so,  go  right  out  there; 
and  help  yourself  to  the  berries.  If  you  im- 
prove th(>  time  you  can  get  back  here  at  six, 
and  we  will  give  you  and  your  wife  some  straw- 
berrii's  and  cream  for  supper." 

Did  you  ever!  W^e  have  the  Bible  promise 
that  "  all  things  shall  work  together  for  good  to 
those  that  love  God,"  and  it  does  seem  as  if  it 
had  been  verified  over  and  over  since  I  have 
been  away  from  home.  I  do  not  mean  to  boast 
— you  know  I  do  not;  but  it  does  seem  as  if  my 
poor  feeble  exhortations  had  been  blessed,  oh 
so  iniu'li  more  than  any  one  could  have  any 
right  to  expect!  P'riendPettinger  took  Glkan- 
iN(;s  when  lu;  k(>pt  no  bees,  because  it  taught 
righti'ousness  as  well  as  bees;  and  for  the  same; 
reason  he  loaned  them  to  one  of  his  flock  who 
loved  God  and  loved  flowers  as  well  as  straw- 
berries. And  here,  right  before  my  eyes,  was 
the  fruit  of  it.  I  at(;  a  good  many  berrii^s.  and 
til'  n  remembered  her.  and  hastily  gathered  a 
few  in  my  hands  to  surprise  her.  You  can't 
think  how  delicious  they  were  after  ray  long 
tramp  that  hot,  dusty  (January)  day.  I  put 
the  berries  on  the  seat,  and  drove  out  into  the 
main  I'oad.  Then  I  looked  for  the  depot,  but 
none  was  in  sight.  A  railroad  depot  is  certain- 
ly a  big  thing  to  lose;  but  it  was  certainly  gone, 
and  my  wife  with  it:  the  suii  was  declining, 
too.  and  we  liad  six  miles  to  drive  (up  a  moun- 
tain canyon  jiart  of  the  way)  and  back  again. 
In  despaii'  I  appealed  to  some  schoolboys,  and 
they  told  me  which  way  to  drive.  How  could  I 
ever  have  gotten  so  far  without  knowing  it'.' 
When  I  gave  Mrs.  Root  the  berries  sIk;  said  she 
watch(;d  me  across  the  lields  until  I  vanished 
away  off  in  the  distance.  It  really  seemed  too 
bad  to  say  "  how  do  you  do'.'  "  and  "good -by  "' 
in  almost  the  same  bre^ath  to  such  iiic(>  people  as 
Mr.  Reasone)-'s;  but  there  was  no  ludp  for  it. 
Mrs.  Root  was  very  anxious  to  know  the  name 
of  our  goo<l  horse  that  took  us  along  so  fast: 
and  when  Mr.  Reasoner's  girls  caught  sight  of 
him  they  told  us  very  quickly,  for  they  knew 
".John,"  and  John  showed  by  liis  looks  and  ac- 
tions tliat  he  knew  them  too:  and  then  it  tran- 
spired that  the  Pettingers.  Reasoners.  and  Leu- 
tons  were  all  good  friends,  not  only  because 
they  all  belong  to  the  same  church,  but  liecause 
they  love  God  and  his  gifts.  '■'Bleat  be  the  tie 
that  binds.''  Mr.  Leiiton  succeeds  in  having 
fine  strawberries  all  winter,  and  in  getting  a 
good  price  for  them,  in  exactly  the  same  way 
Terry,  March,  Mcliityre,  and  all  these  others  I 
have  been  telling  you  of  do  it.  They  study  out 
the  reijuired  conditions,  and  then  go  to  work 
with  all  their  brain  and  muscle  to  secure  these 
conditions.  Mr.  S.  Leiiton.  of  Piru,  Ventura 
Co.,  Cal.,  is  a  florist;  but  his  specialty  is  just 
one  particular  flower,  the  carnation.  In  fact, 
he  has  a  circular,  or  price  list,  of  new  seedling 
carnations  —  nothing  else.  He  gave  Mrs.  Root 
a  bouquet  of  these  that  were  just  wonderful. 


174 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mak.  1. 


What  would  you  lliiuk  to  see  '•  pinks  "  as  large 
as  roses?  In  his  circular  he  mentions  them 
•'  three  and  loui'  inches  in  diameter."  1  believe 
the  very  large  ones  are  inclined  to  burst.  Now, 
then,  if  you  are  an  admirer  of  pinks  I  have  per- 
haps done  you  a  service,  as  well  as  one  to  friend 
L.  There  is  quite  a  pretty  family  of  them,  both 
bovs  and  girls;  and  as  one  boy  has  a  Kodak, 
and  his  sister  paints  in  colors,  I  do  not  see  why 
our  friend  should  not  have  his  favorite  flowers 
llustrated. 

It  was  dark  when  we  drove  into  the  town  of 
Piru.  and  we  were  in  another  dilemma.  I  did 
not  take  any  more  "landmarks"  when  I  left 
Mr.  Lenton's  than  I  did  when  I  left  the  depot. 
It  was  almost  six.  and  the  strawberries  and 
cream  were  doubtless  ready  and  waiting.  Fi- 
nally Sue  (that's  Mrs.  Root)  suggested  that 
•Mohn  "  knew  where  he  lived,  and  so  I  gave 
him  a  loose  rein.  He  seemed  a  little  surprised 
at  first,  then  seemed  to  take  in  the  state  of  af- 
fairs: and  didn't  he  just  "fly"  through  the 
streets!  Sometimes  he  seemed  a  little  undecid- 
ed, looking  up  this  way  and  that,  with  his  ears 
pricked  up;  and  he  inade  so  many  turns  we 
reallv  began  to  fear  that  he  like  ourselves  did 
not  know  where  he  was  going;  and  when  he 
went  right  past  the  place  which  I  thought  was 
right,  we  felt  more  troubled.  Finally,  however, 
he  wheeled  suddenly  into  the  well-known  gap 
in  the  beautiful  evergreen  lence.  and  there  we 
were  in  good  time,  i-ight  in  the  midst  of  friends 
who  were  waiting  for  us.  Sue  persisted  in 
thinking  we  must  be  intruding:  but  when  she 
found  that  these  good  people  were,  like  herself, 
from  "  Merrie  England,"  and  not  very  long  ago 
either,  it  was  almost  like  a  family  reunion. 

And  now  about  David  Cook's  ranch  that  I  de- 
scribed three  years  ago.  Well,  many  of  the 
acres  and  acres  of  fruit  are  doing  finely,  and 
some  fair  crops  have  been  harvested  already; 
but  it  transpired  that  a  good  deal  of  it  was 
planted  on  ground  not  suited  for  it,  and  some 
kinds  of  trees  have,  1  believe,  been  dug  up.  and 
something  more  suitable  put  in  their  place. 
Lai'ge  numbers  of  men  and  teams  are  still  at 
work;  and  the  very  pretty  town  and  station, 
with  its  school  and  church,  are  the  result  of  his 
venture.  I  feel  quite  sure  that  most  of  such 
schemes,  started  (it  oiicc,  on  such  a  large  scale. 
inuKt  turn  out  a  mistake,— much  of  it.  Try  a 
little  patch  first:  then  an  acre;  then  five  acres; 
and.  if  you  make  a  success  each  season,  then  it 
may  do  to  put  thirty  or  forty  acres  into  one 
crop:  but  even  so  fast  is  risky.  Because  your 
ncvihbor  has  succeeded,  it  is  by  no  means  sure 
that  ijoti,  will  succeed.  Look  about  you  and  see 
if  I  am  not  right.  Another  thing,  don't  go  and 
raise  a  great  lot  of  any  thing  until  you  know 
just  where  you  ai'e  going  to  sell  it,  and  what 
you  will  probably  get  for  it.  Again,  look  out 
that  the  expense  of  starting  does  not  eat  up  all 
the  profits  for  years  to  come.  A  brother  of  mine 
went  into  pigs  largely,  and  made  a  success  of  it 
the  first  year,  to  all  appearances;  but  he  lias  a 
great  deal  invested  in  pens  that  are  of  little  or 
no  value  unless  he  continues  in  the  business. 
Another  thing,  his  pigs,  without  a  close  super- 
vision that  he  and  his  family  feel  they  can  not 
undertake  another  yeai-.  are  "a  great  nuisance  to 
the  neighbors.  Of  course  he  could,  at  great  ex- 
pense, make  a  pig- proof  fence  around  his  ranch; 
but  the  business  would  not  warrant  this.  I  sug- 
gested making  a  good  fence  around  smaller  lim- 
its: but  he  says  experience  and  all  the  swine- 
journals  say  this  will  not  do.  When  he  started 
lie  vei'y  wisely  got  the  books  and  journals  per- 
taining to  the  industry.  These  class-journals, 
if  well  studied,  will  save  one  from  useless  and 
expensive  mistakes. 

Our  friend  J.  J.  Cole,  of  Tropico,  near  Los 
Angeles,  came  liere  about  three  years  ago.    He 


is  the  man  who  bought  an  apiary  where  they 
run  water  down  from  the  mountain  in  cane  fish- 
poles.  I  mentioned  it  three  years  ago.  Friend 
Cole  went  in  pretty  heavy  on  the  start:  but  he 
has  had  one  good  season  in  three  years,  and  this 
paid  him  back  all  he  had  invested.  One  part  of 
his  apiary  is  made  up  of  bees  that  came  to  him. 
Last  season  he  seemed  32  such:  and  the  year 
before,  'M.  This  seems  astounding,  and  it  indi- 
cates that  vast  numbers  of  bees  must  be  domi- 
ciled in  the  rocks,  trees,  ground,  and  bushes, 
away  back  in  the  great  unused  fields  for  lioney, 
in  the  inaccessible  mountains.  Friend  Corey 
showed  me  quite  a  respectable  apiary  made  up 
of  bees  his  wife  had  caught  right  there  in  town. 
They  are  not  only  quite  plentiful  in  the  swarm- 
ing season,  but  in  the  fall,  after  a  poor  year,  it 
seems  a  good  many  after-swarms  are  starved 
out,  for  friend  Cole  got  most  of  his  during  the 
montlis  of  August  and  September.  Our  good 
honest  friend  told  in  the  convention  of  how 
many  bees  had  come  to  him  and  gone  into  emp- 
ty hives  in  his  apiary,  and  the  number  was  so 
great  that  our  good  friend  l*rof.  Cook  (not  being 
acquainted  with  California)  created  a  good  deal 
of  merriment  by  asking  whether  these  bees 
came  to  him  in  the  "  iiiglit"'  or  in  the  "d(ty- 
twie." 

Mi's.  Root  says  if  I  am  to  start  a  bee-ranch  in 
California  it  must  be  at  Tropico.  Her  princi- 
pal reason  is.  they  have  soft  spring  water, 
brought  down  from  the  mountain.  At  home 
we  always  have  cistern  water  to  wash  with,  of 
cuvri^c:  but  here  such  a  thing  as  a  cistern  is 
unknown;  and.no  matter  how  hard  the  water 
is  from  the  watei'works.  everybody  uses  it  for 
every  thing.  I  have  seen  only  one  cistern  in  the 
State,  and  it  belongs  to  my  brother.  He  catches 
water  (uiough  in  the  winter  to  last  him  all  sum- 
mer, and  they  have  one  orange-tree  full  of 
fruit,  irrigated  entirely  from  this  cistern. 

Friend  Cole  contributes  a  tobacco  experience. 
He  lost  his  appetite,  and  could  not  eat,  either 
breakfast  or  supper.  Pretty  soon  he  could  not 
eat  at  rZi/i/icr  time  either.  It  was  right  during 
the  busy  time  with  his  bees,  and  he  was  fast 
breaking  down.  His  son's  wife,  with  whom  he 
stayed  when  working  with  the  bees,  worried 
because  she  feared  her  cooking  was  not  equal 
to  that  of  her  mother-in-law.  Finally  a  Chris- 
tian woman,  one  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U..  I  think, 
suggested  that  the  whole  trouble  was  tolidrco. 
C.  is  a  man  of  sense,  and,  instead  of  getting  mad 
because  some  one  told  him  the  plain  truth,  he 
tried  it.  Presto!  His  appetite  came  hack,  he 
fleshed  up.  and  now  he  is  getting  jiouiuj  again. 
He  said  it  was  a  hard  fight;  but  when  it  was  as 
plain  as  the  nose  on  a  man's  face,  who  wouldn't 
fight  the  demon?  My  own  father  had  a  similar 
experience.  He  had  his  youth  renewed,  after 
he  had  used  tobacco  for  more  than  tlian  thirty 
years.  Now.  I  wish  I  could  leave  my  tobacco- 
story  right  here:  but  I  am  afraid  I  can  not.  if  I 
am  fair  and  truthful.  Friend  C.  gave  up  smok- 
ing— chopped  it  right  square  ofl':  but  he  chews 
yet — "  just  a  leetle."  He  says  he  can  quit  that 
too  if  he  has  a  mind  to.  but  yet  he  doesn't.  He 
is  a  Methodist,  one  of  the  good  old-fashioned 
kind,  and  he  knows  he  ought  to  quit.  Shall  we 
not  pray  that  tht^  Holy  Spirit  from  on  iiigh  may 
give  him  grace  to  shoulder  this  cross?  He  is 
the  man,  you  may  remember,  who  told  the 
company  who  wanted  his  farm,  to  build  on  it  a 
great  distilh-ry,  that  they  couldn't  have  it  for 
any  amount  of  money,  even  if  he  were  poor  and 
badly  in  debt;  and  when  they  urged  and  tri(>d 
to  tempt  him  he  said.  "  Get  thee  behind  me.  Sa- 
tan," and  he  stuck  to  it,  even  though  it  cost  him 
something  like  a  couple  of  thousand.  He  was 
a  Jtero  when  it  came  to  '-conscience  or  money;" 
but  a  little  pinch  of  tobacco  is  a  stumbling- 
block. 


IS'.i'.' 


liLKAMMis  IN  i>i:i;  ri  l/n  KK. 


175 


Id  the  iiuiltitvi«le  of  cou^st■lo^^^  I  here  is  safety.— Pr.  11:  U. 

At  lust  ai'couiits  Mr.  jiiul  Mrs.  A.  I.  Root  wore 
in  Nfw  Orleans,  and  cxprcti'd  to  visit  Florida. 
Tii(\v  tliinU  it  will  he  inipD^siijlc  for  tlicin  to  go 
to  Cuba.  At  Xfw  Orleans  Mr.  ivoot  had  one  or 
two  slifilit  attacks  of  chills:  hiii  we  hope  the 
trouble  will  not  be  permanent. 

A  i..\1{(;k  amount  of  correspondenee  which 
we  are  unable  to  print  furnishes  i)lenty  of  evi- 
dence to  show  that  sealed  covers,  no  upward 
ventilation,  and  large  entrances,  are  essentials 
for  successful  outdoor  wiiuvriug.  Few  if  any 
argue  for  absorbents  and  upward  ventilation. 
TIk'  fact  that  the  straws  all  blow  the  same  way 
is  suggestive.        _________ 

It  has  been  rumored,  though  we  are  unable 
to  get  hold  of  the  exact  information,  that  n  cer- 
tain Canadian  association  of  bee-keepeisdeclar- 
ed  that  the  Porter  bee-escape  was  objectionable 
in  that  it  tore  the  wings  of  liie  bees.  We  can 
hardly  see  how  this  is  possible,  but  yet  we 
should  like  information,  either  from  the  ("anadi- 
ans  or  any  one  else  in  a  position  to  know. 

A  FKW  days  ago  a  letter  came  to  hand,  bring- 
ing the  sad  intelligence  of  the  death  of  Mr. 
Earle  Clickinger.  the  well-know-  commission 
merchant  of  Columbus.  As,  no  doubt,  many 
bee-keepers  have  sent  him  consignments  of 
honey,  we  are  requested  to  announce  that  all 
his  affairs  will  l)e  satisfactorily  settled  as  soon 
as  possible.  Mr.  Clickinger  died  quite  suddenly 
when  away  from  home  on  a  business-trip. 

As  evidence  of  the  way  tix(>d  frames  are  be- 
ing seli'cted.  our  sui)erintendent,  Mr.  Warner, 
informs  us  that  we  are  now  turning  out  500() 
Hoffman  frames  every  day.  This  rate  has  been 
maintained  ever  since  the  first  of  .January. 
I'rior  to  that  we  were  making  3(XXJ  a  day.  and 
the  demand  seems  to  be  increasing.  At  present, 
fixed  frames  are  outselling  the  loose  ones  ten 
to  one.  This  shows  that  bee-keepers  who  have 
tested  the  fixed  frames  for  a  year  or  so  back  like 
them. 

Jx'ST  as  we  received  notice  of  the  discontinu- 
ance of  friend  Andreu's  enterprising  sheet.  V(j1. 
I.  No.  1  oi  El  C(jliiteneni  Espanol  ('Hie  8iiani>li 
Apiary)  comes  to  our  table,  published  by  En- 
rique de  Mercad(>r-Bellocli.  at  Barcelona.  Spain. 
It  has  It)  pages  the  size  of  these,  very  nicely 
printed.  As  indicative  of  the  hold  that  modern 
apiculture  has  already  obtained  on  the  minds  of 
the  .Spanish  people,  we  (inote  the  following: 

Bees  sliould  be  kept  only  in  modern  or  li-inu' 
hives— the  only  ones  wliidi,  ;iccoi'dinfr  to  our  mind, 
sliouki  be  employed  in  tlie  pnjduetion  of  lioiicy. 

The  appearance  of  this  journal  is  a  sign  in 
the  right  direction,  and  we  are  glad  to  [dace  it 
on  our  list  of  valued  exchanges. 


Wk  had  a  very  pleasant  visit  from  Dr.  C.  C. 
Miller.  On  the  day  of  his  arrival,  Feb.  )2,  we 
were  just  recovering  from  a  severe  attack  of 
earache  and  grip,  and  foi'tunately  he  came  just 
in  time  to  heli)  us  out  in  our  editorial  work  just 
as  the  last  forms  of  the  Feburary  numbcir  wen; 
nearly  ready  to  go  to  press.  He  "was  very  much 
plea.sed  and  interested  in  som«!  of  the  new  de- 
velopemiits  at  the  Home  of  the  Hoiuiy-bees. 
and    especially    admired    the    principle  of  the 


Cowan  eMiaclor.  While  here  he  suggested  a 
new  wrinkle,  lie  showed  how  we  conld  make 
ibis  machine  iilnict  Imllt  shit's  of  llir  fiunhs 
ii'illniiil  slopiiiiKj  the  c.rlniilin-  \H>.  not  even  so 
much  as  reveising  the  crank.  If  he  was  awk- 
ward with  the  Daisy  foundalion-fasteiier  (see 
Sira\\s.  this  issue),  he  was  vei'v  expci't  in  ma- 
nipulating the  Cowan  reversible  extractor  on 
the  new  idea.  He  was  the  first  to  discover  it . 
so  far  as  we  know,  and  we  will  let  him  tell  how 
it  is  done,  himself. 

A  qfi';i<;N-i{i!K,i';i)i^:K  asks  our  advice  as  to 
whether  it  will  pay  him  to  advertise  tested 
(J ueens  at  .*!.:.'.■)  and  untested  at  ^l.fKi.  It  is  im- 
possible to  answer  this  (juestion  by  yes  or  no. 
as  the  success  oi-  failure  of  such  advertising  de- 
pends upon  several  conditions.  The  queen- 
breeder  who  advertises  (pieeiis  must  advertise 
continuously  in  order  that  the  bee-keeping  i)ub- 
lic  may  become  familiar  with  his  name:  and  he 
must  do  exactly  as  he  agrees.  Of  all  things 
most  ruinous  to  a  queen-breeder's  business,  it 
is  to  take  the  cash  for  an  order,  and  tliiMi  send 
a  qui'en  a  month  or  even  longer  after  the  queen 
is  ordered.  Wlnui  a  bee-keejjer  incloses  casli 
for  a  (|n(>en  during  the  later  spring  ami  early 
summer  months,  he  lias  a  good  right  to  expect 
her  to  be  sent  by  return  mail.  When  a  man 
suddenly  discovers  a  hive  is  qu<M'nless.  it  may 
be  a  great  loss  to  him  to  have  to  wait  a  week 
and  sometimes  a  month  for  his  (jueen.  If  any 
of  our  advertisers  delay  their  custoiners  in  this 
way  we  should  like  to  be  informed  of  it. 


Wt;  are  able  to  publish  only  a  few  of  the 
many  articles  sent  in  on  the  subject  of  bounty 
versus  no  bounty  on  honey.  We  should  be  glad 
to  give  insertion  to  them  all  if  we  had  the  space, 
but  we  fear  so  many  might  be  wearisome  to  the 
readei'S.  Perhaps  we  can  give  the  gist,  of  the 
whole  discussion  in  a  nutshell.  The  decision 
seems  to  be  almost  unanimous  that  a  bounty  on 
honey  is  not  desirable,  even  if  feasible;  that 
bounties  in  general  at  best  favor  only  a  few  at 
the  expense  of  the  masses.  One  correspondent 
says.  "  A  bounty  on  honey  is  all  nonsense,  and 
you  just  waste  ink  and  labor  in  having  it  dis- 
cussed in  Gi-EAXiNGK.  There  are  a  hundred 
industries  needing  and  deserving  a  bounty  just 
as  much  as  honey."  The  correspondent  does 
not  add,  but  we  suppose  it  is  implied,  that,  if  we 
grant  a  bounty  on  every  thing,  our  people  would 
be  in  a  bad  plight  indeed.  For  the  pre.sent.  at 
least,  we  shall  have  to  cut  oft' all  further  discus- 
sion on  the  subject,  as  we  are  sure  that  the  few- 
articles  we  have  already  given  suHiciently  indi- 
cate the  general  feeling. 

It  has  been  darkly  hinted  by  one  or  two  cor- 
respondents that  we  have  rejected  communica- 
tions, either  because  they  were  at  variance 
with  some  of  our  "  pet  ideas,"  or  because  there 
was  a  prospect  of  their  cutting  oft'  our  bread 
and  butter.  Editors  may  be  biased  in  tlieii- 
opinions:  we  may  be,  but  we  certainly  do  not 
desire  or  intend  to  l)e.  We  have  often  taken 
pains  to  give  special  prominence  to  certain 
sides  of  discussion  that  were  contrai-y  to  otir 
beliefs  and  experience:  and  we  think  that  tin- 
pages  of  our  journal  will  carry  us  out  in  this 
as.sertion.  If  we  suppress  communications  l)e- 
cause  they  happen  to  differ  from  our  views,  we 
are  unconscious  of  it.  As  we  said  in  the  Bce- 
keepers'  Revieir.  we  say  now,  "  sail  into  "  the 
editor  if  you  think  he  is  giving  currency  to  or  is 
encouraging  wrong  ideas:  but  do  it  kindly. 
We  desire  above  all  things  that  GLi-:AxrxGS 
shall  be  unbiased  and  fair  on  all  subjects.  We 
arc  sometimes  obliged  to  leave  out  matter  sim- 
ply because  of  some  peculiar  condition  or  cir- 
cumstance. One  of  these  coudilious  mav  be 
lack  of  room;  and   th(Mi  there  may  be  a  dozen 


17(5 


GLEAA'INGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mai;.  1. 


or  so  good  articles,  all  discussing  the  same 
phase  of  the  subject.  Manifestly,  it  would  be 
unnecessary  to  publish  them  all. 

In  the  Canddinn  Bee  Joiinuil  of  Feb.  ;».  Mr. 
R.  Mclvniglit  replies  to  our  editorial  i-egarding 
the  matter  of  non-affiliation  on  the  part  of  the 
O.  B.  K.  A.  with  the  N.  A.  B.  K.  A.  We  are 
pleased  to  observe  a  friendly  and  courteous 
spirit  on  the  part  of  Mr.  McKnight;  for.  as  he 
truly  says,  "  The  friction  is  between  bodies 
corporate,  and  not  between  individuals. ""  If  we 
can  not  agree  to  agree,  let  us  agree  to  disagree 
us  brothers.  ]\Ir.  M.  adds,  further,  that  he 
hopes  the  N.  A.  B.  K.  A.  is  elastic  enough  to  al- 
low him  to  still  remain  a  member,  and  we  think 
it  surely  is.  In  the  same  way,  we  have  no  doubt 
that  the  O.  B.  K.  A.  is  elastic  enough  to  admit 
to  membership  a  bee-keeper  from  the  United 
States.  We  tirmly  believe  that  further  discus- 
sion is  ill  advised  and  unwise,  and  that  it  is 
best  to  let  the  matter  drop. 


SUGAK-FED   COMB   HONEY. 

In  the  Bee-keepers'  Revieiv,  page  318.  Dec.  10, 
api>ears  an  article  from  Emerson  E.  Hasty. 
Said  article  raises  a  question  as  to  whether  we 
may  not.  in  i)Oor  seasons,  when  natural  sources 
fail  us,  feed  sugar  syrup  to  our  bees  to  ])roduce 
comb  honey;  and  while  Mr.  "Hasty  does  not  for 
a  moment  advise  selling  such  honey  as  |)ure 
clover  or  pure  basswood.  he  thinks  that,  (/ 
sugar-fed  comb  honey  can  be  produced  at  a 
profit,  and  sold  for  what  it  is— that  is,  cane- 
sugar  honey,  there  is  no  si)ecial  harm  done.  So 
far  we  agree  with  Mr.  Hasty.  But  the  great 
trouble  is,  not  all  the  world  is  as  conscientious 
and  honest  as  is  our  friend  from  Richards.  Ohio. 
If  such  were  the  case  there  would  be  no  danger 
inraisingthequestion.  But.  unfortunately,  there 
are  bad  men  in  the  world  who  might  take  the 
knowledge  gained  by  Mr.  Hasty 's  article  and 
make  a  bad  use  of  it.  And,  again,  if  bee-keepers 
were  to  buy  sugar  syru]),  stating  that  they  were 
to  use  it  to  feed  for  comb  honey,  the  newspapers 
would  pretty  likely  get  hold  of  it  and  herald 
forth  that  bee-keepers  wei-e  making  a  general 
practice  of  this  sort  of  thing,  and  were  selling  it 
for  i)ure  comb  honey,  even  if  the  bee-keeper  in- 
tended to  sell  it  for  cane-sugar  comb  honey. 
It  is  a  good  maxim  to  avoid  the  appearance  of 
evil,  so  long  as  we  have  nothing  definite  to 
prove  that  sugar-cane  comb  honey  can  be  i)ro- 
duced  at  a  profit,  and  we  somewhat  question  it.* 
It  is  not  always  best  to  have  truth  come  out. 
For  instance,  it  might  be  argued  that  it  would 
be  very  unwise  for  any  ])eriodical  to  iniblish 
how  to  make  dynamite"  bombs,  giving  all  the 
necessary  details  for  their  manufacture.  If  the 
people  of  the  world  were  all  honest,  no  harm 
would  result  from  the  publication  of  such  mat- 
ter; liut.  unfortunately,  again,  there  are  evil 
men  who  miglit.  with  the  knowledge  thus  so 
easily  obtained,  do  great  mischief. 

While  we  are  compelled  to  believe  the  publi- 
cation of  the  article  relative  to  sugar-cane  comb 
honey  was  a  mistake,  we  do  not  for  a  moment 
question  th(^  motives  or  intentions,  either  of 
Mr.  Hasty  or  our  friend  the  editor.  Mr.  Hutch- 
inson. In  fact,  «o  one  can  question  the  inten- 
tions of  either;  and  perhaps,  under  the  circum- 
stances, the  less  said  abo\ititthe  better.  The 
article  may  do  more  harm  since  it  api)ears  in  a 
first-class,  neatly  printed  and  well-edited  bee- 
journal — one  that  does  honor  and  crcMlit  to  oui' 
bee-literature,  and  because  the  writer,  Mr.  Has- 
ty, stands  high  as  a  contributor  and  correspon- 

*  Mr.  A.  F.  Unterkircher  (see  pag-e  101,  Gt.eanings 
for  '86>  in  feeding'  l):ick  to  pidduce  CDnib  honey,  out 
of  3500  lbs.  so  fed  received  only  1-'5U  lbs.  of  fed  comb 
honey.  At  tliis  rate,  .sugar-fed  conil)  lioney  would 
not  pay  at  11  cts.  per  lb. 


dent— oue  whose  writings  are  invariably  spiced 
with  good  humor  and  wit.  For  instance,  right 
before  us  is  a  letter  from  a  subscriber,  who,  hav- 
ing read  Mr.  Hasty's  article,  proposes  in  all  se- 
riousness to  feed  his  bees  cane  sugar  to  secure 
comb  honey,  as  the  natural  sources  liave  failed 
him  for  several  years.  He  does  not  say 
whether  he  will  sell  it  for  what  it  is  or  for 
strictly  bee-comb  honey.  This  same  writer 
says  further,  that  heretofore  he  regarded  the 
practice  as  unproHtable;  but  if  it  can  be  made 
to  |)ay,  as  hinted  by  Mr.  Hasty,  he  is  going  to 
"  make  "  that  kind  of  honey.  This  man  is  hon- 
est enough  to  admit  it:  but  are  there  not  some 
others  who  would  produce  the  cane-sugar  honey 
and  keep  still  about  it '? 


ADULTERATING     EXTR.A^CTEI)     HONEY,     AND    TO 

WHAT  p:xtent  the  practice  exists. 

For  some  weeks  back  we  have  been  investi- 
gating to  what  extent  extracted  honey  is  being 
adulterated  on  the  markets:  and  while  we  were 
loth  to  believe  at  first  that  it  was  done  to  any 
appreciable  extent,  we  are  compelled  to  ac- 
knowledge, from  the  evidence  in  hand,  that 
there  is  probably  at  least  some  of  it  done  by  a 
few  disreputable  packing-houses:  but  we  have 
no  reason  to  suppose  that  it  is  practiced  to  the 
extent  of  "  hundreds  of  tons,"  as  first  announc- 
ed. The  shameful  thing  about  it  is,  that  one 
or  two  wholesale  grocery  establishments  (see 
Baldridge's  article  elsewhere)  are  oiTerlng  two 
lines  of  goods — one  adulterated  and  the  other 
pure.  The  traveling  salesman  will  offer  to  the 
trade  adulterated  honey,  put  up  in  glass  pack- 
ages, at  a  price  considerably  below  what  the 
same  package  can  be  supplied  filled  with  the 
pure  article,  and  the  groceryman  is  given  his 
choice.  They  both  look  equally  showy,  and 
both  taste  well,  and  some  grocerymen  will  buy 
the  adulterated  because  it  is  cheaper,  and  sell  it 
for  '■  strictly  pure."  Fortunately  this  barefaced 
dishonesty  is  not  practiced  to  any  great  extent, 
because  the  traveling  men  themselves  "give  the 
whole  thing  away." 

There  is  anothi'r  class  of  mixers  who  sell  only 
adulterated  goods,  and  yet  label  them  "  Strictly 
Pure  Clover  Honey."  We  have  samples  of  the 
latter  goods  sent  us.  and  the  glucose  flavor  is 
unmistakable  and  prominent,  and  Dr.  Miller; 
who  was  with  us  agrees.  The  packages  in 
question  were  made  up  of  jelly-tumblers  and 
bottles.  Each  package  contained  a  small  piece 
of  genuine  broken-comb  honey,  and  around  it 
is  poured  a  glucose  mixture.  By  way  of  paren- 
thesis right  here,  it  may  be  well  to  warn  the  pub- 
lic against  buying  jars  of  honey  (?)  containing  a 
piece  of  comb  in  it.  The  latter  is  probably  only 
a  snare  and  a  delusion,  and  is  intended  to  give 
the  package  the  appearance  of  honesty.  We 
do  not  believe  there  is  a  single  bee-keeper  who 
puts  up  broken-comb  honey  in  this  style — that 
is.  w(^  n)ean  pure  honey  without  any  glucose 
adulteiation:  and  we  would  warn  consumers 
against  buying  hon(\v  (".*)  containing  a  piece  of 
comb  labelled  with  the  name  of  some  big  city 
packing-house. 

Now,  (tleaninos  docs  not  propose  to  stand 
idly  by  and  do  nothing  about  it.  Just  at  pres- 
ent it  is  not  pertinent  or  wise  to  make  known 
our  plans.  Bui  before  we  get  through  we  will 
try  hard  to  make  some  one  squirm. 

Now,  it  may  pei-haps  seem  a  little  unwise  to 
come  out  with  the  knowledge  that  extracted 
honey  may  be  adulterated.  Heretofore  we  had 
not  believed  (and  the  evidence  at  hand  was  not 
sufficient  to  convince  us)  that  extracted  honey 
could  be  adulterated  at  a  profit.  If  it  is  adul- 
terated, and  it  surely  is  to  some  extent,  it  is  un- 
wise to  keep  still  and  let  it  go  on,  for  that 
would  only  give  license  to  evil  men.  and  allow 
the  evil  to  spread. 


IS'.''.' 


(;i,i;.\MN(;s  in  hi:i:  ciM^'rriiE. 


177 


Special  Notices. 


PKAVINK,   Oil    M  AMMIITH,  CI.OVKH  SKED. 

Till'  piico  of  iliis  s«>c(l  li:is  lu'cii  on  llic  iipwar<l 
movo  of  latt.  Ni'Xl  to  alsiki-  :tiitl  while  rlovi'i-  Hit- 
1a>«>s  RatlitT  lioiu'v  fidiii  I  his  vuiifly  most  rciidi- 
Iv.  Wo  havo  soint' (•lioici-  src<l.  in  limited  (|u:imI  il  \. 
as  follows:  1  lb.,  15  e.;  1  peek.  ^^l.'.HI:  '..  bushel.  *:t.ti(l; 
1  buslu'l.lT.tHi;  2  bushels,  li;!.(10.  bajrs  inclmUd.  \\y 
mail,  !•  <".  per  lb.  e.Mra. 

im,.vm:t  .M{.  (!.\hi)EN  imi*uk.mi;nts. 
The  se»v.soii  for  pircU-iiinji'  opei'ations  is  at  hand, 
and  these  operations  ai-e  ffieatl\  faeilitated  by  iIh; 
proper  tools.  TIk'  Planet  .Ir.  fiarden  implements 
liave  a  woild-wid(.>  repiital  ion.  If  yon  are  iidi'iested 
in  e.vaiiiininfi'  the  neat  and  tasty  priee  list  of  these 
tools,  we  shall  l)e  ph  a.sed  1o  mail  you  one.  inclosinj,'' 
oiii- s|)eeial  nel-piioe  sheet  oUerinf;' the  tools  at  eon- 
siderabh  h--s  than  list  priees.  Mailed  fret  on  re- 
<l>'«'si.     ■  

BEESW.W    W.VXTED. 

Tiie  mai-ket  in  beeswax  has  toned  up  (piitea  little, 
so  that  wet'an  oiler,  till  further  noiii'C.  »7  c  per  lb. 
I'iusli.  30  e  in  trade,  for  averajic  wax  dt.'livered  here. 
He  sure  to  put  your  name  and  addri^ss  In  oi'  on  the 
packaiL'-e  when  you  send  us  wax.  for  we  ai-e  daily  re- 
eeivin«r  it  ;  i\\'h\  unless  von  are  careful  to  liiark 
your  bo.x  it  jrive^  considerable  annoyanei'.  We  have 
"bad  two  orlhi-ee  such  caseslately.  Ourselling-  price 
will  be  32  cents  for  averajre,  a5  for  .selected.  No 
eliaiig'e  to  note  in  the  price  of  comb  foundation. 


SWKET  Cr.OVEK— .MEf.ILOTUS   AL,B.\. 

Since  tin-  appearance  of  the  artieli-  on  this  variety 
of  clover  .found  on  pajiX'  91.  the  wi'iter  has  received 
numerous  imniiries  in  regard  to  seed,  and  writes  re- 
<iuestinjr  that  we  notify  our  readers  that  he  lias  no 
seed  to  .sell,  but  that  we  can  furnish  it.  This  we  are 
g-lad  to  do.  It  is  found  in  our  seed  list,  quoted  as 
follows:  18  e  per  lb.;  10  lbs..  i^l..50;  100  lbs.,  !t!l2.00.  By 
mail,  9c  per  lb.  extra.  This  reminds  me  that  any  of 
our  readers  interc-ted  in  \'e^(table-oarden  seeds,  and 
phmts  strawbeiry-plants,  honey-iilant  seeds,  eti;., 
can  have  our  lH-page  seed  catalofrue  foi' a  request 
on  a  postal  g-iving'  your  address. 

COWAN   R.\.PII)   HONEV-EXTKACTOH. 

This  machine  was  illustrated  and  described  in  the 
Jan.  loth  numbei'.  anfl  is  also  included  in  our  March 
1st  (-atalogue.  which  is  nearly  ready  for  mailing'. 
From  tests  made  we  ai-e  able  to  reverse  the  baskets 
in  this  e.xtractor  about  as  i-apidly  and  with  as  great 
ea.se  as  t  he  Stanley  automatic,  even  though  it  is  not 
automatic.  The  leason  is,  that  you  do  not  have  to 
biing  the  revohing  gear  to  a  standstill,  and  then 
turn  the  otht'i-  wa.v,  but  jou  simply  slow  up  the  mo- 
tion suHicienty  to  tlirow  the  baskets  over  with  one 
hand,  one  after  the  otiier.  while  you  keep  the  other 
hand  on  tin-  crank.  It  is  equipped  with  the  new 
vertical  gear,  with  crank  at  side  of  can,  and  for  two 
L.  frames  the  price  is  ifli.du.  A  larger  size,  with 
ba.skets  12  inches  wide,  for  deepei'  fames  or  two 
shallow  frames  in  each  basket.  $14.00. 


THE   NEW  VERTICAL  GEAR  FOR    EXTK  ACTOItS. 

Since  tlie  article  in  the  .Tan.  1.5th  issue,  describing 
this  gear,  we  have  had  a   number  of  inquiries  in  re-  \ 
gard  to  it.     We  put  it  on  any  of  our  regtilar  exti'act-  I 
«)rs  for  $l.(Xt  each  extra.     It  can  not   be  attached  to  ' 
extractors  already  sent  out.  because^  the  top  part  of 
the  revolving  basket  stands  too  high.     We  are  get- 
ting' up  a  gear  with  a  humpback  ci'oss  arm  that  can  ! 
be  attached  to  the  old  extraetoi-s,  and  will  give  bi't-  j 
t4T  wear  than  the  old  gear.     We  hope   to  tell  you 
more  of  this  in  our  next  issue.    We  can  furnish  (he 
vertical   gear  with  cro.t.s-arm.  as  shown  in  .Ian.  15th 
i.ssue.  for  17.20,22.28,  and  30  inch   cans;  17  and   20 
inch.  *1.50  each;  22  inch,  $2.00;   28and  :iil   inch,.t2..50 
each . 

Ar.,SlKE    CLOVER    SEED. 

On  page  16.5  of  this  number  will  be  found  an  inter-  i 
e.sting  and  instiuctivt-  article  on  al.sike  clover— 
when  and  how  to  sow.  and  the  profits  derived,  both 
from  seed  and  tlie  honey  pi'oduced.  Agriculturists 
are  learning  of  its  value  as  a  i)aying  crop  to  raise, 
but  it  looks  as  if  they  were  very  slow  in  doing  so. 
We  have  known  a  number  of  bee-keepers  who  inter- 


ested t  hemsel\  fs  ill  explaining  . a  nd  pr(i\  iiig  to  their 
neighbors  I  he  met  its  of  alsike,  and  furnishing  I  hern 
seed,  soniet  lines  at  cost,  somel  imes  foi-  less.  Iieeaiise 
of  llie  improNcd  p.istiirage  for  his  bees.  As  a  iiile 
he  has  been  abundantl.N  repaid  foi'  his  trouble.  I 
don't  remember  a  time  in  .\eais  when  seed  has  been 
iis  high  ;is  it  li.-is  I  his  yeai;  lint  t  his  should  not  si, ■!  ml 
in  t  he  w,i.\  of  its  being  used.  The  .seed  is  so.liiie  t  hat 
it  does  Mill  require  more  lli;in  half  the  niimlier  of 
pi )U lids  per  acre  t  h.'in  it  does  of  common  red  or  medi- 
um clover.  We  lia\'e  an  extra  nice  lot  of  seed  whicli 
we  furnish  as  follows:  By  mail,  1  lb..  :!;">  c;  3  lbs.  for 
^^l.iO.  I{>  fi'eighl  or  express,  at  your  i'Xi)ense,  I  lb., 
2.-.  c;  4  lbs,  1^1.0  1;  1  peck,  «2.S,I;  >^  bushel,  *5.4();  1 
bushel,  *l0.5n;  2  bushels  or  over,  *10.Cfl  per  buslie  . 
IJags  included  in  such  ease. 


MAIT.E  SUOAR    AND  SVRll'. 

The  niaple-siig;ir  season  is  here,  and  the  woods  arc; 
aglow  with  I  he  tiles  of  the  sugar-camp.  The  toiliTS 
in  this  industry  are  wending  their  way  from  tree  to 
tree,  gathering  nature's  sweet,  and  reducing  it  to 
those  delicious  sweetsthatsur|)ass  honey  itself.  Ohio 
is  the  home  of  the  niiiple,  and  our  Slate  has  laws  so 
strict  that  it  makesit  a  seriovis  mat  ler  to  aflulterate 
the  products  of  the  maple-sugar  eamp;  and  llio.se 
within  the  State  who  are  found  daring  enough  for 
this  nefarious  business  are  few  and  far  between,  if. 
iiifleed,  they  exist  at  all.  As  a  conseiiuence.  ( )hio 
s.\iup  ami  sugar  have  a  national  reputation  for 
purity,  and,  as  a  further  consequence,  our  s;des 
have  greatly  increased  the  i)ast  year.  The  sugar 
bounty  does  not  ai)ply  to  niai)le  syrup,  and  to  sugar 
it  is  in  such  shape  as  to  be  of  no  benefit  to  the  or- 
dinary prodiKH'r.  A  nice  article  of  syrup  brings 
ju.st  as  much  now  since  the  reduction  in  inice  of 
other  sugars  as  bt'fore.  and  there  is  not  much 
chaiigi'  in  the  price  of  maple  sugar.  Tliese  piodiicls 
have  a  market  of  their  own.  just  as  much  as  honey, 
and  a  fancy  article  will  bring  just  as  good  a  price  in 
one  as  in  the  other. 

There  are  man.y  thousands  of  gallons  of  syrup 
produced  within  a  radius  of  20  miles  of  Medina,  be- 
sides large  quantities  of  sugar.  To  help  these  pro- 
ducers we  have  for  jcars  been  the  medium  for  find- 
ing a  market  for  a  large  part  of  tlieir  product.  The 
first  run  is  just  coming  to  market  as  this  goes  to 
press;  and  in  from  one  to  three  weeks  we  shall,  no 
doubt,  be  alile  to  supply  all  demands  at  the  follow- 
insf  prices: 

Choice  s.vrup  in  1-ga lion  cans,  $1.20  iter  gallon;  10 
gallons,  $10  51;  20  gallons  or  more,  SI. 00  per  gallon, 
w"ll  i)iirked,  and  (klivered  on  board  cars  here.  Ma- 
ple sugar  we  offer  in  three  grades:  No.  1,  extra,  at 
9c  per  U).;  No.  2,  good,  at  8c;  and  No.  3,  fair,  at  7c 
I)er  lb.  In  5ll-lb.  lots,  >^c  jier  lb.  less.  In  barrel  lots 
of  about  3uO  lbs..  Ic  jier  lb.  less.  Sugar  is  in  cakes 
of  from  2  to  10  lbs.  each,  mostly  4  to  6  lbs.  in  a  cake. 


We  lm\At  Sugar-Bush 

BV 

IPI^OI^-  ^A^.  J.  COOI^, 

AUTHOR  OF  THE 

HKh-li  EHfKR'S  GUIDE,  lyjIHJOl'S  /A'- 

SKCTS  OF  MICHIGAN,  HTC. 

The  name  of  the  author  is  enough  of  itself  to  rec- 
cmmeud  any  book  to  almost  any  people;  but  this 
one  on  Maple  Sugar  is  written  in  Prof.  Cook's  hap- 
piest style.     It  is 

-«  PROFUSELY  •*   ILLUSTRATED.fr- 
And  all  the  diflicult  points  in  regard  to  making  the 
very  best  quality  of  Maple  Syrup  and   Maple  Su- 
gar are  very  fully  explained.    All  recent  inven- 
tions in   apparatus,  and  methods  of  making 
this  delicious  product  of  the  farm,  are  fully 
described. 

I»It.IC3:EIi  33  C:«».j     loyAXail.38    C7ts. 


A.  I.  ROOT,  MEDINA,  O, 


Ulllili  sell   m.v   Barne«»   Foot-Poiver  Saw  for 

•'    $15  cash  in  advance.    Saw  in   fair  running  or- 
der.   Attachmente,  1  cut-off  saw  6  in.  in  diameter;  1 
rip,  7  in..  oii(>  (5.  one  4:  one  grooving.  4-in. ;  1  emery 
wheel.  4  in.;  1  cutter-head,  X  in. 
.5d  .lONAS  E.  HERSKBEKGER, 

Grantsville.  Garrett  Co..  Md. 


U2 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mai:    1. 


Oinstrain  of  ITALIANS  have  reached 
tlie  top.  They  are  HUMMERS  when  you 
want  bees  for  honey.  Queens  bred  for 
business.  Make  airjing-ements  to  order 
now,  to  be  delivered  when  wanted. 
BEE  SUPPLfEA  AT  WHOLESALE 

AND  RETAIL. 
For  further   information   about  bee- 
fl.vtures,  send  for  circular. 

JNO.  NEBEL  A  SON. 
4tfdb  High  Hii.i,,  Mo. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


POSITIVELY  by  retuin  mail  I  will  ship  war- 
ranted jnirely  mated  Italian  queens  at  fl  each; 
testid,  $1.5  I; "select  tested,  yellow  to  the  tip,  $:i. 
I  jiuarantee  salisfaction,  and  refer  you  to  A.  I. 
Root,  \V.  Z.  Hutchinson,  I).  A.  Jones,  oi-  my  thou- 
sands oi  eustomeis. 

\V.  H.  LAWS,  Lavaca,  Seb.  Co.,  Ark. 
lyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  ULitAMNUb 

Send  for  our 
new  price  list 
of  Bee  supplies 
and  Fruit  pack- 
ag'es.  A  liber- 
al discount  al- 
lowed on  win- 
ter orders.  Ad- 
dress 

BERLIN 
FRUIT  BOX 

CO., 

Berlin  Heights 

Erie  Co., 

Ohio. 

l-6db 

l^"ln  responding  to  tins  aavertlsement  mention  CtLKaninoh 


TEXAS. 

Queens  by  return  mail  .-i  specialty.  Untested, 
Marcli,  April,  and  May,  $1.00  each;  six,  $5.00;  after, 
'i'5ceach;  six,  14.20,  or  $8.00  per  dozen.  Discount  on 
larger  orders.  Contracts  made  to  furnish  certain 
number  weekly.  The  above  are  the  three-banded 
Italians.  I  also  breed  the  five-banded  strains  at 
above  price  except  tested,  of  which  I  will  have 
none  till  April  15th.  A  few  fine  breeder.s,  eitlier 
race,  *5.00.  I  have  changed  my  postottice  from 
Farmersville,  Texas,  to  Floyd.  Money-order  office, 
Greenville.  JENNIE  ATCHLEY. 

Itfdb  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 

|^"ln  responding  to  this  advei-tiseTiiont  mnntion  ULEAXTNGa. 


My  Catalogue  of  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES 
for  1892  is  free  :  My  Pamphlet,  "HOW  I 
PRODUCE  COMB  HONEY,"  by  Mail.  5  cts. 

GEO.  E.  HILTON,  Fremont.  Mich. 

Please  mention  GLEANINGS.  -MSdb 


ST.  JOE.  2v£0. 

We  have  the   latest  hive  out,  and  the  onlv  full 
stock  of  suiiplies.    Write  E.  T.  ABBOTT.  4tfdb 

^BBST    OX7    SARTXI-I^ 

ELEVEN  YEARS 

WITHOUT  A 
PARALLEL,  AND 

THE  STAND- 
ARD   IN     EVERY 
i.'IVlLIZED 
COUNTRY. 

Bingham  &.  Hetherington 


Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 


Standard    Size. 


Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 


Six  Sizes  and 

Prices. 

Doctor  Smoker,      33^  in. 

postpaid  . 

.  .S2.tK) 

Conqueror    "           3       " 

. .    1.75 

Large             -          2^    " 

.  .    1.50 

Extra  (wide  shield)  2       " 

..    1.25 

Plain  (nariow    •'    }  2 

..   100 

Little  Wonder.          \X    " 

..      65 

[Jneapping  Knife 

..115 

is 


Sent   promptly  on   receipt  of    price.    To 
sell  again,  send  for  dozen  and  half-dozen  rates. 


Milledgeville,  111  ,  March  8, 1890. 
Sirs:— Smokers  received  to-day.  and  count  cor- 
rectly.   Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  I  do 
vour  trade  will  boom.  Truly,       F.  A.  Snell,. 

Vermillion,  S.  Dak.,  Feb.  17, 1890. 
Stks:— I  consider  your  smokers  the  best  made  for 
any  purpose.    I  have  had  15  \  ears'  experience  with 
■30(1  or  4it0  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak. 
Very  truly^ R   A   Morgan. 

Sarahsvdle.  Ohio.  March  12. 1890. 
SiHS: — The  smoker  I  have  has  done  good  service 
since  1883.        Yours  truly,        D.a.niel  Brothers. 

Sond  for  descriptive  circular  and  testimonials  to 

Itfdb  BiKOHAU  &  HsTBEsmsTOH.  Abronia,  Mich. 


APRAY  YOUR  FRUIT  TREES  I  VINES 


& 


Wormy  Fruit  and  Leaf  Blight  of  Apples,  Pean,  Cherriea,  CVPCI  ClftD  8PRATIN* 
Grape  and  Potato  Rot,  Plam  Oorenlis  preTcnted  by neing  lAULLOIUii  OUTFITS. 
PERFECT  FRUIT  ALWAYS  SELLS  AT  GOOD  PRICES.  Oatalosne show, 
ing  all  injnrionB  insects  to  Frnits  mailed  free  TiOTge  stenk  of  Fruit  Trees.  Vines, 
and  Berry  Plants  at  Bottom  I'riceH.    Addresa  WM.  STAUL,  Quincy,  Ills. 


f#"lii  re>t)onaing  to  tlii.s  atlv 


leiit  Biention  GLEANINaa. 


ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the   East  should 

DC8r  In  JyI i no '^^^*^^'^*^^®^'^*^^'^^^<^*^sy^"*^"s®^"  E3 stern  Drsnch 


where  our  IJce-keepei-s' Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and   prompt  shipment.     You   can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.     We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.     He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Add  less  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.   SALISBURY,    Agent,    Syracuse,    N.  Y. 


Me£ 


ti^LEANlNGS  IN  HHE  CULTURE. 


TREES  and  PLANTS  that  thrive  in 
Northern  climates,  as  well  as  for  Southern. 
Why  not  buy  direct  at  half  the  price  usually 
paid  to  Tree  ajjents  ? 

Lovett's  Guide  to  Horticulture  is  issued, 
of  course,  with  the  object  of  selling  goods,  but 
we  also  bear  in  mind  that  the  public  will  not 
be  satisfied  to  have  us  blow  our  <iwn  horn  un- 
less we  take  pains  to  repay  them  for  their 
trouble  in  listening. 

Hence  we  have  issued  this  book,  which  is 
the  most  elaborate  and  complete  ever  pub- 
lished by  any  Nursery  Establishment  in  the 
world.  It  is  finely  illustrated  and  tells  all 
about  planting,  pruning  and  care.  Reliable 
information  fills  it  from  cover  to  cover.  No 
person  interested  in  the  garden  and  orchard 
should  be  without  this  handsome  book.  Write 
for  it  at  once.  It's  Free,  or  with  colored 
plates  ten  cents. 

Distant  Shipments  a  Specialty. 
J.  T.  LOVETT  CO.,  Little  Silver,  N.  J. 


Gr*in  respuiulintr  »  tliU 


eiit  metillon  OLRAKINas, 


$4  or  $5 

Will  buy  ONE  HIVE  of  ITALIAN  BEES 
ANi>  QUEEN.  Simplicity  Hive  and  Frame  or 
Hoffman  Closed-End  Framt;  and  Hivo. 

JOHN  A.  THORNTON, 
*■'*"'  Lima,  Illinois. 

Please  mHntlon  this  paper. 


I-OCATIOlSr 

I»  a  bijr  jtx/Dif.  in  supply  ing'  jrood.s;  ours  g:i\os  you 
low  frcifflit  rates.  As  we  sell  low,  you  sliould  have 
our  circuhii' of  siipiilies.  l-18dh 

I.  J.STRINGHAM,  92  BARCLAY  ST.,  N.  Y. 

I'leiisp  mention  tliis  paper. 

ALSIKE. 

Now  is  tlie  time  to  sow,  and  riuriiitr  the  ne.x't  two 
months.  We  have  a  jToofl  supply  of  choice  seed  at 
the  following-  pi-ices,  which  are  low  for  the  present 
condition  of  tlu^  market: 

1  lb.,  postjiaid,  .nr;  '.i  ll.s.  f<.r  •'fl.OO. 

1  lb.  with  other  froods.  li.ic;  4  lbs.  for  ■'fl.(KI. 

1  peck  (].")  lbs. I.  *;.'.«);  ;4  bushel,  $0.40. 

1  bushel.  110.5(1;  ^'  bushels,  lau.Oi. 

Bag  included  in  every  case. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  O. 


Everybody 
Admihs. 

0ther5eeds^^Equallyi^Reliable 

•Seed  Annual  free,    --        wriie  For  ih  NOW! 
A. Af/. LIVINGSTON'S  SONSj 

t9*In  respondintr  to  this  advertisement  mention  GleaNINos. 

TEXAS. 

Queens  by  return  mall  a  specialty.  I'ntested, 
March,  April,  and  May,  fl.OO  each;  six,  $,5.00;  after, 
VSceaeh;  six,  $4.30,  or  $8.00  per  dozen.  Discount  on 
larjfer  orders.  Contracts  made  to  furnish  ceitain 
number  weekly.  The  above  are  tlie  tliree-l)arided 
Italians.  I  also  breed  the  five  banded  sti'ains  at 
above  price  except  tested,  of  which  T  will  have 
none  till  April  l.'ith.  A  few  tine  breeders,  either 
race,  *.5.00.  1  luive  chantred  my  postoffice  from 
Farmersville,  Texas,  to  P'loj  d.  Money-order  office, 
Greenville.  JENNIE  ATCHLEY. 

Itfdb  Flovd.  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 

tyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  OJLkaninos. 


J.  C.   SIJLYLES, 

HARTFORD,  WIS., 

Manufactures  Apiarian  Supplies  of  Every 

Description.     Catauogue  Free  to 

All.    Send  Your  Address. 

3tfdb  t'lease  mention  this  paper. 

Honey  ^  E:>^ttTaGtoi^. 

Square  Glass  Honey-Jans, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee-hives. 
Honey-Seetions,  &e.,  &e. 

Perfection  Cold-Blast  Snookers. 

APPLY  TO  ^^^        v^^-^^■^.r^.^ 

CHflS.  F.  jnVTH  &  SON,  Cincinnati,  O. 

Send  lOct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee  keepers.'' 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

Wholesale  and  Retail  Manuiacturer 

and  Dealer  m      BEE-KEEPERS'    SUPPLIES. 
ONE-PIECE  SECTIONS  A  SPECIALTY, 

AS  GOOD  AS  THE  BEST. 
Send  foi-  catalop-ue.  W.  E.  SMITH, 

5tfdl)  Sncce.ti.sdr  to  Smith  A  Smith, 

Kenton,  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio. 

In  wiiting  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper 


Bee-Hives  ^  Sections 

A  specialty.     Foundation,  Sniokeis,  etc..   In   .stock. 
Send  for  new  list,  free. 
4tfdb  W.  D.  SOPER,  Jackson,  Mich. 

Choice  Fowls  and  Egg-s  for  sale  at 
all  times.    Finely  illustrated  circu- 
lar free.       GEEK  BKO?    St.  Marys.  Mo.    31tfdb 


POULTRY. 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Ma£.  16. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Absorbents  v.  Sealed  Gov's.  198 

After-swarms 207 

Alum  for  Snakebites 206 

Antonv  Bumpke's  Scrape... 200 

Boiint V,  Elw.iud  on 197 

Cases,  Outside  Winter 2J6 

liistani-e,  Fi.xed,  A  Bad 2(13 

ExcUiders,  Propolized 207 

Kxtractor,  Goold 191 

Koul  Brood  Not  in  Nebr'ka.205 

(ij-artinp  Honey.  Miller 189 

Hiver,  Pratt's 199 

Uniiey,   ,\rtifirial 212 

H.mt'v.  Evaiii. rating  ...206.207 

Hnniv,  l'i.i>(.n 205 

Honey.  Cost  of 184—189 

Honey,  (irailing 191 


Honey  from  Sugar 202 

Honey-dew  in  Cellar 303 

Manum  Running  5  .\piariesl88 

Mountain  Laurel 206 

Moving  to  a  Ne  .  Place  212 

Old  Mission 212 

Onion,  Prizetaker 20."> 

Paralysis,  Bee 201 

Planting  for  Bees 203 

Queens  Dying 2fi6 

Queens,  Mating  Habits  of.. .193 
Rambler  in  Sacramento.   ..196 

Salt  for  Foul  Brood 19.i 

Spraying  Trees 192 

Wax  Secretion 202 

Wilson's  Peak 207 

Wings,  Injury  to 207 


CIHCULAKS  RECEIVED. 

Catalogues  have  lately  been  receive<l  from  the  following: 

W.  H.  Laws,  Lavaea,  Ark. 

E.  Kretciimer,  Red  Oak,  la. 

W.  D.  Soper,  Jackson.  Mich. 

treer  Brothers,  St.  Mary's,  Mo 

S.  Valentine,  Hagerstown,  Md. 

W.  H.  Norton,  Skowheg.an,  Me. 

P.  L.  Viallon.  Bayou  Goula,  La. 

J.  M.  Young,  Plattsmouth.  Neb. 

Luther  &  Horton,  Redlands,  Cal. 

A.  A.  Weaver,  Warrensburg,  Mo, 

.T.  Van  Deusen  &  Sons,  Sprout  Brook,  N.  Y. 

E,  L,  Goold  &  Co.,  Brantford,  Ontario,  Canada. 

The  following  are  from  our  press: 

N,  A.  Knapp,  Rochester,  O. 

J.  D,  Krnnady,  Jordan,  Ky. 

Jolin  S.  Reese,  Winchester,  Ky. 

Engh  &  MePherson.  Lochiel,  Wis, 

A,  F,  McAdams,  Columbus  Grove,  O. 

Plinn.y  Shepardson.  Freeport,  Wash. 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


The  sixth  semi-annual  convention  of  the  Missouri  State  Bee- 
kLCpers' Association  will  be  held  at  Pertle  Springs.  Warrens- 
burg, Mo..  .Apr.  6  and  7, 1892,  in  the  parlors  of  the  Minnewawa 
Hotel  —  the  finest  in  Johnson  Co.  A  rale  of  $1.00  per  day  has 
been  secured  for  bee-keepers  attending  the  convention. 

W.  S,  DoRN  Blaskk,  Sec,  Higginsville,  Mo, 


The  Utah  Bee-keepers'  Association  will  hold  a  convention  in 
this  city,  April  7th.  The  organization  has  evei-j-  indication  of 
being  a  decided  success  this  time,  J,  C.  Swaner,  Sec. 

Salt  Lake  City. 


Spec/al  Notices. 


STRAWBERRIES. 

A  friend  ill  Indiana  calls  attention  to  "strawber- 
ries" in  our  seed  catalogue  wlicre  tlie  Sterling  is 
classed  as  a  f<taminate  or  perfect-blossom  variety. 
The  tlirce  kinds  last  mentioned  on  our  list.  Sterling-, 
Biibacli,  and  Haverltmd  are  pistillates,  or  imperfect 
flowering-  varieties,  and  need  f  rtini  one-fourtli  to  one- 
half  their  number  of  staminates  such  as  Jessie  or 
Gandy  planted  with  them  to  insure  a  paving  crop  of 
fruit.  

VVaiTE     DUTCB    AND  SWEET    CLOVER  SEED  WANTED. 

Our  stock  of  wliite  Dutch  clover  seed  is  almost 
exliausted,  and  sweet-clover  seed  all  gone.  If  any 
of  our  i-e;i(lers  liave  seed  of  either.to  sell,  you  will 
kindly  submit  samples  at  once,  stating  how  much 
you  hjive,  and  if  possible  tlie  price  you  want  for  it. 
We  witlidraw  our  published  selling  prices  on  white 
Dutch  till  we  are  supplied.  It  will  probably  be  the 
same  price  as  alsike.  We  will  bill  it  as  low  as  we 
can  afford  on'^such  orders  as  we  receive.  ■ 


POULTRY    NETTING  AND   FENCING. 

Our  special  netting  and  fencing  catalogue,  with 
discount  sheet,  is  now  ready  for  mailing.  These 
calaloaiies  ;ire  furnished  us  b.^■  the  nianiitacturers, 
and  we  have  been  out  of  them  for  some  months. 
Owing-  to  enlargement  of  the  factory,  and  other 
causes,  we  have  been  delayed  in  getting  the  lists, 
and  have  .several  hundred  api>lic:itions  that  have 
accumulated  for  the  past  few  months.  If  any  who 
lia\  e  already  written  foi-  one  do  not  receive  itwith- 
iii  the  ne.\t  ten  days,  drop  us  a  postal,  with  another 
request.  We  have  no  change  in  price  to  note,  our 
prices  being  the  same  as  last  year,  and  given  in  con- 
densed form  on  page  51  of  our  catalogue.  We  shall 
be  pleased  to  mail  the  special  list  to  any  on  applica- 
tion. 


MAPLE  SUGAR  AND  SYRUP. 

Since  the  appearance  of  the  notice  of  sugar  and 
syrup  in  last  number  we  have  received  a  good  many 
orders,  especially  for  .sugar.  We  have  also  had  a 
spell  of  winter  weather,  so  that  very  little  sugar 
lias  been  brought  in  yet  by  the  producers,  although 
we  have  syrup  enough  oftered  to  meet  all  demands. 
We  hope  very  soon  to  have  plenty  of  sugar  for  all 
ordei-s.  In  former  years  we  have  always  had  a  sur- 
plus, and  see  no  reason  wliy  we  should  not  have 
enough  for  all  demands  this  year.  As  we  have  three 
grades  of  sugar,  and  syrup  is  offered  us  in  about  iis 
great  variety,  we  have  decided  to  offer  you  two 
grades  of  this.  No,  1  gilt-edge  will  be  $1.30  per  gal- 
lon; 10  gal.,  $10.50.  No.  2,  good  quality,  $1.00  per 
gallon;  10  gal.,  $8.50.  What  we  list  here  as  No.  3 
good  is  liked  by  some  fully  as  well  as  the  gilt-edge, 
;ind  bj'  some  even  better.  It  is  a  good  ordinary  run 
of  syrup,  and  we  can  supply  you  all  you  want  at 
above  figures. 

NEW  HA51MOND  TYPEWRITER   FOB  $60.00. 

We  have  a  new  Hammond  typewriter  that  has  not 
done  two  full  days'  "work,  that  we  offer  for  sixty 
dollars.  It  has  the  "  Universal  "  keyboard,  same  ai-- 
rangement  as  the  Remington.  We  got  the  machine 
expecting  to  use  it  in  our  office  because  of  .some 
superior  polntsthatitpossessesover  other  machines. 
We  found  on  trial,  however,  that,  although  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  keys  is  the  same,  the  touch  of 
them  is  so  different  that  a  Remington  operator 
could  not  write  successfully  on  the  Hammond 
without  learning  over  again.  The  Remington  and 
other  similar  macliines  have  the  staccato  (or  piano) 
finger  movement,  while  the  Hammond  has  the 
legato  (or  organ)  movement.  The  Hammond 
seems  to  be  preferred  by  clergymen  and  other  pro- 
fessional men  who  do  not  use  it  continuously  as  we 
do  in  a  business  office.  Dr.  Miller  and  G.  M.  Doo- 
little  both  use  and  prefer  the  Hammond,  and  would 
no  doubt  tell  you  that  the  above  offer  is  a  bargain. 


A  GOOD  TIME  COMING. 

As  a  rule  I  do  not  like  to  hear  people  gi-umble; 
but  there  is  one  kind  of  grumbling  that  I  am  watch- 
ing and  waiting  for— yes,  I  am  hungering  to  hear  a 
little  of  it.  When  it  comes  I  expect  it  to  be  some- 
thing along  in  this  line:  "What  has  got  into  these 
farming  people  V  They  are  getting  so  thej'  charge  a 
body  just  wliat  they  have  a  mind  to,  and  they  know 
we  can  not  help  ourselves.  Clover  seed  that  used 
to  be  three  or  tour  dollars  a  bushel  is  now  eight  and 
ten;  and  these  bee-keepers  that  raise  alsike  want 
even  more.  The  yellow  onion-sets  are  $7.00 a  busliel 
at  wholesale.  Wheat  and  Hour  are  going  up  con- 
stantly, and  nobody  knows  what  things  are  coming 
to."  Well,  friends,  I  have  not  heard  anybody„say 
just  tliat;  but  in  looking  o%'er  a  price  list  dated 
March  15*  of  seeds,  etc.,  1  thought  it  looked'  some- 
thing like  it.  There  has  been,  as  you  know,  a  ten- 
dency to  run  away  from  the  farms,  and  crowd  into 
town;  and  I  fully  expect  that  tliese  people  who 
like  real  progressive  farming  are  going  to  have  a 
good  time  after  a  little.  So  don't  you  be  in  a  hurry 
to  desert  the  farm  where  vou  are  now  doing  even 
tolerably  well.  A.  I.  R. 

CLOVER  SEED. 

Two  weeks  ago  we  announced  an  advance  In  the 
price  of  pea  vine  or  mammoth  clover  seed  from  $6.00 
to  $7, iiO  per  bushel.  It  has  .since  gone  up  at  such  a 
rate  that  it  is  worth  to-day  fully  as  mucli  tis  alsike, 
which  we  are  selling  at  $10.50,  or  two  bushels  for 
$20.00.  Common  red  or  medium  clover  is  al.so  the 
same  price.  This  ought  to  stimulate  the  demand 
for  alsike  seed,  because  it  does  not  require  more 
than  half  as  many  pounds  of  .seed  to  the  acre  as  of 
the  large  clovers,  because  tlie  seed  is  so  fine.  You 
can  see  from  the  article  on  page  165  of  last  issue 
that  it  is  fully  as  valuable  for  hay,  as  well  as  for  a 
paying  seed  crop.  We  have  a  good  supply  of  choice 
seed  at  prices  last  n;iiiied.  We  <-an  not  fill  orders 
alter  this  date  for  i)ea\  iue  at  less  than  the  price  of 
alsike,  unless  the  market  subsides  again.  You  may 
be  sure  we  will  give  you  the  best  price  we  can,  con- 
sistent with  the  market  as  it  lules  at  the  time  jjour 
order  comes.  Some  few  are  so  unreasonable  as  to 
insist  that  we  fill  orders  at  the  catalogue  price 
printed  some  time  ago,  no  matter  where  the  mai"- 
ket  goes  or  wliat  we  have  to  pay.  As  a  rule,  these 
are  the  people  who  do  not  watch  the  market  and  In- 
form themselves  of  what  is  going  on.  When^.the 
market  is  so  unsteady  as  it  has  been  on  clover  for 
the  past  two  or  three  montlis,  there  is   no  printed 


18W 


GLEANIN(JS  IN  IlEE  CULTURE. 


jii-loo  li^t  iliat  i-;in  kwp  puce  wil  li  It;  iiiid  we  dis- 
riiu'tly  stalo  that  piii-cs  ai'i>  subjivt  to  cliaiiKi'  wllli- 
mit  iiolioc.  A>  wi' liavc  a  KiMxl  supply  of  iilsike  wo 
I'uii  iiiaiiitaiii  prfscni  prico. 

DKOLINK   IN   THE    PUICES   OK  G.VHUKN    SEEDS. 

Ill  flxiiiK  llu>  pricos  oil  our  soods  wi- do  not  wish 
to  1)0  1h>1ow  otlior  n'liabU'  svodsiiuMi,  neitlicr  do  wi' 
wisli  to  1)0  al)o\'o  thorn.  Wlioii  wo  kh'w  a  tliio  stock 
Willi  iniioli  pains  and  caro,  wo  at  onco  consult  otl'i  rs 
from  various  rolialilo  sources,  and  tlx  our  pricos  ac- 
oordin>rly.  If  wo  discovor  lator  that  sonio  roliablo 
)rrowor  lias  (j-ivon  a  bolter  prico,  of  coiiist'  W(>  nnisl 
adopt  tlio  saiiH"  piico,  whotlior  wo  inako  or  lose  in 
iho  oporalion.  Tlu'rot'ort'  wi'  niako  tlio  following 
chan>ro8  in  our  catalojiuo  for  IS!':.'.  In  takinf4'  thoso 
pricos,  ])loa.so  romoiiibor  tlio.\  aw  tifrurod  so  close 
that,  whoii  soeds  are  wanted  l)\  mail,  you  must  add 
1  ci'iit  |)or  ouiico;  Sc  iior  half-pound,  or  (tc  por  pound, 
to  cover  postajro  and  packing.  Peas  and  beans  by 
the  pint  and  (|uari  must  alsi)  have  8c  por  pint  and 
I'lc  i>or  <|uart  added.  On  corn,  aiid  l~c  per  quart. 
NEW  PUiiEs  ON  (..\ki>i;n  seeds. 

Heiid(M-soii"s  bush  lima  bean.    Qt.,  4l)c;  pock,  l-I.T"). 

Kidney  wax  bean.    Pint,  15c;  peck,  11,50. 

Extra  earl.v  Jersey  pole  lima  beans,  Qt,,  30c;  pk., 
12  ■  5 

kinjr  of  the  Garden  lima,    Qt.,  aic;  peck,  $2.25. 

Heiidei-son's  Earlv  Summer  cabbajre.  Oz.,  20c;  lb., 
$2.2;). 

Pottler's  Brunswick.    O/,.,  2lV:  lb..  *2,00. 

Larg-o  Red  Drumhead.    Oz.,2Je;  lb.,  $2.25. 

Dwarf  Golden  Heart  celery.    Oz.,  15c;  lb.,  $1.75. 

Corn,  Corey's  Extra  Early;  Slioepeg;  Lato  Mam- 
moth, and  Gold  Coin  will  all  be  sold  at  tbe  uniform 
price  of  H  |)int,  5c;  qt.,  l-5c;  peck,  75;  bushel,  $2.75. 

Lettuce.  Grand  Kapids.    ()/..  20c;  lb..  $2.25. 

Muskmelons,  Emerald.    Oz..  lUc;  lb..  75. 

Miller's  Cream,  same  as  ab(we. 

Onions,  Silverskin,  or  white  Portugal.  Oz..  25c; 
lb.,  $:}.00. 

Yellow  Globe  Danvers.  Oz.,20c;  lb.,  $2.00;  5  lbs., 
$1.75  peril). 

White  Victoria.    Oz  .  25c;  lb..  $3.00. 

Parsnip.  Improved  Guernsey.  I,b..  -tOc;  10  lbs., 
*;^.()0. 

Peas,  Alaska.    Peck.  $1..50;  bushel.  $5.00. 

American  Wonder.    Peck,  $1.75;  bushel,  *«.(KI. 

Stratatrom.    Qt..2.5c;  peck.  $1.75. 

••Sandwich  Island  oyster-i)laiit.    Oz.,  10c;  lb.,  $1.2.5. 

.Squash,  (iiaiit  Summer  Crookm-ck.  Oz.,  10c;  lb.,  65. 

Hubbard  squash.    ()/..,  10c;  lb.,  6.5. 

Tomato.    Golden  Queen.    Oz.,  ;iOc;  lb.,  $2..50. 

Iirnotum.    Oz.,25c;  lb.,  $2.60. 

Dwarf  Champion.    Oz.,  20c;  lb.,  $2..50. 

Turnip.    Broadstone.    Oz.,  Ulc;  lb.,  8iic. 

Those  who  have  iiurchased  since  the  tirsl  of  .hiii- 
iiary,  and  who  have  paid  enough  more  than  the 
above  ttfrures  to  make  it  worth  while  to  call  our  at- 
tention to  the  fact,  can  have  a  rebate  correspond- 
ing' to  the  above,  when  they  make  it  known.  Prices 
of  other  seeds  will  bo  as  in  our  seed  catalog'ue. 
which  is  read.v  to  mail  on  application.  As  usual, 
there  are  liable  to  be  sudden  chang-es,  without  no- 
tice. As  an  illustration:  Almost  every  .seedsman 
in  the  I'nited  States  has  sold  out  on  the  Prizt-taker 
onion,  thei-efore  the  i>iice  has  gone  up  80  tiiat  it 
would  1)0  impossible  for  us  to  hold  to  our  printed 
price  list  wore  it  not  for  the  fact  that  our  boys  got 
the  prico  pretty  well  ui)  to  start  with— $6,00  per  lb. 
.lust  now  the  very  best  tiguro  that  can  be  obtained 
of  William  Henry  Manlo.  the  originator,  even  on 
lO.T-lb.  lots,  is  $5.00.  Thus  you  .see  why  a  soodsnian 
must  add.  "All  prices  are  subject  to  sudden  ad- 
vances without  notice."  The  rapid  Huct  uations  on 
clover  seed  within  a  few  days  (see  mention  ol.se- 
wheret  is  a  vivid  illustration  of  this.  Therefore  do 
not  g(!t  cross  and()itll  your  seedsman  names  liecauso 
he  scjnietimes  finds  e\erybodj- sold  out  to  such  an 
extent  that  he  absolutely  cun  not  adhere  to  his 
printed  price  list. 

COLD-FRAME   «  ABBACE-PLANTS. 

We  have  three  or  foui'  thousand  of  these  that  we 
slnjuld  be  glad  to  dispose  of  at  once,  as  the  room 
they  occupy  is  wanted  for  other  purposes.  Of 
cf)urse.  they  are  the  Jersey  Wakefield. 


Ho/^Er  Column. 


STANLEY    EXTKACTORS. 

We  desire  to  notify  those  in  want  of  these  ma- 
chines tliat  we  are  now  the  manufacturers,  having 
bought  out  the  stock  and  good  will  from  E.  R.  New- 
romb,  and  the  control  of  the  patent  from  G.  W. 
Stanley.  We  have  a  good  stock  of  machines  read.v 
lor  prompt  shipment. 


CITY  MARKETS. 
Detroit.     //((jie(/.—Con)l)    honey   is    selling  very 
slowly.    Stocks  rather   low.     Host  bringing  13.     E.\- 
traotod,  7®s.     Bicswax,  llrmor  at  at  2«('«-27. 

M.  II.  Hunt. 
Miif-  '•'• Bell  lir.inch.  Midi. 

Cincinnati.  Ho»icjy.— No  change  in  the  market 
since  our  hist.  Demand  is  slow.  Extracted  lioney 
brings  ."(^^^<  on  arrival.  Comb  honey  sells  at  14@l"6 
for  liosi  white  in  a  jobbing  wav. 

liicxuHU-.'  There  is  a  fair  ilemand  for  this,  at 
,2;^@25.  for  good  to  choice  yellow  on  arrival. 

(Has.  F.  Muth. 
Mar.  0.  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Saint  Louis.— Honey.— Market  very  quiet  in  comb, 
atunchaiigod  prices.  Some  inquiry  for  extracted 
at  5 J,,  in  barrels:  6Vi@7  in  cans.   Beeswax,  prime,  27. 

Mil''-  !'•                                    D.  G.  TiJTT  Gro.  Co., 
St.  Louis.  Mo. 

Kansas  City.— Honej/.— The  market  for  all  kinds 
of  honey  is  very  slow.  The  supply  is  large,  demand 
light.  We  quote:  No.  1  white,  Mb.,  14@15;  No.  2. 
i:i@14;  No.  1  amber,  Mb.,  10@12;  No.  2,  dark,  H@W. 
Extracted,  white,  7;  amber,  6@6i4;  dark,  .5@5X. 

Beenwax.  '£i@:ili. 

Mar.  ft.  ('LEMONS.  Mason  &  Co.. 

Kansas  C^it.v,  Mo. 

Boston.— H()»6{/.— We  quote  you  our  li<inej-mar- 
ket  as  foUows.  One  pound  comb  white,  13@I4.  Ex- 
tracted. e@7.     Demand  fair. 

-Mar.  9.  Blake  &  Ripley. 

Boston.  Mass. 

Kansas  City.— Hojiej/.— Demand  pooi-,  with  a  large 
supply  of  comb.  We  quote:  Comb,  1-Ib.,  fancy 
14(3115;  dark,  8@9.  Extracted,  white,  7;  dark,  5@6. 
Beeswax,  none  on  the  market. 

Mar.  9.  Hamblin  &  Beabss. 

.514  Walnut  St..  Kansas  City.  Mo. 

Portland.  -Honey.— Comb  honey  .scarce,  1-lb.  .sell- 
ing 16@1H;  2-lb.,  14@16.    Extracted,  6?4@7i/2. 
BeASwnx.  scarce  at  3U. 

Feb.  25.                                   Levy.  Spiegl&Co.. 
Portland,  Or. 

Albany. -Horiejy.— Since  the  beginning  of  Lent 
there  has  been  considerable  demand  for  comb  hon- 
ey, but  at  reduced  prices.  The  Jewish  trade  are 
also  beginning  to  buy  extracted  for  their  annual 
festivities,  which  occur  soon.  We  quote:  Wliito- 
clover.  11(5)13;  mixed,  9@10:  buckwheat.  m>\).  Ex- 
tracted, light,  7(ai8;  dark,  6(a),7.    Beeswax, '2h<S;i&. 

Mar.  10.                          Chas.  McCulloch  &Co.. 
All)an.v,  N.  Y. 

Chicaoo.— Ho/iej/.— The  market  is  not  very  active; 
but  some  sales  are  made  at  unchanged  prices.  Fan- 
cy comb  sells  at  1.5(@16;  off  grades  and  dark  comb 
are  uncertain  in  prico.  Extracted  sells  freely,  at 
6(a),7@8,  according  to  kind  and  quality.  Beeswax. 
2.5(0)27. 

Mar.  H. 


R.  A.  Burnett. 
161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111 


For  Sale.  (Jalifornia  2-lb.  section  comb  honey  at 
12<-  per  lb.  Wis.  and  Mich.  1-lh.  section  candied 
comb  honey  at  lie  per  lb.  If  you  want  honey  of 
any  description,  write  us.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co. 

•t-'i-'id  189  So.  Water  St..  Chicago.  111. 

For  Sale.— One  30-gal.  bbl.  medium  dark  honey, 
fine  flavor,  at  .5c  per  lb.  One  45  or  .50  gal.  bbl.  of 
mangrove,  very  white  and  candied  solid,  of  fine 
quality  and  liavor  at  .5i  net.  f.  o.  b.  Samples  .sent  to 
intending  i)iirchasors,  if  desired.    J.  B.  Ca.se, 

Port  Orange.  Volusia  Co.,  Fla. 

For  Sale.— 20  lbs.  extracted  clover  honey,  in  iicm- 
buckets,  for  $2.    By  the  barrel  cheai>. 
ft-7d  B.  T.  Baldwin,  Marion.  Ind. 


'OR    S.I1.E.— A  No.  3  Novice  E.vtractor.  used 
only  once.     Price  $ti.OO.    Freight  paid. 

C.  C.  GRIFFIN,  Olean,  N.  Y. 


(iLEANlNGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


m  28-pag-e  RESTRICTOR  book.  How 
■  I*  A  A  to  avoid  swarms,  brace-combs,  and  losses 
I  ■  1*1?  ■  in  winter.  How  to  get  bees  into  sections 
inoneliour;  and  rear  queens  in  full  colonies,  etc., 
same  old  fixtures.  C.  W.  Dayton,  Clinton,  Wis. 
£4-23db  Please  mention  this  paper.  


EAKI-Y    QTJEEITS, 

FROm  our  branch  Apiary  in  Texas,  whicli  is 
three  miles  from  any  other  bees,  and  none  but 
the  best  FIVE  -  HANDED  Golden  Italian 
Oueens  used  to  rear  Queens  and  Drones.  Our 
bees  are  the  gentlest,  best  workers,  and  most  beau- 
tiful bees  known.  Safe  arrival  and  entire  satis- 
faction guaranteed,  one  Warranted  Queen,  Mai-ch 
and  April,  $1.25;  6  for  $6.00.  If  you  want  the  best, 
send  for  our  circular  at  onee.  l-,J4aD 

S.  F.  <*  /.  TREGO,  SwEDONA,  III. 
In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

BEE^^HIVESrSECflOIMS,  ETC. 

We  make  the  best  goods  and  sell  them  cheap. 
Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market 
Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  f  acto- 

^^OuV  goods  are  known  as  the  best  throughout  the 

United  States  and  Europe.  .:,„,4^„net 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS  CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  Itt'db 


THH   BEE-KEEPEHS' 

f^EVIEOl 


IS 


f  Progre.ssive  and  I'lactifHl ; 
I  Fearless  and  Truthful ; 
1  Unbiased  and  Independent ; 
[Entei-prising  and  Illustrated; 


And  filled  with  IDEAS  fr(mi  cover  to  cover.  Send 
10  cts.  for  three  back  numbers  and  see  if  this  is  not 
a  truthful  advertisement;  or.  better  still,  send  $1.00 
and  receive  the  Review  one  year. 

W.  Z.  HUTCHINSON, 

Flint.  Mich. 

tyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkaninqs, 


DOVETAILED 


HIVES  AND 
IXALIAN 


QUEENS. 


INLy  654 

Colonies 

of  ItsLlistns 

Ai-e  wintering  well,  and,  as  usual,  I  will  sell  a  lim- 
ited numbei-  of  them  to  reduce  stock  to  the  requirecl 
number.  Each  hive  shipped  to  my  customers  mil 
contain  a  full  prosperous  colony  of  Itahan  bees, 
with  a  la-st  year's  tested  queen,  on  eight  Hoftman 
frames  of  brood  and  honey.  As  my  main  object  in 
handling  bees  is  honey,  we  raise  all  our  queens  in 
full  colonies  from  cells  built  under  the  swarming 
impulse,  using  the  choicest  and  most  profitable 
stock  to  breed  from.         ,  .     ,,  i  «    *  i    n.     f 

Safe  arrival  guaranteed  m  May  and  first  iialt   ot 
June.    For  terms  please  address 


Send  for  price  list  of  Italian  Queens,  Drones, 
Hives,  Smokers,  Foundation,  etc.  Finest  breeding 
queen,  after  March  1,  $4.00.  Tested.  $2.00;  3  for  $.5.00. 
Untested,  in  April,  $1.00;  6  for  $5.00,  or  $9.00  per  doz- 
en by  mail.  Safe  arrival  guaranteed.  Orders  for 
Queens  booked  for  20  days  or  more,  5  per  cent  dis- 
count. Make  money  orders  payable  at  Clifton. 
3tfdb       COLWIOK  &  OOLWICK,  NOKSE.  BOSaUE  CO.,  TEZAS. 

iT^lii  responding' to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkaninos. 


3-8db 


JULIUS  HOFFMAN, 


RECORD  BOOKS 

SliDW  that  recniei  iiing,  early  in  the  s|>riiig,  coloides 
liaving  old  WDrn-out  queens,  niori'  than  douhlen  the 
yield  iif  surplus,  and  tends  to 

PREVENT  SWARMING. 

I  make  a  specialty  of  contrart  orders  fur  queens 
of  the  Leather-back  strain  of  Italians.  Queens 
ready  to  ship  1st  to  lOtli  of  Maich. 

A.  F.  BROWN, 

HUNTINGTON,  PUTNAM  CO.,  FLA. 

-t-ijd  Agent  Southern  E.xpre.ss  Co. 

^?"In  responuiiiK  In  this  advertisement  mention  OLEAimias. 


tsriii  respondinyr  to  this  adveitis 

Good  Queens  Cheap. 

300  tested  Italian  queens,  laised  last  season,  for 
sale  at  $1;  $10  per  doz.  A  few  hybrids  at  35c  each. 
They  will  be  shipped  about  June  15th  to  a.-ith,  or 
later  if  desired.  Have  order  booked  now  and  send 
money  when  you  want  them.  My  bees  liave  been 
KRi^D  J'^itH  liVSINJiftS.  and  these  are  bar- 
gains.   Nuclei  and  full  colonies  at  very  low  rates. 

Send  35c  for  sample  by  mail  of 

THE  UTILITY  BEE-ESCAPE. 

Thoroughlv  tested,  practical  and  cheap.  It  cleans 
them  out  and  they  stay  out.  .\ny  one  can  make  it. 
Get  a  sample  and  make  your  own.  4ttdb 

J.  IL.  GREEIT,  Day-boa,  111. 

twin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gi-eaninqs- 


CANAJOEAEIE.  H.  T.       T>  U  U   SUPPLIES 


RETAIL 

— AND— 

WHOLESALE. 

1  VI    1  11    Everytliiug  used  in  the  Apiary. 

^^  MiJA^    Greatest  variety  and  largest  stock 
in  the  West.    New  catalog,  54  illustrated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  KEETOHMEE,  EED  OAE,  IOWA. 
In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

FnilNnATinN  ^^"^  sections  are  my 
UUnUHIlUn  specialties.  No.  1  V-groove 
Sections  at  $;^.00  per  tln)usand.  Special  prices 
to  dealers.  Send  for  free  price  list  of  every 
thing  needed  in  the  apiary. 
Stfdb  M.  H.  HUNT.  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

t^"In  respondinir  to  tliis  adviici^fineiit  mention  (tLKanINOS. 

Send  for  I'rire  JAnt  to 

R.  E.  HARBAUGH, 
Sfnnuf'r  ami   Dealer  in    Bee- Keepers'  Sajiplles. 

Breeder   of    Italian    and   Carniolan     Bees    and 

Queens,  Light  and  Dark  Colored  Ferrets. 

S.'ith  and  Clay  Sts.,      -        -       -       st.  .Toseph,  Jtlo. 

I^"ln  responding  to  tliis  adverti.-^ement  mention  Glbaninos. 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superior  to  all  otliers.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  doz- 
en you  do  not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  within  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with   full  direc- 
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•  DELVOTELD-- 

•To-Be-E.^-.- 

•ANdHoNEY- 
♦ANDHOMEL- 

•INTELFlESr^ 


IP-^perYeai^^  \g)   Medina  Ohio 


Vol.  XX. 


MARCH  15,  1892. 


No.  6. 


57'/?>?r  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 

I'm  OFF  THK  FKXCK  with  both  feet,  standing 
up  straight  for  no  bounty. 

A  WAIT,  conn's  from  Minnesota,  that  tout  cal- 
i'lpiilars  arc  destroying  hasswood  bloom. 

Mrs.  Axtem,  says  in  P.  li.  K.  that  "•  it  takos 
i)rains  to  care  for  boes."'    .lust  listen  to  horl 

Mica  in  stoves  will  soon  become  dim  if  you 
burn  any  thing  but  hard  coal.  No  wood,  paper, 
or  soft  coal. 

Thk  C.  B.  J.  thinivs  it  high  time  something 
were  done  about  a  bee-l<(-epcrs'  convention  at 
the  World's  Fail'. 

Adui.tekatiox  exists.  I'lentyofit.  No  use 
to  blink  the  matter.  Fight  is  "the  word.  No 
make-believe  tight,  either. 

Rkmemukk  that  bees  consume  six  times  as 
much  honey  in  April  as  in  December;  and  if 
you  don't  look  out  some  will  starve. 

Editoi;  Cooi'eu.  of  the  Bev -keepers'  Mtuja- 
zine.  is  doing  missionary  work,  trying  to  get 
people  to  plant  tlower-seeds.    Success  to  him. 

The  Ont.^rk)  J}ee-keepers'  Association  sends 
free  to  each  member  this  year  a  copy  of  the 
C  B. ./.,  th(^  same  being  a  good  paper. 

Aktifici.m,  hoxev  is  made  in  (iermanyso 
good  that  scieuli lie  men  say  it  can't  be  d<'tected. 
Hut  the  bee-men  say  it  tastes  like  burnt  sugar. 

Am.ev  has  32  colonies  in  the  hous<>-apiary, 
with  the  view  of  g(!tting  them  strong  earlier  in 
the  season.  In  May  Api.  he'll  tell  how  it  works. 

(roosEREKiiiKs.  as  houey-plauts.  are  recom- 
mended to  be  planted  in  fence-corners.  evei-y- 
where.  eveu  in  waste  places,  by  F.  Huck.  in 
/>ei/f.sr/(c  [inker. 

Coi,oH.\i)()  beats  Michigan.  L.  Brock,  at 
Colorado  State  convention,  said  it  cost  \%  cents 
per  pound  to  produce  comb  honey.  Now.  wh(j 
■can  do  it  for  I'.j  '? 

Mhs.  Mii.ton  Cone  {Apl.)  says  a  flock  (jf  J'e- 
kin  ducks  allowed  the  range  of  their  apiary  al- 
most depopulated  the  hives;  but  she  raised  700 
<;hickens  all  right. 

I  SAW  a  hook  about  patents,  on  Ernest's  desk. 
Has  he  so  far  departed  from  the  way  in  whicli 
he  was  brought  up  as  to  be  contemplating  the 
getting-out  of  a  patent?  .May  be  he  intends  to 
patent  sealed  covers. 

J.  U.  \\.K\A.  denies  the  soft  impeachment  that 
he  advocat(v-i  a  ^s  bee-space.  I  thought  it  seem- 
ed a  pretty  tight  squeeze;  but  there  it  was.  in 
cold  print,  on  page  784.  C.  B.  .1.  Did  the  ('.  B.  J. 
printei-  man  monkey  with  those  ligures  ? 


I  didn't  I5ELIEVE  (I.  K.  Hubbard  was  hard- 
hearted enough  to  keej)  that  boy  standing  al- 
ways working  at  his  section  press.  The  picture 
now  shows  him  sitting  down. 

U.  Guiu.KH  iRevieiv)  thinks  it  probable  that, 
the  older  the  larva,  the  older  the  nnrse-bee  that 
feeds  it,  a  larva  of  one  or  two  days  being  fed  by 
a  nurse  not  more  than  live  days  old;  a  nurse 
nine  days  old  preparing  a  suitable  diet  for 
larVfV  of  four  or  live  days. 

The  PiJociKEssivE  Bek-keepeh  gets  a  raking 
from  one  of  its  patrons  for  using  type  so  large 
that  it  ••  is  first- reader  type,  tit  only  for  children 
to  read."  Yes;  but,  friend  Urban,  you  don't 
know  what  a  comfort  to  spectacled  eyes  is  that 
same  large  type,  so  beautifully  printed  on  nice 
paper. 

Fd  GIVE  quite  a  littl(^  to  have  friends  Doolil- 
tle  and  Taylor  shut  in  a  room  together  to  argue 
out  the  cost  of  honey— kept  there  till  they 
agreed— and  they  would  agree  if  they  had  time 
enough— and  then  have  a  phonograph  report 
the  whole  thing.  We'd  get  some  valuable 
l)oints. 

The  C.  B.  ./.  calls  the  N.  A.  B.  K.  A.  a  stock 
company,  and  doubts  "if  a  meeting  of  stock- 
holders will  be  as  interesting  as  a  convention  of 
members.''  Say;  if  Fve  been  fooled  into  this 
thing,  and  we're  not  to  have  a  convention  of 
members  any  more,  Fm  going  to  get  out  and 
join  the  O.  B.  K.  A.— if  tliey'll  let  me. 

Outdoor  wintering  was  a  success  with  the; 
foiu'  colonies  I  packed  in  the  winter  of  18t)0.  I 
left  out  12  last  winter  to  try  in  winter  cases. 
Failing  to  get  cas(!s  in  time,  I  concluded  to  leave 
the  12  out  without  protection.  I  wanted  to  find 
out  how  th(;y  would  winter  in  that  condition. 
I  found  out.  .lust  100  per  cent  of  them  died 
dead. 

The  name  N.  A.  B.  K.  A.  has  too  much  al- 
phabet in  it.  R.  McKnight,  in  C.  B.  J.,  short- 
ens it  to  N.  a.  I{.  a.  That's  sensible,  especially 
as  '■  Jiee-keepers  "  is  really  only  one  word,  and 
there  is  no  initial  K.  Wouldn't  it  be  sufficient- 
ly distinctive  to  call  it.  for  short,  '"North 
American  Association.''  and  use  the  initials 
•  N.  A.  A."? 

QuiGEEY  had  bees  in  hives  with  flat  covers. 
"After  a  light  snow,"  he  says'  "  the  snow  had 
melt(!d  over  the  cluster  on  all  of  them,  showing 
just  where  they  had  clnstc^red,  while  the  snow 
on  the  covers  of  empty  hives  had  not  begun  to 
melt.  Don't  you  think  from  the  above  that 
some  heat  (>scapes  through  a  ,"<  hoard '.'"  Y(>s. 
and  it  shows  that  packing  ocer  the  lioard  would 
be  an  imijrovement. 

"  I  IT.WE  business  relations  with  some  7;i  so- 
cieties, and  hav(!  become  iiersonally  acquainted 
with  more  than  'VH)0  bee-keepers.  Among  the 
;{000  I  do  not  know  of  one  drinker."   So  said  Mr. 


]84 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mar.  15. 


Glalow,  in  the  Centralverein  of  Gormany.  I 
think  it  has  been  noticeable  that,  in  every  body 
of  tx'o-keepers  I  have  ever  seen,  they  were  an 
exceptionally  clean  set  of  men.  Mr.  Glatow 
thinks  bee-keeping  helps  to  make  them  so. 

The  laying  of  qitep;ns.  the  German  writer 
Gerstung  contends,  is  not  continuous,  but  peri- 
odic, about  7  periods  of  22  days  each  in  a 
season;  10  or  17  days  of  laying,  followed  by  5  to 
7  days  of  rest,  makes  the  period  of  2:3  days.  I 
should  have  said  eggs  can  be  found  any  day  in 
my  hives:  but  if  Gerstung  is  right,  there  ought 
to  be  a  day  or  two  every  three  weeks  when 
there  is  not  an  egg  in  the  hive.  Let's  watch, 
this  summer. 

Thin  sections,  not  more  than  l^-i  thick,  have 
the  following  strong  points  claimed  in  their  fa- 
vor by  the  C.  B.  J.:  Capped  sooner  than  thick 
ones:  whiter,  because  less  time  in  hive:  looks 
clearer  when  you  lookthrongh  the  sections;  hon- 
ey thicker;  ships  better;  sells  better.  All  right, 
friend  Jones.  I'll  change  to  any  thickness  you 
say.  if  you  get  the  rest  to  agree;  but  don't, 
please  don't  ask  us  to  change  from  4^4  for  the 


Revicii\  says.  "'In  this  age.  grab-games  of  one 
kind  and  another  get  away  with  more  than 
half  of  all  we  earn."  But  according  to  the 
three  per.sons  named  above,  it  is  not  "'  grab- 
games"  which  is  doing  this,  but  '"  net  profit"  is 
to  take  nearly  the  whole.  I  wish  it  distinctly 
understood,  that  Doolittle  believes  that  the 
labor  of  liands  and  brdins  is  just  as  much  cost 
in  producing  honey  as  is  the  money  spent  in 
buying  hives,  crates,  sections,  or  any  of  the 
other  cash  outlays;  also  that  the  labor  of  hands 
and  brains  is  just  as  much  cost  in  overseeing 
the  apiary  as  it  is  cost  in  producing  manufac- 
tured articles  or  in  running  anv  other  business 
of  the  country,  where  $1000,  ISOOO,  $10,000,  or 
J!20.000  is  often  paid  an  efficient  overseer.  Yet, 
with  Mr.  Hilton  all  of  this  overseeing,  and  with 
Mr.  Root  all  of  his  "supervising  or  superin- 
tending," is  to  go  in  as  protit.  When  I  was  a 
boy  at  school,  a  classmate  and  myself  were 
called  the  dullest  scholars  in  the  whole  school. 
Doolittle  finally  went  at  bee-keeping,  and  the 
classmate  as  a  salesman  on  the  road.  The 
classmate  receives  S2000  a  year  salary;  but.  ac- 
cording to  Taylor,  Doolittle  should  cost  only 


other  dimensions,  jnst  as  we've  settled  on  that  ^45  f^f^^^  ^^^eks  in  the  year  (and  that  right  at 

for  a  standard.  ^  ^l^g  time  when  the  agricultural  world  pays  the 

A  COKKESPONDENT,  referring  to  the  editor's  highest  wages),  that  he  may  count  all  that  he 

statement  that  he  can  get  bee-work  done   for  receives  more  than   that  as  protit.    If  this  is 

*1.50  to  ?<2.00  per  day.  thinks  emphasis  should  right,  this  classmate  should  call  all  he  receives 

be  placed  on  the  qualifying  clause,  "  providing  over  $1.07  a  day.  i)rotit.    In  a  recent  paper  I  see 

uie  supervise  or  superihtoid  the  work."    I  don't  that  a  certain  company  had   employed   a  cer- 

see   that  there's  anything  particularly  out  of  tain   person   to  superintend  their  business  at  a 

balance  in   that  correspondent's  head.    If  you  salary  of  >!18.(XX)  a  yeai'.    Now.  shall  this  man. 


had  a  number  of  hands  and  hired  a  superinten- 
dent, wouldn't  you  charge  up  the  superinten- 
dent's time  in  expenses?  And  shouldn't  you 
charge  for  your  own  superintending? 

Chemicai,  analysis  made  by  the  U.  S.  Gov- 
ernment chemists,  has  in  some  cases  decided 
that  honey  was  adulterated,  or  "  aijparently 
adulterated,"  which  was  known  to  be  pure. 
Perhaps  this  is  the  explanation,  which  I  get 
from  the  German:  In  polarization,  honey  turns 
to  the  left,  cane  sugar  to  the  right.  But  honey- 
dew  turns  to  the  right  also:  and  as  even  the 
finest  samples  of  honey  are  likely  to  have  just  a 
little  honey-dew  in  them,  polarization  would 
show  "apparent"  adulteration  where  there 
was  none. 

Honey  fok  grip  is  going  the  rounds  of  the 
German  dailies.  Take  daily  a  teaspoonful  of 
honey  and  let  it  dissolve  slowly  on  the  tongue, 
as  a  prevcMitive.  the  formic  acid  killing  the  ba- 
cillus that  attacks  the  mucus  membrane  of  the 
throat.  Honey  dissolved  in  water  and  drawn 
into  the  nostrils  hastens  a  cure.  The  Deutsche 
Imker  adds  that,  besides  being  pure,  the  honey 
must  not  have  been  heated,  for  that  dispels  the 
formic  acid.  That's  all  right  for  a  German  ba- 
cillus; but  do  you  suppose  a  wide-awake  Illi- 
nois bacillus  would  give  in  for  a  little  thing 
like  that? 


COST  OF  COMB  HONEY.  AGAIN. 


DOOLITTLi:    ItEPMES. 


The  main  part  of  my  mission  in  this  world  is 
to  stand  for  (rod,  for  the  right,  and  for  liuimtii- 
ity.  Feeling  this  to  be  the  case,  and  feeling 
tliat  you,  Mr.  Editor,  and  Messrs.  Taylor  and 
Hilton,  are  wrong  on  this  matter  of  the  cost  of 
comb  honey,  I  crave  the  privilege  of  being 
heard  again  on  this  subject  in  Gi-eanings. 
The  position  you  three  take  savors  much  of  the 
ideas  advocated  by  the  hard-tisted  and  hard- 
hearU^d  of  this  world,  that  a  few  should  receive 
a  Uirge  shares  of  this  world's  goods,  while  the 
average  person  should  work  for  a^aere  pittiince. 
B.  Taylor,  in  his  noble  article  in  the  Febnuiry 


according  to   Hilton.  Root,  and  Taylor,  count 
all   he  receives  above  *].07  to  S:.'.0O  per  day  as 
profit?    He  cost  the  firm  that  amount  (*18,(XX)). 
Would  it  have  been  any  less  cost  had   the   pro- 
prietor taken  that  place  and  received  thei=18.000 
himself?    No!  110!  noI     Let  us  be  reasonable. 
If  Mr.   Hilton   oversees  his  workmen   and  his 
apiary  he  is  entitled  to  the  worth  of  his  intelli- 
g(mt    brains,  and   that  worth   is  cost,  just  as 
nuich  as  any  part  of  the  matter,  and   he  is  just 
as  much  entitled  to  good  pay  as  is  my  classmate 
or  the  overseer  mentioned  above.    These  things 
are  not  profit,  and  it  is  not  right  to  have  it  put 
before  the  world   in   that  light.     Again,  when 
we  speak   about  how  much  it  costs  to  produce 
comb  honey,  we  mean  the  cost  with  the  (tver- 
(ige  bee-keeper,  if  we  would  be  fair,  and  not  the 
cost  with   those  who  have  exceptionally  good 
facilities  for  its  production   cheaply.    A   man 
and   his  son  once  cut  a  bee-tree.    They  were 
gone  fi'oni    home   two   hours,  and  obtained  150 
pounds  of   honey.     This  lioni'v  cost  only  about 
':;  of  a  cent,  a  pound.     Would  it  be  right  for  me 
to  say.   "Tills  is   what  it  costs   to  produce  a 
pound  of  comb  honey"?    I  fancy  I  hear  a  tit- 
tering all  along  the  line;  and  yet  this  is  only  on 
a  level  with  Bro.  Hilton's   figures.    What  "has 
been   done  by  one,  others  can  do.    In   looking 
over  "beedom,"  we  find  the  average  man  keej)- 
ing  one  yard  of  bees,  and  this,  in   the   majority 
of  cases,  gives  the  best  results.    To  the  care  of 
these  bees  he  devotes  all  of  his  energies,  except 
the  work  usually  done  in   the  garden   and   his 
small  i)1ace.    If  he  were  a  belter  nuin  he  could 
do  more,  but  he  can  not  be  changed:  besides,  it 
takes  a  pretty  fair  sort  of  num  to  do  tliis.    This 
man  could   get.  in  some  manufacturing  town, 
from  two  to  three  dollars  a  day,  and  board  him- 
self.   Say  he  could   get  $(100  a  year;   then,  as  a 
bee-keeper,  he  is  a  six-hundred-dollai'  man.  and 
that  is  a  part  of  the  cost  of  producing   his  crop 
of  honey.    To  claim   otherwise  is  unworthy  of 
the  intelligence  of  an  American  citizen.     If  my 
classmate  had  gone  into  bee-keeping  he  would 
be  a  two-thousand-dollar  man.  and  if  he  could 
not  get  that  out  of  the  bees  he  would  go  on  the 
road  again:  and  I  see  no  logic  that  can  make 
any  net  profit  to  him  out  of  his  bees  till   they 


m^ 


tihKANlNCS  IN  itKi:  cui/ruKi':. 


18.1 


piiy  him  moii'  tliiiii  tlu' S.'lHK),  besides  and  above 
the  other  neeessary  exjieiises.  (."an  you.  friend 
Root?  If  lliis  is  so— and  1  ran  see  notliinjr  else 
—then  I  have  a  rijjhl  lo  tin-  *.">.(Hi  a  day  as  tiie 
cost  of  my  labor  in  (be  bee-yai'd.  if  I  I'an  seeuic 
tliat  mneli.  I  liave  no  objeciions  to  friend 
Roofs  sayinji  1  am  "  siMling  j^ood  pay  "'  (thonph 
but  a  irilie  eonipareii  with  what  sonn-  ai'X).  as 
he  does  in  his  footnotes:  hut  when  he  sa\  s,  "oi-. 
if  you  please,  prolil,"  1  don"l  please,  for  tliat 
woidd  l)e  sayinjr  that  1  was  not  worth  as  nuich 
to  tiie  world  as  my  eipially  dull  elassmate, 
whom  the  world  considers  wortli  nearly  twenty 
peroent  more  than  that.  Of  eourse.  our  six- 
hundred-dollar  bee-keeper  raises  something  on 
ids  place,  has  his  jjarden.  and  has  his  house- 
reiil:  but  it  is  usually  as  eheaj)  to  live  in  a  hired 
iiouse  as  to  kei'p  one  in  repair,  eounting  interest 
on  moin-y.  W'liat  he  raises  on  his  place  is  more 
than  otlset.  with  the  majority  in  the  country, 
by  its  disadvantasies.  such  as  the  lack  of  best 
schools,  best  churches,  and  social  privileges. 
Add  ^i'M)  a  year  to  Hilton's  orTaylor's  estimate. 
and  their  showing  will  be  very  different,  and 
very  much  nearer  the  truth.  We  -dve.ov  xlnmliJ 
he.  "talking  of  what  (tctiKilhj  ?.s.  not  what  might 
be  under  the  nn)st  favorable  or  ideal  conditions. 
A  man  running  a  supply  business,  a  farm,  or 
some  other  Inisiness.  may  sometimes  get  his 
honey  cheaper,  especially  if  he  allows  his  other 
business  to  pay  him  the  salary  he  is  entitled  to; 
but  such  would  not  be  a  correct  and  proper 
showing. 

I  might  mention  other  things  which  no  one 
has  taken  into  account  so  far.  such  as  that, 
when  the  bee-keeper  dies  and  his  business  is 
sold  out.  it  decreases  in  value  from  :>0  to  7.5  per 
cent,  while  the  average  bee-keeper  runs  his 
business  less  than  twenty  years;  change  of  sur- 
plus arrangements,  etc.,  caused  by  continual 
improvement,  long  before  they  are  worn  out; 
buying  (jueen -excluders,  bee -escapes,  drone- 
traps,  and  all  of  the  many  things  necessary  to 
keep  up  with  th(^  times,  which  would  make  the 
interest  nearer  twenty  per  cent  than  the  eight 
which  Uro.  Hilton  allows.  Much  more  might 
be  said  along  this  cost  side,  but  T  forbear.  All 
know  that  the  bee-keepers  of  our  land  are  not 
getting  rich,  as  far  as  dollars  and  cents  are  con- 
cerned: and  it  seems  tome  lo  be  a  wrong  idea 
to  make  such  a  great  cry  of  pratit  where  there 
is  so  "little  wool."  (i.  M.  Doolitti.e. 

Borodino,  X.  Y. 

[Now.  friend  Doolittle,  don't  you  think  you 
are  a  leetle  "  hard-hearted  "  in  intimating  that 
our  position  •"  savors  of  the  hard-listed"?  We 
agree  with  nearly  all  you  say,  and.  it  seems  to 
us,  you  would  hardly  have  ijroduced  some  of 
these  self-evident  arguments  if  yoti  had  taken  in 
the  i/7)o/c/orr-e  of  what  we  three  said.  Let  us 
throw  aside  the  term  where  we,  split,  profit  and 
rust,  and  look  at  it  this  w  ay:  You  are  making  a 
good  living  if  you  can  get  §5.00  per  day  out  of 
the  bees;  so  are  Taylor  and  Hilton.  The  fact 
is,  we  are  in  reality  on  the  same  platform,  only 
we  didn't  know  it,  or  perhaps  won't  admit  it. 
Dr.  Millers  article  which  follows  makes  this 
plain.] 


COST  OF  COMB  HONEY. 


Dooi.n  ri.i;  s  w  a^es  vs.  tavlou 


Don't  expect  me  to  settle  the  "question.  1 
don't  know  enough.  Hut  when  three  men.  pos- 
sessed of  as  much  intelligence  as  friends  Tay- 
lor, Doolittle.  and  Hilton  are  so  wide  apart  in 
tiieir  conclusions,  it  is  worth  while  to  imiuire 
into  the  inatter  and  see  whether  it  is  not  possi- 
ble   to    bring    about   a   reconciliation.     I    have 


contidence  in  the  honesty  of  the  thre**  men;  and 
w  hen  they  give  difTerent  answers  to  the  same 
question,  it  must  be  they  are  looking  from  dif- 
ferent points  of  view. 

1  wish  wi'  had  from  each  of  iJiem  a  statement 
as  to  what  each  means  by  prujit.  Perhaps  all 
thre<' w^ould  agr<'e  that  prolit  is  the  diderr'nce 
between  cost  and  selling  price;  but  they  may 
not  iill  mean  the  same  tiling  by  this.  When  it 
comes  todelining  ro.sA.  I  suspect  they  are  using 
the  word  with  different  meanings.  Doolittle 
says  of  Taylor,  "■  Is  not  his  time  wortli  just  as 
much  in  the  ai)iary  as  it  is  in  the  senate  or 
anywhere  else?""  May  be.  and  may  tje  not. 
If  "Mr.  Taylor  can  get  ^10  ner  day  for  his  tiine 
at  the  l)ar  or  in  legislativi'  halls,  it  does  not  fol- 
low that  it  is  worth  th<>  same  ev(!iyvvhere  else. 
I  can  get  a  man  to  saw  wood  for  ?^1.")0  per  day. 
If  the  Hon.  R.  L.  weri;  to  saw  my  wood.  I 
shouldn"t  like  to  pay  him  •■?]()  a  day  for  it.  nor 
SI. 50.  No.  I  wouhin't  Ix-  willing  to  jiay  him 
§1.07.  I  doift  think  he's  worth  it.  Hut  I  inight 
be  very  glad  to  i)ay  him  !?.">  an  hour  if  1  needed 
his  valuable  advice  on  sotiie  legal  ])oint.  So  I 
don't  believe  Mr.  Doolittle  is  right  if  In;  wants 
us  to  believe  that  tiie  same  man"s  time  is  woi'th 
the  same  amount  w  herevei-  it  is  placed.  I  don't 
believe  he  meant  to  have  us  think  so. 

A  somewhat  troublesome  friend  at  my  elbow 
stoutly  insists  that  Doolittle  is  right.  s"he  says 
that,  if  he  can  make  •«10  <'very  day  at  his  pro- 
fession, and  I  want  him  to  stop  a  day  to  saw- 
wood  for  me.  I  ought  not  to  expect  him  to  do  it 
for  less  than  §10 — a  putting  of  the  case  that  I 
can  not  well  refute. 

But  I  don't  see  that  I'm  getting  ahead  any  at 
reconciling  Doolittle's  S5  a  day  with  Taylor's 
?!1.07.  I  tliink  friend  Taylor's  position  is  some- 
thing like  this:  If  I  can  get  a  man  to  do  my 
work  at  •~?1.07  per  day.  then  I  ought  to  figure 
•■JLO?  as  the  cost  of  labor,  whether  I  do  the  work 
myself  or  get  some  one  else  to  do  it.  Of  course, 
when  I  coine  to  sell  my  honey  I  expect  to  get 
more  than  it  has  cost  me,  else  where  is  there 
any  profit  in  the  business?  And  1  am  (Mititled 
to  a  prolit  on  the  score  of  the  skill  and  knowl- 
edge I  have  used  in  directing  the  lalior? 

If  I  interpret  friend  Doolittle  correctly,  he 
would  say: ""  It  te(iuires  skilled  labor  to  work  at 
bees;  and  during  the  busy  season  I  would  not 
be  willing  to  work  for  another  person  for  less 
than  ^5  per  day.  neither  do  1  think  I  could  hire 
anyone  of  equal  ability  for  a  less  amount.  It 
seems  quite  clear,  therefore,  that,  ^n  per  day  is 
a  fair  amount  to  figure,  in  estimating  the  cost 
of  honey." 

Now.  when  you  get  down  to  bedrock  is  there 
any  real  difference  in  the  views  of  the  two 
men  ?  To  compare  their  real  views  more  fairly, 
this  (luestion  might  be,  jjut  to  them:  At  what 
l)rice  will  you  contract  to  sell  all  the  honey  you 
raise  for  the  next  thr(?e  or  five  years?  I  doubt 
whether  you  would  find  them  so  very  far  apart 
in  their  answers.  However  they  may  talk  to 
each  other  about  the  cost,  when  they  come  to 
sell  the  product,  each  one  wants  pay  for  the 
same  thing,  and  probably  about  the  same 
amount  of  i)ay.  Taylor  w  ants  pay  for  the  labor 
and  also  for  the  skill;  and  Doolittle  wants  pay 
for  his  skilled  labor.     Where's  the  difference  ? 

Mr.  Doolitth;  estimates  that  (")(KK)  lbs.  of  honey 
cost  .■>'.K)U.  oi-  1.")  cts.  jier  pound,  and  conseiniently 
there  is  no  prolit  in  it  when  sold  at  15  cts.  per 
pound.  .Mr.  Taylor  estimates  that  (')(M)  ])onnds 
cost  ?=:{75;  therefore  when  sold  at  15  cts.  per 
pound  there  is  a  |)rotit  of  •s5:,'5.  But,  mark  you. 
Mr.  Taylor  makes  no  charge  for  skill,  and'Mr. 
Doolittle  does — that  is.  he  charges  for  skilled 
labor,  which  is  skill  and  labor. 

I  think  the  editor  gives  the  key  to  the  situa- 
tion when  he  says,  on  page  130,  "When  he 
charges   himself  ?5  per  day  for  labor,  and  gets 


im 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mak.  is. 


that  much  in  return,  he  is  getting  good  pay; 
or.  if  you  please,  profit."  Tliat's  it.  pay  or 
profit.  It's  a  difference  of  names.  Mi'.  Doolittle 
gets  his  pay  for  his  sl<ill.  and  gets  no  profit. 
And  if  he  gets  a  fair  price  for  his  skill.  h(!  is 
entitled  to  no  profit.  Mr.  Taylor  makes  no 
charge  for  his  skill,  and  figures  a  profit.  One 
calls  it  pail,  the  other  calls  it  profit. 

If  any  one  should  insist  that,  in  Mr.  Taylor's 
case,  thei'e  is  a  net  profit  of  $.525  on  the  (VXX) 
pounds,  independent  of  any  skill.  I  think  a  little 
considei'ution  will  show  him  his  error.  If  skill 
cuts  no  figure  in  the  case,  then  Mi-.  Taylor  has 
nothing  to  do  but  to  turn  his  $1.07  man  loose  in 
his  apiary,  and  pay  no  attention  to  him  all 
summer  long.  Or.  do  yon  suppose  INIr.  Taylor 
would  spend  the  time  and  thought  he  has  spent 
upon  bees,  pay  for  books  and  periodicals,  and 
going  to  conventions,  with  no  expectation  of 
getting  any  pay  for  it?  Will  he  do  it  just  for 
the  fun  of  i t  ?  No.  he  likes  fun.  but  he  doesn't 
believe  in  that  kind  of  fun  "that  we  alone 
enjoy  ■' without  our  wives  and  children  having 
a  share  in  It— unless  lie  gets  pay  for  it. 

The  question  whether  it  is  the  right  way  to 
charge  for  skilled  labor,  and  if  so.  how  much, 
is  not  easily  answered  in  a  word.  I  have  at- 
tempted here  to  show  only  that,  in  the  item 
that  shows  the  greatest  disagreement,  it  is  a 
matter  of  names  rather  than  any  thing  else. 

Marengo,  111.  V.  C.  Mii>i,eu. 

[You  are  quite  right,  doctor,  and  we  are  glad 
to  have  you  explain  it.  The  whole  thing,  as 
we  understand  it.  in  a  nutshell,  is  this:  Mr. 
Doolittle  figures  his  profit,  or  pay.  in  the  amount 
he  charges  himself  or  his  apiary  for  his  labor. 
Mr.  Taylor  figures  in  the  actual  cost  of  hired 
labor:  and  whatever  he  makes  over  and  above 
expenses  in  the  production  of  a  crop  of  honey 
makes  up  his  profit,  and  is  therefore  the  pay  for 
his  skill  in  supervising.  After  all.  the  two  cor- 
respondents mean  about  the  same,  only  they 
look  at  it  from  difl(!rent  standpoints.  What 
one  calls  "'  cost,"  the  other  divides  into  cost  and 
profit.  We  can  not  help  believe,  however,  but 
Mr.  Taylor's  use  of  terms  is  correct.  Here  is 
another  well-written  article  from^Ir.  Taylor.] 


ECONOMY  IN  HONEY  PRODUCTION. 


TIIK    COST   OK    A    I'OUND   OF   HONEY  :      K.  I,.  TAV 
r,OR   HEPT.IKS. 


In  Gleanings  of  Feb.  ]5th.  and  also  in  the 
AmerkuDi  Bee  Journal  of  Feb.  IStli.  I  notice 
that  Mr.  Doolittle  vigorously  attacks  my  ad- 
dress on  the  above  topic,  delivered  Dec.  31st 
last,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Michigan  State  Bee- 
keepers' Association;  and  being  impressed  with 
the  surpassing  importance  of  the  subject.  I  am 
constrained  to  examine  as  briefly  as  1  may,  con- 
sistently with  clearness,  the  objections  he  raises 
to  the  position  I  there  took,  and  I  shall  first 
n^fer  to  his  argumrnt  in  the  Ainericati  Bee 
Journal. 

Our  critic  there  cites  my  partial  indorsement 
of  his  figures,  made  four  years  ago.  where  I 
stated  he.  had  overlooked  the  losses  in  winter 
and  from  disease.  It  is  only  necessary  to  reply 
that  I  am  four  years  older  than  1  was  then.  I 
trust  I  know  more.  Besides,  I  have  found  and 
use  a  hive  that  very  greatly  reduces  the  neces- 
sary amount  of  labor  re(|nired  in  the  apiary: 
and  as  to  winter  losses,  1  think  I  have  learned 
how  to  reduce  them  to  almost  nothing.  And 
then,  if  it  were  any  sin  to  grow,  it  would  come 
with  ill  grace  from  him  to  taunt  me  with  it; 
for  let  him  compare  the.  statement  he  made 
four  years  ago  of  the  items  which  go  to  make 
up  the  cost  of  the  production  of  honey  with  the 


one  he  makes  in  Gi,e.\nings  now.  Of  course, 
he  made  each  of  them  carefully  and  conscien- 
tiously, according  to  the  light  he  had  at  the 
time.  Then  he  put  the  time  necessary  to  care 
for  100  colonies  at  313  days;  now  he  puts  81 
days,  including  the  time  required  for  the  perus- 
al of  apicultural  books  and  journals,  and  for 
attending  bee-keepers'  conventions  as  the  time 
necessary  for  the  care  of  150  colonies  I  Then  he 
put  the  interest  and  taxes,  and  the  wear  and 
tear  on  plant  and  hives  of  1(X)  colonies.  at$(>4; 
now  he  puts  them  at  $M)  on  those  of  150  col- 
onies! Now  he  insists  on  all  owing  the  apiarist 
?5.00perday;  then  he  allowed  him  but  §1.25! 
So  we  are  in  the  same  skiff'.  If  not  dead  we  are 
all  moving.  What  should  most  concern  us  is, 
are  we  moving  in  the  right  direction? 

Of  course,  this  growing  knowledge  greatly 
reduces  the  cost  of  the  production  of  honey; 
but  I  have  never  shed  tears  over  the  reduction 
of  the  cost  of  any  thing  useful  to  humanity.  If 
to  assume  that  attitude  '•  belittles  our  pursuit," 
so  much  the  worse  for  our  pursuit;  but  I  feel 
very  sure  it  can  not  prevent  our  rising  to  the 
"stature  of  God's  freemen."  whatever  may  be 
meant  by  that  sonorous  phrase.  Cotton  cloth 
which  once  cost  .50  cents  per  yard  can  now  be 
produced  for  5  cents;  and  if  I  show  that  it  can 
be  mad(^  for  the  latter  sum,  I  can  not  see  very 
clearly  how  I  thereby  sink  below  "  the  stature 
of  God's  freemen,"  nor  why  to  do  so  would  be 
"  an  open  insult  to  (nery  cotton  manufacturer 
in  the  land,"  nor  why  the  finger  of  scorn  should 
therefore  be  pointed  at  me  with  the  exclama- 
tion, "Shame  on  such  reasoningl'" 

It  must  now  be  evident  from  this  that  our 
critic  does  not  at  this  point  discuss  the  matter 
in  hand.  What  he  argues  is,  that  a  high  price 
for  one's  labor,  or  a  large  income,  adds  to  one's 
dignity,  and  exalts  one's  manhood;  but  I  am 
inclined  to  think  he  is  wrong  even  in  that.  For 
myself  I  should  not  estimate  a  man  by  the  gold 
he  possesses,  by  his  hourly  income,  nor  by  the 
price  he  puts  on  his  labor.  For  divers  reasons  I 
prefer  to  work  in  the  vineyard,  the  orchard, 
and  the  apiary,  even  at  §1.25  per  dav,  than  fol- 
low the  law  at  §10.(KJ  per  day:  and  Dr.  Miller 
refused  the  offer  of  a  large  salary  to  engage  in 
an  occupation  which  was  not  entirely  congenial, 
for  the  sake  of  outdoor  home  life,  and  work 
among  the  bees,  where,  many  years,  he  accepts 
less  than  §1.25  per  day  with  thanks. 

"A  man's  a  man  for  a'  that." 

I  f(>el  quit(^  unwilling  to  accept  the  doctrine 
that  Astor  is  a  belter  man  iiecause  he  receives 
§lt).38  per  minute:  indeed.  1  greatly  doubt  if  he 
is  so  good:  and  if  one  should  undertake  to  argue 
to  the  contrary.  1  should  feel  "'shame  on  such 
reasoning,"  even  if  a  feeling  of  delicacy  forbade 
its  exi)ression.  No.  I  can  easily  conceive  of 
circumstances  wherein  I  would  gladly  accept 
an  offer  of  §45  from  Mr.  Doolittle  for  six  week.s' 
work,  nor  would  I  fr(>l  that  I  had  thereby  de- 
graded myself,  nor  could  1  maki^  snch  an  offer, 
made  in  good  faith,  a  reason  for  angi-r. 

Tlie  rank  is  but  the  j?uiiiea"s  stamp — 
The  man's  the  jrowd  for  a'  that. 

After  all.  the  point  in  my  address  which  is  so 
furiously  attacked  is  a  vei-y  simple  one— the 
cost  of  a  man's  labor  for  six  weeks.  One  who 
desires  to  consider  squarely  the  very  question 
will  find  little  place  for  rhetorical  pyrotech- 
nics; and  if  our  critic  harbors  that  desire 
lie  may  settle  it  with  the  greatest  ease;  but  it 
will  not  do  to  mistake  for  the  true  question  an- 
other which  is  quite  foreign  to  the  matter; 
viz.,  the  value  of  the  time  of  the  owner  of  the 
apiary.  W^hat  a  basis  upon  which  to  calculate 
the  cost  of  the  production  of  honey!  Prof. 
Cook's  time,  we  will  sav,  is  worth  §10  per  day; 
A.  I.  Roofs.  §12,  and   Mr.  Doolittle's,  §15.    Will 


ISU'J 


(il.KANINUS  IN  HKE  CULTURE. 


1S7 


it  (Id  t(i  say.  tliiM'i'foro.  that  I'rdl'.  t'ook  can  i)ro- 
<iiu"('  lioiit'v  at  a  less  cost  than  Mr\  Root,  and 
Mr.  I\(UU  "at  a  less  oust  llian  Mr.  Doolittlc  V 
Why.  if  tliat  were  .»;().  when  we  i-onsidcr  tlial 
the  time  (>r  the  f^rcal  mass  of  Ijcc-kccncrs  is 
wortli  ()nl>  aliont  #=!. ".'.">  jx'r  dav.  one  i-oiild  not 
fail  to  sec  tiiat  Mr.  Doolittlf  niiist  inevitably  he 
distanced  in  so  nne(|uai  a  race.  |{iii  it  is  not 
so.  and  we  may  still  expect  to  see  him  come  out 
aheaii.  How  does  tlie  lionaii/a  farmer,  whose 
lime  is  worth  •i'.V)  [)erday.or  the  gn'iit  lawyer 
wliose  time  is  worth  $I(H)  per  day.  calculate  the 
cost  of  the  w  h(>at  that  is  produced  on  his  farm? 
Why.  they  would  liprnre  with  the  other  ex- 
penses tiie  amount  neci'ssary  to  hire  the  labor 
required  to  piiniuce  the  crop;  and  if  either 
chose  to  drive  team  on  the  farm  foi-  a  week  or  a 
month,  he  would  not  be  so  unjust  to  his  wheat 
crof)  as  to  charire  it  with  ^.V)  or  ^l(K)  a  day  for 
driving!  K^am.  We  ousilit,  in  like  manner,  to  be 
fair  with  our  honey  cro[).  If  Mr.  Dooliltle  can 
get  the  work  i)f  the  apiary  done  at  i?l. :.',">  [)or 
(lay  (we  don't  work  here  on  Sunday),  he  ought 
not  to  be  heard  to  impose  his  own  labor  upon  it 
and  chariie  therefor  SI.")  per  day.  I  have  had 
no  trouble  in  getting  it  done  at  a  ligure  consid- 
erably less  tiian  Sl.L'.'i. 

Turn  now  to  the  figures  in  the  criticism  in 
Gleaxixhs.  It  is  putting  it  mildly  to  say  that, 
when  I  examined  them,  1  was  .somewhat  sur- 
prised. We  find  yoked  together  Heddon  hives 
and  Doolittle  wagesi  How  could  they  get  to- 
gether in  the  same  apiary  ?  or  has  he  adopted 
that  excellent  hive?  Is  Mr.  Doolittle  calculat- 
ing the  cost  of  honey  production  in  his  own 
apiary,  or  in  some  apiary  where  the  Heddon 
hive  is  known  to  be  used  ?  It  is  rather  startling, 
too,  to  find  tliat.  because  tlie  apiarist  has  stud- 
ied the  apiarian  books  and  journals,  and  at- 
tended the  bee-keepers'  conventions,  and  be- 
conii-  tliereby  skilled,  and  his  time  valuable, 
he  allows  him  S.").(X)  a  day  for  his  work,  and  then 
turns  around  and  allows  him  So.CKJ  a  day  for  the 
time  spent  in  reading  the  books  and  journals 
and  attending  the  conventions!  and  that,  not 
stopping  ther(i,  he  goes  on,  allowing  him  the 
cost  of  the  books  and  journals  and  of  attending 
the  con-ventionsi  I  have  been  much  in  and  out 
of  law  offices,  and  it  is  evident  they  are  no  place 
to  learn  how  to  make  charges. 

Mr.  Doolittle  does  not  attack  my  figures  for 
cost  of  plant,  except  that  he  takes  the  hives  out 
of  that  category;  but  for  what  reason,  I  fail  to 
.see.  I  put  colonies  of  bees,  hives  and  all,  at 
?.5.{X1,  which  is  more  than  the  wholesale  market 
price  will  warrant.  Hut  granting  his  point  for 
th(!  time,  he  lives  where  money  commaniis  a 
high  rate,  or  else  he  is  unfortunate  in  the  cost 
of  his  Heddon  hives,  to  make  tin;  double  Inter- 
est. 30  cents,  on  each.  Here  th(>y  cost  less  than 
Sl.tiO  each;  and  as  they  will  last  fifty  years, 
with  little  repair.  I  could  not  conscientiously 
charge  double  interest,  even  on  that;  but,  of 
course,  I  do  not  allow  common  mechanics  So.OO 
per  day,  nor  machinery  in  like  proportion, 
Ilowever,  I  see  no  reason  why  hiv(!s  should  be 
separated  from  the  plant  and  made  an  extra 
charge. 

It  is  possible  he  intends  these  hives  for 
swarms.  If  that  be  so,  then  of  course  the  apia- 
ry should  have  credit  for  the  swarms,  which 
would  make  a  further  very  material  reduction 
in  the  cost  of  the  honey  crop. 

Freights  and  commissions  will,  of  course, 
vary.  These  charges  here  for  moving  the 
crop  in  question,  (HM)  pounds,  from  my  apiary 
to  the  railway,  one  mile,  thence  to  Chicago, 
nearly  'M)  miles,  with  commission  for  selling, 
would  amount  to  ?•)."). .50;  adding  cartage  in 
Chicago,  say  ^r^..^,  makes  ?;()8— just  my  figures 
which  are  attacked.  ItisdiHicult  to  imagine 
where  our  critic  would   ship   his  honey  so  as  to 


nearly  double  these  tigui'es  (his  figures  an;  ?!;.'.>), 
unless  hi- allows  all  railroad  men  *.").(H)  ]„'r  day 
too.  .Seventy  dollars  foi'  sugar!  and.  besides, 
,?r).(K)  i)er  day  for  feeding  it!  At  the  end  of  the 
last  season  (a  veiy  poor  one)  many  of  my  hiv(\s 
had  from  50  to  do  pounds  of  honey,  exclusiv(!  of 
bees  and  frame.s.  It  is  evidently  unsafe  to 
write  about  what  does  not  come  under  onci's 
own  pi'i-sonal  observation,  or  else  pcM'haps  Mr. 
Doolitlle's  Heddon  hi ves  operate  differently.  I 
do  not  now  feed  much  sugar  for  winter  stones, 
though  last  fall  I  might  have  madt^  ^\'>0  by  ex- 
tracting and  feeding  sugar,  in  which  case  the 
?70  would  go  on  the  other  side  of  tin;  account. 

Mi.  Doolittle  intimates  that-  this  attempt  to 
show  that  the  cost  of  the  production  of  honciy 
may  be  reduced,  or  "  this  lowering  the  standard 
of  our  calling,'"  as  he  puts  it,  is  made  to  show  to 
the  world  a  larger  net  ijiolit.  No.  he  fails  to 
catch  th(^  gist  of  my  address.  As  he  says,  the 
average  yield  has  h(!en  decreasing  for  the  last 
twelve  years;  and.  judging  from  his  statement, 
it  is  decreasing  more  rapidly  here  than  in  New 
York,  as  it  is  four  years  at  least  since  we  have 
had  an  average  of  40  pounds.  With  these  facts 
in  mind  1  undertook  to  open  the  question  as  to 
the  actual  necessary  cost  per  pound  at  different 
averages  to  lead  to  the  determination,  as  near 
as  might  be.  of  the  point  where  all  gain  ceases, 
that  we  might  know  when  we  must  still  further 
reduce  the  cost  or  quit  the  business,  I  think 
my  figures  are  still  too  high  for  the  great  ma- 
jority of  bee-keepers.  I  am  still  convinced  that 
it  is  a  laudable  thing  to  strive  to  reduce  the 
cost  of  production,  and  to  demonstrate  how 
that  may  be  don<!,  that  we  may  reap  all  the 
possible  profit,  while  there  is  a  possible  profit, 
and  avoid  loss  when  a  profit  is  out  of  the  quesT 
tion. 

1  still  think,  as  I  thought  when  I  wrote  the 
address,  that  economy  in  honey  production  is 
the  sheet  anchor  of  the  apiarist's  hope.  Econo- 
my in  honey  production  was  the  title  of  that 
address;  it  was  the  thread  that  ran  all  through 
it,  and  gave  it  consistency.  Criticism  ini.sses 
the  mark  and  loses  its  value  when  it  fails  to 
discover  the  heart  and  life  of  the  thing  criticis- 
ed. Economy  in  the  production  of  honey  is  the 
question  of  paramount  interest  to  bee-keepers, 
and  it  must  come  more  and  more  to  the  front. 
W'hat  the  vocation  now  needs  most  iS' critically 
exact  statements  with  full  details  of  the  actual 
necessary  expense  of  money  and  time  required 
in  the  production  of  a  crop  of  honey.  The 
thoughts  and  pirns  of  int(^lligenl  apiarists  can 
not  do  us  better  service  than  in  giving  us  such 
statements  from  real  life,  eschewing  fancy  sup- 
plies and  fancy  wages.  How  many  will  volun- 
teer to  keep  accurate  accounts  during  the  sea- 
son now  opening?  R.  L,  Tayi^oh. 

Lapeer,  Mich. 


COST  OF  PRODUCING  HONEY. 


VALUABLE     I'OINTS     FROM    ONK    WHO  DOES   NOT 

MAKE   BEE-KEEPING    HIS   EXCLUSIVE 

BUSINESS. 


In  the  .Jan,  15111  Gleanings  there  is,  as  I  con- 
sidered it,  a  very  fair  and  conservative  article 
in  regard  to  the  cost  pel- pound  of  comb  honey 
from  a  large  specialist,  Mr.  R.  L.  Taylor.  In 
Feb.  loth  number,  by  Mr.  (J.  M.  Doolittle,  is  an- 
other that  setiins  to  me  wild.  These  men  are 
both-up,  away  up,  in  the  profession,  and  their 
opinions  are  worth  something — in  fact,  all  they 
can  get  for  them,  so  I  presume  it  is  hardly  be- 
coming in  a  very  light  weight  to  criticise  those 
opinions  or  differ  with  them;  but,  "  fools  rush 
in  where  angels  fear  to  tn^ad." 

Now,  from   the   point  of  view  of  one  who  is  a 


188 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mau    15. 


bee-keeper  for  pleasure   (and    j)rofit  when  he  rate  of  50  cents  per  hour;  and  then   the  item  of 

can  get  it).  I  wish   to  give  my  estimate  of  the  .stmr/.s-— who  would,  in   cold   blood,  let  a  bee  sit 

cost  of  comb  honey.  down  on  him.  and  prod  in  his  little  javelin  for  a 

As  we  invoice  our  stock  of  hardware  (my  bus-  nickel  a  prod?    That  is  really  too  low  an  esti- 

iness)  we  put  down  cost  to  us  only  of  articles  mate;  but  then,  think  how  it  would  help  run  up 

and  plant  in  making  up  our  statement  of  i)rofits  the  cost  of  honey  (you  see  I  have  these  misera- 

or  losses  for  the  year's  transactions.    So.  in  in-  ble  hybrids). 

vestments  in  bees  and   fixtures  it  is  fair  to  esti-  Without  prejudice,  it  appears  to  me  that,  if 

mate  only  interest  on  the  amount  actually  in-  one  counts  labor,  as  must  in  justice  be  done, 

vested  in    the    business — cost    price;    in    fact,  Mr.  Taylor's    estimate  is  a  very  careful  and 

■what  it  ivill  sell  for  represents  part  of  the  prof-  conservative  one,  as  he  computes  labor  at  pi'ices 

its  of  the  business  in  increase  in  value,  etc.  that  almost  any  one  can  hii'e  the  work  done  for 

My  apiary  to-day  consists  of  58  colonies,  all  if  he  does  not  wish  to  attend  it  himself,  and 

the  growth  or  product  of   one  swarm   which  that  is  the  only  fair  way. 

came  to  me  five  years  ago.  without   money  and  foul  bkood 

without  price.    It  represents  in  cost  to  me  in  ^,     „,          „    ,,                     ',„ 

cash  «184  in   hives,  foundation,  extractor,  and  .   Mr.  Elmer  Todd,  on   page  l.«.  gives  an  item 

other  appliances.    For  variable  charges,  I  know  m  i-egard  to  foul   brood   that  is  very  misleading 

of  no  better  way  to  get  at  them   than  a  state-  on  the  face  of  it.    If  Mr._  Jodd   reiers  simply  to 

ment  of  last  season's  work  of  the  bees  and   my-  ^he     section  of  country  ^  surrounding  \ ork,  he 

self     My  account  then  will  stand  thus;  '"ay   be  entirely   correct;    but  if  he  refers  to 

^  Nebraska  at  large  he  is  very  much   mistaken; 

BEES,  DK.  jjg  Saline  Co.,  cornering  on  York  Co.,  has  not  a 

To  interest  on  inve.stment  ($184.00)  at  10%  $18  40  known   case  of  foul   brood   in   it.  and  a  larger 

T°  ^um''  ^T'''  T  t  K"'  '^^      ' r  50  POJ'tion  of  Nebraska  is  in  like  condition.    With 

To  f,.u.ulati;.'n  tor  sameVfuirsYieets:::;:.. ■;:;:;  2.5  bo  a  wide  acquaintaiice  among  bee-keepei;s  I  have 

To  crates  lor  '^hipping- 13  .50  never  before  heard  of  foul  brood  in  the  State. 

To  dravage  on  honey  to  depot .50  Dorchester,  Neb.,  Feb.  19.        C.  F.  Thoma.s. 

To  freight  to  destination,  32.50 Ills.  at28cper  100    9  10 

$102  40 

BEES.  CR.  MANUM  AND    HIS  NEIGHBOR. 

E^41ul^'e'x^ractecrf%n/uSshe^  HOW    MR.   MAKUM    mT^gei,    five    apiakies 

at  $.0253         6  58  ALONE ;    CONTINUED  FROM   P.    lr>{\   MARCH   1. 

By  i6.50  sections  witii  foundation  unused 14  02  ^,^,  ^.  ,  , T, 

•'  What  did   you  do  with  the  old  queens  re- 

$103  40  moved  ?  " 

Now,  at  the  low  price  of  ?.02.52  per  pound  for  "'  They  were  used  to  fill  orders  for  such:  and 
my  honey,  it  balances  the  account  with  my  when  all  orders  were  filled  I  used  the  surplus  to 
bees,  and  still  leaves  me  47  lbs.  of  No.  1  wax.  start  nuclei  with,  by  taking  a  comb  of  brood 
and  an  increase  from  35  to  .58  colonies  to  count  with  adhering  bees,  with  the  queen;  also 
as  a  factor  in  reducing  the  cost  still  lower.  I  shaking  the  bees  from  another  comb  with 
paid  out  not  one  dollar  for  labor,  and  used  of  them  in  order  to  have  plenty  of  young  bees  re - 
my  own  time  only  what  I  could  conveniently  main  with  the  queen;  and  to  this  were  added 
spare  without  neglect  of  other  interests— sim-  two  or  three  empty  combs  and  one  containing  a 
ply  used  odd  moments,  and  time  that  would  little  honey.  These  nuclei  were  started  in  full- 
have  been  l(>ss  pleasantly  and  healthfully  spent  sized  hives,  and  from  time  to  time  I  would  give 
had  I  not  occupied  it  with  the  bees;  hence  I  them  a  comb  of  hatching  brood,  and  by  fall 
have  made  no  allowance  for  work  in  the  cost,  they  were  as  strong  as  any  I  had.  Some  days  I 
I  also  have  allowed  nothing  for  commission,  for  would  have  more  orders  than  I  could  remove 
that  is  not  one  of  the  factors  in  production,  and  queens.  In  that  case  I  would  take  queens  from 
should  no  more  be  (estimated  as  a  part  of  the  these  nuclei  to  make  up  the  deficiency,  and  in 
cost  than  should  the  profit  or  commission  of  the  two  or  three  days  I  gave  these  nuclei  well- 
retailer,  advanced   queen-cells,  so  that  by  fall  I  found  I 

Now,  I  do  not  wish  to  present  this  as  a  fair  had  very  few  of  the  old  queens  left." 

estimate  of  cost  from   the  standpoint  of  a  spe-  ••  Why  not  give  those  nuclei  virgin  queens  in- 

cialist,  and  of  one  who  has  150  colonies,  and  stead  of  cells  ?" 

has  only  his  bees  as  a  means  of  livelihood,  and  '•  Because,  Charles,  they   would  not  accept  a 

expects  to  put  in  his  whole  time  on  that  num-  virgin  queen  so  readily,  having  been  queenless 

ber,  and  do  nothing  else.     But  it  is  a  fair  one  so  short  a  time;  and  to  keep  them  queenless  the 

from  the  standpoint  of  thousands  situated  as  I  proper  length  of  time  for  them  to  accept  of  one 

am,  who  take  up  bee  culture,  and  consider  the  would  be  a  loss  of  time.     Better  give  such  a 

time  spent  with   the  bees  as  offset  by  the  exer-  laying  queen.    They  will   be   more  readily  ac- 

cise  and  satisfaction  derived  from  them   only  as  cepted  than  a  virgin.'' 

a  pleasure,  or  as  a  means  of  ])utting  in  spare  "Then  why  not  give  queen-cells  to  those  colo- 
time  that  would  otherwise  be  wasted,  expecting  nies  where  the  queens  were  removed,  and  save 
the  bees  to  assist  in  placing  the  financial  affairs  all  the  bother  of  running  hatcheries  ?" 
of  the  family  on  a  more  suiistantial  basis;  and,  "  Because,  if  a  cell  is  given  a  full  colony  that 
further,  it  is  one  that  inlii  feres  very  seriously  has  brood  in  all  stages,  from  the  egg  to  hatcliing 
with  the  estimates  and  wislies  of  the  specialist  bees,  there  is  more  danger  of  their  swarming 
in  honey  production,  as  it  will  almost  invaria-  out  when  the  young  queen  goes  out  to  mate, 
bly  break  up  any  idea  of  his  home  market  prov-  than  when  a  virgin  is  given  them.  Of  course, 
ing  a  profitable  one.  Mr.  Doolittle's  estimate,  the  virgin  is  not  given  until  all  brood  is  .so  far 
however,  appears  to  be  an  especially  exagger-  advanced  that  a  que(>n  can  not  be  reared  from 
ated  one;  and  he  might,  to  his  items  of  ex-  such  brood.  But  even  if  a  cell,  instead  of  a 
pense,  "bee-papers  and  books,  S5;  atteiKling  virgin  queen,  be  given  at  this  time,  they  will 
conventions,  $20;  time  spent  in  reading  papers  likely  swarm;  at  least  that  has  been  my  experi- 
and  books,  and  attending  conventions  at  $5  per  ence,  when  they  would  not  when  a  hatched 
day,"  with  equal  propriety  add  time  spent  in  queen  is  run  in,  at  least  not  until  after  the 
nervous  and  restless  tossing  in  bed  when  unable  combs  have  been  refilled  with  brood.  Again, 
to  enter  the  realms  of  Morpheus,  on  account  of  by  introducing  virgin  queens  we  have  the  ad- 
some  unsolved    problem   in   apiculture,  at   the  vantage  of  selecting,  as  it  is  not   always   the 


IHW 


(JLIOANINC.S  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


lM(t 


luiijcst  ami  iiii'csi  i-clls  tliai  jjivc  us  tlic  t)t'st 
(lUtu'iis;  liciu-c  I  alwavs  prefer  to  fiive  a  iiiieen 
\s  lieiiexer  1  eaii,  rat liei'  tliaii  a  cell,  tof  tlieii  I 
know  wital  I  am  doiii^." 

"  Were  you  usually  sui'eesst'ul  in  iul  I'odueiii;^ 
virgin  (lueens?" 

"  Yes,  quite  sm'0(>ssful.  .\t  leasi  'X,  per  cent 
were  aeeepled  at  lirst  trial.'" 

••  Do  you  lliiiil<  you  got  as  much  lioney  where 
queens  were  removed  as  you  would  were  tliey 
run  the  ohi  way  ■.'"' 

"I  think  not.  providing  then>  had  heeii  a  good 
experienciHJ  |)ersoii  at  each  apiary.  However.  I 
liiinl<  1  realized  as  much  profit  from  my  bees  as 
I  should  to  iia\t'  h'wod  help  to  run  them  the  old 
way.  There  are  advantages  and  disadvantage's 
in  both  methods." 

■•  How  did  the  crop  from  your  live  apiaries 
compare  with  that  of  tlie  other  two  run  the  old 
way  ?■' 

•■  They  averaged  better  than  did  the  other 
two  apiaries:  but  I  believe,  could  I  have  man- 
aged the  two  apiaries  myself,  I  could  have 
made  a  better  average  with  them  than  the  five 
where  the  (lueeiis  were  removed  (but.  Charles, 
don't  tell  Fred  or  Henry  of  thi.s — please  don't).'' 
•■  Was  there  any  swarming  in  the  five  apiaries 
after  the  hcmey  season '.'"' 

'•  Yes,  to  some  extent.  I  think  that  probably 
six  per  cent  of  the  young  (lueeiis  swarmed  wfiile 
buckwheat  was  in  bloom.  Thi-se,  of  course, 
were  the  lirst  introduced;  and.  liaving  filled 
their  liives  with  brood,  and  honey  coming  in  at 
a  moderate  rate,  they  swarmed  out." 

'•  Of  course,  you  were  not  there  to  hive  such 
swarms  or  care  for  the  parent  colony:  hence, 
was  it  not  an  injury  to  them  ?" 

•'  No:  I  was  not  there  to  hive  the  bees.  They 
went  to  the  woods:  and  as  to  the  injury  to  the 
old  stock.  1  think  that,  in  most  cases,  it  was  no 
detriment  to  them,  as  I  visited  the  apiaries 
once  a  week:  and  wherever  I  found  that  a 
swarm  had  issued  I  fixed  them  up  with  a  laying 
queen." 

••  How  old  a  virgin  (pKien  is  it  safe  to  intro- 
duce?" 

"  I  am  not  positive  about  that  point.  I  am 
conducting  sonje  experiments  regarding  this 
matter.  1  think,  however,  that  the  best  results 
will  be  attained  by  introducing  virgin  queens 
before  they  are  eight  days  old.  1  think  when 
they  are  two  to  five  days  old  is  the  better  time; 
but  last  S(!ason.  in  stmie  of  my  yards  I  was 
obliged  to  use  some  (pieens  older  than  eiglit 
days  to  save  an  extra  trip:  in  fact.  I  have  in- 
troduced some  that  were  lifteen  days  old;  but  I 
found  such  old  ones  were  not  always  reliable 
when  accepted,  and  I  fancied  such  were  more 
apt  to  b<>  followed  out  by  a  swarm  wiien  they 
left  the  liive  to  mate:  and  in  two  or  three  cases 
such  queens  proved  to  be  drone-layers;  and  on 
the  other  hand,  soiik^  of  the  best  queens  I  luive 
(apparently  so  last  fall)  are  those  that  were  in- 
troduced at  from  ten  to  fifteen  days  old;  yet  I 
would  not  advise  any  one  to  use  such.  When 
shipping  virgin  queens  I  always  send  those  that 
are  i)ut  two  or  three  days  old." 

■■  While  the  colonies  were  qu(;enless.  did  they 
not  store  up  large  quantities  of  pollen,  to  the 
fietriment  of  the  colonies  later  on  ".'" 

"  Yes;  the  bees  gathered  pollen  right  along, 
and  it  seemed  to  me  at  tirst  they  would  pack 
the  c(jmbs  full;  and,  in  fact,  some  of  them  were 
pnaty  well  lilled;  but  as  tlie  greater  part  of  ray 
colonies  were  requeen<'d.  and  the  qu(;ens  laying 
before  basswood  blossomed,  and  as  but  very 
little  pollen  is  gathrjred  during  its  bloom,  and 
as  the  young  queens  wiT'e  laying  so  profusely. 
th(!  pollen  was  consumed  to  a  great  extent  in 
brood  -  rearing  before  another  pollen  harvest 
came  on." 


"  Do  you  not  have  some  colonies  that  have  an 
excess  of  pollen  at  the  close  of  basswood  '.'" 

■'  Yes,  oftentimes.  In  tliiit,  case  I  remove  such 
(■oml)s  jis  are  well  lilled, and  divide  them  among 
my  nuclei  that  I  am  working  up  for  winter, 
this  being  my  only  metljod  of  increase  witii  this 
management." 

"Do  you  think  the  bees  work  as  well  in  sec- 
tions wliile  they  are  qiieenless?" 

"  No.  Charles,  not  as  a  rule.  Some  colonies 
do;  but  many  do  not.  The  majority  of  them 
store  the  greater  part  of  tiieir  hoiKsy  in  the 
t)rood- combs,  from  which  young  l)ees  hatch  out. 
They  are  sure  to  keep  such  combs  full;  but 
with  strong  colonies,  wlieii  there  is  a  good  flow 
of  honey,  work  seems  to  progress  as  w<'ll  in  the 
sections  as  where  they  hav(^  a  laying  queen,  be- 
cause they  .so  .soon  get  the  brood-combs  full. 
The  great  rush  for  the  sections,  however,  comes 
right  after  tlie  young  (lueen  commences  to  lay. 
Then  all  tlu^  uncapped  lion(\v  is  carried  from 
the  brood-combs  to  the  sections.  This  is  when 
I  get  the  greater  part  of  my  gilt-edge  honey,  as 
th(!  sections  are  filled  and  capped  over  very 
quickly.'' 

"  Do  you  think  your  bees  are  in  as  good  con- 
dition for  winter,  by  your  method  of  removing 
the  queens ".'" 

"  Yes,  I  do,  and,  if  any  thing,  in  better  condi- 
tion, owing  to  the  fact  that,  with  young  prolific 
queens  given  them  in  midsummer,  tliey  rear  a 
large  amount  of  brood  before  winter  sets  in." 

"  Do  you  find  it  necessary  to  feed  back  as 
much  for  winter  stores  by  this  method  as  when 
swarming  is  allowed?" 

'•  No.  I  do  not:  because  they,  being  queenless 
for  several  days  during  the  height  of  clover 
bloom,  are  apt  to  cap  over  quite  a  little  in  the 
brood-combs,  which,  of  course,  remains  there 
for  winter's  use."  A.  E.  Manum. 

Bristol.  Vt. 

[You  have  suggested  some  very  valuable 
points,  inasmuch  as  they  help  to  clear  up  some 
of  the  difficulties  regarding  colonies  from  which 
queens  have  been  removed  to  prevent  swarming 
during  the  honey-flow.  We  are  aware  of  the 
fact  that  many  who  have  tried  the  unqueening 
of  colonies  have  found  it  to  be  a  failure;  but  as 
long  as  such  men  as  Manum.  Ehvood.  and  oth- 
ers are  successful,  it  is  a  great  mistake  to  give 
the  plan  only  one  trial  on  a  few  colonies,  and 
then  give  it  up  in  disgust.  The  possibilities  in 
this  line  are  too  great  to  be  lost.  Mr.  Manum, 
we  presume,  could  give  us  some  very  valuable 
points  on  the  minimum  cost  of  a  pound  of  comb 
honey,  and  some  of  the  short  cuts  he  has  sug- 
gested go  a  long  way  toward  solving  the  prob- 
lem. It  does  not  lower  our  calling,  as  has  been 
argued,  to  produce  comb  honey  for  less  money 
per  ]jound.  If  we  could  secure  20  cts.  a  pound 
for  coirb  honey  at  wholsale,  then  we  might  go 
on  and  produce  honey  in  the  old-fashioned  way. 
It  is  impracticable  to  raise;  tlu;  price,  but  there 
is  a  great  deal  of  hope  that  we  can  reduce  the 
cost,  and  facts  and  tigur(>s  in  this  and  the  last 
issue  are  not  wanting  to  show  it. J 


MORE  ABOUT  GRADING  HONEY. 


I)]{.    .M1I,I-EK   (  ONTINIKS   THK    .sUB.IKCT. 


The  requirements  of  the  first  grade  of  honey, 
as  adopted  at  Chicago,  were  so  exacting  that 
very  many  thought  there  could  be  very  little 
first-grade  honey.  .J.  A.  (ireiiii's  highi'St  grade 
is  open  to  the  same  objection,  and  is  also  open  to 
the  objection  that  it  multiplies  grades,  and  too 
great  a  number  might  make  trouble  about 
marketing.    For  years  I  have  sold  the   bulk  of 


190 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mak.  15. 


my  honey  as  first  class,  and  have  had  no  fault 
found  with  it.  I  have  nevor  selected  out  any 
to  sell  that  could  pass  in  friend  Green's  highest 
grade,  and  1  don't  think  a  fourth  of  it  could 
pass  muster,  if  a  tenth  could.  I  suspect  a  good 
many  others  would  have  the  same  feeling  of 
rebellion  that  I  experienced  against  a  system  of 
grading  that  would  lower  the  grade  of  my 
honey  so  that  L  who  had  prided  myself  on  rais- 
ing almost  entirely  honey  of  the  highest  grade, 
should  be  obliged  hereafter  to  confess  that  only 
a  small  part  of  my  crop  could  come  up  to  tlie 
mark. 

On  thinking  a  good  deal  about  it,  however,  I 
must  say  that  my  prejudices  are  beginning  to 
melt  away.  It's  a  good  deal  as  one  looks  at  it. 
If  you  allow  me  to  say  that  I  raise  mostly  honey 
of  the  first  grade,  aiid  out  of  that  select  a  part 
of  the  verv  choicest  to  sell  at  a  little  higher 
price,  then  it  doesn't  look  so  bad  tome.  .Inst 
this  very  thing  is  allowed  by  the  way  friend 
Green  puts  it.  His  highest  grade  is  simply  a 
selection  out  of  the  highest  Albany  grade,  and 
is  not  so  very  different  from  the  Chicago  basis, 
only  the  latter  has  the  unfortunate  feature  of 
so  naming  it  that  the  great  bulk  of  honey  must 
be  second  grade  or  worse. 

The  Review  says,  very  justly,  that  the  Al- 
bany system  is  too  wordy.  "Rules  for  grading 
ought  to  be  very  concise,  yet  very  carefully 
worded."  I  suspect  it  will  be  a  very  difficult 
thing  to  so  word  a  set  of  lules  that  there  will  be 
no  danger  of  misnnderstaniling,  and  that  no 
two  persons  can  take  a  ditlerent  meaning  from 
them.  But  any  approach  toward  this  will  be 
an  improvement  over  the  present  condition  of 
affairs.  Looking  at  the  market  quotations  as 
given  in  the  Honey  Column  of  Gleanings  for 
Jan.  1.5,  I  find  the  first  classification  separates 
honey  into  "white''  and  "dark;"  the  second, 
"best  comb;"  then  in  succession  we  have 
"fancy  white"'  and  "dark;"  "comb  honey;" 
"white"  and  "dark;"  "fancy  white"  and 
"other  grades;"  "comb;"  "white"  and  "dark." 
It  will  be  seen  that  the  main  grading  is  into 
"  white"  and  "dark."  Now,  suppose  I  look  at 
a  quotation  and  see  that  I  can  get  16  cts.  for 
white  comb.  Just  on  the  face  of  it  I  can  get  16 
cts.  for  any  thing  that  can  properly  be  called 
white  honey;  but  if  I  ship  I  may  find  an  actual 
range  of  3  or  4  cents  according  to  quality;  and 
as  matters  now  stand  it  would  be  a  v(>ry  hard 
thing  to  agree  in  writing  just  how  much  my 
honey  would  bring,  without  a  great  deal  of  cor- 
respondence. I  mention  these  things  to  show 
how  important  it  is  to  have  something  very 
definite,  and  to  show,  further,  that  at  present 
we  have  no  system,  and  very  much  need  one. 

The  A  grade  of  the  Albany  system  requires 
that  "one  face  of  each  section  shall  be  perfect 
in  appearance."  I  like  that  idea  of  "one  side;" 
for  when  the  section  com(>s  to  its  final  use— on 
the  table— only  one  side  can  be  seen;  and  if  the 
honey  on  the  under  side  tastes  all  right  it  makes 
very  little  difference  how  it  looks.  There  may 
be  some  difficulty  as  to  exact  agreement  in  all 
cases  as  to  what  is  meant  by  " ^^ei'/ect  appear- 
ance;" but  I  hardly  see  how  the  wording  could 
be  bettered.  As  to  the  other  side  of  the  section 
being  "perfect  in  color  and  sealing,  or  nearly 
so,"  it  does  seem  to  me  that  "nearly  .so"  is  un- 
necessarily vague.  It  might  sound  like  hair- 
splitting to  name  the  greatest  number  of  un- 
sealed cells  that  should  be  allowed;  but  I 
suspect  that,  if  you  were  to  take  five  men  at 
random,  and  ask  them  how  many  cells  might 
be  unsealed  to  make  a  face  "nearly"  sealed, 
you  would  get  about  five  different  answers.  .  . 
.  .  .  I  just  stopped  long  enough  to  try  the 
experiment  on  three  persons  (all  that  I  could 
easily  get  at),  asking  each  one  separately,  with 
the  result  that  one  said  a  section  "nearly  seal- 


ed "  miglit  have  "seven  cells  unsealed;"  anoth- 
er said  "seven  or  eight."  and  the  third  said 
"eight  or  ten."  I  must  say  that  I  am  surprised 
that  they  are  so  nearly  together:  but  I  have 
some  doubt  whether  there  would  be  so  close 
an  agreement  if  they  had  never  worked  together 
at  sorting  honey.  But  even  in  this  case,  the 
range  from  "seven"  to  "ten"  is  enough  to 
make  trouble.  Would  it  not  be  better  to  be 
definite  and  give  the  exact  maximum  number  of 
unsealed  cells  to  be  allowed  ?  As  to  coloi'.  per- 
haps there  is  nothing  better  than  "nearly  .so." 

The  second  Albany  grade  is  to  have  "but  lit- 
tle unsealed  honey."  How  much  more  does 
that  allow  unsealed  than  the  first,  which  is 
"nearly  "  sealed. 

The  third  Albany  grade  contains  white  mixed 
with  inferior,  including  buckwheat  and  fall 
flowers.  Does  that  mean  that  buckwheat  and 
fall  flowers  unmixed  ai'e  included  in  the  thiixl 
grade,  or  that  buckwheat  and  fall  flowers  are 
included  in  the  inferior  honeys  that  may  be 
mixed  with  white?  It  would  hardly  seem  to 
mean  that  these  two  kinds  unmixed  belong  in 
this  grade,  for.  immediately  afterward,  buck- 
wheat is  put  in  a  separate  class  by  itself.  On 
the  other  hand,  if  these  two  kinds  be  allowed 
in  the  third  grade  only  when  mixed  with  white, 
then  fall  flowers,  pure  and  simple,  have  no 
place  in  any  grade.   There's  trouble  somewhere. 

Possibly  there  may  be  some  of  the  readers  of 
Gleanings  as  ignorant  as  myself;  so,  Mr.  Ed- 
itor, will  you  please  tell  me  what  is  meant  by 
"boxes  known  as  'pieces'  "?  and  why  put  a 
"private"  mark  on  them? 

Let  me  now  give  just  a  little  further  glance 
at  friend  Green's  system.  I  like  the  man  so 
well  that  I  should  expect  something  good  from 
him;  but  no  faults  should  be  passed  by  un- 
challenged. I  have  already  noticed  the  fact 
that  the  first  three  gi'ades  all  make  the  same 
demand  as  to  quality,  and  that  throws  every 
thing  not  of  good  flavor  into  the  "  M  "  grade. 
Possibly  this  is  all  right;  but  there  is  such  a 
disagreement  in  tast<'S  as  to  what  is  "good  fla- 
vor"' that  it  may  not  be  wise  to  bring  them  in 
unnecessarily.  Moreover,  as  the  public  taste 
now  stands  you  may  formulate  all  the  rules  you 
please,  and  the  whitest  honey  will  bring  the 
highest  price  without  being  tasted.  Still  fur- 
ther, is  not  every  white  honey  good  enough  in 
flavor  to  snit  the  general  consumer? 

The  genei'al  spirit  of  his  "A"  grade  is  much 
the  same  as  the  Albany,  and  is  quite  satisfac- 
tory. But  would  you  allow  a  single  cell  of  pol- 
len to  throw  a  section  into  the  "C"  grade,  if  it 
were  perfect  in  every  other  respect?  By  the 
way.  Albany  says  not  a  word  about  pollen. 

In  the  "C  grade,  "sections  must  be  nearly 
filled,  with  few  or  no  unsealed  cells."  In  that, 
the  words  "nearly"  and  "few"  are  indefinite. 
Couldn't  a  little  arithmetic  come  in  tliere? 
Again,  at  the  close  of  the  "M"  grade  "well 
sealed  "  is  indefinite. 

In  the  extra  select,  if  I  understand  it  rightly, 
a  single  unsealed  cell,  in  the  line  of  cells  touch- 
ing the  wood,  rules  a  section  out.  Isn't  that  a 
little  too  exacting?  If  a  section  wcie  i)i'rfect 
in  all  other  respects,  and  a  little  projiolls  care- 
fully scraped  off  the  wood  left  a  slight  discolor- 
ation, would  you  throw  it  out  of  the  "extra 
select"? 

I  hope  it  will  not  be  understood  that  I  have 
any  intention  of  treating  with  disrespect  the 
efforts  already  made  toward  establishing  a 
standard.  Far  from  it.  I  am  very  gi-ateful  for 
what  has  been  done,  and  am  free  to  admit  that 
1  am  not  able  to  get  up  a  scheme  of  grading 
satisfactory  to  myself.  You  may  then  ask,  if  I 
can  not  tell  what  ought  to  be  done,  what  use 
there  is  in  my  talking  about  it.  Let  me  illus- 
trate.   Emma   has  been  doing  some  very  nice 


(;i.K.\NIN(;s  IN   HKK  CULTURE. 


101 


work  td-tiay  |iiiiiiliiiK  in  oils.  Sin-  li;is  hem 
very  filatl  to  have  iiic  [)oint  out  ticlVi-ts  for  licr 
to  rcmcily.  alt lioiiirli,  if  I  wim'c  to  take  tiic  l)riisli 
into  my  own  iiainl.  and  attempt  to  makt>  a 
pirtnre  of  a  bet-  on  a  llnwcr,  a  hilu'l  inifilu  ''•' 
nt'itlcii  on  cai'h  tiMii.stinitnisli  tlif  lire  from  liif 
llovvcr.  After  further  (iisenssion,  lintlinir  out 
more  fully  the  views  of  others,  it  is  posNJhle  1 
may  know  enon>ih  to  formulate  whal  1  think 
would  suit  me.  in  whieli  case  I  .shall  not  hesi- 
tate to  try  mv  ham!  at  it.  ('.  C.  Mii.i.kk. 
xMareuiio.  111. 

[Hoxes    known    as    pieces'.' — Mr.    KUvood   ex- 
plained this  on  page  1."'.").  Maich  1st  iss\u>.] 


THE  GRADING  OF  COMB  HONEY. 


The  Chicago  convention  gave  no  instructions 
how  to  mark  the  several  grades  of  honey,  hnt 
siiould  have  done  so,  perlia[)s.  I  sc(^  no  obj<'c- 
tion  to  the  use  of  letters  in  case  liiey  are  taken 
in  rotation.  I  don't  like  the  idea  of  skipping 
around  in  the  alijliabet;  for  instance,  from  A, 
H.  C.  to  M.  Why  not  use  I)  for  ^1  ?  Can  any 
one  give  a  valid  icason '.'  In  case  wi'  use  letters, 
why  not  use  them  in  such  a  way  that  consumers 
can  understand  their  meaning  as  well  as  pro- 
ducers and  dealers?  The  letter  A  is  good 
enough  for  first  grade,  or  for  the  best  grade, 
unless  it  might  be  better,  all  things  considered, 
to  use  the  double  A  A;  then  the  singh;  A  might 
be  used  for  second  grade:  15  for  third  grade, 
and  C  for  fourth  grade,  which,  in  my  opinion, 
are  grades  enough.  M.  M.  Hai.dkidgk. 

St.  Charles,  111.,  Feb.,  LS'.t:.'. 


.1.  A.  (iUKKN  (  HtTt('isi:i)  sTii.i,  i-iKTi I i:i;. 


Friend  Creen  says  in  Cii,KANi.\(is.  |)age  It.  "  I 
must  say  that  I  am  not  at  all  satislied  with 
either  of  the  systems  of  grading  conil)  honey 
that  have  been  proposed.  That  adopted  at  the 
Northwestern  convention  was  rather  too  exact- 
ing in  some  of  its  reiiuirenients.  and.  in  some 
ri'spects.  was  incomi)lete."  He  then  giv(>s  in- 
structions for  grading  coml)  honey  as  adopted 
by  him.self,  which,  it  seems  to  mo.  are  opcMi  to 
the  same  criticisms  he  bestows  u|)on  the  system 
adopted  in  Chicago.  He  says  that  honey  in  the 
best  and  second  best  grades  should  be"  light- 
colored  "■  and  of  "good  llavor."  Now.  this  mal- 
lei'of  •■  color"  and  "Havoi'"  was  duly  consider- 
ed in  Chicago:  and  it  was  thought  best,  when 
all  things  were  taken  into  consideration,  to 
omit  them  both.  To  include  "flavor"  would 
make  heaps  of  trouble  to  both  dealers  and  bee- 
keepers. For  instance,  "light-colored"  honey 
may  be  white  clover.  sw(>et  clover,  basswood. 
willow,  the  sages  of  California,  etc.  Now,  the 
flavors  of  these  different  kinds  of  lioney  are  so 
unlike  each  other,  and  so  peculiar,  that  what 
wduld  suit  one  consumer  would  not  suit  an- 
other. There  are  i)lenty  of  people  who  dislike 
exceedingly  the  flavor  of  basswood  (linden) 
honey.  Now.  suppose  the  retailer  buys  a  quan- 
lity  of  basswood  honey,  warranted  by  the  in- 
structions as  laid  down  l)y  friend  (Jreen  to  be 
of  "good  flavor."  and  he  sells  the  same  to  con- 
snmi'rs  who  ha])pen  to  live  where  basswood 
honey  is  unknown,  and  they  so  dislike  its  flavor 
as  to  find  fault  with  it.  The  retailer  would 
then  be  (jiiite  apt  to  comi»lain  to  the  w  holesaler. 
and  he  in  turn  to  the  producer,  and  the  objec- 
lional)le  feature  would  have  to  be  adjusted  in 
some  way.  and  chiefly  at  the  expense  or  loss  of 
ihe  bee-keepei-.  The  same  may  Ix?  said  in  re- 
gard to  some  of  the  other  kinds  of  light-colored 
honey.  The  only  safe  way  for  both  producers 
and  consumei-s  to  pursue,  it  seems  to  me.  is  to 
let  llavor  alone  and  give  no  heed  to  it  in  grad- 
ing comb  honey.  Let  the  eye  alone  detei'mine 
the  gradi'  to  which  any  honey  in  the  comb  be- 
longs. The  sight  is  by  no  means  .so  apt  to  get 
people,  into  tronl)le  in  regard  to  honey  as  the 
taste. 

The  idea  that  only  honey  of  "'light  color" 
can  be  of  the  best  grade  is  preposterou.s.  for 
there  are  many  consumers  who  prefer  dark 
honey,  or  of  amber  color.  Much  depends  upon 
one's  taste,  and  what  market  it  is.  Then  why 
make  any  ado  about  color  in  grading  honey. 
provided  it  be.  in  each  crate,  of  one  color,  or 
"  uniform  in  color.'"  as  [lei-  tiie  Chicago  instruc- 
tions'.' This  enables  the,  dealer  to  gel  any 
color  of  honey  h(^  prefers  for  his  market,  wlietli- 
er  it  be  dark,  medium,  or  of  light  color;  also  of 
any  grade.  I  see  no  good  reason  why  any  one 
should  worry  about  the  color  so  long  as'con- 
."umers  can  have  their  choice. 


GRADING  HONEY. 


AND    rHK.N     MM.    OHEEN    CKITICISE,'^    HIS   f  UITICS. 

I  hopi'  the  discussion  of  this  subject  may  be 
continued  until  w-e  arrive  at  some  sort  of  under- 
standing as  to  what  is  desirable.  If  \vv  can 
agree  on  only  a  few  essentials,  I  have  faith  that 
we  may  yet  be  able  to  nnite  on  somi^  system, 
even  though  it  may  not  be  entirely  satisfactory 
to  all  or  to  any. 

In  the  tir.st  place,  how  many  grades  shall  we, 
have'.'  I  will  readily  admit  that  those  systems 
which  keep  color  and  general  appearance  or 
condition  distinct,  such  as  those  of  Mr.  Bal- 
dridge,  iMr.  Frazier.  or  Mr.  Mandelbauni.  as 
given  in  the  Review,  are  more  philosophical, 
more  systematically  exact,  than  one  in  which 
they  are  considered  together.  The  trouble  is. 
they  are  too  elahoiate  and  complex  for  actual 
use.  at  least  until  the  business  of  selling  honey 
has  attained  a  higher  development  than  it  has 
at  present.  Any  system  which  divides  honey  of 
good  quality  into  more  than  four  grades  is  un- 
wieldy, and  will  break  down  in  piactice. 

Some  object  to  th(i  establishment  of  a  super- 
tine  grade  of  honey — a  grade  that  shall  be  bet- 
ter than  the  great  bulk  of  nice  honey.  Ills 
probable  that  there  are  some  localities  where  it 
would  be  impossible  to  produce  the  honey  de- 
manded for  the  "Extra  select  "  grade.  There 
are  many  more  bee-keepers  who  nev<'r  can  pro- 
(Ince  such  honey  until  they  improve  their  meth- 
ods. iJut  the  fact  r(>mains.  that  there  are  some 
bee-keepers  who  can  produce  this  (!xtra  nice 
honey,  and  some  of  them  get  an  extra  price  for 
it  too.  It  is  right  that  they  should.  It  is  pos- 
sible, considering  the  small  quantity  of  such 
honey,  that  it  would  not  be  advisable  to  place 
it  on  the  general  marked  to  be  sold  on  commis- 
sion: but  such  honey  will  be  produced,  and  the 
producer  will  receive  his  icward. 

As  Mr.  Elwood  says,  it  is  impossible  to  ex- 
press on  paper  all  the  variations  which  must  be 
taken  into  account  in  grading  honey.  In  writ- 
ing out  my  system  it  was  my  intention  rather 
to  describe  a  ty|)ical  section  of  each  grade  than 
to  lay  (low  n  unyielding  i-ules.  A  section  that 
is  particularly  idee  in  s(»me  respects  may  be 
I)ermitted  to  be  slightlv  defective  in  others. 
Thus  I  often  place  in  the  high(!st  grade  a  sec- 
tion having  some  ccdls  unsealed.  But  they  must 
be  of  the  line  of  cells  touching  the  wood,  and 
must  contain  no  honey. 

The  ".V"  grade  contains,  as  a  rule,  only  white 
honey:  but  a  slight  discoloration  of  the  bottom 
of  one  side  of  a  comb  is  not  sufficient  to  throw 
it  out,  provided  it  is  up  to  the  standard  in  other 
respects. 

For  a  section  to  have  the  comb  unattached  at 
the   bottom  is  a  .serious  defect.    This  may  not 


mi 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mak.  15. 


detract  much  from  the  appearance,  but  it  ren- 
ders it  much  more  liable  to  be  broken.  This 
increased  liability  to  breakage  is  not  only  dur- 
ing shipment,  but  perhaps  more  during  the 
handling  it  receives  after  it  reaches  the  hands 
of  the  retailer  and  consumer.  At  this  time  it  is 
very  undesirable  that  it  sliould  be  packed  up- 
side down  as  often  advised.  The  section  is  lift- 
ed by  the  bottom,  which,  unless  there  are  at- 
tachments of  comb  to  strengthen  it,  is  apt  to 
come  loose,  letting  the  section  drop.  I  have 
seen  many  a  section  smashed  in  just  this  way. 

I  have  produced  many  hundreds  of  pounds  of 
honey,  on  the  sections  of  which  the  closest  ex- 
amination could  scarcely  detect  the  slightest 
stain  of  propolis.  Mr.  Elwood  is  taking  too  re- 
stricted a  view  when  he  says  that  the  honey- 
boxes  are  not  usually  seen  by  the  purchaser  or 
consumer.  Although  in  many  places  the  gro- 
cer takes  the  majority  of  his  orders  by  telephone 
or  at  the  home  of  the  consumer,  most  gi'oceries 
are  still  ordered  by  the  consumer  within  the 
grocery.  If  it  were  not  so,  it  would  be  much 
worse  for  the  honey-market,  for  it  is  a  well- 
known  fact  that  many  people  never  buy  honey 
unless  they  see  it  or  have  it  brought  to  theii' 
notice.  The  successful  seller  of  honey  keeps  it 
prominently  in  sight,  often  taking  it  from  the 
case  and  stacking  it  up  on  counters  and  in  show 
windows,  and  a  soiled  section  detracts  much 
from  its  attractiveness. 

Personally  I  entirely  agree  with  Mr.  Elwood 
in  regard  to  sections  not  full  of  honey.  Such 
sections  I  generally  give  away  or  use  for  feed- 
ing. I  mentioned  them  in  my  fourth  grade, 
simply  because  I  knew  that  such  honey  is  sold 
by  many  bee-keepers,  and  I  wished  to  have  the 
system  complete. 

Dr.  Miller  takes  me  up  on  the  difference  be- 
tween the  meanings  of  "  flavor"  and  "quality." 
What  I  meant  was,  that  the  two  higher  grades 
should  be  of  good  flavor  and  quality,  and  the 
next  grade  the  same,  though  I  would  admit  to 
it  honey  not  quite  so  good  as  would  be  needed 
for  the  better  grades.  You  see,  doctor,  it's 
only  because  I'm  not  handy  in  the  use  of  the 
English  language,  as  you  have  somewhere  ex- 
pressed it,  that  it  happened  so.  Perhaps  it 
would  be  best  to  use  the  words  "  of  good  quali- 
ty "  for  all  of  the  first  three  grades.  I  think  it 
well  to  have  this  condition,  because  I  once  had 
some  honey  sent  me  from  Missouri  that  was 
beautiful  to  look  at.  but  with  a  flavor  that 
made  it  almost  uneatable  to  me. 

Straight  combs  should  be  graded  higher  than 
crooked  or  uneven  ones,  because  they  look  bet- 
ter, and  consequently  sell  better,  are  not  so 
easily  injured,  and  are  more  convenient  to  sell. 

Dayton,  111.,  Mar.  8.  J.  A.  Green. 


SPRAYING  FRUIT-TREES. 


r.  H.  KLWOOt)    KECONSIDEKS    THE    EFFKC'T    OF 
AllSKNITES   ON   BEES   AND   LARV.E. 


The  discussion  in  Albany  on  spraying  fruit- 
trees  while  in  bloom  has  called  fortii  criticism. 
Some  think  that  State  Entomologist  Lintner 
(as  if  we  could  tell  how  far  a  bug-man  would 
jump)  ought  not  to  have  been  permitted  to 
make  such  stat(>ments  before  the  convention. 
But  which,  may  I  be  permitted  to  ask,  would 
have  been  the  better  place  for  Dr.  Lintner  to 
express  his  opinions — before  a  meeting  of  fruit- 
growers, such  as  he  usually  addresses,  who 
would  fall  in  with  his  id(>as.  or  before  a  conven- 
tion of  bee-keepers  who  would  and  did  contro- 
vert them  ?  Evidently  the  doctor  had  nearly 
made  up  his  mind  to  advise  spraying  during 
bloom,  and  undoubtedly  would  have  done  so 
had  there  been  no  evidence  against  it.     When 


he  left  the  convention   he   was   fully  satisfied 
that  it  would  be  best  to  recommend,  as  hereto- 
fore, no  spraying  until  after  blossoming.    Nev- 
ertheless, the  doctor  wished    more    conclusive 
testimony.     He  thought  Mr.  Smith's   bees  may 
have  died  from  other  causes,  or  from  poison  ad- 
ministered in  some  other  way.     He  asked   that 
a  committee  be  appointed  to  bring  the  matter 
before  some  of  our  experiment  stations,  par- 
ticularly the  Rhode  Island  station,  which  has  a 
department  devoted   to  apiculture,  so   that  we 
might    have     full     and     complete     tests.    He 
thought  the  result  of  such  experiments  would 
be  accepted  as  authoritativ(>.     Prof.  Lintner  is 
not  to  be  blained  for  the  position   he   takes;  for 
if  you  will  turn  to  April  1.5th  Gleanings,  1891. 
you  will  learn   that  the  late   Mr.  Ashby,  a  very 
reliable,  intelligent  man,  believed,  after  testing 
the   matter  somewhat,  that   Paris- green  solu- 
tions or  mixtures  of  the  standard  strength  do 
not  injure  the  mature  bee.    And  I  notice  by  the 
last  Arnerlcan  Bee  Journal    that  Mr.   Smith 
himself  calls  for  experiments  that  will  be  satis- 
factory; and  well   he  may,  for  he  discloses  the 
fact  that  his  bees  were   probably  i)oisoned  by  a 
solution  of  Paris  green  of  four  times  the  recom- 
mended strength,  or  four  times  as  strong  as  can 
be  applied  to   the  apple   without  injury  to  the 
foliage.  There  are  a  number  of  points  on  which 
we  need   light.     For   instance,  we   want  some 
scientific  men  to  visit  oi'chards  at  the  time  of 
spraying,  and  test  the  strength  of  the  solutions 
as  actually  applied   to  the    trees.    There  are 
good  r(iasons  for  believing   that  the   poison  ap- 
plied from  near  the  bottom  of  th<'  barrel  is  often 
much  stronger  than  that  applied  earlier.     Paris 
green   is  much   heavier    than    the    liquid    into 
which  it  is  usually  put;  and  unless   the  agitat- 
ing appai'atus  works  perfectly,  the  above  I'esult 
will  appear,  so  that  this  factor  would   have  to 
be  taken  into  consideration.    Or  the  solution 
may  be  applied  of  the  standard   strength,  and  a 
drying  day   may  so  evaporate  the  water  as  to 
leave  it  very  strong.    This  sometimes  injures 
the  foliage.    It  would   be  well   to  know  how  it 
affects  the  bees.    In  combination  with  lime  the 
arsenites  (London  purple  and  Paris  green)  may 
be  applied  of  greater  strength  without  injury 
to  foliage  (see  Bulletin  No.  3.')  of  Cornell   Ex- 
periment Station).    Gillette,  of  the  Iowa   Ex- 
periment Station,  says,  "  London   purple  can  be 
used  at  least  eight  or  ten   time-;  as  strong  with- 
out   injury   to  foliage,  if   applied   in   common 
Bordeaux   mixture  instead  of  water."    As  yet, 
however,  the   Bordeaux    mixture    can   not  be 
thrown  into  the  tops  of  tall   trees.    Again,  the 
arsenites  ai'e  of  various  degrees  of  solubility  in 
water.     Pure  Paris  green   is  called    insoluble, 
but  it  is  not.    London  purpl(>,  is  more  soluble. 
Over  150  per  cent  of  the  arsenic  in  the   London 
purple  used  at  the  Cornell  station  was  soluble 
in  water.    It  would  be  well  to  know  which  usu- 
ally kills  the  bees — the  part  soluble  in   water 
or  the  solid  particles.    The  ditference  in  solu- 
bility of  the  poison   may  perhaps  explain   why 
Prof.  Cook's  bees  wei-e  poisoned  when  Mr.  Ash- 
by"s  were  not,  with  mixtures  reported  the  same. 
Mr.  Ashl)y  thought  the  honey-bee  in  gathering 
nectar  is  able  to  reject  the   minute  particles  of 
foi'eign  matter.    Our  best  authorities,  however, 
do  not  agree  with  him.    If  Mr.  Ashby  was  not 
right,  then   the  size  of  the   particles  of  undis- 
solved poison,  no  matter  how  weak  the  mixture, 
becomes  important,  as  it  will  take  a  very  small 
grain  of  arsenic  to  poison  a  bee.   Taking  weight 
only  into  consideration,  it  will   require  only  a 
millionth  part  as  much   to  poison  a  worker-bee 
as  an   average-sized  man.     In   the  case  of  Mr. 
Smith's  bees,  the  brood  is  reported  to  have  been 
poisoned  quite  as  extensively  as  th(^    mature 
bees.    Dr.  Lintner  asked  the  convention  if  this 
great  loss  of  brood   could   be  accounted   for  by 


IS*,!-.' 


GLEANINGS  IN  HKE  CUI/rURE. 


193 


tlicii'  Ix'iiiir  ffd  nnili;ri'sti'(l  iiollcii  troiii  llic 
sprayi^d  irccs.  as  cxijlaiiit'tl  by  I'rof.  t'()ol<.  'Tlic 
writci'  aiiswcfcci  liim  llial  ilic  nollcn  led  the 
worker  larvio  was  always  partially  diffcslcd  in 
the  sioiiiacii  of  ilic  iims(>-i»t'(>s.  Si-rrctary  Da- 
daiil  piompily  I'orn'ctt'd  (V)  liiin  by  sayiiiR  liiat. 
after  tin-  foiiitii  day.  the  larva'  ar(>  fed  uii- 
chaiiiri'd  (•!•  midijit'sicd  ixiljcii.  and  tiuM-cfori' 
that  thi-  loss  niiirlit  be  so  ai'i-onnti-d  for.  I'lof. 
('ool<  and  Dadant  arc  inistakrn  in  tiicir  statc- 
MH'iiis  and  tcai'liinirs,  for  it  is  a  w<'ll-('slal)lishrd 
fai't  tiial  (lie  worker  larva'  do  nol  rci-civo  nn- 
digosied  pollen  at  any  period.  I  ref<'r  to  this 
snbjeet  a2;ain  b(>cunse  of  its  inipoitanee.  If  the 
larva-  wi-re  fed  pollen  Jnst  gathei'ed  from  the 
poisoned  trees,  the  explanation  would  be  easy, 
bnring  the  tiist  three  days  the  larva'  receive 
nothing  but  digested  food:  and  after  that  tin; 
same  with  honey  added.  If  worker  l)rood  is 
poisoned  at  all  by  pollen  it  is  by  [)ollen  tliati  has 
been  as  far  as  the  second  stomach  of  the  nnrse- 
bees.  If  poisoned  l)y  honey  fed  to  larva' 
over  three  days  old.  our  authorities  would  hav<' 
us  understand  that  such  honey  has  been  no 
further  than  the  tirsl  stomach.  In  the  human 
stomach,  arsenic  does  not  poison  for  .some  time, 
and  we  should  expect  not  only  e(iual  Imt  much 
greater  immunity  from  poison  in  the  honey-sac 
of  the  bee.  since  it  is  undo\ibtedly  trui'.  as 
Cheshire  says,  that  true  digestion  does  not  com- 
mence here.  Thus  it  is  possible  for  bees  to 
carry  a  deadly  poison  into  the  hive,  and  either 
feed  it  to  their  young  or  ileijosit  it  in  the  cells. 

A  few  years  ago  one  oi  more  of  our  leading 
entomologists  falsely  accu.sed  the  bees  of  punc- 
turing grapes,  and  recommended  the  free  use  of 
poison.  As  no  limit  was  given  as  to  the 
strength  of  the  poison  to  be  administered,  such 
advice  was  fraught  with  danger  to  th(i  human 
family.  Truly  the  time  has  come  for  putting 
more  restrictions  on  the  public  use  of  poisons. 
The  writer  asked  Dr.  Lintner  why  he  thought. 
if  arsenical  poisons  of  a  certain  strength  so 
readily  kill  noxious  insects,  that  they  will  not 
injure  bees.  He  re[)lied  that,  in  the  case  of  the 
the  codling  moth,  as  well  as  with  some  other 
insects,  llu;  etlort  \\as  to  kill  the  newly  hatched 
larv;e  and  nol  the  mature  insects,  and  fortius 
purpose  a  very  weak  poison  would  be  as  effect- 
ive as  a  very  much  strongei'  one  for  full-grown 
insects.  Now.  within  the  bee -hive  we  have 
just  as  young  larv;e  that  may  be  poi.soned;  and 
in  the  absence  of  further  knowledge  we  may 
assume  that  a  poison  strong  enough  to  kill  the 
newly  hatched  ap|)le-worm  will  likewise  kill 
the  newly  hatched  bee-worm,  or  larva.  Thus, 
if  the  doctoi-"s  own  statements  ai'C  admitted,  we 
have  sul'ticient  |)roof  to  condemn  the  practice  of 
spraying  during  bloom,  for  the  vi-ry  weak  ar- 
senite  tliat  passes  safely  through  the  Hrst  stom- 
ach of  the  tield-woiker.  or  safely  through  the 
second  stomach  of  the  nurse-bee,  will  surely 
kill  the  tender  larva  \\  hen  it  reachc^s  it.  We 
hav(!  accepted  the  statcnnents  of  our  western 
friends,  that  tin?  brood  in  Mr.  Smith's  hives 
was  poisoned,  as  nndoubtr-dly  it  was.  but  we 
have  no  conclusive  proof  of  it.  Tin-  brood,  in 
the  absence  of  the  nuituic  bees  to  feed  and  pro- 
tect it.  w(juld  have  perished,  and  lieeti  dragged 
out  in  the  satue  way.  We  need  to  know  wiial 
part  pollen  has  in  this  poisoning,  whet  her  it  has 
any  or  evei'v  part.  We  also  need  to  know  how- 
strong  an  arsenite  the  blossoms  of  fruit-trees 
will  bear:  for  it  may  be  that  tlu^  blossoms  are 
so  much  more  tenrler  than  the  foliage  that  it 
will  be  impossii)le  to  spray  them  with  any  thing 
strojig  enough  to  kill  even  the  most  tender  in- 
sect. 

There  is  plenty  of  material  here  for  experi- 
ment: and  the  point  is  not,  have  we  any  thing 
to  [)rove.  but  have  we  any  one  to  prove  it  ?  The 
I'liited  .States  have  a  young  man   in   their  em- 


l»h)y.  located  at  the  Michigan  Agricultural 
College,  and  caring  for  its  apiary  of  seventy  or 
eight  y  colonies.  It  is  not  to  be  expected  tJiat. 
alli'i'  loitking  after  this  number  of  st(»cks.  he 
will  have  much  time  for  experiment.  Tiie 
government  has  also  an  able  man  (Frank  Hen- 
ton)  at  \Vashington:  but  all  the  bees  they  fur- 
nish him  for  experimental  purposes  are  «om<^ 
spet'imens  |)reserved  in  ak-ohol.  Dr.  LintiK^r 
referred  us  to  i\hode  Island,  the  smallest  StaUf 
in  the  I'liion.  as  the'  one  most  likely  to  aid  us. 
This  brings  us  to  the  question,  "  What  ought 
the  States  and  general  government  to  do  for 
apiculture?"  _j         _  P.  II.  Ki.woon. 

Starkville.  N.  Y. 

[Our  correspondent  has  indeed  suggested 
some  [joints  on  which  we  need  more  light,  We 
ntost  heartily  commend  Mr.  .1.  H.  Larrabee,  of 
the  Michigan  .Vgricultui'aJ  College.  He  has  all 
the  facilities  at  hand,  and  we  believe  he  could 
furnish  us  some  valuable  data.  This  is  a  case 
where  science  and  practice  go  hand  in  hand; 
and  at  what  better  place  can  these  things  be  de- 
termined than  at  an  experiment  station,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  State  or  national  govern- 
mentVi 


HOW  THE    BREEDING    OF  OUR    BEES    IS  EF- 
FECTED BY  THE  MATING  HABITS  OF 
QUEENS. 


.V   XOX-SWAHMI.VO    STKAIN   OF    BEp;S:    .SHALL  WK 
GET   IT  ? 


Every  apiarist  recognizes  the  necessity  for 
good  ([ueens.  Those  reared  under  conditions 
where  sulticient  heat  and  food  are  absent  are 
not  wanted,  txood,  healthy,  perfectly  develop- 
ed queens  are  longer-lived  as  well  as  more  pro- 
lific. Thus  when  we  breed  and  mate  a  queen- 
bee,  we  determine  the  character  of  a  colony  for 
a  number  of  years.  Besides  desiring  to  breed  the 
queens  large  and  healthy,  we  wish  to  ijreserve 
certain  qualities  present  in  the  ancestors.  In 
the  dii-ection  of  color  we  have  succeeded  some- 
what: but  have  we  made  any  progress  toward 
|)reserving  the  valuable  traits  of  i)erfect  winter- 
ing, honey-gathering,  and  non-swarming? 

The  Albany  convention,  without  doubt,  rec- 
ognized the  fact  that  we  have  made  litth^  or  no 
progress  in  the  breeding  of  non-swarming  bees, 
as,  in  the  scale  of  points  that  is  adoi)ted  for 
judging  the  Italian  bee,  there  is  no  mention 
made  of  the  trait  of  non-swarming. 

W.  F.  Clarke,  in  his  essay  read  at  the  same 
convention,  was  of  the  opinion  that  swarming 
is  not  a  normal  condition.  I'res.  Elwood  be- 
lieved that  th(!re  was  a  difference  in  strains 
(iKjt  I  aces)  of  bees  upon  this  point.  The  opin- 
ions held  by  both  these  gentlemen  show  that 
there  is  a  belief  lurking  among  apiai'ists  that 
there  is  something  in  it.  Though  non-swarm- 
ing strains  of  bees  are  often  boomed  fora  while, 
we  do  not  remember  that  they  were  ever  a  suc- 
cess. We  of  America  are  too  anxious  for  the 
dollar  of  to-day  to  work  patiently  for  a  series  of 
years  to  attain  any  degree  of  success  with  non- 
swarming  he(!S.  It  is  desirable  that  th(^  queens 
of  a  whole  apiary,  and  perhaps  for  miles 
around,  be  bred  with  this  in  view,  and  drones 
as  well  as  queens  selected. 

Let  us  now  consider  why  we  have  not  suc- 
ceeded better  in  our  lireeding  efforts  toward 
this  end.  The  methods  of  queen -rearing  in 
vogue  in  most  apiaries  are  against  any  results 
ever  being  attained.  Nearly  all  queens  are 
reared  from  swarming  cells,  and  the  colonies 
tliatdontjt  swarm  do  not  survive.  I  believe 
that  nine-tenths  of  all  tlie  (jiieens  in  the  land 
are    bred    under  the   swarming   fever,  and  this 


194 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mak.  15. 


has  been  kept  up  for  generations  uncounted. 
These  tendencies,  having  thus  existed,  have 
become  one  with  the  instinct  of  the  bee.  Can 
we  even  doubt  that  they  were  implanted  there 
at  the  creation  to  be  for  ever  the  means  of  pre- 
serving and  extending  the  species  ?  The  swarm- 
ing fever  is  not  present,  we  know,  except  as  de- 
veloped by  external  causes.  But  have  not  the 
natural  laws  of  selection  weeded  out  those  colo- 
nies swarming  under  adverse  circumstances, 
till,  as  before,  swarming  under  certain  outside 
conditions  has  become  coexistent  with  the  nat- 
ural instinct?  The  possibility  of  partially 
overcoming  this  tendency  is  not  disputed.  All 
who  have  tested  the  Carniolan  bees  acknowl- 
edge that  they  are  great  swarmers.  Black  bees 
do  not,  I  am  sure,  swarm  as  much  as  Italians. 
Oh,  yes!  ''there  is  a  difference  in  strains  of 
bees."  Now,  does  not  the  existence  of  this  dif- 
ference prove  that  it  is  possible  to  breed  out 
somewhat  this  habit  of  swarming?  We  have 
non -sitting  strains  of  poultry;  some  breeds  of 
sheep  nearly  always  produce  twins;  and  so  it 
is,  that,  wherever  an  attempt  has  been  made  to 
breed  with  this  end  in  view,  progress  has  been 
made. 

The  greatest  obstacle  in  the  path  of  the  apia- 
rist desiring  to  breed  carefully  is  the  mating 
habits  of  the  queen-bee.  Whirling  away  on 
the  wings  of  the  wind,  she  seeks  a  suitor  per- 
haps far  from  home,  and  the  breeder  hopes  she 
has  mated  with  a  drone  of  a  certain  colony — 
perhaps  knows  she  has  mated  with  a  yellow 
drone  in  localities  whei-e  none  but  yellow  bees 
are  kei)t.  The  rest  is  generally  all  guesswork. 
The  drone-trap  can  be  made  to  control  the 
flight  of  drones  in  an  apiary;  but  great  care  and 
labor  are  necessary;  and  even  then  one  does  not 
know  that  a  certain  queen  is  mated  with  drones 
of  a  certain  colony.  From  facts  and  incidents 
recounted  often  in  our  bee-papers,  we  (ind  that 
the  queen  seems  to  prefer  to  mate  with  a  drone 
from  a  distance.  I  have  often  found  it  so  in  my 
own  experience. 

Cari-ying  out  the  Dzierzon  theory  of  partheno- 
genesis we  see  that  the  drone  is  the  son  of  its 
mother  only,  and  may  have  quite  different 
characteristics  from  the  worker-bee  of  the  same 
colony.  To  become  acquainted  with  the  drone 
and  his  character  we  must  go  back  to  the  grand- 
mother and  her  colony.  This  fact  is  worth  re- 
mem  b<M'iiig;  yet  how  few,  even  of  the  most 
careful  breeders,  give  it  any  attention! 

Some  years  ago,  as  most  of  us  remember, 
N.  W.  McLain  conducted  some  experiments  in 
the  fertilization  of  queens  in  confinement.  He 
rer)orted  success,  both  in  a  screen  house  and  in 
a  block  held  in  the  hand  in  certain  cases.  One 
successful  oi)eration  is  enough  to  give  great 
hope,  and  furnish  ground  for  future  work;  but 
the  failure  of  careful  queen-breeders  \n  even 
obtaining  one  success  by  these  methods,  and 
the  incredulity.  I  might  almost  have  said 
ridicule,  with  which  many  regard  the  whole 
matter,  has  deterred  me  from  undertaking  any 
thing  along  this  line.  I  have  searched  most 
thoroughly  for  other  methods  by  which  to  ac- 
complish the  mating  of  (jueens  with  desired 
drones.  No  plan  seems  to  me  to  promise  moi-e 
than  that  of  compelling  the  queen  and  drones 
to  tly  earlier  or  later  in  t\w.  day  than  they  would 
if  allowed  to  (ly  when  nature  or  instinct  told 
them  the  mating  would  be  surest. 

If  any  way  can  be  sugscsted,  aside  from  the 
one  just,  mentioned,  as  prol)ul>leor  even  possible, 
to  attain  success.  I  should  hope  to  devote  my- 
self most  earnestly  to  making  its  success  an  a"s- 
sui'ed  fact. 

As  there  is,  without  doubt,  much  more  to  be 
learned  about  the  mating  of  the  queen,  we  may, 
by  a  more  careful  study,  discover  something 
that  will  shed  light  upon  the  subject,  and  open 


a  way  to  success.  I  should  be  glad  to  receive 
and  arrange  reports  of  such  observations,  and 
present  the  results  to  bee-keepei-s,  and  will  try 
to  learn  something  new  in  this  direction  myself. 

Should  control  of  reproduction  ever  be  secur- 
ed, all  these  points  in  breeding,  toward  which  we 
are  striving,  would  become  easy,  and  real  im- 
provement in  the  races  of  bees  would  be  made; 
honey  would  be  cheaper,  and  adulteration  less. 
But  who  can  tell  the  train  of  results  that  would 
follow?  J.  H.  Larkaber. 

Agricultural  College,  Mich. 


THE  GOOLD  REVEESIBLE  HONEY- 
EXTRACTOR. 


A     NEW      KEVEKSIBI-E     AUTOMATIC 
TRACTOR. 


IIONKY-EX- 


Herewith  is  an  illustration  of  a  reversible 
honey-extractor  made  and  patented  by  E.  L. 
Goold  &  Co.,  Brantford,  Ontario.  It  can  be 
made  either  as  a  two- frame  or  four-frame  ma- 
chine. For  a  two-frame  Langstroth  a  can  233i 
inches  in  diameter  is  required;  for  a  four-frame 
the  diameter  must  be  37  inches.    The  baskets 


GOOLI)  S   NEW    ];i:VEI!SlHI>E    EXTRACTOR. 

holding  tlie  combs  have  attached  to  them  aa 
eye  thiough  which  a  rod  passes.  Joining  the 
upper  and  lower  arm  upon  tills  rod  the  basket 
swings  from  side  to  side.  There  is.  therefore, 
no  loose  hinge  which  can  be  thrown  out  of 
place.  The  method  of  reversing  is  by  means  of 
a  rod  running  from  the  center  of  the  can  and 
center-shaft  to  basket,  turning  up  and  running 
in  a  groove  shown  in  the  basket  lying  outside 
of  the  can  in  the  illustration.  The  end  turned 
up  has  a  snuill  roller  on  it,  which  lessens  fric- 
tion. This  is  the  part  that  does  the  reversing. 
The  baskets  are  reversed  as  the  motion  is  re- 
versed, and  the  process  with  the  two  or  four 
frames,  as  the  case  may  be.  must  be  simultane- 
ous. This  machine  took  the  first  prize  at  the 
Toi'onto  industrial  exhibition  last  fall  for  thn 
liest  and  most  practical   invention   not  hereto- 


ixti-j 


(II.KAMXIJS  IN   KKI-:  (,  LJI/rilUK. 


l'.>r, 


fore  shown  at.  tliat  cxliihiiicin.     'riuTc  wcif  live 
inventions  com pctiiij;.       \l.  I".  lioi.TKiniANN. 
linmtfoni,  Ontario,  tan. 

|Tlu'  iMit  and  description  above  does  not 
niai<e  tiie  ])riiu'iple  of  tiie  extiactor  entirely 
plain.  Keversinjj  is  caused  l)y  a  positive  lever 
motion.  'I'liese  level's  ladiatinjr  fioni  the  cen- 
ter sliaft  worU  in  a  slot  in  the  botioin  of  the 
comh-pocl\(>ts.  Ueversinf;  the  ciaiiU  reverses 
the  center  sllaf^  wiiich  in  Inin  revolves  tlie 
k'vers  a  little  way.  ami  this  causes  the  pocki'ts 
to  be  swunfi  around.  I'eriiaps  the  iilea  will  lie 
understood  a  little  better  by  the  enf?raving 
which  we  made  some  monllis   afro,  of  their  tiist 


machine,  only  that  the  levers,  in  that  case, 
were  placed  above  the  baskets,  whereas  they 
are  now  put  under  so  as  to  be  out  of  the 
way  of  the  combs.  The  peculiar  feature 
claimed  for  this  extractor  is.  that  the  comb- 
pockets  when  at  rest  are  out  of  the  way  of  any 
supporting  arms  for  putting  in  and  removing 
combs:  and  although  our  friend  Mr.  HolK-rmann 
does  not  say  so.  we  presume  the  manufai-lurei- 
also  dispenses  with  the  chains. 

We  U'Sted  one  of  their  extractors;  Init.  for 
some  reason,  we  were  not  able  to  maki-  it  work 
satisfactorily — at  least,  not  as  well  as  the  Stan- 
ley in  actual  service  in  extracting.  We  have 
since  been  informed  that  the  manufacturers, 
E.  L.  Goold  it  Co..  Brantford.  f)nt..  have  over- 
come some  of  the  defects  encountered  in  their 
first  machines.] 


FOUL  BROOD  AND  THE  SALT  CURE. 

W.    I..    COGGSHAI.I,    KXIM..\1.\S    III.MSi;i,F. 


f)n  page  84  Mr.  M.  M.  Haldridge  asks  for  my 
metluKl  of  administering  salt  for  foul'  brood. 
Mr.  JJaldridge  need  not  have  said  that  he  was 
no  novice,  as  I  have  always  recocni/.ed  him  as 
an  able  and  practical  bee-keeper.  :for  there  is 
but  little  printed  in  the  journals  that  has  not 
been  read  by  me  in  the  last  25  y(>ars.  although 
1  am  not  quite  40  years  old  yet.  I  notice  the 
<'ditf)r  threw  cold  water  on  the  tlieorv  that  salt 


or  brine  would  cun;  foul  brood;  l)ut  I  thought 
that  the  editor  and  I'lof.  Cook  had  tried  it  sci- 
entilii-ally.  so  1  said  no  more  about  it.  1  had 
tried  it  only  in  an  experimental  way  four  or 
live  times  with  as  many  colonies,  and  it  was  ef- 
fectual every  time.  1  used  it  only  twice,  at 
intervals  of  ten  days  or  two  weeks,  and  each 
colony  i-ame  out  all  right  no  more  brood  died. 
Let  me  say  riirht  lieie  that  it  might  not  have 
been  foul  brood.  \>'ell.  if  it  was  not,  then  1  am 
out  of  the  race. 

What  is  the  cause  of  foul  brood  or  diseased 
brood?  A  great  many  say  chilled  brood  is  the 
lirst  cause.  Well,  a  man  can  not  be  a  bee-keiq)- 
er  without  being  a  little  theoretical.  My  theory 
is,  starvation,  the  bees  not  IxMug  able  to  get  out 
in  the  spring  and  get  what  honev  the  young 
bees  require  to  live  on.  This  will  cause  dis- 
eased brood  every  time,  and  I  have  cured  it 
ircnj  time,  and  it  has  never  done  me  any  harm. 

Now  for  the  cure  (with  me  at  least).  Take  a 
pail  of  soft  lukewarm  water,  and  dissolve  what 
salt  you  can  in  it  by  stirring  it  ten  minutes.  It 
will  not  do  any  harm  if  it  is  strong  enough  to 
k(>ep  pork  in.  Take  the  combs  out  of  the  hives 
that  are  atfected  (I  use  the  hrushl)ioom  that  I 
us(>  to  brush  the  bees  off  when  I  extract,  made 
of  tine  broom  corn).  I  sprinkle  the  combs,  bees, 
brood,  and  all.  lightly.  It  will  not  hurt  the 
brood  at  all.  Once  a  week  is  often  enough  in 
extreme  cases.  In  the  meantime  leave  a  chunk 
of  salt  as  large  as  a  hen's  egg  in  fiont  of  each 
hive  in  the  apiary.  Be  sure  to  put  it  right  up 
close  to  the  eniiance,  where  it  will  dissolve,  and 
the  bees  will  get  it.  I  usually  keep  a  nail-keg 
or  a  barrel  tilled  with  sawdust,  under  the  eaves 
of  the  bee-house.  Put  on  a  wide  board,  with 
salt  in  the  top.  It  acts  as  a  leach,  and  the  dust 
holds  the  moisture.  If  it  does  not  rain  often, 
thiow  in  a  pailful  of  water,  and  you  will  have 
less  trouble  with  the  bees  bothering  your 
neighbors. 

Now.  brother  bee-keepers,  do  not  forget  the 
above,  and  you  will  have  less  trouble.  The 
easiest  way  to  get  along  with  trouble  is  not  to 
get  in. 

I  will  tell  you  how  I  get  rid  of  or  cure  another 
trouble  that  some  of  the  bee- k(iepers  have  had 
ni  removing  the  queen.  They  attribute  the  trou- 
ble to  the  (jueen,  when  it  is  not  she  at  all.  I 
refer  to  the  brood  not  being  capped  up,  and 
they  sometimes  hatch  out  without  being  cap- 
ped. The  cause  is,  that  there  are  not  enough 
young  bees  to  cap  over  the  brood.  Remove  two 
frames  of  brooil,  and  rejjlace  them  with  two 
fi'ames  of  hatching  brood  from  another  colony. 
I  will  admit,  that  removing  the  queen  will  ac- 
complish it:  therefore  by  the  time  you  get  an- 
other queen  in  there  will  be  enough  young  bees 
hatched  to  ca|)  over  the  remainder.  If  you 
should  i)ut  the  old  queen  into  a  strong  colony 
you  would  generally  lind  her  a  hustler;  hence 
you  condemn  the  old  (lueen  when  it  is  not  she 
at  all — or,  at  least,  that  is  inv  experience. 


West  Croton.  N.  Y. 


\\  .    L.  CoGGSHAI.r,. 

Feb.  1.5. 


[We  can  not  believe,  friend  C.  that  you  had 
real  foul  brood.  If  it  will  not  yield  to  strong 
antiseptics,  as  we  have  tried  repeatedly,  it  is 
unlikely  that  it  would  to  a  mild  antiseptic  like 
salt.  We  have  seen  many  forms  of  chilled 
brood  that  resembled,  in  every  particular,  foul 
brood,  and  yet  this  would  always  go  off  at  the 
approach  of  warm  weather.  Now.  if  we  had 
salted  these;  combs  we  might  have  supposed 
that  we  had  foul  brood,  and  that  salt  cured  it. 
In  dealing  with  foul  brood  it  is  dangerous  to 
experiment  with  unknown  or  partially  tested 
remedies.  As  we  have  before  exijlained.  chilled 
biood  or  dead  brood  may  be  a  favorabh;  medi- 
um   for   the    lodfjment   (if    the   germs    already 


196 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mak.  15. 


floating  in  tiic  air;  but  they  can  in  no  case  give 
rise  to  their  growth.  All  scientific  authorities, 
as  well  as  practical  experience  in  the  apiary, 
vouch  for  this. 

We  give  our  friend  W.  L.  Coggshall  the  credit 
of  being  one  of  the  brightest  and  most  success- 
ful bee-keepers  of  York  State,  yet  we  fear  he 
has  been  misled  in  his  ob.servations  respecting 
foul  brood.  It  has  been  quite  conclusively 
proven  that  the  disease  can  not  start  without 
germs.  He  is  quite  correct  in  regard  to  bare- 
headed brood.] 


RAMBLE  NO.  55. 


IN   NAPA  VATXEY:    A  Tf:XI)EKFOOT  S   HLUXDERK 
AND    MISTAKES    IN   CALIFORNIA. 


John  Chinaman  is  something  of  a  factor'  on 
this  coast.  There  ai'e  several  thousand  in  Sac- 
ramento, and  a  visit,  to  Chinatown  is  always  a 
place  of  interest.  We  seem  to  be  suddenly 
transported  to  a  diiferent  clime,  where  we  find 
people  with  an  entirely  different  dress,  lan- 
guage, and  ways  of  doing  business.  The  ('hi- 
nese  have  almost  complete  control  of  the  laun- 
dry business.  Many  are  also  employed  as 
servants  in  private  families,  and  many  work  on 
ranches,  or  rent  ground  for  gardening  purposes, 
at  which  they  are  adepts,  not  only  at  produc- 
ing, but  also  in  marketing,  and  their  wagons 
are  seen  on  the  streets  at  all  hours  of  the  day. 
If  they  can  not  afford  a  wagon,  a  hand -cart  is 
employed.  They  are  very  faithful,  and  not 
quarrelsome.  But  in  our  first  experience  with 
a  Chinaman  we  found  an  exception.  Our 
cousin's  wife  employed  a  Chinaman  to  cut  the 
grass  on  the  little  lawn  in  front  of  the  house  for 
four  bits  (.50  cts.).  When  he  had  cut  about  two- 
thirds  of  it   he  struck   for  higher  wages,  and 


ME   MUf'HEE   TIKEl). 

wanted  four  bits  more  before  he  would  finish 
the  job.  His  actions  while  he  fiourished  his 
sickle  frightened  the  ladies.  ;ind  the  Raiubler 
Wcis  called  around  to  regulate  the  Chinaman. 
But,  no;  he  still  fiourished  his  sickle,  and 
shouted.  "Melican  man  makee  Chinaman 
workee  too  muchce.  Me  lelhow  muchee  tired. 
Me  blely  empty;  tne  muchee  hungly:  me  workee 
no  more  for  fou)'  l)its;  me  fightee  Melic.m  wo- 
man, Melican  man."  Our  regulation  was  a 
failure  except  to  prevent  an  attack  upon  the 
Melican  woman.  He  was  paid  the  four  bits, 
and  he  went  off  muttering  about  Melican  wo- 
man. Melican  tenderfootee  no  sabe  (understand) 


poor  Chinaman.  The  Rambler  procured  a 
sickle  and  soon  finished  the  job. 

Chinamen,  though  adepts  to  learn  American 
trades,  have,  fortunately,  not  taken  to  bee- 
keeping. About  the  extent  of  their  work  in 
this  line  is  to  put  up  boxes  and  catch  abscond- 
ing swarms,  and  sell  them  to  some  apiarist  for 
from  four  to  six  bits.  If  they  were  expert  bee- 
keepers we  are  not  sure  but  they  would  mo- 
nopolize the  business  in  this  State. 

Being  recognized  as  a  tenderfoot  by  a  China- 
man, a  kind  old  lady,  many  years  a  resident  of 
California,  sought  to  pour  oil  on  our  wounded 
feelings  by  giving  me  lessons  in  Califoi'nia  cus- 
toms. 

"Whyl  laws-a-mel"  said  she, ''me  and  my 
old  man  made  no  end  of  blunders  when  we  first 
came  here.  The  first  grocer's  bill  we  received 
had  'spuds*  charged  to  us  in  several  places. 
Says  I,  "William,  I  never  ordered  a  spud — not 
one.  Why,  a  spud  is  a  sort  of  a  round  blunt 
stick  to  transplant  beets  with.  The  idee  of 
putting  spuds  on  a  grocer's  bill!  it's  outrageous. 
That  grocer  is  a  barefaced  cheat;'  and  1  got  so 
excited  that  I  posted  right  oft'  to  the  grocer's, 
fully  determined  to  give  him  a  piece  of  ray 
mind.  I  sailed  through  the  door  kinder  lofty, 
and,  says  I. 'You  sell  spuds,  do  you'.'"  'Yes, 
m'am,'  he  says,  kinder  pert;  'will  you  have 
another  sack — some  fresh  ones  just  in'?'  'Spudsl' 
says  I:  'spuds!  Why.' says  I.  -them's  taters.' 
'Why.  yes.' said  he.  'that's  what  tenderfeet  call 
them',  but  they  are  spuds  here.'  I  jest  went 
right  home  a  humbler  and  wiser  person,  and 
me'n  William  wouldn't  have  said  a  blamed 
word  after  that,  if  we'd  been  charged  with 
beau-poles  and  a  whole  picket  fence  on  our 
bills. 

"And  then  I  made  another  wretched  mistake. 
I  called  upon  a  neighboring  lady.  I  thought 
she  appeared  very  sad.  Finally  she  said  her 
husband  was  in  the  corral;  and,  says  I.  just  as 
sympathizing  as  I  could,  "Poor  man!  what  did 
he  steal?'  Steal!'  said  she,  with  flashing 
eyes.  'Why.  yes,'  said  I;  'ain't  a  corral  a  jail'." 
Her  anger  changed  to  laughter.  Said  she. 
'Anybody'd  know  you're  a  tenderfoot.  A  cor- 
ral is  where  we  herd  our  horses  and  cattle.' 
•  Well,' says  I.  'why  can't  they  call  it  a  cowyard 
then,  and  not  rack  the  dictionary  for  hard 
names'.'"  I  felt  much  humbled,  and  William 
made  no  end  of  fun  of  me;  and  when  he  discov- 
ered that  I  lay  awake  half  of  the  night  resolv- 
ing things,  he  said  I  would  get  to  be  as  bad  as 
the  woman  (I  guess  it  was  a  man)  who  was  so 
humble  she  had  to  wake  uj)  in  the  night  to  rest 
her  face." 

After  this  series  of  lessons  I  went  forth  again 
with  renewed  confidence  and  rambled  to  Napa 
Valley,  which  is  well  over  in  the  Coast  Range 
of  mountains,  about  70  miles  west  of  Sacra- 
tnento. 

Again  orchards  of  various  kinds  of  fruits,  and 
extensive  vineyards,  were  encountered  in  the 
valley,  while  the  hilltops  were  brown  and  dry. 
Raisin  vineyards  were  quite  numerous,  and 
trays  about  two  feet  square  were  distributed 
between  the  rows,  upon  which  the  grapes  were 
drying;  after  the  sun  had  performed  its  work, 
the  grapes  wer(>  put  into  boxes  and  piled  one  on 
the  other  for  the  sweating  process,  after  which 
they  were  sorted  and  layered  into  boxes  ready 
for  market.  The  products  of  many  vineyards 
are  used  for  wine-making,  and  the  grapes  were 
being  •■  packed  in '' from  the  mountains.  The 
ternt  pack  is  used  here  altogether  for  the  word 
'•  carry."  "  Pack  in  that  board,"  '-pack  a  swarm 
of  bees  from  the  canyon."  etc..  are  often  heard. 
As  nearly  all  articles  in  early  days  were  packed 
on  mules,  and  are  now  in  remote  places,  this 
teriri  is  therefore  still  used.  Loads  of  fruit  and 
other  materials  were   met  that  would  make  a 


18StL' 


(;iJ';anl\(;s  in  bkk  culture. 


I'.tT 


whole  oasltM'ii  family  rmi  (niiiloors  and  fall  ovit 
ih(>  front  pate  lo  sec'.  Kiitiit  horses  altat-hcd  to 
a  lui;ie  w  airon;  in  the  tear,  anotlief  wajion  at- 
taelieti  ealleil  a  trail  wanon:  \val)t)linfi  aloM}^. 
drawn  liy  two  chains,  and  diieetly  l)eliind  t  he 
rear  wlieel.  is  the  liloeker,  IS  inelies  lonitt.  and 
nearly  a  foot  square.     Tiie  break-lever  runs  np 


/i 


LOADS   OF   CALIFORNIA    HOXKY   GOING    TO 
MAKKKT. 

over  six  feet,  to  which  a  rope  and  small  tackle- 
block  is  attached,  and  with  which  the  driver 
can  exert  a  powerful  pressure  on  the  wheels: 
and  on  some  mountain  roads  it  is  also  necessary 
to  chain  the  trail-wagon  wheels.  The  idea  of 
using  a  trail  wagon  and  all  the  teams  ahead  is 
to  save  the  labor  and  expense  of  another  driver. 
Expert  driv(!rs  are  i)aid  over  ?10()  per  month. 
Some  of  these  wagon  trains  were  loaded  with 
loose  grapes,  and  these  were  thrown  out  with  a 
pitchfork,  upon  arrival  at  the  winery.  Loads 
of  honey  and  loads  of  bees  are  packed  down  the 
same  wav.  and  merchandise  drawn  back. 


-"^"^<     4 


y^^^m 


\VK   CAME  TO   A   STANDSTIM>. 

In  Napa  City  I  procured  a  livery  lig,  and 
went  out  toward  the  mountains,  according  to 
directions,  to  find  Mrs.  J.  1).  Enas.  This  was 
ray  first  experience  in  hunting  uj)  a  residence 
in  the  country  in  C"alifornia.  and  it  was  some- 
what educative.  One  of  the  liveryman's  direc- 
tions was,  to  inquire  of  any  one.  for  everybody 


knew  Mrs.  10.  My  tirsi  iiKpiiry  was  wheic  two 
ways  met.  and  I  congratnlated"  myself  that  one 
of  the  aforesaid  leainstcrs  was  so  near.  Hnt  in 
answer  to  my  (|Mestioii.  the  following  lucid  in- 
formation was  given.  '•  No  sabe  English.  Yoti 
sabe  Spanish  V  Three  teamsters  in  succession 
gaveal)out  the  same  answ-ers.  Two  residences 
w«!re  called  upon,  but  the  families  had  just 
moved  in,  and  I  movi'd  out  and  on  up  the  moun- 
tain until  the  way  became  S(j  wild,  pictiiri'stiue, 
and  preci|)itous  that  my  hois(!  concluded  he 
would  stop.  We  counseled  a  while  on  the  situ- 
ation, and.  concluding  that  no  widow  woman 
with  promising  sons  and  daughters  would  live 
in  that  ])lace.  we  tiu'iied  aTound:  and,  after 
some  more  triltulation  with  an  Italian,  also  a 
"No  sabe"  man,  I  found  the  residence  of  Mrs. 
Enas.  up  through  what  some  term  the  chapperal 
on  the  side  of  the  mountain. 

Mr.  Enas  came  from  Ncnv  York  to  this  moun- 
tain home,  several  years  ago.  seeking  a  health- 
ful abode.  Mr.  Enas'  name  was  familiar  to  the 
readers  of  the  A^ncrivjin  Bee  JouDutl,  and  I 
think  (Jlkanings.  several  years  ago,  as  a  con- 
tributor to  its  columns.  ITe  had  here  at  one 
lime  ov(M' JOO  swarms  of  bees,  produced  hoiu>y. 
reared  (lueens.  and  i)urchased  an  engine  and 
machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  hives  and 
sections.  Hut  before  he  could  do  much  at  the 
latter  business  he  was  called  to  a  higlier  nialm. 
After  his  death,  his  wife  and  daughters,  with 
commendable  enterprise,  manufactured  founda- 
tion, and  dealt  in  supi)li(^s.  and  ari'  \\ell  known 
to  the  bee-k(>cp('rs  of  Calif(jrnia.  They  liave 
but  few  swarms  of  bees  now:  but  I  was  assui'ed 
that  this  region  was  excellent  for  the  produc- 
tion of  honey.  This  is  not  a  sage  locality,  and 
there  are  not  many  apiaries  in  this  valley.  The 
Rambler  visited  Nlrs.  E.  with  a  view  io  pur- 
chasing the  aforesaid  machinery;  but  a  change 
of  plans  sent  me  to  a  diflferent"  portion  of  the 
State.  I  had  no  use  for  machinery,  and  I  be- 
lieve it  is  yet  for  sale. 

After  a  very  pleasant  hour,  with  something 
less  than  a  dozen  charming  ladies,  good  time 
was  made  down  the  mountain.  I  silently  pass- 
ed the  swarthy  Spaniard,  and  soon  upon  the 
streets  of  Napa  City  strode  the         Rami!lf.k. 


THAT  BOUNTY. 

A   CLEAR,   CONCISE     STATEMENT    OF   THE     CASE, 
,    FROM   TIIE   PRESIDENT   OF  THE   N.  A.  I!.  K.  A. 

In  the  discussion  of  the  question  whether  the 
government  ought  to  give  a  bounty  to  prodiu;ers 
of  honey  as  well  as  t(j  producers  of  home-made 
sugar,  in  order  that  we  may  compete  with  Cu- 
ban or  South  American  honey- producers,  the 
fact  seems  to  have  been  almost  lost  sight  of 
that  foreign  honey  is  iu»t  admitted  free,  as  in 
the  case  of  sirgar.  There  has  b<>en  a  s|)ecilic 
duty  of  20  cts.  ])er  gallon  on  honey  imported, 
since  18()4.  This  is  equal  to  about  one  and  two- 
thirds  cents  per  pouiul.  If  honey  had  been  put 
on  the  free  list,  then  might  we  be  jjardoned  for 
d'-manding  a  bounty.  If  we  are  not  sulticiently 
protected  now  against  Cuban  honey,  it  seems  to 
me  the  proper  tiling  to  do  is  to  ask  that  the  tar- 
iff be  increa.sed.  It  has  been  said,  that  comb 
honey  did  not  need  any  bounty.  If  that  is  true, 
and  if  it  is  also  true  that  our  only  important 
compi'titors  in  the  production  of  extracted  hon- 
ey are  the  West  Indies  and  South  America, 
which  honey  I  suppose  does  not  enter  into  com- 
petition with  our  i)est  Northern  or  California 
extracted  for  tablt^  use,  it  seems  to  me  that  we 
should  end(!avor  to  put  on  th*^  market  such  an 
ai'ticle  as  will  recommend  itself  to  th(!  consum- 
er as  superior  to  table  syrups.  If  it  be  argued 
that  honey  can   not  compete  with  sugar  at  the 


198 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Maij.  15. 


low  price  of  the  latter,  I  reply  that  it  is  true, 
and  that  honey  never  will  compete  with  sugar, 
even  at  the  same  price,  only  to  a  limited  de- 
gree. Bakers  and  inanufactui'ers  might  use 
more  if  cheaper,  and  to  a  certain  extent  honey 
might  take  the  place  of  syrups:  but  if  we  de- 
pend on  realizing  the  millenium  of  our  hopes  in 
our  generation,  that  is,  the  time  when  honey 
shall  be  a  staple  article  in  every  family,  and 
brought  home  from  the  grocery  as  regularly  as 
sugar,  we  shall  be  disappointed. 

There  is  no  use  to  deny  the  fact  that  honey  is 
a  luxury.  It  isn't  used  in  one  family  in  a  hun- 
dred to  the  extent  that  sugar  is.  It  can  not 
take  the  place  of  sugar  in  the  culinaiy  art  as 
practiced  in  our  time.  We  must  not  sell  it  at 
the  price  of  sugar.  A  fine  article  of  honey  can 
no  more  be  compared  with  sugar  than  the  best 
home-made  butter  with  oleomai'garine.  People 
want  butter  because  they  like  it  best,  because 
it  is  more  healthful,  and  because  they  detest  a 
fraud.  Oleo  doesn't  supply  the  place  of  good 
butter.  The  comparison  is  not  strictly  true, 
but  people  buy  honey  because  it  fills  a  want  not 
supplied  by  sugar.  If  we  produce  genuine  '"gilt- 
edged  "  honey,  and  can  get  it  before  the  people 
in  perfect  condition,  they  will  not  ask  that  it 
be  sold  for  the  price  of  sugar.  The  consumption 
of  sugar  in  this  country  is  so  much  greater  than 
the  home  supply,  that  it  was  public  policy  to 
admit  it  free.  Then  to  prevent  the  extinguish- 
ment of  the  cane-sugar  industry,  which  is  con- 
fined to  a  comiiarativcly  small  area  in  the 
South,  and  to  encourage  the  beet-sugar  indus- 
try, which  is  yet  ill  its  infancy,  a  bounty  of  :.* 
cts.  per  pound  is  given  by  tlie  government  for 
all  home-made  sugar  of  a  certain  standard.  As 
a  honey-producing  country  we  are  not  in  the 
same  condition.  We  produce  honey  nearly  ev- 
erywhere in  all  this  immense  heritage,  biit  we 
do  not  yet  produce  enough  to  supply  the  people 
if  it  could  be  properly  distributed.  Our  only 
competitor  in  comb  honey  is  Canada,  and  we 
have  not  thought  it  necessary  to  put  a  tariff  on 
that.  I  presume  they  find  a  better  inarket  at 
home  and  in  the  mother  country  for  their  sur- 
plus. 

The  question,  then,  narrows  down  to  this: 
Do  we  need  a  bounty,  other  than  what  we  now 
have  in  the  protective  tariff  on  extracted  hon- 
ey? I  doubt  it,  but  yet  am  willing  to  listen  to 
arguments  in  favor  of  an  increase. 

Forest  City,  Iowa.  S^ugrne  Skcoh. 

[We  stated  in  our  last  issue  that  we  would 
have  to  declare  the  discussion  on  bounties  at  an 
end;  but  the  foregoing,  coming  from  the  source 
it  does,  and  covering  the  whnl(>  matter  of  boun- 
ties so  fairly  and  well,  very  littingly  closes  up 
the  discussion,  and  we  are  glad  therefore  to 
publish  it.] 


ABSORBENTS,  NOT   SEALED   COVERS. 


DADANT    FUUNISHES    SOME     (U)OI)     AH(U:- 
MENTS   FOR  THE    P'OICMEi;. 


Friend  Ernest:— As  I  notice  by  your  editoi'lal 
that  you  arc  becoming  satislicd  in  your  mind 
that  scaled  air-tight  covers  and  no  absorbents 
are  necessary  foi'  successful  wintering.  I  beg 
leave  to  giv(^  you  our  experience  on  the  snb.1ect. 

In  the  winter  of  IsTS  we  hud  very  long  pro- 
tracted cold  weather,  lasting  some  six  weeks, 
without  a  day  warm  enough  for  the  bees  lo  Hy. 
At  that  time  we  had  been  making  chaff'  hives. 
one  story,  with  chaff'  cushion  over  the  bi'ood- 
chamber,  and  we  had  some  80  colonies  locatisd 
in  this  way.  scattered  in  two  or  three  of  oui' 
dift'erent  apiaries,  the  rest  of  our  bees  being  in 
Langstroth-Quinby    hive    that    we    use.      We 


then  believed  in  a  warm,  air-tight  covering 
over  the  brood-chamber.  We  used  oilcloths 
over  the  frames,  and  leaves  in  the  cap,  wher- 
ever no  chaff'  cushion  was  used. 

It  happened  that  a  number  of  our  oilcloths 
were  rather  worn,  and  had  holes  in  them  gnaw- 
ed by  the  bees,  while  others  were  new;  but  all 
these  cloths  were  otherwise  air-tight,  having 
been  covered  with  propolis,  and  glued  light  by 
the  bees  as  customary.  Now  for  the  result. 
When  a  warm  day  came  we  found  that  all  the 
hives  that  had  air-tight  cloths  without  holes 
were  in  a  pitiful  condition,  the  thick  frost  hav- 
ing thawed,  and  wet  the  bees  so  that  most  of 
them  looked  as  though  they  had  been  in  a  bath. 
They  would  crasvl  out  and  die.  In  a  few  days 
the  hives  were  empty  and  dity.  Wherever  the 
cloths  had  holes  the  moisture  had  ascended  in- 
to the  chaff'  or  leaves,  and  the  bees  were  dry. 
Those  hives  which  had  the  worst  cloth  covers 
were  the  driest.  It  was  so  uniform,  that,  after 
oijeuing  a  number  of  hives,  we  could  tell  before 
raising  the  cloth  what  would  be  the  condition 
of  the  bees.  Remember,  this  was  in  a  season 
when  all  the  hives,  without  exception,  were 
suffering  from  diarrhea,  and  when  a  number  of 
colonies  had  died  outright  from  starvation,  be- 
ing unable  to  reach  the  honey  placed  on  the 
side  of  the  cluster.  But  we  were  shown  plainly, 
that,  when  the  combs  were  closely  covered  with 
absorbing  material  that  allowed  the  moisture 
to  pass  out  without  losing  the  heat,  the  ultitnate 
result  was  a  clean  hive,  dry  combs,  and  healthi- 
er bees.  True,  you  will  find  plenty  of  seasons 
when  a  tight  covering  will  do  no  harm  :  and  it 
is  an  accepted  rule  among  old  bee-keepers  that 
a  hive  which  shows  running  water  at  the  en- 
trance during  a  middling  cold  day  is  sure  to  be 
healthy.  In  this  case  the  condensation  is  not 
in  great  amount:  it  is  only  in  the  corneis.  away 
from  the  cluster,  and  the  least  rise  in  tempera- 
true  allows  it  to  melt  and  pass  out.  But  let  a 
very  hard,  protracted  winter  come,  the  frost 
which  has  formed  in  the  corners  gains  steadily 
till  it  reaches  the  entire  top  of  tlie  hive;  the 
dead  bees  obstruct  the  floor  and  prevent  the 
draining  of  what  does  thaw.  Then  in  milder 
days  when  the  temperature  is  still  too  cold  for  a 
flight,  the  thawing  frost  wets  a  i)art  of  the 
bees,  makes  them  restless,  and  the  colony  is 
doomed  if  thi'  weather  turns  cold  again.  Per- 
haps we  are  mistaken  in  our  conclusions  :  per- 
haps there  are  other  things  to  be  taken  into 
consideration  ;  hut  we  have  passed  through 
several  other  winters  since  the  date  mentioned 
— those  of  1880  and  1884.  and  we  have  only 
strengthened  our  belief  by  all  the  remarks  that 
we  have  made.  E\en  in  such  a  winter  as 
the  present,  there  are  people  whose  bees  suff'er 
from  this  very  cause,  wet  combs,  and  always 
in  instances  where  the  ceiling  is  air  and  water 
tight.  Facts  are  stubborn  things,  for  ihej 
overthrow  some  of  the  best  constructed  argu- 
ments. 

Now  allow  me  to  quote  an  autlioi-ity  to  whom 
we  all  go  back  occasionally,  ami  «  ho  was  ac- 
knowledged one  of  the  most  careful  observersin 
his  time — father  ].,angstroth. 

Ill  March,  IS.Vi,  1  lost  some  of  my  best  colonics  un- 
der the  followinjr  ci re ii instances:  Tlic  winter  had 
been  intensely  cold,  and  the  hives,  liavinjf  no  up- 
ward ventilation. wen-  tilled  with  fiost,  and.  in  somtv 
inst;inccs,  the  ice  on  thuir  g-lass  sides  was  nearly  a 
(luai'lcr  of  ;in  inch  thick.  A  few  days  of  mild 
WL'athei-.  in  wliich  the  frost  Iwg'an  to  thaw,  were  fol- 
lowed liy  a  it'iniierat ure  below  zero,  accompanied 
b.v  furious  winds;  and  in  many  of  tlie  hives,  the 
bees  which  weie  still  wet  from  tlie  thaw  were  frozen 
togetlun*  in  an  almost  solid  mass. 

We  are  often  wiser  than  our  elders,  and  so 
were  we  on  this  subject  :  for  although  we  had 
read  the  abo\e  passage  we  were  not  convinced 


ISlf,' 


(;i.i:amn(js  in  liEi-:  culture 


IIK* 


of  its  iiiiporiiuu'i'  till  w  r  hoiiulit  our  t'xpci'ioiu't' 
by  ;u'tiial,  losst>s.  'riicsc  arc  the  fui-ts  tliat  I  wuh 
about  to  jiivc  you  last  l)cr(Miil)rf.  face  to  fact'  in 
yoiif  apiary,  w  lien  I  was  iiiici'iiiptcd  liy  thai 
iiiiscrabic  pliotosirapiici-.  IMcasi-  lion'i  make  up 
your  mi  ml  that  1  am  u  ronsi  till  \vc  have  aiiollici- 
hard  winter,  and  you  try  my  way.  comparalivdy 
with  yours  on  a  lariic  scale.  Hard  wintcis  arc 
oftcncr  found  in  the  bcc-l<ccpci'"s  yard  than 
millions  in  his  pocl<cl.  t'.  I*.  DAD.wr. 

Hamilton.  111..  Mar.  :>. 

[Facts  arc  stubborn  things,  and  wc  must  yd 
wait  and  compare  results.  While  nearly  all  ihe 
t<>stiint)ny  is  in  favor  of  s(>uled  covin's  as  against 
absorbents,  iicrhapswc  had  better  go  slow.  W(> 
are  still  open  to  conviction  (>ither  way.] 


PRATTS  SELF-HIVER. 

AN    IMPIiOVKMKNT   OVEK    AI-I,   OTIIKIiS. 

I  am  one  of  those  bee-koepers  who  believe 
that  the  matter  of  swarming  will  be  solved 
through  some  controlling  d(>vice.  such  as  an 
automatic  hiver.  The  most  serious  drawliack 
ill  working  a  large  number  of  colonies  for  cf)mb 
honey  in  several  different  yards  is  the  inability 
to  control  swarming.  It  has  long  been  my  be- 
lief, that,  when  a  large  numbi-r  of  colonii^s  arc; 
worked  in  outyards.  it  would  b(^  more  prolitable 
to  throw  the  working  foi-ce  of  three  strong  col- 
onics into  one  hive  provided  with  plenty  of 
storage  room  and  ventilation,  so  a<  to  de- 
crease the  amount  of  labor  and  confine  the 
swarming  fever  to  one-thii'd  of  the  colonies, 
instead  of  allowing  it  to  pfevail  throughout  the 


I'K.VTT  S    SWARM-HIVKli. 

entire  yard.  I  \vill  not  attempt  to  explain  a 
method  of  procedure  along  this  channel,  but 
will  confine  myself  to  the  text,  and  endeavor  to 
show  the  readCrs  iiow  I  have  successfully  con- 
trftlled  swarming  in  my  own  and  another  yard. 

Since  ISSit  I  have  been  experimenting  with 
automatic  swarm-Iiiving  devic<'S.  and  1  have  at 
last  contrived  a  plan  which  I  shall  guarantee  to 
work  with  perfect  satisfaction  in  the  hands  of 
any  bee-keeper.  My  device  is  patented,  but  I 
trust  that  will  not  prejudice  the  readers  of 
Gi,KAM.N(;s  against  it. 

The  great  trouble  with  all  the  swarmers  yet 
brought  out  is  tntppi.nti  the  'lucen  (inut]/  from 
t/tc  ottranoc.  to  whicli  the  bees  have  been  ac- 
customed to  work  through.  Mr.  Dibbern's 
mf)dification  f)f  the  Alley  swarmer  will  work 
about  as  he  says  it  will.  I  have  tried  that  plan, 
and  would  have  adojded  it,  with  Mr.  Alley's 
consent,  had  I  not  disc(nei(?d  a  surer  one. 

It  is  a  seri(jus  drawback'  to  havi'  one  hive  rest 
upon  another,  besides  the  amount  of  machinery 
reijuired  to  tit  all  sizes  and  stvles  of  hives  found 
in  any  ordinary  yard,  to  say  nothing  of  tin- close 
adjustment  necessary,  and  tin'  expense  and 
bother  of  so  many  parts. 

Bv  referring  to  th(^  engraving  you  will  readily 
•**•  how  my  swarm-hiving  device  is  attached  to 


one  of  Mr.  Root's  Dovetailed  hives  for  illustra- 
tion. The  hive  to  reci'ive  the  swarm  is  placed 
in  front  of  the  colony  exiH'cted  to  swarm.  The 
front  ends  of  both  bottom -boards  are  abutted  so 
as  to  form  a  continuous  passag(^  from  the 
swarming  colony  through  the  new  hive.  A 
little  l)lock  is  |)lace(l  into  \h(\  open  si)ace  be- 
tween the  two  hives,  ^o  that  the  b(!(!S  can  not 
escai)e  from  that  way.  Ky  covering  this  space 
with  wire  screen,  tiie  ventilation  of  the  hives 
will  i)e  suHicient  for  the  strongest  colonies. 

With  this  ari'angement  the  bees  are  forced  to 
go  and  come  through  the  ui'W  hive  with  their 
honey  and  pollen.  A  triangular  zinc  bee-escape 
is  now  placed  on  the  bottom -board  inside  the 
new  hive,  with  its  open  base  close  iip  against 
the  entrance  to  th(^  colony  expected  to  swafm. 
This  escape  is  nuide  of  peii'orated  zinc,  and  has 
a  hole  at  its  apex  for  the  queen  to  escape 
througli.  The  outside  entrance  to  the  new  hive 
is  covered  with  an  ordinary  excluder,  so  that 
the  queen  can  not  escape  from  within  the  new- 
hive  aftei'  she  passes  the  zinc  escape. 

When  the  swarm  issues,  the  bees  rush  [)ell- 
mell  through  the  zinc  escai)e  and  empty  hive 
into  the  air.  The  queen,  on  linding  she  can  not 
get  through  the  zinc  at  the  entrance,  will  pass 
down  the  escape,  and  is  led  through  tin;  hole  in 
the  apex,  when  she  will  (juickly  enter  the  n(nv 
hive,  where  she  will  be  elfectually  trapped. 
All  the  exits  to  the  new  hive  being  covered 
with  excluding  zinc,  the  queen  is  mad(^  a  pris- 
oner inside  the  new  hive:  and  as  soon  as  the 
bees  that  have  swarmed  into  the  air  miss  thciir 
queen,  hack  they  will  come  to  the  old  entrance, 
as  their  instinct  dictates,  thus  autoiuatically 
hiving  themselves  in.  the  n(nv  hive.  A  few  of 
the  older  bees  will  work  back  into  the  parent 
hive,  but  the  bulk  of  the  swarm  will  remain 
with  the  queen.  If  empty  frames  have  been 
inserted  they  will  start  at  once  to  build  comb 
and  set  up  housekeeping  in  the  new  hive.  If 
left  in  this  position  eight  or  ten  days,  a  large 
number  of  young  bees  that  liave  hatched  from 
the  parent  colony  will  work  out  into  the  new 
hive.  If  the  supers  were  shifted  on  to  the  new- 
hive,  a  con.-id.  rable  (juantity  of  honey  would 
be  carried  there.  The  bee-keeper  now  has  the 
option  of  increa.se  or  not.  for  there  arv  13  days 
before  more  swarming,  which  gives  him  a 
chance  to  manipulate  theoldcolonyashese.es 
lit.  If  he  desires  increase  he  can  S(!t  the  new 
swarm  back  on  tlie  old  stand  and  place  the  old 
colony  on  a  new  stand,  afiei-  shaking  the  bees 
ott  one  or  two  combs  to  give  the  swarm  sulh- 
cient  strengtli  to  store  box  honey.  If  he  does 
not  desire  increase  it  will  do  no  harm  to  alio w- 
tlie  hives  to  stand  as  they  are  a  f(nv  days,  when 
he  can  either  cut  out  all  the  cells  or  place  the 
old  hive  on  to|)  of  tlu'  new  one.  with  a  bee- 
escape  or  zinc  honf^y- hoard  between,  or  leave 
them  luitil  a  day  or  two  before  the  young 
queens  hatch,  when  he  can  shake  off  all  the 
bees  and  |)lace  the  extra  combs  around  on  other 
h  i  ves. 

The  device  will  need  very  little  if  any  atten- 
tion. The  principle  employ!  d.  1  believe,  is  the 
correct  one:  i.  e..  trapping  the  queen  inside  the 
new  hivt>.  and  causing  the  bees  to  join  her  by 
the  entrance  they  have  so  long  been  accustom- 
ed to  going  in  and  out  of  during  their  work 
daily.  I  need  not  say  that  tlie  [irinciple  is  a 
iresv  one,  and  bound  t(j  work  perfectly  when 
properly  arr'anged.  I  shall  endeavor  to  make 
the  contrivance  as  light  as  possible,  so  as  to  be 
safely  and  cheaply  sent  in  the  mails. 

F.everly,  Mass. .Feb.  '.i.  K.  L.  Phait. 

[We  have  all  along  been  a  little  doubtful  of 
the  titility  of  automatic  swariners;  but  when 
Mr.  I*rait"<xplaiiu>d  to  us  the  pi'inciple  of  his 
swarnu^r  by  which  the   bees  are  automatically 


3t)0 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mar.  1.1. 


caught  in  a  hive,  tlie  entrance  to  which  they 
have  long  been  accustomed,  we  were  interested 
at  once.  It  is  not  wise  to  be  certain  of  any  thing 
we  have  never  tried;  but  we  believe  this  is  a 
little  ahead  of.  and  cheaper  than,  all  the  others. 
Of  all  otiier  automatic  swarmers,  the  bees  are 
obliged  to  go  with  the  queen  to  a  strange  en- 
trance and  a  strange  hive,  and  it  is  owing  to 
this,  fact  that  so  few  bees  rcDKiln  in  the  new 
lodgings  pi'ovided  for  them. J 


A  BEE-KEEPER  IN  BAD  LUCK. 


A   LAUGHABLE   INCIDENT. 


A  German  bee- journal,  BUvtter  fur  Blenen- 
zucJit,  has  the  following  story  which  has  been 
translated  into  the  Fi'ench  Reviie,  and  is  good 
enough,  I  think,  to  have  an  English  setting. 

0.  C.  MiLLEK. 

At  the  apicultural  exposition  at  "B.,  Antony 
Bumke  became  the  happy  possessor  of  an  Ital- 
ian queen.  How  he  admired  it  with  its  eyes  of 
gold  and  its  abdomen  of  yellow  and  black  rings! 
In  order  to  take  it  to  his  hive,  he  made  a  box 
like  a  Swedish  match-box,  only,  instead  of  a 
wooden  cover,  he  used  a  cover  of  paper  pierced 
full  of  little  holes.  With  the  queen  he  impris- 
oned four  workers.  "She'll  not  be  so  lonesome," 
said  this  sensible  young  man. 

What  tine  things  he  promised  himself  with 
the  progeny  of  this  queen,  and  with  what  joy 
he  felt  the  little  box  in  his  trousers  pocket! 
But  he  must,  before  taking  the  train  for  home, 
send  a  telegram  to  his  betrothed  and  his  future 
mother-in-law.  whom  he  expects  to  greet  for  a 
few  moments,  as  the  train  passes  the  second 
station.  Time  presses,  the  train  is  about  to 
start.  The  engine  whistles.  Antony  makes 
rapid  strides  across  the  platform,  and  jumps 
into  the  tirst  coach  he  comes  to,  the  coaches 
being  still  of  the  ancient  pattern  that  contain 
only  a  few  passengers,  these  few  being  locked 
in  by  the  guard,  like  so  many  prisoners.  In  liis 
headlong  liaste  he  scumbles  over  the  extended 
legs  of  an  old  gentleman,  and  his  head  strikes 
forcibly  against  the  sharp  knees  of  a  precise- 
looking  spinster,  whose  fright  is  expressed  by 
loud  cries.  With  a  thousand  apologies  he  suc- 
ceeds in  seating  himself,  when  he  overhears 
the  hardly  suppressed  remai'k,  "  The  fellow  is 
drunk,"  a  remark  which  only  deepens  the 
blushes  of  the  bashful  young  man. 

He  seeks,  by  his  tranquility  and  upright  bear- 
ing, to  efface  this  unjust  opinion,  but.  unfor- 
tunately, he  feels  a  strong  tickling  on  his  right 
leg.  Furtively.  Antony  feels  over  the  affected 
part,  and  in  so  doing  brushes  against  his  next 
neiglibor,  a  big,  Jewish  butcher's  wife. 

"  Don't  let  that  happen  again."  she  snapped 
out. 

Antony  reddened  to  the  ears  anew:  but  the 
next  instant,  with  a  wild  look,  he  sprang  into 
the  air. 

"  You  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself,  to 
come  among  decent  people  in  your  i)resent  con- 
dition." said  th(^  old  gentleman  with  threat- 
ening looks.  "Such  things  ought  not  to  be 
tolerated.  It's  an  outrage!"  he  growled  from 
his  corner. 

At  this  moment  Antony  feels  anew  a  violent 
stinging.  Summoning  all  iiis  courages  he  brave- 
ly plunges  his  hand  into  lus  pocket.  Mercy! 
he  is  not  mistaken:  the  box  was  broken,  and 
the  cover  crushed  at  the  time  of  his  fall  when 
entering  the  coach,  and  there  is  no  trace  of 
either  queen  or  workers. 

And  now  that  sting  in  two  places!  Antony 
utters  a  savage  cry  and  leaps  anew  into  the  air. 


"  Mercy  on  us!  He's  going  ciazy,"  says  the 
butcher's  wife.  « 

■'Conductor!  Conductor!  let  us  out.  There's 
a  madman  here,"  cry  all  the  passengers. 

Antony  Bumke  emits  piercing  yells. 

"In  the  name  of  heaven!  he's  going  into  a 
furious  delirium!"  says  the  spinster. 

"Silence!  silence!"  commands  the  old  gentle- 
man. Then  turning  to  Antony  he  savs,  "  What's 
the  matter'?    Tell  us." 

"I  can't  stand  it  any  longer."  cries  Antony, 
"  they  are  gone — every  one  of  them !  they  sting 
— I  am  stung  already!  Leave  the  coach!  It  is 
very  important  that  I  should  be  left  alone. 
Otherwise  you  may  all  be  stung." 

"He  is  mad!  An  escaped  madman!  Conduc- 
tor!" cry  all  the  passengers,  beside  themselves. 

The  conductoi'  appears  at  the  window.  "  Pres- 
ently, ladies  and  gentlemen;  the  train  is  just 
going  to  stop.  What!  An  escaped  lunatic? 
The  matter  shall  be  looked  into  immediately." 

The  engine  shrieks — station  N.  Full  of  af- 
fright they  all  precipitate  themselves  from  the 
coach:  and  the  station-master,  informed  by  the 
conductor,  slowly  approaches;  and  when  the 
passengers  are  all  out  Iput  Antony  he  carefully 
closes  the  door,  posts  himself  before  the  open 
window,  and  commences  his  examination.  "  So 
this  is  an  escape.     You  acknowledge  it?" 

"Without  doubt — certainly:  they've  all  es- 
caped," declares  Antony,  very  much  agitated. 

"All  ?''  says  the  station-master.  "  How  many 
of  them  were  there?'' 

"Five,"  says  Antony,  groaning:  "four  work- 
ers— their  loss  wasn't  much — but  the  queen  is 
gone  too." 

"What?  A  queen?  What  was  she  like?" 
said  the  station-master  in  a  bantering  tone. 

"Oh!  she  had  eyes  of  gold,  and  the  back  part 
of  her  body  was  covered  with  rings  of  yellow 
and  black." 

"Beautiful  queen!"  said  the  station-master, 
laughing.    "And  what  were  the  others  like?" 

■'  Why,  just  like  all  workers.  One  bee  is  just 
like  another.'' 

"  Come,  now.  keep  your  thoughts  together, 
young  man,  and  don't  go  to  getting  bees  in  y(mr 
head  again,"  said  the  station-master  severely. 

"I  haven't  them  in  my  head.'' said  Antony, 
groaning,  "  but  in —  " 

"And  where  then  ?"  said  the  station-master, 
laughing, 

"In  my  —  in  my  —  pants!"  This  last  word 
Antony  whispered  in  the  ear  of  his  interlocutor. 
"I  had  a  hole  in  my  pocket  —  they  slipped 
through  it.'' 

"Whatslippf^  through?"  asked  the  confused 
station-master. 

"  Why.  the  queen  and  the  four  workers." 

"Ha!  ha!  ha!  a  queen  and  four  workmen  in 
his — ha!  ha!  ha!''  laughed  the  station-master. 
"Come,  be  quiet.  What  are  vou  crving  about 
.still?" 

"Oh!  oh!"  cried  Antony;  "1  can't  stand  it 
any  longer." 

The  bell  rings.  Laughing  as  he  goes,  the 
station-master  directs  iiis  steps  to  the  telegraph 
operator  to  give  orders  to  the  next  station  con- 
cerning "the  lunatic.'' 

The  train  is  in  motion.  Antony  is  alone.  He 
can  no  longer  stand  those  stings.  Rapidly  tak- 
ing his  determination,  he  takes  off  his  panta- 
loons and  approaches  the  window.  Three  bees 
gaily  soar  aloft  into  the  air,  but  two  stick  tight- 
ly to  the  pantaloons.  However,  they  must  be 
got  off,  and  Antony  shakes  his  pantaloons  out 
of  the  window.  "A  pleasant  journey  to  you, 
miserable  queen."  said  he  dolorously,  when,  at 
that  instant,  whiz!  went  the  express  train  by 
on  the  other  track.  It  seemed  to  the  poor  fel- 
low, more  dead  than  alive,  that  his  head  was 
torn  away,  but  it  was  only  his  pantaloons  that 


18.1? 


(U.EANINCS  IN  HEK  CLU/rriiK. 


•.'01 


tln'  I'Xinrss  iiaiii  liati  cariifii  ;i\\a\  iriinu|iliaiit- 
ly.  and  foi'  siooii. 

Aiitiiiiy  l>iiiiil<i'  stood  potritird.  It  was  iiisht 
ill  his  soul.  He  rcniaiiu'd  soiiif  time  without 
thought  and  witlioiit  .  The  nnisc  iis<'lf.  hoi- 
riticd.  vt'ils  its  fai'c 

.\iraiii  a  whistle.  |>i('iviiii,\  to  inai<c  one  siiivcr 
to  the  iiiari'ow.  To  Antony  it  sounds  lilvc  a 
fuii<'ral-i<iM'll.  The  tfain  stops  boldly  iK'forc  a 
platfonn  lillcd  with  people.  Tiiey  are  Ihei'e. 
his  intendi'd.  his  t'ulnre  niothei--in-la w.  with 
many  of  their  aetiuainlaiu-es.  Asiiaincd.  he 
Jiides  liiniself.  for  the  door  has  just  been  opon- 
od.  Tlie  eoiidiuMor  aitpcacs:  lie  makes  a  sign, 
and  the  station-master  apiifoaches  with  two 
olliivrs.     They  seize  him. 

■'lie  has  dressed  himself  up  now."  said  the 
eondiK'tor.  laughing. 

■■  Sileiu-e!  ■■  said  the  olfieer.    "■  l>riug  a  cloak." 

Tile  second  oHicer  tak(>s  olf  his  cloak  and  puts 
it  on  .Antony.  A  struggle  ensues,  and  the  mis- 
erable youth  succeeds  in  jumiiing  out  of  the 
coacli.  'I'he  otb'cef  seizes  him;  lie  teai's  away, 
and  the  cloak  I'emains  in  the  hands  of  the  olti- 
eei-s.  A  cry  e.scap<>s  from  two  mouths,  flush- 
ing witli  shame,  liis  intended  turns  away  her 
head:  tlie  futufe  niothei--in-law  is  tufiied  into 
a  jiillar  of  salt.  Kefor(>  their  eyes  Antfmy  is 
again  seized  by  his  piu'secutors.  and  shut  in 
with  tlieiu  in  a  chaiitable  closed  carriage. 

Hy  mail  the  thing  ought  to  have  been  ex- 
plained away  at  a  later  date.  But  Antony 
l{unik<'  never  had  any  further  desire  to  try  new 
races  of  liees.  nor  to  attend  bee-sliows.  ;ind 
equally  he  never  revisited  his  enaraorata.  for 
she  wrote  liim  that  she  had  no  desire  to  marry 
a  sans-culotte. 

All.  yes:  he  was  a  bee-keeper  in  bad  luck. 


THE  BEE  PARALYSIS. 


A  (;ki:minai. 


1>ISE.\SK.    AND     now 
HV     .VNTI.SKPTICS. 


TO     mjE     IT 


.Judging  from  the  reports  found  in  the  apicul- 
lural  magazines,  we  may  believe  that  this  dis- 
ease wascjuite  general  throughout  the  country 
during  the  summer  of  1891.  Practically  the 
same  symptoms  are  described  by  correspon- 
dents as  they  have  written  from  different  local- 
ities. The  points  have  been  as  follows:  First. 
the  (|ucens  have  ai)peared  healthy,  and  there 
has  been  no  diminution  of  egg-laying.  Second, 
the  usual  attention  to  liiood-rearing  upon  the 
part  of  thi'  colony  has  been  observed.  Third, 
even  greater  fecundity  upon  the  part  of  the 
queen,  and  greater  alacrity  among  the  brood- 
rearers  have  been  noticed,  presumably  because 
the  colony  was  stimulated  to  greater  activity 
in  nrdi'r  that  the  I'equisite  number  of  bees 
might  be  kejit  up,  in  view  of  the  untimely 
death  of  many  of  those  new  ly  hatched.  Fourth, 
till'  death-stricken  y(juiig  l)ees  have  had  the 
black  and  yellow  colors  very  distinctly  marked, 
anfl  a  peculiar  gloss  which  is  quite  unnatural, 
and  have  also  failed  to  possess  the  hairy  and 
plum[)  appearance  found  in  a  healthy  young 
bee.  l-'iftb.  they  died  in  large  numbei-s,  vei'v 
few  within  but  mostly  at  th*;  entrances,  or  just 
in  front  of  the  hive.  Sixth,  there  was  univer- 
sally a  peculiar,  sour,  decaying  animal  odor, 
otTensive  as  one  opened  a  hive  or  brought  one 
of  those  dead  bees  to  the  nostril.  Seventh,  they 
gatliered  honey  as  exijeditiously  and  well  as 
ever,  storing  more  in  the  surplus  sections  than 
usual,  seeming  to  have  a  fear  to  put  it  in  the 
brood -chamber,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  season, 
after  brood -rearing  ceased,  were  found  to  be  in 
poor  condition,  perhajis  having  to  be  fed. 

Tliese  ai'e  the  statements  that  have  been 
made  from  time  to  time  in  (Ilkamnos  and  oth- 


er papers  (luring  the  past  year.  We  observed 
and  tabulated  them,  for  we  had  the  disease  t,o 
look  after  among  our  own  bees,  and  were  de- 
sirous of  infoiiiiation,  and  anxious  to  impart 
what  might  ite  reliable  to  our  fellows  in  the 
craft.  Tiiey  agree  with  our  own  experiiMice 
during  the  past  season.  W(>  had  two  colonies 
with  this  clearly  delined  and  unmistakable 
malady.  We  cured  one  at  once  by  putting  all 
the  bees  lemporaiily  intf)  another  hive,  and  im- 
mersing eveiy  frame  in  a  warm  weak  solution 
of  Lewis"  conci'Ulrated  lye.  ha\'iiig  washed  lirst 
the  interior  of  the  hivi'with  the  same,  rinsing 
all  off  well  with  warm  water,  and  wiping  and 
drying  iu  the  house.  This  killed  every  egg  and 
unsealed  larva,  but,  as  far  as  wi' were  able  to 
discern,  the  capped  brood  was  unharmed.  The 
proportions  we  used,  and  the  processes,  were  as 
follows:  Three  ordinary  [tails  of  water,  as  warm 
as  the  haiid  would  bear,  were  put  into  a  tub.  and 
thr(M>  l(>vel  teaspoonfuls  of  the  lye,  which  we 
previously  dissolved  in  a  pint  of  cold  water,  and 
then  added.  We  did  the  task  as  quickly  as 
jiossible.  and  had  all  the  bees  back  in  the  liive 
within  two  hours.  The  (lucen  began  at  once  to 
lay  in  the  renovated  coml)s,  and  the  colony 
thrived  thenceforth,  going  into  winter  (piarters 
in  fine  condition.  To  make  this  rejKirt  good  to 
date  for  the  lieiielit  of  otliei-  experitnenters  and 
all  our  fraternity  of  bee- lovers,  w(>  have  just 
been  to  the  cellar  and  investigated  this  colony, 
and  find  them  to-day  (Feb.  1)  in  prime  order, 
the  ((ueen  still  living  and  full  of  life.  I'erhaps 
we  should  say  tnat  we  never  noticed  any  ill 
effects  from  the  lye-killed  larv;e.  They  were 
all  disi)osed  of  by  the  bees  themselves,  except  a 
few  that  we  picked  out  with  a  small  two-tined 
fork. 

After  reading  about  the  salt  cure,  recom- 
mended by  some  apiculturists,  we  tried  it  upon 
the  other  infected  colony  by  simply  putting  a 
layer  of  salt  upon  the  entrance,  so  that  the 
liees  had  to  crawl  over  it  to  get  into  the  hive,  or 
when  making  tlieir  exit.  We  think  that  this 
test  was  made  too  late  for  us  to  be  sure  of  its 
effect,  but  will  say  that  the  disease  gradually 
abated  until  \\  e  thought  it  was  cured.  Upofi 
two  or  three  occasions  we  carefully  looked  for 
the  queen  of  this  latter  colony;  but,  failing  to 
find  her.  we  supposed  she  was  dead,  and  put  the 
colony  in  the  cellar  with  the  expectation  of 
getting  a  new  queen  in  the  spring.  But  recent- 
ly, to  our  surprise  and  gratification,  we  found 
her,  apparently  well  and  full  of  vigor. 

In  lioili  these  cases  the  indications  warrant 
the  supposition  that  the  disease  does  not  affect 
either  tlu'  usefulness  or  the  life  of  the  queens. 
Moreover,  from  tlie  look  of  a  colony  of  bees,  we 
have  been  unable  to  discern  any  clew  to  tln^  ori- 
gin of  this  dread  disease,  every  ordinary  sign  of 
pi'os|)erity  b(ung  visible  exc(!pt  the  strange 
d 'al  li-losses.  From  the  chemically  purifying 
and  disinfecting  character  of  lye,  as  well  as  salt, 
W(!  seem  to  be  juslilied  in  sup[)osiiig  it  to  be  a 
liacterial  fatality,  if  their  use  has  proven  bene- 
ficial. Undoubtedly  the  lye  solution  above 
spoken  of  would  kill  every  particle  of  even 
cappi'd  brood  in  a  liive.  if  the  frames  were  left 
long  in  it.  oi'  were  put  back  into  the  hive  not 
having  been  well  rinsed  off',  i-'urlhei'.  lye  is  one 
of  the  strongest  of  germicides,  and,  as  in  hu- 
man bacterial  diseases,  the  remedy  will  kill 
both  patient  and  germs  unless  administered 
with  caution.  The  processes  above  enumerated 
would  also  prove  very  tedious  for  an  <>xtensive 
apiarist.  For  this  reason  we  hope  it  maybe 
verified  that  common  salt  alone  is  a  specific, 
since  the  maliuial  is  always  easy  of  access,  and 
quickly  and  simply  used,  causing  no  labor  to 
the  bee- keeper.  iKi  time,  delays,  or  losses  to  the 
bees.  If  it  should  prove  that  salt,  either  solid 
or  in  liquid,  is  only  a  jjalliative  and   not  a  spe- 


202 


(CLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mar.  1:"). 


cific,  we  should  incline  to  the  belief  that  bee- 
keepers can  not  do  better  for  the  coming  season, 
or  until  something  less  laborious  is  discovered, 
than  to  use  the  lye  solution  here  recommended. 
Hut  on  the  ground  of  the  g(M'micidal  qualifica- 
tions of  lye,  we  will  venture  to  say  that  other 
chemicals  known  to  have  the  same  effect  upon 
bacteria  and  parasitc^s.  such  as  camphor,  thy- 
mol, creosote,  carbolic  acid.  tar.  etc.,  will  cure 
bee  paralysis  if  proper  solutions  of  them  are  ap- 
plied to  hives  and  frames,  and  all  thoroughly 
cleansed  before  being  given  again  to  the  bees. 
We  believe  this  to  be  a  germ  fatality.  If  oppor- 
tunity offers  the  coming  season,  vv*^  shall  try 
some  of  these,  as  well  as  make  ounself  more 
certain  as  to  the  curative  properties  of  salt. 
Meanwhile  we  feel  sure  of  the  lye  solution,  and 
can  recommend  it  until  something  better  is 
found.  Rev.  T.  C.  Potter. 

Cedar  Falls,  Iowa,  Feb.  3. 


THE  HASTY  SUGAR-HONEY  MATTER. 


WII.I.   NOT   THE    DISCIT.SSION    OF    ADULTERATION 
BE   EQUALLY    HARMFUL? 


Friend  Ernest:—!  wish  to  thank  you  for  the 
very  fair  manner  in  which  you  criticise  the 
course  of  the  Review  in  admitting  the  Hasty 
article  on  the  feeding  of  sugar  to  produce  comb 
honey.  Surely,  nothing  could  be  fairer  than 
your  treatment  of  the  subject:  but.  with  your 
permission,  I  should  like  to  call  attention  to 
what  seems  like  an  inconsistency  in  your  course. 
In  the  very  same  issue  you  publish  an  article 
from  Mr.  Byron  Walker,  in  which  he  states  that 
glucose  can  be  bought  for  only  two  cents  a 
pound,  and  explains  the  ease  with  which  honey 
adulterated  with  it  can  be  sold.  Have  you  no 
fears  that  dishonest  people  will  be  led  into  adul- 
teration by  thus  ('X|)lainiug  how  easily  the  mat- 
ter may  be  accomplished?  You  may  say  that 
you  nu^.ntion  the  practice  only  to  condemn.  True. 
But  condemnation  does  not  deter  dishonest  men 
from  doing  wrong.  If  anybody  can  do  any  thing 
to  sto])  adulteration,  I  am  with  him  hand  and 
gIov(^  (I  am  glad  to  see  you  intimate  that  yon 
are  going  to  do  something):  but  to  be  criticised 
for  giving  an  article  explaining  how  a  man 
might  honestly  make  a  profit  out  of  his  bees  in 
a  poor  season,  criticised  because  dishonest  men 
might  deceive  people  by  th(^  same  method,  and 
then  have  my  critic  turn  about  and  publish  an 
article  showing  the  ease  and  profit  with  which 
honey  may  be  adultei'at(id,  seems — well,  how 
does  it  seem  ? 

I  am  glad  to  see,  Ernest,  that  you  have  .so  far 
advanced  in  this  subject  that  you  have  had  en- 
ter your  mind  the  idea  of :  "Will  it  pay?"  lam 
al-so  glad  to  see  that  you  so  stoutly  maintain 
that,  while  Bro.  Hasty  and  myself  may  be  lack- 
ing in  good  judgment,  we  are  honest.  But  the 
Hasty  article  lias  been  published;  it  is  beyond 
recall:  the  cat  is  out  of  the  bag;  there  is  no  use 
of  attempting  to  crowd  her  back  in;  in  other 
words,  let  us  lay  aside  all  prejudice  and  pre- 
conceived notions  upon  the  subject.  So  far 
thei-e  has  been  simply  "holy  horror"  at  the 
ideas  advanced  by  friend  Hasty.  No  one  has 
seemed  to  give  the  matter  a  sober  second 
thought.  We  are  .'^o  largely  creatures  of  educa- 
tion, that,  when  any  one  brings  up  sometliing 
contrary  to  our  established  views  and  methods, 
we  are  shocked.  In  the  Dark  Ages  men  were 
tortui'ed  and  bui-ned  at  the  stake  because  they 
were  heretics.  The  very  idi^as  that  were  then 
here.sy  are  now  popular.  This  may  be  a  strong 
illustration,  but  I  think  it  a  fair  one.  The  time 
may  come  (mind,  I  don't  say  \t  will)  when  su- 
gar-honey will  be  an  article  of  commerce.  I  am 
willing  to  admit  that  the  world  is  not  yet  ready 


for  it,  but  the  time  nuiy  come.  \Vhen  it  was 
first  proposed  to  use  foundation  in  surplus  hon- 
ey, what  a  hue  and  cry  there  was  raised  against 
iti  "It  was  not  the  natural  comb;"  "it  filled 
the  consumer's  mouth  with  wax;"  "  it  would 
riilii  the  honey  market."  It  proved  to  be  the 
"foundation"  upon  which  rested  successful 
comb-honey  production.  Hence,  I  say.  don't  be 
loo  hasty  in  your  judgment  upon  new  ideas. 
Flint,  Mich.,  Mar.  .5.       W.  Z.  Hutchinson. 

[It  is  a  great  pleasure  to  deal  in  discussion 
with  such  a  fair  and  candid  man  as  our  brother- 
editor  Mr.  Hutchinson.  Well,  about  that  By- 
ron Walker  article.  It  may  be  that  we  have 
been  doing  just  what  we  had  been  condemuing 
in  another;  but  it  occurs  to  us  that  there  is  a 
distinction  between  the  Byron  Walker  article 
and  that  of  Mr.  Hasty.  The  former  calls  at- 
tention to  a  practice  that  is  already  in  exist- 
encc.  and  we  gave  publicity  to  it  for  the  pur- 
pose of  letting  bee-keepers  know  the  real  facts 
in  order  that  they  might  unitedly  combat  the 
evil.  The  Hasty  article  proposed  something 
that  was  not  yet  in  existence,  and  which  at 
most  was  a  matter  of  experiment;  that  is,  it  was 
exceedingly  doubtful  as  to  whether  the  prac- 
tice could  be  mad(>  to  pay.  While  the  article  of 
Mr.  Hasty  might  do  damage,  the  probabilities 
are  that  it  will  not.  Bee-keepers  are  too  honest 
to  make  a  bad  use  of  it.  even  if  feasible,  and  wo 
have  more  tlian  once  had  occasion  to  refer  to 
the  fact  that  our  industry  is  made  up.  as  a  gen- 
eral rule,  of  .square  men.  Dr.  Miller  has  a 
Straw  in  this  issue  which  points  in  the  same 
direction.] 


WAX  SECRETION. 

.MR.  FRANCE  ARGUES  THAT  THE  OI-I)  BEES  AN» 
NOT  THE  YOUNG  DO  THE  MOST  OF  IT. 

I  wish  to  make  a  few  remarks  about  some  re- 
plies of  Mr.  Doolittle  and  Mr.  Hasty  in  regard 
to  an  article  of  mine  in  the  Oct.  1st  Gleanings, 
about  wax  .«ecretion.  etc.  Mr.  D.  remarks  that 
I  say  that  I  hived  a  fair-sized  swarm.  It  was 
just  that,  and  luithing  moie — at  any  rate,  it 
came  from  a  hive  of  16  L.  frames.  My  home 
yard  is  all  in  L.-frame  hives,  S  frames  to  each 
.set.  I  work  them  during  the  extracting  season 
three  stories  high;  but  this  swarm  came  out  bi^ 
fore  I  got  the  thifd  set  of  combs  on.  There  was 
not  over  a  peck  measure  full  of  bees  to  start 
with:  and  a  three-story  L.  hive  with  8  frames 
in  a  set  is  not  so  very  large  a  place  for  a  peck  of 
bees  in  hot  weather.  It  is  only  four  combs 
more  than  a  two-story  ten-frame  hive.  But. 
be  that  as  it  may,  4.5  days  would  come  around 
just  as  soon  for  a  large  swarm  as  for  a  small 
oue. 

As  for  the  young  bees  secreting  all  the  wax, 
I  am  satisfied  that  it  is  a  mistaken  notion.  I 
believe  that  bees  will  secrete  wax  as  long  as 
they  live;  in  fact,  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the 
old  secrete  more  wax  than  the  young  ones.  In 
the  first  place,  in  order  to  secrete  wax  the  bees 
have  to  stay  at  home  with  their  sacs  full  of 
honey,  that  wax  secretion  may  go  on.  Now.  in 
all  animated  nature  is  it  the  old  or  young  that 
lie  around  idle?  Yo\nig  children,  and  all  young 
living  things  are  apt  to  get  out  as  early  as  they 
can.  and  exercise  themselves;  and  would  a 
yoiuig  bee  be  contented  to  stay  in  the  house 
during  its  yonth  and  do  housework  ?  I  can  not 
believe  it.  I  believe  they  go  out  as  soon  as  they 
are  able  to  do  so.  They  want  to  go  out  and  se«^ 
the  world— it's  natural.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
old  bees,  like  other  old  folks,  would  be  more  in- 
clined to  stay  at  home  and  do  the  housework.  I 
simply  throw  these  thoughts  out  as  a  sugges- 
tion.    Who  will  prove  me  wrong? 


1892 


iii.KANiNtJs  IN  MiOK  ri:i/riM{|':. 


••():$ 


As  for  Mr.  ll;isty"s  icnuirUs,  they  otivcr  abniit 
tho  sanit>  K'">"i"<l^  'I'iit  Mr.  1).  doi-s.  except  the 
possibility  of  soitie  sti-ay  swartn  joiiiiiif,'  tiie  ex- 
periiiieiital  eoloiiy.  1  iliinU  Mr.  Hasty  or  any 
other  ohserviiifi  liee-iiian  would  (|iiiokly  disrov- 
er  any  tliiii,ir  of  tliat  kind  if  it  siiould  hap|)Oti. 
lUit  Sir.  II.  is  wruiic;  in  liis  foiijectnri'S  altout 
tlie  failure  of  the  honey-tlow  soon  after  the 
swanii  w  a"s  liived.  Thessvarin  was  hived  .lone 
10;  the  lioney  was  ample  until  .Inly  :.'().  wiien 
tho  basswood  gave  ont.  At.  that,  time  I  jiiive 
tlie  bees  in  ix'pjx'rbox  f(M'ders  (i  lbs.  of  honey, 
and  kept  honey  in  the  feeders  all  the  time  after 
that  date.  \\iiX.  ".'4  I  took  away  liiood  for  the 
last  time,  and  then  let  them  go  as  they  pleased 
and  liatoh  brood.  Of  oourse,  it.  must  have  been 
at)ont  tlie  14tii  of  September  before  any  brood 
would  hati'li.  About  that  time  I  lixed  my  yard 
for  winter,  and  tiiere  were  a  few  bees  there  yet. 
and  some  fi'w  hatching.  IIow  lonjj  they  held 
out  I  don"t  know,  as  I  did  not  look  again. 

Now,  my  friends,  if  life  is  spared  until  next 
summer  1  mean  to  try  some  more  experiments: 
and  1  should  like  to  have  otliers  do  the  same. 
Let  us  learn  all  W(>  can.  and  let  (Mich  one  i)rovo 
for  liimself  any  point  that  he  or  she  is  interest- 
ed in.  We  have  :.'(»  acres  of  land.  shai>ed  about 
like  a  brick.  Now,  as  far  as  possible  from  tlie 
bee-yard,  and  from  each  other,  as  I  can,  I  in- 
tend to  i)lace  two  or  three  hives  to  experiment 
with.  Let  others  who  can,  try  for  themselves, 
if  they  are  interested  in  such  matters. 

I'latteville,  Wis..  ,Ian.  -.'8.  E.  Fhance. 


Ud/es'  Conversazione. 


I'LANTING    ISKKUI-    VS.    HAD   AVEED.S    FOK    BEE.«. 

If  I  were  a  man,  and  owned  a  farm.  I  think  I 
would  plant  for  bees  if  I  had  as  many  as  .50  or 
100  colonies.  Mr.  Axtell  says  it  does  not  pay; 
but  I  believe  it  would  pay — not  so  much  in  the 
amount  of  surplus  stond  from  such  flowers,  but 
in  the  good  it  would  do  the  colonies  in  keeping 
them  thrifty  and  built  up  between  the  honey- 
harvests.  1  would  give  a  little  time  to  it  eacli 
year,  and  see  to  it  that  it  was  done  right.  If  I 
owned  a  larg(-  farm,  and  had  plenty  of  ground 
to  spare,  I  would  set  apart  an  acre  or  more  for 
such  purpose;  but  if  I  could  thoroughly  till 
what  I  had  I  would  utilize  the  waste  lands,  the 
fence-corners,  and  next  to  the  hedges.  I  would 
not  send  a  hand  out  and  have  high-priced  seed 
scattered  along  the  roadsides,  in  the  stiff  sods, 
nor  along  tlie  fences  that  are  already  overgrown 
witli  weeds,  as  I  should  not  expect  it  would  thus 
pay:  but  I  would  take  the  spade  and  hoe,  and 
clean  out  the  fence-corners,  and  plant  such 
seeds  as  an;  tried  and  do  well  in  each  locality — 
such  bee-plants  as  will  hold  their  own  after  be- 
ing planted— perennials  that  will  blos.som  each 
year  at  a  time  when  the  clovers  or  other  farm 
crops  are  not  in  blossom.  I  would  hoe  out  the 
useless  weeds  close  to  the  hedges  or  fences, 
where  tin  y  can  not  be  cultivated  for  farm  cioits. 
I  would  plant  such  seeds  as  catnip,  Simpson 
plant,  hoarhound.  pleurisy-root,  sweet  clover, 
etc.  How  much  better  to  grow  such  plants 
than  so  many  useless  weeds  that  yield  no  hon- 
ey, and  are  a  nuisance  to  the  faiinerl  I  would 
have  a  regular  string  of  flowers  all  around  my 
farm,  and  near  the  cross- fences  besides.  Some 
argue  that  weeds  thus  grown  would  not  be  good 
for  the  fence  or  hedge:  but  they  could  not  b(! 
worse  than  useless  weeds  or  the  grasses  that 
grow  in  the  cultivated  fields  next  to  the  fences, 
that  animals  can  not  reach  to  eat  off.  I  would 
not  sow  bee-|)lants  along  the  fences  of  neigh- 
bors who  would  object  to  such  plants,  or  who 
annually  mow  down  the  weeds  in  front  of  their 


premises.  There  are  many  neighbors  who  are 
so  accommodating  as  to  aid  a  brother  i)(>e-keep- 
er  by  giving  (•onsent  tn  iiaving  ><uch  plants  as 
sweet  clover  sow  n  along  the  roadsides,  as  it  Is  a 
beautiful  plant,  both  in  the  foliagci  and  blos- 
som, and  is  much  more  sightly  tlian  many  of 
the  weeds  often  seen  growing  along  the  I'oads, 
and  which  furnish  nothing  to  bea'^t  or  bee. 

Down  near  the  limber,  neai'  where  our  out- 
apiary  is  located,  are  large  patches  of  burdock 
and  ("aiiada  thistles,  both  in  the  fields  and 
along  the  roadsides.  How  much  better  to  de- 
stroy such  plants,  and  rais(>  honey-plants  that 
are  not  such  noxious  weetisi  I  can  advise,  but 
I  can  not  i)ractice  the  above,  though  I  b<'lievo 
it  would  i)ay  largely,  both  to  bee-keepers  and  to 
th(>  farmers. 

I.Af  K    OF    VENTILATION     FOK    CEI-I.AR    WINTER- 

INO  ;     IIONEY-OEW,     AND     IT.S     EFFECTS 

IN   THE   CEI,I-AK. 

In  (ii.EANiNos.  page  n3,  yon  print  my  article 
about  our  bees  being  so  uiunisy.  We  did  have 
to  take  (Jilt  another  cellar  window  that  was 
plastered  uj),  and  it  was  surprising  how  soon 
they  (piieted  down.  We  can  see  no  ditference 
in  the  number  of  dead  bet^s  swept  up  in  front  of 
the  hives  wintering  on  honey-dew,  and  those 
wintering  on  sugar  syrup.  The  bees  are  more 
quiet  than  they  were  the  fore  part  of  the  winter, 
but  they  throw  out  twice  the  dead  bees  they 
have  some  other  winters:  but  they  show  no 
signs  of  dysentry  on  the  fronts  of  their  hives.  I 
was  looking  this  morning,  and  saw  no  hives 
thus  speckled.  Those  winten^d  out  of  doors  have 
had  several  good  flights  during  the  winter.  Mr. 
Tilly,  who  has  30  colonies,  and  winters  outdoors, 
says  that  there  are  but  few  dead  bees  in  front  of 
his  hives,  and  his  bees  flew  as  if  they  were 
strong,  a  few  days  since.     Mks.  L.  C.  Axteij,. 

Roseville,  III.,  Feb.  20. 

[We  are  rapidly  coming  to  the  conclusion 
that  bees  need  more  ventilation  in  the  cellar 
than  many  supijose.  We  notice  that  there  is 
less  flying  out  in  proitortion  to  the  number  of 
colonies  when  there  is  a  small  number  in  the 
cellar  than  when  there  are  many.  High  temper- 
ature may  have  some  effect;  but.  usually,  high 
temperature  is  accompanied  by  a  lack  of  circu- 
lation in  the  air.  and  hence  the  result  is  impure 
air,  and  restlessness  on  the  jjart  of  the  bees.] 

A    KIND   OF    FIXED-DISTANCE   HIVE   THAT  IS  NOT 
OF    THE   KIOIIT   S<JRT. 

I  wish  .some  of  the  advocates  of  "  fixed  dis- 
tances "  and  •"  handling  hives  instead  of  frames" 
had  some  hives  I  was  obliged  to  use  last  year. 
I  knew  I  didn't  want  them,  as  .soon  as  I  saw 
them,  but  had  to  have  something,  and  they 
were  all  I  could  get  at  the  time.  The  ends  of 
frames,  instead  of  resting  on  a  tin  rabbet,  fit  in- 
to a  notched  piece  of  wood,  and  another  notch- 
ed piece  across  the  bottom  of  the  hiv(!  holds  the 
bottom  of  the  frames  tight.  I  could  gel  along 
with  them  while  the  hives  were  new.  by  han- 
dling the  framesover  (|uite  often:  but  I  tell  you, 
those  hives  hav(^  lixed  distance  and  no  mistake. 
I  believi^  they  would  stay  fixed,  too.  if  the  hives 
were  rolled  over  and  over  down  hill  for  half  a 
mile.  They  are  altogether  too  "  fixed  "  to  suit 
me  ;  for.  like  Mrs.  Atchley  in  Nehr<tsk<i  Bce- 
heeper,  I  don't  care  about  "  going  down  the  lad- 
der." 

I  am  sometimes  asked  why  I  am  a  bee-keeper. 
Well,  it  was  neither  from  choice  nor  because  of 
necessity,  but  the  result  of  what  most  people 
would  call  "a  bad  bargain."  But  as"  all  things 
work  together  for  good,"  I  suppose  it  was  not 
an  accident,  after  all.  I'erhaps  I'll  tell  the 
story  some  time  in  the  future. 

Ml{S.  .\.   L.  HUIXENBECK. 

Millard.  Xeb..  Feb.  17. 


204 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mak.  15. 


[There  are  some  kinds  of  fixed  distances  that 
are  positively  intolerable,  and  such  a  kind  as 
you  describe  is  one  of  that  sort,  as  we  know 
from  a  brief  expei'ience  :  but  there  are  other 
kinds  that  are  positively  delightful.] 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


THE  TOMATO  INDUSTRY  OF  CRYSTAL 
SPRINGS,  MISS. 


CLOTH    INSTEAD   OF   GLASS    FOR    COLD-FHAXIfr> 


On  the  morning  of  Feb.  27.  1892.  I  opened  my 
eyes  in  a  pleasant  room  in  the  hospitable  home 
of  J.  \V.  Day.  the  author  of  the  hook  on  tomato 
culture  in  the  South.  Brother  Day  soon  came 
in  with  an  armful  of  long  pine  kindling,  and 
proceeded  to  build  such  a  nice  big  fire  in  the 
spacious  fireplace  that  I  commenced  a  remon- 
strance at  the  waste  of  so  much  nice  fuel,  solely 
for  me  to  dress  by.  But  he  I'eplied  he  liad  more 
than  he  wanted  or  could  get  rid  of;  and,  to  tell 
the  truth,  he  has  pine  timber  by  the /i(/?i(7ref7 
(teres.  Breakfast  for  a  family  of  eight  children 
was,  like  the  fuel,  in  great  (iljiindaiice  and  of 
excellent  (iKdlitij.  I  never  ale  any  canned 
peaches  before  equal  to  friend  Day's:  and  when 
I  found  he  had  400  acres  of  young  peach-trees,  I 
felt  in  a  hurry  to  get  out  to  see  them  as  well  as 
the  tomatoes.  In  coming  into  Crystal  Springs 
the  day  before,  I  noted  the  long  canvas-covered 
cold-frames  that  began  to  dot  the  fields  with 
their  long  strips  of  white,  even  when  we  were 
miles  away  from  Crystal  Springs.  The  exceed- 
ing wiiiteness  of  the  cloth  is  explained  by  the 
fact  that  a  great  part  of  them  are  covered  with 
/(e(r  white  cloth,  for  it  is  only  since  friend  Day's 
venture  has  proved  a  success  that  almost  every 
one  around  him  has  decided  to  go  into  it  more 
or  less.  It  is  exactly  like  the  lettuce  business 
around  friend  Davis'  at  Grand  Rapids.  Mich. 
Well,  we  are  having  a  great  lot  of  pictures 
made,  illustrating  this  new  industry:  but  as 
they  will  make  my  description  too  late  for  this 
season  I  am  going  to  tell  you  in  advance  how  to 
make  a  cloth  cold-frame  to  protect  tomato  and 
other  plants  aftcM-  they  are  transplanted  the 
first  time  from  the  seed-bed. 

The  cloth,  which  is  rather  thick  stout  cotton, 
is  used  in  the  place  of  glass;  but  as  there  was 
quite  a  frost  on  the  morning  I  have  described, 
the  beds  had  all  been  covered  the  night  before 
with  pine  straw  and  forest-leaves  spread  evenly 
over  the  canvas  cover.  Friend  Day  has  over  a 
mile  in  length,  altogether,  of  these  beds,  and 
each  one  is  douhle  width,  taking  cloth  2^i 
yards  wide  on  each  side.  Such  frames  hav(^ 
i)een  in  use  moie  or  less  for  some  yeai's  back  in 
diffei'ent  localities:  but.  if  I  am  correct,  friend 
D.  first  used  the  pole  to  roll  the  cloth  on.  I  saw 
one  of  his  men  roll  up  the  canvas  alone,  on  a 
bed  l')(>  feet  hnnj. 

I  need  not  tell  yon  of  the  iinmensc  saving  of 
time  and  strfugtli.  compared  with  handling 
glazed  sash.  It  is  ti'ue.  cloth  does  not  give  the 
protection  nor  the  lieat  that  sash  does;  but  by 
taking  a  little  more;  time  one  can  start  seeds  of 
even  tomatoi'S  and  egg  and  iirpper  plants  under 
cloth.  Friend  Day  has  perhaps  a  liundred 
glazed  sash  in  use.  side  by  side  with  glass,  so  he 
knows  all  about  it.  All  the  heat  used  in  start- 
ing the  seeds,  in  Ihc  vicinity  of  Crystal  Springs, 
is  obtained  by  fines  under  gi-ound,"and  Imrning 
woofl.  A  simple  trench,  or  two  trenches,  are 
dug  in  the  ground,  and  the  seed-bed  made  over 
tiiem.    Of  course,  tlie  trench  is  made  on  an  in- 


cline, one  foot  ri.se  in  2(J  feet  length.  The  trench 
is  covered  with  brick,  flat  stones,  or  large  tile 
may  be  used.  Pine  wood  furnishes  the  heat: 
and  after  firing  all  day.  the  ground  gets  so  hot 
(and  retains  the  heat)  that  your  plants  are 
secure  fiom  harm  diu'iugeven  the  coldest  night, 
without  any  firing  during  the  night-time. 
Where  the  liriug  is  done,  the  opening  may  be  Hi 
inches  across;  but  it  is  gradiuilly  contracted 
until  it  reaches  tlie  bottom  of  the  chimney, 
when  it  is  only  about  8  inches  across.  The 
chimney  is  only  a  square  wooden  box.  say  8  x  10 
inches  inside,  and  8  or  lu  feet  long.  Such  a 
tlue  will  give  heat  for  a  bed  40  or  .50  feet  long. 
The  earth  over  the  flue  is  2  feet  deep  at  the 
furiKicc  end.  but  only  (i  inches  deep  at  the 
rltlmiiey  end.  In  making  the  flue,  if  you  arch 
over  with  brick,  use  something  similar  to  a 
nail-keg  to  arch  over  on,  sliding  it  along  as  you 
proceed.  You  can  use  glass  oi'  cloth  over  this 
lied  as  you  choose.  Of  course,  glass  will  give 
more  heat  from  the  sun.  and  will  keep  out  more 
frost;  but  if  you  commence  a  little  earlier  you 
can  get  just  as  good  plants  by  using  cloth.  I 
saw  plants  raised  under  glass  and  under  cloth, 
and  the  latter  were  every  bit  as  good.  Of 
course,  you  will  have  to  take  more  pains  in 
covering  the  cloth  with  leaves  oi' straw  during 
very  cold  spells.  Cloth  frames  have  more  slant 
than  glass  usually  does,  for  the  cloth  cover  is 
expected  to  cany  ofi'  all  the  rain. 

One  of  the  strong  points  in  friend  Day's 
management  is  to  keep  the  ground  dry.  I  could 
hardly  believe  he  was  right  until  I  saw  beauti- 
ful plants  in  all  stages  that  had  never  been 
watered  <tt  all.  You  see.  the  cloth  holds  the 
moisture  that  rises  up  through  the  mellow  soil, 
and  at  the  same  time  it  does  not  permit  the  sun 
to  heat  up  and  scorch  as  the  glass  does.  Friend 
D.  never  gives  his  [ilants  more  than  one  water- 
ing if  he  can  help  it:  and  that  one  is  in  the 
cfihl-fninies,  a  week  or  ten  days  before  they  go 
out  to  the  field.  Then  they  are  watered  until 
the  ground  is  soaked.  If  a  I'ain  comes  about 
this  time,  he  prefeis  it  to  any  artificial  water- 
ing. Only  the  seed-beds  or  /lof-beds  require 
fines  for  heat.    Now  for 

THE   CLOTH    COLD-FKAAIES. 

This  is  the  great  feature  of  this  paper.  .It  is, 
in  my  opinion,  one  of  the  great  inventions  of 
the  age.  It  may  be  single  width  or  douhle 
width,  as  I  have  stated;  but  the  slant  in  either 
ca.se  should  be  so  as  to  have  a  pitch  or  about  l}4 
feet  in  a  bed  6  feet  wide.  The  cloth  is  securely 
fastened  at  the  upper  edge,  and  the  pole  on 
which  it  is  lolled  is  securely  attached  to  the 
lower  edge.  This  pole  hangs  over  th(^  lower 
edge,  and  holds  the  cloth  down  tight  to  the 
edge  of  the  one-foot  plank  that  is  put  ai'ound 
the  bed.  Strips  1x3  inches  are  put  in  like  raf- 
lei'S  every  six  feet  to  hold  up  the  cloth.  I)ut  ihey 
ar(^  Hiovable.  so  as  to  take  them  out  of  the  way 
when  desir(  d.  To  keep  out  frost,  the  whole  lied 
must  be  air-tight,  or  as  near  as  may  be.  and  the 
gable  ends  are  therefore  held  tight  by  tempo- 
rary strips,  or  by  strings  sewed  in  at  intervals, 
and  fastened  to  nails  diiven  partly  in.  To 
keep  out  w  ater.  make  a  ditch  with  outlet,  clear 
around  tlie  whole  t)Uiside.  In  order  that  the 
gi'ound  may  be  cheaply  and  thoroughly  fined 
up  before  a  crop  is  put  into  th(^  bed.  the  gable 
ends  may  be  removable,  so  tlie  horse  and  culti- 
vator may  be  luu  back  and  forth  uniil  all  is 
fine  and  mellow.  Now.  here  is  a  bright  ideia  I 
did  not  gel  hold  of  at  first.  As  every  jjlant  is 
to  be  lifted  from  the  cold-frame  with  a  square 
of  dirt  adhering  to  its  roots,  and  thus  carried  to 
tlie  field,  we  can  not  afford  to  have  the  field  a 
great  way  off:  thei-efore  the  bed  itself  \»  located 
in  the  middle  of  the  field  where  the  tomatoes 
are  to  be  set.     The  plants  are  spaced  accurately 


1S<C' 


»;i>KANIN(;s  IN  HKE  CULTURE. 


ill  the  rokl-tramc.  iiluuii  .'.  iiiclics  !i|iarl.  'I'liis 
is  iloiic  with  u  marUfi-  wliicli  looUs  liivc  liic 
licail  of  a  I'Dininon  raUc.  only  it  is  .">  feci  loiiji. 
ami  tlu'  Irt'tli  arc  .">  iiiclu's  apart.  Wlicu  llic 
plants  an-  as  laiK<'  as  tlicy  should  \u\  a  hntolicr- 
kiiifc  is  run  hctwct'ii  the  rows,  so  as  to  cutout 
square  soils,  as  it  wimc.  a  plant  Ix-iiiK  in  thi' 
ctMitcr  of  cai-h  sod.  Hut  1  will  tell  you  more 
about  this  liitt'r  on.  1  havo  told  enough  so  you 
can  go  at  work  at  once  making  cloth  cold- 
frames  for  any  of  your  crops.  They  will  solve 
the  i)rol)leiu  as  to  how  we  may  most  cheaply 
save  our  valuahle  early  crojis  from  frost.  Vou 
can  use  them  foi'  early  aspaiagus.  calihage- 
plants.  celery-plants,  egg-plants,  catilillower, 
or  any  kind  of  plants  that  may  l)e  \vant(Hl;  and 
in  many  localities  they  will  pay  well  for  early 
potatoes,  wax  beans,  early  be(>ts,  etc.  I  can  not 
learn  that  they  have  i)eeii  used  for  forcing 
strawberries,  but  tlun-  would  surely  i)ro\('  a 
perfect  remedy  for  frost  in  the  spring:  and 
after  frost  is  over  tliey  are  just  tlu^  thing  for 
melons,  cucumbers,  etc.  In  fact,  tln^y  have- 
been  a  good  deal  used  for  this  pur{)ose.  Wh(>n 
they  are  located  in  the  middle  of  the  tield  for  to- 
matoes and  such  cro|)s.  the  whole  thing  is  takf^n 
apart  and  moved  up  by  liie  fence  until  the  next 
year.  Enougli  tomatcu'S  are  loft  where  it  stood 
to  get  a  small  advanci'  crop  of  extra  early. 

Now.  this  is  not  conjecture  and  theory,  but  it 
is  an  account  of  a  great  industry  that  has  been 
going  on  and  dev(>loping  lor  years;  and  I  am 
sure  it  will  interest  and  profit  hundreds  of  our 
readers,  north,  south,  <'ast,  and  west.  The 
book,  with  illustrations,  will  be  issued  during 
the  coming  season. 

THE    PHl/.KTAKEH     .\XI)     SI'AXISII     KING     ONION. 

Are  these  two  one  and  the  same  thing? 
Quite  a  few  leadingseedsmen.  including  Johnson 
&  Stokes,  who  first  introduced  the  .Spanish  King, 
declare  they  are  the  same,  while  others,  includ- 
ing William  Henry  INIaule.  say  they  are  not. 
One  friend  writes  us  that  the  i'rizetaker  is  a 
siraw-ct)lored  (Jiiion  apijroachiiig  red.  while  the 
Spanish  King  (or  Yellow  liocca)  is  a  yellow  one. 
By  the  way.  how  much  difference  is  there  be- 
tween straw  color  and  yellow  ?  I  think,  friends, 
that,  no  matter  where  you  get  yottr  seed,  or 
whether  you  buy  .Spanish  King  or  Prizetaker, 
you  will  find  in  every  field  a  few  onions  of  red 
and  white  both,  as  well  as  yellow.  I  am  inclin- 
ed to  think  they  are  sports.  Whether  these 
sports  can  be  bred  out  or  not  is  a  ([uestion.  You 
will  also  lind  similar  spurts  in  regard  to  shape. 
If  the  seed  is  carefully  raised  from  birge  yellow 
round  onions,  so  firm  and  hard  they  liave  kept 
over  vvinter  all  right,  there  will  lie  a  chance  of 
breeding  out  these  snorts,  and  there  is  a  big 
opening  for  some  enterprising  seedsman,  or  any- 
body else,  who  will  take  the  i)ains  to  do  this. 
If  there  is  a  man  among  our  readers  who  can 
truthfully  say  he  raised  the  seed  himself,  from 
selected  onions,  during  the  season  of  W.v.:,  he 
can  get  a  big  price  for  his  carefully  bred  selected 
seed  in  the  spring  of  ]S(t3.  Our  friend  March 
gave  me  some  important  facts  in  regard  to  ibis 
raattel  I)  .-eed-raising.  It  is  not  at  all  dillicull 
to  get  extra  nice  seed:  but  it  takes  more  care 
and  patience  than  most  people  are  willing  to 
give,  especially  after  they  have  got  a  big  busi- 
ness established.  We  have  some  onions  saved. 
and  are  going  to  plant  them  ourselve.s.  Who 
else  will  help?  Our  experiment  stations  are 
doing  a  good  work  in  this  very  line  :  and.  if  1 
am  correct,  our  Ohio  station  have  decided  they 
could  see  no  essential  difference  betwetMi  the 
Prizetaker  and  the  Spanish  King,  although  they 
did  decide  that  the  seed  purchased  from  sonic 
<Z€a/('r.s.  called  Prizetaker.  was  supeiior  to  that 
bought  of  certain  ntlitr  dealers  called  Spanish 
King.  1  wish  friend  (irei-n  would  give  us  a  few- 
words  on  the  subject. 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS 


FOITL   HKOOn     IN      VOKK.    NKBKA.SK.X;     KKI'KV   TO 
KI.MKH   TODD;    TIIK  I)ISE.\.SE    NOT   KAMI'.XN'r. 

In  tJi<K.\MN»j.s,  Feb.  1.").  p.  i:)3. 1  see  an  articleon 
foul  brood  in  Nebraska,  signed  by  Elmer  Todd. 
IJegafding  1  he  subject  -matter  of  th(^  art  iclc.  we 
wish  to  say  to  Mr.  Todd,  or  any  one  else,  that 
it  is  an  undisputed  fact  that  there  are  cases  of 
foul  brood  in  this  vicinity;  but  to  the  extent 
that  he  claims,  (f  i.s"  not  a  fact.  We  have  a  so- 
ciety her<'.  and  one  of  the  express  purposes  of 
the  organization  was  to  get  a  unity  of  action 
regarding  this  v(>ry  disease.  To  our  nn'inljer- 
ship  Mr.  Todd  has  often  been  invited,  but  will 
not  unite  with  us.  preferring  to  stand  aloof  and 
growl.  If  it  is  true,  as  he  says,  that  rotten 
combs  were  thrown  in  the  streets  of  tiiecity 
last  summer,  instead  of  picking  them  up  and 
carrying  tlu'in  home,  and  using  them  in  his 
own  hives,  as  he  admitted  to  me  In;  did  do  the 
summer  i)revious,  why  did  he  not  re|)ort  the 
case  to  our  county  bee-inspector,  who  has  been 
worKing  ca,refully  but  etT(>ctualIy  to  prevent 
that  kind  of  work,  and  is  stamping  out  the  dis- 
ease wherever  he  finds  it  ? 

RefeiTing  to  the  catalogue,  we  supi)0se  he  has 
reference  to  that  of  S.  C.  Oorham.  a  supply- 
dealer  of  York.  We  printed  tliat  catalogue: 
and  before  that  offer  was  jiiade.  Mr.  (Jorham 
said  to  us:  "  If  he  got  bees  in  exchange  he  could 
use  them  in  his  own  apiary:  and  as  to  supply- 
ing his  customers,  to  my  certain  knowledge  he 
has  arrangements  for  buying  to  fill  orders 
where  there  Ix  no  foul  brood."  Mr.  Oorham  is 
an  old  bee-keeper,  and  a  man  of  principle  and 
honor,  and  we  do  not  think  he  would  sell  any 
thing  to  cu.stomers  from  his  own  yard  or  this 
vicinity,  knowing  that  foul  brood  ex'isted  here, 
and  his  customers  need  have  no  fears;  and  for 
one  who  had  little  if  any  knowledge  of  bees, 
and  never  kept  any  himself  until  the  last  two 
years,  and  who  never  goes  far  from  home,  or 
never  attends  the  meetings  of  bee-keepers, 
either  at  home  or  in  the  State,  to  make  the 
broad  assertion  he  does  in  the  published  article 
is  unjust  and  injurious  to  those  who  are  trying 
to  do  the  very  thing  he  complains  of  not  being 
done,  but  does  not  hel|)  to  do. 

I  hope  you  will  give  this  as  prominent  a  place 
as  you  did  Mr.  Todd's  article,  as  I  think  he  tries 
to  create  a  false  im])r<\ssion  of  things  here,  and 
injure  the  trade  of  those  engaged  in  business 
here,  but  which  lie  does  not  ixttronize. 

L.  D.  Stilson,  Ed.  Neb.  Beekeeper- 

York.  Neb..  Feb.  22. 

[We  are  glad  to  give  place  to  the  abovts  as 
we  would  not  willingly  do  an  injustice  to  the 
bee-keepers  of  Nebraska.  We  hav(!  no  doubt 
that  Mr.  Stilson,  as  editor  of  the  NeJrranlui 
Bee-heei>er  (an  excellent  bee-paper,  by  the 
way),  is  in  a  position  to  know  the  facts.] 


I'oisoNots  honey;  is  the  .stoky  in  tmk  a  nc 

OK    HEE   CUI/niRE   A    MYTH? 


In  the  interest  of 
obstacle  ought  to  be  ii 
years  I  have  been  satis 
thing  as  "  poison  Ian 
have  ev(U'  seen  writte 
very  much  to  me  as 
story,"  related  in  A  H  ( 
ens  many  ix-ople  who  ; 
it:  and  that  a  gorge 
plenty  of  nuished  bee 
effects  described  can  r 
reasons  for  this  opinloi 


honey -production,  (^very 
•moved:  and  for  several 
lied  that  there  is  no  such 
rel  honey."  All  that  I 
n  on  the  subj(>ct  looked 
if  it  weri^  the  "soldier 
.  remodeled.  Honey  sick- 
ire  not  accumstomed  to 
of  honey  (and  jierhaps 
s)  sliould  have  had  the 
cadily  be  imagined.  My 
I  seem  tome  conclusive. 


206 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mak.  15. 


There  are  thousands  of  acres  of  poison  laurel 
(Kalmia  latlfolia)  here,  and  yet  this  is  a  poor 
honey  section.  During  its  bloom  the  honey- 
flow  is  light.  No  honey  here  is  known  to  beany 
thing  but  healthful.  In  five  years'  residence  and 
bee-keeping  I  have  nevei',  in  a  single  instance, 
seen  a  bee  working  upon  poison  laurel:  and, 
most  conclusive  of  all,  the  plant  makes,  as  if 
aware  of  its  poisonous  chai'actei',  pi'ovision  for 
its  own  fertilization.  As  shown  in  a  cross-sec- 
tion of  the  flower,  it  issaucer-shaped,\vith  little 
pits,  or  depressions,  on  the;  side  to  retain  the 
end  of  each  stamen  with  its  anthers  until  the 
pollen  in  the  latter  is  ripe.  I  su])i)ose  in  tln'  bud 
the  bloom  is  so  folded  as 
to  guide  the  stamen  c  in 
theii'  growth  into  the 
pits  (I ;  and  as  the  corol- 
la unfolds,  these  become 
sprung,  as  a  bow.  When 
the  pollen  is  fully  I'ijjen- 
ed  the  anthers  burst, 
the  stamens  are  sudden- 
ly released,  and  this 
miniature  and  beautiful 
catapult  raises  (juite  a 
dust  for  several  inches 
around.  I  have  assist- 
ed this  result  often,  and  it  is  certainly  a  beau- 
tiful evidence  of  design  in  nature.  I  should 
take  that  soldier  story  out  of  thi;  A  B  C.  oi'  put 
this  by  the  side  of  it.  Chas.  T.  Sweet. 

Swanton.  Md..  Feb.  Kl. 

[Gently,  friend  S.  Please  remember  that  ma- 
correspondent  J.(!rammer.  whose  letter  appears 
in  the  A  B  C.Jwas  a  veiitable  physician  residing 
in  Halifax  in  1875.  He  may  be  there  yet  for 
aught  I  know.  During  the  years  that  have 
passed  since  1875  we  have  had  considerable  cor- 
respondence on  the  subject:  but  the  letter  in 
the  ABC  book  secMns  to  cover  the  whoh'  ground 
so  fully  we  thought  it  not  l)est  to  put  in  any 
more  testimony.  During  my  travels  I  met  sev- 
eral times  the  mountain  laurel,  and  inquired 
about  poison  honey.  The  evidence  seems  to  be 
that  it  either  yields  honey  only  occasionally, 
like  many  other  i)lants.  or  that  the  honey  is  not 
always  poisonous.  But  a  great  many  instances 
are  on  record  of  honey  thai  atifected  |)eople  in 
much  the  same  way  as  described  in  the  A  B  C 
book.  Before  we  consent  to  put  your  letter  be- 
side the  on(!  in  the  A  B  C  book,  we  shonkl  like 
to  hear  from  others  who  ha\'e  had  experience 
with  poison  honey.  The  letters  need  not  neces- 
sarily be  for  pi'inl.  for  most  bee- keepers  would 
feel  a  little  delicate  about  advertising  the  fact 
that  honey  from  their  locality  was  even  sorne- 
timcK  poisonous.]  A.  I.  K. 


ALUM    FOIt  S.N'AKE-BITES. 

1  saw  in  Gi.eamnos,  some  time  la^^t  year, 
that  some  one  recommen(l(>d  alum  for  sn;ike- 
bites.  In  your  cotnmeiits  yon  seemed  to  doubt  it, 
and  said  that  the  bite  would  probably  have  got 
well  itself.  You  also  stated  that,  so  mucii  alum 
would  be  injurious.  I  have  lived  in  S()uth\\esl 
Texas  (where  there  ai'e  tnore  rattlesnakes  than 
in  any  other  place  I  ever  h(>ai'd  of)  foi'  31^  years. 
I  have  had  numy  cases  of  sniik(>-bite,  both  with 
man  and  beast.  I  use  nothing  but  alum,  and  I 
never  lost  u,  (Mse.  I  cured  one  man  after  h(( 
was  insensible.  If  I  can  giv(f  a  patient  tin; 
alum  as  .soon  as  he  is  bitten,  the  place  will  not 
swell.  You  must  be;ir  in  mind  that  alum,  being 
an  antidote  foi-  snake-bite,  can  do  no  harm  of 
itself  until  the  jxiison  is  dveirome.  I  luive 
never  seen  nor  heard  of  any  bad  effects.  If  this 
should  save  .soiiu'  jx-rson's  or  animal's  life  I 
shall  be  well  paid  for  writing  it. 

.Taponica,  Tex..  Feb.  .'5.  .Iohn  Vinixg. 


BIO  results  fkom  two  colonies. 

In  Southern  Kansas  bees  have  wintered  finely. 
To  date  there  have  been  almost  no  losses  at  all. 
We  have  had  a  favorable  winter  for  them  here. 
Bees  that  were  out  in  the  yard  have  been  flying 
a  little  nearly  every  week  this  winter.  To-day, 
Feb.  26,  the  bees  have  been  carrying  in  pollen, 
reminding  us  that  soon  we  are  to  see  our  young 
bees  in  the  air.  Oui-  climate  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  summer  is  too  dry  for  bees  to  do  their 
best,  yet  it  pays  to  handle  bees  even  here.  Bee- 
keeping is  not  my  business — I  am  a  minister — 
and  yet  two  years  ago  I  made  ?.50.U0  from  two 
colonies;  and  last  year,  a  poor  year,  I  made  S35 
from  two  colonies.  Our  honey  here  comes  most- 
ly from  the  sumac.  I  am  now  crowding  my  bees 
and  will  expect  them  to  come  into  the  honey 
harvest  under  "  a  full  head  of  steam." 

Yates  Center,  Kan..  Feb.  2().     N.  V.  Moohe. 


evai'ouatino  honey  by  steam. 

I  have  just  read  J.  A.  Green's  article,  page  88, 
and  wish  to  inquire  whether  anybody  has  ever 
tried  evaporating  honey  by  steam.  I  can't  see 
why  it  would  not  work  "just  splendid '' to  run 
the  raw  honey  through  an  evaporatoi'  with  a 
transverse  curi'ent  over  a  steam-chest.  I  once 
evaporated  some  in  a  tin  can  on  a  cook-stove, 
and  it  "took  the  cake"  ovei-  any  thing  that  I 
had  that  Sf^ason,  and  riunained  liijuid  (if  that  is 
the  correct  word,  but  it  was  \  eiy  thick)  until 
the  latter  pan  of  the  winter.  But  evaporating 
in  that  way  lakes  too  much  time,  and  requires 
too  constant  watching  for  fear  of  scorching. 
With  an  evai)orator.  such  as  sugg(>st(^d  above,  a 
constant  stri-am  could  be  run  in  at  one  end  from 
a  faucet,  and  th(^  lu^at  would  be  uniform,  so  that 
a  uniform  article  could  be  turned  out  without 
danger  of  scorching.     What  do  you  think  of  it? 

Centerville,  la.,  Feb.  9.        (J.  B.  Rei'Logle. 

[Mr.  Thos.  Wm.  Cowan,  of  the  British  Bee 
JoHvadl.  constructed  an  ap|)aratus  for  evaporat- 
ing honey  by  means  of  hot  watrr:  and  ihe  ap- 
paratus is  illustrated  and  describetl  in  the  ABC 
of  Bee  Culture,  under  "  ExlracU'd  Honey."  Hot 
water  would  be  better  than  steam,  because  the 
latter  would  be  liable  to  scorch  or  overheat  the 
honey.]  

OUTSIDE  WINTER  CASES.  AVITH  DEAD-AIR  SPACE,. 
A   SUCCESS. 

Long  before  I  ever  read  any  thing  about  bees,, 
since  1880,  I  was  convinced  that  bees  should  be 
wintered  outdoors  in  nnpainted  hives,  with 
covers  sealed  down  tight,  and  that  the  hives 
should  be  protected  from  the  weather  by  out- 
side cases.  I  have  never  found  the  necessity  of 
any  packing  between  those  hives  when  the  out- 
side case  is  air-tight.  This  sealed  cover  was 
impracticable  with  the  Simplicity  and  chaff 
hive.  Since  18S2  I  hav(>  been  using  a  hive  as 
made  and  used  by  Henry  Alley,  nnpainted. 
with  a  cover  which  always  was  sealed  down  in 
the  fall,  and  I  can  say  that  these  hives  win- 
tered bees  each  winter  since,  and  never  lost 
an  v.  .1.  T.  Fletcher. 

Olai'ion,  Pa.,  Feb.  20. 


WHY    DO    <,>t'EENS    DIE    IN    THE    SI'ULNCi? 

I  waul  to  ask  th(>  following  question  through 
(iLK.VNLN'Gs  :  What  is  the  cause  of  so  many 
young  and  pi'olilic  (pieens  being  lost  b(>fore  the 
honey-tiow  in  the  spring  and  after  thi^  flow  in 
the  fall  ?  We  have  nevtM'  seen  any  discussion  in 
any  of  the  bee  j(»urnals  as  to  the  cause  of  so 
much  fatality  of  qinums  at  the  above  periods. 
We  can  readily  guess  why  there  are  more 
(iu<'enless  colonies  discovered  in  the  spring  than 
in  th(^  fall:  viz.,  because  persons  do  not  examine 
their  l)ees  in  the  fall  closely  in  this  respect,  con- 


is«rj 


liLIOAN'lNdS  1\   HKi:  Clll/riKH. 


•H)7 


sciiin'Mtlv  niiiny  of  tln'  siniii!;  <iiicriilc-;s  cdldiiii's 
were  <iiii-('iil<'ss"iii  tlic  fall.  .1.  A.  (  1«>i,i>i;n. 

l^.-iniM-svillc.  ()..  Mar.  1. 

[Of  course,  tlic  rigors  of  winter  must  have 
sonic  clTcct  upon  tlic  vitality  of  lu'cs  and  queens 
;ilii<c:  but  asiile  from  tliis  we  do  not  discover 
that  our  younis  i|UC(>ns  die  more  In  the  s[)rin}r 
than  at  other  times.] 

i!i:i;s"    \viN(.s   NOT  iN.ii'KKi)   itv    iii:K-i;\«Ai'Ks. 

Keferrinj;  to  liie  editorial  in  ti>e  last,  issue  of 
(Ji.K.\NiN(is.  mentioninji  tlie  I'orter  escape.  p(>r- 
mil  us  to  say  tiiat  tlie  ohjeciioii  tiieiciii  rumor- 
ed to  have  been  urii«'d  ajiainsl  its  use  is,  to  our 
minds.  al)suid.  The  spriiijjs  used  in  it  are 
smooth  on  the  edges,  and  everywhere  els(>.  and 
it  is  not  possible  for  them  to  injure  tlie  wings  of 
tiie  bees.  From  tlie  lett(>rs.  etc..  inclosi  d  here- 
with, whicli  we  should  like  you  to  read  and  re- 
turn, and  others  w  Inch  we  lunc.  we  can  not 
tiiink  that  any  I'anadiaii  association  of  hoa- 
keepers  evei'  took  such  ai'tion.  Of  the  more  than 
5000  escapes  sold  last  year,  with  the  privilege  of 
returning  and  getting  money  back  after  three 
niontiis"  trial,  if  not  satisfactory  in  every  way. 
not  one  was  returned,  nor  was  a  word  of  com- 
plaint received  from  any  one;  buying  them. 

licwistown.  111..  Mar.".i.  R.  i^  E.  C.  Puiitkh. 

[We  have  read  the  letters  from  the  Canadians 
reinrred  to.  They  all  speak  highly  of  the  suc- 
■cess  of  the  l*ortei-  escape.] 


IXIHANA     I5EP:-KEE1'ERS. 

The  name?  and  postoflfices  of  those  who  have 
represented  the  industry  at  the  county  and  dis- 
trict fairs,  and  those  who  ai'e  thinking  of  mak- 
ing an  exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair,  are  wanted 
by  a  committee,  appointed  by  the  Indiana  State 
Hee-keepers"  Association.  The  names  are  want- 
ed, to  be  submitted  to  the  proper  authorities 
who  will  assign  the  proper  space,  give  needed 
information.  I'tc.  It  is  hoped  that  Indiana  bee- 
keepers will  take  a  lively  interest  in  the  work, 
as  we  have  the  resources,  and  there  is  no  reason 
W'hy  we  can  not  make  as  good  a  showing  as 
other  States.  Please  send  names  to  Walter  S. 
i'ouder,  17.")  East  Walnut  St..  Indianapolis.  Ind. 

i  E.  H.  COLMXS. 

Committee     '  R.  S.  Russei.i., 

{  W.  .S.  POUDEK. 

MOUK    I'HOI'OI.IZEI)   (;UKEN-EXCI-UT)EK.S. 

You  ask  if  any  one  has  been  troubled  with 
bees  propolizing  the  perforated  zinc.  I  have 
had  them  propolize  the  zinc,  and  I  have  had 
them  to  till  up  "(-inch  auger-holes  t)ored  in  the 
top  of  some  bo.\  hives  tiiat  I  used.  If  I  could 
■ovei'come  that  difficulty  1  would  put  queen-e.x- 
■cluders  on  all  my  hives.  L.  A.  Duoga.n. 

Cuthbert.  Ga.,  Mar.  7. 


EXTRACTING    HONEY    HY    STEAM.  ETf  . 

Will  Mr.  Osbnrn  please  tell  us  how  one  man 
•can  handle  a  cart  containing  80  combs  of  hon- 
ey ?  From  'M)  to  40  are  as  many  as  I  can  handh;. 
They  average  something  over  7  lbs..conse(iueiit- 
ly  his  80  combs  would  weigh  5i)0  lbs.  or  more. 
With  an  ordinary  cart,  such  work  is  impossible. 

Oamma.  Mo..  Feb.  lit.   Tiios.  .\.  Andehso.n. 


I  have  ?,'.!  colonies  at  present,  ami  the  leather- 
colored  Italians  take  the  leafl  in  hoiu^y-produc- 
tlon.  W.  R.  Clover. 

Clinton.  Ind..  Feb.  0. 

[The  fact  is.  as  we  have  often  repciated,  the 
leather-colored  Italians  are  br<;d  for  business 
and  not  for  yellow  bands.  Your  experience 
agrees  with  that  of  many  others.] 


lUKVKN  1  l.Nti      Al    1  Kl{   SW  AU.MS      A      I, A      DADANT. 

.\s  you  wanted  to  hear  from  those  that  re- 
tuineil  after-swarms  (t  la  Dadant.  I  will  say 
they  geiM'rally  come  out  again,  some  as  often 
as  "thre(^  dilTei'ent  times.  Hut  after  I  took 
to  caging  the  (|ueen  out.  of  the  aftcr-swai'iii 
three  or  four  days  before  1  let  her  loose  with 
them.  1  had  no  more  troulile  with  aflcr-sw  arms. 
Ilees  seem  to  have  wintered  well  so  far.  I 
have  not  lost  any  up  to  dale. 
Marshtield,  Mo..  Mar.  1.  .1.  I).  WiirrTExm-i:<j. 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM  A.  I.  ROOT. 


w II, .son's  i»e.\k. 

\Mien  I  lirst  visited  Pasadena  with  friend 
Woodlierry  he  pointed  out  to  meWMlson's  Peak, 
with  the  trail  jdaiiily  visible  up  its  rugged  sides, 
and  told  me  that,  before  I  left  the  vicinity,  I 
must  be  sv re  to  inak(>  the  ascent.  I  did  not 
think  much  a.iuiut  it :  but  as  there  were  several 
places  in  that  vicinity  where  we  were  to  call,  I 
took  the  matter  under  consideration.  On  Fri- 
day, the  3:3d  of  January,  our  good  friends  Fair 
and  \Vm.  Stevenson  met  us  at  the  depot,  and, 
with  the  aid  of  friends  Kirk  and  Abbott  (presi- 
dent of  the  Southern  California  Association),  we 
were  shown  over  the  magnificent  new  residence 
of  Prof.  Lowe,  who  obtained  such  a  celebrity 
during  our  recent  war  by  his  wonderful  balloon 
ascensions — Prof.  Lowe  the  aeronaut  we  used  to 
call  him.  I  think  he  made  about  300  ascensions 
in  all.  in  the  service  of  the  government.  From 
the  observatory  on  the  summit  of  the  mansion, 
we  got,  by  means  of  a  glass,  a  plain  view  of  the 
trail,  and  also  a  glimpse  of  the  observatory  on 
the  summit  of  the  Peak.  After  finding  the  spot 
with  the  glass  we  could  just  define  it  with  the 
naked  eye:  but  it  was  a  mere  speck,  about  like 
the  head  of  a  pin,  and  it  glistened  in  the  sun 
like  a  miniature  tin  cup.  From  this  time  on  I 
began  to  g(;t  the  Wilson's  Peak  fever.  Some- 
body said  it  was  two  miles  to  the  top;  othens 
said  it  was  four:  and  finally  some  one  who  had 
been  up  said  it  was  seven  miles.  The  livery- 
stable  men  said,  however,  iiine  miles,  and  want- 
ed $^3.00  for  a  horse  and  saddle  to  go  up  and 
back.  Now.  I  knew  from  sad  experience  that  It 
tires  me  and  uses  m<'  up  much  more  to  ride  a 
horse  than  to  go  on  foot  —  that  is.  while  I  have 
been  out  of  practice  for  so  many  years.  I  in- 
quired whether  anybody  had  ever  gone  up  on 
foot.  A  few  had  done  it.  I  was  told,  and  friend 
Fai'r  said  he  had  gone  part  way  once,  and  he 
said  he  thought  he  could  go  the  whole  way. 
W(^  went  to  dinner,  but  I  kept  every  now  and 
then  turning  my  eye  t(j  the  dull  gray  mountain 
as  It  lay  against  the  northern  sky.  Friend 
Farr's  folks  gave  us  an  extra  nice  dinner,  and  I 
excused  myself  for  eating  so  much  by  saying  we 
rnujht  try  to  asci-nd  the  mountain.  .Mr.  Farr 
said  if  we  tried  it  we  must  start  right  after  din- 
ner; but  w-e  first  had  to  take  Mrs.  Root  over  to 
friend  Stevenson's,  and  we,  liad  troubh;  in  find- 
ing when;  he  lived.  Then,  although  the  ba.se  of 
the  mountain  seemed  only  about  half  a  mile 
away,  it  proved  to  be  seven  miles.  Again,  the 
ground  that  looked  (?o(r/i  hill  toward  the  moun- 
tain was  rukiilly  up  hill.  Furthermore,  before 
w(!  rt^ached  tlu;  foot  the  road  was  stojjped  by  a 
broken  bridge,  and  so  we  started  to  go  the  rest 
of  the  way  on  foot.  It  was  only  a  little  piece, 
any  way;  but  the  further  we  walked,  the  fur- 
ther and  rougher  the  road  seemed,  until  we 
were  on  the  brink  of  a  cliff  tliat  looked  next  to 
Impassable.  While  we  stood,  like  Christian  in 
Pilgrim's  Progress,  sonu;  one  hailed  us  from  be- 


•.'08 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mar.  1.5. 


low.  It  was  friend  Stevenson  with  the  buggy. 
He  had  found  the  right  road,  and  was  calling  us 
to  come  out  of  briers  and  locks.  and  get  in  and 
ride  to  the  7-e(i/  foot  of  the  trail.  He  made  me 
think  of  Evang(>list  in  the  same  book  I  have 
mentioned.  We  really  wei'e  a  couple  of  tired 
and  discouraged  pilgrims.  I  fear,  and  we  were 
very  glad  to  abandon  our  dangerous  road  and 
get"  back  into  the  buggy.  We  certainly  had 
learned  to  appreciate  a  smooth  path  and  a  reg- 
ular traveled  road. 

It  was  fully  three  o'clock  when  he  bade  us 
good-by.  and  we  started  off.  He  was  to  keep 
the  horse  and  buggy  over  night,  and  come  back 
for  us  at  eleven  the  next  day.  If  we  backed  out 
we  were  to  get  home  some  time  in  the  night  as 
best  we  could. 

Please  let  me  digress  a  little  here.  As  my 
story  is  to  bear  a  good  deal  on  this  matter  of 
health  as  well  as  endurance.  I  want  you  to  bear 
with  me  when  I  tell  you  of  my  physical  condi- 
tion at  this  time.  I  was  scarcely  through  with 
the  nervous  chills.  Only  a  few  days  before,  my 
strength  would  often  give  out  suddenly  when  I 
had  walked  less  than  a  mile.  My  overcoat  and 
fur  cap  were  worn  constantly,  indoors  and  out, 
when  everybody  else,  almost,  was  in  summer 
clothing:  in  fact,  I  had  at  the  time  a  cold  in  my 
head  and  right  ear.  Add  to  this  a  bou'ct  com- 
plaint that  had  annoyed  me  for  nearly  two 
weeks,  and  you  will  have  a  picture  of  the  man 
who  proposed  to  walk  nine  miles  on  a  stretch. 
up  a  mountain.  Mrs.  Root  and  the  other  wo- 
men-folks declared  I  must  take  my  overcoat, 
and  that  my  companion  must  carry  it  strapped 
over  his  shoulders.  However.  I  threw  it  back 
into  the  buggy,  and  our  only  baggage  was  half 
a  pound  of  crackers  and  a  nickel's  worth  of 
cheese.  I  was  full  of  excitement,  and  I  rather 
thought  I  should  hold  out.  In  tive  minutes  we 
were  up  so  high  that  the  horse  and  buggy  seem- 
ed like  a  kitten  and  a  baby-cart.  We  called 
down  to  the  earth  below,  and  told  friend  S.  to 
bring  Mrs.  Root  in  the  morning,  and  come  rath- 
er early,  so  that  she  could  climb  up  a  mile  or  so. 
to  meet  us  on  our  return  trip.  Then  we  called 
again  to  have  the  Kodak  brought  also.  Then 
up  we  went.  The  trail  is  nicely  graded,  one 
foot  in  ten,  and  just  wide  enough  for  a  horse. 
Before  we  get  down  to  business  in  climbing, 
however,  I  wish  to  say  just  a  woi'd  more  in  the 
health  matter.  Friend  Fan-  advised  me  to  take 
a  good  big  drink  of  watei'.  for  none  was  to  be 
had  on  the  trail  again  until  we  were  nearly  half 
way  up.  I  did  not  drink  (nil/,  however.  I'lease 
bear  with  me  if  I  tell  you  frankly  why.  I  knew 
if  I  took  a  drink,  even  a  small  one,  I  should  very 
soon  have  to  stop  on  account  of  my  bowel  trou- 
ble, not  only  once,  but  may  be  several  times.  I 
have  been  more  or  le.ss  troubled  in  this  way  all 
my  life.  Oh  how  I  have  envied  people  who 
could  at  any  time  drink  all  the  water  they 
wanted  I  From  the  valley  below,  the  trail 
seems  to  run  along  the  mountain-side  almost 
without  any  very  short  crooks  or  tui'ns:  but 
when  right  there  you  an-  surprised  to  Mud  al- 
most every  rod  of  the  mountain-side  cut  with 
canyons  made  by  the  water  in  its  course  down, 
and  the  trail  is  therefore  in  and  out  and  ai'ound 
sharp  rocky  curves  and  into  sharp  grooves,  so 
you  are  first  in  the  sun  and  then  out  of  it,  in 
sishtof  the  valley  and  out  of  sight  of  it,  until 
the  path  becomes  an  ever  changing  labyrinth. 
'rii(>  accompanying  picture  gives  a  glimpse  of 
this.* 

The  horse  and  buggy  soon  became  a  mere 
speck  down  below  our  feet,  and  it  was  only  by 
carefully  scanning  the  thin  thread  that  repre- 

*  Our  gt)()d  friend  Raniblei'.  on  page  197,  gives  us 
another  very  good  glimpse  of  a  inountaui  trail,  only 
his  trail  is  wide  enough  for  a  wagon  as  well  as  horse. 


sented  the  roadway  that  we  could  see  it  at  all. 
About  this  time  the  grandeur  and  sublimity  of 
the  landscape  spread  out  before  us  began  to  be 
almost  entrancing.  I  have  often  tried  to  think 
what  the  earth  below  must  look  like  to  a  bal- 
loonist, and  here  it  was  before  lue.  The  moun- 
tain, that  had  seemed  so  gradual  in  its  ascent, 
when  viewed  from  the  valley  before,  now  seem- 
ed to  be  almost  straight  down,  over  the  edge  of 
the  trail:  and  it  was  so  in  reality,  for  a  stone 
kicked  from  the  path  went  crashing  and  re- 
bounding until  it  almost  frightened  one  to  think 
of  the  immense  distance.  Before  we  had  gone  a 
mile  I  felt  amply  repaid  for  all  our  trouble:  and 
every  rod  we  made,  further  on,  showed  some 
new  unfolding  of  beauty.  First  the  trail  took 
one  side  of  the  mountain  and  then  another; 
sometimes  it  turned  abruptly  so  your  right  hand 
was  against  the  mountain,  when  it  had  before 
been  toward  the  valley.  Up,  up,  up  we  went. 
The  points  that  had  at  first  seemed  so  grand 
were  now  a  mile  below,  and  seemed  almost  on  a 
level  with  the  valley,  while  away  up  above  us 
we  could  see  glimpses  of  the  trail  we  were  des- 
tined to  tread.  The  easy  ascent  was  but  play 
to  one  whose  heart  was  in  it,  as  was  mine,  and 
my  enthusiasm  rose  as  our  pathway  did  in  its 
windings  among  the  rocky  precipices.  A  pret- 
ty white  house  near  an  orange-grove  stood  near 
the  beginning  of  the  trail.  Every  time  we  came 
round  so  as  to  bring  it  in  sight  we  noted  how  it 
grew  less  and  less.  When  half  a  mile  up  it 
seemed  too  small  foi'  folks  to  live  in:  next  time 
it  looked  like  two  pieces  of  shingles,  one  laid 
across  the  other.  You  see.  the  house  had  an  L 
to  it.  Next  time  it  was  about  like  two  pieces  of 
a  honey-section,  and  at  last  a  mere  white  speck 
without  shape.  The  orange-trees  looked  like 
rows  of  cabbages,  and  finally  the  whole  orchard 
was  only  a  speck  of  green.  Higher  and  higher! 
If  one  felt  dizzy  a  while  ago.  how  should  he  feel 
now.  at  this  immense  height,  with  the  clouds 
below  him".*  Finally  I  began  to  think  I  could 
take  a  good  drink  without  any  danger  of  harm, 
for  I  was  perspiring  a  little  all  over,  and  the  red 
blood  was  tingling  to  ray  very  fingers'  ends.  We 
watched  foi-  the  water-trough:  but  we  were  so 
busy  talking  and  looking  off  into  the  valley  we 
did  not  know  we  had  passed  it  until  we  were 
half  a  mile  above  it.  The  sun  seemed  pretty 
hot,  and  we  were  not  sorry  when  the  trail 
changed  to  the  north  side,  where  trees  and 
bushes  cut  off  the  sun  as  well  as  the  view. 
Then  I  began  to  discover  1  was  getting  tired. 
We  ate  some  of  our  ci'aekers  and  cheese,  and 
for  a  time  I  felt  stronger:  but  before  we  had 
reached  the  half-way  point  I  thought  I  was 
used  up.  We  had  been  on  the  trail  just  two 
hours.  I  rested:  but  when  we  got  up  again  I 
was  so  stiff  and  sore  I  really  felt  worse.  I  man- 
aged to  go  a  little  more  than  half  way,  when  I 
spoke  to  fri(>nd  Farr  as  follows: 

"  I  luaii  be  able  to  hold  out  until  six  o'clock: 
but  until  seven,  never." 

What  should  I  do?  It  was  four  miles  down 
and  four  miles  up  to  any  stopping-place.  We 
watched  for  water,  but  saw  no  sign  of  any.  and 
it  would  soon  be  dark.  Could  we  ever  tread  on 
this  narrow  path,  so  close  to  such  fearful  depths, 
in  the  night-time?  Just  about  then  I  must 
have  got  what  Ernest  would  call  my  "second 
wind."  My  comi'ade  had  just  asked  if  I  had 
any  matches.  Neither  of  us  had  thought  of 
such  a  thing:  but  here  I  was.  without  an  over- 
coat, and  wet  with  perspiration.  He  finally 
fished  a  broken  "  lucifer"  from  one  pocket,  and 
our  hopes  hung  on  this.  I  remember  thinking 
1  would  go  a  little  further,  and  pi-etty  soon  I 
didn't  feel  so  tired,  and  started  up  a  brisker 
walk:  then  we  came  out  of  the  pine-trees,  and 
around  on  that  side  of  the  mountain  toward  the 
plain    again.     The    picture    referred    to    tells 


1  Si  fj 


r.l.KANlNCJS  IN   HKK  CLIIvTURE. 


VO'.t 


I'INE-TKKi;    I'OINT,    NKAI!    TlIK    SU.M.MIT    Ol      MT.    W1I.>()X. 


210 


GI^EANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mai;.  16. 


18f>e 


(n.KANiNcs  IN  HKK  I  ri/ruKi':. 


Ml 


p<trt  (if  lilt'  stoiy.  hwl  it  liotsii't  tell,  and  no  |)ii'- 
lurr  cmi  1(11.  ol'  tiiat  woiHlciriil  vision  of  tin- 
W(irlii  hclitw  tlu' world  below  the  clouds.  Tlic 
following  lines  lell  '^diinlhhitj  of  \s  liiil  we  saw: 

.\  sweet  (KM'fiinie  upon  the  breeze 
Is  borne  from  ever  vernal  trees; 
.Vnd  tlowei-s  that,  nor  fading,  Rrow 
Where  streams  of  life  tm-  <'\i'i'  tlow. 
()  Henlali  land!  sweet  Iteiilah  land! 
As  on  thy  liijirhest  nionnt  I  stand. 
1  look  away  aciuss  the  sea 
Where  mansions  are  incpai'ed  for  me. 
And  view  the  shininji-  ^'lory-shoi-e, 
My  heaven,  my  home  for  evermori-l 
We  (lid  iiuleed  "  look  aw  ay  across  tlie  sea." 
for  tlie  ocean  liad  all  at  once  come  into  view  all 
around  tis.     IMr.  Farr  said   ho  thought  it  could 
not   be:  but  next  inoniiii^   we   found    it  really 
was   the  ocean.      Down    in    the   valley   it  was 
miles  mt'itii:  but  here  it  seoiued  to  conio  almost 
up  to  the  mountaiirs  foot,    .hist  as  we  rounded 
the  point  (see  picture  again)  darkness  set  in; 
and  wlien   it  was  too  dark   to  see  plainly,  the 
trail  seemed   to  divide.     We  took   tlie  one  that 
seemed   plainest;  but  alter  following   it  in  the 
dark  for  about  a  quarter  of  a  inile  Mr.  V.  said 
he  felt  sure  it  was  going  doivii  the  mountain,  so 
we  felt  otir  w  ay  back,  and  took  the  other.    This 
went  1//)  fast  enough,  .sin'c;  but  it  soon  became 
evident   it  was  not  tlic  trail.     We  couldn't  go 
back  again,  so  we  pushed  ahead.     I  could  keep 
in  it  only  by  feeling  with  my  toe.  as  well  as  with 
my  hands,  and  once  or  twice  I   really  felt  so 
alarmed  that  I  prayed   that  the  great  Father 
above  would   guide  our  erring  and   stumbling 
footsteps.     Very  soon  after  that,  this  lirst  trail 
struck  tlie  real  one.  and  I  tell  you  I  inwardly 
gave  thanks.     Up,  up,  up,  we  continued  to  go, 
until  out  of  the  woods  we  came  again,  and.  oh 
what  a  sight   tnet  ns!      Every  city   for  miles 
around   that   uses  either  gas  or  electric  lights 
sparkled  and  twinkled  into  t>xist(Mice  in  a  way 
tliat  brotight  strength  once   more   to  my  tired 
limbs.     Los  Angeles  was  the  queen  of  them  all, 
and  then  and  there  she  might  iccfi  be  called  the 
"queen"  of    the  cartJily    angels.      Imagine  a 
thousand  twinkling  stars,  and  each  star  a  sun, 
and  the  whole  of  them   beneath  your  feet,  and 
you  have  it.     Pasadena  led  off  as  next  in  radi- 
ance, and  the  rest  followed.     We  were  now  go- 
ing steadily  ro'ind  the  mountain,  and  I  felt  sure 
that  the   Mountain   Hotel  must  soon  come  in 
sight.     Hy  the  dim  light  of  the  stars  we  saw  a 
sliovel   and   pick   in   the   trail,  up  against   the 
bank.     They  were  left,  doubtless,  by  some  work- 
man repairing  the  roadway,  and  so  \u'.  couldn't 
be  fcry  far  away.    I  have  always  loved  a  shov- 
el and  pick;  but  I  never  saw  any  tools  look  so 
good  before.    At  length,  a  little  in  advance,  and 
above  our  heads,  a   light   met   oui-  view  that 
brought  from  each  of  us  a  loud  shout  of  rf^joic- 
ing.    The  cut  explains  it,  but  you  must  imagine 
all  the  summer  tents  out  of  the  way,  so  only  the 
one  with   th*;  shingle  roof  I'and   the  stovepipe 
sticking  out  of  the  topj  nimains. 

Our  shout  was  answered  by  a  brisk  one  from 
within;  and.  wasn't  there  a  rejoicing!  While 
the  roof  is  shingles,  the  sides  and  doors  are 
cloth.  Cloth  is  cheaper  than  glass,  and  lighter 
to  carry  u\)  tlie  mountain.  With  a  bright  lamp 
in.side.  "  (amp  Wilson ''  looked  very  attractive 
in  the  night.  I  was  so  weary  I  made  for  a  chair 
near  the  great  cook-stove;  but  friend  Farr  was 
most  anxious  about  '"  water."  Remember,  wo 
two  had  not  had  a  drop  for  our  parched  tongues 
in  all  that  four  hours,  and  up  grade  eight  miles. 
It  was  soft  spring  water,  from  the  summit  of 
the  mountain,  almost.  IHO  feet  still  higher  up.  I 
drank  cupful  after  cupful;  and  when  sujiper 
was  ready  I  drank  two  large  cups  of  coffee,  and 
ate  — shall  I  tell  it  all"?  Well.  I  ate  a  great  lot 
of  pork  and  beans,  ever  so  many  chunks  of 
!<hortcake,  a  good  lot  of  honey,  and  almost  half 


a  can  of  straw  berries.  I  thought  the  can  iield 
almost  a  gallon:  l)ul  friend  I'arr  says  it  was 
only  a  (luarl.  I  am  sure  it  was  /m(//  a  gallon. 
The  sole  occupant  of  (anij)  Wilson  that  night 
was  the  owner  of  the  shovel  and  pick';  but  he  is 
a  pretty  fair  cook,  after  all.  He  said  they  usti- 
ally  had  .'')()  cents  a  meal,  and  .")()  cents  for  a  Ix'd; 
but  as  our  supper  was  cold,  and  they  were  out- 
of  meat,  he  would  call  it  a  dollai'eacli  for  sup- 
per, breakfast,  and  lodging.  Before  I  went  to 
bed  I  drank  a  lot  more  of  tliat  spring  water.and 
1  never  had  ex'en  a  /T/zu'i/i/cr  of  that  supper  ftf 
pork  and  beans,  etc. 


'36-PAGEs7xlO 
doo  PER  YEAPj 


In  the  multitude  of  counselors  there  is  safety.— PR.  11 :  14. 


Eight  extra  pages  this  issue. 

Who  is  the  editor  of  the  Cimddlan  Bee  Jour- 
jialf  We  liojx'  our  old  friend  D.  A.  Jones  is 
still  at  the  editorial  helm. 


OvR  sub.scription-list  now  numbers  10,12.5. 
In  spite  of  the  poor  honey  seasons,  we  manage 
to  keep  above  ten  thousand. 

We  are  having  quite  severe  weather  this 
nth  day  of  March— high  winds,  and  the  mer- 
cury sporting  some  of  the  time  very  near  zero. 

As  usual  at  this  time  of  year  we  are  again 
flooded  with  good  available  matter  for  publica- 
tion; but  we  fear  we  shall  not  be  able  to  u.se  all 
of  it.  

Dk.  Mii.i-ek  says  he  saw  a  book  on  Ernest's 
desk,  on  patents.  Yes;  and  if  he  had  rum- 
maged around  a  little  he  would  have  found 
two  or  three  more.  No,  we  are  not  going  to 
patent  any  thing — not  even  sealed  covers,  even 
if  we  did  enjoy  tlie  exclusive  priority  of  discov- 
ery. The  fact  is,  we  like  to  keep  a  little  posted 
on  the  patent  (luestion.  yon  know. 


Dk.  Mii.i.ek's  vStraw  against  letting  bees  starve 
in  April  is  timely.  We  are  now  approaching 
the  time  of  what  is  sometimes  called  "  springing 
bees."  By  the  way,  it  has  often  been  said,  and 
with  considerable  truth,  that  it  is  a  good  deal 
harder  to  "  spring  "  bees  than  to  winter  them. 
Variable  weather,  that  is.  warm  spells  in  which 
brood-rearing  gets  started,  followed  by  a  cold 
snap  in  which  the  brood  is  killed,  is  very  disas- 
trous, and  continued  cold  weather  is  far  to  be 
preferred. 

In  our  editorial  in  the  last  issue,  in  regard  to 
adulterating  extracted  honey,  we  warned  the 
general  public  against  buying  jars  of  honey  (?) 
containing  a  piece  of  comb  in  it.  for  the  reason 
that  the  comb  was  iirobably  only  a  delusion  and 
a  snare,  to  give  the  glucosed  mixture  the  ap- 
pearance of  honesty.  We  further  stated  that 
we  did  not  believe  that  a  single  bee-keeper  put 
up  his  broken-comb  honey  in  that  style.  We 
have  since  learned  that  there  are  bee-keepers 
who  put  up  their  honey  in  just  that  way  ;  and 
it  is  the  only  way  that  they  can  get  rid  of  bro- 
ken-comb honey  at  a  fair  and  reasonable  jirice. 
We  have  sinci;" learned  that  our  friend  M.  H. 
Tweed,  of  Allegeny  City.  Pa.,  a  bee-keeper 
and  honey-merchant— a  man  of  integrity,  hon- 
or, and  principle— has  been  putting  up  pure 
broken-comb  honey  in  glass  jars.    We  regret 


lU 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mak.  ir,. 


that  our  editorial  should  rellect  in  one  or  two 
cases  on  honest  bee-keepers,  and  in  another 
case  on  our  friend  Mr.  Tweed.  His  name  alone 
on  any  kind  of  package  of  honey  is  a  perfect 
gnarantee  of  its  purity:  and  while  we  believe 
that  adulterated  goods  are  put  up  in  this  style, 
we  desire  to  correct,  so  far  as  possible,  any  in- 
jury that  may  have  been  done  to  the  business 
of  reputable  and  reliable  men. 

In  addition  to  what  Ernest  has  said  above,  I 
would  suggest  that  the  great  ti-ouble  in  putting 
up  honey  in  the  manner  mentioned  is  the  can- 
dying of  the  liciuid  ])ortion.  Either  only  a  little 
should  be  put  on  the  market  at  a  time,  or  some- 
thing should  be  done  to  pievent  candying.  The 
vendei-s  of  this  sort  of  liquid  comb  honey  have 
excused  themselves  for  using  coin  syrup,  on  the 
ground  that  it  was  the  only  thing  that  would 
not  candy.  A.  I.  R. 

Low  prices  on  dairy  products  which  have  pre- 
vailed for  several  seasons,  says  a  correspondent 
oi  the  Aincricdn  ^i{liir}ilt II rist.  have  led  many 
of  the  dairymen  of  Central  New  York  to  consid- 
er the  question  of  engaging  in  some  other 
brancli  of  farming.  The  hue  and  cry  is  often 
raised  agai  nst  the  low  prices  of  honey,  and  of  the 
unpiolitableness  of  bee-keeping.  If  we  glance 
about  us  we  find  that  other  rural  industries 
have  similar  grievances.  As  R.  L.  Taylor  said, 
"  Economy  in  honey  pi'oduction  is  the  sheet 
anchor  of  the  apiarist's  hope."  Economy  in 
the  production  of  all  kinds  of  crops  should  be 
the  watchword  of  all.  If  we  can  not  force 
prices  up,  the  only  alternative  is  to  force  the 
cost  of  production  down. 

ARTIFICIAL    COMB   HONEY. 

I  AM  sorry  that  so  much  space  was  taken  on 
page  139  in  regard  to  the  payment  of  the  *1000 
reward.  The  whole  point  of  the  matter  is  just 
this:  Our  card  reads.  •'!  will  pay  $1()00  in  cash 
to  any  person  who  will  tell  me  where  comb 
honey"  is  manufactured,"  etc.  Now,  the  thing 
that  was  sent  us  was  not  comb  honey  at  all. 
No  man.  woman,  or  child  on  the  face  of  the 
earth  would  think  of  calling  it  comb  honey, 
neither  would  the  man  who  made  it.  if  he  would 
consider  for  a  moment:  therefore  we  have 
nothing  to  do  with  it,  and  there  is  nothing  more 
to  be  said  about  it.  You  will  remember  the 
matter  came  up  because  so  many  were  declar- 
ing that  comb  honey  in  the  market  was  not 
uiade  by  the  bees,  but  was  manufactured. 
None  has  ever  been  produced.  When  anybody 
doei<  find  comb  honey  which  he  thinks  was  not 
made  by  the  bees,  we  should  be  glad  to  hear 
from  him.  A.  I.  R. 

THK   OI>D   MISSION    OF    SANTA    BARBARA,  ETC. 

As  a  rule,  our  good  people  here  have  made 
very  few  mistakes  in  my  absence;  and  even  in 
my  fearfully  bad  writing  on  Notes  of  Travel  I 
notice  only  two  places  that  need  correction.  On 
page  135,  toward  the  bottom  of  the  second  col- 
umn, we  find  this  sentence: 

"  I  dreamed  of  her  nights,  and  while  on  the 
streets  during  the  day.  If  any  figure  in  the 
least  resembled,"  etc. 

It  is  true,  that  your  humble  servant  has  a 
very  vivid  imagination,  but  I  fear  he  never  yet 
got  to  dreaming  on  the  streets  in  the  daytime; 
therefore,  wlien  you  read  the  above,  please  im- 
agine it  punctuated  as  follows: 

"I  dreamed  of  her  nights:  and  while  on  the 
streets  during  the  day,  if  any  figure  in  the  least 
resembled."  etc. 

In  our  last  issue,  page  171.  near  the  top  of  the 
second  column,  read  "Old  Mission  "  instead  of 
•'Old  Museum."  In  fact,  the  Old  Mission  would 
be  a  rather  bad  place  for  a  museum,  for  no  one 
of  the  outside  world  has  for  years  been  permit- 
ted to  take  even  the  smallest  glimpse  within 
that  sacred  walled  garden.  A.  I.  R. 


HO.ME   AGAIN. 

We  reached  Medina  March  .5:  and  after  meet- 
ing so  many  bee-keepers  who  had  seen  hard 
times  on  account  of  short  crops,  etc.,  you  may 
be  sure  I  felt  a  little  surprised  to  see  the  Home 
of  the  Honey-bees  booming  in  every  depart- 
ment. Some  way  or  other  the  boys  had  started  up 
a  bigger  trade  than  we  ever  had  before  at  this 
season  of  the  year,  and  they  had  contrived  so 
many  short  cuts  in  business  that  I  have  been 
rubbing  my  eyes,  and  staring  around  ever  since. 
I  hope  the  kind  friends  in  Florida  will  overlook 
the  fact  that  we  gave  them  the  ''  go-by  "  for  the 
present.  We  saw  so  much  in  California,  Arizo- 
na, New  Mexico,  etc.,  that  we  really  felt  as  if 
we  hadn't  any  enthusiasm  left  for  any  more 
wonderful  things  until  we  reached  home  and 
rested  up  a  little.  I  had  planned  writing  a 
great  lot  of  letters  to  the  kind  friends  who  made 
our  visit  so  i)leasant;  but.  somehow,  many 
things  need  my  attention  just  now.  Shorthand 
wiMters  and  typewriters  are  crowded  to  their 
utmost,  and  some  sick  besides,  and  so  I  fear 
that  some  of  you  will  hav^e  to  accept  the  good 
will  for  the  deed.  I  want  to  tell  you,  however, 
that  Sue  and  I  talk  of  you  by  day  and  dream  of 
you  by  night.  But  when  she  said,  while  we 
were  in  New  Orleans,  tluit  she  would  rather 
see  home  again  just  then,  than  all  else  that 
this  wide  world  has  to  offer,  I  uttered  a  devout 
amen,  and  we  made  a  "  bee-line"  for  the  dear 
old  spot.  As  I  dictate  this  I  can  see  from  the 
window  the  men  across  the  way  filling  the  hot- 
beds and  cold-irames  with  seeds  and  plants, 
and  we  are  just  going  to  have  a  lovely  garden, 
even  if  I  didn't  get  on  hand  till  March  was  al- 
most a  fourth  gone.  A.  I.  R. 


'■PUIXING    UP     stakes"    and     GOING    TO    NEW 
HONEV -FIELDS   WITHOUT    PROPER   IN- 
VESTIGATION;   THE    FOLLY   OF 
SUCH   A   COURSE. 

A  FEW  days  ago  a  lettei'  came  from  a  corres- 
pondent who  was  influenced  some  time  ago  by 
a  highly  colored  account  that  appeared  in  our 
columns  in  r(>gard  to  an  alfalfa-field,  and  was 
greatly  disappointed  and  chagrined  by  moving 
to  that  much-lauded  country,  to  find  that  it 
would  have  been  fai  better  for  him  if  he  had 
stayed  where  he  was.  This  same  correspondent 
stated  further  that  he  sold  his  home,  leased  his 
other  property  for  a  term  of  years,  and  was 
compelled  to  accept  his  new  quarters  at  a  great 
disadvantage  to  himself.  The  climate  was  in- 
sufl'erably  hot.  and  not  congenial  to  his  health. 
It  is  the  height  of  folly,  and  a  serious  piece  of 
business,  to  go  to  a  new  field  without  thorough 
investigation.  A  correspondent  who  has  given 
a  glowing  account  of  some  new  field  nuxy  be 
perfectly  conscientious  and  honest  in  his  state- 
ments: but  he  may  be  completely  blinded  with 
enthusiasm,  and  such  things  are  possible.  Any 
one  who  contemplates  selling  off  his  property 
and  moving  to  a  new  field  should  first  write  to 
the  postmaster  for  the  names  of  old  residents 
who  may  be  in  position  to  give  him  the  infor- 
mation desired.  He  might  then  go  himself, 
without  his  family,  and  look  over  the  field,  if 
the  results  of  his  inquiries  so  far  justify  it. 
Being  on  the  ground  himself,  he  is  then  in 
position  to  decide,  without  the  enormous  ex- 
pense of  moving  his  whole  family  or  selling  all 
the  property  he  has  at  home  at  a  sacrifice.  As 
editor  of  Gleanings  we  take  the  utmost  pre- 
caution in  having  only  fair,  unbiased  accounts 
of  these  new  fields  enter  our  columns.  W^e 
should,  manifestly,  not  be  doing  our  duty  if  we 
inserted  none  of  these  accounts,  for  journals 
are  intended  to  disseminate  information;  and 
the  only  thing  is  for  editors  and  readers  alike 
to  go  slow. 


1  MlfJ 


t;M:ANix»;s  ix  ijkk  cri/i'iiiK 


;ji3 


now   iiii:  i;i.K-.  AKi:  \vi\ti:i{1N(;  at   iiii;  iiomk 

OK    rilK    llONKV-UKKS. 

Lkttkhs  tliiit.  an>  coniiiiji  in  cvciy  day  s('<>iii 
tosliowtliat  l)ct<s  are  siill  wiiitcriiij;  irinarUa- 
Itly  Nv<'ll.  Tlioso  in  (Mir  ()\\  n  apiary  wi'rc  Mr\cr 
in  hi'tti'i' ctiiulilioii  at  tiiis  linn'ol'  year,  and  \\v 
huvt'  had  an  unusuali\'  i-oid  and  scvi'rc  winlcr. 
You  will  rciucinbcr  tiiiit.  late  last  fall,  we  stated 
we  \V(>i-<>  w  intcrins  colonics  outdoors  in  various 
t'onditions— some  of  tlicin  w  itli  scaled  covers, 
sonii'  Willi  atisorhinii  ciishi(nis.  in  large  ehafl' 
hives,  in  the  small  one-story  chatV  hives,  and 
still  others  in  one-story  siiigle-walled  hives, 
witli  an  outside  winter  protectiiisi-case.  It  is  a 
little  funny,  hut  the  colonies  are  all  wintering: 
(•(lually  well.  Those  in  the  large  chafl'  hives 
are  doing  no  hetler  than  those  in  the  single- 
walled  hives  with  protecting  cases,  with  only  a 
dead-air  space,  so  called,  hetween  the  two 
walls.  It  is  funnier  still,  hut  the  colonies  hav- 
ing iibsorhing  cushions,  and  those  having  sealed 
covers,  so  far  as  we  can  examine  the  latter,  are 
wintering  just  about  aliUe.  ]{ut  this  does  not 
necessarily  prove  that  absorbing  cushions  are 
equal  to  sealed  covers.  Our  winter  has  been  re- 
niar.Uably  cold  and  dry.  Hut  wail  until  we  get 
a  mild  muggy  winter,  with  tlie  ground  reeking 
with  dampness,  accompanied  by  frequent  rains. 
It  is  then  that  the  sealed  covers  would  assert 
their  superiority.  Strangi'  as  it  may  appear, 
we  have  lost  more  colonies  outtloors  during 
semi-mild  winters  than  during  winters  that 
were  severi^ly  cold.  W(>  have  wintered  the  bees 
nicely  so  far.  and  it  only  remains  to  be  seen  how 
well  w(>  shall  xjtrimj  them. 

■'Oil.  yes  I"' some  one  will  ask:  '"why  didn't 
you  try  wintering  colonies  outdoors  in  single- 
walled  hives,  along  with  the  others,  without 
any  protection  ?  Perhaps  they  would  have 
wintei-ed  eciually  well  with  the  rt^st." 

Oh,  nol  We  tried  that  expeiiment  last  win- 
ter on  .")()  colonies,  and  lost  them  all.  Those 
having  protection  ((?/ wintered.  We  thought  it 
was  useless  to  throw  away  any  more  colonies  by 
trying  them  without  protection.  It  does  not  pay. 

CO.ST  OF  PRODUCING  HONEY;  GRADING  HONEY. 

Vxui  and  intelligent  discussion,  without  acri- 
mony, as  we  believe  we  have  in  this  issue, 
brings  out  many  valuable  points.  While  some 
of  the  debaters,  if  we  may  call  them  such,  have 
a/>/»((rc/t/?i/ stepped  beyond  the  bounds  of  broth- 
erly kindness  in  their  riqjlies.  yet  we  are  very 
sure  there  is  no  ill  feeling:  and  if  theii'  words 
were  uttered  in  convention  they  would  be  light- 
ed up  by  many  a  comical  twinkle  of  good  na- 
tiHv.  Quite  by  accident,  the  discussion  in  this 
issue  as  it  appears  on  the  first  pages  is  handled 
by  the  giants  in  our  pursuit— some  of  the  first 
writers  in  all  beedom.  I'nfortunately  it  is  a 
little  lopsided,  leaving  .Mr.  Doolitlle  all  alone. 
We  desire  to  have  all  disi-ussion.  so  far  as  it 
may  appear  in  (;i,k.\.\in(;s.  well  and  evenly 
balanced:  and  although  Mr.  Doolittle  is  on 
I'otiier  side  of  the  fence  to  what  we  are,  we  have 
just  learned  that  one  of  the  "  giants"  in  York 
State  favors  .Mr.  Dooliitle's  sidi' of  the  discus- 
sion, and  we  have  therefore  asked  him  to  write 
an  article  for  our  next  issne.  We  think  we 
shall  then  have  to  declare  the  discussion  for 
the  present  at  an  end:  and  in  the  meantime  it 
would  be  pertinent  for  bee-keepers,  who  are  in 
position  to  do  so,  to  keep  carc-ful  account,  so  far 
as  ihi-y  are  able,  of  what  it  costs  them  to  produce 
their  crop  of  honey  for  the  ensuing  year.  The 
discussion  that  we  have  already  had  on  the 
subject  will  give  plenty  of  material  on  which 
to  work. 

Tile  subji^ct  of  grading  honey  seems  to  have 
received  already  its  fair  share  of  attention: 
and  while  there  may  be  some  points  that  will 
pass   unnoticed  we   think   best  to  declare  this 


discussion  at  an  end  for  the  present.  The  whole 
subject  has  been  discussed  thoroughly  and  in- 
telligently, and  the  only  thing  that  remains 
now  is  for  a  national  Ixuiy  of  bee-keei)ers  to 
agi'ee  upon  and  recommend  a  system  or  systems 
ofgi'ading.  li  looks  now  as  if  it  would  i)e  im- 
possible for  all  bee-keepers  to  agii'e  upon  any 
one  sciiedule.  As  we  intimated  in  our  last  is- 
sue, we  may  be  obliged  to  have  two  and  pos- 
sibly three  systems  of  classification.  In  this 
(^vent  the  bee-keepcMS  of  t  he  Kast will  have  to 
formulate  a  set  of  rules  that  will  be  acceptable 
to  them:  so  also,  in  a  similar  way.  the  bee- 
keepers of  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  Tacilic 
Coast.  It  may  appear  that  we,  are  disposed  to 
cut  olf  discussions  prematurely;  but  it  is  better 
to  do  so  a  little  too  soon  than  to  let  them  go  on 
issue  after  issue  until  everybody  is  tired  and 
disgusted.  There  is  [ilenty  of  other  pabulum 
in  tlie  field  yet,  and  we  do  not  wish  to  wear  out 
any  one  topic  until  it  is  threadbare,  and  thus 
defeat  the  object  of  real  discussion. 

m<;tting  bees  starve. 

While  in  California  I  found  several  apiaries 
where  the  bees  were  starving.  One  apiary  be- 
longed to  quite  a  young  bee-keeper  in  his  A  H  C 
class.  As  he  wanted  more  bees,  he  had  been 
raising  queens  and  making  artificial  swarms 
the  fall  before,  until  he  had  his  colonies  up  to 
200  or  300  in  number.  As  the  bees  fly  almost 
every  day  in  the  year  in  that  locality,  he  rather 
thought  they  were  getting  enough.  Hut  just 
before  new  honey  should  begin  to  come  in  In- 
lost — how  many  colonies  do  yon  suppose,  by 
starvation?  Well,  pretty  nearly  a  hundred. 
Then  when  he  went  to  feeding,  either  he  did 
not  feed  enough  or  they  got  to  robbing,  until  he 
was  getting  pretty  nearly  discouraged.  Less 
than  a  mile  away  I  visited  another  very  pretty 
apiary  where  every  thing  was  tidy  and  neat, 
and  even  a  shade  was  made  over  the  whole 
apiary,  of  stakes,  poles,  and  brush.  This 
shade  is  a  necessity  in  hot  climates,  to  keep  the 
combs  from  melting  down.  They  wished  me  to 
see  whether  foul  brood  was  in  their  apiary  or 
not.  Well,  I  did  not  find  foul  brood,  but  I  did 
find  bees  down  on  their  backs,  and  giving  their 
last  kicks  because  of  starvation.  I  told  my 
good  friend  that,  if  he  would  give  his  bees  a 
good  big  feed,  and  get  them  up  into  tlirifty 
shape,  1  thought  his  foul  brood  would  all  dis- 
apijear.  xs'ow,  this  brother  has  been  investing 
money  in  queens  that  produce^r''e-/*f(M(7c(7  hces. 
and  he  wanted  me  to  look  at  some  of  them.  1 
told  him  I  would  much  rather  help  him  get 
sotne  feedei's.  and  feed  every  colony  that  needed 
it,  before  another  half-hour  had  gone  by.  An- 
other friend  told  me  that  his  bees  were  all  right 
in  Deci-mber,  but  he  hadn't  looked  at  them 
since.  This  was  in  .March.  Now,  it  may  do 
for  a  veti'ian  Xo  let  his  bees  alone  from  Decem- 
ber till  March:  but  where  the  weather  is  so 
warm  that  bees  are  flying  almost  every  day.  I 
think  we  had  better  look  them  over  often,  and 
be  sure  thai  they  don't  starve,  or  even  come 
pretty  nair  starving,  .lust  think  of  the  labor 
and  pains  required  to  make  artificial  swarms, 
getting  <'ach  one  with  a  good  (pieen.  the  bees 
taught  to  ijrotect  their  hive,  and  brood-rearing 
set  going  so  as  to  give  th(;m  sufficient  force  to 
live  through  the  winter— and  after  tliis.  kicking 
it  all  over  by  a  little  lack  of  attention!  Some- 
times it  needs  only  half  a  pound  of  honey  to 
fetch  them  through:  and  if  any  of  you  are  let- 
ting your  bees  starve  while  you  are  sending 
away  for  queens  that  produce  five-banded  bees, 
I  hope  yon  will  turn  over  and  do  better.  Uncle 
Amos  may  come  arotind  when  you  don't  expect 
it.  and  tell  it  right  out  before  all  the  world. 

Moral. — lie  i<\ire  your  bees  are  not  starving. 

A.  I.  R. 


214 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mar.    15. 


Ourstriiin  of  ITALIANS  liave  reached 
the  top.  Tliey  are  HUMMERS  when  jou 
want  l)ees  for  honei'.  Queen.s  hied  for 
business.  Make  arrangreraents  to  order 
now,  to  be  delivered  wIkmi  wanted. 
BEE  SUPPLTE^  AT  WHOLESALE 

AND  RICTAIL. 
For  further    inforraatit)n    about  bee- 
flxtures,  send  for  clrrular. 

JNO.  NEBEL  &  SON. 
.      4tfdb  High  Hti.l,  Mo. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

My  Catalogue  of  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES 
for  1892  is  free  ;  My  Pamphlet,  '-HOW  I 
PRODUCE  COMB  HONEY,"  by  Mail,  5  cts. 

GEO.  E.  HILTON.  Fremont,  Mich. 


Please  mention  (Cleanings. 


2-13db 


Send  for  our 
new  price  list 
of  Bee  supplies 
and  Fruit  pack- 
ages. A  liber- 
al discount  al- 
lowed on  win- 
ter orders.  Ad- 
dress 

BERLIN 
FRUIT  BOX 

CO., 

Berlin  Heights 

Erie  Co., 

Ohio. 

l-6db 

tS^ln  responding  lu  mis  advertisement  mention  Glkaning* 

POSITIVELY  by  return  mail  I  will  ship  war- 
ranted purely  mated  Italian  queens  at  $1  each; 
tested,  ll.5iJ;  select  tested,  yellow  to  the  tip,  12. 
Tii-rantee  salisfaction,  and  refer  you  to  A.  I. 
Root,  W.  Z.  Hutchinson,  D.  A.  Jones,  or  mj'  thou- 
sands of  customers. 
4tfdb  VV.  H.  LAWS,  Lavaca,  Seb.  Co.,  Ark. 


-^BEST    OIT    EARTH-f^ 

ELEVEN  YEARS 

WITHOUT  A 
PARALLEL,  AND 

THE  STAND- 
ARD   IN    EVERY 
CIVILIZED 
COUNTRY. 

Bingham  &.  Hetherington 

Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 

Standard   Size. 

Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 


Six  Sizes  and 

Doctor  Smoker,      3)^  in. 
Conqueror    "           3       " 
Larjre             "           2V4    " 
Exira  (wide  shield)  2       " 
Plain  marrow    "    )2       " 
Little  Wonder,         1%,    " 

Uncapping  Knife 

Sent   promptly  on  rece 

Prices. 

postpaid  .. 

$3.00 
L75 
1.50 
1.35 
100 
65 

.  115 

ipt 

of 

price 

.    To 

sell  again,  send  for  dozen  and  half-dozen  rates. 


Milledgeville,  111.,  March  8, 1890. 
Sirs: — Smokers  received  to-day,  and  count  cor- 
rectly.   Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  I  do 
your  trade  will  boom.  Truly,        F.  A.  Snell. 

Vermillion,  S.  Dak..  Feb.  17, 1890. 
SiKS: — I  consider  your  smokers  the  best  made  for 
any  purpose.    I  have  had  15  years'  experience  with 
300  or  400  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak. 
Very  truly^ R.  A.  Morgan. 

Sarahsville,  Ohio,  March  12,1890. 
Sirs: — The  smoker  1  have  has  done  good  service 
since  1883.        Yours  truly,       Daniel  Brothers. 

Send  for  descriptive  circular  and  testimonials  to 

4tfdb  Bi»aHAii  &  HETBEsmaTOiT,  Abronia,  Mich. 

Qyin  respondintf  to  tills  advertifenient  meiiiiim  uikamnx*. 


Dovetailed  Hives,   Simplicity  Hives, 

SECTIONS.  EXTRACTORS.  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGE    CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M-  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


t^Iii  respond injr  to  tlils  artvevti.^eiiiein  iiifiitidii  Cii,K.i 


APRAY  IB  FRUIT  TREES  I  VINES 


d 


Wonny  Frattud  Leaf  Bli«litof  Applet,  FMit, OhenrtM,  CVPCI  ClAD  BPRATXR* 
Grape  and  Potato Bol  nam  OnreaUs  premtedbyBfliaK  CAuCLOlUll  OCTFITM. 
PERFECT  FRUIT  ALWAYS  SELLS  AT  GOOD  PRICES.  Omtalori« sbov. 
lug  an  tniorioaBiiiseetB  to  Fmits  mailed  free.  Uarge  stack «f  Pmit  Trees^  Vines* 
and  Berry  rianta  at  Bottom  Prices.   Address  WAI.  KTAHLi«  Quincy,  Ills. 


HTln  respondiiiif  t')  lii. 


illoll  ULKANINOa. 


ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

Bcdr  In  jVlind  ^^^^^^^^^^^^'^^^^'^^^^^^^y**^"^®^"  Es stern  Dr3nch 

where  our  Bee-keepei-s' Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and  prompt  shipment.    You  can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.    We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.    lie  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.   SALISBURY,    Agent,    Syracuse,    N.  Y. 


1893 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


:.'15 


ITEI.L  voii  what.  .lotics,  Lcverliiu 
llroM.  sell  tlM>  licst  K'ootis  mikI  at 
tlic    lciw(".l    piicc   of   any   mw    I'vi- 

\'     siiiick   vol.    The  lai>f(-st"   and    Ix'st 
I'liuippi'il 

Bee  -  Hive  Factory 

Ml  tfic  W  .-t.  I'll,-  l)(.\ctail«(l  lli\r 
:in.l  New  ll.illinan  M>lf  -  spa  •inj.'- 
I'raiiH'  a  spci'ialtN.  E\cis  lliiiiff 
iix'd  l>\'  inactiral  bi'i'-kccpcis  at 
whdlcsalf  and  rt't.iil.  Si-iid  fur  their 
fict"  llhistialcd  Prico  List,  and 
save  iiumcv.  Supply  Ut'alcf.s,  st-tid 
for  ihiir  \\  linlcsaU'  I-ist.     Addivs.s 

Z^^VZIRIXTC    BROS., 
litfdb  ^nrio-ba.,  Cass  Co.,  Zo'^^a,. 

h*le«se  mention  this  paper. 

Cheapest  Yet.K^      k-      k- 

,)  -  SWAKMS  of  hfCN.  inixstlv  hvl)rida,  a 
Z')  ffw  bhicks.  All  in  tin-'  A.  I.  Root 
t\vo-stor\  cliatt'  hi^■(■s;  plenty  of  honey, 
^tronv'  swai-ms,  and  «ipU'ndid  workers. 
>'."). IHI  per  stand.  Have  9lI  seetion  frames 
full  of  section  ho.xes,  with  foundation, 
Itldnk,  more  than  one-half  drawn  out; 
."lO  etnpty  flames  all  thrown  in  at  the 
abo\e  price.  For  p.articiilai  s  call  on  or 
address 

L.  0.  NELSON,  Cherokee,  lowa.t^      t»      i» 

Please  mention  tills  papei\ 

PHILOS  AUTOMATIC 

SECTION    FORMER   AND    GLUER. 

IT  DOES  BOTH 

AT  THE 
SAME   OPERA- 
TION. 
ALL  YOr  HAVE 

TO  DO  IS 
TO  TURN  THE 

CRANK, 
AND  THE  SEC- 

TKiNS 
ARE     ROLLED 

OUT  BY 
THE     WHOLE- 
SALE. 
ANY  CHILD  CAN 

DO  IT. 
PRICE      ONLY 

*;^.iio. 

Addi-ess 

E.  W.  Philo. 

Halfmoon. 

N.  Y. 

KTln  re.sfKjndlnft  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkakinos. 


FOR  SALE. 


For  May  delivery,  Italian  and  Hy- 
brid Bees  in  lijrlit  sliippinjsr-ca-ses, 
'^  L.  frames.  Price,  for  Italians,  -fl.tHi;  hybrids,  13.00 
each,  free  on  board  cars  hi-ic.  1  }rMarantee  safe  de- 
livery. A.  W.  O.IUUNUK, 
•VSflh  €eiitervl]le,  mich. 
r^Iii  res|>ondln(f  to  thl«  advertisement  mention  Gleanings, 

PERSONS    tUANTINO 

APIAf^IAH    SUPPLiIES 

Woiilil  do  well   to  send   lf>  \V.  E.  Ci,ahk.  Oriskany, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.    Send  for  illustrated  price 
list.    Dealers  .should  send  foi-  Deal- 
ers' list  for  Sinokei-s. 
t7*In  respondlne;  to  this  advertisement  mention  QLEAKU>ns. 


Strawberry    Wonders! 

BOYNTON     I'li^li.  I.-  '•!  i ■■■  I.,  til..  .Ml-.-. 
ERT  SEEDLINC-li:«u*  .MU'rts  to  tli.- acre 
Al  111.'  (Iiii.  \  :<  i:\p.rnniiitul  Slalion.  in  malted  rows.  The 
l)i'^l  Slnppuiir  and  Selling  Berries  ever  produceil. 

BOYNTON     5"«' per  dozen;  *J.i"i  per  ItKI. 
ERT  SEEDLING    2^'<- peril. )zen;  «l.'i>  per  KMi,  pi.M- 
|i  ii.l  l.v  Mini      .Ms..   .I.->sie,  Keiiliii'kv.  and  2."i  other   varle 
11. 'S.     t»..  1I1--I  arc  til,.  l.CNl.     Als.i 

TRUE  BELGIAN  HARES  CHEAP. 

Address  K.  li(  )()M  lluWEK,  (iallupville.  .\    V. 


C*s^ii  respominit'  t..  i.iis  a.lv.iii  iim  m  ni 


Foreifrn  and  doniesi  ic.      Crude  an<l  relined. 

A  stoi'k  constant  ly  on  hand. 

Wiile  for  piiees.  statiiifi'   i|nantil\  wanted. 

ECKERMANN  &  WILL,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

0rin  responding  to  this  lulvertisemcnt  mention  (tLKaninos. 


LOOK!  HONEY-COMB  FOUNDATION!  LOOK! 

F"'rieni)S.  if  yon  need  foundation  it  will  ]r.i\  >  on 
to  purchase  of  US,  as  we  have  again  ))nrchased  thi' 
very  latest  inii)roved  mills,  ami  shall  send  none  hut 
th'.' best  found.-ition.  We  will  allow  1,5'T  discount 
until  April  10th  on  all  oi-ders.  Send  stami)  for  free 
samples.  Address  C  W.  PHELPS  &  CO  , 
6-lltlh  74  Pktitt  St.,  Bin(;h.amton.  N.  Y. 

rflii  respond  ini_' 1.1  111  s  .idv.-i  1 1  .i...  m   iiMiiiitin  Hi.KANlMi.s. 

FOIR   SALiE^ 

20  Acres  li-.iiid  in  Kerkley  «"o., 
\V.  Va.,  5  .mie«  \V»-i!.t  of  .Tlar- 
tlnsbiir^,  I  oiiuty  Seat  ol  Berkle.y. 

The  followinfr  varieties  of  fruit  upon  it  in  full 
hearing- are,  r.5  apple-trees,  130  graiievines.  20  cherry- 
trees.  Biiildiiiffs  in  frood  and  substantial  conditioii. 
Dwelllnf<-house,  smoke-liouse.  corn-cril),  stable,  and 
spriiig--house,  with  a  never-failing'  si)rin}i-  of  |)ure 
water.    Good  location  for  bees  or  ijiieeniearing'. 

Price  I.^OJ.00.    Address 

IVIliL.     THATtHKR, 
6-7d  MHrUiisbiirg-.  Berkley  Ci>.,  \V.  Va. 

Please  mention  this  pajiur. 

150    STRAWBERRY- PLANTS, 

Si.\  choice  varieties  b\niail.  prepaid  for  $1.00. 
The  Secrels  ol'  «u<  iei«!»  in  ilie  Oroiwiiig  «»1' 
Small  FruitH,  and  cataloffue  of  varieties  describ- 
ing- abovi'  collection  Free  bv  mail. 

6-7d  I.  A.  WOOLL,  Elsie,  Midi. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


CELLING  OUT  Our  entire  stock  of  Italian  bees, 
*^  all  in  chaff  hives:  .$.").0II  per  swarm  with  hive  in- 
cluded.    Hives  and  furniture  for  sale  at  half  price. 
Call  in  per.son,  or  send  cash.    Send  letter  to 
JARVIS  T.  MARBLE. 
24  New  Boston  Road,  Fall  River,  Mass. 


^'OK  SAEiE.— The  apiary  of  Solomon  Vroomaii, 
*     deceased,  consisting- of  107  colonies,  iind  all  nec- 
essary aii|>liances.     For   manv  vears  the  apiarv  of 
John  H.  Martin.  Han  ford,  Wasiiington  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Address       F.  S.   KLDREDtJK,  No.  Adams, 
No.  II  No.  Church  St.  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass. 

6-78d  Please  mention  this  paper. 


I  DO  NOT  ADVERTISE 

a  sijccialty.  I)ut  eveiv  thing  found  in  api.\I(V.   15er 

W.1X  wanted.  C.  E.  LIKENS, 

K-Td  19  N.  :^d  St.,  Phlladelpliia,  Pa. 


FOR  SALE — WARRANTED  PURE-imED  PU- 
NIC QCEENS.  No  others  near.  Queens  de- 
livei-ed  in  .June.  Price  :f2. nil  each  ;  one-fourth  off  on 
all  orders  with  cash  before  April  l.i.  Safe  airival 
g-uitranteed.     Alfalfa  .seed  l)y  mail,  '-iin-  pei-  lb. 

Fr.\NK  M.  How  Alii),  Bo.\  :].%  Gardiii  i  Hy.  Kansas. 
6-7d 

KED  CAP  and   BL/\<'K    iTIINORC'A    EGGS 
FOR  HATCHING.  FOR  SALE  BY 

6tidb         E.  P.  Aldridge,  Franklin,  Ohio. 

FOR  S.\LE.—\Vell-eqiii Plied   ajiiary  in   g-ood   lo- 
cation (Del.  Co.,  N.  Y'.).     Address 

John  S.  C.\llbi(e.\th,  Monticello,  N.  Y. 


316 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mar.  is. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 


Notices  will  be  inserted  uinler  this  head  at  one  half  our  usu- 
al rates.  All  advertisements  intended  for  this  department 
must  not  exceed  Ave  lines,  and  vou  must  say  you  want  your 
adv't  in  this  department,  or  we  will  not  be  responsible  tor  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-tide  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  our  regular  rates  of  W  cts.  a  line  will  be  charged,  and 
they  vriU  be  put  with  the  regular  advertisements.  We  can  not 
be  respon.>-ibTe  for  dissatisfaction  arising  from  these  "swaps." 


WANTED.— To  trade  a  large  lot  of  Heddon  hives, 
nicely  made  and  g-ood  as  new;  some  with  combs 
complete  for  honey,  now  or  after  crop  of  '93.  Write 
for  particulars.    Address  D.  S.  Hall,, 

2tfdb  South  Cabot,  Vt. 

WANTED.— To  exclianpe  apiary  of  7.5  colonies, 
with  every  tiling  needed  in  the  business,  for 
land  or  other  property  or  offers.  Several  valuable 
town  lots  in  live  railroad  t^iwn;  no  better  location 
for  bees  in  I<iwa  or  Wisconsin.  Correspondence  in- 
vited.       i5-6d         B.  F.  Little,  Hrush  Creek.  Iowa. 


W 


ANTED.— To  exchange  or  sell  1  air-brush,  good 
as  new,  for  No.  2  Kodak  camera. 
J.  J.  NoKRis,  Anderson,  Anderson  Co.,  S.  C. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  Exterminator  spring- 
tooth  harrows,  new;  made  by  Whipple  Harrow 
Co.;  or  Smalley  three-horse  tread  power,  for  sup- 
plies, bees,  queens,  honey,  cash,  or  any  thing  I  can 
use.  Ezra  Baer,  Dixon,  Lee  Co.,  111.  6d 

WANTED.— To  exchange  greenhouse  and  bedding 
plants,  for  a  Kodak,  b-tlat  cornet,  or  offers. 
6d  John  Major,  Cokevilie,  Pa. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  tested  Italiantqueens  for 
fox  or  coon    hound    dog,  either  a  pup  or  a 
grown  dt)g.  K.  H.  Campbell,  Madi.son,  Ga.    6d 

I  WISH  to  correspond  with  some  onel  having  Mul- 
borough  raspberries  for  sale.    R.  Robinson, 
6d  Laclede,  Fayette  Co..  HI. 


WANTED.— A  Christian  young  man  who  has  had 
some  experience  in   care  of  bees,  to  work  in 
•  garden  and  orchard.    State  experience,  and  wages 
wanted.  J.  H.  Evans,  Lewiston,  Idaho.    6-6d 

WANTED.— To  exchange  80  acres  of  good  timber 
land  for  bees.    Land  close  to  a  railroad,  to  a 
good  sawmill,  and  close  to  a  good  village.    State 
what  kind  of  a  hive  bees  are  in.    Bert  Handy, 
fvBd  Richland  Center,  Wis. 

WANTED.— For  1S92,  as  learners,  two  young  men, 
brisk,  lionest,  and  temperate.  Can  ba^^k  in- 
struction by  ;}5  years  of  active  experience  in  apiary. 
4-.5-6  S.  I.  Freeborn,  Richland  Centre,  Wis. 

WANTED.— To  exchange    comb    foundation    for 
beeswax.  C.  W.  Phelps  &  Co., 

6-lldb  74  Petitt  St.,  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  an  imported  female  En- 
glisli  mastiff,  a  good  hou.se  dog,  for  modern  im- 
proved l)ee-hives  complete,  or  Cotswold  or  Shrop- 
shire ewes.  Amos  Garrett,  Sugartown,  Pa.    6d 

WANTED.— To  exchange  eggs  of  R.  C.  Brown  Leg- 
horns and  Pekin  ducks,  and  Italian  queens  for 
foundation.         J.  T.  Van  Petten,  Linn,  Kan.       6d 

FOR  EXCHANGE.— 7  vol's  of  the  Youths'  Com- 
panion, for  the  years  1H83,  'S4,  '8.5.  '87,  '88.  '89,  and 
'90;  :i40  numbers,  cost  13.35.  Wanted,  2  colonies  of 
bees.  Morten  H.jermstad, 

6d  Norseland,  Nicollet  Co.,  Minn. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  a  town  lot  in  the  thriv- 
ing city  of  Leroy,  Fla.,  situated  in  the  heart  of 
the  Orange  l)elt  of  the  State,  for  any  thing  useful 
on  a  farm  or  apiary.  .Jennie  Atchley, 

()-7d  Floyd,  Hunt  Co..  Texas. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  job  printing  of  any  kind 
for  black  or  Italian  bees.  A.D.  Ellingwood. 
f>-9db     White  Mountain  Apiarist,  Groverton,  N.  H. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  bees  or  bee-supplies  for 
pine  lumber.    Speak  quick.       Address 
6d  C.  F.  IThl,  Millersburg,  Ohio. 


WANTED.— To   exchange    Odell    typewriter    for 
printing-press  or  offers.  P.  M.,  Rush  River,  Minn. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  a  new  foot-power  saw 
for  bees  Viv  the  pound.    W.  S.  Wright, 
Hd  "  Battle  Creek,  Mich. 


WANTED.— A  practical  experienced  bee-keeper  to 
take  cliarge  of  an  apiary  at  Fort  Collins,  Col. 
Steady  employment  for  any  length  of  time  to  the 
right  man.    State  experience  and  wages  wanted, 
fid  Address         Walt.  L.  Hawley, 

c-o  Col.  Springs  Gardens,  Colorado  Springs,  Col. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  eggs  for  hatching  for 
dry-bone  mill,  small  foundation  mill,  or  thin 
foundation.  My  stock  of  Light  Brahmas.  White  P. 
Rocks,  and  Golden  Wyandottes  is  as  good  as  the 
best.  D.  F.  Lasuibr,  Hooper,  N.  Y.       6d 


Solid    GOU1D 

Around  the  queen  centers  our  future  success  in 
apiculture.  A  poor  queen,  like  a  poor  hoi-se,  will 
die  on  our  hands  when  most  needed.  Color  in 
either  case  is  immaterial,  being  simply  a  matter  of 
choice— my  choice  is  the  G.  M.  Doolittle  strain  of 
Italians  which  is  not  only  the  prettiest,  but  is  also 
far  in  advance  of  all  other  strains,  imported  Ital- 
ians not  excepted. 

I  am  the  owner  of  the  best  qvieens  ever  produced 
by  Mr.  Doolittle;  and  shall  govern  myself  accord- 
ing to  Natui'e's  best  way  of  rearing  queens. 

Listen  to  what  Mr.  Dnolittle  says:  "During  the 
|)ast  sixteen  years,  these  bees  have  been  l)red  with 
great  pains  regarding  their  honey-gathering  (juaU- 
ties,  my  average  production  of  comb  honey  from 
each  colony  for  that  time  having  been  about  80  lbs. 
each  year,  while  single  colonies  have  given  us  as 
high  as  298  to  3u9  pounds." 

My  capacity  is  about  30(i  nuclei,  while  my  rates 
are  as  follows:  Virgin  queen,  40  cts.;  untested, $1.00; 
tested,  .f2.00;  select  tested,  $3.00;  .select  tested  breed- 
ing queen,  $4.00. 

Special  Offer.  A  select  te.sted  breeding  queen 
will  lie  given  the  one  ordering  the  greatest  number 
of  queens  during  the  mtmth  of  Mar.,  Apr.,  May,  (jr 
.Tune.  Orders  may  be  booked  now,  and  the.  pay 
sent  wlien  the  queens  are  ready, 
tid  W  V.  MoRBHOUaii,  Lafayette,  Ind. 

^9*In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLBANDfoa 

EARLY  QUEENS  and  BEES 

FROM  THE  SOUTH. 

1  untested  (ineen.   Ajiril,  $1.00;  May.  Sl.CO 
;i        ••  ••  "  2.75;      ••        3.50 

1  tested  "  •■         3.00;      "       1..50 

;i     "  "  "         5.(J0;      "        4.00 

Best  Select  Tested  for  breeding,  $3.00. 
Two-frame  nuclei,  with  any  queen.  $1.50  each  e.xtra. 
Safe  arrival  guaranteed.      Special  rates  to  dealCiS. 
W.  J.  ELLISON,  M»d 

Catchall,  Sumter  Co.,  S.  C. 

Please  mention  this  paper 

G.  W.  Phelps  &  Go's  FoundationTactory. 

SEE  ADVBBIISEMENT  IN  ANOTHEE  COLUMN. 
6-lldb  74  Petitt  St..  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 

BEE-HIVKS  and  Supplies.    Send  f(n'  catalogue 
free.    Addi'ess    SAITK'ELi  JOI^ES,  Highland 
Park  College,  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  6-7d 


/  WILL  SELL 

a  setting  of  13   eggs.  Barred    Plvmouth    Rock 
chickens,  for  $1.00.       DAIMIEL.  KI<:i»iHLIi\E, 
6d  Bi*ad»>ba%v,  York  C'o.,  Neb. 


Black  and  Hybrid  Queens  For  Saie. 

T  have  50  good  hybrids  and  black  queens  for  sal* 
at  25c  each,  readv  for  immediate  delivery. 
6-7d       W.  H.  Heastman,  Cltra,  Marion  Co.,  Florida. 


Lsue 


CLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURB. 


•il7 


Great  Crash  in  Prices! 

Fmni   10  to-:.")  ■ 

discount      from 

fornior  prices.  My 

40-piin-i>  oatalojriK' 

for  IWf-*  jrives  rea- 
sons.    I    offt'i-    a 

iifW  -  style      ilia  II 

hive    at    one-lialf 

the  o<»st  of  oiluT 

stylis,  and  ju'>t  a-- 

jriHHl.     This     hive. 

i-aii  be  taken  apart  ' 

almost    instantly. 

l>arlvcd  lip 
ill  small  space. 
It  can  lie  used 
oil  any  iiive  (see 
cut).  Don't  fail 
to    5ii't    my  32<l 

annual   price  list.    I  mean  business,  and  am  bound 

to  pell  as  jfood  as  the  best,  and  at  tM(ii:illj'  low  jirices. 
Address  IVM.  W.  GARY, 

Otfdb  Coi-ERAiNE.  Mass. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

.lennie  Atchley  has  lately  boug-ht  a  lot  of  black 
.ind  hybrid  bees,  and  will  sell  you  same  li.y  the 
|iound*  at  ^l.-iO;  tive  or  more  pouiids.  ^^l.'-T).  Queens 
out  of  same,  30  and  .tOc  eacli.  Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed. E.\press  on  a  iiound  to  St.  I,ouis.  l.i  cts.  I 
can  not  grive  rates  farther. 

JENNIK    .\TCHL,K\, 
e-7d  Floyd,  Hunt  <'Om  'fexan. 

Pleeise  mention  this  paper. 

"control  your  swarWsT 

N^  D    WEST  S     SPIRAL    WIRE    QUEEN      CELL     PRO 
TECTORS    AND    CAGES. 

N.  D.  West's  Spiral  Wire  pat 
Oueen-Cell  Protectoi-s  will  dec.i5.9i 
do  it,  and  you  can  RE- 
yCEEN  your  apiary  duriiif 
the  swarming'  season.  Pi-o- 
nounced  the  Best  by  such 
men  as  Capt.  J.  E.  Heth- 
ERiNOTON,  ClieiTy  Vallev, 
N.Y.;  P.  H.  Elwood,  Stark- 
ville,  N.  Y„  and  others. 
Cell  -  Protectors.  $3.(0  per 
lOd,  or  12  for  60c.  by  mail.  Cages,  $.5.00  perllOH.  or  13 
for  11.00,  by  mail.  Samples  of;  both,  with  circular 
explaining,  2.5  cts.  The  cages  are  usedjfor  hatching 
queens  in  anj*  hive,  and  are  the  'Best: Bee-Escape  in 
use.    Address 

N.  D.  WEST,  Middleburgh,  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Ple.ase  mention  this  paper. 

Called  "The  Chi<-ken  Busi- 
ness, and  How  to  Make  it 
Pity'"fe  Tells  all  about  it. 
C>f^f^Lf  Finely  illustrated,  practical,  and  oi'igi- 
rjV-»V^r\  nal.  Price  .50  cents,  jiostpaid.  An  il- 
^— ^^  lustrated  circular  free,  giving  particu- 
lars about  the  book,  and  prir'es  of  pure-i)red  fowls 
and  eggs  for  sale  bj-  the  author.  4tfdb 

H.  B.  CEER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

"Ill  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Oleamngs. 


/\  POULTRY 


Maple  Syrup  For  Sale  in  i-Gallon  Cans. 

lean. -f  1, 10;  .5.  .f. 5.0,1;  11),  :f9.5ii;  :i()  or  more.  Oil  cts. 
e^ch,  bo.ved  and  delivered,  F.  ().  B.  Satisfaction 
tfuaranteed.        F.  W.  DEAN,  New  Milford,  Pa.    6-7d 

ANTED.— To   send     you    my    catalogue    of 
Queens,  Bees,  and  Supplies,  (;heap.         4tfdb 
Chas.  H.  Thies,  Steeleville,  111. 


TV 


Bee  -pCeepef  s' 
Supplies. 

We  are  the  only  coMconi  in  Soiithcrii  f'alHoi- 
nia  wild  make  a 

SPECIALTY  OF  BEE -KEEPERS'  MATERIAL. 

Agents  for  the  white  l)jt,.ss\vood  l-lli.  suctions. 
Send  for  catalogue  and  prict^  list. 

OCEANSIDE   MILL  CO., 

Oceanside,   CaL 

lyin  respniiilitiu' tn  thlsndvi" metit  mention  (JI,ean1N<!m 

ppt  COLONIES  bees  foi$75.00;  painted  D.  hives, 

^^    everv  thing  flrst-chtss.  May  to  June. 

fid  ".iNO.  C.  Capehakt,  St.  Albans,  W.  Va. 

free:  free:  free: 

My  new  price  list  of  Pure  Italian  Be(>s  and  Queens. 
White  and  Brown  Leghorn  Chickens,  and  White  and 
Brown  Fen-ets.  N.  A.  KNAPP, 

Kochester,  lioratn  Co.,  Obto. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

ITALIAN     QUEENS. 

Untested,  $1;  6  for  i|.5.  Tested,  $1,511;  6  for  *7. 
Special  terms  for  Large  orders. 

H.  FIT7.  HART, 
6lfdb  Avery,  Iberia  Parisli,  i>a. 

lyPlease  mention  Glkaninob. 

MINNESOTA  AHEAD,    WHY? 

Because  in  conseiiiieiice  of  her  pine  forests.lumber 
is  cheap.  Tliat'stlie  reason  Eikel  sells  hives  cheaper 
than  anyone  else  in  Ainerlci.  Only  think,  single- 
story  hives  from  3.5c  up;  two-story  hives  f rom  TUc 
up.  Other  supplies  cheap.  Send  for  catalogue, 
etfdb  F.  C.  EHKEL.,  Le  8ueur,  Minii. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

^EES   BY  THE   POUND, 

ITALIAN  aUEENS.  ALOO  A  SELECT  LINE  OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'  SUPPLIES 

Send  for  price  List  to 

Olivee  Fostee,  Mt.  Vernon,  Linn  Co.,  Iowa. 

6tfdb  Please  mention  this  paper 

.FOR  SALE_CHEAF. 

90    HIVES  OF   ITALIAN    BEES. 

Address  E.  S.  lli:BBEL.L, 

Torrington,  LltclitleldiCo.,  Conn. 

^OR    SAIiE.— Fifteen    colonies    of    Italianized 
■■     bees,  at  $5  per  colony. 

Mrs.  N.  Makks,  Newbuig.Ohlo. 

G.  W.  Phelps  &  Go's  Foundation  Factory. 

see  adveetisement  in  another  column. 


74  Petitt  St. 


HiiiKhamton,  N.  Y. 


OV  ^VV  V\\\A05 


Murray  £-Hei55."':^o^^h';|"° 


VIOLINS 


GUITARS 


MANDOLIKS 


Foundstion  Wholesale  and  Retail. 

„  /    free  samples.   Special  prices  fo  dealers  on  Foui 


iples.   Sped 

Free  price  list  of  everything  needed  in  ilie  apiary. 


price 
Btfdb 
M. 


If  you  would  like  to  .see 
how     nice     foundation 
can  be  made,  send   for 
Foundation  and  Sections,  etc. 
(Near  Detroit.) 
H.  HUNT.  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


}18 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Mar.  !.'». 


TAKE  NOTICE !     'Bee  -  Keepers'  ^  Supplies. 

Z  Dlacinc-  vour  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write  *  i  £ 


BEFORE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
for  prices  on  One-Piece  Basswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,   Shipping'-Crates,   Frames.  Foundation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
14trdb  New  London,  Wis. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


SECTIONS. 

$!£.50  to  $3.50  per  .^I.  Bee'Hives  aud  Fix- 
tures clieai*.  NOVELTY    CO., 

Ktfdb  Rock  Falls,  Illinois. 

t^Iii  ii-<ii.iiicliinr  ti>  tills  ailvii  u-i-riK-iii  iiit-nr  ii.n  (Ji.kamncs 

Early  Queens  from  Texas. 

From  my  c-lioicc  3  or  .5  Ijanded  stock.  My  bees  are 
very  gentle,  good  workers,  and  beautiful.  Safe  ar- 
rival and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  One  untested 
gueeu,  March  and  April,  $1.5(1;  May,  $1.00;  later,  75c. 
Oj'ders  booked  now;  money  sent  when  queens  are 
wanted.    Send  for  price  list.  4a 

J.  D.  Civens,  Lisbon,  Tex. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

CAA  Colonies  of  Bees  Devot- 
^W  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  for  piices  on  hii'ge  (luantities. 

TWO    MILLION      SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS. 

Write  for  i)rices  nn  huge  (luaiitities. 

Send   for  our   24-Page    Catalogue    of  Dovetailed 

Hives,  Smokers,  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  M'F'Cr  CO.,  Higginsville,  Missouri. 

Please  mention  this  pajier.  .'itfdb 

Bees    For    Sa.le. 

COLONIES, 

NUCLEI, 
AND         QUEENS, 

at  living  rates.     Send  for 
circular  and  livice  list  to 

C.  C.  VAUGHN  Si  CO., 
V~^       Columbia.  Tenn. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  p^per.    .VlOdb 


▼inPORTED     ITAI.I.4N      QITEENS,    $3.50, 

"    June  1st.    Order  now. 

4tfd  W.  C.  FKAZIEK,  Atlantic.  Iowa. 

HURRAH  FOR  THE  GRAY  CARNIOLANS ! 

Bee-keepers,  if  you  want  a  race  of  bees  that  will 
just  pile  in  tlie  honey,  get  the  gray  (only  pure)  Car- 
niolans.  For  instance,  here  is  a  report  of  one  of 
our  apiaries  of  50  colonies  for  tlie  season  of  1891  : 
Honey  crop,  70(10  lbs.  Yield  of  best  colony,  a-30  lbs. 
Increase  by  natural  sw.-irniiiig,  15  colonies.  For 
further  Information  write  lor  circular  and  price 
list.        F.  A.  LocKHAUT  &  Co.,  Lake  George.  N.  Y. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  .'i  fid 


QTTDDT  TT?C!        Langstroth  Bee-blvcs,  and 
i^  I      I     r   I  il  Tj^    eveiy  tiling    needed  in   the 

''■-'^'  ^    I    I  J  L  UkJ.  tj^,^,  ^..^j.^ .  3,i.,,.,g.j.  catalogue 

■i^^^^^^i^"  free.    -  BUSY  BEES,"  a 

book     telling     lidw    to    irianage  them.  10    cents    in 
stamps.  WALTER  S.  POUDER,        .5-13dli 

175  E,  Walnut  St.,  Indianarous,  Ind. 

tSrin  respondlnij  to  this  adv.  itisement  mention  (ii.EANINHS. 


THi  AMERICAN 

BlEJOM 


L 


32  pages— $1.00  a  \  oar— Sample  Free. 

The  oldest,  largest  audcLcapest  Weekly  bee-paper 

THOMAS  G.  NEWMAN   &  SON, 

CHICAGO.  ILL. 


We  are  prejiaied  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sun- 
plies  promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladtj- 
furnished,  and  coriespondence  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  flrst-class  in  quality  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
nlugue  sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling,  111'.     Address  l-24db 

wan.  iTiccuNE  &  CO., 

sterling,  Illinois. 

I^"ln  respondlntr  to  tliiK  ,1,1' . 'li  .rn.  m  mention  Ri.EANlNQa 


G.  W.  Phelps  &  Go's  Foundation  Factory. 

SEE  ADVEETISEMENT  IN  ANOTHER  COLUMN. 
74  Petitt  St.,  IJinghamton.  N.  Y. 


SAVE  OTONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 

ITglK  QOEEVS  FOB  SILL 

The  llnest  honey-gatherers  in  the  land.  Tested, 
$1.,50  each.  Select  tested,  $2.00  each.  Unte.sted,  $1.00 
each,  or  $9.00  per  doz.  Queens  ready  to  ship  by  April 
first.  I  gruarantee  safe  arrival  and  satisfaction,  by 
mail.  Orders  booked  now  and  pay  when  you  want 
queens.  J.  W.  TAYLOR. 

4tfdb  Ozan,  Ark 

"  .1.  iis|>oMilintr  to  Iliis  a<lvertisenient  mention  oi.ka.m.si.s. 


BEES 


350    Colonies 

1,000,000  Sections, 
Foundation,  &c. 

C^^Send  for  price  list. 
E.  T.  FLANAGAN. 

BELLEVILLE,  ILL. 

t^"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  <SL.KA.M;.<is. 

Hatch  Chickens  by  Steam. 

iMPLOVEO  EXCELSIOR  INCUBATOR 

kWill  do  it.  ThooMnds  In  inooenfnl  oper- 

Ration.  SimpU.Ptrfect and  Self-Regulaiing. 
rLoweat-pnoea  fint-elsM  Batcher  made. 
[  Guaranteed  to  hatch  a  larser  percentage 
of  fertile  egga  at  less  cost  than  any  other. 
Send  6c.  for  Illas.  OataloK.    (i£0.  a.STAIIL,(juin«r,  l.l. 

»riii  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gi^KANiNsa 

LUTO»IATIC    COniB 

I  FOUITDATIOir    IMEZLLS. 


-7db 


'M.\DE     BY- 


W.  C.  PELHAM,  MaysvUle,  Kentucky. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

•tP  A.T5T  TT"  GOLDEN,  ATTESTED  QUEENS.  $100. 
"*5'***^J-"  *  LAEQE,  FINE,  GENTLE,  AND  BBBD 
for  business.  Ready  about  March  ~'i.  Dealers  send 
for  prices.  Fine  tested,  raised  la.st  year,  $1.50  to 
$2.00.     A  few  liieeders,  Italian  oi'  Golden,  $3  to  $5. 

J.  B.  CASE,  Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  Stfdb 


Western  Bee-Keepers'  Supply  House 

Root's  QoOdS  oan  be  had  at  Des  Uolnes 

'  RootT 


lowfc.  at  Root's   priqss- 

The  largest  lupplr  bualnest 
inthe'V^t.  EBtabllilied  USB 
Doretalled   Hires,  Sec- 
tions, Foundation,  Ez- 
traotors.  Smokers,  veils , 
Orates,  Feeders,  Clover  ' 
8  e  e  d  8,  e  t  c.    Imported 
Italian  Queens.    Qneens  and 
Bees.    Sample   copy  of   our 
Bee  Jonmal,  "The  West-  ' 
ern    Bee  -  Keeper."^  and    Latest 

Catalogue  mailed  Free  tJ  te^  keepers. 

fOSZfS  Nf  SXWANDEB.  SES  UOINXS,  lOWi. 
In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.       4t 


IM<C.» 


(;lkanin(}.s  in  hee  culturI':. 


:.':.':! 


THE 

Pecos  Valley 

THE  Y^VJU  BE\i"\ 
OF  \li.>N  V^EX\CO, 

HAS 

The  finest  system  of  irrigating 
canals    on    the    continent  ; 

Over  30,000  acres  of  choice  farm- 
ing and  fruit  lands  ; 

Water  enough  to  irrigate  half  a 
million  acres  ; 

A  climate  equal  in  every  respect, 
and  superior  in  some  respects,  to 
that  of  Southern  California  ; 

Good  schools,  churches,  railway 
&  telegraph  facilities, "good  society; 

Lands  for  sale  at  $25  an  aCre 
on  10  years'  time,  interest  at 
six  per  cent,  this  price  including 
perpetual  water  right  ; 

No  drouths,  no  floods,  no  bliz- 
zards, no  fogs,  no  cyclones,  no  hail 
storms,  no  thunder  storms,  no  hot 
winds,  no  northers,  no  winter  rains, 
no  grasshoppers,  no  malaria,  no  ep- 
idemic diseases,  no  prairie  fires,  no 
snakes,  no  sunstrokes. 


Send  for  maps  and  illustrated  "pamphlets, 
giving  full  jiarticnlars. 


Pecos  Irrigation  and 

Improvement  Co., 

EDDY,  NEW  MEXICO. 

^^n  responding  to  this  advertltiejiient  mention  Uukaninos 


Early  Queens  from  Texas. 

From  mv  choice  3  or  5  banded  stock.  My  bees  are 
very  gentle,  good  workers,  and  beautiful.  Safe  ar- 
rival and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  One  untested 
queen,  March  and  April.  11.5(1;  May.  fl.Wl;  later,  75c. 
Orders  bCKjked  now ;  money  sent  when  queens  .are 
wanted.    Send  for  price  list.  4a 

J.  D.  Civens,  Lisbon,  Tex. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


TEXAS. 

Queens  l)y  rutui-ii  mail  a  specialty.  Unt<'s1(>(l. 
March.  April,  and  May,  fl.OO  each;  si.x.  $5.00;  after, 
iTiceach;  si.v,  $4.20.  or  $H.(IO  per  do/.en.  Discount  on 
larjri'i' nrdei's.  Conti'acls  niiidc  to  furnish  certiiin 
number  weekly.  The  ahove  iiie  llu'  three-banded 
Italians.  I  also  breed  thi'  ilvt- b.-inded  strains  at 
above  price  e.xcept  tested,  of  which  1  will  have 
none  till  April  l.')tli.  A  few  line  bleeders,  either 
race,  *5.00.  I  have  chiinved  iii\  postolJice  from 
Fariner.s%ille,  Te.xas,  to  Kln\(l.  .Mcmcy-oi'der  office, 
Green\ille.  JENNIE  ATCHLEY. 

Itfdb  Floyd.  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 


Wholesale  and  Retail  Manufacturer 

and  Dealer  in      BEE-KEEPERS'    SUPPLIES. 
ONE-PIECE  SECTIONS  A  SPECIALTY. 

AS  GOOD  AS  THE  BEST. 
Send  f(n-  catah>itrne.  W.  E.lSMITH, 

5tfdb  Succe»»(>r  t<)'^,Smith  <t  Smith, 

Kenton,  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio. 
In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper 

Bee-Hives  ^  Sections 

A  specialty.     Foundation,  Sniokeis,  etc..   in   stock. 
Send  tor  liew  list,  fice. 
4tfdb  W.  D.  SOPER,  Jackson,  Mich^ 

Ddlli  TRY  Choice  Fowls  and  Eggs  for  sale  at 
i'UUU  I  n  I .  all  times.  Finely  illustrated  circu- 
■     lar  free.      GEEK  BROS    St.  Marys,  Mo.    21tfdb 

liOCATIOlT 

Is  a  big  poi'nf,  in  supplying  jidods;  ours  gives  you 
low  freight  rates.  As  we  sell  IdW,  you  should  have 
our  circular  of  supplU's.  l-lSdh 

I.J.STRINGHAM,  92  BARCLAY  ST.,  N.  Y. 

^  Please  mention  this  paper. 


BEE  SUPPLIES 
and  all  kinds  of 
Berry  -  pack- 
ages, bo  X  e  s 
and  baskets. 
We  make  a  spe- 
cialty of  one- 
I)iece  sections, 
and  wood  sepa- 
rators, z\ddress 

BERLIN 

FKUIT  BOX 

CO.. 

Berlin  Heights 

Erie  Co.. 

Ohio. 


$4  or  $5 

Will  buy  ONE  HIVE  of  ITALIAN  BEES 
AND  QUEEN.  Simplicity  Hive  and  Frame  or 
Hoffman  Closed-End  Frame  and  Hive. 

JOHN   A.  THORNTON, 
2-7'ib  Lima,  Illinois. 

Please  mention  this  paper 


EARLY  QUEENS  and  BEES 

FROM  THE  SOUTH. 

1  untested  rpieen,   Apiil.  n.OO;  May,  $1.00 


3.50 

i.m 

4.00 


1  tested  "  "        3.00; 

3      "  "  "         5.(i0; 

Best  Select  Tested  for  breediiifr.  $3.00. 
Two-frame  nuclei,  with  any  <piei*n.  $1.,50  each  extra. 
Safe  arrival  guaiantted.     Sp('ii:il  rates  to  dealeis. 
W.J.ELLISON,  6-7«d 

Catchall,  Sumter  Co.,  S.  C. 

Please  mention  llii-  p.apir 


224 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Apiut,  1. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Cobs  and  Kernels 234 

Combs,  Emptv 239 

Combs,  To  Get 230 

Combs,  Old  Drawn 239 

Combs.  Drawn-out 2*29 

Contraction  in  Harvest 243 

Cost  of  Extracted  Honey..  231 

E.xtractor,  Cowan 243 

Fovindation-roller,  Eclii).se..210 
Foundation,  Tliin  and  Fresh244 

Foundation,  Hatch  on 2«l 

Foundation.  Exper's  With..238 

fiovernment  Aid 228 

Hive.  Dovetai'd,  Improved  247 

Honev,  Adulterated 'SA 

Honey.  Fall 230 

HoneV,  Extracted.  Cost  of  .230 
Honey.  How  Injured 231 


Hiinev.  Objections  to 23,') 

Inibtdders 240 

Increase,  Preventing  239 

K tiler,  Helen 24.i 

Onion  sets 249 

Philo'sGluer 242 

Plionog:rai)h 2.'i4 

PoUpii  Substitutes 2.H 

Queens  Sent  11,.">00  Miles 2^)2 

Kanililer  in  San  Francisco.  .236 

Section-former,  Philo's  212 

Starters,  l.')0O  an  Hour.        ..'i'i3 

Strawberries  in  fio  Days 249 

Straws,  Comments  on 242 

Stringer,  Tommy 24.'j 

Tobacco  Column 2iK) 

Wires.  To  Imbed 241 

World's  Fair.  Space  in 2.')4 


Specml  Notices. 


greiner's   second   edition   of  the   new  onion 

CULTURE. 

This  is  just  at  hand,  and  contains  15  more  pages 
than  the  old  edition,  and  pretty  much  all  that  is 
new  in  the  matter  up  to  date.  The  autlior  has  liind- 
ly  put  several  extracts  from  Gle.\nings  in  liis  new 
edition.  The  price  is  tlie  same  as  before— 30  cts.  per 
copy,  or  3.5  if  sent  by  mail.  We  have  a  limited  num- 
ber of  the  first  edition,  wliich  we  will  offer  for  20  cts., 
or  25  by  mail.  The  latter  contains  alltlie  directions 
that  are  really  imi)ortant  for  raising  onions  on  the 
new  plan.  

CLOVER   SEED. 

Wlien  our  last  issue  was  printed  the  market  on 
peavine  and  medium  clover  was  about  at  its  heiglit. 
It  has  since  declined  somewliat,  so  that  we  are  now 
able  to  offer  peavine  at  $8.00  per  busliel;  flS.iiO  for  3 
bu.shels;  H  20  for  ^  busliel;  $3.25  per  peck;  18c  per 
lb.,  bag  included.  We  still  have  a  good  supply  of 
alsike  seed  at  the  same  prices  as  liereto fore— $20.00 
for  2  bushels;  i;i0..5O  per  Inishel;  $5.-l:0  per  }i  bushel; 
$2.80  per  peck;  30c  per  lb.,  and  at  this  price  it  is 
cheaper  to  sow  than  the  large  clover  at  above  price; 
that  is,  for  the  same  money  you  can  seed  more  acres. 

MAPLE  SUGAR  AND  SYRUP. 

We  have  had  a  splendid  trade  in  these  products  so 
far.  We  have  been  obliged  to  delay  some  orders  for 
second-grade  sugar,  as  the  most  of  that  brouglit  in 
was  of  the  very  be.st  quality.  With  the  exception 
of  two  or  three  orders  for  second  grade  we  have 
been  able  to  supply  orders  promptly;  and  if  any  of 
our  readers  still  want  either  sugar  or  syrup  we  can 
furnish  it  promptly  as  follows: 

No.  1.  Best  maple  sugar,  9c  per  lb. 

No.  2.  Good  maple  sugar,  8c  per  lb. 

Half  a  cent  less  in  50-lb.  lots;  Ic  less  in  barrel  lots 
of  300  lbs. 

Choice  maple  syrup,  $1.00  per  gallon;  $8..50  for  10 
gallons;  80c  per  gallon  In  20-gallon  lots  or  more,  all 
in  gallon  cans.         

PAINT  FOR    BEE-HIVES. 

After  much  experimentation,  and  a  careful  study 
into  the  paint  question,  we  offer  a  mixed  paint  pre- 
pared csin'cially  for  bee-hi\es.  It  will  in)t  chalk  or 
Make  off.  and  wc  gnaraiitec  it  to  be  free  from  adul- 
teiants.  such  as  whiting,  barytes,  lime,  and  other 
sulistitutcs  that  do  not  add  to  the  enduring  quali- 
ties of  t  he  paint.  Our  paint  is  made  of  strictly  pure 
lea<l.  strictly  pure  zinc,  and  genuine  Fi-ench  ocher 
of  , about  cinial  pi'( (portions,  mixed  in  pure  linseed 
oil.  It  is  generally  recognizi'd  that  there  is  no  pig- 
ment more  peimaneiit  tlian  French  ocher;  and  this, 
combined  with  zinc  and  lead,  makes  a  most  durable 
combination.  The  resultant  tint  is  a  pale  straw 
c-olor.  Price:  Pint,  353;  quart,  60c;  half -gallon, 
$1.00;  gallon,  $1.75.  Half  a  gallon  will  cover  ten  No. 
1  Dovetailed  hives  two  coats. 


THE     NEW     ONION     CULTURE,    AND    SELLING     ONION- 
PLANTS. 

This  seems  to  be  the  absorbing  topic  just  now— 
iKjt  only  with  the  catalogue-makers,  but  dealers  in 
general.  The  market  isahijost  cleaned  out  of  Prize- 
taker  seed,  although  we  have  enough  to  last  for  a 
little  while,  and  liope  to  bu  able  to  get  some  more. 
As  there  is  some  .iangling  in  regard  to  whetlier 
Prizetaker  and  Spanish  King  are  one  and  the  same 
thing  or  iu)t,  we  are  using  at  present  the  Prizetaker 


seed  .straight  from  William  Heniy  Maule liimself .  I 
believe,  however,  that  man.y  of  you  will  be  better 
plea.sed  with  the  White  Victoria.  It  is  not  so  large, 
but  it  is  so  wondei'f  ullj'  handsome;  and,  by  the  way, 
this  reminds  me  theie  is  going  to  be  a  tremendous 
demand  for  onion-pfroits.  I  think  they  can  be  sent 
by  mail  just  as  safely  as  cabbage  and  celery,  and  we 
are  planting  heavily  in  order  to  be  able  to  furnish 
them  at  the  following  price — 5  cts  for  20;  20  cts.  per 
100;  $1.50  per  lUOO.  If  wanted  by  mail,  add  6  cts. 
more  for  postage  on  30  lots;  15  cts.  more  on  100  lots, 
and  $1.0(1  on  KKiO  lots.  Pei'haps  you  had  better  try 
exjierinients  first  by  ordering  30;  if  these  reach  you 
all  right,  and  grow  without  anv  trouble,  then  you 
can  try  lots  of  100  or  lOOO.  They  will  be  fully  as 
hardy  as  cabbage-plants,  I  think,  and  may  therefore 
be  set  out  in  the  open  field  at  the  .same  time.  Of 
course,  onion-plants  will  be  sent  out  right  from  tlie 
seed-bed;  they  need  not  be  transplanted  as  cahliage, 
celery,  tomatoes,  etc,  are. 


OUR  NEW  BOOK  ON  TILE-DRAINING. 

After  many  delays  it  is  just  about  finished;  and 
if  you  have  only  a  little  ditching  to  do  it  will  cer- 
tainly pay  .you  to  invest  the  small  sum  of  40  cents 
in  the  book.  As  an  illustration,  a  few  days  agolsent 
a  big  strongman  who  has  done  ditching,  and  thought 
he  knew  how,  out  into  tlie  lot  to  dig  where  I  had  pre- 
viously drawn  a  string  for  him  to  go  l3y.  It  was 
two  or  three  hours  before  I  g(  )t  ready  to  come  around 
and  inspect.  I  found  him  making  little  progress 
in  trying  U^  dig  the  hard  clay  with  a  Tpick.  I  took 
the  spade  given  him  at  first,  and  in  five  minutes 
taught  him  to  throw  out  the  dirt  a  full  spade  depth 
almost  as  fast  as  he  could  handle  his  spade,  and 
this,  too,  in  ground  so  hard  he  thought  he  would 
have  to  u.se  the  pick.  Had  he  tried  to  push  his  tile- 
spade  into  tlie  ground  with  botli  edges  in  tlie  clay  it 
would  have  lte(>n  impos-sible,  even  if  he  had  put  his 
full  weight  (200  lbs.)  on  top  of  the  spade;  but  by 
putting  only  one  edge  in  the  clay,  leaving  one  edge 
cleai-,  he  managed  it  easily,  and  the  dirt  dropped 
from  his  spade  without  a  bit  of  trouble;  whereas, 
by  the  old  plan  the  clay  would  stick  to  the  spade  st> 
as  to  have  to  be  cleared  off'  with  a  trowel  almost 
every  time.  Tlie  book  explains  all  of  this  by  draw- 
ings so  plain  that  anj-  one  will  "  catch  on  "  in  an  in- 
stant. Why,  since  I  liave  learned  how  to  do  it  as 
friend  Chamberlain  does,  I  find  it  just  fun  to  dig  in 
the  hardest  ground,  and  the  labor  isn't  .severe  and 
exhausting  either.  This  one  item,  it  seems  to  me, 
ought  to  he  worth  many  times  the  cost  of  the  book; 
but  aside  from  this  the  book  considers  everything 
pertaining  to  tile-draining,  brought  up  to  the  pres- 
ent date,  including  all  recent  improvements.  Price 
40  cents  by  mail,  postpaid. 


Hastings'  Lightning  Bee-Escape. 


Send  for  sample  of  Hastings' "Lightning  "  Bee 
Escape,  and  you  will  be  convinced  that  it  is  the 
best  and  most  practical  escape  yet  produced.  It 
will  clear  the  supers  in  a  short  .space  of  time  (2  to  4 
hours),  and  it  is  impossible  for  the  bees  to  clog  the 
passage,  as  they  can  not  return.  Each  escape  guar- 
anteed as  represented.  Price,  by  mail,  each,  $0.20; 
by  mail,  per  doz..  $2.25.  Full  directions  with  each 
escape.  Electrotypes  furnished  free  for  dealers' 
catalogues.    Write  for  discount.  7-12db 

M.  E.  HASTINGS,  New  York  Mills,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Bee-Keeper's  Supplies. 

Hives,  Honey -Cases,  Sections,  and  Frames. 
We  are  the  only  concern  in  Southern  Califor- 
nia who  make  a 

SPECIALTY  OF  BEE-KEEPERS'  MATERIAL. 

Agents^for  the  white  basswood^l-lb.  sections. 
Send  for  catalogue  and  price  list."CZl 
fi-13db  Oceanside  Mill  Cc'.Oceanside,  Cal. 


ISK 


(;i.HAMN(iS  IN  BEE  CULT UllE. 


Ho/^Ey  Column. 


CITY  AfARKETS. 

PouTi-AM).  Jhiiini.  Tin  r(>  is  V(i.\  litllo  cliaiiKi' to 
noto  sini't' oil  !•  last.  Slofks  arc  \oVy  lijrlit,  but  llu> 
•  li'iniiiKi  is  also  i'orr<-S|>oruliii>rl.\  li>rlit.  Fan<'.\'  wliitf 
foml)  mijrlit.  however,  Ix-  foiriMl  a  I'oiit  a  pound 
liitrluM'  iliaii  n-jrular  iiuoiatioiis.  'Plic  wcatlioi- for 
liasi  Mioiitli  has  liccn  all  that  apiaiists  coulti  (Icsirc. 
rh(>  hills  art' covcrcii  with  wild  llowcis,  and  the  al- 
mond and  peach  trees  are  in  full  bloom.  Prii'es 
roiuaiii  as  follows:  White  .•omb,  1-lh..  15;  2  1b..  14; 
liKlit  ambir.  1-lb..  i:i:  :Mbs..  12.  While  o.vtracted.  7; 
llKhl  amber,  ti^.     Bt««l('((X,  25. 

Mar.  12.                                 Lew,  Si'iKGii  &  Co.. 
Portland,  Or. 

MiNNEAiMH.is.  -H«/i^!/— i^'iIM'l.v  livlit.  There  are 
very  few  lots  of  fancy  white  cloxer  on  the  market. 
There  Is  a  larjre  quantify  of  daik  honey  of  lioth 
comb  and  e.xtracted.  Fanc\-  white  clo\-er,  in  1-lb. 
sections,  16@17;  choice.  i:«?iil5:  dark.  ItW/ 12;  dark, 
broken,  bad  ordei-.  5@7.  E.xtracted.  dark,  7;  lijihl, 
8®9.     Bicsiviix.  not  wanted  at  any  price. 

Mar.  14.  .1    A.  SnE.\  &('().. 

14  &  1»>  Hennepin  Ave.,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 


S.\x  Kkancisco.  —  Honej/.  —  Trade  very  quiet; 
st<K'ks  of  e.vtraeted  lig-ht,  and  will  most  likely  be 
consumed  before  new  crop  ai-rives.  No  inquiry  for 
comb  honey  whatever,  and  stocks  in  excess  (if  de- 
mand. We  quote:  Extractefl  white,  6@(Ji^;  light 
amber.  o><i@5;'i:  amber  and  candied,  n@5H.  Comb 
honey,  2-lbs.,  7®.ll;  Mb.,  10@1U2. 

SCHACHT,  LE.MCKE  &  StEINER, 

Mar.  25.  San  Francisco,  Cal. 


New  York.— Honej/.— Tlie  market  for  honey  is 
very  quiet;  very  little  selling.  In  f;ict,  tliere  is 
such  a  small  demand  for  it  just  now  that  we  can 
hardly  (luote  it  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  producer. 
Fancy.  1-lb..  UmS;  2-11).,  I(;(ai2;  fair.  1-Ib.,  9@10;  2-lb. 
OTilO;  l)uckwheat,  1-lb.,  8(gi9:  2-lb.,  7@7»/2.  Extract- 
ed honev.  clover  and  basswood,  6!4@7.  Muckwheat, 
5,'^@6.    Beeswax,  28(?%29;  in  fair  demand. 

Mar.  2;^.  Chas.  Israel  &  IJuo., 

New  York. 

Milwaukee. —Hojicj/.  The  demand  foi' honey  has 
not  been  a.s  frood  the  past  fid  days  as  was  ex|)ected, 
and  is  now  slow.  The  siipi'l.v  is  aNXTajre,  while  the 
common  (jualities  seem  to  be  the  larjicst,  and  v(>ry 
tine  not  very  larjfe.  Quote:  Choice  1  lb.  sections, 
15@16;  common.  12@13.  Extracted,  white,  barrels, 
7;  keifs,  7'/!;  iiails,  7j^@8.     B^&sira.r,  wanted.  2.3(5>25. 

Mar.  21.  A.  V.  Hisuor, 

Milwaukee,  Wl.s. 

Cincinnati.  HoJiejy.— No  chang-e  since  our  last. 
Demand  is  fair  for  extracted,  at  '>@ii  on  arriviil. 
There  is  a  fair  demand,  and  a  good  supply  of  comb 
honey  at  13@16  for  best  white  in  the  301)1)1111^  way. 

Beeswax  is  in  g-ood  demand,  at  2;^@25.  for  good  to 
choice  yellow  on  arrival.  Chas.  F.  Muth, 

Mar.  21.  (Jincinnati,  Ohio. 

Chicago.— Hiy»iej/.— Demand  fail-  for  season,  and 
stock  of  honey  is  not  larKe;  should  there  cornea 
brisk  turn  it  would  clean  up  the  market.  Choice 
white  brings  15c,  and  fani'v  Ui;  dark  to  black  is  not 
salable  at  any  certain  fiRure.  Extracted.  6@7C'1'-H, 
a<;cordintr  to  tlie  body  and  tlaxor.  Bw.HWdX.  27. 
K.  .\.  lU'RNET'r, 

Mar.  21.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111. 


Detroit.— Honei/.— Comb  honev  is  dull  and  lower. 
It  now  sells  at  WmtVi  for  while;  daik  grades  al- 
most unsalal)le.  ICxIracled.  7@K;  not  much  in  sight. 
BcfHwax.  in  fail-  demand,  2(lf;/27. 

Mar.  21.  M.  II.  HiiNr. 

Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

Saint  Louis.  H<)7irj/.  IiKiuiries  forstrained  were 
frequent,  and  business  more  satisfactory.  No 
•  luotable  change  in  values.     Bcemrnx,  prime.  27X. 

Mar.  21.                                    1).  (i.  TuiT  Gko.  Co.. 
St.  Jjouis,  Mo. 

Boston.— Hojicj/.— We  (lUote  yoti  our  honej-mar- 
ket  as  being  well  supplied,  fair  demand.  Oni-- 
pound  combs  selling  at  i:5@>15;  no  2-ll)s.  on  liand. 
Extracted  honey,  7@7>^.    Beeswax,  none. 

Mar.  26.  Blakk  &  Ripley. 

Boston,  Ma.ss. 

Thousand  pounds  choice,  iight^wlored,  extracted 
honey  at  7c  per  lb.    Bykon  Walker,  Capac,  Mich. 

For  Sale.- 20  lbs.  extracted  clover  honey,  in  new 
buckets,  for  $2.    By  the  barrel  cheaj). 
6-7d  B.  T.  Baldwin,  Marion,  Ind. 


The  Best  A/lade,     SECTION 

Handiest,  qiiditd 

and  Cheapest       oUrLK 

In  the  Country. 

ALSO    THE    BEST    DOVETAILED    HIVES,  SEC- 
TION-BOXES, COMB  FOUNDATION,  ETC. 

SKNI)    TO    THE 

Largest    Supply    Factory    in    Massachusetts,    for 

Free  Price  List  that  will  interest  all 

Bee-Keepers. 

Address  DUDLEY  BOX  CO.,  or  F.  M.  TAINTOR. 

Manager,  Greenfield,  Mass. 

^Fln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

ITALIAN   QtfEENS. 

(Mt-'ens  reared  and   tested  in  the   fall   of 
'91,  $1.50  each.    Safe  arrival  guaranteed. 

Misses  S.  Si  M.  Basites,  Fiketon,  Ohio.      7-8-9d 


Kansas  City.— Honey.— Demand  poor,  with  a  large 
supply  of  comb.  We  quote:  Comb,  1-lb.,  fancy, 
12<^i:};  dark,  m,f).  Extract»-d,  white,  7;  dark,  ^6. 
Be^Hwax,  none  on  the  market. 

Mar.  21.  Hamblin  &  Beakss, 

514  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


TESTED  ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

Bred  for  business  and  general   good   qualities,  of 
la.st  year's  raising,  $1.00  each;  $10.00  per  doz.     Hy- 
brids, 25  cts.  each.  7-8d 
T.  W.  LIVINGSTON,  Dalton,  Whittleld  Co.,  Ga. 


irilili  SELIi  a  few  stocks  of  Pure  Italians  in 
g-ood  L.  hives,  on  7  frames,  at  $5.00  each. 

C.  G.  FENN.  Washing-ton,  Conn. 


I    Our  catalogue  of  Italian,  Punic  and 
Golden  ("arniiilan  (,)u(!ens.     OurSt'lf. 
Swarrn-hiver  is  the  only  one  that  has 
I  ever  hived  a  swarm  of  bees. 

H.  ALLEY,  Wenhani,  Mass. 


FREE 

7d 


One  of  our.i-banded  i-ed-clo\'er  queens^-'    100  ll)s.  of 
clover  honev  in  poor  seasons.    Send  for  descriptive 
circular  free.               LEININGKK  BKOS., 
7tfdb Ft.  Jennings.  Ohio. 

Italian  Bees  and  Queens  For  Sale. 

I'ntesli-d  qiieeiis.  ■fl.lKI;  toted.  tl..')(l.  lices,  $1.(10 
per  lb.  (Colony.  1-5.00.  Also  barred  Plymoutli  Rock 
eggs  for  sitting,  $1.(M)  per  i;!. 

7-16dh  .MRS.  A.  A.  SIMPSON,  Swarts,  Pa. 


For  Sale,  15  Hives  of  Bees, 

In  double-walled  hives  on  tin   L.  frame. 

7tfdb        A.  POWERS,  Brittain.  Summit  Co.,  Ohio. 


226 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


April  1. 


m  28-page   RESTRICTOR   book.     How 

r  I*  A  O     to  avoid  swarms,  brace-comlj-s,  and  losses 
■    '  '*'"  in  winter.  How  to  get  bees  into  sections 
in  one  hour;  and  rear  queens  in  full  colonies,  etc., 
same  old  fixtures.        C.  W.  Dayton,  Clinton,  Wis. 
24-23db  Please  mention  this  paper. 


CALIFORNIA  HEADeUARTERS  for  SMens! 

Pi-ices  $1.00  and    upward.    Also    headquarters    for 

foundation.    Send  ft)r  price  list. 

5d      l.UTHE:R&HORTOIN,Re<lland8,  Cal. 

t^"In  respuiidinj^  to  tlii.s  ailviTti.-enient  mention  GLEANlNiiii. 


FOR  1892  AND  A  FINE,  TESTED.  ITALIAN  QUEEN,  OF  LAST  YEAR'S 
REARING,  FOR  $1.75.  EITHER  ALONE,  $1.00.  FOR  $2.00.  THE 
REVIEW,  THE  QUEEN  AND  THE  50  CT.  BOOK,  •'  ADVANOED  BEE 
CULTURE."    WILL  BE  SENT.  W.  Z.   HUTCHINSON,    FLINT.    MICH. 

P.  S.— If  not  acquainted  with  the  Review,  send  ten  cents  for  three  late  but  different 


EARLY    QI7EE1TS, 

FROIVI  our  branch  Apiary  in  Texas,  wliich  is 
three  miles  from  any  other  bees,  and  none  but 
the  best  FIVE  -  RANDED  Golden  Italian 
Queens  used  to  rear  Queens  and  Drones.  Our 
bees  are  the  g-entlest,  best  workers,  and  most  beau- 
tiful bees  known.  Safe  arrival  and  entire  satis- 
faction g-uaranteed.  one  Warranted  Queen,  March 
and  April,  $1.35;  6  for  $6.00.  If  you  want  the  best, 
send  for  our  circular  at  once.  l-24db 

S.  F.  £  I,  TREGO,  Swedona,  III. 
In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

BEE-HIVES,   SECTIONS,  ETC. 

We  make  the  best  goods  and  sell  tliem  clieap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  g-oods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world. 

Our  goods  are  known  as  tlie  best  througliout  tlie 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  pi'icelist. 

G.  B.  LEWIS  CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

Ploase  mention  this  paper.  Itftlb 

Colonies 

of  Ita.lia.xis 

Are  wintering  well,  and,  as  usual,  I  will  sell  a  lim- 
ited number  of  them  to  reduce  stock  to  the  required 
number.  Each  hive  shipped  to  my  customers  will 
contain  a  full  prosperous  colony  of  Italian  bees, 
witli  a  last  year's  tested  (lueen,  on  eight  Hoffman 
frames  of  brood  and  lioney.  As  my  main  object  in 
liandling  l)ees  is  lioney,  we  raise  all  our  queens  in 
full  colonics  from  cells  built  under  the  swarming 
impulse,  using  the  choicest  and  most  profitable 
stock  to  breed  from. 

Safe  arrival  guaranteed  in  May  and  fii'.st  half  of 
June.    For  terms  please  address 


3-8dl) 


JULIUS  HOFFIVIAN, 


CANAJOHARIE,  N.  Y. 


Cyin  responding  to  this  ad 


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Toe;  Sizes  1  to  7.  C  D  E  or  E  E 
Widths.  Send  your  size.  Sure 
Fit.  Pat.  Tips, 
Same  price. 

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Medina,  O. 

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der. Registered 
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Note. 

ti>enieiit  mention  Sleaningh. 


DOVETAILED 


""fAi'5?»0UEEMS. 

Send  ft)r  price  list  of  Italian  Queens,  Drones, 
Hives,  Smokers,  Foundation,  etc.  Finest  breeding 
queen,  after  March  1,  $4.00.  Tested,  $2.00;  3  for  $5.00. 
Untested,  in  April,  $1.00;  6  for  $5.00,  or  $9.00  per  doz- 
en by  mail.  Safe  arrival  guaranteed.  Orders  for 
Queens  booked  for  20  days  or  more,  5  per  cent  dis- 
count. Make  money  orders  payable  at  Clifton. 
3tfdb       COLWIOK  &  COLWICK,  NOESE.  BOSaUE  CO.,  TEXAS. 

1  ^lii  respoiKllntr  to  this  adveitisement  mention  Olbaninos, 


RETAIL 

— AND— 

WHOLESALE. 


T>UU  SUPPLIES 

i  #11  11    Everytliing;  used  in  the  Apiary. 

^^  M,Am^  Greatest  variety  and  largest  stock 
in  the  West.  New  catalog,  54  illustrated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  KEETOHMEE.  EED  OAZ,  IOWA. 

In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

ELMER    HUTCHIJ^'SOJ^' 

Has  moved  to  N'assah,  Tdscola  Co.,  Mich.  He  can 
furnish  untested  queens  in  April  and  May,  raised 
from  one  of  liis  Golden  Italian  .5-banded  (pieens, 
that  took  FIRST  I'KEMiUM  at  the  Detroit  E.\position 
the  last  two  years,  for  $1.15  each,  or  6  for  $5.00.  Oi^ 
ders  will  be  filled  for  me  in  April  and  May  by  a 
queen-breeder  in  t  he  South,  wlio  has  one  of  my  best 
lireeding  queens.    Orders  promptly  filled   and  .safe 


j:«^!ii  i-espondiiii.' In  lhis;i(K 


arrival    guaranteed. 
at  Vassar. 


Make  money  orders  payable 
7-lCdb 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 


We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  fi-om  one  to  a  doz- 
en, you  d(j  not  find  them  so,  oi'  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory ill  (^very  way,  return  tlieni  by  mail  within  90 
days  aftei-  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  po.stpaid,  with   full  direc- 
tions, 30c ;  per  dozen,  $2.25.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb    R.  (£  E.  C.  PORTER,  LEWISTOWN,  ILL. 

IL^lii  nspoiidint?  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


'Journal:^' 

•  DELVoTEL 

•To-B 

•andHoN-.   . 
•andhomel-    <^ 


$1?5perYeai^  \§)     r^EDINAOHlO 


Vol.  XX. 


APRIL  1,  1892. 


No.  7. 


Stray  Straws 


FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 


Kkkp  savket,  no  niattor  how  warm  the  dis- 
cussion. 

Metai.  combs  again.  This  lime  tiicy  are  in- 
vented in  (Germany. 

Emma  says  tliat  l)oolittle"s  as  near  right  as 
any.  if  he  /.s  ail  alone.  Emma's  a  girl  of  pretty 
good  judgment. 

Good  nature  seems  to  be  one  of  the  promi- 
nent features  that  characterize  the  discussions 
of  bee-keepers  nowadays. 

Do  BEES  SLEEP?  The  CentraUbUitt  thinks 
they  have  no  need  of  sleep,  at  least  not  in  sum- 
mer.   I  wouldn't  be  a  bee. 

The  winter  has  not  been  very  severe  in 
Northern  Illinois.  Hasn't  gone  down  as  low  as 
some  winters  by  nearly  :.'()°. 

The  standaru  frame  of  the  British  (14x83^ 
inches)  has  lli)  square  inches  of  surface;  the 
French,  186;  and  the  Simplicity,  161  square 
inches. 

February  was  warm  enough  so  I  kept  cellar 
door  open  day  and  night  for  a  week.  But  the 
middle  of  March  shows  S  to  13°  above  zero, 
morning  after  morning. 

Cost  of  hoxev  is  hardly  worth  more  discus- 
sion. So  long  as  tlu;  matter  is  viewed  from 
distinctly  separate  standpoints,  there  never  can 
be  any  agreement. 

I  dii>x"t  want  the  .senior  editor  to  get  back 
north  before  danger  of  spring  dwindling  was 
over.  Still,  it  seems  good  to  have  his  signature 
A.  I.  R.e'I  throughout  Gleanings. 

"We  ARE  KAPiDLV  coming  to  the  conclusion 
that  bees  need  more  ventilation  in  the  cellar 
than  many  suppose."— Foot-no<e  on  jxiqe  'JO.'l. 
All  right,  conn-  on.    I've  been  there  for  years. 

Did  the  windmill  spin  faster 

At  sight  of  its  master? 

Did  the  cabbage  forth  shoot 

When  it  saw  A.  I.  Root? 
A  CORRESPONDENT  of  B.  B.  J.  came  near  los- 
ing his  life  by  means  of  an  oil-stove  without 
having  the  smoke  carriid  off.  No  wonder  those 
who  have  tried  oil-stoves  to  heat  winter  repos- 
itories are  down  on  artificial  heat. 

Winter  heatixc;,  which  caused  such  a  hent- 
ed  discussioti  in  Germany,  is  settled  down  to 
the  conclusion  that,  in  the  hands  of  Pastor 
Weygandt.  it  is  a  success,  but  he  does  not  claim 
it  as  a  thing  for  general  use  everywhere.  For 
the  majority,  it  is  thought  to  cost  more  than  it 
comes  to.  This  doesn't  refer  to  keeping  cellars 
warm  in  winter. 


"The  swarmi.ng  fever  is  not  present,  we 
know,  except  as  developed  by  extcirnal  causes," 
says  J.  H.  Larraiiee,  p.  194.  No,  we  don't  know 
— well,  that  is,  what  do  you  mean  by  external 
causes  ? 

Don't  BE  fooled  by  one  or  two  warm  days 
into  bringing  your  i)ees  out  of  the  cellar  too 
soon.  Let'em  roar  in  the  cellar  if  they  want 
to.  Just  open  all  up  at  night  and  give  them  a 
good  airing. 

Phacelia  Tanacetifolia,  the  California 
honey-plant,  according  to  two  writers  in  UApi- 
culteur,  is  not  only  a  valuable  honey-plant  in 
France,  but  an  excellent  forage-plant.  Bro. 
Larrabee,  there's  a  field  for  experiment. 

That  trip  up  Wilson's  J*eak  makes  thrilling 
reading;  but  don't  you  think  any  man  not  in 
the  best  of  rei)air  who  should  undertake  such  a 
trip  would  be  a  good  deal  of  a  f — er— er  don't 
you  think  he  oughtn't  to  undertake  so  much? 

It  does  seem  that  we  ought  to  come  to  some 
sort  of  agreement  about  grading  before  the  sub- 
ject is  dropped.  Some  one  may  yet  strike  a 
lead  that  will  help  us  out,  and  an  hour  or  so  in 
a  convention  will  hardly  settle  it  satisfactorily 
unless  there  is  more  previous  discussion. 

Old  bees,  according  to  Cantor  Beck,  in  Lpz. 
Bztfj.,  winter  as  well  as  young  ones.  He  united 
a  lot  of  old  bees  and  gave  them  a  queen,  and 
they  lived  as  well  as  others,  being  the  third 
colony,  among  ."50,  ready  to  swarm  the  next  sea- 
son.    But  wasn't  this  an  unusual  experience? 

Incorporation,  It  seems,  is  not  the  thing  ob- 
jected to  by  the  O.  B.  A.  It's  only  that  there 
wasn't  more  of  it.  R.  McKnight  says,  in  C.  B. 
J.,  "  We  never  had  any  objection  to  oih-  breth- 
ren across  the  border  incorporating."  But  he 
thinks  it  ought  to  have  been  done  by  act  of  Con- 
gress. 

The  congress  op  Paris  agreed  upon  three 
frames  as  standard— a  high  frame  30x40  centi- 
meters; a  l(»n  frame  40x;iO,  and  a  square  frame 
.35X.3.").  The  hujli  is  for  mountainous  or  cold  re- 
gions; the  low  for  hot,  and  the  snunre  for  me- 
dium climates.  The  square  frame  is  about  13^ 
inches  square. 

Larrabee  proposes  to  start  at  the  root  of 
things  by  controlling  fertilization  in  order  to 
control  qualities  in  i)ees.  Control  of  fertiliza- 
tion s(;ems  hopeless;  but  its  importance  war- 
rants mucli  trial.  But  please,  Bro.  Larrabee, 
don't  refer  to  N.  W.  McLain's  experiments  as 
any  thing  reliable. 

The  boahd  of  Lady  Managers  of  the  World's 
Fair  hav(!  appointed  ten  ladies  as  a  committee 
on  "Bees  and  Bee  Culture."  They  are  Mes- 
dames  Olmstead,  Doolittle,  Howes,  Cantrill, 
Shepard,  Conzins,  Hartpence,  McCandless,  Rue, 
Bartlett.  Nice  ladies,  without  doubt,  and  very 
properly  behaved;  but  somehow  I  don't  remem- 


328 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


April  1. 


ber  ever  hearing  of  any  one  of  them  as  a  bee- 
keeper. 

That  chkap  hakyest  dkink,  that  I  quoted 
from  C.  B.  J..  J.  A.  (Jreen  feels  so  sure  is  all 
wrong  that  I'm  afraid  he  is  right.  Hereafter, 
before  I  give  a  recipe  for  any  drink  I  think  I'll 
first  drink  a  few  quarts  of  it  myself.  I  don't 
think  the  drink  in  question  ought  to  be  called 
"cheap,'"  for  you  must  swallow  about  a  quarter 
of  a  pou)id  of  honey  to  get  a  pint  of  drink. 

Faik  PI-AY  has  been  shown  on  the  battlefield 
of  the  "cost"  discussion;  but  Hon.  R.  L.  Tay- 
lor, unwittingly  no  doubt,  indulges  in  foul  play 
when  he  accuses  Doolittle  of  inconsistency  in 
changing  from  313  days  at  W.2.5  to  81  days  at 
.?.5.00.  I  think  Doolittle  had  previously  explain- 
ed that,  in  one  case,  he  charged  for  the  whole 
year  at  a  price  that  could  be  so  earned,  and  in 
the  other  case  merely  for  the  days  actually  em- 
ployed at  expert  wages.    That's  fair,  isn't  it? 


■WHAT  OUGHT  THE  GOVERNMENT  TO  DO  FOR 
APICULTURE  1 


VALUABLE   SUGGESTIONS    FKOM     P.    M.    ELWOOD 


Apiculture  is  a  branch  of  agriculture,  and  as 
such  is  entitled  to  the  same  fostering  care  ex- 
tended by  the  government  to  other  branches 
of  the  same  occupation.  As  a  pursuit  it  is  a 
new  comer,  an  "infant  industry,"  and  we 
should  therefoi'e  expect  it  to  be  treated  with  ex- 
ceptional favor.  Instead  of  this,  however,  the 
three  hundred  thousand  bee  -  keepers  of  this 
country  have  been  almost  wholly  neglected. 
There  seems  to  have  been  enough  money  to 
spend  on  promoting  the  culture  of  silk,  an  arti- 
cle of  luxuiy.  but  nothing  foi-  the  pioduction  of 
honi'y.  the  most  healthful  sugar  food  in  the 
world.  Millions  of  dollars  are  freely  offered  for 
the  production  of  cane  sugar,  an  industry  that 
needs  the  fatherly  care  of  the  government  no 
more  than  does  ours,  if,  indeed,  it  needs  it  as 
much.  Bee  culture  is  peculiarly  important  be- 
cause it  saves  a  product  that,  unless  gathered 
by  the  honey-bee,  goes  to  waste;  also  because 
of  the  offices  the  bee  performs  in  the  fertiliza- 
tion of  the  flowers  of  fruits,  grains,  seeds,  etc. 
These  indirect  benefits  are  probably  quite  as 
important  as  the  primary  woik  of  honey-gath- 
ering. As  mentioned  in  my  last,  we  have 
now  under  Secretary  Rusk  an  effort  by  the 
government  to  protect  us.  for  it  has  within  the 
pa.st  year  employed  two  able  bee-keepers.  Mr. 
Larrabee  at  the  Michigan  Agiicultnral  College, 
and  Mr.  Frank  Benton  at  Washington,  to  look 
aftei'  oui'  interests. 

This  well-intended  effort,  however,  is  practi- 
cally fruitless,  since  both  of  tliese  men  an-  under 
the  direction  of  Chief  Riley,  of  the  Division 
of  Entomology,  who.  no  matter  how  distin- 
guished as  an  entomologist,  can  not  be  expect- 
ed to  know  much  about  piactical  and  scientific 
bee-keeping.  n(jr  to  he  able  to  intelligently  su- 
pervise the  expenditure  of  money  appropriated 
for  experimental  work  in  advanced  l3e(>  culture. 
In  proof  of  this  assertion,  notice  the  misdi- 
rection of  the  efforts  of  these  two  efificient  men. 
Mr.  Larrabee's  time  has  b('en  so  fully  occupied 
with  the  care  and  manual  labor  of  the  large 
Michigan  College  apiary  as  to  leave  him  but 
very  little  time  orenergy  for  experimental  work. 
Mr.  Benton.  I  .judge,  has  a  desk  in  some  dark 
corner  of  the  Division  of  Entomology,  and  he 
has  no  bees  nor  other  facilities  for  practical 
work.  He  has  had  enough  light  and  time  al- 
lowed him.  howcNcr,  to  jjicpare  a  bulletin,  to 
be  sent  to  farmers  and  others  making  inquiries 
as  to  how  they  shall  connnence  bee-keeping. 
Now,  we  do  not  need   this  kind  of  work  at  all, 


for  we  have  plenty  of  handbooks  and  journals 
devoted  to  A  B  C  instruction.  What  we  need 
is  advanced  work — work  that  private  individ- 
uals can  not  perform  because  of  expense,  or 
lack  of  time  oi'  facilities  for  doing  it.  We  do 
not  care  to  have  the  government  make  any 
efforts  to  increase  the  number  of  bee-keepers 
until  after  it  shall  have  made  successful  efforts 
to  enlarge  the  markets  for  their  products.  We 
liardly  think  that,  in  the  fostering  care  the 
govei'nment  extended  to  the  cotton,  iron,  and 
other  manufacturers,  it  ever  became  necessary 
to  issue  bulletins  describing  the  best  course  for 
beginners  to  pursue  in  engaging  in  these  occu- 
pations. The  government  can  and  should  help 
us  by  making  original  investigation  on  the  uses 
of  honey  in  the  arts  and  manufactures,  and 
by  collecting  and  disseminating  information 
already  known  to  the  few,  on  these  points;  also 
by  investigations  as  to  the  healthfulness  of 
honey,  by  compaiing  its  digestibility  with  that 
of  cane-sugar  syrup  and  other  sugar  and  heat 
producing  foods.  The  various  diseases  of  bees, 
particularly  the  pest  of  foul  brood,  should  be 
investigated,  and  methods  of  treatment  dissem- 
inated. The  Canadian  govei'nment  has  a  foul- 
l)iood  inspector,  and  also  grants  pecuniary  aid 
to  its  national  society  for  their  efforts  in  pro- 
moting advanced  bee  culture.  Some  parts  of 
our  country  are  said  to  be  as  badly  afflicted 
with  this  contagious  disease  as  is  Caiuida;  but 
we  get  no  help,  although  it  is  expected  that  the 
Bureau  of  Aninuil  Industiy,  a  division  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  in  charge  of  the 
diseases  of  domestic  animals,  etc..  will  call  for 
an  appropriation  of  (me  million  dollars  from  the 
present  congress. 

The  important  part  the  honey-bee  performs  in 
the  fertilization  of  flowers  should  be  so  fully  in- 
vestigated as  to  make  the  results  authoritative, 
and  the  report  spread  broadcast  aimmg  farmers 
and  frult-growei'S.  Bee-keepers  now  suffer  seri- 
ous loss  from  the  prejudices  of  these  classes  who 
should  be  our  strongest  friends  and  supporters. 

A  number  of  disputed  as  well  as  a  number  of 
undiscovered  functions  in  the  physiology  of  the 
honey-bee  should  be  definitely  established.  It 
may  be  said  that  these  do  not  concern  the  ordi- 
nary bee-keejjer.  Not  so:  for  I  have  recent- 
ly had  occasion  in  practical  bee-keeping  to  re- 
fer to  several  of  the  most  obscure.  An  experi- 
ment apiaiT-  conducted  by  so  practical  and 
sixillful  a  beekeeper  as  Frank  Benton,  ought 
also  to  establish  many  useful  (joints  in  practi- 
cal bee-keeping.  The  different  races  of  bees 
could  be  tested,  and  trustworthy  reports  made 
as  to  their  merits,  without  compelling  a  multi- 
tude of  be<'-keepers  to  investof  their  hard  earn- 
ings in  making  what  are  usually  very  imper- 
fect tesis.  The  trial  of  the  so-called  I'unic  bee 
by  the  bee-keepers  of  this  country  will  probably 
cost  thousands  of  dollars.  Mr.  Benton,  with  a 
few  swarms  of  bees  at  his  command,  quite  like- 
ly could  have  decided  on  their  worthlessness 
at  an  exiK'use  of  less  than  twenty-five  dollars. 

A  statement  has  recently  gone  forth  from  one 
of  our  most  distinguished  State  entomologists. 
Dr.  Lintner.  that  it  woidd  be  desirable  for  the 
destruction  of  certain  insects  that  fruit-trees  be 
sprayed  witli  arsenical  mixtures  while  still  in 
blooin,  and  that  he  refrained  from  advising 
spraying  at  this  time  only  because  of  the 
assertion  of  bee- keepers  that  it  poisoned  their 
bees.  The  proof  of  this  poisoning,  while  conclu- 
sive with  bee-keepers,  was  not  wholly  so  with 
Dr.  Lintner  (it  is  feared  it  will  not  be  with 
fruit-growers),  and  he  asked  that  conclusive 
experiments  be  made  during  tiie  coming  spring. 
As  the  danger  is  imminent,  and  concei'us  the 
bee-keepers  of  many  States,  it  w(juld  seem  very 
appropriate  that  these  experiments  be  conduct- 
ed at  Washington,  and  the  i-esults  put  into  the 


IS'.fJ 


(iI-KANlN'(;s  IX   15HH  CUI/ri'KK. 


229 


liiiiiils  of  Iriiii-iiiowfis.  .so  iluil.if  \\»'  tiiul  it 
lU'CfSsary  to  ;;o  into  court,  w  r  may  have  proof 
tliat  tlicM'  imliiiH'ly  sprayers  had  know  Icdti''  >'f 
tln'  criuic  llicy  wcic  (.•omiiiiUiiiK. 

llisiu)t  iiiv  purpose  to  disiMiss  l\w  merits  of 
our  system  of  governmental  assistance;  bnt  it 
seems  to  me  tliat,  since  oiIkm-  indnstries  are 
reared  anii  fattened  at  the  >rovernment  crib  at 
our  expense,  we  miglil  no\s-  receive  hack  a 
small  percentage  of  the  taxes  levied  on  us  for 
tlie  maintenance  of  our  olderand  stouter  hrotli- 
ers.  Apiculturi>  is  now  a  section  in  the  Divi- 
sit)n  of  Kntomolofiy;  so  at  one  time  was  orni- 
tholoRy;  so  w  as  sili<-raisiii<r.  l>olli  have  been 
raised  to  independent  divisions.  I  leave  it  to 
any  iutelli-ient  man  whether  our  |)ursuit  is  not 
of  more  im  port  a  nc(>  lluiii  either  or  lutth  of  these 
divisions.  1  should  be  glad  to  t\)rtify  my  posi- 
tion with  statistics,  but.  unfortuiuitely,  we 
have  none.  The  census  enumerator  informed 
me  that  he  had  no  place  on  his  l)lanks  for  hon- 
4'y.  The  least  that  we  can  ask  is,  that  the  suc- 
tion of  apiculture  be  raised  to  an  independent 
division,  and  that  it  be  put  under  the  supervi- 
sion of  some  practical  l)ee-keeper  like  Henton. 
ofsulficient  scientilic  and  executive  ability  to 
perform  the  dutii>s  of  the  ot'lici'.  I  want  to 
i*mphasize  the  fact  that  wc  shall  have  nothing 
satisfactorily  done  until  the  work  is  in  charge 
of  a  bee-keeper.  To  ask  an  entomologist  to 
superint^'ud  this  work  is  like  putting  a  lawyer 
in  charge  of  a  hospital,  with  a  corps  of  physi- 
cians doing  his  bidding.  A  lirst-class  experi- 
ment apiary  should  be  established  at  Wasliing- 
ton.  Larrai)ee.  or  some  other  good  man,  should 
be  called  in  as  an  assistant:  and  a  chemist, 
botanist,  and  other  help  should  be  at  the  ser- 
vice of  the  superintendent  at  all  times.  Hulle- 
tins  should  be  issued  to  bee-keepers,  giving  re- 
sults of  work  done,  and  also  giving  crop  reports, 
gathered  with  a  thoroughness  and  exactness 
impossible  with  the  private  enterprise  now  col- 
lecting them.  Lastly,  congress  should  remem- 
ber the  blow  they  dealt  us  when  they  removed 
the  duty  on  cane  sugar,  the  chief  competitor  of 
honey,  and  provide  liberal  means  for  carrying 
on  this  apicultural  experiment  station  in  the 
most  thorough  manner  possible. 

The  State  of  New  York  expends  about  S:i:3,(X30 
yearly  on  farmers"  institutes;  t*;4U,000  on  experi- 
ment stations,  and  .?9~\0U(J  on  the  dairy  commis- 
sion. Hee- keepers  help  pay  for  all  this,  but 
get  no  benefit.  In  justice  the  .State  ought  to 
appropriate  at  least  a  thousand  dollars  to  be 
expended  under  the  direction  of  practical  bee- 
keepers in  holding  one  or  more  bee-keepers'  in- 
stitutes or  conventions,  and  for  other  necessary 
work  in  advanced  bee  culture.  Other  States 
should  do  liktiwise.  Illinois  has  already  set  the 
example.  Our  country  is  so  large  that  it  is  dif- 
ficult to  maintain  a  national  organization. 
With  State  aid  this  could  be  made  a  delegated 
body,  with  the  traveling  expenses  of  delegates 
paid.  P.  H.  El\vooi>. 

Starkville.  N.  V. 

[Mr.  Elwood  ha.s  so  thoroughly  and  ably  cov- 
ered the  subject  above,  that  we  have  but  littk; 
to  add.  We  heartily  indor.se  what  he  says,  and 
hope  the  article  will  be  widely  copied,  not  only 
in  the  bee-journals,  but  in  the  agricultural  pa- 
pers also.  Silk  culture,  in  point  of  magnitude 
and  importance,  is  small  in  comparison  with 
that  of  bee  culture.  IJut  perhaps  tiie  only  rea- 
son why  we  have  not  risen  to  greater  recogni- 
tion at  the  hands  of  the  government  is  because 
bee-keepers  have  not  taken  tiie  pains  to  proper- 
ly present  their  needs.  Let's  see.  Mr.  Ehv(M>d, 
Mr.  Ilershei.ser.  and  Capt.  J.  E.  Hetherington 
were  appoint^'d  by  the  N.  A.  JJ.  K.  A.  at  the 
meeting  in  Albany  to  look  after  these  matters. 
We  are  glad  that  they  are  already  at  work. 


(ii.i';.\.N'iNos  will    gladly  assist    in    anyway  she 

can.  1 


THE  VALUE  OF  DRAWN-OUT  COMBS  ;    WHEN 
AND  HOW  TO  SECURE  THEM. 


.\     MOST     VAI,rAl?l,K     ,\KTK'I-K     ON     TIIK     AI'I.\ 

iust"8  bkst  f'AiTrAi,;    HY  r.  a.  hatch. 


The  best  thing  a  bee-keeper  can  have  in  the 
spring,  is  plenty  of  hives  full  of  t)ees;  and  tlie 
next  liest  thing  is  jili'iity  of  good  combs  to  go 
with  them.  The  dill'erence  between  :.'0  good 
colonies  in  as  many  empty  hives  (no  combs), 
and  10  good  colonies  in  10  hives  full  of  drawn- 
out  combs,  is  not  so  much  as  some  might  think; 
how  much  do  i/o((  think'.'  Lvery  be.e-i)ook  has 
its  chapter  on  increase  of  colonies;  l)ut  how 
many  have  a  chapter  on  increase  of  combs? 
Yet  we  can  but  give  it  second  place  in  impor- 
tance to  the  bee-master.  True,  if  you  have 
bees  enough,  in  time  you  will  get  the  combs; 
but  to  get  them  at  the  least  expen.se  of  bee- 
force,  which  is  our  capital  stock,  and  in  the 
shortest  time,  is  the  object  of  this  article.  If 
we  lose  the  use  of  our  bees  in  lioney-gathering 
because  all  their  force  is  used  up  in  comb-mak- 
ing, we  have  lost  the  use  of  our  capital  for  that 
season;  and.  if  a  hard  winter  follow,  it  may  be 
for  the  next  year  too;  so  lime  becomes  an 
important  consideration.  1  remember  one  year 
in  which,  during  basswood  bloom,  good  colonies 
filled  an  extracting-super  in  two  days  chock 
full,  and  yet  the  flow  continued.  Having  only 
one  set  of  combs  for  each  colony,  the  bees  were 
forced  to  spend  almost  time  enough  to  till  an- 
other set  of  combs  before  the  honey  already 
gathered  would  do  to  extract.  In  this  instance, 
one  set  of  combs  w  as  almost  as  good  as  a  colony 
of  bees.  This  was  an  unusual  year,  but  I  have 
found  that  a  surplus  of  empty  combs  in  the 
spring  is  a  grand  thing  to  have,  if  we  do  not  get 
them  by  the  bees  dying  to  make  a  surplus. 

How  many  combs  are  profitable  ?  After  care- 
ful thought  and  observation  I  have  fixed  on 
three  extra  hives  full  for  each  colony,  spring 
count,  as  just  about  the  right  number.  These, 
with  what  foundation  can  be  used  advanta- 
geously during  the  season,  ought,  with  good 
management,  to  insure  every  bee  opportunity  to 
do  its  very  best,  and  not  hang  out  around  the 
entrance  as  a  sign  there  is  no  room  within. 

HOW    TO   USE   TIIEM. 

At  the  risk  of  getting  the  cart  before  the 
horse,  and  telling  how  to  use  the  combs  before 
the  way  of  getting  them  lias  been  told,  we  will 
say  right  here  that  one  set  of  combs  is  to  be 
used  for  increase  and  two  for  surplus  storage; 
not  that  we  mean  that  each  swarm  is  to  be 
hived  on  a  full  set  of  combs,  but  one  .set  is  to  be 
judiciously  used  for  the  lienefit  of  the  swarms 
or  increase  of  bees;  but  to  tell  just  how  these 
are  used  w'ould  require  an  explanation  of  my 
entires  method  of  increase  of  colonies,  and  would 
make  this  article  too  long. 

The  other  two  sets  of  combs  are  to  be  used  as 
extracting  supers  for  tin;  strongest  colonies  on 
the  tiering-up  plan. 

COMB    FOtNDATION. 

I  regard  coml)  foundation  as  an  advance  in 
bee  culture  second  only  to  the  movable-frame 
hive  in  importance,  and  it  is  to  this  we  must 
look  mainly  for  our  new  combs.  But  to  get  the 
most  advantage  from  it.  car(!  and  judicious 
management  are  required.  I  have  seen  in- 
stances where  foundation  had  been  us(!d  .so  as 
to  be  almost  if  not  quite  a  damage  to  the  i)ees. 
But  I  have  noticed  that  the  ones  who  used  most 
foundation  are,  as  a  rule,  the  successful  ones. 


230 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


April  1. 


HOW   TO   USE    IT. 

In  full  sheets,  always.  If  you  have  but  ten 
sheets  it  is  better  to  put  nine  in  frames  so  as  to 
fill  them,  and  cut  the  other  sheet  into  half-inch 
starters  for  the  rest  of  your  frames,  than  to  di- 
vide the  lot  into  quarter  or  half  sheets.  If  this 
be  done  you  are  sure  to  get  perfect  combs  as  far 
as  the  foundation  goes:  and,  remember,  a  comb 
once  finished  is  good  for  all  time  so  far  as  we 
are  concerned.  They  are  the  foundation  of  your 
business,  part  of  your  capital  stock,  and  let 
them  be  just  as  perfect  as  you  can  get.  If  the 
foundation  is  cut  into  strips  to  quarter  or  half 
fill  the  frames,  the  chances  are.  that,  as  soon  as 
the  bees  get  below  the  starter,  di-one  comb  will 
be  built,  and  this  is  just  what  you  want  to  avoid 
as  much  as  possible;  for  I  have  noticed  that. 
be  just  as  careful  as  we  can.  and  keep  out  all 
drone  com*bs  as  a  whole,  thei-e  is  sure  to'  be 
enough  in  the  hive.  Either  by  the  mice  gnaw- 
ing the  combs,  holes  left  from  cutting  out 
queen-cells,  or  some  way,  it  gets  there. 

TWO   WAYS   ONLY   TO   GET   COMBS. 

1.  Having  the  bees  build  them:  2.  Using 
foundation  and  having  them  drawn  out. 

The  ilifficulty  with  the  first  is  in  getting  too 
many  imperfect  combs,  either  crooked  or  too 
mucii  drone  comb,  and  it  is  too  slow.  I  fully 
believe  that,  up  to  a  certain  amount,  say  five  or 
six  combs,  bees  in  a  reasonably  strong  colony 
will  make  them  entire  witli  as  little  lo^sof  force 
as  in  any  other  way.  I  b  -lieve  with  Dr.  Miller, 
that  a  certain  amount  of  wax  is  secreted  any 
way.  whether  we  save  it  or  not:  and  if  I  were 
sure  of  always  having  vigorous  young  queens 
in  all  my  swarms  I  would  hive  them  all  on 
empty  frames  only,  for  I  am  sure  we  lose  bee 
force  right  there:  but  the  loss  is  more  than  off- 
set on  the  other  hand  by  the  imperfect  combs 
and  the  annoyance  of  righting  them.  So.  practi- 
cally, we  are  reduced  to  the  method  of  increase 
of  combs:  i.  e..  foundation. 

WHEN   TO    PUT   IN   FOUNDATION. 

Not  loo  early  in  the  season,  nsually  not  befoi-e 
swarming  commences.  A  certain  amount  of 
heat,  at  least  1(X»°.  I  think,  is  necessary  to  make 
the  wax  soft  enough  for  bees  to  work  out  into 
combs:  and  up  to  June  1st  to  10th  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  hive  is  not  high  enough  for  wax- 
working — first,  on  account  of  the  weather  out- 
side: and.  second,  on  account  of  lack  of  num- 
bers in  the  hive  to  maintain  the  required  heat. 
Another  reason  why  it  must  not  be  put  into  the 
hive  too  early  is.  that  be<'S  will  not  work  on  it 
but  to  a  very  limited  extent  before  honey  is 
coming  in.  True,  some  years  we  get  honey 
from  fruit-bloom  and  dandelions  so  as  to  give 
the  bees  quite  a  start:  but  this  would  better  he 
used  to  fill  the  combs  you  already  have  with 
ijroo'l.  to  push  things  later  on  when  clover  is  in 
bloom. 

HOW   MUCH   AT   ONCK. 

Do  not  make  the  mistake  of  putting  too  much 
foundation  in  a  colony  at  once.  I  went  to  see  a 
bee-keeper  last  summer,  and  found  plenty  of 
his  strongest  colonies  with  eight  full  frames  of 
foundation  over  them,  while  other  colonies  not 
quite  as  strong  had  none,  and  were  really  suf- 
fering for  lack  of  room.  What  was  his  duty  in 
this  case?  First,  take  out  four  frames  of  comb 
from  the  colonies  having  no  foundation,  giving 
these  to  tiie  colony  having  eight  frames  of  foun- 
dation, and  giving  the  four  fiames  of  foun- 
dation (displaced)  to  the  one  losing  the  frames 
of  comb,  then  all  will  be  merrily  at  work,  not 
having  so  big  a  job  as  t(»  become  discouraged: 
and  the  result  is,' eight  frames  of  comb  in  less 
than  half  the  time  he  would  have  had  them  if 
all  left  in  one  place,  and  he  has  saved  all  this 
time  for  the  bees,  which  means  more  honey,  and 


therefore  more  money.  As  a  rule,  not  over  two 
frames  should  be  given  to  a  colony  at  once,  and 
not  that  if  there  are  not  bees  enough  to  cover 
them  entirely. 

WHERE   TO   PUT   IT. 

Moderately  strong  colonies  seem  to  draw  out 
and  finish  up  combs  better  than  very  weak  or 
very  strong  ones:  therefore  of  ten  given  colonies, 
if  five  were  medium  and  five  strong.  I  would 
take  combs  from  the  medium,  substituting 
foundation  and  giving  the  combs  to  the  strong, 
with,  say,  one  frame  each  of  foundation,  for  I 
have  found  that  a  colony  strong  in  bees  will 
drawout  oneortwoframesof  foundation  ateach 
time  of  extracting,  at  little  if  any  loss  of  honey: 
and  before  I  got  all  the  combs  I  wanted,  I  made 
it  a  rule  to  give  them  at  least  one  frame.  Weak 
colonies  should  be  made  to  draw  out  combs  for 
the  use  of  the  strong  ones.  The  few  bees  they 
have  are  compelled  to  remain  at  home  to  care 
for  the  brood,  and  maintain  the  heat  of  the  hive, 
so  they  can  be  kept  busy  working  for  their  more 
prosperous  brethren,  or  perhaps  sisters  would 
be  more  appropriate.  Always  put  foundation 
between  frames  of  comb  if  possible,  and  near 
the  center  of  the  hive,  if  the  colony  will  bear 
to  be  spread  that  much. 

FALL   HONEY   AND   COMBS. 

The  honey  we  nsually  get  after  basswood  is 
dark,  and  brings  but  a  small  price  in  market: 
hence,  this  is  one  of  the  best  times  to  crowd  the 
l)ees  in  drawing  out  and  finishing  up  combs,  to 
be  ready  for  the  white  honey  the  next  year.  If 
you  can  so  manage  that  you  have  turned  all 
this  dark  honey  into  wax.  you  have  done  well 
and  increased  your  capital  at  the  smallest  pos- 
sible expense.  But  here  is  a  point  of  advantage 
few  bee-keepi  rs  have  taken,  for  a  sale  of  foun- 
dation in  August  or  September  is  very  rare,  and 
yet  I  have  found  it  one  of  the  best  times  to  ge 
combs. 

In  closing  I  should  like  to  emphasize  three 
points  mentioned  as  seeming  to  be  of  greatest 
importance  of  any:  1.  Full  sheets  always:  2. 
Not  putting  too  much  in  a  hive  at  once:  3. 
Turning  buckwheat  or  late  honey  into  combs. 

ItViEifa     Wi«*lVInr    S  C.  A.  HaTCH. 


Ithaca,  Wis.*  Mar.  3. 

[Mr.  H.'s  remarks  smack  strongly  of  experi- 
ence: and  so  many  things  in  it  corroborate 
some  of  our  own  experiments  during  the  past 
sninmer  that  we  fed  like  putting  the  whole  ar- 
ticle in  Italics.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind,  that 
Mr.  Hatcn's  hints  have  a  special  reference  to 
the  pi'oducer  of  extracted  honey:  and  to  such  a 
one.  drawn-out  empty  combs  are  his  best  stock 
in  trade.  Some  of  these  things  we  have  known 
of  before;  but  it  is  necessary  to  have  good 
things  pounded  again  and  again  into  our  heads 
until  we  condescend  to  tiy  them.] 


PRODUCING  EXTRACTED  HONEY. 

REQUISITES     for:     COST      PER      POUND     OF     EX- 
TRACTED    IH)NEY. 


I  am  asked  to  answer  the  following  questions: 
'•  What  are  the  requisites  for  producing  ex- 
traoted  honey?"  "What  kind  of  packages  do 
you  use  in  shipping  and  retailing  the  same?" 
"  How  do  you  dispose  of  the  most  of  your  honey 
crot  ?  " 

Now,  friends,  I  don't  know  that  I  can  handle 
this  first  question  to  suit  all  places.  It  covers 
a  great  deal  of  territory.  Locations  will  vary 
somewhat,  but  the  first  and  most  important 
requisite  is  an  abundance  of  honey-producing 
flowers  from  early  spring  until  late  in  the  fall. 
Here  in  the  North,  if  I  could  have  it  to  suit  me. 


18<)2 


(il.KAXINHiS  IX  I5EK  CULTURE. 


331 


I  sliould  want  t«>  loratc  wlicrc  ilwiv  wcrt'  hiijjc 
(luantitics  of  friiil-l)lossoms— apjilcs.  pcai'lu's, 
peal's,  plums.  t>tc. -followcii  hv  I'cd  raspberries, 
jjiKiseheii  ies.  aiiil  oilier  small  fiiiils.  ami  these 
siieeeeiled  hy  tlandejioiis  ami  pleiily  of  white 
elover  and  i'asswood.  'I'hen  should  follow 
plenty -of  fall  lloweis  hiu-kwheat.  soldeniod. 
iiearl'sease.  smarlweed.  asters,  etc.  If  we  can 
not  have  all  of  these  ijouil  tlowers  in  plenty,  get 
as  many  as  possible.  Of  course,  in  the  South 
thi>  honey-bearing  llowcrs  will  he  dilTerent. 
Kvery  eoiintry  has  itsouii  (lowers.  Hut  honey- 
llowei-s  we  must  have,  or  we  shall  gel  no  honey. 
The  more  llowcrs  there  are.  the  better. 

The  next  important  item  is  plenty  of  bees  to 
gather  the  honey.  What  kind  of  bees  is  best ? 
Now.  to  tell  the  truth.  I  don't  Unow.  I  com- 
menced with  the  blacks,  and  1  must  say  they 
are  hard  to  beat.  I  have  tried  several  strains 
of  Italians,  some  of  which  have  done  pretty 
fair  work.  Hut  I  think  the  hybrids  are  better 
workers  than  the  pure  Italians.  1  am  now  try- 
ing the  (."arniolans  —  the  dark-colored  ones. 
They  have  done  tirst-rate  for  me  the  last  two 
years.  In  fact,  tliey  liaxc  done  the  best  of  any 
iuM'S  that  I  have.  My  home  yard  of  1(X)  colonies 
consists  of  Carniolans. 

Now.  after  wo  have  got  in  the  right  location. 
and  have  the  bees,  we  must  have  an  apiarist 
that  knows  how  to  handle  the  business;  and. 
in  my  opinion,  to  secure  the  best  results,  tlu^ 
apiarist  should  ow'n  the  bees;  or,  in  other 
words,  the  owner  should  know  all  about  the 
business.  He  or  she  may  hire  the  most  of  the 
work  done  by  others,  but  the  owner  should 
oversee  every  thing.  Very  much  depends  upon 
very  sinall  details.  Every  thing  that  is  to  be 
use5  when  the  honey-flow  comes  should  be  pro- 
vided before  the  time  it  will  be  wanted.  Have 
every  thing  ready— hives,  extractors,  and  all 
other  tools;  also  packages  for  the  honey  crop, 
and  a  place  to  store  the  honey.  We  have  our 
packages  now  on  hand  to  liold  our  next  crop. 
We  may  not  get  a  crop,  but  we  must  be  ready, 
n  we  don't  use  the  barrels  this  year,  we  may 
next.  iSee  to  it  that  the  bees  are  in  first-class 
condition  in  the  fall.  Plenty  of  honey  means 
good  strong  colonies  in  spring.  A  man.  to  be 
successful  with  bees,  must  have  a  liking  for  the 
work,  so  much  so  that  he  will  pick  up  every 
thing  on  the  bee  business,  and  read  it.  Not 
that  he  is  expected  to  follow  all  that  he  reads, 
but  he  may  get  a  good  deal  from  another's  mis- 
takes. I  doubt  wh(»tlier  any  of  us  knows  all 
there  is  to  be  learned  about  the  business,  so  we 
must  study  and  think,  and  act  according  to  our 
best  judgment.  If  we  have  more  bees  than  we 
can  work  alone,  hire  help.  ^Ve  hire  young  uien 
and  boys.  A  boy  twelve  to  fifteen  years  old  can 
do  first-rate  work  extracting  honey,  if  he  has 
some  experienced  liand  to  tell  him  just  what  to 
do.  One  good  hand  that  iias  worked  with  the 
bees  two  years  can  take  charge  of  two  green 
boys  and  "get  good  results  from  iheir  labor. 
Our  extracting  season  lasts  about  four  to  six 
weeks.  We  give  a  green  boy  twelve  to  fifteen 
years  old  S8.00  a  month  the  first  year.  If  he 
proves  to  be  a  good  hand,  next  year  we  give 
him  about  •*2.0()  more  per  month.  If  he  stays 
with  us.  we  keep  raising  his  wages  up  to  ?=.".*0.00. 
Another  important  item  in  producing  extracir 
ed  honey  is  to  have  plenty  of  extra  empty 
combs,  so  when  the  honey-llow  comes  we  can 
tier  up  and  give  the  bees  plenty  of  room  to  store 
lioney.  We  work  our  L.  hives  three  stories 
high  during  the  homy  season.  In  the  fall  we 
take  off  one  set  and  store  them  away  until 
wanted  the  next  year.  In  this  latitude  I  take 
them  off  in  October,  and  pack  them  away  in  the 
third  stories,  piled  one  on  the  other  in  ourcomb- 
njom.  If  they  were  taken  away  from  the  bees 
much   sooner  than   October,  tlie   motlis  would 


tiestroy  them,  unl(^ss  we  smoked  them  with  sul- 
phur. Combs  packed  away  in  a  tight  room 
w  biM-e  they  will  frec/.e  hard  are  safe  from  tiie 
mollis,  i  liave  kepi  them  all  summer  witli  no 
siirns  of  worms  alxmi,  ihem. 

For  shippiug  extracted  honey  w<!  us(!  oak 
ban-els.  iron- hooped,  holding  from  .'WO  to  H0() 
lbs.  l-or  our  last  ci-op  we  used  sonu'  nujla.sses- 
barrels  made  in  the  South.  In  these  we  put  our 
dark  honey,  and  sold  it  to  tin;  bakrsrs.  Our  nic<' 
white  honey  we  sell  to  dealers  foi'  tabU'  us(i. 
We  also  sell  several  thousand  pounds  at  home, 
to  farmers  and  city  folks.  We  keep  three  stores 
in  our  town  supplied  with  honey,  put  up  in  tin 
pails  of  different  sizes— pint,  quart,  two,  ttiree 
and  foiu-  (luart.     We  gel  the  pails  of  A.  I.  Root. 

COST   OK    I'KODUCING    KXTRACTEI)   IIOXKY. 

Vou  ask  me  to  give  you  the  cost  of  producing 
exifacted  honey,  and  refV^r  me  to  Messrs.  Tay- 
lor's and  DoolitlhTs  articles  on  tlu'  cost  of  comb 
honey.  I  have  records  of  the  amounts  of  honoy 
toat  we  got  for  a  long  tinu%  and  how  many  bees 
we  had  eacli  year;  but  what  the  crop  cost  per 
pound  I  can  not  even  mak(>  a  good  guess  on.  In 
imo  our  honey  cost  us  a  dollar  a  [)ound;  in  1801 
we  got  3U,(K)0  lbs.,  and  sold  at  .->,  ti.  7.  and  some 
at  8  cts.  The  crop  gave  us  a  living  for  the  year, 
and  about  five  hundred  dollars  ovei'.  What  it 
cost  a  pound,  I  don't  know;  but  I  am  sure  it 
did  not  cost  as  much  as  we  sold  it  for.  The 
way  we  are  fixed  I  can  not  get  at  the  cost  ex- 
actly. We  have  20  acres  of  land  to  work,  and 
often  we  get  through  with  the  bees,  and  get 
home  before  night;  then  we  set  all  of  our 
honey-boys  at  work  on  the  place,  hoeing  and 
cultivating,  killing  weeds,  etc.  I  think  it  would 
be  very  doubtful  whether  any  one  could  tell 
just  what  a  crop  of  honey  costs.  I  am  sure  that 
no  one  can  make  a  statement  that  would  do  for 
every  year  on  the  same  location;  then,  again, 
locations  differ  much,  and  management  would 
make  a  large  difference.  There  is  as  much  dif- 
ference in  bee-keepers  as  there  is  in  other  folks. 
If  I  write  an  article  on  any  subject  I  want  at 
least  to  satisfy  myself  that  what  I  have  to  say 
is  practical.  Mr.  Doolittle  tries  to  make  the 
cost  of  comb  honey  as  big  as  he  can.  When  he 
charges  up  S.5.00  a  day  for  his  time,  going  to  con- 
ventions, price  of  bee-papers,  and  time  of  reading 
the  same,  etc.,  why  does  he  charge  it  all  to  the 
production  of  comb  honey?  If  I  am  not  mis- 
taken, his  queen-traffic  brings  him  more  money 
tiian  his  honey.  Why  doesn't  he  divide  some 
of  tho.se  expenses  with  his  (lueen-tradiB?  It  is 
all  guesswork.  He  doesn't  know.  I  don't  know 
and  who  does?  E.  France.   ' 

Platteville,  W'is..  March  7. 


EXTRACTED  HONEY. 


WHAT    IN.JfRES  ITS  SALES  ;    SHIFTLESSNE8S  OF 
BEE-KEEPERS,   ETC. 


On  page  131  for  Feb.  1.5,  Mr.  Geo.  F.  Robbins 
relates  the  observations  and  experience  of  his 
grocer  whodeals  in  honey.  Thegrocer  said  that 
there  would  be  nothing  in  offering  premiums 
at  fairs  for  honey  extracted  on  the  ground,  see- 
ing honey -extractors  in  operation,  and  tnat  the 
way  in  which  liquid  honev  was  obtained  would 
do  nothing  to  remove  the  generallv  ijrevailing 
opinion  tluit  extracted  honey  is  manufactured 
or  adulterated.  This  is  far  from  a  reasonable 
conclusion  to  warrant  belief.  To  see  and  to 
understand  is  to  believe.  All  manner  of  people 
are  convinced  in  this  way.  Within  two  miles 
of  our  place  there  is  a  city  of  1(5,000  people;  and 
as  there  is  a  pretty  driveway  from  the  city 
through  our  place,  many  people  stop  with  "the 
man  who  keeps  the  fire-bugs,''  for  honey.    We 


232 


(CLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Apkii.  1. 


always  show  these  city  folks  the  extractor, 
explaining  how  nscd;  and  if  there  is  honey  to 
extract,  some  is  thrown  out.  that  they  may  see 
the  /low.  Some  remark,  "  We  have  often  heard 
of  this  way  of  taking  honey,  but  had  little  or 
no  faith  in  the  story;  but  one  must  believe 
when  he  sees."  These  people  become  our  best 
customers. 

When  the  grocer  stated  to  Mr.  R.  that  "  the 
only  way  to  get  the  confidence  of  the  people  is 
to  produce  and  put  on  the  market  honey  of  first- 
class  quality."  he  was  preaching  logical  doc- 
trine. Here  the  man  displays  knowledge  gain- 
ed by  experience.  He  is  not  the  only  person 
who  has  learued  this  lesson.  The  wise  profit 
by  this  experience:  but  foolish,  short-sighted 
men  go  on  from  year  to  year  producing  and  put- 
ting on  the  market  honey  of  an  inferior  qual- 
ity, made  so  by  lack  of  experience,  want  of 
judgment,  or  thoughtlessness.  At  one  time  the 
honey  is  extracted  while  thin,  only  in  the  con- 
dition of  rank-flavored  nectar,  and  often,  in 
this  state,  no  effort  to  place  ii  where  it  might 
be  improved  by  evaporation.  Again,  it  is  stored 
in  shaded  or  damp  looms  wheic  both  comb  and 
extracted  honey  rapidly  deteriorate.  Who  has 
not  seen  beautiful  while  combs  gradually  tak- 
ing on  that  watery,  unsightly — yes,  sickly  ap- 
pearance? Honey  left  to  the  care  of  the"  bees 
never  gets  so,  unless  the  hives  are  located  in  a 
damp,  shaded  place. 

Extracted  honey  that  is  thin  from  any  cause 
should  never  be  stored  in  any  other  than  shal- 
low, open-mouthed  vessels,  then  kept  in  a 
warm,  dry,  well-ventilated  place;  and  the  same 
theory  holds  good  with  comb  honey. 

No  doubt  the  majority  of  bee-keepers  take 
great  pains  to  excel  in  the  matter  of  producing 
and  placing  on  the  market  honey  of  a  first-class 
quality;  but  it  is  a  fact,  deplorable  and  injuri- 
ous as  it  is.  that  many  who  are  engaged  in 
producing  honey  are  careless  and  indifferent  as 
to  the  quality  of  their  product.  The  injury  this 
class  are  doing  to  the  industry  is  very  great. 
It  may  sound  harsh,  but  I  must  say  they  are  a 
nuisance  to  the  fraternity. 

As  we  buy  from  producers  and  dealers  in  hon- 
ey each  season  not  less  than  lOO.OOn  lbs.  for  our 
retail  trade,  we  get  some  sorry  experience.  I'll 
give  a  sample  or  two.  A  party  wrote  us  last 
fall  that  he  conld  ship  us  20  barrels  of  pure 
orange-bloom  honey,  mailing  at  the  time  a 
sample  of  it.  When  received,  four  barrels  of 
the  lot  was  about  all  palmetto  honey,  dark  and 
ill  flavored.  Again,  samples  of  mesquite  honey 
of  best  quality  were  sent;  and  to  this  party  an 
order  was  given;  but  a  few  cans  of  this  lot  was 
alfalfa,  of  the  meanest  kind.  Other  orders 
were  sent  to  the  same  parties,  but  more  and 
more  alfalfa  was  put  in  each  lot,  the  last  being 
entirely  alfalfa,  dark  and  strong  in  flavor,  and 
by  no  means  "  fit  to  set  before  a  king." 

Another  lot  received  from  a  producer  had 
been  extracted  in  the  nectar  state,  and  then 
stored  in  cans  reeking  with  the  fumes  of  kero- 
sene oil.  This  stufl'  may  do  to  feed  bees,  but 
not  to  sell  for  table  use,  if  a  regard  for  one's 
reputation  is  thought  of. 

It  is  surprising  how  many  there  are  who.  for 
the  sake  of  a  little  temporary  gain,  violate  with 
impunity  the  princi])les  of  honor  and  fairness, 
forgetting  that  their  betrayal  of  trust  must 
eventually  fall  upon  their  own  heads  with 
crushing  weight. 

ADULTEUATKD   HONEY. 

As  we  sell  honey  in  every  town  and  city  with- 
in quite  a  distance  of  us,  we  see  much  of  the 
honey-markets.  AVithin  the  last  two  years 
many  city  packing -houses  have  gone  into  the 
business  of  putting  honey  in  tumblers  and 
bottles.    Some  of  this  we  find  to  be  good  pure 


honey;  but  for  the  most  part  it  is  a  glucos« 
mixture  surrounding  a  small  piece  of  comb 
honey.  Does  this  honey,  or  stuff,  detract  any 
from  our  sales  of  choice  honey?  We  think  not; 
in  fact,  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  we  sell  more 
honey  because  of  this  adulterated  stuff. 

We  call  on  a  family  to  see  whether  they  will 
buy  honey.  The  question  is  asked,  "Is  it  the 
strained  honey?"  .Answering,  we  say,  "Yes, 
we  have  either  liquid  or  comb." 

"Well."  they  say,  "we  don't  want  strained 
honey.  We  got  some  of  it  at  the  store,  and 
that's  a  fraud." 

Now,  we  give  them  a  sample  vial  of  just 
what  we  will  bring  them.  Then  to  see  them 
lift  the  frown,  and  say.  "Ohl  that's  different: 
that  is  bee  honey.  If  you  bring  us  that  kind 
you  can  depend  on  us  for  good  customers." 

Our  reply  is,  "Yes;  if.  when  delivered,  you  do 
not  find  it  equally  fine  as  the  sample,  you  need 
not  give  us  your  money." 

In  this  way  we  add  another  to  our  list  of 
thousands  of  permanent  customers  who  will 
buy  no  honey  put  up  by  packing-houses. 

But,  Mr.  Editor.  I  would  not  discourage  your 
efforts  to  bring  to  justice  these  robbei's  who  are 
engaged  in  the  nefarious  scheme  of  l)ottling 
glucose  with  the  lie  "Pure  Honey"  pasted  on 
the  packages.  J.  A.  Buchanan. 

Holliday's  Cove.  W.  Va..  March  8. 


QUEENS 


BY    MAIL    TO     AUSTRALIA.    11,600 
MILES  AWAY. 


In  my  last  article  I  said  that,  according  to  my 
opinion,  the  size  of  the  cage  (5x:3xl3^)  as  given 
in  the  Postal  Guide  should  not  be  specially  con- 
sidered when  sending  queens  to  Australia,  as 
there  was  no  law  governing  the  matter  regard- 
ing queen-bees  to  that  place,  other  than  having 
the  packages  they  were  sent  in  conform  to  what 
would  be  allowed  in  our  domestic  mails.  Why 
I  looked  this  matter  up  so  closely  was,  that  I 
am  not  just  pleased  with  tlie  "  Root- Benton  " 
cage,  for  the  reason  that  the  candy-hole  is  lia- 
ble to  become  clogged  with  dead  bees,  which 
reason  the  editor  speaksof  on  page  72 of  Glean- 
ings for  IS'.tl.  Should  this  cage  happen  to  so  go 
on  board  of  the  steamer  that  the  candy  end  is 
downward  (whicli  would  bi'  its  tendency  every 
time,  thai  end  of  the  cage  Ix'ing  much  the 
heaviei'),  the  result  would  be.  that,  should  there 
happen  to  be  any  dead  bees  in  the  cage,  they 
would  fall  down  into  the  candy-hole,  thus  vir- 
tually cutting  the  bees  oft'  from  their  food,  caus- 
ing them  to  starve.  I  have  evidence  that  this 
was  the  cause  of  the  death  of  some  that  I  sent, 
as  those  reporting  to  me  speak  of  two  of  these 
cages  as  coming  with  "every  bee  dead,  all 
bright  and  clean,  with  little  of  the  candy  eaten, 
and  many  bees  wedged  into  the  candy  apart- 
ment." 

This  difficulty  confronted  me  when  sending  to 
New  Zealand  in  1884,  so  I  fixed  the  cages  then 
used  (2x2x53^)  with  a  large  candy-hole  in  either 
end,  and  the  apartment  for  the  bees  in  the  mid- 
dle. This  gave  the  bees  a  chance  to  feed  from 
either  end  of  the  cage.  This  old  cage  was  all 
right  on  this  score,  but,  to  my  notion,  it  confin- 
ed the  bees  too  much  in  a  heai)  during  the  ex- 
treme heat  they  mustendure  in  ])assing  through 
the  torrid  zone;  so  in  shipping  this  year  I  tried 
to  overcome  this  difficulty.  Accordingly  a  part 
of  the  queens  were  sent  in  the  Root- Benton 
cage,  a  part  in  a  cage  a^^x^i'JixX,  having  ten 
holes  bored  in  the  same,  with  partitions  through- 
out, so  the  bees  could  spread  out  all  over  the  cage, 
except  that  part  filled  with  candy;  or,  when' 


1S<)-J 


(;Li<:ANiNt;8  in  hee  culture. 


23? 


colli.  i-lustiM-  lip  as  oompiirl  as  ilicy  ploasc.  Aii- 
otlitT  part  wt'io  sent  ill  cast's  T'aXSx'..,  Iiavinn 
Iwi'lvc  holes  in  tlu>in.  with  partitions  anaiiK«'<i 
as  in  tht<  other;  hut  with  this  one  the  candy 
was  all  put  in  one  end,  live  of  the  holes  heing 
used  for  the  same.  This  jjave  the  hees  seven 
holes  to  spread  out  in  on  the  start,  and  more 
room  as  the  candy  was  <>alen.  This  eagre  was 
also  provided  with  more  thoroiijih  ventilation 
than  any  of  the  others.  <i 
provided  in  two  of  tii(> 
amount  used  as  a  whole 
caire.  while  th(>  extreme 
clear  through,  wire  cloth 

side  of  it.  so  that  thp  liees  could  come  out  in 
this  part  of  the  case.  and.  by  fanning  their 
wings,  cause  a  circulation  of  air  throughout  the 
whole  cage,  similar  to  tlie  way  they  ventilate 
their  hives  from  the  entrance. 


lod  ventilation  lieing 
seven     holes,    to   the 

in  the  Root-Renton 
end    hole   was   tiored 

being   put    on  either 


DOOLITTLE'S  FOREKiN    MAIMXfi-CAGES. 

I  havft  been  more  i)articular  in  describing 
this  latter  cage,  as  all  the  cages  of  this  descrip- 
tion sent  proved  a  success,  the  bees  and  queens 
arriving  in  fine  condition  in  Australia  after  a 
voyage  of  11.5()(J  miles,  and  a  continement  of 
from  37  to  40  days.  The  candy  used  in  all  of 
the  cages  was  the  Good  candy.  The  candy- 
holes  in  all  were  coated  with  paral'tine  by  pour- 
ing the  same  in  them,  when  at  a  very  high 
temperature.  I  like  this  better  than  putting 
on  with  a  brush,  for  in  this  way  the  paralitine  is 
forced  into  the  wood  to  the  deptli  of  one-six- 
teenth of  an  inch  or  more,  so  there  is  no  chance 
for  the  moisture  in  the  candy  to  escape.  Over 
the  candy  I  placed  a  piece  of  thin  comb  founda- 


tion, pressing  it  into  the  wood  all  around,  so 
tliat  this  candy  apartment  would  hold  water 
like  a  pail.  Nine  of  the  lifteen  ()ueeiis  were 
sent  to  S.  A.  I{radley,  Deiihani  Court.  New 
South  Wales;  three  to  .las.  McFarlane.  iiynd- 
liurst,  Victoi'ia;  two  to  A.  Walker,  liedland 
Ray.  Queensland,  and  one  to  R.  .1.  Cribh.  {Bris- 
bane. (.Queensland.  i{oth  of  those,  to  Mr.  W. 
went  alive,  and  were  in  tlat  cages.  Mr.  W. 
says  that,  of  four  others  received  from  the 
Ihiited  Slates,  all  were  dead  exce|)t  four  work- 
ers in  o\u:  cage.  TIh'  one  to  Mr.  ('ribb  was  in  a 
flat  cage,  and  that  went  through  in  line  condi- 
tion. Of  till'  three  sent  to  .Mr.  McFarlane,  two 
were  in  the  Root-]?(Uiton  cages  and  one  in  tlie 
flat  cage.  The  oim  in  the  tlat  cage  went  alive, 
tiie  two  in  the  Ivoot-Ri'titon  both  dead.  Of  the 
nine  sent  to  Mr.  Rradley.  threes  were  in  the 
Rootl'.enton  cage  and  six  in  the  flat  cages.  Of 
these,  one  in  the  Root- Renton  cage  went  alive 
and  four  in  the  flat  cages.  Six  of  the  fifteen 
(jueens  went  on  tlie  October  stinimer.  four  out 
of  the  six  arriving  dead;  while  of  the  nine  sent 
on  tlie  August  and  September  steamers,  seven 
went  alive.  Mr.  Mcl'\  writes  that  those  sent 
him  were  evidently  sutlot-ated.  and  must  have 
been  in  a  closer  mail-bag  or  in  a  hotter  part  of 
the  ship  than  those  sent  him  by  Mr.  Root,  ac- 
cording to  their  appearance:  while  Mr.  B.  says, 
in  speaking  of  my  last  shipment  to  him,  "A 
circus  and  menagerie  came  in  the  same  vessel 
with  the  queens,  and  all  mail  matter  was 
crowded  into  all  sorts  of  out-of-the-way  places, 
which  did  not  give  the  queens  the  usual  chance 
of  living."  Understanding  this  state  of  affairs, 
it  is  a  little  suggestive  that  the  four  in  the 
Root-Renton  cages  all  died,  while  the  two  in 
the  flat  cages  went  alive.  As  Mr.  Rradley 
seems  to  be  a  close  observer,  I  think  some  re- 
marks of  his  on  the  different  cages  will  be  of 
interest.  Speaking  of  the  half-inch  cage  he 
says:  "This  cage  seems  to  come  as  near  per- 
fection as  possible,  the  bees  and  queens  in  the 
same  being  as  lively  as  if  they  had  been  con- 
fined only  a  few  days."  Of  the  seven-eighths 
cage  he  says:  "  It  is  very  good,  but  would  be 
better,  I  think,  if  the  air-holes  were  a  little 
larger,  so  as  to  allow  freer  ventilation."  Of  the 
Root-Renton  cage  he  says:  "The  objections  to 
this  cage  are,  first,  in  having  only  one  means  of 
access  to  the  stores.  In  one  of  these  cages  the 
queen  was  dead  in  the  food  compartment,  and 
the  hole  behind  her  was  blocked  with  bees. 
Second,  owing  to  its  block  form  it  packs  too 
well,  or  too  closely  with  other  articles.  If  the 
sides  were  fluted,  and  air-holes  punched  in  the 
fiutings  it  would  be  better." 

WIRE    CLOTH. 

Mr.  R.  further  says:  "I  should  like  to  call 
your  attention  to  the  green  wire  cloth  used  on 
some  of  the  cages.  The  queen  and  bees  in  these 
cages  were  literally  covered  with  a  tine  green 
dust,  and  it  was  not  until  several  days  after  in- 
troduction that  the  qu<'ens  were  chsaned  from 
it — in  one  case,  not  for  two  weeks;  and  in  try- 
ing to  get  it  otT  from  the  (lueen.  the  Ijees  remov- 
ed every  particle  of  "  fuzz"  from  her  back  and 
shoulders,  leaving  her  as  shiny  as  glass.  Those 
with  tlie  black  wire  cloth  were  perfectly  clean." 

PROOF   OF    VALUE. 

When  I  started  these  queens  for  Australia  I 
had  some  misgivings  about  their  being  of  any 
value  to  those  who  purchased  them,  fearing 
their  long  journey,  confinement,  and  the  neces- 
sary abuse  to  which  thi'y  must  be  subjected, 
would  injure  them.  Rnt  it  would  seem  that 
these  misgivings  were  groundless,  in  part  at 
least,  for  Mr.  \Valker  writes  that  the  two  sent 
him"sliowed  no  half  work  and  half  play,  or 
half  brood  and  half  honey  in  one  comb,  for  they 


334 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


April  1. 


proceeded  to  fill  up  the  combs  to  their  very 
corners,  and  top-bars  with  brood."  Mr.  Brad- 
ley says  nothing  as  to  the  laying  qualities  of 
those  received:  but  it  would  seera  that  he  went 
rightto  breeding  from  them,  and  gives  the  point 
which  I  consider  of  greater  value  than  the  pro- 
lificness  of  the  individual  queens,  which  have 
been  subjected  to  such  great  abuse  as  they  must 
be  in  going  so  far,  and  the  o/ie  poi?it  above  all 
others  which  is  to  the  interest  of  all  apiarists. 
He  says,  in  speaking,  of  the  young  queens: 
"Their  queen-daughters  are  vei'y  even  layers, 
and  very  prolific.  They  fill  the  brood-frames 
from  side  to  side  and  from  top  to  bottom,  and 
their  worker  progeny  leave  nothing  to  be  desired 
in  the  way  of  work.  On  the  whole  we  are  more 
than  satisfied  with  the  resultof  our  enterprise." 
This  proves  the  position  I  have  taken  in  the 
past.  that,  through  a  direct  cross,  comes  the 
greatest  energv  and  activity  in  our  pets. 
Borodino.  N.'  Y.,  Mar.  5.    G.  M.  Dooi.ittle. 

[We  are  glad  that  our  friend  Mr.  Doolittle 
has  taken  hold  of  this  matter  in  the  careful, 
painstaking  way  so  characteristic  of  his  meth- 
ods of  work.  There  is  no  doubt,  in  point  of 
theory  and  fact,  that  his  flat  cages  are  better 
than  the  block  cages  we  used  with  such  good 
results  last  season.  The  latter  has  done  mar- 
velously  well:  but  where  there  was  an  oppor- 
tunity for  comparison  it  was  evident  that  the 
flat  cage  was  the  better.  We  have  examined  all 
the  cages  carefully;  and  while  our  correspon- 
dent seems  to  favor  style  No.  1,  we  rather  in- 
cline toward  No.  2.  as  shown  in  the  engraving, 
because  it  is  stronger  and  of  better  proportion. 
This  latter  has  the  very  desirable  feature  of 
having  candy  at  both  ends;  and,  besides,  it 
seems  to  us  that  it  can  be  made  equal  in  point 
of  ventilation  to  the  still  flatter  cage  No.  1. 
This,  as  nearly  as  we  can  i-emember,  before  we 
submitted  it  to  our  engravers  for  reproduction, 
seemed  to  be  frail,  and  not  one  we  would  dare 
to  trust  to  the  vicissitudes  of  a  long  journey. 
The  reason  we  decided  on  the  block  form  in  the 
first  place  was.  because  the  postal  regulations 
stipulated  that  kind  of  cage:  but  if  the  "  powers 
that  be"  will  permit  these  flat  cages  to  pass 
through  the  mails  (and  they  did  in  Mr.  Doolit- 
tle's  case)  they  (No.  1  or  2)  will  be  the  ones  to 
adopt.] 


COBS  AND  KERNELS. 


INTERESTING     FACTS    AND      OBSEKVATIONS     BY 
F.   GREINEB. 


1.  From  the  standpoint  of  the  comb-honey 
producer  I  have  never  found  it  profitable  to  prac- 
tice dequeening  for  the  purpose  of  increasing 
the  honey  crop,  except  in  connection  with  the 
renewal  of  the  queen;  and  in  that  case  I  should 
rather  consider  it  a  remedy  for  curing  or  pre- 
venting the  swarming  fever.  It  requires  very 
good  judgment  in  anticipating  the  honey  sea- 
son, in  having  the  young  queens  commence  lay- 
ing just  at  the  right  time,  etc.  One  may  easily 
fail. 

2.  It  seems  to  be  the  desire  of  all  colonies  of 
bees  in  normal  condition  to  breed  many  drones 
at  a  certain  time  of  the  year.  Gratify  this  de- 
sire, and  a  state  of  contentedness  and  general 
harmony  is  established,  without  which  no  colo- 
ny may  be  expected  to  do  its  utmost.  Now, 
while  some  of  our  noted  bee-keepers,  Baron 
von  Berlepsch  at  the  head,  liave  theorized  that 
drone  comb  is  out  of  its  place  in  the  brood- 
chamber,  many  of  us  havi'  noticed  colonies 
almost  overrunning  with  drones,  outstripping 
others  that  were  practically  without  them;  and 
I  believe  it  best  to  allow  each  colony  a  liberal 


amount  of  drone    comb;    perhaps  half  an   L. 
frame  full  may  not  be  too  much. 

3.  I  believe  the  majority  of  our  comb-honey 
producers,  and  also  the  manufacturers  of  comb 
foundation,  are  in  favor  of  using  light  founda- 
tion (full  sheets)  in  sections,  and  it  may  be  poor 
policy  to  opi)Ose  its  use;  but  should  we  not  in 
the  first  place  consider  the  wishes  of  the  con- 
sumer? To  judge  others  by  myself.  I  should 
say  they  do  not  want  it.  I  do  not  like  to  chew 
the  disagreeable  backbone,  for  even  the  liglitest 
brand  is  not  entirely  woi-ked  out.  May  we  not 
injure  the  honey-trade  by  the  use  of  foundation 
in  sections  except  for  starters? 

4.  It  is  not  so  much  the  good  quality  of  the 
section  as  it  is  the  quality  of  the  honey,  the 
color,  finish,  texture,  and  flavor  of  the  honey 
the  section  is  filled  with,  that  pleases  the  con- 
sumer most. 

5.  They  seem  to  be  periodical,  these  discus- 
sions of  "Italians  versus  Blacks."  From  time 
to  time  they  have  made  an  appearance,  and 
also  again  of  late.  I  have  always  been  greatly 
in  favor  of  the  black  bees,  particularly  because 
their  product  is  so  much  better  as  to  looks,  and 
sometimes  I  have  been  quite  uncharitable 
toward  those  booming  the  yellow  race.  Well, 
now,  after  an  experience  of  over  1.5  years  with 
both  races  I  am  still  undecided  in  the  matter. 
I  think  that,  if  the  management  requires  to 
hunt  out  queens  often,  then  the  pure  Italian  bee 
takes  the  preference. 

6.  To  find  a  black  queen  in  a  powerful  colony 
is  not  (»ften  an  easy  task.  Many  times  every 
comb  has  to  come  out  of  the  hive;  the  remain- 
ing bees  must  be  examined  critically,  perhaps 
dumped  out  into  a  sheet;  and  I  am  not  sure  but 
that  sifting  the  entire  drove  through  a  sieve  of 
queen-excluding  metal  may  yet  prove  the 
quickest  way  to  attain  the  desired  result. 

7.  My  colonies  of  pure  Italian  bloods  do  more 
propolizing  than  either  hybrids,  blacks,  or  Car- 
niolans.  They  store  a  greater  amount  of  pollen, 
also  more  honey  in  the  brood-chamber. 

8.  On  page  15.5  Mr.  Ehvood  expresses  almost 
exactly  my  ideas  of  grading  comb  honey.  Un- 
doubtedly he  is  right  in  saying,  "Unsealed, 
partly  filled  sections,  and  such  containing  bee- 
bread.*  should  be  kept  at  home."  Some  years 
we  have  a  good  many  sections  which,  although 
all  built  out  and  sealed,  are  yet  light  in  weight; 
the  combs  are  not  full  thickness.  No  objection 
could  be  raised  to  shipping  such;  but  they 
would  better  be  crated  by  themselves,  as  it  is 
desirable  to  have  all  sections  contained  in  a 
crate  as  near  alike  in  weight  as  is  possible. 

9.  The  Porter  escape  is  perhaps  ahead  for  use 
on  the  hives;  but  on  a  whole  stack  of  supers  the 
four-point  Dibbern  escape  gives  better  satisfac- 
tion. The  light  tailing  in  through  the  center 
hole  attracts  the  bees,  and  causes  them  to  come 
out  much  quicker.  Robbers  will  seldom  ob- 
struct the  passage  at  the  points,  but  will  hover 
on  the  screen  just  above  the  center  hole.  I 
used  to  think  that  the  most  natural  escape,  the 
one  which  would  facilitate  the  exit  of  the  bees 
most,  was  the  old  Reese  cone-escape.  In  this, 
however,  I  was  mistaken:  for.  after  a  while, 
the  returning  and  the  robber  bees,  also  young 
bees  from  within,  begin  to  cluster  at  the  apex 
of  the  cone,  and  hinder  the  escape  of  the  bees. 

10.  Removing  the  full  super  from  hives  in 
out-apiaries— many  times,  I  practice  the  old 
method  of  driving  bees  down  with  smoke,  lift- 
ing up  the  super  quickly,  brushing  ott'  what 
bees  are  on  the  bottom,  then  stacking  up  from 
10  to  12  supers  on  top  of  an  escape-board,  also 
placing  one  on  the  top  of  the  stack,  and  await 

*  In  all  my  experience  I  have  come  across  but  one 
person  fond  ot  bee-bread,  wlio  actually  preferred 
honey  containing  a  liberal  amount  of  it. 


18t« 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


235 


results.  For  this  piirpdst'  no  cscapi"  si'cms  to 
work  any  lit-ttcr  than  a  coinhination  of  tlic  four- 
point  nihhcrn  and  t.lic  later  Rccso  (sucii  as  I 
mail  yon  to-iiayl.  To  still  more  facilitatt'  tin- 
worU.  I  nrovitic  a  rase  near  the  rcnlrr  part  of 
thcstai'K  with  a  v  iiolc  at  each  side,  plai'iiitr  a 
wirc-i'loth  I'oni'  over  cai'h.  It  will  not  he  lontr 
bffori'  I'vcry  brc  w  ill  have  h'ft  the  su|)rrs. 

11.  Many  of  us  liavo  bo<'n  siico(>ssfnl  in  win- 
tcriiifi  in  chatT  liivi's  by  jiiving  iipward  viMitila- 
tion  ihronjih  a  thick  idiatV  nishion:  and  it 
sccnis  to  nic  we  onfilit  to  jzo  very  slow  in  chang- 
ing our  nii'thod.  The  ohjcH-tion  of  cushit)ns 
getting  wot  and  cold  docs  not  hold  true  so  far 
as  I  iiave  obsorv(>d.  Only  the  upper  part  of  tiie 
cushion  gathers  iiioistun^  and  l)ccoiii(\s  wet :  all 
the  rest  remains  dry  and  warm.  ]iy  raising  or 
removing  the  roof  on  a  fair  day.  litis  ccMidensed 
moisture  can  (>asily  be  made  to  disapi)ear. 
Wlien  upward  ventilation  is  given  I  think  it  is 
best  to  close  up  tlt'e  entrance  to  within  two 
inches:  when  not.  giving  full  entrance  is  per- 
haps the  better.  A  board  stood  up  leaning 
against  the  liiv<^  in  front  of  enti'ance,  to  break 
tlie  force  of  tlie  w  ind.  also  to  shield  against  the 
rays  of  tiie  sun.  is  of  advantage. 

\2.  I  wish  to  speak  of  a  bee-cellar  with  a 
ccnxentcd  floor,  which  a  friend  of  mine  in  this 
viciidty  tises  with  good  success.  Two  we(>ks 
ago  the  l.'iu  colonies  therein  were  in  line  sha[)e, 
apparently,  only  a  few  dead  bees  being  on  the 
Hoor.  A  few  years  ago  this  same  cellar  had  10 
or  12  inches  of  water  in  it  nearly  all  winter: 
still  the  bees  came  out  all  right  in  the  spring. 

13.  If  a  colony  of  bees  arrives  at  its  inaxiinum 
strenctli  any  length  of  time  before  the  honey- 
tlow  commences,  it  will  not  do  nearly  as  well  as 
some  other  colony  just  getting  there  as  the  sea- 
son liegins.  This  is  i)articularly  the  case  with 
such  as  have  oklei- ()ueens. 

14.  Machines  foi-  ftdding  sections  will  not  be 
the  desideratum  with  me  until,  by  a  happy 
combination  with  the  foundation-fastener,  the 
starters  can  be  also  fastened  in  by  the  same 
operation.  If  I  can  not  save  time,  nor  do  the 
work  better  by  using  a  machine,  why  use  it? 

1.1.  Dr.  Miller  says,  in  Feb.  1st  (ti.kaxings: 
•■  liut  is  it  true,  that  bees  do  not  become  field- 
workers  till  If)  days  old?  I  have  seen  bees  ;") 
days  old  carrying'  pollen."  Then  Dr.  M.  does 
not  accept  the  sixteen-day  theory,  does  he?  I 
am  pretty  sure  that,  under  normal  conditions, 
bees  do  not  become  field-workers  until  Ki  days 
old.  What  they  may  do  under  other  conditions 
I  have  not  observed.  The  A  B  C  tells  us.  •■  Bees 
become  lield-workers  when  two  weeks  old, 
sometimes  when  but  one.""  Prof.  Cook  is  unde- 
cided: he  gives  the  age  as  two  weeks,  but 
thinks  that,  under  abnormal  conditions,  they 
may  go  into  the  fields  when  one  week  old. 
James  Heddon  teaclies.  "  Bees  become  active 
workers  in  gatheiing  honey  whiMi  from  4  to  8 
days  old."  According  to  (i.  M.  I).,  this  is  not 
the  case  until  they  are  u;  days  old.  Why  so 
much  indecision  and  differences  in  opinion, 
when  the  facts  may  I'a-ily  be  ascertained?  A 
few  experiments  thoroughly  carried  on  woidd 
tell  tlie  story. 

\'ogel  t-onducted  an  experiment  of  this  kind 
some  1.")  yars  ago.  He  arrived  a1  the  same  con- 
clusion ii.  M.  D.  did.  The  experiment  of  V'ogel 
is  so  far  all  llie  more  interesting,  as  he  formed 
his  experimental  colony  by  the  use  of  brood- 
combs  co!itaining  only  sealed  and  liaLciiing 
brood,  so  no  old  hees  could  possil)ly  be  in  the 
hive.  By  tlie  experiment.  Vogel  learned  in  the 
first  place  that  bees  iKsed  no  education  or  train- 
ing to  perform  the  funi'tions  which  are  per- 
formed inside  of  a  hive  of  bees.  Tlu^  faculty  is 
born  in  them  for  nursing  the  brood,  building 
comb.  etc.  Fui'ther.  he  observed  that  no  bee 
left  the  hive  for  any  piniiose  until  the  sixth  day 


from  the  lime  (d' the  lii-st  br'i- emerging  from  the 
cell.  On  that  day.  In  the  afternoon,  a  few  came 
out  for  a  |)lays|)ell;  after  this  the  hivi^  became 
perfectly  ipiiet.  The  next  day  in  the  afternoon, 
more  bees  came  out  for  a  playspell.  and  so  on. 
more  and  more  every  t'()nseculi\e  day.  but  al- 
ways becomintr  (|uiev  after  the  playspell:  not  a 
bee  went  foraging  until  the  sixteenth  day  in 
tiie  afternoon,  after  the  usual  playspell,  then 
just  a  few  bees  were  seen  to  return  w  ith  their 
I)ollen-i)askets  load(>d.  From  this  time  on,  the 
colony  liecanie  more  and  more  active.  Some 
time  during  the  coiu'se  of  the  experiment  the 
colony  was  depriveil  of  its  combs  and  jjrovision: 
still,  iiot  one  bee  would  go  out  in  search  of  food, 
although  the  day  was  fair,  and  nature  furnish- 
ed both  pollen  and  honey.  The  bees  were  near- 
ly exhausted  when  their  provisioned  combs 
were  returned  to  them,  and  they  were  thus 
saved  from  starvation. 

Since  Vogel  is  one  of  tlie  best  authorities  of 
the  present  day.  I  have  no  reason  to  doubt  his 
statements:  still,  there  may  be  others  who 
have  not  the  faith  in  liim,  considering  what 
other  authorities  claim,  and  I  would  suggest 
that  a  number  of  our  ablest  men  conduct  such 
experiments  as  they  may  think  best.  I  wish  I 
could  induce  Dr.  Miller,  Mr.  Green,  the  man- 
ager of  the  National  Expi-riment,  I{ee-station, 
and  some  others  to  take  this  matter  in  hand. 
Of  cours(\  that  would  not  hinder  some  of  us 
dabblers  from  experimenting  along  this  line.  It 
would  indeed  be  funnv  if  we  did  not  settle  this 
thing  definitely  by  the  time  the  International 
meets  next  fall.      "  F.  GREfNER. 

Naples.  N.  Y..  March  12. 


OBJECTIONS  TO  THE  USE  OF  HONEY. 


A  m:\vsi' aim: It  (  i.ii'i'ixG   i-'rom  dr.  j.  m.   kki,- 

!.()(;«.  IX   JiKO.VRD   TO   THE   USE   OF    HONEY 

AS    food:    an   If.I,rSTRATI(>N   OF   THE 

WAY  IN  WHICH   GREAT  MEN 

SO.METIMES   .MISEEAD. 

The  following,  from  Dr.  Kellogg,  is  clipped 
from  a  newspaper,  and  sent  us  by  one  of  our 
correspondents: 

Honey,  in  its  best  estate,  is  not  a  pure  sweet,  and 
conseiiiiently  is  open  to  greater  objections  than  , 
free  sugar. "  The  bLn's  uie  not  very  nice  in  their 
haljits,  and  gatlier  tlieir  store  in  all  sorts  of  pliiccs, 
sometimes  lioveriiif?  ovei-  that  which  is  very  loath- 
some and  unclean.  In  gMthering  the  nectar  from 
floweis,  the  bee  rubs  off  ninri!  or  less  of  the  pollen 
and  carries  it  home  with  Inm  and  dejiosits  it  with 
tiie  honey.  If  t  he  ])olleii  happens  to  be  poisonous, 
tlie  honey  is  jioisoned.  At  Trebizond, Turkey,  poi- 
sonous tlowers  abound  so  tliat  the  honey  at  that 
point  is  always  i)oisonous.  Further,  tlie  bee  always 
l)Uts  in  a  certain  quantity  of  poison  from  the  i«)l- 
soii-bag,  formic  acid,  to  preserve  the  honey.  If  the 
bees  are  very  much  disturbed  while  at  their  work, 
they  inject  an  unusual  amount  of  this  formic  acid 
into  their  product,  and  so  the  honey  becomes 
"rank."  A  person  who  eats  "rank"  honey  will  be 
taken  sick,  and  likely  break  out  with  a  rash  similar 
to  iiettleiash,  formic;  acid  being  the  poison  in  both 
instances.  These  facts  liave  all  been  determined 
l).\  scientitic  invest ig'ations. 

We  have  great  respect  for  Dr.  Kellogg;  but. 
like  other  great  men,  he  has  made  some  bad 
blunders.  And.  by  the  way.  "  big  doctors,"  it 
seems  to  me,  are  too  apt  to  make  positive  asser- 
tions in  regard  to  things  a  little  outside  of  their 
field,  that  are  only  mere  conjecture.  His  ex- 
pression. "  Bees  are  not  very  nice  in  their  hab- 
its,"" may  be  true  in  a  narrow  sense;, but  the 
statement  is  mostly  misleading  as  it  stands,  as 
any  one  conversant  with  honey-bees  knows. 
Again,  he  says,  "If  the  pollen  hapjiens  to  be 
lioisonous,  the  honey  is  poisoned."'  This  re- 
minds us  of  the  fearful   blunder  made  by  the 


236 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


ApRn.  1. 


health  commissioners  of  New  York  city  last 
season  in  condemning  grapes.  They  did  see  a 
little  poison  on  the  sterns  of  the  grapes,  very 
likely:  but  in  order  to  do  any  harm,  a  man 
would  need  to  eatr/fo»  of  (ir  a  pes  at  a  meal, 
stems  and  all:  and  even  then  it  is  doubtful 
whether  the  quantity  of  poison  he  received 
would  prove  fatal.  The  honey  at  Trebizond. 
Turkey,  is  "always  poisonous,"  is  it?  Perhaps 
we  can  find  out  something  more  about  that.  If 
there  is  anybody  who  reads  Gleanings  who 
has  ever  been  near  that  locality,  I  would 
kindly  ask  him  to  give  the  address  of  some 
proper  pei-son.  and  have  the  matter  investigat- 
ed. Such  a  newspaper  statement  would  be 
damaging  to  the  "real-estate  prospects"  of 
that  locality.  We  would  respectfully  call  the 
attention  of  the  Sublime  Porte  of  Turkey  to  the 
above  slanderous  statements  in  regard  to  his 
dominion.  Another  thing,  does  the  honey-bee 
always  put  formic  acid  in  the  honey?  Prof. 
Cook,  will  you  please  stand  up  and  tell  us  about 
these  things  that  come  within  your  domain? 
Some  writer  in  some  of  the  journals,  if  I  am 
correct,  once  suggested  that  the  operation  of 
extracting  honey  stirs  the  bees  up  to  such  an 
extent  that  they  inject  beesting  poison  into 
the  honey,  and  this  is  vvhy  extracted  honey  is 
more  likely  to  make  people  sick  than  comb 
honey.  The  writer  was  probably  working  for 
comb  honey,  and  felt  anxious  that  the  great 
public  should  give  comb  honey  the  preference — 
i.  e..  pay  a  bigger  price  for  it.  Then,  again, 
"  The  person  who  eats  rank  honey  will  be  tak- 
en sick."  This  is  another  of  the  positive  asser- 
tions: and  yet  we  have  readers  of  Gleanings 
who  eat  raw  honey  about  as  friend  Terry  and  I 
eat  strawberries,  and  it  does  not  make  them 
sick  "  worth  a  cent."  The  rest  of  the  sentence 
would  indicate  that,  whenever  any  of  you 
break  out  with  a  rash,  all  you  have  to  do  is  to 
think  back  when  you  last  ate  some  honey.  Dr. 
Kellogg,  you  are  a  whole  team  when  you  go  for 
tobacco,  cigarettes.  Dr.  Wilford  Hall,  etc.,  but 
when  you  are  writing  about  honey,  please  recog- 
nize that  it  is  7(0t  a  terrible  curse  to  humanity 
that  needs  stamping  out  by  such  vigorous  state- 
ments.] A.  I.  R. 


RAMBLE  NO.  56. 


IN  SAN   FKANCISCO. 

After  a  few  hours'  ride  from  Napa  City  we 
arrive  at  Vallejo(VaUeo)on  the  San  Pablo  Bay. 
A  little  to  the  east  is  Benicia,  where  a  United 
States  arsenal  and  soldiers'  barracks  are  locat- 
ed, and  where,  also,  will  be  found  one  of  those 
immense  ferryboats  that  will  take  a  whole 
train  of  cars.  Just  across  the  bay  we  come  to 
Port  Costa,  where  we  find  immense  warehouses 
stored  with  wheat,  ready  for  shipment.  San 
Pablo  Bay  is  but  a  continuation  of  the  bay  of 
San  Francisco,  and  we  now  follow  the  shores  of 
the  bays  for  20  miles,  and  soon  arrive  in  the 
city  of  Oakland.  Although  Oakland  is  noted 
as  being  called  the  Brooklyn  of  San  Francisco, 
it  is  a  thoroughgoing  business  placed  and  has 
the  motley  and  lively  makeup  seen  in  all 
westei'n  towns.  It  was  here  I  saw,  the  first 
time  after  many  months,  faces  that  were  famil- 
iar for  many  years  in  my  native  town.  A  young 
doctor  had  located  here  only  a  few  months  pre- 
viously, and.  among  otlu^r  household  goods. 
had  brought  along  his  father-in-law  and  moth- 
er-in-law. and  we  all  had  a  sort  of  jubilee. 
After  answering  innumerable  questions  about 
home  affairs  we  quieted  down  for  the  night. 
The  next  day  I  was  off  for  San  Francisco. 

It  is  about  five  miles  across  the  bay,  and  the 
railroad   piers  run  out  some  distance  into  the 


bay.  The  immense  ferryboats  are  loaded  everj 
morning  and  evening  with  from  one  to  two 
thousand  people  going  from  their  homes  in  one 
to  their  business  in  the  other.  Oakland  being  a 
more  desirable  place  of  residence  than  San 
Francisco. 

At  the  ferry  way  I  met  an  old-time  friend  who 
had  followed  the  high  seas  for  many  years  in 
the  United  States  navy,  and  had  finally  got 
settled  down  to  punching  ferry-tickets.  1  pre- 
sented ray  ticket,  but  held  on  to  prevent  the 
punching.  He  looked  at  me  witli  an  angry 
frown,  and  was  about  to  utter  hot  words  of 
rebuke.  Said  I, '"  George,  do  you  know  me?" 
and.  though  2(i  years  had  elapsed  since  we  had 
met.  he  knew  me.  and  so  arranged  his  ticket 
business  that  he  spent  a  day  showing  me  San 
Francisco. 

The  narrow  point  of  land  ui)on  which  San 
Francisco  is  located,  as  shown  upon  the  map.  is 
fully  ten  miles  in  width:  and  if  Rome  was  built 
upon  seven  hills,  this  city  is  built  upon  seven 
times  seven.  The  surface  is  very  uneven,  and 
in  some  portions  back  of  the  city  it  rises  to  the 
dignity  of  mountains.  The  chief  means  of  lo- 
comotion is  by  cable  railroad,  and  it  seems  that 
any  other  railroad  would  be  a  failure  here  on 
account  of  the  very  steep  gradients  to  overcome. 

San  Francisco  has  probably  the  most  hetero- 
genous population  of  any  city  on  this  continent. 
It  has  its  Italian.  Portuguese,  Chinese,  and  other 
quarters  of  distinctive  nationalities.  The  most 
noticeable  is  the  Chinese,  for  they  bring  and 
retain  all  of  their  national  characteristics  and 
dress.  The  senior  editor  of  Gi,?:anings  remark- 
ed about  seeing  his  first  Chinese  woman  in 
Portland,  and  noticed  her  head,  but  did  not 
seem  to  notice  her  feet.  The  Chinese  women 
that  come  to  this  country  are  not  of  the  class 
that  have  those  very  small  feet,  but  they  wear 
the  regular  Chinese  shoe,  and  it  is  a  mystery 
how  they  stand  on  them.  Nearly  all  Chinese 
wear  the  wooden-soled  shoe:  but  the  woman's 
shoe  differs  in  being  raoi'e  rounding  on  the  bot- 
tom. As  they  waddle  along,  the  sole  of  the 
shoe  looks  like  a  rocker,  and  you  expect  to  see 
the  wearer  pitch  one  way  or  the  other.  I  sup- 
pose the  shoe  was  invented  by  Confucius,  and 
the  people  have  had  a  long  time  in  which  to 
learn  its  peculiarities. 

The  prettiest  sight,  and  one  that  always 
draws  attention,  is  the  little  Chinaman  of  four 
or  five  summers.  He  is  usually  decked  out  in 
bright  green  and  yellow,  or  other  hues,  with 
decorated  shoes,  and  is  evidently  proud  of  his 
fantastic  appearance. 

The  fogs  roll  up  over  San  Francisco  nearlj 
every  morning,  but  they  do  not  get  across  the 
bay  to  Oakland.  The  nights  are  cool,  and  a 
great  portion  of  the  year  it  is  desirable  to  live 
on  the  sunny  side  of  the  house.  There  are, 
consequently,  but  few  shade-trees  on  the  streets 
of  this  city.  Tiie  visitor  will  scarcely  fail  to 
notice  the  healthy  and  robust  appearance  of 
the  women  of  this  city,  and  even  their  faces 
of  good  rosy  color  and  beauty. 

A  point  of  never-failing  interest  is  to  visit  the 
Cliff  House  and  the  Seal  Rocks.  We  run  out 
by  rail  past  the  historical  (Tolden  Gate,  and  the 
grand  Pacific  Ocean  is  before  us.  We  had 
viewed  the  old  Atlantic  from  many  points,  and 
it  was  with  a  feeling  of  satisfaction  that  we 
were  permitted  to  look  out  from  this  far  side  of 
the  continent  upon  the  Pacific,  and  see  the 
breakers  roll  in  upon  the  sandy  beach. 

The  Seal  Rocks  are  .so  named  from  the  num- 
ber of  seals,  or  sea-lions,  that  congregate  there. 
They  bellow  and  quarrel  as  the  waves  dash 
over  them,  and  one  very  large  one.  named  Gen. 
Butler,  seems  to  rule  the  roost.  Sutro  Heights 
and  Sutro  Park  are  open  to  the  public,  and  it 
is  truly  a   beautiful   place.    The  Golden   Gate 


\s\y2 


(JLKANINCS  IN   HKK  CULTURK. 


.237 


I'luk  t'xtoiids  from  the  i.'ily  down  to  tlit>  ocean, 
u  disiaiii't'  of  livt>  niili-s.  Wo  walked  back 
through  tilt"  park;  aiui.  wliilc  tlie  far  cud  of  it 
near  tlit>  ocean  is  yet  nniniproved,  the  city  end 
is  a  veritat^le  jiaradise;  and  when  it  is  all  coni- 
nleted  it  will  he  the  grandest  park  in  the  world. 
Hilt  space  will  not  allow  me  to  dwell  further 
upon  th(>  many  intereslintr  features  of  this  city. 
My  friend  the  next  morninij  went,  to  the  punch- 
ing of  tickets,  and.  with  a  letter  of  introdnc- 
tioM.  I  sought  Mr.  Weston,  the  maimfacliirer  of 
fruit  boxes  and  baskets  of  all  sorts  and  sizes. 
My  object  in  looi<ing  up  this  l)nsiiiess  was  to 
lind,  if  possible,  some  wood  on  this  coast  that 
would  make  good  sections.  8i)i'iice  seemed  to 
meet  the  reiinirenients  nearer  than  any  other 
wood,  and  Mr.  Weston's  exp(>rienc(>  with  woods 
of  all  kinds  gave  value  to  liis  advice.  For  tin- 
manufacture  of  baskets  tli(>  material  is  shaved 
into  sjilints  fiom  ''s  to  ~  inches  in  uidth,  and  of 
varying  degrees  of  thickness.  The  macliine 
for  making  these  splints  is  very  simple.  The 
spi'uce  plank  to  be  shaved  is  clamped  to  a 
strong  bench:  a  (hit  plane  is  operated  by  a 
strong  lever  that  projects  through  the  floor,  to 
which  motion  is  given  from  machinery  below; 
a  strong  rope  connects  plane  and  lever,  and. 
with  a  man  to  adjust  the  plane  at  every  sweep 
of  the  lever,  the  plank  is  soon  reduced  to  ma- 
terial for  baskets. 

Wishing  to  test  a  few  shavings  for  sections, 
the  plane  was  set  to  an  eighth  of  an  inch,  and 
several  strips  were  ratiidly  taken  off,  and  the 
grain  was  not  badly  broken.     I  found,  however. 


SAX     FKANCISrO     M.\CHIXK     FOK    MAKING    BAS- 
KET-.SPLINTS. 

Ihe  following  obstacles  to  the  use  of  spruce:  To 
plane  easily  or  at  all.  the  timber  must  be  green 
or  wet.  just  as  it  comes  from  the  rafts  that  have 
been  floated  here  from  On'gon.  When  seasoned 
there  is  a  hard  bonelike  tilm  which  is  hard  for 
a  saw  to  cut  unless  frefjuent  filings  are  resorted 
to.  It  is  also  more  britt  Ic  than  basswood  when 
dry.  and  more  liable  to  break  at  the  corners. 
The  price  of  selected  timber  is  $.H0  to  $35  per 
1(XX).  which  puts  it  on  the  shelf  as  compared 
with  basswood.  Other  woods  have  been  rec- 
ommended, such  as  Cottonwood,  which  has  only 
a  small  strip  of  white  in  a  tree,  and  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  select  it.  Cedar  and  eucalyptus  have 
also  been  recommended:  but  their  strong  odor 
is  an  objection.  Sugar- i)ine  would  probably 
make  a  good  section;  but  even  that,  wIumi  we 
select  the  best,  is  nearly  the  same  price  as 
spruce.  Redwood  is  a  fine  wood,  but  the  color, 
if  not  the  price,  is  an  objection.  I  gave  up  the 
pursuit,  for  I  believe  thife  is  nothing  on  this 
coast  or  any  other  that  can  compete  with  bass- 
wood  in  all  ijualities  for  a  one-piece  section. 
Mr.  Weston  tried  tf)  use  these  splints  for  sec- 
tions by  bending  and  lapping  one  side;  but  they 
got  out  of  shape,  and  looked  simply  ridiculous 
by  the  side  of  the  straight  and  trim  basswood. 

Several   parties   have  ordered  machinery  for 
ihis   purpose,  but  it  stands  idle  and  is  for  sale. 


IJeo-liives  and  shi|)ping-crates  are  made  by 
several  parties  here,  and  this  can  be  dont^  here 
as  well  as  in  the  lOast;  but  still,  thousands  of 
hives  come  from  east  of  tin-  Rockies  evt^-y  sea- 
sou.  The  last  genthMiian  I  saw  in  relation  to 
the  supply  business  was  Mr.  Wm.  Styan,  of  San 
Mateo,  about  ~'()  miles  out  from  San  Francisco. 
San  Mateo  is  a  lovely  town  w  hen^  iiumy 
wealthy  San  Franciscans  reside  in  beautiful 
iH'sidences  surrounded  by  shaded  pleasure- 
grounds,  and  beatitilied  with  trees,  shrubs,  and 


/*'«>2, 


A  ];UCAI.FYTUS    APIAItY. 

many-hued  flowers,  nearly  all  new  to  the  East- 
ern man.  Mr.  Styan  is  a  sturdy  Englishman, 
has  been  in  the  Fiiited  States  about  nine  years, 
and  nearly  all  the  time  in  California.  He  has 
an  apiary  of  over  30  colonies,  and  is  rearing 
golden  Italian  queens,  and  deals  in  supplies. 
Mr.  Styan  has  much  other  business;  and.  his 
son  having  recently  secured  other  lucrative 
business  in  the  city,  he  was  obliged  to  suspend 
the  publication  of  the  Calif ornin  Bee-keeper 
for  the  tini(^  being,  but  proposes  to  start  it 
again  in  the  near  future.  We  traveled  the 
shady  walks  of  San  Mateo  a  while,  during 
which  Mr.  S.  pointed  out  bees  at  work  on  the 
small  white  blossom  of  the  oucalyptus-tree.  I 
was  informed  by  Mr.  S.  that  this  honey  is  much 
sought  after  on  account  of  its  medicinal  quali- 
ties. The  blossoms  are  very  fragrant,  and  It  is 
a  healthful  tree  to  have  around.  Mr.  Styan's 
apiary  has  the  eucalyptus  for  a  background. 
In  San  Mateo  are  several  educational  institu- 
tions, and.  on  the  whole,  it  seems  to  be  a  desir- 
able place  in  which  to  resid(\ 

Between  San  Mateo  and  San  Francisco,  gar- 
dening is  extensively  engaged  in.  The  side 
hills  are  neatly  terraced,  and  water  drawn  up 
by  scores  of  windmills  to  irrigate  and   make 


TKRKACING,    AND     IHKKiATINfJ     BY     WINOMII.I.8 

productive  all  the  long  year  round  what  other- 
wis(>  would  Ije  a  liarren  hillside.  ~^ 

After  my  return  to  Frisco  I  felt  a  strong  desire 
to  test  the  merits  of  ocean  travel;  and  upon  the 
steamship  Queen,  bound  for  Southern  Califor- 
nia, will  next  be  found  the  Rambi.kk. 


338* 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aran,  1. 


[Yes.  friend  R..  I  did  notice  particularly  the 
wooden  shoe  worn  by  the  Chinese  women,  and 
their  peculiar  walk  ;  and  Mrs.  Root  and  I  both 
admired  the  Chinese  juveniles.  They  are  by  all 
odds  the  cutest  and  prettiest  members  of  the 
Chinese  family  ;  and  how  in  the  world  these 
Chinamen  can  stay  here  in  our  country  without 
their  liitle  ones,  to  say  nothing  of  their  wives,  is 
beyond  my  comprehension.  I  saw  some  little 
fellows  carrying  in  wood,  and  doing  other  chores 
about  the  house,  and  they  seemed  to  be  as  deft 
and  handy,  almost,  as  the  grown-up  ones.  It 
seems  we  went  over  about  the  same  ground,  and 
we  were  especially  interested  in  Sutro  Park  and 
Sutro  Heights,  and  the  seals.  You  call  them 
•'sea-lions.''  Well,  it  seemed  to  me  that  some 
of  those  big  fellows  were  something  more  than 
large  seals.— It  seems  to  me  your  machine  for 
making  basket-splints  is  a  rather  primitive  one. 
Can  they  not  get  better  tools  from  some  of  our 
Eastern  manufacturers?  Your  investigations  in 
regard  to  material  for  making  sections  just 
about  agree  with  our  own  here.— In  regard  to 
the  Calif oniia  Bee-keejjer:  I  do  not  know  that 
it  is  our  business  to  stir  up  discord  ;  but  it  oc- 
curs to  me  that  Mr.  Sty  an  and  his  son,  when  they 
found  that  they  had  too  much  else  to  do  to 
keep  the  Bee-keeper  going,  should  have  refund- 
ed the  money  for  which  no  equivalent  had  been 
rendered.  I  mention  this  because  I  heard  con- 
siderable complaint  along  this  line;  and  if  the 
matter  is  not  fixed  up,  people  are  going  to  be  a 
little  slow  hereaftei'  in  subscribing  for  new  bee- 
papers.]  A.  I.  R. 


THE  PORTEK  BEE-ESCAPE. 

A  GOOD  TESTIMONIAI,  FOR  IT:  BEES'  WINGS  NOT 
TOKN  BY  IT. 

In  response  to  your  request  concerning  the 
Porter  spring  bee-escape  tearing  bees'  wings,  I 
wish  to  say  that  bees'  wings  are  not  injured  in 
the  least  in  passing  through  the  escape.  Al- 
though I  have  used  these  escapes  ever  since 
their  invention,  and  having  no  occasion  to  mis- 
trust any  injury  to  the  bees  in  any  way,  upon 
reading  your  editorial  I  made  further  investiga- 
tion. Having  a  few  springs,  such  as  are  used 
in  the  Porter  escape,  I  tried  cutting  or  tearing 
bees'  wings  with  one  of  these  springs,  and 
found  it  almost  impossible  to  mutilate  the 
wings,  even  when  holding  them  between  the 
thumb  and  finger  of  one  hand,  and  u<ing  the 
spring  as  a  knife-blade  or  punch.  So  tough  and 
flexible  are  the  wings  of  bees,  that  they  slip 
aside  in  spite  of  any  eftort  to  hold  them  in  posi- 
tion to  tear  them.  I  also  caught  a  bee  and 
brought  it  to  a  window,  and  compelled  it  to 
pass  through  an  escape  several  times,  watching 
it  closely  while  doing  so;  and  should  you  make 
an  experiment  of  this  nature,  you  would  doubt- 
less say,  "  Nonsense  ! "  I  think  that  no  intelli- 
gent bee-keeper  would  expose  his  ignorance  by 
intimating  that  bees'  wings  are  injured  by 
passing  between  the  springs  of  the  Porter  es- 
cape. Much  less  would  it  be  likely  that  an  in- 
telligent gatlicriug  of  bee-keepers  would  pass  a 
verdict  of  cc(nd<'mnation  in  matters  of  this  kind 
without  thorough  investigation;  so  I  think 
there  must  be  some  mistake  in  this  matter. 
Furthermore,  it  does  seem  that,  where  so  nuiny 
prominent  bee  -  keepers,  such  as  Prof.  A.  J. 
Cook,  .1.  F.  Mclntyre.  Thoimis  Pierce,  John  S. 
Reese,  .1.  H.  Martin,  and  many  we  can  not  men- 
tion, have  given  such  hearty  commendations  of 
this  useful  implement,  the  matter  as  mentioned 
in  your  editorial  could  not  be  very  sei'ious,  or 
some  one  would  have  discovered  it  ere  this. 

If  all  the  appliances  of  the  apiary  wei'e  as 
faultless   as   the    Porter   escape,    bee-keepers 


would  have  but  little  to  complain  of  in  the  mat- 
ter of  fixtures.  S.  A.  Shuck. 
Liverpool,  111..  Mar.  10. 

[We  have  had  enough  now  to  prove  that  the 
rumor  of  wing-tearing  was  founded  on  mistake 
If  any  thing  has  been  called  out  it  is  that  the 
Porter  is  a  good  thing.] 


THICK  VS.  THIN  FOUNDATION    FOR   SECTION 
HONEY. 

THE     ONTAIUO     AfiKICUI-TURAL     AND      EXPERI- 
MENTAL  UNION    DECLARE   IN  FAVOR  OF  THE 
EXTRA   THIN   FOR   SURPLUS. 


The  following  pi'inted  report  came  thi-ough 
the  mails:  and  as  it  records  a  valuable  experi- 
ment we  take  pleasure  in  copying  it: 

The  experiment  conducted  was,  "Testing-  to  wliat 
extent,  if  any.  the  lifes  thin  out  tlie  st>i)tuni.  oi-  base 
of  comb  fouiidatidii  hrfoi-e  sloiin^;-  tlic  lioncy  in  the 
comb,  and  what  effect  vaiioiis  thicknesses  of  foun- 
dation liave  upon  the  tliiclinessof  tiase  tinally  left  by 
the  bees."  Tlie  object  of  tliis  was  to  see  if  heavy 
grades  of  foundation  would  leave  an  undue  amount 
of  wax  in  tlie  comb,  making  it  unph'asant  to  the 
consumer,  and  injuritig  the  sale  of  comb  lioiiey ;  or 
if  it  might  be  drawn  out  into  cell  walls  l)y  the  liees. 
The  foundation  was  supplied  free  of  all  cliarges  to 
the  ones  agreeing  to  conduct  tlie  experiments. 
There  were  three  grades  sent  out,  being  6  feet  to 
the  pcmnd,  10  feet  to  the  pound,  and  12  feet  to  the 
pound,  known  as  medium  bi'ood,  thin  surplus,  and 
extra  thin  surplus.  The  sections  were  marked  ac- 
cordingly before  (Hitting  into  the  hive,  and  instruc- 
tions given  to  iilace  all  over  center  of  brood-cham- 
ber to  give  all  an  alike  favtnaiile  position  or  other- 
wise for  drawing  t)ut  and  buildirg  on  the  founda- 
tion. Owing  to  the  very  unfavorable  honey  season 
generally,  some  were  unable  to  get  the  foundation 
drawn  out  at  all.  Tliese  we  hojie  to  secure  next 
season.  In  testing  for  sections  wliich  had  tlie  thin- 
nest base,  the  three  samples  were  taken  without 
looking  at  tlie  number  of  feet  per  |>ound  marked  on 
wood,  and  by  looking  through  base  of  section  and 
taking  a  piece  of  each  comb  in  moutli,  tlie  order  of 
tliickne.ss  was  found,  and  in  almost  every  instance 
the  order  was  the  same  as  when  the  foundation  was 
placed  in  tlie  sections.  In  no  case  was  tlie  least 
difficulty  experienced  in  discovering  that  the  foun- 
dation 6  feet  to  the  pound  was  the  heavier— the  base 
and  also  the  wall  was  heavy;  and  the  feeling,  when 
eaten  with  honey  in  the  mouth,  decidedly  unpleas- 
ant. In  No.  8  exiierinient  a  heavy  honey-flow  was 
secured  artificially,  by  putting  a  feeder  on  top  of 
the  hive,  holding  about  1.5  pounds,  and  the  bees 
built  the  comb  out  very  quickly.  In  this  lot.  when 
the  honey  was  extracted  and  the  wax  was  cold,  the 
cell  wall  built  on  by  the  bees  was  broken  away,  and 
underneath  the  foundation  was  found  in  almost  if 
not  exactlj' the  same  condition  as  when  put  in  the 
sections.  Tiie  general  results  tend  to  show  tliat 
comb  foundation  in  .sections  is  not  thinned  by  bees 
as  is  generall.v  supjMised.  Twenty-four  applied  for 
material,  out  of  which  the  following  number  re- 
ported, as  follows: 


BY  WHOM  CONDUCTED.  POSTOFFICE. 


1  Dr.  Geo.  Duncan*  lEiiibro,  Ont.  Lij<ht. 

•2  E  L.  Goold  &  Co..  Brantford.  |Me'iium. 

.■?  (!cii.  K.  .\(l:ims Rianlford.  Medium. 

4  Will.  M.ibrav   S.unia. 

.'i  i;  lie' r'-M   Hu^liaiifl  I'airntruin.  Medium. 

i;  Mi-s    H    F.  Bull.-i-  C.imp'lford. 

7  Will.  (ierniMii  Keacliville. 

8  R.  V.  HoUi  rniannt  Brantford.  Heavy. 

9  Gf  (1.  Bailiei- Hartford.  Light. 

10  S.  Rifrhtnieyt-r Wooler. 

11  W.  UaiRht Wellington.  Medium. 

12Jas.   Shaw Kt-nilile.  Medium. 


6  ft.  10  ft.  I  12  ft. 


*.\  SLvinely  iiereeptible  difference  between  2  and  3. 
+.V  verv  marked  difference. 

(  Edgar  M.  Husband. 
Aiiiarian  Committee,  -,  W.  Haight. 

(  K.  F.  HOLTERMANN. 

[If  we  understand  the  report  correctly,  the 
result  of  the  experiment  seems  to  favor  ex- 
tra thin  foundation:  but  a  number  of  bee-keep- 


lS<f,> 


CLKANINCS  IN   lUOK  (  T  LTl'IUO. 


':{'.» 


rrs  oil  lliis  side.  Dr.  Miller',  llic  Dadaiits,  aiul 
soiiK'  DtliiMS  w  liost'  iiiuiii's  we  (1(1  not  now  recall. 
have  decided  that  tlie  "  exti'a  tliiii  "  is  no  hettei'. 
nor  a.-i  Rood,  as  what  is  caMed"(hin  surplus." 
When  the  niattei'  came  up  for  discussion,  we 
believe  the  ohjectioii  to  tile  exti'a  thin  was. 
that  the  bee?,  would,  on  acconni  of  its  e\irenie 
ly  liL'lit  wciyrlil.  sometimes  ^naw  it.| 


EMPTY  COMBS  AND  OLD  FOUNDATION  IN 
SECTIONS. 

<K(  TIONS   OF    OLD    IlKAWX    CO.MHS    VS.    SKCTIONS 
OK.FHICSII    KOLNDATION.    KTC . 


As  th(^  b(H^-keepef  goes  to  work'  to  pniiare 
his  snpiM's  for  tlie  coining  iuifvest  he  i,s  olten 
iii(^t  by  tile  pioblem  what  to  do  with  the  unMn- 
ished  sections  h'fl  over  fioin  t lie  previous  sea- 
son. As  to  the  value  of  such  sections  lor  using 
again,  tlie  widest  ditlerence  of  opinion  iirevails. 
Some  c()nsi(h'r  them  superior  to  freshly  lilled 
sections,  and  till  wlioit^  siijiers  witii  them,  while 
othei-s  consider  tliem  worse  tiian  worthless 
excejit  for  the  purpose  of  attracting  bees  into 
the  snjiers:  and  even  for  this  inirpose  ihey  do 
not  want  more  than  one  or  two  in  a  super. 

When  the  subject  was  lirst  brouglit  up  for 
discussion,  sevi^ral  years  ago.  I  received  many 
appreciative  letters  from  those  who  had  found. 
as  I  had.  that  it  was  more  prolitable  to  melt  tip 
sections  tilled  witii  coiiib  than  to  ti'y  to  have 
them  lilled  with  honey.  IJut  tlu^re  were  some 
very  practical  lujiiey- producers  who  opposed 
this  view,  and  continued  to  oppose  it  in  a  way 
that  was  at  first  very  perplexing  to  me.  1  had 
found  that  sections  were  never  hrst  class  in  ap- 
pearance, and  that,  wliile  the  bees  might  tiegiii 
work  on  them  tirst.  th(\v  would  ntit  be  linished 
as  soon  as  those  started  from  fresh  foundation. 
It  has  been  generally  c(jiiceded  that  such  sec- 
tions never  look  quite  as  nice:  but  the  proposi- 
tion that  they  are  le.ss  valuable  otherwise  has 
always  lieeii  opposed. 

During  the  past  two  or  three  seasons,  with 
theii'  poor  yields  of  hoin  y.  I  think  I  have  found 
the  reasons  for  this  ditference  of  opinion.  I 
have  found,  as  others  have.  that,  during  a  very 
light  yield  of  honey,  the  two  or  three  •"  bait  sec- 
lions '"  of  empty  comb  in  each  super  would 
sometimes  be  tilled  with  honey,  and  tinished, 
before  sections  containing  founclation  had  been 
startcid  at  all.  Of  course,  undei'  such  circum- 
stances the  use  of  sections  containing  drawn 
comb  would  give  a  larger  vield  of  box  honey. 
even  though  its  quality  might  not  be  tirst  class. 
Hut  it  is  to  he  hoped  iliat  hoiiey-tlows  of  so 
light  a  character  as  this  ar(^  not  going  to  be 
frequent  enough  to  make  it  n(H'essary  to  take 
this  point  very  much  into  our  calculations. 

When  we  closely  question  many  of  those  who 
insist  on  the  great  value  of  drawn  combs  in  sec- 
tions we  find  that  they  use  only  starters  of 
foundation  instead  of  sheets  tilling  the  section 
full.  A  comb  reaching  from  top  to  bottom  of 
the  section  otT'ers  much  irreater  indiicetnents  to 
the  bees  than  a  narrow  <tarter  at  the  tO|).  aiul 
good  combs  may  b(i  more  prolitalile  than  such 
starters. 

But  the  principal  reason  why  many  do  not 
see  this  question  in  its  i)roper  light  is.  liiat  they 
do  not  compare  the  sections  of  drawn  comb 
with  those  tilled  with  ./''•'>'''  foundation.  I  have 
known  for  years  that  freshly  made  foundation  is 
better  than  that  which  has  been  exposed  to  the 
air  for  some  time,  but  I  never  saw  tlie  differ- 
ence so  strikingly  shown  as  in  an  experiment 
last  summer.  On  account  of  lack  of  help. 
many  supers  were  just  as  they  had  been  left 
the  preceding  summer,  the  sections  containing 
full  sheets  of  foundation  untouched  by  the  bees. 


Wishing  to  tiy  a  new  make  of  sections,  two  or 
three  rows  of  the  old  sections  w'en^  r(^ni(Tved 
from  each  of  a  number  of  supers,  and  replaced 
with  the  new  ones  coiitaining  fresh  foundation. 
Onlv  a  moderate  aniounti  of  honey  was  lieing 
gathered,  and  but  few  c(jloni(^s  were  making 
aii\  iMiigress  in  the  supers,  so  that  I  was  sur- 
prised, a  con|)le  of  weeks  later,  to  lind  most  of 
those  new  sections  liiilll  out  and  tinished,  wliih; 
in  some  cases  th(>  old  foundation,  right  along- 
side in  the  same  su|)e|-s.  hiid  not  been  touched. 

If.  ill  tesijiiir  iiijs  matter,  full  sheets  of  fresh 
foundation  were  always  compareil  with  drawn 
combs,  I  think  the  unprotitalileness  of  tin;  lat- 
ter would  seldom  lie  ((tiestioiKHl.  Uiit  there  is  a 
serious  difliculty  in  the  way  here.  It  is  not 
always  [lossible  for  the  bee-keeper,  esiiecially 
if  he  counts  his  colonies  by  tlu;  hundred,  to  use 
only  fresh  foundation.  He  must  prepare  many 
of  his  sii|)ers  in  advance  of  the  honey-harvest, 
and  is  always  liable  to  have  some  of  them  left 
ovei-  unused.  If  he  does  not  do  t  his  he  must  be 
able  to  count  on  an  abundance  of  reliable  help 
during  the  honey  season,  or  he  is  liable  to 
serious  loss.  On  the  contrary,  I  am  convinced 
that  he  may  lose  heavily  by  using  old  hard 
foundation.  Hetwcicn  the  two  horns  of  the 
dilemma  I  hai'dly  know  which  to  choose. 
What  I  have  decided  on  for  the  present  is  this: 
All  drawn-out  combs,  except  enough  of  tiu^  best 
to  put  two  or  thre(^  in  (^acli  super,  used  at  the 
beginning  of  the  season,  shall  be  cut  out  and 
melted:  all  sh(H>ts  of  foundation  that  have  be- 
come bleached  orprojiolized  shall  he  remelted, 
and  at  least  one-third  of  the  sections  in  each 
super  shall  be  tilled  with  fresh  foundation.  Hy 
"fresh  foundation"  I  mean  that  which  has 
been  expos(;d  to  the  air  as  little  as  possible,  and 
has  not  been  put  into  the  sections  more  than 
two  or  three  w(;eks  in  advance  of  the  time  it  is 
ni^eded  on  the  hives.  Possibly  it  might  not  de- 
teriorate very  much  by  being  in  the  sections  a 
couple  of  months:  but  that  which  has  been 
kept  over  from  one  season  to  another,  exposed 
to  the  air,  is  certainly  very  far  inferior  to  fresh 
foundation.  This  is  especially  the  case  when  it 
has  been  on  the  hives  some  time  and  has  been 
varnished  over  with  iiropolis  by  the  bees. 

I  consider  that  foundation  best  which  has 
come  most  recently  from  thiMJipping-tank  and 
rolling-mill;  but  that  which  has  been  papered 
and  tightly  boxed,  so  that  it  is  not  exposed  to 
the  air.  will  keep  a  long  time  with  but  little 
injury.  J.  A.  (JitKiox. 

Dayton.  111.,  March  4. 


PREVENTING    INCREASE  WHEN   THE    FIRST 
SWARM  ISSUES. 


.J.  F.  M'INTY-KE    EXI'LAINS    MOKK    FlIXY  the    SE- 
CRET  OF   THE   DADANT   XGN-SWARMING 
PI-AX. 


In  Chas.  Dadant  it  Son's  article  on  prevent- 
ing increase.  |jag(!  541.  IS'.il,  they  ri^vealed  a 
secret  not  found  in  the  books:  at  least,  I  have 
just  looked  through  ten  bei^-books.  Dadant's 
included,  and  did  not  (ind  it  in  any  of  them. 
They  all  agree  that,  as  a  rule,  the  first  svvartn 
issues  when  tin;  first  qii(!eii-c(dls  are  s(!al(!d,  un- 
less prevented  tiy  foul  weather.  Now.  (ivery 
bee-keeper  shoiilrJ  know  that  there  are  several 
other  conditions  which  will  make  a  colony 
postpone  swarming  until  the  second  crisis,  that 
is,  when  the  tirst  cells  an^  r(;ady  to  hatch,  and 
one  of  the  most  powerful  is  a  large  hive  con- 
taining plenty  of  empty  combs.  If  I  understand 
Dadant's  system  they  put  a  super  full  of  empty 
combs  on  their  extra  huiie  brood -chain  hers  be- 
fore the  bees  commence  to  build  queen-cells,  or 


240 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Ai'Kii,  L 


get  the  swarming  fever;  this  prevents  most  of 
the  colonies  from  getting  the  fever,  and  the  few 
that  start  queen-cells  do  not  swarm  nntil  the 
first  cells  are  ready  to  hatch.  In  that  article 
they  say,  "  If  we  return  the  swarm  48  hours 
after  swarming,  the  queen-cells  have  been  de- 
stroyed by  the  young  queen,  and  the  bees  get  rid 
of  her  or  the  old  one  when  the  swarm  is  return- 
ed." This  shows  that  they  mean  the  first 
swarm,  and  that  their  bees  do  not.  as  a  rule, 
swarm  until  the  first  young  queens  are  ready  to 
hatch.  They  probably  would  not  have  any 
swarms  if  it  were  not  for  this  crisis;  the  bees 
seem  reluctant  to  kill  the  young  queens,  for,  as 
a  rule,  the  old  (lueen  is  feeble,  or  they  would 
not  have  started  the  cells,  so  they  yield  to  the 
impulse  and  swarm.  If  the  weather  hai)i)ens  to 
be  unfavorable  at  this  time,  one  of  the  young 
queens  will  often  hatch,  and  kill  the  old  queen, 
when  the  swai'm  will  issue  with  a  virgin.  I  had 
109  first  swarms  this  season,  and  out  of  that 
number  4'.i  killed  the  old  queen  and  swarnK^d 
with  a  virgin;  40  swarmed  with  the  old  queen 
when  the  first  cells  were  ready  to  hatch,  and  20 
according  to  rule,  near  the  time  that  the  young 
queens  are  sealed  over. 

I  am  afraid  that  bee-keepers  having  small 
hives  will  be  seriously  disappointed  in  trying 
Mr.  Dadant's  plan  of  i)reventing  increase,  be- 
cause, as  a  rule,  bees  in  small  hives  do  swarm  on 
the  sealing  of  the  first  qi'ieen-cells.  I  feel  very 
sure  that  the  success  of  the  plan  depends  on 
having  a  large  hive  filled  with  emi)ty  combs, 
or,  rather,  the  super  filled  with  emiity  combs. 
You  may  put  it  down  in  the  books,  that  a  colony 
having  a  large  amount  of  empty  comb  in  their 
hive  will  not,  as  a  rule,  swarm  until  the  first 
queen-cells  are  ready  to  hatch  ;  and  that  such 
colonies,  when  they  do  swarm,  are  very  easily 
discouraged  from  swarming  again.  The  exigen- 
cy of  the  case  forces  them  out  against  their  bet- 
ter judgment  ;  and  when  this  exigency  is  re- 
moved by  one  (jueen  hatching  and  killing  the 
others,  the  bees  are  contented  to  remain. 

Fillmore,  Cal..  Feb.  24.         .!.  K.  McIntvkk. 

[Friend  M..  I  entirely  agree  with  you  in  the 
position  you  lake;  and  since  you  mention  it. 
I  feel  pretty  sure  that  a  large  hive  like  the  one 
used  by  the  Dadants  would  have  very  much  to 
do  in  keeping  down  the  swarming  fever;  but  I 
am  afraid,  my  good  friend,  when  you  looked 
over  those  ten  bee-iiooks  you  did  not  look  very 
carefully— that  is.  if  the  secret  you  speak  of  is 
the  matter  of  giving  a  larger  amount  of  room 
and  empty  combs.  In  the  A  B  C.  under  the 
head  of  "  Prevention  of  Swarming  by  the  Use 
of  the  Extractor,"  you  will  tind  particular  em- 
phasis placed  on  this  point.  See  also  Dadant's 
book,  paragraphs  461  and  4.")9.  I  am  glad,  how- 
ever, that  you  have  called  attention  to  it.  for 
perhaps  it  has  nowhere  been  stated^with  suffi- 
cient clearness.  Putting  on  a  whole'super  filled 
with  empty  combs,  just  before  the  bees  get  the 
swarming  fever,  will  surely  do  very  much  to 
hinder  swarming.  For  many  years  I  have 
watched  and  experimented,  with  a  view  of  get- 
ting at  the  real  cause  of  swarming:  and  when 
they  really  get  the  fever,  it  is  oftentimes  a 
pretty  hard  matter  to  stop  them.  I  remember 
of  once  seeing  some  motions  among  the  bees  in 
a  hive  I  had  just  opened,  that  seemed  to  indi- 
cate they  were  getting  ready  to  swarm.  I 
hastily  lifted  the  combs,  and  stood  them  up 
against  the  grapevine  trellises,  so  as  to  scatter 
them  several  feet  apart.  If  I  am  correct.  I  had 
got  them  so  placed  that  no  two  combs  were 
together,  and  yet  these  be(>s  started  the  swarm - 
ing-note,  and  commenced  rising  from  one  comb 
and  then  another;  and  finally  all  that  could  fly 
left  their  combs  and  united  in  the  aii'.  So  I 
concluded  that,  when  bees  had  once  made  their 


arrangements,  and  got  the  real  swarming  fever, 
it  was  not  an  easy  matter  to  hold  them  back.] 

A.  I.  R. 


ECLIPSE   FOUNDATION-ROLLER. 


HOW   .1.    M.    HAMHAUGH    FASTENS     HIS     FOUNDA- 
TION  TO  THE   TOP-BAK.   AND   IMKEr>S 
THE   WIHE. 

Well,  well:  It  does  really  seem  strange  to 
me  that  so  simple  a  little  device  as  the  "  Eclipse 
foundation-roller"  should  have  remained  so 
long  in  obscurity,  and  its  merits  so  little  known 
in  the  bee-world.  It  is  certainly  very  simple, 
and  yet  it  is  perfection  in  the  direction  for 
which  it  was  designed.  Necessity  is  said  to  be 
the  mother  of  invention,  and  it  was  after  being 
thoroughly  disgusted  with  all  the  methods 
known  to  us  for  putting  foundation  securely 
and  rapidly  in  frames  that  led  to  the  discovery 
of  the  rollei-:  and  now  I  am  bound,  in  justice  to 
a  former  friend  and  partner,  by  the  name  of 
Stone,  to  give  him  credit  for  the  first  invention 
of  this  practical  little  device.  The  original  is 
still  in  my  possession,  a  picture  of  which  I  here- 
with submit. 


FIG.    1.— stone's    ORIGINAL   ROLLER   FASTE.NER. 

Mr.  Stone  left  the  State  and  embarked  in 
other  pursuits  shortly  after  this;  and  while  the 
roller  of  our  present  device  is  practically  the 
same  as  that  of  the  original.  I  have  materially 
changed  the  shape  of  the  handle  and  the  mode 
of  adjusting  the  roller  to  the  proper  depth  on 
tlie  brood-frame.  We  found  the  roller  a  grand 
improvement,  and  with  a  little  practice  we 
could  put  the  foundation  starters  in  very  rapidly. 

It  was  about  this  time  in  our  experience  that 
we  became  somewhat  familiar  with  the  meth- 
ods of  the  Dadants;  and  having  adverse  experi- 
ence with  the  use  of  starters  in  brood-frames 
we  began  to  pave  our  way  for  the  use  of  full 
sheets  of  foundation  in  brood-frames:  and  this, 
of  course,  called  for  wired  frames.  We  accept- 
ed them  as  authority  upon  the  subject  of  wir- 
ing, and  commenced  wiring  in  accoi'dance  with 
their  method,  and  as  illustrated  in  Gleanings 
for  Jan.  1.5.  The  roller,  as  illustrated  on  the 
same  page.  50.  I  presume  was  devised  for  bevel- 
edged  top-bars,  which  must  be  differently  con- 
structed from  the  ones  we  use  in  our  work.  We 
cut  all  our  top-bars  X  inch  square,  as  will  be 
seen  by  our  illustration. 


FKi.   2.— HAMI5AIGH  S    IMBEDDKK    .\M)    ROLLER 
FASTENER. 

We  soon  discovered  that  the  roller  of  itself 
was  of  but  little  value  to  us  in  putting  in  full 
sheets  of  fonndaliou  without  some  device  to 
imbed  the  wii-e  into  the  se'ptum  of  the  founda- 
tion. Here,  again,  necessity  became  the  mother 
of  invention;  and  while  fi'iend  Uadant  has  re- 
fused to  lecognize  our  device  as  of  any  practi- 
cal utility.  I  want  to  brand  him  as  a  French- 
man. I  have  never  used  any  thing  else,  neither 
have  I  had  cause  to  wish  for  any  thing  better 


IS'.tL' 


(Jl.liANIJSKJS  IN  HEK  (."ULTUKE. 


:J41 


in  inv 

t'litir 

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tlici 

■     I'OII 

<lriu'- 

FK;.    :5.^IIAMKArGH's    WIKE-IMHKDDKK. 

lion.  It  is  simply  a  small  oiu'-iiu-li  wive  nail 
S(>t  in  a  liaiuiic  at  an  anisic,  as  in  cut  No.  :{. 
Tiie  licail  is  tiled  off.  and  a  Rfooxc  set  in  the 
point  running  liMigtlnvisc  witlt  tlie  luindle.  It 
is  oprrated  by  setting  the  groove  in  the  iiointi-d 
instriiinent  over  tlie  w  ir,-  fiirtiiest  from  tlie 
operator,  as  in  eiit  No.  4.  and.  with  a  slight 
(iressiire.  pull  toward  yon.  and  tliiis  press  tlie 
wire  into  the  loiiiidation  tho  depth  required. 
Our  friend  Mr.  Dadant,  I  helicne.  claims  that  it 
tears  the  i-ells  of  th«^  foiindation  too  much.  I 
certainly  think  he  has  not  given  it  a  praclical 
test.  I  know  that,  while  the  grooved  wire  may 
make  a  slightly  wider  track  than  the  spiir- 
whoel  or  Carlin  tool,  it  matters  hut  little  to  the 
bees,  as  it  is  soon  draw  n  o\'er.  and  the  wire  is 
buried  as  perfectly  and  securely  with  the  work 
of  the  wii-e-imbeddCr  as  that  of  either  of  th<^ 
more  e\p<'nsive  tools.  Later  years  we  have 
attacheil  the  w  ii'e-imbedder  to  the  corner  of  the 
foiindalioii-idller  (see  cut  No.  :.').  which  is  an 
improvement  over  the  old  method,  inasmucli  as 
it  saves  so  much  extra  handling  of  tools  while 
doing  the  work  of  putting  in  foundation,  etc. 
The  only  advantage  thai  we  can  si^e  in  the 
spur  wheel  is.  that  the  wire  may  adhere  a  little 
tirmer  to  the  foundation  while  the  frames  are 
being  handled;  but  we  have  had  no  trouble 
from  that  source  with  our  method,  except  when 
we  have  transported  combs  in  wagous  to  out- 
apiaries:  and  where  this  is  required  we  now 
take  our  tools  and  foundation  along  and  put 
the  foundation  in  aftei'  arriving  at  the  yard. 
As  regards  our  mode  of  wiring  frames,  I  believe 
it  to  be  the  most  economical;  and  where  care 
is  taken  to  wire  the  frames  properly,  and  the 
wire  is  drawn  sufficiently  tense  to  sing,  there 
can  be  no  belter  method  adopted. 

HOW    Tt)   MAKE    THE    PLATFORM. 

Our  method   of  using  the    roller    and  wire- 
imbedder  is  as  follows:  Should  yon  be  using  the 


-IMHEDDING   THE    WIKKS. 


Standard  Langstroth  frame,  dress  up  an  inch 
pine  board,  22  in.  long  by  12  in.  wide.  Nail 
cross-pieces  12  in.  long  by  2  inches  wide  and  I 
inch  thick  across  each  end.  as  seen  in  engraving 
No..').    This  is  for  the  purpose  of  preventing 


tlie  board  from  curling.  Now  dress  down  a 
piece  of  sheeting,  the  dimensions  of  half  the 
thickness  of  the  frame.  Should  voiir  frames  be 
"m  in.  thick  this  pii'ce  should  be  ,",;  of  an  inch, 
and  cut  so  thai,  w  lieu  your  hrood-rrame  is  laid 
upon  the  platform,  t  he  piece  should  ht,  inside  of 
the  frame,  l)ut  not  too  ligiit.  (iive  \  of  an 
inch  play  all  around.  Now  place  your  fi'ame  in 
the  center  of  the  platform,  and  put  the  ,v,  [liece 
inside  of  the  frame,  and  nail  it  to  the  plalforin 
with  inch  w  ire  nails,  or  .'i  jteniiy  line. 


FIG.    :>.  — IMISEDDINO-HOAHI). 

Now  raise  the  frame  from  the  bottom  side, 
leaving  tlie  top-bar  down,  as  in  cut  No.  ('>.  Now 
tack  a  strip  at  each  end.  as  can  also  he  seen  in 
the  cut,  to  hold  the  frame  from  sliding,  and  you 
are  ready  for  business.    See  cut  No.  ~y. 

HOW  TO  PUT  THE   FOUNDATION  IN    THE    FliAME.S. 

Place  a  brood-frame  on  the  platform,  top-bar 
down.  See  cut  No.  <>.  Now  place  your  sheet  of 
foundation  on  the  platform,  and  slide  the  edge 
a  little  past  the  center  of  the  lower  side  of  the 
top-h:<>-     With  your  thumb,  press  the  wax  into 


FIG.   (). — IMBKDDING  FOUNDATION  TO    TOP-BAR. 

the  wood  at  the  center  and  ends;  now  bring 
light  strokes  back  and  forth,  increasing  the 
pressure  as  the  wax  adheres  to  the  wood:  until 
you  know  it  to  be  sufficiently  stayed.  Now 
bring  your  frame  down  ov(>r  the  close-titting 
I'R-inch  raise,  as  in  cut  No.  4,  and  place  the 
groove  of  the  wire-imbedder  on  the  wire  at  the 
opposite  end  of  the  frame  (see  cuti.  and,  with 
proper  pressure,  pull  to  you,  and  you  can  soon 
give  the  wire  proper  depth  in  the  foundation. 
Of  cour.se,  practice  makes  perfect;  but,  my 
woid  for  it,  you  can  .soon  do  your  work  neatly 
and  rapidly;  in  fact,  it  is  real  fun,  when  you 
once  get  up  to  the  business.  The  roller-mill 
lie*  (Is  dipping  in  water  occasionally. 
Spring,  III.  ,1.  M.  Hamhaugh. 

(While  we  may  be  under  lasting  obligation  to 
\our  [lartner,  Air.  Stone,  we  are  under  equal 
ohli<.'ation  to  you  for  improving  and  making 
public  so  good  and  useful  a  device.  "  Yours,  as 
you  say.  is  adapted  for  fastening  foundation  to 
the  top-bars,  the  under  side  of  which  is  flat, 
while  ours  is  niadi!  for  the  molded  comb-guide 
frames.  And  now  about  that  wire-imbedder. 
At  first  we  w(>i'e  Inclined  to  agree  with  our 
mutual  friend  the  Frenciiman;  however,  be- 
fore  passing  an   opinion   wt^  decided   to  make 


242 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


April  1. 


such  a  tool  and  try  it.  Upon  trying  it  wp  were 
greatly  disappointed— not  because  it  dylti't 
work,  but  because  it  worked  so  well.  It  will 
imbed  the  wires  very  rapidly;  and  one  pleasant 
feature  of  it  is.  that  the  grooved  nail  does  not 
run  off  from  the  wire  as  some  of  the  spur- 
wheels  do  occasionally.  It  has,  however,  one 
objection:  and,  as  your  friend  Mr.  Dadant 
states,  it  tears  the  cells  of  the  foundation  a  lit- 
tle too  much.  But  all  of  this,  we  presume,  will 
be  readily  fixed  by  the  bees  when  honey  is  com- 
ing in  at  a  good  rate.  But  sometimes  the  bees 
are  disposed  to  gnaw  around  the  wires,  and  the 
grooving  or  creasing  of  the  nail  might  make 
them  more  disposed  to  gnaw.  We  therefore  be- 
lieve that  the  spur-wheel,  such  as  is  recom- 
mended by  the  Dadants.  will  generally  be  i)ref- 
erable  because  the  win^s  are  imbedded  so  nicely 
that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  detect  the  track 
of  the  wheel:  and  whiieyour  implement  has  the 
element  of  cheapness  and  simplicity  to  their  fnll- 
est  extent,  the  spur-wheels  cost  but  little  more, 
and,  we  believe,  would  give  more  satisfactory 
results.] 


PKILO'S   AUTOMATIC   SECTION  FORMER  AND 
GLTJER  COMBINED. 


A   XEAV   MACHINE   BY    K.  W.  PHILO. 

For  quite  a  number  of  years  past,  perhaps  ten 
or  more.  I  have  felt  the  need  of  a  machine  for 
doing  more  rapid  work  in  putting  together  and 
gluing  sections,  during  which  time  I  have  made 
several  devices  for  accomplishing  this  work, 
but  have  never  been  fully  satisfied  with  any  of 
them  until  I  had  completed  and  thoroughly 
tested  the  one  we  place  before  you  in  the  accom- 
panying cut. 

Although  I  have 
made  two  other 
machines  in  the 
pas t  year  that 
would  do  the  same 
work,  they  were 
much  too  expen- 
sive to  come  into 
general  use  with 
the  average  bee- 
keeper. My  aim 
for  the  past  year 
has  been  for  a  ma- 
chine that  would 
do  the  whole  work 
without  any  hand 
work.-  except  fill- 
ing the  machine 
up  with  section 
strips  and  turning 
the  crank.  Every 
man.  woman,  and 
child  knows  how 
to  turn  a  crank, 
and  that  is  all  *""i-ding  and  gluing  sections 
that  is  required  to  "^  ''"^  wholesale. 

operate  the  machine:  and  when  that  is  done, 
out  comes  the  section,  all  glued,  folded,  and 
pressed  together  —  one  eveiy  two  seconds,  or 
thirty  every  minute,  by  turning  the  crank  mod- 
erately. To  give  you  an  idea  of  the  amount  of 
power  required,  my  boy  Ernest  R..  four  years 
old,  can  operate  the  machine  nicely.  When 
the  crank  is  raised  to  the  highest  point,  the 
slanting  board  at  the  back  of  the  machine  is 
pushed  in.  and  there  are  two  little  horizontal 
sticks  fastened  to  the  end  of  the  board  that 
pushes  the  bottom  one  of  thi'  section  stiips  out 
over  the  block  to  be  folded.  The  folding  block 
then  comes  down  folding  tli<' first  joint,  as  you 
will  see  in  the  cut.  The  upper  part  of  tlie  little 
claws  comes  down  on  top  of  the  section,  caus- 


ing the  lower  ends  to  turn  in,  bringing  the  ends 
of  the  sections  together.  The  whole  block  and 
all.  which  is  held  up  by  a  spring,  goes  down 
until  the  section  is  forced  together  in  the  V 
groove  at  the  bottom.  The  two  little  blocks  in 
the  V  groove  are  to  make  the  ends  of  the  sec- 
tions come  right,  so  they  will  go  together  easily: 
and  while  the  section  is  being  pressed  together 
the  gluer  comes  up  out  of  the  glue  and  puts  some 
glue  right  in  the  V  groove,  and  on  the  end  of  the 
section  where  it  is  dovetailed.  E.  W.  Piiilo. 
Half  Moon,  N.  Y..  Feb.  2U. 

[We  have  not  seen  the  machine  yet.  and  con- 
sequently are  unable  to  judge  personally  of  its 
workings.  Mr.  I'hilo  is  quite  a  genius  in  "•"mak- 
ing things,"'  and  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  do  all 
he  says  it  will.  We  should  like  to  have  re- 
ports from  those  who  have  tried  it.] 


"STRAWS"  FROM  CALIFORNIA, 


COMMENTS   ON   STItAWS   AND     OTHEH    THINGS   IN 

GLEANINGS. 


Say,  doctor,  don't  you  think  the  big  New 
York  bee-men  alluded  to  in  Stray  Straws  of 
Feb.  1  are  very  practical,  sensible  fellows  in  not 
reporting  their  crops'?  The  fact  that  they  are 
the  big  bee- men  of  New  York  strongly  tends  to 
prove  they  are  likely  to  have  good  reasons  for 
so  acting.  Apply  your  suggestion  as  to  giving 
legal  control  of  their  territory  to  other  busi- 
nesses, and  see  where  it  leads.  Can  you  give 
any  good  reasons  applicable  in  case  of  the  bee- 
men  which  may  not  be  just  as  equitably  used 
by  others  who  may  wish  to  keep  away  compe- 
tition? 

Conflicting  advice.— Another  straw  in  same 
bundle  says.  "A.  I.  Root  better  come  home  and 
see  to  those  boys."  and  then  one  of  "those 
boys  "is  advised  in  the  next  lot  of  Straws  to 
"keep  A.  I.  down  in  Florida  and  Cuba  till  set- 
tled warm  weather.'"  Second  thoughts  are 
often  best,  doctoi'. 

So  the  Hon.  II.  L.  Taylor  has  no  regular  med- 
ical education.  Forewarned  is  forearmed:  but 
if  the  health  of  the  weather  is  not  what  it 
should  be  it  will  probably  not  wish  to  be  tinker- 
ed up  by  a  miller,  so  will  save  the  dollar. 

And  now  you  are  "beginning  to  get  mad." 
Uon't  do  it.  doctor,  but  try  a  quart  of  that 
drink  mentioned  on  page  8.  which  J.  A.  Green 
does  not  seem  to  understand.  LetJ.  A.  make 
it.  then  he  won"t  ask  what  the  yeast  is  for. 
It"s  splendid  for  acting  on  the  biain. 

T.  V.  .lessup  deserves  sympathy  in  his  ef- 
forts to  obtain  subscribers  to  Gleaninss.  Who- 
ever Uncle  A.  I.  may  be,  he  is  awfully  behind 
times  if  he  does  not  subscribe.  Let  us  iiope  this 
may  reach  his  eye:  and  next  time  he  is  asked 
to  subscribe,  let  him  hand  over  his  dollar  like  a 
man. 

Mr.  Rambler,  the  picture  of  your  meeting 
with  the  socialists  in  Chicago  is  highly  inter- 
esting. How  did  you  manage  to  get  into  Riv- 
eiside?  They  are  very  particular  about  pre- 
venting the  entrance  of  insect  pests  there,  and 
have  officers  appointed  to  destroy  all  such. 
You'd  better  see  them.  And.  Mr.  R.,  what  lazy 
men  they  are  in  Indiana  to  let  the  women  do 
the  hard  work  of  pitching  the  hay  on  the  wag- 
on, while  the  men  ride  and  gently  arrange  iti 

Miss  Wilson  deserves  thanks  for  her  explicit 
instructions  for  nuiking  candy.  When  she  starts 
in  to  explain  a  matter,  she  manages  to  ctmvey  a 
clear  idea  of  what  she  has  in  her  own  mind. 
Many  folks  can  not  do  so  (that  includes  me). 

What  a  blessing  that  that  spring  Mr.  Root 
depended  on  to  get  his  toes  clean  was  able  to 
maintain  its  reputation  for  detergent  qualities! 


KSIC 


(;i.i;.\M.\(is  IN  HKH  cui/riJiM'j. 


:.'43 


Hut  tluTc  is  a  limii.  cvcii  lu  ihr  pnwns  of  dui- 
I'iiliforiiia  sprinjis.  so  don"!  try  tlicm  ino  far. 
Mr.  Root,  i)l(<tsi\ 

Say.  Mr.  Kditor.  if  I  Ui'cp  on  i<ickiii^r  iiioiiiui 
in  llic  apiary  in  this  nianniT.  dismrhinK  lli<' 
liivt's,  ril  1)1'  Kfttiiijj  pnity  l)adly  stnnn.  and 
siTvc  mo  riglit— diirnt'd  fool. 

Tln'.s(>  sundries  hclonij  to  what  Mr.  Doolittlt' 
terms  '"thi'  fun"  pari  our  "  itrofcssion."  and 
I'm  ;ioini;  to  sec  wiiat  licronics  of  them  Ix-foic 
comniitlin;;  any  iudit  to  tli(>  tender  eare  of  an 
editor.  1  don't  take  mueii  st(K'l<  in  editors: 
they  (h)n"l  tn>at  me  well.  <xenerally:  but  as  you. 
Mr.  Editor,  are  young  in  the  business  (having 
been  at  it  only  live  years,  and  not  a  few  weeks 
only,  as  Mr.  Hilton  seemed  to  imagine),  you 
have  probably  not  become  callous  and  hard- 
hearted, and  so  1  may  perhaps  obtain  more 
gentle  treatment  at  youi' bands:  l)utifyou  kill 
nie.  do  it  quickly.  Now  I'll  stop.  Hut  wiiat  a 
lot  of  paper  it  takes  when  one  is  allowed  to  u.se 
only  one  side!  but  it's  your  loss.  I  could  have 
written  twice  as  much  if  I  used  both  sides. 

fNo  name  was  signed  to  the  above  ;  and.  as  a 
rule,  we  reject  all  communications  without  a 
signature:  but  we  shall  have  to  break  our  rule 
this  time,  because — well,  because  the  subject- 
matter  is  quite  •"available."  Come  again.  Mr. 
What's  yer  Name,  but  only  let  us  kno<v  who 
you  are.] 


<ets 


THAT  COWAN  EXTRACTOR. 


HOW   TO   KI-;VKKSK   THI':   KASKKTS  AVHILK   IN   MO- 
TION WITHOUT   REVKHSING   THE   CKANK. 


Just  why  I  should  be  very  much  interested  in 
extractors  1  hardly  know,  seeing  I  use  one  so 
little:  bttt  any  thing  new  in  that  line  always 
excites  my  interest:  and  when  Ernest  told  me 
about  the  Cowan  extractor  on  my  last  visit 
there,  it  was  not  long  before  I  was  amusing 
myself  tryi"?  its  capabilities.  And  then  I 
made  what  Ernest  is  pl(-ased  to  call  my  "'dis- 
covery." that  the  comb-l)askets could  be  revers- 
ed without  entirely  stoi)i)iug  the  motion. 


THE    INSIDE   OF   THE   COWAN    EXTKACTOU. 

The  trick  is  a  very  simple  one.  While  the 
right  hand  is  in  use  turning  the  crank,  with 
the  left  give  a  push  aLrainst  one  of  the  baskets 
to  cari"y  it  V^eyond  tln'  center,  when  centrifugal 
force  will  take  it  the  re-t  of  the  way,  and  then 
treat  the  other  basket  the  sam<'  way.  You 
must  ■'  slow  up  "  to  do  this,  for  the  left  hand  is 
not  quick  enough  to  do  it  under  full  motion. 
Still,  with  a  little  practice  I  found  that  I  could 
make  the  proper  push  with  the  left  hand  with- 
out slowing  up  so  ver\  itiucIi.  A  piece  of  plank 
was  in  each  basket,  making  it  work  about  the 
same  as  with  a  pair  of  heavy  combs.  I  was  really 


snrpri-ed    at    the   ea-e  w  it  h  w  lijcli    the 
coulil  l)e  reNcrsed. 

I  am  not  very  well  posted  in  all  kinds  of  ex- 
tractors: but  from  what  little  I  have  tried  au- 
tomatic extractors.  I  should  prefer-  the  Cowan. 
I  know  tiiat  the  thought  is  likely  to  be.  that  an 
automatic  machine  works  itself,  and  cons(^- 
tjtiently  requires  just  so  much  less  labor.  Hut 
if  two  machines  that  do  the  same  kind  of  work 
are  compared.  I  think  we  shall  i)refer  the  one 
that,  on  the  whole,  works  l)est  with  the  least 
labor.  In  any  automatic  extractor  that  I  have 
tried,  tiie  automatic  part  is  iiardly  automatic 
in  the  strict  sense  of  the  word,  for  it  requires 
care  and  some  skill  on  the  part  of  the  operator 
to  accom|)lish  the  reversing.  True.it  is  done 
with  the  hand  that  turns  the  crank:  neverthe- 
less, it  is  a  fact.  I  think,  that,  in  the  liands  of 
an  inexperienced  jjerson.  the  simple  act  of  re- 
versing the  motion  does  not  of  necessity  reverse 
the  baskets.  I  think  it  requires  le.«.s  skill  to  run 
the  Cowan,  and  that  one  learns  to  run  it  in  less 
time.  Moreover,  it  requires  less  time  to  reverse 
the  Cowan.  The  automatic  must  come  to  a 
dead  stop,  and  the  motion  must  be  reversed. 
The  Cowan  does  not  stop— merely  ""slows  up" 
for  the  left  hand  to  do  its  part,  then  resumes  its 
former  speed. 

1  can  not  say  how  it  may  be  with  others,  but 
for  lue  it  is  much  easier  to  turn  a  crank  that 
moves  in  the  direction  of  the  hands  of  a  clock 
than  to  run  it  in  the  opposite,  or  what  might  be 
called  backwafd,  direction.  In  running  the 
automatic,  wlu  II  the  baskets  ar<'  revi'rsed  the 
motion  is  reversed,  and  of  necessity  you  half 
the  time  turn  the  crank  backward.  With  the 
Cowan,  no  change  of  motion  is  made:  and.  no 
matter  how  many  times  you  reverse  the  baskets, 
you  continue  to  turn  the  crank  all  the  time 
forward,  unless  you  prefer  to  turn  it  all  the 
time  backward. 

Possilily.  if  I  were  more  familiar  with  the 
matter  my  views  might  undergo  some  change; 
but  it  setmis  to  me  that  the  main  i)rinciples 
which  I  have  mentioned  would  remain  much 
the  same.  Hut  it  must  be  remembered  that  the 
Cowan  runs  o'i'y  two  combs  at  a  time.  To 
make  a  four-comb  Cowan.  I  think  the  can 
would  have  to  be  very  much  larger  than  that  of 
a  four-comb  automatic. 

CONTKACTION    IN    HAKVEST. 

A  correspondent  from  far-off  "  bonnie  Scot- 
land" wants  me  to  say  whether  I  have  come  to 
any  settled  conviction  concerning  matters  men- 
tioned on  page  <)tj.  in  "A  Year  Among  the  Bees." 
I  can  hardly  say  that  I  have  come  to  any  set- 
tled belief  as  yet:  btit  I  became  so  little  satis- 
fied witli  any'  vacant  space  under  the  super, 
that,  for  some  time,  I  have  left  eight  frames  in 
.the  hive  the  year  through.  Aside  from  any 
thing  els(\  there  is  one  vf^ry  serious  objection  to 
haviiig  any  thing  like  a  vacant  space  under  any 
part  of  the  super.  The  bees  positively  refuse  to 
do  as  good  work  above  any  thing  except  brood- 
combs.  I  have  tried  it  having  all  closed  up 
carefully  iindei'  the  part  thai  contained  no 
brood-comlis.  and  I  liave  tried  it  with  an  open 
space  under:  but  for  some  reason  the  sections 
directly  over  the  brood -combs  are  worked  the 
best:  and  I  should  want  a  good  deal  of  advan- 
tage in  some  other  direction  to  balance  this. 

Moreover.  I  don't  feel  so  sure  as  I  did.  that." 
in  tlie  long  run,  there  is  any  gain  in  limiting 
the  laying  room  of  the  queen.  1  know  what 
some  will  reply,  and  I  can  reel  yon  off  a  very 
pretty  theory  about  not  having  a  lot  of  idle  con- 
sumers reared  whicli  will  have  nothing  to  do, 
but  I  haven't  been  able  to  .«ee  that  the  bees 
gav(!  as  much  respect  to  the  theory  as  they 
should,  and  it's  a  good  (h^al  less  trouble  to  keep 
the  same  number  of   frames  in   th(!   hive  the 


244 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aprii,  1. 


year  round.  If  you  take  away  part  of  the 
frames  at  time  of  honey  harvest,  they  must  be 
taken  can^  of  till  later,  and  then  they  must  be 
got.  back  again,  and  it  isn't  certain  that  the 
brood -nest  will  tie  in  a<  good  shape  for  winter 
when  combs  are  put  in  hite  as  when  they  have 
been  left  there  ihioughout  the  season. 

In  the  case  of  tiiose  who  allow  natural 
swarming,  the  case  may  be  different.  I  can 
not  speak  from  actual  experience.  It  certainly 
looks  as  though  for  a  tinu^  after  being  hived,  a 
new  swarm  with  limited  bi'ood  room  should  do 
excellent  work  in  the  super.  I  think  this  is 
claimc  d  by  those  who  ought  to  know.  But  it  is 
possible  that  some  of  tlie  after-results  are  not 
Just  such  as  would  be  most  ardently  desired. 

I  am  also  asked  to  tell  the  size  of  my  frames. 
The  most  of  them  are  ISxi),  outside  measure.  I 
wish  that  they  were  •'«  shorter  and  'j,  deeper — 
not  that  I  think  any  noticeable  difference  in  the 
working  of  the  bees  would  result,  but  17,?<x9}^' 
is  a  standard  size  in  this  country.  Iain  gradu- 
ally working  into  the  standard  size  with  Dove- 
tailed hives.  If  I  were  in  Scotland  I  should 
likely  use  the  standard  British  size,  14x81;,'. 

If  i  should  give  the  address  of  my  correspon- 
dent. I  am  afraid  there  would  be  an  exodus  of 
bee-keepers  from  this  ^country  to  settle  about 
him.  Just  listen  to  this  benighted  hea — I  mean 
Scotchman.  He  says.  "  I  am  a  Scotch  farmer, 
and  work  .W  colonies  of  bees  during  spare  mo- 
ments from  farm  work.  I  never  saw  an  apiary 
but  my  own.  and  never  had  personal  instruction. 
What  I  know  about  bees  is  from  reading.  .  .  . 
As  I  am  situated  among  the  bonnie  heather- 
clad  mountains,  my  main  crop  is  heather  honey, 
for  which  I  get  from  Is.  to  Is.  (5d.  (25  to  37  cent's) 

per  pound  section I  have  never  yet 

been  able  to  supply  all  orders,  and  am  therefore 
sold  out  as  soon  as  removed  from  the  hive.'' 
Just  think  of  2.5  cents  a  pound,  with  an  unlimit- 
ed market!  Wouldn't  I  just  like  to  pounce 
down  on  that  Scotchman  some  day,  in  his 
mountain  fastnessl  C.  C.  Mili.ek. 

Marengo,  111.,  Mar.  2L 

[We  reproduce  the  cut  which  appeared  some 
two  months  ago,  in  order  that  our  readers  may 
more  clearly  understand  the  opiM-ation  that  Dr. 
Miller  is  describing.  Perhaps  in  answer  to  the 
last  paragraph  we  ought  to  state  that  it  is  not 
practicable  to  make  the  Cowan  a  four-frame 
extractor — at  least,  with  frames  as  large  as  the 
Langstroth.  We  have  a  two- pocket  machine — 
each  pocket  wide  enough  to  take  in  two  Heddon 
combs.  If  any  one  desires  a  /our-frame  Lang- 
stroth reversible  extractor,  he  had  better  pur- 
chase the  Stanley.  In  our  opionion  this  is  the 
best  automatic  reversing  extractor  for  four 
Langtroth  combs.  For  the  majority  of  bee- 
keepers the  two-comb  reversible  Cowan  would 
answer  every  requirement.  One  has  only  to  try 
it  to  determine  how  much  more  rapidly  it  can 
be  operated  than  the  ordinary  two-comb  non- 
reversing  extractor.] 


THIN    VS.  THICK.   OLD    VS.    FRESH    FOUNDA- 
TION FOR  SECTIONS,  ETC. 

EXPEUIMENTS  THAT   ARE   TO   BE  CONnUCTEI)  BV 
THE   DEI'AKT.MENT    OF    APIC  ULTURE,   AT    THE 
MICHIGAN   AGRICUI.TURAI-   COLLEGE. 


It  has  seemed  best  that  the  experiments  here 
should  be  along  the  line  of  practical  work  in 
the  apiary.  As  bee  culture  has  been  my  occu- 
pation, and  as  I  have  never  had  the  opportunity 
of  special  scientific  training,  practical  experi- 
ments seemed  to. me  to  opi'u  the  surest  way  in 
which  I  might  be  of  benefit  to  the  bee-keepers. 
Practical  work  in  experimental   science,  or  the 


practical  proving  and  testing  of  scientific  truth, 
has  been  most  valuable,  especially  when  direct- 
ed toward  that  great  subject  of  recent  scientific 
research,  agriculture,  and  its  allied  branches. 
If  the  material  development  of  bee  cultuie  can 
be  assisted  by  these  practical  expeiiments.  it 
seems  to  me  that  more  will  be  accomplished 
than  if  purely  scientific— or.  rather,  theoretical 
— lines  of  work  be  considered. 

With  this  in  mind  I  have  undertaken  to  work 
this  summer  upon  a  number  of  experiments  of 
considerable  practical  interest.  I  have  chosen 
to  speak  first  of  the  one  described  below,  be- 
cause preparation  for  it  should  be  begun  imme- 
diately, and  because  I  desire  some  help  from 
others.  This  subject  is  one  in  which  I  am 
interested,  and  about  which  much  more  than 
we  now  know  might  be  learned.  There  are 
many  subjects  in  bee  culture,  our  knowledge  of 
which  is  based  on  suppositions,  on  single  obser- 
vations, or  upon  dogmatic  statements  that  are 
allowed  to  be  repeated  continually  in  our  bee- 
journals.  Our  bee-keeping  literature  is  so  full 
of  this  that  we  are  nearly  all  continually  falling 
back  upon  these  facts  (?)  to  find  a  basis  for 
argument  that  often  leads  to  seritms  error. 
There  is  much  of  this,  it  strikes  me.  in  our 
knowledge  of  the  use  and  abuse  of  comb  foun- 
dation. The  improvement  in  the  methods  of 
manufacture,  and  in  the  perfection  of  this  prod- 
uct, have  kept  pace  with  our  knowledge  and 
experience,  and  even  gone  further.  It  has  been 
supposed  that  the  side  walls  of  comb  foundation 
should  be  high  and  soft,  and  the  base  very  thin; 
and  the  manufacturers  have  accomplished  this. 
Again,  when  the  flat-base  foundation  was  intro- 
duced, being  much  thinner  than  any  before 
made,  it  was  said  that,  therefore,  it  was  best  to 
use  it.  as  less  "  fishbone  '"  in  comb  honey  result- 
ed. If  foundation  in  sections  is  worked  or 
drawn  out  by  the  bees  as  much  as  is  commonly 
believed,  why  should  there  be  more  fishbone  in 
honey  when  the  heavier  foundation  is  used? 
The  experiment  in  Ontario  last  year  with  comb 
foundation  seemed  to  point  with  emphasis 
toward  the  fact  (?)  that  bees  do  not  thin  the 
septum  of  foundation  according  to  tradition.  I 
should  like  to  see  this  experiment  continued  to 
foundation  14  ft.  to  the  pound,  both  natural  and 
flat  base,  and  under  more  varied  conditions  of 
climate  and  honey-flow.  The  flow  in  the  e.x- 
periment  above  was  in  all  the  cases,  with  one 
exception,  light,  and  in  that  case  the  flow  was 
artificial.  The  experiment  that  I  have  in  con- 
templation extends  the  work  to  flat  and  natural 
ba.se  foundation  of  both  11  and  14  ft.  to  the 
pound,  combining  and  alternating  so  that  there 
may  be  numerous  checks  upon  the  correctness 
of  "the  work.  The  relative  worth  of  these 
weights  and  kinds  of  foundation  will  thus  be 
tested,  not  only  to  determine  the  comparative 
extent  to  which  the  foundation  is  manipulated 
by  the  bees,  but  to  discover  which  variety  gives 
to  the  finished  product  the  finest  appearance 
and  best  combs  for  shipping.  In  a  poor  season 
we  suppose  some  kinds  of  foundation  are  not 
worked  as  readily  as  others,  but  are  often 
gnawed  away  to  be  rebuilt  imperfectly  if  at  all 
during  subsequent  flows. 

Starters  will  be  compared  with  full  sheets  of 
foundation,  and  by  i)hotograi)hs  and  measure- 
ments the  relative  appearance  of  the  finished 
combs  presented,  as  well  as  the  weight  or  quan- 
tity produced  in  each  manner. 

Southern  wax  is  said  to  possess  certain  prop- 
erties peculiar  to  itself,  rendering  foundation 
made  from  it  more  brittle,  and  thus  less  liable 
to  be  drawn  out  by  the  bees.  The  attempt  will 
be  made  to  discover  whether  this  difference  is 
real,  or  whether  it  exists  only  in  report. 

Old  foundation  is  s^aid  to  dry  or  harden  in 
such  a  manner  as  not  to  be  acceptable   to  the 


LS'.rj 


«jm<:anin(js  in  hkk  ciii>tiikk. 


24?) 


bo«»s.  This  fuiiniliit  ion,  Imili  out'  and  two  vt'iirs 
olil.  will  he  ooinpan-il  with  new  ami  frrsli  i'oim- 
datioii.  TIk'  oxti'iit  ol'  injury  (l(>n(>  by  nsiiifj 
tliis  old  foiiMiiation  will  hi'  csiiinatt'd  hy  a  com- 
parison of  tile  amount  anil  urutic  of  iioiwy  |iro- 
diUM>d. 

Of  roiiisc.  these  experiments  will  depend 
largely  upon  the  season  for  the  value  of  their 
results,  whii-li  in  a  good  season  would  he  very 
ditTerent  from  the  results  diiriiifi  such  a  season 
as  last  year.  They  each  would  in  their  place 
be  valuable.  It  would  lie  very  interestin;^  ami 
valuable  to  compare  the  results  to  be  obtained 
duriiiii  various  seasons  and  in  vai'ious  hn-alities. 
and  w  ill)  various  races  and  stfains  of  bees. 

With  this  end  in  view  I  have  made  arrange- 
miMits  with  one  of  our  wr||-|<nown  foiittdation- 
maUers  tosiipplythe  reipiired  foundation  to  a 
numbcrof  bee-U-e<>pers  in  various  localities.  I 
should  lil<(>  one  i)i'rson  in  the  East,  one  in  the 
lower  Ohio  River  \'alley:  on(\say.in  Nebraska. 
and  one  in  \Vi^consin  or  Minnesota,  and  per- 
haps one  in  the  irrigaled  ie<;ion  of  the  West,  to 
signify  their  willin<rness  lo  help  me  ill  this.  It 
will  not  cost  a  large  amount  in  either  lime  or 
money  in  any  apiary  run  for  comb  honey.  On 
the  other  hand,  although  it  will  require,  some 
care  it  will.  I  hope,  be  interesting  to  the  bee- 
keepers undertaking  it.  to  observe  per.soiially 
the  results  of  the  experiment  in  on(»  case.  I  will 
forward  full  directions  and  blank  foiins  to  ren- 
der the  work  more  exact  and  simple,  with  de- 
tailed explanations,  to  those  who  are  selected 
from  the  various  localities.  It  will  require 
about  '2.")  supers  to  contain  all  the  foundation 
and  combs  used  in  the  experiment,  so  that  at 
least  2.5  colonies  are  necessary.  The  experiment 
will  probably  not  atlect  the  amount  of  honey  to 
be  obtained  from  these  colonies. 

I'rof.  Cook  has  suggested  to  me.  with  regarci 
to  the  above,  that  an  exhibit  at  a  fair,  of  the 
honey  obtained  in  this  experiment,  would  be 
very  interesting  and  instructive  to  bee-keepers. 
It  could  be  labeled.  "This  2.5  lbs.  of  honey  was 
produced  upon  starters  of  foundation  only:" 
"This  ui)on  foundation  14  feet  to  the  pound;"' 
■'This  in  empty  combs  left  from  last  year."  etc. 
BeH-keei)ers  interested  in  fair  exhibits  of  honey 
will,  of  course,  take  the  cue  as  to  the  possibili- 
ties in  this  line.  I  wish  to  hear  from  those  in- 
terested as  soon  as  convenient,  that  arrange- 
ments may  be  made  in  ample  season. 

Since  concluding  the  above  I  have  received 
Glkanixos  for  March  l.jth,  and  was  much 
pleased  at  seeing  there  Mr.  Elwood's  article 
upon  the  spraying  of  fruit-trees.  At  the  Mich- 
igan bee-keepers'  convention  last  January  I 
offered  to  have  samples  of  bees  analyzed  "for 
the  presence  of  poison.  There  should  be  a 
handful  of  them,  whether  mature  bees  or 
larviB.  To  determine  whether  the  poison  came 
to  tlie  hive  in  the  pollen  or  in  the  lioney  or  in 
both,  in  cases  where  the  larvte  are  poisoned, 
samples  of  the  freshly  gathered  honey  and  pol- 
len should  br'  inclosed.  If  it  is  possible  to  de- 
tect such  a  small  quantity  of  ar.senic  as  would 
kill  a  handful  of  bee<.  I  think  it  can  be  done 
here.  Having  found  the  poison,  the  next  step  is 
to  determine  how  it  got  ther(^ 

The  strength  of  arseiiites  as  recomm<'iided  is 
generally  one  pound  to  two  hundred  gallons  of 
water.  Now.  if  each  drop  of  these  two  hundred 
gallons  contains  dozens  of  particles  of  insoluble 
arsenic,  who  will  say  that  the  bee  can  filter 
tliem  out?  \\'e  know  that  i)ollen  grains  are 
found  in  honey  and  in  the  food  of  certain  larvie. 
probably  in  the  latter  case  having  entered  the 
second  stomach  mentioned  by  Mr.  Elwood, 
been  partly  digested  (»r  dissolved,  then  regurgi- 
tat<'d  with" the  larval  food.  Will  not  grains  of 
arsenic  also  penetrate  here  and  be  fed  to  the 
larvie'? 


Now.  this  arsenic  can  come  from  i  he  trees  to 
the  hive  in  t  wo  w  a\  s:  It  miiv  be  taken  in  by 
the  bee  sipping  the  w  ater  or  nectar  diluted  witn 
this  water  containing  arsenic,  it  which  case  it 
is  very  easy  to  see  howlhr'  larva-  may  Ix'  poi- 
soned: or  it  may  be  gathered  on  tin-  legs  of  the 
bee  with  the  pollen  which  it  takes  from  the 
blossom.  In  order  to  kill  the  young  larva  of 
the  cotlling  moth,  the  poison  must  lie  ui)on  the 
"  l)low,"  or  corolla,  of  the  embiyfi  fruit,  whence 
it  is  very  liable  to  be  gathered  by  the  bec^s  with 
the  pollen  or  honey. 

If  horticulturists  insist  upon  spraying  during 
fruit  l)loom.  and  be(>s  ai'<'  poisoned  thereby,  o 
course;  laws  should  be  made  protecting  the  bees. 
I  believe  that  fruit-men  are  coming  to  consider 
their  own  interests  in  the;  matter  of  spraying. 
I''ew  or  no  entomologists  recommend  spi-aying 
diirinsr  bloom,  and  friiit-mi'ii  here  in  Michigan, 
with  whom  I  have  talked,  are  heartily  in  accord 
with  the  desires  of  bee-men  on  this  point.  Spray- 
ing before  bloom  may  be  desirable  :  but  bees 
would  not,  I  think,  be  injured  by  such  spraying. 
It  would  be  interesting  to  know  what  insects 
Prof.  Lintner  would  combat  bi-st  liy  s[)raying 
with  arsenites  during  th(;  bloom  of  the  common 
fruits.  With  regard  to  the  strength  of  the  mix- 
ture of  arsenites  most  desirable  for  spraying, 
experiments  have  been  made  at  various  State 
stations:  and  a  gentleman  who  sits  beside  me  as 
I  write,  and  who  has  had  considerable  experi- 
ence along  this  very  line,  says  he  believes  there 
is  no  danger  of  injuring  the  germs  of  the  fruit 
when  the  arsenites  are  of  the  commonly  advised 
strength,  if  applied  at  any  time.  As  Mr.  El- 
wood says,  there  "is  here  room  for  experi- 
ment." .1.  H.  Laishabee. 

Agricultural  College,  Mich. 

[In  the  above.  Mr.  Larrabee  shows  that  he  is 
th(>  right  man  in  the  right  place.  In  another 
column  we  publish  the  experiment  made  by 
the  Ontario  Agricultural  College  and  Experi- 
ment Union.  On  page  2.39,  J.  A.  Green  gives 
some  suggestions  that  bear  directly  on  the  line 
of  experiments  proposed  above;  and  on  page 
228,  Mr.  Elwood  suggests  some  practical  fields 
for  practical  e.xperimentation.] 


HELEN  KELLER  AND  TOMMY  STRINGER. 


THE    .M.^SSACJUiSETTS    SCHOOL    F<.>R    THE    IST.IXD. 
BY   A.    I.    ROOT. 

On  my  return  home  I  was  informed  that  the 
sum  of  .¥124.(i.")  had  beeii  collected  from  the  read- 
ers of  Geeanixgs,  and  forwarded  to  Tommy 
Stringer.  Doubtless  these  contributors  and  the 
readers  of  (Ji.EANiX(is  in  general  will  b(»  pleased 
to  learn  something  of  the  work  that  is  being 
done  tlK^re;  and  in  order  to  give  a  fair  glimpse 
of  these  I  will  make  some  extracts  from  the 
H)ili  annual  '-eiiort  of  the  Perkins  institution. 
I  presume  copies  of  this  rep(»rt  can  be  obtained 
by  writing  to  the  Massachii.setts  ScIhkiI  for  the 
HIind.  at  l{<tston.  It  is  a  big  |)aper-boiind  book 
of  408  pages.  Besides  Helen  and  Tommy,  there 
is  another  very  iiromi<in<r  i)Ui)il  from  Throck- 
morton. Texas,  named  Willie  Elizabeth  Roi)in. 
Down  south.  Willie  is  a  girl's  name,  as  you  will 
please  reinemlier.  I  hav(;  chosen  her  case,  as  it 
gives  one  an  insight  to  the  methods  of  working. 
The  lirst  extract  I  make  gives  an  idea  of  her 
attainments  before  she  canie  to  the  institution: 

Willii' (nearly  eight  .years  old)  was  once  taken  to 
town,  wlii'fe  siie  had  a  tooth  e.vti'aeted.  Si.v  months 
aftt-rwiii-fl  the  doctor  who  i)ullefi  it  called  at  tlie 
house  with  anotlii'r  ph>sii-ian.  The  little  giy\  ex- 
amined the  sti-aii^er  tirst.  by  passing  her  hands 
ov^er  the  soles  (jf  lii.s  feet,  tlien  smelling'  of  her 
hands;    then  toucliinjf  him  in  various  places  in  like 


24ti 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


AlMilL  1. 


maimer.  Finally  slie  turned  from  liiin  to  tlie  doc- 
tor wlu)ni  she  luid  met  in  town,  and,  after  a  similar 
Inspection,  she  opened  lier  mouth  and  touched  with 
her  linger  the  cavity  left  by  tlie  tooth  lie  had  ex- 
tracted. 

Slie  seemed  to  judgre  the  size  of  per.sions  ty  the 
length  of  their  feet;  t)ut  slie  measured  children  by 
their  liei^lit  from  feet  to  head,  and  chose  for 
playmates  those  nearest  her  in  size.  She  made 
known  her  wants  by  sig-iis,  and  it  was  necessaiy  to 
give  her  a  sign  but  once.  When  siie  came  in  con- 
tact with  something  beyond  her  comprehension  slie 
would  make  a  great  ettort  to  talk,  uttering  such 
sounds  as  hah,  ah,  hah !  and  once,  about  a  j'ear  after 
her  loss  of  hearing,  she  spoke  the  word  mri  as  plain- 
ly as  she  used  to  speak  it.  Such  was  Willie  Kobin 
when  her  mother  brought  her  to  the  kindcrg-arten, 
Dec.  20, 189U. 

She  possesses  great  physical  streng'th.  and  a  will 
that  is  equally  strong.  At  first,  liaving  no  language 
with  which  to  express  her  feelings,  if  she  were 
luged  to  do  something-  against  her  will,  she  re.sorted 
to  primitive  means  of  ex'iiression,  and  wovild  strike 
and  kick  and  even  bite.  On  a  few  occasions,  when 
in  a  passi(jn,  it  has  been  very  ditfieult  to  control  her. 

The  following  tells  us  of  her  progress  just 
eleven  days  afterward: 

On  Dec.  31,  Willie's  lessons  began.  Three  words 
were  selected,— /(Ih.  hat,  and  /iHf/,— and,  provided 
with  the  corresponding  obj(M-ts,  Miss  Thayer  seated 
herself  beside  her  little  pupil,  and  begun  work  in 
real  ernest.  She  gave  Willie  a  small  fan,  allowed 
her  to  examine  It  and  use  it,  then  made  the  letters 
f-cv-n  in  the  child's  hand.  She  gave  her  another  fan, 
again  spelling  the  word,  and,  after  showing  her 
several,  of  different  styles,  and  spelling  the  word 
each  time,  she  took  a  hat  and  repeated  the  lesson 
with  that  object.  After  a  little  wliile  Willie  grew 
mischievous,  and  hid  In  hci'  .-iiirdn  the  hand  in 
which  her  teacher  had  spelled  tliese  words  to  her. 
In  the  gymnastic  class  she  did  not  in  the  least  un- 
derstand the  exercises,  and  was  somewhat  trouble- 
some; but  when,  in  tlii'  afternoon,  she  received  her 
first  lesson  in  kindergarten  occu|»ations,  she  did 
much  better.  With  the  help  of  her  teaclier  slie 
wove  a  mat  with  splints,  and  then  began  to  string- 
alternately  a  cube  and  a  ball.  This  she  liked  so 
much  that  she  was  unwilling  to  leave  it  when  the 
bell  rang  for  recess. 

The  lessons  upon  these  three  words  were  repeated 
day  after  day,  and  she  was  taught  to  fashion  the 
objects  witli  iiaper  and  witii  clay.  Januarys,  her 
teacher  gave  her  a  lump  of  clay,  spelled  h-a-t  in  lier 
hand,  and  by  signs  indicated  her  wish  that  Willie 
should  make  one.  She  repeated  the  spelling  several 
times,  and  then  left  the  child  to  herself,  and  await- 
ed the  re.sult.  To  her  surprise  and  delight,  her  little 
pupil  produced  a  liat.  Yet  slie  could  not  be  sure 
that  it  was  not  by  a  iiappy  accident  that  the  child 
had  hit  upon  the  right  oliject.  She  wished  to  test 
her.  The  day  before,  Willie  had  made  first  a  hat 
and  then  a  fan,  and  Miss  Thayer  had  already  seen 
that  she  was  inclined  to  repeat  things  in  theexact 
order  in  which  they  were  first  learned.  Tt)  test  her 
knowledge  of  the  word,  therefore,  she  again  called 
for  a  hat,  and  again  the  little  girl  modeled  a  hat. 
Then  her  teachei-  spelled  f-a-n,  and  Willie  made 
this,  also,  after  a  little  hesitation.  She  was  asked 
to  make  it  again,  Init,  having  made  two  hats,  she 
seemed  inclined  to  make  two  fans. 

Januarj'  7,  her  teacher's  diary  records  that  she 
spelled  the  three  words.  January  9,  she  was  given  a 
lesson  in  the  actual  use  of  language.  She  dressed 
herself  for  a  walk,  except  hi>r  hat,  which  her 
teacher  had  init  out  of  her  reach,  so  that  she 
might  ask  for  it  in  finger  speech.  This  she  did  not 
seem  inclined  lo  do,  and  even  sought  to  avoid  it  by 
pretending  to  be  sick,  by  wanting  water  and  other 
things;  but  her  teacher  persevered,  and  at  last, 
finding  tliat  her  pretenses  were  of  no  avail,  she 
yielded,  and  tried  to  spell  hat.  The  next  day  she  was 
observed  spelling  the  word  in  her  own  hand.  Jan- 
uaiy  12,  she  was  taught  the  words  bread  and  watrr, 
and  she  was  again  seen  spelling  words  in  her  hand. 
In  less  than  two  weeks  from  her  first  lesson  this 
little  girl  was  bi-ginning  to  lalk  to  herself  by  the 
maiuuil  aliihabet. 

The  next  gives  us  some  idea  of  the  questions 
that  naturally  came  into  her  little  mind  when 
she  began  to  discover  that  she  could  make  in- 
quiries and  get  answers.    Is  it  not  touching? 

Willie  manifests  so  -strong  an  inclination  to  talk 


that  her  teacher  has  already  t:iuglit  her  to  articu- 
late a  number  of  woids,  sucli  as  mamma,  ma)i,  mill, 
mot),  arm.  Turn.  Her  voice  is  so  natural  that  it  is 
difficult  to  believe  that  she  can  not  hear.  In  some 
way  she  caught  the  idea  that  we  talk  into  iieople's 
ears;  so  one  day  she  put  her  mouth  close  to  the  ear 
of  her  teacher,  and  said  mamma!  She  was  delighted 
when  she  found  that  Miss  Thayer  heard  what  she 
said,  and  put  her  own  ear  close  to  her  teacher's 
mouth,  that  she  might  speak  into  it.  She  asked  if 
Tom  could  liear.  Her  teacher  told  her  thai  neither 
she  nor  Toni  could  liear.— that  when  slie  was  a  little 
baby  she  was  very  sick,  and  that  made  her  deaf  and 
blind.  Many  ijuestions  fnllowi'd.  She  asked  about 
Edith  and  Helen,  Dora,  Katie,  and  several  other 
cliildren  who  bad  lieen  her  companions,  and  was 
told  that  Helen,  Edith,  and  Tom  were  blind  and 
deaf  like  herself,  and  that  Dora  and  Katie  were 
blind,  l)ut  they  could  hear.  She  was  interested  in 
wliat  she  was  told,  and  probably  understood  it. 
Doubtless  it  is  weli  that  slie  has  learned  the  fact  so 
eaily.  and  will  have  amijle  time  to  become  familiar 
with  it  liefore  slie  is  able  to  realize  its  significance. 

We  now  come  to  Tommy  Stringer. 

On  the  8th  day  of  April  Tommy  was  brought  to 
the  kindergarten  by  the  nurse  who  had  taken  care 
of  liim  at  the  hospital.  He  was  then  four  years  and 
nine  months  old,  in  good  health,  and  physically  well 
developed.  Mentally,  however,  his  sickness,  its  re- 
sults and  his  subsequent  environment  had  retai-ded 
Ills  growth,  and  left  him  a  pretty  child,  with  liaby 
face  and  manners.  At  every  friendly  touch  he 
would  turn  with  arms  outstretched  to  encircle  the 
neck  of  any  stranger.  He  showed  no  preferences 
among  persons,  and  would  go  to  one  as  readily  as  to 
another.  He  walked  but  little,  and,  if  left  to  him- 
self, would  drop  upon  the  fioor  and  l)egin  to  creep. 
He  inunifestt'd  a  happy  disposition,  his  face  was 
generally  lighied  by  a  gentle,  placid  smile,  and  in 
his  whole  appearance  he  was  a  remarkablj' .sweet 
and  winning  child.  He  had  no  signs  to  express  his 
wants  e.xcept  those  of  early  infanc.v.  He  would  cry 
lustily  if  deprived  of  something  he  wanted,  and 
struggle  vigorously  I o  go  in  the  direction  he  wisli- 
ed.  In  creeping  he  iisuallj  went  liac-kward, -prob- 
ablj-  because  he  li;id  learned  by  ex)>erieiice  that  his 
feet  suttered  less  than  his  head  in  encountering  ob- 
stacles-. His  favorite  plaything  was  a  bunch  of 
keys,  and  with  this  he  would  amuse  himself  for  a 
long  time. 

His  attendant  in  the  hospital  was  a  night  nurse, 
and  Tommy  had  been  accustomed  to  sleep  much 
during  the  day  and  to  be  wakeful  at  night.  The 
fii-st  efforts  at  the  kindergarten  were  directed 
toward  reversing  this  habit,  and  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore lie  slept  at  tlie  usual  hours  of  healthy  child- 
hood. A  special  teacher  was  provided  for  him,  and 
the  same  methods  have  been  employed  as  with  the 
other  children,  but  as  yet  he  has  not  learned  tlie 
iifime  of  any  object.  Day  afti-r  day  he  passivelj  al- 
lows liis  fingers  to  be  put  in  position  to  spell  the 
name  of  some  object  which  is  shown  to  him,  but  he 
makes  no  attempt  to  form  the  letters  foi-  himself, 
and  they  are  evidently  meaningless  to  him.  He  has 
given  up  creeping,  and  now  walks  i)erfectly  well; 
he  examines  olijects  with  som(>  skill,  and  there 
seems  no  lack  of  intellig-ence  in  the  little  fellow. 
As  yet,  however,  it  is  only  passive,  and  we  all  await 
with  eager  interest  the  awakening  of  the  dormant 
mental  powers. 

The  following,  from  our  little  friend  Helen 
Keller,  whom  we  feel  somewhat  acquainted 
with  by  this  time,  tells  us  in  regard  to  Tommy's 
progress  a  little  later: 

South  Boston,  M.a.ss.,  Dec.  2it.  1891. 
3/;/ Dcm- Mr.  Bo(»f.-— The  money  that  you  sent  for 
Tommy  came  on  Christmas  daj',  and  I  thank  you 
for  all  that  has  been  done,  through  y(nir  paper,  for 
my  little  friend  Tommy.  1  saw  him  Christmas,  and 
I  do  not  belie^■e  there  was  a  haiipier  liltle  boy  in 
all  tlie  land  than  "baby  Tom."  He  was  sitting  on 
the  Hoor,  in  the  midst  of  what  seemed  to  be  a  wil- 
derness of  blocks,  stutt'ed  animals,  steam-engines, 
and  all  sorts  of  toys.  He  .•ipi)eared  to  like  the 
blocks  best.  He  has  learned  to  weave  [japer  very 
nicely,  and  to  heli>  himself  in  many  ways.  But  he 
does  not  learn  language  quickly.  He  can  sjiell 
bread,  hotit,  and  miiij.  and  he  knows  that  they  are 
the  names  for  the  olijects.  but  lie  does  not  like  to 
ask  for  the  things  with  his  fingers.  Teacher  says 
lie  does  not  see  the  necessity  for  words  yet.  He  is 
like  a  little  bab.\-.  just   beginning  to  notice  things. 


is.i:.' 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


•Ml 


IMiMsc  Iliaiik  the  kind  propU 
111  'rcimiiiN  s  t'linii.  aii<i  it'll  tl 

It'CII     lillllill't'il    <li>ll;tr^    liiiw. 
Iii>   (-xpt'iiscs    fur  ihii'i'   \c.ir-. 


\N  III)  liavi'  ooiitiiluitt'fl 

■111   I  lial  «(•  have  riv'li- 

!llinii>(    ciiDimli  l<>  |>a\ 

Suifh  thfv  will    ail 


lie  jrlatl  to  lu'Ki- I  lii-~  >ri»i(l  lu'w^  !  It  will  iiiake  llirir 
tiwii  lives  lifttcr  ami  liaiipicr  In  think  that  llicj 
have  liclpcd  1(1  lik'ss  anil  lirijriilcii  a  lillic  cliild's 
lifo.  M.i.\  llic  New  Year  richly  fiilllll  all  Ihc  ffood 
wisho  tiial  iii\  heart  hdlds  for  xoii,  and  all  wlio 
liiur  hclpi'tl  \mi.  AllVcl  ioiiatel.\  joins, 

Hklkn  Kki^i.ku. 

Now,  fiiiMuls.  is  it  iitit  tiuc  tliat  wr  all  feel 
lia|ipit'f  for  JiaviiifKioiic  this  little  fur  Tommy? 
Is  tlieie  one  amoii-i  lis  who  does  not  feel  that  it 
has  lieeii  a  jrood  investment".'  "He  that  giv«ali 
(o  the  jioor  leiuh'tii  to  the  Lord." 

A  wondeifiil  and  cheerinu;  fact  comes  in  right 
here.  These  poor  deaf.  dumb,  and  l)lind  ciiil- 
dren  have  a  remail<al)le  faculty  for  hel[)ing 
(•(ti-li  otiicr.  Read  th(>  fnliowiiig  additional  in 
i"egard  to  Willie  Kohin: 

Meaiiwliile  she  had  made  the  ai'ipiaintance  of 
Kdith 'I'lionias.  From  tlielii>l  Willie  seemed  >tron)L!- 
ly  attracted  to  her,  and  wli.ii.  on  the  i:itli  of.Janu- 
aVy,  Kdith  went  to  tlie  kindcijiarteii  f<ir  a  visit  (jf  a 
week,  the  two  little  tiirls  were  delijililed  to  meet, 
ami  l)ecanie  almost  inseparalile.  Willie  would  fol- 
low Edith's  tveij'  slep,  happy  in  doinK  just  as  she; 
did;  and  Edith,  understand iiij:-  that  Willie's  condi- 
tion was  liki'  her  own.  bejian  to  help  in  teaehinfi'  her 
as  she  had  herself  lieeii  t.iug-ht.  She  was  told  the 
words  that  Willie  was  ti-yinji-  to  learn,  and  gently 
and  patiently  she  repeated  the  lessons  over  and 
over  to  Willie,  and  with  her  helj)  in  the  g'ymnastic 
exercises  the  new  impil  Ixaaii  to  behave  much  bet- 
tei-,  and  t  ried  to  do  as  the  others  were  doing-.  She 
evidciitlj- liked  to  learn  from  Edith,  and  when  the 
time  came  for  her  little  teacher  to  ret  urn  to  South 
Boston  Willie  wanted  to  fro  too. 

You  see.  friends,  poor  little  Willie  took  a  new 
start  when  she  found  she  had  a  cotTirade  in  her 
affliction;  and  Edith  was  enabled  to  do  a  kind 
of  teacliing  that  even  the  teacher  could  not  do; 
that  is,  she.  a  poor  blind,  deaf,  and  dumb  child 
could  take  hold  of  the  work  of  educating  an- 
other fleaf  and  dumb  child,  and  so  really  ac- 
com|)lished  things  thai  perhaps  the  teacher 
with  all  her  faculties  could  not.  There  is  a 
great  lesson  here.  It  is  not  always  (tnqeU  that 
are  needed  to  help  us  out  of  our  troubles.  It  is 
some  child  of  hnmanil\  who  has  troubles  like 
our  own.     .And    now  we   see  why  "  (rod  so  loved 


his  only  begotten  Son;" 
1  do  his  work  most  ef- 
im  heaven  and  became 


the  world  that  he  gave 
and  this  Son.  in  order  ti 
fectively,  came  down  fn 
one  of  us. 

For  it  became  him,  for  wlioni  are  all  tliinus,  and 
by  whom  are  all  things,  in  tiringing  many  sons  unto 
glory,  to  make  the  captain  of  their  salvation  pei'- 
fect  through  sutfering. — Heb.  'i:  10. 


one  that  will  be  recognized  as  a  move  in  the 
right  direction.  Il  is  nothing  more  nor  less 
than  a  loose  wood  separator,  slotli'd  out  as 
shown  in  1),  i''igs.  1  ami  :.'. 

The  whole  fiaternily.  for  the  last  yeaf  or  two, 
hits  been  gradually  changing  over  from  tin  to 
loosi^  wooden  separators.     The   reasons  for  this 


FIO.   1 — TIIK  I-ATKST  l)()VETAII>Krt   HIVE. 

are  obvious.  Th(!  wood  costs  from  one-half  to 
one-fourth  as  much  as  Ih"  tin.  It  is  wanner— 
that  is,  wood  will  not  conduct  away  the  heat  as 
will  strips  of  metal  running  parallel  through 
the  heart  of  the  cluster.  Again,  the  surface  of 
the  tin  is  smooth,  and  bees  can  not  readily  run 
up  and  down  upon  it.  They  will  lh(u-efore  se- 
lect the  surface  of  the  clean,  nice,  white  cap- 
pings  of  the  comb  honey;  and  thus  the  latter, 
receiving  from  two-thirds  to  three-fourths  of  all 
the  travel  of  the  bees,  is  what  is  appropriately 
called  "  travel-stained  "  Now,  by  using  wood- 
en separators  the  bees  will  crawl  upon  the 
wood  as  readily  as  upon  the  cappings  of  the 
comb;  and  this  must  necessarily  reduce  to  a 
corresponding  amount  the  tracks  of  the  bees 
on  the  comb  lioney. 

By  increasing  the  width  of  the  wood  separa- 
tors, we  secure  another  and  very  important  ad- 
vantage. D,  Figs.  1,  3.  show  a  wooden  separator 
that  is  4}.,  inches  wide.  It  is  wide  enough  to 
cover  from  top  to  bottom  the  entire  upright 
edges  of  the  sections  as  well  as  the  edges  of  the 
bottom  slat  C  in  Fig.  1.  It  should  be  retneiu- 
bered  that  ordinary  separators  are  only  ?>}:, 
inches  wide,  and   consequently   there  is -'linch 


Recent  Developments. 

By  e.  r.  Root. 

our  latest  impkovkd  dovetailed  hive. 

What  a  pleasure  it  is  to  have  nice  accurate 
engravinis— those  that  siiow  every  detail  ex- 
actly a.•^  11  is  in  the  original!  We  recently  look 
some  i)hotographs  of  the  Dovetailed  hive  and 
its  parts,  with  (^very  thing  arranged  to  show 
them  up  to  the  best  advantage;  and  how  well 
our  engravers  succeeded  in  reproducing  the  re- 
sult is  shown  in  the  accomjianying  figures.  _   __,^_    _  

With  the  exception  of  one  item,  the  separator  ~'    ~  ~ 

D.  no  radical  change  has  been  made  in  the  hive  f''-  -'—dovetailed  srpEK  with  section- 
except  what  we  have   already   illustrated  in  re-  holdi^hs.  i.\ii'I!ovi;d  wo(>di:.\  sei'.\kat- 

gardtothe  Ilofl'man   frames  and    the   new  im-  "i^-  koi.i.owkk  .vnd  wi<:doe. 

proved  tin  rabbets.  These  have  been  so  iiniver-  on  the  upright  edges  (and  about  as  much  of 
sally  accepted  as  improvements  that  no  one  has  the  horizontaJ  edgesiof  every  .section  that  is 
objected,  even  if  it  were  a  change.  The  latest  left  i^xpos.'d;  and.  w.nse  than  all.  these  expo.sed 
change  IS  not  one  that  will  make  any  serious  edges  are  the  best  place  for  the  liees  to  chink  in 
inconvenience   with   hives  already  in   use.  but    propolis;  and   the  result  is,  a  considerable  in- 


r.'4S 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULT  a  RE. 


Al'KII,   1. 


crease  in  the  labor  of  scraping  after  the  crop  is 
removed  from  the  hives.  Our  wooden  separat- 
ors for  the  Dovetailed  hive,  cover  the  entire 
upright  edges  of  the  sections,  as  well  as  the 
horizontal  edges  not  scored  out  in  the  sections 
and  bottom  slats  C,  in  Fig.  1,  where  they  come 
in  contact.  With  these  wide  separators  be- 
tween each  row  of  sections,  keying  up  closes  up 
the  interstices  so  that  the  actual  scraping  of 
the  section,  after  the  crop  is  finally  secured,  is  a 
mere  bagatelle  beside  the  scraping  of  sections 
that  have  been  tilled  in  the  old-style  ci'ates 
with  narrow  separators  and  no  keying  up. 

Our  method  of  keying  up  is  illustrated  very 
accurately  in  Fig.  2.  (t  is  the  wedge;  F,  thr  fol- 
lower. The  wedge,  strictly  speaking,  is  not  cu- 
neiform, or  tapering.  It  is  simply  a  stick  about 
12  inches  long,  ^  thick,  ?,(  wide.  To  key  up,  the 
follower  is  placed  back  of  the  last  row  of  sec- 
tions. The  wedge  is  then  inserted  the  narrow- 
est way,  between  the  super  side  and  follower. 
It  is  then  twisted  so  that  the  space  between  the 
follower  and  super  .sides  is  increased  the  widest 
way  of  the  wedge,  so  that  we  now  have  %  inch 
instead  of  i^.  The  end  of  the  wedge  slicking 
up  is  then  turned  down  out  of  the  way.  The 
surplus  arrangement  is  then  so  thoroughly  keyed 
up  that  it  may  be  turned  upside  down,  yes,  in- 
verted, if  thought  advisable,  when  the  sections 
are  half  full. 

There  is  another  feature  that  perhaps  you 
may  not  have  noticed:  and  that  is,  that,  when 
the  crop  is  coming  in  slowly,  the  outside  rows 
of  sections  may  be  alternated  to  the  center,  and 
the  center  to  the  outside,  in  order  to  ?ecur© 
more  even  comb-buil3ing  and  the  filling-out  of 
sections. 

As  to  whether  this  wide  slotted -out  wood  .sep- 
arator is  new  or  not,  is  not  important:  but  it  is 
important  to  know  whether  it  is  practicable, 
and  whether  or  not  it  is  a  labor-saver  in  the 
final  scraping  of  the  sections.  Such  an  arrange- 
ment scarcely  needs  to  be  tested  to  demonstrate 
its  merits.  Any  bee-keeper  having  a  pi'actical 
eye  will  at  once  recognize  it. 


and  two  ends,  scant  %  inch  thick,  and  two  little 
sticks  I4  inch  thick,  in  lieu  of  T  tins  for  the 
sections  to  rest  on.  Four  of  these  section-cases 
will  just  go  in  a  Dovetailed  super,  as  shown  in 
the  acconipanjing  engraving,  and  by  the  use  of 
two  supers  liei'ing  up  can  be  praciiced. 


FIG.   3— 1>.   SUKPI.US  CASK. 

This  resembles  somewhat  the  old  farmer's 
honey-box:  and  although  it,  is  now  nearly  rele- 
gated to  the  past,  yet  thi-re  is  a  demand  for 
something  on  the  style  of  the  old  case  that  will 
take  ordinary  sections.  During  the  past  eight 
or  ten  years  we  have  filled  orders,  especially 
from  California  and  the  West,  for  an  arrange- 
ment very  similar  to  the  1).  section-case;  and 
the  fact  that  such  a  demand  does  not  die  out 
shows  there  is  a  legitimate  call  that  must  be 
supplied.  When  Mr.  F.  Danzenbaker,  of  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  was  here  two  years  ago  he  was 
very  enthusiastic  over  a  device  of  this  sort;  and 
while  here  he  introduced  what  we  have  for 
short  called  the  D.  section-case.  It  contains 
six  iK-inch  sections,  one  end  of  which  is  glassed 
as  shown.  Each  case  is  4Vo  \t''oX]2  inches,  out- 
side measure.  It  will  hold  either  six  sections  1% 
inches  wide,  without  separators,  or  seven  7-to- 
foot  secions  with  .small  wood  separators  or  with- 
out separators,  follower  and  wedge.  The  case  in- 
cludes two  sides,  toj)  and  bottom,  \  inch  thick: 


FIG.  4 — SHOWIXG    HOW  THE   D.    SECTION-CASE   18 
USED   OX   THE  DOVETAILED   HIVE. 

There  are  a  good  many  small  bee-keepers  and 
farmers  who,  having  only  a  few  hives,  desire  to 
transfer  the  honey  directly  from  the  hives  to 
the  market.  No.  they  don't  even  care  to  scrape 
the  sections.  They  want  a  light  little  case  that 
is  both  a  surplus  aiTangement  and  a  retailing- 
case— something  that  can  be  placed  directly  on 
the  market  among  retail  grocers,  and  that  will 
sell  for  about  SI.OO.  Of  course,  large  honey- 
producers  would  prefer  the  section-holder  sur- 
plus arrangement  we  have  illustrated.  But 
here  is  something  that  will  just  suit  farmers. 
When  the  cases  are  full,  if  no  separators  are 
used,  they  can  tell,  without  opening  the  hives 
any  further  than  raising  the  super  as  shown  in 
Fig.  4.  just  what  the  bees  are  doing.  To  put  on 
the  market,  all  they  have  to  do  is  to  nail  on  the 
cover  and  bottom.  Of  course,  the  sections  may 
be  stained  somewhat  with  propolis:  but  the 
farmer  bee-keepers  do  not  care,  becau.se  they 
S(^ll  honey  to  people  whom  thc^y  know — that  is, 
right  in  iheirown  vicinity. 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


I  hardly  need  tell  you  there  has  been  some 
pretty  severe  winter  weather  along  through 
the  middle  and  latter  part  of  March.  Our 
friends  here  in  Medina  say  they  saved  a  part  of 
the  winter  expressly  for  me.  so  I  need  not  miss 
it  entirely,  (iven  if  t  was  gone  from  the  middle 
of  November  till  the  middle  of  March.  In  our 
locality  it  has  doiK^  little  haiiti  unless  to  hot- 
beds and  cold-frames  not  properly  prepared. 
The  fruit  does  not  seem  to  be  injured.  Not  so 
in  the  South,  however.  See  the  following,  from 
the  peach  and  tomato  district  of  Mississippi: 

Friend  Root:— The  freeze  struck  us  hard,  «wre; 
most  of  tlie  peiu'hes  went  up.  Some  vaiieties  not 
bloomed  out  well,  escaped.  The  tomato  l)usiiiess 
suffered  a  preat  h)ss  liere  Aliout  one-fifth  were 
l)it;  hut  ill  most  cases,  wliere  double  beds  run  east 
and  west  tlie  nt)rth  side  got  it,  even  throuffli  three 
or  four  inches  of  straw;  but  no  plants  were  lo.st  in 
beds  runnirifT  north  and  south.  .T.  W.  Day. 

Crystal  Springs,  Miss.,  March  21. 

I  suppose  we  may  say  to  friend  Day,  that  the 


1892 


GLEANlNliS  IN  HEB  CULTURE. 


24;  > 


prioos  will  he  IukIkt  in  (•(insciiiicnro.  and  thiit 
those  wlio  iliT  net  a  iMii|)  by  faith  fill  hard  labor 
will  fft't  a  fjood  it'warti  for  their  i»ains.  Tlie 
dainafjt'  to  early  peaehes,  however,  is  ^roiny:  to 
be  a  rather  sad  ealaniitv. 


OMON-SKTS  — WHAT   THKV    (trOIlT   TO 

Tlie   v'tiods   linve   Uvvw  riM-civod  in  >fo<'d 


LIKE, 

)i(ler.  all 
fully  lip  to  my  expectations,  exfept  the  otiiciii-sets. 
They  are  noi  (piitt'  what  iliey  oiiRlit  to  be.  No 
oiiio'n-set  ou>rlit  to  be  moie  I  lian  H  incli  in  (liaiiieler, 
and  I  have  sorted  14  peeks  out  of  one  bushel  that 
are  aluuit  one  inch  and  o\cr.  Now,  I  will  warrant 
all  of  these  to  run  up  a  sied-stciii,  and  perhaps  a 
frood  many  more:  still,  ainon^r  the  smaller  lot  this 
oUKht  not  to  \)v  so.  But  that  is  not  all.  They  are 
uiixeii  with  some  ri'd  onion.  Tlu-se  red  ones  might 
l>e  as  >rood  as  the  yellow,  but  they  don't  look  so 
wlieii  put  ui>  in  bundles,  .-iiid  1  f(>ar  they  will  not 
sell  so  well.  There  is  also  a  K'reat  diflereiiee  in  the 
two  hag's  (1  got  two  half-bushel  bags).  I  would 
willingly  jrive  fl.nti  more  for  the  one  than  for  the 
other,  heeause  it  contains  at  least  one-third  more 
small  onions  than  the  other. 

There  is  no  question  but  they  have  been  p»it  up 
very  eaielessly;  and  1  am  sure  that,  if  A.  I.  Koot 
<'ould  only  have  them  under  his  spy-gljisses  for  one 
niiiuite  he  would  be  read>'  to  fret  hold  of Se- 
nior's shirt-sleeve  and  say,  "Look  here,  old  fellow, 
you  iiiiiat  do  better  than  "that,  or  else  you  will  ruin 
my  reputation  for  sendinjir  out  first-class  goods 
only."  Now.  I  don't  want  \iiu  to  give  me  a  rebate 
because  they  were  not  ipiite  what  thej'  ought  to 
have  l)een.  I  only  take  tlie  libi'rty  to  call  your  at- 
tention to  it.  because  I  think  you  don't  know  any 
thing  about  it.                            Jui-ius  Johannsen. 

Port  Clinton,  O.,  March  :.*1. 

Well  done,  friend  J.  Even  if  you  have  found 
some  fault,  you  iiave  given  us  some  good  point- 
«>rs  that  I  know  by  experience  are  valuable.  I 
have  become  so  disgusted  with  sets  producing 
onions  with  a  .seed-stem,  and  then  splitting  up 
into  two  or  three  poor  bulbs,  tliat  I  have  several 
times  thought  I  wouldn't  have  any  thing  more 
to  do  w'ith  sets.  As  you  are  right,  doubtless,  we 
shall  know  how  to  remedy  at  least  some  of  this 
trouble  in  tlie  future.  Peter  Henderson  and 
some  others  advertise  tliat  their  sets  are  put 
through  a  sieve,  permitting  nothing  to  go 
through  larger  than  i^  of  an  inch.  We  notice 
you  put  it  j'i  inch.  One  thing  is  certain — a 
bushel  of  onion-sets  under '.j  inch  will  produce 
a  great  many  more  onions  than  the  bigger  ones. 
Tho.se  sent  you  were  put  up  in  my  absence;  but 
we  will  try  to  make  it  up  to  you.  even  if  you 
are  so  good-natured  you  don't  want  any  rebate. 
I  agree  with  you.  also,  in  regard  to  mixing  red 
and  yellow  onion-sets  together.  Some  dealers 
claim  that  it  does  not  make  any  difference;  but 
it  looks  to  me  like  slipshod  work.  At  the  very 
high  prices  sets  are  now  bringing,  they  certainly 
ought  to  be  up  to  the  standard  you  map  out; 
and,  to  tell  the  truth,  raising  onion-.sets  is  a 
business.  To  produce  good  ones,  you  want  seed 
that  is  right;  then  you  need  .soil  that  is  right, 
and  somebody  to  boss  it  who  knows  by  experi- 
ence how  it  should  be  done.  There  are  a  great 
many  things  in  this  world  that  are  not  as  they 
should  be;  in  fact,  I  see  so  many  things  that 
are  wrong,  almost  every  day  of  my  life,  that  I 
almo-t  iliink  sometimes  I  am  liard  toplea.se; 
but  1  do  love  to  .^ee  things  A  No.  1;  and  where 
complaints  are  made  in  the  good-natured  strain 
in  which  you  make  them,  friend  J.,  it  seems  to 
rae  we  ought  all  of  us  to  try  a  little  harder  to 
do  better. 


STRAWBKIJIUKS— HOW  TO  (JKT  A  CHOP  IN  Ci)  DAYS 
FItOM   TltK   TI.MK    OF    I'I>ANTI.\0. 

When  I'eter  Henderson  announced  that,  in 
his  opinion,  the  cheapest  way  to  grow  straw- 
berries was  to  have  them  occupy  the  ground 
only  one  season,  there  was  quite  a  little  stir 
about  it.  Since  then  one  of  the  seed  catalogues 
that  adveitised  the  (iandy  strawberry  sent  it 
out  under  the  name  of  the  "First  Season,''  ad- 


vertising tliat  the  plants  would  bear  a  crop  the 
same  season  they  are  put  out.  Well,  as  the 
(Jandy  fruits  so  very  late  they  probably  do  bear 
a  few  berrii's.  1  am  going  to  tell  you  of  a  plan 
whereby  you  can  get  at  least  a  pretty  good  i-iop, 
and  not  have  iliem  occupy  the  groiitid  more, 
than  t)l)  days.  'I'he  hint  of  it  was  given  me  at 
the  Inter-.Slate  Agricultural  and  llorlicullural 
("onvention  held  in  .lackson.  Miss.  The  sjjcak- 
er  mentioned  a  certain  Held  of  strawberries,  and 
gave  the  amount  of  land,  and  the  number  of 
iiuails.  and  it  was  enormous;  and  lie  remarked 
that  this  result  was  obtained  by  selec^ting  only 
such  iilants  as  had  extra  strong,  very  promising 
ciowns:  and  he  said,  furtluutnoi'e.  that  some  of 
the  ])iants.  when  put  out.  had  not  only  blos- 
soms but  small  green  berrii's.  As  the  ground 
was  veiy  rich,  however,  it  took  right  hold  and 
gi'ew.  and  gave  tlie  wondeifui  result  meniion- 
ed.  Now.  with  the  transplanting-tubes  1  have 
had  good  strong  plants  send  out  runners  in  ."30 
days  after  tln'y  were  planted  as  I  have  men- 
tioned. I  hav(!  not.  liowevei-.  as  yet  tiled  tak- 
ing up  plants  w  bile  in  bloom;  but  1  am  making 
preparations  to  do  it  this  season.  The  right 
kind  of  ground  can  be  found  just  after  some 
first  crop  has  been  removed  in  th(>  spring,  say 
spinach  that  has  winten-d  over,  winter  (jiiions, 
etc.  Now,  as  soon  as  t  his  ground  can  be  spared, 
give  it  a  heavy  dressing  with  old  wcil-rotted 
manure;  work  it  up  tine  and  di^ep,  and.  if  ])os- 
sible,  let  the  early  seeds  germinate.  When  they 
get  near  the  surface,  or  just  begin  to  show,  rake 
the  ground  very  thoi'oughly  so  as  to  kill  every 
weed.  This  will  get  us  a  big  step  ahead  in  the 
matter  of  keeping  weeds  off  from  the  crop. 
Now,  with  these  transplanting-tubes  select  very 
strong,  vigorous  plants  while  in  bloom.  Take 
some  of  them  with  small  green  beri'ies  on  if 
you  choose.  I  am  sure  these  can  be  moved 
with  scarcely  a  setback.  Take  them  where  the 
plants  are  already  too  much  crowded,  and  the 
bed  where  they  are  taken  from  will  yield  fully 
as  much  as  before,  and  certainly  give  you  larg- 
er ones.  Fill  the  holes  that  are  made  in  said 
bed  with  very  lich  compost.  Now  set  the  plants 
removed  on  your  nicely  prepared  mellow  ground. 
Keep  the  surface  raked  so  as  to  keep  weeds 
from  starting;  and  if  you  can  afford  the  trouble, 
I  would  keep  the  runners  oft';  possibly  the 
crop  may  be  a  little  later  in  consequence  of  the 
transplanting.  But  this  often  gives  a  better 
price,  you  know.  Still  another  thing:  To  avoid 
tramping  on  this  soft,  rich,  mellow  earth,  I 
would  set  them  in  plant-beds  six  feet  wide.  In 
this  way  you  can  do  all  of  the  weeding  and 
gathering  without  setting  a  foot  between   the 

Elants.  These  plant-beds  may  be  your  ordinary 
ot-beds  or  cold-frames,  where  the  crop  has 
been  removed.  If  a  frost  should  threaten,  it  is 
an  easy  matter  to  protect  them  with  sash  or 
cloth.  The  latter  can  be  used  as  friend  Day 
uses  it  on  tomatoes,  and  I  do  believe  it  will  pay 
to  raise  a  limited  quantity  of  strawberries  in 
beds  covered  with  cloth.  The  danger  from 
frost  would  thus  be  fiiit  of  the  question;  and  by 
having  protection  during  cold  nights  they  would 
certainly  be  considerably  ahead  of  the  main 
crop  out  in  the  tield. 

Terry,  in  the  strawberry  book,  says  that  plants 
in  the  matted  row  should  not  be  nearei  than 
six  inches;  but  in  our  rich  plant-beds  that  I 
have  spokcm  of  I  would  have  them  about  ten 
inches  apart — this,  of  cours(>.  depending  upon 
how  long  the  bed  is  to  be  allowed  to  bear.  If 
more  than  one  year,  more  distance  will  h(!  need- 
ed, depending  upon  the  variety;  and  for  such 
close  distances  tlio  runners  must  be  kept  off, 
and  th<'  plant  not  be  allowed  to  make  mon; 
plants.  In  cutting  runners,  or  even  in  gather- 
ing the  fruit,  a  plank  may  be  put  across  the  bed 
from  one  side  to  the  otlier,  if  found  advisable. 


250 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


April  1. 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM   A.  I.  ROOT. 


Now,  friends,  lliore  is  a  great  moral  here 
somewhere,  if  we  can  find  it.  At  least  one  rea- 
son why  we  can  not  eat  such  food  as  other  peo- 
ple do  is  because  we  do  not  have  enough  of  the 
right  kind  of  exercise.  The  summit  of  the 
mountain  was  still  iU  miles  further  up;  but  we 
two  did  not  particularly  "lianker"  after  any 
more  mountain  climbing  th<it  night,  "  you  bet.'" 
I  slept  in  a  very  open  bedroohi.  with  plenty  of 
air  (and  plenty  of  blankets),  and  feared  I  should 
be  too  stiff  to  move  in  the  morning;  but,  to  my 
great  surprises  I  wasn't  stiff  at  all.    Of  course,  I 


by  the  blight  red  wood  of  its  branches.  Very 
pietty  rustic  furnituie  is  made  from  these 
bright  red  bi-anches.  The  small  object  on  a 
higu  peak  at  the  left  of  the  picture  (see  last 
issue)  is  the  observatory  already  mentioned. 

We  went  to  the  top  and  back  before  breakfast, 
without  a  bit  of  trouble.  At  breakfast  I  ate 
with  a  relish  several  slices  of  fat  bacon  —some- 
thing I  never  did  before  in  my  life— and.  oh  such 
lots  of  other  good  things!  Our  host  had  some 
mush  made  of  farinose;  and  as  they  didn't  have 
any  cow  up  on  the  mountain,  he  told  us  to  use 
with  it  plenty  of  condensed  milk. 

"Put  on  lots  of  butter,  then  lots  of  sugar, 
then  lots  of  milk,"'  said  he;  and.  oh  my  I  how 
delicious  it  was!  I  told  him  several  times  he 
was  ••  swindled  "'  when  he  made  a  reduction  on 


GOING   DOWN    THE    MOl'NTAIX. 


sat  by  that  big  cook-stove  the  night  before  un- 
til my  damp  clothing  was  perfectly  dry. 

In  the  moi'ning  we  took  a  look  at  the  valley 
below:  but  as  the  sun  was  not  yet  up  to  dispel 
the  fogs  and  vapors  of  the  night  we  seemed  to 
be  on  a  sort  of  island  that  pushed  up  through  a 
great  sea  of  clouds,  and  therefore  we  could  only 
lool\  about  at  the  profusion  of  shrubl:iery  and 
bushes.  The  picture  of  Camp  Wilson  gives  you 
a  very  good  idea  of  it.  A  good  deal  of  the 
shrubbery  that  covers  the  mountain  is  the  well- 
known  manzanita.  that  sometimes  gives  quite  a 
flow  of  honey  in  February.  In  fact,  we  found 
some  already  in  bloom.     It  is  easily  recognized 


inij  board  and  lodging;  but  he  said  he  liked  to 
see  his  guests  liave  an  appetite. 

Did  I  need  my  overcoat?  Why,  bless  you,  no: 
and  yet  it  was  so  cold  I  found  the  ground  frozen 
hard  on  the  north  side  of  the  mountain-top,  and 
the  crust  on  the  snow  was  so  hard  I  could  not 
get  a  piec(>  loose  with  the  heel  of  my  boot.  My 
sore  throat,  chilly  right  side,  bowel  trouble, 
cold  in  my  nostrils  and  right  ear,  had  all  van- 
ished in  a  way  that  seemed  to  me  miraculous. 
Now,  please  don't  think  I  am  writing  a  puff  in 
regard  to  the  wonderful  atmosphere  of  Wilson's 
IVak.  Outdoor  exei'cise  and  entliusiostn  would 
do  the  same  almost  anywhere.     Very  likely  tht- 


IS'.fJ 


(JLKANlXdS  IN'   HKH  CULTUUIO. 


»lr.v  almusplific  of  Soinlurn  lalirniiiia  lias 
soiiuMliiiiu  i(»  do  w  ill)  it :  ami  may  be  tlic  soiil- 
stirrinji  sociktv  lii'lpi  d  laiiicly  In  tfct  up  tin-  vn- 
tliiisiiisin.  While  I  write,  a  week  lias  passetl 
siiu'e  that  walk,  and  my  appetite  is  still  excel- 
lent, and  1  feel  a  dejifee  of  .stfentilli  ami  vifior 
1  tiiink  I  never  knew  before  in  my  life. 

In  many  iilaees  the  liiade  of  the  mountain 
was  sneh  that  one  oould.  if  he  tiied  hard,  cut 
acioss  the  trail  and  run  up  tlie  hillside  so  as  to 
feach  the  tiail  at  a  point  above.  Of  cotifse. 
this  cuttiiiR  cidsslols  woulii  he  a  fXfeat  savins;  of 
time  and  tiavel:  hut  the  woik  is  so  xciy  fatit^n- 
injr.  and  so  much  hai'iler.  that  most  jieople  \n'r- 
fer  to  follow  the  beaten  track,  although  ittakes 
thoiii   longer  :  and,  in   fact,   few   people    could 


sa\  ins  nearly  a  mile  of  travel  by  what  took  him 
only  a  few  niinut.es.  As  1  had  only  (uie  suit  of 
cloihintr  with  me  I  did  not  diiic  to'  risk  follow- 
ing! him:  besides. smdi  a  liea(l!<in!.t  wav  was  more 
or  less  dangerous.  In  this  way  he  reached  .Mr.-. 
Koot  and  In  r  companions  soiiie  timi'  liefore  I 
came  in  siyht.  and  {,'r'avely  announced  that  I 
was  "used  u|.."'  and  he  was  after  help.  Friend 
Stevenson,  who  had  lirouj^iit  Mrs.  ivoot,  broiiffht 
along  for  company  his  niece,  u  schoolteacher 
and  a  ycning  lady  of  rare  ctilture  and  inti'lli- 
gence.  The  boys  of  the  liouseiiokl  also  jieti- 
tioiH>d  for  a  holiday  to  get  aciiuainted  with 
••  rnele  Amos."  Accordingly  when  freind  Karr 
announced  that  I  was  used  up  they  volunteered 
to  come  after  me;  and   by  dint  of '  hard  sciam- 


TIIE   PARTY   COMING   TO   TlIK   RESCUE. 


Stand  it  to  climb  verj' long,  straight  up  the  sides 
of  the  mountain.  In  coming  down  the  moun- 
tain, however,  there  are  many  points  wliere  the 
boys  had  "slid  down  ""  to  some  point  in  the 
trail  below:  and  we  made  several  crosscuts  in 
this  way  that  saved  us  quite  a  little  travel. 
Where  it  was  sandy  and  gravelly  there  was  but 
little  danger,  even  if  you  did  fall,  providing  you 
did  not  tear  your  clotliing  or  cut  your  hands 
and  face.  Friend  Fan-  could  not  resist  tlie 
temptation  when  he  c;"ne  to  those  crosscuts  : 
and  at  one  tinv  he  not  only  reached  the  trail 
below,  but  was  under  such  rapid  motion  that  he 
went  past  it  and   struck  it  still   further  down. 


bling  such  as  none  but  a  hoij  can  do,  they  met 
me  coming  down  at  a  good  rate  along  the  beaten 
path,  and  soon  passed  the  intelligence  below 
thati  was  well  and  hearty.  The  first  cut  gives 
aglimpvSeof  friend  Stevenson,  Mrs.  Root  ne.xt, 
then  Mr.  Stevenson's  niece.  Friend  Farr  brings 
up  the  rear.  Your  humble  servant  stood  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  canyon,  with  the  Kodak. 
The  rocky  cliffs  above  and  below  the  pathway 
give  one  a  very  good  idea  of  the  mountain-side, 
and  the  task  perfornu^d  by  the  company  who 
cut  the  trail.  The  next  i)icture  was  taken  near 
the  foot.  Mr.  Stevenson  and  his  niece  come 
first;   ufixt  Mrs.  Root,  then   friend   Farr;  lastly 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Apkii-  1. 


the  three  boys.  Two  of  them  climbed  up  above 
a  clump  of  bushes  as  you  will  see.  Friend 
Stevenson  has  the  Kodak  case. 

A  moral  lesson  also  comes  in  righ^,  here.  A 
little  of  ihe  right  kind  of  enthusiasm  will  en- 
able us  to  rise  above  temptation,  in  just  the 
same  way  that  we  rise  above  physical  weak- 
nesses. Dear  reader,  can  you  not  look  back  to 
the  time  when  you  were  in  a  low  spiritual  state 
or  plane,  and  when  yon  wasted  time  in  battling 
feebly  against  some  low  temptation  that  you 
now  feel  I'eally  ashamed  of  ;  —in  fact,  that  you 
ought  to  have  felt  ashamed  of  all  the  while? 
Yoii  may  have  wasted  energy  and  strength  in 
quarreling  with  a  neighbor  over  some  little  tri- 
fle, when  all  your  strength  and  energies  were 
really  needed 'in  some  wider  and  larger  field- 
some  place  where  vou  could  have  lifted  human- 
ity all  around  you.  instead  of  having  set  a  bad 
example  to  the  poorest  and  humblest. 

Thej'  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their 
strength;  they  shall  mount  up  witJi  wi^g^s  as  eagles; 
they  shall  run,  and  uot  be  weary;  and  they  shall 
walk,  and  not  faint.— Isa.  40:31. 

In  fact,  it  is  with  these  low  and  earthly 
temptations  as  it  is  in  climbing  the  mountains. 
When  I  once  got  above  the  plain,  and  looked 
abroad  over  this  bright  and  beautiful  world,  I 
felt  ashamed  of  being  tired;  and  the  inspiration 
of  the  grand  view  that  opened  out  before  me 
took  away  my  weariness.  When  we  pray  for 
the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  our  hearts, 
we  should  be  prepared  to'  rise  above  the  little 
perplexities  of  every-day  life.  The  words  of  my 
old  favorite  hymn  come  in  just  here: 

Know,  my  soul,  thy  Tuil  salvation; 

Rise  o'er  sin  and  grief  and  care; 
Joy  to  find  In  every  station 

Something  still  to  do  or  bear. 

The  last  line  of  the  hymn  expresses  it  exact- 
ly. Instead  of  looking  cross,  and  grumbling 
and  complaining  at  our  little  trials  and  crosses, 
we  want  to  get  up  high  enough  so  we  can  step 
forward  with  a  manly  vigor  :  and  while  we 
draw  into  our  lungs  the  beautiful  invigorating 
air  from  heaven,  feeling  at  the  same  time  the 
blood  forcing  and  tingling  clear  to  our  fingers" 
ends,  we  may  also  at  the  same  time  actually  re- 
joice at  the  prospect  of  "  something  still  to  do 
or  bear."  I  can  not  tell  this,  dear  friends,  as  I 
should  like  to  tell  it;  but  I  felt  it  that  day,  and 
I  feel  it  yet.  It  is  not  my  privilege  to  take  you 
all  by  the  hand  and  lead  you  with  me  along  the 
trail  up  Wilson's  Peak;  but  I  exhort  you  to 
hold  fast  to  the  strong  arm  of  the  dear  Savior, 
and  let  him  lead  you  up,  over  and  above  the 
little  trials,  perplexities,  and  vexations  of  life, 
and  along  that  pathway  that  goes  ever  upward 
as  well  as  ever  onward. 

Before  I  start '•  down  the  mountain  "let  me 
digress  again.  This  matter  of  physical  health 
is  of  more  importance  to  most  of  us  than  any 
thing  else  in  the  world,  with  one  exception. 
While  at  Tropico  friend  Cole  said  I  must  meet  a 
neighbor  of  his.  near  his  apiary.  When  intro- 
duced, this  neighbor  said  he  knew  me  already, 
for  he  once  had  the  bee-fever,  took  Glkamnos, 
and  r(>ad  the  ABC  book.  He  gave  me  the  fol- 
lowing facts:  His  wife  was  nearly  gone  with 
consumption.  He  tried  every  favored  locality, 
but  she  kept  failing  until  In^  look  her  where  she 
then  was,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  near 
Los  Angeles.  The  climate  is  dry.  quite  even  in 
tempei'ature.  and  no  frost.  By  working  with 
her  husband  every  day,  outdoors  among  the 
plants  and  fruits,  she  was  really  building  up; 
and  although  one  lung  was  nearly  or  quite 
gone,  the  other  was  developing  to  more  than  its 
usual  size,  so  as  to  do  the  work  of  both.  They 
managed  so  her  exercise  was  just  enough  every 
day,  and  not  too  much. 


I  can  not  tell  you  all  I  saw  from  the  top  of  the 
mountain.  In  fact,  my  story  is  too  long  alrea- 
dy. The  extreme  summit  seems  to  be  0!i  sever- 
al peaks;  that  is.  there  are  several  that  seem  to 
be  almost  of  a  height.  All  are  covered  with 
heavy  pine  and  cedar  timber.  One  tree  near  the 
summit  is  marked  "  18  feet  in  circumference," 
and  I  can  readily  believe  it  true.  The  ocean 
seemed  even  nearer  than  the  night  before,  and 
my  companion  named  the  different  harbors  all 
along  the  coast.  It  was  all  spread  out  before 
us  like  a  map.  almost  from  Santa  Barbara  to 
San  Diego.  I  have  inquired  diligently  for  pho- 
tographs of  the  valley  and  ocean,  but  am  told 
that  no  camera  is  equal  to  do  justice  to  such  an 
immense  distance.  The  observatory  belongs  to 
the  Smithsonian  Institute,  and  a  telescope  is 
now  in  process  of  construction  for  Mt.  Wilson 
(so  I  am  told),  larger  than  any  other  in  the 
woi'ld. 

When  I  fii'st  took  a  look  at  the  observatory 
from  the  valley  below,  it  seemed  like  a  minia- 
ture pint  cup  — a  microscopic  pint  cup,  in  fact; 
for,  after  the  place  had  been  pointed  out  to  you, 
you  could  see,  glistening  in  the  sun,  the  merest 
something  made  of  tin.  Well,  when  we  stood 
beside  it,  it  was  a  great  circular  edifice,  perhaps 
24  feet  across  and  13  feet  high,  covered  with  tin. 
This  edifice  rested  on  a  circular  track  so  it  could 
be  revolved  by  means  of  appropriate  machine- 
ry. As  the  telescope  rested  on  this  structure,  it 
could  be  made  to  cover  any  point  in  the  heav- 
ens. Of  course,  this  was  a  rude  and  temporary 
arrangement.  The  new  one,  wltli  the  great  big 
telescope,  is  to  be  a  very  different  aflfair,  as  a 
matter  of  course. 

I  went  down  with  comparative  ease,  or  at 
least  it  would  have  been  so  had  I  been  duly 
prudent.  We  met  Mrs.  Root  and  her  compan- 
ions about  a  mile  from  the  foot;  but  I  was  so 
anxious  to  get  a  particular  Kodak  view  that  I 
went  back  almost  half  a  mile. 

Did  Mrs.  Root  get  the  fever  as  I  did?  This 
was  a  point  I  watched  anxiously  for.  Yes.  she 
enjoyed  it  almost  as  much  I  did,  but  she  can 
not  stand  the  hot  sun  as  I  can.  She  says,  had 
she  started  quite  early  in  the  morning  (say  the 
break  of  day),  she  believes  she  could,  under  the 
stimulus  of  the  wonderful  scenery,  have  reach- 
ed the  shade  of  the  trees,  and  from  there  made 
the  whole  eight  miles,  and  enjoyed  it.  As  it 
was.  she  went  up  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  as 
much  more  down,  without  very  much  fatigue. 
After  an  excellent  lunch  furnished  by  our  good 
friend  Richardson  and  his  kind  niece,  we  start- 
ed up  a  canyon  to  see  Eaton  Falls.  We  were 
told  it  was  only  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  up 
the  canyon;  but  I  think  it  must  be  a  full  mile 
of  very  hard  walking— /n((r/i.  harder  than  the 
ti'ail  up  the  mountain,  making  over  13  miles,  the 
day  after  my  feat  of  going  up  the  mountain.  I 
finally  became  so  sore  and  stiff',  that,  after  I  sat 
down  to  iT'St,  friend  Farr  would  playfully  lift 
me  to  my  feet,  and  then  extend  his  arms,  as  if  I 
were  a  child  learning  to  walk.  For  about  three 
days  the  muscles  of  my  legs  were  very  stiff'  and 
sore;  but  after  that  I  could  walk  three  miles  at 
a  good  rapid  pace,  without  the  least  sign  of  fa- 
tigues and  now  I  enjoy  such  a  foot-walk  more 
than  I  ever  did  before. 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


The  next  meeting  of  the  Fayette  Co.  Bee-keepers'  Association 
win  bv  helrl  in  the  City  HaU  at  Washington  C.  H..  O.,  Wednes- 
day, Aiir.  Kitli.  189>.  rninmeniing  ipiomptl.v  at  10  am.  Tile  elec- 
tion (if  otticiT.s.  m  riinn.  ction  witli  :m  iiitt-n-^tintr  program, 
will  he  till-  business  ..f  the  ilav.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  the 
Ohio  State  Bee-lveepers'  .\ssociaticin  will  hold  its  next  annual 
meeting  at  Washington  C.  H.,  during  the  winter  of  lb9:3.  we  be- 
speak a  good  attendance.  "   "   *•  — 

Bloomingburg,  O. 


S.  K.  MoRRi.s.Sec. 


18irj 


(JLKAMNliS  IN   liKK  ("Ul/rUIlK. 


253 


■ff'O/Ll^ 


-■^Jt  PAGes7xI0 


If  any  of  vtui  lack  wImIoiii.  l.-t  him  ask  of  CkkI.  that  trivcth  to 
all  moh  iiiH-rally,  and  ii|<lii'aiilt'tli  iu>l:  and  it  ^liall  ue  ifiven 
lliin.— jAMK-i  !:.'>. 

TiiK  oHii-oi-s  of  the  Ontario  Hce-koepors'  Asso- 
oiatiun  an-  as  follows:  ricsidciit,  F.  A.  (Jcm- 
ini'll;  Vic('-pn>si(ltMit.  A.  IMt'kotl;  Tivasiircr, 
Siai'tiii  Eniiiiii:  SiH-rcIary.  \V.  ('oii-^c.  The  as- 
sociation is  well  oniocird.  and  we  heartily  wish 
it  iiiiIhuiikIi'iI  siil-ccss.  cvimi  though  it  has  not 
st'cii  lit  to  al>iliaU>  again  tiiis  y'eai'  with  the 
North  Ann'ricaii. 

Wk  rcgivt  to  learn  that  15ro.  Newman,  of  the 
AxuricdU  Bee  JouriKil.  has  been  quite  unwell 
of  late,  as  a  result  of  the  ix\]\).  and  tiuit  it  will 
he  absolutely  necessary  foi'  him  to  takt^  a  va- 
cation of  a  month  or  six  weeks.  In  tlie  mean- 
time an  old  employe.  .Mr.  <'.  ^V.  York,  will  take 
cliarge  of  thi>  journal.  (ii.i'^.^xiXGs  sincerely 
hopes  that  the  much-needed  nsst  will  restore 
him  to  Ileal  til.      

SixcK  our  last  issue.  Mr.  \V.  O.  Fx^ach.  of 
I'oldwater.  Out.,  the  inventor  of  the  foundation- 
fasliMier  illustrated  and  dest-rilied  on  paffe  80.5. 
Oct.  l.">.  ISUl.  has  demonstrated  to  us  personally 
that  his  fastener  is  a  success— not  only  in  fold- 
ing sections  but  in  puttint.' in  foundation,  both 
operations  being  performed  with  one  swing  of 
a  lever.  The  macliines,  we  understand,  are  to 
l)e  made  in  this  country  by  the  \V.  T.  Falconer 
Manufacturing  Co..  of  Falconer.  N.  Y.  While 
here.  .Mr.  L.  told  us  that  he  could  fold  sections 
and  fasten  starters  in  tlie  same  at  the  rate  of 
1,")(X)  an  hour.  Some  time  ago.  when  we  stated 
that  our  girls,  with  the  Daisy  foundation-fas- 
tener, could  put  foundation  in  the  sections  at 
the  rate  of  1(X)()  an  hour,  the  statement  was 
challenged  as  Ixdng  pretty  big.  It  seems  we 
were  not  f)verstating.  in  view  of  .Mr.  I^eacirs 
acliievement.  because  Mr.  Leach  can  do  both 
opei'ations  at  once^ 

Oi'K  honey  statistics  for  this  year  have  hard- 
ly got  under  way.  In  the  meantime,  we  request 
every  siibsci'iber  to  send  us  a  postal  card,  and 
on  it  answer  these  two  questions:  ].  W'luit  per 
cent  of  your  bees  have  wintered  up  to  daU'V  2. 
How  <loes  their  condition  compare  with  former 
years?  It  is  hardly  possible  that  we  shall  get 
a  postal  card  from  each  of  our  ten  tiiousand 
subscribers,  but  we  look  for  a  large  number. 
Hee-keepers  all  over  the  land  want  to  know  (or 
at  least  ouglit  tO)  how  well  bees  have  wintered, 
liecanse  it  will  have  a  direct  bearing  on  tlie  ex- 
tent of  the  honey  crop  the  coming  .season. 
.Simply  answer  the  questions  by  number,  and 
sign  your  name,  nothing  further,  and  we  shall 
know  what  the  cards  are  for.  DoiTt  put  this 
matter  otf  but  irrite  (it  on<c.  The  answer,  to  be 
available  for  tiie  next  issue,  should  be  in  as 
soon  as  the  lijth.  and  this  may  block  out  some  of 
the  more  distant  subscribers. 


SIGN    YOUK    X AMK,   KTC. 

T<)-i).\v  we  have  liad  three  letters  without 
any  signature,  and  two  more  containing  drafts 
without  any  indorsement.  Now.  we  liave 
scolded  a  great  deal  about  this  already;  and  I 
have  strongly  emphasized  the  nece.ssity  of  hav- 
ing your  name  printed  on  your  statiom-ry,  (m- 
velopes.  and  letter-heads.  I'>ut  Ernest  just  now 
says  that,  if  you  don't  want  to  do  that,  vou  can 
have  a  rubber  stamp  made  for  only  -M  cts.,  with 


\dur  name  and  addii'^--.  If  >-ou  ari'  loo  i)usy  to 
print  it  on  your  let  lei-heads  and  envelopes, 
\  our  li\e-year-old  bo\drgirl  will  just  like  the 
Inn  of  <ioing  that  i<ind  (d'  |irinting  for  yon.  If 
vou  iiave  no  live-yeai' old  boy  or  girl,  nd  a 
brol lier  or  sister,  or  hire  some  of  the  neighbors' 
children.  IJnt  please  do  do  something,  so  as  to 
abater  this  annoyance  both  to  ourselves  and 
yourself.  Wr  do  not  com|)lain,  mind  you.  b<(- 
caiise  yon  foigel  once  in  a  while.  The  best  of 
people  do  that :  Init  now  aiia\s  t  here  are  plenty 
of  ways  of  avoiding  the  disastrous  conse<|uenc(^s 
of  such  forget  fulness.  If  you  haven't  done  it 
ali'eady.  go  this  minute  and  iiut  your  name  and 
address  on  both  your  paper  and  envelopi's;  then 
when  you  come  to  w  rile  a  letter  noii  can  wriUi 
as  fast  iis  yon  i)lease.  and  don't  need  to  botluM' 
about  th<'  address  or  any  thing  of  the  sort.  I 
think.  how(>ver,  you  had  b<!tter  liave  that  lub- 
ber stamp.  A.  I.  R. 

now  Till':   Hi',i;s   ii.wk  wixtkrkd  .\t  .Mi:nix.\; 

THK     HESUI/r    OF    OfH    IIXI'EIM.MKXTS 

WITH   sK.M.Ki)  C'<)vi';i{s  Axn 

AHSOHBIXfi    Ct'SIIIOX.S. 

Although  the  wint<'r  has  been  unusually 
severe,  bees  both  in  and  out  doors  have  winter- 
ed the  best  so  far  that  we  have  ever  known 
them  to  do.  We  w-ent  into  winter  quarters  last 
fall  with  a  large  force  of  young  bees,  and  took 
extra  precaution  that  every  colony  should  l^e 
well  supplied  with  sealed  stores,  even  feeding 
some  as  late  as  the  last  of  November. 

Of  the  26  or  37  in  the  cellar,  there  are  the 
fewest  dead  bees  on  the  floor,  in  proportion  to 
the  numlier  of  colonies,  that  we  have  ever 
known.  In  former  winters  we  have  had  to 
sweep  up  the  cellar  bottom  two  or  thi'ee  times, 
each  time  scooping  up  a  good  jieck  of  bees. 
The  paucity  of  dead  bees  on  the  cellar  bottom 
this  spring  w(^  attribute  not  only  to  the  fact 
that  the  colonies  had  young  bees  largely,  the 
fall  previous,  but  to  tlie  fact  that  there  were 
fewer  colonies  in  the  cellar,  and  consequently 
very  much  better  air  and  better  ventilation. 
We  have  always  noticed  this:  We  have  lost 
fewer  bees,  in  proportion,  on  the  cidlar  bottom 
when  we  had  only  a  few  colonies  in  the  cellar, 
than  when  we  had  a  large  number;  consequent- 
ly, as  we  have  betoiT'  stated,  we  are  beginning 
to  believe  more  and  more  in  better  ventilation 
in  bee-cellars,  and  that  tin;  idea  that  little  air 
or  no  ventilation  is  necessary,  has  worked  mis- 
chief, as  some  bee-keepers  who  have  tried  it 
know  to  their  soitow.  One  prominent  bee- 
keeper writes  us  that,  by  following  this  advice, 
or  theory,  or  whatever  it  may  be  called,  that 
too  much  ventilation  in  the  cellai' is  detrimental 
on  unnecessary,  he  lost  several  hundred  dollars. 
P.  H.  Elwood.  who  winters  a  little  over  one 
thousand  colonies  in  om^  cellar,  believes  in 
plenty  of  ventilation  of  the  sub-earth  sort;  and 
when  bees  are  noisy  he  lets  them  have  more  ail*. 

So  much  for  cellar  wintering.  As  toour  colo- 
nies outdoors,  we  havt>  so  far  at  this  date, 
March  •.'(),  not  lost  a  single  one  out  of  a  total  of 
about  \'>().  With  the  exception  of  two  weak 
ones  which  we  united,  the  rest  were  all  strong 
and  showed  no  signs  of  dysentery,  and  all  seem- 
ed to  be  wintering  about  alike,  and  it  did  not 
seem  to  make  very  much  difference  w  hetlier 
they  had  absorb! iilt  cushions  or  sealetl  covers. 
If  anything,  the  difference  is  a  little  in  favor 
of  the  sealed-cover  hives,  judging  from  those 
having  glass  tops.  Another  fact  should  be 
observed— that  the  sealed-cover  colonies  have 
had  only  about  two  inches  of  chaff  or  planer 
shavings,  while  the  colonies  with  absorbing 
cushions  liave  had  anywhere  from  six  to  ten 
inches  of  chaff. 

There  is  also  another  reason  why  our  colonies 
are  wintering  so  well.    We  have  had  contin- 


2.U 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Apbii-  1. 


uously  cold  weathor.  with  scarcely  a  day  for 
flight,  since  about  the  middle  of  December. 
March,  instead  of  coming  in  like  a  lamb,  as  it 
usually  does  with  us.  and  allowing  brood-rear- 
ing to  get  well  under  way.  and  finally  going  out 
like  a  lion,  chilling  the  brood  and  giving  the 
bees  a  bad  setback,  t/iis  year  came  in  like  a 
lion;  and  from  present  appearances  it  is  going 
out  like  a  lamb.  The  re.snll  is,  we  discover  no 
traces  of  brood-rearing,  and  colonies  have  not 
been  obliged,  therefore,  to  disperse  their  strength 
and  heat  by  trying  to  cover  brood.  Our  Mai'ch 
weather  has  been  most  favorable  in  that  it  was 
extremely  cold— hanging  around  the  zero-mark. 

AGAINST   AKTIFICIAI,   SUBSTITUTES    FOK   POL- 
LEX,   SUCH   AS   MEAL.  FOR   STIMULATING 
BROOD-HEARING. 

Our  apiarist  asked  us  whether  he  should  put 
out  any  artificial  substitutes  for  pollen,  such  as 
meal.  We  replied  that  we  should  rather  not, 
and  he  readily  agreed.  It  is  desirable  to  have 
early  brood-rearing  for  the  early  honey  crop, 
but  it  is  bad  to  have  it  get  well  under  way  too 
early  in  the  season,  and  then  have  it  killed  by 
a  cold  snap.  With  our  present  light  we  do  not 
care  to  encourage  brood-rearing  before  the 
advent  of  settled  warm  weather,  and  therefore 
pollen  from  natural  sources,  such  as  soft  maples, 
comes  in  just  about  the  right  time. 

Times  are  changing.  Two  or  three  years  ago 
self-spacing  frames  were  iTOt  considered  practi- 
cal, and  the  I'eversing  features  of  the  latest  hon- 
ey-extractors were  regarded  as  just  so  much 
surplus  machinery.  But  bee-keepers  are  think- 
ing differently  now.  Honey  is  being  produced 
on  larger  scales,  and  better  and  more  rajudly 
operated  appliances  are  demanded;  and  these 
things  come  of  necessity.  While  we  welcome 
these  improvements  we  should  be  careful  not 
to  chase  after  every  "new  fad." 


The  following,  fi'om  the  Auierlcdn  Bee  Jour- 
nal, gives  iust  the  information  that  many  are 
seeking: 

I  see  in  tlie  Home  JouruaJ.  pajre  H.5,  that  space  at 
tlie  World's  Fair  must  be  appHed  for  on  or  l)cft)rt' 
July  1,  1893.  I  would  sug-gest  that  you  give  plain 
directions  as  to  wliom  to  apply,  and  the  expense  of 
space,  in  tlie  American  Bee  Jnuriuil  and  Home  Jour- 
nal, and  oblige  your  Manv  FKiENoe. 

The  editor  replies: 

Apply  to  Mr.  W.  I.  Bucluuiaii,  Kand-MeNally 
Building-,  Chicago,  111.  There  is  no  charge  for  space. 
Until  a  superintendent  is  appointed  for  the  Api- 
arian Department,  nothing'  definite  can  be  arranged. 

ADILTERATEI)   EXTRACTED    HONEY,  AGAIN. 

The  adulterated-honey  matter  is  not  dropped 
by  any  manner  of  means.  We  are  still  col- 
lecting evidence,  and  an  attorney's  advice  has 
been  sought  in  one  of  the  neighboring  cities. 
When  the  right  time  comes  we  propose  to  make 
a  move.  We  may  not  be  able  to  accomplish 
much,  but  it  will  not  be  from  lack  of  (>fTort  on 
our  part  if  we  do  fail.  In  the  meantime  it  is  to 
the  interest  of  every  honest  bee-keeper  to  see 
that  adulteration  of  honey  is  stopped  right  in 
his  own  vicinity.  The  State  and  local  bee- 
keepers" societies  are  the  proper  ones  to  make 
the  fight.  What  are  our  societies  good  for  if  they 
can't  do  something  of  this  kind?  But  for  good- 
ness' sake  don't  go  and  make  a  great  furor  and 
false  alarm  until  you  are  morally  certain  that 
honey  i.S'  adulterated  in  your  locality. 

Many  of  the  mixers  will  be  "  scared  "  if  you 
only  let  them  know  in  a  quiet  way,  that,  as  an 
organized  body  of  bee-keepers,  you  propose  to 
make  an  ejfort  against  them.  If  you  can  scare 
them  into  putting  only  pure  honey  on  the 
market,  you  have  accomplished  your  object 
without  further  warfare.    This  is  no  idle  talk, 


for  one  firm  with  whom  we  have  had  correspon- 
dence relative  to  their  adulterating  honey,  and 
what  we  proposed  to  do — well,  we  imagine  are 
just  a  '■  leetle  scared."  The  fact  is,  they  know 
the  law  in  thcii-  State  is  pretty  strict,  and  that 
we  mean  business. 

THE   EDISON   riloNOGRAPH. 

It  is  really  true,  dear  friends,  that  one  of 
these  wonderful  machines  is  already  in  our  of- 
fice. In  fact,  I  am  just  now  dictating  this,  my 
first  effort,  with  the  machine.  Well  did  our 
good  friend  Falconer  say  that  it  seemed  like 
sitting  down  to  one  of  tlie  buzz-saws  and  talk- 
ing to  the  machine  It  is  noontime  in  the  factory, 
and  the  hands  have  just  been  round  the  instru- 
ment listening  to  some  beautiful  pieces  of  music 
which  were  kindly  sent  with  the  machine  to  us. 
When  the  announcement  uf  the  piece  is  made  it 
really  seems  as  if  we  could  be  with  the  speaker 
as  he  stood  before  a  sea  of  faces  in  some  vast 
audience.  He  raises  his  voice,  and.  with  the 
inspiration  natural  under  such  circumstances, 
he  introduces  the  melody.  Then  we  can  see 
the  band  of  musicians,  each  one  taking  up  his 
instrnment  to  do  his  level  best,  and  here  we 
have  it  away  back  in  Medina,  with  a  crowd  of 
listeners  all  around  us  listening  to  these  soul- 
inspiring  strains.  One  of  the  pieces  is  a  whist- 
ling piece,  and  the  happy  melody  of  the  whistler 
is  so  infectious  as  to  get  hold  of  each  one  of  us. 
Some  of  the  old.  staid,  gray-headed  ones,  almost 
seemed  inclined  to  begin  to  swing  their  hats, 
and  skip  about.  By  the  aid  of  a  large  black- 
horn  the  sound  of  the  voices  and  instruments 
are  plain  enough  so  they  may  be  heard  all  over 
the  room.  In  fact,  while  we  sit  at  our  tasks 
several  feet  off  from  the  instrument  we  can  hear 
the  melody  of  the  pieces.  I  have  so  far  occu- 
pied about  half  of  one  of  the  cylinders.  After 
it  is  talked  all  over  (or  ivrlttoi  all  over,  which- 
ever you  would  call  it)  it  can  be  turned  off  by 
an  appropriate  machine,  and  then  we  can  write 
it  over  again.  Each  cylinder  is  capable  of  be- 
ing turned  off  from  50  toiiO  times.  To  hear  fa- 
miliar voices  uttered  so  lifelike  and  plainly 
from  the  instrument  seems  something  even 
more  wonderful  than  any  of  the  tales  of  the 
Arabian  Nights.  But  here  it  is  a  startling  and 
tangible  reality;  and  one  holds  his  breath,  as  it 
were,  while  he  stops  to  think  what  is  coming 
next.  Who  knows  but  the  time  may  be  near  at 
hand  when  the  editor  of  Gleanings  will  be 
able  to  speak  in  his  own  natural  voice  to  his 
10,0(Xj  readers?  May  God  help  us  to  make  good 
use  of  the  opportunities  that  lie  about  us  during 
this  19th  century. 

As  I  brush  the  dust  from  the  cylinder  and  no- 
tice the  indentations  produced  by  my  voice,  it 
seems  absolutely  wonderful  that  liuman  inge- 
nuity has  been  enabled  to  make  use  of  these  mi- 
croscopic indentations;  and  yet  it  is  indeed  true: 
for  when,  by  a  little  modification  of  the  instru- 
ment, it  is  made  to  speak  back  tome  the  words  I 
have  been  speaking,  they  are  even  plainer  than 
I  ordinarily  utter  them;  and  even  tue  sound  of 
my  breathing  has  been  faithfully  recorded. 

The  great  value  of  the  instrument  in  a  busi- 
ness point  of  view  is  this:  The  business  man 
may  at  night,  whenever  he  has  leisure,  or  when- 
ever he/ect.s  like  it,  talk  his  messages  that  are 
to  be  made  known  to  the  world,  to  the  machine; 
and  after  this,  when  it  may  be  convenient  an  oj)- 
erator,  not  necessarily  a  shorthand  writ(>r  orone 
particularly  skilled,  may  take  the  machine 
and  simply  transcribe  what  is  spoken  to  him  as 
plainly  as  his  employer  would  speak  to  him  if 
he  were  constantly  by  his  side.  Nay,  he  can 
make  it  speak  it  over  and  over  as  many  times  as 
he  wishes,  and  he  can  then,  at  his  own  leisure, 
write  up  the  letters.  As  the  machine  has  .sinews 
of  steel  and  brains  of  lightning  it  is  not  expect- 


IS'.f.' 


(;i-KANIN(;s  IN    UKK  (  Il/IIKK. 


255 


cii  tliiit  it  will  «ct  sirU  :  l>ui  ilini'  il  siiiiuls  at 
its  i>(»st.  (lay  ami  iii^iit.  icady  to  tal<i'  (iowii 
mcssajics  w  lii-ncvcr  its  o\\  ner  sliall  fcfl  like  ^m\ 
iiijr  tiiciii.  'riic  motiM'  piiwcr  ihiM  runs  tiir  ma- 
fliiiKMS  one  of  the  Mittcd  staniiic  lidttcrics;  ami 
wliat  a  woiulfrl'iil  tliiiiir  is  iliis  storasic  l)attciy: 
Ours.  aliluMiiili  it  cost  only  $i.'>.()().  will  run  llic 
iiiai'iiiiir  TO  lioiirs  :  and  wlicii  it  is  run  liowii  (or 
ciiiptiiMl  I  it  (.-an  tlit'U  Im'  r(|il(>uislic(l  liy  our  dy- 
namo, and  it  is  ready  lor  TO  lioio's  more.  Tlic 
world  si-aii'cly  yet  dreams  what  is  fortlu-oming 
from  storajje  liatterics.  1  am  told  already  that 
an  eleetrie  railway  ear  is  heing  run  in  tlie  city 
of  rieveland  by  aid  of  the  storage  battery. 
Tims  these  overhead  wires  that  have  been  mak- 
ing so  much  trouble,  and  have  been  the  cause  of 
the  loss  of  lives,  are  to  be  dispensed  witii.  Our 
storage  battery  weighs  ■.'.">  lbs.,  and  occn|iies 
comparativelv" little  spac.  When  the  machine 
is  to  be  used  we  lirst  start  the  electro-motor  run 
by  the  storage  battery:  llnMi  when  tlii'  operator 
is"  ready  to  si)eal<.  lie  sin\ply  turns  the  lever 
liiat  sets  the  recording  point  to  work.    .\.  1.  !!. 


Tobacco  Column. 


CONDITIONS  VNDKR  WHICH  VTE  GIVE  SMOKERi:  TO  PBBSONS  WHO 
STOP  USING  TOBACCO. 
Kirst.  the  candiiiate  must  be  one  of  those  who  have  Kiven  up 
tobacco  in  consequence  ot  what  )ie  has  seen  and  reaa  in  this 
department.  Second,  he  promi.-es  to  pay  for  the  smolier 
should  he  ever  resume  the  use  nf  tobacco  in  any  form,  after 
receiving  the  smoker.  Third,  he  nmst  be  a  subscriber  to 
Qlka.vixgs.  Any  subscriber  may.  however,  have  smokers  sent 
to  neifrhbors  orpersonal  acquaintances  whom  he  has  labored 
with  on  the  matter  of  tobacco-using,  providing  he  give  us  his 
pledge  that,  if  the  one  who  receives  the  smoker  ever  uses  to- 
bacco again,  he  (the  subscriber)  will  pay  forthe  .smoker.  The 
one  who  receives  the  smoker  in  this  case  need  not  be  a  sub- 
scriber to  Gl.KANlXGS,  though  we  greatly  prefer  that  he  be  one, 
becau.se  we  think  he  would  be  strengthened  by  reading  the 
testimonials  from  time  to  time  in  regard  to  this  matter.  The 
full  name  and  address  of  every  one  who  makes  the  promise 
must  be  furnished  for  publication 

If  yoii  wish  to  add  one  more  to  your  tobacco 
list,  you  may  send  me  a  smokor  and  I  will  live 
lip  to  the  requirements.  R.  M.  I^ewis. 

Omalia.  Neb..  Oct.  17. 


IMease  send  a  smoker  to  H.  B.  Itobinson.  He 
says  if  you  do  he  will  not  use  any  more  tobac- 
co: if  he  does  I  will  pay  for  the  smoker. 

Tracy  Creek.  N.  Y.     Mrs  H.  B.  Robinsox. 

Please  forward  to  my  addri'ss  one  smoker  for 
Oeo.  \V.  Crist,  who  has  (|uit  the  use  of  tobacco. 
partly  through  the  iiiHiience  of  <  i.KAMNiis.  If 
he  should  relapse  I  will  see  that  you  are  paid 
for  the  smoker.  .loiix  Xkwso.mk. 

Woodburn.  la..  Oct.  i-'il. 


often  make  myself  sick.     I  d(»n"l  knov.    how    the 
poor  bees  feel:   but  I  gi\(' you  ni>   ple<lge  to  (juil 
using   toliacco  in  all  its  forms,  w  il  h  ilie   Lord's 
help,  or  1  will  pay  for  the  smoker. 
Siif.iiin-.  111.,  (id.  7.       Tiio.s.  B.  I'^kiku'son. 


Since  I  have  subscribed  for(;i,K.\  m.N(;s  1  have 
re.solved  to  <|uit  the  use  of  tobacco  foi'  ever. 
Please  send  ine  a  smokei-.  I  will  pay  for  it  if  I 
use  it  again.  L.  C.  Woirni. 

Loyd.  Wis..  .Ian.  :*9. 

I  have  another  convert  to  report.  Please  send 
a  smoker  to  W.  H.  Hughe-.  .Sonoraville.  Oa.  If 
I  ever  know  him  to  use  the  weed  again  I  will 
pay  for  the  smoker.  R.  W.  Stkw  aht. 

Sonoraville.  (la.,  .Ian.  I'l. 


Please  .send  a  smoker  to  R.  L.  Benford.  Hamj)- 
den  Sidney.  Virginia.  He  stopped  the  ii.se  of 
tobacco  two  months  ago.  after  using  it  ten 
years,  and  if  he  ever  uses  it  again  I  will  pay  for 
the  smoker.  Lirv  E.  Martin. 

Hampden  Sidney.  Va..  Oct.   I:.'. 

I  read  the  Tobacco  Column  and  your  pi-omise 
to  give  a  smoker  to  all  who  would  fpiit  using 
tobacco.  I  never  smoked  a  pipe  of  tobacco  in 
my  life,  but  I  .smoke  my  bees  with  a  cigar.    I 


.Send  .Mr.  Matthew  Strickland,  of  this  place, 
one  smoker,  lie  has  iiuit  the  use  of  tobacc-o  lot- 
ever,  and  promises  to  pay  for  the  smokerif  he 
ever  uses  tobacco  again.  W.  B.  Knoiiis. 

Emporia,  Miss..  Feb.  r.*0. 


Mr.  L.  F.  Clark,  of  this  place,  has  used  tobac- 
co for  over  thirty  years.  Sinci;  he  has  taken 
Ot.KAMNos  he  has  ([uit:  and  if  you  will  send 
him  a  smoker  he  will  pay  for  it  if  he  ever  com- 
mences again.  I".  .1.   Fauk. 

Actoii.  Cal..  So\)\.  II. 


You  will  tind  inclosed  70 cts.  for  paymenfoii 
the  smokei- you  sent  me  for  my  friend  Robert 
.lones  as  a  reward  for  his  (|uitt,ing  th(^  use  of  to- 
bacco. I  am  very  sorry  he  has  begun  the  ustMif 
toliacco  again.  He  paid  me  for  the  smoker,  and 
r(>quested  me  to  pay  you  for  the  same. 

Morgan.  Kv.,  Dec.  r't;.     Hknry  C.  Ci.em(j.\s. 


I  have  this  day  received  a  promise  from  Mr. 
Ed.  Germane  that  he  will  discontinue  the  iiseof 
tobacco  from  this  date.  This  promise  is  secured 
through  the  inlluence  of  Gekaxin^js,  and  by  my 
persuasion.  You  will  please  send  a  sruoker  to 
his  address,  which  is  Terre  Haute.  Tnd.  In  case 
this  promise  is  broken  I  am  security  for  payment 
of  smoker.  W.  Shields. 

Terre  Haute.  Ind..  S(>pt.  :.'".». 


I  have  been  persuaded  by  what  I  have  read 
in  Gi.EAXiNfis.  to  (|iiit  the  use  of  tobacco. 
Please  send  me  a  smoker;  and  if  I  ever  use  to- 
bacco again  I  will  pay  for  the  smoker.  Please 
send  a  smoker  also  to  Charles  Hodges,  who  has, 
through  the  influence  of  reading  your  Tobacco 
Column  and  Home  Papers,  in  my  Gleanings, 
concluded  to  quit  the  use  of  tobacco.  Please 
send  him  a  smoker  ;  and  if  he  ever  uses  the  weed 
again  I  will  pav  for  the  smoker. 

Annin  Creek," Pa.,  Oct.  10.   G.  F.  Tt'bbs,  .Jr. 


I  chewed  tobacco  from  a  boy  until  I  was  .stmie 
r.'.Tor  30,  and  tjuit,  firmly  convinced  it  wasclosely 
related  to  the  whisky  habit.  I  have  smoked 
for  over  :.'.■)  years.  One  year  ago  last  January  I 
tirmly  decidi'd  never  to  use  the  weed  again,  and 
havenot  touched  it.  To  many  tobacco  friends 
I  would  i)leaflingly  say:  Abandon  the  soul-de- 
stroying weed,  and  the  money  spent  for  the 
poisonous  In.xury  invest  in  literature  for  the 
family  —our  boys,  our  girls,  and  our  neighbors. 
If  I  am  entitled  "to  a  smoker,  please  send  one  to 
mv  address.  W.m.  H.  Swigart. 

Di.xou.  III..  Feb.  -.in. 


Last  .May  we  took  a  boy  to  raise.  He  is  only 
13  years  old.  and  was  in  the  habit  of  chewing 
obacco.  and  had  been  for  four  or  five  years. 
We  shamed  him  about  it.  ami  1  told  him  that, if 
he  would  quit  its  use,  Mr.  Root  would  give  him 
a  smoker,  and  that  we  would  give  him  a  colony 
of  bees,  also  a  nice  suit  of  clothes  at  Christmas. 
At  first  he  thought  he  could  not  do  without  to- 
bacco: and  his  mother,  a  widow,  told  me  I  would 
have  to  let  him  u.se  il.  as  sht;  thought  he  could 
not  quit.  Finally,  in  .\iigust  last,  he  made  uj) 
his  mind  to  quit,  and  has  not  tasted  it  since,  sol 
gave  him  th(>  bees  and  a  suit  of  clothes;  and 
now  as  he  saw  me  writing  to  you  he  reminded 
me  about  the  smokei-.  If  you  think  he  is  entitled 
to  it  you  can  send  it.  His  name  is  Daniel  Bis- 
.sell.  "^If  he  uses  tobacco  again  I  will  see  that 
the  smoker  is  paid  for.  R.  J.  Mathews. 

Rosedale,  Miss.,  Feb.  1."). 


•i56 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aprii>  1. 


A"  Grade  $40. 


ALLIANGE,GRANGE,LEAGUE 

FK  a  r^  A  Members  and  thousands  of  other  good 
■  IVI  mOmf\m  men  and  true,  patronized  us  so  liberally 
last  year  that  we  were  compelled  to  buy,  build  and  increase 
our  facilities  until  now  we  now 
have  one  of  the  LARGEST 
CARRIAGE  and  HARNESS 

FACTORIES  IN  THE  WORLD. 
TheAlliauce  Factory  runs  when 
others  shut  down  or  break  up. 


•A"  Grade  $46. 


Send  for  our  handsome,  illus- 
trated Caialofjue,  showing  over 
loo  different  styles  of  Vehicles 
and  Harness,  and  you  will  un- 
derstand why  all  this  phenom- 
enal success  and  immense  busi- 
ness.   Wo  actually  give  more  ..v. 
for   less  monev  than   any  Buggy  or  Harness  factory  in  the 
world.    All  goods  hand  made  and  warranted  for  years.    C^et 
our  prices  and  compare  them  with  your  dealers. 

ALLIANCE  CARRIA6EC0.CINCINNATI,0.         ^ 

North  Court  St  ,  opp.  the  Court  House.  "A"  Grade  $72.50. 

t;g"lii  responding  to  tUls  advertisement  mention  Olkanikgs. 


ITELL  vou  wliat,  .lones,  Iievering 
Bro!>>'.  sell  ilie  best  goods  and  at 
:     the  lowest  price  of  any  one  I've 
\  struck  yet.    The  largest  and    best 
1  e<iuipped 

Bee -Hive  Factory   ' 

in  the  West.  The  Dovetailed  Hive  i 
and  New  Hoffman  self  -  spa.-ing  i 
Frame  a  specialty.  Every  thing 
used  by  jiractical  bee-keepers  at 
wliolesale  and  retail.  Send  for  their 
free  Illustrated  Price  List,  and 
save  money.  Supply  Dealers,  send 
for  their  Wholesale  List.    Address 

LEVERIira    BROS., 
6tfdb  "Wio-ba,  Cass  Co.,  lo-wa- 

Please  mention  this  paper.      

rnP  C  A  I  P  For  May  delivery,  Italian  and  Hy- 
mn  OnLC  i)i.ici  Bees  ill  light  shipping-cases, 
H  L.  frames.  Price,  for  Italians.  $4.00;  hybrids,  $3.00 
each,  free  on  board  cars  iiere.  I  guarantee  safe  de- 
livery. A.  W.  GAKOIMKK, 
5-8<jli"  Ceiitervllle,  MFJcb. 
(^■In  resiwndini;  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


PERSONS   UiRNTirJO  ; 

APIARIfir4    SUPPLIES  I 

Would  do  well  to  send  to  W.  E.  Clakk,  Oriskany,  j 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.    Send  for  illustrated  price 

list.    Dealers  should  send  for  Deal-  | 

ers'  list  for  Sniokei-s.  i 

^9*In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glbaninqs.       I 

FOR  SALE.— The  apiary  of  Solomon  Vrooman,  ' 
deceased,  consisting  of  107  colonies,  and  all  nee-  i 
essary  appliances.    F(jr  many  ye;ii-s  the  apiary  of  ] 
John  H.  Martin,  Hartford,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.        ] 
Address      F.  S.  ELDREDGE,  No.  Adams, 
No.  11  No.  Church  St.  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass. 

(.7gd  Please  mention  this  paper. 

^TOR  SAI.E.-WARRANTED  PURE-BRED  PU- 

■■  NIC  QUEENS.  No  others  near.  Queens  de- 
livered in  June.  Price  $2.00  each :  one-fourth  off  on 
;ill  orders  with  cash  before  April  1.5.  Safe  arrival 
guaranteed.    Alfalfa  seed  by  mail,  35c  per  lb. 

Frank  H.  Howakd,  Box  5.5,  Garden  City,  Kansas. 
6-7d 

T3EDCAP  and   BLACK    MINORCA    EOGS 

*^  FOR  HATCHING,  FOR  SALE  BY 

6tfdb         E.  P.  Aldridge,  Franklin,  Ohio. 

Lang-^tiotli  Bee-hives,  and 

every  thing    iicfdi-il   in    the 

beeyiiril;  ;)<i-p:itif  ciitalogue 

■■^HHHH^HMn  free.    "  BUSY  BEES,"  a 

book     telling     how    to     manage   them,  10    cents    in 

stamps.  WALTER  S.  POUDER.       .5-12db 

175  E.  Waunut  St.,  Indianapolis,  I  no. 

tyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleaninqs. 


SUPPLIES. 


Foreign  and  domesti(\     Crude  and  refined. 

A  stock  constantly  on  hand. 

Write  for  prices,  stating  (juantity  wanted. 

ECKERMANN  &  WILL,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

t^rin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

LOOK!  HONEY-COMB  FOUNDATION!  LOOK! 

Friends,  if  you  need  foundation  it  will  pay  you 
to  purchase  of  u.s,  as  we  have  again  purchased  the 
very  latest  improved  mills,  and  shall  send  none  but 
the  best  foundation.  We  will  allow  15%  discount 
until  Api-il  10th  on  all  orders.  Send  stamp  for  free 
samples.  Address  C.  W.  PHELPS  &  CO., 
6-lldh  74  Petitt  St.,  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 

r?'"ln  respond  in  tr  !•■  Ill  .-iidv.iu  fimiii  nuiitiun  Gleanings. 

FOIR   SALiE. 

20  .\ores  Lnnd  In  Berkley  Co., 
W\  Va.,  5  JVIiles  We^t  of  Mar- 
tliisburg,  County  Seat  of  Berkley. 

The  following  varieties  of  fruit  upon  it  in  full 
hearing  are,  t5  apple-trees,  130  grape\nnes.  20  cherry- 
trees.  Buildings  in  good  and  siil)stantial  condition. 
Dwelling-house,  smoke-house,  corn-crib,  stalile,  and 
spring-house,  with  a  never-failing  spring  of  pure 
water.  Good  location  for  bees  or  queen-rearing. 
Price  $."iOJ.OO.    Address 

AVILL    THATCHER, 
I  6-7d  ITIartin«)burg;,  Berkley  Co.,  W.  Va. 

I  I'iease  mention  this  pajier. 

I  I50    STRAWBERRY- PLANTS, 

Six  choice  varieties   hj' mail,  prepaid   for  $1.00. 
'  Tl»e    Secrets   of  Su«-«'e>t>  in  ilie  Qrofviog  of 
SuihH  FriiltM,  and  catalogue  of  varieties  describ- 
ing aliove  collection  Free  bv  mail. 
6-7d  I.  A.  WOOLL,  Elsie,  Mich. 

I  Please  mention  this  paper. 

:        MINNESOTA  AHEAD,    WHY? 

Because  in  consequence  of  liei'  jiine  forests  lumber 
is  cheap.  That's  the  reason  Erkel  sells  hives  cheaper 
than  anyone  else  iiiAmeiici.  Only  tliink,  single- 
story  hives  from  350  up;  two-stoi'y  hives  from  70c 
up.  Other  supplies  cheap.  Send  for  catalogue. 
6tfdb  F.  C.  ERKEL.,  Le  Sueur,  illlnu. 

!  Please  mention  this  paper. 

SECTIONS^ 

$2. SO  to  $3.30  per  xll.    Bee-Hivet^  and  Fix- 
tures cheap.  NOVELTY    CO., 

6tfdb  Rock  Falls,  Illinois. 


(II.KAMNOS  IN   UKK  (Ti/rriM-: 


•-•57 


HUBBARD  BEE  HIVE 


SECTION    PRESS. 

If  Villi  waiK  III  litiiiillc  liirs  vany  liy 
sitliii'^'  (liixvii  til  il.  luTo  is  lilt'  liive.  i  nuiu's 
lixi'ii  mill  viiriiililiMiisiiiiicc  I'liinliiiinl  Ni> 
wrcncliiiif;  m-  iiryinjj;  ur  siTupiiif?  ol  coinlis 
lofTi'lluT.  Miiiiy  iluiusiiiiiis  in  iiso  jjivirif; 
I'Xfclli'iii  sdtisrnclioii. 

Live  Agents  make  Spleodid  Proflls.     i^  '— ; 

I'.ar^f  l'ii\-uiar  ul  'Jo  |iai;es  \'ix-v- 
]\u<  SKCTION  I'HKSS  (I'at'ii  is  sold 
lit  S2.50  liv  iIr-  leading  siipjily  dealers 
.\^k  tluiii  Inr  it  or  send  to  me.  A  bov 
eiiii  pnt  logttluT  81IU  to  lODO  sections 
tin  hour  and  liave  thiin  true.  I'.eiid  see 
tiou  around,  put  in  press  give  i  little  push 
— 'tis  done  Will  last  it  lil'e-time  and  is 
bound  to  please  you 

Send  for  rav  Circular  ubiiut  Hive.  Press  Foundation  Fastener,  Sectifnis.  Foundation,  Italian  Queens.  E.xtraetors, 
Veils.  Honey  (rales  and  <'ases.  I've  i*ie.  It  will  interest  you  Or  send  15  cents  lor  Practical  Book  for  Hegiuuers — 
"First  Principles  in  Bee  Culture."    11th  thousand jiist  issued 

G.  K.  HUBBARD,  277  Harrison  St.,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 

H  10  111  t^In  respomling  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings, 


HEADQUARTERS     FOR 

ALBINO    AND    ITALIAN 
QUEENS  ANA   BEES  for   1892. 

Wo  never  had  sucli  a  laijie  stock  of  superior 
Queens  and  hees  as  we  have  at  ju'esent,  and  shall  do 
our  utmost  to  give  satisfaction  Also  manufactur- 
ers and  dealei's  in  Bee-Hives,  Sections.  Comb  Ft)Vin- 
datloii.  Novice's  Honey-Extractor,  and  all  apiarian 
supplies.    Address  S.  VALK1NTI^E, 

6-7a  Hagerstowii,  Wutnli.  Co.,  Md. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


LONE  STAR  APIARY.  Italian  Qukens.  Un- 
tested, but  warranted  in  A|)ril,  Mav.  June,  July, 
$1  eaidi ;  per  Vi  doz.  J5 ;  per  di  iz.  $8.  Tested  after  May 
1,  f  1.50;  per  doz.,  $1.5.110.  Money  orders  payable  at  Ft. 
Worth.  Tex.  Book  ordei's  now.  5-7d 

\V.  A.  CAKTJnELI^,  Crowley,  Tex. 

$5   FIVE  DOLLARS   $5 

^•^iS.iTotfwe'eLs  BULBS,  and  SMALL  FRUITS, 

of   pleasiire.     Roses,    (;arn:itions.    Lilies,    (iladiolii, 
Tuberases,  Fine  French  ('annas,  Small  Fruits,  etc. 
5-7-9d  THEODOKIC   JIiIMNlN<i>i, 

P.  O.  Box  69.       Port  Clieuter,  N.  V. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

CANADA  BEE  KEEPERS 

Will  sa\"c  money  by  [luiiliasinH-  siipplirs  from  T. 
Pliilli|>s  &  Co..  Orillia,  Ont;uio.  who  manufacture 
all  styles  of  Hives,  Sections.  Frames,  Foundation, 
Extractors,  and  Smokers.  Also  many  new  thing's 
not  handled  by  other  dealers.  Send  for  catalogue 
and  samples  of  foundation,  free. 

T.  PHILLIPS  &    CO., 

3-od  ORILLIA,  ONTARIO.  CAN. 

1'lea.se  mention  this  jiaper. 


/\  POULTRY 

book" 


Called  "The  Chicken  Busi- 
ness, and  How  to  Make  it 
Pay."  Tells  all  about  it. 
Finely  illustrated,  practical,  and  origi- 
nal. Price  oil  cents,  postpaid.  An  il- 
lustrated <-irciilar  fice.  giving  |)aiticu- 
lais  about  the  book,  ami  prices  of  iiuiebred  fowls 
and  uggs  for  sale  by  the  aiilhor.  4tfdb 

H.  B.  CEER.  NashviNe,  Tenn. 

'   "Im  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  CtLBANiKGS. 


VT 


ANTED.— To   send     you    my    catalogue    of 
Queens.  Bees,  and  Supplies,  cheap.         4tfdb 
Chas.  H.  Thies.  Steeleville,  ni. 


Great  Crash  in  Prices ! 


Iff* 

-^  ': 

^s=s=?#^ 

*& 

I 

^ 

ly.    ■„..     :;i;*,   || 

L 

1 

1 
1 

-.,1 

From    10  to  ;.';-)  ■ 

discount     from 

former  prices.  M.v 

■iO-page  catalogue 

for  1892  gives  rea- 
sons.    I    offer    a 

new  -  style      chall 

hive    at    one-h;ilf 

the   cost  of  other 

styles,  and  just  as 

good.     This     hive 

can  betaken  apart 

almost    instantly, 

and  packed  up 
in  small  space. 
It  can  be  used 
on  any  hive  (see 
cutl.  Don't  fail 
to    get    my  32d 

annual  price  list.    I  mean  business,  and  am  bound 

to  sell  as  good  as  the  best,  and  at  equally  low  prices. 
Address  WM.  W.  GARY. 

6tfdb  CoLERAiNE,  Mass. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

FRIENDS,  UmN. 

Jennie  Atchky  lias  lately  bought  a  lot  of  black 
and  hybrid  bees,  and  will  sell  you  same  by  the 
(Kiund.  at  $l.:")(i;  live  or  more  pounds,  $1.25.  Qvieens 
out  of  same,  .30  and  .50c  each.  Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed. E.vpress  on  a  pound  to  St.  Louis,  15  cts^.  I 
can  not  give  rates  farther. 

JENNIE   ATCHLEW 
6-Td  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

Too  MOT  ADVERTISE 

a  specialtv,  but  every  thing  found  in  apiauy.  Bees- 
wax wantt'd.  <'.  E.  LrKENS. 
6-Td                      19  N.  2d  St.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


GOO'OS 


Murray  £.Hei5s.'^':^o^^h';|^° 


VIOL  NS 


GUITARS 

MANDOLIKS 


lyin  responding:  to  this  advertisement  mention  Oleakings. 


Maple  Syrup  For  Sale  in  1 -Gallon  Cans. 

lean,  *I. Ill;  .5,  ,^5.  Oil;  M.  *9..">ii;  20  or  more,  911  cts. 
each,  boxed  aiul  delivered,  F.  O.  B.  Satisfaction 
guaranteed.       F.  W.  DEAN,  New  Mil  ford.  Pa.    6-7d 


358 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


April  1. 


Ourstrain  of  ITALIANS  have  reached 
tilt'  top.  Tliey  ai-e  HUMMEKS  wlieii  you 
want  l)ees  for  honey.  Queens  bred  for 
business.  Make  ariangements  to  oi-der 
now,  to  be  delivered  when  wanted. 
BEE  SUPPLIES  AT  WHOLESALE 

AND  RETAIL. 
For  further    infdrmation    about  bee- 
fl.vtures,  send  for  circular. 

JNO.  NEBEL  .t  SON. 
itl'db  High  Hill.  Mo. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

My  Catalogue  of  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES 
for  1892  is  free;  My  Pamphlet,  "HOW  I 
PRODUCE  COMB  HONEY,"  by  Mail.  5  cts. 

GEO.  E.  HILTON,  Fremont,  Mich. 

Please  mention  Glkanings.  2-13db 

ITALIAN     QUEENS. 

Untested,  $1;    6  for  $5.    Tested,  $1.50;    6   for  Wl. 
Special  terms  for  large  orders. 

H.  FITZ  HART, 
etfdb  Avery,  Iberia  Parish,  JLa. 

ly  Please  mention  Gleanings. 

G.  W.  Phelps  &  Go's  Foundation  Factory. 

SEE  ADVERTISEMENT  IN  ANOTHEE  COLUMN. 
6-lldb  74  Petitt  St.,  Binghamton,  iV.  Y. 

BEE-HIVES  and  Supplies.    Send  for  catalog-ue 
free.    Address    SAMl'Eli  JONES,  Higidand 
Park  College,  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  6-7d 

BE£S   BY  THE   POUND, 

ITALIAN  aUEENS,  ALSO  A  SELECT  LINE  OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'  SUPPLIES 

Send  for  price  List  to 

Olivee  Fostes,  Mt.  Vernon,  Linn  Co. ,  Iowa. 

etfdb  Please  mention  this  paper 


^BEST    OIT    EARTH-I*' 

ELEVEN  YEARS 

WITHOUT  A 
PARALLEL,  AND 

THE  STAND- 
ARD   IN    EVERY 
CIVILIZED 
COUNTRY. 

Bingham  &,  Hetherington 

Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 

standard   Size. 

Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 

Six  Sizes  and  Prices. 

Doctor  Smoker,      3>^  in.,  postpaid 

Conqueror    "  3       "  " 

Large  "  3H    " 

Extra  (wide  shield)  2       " 

Plain  (narrow    "    )3       "  " 

Little  Wonder,         \%    " 

Uncapping'  Knife 

Sent  promptly  on  receipt  of   price.    To 
sell  again,  send  for  dozen  and  half-dozen  rates. 


.  $3.00 
.  1.75 
.  1.50 
.  1.25 
.  100 
65 
1.15 


/ 


Milledgeville,  111.,  March  8, 1890. 
Sirs:— Smokers  received  to-day,  and  count  cor- 
rectly.   Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  I  do 
your  trade  will  boom.  Truly,       F.  A.  Snell. 

Vermillion,  S.  Dak.,  Feb.  17, 1890. 
Sirs:— 1  consider  your  smokers  the  best  made  for 
any  purpose.    I  have  had  15  years'  experience  with 
300  or  400  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak. 
Very  truly^ R.  A.  Morgan. 

Sarahsville,  Ohio,  March  13,1890. 
Sirs:— The  smoker  I  have  has  done  good  service 
since  1883.       Yours  truly,       Daniel  Brothers. 

Send  for  descriptive  circular  and  testimonials  to 

Ttfdb  BiKQBAU  &  HXTBEBIH3T0H,  Abronia,  Mich. 

^P"ln  re-sDondine  to  tills  advertisement  mention  (ii.KAMNcis. 


Dovetailed  Hives,  Simplicity  Hives, 

SECTIONS.  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL.     LINE    Of=^ 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPL/  ES. 

60-PAGE    CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


C^Iii  respoiiiliiiK  to  tlils  ad\ 


ition   Gl.KANlNliS. 


PRAf  louR  FRUIT  TREES  I  VINES 

Wormy  Frmt  and  Leaf  Blight  of  Apples,  Pears.  Cherries,  CYpCI  CinO  SIM{.\AIXG 


OUTFITS. 


Gripe  and  Potato  Rot,  Plum  Curculia  prevented  by  using 

PERFECT  FRUIT  ALWAYS  SELLS  AT  COO  tTP  R I CES .  Catalogue  she  w- 
ing  all  injurious  insects  to  Fruits  mailed  free.  I-arge  Ktock  of  Fruit  Trees,  Vines, 
and  Berry  IMauts  at  Bottom  Prices.      Address  WIU.  STAHL,,  Quincir,  Ills. 

24  lOdb  ltS"ln  resDonding  to  this  adveitiseiiunt  mention  GLEANINGS. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST.        ~ 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

BC3r    In    IVIind  that  we  have  established  at  Syracuse  an  E38tCrn     BrdMCh 

where  our  Bee-keepers"  Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and    prompt  shipment.     You   can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  IJranch.     We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.     He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.  SALISBURY,   Agent,   Syracuse,   N.  Y. 


18«J 


(ILHAN'INciS  IN  lUOK  CUI/n;RE. 


;iri<) 


n 


d.   FORNCROOK  <St  CO. 

wii.i,  KfUMsii  vor    riii; 

BOSS"  ONE-PIECE  SECTION 

AS    I  IIKAI'    AS     llIK    1   llKAI'i;SC, 

And    the    Best   in   the    Market. 

-ALSO        DOVETAILED       HIVES.        AND 

OTHER     SUPPLIES. 

|a?~Wntt'  for  Piico  List. 

Watkutown,  Wis.,  Jan.  1,  1892.  7-!l-ll(l 

larin  respoadlncr  to  this  adveitiseiiient  mention  OLEANlNoa. 


PREVENT  SWARMING 

and  increase  your  honey  crop,  by 
i-eplacing  OLD  worn-out  queens  with 
vorNG  ones  before  the  harvest 
opens.  I  breed  tlic  Leather  colored 
strain  of  Italians.  Prices  for  the 
next  30  days.  *10  jier  doz. ;  $1  each. 
Hurity  anrf  safe  arrival  (fu.iranteed. 
A.  F.  BROWN.  Huntington.  Fla. 
.\gent  Southern  Express  Co.      7-8(1 


Good  Queens  Cheap. 

300  tested  Italian  queens,  raised  last  season,  for 
sale  at  $1;  $10  per  doz.  A  few  hybrids  at  2.5c  each. 
Tliey  will  l)e  siiipped  about  June  15th  to  25tli,  or 
later  if  desired.  Have  order  liooked  now  and  send 
monev  wlien  vou  want  tlimn.  My  liees  have  been 
HRED  ytm  liVmyi-Jyn,  and  tiiese  are  bar- 
gains.   Nuclei  and  full  colonies  at  very  low  rates. 

Send  2,5c  for  sample  by  mail  t)f 

J.  .&.  GRESXT,  Z>a3r-boxa.,  Zll. 


0rin  responding-  to  tlii»  ■mI\ 


lion    (il.KANINGS. 


Send  far  Pricf  JAst  to 

R.  E.  HARBAUGH. 
Manuf'r  nml   It)-nler  iti   Ut-f-Keep'-rn'  Siiiiplies. 

Breeder    of    Italian    and    Carniolan     Bees    and 

Queens,  Light  and  Dark  Colored  Ferrets. 

2.^th  and  Clny  fits.,      -        -       -       st.  tloHfpli,  Mo 


SOLID    COLD. 


He  sat  in  his  bee-.\  :ird  at  noond.-iy. 

He  was  lonely,  jilum,  and  sad; 
The  bees  were  buzzing  about  hlin, 

.\nd  he  wasswearitifr  mad. 
.Not  an  ounce  of  siii'i)lus  honej'. 

Not  a  dime  in  his  pocket  for  biead 
But  the  black  bees  kept  on  buzzing;- 

About  tlie  old  man's  head. 
At  hist,  in  (iespaii  he  shouted. 
•'  I  would  that  I  were  dead  !  " 
Then  came  the  sound  of  sweet 

He  stood  as  in  :i  1  ranee, 
'I'he  birds  .sang, 

'•Buy  the  W.  V.  M.  ITALIANS. 
And  then  of  joy  you  will  dance." 
Rates:  Virgin  (jueens.  tOc;  unte.ste<i,  ^l.(H);  tested, 
^2.00;    .select,  $:{.00;    tested   bi-eeding  queens,  $4.(tO. 
Untested  «iueens,  readv  .May  2(1. 

W.  V.  MOlJKHorSK,  Lafayette,  Ind. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


music. 


R"V  "'«!"'  "IB"-  '"W"  "W"  '"51F  'W  "W  ■«ll!'f  "HiF' 'J^' "HilF  ^TjF -1 
A  HONEY-EXTRACTOR  FREE.  jj 

Siiid  mr  your  ikhiic  cmi  a  |misImI  card  T^ 
for  m\  new  <':il  ;ilo;^iic  nf  1 1  ;ili;i  n  c|iieeiis  y 
iiiid  :iil  kinds  of  BEE  EEEPEEO'  Mipjplies;.  l|] 


anil  I  will  ti 
ESTEACTOE  li 


II  .v 


■1   a  NOVICE 
WK.WKK, 


n    how  l< 
>L"  V         ESTEACTOE  Iree.    -A.ldre.ss    WK.WKK,       Jj 

W  7S  Tin:  liKK  JiAS,  WarrenslHijr,  Mo.   TI 

ktLjd!!i>r.::ilk  nKk  .nll'k.  .nil&ni.  mttiir.  jnlllliiiL  .nlllk  iXkn  jnlllk  mllik.  iiCkj^kjl 

IS"In  respondlntf  to  this  advertl.senient  mention  U1.KANIN0& 


THE  DEAD  LINE 


N    BICIC-KICKPINi; 

hanil.     Head 


March    and    April  — is    at 


I 

"THE  WINTER  PROBLEM," 

and  keep  up  with  the  tinu^s.    Price  50  cts. 

G.  R.  PIERCE,  Blairstown,  Benton  Co.,  Iowa. 

»^^rn  respond  1  111.'  to  Iliis  :ulveri  i^du.  in   iiiriilioii  (Ilkaninos. 

DR.  J.  W.  CRENSHAW,^ 

Versailles,      -      Kentucky, 

Offers  for  Sale 

Untested  Italian  Queens  at  $1.0(1  each  through   Ma\ 
and  June;  after,  7.5c  each.    Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed.   Queens   I'aised  only   from    Imported 
mother.     Drones  only  from  selected 
and  Icsted  mothers. 
Also  CELERY  PLANTS  from  July  U)  Septeinbt;r.  at 
$2.0(1  per  M.  7-I8db 

I  am  Pushing  Ahead ! 

And  am  so  far  in  the  lead  that  I  challenge 
any  one  to  show  up  superior  bees  to  my  best 

Five-Banded  Golden  Italians. 

Large,  beautit'iil.  gentle,  and  good  honey- 
gatherers;  the  I'esults  of  10  years' careful 
breeding.  Try  them.  Satisfaction  guaran- 
teed. Queens  in  May,  $1.25  each;  6  for  $6. 
After  June  1.  $1  each;  6  for  $5.  For  full  par- 
ticiilais.  send  for  desiM-iptive  cin-ular. 

CHAS.  D.  DUVALL,  Spencerville,  Md. 


Vtfdb 


ISriii  respon<liriir  to  iliis 


Barred 
Plymouth  Rocks. 

I  breed  for  fancy  only, 
and  pay  strict  attention 
to  standard  require- 
ments. Eggs,  $3.00  per 
setting,  two  settings  for 
$r).(;0.    After  May  10,  $2.00 

'mrs.'f.p.  hish, 

Tower  Hill,  111. 

|9*Iil  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANINea. 


New  Machinery. 

We  havi' .jnsi  put  in  llie  latest  iniproxed  maciiin- 
ery  for  the  manufacturing  of  bee  -  keejiers'  sup- 
plies. DovetaihMl  :iiid  cheap  L.  hives  at  a  bargain. 
Sections  and  frames  \cry  cheap.  A  large  stock  of 
smokers  and  rnundatinn.     Send  foi' ciii-ular. 

7-l2db      W.  H.  BRIGHT,  Mazeppa,  Minn. 

TTTTILD   TIKKEV   CALLER,   with    instruc- 
^*^    lions,  postpaid.  2.5  cents. 

P.  B.  CLOL'SE,  Graysville.  TiMin. 


Found3tion  Wholesale  and  Retail. 

/     tree -amples.    Special  pi'ires  in  dialiison   l-'nui 


Free  piice  list  of  eveiyt  liing  ne»-ded  in  the  apiary. 


fjtfdl) 
M. 


If  you  woidd  like  to  sec 
how     nice     foundation 
can   be   made,  send   for 
iidation  and  Sections,  ett;. 
(.\(!ar   Detroit.) 

H.  HUNT.  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


260 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


April  1. 


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  live  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  (or  bona-fide  ex- 
changes. Exchanges  for  cash  or  for  price  lists,  or  notices  of-  I 
fering  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.— To  trade  a  large  lot  of  Heddon  hives, 
nicely  made  and  good  as  new;  some  with  combs 
complete  for  honey,  now  or  after  crop  of  '93.  Write 
for  particulars.    Address  D.  S.  Hall, 

3tfdb  South  Cabot,  Vt. 

WANTED.— To  exchange    comb    foundation    for 
beeswax.  C.  W.  Phelps  &  Co., 

6-lldb  74  Petitt  St.,  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  an  imported  female  En- 
glish mastiff,  a  goodhous*-  dog,  for  modern  im- 
proved bee-liives  complete,  or  Cotswold  or  Shrop- 
shire ewes.  Amos  Garrett,  Sugartown,  Pa.    6d 

WANTED.— To  exchange  a  town  lot  in  the  thriv- 
ing city  of  Leroy,  Fla..  situated  in  the  heart  of 
the  Orange  belt  of  the  State,  fen'  any  thing  useful 
on  a  farm  or  apiary.  Jennie  Atchley, 

6-7d  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  job  printing  of  any  kind 
for  blacli  or  Italian  bees.  A.  D.  Ellingwood, 
ft-9db       White  Mountain  Apiarist,  Groveton,  N.  H. 

WANTED.-Toexchange  1  high-arm  Singer  sewing- 
machine,  good  as  new,  3  White  Plymouth  Kock 
cockerels.  Trio  White  Minorcas,  and  eggs  from 
White  Minorcas,  White  P.  Rocks,  Golden  Wyan- 
dottes,  S.  C.  Brown  Leghcjrns,  K.  C.  Brown  Leg- 
horns, and  Pekin  ducks,  for  comb  foundation,  or 
offers.  J.  C.  Provins,  Masontown,  Fayette  Co.,  Pa. 
^8d 

WANTED.— To  exchange  43  acres  of  land,  house, 
barn,  well,  etc.,  in  basswood  regions  of   Wis.; 
also  100  colonies  of  bees,  for  good  horses  or  offers. 
Write  for  particulars. 
7d  A.  L.  Crosby,  Orion,  Richland  Co.,  Wis. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  7  volumes  of  Gleanings 
IN  Bee  Culture,  1879—188.5  inclusive,  for  eggs 
from  pure-bred  Light  Brahmas.  Td 

Arthur  Darst,  Alberta,  Meigs  Co.,  Ohio. 

TO  exchange.— First-class  two-story,  eight-frame, 
tin-roof  hives,  empty  or  furnished,  foi'  Italian 
queens,  cheap  honey  for  spring  feeding,  P.  R.  eggs, 
watch,  books,  revolver,  spy-glass,  or  offers. 

M.  Frank  Taber,  Salem,  O. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  l)70od-loundation,  at  40c 
per  lb.,  or  hght  for  the  boxes  at  50c  per  lb.,  for 
wax  at  30c  i)er  lb.  B.  Chase, 

7tfdb EarlvilU'.  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. 

WANTED.— To  exchange    pure    Italian    queens, 
three  or  five  banded, or  fiom  imported  queens, 
for  1-lb.  .sections  and  comb  foundation.  Ttfdb 

Mrs.  Oliver  Cole,  Sherburne,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y. 

ANTED.— Man  to  work  in  apiary.    Send  experi- 
ence, and  wages  expected.  7d 
Charles  Adams,  Greeley,  Col. 


WANTED.— To  buy  100  ^.itrong  colonies  of  bees  in 
box  hives;  those  located  in  a  Soutliern  State 
prefered.  Also,  to  exchange  worker  combs  in  L. 
and  American  frames,  extracted  honey,  and  bee- 
keepers' supplies,  for  bees.  B.  Walker,  Capac,  Mich. 
7tfdb 

WANTED.— To  excliange  for  wax  or  offers,  one  6- 
inch  Vandervoort  and  one  10-inch  Root  foun- 
dation-machine with  tanks,  etc. 
7d    W.  H.  Proctor,  Fair  Haven,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  1  Root  foundation-mill, 
honey- extractor,  1.5  or  30  liee-hives,  double- 
action  revolver;  all  used  but  little,  for  Winchester 
ritle,  music,  or  offers,  or  will  sell  cheap  for  cash. 
7d       F.  C.  Fuller,  Montague,  Franklin  Co.,  Mass. 


Black  and  Hybrid  Queens  For  Sale. 

For  the  benefit  of  friends  who  have  black  or  hybrid  (jueens 
which  they  wish  to  dispose  of.  we  will  insert  notices  tree  of 
charge,  as  below.  We  do  this  because  there  is  hardly  value 
enough  in  these  queens  to  pay  for  buyintr  them  up  and  keep- 
ing them  in  stock;  and  yet  it  is  cifientinus  quite  an  accommo- 
dation to  those  who  can  not  affoni  higher-priced  ones. 

I  have  .50  good  hybrids  and  black  queens  for  sale 
at  35c  each,  ready  for  immediate  delivery. 
6-7d       W.  H.  H EASTMAN,  Citra,  Marion  Co.,  Florida. 


Mismated  queens,  35c  each,  three  to  one  address 
for  $1.00.  W.  C.  Gathright, 

Toccopola,  Pontotoc  Co.,  Miss. 


A  fine  mismated  five-banded,  golden  Italian  queen, 
nearly  solid  .vellow;  bees,  black  to  four-banded,  40c. 
Also  a  few  of  the  same  str;un  that  show  a  few  bees 
with  only  2  bands  (none  less)  tliey  are  evidently 
mated  with  hybrid  drones,  so  they  go  at  60c.  Stamps, 
ones  and  twos.  S.  F.  &  I.  Trego,  Swedona,  III. 


40  young  mismated  and  hybrid  queens  from  an 
out-apiary  will  be  sold  for  3.5c  each  after  April  30th. 
W.  H.  Laws,  Lavaca,  Ark. 


PHILO'S  AUTOMATIC 

SECTION    FORMER   AND   GLUER. 

IT  DOES  BOTH 

AT  THE 
SAME  OPERA- 
TION. 
ALL  YOU  HAVE 

TO  DO  IS 
TO  TCJRN  THE 

CRANK, 
AND  THE  SEC- 
TIONS 
ARE     ROLLED 

OUT  BY 
THE     WHOLE- 
SALE. 
ANY  CHILD  CAN 
DO  IT. 
PRICE      ONLY 

$3.00. 
Address 


W 


WANTED.— A  second-hand  cigar-box   planer,  also 
8  or  10  H.  P.  engine  and  boiler.        Address 
7d  D.  S.  Hall,  So.  Cabot,  Vt. 

\17ILL  exchange  molds  for  making  1-lb.,  )^-lb.,  and 
YV  5-oz.  square  glass  honey-jars,  which  cost  $,50.00, 
for  Hamburgs,  Brown  Leghorns,  Black  Minorcas, 
or  Mastiff  or  St .  Beinard  dogs,  male  or  female.  7(1 
F.  C.  Tygard,  3121  Jane  St.,  Pittsburg,  Pa. 


E.  W.  Philo, 

Halfmoon, 

N.  Y. 


1892 


Ij^OR  sale  or  exchange. 
'     swarms  of  bees. 


-1  Rallies  foot-power  saw,  3 
L.  L,  Esenhower, 

Reading,  BerksCo.,  Pa. 


WANTED.— A  cigar-box    planer,  new  or  second- 
hand; would  like  to  exchange  Given   founda- 
ti(m-dies,  L.  size,  press,  tank,  and  dip-boards.  7d 

H.  E.  Harrington,  Walden,  Vt. 


Inipi-ove  your  stock!  Get  the  best  I 
Beautiful  yellow  Italian  Queens 
from  stock  bred  for  business,  as  well 
as  beauty.  Not  a  displeased  custom- 
er; and  hundreds  of  tia'ttering  testimonials.  Will 
be  ready  to  begin  shipping  by  May  1st.  Warranted 
<iueeii,  $1.00;  6  for  $4..5ll.  A  yellow-to-tlie-tip  Breeder, 
$3.00.  Circular  on  application. 
Vtfdb  W.  H.  liAWS,  Uavaca,  Ark. 

QUEENS,  1 5e  to  $3.  Pure  ITALIANS  $1  to  $3. 
Send  for  price  list.  Satisfaction  guaranteed. 
GOLDEN  Untested,  $1;  Tested,  $3;  Choice  Breed- 
ers, $3.  F.  C.  Morrow,  Wallacebnrg,  Ark. 


18«X» 


OLEANINdS  IN  UVIK  CV]/rV\lK. 


f2fil 


Contracted  Queen-Restricted  Non- 
Swarming  Bee-Hive. 

Hi-o-kci'iuM-s 
wisliinv  to 
iis«'  my  tiivc 
and  iiirl  Ikh 
pU-asc  writf 
fo;-  prii'»>S  oil 
farm  rifflil 
and  sample 
lilvc.  Ajrciits 
w  I-  i  t «'  f  I  >  r 
terms. 

JOHN   CONSER.  Seoalia.  Mo. 
Reference  First  Natinnal  Itaiik.  M<i. 


VANDERVORT 
COMB -FOUNDATION  MILLS. 

Send  for  s;impk'8  and  rediiL'ed  price  list. 

itfd  JNO.  VANDERVORT,  Laceyville,  Pa. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

^iMORNlALYES" 

For  sale.  Registered  in  purchaser's  name  and  de- 
livered at  express  office  in  lifrht  orate  (from  one  to 
six  months  old'  $2.5.00  each;  30  liead  of  cows  and 
heifers,  and  4  young'  bulls.  cheKji.  For  prices  and 
breeding,  address  7-8-9d 

CALVIN  LOVETT.  Otsego,  Mich. 


1892 


1892 


ROOT'S  Dovetailed    Hive 

at  his  prices.    Circular  free. 

Golden  Italian  queens,  ll.Hd  each,  or  6  for  $5.00. 
Itfd  Geo.  W.  Cook.  Spring  Hill,  Kan. 

F.  F.  ALDERFER, 

HARLEYSVILLE.       -        MONT.  CO.,   PA. 

Breeds  the  best  S.  C.  \V.  and  B.  Leghorn  stock  and 
eggs  for  sale;  also  Comb  Foundation,  Italian  Bees 
and  Queens.    Satisfaction  guaranteed.    Write  him. 

T-M 

FOR  SALE  OR  EXCHANGE. 

One  10-in.  Root's  mill  for  l)rood  foundation,  and  1 
6-in.  mill  for  thin  ft)undation  in  good  order,  and  atja 
bargain,  as  we  do  not  keep  bees  now.  T-12dl) 

T.  A:  B.  YOUNG, 
145  inarquette  St.,  LaSalle,  III. 

POR   ^Al  F    Seventy-five    colonies  of    bees   in 
run    OnLt.1  Simplicity  hives.  Price  $4  a  colony. 
Address    Wm.  G.  Griffiths, 
.Ohew,  opp.  Sharpneck  St.,  Germantx)wn,  Pa. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  my  10th  annual  price 
list  of  apiarian  supplies,  also  pure  gold  strain  of 
Jersey  sweet-iX)tato  seed,  for  your  name  and  ad- 
dress plainly  written  on  a  postal  card.  7-,s 
C.  Wl.  UIXON,  Parrlsh,  III. 


3o  Quarto  pages— 50  cents  a  year. 

AN  Elegant  Monthly  for  the  FAMII.7  and 
FXS£SII>E.  Printed  in  the  highest  style 
of  the  art,  and  embellished  with  magnificent 
Engravings.    Sample  FREE.    Agents  SVanted. 

CHICAGO,  ILt- 


1892. 

HEADQUARTERS    IN   THE    SOUTH 

BEE  -  KEEPERS'  SUPPLIES. 

Dovetailed  hives  in.Mie  of  Cypress  hiint)ei' a  spe- 
cialtj.  at  A.  1.  Root  s  prices.  Special  fiiscoiint  to 
'balers.  We  ai-e  so  .irranged  tliat-wecan  now  give 
special  low  freight  rules.  Karly  4-framo  nuclei  and 
Italian  (|ueens.  Saiisfactlon  guaranteed  on  all 
liansiuMions.  If  you  need  any  Bee-  Hives,  Frames, 
Sections,  Foundation,  etc.,  send  for  14th  annual 
catalogue.  P.  L.  VIALLON  M'FKi  .CO., 

Bayou  Goula,  lia. 

OTTUMWA  BEE^VE  FACTORY. 

Bee-l<eepers,  look  to  your   intA-rests.     Everything 
in    the    line  of   bee-supplies   constantly  on    hand 
Price  list  free.        GREGORY  BROS.  &  SON, 
l-12d  ()  tumwa,  la.    South  side. 

t^"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkaninos. 

«2  1RQP  Colonies,  Nuclei,  H  I 
I  Jj      lOZfC..        5^  Queens.  Jq 

(^  Q  Address     S.  D.  McLean,  ^ 

^  Box  190,  Columbia,  Tenn.      •      "^ 

•    DO  YOU  WANT   • 

Good,  gentle,  and  prolilic  bees?  Tlien  get  an  Albi- 
no (or  white-banded  Italian)  queen.  Catalogue  free, 
otfd  A.  L.  KILDOW,  Sheffield,  Illinois. 

IMPOIITED  lEENS: 

In  May  and  June,  each  ..   *3.00 

In  July  and  August,  each 1.80 

In  September  and  October,  each 1.60 

Money  must  be  sent  in  advance.  Safe  arrival 
guaranteed.  Queens  that  die  en  route,  if  returned 
in  the  letter,  will  be  replaced  by  mail,  postpaid.  No 
order  for  less  than  8  oueens  hy  express  will  be  accept- 
ed. CHAS.  BIANCONCIIVI, 
1-lld  Bologna,  Italy. 
Please  mention  this  paper.  7d 

PATENT    WIRED    COMB    FOUNDATION 

HAS    NO    SAG    IN    BKOOU-FUAITIES. 

THIN    FLAT  ■  BOTTOM     FOUNDATION 

Has  No  Flisli-boiie  iii  Surplus  Huuey. 

^ 5=,_  Being  the  cleanest  is  usually  worked 

the  quickest  of  any  Foundation  made. 

^  J.   VAN  DEIJSEN  &  SONS, 

S^^^''  Sole  Manufacturers,  5tfd 

'•■^-^'-^       Sprout  Brook,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  F.S 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

Barnes'  Foot-Power  Machinery. 

Read  what  J.  ^^I.  Pakent,  of 
Chahlton,  N.  Y.,  says— "We 
cut  with  one  of  your  Combined 
Machiues  last  winter  .50  chaff 
hives  with  7-inch  cap,  lOO  honey- 
raeks.  .500  broad  frames,  2.000 
lione\-boxes,  and  a  great  deal  of 
other  work.  This  winter  w  e 
,  have  doubled  the  amount  of  bee- 
■"^If^L-  hives,  etc.,  to  make,  and  we  ex- 
pect to  do  it  all  with  this  saw. 
It  will  do  all  you  say  it  will." 
Catalogue  and  Price  List  tree.  Address  W.  F.  & 
JOHN  BARNES,  545  Ruby  St.,  Rockford,  111. 

When  (more  convenient,  orders  for  Barnes'  Foot- 
Power  ilachinery  may  be  sent  to  me.    A.  I.  Root. 
33tfd 


363 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


AlTilT,  1. 


CONTROL  YOUR  SWARMS! 

N    D.  WEST'S    SPIRAL    WIRE    QUEEN      CELL    PRO- 
TECTORS   AND    CAGES. 

N.   D.  West's  Spiral  Wire       pat       f^-=^''rri^''  .^=>S 
Queen-Cell  Protectors  will    decjjjl  ^  'S 

do  it,  and  you  can  RE-  " 
QTJEEN  your  apiary  durinjj 
tlie  swarming  season.  Pi-o- 
nounced  tiie  Best  by  such 
men  as  Capt.  J.  E.  Heth- 
ERiNGTON,  Clierry  Valley,  .--^ 
N.Y.;  P.H.ELWOOD,Stark-      V    ;  -3 

ville,   N.   Y.,    and     others.  _ 

Cell -Protectors,    $3.(0    per  "  '  ^  ^ 

100,  or  12  for  60c.  by  mail.  Cages.  $5.00  per  100, 'or  12 
for  $1.00,  by  mail.  Samples  of  both,  with  circular 
explaining,  2.5  cts.  The  cages  are  used  for  hatching 
queens  in  any  hive,  and  are  the  Best  Bee-Escai)e  in 
use.    Address 

N.  D.  WEST,  Middleburgh,  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Please  mention  this  paper 

TAKE   NOTICE! 

DEFORE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  writt 
"  for  prices  on  One-Piece  Basswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,  Shipping-Crates,  Frames,  Foundation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
14tt'db  New  London,  Wis. 
Plea.se  mention  this  paper. 

J.   C.   SAYLES, 

HARTFORD,  WIS., 

Manufactures  Apiarian  Supplies  of  Every 

Description.     Catalogue  Free  to 

All.    Send  Your  Address. 

Stfdb  Please  mention  this  paper. 

^ — JVIuth's 

Honey  ^  E:>^ttT^aGto^. 

Sqaave  Glass  l^oney-'Jans, 

Tin  Buekets,  Bee-hives. 
Honcy-Scctions,  &e.,  &e. 

Pepfection  Cold-Blast  Smokers. 

APPLY  TO  •^^v^^^^.^^.^^^^v^^ 

CHAS.  F.  IVITJTH  &  SON,  Cincinnati,  O. 


SendlOct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Beekeepers 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


Bees    For    Sa.le. 

COLONIES. 

NUCLEI, 
AND         QUEENS, 

at  living  lates.    Send  for 
circular  and  jirire  list  t( 

^i%  C.  C.  VAUGHN  Si  CO., 
Columbia,  Tenn. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.    5-lOdb 


CAA  Colonies  of  Bees  Devot- 
^W  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  foi-  prices  on  large  (luantities. 

TWO    MILLION      SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS. 

Write  for  pi'iccs  on  large  (juantities. 

Send   for  our   24-Page    Catalogue   of  Dovetailed 

Hives,  Smokers,  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  MT'G  CO.,  Higginsville,  Missouri. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  ntfdli 

G.  W.  Phelps  &  Go's  Foundation  Factory. 

SEE  ADVEETISEMEOT  IN  ANOTHER  COLUMN. 
74  Petitt  St.  Binghaiuton,  N.  Y. 


Bee  -  Keepers'  *  Supplies. 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladly 
furnished,  and  correspondence  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  flrst-elass  in  quality  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
alogue sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling,  111.    Address  1-24db 

WM.  .neCl'NE  «k  CO., 

Sterling,  Illinois. 

I^ln  respondinfr  to  thi<  .1.' -i  ii.  •  •,!  iiM-i.tion  (tLEAnwos 

G.  W.  Phelps  &  Go's  Foundation  Factory. 

SEE  ADVEETISEUENT  IN  ANOTHEE  OJt'UMN. 
74  Petitt  St.,  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 

SAVE  MONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 

ITPrPEIIS  FOB  SBLE. 

Tlie  finest  honey-gatherers  in  the  land.  Tested, 
$1..50  each.  Select  tested,  $2.00  each.  Untested,  $1,00 
each,  or  $9.00  per  doz.  Queens  ready  to  ship  by  April 
first.  I  guarantee  safe  arrival  and  satisfaction,  by 
mail.  Orders  booked  now  and  pay  when  you  want 
queens.  J.  W.  TAYLOR. 

«fdb  Ozan,  Ark. 

'  111  respoMilint?  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkamnus. 


BEES 


350    Colonies 

1,000,000  Sections, 
Foundation,  Sec. 

tS^Send  for  price  list. 
E.  T.  FLANAGAN, 

BELLEVILLE,  ILL. 

C^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkanikgsi. 

Hatch  Chickens  by  Steam. 

LPROVED  EXCELSIOR  INCUBATOR 

^Will  do  it.  Thoiuuuids  bx  ■nooMsfal  op«r> 
'  ation.  Simple,  Perfect  and  Self- Regulating, 
Lovrest-pnced  flrat-claas  Hatcher  made. 
Guaranteed  to  hatch  a  laiver  percentage 
of  fertile  eggB  at  less  coet  thiui  any  other. 
Send  6c.  for  Illas.  CataloK.    UKO.  U. STAHL,  «(uin*r,  111. 

f.«f  111  lesixjudintr  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLKAUUJoa 

AUTOl^ATIC    COniB 
FOUIVDATZOir    AKIIiLS. 

3-7db  —MADE    BY— 

"W.  C.  PELHAM,  MaysviUe,  Kentnoky. 

flease  mention  this  paper. 


TT  A.  T3  T  TT"  SOLDEN,  UNTESTED  aUEENS.  $1.00. 
^^***^J-«  *  LAKQE,  FINE,  OENTLB.  AND  BBED 
for  business.  Ready  about  March  :Jn.  Dealers  send 
for  prices.  Fine  tested,  raised  last  year,  $1.50  to 
$3.00.    A  few  breeders,  Italian  or  Golden,  $3  to  $5. 

J.  B.  CASE,  Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  Stfdb 


Western  Bee-Keepers'  Supply  House 

Root's  Goods  san  be  had  at  Dee  Moines 
Iowa,  at   Root's    PfiCOS. 
The  largest  lupply  businesi 
IntheWeit.  Establlthed  1886 
Doretailed   Hires,  Beo- 
tlonB,   Foundation,  Ex- 
tractors, Smokers,  Veils  , 
Orates,  Fjeders,  Clover  ' 
8  e  e  d  8,  e  t  c.    Imported 
Italian  Queens.    Queens  and 
Bees      Sample   copy   of   our 
Bee  Jourr.ai,  "The  WeSt>  ' 

ern    Bee  -  Keeper.'    %nd    Latest 
CatalOfiue  ma)j;a  Free  to  r::€-keepers. 

fOSSFE  irfSEWAOTEB  DE3  UOINES,  lOWJL 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.       Itfdb 


1  Si»-.' 


(;Li:.\NiN(i.s  IN  iti-:!-;  (Ti/ri'KK. 


;m7 


REMEMBER 

THAT    IN    THE 

Pecos  Valley 

The  Fruit   Belt 

OF 

New  Mexico, 

FARMERS     COINED    MONEY 

during  the   Summer   of  'gi, 
and  will  do  so  every  year. 
For  instance  : 

Thomas  Stokes  raised  ii  tons  of 
sorghum  (hay)  on  less  than  two 
acres  of  new  ground,  which  prod- 
uct   he   sold    at    $15    a    ton — C8Sh 

yield  over  $83  an  acre. 

Julian  Smith  sold  QVer  $300 
worth  of  garden    products    frOlTI 

half  an  acre  of  ground. 

'W .  W.  Paul  raised  211  bushels 
of  oats  on  2  1-5  acres  of  ground, 
sold    at    70    cents  a  bushel — CdSh 

yield  $67  an  acre. 

John  W.  Poe  cut  600  tons  of  al- 
falfa   from    no    acres;  value  $15  a 

ton,   $9,000.    Cash  yield   per 
acre,  $80. 

L.  "W.  Holt  raised  iii^  tons  of 
sorghum  on  i':  acres,  and  450 
tons  of  alfalfa  on  go  acres.  The 
alfalfa    sold    at  $15    a    ton— CBSh 

yield  $112.50  an  acre. 

We  can  give  you  plenty  of  simi- 
lar examples  when  you  come  here. 

Send  for  illustrated  i)anii)hlets,  ^iviii^- 
full  ])arti{'ulars. 

Pecos  Irrigation  and 

Improvement  Co., 

EDDY,  NEW  MEXICO. 

f^Va  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  aLEAMiN6& 


LOCATIOIT 

Is  a  big  point.  Ill  supplj'iiip  troods;  ours  gives  you 
low  freig-ht  rates.  As  we  sell  low,  you  should  have 
our  circular  of  supplies.  l-18db 

I.  J.STRINGHAM,  92  BARCLAY  ST.,  N.  Y. 

Please  mention  this  poiiei . 


Il<-ji<l(|iiar(«-rh  r,.i  ,|Uffii^  nl  this  rare,  hied  iiiid 
iiMpiirli-U  h\  ;i  •■  Hiilliiiiohin  liii-heipif."  is  l)cli)\v. 

I'liccs  cMi-h:  \ir;^iii. +1. .">(!;  Irililc.  mil  cslcd,  ^.^.d;!; 
ilillci  puiT  iiialfd.  tlii.iHl;  dilln  sclrcled,  t»  i.tid;  dilto 
iiMpiirlcd,  !};.'ill.(ill.  Sriil  per  mail  prepaid  and  vwai'- 
aiitt'cd  .-(jraiiist  lnss  in  tiaiisil  or-  iiil  ludnri  ion.  If 
mil  a[iprii\('d  of  aflir  tiitil.  :\\\  in<iiic\  icl  miicd  jn 
full.     Ciicular  fire.     Address 

JOHN   lll<:%VlT'r  Ac  <  O.,  SlicflioUl,  Kii^. 

tflii  ri'spondlntr  to  tills  adviTtlseiiiciit  menlidii  (ii.KA.vii.fiS. 


LX  DONT  STOP  ME  !    I  am  going  to  send 
<^     at  once  to  C.    W.   PHKLPS  &  CO.'S 
Wholesale  and  Retail  Foundation  Fac- 
tory. HiuKhamton.  N.  Y..for  a  free  sam- 
ple of  Honey  Comb  Foundation,  and  buy 
all  of  my  Bee  Supplies  of  them.    Its  THE  place. 


BEE-HIVES, 


Beautiful!  Gentle!  Prolific! 

The    Five  -  Banded  Golden    Italian    Bees. 

Send  iV  for  sample  of  bees  and  l)e  conxineed 
Catalogue  free.  One  queen,  June  or  July,  $1.0(1 
six.  ^1.0(1. 

J.  F.  MICHAEL, 
js.i3db      GERMAN.  DARKE  CO..  OHIO 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

Dovetailed  or  Otherwise. 

All  Kinds  of  Bee  Supplies. 
Write  for  free  catalogue.       W.  H.  PUTNAM, 
8  I3db  River  Falls,  Pierce  Co.,  Wis. 

^"Inresponding  to  this  advei-tir-enieiit  mention  (il.KAKlNGs. 

TESTEn  ITALIAN  QUEENS,  $1.00   EA€H. 

'  I'ntested.  6lic;  .select  tested.  Sl.3.5;  one  2-frame 
nucleus,  tested  (jueen.  !B2.00;  one  3-franie  nucleus, 
untested.  «.. 50.  STEWART  BROS., 

8-13dli  Sparta,  W^liite  Co.,  Tenu. 

LEATHER-COLORED  ITALIAN 

QUEENS. 

One  untested,  f  1.00;  si.x.  $.5.50;  twelve.  flO.OO;  one 
tested.  $]..50;  six,  $8.(10:  twelve,  $15.00;  selected  for 
breeding  fnrly,  eac\\.  $3..50;  one  vear  old  tested,  I'/i 
Jinu  only,  $1.25;  six,  $7.(M1;  twelve,  $13.00.  Two-year- 
old  <iueens,  each,  .59c.  Descriptive  catalogue  mailed 
free  on  api'lic'alioii. 

^1^'^b      A.  E.  Manum.  Bristol.  Vt. 

I^rin respond i Mir  to  tins  adveiti>enient  mention  GLEANINGS. 

Fdo  not  advertise 

aspecialt\,  but  e\'ii\  thing  found  in  .\i'i.\i(v.  Bees- 

waxM-anted.  <'.  E.  LIKENS, 

6-Td  19  N.  2d  St.,  Philadelpbia,  Pa. 


SFEAK  QUICK 


30  C^olwiiles  of  bhick  bet'son  Quinljy  suspended 
frames,  for  sale,  in  light  shipping-boxes.  These 
bees  have  plentvof  brood.  No  foul  brood  here. 
Price  fH.35  per  c()lonv;  in  or  more.  $3.00. 

CHAS.  STEWART, 
8-9d  Saiiiiiioiisvlllr,  Fulton  Co.,  N.  Y. 

tiTln  responding  to  this  advei-tisement  mention  ULEAN1N08. 


TT  F^^T 


To  order  the  best  made  goods.  For  Fine 
Sections,  Foundation.  Perforated  Zinc. 
Queen  Excluders,  and  the  best  hive  for 
comb  honev  now  before  the  public,  order 
of  Dr.  Tinker.  PRICES  GKEATLV  RE- 
DUCED.    Address  for  catalogue 


De.  G.  L.  Tiotee,  New  Philadelphia.  0. 


Please  mention  this  paper. 


268 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


April  15. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


A Ifalfa,  When  to"Cut £9:i 

Afiiary,  Locating  an 285 

Bars.  Closed-end 579 

Blacks,  A  Plea  for -Xt) 

Burr  combs.  To  Prevent •Jen 

California  Vegetation  . . .    £93 

Canadian  Imbroglio i98 

Cloth  overl'lant-beds 29? 

Colonies,  Weight  of 28:i 

Eaton  Can.von 291 

FTlectricity',  Wiring  by 297 

Escape.  Porter's,  a  Success .29J 

Feeder,  Manum's 27.'> 

Frames  Wired  by  Electr'ly.297 
Florida,  Tabulated  lieport.28.i 

Honey,  Cost  of— Elwood 272 

Hone.v,  Grading 581 

Honey„Poisonous 289 


Kei-osene  for  Robbing  ...  284 
Onion  Egyptian,  etc...  296,297 

Paint 287 

Poultry-book,  Geer's 298 

Production.  Cost  of 282 

Propolis,  To  J'revent 2X3 

Uueens.  Raising 284 

Ram'  ler,.on  the  Paeitic 276 

San  Diego 294 

Self-hivers 280 

.Spring  Dwindling 278 

S warmer,  Pratt 281 

Tallow  vs.  Propolis, etc 28:5 

Vaseline  vs.  Burr-combs. .    28:5 

Water  Cure 298 

Wings  In.iurefi  in  Escapes.. 284 
Writing  for  the  ,Journals.  .  .27.'i 
Zinc.Propolizing 284 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


The  (irst  annuul  meetinir  of  the  Connecticut  Bee-keepers'  As- 
sociation will  lie  held  at  Hartford.  May  12,  commencing  at  1(1:3(1 
.*..M.    All  interested  are  invited.  Mrs.  W.  E.  Riley,  .Sec. 

Waterbur.v,  Ct. 


CIHCULAHS  BECEIVED. 

We  have  recently  received  from  the  following  parties  their 
price  lists  of  ajiiarian  supiilies  in  general : 
O.  Moseley.  Peru.  lud. 
W.  E.  Smith,  Kentou.O. 
.V.  E.  Manum.  Bristol,  Vt. 
W.  H.  Laws,  Lavaca.  Ark. 
J.  J.  Bradner,  Marion,  Ind. 

A.  L.  Lindley,  Joi'dan,  Ind. 
Gus.  Dittmer.  Augusta,  AVis. 
Oliver  Fostei-,  Mt.  Vernon,  la. 
J.  R.  Barnhard.  Ottawa,  Kan. 
L.  L.  Alspauph.  Auburn,  Neb. 
T.  Phillips  &  Co..  Orillia,  Out. 
N.  D.  West.  Middleburgh.  N.  Y. 
C.  F.  Muth  &  Son.  Cincinnati.  (). 
W.  H.  Putnam.  River  Falls.  Wis. 
Luther  ,>t  Horton.  Redlands.  Cal. 
Mrs.  Oliver  die  Slieiburne,  N    Y. 

B.  Davidson.  I'xliridgf.  (int.,  ("an. 
Gregoiy  Bros.  <!c  ^SoIl.  Ottiimwa.  la. 

F.  W.  .lones,  Bedford,  yuehcc.  Can. 

G.  H.  Kirkpatrick,  Union  Citv.  Iiid. 
G.  D.  Black  &  Co.,  Independence.  la. 

■  Myers  Brothers.  Stratford.  (Jnt..  Can. 
J.  H.  M.  Cook,  78  Barclay  St.,  New  York. 
Buckeye  Bee  supply  Co..  New  Carlisle.  O. 
F.  A.  Lockhart  &  Co..  Lake  George.  X.  Y. 
Burdsal  Apiary  and  Suppl.y  Co..  Lebanon,  O. 
Leahy  Manufacturing  Co.,  Higginsville.  Mo. 

C.  E.  Lukens.  19  North  Second  St.,  Philadelphia. 


Special  Notices. 


CONCOUl)   (JKAPEVINKS,    FOK 


■SHAniNG    BEE-HIVES, 

StroiiK,  well-rooted,  three-year-dld  iihiiit.'^,  1(1  cents 
each;  10  for  85c;  fT-oO  per  100. 


DECLINE    IN   POTATOES. 

I'litil  further  notice  we  will  furnish  Earl.v  Puri- 
tan iHitatoe.s,  Lee's  Favdiite,  (ii-  Munnie  Seedling-, 
at  7.5  cts.  per  bushel,  (ir  $2.00  per  barrel  of  11  pecks. 

SLICED  SLOTTED  SEPAKATOKS. 

You  will  notice  these  slotted  separators,  which 
were  shown  in  our  last  i.ssue,  are  priced  in  our 
March  1st  catalogue  at  60  cts.  per  100;  $.5  00  per  lOCO. 
We  have  a  few  from  one  lot  we  made  that  molded  a 
little  in  ilr.\  iiiM-,  which  we  will  sell  at  half  jirice, 
Ther»>  are  only  two  or  three  thousand  of  them. 

COMB  FOUNDATION. 

We  should  be  pleased  to  send  free  samples  of  our 
foundation  on  application  to  prove  that  we  are  not 
behind  an.\  of  oui'  competitors  in  the  quality  of  the 
g-oods  we  send  out,  both  in  color  and  woikmanship. 
(Jompetent  judges  have  acknowledged  ours  equal  to 
Dadant's,  which  is  the  standard. 


SAWED   SEPARATORS. 

The  ordinary  sliced  wood  separators  have  a  ten- 
dency to  curl  considerably,  and  this  is  about  the 
only  real  objection  to  them.  As  some  prefer  not  to 
use  them  on  account  of  this,  we  have  been  making- 
sawed  wood  separatois,  about  14  to  the  inch,  very 
straight  and  smooth,  3><  x  17  to  18  inches  long,  at  60 


cts.  per  100;  fS.Oti  per  1000. 
sawed  slotted  separators. 


We  have  not  made  any 


ALSIKE    CLOVER    SEED. 

It  is  not  too  late  to  sow  alsike,  and  we  still  have  a 
good  supply  of  nice  clean  seed.  As  the  sea.son  is 
getting  late  and  the  market  a  little  easier,  we  will 
make  the  price  for  the  next  30  days  as  follows:  3 
bushels,  *18.00:  1  bushel.  $9..50;  X  bushel,  f4.00;  1 
peck,  t3..5ll;  1  lb..  2(1  cts.;  by  mail.  30  cts. 


BUSINESS  AT  THIS  DATE. 

We  have  our  usual  supply  of  orders  for  this  sea- 
.son of  the  year,  and,  if  any  thing,  they  are  larger. 
As  we  were  prepared  with  a  stock  of  all  standard 
goods  to  draw  on  in  addition  to  what  we  make  from 
day  to  day,  we  are  able  t(j  rush  the  goods  off  within 
a  few  days  after  receiving  the  orders.  The  invoice 
you  receive  from  us  shows  the  record  on  the  upper 
left-hand  corner,  telling  just  how  long  the  order  is 
in  our  hands  before  being  sliipped.  We  aim  to  make 
the  time  covered  liy  this  recoi'd  as  short  as  possil)le. 
We  liope  to  serve  you  with  the  same  promptness 
through  the  season  that  we  have  been  able  to  do  so 
far. 


STANLEY   AI'TO.MATIC  REVERSING 
OR. 


H()NEV-EXTRAt:T- 


As  announced  in  last 
number  of  Gleanings, 
we  have  leased  from  G. 
W.  Stanley  the  right  to 
make  his  automatic  ex- 
tractor, and  we  bought 
from  E.  R.  Newcomb  his 
stock  of  materials  and 
machines  unsold.  This 
stock  consists  of  about 
twenty  -  five  machines, 
two  and  four  frame.  To 
work  it  off  quick,  and 
give  us  a  chance  to  put 
out  machinesof  our  own 
make,  we  otter  these 
machine.s  as  long  as  they 
last,  atone-fourth  off  old 
prices.  We  will  sell  the 
two-frame  macliines  as 
they  are  for  *9.00;  lhe4-frame  for  $15.00.  They  are 
crated  ready  for  shipment,  with  crank  direct  on  the 
center-.shaft.  We  will  attach  our  new  horizontal 
gear,  as  shown  on  page  14  of  our  catalogue,  for  $3.00 
each  extra. 

THE   PliANT    BUSINESS  AT  THIS   DATE. 

During  the  fore  part  of  April  we  had  several  days 
of  very  nice  weather — so  much  so  that  the  gardener, 
and  even  the  plants  too,  were  about  to  be  deluded 
into  thinking  that  frost  and  snow  for  the  season 
wei-e  at  an  end.  Since  then,  however,  the  weather 
has  been  cold,  and  the  ground  has  been  frozen  up 
so  it  would  almost  beai-  up  a  horse  in  the  forenoon. 
Now,  we  are  not  complaining  at  this  soit  of  thing, 
mind  you,  for  it  has  been  the  means  of  keeping  the 
fruit  back  so  there  is  great  probability  that  it  will 
escape  uninjured.  But  at  the  same  time  tlie  weath- 
er has  not  been  favorable  for  sending  out  str.iw- 
berries  and  other  kinds  of  plants.  While  I  write, 
the  frost  has  let  up,  but  it  is  snowing.  Just  as  .soon 
as  this  is  over  we  expect  to  rush  off'  every  thing 
promptly.  Even  the  cold-frame  cabbages  that  have 
been  frozen  again  and  again  for  the  last  half  of  the 
winter  could  hardly  stand  the  cutting  nin-th  winds. 
What  few  we  had  in  the  open  gi-ound  were  prett.v 
much  used  up  except  the  small  central  leaf.  The 
prospect  is,  therefore,  that  the  one  who  had  his 
stuff  well  protected,  or  had  good  strong  plants  that 
could  withstand  the  freezing  and  cutting  winds, 
will  get  a  big  price  for  what  he  has  to  sell. 


TWO   NEW   BOOKS— HENS   AND   "RATS." 

The  Rural  New-Ynrher  sends  us  two  very  pretty 
little  industrial  manuals.  The  first  is  entitled  "The 
Business  Ht>n."  It  was  written  by  H.  W.  CoUiiig- 
wood.  niaiiiiging  editor  of  the  Rural  Neiv-Yarker, 
with  special  articles  by  more  than  a  dozen  of  the 
prominent  authorities  on  poultry.  The  price  is  7.5 
cts.,  in  neat  cloth  binding;  paper,  40  cts.  The  other 
book  is  on  "rats. "—how  to  rid  buildings  and  farms 
of  rats  and  other  pests  of  like  character.  The  book 
is  by  "Picket."  It  is  written  in  one  of  his  happiest 
veins,  and  it  Is  very  interesting  reading  aside  from 
its  valuable  teachings.  In  fact,  it  seems  to  cover 
about    every  plan   known   for  destroying,  driving 


ISUL' 


c;I.KAMN(iS  IN   HKE  CUI/rtlRE. 


litiii 


;i\vii>,  or   fiMifiiiK  out   tlirx-   fcMrful    pests.    1  havo 
ofloii   sail!    il    Is  :i  dispi-iii'c  li>  any  iH'ijflilxii-lioixl  or 
aiiv  c'omnmiiitv  to  liavo  rat->  aroiiiul  doiiiv  ilaniawro,  > 
:iii(i  I  say  so  stl'll.     Tin-    lat-lmok   is  i>ril\  '-'d  cts.     Fori 
fitluT  of   tlii'in  sfiid  to  the  [{iiial    PublisliiiiK  Co.,. 
N»'w  York;  or.  if  iiioit' coincnieiit.  .mui  t-an  Kt't  'li*' 
"  rat-I)ook  "  of  us  for  18  cts. ;  postpaid  by  mail.  'M. 

ONK-IMKCK  SKCTIONS. 

\\f  are  now  iiiakitijr  oiio-i'i»'''i'  sections  at  t  lie  rate 
of  a  million  a  niontli.   In  tlic  live  months  from  Aug:. 
1st  to. Ian.  1st  We  made  aboul  one  anil  tliree-i|iiarter  I 
millions;  in   .huuiary  and    i-'eliruary.  one  and   one-  j 
quarter   millions;    and    sinee   t  lie  HtsI  of  Marrli  we 
liave  l)een  t  lirnin^j-  tliem  out  at  the  rale  of  a  mi  II  ion 
a  month.     We  now  liave  in    stoek    ahont    one  and  a 
half   UMllioMS  of  all  widtlis  of   the  4'.!  inch    seitii>n 
from  KSi  inclies  up  to  :.'  inclu's.  We  have  also  eiiouj-^h 
dry  lumher  in  our  yard  to  make  alioiit  three  million  • 
more.     By  t  he  time  this  is  worked  up  the  lumher  we 
have   con'tiacted.  cut   the  jiasl  winter,  will  he  leady  [ 
to  bejrin  on,  and  t  his  will  make  six  or  eitrlit    million  , 
more.   The  ipiality  of  t  he  sections  is  siipeiior  to  an.\ 
we  ever  sent  out   in    former  years,  and.  we    believe, 
equal   to  any  made,  and   sui)erior  to   most    makes. 
\Vi>  contracted  to  supjily  one  lartre  dealer  at  a  liiitih-  ^ 
er  price  tli:iii  he  was  ot1ere(l  otliei-  good  sections  for, 
because  he  decifled  that  ours  would  please   his  cus- 
tomers enouffh  better  to  pay  the  ditterence  in  piice. 
We   are  also  makiny-   lower   i)rii-es  in  lar^e  lots  to 
dealei's   than  we   have    been    able  to  do  heretofoie. 
We  mention  all   these  thintrs  to  sliow  you  how  well  | 
prepared  we  are  tt)  serve  \  ou.    Last    year,  and   the  | 
year  liefore,  oui' suppl.v  of  lumlH'r  suitabh"  for  sec- 
tions was  insufficient,  and.  as  a  conseijueiice,  to  fill 
orders  at  all  we  were  compelled  to  send  out   some 
tliat  were  rather  inferior  for  first  {jrade.    To  many  ; 
of  our  friends  who  received  tliese  g-oods  we  have  al-  j 
lowed  a  rebate,  and   to  others  who  mentioned  it  in  j 
theii-  orders  we    have   .sent    an    exti-i  supi)ly  of  the  { 
elioice  sections  we  ai-e  now  turning  out.     If  there  i 
are  any  wild  have  not  yet  hud  s;itisfaction  we  want 
txi  hear  from  you  so  that  we  may  have  an  opportu- , 
nit>  toffive  you  satisfaction,  and  to  give  you  see- i 
tions  that   can    not   l)e  surpassed  by  any  nianut'ac- i 
turer.  ' 


Kind  Words  From  Our  Customers. 


I  don't  see  how  one  who  has  had  a  taste  (»f  Glean- 
i.vfjs  can  expect  to  get  a  better  feast.  It's  every 
thing  to  me.  Gardening  and  Home  talk  and  all  are 
so  social  it  seems  as  if  I  had  you  by  the  arm  looking 
over  my  fruits,  etc.  Long  may  you  live  to  cheer  us, 
especially  by  the  welcome  address  of  the  word 
"  friend."    (iod  bless  you.  E.  P.  Churchill. 

Hallowell.  Maine. 


HoNEr  Column. 


I  just  unpacked  the  goods  I  received  fiom  you, 
and  am  more  than  jileased  witli  the  same.  The.y  ar- 
lived  in  tlie  best  possible  condition,  and  give  good 
.sjitisfaction  for  the  future.  The  workmanship  of 
the  hives  is  tlu-  fl?iest  I  ever  saw.  My  neighl)ors  say 
they  never  saw  wood  so  well  made  and  aecuiate,  as 
it  is  worked  bj-  automatic  machinery.  Voui-  manner 
of  i)acking  is  excellent,  and  answers  well  for  long 
distances.  The  lot  of  medium  foundation  is  first 
qualit}' in  all  respects.  'I'he  freight  on  these  goods 
was  very  low.  The  duty  was  rat  hei-  high.  As  long 
as  I  receive  goods  like  these  you  can  reckon  on  me 
ius  a  customer,  tliough  it  is  as  fai-  as  6(Hi  miles  from 

VOU.  .)()S.  UE.AI'DKV. 

St.  Marc,  Can.,  Feb.  7. 

FKO.MPT   KILLING   OF  ORDKUS;   THK    K I  M)  ( IF  .VDVEK- 
TISING   THAT    PAYS. 

I  got  two  queens  from  ndu  last  summer,  and  they 
were  tine  ones.  They  were  safely  introduced.  I  like 
the  Henton  cage.  1  hav»;  bought  quite  a  good  many 
queeus,  but  yours  came  the  quickest  of  anj-  I  ha\e 
had  yet.  I  (fid  not  have  to  go  tothe  olTice  tlve  or  six 
times,  as  I  have  had  to  do  before,  foi-  I  had  them  in 
a  few  days.  I  shall  know  wheri' to  get  them  after 
this.  Fkancis  Ohtt. 

Darling  Road.  O.  N.  T. 

[Knowing,  as  we  do.  that,  when  a  customer  ordeis 
a  queon,  he  wants  it  at  omre  or  his  colony  will  suffer, 
we  bend  every  enei-gy  to  send  all  queens  by  retui'n 
mail.  How  this  is  ai)preciated,  many  letteis  at  hand 
testify.! 


CITY  MAlihHTS. 

MiNNEAi'OLis. -Ho/ifj/.— The  lioney-markel  is  de- 
clining considoralily.  'I'liedemand  is  dinjiping  oil', 
and  fani-y  wlute  honey  Is  now  being  sold  for  Ific; 
choice.  14;  dark,  P@12.  according  to  the  (juality. 

.Mar.  :.'8.  .1.  A.  Shea  &  Co.", 

14  &  hi  Hennepin  Avi-..  Minneapolis.  Minn. 


Alh.anv.  H<)»I()/.-  There  is  ((iiite  .i  large  stock  of 
comb  honey  on  the  m.aiket  .\  et ,  and  but  ver,\'  little 
detnand.  Ivvtracled  about  all  cleared  out.  'Tliei-e 
is  no  established  price  on  comb  lione\  ;  it  sells  at 
fi(aiO.  Chas.   McCuLLOcii  &  Co., 

Apr.  8.  Albany,  N.  V. 

Cincinnati.  //oney.—'J'here  is  a  slow  demand  for 
comb  honey,  with  a  good  supply  on  the  market. 
Prices  are  nominal,  at  12@I5  in   tlie  jobbing  way. 

Birsivax  is  in  good  demand,  at  2.5@27,  for  good  to 
dioice  yellow  on  anival.  ('has.  F.  Muth, 

Apr.  If.  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

CHiC.\(io.  —  Hiiiify.  —  Honey  -  market  now  ((uiel. 
Sales  of  comb  made  in  a  small  way;  t  hei-e  is  vei'y 
little  tine  comb  on  sale,  witli  prices  of  I.ic  for  best, 
to  16  for  a  fancy  article.  Extracted  in  steady  de- 
mand, with  stock  very  light.  Beeswax,  27  for  yellow. 

R.  A.  BUKNETT, 

Apr.  7.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  III. 


Boston.— Hoiu'!/.— We  quote  you  our  lione>-mar- 
ket  as  being  well  supplied,  fair  demand."  <)n»- 
pound  combs  selling  at  13@15;  no  2-lbs.  on  hand. 
Extracted  honey,  7@7X.    Beeswax,  none. 

Ajii .  s.  Blake  &  Ripley, 

Boston,  Mass. 

New  Youk.— Hoiiej/.— Not  nuicli  change  in  honev- 
market  since  last  issue.  There  is  a  little  deman"d 
for  fancy  1-lb.  sections,  only  fancy;  but  the  market 
seems  to  be  pretty  well  cleanetl  up  of  the  above 
grade  of  goods.  We  quote  tlu'  following:  Fancy 
l-ll)..  12;  2-lb.,  11;  fair,  1-lb..  9;  2-lb.,  S;  buckwheat, 
1-lb.,  8;  2-11).,  7.  Extracted.  ti'/M't,  for  clover;  .".(SuVA 
for  buckwheat ;  .southern,  fiom  6.',@7.'c  per  gal. 

Beeswax,  27@29. 

Apr.  8.  Chas.  Israel  &  Bko., 

110  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


Kansas  City.— Ho/(ej/.— Demand  poor,  wit  h  a  large 
supply  of  comb.  We  quote:  Comb,  lib.,  fancy, 
12(mi;};  dark,  8@9.  Extracted,  white,  7;  dark,  .')@ti. 
Beeswax,  none  on  tlie  market. 

Mar.  21.  Hamblin  &  Bearss, 

514  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Saint  Louis.  Honey.—lnmiir'n-^^  forst  rained  were 
frequent,  and  business  more  satisfactory.  No 
quotable  change  in  values.    Beeswax,  piime.  :i7/2. 

Apr.  8.                                    D.  G.  TuTT  Gko.  Co., 
^___ St.  Loui.s,  Mo. 

Kansas  (itv.  Homy.  --  The  demand  for  both 
comb  and  extract(>d  (continues  light.     We  rpiole: 

1-lb.  comb.  No.  1,  wliite,  l.'KSiH;  No.  2.  white,  llj@12; 
No.  1,  amber,  12@13;  No.  2.  amber,  >i@lil.  Extracted, 
white,  ti@i7;  amber  and  dark,  .')@.6.    Bci'swux,  :i'i(q'^ti. 

Apr.  9.  Clkmon.s,  Mason  &  Co., 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Detkoi'I'.  Ho»ie(/.— Comb  honey  isdull  and  selling 
very  slowly  :it  n(fil2i4.  Not  much  on  the  market. 
Extract efl,  7(rt>.    Beeswax,  in  lair  demand,  27((n28. 

Apr.  s.  M.  H.  Hi'NT. 

Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


FOR  SALE  OR  EXCHANGE. 

<)nelO-in.  Rocjt's  mill  for  brood-foundation,  and  1 
fj-in.  mill  for  thin  foundation  in  good  oider,  and  at  a 
bargain,  as  we  do  not  keej)  l)ees  now.  7-12db 

T.  A:  B.  VOt]^G, 
145  ITIartiiiette  St.,  LaSalle,  III. 

Cirln  rt-spoiidiin;  to  lliis  adv.niMiiiini   iiiiiitioii  Cii.hA.M.Mi.-*. 


270 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Apkil  i-f). 


UIl 


Bee-leepe[s' 


1-1         (3    -^-    C 

FOR  1892  AND  A  FINE.  TESTED,  ITALIAN  QUEEN,  OF  LAST  YEAR'S 
REARING,  FOR  $1.75.  EITHER  ALONE,  $1.00.  FOR  $2.00.  THE 
REVIEW,  THE  QUEEN  AND  THE  50  CT.  BOOK,  "ADVANCED  BEE 
CULTURE,"   WILL  BE  SENT.  W.  Z.   HUTCHINSON.    FLINT.    MICH. 

P.  S.— If  not  acqnaintpd  with  thf  Rkvikw.  send  ten  cents  for  three  late  but  different  issues 


SPECIflU  IVIRTED 

iiueens  reared  under  tlie  swarming  impulse  in  our 
Texas  apiary,  and  mated  to  very  yellow  drones. 
Queens  and  fill uies  from  two  of  the  best  queens  in 
Texas.  All  queens  warranted  purely  mated.  One 
nueen  Apr.,  $l.-'5;  6  fm' $6.(10.  May,  one  queen,  $1,10; 
6  for  $5.50.  Our  5- Banded  Italians  are  the  best 
workers,  most  gentle  and  lieantif ul  bees.  Safe  ar- 
rival and  entire  !«atif»lac-tion  Guaranteed,  cu- 
rular  free.        S.  P.  &  I.  TREUO,  Swedona,  111. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

BEE^^Hh/EsTsECTIONS,  ETC. 

We  make  the  best  goods  and  sell  them  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world.  ,  ,       ^  ^, 

Our  goods  are  known  as  the  best  throughout  tlie 
United  States  and  Europe.  .       •      ,.  . 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS  CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  Itfdb 


]S;iv  654: 

Colonies 

of  ItsLliaxis 

Are  wintering  well,  and,  as  usual,  I  will  sell  a  lim- 
ited number  of  them  to  reduce  stock  to  the  required 
number.  Each  hive  shipped  to  my  customers  will 
contain  a  full  prosperous  colony  of  Italian  bees, 
with  a  last  year's  tested  queen,  on  eight  Hoffman 
fi'ames  of  brood  and  honey.  As  my  main  object  in 
handling  bees  is  honey,  we  raise  all  our  queens  in 
full  colonies  from  cells  luiill  under  the  swarming 
impulse,  using  the  choicest  and  most  profitable 
stock  to  breed  from.  ,  .     ,.,  ,  «*,,<■      * 

Safe  arrival  gnaranteed  in  May  and  first  halt   ot 
June.    For  terms  please  address 


3-8dlj 


JULIUS  HOFFMAN, 


CANAJOHARIE,  N.  Y. 


(Sriu  rcspondinir  to  tliis 


.LKA.MNG.S 


CARNIOLAN 


BEES     AND       QUEENS. 

Tiiey   beat   them  all.    Never 

iTTive'dvsenterv."  AH  queeiis  reared  from   select  im- 
ported'mothers.    T'litestcd.  .5nc;  13  foi' $5.00.   Tested, 
$100;  12  for  $10.00.    t^elect  tested.  $1.5ii.     Descriptive 
ciirular  free.     \.  Li.  IjINDIiKY,  Jordan,  Ind. 
«-18db 


DOVETAILED 


""S?Ar.S»  QUEENS. 

Send  for  price  list  of  Italian  Queens,  Drone-s, 
Hiv&s,  Smokers,  Foundation,  etc.  Finest  breeding 
queen,  after  March  1.  $4.00.  Tested,  $2.(i0;  3  for  $5.00. 
Untested,  in  April,  $1.00;  6  for  $5.00,  or  $9.00  per  doz- 
en by  mail.  Safe  arrival  guaranteed.  Orders  for 
Queens  booked  for  20  days  or  more,  5  per  cent  dis- 
count. Make  moiiej'  orders  i^avable  at  Clifton. 
3tfdb       COLWIOE  t  OOLWIOK,  NOSSE.  BOSQUE  CO.,  TEZAS. 

..  friji  responding-  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANIMOS. 


RETAIL 

— AND— 

WHOLESALE. 


T>TjTU  SUPPLIES 

I  yi   1  11    Everjtlilng  used  in  the  Apiary. 

^^  ^^^.M  Greatest  vai'iety  and  largetit  stock 
in  the  West.  New  catalog.  54  illustrated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       B.  KKETCHMEE,  BED  0A£,  IOWA. 

In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 


ELMER    HUTCHIJVSOJf 

Has  moved  to  Vassak,  Tuscola  Co.,  Mich.  He  can 
furnish  untested  (jneens  in  April  and  May,  raisetl 
frt)m  one  of  ids  Golden  Italian  5-banded  (jueens, 
that  took  FIRST  PREMIUM  at  the  Detroit  Expo.sition 
the  last  two  years,  for  $1.15  each,  or  «  for  $6.00.  Or- 
ders will  be  filled  foi-  me  in  April  and  May  by  a 
queen-breeder  in  the  South,  who  has  one  of  my  best 
breeding  (jueens.  Orders  promptly  filled  and  .safe 
arrival  goiaranteed.  Make  money  orders  payable 
at  Vassar.  7-l(Jdb 

~    POSITIVE Lf^ 

By  return  mail,  beautiful  young  warranted  Italian 
queens,  at  $1.00  eacli.  Tested,  $1..50.  A  .select  tested 
yellow-to-the-tip  breeder,  $2.00.  Satisfaction  guai- 
anteed.  W.  H.  LAWS,  Lavaca,  Ark. 

Htfdb 

ITALIAN   QIJEENS. 

t,)ueens  reared  and   tested  in  the   fall   of 
'.d,  $l.."Oeach.    Safe  arrival   guaranteed. 

Misses  S.  k  M.  Baenes,  Piketon,  Ohio.      7-s-nd 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


One  of  our  i5-banded  red-clover  queens?  100  lbs.  of 
clover  honey  in  poor  seasons.  Send  for  descriptive 
circular  free.  LEININGER  BROS., 

Ttfdb  Ft.  Jennings,  Oliio. 

FflR  ^Al  F  ItO  double-walled  hi\-es,  new,  nail- 
run  OnLUi  ,.f|  ,ip_  painted,  set  .sections  and 
holder  im-luded,  f3.00  each;  a  great  bargain.  Order 
at  once.    One  Novice  honey -extractor.  8-9d 

S.  A.  Fisher,  31  Pembeiton  Square,  Boston,  Mass. 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  f.ii 
superi(n-  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  doz- 
en you  do  not  find  them  so,  w  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  within  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  monej 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with   full  direc- 
tions 20c;  per  dozen,  $3.25.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supi>ly  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices 
lOtfdb    R.  (£  E.  C.  PORTER,  LEWISTOWN,  ILL. 

(L^lii  rcsptnidinK  to  this  advertisement  mentioit  (iLEANiN 


-^ 


Jour 

•  DELVoT 

•To'Be:_  _ 

•ANdHoNEV-   , 
•ANDHOMEL-     ■•< 

•lNTE.F^ESTsS 


Vol.  XX. 


^^perVeai^   \^ 


i-KooT- 

jinaOhiO 


APRIL  15,  1892. 


No.  8. 


Stray  Straws 


FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 


Is  it  a  success  for  wir- 
Wcll.    I    never: 


nun 


Hkks  comk  out  of  cellar  to-day.  April 

lloU  "^  KI.KI    IHlf  ITV 

inK".' 

Onion  -  plants     h\ 
What  next? 

I).  A.  .IoNi-;s"s  name  is  ajiain  at  the  masthead 
of  tlie  ('.  B.  J.     Long  may  it  slay  thei-el 

I  GOT  A  i.KTTKR  fiom  Medina  written  by  a 
phonogra|)li.  I  conld  read  it  as  easy  as  any  let- 
tPi-. 

Si.AN(i  is  something  I  don't  use  vei'y  often: 
hnt  yon  will  pafdon  me  for  saying  that  tlie 
Daisy  fonndation-fastenef  is  a  (hilsij. 

(."AMKoiiMA  is  a  gi-eat  place  forall  gniinsand 
fiMiits:  and  if  that  on  page  :.'4:.'  is  a  fair  sample, 
they  raises  the  best  quality  of  "straw  "  there. 

TiiK  Ainerifan  Bee-keeper  is  doing  missionary 
worl<  by  sending  free  copies  of  an  article  from 
Ihirtur's  W'reklii  on  "•  lietter  country  roads.'" 
A  good  move. 

PUKVKN TION  OF  AFTER-SWAIiMS  IS  tllUS  Secur- 
ed by  T.  Heiss  (A.  B.  J.):  Next  day  after 
swarming,  run  in  a  virgin  (jueen  between  the 
combs  and  sheMl  destroy  all  cells. 

Now  iHAT  1^ahi!Ai;kk  has  got  out  of  his 
shell,  let's  !)(-  sociable  with  him.  I  think  he 
told  me  that  only  one  man  had  responded  to  his 
re(4nest  for  subjects  proper  for  experiment. 

R?;v.  W.  F.  Cf.ahkk  has  reduced  "the  bad 
live"  to  the  "'big  four."  but  he  doesn't  say 
which  one  of  the  live  has  bf^en  expelled.  He 
talks  real  cross  in  the  (\  B.  J.  about  the  other 
four. 

Vol-  WANT  A  I'o.STAi,  right  away, friend  Root, 
telling  how  m:iny  colonies  liave  wintered.  How 
am  I  to  know  without  stirring  them  all  up 
down  cellar'.'  'I'bey  are  all  quiet  tliere  this  (ith 
of  April. 

Dadant.  referring  to  (rerstung's  theory  of  tlie 
queen  having  periodic  intermissions  of  "laying, 
says  that,  in  constant  examinations  when  en- 
gaged in  ijueen-rearing.  he  has  never  obsc'rved 
any  thing  of  the  kind. 

(»i,i)  sKfTioNs  that  are  so  dry  as  to  break 
when  being  made  up  I  have  always  thought 
were  best  treated  by  bi-ing  left  down  cellar  for 
some  time.  This  spring  I  had  to  give  up.  that 
hot-water  tn-atment  is  better. 

Onion-skts.  friend  Root  says,  need  right  seed, 
right  soil,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing.  "  Wlien  I 
was  a  hoy  they  just  planted  them  so  thick  that 
they  couldn't  grow  big  and  tiiat  was  all  there 
was  tp  it.    They  were  good  sets,  weren't  they'? 


That's  a  cjood  AHTin.K  by  .1.  A.  Buchanan, 
page  -y.Vl:  but  isn't  lie  off  when  he  thinks  he 
s(Mls  more  honey  on  account  of  the  adulterated 
stutf'.'  And  wliy  should  he  wish  "  to  bring  to 
justice  these  robbers."  the  adulterators.  If  they 
are  lielping  his  sales'? 

I  always  iTiofoiiT  lOlwood  knew  a  good 
deal,  but  that  article  on  p.  :.".'s  shows  he  knows 
more  than  I  thought  he  did.  His  head  is  espe- 
cially level  when  h(i  says  then^  will  never  be 
satisfactory  work  done  in  the  government  api- 
cultural  department  till  it  is  independent,  and 
in  charge  of  a  bei^- keeper. 

Tiii<;  ^//ic/v'c(M(  liee-heepcr  sent  inquiries  to 
.5(X)()  bee-keepers,  asking  the  number  and  style 
of  hives.  I  should  have  said  that  one  hive  in 
twenty  might  have  i)een  of  box  persuasion; 
but  they  make  the  startling  statement,  "  We 
find  that  a  very  largi'  majority  of  the  hives 
used  are  of  the  old  box  style." 

Fkiknd  Root,  if  you  will  look  a  little  closer 
you'll  see  that  Dr.  Kellogg  is  all  right  on  p.  235. 
He  says  that  the  bee  rubs  pollen  off  the  flowers, 
"  and  carries  it  home  with  lihn."  You  see  it's 
the  he-bees  lie  is  talking  about.  Now.  yon  just 
eat  some  of  the  pollrni  a  drone  carries  home 
with  him.  and  see  if  it  doesn't  poison  y(m. 

Too  HAD  my  bees  can't  have  a  chanoe  to  work 
on  tiie  soft  nuiples  which  are  in  full  bloom 
since  April  1;  Imt  it's  too  windy,  cloudy,  and 
rainy  to  set  them  out.  although  the  thermome- 
ter has  l)een  ui)  to  7r.*°.  Hesides,  it's  not  certain 
spring  is  here  to  stay,  so  the  bees  will  just  have 
to  stay  where  they  are.  and  roar  if  they  want  to. 

TiiosK  HKi  HKK-MKN  of  New  York  are  all 
right  and  sensible,  Mr.  ralifornia-Man,' not  to 
report  their  big  crops.  In  reply  to  your  other 
question,  the  reasons  applicable  to  bee-men  ni'e 
used  by  otheis.  A  man  who  has  hor.ses,  cows, 
or  any  other  live  stock  except  b<'es,  secures  con- 
trol of  the  tei-ritory  on  whidi  they  feed,  and 
why  sliouldn't  liee-men  ? 

To  fiKK  SK(  Tio.NS  that  are  so  dry  as  to  break 
when  put  together,  leave  tliem  in  the  box  and 
pour  ijoiling  water  .so  it  will  run  down  througli 
the  whole  box.  Don't  have  your  tea-kettle  too 
full,  and  pour  in  a  stream  a  lion  t  as  large  as  a 
goose  quill,  moving  slowly  along  the  three  lines 
of  joints  where  they  are  to  be  broken.  Don't 
get  any  w  ater  on  the  dovetails. 

I  M.w  sAV  to  friend  (Jreiner.  that,  while  I  be- 
lieve young  bees  as  a  ruli'  do  not  work  in  th(i 
field  till  If)  days  old,  I  knoir  that  the  rule  may 
be  broken  by  circnmstanci's.  I  made  the  same 
experiment  as  Vogel,  using  only  sealed  and 
hatching  brood,  and  at  live  (lays  of  age  workers 
were  carrying  in  pollen.  Now.  if  t^^iise  pressure 
made  such  a  difference  in  this  case,  is  it  not 
possible  that  sufficient  pressure  often  occurs  to 
vary  the  rule  more  or  less'.' 


272 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


April  15. 


The  American  Bee-keeper  gave  due  notice 
that  its  name  was  not  to  be  squeezed  down  into 
the  compass  of  three  initials:  but  it  takes  so 
much  inl\  to  write  tlie  whole  of  it  that  the  edit- 
or has  begun  to  drop  off  the  first  eight  letters 
himself,  and  he  uses  mei'ely  initials  for  the 
names  of  other  bee-journals.  Say,  A.  B.  K.. 
you'll  not  be  so  very  mad  if  I  initial  yon  after 
this,  will  you  ? 

April  4  my  bees  were  howling  down  cellar, 
with  the  thermometer  72"  outdoors.  Opened  up 
doors  at  dark,  and  let  a  strong  wind  blow  in  all 
night.  Bees  quiet  as  mice  in  the  morning,  with 
thermometer  in  cellar  at  50°.  and  stayed  so,  al- 
though door  was  open  all  day,  letting  in  full 
daylight.  Don't  tell  me  bees  need  no  ventila- 
tion in  cellar.  Mind  you,  they  had  been  con- 
fined five  months. 

Those  who  are  anxious  for  fear  the  cells  of 
old  combs  may  become  so  diminished  in  diame- 
ter that  the  young  bees  hatched  therefrom  may 
not  be  of  normal  size,  should  remember  that  the 
chief  part  of  the  deposits  left  from  cocoons  are 
at  the  bottom  of  the  cell:  and  as  fast  as  these 
are  left,  the  cell-walls  are  lengthened  outward- 
ly, from  which  it  will  be  seen  that,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  cell,  the  diameter  must  always  be 
the  same. 


THE   POSSIBLE   AND   ACTUAL   COST  OF  COMB 
HONEY. 


p.  h.  elwooi)  cjuticises  taylor's  and  hil- 

tox's  estimates.  and  defends 

doolittle"s. 

Langstroth  says  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  make 
calculations  on  paper  almost  as  flattering  as  an 
imaginary  tour  to  the  gold-mines  of  Australia 
or  California.  The  following  calculation  of 
posfiihle  profits  from  bee  culture,  taken  from 
Lydserff's  Treatise  on  liees.  published  in  Eng- 
land in  1792,  is  a  perfect  gem  of  its  kind: 

Suppose  a  swarm  of  l)ees  at  the  first  to  cost  Ids. 
6d.,  and  neither  tliey  nor  the  swarms  to  be  taken, 
but  to  do  well,  and  "swurra  once  every  year— bees 
must  be  nanglity  indeed  if  tliey  dare  to  do  otlier- 
wise!— what  will  be  the  pioduct  for  fourteen  years, 
and  what  the  profit  If  each  liive  is  sold  at  10s.  6d.V 


Yeai-. 


Hive^ 


Proliti- 


1 

1 

0 

s. 
0 
1 

* 
16 

d. 
0 

2.. 

2. . . . 
4 

..... 

1 

*         * 
....   4300 

0 
0 

14.. 

* 

8192.. .. 

0 

N.  B.— Deduct  Ids.  6d.,  what  the  ttrst  hive  cost,  and 
tlie  remainder  will  be  clear  profit;  sup[)osing-  the 
.second  swarms  to  pay  for  hives,  labor,  etc. 

The  modesty  with  whicli  this  writer,  who 
seems  to  have  had  as  much  faith  in  his  bees  as 
in  the  doctrine  that "'  figures  can  not  lie,'"  closes 
his  calculation  at  the  end  of  fourteen  years,  is 
truly  refresliing.  No  beekeeper  on  such  a 
royal  road  to  wealth  could  ever  find  it  in  his 
heart  to  stop  under  twenty-one  yeai'S.  by  wliich 
time  his  stock  would  have  increased  to  more 
than  a  million,  when,  prolxihhj,  he  would  be 
willing  to  close  his  bee-business  by  selling  them 
for  over  two  and  three-quarter  millions  of  dol- 
lars. 

the  cost  of  honey,  by  the  authoi;  of 
•'blessed  bees." 

During  the  hundred  years  since  the  above 
estimate  of  iiossiblc  profits.  I  know  of  no  one 
who  has  been  able  to  make  a  more  favorable 
showing  tlian  this  except  the  author  of  "Tln^ 
Blessed  Bees."  After  very  careful  figuring  and 
verification  of  the  same.  John  Allen  (page  32) 
makes  one  colony  increase  in  fourteen  ycsars  to 
over  a  third  of  a  million.    Oiu'    Mr.    Lydserff 


takes  no  account  of  honey,  but  derives  all  of 
his  profits  from  the  increa.'^e  of  stocks.  Mr. 
Allen,  on  the  contrary,  gets  over  three-quarters 
of  his  profits  from  the  sale  of  comb  honey,  leav- 
ing the  multiplication  of  stocks,  although  more 
rapid  than  Mr.  S.,  quite  a  secondary  affair.  In 
this  centennial  year,  two  more  Michigan  men — 
Messrs.  Taylor  and  Hilton  step  to  the  front, 
and,  in  carefully  prepared  estimates  on  the  cost 
of  comb  honey,  so  far  lowei'  Allen's  cost  of  oro- 
ducing  a  pound  of  comb  honey  as  to  make  it 
seem  quite  unnecessary  to  mention  the  profits 
derived  fj'om  the  increase  in  stocks.  Mr.  Hilton 
does  indeed  incidentally  speak  of  the  sale  of 
full  colonies,  but  he  makes  light  of  it,  and  does 
not  mention  it  in  his  itemized  account.  Taylor 
says  nothing  whatever  aboTit  it.  as  you  might 
naturally  expect  fiom  a  lawyer  and  politician. 
Now.  in  an  estimate  of  the  possible  reduction 
in  cost,  we  can  not  consent  to  the  omission  of 
the  smallest  item  from  the  account,  even  to 
matches  and  smokewood.  In  this  respect  the 
account  of  J.  Allen  is  a  model,  for  in  it  is  found 
such  very  small  items  as  paint-brush,  putty, 
cord,  postage-stamps,  etc.  As  Mr.  Hilton  gives 
his  report  for  twelve  years,  and  mentions  thirty- 
five  as  the  smallest  number  kept,  which  must 
have  been  the  first  year,  his  increase  by  the 
comforting  and  carefully  verified  figures  of  the 
author  of  "  The  Blessed  Bees"  would  amount 
to  sonu'thing  ovei'  two  millions  of  colonies. 
But  it  may  be  that  Mi'.  H.  is  not  as  well  posted 
in  this  branch  of  his  businesss  as  the  college 
president  ali'eady  referred  to.  and  that,  indeed, 
he  may  be  a  full  hundred  years  behind  the 
times,  and.  like  Mi\  Lydserff'.  but  doubles  his 
stock  yearly.  Now,  we  can  prove  by  a  nuilti- 
tude  of  common  bee-keepei's  that  this  increase 
will  bring  as  much  if  not  more  honey  than  a 
lighter  one.  This  would  give  him  an  increase 
of  only  seventy-one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
some  odd  stocks,  and  we  will  genei'ously  allow 
him  all  over  the  seventy  thousand  for  winter 
losses  (surely  he  can  not  have  lost  more  than  a 
hundred  a  year).  If  he  has  sold  this  increase 
as  he  intimates,  undoubtedly  you  will  agree 
with  me  in  saying  that,  since  we  ai'e  talking  of 
cost  in  an  apiary  run  primarily  for  comb  honey, 
the  amount  received  for  them  {i!!;:i50,0()())  should 
be  applied  to  reducing  the  cost  of  the  .W.OCX)  lbs. 
of  comb  honey  he  has  produced.  This  would 
make  his  honey  cost  consjdcM'ably  less  than  the 
figures  he  names — in  fact,  quite  a  little  less 
than  nothing  per'  pound.  Yon  will  not  fail  to 
observe  that,  the  smaller  the  yield  [ler  colony, 
the  greater  the  profit  per  pound,  which  is  di- 
rectly contrary  to  the  teachings  of  Mr.  Taylor, 
who  stoutly  defiMids  the  now  exiiloded  dogma 
that,  the  greater  the  yield  pei' colony,  the  great- 
er the  profits  per  pound. 

In  the  foregoing  estimate,  no  alhtwance  is 
made  for  cost  of  hives,  as  it  was  supposed  the 
honey  casually  obtained  from  the  inci-ease 
would  more  than  pay  for  them.  But  as  we 
have  called  for  exactness,  it  will  be  best  to 
make  a  separate  item  for  hives,  which,  how- 
ever, will  make  no  difference  in  the  net  result 
unless  it  shall  be  to  still  fnrtlu'i'  I'educe  the  cost 
of  production. 

In  an  article  by  Mr.  Taylor  in  last  Glean- 
ings, just  handed  me.  I  notice  he  anticipates 
me  in  my  corrections  on  increase,  for  he  says: 
■'It  is  possible  he  (Doolittle)  intends  these  (the 
extra  1.50)  hives  for  swarms.  If  that  be  so.  then 
of  course  the  apiary  should  have  credit  for  the 
swarms,  which  would  make  a  further  very 
material  reduction  in  the  cost  of  the  honey 
crop."  ,   , 

As  we  are  discussing  possibilities,  and  as  Mr. 
Taylor  is  dealing  so  largely  in  "  futures,"  it 
may  be  well  to  call  his  attention  to  the  Hasty- 
Hutchinson  method  of  cheapening  production 


CI.KANINCiS  IN  BEE  CUI/rURE. 


;iiui  imiiiilaiiiiiiK  llu-  supply  in  poor  soasoiis. 
This  lui'tlKul  is  alsd  cxpcftt'd  to  fiiniisli  at  all 
tiiiu'S  a  tiiK'  appcariiii:  protiurt  fttr  llif  I'loclor 
Stool*  Tower  uradc  ol  coiiili  lumcy.  This  will 
bo  hoiH'v  in  iianio  Diily.  irhu-usc  in  icality.  with 
liio  ••boo-y""  taste  atidod.  but  wholly  lacUiMR 
tl\o  lino  tlavor  ami  delicate  aroma  of  tiie  llow(>rs. 
Some  of  till' most  extensive  packers  of  adnl- 
terated  honey  in  the  Ivist  hav(>  approached  ns 
for  l)ee- bread.  This  ijives  ghicose  a  twangy 
taste,  and  causes  many  consumers  to  believe  it 
gonnine  honey.  It  is  suggested  that  th(>  author 
of  this  bi'e-gliicose  scheme  add.  as  an  especial 
attraction  to  believers  in  the  pollen  theor\.  the 
staiemiMit  that  it  will  t'nrnish  them  a  desirable 
homo  market  for  their  bee-bread.  Ijaslly,  Mr. 
Taylor,  when  yon  emliark  on  your  voyage  of 
discovery. do  not  fail  to  take  with  yon  the  Punic 
boo.  It  is  now  surmised  that  the  remarkable 
success  of  .Fohn  .Vllenwas  caused  by  his  haxing 
privately  obtained  the  very  lirst  importation  of 
the  I'miies.  The  matter  of  increase  will  tluMi 
not  be  overlooked,  for  it  will  not  be  a  secondary 
atTair.  while  for  every  other  dosiralile  [)ur|)ose 
under  heaven  these  bees  aie  modestly  claimed 
to  oclipso  all  other  varieties. 

DOOI.ITri.K-S    FKillJKS    SISTA  INKD. 

.Inst  now  a"  friend  at  my  elbow"'  calls  at- 
tention to  the  fact  that  the  editor  wished  me 
to  take  sid(>s  with  Doolittle.  and  therefore  write, 
not  on  thi>  lowest  possible  cost  of  jiroducing 
oomb  lioney  as  already  exemplilied  by  the 
twelve  years"  experience  of  Mi'.  Hilton,  or  as  to 
be  exemplilied  by  the  future  experience  of  Mr. 
Taylor  and  others,  but  write  on  the  actual  cost 
with  the  average  bee-keeper.  This  cost  estab- 
lishes, or  sliould  largely  establish,  the  market 
price.  Of  course.  I  am  sorry  I  got  on  the  wrong 
side,  but  I  can  climb  over  the  fence  as  others 
have  done. 

On  reading  over  what  I  have  already  written, 
I  judge  I  may  be  wrong  in  concluding  that  Mr. 
Hilton  has  sold  mucli  of  that  increase.  If  this 
be  so.  and  he  has  them  standing  around  in  the 
woods  waiting  for  customers  to  buy  them,  and 
un worked  for  the  laclv  of  students,  or  even  if  he 
has  had  them  worked  oii  shares  where  the  hon- 
ey cost  him  a  dollar  a  pound  (see  page  57.  Jan- 
uary l.")th  (;i.KANiN<.s).  all  of  these  items  will 
have  to  appear  in  the  account.  If  we  charge 
up  only  tlie  interest  on  their  value.  .*;3.")().(Kj(),  and 
say  nothing  about  that  dollar-a-p(>und  honey, 
we  shall  run  u[)  the  cost  of  ijroduction  to  more 
than  four  times  Dooliltle's  figures.  There  must 
1)0  S(jme  important  omission  in  his  at-count 
which  calls  for  a  yearly  prolit  of  1 11  percent, 
or  he  would  hardly  be  dropping  his  beir-business, 
as  slated  in  last  Revleir.  to  engage  more  exten- 
sively in  the  supply-business.  Or  is  it  true  that 
we  have  been  paying  that  much  or  more  prolit 
on  our  hives,  sections,  crates,  foundation,  etc.? 
If  so.  how  would  it  be  to  have  now  a  discussion 
on  the  cost  of  >upplies'.'  Mr.  H."s  account  says 
nothing  about  cost  of  shop,  honey-house,  honey- 
extractor,  wax-extractor,  smokers,  etc..  the  cost, 
interest,  and  wear  and  tear  of  which  for  twelve 
years  would  amount  to  more  than  a  thousand 
<lollars  at  Taylor's  low  estimate.  The  account 
also  says  nothing  about  rent  for  the  bee-yard, 
which  in  twelve  years,  at  the  low  pric<'  the  av- 
erage bee-kf!eper  pays,  would  amount  to  from 
#1.")0  to  ?!:.'(K»:  and  as  Mr.  H.  keeps  bees  success- 
fully without  any  of  these  necessaries  of  the 
average  bee-keeper,  and   as  he  has  had  no  dis- 

*  Steel  should  bespolled  witli  an  awlieii  bcie-ffhiccj.se 
is  sold  as  the  author  claims  a  descriptive  mark 
should  l)e  used.  The  Proctor  Steel  Tower  is  to  l)e 
erected  on  the  Chicago  Woi'ld's  Fail-  /^rounds,  and 
will  be  IIUO  feet  high,  or  1(H)  feel  hijfher  than  the 
Eiffel  tower.  As  no  superlative  has  been  found  for- 
Chir-.nrit  tr)p  trrado,  this  is  suKKosled. 


astrotis  wintoi'  losses  to  report,  no  radical  and 
expensive  changes  in  hives,  lixturos,  or  man- 
agement to  meet  the  changed  re(iuirements  of 
the  mark<'ts  and  of  impi'o\'ed  bee-keeping  dur- 
ing the  jiast  twelve  years,  no  dolhir-a-pound 
hom'y.(d.id  I  promise  to  say  no  nnne  about  this'.'i 
and  has  no  expensive  mistakes  or  other  items  (»f 
loss  to  charge  to  i  ho  business,  we  conclude  he  is 
so  far  above  the  avi-rage  bee-keeper  that  his 
account  can  have  but  little  bearing  on  cost  of 
production  with  the  average  honey-prfxiucer. 
Further  conlirmation  of  this  is  found  in  the 
cost  of  manipulation,  w  hich  is  given  at  fifty 
cents  per  cohuiy.  which  I  doubt  whether  an- 
other skillful  bee-ke<'per  in  the  Iiiited  States 
can  report  as  low  for  as  long  a  time. 

Mr.  Taylor,  in  his  last,  calls  for  "critically 
exact  slatements.  with  full  details  of  the  actual 
m^cessary  exijense  of  money  and  tinu'."  After 
these  are  obtained,  the  present  l)one  of  conlcui- 
tion  will  still  remain:  the  amount  the  av<'rage 
honey-producer  may  have  apportioned  to  hint 
as  wages  or  salary  before  the  cost  of  production 
can  be  dotortniiu'd.  We  liave  an  illustration  of 
this  in  the  accountof  C.  K.  Thomas  in  March 
l.">th  (;i.KAXiN(;s.  in  w  liicli  this  item  is  left  out. 
As  I  understand.  Mr.  Thomas,  in  estimating 
profits  in  his  hardware  business,  does  not  reckon 
in  a  salary  for  himst^lf  asa  part  of  the  cost  of 
conducting  his  business.  Hut  let  me  say  to  him, 
and  to  honey-producers  who  figure  in  the  same 
shortsighted  way.  that,  if  a  tax  on  net  prolits 
were  likely  to  hit  them  they  would  hustle 
around  for  a  salary  fully  as  lively  as  Doolittle, 
and  probably  make  it  quite  as  high.  It  seems 
to  me  that  Mr.  Doolittle  has  stated  the  case 
fairly  in  his  last  by  saying  that  the  average 
bee-keeper  or  bee-keepers  on  an  av<n'age  could 
get  two  dollars  a  day,  or  six  hundred  a  year, 
without  board,  in  some  manufacturing  town; 
and  that  this  amount,  when  he  is  engaged  in 
the  production  of  honey,  is  as  much  a  part  of 
the  cost  of  it  as  any  other  item. 

To  make  a  long  story  short,  we  will  say  that 
honey-i)roducers  on  an  average  earn  oi-  make  a 
hundred  dollars  a  year  outside  of  their  business. 
This  will  leave  live  hundred  to  charge  to  their 
business.  Then  accurate  statistics  will  give  all 
other  data  necessary  to  show  actual  cost.  In 
the  last  quotation  from  Mr.  Taylor,  the  word 
■■  necessary  ■■  should  have  been  loft  out  by  him; 
for,  in  the,  actual  expense  account,  past,  present, 
or  future,  will  be  found  many  items  not  neces- 
sary, and  such  will  have  to  be  audited  if  we 'are 
seeking  the  real  cost  of  honey-production  in 
this  country.  If  the  lowest  possible  cost  is 
sought  by  taking  only  the  accounts  of  the  most 
skillful  apiarists,  the  same  items  will  be  found, 
though  neither  so  numerous  nor  so  costly.  The 
ditTorenco  between  the  average  and  skillful 
cost  will  show  the  profit  of  being  skillful,  for 
the  market  price  will  be  usually  regulated  by 
the  general  cost.  If  tln^  past  governs  or  fore- 
casts the  future  (and  we  have  no  right  to  judge 
otherwise),  then  will  unexpected  and  unavoid- 
able reverses  always  b(^  a  very  heavy  item  in 
cost  of  production.  For  Mr.  Hilton  and  Taylor 
to  |)resent  accounts  and  estimates  with  the  re- 
verses and  losses  left  out  is  to  overlook  one  of 
the  nuM  eei'tdiii  sources  of  cost;  it  is  to  disre- 
gard the  fact  that  man  is  and  always  will 
remain  a  costly  blunderer,  and  that  his  environ- 
ments are  such  that  his  business  is  liable  to 
constant  lo.ss  from  diouth  and  flood,  fire  and 
frost,  disea.se  and  death,  etc.  At  the  end  of  a 
few  years  I  predict  that  Mr.  Tavlor  will  report 
that— 

'I'lie  l)esl-laid  .schemes o"  ini<'e  an'  men 
Gnng  aft  a-g-ley; 

for.  in  addition  to  the  items  he  now  spt^cifies  as 
suthcieiit,  he  may  have  to  chronicle  heavy  losses 
fioni  some  new  bee-disease  or  enemy;  from  dis- 


274 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Al'KII.    If). 


astrous  winter  mortality  in  his  locality;  from 
selling  honey  at  10  cts.  instead  of  15  ets.,  caused 
by  a  free  use  of  H.  it  H.  methods  or  other 
causes:  from  having  his  range  overstocked, 
thereby  reducing  his  average  from  fifty  to  thir- 
ty pounds  per  colony,  and  depreciating  his  plant 
in  like  proportion:  by  expense  of  changing  his 
Heddon  hive  and  fixtures  to  some  hive  better 
adapted  to  the  Funic  (or  ^;)is  dorsiUfO  bee:  and 
from  other  unexpected  and  unavoidable  causes. 

So  far  as  my  observations  extend  among  good 
bee-keepers,  the  margin  of  proKt  is  small, 
although  the  exjjense  account  is  usually  very 
carefully  looked  afte'-.  I  am.  therefore,  in  the 
fullest  sympathy  with  any  effort  to  ascertain 
actual  cost  and  to  cheapen  production:  and 
because  a  knowledge  of  the  former  would  be  an 
efficient  educator  to  that  very  large  number  who 
now  pi'odnce  honey  at  a  loss,  while  a  soluticm  of 
the  lattei-  is  ti-uly  the  "'sheet  anchor"  of  the 
specialist. 

I  wish  to  assure  the  readers  of  Gi,kanings 
that  I  hold  Messrs.  Taylor,  Hilton,  and  Hutch- 
inson in  very  high  esteem  as  men  and  bee-keep- 
ers, and  that  any  criticism  I  have  made  applies 
only  to  their  method  of  approaching  the  solu- 
tion of  this  question,  which  I  hold  lo  be  unwise: 
and,  coming  from  the  sources  it  does,  it  is  in- 
jurious to  our  markets.  As  the  editor  has  truly 
said.  '■  We  can  not  talk  prices  up."  but  we  can 
easily  talk  them  down.  P.  H.  Eiavood. 

Starkville.  N.  Y.,  March  •.'(). 

[The  above  would  hav(!  apjjeared  in  our  issue 
for  Apr.  1,  as  announced;  but  on  account  of  the 
sickness  of  Mr.  Elwood  it  did  not  reach  here  in 
time  for  that  number.  The  discussion  has  now 
been  well  balanced  up.  both  sides  being  well 
represented:  and  for  the  present  we  deem  it 
best  to  have  it  closed,  since  the  arguments  have 
been  made  with  different  standpoints  and  with 
different  ideas  as  to  what  constitutes  cost. 

Although  Doolittle's  side  has  had  "  the  last 
say."  it  may  be  a  little  comforting  to  fother 
side  to  know  that  we  are  still  on  their  side  of 
the  fence.  Taylor  argues  on  the  possibilities 
and  actual  necessary  expenses,  and  not  on  av- 
erage results  as  obtained  by  the  average  bee- 
keeper. As  we  view  it.  if  there  is  a  possibility 
of  reducing  the  cost  of  a  ixiund  of  honey  we 
ought  to  grab  at  the  least  straw:  in  othei' 
words,  that  which  is  in  the  range  of  possibili- 
ties may  be  made  to  become  an  actual  achieve- 
ment. Therefore  is  it  not  pertinent  to  look  well 
to  what  are  necessary  and  what  are  unneces- 
sary expenses?  // we  can  cut  off  the  unneces- 
sary outlays,  is  there;  not  a  strong  probability 
that  Taylor's  figures  may  be  some  day  realized? 
Although  we  are  supply-dealers,  we  ought  to 
say,  in  all  frankness,  that  it  is  the  biggest  piece 
of  folly  for  bee-keepers  to  throw  aside  too  hastily 
th(!  old  and  adopt  the  new.  This  has  been  done 
a  great  deal,  and  it  counts  pretty  heavy  in  the 
cost  of  producing  honey.  Nor  is  this  inconsis- 
tent with  what  we  have  already  said  in  these 
columns.  We  have;  repeatedly  advised  hee- 
keepers  not  to  cast  aside  their  old  loose  fi-am(;s 
all  at  once,  and  adopt  what  we  feel  suir  is  bet- 
ter— self-spacing  frames.  The  change  should 
he  made  gradually,  and  that,  too.  on  the  assump- 
tion that  the  trial  of  a  few  justifies  the  intro- 
duction of  more.  WHiat  we  have  advised  and 
still  advise  is  this:  Wlien  you  iieaJ  more  frames, 
get  the  latest  self-spaciiig.  Taking  the  whole 
thing  in  a  nutshell,  Messrs.  Doolittleand  Elwood 
have  argued  on  the  actual  results  attained  by 
bee-keepers:  Mr.  Taylor,  for  what  might  be  at- 
tained, putting  it,  as  it  seemed  to  us.  in  the 
range  of  possibility.  Taking  the  whole  discus- 
sion, even  if  we  are  more  on  the  side  of  Mr. 
Taylor,  we  find  we  have  at  least  an  arm  and 
one  foot  over  cm   Doolittle's  side  of  the   fence, 


and  it  is  very  possible  that  a  few  months  or  few 
years  later  will  draw  us  clear  over,  coat-tails 
and  all.  Mr.  Elwood  touches  (m  an  important 
matter:  viz..  w(>  can  not  talk  up  prices,  but  we 
can  easily  talk  *em  down.  The  impression 
should  not  go  abroad  that  the  average  bee- 
keeper realizes  in  sales  double  on  the  cost  of 
his  honey,  for  these  are  not  the  facts.  If  the 
middlemen  think  bee-keepers  as  a  whole  are 
making  100  per  cent  on  their  investments  they 
are  going  to  work  a  scheme  to  get  a  part  of  the 
per  cent.  No,  let  us  clearly  understand  what 
are. facts  and  what  are  possibilities.  If  we  pro- 
duce comb  honey  mnv  at,  say,  8  or  lOc  per  pound 
(it  never  ought  to  cost  15c  for  the  average  sea- 
son) perhaps  in  the  future  if  we  look  well  to 
possibilities  we  may  produce  it  for  5c  per  lb.] 


MANUM  AND  HIS  NEIGHBOR. 


CONTINUED. 


"Manum,  at  what  stage  of  advancement  do 
you  prefer  to  remove  the  queens?"' 

"Well.  Charles,  usually  on  the  first  discovery 
of  eggs  in  the  queen-cells.  Last  year  I  removed 
a  few  on  the  28th  of  May.  and  by  June  17th  all 
were  remov(>d.  I  sometimes  take  out  queens 
from  such  as  are  full  of  Ijees  and  brood,  even  if 
there  is  no  sign  of  swarming,  in  order  to  save 
hunting  for  the  queens  later  on.  The  most 
tedious,  tiresome  work  I  have  to  do  is  hunting 
out  queens  in  these  full  colonies.  Where  I  have 
to  work  at  it  all  day  there  is  more  work  than 
pleasure  in  it." 

"I  believe  you  experimented  in  caging  the 
queens  in  the  sections,  and  leaving  them  on  the 
hive  where  the  bees  could  have  access  to  them, 
did  you  not?" 

"  Yes:  I  tried  it  to  some  extent,  but  I  can  not 
give  a  favorable  report  yet.  I  want  to  try  it 
another  .season  before  I  can  decide.  In  some 
instances  it  worked  successfully,  while  in  many 
others  it  was  a  failure.  I  believe,  liowevei', 
that  the  plan  can  be  made  a  success  if  the 
queens  are  liberated  at  just  the  right  tune;  but 
I  have  not  as  yet  discovered  jiixt  when  the  right 
time  is." 

"  What  are  the  disadvantages  to  this  plan,  if 
there  are  any?" 

"In  the  first  place,  I  believe  it  is  an  injury  to 
the  queens,  when  confined  from  8  to  \'.i  days 
where  they  can  not  lay  eggs.  This  sudden 
check  from  laying,  which  is  contiary  to  theii' 
nature  at  this  s(>ason.  seems  to  be  an  injury 
from  which  they  do  not  seem  to  recover,  be- 
cause, when  liberated  and  not  rejected  (which 
is  often  the  case),  they  will  lay  eggs  here  and 
there  all  through  the  hive,  and  then  swarm. 
But  I  find  that,  where  they  have  been  cased 
but  5  to  8  days,  they  behave  much  better;  hence 
I  am  in  hopes  yet  to  mak(>  this  plan  a  success. 
Charles,  there  are  so  many  things  about  this 
bee-business  that  I  don't  understand,  that  I 
begin  to  think  I  never  shall  know  it  all." 

•■  Did  you  think  the  bees  worked  any  bet- 
ter where  the  queens  were  caged  than  where 
they  were  removed  entirely?" 

"No;  I  could  not  see  that  they  did." 

'"Then  what  would  be  the;  advantages  liy 
caging,  over  the  removal  of  queens?" 

"  Well,  where  one  does  not  sell  his  yearling 
queens  it  saves  introducing  new  ones,  as  these 
are  already  introduced;  and  I  fancied  where 
there  was  a  laying  queen  present  they  were  not 
as  liable  to  start  queen-cells  as  where  no  queen 
was  i)resent;  however,  they  did  in  some  cases 
start  cells  fully  as  soon,  and  as  many  of  them." 

"Now.  Manum,  what  would  you  advise  me  to 
do,  should  I  decide  to  run  my  two  apiaries  alone 
— to  remove  the  queens  entirely,  or  cage  them?" 


IS'.f." 


(.i-KANiN(;s  IN  iu-;k  ('llI/riI|{K. 


275 


■•  Well.  Cluiilo.  laUiiiLT  all  thing's  lotiftlicr  I 
WKuliI  ailvist'  yoii  to  riMuo\c  Ilii-  qiiciMis  in  pn-f- 
•Toiu't'  to  oaniiijr  tliciu;  liowt'vcf.  yoii  iniRlit  cx- 
pcriiiii'iit  ill  cajriiiK  a  fi'sv.  ]iy  so  doing  you 
niijrlit  (iiscovcr  sonu'  \(M>  imiiorlaiil  points 
wliii'll  would  lit'  liciicliciai  to  oilier  hcc-Urciicrs. 
It  is  not  for  one  person  to  disi-ovcr  or  know  all. 
We  oiiii  all  help  a  little.  Tliere  is  a  larj^e  lield 
of  knowledge  In  nature  lliatis  yet  nndisi-overed. 
with  room  (Miougli  for  all  to  work  in.  llenee 
let  us  all  take  a  hand  in  the  work  and  then 
roinpare  notes." 

•■  \Vell.  well.  Mr.  I'ox !  walk  in.  (."harles  and 
I  are  liaviiiiT  a  oonveiuion  all  by  ourselves." 

"  Ves.  1  .see.  Manuiii:  and  I  am  sorry  I  did 
not  eome  in  sooner,  riiarles  living  so  near  you 
he  can  stej)  in  and  talk  liees  at  any  time;  but  I 
am  so  far  away  1  have  to  be  satistied  with  what 
I  find  in  (.Ji.k.winus.  I  t-anie  in.  Manuin.  to 
iisk  if  I  LH)uld  see  your  new  feeder  that  I  lii'ar 
so  much  about  amonff  hee-kee[)ers.  and  to  ask 
if  it  gives  you  siitisfaciion." 

"(Hi!  yes.  Mr.-<'ox:  you  can  see  it.  and  here 
it  is." 


"  Why,  Maiium.  it  is  a  dift'en^nt-looking  thing 
from  what  I  supposed  it  was.  Wliyl  it  is  a 
regular  box.     Won"t  it  leak?" 

"No.  not  if  properly  made — at  least.  I  am  not 
troubled  with  their  leaking;  as  vou  will  see. 
they  are  thoroughly  made." 

"You  use  them.  I  hear,  for  feeding  back  ex- 
tracted honey.     How  do  you  do  it?" 

"There.  Mr.  Cox.  you  see  they  are  just  the 
width  and  length  of  my  clamps;  and  by  placing 
one  on  a  clamp  of  sections  you  will  see  that  it 
is  so  arranged  that  the  bees  can  pass  nj)  from 
the  sections  into  the  feeder  and  back  again,  no 
matter  how  many  tiers  of  sections  are  on  the 
hive;  just  place  the  feeder  on  the  top  tier,  and 
it  will  work  like  a  charm." 

■"How  much  does  the  feeder  hold?" 

"  Well,  those  made  for  my  siz(!  of  claniiJ  hold 
U)  pounds  of  extracted  honey.  You  know  my 
clamps  are  only  half  size — in  other  words,  it 
lakes  two  to  cover  the  top  of  my  brood-cham- 
ber; hence  when  I  wish  to  hurry  up  matters  I 
put  on  two  feeders." 

■'Charles,  have  you  tried  these  feeders  "  Mr. 
Cox  asked. 

'•  Yes,"  said  Charles.  "  I  have  20  of  them,  and 
intend  to  make  KJo  more.  They  are  the  best 
feeder  I  ever  saw.  My  man  told  me  last  fall 
that  he  wished  I  would  give  away  all  my  old 
feeders  and  replace  them  with  Manum's  new 
kind.  I  have  urged  Manuin  to  have  them  pat- 
ented, but  somehow  he  dot^sn't  .seem  to  care  for 
patents;  whatever  he  invents  he  (jives  to  the 
public." 

Mr.  Cox  asked.  "  Now.  Manum,  there  is  anoth- 
er thing  I  want  to  ask  you.  What  do  you  think 
of  the  Porter  escape?  Have  you  ever  used 
them?" 

"  No.  I  have  never  used  them.  Mr.  Porter 
s<'nt  me  two  last  fall,  but  too  late  in  the  season 
to  give  them  a  trial,  hence  I  can  not  s))eak  from 
experience.  But  simjily  seeing  them  convinces 
me  that  they  are  a  good  thing— yes,  a  perfect 
escape." 

"  Now.  Manum.  why  is  it  that  we  heard  noth- 
ing from  you  through  (tI,kanin'os  for  so  long  a 
time?"  asks  Mr.  Cox. 


••'I'he  fact  is.  I  have  l)een  \eiv  busy  since  last 
May.  as  you  must  alreadv  know.  Hesidiis  the 
care  of  all  my  bees  I  have  had  to  look  after  and 
ship  my  crof)  of  honey.  pn>par<'  and  feed  the 
IxM's  for  winter,  and,  in  addition  to  all  this,  1 
ha\e  made  extensive  repairs  on  my  house;  and, 
furthermore.  1  felt  it  a  duty  to  entertain  the 
iinr  iiuicti — a  |)leasant  duly,  which,  of  course, 
I  did  not  neglect.  I  hop<'  now.  however,  to  be 
able  to  talk  to  tiie  readers  of  (Ii.K.VNt.NCi.s  s<!ver- 
al  times  before  the  busy  season  is  upon  us.  1 
will  add.  before  you  go.  Mr.  Cox,  that  the  new 
■(lueen  "  (Mrs.  Manum)  manifests  much  iiitei'- 
est  in  bees;  and  tli«^  symptoms  are  that  she  will 
be  a  great  acciuisition  to  our  calling,  inasmuch 
as  she  proposes  to  actpiire  a  knowledge  of  the 
btisinc'ss  and  take  an  active  part  in  the  apiary. 

Bristol,  Vt..  March  •.'.{.  A.  K.  Mani'.m. 

[We  are  glad,  friend  Manum,  that  you  have 
given  us  more  light  on  this  (inestion  of  caging 
queens  or  removing  thtnn  to  prevent  swarming. 
There  is  a  great  deal  of  disagreement  (jn  this 
subject,  and  we  need  more  facts.  Still,  there 
are  "those  who  make  it  a  success,  as  you  do.  In 
regard  to  the  feeder,  if  we  understand  it.  it  is 
very  much  in  principle  like  the  one  introduced 
by  Dr.  C.  C.  Miller,  and  bearing  bis  name.  The 
thing  has  since  then  t)een  iin)ii()\cd  at  the 
Home  of  the  Honey-bees,  although  the  princi- 
ple is  kept  the  same.  It  is  an  excellent  feeder, 
and  we  don't  wonder  that  you  and  your  neigh- 
bor like  it:  that  is.  if  it  is  the  same  feeder. 
We  have  no  doubt  that  you  originated  your 
feeder  without  the  knowledge  of  the  one  gotten 
up  by  Dr.  Miller,  or  at  least  you  had  not  taken 
particular  notice  of  it  when  it  was  illustrated 
and  described.! 


WRITING  FOR  THE  BEE-JOURNALS. 

ANSWEIUNG   QUESTIONS   OVEI!  AND  OVEK  AG.VIX 

BY   LETTER   THAT   ARE    Al.READY   COV- 

RKEl)    IN   THE   TEXT  BOOKS. 


Only  a  little  over  30  years  have  passed  since 
the  advent  of  the  first  "bee-paper  in  our  country; 
but  what  a  chang(>  has  been  wrought  along  the 
literary  lines  of  our  pursuit  I  Thirty  years  ago 
scarcely  a  dozen  could  be  found  who  would  even 
dan'  to  write  on  the  subject  of  bees  for  publica- 
tion; but  now  we  have  hundreds  who  so  write; 
and  we  find  that  the  matter  has  a.ssumed  such 
proportions  that  a  whole  number  of  one  of  the 
leading  bee-papers  (the  Review)  is  devoted  to 
the  discussion  ot  the  importance  of"  writing  for 
the  bee-journals."  But  I  did  not  start  out  to 
tell  who  should  or  who  should  not  write  for  the 
bee-papers;  butofsomeof  the  things  which  a 
writer  to  such  papers  has  to  encounter  by  be- 
coming prominent  in  this  respect.  In  that 
memorable  issue  of  the  Revieir  alluded  to  above. 
Mr.  Clark  says.  "Mr.  Doolittle  writes  too 
much."  and  I  Innc  about  come  to  that  conclu- 
sion myself,  and  Iku'c  pro|)os(>  to  tell  the  readers 
of  Gleanings  some  of  tlie  things  which  have 
driven  me  to  that  conclusion.  I  have  written 
to  the  extent  of  answering  ev(^ry  letter  and  pos- 
tal card  that  has  ev<'r  come  to  me  so  far;  but 
just  how  long  I  shall  keep  it  up.  I  do  not  know, 
for  I  have  of  late  been  im[)ressed  with  the  idea, 
that,  after  keeping  this  thing  up  for  fifteen 
years.  I  ought  to  have  a  vacation.  Here  are 
some  of  the  things  which  have  caused  these 
thoughts  to  come  to  my  mind: 

A  person  in  Florida  writes,  "In  a  back  num- 
ber of  Gi-EANiNCis  I  saw  an  article  from  your 
Een  about  the  different  kinds  of  willows.  As  I 
ave  embarked  again  in  bee  culture.  I  should 
like  for  you  to  send  me  cuttings  of  all  the  differ- 
ent kinds  of  willow  in  ymir  vicinity.     Please  la- 


GLEANIISHJS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Al'KlI.   1" 


bf\  them  nil  nicely  t^o  I  can  tell  them.  We  have 
only  the  swamp-wilhiw  here.  Inclosed  I  send 
three  postal  cards  for  postage,  not  having 
stamps  on  hand.  If  not  enough  for  the  postage. 
I  will  pay  the  remainder  here.  Your  articles 
are  a  great  help  tome.     Long  live  Gi-kanings." 

I  heartily  indorse  the  last  sentence:  but  in 
order  to  indorse  it  long  I  must  live  myself.  I 
am  also  glad  to  know  that  my  articles  help 
some  along  the  rough  and  uneven  way  of  api- 
culture; hut  will  these  things  and  the  three 
postal  cards  warrant  me  in  tramping  several 
miles  for  willow  -  cuttings,  carefully  labeling 
them,  packing  them  securely,  and  taking  them 
one  mile  to  the  postoffice?  If  not,  will  you,  Mr. 
Editor,  and  the  readers  of  (Cleanings,  tell  me 
what  I  shall  d(»? 

Another  writes:  "In  a  late  number  of  the 
American  Riinil  Home  I  see  an  article  from 
your  pen.  on  bees,  which  interested  me  very 
much.  \Vill  you  please  write  me  all  about  how 
to  manage  bees,  how  to  build  a  bee-house,  what 
kind  (jf  hives  are  liest.  and  how  much  prolit  I 
can  expect  out  of  the  business  ?  Please  give  full 
particulars  in  the  matter." 

Clark  says  I  write  too  much,  yet  here  is  a 
man  who  apparently  doesn't  think  so.  but  wants 
me  to  write  a  book  for  his  benefit,  and  present  it 
to  him  in  manuscript,  without  even  inclosing  a 
postal  card  to  pay  a  small  part  of  the  postage. 
He  little  dreamed  that,  when  I  came  to  his  let- 
ter, I  had  already  been  answering  questions  for 
an  hour  or  more,  or  that  there  were  from  five  to 
ten  unanswered  letters  on  my  desk,  with  the 
hour  of  bedtime  at  hand,  or  that  I  was  tired  and 
nearly  exhausted  with  the  labors  of  the  day.  I 
want'to  accommodate  all,  but  must  l)e  excused 
from  writing  for  any  one  the  details  of  what  he 
can  procure  through  the  papers  and  books  pub- 
lished on  bees.  In  this  case  I  wrote  him  that 
lie  would  find  all  of  his  questions  answered  in 
such  and  such  books,  naming  them:  and  if  he 
wished  to  keep  up  with  Ihe  times  he  should 
take  one  or  more  of  the  different  bee-papers, 
naming  them  also.  As  this  reiiuired  too  much 
writing  to  go  on  a  postal  card,  of  course  it  re- 
tiuired  an  envelope,  sheet  of  paper,  and  a  two- 
cent  stamp.  It  seems  all  should  know  about 
this  envelope,  paper,  and  postage,  without  be- 
ing told:  yet  not  one  in  four  who  ask  questions 
similar  to  the  at)ove  incloses  a  stamp.  A  stamp 
to  them  means  very  little:  but  to  the  one  who 
has  followed  answering  all  such  questions  for 
fifteen  years,  it  means  a  small  fortune. 

Another  says,  "  I  wish  to  thank  you  for  all  of 
the  good  articles  yim  have  given  us  in  the  bee- 
papers  for  many  years.  I  always  turn  to  your 
articles  the  first  thing  when  I  get  any  of  the 
papers  which  you  write  for.  being  sure  of  a  feast 
every  time.  I^ow.  if  you  will  grant  me  a  favor 
you  will  lay  me  under  renewed  obligations  to 
you  for  your  kindness.  On  a  separate  sheet  you 
will  find  some  questions  which  I  wish  answered. 
If  you  can  find  time  to  answer  these  you  will 
greatly  oblige.  Yours  truly, ." 

By  this  time  Mrs.  D.  has  retired,  but  has  not 
gone  to  sleep,  so  I  call  to  her,  telling  her  of  the 
g«td  words  spoken  above,  and  how  glad  I  am 
that  we  could  be  the  means  of  doing  some  good 
in  the  world.  She  replies  by  asking  if  I  have 
lix)ked  at  the  questions. 

"  No,  but  I  will." 

The  "separate  sheet"  proves  to  be  a  whole 
sheet  of  foolscap  paper  written  solid  full  of 
questi(ms,  which  begin:  "  1.  I  think  I  have  foul 
brood  in  my  apiary.  Will  you  receive  a  sample 
from  me  and  tell  me  if  it  is  such  ?  2.  How  do 
you  tell  foul  brood?  Please  describe  It  so  mi- 
nutely that  I  can  tell  whether  I  have  it  or  not; 
also  tell  me  just  how  you  would  work  to 
cure  it."  The  :5d,  4th.  and  5th  questions  are 
similar  to  the  alK)ve.  on   foul   brood.    "0.  How 


many  colonies  of  bees  do  yo>i  keep?  7.  How  do 
you  manage  them  during  swarming?"  and  so 
on  down  to  the  end  of  the  sheet.  What  shall  I 
do?  I  dip  7ny  pen  in  a  ditfertMit-colored  ink 
from  what  the  letter  was  written  with,  and 
right  above  every  question  give  the  very  best 
answer  I  can  in  the  space  there  is  lietween  the 
lines,  directing  to  different  books  and  articles  as 
much  as  possible,  in  the  mean  time  remember- 
ing how  good  old  Elisha  (iallup  used  to  liear 
with  me  when  I  botiiered  him  in  the  same  way. 
and  trying  to  be  glad  to  repay  him  by  doing  for 
some  lirother  or  sister  what  he  kindly  did  for 
me.  In  this  way  I  keep  on.  and  probably  shall 
as  long  as  questions  are  sent  in.  Being  a  littlt- 
worn  to-day  I  felt  as  if  a  little  knowledge  of 
what  a  writer  has  to  do  might  cause  some  to 
ease  up  a  little  (m  these  private  questicms,  and 
help  others  to  know  that  the  bee- writers  do  not 
all  lie  on  "  beds  of  roses."  as  well  as  to  relieve 
ine  a  little  by  not  keeping  all  of  the  good  things 
to  myself.  G.  M.  Dooi.itti.k. 

Borodino.  N.  Y.,  Mar.  K). 

[We  thoroughly  appreciate  your  situation, 
friend  D.  As  editor  of  Gleanings  it  is  one  of 
our  duties  to  answer  questions.  Those  that  are 
not  of  sufficient  importance  for  publication  are 
answered  by  letter.  But  unless  your  querist  is 
kind  enough  to  inclose  you  something,  you  will 
probably  get  no  pecuniary  returns  for  your 
pains  and  trouble.  A  concspondent  certainly 
ought  to  inclose  a  stamp,  or.  better,  a  stamped 
ami  addressed  envelope,  to  bee-keejtersof  whom 
they  desire  information:  and  where  he  calls  for 
very  full  answers  he  ought,  to  ask  his  teacher, 
as  it  were,  to  send  in  his  bill.  As  editor  of 
Gleanings,  however,  we  are  prepared  to  an- 
swer all  the  questions,  or  at  least  ought  to  be. 
without  even  so  much  as  a  stamp  or  stamped 
envelope:  and  while  our  replies  have  to  be  very 
meager,  often  referring  the  querist  to  our  A  B  C 
of  Bee  Culture,  it  is  the  best  we  can  do.  It  is  a 
little  cui'ious  why  people  will  ask  questions 
that  are  very  thoroughly  and  well  covered  in 
nearly  all  the  text-books.  Every  once  in  a 
while  we  are  asked  to  give  very  full  particulars 
as  to  when  and  how  to  transfer.  There  is  not  a 
general  text-book  on  bee  culture,  however  poor, 
but  answers  both  of  these  questions  fully. 
There  are  many  others  of  a  similar  nature  that 
we  invariably  refer  to  some  page  or  paragraph 
in  oui'  A  B  C  book. 


RAMBLE  NO.  57. 

"OUT   ON   THE   OCEAN    S.\ILING." 

Wlieii  on  my  day  of  life  the  iiigrlit  is  falliiij^'. 
And  in  tlie  winds  from  unsuniu'd  spaces  hlowiiif:-. 

1  hear  fair  voices  out  of  darkness  calling' 
My  feet  to  patlis  unknown. 

We  can  little  imagine  the  size  of  acountiy 
until  we  commence  to  travel  over  its  surface. 
Everybody  knows  that  Texas  is  the  largest 
State  in  the  Union;  but  few  people  stop  to 
think  which  is  the  next  largest.  It  is  Califor- 
nia, and  it  is  noted  for  its  magnificent  distances. 
Its  entire  coast  line  is  SKX)  miles.  From  San 
Francisco  to  Los  Angeles  it  is  about  44()  miles, 
and  a  journey  by  steamer  gives  the  traveler 
two  nights,  or  nearly  48  hours,  on  the  ocean. 
My  face  was  set  toward  Los  Angeles,  and  a  sea- 
voyage  had  been  an  experience  I  had  often 
dreamed  of,  but  never  imagined  I  should  have 
the  privilege  to  make  one,  and  especially  on  the 
Pacific.  This  was,  then,  an  opportunity  not  to 
be  slighted. 

The  good  steamship  (Jueen  left  her  wharf  at 
San  Francisco  at  11  o'clock  a.  m.  on  Sunday, 
the  21st  of  October;  and  if  all  was  noisy  bustle 


mr: 


(;i-HANiN(;s  IN  moi;  ci'i/riMiK. 


wlioii  \v«>  staiUHi.  it  was  ([uict  t'lioiiph  for  any 
Sunday  when  \vc  left  tli(>  city;  and  if  I  liad  any 
inisfiiv  iiiiis  alumi  starting  on  tiiat  day  1  had 
none  aflcf  1  liad  liccn  out  a  frw  lumrs.  and  only 
wisiifd  tliat  all  of  tiu>si'  wlio  wcic  iahorin^  and 
in  the  pui-;nit  of  (jncstionabic  aninscnK'nts  on 
tilt'  Sahliath  wcio  sailing  out  upon  the  oc(>an 
wlit'it'  all  is  so  quiet,  sn  ni-aud.  and  so  soul- 
inspiiiiiii.  As  wi-  passed  through  llii'  (Joklcn 
(Jatf  till'  fot;  was  rolliiif;  in  from  tlic  ocean;  and 
land,  tlioujrli  unite  near  on  either  side,  cinild 
not  be  stMMi.  Tli(»  hoarse  fog-horn  on  the  steam- 
ship would  blow  ever>  few  moments,  and  an 
answer  would  come  from  another  dee|)er-toned 
horn  on  some  dangerous  point  on  the  shore. 
We  soon  experienceil  a  chanpe.  however,  and 
knew  we  were  out  upon  the  broad  ocean,  from 
the  rise  and  fall  of  our  shij)  as  she  encounlfiied 
the  regular  ocean-swells.  The  fog  rose  after  a 
few  hours,  and  the  steamer  was  out  about  2."> 
miles  from  the  shore,  and  kept  about  that  dis- 
tance while  between  siojjping-ijoints.  It  was 
a  pleasant  sensation  to  stand  i)n  the  highest 
deck  at  the  stern  of  the  vessel,  and  look  forward 
and  see  the  prow  rise  and  fall  as  we  went  over 
the  swells.  The  sea-gulls  kept  ns  company.  It 
is  said  they  can  tell  when  meals  ai'e  in  progr(>ss 
from  the  savory  smells  that  arise  from  the  culi- 
nary department.  However  this  may  be,  hun- 
dreds of  them  were  always  on  hand  to  dive  and 
S(iual)ble  for  the  refus(>  that  was  thrown  over- 
board after  every  meal. 

A  small  amount  of  shipping  is  seen  on  this 
coast  compared  with  the  Atlantic.  Many  large 
cities  in  tiie  East  make  an  enormous  coast 
trade;  but  their  absence  here,  of  course,  dimin- 
islies  the  number  of  shijis;  and  from  the  barren 
wastes  of  treeless  moiuitains  all  along  the  coast 
it  will  never  reach  great  magnitude. 

Our  state-rooms  were  well  provided  with  all 
appliances  neces,sary  to  aid  a  person  to  become 
seasick;  but  tlie  sea  was  so  even-tempered,  so 
pacific,  that  none  on  board  were  thus  afflicted. 
If  there  were  any,  they  kept  it  very  quietly  to 
th«'niselves. 

Tiie  long  quiet  hours  of  the  day  were  passed 
by  many  in  their  state-rooms,  reclining  in  their 
berths,  "reading  or  sleeping,  mostly  the  latter, 
for  some  people  think  they  can  sleep  better  in 
the  day  time  when  they  don't  want  to  than  in 
the  night  when  they  do  want  to.  This  fancy, 
perhaps,  holds  good  in  other  places  as  well  as 
on  shipboard.  In  the  evening  there  was  a 
gathering  in  the  grand  saloon.  Some  one  leads 
on  the  organ,  and  several  gospel  hymns  are 
sung;  and.  did  you  imagine  it.  my  friends? 
those  hymns  are  sung  all  across  our  land,  under 
every  condition  of  life,  in  the  city  and  in  the 
camp;  and  in  the  most  uiie.Kpected  places  .some 
favorite  air  will  be  wafted  to  your  ear.  Who 
shall  say  the  tiny  seed  is  not  taking  root  in  the 
apparently  l)arren  ground  ?  After  the  songs. 
we  listen  to  the  fat  and  jolly  captain  who  is 
entertaining  a  group  of  ladies  by  telling  them 
that  no  one  is  seasick  except  those  who  are 
scared;  that  men  are  more  liable  to  be  seasick 
than  ladies;  that  the  average  man"s  hair  would 
stand  on  end  when  the  waves  l)egin  to  roll. 

A  sedate  man  in  the  corner  wanted  to  know 
how  a  woman's  hair  could  stand  on  end  when 
it  is  always  tied  down.  He  said  that,  while  it 
was  perhaps  a  historical  fact  that  a  woman's 
hair  never  stood  oji  end.  theri^  wc^re  also  men 
whose  hair  never  became  erect.  He  further 
said  that  no  high  waves  or  lions,  nor  even 
ghosts,  could  affect  him.  There  was  a  prospect 
of  some  betting  on  the  subject;  but  as  no  lions 
or  ghosts  were  just  then  handy,  that  scheme 
was  dropped.  Someone  then  procei-ded  to  in- 
vestigate the  man's  head.  when,  lo  and  behold! 
the  man  was  baldheaded.  The  laugh  went 
merrily  round:   but  the  captain   insisted   that. 


though  liald.  a  man  could  have  the  same  sensa- 
tions, which,  to  all  intents  and  purixtses,  were 
tlie  same  as  though  he  had  the  liair  of  a  Sam- 
son. So  the  paradoxical  (|Uestion  is  ojien  for 
deliate:  "("an  a  l)aldhea(led  man  liecome  so 
freightcned  as  to  make  his  hair  stand  on  end?" 


"CANT    MAKIO    MV    ll.VIH    STAND   ON    f:Nl>." 

There  are  but  few  islands  in  sight  until  we 
near  the  port  of  Santa  Barbara.  About  2.5  miles 
out  from  this  ()oint  are  the  islands  of  Santa 
Cruz,  Santa  Rosa,  and  several  smaller  islands. 
Santa  Cruz  is  the  largest,  and  it  has  been  sug- 
gested that  this  would  be  a  good  location  upon 
which  to  breed  a  pure  strain  of  bees,  as  the 
selection  would  receive  no  interference,  the 
location  being  completely  isolated.  There  are 
no  bees  upon  these  islands;  and  if  the  many 
fogs  would  not  interfere,  the  plan  may  some 
time  be  tried.  These  islands  are  .something  of 
a  resort  for  pleasure-seekers,  and  on  their 
shores  are  found  seals  and  beautiful  shells. 

San  Pedro  is  the  port  for  Los  Angeles.  Our 
vessel  could  not  run  up  to  the  wharf,  so  several 
hours  were  spent  in  hoisting  outa  great  amount 
of  freight  upon  a  lighter,  and  lighter  and  pas- 
sengers were  towed  to  port  by  a  small  propeller. 
Twenty  miles  by  rail,  and  I  arrived  in  the  beau- 
tiful city  of  Los  Angeles. 

Having  corresponded  with  Mr.  Brodbeck,  the 
secretary  of  the  Southern  California  Bee-keep- 
ers' Association,  1  desired  to  become  personally 
acquainted  with  him.  and  found  him  w<'aring 
his  life  away  in  the  dry-goods  establishment  of 
Mr.  Coulter.  The  next  morning  tlte  Association 
met  in  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  hall.  This  may  be  a  late 
date  to  report  the  proceedings;  but  as  they 
were  very  '"  uneek."  and  were  described  by  the, 
local  press  as  a  bamfuzzled  crowd,  a  few  words 
in  relation  thereto  inay  be  admissible. 

Several  of  the  leading  bee-keepers  desired  to 
change  the  Southern  into  a  Slate  organization. 
The  secretary,  with  the  consent  of  a  majority 
of  the  executive  board,  issued  a  call  to  that 
effect.  The  president,  however,  had  a  very 
fatherly  interest  in  the  old  organization,  and. 
soon  after  the  mi'eting  was  called  to  order,  it 
was  evident  he  meant  to  light  it  out  on  that 
line,  even  if  it  occupied  the  entire  time  of  the 
convention.  After  a  long  struggle  a  vote  was' 
taken,  and  the  State  lost  by  one  vote.  The 
treasurer  then  took  up  the  call  issued  by  the 
secretary,  clause  by  clause,  and  gave  our  genial 
friend  particular  (its.  In  the  last  clause  of  the 
call,  the  secretary  stated  that  "  Rambler"  would 
be  there;  but  as  the  constitution  of  the  associ- 
ation was  so  narrow  as  to  admit  only  those  who 
had  an  ownership  in  bee.s,  the  treasurer  becanie- 
so  excited  over  this  "  Rambler"  portion  that  lie 
figuratively  slammed  the  door  in  the  Rambler's 
face,  and  exclaimed  that  no  Rambler  should 
get  into  that  convention  as  long  as  he  had 
power  to  prevent  it.  The  secretary  and  the 
Rambler  kejit  perfectly  sweet;    and  when    the 


IJI.h.AXLNCiS  llv'  BEE  CULTURE. 


APHir.  15. 


gentleman — no.  the  treasurer,  had  exhausted 
himself  and  the  subject,  the  convention  pro- 
ceeded to  the  election  of  officers;  and,  remem- 
bering the  hours  of  wrangling,  the  tables  were 


NO   liAMBLER   AI.LOWKD    IX    IIKKK. 

nicely  turned  on  the  treasurer,  and  anotluM' 
man  elected  instead— Mr.  Abbott,  of  I'asadena. 
The  secretary  was  made  happy  by  having  his 
action  indorsed  by  a  unanimous  re-election. 
The  Rambler  also  felt  as  happy  as  a  bright  sun- 
flower. The  ex-president  tried  to  put  in  a  few 
more    remarks,    but    nearly    every    bee-keeper 


TABI-KS    nHNKI*    AT   TIIK    roX VKXTIOX. 

arose  and  buzzi^d  so  loud  that  his  voice  was 
drowned,  and  it  looked  as  though  a  swarming- 
out  mania  had  taken  possession  of  them.  Mr. 
Abbott,  the  new  treasurer,  took  the  chair,  the 
buzzing  ceased,  and  the  swaini  (of  t)ee-keepers) 
alighted  in  their  seats  again. 

Conventions  are  suppo.sed  to  be  held  for  mu- 
tual instruction,  advancement,  and  the  having 
of  a  fraternal  era  of  good  feeling:  but  this  con- 
vention had  so  much  wi'angle  that  but  little 
time  was  left  for  mutual  benefit,  and  many  re- 
turned to  their  homes  not  satisfied  with  Ijhe 
results.  The  moral  learned  is,  that  associations 
are  not  formed  for  the  benefit  of  any  one  person 
or  clique,  but  for  the  many;  and  when  their 
interests  are  ignored,  there  is  always  more  or 
less  music  in  the  air. 

Quite  a  number  of  bee-keepers  live  in  I.,os 
Angeles,  and  in  that  other  charming  town, 
Pasadena;  but  while  their  homes  are  in  town 
their  apiaries  are  miles  out  in  the  mountains, 
which  are  cn'er  i)resent  in  this  portion  of  Cali- 
fornia. 

There  seems  to  be  a  sort  of  mutual  under- 
standing, or  an   unwi'itten    law.   among    bee- 


keepers in  relation  to  the  I'ights  of  location.  Jf 
a  person  secui'es  a  piior  right  by  establishing 
an  apiary  in  a  certain  field,  it  is  seldom  that  a 
man  will  crowd  in  whei'e  he  is  not  wanted,  or 
where  it  will  be  a  detriment  to  his  own  interests 
as  well  as  to  his  neighbor^. 

Wishing  to  find  an  apiary  in  the  sage  district, 
I  wandered  due  southeast  fi'om  Los  Angeles; 
and  until  further  notice  the  shades  of  night 
and  the  Hotel  Temescal  will  hide  the 

Ramki.ki:. 


SPRING    DWINDLING. 


.lamks  iieddox  dkpides  ix  favor  of  oitdoor 

wtxtkrixg:   hk  prkfers  outside  wixter 

ca.ses,  axi)  whv;  iiow  his  cases  are 

MADE,    ETC. 


The  time  is  drawing  near  when  we  shall  read 
from  the  pens  of  various  bee-keepej-s  the  follow- 
ing: '■  My  bees  wintered  pretty  well,  but  I  lost 
heavily  by  spring  dwindling."  Now.  Mr.  p]dit- 
or,  I  am  not  going  to  say  any  thing  I  haven't 
said  before,  nor  offer  any  arguments  that  are 
new,  except  only  as  all  arguments  are  new  un- 
til they  are  answered.  Immortal  youth  is  one 
of  the  attributes  of  an  argument  which  can  not 
be  answered.  Neither  am  I  going  to  suggest 
any  methods  that  I  haven't  wi-itten  for  bee- 
papers  long  ago,  and  practiced  even  longer. 
Vour  readers  change,  and  it  may  be  of  value  to 
some  of  your  present  subsciibers  to  know  what 
methods  I  have  found  most  successful  in  win- 
teriftg  and  springing  an  average  of  5()0  colonies 
during  the  past  l.">  years  in  a  locality  where  bee- 
diarrhea  seems  to  be  right  at  home  nearly  every 
winter. 

As  I  have  before  said,  and  feel  that  I  know, 
the  excreta  of  bee-diai'rhea  is  undigested  pol- 
len: and  pollen-eating'during  cold  and  confine- 
ment is  the  cause  of  that  malady,  compared 
with  which  all  other  cau.ses  of  winter  losses 
combined  sink  into  insignificance.  Again,  I 
claim  as  heretofoiv  that  tlieiv  is  no  such  thing 
as  spring  dwindling  among  bees  which  are  well 
wintered:  that  a  normal  colony  of  bees  nevei' 
dwindles  away  to  nothing  in  spring  after  the 
time  comes  when  tlu^y  can  gath(>r  pollen,  and 
lly  most  of  the  time,  unless  the  bees  of  such  col- 
ony had  intestinal  inflammation  when  they 
crossed  the  line  between  winter  and  spring,  as 
we  term  it.  Confinement  w  ithout  (extreme  cold 
will  produce  the  malady  when  the  food  is  right 
for  it;  consequently,  during  all  such  winters  as 
the  one  just  past,  and  three  or  four  preceding 
it,  in  Southern  Michigan  bees  are  safer  proper- 
ly packed  outdoors  than  in  any  special  reposit- 
ory. Every  winter  I  hav(>  had  them  both  ways, 
and  have  observed  icsults  in  other  apiaries 
round  about. 

But  now  comes  tlie  question,  "•  How  should 
bees  be  packed  for  outdoor  wintering'.'"  I  have 
packed  in  so  many  dift'eient  ways  during  tlie 
same  and  different  winters,  that  I  feel  positive 
of  the  superiority  of  the  one  I  am  about  to  de- 
scribe: and  tlie  reason  of  this  article  at  this 
datt>  is  because  I  have  found  that  (^very  colony 
wintered  indoors  should  be  packed  the  same 
way  for  springing,  whether  they  are  partially 
diseased  from  wintering  or  in  perfect  health; 
because,  <'ven  if  the  latter,  and  no  spring  could 
kill  them  if  not  packed,  even  thc^se  healthy  col- 
onies will  be  (enough  stronger  when  the  surplus 
harvest  opens,  because  of  this  packing,  to  repay 
the  owner  several  times  over  for  all  cost  and 
trouble.  I  once  discussed  this  question  with 
W.  Z.  Hutchinson,  I  taking  the  opposite  and  he 
my  present  position:  but  I  afterward  found  out 
my  mistake,  and  admitted  it  —  yes.  declared  it 
several  years  ago. 


♦  ;LKANlN(iS  IN  I{Ki:  CUI/niKK. 


27'.> 


I  piu'U  as  tolldw  >:  I  maUi'  a  l)o\  ol'  comiuoii 
lumber  two  to  llirrt-  i in- lies  larncr  than  the  liivr 
all  aioniiil.  It  lias  a  tit;lit  liottoiii.  and  a  e-ovci 
slmttiup  over  liUf  till' lid  of  a  triinU.  but  witli- 
tiut  biuift's.  of  I'oufsi'.  After  taKiuir  tlie  bive 
fcoMi  tbc  bottom  stand,  and  placiiifr  tbc  box 
ibei-t'oii.  pitohiiiK  it  1"'  to  ".'D  defirccs  foiward.  1 
put  a  si>lid  l'._.-iiifli  div  sawdust  iii  tlir  bottom, 
sft  the  hive  inside  on  tin-  sawdust,  witli  an  ai- 
ranueiutuit  to  maUe  tlie  eutfanees  i'ofres|)on(i: 
tiiop  in  a  lifidiie  to  make  a  elosed  eiitiance 
whii-li  will  keep  out  tlie  pai'kin<i:  then  till  in  on 
all  sides  with  sawxiust  lifjhtly  paeked.  founded 
up  at  the  top.  the  I'ovei  of  the  box  put  on  and 
weiphted  down.  I  use  no  upward  ventilati(ui 
nor  absorbents  about  the  hive  —  just  leave  the 
plain  board  eover  srliied  fast.  Tbi'  box  ro\  er 
must  not  leak,  bceaiise  it  lies  Hat  and  solid  nn 
the  sawdust,  w  Inch  would  absorb  all  the  water 
that  might  leak  through,  injuring  the  hive  and 
\h}\  cover,  but  would  not  hurt  the  bees  at  all. 
Now  listen.  Here  is  a  favorite  point  in  the  ar- 
rangi'ineut :  My  hives  are  painted  •'  dead  "  white 
—  white  to  reflect  the  sun's  rays.  luaking  them 
much  cooler  in  simimer  in  the  early  and  lale 
part  of  the  day.  when  the  sun  can  shine  under 
my  shade-board  suHiciently  to  strike  the  brood- 
chamber:  •■dead."  to  prevent  glisteiiiiig.  These 
packing-boxes,  however,  are  painted  very  dark 
to  absorb  the  solar  heat  during  winter  and 
spring,  and  the  close  packing  without  any  inter- 
spaces is  what  coudiu'ts  tliis  heat  clear  through 
to  the  coml)s  and  bees.  Tlie  above  is  my  luain 
reason  for  not  desiring  a  greater  space  between 
the  hive  and  outer  case  than  from  two  to  three 
iru-hes.  and  for  using  material  as  solid  as  saw- 
dust tightly  and  closely  packed  between  covers. 
as  elsewhere. 

.lust  here  I  tliink  I  hear  soiue  oiu'  say,  "  If 
you  are  going  to  pack  like  this,  just  for  spring- 
ing colonies  taken  ftum  the  cellar,  why  not 
pack  them  in  the  fall  and  leave  them  out.  de- 
pending on  outdoor  wintering,  and  done  with 
it?"  .My  reply  is.  •■  Yes.  why  not?  Certainly  it 
is  the  best,  considering  all  trouble  and  expense, 
except  in  extremely  cold  winters,  compelling 
continued  confinement,  and  these  are  the  ex- 
ception and  not  the  rule  in  Southern  Michigan." 
I  believe  the  outdoor  plan,  with  such  packing, 
which  more  than  pays  for  springing  alone,  to  he 
first  choice. 

Your  readers  will  be  able  to  judge  from  the 
aV)ove  in  w  hat  latitudes  and  localities  I  would 
consider  this  method  of  outdoor  w  intering  ()ref- 
erable.  The  amount  of  sunshine  has  much  to 
do  with  it. 

The  above  are  my  most  earnest  conclusions, 
based  on  several  years'  experience  and  observa- 
tions.    \N'hat  are  yours?  .Ia^.  ||ki>i>o.n. 

Dowagiac.  Mich..  March  ".'.i. 

•  We  do  iu)t  know  much  about  spring  dwin- 
dling—that is.  w  hat  causes  it — w  hetlier  it  is  a 
malady  peculiar  to  certain  seasons  (U' whether 
it  is  due  to  the  consumption  of  too  much  pollen. 
In  our  locality  we  have  taken  no  i)ains  to  select 
combs  without  p(jlleu  for  w  intering.  and  yet  for 
the  last  six  or  eight  years  we  have  had  very  lit- 
tle s[jring  dw  indliug. 

You  may  be  right,  and  you  may  be  wrong  in 
regard  to  pollen:  but  we  are  certain  that  you 
are  nietty  sotind  on  the  wintering  question. 
While  we  have  been  making  all  this  noise  about 
non-absorbents  and  si-aled  covers,  we  presume 
you  have  been  using  them  for  several  years. 
iiv  the  way,  there  has  been  a  good  deal  of  fool- 
ishness shown  as  to  who  was  the  first  one  to 
discover  the  sealed-cover  idea.  .\s  the  expres- 
sion goes,  it  is  "older  than  the  hills." 

We  have  no  doubt  that  yourwinter  cases  give 
excellent  results:  and  wf  are  sure  that  you  are 
right  in  advf)cating  that   cellared  bees  otight  to 


be  protected  iifter  being  set  out  in  the  spring, 
for  a  time  at  least.  Our  winter  cases  gave  us 
most  excellent  results.  It  nuiy  surprise  you  a 
little  to  know  that  those  with  dead-air  spaces 
w  intered  the  bees  just  as  well  as  those  in  which 
the  same  spaces  were  i)acl<ed  with  chatfor  jila- 
ner  shavings.  It  may  not  do  so  in  your  locali- 
ty, but  it  d(H>s  with  us.  Our  winter  cases,  as 
you  may  know,  are  made  of  •'„  lumber,  and  only 
'.' inches  larger  inside  all  afouiul  than  the  sin- 
gle-walled hive  is  outside.  It  has  no  bottom- 
it  simply  slides  down  ovei'  the  hive,  jtadded 
sticks  being  on  the  insid<'  bottom  edge  to  keep 
out  the  cold.  A  '4 -inch  board  is  then  put  on 
top  of  the  hive,  and  the  bei^s  are  allowed  to  seal 
it  down,  which  they  will  do.  of  course,  if  put  on 
in  time.  Above  this  thin  board  is  a  chaff  cush- 
ion ■-'  inches  thick,  aiui  the  w  inter  case  is  then 
covered  by  the  ordinary  hivi'-cover. 

We  remember  that  you  once  took  the  ground 
that  indoor  wintering  in  your  locality  was  bet- 
ter: but  now  it  is  a  pleasure  for  us  to  observer 
that  you  decide  for  outdoor  wintering  for  aver- 
age winters.  For  our  locality  we  arc;  sure  that 
it  is  the  belter  w  ay.  We  are  equally  sure  that, 
for  verv  cold  localities,  the  cellar  plan  is  the 
better.  '  The  great  trouble  with  localities  like 
our  own.  and  perhai)S  yours,  is  that  bees  in  the 
cellar  are  apt  to  be  noisy  and  uneasy  because 
the  weather  outside  is  at  times  too  moderate.] 


AKE   CLOSED  END  BARS    OF    BROOD-FRAMES 
PREFERABLE  TO  OPEN  ONES  1 


\T    rUK   OHIO   STATE   HEE-KKKI'KKS 
CONVENTIOX,   CINCINNATI. 


I  suppose  that,  if  the  question  were  put  in  oth- 
er words,  so  as  to  read.  "Are  the  standing 
closed-end  (,)uinby  brood-frames  preferable  to 
the  Langstrolh  hanging  ones?"  the  general 
verdict  would  be  that  the  latter  are  preferable. 
Yet  tliere  is  undoubtedly  a  growing  sentiment 
against  loose  hanging  frames:  but  that  it  will 
ultimately  lead  to  the  adoption  of  a  closed-end 
brood-frame.  I  do  not  think.  Although  many 
excellent  bee-keep(»rs  now  use  them,  and  would 
have  no  other,  still  my  faith  is  stronger- to-day 
than  ever  that  some  form  of  the  Langstrotli 
hanging  franu'  will  ever  be  the  most  popular, 
and  will  serve  to  perpetuate  tlu-  memory  of  the 
man  who  has  done  more  toward  the  advance- 
ment of  apiculture  than  any  other  that  ever 
lived:  who  lifted  our  jjursuit  from  an  unprolita- 
ble  and  unsatisfactory  investment  in  "straw 
skeps  "  and  box  hives  to  a  pursuit  at  once  prof- 
itable. r(»spectable.  and  highly  fascinating  to  a 
large  class  of  our  people.  That  this  revival  of 
apiculture  from  the  state  of  obscurity  into 
which  it  had  falhui  was  due  to  the  J^angstrotli 
iuveution.  there  is  not  on<' who  to  day  doubts, 
'i'hat  it  still  has  merits  over  evi-ry  other  inven- 
tion of  a  bee-hive,  either  ancient  or  modern,  it 
seems  to  me  is  so  far  proved  by  the  liistory  of 
apiculture  in  the  last  forty  years  that  the  ques- 
tion is  hardly  worth  discussing:  and  that  these 
itu'rits  lie  clnelly  in  the  superiority  of  the  hang- 
ing frame  is  e(jually  apparent.  So  it  would  aj)- 
pear.  that,  after  the  general  approval  of  the 
bee-keepers  of  the  civilized  world  for  forty 
years,  we  may  well  conclude  that  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Langstroth  hive  will  survive  and 
become  the  dominant  ones  in  the  jwpular  hives 
of  the  future. 

The  present  tendency  against  Idusi-  lianging 
frames  is  not  necessarily  a  tendency  toward  the 
use  of  clo.sed-end  broo(i- frames,  but.  rather,  to- 
ward some  practical  method  of  spacing  and  fix- 
ing the  hanging  frame.  This  we  have  had  for 
some  vears  in  the  Hoffman- Langstroth  frame, 
w  hich  of  late  has  undergone  a  ftirther  improve- 


280 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Apkii,  15. 


mentby  the  Root  establishment  at  Medina,  so 
that,  as  now  constructed,  it  is  without  objec- 
tion, and  fulfills  every  function  claimed  for  the 
closed-end  frames,  and  yet  is  about  as  readily 
movable  as  the  old  style  of  the  L.  frame.  How- 
ever, in  a  hanging  frame  only  7  inches  deep, 
which  I  use.  I  prefer  to  space  and  fix  the  frames 
by  a  very  light  form  of  the  Van  Deusen  metal 
corner,  as  it  spaces  exactly  V^h  inches  from  cen- 
ter to  center,  and  does  not  interfere  with  the 
ease  with  which  the  frame  may  be  taken  from 
the  hive.  It  is.  therefore,  my  opinion  that,  be- 
tween these  two  methods,  the  public  need  not 
look  further  for  a  practical  means  of  keeping 
the  Langstroth  frame  in  its  place.  The  prefer- 
ence, then,  must  be  given  to  brood-fraraeS' with 
open  end -bars.  Du.  G.  L.  Tinkek. 

New  Philadelphia,  (). 

[The  first  sentence  of  the  last  paragraph  gives 
the  true  statement  of  the  case.  So  many  have 
inferred  that,  because  we  do  not  recommend  the 
loose  frame,  therefore  we  argue  for  the  closed 
end.  Not  so;  as  the  doctor  well  states,  .some 
method  of  accurate  spacing  is  demanded:  and 
that,  for  the  L.  size  frame,  the  Hoffman  end- 
bars  seem  to  meet  the  requirements.  As  to  a 
seven-inch  frame,  the  Van  Deusen  may  be  bet- 
ter.] 


AUTOMATIC  SELF-HIVERS. 


PRATT  S   I)p;VICK  (  HITICISEI). 


As  I  invented  the  first  self-hiver,  it  is  quite 
natural  for  me  to  take  quite  an  interest  in  all 
that  is  said  about  them.  In  Gleanings,  page 
199,  I  see  that  Mr.  Pratt  illustrates  and  de- 
scribes a  device  for  self-hiving  bees,  which  he 
claims  as  his  own  invention.  Well,  it  may  be 
that  it  is  all  his  own.  I  waiit  to  say  that  Mr. 
P.  and  myself  have  talked  a  good  deal  about 
self-hivers  in  the  last  two  years. 

Last  season  I  remarked  to  Mr.  P.  that  I  did 
not  know  but  that  I  should  have  to  arrange  my 
swarmer  so  as  to  compel  the  bees  to  pass  out 
through  the  new  hive  in  order  to  hive  nii  the 
bees  that  issued  with  the  swarm,  as,  by  being 
compelled  to  enter  a  new  enti-ance  on  their  re- 
turn, not  all  the  bees  that  come  off  with  the 
queen  would  find  hei-  and  enter  the  new  hive. 
I  also  stated  that  there  were  strong  objections 
to  placing  one  hive  before  another,  and  thus 
compelling  the  bees  to  travel  such  a  long  dis- 
tance in  order  to  reach  their  combs  on  return- 
ing from  the  field. 

I  will  describe  and  illustrate,  in  P'ig.  1,  the 
most  practical  self-hiver  tested;  and  this  has 
been  thoroughly  tested,  and  does  its  work  well. 


FIG.  5— FULL  COLONY.      FIG.  fi— DEf'OY  HIVE. 

A  and  B  represent  the  self-hiver. 

The  hive  at  the  left  is  supposed  to  contain 
the  colony;  the  one  at  the  right  hand  is  a  sort 
of  skeleton  (or  decoy)  hive.  In  the  decoy  hive 
should  be  placed  one  dry,  clean  brood-comb. 
Several  days  befoi'e  a  swarm  issues,  the  bees 
will  be  busily  working  on  the  comb;  and  when 
the  swarm  issues  they  enter  the  new  hive.   The 


queen  quickly  enters  box  B,  and  is  followed  by 
more  or  less  bees;  and  when  the  swarm  returns 
the  bees  readily  find  their  queen  and  settle 
down  to  business.  In  case  there  are  not  bees 
enough  to  make  as  large  a  colony  as  is  desired, 
the  parent  hive  should  be  removed.  Now.  no 
one  can  reasonably  object  to  this:  as  the  old  or 
new  swarm  should  have  a  new  location,  and 
experienced  bee-keepers  would  advise  making 
the  young  swarm  as  strong  as  possible,  it  is  cer- 
tainly a  great  advantage  to  do  so.  I  consider 
the  above  arrangement  for  a  self-hiver  the 
most  practical  of  any  yet  described.  In  work- 
ing for  a  practical  self-hiver  I  kept  in  mind  the 
fact  that  the  entrance  should  be  as  free  of  any 
sort  of  obstruction  as  it  is  possible  to  keep  it. 
and  at  the  same  time  have  a  swarmer  attached 
1o  the  entrance,  which,  in  my  opinion,  is  of  it- 
self all  the  obstruction  that  should  be  there.  I 
also  kept  in  view  ihe  fact,  that  thp  swarmer,  in 
order  to  come  into  general  use,  should  be  sold 
at  a  low  price. 

I  have  no  doubt  that  the  Pratt  device  will 
hive  the  bees.  It  seems  to  me  that  he  has 
adopted  the  same  principle  for  trapi)ing  the 
queen  that  I  have  been  granted  a  patent .  for. 
Therefore  the  Pratt  swarmer,  like  all  the 
others,  is  an  infringement  on  my  claim. 

Some  time  within  six  months  my  good  friend 
Dibbern  took  considerable  space  in  this  i)aper 
trying  to  make  your  readers  believe  he  had  de- 
vised a  swarmer  that  would  hive  a  swarm  of 
bees  every  time.  Before  Mr.  I),  got  through  it 
was  found  that  his  swarnu>r  had  never  hived 
even  one  swarm  of  bees.  All  that  he  could 
claim  that  it  had  done  was  to  catch  the  queen 
and  a  few  bees.  I  should  say  that  it  catches 
about  as  many  bees,  and  works  about  the  same 
as  the  drone  and  queen  trap.  By  the  way.  Dr. 
G.  L.  Tinker  says  the  queen -trap  is  as  good  a 
swarmer  as  he  wants.  Well,  if  one  is  in  the 
apiary  most  of  the  time  there  is  no  better  ar- 
rangement for  managing  swarms  when  one 
issues  than  by  using  the  trap.  Where  the  trap 
is  used,  the  bee-keei)er  is  not  obliged  to  droi> 
his  work  when  the  swarm  comes  off:  he  can 
take  his  time  to  hive  them.  If  no  hive  is  ready 
when  a  swarm  passes  through  the  trap,  just 
place  a  box  near  the  hive  the  bees  issue  from, 
so  that  the  trap  will  be  about  the  same  dis- 
tance fi'om  the  ground  as  when  on  the  hive, 
and  I  will  guarantee  that  not  one  bee  will  re- 
turn to  the  old  hive,  but  all  will  go  to  the  trap 
and  cluster  with  the  queen.  The  trap  should  not 
touch  the  parent  hive.  On  the  other  hand, 
place  a  new  hive  at  the  side  of  the  one  the  bees 
issue  from:  and  as  soon  as  the  queen  is  seen  in 
the  trap,  place  it  on  the  new  hive  and  every 
bee  will  enter  it  and  thus  hive  themselves. 
Release  the  queen  when  the  bees  begin  to  go  in. 

Wenham.  Mass.  Henry  Alley. 

[We  sent  the  above  to  Mr.  Pratt,  who  replies:] 

All  honor  to  Mr.  Alley  for  inventing  the  first 
self  hiver  I  Even  if  he  did  not  perfect  it,  great 
credit  is  due  him  for  starting  the  thing.  I  ad- 
mit that  his  first  device  caused  me  to  take 
great  interest  in  the  matter,  as  it  did  bee-keei)- 
ers  all  over  the  country. 

Mr.  Alley  and  myself  have  talked  a  good  deal 
about  self-hivers.  and  it  was  during  some  of 
those  talks  that  I  suggested  the  i'oim  and  make 
of  the  box  B  connecting  box  A  and  C,  which 
caused  him  to  abandon  the  zinc  tube  used  on 
his  first  device  and  adopt  the  improvements, 
although  it  was  hard  at  first  to  convince  him 
that  the  round  connection  was  not  the  thing. 
Then  after  it  was  found  tJiat  would  not  work  I 
gave  him  the  point  of  letting  light  into  B  B, 
over  the  cone,  which  proved  a  success  in  call- 
ing the  queen  into  box  B. 


1  ■»*••.• 


(;i-KAM\(;s  IN  inoK  ciii/ruKK. 


•.'HI 


Mr.  A.  K.  IJoal's  sii;rj,'(>siiuii  on  |iii^'i'  7(ic..  Sc|it. 
1.  ISIM,  was  thfi'iuisf  (if  l)ox  ('  bfinn  abaiKhmt'd 
(set»  Ai>i.  for  Nov..  pane  l(>li.  and  tlu'  sclf-liivtM' 
illustratt>d  by  Mr.  .V.  above  was  broiiKbt  about, 
ill  tbis  way.  Vcs.  Mr.  .Alley  is  ptMtrctly  jusli- 
tii'd  ill  claiiniiiij  bis  swaiiner  as  all  liis  o\\  n.  1 
am  pleased  to  rcrcivc  sutrKt'stioiis  tliat  will  belp 
me  |)erfeet  a  device.     It  is  in  tbis  way  tlie   most 

00  in  plica  ted  iiiaebiiies  are  made  perfect  and 
useful. 

I  do  not  lememlier  ol  Mr.  .\liey"s  tellint;  me 
tbal  be  "did  not  Uiiow  but  tbat  be  sbould  bave 
tti  arian;ie  tbe  swarmer  so  as  to  compel  tbe 
bees  lo  pass  thmiKjh  tbe  new  biv(»."  If  be  did 
it  mad(i  no  impression  on  my  mind.  I  do  fe- 
nuMuber  of  bis  ttdlinff  me  tbat  he  would  bave  to 
devise  some  way  of  compidling:  tbe  bees  to  pass 
out  of  tbe  bi\i's  opposite  tbe  entrance  to  tbe 
new  bive.  so  tbat  tbe  (lueeii  would  be  traiiiied 
lliere.  anil  more  bees  would  pass  in  with  her.  I 
did  not  understand,  as  be  lias  stated  it.  at  all. 
nor  did  my  new  principle  originate  from  any  of 
Mr.  Alley's  stati'iueiits.  Tbere  j.v  a  little  objec- 
tion to  baving  one  hive  placed  before  aiiotber. 
also  beside  anotlier.  and  tliese  objections  I  have 
overcome  in  a  recent  device  witli  thi>  new  prin- 
ciple of  trapping  the  (pieeii  in  tbe  hive  tbe 
swarm  is  to  occupy,  and  causing  the  bees  to 
join  lier  by  tlie  entrance  they  have  become 
used  to. 

Mr.  Alley  is  mistaken  when  be  says  my 
swarmiM'  is  an  infringement  upon  his  trap. 
Reading  both  i)atent  claims  will  show  that 
tliey  in  no  way  conflict  with  each  other.  One 
is  used  to  hive  a  swarm  of  liees.  while  the  other 
is  used  to  catcli  drones.  1  can  not  but  echo 
what  Mr.  Alley  says  about  the  advantage  of 
his  drone  and  queen  trap,  an  excellent  device. 

1  have  always  been  loud  in  its  prai.se — justly 
too:  but  the  drone  and  queen  trap  is  not  an 
itiitdtiKitir  s\y;\vm-h]\i-v.  E.  L.  Pr.xtt. 

Heverly.  Mass. 


THE  PRATT  AUTOMATIC  SWARMER. 


irs     l'KATLKK>     KKC().\-II)i:UKl)      I!V      C.    U.    DIU- 
BKKN. 

I  was  very  niucli  interested  in  the  Pratt  self- 
hiver.  as  described  on  |)uge  I'.iii  of  Cti.eaning.s. 
I  have  experimented  largely  in  that  line  during 
the  past  few  years,  with  various  devices  of  my 
•  iwn.  witii  more  or  less  success:  but  I  am  free 
to  say  ti'at  the  I'ratt  is  far  ahead  of  any  thing 
heretofore  suggested.  I  am  well  awan*  that  it 
is  not  very  safe,  usually,  to  give  a  positive  in- 
tlorsement  to  a  device  that  we  have  not  our- 
selves tried  fully  in  actual  use:  but  a  single 
glance  at  the  cut  fully  convinced  nu;  tbat  the 
one  great  obstacle  had  been  overcome.  1  liad 
been  watching  for  some  further  explanations 
from  Mr.  Diblile.  u  ho  referred  to  son^e  device 
of  his  described  on  page  0:.'  of  (;i,K.\.MN<is.  and 
^till  hope  he  will  give  us  a  description  of  his 
>warmer.  I  feel  quite  sure  that  the  perfect 
swarmer  will  soon  be  i)roduced.  if.  indeed,  we 
have  not  already  got  it. 

Let  us  consider  some  of  tlie  advantages  of  the 
Pratt  overall  other  automatic  hivers  heretofore 
described.  In  the  Pratt  system  the  swarm  re- 
turns to  the  same  entrance  to  which  they  have 
long  been  accustomed,  and,  of  course,  there  are 
no  bees  lost  by  trying  to  enter  adjoining  hives 
as  is  often  the  case  wliere  the  queen  is  hni  to  a 
new  [)lace.  As  the  ()iieen  will  be  ahuost  surely 
in  fi'ont  (jf  the  empty  liive.  where  the  bees  will 
readily  find  her.  it  is  quite  certain  that  nearly 
all  the  swariH  will  remain  in  it  with  her.  One 
great  point  in  favor  of  this  plan  i.s,  that  the 
hives  can  remain  safely  as  they  are  for  a  week 
fir  >;o.  with  advantage,  as  the  young  bees  hatch- 


ing in  tbe  old  liive  will  be  constantly  reinforc- 
ing the  new  swarm  If  tbe  honey  surplus  cases 
are  shifted  over  to  the  new  hive,  it  will  b(^  a 
great  belp  to  them:  and  such  a  swarm  slioiild 
continue  working  in  the  sections  i-igbl  along. 

Some  of  the  disadvantages  are,  that  the  bees 
have  to  travel  Ihewholc  length  of  tbe  empty 
hive,  passing  two  perforations  before  reaciiing 
their  own  hive.  Now.  if  a  que<ui  -  excluding 
lioney-board  is  used,  tbere  will  be  a  third  per- 
foration to  be  passed  before  the  surplus  cases 
are  reached.  Tbis  objection,  however,  may  be 
more  apparent  than  real,  as  that  has  proved 
to  l)e  the  case  w  itli  the  (lueen  -  excluding 
lioney-board.  Another  objection  would  be. 
that,  in  an  out-apiary  for  instance,  one  could 
never  tell  wlien  the  bees  had  swarnuid,  without 
looking  inside  of  all  the  emi)ty  hives.  How- 
ever, as  dead  dioneswill  colh^ct  in  tlu;  empty 
hives,  they  can  be  brushed  otT  th<'  bottoms  by 
removing  the  hives,  when,  if  thert^  has  been 
any  swarming,  it  will  be  readily  discovered. 

I  do  not  see  that  there  is  much  less  "'  machin- 
ery "  about  it  than  at)out  most  of  the  other  self- 
liiv(Ms.  It  cei'tainly  will  recjuire  nice  adjust- 
ment to  have  all  the  parts  lit  nicely,  and  keej) 
them  in  place  so  tlie  queen  will  find  no  loop- 
hole through  which  she  might  cscapi!.  Another 
dit'liculty  tbat  will  present  itself  will  be  that, 
in  many  lii\'es.  there  is  not  room  enough  for  the 
perforated  bee-escape  device  for  the  bees  to  pass 
it  readily  under  the  frames.  This  can  be  over- 
come in  a  loo^e-bottomed  hive  by  nailing  nar- 
row striiis  around  the  edges,  or  by  slipping  a 
narrow  lim  uiuUm'  the  hive-body.  In  a  tight 
bottom  like  tbe  L.  this  is  not  so  easy;  and  when 
you  get  the  swarm  hived  in  such  a  hive,  one 
would  have  to  take  all  the  frames,  bees  and  all, 
out,  to  get  the  device  out  of  the  hive.  That 
would  certainly  be  quite  a  job  for  a  beginner. 
My  own  hives  are  admirably  adapted  to  this 
system,  as  I  bave  only  to  remove  the  back  strip 
from  the  bottom- board.  A  hive,  however,  with 
a  solid  lH)ttom.  without  an  entrance  in  the  rear 
end.  and  with  insufficient  space  under  the 
frames,  would  be  difficult  to  arrange  for  this 
system. 

Hut  all  these  objections  are  as  nothing  when 
compared  to  the  great  difficulty  which  Mr. 
Pratt  has  overcome  in  preventing  the  greater 
part  of  the  swarm  from  returning  to  the  old 
hive.  I  shall  certainly  give  this  plan  a  thorough 
trial,  and  I  am  quite  confident  that  it  will  fully 
solve  a  verv  perplexing  question. 

Milan.  111..  Apr.  4.  ('.  H.  Dibhkun. 


GRADING  HONEY. 


WHAT    A    (  .^LIF<)tiN'I.\N    THINKS   ABOUT    11. 

Friend  Root: — Having  read  with  intense  in- 
terest the  many  schemes  of  our  eastern  brethren 
in  the  bee- business,  regarding  the  grading  of 
comb  honey,  and  not  seeing  any  thing  on  the 
subject  from  the  California  bee- men.  I  thought 
I  Would  say  a  few  words  to  see  if  I  could  stir 
"em  u[)  a  little.  As  California  produces  cousid- 
ei-al)le  comb  honey,  I  should  like  to  hear  som(!- 
thing  from  her  apiarists  on  this  question  of 
grading  it. 

For  my  part.  I  think  there  are  too  many 
grad(!S  |)roposed.  We  should  put  our  honey  on 
the  market  in  sucii  nice  sha|)e  that  the  dealers 
would  have  to  grade  it  as  Pat  did  the  whisky. 
Pat  said  the  whisky  was  all  good:  and  when 
[iressed  for  a  comparison,  he  admitted  that 
some  of  it  was  a  little  better  than  others. 

Now,  on  page  20.  (iI.eaninc;s.  the  North 
American  says  that  combs  so  badly  stained  as 
to  have  the  appearance  of  saffron  should  be 
thrown    into    grade   M.      I   should   say.   throw 


L'8-,' 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Apkii.  15. 


them  into  the  sun  cxtiaelor.  That  would  sim- 
plify matters  a  little.  On  page  22  a  writer  says 
that  color  and  flavor  should  not  be  considered. 
The  color  of  the  honey  is  well  enough,  until  it 
gets  too  dark,  then  it  becomes  sun-extractor 
grade:  but  flavor,  I  tliink,  should  be  considered. 
The  flavor  is  what  sells  the  honey  to  the  con- 
sumer. I  have  seen  comb  honey  that  looked  as 
sweet  and  innocent  as  a  sleeping  babe;  but  one 
section  of  it  was  sufficient  to  break  up  the  hap- 
piness of  a  whole  family:  the  flavor  was  Ixtd. 
Some  thought  the  simple  statement  did  not  do 
it  justice,  and  used  more  words  to  express  them- 
selves; but  it  was  all  in  regard  to  the  flavor. 

On  page  43  a  writer  says:  "All  combs  contain- 
ing much  pollen,  or  that  are  badly  travel - 
stained,  or  otherwise  objectionable,"  (can  he 
mean  worse?)  should  be  placed  in  grade  M. 
Now,  I  think  that,  instead  of  having  a  gi'ade 
for  such  honey,  we  had  better  have  a  class  foi' 
such  producers.  I  think  that  a  bee-man  who 
produces  such  comb  honey  should  either  revise 
his  methods  or  be  classed  as  an  '"old  sock,"  and 
be  set  back  about  thirty  years,  where  he  could 
produce  that  good  old-fashioned  article  called 
strnmed  honey. 

VV.  C.  Frazier.  on  page  93,  gives  us  the  best 
plan  of  all  so  far.  Now,  if  any  one  can  make 
that  any  more  simple,  oi'  shorten  it  in  any  way, 
he  will  be  doing  a  real  service.  It  comes  pretty 
near  the  mark.  But  I  should  like  to  see  it 
scaled  down  to  two  grades  for  market  and  one 
for  the  sun  exti'actor;  for  instance,  all  the  combs 
that  were  good  enough  so  that  the  producer  can 
put  his  name  on  them  and  guarantee  theni  all 
right,  should  go  as  flrst-class:  the  second  class 
should  be  honey  that  is  good  to  eat,  but  not 
quite  good-looking  enough  to  go  into  the  flrst 
class;  should  be  sold  on  its  merits  for  what  it 
was  wortli;  the  rest  should  go  into  a  nice  warm 
sun  extractor.  But  I  want  to  say  "kindei' 
softly  ■'  to  Bro.  Frazier.  that  California  produces 
considerable  honey  that  would  be  classed  as 
'"Fancy  A." 

Sotne  may  say,  "Oh I  you  bee-men  away  out 
there  in  great  big  California  can  make  nice 
honey  without  any  trouble;  but  it  is  difl'erent 
with  us.  as  our  seasons  vary  so."  But.  don't  you 
believe  it.  If  you  were  here  you  would  get  a 
chance  every  now  and  then  to  listen  to  a  tale  of 
woe  from  the  California  bee-keeper.  If  we 
could  get  the  grading  down  so  that  two  grades 
and  a  good  sun  extractor  would  do  the  business, 
it  would  be  better  for-  all  hands. 

Now,  as  I  have  di'oppcd  down  rather  hard  on 
my  friends  in  regard  to  pollen  in  the  sections 
and  travel-stained  cappings.  I  want  to  say  that, 
if  your  colony  has  a  good  queen  and  a  proper 
hive  there  should  be  no  pollen  in  the  sections; 
and,  again,  if  the  sections  are  placed  at  the  side 
of  the  brood,  the  cappings  are  very  likely  to  be 
travel-stained:  but  if  placed  above  the  brood, 
and  removed  as  soon  as  flnished,  they  should  be 
free  from  travel-stain.  In  working  sections  at 
the  side  of  the  brood-nest,  the  bees  cluster  on 
the  sections  nights  and  dull  days,  and  that  is 
what  stains  the  cappings.  A.  B.  Mkm.f.x. 

Acton,  Cal.,  Feb.  27. 

[We  had  decided,  as  announced  in  (Ji,i:.\x- 
iNGs.  to  call  the  discussion  on  "grading"  at  an 
end;  but  Dr.  Miller  protests,  on  the  ground  that 
the  subject  has  not  yet  been  snlflciently  digest- 
<?d;  perhaps  he  is  right.  W(^  liave  coiK-liided  to 
reopen  our  columns  for  its  further  consideration, 
at  least  for  one  or  two  issues;  and,  besides,  no 
one,  till  now.  from  California,  the  largest  honey 
State  in  tlie  Union,  has  taken  hold  of  the  sub- 
ject, and  that  State  should  surely  have  a  hear- 
ing, even  at  this  late  date.  Yes,  we  should  like 
to  hear  from  more  of  'em. 

In  o>ir  past  discussions  we   iiave   pulled    the 


subject  to  pieces  and  viewed  it  piece  by  piece. 
Let  us  now  come,  as  far  as  practicable,  to  a 
focus,  and  out  of  the  several  systems  agree  on 
one  or  at  most  two  systems  of  grading.  If  fur- 
ther discussion  will  increase  the  number  and 
variety  of  systems  we  had  bettei'  stoii  where  we 
are.] 


THE  COST  OF  PRODUCTION. 


KKE-KSCAl'Ks:    1!V   .1.    H.    I.AKHAHEK. 


As  requested,  I  send  you  one  of  the  bee- 
escapes  that  I  have  used  foi'  the  past  two  sea- 
sons. It  is  not  new  in  any  point.  I  had  seen 
Dibbern's.  Reese's,  and  the  old  Porter,  and  de- 
cided to  make  some,  as  I  had  previously  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  they  were  a  success.  You 
see,  I  had  "  tried  it  in  my  mind."  1  had  ou 
hand  thin  lumber  of  a  ceitain  width,  and  two 
of  these  widths  were  not  wide  enough  for  a 
whole  board  within  about  two  inches;  and  as  I 
laid  the  pieces  upon  an  empty  hive  the  idea 
occurred  that  this  two-inch  space  was  just 
what  I  wanted  to  put  the  escape  in.  The  points 
about  it  that  make  it  more  effective  than  some 
of  the  other  cone  escapes  I  have  seen  are: 


I.AKKAHKE's   BKK-KSCAl'E. 

1.  Till'  three  large  cones  are  not  easily  clog- 
ged: 2.  Plenty  of  ventilation  to  the  super,  thus 
preventing  the  excitement  causing  sufl'ocation 
or  gnawing  of  the  cappings.  The  cost,  you  see, 
is  almost  nothing,  and  time  in  making  it  is 
about  ten  minutes.  Like  the  new  Porter  or 
Dibbern's  Little  (Jiant  it  is  a  practical  success. 
Brushing  and  shaking  oft'  bees  is  no  kmger  done 
in  freeing  extracting  suj)ers;  and  wh<'n  remov- 
ing crates  of  sections  the  young  bees  are  not 
crawling  upon  the  honey-room  floor  or  spotting 
the  windows. 

There  is  another  subject  upon  which  I  wish 
to  say  a  word.  As  you  stated  in  your  report  of 
the  Grand  Rapids  meeting,  I  made  the  asser- 
tion that  I  could  care  for  bV)  or  300  colonies,  al- 
lowing half  a  day's  labor  to  each  colony,  doing 
every  thing  fi-om  putting  together  of  s<^ctions  to 
crating  the  honey  for  market.  As  there  was 
considerable  discussiim  upon  this  point,  and 
some  seemed  to  think  I  had  placed  the  esti- 
mate too  low.  perhaps  it  would  be  interesting 
to  know  how  I  would  manage  l.")0  colonies. 

My  bees  are  wintered  out  of  doors  in  chatf 
hives,  the  brood -chambers  of  which  are  pro- 
tected on  top  by  a  tray  with  cloth  bottom,  filled 
with  cliaft'.  On  the  first  warm  days  of  April  I 
remove  this  tray,  roll  back  the  (luilt,  and  see 
that  <'ach  colony  has  a  queen  and  stores.  It  is 
almost  never  necessary  to  remove  a  frame  to 
ascertain  either  of  these  facts.  If  a  queen  is 
lacking  I  unite  at  evening,  and  if  stores  an- 
lacking  I  remove  one  of  the  combs  near  the 
cluster  and  insert  a  frame  of  honey  that  I  take 
care  to  have  on  hand.  I  am  not  stingy  of  hon- 
ey, but  see   that   they   have  enough  to  last  till 


1 8<fj 


(;i>H.\MN(;s  L\   HKK  ClM/rURK. 


•.'s:? 


tilt' liurvfsi.  ;ni(l  il  tiiUi's  l(H>  of  il  at  lliis  linn' 
of  the  yrar.  I  )j>>  owr  ilic  apiary  in  liiisway 
in  a  (lay.  Tin-  next  cxaniinalion  is  niadc  lo- 
waid  I  In-  lirst  tif  May.  when  tlic  I  ray  of  vluitT  l^ 
it'iiiDVcd  from  tlu>  tt>|i  of  the  frames  and  slurcd 
in  a  dry  place,  and  tlie  l)()ard  cover  placed  on 
the  hrood-clianitiiT.  1  keep  an  eye  npon  tlie 
condition  nf  the  liees  ai  this  time,  to  maUe  sure 
tiiat  all  have  sntlicient  honey  to  last  till  ilie 
lirst  of  .lune.  1  also  note  any  weak  colonies  for 
a  little  special  care.  At  tliis  time  I  slick  np  the 
a!)iary.  ri'iiiove  and  clean  out  combs  and  hives 
of  colonies  that  may  hav(>  died  duriiiij  winter, 
etc.  This  lakes  a  couple  of  days  more.  About 
the  middle  of  .May  I  bcyin  the  tiusiuess  of  pre- 
paring for  the  lioney-liarv<'st.  In  I  hree  weiMvS 
I  have  the  foundation  in  sections,  and  in  crates 
and  frami's  in  hives  ready  for  swarms,  thonsh 
the  woik  of  preparing  extra  hiv(>s  mij^ht  be  left 
out  of  the  :\ccount,  as  no  credit  is  {jiven  for 
value  of  increase,  j-'rom  the  tiftcenth  of  .lune 
to  the  twenty-lifth  of  .luly.  my  time  is  filled  in 
with  the  work  of  tlie  honey -harvest,  putting  on 
and  removing  sections,  rearing  queens,  hiving 
swarms,  and  at  morning  and  e\eiiing  I  lind 
timi'  to  nail,  paint,  and  repair,  and  biiiig  up  llie 
odds  and  ends  of  work. 

The  most  of  my  time  after  the  lifteenth  of 
•Inly  is  d(>voted  to  i)reparing  the  honey  for  mar- 
ket: and  along  about  the  first  of  September  an- 
other two  weeks"  work  g(>ts  the  average  crop 
graded  and  into  the  shipiiing-cratcs.  This 
gives  me  plenty  of  time  remaining  of  the  T.") 
days  in  which  to  prepare  the  bees  for  winter: 
anci  as  they  are  in  ten-frame  hives,  and  have  an 
abundaiKM'  of  good  honey,  tliis  is  not  much  of  a 
job.  The  burlap  covers  and  chaff  crates  I  can 
put  on  in  a  day.  and  all  is  snug  until  next  year. 

It  is  by  having  a  good  coiivi-niiMit  honi'y- 
house.  an  apiary  of  chaff  hives,  allowing 
plenty  of  room  for  good  honey  stores,  and  the 
practice  of  a  definite  system  or  plan  of  work, 
that  I  have  done  this.  I  am  familiar  with  my 
hive,  apparatus,  and  system,  and  thi're  is  some- 
tliing  in  this.  We  neve!  have  a  fall  honey-flow 
to  a  degiT-e  to  make  supers  desirable. 

In  Pres.  Taylor's  estimate  of  cost  of  produc- 
tion, he  allows  only  fourdoUars  for  the  handling, 
from  the  hi\('  to  the  honey-marki't.  of  each  l.'iOO 
lbs.  of  honey.  This  seems  io  mtUoo  low.  I  should 
atleastdouhle  it.  For  the  New  p]ngland  markets. 
the  sections  must  all  be  scraped,  aufl  the  honey 
carefully  graded  and  packed  in  crates  witii 
glass  or  in  cartons,  and  neatly  stenciled  and 
marked,  ami  this  is  necessary  in  oi'der  to  get  the 
l.">  i-ents  i)er  poumi  of  Mr.  Taylor's  estimate. 

1  believe  that  the  most  (economical  method  of 
running  an  out-apiary  is  to  cage  the  qui-en  to 
prevent  swarming.  This  seems  as  yet  to  be 
the  only  practical  method  nnle.ss  some  one 
watches  for  swarms.  It  is  nice  to  run  the  out- 
apiary  for  extraoted  honey,  and  discouraging 
swarming  by  plenty  of  room.  I  understand 
that  our  friend  Manum  has  secured  the  past 
season  a  good  crop  of  comb  honey  from  several 
apiaries,  almost  alone,  on  the  caging  plan.  I 
am  also  looking  with  much  interest  for  the  ar- 
ticle from  fi'iend  Hilton  upon  thissubjectof  cost 
of  production.  As  I  sin'iit  several  days  with  Mr. 
M.  after  the  State  convention  I  had  the  oppor- 
tunity of  observing  that  he  was  careful  and 
systematic,  and  tliat  his  methods  were  very 
similar  to  mine — so  mucli  so  that  he  remarked 
we  could  not  get  into  an  argument. 

.1.  II.  I,Ai;i;Aiii:i<:. 

Ag'I  College.  Mich..  .Ian.  :.'0. 

[We  may  explain,  for  the  benefit  (d'  oui-  n-ad- 
4irs.  that  our  first  knowledge  of  the  Larrabee 
bee-escape  came  while  we  were  in  attendaiice 
at  the  convention  of  tlie  Mich.  State  K.  K.  .\.  at 
<lrand  Rapids.     When  Mr.  Larrabee  explained 


the  principle  of  it  \\c  were  intei'ested;  and 
when  he  told  us  that  lii>  brother  took  oil'  :!(KK» 
lbs.  of  extractcil  honey  withoiil  so  much  as 
brushing  a  liei'  off  the  combs,  we  were  elated. 
As  you  will  remember.  w<'  asked  one  of  the 
Lafral)ee  boys  to  s»Mid  us  one  of  their  escape- 
boards.  They  did  so.  and  the  engraving  above 
illustrates  somewhat  I  lie  principle.  We  might 
add.  that  it  is  simply  two  boards  cleated  around 

on    the  sides,  leaving  a  I -space  on   one  side. 

The  boards  are  left  about  two  inches  apart,  and 
on  two  sides  are  nailed  strips  of  wire  cloth, 
covering  the  opening  as  shown,  the  strips  being 
of  une(|ual  length.  lietween  the  strips  are  two 
sets  of  three  tiori/.ontal  cones  of  wii'e  cloth 
pointing  in  opposite  din'ctions  asshown.  The 
fact  that  bees  have  got  to  go  through  thrive 
cones  is  pretty  good  evidence  that  it  would  be 
quite  unlikidy  for  them  to  get  back  into  the 
super:  and  then,  the  ventilation  is  perfect.  As 
to  whetlu'r  the  Larrabi'e  escape  will  woi'k  as 
well  as  or  better  than  the  I'orier  remains  to  be 
proven.  As  Mr.  I^.  says,  it  combines  the  old 
principles  of  the  Reese  and  Dibbern  escapes; 
but  it  s(>ems  to  us  in  a  very  inii(|ue  and  practi- 
cal manner. 

In  i-egard  to  the  cost  of. honey,  we  icgarded 
Mr.  Larrab(U!'s  statement  as  being  very  con- 
servative and  fair.  He  uses  in  Vermont  tln^ 
large  chaff'  hive,  and  these  stand  out  both  win- 
ter and  sumtnei'.  and  they  rcMiuire  but  very  lit- 
tle labor.  That  is  one  beauty  in  having  chaff 
hives.  They  cost  a  litth;  more,  but  they  savi'  a 
great  deal  of  labor  in  springing  and  wintering 
in  the  way  of  moving  in  and  out  of  the  cel- 
lar and  in  hauling.  There  are  some  localities 
that  are  too  cold  for  outdoor  wintering  of  any 
kind,  at  least  we  are  so  informed:  and  for  mi- 
gratory be<>-keeping  or  for  any  reason  that  the 
hives  must  be  moved  often,  the  chaff'  hive  is  un- 
desirable. Oui'  small  Dovetailed  chaff'  hive  is  an 
e.\cei)tiou.  It  is  but  a  trifle  heavier  ttuui  the 
single-walled  hiv<'s.  and  is  equally  portable.] 


PREVENTING  PROPOLIS  AND  BURR-COMBS. 


r.\t-T,0\V    .\XI>    V.\SEI.IXK    FOi;    THE    I'Cin'OSK. 


I  want  some  advice  and  help.  We  have  been 
U}\(\  for  many  years,  that,  if  we  ruobed  tallow 
on  the  joints  of  our  hives  and  other  places 
wher(e  we  did  not  want  pro|)olis  to  accumulate, 
the  l)ees  would  not  |)ut  it  there.  Now.  I  want 
to  know  whether  there  is  anvone  who  has  tried 
it  on  a  scale  large  enough  to  know  wh(U,her  it 
is  practical  or  not.  Some  lOnglishman.  I  be- 
lieve, has  lately  been  recommending  vaseline 
for  the  same  purpose.  Who  has  tried  this? 
Does  either  of  them,  or  any  thing  else,  prevent 
proi)olis  enough  to  inaki'  it  jii-oli table  to  use? 
It  would  be  woi-th  something  to  gel  rid  of  pro- 
polis where  it  is  not  wanted.  It  is  for  another 
purposes  though,  that  I  think  it  might  prove 
profitable  to  use  the  plan:  that  is.  in  the  pre- 
vention of  burr-combs. 

Several  years  ago  I  made  some  fraiiK^s  to  hold 
cages  in  which  to  [)ut  (lueen-cells  for  hatching 
in  the  hive.  Wishing  to  have  them  as  perfectiv 
movable  as  possibh;.  I  rubbed  them  well  witli 
tallow.  They  have  always  been  used  in  hiv<!s 
where  all  the  other  frames  were  covered  with 
burr-combs:  but  on  these  no  burr-combs  have 
ever  been  built.  I  am  certain  from  this  that 
burr-combs  might  he  prevented,  at  least  to  a 
very  great  extent,  by  rubbing  the  top-bais  with 
tallow.  It  is  possible  that  the  bees  might  ob- 
ject to  its  use  on  a  large  scale,  or  it  might  lose 
"its  efficacy  in  time.  I  should  be  glad  to  have 
testimony  on  these  points  from  any  who  have 
tried  iteiiough  to  know.  Vaseline,  it  seems  to 
me.  would    be   more   apt  to  be  ol)jectionable  to 


284 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Ai'itii.  1.".. 


the  bees.     It  would   also  cost  more,  tbongb  it 
would  be  easier  to  apply. 

USING   KEKOSKXE   TO   STOP   ROBBING. 

Some  one  has  advised  the  use  of  vaseline, 
rubbing  it  on  the  alighting-board  of  the  colony 
being  robbed.  A  handier  and  cheaper  thing  to 
use  for  this  purpose  is  kerosene.  In  robbing,  as 
with  all  other  evils,  prevention  is  better  than 
cure:  but  it  will  sometimes  happen  in  all  api- 
aries that  the  bees  get  to  robbing.  If  the  rob- 
bed colony  is  at  all  inclined  to  defend  its  hive. 
a  simple  contraction  of  the  entrance,  or  almost 
any  of  the  ordinary  methods,  may  be  sufficient: 
but  often  the  robbed  colony  gives  up  complete- 
ly, and  makes  no  effort  to  keep  the  I'obbers 
from  entering.  In  such  cases,  something  must 
be  done  to  take  the  place  of  their  lost  courage 
for  a  time.  For  this  I  have  found  kerosene  very 
effectual,  pouring  a  little  of  it  on  the  alighting- 
board  and  ai'ound  the  entrance.  Through  this 
the  robbers  inside  will  pass  out.  but  those  le- 
tuniing  will  seldom  make  any  attempt  to  enU'i'. 
If  any  of  the  bees  of  the  colony  are  out,  they 
will  usually  go  in  all  right  after  a  little  time, 
because  it  is  their  home:  but  the  robbers  do  not. 

It  is  best  to  conti'act  the  entrance,  and  in  bad 
cases  it  may  be  well  to  renew  the  application 
after  a  time'.  Generally  this  is  not  necessary, 
and  this  feature  makes  the  plan  particularly 
valuable  at  an  out-apiary,  where  one  has  not 
time  to  wait  to  see  how  a  case  of  robbing  is 
coming  out.  and  does  not  wish  to  leave  a  colony 
with  a  too  contracted  entrance.  At  such  a 
time  the  entrance  may  be  somewhat  obstructed 
with  fresh  grass,  and  kerosene  sprinkled  on 
this,  and  the  colony  left  with  contidence  that  it 
will  come  out  all  right,  if  it  is  not  ([ueeiiless  or 
too  weak  to  hold  its  own. 

THE    I'ORTKK   BEK-ES<  Al'E. 

Those  Canadians  who  are  rumored  to  have 
decided  against  the  Portei-  bee-escape  on  the 
ground  that  it  tore  the  wings  of  the  bees  must 
certainly  be  mistaken.  Some  one  has  probably 
seen  the  old  I'agged-winged  workers,  which  are 
to  l)e  found  in  all  hives  during  the  working 
season,  and  jumped  at  the  conclu^ion  that  their 
wings  had  been  torn  by  the  springs  of  the 
escape.  I  have  used  a  number  of  these  escapes, 
and  I  never  saw  any  thing  of  the  kind,  and  I  do 
not  believe  it  jtosslble. 

PHOI'OIJZIXG    PEKKOIiATKD   /.INf  . 

1  see  that  somi'  of  your  correspondents  have 
been  troubled  by  the"  bees  closing  the  perfora- 
tions in  queen-excluding  zinc  with  piopolis. 
Without  knowing  more  of  the  facts  it  is  impos- 
sible to  say  certainly  why  this  should  be  so: 
but  in  all"  probability  too  much  ventilation 
through  the  top  of  the  hive  is  the  cause.  I  have 
frequently  known  bees  to  close  in  this  way  the 
holes  in  the  top  of  box  hives  that  were  inttrnded 
to  give  entrance  to  the  surplus  apartment.  I 
have  also  often  known  bees  to  use  much  labor 
and  propolis  in  contracting  an  entrance  that 
was  too  large  to  suit  them.  They  would  not 
use  this  at  the  entrance,  though,  wiiere  a  com- 
paratively small  quantity  would  have  sutticed. 
but  attempted  to  bfiild  a  wall  with  it  some  dis- 
tance back,  usually  between  the  lower  corneis 
of  the  fran\es.  It  is  generally  only  small  colo- 
nies that  do  this,  and  theii'  evident  purpose  is 
to  shut  out  the  drafts  in  order  to  better  preserve 
the  heat  of  the  hive. 

As  long  as  the  perforated  zinc  is  used  for  its 
legitimate  purpose  as  a  division  between  the 
brood -chatn her  and  the  suri)lus  apartment,  the 
holes  are  not  likely  to  be  propolized:  but  when 
the  bees  are  not  occupying  the  supers,  and  the 
honey-board  becomes  practically  the  cover  to 
the  brood -cliamber.  their  instinct  leads  them  to 
.close  the  openings  in  it  if  possible,  especially  if 


there  is  a  large  open  space  above,  thiough 
which  the  air  can  circulate  freely. 

When  the  bees  are  not  occupying  the  supers, 
the  honey-board  should  be  covered  with  a  tight 
Woard.  held  a  bee-space  above  the  zinc,  or  it 
should  be  removed,  and  a  board  or  cloth  put  in 
its  place.  .1.  A.  Grp:ex. 

Dayton.  111. 

RAISING    QUEENS    IN  HIVES  ALREADY  CON- 
TAINING A  QUEEN. 

mi.    MILLEl!    ANSWERS    C^rESTIONS. 

This  letter  is  anonymous:  but  there  is  no 
evidence  that  it  is  meant  in  any  but  good  faith, 
and  the  subject  is  an  interesting  one  and  luay 
be  useful  to  others. 

Dr.  C.  C.  Miller:  V)\[\  you  pk'ase  answer  the  fol- 
lowing questions  tliroug-li  Gleanings  > 

On  page  333,  1890,  you  uif  nlion  a  way  to  have  ceils 
built  by  the  bees,  and  have  tlie  queen  fertilized 
when  hatched.  You  saj',  "  Let  there  be  an  entrance 
on  top."  Now,  what  I  want  to  know  is,  if  I  do  not 
make  ati  entrance  on  top,  but  only  the  original  en- 
trance at  bottom,  CHU  I  raise  cells,  the  cells  to  he 
cut  out  a  few  days  before  they  hatch,  and  given 
to  full  colonies,  as  I  wisii  to  requeen  all  my  hives? 
My  bees  are  black,  and  sliow  some  trace  of  Italian 
stock,  whicli  1  wish  to  get  rid  of  and  come  back  to 
the  original  hla<'k  stock  that  I  had  years  ago  when  I 
used  to  get  iioiiey.  1  used  to  raise  what  queens  I 
wanted,  by  the  nucleus  system;  but  if  I  can  raise 
tliem  in  full  colonies  without  having  the  hives 
(lueenless.  I  think  it  would  be  better.  The  system 
you  reeonmiend  seems  to  me  to  he  really  two  dis- 
tinct colonies.  If  I  do  not  let  tlieni  have  two  en- 
trances, will  the  bees  below  go  above  and  raise 
cells  and  really  act  as  one  colony  ? 

A  Subscriber  to  Gleanings. 

Yes,  you  can  raise  cells  just  as  well  without 
any  entrance  above,  if  yon  want  to  cut  out  the 
cells  before  they  hatch.  I  think  you  may  find 
the  plan  to  succeed  well  sometimes  and  some- 
times to  fail.  The  first  time  I  raised  any  celLs 
in  the  way  mentioned  was  in  a  hive  over  which 
I  had  placed  three  stories  of  empty  combs  to  be 
taken  care  of  by  the  bees.  In  order  to  make 
sure  that  the  bees  would  traverse  the  entire  lot. 
I  put  a  frame  of  brood  in  the  upper  story. 
There  was  no  queen-excluder,  and  nothing  to 
hinder  the  two  queens  coming  togithei'  except 
the  fact  that  they  were  so  fai'  apart  that  it  was 
easier  for  the  young  queen  to  use  as  an  entrance 
the  hole  she  found  accidentally  left  above. 
This  case  was  reported  in  (  Jleaxings  at  the 
time,  and  1  think  it  was  the  first  case  of  the 
kind  ever  published. 

No.  there  are  not  two  colonies.  I  don't  know 
just  how  much  separation  is  needed,  but  it 
seems  that,  whenever  there  is  young  brood  to 
be  taken  cai'e  of.  and  the  queen  does  not  have 
ready  access  to  it,  a  certain  amount  of  isolation 
will  induce  the  bees  to  rear  queen-cells,  even  if 
there  is  constant  communication  between  the 
bees  of  the  two  parts. 

I  have  not  always  succeeded  in  getting  the 
bees  to  rais(^  cells  in  a  second  story  with  an  ex- 
cluder between.  But  Til  give  you  a  plan  for 
raising  cells  that  may  almost  always  be  de- 
pended upon,  and  you  need  no  queen-excluder. 
Instead  of  a  queen-excluder,  put  between  the 
upper  and  lower  story  a  quilt  or  sheet;  if  holes- 
are  torn  in  it,  no  matter.  But  there  luust  be 
sonu-  place,  at  back,  front,  or  side,  for  the  bees 
to  pass  up  through,  and  I  don't  know  that  it 
luake.s  much  difference  whether  a  squaie  inch 
is  left  for  a  passage,  or  ten  inches.  The  point 
seems  to  be.  that  the  cloth  cuts  oft"  direct  com- 
munication between  the  two  stories  better  than 
the  queen-excluder.  If  very  much  of  an  open- 
ing be  left,  the  queen  will  sometimes  go  up  into 
the  upper  story,  especially  if  she  hasn't  all  the 
room   she   wants   below.     Of  course,  when   she 


IS'l-J 


(JLKAxNlNtiS  IN   inOK  ri'I/rLIRH. 


unt's  up.  tilt' oclls  almvc  will  1)0  licstioyod,  iiii- 
loss  tht'rc  is  some  iiiioiitiou  to  swarm:  but  in 
any  oiisc  the  Ihm's  will  start  otMls  below.  Sol 
iiavc  ofti'ii  li'ft  the  ool(Miy  in  llic  upper  stoi-t. 
and  put  only  one  e(niil>  of  lnooii  in  the  lowei- 
story,  to  lind  cells  alnmst  surely  started  below . 

Now.  some  oiu'  will  say  that  this  is  a  good 
V)hin  to  have  oueens  reiu'wed— simply  let  tlie 
vounff  iiueen  liateh  out  and  kill  the  old  one. 
l"ve  had  notrnublein  haviufj  the  younj.^  (lut'cn 
hati'h  out.  but  in  a  tew  days  she  was  always 
missinsi.  and  the  old  iiueen  serenely  maintained 
supreniaey.  With  an  excluder  between,  and  an 
entrance  for  each  (|ueen.  the  case  might  be 
ditl'ereiit. 

You  want  to  tret  rid  of  the  trace  of  Italian 
tilood.  I  wish  1  could  swap  for  it  the  tiace  of 
lilaidv  blood  in  some  of  my  colonies,  and  ha\e  us 
pure  Italians  as  some  1  had  ".years  ago.  when  I 
used  to  sret  honey.'"  Hut  I'm  afraid  tluit.  if  you 
had  the  same  |)u"re  blacks  back,  you'd  find  that 
tlu>y  wouldn't  give  you  a  crop  w  itliout  a  good 
season.  We've  had  bad  S(>asons  lately.  It  is  (|uire 
true  that  Italians  have  not  secured  croi)s:  but  I 
have  no  distinct  recollection  of  ivading  about 
the  blacks  storing  better  crops  than  the 
Italians.  ('.  ('.  Mir.i.i;i:. 

Mareimo.  111..  Mar.  17. 


REPLIES  TO  INQUIRIES. 


WKUillT    OK    COI.OMKS. 

(j>((c.vf(o/i.— What  becomes  of  the  diffei'ence 
between  fall  and  spring  weight  of  colonies, 
sometimes  amounting  to  :.'()  to  ■.'.">  pounds'.' 

Aiisiccr. — Hei'S  use  hone\'  largely  as  fuel  dur- 
ing the  winter  season,  in  tiider  that  they  may 
not  freeze  during  the  frigid  weather  of  our 
northern  localities.  The  natural  food  of  the 
honey-bee  contains  the  least  possible  amount  of 
gross  matter:  and  as  bees  do  not  take  on  fat 
and  then-by  increase  in  weight,  the  digestion  of 
honey  in  the  stomach  of  the  bee  is  equivalent 
to  combustion:  or.  in  other  words,  the  honey  is 
burned  up:  henc<' as  the  ashes  of  burned  fuel 
do  not  weigh  anyw  heic  near  as  much  as  the 
fuel  did  before  burning,  so  the"  ashes." or  what 
is  left  in  the  intestinesof  the  bees,  weighs  much 
le.><s  than  did  the  honey  consumed  to  keep  ui» 
the  lire.  Again,  much  of  the  weight  of  the  hive 
goes  out  by  evaporation:  and  should  the  bees 
have  a  flight,  more  would  go  out  by  w'ay  of  ex- 
crement, tint  not  nearly  as  much  by  the  latter 
as  by  the  former.  Honey  being  vei'y  fr<'(>  from 
nitrogenous  mattei-,  it  is  jjassed  off  in  liquid  or 
vaporous  form  by  way  of  sensible  and  insensi- 
ble perspiration  and  respiration,  except  the 
small  amount  to  be  found  in  the  bodies  of  the 
bees.  This  is  sometimescarried  on  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  water  is  often  seen  running  out  at  the 
entrance  of  hiv(>s  in  winter.  Some  of  the  food 
is  also  used  in  pnKiucing  muscular  foice;  and 
as  this  force  is  constantly  wearing  out,  the  loss 
is  perceptible  in  the  food,  while  in  the  weight 
of  the  bees  it  is  not  seen.  In  all  of  the  above 
we  see  the  wisdom  of  Him  who  created  ourjiets: 
for  were  it  otherwise  they  could  not  stand  the 
rigors  of  our  northern  latitudes  at  all.  inasmucli 
as  they  are  too  cleanly  to  soil  theii-  hives,  while 
the  weather  will  not  admit  of  their  leaving 
them,  often,  for  mom  lis  in  succession. 

FEKIUXG    BKKS    IX    WIXTKR    AXD   SI'KIXG. 

Question. — What  is  the  liest  method  of  feed- 
ing a  colony  of  bees  that  is  found  to  be  without 
food  in  the  hive  iti  miflwinter  or  early  spiing'.' 

Ansner. — In  tlie  fiist  placf  we  should  never 
allow  our  bees  to  be  in  this  condition,  for  it  is 
much  more  to  onr  advantage,  and  to  the  advan- 
tage of  the  bees,  to  have  sutlicient  food  supplied 
them   in   tlie  fall   to  last  at  least   till  the  last 


month  of  spring,  and  1  often  think  that,  if 
enough  is  given  to  last  till  .lune  it  is  all  the  bet- 
ter. The  prudent  ai)iarisi  will  look  overall  his 
colonies  in  Octobei-.  and  see  that  all  are  abun- 
dantly sup|)lied  till  ihe  llowers  bloom  again. 
However,  should  such  a  thing  as  our  pets  i)eing 
shortof  stori's  happen,  through  sickness  or  othei; 
adverse  circumstances,  the  very  best  method  of 
feeding  them  is  to  set  in  combs  of  sealed  honey, 
as  this  places  the  bees  in  a  natural  condition 
and  does  not  distui'b  them  every  little  while,  as 
most  othei-  modes  of  feinling  do.  If  no  combs  of 
honey  can  be  had.  the  next  best  way  is  to  till 
combs  with  good  thick  sugar  syruiJ.  when  they 
are  to  b(^  used  in  the  same  way  thi^  combs  of 
sealed  honey  would  be.  In  either  case  snch 
combs  of  feed  should  l)e  warmed  for  six  hours 
or  more  before  being  jihiced  in  the  hives:  for. 
where  combs  of  frozen  honey  are  set  next  the 
bees,  th(!  colony  is  thrown  into  a  state;  of  ex- 
citement to  warm  this  honey  up  to  wiiere  they 
can  safelv  cluster  against  it. 

There  is  still  another  way  of  feeding  wiiich  I 
like  very  well,  especially  if  this  feeding  is  done 
in  the  spiing.  and  where  I  have  on  hand  some 
extracted  honey  which  has  candied,  which  is  as 
follow  s:  .Make  a  bag  out  of  cheese-cloth.  al)out 
six  or  eight  inches  square,  or  that  much  in 
diameter,  after  which  partially  till  it  with  the 
candied  honev.  which  has  previously  been 
worked  till  itis  (jiiite  soft,  or  it  can  be  worked 
after  it  is  placed  in  the  bag.  Don't  till  the  bag 
so  but  that  it  will  assume  a  flat  shape,  for  we 
wish  to  press  it  down  right  ovei'  the  cluster  of 
bees.  .Ml  it  can  l)e  covei-ed  over  snugly  with  bee- 
(juilts  oi-  old  carpeting  to  keep  in  the  heat.  The 
bees  will  suck  the  feed  tlirough.  and  in  process 
of  time  cut  through  the  cloth  so  as  to  use  it  all 
up. 

t,«>f  ATIXO    AX    AI'IAHV. 

V»e.sf('o(i.— Which  is  the  l)etter  location  for 
bees— one  on  low  ground,  where  it  is  moist  and 
frosty  in  the  spring,  but  sheltered,  or  one  on 
high  ground,  where  it  is  free  from  dampness, 
but  somewhat  windv  '.' 

Ansirer.^li  I  could  have  my  choice  I  would 
select  neither.  My  choice  would  be  midway  on 
a  moderate  slope  which  faces  the  southeast. 
This  would  avoid  the  early  spring  frosts  and 
the  dampness  of  the  low  lands,  and,  to  a  large 
extent,  the  high  winds  of  the  elevated  position, 
which  are  almost  sure  to  prevail.  To  be  sure, 
a  windbreak  can  be  constructed  around  the 
apiary  on  the  high  gnmnd:  l)ut  according  to  my 
experience,  many  bees  are  lost  by  being  swept 
away  on  windv  days  upon  rising  above  this  in- 
closure  into  the  cold  blasts  which  blow  about  it, 
they  being  allured  out  by  the  calm  and  sun- 
shine witliin.  For  this  reason  1  would  select 
the  low  ground  in  preference  to  the  high,  had  I 
notthe  privilege  of  taking  the  inlei-mediate  one. 
If  bees  go  out  from  the  warmth  caused  l)y  the 
mid-day  sun  shining  in  this  low  ground,  they 
are  not'liabh'  to  be  lost  thereby:  for  when  they 
rise  high  enough  to  strike  the  cold  air  from 
above  they  at  once  fall  into  the  warm  air  l)elo\v, 
so  are  not  lost:  then  on  the  whole  the  tempera- 
ture at  the  low  location  will  average  the  warm- 
est in  early  sprins.  <r.  M.  Dooi.itti.i-:. 

Horodiiio.  N.  ^'..  Apr.  1. 


TABULATED  REPORT  FROM  FLORIDA. 


THK     HOXKV     I<KSorRCi:S    OF    THAr    STATI-; 


I  herewith  send  you  my  second  annual  report 
of  the  I)ee-keeping  industry  of  our  State.  I 
have  arranged  it  in  a  tabulated  form  forcont- 
pactness  and  convenienc(\  I  have  si)ent  no 
little  time  and  money  in  preparing  the  n;- 
port.  and   have   tried  to  have  it  as  complete  as 


•2S(i 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Ariui,  15. 


Namk  and  AmiRKss. 


John  Ciaycraft.  Aster  Park 

John  Cross.  Arcadia 

J.  B.  LaMontaKiie.Winter  Park 
H.  P.  Williams.  Richmond 

A.  W.  Windhorst.  Valrico  . .   . 

Lewis  James.  Rock   Bhiff 

P.  H.  McKinlev,  I.isl,..Mi 

W.  B.  SpearinK,  Punt  a  ilorda  . 

H.  P.  Goodrick,  Cencva 

Henrv  Wadhani.  Kruidentown 
J.  N.  .\llman,  ( )stien 

B.  K.  Blackburn.  O^prev 

C.  A.  Willard.City  Point 

W.  C.  Larson,  Cleaveland 

H.  C.  Hoven.  St.  Francis 

R.  E  Rawls.  Peru 

Ira  M.  Parry,  Span- 

J.  M.  Hassell,  Narcoossee 

E.  B.  Plunket.  Lake  Worth 

H.  F.  Gifford,  Narrows 

J.  D.  H.  Wien,  Narrows 

Robt.  .Ayers  Naii-ows 

K.  A.  Redd,  Wewahitchka 

H.  H   Burges.  Wewahitchka  . 
.\ldernian  &  Roberts.  " 

Miles  Tanner.  Sanford 

E.  A.  Smitli,  De  Land  

W.  B.  Shotwell.  Denver 

J.  L.  Wolfenden,  Evanston 

H.  B.  Pryor.  .\palachlcoIa 

.los.  Costello.  Ellenton     

J.  B.  Holley,  Blownstown 

Mrs.  J.  A.  McMillan,  Ft.  Read... 
Dr.  A.  A.  .\lstim.  St.  AiiK-iistine. 

J.  M.  Webb    Titiisvillc 

John  S.  Womblc.  Ovicdo 

C.  W.  Jones, Ponce  Park.. 

C.  F.  Hochstein,  President  Cltv 

G.  W.  King.  Orchid 

J.  P.  Murdock.  Oxford 

.\.  Langot.  Alva 

Mrs.  M.  D.  Perley.  Orange  Oity 
J.  W.  .\nderson.  Bay  Rldfre. 

Ch,  H  dnies,  Leroy! 

Fr.  Tiueblood,  Archer 

W.  Morris.  Archer     .. 

J.  Boffue,  Archer 

N.  McPherson.  Tallahassee 

W.  B.  Radford    Tallahassee. . . . 
G.  H.  Maginnis,  Tallahassee. . . 

C.  Norman.  St.  Petersburg 

Miss  Kay  MoftVtt.  St  Peters'g 
W.  J.  1)1  uniriRht,  Sara  Sota  . 

S.  C   ("orwin.  Sara  Sota 

J.  F  Vorn,  Hudna!. 

J.  N.  Harris.  Charlotte  Harbor 
1    .M;irtin.('harl.ptte  Harboi.. 

W.  M.  Brantley,  Sr)ri ento 

G.  W  Chapman,  Venice. 

L.  J.  Knight,  Venice 

J.  H.Hill,  Venice 

J.  J.  Knight.  Venice 

F  W.  Hunt,  Ocala 

W.  A.  Richards,  Ocala 

M.  B.  Daniels,  St.  Lu(;ie 

W.  M.  Cnitcher.  Zellwood 

W.  Hcartman.  <  itra 

A.  E  S.icp.T,  MiUona 

Dr.  H   Stites.  I'alni  Beach 

J  A.  Webbs,  P.nial 

(i.  W,  Waters    Klecti-a 

H.  M.  Morris,  Electra 

S.  P.  Halley,  Electra 

J.  A.  Willi.-ims,  Kt    Ogil.-n.  ... 

T   M.  Adams.  Oak  Hill 

W.  S.  Hi.rt.  Hiwks  I'Mrk     

H    M   Mitchell,  Hawks  Park. 
W.  B.  Wilkinson.  Hawks  Park 

E.  M.  Stoier.  Hawks  Park 

A.  li.  Wilkinson,  Hawks  Park 

Capt.  Barber,  Hnwks  Paik 

O.  O.  I'lippleton.  Hawks  I'ark.. 

A.  V,-.  S;uireni .  Hawks  Park  . . . , 
E.  A.  Jl  irsli.  New  Smvnia 

E.  (i.  Hewitt.  New  Snivrna 

J.  F.  Packwood.  Hawks  Park 

E.J.  Moore.  Hawks   Park 

O.  Olson.  Hawks  I'/nk 

Dr,  Bevcll.  Hawks   I'ark    

J.B.  Case,  Port  Orange  

P.  W.  .loliiisoii.  Port  orangiv  . 
H.  H.  Hobin-oii,  Port  Orange. 

E.J.  Baiid.  Orlando . 

C.  A.  Brown,  Orlando 

J.  K.  Duke,  Orlando 

.\.  F.  Brown  Huntingtini 

F.  W.  Savage,  Eustis 

T.  A,  Poole.  Eustis 

.\.  C   Hart,  Eustis 

W.  W.  ,l(.nes,  Candler 

C.D.Sutton,  Candler  

W.  J.  Westovei. Candler 

B.  B   Barnur,  Eureka   

J.J   Brinson,  Eureka 

L  B.  Krinson,  Eureka 

\.  M.  Browning,  Eureka 

Gus.  Wills.  Eureka  

-Uleii  Cotton.  Eureka 

M.  Harrison.  Eureka  

F.  Raulerforil.  Crescent  City. . . 
Bcn.i.  Smith.  Hu<lnul 

Total 


^^        Kind  of 
o^     Hive  used. 


■20  Short  L,,10f. 

;!5  Simplicity. 

'2i  Crosswise  L.     - 

13  Frame.  \  ofi 
B  New  Heddon  I  •">(' 

7r>  Box.  ••ill 

11"  Langstroth.  1  — 
31  Simplicity.  — 
•-'1  S.  and  Mitc'l.i  ■'>(! 
17  Langstroth.      h' 

8  Box.  .""11 

10  Sniplicitv.  "'0 
1"'  Simplicity.  10 
!■'  Langstroth.   [  ">o 

6  Dove'd.  8-fr.      -"'0 

1  Simplicity  50 
■i6S.  andDoV.l.  400 
30  Siniplicitv.  ,  ',0 
75  Langstroth.  -25 
:i3  Lingstroth.  ,  80 
•!0  Langstroth.  I  M 
30  Siniplicitv.      — 

i'lO  Langstroth.      •;'> 

33  Langstroth.      20 

1300  Langstroth.  i  — 

25  Simplicity.     ,100 

2  Simplieitv.  — 
2  Mrs,  Cotton's  — 

7n  Langstroth.  tii 
136  Langstroth.  i  40 
■^  Simplicity.  ^> 
4'  Langstrotli. 
Mi'  Simplicity. 
2  Simplicity. 
90  Simplicity. 
80  L  ,  K-story. 
">  Langstroth. 

14  New  Heddn 
120  Simplicity. 

17  Langstroth. 
30  l^angstroth, 
50  Langstroth. 

«  Simplicity. 
8  Siniplicitv. 
60  L.  and  N.  H. 

18  Langstroth. 
16  Langstrotli. 

10  Box. 
4  Box. 

11  Langstroth. 
'••  yuinbv. 

4"  S  inplicitv. 
40  sniplicity. 
6"  S.  and  Dov'd 
''"  Lang-troth. 
IS"  Langstroth. 
■:0  Box 

10  Simplicity. 
?  Eight-frame 
/.'  Eight  frame 
3t  Simplicity. 
'^  Siinplic'ty. 

Simidiclty. 

Sinnilicity. 

Box. 

Frame. 

Simplicity. 


66 


100 


.■ill 


Bo 
Fi'ame 
Langsti 
Box. 


ith. 


Box. 
Box. 
Box. 
'"  Langstrolh 
12'-  Langstroth. 
28  Dovetailed. 
•■'  S  inplicitv. 
140  Langstroth. 
8  Simplicity. 
40  Simplicity. 
30  Long-Idea, 
l?  Simplicity. 
S'  Simplicity. 
40  Simplicity. 
46  Sim|ilicity. 
I'l"  Siniplicitv. 
l>o  S  mpiicity. 
4"  Siniplicitv. 
8"  Langstroth, 
4"  Lang.stroth. 
40  Langstroth. 
'•'  .Simplicity. 
'2  Siniplii-it.v. 
'  American. 
82  Dixie. 
10  Simplicity. 
10  Simplicity. 
10  Simplicity. 
7  Dovetailed. 
2j  Frame. 
8|  Dovetailed. 

0: 

50  R„x. 
26  Box. 
12  Box. 
••.0  Box. 

■'"Box. 

5  Box. 

12  L.  Cotton. 
14  Frame. 


.\verage 
stiy      Length  of  tlit 
Honey 
Season. 


Orange,  palmetto,  button-bush,  grape. 

Palmetto,  pennyroyal,  oaks,  etc. 

Orange,  palmetto,  goldenrod. 

Orange. 

I  Mange,  palmetto. 

No  repoi  t. 

No  report. 

Mangrove,  tig,  mastic. 

<  >raiigc,  palmetto,  gallberry. 
Palmetto,  mangrove. 
Palmetto,  dog  fennel. 
Orange,  p.-ilimttci. 
Orangr.  palnictln,  bay-trees. 
Saw-paliiietto,  bay. 

irange.  palmetto,  gallberry,  gold'rod. 

irange,  iialmetto. 
Orange,  palmetto. 
Bay,  goldenrod. 
Palmetto. 

Palmetto,  mangrove,  iiennyroyal. 
Saw  and  cabbage  palmetto,  mangrove. 
Mangrove,  saw  and  cabbage  palmetto, 
Tu)ielo.  gum.  -nowvine. 
Tvr^ .  tupeUi.  siunvvine. 
Tiit.elo.  t.\  ty,  snowvine. 
t  'range,  pa Imetto,  goldenrod.  wax-iil't 
Palmetto,  andronieda.  gallberry. 
I  iiaiige.  palmetto. 
Orange. 

Black  gum,  tupelo,  grape. 
Gallbeiry.  >aw  and  cabbage  palmetto. 
Tyty,  snowvine.  tupelo. 
Orange,  palmetto    goldenrod. 
I  'range,  iialmetto.  etc. 
Saw  palmetti>,  sea  grapi'. 
Orange,  palmetto,  bay,  golileiirod. 
Palmetto,  black  niangiove. 
I  'range.  )iiiliiietto. 
Palmetto,  mangrove. 
Orange,  p.ilni'o.  ji  irtridge-jiea.  go'rod. 
Pennyi  oyal.  saw  palmetto. 
Orange. 
Not  iepoi-t(  d. 
Orange. 

Orange,  galll  en  y,  parliidge-pen. 
Orange,  partridgepea,  gallberry. 
Partridge-pea.  gallberry.  orange. 
Cotton,  eoi  n,  fall  flowers. 
No  report. 
No  report. 
Orange  palmetto. 
Orange,  palmetto,  mangrove. 
Saw-palmetto. 
Galjbcriy.  palmetto, 
(iallbeiry,  orange,  palmetto. 
Pennyroyal,  saw-palmetto. 
Pennyroyal,  saw-palmetto. 
Palmetto,  basswood. 
Saw  and  cabbige  palmetto. 
Mangri>vc.  palmettn. 
Palmettii,  mangrove. 
Paimettii.  mangrove. 

<  Irange,  fruit  bloom,  goldenrod. 
I  'range,  fruit-bloom,  goldenrod. 
Palmetto   pennyroyal,  etc. 
Orange,  palmetto. 
Orange. 

Palmetto,  pennyroyal,  etc. 
Palmetto  mostly. 
Orange,  palmetto. 
Palmetto,  orange,  .icssamine. 
( 'range  palnuttc, .iessamine. 
Jessamine,  palmetto,  orange. 
Orange,  p.almetto,  fall  flowers. 
Black  mangrove. 
Palmetto,  gallberry,  mangrove. 
Gallberry,  mangrove,  palmetto. 
Saw-palmetto,  niangiove. 
.Mangrove,  saw -palmetto. 
Saw  palmetto,  mangrove. 
Mangrove,  saw-palmetto. 
Saw -Iialmetto,  mangrove. 
Maim  rove,  saw-palmetto. 
Black  niangiove. 
Black  mangrove. 
Black  mangrove. 
Black  mangrove. 
Black  mangrove. 
Black  mangrove. 
I  iallbei  ly ,  palmetto,  basswood. 
Orange,  ii;i!metto,  mangrove. 
Palmetto,  leil  liay,  mangrove. 
Orange,  palmetto,  fall  Howers. 
Palmetto,  orange,  tall  flowers. 
Pink  root,  iialmettn.  fall  flowers. 
Orange,  palmetto. 
Palniettci  orange. 
Orange,  palmetto. 
Palmetto,  orange. 
Orange,  deletrie. 
Palmetto,  orange. 
Saw  ]ialmetto. 

Palmetto,  partridge  iiea,  etc, 
Partridgr  ii'-a.  palmetto   etc. 


March-  July. 
Febi  uary  -May. 
Mar.— July;  fall. 
Febru'y— March 
Febiuarv— June. 
May— June  30. 

April-  Nov 
Jan,  1— June  1 . 
7  months. 
May— Oct  15 
March— July. 
March— o<-tobei. 
May— .lulv. 
May-Nov. 
Mar.-.Mav:Oct. 
Feb.— October. 
Feb.— Apr.;  fall. 
Whole  j-ear. 
6— 10  months. 
May- October. 
.Ma'v-  October. 
Apiil— Sept. 
April— June. 

Februarv-Nov. 
March— .luly. 
March-  June. 
March  and  Apr. 
-Mar.  l.'i— June  1. 
.\pril-  .luly  l-'i. 
Mar.  10-  July  1. 
February— Nov. 
January— Oct. 
Mav  1— June  15 
March— Nov. 
May  10- July  20. 
February  -  June. 
May -August. 
February— Nov. 
Ftbruar\— Juni'. 
March,  Ajiiil. 
Mai  ch— July 

.\pril— October. 
.\pril— October. 
April— October. 
July-Sept. 

March — Sept. 
February  Nov. 
Febiuarv- Juh. 
Apr.  20  -June  Ml. 
Apr.  -iO  June 20. 
Feb.  1  May  20. 
February  June. 
February— June. 

Apri!-July. 
Mav  30-Scrit.  ai. 
.MaV  .30- Sept.  30 
Mav  30— Sept.  .30 
May-Nov. 
Mav-Nov. 
Whole  year. 
March— July. 
February— Apr. 
Whole  year. 
I  Whole  year. 
March    June. 
Whole  year. 
Whole  vear. 
Whole  year. 
Febiuai\     .lune. 
June  l.'i  '.lulv  15. 
M  i,v  10    Aug.  1. 
Mivio    Aug.  1. 
May  HI    Aug.  1. 
June  iO— Aug,  10. 
.May  la-  ,Uily  30. 
May  15— July  30. 
June  1     Aug.  1. 
June  1— Aug.  1. 
June  1— .\ug.  1. 
June  1     .Vug.  1. 
June  1— Aug.  1. 
June  1— .^ug.  1. 
June  1     -\ug.  1. 
June  1— .\ug.  1, 
Feb.-  June  10. 
Feb.- June  10. 
February    Aug. 
Feb.-Mav;  fad. 
Feb.— Mav;  tall 
Feb.-Ma.V;  fall 
Mar.  1— June  1. 
Mar.  1— June  1. 
February- May. 
February-  May. 
Six  week<. 
Four  months. 
.\pril     June. 


Palmetto,  pai 


Ige-p, 


Partridge  jiea.  palmetto,  et<-. 
Palmetto  partridge  pea,  etc. 
Pal  ti  i.ltJe  pea,  palmetto,  etc. 
I'.ilmettii,  iiaitridge-pea,  etc 
I  'range,  palmetto,  gallberr.v. 
(Iallbeiry,  (lalmetto,  orange. 


240 

100 
900 


1100 

•2000 
hnllO 
t93 

216011 


l."i2iS 
SCO 

.1200 

1600 

2,i(8l 

.nOO 


6.'i  (iOO 
100  4(KI 
60    fiOII 


2600 

120(:0 

200 

:m\     0 

2(K0      30 


2180  '•• 
9.01  80 
6110      12 


Maich     ti 


.March  frost. 
.Mareh  frost. 
March  frost. 
Morch  frost. 
Manh  -frost. 
March— frost. 
Mar.— May  30. 
Mar.— May  30. 


a-T  2(H) 
250 

50  Ml 
.it) 

40 

60  2.10 

2000 

2000  

;i(K)0  

2000  

2000 

2000  — - 

2000  

25  


1140  2& 


ISiC' 


(iLKA\IN(;.s  IN    KKK  (  I' l,'l"l' KK. 


:J87 


pussihlt-:  lull  i»\\  iiiir  lu  iiiiiii>  ol'  ilw  Irii'iHi-;  iiui 
aii^wfiiiiir  all  ilir  qiirstions  it  israllifr  liurd  lo 
siinimari/f  it  as  a  w  liiilc.  I  siMil  oiil  some  .")()(i 
piiiii.'d  hlaiiKs  on  postal  oafils:  hut  witli  this 
i-onvciiitMiiT  only  about  oiii'-tiftli  of  tlic  fiinids 
icplicd;  ami  tills,  too.  when  1  know  from  pri- 
vate li'ttt'is  that  a  irtKul  many  of  tlicm  liail  sc- 
oured vcrv  fail"  I'fons.  I'loin  information  thus 
iraim'd  1  ('stimatc  tlif  numiuT  of  i-olonics  in  the 
State  at  ahout  r.',(HHi  and  the  honey  crop  at 
niXi.iHH)  Ills,  for  the  past  yeaf.  On  the  Apalach- 
ieola  River  there  are  over  .itKKi  colonies  not  list- 
ed in  the  report,  and  thoeinen  liaveall  secured 
from  i)(>  to  iN)  ner  cent  of  a  full  crop.  I  hav(>  not 
tested  tliem.  for  thi'  reason  I  have  not  received 
personal  I'eports  from  each,  only  an  estimate 
from  one  or  two  in  each  district. 

In  siimmlnj?  til>  llie  report  we  lind:  1.  That 
110  persims  report  a  total  of  ."):«).">  colonies,  an 
average  tif  ahout  4S  colonies  to  each:  ".'.  That 
;{7  percent  of  the  hee-koepers  use  the  Simplic- 
ity hive:  -JS  per  cent  the  I>angstroth:  1(1  iier 
cent  box  hives  and  HO  per  cent  miscellaneous 
makes:  '.\  That  sfi  rejiort  on  increase  an  aviM- 
age  of  5t)  per  cent:  4.  That  the  main  surulus 
hoMPV  comes  from  orantie,  {rallherry.  tyty. 
tupelo.  snowvine.  Iilack  gum.  saw  an?l  cabbage 
palmetto,  black  mangrove,  pennyroyal,  golden- 
rod,  and  partridge  pea:  ."..  That  i  here  is  surplus 
(luring  neaiv  every  month  in  the  year  in  some 
locatit>ns.  and  that  we  can  lake  two  or  mori' 
crops  during  a  year  by  moving  our  colonies  to 
such  locatioiis:  H.  That  tif'i  re|)oit  that  an  aver- 
age of  .'ti'i  per  cent  <d'  a  full  crop  was  secured  by 
them:  7.  T'l  report  from  +4(i:.'  colonies  i;!..")4() 
pounds  of  comb  and  lS()..".4:i  pounds  of  extracted 
lionev.  making  a  total  (d'  l'.t4.()43  pounds,  or  an 
average  of  about  44  pounds  lo  the  colony:  S. 
4s  re[>ort  ".'I'li'.'  lbs.  of  wax:  *.».  (not  in  report), 
that  from  .Mhi  blanks  sent  out  to  the  bee-keepers 
of  our  State  1  have  been  alile  to  obtain  only  IKi 
responses,  as  givt-u  above. 

Hoping  the  aliove  report  will  be  of  some 
value  t()  vou.  my  friends,  tlie  coming  season, 
and  that  1  may  again  hear  from  you.  I  am  your 
obedient  servant,  .\.  I".  Hi!<>w\. 

Huntington.  Fla..  Feb.  -.'1. 

[Perhaps  some  of  our  readers  may  think  we 
are  giving  a  good  deal  of  spaci'  for  the  statistics 
of  one  State,  flowi'ver  thai  may  be.  we  give 
the  room  in  order  to  siiow  iiow  the  work  may 
be  done,  and  to  give  a  better  idea  of  tiie  real 
hoiiev  resources  of  Florida.  While  we  may  not 
be  able  in  the  future  to  pulilish  these  State  sta- 
tistics in  full,  we  shall  lie  glad  to  publish  the 
summaries  giviuiz  the  gist  of  the  whole  matter. 
We  hope,  therefore,  that  other  States  will  fol- 
low suit.  If  California  bee-keepers  would  get 
up  statistics  as  complete  as  these,  we  siiould  be 
glad  to  publish  tlie  entire  report,  even  if  it  took 
several  pages.  Such  a  rejiort  would  be  valua- 
ble, coming  from  the  greatest  honey  region  of 
the  world.] 


PAINT  FOR  BEE  HIVES. 


THK    HK.ST    I'Al.Vr:    I'KIMIXO    fOATS:    IIOW  Hi  Dl. 
TK(  T    AI>lI/n;KATIOX    IN    I'AIM.  I.K  . 

B//  Eiiiest  H.  Honi. 


We  have  already  gi\en  some  hints  in  regard 
to  the  most  durable  |iaint  for  bee-hives:  but 
during  the  last  few  months  we  have  been  col- 
lecting material  from  various  sources,  and  are 
now  in  position  to  otter  some  information  that 
may  be  valuable  to  our  n-aders.  now  that  we 
are  about  to  enter  upon  siiring  wi'ather.  when 
the  bee-keeper  may  iia\e  time  to  paint  some  of 
Iiis  hives  that  mav  be  ^adlv  in  need  of  it. 


Ii  is  a  wi'll  known  lai-i  among  painters,  that 
yellow  l-'reiicli  ocher  gives  a  very  permanent 
covering,  especially  for  priming  coats.  Ocher 
would  doubtless  supersede  even  white  lead 
were  it  not  that  its  c(dor  is  against  it.  It  is  also 
slated  that  a  priming  coal  of  ocher  presents 
such  a  hard  surface  that  a  covering  (d  lead  does 
not  adhere  so  well  as  it  does  to  a  priming  coat 
of  lead.  A  few  years  ago  nearly  all  the  priming 
was  done  with  yellow  (teller:  but  it  was  discov- 
ered thai  the  later  coats  of  lead  would  Make  oil': 
so  generally,  now.  for  house-painting,  pure  leaii 
for  a  piiming  coat  is  preferred,  providing  it  can 
be  obtained.  i?ut  we  shall  hav<>  occasion  to 
speak  of  adulterated  leads  further  on.  It  is 
generally  acknowledged  that  French  ocher 
combines  vi'iy  readily  with  lead,  and  the  com- 
bination makes  a  more  durable  paint  than  even 
pure  leaii:  Imt.  unfortunately,  so-called  pure 
leads  are  feai  fully  adulteiatecj.  Ih^alers  get  to 
cutting  on  prices,  and  manufacturers  are  tempt- 
ed to  put  in  barytes.  lime,  and  other  cheap  in- 
gredients, w  liich.  instead  of  adding  to  the  per- 
manence of  the  [)aint.  work  in  an  inverse  ratio. 
The  result  is.  that  some  of  these  adulterated 
lead  paints  show  a  very  poor  surface  in  a  couple 
of  v<'ars.  The  paint  either  Hakes  off  or  rubs  otT 
like  chalk. 

I'.esides  pure  lead,  and  genuine  yellow  French 
ocher.  pui<^  zinc  is  another  good  body  for  paint. 
The  addition  of  /.inc~at  least  a  small  projior- 
tion — does  not  generally  artect  the  durable 
<lualitiesof  [laiiit.  l*ur<'"/,inc  paint  alone  gives 
a  vei'y  hard,  snow -white,  porcelain  finish.  For 
inside  white  it  is  generally  employed:  but  for 
outside  work  it  is  too  hard  and  flakes  ott.  Our 
painters,  however,  tell  us  that,  while  pure  lead 
and  pure  ocher  give  a  most  lasting  combina- 
tion, the  paint  may  be  cheapened  by  the  addi- 
tion of  a  little  zinc:  and  this  will,  at  the  same 
time,  give  it  a  valuaWe  (juality  in  point  of 
hardness,  and  prevent  inclination  toward 
chalking  otT.  We  are  now  using  on  our  hives  a 
combination  made  up  as  follows:  h,  pure  lead. 
':;  pure  zinc.  ':;  genuine  French  ocher.  mixed  in 
pure  unboiled  or  raw  linseed  oil.  Such  a  com- 
bination is  cli(:iper  than  a  great  many  of  the 
so-called  mixi'd  paints  on  the  mai'ket— cheajier 
because  it  goes  furl  her.  and  because  it  will  last 
much  longer.  It  has  all  the  valuable  ((ualities 
of  the  /.inc.  the  ocher,  and  the  lead;  and  the 
resultant  shade  is  a  light  straw  color.  For  bee- 
hives it  is  undesirable,  on  account  of  melting 
down  the  combs  from  the  sun's  heat,  lo  use 
dark  shades.  Theoretically,  snow-w  hile  paint 
would  be  preferable:  but  in  actual  iiractice  the 
light  straw  yellow  will  do  a4)out  as  well  as  the 
wiiite. 

Now  a  word  about  buying  paints.  It  is  to  be 
regretted  that  so  many  manufacturers  of  white 
paint  label  their  paint  •'Strictly  Pure."  If  you 
consult  any  iiractical  painter  he  will  [iiit  you  in 
possessionOf  tables  containing  analyses  of  all 
ihe  paints  in  the  market— analyses  that  show 
the  amount  of  adulteration  and  pure  lead  sent 
out  tiy  each  manufacturer.  If  dealers  and  con- 
sumers alike  could  only  inuh'istand  that  puri' 
lead,  or  pure  lead  and  zinc,  is  a  great  deal  cheap- 
er in  the  long  run,  they  would  not  try  to  be  buy- 
ing their  paint  wherever  they  could  do  so  for 
the  lowest  ligure.  It  is  the  consumers  who  have 
to  suffer,  and  some  cheap  paints  are  very  dear 
at  any  price. 

Hesides  the  adulterations  w  hicli  do  not  in  the 
h^ast  add  to  the  good  i|nality  of  paint,  lish  and 
mineral  oils  are  used  instead  of  pure  linseed  oil. 
Painters  generally  agree  that  theie  is  nothing 
like  i)nre  linseed  oil  for  paint.  All  other  oils 
are  practically  wor.se  than  nothing.  They  ari- 
a  snare  and  a  delusion,  and  onlv  reveal  the  true 
nature  of  the  paint  after  it  has  lieen  on  the 
wood  for  a  few   months. 


288 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Al'KII.  l.">. 


Very  foituntitely  there  is  a  simple  way  of  de- 
tecting adulterations  in  paint.  Any  thing  but 
linseed  oil  can  usually  be  detected  by  the  smell. 
Fish  oil  has  a  very  rank,  sickening  odor.  Ba- 
i-ytes  and  lime  can  usually  be  detected  in  the 
following  way:  Buy  a  small  can  of  the  lead 
that  you  propose  using  with  your  ocher  or  zinc. 
as  the  case  may  be.  Scoop  out  a  little  of  it  and 
put  it  in  an  empty  tin  can;  pour  on  top  turpen- 
tine. Mix  thoroughly  by  stirring,  and  then  al- 
low this  to  stand  for  34  or  48  hours.  At  the 
expiration  uf  this  time,  pour  oft'  the  top:  and  if 
barytes  or  lime  is  used  you  will  find  a  sort  of 
dry  powder  in  the  bottom  of  the  can.  that  has 
failed  to  unite  with  the  oil.  This  lime  or  ba- 
rytes is  a  positive  detriment;  and  the  only 
reason  it  is  put  in  is  because  it  cheapens  the 
lead.  If.  on  tlie  othei'  hand,  after  making  the 
test  as  above,  you  find  no  chalky  residue  in  the 
bottom  of  the  can.  you  may  feel  pretty  sure  that 
your  lead  is  pui'e,  or,  at  least,  has  nothing 
woi'se  in  it  than  an  addition  of  zinc,  which  will 
not  hurt  it.  Genuine  Fi'ench  ocher,  on  the 
other  hand,  combines  perfectly  with  the  lead  or 
zinc,  and  leaves  no  residue. 

There  is  anothei'  very  simple  test,  though 
perhaps  not  so  positive  in  its  results.  Dip  your 
thumb  and  finger  into  pure  white-lead  paste 
and  rub  them  vigorously  together  for  four  or 
five  minutes.  If  the  paint  is  made  of  pure  lead 
and  linseed  oil,  oi'  of  i)ure  lead,  ocher,  and  lin- 
-seed  oil,  a  rubbing  of  the  fingers  for  four  or  five 
minutes  will  still  leave  only  a  soft  oily  residue. 
If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  paint  is  adulterated 
with  barytes  or  lime,  two  or  three  minutes'  rub- 
bing will  reveal  a  sort  of  dry  powder  between 
the  thumb  and  fingei'.  I^inseed  oil  combines 
perfectly  with  lead.  zinc,  and  ocher,  but  it  will 
not  '^ombine  with  linu'.,  barytes.  or  chalk,  and 
hence  the  fraud  is  easily  detected. 

IVrhaps  we  might  state,  while  we  are  about 
it,  that  there  are  on  thi;  market  what  are 
called  white  and  gray  ochei-s.  We  would  warn 
bee-beepers  to  let  these  alone.  The  only  reason 
they  ai'e  called  "ochei''"  is  because  the  general 
public  understand  that  ocher  paints— at  least 
the  yellow  ocher — is  known  to  be  durable  when 
spread  upon  the  wood.  We  have  tested  some 
white  ochers;  and  while  we  could  not  tell  ex- 
actly, we  felt  pretty  sure  they  wei'e  made  up  of 
barytes,  lime,  and  clay.  Gray  ocher  is.  perhaps, 
a  little  better;  but  it  does  not  begin  to  have  the 
qualities  of  the  yellow  ocher. 

While  we  are  about  it,  we  might  add  that 
Venetian  red  also  makes  another  durable  body 
when  combined  with  pure  linseed  oil.  Its  color, 
however,  is  against  it.  You  can  get  a  very 
pretty  and  durable  I'ed  by  mixing  pure  French 
ocher  and  Venetian  red.  half  and  half.  Such  a 
red  will  not  deteriorate  into  a  dull  brownish 
red.  but  will  remain  of  a  bright  glossy  color. 
We  use  such  a  paint  on  our  outside  winter  cases, 
or  on  any  thing  that  is  not  to  be  used  for  sum- 
mer use.  We  also  use  it  on  hive-stands.  The 
bright-red  hive-stands  and  the  straw  color  of 
the  hives  make  a  very  pretty  combination  in  an 
apiary. 

It  may  be  also  stated  that  dark  shades  are  apt 
to  burn  off  more  by  the  (iffect  of  the  sun  than 
the  lighter  shades. 

We  have  thought  best  to  make  some  extracts 
from  the  readings  we  have  made.  They  not 
only  confirm  in  some  cases  what  we  have  said, 
but  they  will  be  found  to  give  other  additional 
facts. 

IMPORTANCE    OK   GOOD    PAINT. 

We  iiie  I'lolmbly  more  indebted  to  paint  than  to 
any  other  ai'tlcle  for  tlie  pn-sei-vation  of  surfaces 
that  are  exposed  to  the  elements;  and  it  is  tliere- 
fore  desirable  to  use  only  tlie  best.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  e.xperiments  and  trials  that  have  been  made 


with  other  materials,  thus  far  iiotliing'  has  been 
found  to  take  the  place  of  white  lead  (carlxmate  of 
lead)  and  linseed  oil.  Owing-  to  the  liigh  cost  of 
these  articles  other  metals  liave  l)eeii  repeatedly 
tried,  and  even  more  extended  experiments  have 
been  made  to  substitute  some  other  oil  for  linseed, 
lint  without  success,  and  they  still  hold  theii- su- 
premacy for  painting  purposes.  The  carl)onateof 
lead  contains,  in  addition  to  tlie  metallic  lead,  a  cer- 
tain percentag-e  of  earto7i  and  o.xj'g'en,  and  .iust 
suflicient  h.vdi'ogen  to  give  it  tlie  proper  spreading- 
quality.  Linseed  oil  also  contains  carbon,  oxyg-en, 
and  hydrogen,  and  hence  its  afiinity  for  the  lead, 
causing-  the  two  to  unite  perfectly.  The  natural 
formation  of  cai-ljonate  of  lead,  however,  is  such 
that  it  has  a  tendency  to  chalk  otf;  and  the  more 
advanced  authorities  in  paints  emplo.v  the  use  of 
zinc  oxide  to  cori-ect  this  tendency;  and  experience 
lias  proveti  that  this  comljination  of  lead  and  zinc 
insures  a  more  durable  paint  than  lead  alone. 

As  white  paint  is  more  subject  to  being-  soiled 
from  dust,  smoke,  etc.  (the  favorite  painting-  ma- 
terials are  in  colors),  the  most  durable  colors  are  the 
iron  oxides;  but  these  are  usually  too  dark  in  t-olor 
to  be  I'leasing- to  the  eye.  Chromates  of  lead,  i.  e., 
yellow  and  g-i-een,  are  used  largely  in  varying- tints 
and  shades.  Combinations  of  different  pig-ments 
are  used  in  almost  endless  variations.  Probalily 
there  is  no  color  that  is  more  of  a  favorite,  however, 
than  ocher;  and  as  it  combines  perfectly  with  white 
lead,  it  malies  a  g-ood  paint.  Ocher  is  a  substance, 
the  liest  g-i-ades  of  which  ai-e  found  in  France.  Tt  is 
composed  of  alumina,  silica,  and  hydrated  oxide  of 
iron.  From  tlie  latter  it  obtains  its  i)eculiar  I'ich 
.vellow  color.  Many  pleasing;  tints  are  made  by 
combining  ocher  with  white  lead;  and  althoug-h  it 
may  not  perhaps  be  indorsed  by  the  festhetic  as  the 
color  "iiai-  excellence,"  it  is  always  a  reliable  and 
favoi-ite  color,  and  is  more  largely  used  than  any 
other  color  Of  its  class.— Friioi  the  Foie-'it  City  Paint 
Co.,  Clevelanil,  Ohio. 

THE  PRIMING   COAT. 

Many  painters  do  notg-ive  mtu'li  attention  to  this 
most  important  of  all  coats.  Tlie.v  seem  to  think 
and  act  as  if  any  thing  were  good  enough  for  a 
primer.  We  have  fre<]nently  seen  odds  and  ends  in 
the  slusb-tub  tui-nish  the  material  for  priming;  and 
if  foi-  any  rt>asoii  a  lot  of  paint  is  condemned  as 
unfit  for  fin isl ling- coats,  it  is  reserved  and  thouglit 
to  be  g-ooti  enough  for  llrst  coat. 

It  is.  however,  of  the  utmost  im|)oi'tance  that  the 
priming  receive  the  a-reatest  attention  and  care,  as,  if 
it  is  neglected,  the  win  ile  superadded  coats  are  bound 
to  be  defective.  It  matters  little  how  g-ood  these 
may  be,  nor  how  i-areful  the  workmanshii);  there 
can  not  but  be  trouble  in  view  in  the  near  future. 

Wood,  it  will  lie  noticed,  is  composed  of  bundles 
of  thi-ead-like  filaments;  where  these  filaments  have 
been  sawed  tln-ough.  the.v  present  the  appeara.nce 
of  iiores.  Fndei-  micioscopic  examination  it  will  be 
found  that  there  is  consideraliie  space  between  the 
tllaments.  and  that  they  are  not  solidly  laid  against 
one  another.  These  interstices  it  is  that  the  primer  is 
called  upon  to  till.  The  primer  will  be  found  to 
have  little  bits  of  roots,  which  form  cliiicliers. 
These  clinchei-s  have  a  great  hold  upon  lliewood, 
and  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  both  the 
pigment  ;ind  the  vehicle  be  of  the  best  (piality  and 
of  the  proper  nature. 

The  vehicle  should  be  raw  linseed  oil.  for  this 
penetrates  much  further  than  the  boiled  will,  and 
for  that  reason  the  latter  should  not  be  employed. 

Earth  colors  containing  consideraliie  silica  wliich 
have  lieeu  very  tinel.v  ground  are  the  most  u.seful 
pigments  for  iniraing,  and  the  ochers  for  that  rea- 
son are  the  best  of  all  these.  Tliey  co]itaiii  con.sid- 
erable  silica,  and  have  great  body  besides.  The 
addition  of  a  quarter  to  a  third  lij-  weight  of  white 
lead  is  an  improvement,  as  the  paint  is  then  more 
porous  and  the  next  coat  can  penetrate  through  it. 

Never  use  a  dry  ocher  unground  for  pi'iming, 
as  the  particles  are  much  too  coarse  and  can  not 
enter  into  the  pores.  Have  only  careful,  reliable 
men  to  apiil.v  it,  as  it  must  lie  thoroiiglil.\'  brushed 
in  to  get  Weil  worked  in,  and  we  know  that  there  is 
no  class  of  work  that  is  slighted  moi-e  than  this  is  in 
the  workmanship.  Any  thing  in  the  shaiie  of  paint, 
and  anybody  to  put  it  on,  won't  do. 

Zinc  "should  never  be  used  in  priming,  for  the  rea- 
.son  that  the  tendency  of  zinc  is  to  peel  otf;  and  we 
have  frequently  seen  it  do  so  where  it  had  been 
used  as  a  primer;  even  the  rootlets  formed  by  the 
entering  of  the  primer  into  the  pores  are  drawn  out 


1892 


IJLEANIN(JS  IN  HKKCULTURK. 


2m 


t'ii>iii  Ihi^«.     Fur  llii>  ii-;i>.iiii.  tlu-ii.  /iiic  -lioiild  Ix'  di-^- 
(•.•iiili'd  alliiRi'llicr  foi-  ;i  pi'iiiu'f. 

Tim  >rro:il  :i  li<>il\  is  not  dcsiialilf  iii;i  iiriiiu'i-;  iiiid. 
while  botli  Ilic  oclicr-.  iiiid  while  h'lul  .ire  hciivy- 
liodit'd.  llicy  niiisl  be  Ihiiiiud  down  with  tlir  M'liii-lc 
niilil  tlicy  ai-c  vn-y  thin.  F.  Moiir,  >ii  H(iii:<r  Piii)tt- 
iiiii  ouil  Diciif(itiii{i. 

In  tnivinv'  <'iir  cuidrs  of  a  IIkIiI  shade,  oi-  straw 
eoUifs,  we  find  tliat  a  piife  wliite  lead  is  tlist  neees- 
saiy.  whieli  shoidtl  he  tinteci  with  tlie  best  Fieni'li 
(lehei- and  Knjriisli  eliioine  \elli>w.  'Pliis  will  iiialve 
tlie  most  diii-able  color  for  ear  bodies;  tlie  elironie 
is  pertnanenl  when  inixi-d  with  lend  almost  as 
niiieli  so  as  the  best  oeheis;  but  it  is  far  superior  in 
b(Mly  ami  I'overinv  projierl  ies,  and  one  of  the  most 
useful  pivments  in  the  paint-shop.  Whiti-  lend 
alone  will  ehanv'o  from  its  original  whiteness  in 
ease  it  is  mixed  wit  li  a  surplus  of  oil;  itistlK'oil 
which  elianyi's  it  to  a  yellow  cast  as  it  hardens  in 
diyinjr  :  ''ill  when  lead  is  mixed  with  some  other 
strong  pijfment.  its  color  when  thus  tinted  is  more 
permanent,  and  its  densit\  and  weariiifr  <|ii;ilities 
are  iiicrea.sed.  The  <hirabilit.\' of  a  color  we  do  not 
claim  to  b»'  altofrel  her  in  the  pi^'ment  employed,  but 
it  is  e<iually  so  in  the  veliii'les  ust'fi  in  its  i)repara- 
tion  for  use;  therefore  lead,  which  is  known  to  re- 
tail] oil  tile  best,  will  hold  t  he  color  lonfrer. 

PaintiiiK  is  put  to  the  Se\'eres1  lest  on  our  passen- 
vrer  ears,  and  its  destiaiction  is  caused  by  a  constant 
exposure  to  the  elements  and  the  chanj-es  of  atmos- 
phere, from  a  dry.  burninjr  heat  throufil'  <'ie  day  to 
a  heavy  moisture  at  nifilii,  which  the  painted  sur- 
f;n'e  absorbs  in  lar^e  quantities,  to  lie  dried  out 
aK:i'n.  the  satne  process  jroing'  on  day  after  day. 
Hut  perlia)>s  it  is.  as  I  have  heaifl  exuressed  by 
members,  that  thi'  foreman  painter  is  not  consulted 
in  reirard  to  the  coloi- of  the  car  This  is  e-enerall\ 
decided  by  those  who  ki  <iw  notliinjr  of  the  jieni'ial 
.-idaptability  of  a  paint  to  the  work.  Freal<s  of 
f.'ine.v  liave  too  often  determined  what  the  color  of 
the  car  siiixild  bt'.  with  no  thoujrht  j;iven  or  (|ues- 
tions  asked  of  those  who  are  expected  to  know  the 
difJt'rence  in  tlie  lastiiiji'  inialities  of  a  color,  nor  is 
the  <iuesti(Hi  considered  wliethei-  the  color  would 
wear  six  or  twelvi'  itionlhs.  Would  it  not.  there- 
fore, be  economj'  toasceitain  what  amoiyit  of  wear 
is  ill  a  color  liefore  it  is  finally  adoiited  as  the  stand- 
ard of  the  road  ? 

Our  arjruTiieiits  in  favor  of  the  lifrht  colors  will 
jirohably  not  clitiiifre  the  views  of  the  officers  of  our 
i-oads.  They  may.  liowi'\(  r.  find  the  matter  worthy 
of  thi'ir  attention,  and.  to  test  it  for  themselves, 
haveone  coach  painted  any  litfht  shade,  and  i)uf  it 
in  seivice  with  a  car  painted  Pii  II  ma  n  color  or  Tuscan 
red,  when  tweUe  months'  service  will  iirove  what  1 
have  already  as.serted.  that  lijflit  colors  are  the  flr.st 
step  toward  economy  in  the  car-paintinK  dejiart- 
nient  of  a  road.  R.  MrKrnn.  in  The  Pointer,  tor 
yi)V..  lfiR4. 

After  C(iin|jiaiiiiiigr  wlial  otliers  have  said 
iibmit  fioiieji  heiiig  adiilter;ited.  it  niiglit  looVc  as 
if  we  were  jjoiiigr  a  little  fast  when  we  iiititnate 
that  iinint  is  also.  I'lof.  Cook  has  said,  and  no 
clouht  eoirectly,  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
tell  by  analysis  wlie'lier  honey  is  adulterated 
or  not.  In  fact,  he  sent  satriples  of  ptiic  honey, 
taken  from  the  hives  of  the  coljecre  apiary,  to 
I'lof.  Wiley,  of  Washiiiirton.  I'rof.  \\'iley.  after 
analysis,  prfnioiineed  them  all  adulterated. 
The  wilv  professor  no  doubt  thought  tliat  they 
were,  o/  cfiiirsc.  aduiti'iated  or  they  wouldn't 
have  been  sent:  and  wlien  he  saw  the  expected 
chemical  reactions,  he  jumped  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  the  samples  were  necessarily  impure, 
i'orttiiiatejy.  adulterations  in  paint  are  very 
easily  detected.  We  have  given  two  very  sim- 
ple methods  that  will  answer  for  the  practical 
Viee-keeper  or  iiainter;  but  the  cliemist  can 
analyse  and  determine  the  exact  amount  of 
each  foreign  article  in  paint  to  a  certainty.  Ail 
minerals  are  very  easily  analyzed,  and  the 
clieinical  reactions  are  distinct  and  positive. 

Perhaps  we  ought  to  sav  that  we  are  largely 
indebted  to  our  painter.  Mr.  .fohii  Ii)er,  of  this 
place,  for  the  information  that  we  have  been 
enabled  to  give  above.  It  was  he  al.so  who  fur- 
nished us  the  articles  from  liis  trade-journals, 
from  which  we  made  selections. 


He/ids  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS 


I)K,\TII    OK   rol'NT   C.    Hl.V.NTONCINI. 

It  is  with  mticii  regret  that  we  chronicle  the 
dejiiiiof  ('lia<.  {{ianconcini.  We  copy  the  fol- 
low ing  shorl  sketch  from  the  lirltish  Tiee  •Iniir- 
iKil  for  March  IT: 

With  Italy  we  have  also  to  deplore  the  loss  by 
death  of  Count  <'liarles  liiancoiicini.  of  Uolojfiia. 
whose  naiiK-  is  well  known  t  he  world  over  as  one  of 
the  leadiiifT  i|ueen-breeders  of  Italy.  Count  Hiaii- 
concini  was  broiijrht  up  as  an  entrineer.  and  served 
his  country  in  the  arliller.\.  from  which  he  retired 
with  the  rank  of  capt.nn.  lie  was  not  only  passion- 
att'l.v  fond  of  bee-keepiiifi',  but  was  also  a  thorouK-|i 
jrentleman,  and  his  st  rii-t  inteM'ritj  won  for  him  t  he 
esteem  of  all  who  knew  him  or  had  an\  business 
transactions  with  him.  In  his  business  dealings  he 
was  most  honorable  and  oblifriiiK.  and  those  who 
have  had  dealiiifr- wit  h  him  have  always  spoken  in 
the  hifrliest  praise  of  his  (pieeiis.  I-'oul  brood  ilocs 
not  e.xist  in  the  district  where  Count  Hianconcini 
resided,  therefore  there  was  no  fear  of  imporlinji 
this  disease  wii  h  (jiieens  sent  from  his  ai'iaiy.  lie 
was  also  eiiually  well  known  as  an  at;riculluiist . 
Our  relat  ions  wit  h  him  \\n\v  been  of  the  pleasant- 
esl ;  and  the  editor  of  the  Rnme  Intiiiiatioiiate, 
writinji- about  him.  says  that,  after  Hfteen  \earsof 
the  most  a>n-eeable  intercourse,  he  can  affirm  that 
not  one  of  ids  immense  circle  of  customers  has  had 
to  complain  ul)out  liim.  Hi.s  lo.ss  will  be  sorely  felt 
in  Italy,  wheie  his  rt-putation  was  as  good  as  it  was. 
abroad. 

[For  the  last  six  or  eight  years  we  bought  all 
our  queens  from  Italy  of  Hianconcini.  Tliey 
were  uniformly  good,  and  gavi'  excellent  Sittis- 
faclion  to  our  customers.  His  business  relations 
with  us  were  also  of  the  pleasantest;  and  as  a 
bee-keeper  and  qneen-breeder  he  stood  high. 
We  are  happy  to  announce  that  his  business 
will  be  carried  on  by  his  daughter.  .Miss  E. 
Hianconcini.  liologna.  Italy.  She  no  doubt  has 
been  her  father's  best  assistant  in  the  a|)iary. 
and  will  therefore  be  fully  able  to  sustain  the 
reputation  of  her  father.  We  expect  to  give 
her  our  patroiiMg*'.  and  would  respectfully  refer 
others  to  her.  I E.  K.  R. 

I'OISONOfS    HONKY. 

I  have  a  young  man  living  with  me  who  has 
lived  all  his  life  in  northeast  Tennessee.  He 
says  evi-ry  one  keeps  bees  there:  besides,  the 
woods  are  full  of  wild  bees,  but  he  never  saw  a 
liee  on  wiiat  is  called  mountain  laurel  there, 
and  he  don't  believe  they  can  work  on  it  on  ac- 
count of  the  sticky  nature  of  the  blossoms:  but 
they  do  work,  in  limits  of  scarcity,  on  a  small 
evergreen  shrub  called  ivy  in  his  locality,  (may 
it  not  be  confounded  with  the  lattrel  in  some 
other  locality,  as  happens  with  other  phints?) 
and  what  honey  they  store  while  it  is  in  bloom 
is  dangerous.  He  has  betMi  very  sick  from  eat- 
ing it,  and  knows  a  number  of  other  cases,  and 
one  child  died.  The  bees  never  seemed  to  do 
well  when  they  had  any  of  this  honey  in  their 
stores.  The  symptoms  of  poison,  as  he  gives 
them,  are  simiiar  to  tho.se  given  by  Dr.  (Jram- 
mer,  in  the  .A  H  ('. 

I  looked  through  my  apiary  yesterday.  The 
Italians  (Roofs  and  NebeTs  stock)  are  in  tine 
shape— lots  of  bees  and  stores,  and  a  good  bit  of 
brood:  luit  the  blacks  are  in  rather  poor  shape: 
dill  not  feed  uj)  well  last  fall,  (live  me  Italians 
everv  time.     They  are  the  •"hustlers." 

Parker.  Kan..  Mar.  :.'y.  .1.  W.  (iitovK. 


.\    I.ETTKK    Fi:oM    CIKA. 

Friend  Ernest:— I  notice  in  (Ji.ka.m.nhs  of 
Feb.  1st  that  you  think  your  father  is  coming  to 
Florida,  and"  might  fiossiJtlii  come  to  Cuba. 
Well,  we   Cubans  will    just    be   delighted    if   he 


290 


CJLEAMNGS  1^'  JJEE  CULTURE. 


Ar-iJii,  15. 


will  cunsciit  U)  (.•oini'— 1  iiican  the  bee- keeping 
fraternity.  This  is  not  only  a  honey  country, 
but  a  mass  of  (luweiy  vegetation,  with  sugar- 
plantations,  miles  wide,  dotted  here  and  there 
with  enormous  sugar-factories,  and  the  climate 
is  just  delightful  li'oni  October  until  May.  The 
place  to  take  the  boat  would  be  at  Tampa,  Fla.. 
there  being  a  line  of  elegant  steamers  that  run 
from  Tampa  to  Havana,  a  distance  of  ;{20  miles. 
The  run  is  made  in  about  24  hours,  with  a  small 
stop  at  the  charu)ing  city  of  Key  ^Vest,  Fla., 
which  has  a  population  "of  about  20.000.  it 
would  be  best  to  write  to  Dr.  James  Warner. 
Havana,  about  three  days  before  your  father 
takes  the  boat  at  Tampa,  so  as  to  meet  him  at 
the  boat-landing  in  Havana,  for  every  one 
speaks  Spanish,  and  possibly  he  might  be  annoy- 
ed. Dr.  Warner  lives  in  Havana,  and  is  quite 
an  extensive  bee-keeper.  Mr.  Casanova  is  living 
here,  and  he  is  a  fond  lover  of  bees,  and,  besides, 
owns  one  of  the  finest  sugar-plantations  in 
Cuba,  as  well  as  a  fine  new  sugar- factory,  and 
he  too  would  be  very  glad  to  have  the  honor  of 
entertaining  Mr.  Root.  With  the  hope  that  we 
Cuban  bee-keepers  will  be  honored  by  Mr.  Root's 
visit  to  oui'Iand  of  i)altns, 

I  am  sincerely  yours. 

F.  ().  S()MKRFt)i;i>. 

San  Miguel,  Cuba.  Feb.  14. 

[Many  thanks,  friend  S.,  for  your  very  kind 
invitation:  but,  as  1  have  before  explained,  you 
will  have  to  wait  until  scmie  future  tiine  before 
we  make  that  pleasant  visit.  I  assure  you  that 
your  kind  invitation  has  done  us  both  a  great 
deal  of  good.  The  fact  of  having  such  friends 
away  off  in  Cuba  is  of  itself  worth  a  good  deal.] 
A.  I.  R. 

i'()Ktek"s  hee-es('ai'E8  ake  a  great  success. 

In  an  editorial  in  (Ji.eanings  of  March  1,  the 
editor  asks  any  one  in  a  position  to  know, 
whether  the  rumor  that  he  heard  was  true, 
that  a  Canadian  association  of  bee-keepers  con- 
demned the  Forter  bee-escapes,  saying  that 
they  tore  the  wings  of  the  bees.  Xo:  that  ru- 
mor has  no  foundation  whatever,  and  no  Cana- 
dian association  of  bee-keepers  did  or  could  be 
got  to  condemn  the  Porter  beecscapes.  because, 
wherever  any  bee-keeper  in  Canada,  has  tried 
the  Porter  escape,  he  speaks  of  them  with  un- 
limited praise.  If  any  one  will  tear  one  of  the 
Porter  escapes  open  and  examine  it  he  will  be 
convinced  at  once  that  they  could  not  in  any 
way  injure  a  single  bee.  Xo  bee-keeper  on  this 
orb  of  oursshould  be  without  niorc^  oiless  of  Por- 
ter's very  valuable  escapes.  They  are  one  of 
the  best  things  ever  bi'ought  into  any  apiary, 
and  they  should  be  used  in  every  bee-yard  in 
the  whole  wide  woi'ld. 

^^'.M.  McF,\- OY,  Funl-bvootl  Inspectoi-. 

Woodburn.  Out..  Can.,  Mar.  14. 


A    SUGGESTION. 

To  meet  the  objection  of  Mr.  Walratli.  to 
V'ing  the  sides  of  the  end -bars  of  the  Hoffman 
frame  why  not  make  the  V  by  cutting  the  wood 
away  all  on  the  outside  thus: 


]z: 


]z: 


]z: 


This  lea\  es  the  inside  next  to  the  bees  smooth. 
lUit  the  frames  would  have  to  be  all  square  and 
close-fitting  in  the  hive;  i.  <;.,  have  no  end  play, 
else  the  sharp  edge  of  the  end-bar  would  not 
always  touch  its  adjoining  bar.  Perhaps  by 
leaving  the  point  of  the  V  ,i.  inch  thick  would 
make  it  work.  E.  H.  Whitakek. 

FaSalle.  111.,   Feb.  24. 

[Your  sharp  edges  would  be  impracticable  for 
the  very  I'eason  that  in  practice  it  is  impossible 
to  avoid  all  end  play:  and  when   there   is  end 


play,  the  sharp  edges  would  slide  by  the  square 
edge,  and  thus  destroy  the  function  of  accurate 
spacing.  Even  if  the  liives  and  frames  are 
made  ever  so  nice,  moist  and  dry  weather  would 
inake  it  impossible  to  get  the  fi-ames  down  in 
the  rabbets.! 


SEVERE    WINTER    EOSSES:    fONDITION    OF    .M  V 
r.EES. 

The  honey-dew  is  doing  its  best  in  this  part 
of  Uncle  Sam's  domain.  When  I  go  down  into 
my  bee-cellar  the  odor  is  dreadful:  the  floor 
(made  of  cement),  barrels,  boxes,  shelves,  ev- 
ery thing,  are  covered  with  dead  bees,  and 
soiled.  Over  half  of  them  are  dead:  the  other 
half,  or  one-third  left,  will  be  in  such  a  dilapi- 
dated condition  that,  if  they  will  not  die  before 
long,  there  surely  will  not  be  a  pound  of  surplus 
this  coming  season.  They  had  a  good  fly  one 
afternoon,  three  or  four  weeks  ago,  and  were 
put  back  into  the  cellar  the  same  evening.  I 
also  had  standing  out  two  in  Roe's  chaff  hives. 
Both  are  dead.  My  neighbor  is  about  as  badly 
off;  two-thirds  of  his  bees  are  also  gone,  and 
that  means  no  sections  or  bee-supplies  for  us 
this  year.  The  bee-paper  is  the  only  thing  that 
will  still  flourish.  W.\r.  >i<)ERSHEi.. 

Homestead.  Iowa,  March  22. 


ONE   third    M(»RE   honey    TO   WINTER  OUTD!>ORS 

than  indoors. 

I  find  that  it  is  taking  a  third  moi'e  honey  to 
winter  bees  outdoors  than  it  does  in  the  cellar. 
Those  in  the  cellar  used  one  pound  of  honey  in 
l.'S  days,  or  very  near  that,  while  those  in  single- 
walled  hives,  out  of  doors,  used  a  pound  in  10 
days  or  on  that  average,  for  the  last  00  days. 
Charees  White. 

Farmers  Valley,  Neb.,  Feb.  15. 


A    I'l.EA    FOR   THE    HEACK    HEK. 

Has  the  black  bee  no  friends,  that  we  see 
nothing  in  its  favor?  For  years  I  purchased 
Italian  queens,  and  had  my  apiary  well  Italian- 
ized: but  the  winters  of  Xorthern  New  York 
seemed  too  much  for  them,  and  my  bees  are  now 
all  natives;  and  I  believe  that,  in  this  location, 
if  "a  man  had  an  apiary  of  fifty  colonies,  and 
forty  were  Italians  and  ten  black,  at  the  end  of 
ten  years  there  would  not  be  an  Italian  h^ft. 

Woodville.  N.  Y..  Mar.  0.     W.  Van  Aukev. 


SMAM.     AI'IARIES     FOR     EXTRACTED      OR      ((»MB 
HONEY. 

Would  it  pay  to  buy  an  extractor  where  one 
has  only  S  or  10  hives  of  bees  ?  and  which  stands 
pay  most,  those  run  for  coml)  honey  or  for  ex- 
tracted? What  proportion  would  you  advise  to 
run  for  comb  honev,  and  what  for  extracted? 

Weldon.  Ark..  Mar.  3.  E.  W.  .Iohnson. 

[If  you  have  only  a  few  colonies  you  had  bet- 
ter run  them  all  for  comb  honey.] 


AEFAI.FA.    AND    WHEN    CI' T    FOR    HAY. 

On  page  115  of  (tLeanings  we  read  that  alfal- 
fa cut  for  hay  is  cut  before  it  blooms  sutticienlly 
to  produce  honey.  I  would  not  give  much  for 
that  hay.  In  this  country  it  produces  honey  for 
a  while  before  it  is  cut.  but  not  as  long,  of 
course,  when  cut  for  hay  as  if  cut  for  seed. 

Last,  Cal.,  Mar.  27.         W.  A.  H.  (Jiestrau. 


A    CHEAP    l"ACKA(iE    FOR   EXTRAC  TED   HONEY. 

Candy-pails  for  honey  I  find  are  the  best  and 
cheapest  thing  for  extracted  honey.  When  the 
honey  granulates  they  can  be  shipped  every- 
where.   My  bees  are  wintering  well. 

Cokato,  Minn..  Mar.  21.  Fayette  Lee. 


1  S«.r,> 


(;li;\nin"(;s  in  mkh  (  ri/i  rin:. 


:!oi 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM    A.   I.   ROOT. 


Wlu'ii  11  railioad  goes  over  th*' mountains  it 
ulinost  invariably  inns  np  a  oanymi.  and,  as  a 
mattor  of  saving  I'XptMisc.  the  bniidiMs  laUc  ad- 
vantage of  (ncry  dcpi'i'ssion:  therefore  when 
yon  go  over  oi'  throngli  mountains  on  tlie  ears 
yon  ean  not  get  a  viewdf  tliewoild  below  at  ail. 
f(n'  yon  simply  see  ont  of  tlie  car-window  the 
sides  of  the  canyon:  and  when  yon  reach  the 
snnimit  and  go  through  a  pass,  this  also  is  a  de- 
pression, and  seldom  gives  any  view  whatever 


/riNNKI.lNG    FOH    \V.\  rKK   AT   KA  tON    (ANVO.N 


•of  the  val'ev  below.  There  are  some  partial  ex- 
ceptions to  this  rule  when  the  road  goes  up  the 
«id«  of  the  mountain  dike  the  trail  on  Wilson's 
I'eak).  but  not  many:  and  it  seems  to  me.  loo. 
that  one  must  go  at  least  part  of  the  way  on 
foot  to  enjoy  thoroughly  the  monntain  scenery. 
To  get  health  and  enjoyment  there  must  be  a 
♦•ertain  amount  of  enthiisiasm.  How  shall  we 
get  it?  I  liave  been  thinking  a  good  deal  of 
this  laU'lv  while  writing  these  papers.  Some 
may  sav  they  have  not  naturally  the  imagina- 
tive disposition  that  fnrnislies  these  "  flights." 
In  fact.  Mrs.  Root  has  said  the  same  thing  a 
good  many  times  :  but  she  has  enjoyed  the 
mountain   scenery  almost    as  much   as  I  have. 


Now.  please  have  faith  in  your  old  friend  vvhen 
he  tells  you  hitir  to  have  entliusiasm.  Ask  (Jod 
to  give  it  yon.  .\sk  him  to  give  yon  love  for 
and  enthusiasm  in  your  daily  tasks.  Keep 
praying:  and  i)efore  yon  know  it  your  pray<'r 
will  t)e  answered.  <  )ne  element  of  enthusiasm 
is  a  clear  conscience  —  a  conscii'uce  void  of  of- 
fense toward  (Jod  or  man.  I  do  not  see  how 
one  can  make  any  ical  prayer  without  this.  So 
if  you  undertake  to  pray,  your'  inconsistency 
will  rise  up  before  yon  —  that  is.  if  there  /><'  any 
inconsistency.  Now.  don't  keep  it  back  if  it 
wants  to  come.  Let  tiie  still  small  voice  spf^ak: 
and  wlu-n  it  tells  yon  wlieii  you  have  wronged 
a  neighbor,  stop  praying  light  s(iuare  ott'.  (io 
and  make  it  right 
with  liim:  return 
1  bat  bori'owt'd  tool, 
or  |tay  liim  for  the 
damage  you  have 
done  it:  then,  and 
not  befoi'c,  linish 
youi-  prayer.  Is  not 
this  almost  exactly 
what  the  Savior 
>aid  ".'     See  : 

•ThiM-efore  if  tli.iu 
IjiiiiK  thy  tiifl  to  tlie 
;ilt,ir.  a  nil  there  le- 
iiicinbei-cst  t)i;it  tliy 
ln-dlhcr  liath  aufrlit 
:i;;aiiist  thee,  leave 
ilu'ie  thy  gift  before 
I  he  altar,  and  go  thy 
way;  tirst  be  recon- 
ciled t(i  Xhy  brother, 
and  then  conie  and 
offer  thy  gift."— 

>1.\TT.  5:  :J3,  34. 

Then  shall  you 
have  enthusiasm; 
and  with  the  en- 
thusiasm shall 
come  a  love  for 
wholesome  exer- 
cise; and  witli  ex- 
ercise and  a  clear 
conscience  shall 
come  health. 

I  have  before 
mentioned  the  pic- 
nic dinnei'  we  had 
at  the  foot  of  Mt. 
Wilson,  after  our 
tri])  down.  You 
know  I  mentioned 
also  how  I  envied 
peojili'  who  could 
drink  all  the  pure 
walei'  they  want- 
ed, at  any  time  and 
on  any  occasion. 
Now.  the  water 
that  supplies  the 
beautiful  city  of 
Pasadena  comes 
from  a  mountain 
stream  that  tumbles  down  tiiis  same  Eaton 
Canyon:  and  as  the  waterworks  is  somewhat 
extensive  and  complicated,  an  old  gentleman 
remains  there  constantly  as  superintendent  ot 
the  works.  H<'  seemed  glad  to  see  company, 
and  pointed  ont  to  us  the  best  drinking-water. 
I  drank  consid(M-able  I  do  not  remember  jttst 
how  much;  and  as  it  did  not  produce  any  dis- 
agreeable effect  at  all.  at  dinnertime  I  drank 
a  tremendous  quantity  of  lemonade.  Friend 
Steven.son  and  Mi.ss  McClurkin  assured  us  the 
lemonade  was  (irst  class,  because  they  picked 
th(i  lemons  from  a  tree  that  grew  in  their  own 
dooryard.  The  boys  that  were  along  declare 
that  I  drank  lirclrc  >ihisses:   but   I  think   they 


Till-:    FOOT 


Mr.    WILSO.N. 


29'2 


GLEANINGS  iN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Al'KII,    i"). 


nuisfc  have  been  in  a  huri-y  t(t  get  a  dozen:  be- 
sides, the  glass  was  not  a  very  large  one.  and 
probably  it  "slopped  over"'  a  little  in  filling  it 
up.  No  matter:  I  did  drink  jnst  all  I  wanted 
of  lemonade  and  sprinjg  water  all  that  after- 
noon, and  rejoiced  to  fei^l  that  I  was  a  well 
man,  especially  in  this  one  respect.  The  en- 
thusiasm and  almost  constant  perspiration 
probably  had  much  to  do  with  it.  You  know  I 
have  had  much  to  say  about  doctoring  without 
medicine.  Well,  here  is  another  weakening 
and  distressing  malady  cured  without  any  med- 
icine at  all,  unless  we  call  (iod's  pui'e  air,  sun- 
shine, spring  water,  and  mountain  scenery 
"  medicines." 

I  was  quite  curious  about  the  irilgating  ma- 
chinery, and  the  old  engineer  seemed  quite  glad 
and  willing  to  tell  us  all  about  it.  A  great  iron 
pipe,  I  should  think  six  inches  in  diameter,  for 
it  looked  like  a  small  stovepipe,  ran  along  the 
sides  of  the  canyon  and  up  the  mountain  until 
it  reached  the  spring,  KiO  feet  higher  up.  This 
gave  an  immense  pi'essure.  you  will  notice. 
Now.  this  great  pressure  was  utilized  in  work- 
ing a  sort  of  injector,  using  water  under  pres- 
sure instead  of  steam,  of  course.  Well,  this 
force  was  made  to  I'aise  water  from  anothei' 
spring  oi'  springs  lower  down  in  the  canyon: 
that  is,  this  force  raised  water  without  any 
pressure,  so  as  to  deliver  it  into  the  irrigating 
canal  that  supplies  the  city.  The  engineer 
receives  a  certain  salary  to  remain  at  his  post 
and  look  after  the  waterworks,  if  T  understand 
it.  he  was  to  work  at  something  else  or  not,  just 
as  he  chooses.  Well,  he  is  a  man  after  my  own 
heart,  in  that  he  does  not  like  to  be  idle;  so. 
just  for  the  fun  of  it  he  made  a  tunnel  into  the 
side  of  the  mountain,  working  at  it  during  his 
leisure  hours.  The  cut  on  p.  291  shows  some  of 
his  work.  There  was  originally  a  crack  or  fis- 
sure in  the  rock.  With  a  pick  and  shovel  he 
made  the  opening  larger,  so  that  one  could  go 
in  and  out  without  trouble,  standing  up.  I 
snapped  the  Kodak  on  it,  and  friend  Stevenson 
stood  by  the  side  of  the  opening  so  as  to  give 
one  an  idea  of  the  size  of  things.  There  is  a 
little  stream  of  water  that  comes  out  under  the 
plank  that  runs  in  at  the  entrance.  After  our 
friend  got  a  little  way  into  the  rock  he  found 
it  so  much  softer  thathe  could  dig  it  with  com- 
parative ease,  and  with  a  narrow  wheelbarrow 
he  ran  out  the  debris  and  made  a  very  pretty 
walk  along  by  the  side  of  the  stream  of  water. 
He  had  run  his  cave  in  about  100  feet,  and  he 
was  quite  anxious  that  the  whole  party  should 
go  in  to  see  his  work.  We  were  already  warm 
and  perspiring  from  our  exercise  in  climbing: 
and  when  we  found  that  this  cave  grew  warm- 
er and  warmer,  until  at  the  extreme  end  it  was 
almost  like  an  oven,  the  party  began  to  protest 
— especially  the  women- folks,  and  we  hustled 
back  for  the  open  air  faster  than  we  went  in. 
The  tin  cup  at  the  entrance  looked  so  inviting 
that  we  passed  it  eagerly  from  one  to  the  other 
to  get  a  drink  of  these  wonderful  waters.  Of 
course,  a  "tenderfoot"'  would  expect  to  get  rool 
water  as  it  issued  from  the  rocky  mountain-side; 
but  the  water  from  this  particular  tunnel  was 
of  about  the  temperature  of  common  dish- 
water. Of  course,  no  one  said  any  thing,  but 
passed  the  cup  along  for  each  one  to  drink. 
Springs  of  water  are  like  mines  of  gold,  in  Cali- 
fornia; and  ourold  friend  wasquite  enthusiastic 
in  telling  us  how  to  locate  springs.  He  says  if 
,  you  can  find  a  fissure  in  the  rock,  or  if  it  is  only 
a  crack  or  crevice,  if  you  follow  the  fissure  into 
the  mountain  or  hill  until  you  strike  the  bottom 
of  it  you  will  surely  find  a  stream  of  water.  He 
says  he  never  knew  it  to  fail. 

There  is  one  thing  about  our  trip  up  Eaton 
Canyon  I  thought  I  wouldn't  tell  of;  but  as 
there  is  a  moral   to  it.  perhaps  I  had   better. 


after  all.  Up  the  rough  and  stony  mountain 
stream,  over  perhaps  a  mile  of  hard  climbing, 
there  is  a  beautiful  fall.  After  we  got  there  the 
boys  spent  quite  a  little  time  in  fixing  the  stones 
so  that  they  could  stand  near  the  fall  while  I 
took  a  Kodak  view.  When  all  was  ready  I 
snapped  the  machine,  telling  them  that  1  had 
got  a  nice  view,  and  then  we  trudged  l)ack 
again.  When  almost  back  to  the  carriage  I 
discovered  that  I  had  omitted  to  remove  the 
plug  that  covers  the  lens  of  the  Kodak.  In  a 
letter  just  received  from  friend  Stevenson,  he 
adds  the  following  in  regard  to  it: 

Friitid  f^)(l^•— Don't  forg-et  to  give  in  Gleanincs^ 
the  picture  you  took  of  the  falls  in  Eaton  Canyon. 

Pasadena.  Cat. ,  Marcli  2.5.  W.  Stevenson. 


Not  only  are  the  streets  and  buildings  of  Lo.s- 
Angeles  superior,  but  the  parks  that  grace 
many  parts  of  the  city,  and  the  beautiful  door- 
yards  and  gardens,  present  a  spectacle  with 
their  semi-tropic  vegetation  that  is  almost  over- 
powering to  one  unused  to  such  a  scene.  Our 
first  morning  in  the  city  was  after  what  might 
be  called  a  summer  shower:  and  Mrs.  Root's  en- 
thusiasm at  the  sight  of  what  constantly  met 
our  view  in  some  portions  of  the  city  was  almost 
too  great  for  words.  Adjoining  this  we  give 
you  one  sketch  as  an  illustration.  The  palms 
and  palmettos  will  be  recognized  by  all  of  our 
readers,  from  having  seen  them  in  greenhouses 
and  at  expositions.  The  tall  treelike  object  in 
the  center  of  the  picture  is  the  dried  blossom- 
stem  of  the  century-plant.  These  run  up  twenty 
or  thirty  feet  in  only  a  few  weeks"  time.  The 
great  quantity  of  vegetable  matter  accumulated 
in  the  leaves  during  years  of  growth  seems  to 
expend  itself  suddenly  in  the  one  last  effort  to 
produce  blossoms  and  seeds.  The  plant  itself 
seems  to  be  something  on  the  plan  of  the  modern 
storage  battery,  only  that  it  accumulates  for 
years  j  ust  for  tlie  one  grand  fl  nale  of  a  few  weeks. 
i  was  told  several  times  that  the  century-plant 
bears  considerable  quantities  of  honey:  but  I 
don't  think  it  will  be  worth  while  just  yet  to 
advertise  the  seeds  for  sale  as  one  of  our  honcy- 
plants.  The  i)lant  dies  after  this  wonderful 
effort  to  blossom  and  make  the  seed. 

Jan.  23d  we  bade  adieu  to  the  beautiful  city 
of  Los  Angeles.  It  certainly  is  at  the  present 
time  the  cleanest  and  prettiest  city  I  have  ever 
set  foot  in.  The  streets  are  broad  and  regular, 
and  the  buildings  are  fine.  Every  night,  after 
traffic  has  ceased,  a  number  of  great  carpet- 
sweepers  ("carpet-sweepers"  drawn  by  horses> 
go  over  the  whole  of  the  paved  streets  and 
sweep  them  almost  as  clean  as  the  floor  of  a 
room.  Then  immense  sprinklers  lay  the  dust, 
what  there  is  left,  so  you  can  cross  anywhere 
without  soiling  the  niost  delicate  shoe.  The 
various  shopkeepers,  as  a  rule,  sweep  the  walks 
in  front  of  their  stores  so  as  to  have  them  in 
keeping  :  and,  altogether,  one  is  tempted  to 
think  it  some  fairy  land  where  "shines  un- 
dimmed  one  blissful  day.""  The  people  are  also 
nice  and  accommodating,  and  there  is  also  a 
very  strong  Christian  element  pervading  all 
classes.  Some  of  you  may  think  I  am  hum- 
bugged by  glitter  and  outside  show.  I  am  well 
aware:  but.  dear  friends,  I  know  there  is  at 
least  much  that  is  genuine.  1  presume  likely  I 
am  of  late  leaning  a  good  deal  toward  that  lit- 
tle virtue  that "'  thinketh  no  evil;"'  but  I  believe 
it  is  through  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  I 
have  been  praying  for  that  helps  me  to  .see 
and  to  find  goodness  and  purity  everywhere. 

After  reading  the  above  to  Mrs.  Root  she 
says  it  is  all  right  except  the  great  amount  of 
tobacco-juice  spattered  on  those  beautiful  clean 
pavements  in  Los  Angeles  very  soon  after  they 
are  so  nicely  swept.  I  hope  her  suggestion  may 
be  copied  in  some  of  the  Los  Angeles  papers,  and 


1  >st»-' 


lil.KANlNtiS  IN   HKK  (  L:LTL;UI0 


•J'.t'J 


294 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Atkii.  J5. 


that  ihi^  gt'iitlc  lepioof  may  suggest  the  idea  of 
dropping  this  offensive  liijuid  over  the  "curb- 
stone into  the  gutter,  instead^of  on  the  beauti- 
ful elean  walk. 

The  city  of  San  Diego  is,  in  many  respects, 
like  Los  Angeles,  but  is  not  building  up  at  the 
present  time.  During  the  three  years  since  I 
visited  it  before,  it  has  suffered  pretty  severely 
in  consequence  of  being  '"  boomed"'  to  an  extent 
it  would  not  bear.  Houses  in  the  suburbs  are 
deserted  and  empty,  and  many  tine  blocks  in  the 
heart  of  the  city  are  unoccupied.  A  storeroom 
that  used  to  rent  for  .*150  per  year  now  brings 
on\Y  $30.  With  its  beautiful  climate  and  mag- 
nificent harbor  I  can  not  quite  understand  why 
this  is  so:  hut  I  presume  it  is  because  so  few  are 
really  engaged  in  farming,  manufacturing,  etc. 
The  Christian  element  seems  active:  and  when 
the  people  get  over  waiting  for  a  chanc(^  for 
speculation,  or  for  some  opportunity  of  getting 
money  from  a  fiesh  •'  tenderfoot."  I  predict  great 
things  for  San  Diego. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  liim  ask  of  God. — 
James  1:5. 

I  have  been  familial- with  the  above  text  for 
many  years:  but  it  is  not  till  within  a  few 
weeks  that  I  really  understood  it:  or.  perhaps  I 
should  say.  within  a  few  weeks  past  a  new  ap- 
plication of  it  has  come  to  me:  and  it  has  help- 
ed me  so  much  1  want  to  tell  you  about  it.  For 
many  years  I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  praying 
for  wisdom  in  a  general  way.  I  have  admired 
that  little  prayer  of  Solomon's,  wherein  he  ask- 
ed for  wisdom  rather  than  riches,  long  life,  and 
victory  over  his  enemies.  I  have  prayed  in  that 
way  for  wisdom.  But  some  way  the  subject 
has  .seemed  too  wide  for  me.  and  too  general. 
Now  for  the  new  application.  It  is  this: 
When  we  come  to  a  point  where  we  are  unde- 
cided what  is  best  to  do,  especially  at  times 
when  we  feel  that  we  are  just  a  little  out  of  the 
influences  of  the  Holy  .Spirit,  then  is  the  time  to 
make  a  practical  use  of  the  text.  Stop  right 
where  you  are:  and.  if  it  be  practicable,  get 
away  by  yourself  alone  in  your  closet,  and  on 
bended  knee  ask  (xod  for  wisdom  to  decide  in 
regard  to  this  specitil  nuitter  that  is  before  you. 
It  may  be  well  enough  to  pray  for  wisdom  in  a 
general  way  in  your  morning  devotions,  for 
this,  of  couise.  is  all  right  and  pi'oper:  but  the 
new  point  is  to  me.  to  ask  (Jod  for  just  what 
you  want  in  the  line  of  wisdom  at  the  very  time 
you  feel  the  lack,  exactly  as  you  would  go  for  a 
crowbar  to  move  a  weight  that  you  could  not 
move  by  unaided  human  strength.  And  I  have 
often  felt  that  prayer  should  be  one  of  the  tools 
that  a  Christian  workman  uses  to  get  along 
nicely  with  his  work.  Perhaps  the  first  essen- 
tial to  use  this  prayer  in  the  way  I  have  indi- 
cated is  to  feel  your  own  weakness.  A  couple 
of  lines  in  a  familiar  hymn  read: 

I  am  weak  but  thou  ai-t  mig-lity; 
Hold  me  witli  tliy  powerful  liaiid. 

And  that  is  what  W(;  need  to  fetd.  and  we 
need  to  feel  it  oftener.  lOspecially  do  those  who 
are  in  authority  need  this  little  prayer  in  tlie 
way  I  have  mentioned  —  a  teacher  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  a  public  ollicer,  a  ticket  agent  (oh 
how  I  do  wish  we  had  more  ticket  agents  and 
conductors  who  are  ChristiansI),  one  who  lias 
charge  of  men.  a  minister  of  the  gospel — yes, 
most  emphatically  do  ministers  of  the  gospel 
need  ^to]  pray  for  wisdom,  not  onlyjevery  hour, 
but  sometimes  almost  every  minute.  We  pray 
for  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  a  gener- 
al way:  yet   how  frequently,  when  an  issue  lies 


right  before  us.  and  we  are  compelled  to  decidf- 
one  way  or  another,  we  find  to  our  consterna- 
tion that  the  Holy  Spirit  seems  to  have  desert- 
ed us.  Then  Satan  whispers.  ""Circumstances 
alter  cases.""  or  something  of  that  sort,  and  we 
decide  hastily,  and  then  suffer  the  pangs  of  re- 
morse of  conscience  afterward.  In  the  line  of 
our  text,  if  a  matter  is  to  be  decided,  and  it  is 
something  involving  the  comfort  and  happiness 
of  individuals,  by  far  the  better  way  is  to  ask  a 
little  time  to  think  the  matter  over.  If  you  are 
talking  with  a  professing  Christian,  you  need 
not  hesitate  to  say, "Dear  brother,  before  I  decide 
in  regard  to  this  "matter  I  should  like  to  have  a 
little  time  to  consider  it,  and  to  pray  over  it: 
and  I  wish  you  too  would  think  of  it  and  pray 
over  it.  If  we  both  do  this,  the  Master  whom 
we  both  lov<'  and  try  to  serve  will  surely  lead 
us  to  decisions  which  shall  not  be  very  widely 
different."  Oh  what  a  world  this  woiild  be  if 
even  professing  Christians  through  all  their  in- 
UM'course  would  do  this!  I  know  that  some  of 
you  will  say  that  many  professing  Christians- 
would  pray  over  it  and  decide  in  a  selfish  way 
just  as  if  tliey  hadn't  prayed  over  it  at  all.  Well, 
now.  let  us  not  be  too  hard  on  our  neujhhors, 
hut  let  us  come  back  toour/ioj/Jt'sand  (lurselves. 
Who  has  not  tried  to  pray  over  some  quarrel  or 
disagreement,  but  even  while  praying  has  felt 
that  self  was  crowding  sohard  to  be  uppermost, 
it  was  almost  imi)Ossible  to  give  an  unbiased 
opinion'.'  I  have  myself  prayed  as  I  thought 
(|Uite  earnestly,  to  let  the  Holy  Spirit  rule  and 
decide:  but  as  my  mind  went  back  to  the  mat- 
ter in  question,  self  and  selfish  intei'ests  pushed 
and  crowded  so  strongly  tliat  there  was  not 
very  much  Holy  Spirit  about  it.  In  fact,  when 
I  undertook  to  "write  on  this  text  I  felt  such  a 
sense  of  my  own  unworlhiness  that  it  seemed 
almost  a  shame  for  one  who  ""  practices"  so- 
poorly  what  he  "preaches.""  to  undei'take  tO' 
tedf'h  at  all.  Neveith<'less.  I  have  been  helped 
a  great  deal  in  just  the  way  I  have  tried  to  tell. 

In  the  first  place,  we  want  to  recognize  that 
human  wisdom  is  so  insignificant  compared 
with  God"s  wisdom  that  it  is  hardly  worth  con- 
sidering. ■'  As  the  heavens  are  higher  than  the- 
earth,  so  are  my  ways  higher  than  your  ways, 
and  my  thoughts  than  your  thoughts."" 

Now,  the  great  point  is  to  realize  this:  That 
human  wisdom  unaided  is  exceedingly  faulty. 
We  are  l)iased  and  ])rejudiced.  even  the  best  of 
us,  by  so  many  circumstances  and  conditions, 
that,  without  this  cleansing  power  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  we  are  totally  unfit  to  decide  any  thing 
for  the  public  good.  Let  us  once  feel  that,  and 
feel  th(^  necessity  of  wisdom  from  on  high,  and 
we  are  making  great  progress.  Now,  this  may 
sound  like  riddles  or  enigmas  to  some  of  you. 
Does  God  really  speak  now  as  he  did  in  oiden 
time,  and  tell  us  what  to  do  or  what  to  say  ".* 
Yes.  my  friends,  in  one  sense  he  does:  but  now 
please  don't  think  that  I  am  going  into  some- 
thing visionary  or  untangible.  The  religion  of 
the  present  day  is  a  matter  of  )>l<tin.  siinjilc 
coinmoii  sense,  and  nothing  more:  and  hert^in 
comes  in  another  thing  that  it  took  me  a  great 
while  to  learn:  How  does  any  one  know  wheth- 
er God  is  si)eaking.  or  whether  it  is  an  impulse 
from  the  evil  one^  himself".'  Why.  by  applying- 
a  simple  rule  of  common  sense  and  nothing 
more.  The  whole  wide  world  recognizes  a 
Christian  spirit:  and  small  boys  on  the  streets 
will  tell  you  pretty  clearly  what  is  Christianity 
and  what  is  not.  When  the  report  has  gone 
around  that  a  man  has  "'got  religion."  even 
these  same  small  boys  on  the  street  have  a 
pretty  clear  and  distinct  idea  of  how  the  man 
should  net  after  he  has  got  religion.  Perhaps 
some  of  you  remember  a  story  that  I  have  told 
before.  After  a  revival  meeting  in  our  town  it 
was  talked  on  the  streets  that  Mr. got  re- 


l.S'.C 


(;Li:ANiN(is  IN  KKH  I  ri/riin-:. 


riiir. 


ligion  llir  iiiglit  bi-fort'.  One  of  tlic  small  buys 
•<l(vlan'd  very  vcIumihmiiIv  that  it  was  not  so;  aiul 
wlii'ii  (Hit'Slioin'<l  as  to  why  hi' did  not  Ixdicvi' 
that    Mf.  had   iroi    irliyioii    In'  said.  "  Hc- 

■faiisc  I  saw  him  «o  down  sticct  a  IVw  miiuilt's 
ago.  and  he  had  a  i-i};ai'  in  his  mouth."  A 
iTowd  of  otiicr  small  hoys— street  Aial)s  thi'y 
might  he  eiilN'd  stood  hy:  and  w  lien  they 
lu>ard  his  stateiueiii.  not  one  of  them  dispiiii'd 
it.  Without  liiseiissintj  the  lohaeoo  quesiinn 
heri'.  every  snuill  l)oy  seemed  to  have  a  elearly 
•<le(inod  oonvietion  in  his  n\ind  that  the  man 
wlio  got  religion  the  night  before  would  not  go 
4I0W11  street  smoking  a  cigar  t he  next  inoriiitig. 
Well,  now .  the  same  kinii  of  logie  or  reasoning 
will  tell  what  the  inllui'nces  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
would  be.  or.  if  you  ehoose.  what  kind  of  fruit 
sueh  inllnenees  should  hear.  One  of  tlii'  lirst 
retjuisites  in  letting  (iod  speak  through  us,  and 
in  letting  the  Holy  Spirit  deeide  matters,  is 
that  we  avoid  hasti'and  precipitation.  \Mii'n 
yon  are  getting  into  a  bad  frame  of  mind,  or 
wlien  yon  feel  that  Saiuifs  pronudings  are 
coming  pretty  thick  and  fast,  you  must  stop 
mid  tell  your  companion  something  like  this: 
"I  hope  you  will  excuse  me.  neighbor  Jones. 
but  1  think  we  haii  both  IxUter  stop  right  here 
and  take  this  matter  up  some  other  time."  If 
you  have  the  strength  of  ciiaracter  to  do  t  his. 
you  are  a  pretty  safe  man.  You  know  what 
my  favorite  text  says,  for  I  have  repeated  it 
often  enough:  "lie  that  overcometh.  and 
keepeth  my  works  unto  the  end.  to  him  will  I 
give  power  ovei'  the  nations." 

Sometinies  after  waiting  an  liour  you  will 
feel  so  differently  about  the  matter  under  dis- 
t'ussion  that  it  will  astonish  you.  If.  however. 
yon  are  greatly  stirred  up  by  soinething  that 
has  been  on  your  tiiind  a  long  while,  it  may 
take  several  days  to  put  self  down  out  of  the 
way  so  that  the  Holy  Spirit  can  speak  to  you 
■clearly,  tellingyou  what  a  Christian  ought  todo. 
Now  look  out  for  a  stubborn  spirit  that  is  very 
likely  to  come  in.  This  stubborn  spii'it  will  say 
something  like  this:  "fan"!  hel[)  it;  Christian- 
ity or  no  Chiistianity,  1  am  not  going  to  be  run 
over  in  that  sort  of  way  by  anybody."  Look 
■out  forall  such  promptings  and  counsel  as  this. 
It  comes  from  the  evil  (Jiie.  I  do  not  mean. 
mind  yon.  that  you  are  always  to  submit  to  be 
run  over:  for  my  ex])erience  is,  that  a  consist(!nt 
Christian  is  less  likely  to  b(!  run  over  than  al- 
most anybody  else.  The  man  who  is  quiet  and 
cool,  and  nevei-  raises  his  voice  above  its  ordi- 
nary tenor,  is  the  one  whom  ijeople  respect. 
It  is  the  man  who  gets  to  talking  loud,  and 
attracting  the  attention  of  the  passersby  with 
his  (piarrels  and  jangles  who  is  most  sure  to  lie 
run  over  at  every  turn. 

In  olden  time  the  prophets  prefaced  their  ut- 
terances with  a  ""thus  saith  the  Lord."  I  do 
not  suppose  that  tin-  Holy  Spirit  speaks  to  us 
now  in  just  the  sarins  way  that  it  did  then:  but 
if  we  think  coolly  and  calmly,  with  no  seltish 
schemes  or  feelings  in  our  hearts,  but,  rather,  a 
feeling  of  peace  and  good  will  toward  all  man- 
kind, we  can  be  jjretty  sure  to  know  just  wliat 
the  Holy  Spirit  would  say  on  almost  every 
occasion.  It  does  not  tak<!  more  than  a  ouarter 
of  a  minute  to  decide  what  noii  would  like  to 
do  under  the  circumstances;  but  it  may  take  us 
several  liours  to  tight  down  seltish  impulses  so 
that  we  can  hear  cli-arly  and  plainly  a  "  thus 
saith  the  Lord"  in  regard  todillicult  and  trou- 
blesome matt<'rs.  Perhaps  the  greatest  obstacle 
in  the  way  of  receiving  and  acting  upon  this 
wisdom  that  comes  from  the  Holy  .spiiit  is  self- 
ishness and  self-interest.  I  have  read  of  some 
great  man  who  had  such  a  high  temper  that 
sometimes  he  would  go  off  V)y  himself  and  wres- 
tle with  it  as  he  would  wrestle  with  some  wild 
animal.    Some  of  you   may  smile  at   such   an 


illustration;  but  the  very  man  who  thinks  then- 
is  no  wild  animal  inside  of  him  to  he.  whijjped 
and  put,  down  is  the  very  man  w  ho  is  (Jangerous. 

Now  ill  conclusion  let  me  urge  the  importance 
of  my  exhortation  to-day  in  a  tinancial  point 
of  view.  The  wliole  wide  world  is  hunting  and 
clamoring  for  Iiiisty  men— not  only  men  who 
are  honest  in  dollars  and  cents,  but  men  w  lio 
can  be  relied  upon  to  be  cool  and  stea<ly  alw  ays 
alike  men  who  will  not-  kick  over  their  whiile 
former  record  by  a  bit  of  foolishness  now  and 
then;  men  who  have  wisdom  to  look  ahead  and 
see  what,  is  coming,  and  be  n-ady  for  it.  In 
slioi-t.  tlii^  world  wants  men  of  irisdnin.  and  it  is 
ready  to  pay  big  prices  for  them  when  they  are 
found.  A  collegiate  course  of  study  usually 
gives  this  sort  of  wisdom:  and  men  spend  long 
years  in  the  spiingtime  of  life  that  they  may 
acipiire  this  mental  drill.  And  sometimes  even 
t]n'n  they  forget  the  grenit  promise  in  our  little 
text — "If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask 
of  (iod,  who  gi\('th  to  all  men  liljerally.  and 
upt)raideth  not:  and  it  shall  lie  given  him." 

L(^t  me  now  rei)eat  once  more  the  principal 
points  of  this  talk:  Ask  (Jod  for  wisdom,  just 
exactly  as  yon  would  go  for  a  bucket  of  water 
to  put  out  a  tire.  Von  can  not  carry  a  bucket 
of  water  with  you  all  the  while,  neither  can  yon 
very  well  provide  each  morning  the  water  that 
may  be  needed  during  the  day.  May  be  you 
will  not  need  any  water  at  all:  pei-haps  you  will 
need  something  else;  but  when  you  see  that 
water  is  needed,  go  at  once  for  ifdter.  When 
you  see  that  a  |)articular  kind  of  wisdom  is 
needed,  go  for  thiit  wisdom,  and  go  straight  to 
the  (jreat  Fitther  nlxivc  who  gave  us  the  promise. 
Of  course,  there  are  emergencies  where  one  can 
not  go  off  alone.  For  instance,  a  neighlior  is 
whipping  a  horse  unmercifully.  Cnaided  hu- 
man wisdom  would  be  (luilc  likely  to  say,  "  Mr. 
Hrowii.  if  you  strik<'  that  horse  another  blow  I 
will  have  you  prosecuted."  May  be  you  have- 
tried  that  way  of  doing.  If  you  have,  perhaps 
you  have  seen  a  (juafrel  betwi^en  two  neighbors, 
instead  of  ainiarrel  l)etweeii  a  man  and  a  horse: 
and  I  think  we  should  alw  ays  nunember  that  a 
man  is  of  many  times  moi-e  value  than  a  horse 
— not  that  I  mean  to  excuse  ci'uelty  to  animals, 
l)y  any  means.  In  such  an  emergency  as  the 
above,  if  there  is  not  any  time  to  do  any  thing 
more  I  would  l)reathe  the  little  prayer  that  I 
have  .so  often  mentioned—"  Lord,  help."  Then 
I  would,  if  possil)le,  get  up  near  the  neighbor 
who  is  whipi)iiig  the  horse.  There  is  great  gain 
in  coming  close  to  a  man.  It  is  like  inilling  a 
heavy  load.  If  yon  want  a  team  to  move  it. 
you  must  have  it  close  up.  The  very  fact  of' 
your  coming  up  to  him  at  such  a  time  will  usu- 
ally induce  him  to  slack  up  a  little  and  think. 
Besides,  by  the  time  you  get  there  yon  can  have 
time  to  listen  foi  words  of  wisdom  from  on  high: 
and  the  promptings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  or  t7his 
divine  wisdom,  will  piobably  be  something  like 
this:  "Neighbor  Hrovvn.  1  fear  you  are  whip- 
ping that  horse  a  little  harder  than  you  know. 
Hadn't  you  better  wait  a  little  until  you  and  he 
both  get  a  little  cooled  off?"  |{y  the  time  you 
have  got  thus  far  the  prayer  you  have  breathed 
will  have  enal)led  you  to  have  a  pleasant,  good- 
natured  look  on  y((ur  face,  and  may  be  a  smile 
as  your  neighlmr  looks  at  yon  to  see  whether 
i/oK  are  nuid  and  excited  too.  A  little  practice 
in  tills  kind  of  work  heljis  one  wonderfully. 
.And  then  comes  victory.  "  He  that  ruleth  his 
own  spirit  is  gntater  than  he  that  taketh  acity." 
Now,  then,  dc^ar  brother,  the  next  time  you  feel 
like  saying  to  yourself,  "Oh  I  wish  1  knew  just 
H'lKit  to  do  in  this  matterl"  please  remember 
what  your  old  friend  has  said.  If  it  is  a  matter 
that  has  been  on  your  mind  several  days,  I 
would  advi.se  you  to  get  up  in  the  morning 
before  anybody  else  is  stirring.    Then  go  off  by 


3SW) 


(iLKANlNGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Al'KII.   15. 


yourself  and  pray  for  wisdom.  It  need  not  be  a 
long  prayer  unless  you  feel  that  there  are  a 
good  many  things  you  wish  to  tell  the  dear 
Savior  about  it.  Don't  forget.  I  beg  of  you.  lo 
pray  for  all  parties  that  take  any  part  in  the 
matter  that  troubles  you.  Jf  thi-rcis  anybody 
in  the  question  whom  you  do  nol  feci  like  pray- 
ing for.  this  is  the  titst  thing  to  be  got  out  of  the 
way.  "If  I  regard  iniquity  in  my  heart,  the 
Lord  will  not  hear  me."  And.  again,  the  Sav- 
ior says.  •■  Love  your  enemies;  do  good  to  them 
that  hate  you.  and  pray  for  them  that  di-.spite- 
fully  use  you."'  So  the  first  part  of  your  prayer 
will  probably  be  to  gel  self  down  and  out 
of  the  way.  You  want  first  to  learn  to  looe 
your  enemies,  and  to  pray  for  them  and  resolve 
to  do  them  good.  This  word  "  good  "  used  in 
this  sense  is  to  be  interpreted  by  this  same  Holy 
Spirit.  Instead  of  getting  revenge  on  an  oppo- 
nent the  thought  must  constantly  be  befoi'e  \ou 
that  you  are  trying  to  make  him  better,  and, 
above  all  things,  to  lead  him  to  Christ  Jesus. 
Unless  you  can  do  this  you  need  not  go  any 
further  with  your  praying.  No  wisdom  will  be 
given  you.  and  no  victory  will  come,  until  you 
have  mastered  ftelfish  feelings  as  I  have  men- 
tioned: but  after  having  done  this,  oh  what  a 
broad  grand  universe  opens  before  you!  It  is 
exactly  like  cliinbing  the  mountains— you  have 
got  above  earthly  storms  and  passions,  and  are 
looking  abroad  through  a  heavenly  region. 
Now,  remember  the  promise — '•  If  any  man  lack 
wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God,  who  giveth  to  all 
men  liberally,  and  upbraideth  not;  and  it  sIkiU 
be  given  him."' 


High-pressure  Gardening. 

BY     A.      I.      ROOT. 

THE    PRIZET.\KEK   ANP    SPANISH   KING    ONIONS. 

Friend  Root:— In  our  test  of  181)0  we  had  the 
Spanish  King  from  Henderson  and  the  Prize- 
taker  from  Maule.  These  two  onions  were  so 
near  alike  that  no  one  could  see  any  difference, 
so  we  pronounced  them  the  same;  but  in  the 
test  of  1891  we  had  the  Spanish  King  from 
.Johnson  &  Stokes.  Currie  Bros.,  and  Leonard, 
and  the  Prizetaker  from  Maule.  The  Spanish 
King  from  Johnson  it  Stokes  and  Currie  Bros, 
were  nearly  alike,  but  were  uneven,  and  mixed 
with  red  onions.  The  Spanish  King  from  Leon- 
ard was  a  long,  pointed  onion,  and  rotted  badly 
before  it  was  pulled,  and  was  not  much  good. 
The  Prizetaker  resembled  the  first  two,  but  was 
much  larger  and  more  even,  with  scarcely  any 
mixture  of  any  other  onions.  But  the  most  no- 
ticeable difference  was  in  the  tops,  the  Prize- 
taker  having  a  different  shade  of  green  from 
any  other  onion  that  we  had.  Now.  to  answer 
the  question  directlv.  ••  Are  the  Prizetaker  and 
Spanish  King  the  same?"  1  will  say  that  I 
think  they  sliould  be.  but  what  they  are  de- 
pends on  circumstances. 

I  know  of  no  kind  of  vegetable  seed  that  vary 
so  greatlv  from  year  to  year,  and  from  different 
seedsmen,  as  do  the  foi-eign  varieties  of  onion. 
Each  year  sees  soine  new  names  added,  an  old 
one  taken  off,  while  the  mixture  of  English  and 
Italian  and  other  foreign  names  makes  the 
thing  confusing.  This.  I  think,  is  due  to  the 
fact  that  the  seed  is  all  (or  nearly  all)  import- 
ed, and  the  seedsman  is  only  a  customer,  and  is 
not  sure  what  the  seed  is  until  he  sees  it  grow- 
ing, and  he  has  to  depend  on  the  reliability  of 
the  grower  for  good  stock.  I  think  that,  when 
there  gets  to  be  a  larger  demand  for  these  vari- 
eties of  onions,  the  seedsman  will  have  the  seed 
grown  under  his  own  supervision,  and  then  it 
will   be   more   uniform.     We    also   received   an 


onion  under  the  name  of  Yellow  Globe  Spanish 
that  was  nearly  equal  to  the  Prizetaker.  The 
Yellow  Rocca  al.-o  resembled  it  very  much.  I 
think  that,  in  the  onions  I  have  mentioned, 
there  is  not  nuich  more  variation,  with  the  one 
exception,  than  there  is  found  in  the  Yellow 
Danvers  fiom  different  seedsmen,  but  perhaps 
this  may  be  putting  it  pretty  strong:  but  there 
is  a  great  deal  of  difference  in  the  Yellow  Dan- 
vers wluMi  received  from  different  sources. 

E.   C.  C.KEEN. 

Agricultural  Experiment  Sta..  Columbus. 

[Thank  you,  friend  G.  It  turns  out  just 
about  as  I  had  expected;  and  why  in  the  world 
we  shouldn't  grow  seed  here  as  well  as  they  do 
in  foreign  countries,  is  strange  tome.  By  the 
way.  I  have  just  picked  out  a  lot  of  Sjjanish 
onions  from  the  Cleveland  market— great  big 
handsome  bulbs,  with  very  small,  insignificant 
necks.  These  are  hard,  firm  cmions.  now  in  the 
middle  of  April,  and  we  have  planted  them  out 
in  order  that  we  may  raise  some  seed  ourselves. 
In  regard  to  this  matter  of  seed,  you  know  there 
has  been  quite  a  little  complaint  lately  of  celery 
that  would  send  up  seed-stalks  instead  of  mak- 
ing celery.  We  have  recently  had  the  same 
complaint  with  carrots.  A  great  many  would 
send  up  a  seed-stalk  without  making  a  root  of 
any  account.  Can  the  matter  be  remedied  ?  I 
will  give  you  just  one  thing  that  1  know  about 
it.  H.  A.  March  had  this  same  trouble:  and  to 
see  what  he  could  do  he  wintered  over  some 
nice  large  stalks  of  celery,  and  raised  seed  from 
them.  The  result  was.  that  not  a  stalk  ran  up 
to  seed  in  a  whole  acre.  I  saw  the  celery  my- 
self. And  this  is  what  he  did  after  just  once 
trying.  Suppose  he  had  saved  the  seed  from 
one  of  these  celery  plants  that  sdids  up  a  seed- 
stalk  the  very  first  thing — what  would  the  re- 
sult have  been?  A  great  many  of  our  Spanish 
King  onions  had  great  big  necks  and  compara- 
tively small  bulbs.  As  we  had  no  particular 
use  for  these  we  left  them  in  the  ground  and 
they  all  wintered  over  nicely,  and  are  now  com- 
mencing to  grow.  We  propose  to  bunch  them 
up  and  sell  them  for  green  onions  just  before 
they  start  to  go  to  seed.  If  they  should,  how- 
ever, repent  of  their  "evil  ways."  and  start  in 
this  year  to  make  a  large  onion,  why.  of  course 
we  will  let  them  do  so.] 

THE   AMERICAN   PEAKL   ONION. 

Although  we  have  had  a  winter  of  unusual 
severity,  the  American  Pearl  has  once  more 
wintered  nicely — that  is,  sets  that  were  i)nt  out 
in  September  so  as  to  make  a  good  growth  be- 
fore winter,  all  came  through.  Where  the)- 
were  not  planted  out  till  October  or  later,  many 
of  then>  were  thrown  out  of  the  ground.  As  an 
experiment  we  sowed  some  seed  of  the  Ameri- 
can Pearl  .some  time  in  July.  When  we  put  out 
the  sets  as  mentioned  above,  we  also  put  out 
onion-plants  from  these  seeds.  The  plants 
were,  perhaps,  as  large  as  a  leadpencil.  with  a 
bulb  on  the  bottom  about  the  size  of  ordinary 
sets.  These,  too,  have  wintered  perfectly: 
hence  I  conclude  that  the  American  Pearl, 
either  from  seed  sown  in  July  or  from  .sets 
planted  in  September,  if  they  make  a  growth 
so  as  to  get  well  rooted,  they  will  winter  over 
safely  in  ordinary  winters.  We  tested  quite  a 
number  of  other  onion-sets  in  the  same  way. 
Some  of  them  wintered  partly — others  almost 
not  at  all.  The  Spanish  King  came  out  very 
well.  By  the  way.  We  have  also  wintered  over 
cold-frame  onion-plants  about  the  size  to  be 
planted  out.  These  had  no  covering  except  a 
little  straw.  Most  of  them  are  all  right.  By 
the  aid  of  sash  they  could,  without  question,  be 
wintered  as  we  winter  cold-frame  cabbage- 
plants. 


1«>-,' 


(;LKAMN(iS  IN   HKK  I  I   l/rURK. 


'nn 


KtiVITIA.V.    t'K    WINIKU    ONK'N. 

Ydii  may  n'liicmhcr  tliat  I  incntioiii'd  hist 
season  that  some  of  nm  lOLryplian  sets  on  our 
vtTv  rii'li  inarUet-traiiicn  jjhoiiihI  jjivw  to  he 
ahiiost  thi'  si/.e  of  hens"  ojtgs.  Of  codisi-.  wc 
.■oulil  not  sell  siioli  sots;  and  as  I  didn't  Unou 
w  hal  else  to  do  with  tluMii.  wc  phmtrd  tlicin  in 
;i  row  alxiut  si\  inoiics  apart.  What  do  yon 
thinl<  iliov  ilid?  Why.thfv  st i aisilil way  split 
tiu'insolvfs  up  into  little  hnll)s  JiUi'  potato 
onions:  and  now  wc  have  a  wonderful  firowtli 
of  larirc  ffiven  tops  and  beautiful  hiineh  onit)ns 
from  si\  to  twelve  in  a  hundi.  One  of  these 
large  sets  proihu-ed  14  fair-sized  onions.  This 
Kgvptian  onion  is  perhaps  the  hardiest  vege- 
tahle  we  liave  any  thiii^  to  do  with.  It  will 
sjrow.  and  look  green  and  hrigiit.  at  a  tempera- 
tiiri'  lietween  40  and  "lU.  In  fact,  they  have 
already  made  a  wondeifnl  growth  this  spring 
while  scarcely  any  thing  else  has  made  a  start. 
The  demand  for  sets  has  been  beyond  the  snp- 
plv  again:  and.  by  the  way.  this  onion  may  l)e 
divided  and  planted  at  aiiy  titnc  of  the  y<'ar 
wIkmi  the  ground  is  not  frozen.  In  fact,  you 
can  pull  sets  from  the  toi)S  of  the  onions  at 
almost  any  stag(>  of  growth,  and  i)nt  them  in 
the  ground  and  they  will  send  out  roots,  and 
grow.  There  is  something  wonderful  about 
this  onion-plant  and  its  many  divisions  and 
subdivisions.  Von  know  I  have  beiMi  talking 
about  writing  an  onion-book.  Well,  w  iiat  1 
liave  learned  about  onions  alri'ady  would  inake 
a  very  fair-siz<'d  book:  but  th<'  more  I  study  it. 
the  more  I  liogin  to  think  that  what  I  <hiii't 
know  about  oniijns  would  make  a  still  bigger 
book.  To  one  who  loves  to  study  (lod  through 
his  works,  this  subject  of  getting  thoroughly 
ac<|uainted  with  and  following  out  tlie  iieculiar- 
ilies  and  possibilities  of  even  a  single  [jiinlcii 
Vi'ijctniilc  is.  at  least  to  me.  exceedingly  fasci- 
nating. >Iore  than  that,  a  rich  reward  in  dol- 
lars and  cents  is  pretty  sure  to  pay  the  one  who 
gels  thoro\ighly  ae(iuainted  with  any  line  of 
plants  so  as  to  undei-stand  what  they  may  be 
made  to  do. 

l'I,.\N'r-HKI)S    WtrU    S.\SH.    .SHTTTEI5S.    A.Mt    COT- 
TON   CLOTH. 

On  page  784.  Oct.  ].  1891,  I  described  an  ar- 
rangement of  a  series  of  hot-beds  with  places 
to  put  the  sash  at  eithei-  end.  I  want  to  say 
that  wc  find  it  in  our  work  now  a  fierfcv-t  suc- 
cess. U'e  have  just  had  iiuite  a  little  freeze. 
and  every  tiling  in  the  way  of  sash  was  scraped 
up  to  cover  the  i)lants.  After  the  sash  was 
exhausted  we  used  all  the  wooden  shutters, 
even  dilapidated  and  broken  ones.  Then  we 
took  cotton  cloth  for  the  hardier  plants  in  place 
of  either  sash  or  shutters.  The  cloth  was  held 
fast  at  the  upper  or  northern  side  by  a  pole, 
and  then  another  pole  was  put  on  the  south  or 
lower  edge  to  roll  it  up  on,  exactly  as  friend 
Day  does  it  with  his  tomato  -  beds.  It  has 
answered  nicely:  and  although  we  have  had 
some  tremendous  winds,  a  heavy  rain,  and  an 
inch  or  two  of  snow,  the  cloth  has  answered 
the  purpose  perfectly.  My  opinion  is  now.  that 
••  high-pressure  gardening'"  is  to  be  done  large- 
ly in  these  beds.  Not  only  can  vegetable- 
plants  be  raised  at  a  protit,  hut  last  season  we 
raised  extra  early  corn,  early  potatot^s.  snap 
beans,  cabbages,  and  a  great  variety  of  other 
crops  not  usually  put  in  cold-frames,  and  we 
got  prices  that  paid  expen.ses  txjo.  Some  of  you 
may  be  inclined  to  laugh  about  growing  corn 
in  a  hot-bed  or  cold  -  frame.  The  corn  was 
planted  the  last  of  February,  the  kernels  being 
put  in  just  ten  inches  apart.  Glass  was  used 
over  them  at  first:  but  when  the  stalks  got  so 
they  crowded  against  the  glass  ihey  were  pro- 
t<vted  by  shutters  or  cloth.  Every  stalk  gave 
an  ear — sometimes  two — even   though    planted 


so  close,  foi-  the  ground  was  very  rich,  mind 
you.  We  started  it  al ".!.')  cents  jx-r  dozen  ears, 
thinking  that  wa>  all  our  people  would  piiy,  but 
corn  grown  in  the  open  air  a  few  weeks  after 
that  itisii  brought  '.'.■>  cents.  becaus<'  the  people 
had  got  a  little  edui'aled  to  paying  that  price. 
Now.  I  am  not  sure  but  th<'y  would  have  given 
.">0  cents  a  dozen  for  at  least  quite  a  little  of  it. 
because  it  was  quite  a  novelty  from  the  fact 
that  it  was  started  under  glass".  There  is  a  big 
tiehl  for  work  here,  friends,  if  you  really  love 
the  business  and  enjoy  lighting  the  frost,  ice, 
and  piercing  winds.  The  lighting  is  to  be  dom- 
l)y  th(>se  same  plant-beds,  with  glass,  shutters, 
and  cloth. 


The  testimony  of  the  Lord  is  sui  e  mailing-  wise  the  simple.— 
I'sAI.M  19:7. 

SixcK  we  have  had  so  many  testimonies  in 
favor  of  sealed  covers  we  have  had  quite  a 
number  of  lettei's  for  upward  ventilation  and 
absorbing  cushions.  In  our  next  issue  we  will 
publish  a  few  of  them.  \N'e  hope  that  none  of 
our  friends  will  imagine  that  a  scaled-cover  is 
so  near  and  dear  to  our  heai't  that  we  can  not 
listen  to  arguments  against  it. 

Wk  have  long  needed  a  I'liited  States  law  for 
the  suppression  of  adulteration  of  foods.  There 
is  now  a  pure-food  bill  befor*^  Congress,  with  a 
probability  of  its  p;issing.  ^Ve  understand  it 
has  alreadv  p  issed  the  Senate,  and  we  hope  its 
friends,  including  Mr.  Taddock  who  introduced 
ir.  w  ill  be  successful  in  having  it  become  a  law. 
The  main  feature  of  tiie  bill  is  to  pi'event  the 
sale  of  adulterated  foods  in  otiier  States  than 
those  in  which  they  are  niixi'd.  This,  we  think; 
will  be  tjuite  a  chi'ck  upon  tlii'  nefarious  busi- 
ness, and  we  hope  every  subscriber  will  write  to 
liis  representative,  urging  tlH>  importance  of  the 
liassage  of  this  good  law.  .lust  at  this  time 
iieekeei^ers  need  it. 

Dk.  Millkh  asks,  in  Stray  Straws,  how  we 
succeeded  in  imbedding  the  wires  in  founda- 
tion by  means  of  electricity,  the  electricitv 
heating  the  wire  from  end  to  end,  so  that  it  wifl 
melt  into  the  wax.  We  were  not  quite  ready 
yet  to  reiiort,  but  perhaps  we  might  say  this: 
We  succeeded  partially,  and  are  certain  that, 
with  the  proper  battery  power,  we  could  imbed 
and  make  a  nice  job.  We  do  not  feel  so  positive, 
however,  that  it  w  ill  |)ay.  Matteries — at  least 
the  direct-current  or  primary  type — are  expen- 
sive, and  require  to  be  renew(>d  often.  Storage 
lor  secondary)  batteries  will  answer  nicely,  but 
they  are  still  more  expensive,  and  require  to  be 
stored  up  with  the  invisible  fluid  from  some 
((lectric-power  station.  For  the  average  bee- 
keeper these  are  not  available.  It  remains  for 
us  now  to  prove  whether  Matn  be  done:  and  if 
so,  whether  it  can  be  done  profitably. 

In  response;  to  our  call  for  reports  as  to  how 
bees  are  wint«Ming  throughout  the  country, 
about  200  bee-keepers  have,  up  to  date.  Apr.  1:3, 
responded.  The  reports  show  that  bees,  with 
very  few  exceptions,  have  wintered  exception- 
ally well.  About  a  third  of  the  number  report 
no  loss,  and  the  remaining  two-thirds  show 
from  9.T  to  98  per  cent  as  the  number  that  have 
wintered.  Tnere  are  only  three  or  four  who 
report  below  (50  per  cent.  The  losses,  where 
they  have  occurred,  have   been    principally   in 


2'.)8 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Al'KIL  J5. 


Iowa,  Wt'sicni  Illinois,  and  Northei'ii  Michigan. 
In  an.^^wer  to  the  second  question.  '"  How  does 
their  condition  compare  witii  former  years?" 
most  of  them  report  "  much  better." 

At  Medina,  out  of  a  total  of  :.'()0  wintered 
outdoors  we  have  lost  only  ;^,  making  our  per 
cent  stand  US'.,,.  One  was  in  a  winter  case, 
another  in  a  cliaff  hive,  and  another  in  the 
liouse  apiary.  By  the  way.  the  few  colonies  in 
the  house  apiary  fared  very  much  worse  than 
those  outdoors.  During  the  first  week  in  April 
brood-rearing  outdoors  seemed  to  be  progress- 
ing finely:  but  during  the  last  few  days  a  cold 
spell  has  set  in.  What  effect  this  will  have  in 
killing  off  unsealed  larvie  we  do  not  know. 


The  phonograph  is  proving  to  be  a  grand 
success  in  our  office.  By  its  aid  one  typewriter 
operator  is  enabled  to  do  the  work  of  nearly 
two.  In  fact,  one  of  our  girls  now  transcribes 
with  the  talking-macliin<*  all  the  correspon- 
dence of  E.  R.  and  .1.  T.  C.  On  the  old  steno- 
graphic dictation  plan  she  had  all  she  could  do 
to  handle  Mr.  C."s  correspondence  alone.  We 
suppose  the  reason  why  the  phonograph  is  not 
generally  used  in  offices  is  because  business 
men  who  would  use  them  for  dictation  are  not 
sufficiently  expert  in  handling  electi'ical  ma- 
chinery. The  phonograph  is.  in  fact,  simpler 
than  a  sewing-machine:  but  it  is  so  new  and  so 
different,  that,  when  a  thing  gets  "  out  of  kil- 
ter," the  average  business  man.  instead  of  try- 
ing to  fuss  to  get  it  in  order,  will  give  it  up  and 
go  back  to  the  old  way.  The  day  must  surely 
come  when  the  phonograph  will  be  used  ex- 
clusively in  all  offices  whei'e  large  correspon- 
dence is  carried  on  wholly  through  dictation. 
It  should  be  stated  that  the  phono-graphophone 
has  not  yet  proven  to  be  a  success:  but  the 
Edison  phonograph  has  with  us— at  least  so  far. 

A    NEW    I'OUI.TRY-IJOOK. 

It  would  seem  that  the  poultry-book  business 
is  already  overdone:  but  recently  thei'e  has  come 
to  our  table  an  excellent  book  entitled  "The 
Chicken  Business,  and  How  to  Make  it  Pay  :" 
by  H.  B.  Geer,  of  Nashville.  Tenn.,  a  well- 
known  poultryman,  as  some  of  you  may  know. 
So  far  as  we  have  been  able  toexamineit.it 
gleams  with  experience.  From  the  preface  we 
quote:  "This  book  is  written  by  a  practical 
'  poultryman  for  practical  people,  and  with  no 
attempt  at  tine  style  or  language;'"  and  such, 
evidently,  it  is.  To  give  you  an  idea  of  the  l)ook 
we  will  give  you  two  or  three  selections: 

On  page  S.  in  speaking  of  yards  oi'  runs,  he 
says:  "'  To  be  a  successful  poultry-keeper  it  is 
very  necessary  to  keep  the  fowls  on  the  premises 
divided  into  small  flocks  of  tifteen  or  twenty 
to  the  flock."'  In  another  place  he  says  that 
fifteen  or  twenty  fowls  will  usually  pay  better 
than  fifty  or  more  together.  The  reason  of  this, 
we  presume,  is  on  account  of  disease  and  many 
other  ills  to  which  poultry  are  subject  when  in 
larger  flocks.  Again,  he  says,  in  si)eaking  of 
artificial  hatchers  or  brooders.  "  We  would  not 
advist^  Itersons  of  inexperience  in  poultry  culture 
to  invest  at  the  outset  in  an  expensive  incubator 
with  the  expectation  of  making  a  success  of  it. 
It  is  a  great  deal  better  and  a  great  deal  cheap- 
er to  experiment  with  a  r.'.'i-cent  hen  as  an  incu- 
bator at  first.  "  The  author  does  not  discourage 
the  use  of  brooders  and  incubators:  but  he  ad- 
vises every  one  to  be  a  little  careful  how  he 
invests  his  money  in  expensive  ai)j)aratus  at  the 
outset.  The  book  is  divided  into  chai)ters,  and 
every  thing  is  made  so  plain  that  any  bright 
boy  or  girl  could.  u|ion  reading  the  instructions, 
successfully  manage  poultry,  we  think.  The 
price  is  50  cents.  It  can  be  had  of  the  author, 
or  of  the  imblishers.  Foster  i<:  Webb,  Nashville. 


THAT    CASXDIAS    I-M  r.t!(  M.I.IO. 

The  unwisdom  of  incorporating  the  Nortii 
American,  and  the  subsequent  non-affiliation 
of  the  Ontario  Society,  is  still  harped  on  at 
length  in  the  CctndOidu  Bee  Jnurnal  by  two  of 
its  corres])ondents.  If  the  latter  had  left  out. 
or  could  leave  out.  their  unchristian  and 
unkind  thrusts  toward  ourselves  and  two  or 
three  others  on  this  side  of  the  lin4'.  we  might  feel 
disposed  to  reply  in  detail.  When  controversy 
arrives  at  this  stage  we  w  ould  rather  drop  out 
altogether,  even  if  we  are  placed  in  an  unpleas- 
ant light  by  the  other  side,  although  we  could 
answer  every  one  of  the  allegations.  As  we 
said  at  first,  we  still  insist  that  "  further  discus- 
sion is  ill  advised  and  unwise."  especially  if  it 
must  degenerate  into  a  clannish  and  partisan 
spirit.  R.  McKniglit's  reply  ue  considered  fair 
and  courteous,  and  so,  also,  do  we  consider  the 
criticisms  of  S.  Cornell  with  reference  to  our 
position  regarding  the  best  treatment  for  foul 
brc  )0d . 

With  regard  to  incorporation  of  the  North 
American,  if,  in  view  of  its  unpleasant  recep- 
tion on  the  Canadian  side,  our  American  bee- 
keepers would  feel  disposed  to  "  throw  up  the 
sponge '"  we  would  be  in  favor  of  doing  so,  sole- 
ly im  the  ground  of  peace.  Perhaps  on  this 
point  we  may  difl'er  with  Mi'.  Clarke.  Our  re- 
lations with  Canadians  in  general,  up  till  now. 
have  been  of  the  pleasantest.  and  we  would 
rather  yield  a  point,  or.  if  you  please.  •■  back 
dow  n  " — yes.  lose  all  the  advantages  of  incor- 
poration, rathei'  than  not  enjoy  cordial  rela- 
tions.   

THE    INTKKXAE   WATER   CUKE. 

As  nothing  has  been  said  in  regard  to  this  of 
late,  perhaps  some  of  tliH  friends  would  like  tO' 
know  how  it  has  turned  out  after  longer  ex- 
perience. Well,  so  far  as  a  forward  movement 
in  the  line  of  cleanliness  that  has  heretofore- 
been  neglectvd  is  concerned  I  think  it  has  ac- 
complished a  great  deal  of  good:  but  as  to  cur- 
ing the  great  list  of  diseases  that  it  was  claim- 
ed to  cure  by  those  who  sold  the  seciet  foi' 
several  dollars,  it  is  simply  a  disgrace  to  those 
who  have  peddled  it  and  received  money  for 
the  information.  Some  of  you  will  bristle  up- 
again.  I  think  quite  likely;  but,  my  dear  fi'iends, 
during  my  travels  I  made  it  a  point  to  get  the 
opinions  of  some  of  our  best  physicians.  Not 
only  that.  I  met  and  talked  with  many  people 
who  used  it.  and  a  great  many  who  paid  money 
for  the  secret.  Like  almost  every  otb(>r  remedy, 
it  is  useful  in  certain  cases:  but  so  far  as  being 
a  benefit  when  used  indiscilminately.  it  is  a 
mistake.  Your  family  physician  can,  as  a  rule, 
guide  you  safely  in  this  matter.  Several  in- 
stances came  to  my  notice  where  its  use  did 
harm,  without  question:  and  I  presume  that 
the  (/renter  par/ of  those  who  were  so  enthusi- 
astic about  it  a  year  ago  have  mostly  abandon- 
ed it — that  is.  for  constant  use  year  in  and  year 
out.  as  recommended  by  Wilford  Hall  and  his 
agents.  The  idea  that  our  family  physicians 
are  hostile  toward  it  because  it  cuts  off  their 
practice  is  ridiculous;  and  any  well-informed 
man  or  woman  of  the  present  day  should  be^ 
ashamed  of  such  talk.  It  is  a  disgrace  to  the 
present  state  of  civilization.  Of  course,  there 
are.  here  and  there,  unprincipled  physicians; 
but  as  a  class,  the  medical  men  of  our  age  are 
among  the  best  informed,  and,  as  a  rule,  they 
are  working  hard  on  this  problem  that  lies  be- 
fore us  all — what  is  the  cause  of  so  much  human 
suffering,  and  how  shall  we  lessen  M?  Now, 
when  you  are  tempted  again  to  say  Uiat  all 
doctors  are  rascals,  remember  it  comes  next 
door  to  saying  that  "  all  men  are  liars."' 

Now  abideth  faith,  hope,  charity,  these  three; 
but  the  greatest  of  these  is  charity.       A.  I.  R. 


1892 


(;LK.\NlN(iS  IN    KKK  CI'l/rrKK 


•}'.C.» 


"A"  Grade  $40. 


ALLIANGE,GRANGE,LEAeUE 

FBM     ^%       tk        MiiiilxTS  and  tliousiilHls  of  other  Koo'l 
■  IVIa  D  m  fKm  "'t'li  iiiid  true,  patroiiizid  us  so  liberally 
last  year  that  wo  were  eoinpelletl  to  luiy,  build  and  increase 

;)ur  facilities  until  now  we  now 
of  the   LARGEST 


Grade  $46. 


S«'nd  for  our  handsome,  illus- 
trated Catalogue,  showing;  over 
lOli  ditl'creiit  styles  of  Vehicles 
and  Harness,  and  you  will  un- 
derstand wliy  all  this  vihenoin- 
ennl  success  and  immense  busi- 
ness. Wi-  actually  ici\c  more 
for  less  money  than  anv  Hufigy  or  Harness  factory  in  the 
world.  .Ml  floods  hand  made  and  warranted  for  years.  Get 
our  prices  and  compari'  them  with  your  dealers. 

ALLIANCE  CARRIAGE  CO.  CINCINNATI,  0. 

North  Court  St.,opp.  the  Court  House. 


CARRIAGE  and  HARNESS 
FACTORIES  IN  THE  WORLD. 

Tbe.Mliance  Factory  runswhen 
others  shut  ilown  or  break  uij. 


*A"  Grade  $72.50. 


L  ."""111  reffpoiiaing  to  tins  mlveniseiueiit  uientlon  OLKANUJOS. 


I  TELL  you  what.  Jones,  Leveriii;:; 
Brus.  sell  llie  best  froofls  and  at 
%      the    lowest    price   of   an.v   one    fye 
\   struck  yet.    The  laitrest    and    best 

'  Bee  -  Hive  Factory 

in  the  West.  The  Doyetailed  Hive 
and  New  Ilott'nian  self  -  spa-ing- 
Fianie  a  specialty.  Every  thinfj- 
used  by  practical  bee-keepers  at 
wliolesale  and  retail.  Send  fortheir 
free  Illustrated  Piice  List,  and 
save  money.  Supply  Dealers,  send 
for  their  Wholesale  List.    Address 

X-EVERIITG!    BROS., 
tittdb  "^JVio-ba,  Cass  Co.,  lo-wra- 

h'lea>e  mention  this  paper. 


C|\/\  Colonies  of  Bees  Devot- 
9W  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  fill   prices  nn  lai-jre  ipninlities. 

TWO     MILLION      SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS. 

Write  fur  |irices  nn  laiffe  quantilie>. 

Send    for  our    24-Page    Catalogue    of  Dovetailed 

Hives.  Smokers,  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  MT'G  CO.,  Higginsville,  Missouri. 


Foreign  anrl  domestic.     Crude  and  refined. 

.\  stock  constantly  on  hand. 

Wiite  for  luices,  statinjLj'   (iu;inlit.\   wanted. 

ECKERMANN  &  WILL,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

0rin  respondini?  to  tliis  advcitisennTit  mention  Glkamnos. 

MINNESOTA  AH  LAD,    WHY? 

Mecause  in  consequi'uce  of  her  pine  forests  lumber 
is  cheap.  That's  the  reason  Eikel  sells  hives  cheaper 
than  anyone  else  in  Americ  i.  Only  think,  slng-le- 
story  hives  from  3.">c  up;  two-story  hives  f rom  TOc 
up.  "  Other  supplies  cheap.  Send  for  eatalog-ue. 
Otfdb  F.  C.  EKKEK.,  Le  »«ueur,  ITIlnn.  ^1 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


I  am  Pushing  Ahead ! 

And  am  so  far  in  the  lead  that  I  challeiiKe 
ati\f)ne  to  show  up  suiierior  bees  to  my  best 

Five-Banded  Golden  Italians. 

Large,  beautiful,  trentle,  and  trocid  honey- 
ffatherers;  the  results  of  lU  years' careful 
breedinpr.  Try  them.  Satisfaction  g-uaran- 
teed.  Queens  in  Mav,  ?!.;»  each;  6  for  W. 
After  June  1.  *1  eacli;  fi  for  f.'i.  For- full  jnii- 
tii-ulars.  send  for  dex-ript i\e  circular. 

CHAS.  D.  DUYALL,  Spencerville,  Md.      :tfdb 

t^ln  re»(X)MUln»f  to  thi^s  udvei-tlr^uient  nienium  Oi.)-./. 


Strawberry   Wonders! 

Bo  YNTON     '■'<"  l.usti.lf.  ..1  lieiries  til  the  acre. 
ERT  SEEDLINC-nseii  .,uarts  to  tin-  acre 


\i  rh.   liiiiiva  Kx(ieriiiitntal  Station,  in  matted  rows.  Tlie 
r  Berries  ever  |iroduc-e(l. 
iozen  ;  t'iA*i  per  lOH. 
ERT  SEEDLING     2.x- pi nlozen;  «l.-i'i  per  KK),  piiHt- 


QOYNTON     oiiipir  dozen  ;  «-2.(ii(  per  lOii 

li.ul  by  mail.     AN  I   .le-sie,  Kentucky,  and  2.'i  other  varie 
ties.    Twu  lir-t  aie  tlie  tie-t.     .viso 

TRUE  BELGIAN  HARES  CHEAP. 

.\iliire»s  K.  BOOMHOWEK.  lialliipvill^.  N    V. 


B''»l!JF'"!iiff""i|llil»'"|ll"'  -"liill"  J"liiil"'  -"liill"^  -"liiF  "iJiiF  "lllil"' J'SJl'i'^ig"':  •Jiljri 

A  HONEY-EXTRACTOR  FREE.  J 

."^eiid  ineyiiur  name  on  a  postal  card    n 

for  mv  new  catalogueof  Italian  ijueens    ^ 

and  all  kinds  of  BEE  KEEPEES'  supplies.  % 

and  1  will  tell  \  on    how  to  get   a  NOVICE    " 

EXTEA0T02  free.    Addicss    WEAVER,       M 

W  7S  TIM,  Hi;k  .M\.\,  WairiTLsliu^', -Mo.   "W 

aiuglllllur..  mlllliiif.  .iiilSiir.  .nAir.  iillliir  lulllliiii  .iiilfliiii.  .niflk  mllllliir  iiilllliiir.  .nilllliiir.  .iii1l!lliir.jidSiiic..ie 

IS^n  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANlMas. 

"the  dead  line 

IN    BEE-KKEPIXJ     March    and    April -is    at 
I    hand.     Head 

"THE  WINTER  PROBLEM," 

and  keep  up  with  the  times.     Prioe  60  ftn. 

G.  K.  PIERCE,  Blairstown,  Benton  Co..  Iowa. 
\^in  responding  to  tlii.«  adveitisemeni  nifnonii  hi.i<;aking.-<. 

Bee-Keeper's  Supplies. 

Hives.    Honey-Cases,   .Sections,  and    Frames. 
We  ate  the  only  concern  in  Southern  Califor- 
nia who  make  a 
SPECIALTY  OF  BEE-KEEPERS'  MATERIAL. 

Agents  for  tlie  white  basswood  1-lb.  sections. 
Send  for  catalogue  and  price  list. 
(;-13db  Oceanside  Mill  Co.,  Oceanside,  Cal. 

SECTIONS. 

$2.50  to  $3.50  per  .TI.    Bee-Hlve8  and  Plx- 
tures  (lieap.  NOVELTY    CO., 

6tfdb  Rock  Falls,  Illinois. 


300 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Ai'Kii,  \:> 


CONTROL  YOUR  SWARMS! 


N    D    WESTS    SP'RAL     WIRE     QLEEN 
TECTORS    AND    CAGES. 


CELL     PRO 


N.   D.  West's  Spiral  Wire 


do  it.  and  you  can  RE-_ 
<.^UEEN  your  apiary  during-' 
the  swarming' season.  Pi'o- 
iiounced  the  Best  by  such 
men  as  Oapt.  J.  E.  Heth- 
ERINOJTON,  Cherry  Valley, 
N.Y.;  P.  H.  Elwood,  Stark- 
Anile,  N.  Y.,  and  others. 
Cell  -  Proteotors,  ^.(0  per 
100,  or  13  for  6,Jc,  by  mail.  Cages.  $i.00  ])cr  100,  or  13 
foi-  Jl.OO.  bj' mail.  Samples  of  both,  with  i-irciilar 
explaining,  35  (^ts.  The  cages  ai'e  used  foi'  hatcliing 
<jueens  in  any  hve.  and  are  the  Best  Bee  Escape  in 
use.     Address  8-9  lOd 

N.  D.  WEST,  Middleburgh,  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y. 


Pie 


'  in»^ntTnn  this  papfi' 


Send  10-ct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

Bees    For    Saile. 

COLONIES, 

NUCLEI, 
AND         QUEENS, 

at  living  rates.    Send  for 
circular  and  price  list  t( 

C.  C.  VAUGHN  &  CO., 
-    -  Columbia,  Tenn. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.    .> 


lOdb 


WHY,  YES,  EVERYBODY  KNOWS 
that  it  pays  to  purchase 
their  HoNEY-Ct)MB  Ft)i:N- 
DATION  at  C.  W.  PHELPS 
&0O."S  Wholesaleand  Re- 
tail Foundation  Factory. 
They  sell  heavy  for  Brood. 
45c.;  thin  for  Comb  Honey. 
.5.5c.  They  deal  in  all  kiiids 
of  A  piarian  supplies.  Their 
customers  are  always 
pleased,  for  their  work  "is 
good  and  prices  reasona- 
ble. Send  for  free  sam- 
ples Foundation  and  price-li.st  of  Bee  supplies. 
Address  C.  W.  Phki.ps  &Co..  74  Pettit  street. 
Binghamton.  N.  Y. 


Bee  -  Keepers'  *  Supplies. 

We  are  jnepared  to  furnish  liee-keepers  with  sui)- 
plies  piDiiiptly  and  at  lowest  lates.  Estimates  gladly 
furnished,  and  correspondence  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  flrst-class  in  quality  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
alogue sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling,  HI.     Address  1-24db 

Win.  nvCA  NE  A  CO., 

sterling,  lUiuofs. 

i^"In  rHSlH.iiilun' t   .  •  ,■    liu  ntiiill  fJl.EANINGS 


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  &  KEITH. 
14tfdb               .  New  London,  Wis. 
Plea-se  mention  this  paper. 

J-.   C.    SJLYLES, 

HARTFORD,  WIS., 

Manufactures  Apiarian  Supplies  op  Every 

Description.     C-atalogue  Free  to 

All.    Send  Your  Address. 

Stfflb  Please  mention  this  paper. 

Honey  ^  E:>^ti^aetotT. 

Squafe  Glass  Honey-Jai's, 

Tin  Buekets,  Bee-hives. 
HoneynSeetlons,  &c.,  &e. 

Peffection  Cold'-Blast  Smokeps. 

APPLY  TO  -v^v.^v^^xx^v.r^^^.^ 

CHflS.  F.  JVIOTH  &  SON,  Cineinnati,  O. 


POULTRY. 


Choice  Fowls  and  Eggs  for  sale  at 
all  times.    Finely  illustrated  circu- 
lar free.       GBER  BROS    St.  Marys,  Mo.    Sltfdb 


OAVE  MONEY. -Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
^  ta,  Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.  Hivas 
and  foundation  ;tt  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 

ITBLIIIII  I|¥E|I8  FOB^BLL 

The  tinesl  lioney-gatherers  in  the  land.  Tested, 
$1.50  each.  Select  tested,  $3.00  each.  Untested,  $1.00 
each,  or  $9.00  per  doz.  Queens  ready  t-o  ship  by  April 
first.  I  guarantee  safe  ai'i'ival  and  satisfaction,  by 
mail.  Orders  booked  now  and  paj- when  vou  want 
queens.  J   W.  TAYLOR, 

I  4tfdb  Ozan,  Ark. 

i     L^ln  responding  to  this  auvei  ci.'-enieiit  mention  iTi.iiAiMMis. 

Hatch  Chickens  by  Steam. 
IMPROVED  EXCELSIOR  INCUBATOR 

iWiU  do  it.  Thonsanda  fai  snoeessfol  op«r- 
ation.  Simple,  Per/eet  and  Self-Regulatinq . 
Lowest-pnoed  flnt-class  Hatcher  made. 
I  Guaranteed  to  hatcb  a  laiver  percentnga 
of  fertile  eggs  at  less  coet  tnan  any  other. 
Send  6c.  for  UaB.  Uatalog.    SKO.  U. STAHL,  i{uin«r,  HI. 

'j¥  III  I'-t'pondinii  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkanings, 

Bee-Hives  ^  Sections 


etc 


in   stock. 


A  specialty.     Foundation,  Sniokeri' 
Send  for  liew  list.  free. 
4tfdb  -W.  D.  SOPER.  Jackstm,  Mich. 

flease  mention  this  paper. 

!  Tji  A.  T3  T  TT  OOLDEN,  untesteh  queens.  $1.00. 

*S******J  *    LAEGE,  FINE,    GENTLE,    AND    BEBD 
i  for  business.    Ready  about  March  ^).    Dealeis  send 
for  prices.     Fine  tested,   raised    last    yea!',   $1.50  to 
$2.(X).     A  few  breeders,  Italian  or  Golden,  $3  to  $5. 

J.  B.  CASE,  Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  3tfdb 

DR.  J.  W.  CRENSHAW, 

Versailles,      -      Kentucky, 

Offers  for  Sale 

Untested  Italian  Queens  at  $HK)  each  throug-h  May 
and  June:  after,  76c  each.    Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed.   Queens  raised  only  from  Imported 
motlier.    Drones  only  from  selected 
and  tested  mothers. 
Also  CELEKY  PLANTS  from  July  to  September,  at 
$2.00  per  M.       7-18dl) 

Western  Bee-Keepers'  Supply  House 

Root's  QOOdS  oaji  b«  had  at  Des  Hoinet 

Iowa,  ar  Roors  Prices. 
The  largest  mpplT  basine<H 
In  the  ^^^t.  Batabllahed  1886 
Doretailed   HlTea,  8eo- 


ttons,  Fonndatlon,  Kx- 
traotorB,  Bmokers/y  ells , 
Oratea,  reeders,  GlOTer 
B  e  e  d  8,  e  t  o.  bnported 
Italian  Queens.  Qneena  and 
Bees.     Sample  copy  of  our 


Bees.     Hample  copy  or  on 
Bee  Journal,  "The  WeSt 

em    Bee  -  KeeDer.''^  < 
Catalogue  mailed  Free 


and    Latest 

a  Free  t'^  fcef- keepers. 

KOINES  low*. 


In  writinpr  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.       4tfdb 


18»:> 


(il.KANlN(;s  IN   HKK  C'UI/rrRK. 


:t()i 


BBARD  BEE  HIVE  \ 

SECTION    PRESS. 

If  v.iu  wiiiil  lo  liaiidle  boi'S  easy  l>y 
sittiiiu  ili'wii  111  il  licri' is  llio  liivc.  i  nniu's 
ti\t'<i  iiikI  viiiiiililf  (iisiiincc  iMiiiluiicil  Nk 
wiviicliiiij;  (11-  piyiiii;  or  scnipiiij;  ni  ccunljs 
tiigi'llur.  Miiiiy  iliiiusiuicN  ui  use  •,'iviiig 
excfllcni  Mili^'iicl  ion 

Live  Agents  wiU  Spleiidiil  Profits. 

l.iirt;r  Circular  nl  'Jii  l):ii;i.'s  fret.' 
I  his  SK<-ri<»N  I'ltlisS  (I'lilM  is  sold 
111  S'-i.50  l>y  tlie  leaiiins  supply  (ienlers 
AsU  tluiii  lor  it  tir  semi  ti>  nie.  A  Iidv 
(•nil  put  together  8(i(»  to  lOUO  suclions 
nil  liolir  and  have  tlicin  true,  I'.cnd  si'c 
tioii  around,  put  in  press  f,'ive  .1  lildc  push 
—  'tis  doru'  Will  last  a  lilV-tinie  and  is 
bound  to  please  you 

Send  for  my  Circular  about  Hive.  Press  Foundation  Fastener.  Sections.  Fnnndatiou  Italian  (Queens.  Extractors, 
Veils.  Honey  Crates  and '"ases.  S:c  S;c  It  will  inicrcst  you  Or  send  15  t'ents  lor  Practical  iJuok  tor  Hegiuuers — 
"First  Principles  in  Bee  Culture."     lllli  thousand  just  issued. 

G.  K.  HUBBARD,  277  Harrison  St.,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 

3-lO.ib  t?"ln  responding  to  this  adveilisement  mention  Gleaninos. 


Sections!  Yes!  Sections!    Great  Crash  in  Prices! 


XOO.OOO  all  ready  foi-  shipnicnt  in  standard  sizes, 
planed  on  both  sides. 

Our  ciistotiiers  sa.^■  "»■  inamifacturi'  tlii'  ttnesi 
sections  made  in  Canada. 

We  are  the  only  inatiutactiirers  ill  Ciinada  of  the 
celebrated  A.  1.  Kool  Dovetailed  hive. 

Our  one-dollar  dovetailed  hive  includes  Lea<'h"s 
improved  comli-honey  crate  complete.  By  usiii^ 
the  above  crate  the  si'Ctioiis  are  taken  otf  perfectly 
clean,  need  no  scrapin.tr.  and  are  all  ready  for  mar- 
ket. All  our  hives  are  furnished  with  the  imiiro\cd 
Motrmaii  frames. 

We  make  a  spei'ialty  of  manufactiirinfr  all  kinds 
Mf  bee-keepeis"  supplies. 

Our  new  catalog-ue  for  ls!i:J  mailed  free  on  appli- 
cation.    Address  .....     . 

Bee-Hive  Supply  &  M  f  g  Co.. 
lock  3os  IH.  Tilbury  Center,  Cnt.,  Can. 

R.;/'ere»icf^>Jerchaiiis'  Bank.  Tilbury  (enter.  Out. 
Kobi.  Ed.  Smith,  S.  A.  Leach, 
t^ln  rf!"!"""'!"-' '"*'''*■ '*''^''*'^'      iifiit  nifntiDn  fSLEANlNoa 

Called    "The   Chicken    Busi- 
ness,  and    How  to    Make   it 

Pay."      Tells     all     about    it. 

OA^tf  Finely  illustnited,  iiractical.  and  orifri- 
WVJUrV  nal.  "Prii«!  5U  cents,  p  sipaid.  An  il- 
'^  lustrated  circular  free.  t:i\insr  particu- 

lars about  the  tiook.  and  prices  of  pure  bred  fowls 
aiifl  eg-^s  for  sale  by  the  author.  4ttdl) 

H.  B.  CEER.  Nashville- Tenn. 

"Ill  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  ( '.ucanings. 


From  10  to  25  ? 
discount  from 
former  prices.  My 
40-pag'e  cataloKue 
for  1892  g-ives  rea- 
sons. I  otter  a 
new  -  style  chatl 
liive  at  one-hiilf 
the  cost  of  other 
styles,  and  just  as 
gdod.  This  hive 
can  betaken  a  part ''^^^^ 
almost    instantly, 


/\  POULTRY 


BEES 


350    COLONIES    OF    BEES. 
1.000.000  Sections.       HIVFS, 
.Smoker'J,  QutENS,  etc.  Send  for 
price  list  to  E.  T.  FLANAGAN 
Box  783,   Belleville,  Illinois. 


.^ 


and  packed  ui> 
in  small  space. 
It  can  be  used 
on  any  hive  (see 
cut).  Don't  fail 
to   get    my  32d 


annual   price  list.     I  mean  business,  and  am  bound 
to  sell  as  grood  as  the  liest,  and  at  equally  low  prices. 

Address  WM.  W.  GARY. 

6tfdb  C0L.ERAINE,  Mass. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


Murray  £.Heiss."^'o^^;,|'^° 

tATAt-"      Fnc£. 


VIOLINS 


GUITARS 

MANDOLINS 


^'OK  S.\L.E.     The   apiary  of  Solomon  Vrooman, 
"     deceasi'fl,  consisting  of  lii7  colonies,  and  ;ill  nec- 
i-,sai\  apjiliances.     For   many  years   tin-   apiary  of 
.lohn  H.  Martin.  Hartford,  Washington  Co.,  N.  V. 
Addiess       F.  S.  ELUREDGE,  No.  Adams, 
No.  11  N<,.  Church  St.  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass. 


32  pages— $1.00  a  year— Sample  Free. 

The  oldest,  largest  and  cheapest  Weekly  bee-paper 

THOMAS  G.  NEWMAN   &  SON, 

CHICAGO,  ILL. 


FOR  SALE. 


t^ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 
PHRSONS    CURNTirJG 

APIAl^IflH    SUPPliIES 

Woiilil   do  well    to   send    to  W.  12.  (  i.-VKK,  ( )riskany 
(bieiUaCo..  N.  V.     .Send  for  illusi  rated  jiriee 
list.    Dealers  should  send  for  Deal- 
ers" list  for  Smokers.  ti-13db 
£S''lii  responilinK  lo  this  ailveitlnemeiii  uieulion  Gukamnus. 

For  May  delivery,  Italian  and  Hy- 
brid Bees  ill  light  shipping-cases, 
8  L.  frames.  Price,  for  Italians,  ft.OH;  hybrids,  -I^.Od 
each,  free  on  bciaifl  cars  here.  1  guarantee  safe  de- 
livery. A.  \V.  «AKI»l\KK, 
.5-8db"  €eiitervllle,  ITIlch. 
fWIii  respondin^r  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleaning.s. 

nTT"r)r)T  TT^CJ        Langstroth  Bee-hives,  and 

^1  r  r  I  ]|  hi^  every  thing  needed  in  the 
k^VJl  1  I J  i  A-'f^  •  ix-e  yard;  IJiVpage  catalogue 
■HHi^Hiii^MHBH  free!  "  BUSY  BEES,"  :i 
book  telling  how  to  manage  them.  10  cents  in 
stamps.  WALTER  S.  POUDER,       .T-12db 

173  E.  Walnut  St..  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

BTIn  reHUondini;  to  tlii.-- advei  ti.~enuiil  mention  GLKAiJINOS, 


3()2 


(JLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


Al'RIl>    l."i. 


For  Sale.  CALIFORNIA !  For  Sale.  I  -^best  on  earths 


A  rjiriL'li  of  rif<0  acres.  Government  land  adjacent. 
I>welliiif4\  liee -hoii.se,  lioiiey-liou.se,  barn,  and  all 
needed  out-lioiises.  (^attle  and  horses,  with  waaons 
and  farming  implements  if  desired.  A  l)ariuain  for 
a  hee-man  who  has  not  used  his  homestead  and  pre- 
emption rights.  Address  C.  B.  A., 
^-9d  LiOitoak.  Itlniiierey  Co.,€al. 

Wholesale  and  Retail  Manufacturer 

and  Dealer  in      BEE-KEEPERS'    SUPPLIES. 
ONE-PIECE  SECTIONS  A  SPECIALTY, 

AS  GOOD  AS  THE  BEST. 

Send  for  ciitMlofjiie.  W.  E.  SMITH, 

.5tfdl)  Siiccoisiirto  Smith  X-  Smith, 

Kenton,  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio. 

In  writing  a<iverti.«ers  please  mention  thi!<  paper 

My  Catalogue  of  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES 
for  1892  is  free:  My  Pamphlet,  "HOW  I 
PRODUCE  COMB  HONEY,"  by  Mail,  5  cts. 

GEO.  E.  HILTON,  Fremont,  Mich. 

Please  mention  Gleanings.  2-13db 


BEES   BY  THE   POUND, 

ITALIAN  QUEENS.  ALSO  A  SELECT  LINE  OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'  SUPPLIES 

Send  for  price  List  to 

Olivee  Fostee,  Mt.  Vernon.  Linn  Co.,  Iowa. 

dtldb  Please  mention  this  paper 


ELEVEN   YEARS 
WITHOUT  A 

PARALLEL,  AND 
THE  STAND 

ARD    IN     EVERY 

CIVILIZED 

COUNTRY. 

Bingham  Sl  Hetherington 

Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 

standard    Size. 

Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 


ITALIAN     QUEENS. 

Untested,   $1;    6   foi-  *5.     Tested,    *1..5');    ti    for  tV. 
.Special  terms  for  lai'tie  oideis. 

H.   PITX  HART, 
tilfdh  4 very,  Iberia  Parish,  La. 

rB"Please 'iientlon  (iLRANlNRs. 


Six  Sizes  and 

Prices. 

Doctor  Smoker,       '^i^   in. 
Conqueror    '"           3       " 
Large             '■          3H    "' 
Extra  (Wide  shield)  2       " 
Plain  (narrow    "     i3 
Little  Wonder,          IX    " 
Uncapping  Knife 

postpaid  . . .  $3.00 

.    1.75 

...    1.50 

...    1.35 

...    100 

..      65 

115 

Seni   promptly  on   receipt 

of 

price.    To 

'1 


sell  again,  send  for  dozen  and  half-dozen  rates. 


I  Milledgeville,  111  ,  March  8,  189u. 

SiKs:— Smokers   received  to-day,  and  count  cor- 
\  recti, V.    Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  I  do 
vour  trade  will  boom.  Truly,        F.  A.  Snell. 

Vermillion,  S.  Dak.,  Feb.  17, 189U. 
SiKs:— I  consider  your  smokers  the  best  made  for 
any  purpose.    I  have  had  15  years'  experience  with 
30ti  or  400  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak. 
I  Very  truly^ R.  A.  Morgan. 

i  Sarahsvilie,  Ohio,  March  13, 1890. 

I      SiKS:— The  smoker  1  have  has  done  good  service 
I  since  1883.        Yours  truly,        Daniel  Brothers. 

Send  for  descriptive  circular  and  testimonials  to 

Ttt'db  BiNQHAM  k  Heteeeinqto»,  Abronia,  Mich. 

^S?"!!!  resDondintr  to  tins  advertisement  mention  Glkamn<;s 


Dovetailed  Hives,  Simplicity  Hives, 

SECTIONS,  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGB     CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


APRAf  am  FRUIT  TREES  i  VINES 


& 


EXCELSIOR 


AYING 
OUTFITS. 


Wormy  Fruit  and  Leaf  Blight  of  Apples,  Pears,  Cherries, 
Grape  and  Potato  Rot,  Plum  Curculia  prevented  by  usin^ 

PERFECT  FRUIT  ALWAYS  SELLS  AT  GOOD  P RICES. CataloKueshow- 
ing  all  injurious  insects  to  Fruits  mailed  free.  Ivarge  Ntock  of  Fruit  Trees,  Vines, 
and  Berry  I'lants  at  Bottom  Prices.      Address  WM.  STAHL,  Quincv,  Ills. 

24-lOdb  ■grin  respondiuit  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

Bcdr  In  JVIind  ^^**^^*^^^*^®^*^^''^'^®*^*^^y''*^"^^^"  Esstcrn  Dr3nch 

where  our  Bee-keepers' Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and    prompt  shipment.     You   can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.     We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.     He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.   SALISBURY,   Agent,    Syracuse,   N.  Y. 


189-J 


(;Li':.\MN(is  i\  HKK  (  I  i;n  i{K. 


:^03 


fc^Iti  rf<»jH>iuliii>:  I"  til 


\A/  nil     llu'     h.'lli     .if     iii\ 

oiniiiK  to  Mu>  frnnt   with 

CHAFF   HIVE, 
Siiuile  -  Wallod      Hive, 

and    Hive- Protector. 
\\  lite  fur  prifo  list . 

GEO.  H.  KIRKPATRICK, 

Union  City,  Ind. 

.Iv,rn-.,iii<nt  imntloii  (ii.KANINOa. 


OIE 


PTOi:  aUEEN  and  AM.  APICULTTISIST  One  Year.  $2.50 
Qolden  Carniolan  and  Am  Apicnlturist  One  Tear,  2.00 
Beautiful  Italian  and  Am.  Apiculturist  One  Year.  1.50 
ElKlit-pajif  «-;it:ilo>riu'  froc. 

stt'db  H.  ALLKY,  Weiiliain,  Mat<ti. 

VIn  resipoiiiljiitj:  tn  tlil.-imlviiii^iriH-m  mt>iitl<iM  t5i,KA.NiN(is. 


Oiirsti-ain  of  Italians  have  rcaolicd 
till'  top.  (tdldfiicolofed  <iiH't'iia  hied 
for  iliusint'ss.  Tested  (Hifciis  in  .Ma v. 
*1..tO:  ;t  for  ■H.iHi.  I"iit»-~lvd,  tl.oii:  :!  for 
-f2.n(l.  Nii4*l«>i  and  fidl  .-olonii's  at  spi- 
i-ial  prices.  Bee  >iii|»|»llei»  of  all  kinds. 
Send  for  ciicidar  jriviny  full  particu- 
lars. JNO.  INEBI<:L.  &  SON. 

■li^h  Hill,  aio. 
ISriii  responding  to  tills adveitisenictit  mention  GLEANmos. 

JENNIE   AtCHLlY" 

Will  send  VdU  qiK  ens  l>\  rclmii  mail.  Safe  arri\al 
;md  satisfaclioii  jfuaratitci'd;  cither  Ihice  or  tivo 
banded  strains.  T'ntestL'd.  April  and  Mav,  *I.h(l 
each:  six.  ^5.00;  after,  75c  each;  si.\,  H:M;  or  *S.OO 
per  dozen.  Tested  and  breeding  queens  on  ai)plica- 
tion;  trv  inv  (iiieens.  Monev-order  otlice.  Greenville. 

JEMMIE   ATCHLiE^, 
Itfdb  Floyd,  Hunt  <'o.,  TexaM. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


lON'T  pa\- two  prices  for   Hees.  Queens,  and    Snp- 
'  plies,   but    send    for  tuy   <'alalu:iue  with    Di«- 


III. 


—     pil*'>,     iiui     seiui     o  •(-    in\     ^  n  inii^;i  tit-  %%  1 1  1 1 

foiiut  slieet,  on    5>Baiided  QiieeiiM.  and  fic 
best  at  M  price.       Chas.  H.  Thiks.  .^teeleville. 

GOOD  QUEENS!  CHEAP! 

:{i I  tested  Italian  (juei'ii--.  i-.iised  last  >eas(in.  1  will 
M'll  after  Apr.  ~'ii;  *l.i5  each;  per  do/,.,  ^VZ.iHt.  I 
will  have  untested  (jueens  about  .\ia.v9.  at  $1  Oiieach; 
i^liMiO  per  doz..  ready  to  mail;  reared  from  one  of 
.\.  1.  Root's  best  imv>orted  queens,  or  from  select 
home-breU  stock.  \V.  A.  tJOITI  »"r«HV, 

sd  Liyiiiiville,  Teiiii. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


For  Sale,  15  Hives  of  Bees, 

In  doulilc-walled  hi ves  111]  tin    !>.  frame 


Ttfdb 


A.  POWERS,  Hiittain.  Summit  C 


Old. 


FOR  SALE. 


Two  hundred  tive-frall.  screw-top 

square   honey-cans;     been     used 

once,  tlie   most  of  them  :is  ^'ood  as  new.  at  30c  each, 

f.  o.  b.         Address  C.  A.  STANTON, 

«<l  Newiii^ton,  Harll'urd  <'o.,  f^oiiii. 


Early  Queens  from  Texas. 

From  my  choice  3  or  .5  banded  stoi^k.  Mj-  bees  are 
very  Ketitle,  jroml  workers,  and  beautiful.  Safe  ar- 
rival and  satisfaction  guarantec^d.  f)ne  untested 
queen,  April  and  May,  ll.OU;  si.v  for- t.i.iKi;  latei-,  7.')c. 
Orders  booked  now;  money  sent  when  queens  ;ire 
want^fl.     Send  for  price  list . 

J.  D.  Civens,  Lisbon,  Tex. 

Please  mention  this  pajitr. 


IiTIPABXED  ITALIAN   QIEENS,  $3.50   on 
arrival,  June  1st.     Untested  queen.  $1.00.    Order 
now.  W.  C.  FRAZIER,  Atlantic,  Iowa. 


One-Piece  Sections  Our  Specialty. 

1  (•h.-dlent'e  coirqi.i  i  i-~i  m  of  iii\  jroods  with  t  hose  of 
an.\  other  malie  on  I  he  niarki-l'  If,  upon  fail-  trial, 
they  are  not  found  superior  to.  and  cheaper  than, 
any  makes  of  so-called  snow-while,  premium,  sand- 
papered, etc..  sections,  the  ^oods  will  cost  you  iioth- 
intr.  and  .xnti  .-ii-e  inxited  to  publish  me  as  a  fr;iiid. 

I  I'an  III!  orders  pmmpth  foi-  any  widt li  :it  $3.7'> 
per  M.;or  ^L'.fiO  per  M.  in  .■)(i(K)  lots  at  factory  at 
Wati/.eka.  Wis.   Other  su|>plies  sliiiiped  from  <'apac. 


stfdh    Addle.- 


B.  WALKBH,  Capac,  Mich. 

■  nii'iition  I  his  pajier. 


Oatman's  Soldering  and  Repair  Kit 


Misisi^  lit  tiii-pot.  two  copper  solderiiiji-irons,  bar 
solder,  solderina-  tluiil  and  biusli,  all-steel  scraper. 
Iiammer,  scratch-awl,  aiifl  i)l.\ers,  as  shown  in  cut. 
Any  one  puiehasiiiK  this  ou'ttit  will  g-et  full  direc- 
tions, whi(;h  will  enable  them  to  I'cpair  tin,  copper, 
brass,  metals,  and  iron;  also  how  to  keep  their  sol- 
dering-irons in  Older.  Whole  kit,  boxed,  12  lbs. 
Shipped  on  receipt  of  $'2.    Agnits  winittd. 

O.  &  I..  OATinAN,  ITIedina,  Ohio. 

iC^lii  ri-~ji.iiii)jn(j  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkanings. 

IF  YOU  WANT  BEES 

Thai  will  .just  ••roll"  in  the  honey,  Trv  Moore's 
strain  of  Italians,  the  result  of  13  years'  careful 
breeding.  T.  .J.  Motlitt,  Kem|)s  Mills,  N.  C  says: 
••They  beat  any  thing  I  ever  saw  in  the  bee  liiie. 
They  are  ct-rtainlj'  '  rolling  '  in  the  honej-  now;  one 
of  them  beats  I  hree  of  my  others  at  work.  I  would 
not  take  ^5. (Ml  apiece  for  the  queens.  They  seem 
very  gentle."  Prices:  Warranted  queens,  in  June. 
*I. 00  each;  :ifoi*2.5».  Tested  queens  in  Mav.  ^^^.IMi 
each;  select  tested,  .t2..50.  Circulars  free.  "  Sd 
J.  P.  MOORJi!,  Morgan,  Pendleton  Co.,  Ky. 

Mention  this  p.apei'. 

rOR   SALE. 

.5:1  colonies  of    Italian    bees  in  A.  I.  Roofs  8-frame 

Dovetailed  and  Langslroth's  lo-fiame   hives,  at  Ave 

dollars  per  colony.  A  liberal  discount  for  more  than 

one  colonv.     Safe  deliver-y  guarantoefl.  S-lldl) 

.fOHN  CiKANT,  Batavia,  Ohio. 

MARTINS  PROLIFIC  BUCKWHEAT 

Same  kind  as  ad\  eri  ised  last  year  in  (ii.K.AMNCS. 
On  my  sand.\'  soil  it  fields  double  tlu'  i|uaniity  per 
acre  as  .lapanese.  (Jives  e.Ycelleiit  satisfaction. 
$1.00  per  bu  ,  cash,  on  board  cars  here,  sacks  includ- 
ed. WM.ITiABTlIN, 
»^lldb                Highliiiid,  Oalilaiid  Co.,  mii-li. 

Please  mention  Glraninos. 

M\-  new  price  list  of  Pure  Ital- 
ian KceM,  Wiiitesiiid  BroM'ii 
l..e^'liorii  <'lii<-keiiM.  Wliile  and  Brown  Fer- 
rets, and  S«-oteli  <'olliePupi».     Address 

N.  A.  KNAPP.  Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 
stfdb 


FKBSI 


Founddtion  Wholesale  and  Retail. 

/    f  rei' sanii)U'S.    Siiecial  iirices  to  dealers  on  Foui 


Fi'ee  price  list  of  everything  needed  in  the  apiary. 


pri( 
Otfdb 


H.  HUNT. 


It  you  would  like  to  see 
how     nice     foundation 
can    be   made,  send   for 
nidation  and  Sei^tions,  et<-. 
(Near  Detroit.) 
Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


304 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aprii-  lo. 


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  Ave  lines  will  cost  you  according  to  our  regular 
rates.  This  department  is  intended  only  for  bona-flUe  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  our  regular  rates  of  20  cts.  a  line  will  be  charged,  and 
they  will  be  put  with  the  regular  advertisements.  We  can  not 
l)e  responsible  for  dissatisfaction  arising  from  these  "swaps." 

WANTED.— To  trade  a  larg-e  lot  Of  Heddon  liives, 
nicely  made  and  good  a.s  new;  some  with  combs 
complete  for  honey,  now  or  after  crop  of  '93.  Write 
for  particulars.    Address  D.  S.  Hall, 

•it.fdb  South  Cabot,  "Vt. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  job  printing-  of  any  kind 
for  black  or  Italian  bees.  A.  D.  Ellingwood. 
fi-9db       White  Mountain  Apiarist,  Groveton,  N.  H. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  1  higli-arm  Singer  sewing- 
machine,  good  as  new,  3  White  Plymouth  Rock 
cockerels,  Trio  White  Minorcas,  and  eggs  from 
Wliite  Minorcas,  White  P.  Rocks,  Golden  Wyaii- 
dottes,  S.  C.  Brown  Leglioins,  R.  C.  Brown  Leg- 
liorns,  and  Pekin  ducks,  for  comb  foundation,  or 
offers.  J.  C.  Pkovins,  Masontown,  Fayette  Co.,  Pa. 
7-8d 


\17  ANTED.— To  exchange  brood-foundation,  at  40c 
W  per  lb.,  or  light  for  the  boxes  at  .50c  per  lb.,  for 
wax  at  30c  per  lb.  .   B.  Chase. 

7tfdb  Earlville,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Wf  ANTED. —To  exchange  pure  Italian  queens, 
\\  three  or  tive  banded,  or  from  imported  queens, 
for  1-lb.  sections  and  comb  foundation.  7tfdb 

Mks.  Oliver  Cole,  Sherburne,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y. 


FOR  sale  or  exchange, 
swai'ms  of  bees. 


-1  Barnes  foot-power  saw,  3 

L.  L.  ESENHOWER, 

Reading,  Berks  Co.,  Pa. 


\1/ANTED.— To  trade  a  lot  of  American  hives  and 
VV  combs,  or  combs  without  hives,  for  something- 
useful  in  apiary;  also  some  Langstroth  combs. 

RoBT.  QuiNN,  Shellsburg,  Iowa. 


FOUNDATION  exchanged  for  wax  or  a  few  bees 
bv  the  pound  in  May.  "W.  H.  Upton, 

Morning  Sun,  Iowa. 

WANTED.— A  middle-aged   woman,  to  live  as  one 
of  the  family;  only  three  in  family.  Address 
.sd  Adell.  Wood.  Monahans,  Texas. 

TITANTED.— To  exchange  double-action  S.  andW. 
Vf  model  revolver  and  Italian  queens  for  P.  China, 
Berkshire,  or  Essex  pigs.        W.  C.  Gathright, 

Toccopola,  Miss. 


WANTED, 
apiary. 


-An  experienced  bee-keeper  to  work  in 
J.  A.  Abbuckle,  Greeley.  Col. 


W 


ANTED.— To  exchange    choice    Carniolan  and 
Italian  queens  for  supplies.  8-9d 

F.  A.  Lockhakt  &  Co.,  Lake  George,  N.  Y. 


W 


ANTED.— To  exchange   new  D.  hives  for  tested 
Italian  queens.    J.  G.  RisLOW,  Lake  Mills,  la. 


JUST    OUT! 

B7  W.  I.  CHAMBERLAIN,  A.  M.,  LL.  D., 

Fonuerly  Secretary  of  the  Ohio   State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
and  late  President   of  the  Iowa  State  Agricultural  Col- 
lege.   At  present  Associate  Editor  of  the 
Ohio  Fai  mer. 

This  is  a  valuable  companion  to  our  otlier  rural 
books..  It  embraces  the  experience  of  forty  years 
of  one  of  our  foremost  praclii'al  agriculturists,  who 
has  laid  with  liis  own  hands  over  15  miles  of  tile. 

Price  35c;  by  mail,  40c. 

A.  I.  ROOT.  MEDINA.  OHIO. 

TESTED  ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

Bred  for  business  and  gciicial   good  qualities,  of 
last  year's  raising,   Jl.OO  each;  *10.00  per  doz.    Hy- 
brids, 36  cts.  each.  T-8d 
T.  W.  LIVINGSTON,  Dalton,  Wliitfleld  Co.,  Ga. 

tsrin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings 

WANTED.— To  exchange  my  10th  annual  price 
list  of  apiarian  supplies.  al.so  i)ure  gold  strain  of 
Jersey  sweet-potato  seed,  for  your  name  and  ad- 
dress plainly  written  on  a  postal  cai'd.  7-.s 
C.  m.  I>lXON,  Parrlsh,  III. 

fl  B  C     OF 

STRAWBERRY  t  CULTURE, 

A  t  BOOK  ?  FOR  t  BECINliERS. 

BY  T.    B.  TERRY. 

This  is  Terry's  latest  and  best  work,  and  has  re- 
ceived some  very  high  words  of  praise.  Who  that 
keeps  bees  does  not  also  have  a  little  garden-patch'/ 
If  you  would  learn  to  raise  in  it  that  mo.st  luscious 
of  "all  fruit,  the  sti'awberry,  with  the  best  results, 
you  can  not  be  without  tliis  little  hook.  Even  if 
you  don't  grow  strawberries  yt>u  will  he  the  better 
for  leading  it.  Pages  one-half  size  of  this.  Fully 
illustrated;  144  pages.    Price  3.'!c;  by  mail,  40c. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  MEDINA,  O. 

lash  for  Beeswax! 

Will  pay  i!Tc  per  Ih.  casli,  or  ;jiic   in  trade  for  an.y 

quantity  of  good,  fair,  average  beeswax,  delivered 

at  our  R.  R.  station.    The  same  will  be  sold  to  those 

who  wish  to  purchase,  at  32c  per  lb.,  or  35c  for  best 

!  Kelected  wax. 

Unless  you  put  your  name  on  the  box,  and   notify 
us  by  mail  of  amount  sent,  I  can  not  hold  myself 
I  responsible  for  mistakes.    It  will  not  pay  as  a  gen- 
■  eral  thing  to  send  wax  bv  earjjress. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio 


Black  and  Hybrid  Queens  For  Sale. 


WANTED. -To  exchange  for  bees  or  offers,  the 
following  books:  Clarke's  Commentary,  Vols. 
5  and  6,  N.  Testament;  History  of  Methodism,  Ste- 
vens, 2  vols.;  Heroes  of  Methodism;  Life  of  Sweden- 
l)org;  Mary,  Queen  of  the  House  of  David;  Greek 
Testament";  Bible  Dictionary  (Union!;  Jacobus  on 
the  Acts;  Presbyterian  Reunion  Memorial  Volume. 
Address        "  J.  Fekhis  Patton. 

693  Freeman  Ave.,  Cincinnati. 


WANTED-LADY  OR  GENT  IN  EACH 
county  to  distribute  and  collect  for  Bi-abant's 
ladies' toilet  cases;  3.38  articles,  worth  W;  will  send 
sample  and  full  particulars  by  mail  for  a5c  in 
stamps:  returnable  If  not  satisfactory;  territory 
free;  S3  to  $5  per  day  easily  made.  Address  J.  C. 
FRI8BHK,  general  atfeut,  172  Maple  St.,  Denver,  Col. 


For  the  benefit  of  friends  who  have  black  or  hybrid  queens 
whic*!  they  wish  to  dispose  of.  we  will  insert  notices  tree  of 
charge,  as  "below.  We  do  this  because  there  is  hardly  value 
enough  in  these  queens  to  pa.y  for  buying  them  up  and  keep- 
ing them  in  .stock  ;  and  yet  it  is  oftentimes  quite  an  accommo- 
dation to  those  who  can  not  afforil  higher-priced  ones. 

I  have  50  good  hylirids  and  V)lack  queens  for  sale 
at  3.ic  each,  ready  "for  immediate  delivery. 
6-7d        W.  H.  Heastman,  Citra,  Mari(m  Co.,  Florida. 


Black  (jueens,  1.5c;  hybrids,  20c;  mismated,  25c. 
Geo.  E.  Dawson,  Carlisle,  Ark. 


1  ha\  e  a  few  hvbrid  queens,  voung  and  veiy  pro- 
lific, 35c  each ;  3  for  f l.Od.       W.  C.  Gathright, 

Toccopola,  Miss. 

25  mismated  and  hybrid  queens  at  40c  each.  They 
are  large  and  spjightly,  and  lu-oliflc  layers.  Stamp** 
taken.  J.  J.  Hardy,  La^  onia,  Franklin  Co.,  Ga. 


l«l)? 


«;leanin(tW  in  bee  culture. 


:i()r. 


KIND  WORDS  FROM  OUR  CUSTOMERS. 


My  h-immIs  iiitivihI  iill  rijirln.  miuI  I  am  well  pU-iist-d. 
■pill"  >t'Oi ions  ail"  \<'ry  iiltf  Soi.oMon  I.kwis. 

Hcllovuc.  O. 

1  iri-ci\r<l  tlu>  k*»hIs  ill  jrood   onU-i-     Mulliins-   Inst. 
1  was  well  pli'asi'd  with  ovcry  tliiiijr. 
Maustoii.SVis.       ('.  E.  Haskins. 

As  to  the  A  B  C  l)ook.  I  (lout    tliink  1  eviT   read  a 
novel  tliat  interested  me  any  more  than  tliat  does. 
Diamond.  Pa.         F.  II.  Koss. 

I  am'verv  nuieti  pleased  witli  thi'  k'hhIs  I  ri"i-ei\cd 
from  you.'  1  like  the  thick  slats  of  the  section- 
holders,  and  the  foundation  isihetinest  1  ever  had. 

Carpenter,  111.  K.  S.Mirii. 

I  liave  rei-eived  your  book,  the  A  B  C  of  Bee  Cul- 
ture, and  one  .'opy  of  Gr,E.\.NiNGS,  and  am  very  well 
iile.ised  with  them.  FRANK  .XnMii.i). 

DeeT-  Plain,  III. 

tiooils"  received  .hin.  1.  lf<!"2.  that  I  ordered  of  you 
Dee.  12,  l!^'.*!.  They  came  throug-li  in  g-ood  eonditioii, 
and  1  am  well  pleased  with  them.    .Ias.  A.  At»AMs. 

tiunn  City,  Mo.    

My  order,  wliieh  is  No.  8918.  eame  to  hand  all 
rijrht.-sThe  extraetoriis  a  daisy.  The  hivi's  are  the 
verv  thinfr  that  I  wanted.  Your  A  B  C  hook  is  very 
practical.  A.  J.  Blankenbkcki.ki}. 

Greenback,  Tenn. 

If  you  make  your  Gleanings  as  int«>resting-  in  the 
future  as  in  the  past,  please  consider  me  a 
"sticker."  '  L.  G.  English. 

Marysville,  O. 

[That's  phiin  English.] 

Friend  Koot.  you  may  continue  Gleanings.  I  in- 
close ^l.iNi.  I  ani  very.imurli  pleased  with  my  sew- 
inff-machine.    I  think  it  is  on  the  true  principle. 

Mohawk.  N.  Y.      .^g»CUAS.  P.  Bhown. 

How  Gleanings  has  improved!  If  it  would  oidy 
come  every  week,  and  as  •'chuck  full"  of  jjoud 
sound  reading  a.s^it  nowis.it  would^have  no  rival. 
Allow  me,  Ernest,  to  congratulate  you  on  your  part 
t4)ward  making  us  a  good  periodical. 

WeltoiL  Iowa.  Frank  Coveudale. 

ole.\nings  .\s  an  .\i)Vertising  mediu.m.    ~r 
I  found  your  journal  the  best  advertising  medium 
last  season.     Iliad  more  orders  frcjm  the  two  inser- 
tions than  I  had  from  other  journals  in  wlii(;h  I  ad- 
vertised «  months.  O.  .7.  E.  Urkan. 
Tliorndale.  Texas^ 

There  are  other  .sweets  that  we  get  out  of  the  col- 
umns of  Gleanings  besides  bees  and  honey— the 
crumbs  that  fall  from;  thej.ma.ster's  table -those 
good  things  our  cliildren  like  to  read,  and  proHt  by 
the  same.  S.  F.  Mii.i.K.ii. 

North  Manchester,  Ind. 


Gleanings  is  always  awelcome  visitor, or.  latlier, 
a  welcome  member  of  the  fanuly.  Your  fath(>r's 
notes  of  travel  are  worth  many  times  the  price  of 
Gleanings.  M.  L.  Uiikwek. 

Phllo,  ni,  

Wife  can't  fgive  up  the  "goixl  talks,"  and  I  won't 
give  up  any  part  of  your  journal,  although  my 
apiary  does  not  furnish  much  honey  e.vccpt  ali<)iit 
one  year  in  five.  N.  W.  Fai.ks. 

Im'usdale,  Cal.  

Gleanings  improvas  with  every  issue,  but  it 
ought  to  have  more  items  from  Southern  bee-keep- 
ers to  make  it  of  as  miicli  use  to  us  as  it  is  to  t  hose 
further  north.  H.  P'lrz  Hakt. 

Avery,  La. 

[We  are  glad  to  get  items  of  interest  from  practi- 
cal men  from  the  South.  We  desire  to  make  fiLEAN- 
iNGS  interesting  to  all  classes.] 


Goods  ordered  of  you  were  received  all  tight.  It 
is  almost  surprising  with  what  promj>tness  you 
folks  do  business.  When  we  order  goods  from  you 
they  are  always  here  t)efore  we  are  lo(»king  for 
them.  The  sewing-machine  gives  splenflid  satisfac- 
tion.   Tlie  lady  told  me  she  liked  it  well,  and  would 


itlst  as  soon  have  It  as  a  1'4(l  machine  an  agent  left 
at  her  house  to  try  to  sell  to  her  before  she  saw  the 
one  1  got  from  vou  for  my  danghtor.  I^mg  life  to 
Gleanings  and  all  Its  helpers.  L.  Dvek. 

.Morristown,  Ind. 

I  Hiid  ever.\  thing  compU'te.  I  am  well  pleasefl. 
The  si'wiiig-machine  Is  nicer  and  better  than  we  e.\- 
pected.  I  have  tried  it  thoroughly,  and  tliid  It  tiist- 
class  in  everv  respect.  I  believe  1  could  secure  more 
sales  of  mai'liiiies  in  t  his  locality  by  a  little  work. 

Coniniia,  Ind.  Slmi'Son   F.vhrincjton. 


Job  Lot  of  Wire  Netting. 

CUT  PIECES   AT   A  LOWER    PRICE  THAN   FULL  ROLLS, 

Having  bouglit  from  the  factory,  at  our  own  price, 
five  or  si.\  hundred  remnants,  as  listed  below,  we  are 
able  to  give  you  the  choice  of  a  great  variety  of 
piecesat  the  price  of  a  full  roll  or  lower.  Full  rolls 
of  netting  are  1.50  ft.  Ions',  and  when  they  are  cut  we 
have  to  cnarge  nearly  double  the  full-roll  rate,  be- 
cause it  is  so  much  trouble  to  unroll,  measure,  and 
cut,  and  run  the  risk  of  having  a  lot  of  remnants  on 
hand.  No  doubt  it  is  in  this  way  that  the  following 
remnants  have  accumulated.  It  costs  a  good  deal 
to  get  all  this  in  shape  .so  we  can  easily  pick  out  from 
the  lot  the  piece  you  want.  But  to  move  it  off  quick- 
ly, we  put  the  price  down  so  you  can  all  have  a 
chance  at  it.  Remember,  first  come,  first  served. 
In  ordering,  therefore,  name  a  second  or  third  choice, 
or  say  that  we  may  send  the  nearest  we  can  if  tlie 
piece  selected  is  gone.  (In  5  pieces  deduct  .5  per  cent, 
on  10  pieces  10  per  cent.  These  remnants  are  shipped 
only  from  here.  If  any  of  you  want  to  secure  some, 
and  don't  want  tliem  shipped  till  later,  when  you 
will  order  something  else,  so  as  to  save  freight,  pick 
out  the  pieces  you  want,  send  remittance  with  the 
order,  with  request  to  lay  by  till  called  for,  and  we 
will  mark  tliem  as  belonging  to  yon.  We  prefer  to 
ship  them  tight  out.  however. 

LI.ST  OF  POULTIIY-NETTING  REMNANTS. 


y. 

.J 

■= 

S 

^     * 
g     X 

Lengtli   i>f  each    piece.    Multiply   by    the 
widUi  in  feet  to  pet  the  number  of  square 

•^ 

'^ 

?ia 

feet  in  each  piece.    Then  multiply  by  the 

■a 

» 

price  per  foot  for  tlie  price  per  piece. 

^ 

X 

z. 

5 

3i 

2 

20 

% 

27. 

2 

2 

19 

^ 

103. 100. 

72 

2 

18 

1 

61,  .53.  48.  35.  22.  22. 

76 

2 

17 

i'4 

23. 1.5. 

:«i 

2 

Ifi 

m; 

23;  18  in.  wide.  40;  24  in.  wide.  94.  88. 

72 

2 

16 

IK 

60,  .58,  56;  .30  in.  wide,  46.  24 ;  48  in.  wide.  48. 

18 

2 

l.i 

2 

87,30;  12  in.  wide.  100. 

24  12 

1.5 

2 

100.  90.  69,  .52.  33.  13.  12.  60  in.  wide.  21.  20. 

42    2 

1.5 

2 

121,  23.  8;  72  in.  wide,  .36,  33. 9. 

48    2 

15 

2 

72.  49.  48,  4.5,  .■«.  37.  30.  29.  26,  14. 

30    IJi  1  19  1  1 

33,  .36  in.  wide.  47. 

42 

IH 

19 

1 

85,59;  6(1  in.  58;  72  in. 

18 

1H 

18 

m 

40.  14;  54  in..  12;  60  in..  :*4. 

:m\ 

iH 

16 

2V. 

79;  ;<6in.,14;  42  in. ,34;  48in.,9->. 

:«) 

l>^|20 

22. 

•Srt 

IH 

19 

1^ 

48.12.24  in..  42;  30  in..  75;  48  in.,  78. 

«« 

IV 

18 

2 

15, 10;:42in..80:  48  in..  22;  72  in.,  8. 

48 

1 

W» 

t'V 

.53;  72  in.,  51;  ,30  in.,  96;  9  in..  40. 

24 

1 

19 

2 

26;   9  in..  24:   42  in.,  50,  34;  48  in.,  1()0.  4";  fid  in.. 
26;  18  in... 50. 

S2 

I 

18 

2^ 

85;  24  in,  23;  30  in.,  69. 

.•»il 

18 

2V. 

48  in. ,.30;  60  in. ,.59. 

9 

'H 

2(1 

n 

7;  36  in.,  55. 

24 

3 

16 

1 

19;  ,36  in.,  86,   42  in.,  14. 

■M 

3 

1.5 

ji^ 

63;   48  in.,  60. 

48 

3 

1^ 

45;  72  in..  100,  70. 

14 

3 

166.  .52,  35,  23 

22 

4 

107.  68.  35.  17,  15. 

.-(0 

4^ 

52.  47,  36.  33. :«)  29  19,  18,  13,  9. 

34 

4\ 

43.  37.  .34,  25.  24.  2.3, 18. 

42 

4 

5 

68,  62,  62,  23. 22,  22.  15,  12.  12.  12.  8.  6. 

*B 

nV, 

82.50.44   11,5. 

18 

8 

13 

2 

68  ft. ;  .36  In..  200  ft.  at  4c;  4.5  in..  247  ft.  at  he. 

Four  and  el^ht  inch  fencintr. 
price  per  foot  in  length. 


Price  in  fourth  column  i»  tin 


^.  Z.  ROOT,  Mediza.a,,  O. 


306 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aprii,  is. 


Hastings'  Lightning  Bee-Escape. 


Send  for  sample  of  Hastiiig-s' "Lightning  "  Bee 
Escape,  and  you  will  be  convinced  tliat  it  is  the 
best  and  most  practical  escape  yet  produced.  It 
will  clear  the  supers  in  ;i  short  space  of  time  (2  to  4 
liours),  and  it  is  impossible  for  tlie  bees  to  clog  the 
passage,  as  tliey  can  not  return.  Eacli  escape  guar- 
anteed as  repifsented.  Price,  l)y  mail,  each,  $().:J0; 
by  mail,  per  do7...  $2  :i5.  Full  directions  with  eacli 
escape.  Electrotypes  furnished  free  for  dealers' 
catalogues.    Write  for  discount.  7-12dl) 

M.  B.  HASTING.^,  New  York  Mills,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Please  mention  this  paper 


PREVENT  SWARMING 


ivplaving  old  worn-out  queens  ' 
YOUNG  ones  lief  ore  the  harvest 
opens.  I  breed  the  Leather-colored 
strain  of  Italiiins.  Prices  for  the 
next  30  days,  *1»  per  doz. ;  $1  each. 
Purltv  and  sale  arrival  guaranteed. 
A.  F.  BROWN.  Huntington.  Khi. 
.\sent  Southern  KxpressCo.      7  Sd 


Good  Queens  Cheap. 

300  tested  Italian  queens,  raised  hist  season,  for 
saleatSl;  .?10  pei'  doz.  A  few  Iiybrids  at  25c  each. 
They  will  be  shipi)ed  about  June  ]5th  to  2.')th.  or 
later  if  desired.  Have  order  booked  now  and  senfl 
money  when  you  want  tliem.  My  bees  have  been 
KRhJD  fitU  nvsiNUSS,  and  these  are  bar- 
gains.   Nuclei  and  full  colonies  at  very  low  rates. 

J.  A_  GREEIT,  DaT-boa,  Ill_ 


^^In  responding  to  thi.s  .nlvii  i  i 


It    niHIltion  GLEAKINOa 


New  Machinery. 

We  have  just  put  in  the  hit  est  improved  machin- 
ery for  the  manufacturing  of  bee  -  keepers'  sup- 
plies. Dovetailed  and  che;ip  L.  hives  at  a  bargain. 
Sections  and  frames  very  cheap.  A  large  stock  of 
smokers  and  foundation.  Send  foi' circular. 
7  I2db      w.  H.  BRIGHT,  Mazeppa.  Minn. 

t^Vci  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleaninqs, 


Sent(  for  fricf  Lint  to 

R.  E.  HARBAUGH, 
Ofomif'r  ami    Itcolcr  in   Hee- lii^i-jT  rs'   Siijiplifs. 

Breeder   of    Italian    and   Carniolaii     Bees    and 

Queens,  Light  and  Dark  Colored  Ferrets. 

'iHth  and  Cloy  Sts.,      -        -       -        st.  Josffih,  iMo 

FHILO'S  AUTOMATIC 

SECTION    FORMER   AND   GLUER. 

IT  DOES  BOTH 

AT  THE 
SAME   OPERA- 
TION. 
ALL  YOU  HAVE 

TO  DO  IS 
TO  TUHN  THE 

CRANK, 
AND  THE  SEC- 
TIONS 
ARE    ROLLED 

OUT  BY 
THE     WHOLE- 
SALE. 
ANY  CHILD  CAN 
DO  IT. 
PRICE      ONLY 

Address 

E.  W.  Philo, 

Halfmoon, 

N,  Y. 

The  machine  is  for  any  wldtli  of  the  mxm  one- 
piece  section . 

Italian  Bees  and  Queens  For  Sale. 

Untested  niuccns,  *1.(HI;  tested,  UM.  Bees,  *1. 00 
per  lb.  Colony,  $5.00.  Al.so  barred  Plymouth  Rock 
eggs  for  sitting,  $1.00  per  13. 

7-l(Vlb  MRS.  A,  A.  SIMPSON,  Swarts,  Pa. 


BEE  SUPPLIES 
and  all  kinds  of 
Berry  -  pack- 
ages, boxes 
and  baskets. 
We  make  a  spe- 
cialty of  one- 
piece  sections, 
and  wood  sepa- 
rate )rs.  Address 

BERLIN 
FRUIT  BOX 

CO.. 

Berlin  Heights 

Erie  Co.. 

Oliio. 


Please  mention  this  paper 


EARLY  QUEENS  and  BEES 

FROM  THE  SOUTH. 

1  untested  (lueen,   April,  $1.00;  May,  *1.00 
H        "  ••  •■  3.75:      ••        2.50 

1  tested  '•  "         3.00;      "        1.50 

3      "  "  "         5.(0;      "        4.00 

Best  Select  Tested  foi'  In-eeding,  $3.00. 
Twivframe  nuclei,  with  any  queen,  $1.50  each  extra. 
Safe  arrival  guaranteed.     Special  rates  to  dealeis. 
W.  J.  ELLISON,  6^7  «d 

Catchall,  Sumter  Co.,  S.  C. 

twin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  (iUKANDioa. 

pfliriTFOH 

BEE-HIVES. 

After  much  experimentation,  and  a 
can>ful  study  into  the  paint  question, 
we  offer  a  mixed 

Paint  Prepared  Especially  for  Bee-Hives. 

It  will  not  Chalk  or  Flake  off. 
We  guarantee  it  to  be  free  from  adulterants, 
such  as  whiting,  barytes,  lime,  and  other  sub- 
stitutes that  do  not  add  to  the  enduring  quali- 
ties of  the  paint.  Our  paint  is  made  of  strictly 
pure  lead,  strictly  pure  zinc,  and  genuine  Frencli 
ocher  of  about  equal  proportions,  mixed  in  pure 
linseed  oil.  It  is  generally  recognized  that  there 
is  no  pigment  more  permanent  than  French 
ocher;  and  this,  combined  with  zinc  and  lead, 
makes  a  most  durable  combination.  The  re- 
sultant tint  is  a  pale  straw  color.  Price:  Pint. 
35c:  quart.  (JOe:  half-gallon,  *1.0(3;  gallon,  «l,75. 
Half  a  gallon  will  cover  ten  No.  1  Dovetailed 
hives  two  coats. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  O. 


IS'.V? 


(JI.KANINCS  IN   HKK  CUI/niRH. 


:'.n 


NOTE    THESE    FACTS, 

THAT     IN     THE 

PECOS  VALLEY, 

THE  FRUIT  BELT  OF  NEW  MEXICO, 

Farmers  in  this  valley  ra  se  twd  or  three 
erops  a  year  of  iirain  ami  vefjcelables.  and 
live  crops  a  year  of  hay  : 

Stoi'k  grazes  on  <>:r('en  alfalfa  all  winter; 

Kvery  f;n inei-  in  the  Pecos  \'alley  is  wril- 
\\\iX  tn  all  Ifs  friends  lo  i-onie  here  ; 

The  I'eros  \'alley  is  destined  to  rival  any 
portion  of  sonthern  California  as  a  frnit- 
urowinjj  country; 

It  prodnees  nearly  every  variety  of  fruit, 
vesetable  and  eereal"  that  e:in  be  grown  any- 
where in  the  United  States; 

Nearly  every  species  of  forest  tree  can  also 
he  >rriiw"n  here  under  irrigation  ; 

V'egetables  and  grain  can  be  grown  be- 
tweeii  fruit-trees  while  the  latter  are  grow- 
ing to  the  bearing  stage; 

TVe  have  a  home  market  for  all  our  pro- 
ducts at  good  jirices; 

\Vc  have  the  most  delightful  and  health- 
ful climate  in  the  world  ; 

The  thickest  ice  formed  here  this  winter 
was  less  than  one  inch  thick  ; 

Tlie  total  snow  -  fall  was  less  than  two 
inches; 

The  sun  shone  on  this  valley  352  days  in 

ISDI; 

This  climate  is  a  never-failing  cure  for 
consnmittion,  bronchitis,  asthma,  catarrli, 
rheumatism,  etc.; 

All  pulmonary  troubles  are  relieved  by  a 
permanent  residence  here; 

There  is  just  freezing  enough  here  in  win- 
ter to  kill  out  any  and  all  i)ossible  impurities 
in  air  or  water; 

Men  can  work  outdoors  with  comfort  eve- 
ry day  in  the  year; 

Our  Pecos  River  water  is  pleasant  to  the 
taste,  and  healthful; 

It  is,  moreover,  a  never-failing  cure  for 
dyspei)sia  and  liver  troubles,  and  for  all  dis- 
eases of  the  l)ladder  and  kidneys; 

It  is  also  excellent  water  for  stock; 

All  kinds  (jf  stock  thrive  upon  it; 

Good,  pure,  cool  well  water  can  be  had 
anywhere  in  tlie  valley  by  digging  20  to  40  ft  ; 

And  a  great  many  others  equally  impor- 
tant which  we  will  point  out  to  you  when 
vou  come  here. 


Meanwhile  send   for  handsomely  illustrat(-d  liook, 
mail.  ftr.     Address 

PECOS  IRRIGATION  &  IMPROVEMENT  CO.. 

EDDY,  NEW  MEXICO. 

(#*ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Olkaninos 


SPEAK   QUICH! 

30  Colunies  of  black  bees  on  Quinby  suspended 
frames,  foi-  sale,  in  light  shlpping--b()xes.  Tliese 
bees  have  plenty  of  brood.  N<j  foul  bruod  here. 
Price  $.3.2.5  per  colony;  10  or  more.  *.3.<K). 

CHA8.  STEWART, 
8-9d  Sammoiifivllle,  Fulton  €o.,  N.  Y. 

J^ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Ul.KANUJoa. 


Il<'ad<iii}irtcri>>  I'm  i|1hiiis  hI  ilii-,  r;i('i',  bred. and 
impoited  bv  a  "  HdUninxltiii  Uw-kciyrr."  is  l)elo\v. 

Priieseach:  Viryiti,  .tl.."«(l;  fertile,  untested,  ta.On; 
ditto  I'liie  mated,  .tll).(K);  dittct  selected,  *4(I.(I0;  ditto 
impdrted,  $.')O.OII.  Sent  per  mail  prepaid  and  fiiiar- 
iiMtced  [,i>rainst  lo.ss  in  transit  m-  iiM  rodiiction.  If 
nut  :ippio\ed  of  aftir  trial,  ;\\\  nnmey  reliirnt'd  in 
/l(7/.     Circidar  fi-.'c.'    Adilress 

.lOH^   IIKWITT  «V  <;0.,  Shcfllold,  Kng. 

lyiu  re.spondlnt;  to  this  a<lverti.semeiit  mention  (iLKAMKo.^, 


DON'T  STOP  ME  !  I  am  going  to  send 
at  once  to  C.  W.  PHELPS  &  CO.'S 
Wholesale  and  Retail  Foundation  Fac- 
tory, Binshaniton,  N.  Y..for  a  free  sam- 
ple of  Honey  Comb  Foundation,  and  buy 
all  of  my  Bee  Supplies  of  them.    Its  THE  place. 


^A.A.A.A.S^A^i  AAA.A.AAAAAlkA  Ik.  A.  A.  A^  A.  A.  A.  A.  A.  iSt 

j    Beautiful!  Gentle!  Prolific!    \ 

!§  The    Five  -  Banded  Golden    Italian    Bees.  \ 

5  Send  ')(•  for  sample  of  bees  and  l)e  i-onvineed.  P 
5  Catalogue  free.  Om'  queen,  June  or  July,  $1.00;  ? 
2  six,  $.5.00.  P 

\  J.  F.  MICHAEL,  l' 

<  8-13db      GERMAN,  DARKE  CO..  OHIO.  > 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


BEE-H1VE8, 


Dovetailed  or  Otherwise. 

All  Kinds  of  Bee  Supplies. 
Write  for  free  eatalogue.       W.  H.  PUTNAM, 
8  13db  River  Falls,  Pierce  Co.,  Wis. 

t^"ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


ITAlilAIV  QCJEENS.    Choice    te.sted,    $1.50;  un- 
tested, 9i)c.    Satisfaction  guaranteed. 
9-lld  S.  P.  RoDDF  &  BiKj.,  Mt.  St.  Mary's,  Md. 


PflR   ^Al  F    Seventy-five    colonies  of   bees   in 
run    Onl-t,  Simplicity  hive.s.  Price  $4  a  colony. 
Address    Wm.  G.  Griffiths, 
Chew,  opp.  Sharpneek  St.,  Germantown,  Pa. 


TESTED  ITALIAN  QUEENS,  $1.00  EACH. 

'  Untested,  6;!c;  .select  tested,  $1.35;  one  2-frame 
nucleus,  tested  queen,  $2.00;  f)ne  2-frame  nucleus, 
untested,  U.W.  STEWART  BR<»S., 

8-12db  Sparta,  Wliite  Co.,  Teuu. 


LEATHER-COLORED  ITALIAN 

QUEENS. 

One  untested,  $1.00;  six,  $5.50;  twelve,  $10.00;  one 
tested,  $1.50;  six,  $8.00:  twelve,  $15.00;  selected  for 
breeding  6«r!y,  each,  $2..50;  one  year  old  tested,  m 
Jmiii.  inily.  $1.25;  six,  $7.00;  twelve,  $13.01).  Two-year- 
old  (pieens,  each,  .50c.  Descriptive  catalog-ue  mailed 
free  on  application. 

^''''''^      A.  E.  Manum,  Bristol,  Vt. 

lyiiirespouoinK  to  tliis  a^lviiti.-^ement  mention  Gleaninos, 

LOCATIOIT 

Is  a  Ijig-  poiui,  in  supplyinjf  floods;  ours  gives  you 
low  freig-ht  rates.  As  we  sell  low,  you  should  have 
our  (-irciihir  of  supplies.  l-l«dli 

I.J.STRINGHAM,  92  BARCLAY  ST.,  N.  Y. 

Fleasc  menlioii  tliis  piiper. 

TT  f;^ts 

To  order  the  1)est  made  goods.  For  Fine 
Sections,  Foundation.  Perforated  Zinc, 
Queen  Excluders,  and  the  best  hive  for 
comb  honey  now  before  tlie  public,  order 
of  Dr.  Tinker.  PRICES  GREATLY  RE- 
DCCED.    Address  for  catalogue 

De.  G.  L.  Tihkes,  New  Philadelphia,  0. 

I'lc.ise  menticiii  tliis  p.iper.  8-Udb 


313 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Absorlfents  Favoied 33' 

Alfalfa,  When  Cut 324 

Apricots.  Calif orula 3-14 

Beesof  Italy 319 

Bee-moth 331 

Colonies.  Doubling 326 

Covers,  Sealed 327,  343 

Ditching.  Tools  for  340 

Electricity  tor  Imbedding.  .343 

Eugene  Secor 317 

Feeders 3:51 

Foundation,  To  Restore .334 

Frames,  Wiring 328 

Hive  carts 330 

Increase  by  Fuichase 3-'4 

Italians  Ahead 334 

Moving  to  Out-apiaries 3.30 

Orange-blossom  Honey 3.34 

Photos  of  Bee-keepers 330 

Propolis  on  T  Tins 331 


Propolis  on  E-vcluders 3.33 

Funics,  Price  of 319 

Queens,  Three  in  a  Hive  —  334 

Rambler  at  Bonfoey's 320 

Retailing-cases" 32,5 

Robbers,  To  Catch 333 

Shipping-cases 32.5 

Space  Under  p'rames 323 

Spraying  Trees 322 

Sulphuric  Acid 332 

Swarms,  To  Prevent 329 

Swarmer,  Pratt's 318 

Swaimers,  .Automatic 318 

Tools  for  Digging 340 

Top  bars,  New  Plan 334 

Transplanting  to  the  Field  .341 

Ventilation,  Upward 327 

Vinegar,  Honey 316 

Wax  Sheets  on'GIass 334 

Wiring.  Keeney 333 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Connecticut  Bee-keepers'  As- 
sociation will  be  held  at  Hartford,  May  12,  commencing  at  10:30 
A.M.    All  interested  are  invited.  Mrs.  W.  E.  Riley,  Sec. 

Waterbury,  Ct.  

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Ionia  Bee-keepers'  Association 
will  be  held  at  the  Bailey  House  parlors,  Ionia,  Mich.,  May  11, 
1892.  John  H  Larrabee,  of  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College, 
will  make  an  address.  H.  Smith,  Sec,  Ionia. 


The  Southwestern  Wisconsin  Bee-keepers'  Association  will 
hold  its  next  annual  meeting  in  Boscobel,  Grant  Co.,  Wis.,  on 
the  13th  and  14th  of  .Tanuary.  1S93.  commencing  at  10  a.m.  All 
members  of  the  association  ,^re  requested  to  be  present,  as  the 
following  officers  are  to  be  elected:  President,  vice-president, 
secretary,  assistant  secretary,  and  treasurer.  Blank  repu)-ts 
will  be  sent  to  each  member  of  the  association  for  1892,  with 
instructions.  A  cordial  invitation  is  extended  to  all  bee-keep- 
ers, and  especially  to  those  who  would  like  to  .ioin  us.  Each 
member  will  be  notified  at  least  one  month  before  said  meet- 
ing. Benj.  E.  Rice,  Sec. 

Boscoliel,  Wis. 


CIRCULARS  RECEIVED. 

We  have  lately  received  apiarian  price  lists  from  the  folli 
ing  parties: 
F.  C.  Erkel.  Le  Sueur,  M  nn. 
Jos.  E.  Shaver.  Friedens,  Va. 
\V.  H.  Biight.  Mazeppa,  Minn. 
C.  D,  l)uv:ill,  Si.ineerville,  Md. 
Otto  J.  E.  Urlian.  Thorndale,  Tex, 
J.  W.  Bitti  nbciiiler,  Knoxville,  Iowa. 
Leah.v  ilauufarturmg  Co..  Higginsville,  JIo. 


Special  Notices. 


CANNED  TOMATOES. 

We  have  a  large  supply  of  tomatoes  of  our  own 
canning'.  Tliey  are  Igiiotum.s;  and  as  both  seeds 
and  juice  were  separated  at  the  time  of  canning-, 
the  cans  contain  only  the  solid  Ig-notum  meat. 
Price  lu  cts.  per  can,  or  19.00  per  100  cans.« 


SEEDLING  TOMATO-PLANTS. 

We  have  quite  a  surplus  in  the  greenhouse  of 
g-ood  strong  plants,  standing  in  tlie  seed-bed;  but 
we  are  having  so  many  frosts  that  we  do  not  dare 
risk  them  outdoors  wilhout  protection.  Under  the 
circumstances  we  offer  them,  for  immediate  orders, 
for  30  els.  per  100,  or  f,'J.0O  per  1000.  If  wanted  by 
mail,  add  :,'.')  cts.  per  lUO  for  yx'Stage  and  packing. 
We  have  Livingston's  Beauty,  Ignotum,  and  Dwarf 
Chauipiou  at  tlie  above  prices. 

As  tlie  trade  has  liardly  yet  commenced  on  cab- 
bage, caulitiower,  tomato,  and  celery  plants,  we 
have  an  unusually  good  assortment  of  all  of  them, 
including,  also,  sweeVpotato  plants.  When  tlie 
frosts  let  up  for  good,  however,  tliere  will  probably 
be  a  tremendous  rush  for  every  thing  in  this  line, 
and  We  rather  anticipate  there  will  be  a  scarcity  of 
many  kinds  of  vegetable-plants. 


RUBBER  STAMPS  FOR  TOUR  NAME  AND  ADDRESS. 

A  month  ago,  in  urging  you  to  be  sure  and  sign 
your  name  and  give  your  address,  we  mentioned 
incidentally  that  we  could  furnish  you  a  rubber 
stamp  to  print  3'our  name  and  address  for  20c,  and 
so  We  can;  but  you  need  with  it  ink  and  pads — or, 
better,  a  self-inking  pad,  which  costs  25c  more.    We 


can,  for  25c,  furnisii  you  a  nicKel  pen-holder,  with 
sliding  pen  and  pencil  in  one  end,  and  on  the  other 
a  rubber  stamp,  giving  your  name  and  address, 
with  pad  to  ink  it,  and  a  tube  of  ink  included,  all 
for  25c.  It  is  usually  sold  for  .50c,  and  often  for  90c 
or  !?1.(X).  If  you  want  this,  order  our  pen  and  pencil 
stamp,  and  be  sure  to  give  plainly  just  what  you 
want  it  to  print.  If  you  don't  write  verj'  plainly 
we  can  not  be  respcjiisible  for  errors. 


MASON    FRU1T-.JARS. 

Last  year,  in  fruit-canning  time  there  was  a  scar- 
city of  Ma.son  jars,  and  the  price  went  up  to  nearly 
double  what  they  can  be  had  for  now.  We  advise 
you  to  provide  yourselves  In  time  before  the  "glass- 
workers  stop  for  the  summer  heat.  We  are  pre- 
pared to  take  orders  now  for  jars  to  be  shipped  di- 
rect from  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  in  original  packages,  from 
the  first  to  the  fifteenth  of  .June,  at  the  following 
prices : 

Pints  (6  doz.  in  box),  $8.00  per  gross  (12  dozen). 

Quarts  (8  doz.  in  box)  $8.25  per  gro.ss. 

2-quart  (6  doz.  in  box)  $11.00  per  gross. 

Remember  these  prices  are  good  only  for  imme- 
diate orders,  and  to  be  shipped  during  the  first  half 
of  June  direct  from  Pittsburg,  Pa.  Orders  to  be 
sent  to  us. 

STANLEY   AUTOMATIC   REVERSING     HONEY-EXTRACT- 
OR 

As  announced  in  last 
number  of  Gleanings, 
^\(  have  lea.sed  from  G. 
\\  Stanlej^  the  right  to 
make  his  automatic  ex- 
it letor,  and  we  bought 
li  om  E.  R.  Newcomb  his 
stock  of  materials  and 
ni<i chines  unsold.  This 
stock  consists  of  about 
twenty -five  machines, 
two  and  four  frame.  To 
work  it  off  quick,  and 
gi\e  us  a  chance  to  put 
out  machinesof  our  own 
m  ike,  we  offer  these 
ill  ichines  as  long  as  they 
last,  atone-fourth off  old 
^  puces.  We  will  sell  the 
two-frame  machines  as 
they  are  for  $9.00;  the -t-fia.ne  for  $15.00.  They  are 
crated  ready  for  sliipment,  with  crank  direct  on  the 
center-shaft.  We  will  attaili  our  new  horizontal 
gear,  as  shown  on  page  14  of  our  catalogue,  for  $3.00 
each  extra.  

ONE-PIECE    SECTIONS. 

We  are  now  making  one-piece  sections  at  the  rate 
of  a  million  a  month.  In  the  five  months  from  Aug. 
1st  to  Jan.  1st  we  made  about  one  and  three-quarter 
millions;  in  January  and  February,  one  and  one- 
quarter  millions;  and  since  the  1st  of  March  we 
have  been  turning  them  out  at  the  rate  of  a  million 
a  month.  We  have  nowMii  stock  about  one  and  a 
half  millions  of  all  widths  of  the  i4ii:-inch  section 
from  1^  inches  up  to  2  inches.  Weluneal.so  enough 
dry  lumber  in  our  yard  to  make  about  t  luce  million 
more.  By  the  time  this  is  worked  up  tlie  lumber  we 
have  contracted,  cut  the  past  winter,  will  be  ready 
to  begin  on,  and  this  will  make  six  or  eight  million 
more.  The  quality  of  the  sections  is  superior  to  any 
we  ever  sent  out  in  former  years,  and,  we  beUeve, 
equal  to  any  made,  and  superior  to  most  makes. 
We  contracted  to  supply  one  large  dealer  at  a  high- 
er price  than  he  was  oft'ercd  other  good  .sections  for, 
because  he  decided  that  ours  would  jjlease  his  cus- 
tomers enough  better  to  pay  the  ditterence  in  price. 
We  are  also  making  lower  prices  in  large  lots  to 
dealers  than  we  have  been  able  to  do  heretofore. 
We  mention  all  these  things  to  show  you  how  well 
l>repared  we  are  to  serve  you.  Last  year,  and  the 
year  before,  our  supply  of  lumber  suitable  for  sec- 
tions was  insufficient,  and,  as  a  consequence,  to  fill 
orders  at  all  we  were  compelled  to  send  out  some 
that  were  rather  inferior  for  first  grade.  To  many 
of  our  friends  who  received  these  goods  we  have  al- 
lowed a  rebate;  and  to  others  who  mentioned  it  in 
their  orders  we  have  sent  an  extra  supply  of  the 
choice  sections  we  are  now  turnin.g  out.  If  there 
are  any  who  have  not  yet  had  satisfaction,  we  want 
to  hear  from  j'ou  .so  that  we  may  ha\  e  an  opportu- 
nity to  give  you  satisfaction,  and  to  give  you  sec- 
tions that  can  not  be  surpassed  by  any  manufactur- 
er. 


IS'.fJ 


(iLKANMXCS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


313 


Honey  Column. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

Nkw  VoHk.  IJoiliil.  CoMsidoniliU"  slock  of  cnnib 
li.iiu'von  llu-  inarki'l.  mostly  otr  slock  iiiid  lim-k- 
wlu'a't.  No  diMiiMiiil  fxcci't  f<""  fancy  stoi-k.  Now 
cro|>  SoutlifiM  cxliactcil  arriving  in  siimll  iiuanli- 
tios.  and  tinds  roadv  sale  at  from  TO®".")  a  na"""  Co'' 
choice;  «.">(<?70  for  common.  Bi'f.'ora.r,  (lulct,  but 
tlrm  at  27(";2!l.  as  to  (juality. 

Vpr  23  Hii.uHKTH  Huos.  &  Sboei.kkn, 

28  \-  HO  West  Broadway,  New  Y'ork. 

K\NSAS  ("iTY.-  H-mt-j/.— NVi'  report  a  belter  de- 
mand ftn-  comb;  but  m)  chanjie  in  prices.  VVe 
quote:  Wliite  comb.  No.  1,  i:^'I4;  No.  2.  vmv.1. 
Amber,  No.  1,  1U®13;  No.  2.  serW.  Extracted,  winte, 
60)7;  amber,  6X@6;  dark,  .5.    Btv.sirn.r,  22.w'i,. 

Apr  20  Clemdns,  ISI.48().n  \  (  o.. 

Kansas  (Mty,  Mo. 

St  Loris  Hd/i.iy.— White-clover  honey  in  comb, 
XmW:  Kood  while.  i:^'U.  Ppauisli  needle,  12;  dark 
■md  broken  comb.  (iiaS.  Extracted,  white-clover,  in 
can*  7(aS  small  wav;  bbls. ,.'>';;  Southern  strained, 
in  bbls.,  as  to  .luality,  iX^mM-  Bwsmt.r,  prime 
stock,  28X ;  selected,  more. 

Apr.  30.  W.  R-  Westcott  &  Co., 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Chicago.  —  Honey.  —  Honey  -  market  unchang-ed 
since  last  reported.  Tne  offerings  of  flue  comb  are 
very  lijrht.  and  it  bring-s  15c;  dark  comb  according- 
to  present  outlook  will  be  aViout  exhausted  by  May. 
The  price  of  this  is  uncertain  at  10@18.  Extracted 
sells  at  6@7@'<.  Stock  light,  and  shipments  would 
iie  sold  on  arrival.    Bii.<wii.i\2~.     ■ 

K.  A.  Burnett, 

Apr.  19.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicag-o,  111. 

Detkoit.— Hi>?ieiy.— The  demand  for  comb  houey 
is  as  usual  very  light  at  this  season  of  the  year.  A 
few  fancy  lots'  have  sold  as  liigh  as  14c;  hut  for  or- 
dinary lots,  12<gl3  is  what  it  sells  for.  Extracted, 
7@8.  'Brtiiuux,  in  fair  demand,  27@38. 

Apr.  2«).  M.  H.  Hunt, 

Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

Albany.— Honc!/.— There  was  quite  a  brisk  de- 
mand for  comb  honev  during- the  week  preceding 
Easter,  which  enabled  us  to  nearly  close  out  what 
stock  we  had  on  hand.  We  have  much  complaint 
from  customers  on  account  of  most  of  the  comb 
houev  being-  candied,  wliich  customers  object  to. 
Prices  range  from  6@10.  Extracted  in  moderate 
demand  at  6@8.  Chas.  McCulloch  &  Co., 

Apr.  20. Albany,  N.  Y. 

Cincinnati.— Honey.— There  is  no  change  in  the 
market.  Extracted  honey  brings  .5@8,  on  arrival. 
Comb  honey  is  sold  at  12@1.5,  for  liest  white,  in  the 
jobbing  way.  Bc»',s(m.f .^Demand  is  good,  at  23@27 
for  good  t<)  choice  yellow  on  arrival. 

Apr.  23.  Chas.  F.  Muth  c&  Son, 

Cincinniti.  O. 

Kansas  City.— Ho?iej/.— Demand  poor,  with  a  large 
supply  of  comb.  We  quote:  Comb,  Mb.,  fancy, 
12^13;  dark,  K<g,9.  Extracted,  white,  7;  dark,  .5@6. 
Beeswax,  none  on  the  market. 

Apr  2tJ  Ha.mblin  &  Bearss, 

.51i  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


MiNNKAPOMS.—Hoiiri/.— Fancy  while-clover  hon- 
ey in  good  demand  at  lfS@18.  Choice  dark  selllnK 
:it  12fr/il4.  Strained  honey,  sale  slow.  Battwdx  not 
wanted;  in  fact,  thefe  isno  sale  for  il  hero. 

Apr.  It).  J.  A.  Shea  &  Co.. 

14  &  Iti  nennei)in  Ave.,  Minneai)olis,  Minn. 

l'oirri,ANi).-H«/(r//.— There  is  no  change!  to  note. 
Kancy  ext  ravted  white,  1-lb.,  IS;  other  grades  less; 
2-11).,  white,  10.  Not  mucli  demand.  Bt'mwa.v, 
scarce  ;it  30. 

Apr.  12.                                   LeVy  Spieol  &  Co., 
Portland,  Or. 

San  Fhancisco.— Hojicy  —Honey  in  light  supply, 
and  we  (luote:  Extracted,  ."ji^efi)^;  com'),  iUi@12. 
For  the  latter,  the  demand  is  improving  a  tritle. 
Prospects  for  the  coming  crop  are  not  V(M-y  good  as 
far  as  honey  is  concerned.  Bi'rsincr,  scarce  25@26. 
Scuacht,  LejMCKe  &  Steinek, 

Apr.  23.  S;in  Francisco,  Cal. 

Chicago.— Hdjicj/.— Fancy  comb  honey  selling  at 
16c;  choice,  14@15.  Other  grades  1U@13.  Extracted 
scarce,  good  di-mand,  TOT'/i.  Bir-t<u-a.r,  active  sale, 
28c.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co., 

April  29.  Chicago,  111. 


Bee-Keepers'  Supplies. 

Hives,  Honey-Cases,  Sections,  and  Frames. 
We  are  the  only  concern  in  Soutlicrn  Califor- 
nia who  make  a 

SPECIALTY  OF  BEE-KEEPERS'  MATERIAL. 

Agents  for  the  wliite  basswood  1-ib.  sections. 
Send  for  catalogtie  and  price  list. 
6-13db  Oceanside  Mill  Co.,  Oceanside,  Cal. 

t^Inresponding  to  this  advertiseiiient  mention  Gleanings 

"TriceTist  of  bee-hIvesT^ 


New  Yokk.— Ho«ej/.— We  have  no  change  to  make 
since  last  ciuotatioiis.  price,s  hold  about  the  same. 
Demand  is  decreasing  as  the  spring  advances. 
Fancy  i-omh  honev.  l<Vrtl2:  fair,  8@10;  buckwheat, 
fi(%».  'Extracted,  clover,  H\^(^l;  buckwheat,  .5^,1; 
Southern,  tj.5(S>75  per  gallon.    BK><iifu;  27@20. 

Apr.  20.  Chas.  Israel  &  Bito., 

110  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


Saint  Louis.— Ho?i€j/.—In(iuiries  for  .strained  were 
frequent,  and  business  more  satisfactory.  No 
quotable  change  in  values.    Beeswax,  prime,  23. 

Apr.  2(i.  D.  G.  TuTT  Gko.  Co., 

St.  l.rf)Uis,  Mo. 

Boston.  —  Hojiey.  —  No     change    in    the    honey- 
market.    Slow  sale  and  faii-  stock  on  liand. 
Apr.  21.  Blake  &  Ripley, 

Boston,  Mass. 


8-fr'me. 

10-f'me. 

S-fr'me. 

lOf'me. 

l>^-sfy. 

l>2'-st'y. 

2  st'y. 

2-st'y. 

In  lots  of     5  — 

72c 

82c 

87c 

97c 

In  lots  of   10  .... 

69 

79 

84 

94 

In  lots  of   25  .... 

60 

70 

75 

85 

In  lots  of    50  ..  . 

58 

68 

73 

83 

In  lots  of  100  ... 

57 

67 

70 

80 

The  reason  we  can  sell  so  cheap  is  that  lumber  is 
cheaper  in  Minnesota  than  any  other  State  in  the 
U.  S.  The  above  prices  are  for  Dovetailed,  Simplicity, 
and  three  other  .styles.    Send  for  catalogue. 

F.  €.  ERKELr,  lieSueur,  Mtuii. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


Engine  and  Boiler  For  Sale. 

A  six-liorsV  upright  cngiiie  and  a  teii-liorse  hoi-i- 
zoiilal  steel  lioiler.  They  are  both  complete  and  in 
flne  condition;  have  been  used  only  about  six 
months.  Boiler  arched  in.  Both  are  W.  B.  Dunn- 
ing's  make,  Geneva.  N.  Y. 

Also  an  18-inch  Feed-Mill,  French  buhr,  of  A.  W. 
Stevens'  make.  Auburn,  N.  Y.  Shcller,  Elevator, 
Shafting,  Belting,  Pulleys,  and  a  fine  lot  of  Slmonds 
saws,  cut-off  and  rip,  from  5  inch  up  to  18.  Two 
Vandervort  Foundation  Mills,  6  and  12  inch,  steam 
melting-apparatus,  etc.  The  whole  outfit  is  nearly 
new,  and  in  fine  condition.  Will  lie  sold  at  a  bar- 
gain.   Write  for  particulars. 

G.  W.  BALEV  &  SON, 

9tfdb  Ovid,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

A  Four-Color   Label  for  Only  75 
Cts.  Per  Thousand. 

Just  think  of  it!  we  can  furnish  you  a  very  neat 
fiiur-color  label,  -with  your  name  and  address,  with 
the  choice  of  having  eitlier  "  comb  "  (jr  "  extracted  " 
before  the  word  '•honey,"  for  only  75  cts.  per  thou- 
sand ;  .50  cts.  per  .500,  (jr  30  cts.  for  250,  postpaid.  The 
size  of  the  label  is  2>^xl  inch— just  right  to  go  round 
the  neck  of  a  i>ottle.  t(j  put  on  a  section,  or  to  adorn 
the  front  of  a  honey-tumbler.  Send  for  our  special 
label  catalogue  for  samples  of  this  and  many  other 
pretty  designs  in  label  work. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  ITIedfna,  O. 


314 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


f^^FLJT 


Li 


q 


rs' 


FOR  1892  AND  A  F/iVt,  TnGTHO,  ITALIAN  QUEEN.  OF  LAST  YEAR'S 
REARING.  FOR  $1.75.  EITHER  ALONE.  $1.00.  FOR  $2.00.  THE 
REVIEW.  THE  QUEEN  ANO  THE  50  CT.  BOOK,  ■■  ADVANCED  BEE 
CULTURE."   WILL  BE  SENT.  W.  Z.  HUTCHINSON,    FLINT.   MICH. 

P.  S.— If  not  acquainted  with  the  Review,  send  ten  cents  for  three  late  but  different  issues. 


SPECIflli  IVIflTED 

queens'  reared  under  the  swarming  impulse  in  our 
Texas  apiary,  and  mated  to  very  yellow  drones. 
Queens  and  drones  from  two  of  the  best  queens  in 
Texas.  All  queens  warranted  purely  mated.  One 
queen,  Apr.,  $1.25;  6  for  $6.00.  May,  one  queen,  $1.10; 
6  for  $5.50.  Our  5-Banded  Italians  are  the  best 
workers,  most  gentle  and  beautiful  bees.  Safe  ar- 
rival and  entire  Satislactloii  Guaranteed,  cir- 
cular free.  S.  F.  &  I.  TREGO,  Swedona,  111. 
In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

^  ^^  CENTS  WILL  BUY  A  GOOD  2 -STORY 
W^l  1  L.  Hive.  $1.00  Will  Buy  100  L. 
1^/^^  Brood  Frames.  SI. 00  Will  Buy  a  Nice 
Golden  Italian  Queen.  Please  Write 
for  our  Circular  Before  you  Buy  your  Supplies. 

W.  H.IBRICHT,  Mazeppa,  Minn. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

FOR  SALE— 100  COLONIES 

of  Italian  and  hybrid  bees  in  K-frame  Langstroth 
hives.  Price,,' for  Italians,  $4.00;  hybrids,  $3.50 
each,  free  on  board  cars  here.  A  liberal  discount 
for  more  than  five  colonies.  I  guarantee  safe  de- 
livery.      Thomas  Grimm,  Jeffer.son,  Jeff.  Co.,  Wis. 

910(1  Please  mention  this  paper. 


BEE 


SUPPLIES 


RETAIL 

—  AXII  — 

WHOLESALE. 


Everything  used  in  the  Apiary. 

Greatest  variety  and  larges^t  stock 
in  the  We^st.  New  catalog,  54  illustrated  iniges, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  KEETCHMES,  EED  OAK,  IOWA. 

In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  p.iper. 


DOVETAILED 


*"\^rY.!;S.  QUEENS. 

Send  for  price  list  of  Italian  Queens,  Drones, 
Hives,  Smokers,  Foundation,  etc.  Finest  breeding 
queen,  after  March  i,  $4.00.  Tested,  $2.00;  3  for  $.5.00. 
Untested,  in  April,  $1.00;  6  for  $5.00,  or  $9.00  per  doz- 
en by  mail.  Safe  arrival  guaranteed.  Orders  for 
Queens  booked  for  3(1  days  or  more,  5  per  cent  dis- 
count. Make  monev  orders  |i:i\  able  at  Clifton. 
3tfdb       COLWIGK  &  GOLWIOE,  NOESE,  BOSaUE  CO.,  TEXAS. 

L^lu  responding  to  tins  advertiseniuiit  mention  Glkanlngs. 

HADIIini  111       BSSS     AND      QUESNS. 
UAnlllllLnil  They  beat   tliem  all.    Never 

have  <lvsciitery.     All  queens  reared  fioiii    select  ini- 
porti'd'niolhers.     Untested,  50c;   12  for  $5. OU.   Tested, 
$1.00;  12for$10.ai.    Select  tested,  $1..")0.    Descriptive 
circular  free.    A.  L.  LINDLKV,  Jordan,  Ind. 
8-13db 


Ladies 


PRICE  S2. 


(POSTPAID). 

ine  Shoes,  Genuine 

Soles;  Style,  Fit.  and 

'  to  $3  Shoes.    High 

Broad  or  Narrow 

o  7.    C  D  E  or  E  E 

Send  your  size.    Sure 

Fit.     Pat.    Tips, 

Same  price. 

C.  L.  Griesinger 

Medina,  O. 
Send  P.  O.  or- 
der.   Registered 
Letter,  or  Postal 
'  Note. 

t^ln  responding  to  tills  auveixi.^enieiit  mention  CtLKANIKR."* 

ELMER    HUTCHIJYSOJSr 

Has  moved  to  Vassah,  Tuscola  Co.,  Mich.  He  can 
furnish  untested  (queens  in  April  and  May,  rai.sed 
from  one  of  his  Golden  Italian  5-banded  queens, 
that  took  riRST  pkemium  at  the  Deti-oit  Exposition 
the  last  two  years,  for  $1.15  each,  or  6  for  $5.00.  Or- 
ders will  be  filled  for  me  in  April  and  May  by  a 
queen-breeder  in  the  South,  who  has  one  of  my  best 
breeding  queens.  Orders  promptly  filled  and  safe 
arrival  guaranteed.  Make  money  orders  payable 
at  Vassar.  T-ltdb 

POSITIVELY 

By  retui-n  mail,  beautiful  young  warranted  Italian 
queens,  at  $1.00  each.  Tested,  $1., 50.  A  select  tested 
yellow-to-the-tip  breedei-,  $2.00.  Satisfaction  guar- 
anteed. \V.  H.  IjAWS,  Lavaca,  Ark. 

8tfdb 

ITALIAN   QUEENS- 

Queens  reared  and  tested  in  the  fall  of 
'91,  $1.."0  each.    Safe  arrival  guaranteed. 

Misses  S.  k  M.  Baenes,  Piketon,  Ohio.      7-8-9d 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

One  of  our  i)-banded  red-clover  queensV  100  lbs.  of 
clover  honey  in  poor  seasons.  Send  for  descriptive 
circular  free.  LEININGER  BROS., 

7tfdb  Ft.  Jennings,  Ohio. 

1(  0  double-walled  hives,  new,  nail- 
ed up,  painted,  set  sections  and 
holder  included,  f 3. 00  each;  a  great  bai'galn.  Order 
at  once.    One  Novice  honey-extractor.  8-9d 

S.  A.  FiSHEK,  31  Pembeiton  Square,  Boston,  Mass. 


FOR  SALE. 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  doz- 
en, you  do  not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  within  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with  full  direc- 
tions, 20c;  per  dozen,  $2.25.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb   R.  <£  E.  C.  PORTER.  LEWiSTOWN,  ill. 

C^'lii  responding  to  this  advertisement 


mention  Glka>in(J 


;ouR 

•  deivote: 
•To-BELEL^T 

•ANC)HoN_.    ,,  ^ 
'AND  HOME.-     "n^" 


'PuBljiHeDBY^^-I-TfooT' 


Vol.  XX. 


MAY  1,  1892. 


No.  9. 


STRJir  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 

That  i,EAi>-ziNC-ocHEi:  paint  mentioned  on 
p.  2S7  makes  a  very  liandsome  finish. 

Frke  PEMVEiiY  of  mail  would  be  very  handy 
for  bee-keepers  in  rural  districts,  in  the  busy 
season. 

Geo.  W.  Youk  is  now  assistant  editor  of  the 
"old  reliable"  ^.  B.  J.  A  good  man  for  the 
place,  and  a  nice  fellow. 

D.  L.  Tracy.  Longmont.  Col.,  says  no  one  in 
Colorado  can  raise  honey  for  lis  cents,  the  ac- 
tual cost  being  about  7  times  that. 

HrmiT.vsox  has  made  a  success  with  his 
little  picuiri'S.  and  the  short  sketches  add  inter- 
est.    Wish  he'd  get  a  picture  of  Hasty. 

Stim.  they  come.  The  Natiomtl  Bee  Gdzctte 
will  make  its  bow  to  the  bee-keeping  public 
May  7,  hailing  from  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Don't  know 
who  is  to  straddle  the  tripod. 

Review  voi'r  figures.  ;Mr.  Editor,  and  see 
if  that  heading  on  page  ilSH)  shouldn't  read 
•'  One-half  more  honey  to  winter  outdoors  than 
indoors,"  instead  of  "one-third." 

I  WA.S  suRi'RisEP  to  find  that  considerable  al- 
falfa seed  is  being  sold  to  farmers  about  Maren- 
go, this  sj^ring.  1  shall  tx' still  more  surprised 
if  it  niak<'S  any  ditVerencf  in  my  honey  crop. 
I'm  quiti'  willing  to  be  surprised. 

MixNf;80T.\  goes  to  the  head  of  the  class  as  a 
hatcher  of  new  bee-journals.  Two  inside  of  a 
year.  The  last  is  The  Bee  A<je.  Spring  Valley. 
^Iinn..  the  editor  being  no  less  than  our  friend 
B.  Taylor.    Nothing  sleepy  about  him. 

"  Pa.st  exi'EHIENCK,"  says  B.  B.  J.,  "  tends  to 
prove  that  the  b(!st  honey  seasons  are  late 
ones."  Hope  that  may  prove  true  this  year,  for 
up  to  April  2:1  we're  having  mostly  March 
weather  in  this  neck  of  the  woods. 

EcHiNoi's  siMKEKocEPii.vEus  is  highly  rec- 
ommended by  a  writer  in  CenUydltUitt.  In  this 
country,  I  think,  it  is  not  considered  of  value 
enough  as  a  honey-plant  to  pay  for  cultivation. 
It  was  largely  tried,  but  who  raises  it  now? 

Spring  dwindling,  the  B.  B.  J.  thinks,  is 
not  so  likely  to  occur  in  a  backward  spring. 
This  accords  with  the  view  I  have  expressed, 
that  it  is  best  for  those  who  winter  in  cellars  to 
keep  the  bees  in  till  time  for  dwindling  is  past. 

American  ree  -  keepers,' according  to  R. 
Riecken  in  CetitralbUttt.  are  able  to  care  for  l.W 
colonies  per  man,  often  douljlc  that  number,  and 
harvest  an  average  crop  of  4.5  to  liO  pounds  comb, 
and  KX)  pounds  extracted  per  colony.  Hasn't  the 
^"  Bruder"  got  that  a  little  steep? 


Took  out  bees  April  7,  when  thev  had  a 
good  My,  but  maple  bloom  was  either  killed  or 
past,  and  bees  could  do  nothing.  Very  cold 
nights,  ending  up  with  a  snow  storm  the  14th. 
Might  have  been  better  to  have  left  bees  in 
later. 

That  bee-escape  of  Larrabee's  has  one 
one  point,  I  think,  in  its  favor,  that  he  didn't 
mention  on  page  282.  The  large  space  connect- 
ing super  with  hive,  separated  only  by  wire 
cloth,  makes  the  bees  more  ready  to  go  down 
than  if  the  only  communication  were  one  little 
hole. 

Tii.e  Drainage,  that  exceedingly  well- 
written  little  book  by  Prof.  Chamberlain,  is 
more  interesting  than  many  novels,  and  should 
be  read  by  every  farmer  and  farmer  boy. 
They'll  learn  something  from  it  besides  drain- 
age. I've  just  read  it  through,  and  I  know  a 
good  bit  more  than  I  did. 

Artificial  heat  in  cellars  is  objected  To  by 
some.  Last  winter  I  thought  I  would  try  doing 
without.  P'ound  I'd  made  a  fool  of  'myself 
again.  Worst  loss  for  years;  41  per  cent  died  in 
shop  cellar.  House  cellar  is  warmer,  and  the 
loss  was  less  than  12  per  cent.  If  it  had  been  a 
severe  winter  I  suppose  it  would  have  been  still 
worse. 

The  three  single  ey'es  of  bees  have  been  a 
puzzle  as  to  their  use.  Mr.  Grimshaw,  of  Eng- 
land, starts  the  theory  that  they  ai-e  not  eyes  at 
all,  but  bull's-eye  lanterns  that  emit  a  very 
feeble  light  to  guide  the  bee  in  its  work  at 
night.  Such  production  of  light  is  quite  com- 
mon among  insects,  and  the  source  of  the  theory 
gives  it  some  title  to  respect,  for  Mr.  Grimshaw 
is  an  able  observer. 

'"In  working  sections  at  the  side  of  the 
brood -nest,  the  bees  cluster  on  the  sections 
nights  and  dull  days,  and  that  is  what  stains 
the  cappi'ngs,"  says  A.  B.  Mellen,  p.  282.  That 
may  Ix;  true  to  some  extent,  but  if  vour  brood- 
combs  are  all  new  built  you'll  not  "find  the  sec- 
tions much  darkened.  I'm  pretty  sure  the 
worstdarkening  is  from  bits  of  the  black  brood- 
comb  actually  used  in  sisaling  t\n)  sections. 

External  c.\uses  that  induce  swarming, 
Larrabee  says,  "are,  an  unusual  and  increasing 
number  of  bees  in  the  hive,  presence  of  a  honey 
flow  of  some  degree,  drones,  etc.,  one  or  all. 
Wild  animals  seem  to  breed  at  stated  seasons, 
because  taught  so  by  instinct,  but  are  bees 
guided  by  that  instinct?"  That  clears  it  up  in 
good  shape.  I  understood  it  "external ''  to  the 
hive,  while  he  meant  "external"  to  the  bees. 

After  trial  I  am  quite  pleased  with  the 
plan  of  wedging  up  sections  in  theT  super.  But 
I  think  I  like  my  plan  better  than  yours,  Ernest. 
My  wedges  are  the  same  hmgth  as  the  followers 
by  J^xji^  inch,  and  I  don't  twist  them  after  in- 
serting.   Just  push  one  end  of  the  stick  down 


31(5 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


to  the  bottom  at  one  end  of  the  super,  and  then 
lower  the  other  end  to  the  upper  surface  of  the 
sections.  I  consider  It  Important  to  have  the 
stick  long. 

Much  is  said  about  the  convenience  of  being 
able  to  shift  the  outside  sections  to  the  center 
of  a  super  and  vice  versa.  I  don't  think  I  ever 
want  to  shift  them  thus.  It  takes  time,  for  one 
thing,  but  that's  not  the  greatest  objection.  A 
section  moved  to  the  outside  row  is  not  finished 
so  quickly  and  nicely  as  if  left  in  the  center. 
Don't  move  a  section  in  a  super  till  the  mass  is 
finished,  then  take  off  the  whole  thing,  and  re- 
turn the  unfinished  ones  in  another  super. 


HONEY  VINEGAR. 


HOW   TO   make;     by   DADANT  &   SON. 


Friend  Roof."— Mr.  Louis  C.  Jessing  wrote  us 
lately,  '"Please  tell  us  in  Gleanings  how  to 
make  honey  vinegar,  taking  us  over  the  ground 
step  by  step,  as  it  were,  from  the  time  the  honey- 
water  is  made,  to  the  time  when  it  will  be  good 
strong  vinegar:  also  how  long  it  will  take,  kind 
of  building  used,  etc." 

There  are,  in  the  formation  of  vinegar,  two 
kinds  of  fermentation.  The  first  transforms 
into  alcohol  the  sugar,  oi'  saccharine  matter  of 
the  liquid  used;  the  second  changes  into  acetic 
acid  the  alcohol  produced.  The  germs  that 
cause  alcoholic  fermentation  exist  around  ripe 
fruits,  and,  to  some  extent,  in  honey,  and  devel- 
op best  at  a  temperature  of  about  7.5  to  80  de- 
grees. The  second  fermentation,  which  develops 
acetic  acid,  finds  its  germs  in  the  atmosphere, 
and  may  take  place  almost  immediately  after 
the  other  has  begun,  and  long  before  the  sac- 
charine matter  has  been  all  transformed  into 
alcohol,  so  that  the,  mixture  may  be  sweet, 
alcoholic,  and  sour,  at  the  same  time.  It  looks 
rather  contradictory  to  say  that  a  liquid  is 
sweet  and  sour;  but  that  is  often  a  fact,  never- 
theless. The  more  prompt  and  thorough  the 
alcoholic  fermentation,  the  more  readily  will 
the  liquid  be  transformed  into  vinegar  when  the 
acetic  fermentation  begins. 

Honey  does  not  contain  the  germs  of  fermen- 
tation in  sufficient  quantity  to  make  a  thorough 
alcoholic  fermentation:  and  when  mixed  with 
water  and  left  to  itself  it  will  recjuire  several 
months  to  convert  the  mixture  into  an  alcoholic 
beverage,  and  several  months  more  to  change  it 
to  vi  negar. 

If  we  are  not  in  a  hurry,  we  may  succeed  in 
making  good  vinegar  by  filling  a  barrel  half 
full  of  water,  adding  2  lbs.  of  honey  to  the  gal- 
lon of  water,  and  a  few  gallons  of  fermented  or 
unfermented  cider,  keeping  it  in  a  warm  place, 
and  covering  the  bunghole  with  wire  cloth  or 
with  a  piece  of  thin  cloth,  which  may  keep  out 
insects  and  dust.  Ky  this  method  half  a  bairel 
of  honey-water  may  be  changed  into  good  vin- 
egar in  two  to  six  months,  according  to  the 
temperature. 

As  we  sell  vinegar  to  our  neighbors,  but  do 
not  care  otherwise  to  keep  it  for  sale,  we  have 
been  in  the  habit  of  keeping  two  barrels  for 
vinegar.  One  contains  the  oldest  vinegar,  from 
which  we  draw  for  use;  the  other  contains  the 
souring  liquid.  As  we  are  growers  of  grapes, 
and  make  wine,  we  are  in  the  habit  of  ferment- 
ing a  certain  amount  of  honey-water  in  our 
wine-cellar,  and  this  is  used  only  when  it  has 
already  undergone  the  alcoholic  fermentation, 
and  sometimes  with  the  addition  of  a  little 
wine,  which  gives  it  color,  and  adds  to  the  good 
taste  of  the  vinegar.  This  mixture  is  kept  in 
the  second  barrel,  both  barrels  never  being 
more  than  half  full;  and  as  fast  as  we  take 


vinegar  from  the  first  we  add  to  it  an  equal 
quantity  from  the  other. 

When  honey-water  has  been  made  in  such  a 
way  as  to  make  it  impossible  to  weigh  the  hon- 
ey— for  instance,  by  washing  cappings  or  honey- 
utensils,  barrels,  cans,  etc.,  we  test  its  strength 
with  a  fresh  egg,  which  should  float,  just  show- 
ing itS(^lf  at  the  surface. 

The  best  method  to  induce  a  prompt  and 
thorough  alcoholic  fermentation  in  honey- 
w'ater  is  to  mix  it  with  a  large  quantity,  the 
more  the  better,  of  crushed  fruit,  such  as  cher- 
ries, berries,  grapes,  apple  pumice,  or  even  with 
the  pumiceof  grapes,  commonly  called  "cheese," 
just  after  the  fermentation  of  the  grapes.  The 
more  fruits  are  used,  the  more  thorough  the 
fermentation.  The  mixture  should  be  kept  at 
a  high  temperature  in  vats  or  open  barrels  cov- 
ered only  with  muslin  or  some  light  cloth,  and 
the  vessels  should  be  filled  only  about  two- 
thirds,  so  as  to  avoid  loss,  as  the  mixture  rises 
like  bread,  during  fermentaton.  As  soon  as  the 
turbulent  fermentation  is  over,  the  liquid 
should  be  drawn  into  barrels.  This  is  usually 
after  a  week  or  so.  if  the  temperature  is  right. 
The  barrels  should  not  be  filled  more  than  half 
full,  as  the  liquid  must  be  exposed  to  the  air  as 
much  as  possible,  in  order  to  hasten  the  acetic 
fermentation  which  is  fed  from  the  atmosphere, 
as  said  before.  The  addition  of  a  gallon  or  two 
of  strong  vinegar  will  induce  a  more  prompt 
acetic  fermentation.  Good  authorities  also  rec- 
ommend the  use  of  vinc^gar  mother — a  slick, 
slimy  substance  found  in  vinegar,  and  which  is 
said  to  be  decomposed  vinegar.  This  vinegar 
mother  is  taken  from  an  old  vinegar-barrel, 
washed  clean,  cut  into  pieces,  and  these  are 
added  to  barrels  of  forming  vinegar. 

After  the  vinegar  has  undergone  the  main 
acetic  fermentation,  if  it  becomes  necessary  to 
transport  it  or  to  put  it  into  closed  barrels,  it 
should  be  racked,  or  drawn  from  its  lees.  If 
cloudy,  it  can  be  made  clear  by  putting  in  each 
barrel  the  white  of  an  egg,  and  stirring  it  with 
a  stick.  It  will  not  become  entirely  clear  until 
the  last  fermentation  is  nearly  all  over. 

Honey  vinegar  is  far  superior  to  the  best  cider 
vinegar,  and  can  compete  successfully  with  the 
very  best  wine  vinegar. 

There  are  only  two  drawbacks  to  the  making 
of  vinegar.  It  takes  a  great  deal  of  room,  and 
it  spoils  all  the  barrels  that  are  used.  The  acid 
eats  up  the  iron  hoops  wherever  it  happens  to 
leak,  and  the  wood  is  often  bored  full  of  holes 
by  worms,  when  not  in  use. 

There  is  a  quicker  method  of  making  vinegar 
on  a  large  scale,  but  this  requires  a  special 
building  and  apparatus.  We  will  give  it  to 
your  readers,  however,  if  desired.  In  making 
vinegar  as  above  described,  any  ordinary  shed, 
such  as  is  used  for  a  cider-press,  will  do.  if  used 
during  warm  weather;  and  to  keep  the  vinegar, 
any  ordinary  cellar  is  suitable;  but,  as  we  said 
before,  a  temperature  of  about  80  degrees  will 
best  aid  the  making  of  vinegar. 

Hamilton,  111.,  Apr.  1.  Dadant  &  Son. 


EUGENE  SECOR 


AS     A     BEE-KEEPER,     BUSINESS     MAN,     OFFICE- 
HOLDER,  AND   POET. 


The  convention  of  the  North  American  Asso- 
ciation to  meet  in  the  city  of  Washington,  in 
the  year  1893,  is  to  be  presided  over  by  the  Hon. 
Eugene  Secor.  of  Forest  City.  Iowa.  The  an- 
cestors of  the  Secor  family,  refugees  from  the 
religious  persecutions  of  the  Hugenots,  came 
from  France  in  1681,  settling  in  New  Rochelle, 
N.  Y.  In  1841  Eugene  was  born  in  Putnam  Co., 
N.  Y..  and  it  was  his  good  fortune   to  be  kept 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


317 


tlicrc  (111  11  faiiu  until  lie  aiiaincd  liis  niajoi'ity. 
in  ISCC  he  went  to  Iowa.  cMtciin^j  ("onicll  Vo\- 
Icjic  at  Mt.  N't'inon.  .A  lirotlu'r.  who  was  coiiiily 
trt'iisiiriT  ami  rcoonicr.  as  well  as  postiiiastiT. 
onlistcil  to  hold  up  his  I'ountiy's  tlan.  and 
P^ngtMH'  at)aiult)ni'(l  his  collciic  i-oiirsc  to  tal<t' 
charfifof  his  brotlior's  hiisincss.  thus  ofciiiiyiiifj 
two  yoafs.  Mad  his  health  been  moi'c  rohiist. 
he  probably  would  liavc  l)orne  his  brother  com- 
pany in  the  army. 

Asked  w  hat  his  business  is.  aside  from  bee- 
keeiiinp:.  Mr.  Secor  replies.  "When  the  bees  are 
not  swarming,  and  no  piiblio  duty  calls  me,  I 
•recreate"  by  running  a  real-(^state  and  abstract 
office  in  tin  daytime,  aiul  w  liting  for  the  papers 
at  night."  Let  me  scln'diile  the  public  (it'tices 
which  he  lias  tilled  for  the  past  •.•.')  years,  and  it 
will  not  be  hard  to  see  that  hardly  more  time 
could  be  allowed  for  the  real-estate  and  abstract 
business  than  to  make  it  a  "  recreation." 

In  IStW  lie  was  elected  clerk  of  the  District 
Court.  Winnebago.  la.,  and  was  twice  re-elected. 
serving  six  years,  having  been  deputy  a  year 
previous.  In  IST.i,  elected  county  auditor:  re- 
elected in  1877,  making  four  years"  service.  In 
1S78.  elected  mayor  of  Forest  City,  where  hi; 
still  lives:  and  at  the  expiration  of  four  terms 
as  mayor  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  city 
council,  which  position  he  still  holds. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  became  a  member 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  where  his  services  have 
been  in  demand.  He  has  officiated  as  leader  of 
the  choir,  is  one  of  the  church  trustees,  is  also 
steward,  and  was  elected  by  the  "conference "' 
of  the  church  one  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
Cornell  college,  to  which  position  he  has  been 
re-elected  to  serve  a  second  term  of  three  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of 
that  board.  He  has  reached  the  highest  posi- 
tion to  which  a  layman  can  attain  in  the  M.  E. 
Church,  being  elected  a  lay  delegate  to  the  Gen- 
eral Conference.  Nor  are  his  religious  works 
strictly  confined  to  his  own  church,  for  he  is 
president  of  the  County  Bible  Society. 

He  has  borne  his  share  of  the  burden  of  edu- 
cational matters  in  his  own  city,  by  acting  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  aud  being  president 
thereof. 

In  spite  of  his  special  interest  in  apiculture 
he  has  a  leading  hand  in  agricultural  matters. 
having  organized  the  agricultural  society  of  his 
county  (Winnebago),  of  which  society  he  was 
president  for  two  years,  and  in  1888  he  was 
elected  by  the  State  legislature  one  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  State  Agricultural  College,  to 
serve  a  term  of  six  years.  He  is  chairman  of 
the  executive  and  finance  committee  in  said 
board. 

The  State  Horticultural  Society  has  shown 
its  appreciation  of  his  services  by  re-electing 
him  as  president  of  that  society  and  giving  liitn 
charge  of  one  of  its  experimetit  stations.  The 
State  Bee-keeyx'rs'  Society  elected  him  presi- 
dent in  18SI1  and  1892. 

However  busy  he  may  be  at  other  things,  he 
will  have  to  find  time  in  June  to  go  to  Minne- 
apolis as  one  of  the  two  delegates  from  the  10th 
District  to  the  National  Republican  Conven- 
tion, to  help  nominate  a  candidate  for  president 
of  the  United  States. 

Bee-keepers  are  more  or  less  familiar  with 
his  business-like  style  in  apicultural  writing. 
and  he  has  been  a  somewhat  irregular  contrib- 
utor of  prose  and  poetry  to  the  faiid  Hnmestedd, 
Housekeeper.  T'.  S.  Ddinjindu.  to  all  the  bee- 
journals,  to  horticultural  papi-rs.  local  papers, 
etc.  He  was  apicultural  editor  of  the  Ioumi 
Homestead,  and  now  he  holds  the  same  position 
on  the  Farmer  (I ml  Breeder. 

As  a  writer  of  verse,  it  is  to  be  regretted  that 
he  sometimes  shows  a  reckless  disregard  for  the 
laws  of  grammar  and  versification;    but  the 


true  spiritof  poetry  is  in  him,  and  bee-keepers 
may  well  lie  proud  of  him  as  theii-  poet-laureate, 
liuirrd  wipe  out  of  cxisli'hCe  the  l)ee- keepers' 
S(iii;,'s  wilticn  liy  lOiigciic  .Sei-oi-.  and  there  is  lit- 
tle left  worth  their  singing.  The  gi'cat  trouble 
is.  that  he  writes  only  as  the  spirit  moves  him, 
and  the  "moving  ■"  seldom  counts.  A  year  or  so 
ago  he  sent  me  a  single  stanza  of  a  be.(!-keepers' 
song  (urged  to  the  writing.  I  think,  by  I)r.  Ma- 
son), asking  me  if  I  thought  it  would  do.  Of 
course  it  would  do.  and  I  advised  its  comi)letion. 
That"s  th((  last  I  evei-  heard  of  it.  It  may  never 
get  further  than  the  first  stanza,  and  it  may  be 
compl(>ted.     If  it  is,  it  will  be  a  good  song. 

Most  of  the  readers  of  these  pages  an^  more 
or  less  familiar  with  the  poetic  writings  of  Mr. 
Secor.  and  he  has  been  especially  happv  in  his 
dialect  songs.  Take  that  one  in  which  the 
good-natured  Crerman  has  been  hearing  the  big 


KUGENE   SECOR. 

Stories  of  what  bees  will  do  with  little  or  no 
care.  He  gets  a  colony  of  bees,  and  then  sings, 
care- free,— 

Oil,  1  isli  voti  of  dose  happy  bee  mans, 

I  don't  {rot  to  vork  any  more; 
I  loafs  all  day  on  der  apple-tree  shade, 

Or  shniokes  mine  pipe  on  der  door. 

More  or  less  of  this  vein  of  humor  seems  ready 
to  bubble  up  at  all  times  in  his  writings.  Even 
the  tortures  of  la  grippe  have  for  him  a  funny 
side,  and  he  writes, — 

T  don't  feel  well.    I  can  not  sleep. 
The  chills  aloiiK  my  backlioiie  creep. 
I'm  tired  and  nervous.    I  go  liorae 
And  call  the  doctor,  wlio,  when  come. 
Says,  "  Grippe." 

Then  afl<'r  describing  how  himself  and  all  the 
neighbors  are  affected  in  all  parts  of  their  in- 
ternal economy  by  microbes  or  bacteria,  he  thus 
earnestly  apostrophizes: 


318 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


Ye  microscopic  sinners,  ^o 
Wliere  ye  belong— that  is,  below. 
Haunt  us  no  more  foi-erer,  please, 
Tliou  Russian,  Frenchified  disease. 
La  Grippe. 

After  all,  I  like  best  the  poems  which  show 
his  tender  side.  I  think  the  right  kind  of  a 
heart  never  grows  old,  and  Eugene  Secor's  heart 
seems  to  be  of  that  sort.  The  poem,  "A  Love 
Letter,"  finely  shows  this  tender  side,  with  a 
quaint  touch  of  the  humorous.  No  proper  idea 
can  be  had  from  any  short  quotation;  but  after 
a  description  of  his  anxiety  to  meet  again  his 
loved  one.  that  involuntarily  pictures  to  your 
mind  the  ardent  young  lover,  he  ends  up: 

For  love  is  in  the  present  tense,  no  future  doubts  can 

chill; 
Besides,  the  one  who  longs  for  me,  'twixt  anxious 

hopes  and  fears, 
Has  bef  n  my  wife  and  true  love,  lo!  these  five  and 

twenty  years. 

While  you  smile  at  the  neat  little  trick  that 
has  been  played  upon  you,  on  discovering  that 
it  is  a  grandfather,  and  not  a  youth,  who  is 
talking,  the  whole  effect  is  such  that  tears  are 
very  near  the  surface. 

If  room  permitted.  "My  Sweetheart"  (his 
sweetheart  was  the  baby),  "Papa,  Come  Home," 
and  others,  might  be  mentioned.  But  I  can 
not  forbear  the  mention  of  just  one  more, 
'"Father,  Hold  my  Hand."  After  picturing  a 
little  one  tucked  in  for  the  night,  with  her 
many  odd  questionings,  finally  ending  with  the 
request, '"  Papa,  will  you  please  hold  my  hand?" 
the  poem  ends: 

When  I  lay  me  down  for  that  last  long  sleep. 
And  bid  all  mj^  loved  ones  good-night, 

Shall  I  my  sweet  faith  in  the  Fatlier  still  keep. 
And  trust  liim  to  bring  me  to  light  ? 

Shall  I  rest  my  liand  in  my  dear  Savior's  own. 
And  all  my  vain  questionings  cease? 

Or  shall  I  go  out  in  tlie  silence  alone, 
When  deatli  doth  my  spirit  release  ? 

But  to  the  last  question  I  am  sure  the  poet 
would  make  answer: 

Ah,  no!  I  shall  not  go  in  silence  alone. 

Spare  in  form,  somewhat  above  medium 
height,  iron-gray  hair  and  beard,  Mr.  Secor's 
whole  appearance  impresses  you  as  belonging 
to  a  man  of  force;  but  in  another  respect  the 
face  belies  the  man,  for  it  gives  the  impression 
of  inflexible  sternness,  with  no  hint  of  the 
genial,  kindly  nature  that  lies  back  of  it.  Mod- 
est and  quiet  in  demeanor,  you  might  be  with 
him  for  some  time  without  finding  out  what  he 
was. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Secor  seem  proud  of  their  two 
daughters  and  two  sons;  but  the  latter,  al- 
though men  grown,  have  been  so  sadly  neglect 
ed  in  the  matter  of  accomplishments  that  nei- 
ther of  them  smokes  cigarettes  nor  belongs  to  a 
base- ball  team. 

A  bee-keeper  of  twenty  years'  experience,  Mr. 
Secor's  many  other  duties  forbid  his  going  be- 
yond the  number  of  about  7.5  colonies,  and  these 
he  has  mostly  in  eight-frame  Langstroth  hives. 

Marengo,  111.  C.  C.  Miller. 


AUTOMATIC  SWARMERS,  AGAIN. 

pkatt's  veky  late.st. 

Bro.  Root: — I  send  you  by  this  mail  a  model 
of  another  application  of  the  swarmer.  The 
sketch  above  will  illustrate  how  it  is  applied  to 
any  loose-bottom  hive.  No.  1  is  the  hive  con- 
taining the  colony  expected  to  swarm.  No.  3 
is  an  empty  super  or  honey-case  set  on  a  rim  of 
any  width,  which  is  shown  at  A.  This  rim  has 
one  of  its  ends  removed,  and  a  piece  of  exclud- 


ing zinc  covers  the  opening  and  forms  a  very 
widf^,  light  entrance. 

The  super  and  rim  rest  on  the  bottom-board 
exactly  as  a  hive-body  would;  and  the  board 
having  the  triangle  bee-escape  is  placed  (zinc 
down)  on  the  super — just  as  you  would  apply  a 
bee-escape  board  to  any  hive.  The  apex  to  the 
escape  should  point  to  the  front  of  the  hive 
toward  the  entrance.  Over  all  is  at  last  placed 
the  colony  expected  to  swarm.  When  they  do 
swarm,  the  queen  will  be  trapped  in  the  lower 
apartment,  and  the  returning  swarm  will  join 
her  there,  after  missing  their  queen.  ^--^-"^ 

This  arrangement  does  away  with  the  extra 
hive  and  stand,  and  is  nearly  as  cheap.  The 
only  drawback  to  it  is,  that  it  can  not  be  applied 
to  a  tight-bottom  hive;  but  perhaps  the  men 
using  these  hives  would  be  willing  to  cut  two 


pratt's  latest  automatic  swarmer. 

or  three  auger-holes  in  the  bottom-board  of 
them  for  the  sake  of  checking  swarming,  or 
they  could  shift  the  combs  up  into  the  upper 
story  and  use  the  old  hive  to  catch  the  swarm 
in.  A  zinc  honey-board,  first  placed  on  the 
bottom-board,  and  the  super  to  catch  the 
swarm  placed  over  this,  will  answer  the  same 
purpose  as  the  rim  with  one  end  covered  witli 
zinc  as  shown  at  A,  but  there  would  not  be 
depth  enough  to  hang  in  frames  for  the  bees  to 
work  on. 

If  one  has  a  surplus  of  hive-bodies  they  can 
be  used  to  catch  the  swarm  in,  and  the  zinc 
honey-boards  will  work  in  well  for  them. 

My  patent  lies  in  trapping  the  queen  in  a  new 
hive  and  causing  the  swarm  to  join  her  by  the 
entrance  they  have  become  used  to  working 
through  many  days  before  the  swarm  issues. 

Beverly,  Mass.  E.  L.  Pratt. 

[We  believe  that  the  swarmer  above  illus- 
trated is  considerable  of  an  improvement  over 
the  one  formerly  presented  to  our  readers  by 
Mr.  Pratt,  good  as  it  was.  The  feature  of  the 
latest  one  is.  that  both  hives  are  supported  by 
the  same  bottom-board,  and  this  makes  it  un- 
necessary to  level  up  an  extra  bottom-board  in 
direct  line  with  the  other.  The  plan  seems  to 
be  specially  adapted  to  the  Dovetailed  hive.  It 
is  well  known,  that  two  of  its  supers  make  an 
equivalent  to  one  body,  and  that  the  same  can 
be  used  for  holding  the  ordinary  brood-frames. 
All  we  need,  then,  is  a  perforated  escape-board 
situated  between  Nos.  1  and  2  as  above,  and  an 
extra  super  with  one  end  open,  covered  with 
perforated  zinc.  While  we  have  not  tested 
either  one  of  Mr.  Pratt's  devices,  from  a  theo- 


1892 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURK. 


310 


rptical  point  wo  h<>lii'v»>  tlu-y  possess  featuros 
not  foiiiul  in  aiiv  otlirr.l 


ARE  THE  BEES  OF  ITALY  YELLOW-BANDED  1 


IX    WHAT     I'AKT    OF    ITALY     TIIK    \KI.I,OW    HEES 
Ai:i;    KOIXD    IX    THEIK    I'UKITY. 

Following  a  statoincnl  of  a  cori'espoiidciit, 
that  lit' had  hi^cn  from  oiKM'iid  of  Italy  to  the 
othtT  and  failed  to  tiiid  any  yellow-banded  bees, 
yon  seem  to  have  questioned  his  veracity, 
with  a  fesult  tliat  a  controversy  has  sprung 
up.  Now,  as  a  matter  of  fact  there  are  very 
few  yellow-banded  bees  in  the  country  known 
as  "Italy."  and.  what  is  more,  there  is  no 
mountain  or  other  barrier  to  keep  them  from 
mixini:  with  black  bees;  consequently  they 
••  shade  otT"  to  lilacks. 

If  yon  have  a  copy  of  Frank  Benton's  "  Bees  " 
[if  you  have  not  acopy  you  will  tind  a  reprint 
in  the  BritusJi  Bee  Jmirnal.  on  page  81,  for 
March  1.  188.t]  you  will  see  that  in  it  he  says: 
•'  A  few  years  ago  there  was  quite  a  discussion 
in  the  American  bee-publications  as  to  whether 
black  bees  existed  in  Italy  or  not.  and  very  like- 
ly many  are  not  yet  clearly  informed  in  regard 
lb  this  point.  An  e.xamination,  however,  of 
back  volumes  of  the  leading  Italian  bee-journal, 
L'Apk-nltore  (Milan),  would  .set  this  point  at 
rest  in  the  minds  of  all.  for  plenty  of  Italian 
writers  on  bee  culture  have  stated  that  very 
dark  bees,  not  possessing  the  three  yellow  bands, 
exist  in  various  parts  of  the  peninsula  and  on 
the  adjoining  islands.  In  that  portion  of  the 
centraT  plain  having  as  its  northern  limit  Ber- 
gamo, its  eastern  limit  Nerana  and  Mantua, 
the  Apennines  on  the  south,  and  on  the  west 
Milan,  we  find  Italians  in  their  purity;  also  be- 
low the  Apennines  between  Genoa  and  Rome. 
Outside  these  regions  they  shade  off  into  hy- 
brids." 

Native  black  bees  also  exist  in  Liguria:  so 
you  will  see.  by  reference  to  a  map  of  Italy, 
that  you  can  travel  from  the  extreme  hmglh  of 
that  country  without  meeting  with  native  yel- 
low-banded bees:  therefore  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  word  "Italian"  is  clearly  not  the  name 
they  ought  to  have  been  known  by,  and  is  suf- 
ficient, to  explain  why  I  prefer  to  call  the  new 
race  I  am  getting  from  Tunis  "Funics,"  instead 
of  Tunisians. 

The  Romans  learned  agriculture  from  the 
I'o'uians.  and  it  is  highly  probable  that  they 
introduced  the  bees  cultivated  by  the  Fcenians, 
becau.se  the  black  bees  of  Italy  more  closely  re- 
semble the  Funics  than  the  German  race:  but 
where  did  the  yellow-banded  race  come  from? 
I  am  satisfied  they  did  not  originate  on  Italian 
soil.  Frobably  the  Romans,  struck  with  a  dif- 
ference in  color,  imported  some  yellow  bees; 
and  these,  being  put  in  one  district,  and  multi- 
plied, have  maintained  their  yellow  blood  be- 
cause it  preponderated  in  quantity:  therefore 
all  yellow-banded  Italians  are  imbued  with 
black  blood,  probably  Funic,  or.  at  least,  a  dash 
of  it.  which  has  caused  ihem  to  be  likr-d. 

One  reason  why  I  think  this  is  so  is  because 
preference  is  always  given  to  dark  or  leather- 
colored  bees,  for  gentleness  and  working  quali- 
ties—these dark  bees,  of  necessity,  having 
most  black  blood  in  them:  hence,  if  this  dark 
blood  is  so  valuable  it  is  nothing  but  logic  to  go 
to  the  fountainhead  and  get  it  in  its  purity  in 
the  shape  of  Funics,  and  let  the  yellow  bands 
slide  by;  for  no  known  pure  yellow  race  has 
turned"  out  quite  satisfactorily.  Where  the 
Italian  yellow  bands  came  from  I  know  not — 
probably  the  original  race,  which  is  most  likely 
— has  had  some  other  race  of  bees  fused  with 


them,  and  nuiy  l)r  now  known  as  Cyprians  or 
Syrians. 

I    think   the   b world  ought  to  find  a  nice 

slioit  name  for  ycllow-baiiih-d  Ix'cs  from  Italy. 
The  liest of  them  canic  fiom  S\vit/,ci-land.  Why 
not  give  them  the  lOnglish  nanu-.  "  Ligurians  "? 
It  was  used  here  bi^fore  they  reached  America. 
It  may  not  be  correct;  but  it  can  be  understood 
to  mean  only  yellow-banded  Italian  bees. 

CAN   rUNIC    QUEENS    BE    SOLD   AS  CHEAPLY   A.S 
ITALIANS? 

Judging  by  th(>  letters  at  hand  from  readers 
of  GLEANiN(is  who  have  addressed  their  letters, 
as  per  my  noin  de  plume,  many  want  to  try  the 
Funics,  btit  they  say  the  price  is  too  high  in 
America,  and  seem  to  think  they  can  get  thera 
cheaper  In're.  Of  counsi!.  I  am  pleased  to  hear 
from  any  one  who  wants  to  give  Funics  a  trial; 
but  I  don't  want  them  to  run  away  with  the 
idea  that  queens  can  be  reared  in  England  as 
cheaply  as  they  can  in  America.  In  the  first 
place,  the  climate  is  against  us  for  the  work. 
But  in  rearing  Funics  there  is  another  difficulty 
to  contend  with,  to  get  pure  mating — and  all 
ask  for  price  of  tested  queens — viz.,  that,  if  any 
strange  drones  are  on  the  wing  within  six  miles 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  get  pure  mating,  no 
matter  how  many  drones  one  may  have  flying. 
I  cautioned  friend  Fratt  about  this  at  first,  and 
he  subsequently  found  it  out,  that,  no  matter 
how  easy  it  might  be  to  mate  Italians  and  Car- 
niolans  true,  it  was  no  easy  matter  with  Funics 
until  drones  were  generally  killed  off,  and  then 
mating  to  pn^served  drones. 

There  are  three  plans  I  am  following,  be- 
sides requeening  all  my  neighbors'  stocks  all 
around  with  pure  Funics;  viz.,  to  raise  queens 
early,  before  other  drones  get  on  the  wing: 
do  it  late,  after  drones  are  killed  off,  and 
between  these  to  resort  to  the  Mohler  sys- 
tem; in  fact,  the  latter  will  be  used  the 
whole  season  through,  so  that  my  untested 
queens  will  have  a  fair  chance  to  be  all  purely 
mated;  but  all  this  means  trouble  and  expense, 
which,  of  course,  has  to  be  paid  for. 

lam  also  arranging  for  the  exclusive  use  of 
an  island  in  the  Atlantic,  and  expect  to  obtain 
good  results  in  the  way  of  sending  hand-picked 
drones,  to  mate  with  sehn'ted  queens;  thus  if  I 
can't  secure  individual  mating  I  shall  at  least 
get  it  to  one  out  of  a  selectt'd  number.  What  I 
am  aiming  at  is  to  supply  queen-breeders  with 
true  breeding  queens,  and  not  to  supply  every 
one  with  a  cheap  queen;  i.  e.,  try  to  undersell 
American  breeders  who  have  every  thing  in 
their  favor.     A  Hallamshike  Bee-Keepek. 

Sheffield,  England. 

[We  find,  by  looking  at  the  map,  that  our 
Italians,  and.  in  fact,  about  all  the  Italians 
that  have  been  imported  into  this  country, 
have  come  from  the  region  described  by  Mr. 
Benton  as  having  nothing  but  pure  Italians. 
It  is  of  but  little  importance  to  us  whether 
there  are  any  black  or  hybrid  bees  in  certain 
parts  of  the  peninsula  or  not:  but  it  is  a  fact, 
nevertheless,  that  all  the  Italians  we  have  re- 
ceived since  we  have  been  in  business  have 
been  nearly  uniform  in  color,  markings,  and 
general  characteristics.  It  is  very  possible,  as 
you  hint,  that  the  Funics  may  be  closely  relat- 
ed to  the  dark  Italians.  We  have  Funic  queens 
in  our  apiary  now,  and  we  shall  take  pleasure 
in  watching  them  very  narrowly  this  summer. 
We  doubt,  however,  whether  we  shall  be  able, 
or,  rather,  whether  it  would  be  advisable  to  at- 
tempt to  rai.se  dark  bees  in  our  locality,  since  it 
is  so  thoroughly  Italianized — that  is,  permeated 
with  yellow  blood.  As  the  Funics  look  so  much 
like  black  bees— that  is.  to  the  average  bee- 
keeper— it  will  be  very  difficult  to  tell  when  we 


330 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


have  pure  stock,  on  account  of  the  general 
prevalence  of  the  German  bees  thioughout  the 
United  States.] 


BAMBLE  NO.  58. 


IN    THE   SAGE   BRUSH. 

The  Hotel  Temescal  is  the  center  around 
which  South  Riverside  revolves.  The  South 
Riverside  Land  and  Water  Company  have  de- 
veloped a  water  supply  from  canyon  and  from 
artesian  wells,  and  propose  to  make  a  city  equal 
to  famous  Riverside,  fifteen  miles  to  the  north. 
South  Riverside  has  a  population  of  about  800, 
is  rapidly  growing,  and  so  are  the  hundreds  of 
acres  of  young  orange  and  lemon  trees;  and  in 
time  the  town  will  amount  to  something. 

I  inquired  of  mine  host  whether  he  knew 
where  Mr.  Edward  Bonfoey  lived;  and  in  the 
morning  he  conducted  me  to  the  west  end  of  the 
hotel  veranda,  and,  pointing  across  the  mesa  to 
the  Santa  Ana  Mountains,  said  he.  "Mr.  Bon- 
foey lives  in  that  white  house  on  that  plateau 
away  up  on  the  side  of  the  mountain.'' 

"Well,"  said  I,  "Mr.  B.  roosts  in  an  elevated 
position.  I  should  say  that  I  have  a  two-mile 
walk  to  get  there." 

"Yes;  and  when  you  walk  it  you  will  find  it 
over  four  miles.  The  atmosphere  is  so  clear  in 
this  country  that  objects  many  miles  away  ap- 
pear not  half  the  distance  they  really  are.  A 
mountain  twenty  miles  away  appears  really  to 
be  only  ten." 

I  soon  started  for  Mr.  B.'s  by  rapidly  putting 
one  foot  before  the  other  across  the  mesa. 

Another  beauty  of  this  new  country  is  its 
fenceless  condition.  There  are  no  little  stifled 
two-acre  lots  hegded  in  by  stone  walls,  rail 
fences,  and  hedge-rows  of  elders  and  briers: 
but  the  pedestrian  can  strike  across  the  country 
in  a  bee-line  for  the  object  to  be  attained,  and 
find  but  few  obstructions  to  his  onward  march. 
After  an  invigorating  walk  of  about  an  hour 
the  foot  of  the  mountain  was  attained.  A  sharp 
climb  of  about  half  a  mile  up  a  graded  zigzag 
road  put  me  on  the  plateau  and  at  the  residence 
of  my  friends  with  whom  I  had  become  ac- 
quainted at  the  convention  in  Los  Angeles.  I 
was  greeted  by  two  not  very  ferocious  dogs  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bonfoey.  The  residence  of  our 
friends  is  like  thousands  of  such  houses  in  Cali- 
fornia where  the  family  has  started  a  home  and 
is  improving  the  wild  surroundings  to  make  it 
some  time  in  the  future  a  place  of  beauty  and 
value.  The  house  is  a  simple  one-story  cottage, 
with  front  and  rear  room  with  canvas  partition, 
and  a  lean-to  for  a  kitchen.  The  visitor  needs 
a  little  caution  about  leaning  back  against  the 
walls.  An  inadvertent  leaning  against  the  can- 
vas would  result  in  the  catastrophe  of  suddenly 
going  into  the  next  room  unannounced.  The 
houses  here  are  not  built  for  warmth,  but  mere- 
ly for  a  place  to  gather  to  at  meal  time  and  at 
night,  and  the  Rambler  has  seen  scores  of  houses 
in  the  erabi-yo  form  of  a  tent,  and  others  with  a 
light  frame  covered  with  cotton  cloth. 

We  soon  visited  the  apiary,  and  were  met 
several  rods  away  by  several  skirmishers.  They 
followed  us  in,  and,  with  their  reinforcements, 
obliged  us  to  resort  to  veils  and  smoke.  Mr. 
Bonfoey  and  wife  have  a  joint  apiary  of  about 
260  colonies. 

There  is  a  little  spice  of  romance  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  this  apiary.  Mr.  B..  a  young  man, 
had  a  small  apiary,  so  also  had  a  young  lady 
schoolteacher  some  bees.  They  put  them  to- 
gether and  ran  them  for  a  season.  But  it  hap- 
pened after  a  while  that  the  young  man,  every 
time  he  tasted  honey,  would  think  how  sweet 
that  schoolteacher  looked  with  that  gypsy  hat 


on;  and  the  teacher,  every  time  a  bee  passed  by 
her,  imagined  it  to  be  a  Cupid.  Such  a  condi- 
tion of  things  naturally  led  to  the  calling-in  of 
the  parson,  arid,  noiv  thdt  (ipkiry  is  just  hoom- 
ing.  The  apiary  is  very  nicely  located  on  a 
little  plateau  down  the  mountain  from  the  resi- 
dence. It  has  the  usual  California  honey-house. 
a  building  about  10x12.  a  honey-tank,  and  a 
large  sun  extractor.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  manage 


THE    BONFOEYS'   APIAKV   IN    CALIFORNIA. 

their  apiary  for  comb  honey,  and  put  upon  the 
market  a  gilt-edged  article.  Their  yield  dur- 
ing the  past  season  was  light;  but  the  bees  were 
in  good  shape  for  another  year.  At  the  time  of 
our  visit,  about  Nov.  1.  they  were  flying  very 
lively,  but  getting  no  honey."  October  and  No- 
vember are  the  dryest  months  of  the  year;  the 
long  dry  season  is  near  its  end,  and  rains  are 
soon  expected,  to  replenish  the  earth  again. 

This  apiary  is  in  the  genuine  sage  district; 
and  to  my  inexperienced  eyes  the  pasturage 
seemed  to  be  unlimited.  The  flowers  that  yield 
honey  here  are,  first,  in  March,  alHlaree.  moun- 
tain mahogany,  lilac,  and  manzanita;  in  April 
and  May.  balled  sage  and  white  sage;  and,  a 
little  later,  sumac  and  wild  buckwheat.  It 
would  be  impossible  to  adequately  describe  the 
acreage  of  these  plants.  The  apiary  is  at  the 
entrance  to  the  Hagadorn  canyon.  Let  us 
ramble  for  a  mile  into  its  winding  way  and  be- 
hold nature's  handiwork.  The  entrance  is  quite 


"  WHEN   THE   EXTRACTOR  DIDN'T   '  GIVE   DOWN  ' 
IT  WAS   KICKED  ALL  OVER  THE  APIARY." 

broad;  and  out  of  it,  and  extending  far  across 
the  mesa,  is  the  dry  bed  of  a  creek  (dry  now, 
but  a  torrent  in  the  rainy  season),  and  called 
the  iros?i ;  and  wherever  you  find  it  there  is  an 


1893 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


321 


abiiniiaiu'iMtf  lioncy-prodiioinp  i)l;ints  jKHMiliar 
to  it  Tlif  scinlilaiu'i'  of  a  loail  follows  tlic 
wasli.  MOW  ill  it  or  on  tiic  risiht  <>r  tlu'  left.  Tlic 
sides  of  tli(>  iiioiiiitain  soon  draw  closer,  and  rise 
in  many  places  so  ste(>p  and  rocky  tliat  even 
vegetation  recoils  from  tliedi/.zy  lieijilits.  The 
further  we  penetrati*.  the  more  ohstrnctions  we 
meet  in  the  form  of  stones  and  a  scrnhhy  growtii 
of  bushes,  and  we  iiave  to  scramble  ami  wrijifil<' 
our  way  aloiis.  At  lenijtli  we  reach  an  old 
deserted  lime-kiln,  and  halt.  We  mijilit  pursue 
our  course  up  the  canyon  for  several  miles,  or 
until  the  summit  of  the  i-anjre  is  n»ached.  These 
uppei'  raiiii*'^  ;^i"e  unoccupied  l)ee-pasturas(>, 
and  will  be  for  a  long  time,  as  a  road  can  not  l)e 
maintained  in  the  canyon  without  great  ex- 
pense, on  account  of  the  annual  wash-outs  it 
receives.    Opposit^^  the  lime-kiln,  in   the  per- 


here,  but  it  was  als^i  jjreserved  liy  the  lime  and 
other  ingredients  held  in  solution  in  the  water, 
w  hicli  ill  a  short  lime  conifiletely  line  tlu;  pipe 
with  a  rocklike  sulistance. 

When  we  emerged  from  the  Hagadorn  we  en- 
tered another  smaller  canyon  and  found  the 
apiary  of  Mr.  I)e  Tee.  The  owner  lives  in  a 
very  romantic  place  in  the  mountains,  and  is 
surrounded  by  all  of  the  comforts  of  life.  The 
apiary  I  must,  however. say  was  in  a  dilapidat- 
ed condition.  The  hives  were  unpainted  and 
full  of  cracks,  and  were  leaning  at  various 
angles,  their  entrances  showing  unmistakable 
signs  that  skunks  were  doing  their  share  toward 
running  things.  The  honey-house  was  a  rough 
shed  with  the  door  awry,  and  roof-boards  off. 
The  general  wreck  and  ruin  of  the  place  was 
probably  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  apiary  was 


THK    RAMBLER    DREAMS. 


pendicular  face  of  the  rocky  mountain-side, 
was  a  genuine  California  bee-cave  with  a  small 
entrance,  and  of  unknown  depth.  The  bees 
were  streaming  out  and  in  as  though  there  were 
immen.se  numbers  within  their  safe  abode. 

About  every  two  hundred  yards  the  main 
canyon  was  entered  by  side  canyons  of  greater 
or  less  depth  and  length.  The  whole  mountain 
was  thus  cut  up  into  ranges  and  pi'aks,  and  the 
multiplied  surfaces  covered  with  sage  and  other 
honey-producing  plants.  There  is  no  timber 
on  these  mountains  except  a  few  scraggy  live- 
oaks,  and  thus  the  honey-plants  have  free 
range.  The  water  company's  pipes  for  obtain- 
ing water  are  laid  far  into  the  canyon,  and  I 
was  surprised  to  find  one  of  them  nothing  but 
common  stovepipe.  In  our  eastern  climate 
such  a  pipe  for  conveying  water  would  soon 
rust  out.    The  pipe  itself  would  last  a  long  time 


in  charge  of  a  helper  who  runs  things  on  the 
rare-and-tear  principle.  When  the  extractor 
didn't  give  down  properly,  it  was  kicked  all 
over  the  apiary.  The  hives  were  probably  not 
kicked  around  much,  but  the  little  oak-trees 
looked  as  though  thr>y  had  been  subjected  to  a 
hard  time.  Still,  this  apiary  produces  honey, 
and  any  quantity  of  absconding  swarms. 

Having  seen  aH  of  the  bees  in  the  vicinity, 
we  next  turned  our  attention  to  locating  a  min- 
ing claim.  Various  kinds  of  minerals  crop  out 
of  these  mountains;  and  Mr.  Bon foey,  seeing 
unmistakable  signs  of  something  having  the 
possibility  of  millions  in  it,  proceeded  to  lay 
claim  to  it.  He  tirst  stated  in  writing  his 
claim  in  full,  adding  his  signature,  to  which 
also  was  appended  the  Rambler's  name  as 
witness.  This  document  was  then  inclosed  in 
a  tight  tin  can.    We  then  built  a  monument  in 


332 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


thf  center  of  the  claim,  the  claim  extending  750 
feet  north  and  south,  and  300  feet  east  and  west 
from  the  monument.  We  first  stuck  up  a  scrag- 
gly  pole,  then  piled  a  large  number  of  stones 
around  it,  placing  the  tin  can  and  the  document 
near  the  top.  This  gave  fair  warning  to  every- 
body that  we  had  laid  claim  to  all  that  was 
valuable  on  that  piece  of  land,  all  the  way  down 
to  China.  The  Rambler  has  a  share  "in  the 
mine  for  lifting  some  of  those  big  stones,  and 
expects  at  no  distant  day  to  strike  it  rich. 

Thus  in  airy  castle-halls  of  gold  and  precious 
stones  dreams  the  Rambler. 


SPRAYING  FRUIT-TREES  WHILE   IN  BLOOM. 

SOMETHING    THAT    SETTLES    THE    MATTER. 


Mr.  Editor:— I  read  with  great  interest  the 
discussion  on  this  question,  which  occurred  at 
Albany,  and  was  very  glad  of  the  outcome  of 
that  discussion.  1  am  sure  that  bee-keepers 
owe  nothing  but  the  kindliest  feelings  to  Prof. 
J.  A.  Lintner.  He  is  one  of  our  most  able,  most 
candid,  and  most  cautious  entomologists.  He 
had  previously  believed  that  it  was  unwise  to 
spray  fruit-trees  while  in  blossom,  and  had  ad- 
vised that  no  one  do  so.  At  Washington,  it 
seems,  several  entomologists  expressed  the 
opinion  that  there  was  no  danger  to  bees  in 
such  early  spraying.  I  regret  that  official  du- 
ties as  secretary  of  Section  F  prevented  my 
being  present  at  the  discussion  of  the  entomo- 
logical club,  where  these  sentiments  were  ex- 
pressed, or  I  should  surely  have  corrected  them, 
and  should  have  shown  that  they  were  errone- 
ous, as  I  could  easily  have  done  from  careful 
experiments  which  we  have  made  here  at  this 
college.  Prof.  Lintner,  supposing  the  points 
made  to  be  well  grounded,  changed  his  opinion 
and  resolved  in  future  to  advise  spraying  at 
any  desirable  time,  without  reference  to  blos- 
soms or  bees.  But  before  acting,  he  came  befoi-e 
the  bee-keepers  and  expressed  his  convictions 
and  the  reasons  for  them.  Upon  hearing  the 
opinions  of  bee-keepers,  and  learning  of  their 
experience,  he  at  once  changed  his  decision,  and 
will  continue  as  before  to  advise  all  to  spray 
with  London  purple  or  Paris  green  only  after 
the  blossoms  have  all  fallen  from  the  trees. 
Surely  there  was  a  fairness  and  candor  about 
all  of  this  which  rightly  claims  our  respect  and 
admiration.  From  a  long  acquaintance  with 
Prof.  Lintner,  it  is  just  what  I  should  have  ex- 
pected. 

I  regret  that  I  could  not  write  you  earlier  re- 
garding our  experiments  in  this  matter,  which 
I  am  sure  settle  the  question  beyond  doubt; 
but  you  know  how  four  months'  absence  from 
home  fairly  swamps  a  man  with  work.  This, 
together  with  larger  classes  than  usual,  have 
given  me  no  time  till  now  to  consider  the  mat- 
ter and  write  you  the  facts. 

Mr.  Elwood's  article  shows  that  he,  one  of 
our  best-informed  apiarists,  as  well  as  Dr.  Lint- 
ner. feels  that  the  matter  is  in  an  unsettled 
state,  and  pleads  for  more  experiments  that  we 
may  know  the  exact  truth  in  relation  to  this 
important  matter. 

I  am  very  happy  to  give  you  in  advance  the 
experiments  which  we  have  made,  that  I  am 
sure  will  convince  all.  These  are  now  in  type, 
and  will  soon  appear  in  the  Report  of  the  Mich- 
igan State  Board  of  Agriculture,  so  there  is  no 
need  that  any  other  station  should  demonstrate 
these  facts,  except  that,  the  more  that  do  such 
work,  the  sooner  will  the  results  be  known  to 
the  people,  and  the  sooner  will  practical  results 
be  obtained. 

Let  me  premise  by  saying  that,  in  several 
cases  in  Michigan  and  other  States,  especially 


Illinois— -States  where  the  value  and  safety  of 
spraying  were  first  demonstrated,  and  hence 
wheie  spraying  has  been  most  general — there 
have  been  serious  losses  of  bees  at  the  time  of 
apple-bloom.  Not  only  did  the  mature  bees  die 
oft  rapidly,  but  there  was  extensive  mortality 
of  the  brood.  These  colonies  were  strong,  and 
had  survived  the  period  of  the  so-called  "  spring 
dwindling."  Every  well-informed  experienced 
bee-ket'per  like  Mr.  Elwood  knows  that  such 
mortality  at  such  time  was  previously  unknown. 
In  every  case,  large  orchards  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  had  been  sprayed  with  the  arsenites 
while  the  trees  were  in  bloom.  Previous  to  this 
I  had  tried  several  experiments  in  feeding  bees 
sweetened  water,  with  the  common  London 
purple  and  Paris  green  of  the  drugstores  added 
in  the  same  proportions  that  we  use  it  for 
spraying.  In  every  case  the  bees  were  poisoned. 
Yet  they  did  not  die  at  once;  indeed,  they  lived 
many  times  longer  than  would  be  necessary  to 
carry  the  poisonous  liquid  to  the  hives  and 
store  it  there.  This  explains  why  the  brood  is 
also  poisoned.  As  these  people  wrote  to  me  of 
their  losses — quite  a  number  have  done  so.  and 
from  at  least  three  States — I  had  no  doubt  that 
the  spraying  at  the  wrong  season  was  the  cause. 
1.  The  poison  would  do  it.  as  I  had  repeatedly 
proved;  3.  The  poison  was  thiown  on  to  trees 
while  in  bloom,  and  the  flowers  had  been  freely 
visited  by  the  bees;  3.  Such  loss  of  bees  in  this 
manner  and  at  this  season  was  entirely  unprec- 
edented in  our  bee-keeping  history.  I  at  once 
recognized  the  danger,  informed  the  bee-keepers 
directly  interested,  proclaimed  through  the 
bee-papers  the  dangers  that  threatened  bee- 
keepers, warned  fruit-growers  of  the  danger, 
and  urged  them  for  their  own  interests,  as  well 
as  for  the  good  of  their  bee-keeping  n<'ighbors, 
never  to  spnty  while  the  trees  are  hi  bloom.  I 
have  also  tried  to  secure  legislation  that  would 
prevent  such  untimely  spraying. 

No  bee-keeper  need  be  told  that  negative  tes- 
timony counts  for  little  in  this  matter.  That 
some  one  has  sprayed  his  trees  while  in  bloom, 
and  yet  no  bees  were  known  to  be  lost,  would 
deceive  an  entomologist  who  was  not  an  apia- 
rist; but  a  bee-keeper  would  know  that  the 
spring  is  often  so  cold  that  the  flowers  secrete 
almost  no  nectar,  and  the  liees  an?  often  unable 
to  fly  at  all.  While,  then,  in  many  eases,  spray- 
ing the  trees  while  in  bloom  would  cause  no 
loss,  yet  in  another  case  when  the  weather  was 
mild  so  that  nectar  was  abundant,  and  the  bees 
out  in  force,  the  loss  would  be  most  serious.  I 
presume  this  explains  the  repoils  from  the 
entomologists  at  the  meeting  in  Washington. 

Our  experiments  the  last  summer,  already  in 
print  (Report  of  Michigan  State  Board  of  Agri- 
culture. 1891,  p.  137),  are  as  follows: 

HOW   STRONG  SHALL  WE  USE  LONDON    PURPLE? 

Some  years  ago  we  tried  a  series  of  expei-imeTits 
to  determine  tlie  minimum  stieiig'th  of  Lmidnn  [lur- 
ple  or  Paris  green  tluit  would  surely  (irove  etfective 
in  the  de.struction  of  insects.  The  conclusion  was, 
that  1  lb.  to  2iK)  gallons  of  water  was  as  weak  as  we 
could  safely  use  it.  This  year  we  repeated  the  ex- 
periments. We  used  two'species  of  oals-caterpillar 
— Anv«tta  stigma,  and  Aniftata  se)nt(irin;  a  lialry 
caterpillar  on  tlie  oak— Hdlrs'dnfn  tesi^elntn;  tlie  cab- 
bage caterpillar — Pierig  rapce;  the  potato  beetle — 
Doryphoi-a  tenlineata,  both  larva  and  imago,  and  the 
honey-bee.  All  excejit  the  honey-lwe  wi're  treated 
outdoors,  on  the  plants  or  trees,  and  all,  iiu-ludiiig 
bees,  were  fed  in  cages  in  the  lalioratorj'.  We  used 
the  London  purple,  1  lb.  to  200,  to  300,  to  400.  and  to 
.500  gallons  of  water.  In  every  case  1  11>.  to  2(X)  gal- 
lons of  water  was  quickly  fatal.  The  weaker  mix- 
tures were  not  satisfactory,  especially  on  the  older 
larvfe  and  the  imago.  The  weakest  mixture,  1  lb.  to 
500  gallons  of  water,  failed  to  do  thorough  work  in 
every  case.  The  other  mixtures.  1  lb.  to  3X)  gallons 
of  water,  and  1  lb.  to  400  gallons  of  water,  were  tardy 
in  their  action,  and  did  not  do  the  execution  that 
1  lb.  to  200  gallons  did. 


1892 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


323 


OiU'lI).  Ill  iiH)  gallons  of  walcr  killed  the  lioiu'v- 
beos  siiid  the  iniaKo  poiaio-ht't'tlcs  altimst  invariably 
witliiii  t  wfiity-foiii- lioiii-^.  Wf  tliid  I  liat  lai'vie  s\ie- 
fiiiiil)  to  the  poison  moic  i|iiicklv  than  do  iniaK". 
and  that  \oiiiiv  or  small  liirvii-  die  inoi'c  (Hiickly 
than  do  older  ones.  Tims  our  exixTiineiits  an'iee 
with  those  i>re\ioiisly  nia<ie  in  tlxiiiK  upon  1  lb.  to 
2lH)  trillions  of  water  as  the  most  desirable  propor- 
tion to  nse  in  all  enses.  There  is  so  little  ditl'erenee 
between  London  luirple  ami  I^aris  frrei'ii  that  the 
same  .strength  should  be  used  with  both  poisoii.s. 

l><USO.VlN(i  111  E8. 
AVe  s(M>  from  the  above  that  the  standard  nd.xtiire 
—  1  lb.  of  either  I/ondon  purple  or  Paris  Kreen  to  2(KI 
jrallous  of  water  is  fatal  to  the  honey-bee.  This 
iiiiikes  it  imperative  that  fruit-t  rees  be  not  sjnayed 
while  in  blossom.  It  may  be  done  just  before  or  at 
any  time  afterward,  Init  urcfr  duriiiij  tlir  Unit'  of 
bloiini. 

The  above,  written  last  October  for  our  Report 
for  IS'.U.  settles  the  matter  positively.  When 
^\e  add.  that  diiiiiisj  bloom  is  not  the  time  to 
spray;  that  for  btid-niolhs  and  fungi  it  should 
be  dotie  earlier,  and  for  the  codling  moth  later 
— not  till  the  blossoms  have  fallen  from  all  the 
apple-trees — we  thus  see  there  is  no  possible  e.x- 
cuse  for  sprayiufT  while  the  trees  are  in  bloom; 
while  there  are  very  important  reasons,  as  we 
have  just  seen,  why  no  one  should  spray  while 
the  blossoms  are  still  on  the  tree. 

It  has  seemed  to  me.  and  I  am  now  stronger 
in  the  faith  than  ever,  that  every  State  should 
pass  a  law  luaking  it  a  serious  misdemeanor  to 
spray  our  fruit-trees  wiiile  in  blossom.  I  do 
not  think  stich  a  law  would  nted  to  be  tised 
much,  if  ever;  but  as  an  educator  it  would  do 
signal  service.  It  would  act  as  our  foul-brood 
and  yellows  laws  have.  When  men  find  that 
there  is  a  law  against  any  proposed  course  of 
action,  they  will  almost  always  hesitate  before 
they  act.  In  a  case  like  this,  where  there  is  iio 
cause  for  wrong  action,  but  every  reason  for 
doing  that  which  will  work  no  one  ill.  but  the 
mo*t  good  to  all.  then  surely  if  a  legislative  act 
will  have  intluence  it  shotild  be  urged  by  all, 
whether  directly  interested  or  not.  Is  it  not 
wise  for  every  bi'e  keeper  to  agitate  this  mat- 
ter, that  the  public  may  be  educated  at  least, 
and  that  such  legislation  may  be  secured  as 
will  aid  to  |)revent  atiy  spraying  during  the 
time  that  the  fruit-trees  are  in  blossom? 

Agricultural  College.  Mich.  A.  J.  Cook. 


SPACE  UNDER  FRAMES  FOR  WINTERING. 


FIKST   SWAUM.S.   AI{[iAX(;KMEXT   OF    HIVES,   ?:TC. 


W.  Z.  Hutchinson  says  there  is  one  point  that 
otight  not  to  be  neglected  in  preparing  bees  for 
winter — that  of  leaving  a  space  below  the 
combs.  I  ain  suie  he  is  right.  We  have  been 
practicing  the  above  for  several  years  now, 
and  know  that  it  ha<  been  a  great  benefit  to 
our  bees.  Before  raising  thein.  many  colonies 
would  become  clogged  up  at  tlie  entrance,  both 
in  the  cellar  and  out  of  doors,  long  before^ 
spring.  If  in  the  cellar  it  would  be  impossible 
to  clean  them  out.  We  could  clean  the  entrance 
for  a  little  way  back  in  the  hive,  but  they 
would  soon  Ijecome  clogged  tip  again.  Such 
colonies  that  were  thus  clogged  up  seldom  came 
out  in  the  spring  in  good  condition,  and  many 
of  them  would  die  in  spite  of  being  carefully 
nursed. 

.Mr.  Ilntchin.son  recommends  a  rim  two  inches 
high.  We  use  but  one  inch  to  13i  inches,  and 
find  that  sufficient:  but  we  raise  the  hive  two 
inches  or  inore  at  the  back,  which  enables  the 
bees  to  drag  out  the  dead  bees  and  keep  the 
bottom  -  boards  clean.  Bees  are  tidy  little 
housekeepers.  It  .seems  to  worry  them  to  be  in 
a  situation  where  they  can  not  keep  their  hives 


ch»a!i;  and  for  this  icason  I  would  not  let  the 
rim  extend  clear  round  the  hive  unless  there 
were  an  entrance  under  \\w  front  of  it.  as  the 
b(>es  that  fall  in  a  hive  slioulfl  be  in  a  position 
where  they  can  l)e  easily  dragged  out.  If  they 
remain  in  tin-  hixc  and  mold,  it  causes  the  bcM's 
to  become  diseiised;  and  if  it  is  unhealthy  for 
bees,  what  must  it  hv.  to  human  beings  living 
above  them?  Yes,  we  think  h(^  sp(;aks  truly 
when  he  says  this  space  is  a  wonderful  aid  in 
bringing  tlui  bees  through  the  winter  in  fine 
condition. 

Our  l)ees  do  not  now  seem  to  be  dying  oflF  so 
much  as  in  the  first  part  of  the  winter.  They 
se<;m  more  quiet  at  the  sanu!  tcnnperature,  and 
we  do  not  S(!e  any  difference  as  yet  in  the  loss  of 
bees  from  those!  wintering  on  honey-dew  and 
tho.se  on  siigtir  syrup. 

"  I  saw  it  stated  in  a  paper  a  short  time  since 
that  the  first  swarms  were  the  ones  that  furnish 
the  honey.  The  parent  colony  rarely  lays  up 
niore  than  enough  to  supply  them  with  food." 
Now,  in  our  e.xperience  if  a  swarm  is  put  into 
an  empty  hive  with  all  their  combs  to  build, 
the  swarm  would  not  get  as  much  surplus  as 
the  parent  colony  would;  .so  it  depends  alto- 
gether on  how  we  treat  the  swarm,  whether  it 
gathers  more  or  less  than  the  parent  colony. 
Were  I  purchasing  bees  I  think  I  should  as  soon 
take  the  parent  colony  as  the  swarm. 

In  the  picture  where  Mr.  Root  is  represented 
as  sitting  on  a  hive  with  several  hives  around 
him  near  enough  to  work  without  rising  and 
walking  from  one  to  the  other,  is  a  good  sug- 
gestion. In  order  to  do  much  work  we  need  to 
study  economy  of  steps,  which  saves  time,  just 
as  a  thrifty  housewife  does.  The  person  who 
runs  back  and  forth  from  pantry  to  kitchen, 
and  from  cellar  to  garret,  with  no  thought  how 
she  may  save  her  steps,  accomplishes  but  little 
work  compared  with  one  who  economizes  her 
steps  as  well  as  her  time.  But  as  to  the  slates 
or  tablets  on  top  of  the  hives.  I  am  sure  I  should 
jostle  them  around  so  much  I  should  lose  all 
they  were  nuant  to  indicate.  Probably  Mr. 
Root  means  us  to  sit  still. 

I  have  such  an  abhorrence  of  any  thing 
'■  wapperjawed,'"  or  mixed  up  together,  I  must 
say  that  the  straight  rows  look  the  prettiest, 
and  I  believe  I  should  prefer  them  for  looks' 
sake  if  it  did  take  more  time  to  manipulate 
them,  and  were  not  quit(!  so  handy.  Some- 
times I  have  need  to  pull  two  hives  together, 
but  thfiy  are  always  an  "■  eyesore  "  to  me  until  I 
get  them  squared  and  trued  up  again. 

Brother  A.  I.  says  we  know  he  has  always 
been  interested  in  wells  and  springs;  but  we 
have  wondered,  when  reading,  what  he  was 
7iiit  interested  in.  He  gave  us  a  very  interest- 
ing accoitnt  of  our  brother's.  Samuel  Axtell's, 
home  in  .South  Dakota,  next  station  west  of 
Mitclusll.  moi'e  than  we  had  ever  learned  of 
the  country  in  all  brother's  letters;  but  they  do 
sometimes  have  tc^rrible  blizzards.  About  five 
or  six  years  ago  three  of  brothers  boys,  young 
men.  started  to  their  own  farm,  three  miles 
away,  one  morning;  and  by  tlui  time  they  had 
gone  half  a  mile  a  blinding  blizzaid  caught 
them,  and  they  could  proceed  no  further,  nei- 
ther could  they  go  home.  As  they  were  near  a 
deserted  hou.se  they  unhitched  tiieir  hor.ees  and 
went  in.  For  three  days  they  were  unable  to 
leav(!  that  hou.se.  One  of  them,  who  had  a  wife 
and  children,  risked  his  life  and  went  back 
home;  but  the  other  two  preferred  to  remain 
rather  than  run  the  risk  of  being  lost  in  the 
storm,  although  they  had  nothing  to  eat.  and 
no  feed  for  their  horses,  and  had  to  keep  on  the 
move  much  of  the  time  to  keep  from  freezing. 

A  sure  sign  of  swarming,  says  the  ('undilidii 
Bee  Jouriitil.  is  the  backward  and  forward 
movement  of  the  bees  upon  the  alighting-board. 


324 


GLEANIKGri  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


AIay  1. 


I  have  often  noticed  the  same  shaking  move- 
ment; but  instead  of  a  backward  and  forward 
movement  it  was  from  one  side  to  the  other, 
holding  on  to  each  other  by  their  fore  feet, 
wiggling  their  bodies  from  side  to  side  with  all 
their  might.  I  used  to  think  they  would  swarm 
the  same  day,  or  soon,  but  they  did  not  always. 
I  noticed  their  wiggling  in  that  way  this  sum- 
mer in  our  home  apiary,  where  we  had  but  one 
swarm,  and  none  from  that  hive.  I  should  like 
to  know  what  makes  them  wiggle  so.  They 
act  like  a  lot  of  little  children  who  are  wonder- 
fully pleased  over  something. 

Dr.  Miller's  big  brush  is  all  right,  pi'ovided 
he  can  get  the  grass  and  weeds  (which  we  can 
generally  get,  all  we  need,  and  more) ;  but  in 
one  of  our  out-apiaries  this  summer  we  could 
get  but  very  little  of  either  grass  or  weeds. 
The  ground  was  so  bare  that  we  retained  the 
old  brush  and  gathered  what  we  could  and 
wrapped  around  it,  making  it  fresh  on  the  out- 
side. 

In  the  Fancier's  and  Br'eeder''s  Journal  it  \s 
mentioned  that  Mr.  Root  says,  in  convention,  I 
think  it  was  the  Northwestern,  that  it  is  un- 
profitable for  bee-keepers  to  breed  for  any  pure 
race,  as  many  of  his  customers  asked  for  hy- 
brids and  would  have  nothing  else.  If  hybrids 
are  really  as  good  for  honey-producers  as  the 
pure  race,  then  why  change  more  for  the  pure  ? 
Our  experience  is,  that,  in  a  real  good  year  for 
honey,  a  good  hybrid  will  gather  as  much  as  a 
pure  colony;  but  in  a  poor  year  the  pure  colo- 
nies are  ahead,  and  are  much  easier  handled — 
that  is,  the  Italians.  Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtell. 

Roseville,  111. 

[There  is  no  question  but  that  the  space  un- 
der the  frames,  especially  for  cellar  wintering, 
is  a  good  thing.  We  arrive  at  the  same  result 
by  leaving  off  the  bottom -boards  and  piling  the 
hives  on  top  of  each  other  in  such  a  way  that 
the  one  above  stands  over  the  space  between 
the  two  others  below,  a  la  Boardman. 

The  reporter  in  the  Breeder's  and  Fancier's 
Journal  must  have  got  things  pretty  badly 
mixed  when  he  quoted  us  as  saying  that  it  was 
unprofitable  for  bee-keepers  to  breed  for  any 
pure  race.  We  have  never  knowingly  given 
utterance  to  such  a  statement.  We  might  have 
said  that  bee-keepers  as  a  class  do  not  make 
any  very  great  effort  to  keep  their  Italians 
strictly  pure.] 


ALFALFA,  OR  LUCERNE. 


THE     STATEMENT    THAT    IT   IS   CUT     BEFOKE     IT 
BLOOMS  IS   ALL   FOLDEROL. 

I  have  noticed  with  considerable  interest  that 
the  quality  of  lucerne  honey  is  coming  to  the 
front,  as  we  in  this  section  consider  it  equal  to 
the  best  honey  produced  anywhere.  Now,  what 
I  wish  to  say  is,  that  we  have  a  continuous  hon- 
ey-flow from  it,  commencing  about  June  1st  and 
lasting  from  three  to  four  months.  We  do  not 
know  what  it  is  to  have  a  poor  season  for  hon- 
ey. Of  course,  some  seasons  are  better  than 
others;  but  we  always  get  a  surplus.  All  this 
talk  about  cutting  lucerne  before  it  blooms  is 
all  folderol,  so  far  as  this  section  of  country  is 
concerned.  A  farmer  who  would  cut  his  hay 
before  it  bloomed  would  be  looked  upon  in  about 
the  same  light  as  one  who  would  cut  his  grain 
before  it  was  headed;  and  theic  is  so  much  dif- 
ference in  time  of  cutting  after  haying  has 
commenced  that  some  are  cutting  their  first 
while  others  are  cutting  their  second  crop.  In 
fact,  we  are  haying  all  the  time  for  three  or 
four  months.  And,  besides,  there  are  thousands 
of  bushels  of  seed  raised  which  is  cut  only  once. 


generally  the  latter  part  of  September  or  the  1st 
of  October,  and  then  our  roads  and  ditches  are 
completely  lined  with  some  which  is  never  cut 
at  all.  We  also  have  sweet  clover,  but  the  bees 
do  not  work  on  it  any  more  than  on  the  lucerne. 

RUNAAVAY    SWARMS    OCCUPYINCt    HIVES   AVHEKE 

BEES   HAVE   DIED   FROM   FOUL   BROOD, 

AND   PROSPERING. 

Did  you  ever  hear  of  bees  going  into  an  old 
hive  where  the  bees  had  died  with  foul  brood? 
About  a  year  ago  I  was  called  upon  by  my 
neighbor,  Mrs.  Streeter,  to  look  at  her  bees. 
She  had  two  swarms  which  were  all  dead,  as  I 
found  on  examination,  having  apparently  died 
with  foul  brood.  I  was  surprised,  a  few  days 
ago,  when  her  son  came  and  asked  me  to  come 
and  look  at  the  bees  ayain.  I  asked  him  if  his 
mother  had  bought  some  more  bees,  as  I  sup- 
posed she  had  cleaned  up  the  old  hives  as  I  ad- 
vised her. 

"  Oh,  no!  "  said  he.  "  The  bees  have  all  come 
back.  They  stayed  away  only  about  three  or 
four  months." 

I  went  and  found  bees  in  both  hives,  one  hav- 
ing a  good  strong  swarm,  while  the  other  had 
only  a  few  robbers.  I  did  not  think  it  possible 
for  them  to  thrive  in  such  a  hive  of  combs  as 
those.  E.  M.  Whiting. 

Mapleton,  Utah,  Mar.  14. 


INCREASE  BY  PURCHASE  VS.  DIVIDING. 


HOW   TO   SECURE   INCREASE   BY  SPREADING 
BROOD. 


On  page  893  of  last  year's  Gleanings  Mr. 
A.  C.  Brown,  of  Smithfield.  Tex.,  asks  if  it 
would  be  cheaper  to  buy  bees  at  $4.00  per  colo- 
ny or  divide,  using  full  frames  of  foundation, 
and  feeding  sugar  syrup  to  have  it  drawn  out. 
And  on  page  131  of  this  year's  Gleanings  is  an 
article  from  L.  Stachelhausen,  "  How  he  does 
it;"  but  he  fails  to  give  the  information  asked 
for. 

I  will  endeavor  to  give  Mr.  Brown  what  light 
lean  on  the  subject.  1.  As  soon  as  it  will  do, 
or  as  soon  as  the  nights  are  warm  enough  not 
to  chill  the  brood,  go  through  your  45  colonies 
and  spread  the  brood,  placing  one  or  two  empty 
combs  in  the  centerof  the  brood-nest.  In  seven 
or  eight  days  go  over  them  again,  doing  the 
same  thing,  keeping  the  unsealed  brood  as  near 
the  center  as  possible,  this  time  drawing  one  or 
more  frames  of  brood  from  the  stronger  colonies, 
and  give  them  to  poor  ones.  Repeat  this  once 
a  week  until  all  are  strong,  and  at  the  same  time 
feed,  if  necessary  to  keep  up  brood -rearing. 
Now  you  are  ready  for  increase.  Your  queen- 
cells  should  be  ready,  abou.  eight  or  nine  days 
old.  Now  for  the  divisions.  Take  from  each 
colony  the  queen  with  half  the  brood,  honey, 
and  old  bees.  Place  them  in  a  hive  on  a  new 
stand,  closing  the  entrance  with  wire  cloth  for 
24  hours.  Now  open  up.  and  the  most  of  them 
will  remain.  Now  look  through  the  others;  de- 
stroy all  queen-cells,  and  introduce  your  queen- 
cells,  which  should  hatch  in  two  or  three  days. 
In  one  or  two  days  look  through  to  see  if  all 
are  right.  If  any  cells  are  torn  down,  replace 
them.  Now  till  your  hives  with  full  sheets  of 
foundation.  Never  use  starters  if  you  can 
avoid  it,  as  they  will  be  filled  out  with  drone 
combs. 

When  they  are  ready  for  the  upper  story,  fill 
it  with  frames  of  foundation;  raise  one  or  more 
frames  of  comb  from  below  as  baits:  crowd  the 
frames  rather  close  at  first,  spreading  them  as 
they  are  drawn  out.  placing  outside  ones  in  the 
center,  and  you  will  have  nice  straight  combs 
drawn  in  due  time.     I  think  you  will   find  that 


isie 


GLKANINCJS  IN  UKK  CULTURP:. 


32:-) 


they  will  i-nst  yon  a  frn^at  deal  loss  than  four 
dollars  per  colony,  hi'sidcs  tiic  experience  and 
fnn  you  liave.  I  iMu'l  side  witli  our  Texas 
friend.  I  liave  no  short  cuts,  hut  lind  thai  I 
pet  well  paiil  for  all  fussinji  that  I  can  do.  I 
should  like  to  read  more  from  our  Texas  hreth- 
ren.  as  our  State  is  so  different  from  others. 
Linn  Crove.  Texas.  Z.  S.  Wkavki{. 

[The  instructions  given  ahovo  are  good  in  the 
main;  hut  foi' the  heuetit  of  beginners,  perhaps 
some  limitations  ought  to  he  made.  There  is 
much  danger  in  spreading  brood.  Many  times 
we  havi>  cold  nights  and  days,  even  aftei-  wo 
think  the  weatlier  is  settled"  for  warm.  The 
result  is.  the  brood  is  kiiliHl  and  the  colony  is 
setback.  As  a  general  thing  it  is  best  for  be- 
ginners to  lot  nature  tak(>  its  own  course.  Mr. 
Weaver's  plan  for  dividing  the  hoes  may  work, 
but  we  prefer  to  do  it  this  way:  Put  the  (iiioon, 
one-third  of  the  brood,  and  "two-thirds  of  the 
bees  on  the  new  stand.  A  largo  part  of  the 
bees,  not  used  to  the  new  stand,  will  return  to 
the  old  one.  The  consoqnonce  will  bo.  that 
each  stand  will  have  aliout  an  equal  division  of 
bees.  The  now  stand  will  have  one-third  the 
brood:  but  it  has  the  queen,  and  therofoie  tlio 
power  to  go  right  on  witli  brood -rearing,  while 
the  old  stand  with  two-tliirds  of  the  brood  will 
have  to  wait  until  they  can  raise  a  queen; 
therefore  they  ought  to  have  the  more  brood. 

Wo  tried  this  plan  of  dividing  last  season,  and 
it  worked  very  nicely.  As  a  general  thing  we 
secured  about  an  e(iual  division  of  the  bees, 
and  both  colonies  would  incroas*^  to  about  the 
same  strength,  both  having  equal  advantage  in 
the  first  place  as  near  as  we  could  make  it.] 


SHIPPING-CASES. 


THK     ADVANTAGE     OF     A     DOUBLE  -  TIER    CASE 
OVER  A  SINGLE-TIER. 


One  way  of  making  our  honey  look  well,  so 
as  to  find  a  ready  market,  is  to  have  a  nice 
shipping-case— one  that  will  show  off  the  honey 
to  the  best  advantage,  and  insure  its  safe  ship- 
ment, oven  if  it  costs  a  trifle  more.  I  know 
that,  at  the  present  price  of  honey,  the  cents 
have  to  be  counted  pretty  closely.  But  the 
question  is.  whether  we  lose  or  gain  in  the  long 
run.  The  sliip]ting-case  was  bi'ought  up  foi' 
discussion  in  tlie  Chicago  convention,  and  I  be- 
lieve the  majority  present  were  in  favor  of  the 
single-tier  case. 


l"J-I.r..    SINGLE-TIER    AND    :.'4-i,ii.  douhlktikk 
CASES. 

We  have  always  used  the  double-tier  case 
holding  :24  sections,  and  perhaps  for  that  reason 
I  am  pi'ojudicod  in  its  favor.  I  know  it  costs  a 
little  more,  and  hence  many  condemn  it.  Per- 
haps we  ourselves  may  some  day.  Hut  I  don't 
believe  there  is  any  other  case  that  will  show 
off    the    honey  to  as  good    advantage  as  the 


double-tier  24-seclion  case.  There  is  less  wood 
and  more  honey  shown  by  it  than  by  any  other 
cas(>  1  know  of.  Many  say  it  does  not  ship  w(>ll, 
and  I  presume  they  are  right  about  it  as  they 
use  it  and  as  we  formeily  used  it.  We  piled 
one  tier  of  sections  on  top  of  the  other,  letting 
the  upi>er  tier  of  sections  rest  on  the  lower  ones; 
and  I  must  say.  using  it  in  tliat  way  is  very  ob- 
iectionable;  for.  do  the  best  you  can,  you  are 
likely  to  have  a  sticky,  dauby  mess  of  it,  as 
there  will  Ijo  broken  sections  unless  «!vory  sec- 
tion is  exactly  square;  and  even  if  it  is,  there 
will  still  be  the  weight  of  the  upper  sections 
resting  on  the  lower  ones,  which  is  sometimes  a 
severe  strain  with  the  bumf)ing  and  jolting 
th(>y  must  undergo  in  the  cars.  Hut  as  w(!  use 
it  we  do  away  with  all  thes(!  objectionable  fea- 
tures, and  the  only  objection  I  can  see  to  it  is 
its  cost.  It  does  cost  more.  But,  doesn't  it 
pay?    Wo  have  always  thought  so. 

Our  cases  are  made  for  24  sections  4}^x4'4'xl^, 
using  12  sections  in  a  tier.  Between  the  two 
tieis  we  use  a  board  13J^x7%x^.  Each  tier  is 
separated  into  three  compartments  of  four  sec- 
tions each  by  two  little  boards  measuring  4% 
long  by  7J<xi4.  It  will  be  seen  that  those  little 
boaids" project  h  inch  higher  than  the  sections, 
so  that  the  board  between  the  upper  and  lower 
tiers  can  not  rest  upon  any  of  the  sections. 
Practically  it  is  the  same  as  six  separate  cases 
of  four  sections  each,  with  all  the  advantages 
of  a  double-tier  case. 

I  think  no  one  will  deny  that  these  cases  do 
look  nice.  They  are  a  nice  size  to  handle  easily, 
but  their  main  superiority  is  that  they  show  so 
little  wood  and  so  much  glass  and  honey.  For 
that  reason  they  look  better  than  any  other 
case  I  know  of. 

To  begin  with,  it  is  not  possible  to  use  as 
wide  glass  in  the  single  tier  as  in  the  double. 
Now  look  at  the  cut.  You  will  see  that,  in 
place  of  the  one  central  cleat  in  the  double-tier 
case,  there  must  be  four  pieces  of  wood  in  the 
pile  of  two  single  tiers.  12  lb.,  the  cleat  and  the 
bottom  of  the  upper  case  and  the  cleat  and  top 
of  the  lower  case.  If  cleats  1^  inches  wide  are 
used,  and  li^'-inch  stuff  for  tops  and  bottoms, 
then  you  have  13^  inches  of  wood  in  the  one 
case  against  3  inches  in  the  other — less  than 
half  as  much.  As  we  now  use  sections  1% 
wide,  the  dimensions  of  our  cases  will  have  to 
be  changed.  Emma  Wilson. 

Marengo,  111. 


KETAILING-CASES  FOR  COMB  HONEY. 

HOW  TO  I.Ml'KOVE  THE  APPEARANCE  OF  THOSE 
RETURNED. 


Those  who  shij)  their  honey  away  to  be  sold 
on  commission  in  some  distant  maiket.  and 
never  expect  to  gel  the  empty  cases  back  again, 
will  find  nothing  lointei-est  them  in  this  article. 
There  may  ho  some,  though,  who.  like  myself, 
sell  a  groat  di'al  of  honey  direct  to  grocers,  and 
expect  to  get  the  cases  back  and  use  them  over 
and  over  again.  Those  may  like  to  read  some- 
thing on  how  to  keep  them  neat  and  presenta- 
ble. Very  likely  you  are  getting  many  of  them 
back  from  the  grocers  about  this  time,  so  I  will 
speak  of  it  now,  though  it  may  seem  a  little  out 
of  season. 

Some  grncoi's  will  keep  a  case  so  neat  and 
clean  that  it  can  bo  used  several  times  before  it 
begins  to  look  dingy  and  dirty.  Others  will  re- 
turn a  case  so  daubed  and  smeared  and  stained 
that  it  seems  as  though  every  thing  that  could 
stick  to  it  was  represented  there  by  sample. 
After  this  has  been  scrubbed  off',  it  still  looks  so 
dingy  that  your  thoughts  turn  to  paint. 

I  used  to  ijaint  all  my  retailing-cases  with 
regular  oil  paint.    A  dark   color  shows  off  the 


326 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


honey  best,  and  shows  dirt  the  least,  so  I 
settled  on  a  very  dark  blue  as  the  best  color 
for  the  purpose.  When  I  came  to  repaint 
them,  which  is  often  needed,  to  keep  them  look- 
ing well,  I  found  that  ordinary  paint  dried  too 
slowly  in  winter  to  suit  me.  The  cases  would 
seem  perfectly  dry;  but  somewhere,  in  the  hand- 
holes  on  the  lower  edges,  there  would  be  a 
little  paint  that  would  rub  off,  and  a  little  of 
that  intense  blue  paint  went  a  long  way.  Sol 
adopted  asphaltum  varnish.  This  is  very  cheap 
— cheaper  than  paint — and  a  couple  of  coats  of 
it  produce  a  rich  glossy  black  that  contrasts 
well  with  white  honey. 

One  of  its  chief  merits  is  that  it  dries  so 
quickly  that  any  thing  painted  with  it  may  be 
handled  in  an  hour.  Its  fault  is,  that  it  is  easi- 
ly marred:  but  a  coat  of  it  thinned  with  gaso- 
line is  readily  applied  whenever  necessary,  and 
dries  very  quickly.  Sometimes  a  little  rubbing 
with  furniture  polish  is  sufficient  to  make  it 
look  new  again.  Carnage  black  is  more  dura- 
ble than  asphaltum,  but  is  more  expensive. 

If  you  want  to  letter  or  ornament  your  cases, 
it  may  easily  be  done  with  a  stub  pen  and  thin 
brown  japan.  For  larger  letters  a  wide  shad- 
ing-pen may  be  used.  Unless  you  are  an  expert 
you  will  probably  find  a  pen  better  than  a 
brush.  Just  before  the  letters  are  dry,  brush 
over  them  a  little  gold  or  bronze  powder. 

Blue  and  gold  or  black  and  gold  make  a  very 
pretty  combination.  Probably  a  painter  could 
improve  on  my  methods.  If  he  will  tell  us  how 
to  do  so,  I  shall  be  glad.  A  very  important 
point  in  selling  honey  is  to  have  it  look  nice, 
and  a  neat  case  helps  greatly  in  this. 

The  large  retailing  cases  will  do  very  well  in 
some  stores,  but  most  groceries  rather  prefer  a 
smaller  one-story  case  that  may  be  easily  mov- 
ed around,  carried  out  of  doors,  or  set  on  the 
counter  or  shelves  as  they  prefer.  For  their 
convenience  the  cover  should  di'op  into  rabbets 
instead  of  being  simply  laid  on  top,  so  that  it 
may  be  easily  kept  in  place.         J.  A.  Green. 

Dayton,  111.,  April  .5. 


DOUBLING  OUR  COLONIES,  ETC. 

PLAIN     DIKECTIONS     FKOM     DOOLITTLE   ON   HOW 
TO   INCKEASK   NATURALLY   AND   ARTI- 
FICIALLY, AND   HOW  TO  SECURE 
A   CROP  OF   HONEY. 


A  correspondent  writes,  "  I  have  three  colo- 
nies of  bees  in  Root's  L.  hives,  and  wish  to  in- 
crease them  to  six  this  coming  season,  and  se- 
cure all  the  honey  in  sections  possible.  How 
shall  I  proceed?"  If  the  correspondent  is  so 
situated  that  he  can  allow  natural  swarming,  I 
would  say,  put  the  sections  on  as  soon  as  the 
hives  are  full  of  bees,  and  when  little  bits  of 
new  comb  are  being  built  here  and  there  about 
the  hive,  this  showing  that  new  honey  is  com- 
ing in  from  the  fields.  Now,  if  the  liive  is  full 
of  bees,  and  no  little  bits  of  comb  are  being 
built.  I  should  withhold  the  sections  till  I  see 
these  bits  of  comb;  forif  put  on  sooner,  the  bees 
will  be  quite  liable  "to  gnaw  or  eat  holes  in  the 
foundation  given  in  the  sections;  for  bees  seem 
to  have  a  mania  for  doing  something  when  they 
are  populous  by  way  of  tearing  things  to  pieces, 
on  the  principle  that  "  Satan  finds  some  mis- 
chief still  for  idle  hands  to  do."'  On  the  other 
hand,  if  I  see  bits  of  comb  being  built  befoi'e 
the  hive  was  full  of  bees,  I  would  withhold  the 
sections  till  there  were  plenty  of  bees  in  the 
hive;  for  if  the  sections  are  put  on  before  this, 
much  of  the  heat  required  for  brood-rearing 
will  go  into  the  sections,  thus  keeping  the  col- 
ony from  increasing  in  strength  as  fast  as  it 
otherwise  would.     When  ssvai'nis  issue,  set  the 


hive  to  contain  the  new  swarm  on  the  stand 
occupied  by  the  old  colony,  moving  that  to  a 
new  location,  when  the  bees  are  to  be  hived  into 
the  new  hive,  and  the  sections  transferred  from 
the  old  hive  to  the  new.  In  this  way  the  new 
colony  will  immediately  enter  the  sections  and 
go  right  on  completing  them  the  same  as  if 
nothing  had  happened.  In  eight  days  after  the 
swarm  issued,  open  the  old  hive,  when,  as  a 
rule,  the  young  queen  will  be  found  hatched; 
and  if  so,  cut  off  all  the  other  queen-cells  which 
■may  remain,  thus  knowing  that  all  after- 
swarming  is  done  away  with.  If  the  cells  are 
cut  out  on  the  sixth  day,  as  many  recommend, 
you  are  not  sure  that  after-swarming  will  be 
prevented,  for  the  bees  have  larvje  that  are 
still  young  enough  to  be  converted  into  queens, 
which  is  often  done  when  we  have  many  after- 
swarms,  only  they  are  a  little  later  in  coming 
than  what  they  otherwise  would  be.  After 
cutting  the  queen -eel  Is,  put  the  sections  on  the 
old  colony  also,  only  I  would  not  put  on  over 
half  of  the  full  capacity  for  section  honey,  as 
this  old  colony  will  not  be  liable  to  make  as 
much  section  honey  as  it  would  if  it  had  not 
been  moved  from  its  old  stand;  but  both  old  and 
new  will  make  more  collectively  by  this  mode 
of  procedure  than  by  any  other  with  which  I 
am  acquainted.  If  I  could  not  allow  of  natural 
swarming,  then  I  would  proceed  as  above  till 
swarming  time  arrived,  and  the  colonies  were 
making  preparations  to  swarm,  when  I  would 
take  three  combs  of  the  youngest  brood  in  the 
hive,  bees  and  all,  being  surn  the  queen  was  on 
one  of  these  combs,  and  set  th(  in  in  a  new  hive, 
setting  this  hive  on  the  old  stand  and  moving 
the  old  to  a  new  stand.  I  would  fill  out  this 
new  hive  with  empty  combs  if  I  had  them;  if 
not.  with  comb  foundation,  and  transfer  the 
sections  from  the  old  hive  into  the  new.  By 
leaving  five  combs  of  the  oldest  brood  in  the  old 
hive,  and  all  the  bees  which  adhei'e  to  them 
and  the  hive,  there  will  still  be  bees  enough 
adhere  to  it  to  fully  protect  the  brood  so  none  of 
it  will  chill,  as  frequently  happens  by  other 
modes  of  division,  where  too  many  bees  return 
to  the  old  stand.  If  no  queen-cells  are  started 
in  the  old  hive  at  the  time  of  moving  it,  wait 
twelve  days  about  cutting  out  the  queen-cells, 
when  we  are  to  proceed  as  in  the  other  case.  In 
cutting  off  queen-cells  it  is  well  to  shake  the 
bees  off  the  combs,  otherwise  some  cells  may  be 
missed,  in  which  case  swarming  will  as  surely 
result  as  it  would  had  all  been  left  on.  The 
above  is  the  way  I  work  an  apiary  where  I  wish 
to  double  my  colonies,  and  I  like  the  plan  much. 
If  the  hives  used  are  ten-frame  instead  of  eight- 
frame,  then  I  would  use  four  with  the  newly 
made  colony,  and  leave  six  in  the  old  hive. 

'•who  will  prove  me  avrong?" 

On  page  202  I  find  these  words  from  the  pen 
of  E.  France:  "  Young  children,  and  all  young 
living  things,  are  apt  to  get  out  as  early  as  they 
can,  and  exercise  themselves;  and  would  a 
young  bee  be  contented  to  stay  in  the  house 
during  its  youth  and  do  housework  ?  I  can  not 
believe  it.  I  believe  they  go  out  as  soon  as  they 
are  able  to  do  so.  They  want  to  go  out  and 
see  the  world — ifs  natural.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  old  bees,  like  other  old  folks,  would 
be  more  inclined  to  stay  at  home  and  do  the 
hou<(nvork.  I  simply  throw  these  thoughts  out 
as  a  suggestion.     Who  will  {)rove  me  wrong?"' 

I  am  very  glad  friend  France  throws  this  out 
only  as  a  suggestion;  for  had  he  said  positively 
that  it  was  so  he  might  have  misled  many. 
Young  or  old  bees  maybe  made  to  do  almost 
any  work  not  usually  done  by  such  bees,  by 
throwing  the  colony  out  of  its  normal  condition, 
as  friend  France  did  by  taking  the  comb  away 
from  that  swarm   as  fast  as  built;  but,  while 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


327 


wliat  b(M>s  may  do  under  siu-h  oiirumstancos  is 
iiitcrcsiini:.  yet  wliat  Ik-cs  (Id  ifhilc  in  d  nor- 
null  cniKlitioii  is  wliat  iiitcifsts  iis  tin-  most. 
That  yoiinji  liccs  do  this  "  iioii.s('\vorl< ""  when 
tlu>  (.'oioiiy  isiii  a  normal  rondition  is  very  easily 
proven,  lefjai'dless  of  what  l?ro.  V.  believes. 
CJive  a  hlaek  colony  of  bees  an  Italian  (jneen 
about  the  tcMith  of  .hme.  and  the  tirst  Italian 
bee  will  have  hatched  in  that  colony  about 
July  1st.  Now  watch  the  entrance  of  that  hive 
and  see  when  tlu'  tirst  yellow  bees  are  sch'U  at 
the  entrance  on  the  wing.  and.  unless  all  of  my 
watchiniis  have  becMi  in  vain,  none  will  l)e  seen 
before  the  aftci-noon  of  .Inly  lUli  or  7th:  but  put 
only  hatching  brood  in  a  hive,  anti  young  bees 
will  be  seen  on  the  wing  on  the  third  day.  thus 
showing  that,  when  a  colony  of  bees  is  in  a 
normal  condition,  young  l)ees  do  not  go  out  •"  as 
soon  as  they  are  able.""  Next,  look  through  the 
glass  part  of  tlii'  hive,  and  you  will  see  these 
young  yellow  chaps  poking  theii'  heads  in  and 
out  of  the  cells,  showing  that  they  are  doing 
housework  by  way  of  fe(Mling  the  brood.  Now 
watch  this  hive  every  forenoon  for  nine  days 
more;  and,  if  I  have  made  no  mistake,  no  yel- 
low bees  will  be  seen  going  and  coming  with 
loads,  but  all  black  bees.  Next,  look  in  the 
sections  where  comb  is  l)(>ing  built  and  honey 
stored,  and  the  most  of  the  bees  there  at  work 
are  Italians,  "doing  honstnvork " — building 
combs,  don't  you  see?  If  this  is  not  sufficient 
proof  for  I?ro.  F.  that  he  is  "  wrong,'"  let  him 
make  this  one  of  his  experiments  also. 
liorodino.  N.  Y..  Apr.  20.   G.  M.  Dooijttle. 


UP-WARD  VENTILATION. 


AND   IN   FA VU1{   OF   AllSOIiBlXG    CUSHIONS. 


I  should  like  to  add  my  testimoiiy  in  favor  of 
upward  ventilation.  We  have  followed  the 
practice  many  years,  and  have  been  so  general- 
ly successful  in  wintering  our  bees  that  we  con- 
sider it  a  very  necessary  feature.  We  winter 
out  of  doors,  the  hives  packed  in  chaff.  The 
propolis-covered  sheets  are  replaced  by  woolen; 
and  the  rough  cap  which  takes  the  place  of  the 
summer  one  is  filled  with  chafTinot  loo  full) 
held  in  place  by  cloth  tacked  over  it.  A  piece 
some  six  inches  square  is  cut  out  of  the  center 
of  the  cap  cover,  and  over  this  is  tacked  wire 
cloth  to  keep  out  mice.  This  certainly  gives 
every  advantage  for  the  escape  of  moisture. 
Perhaps  I  should  mention  that,  over  the  whole, 
there  hangs  an  A  roof  to  ju'otect  from  rain  and 
snow.  It  is  necessary  to  remove  th(!  woolen 
sheets  in  the  spring  as  soon  as  the  bees  become 
active,  or  they  will  themselves  begin  the  work 
of  removing  them. 

"There  is  a  great  deal  in  location,"  said  a 
bee-keeper  who  made  us  a  call  a  few  weeks 
since.  ••  Now  I  know  why  you  are  so  success- 
ful in  wintering  your  bees."'  said  another  a  doz- 
en years  ago  as  he  stood  in  our  ai)iary  and 
threw  out  his  arms  to  the  encircling  forest. 
But  location,  it  seems  to  me.  is  not  every  thing. 
At  the  close  of  the  season  some  years  ago  our 
apiary  consisted  of  (il  colonies,  and  every  colony 
in  the  spring  was  in  tine  condition.  A  bee- 
keeper a  mile  distant  had  W  colonies  in  the  fall, 
but  had  not  a  single  one  in  the  spring.  I  do 
not  know  all  the  leasons  for  failure  in  this  case, 
but  I  am  sure  that,  if  oiu"  bees  had.  like  his, 
been  left  unprotected  till  extremely  cold  weath- 
er, and  the  hives  were  full  of  frost,  and  then 
subjected  to  the  disturbance  of  packing  in 
chafT,  I  should  have  needed  but  that  reason  for 
failure. 

I  suppose  the  old  "  Wiley  lie  "  is  responsible 
for  a  part  of  this  serious  statement  which  may 
be  found  in  the  February  ,^t(nnftc,  in  an  article 


entitled  "The  Nearness  of  Animals  to  Man:" 
"Tame  honey-bees  hav<^  ceased  to  make  comb 
since  the  apiaiist  has  begun  to  furnish  them 
with  a  good  manul'actui'ed  article.""  I'.ut  where, 
1  wcHider.  did  t  111' iiiilhoi' lind  bis  authority  for 
the  rest  of  it,  and  for  certain  ot.her  allirmations 
quite  as  startling".'  For  instance,  speaking  of 
the  rearing  of  (lueens,  "  In  order  to  provide  for 
(•mergencies,  several  hirvie  are  I'eared  in  a  sin- 
gle cell,  which  the  old  queen  is  never  p(!rmitted 
to  approach,  sinc<'  she  is  as  jealous  of  th(!se 
royal  scions  as  was  ever  Persian  padishah  of 
his  nextof  kin.  For  this  reason  they  ar<H<ept 
in  closi^  confinement  until  they  are  needed." 

The  article  is  (>xtremely  interesting,  but  it 
must  be  confessed  that  th(!  author's  bee-lore 
slightly  impairs  one's  confidence.  One  can  not 
but  wonder  what  proportion  of  the  whole  is 
truth,  Nellie  Linswik, 

[You  have  liad  most  excellent  results  in  win- 
tering; but  is  it  not  possible  that  you  might 
have  done  a  little  better  by  having  a  larger 
entrance  and  a  sealed  cover?  We  hope  that, 
for  the  sake  of  experiment,  you  will  try  two  or 
three  colonies  next  winter.  So  far  our  observa- 
tion leads  us  to  believe  that  sealed  covers  offer 
special  advantages  during  the  springing  of  the 
bees. 

We  become  almost  discouraged  sometimes 
when  we  note  how  the  Wiley  lie  still  bobs  up  its 
head  here  and  there  in  standard  periodicals;  aiid 
how  such  nonsense  about  bees  as  appeared  in 
the  February  AtlanUc  could  be  inserted  is  be- 
yond our  comprehension.  We  know  that  it  is 
almost  impossible  for  an  editor  to  compass  all 
knowledge,  and  therefore  to  judge  in  regard  to 
the  accuracy  of  all  statements  made  in  sundry 
articles  that  pass  through  his  hands  ;  but  why 
in  the  world  can  they  not  sometimes  submit 
some  of  their  so-called  "  science  "  to  specialists? 
We  hope  that  bee-keepers  all  over  the  land  will 
send  in  a  protest  to  the  editor  of  the  Atlantic 
Monthly,  published  in  Boston,  Mass.  We  shall 
certainly  do  so.  The  more  bee-keepers  there 
are  who  will  take  the  pains  to  do  so,  the  more 
effect  it  will  have.  We  must  not  let  such  ab- 
surdities go  unchallenged;  and  letters  of  earn- 
est respectful  protest  from  three  or  four  hun- 
dred bee-keepers  will  have  more  effect  than  the 
protests  of  a  dozen  editors  of  bee-journals. 

THE   D.    CASE— SEE   GLEANINGS,    PAGE   248. 

Thanks   for  your  naming  the  single  ease  for 
me.     Allow  me  to  say  that  I  now  use  a  tin  fold- 
ed like  this,  L,  put  on  the  outside  of  the  case, 
nailed  at  each  end  with  a  single 
3^-inch   nail,  with   a  string  or 
wire  around   the  middle  of  the 
case,  which  holds  the  tins  snug 
in   place   to  the  sides,  and   the 
sides    solid     to    the    sections. 
When   a  string  is  used,  better 
wax  it  where  the  bees  can  get 
at  it,  or  they  may  gnaw  it  off, 

SE.VLED   COVEHS   PREFEKRED. 

Tell  Dr.  Miller  I  have  been  using  tight  sealed 
covers  20  years;  in  that  time,  T  have  tried 
porous  covering  8  years  on  a  part  of  my  bees,  by 
which  I  lost  hundreds  of  dollars.  Sealed  covers 
as  the  bees  prefer  it  is  my  way. 

F.  Danzenbakek. 

Washington,  D,  C,  April  16, 

ABSOIU5ENTS   VS.   SEALED   COVER. 

As  you  have  been  advocating  sealed  covers  I 
thought  I  would  tell  how  my  bees  have  win- 
tered with  absorbents.  I  put  an  even  ICK)  col- 
onies into  winter  quarters  last  fall  in  the  home 
yard.  They  had  a  good  flight  early  in  March, 
and  began  breeding  rapidly.    To-day  there  are 


o 

L J 


328 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  L 


97  booming  colonies,  and  they  are  getting  pol- 
len quite  freely.  I  use  a  sui>pori  over  the 
frames  similar  to  Hill's  device,  and  a  crate 
with  cloth  bottom,  filled  with  chaff  and  saw- 
dust, instead  of  chatf  cushions.  Your  sealed 
covers  may  be  all  right.  I  do  not  say  they  are 
not;  but  as  long  as  I  can  winter  bees  with  ab- 
sorbents with  a  loss  of  only  3  per  cent,  just  so 
long  I  am  going  to  have  upward  ventilatiion. 
W.  G.  Larrabee. 
Larrabee's  Point,  Vt..  April  8. 


— — I    ^ 

WIRING  FRAMES. 

J.  A.  golden's  pi>an. 

Friend  R<jot:— With  your  permission  I  should 
be  pleased  to  present  through  Gleanings,  to 
the  bee- fraternity,  my  method  of  putting  foun- 


GOI.DEN'S    .MKlllOD    OF    JTTTING    FoUMiATlON    JX    WIUKD    KKAMKS. 

dation  in  wired  frames.  To  understand  fully 
my  method  1  send  you  a  photograph,  with  ex- 
planation (how  to  do  it.  and  be  happy  while 
doing  it).  I  am  aware  that  sevenil  devices'linve 
been  invented,  and  some  of  t^eni  have\\nvked 
fairly  well:  yet  a  tedious  task  and  dissnlisfac- 
tion  is  tbe  result  generally:  while,  if  my  mode 
is  followi  d  as  herein  explained,  it  will  undoubt- 
edly give  the  best  satisfaction  of  any  device 
ever  presented  to  tl'e  bee-fratei'nily  for  the 
above  purpose.    AVe  therefore  take  it  for  grant- 


ed that  the  successful  apiarists  have  sy.stems  all 
along  the  line  of  the  various  manipulations. 
By  this  class  my  device  will  be  greatly  appre- 
ciated; and  now.  friends,  after  you  have  looked 
at  the  accompanying  picture  of  my  device, 
don't  think  that  you  can  perform  perfect  work 
on  your  first  or  second  trial.  You  will  soon 
learn  that  the  press-board,  or  die,  must  not  be 
too  hot,  howevei'.  A  little  practice  is  requisite 
as  with  all  other  devices,  after  which  success 
will  be  the  result. 

If  Dr.  C.  C.  Miller  adapts  his  diagonal  perpen- 
dicular style  of  wiring  to  my  method  he  will 
make  each  frami'  a  duplicate  of  each  other. 
Thus,  a  board  half  an  inch  thick  is  cut  out 
to  tit  your  frame  inside;  cleats  are  nailed  on 
one  side  to  keep  it  fi'om  warping.  Place  this 
board  in  one  of  your  wired  frames,  and,  with 
pencil,  mark  each  wire  of  your  frame.  With 
a  saw,  make  inci>ions  an  eighth  of  an  inch 
deep,  and  the  same  in 
width.  Get  a  strip  of  iron 
one  eighth  by  one  inch 
wide,  and,  with  a  sharp 
cold -chisel,  split  it  into 
three  strips:  then  with  a 
tile  dress  them  to  one 
width.  Cut  them  to  suit 
the  kerfs  of  your  board; 
file  notches  at  suitable 
places  in  each  piece,  so  a 
medium  small  wire  will 
lie  in  the  notch.  Place 
each  piece  in  place,  and. 
with  a  slim  awl.  make  a 
hole  on  each  side.  At  the 
notch  a  wiif  is  put  through, 
then  with  pliers  twist  the 
two  ends,  making  the  dies 
'.-olid.     See  board  A. 

The  heater.  B,  is  a  box 
12x18  inches  at  bottom, 9x17 
inches  at  top,  and  two  feet 
high.  All  the  above  is 
outside  measure.  Several 
fourth-inch  holes  are  made 
at  top  and  bottom  for  ven- 
tilation. A  sheet-iron  top 
is  made  similar  to  a  drip- 
ping-pan. 1,1.2  inches  deep, 
with  a  flange  to  nail  on  top 
of  box  B.  The  iron  is  per- 
forated t  h  o  !•  o  u  g  h  1  y  to 
avoid  warping  when  heat- 
ed by  a  lamp  which  is  used 
for  this  purpose.    See  box 

B.  The  foundation-stand, 

C,  is  a  box  six  inches  high. 
It  tits  the  inside  of  your 
frame,  with  a  gioove  cut 
at  one  top  edge  for  the 
comb-guide  to  rest  in  when 
the  frame  is  placed  on  the 
stand  or  box.  Insets  are 
cut  where  each  wire-nail 
hook  comes,  so  the  wire 
will  strike  its  full  surface, 
and  evenly  over  the  foun- 
dation comb.  This  stand 
should  be  covered  with  a 
piece  of  oilcloth,  with  can- 
vas side  out,  tacked  on  and  kept  quite  damp, 
to  keep  the  foundation  from  sticking,  as  it  often 
does. 

The  comb-guide  fastener,  D,  is  a  cog-wheel 
about  an  inch  in  diameter,  molded  of  babbitt 
metal,  or  it  can  be  filed  out.  The  cogs  are  made 
beveling:  the  wheel  is  fastened  to  a  metal 
handle,  the  beveled  side  of  the  wheel  next  to 
the  wired  sheet  of  foundation  when  in  use,  thus 
leaving  the  edge  of  foundation,  after  fastening, 
cell-shaped,   and    perfectly    fastened.      Please 


IS'.i-,' 


(;i.HANIN(;s  IN  HKK  CULTURE. 


329 


obst'i-vf   little  Fuda  in  tlu' ui-tof  faslcniiiw   the 
fonndiition  lo  tlu'  oomb-siiidt'. 

m)\V    TO    I'KOfKKM. 

A  linliti'd  lamp  is  placfd  in  luix  H.  The  pn-ss- 
hoaixl  A  is  placed  on  tli(>  lieatcr  H.  with  tnctal 
dies  dosvn,  and  heated  iirelly  warm.  In  the 
meantime  i)laee  a  sheet  of  I'oimdatidn  on  the 
stand  C.  and  th<'n  the  wired  t'lame  over  the 
fonndation.  pressing  it  down  so  the  comb-giiido 
will  tit  down  well  into  the  lahhet  cut  in  the 
edge  of  the  stand  0.  Now  lift  the  picss-hoard 
ffom  the  box  H  by  two  small  e'leats  i)ieviously 
tacked  aei'oss  t lie"  back  of  thi'  board,  and  place 
the  same  in  the  frame  on  the  stand  C.  The 
metal  dies  press  the  small  wires  into  the  foun- 
dation, and  at  lh(>  same  time  melt  the  wax 
sufficiently  to  attach  linnly  the  wire;  to  the 
foundation.  After  a  munber  of  fiames  have 
thus  been  ti-eated.  heat  the  wheel  U  and  tinish 
llie  lot  all  at  one  lieating.  The  franH>  contain- 
ing the  half-sheet,  as  you  will  notice  in  the 
engraving,  is  Root's  extra  thin  surplus  founda- 
tion.    Friends,  try  it.  J.  A.  lioi.DKX. 

Relnersville,  O..  Jan.  1. 

[We  liave  no  doubt  that  you  may  be  able  to 
imbed  the  wires  into  foundation  as  you  de- 
scribe; but  a  far  simpler  way  is.  to  heat  those 
wires  by  running  a  current  of  electricity 
through  them.    See  editorial  elsewhere.] 


PREVENTION  OF  SWARMING. 


PUTTING    A    PERFOKATKI)    ZINC    HONKYBOAKI) 
UXDEK  THE   BROOD-FHAMES:    HESUI.T.S. 

A  friend  in  Missouri,  working  on  the  problem 
of  preventing  swarming,  asks  my  opinion  of  the 
following  plan:  Put  a  queen  -  excluder  under 
the  hive,  having  plenty  of  space  under  the  ex- 
cluder for  the  exit  of  the  bees.  Ofcourse.no 
queen,  young  or  old.  could  get  out  of  the  hive; 
and  if  the  excluder  is  put  under  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  clover  harvest  no  swarm  would  es- 
cape, because  no  queen  could  go  with  them.  Or. 
if  a  swarm  were  wanted  from  the  colony,  the 
excluder  might  be  put  under  after  the  is- 
suing of  the  prime  swarm,  thus  prevent- 
ing the  issue  of  an  after-swarm.  I'uttingan 
excluder  under  is  one  of  the  tilings  I  talked 
over  last  fall;  and  while  there  are  very  serious 
difficulties  in  the  way,  l"m  not  so  sure  that  it  is 
not  possible  some  use  might  be  made  of  it.  The 
two  serious  difficulties  are.  first,  that  all  the 
drones  would  die  in  the  hive;  and,  second, 
that  no  young  queen  could  leave  the  hive  for 
fertilization.  Let  us  see  how  it  would  work. 
Suppose  a  prime  swarm  issues.  The  queen,  not 
being  able  to  leave  the  hive,  the  swarm  is  likely 
to  return;  but  in  some  cases  it  might  go  into 
another  hive  or  unite  with  another  swarm.  If. 
however,  all  hives  in  the  apiary  had  excluders 
under  them,  there  could  be  no  real  loss.  Gen- 
erally, though,  the  swarm  would  promptly  re- 
turn: and  while  iu  some  instances  the  cells 
might  be  destroyed  and  the  colony  continue 
with  its  old  queen  throughout  the  season,  tlu^ 
great  probability  is  that  the  old  (lueen  would 
be  killed  on  the  hatching  of  the  first  young 
queen,  if  not  before.  I  don"t  know  just  what 
would  be  done  next;  but  I  suspect  that,  no 
queen  being  able  to  leave  the  liive,  all  but 
one  would  be  killed  in  perhaps  two  weeks  from 
the  issuing  of  the  prime  swarm.  Then  the  re- 
maining young  queen  would  be  a  drone-layer 
if  she  laidat  all.  So  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
scheme  can  end  in  nothing  else  than  the  ruin 
of  the  colony. 

But.  can  lio  use  whatever  be  made  of  it?  The 
lirst  difficulty  might  be  got  over  by  taking  Doo- 


liltle"s  plan — a  plan  that  looked  troublesome  to 
me  at  lirst.  lull  I'm  not  sun-  that  it  is  not  the 
least  troublesome  way.  in  the  long  run.  of  get- 
ting lid  of  drones.  The  plan  is.  lo  have  no  drone 
comb  in  the  hive  exeept  perhaps  an  inch  scpiare 
in  one  eoml);  lln'ii  when  the  drone  brood  in 
that  i)atcli  is  ready  to  hatch,  slice  otf  their 
heads,  and  repeat  the  slicing  once  in  three 
weeks.  Even  if  a  very  few  drones  should  be 
hatched  in  other  scattering  cells,  they  would 
b(!  torn  to  pieces  after  dying  and  would  do  no 
great  harm. 

Kill  the  other  difficulty  is  more  troublesome. 
True,  the  destruction  of  the  old  queen  is  not  so 
serious  a  matter,  and  we  could  stand  that  well 
enough  if  we  were  sure  she  would  be  followed 
in  good  time  by  another  laying  (pieen.  But 
that  ()iieen  must  be  fertilized.  Xow.  if  my  sup- 
position is  correct  (that  only  one  young  queen 
would  be  li'ft  living  in  the  hive),  and  if  we 
could  know  just  when  that  interesting  consum- 
mation would  occur,  then  we  could  take  out 
the  excluder  and  all  would  be  lovely.  But. 
alasl  the  ifs.  We  could  not  afTord  to  go  "through 
the  hive  every  day  to  see  if  the  proper  time  had 
come  to  take  away  the  excluder. 

But  it  wouldn't  need  watching  every  day. 
How  often  would  be  necessary?  Before  finding 
out,  we  need  to  know  two  things  that  at  pres- 
ent I  don't  know,  but  they  might  easily  be 
found  out.  First,  how  long  after  the  hatching  of 
the  first  queen  may  we  count  on  having  only 
one  young  queen  left  in  the  hive?  and,  second, 
w  hat  is  the  earliest  period  after  hatching  that 
a  young  queen  will  be  too  old  to  be  fertilized? 
or.  in  other  word<.  how  long  may  we  keep  a 
young  queen  coniined  without  spoiling  her 
chances  for  fertilization?  I  do  not  know  this; 
but  careful  observation  might  easily  determine 
it.  A  virgin  queen  sent  to  me  from  England 
when  six  days  old  was  ten  days  on  the  way. 
and  was  then  fertilized,  and  laid  all  right.  So 
she  must  have  been  sixteen  days  old  or  older 
when  fertilized.  If  she  stood  the  confinement 
of  the  ocean  voyage,  would  she  not  stand,  at 
least  as  well,  confinement  in  the  hive? 

Suppose,  now.  we  put  the  excluder  under 
belore  there  is  any  danger  of  swarming,  or  at 
least  make  sure  that  eggs  are  in  the  hive  when 
the  excluder  is  added.  Then  we  are  safe  in 
leaving  the  hive  untouched  for  two  weeks;  for 
if  we  found  eggs  there,  there  was  no  young 
queen  present — at  least.  I  tliink  that  is  correct. 
So,  if  we  open  the  iiive  in  two  weeks  we  should 
never  find  in  it  a  virgin  queen  too  old  to  be  fer- 
tilized— all  the  time  supposing  that  every 
queen  may  be  fertilized  if  ccmfined  till  todays 
old.  Then  we  might  count  ourselves  all  right 
throughout  the  stxmmer,  by  looking  into  the 
hive  once  iu  two  weeks,  so  long  as  we  found  eggs 
in  the  hive. 

But  if  working  for  comb  honey,  I  should  not 
expect  very  long  to  find  eggs  in  the  hive  after 
the  time  for  swarming  came.  Suppose,  then, 
that,  on  examination,  a  colony  is  found  in  which 
no  eggs  are  present,  and  further  examination 
reveals  the  fact  that  not  only  has  a  young 
queen  hatched  out,  but  that  all  the  young  queens 
have  either  hatched  outor  have  been  destroyed. 
If.  indeed,  several  (lueen-cells  should  be  found 
vacated.  I  should  not  feel  so  very  anxious  about 
there  being  any  danger  of  swarming,  and  I 
think  it  might  be  safe  to  remove  the  excluder 
until  the  young  queen  was  fertilized,  or  perhaps 
for  the  rest  of  the  season. 

.Suppose,  however,  that  one  or  more  queen- 
cells  are  found  with  young  queens  in  them,  and 
a  young  queen  probably  free  in  the  hive.  It 
will  not  do  to  take  away  the  excluder:  and  the 
question  arises,  How  soon  will  it  be  necessary 
to  mak(^  another  examination?  or,  in  other 
words,  how  long  can  we  leave  the    excluder 


330 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


without  danger  of  the  young  queen  becoming 
too  old  to  be  fertilized  ?  To  know  this,  we  need 
an  answer  to  the  question  I  have  already  men- 
tioned, as  to  the  length  of  time  after  the  hatch- 
ing of  the  first  young  queen  before  the  workers 
give  up  the  idea  of  swarming  and  allow  all  the 
extra  queens  to  be  killed.  I  wonder  if  it  might 
not  be  safe  to  say  that  all  would  be  killed  with- 
in a  week  after  the  first  young  queen  hatches. 
If  so,  then  all  we  need  to  do  is  to  look  through 
the  hive  a  week  later  if  there  is  a  plurality  of 
young  queens  in  the  hive. 

So  on  the  basis  that  our  suppositions  are  cor- 
rect, we  might  agree  to  put  excluders  under, 
only  to  be  removed  when  all  young  queens  but 
one  were  destroyed,  making  an  examination, 
once  in  two  weeks  so  long  as  we  found  eggs  in 
the  hive,  and  once  a  week  if  eggs  were  lacking. 
But  I  am  not  very  sanguine  about  all  this.  In 
the  first  place,  our  suppositions  may  not  be  cor- 
rect; it  may  tuin  out  that  some  young  queens 
become  too  old  to  be  fertilized  before  they  are 
16  or  17  days  old:  and  it  may  be  that  a  plurality 
of  young  queens  may  be  tolerated  in  a  hive 
longer  than  a  week.  If  so,  then  the  time  of 
looking  through  the  hive  would  hav(^  lo  be 
modified,  and  it  is  possible  that  so  great  a  mod- 
ification would  be  necessary  that  too  much  la- 
bor would  be  involved  to  leave  any  value  in  the 
plan.  Besides,  there  are  so  many  ways  in  which 
disappointment  may  come  unexpectedly  that 
only  repeated  actual  trials  with  the  bees  can 
determine  the  matter. 

After  reading  over  to  my  assistant  what  I  had 
written,  she  said,  "  But  there  is  one  difficulty 
that  you  haven't  mentioned,  and  it's  perhaps 
the  most  serious  one.  Will  your  excluders  al- 
ways exclude '?"  I  very  meekly  replied,  *'  I  don't 
know."  C.  C.  MiLLEK. 

Marengo,  111.,  April  13. 

[You  have  figured  out,  doctor,  just  about 
what  a  bee-keeper  will  find  in  practice  with  an 
excluding  board  between  the  brood-nest  and  the 
bottom-board.  We  have  ti'ied  just  that  very 
thing:  and  the  result  was,  that  it  would  be  cov- 
ered with  dead  drones  to  such  an  extent  in  a 
week  or  ten  days  in  the  swarming  season  as  al- 
most to  prevent  the  bees  from  passing  in  and 
out.  You  can  prevent  swarms  from  abscond- 
ing; but  that  prevention  means  the  killing  of 
the  old  queen  and  the  non-fertilization  of  the 
virgin  queers  following.  While  it  does  pre- 
vent the  bees  from  running  away,  it  does  not 
check  that  longinrj  desire  to  swarm;  and  when 
bees  wani,  to  swarm,  and  can't,  they  will  waste 
valuable  time  during  the  height  of  the  honey 
season  doing  next  to  nothing.  Perhaps  some  of 
our  readers  will  remember  some  of  our  experi- 
ments along  this  line,  as  described  in  Glean- 
ings two  or  three  years  ago,  at  our  basswood 
out  apiary.] 


BEE-KEEPERS'  PHOTOS. 


HIVE-CAKTS   AND   OUT-APIAKIES. 


While  perusing  some  numbers  of  Gleanings 
last  fall,  and  admiiing  your  supplement  con- 
taining cuts  of  so  many  prominent  bee-keeper>, 
my  son  suggested  that  it  would  be  a  good  plan 
to  cut  out  and  paste  on  a  card  each  face,  and 
then  ins(>rt  them  in  an  album  for  convenience, 
preservation,  etc.  I  found,  however,  this  was 
not  practicable,  as  it  would  result  in  the  muti- 
lation of  some  of  them,  and  ;ilso  their  biograph- 
ical sketches,  etc.  I  then  and  there  resolved  to 
ask  you  to  present  your  readers  with  the  faces 
of  all  now  in  your  possession  on  a  sheet  of  pa- 
per printed  on  one  side  only,  with  a  short 
sketch  of  each  below,  so  that  we  could  carry 


out  our  proposed  plan;  or,  if  you  choose,  to 
print  them  on  a  separate  card  would  be  still  bet- 
ter, and  a  small  charge  made  for  those  desiring 
them. 

Well,  now,  you  see  what  delay  means;  for 
has  not  Mr.  Hutchinson  gone  and  done  it.  only 
in  a  trifle  different  manner,  and  now  furnishes, 
as  far  as  possible,  a  picture  of  his  correspond- 
ents with  each  article  contributed?  It  is  scarce- 
ly necessary  to  add,  almost  every  one  thinks 
this  a  step  in  the  right  direction,  including,  of 
course,  youiself  among  the  rest. 

BOA15DMAN    HIVE-CARTS. 

Carts  a  la  Bo<irdiimn  are  a  good  thing.  Yes, 
I  am  sure  of  it,  at  least  for  me.  I  now  have 
one;  and  I  like  bee-escapes,  honey-boards, 
properly  spaced  frames,  etc.  It  is  going  to  save 
time  and  backaches  in  this  era  of  poor  seasons 
and  improved  migratory  bee  keeping.  Each 
one  will  have  to  vaiy  the  construction  of  such 
a  cart  to  suit  himself,  and  this  I  have  done 
without  materially  altering  its  appearance.  I 
have  some  reasons  for  preferring  it  wide  enough 
to  lift  a  Langstroth  hive  by  its  ends  instead  of 
its  side>;  among  others,  my  preference  being  in 
favor  of  placing  the  hive  on  the  cart  the  same 
as  on  the  wagon.  Again,  there  is  sufficient 
room  for  lifting  two  hives  instead  of  one  or  two 
top  stories  or  even  a  brood-chamber  and  a  top 
story  as  the  case  may  be,  and  carting  both 
away  at  the  same  operation.  The  arrange- 
ments attached  to  the  lifting-arms  are  not 
exactly  alike  for  lifting  off  a  top  story  and 
carrying  a  brood-chamber;  but  liolh  are  very 
simple,  the  only  addition  to  any  hive  in  use 
being  the  nailing  on  of  a  wooden  cleat  ]4  inch 
square  by  8  long,  either  to  the  sides  or  ends,  as 
one  chooses. 

This  cart  is  expected  to  assist  me  greatly  in 
moving  hives  to  and  from  the  wagon,  while 
moving  the  bees  to  the  out-apiary:  yes,  I  mean 
to  take  it  right  along  with  the  team,  by  simply 
fastening  it  behind  the  wagon,  so  that  it  can 
be  utilized,  both  loading  at  home  and  unload- 
ing in  the  orchard  at  the  point  of  destination. 
I  can  also  run  around  and  pick  off  top  stories 
when  once  cleared  of  the  bees,  by  the  escape 
system,  and  have  lots  of  fun  too. 

MOVING   TO  OUT-APIARIES. 

This  brings  me  to  the  last  part  of  my  article; 
viz.,  moving  to  out-apiaries.  Many  have  been 
the  methods  devised  and  illustrated  in  Glean- 
ings for  moving  hives  containing  loose  hang- 
ing frames:  but  the  simplest  and  most  expedi- 
tious way  for  any  one  not  having  very  rough 
roads  nor  long  journeys  is  to  use  a  frame  cov- 
ered with  wire  cloth,  the  ends  of  said  frame 
having  a  wire  nail  driven  through  from  the 
top  sufficiently  far  to  penetrate  each  frame  in 
the.  hive  (say  '%  of  an  inch),  so  that,  after  ad- 
justing the  screens,  a  little  pressure  will  soon 
secure  all  the  frames  at  once.  I  have  moved 
bees  many  times  without  a  single  mishap  to 
any  of  the  hives  themselves,  except  that  I  once 
smothered  eight  colonies  on  a  warm  day  in 
June,  notwithstanding  the  whole  top  of  the 
hive  was  covered  with  a  >s  rim  as  described, 
so  that  now  I  am  a  little  skeptical  in  regard  to 
so  little  ventilation  being  given  as  advocated 
by  some,  even  in  cool  weather,  unless  a  large 
space  is  also  given  for  the  bees  clustering  in. 

The  tying  method  given  by  you  in  Glean- 
ings some  time  since  is  the  only  other  thing 
necessary  for  expeditious  work  with  such  a 
hive,  having  tested  and  used  it  successfully  not 
only  with  a  single-story  hive  having  a  loose 
bottom-board,  but  with  a  two-story  hive  as 
well:  consequently  1  use  it  with  as  much  as- 
surance now  as  any  other  thing  or  system  I 
know  of  practical  value  in  the  apiary. 

F.  A.  Gemmell. 


ISlfJ 


(JI.HANINCiS  IN   HHK  CUI/rUKK. 


331 


[Hiitoliiiisoirs  si'luMiu"  of  liaviiif;  a  snnill  i)()r- 
tniii  of  llif  w  ritci'  at  tlic  hcaiiing  of  most  of  tin- 
articles  for  the  Rcvinr  is  a  gooii  oin'.  ami  siiirc 
hf  lias  ilt)m'  it  so  admicahly  it  will  not  Ixmu'ccs- 
sary  fof  us  to  i>iiiit  a  S('|)arati'  slicci  fifiving  a 
sliort  skctoli  aiui  portrait  of  sonn-  of  our  con- 
tributors: in  fact.  \V(>  already  have  practically 
that  same  iliintr  in  the  last  form  of  our  A  H  (' 
of  Hi'c  (.'ulturc  — Vonr  haml-cart  will  no  doubt 
be  a  iiood  thins.  The  idea  of  haviiifx  it  tajr  on 
behiiui  the  waiion  w  hen  uoinii  to  and  from  out- 
apiaries  is  a  good  one.  I 


PROPOLIS  ON  T  TINS. 


now  TO   (T.K.\.\    rr   oil-  with  conckntuatkd 

I.VK. 


When  we  commenci'd  work  in  the  shop,  the; 
tirsi  super  I  lilled  with  tho  nice  clean  sections, 
1  looked  at  the  T  tins  all  covered  with  propolis 
and  thoiijihl  to  luyself.  "  If  we  ar(>  to  have  sec- 
tions unstained  by  piopolis  it  will  never  do  to 
put  them  on  these"  dirty  T  tins.  J>ut,  oh  dear! 
it  will  be  an  endless  task  to  scrape  them  all.  I 
can  never  do  it."*  Just  tluMi  a  happy  thought 
struck  me.  Why  not  boil  the  propolis  oft'  ?  Sure 
enough,  why  not? 

1  repaired  to  the  kitchen,  placed  the  wash- 
boiler  on  the  stove  (ont^  we  use  for  such  work), 
tilled  it  with  water  and  T  tins,  then  went  back 
to  the  shop  to  work,  and  left  them  to  boil  at 
their  own  sweet  will,  delighted  to  think  I  had 
such  an  inspiration.  In  about  an  hour  I  went 
back  to  the  kitchen  to  see  how  my  T  tins  were 
progressing.  I  fully  expected  to  see  thiMu  all 
nice  and  clean,  and  was  most  bitterly  disap- 
pointed to  find  that  they  looked  even  worse 
than  they  did  when  1  put  them  in.  as  the  pro- 
polis was  more  evenly  distributed  all  over  them. 

I  ni-xt  tried  scrubbing  them  with  a  broom  in 
the  boiling  water,  but  it  would  not  work.  I 
meditated  awhile,  then  concluded  I  would  try 
concentrated  lie.  providing  Dr.  Miller  did  not 
object.  I  did  not  know  what  effect  the  lye 
would  have  on  the  tins.  He  said  I  might  try  it. 
I  put  the  boiler  back  on  the  stove  to  try  once 
more.  I  did  not  feel  quite  so  sanguine  as  I  pour- 
ed in  part  of  a  can  of  concentrated  lye. 

I  did  not  leave  it  this  time,  but  anxiously 
watched  to  see  what  effect  it  would  have.  It 
brought  it  off  pretty  well,  but  was  not  quite 
strong  enough.  I  put  in  the  rest  of  the  can  of 
lye.  and.  eurekal  the  propolis  disappeared  as  if 
by  magic.  I  stirred  the  tins  with  the  poker  to 
insure  the  lye  reaching  all  parts  of  them;  then 
with  the  tongs  I  lifted  them  into  a  tub  and 
rinsed  them  off  with  cold  water,  and  set  thein 
up  in  the  sun  to  drain,  as  bright  and  clean  as 
when  they  came  from  the  tinner's. 

I  tilled  up  the  boiler  with  T  tins  again,  and  so 
on.  until  the  strength  of  the  lye  was  all  used  up. 
when  I  turn<>d  it  out.  tilled  up  the  boiler  afresh, 
and  began  all  over  again,  continuing  until  they 
were  all  done.  I  used  a  can  of  lye  to  a  boiler  of 
water. 

Every  time  I  fill  up  a  super  with  the  nice 
cleaii  T  tins  I  feel  more  than  paid  for  the  work 
it  took  to  make  them  sf).  I  am  pretty  sure  that 
washing-lluid  would  clean  them  almost  if  not 
quite  as  well  as  the  concentrated  lye,  providing 
it  were  used  strong  enough,  although  I  have 
never  tried  it.  However,  I  think  I  should  pre- 
fer the  lye,  as  it  does  the  work  most  thoroughly 
and  does  not  hurt  the  T  tins  in  the  least,  that  I 
can  see. 

If  you  have  a  lot  of  dirty  T  tins  I  advise  you 
to  clean  them  in  this  way,  and  see  if  you  are  not 
as  delighted  as  I  was  to  see  them  come  out  so 
bright  and  clean.  Be  sure  to  use  plenty  of  wa- 
ter in  rinsing  them  off.  Emma  Wilson. 

Marengo,  III.,  April  .5. 


THE  BEE-MOTH. 

ITS     IlAIilTS  ;     WIIK.N     A.\n    WIIKKK    C()I'II,.\T|()N 
TAKKS    I'l.ACK. 

Mr.  \V.  ]{.  Ransom,  New  lliver,  Va.,  wisiies 
me  to  answer  the  following  questions  tiirougii 
(ii.KAMNus:  If  the  l)ee-moth  larva— the  so- 
called  moth-worm — spins  its  cocoon  inside  of 
the  bee- hi v(^  and  there  issues  from  the  cocoon 
a  female,  can  she  lay  eggs  without  coming  out 
and  mating,  or  must  she  do  as  do  the  queens, 
come  foilh  and  mate?  U  the  latter  Ik;  true,  at 
what  age  does  she  commence  to  lay? 

l''rom  the  conditional  foi'in  of  the  first  sen- 
tence we  might  conclude  lliat  it  is  unusual  for 
the  moth-larva  to  spin  its  cocoon  in  the  hive. 
On  the  other  hand,  this  is  almost  always  just 
wiu'ie  tlie  cocoon  is  spun  and  the  pupa  staU; 
assumed.  In  accidental  cas(>s  the  cocoon  might 
be  spun  outside.  In  nature,  where  man  did  not 
interfere.  1  doubt  whether  the  cocoons  would 
ever  be;  found  outside  the  hive.  Indeed,  in  our 
northern  climes  it  is  imperative,  often,  to  the 
life  of  the  insect,  that  the  cocoons  be  formed 
and  the  pupa  stag(!  passed  in  the  hive.  As  the 
late  Mr.  JNIoses  Qulnby  showed  years  ago.  the 
bee-moth,  unless  protected  by  the  warmth  of 
the  colony,  often  succumbs  to  our  severe  win- 
ters. I  have  proved,  liowever,  that,  in  mild 
winters,  they  may  endure  the  exposure,  even 
unprotected  by  the  warmtli  gendered  by  the 
bees. 

It  is  probable  that  the  bee-moths  always  tiy 
fortli  to  mate,  as  we  usually  see  them  during 
the  day  concealed  somewhere  outside  of  though 
by  the  hives.  As  many  are  reared  on  combs  in 
the  honey- house,  it  is  not  uncommon  to  find 
th<'m  in  this  building.  They  are  nocturnal — 
that  is.  they  fly  by  night,  and.  witliout  doubt, 
usually  mate  as  they  take  these  after-day 
nuptial  flights.  It  would  be  unsafe  to  say  that 
they  never  mati;  in  the  hives.  I  iiave  seen  both 
moths  and  butiei-flies  in  copula  before  the  wings 
of  the  female  were  dry  so  she  could  fly:  though 
usually  the  same  species  pair  only  on  the  wing. 
So  of  this  spei-ies — the  bee-moth — while  they 
usually  and  peihaps  always  mate  outside,  it  is 
possible  that  copulation  may  occasionally  occur 
in  the  hive. 

The  pairing  usually  takes  place  with  all 
moths  very  soon  after  the  females  fly:  and.  as  I 
have  said.  oft(m  before  her  wings  are  so  dried 
that  she  can  fly.  I  am  sni'e  that  the  bee-moth 
is  no  exception.  With  all  insects,  the  females 
are  able  to '"bide  their  time."  The  queen  may 
await  a  pleasant  day  or  the  coming  drone. 
Moths  that  usually  meet  the  males  as  soon  as 
they  can  fly,  in  case  no  males  are  present,  may 
wait  for  days.  This  is  true,  also,  of  the  bee- 
moth.  She  may  wait  nolens  volens.  for  a 
suitor  must  come  before  he  can  be  accepted. 
Egg-laying  commences,  often,  the  very  next 
day  after  pairing  occurs:  always  very  soon. 
Agricultural  College.  Mich.  A.  J.  Cook. 


FEEDERS. 

TIIP:    TWO    TH.\T    I     I'HEFEIJ  :     HOW    TO     .M.\KK. 

This  spring  a  good  many  of  my  colonies  are 
short  of  stores.  I  have  been  experimenting  on 
feeders.  Nothing  in  the  price  lists  suited  me. 
I  wanted  to  feed  eai'ly  inside  of  the  hives,  with- 
out disturbing  any  honey-board  or  <iuilt.  as  I 
do  not  like  to  break  the  sealing  before  warm 
weather.  Some  of  my  hives  have  honey-boards 
with  a  %iiich  hole  in  them.  Others  have  quilts 
with  dry  sawdust  packing  on  top.  Now.  my 
feeders  must  be  simple,  cheap,  adapted  to  feed 
without  removing  covers;  must  kill  no  bees  nor 
waste  feed.     I  hav(!  two  that  fill  the  conditions. 


332 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


and  I  like  them  better  than  any  thing  I  have 
seen  yet.  The  first  is  a  quart  basin  of  cheap 
stamped  ware  with  al^inch  hole  cut  in  the 
bottom,  into  which  a  tube  is  soldered.  The  top 
of  the  tube  comes  to  within  )4.  inch  of  being 
even  with  the  top  of  the  basin.  Now  open  the 
hole  in  your  honey-board,  or  remove  packing 
and  cut  a  small  hole  in  the  quilt,  over  which 
place  the  basin  so  that  the  bees  can  come  up 
through  the  tube.  Make  a  tube  of  coarse  paper 
and  push  it  into  the  tin  tube  to  aid  the  bees  in 
climbing  up.  Fill  the  basin  with  syrup  as  far 
as  the  top  of  the  tube;  place  a  float  of  cloth  or 
any  thing  to  keep  the  bees  from  drowning. 
Now  cover  the  basin  over  with  paper  and  make 
it  as  warm  as  you  please  with  packing.  The 
bees  will  come  up  and  take  that  feed  in  cool 
weather,  and  no  openings  have  been  made  to 
allow  the  much -needed  heat  of  the  hive  to  es- 
cape. 

The  other  feeder  is  made  in  this  way:  Take 
a  Mason  quart  jar.  Break  the  porcelain  lining 
out  of  the  cover;  punch  a  dozen  or  more  small 
holes  in  the  cover  with  an  awl.  Now  get  a 
piece  of  pine  board,  ><  by  four  inches  square; 
with  an  extension  bit  bore  a  hole  through  it 
large  enough  to  receive  J^  inch  of  the  top  of  the 
jar.  When  the  cover  is  on,  fill  the  jar  with 
thin  syrup.  Screw  the  perf©rated  cover  on 
tightly;  place  the  block  over  the  hole  in  the 
honey-board  or  quilt;  insert  the  jar  and  insert 
in  the  block;  replace  packing,  etc.  The  bees 
Avill  suck  the  contents  out  of  the  jar  in  one  or 
two  days,  though  of  itself  it  will  not  run  out.  I 
think  this  is  an  improved  method  of  using  the 
Mason  jar  as  a  feeder.  Of  course  they  are 
cheap,  as  you  spoil  only  the  covers,  and  every 
one  has  empty  Mason  jars  not  in  use  at  this 
season  of  the  year. 

Many  feeders  are  recommended  that  are  not 
fit  to  use.  Wooden  butter-dishes  leak,  and  the 
syrup  goes  to  daub  up  the  packing.  They  are 
nice  to  have  in  an  apiary  to  save  an  occasional 
piece  of  broken  honey,  ijut  are  of  little  use  as 
feeders  except  in  feeding  candied  honey.  In 
this  case,  make  a  hole  in  the  dish  and  use  the 
same  as  the  basin  described  above.  Gray's 
feeder  is  not  good,  as  it  kills  bees  to  some  ex- 
tent. H.  Lathrop. 

Browntown,  Wis.,  April  9. 

[Your  circular  feeder— that  is.  the  first  one 
you  describe— is  very  similar  in  principle  to  the 
very  (excellent  Miller  feeder.  We  have  no  doubt 
that  it  will  woi'k  very  nicely.  The  second  one 
is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  slight  modifica- 
tion of  the  old-fashioned  pepper-box  feeder  that 
we  have  sold  for  so  many  years.  We  believe 
that  it  was  E.  France  who  first  called  attention 
to  this  feeder,  and  it  is  by  him  used  very  ex- 
tensively, even  at  the  present  day.] 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 


MRS.    HARRISON   IN   FLORIDA. 

Mr.  Editor:— It  appears  strange  to  one  who 
has  always  lived  at  the  North,  to  see  plants 
blooming  so  differently  from  what  we  have 
been  accustomed  to.  Fruit-trees  do  not  blos- 
som all  at  once,  but  continue  to  bloom  for  a 
long  time.  There  will  be  peaches  upon  the 
trees,  the  size  of  peas,  and  plenty  of  blossoms  at 
the  same  time.  The  peen-toos  commenced 
blooming  in  October.  Since  the  9th  of  January 
I  have  noted  peach-ti'ees  blooming,  and  there 
are  some  late  ones  to  bloom  yet. 

Bees  appear  to  be  doing  well,  and  commenced 
swarming  April  1.    They  are  gathering  honey 


from  orange  bloom,  tie-tie,  dewberry,  spider- 
woi't,  and  many  other  flowers  unknown  to  me. 
What  surprises  me  the  most  is,  that  goldenrod 
is  out  in  full  feather.  Inclosed  is  a  sprig  of  it. 
Bees  in  this  town  have  only  half  a  flight,  as 
half  of  it  is  the  bay.  There  are  not  many  col- 
onies kept  here,  and  all  that  I  have  seen  are 
blacks. 

I  leave  here  in  a  day  or  so.  en  route  for  the 
North  by  the  way  of  Wewahitchka,  to  visit  the 
noted  orange-groves  and  large  apiaries  located 
there.  1  long  for  home,  and  to  see  Gleanings, 
which  I  have  missed  for  some  time. 

Mrs.  L.  Harrison. 

St.  Andrews,  Fla..  Apr.  11. 


SULPHURIC  acid  IN  WAX-RENDERING;   HOW  TO 
PROPORTION   THE   WATER  AND   ACID. 

Will  you  please  state  in  Gleanings,  in  plain 
United  States,  how  many  spoonfuls  of  sulphuric 
acid  should  be  used  to  a  gallon  of  water  when 
rendering  old  combs.  Some  one  has  stated  it 
once  in  milliliters;  but  Dago  is  incomprehensi- 
ble to  the  average  American.  Does  the  use  of 
the  acid  injure  the  tin  vessels  in  which  the  wax 
is  rendered?  Must  the  combs  be  soaked  in  the 
solution  some  time  before  boiling,  or  can  we 
simply  pour  the  acid  into  the  water,  throw  in 
the  wax,  and  start  up  the  fire? 

Newhall,  Cal.,  March  26.      Wm.  G.  Heaves. 

[The  proportion  of  acid  that  we  have  recom- 
mended is  1  lb.  of  acid  to  4  pails  of  water.  This 
would  be  reducing  the  acid  about  100  times;  1 
lb.  of  acid  means  1  pint:  4  pails  would  make 
about  50  quarts;  1  drachm  is  equivalent  to 
about  1  teaspoonful.  Therefore  in  1  gallon 
there  would  be  sojiiewhere  about  1000  drachms 
or  1000  teaspoonfuls.  According  to  our  propor- 
tion you  would  want  to  take  about  10  teaspoon- 
fuls of  acid  to  a  gallon  of  water;  but  you  must 
remember  that  the  acid  will  attack  the  spoon 
unless  you  dip  it  in  melted  wax,  and  then  you 
will  destroy  the  proportion,  because  the  spoon 
won't  hold  as  much.  To  get  the  matter  correct- 
ly, measure  ten  teaspoonfuls  of  water  into  a 
glass  tumbler;  make  a  note  of  the  water-line; 
pour  out  the  water,  and  then  fill  up  with  acid 
to  this  water-line,  and  then  this  you  can  put 
into  youi'  gallon  of  water  and  have  the  propor- 
tions about  correct.  It  will  do  no  harm  to  in- 
crease the  amount  of  acid,  providing  your  wax 
is  very  dirty.  We  sometimes  make  it  in  pro- 
portion of  from  1  to  .50  and  1  to  75.  It  depends 
on  how  much  dirt  there  is  to  be  clarified  out. 
Use  a  kind  of  stone  crock  that  is  used  for  cook- 
ing; pour  in  your  water  and  then  the  acid,  and 
then  your  refuse  pieces  of  wax.  Let  it  boil  over 
a  slow  fire  for  a  couple  of  hours.  Move  it  back 
on  the  stove,  and  keep  it  just  barely  hot  for 
about  five  hours.  This  will  allow  all  impurities 
to  settle.  At  the  end  of  this  time  dip  off  the 
wax.  Be  careful  not  to  stii'  it  up  too  tiiuch. — 
Yes,  theracid  before  dilution,  and  to  a  propor- 
tionately less  extent  after,  will  injure  tin  uten- 
sils. Wooden  or  crockery  ware  should  be  used. 
No,  the  combs  do  not  need  to  be  soaked  before 
heating  the  acidulated  water.] 


IN    FAVOR  OF   ABSORBENTS. 

Ever  since  you  have  been  agitating  sealed 
covers  I  felt  prompted  to  write.  Such  an  article 
as  friend  Dadant's  ought  to  carry  conviction 
with  it.  I  have  had  bees  for  7  or  8  years;  have 
wintered  40  stands  some  of  the  time,  and — well, 
a  little  fishy — but  I  have  never  lost  a  single 
stand  by  being  poorly  wintered— have  never 
lost  more  than  four  or  five  from  (tny  cause  dur- 
ing the  winter  in  all  this  time.  Those  were 
queenless,  or  something  of  that  nature.  I  live 
ten  miles  north  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  have 


(.LKANINCJS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


3:^3 


liatl  some  |nrlt_\  had  wiiilcis  on  bees  licri'  too; 
hut  I  liavi'  never  used  sealed  covers.  l*erliai)S 
one  is  oocasionally  sealeii;  hut  a  very  large  per 
cent,  at  least  '.Ht.  liave  had  more  uiiward  venti- 
lation than  1  wanted,  on  account  of  (loorly  con- 
structed hives.  I  iiliniys  use  soinet hinfj;  similar 
to  the  Hill  device — a  piece  of  hurlap  spread 
over  tlie  top  of  the  device  and  the  bees,  and 
tlien  till  in  — not  full  if  a  two-story.  t)nt  full  or 
nearly  full  ifal'o-story — with  olii  cloths,  col- 
ton  or  wt)olen.  old  caipet.  etc.  (i.  F.  Avhks. 
Alherton.  I  ml.,  April  8. 


HOW   TO   (  .\rcil    IIOHHEKS   WITH    A    I'OKTKK   HKK- 
\-:sCAVK. 

Huring  the  drouth  las^t  fall  1  had  somi' tronlile 
witli  robber-hees;  and  after  trying  sevei-al  plans 
to  pi'event.  1  have  settleii  upon  one  nior(>  way 
of '■  heading  otf  the  little  rogues,  and  am  not 
quite  satisfied  that  I  am  right,  hence  this  letter 
to  you.  When  the  robbers  begin  another  run 
on  a  hive,  I  propos(»  to  plug  the  entrance  with  a 
Porter  bee-escape  to  point  in;  remove  the  top  of 
the  hive  and  (piilt.  and  substitute  double  wire 
clotli  (wiri"  al)out  one  inch  apart),  and  let  rob- 
bers and  all  run  in.  and  keep  tlteiii  tlicre  a  few 
days.  What  do  you  think  of  the  sclieme?  If 
all  right,  how  long  should  I  keep  them  cooped 
up  before  opening  the  hive? 

Mks.  a.  R.  Forman. 
Slatonville,  Ark.,  Mar.  1.5. 

[The  scheme  will  be  excellent;  and  although 
this  same  thing  has  been  proposed  before,  we  do 
not  remember  that  any  one  has  tried  it.  W'e 
should  be  glad  to  have  you  and  others  try  it. 
and  then  report.  It  will  catch  the  robbers;  and 
if  they  can't  get  out  to  tell  the  rest  of  their 
comrades,  they  can't  get  up  a  very  big  robbing.] 


KKKNEY    VS.   THE    HOHIZOXTAI.   WllilXCi. 

In  (ILEAXIXGS  for  18!»0,  page  371,  Mr.  E.  D. 
Keeney  gives  his  new  way  of  wiring  to  which 
the  members  of  the  Root  establishment  seem  to 
have  taken  a  liking  at  once.  Ernest  has  pro- 
posed wire  nails,  to  be  used  in  place  of  the 
staples  in  Keeney's  plan,  these  nails  to  be  bent 
to  a  hook.  This  was  a  great  improvement. 
On  page  5f)l.  friend  Hatch  makes  another  im- 
portant improvemimt  on  Keeney's  plan,  to 
which  Ernest  says:  "  I  like  your  improvement 
on  the  Keeney  method."  On  page  .x)7  he  says 
to  Keeney:  "  Your  method  of  wiring  is  working 
nicely,  and  it  will  probably  supei-s(!de  all  oth- 
ers.'' Now.  why  is  this  method  abandoned,  and 
the  horizontal  method  by  piercing  end-bars 
recommended?  Has  ii  proved  a  failure?  With 
me  the  former  is  done  more  rapidly,  and  gives. 
so  far,  good  satisfaction.  S. 

Klona,  Iowa,  March  '.>. 

[The  Keeney  wiring  as  improved  by  Hatch 
did  not  prove  to  be  a  failure.  With  heavf  or 
medium  brood  foundation  it  worked  v(ny  nice- 
ly: but  it  would  not  work  satisfactoi'ilv  with 
light  brood.  The  latter  gradi;  as  yoii  may 
know  is  considerably  cheaper  than  eitlier  of  the 
other  two.  and  as  this  works  nicely  with  tlie 
horizontal  wiring  we  gave  it  the  i)refeience.  It 
is  less  work  to  wii'e  on  the  horizontal  plan:  our 
girls  who  wire  many  hundreds  of  frames  will 
vouch  for  this.  Again,  the  Keeney  plan  did  not 
please  all.  because  the  foundation  would  bulge 
in  places.  We  recommend  the  horizontal  plan 
in  a  wfH'd  because  it  is  cheaper,  not  only  in 
tiqie  of  wiring  but  in  th(!  grad*^  of  foundation 
that  can  be  used  with  it.  It  should  be  remem- 
bered that  the  horizontal  wires  should  not  be 
drawn  too  tight,  otherwise  the  foundation  will 
bulge.] 


TMAT"KIN<i    »I;K  "    ANUIIIK     KA  M  HI.KIC  :       Al- 
TO.MATIf   8WAHMKKS    AND  UONKV  ADlIv 

TKHATION. 

lam  glad  the  *"  King-bee  of  the  Home  "  is 
safely  hived  again.  I  havc^  greatly  enjoyed  my 
imaginary  travels  \\ith  him.  I  expect' to  dravv 
my  head  within  the  shell  (clam)  if  I  tind  he  has 
any  idea  of  coming  this  way.  Whih;  we  Minne- 
st)ta  bee-kee|)ers  ar<'  a  line  and  distinct  race  for 
pui'e  product,  w<^  don't  want  any  of  our  |)atenls 
arid  methods  of  operating  interviewed  by  any 
oiu>.  not  ■•  in  it."  Thi>y  could  not  understand  the 
situation,  seen  through  their  Kodak. 

If  that  Rambler  sliould  ranil)le  thi'ough  here 
I  shall  turn  my  :.'()()  lb.  "/>»/ /if  .Wicc/;  "  (thorough- 
bred Oxford)  loose  on  him:  and  his  business 
set  up  will  Ix'guile  leisun;  hours  for  (li.EANlNGS 
rea(ters  for  a  wliole  fortnight. 

I  hope  you  will  tiy  to  help  us  all  you  can  to 
get  an  automatic  swarmer  successfully  at  work. 
It  will  be  a  wonderful  help  to  single-handed 
folks  who  till  the  soil  and  cultivate  the  bee.  I 
must  have  some  by  June  if  I  can. 

Regarding  adulteration,  my  brother  writes 
me  that,  wlien  at  work  in  canning-factories  in 
California,  all  their  jellies  and  all  theirextract- 
ed  honey  put  up  where  he  worked  was  three- 
fourths  glucose.  He  said  he  never  was  so  sur- 
prised, for  he  thought  where  such  a  supply  of 
pure  product  was  obtainable  such  things  as 
adulterants  were  never  used.  This  is  a  fact, 
Mr.  Root,  and  I  hope  you  will  use  every  effort 
to  expose  and  stop  the  frauds. 

Faribault,  Minn.,  Mar.  24.  L.  J.  Page. 

[We  are  not  willing  to  let  the  matter  stand 
right  here.  Can  not  affidavits,  or  sucii  evidence 
as  will  be  recognized  in  courts,  be  procured  to 
convict  these  adulterators?  Will  your  brother 
take  oath  to  such  statements?  and  if  so,  let's 
test  the  law  in  California.  W^e  should  be  glad 
to  get  legal  advice  from  some  one  of  our  sub- 
scribers in  California,  of  the  law  profession.] 


QUEEN  -  EXCLUDEK.S      FOB     EXTRACTING;      HOW 
THEY   WERE   PI-UGGEI)  UP  WITH    PROPOLIS. 

As  I  saw  a  statement  from  Mr.  A.  Sion.  Kyle, 
Texas,  about  propolizing  jjerforated  zinc,  I  will 
tell  you  what  hai)|)ened  to  melast  S])ring.  Just 
in  the  beginning  of  basswood  time  I  put  on  30 
zinc  excluders  ;  left  them  on  one  week  ;  and 
wlien  I  looked  in  the  upi)er  story  there  were 
hardly  any  bees  u|)  there.  I  thought  they 
might  be  too  weak,  wo  they  would  not  work  in 
the  second  story;  but  when  I  lifted  the  zinc  up  I 
found  they  were  sti'ong,  but  they  would  not  go 
through  the  zinc;  and  some  had  almost  all  the 
holes  lilled  up  with  propolis.  As  soon  as  I 
found  it  would  not  do  I  took  them  all  off.  and  I 
got  about :'.].")()  lbs.  of  extracted  honey  from  30 
swarms;  tnn  my  idea  is.  that,  if  I  had  left  them 
on  1  should  not  have  had  10  lbs.  apiece.  I  think 
they  are  great  quecsn,  bee,  and  honey  excluders 
in  our  Western  country.  I  will  try  a  fcnv  this 
season  again.    -  William  SeExMann. 

Boscobel,  Wis.,  Mar.  27. 

[This  seems  a  little  remarkable.  It  makes, 
however,  only  the  second  report  of  this  kind. 
All  others,  so  far  as  we  remember,  declare  in 
favor  of  the  zinc.  J.  F.  Mclntyre,  of  Fillmore, 
California,  uses  it  largely,  and  recommends  it 
to  his  l)ee-keei)ing  friends.  We  presume  your 
bees  were  working  on  the  sealed-cover  idea. 
While  the  fact  that  honey  began  to  l)e  stored 
a/(cr  you  removed  the  excluders  is  suggestive, 
it  may  have  been  only  an  accidental  coinci- 
dence. It  is  possible  that  the  honey  began  to 
flow  in  al)out  tiiat  time.  If  bees  don't  have 
much  to  do  they  will  j)lug  up  with  propolis;  but 
if  there  is  a  good  flow  of  honey  they  do  not 
bother  much  with  gumming.    It  looks  a  little 


334 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


as  if,  when  they  stopped  viy  the  zinc  holes,  little 
or  IK)  honey  was  coming  in  then.  J.  A.  Green 
suggests  that  such  rare  instances  are  due  to  poor 
covers.  Bees,  to  store  comb  lioney,  must  have 
their  receptacles  thoroughly  well  sealed  over.] 


ANOTHEH   SCHEME   FOR  TOP-BARS. 

Mr.  Calvert: — Below  see  two  ways  of  avoid- 
ing lateral  motion  in  top-bar  of  frames.  First, 
cut  a  notch  on  the  under  side  of  the  projection 


ORANGE-BLOSSOM  HONEY:  HOW  THE  NEW  COWAN 

REVERSIBLE   EXTRACTOR   COMPARES 

WITH   THE   NOVICE. 

Your  new  reversible  extractor,  the  "Cowan 
Eapid,"  received  a  few  days  ago,  works  nicely. 
I  have  thrown  out  the  last  100  gallons  with  it, 
and  I  must  say  it  is  a  boss  machine.  The  sam- 
ple of  honey  sent  was  drawn  light  from  the 
machine.  We  don't  have  honey  much  thicker 
than  that  here.  A  Novice  machine  would  hard- 
ly throw  it  out  as  clean  as  the  new  one  will. 

THE    BEE-ESCAPE.   AND    HOW*  IT   SAVES   LABOR. 

Some  question  the  practicability  of  the  bee- 
escape.  I  have  used  them  a  good  deal,  and  pi-o- 
nounce  them  a  good  thing.  They  have  no 
faults  if  you  understand  how  to  use  them. 
There  are  several  good  makes.  I  like  the  Por- 
ter. With  20  of  these,  one  day  last  week  I  took 
1000  pounds  of  honey  with  45  minutes'  labor — 1.5 
in  putting  the  escapes  on  in  the  evening,  and  30 
in  taking  the  honey  to  the  extracting-room  the 
next  morning.  Can  one  man  remove  the  same 
amount  of  honey  by  any  other  method  in  the 
same  time? 

It  might  not  be  out  of  the  way  to  say  that 
those  same  20  colonies  each  gathered  from  8  to 
10  pounds  of  honey  the  day  the  honey  was  re- 
moved. Would  they  have  done  this  if  the  old 
methodof  shaking  and  brushing  had  been  used? 
I  say  no. 

Our  spring  flow  is  at  a  close,  lasting  only 
about  10  days;  but  it  was  good  while  it  lasted. 
My  scale  hive  (on  average  colony)  averaged 
about  10  lbs.  per  day.  One  picked  colonv  gain- 
ed 17)^  lbs.  in  9  hours.  How's  that?  Will  the 
man  who  says  "orange"  does  not  yield  honey 
please  walk  up?  A.  F.  Brown. 

Huntington,  Fla.,  April  12. 


ANOTHER   METHOD  OF  PRODUCING  WAX  SHEETS. 

Did  you  ever  try  dipping  wax  for  foundation 
with  a  glass  vessel  tilled  with  ice  water?  My 
son  is  a  dentist,  and  to-day  he  is  preparing  wax 
(for  taking  impressions)  into  thin  sheets  about 
the  same  as  for  foundation.  Sheets  so  prepared 
are  very  smooth  and  nice.  Any  glass  vessel  six 
inches  in  diameter  would  make  a  sheet  18 inches 
long,  and  as  wide  as  the  bottle  or  vessel  is  long. 
The  cold  water  cools,  and  causes  the  wax  to  ad- 
here at  once;  and  from  what  I  have  seen  this 
morning  I  think  he  could  produce  one  sheet  per 
minute.  Perhaps  this  mode  is  not  new  to  you. 
If  it  is,  try  it  on  a  small  scale,  and  see  if  it  will 
not  beat  wood  all  together. 

Kenna,  W.  Va.,  Mar.  22.  Franklin  Garns. 

[We  have  never  made  sheets  in  the  way  you 
describe,  but  have  no  doubt  it  could  be  done  in 
that  way.  We  simply  dip  thin  boards  of  the 
right  size  into  melted  wax,  and  then  plunge 
them  into  ice  or  cold  water.  We  can  thus  make 
the  sheets  much  faster  than  one  a  minute.] 


ITALIANS  GATHERING  TWICE    AS    MUCH    HONEY 
AS   BLACKS. 

I  notice  some  of  the  bee-keepers  prefer  black 
bees  to  tlie  Italians.  Well,  they  can  take  them 
for  my  part.  I  have  both  blacks  and  Italians, 
and  I  say  positively  that  my  Italians  gather 
twice  the  honey  per  colony  that  my  blacks  do. 
I  will  admit  that  the  cai)i)ings  on  the  sections 
taken  from  my  blacks  are  a  little  whiter,  when 
they  have  any.  which  is  not  often  the  case. 

Lexington,  Tex.,  Mar.  23.    Wm.  Douglass. 


of  the  top-bar  -^  or  ^  deep,  and  ,V  wide;  or, 
second,  let  the  bottom-bar  project  within  jV  of 
the  side  of  the  hive.  I  find  if  a  hive  is  cut  like 
No.  2  no  tin  rest  is  needed.  R.  T.  W. 

Little  Britain.  Canada. 

[We  'have  no  doubt  that  your  scheme  would 
work  very  nicely,  Mr.  R.  T.  Whatsyername; 
but  the  fii-st  thing  you  would  encounter  would 
be  the  change  in  the  length  of  the  top-bar,  and 
that  seems  almost  out  ot  the  question— at  least, 
any  radical  change  on  standard  sizes.  There 
would  be  an  advantage,  however,  in  having  a 
bee-space  around  the  ends  of  the  top-bars  as 
well  as  around  their  sides;  but  practical  bee- 
keepers seem  to  prefer  the  top-bar  run  clear  up 
to  the  end  of  the  rabbet.] 

AUSTRALIAN     BEE-KEEPERS   AND   WHAT    THEY 
PROPOSE   TO   DO   AT   THE   WORLD'S   FAIR. 

The  bee-keepers  of  New  South  Wales  are 
just  aiTanging  for  a  conference  to  be  held  at 
West  Maitland,  in  this  colony,  and  to  forward 
an  exhibit  to  your  Chicago  exhibition.  Our 
paternal  government  is  taking  the  exhibition 
affairs  up  in  good  earnest,  and  the  colonies 
should  be  well  represented.  I  hope  to  go  over 
and  see  a  small  portion  of  America  in  1893. 
We  have  heard  so  much  about  it  that  one  feels 
quite  anxious  to  see  such  a  wonderful  country. 
C.  F.  Jeanncret. 

Hunter's  Hill.  New  South  Wales,  Feb.  16. 

[Good  for  Australia  and  her  bee-keepers! 
We  always  thought  your  people  were  progress- 
ive. We  shall  be  glad  to  welcome  you.  and 
hope  you  will  come  so  as  to  attend  tlie  North 
American  convention,  which  will  be  held  at  the 
World's  Fair.]       

OLD   FOUNDATION,   AND    HOW   TO   RESTORE   IT. 

On  reading  J.  A.  Green's  article  on  page  239  I 
was  anxious  to  see  whether  any  process  would 
be  mentioned  by  the  editor  whereby  old  hard 
foundation  may  be  restored:  but  I  see  that  no 
remedy  wa^i  suggested.  1  have  a  friend,  a  bee- 
keeper, who  says  that,  by  dipping  in  warm 
water,  foundation,  no  matter  how  old  and  hard, 
can  be  brought  back  to  its  original  quality. 
This  is  an  important  matter.  I  should  like  to 
hear  from  others  on  this  subject. 

Browntown,  Wis.,  April  9.         H.  Lathrop. 

THREE   LAYING   QUEENS   IN   THE   SAME   HIVE. 

I  have  a  hive  with  three  laying  queens  in  it, 
and  all  the  bees  pass  in  and  out  through  the 
same  entrance.  Let  us  know  how  many  times 
you  ever  had  the  same  thing.  I  have  tried, 
this  spring.  Doolittle's  process  of  raising  queens, 
and  find  it  \vorl<s  well.  I  got  some  queens,  but 
not  a  single  drone?    What  will  the  harvest  be? 

Providence,  R.  I.  C.  H.  Peabody. 

[We  never  had  three  laying  queens  in  a  hjve 
at  one  time,  but  several  times  have  had  two. 
We  do  not  remember  that  anyone  else  has  re- 
ported ihat  many  at  a  time,  though  we  have  no 
doubt  that  it  has  happened  many  times.] 


1892 


(iLEANINCJS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


335 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM    A.   I.  ROOT. 


SOMK    KODAK    VIEWS    FKOM    KKGIONS    AI-HKADY 
I'ASSKI)   OVKH. 

If  you  will  turn  to  pago  172  of  our  issue  for 
Mart'li  1  you  will  lind.  wlierc  I  was  dcsoriliing 
till'  inoiintain  sticain  tlirougli  the  canyon  near 
frifuil  Molntyrc's.  1  usi'd  tlu'sc  words:  "The 
stones,  big  and  little,  have  been  tumbled  and 
rolled  by  liie  water  for  so  many  ages  that  most 
of  them  are  beautifully  rounded  and  polished; 
hence  it  is  all  the  moi'e  risky  clambeiing  among 
them.  In  places  the  water  comes  down  so  steep 
that  it  is  really  a  succession  of  rapids.  The 
water  of  these  mountain  streams  is  usually 
beautifully  clear,  pure,  and  cool."  Well,  the 
rocks  and  the  water,  as  it  rushed  and  boiled 
and  sparkled  through  the  pebbles  little  and  big. 
made  such  a  fascinating  picture  to  me  that  I 
resolved  to  try  the  Kodak  on  it.  Below  you  see 
the  result. 


A    VIEW  FKOM    A    MOUNTAIN   CANYON    NKAK   FRIEND   M'INTYRE'S. 


Some  of  the  stones  are  beautifully  white,  as 
you  see:  others  are  colon-d.  Some  are  com- 
parativ<  ly  soti,  while  othiis  are  like  flints,  and 
a  few  are  like  jasper  and  carnelian.  Where 
the  water  is  puie  and  soft,  the  rocks  are  usually 

clean.    That  is  one  reason  why  I  love  soft-water    got  it  all  settled,  and  proceeded  home.    I  could 
springs  and  rivulets.    Thf-y  leave  no  deposit  of    not  leave  Devil's  Gate,  however,  without  trying 


pure,  adds  much  toll xhilaralion.  The  pic- 
ture gives  you  something  of  an  idea  of  how  it 
boils  and  sparkles  and  babbles— a  babbling 
brook  truly,  but  on  a  rather  large  scale,  as  you 
may  lind  to  your  sorrow  if  your  foot  should 
happen  to  slip  on  one  of  those  polished  stones. 

1  told  von  that  Mrs.  Hoot  followed  as  long  as 
her  strengtii  held  out:  then  she  rested  while 
friend  Mclntyre  and  I  wenton  loe\|)lore  Devil's 
Gate.  The  further  wci  explored  into  the  moun- 
tains, however,  the  more  wild  and  weird  it 
looked,  until  one  began  to  wonder  wliere  he 
would  end  if  he  kept  on  climbing  and  exploring. 
As  there  was  much  to  see,  however,  we  decided 
that  w(^  cotild  not  afford  the  time  to  go  any 
further,  especially  as  this  kind  of  exploring 
must  all  be  done  on  foot,  or,  rather,  on  hands 
and  feet.  So  we  made  our  way  back  to  where 
Mrs.  Root  had  been  left.  I  had  just  been 
thinking  that  it  was  almost  a  dangei-ons  place 
for  any  one  to  be  alone,  when  in  this  wild 
mountain  canyon:  and  then  my  vivid  imagina- 
tion suggested,  "  What  if  some  of  these  reckless 
characters  away  off  here  in  California  should 
be  prowling  round  and 
find  a  woimtn  off  here 
alone,  without  anybody 
near  enough  to  even 
hear  her  call?"  We 
reached  the  spot  where 
Mrs.  Root  agreed  to 
wait.  Sure  enough,  she 
was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 
We  called  faintly  at  first, 
then  louder.  No  answer 
— not  a  sound  was  to  be 
heard  except  the  rushing 
of  the  waters  over  the 
stones.  My  heart  began 
to  beat  violently.  The 
lonely  feelings  came  back 
that  I  told  you  about, 
and  my  thoughts  ran 
rapidly  from  the_  point 
where  we  met  in  San 
Francisco  up  to  the 
present  time.  Ohl  why 
did  I  let  her  go  out  of  my 
sight  and  hearing  in 
such  a  place  as  this? 
While  the  "  poetry  "  part 
of  the  situation  was  fad- 
ing away  at  a  pretty  rap- 
id rate,  friend  Mclntyre 
shouted  still  loudei'.  and 
then  we  began  exploring 
around  further  from  the 
point  where  she  had 
agreed  to  stay.  All  at 
once  we  caught  sight  of 
hei-  behind  a  rock  down 
near  the  rushing  waters 
that  prevented  her  from 
hearing  our  voice.  My 
anxiety  and  forebodings  disappeared  at  once, 
even  if  my  heart  did  not  at  once  stop  its  wild 
beating,  and  I  am  afraid  I  began  to  scold  be- 
cause sh(!  did  not  keep  her  promise  and  slay 
where  we  left  her  until   our  reluin.     Well,  we 


chemicals  on  the  sticks  and  stoni's.  to  make 
everything  slimy,  discolored,  and  untidy.  As 
there  is  a  great  demand  for  pure  water  for 
drinking  purposes,  these  soft- water  streams 
down  the  mountain  are  hunted  up  and  piped 
many  miles.  The  nights  in  California  are  cool, 
especially  in  the  winter  time;  therefore,  al- 
though it  may  be  quite  warm  in  the  middle  of 
the  day.  the  water  coming  down  these  shady 
canyons  is  almost  always  beautiful  for  slaking 
thirst;  and  the  abundance  of  it,  so  fresh  and 


the  Kodak  once  more.  At  the  right  of  the  pic- 
ture you  get  a  glimpse  of  where  the  sun  has 
illuminated  a  corner  of  one  of  those  great  red- 
dish jasperlike  rocks.  Mrs.  Root  and  finend 
Mclntyre  are  in  the  distance,  and  a  small  can- 
yon opens  up  through  the  mountain  above 
their  heads.  If  a  railroad  should  ever  run  up 
these  mountains,  it  will  open  up  one  of  the 
finest  bits  of  scenery  there  is  to  be  found  almost 
anywheie.  Whyl  it  really  makes  me  thirsty  a 
I  see  that  gu.'-hing  stieam  of  living  waters  as  i'' 


336 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


sweeps  by.  close  to  friend   Mclntyre's  feet,  as    ings.     By  the  way,  there  are  stores  and  offices, 
you  see  lii  the  cut.  halls  for  public  naeetlngs  and  theatricals,  to  say 

\Ve  will  now  go  back  again  to  San  Diego.  I  nothing  of  billiard-rooms  and  the  like,  all  with- 
in this  one  hotel.  We  en- 
tered this  inner  court  by 
passing  through  a  drug- 
store. When  I  visited  it 
three  years  ago  it  was  the 
finest  thing  in  the  way  of 
a  floral  garden  1  ever 
saw;  yes,  it  indeed  eclips- 
ed every  thing  in  the 
shape  of  greenhouses  and 
conservatories  that  I 
have  seen  in  any  of  the 
large  cities  or  exposi- 
tions. You  see.  the  cli- 
mate hiM'e  at  San  Diego 
is  such  that  almost  every 
thing  will  grow  in  the 
open  air  that  grows  in 
any  part  of  the  world. 
Exotic  flowers,  such  as  I 
had  never  seen  before, 
were  here,  thriving  with 
wonderful  luxuriance 
right  in  the  open  air. 
Humming  and  other 
kinds  of  birds  of  gaudy 
plumage  also  helped  to 
add  interest  to  the  scene, 
while  the  thunder  of  the 
waves  just  a  few  feet 
away  furnished  music  for 
an  accompaniment.  One 
thing  that  added  largely 
to  the  beauty  of  this  gar- 
den was,  that  trained 
gardeners  were  constant- 
ly removing  not  only 
every  flower,  but  almost 
SCENE  NEAR  devil's  GATE,  SESPE  CANYON.  VKNTUR.\  CO.,  cAL.        every    leaf    or    twig,    as 

told  you,  three  years  ago, 
of  San  Diego's  wonderful 
natural  harbor,  and  of 
the  motor  railway  that 
runs  away  out  into  the 
ocean  on  a  thin  little 
streak  of  sand,  finally 
ending  in  a  sort  of  island, 
or  peninsvila,  where  is 
situated  tlie  celebrated 
Coronado  Hotel.  P'or  a 
time  this  was  said  to  be 
the  finest  and  largest 
hotel  in  the  world.  Since 
it  was  built,  however, 
other  hotels  have  eclips- 
ed it.  I  do  not  know 
whether  it  pays  expenses 
or  not — I  ani  afraid  it 
does  not;  for,  to  get  even 
a  moderate  interest  on 
the  capital  invested,  it 
would  require  a  higher 
state  of  prosperity  than 
the  city  of  San  Diego 
seems  at  present  to  en- 
joy. As  pictures  of  this 
famous  hotel  have  been 
scattered  far  and  wide. 
I  shall  not  attempt  one 
here.  Inside  of  the  build- 
ing or  buildings  (for  it 
is  really  an  aggregation 
of  many  buildings)  is  a 
court,  or  garden,  of  per- 
haps a  quarter  of  an 
acre.  There  is  no  open- 
ing through  from  the 
outside  into  this  garden,  a  gi.tmpse  from  the  interioi;  court  in  the  center  of  the  coro- 
except  through  the  build-  nado  hotel,  coronado  beach,  san  diego  co.,  cal. 


IS'.fJ 


GLEANINCS  IN  1U<:E  CUI/rURE. 


337 


soon  as  it  liad  passcii  iis  |)iiiiit'.  A  bcaiilirul 
picoi'  of  staliiaiy  siooil  in  oiic  ooiiicr  of  tiic 
gardi^ii.  ami  inmitiu'ialile  fountains  oast  a  sil- 
very spiay  all  foniui  about  it.  1  ft'aicci  llic  Ko- 
dak I'ould  iiaiiily  do  such  an  ('xiliil)lion  jiislici'. 
but  1  niadc  tlic  atlcnipL  nolwIMistaiuiing.  and 
you  i-an  sec  tin-  result. 

Il  gives  you  a  little  glimpse  of  a  nartof  the 
hott'l  balconv  that  sunounds  tlie  wlioU'  inner 
court.  The  lower  porch  is  not  visible,  but  you 
can  see  the  upper  ones.  The  rooms  for  the 
guests  all  look  in  upon  this  tropical  garden: 
ihey  also  look  out  upon  tlie  other  side  on  the 
(X'ean  where  its  restless  waves  are  constantly 
pounding  the  white  saiuly  beach  as  they  throw 
the  briny  spray  and  give  forth  at  times  their 
deafening  and  unceasing  roar.  Every  one  who 
goes  to  the  I'acilic  coast — at  least  all  who  ven- 
ture near  San  Diego — should  visit  Coronado 
Heach  and  look  over  the  great  hotel.  Beauti- 
ful grounds  and  grassy  lawns  cover  several 
acres  of  ground  around  the  liotcl.  liath-houses. 
museums,  ostrich- gardens,  and  other  attrac- 
tions, are  to  be  found  in  the  vicinity  of  this 
popular  resort. 


OURSELVES   ANDOUR  NEIGHBORS. 


Ye  are  not  vour  own,  for  ye  are  bought  with  a 
price.— I.  Cou.  6:19.  %). 

A  little  bit  of  a  yellow-covered  booklet  came 
floating  through  the  mails,  all  the  way  from 
Melbourne.  Australia.  On  the  back  of  it  we 
found  written. "'  F.  Chambers.  CJladstone  Build- 
ing, Franklin  St."  The  book  is  by  George 
Miiller;  and  the  title  of  it  is.  "  Scriptural  Ad- 
vice to  Christians  Conc(M-ning  their  Earthly 
Occupation.''  The  very  luinute  1  read  the  title 
it  occurred  to  me  that  I  should  be  very  glad  in- 
deed of  some  advice  from  Miiller  hiiuself 
on  this  perplexing  question;  hence  I  turned 
with  eagerness  to  the  tirsi  page,  and  read  the 
following  lines: 

The  cliildren  of  God,  who  are  strangers  and  pil- 
grims on  eartli,  have  at  all  times  liud  difficulty  in 
tlie  world,  for  they  ai'e  not  (tt  home,  l)ut//r)/n  home; 
nor  should  they,  until  the  lelurri  of  the  Loid  Jesus, 
exi)ect  it  to  be  otherwise  witli  tlieni.  FJut  while 
this  is  true,  it  is  also  true  lh;it  the  Loid  has  pi'ovid- 
ed  u".  in  all  our  ditlirullies.  wit li  sotiietliiii^  in  his 
own  word  to  meet  them.  All  difficulties  niav  lie 
overcome  by  acting  according  to  tlie  word  of  God. 
At  this  time  I  more  especially  desire  to  point  out 
the  nieiins  whereby  the  children  of  God,  who  are 
engaged  in  any  earthly  calling,  may  be  abletoover- 
conie  the  difficulties  which  arise  from  competition 
in  liusiness,  too  great  a  number  of  persons  being 
occupied  in  the  same  calling,  stagnation  of  trade, 
and  tlie  like. 

I  read  the  above  again  and  again.  I  have 
read  it  at  the  noon  service,  and  I  have  read  it 
in  the  prayer-meetings,  both  young  and  old; 
and  every  tirru^  I  read  it  the  concluding  words 
seem  to  me  like  a  glimpse  of  clear  sky  through 
the  troubles  that  gather  like  clouds  in  regard 
to  finance,  labor,  capital,  etc.  The  special 
point.about  too  many  people  being  occuiiied  in 
the  same  calling  is  one  that  interested  m<' 
greatly.  While  in  New  Orleans  there  was 
much  talk  about  too  many  people  being  engag- 
ed in  the  cotton  business,  and  hence  the  low 
prices  and  stagnation.  At  the  horticultural 
institute.  Jackson.  Mississippi,  the  speakers 
dwelt  especially  on  this  one  theme:  and  in  the 
North  we  have  all  heard  the  talk  about  7.5-cent 
wheat,  and  the  conclusion  that  many  seemed 
rushing  to.  that  "  farming  don't  pay."  What 
is  the  trouble'.'  Let  me  give  you  a  few  words 
more  from  oiw  good  friend  Miiller.  By  the  way. 
I  shall  have  to  ski])  a  good   deal:   butw  hiMiever 


1  (haw  the   line  it  seems   really  too  bad  lo  omit 
what  follows: 

Now,  supjiose  the  believer  is  in  a  calling  in  which 
hi'  can  abide  with  (iod,  the  next  point  to  he  settled 
is;  Why  ilii  I  ((iiTii  on  this  IniKiniss,  i>r  irhn  inn  I  tii- 
U<i<i'<l  ill  ""'••<  ''■'"''  '"•  i)nilissi(iii  y  III  most  inslaiK'es, 
so  far  as  my  experience  goes,  which  I  have  gathered 
ill  mj'  seiAice  among  the  saints  dmliig  the  last 
forty-tlve  years,  I  lielie\'eltie  answer  would  he:  "1 
am  eiigageil  in  my  earthly  calling,  that  I  may  earn 
the  means  of  obtaining  the  necessaries  of  life  for 
m.vseir  and  family."  Hi-ie  is  the  chief  error  from 
wliicli  almost  all  the  rest  of  the  eirois,  which  are 
entertained  by  the  cliildren  of  (Jod.  relat  ive  to  their 
c:illing,  spiing.  It  is  no  rijiht  and  scriptural  mo- 
tive, to  he  engaged  in  a  trade,  business,  or  profes- 
sion, //km ///  in  order  to  earn  t  lie  means  for  the  ob- 
taining of  the  necessaries  of  life  for  ourselves  and 
family,  hiil  in-  xlmiilil  inuk  lin-ausr  it  is  tin  Lunl  s  will 
viDici  luiutj  lis.  This  is  plain  fi'om  the  following  pas- 
sages: 1  thess.  4:11,  l;i;  -'  Tliess.  3:10— 13;  Eph.  4:28. 
It  is  quite  t  i-iie.  that,  in  general,  the  Lord  provides 
the  necessaries  of  life  liy  means  of  our  ordinary 
calling;  but  that  that  is  not  tlip  irasim  why  we 
should  work,  is  ])laiii  enough  from  the  considera- 
tion, that,  if  our  possessing  the  necessaries  of  life 
deiiended  upon  our  ability  of  working,  we  could 
never  have /(■(■( (/';//!  from  tni.rictjj;  foi' we  sliou Id  al- 
ways have  to  say  to  ourselves.  And  what  shall  I  do 
when  I  am  too  old  to  work  'f  or  when,  by  reason  of 
sickness,  I  am  unable  to  earn  my  bread  ?  But  if, 
on  the  other  hand,  we  are  engaged  in  our  earthly 
calling  because  it  is  tlie  will  of  the  Lord  coitccniinu  us 
tlidt  ICC  should  work,  and  that  thus  laboring  we  may 
provide  for  our  families  and  also  be  able  to  sup- 
port the  weak,  the  sick,  the  aged,  and  the  needy, 
then  we  have  good  and  scriptural  reason  to  say  to 
ourselves:  Should  it  please  the  Lord  to  lay  me  on  a 
bed  of  sickness,  or  keep  me  otherwise,  by  reason  of 
infirmity,  old  age,  or  want  of  employment,  from 
earning  my  liread  by  means  of  the  labor  of  my 
hands,  my  business,  or  my  profession,  he  will  yet 
provide  for  me.  Because  we  who  believe  are  ser- 
vants of  Jesus  Christ,  who  has  bought  us  with  his 
own  precious  blood,  and  are  not  our  own,  and  be- 
cause this  our  pi'eeious  Lord  and  Master  has  com- 
manded us  to  work,  therefore  we  work;  and,  in  d/)- 
iiKj  so,  our  Lord  will  provide  for  us;  but  whether  in 
this  way  or  any  other  way,  he  is  sure  to  provide  for 
us;  for  we  labor  in  obedience  to  him;  and  if  even  a 
just  earthly  master  gives  wages  to  his  servants,  the 
Lord  will  surely  see  to  it  that  we  have  our  wages,  if 
in  obedience  to  him  we  are  engaged  in  our  calling, 
and  not  for  our  own  sake. 

When  I  first  got  tlie  book  I  read  the  above 
extracts  to  Mrs.  Root,  as  we  sat  together  one 
evening,  without  telling  her  who  the  author 
was.  When  I  had  tinished  I  said,  "  There, 
what  do  you  think  of  that?  Who  should  you 
judge  wrote  this  little  book?"  and  ]  held  it  up. 
She  replied, '•  Why,  I  am  sure  I  cati  not  tell; 
but  it  evidently  comes  from  somebody  who 
stands  on  a  higher  plane  of  spirituality  than 
the  most  of  us  do."  Then  when  I  told  her  that 
it  was  George  Miiller  we  both  had  to  laugh.  In 
very  truth,  Miiller  does  stand  on  a  higher 
spiritual  plane  than  the  rest  of  us;  and,  by  the 
way,  it  does  seem  to  me  as  if  the  gr(>at  wide 
world — th(!  business  world  as  well  as  the  Chris- 
tian world — were  passing  Miiller  by,  giving  him 
and  his  work  but  iitth?  thought  or  attention.  I 
once  dreamed  that  I  discovered  a  machine  or 
principle  for  navigating  the  air;  and  I  expected, 
of  course,  the  whole  world  would  stop  its  work 
and  look  while  I  deiuonstrated  over  their  heads 
and  before  their  eyes  my  new  principle.  1  was 
a  good  deal  disappointed  because  folks  did  not 
pay  very  much  attention  to  lue  or  to  my  "  navi- 
gation." Some  of  them  stopped  their  work  and 
looked  a  minute  or  two.  and  then  they  went  on 
hoeing  corn  and  driving  business  as  usual.  In 
fact,  a  great  part  of  them  did  not  look  up  at  all. 
They  evidently  felt  content  to  stay  on  the 
fjrdund  and  let  folks  navigate  the  air  who  felt 
that  way.  So  in  regard  to  Miiller.  He  came 
upon  the  spiritual  and  financial  world  so  sud- 
den, that,  for  a  tiiiH-.  it  was  almost  startling.  A 
f(!vv  people  stopped  and  considered   the   matter. 


338 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


Some  wondered  for  a  while  if  we  had  not  all 
been  making  a  great  mistake — a  mistake  be- 
cause we  lacked   in   faith.     Miiller    loved   hu- 
manity; at  least,  he  did  after  the  Holy  Spirit 
made  its  dwellingpiacc^  in  his  heart.    Then  he 
began  to  u^nrk  and   pnnj.    He  believed  it  was 
not  God's  will   that  the   homeless  ones  of  the 
gi'ea*^  city  of  London   should  grow  up  educated 
to  sin  and  crime.    He  had  faith  to  believe  that 
God  would  furnish  the  means  for  a  reformation. 
The  great  busy  world  looked  on  and   concluded 
that  it  must  be  a  siring  of  couiciclences,  or  that 
it  was  just  a  ■•  happin-so,"  and   could  not  last 
very  long.     But  years  go  and  come,  and   there 
are  few  business  enterprises  on  earth  that  seem 
more  flrmly  established  than    Miiller's  work. 
Now  for  a  consideration  of  some  of  the  state- 
ments  he  makes.    A  man   who  is  industrious 
and  diligent  that  he  may  obtain  the  means  for 
supporting  his  wife  and  family,  is,  according  to 
Miiller,  making  a  rnlsPike.    1  do  not  suppose 
that   he  means  that  the  above  is  not  a  praise- 
worthy object,  and  really   above  the  heads  of 
some  of  us;  that  is,  we  have  people  all  about 
us  who  do  not  take  care  of  their  wives   and 
children — in   fact,  some  who  neglect  or  refuse 
to  provide  even  the  necessaries  of  life.     If  these 
people  can  not  be  moved  by  any  higher  motive, 
I  should   most  strongly   urge  this;  but  for  all 
that,  there  is  a  higher  plane  to  live  on,  and  a 
higher  motive    for    exertion.    This  matter  of 
laying  up  something  for  a  rainy  day.  or  for 
sickness,  or  for  old   age,  that  is  so  often   talked 
about,  and  so  often  discussed,  what  is  it  but 
selfishness  after  all?    A  missionary  from  China 
gave   us  a  glimpse  of  what  a  nation  is  without 
Christianity,  by   remarking  that,  if  a  comrade 
were  drowning,  very  frequently  the  natives  re- 
fuse to  go  to  his  rescue;  and  a  poor  fellow  act- 
ually drowned    because  the   missionary   could 
not  make  some  fishermen  move  quick  enough 
to  go  to  his   aid.      They  n'fused   to  stir  until 
he  would  give  them  a  sum  of  money  something 
like   five  dollars.     When   he  told  them  at  once 
that  he  would  give  it,  they  insisted   on  having 
the  money   first.    By  the  time  the  money  was 
handed   over,  the   poor  man   was  drowned.    I 
saw  a  newspaper  statement   in   regard   to  the 
recent  flood  in   Mississippi,  in  our  own  United 
States  of  America,  where  the  colored  folks  re- 
fused to  stir  a  peg  to  the  relief  of  other  colored 
people  until   they  had   been  paic? /o?' laboring 
for  the  rescue  of  tlieir  own  people;  and,  further- 
more, they  insisted  on  having   their  pay  before 
they  went  to  work.     I  am   greatly   surprised  at 
this,  for  I  had   formed  a  pretty  favorable  opin- 
ion of  our  colored   population  in  the  South— at 
least  of  the  intelligent  and  educated  ones.    I 
hope  it  is  a  mistake,  and   not  true;  or,  if  tine, 
that  there  were  only  a  few.  comparatively,  who 
took  this  stand.     Had   it   been  their  own  rela- 
tives   and    children,  very   likely  these    people 
would  have  stirred   themselves  at  once;  but  as 
it  was  somebody  else  they  didn't  care   particu- 
larly.   Now,  the  man   who  is  simply  trying  to 
lay   up  something   for  a  rainy  day,  or  against 
old    age,    sickness,    and    the    like,  is  a  good 
deal   after    this    fashion:    and   if  he  steps   no 
further,  or  goes  no  higher  in  his  plan  of  life- 
work,  he  may  both  lie  and  steal  in  order  to  get 
the   wherewith    for  a  rainy  day  or  for  old  age. 
Years    ago.    when    we    had     saloons    here    in 
Medina.  I  went  to  a  neighbor  and  remonstrated 
because  he  proposed  opening  a  bar  in  his  hotel. 
He  said  that  he  nmst  do  something  to  earn  the 
wherewith  to  support   his   family  and  educate 
his  children:  therefore  he  opened  the  bar.    Be- 
fore the  children   w(>re   educated,  however,  he 
filled  a  drunkard's  grave,  and  they  had  to  edu- 
cate themselves.     Miiller  says.  "  If  our  possess- 
ing the  necessaries  of  life  depended  upon  our 
working,  we  cOuld   never  have  freedom   from 


anxiety."  There  we  have  it.  A  man  who  is 
trusting  to  his  own  powers  of  mind  and  body — 
one  who  is  trusting  in  the  probability  that  he 
inay  have  health,  etc..  has  great  need  to  be 
anxious,  for  all  these  things  are  but  luck  and 
chance;  but,  on  the  contrary,  when  he  is  trust- 
ing on  the  strong  arm  of  the  Lord,  and  has 
faith  in  him  instead  of  in  poor  feeble  human 
brain  and  muscle,  then  may  he  be  at  peace,  for 
"  the  Lord  uiill  provide."  Then,  again,  there 
is  something  wonderfully  comforting  in  the 
little  text  I  have  chosen.  I  got  it  from  Miiller's 
book — '•  Ye  are  not  your  own.  for  ye  are  bought 
with  a  price."  Oh  I  am  so  glad  that  I  am  not 
my  own!  It  fairly  makes  my  heart  thrill  to 
feel  that  Christ  Jesus  cared  so  much  forme 
that  he  really  wanted  me  to  such  an  extent 
that  he  of  his  own  free  will  and  choice  bought 
me  with  a  price.  Therefore  I  am  his.  He  owns 
me,  and  I  am  not  my  own.  I  remember  the 
dreary  years  of'my  earlier  life  when  I  called 
myself  my  own.  t  had  become  so  old  that  I 
was  no  longer  under  my  mother's  charge,  and 
my  good  father  had  decided  to  let  me  plan  for 
myself.  For  a  time  I  thought  it  was  very  nice 
to  be  my  own  boss  and  master.  It  was  stepping 
out  into  pretty  broad  liberty  when  I  felt  myself 
no  longer  accountable  to  any  one.  I  did  not 
think  of  God— ill  fact.  I  thought  I  was  all-suffi- 
cient. How  soon  I  learned  my  mistake  I  Have 
you  not  learued  it  too.  dear  brother  and  sister? 
Ohl  I  do  hope  you  have  reached  the  point 
where  you  felt  as  I  expi'essed  it  last  issue — 
"  I  am  weak;  but  thou  art  mighty.'"  Again,  the 
man  who  is  not  working  or  thinking  about  lay- 
ing up  soinething  for  old  age  or  a  rainy  day.  or 
for  the  childi'en,  has  something  to  spare  for 
missionary  work.  Miiller  says,  in  his  quaint 
way,  page  14  of  the  little  book: 

I  do  not  tind  in  the  whole  New  Testament  <ine  sin- 
gle passage  in  which,  eitlier  directly  or  indireetly, 
exhortations  are  given  to  provide  aK'ainst  deadnes^ 
in  business,  bad  debts,  and  sickness,  by  laying  up 
money. 

What  a  thought!  An  appeal  may  come  for 
the  suffering  people  in  the  South,  or  even  from 
across  the  ocean,  and  you  may  say  to  yourself, 
"  Well.  I  should  like  to  give  something  with  the 
rest  of  you.  But  suppose  I  should  get  sick,  or 
should  have  losses  in  business,  then  what  a  sad 
thing  it  would  be  if  I  had  sent  the  money  away 
that  I  needed  myself!"  I  wonder  if  there  is  a 
professing  Christian  whose  eye  meets  this  who 
has  been  guilty  of  such  reasoning.  Miiller 
gives  a  great  list  of  texts  in  this  direction.  Here 
are  a  couple  of  them: 

"Tliereis  tliat  scattereth  and  yet  increaseth;  and 
tliere  is  that  witlilioldetli  more  tlian  is  meet,  but  it 
tendetli  to  poverty.  The  liberal  soul  shall  be  made 
fat;  and  lie  that  watereth  shall  be  watered  also 
himself"  (Prov.  11:24,  25'.  In  connection  with  1 
Cor.  16:2,  I  would  also  direct  my  brethren  in  the 
Lord  to  tlie  promise  made  in  Luke  6:;i0,  "  Give,  and 
it  shall  be  given  unto  you;  good  measure.  i>i'essed 
down,  and  shaken  together, and  running  over. shall 
men  give  into  your  l)osom.  For  with  the  same  mea- 
sure that  ye  mete  withal  it  shall  be  me;isured  to  you 
again." 

And  now.  dear  friends,  I  am  coming  to  a 
thought  that  has  been  on  my  mind  for  a  long 
time— in  fact,  something  has  been  said  in  regard 
to  it  in  these  pages  already.  It  is.  the  starving 
brothers  and  sisters  in  Russia.  Our  church  is 
to  make  a  contribution  next  Sunday.  I  have 
been  urging  a  long  while:  and  when  they  de- 
cided to  wait  until  next  Sunday,  I  made  the 
remark  that  ever  so  many  hundreds  and  may 
be  thousands  might  starve  before  our  contribu- 
tions get  there.  Of  conrse.it  is  not  as  bad  as 
the  men  who  demanded  five  dollars  in  advance 
before  they  would  stop  fishing  long  enough  to 
save  a  man  from  drowning;  but  I  do  think  we 
sliould  make  liaste  to  let  it  be  known   that  our 


ISlt-' 


(JLKAXIXCS  IN   HICK  C'Ul/rUltl':. 


339 


worU.  and  imr  asi)irati(ms  ami  plans  lici't'  in 
lliisworKi  of  (iiiis.  jiu  a  litllc  onisiilc  of  family 
rt'lations  ami  family  lies,  rrrliaps  we  can  not. 
all  of  us.  i-iimb  to  the  siiiiiliial  level  where 
Miiiler  stands,  and  .s7(/i/ lliere.  I  add  the  last, 
because  one  of  my  irieat weaUiiesj-es  is  to  slip 
down  so  (piii'l<ly.  almost  immediately  after  I 
have  In  en  lifted  up.  Here  ai'e  some  exliaets 
that  I  iiKide  from  tun  of  our  aiiiiculiuial  papers 
in  n'ir;iid  to  what  lias  been  done,  and  the  needs 
in  n>frard  to  tho  work.  The  first  comes  from  the 
(^(iinitnj  (iciitleiiKtn  of  March  :il: 

An  appeal  for  prompt  and  lilieral  asslslance  is 
issued  l)y  the  Hussiaii  Katiiine  Kelief  C'oniinittee 
(John  W.  Hoyt,  Ciiairmaii,  7,i2  Fimrteeiitli  St., 
Wushiii^'toii',  and  desi-rves  iinuiediale  atteiitiiin. 
Every  newspaper  is  aslied  to  uif^o  upon  the  atten- 
tion (if  its  rea<leis  tlie  fads— 

That  ilie  fanniie.  so  vast  and  dire,  is  not  alone, 
but  is  suppleinenied  by  the  frei'zinjr  cold  of  a  tei'- 
rilile  winter,  and  l)ythe  distresses  whicii  come  in 
tlie  train  of  attending  pestilenci'  which  luaj',  if  not 
Soon  checked,  sweep  over  many  other  lands  as  well. 

That  tlie  famine  is  there  to  stay,  even  until  after 
the  conung  harvest,  unless  banished  l)y  tlu^  ben(>- 
factions  of  those  in  otiier  and  more  favored  lands. 

That  the  Russian  .eovertuuent  is  exciting'-  itself 
heroically  foi'  the  rescue  of  tlu'  peopU-.  botli  bj- a 
niuniticence  worlliy  of  a  .trieat  nation  and  l)y  the 
sacrifices  of  those  who  administer  the  public  affairs. 

Tliat  tiie  extent  of  the  famine  is  so  great,  and  tlie 
revenues  of  tlie  g-overnment  liave  been  so  far 
♦•rippled  by  ri-peated  and  widespread  failuies  of 
the  crops,  that  there  is  need  of  help  from  othei' 
fi-iendly  countries — help  immediate,  lilieral,  and 
persistent 

That,  the  rest  of  Europe  having-  also  been  impov- 
erished, the  bulk  of  .sujiplies  must  come  from 
America,  so  wonderfully  blessed  with  bountiful 
crops  tlie  past  season  that  she  can  send  shipload 
after  shipload  of  food  without  perceptible  drain 
upon  her  ine-xhaustible  stores. 

And  liere  is  what  the  Rurtil  Xeio-Yorker  of 
April  :.'o  has  to  say: 

Philadelphia  w;is  the  flr.st  to  send  a  shipload  of 
flour  to  the  relief  of  the  starving  Russians,  and  the 
steamer  Indiana's  cargo  was  received  at  Lilian  with 
public  rejoicings  and  hearij-  thanks.  TUt;  Minne- 
apolis millers  sent  the  next  cargo  through  New 
York,  and  this  is  still  at  sea.  The  Pliiladelpjiaiis 
have  almost  c  imp'etud  another  sluploait,  and  the 
Western  millers  will  send  another  also  in  a  fi'W 
weeks.  Millers,  farmers,  and  oihers  all  over  the 
country  are  geneiovisiy  joining  in  the  goi  d  work, 
and  probably  a  dozen  or  more  cargoes  in  all  will  be 
donated.  Of  course,  this  will  be  a  Goiisend  to  a 
comparatively  few.  but  would  hardly  beamomh- 
ful  among  the  millions  in  Uisliess. 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


BY     A.      I.      ROOT. 


everitt's   man-weight  cultivatok  and 
iuiekd's  wkkder. 

What  do  you  think  of  Everitt's  Man- weight 
cultivator  and  seed-drill?  Is  it  not  bad  for  the 
man's  breast?  Can  you  recommend  it  for  rather 
stiff  clay  loam?     Do  you  like  Breed's  weeder? 

Ahixandria.  Va.  A.  Ja.mii:so.n. 

[My  good  fiieiid.  the  great  trouble  with  both 
of  these  implements  is.  that  the  average  gar- 
dener does  not  very  often  have  the  land  or  the 
kind  of  soil  suitable  forsuch  machines;  and  an- 
other thing,  the  ground  must  not  be  too  wet 
nor  too  dry.  What  I  mean  by  "  too  dry  "  is, 
that  if  the  cultivation  has  been  neglected  at  the 
right  time  until  the  soil  tjecoines  baked,  neither 
of  these  machines  will  be  practicable;  at  the 
same  time,  by  the  use  of  these  machines  we 
ought  to  be  able  to  keep  our  ground  soft  and 
mellow,  unless  we  have  too  much  rain,  ruder- 
draining  the  ground  thoroughly  is  a  great  help; 
in  fact,  it  is  really  a  necessity.    Ridging  the 


gi-ound  up  ill  winter  lime  to  let  the  fi-osl  work 
at  it  is  anotliei-  great  liil|):  and  we  have  been  so 
much  annoyed  i  bis  spring  by  having  our  gi-miiid 
too  wet  to  woik  that  I  have  liegiiu  to  think  se- 
riously of  plowing  it  in  the  fall  when  it  is  in 
propel- trim,  then  throwing  it  up  in  lidges  and 
plan!  ing  our  eaily  stulV  in  tlie  tops  of  the  ridges, 

l(>veling  them  down  slightly  with  son f  these 

tools.  One  of  the  best  crojis  of  potatoes  that  I 
ever  raised  was  worked  eniirely  with  a  Hi-ei^d's 
weeder.  It  was  never  touched  w  ith  a  ho«!  at  all. 
Hut  this  was  on  out-  best  ci-eek-boltom  ground 
that  is  slightly  loamy.  But  this  same  pii-ce  of 
ground  this  spiing  has  been  too  wet  to  work  for 
a  whole  mouth.  Everitt's  ciillivatoi- is  too  poor- 
ly mad(^  to  stand  wear  and  tear:  at  least,  the 
one  he  .scuit  us  pulled  to  pieces  so  much  that  we 
have  become  disgusted  with  it.  I  think  he 
ought  to  furnish  us  (and.  in  fact,  everybody  else 
who  has  om^  of  his  poorly  made  nuichines)  a 
new  one  free  of  charge.  He  evidently,  how- 
ever, does  not  think  so,  foi-  I  have  written  him 
about  it,  and  he  simply  said  they  made  them 
better  now,  without  any  offer  to  jnake  good  our 
lo.ss.  Later. — He  has,  since  the  above  was  in 
type,  olfered  to  send  new  parts.] 


THE   TltOIIBI.E  WITJJ  KA.SI'BEItRIES;    AESO   SOME- 
THING  ABOUT   SQUASH-BUGS. 

A.  I.  Root  complained  that  raspberries  do  not 
thrive  as  they  used  to.  I  wish  that  he  would 
see  whether  the  trouble  is  not  from  fungus  or 
the  root- borer,  and  report  in  the  garden  depart- 
ment. The  injury  is  a  serious  one  with  us.  I 
should  also  be  pleased  if  Mr.  Root  would  exper- 
iment with  a  hot-water  spray  for  squash-bugs, 
and  perhaps  other  Insects.  Jthaspi-oved  useful 
in  "ome  cases.  L.  Williams. 

Delavau,  Wis..  April  7. 

[1  am  inclined  to  think  you  are  partly  right, 
my  friend.  Examination  shows  adeadnessof 
the  roots,  although  I  do  not  see  any  traces  of 
the  borer.  Our  new  plantation,  put  out  last 
spi-ing.  made  a  very  poor  growth  during  the 
fore  part  of  the  season;  but  in  the  fall  the  vines 
did  pretty  fairly,  and  seem  to  promise  now  to 
glow  with  vigor.  In  regaid  to  the  hot-water 
spray  for  squash-bugs,  even  if  it  succeeded  per- 
fectly it  would  be  too  much  labor.  With  us 
they  fri'quently  come  in  droves  within  an  hour; 
and  in  just  a  few  hours  the  vines  are  destroyed 
or  very  mucli  injured:  so  you  see  it  would  take 
constant  watching.  With  the  wire-screen  bug- 
protectors,  however,  whi-n  they  are  once  cover- 
ed up.  all  troutile  is  at  an  end  for.  jierhaps,  a 
couple  of  weeks.  I  am  inclined  to  think  now 
that  plenty  of  tobacco  dust  will  also  do  thi;  bus- 
iness'; but  instead  of  a  little  sprinkling,  it  wants 
a  wliole  shovelful:  and  as  the  shovelful  is  worth 
all  it  costs,  for  manui-e.  in  localities  whei-e  this 
dust  can  be  had  at  a  low  price  it  will  probably 
be  the  cheap»!St  remedy  for  our  insect-enemies 
on  vines.  The  strong  odor  of  the  tobacco  re- 
mains for  a  long  while,  even  after  the  vines  are 
so  large  as  to  crowd  against  the  wire-cloth 
covers.]  

THE    AMEBIC  AN   I'EAKL  ONION. 

You  say  the  Pearl  onion  has  wintered  again 
with  you.  It  did  not  with  me.  I  got  a  quart  of 
you  and  planted  tbem  Sept.  15th.  so  that  they 
mad(!  a  good  growth:  but  there  are  not  more 
than  a  dozen  left,  and  they  were  mulched  with 
hay.  Potato  onions,  planted  the  same  day, 
about  half  winteied:  planted  Oct.  l.'ith,  one 
month  later,  all  w  intered.  I  sliall  try  again, 
but  plant  so  that  they  won"t  grow  any  in  the 
fall.  Irish  potatoes  winter  all  right  in  the 
ground  here,  not  over  two  or  three  inches  deep, 
and  we  had  hard  freezes  for  this  country — 4° 
above  zero.    You  are  right    about    the    Hall 


340 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  L 


treatment.    It  is  the   worst  fraud  of  the  age — 
not  but  that  it  is  good,  but  it  claims  too   much. 
Bees  wintered   all   right,  but  I  hear  of  some 
starving  on  account  of  no  fall  honey. 
Grand  View.  Tenn..  April  18.      A.  F.  Ames. 

[Friend  A..  I  wish  you  had  tried  a  part  of 
your  American  Pearl  onions  without  any 
mulching.  They  are  very  apt  to  rot,  and  I 
have  sometimes  thought  the  mulcliing  helped 
to  keep  the  ground  damp,  and  thus  make  them 
rot.  I  am  surprised  to  l<now  that  the  potato 
onions,  planted  a  month  later,  all  wintered. 
This  indicates  that  there  is  something  about 
onions  that  we  do  not  know  all  about.] 


TWO  MORE   BAB   REPORTS  FROM   THE  AMERICAN 
PEART.  ONIOX. 

Extra  Early  Pearl  onion  will  not  live  over  the 
winter  here.  I  got  a  quart  of  you  last  fall. 
They  are  all  dead,  rotten.  M.  Isbell. 

Norwich,  N.  Y.,  April  4. 


There  seems  to  be  something  wrong  witli  the 
American  Pearl  onions  that  I  got  from  you  last 
fall.  A  third  of  them  have  from  two  to  five  in 
a  bunch,  like  the  multiplier  onions.  A  half  of 
them  are  running  to  seed.  Is  this  the  habit  of 
this  onion?  A.  T.  McIlwaix. 

Abbeville,  S.  C,  Apr.  4. 


SOME   TOOLS    FOR   THE    MARKET-G.\RDEXER. 

The  cut  below  is  taken  from  our  uew  book  on 
tile  drainage.  It  is  a  list  of  the  tools  selected 
by  Prof.  Chamberlain.  As  they  are,  however, 
very  useful  for  many  purposes  besides  ditching, 
I  have  thought  best  to  speak  of  them  a  little 
here. 


tools  made  for  a  great  variety  of  purposes.  One 
reason  why  I  dislike  them  is,  that  the  man  who 
uses  them  will  be  fussing  with  the  tool  a  good 
many  times  when  I  would  rather  he  would  be 
doing  his  work.  If  you  are  doing  very  much 
ditching  it  will  pay  to  have  two  or  more  sizes 
of  these  bottoming-scoops  to  suit  the  size  of  tile. 

No.  2  is  what  we  call  a  "Dutch  hoe."  One 
of  our  men  who  recently  came  from  Germany 
brought  it  along  one  day  to  pull  the  dirt  into 
the  ditches.  The  rest  laughed  at  him:  but 
pretty  soon  the  hoe  became  a  favorite  tool  with 
many  of  the  men.  It  is  good  for  grubbing  and 
digging  around  trees,  for  digging  I'oots,  and.  in 
some  kinds  of  ground,  it  will  work  it  up  about 
as  well  as  any  thing. 

No.  3  is  for  much  the  same  purpose  as  No.  1; 
and  it  is  exceedingly  handy  for  many  purposes. 

No.  4  is  a  light,  thin,  narrow  spade;  but  for 
myself  I  should  prefer  No.  5.  Now  we  come  to 
the  regular  ditching-spades. 

No.  6  is  for  cutting  the  last  course  of  the 
ditch.  If  the  ditch  is  started  with  an  even 
grade  on  top.  and  both  NoS.  6  and  7  are  pushed 
clear  down,  to  a  uniform  depth,  very  little  work 
will  be  required  in  fitting  the  bottom  for  the 
tile:  for  you  notice  the  round  end  of  No.  6 
leaves  it  just  about  a>  you  want  it;*  and,  by 
the  way,  the  bottom  of  the  ditch  should  be  very 
little  wider  than  the  bottom  of  the  spade  No.  6. 
It  is  on  this  point  that  I  have  a  good  deal  of 

*The  following-  is  from  pagre  88  of  our  new  book, 
Tile  Drainagre: 

If  the  entire  ditch  is  to  be  30  inches,  I  usually 
try  to  make  fully  7  or  8  witli  the  plow,  and  1.3  or  14 
with  the  first  spade,  and  that  leaves  only  8  or  9 
Inches  for  the  second,  or  bottoming--spade.  The 
subsoil  at  the  bottom  is  far  more  compact  and  hard. 


No.  1  is  for  grading  and  cleaning  out  the 
trench  just  before  the  tiles  are  laid.  The  tool 
is  an  exceedingly  handy  one;  but  I  should  pre- 
fer it  with  a  permanent  solid  joint  instead  of 
the  adjustable  one  as  shown.  In  fact,  I  have 
taken  quite  a  dislike  to  adjustable    tools,  or 


and  it  is  better  not  to  liave  too  deep  a  course  to  dig-. 
Great  care  should  be  taken  to  keep  the  grade  of  this 
course  e.xactly  rig-ht,  so  that,  when  you  draw  the 
double-ended  cruml>cloaner  No.l,  and  groove-cutter 
througli  the  few  loose  crumljs  of  claj'  that  are  al- 
ways left  by  the  spade  of  even  an  expert,  you  will 
leave  a  true  groove  ready  for  the  tiles. 


1892 


(iLKANlXtJS  IN    15KK  CUl/rURE. 


H4I 


qiiarrcliiij;.  t'spcoially  wiili  iirw  mcii.  'Tlicy 
will  ilii:  iln'  liiu-li  i\\  iiM'  ilir  w  idili  ol  ilic  spade 
niul  lia\»'  the  liottoiii  in  siu-li  a  a  l<\\  ani  slia|)c 
tliat  (lie  tilrs  i-an  nut  belaid  inic  and  rt'^ular. 
Tlu' cM'iisc  is.  ilial  ilir\  ran  imiwoik  in  so  nai- 
row  a  diti'li.  Where  a  man  won't  do  as  you 
\visl>  to  have  iiini  do.  or  as  he  sees  othei's  do.  1 
wouKi  tiiiii  him  oil'  and  hire  soniehody  who 
wouiii.  May  he  yon  think  this  ik)i's  not  sound 
like  sonn'  of  my  teachings:  hut  I  moan,  of 
course,  that  you  are  to  use  mild  measures  first. 
If  that  iilan  iiot>s  not  answci-,  tiien  state  the 
case  kindly  Imt  lii'rnly.  And.  Ii\-  the  way.  No.  ti 
is  a  most  valual)le  tool  to  hav(>  in  thi'  market- 
garden  or  on  the  farm.  We  have  three  of  them 
—two  with  long  handles  and  one  with  a  short 
handle:  and  tiiese  ditching-spades  are  almost 
always  wanted  for  a  variety  of  pui'poses.  If 
you  want  to  take  up  trees  they  are  far  ahead  of 
a  common  spade:  for  where  the  tool  is  a  good 
one  it  can  he  used  almost  like  a  crowbar.  For 
digging  horseradish,  or  digging  rhubarb  roots 
for  sale,  taking  up  Egyptian  onions,  parsnips, 
carrots,  vegetable  oysters,  and  the  like,  they  are 
the  best  thing  in  the  world.  The  (joint  is  so 
narrow  you  can  dig  a  dock  out  of  your  straw- 
berry-bed and  not  in.iure  very  much  besides  the 
dock.  If  you  have  not  had  one  on  your  prem- 
ises, just  let  the  boys  get  hold  of  one  and  see 
how  they  will  learn  to  "go  for"  it. 


'>o.^^ 


HOW    TO    DIG,    EVEN    IN     HAKD    CLAY,    AND     DO    IT    EASILY 

No.  7  is  a  tool  that  I  never  owned  until  I  saw- 
it  recommended  in  the  tile-book.  When  you 
are  ditching  through  rich  ground,  take  off  the 
rich  black  surface  soil  with  a  common  spade. 
Clean  out  the  ditch  down  to  the  yellow  dirt. 
Throw  this  good  dirt  to  one  side,  and  the  rest 
of  the  soil  (the  poor  clay)  on  the  other  side. 
Now  take  No.  7  and  push  it  down  full  depth. 
Tnless  you  have  learned  how.  you  will  say  you 
can't  do  it — th(^  ground  is  too  hard.  I  tnink, 
my  friend.  I  can  push  both  the  spades.  Nos.  (i 
and  7.  down  full  depth  on  the  hardest  ground 
you  have.  If  the  ground  is  full  of  stones  I  can 
still  do  it  and  get  out  the  stones  quicker  than 
you  can  do  it  with  a  pick  or  grubbing-hoe, 
and  I  will  have  a  straight  narrow  ditch  all 
ready  for  tiles  quicker  than  a  big  stout  man 
who  works  in  the  old-faslii(jned  way.  The  se- 
cret of  being  able  to  do  this  is  shown  by  the 
cut,  and  I  copy  here  from  the  tile-book  itself: 


u|><in  the  >|i:i(le  witli  ;i  (luick  inipul^e,  and  uork- 
inu  1  lie  li.'inille  sliMliI  h  hai'k  and  I'otI  li  in  syiiipal  liy 
Willi  111. ■  flldilsor  lln'  fiMil.  II  will  l:ike  Ironi  Iw'o 
or  I  liree  lo  si\  or  einlil  "  sIioncs  "  lo  send  ;i  sixlccn- 
incli  sjiade  "  Inline,  "  (he  nuinlier  vaiyintr  wil  li  the 
Iniidness  iir  stiininess  of  llie  cla.N  and  llic  skill  and 
iniisclf  iif  the  di^i-ncr.  Tlie  besl  wajtojjrel  lliis  nin- 
liiin  is  Id  watcli  a  real  expert  ami  net  liiin  In  tearh 
you.  I  almost  ne\ cr  iKSea  pick  or  mattnck.  A  gund 
(lltcliiiiK-spado  well  liamlled  will  (liff  almost  any 
tliiiifr  but  the  stoniest  clayey  gi'avel  faster  alone 
than  Willi  I  lie  lielp(?)  of  the  i)ick,  b.v  working  (truuiKt 
the  stones. 

No.  8  is  to  be  used  much  like  No.  2.  Thc^  tool 
we  use,  iiovvever.  has  flat  tines  instead  of  round 
ones,  as  shown  in  the  cut.  The  tines  are  flat 
on  the  inside  and  rounded  on  the  outside.  It  is 
called  th<^  (illiiig-hook;  but  it  is  useful  in  a 
great  variety  of  places  on  tlii^  farm  or  in  the 
garden.  It  will  pull  straw  out  of  a  slack,  pull 
manure  on  to  a  stoneboat.  level  down  hum- 
mocks in  the  field,  dig  potatoes  on  an  emergency, 
and  do  a  variety  of  such  work.  With  a  set  of 
tools  like  these,  many  kinds  of  work  as  well  as 
underdraining  may  be  done:  and  a  man  who  is 
expert  in  the  use  of  tools  will  oftentimes  do 
double  the  work  by  having  .fust  the  tool  he  re- 
qui'-es. 

We  presume  that  you  can  find  these  tools  at 
your  nearest  hardware  store;  and,  in  fact,  it  is 
usually  the  best  way  to  get  them,  on  account  of 
the  expense  of  ship- 
ping such  bulky  arti- 
cles. If,  however,  you 
prefer  to  get  theni  of 
us,  we  can  furnish 
them  as  follows:  No. 
1,  U.2f);  Nos.  2,  3,  4,  5, 
6, 75  cts.  each;  and  No. 
8,50cts.  No.7,?1.25.  A 
single  tool  is  rather 
expensive  to  send  by 
express;  and  it  is  also 
rather  expensive  and 
inconvenient  to  send 
by  freight  unless  it 
goes  along  with  other 
goods.  If.  however, 
you  should  want  several  tools  they  can  be  made 
into  a  bundle  so  as  to  go  by  freight  at  moderate 
expense.  In  case  you  do  not  buy  of  us,  the  fig- 
ures above  may  indicate  to  you  about  what 
prices  you  ouglit  to  pay. 


UONT   BUKY  THE   SI'ADK. 

The  first  point  in  rapid,  easy  dipfsrinf?,  is  to  lieep 
line  side-edffe  of  t)ie  spade  mtt  ot  the  mtih,  iuxioht, 
cacli  spjidef  ul.  Fig-.  21  sliows  liow  a  non-expert  will 
liury  both  edg-es  of  the  spade  at  y/i,  ),j,kl.  w»,  and 
liave  liarder  work  tliere.by.  botli  in  sinkiiijr  tlie 
spade  and  in  breaking-  off  tlie  slice  of  earth.  Fifr.  'i2 
shows  liow  an  expert  will  sink  liis  spade;  ali,  cd,  cf, 
heinf?  the  curves  cut  by  the  spade,  and  the  edfce  a 
being-  "  out  "  the  first  cut,  and  tlie  edge  r  being  out 
the  second  cut,  and  so  on.  Thus  held,  the  spade 
sinks  more  easily,  and  the  oitr  edg:e  bi-eaks  oft'  true 
and  easily. 

SINKING  THE   SPADE. 

This  is  done  by  a  succes-sion  of  quick  "  shoves  "  or 
thrusts  with  the  foot,  throwing:  one's  whole  weight 


TKANSPLANTING    FliOM   OaiEENIIOUSES  OR  COLD- 
FRAMES   INTO   THE   FIELD. 

There  is  one  thing  in  friend  Day's  tomato-book 
that  pleased  me  greatly.  It  was,  a  recognition 
of  the  fact  that  there  is  a  tremendous  gain  in 
moving  plants  to  the  field  with  dirt  adhering  to 
theirroots:  and  heeven  moves  his  tomato-plants 
in  this  way,  for  planting  out  acre  after  acre.  I 
have  for  years  been  satisfied  of  the  importance 
of  this,  but  yet  the  whole  great  wide  world,  al- 
most, seems  stupid  in  regard  to  the  matter.  They 
say  it  is  too  much  fuss,  and  takes  up  too  much 
time,  and  so  they  let  the  dirt  rattle  off,  some- 
times taking  the  tine  roots  with  it, and  lo.se  half 
of  their  crop,  then  <iuit  the  business,  etc.  To- 
day we  are  moving  celery  -  plants  from  the 
greenhouse  to  the  field.  After  the  plants  are 
thoroughly  wetted  down  in  the  bed,  a  scoop- 
shovel  is  pushed  under  a  sod  of  plant.s.  These 
scoop-shovels  are  caiTied  to  the  field  in  a  wheel- 
barrow. Each  man  has  one;  and  as  he  sets  the 
plants  he  picks  them  fi-om  the  shovel  with  a  ball 
of  rich  (^arth  adhering  to  the  root,  and  places  it 
in  the  furrow.  Of  course,  the  plants  will  live— 
everyone  of  them— and  grow  outdoors  just  as 
they  gr(>w  in  the  greenhouse.  If  you  haven't 
scoop-shovels  enough,  gather  up  your  barn- 
shovels,  potato-forks,  etc..  and  use  those. 


343 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


Tobacco  Column. 


Bpfore  giving  the  following  brief  extract  from 
a  letter  just  received,  we  wish  to  say  that 
Gleanings  does  not  propose  to  open  its  columns 
to  discuss  politics.  I  am  sure  it  would  not  be 
wise  nor  well.  But  where  two  political  parties 
are  alluded  to  in  the  following,  we  wish  it  un- 
derstood that  their  names  are  mentioned  solely 
because  of  their  bearing  on  the  question  of  the 
use  of  tobacco.  If  our  good  brother's  state- 
ments are  not  true,  we  may  give  place  to  some- 
thing very  brief,  showing  wherein  they  are  not 
true.  You  will  notice  that  he  and  I  evidently 
do  not  quite  agree  in  politics.  I  am  glad,  how- 
ever, that  we  agree  perfectly  on  the  tobacco 
question.     Here  is  the  extract: 

I  do  not  know  how  much  you  have  associated 
with  Prohibitionists— whether  you  ever  attend- 
ed any  of  their  conventions,  or  have  read  their 
side  of  the  question  or  not;  but  I  will  tell  you 
just  what  kind  of  a  "crowd"  they  have.  I 
never  saw  a  delegate  smoking  a  cigar.  Neither 
did  I  ever  hear  a  profane  word  used  by  one  of 
the  delegates.  Neither  did  I  ever  see  a  stub  of 
a  cigar,  nor  a  chew  of  tobacco,  nor  a  particle  of 
tobacco-spit  on  the  floor  when  they  had  finish- 
ed, and  I  should  have  seen  it  if  there  had  been 
any.  I  have  seen  in  our  own  county  court- 
house, before  the  Republican  Coiuity  Conven- 
tion adjourned,  a  new  carpet  completely  satu- 
rated with  tobacco- juice,  with  quids  of  tobacco 
and  stubs  of  cigars  covering  it,  while  the  room 
was  blue  with  cigar-smoke.   Voi.ney  White. 

Findley's  Lake,  N.  Y.,  April  11. 

Please  send  to  George  Bates  a  smoker.  His 
address  is  Davis  City.  Iowa.  He  has  quit  using 
tobacco,  and  I  think  he  is  safe.  If  he  ever  uses 
it  again  I  will  jjay  for  the  smoker.  He  is  rais- 
ing a  family  of  boys,  and  his  influence  on  them 
will  be  better.  A.  S.  Ross. 

Decatur,  la.,  Feb.  25. 

Mr.  Andrew  Hudsi)eth  has,  through  reading 
Gleanings,  discarded  the  use  of  tobacco,  and 
says  he  has  quit  for  good.  If  you  feel  so  inclin- 
ed you  can  send  him  a  smoker;  if  he  ever  begins 
the  vile  habit  again  I  will  pay  you  for  the  smok- 
er if  sent.  M.  F.  Ragsdale. 

Collinsville,  Texas. 

I  think  I  may  lay  claim  to  one  of  your  smok- 
ers that  you  offer  to  all  readers  of  Gleanings 
who  quit  the  tobacco  habit.  This  I  have  resolv- 
ed to  do.  I  have  not  used  any  for  two  and  a  half 
months,  and  do  not  intend  to  again.  If  I  do,  I 
will  pay  for  the  smoker.  I  have  been  a  user  for 
about  23  years.  J.  M.  Campbell. 

Glidden,  la.,  Feb.  Ifi. 

Mr.  Lafayette  DeVVitt,  of  Sunny  Side,  Md., 
has  stopped  the  use  of  tobacco,  and  he  agrees  to 
pay  you  75  cts.  for  it  if  yon  will  send  him  a 
smoker  and  if  he  uses  tobacco  again.  Also  Mr. 
F.  B.  DeWitt  has  stopped  the  use  of  tobacco,  and 
he  agrees  to  pay  you  for  the  smoker  if  he  ever 
uses  tobacco  again.  His  address  is  Sunny  Side, 
Md.  M.  H.  DeWitt. 

Sunny  Side,  Md.,  Jan.  4. 

According  to  the  terms  of  the  Tobacco  Column 
I  believe  that  I  am  entitled  to  a  smoker.  I  have 
been  using  tobacco  for  upward  of  thirty  years, 
and  through  the  influence  of  some  friends  and 
Gleanings  I  have  given  uj)  the  filthy  habit. 


So  if  you  will  send  me  a  smoker  I  will  agree  to 
pay  for  the  same,  if  I  ever  use  the  weed  again 
in  any  form.  Frederick  Miti,son. 

Baldwin.  Kan.,  Feb.  10. 


"Pages7xI0 
00  PERYEABj 


If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  your 
children,  liow  much  more  shall  your  heavenly  Father  give  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him?— Luke  11 :  13. 

All  photographs  designed  for  half-tone  re- 
production should  be  made  with  a  llyht  back- 
ground; and  especially  is  this  true  for  portrait 
work.  Half-tone  work,  while  so  beautiful,  and 
admired  by  many,  has  a  tendency  to  obliterate 
lines,  and  therefore  the  contrast  between  ob- 
jects should  be  strong. 

A  GOOD  many  are  now  receiving  consignments 
of  hives  in  the  flat.  After  they  are  unpacked 
there  is  a  liability  that  some  of  the  boards  will 
warp  a  little.  Do  not  try  to  spring  them  into 
shape  by  nailing  the  hives  or  by  putting  cleats 
on  the  covers.  First  wet  the  concave  side  of  the 
boards  and  lay  them  on  the  floor,  wet  side  down. 
In  a  few  hours  they  will  be  straight,  and  then 
they  can  be  nailed  together. 


We  desire  to  call  special  attention  to  Prof. 
Cook's  able  article  on  page  322  of  the  present 
issue.  It  is  one  that  should  be  copied  widely; 
and  bee-keepers  should  take  pains  to  see  that 
their  fruit  neighbors  are  properly  informed; 
for  we  feel  very  sure  that  no  fruit-man  wants 
to  do  any  thing  that  will  work  damage  to  his 
bee-keeping  neighbor.  All  he  needs  is  the 
knowledge  of  it'7(e?i  and  how  to  spray,  in  order 
to  kill  c6dling-moths  and  yet  not  destroy  bees. 


The  Leahy  Manufacturing  Co.,  of  Higgins- 
vllle,  Mo.,  seems  to  be  booming  things.  Glean- 
ings wishes  them  success,  even  if  they  enter 
Into  competition  in  the  supply  business.  We 
have  a  good  big  country,  and  there  is  plenty  of 
room  for  all;  and  although  we  employ  every 
legitimate  means  to  stimulate  trade,  we  do  not 
want  the  "  whole  loaf."  and  therefore  welcome 
new  business  enterprises  in  the  bee-keepers' 
supply  line.  

Almost  every  mail  brings  a  letter  offering 
either  to  sell  bees  to  us  outright  or  to  give  them 
in  exchange  for  goods.  We  are  obliged  to  say 
to  one  and  all  that  it  is  not  profitable  for  us  to 
buy  bees  from  a  distance,  as  the  express  would 
cost  more  than  they  are  worth.  Another  thing, 
the  bees  are  not  in  such  frames,  nor  such  stock, 
as  a  rule,  as  we  care  to  send  out  again  to  our 
customers.  If  you  wish  to  reduce  your  stock  of 
bees,  the  better  way  is  to  offer  them  for  sale  in 
your  local  paper  first;  i.  e.,  sell  'em  around 
home.  If  that  does  not  dispose  of  them,  try  the 
bee-journals. 

As  we  have  said  several  times  before,  we  re- 
peat again:  If  you  differ  from  the  position  taken 
by  the  editor— that  is.  if  you  are  sure  he  is 
wrong,  and  that,  if  such  position  is  not  correct- 
ed, it  will  work  damage  to  the  industry,  be  free 
to  correct  him;  but  for  goodness'  sake,  do  it  in 
a  gentlemanly  and  courteous  manner.  We  have 
not  time  to  bother  with  unkind  flings.  Time  is 
too  precious  to  waste  in  following  up  and  an- 
swering such  attacks;  but  we  do  desire  to  be  on 
the  right  side;  but  if  on  the  wrong  side  we  are 


isyj 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


343 


glad  to  ho  sot  riglit.  Alack  tlic  day  whon  \\(> 
shall  got  into  ruts  and  stick  to  wruiifj  iiotioiisl 
Gl.KANiNt^s  desires  to  ho  fair  to  all  parties,  and 
to  all  sides  of  a  (ini'stion;  hut  it  has  no  spact^ 
for  sarcastic  and  cutting  witticisms. 


SoMK  years  ago  Mr.  liangstroth  wrote  an  ar- 
ticle on  nomenclature  for  hee-keepers.  At  the 
tim<\  he  suggested  the  coining  of  new  words, 
the  use  of  which  was  almost  a  necessity,  U^' 
proposed,  for  instance,  the  term  "  uiuiui-ening  " 
lor  tht»  ciri'umlocution  of  removing  or  in  any 
way  depriving  a  colony  of  tlxMr  royal  mistress. 
Wo  helieve  that  he  also  suggested  the  term 
"springing  ■■  for  the  long  roundalumt  way  of 
saying  ■■  bringing  the  bees  tiiioiigh  the  spring 
months."  It  is  a  well-known  fact,  that  it  is  not 
so  dithcult  to  wint<;r  bees  as  ii  is  to  xpring 
them:  and  if  it  is  proper  to  say  "wintering," 
why  not  say  "  s])ringing  "  V  We  sim|)ly  men- 
tion these  two  words  as  an  illustration.  b(^cause 
we  propose  to  allow  —  yes.  recommend  —  cori'es- 
pondents  to  \isesuch  short  and  expressive  terms, 
the  moaning  of  which  is  perfectly  evident  to 
every  bee-keeper. 


One  of  the  commission  honey  merchants  says 
that  they  have  much  complaint  of  comb  honey 
candying.  This  can  be  remedied  to  a  very 
great  extent  by  keeping  the  honey  in  a  warm 
dry  room;  but.  in  spite  of  all  precautions,  old 
comb  honey  is  liable  to  candy  on  our  hands: 
and  when  once  candied  there  is  no  practical 
way  of  reducing  the  honey  to  a  liquid  form 
again  so  as  to  be  suitable  for  the  market,  or  to 
bring  any  thing  like  what  the  honey  is  worth. 
And  right  here  is  one  groat  advantage  in  ex- 
tracted honey.  It  can  always  be  liquefied,  and, 
with  care,  be  equal  in  flavor  to  what  it  was 
before.  But,  oh  dear  I  extracted  honey  can  be 
adulterated;  and  for  this  reason  bee-keepers 
should  take  additional  pains  to  fight  to  the  bit- 
ter end  the  disreputable  mixing  business.  Be 
sure  to  urge  your  representative  to  vote  for  the 
Paddock  pure-food  bill  now  before  Congress; 
and  after  you  hav<'  done  that,  don't  let  the 
adulteration  go  on  if  you  can  help  it,  in  your 
neighboring  city  or  neighboring  town.  There 
is  plenty  of  law  In  nearly  every  State  to  make 
the  scamps  squirm;  and  all  we  need  is  evidence. 


Do  not  put  poor  dark  honey— that  is,  the  un- 
palatable kind — upon  your  local  markets,  nor 
um>n  any  markets,  in  fact,  that  are  designed  to 
supply  direct  consumption.  It  is  putting  this 
dark  honey  upon  the  public  that  ruins,  in  a 
great  manv  cases,  the  demand  for  honey; 
and,  as  C.  W.  Dayton  well  says  in  the  Review, 
it  fans  the  fire  that  keeps  up  the  newspaper 
'•  canards"  in  regard  to  adulterated  honey.  All 
such  unpalatable  honeys  should  either  be  fed 
back  to  the  bees  in  the  spring  (in  most  cases  it 
will  do  no  harm,  even  if  fed  for  winter  use),  or 
should  be  sold  to  bakers.  If  nothing  but  the 
\veli-navou;d  nice  honeys  are  sold  for  direct 
consumption,  it  will  tend  greatly  to  increase 
the  amount  sold.  and.  as  a  consequence,  stiffen 
prices.  We  would  say,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
York  State  bee-keepers,  that  these  remarks  do 
not  apply  to  the  dark  rich  buckwheat  honey 
that  is  preferred  by  so  many  New  Yorkers.  We 
have  reference  only  to  the  honey  that  tastes  bad 
— "  stuff"  that  bee-keepers  would  not  eat  them- 
selves— no,  couldn't  even  be  hired  to.  To  put  it 
a  little  stronger,  it  is  a  downright  shame  to  put 
such  '"stuff  "on  the  market  and  call  it  honey. 
The  sooner  bee-keepers  will  give  up  the  prac- 
tice, the  better  it  will  be  for  the  pursuit  in  gen- 
eral. 


si;ai,i:i)  covkhs  vi;i{sis   pouors  ai!.S(>i{hi:.\t8 

KOI{     WI.NTKKINO. 

Ei-sKwiiKitK  we  publish  several  communica- 
tions in  favor  of  upwafd  ventilation  and  porous 
covering  as  against  the  sealed-cover  idea.  As 
nearly  as  we  can  discover,  both  from  the  letters 
pui)lished  and  those  uni)ul)lished,  the  writers 
have  not  ti'ied  hotb  the  sealed  cover  and  the 
absorbing  cushions  side  by  side  foj-  a  series  of 
three  or  four  years.  All  through  the  ivint^r  we 
could  discover  no  practical  ditTerence  in  our 
apiary;  but  this  sin-iiKj  there  is  a  slight  differ- 
ence in  favor  of  the  sealed-cover  colonies. 
Those  under  sheets  of  glass  seetn  to  be  stronger 
and  more  lively  than  those  under  the  absorbing 
cushions,  and  they  are  the  first  to  II y  out.  At 
present,  however,  W(i  an>  seeking  for  more  light, 
and  at  present  are  not  prepared  to  advocate 
(Mther  method  as  being  the  best.  It  may  take 
three  or  four  years  of  careful  experimenting  on 
the  part  of  a  good  many  to  decide  the  (juestion. 
Francis  Danzenl)aker.  of  Washington,  I).  C,  in 
another  column,  the  inventor  of  the;  Dual  hive, 
and  the  one  who  suggested  to  us  tli(^  adopting 
of  the  dovetailed  corner  for  the  Dovetailed  hive, 
you  will  notice  says  he  has  tried  thi^  sealed 
covers  for  twenty  years,  and  that  he  has  also 
tried  the  porous  covering,  with  disastrous  re- 
sults. Now,  who  is  there,  besides  the  Dadants, 
who  have  tried  the  sealed  covers  and  porous 
covering  side  by  side,  and  found  the  latter  as 
good  as  the  former? 


MORE    ABOUT   IMBEDDING  WIKES   INTO   FOUNDA- 
TION  BY   MEANS   OF   ELECTRICITY. 

Some  two  months  ago  a  correspondent  of  the 
American  Bee  Journal  stated  that  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  imbedding  wires  into  foundation  by 
means  of  electricity  from  a  battery.  This  set 
us  to  thinking  and  experimenting,  although  we 
had  entertained  the  same  ideas  some  eight  or 
ten  years  previously;  but  on  account  of  the  in- 
tersecting wii-es  by  the  old  way  of  wiring,  the 
plan  was  not  feasible.  But  since  we  are  begin- 
ning to  use  the  horizontal  plan,  no  wires  inter- 
secting, so  that  a  current  can  be  run  from  one 
end  of  the  wire  to  the  other,  the  matter  has 
assumed  a  new  aspect.  In  our  last  issue  we 
stated  the  progress  of  our  experiments.  Since 
that  time  we  have  been  imbedding  the  wires 
to  a  lot  of  frames  by  electricity.  The  form 
of  battery  that  we  now  employ  is  three  cells  of 
bichromate  of  potash,  each  of  a  gallon  capacity, 
with  the  carbons  in  the  large  cell,  and  the  zinc 
in  the  usual  porous  cup.  Since  Mr.  (Jolden's 
article  appeared  in  typci,  as  given  in  another 
column,  we  began  experimenting  anew;  and  the 
result  is,  that  we  find  we  can  imbed  the  founda- 
tion on  the  wires  perfectly.  After  the  job  is 
done,  the  wire  lies  nicely  imbedded  in  the  cen- 
ter of  the  w^ax;  and,  more  than  all,  it  is  covered 
with  a  very  chin  transparent  coating  of  wax. 
Sometimes  bees  are  inclined  to  gnaw  around 
the  wires;  but  we  imagine  tiiat,  if  the  wires 
were  covered  with  a  film  of  wax,  the  bees  would 
be  less  inclined  to  do  so.  How(>ver,  experiment 
will  decide  this  point.  At  {)i-es(>nt  it  looks  as  if 
imbedding  by  means  of  electricity  might  not  be 
so  very  expensive  after  all,  and  especially  so  if 
we  consider  the  nicety  of  the  work.  We  imbed- 
ded this  morning  the  wires  of  about  50  frames 
into  foundation  by  electricity,  and  the  work  is 
beautiful.  ]5y  timing  ourselves  we  found  that 
we  could  put  foundation  on  to  wires  at  the  rate 
of  three  fram<'s  \h'V  minute:  so  that  we  think 
the  imbedding  could  easily  be  done  at  the  rate 
of  ].")0  frames  per  hour.  In  our  next  we  will  try 
to  give  you  a  picture  of  the  apparatus,  and  how 
to  make  it. 

We  ought  to  say  right  here  that  it  probably 
would   not  pay  the  small   bee-keeper  to  imbed 


344 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


his  wires  by  electricity;  but  it  looks  now  as  if 
it  would  be  quite  a  saving  in  time  for  the  large 
bee-keepers  and  all  supply-dealeis. 


PRODUCER    AND    CONSUMER— MAKING    A    SHORT 
CUT   FROM   ONE    TO  THE   OTHER. 

While  we  sat  at  the  foot  of  Wilson's  Peak 
drinking  our  lemonade,  friend  Stevenson  sug- 
gested that  evaporated  fruits  were,  in  many 
parts  of  California,  a  drug.  He  said  he  had 
some  beautiful  apricots  of  his  own  growing  and 
evaporating  that  he  would  be  glad  to  sell  at  7 
cts.  per  lb.  I  told  him  to  send  me  a  barrel. 
They  reached  us  safely  at  a  cost  of  3  cts.  per  lb. 
for  freight.  He  paid  the  freight  in  advance,  so 
as  to  be  sure  there  would  be  no  overcharges. 
Well,  they  proved  to  be  about  the  finest  fruit 
that  our  Medina  people  had  ever  got  hold  of. 
The  boys  put  them  on  the  wagon,  and  they  sold 
nearly  half  the  barrel  the  first  trip  they  made 
through  the  town.  We  retailed  them  at  13  cts. 
per  lb.,  and  this  is  about  what  they  are  worth 
at  wholesale  in  Cleveland.  Now,  the  point  is, 
by  this  operation  we  made  a  short  cut,  like  can- 
cellation in  arithmetic,  skipping  the  middle- 
men, as  has  been  talked  of.  Of  course,  you 
know  I  do  not  mean  to  intimate  that  "middle- 
men" are  not  good  members  of  society;  but 
they  are  not  alivays  needed.  When  we  can 
make  a  short  cut  crosslots,  to  the  benefit  of  both 
parties,  by  all  means  let  us  do  so.  The  question 
then  is.  How  shall  we  find  out  who  has  nice 
stuff  for  sale?  and  who  else  it  is  that  wants  it. 
Why,  I  think  our  home  journals  should  be  the 
medium  of  this  sort  of  exchanges— a  brief  notice 
in  the  "Wants"'  and  "For  Sale"  column,  for 
instance.  The  next  point  is,  that  both  buyer 
and  seller  should  be  good  square  men.  I  do  not 
know  whether  fiiend  Stevenson  has  any  more 
left  or  not.  If  he  has  not,  I  think  very  likely 
his  neighbors  have.  His  address  is,  Wm.  Ste- 
venson, 80  Orange  Grove  Avenue,  Pasedena, 
Cal.  A.  I.  R. 


Down  G-o  tlie  Prices ! 

Must  Be  Sold ! 

100,000  No.  I  One-Piece  Sections  at  §3.00  per  M. 
In  5000  Lots,        -        -        -        -        §52.80  per  M, 

Fifty  Colonies  of  Italian  Bees;  1  Colony,  $6.00; 
.5  C(jloiiies,  $.5.00  eacli.  Tested  Italian  Queens  in  May, 
$1.50  each.  Untested,  $1.(0  each.  Hybrids.  75c  each. 
Comb  Foundation  and  a  full  line  of  Apiarian  Sup- 
plies.   Twenty-page  price  list  free. 

J.  M.  KINZIE, 

9-13db  Ko«'liesl€'r,  Oiiklaiid  ♦!«».,  Midi. 

t^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


^fayy^^Tr^^  1  TNTESTED  QUEENS  from  the 

Jt    w  *M  "^^s  original  and  only  imported 

cooocccccccc<x:CCs  stocks  in  tlie  country;  $2  (H)  racli. 

___■.■_    I    \  Pratt's  swarmer,  by  mail,  60c;  'Z 

SSSS       for  $1.00.        E.  L,.  PRATT, 

9-13db  Beverly,  Mast*. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


BEES    FOR    SALE. 

25  Colonies  Italians,  100  Colonies  Hybrids 
and  Blacks. 

All  on  Simplicity  frames.    State  what  you  want 
and  write  for  prices  to 

CiliO.  E.  HII^Tt>:S,  Fremont,  A/io/i. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


i  QOn  Golden  Italian  and  Wliite  band  Albino  A  OQO 
loOa  bees  at  very  low  rates.  Do  not  fail  to  *OiJfl 
send  for  my  prices  before  purchasnig-.  Also  Eggs 
for  hatching  from  my  choice  strain  of  Silver-laced 
Wyandottes  that  gave  sucli  good  satisfaction  tlie 
past  season ;  $1.00  per  setting  of  13;  3  settings.  $1..50. 
Address       W.  J.  Hillman,  Green  River,  Vt. 


J.  W.  K.  SHAW  li  CO.. 

TESTED  QUEENS  from  our  best 
Imported  MILAMO  Strain.  Ready 
by  Return  Mail,  $i.oo  Each.  Un- 
tested, $9.00  per  Doz. 

Loreauville,  Iberia  Parish,  La. 

t^"lii  resiionding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


Ladies'    Home    Journal 

Of  fhiladeliihia. 

New  or  renewal  subscribers  to  this  best  of  all, 
only  75  cts.  lull  year.  Reference  as  to  our  reliabili- 
ty. Editor  of  Gle.\mnos.    Address 

AM.  CLiUB  1.1ST,  Miamrock,  N.  Y. 

twin  respondintr  to  this  aavertisement  mention  liLKANlNGa. 


Five-BanHfiil  Soincii  Italiaiis. 

One  untested,  3  or  5  banded,  $1.00;  six  for  $5.00; 
one  tested  3-baiided,  $1.35;  .5-banded,  $1.50.  A  few 
bvl3rids,  iJoc  each.  Two-frame  nucleus  and  queen, 
$3.50.  Full  C(jlony,  $5.00.  Supplies  cheap.  My 
Queens  are  yellow  to  the  tip,  and  if  not  found  as 
represented  your  money  will  be  returned.  Send  for 
catalogue.  CHAKLES  H.  THIKM, 

9tfdb  Steeleville,  Illinois. 

I^"1ji  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleaninos, 

BEE.HIVES  AND  SUPPLIES. 

Send  for  catalogue  free.  Address 
SAMllEIi  JONES,  Highland  Park 
College,  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  9-lOd 


$1.00. 


READY  TO  MAIL. 


$1.00. 


My  Golden  Italians  are  "  Hustlers."  Untested,  six 
for  $4.50;  dozen,  $8.00.  Tested,  $1.60;  three  for  $4.00. 
Select  for  breeders,  $3.00;  very  choice,  $3.00.  Safe 
arrival  and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  Make  P.  O. 
payable  at  Daytona,  Fla. 
JOHN  B.  CASE,  I'ort  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 

.-jivjiiding  to  this  advertisement  nientiuii  (^lkaM.sg  i 


T 

OR 

SALE— 35  colonies 

good 

hybrid 

bees 

for 

$75, 

in  ten-frame  Langs 

troth 

hives. 

Must 

-sell 

on  i 

iccount  of  health. 

JOHN  CROMBIE, 

Columbus,  Wis. 

BERRY 

CliATKSand 
liASKETS. 

^^JsJi^^    Indorsed  by  all 
^  ^     "Fleadlne  berry 
growers  as  The 
BEST.  Also  (.ift  . 

_.  I'actages,  ilrape,"     _^^ 

f  eacD  an.l  oluer  lluuets.     Prices  low.     Ulus.  Catalogue  Fre«I 

DISBROW  MFC.CO.,ROCHESTER,N.Y, 

tyiii  /•-v'i'iiiiiiL' ti)  this  adviTti?-<-Muiit  nifntioii  Hlka.vings 


limaxi 


UIANTED-I.ADY    OB    GENT    IN    EACH 

"  county  to  distribute  and  collect  for  Brabant's 
ladies' toilet  cases;  338  articles,  worth  $1;  will  send 
sample  and  full  particulars  by  mail  for  35c  in 
stamps;  returnable  if  not  satisfactory;  territory 
free;  $3  to  $5  per  day  easily  made.  Address  J.  C. 
Fbisbee,  general  agent,  VrZ  Maple  St.,  Denver,  Col. 
Reference,  A.  I.  Root,  Medina,  O. 

8L-^In  respondinj^  to  tliis  aciverti-^ement  mention  GLEANINGS, 

TAKE  NOTICE. 

If  you  are  looking  for  the  bees  that  give  the  best 
profits,  and  mt)st  gentle  in  handling,  try  the  Albi- 
nos. I  also  have  the  Golden  Italian,  and  can  fur- 
nish eitlier  variety.  But  if  you  ask  for  my  prefer- 
ence I  say  Albino,  and  in  my  circular  you  can  see 
what  others  say  of  them.  Send  for  circular  and  see 
how  cheap  I  .sell  them. 

I  also  manufacture  and  deal  in  Hives,  Sections, 
Foundation,  Extractors,  and  other  Apiarian  Sup- 
plies. S.  VAI.ENTINE, 

Hagerstown,  Md. 
I^rin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanu'g.s. 


IS'.l'.' 


(ii.KAMNcs  i.\  HKH  (iM/rum-; 


.'{4^ 


^BSIST    OIT    SiiKTZX^^    1892 


KLEVKN   YEAKS 

WITHOl  T  A 
rAKALLEL.  AND 

THE  STAND 

AKD    IN     EVEKY 

C  I VI  LI  ZED 

COrNTKY. 

Binghatn  &  Hetherington 

Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 

Standard    Size. 

Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 

Six  Sizes  and  Prices. 

Doctor  Smoker,      ;iSi  in.,  postpaid  ... 

Conqueror    "  3       " 

Liu-pe  '•  2H    " 

Extra  (wide  shield)  2       " 

Plain  marrow    "    )2 

Little  Wonder,         IX    " 

Uncappinjr  Knife 

Sent   i)romptly  on   receipt  of    price, 
sell  ag'ain,  send  for  dozen  and  half-dozen  rates. 


$2.00 
LnO 

L2r> 

1  (10 

6."> 

.  11-. 

To 


1892 


ROOT'S  Dovetailed    Hive 

.il  hi- piici's.     ('ircuiai- free, 
lilni  llMliaii  i|ii<'(Mls,  .tl.dfU'.'ii-li,  or  (i  fof  ^.j.MI. 
ltl'<l  (iKi).  W.  Cook,  Spiiritf  Hill,  l\;iii. 

l^liuHi-  nii'iitioii  tliif<  paper. 


SECTIONS. 

Snow-white  Sections, 

Crciirn  Sections, 

No.  'i  Seel  ions. 

Finest  jiodds  inude. 

We  liMve  ;i  hirjic  stock  on  liund, 

and  can  till  small  and  largo 

onlei-s  pr()nii)th  . 

a.  n.  Kiiwis  CO.. 

Wnle-rluwik,  Wis. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


Milledgeville,  111  ,  March  8,  189u. 
Sirs: — Smokers  received  to-day.  and   count  cor 
rectly.    Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  1  d( 
your  trade  will  boom.  Truly,       F.  A.  Snell. 

Vermillion,  S.  Dak.,  Feb.  17, 1890. 
SiHS:— 1  consider  your  smoKers  the  best  made  for 
any  purpose.    I  have  had  1.')  years'  experience  with 
3(.Xi  or  400  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak 
Very  truly^ K.  A.  Morgan. 

Sarahsville,  Ohio,  March  12, 1890. 
Sirs:— The  smoker  1  have  has  done  pood  service 
since  1883.       Yours  truly,       Daniel  Brothers. 

Send  for  descriptive  circular  and  testimonials  t< 

7tfdb  Ei»aEiU  k  Hzthebikqtok,  Abronia,  Mich. 

I3f"ln  respondintr  to  tills  axlveitisement  ninntion  Oi,ka.nin(;.s^ 


ITALIAN    QUEENS    FREE 

With  supplies.  Root's  Diivetailed  lii\es  and  all  oth- 
er supplies  cheap.  Write  for  particulars  and  save 
money.  A.  F.  McADAiMS,  Columbus  Grove,  O. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


For  Sale.  CALIFORNIA!  For  Sale. 

A  ranch  of  ;is()  acres.  <;()\ei-nnient  land  adjacent. 
Dwelling',  bee -house,  honey-house,  barn,  and  all 
needed  out-houses.  Cattle  and  horses,  with  wag'ons 
and  farming-  implements  if  desired.  A  bargain  for 
a  bee-man  who  has  not  used  his  homestead  and  pre- 
emption rig'lits.  Address  C.  B.  A., 
8-9d  Loiioak,  i^Ioiiterey  Co.,  CJal. 

Please  mention  this  j  aper. 

ITALIAN     QUEENS. 

Untested,  8.5  cents.    Tested,  $1.25.    Special  terras 
for  large  (irders. 

H.  FITX  HART, 
etfdb  Avery,  Iberia  farisli,  La. 

r^Please  mention  Glranings. 


Dovetailed  Hives,   Simplicity  Hives, 

SECT/ONS,  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPLIES. 

60-RAGB     CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


t3r\n  resp.iiicliii.r  t..  tliis  :i.lv<-rti>r 


OPRAir  YOUR  FRUIT  TREES  i  VINES 

Worrny  Frujt  and  Leaf  Blight  of  Apples,  Pears,  Cherries,  pVpCI  ClflD  SI' K.WING 


OUTFITS. 


Gr  ipe  and  Potato  Rot,  Plum  Curculia  prevented  by  using 

PERFECT  FRUIT  ALWAYS  SELLS  AT  COOD  PR  ICES.  Catalogue  show- 
inc  all  injurious  insects  to  Fruits  mailed  free.    liarge  xtock  of  Fruit  Trc»'s.  Vinesj 
and  Berry  IMants  at  Bottom  Prices.      Address  W.U.  .STAHI..,  <t"i"(^>'>  Wis. 
24-lOdb  twin.  resDondinK  to  tliia  advertisement  mention  GLBANiKoa. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

Bcdr  In  IVIind^^^'"'*^'^^^^®*'^^^''^'^^^^^^^'^^^"***^^"E3st8rn  Brdnch 

where  our  Bee-keepers"  .Supplies  arc  kept  for  sale,  and    prompt  shipment.     You   can  save   time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.     We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  lake  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.    He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.   SALISBURY,    Agent,    Syracuse,    N.  Y. 


346 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


BBARD  BEE  HIVE  \ 

SECTION    PRESS. 

If  you  want  to  handle  bees  easy  bj 
sitting  down  to  it.  here  is  the  hive,  t  rame"'- 
fixed  and  variable  distance  combined  No 
wrenching  or  prying  or  scraping  of  combs 
togetlier.  Many  thousands  in  use.  giving 
excellent  satisfaction. 

Liye  Agents  lake  Splenflii  Profits. 

Large  Circular  of  20  pages  free. 
This  SECTION  PRESS  (Pat'd  is  sold 
at  S3.50  by  the  leading  supply  dealers 
y\sk  them  tor  it  or  send  to  me.  A  boy 
can  put  tfigether  800  to  1000  seCtionV 
an  hour  and  have  them  true.  Bend  sec 
tion  around,  put  in  press,  give  a  little  push 
— 'tis  done  Will  last  a  life-time  and  is 
bound  to  please  you 

Send  for  my  Circular  about  Hive,  Press  Foundation  Fastener,  Sections.  Foundation.  Italian  Queens,  Extractors, 
Veils,  Honey  Crates  and  Cases.  &c.  &c.  It  will  interest  you.  Or  send  15  cents  tor  Practical  Book  for  ISegiuners — 
"First  Principles  in  Bee  Culture."    11th  thousand  just  issued 

G.  K.  HUBBARD,  277  Harrison  St.,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 

3-lOJb  t^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  RLKANDJas. 


SOmET\\\!l(i    HEMl  \    Great  Crash  in  Prices ! 


The  Best  Made,     SECTION 

Handiest,  QIIPSTD 

and  Cheapest       OUrLK 

In  the  Country. 

ALSO    THE    BEST    DOVETAILED    HIVES,  SEC- 
TION-BOXES, COMB  FOUNDATION,  ETC. 

—SEND  TO   THE  — 

Largest   Supply   Factory   in    Massachusetts,    for 

Free  Price  List  that  will  interest  all 

Bee-Keepers, 

Address  DUDLEY  BOX  GO,,  or  F.  M.  TAINTOR. 

Manager,  Greenfield,  Mass. 

I^In  responding  to  this  adveiti; 


ement  mention  Gleanings, 


j(\  POULTRY 


Called  "Tlie  Chir-ken  Busi- 
ness, and  How  to  Make  it 
Pay."  Tells  all  about  it. 
r>t*\f\l[  Finely  illustrated,  practical,  and  ong:i- 
Wv/Vyr\  nal.  Price  50  cents,  postpaid.  An  il- 
*^  lustrated  circular  free,  giving-  particu- 

lars aliout  the  book,  and  prices  of  pure-bred  fowls 
and  eggs  fur  sale  by  the  author,  4tfdb 

H.  B.  CEEf?.  Nashville.  Tenn. 

:     ■ !  11  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  CiLKANiNGS, 


BEES 


350    COLONIES    OF   BEES. 

1,000,000  Sections.  HIVES, 
Smokers  Queens,  etc.  Send  for 
price  list  to  E,  T.  FLANAGAN 
Box  783,  Belleville.  Illinois. 


nTTF>DT  TT70  Langstroth  Bee-hives,  and 
L*>l  I  I  I  Ji  ^Jl^  every  thing-  needed  in  the 
KJKJ  1-  i-  i^J-X^Kj,  bee  yard;  SiVpngre  catalog-ue 
^■^^■^^■HBM  free,    "  BUSY  BEES,"  a 

book  fcUiTigr  how  to  manage  them,  10  cents  in 
stamps,  WALTER  S.  ROUDER,       5-12dlj 

ITS  E.  Wai-nut  St.,  Indianarous,  Ind. 

IHORT-HORN  CALVES" 

For  sale.  Registered  in  purchiiser's  name  and  de- 
livered at  express  office  in  light  crate  (from  one  to 
six  months  old)  823,00  each;  30  head  of  cows  and 
heifers,  and  4  young-  bulls,  cheap.  For  prices  and 
breeding-,  address  7-8-9d 

CALVIN  LOVETT,  Otsego,  Mich. 

|I^"ln  responding  to  tliis  adveiti.-iement  mention  GLKANINGS, 


From  10  to  :2.')  , 

discount     from 

former  prices.  My 

■iO-pag-e  catalog-ue 

for  1893  gives  rea- 
sons,    I    offer    a 

new  -  style      chaff 

hive    at    one-half 

the  cost  of  other 

styles,  and  just  as 

good.     This     hive, 

can  l)e  taken  apart 

almost    instantly, 

and  packed  up 
i7i  small  space. 
It  can  be  used 
on  any  hive  (see 
cut).  Don't  fail 
to   get    my  32d 

annual  price  list,    I  mean  business,  and  am  bound 

to  sell  as  good  as  the  best,  and  at  equally  low  prices. 
Address  VV/W.  W.  GARY. 

6tfdb  CouERAiNE,  Mass. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


Murray  e<HEiss,"':'o^'H\|"° 


VIQlSkNS 


MANDOEINS 


tS"ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkaotnqs. 
PERSOflS    UiHriTING 

APIfll^IAlM    SUPPLiIHS 

Would  do  well  to  send  to  W,  E.  Clark,  Oriskany, 
Oneida  Co,,  N,  Y.    Send  for  illustrated  price 
list.    Dealers  should  send  for  Deal- 
ers' list  for  Smokers.  6-13db 
t^ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

F.  F.  ALDERFER, 

HARLEYSVILLE.       -        MONT.  CO.,   PA. 

Breeds  the  be.st  S.  C,  W.  and  B,  Leghorn  stock  and 

eggs  for  sale;  also  Comb  Foundation,  Italian  Bees 

and  Oueens.    Satisfaction  guaranteed.    Write  him. 

7-8d 


•    DO  YOU  WANT   • 

Good,  gentle,  and  pi-olitic  bees'?  Then  get  an  Albi- 
no (or  white-banded  Italian)  queen.  Catalogue  free. 
5tfd  A,  L,  KILDOW,  Sheffield,  Illinois. 

J3P"In  responding  to  this  adverti.-iement  mention  Gleanings. 


1892 


GLFiANlNGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


347 


AlllANGE,GRANeE,LEAGUE 


F.M.B.A. 

last  yeur  tlial  uc  wen 


"A"  Grade  $40. 


Iicrs  and   1  lioiisaiiil.s  of  oilier  Kood 

anil  I  rue,  patronized  iisso  lilierally 

npelled  to  l)U.V,  build  and  increase 

our  facilities  until  now  we  now 

have  one  of  Iho   LARGEST 

CARRIACEand  HARNESS 

FACTORIES  IN  THE  WORLD. 
The  AlliaiieeFactoiy  runs  when 
others  shut  dovvu  or  break  up. 


A"  Grade  $46. 


Send  for  our  liandsoine,  illus- 
trated I'aialofiue,  sliowintx  over 
UH)  dilVon'Mt  styles  of  Vehieles 
and  Harness,  and  you  will  un- 
derstand why  all  this  phenom- 
enal success  and  immense  busi- 
ness.    We  actually   aiw  more 

for  l(-ss  money  than  any  Kugsy  or  Harness  factory  in  the 
world.  .\ll  goods  hand  made  and  warranted  for  years.  Get 
our  prices  and  c<MJipare  them  with  your  dealers. 

ALLIANCE  CARRIAGE  CO.  CINCINNATI,  0. 

North  Cou't  St  .  opp.  the  Court  House.  "A"  Grade  $72.50. 

L^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Olkaninqs. 


I  am  Pushing  Ahead ! 

And  am  so  far  in  the  lead  that  I  challeng'e 
any  one  to  show  up  superior  bees  to  my  best 

Five-Banded  Golden  Italians. 

Large,  beautiful,  g-entle,  and  good  honey- 
gatherers;  the  results  of  10  year.s'  careful 
breeding.  Try  them.  Satisfaction  guaran- 
teed. Queens  in  Mav,  $1.25  each;  6  for  $B. 
After  June  1,  $1  each;  6  for  $5.  For  full  par- 
ticulars, send  for  descriptive  circular. 

CHAS.  D.  DUYALL,  Spencerville,  Md.      ^tdb 

t*"li.  ■■.■>|wri(liau'to  il,ij-a.lVfiti>Hi..,ril    ii.,  l.      ,.  '   • 

Foreign  and  domestic.     Crude  and  refined. 

.\  stock  constantly  on  hand. 

Write  for  prices,  stating  (luantity  wanted. 

ECKERMANN  &  WILL,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

C3'"In  ri'sp-jiiihnj?  to  this  advertisement  mention  OLK-VNtvos. 

U'  \->  "TpTP  T  My  new  price  list  of  Pure  Itai- 
*  *^^1*^  a  Ian  BeeM,  White  and  Brown 
lie«;|iurii  <'lii<-kcnM,  While  and  Brown  Fer- 
rets, and  Srotfh  Collie  Pups.    Address 

N.  A.  KNAPP.  Hochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 

St  f  d  1) • 

GABBAGE-PLANtS. 

Henderson's  Succession,   Flat   Dutch,   and  Early 
Summer.     E.xti-a  tiiu'  i)lanl^.     Five  dollars  per  thou- 
sand.   Acme  and   Beauty  Tomato   plants;  ten   dol- 
lars per  thousand.    Italian  bees  and  queens  for  sale. 
»>.  li.  WOOD,  Birmingham,  Ala. 

Plea.se  mention  this  paper. 

THE  DEAD  LINE 


One-Piece  Sections  Our  Specialty. 

1  eliallenge  conii>aris(>n  of  my  goods  with  those  of 
any  other  make  on  the  maricet.  If,  ui)f)n  fair  trial, 
they  are  not  found  superior  to,  and  cheaper  than, 
any  makes  of  so-called  snow-white,  premium,  sand- 
papered, etc.,  sections,  tln'  goods  will  cost  you  noth- 
ing, and  you  are  invited  to  [lublish  me  as  a  fraud. 

lean  fill  orders  promptly  for  any  width  at  $2.75 
per  M.;or  $3.50  per  M.  in  5I_I00  lots  at  factory  at 
Wauzeka,  Wis.  Other  supplies  shipped  from  Capac. 
8tfdb   Address        B.  WALKEB,  Capac,  Mich. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

OATMAN'S    SOLDERING    AND    REPAIR    KIT 


(.'iiii,-.ists  I'l  lii'e  iiot,  two  cojiper  soldering-irons,  bar  of  solder, 
solderinjr  lluid  luid  brush,  all-steel  seriper,  hanipner,  scrat<;h- 
awl.and  |ilyi'is,as  shown  in  the  eiit.  Anj-oni'  iiurchasint;  this 
outfit  will  K'i't  full  <lircotions,  which  will  enabli'  him  to  repair 
tin,  ooppei.  bi'iiss,  metals,  anil  iron;  also  how  to  keep  Ihe  sol- 
dering-irons in  order.  Wholi-  kit.  boxed.  12  lbs.  Shipped  on 
receipt  of  «2.IK).     Agents  wanted. 

O.  &  L.  OATMAN,  Medina,  Ohio. 

Mention  this  paper. 


>    BEE-KKEPINti— March    and 
hand.     Read 


A  i)ril  —  is    at 


1 
"THE  WINTER  PROBLEiM," 

and  keei)  up  with  the  times.    Price  60  cts. 

G.  R.  PIERCE,  Blairst<jwn,  Benton  Co.,  Iowa. 

Jif-fn  responding  to  Hiis  iulveiiisenienl  mention  Hi.eakings. 


rOR   SALE. 

50  colonies  of   Italian    bees  in  A.  I.  Roofs  8-frame 

Dovetailed  and  Langstroth's  10-frame  hi\es,  at  five 

dollars  per  colony.  A  liberal  discount  for  more  than 

one  colony.    Safe  delivery  gutiranteed.  S-lldb 

JOHN  CiRANT,  Batavla,  Ohio. 

iVIARTIN  S  PROLIFIC  BUCKWHEAL 

Same  kind  as  advertised  last  year  in  GLfiANiNOS. 
On  my  sandy  soil  it  yields  double  the  quantity  per 
acre  as  .Japanese,  (iives  excellent  .satisfaction. 
$1.(10  per  bu.,  cash,  on  boaid  ears  here,  sacks  includ- 
ed. WITl.ITIAKTIN, 
8-lldb  Highland,  Oakland  Co.,  ITIicli. 
Please  mention  Glkaninps. 


Foundation,  Wholesale  and  Retail. 

7    free  samples.   Special  prices  to  dealersdii  lour 
Free  price  list  of  everything  needed  in  tlie  apiary. 


If  you  would  like  to  see 
how  nice  foundation 
can   be  made,  send  for 

prices  to  (leaiersdii  foundation  and  St^'tions,  etc. 

6tfdb  (Near  Detroit.) 

Nl.  H.  HUNT.  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


348 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 

Notices  will  be  inserted  under  tliis  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  i-esponsible  for  er- 
rors. You  can  have  the  notice  as  many  lines  as  you  please; 
but  all  over  Ave  lines  will  cost  you  according  to  our  regular 
rates.  This  department  is  intended  only  for  bona-fide  ex- 
changes. Exchanges  for  cash  or  for  price  lists,  or  notices  of- 
fering articles  for  sale,  can  not  be  inserted  under  tliis  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.— To  trade  a  large  lot  of  Heddon  hives, 
nicely  made  and  good  as  new;  some  with  combs 
complete  for  honey,  now  or  after  crop  of  '93.  Write 
for  particulars.    Address  D.  S.  Hall, 

3tfdb  South  Cabot,  Vt. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  job  printing  of  any  kind 
for  black  or  Italian  bees.  A.  D.  Ellingwood, 
fi-9db       White  Mountain  Apiarist,  Groveton,  N.  H. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  brood-foundation,  at  40c 
per  lb.,  or  liglit  for  the  boxes  at  50c  per  lb.,  for 
wax  at  30c  per  lb.  B.  Chase, 

7tfdb  Earlville,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. 


W 


ANTED. — To  exchange    choice    Carniolan  and 
Italian  queens  for  supplies.  8-9d 

F.  A.  Lockhart  &  Co.,  Lake  George,  N.  Y. 

WANTED.— A  man  of  good  habits  and  good  refer- 
ences, to  7'un  an  apiary  for  comb  lioney.    Write 
at  once,  stating  qualittcatioiis  and  wages  wanted. 
D.  B.  Banks,  201  E.  Baltimore  St.,  Baltimore,  Md. 


\I7ANTED.— To  exchange  tor  bees,  1000  brood  and 
Vl  extracted  combs,  6  and  10  inch  foundation- 
mills,  dipping-board,  etc.,  shotgun  and  Safety  bicj'- 
cle,  write  to  me.  B.  W.  Hopper, 

9-lOd  Box  334,  Garden  City,  Kan. 


WANTED.—- To  exchange  Simp,  sections,  founda- 
tion, crates,  shipping-cases,  and  hives,  also 
tomato,  celery,  cabbage,  verbena,  pansy,  phlox,  and 
other  plants,  for  wax,  typewriter,  bulbs,  plants, 
seeds,  curio.sities,  and  offers. 
9d         Chester  Olmste.\d,  East  Bloomfleld,  N.  Y. 

WANTED.— Young  man  to  take  charge  of  small 
ai'iary  of  100  colonies.  Write,  giving  experience 
and  wages  expected.  A.  A.  Knott,  Berthoud,  Col. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  S.  C.  White  and  Brown 
Leghorns  and  Pekin  duck  eggs  for  Silver  or 
Golden  Wyandotte  eggs,  or  puie  Italian  queens  or 
thin  foundation.  J.  E.  Pryok,  Middle  River,  Iowa. 


WANTED.— To    exchange    a  foot-power    saw  for 
queens  and  bees  by  the  pound.    Write  for  jjar- 
ticulars.  W.  S.  Wright,  Battle  Creek,  Mich. 

WANTED.- To  exchange  bees  in    double  -  walled 
Hives,  10  Simplicity  frames,  wired  foundation, 
for  Barnes  foot-jwwer  saw  or  offers. 

E.  Hanchett,  163  Miles  Ave.,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  for  any  thing  useful  on 
the  farm,  Canary   birds,  fine    singers,  raised 
from  imported  stock.  B.  Geissler; 

9-lOd  Basco,  Hancock  Co.,  111. 

TO  exchange.- One   setting  of  Black  Minorca  or 
Red  Cap  eggs,  for  one  pound  of  Italian  bees  and 
queen.    50  pounds  wanted.       E.  P.  Aluriuge, 
9d  Franklin  Square,  Ohio. 

a 

WANTED.— To  exchange  bees  at  75c  per  lb.  about 
June  5,  as  my  honey  sea.son  closes  then,  for 
nails,  watch,  sewing-machine,  cloth,  etc.  What  have 
you  ?  Ira  D.  Aldek.man,  Way  Cross,  N.  C. 


^0  exchange. 


-Bee-hives  for  beeswax.  9-13db 

Wm.  Iden,  Etna  Green,  Ind. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  a  good    pony    circulai' 
sawmill  for  a  good  5  or  6  H.  P.  portable  engine 
and  boiler.  J.  R.  Landes,  Albion,  O. 

TO  exchange.— One  4  L.  frame  Stanley  rever.sible 
extractor,  been  used  only  once;  cost  $21.00. 
J.  Singleton,  34  Public  Square,  Cleveland,  O. 


WANTED.— May  20,  1892,  a  yt)ung  man  to  take 
charge  of  small  apiary,  and  to  do  other  outdoor 
M'ork.  Addi'ess,  stating  experien<'<'  and  salary  want- 
ed. J.  S.  Harizkll,  Addison,  Pa. 


|r/\|l  Colonies  of  Bees  Devot- 
^W  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 

TWO    MILLION      SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS. 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 

Send   for  our   24-Page    Catalogue    of  Dovetailed 

Hives,  Smokers,  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  M'F'&  CO.,  Higginsville,  Missouri. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  5tfdb 


I  TELL  you  what,  Jones,  lievering 
Bros,  sell  the  best  goods  and  at 
the  lowest  price  of  any  one  I've 
struck  yet.  The  largest  and  best 
equiiqx'd 


Bee -Hive  Factory 


in  the  West.  The  Dovetailed  Hive 
and  New  Hoffman  self  -  sparing- 
Frame  a  specialty.  Every  thing 
used  by  practical  bee-keepers  at 
wholesale  and  retail.  Send  for  their 
free  Illustrated  Price  List,  and 
save  money.  Supply  Dealers;  send 
for  their  Wholesale  List.    Address 

i-EVERiira  snos., 

6tfdb  ^TlTio-ba.,  Cass  Co.,  Io"cwa_ 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

TESTED   ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

50  tested  Italian  (jueens  for  sale  at  itl.OO  each,  to  be 
delivered  June  1st  to  loth,  all  rai.scd  last  fall  from  an 
imported,  and  lust  select  tested  queens.  Untested 
queens,  July  15th  and  aftiT,  TOc  each;  3  for  $1.75;  6 
or  more,  uOc  each.  D.  G.  Edmiston, 

Adrian,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich. 

C^In  respondinj^  to  tliis  mivei  ti.-finnit  nitniiun  (iLKANlKGS- 

SECTIONS. 

$2.50  to  $3.50  per  M.  Bee-Hlvee«  and  Rlx- 
tures  cheap.  NOVELTY    CO., 

etfdb  Rock  Falls,  Illinois. 

^"In  respondintrto  tliis  adverti      iitiit  mention  (Jleanings 


Black  and  Hybrid  Queens  For  Sale. 


Tor  tlu-  hcnilit  of  friends  who  have  bhu-k  or  hybrid  gneens 
which  they  wish  to  dispose  of.  we  will  insert  notiees  free  of 
char^'e.  as  lulow.  We  do  this  because  there  is  hardly  value 
enough  in  these  queens  to  pay  for  buying  them  up  and  keep- 
ing them  in  stock  ;  and  yet  it  is  oftentimes  quite  an  accommo- 
dation to  those  who  can  not  afford  higlier-priced  ones. 


I  have,  by  purchase  and  otherwise,  30  hylirid  and 
mismated  queens  at  30c  each;  or  4  for  ll.OO.  Can 
ship  by  retiun  mail.       W.  H.  Laws,  Lavaca,  Ark. 

I  liave  50  good  liybrids  and  black  queens  for  sale 
at  25c  each,  ready  for  immediate  delivery. 
6-7d       W.  H.  Heastman,  Citra,  Marion  Co.,  Florida. 


To  all  who  will  send  me  cages  filled  with  candy, 
and  stamp  on,  you  take  I'isk  of  loss,  I  will  put 
hybrid  queens  35c.  C.  C.  Kirkman, 

Redallia,  Pitt  Co.,  N.  C. 

30  black  (jueens,  6  hybrid,  to  mail  May  10  to  15. 
Blacks,  25c;  hyln-ids,  50.  Safe  arrival  guaranteed. 
None  but  good  queens  sent,  stamps  taken. 

E.  F.  QuiGLEV,  Unionville,  Putnam  Co.,  Mo. 


Twenty-flve  to  tiiirty  mixed  queens,  some  pure 
and  purely  mated.  Choice  in  turn.  Price  2.5c  each. 
Ready  May  1  to  15.  Dr.  J.  W.  Crenshaw, 

Versailles,  Woodford  Co.,  Ky. 


1802 


(n-EANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


340 


B 


Yellow,  Extra,  Excellent 


(.111! 


1t;ili:iii 

tor  sale  in  .Inn 
;il   ('  li  I'  II  a  II  >rci 
Viillcy     .\i>iar.v 
Mh.>S.  Ol.lVKIl  COLI 


E'l  .-Ird,  -I..")!!  p  1  \V(.-I  ra  lui-  fl 
Iiil. -ti'd.Tl  L  Ninl.MiswillA 
Older  cailv  r  t,)iu'«'ii.  $2.00.1] 
Si-iid  foi  list  ■*l)ui|-|  pass  by  *• 
Sln.'rl)iii'iK>,  Clu'iiaiiK"  <'<>..  N.  V 


Plcas^e  mention  thi!<  pnper. 


CANADA  BEE  KEEPERS 

Will  sa\t'  iiiiiiii-y  liy  piiri'liasiiii;-  siipplii's  from  T. 
Philli|>s  &  Co..  Orillia,  Ontario,  wlio  iiiaiiiifactiii'(> 
all  stylt'.s  of  Hives,  S»'clious.  I'ranios,  Foiiiulalloii, 
E.YtraVtors,  and  Smokers.  Also  iiiiHiy  new  tliinjrs 
not  handled  by  other  dealers.  Send  foi'  i-atalofjue 
and  samjiles  of  foundation,  free. 


3-od 


T.  PHILLIPS  &    CO., 

ORILLIA,  ONTARIO,  CAN. 

I'ltiisf  mention  this  paper. 


FOR  SALE  CHEAP  !i^^.!^^^,r-^;e^<^^: 

plus  attaehnienis;  also  IJariies  saw,  etc.  9d 

\V.  ('.  Gii.r.ETT,  1101  IMiie  Island  Ave.,  Chicago,  111. 


MAILING   .     • 
.    .    BLOCKS 

FOR  — 

SAMPLES    . 

OF 

.     .     HONEY. 

The  ad  j  oi  n  i  n  tr  cut 
shows  a  very  eonvenient 
package  for  mailing 
samples  of  honey  and 
other  liquids.  The  cut 
is  only  aijout  half  size  of 
the  one  we  are  prepared 
to  furnish,  wliich  holds 
H  ounce,  and  gives  a 
good  taste  of  the  honey 
and  some  to  spare.  We 
also  use  a  very  wick-- 
mouthed  bottle  so  the 
honey  will  run  out  eas- 
ily. Vou  notice  the  top 
screws  on,  dosing  it 
tight  and  making  a  very 
handy  package,  easily 
opened,  and  accepted  by 
the  postal  authorities. 
We  liave  just  bought  :i5 
gross  so  as  to  Ije  able  to 
sell  them  at  only  5c  each, 
.'wc  per  doz.  Hy  mail,  :5c 
extra  t)n  one,  or  3c  each 
extra  in  quantities. 

A.  I.  ROOT, 

Medina,  0. 


1    PDA  Kfi^'fllihi  ■';' 


SCREW 


M- 


KIND  WORDS  FROM  OUR  CUSTOMERS. 

I  think  Gle.\ning.s  is  an  excellent  paper.    I  don't 
see  how  I  can  ever  do  without  it.       A.  J.  Bccher. 
Declierd,  Tenn.,  Apr.  11. 


How  far  does  Gleanings  go?  I  still  have  orders 
rolling  in  for  carnations  which  I  advertised.  I  shall 
not  be  surprised  to  get  an  order  now  from  Japan  or 
some  other  far  country,  telling  me  that  they  saw  it 
in  Gleanings.  S.  Lenton. 

Piru  City,  Cal.,  April  4. 


I  have  got  to  be  with  you  in  j'our  religious  talks, 
and  I  think  Oui-  Homes  was  tlie  thing  that  set  me  to 
thinking,  and  finding  Christ,  more  than  any  thing 
else.  Geo.  Allen. 

Union  Springs,  N.  Y. 


1  should  be  lost,  almost,  without  (J leanings'  reg- 
ular visits;  and  long  may  it  live  and  prosper  is  my 
wish.  K.  D.  Nichols. 

Monlro.se,  Colorado. 


1  have  just  received  a  nice  lot  of  your  new  Hotf- 
inan  frames,  and  think  they  are  the  finest  1  ever 
saw.     I  shall  use  them  altogether  this  sea.son. 

iMocksville,  N.  C.  E.  R.  Hunt. 


OUK    BOOK  ON  TILE  DRAINAGE. 

A.  T.  Root,  of  >fedina,  O.,  has  recently  brouglit 
out  another  of  those  excellent  little  handbooks  for 
farnieis.  This  is  one  on  tile  diainage.  ami  is  by 
W.  I.  Cliamlierlaiii.  late  pr(>si(leiit  i)f  tlie  Iowa  Agri- 
cultural College.  Mr  (li.iinberlain  dug  this  book 
out  with  the  spade.  In  othei- woifls,  it  is  his  own 
expeiienc(\  and  we  shall  have  more  to  say  of  it 
after  awhile.— ir(.s/<7)i  StocloiiiDi  atiii  Ciiltivatiir, 
OiiKilid,  Nii). 


Job  Lot  of  Wire  Netting. 

CUT  PIECES   AT   A  LOWER  PRICE  THAN   FULL  ROLLS. 

Having  bought  from  the  factory,  at  our  own  price, 
five  or  six  hundred  remnants,  as  listed  below,  we  are 
able  to  give  you  the  choice  of  a  great  variety  of 
pieces  at  the  jjiicc  of  a  full  roll  or  lower.  Full  rolls 
of  netting  are  IM  ft.  long,  and  when  they  are  cut  we 
have  to  charjic  nearly  double  the  full-roll  rate,  be- 
cause it  is  so  much  trouble  to  unroll,  measure,  and 
cut.  and  run  the  risk  of  having  a  lot  of  remnants  on 
hand.  No  doubt  it  is  in  this  way  that  the  following 
remnants  have  accumulated.  It  costs  a  good  deal 
to  t;et  ail  this  in  shape  .so  we  can  easily  pick  out  from 
the  lot  the  piece  you  want.  But  to  move  it  off  quick- 
ly, w'e  jiut  the  price  down  so  jou  can  all  have  a 
chance  at  it.  Remember,  first  come,  first  served. 
In  ordering,  therefore,  name  a  second  or  third  choice, 
or  say  that  we  may  send  the  nearest  we  can  if  the 
piece  selected  is  gone.  On  5  pieces  deducts  per  cent, 
on  10  pieces  10  per  cent.  These  remnants  are  shipped 
only  from  here.  If  any  of  you  want  to  secure  some, 
and  don't  want  them  shipped  till  later,  when  you 
will  order  something  else,  so  as  to  save  freight,  pick 
out  the  pieces  you  want,  send  remittance  with  the 
order,  with  request  to  lay  b.y  till  called  for,  and  we 
will  mark  them  as  belonging  to  you.  We  prefer  to 
ship  them  right  out,  however. 

LIST  OF  POOLTRY-NETTING  REMNANTS. 


.f 

^ 

s    ~ 

t 

ta 

c    « 

^ 

Leng-tli   of  e;ii-h    piece.    Multiplv   by    tlie 

'* 

width  in  feet  to  get  tho  rivimluT  ut  square 

£    0 

a. 

feet  in  eiicli  piece.    Then  nnilfiijlv  by  the 

?    1 

6 

o 

price  per  foot  for  the  price  per  piece. 

3ii2 

20 

% 

27. 

2 

2 

iy 

■V 

103, 100. 

n 

2 

18 

1 

61,  53,  48.35,22,22. 

76 

2 

17 

V4 

23, 15. 

m 

2 

16 

w 

23;  18  in.  wide,  40;  24  in.  wide,  94,  88 

72 

2 

16 

IV, 

60.  h%,  .56;  30  in.  wide.  46.  24;  48  in.  wide,  48. 

18 

2 

\i> 

2 

87,  :J0;  12  in.  wide.  100. 

24  |2 

I.') 

2 

100,  90.  69,  52,  33,  13.  12,  00  in.  wide,  21,  20. 

42 

2 

Ih 

2 

121,  23,  8;  72  in.  wide,  36.  .33. 9. 

48 

2 

l.i 

2 

72,  49,  48,  45,  ;i8,  37,  30,  29,  26,  14. 

:iu 

IH 

19 

1 

33,  .36  In.  wide.  47. 

42 

W 

1« 

1 

8.5.59;  60  in..  56;  72  in. 

18 

w. 

18 

m; 

40, 14,  54  in..  12;  60  in.,  34. 

3U 

w 

16 

'iV. 

79;  36  in.,  14;  42  in.,  34;  48  in.,  92. 

36 

1'4 

•M 

IH 

22. 

S6 

1'4 

19 

\% 

48,12,24  in..  42;  30  in.,  75;  48  in.,  78. 

36 

1'4 

18 

2 

15,  10;;42  in.,  80;  48  in.,  22;  Tl  in..  8. 

48 

1 

20 

14( 

.53;  7ain.,i)I;  30  in.,  96;  9  in..  40. 

24 

1 

ID 

2 

26;   9  in.,  24;   42  in.,  .50,  :$4;  48  in.,  100,  40;  60  in., 
26;  18  in... 50. 

32 

1 

18 

'iV, 

8.5;  24  in.,  23;  30  in.,  69. 

36    1 

18 

•IV, 

48  in..  30;  60  in. ,.59. 

9      X 

20 

2'Jr 

7;  .36  in.,  5.5 

24    3 

16 

1 

19:  36  in..  86;   42  in.,  14. 

36    3 

l.T 

m 

63;   48  in..  60. 

48    3 

14 

!'-< 

45;  72  in..  100,  70. 

14    4 

14 

3 

166,  .52,  36,  23 

22    4 

14 

4 

107,  68,  36.  17. 15. 

30    4 

u\iy, 

.52.  47,  36.  33,  :i0  29  19, 18,  13,  9. 

34    4 

U    43^ 

43.  37.  34.  2.5,  24,  23, 18. 

42    4 

14    5 

68,  62,  62,  23, 22,  22,  15,  12, 12,  12.  8,  6. 

46    4 

14  hy. 

82,50,44   11,5. 

18 

8 

13 

2 

68  ft.;  .36  in..  200  ft.  at  4c;  45  in.,  247  ft.  at  6c. 

Four  and  eigrlit  inch  fencing.    Price  in  fourth  column  is  the 
pnce  per  foot  in  lenj^th. 

£L^  Z.  ROOT,  Xi^edina,  O. 


350 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  1. 


-lEJVIPIREi- 
Safety^  Bicycles. 


Strictly  High-Grade  Machines. 
Made  of  the  Best  Materials. 
Solid   and    Cushion    Tire. 
For  Ladies  and  Gentlemen. 
PRICES: 

Gents'  30-in.  Solid  Tire,  like  cut *80.(X) 

"        114-in.  Cushion  Tire 90.00 

Ladies'  28-in.  Solid  Tire 80.00 

"        li^'-in.  Cushion  Tire 90.00 

R.  I.  f^OOT,  Medina,  O. 

PUNIC  aUEEM  and  AM.  APICULTUEIST  One  Year,  $2.50 
Qolden  Carniolan  and  Am.  Apicnlturist  One  Tear,   2.00 
Beautiful  Italian  and  Am.  Apiculturist  One  Year,   1.50 
Eight-paRe  catalog-ue  free. 
8tfdb  H.  ALLEY,  Weuliam,  Mass. 

H^In  respoiidintj  to  ii.i.s  u.ivi  iti  i  ui 


OfE 


L-ntliiii  (Jleanings. 


Our  strain  of  Italians  have  reached 
the  top.  Golden-colored  queens  bred 
for  husiiies.s.  Tented  (lueens  in  May, 
UJM;  3  for  $4.no.  Untested,  $1.00;  3  for 
$3.60.  NiK-lel  and  full  colonies  at  spe- 
cial prices.  Bee  SiipplieN  of  all  kinds. 
Send  for  circular  giving'  full  particu- 
lars. JKO.  IViBBEL.  A:  SON, 

Hi:;:!!  Jfill,  no. 

larin  responding  to  this  aUveitiseiiient  mention  Gleaninos. 

JENNIE  ATGHLEY 

Will  send  you  (jueens  by  return  mail.  Safe  arrival 
and  satisfaction  gruarauteed;  eitlier  tlu'ee  or  five 
banded  strains.  Untested,  April  and  May,  $1.00 
each;  six,  $.5.00;  after,  75c  each;  six,  H.'M;  or  $8.00 
per  dozen.  Tested  and  breeding  queens  on  applica- 
tion; try  my  queens.  Monej* -order  oflice,  Greenville. 

JEMNIE   ATCHL.E:\, 
Itfdb  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


Early  Queens  from  Texas. 

From  my  choice  3  or  6  banded  stock.  My  bees  are 
very  gentle,  good  workers,  and  beautiful.  Safe  ar- 
rival and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  One  untested 
queen,  April  and  May,  $1.00;  six  for  $5.00;  later,  75c. 
Orders  booked  now;  money  sent  when  queens  are 
wanted.    Send  for  price  list. 

J.  D.  Civens,  Lisbon,  Tex. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

DON'T  pay  two  prices  for  Bees,  Queens,  and  Sup- 
plies, but  send  for  my  Catalogue  with  Dli»- 
couut  sheet,  on  5-Banded  Queern*,  and  get  the 
best  at  }^  price.       Chas.  H.  Thies,  Steeleville,  111. 


SAVE  MONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 


Good  Queens  Cheap. 

300  tested  Italian  queens,  raised  last  season,  for 
sale'at$l;  $10  per  doz.  A  few  hybrids  at  25c  each. 
They  will  be  shipped  about  June  15th  to  25th,  or 
later  if  desired.  Have  order  booked  now  and  send 
money  when  j^ou  want  them.  My  bees  have  been 
BRED  FOR  BVSINESS,  and  these  are  bar- 
gains.   Nuclei  and  full  colonies  at  very  low  rates. 

J.  A..  GRSEXT,  Tisiy^on.,  111. 

^p"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleaninqs. 


Hastings'  Lightning  Bee-Escape. 


Send  for  sample  of  Hastings' "  Lightning "  Bee 
Escape,  and  you  will  be  convinced  that  it  is  the 
best  and  most  practical  escape  yet  produced.  It 
will  clear  the  supers  in  a  short  space  of  time  (2  to  4 
hours),  and  It  Is  impossible  for  the  bees  to  clog  the 
passage,  as  they  can  not  return.  Each  escape  guar- 
anteed as  represented.  Price,  by  mail,  each,  $0.20; 
by  mall,  per  doz.,  $2.25.  Full  directions  with  each 
escape.  Electrotypes  furnished  free  for  dealers' 
catalogues.    Write  for  discount.  7-12db 

M.  E.  HASTINGS,  New  York  Mills,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


Send  for  Price.  List  to 

R.  E.  HARBAUGH. 
Wfamif'r  and  Dealer  in   Ree-Keepers'  Supplies. 

Breeder   of    Italian    and   Carniolan    Bees   and 

Queens,  Light  and  Dark  Colored  Ferrets. 

'iSth  and  Clay  Sts.,      -        -       -       St.  .Joseph,  Mo. 

Italian  Bees  and  Queens  For  Sale. 

Untested  queens,  $1.00;  tested,  $1.,50.  Bees,  $1.00 
per  lb.  Colony,  $5.00.  Also  baried  Plymouth  Rock 
eggs  for  sitting,  $1.00  per  13. 

7-16db  MRS.  A.  A.  SIMPSON,  Swarts.  Pa. 

£9*In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleakinos. 

Choice  Fowls  and  Eggs  for  sale  at 
all  times.    Finely  illu.strated  circu- 
lar free.      GEER  BROS    St.  Marys,  Mo.    21tfdb 


POULTRY. 


Hatch  Chickens  by  Steam. 

IMPLOYED  EXCELSIOR  INCUBATOR 

kWill  do  a.  Tbonaandi  fai  gnooemfnl  oper- 
jAtion.  Simple,  Pfftet  and  Self-Hegulating, 
f  LowMt-pnoed  flrst-olMa  Hatcher  made. 
I  Guaranteed  to  batch  a  larger  percentage 
of  fertile  egga  at  leas  cost  than  any  other. 
Send  6a.  fur  Clus.  UataloK.    (J£0.  11. 8T.illL,  ({Dinar,  HI- 

i^'lii  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLKANlNaa 

Bee-Hives  ^  Sections 

A  specialty.    Foundation,  Smokers,  etc.,  in   stock. 
Send  for  new  list,  free. 
4tfdb  W.  D.  SOPER.  Jackson,  Mich. 

Please  mention  this;  paper. 


Western  Bee-Keepers'  Supply  House 

Root's  Qeode  c&c  bs  I^sA  ai  Des  Hoines 
towa,  at  Roora    Pi"3iQ«8.     ' 
Ihe  utrgen  lupply  bosmass 
in  the  west.  EatabUahed  iS8g 
iDOTotalled   Hire*,  Beo- 
t!loaa,  Fonndatlon,  Elx- 
araotorg ,  Smokepg,  veil* , 
Orates,  reeders.  Clover 
Seeds, e to.    Imported 
Italian  Queens.    Qneens  and 
Bees.     Sample   copy   of   our 
Bee  Jonmal,  "The  West« 

am    Bee  •  Keeper.''^  and    Latest 

■OstQlOKue  mailed  Free  to  Bse-keepors. 

MSSPS  S^SBWMSSE.  PES  KOJITES  IQW*, 
In  writing  to  advertlsers'please  mention  this  paper.       4tfdb 


IW)"? 


CLEANINOS  IN  HlOE  CUl/rilRK. 


:{:., 


DOIT'T    FOUGET 

THAT  THE 

PEGOS  VALLEY, 

The  Fruit  Belt  of  New  Mexico, 

OlTiTs  ht'Uer  advanlafics  lor  iicisoiis  desir- 
ing to  engage  in  fruit  culture  than  any  other 
place  on  the  continent. 

Nolo  the  follow! iijr  table,  .showing  growtlis  mack' 

by  various  fruit  trees,  sliade  trees,  grapevines,  6>t('., 

duriug  the  past  summer: 

NiJinriif           P.  O.  Gr<)wt]i  in 

(imwrr.        A(Uhr.-<s         Tree  or  Vuie.  ferJ,  itivh. 

Witt  Bros.,  Eddy,  N.  M.. 

Rrtisiii  Grape,  16     9 

Apple,  4      !< 

Pear,  4     8 

Plum,  6      9>^ 

Cherry,  1      9 

Crab  Apple,  1      »H 

Mulberrv,  1      8 

F.  G.  Campbell.  Eddy,  N.  M., 

Black  Locust,  8      7 

G.  W.  Blankenship,  Eddy,  N.  M., 

Apple,  3  11 

"        "           "               Apricoi,  .5  8 

Peach,  3  9 

Box  Elder,  6  1 

"        '•           "               Mulberry.  7  S 

Lombardy  Poplar,  6  2 

"  "  "  Castor  Bean,  8  4 
Jas.  Hogg,  Seven  Rivers,  N.  M., 

Peach,  7  2 

Cottonwood,  16  3 
K.  M.  Gilbert,  Seven  Rivers,  N.  M.. 

Osag-e  Orang-e,  14  7 
Native  WiUow,  16  6 

Pecan,  6  2 

Blackwalnut,  4  11 

•'           "               Plum,  H  1 

Mulberrj',  6  4 

Witt  Bros,  liave  several  cottonwoods,  9 
years  old.  that  are  62  to  64  inches  in  circum- 
ference and  over  60  feet  high.  Mr.  Hogg 
has  a  peach-tree  3  years  old  from  the  seed 
that  is  8i  inches  in  diameter  and  17  feet  o 
inches  high.  He  has  a  cottonwood  4  years 
(lid  that  is  28  inches  in  circumference.  Mr. 
(iilbert  has  a  pecan-tree  6  years  old  that  is 
24  inches  in  ca'cumference  and  22  feet  higli. 
He  has  a  blackwalnut-tree  '6  years  old,  from 
the  seed,  that  is  12  inches  in  circumference, 
11  feet  10  inches  high,  and  that  l)ore  several 
walnuts  this  year.  Maynaid  Sharpe,  of 
P2ddy,  has  2  jieach-trees,  2  years  old,  from 
the  seed,  that  Ijore  and  matured  7  jieaches 
this  year.  He  has  1  api)le-tree,2  years,  from 
the  seed,  that  liore  3  api)les  the  past  season. 

Apples,  Peaches.  Pears,  Apricots,  Nec- 
tarines, Figs,  J'rnnes,  Almonds  ;  Muscat, 
Tokay,  Muscatelle,  and  other  varieties  of 
Grapes  now  in  successful  bearing  in  this 
\''alley.  Over  1000  acres  of  Muscat  Grapes 
Iteing  planted  this  year. 

Send  for  maps,  illustrated  book,  etc. 

PECOS  IRRIGATION  &  IMPROVEMENT  CO., 

EDDY,  NEW  MEXICO. 

C^in  respondlngr  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleaniko& 

liOCATIOIT 

Is  a  big  poui<,  in  supplying  goods:  ours  gives  you 
low  freight  rates.  As  we  sell  low,  you  sliould  have 
our  circular  of  supplies.  l-18db 

I.  J.STRINGHAM,  92  BARCLAY  ST.,  N.  Y. 

h'lea.'se  mention  this  pu|jir. 


B 


Yellow,  Extra,  Excellent 

ll:ili;iii  (.hie.iisp'i'csled.  $1.50  p'j"  wc-f  r-i  iim' 
l()|-  sah'  ill  .III  III'  L  I"  II  letted.  *1  L  Nurlens  uil  li 
r  Older   eailv  L 


s 


.11    Ch  e  n  a  iigo  I    Order   eaily  I    <,)ueOn.  $2.1JU. 

\'alley    Apiary       Send  for  list        I)  in'l  pass  by  ' 

.Mus.  Oi.iVKU  ('oi,i;.  Slier hii  rue,  ('henango  Co.,  N.  V. 

PlL■a^^e  mention  this  paper. 


DON'T  STOP  ME  !  I  am  going  to  send 
at  once  to  C.  W.  PHEI.PS  &  CO.'S 
Wholesale  and  Kctail  Foundation  Fac- 
tory, Pinghamton.  N.  Y..for  a  free  sam- 
ple of  Honey  Comb  Foundation,  and  buy 
all  of  my  Bee  Supplies  of  them.    Its  THE  place. 


BEE-HIVES, 


Doveiailed  or  Otherwise. 

All  Kinds  of  Bee  Supplies. 
Write  for  free  <Mtalogue.       W.  H.  PUTNAM, 

8-i3db  River  Falls,  Pierce  Co.,  Wis. 

tyin  responding  lo  thisadviTtisenicnt  incntiiii  (ii.KA.vi.viis. 


B\NDE:D  ITALIAN  BEES.  Tested,  $1.00; 
Untested,  60c;  Select(!d  te.sted,  $1.2.5;  one  2- 
frame  nucleus,  tested  queen,  $2.00;  untested, 
$1.50.     Safe  arrival  guaranteed. 

STEWART  BKOS.,  Sparta,  Tenu. 


LEATHER-COLORED  ITALIAN 

QUEENS. 

One  untested,  $1.00;  si.\,  $5.50;  twelve,  $10.00;  one 
tested,  $]..50;  si.\,  $S.(i():  twelve,  $15.00;  .selected  for 
breeding  early,  t-ach.  $:.'.. 5(1;  one  year  old  tested,  in. 
June  only,  $1.25;  si.\,  $7.00;  twelve,  $13  O.i.  Two-j-ear- 
old  queens,  each,  50e.  Descriptive  catalogue  mailed 
free  on  application. 

«^3^^^      A.  E.  Manum,  Bristol.  Vt. 

I^InrespoimiMt,'  to  Diis  adverti.-^ement  ni<-iili<iti  ni.EANDJGS- 


I  DO  NOT  ADVERTISE 

a  specialty,  but  every  thing  found  in  .\pi.\){i'.  Bees- 
wax wanted,  r.  E.  lil'liEiVS, 
6-7d                    19  IV.  2d  *;(.,  Philadelpltla,  Pa. 


GLOBE  BEE- VEIL 

^o     By  Mail  for  $1.00. 

.         A  center  rivet  holds  5  spring-steel 
I    ,  cross-bars  like  a  globeto  support  the 
bobinetVeil.  These  button  to  a  neat 
brass  nccli-band,  holding  it  firmly. 

It  is  easily  put  together;  no  trouble 
to  put  on,  or  take  off.  An  absolute 
protection  against  any  insect  that 
Hies.  Will  go  over  any  ordinary 
sized  hat;  can  be  worn  in  bed  with- 
out discern  fort;  fits  any  head;  does  not  obstruct  the 
vision;  folds  cotcpaoily,  and  can  be  carried  in  the 
pocket:  in  short,  it  is  invaluable  to  any  one  whom 
flies  bother,  mosquitos  bite,  or  bees  sting. 

THOS.  G.  NEWMAN  &  SON,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


Bee  -  Keepers'  *  Supplies. 

We  are  prejiared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies protniJtty  and  at  lowest  rates.  Kstiniatesgladly 
furnished,  and  coi-respondeiice  solicited.  Our  gootfe 
are  all  first-elass  in  qiialily  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
alogue sent  free.  Keference,  First  National  R-uik, 
Sterling,  111.    Address  1-2Mb 

WiTI.  WfCUNE  &  CO., 

Sterling;,  Illinois. 
|^^n^espo^ldlnprlotl•l    iiie-. ,  ,, j.i.  i.u.m  RLKANrNGS 

Wholesale  and  Retail  Manufacturer 

and  Dealer  in      BEE-KEEPERS'    SUPPLIES. 
ONE-PIECE  SECTIONS  A  SPECIALTY, 

AS  GOOD  AS  THE  BEST. 

Send  for  cat:tlogue.  W.  E.  SMITH, 

6tfdb  Successor  ti)  Smitli  &  Smith, 

Kenton.  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio. 

In  writing  advertisers  plea.se  mention  this  paper. 


306 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Absorbents  v.  Seal'tl  Covers..%8 
Apiai-y  of  J.  F.  Mclntyre. . .  3M 

Bees,  Moving 368 

Bees,  How  to  See 363 

Bee-keeping  in  Germany... 361 

Colorado 3li4 

Cowan  Extractor        366 

Electricity  for  Imbedding.. 38.') 
Experiments  in  Apiculture.360 

Extractor,  Cowan 366 

Extractor,  Doolitf le SSS 

Florida 375 

Foul  Brood 386 

Foul  Brood  in  Nebraska 362 

Foundation-fasteners 377 

Geinniill,F.  A, 374 


Hi ver.  Dibble's 37? 

Honey,  Grading 363 

Kellogg,  Dr 374 

Mountain  Laurel 377 

Orange-blossom  Honey 386 

Patents 38.i 

Funics  in  Medina 385 

Rambler  in  Temescal 369 

Rhubarb 38() 

Sclf-hivers  372,  373 

Theory.  Two-mile 371 

Wax  Flowers 376 

Wheelbarrow,  Hive 366 

Wiley's  Report  386 

Wintering  in  Cellar 368 

Wintering,  Cellar 366 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


The  Capital  Bee-keepers'  Association  will  meet  in  the  Super- 
visor's Room  of  the  Court-house,  Springfield,  Ills.,  at  10  a.m., 
May  25, 1892.  C.  E.  YocUM,  Sec  ,  Sherman,  111. 


Special  Notices. 


CORRECTION. 

Since  the  editorial  on  adulterated  lioiiey  on  page 
387  went  to  press  (see  beginning  of  the  next  to  the 
last  paragraph)  we  have  just  received  a  letter  from 
Chas.  F.  Mutli,  to  the  effect  that  he  did  not  send  sam- 
ples of  any  honey  to  Prof.  Wiley  to  be  analyzed, 
and  which,  as  stated  elsewhere,  were,  by  the 
professor  pronounced  adulterated.  We  were  mis- 
informed on  this  point,  and  therefore  in  justice 
to  Prof. •iViley,  make  this  correction.  Our  readers 
will  therefore  make  a  note  of  this. 


LAWN-MOWERS. 

Now  is  tlie  time  for  trimming  the  lawns  and  bee- 
yards  to  make  them  neat  and  attractive.  iTou  can 
not  do  this  successfully  without  a  good  lawn-mower. 
We  are  prepared  to  supplj'  you  with  one  of  the  best 
mowers  on  the  market  at  prices  lower  than  former 
years.  We  sell  the  Globe  in  Ave  sizes,  as  folk)Ws: 
lOin.,  f4.65;  la  in.,  $5.0ii;  14  in.,  $5.35;  16  in.,  $5.65;  18 
in.,  $6.0i).  We  have  also  the  Young  America,  a  sin- 
gle driver,  in  two  sizes,  as  follows:  10  in.,  only  13. .50; 
12  in.,  H.'M.  In  lots  of  3  at  a  time,  3  per  cent  oft';  3 
together,  5  per  cent  oft' ;  6  or  more  in  one  order,  10 
per  cent  off.  The  quantity  may  be  made  up  of  as- 
sorted sizes,  and  both  kinds  if  desired. 


OUR  INDUSTRIAL  BOOKS  ON  AGRICULTURE,  ETC. 

We  liave  now  in  stock,  ready  to  send  out,  five 
books,  as  follows:  The  ABC  of  Potato  Culture; 
The  Winter  Care  of  Horses  and  Cattle;  The  ABC 
of  Strawberry  Culture;  Tile  Drainage;  Maple  Sugar 
and  the  Sugar -Bush.  The  regular  price  of  the 
above  would  be  iB:i.OO.  If  ordered  till  at  once,  how- 
ever, we  will  furnish  them  postpaid  for  oidy  $1.50; 
if  sent  by  freight  or  express  with  other  goods,  only 
fl.25.  For  only  '25  cts.  more  we  will  include  the 
book  on  tomato  culture,  as  described  below. 


THE  NEW  BOOK  ON  TOMATO  CULTURE. 

Well,  it  has  got  started,  and  the  title-page  reads: 
"Tomato Culture;  In  three  parts;  Part Fiist,  Toma- 
to Culture  in  the  South;  Part  Second,  Tomato  Cul- 
tiu-e  Especially  for  Canning-factories;  Part  Third, 
Plant-growing"for  Market,  and  High-pressure  Gar- 
dening in  General;  A  Practical  Book  for  those  who 
Work  under  eillier  Glass  or  Cloth  as  Protection 
from  Frost;  by  J.  W.  Day,  D.  Cummins,  and  A.  I. 
Hoot."  The  first  33  pages  are  already  printed;  but 
if  you  are  in  a  huriy  to  make  use  of  the  informa- 
tion it  contains,  send  us  the  price  of  the  book  now 
and  we  will  send  the  proof-sheets  as  fast  as  tliey 
come  irom  the  press,  and  a  complete  bound  book  as 
soon  as  it  is  finished.  We  make  this  offer  because 
it  usually  takes  several  months  to  finish  a  book 
complete,  make  engravings,  etc.;  and  at  the  same 
time  tile  matter  contained  in  one  of  these  industrial 
books  may  save  you  many  dollars,  oven  in  a  single 
season.  Part  111., by  A.  1.  Root,  will  contain  a  cliap- 
ter  headed,  "  How  to  Support  a  Family  on  a  Quarter 
of  an  Acre  of  Ground."  In  order  to  be  sure  that  I 
am  right  in  my  undertaking,  I  have  visited,  and  ex- 
pect to  visit,  all  the  prominent  men  I  know  of  who 


make  their  living  by  raising  crops  under  glass  and 
under  cloth;  and  this  new  matter  of  warming  the 
ground  by  steam  carried  thrt)ugh  common  drain 
tile,  so  as  to  force  crops  witliout  the  aid  of  either 
{jlass  or  cloth  is  going  to  t)e  very  fully  considered. 
The  price  of  the  book  will  be  35  cts. ;  by  mail,  post- 
paid, 40  cts.  Tlie  engraAangs  alone  will  cost  over  a 
hundred  dollars.      

SELLING   ONION-PL.\NTS. 

This  is  the  exciting  topic  now  with  plant-growers. 
Pretty  much  every  vegetable-plant  grower  has 
raised  more  or  less  of  them,  l)ut  no  one  has  enough 
to  supply  the  demand.  The  prevailing  price  seems 
to  I)e  Sl.UO  i)er  lOJO  as  they  come  from  the  seed-bed; 
and  where  tliey  are  rai.sed  so  as  to  have  tlieni,  the 
greater  part  of  them,  the  size  of  a  common  lead- 
pencil  when  set  out,  they  go  off'  like  hot  cakes;  and 
tliere  is  money  in  raising  the  plants  for  sale,  too,  I 
tell  you.  At  present  we  have  a  large  stock  of 
Prizetaker  and  Wliite  Victoria.  Tliey  will  be  large 
enough  to  trans|)lant  in  very  few  days,  and  we  hope 
to  have  enough  tov  all  demand;  but  I  tell  you,  peo- 
ple are  going  for  them  lively.  The  postage  on  a 
tliousand  plants  depends  somewhat  on  the  size;  but 
it  generallv  runs  from  35  to  50  cents. 


By  the  pound,  90  cents.  Untested 
queens  from  imported  mother,  90  cts. 
Two-frame  nuclei,  both  frames  con- 
taining lii'ood  with  all  adhering  bees, 
and  untested  (lueen  from  imported 
motlier,  *3.0U.  Tested  queens,  |;i.50. 
Satisfactit)n  guaranteed. 

MRS.  A.  F.  PROPER, 
Portland,  Jay  Co..  Ind. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

ITALIAN    QUEENlTl'REE 

With  supplies.  Root's  Dovetailed  hives  and  all  oth- 
er supplies  cheap.  Write  for  particulars  and  save 
money.  A.  F.  McADAMS,  Columbus  Grove,  O. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  9tfdb 


FOR    ^Al   FT    ^"''  ^°^    Machines. 

'  ^'*  Oril-l-.»  3  Cut-Off  Tables,  Roofs 
make;  3  Rip  Tables:  1  18-inch  Frank  Pony  Planer; 
1  13-inch  Cigar-Box  Planer;  1  Shinier  Box  Board 
Matcher.  All  in  good  shape.  Will  sell  part  or  all 
at  once.  Counter-shafts  and  belts  go  with  machines. 
Will  sell  cheap. 

W.  D.  SOPER,  Jackson,  Mich. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


QUEENS    FREE. 

Italians,  untested,  75c.  Warranted,  $1.00.  Tested. 
$1.'.J5.  One  Choit-e  Breeder  Oiveu  Ai;va}'  with 
each  dozen.  Five-Banded  Golden  Queens,  3<1 
to$°2.    Satisfaction  guaranteed. 

F.  U.  MORROW,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

Pure  Italian  queens  in  June  and  after,  one  untest- 
ed, 80c;  Vi  dozen,  $4.50.  Tested  queens,  $1.50  each. 
Guarantee  sale  arrival.  Address  lOd 

r.  E.  ALDEEMAN,  CLINTON,  SAMPSON  CO.,  N.  C. 


fl  B  C     OF 

STRAWBERRY  -f  CULTURE, 

i  ♦  BOOK  %  FOR  »  BEGIKNERS. 

BY  T.   B.  TERRY. 

This  is  Terry's  latest  and  best  work,  and  has  re- 
ceived some  very  high  words  of  praise.  Who  that 
keeps  bees  does  not  also  have  a  little  garden-patch? 
If  you  would  learn  to  raise  in  it  that  most  luscious 
of  all  fruit,  the  strawberry,  with  the  best  results, 
you  can  not  be  wltliout  tliis  little  b(X)k.  Even  if 
you  don't  grow  strawberries  you  will  be  tlie  better 
for  reading  it.  Pages  one-half  size  of  this.  Fully 
illustrated;  144  pages.    Price  35c;  by  mail,  40c. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  MEDINA,  O. 


1.S92 


CLEANINGS  IN  IJEE  CULTURE. 


357 


Honey  Column. 


CITY 


MARKETS. 

-  Vory  Utile  lU'inaiii 
i>V('r;  <miti'  :i   liltlc 


Japanese  Buckwheat. 


Nkw  VoiiK.— Hoiirj/.-  Vory  litllc  lU'inainl  for  cmnb 
lioiu-y;  season  about  over;  <miti'  a  liltlc  of  it  on 
the  market:  that  is,  liuckwiieat  and  fair,  hut  no 
faiu-y.  Quite  a  little  (iemaiid  for  extracted  southern 
honey,  witli  very  little  on  the  market;  nonecomiiiff 
in  of  any  acccnmt.  I'lices  ran^re  from  65®"5c  per 
g-alion;  demtiiid  for  clover  and  liuckwheat  extracted 
on  t  lie  decrease.    Clover,  fiJi®":  buckwheat,  r@6. 

Bi4sir<i.v  keeps  firm  at  'Z~@'Al 

Mav  10.  Ch.\s.  Tskaei.  &  Bito., 

110  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


K.*NS.\S  CtTV.—Zfoncj/.— Demand  poor,  with  siipiily 
well  cleaned  up.  We  quote:  Comb.  1-lb.,  fancy, 
12;  dark,  8@t».  Extr:icted.  wliite,  7;  dark,  h@6. 
BfASMVJX,  none  on  the  nuirket. 

May  9.  Hamulin  &  Beai^ss, 

•514  Walnut  St..  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


St.  Lons.— H'ljifj/. —  New  extracted  is  arriving'; 
some  few  inquiries.  Sales  moderate.  VV'e  quote: 
Extracted,  o@5!^  ;  cans,  6>^@7.  No  demand  for  comb 
honev.    Bccxwax,  27X- 

May  9.                                  D.  G.  Tutt  Gro.  Co., 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Albany.— Honri/.— The  continued  cool  weather 
and  short  maple-sug-ar  season  lia.s  favored  the  con- 
tinued sale  of  comb  honey,  and  we  would  have  clos- 
ed out  all  of  our  stock  had  we  not  received  three  or 
four  small  consignments  durinf^  the  past  week. 
Prices  continue  unchanged,  .5@ilO.  Extracted,  6@8. 
Bff.xirn.r,  26@28.  Chas.  McCulloch  &  Co., 
May  9.  ■ Albany,  N.  Y. 

Chicago.  —  Honeii.  —Very  little  chang-e  since  last 
quotations;    comb  is   slow,  but    offerings    are    not 
large.    Extracted    is   steady,    and     prices   Arm    at 
6@7@8.  clover  bringing  the  liigliest  jirice. 
BMt'uax,  27.  R.  A.  Burnett, 

May  7.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111. 


CiNCiNNATi.-Honcw.— There  is  a  general  dullness 
prevailing  in  the  demand  for  comb  honey,  with 
prices  nominal  at  12@,14  for  best  wliite  in  a  jobbing 
way.  Demand  for  extracted  honey  was  slow  for  the 
la.st  few  weeks,  at  5@.8  on  arrival. 

Be^:i>H•ax.  —  Demand  fair,  at  2.5@27  for  good  to 
choice  yellow  on  arrival. 

May  9.  Chas.  F.  Muth  &  Son, 

Cincinnati,  O. 


Boston.  —  Hnney.  —  No     change   in    the    honey- 
market.    Slow  sale,  and  fair  stock  on  hand. 
May  9.                                       Blake  &  Ripley, 
Boston,  Mass. 

Detroit.— Hooey.— No  cliange  in  prices  since  la.st 
quotations,  and  not  much  honey  left  to  quote. 
Bee.mvnx,  in  fair  demand,  27®28. 
May  9.  M.  H.  Hunt. 

Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

Kansas  City.— Hk/kj/.— The  demand  for  comb 
lioney  does  not  increase  very  fast .  Sales  slow.  No. 
1  white  comb  13@Uc;  No.  2,  VKTi  Ki;  No.  1  amber,  11 
@12;  No.  2.  6@8.  Extracted,  white,  6(5j6'/^;  amber,6; 
dark,  5.    Beeswax,  23@27. 

Clemons,  Mason  &  Co., 

May  10.  Kan.sas  City,  Mo. 


JUST    OUT! 

B7  W.  I.  CHAMBEELAIN,  A.  M.,  LL.  D., 

Formerly  Secretary  of  the  flhio  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
and  late  President  of  the  Iowa  Stale  Agricultural  Col- 
lege.   At  present  Associate  Editor  of  the 
Ohio  Farmer. 

This  is  a  valuable  companion  to  our  other  rural 
books.  It  embraces  the  experience  of  forty  years 
of  one  of  our  foremost  practical  aKriculturists,  who 
has  laid  with  his  own  hands  over  lb  miles  of  tile. 

Price  35c ;  by  mail,  40c. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  MEDINA,  Ohio. 


This  is  one  of  the  most  profitable  of  farm  crops, 
and  Is  especially  valuable  to  the  liee-keeper  because 
of  the  pasturage  It  affords  for  the  bees.  It  is  har- 
vested witliln  three  montlis  from  the  time  it  is 
sown.  Under  fair  treatment  it  yields  50  bushels  to 
the  acre,  and  rarely  brings  less  than  .50e  per  bu.shel. 
The  time  for  seeding  is  at  hand  and  we  are  prepared 
with  several  hundred  bu.shels  of  choice  seed,  which 
we  will  sell  as  long  as  it  lasts  at  the  following 
prices.  Former  years  we  have  run  .short  and  had  to 
advance  prices  in  June  so  as  to  supply  orders  with- 
out a  loss.  We  hope  to  have  enough  this  year  for 
all  orders,  but  we  advise  you  not  to  put  off  ordering 
too  long. 

Per  bushel,  $1.00;  '/^  bushel.  60c;  per  peck,  35c;  1 
lb.,  5c.  If  wanted  Ijy  mail,  add  9c  for  postage.  Two 
bushels  for  $1.90;  10  bushels  or  more, 90c  per  bushel. 
Above  prices  include  bags  to  shii>  in. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  O. 


I  TELL  you  what,  Jones,  Levering 
BroM.  sell  the  best  goods  and  at 
\    the  lowest  price  of  any  one   I've 
\   struck  yet.    The  largest  and    best 
'  "i  equipped 


Bee -Hive  Factory 


in  the  West.  The  Dovetailed  Hive 
and  New  Hoffman  .self  -  spacing 
Frame  a  specialty.  Every  tiling 
used  by  practical  Ijci^keepers  at 
wholesale  and  retail.  Send  for  their 
free  Illustrated  Price  List,  and 
save  money.  Supply  Dealers,  -send 
for  their  Wholesale  List.    Address 

I-EVERIITG    BROS., 
6tfdb  "WTio-fea.,  Cass  Co.,  lo-wra- 

l'lea>e  mention  tLis  paper. 


BEE-HIVES,   SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  the  best  goods  and  sell  them  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  tlie  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world. 

Our  goods  are  known  as  the  best  througliout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS  &  CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

t3yin  responding,'  to  this  advi-rli^iiiii  iit  nii-ni  imi  i.i,ka.ni.\gs. 


358 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


runi 


lA 


^ 


© 


rs' 


-^^  © 


FOR  1892  AND  A  FINE.  TESTED,  ITALIAN  QUEEN.  OF  LAST  YEAR'S 
REARING,  FOR  $1.75.  EITHER  ALONE.  $1.00.  FOR  $2.00.  THE 
REVIEW,  THE  QUEEN  AND  THE  SO  CT.  BOOK,  "ADVANCED  BEE 
CULTURE."   WILL  BE  SENT.  W.  Z.  HUTCHINSON.    FLINT.   MICH. 

P.  S.— If  not  acquainted  with  the  Review,  send  ten  cents  for  three  late  but  different  issues. 


IT  F^^TS 


To  order  the  best  made  goods.  For  Fine 
Sections,  Foundation,  Perforated  Zinc, 
Queen  Excluders,  and  the  best  hive  for 
comb  lioncy  now  before  the  public,  order 
of  Dr.  Tinker.  PRICES  GKEATLY  RE- 
DUCED.   Address  for  catalogue 


De.  G.  L.  Tineee,  New  Philadelphia.  0. 


Please  mention  this  paper. 


YOUNG    QUEENS    READY 

to  mail  to  anj-  one,  anywliere  at  any  time,  io  the 
U.  S.  or  Canada.  I  rALIANS.  untested,  $1.00:  3, 
$3.75;  6,  il5.00;  per  dozen,  $9.00.  Tested,  reared  last 
season,  $2.00;  3  for  $5.00.  Two-frame  nucleus,  with 
any  queen,  $125  extra.  Safe  iirrival  guaranteed. 
Send  for  circular  of  Dovetailed  Hives,  Smokers, 
Foundation,  Drones,  etc.  Money  -  order  office, 
Clifton.  GOLWICK  &,  COLWICK,  NORSE,  TEX. 

t^"ln  responding  to  tliis  advertisement  mention  GLEANINGS. 

^  ^^  CENTS  WILL  BUY  A  GOOD  2 -STORY 

t^l   1  L.   Hive.      $1.00    Will    Buy    100    L. 
1^^^^  Brood  Frames.    $1.00  Will  Buy  a  Nice 
Golden  Italian  Queen.    Please  Write 
for  our  Circular  Before  you  Buy  your  Supplies. 

W.  H.  BRIGHT,  Mazeppa,  Minn. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

Untested  queens  ready  to  mail  on  receipt  of  order, 
at  $1.(X1  each;  $10.00  per  dozen.  Tested  queens, 
roared  in  1891,  same  price  as  untested.  After  the 
lirst  of  June  1  will  sell  untested  queens  at  75c  each ; 
k  doz.,  $4.00;  per  doz.,  $7.50.  Mailed  promptly  on 
I'eceiptof  order;  reared  from  imported  stoi'k  or  se- 
lect stock.  W.  A.  COiTlPTOIM,  Lyuuvlllc,  Tenn. 

|^"ln  ret-|i'iiii;iiii.  ij  iiiis  iulverii.enniii  mention  Glkaninus. 

RETAIL 

— AND— 

WHOLESALE. 

Everytliing;  used  in  tlie  Apiary. 

Greatest  variety  and  largest  stock 
in  the  West.  New  catalog.  .54  illustrated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  KEETOHMEE,  EED  OAK,  IOWA. 

In  writing:  advertisers  plea.se  mention  this  paper. 


BEE 


SUPPLIES 


OADIIini  All       BBES     AND      Q,U££NS. 
uAnNIULAH  Tlicy  beat  tliem  all.    Never 

have  (lvsciuc)\-.     All  ijuccns  reared  from  selectim- 
portcd'motlKMS.     rnti'slcd,  .50c;  13  for  $5.00.  Tested, 
$1.00;  12  for  $10.00.    Select  tested,  $1.. 50.    Descriptive 
circular  free.    A.  !•.  LINDl^KV,  Jordan,  Ind. 
«-i;Jdb 


FOR    SALE. 

LARGEST  BEE  SUPPLY 
BUSINESS  IN  CANADA. 

Reputation  all  over  America. 

A  Snap  for  some  enterprising  business 
man  or  firm.  Good  reasons  for  selling; 
only  $2000  or  S3000  required.  Send  for 
particulars.     Address 

DR.  R.  S.  CHEFFEY,  BtetCD,  Ont. 

FOR  SALE— 100  COLONIES 

of  Italian  and  hybrid  bees  in  S-frame  liangstrotli 
hives.  Price,  for  Italians,  $4.00;  liybiids,  $3.50 
each,  free  on  board  cars  here.  A  liberal  discount 
for  more  than  five  colonies.  I  guarantee  safe  de- 
livery. Thomas  Grimm,  Jefferson,  Jeff.  Co.,  Wis. 
9  lUd  Please  mention  this  paper. 

FIVE-BANDED   GOLDEN  ITALIANS. 

Untested  3  or  5  lianded  stock,  f  1.00;  six  for  H.W. 
Tested  3-banded,  $1.25;  5-banded,  »2.(i0;  liybiids,  :j5c. 
Full  colonies,  nuclei,  and  supplies  cheap;  catalogue 
free.  CM  AS.  H.  '1  HIKS,  Steeleville,  III. 

Please  mention  tills  paper. 

ELMER    HUTCHIJVSOJV 

Has  moved  to  Vassak,  Tuscola  Co.,  Mich.  He  can 
furnish  untested  queens  in  April  and  May,  raised 
from  one  of  Ids  Golden  Italian  6-banded  (jueens, 
that  took  FIRST  PREMIUM  at  the  Detroit  E-xjiosition 
the  last  two  years,  for  $1.15  each,  or  6  for  $5.00.  Or- 
ders will  be  tilled  for  me  in  April  and  May  by  a 
queen-breeder  in  the  South,  who  has  one  of  my  best 
breeding  (lueens.  Orders  promptly  filled  and  safe 
arrival  guaranteed.  Make  money  orders  payable 
at  Vassar.  7-lvdb 

POSITIVELY 

By  return  mail,  beautiful  young  warranted  Italian 
queens,  at  $1.00  each.  Tested,  $1.50.  A  select  tested 
yellow-to-the-tip  breeder,  $2.00.  Satisfaction  guar- 
anteed. W.  H.Ij A WS,  Lavaca,  Ark. 

8tfdb 


One  of  our  5-banded  red-clover  queens?  100  lbs.  of 
clover  honey  in  poor  seasons.  Send  for  descrii)tive 
circular  free.  LEININGER  BROS., 

7tfdb  Ft.  Jennings,  Ohio. 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 


We  guarantee  it  to  be  tiie  best  escape  known,  and  far 
sujierior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  ttj  a  doz- 
en, you  do  not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat^ 
isfactory  in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  within  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with   full  direc- 
tions, 20c;  per  dozen,  $2.25.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supi'ly  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb    R.  &  E.  C.  PORTER,  LEWISTOWN,  ILL. 

IL^lii  responding  to  this  adyertisement  mention  QLEANUJua 


■'^Journal- 
•  deivote:. 

•andHoNeV--^: 
•and  homel-   "o 

•1NTE,FIEST^ 


Vol.  XX. 


MAY  15,  1892. 


iu8ll6HED8Y(^l-r\POr 

.  I^perTeai^    \©)     fAEDlMAOHlO 

No.  10. 


Stray  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 

What  a  spring! 

Thksk  Sthaws  average  longer  than  usual. 
Wet  weather  always  makes  straw  grow  long. 

Editoi:  Cowan  is   making  a  tour  in   North 
Africa.     Now  he  can  procure  pure   Funics  per* 
private   purchase  right  in  the  town  of  Punic, 
Punic  provinc*!. 

Bingham  has  made  his  smoker  still  better  by 
giving  it  a  crooked  nozzle  with  a  cool  handle, 
so  you  needn't  turn  it  upside  down  to  use,  nor 
burn  your  fingers  lilling  it. 

Fkiend  Neavman  thinks  it  is  time  to  raise 
the  question  as  to  the  best  date  for  holding  the 
convention  at  the  World's  Fair.  Make  a  mo- 
tion. T.  (J.  How  would  the  last  of  September  do? 

ANT.S  IN  HIVES  can  be  driven  away,  says  the 
B.  B.  J.,  by  a  liberal  sprinkling  of  powdered 
naphthaline.  The  Indiana  Farmer  says  a  free 
use  of  common  salt  will  produce  the  same  result. 

A  STAND.^Ki)  SECTION  4}ix-i^xlX  has  been 
adopted  by  the  Utah  Association.  Good  move. 
They  also  resolved,  that,  hereafter,  "'honey 
shall  be  sold  by  such  standard  instead  of  by 
weight.'" 

Isn't  theke  just  a  little  bit  of  confusion 
about  speaking  of  absorbents  as  synonymous 
with  upward  ventilation?  May  there  not  be 
absorbents  with  tight  covers  afe  well  as  with 
upward  ventilation? 

Golden  Punics  is  what  Alley  says  he's  going 
to  have  before  the  season  of  \S'.>2  is  over.  Ne.xt 
year  I  suppose  he'll  tackle  the  common  blacks, 
put  a  few  yellow  stripes  on  them,  and  then  we'll 
have  (iolden  Blacks. 

Editor  Newman  is  again  at  his  post,  "rested 
and  invigorati'd."  Like  a  sensible  man,  he 
has  resolved  to  husband  liis  strength  and  let 
some  things  go.  If  kindly  wishes  would 
strengthen  him,  he  ought  to  be  a  pretty  strong 
man. 

I  TOOK  my  bees  out  of  the  cellar  April  7,  and 
I  think  it  was  all  right,  as  they  were  in  bad 
condition  from  not  having  had  tire  in  the  cellar. 
But  with  fiif!  through  the  winter,  I  think  they 
would  have  been  better  off  in  the  cellar  till 
May  1. 

Wakped  hoards  can  be  treated  as  advised 
on  page  a4-',  but  I'll  tfill  you  a  better  way,  if  it's 
warm  weather.  Just  lay  them  on  the  ground 
in  the  sun,  hollow  side  down,  without  any  wet- 
ting, and  see  if  they  don't  come  "'straight  as  a 
board." 

Ai.LEN  Pringle  (C.  B.  J.)  thinks  I  ought  to 
get  a  Webster.    Got  one,  friend  Pringle,  but  it 


doesn't  make  avnilahle  mean  •'  in  readiness,"  or 
"get-at-able."  I'm  afraid  such  definitions'  are 
hardly  available*.  Where  did  you  get  them, 
anyhow  ? 

This  spring  I've  used  4.5  of  the  old-fashioned 
Miller  feeders,  the  bees  going  up  at  the  sides, 
and  22  with  the  Warner  improvement,  the  bees 
going  up  in  the  middle.  To  my  surprise  I  don't 
find  that  the  bees  make  any  difference.  It  cer- 
tainly seems  they  ought  to. 

From  Medina  I  have  a  beautiful  specimen 
of  imbedding  wire  by  electricity,  and  Fred  T. 
Hayes  sends  me  some  thin  surplus  foundation 
perfectly  wired  by  the  same  method.  He  says 
it  is  the  outgrowth  of  Miss  Wilson's  heat  meth- 
od, which  he  used  satisfactorily  last  year. 

A  NEW  SYSTEM  of  Working  bees,  by  Mr.  Wells, 
is  making  some  stir  in  England.  He  puts  two 
colonies  side  by  side,  with  a  perforated  dummy 
between,  and  queen-e.xcluder  oVer,  having  both 
colonies  work  in  the  same  supers,  and  reports 
great  success.  But  it  seems  to  increase  the 
tendency  to  swarm. 

Electricity  takes  the  premium  for  imbed- 
ding wire  in  foundation.  It  makes  a  more  reg- 
ular job  of  it  than  Emma  does  with  ordinary 
heat,  and  her  plan  is  ahead  of  anv  previous 
imbedding.  Just  looks  as  if  the  wire  grew 
there.  Now,  friend  Root,  if  you  can  get  up 
cheap  batteries,  may  be  the  rest  of  us  can  use 
electricity. 

I  moved  38  colonies  of  bees  about  10  rods, 
]\Iay  4.  Shut  them  up  before  flying  in  the 
morning,  moved  them  to  their  new  location, 
and  opened  them  at  dark,  putting  a  board  in 
front  of  each  hive.  Set  a  hive  with  two  empty 
combs  in  the  old  location,  to  catch  returning 
bees.  Ciot  less  than  a  pint.  Gave  them  to  a 
weak  colony. 

I  value  supply-dealers  more  than  I  did. 
This  spring  I  wanted  some  more  feeders  in  a 
hurry,  and  had  the  stuff  cut  here  because  I 
thought  I  hadn't  time  to  send  to  Medina.  I 
found,  after  I  had  them  mad(!,  that  I  could  have 
ordered  them  by  telegraph,  and  had  them  sent 
by  express  ready  made,  at  less  expense  than  the 
stuff  ready  to  nail  cost  me  here. 

Prof.  Cook,  speaki  ng  of  a  law  against  spray- 
ing fruit-trees  while  in  bloom,  says,  on  p.  333, 
'•I  do  not  think  such  a  law  would  need  to  be 
used  much,  if  ever;  but  as  an  educator  it  would 
do  signal  service."  Don't  you  think  it  would  be 
a  good  thing,  professor,  to  have  a  law  to  prevent 
my  planting  an  apiary  on  ground  fully  occupied 
by  you,  not  to  be  used  much,  you  know,  "but  as 
an  educator"? 

I  WONDER  if,  for  once,  Doolittle  hasn't  got 
things  a  little  mixed  when  he  speaks  on  p.  336 
about  bees  gnawing  foundation  when  put  on 
too  early.    I  generally  put  on  sections  before 


360 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


bits  of  white  wax  are  seen — not  because  it  is 
better,  but  because  it  suits  my  convenience  bet- 
ter— and  I  never  observed  any  foundation  gnaw- 
ed at  that  time,  but  I've  had  foundation  badly 
gnawed  after  storing  ceased.  Still,  I  may  not 
have  observed  closely  enough  before  harvest. 

Mks.  Axteix  properly  raises  the  question, 
"  If  hybrids  are  really  as  good  honey-producers 
as  the  pure  race,  then  why  charge  more  for  the 
pure?"  Even  if  hybrids  were  as  good  as  the 
pure,  it  does  not  follow  that  successive  genera- 
tions of  hybrids  would  not  deteriorate.  Some 
dairymen  think  half-breed  Jerseys  as  good  as 
the  pure;  but  they  say  their  herds  would  rap- 
idly deteriorate  if  they  used  only  half-breeds  for 
breeding. 

The  wiggling  that  Mrs.  Axtell  talks  about 
on  p.  324,  is.  I  think,  entirely  different  from  the 
back  and  forward  "raking"  spoken  of  in  C.  B. 
J.  The  "wiggling,"  I  have  oftenest  seen  by 
bees  on  the  comb;  the  "raking,"  never  any- 
where except  on  the  outside  of  the  hive.  Lately 
I  have  seen  it  suggested  that  bees  wriggle  in 
this  way  in  order  to  help  them  disgorge  the 
contents  of  the  honey-sac.  But  there  doesn't 
seem  enough  of  it  for  that. 


EXPERIMENTS   IN  APICULTURE;    HISTORY 
AND  SUGGESTION. 

PKOF.    COOK   GIVES   AN   OUTLINE   OF   WHAT    HAS 
BEEN  DONE. 


Dear  Mr.  Editor: — The  subject  of  experi- 
ments in  bee-keeping  is  one  that  has  taken 
much  of  my  thought  for  years;  and  so  the  arti- 
cle in  the  current  volume  of  Gleanings,  p.  228, 
from  the  able  pen  of  one  of  our  most  expert  bee- 
keepers, the  late  president  of  the  American 
Association,  was  read  with  no  slight  interest. 
I  am  glad  that  he  and  the  American  Associa- 
tion are  moving  in  this  direction.  I  believe  he 
is  the  chairman  of  a  committee  to  look  after 
this  matter.  lam  glad  that  this  is  so.  Such 
action  is  wise.  I  believe  the  government,  which 
is  looking  after  the  interests  of  almost  all  in- 
dustries in  very  telling  ways,  should  not  over- 
look that  of  bee-keeping.  I  am  also  quite  cer- 
tain that,  if  bee-keepers  demand  recognition, 
and  ask  aid,  the  government  will  not  be  slow  to 
render  all  possible  assistance. 

HISTORY. 

The  present  Assistant  Secretary  of  Agricul- 
ture, Hon.  Edwin  Willits,  is  a  man  of  great 
breadth,  and  so  has  the  broadest  sympathy  with 
all  useful  work.  He  recognizes  in  apiculture 
an  industry  that  has  men  of  the  noblest  tiber  in 
its  ranks;  that  gathers  up  what  would  other- 
wise be  a  waste  product,  and  hands  it  forth  to 
feed  the  people,  thus  adding  to  the  nation's 
wealth;  that  does  a  great  though  unrecognized 
service  in  securing  more  perfect  fertilization 
of  the  flowers  of  our  fruits  and  vegetables,  thus 
adding  immensely  to  the  fruitage  of  our  fields, 
gardens,  and  orchai'ds.  Such  breadth  of  knowl- 
edge and  such  interest  in  all  that  is  useful  has 
made  him  the  earnest  friend  of  bee-keepers,  as 
of  all  other  useful  citizens.  Just  as  he  was 
leaving  his  duties  as  pi'esident  of  this  college, 
where  he  had  done  most  excellent  service,  to 
assume  the  still  more  ai'duous  duties  of  his  pres- 
ent position,  I  talked  over  with  him  the  whole 
field  of  apic'ultural  experimentation,  and  told 
him  when^  I  thought  the  United  States  govern- 
ment could  and  should  assist  the  bee-keepers  in 
their  work.  He  assured  me  that  bee-keepers, 
as  well  as  those  of  other  industrial  pursuits, 
should  receive  attention,  and,  when  possible, 
aid  and  encouragement,  so  far  as  he  was  able  to 
secure  such  service. 


The  next  year  after  Dr.  E.  Willits  assumed 
his  duties  I  was  in  Washington,  and  was  asked 
by  both  Dr.  Willits  and  Dr.  C.  V.  Riley,  who.  as 
head  of  the  Division  of  Entomology,  would 
naturally  have  supervision  of  experiments  in 
apiculture,  if,  in  case  the  Department  wished 
to  carry  on  experiments  in  apiculture,  the  bees 
at  this  college  could  be  secured  for  such  work. 
I  replied  that  I  thought  they  could  be  had  for 
such  purposes.  In  the  autumn  of  1890  Dr.  C.  V. 
Riley  visited  me  here  at  the  college,  and  asked 
me  if  I  would  supervise  experiments  here  for 
the  government.  I  said  I  would  do  so  if  he 
would  employ  a  good  apiarist  to  take  charge  of 
the  work.  I  told  him  that  I  thought  the  best 
service  which  the  government  could  render  was 
to  secure  bees  from  the  Orient;  that  there 
might  be  bees  in  the  East  that  were  superior  to 
ours,  and  that  this  was  work  that  private  en- 
terprise ought  not  to  have  to  undertake:  there 
were  possibilities  in  this  direction  that  the  gov- 
ernment ought  to  develop  ;  the  knowledge  thus 
gained  would  be  valuable  to  science;  and  if  no 
practical  good  came  from  it.  it  would  still  be 
worth  the  time  and  money  necessary  to  the 
enterprise.  I  also  urged  that  Mr.  Frank  Ben- 
ton was  just  the  man  to  attempt  this  work.  I 
think  an  unsuccessful  effort  was  made  to  effect 
this  importation  of  foreign  bees.  The  experi- 
mental work.  I  suggested,  was  in  the  line  of  our 
previous  work — planting  for  honey,  breeding  a 
race  of  bees,  experiments  to  show  the  value  of 
bees  as  fertilizers  of  various  flowers  of  useful 
plants;  effect  of  spraying  blossoms  of  fruit-trees 
with  the  a"senites,  etc.  I  do  not  need  to  say 
that  this  arrangement  was  made,  and  that  we 
were  so  foitunate  as  to  secure  the  services  of 
Mr.  J.  H.  Larrabee.  of  Vermont,  to  take  imme- 
diate charge  of  the  work. 

Last  autumn,  while  in  Washington  I  express- 
ed to  Dr.  Willits  and  Dr.  Riley  that  my  duties 
were  such  that  I  wished  to  resign  the  work  so 
far  as  all  responsibility  was  concerned,  though 
I  was  willing  to  advise  as  before.  I  suggested 
that  Mr.  Larrabee  seemed  an  able  man  for  the 
work,  and  recommended  that  the  experiments 
be  put  into  his  charge.  I  suggested  ihat  the 
large  plant  at  the  college  could  be  used  as  be- 
fore, and  that  the  location  was  good;  for,  in 
case  the  agent  wished  aid  in  any  of  the  sciences 
closely  related  to  apiculture,  as  entomology, 
botany,  chemistry,  or  bacteriology,  there  were 
experts  close  at  hand  to  give  the  information  or 
perform  experiments  desired  in  those  lines. 
This  plan  commended  itself  to  Dr'^.  Willits  and 
Riley,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  fact  that  Mr. 
Larrabee  was  appointed,  and  now  has  charge 
of  the  work.  Mr.  Larrabee  is  an  honest,  care- 
ful worker,  and  I  believe  will  do  very  satisfac- 
tory work.  In  case  he  should  not  prove  to  be 
the  right  man.  he  will  be  first  to  learn  the  fact, 
and  will  quickly  resign  in  favor  of  another, 
though  I  feel  sure  there  will  be  no  call  for  such 
action. 

Mr.  Elwood  thinks  that  Mr.  Larrabee's  time 
is  too  much  occupied  in  caring  for  the  large 
apiary  here.  The  apiary  hei-e  is  not  large— no 
larger,  I  think,  than  a  person  who  has  no  other 
duties  wonld  wish.  Indeed,  I  know  by  experi- 
ence that  a  person  who  experiments  with  only 
fifteen  or  twenty  colonies  will  be  criticised  from 
this  very  fact,  though  I  think  with  small  rea- 
son. Besides,  if  Mr.  Larrabee  feels  that  he  has 
too  many  colonies  he  can  reduce  the  size  of  the 
apiary.  I  am  sure.  I  think  the  size  would  be 
left  entirely  to  him.  There  is  another  advan- 
tage here.  Mr.  Larrabee  can  secure  help  to 
care  for  the  apiary  at  any  time,  as  well  as  aid 
in  scientific  lines.  The  complaint  by  the  au- 
thorities at  Washington  is,  that  they  have  little 
money.  Why,  then,  ask  them  to  buy  a  plant 
when  they  have  one  at  their  disposal  ? 


1892 


(JLEANINdS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


3<)1 


Mr.  EI\v(M)d  supRosts  tliat.  tlH>  work  he  t;ik(>ii 
from  Dr.  Ivilfv's  hands.  Even  ijrantinf.'  tliat 
this  he  desirable,  it  is  not  praelieal.  We  surely 
can  not  iret  a  separate  Divi-ijon  for  a|iiciiltiire 
now.  I  think,  tiionuli.  tliat  Dr.  Ixiley  will  leave 
the  work  almost  if  not  wholly  with  the  apiarist. 
1  tliink.  too,  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  stf- 
i-nre  an  apiary  at  Washington.  Is  it  not  hotter 
to  hold  on  to  what  we  have,  and  not  grasp  for 
more  and  lose  all?  The  other  advantagos  so 
well  i)resented  by  Mr.  Elwood  are  seeiired  liere 
as  well  as  liiey  would  he  at  Washington. 

I  believe  Mr.  Larrabee  is  the  right  man  in 
the  right  place.  I  believe  that,  if  he  is  sustain- 
ed by  th(^  governmcMit  and  by  bee-keepers,  he 
^\  ill  give  far  more  than  value  i'ei'ei\(^d  for  the 
money  spent.  1  believe  that,  if  tlie  bee-keepers 
ask  this,  he  will  be  kejjt  at  work  for  a  .series  of 
years  and  will  achievi'  large  results.  Is  it  not 
worth  while  for  the  bee-k(>epers  all  over  the 
country  to  write  to  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture 
and  ask  this  favor,  or,  better,  rhjlit  '  I  have 
no  doubt  in  my  own  mind  of  the  wisdom  of  this 
cour.se.  If  the  bee-ke(^ping  public  agree  with 
me,  and  act  in  the  matter,  there  is  but  little 
question  that  Mr.  Larrabee's  work  will  be  con- 
tinued, and  real  substantial  good  be  the  result. 

Agricultural  College.  Mich.         A.  J.  Cook, 


BEE-KEEPING  AFTER  THE  OLD  FASHION  IN 
GERMANY. 


.1,   H.   GRAVENHORST,  OF  THE     ILLU.STRIERTK 
BIEXENZEITUXG,     TELI.S     WHY     THE     REE- 
KEEPERS  OF   GERMANY    STICK   TO   THE 
OLD   STRAW   SKEP   IN    PREFERENCE 
TO  THE  MOVABLE-FRAME  HIVES. 


Of  course,  it  will  seem  strange  to  many  read- 
ers of  GLEANING.S.  to  know  that,  in  one  part  of 
North  Germany,  the  old  straw  skep  is  to-day 
the  hive  most  in  use;  that  thousands  of  pounds 
of  honey  are  raised  in  it.  and  thousands  of 
men  earn  the  greater  part  of  their  livelihood  by 
bee-keeping  after  the  old  fashion.  The  mov- 
able-comb hive  is  used  there  by  only  a  few  bee- 
keepers. It  is  equally  strange  that  there  is  not 
a  part  of  (Germany  where  there  is  not  a  bee- 
keepers' association  that  did  not,  besides  the 
fourteen  (Jerman  bee-journals,  recommend  the 
movable-comb  hive.  If  yon  were  to  travel 
through  North  Germany,  especially  the  prov- 
ince of  Hannover,  the  dukedom  of  Brunswick, 
etc.,  then  you  would  see  in  erc;i/ village  or  town 
two,  three,  or  more  apiaries,  and  all  run  only 
for  jirotit  and  not  for  pleasure. 

W  hy  is  it  that  the  owners,  I  might  say  with- 
out any  exception,  stick  to  their  old  hives,  their 
management  of  bees,  and  not  use  the  movable- 
comb  hive,  and  look  upon  the  modern  hive  as  a 
plaything,  like  Monsieur  Hamet.  the  late  editor 
of  the  AiJicultciir  at  Paris? 

Answering  this  question,  I  must  say:  1.  The 
hive  they  use  is  unsurpassed  by  any  other  in 
regard  to  wintering  bees  outdoors,  preserving 
the  colonies  in  the  spring  and  through  tin;  .rea- 
son: 2.  The  hive  is  very  cheap,  and  can  be 
made  by  every  one:  !{.  Bee-keepers  have  learn- 
ed from  infancy  to  handle  their  bees  in  their  old 
hives,  consequently  they  are  very  familiar  with 
it;  have  all  tricks  of  management  at  their  fin- 
gers' ends,  so  that  they  use  it  witliout  failure; 
4.  It  is  the  best  hive  for  moving  bees;  .'j.  The 
management  of  bees  in  this  hive  takes  the  least 
time  and  labor,  so  that  the  bee-keepers  are  able 
to  .sell  a  pound  of  honey  much  cheaper  than  the 
movable-comb-hive  men.  Let  me  say  another 
word  in  praise  of  that  right  honorable  old  straw 
skep  that  has  done  much  service  for  the  bee- 
keeping world  in  the  past  time,  and  will  do  it 
further,  at  least  in  North  Germany.     If  you  go 


over  Europe  yon  will  meet  with  this  hive  in 
every  country,  from  sunny  France  to  the  frozen 
sliores  of  Siberia;  and  almost  everywhere  the 
bees  thrive  in  it.  even  without-any  care  of  men. 
Who  in  the  civilized  world  is  not  ac(|uainted 
with  at  least  its  picture?  Von  not  only  find  It 
printed  in  every  l)ook  that  treats  on  beei,  honey, 
and  wax.  but  in  many  other  books— yea,  on  labels 
and  signboards  as  a  symbol. 


THE   STRAW   SKEP  OF   GERMANY. 

The  cut  above  shows  the  reader  the  hive  our 
German  "tixists"  have  in  use.  As  he  will  see, 
it  is  dome-shaped,  nearly  18  inches  high,  and 
has  a  diameter  of  10  or  more  inches.  The  top 
has  no  hole  for  a  super,  as  these  are  not  in  use. 
If  it  is  necessary  to  give  the  bees  more  room, 
then  the  bee-keeper  will  put  one  or  two  straw 
rings  under  the  hive,  and  fasten  these  to  the 
hive  with  three  iron  clamps.  The  entrance  is 
near  the  head,  and  this  has,  by  the  construction 
of  this  hive,  many  advantages,  but  it  would  be 
of  danger  for  the  bees  by  any  movable-comb 
hive.  For  want  of  space  I  can  not  explain  this; 
but  should  the  reader  understand  German,  then 
he  may  find  a  full  explanation  of  this  and  many 
other  things  in  my  bee-book,  "  Der  Praktische 
Imker."  To  give  the  combs  in  this  hive  the 
necessary  stability,  eight  or  ten  wooden  sticks 
are  pushed  through  the  hive  from  the  outside, 
running  parallel  with  the  entrance.  Two  or 
three  starters  are  to  be  pinched  between  the 
top  and  the  first  set  of  sticks.  These  starters, 
mostly  made  of  fresh  and  mashed  drone  comb, 
run  ((crofys  the  sticks  from  front  to  n>ar,  so  that 
the  combs  and  spaces  ijetween  the  combs  run 
against  the  entrance. 

Every  bee-keeper  in  North  Germany  who 
u.ses  this  straw  skep  goes  with  .50  to  1(X)  and 
more  colonies  into  his  winter  quarters.  In  his 
house  yard  he  has  selected  a  protected  place, 
and  there  built  a  house-apiary.  In  this  he 
places  hives  on  low  shelves,  one  above  the 
other,  so  that  they  are  facing  .southeast.  He 
knows  very  well,  that  not  in  all,  but  in  some 
winters,  it  is  of  great  benefit  for  his  bees  to  have 
a  cleansing  flight  in  the  sun,  while  there  is  in 
the  shade  too  low  a  temperature  for  the  bees  to 
have  a  flight  without  much  loss. 

The  bee-keepers  of  North  Germany  keep  their 


362 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


bees  in  just  the  same  way  as  their  forefathers 
did  centuries  before:  and  up  to  tliis  day  they 
do  not  use  comb  foundation  nor  the  extractor; 
and  no  one  can  convince  them  that  one  can  feed 
bees  with  sugar  successfully.  They  never  do 
this;  they  feed  only  honey.  There  is  not  one 
of  them  who  has  not  in  his  house  a  dry  honey- 
room  in  whicli  one  may  find  three  to  six  barrels, 
every  one  containing  300  pounds  of  honey,  from 
one  to  three  and  more  years  old.  They  call  it 
"futterhonig;"  that  is,  honey  for  feeding. 
These  barrels  are  made  from  old  oak  wood,  and 


A  RECEPTACLE   IN  WHICH   THE   GERMANS   STORE 
THEIR  BROKEN   COMB   HONEY. 

never  lealt  if  the  wood  is  put  together  when 
very  dry.  Under  the  cover  of  the  barrel  is 
placed  a  cloth  to  prevent  the  intrusion  of  dust. 

From  50  colonies,  spring  count,  the  honey  crop 
will  be.  in  a  very  good  year,  12>-^  such  barrels, 
each  of  300  pounds  of  honey,  and  .50  pounds  of 
wax.  They  will  get  ^.500  for  the  honey  and  §13 
for  the  wax. 

Their  chances  for  getting  such  a  honey  crop 
are,  so  far  as  I  can  see,  not  so  good  as  in  New 
York  Slate.  However,  the  bee-keepers  are  not 
satisfied  witli  the  honey-flow  at  liorae,  and 
therefore  they  move  their  bees  one,  two,  or 
three  times  in  a  season,  ten,  twenty,  or  forty 
miles  from  their  home,  wlien  the  honey  sources 
at  home  are  cut  ofl"  or  do  not  flow  fast.  To  un- 
derstand this,  I  must  say  that  we  have  in  Ger- 
many thrt'i'  regions  for  bee-pasture:  1.  Such  as 
where  bees  have  very  good  honey  pasturage  in 
the  spring  till  the  beginning  of  July  or  August; 
2.  Those  wliere  bees  find  scarcely  any  food,  but 
live  from  hand  to  mouth  from  early  in  the 
spring  till  the  beginning  of  July  or"  August, 
when  buckwheat  and  the  Ericd  vulgaris:  wiW 
come  in  bloom;  3.  Last,  there  are  in  Germany 
a  few  scattered  regions  where  bees  have  good 
pasturage  from  spring  to  autumn. 

The  bee-keepers  of  this  last  region  have  only 
house- apiaries,  and  do  not  move  their  bees, 
while  the  occupants  of  the  two  other  regions 
must  wander  if  they  wish  to  get  a  crop  that 
pays  well.  Therefore  the  occupants  of  the 
second  region,  in  Nortli  Germany,  move  their 
bees  early  in  the  spring  to  the  first  region  till 
July  or  August,  when  tliey  go  home,  because 
buckwheat  and  heatlier  (erica)  will  come  in 
bloom.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  region 
who  keep  bees  in  straw  skeps  will  also  wander 
to  buckwheat  or  heather. 


In  the  third  region  there  prevails  the  mova- 
ble-comb hive;  also  in  South  and  Central  Ger- 
many :  but  in  the  second  it  has  not  found  a 
foothold. 

In  another  article  I  will  tell  the  reader  how 
the  bee-keepers  in  this  region  manage  their 
bees  in  their  old  dome-shaped  straw  hive  in  a 
very  rational  way  to  get  a  honey  crop  that  pays 
well.  C.  J.  H.  Gravenhokst. 

Wilsnack,  Germany. 

To  be  continued. 

[All  of  this  is  exceedingly  interesting  to  those 
of  us  who  have  been  advocating,  during  the 
last  twelve  months,  the  handling  of  hives  more 
and  frames  less,  since  it  shows  that  the  bee- 
keepers of  Germany  do  make  money  with  the 
old  straw  skep;  and  while  we  would  not  for  a 
moment  advocate  in  our  own  country  such 
methods  of  keeping  bees,  we  do  say  that  bee- 
keepers having  frame  hives  may  learn  a  lesson. 
The  point  is  just  here:  While  movable  frames 
give  us  advantages  that  we  can  not  afford  to 
dispense  with,  it  is  not  at  all  necessary  that  we 
should  handle  the  frames  so  excessively  as  is 
the  practice  of  many  bee-keepers,  and  thus  ab- 
sorb what  otlierwise  would  be  profit.] 


FOTJL     BROOD     IN    AND    AROUND    YORK, 
NEBRASKA. 


another  statement  of  the  case. 


In  Gleanings  for  March  15,  page  205, 1  saw 
an  article  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  L.  D.  Stilson,  the 
editor  of  the  Nebraska  Bee-keeper,  in  which  he 
attempts  to  prove  that,  because  Mr.  Todd  does 
not  belong  to  any  society,  and  purchases  his 
supplies  where  he  can  do  the  best,  and  has  kept 
bees  only  two  years,  his  statements  are  injuri- 
ous, and  intended  to  create  a  false  impression 
of  things  here,  and  injure  the  trade  of  those  en- 
gaged in  business  here  which  lie  does  not  pat- 
ronize. Mr.  Todd  has  never  had  any  burning 
desire  to  attend  society  meetings,  but  may  at- 
tend in  the  near  future.  He  makes  his  own 
hives  and  frames,  and  buys  other  kee-keeping 
supplies  of  A.  I.  Root.  He  never  picked  up 
and  used  any  old  combs,  as  was  intimated  by 
Mr.  L.  D.  Stilson,  but  buried  tliem  as  soon  as 
found.  He  is  an  invalid,  largely  dependent  on 
his  bees  for  support:  and  by  close  study  he  has 
made  liimself  very  proficient  in  his  chosen  call- 
ing. He  knows  foul  brood  woll.  having  made 
it  a  study  for  the  last  two  years,  first  having 
satisfied  himself  that  it  was  foul  brood  by  send- 
ing two  samples  to  Prof.  Cook,  who  pronounced 
them  genuine  foul  brood. 

R.  R.  Ryon.  Ex-inspector  of  Bees  for  York 
County,  Neb.,  and  Ex-president  of  York  County 
Bee-keepers'  Association  of  the  State  of  Ne- 
braska, and  now  of  Salem,  Ore.,  says: 

"I  am  satisfied  that  foul  brood  did  prevail  in 
many  parts  of  York,  and  especially  in  North 
York.  I  have  ample  evidence  that  the  south 
part  of  York  Co.,  and  the  nortli  part  of  Fillmore 
Co..  have  many  cases  of  foul   brood  in  its  worst 

form.   Mr. ,  of  York,  admitted  that  his  bees 

had  died  with  the  disease.    Mr. also  lost 

his  and  left  his  hives  and  fixtures  lying  around, 
whereupon  I  notified  him  to  clean  them  up 
under  penalty  of  the  law.  R.  R.  Rvon." 

If  the  readers  of  Gleanings  have  any  doubt 
about  the  existence  of  foul  brood,  tliese  extracts 
from  tlie  Nebraska  Bee-keeper  ought  to  con- 
vince them  of  its  existence;  also  that  Mr.  Todd's 
statements  are  true,  and  not  made  through  a 
desire  to  injure  any  one's  business.  In  Vol.  I., 
No.  2,  page  7,  Mr.  Stilson  says,  "  Foul  brood  is 
well  scattered  all  over  Nebraska,  having  been 
brouglit  from  the  Eastern  States." 


18«»2 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


303 


In  Vol.  1.,  No.  3.  piiff(>  ".',  he  stiys,  '"  HiUilIy 
was  our  last  month's  t'diiioii  otV  tlif  ofi'ss  hct'ofc 
we  lii-aid  a  cry  of  hoiTof  that  we  should  have 
iiisiiiuati'd  tiiat  the  disrasr  known  as  t'oiil 
hfood  was  in  XfhrasUa:  ami,  more,  that  wo 
shonld  say  that  it  was  well  scattiM'cd  ovor  tho 
Stat<>:  that  we  arc  ctHnitini;  a  false  and  visolcss 
alarm  amoiiLr  the  boo-kocpci-s  of  the  Slat(>. 
wliich  would    ho  an  injtiiy  to  its  in  the   fnlni'c. 

.  .  .  .  The  widt'-aw  aki'  apiarian  can  in-v- 
cr  hope  to  kci'p  his  o\\  n  hi\cs  pnrc  \\  liilc  his 
careless  neiiilihor  is  allowed  to  throw  tlie  refuse 
from  ills  old  hives  on  the  ground  to  swelter  and 
rot  in  the  Slimmer  sun." 

I  shall  make  no  comments  on  the  above  state- 
iniMits.  but  allow  the  readers  of  (;i,i.-..\ninos  to 
draw  their  conclusions,  only  adding  that,  of  ;.*3 
small  apiaries  within  three  miles  of  this  city,  I 
know  of  only  one  that  is  free  from  the  disease. 
Mr.  K.  E.  Leech  and  myself  at  one  time  had 
more  bees  than  the  rest  of  the  county:  now  he 
has  none  and  I  have  one.  and  that  has  foul 
brood.  Mr.  Leech  stated  at  our  society  meet- 
ing in  March  that  he  '"  went  out  of  the  business 
on  account  of  the  wide  prevalences  of  foul 
brood."  I  went  out  and  continue  to  stay  out 
for  the  same  reason.  E.  A.  Butterfiki.d. 

York.  Neb..  April  25. 

[We  have  suppressed  tlie  names  of  the  bee- 
keepers mentioned  by  Inspector  Ryon,  on  the 
printed  page,  because  by  this  time  they  have 
no  doubt  cleaned  things  up.  If  they  have  not, 
they  should  be  summarily  dealt  with  by  the  law. 
We  are  sorry  that  this  matter  has  assumed  the 
nature  of  an  unpleasant  controversy.  How- 
ever, we  hope,  now  that  the  attention  of  the 
bee  -  keepers  of  the  whole  country  has  been 
called  to  it,  the  disease  will  be  speedily  stamp- 
ed out  by  the  resident  bee-keepers  if  it  is  not 
well  under  way.  We  can  not  believe  either 
party  in  the  discussion  intentionally  misrepre- 
sented, and  we  hope  it  will  not  be  necessary  to 
"  talk  it  out  "  any  further.] 


GRADING  HONEY. 


Nos. '.' and  3  dark.-  I'oukl  be  grailed  about 
the  same  way.  This  would  give  the  dark  honey 
an  e(|ual  chance  with  the  light,  and  tlie  price 
would  be  governed  by  the  demand. 

Saratoga,  Wis.  Tiioma.s  Em-iott. 


ANOTHER  VIEW. 


[This,  as  it  will  be  observed,  was  sent  to  Dr. 
Miller.  As  it  contains  so  much  of  value  he  sent 
it  to  us  with  the  suggestion  that  we  publish  it.] 

Dr.  C.  C.  -VHier;— Wishing,  like  yourself,  to 
see  some  practical  way  of  grading  honey  set- 
tled upon.  I  can  perhaps  give  you  a  pointer  on 
the  subject.  Three  things  must  be  taken  into 
consideration.  L  It  must  accord  with  the  pres- 
ent market  for  "honey;  2.  It  must  be  suited  for 
the  whole  L'nited  States:  3.  It  must  be  simple. 
The  honey  market  knows  only  two  kinds — 
white  and  dark:  and  it  is  on  this  basis  that  we 
must  grade.  My  plan  is,  to  keep  them  entirely 
separate,  grade  the  white  and  dark  by  them- 
selves, and  our  troubles  are  at  an  end.  I  would 
suggest  the  following  grades: 

No.  1  white. — Pure  white,  free  from  travel- 
stain  or  propolis:  all  cells  capped  except  the 
outside  row:  no  honey  protruding  beyond  the 
section:  sections  well  tilled. 

No.  2  white. — Pure  white,  slightly  travel- 
stained,  all  cells  capped  except  the  outside  row; 
may  be  bulging  on  one  side. 

No.  3  white.— I  think  honey  with  a  slight 
shade  of  dark  should  be  admitted  to  this  grade. 
It  would,  of  course,  take  all  that  would  not  go 
in  Nos.  1  and  2. 

No.  1  dark. — Of  uniform  color,  free  from  trav- 
el-stain or  propolis,  all  cells  capped  except  out- 
side row;  no  honey  protruding  beyond  the  sec- 
tion; sections  well  filled. 


HOW  TO  SEE  BEES  WHEN  THEY  SWARM. 

i;.    WILKIN,   ONE    OF   THE    I'lONEER    CALIFORNIA 
REt:-KEEI*ERS,   TELLS   HOW    'TIS   DONE. 


In  a  large  apiary,  where  the  extreme  limits 
are  four  or  five  hundred  feet  apart,  as  is  the 
case  with  mine,  it  is  dillicult  to  readily  recognize 
a  bee  on  the  wing:  y(!t  they  can  be  seen  further 
than  that  whore  optical  conditions  are  favor- 
able; but  if  most  unfavorable,  they  can  not  be 
readily  recognized,  even  ten  feet  away.  Where 
the  bee-keeper  docs  not  wish  to  spend  all  his 
time  watching  for  swarms,  and  the  peculiar 
hum  of  the  swarm  is  too  far  away  to  l)e  heard 
distinctly,  it  is  economy  to  have  things  so  ar- 
ranged that  swarms  may  be  recognized  from 
the  point  where  the  bee-keeper  is  most  at  work, 
and  also  from  one  extreme  of  the  apiary  to  the 
other.  A  strong  contrast  with  the  color  of  the 
bee  seems  necessary  to  see  it  most  distinctly. 

At  one  of  my  apiaries,  as  I  stood  looking  east 
out  of  the  door  of  ray  house,  the  mountain  ris- 
ing abruptly  four  hundred  feet  in  front  of  me, 
the  apiary  lying  between  me  and  the  rising 
earth,  as  the  sun  arose,  not  shining  on  me  or  the 
hillside,  but  lighting  up  every  thing  between 
us,  every  bee  became  visible  as  it  arose  from 
its  hive,  circling,  gliding,  darting,  or  grace- 
fully wending  its  way  far  up  the  mountain- 
side. The  eye  could  settle  on  any  bee  and  fol- 
low it  hundreds  of  feet  away,  the  vibrations  of 
the  wings,  even,  being  quite  distinct,  giving  the 
appearance  of  a  thread  of  raveled  stocking 
yarn;  even  silvery  spider- threads,  like  ropes, 
long  and  short,  perpendicular,  horizontal,  or 
curved,  could  be  seen  wafted  gracefully  amidst 
this  scene  of  insect-life  before  me.  But  every 
one  can  not  have  a  mountain  at  his  command, 
and  must  substitute  a  makeshift. 

Swarms  are  best  seen  when  looking  in  the 
direction  of  the  sun  from  9  to  3  o'clock,  as  the 
shadows  of  trees  and  other  objects  are  seen 
most  in  that  direction.  I  find  it  very  service- 
able to  have  a  thicket  of  trees  or  sage-brush 
just  outside  the  apiary,  especially  on  the  south- 
east side,  and  making  their  shadows  close  above 
the  tops  of  the  hives.  I  help  this  by  clearing 
away  underbrush,  or  piling  limbs  and  leaves  in 
such  a  way  as  to  shut  out  the  sun.  I  sometimes 
set  boxes  or  empty  hives  on  the  tops  of  the  hives 
on  the  outer  ends  of  the  rows,  with  the  open 
side  next  to  me,  so  as  to  make  a  dark  shadow 
on  the  inside  next  to  me.  This  helps  some 
when  there  is  nothing  better. 

Last  season  I  purchased  a  web  of  black  mus- 
lin and  cut  it  into  pieces  from  one  to  three  yards 
long,  and  placed  them  for  backgrounds  just 
outside  the  apiary  at  the  sides  most  needing 
them,  and  just  high  enough  to  be  plainly  seen 
above  the  tops  of  the  hives.  I  held  them  in 
place  by  fastening  them  to  stakes  live  or  six  feet 
long  driven  into  the  ground.  I  find  this  a  very 
serviceable  device.  Visitors  ask  what  the 
black  cloths  stretched  around  the  apiary  mean. 
I  tell  them  that,  having  lost  many  bees  last 
winter,  I  drape  my  apiary  as  a  badge  of  mourn- 
ing. When  swarming  is  over  I  roll  them  up  to 
keep  for  other  years. 

Who  can  throw  light  on  this  subject?  An 
optician  or  artist  who  studies  lights  and  shades 
ought  to  be  able  to  help  us  save  our  swarms. 
The  blue  sky  can  often  be  utilized  as  a  back- 
ground to  help  see  bees.  The  eyes  of  the  ob- 
server himself  are  best  if  well  shaded  so  as  to 


364 


(iLKAMlNGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  J  5. 


soe  sharply,  as  any  one  who  has  been  in  the 
bottom  of  a  deep  well  knows  that,  by  looking 
up,  even  in  midday,  stars  can  be  seen  in  the 
heavens.  R.  Wilkin. 

Ventura,  Cal.,  April  18. 

[In  photography  we  always  seek  to  get  what 
is  called  "good  contrast;"  that  is,  we  try  to 
group  persons  and  things  of  dissimilar  colors  in 
such  a  way  as  to  show  sharp  conti'asts.  For 
dark  objects  we  prefer  light  backgrounds,  and 
vice  versa.  This  brings  out  the  picture  strong 
and  clear.  In  practice  you  have  endeavored 
to  secure  the  same  results  in  nature.] 


BEES  AT  THE  FOOT  OF  THE  ROCKIES. 


J,  F.  McINTYRE  IN  HIS  APIARY. 


HOW  COLOKADO  AS  A  HONEY   COITNTKY    DIFFERS 
FROM   THE   EASTERN   STATES. 


To  a  bee-keeper  in  this  I'egion  many  of  the 
instructions  and  suggestions  found  in  the  books 
and  periodicals  of  the  States  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi are  entirely  unsuited.  They  are  generally 
based  on  the  well-marked  honey  seasons  of 
white  clover  and  basswood.  But  here  we  have 
neither  of  these.  I  have  never  seen  a  basswood- 
tree  this  side  of  the  Mississippi  River  except  a 
few  small  ones  planted  for  ornament.  As  to 
white  clover,  I  know  of  none  in  the  State  except 
a  little  that  I  have  sown  along  the  ditches, 
amounting  to  probably  less  than  half  an  acre 
all  told.  So  all  instructions  in  regard  to  readi- 
ness for  the  white-clover  season  and  for  manip- 
ulations during  the  basswood  flow  are  thrown 
away  on  us. 

Our  early  pollen  is  derived  from  maple,  wil- 
low, and  Cottonwood.  The  bees  seem  to  collect 
some  honey  from  these  sources  also,  as  they  are 
carrying  in  more  or  less  at  present,  and  there 
appears  to  be  no  other  source  from  which  it  can 
be  obtained.  Our  main  honey  sources  are, 
fruit-blossom,  alfalfa,  and  cleome.  or  Rocky 
Mountain  bee-plant.  In  this  vicinity  are  hun- 
dreds of  acres  of  orchards  and  small  fruit- 
ranches.  These  furnish  rich  pasturage  for  our 
bees  early  in  the  season.  Unfortunately  a  se- 
vere freeze  in  March  killed  much  of  our  fruit  in 
the  bud,  so  we  shall  not  have  the  profusion  of 
bloom  that  we  usually'  have;  but  we  expect 
enough  to  build  up  our  bees  into  good  working 
trim  for  the  alfalfa  harvest,  which  begins  in 
June  and  continues  till  frost.  There  is  a  large 
amount  of  this  within  bee  range  of  my  place; 
but,  being  raised  only  for  hay,  it  is  generally 
cut  as  soon  as  it  is  in  full  bloom,  so  we  do  not 
get  the  benefit  in  honey  from  it  that  we  should 
if  it  were  raised  for  seed.  But  it  generally  hap- 
pens that  some  of  it  is  in  bloom  within  reach  of 
my  bees  all  of  the  season.  Of  cleome  there  are 
hundreds  of  acres  on  waste  grounds  and  on 
roadsides  up  and  down  the  river,  within  reach 
of  my  bees.  This  begins  to  bloom  in  July,  and 
stays  in  good  condition  about  two  months.  I 
have  never  known  this  to  fail  to  produce  abun- 
dance of  nectar.  The  honey  from  both  this  and 
alfalfa  is  of  excellent  grade,  being  light-colored 
and  fine-flavored. 

Bees  have  come  through  the  winter  in  fine 
condition.  The  winter  problem  seems  to  be  a 
secondary  matter  here.  The  past  winter  is  the 
first  that  I  have  tried  to  carry  bees  through. 
But  men  who  have  kept  bees  for  many  years 
tell  me  they  always  go  through  the  winters 
safely  on  their  stands  without  any  special  prep- 
aration provided  they  have  plenty  of  stores. 

I  have  adopted  the  New  Heddon  hive;  and 
from  one  year's  experience  with  it  I  think  it 
just  "  beats  the  world."  L.  J.  Templin. 

Canyon  City,  Colo.,  April  2.5. 


PI-AN   OF   ARRANGING     HIVES     IN     CALIFORNIA; 
A   CONVENIENT   HONKY-CART,   ETC. 

The  engraving  shows  a  near  view  of  the 
south  half  of  the  apiary,  taken  from  the  honey- 
house  door.  The  honey-cart  in  the  foreground 
is  one  of  the  most  satisfactory  implements 
which  I  use  in  connection  with  the  bee-business. 
I  have  two  of  them,  and  they  are  both  in  con- 
stant use  during  the  extracting  season.  While 
one  is  being  filled  in  the  apiary,  the  other  is 
emptied  in  the  honey-house.  The  wheels  are 
30-inch  hose-cart  wheels,  and  cost  here  $4.00 
per  pair.  The  boxes  which  hold  the  combs  are 
made  of  half-inch  lumber.  They  are  12  inches 
deep,  and  in  the  bottom  of  each  box  is  a  drip- 
ping-pan made  of  tin.  3  inches  deep  and  full 
size  of  the  inside  of  the  box.  which  catches  all 
the  honey  that  drips  from  the  combs.  I  find  it 
much  more  convenient  to  have  the  combs  run 
lengthwise,  as  shown  in  the  engraving,  than 
across  the  cart.  You  can  lift  a  comb  from  the 
cart  and  place  it  in  the  super,  or  from  the  su- 
per and  place  it  in  the  cart,  without  moving 
your  feet.  That  little  tin  box  in  front  of  the 
large  ones  is  used  to  hold  water.  I  always 
brush  the  bees  from  the  combs  with  a  wet 
brush;  it  does  not  irritate  the  bees  so  much  as 
a  dry  one,  nor  get  sticky  with  honey. 

I  was  just  opening  a  hive  in  the  usual  way, 
and  watching  the  bees  run  down  from  the 
smoke,  when  the  photographer  snapped  his 
camera,  with  the  remark,  "I  caught  you  at 
work  that  time."  For  the  last  three  or  four 
years  I  have  used  an  extra  large  smoker,  and 
burn  straw  altogether  for  fuel.  If  the  straw  is 
packed  in  tight  it  will  burn  a  long  time;  and  it 
makes  a  cold  white  smoke  which  is  just  the 
thing  to  quiet  the  bees. 

The  lines  in  this  apiary  are  arranged  in 
straight  rows  six  feet  apart,  with  a  five- foot 
alley  between  the  backs  for  the  honey-cart  to 
run  up  and  down,  and  12  feet  clear  between  the 
fronts  with  a  low  of  grapevines  in  the  middle. 
Most  of  th(^  large  apiaries  in  this  county  are 
arranged  this  way.  You  can  get  the  honey- 
cart  up  close  to  the  back  of  the  hive  where  it  is 
in  the  most  convenient  position  to  load.  The 
Miller  plan  is  better  for  queen-rearing,  but  not 
for  producing  extracted  honey.  Almost  any 
plan  will  do  for  a  small  apiai'y;  but  when  the 
apiary  covers  over  an  a^-re  of  ground,  the  bees 
will  get  MU)re  oi'  less  demoralized  with  any  plan. 

You  will  see  a  number-stake  at  the  back  cor- 
ner of  a  hive  just  above  the  honey-cart.  It 
reads  19  K.  That  means  K  row.  No.  lU.  The 
rows  ar(^  lettered  fi'om  A  to  V.  and  the  hives 
numbered  from  1  to  23.  By  having  a  book  in- 
dexed on  the  margin  I  can  open  it  at  any  row; 
and  as  all  the  n umbers  are  on  that  page.  I  can 
see  the  record  of  any  hive  in  about  two  seconds. 

The  rows  run  east  and  west,  and  the  liives 
face  north  and  south.  I  have  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  bees  prefer  their  entrance  on  the 
south  side,  and  do  a  little  better  in  the  rows 
facing  south.  The  plan  of  my  apiary  on  page 
77.5,  last  year's  Gleanings,  is  not  this  apiary, 
but  an  out-apiary,  and  the  engraving  on  page 
772  is  looking  north;  on  page  773.  south.  This 
engraving  is  looking  southwest. 

THAT   COWAN   EXTRACTOR. 

Before  I  close  I  wish  to  say  a  few  words  for 
that  new  Cowan  extractor.  I  felt  enthusiastic 
the  moment  I  opened  Gleanings  and  saw  the 
cut;  and  the  only  thing  that  prevented  me 
from  sitting  right  down  and  expressing  my  ad- 
miration was  the  fact  that  I  had  already  rec- 
ommended and  indorsed  this  principh'.  When 
I  showed  the  cut  to  my  wife  she  said,  "That  is 


1*1-2 


ULEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


3(55 


366 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


something  like  the  thing."    If  your  Novice  ex- 
tractor breaks  too  many  combs,  just  buy  a  new 
Cowan:  and,  ray  word  for  it,  you  will  be  happy. 
J.  F.  McIntyre. 
Fillmore.  Cal.,  March  5,  1891. 

[We  are  glad  the  artist  caught  you  when  you 
didn't  know  it.  Your  pose  is  more  natural  and 
easy.  We  notice  you  are  using  the  Bingham 
smoker.  You  needn't  tell  our  customers,  but 
somehow,  when  the  bees  are  cross,  our  boys 
have  a  preference  for  the  Bingham.  We  have 
no  doubt  but  that  a  wet  brush  irritates  less 
than  a  dry  one.  Say.  did  you  ever  try  the  Cogg- 
shall  brush  for  the  purpose?— In  regard  to  the 
Cowan  extractor,  you  are  about  right  in  your 
estimate  of  it.  See  what  Frank  McNay  says 
of  it  below.]  "*. 


THE    COWAN    REVEESIBLE     HONEY- 
EXTRACTOR. 


STRONG     TESTIMONY  IN   ITS    FAVOR    FROM    ONE 

OF   THE    MOST   EXTENSIVE   EXTRACTED 

PRODUCERS  IN  THE  WORLD. 


I  received  the  new  Cowan  reversible  extract- 
or about  a  week  ago;  and  although  I  was  con- 
vinced as  soon  as  I  examined  it  that  it  is  prac- 
tically all  right,  yet  I  decided  to  wait  and  try 
it  befoi-e  reporting.  I  can  now  say,  that,  in 
regard  to  convenience,  it  is  all  that  can  be  de- 
sired; and  although  the  combs  may  be  reversed 
without  stopping,  yet  I  would  not  advise  this  for 
general  practice,  for  I  find  that  the  gearing  is 
so  strong  that  it  can  be  stopped  and  started  in- 
stantly, and  can  really  be  done  quicker  than 
on  the  slowing-up  plan.  I  remember  using 
some  very  emphatic  words  to  you  last  winter 
in  regard  to  the  necessity  of  greater  strength 
in  extractors,  and  I  am  now  convinced  that  you 
heard,  even  if  you  were  a  little  deaf  at  the 
time;  for  after  carefully  examining  and  trying 
the  Cowan  extractor,  I  have  failed  to  find  a 
weak  part,  and  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  it 
is  the  best  extractor  made,  both  in  regard  to 
convenience  and  durability,  and  I  shall  replace 
all  of  my  five  machines  with  the  Cowan  as  soon 
as  possible.  Frank  McNay. 

Mauston,  Wis.,  May  (3,  1893. 

[Before  introducing  the  Cowan  to  the  public 
we  talked  and  corresponded  with  some  of  the 
largest  and  most  practical  bee-keepers  in  the 
world,  friend  McNay  among  the  number.  We 
were  thus  posted  as  "to  all  the  desirable  points 
in  an  extractor,  and  with  this  knowledge  in 
possession  we  set  the  best  talent  of  the  Home  of 
the  Honey-bees  at  work  constructing  the  ma- 
chine, and  as  now  constructed  we  have  reason 
to  think  it  will  ph-ase  all,  as  it  has  friend 
McNay.  In  strength  of  material  it  surpasses 
every  thing  we  ever  turned  out  before  in  the 
way  of  an  extractor.] 


A  WHEELBARROW  FOR  CARRYING  HIVES. 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT. 


I  inclose  a  sketch  of  a  hive-carrier  that  I 
made  and  have  had  in  use  for  two  years  with 
perfect  success.  The  expense  is  almost  nothing, 
and  can  be  made  in  two  hours.  The  wheel  is 
one  taken  from  an  old  garden-drill.  It  is  eigh- 
teen inches  high.  The  springs  running  back 
from  it  are  mortised  through  the  end-bars  of 
the  frame,  and  are  made  out  of  one  leaf  of  a 
Champion  spring,  and  bolted  at  each  mortise. 
The  frame  and  handles  are  made  of  2x2-inch 
oak,  and  the  sides  are  mortised  on  to  the  ends. 
The  handles  are  fastened  to  the  frame  by  strap 


hinges  so  that  thay  can  be  swung  out  in  grasp- 
ing the  hive,  as  brought  down  over  the  top. 
The  lifting-springs  are  made  of  the  same  as  the 
ones  going  to  the  wheel.  They  should  be  about 
9  inches  long;  but  for  a  slio  1  man  a  I'ttle 
shorter,  so  that  the  front  of  the  hive  will  not 
touch  the  ground  in  wheeling.  These  springs 
should  be  screwed  to  the  handles  about  one  inch 
back  of  the  middle  of  the  hive,  so  that  the  hive 
will  tilt  forward  and  be  steadied  against  the 
end-bar  of  the  carrier  when  the  arms  are  swung 
in.  The  springs  should  also  be  sprung  inward 
about  2  inches  so  they  will  press  tightly  against 
the  bottom  when  the  handles  are  brought  up 
against  the  hive. 


KNIGHT  S    HIVE   WHEELBARROW. 

The  length  of  the  frame  should  be  eighteen 
inches,  and  the  inside  measurement  between  the 
handles  the  width  of  the  hive,  with  about  an 
inch  to  spare,  so  as  not  to  rub  the  paint  off  the 
hive. 

With  this  carrier  you  can  pick  a  hive  off  from 
a  stand  or  from  the  ground,  run  into  or  out  of  a 
cellar,  and  setitdownon  astand  properly,  as  you 
can  see  three  sides  of  your  hive  while  running, 
and  the  swinging  handles  do  not  bother  in  run- 
ning. When  empty,  the  hinges  should  be  on 
the  outside,  so  that,  when  the  handles  are 
straight,  they  will  be  perfectly  stiff. 

Detroit,  Mich.  Bruce  Knight. 


CELLAR  WINTERING. 


why   I  CARRY    MY   BEES     OUT    OF   THE     CELLAR 
EARLIER   THAN   MOST   FOLKS   DO. 


In  the  first  place  we  will  see  a  little  about  the 
way  they  are  in  the  cellar.  We  have  all  of  our 
brood  hives  with  fast  bottoms,  but  they  can  be 
made  loose  by  taking  out  two  screws.  Our 
entrances  are"  so  that  they  go  clear  across  the 
hive,  but  can  be  closed,  or  partly  closed,  in  one 
second.  When  we  carry  our  bees  into  the  cellar 
(about  Nov.  1.5  to  20)  we  elosi-  our  hives,  set  two 
or  three  hives  on  a  carrier,  and,  with  one  man 
ahead  and  one  behind,  walk  into  the  cellar  with 
our  load.  We  have  a  platform  in  the  cellar  8 
inches  high,  and  as  wide  as  the  hives  are  long. 
The  platform  being  level,  we  place  a  2x2  joist 
on  the  back  edge  of  the  platform.  We  now 
take  the  hives  from  our  carrier,  and  set  one  row 
on  the  platform,  the  whole  length,  with  the 
back  end  of  the  hives  resting  on  the  2x2  joist, 
so  the  hives  will  all  stand  pitching  forward. 
This  will  greatly  aid  the  bees  in  keeping  the 
bottom-boards  clean,  which  they  will  generally 
do.  If  a  few  fail,  then  we  help  them  clear 
the  entrance  with  a  wire  hook.  When  the 
first  row  is  placed  all  right,  we  either  have 
boards  sawed  l,Vo  inches  longer  than  the  hives 
are  high,  placed  between  the  hives,  then  set  up 
endwise  so  we  can  put  a  board  on  them  for  a 
shelf  for  another  row  of  hives  to  sit  on,  or  we 
sometimes  just  place  a  piece  of  joist  the  length 
of  our  hive  on  the  top  of  three  hives,  say  on 
each  end  hive,  and  the  middle  hive  in  the  I'ow, 
and  lay  the  board  shelf  on  them,  and  so  on 
until  we  have  four  tiers  high. 

We  have  our  bees  in  the  cellar  so  we  can 
walk  in  the  alleys  and  get  to  the  front  of  each 
hive  and  look  after  them  as  we  think  they  need 


IS9-2 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


367 


it.  We  cNpcrinuMit  .^oino  ovoi  y  yoar  witli  a  fow 
ditTcriMit  Uiiuis  of  hivos  and  difT»>riMit  ways  of 
inanajicmcnl. 

Ono  vfiy  iniMortaiit  tliiiifj  witli  tlioi^c  who  are 
keopinjj  a  proou  many  swarms  is,  to  have  lln' 
Iwltoms  fast,  and  xho  iMitram-c  convtMiiciit  to 
close,  and  so  bo  sure  a  hoc  can  not  get  out  w  iiilf 
carrying  in  and  ont:  thru  we  can  use  clicap 
lii'lp.  and  tlu'v  iiko  to  do  it. 

I  tind  tiiat  most  b(M»-koopors  say,  "Keep  the 
bees  in  tin- ceiiai'  until  natural  pollen  is  ready 
for  them."  With  the  hive  that  I  use.  I  must 
differ  with  them  for  this  reason:  Hees  will 
remain  (jiiiet,  and  winter  well  in  the  cellai'  for 
about  four  months;  and  if  kept  in  five  months, 
more  will  die  or  iret  weak— the  last  month, 
more  than  all  the  tirst  four  months.  I  have  set 
bees  out  at  all  times  from  lM>b.  1  to  May  7. 
This  is  too  early  and  too  late.  IJut  any  time 
after  the  l.">th  of  March,  when  the  w  eath<'r  is 
fine,  so  the  bees  can  get  a  good  cleansing  Hight, 
and  if  no  snow  is  on  the  ground,  is  the  time  to 
take  bees  out  of  the  cellar.  IJut,  ohi  we  want 
a  day  when  the  hees  will  not  waste  much  in 
their  tirst  flight.  If  we  knew  the  weather 
would  be  tine  in  a  day  or  two  after,  it  would  be 
best  to  carry  them  out  at  night,  or  on  a  cool  day 
(we  do  so  with  our  out-yards,  if  the  day  is  such 
when  we  get  there),  then  thi>y  do  not  fly  until 
it  is  warm  enough.  After  our  bees  have  had 
cue  or  two  flights  Td  rather  have  it  cool,  to 
keep  the  old  bees  in  the  hives. 

Now.  I  think  my  bees  are  more  healthy  than 
they  would  have  been  if  I  had  kept  them  in  one 
month  longer:  and  they  now  begin  to  rear 
brood,  and  the  old  bees  stay  at  home  and  keep 
the  brood  warm,  and  live  until  the  young  bees 
begin  to  take  their  place. 

I  always  get  some  rye  ground  just  as  fine  as 
our  miller  can  grind  it,  and  leave  the  bran  in 
with  the  fiour:  and  if  we  have  a  few  warm 
days,  give  the  bees  some  of  this.  Place  it  in  a 
shallow  box  two  feet  square,  near  the  yard,  and 
the  bees  will  have  work  close  at  home;  and 
this,  too,  will  stimulate  thein  to  breeding.  But 
we  shall  be  likely  to  have  considerable  cold 
weather  when  the  old  bees  will  be  like  a  sit- 
ting hen — keeping  their  eggs  warm.  Now, 
when  natural  pollen  comes,  say  April  8,  the 
young  bees  will  begin  to  hatch,  and  the  old 
ones  will  begin  to  work  very  hard,  and  soon 
die:  but  the  young  bees  will  hatch  out  as  fast 
as  the  old  ones  die.  and  take  their  place;  and 
this  prevents  spring  dwindling  (as  it  is  called), 
and  the  old  bees  have  been  worth  much  in  rear- 
ing this  bro(Kl.  If  we  wait  until  April  8  before 
we  .set  our  bees  out,  then  the  bees  start  right 
off  hard  at  work,  pellmell,  and,  being  weaker, 
too,  by  their  longer  confinement,  die  olt  fast, 
and  will  be  able  to  care  for  but  a  small  amount 
of  brood,  and  spring  dwindling  is  the  result: 
and  by  May  8  the  bees  will  not  bt;  as  plentiful  in 
the  hives  as  they  were  when  set  out:  and  then 
comes  the  troubleof  changing  combs,  and  much 
fu.ssing  work  to  get  the  bees  ready  for  the  hon- 
ey harvest.  But  tho.se  set  out  in  time  to  have 
the  young  bees  coming  on  to  take  the  place  of 
the  old  ones  that  die  off  fast  when  no  pollen 
comes,  will  be  ahead,  and  keep  so,  without  all 
of  this  fussing:  and  another  thing,  we  are  apt 
to  have  a  few  swarms  that  are  weak,  and  liable 
to  get  robbed  if  not  watched  whi'u  carried  out 
early:  and  after  their  first  flight,  look  for  and 
find  out  whether  any  are  poor;  and  if  so.  carry 
those  back  into  the  cellar,  and  leave  them  in 
until  natural  pollen  comes;  then  set  then)  out 
and  care  for  them  as  they  need.  They  will  not 
be  as  liable  to  get  robbed  now.  but  the.-ie  few 
should  be  put  on  from  three  to  five  frames,  just 
what  they  can  protect  and  care  for.  Ifb(>tter 
swarms  should  lose  a  queen,  unite  with  one  of 
these. 


I  will  say,  that  the  most  of  my  hives  are  wide 
enough  for  ten  franu's  (III4  tleep  x  !.">'>,  long); 
but  I  use  a  division-i)oard  the  siz(>  of  my  frame. ' 
on  th<'  outside  of  my  combs,  so  but  8  frames  are 
used  much  of  the  time.  I  like  this.  The  heat 
and  cold  do  not  affect  the  Ix^es  as  much.  1  like 
the  bodies  of  my  hives  painted  red  and  the  caps 
white.  I  use  a  cap  to  set  over  my  section 
crates.  I  think  they  pay.  They  are  gocxl  for 
a  good  many  reasons,  such  as  shade  tf)  keep  off 
rain,  heat,  and  cold;  and  we  use  thin  sides  to 
our  section  crates,  14  one-pound  sections  to  the 
crate,  and  two  of  these  crates  just  cover  a  hive. 

I  have  been  experimenting  some  with  a  hive 
with  the  rim  nailed  around  5'.;  inches  from  the 
top,  and  the  cap  set  over  the  hive.  The  cap  is  8 
inches  deep.  This  gi-ves  2)-^  inches  of  chamber 
over  the  frames.  Put  a  large  quilt  on  the  hive; 
one  thickn(^ss  of  hop  baling  is  good,  or  another 
on  top  of  that,  or  forest- leaves,  or  chafT  on  top 
of  quilt,  if  you  wish.  Then  put  the  cap  on  over, 
and  set  one  hive  on  top  of  the  other  in  the 
cellar.  The  cap  on  the  front  side,  one  inch 
down,  has  a  hole  cut  through  for  a  handle  1x4 
inches,  covered  with  wire  cloth  on  the  inside. 
These,  too.  have  wintered  well. 

In  moving  bees  frotn  yard  to  yard,  take  off 
the  quilts  and  drive  a  nail  through  the  cap  into 
the  hive  (one  in  each  end  will  do),  and  the  wire 
cloth  in  the  cap  will  give  air  enough;  close  the 
entrance,  and  we  are  ready  to  move. 

Middleburgh,  N.  Y.  N.  D.  We.st. 

[Friend  W.  makes  some  good  points  in  favor 
of  taking  bees  out  of  the  cellar  early;  but  in  all 
this  we  should  consider  the  matter  of  locality. 
This  spring  we  kept  our  bees  in  the  cellar  con- 
siderably later  than  usual,  for  experiment;  and 
we  found  that  we  might  better  have  taken 
them  out  two  or  three  weeks  before  we  did.  Our 
outdoor  colonies  are  about  a  month  ahead  in 
brood-rearing.  Whether  or  no  these  cellared 
colonies  will  catch  up.  remains  to  be  proven. 
Dr.  Miller  has  recommended  taking  bees  out  as 
soon  as  maples  come  into  bloom;  and  for  him 
we  have  no  doubt  that  this  is  the  better  time, 
because  his  locality  is  very  cold  compared  with 
that  of  most  other  bee-keepers. 

We  believe  Mr.  West's  plan  of  putting  bees 
into  the  cellar  is  a  good  one.  If  we  were  sure 
we  could  winter  our  bees  in  the  cellar  without 
removing  the  hive-bottoms,  but  leaving  plenty 
of  upward  ventilation,  we  would  make  them  all 
fast;  because  convenience  in  moving  bees  to 
out-yards,  and  in  and  out  of  the  c(>llar.  and 
carrying  them  around  the  apiary  when  they 
are  in  hives  with  fast  bottoms  is  no  small  item. 
If  upward  ventilation  in  the  cellar  will  permit 
of  this,  and  yet  give  us  good  results,  it  would  be 
worth  our  giving  it  a  little  consideration.  Last 
winter  we  put  into  the  cellar  colonies  having 
sealed  covers  and  those  having  absorbing  cush- 
ions. The  former  had  their  bottoms  removed, 
and  the  latter  had  bottoms  that  were  nailed 
fast.  This  spring  we  could  detect  no  particular 
difference  in  the  wintering  of  either  set.  '"  But, 
how  about  this  sealed-cover  idea  that  you  have 
been  advocating  all  along?"  some  one  will  ask. 
If  the  reader  will  refer  to  what  we  have  said, 
he  will  see  that  our  remarks  applied  to  outdoor 
wintering.  The  pui'pose  of  this  sealed  cover  is 
to  retain  all  the  warmth  of  the  cluster;  and 
this  is  very  essential  for  outdoor  wintering,  for 
then  we  have  no  heat  to  spare  by  letting  it 
escape  through  the  top  of  the  hive.  But  in  the 
celUir  tho  conditions  are  n-versed.  The  great 
trouble  with  the  most  of  us  is  not  to  keep  the 
bees  ir(tnn  enough,  but  <iool  enough:  therefore, 
if  we  allow  the  heat  to  escape  to  a  certain 
extent  through  the  top  of  the  hive,  we  are  thus 
enabled  to  maintain  a  higher  temperature  in 
the  cellar  itself.    It  is  the  high   temperature  in 


368- 


^GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


the  cellar  that  causes  the  bees  in  them  to  come 
out  and  die.  The  point  we  are  getting  at  is 
this:  If  we  can  not  successfully  reduce  the  tem- 
perature in  the  cellar,  we  can,  perhaps,  reduce 
it  in  the  hives  themselves  by  allowing  some  of 
the  surplus  heat  to  escape. 

Now,  please  understand,  dear  readers,  that 
we  have  not  committed  ourselves  to  either  idea. 
We  have  offered  these  suggestions  only  as  linos 
of  experiment  for  another  season.  A  great 
many,  like  H.  R.  Boardman,  have  success  with 
sealed  covers  and  open  bottom:  Mr.  West  win- 
ters successfully  with  a  fast  bottom;  but  with 
upward  ventilation. 

Since  writing  the  above  the  following  article 
from  R.  D.  Avery  has  come  to  hand.  It  is  right 
in  line  with  what  we  have  been  saying,  and  the 
success  of  the  writer  is  no  small  argument  for 
upward  ventilation  in  the  cellar.] 


CELLAR  WINTERING. 


STJCCES.S  WITH  UPWARD  VENTILATION. 


I  see  that  there  is  quite  a  diversity  of  opinion 
as  to  cellar  wintering  of  bees,  as  to  whether  the 
cellar  should  be  cemented,  ventilated,  etc.  Well,- 
the  "  Major "  and  I  winter  our  400  and  odd 
hives  in  a  cellar,  dirt  floor — measurements  19x3.5, 
and  7  feet  high:  no  ventilation  at  all.  When 
the  hives  are  taken  into  the  cellar,  the  tops  are 
left  off  and  the  frames  covered  with  burlap  to 
let  the  moisture  escape.  We  have  very  little 
trouble  in  wintering  in  this  way.  If  the  bees 
get  uneasy  and  start  a  roar,  we  open  the  cellar 
door  at  night;  if  the  temperature  is  colder  out- 
side than  in  thecellar (if itisM)o?-mcr ontsM7c,do 
not  open  that  door)  leave  it  open  for  a  couple 
of  hours,  when  the  chances  are  that  the  roar 
will  be  silenced.  We  lost  only  2  out  of  4(M) 
this  last  winter,  managed  as  above,  and  have 
averaged  that  for  many  years.  We  have  done 
away  with  all  sub-earth  ventilation,  etc.  Such 
things  are  of  no  use  whatever. 

MOVING   BEES   TO   AN   OUT-YAKD. 

Now  about  the  moving  of  bees  to  and  from 
out-apiaries.  Of  course,  we  have  a  lot  of  that 
to  do  every  spring  and  fall,  and  I  have  just 
hauled  out  220  hives  in  six  days,  with  a  one- 
horse  wagon,  making  two  loads  a  day,  with  the 
thermometer  ranging  from  70  to  SO  degrees. 
The  bees  had  to  be  shut  up  in  the  hives  very 
early  in  the  morning,  before  any  flew  out.  As 
the  hive  we  use  has  a  fast  bottom,  fixed  frames, 
and  a  slat  for  covering  the  entrance,  held  in 
place  by  a  button  on  the  front  of  the  hive,  this 
was  a  very  easy  job.  These  bees  were  hauled 
seven  miles,  part  of  the  road  being  quite  rough, 
and  the  last  load  was  not  released  before  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  What  ventilation  did 
we  have?  None — absolutely  none,  and  none  is 
needed.  These  bees  are  good  normal  colonies, 
covering  about  six  frames  of  brood  at  this  date, 
and  most  of  them  on  new  brood-frames,  and 
not  one  was  broken  down,  nor  any  bees  smoth- 
ered. This  is  not  only  the  experience  of  one, 
but  of  many  years  in  moving  bees;  and  I  have 
no  hesitation  in  saying  that  bees  can  be  moved 
at  least  ten  miles,  over  fairly  good  roads,  in  a 
spring  wagon,  with  the  thermometer  at  70°, 
without  any  ventilation  whatever.  Rough 
jolting  roads  are  more  to  be  dreaded  than  any 
thing  else  in  moving  bees.  R.  D.  Avehy. 

Independence,  Mo.,  May  4. 

[Most  bee-keepers  for  some  reason  seem  to 
find  it  necessary  to  use  screen  tops  for  the  hives 
for  moving  at  temperatures  from  70  to  80°.  The 
character  of  the  roads  probably  decides  this 
question  to  a  very  large  extent.    Much  jolting 


causes  uneasiness  on  the  part  of  the  bees,  and 
hence  more  ventilation  would  be  required.  As 
you  are  perhaps  awaie,  we  move  without  screen 
tops,  but  do  use  wire  cloth  at  the  entrances.  It 
can  do  no  harm,  and  may  be  quite  necessary.] 


ABSORBENTS  VS.  SEALED  COVERS. 


WOOD   WOOL,    AND    HOW   IT   W0I:K.S   A.S  AN 
AB.SORBENT. 


The  subject  as  per  above  caption  has  not 
been  fully  discussed,  and  I  beg  for  space  in 
which  to  give  further  results  in  my  experiments 
of  wintering  bees  on  summer  stands.  In  Glean- 
ings for  May  15,  1891,  page  374,  I  gave  results 
ill  a  way  very  satisfactoiy,  of  packing  with 
mineral  wool,  with  chaft'  cushiori  on  top.  Chaff 
can  not  be  regarded  as  in  any  sense  an  absorb- 
ent. Its  loose  texture  allows  of  the  free  escape 
of  moisture  in  the  form  of  vapor;  but  it  does 
not  hold  this  in  suspension,  except  mechanically 
as  it  rests  In  more  or  less  minute  drops  within 
the  mass  of  the  chatt'.  One  may  say  this  is  the 
effect  of  any  absorbent,  which  is  entii-ely  true; 
but  frequently,  on  lifting  a  chaff'  cushion  one  is 
surprised  by  quite  a  rain  of  drops  of  water, 
which  is  never  the  case  with  a  true  absorbent, 
as  will  be  shown  fui'ther  along. 

As  packed  last  winter,  my  colonies  came 
through  with  a  minimum  loss,  building  up  rap- 
idly in  the  spring,  and  giving  me  12  prime 
swarms  from  18  colonies  before  May  22d;  but  I 
noticed  the  combs  were  moldy,  as  were  the 
dead  bees;  and  the  corners  of  the  hives  were 
saturated  with  water,  and.  as  a  consequence,  I 
was  not  satisfied  with  the  protection  afforded 
to  the  brood-chamber  by  the  chaff  cushions. 

My  attention  was  flrst  attracted  to  absorbent 
cotton,  a  material  greatly  employed  in  surgical 
practice;  but  the  cost  of  this  article  caused  its 
rejection.  1  then  thought  of  submitting  cheap- 
er substances  to  the  action  of  chemicals  show- 
ing an  affinity  to  water,  such  as  sodium  hydrox- 
ide, etc.  This,  however,  was  abandoned,  not 
because  it  was  not  feasible,  but  because  some- 
thing inflnitely  better  was  discovered. 

In  the  practice  of  my  profession  I  had  been 
using,  when  requiring  a  cheaper  absorbent  than 
prepared  cotton,  a  preparation  known  as  wood 
wool — a  superior  article  for  the  uses  and  i)nr- 
poses  intended.  My  application  to  the  import- 
ers of  this  prei)aration,  the  Hygienic  Wood- 
wool Co..  of  New  York,  stating  my  object,  was 
met  courteously  with  the  assurance  of  their 
cooperation,  and  the  wool,  in  any  form,  at  once 
placed  at  my  disposal.  At  my  suggestion  an 
order  for  pads  of  the  material,  one  inch  thick, 
and  of  sufficient  size  to  fit  closely  in  a  Dovetail 
super,  was  placed  at  their  factory  in  Germany, 
pads  to  be  covered  with  coai'se  cheese-cloth. 
In  addition  to  this  they  sent  plates  of  compress- 
ed wood  wool,  one  inch  tinck.  iind  the  exact 
size  of  tlie  inside  of  the  super.  These,  however, 
were  found  unavailable,  as  they  were  so  stiff 
they  could  not  be  made  to  fit  snugly.  Samples 
of  both,  at  my  i-equest,  were  forwarded  to  you 
last  Novemlxu'. 

At  the  proper  time  in  the  fall,  my  colonies, 
18.  wen^  placed  in  their  winter  ca.ses.  with  out- 
side piotection  of  mineral  wool,  substantially 
as  described  in  the  article  in  INIay  (tleanings, 
and  a  pad  of  wood  wool  as  pi'otection  over  the 
brood -chamber:  this  last  was  placed  in  a  super. 
The  tojj  of  the  hive  proper  was  withdrawn  to 
one  side  so  as  to  leave  a  crack  of  one  inch,  al- 
lowing free  circulation  l^etween  the  super  and 
the  winter  case.  Over  all  was  placed  the  top 
of  the  winter  case:  and  as  the  winter  case  has 
strips  of  wool  cloth   tacked   around   the   upper 


IS'.fJ 


GLEANINCS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


:<()<) 


ihIrcs.  wlicii  till'  to])  is  (111  it  is  praclii'iiliy  air- 
light.  This  anaiiRtMiuMit  leaves  a  large  air- 
chamber  composed  of  the  space  in  tlH>  super 
above  the  wood-wool  pad  and  the  spaco  in  the 
winter  case  above  the  pacUinsr.  The  advan- 
tage of  this  will  be  readily  ai)pareiit.  as  it  al- 
lows the  excess  of  moistun>  to  be  absorbed  by 
the  nnpainted  sides  of  the  pai-Uing-cases.  as  it 
is  canietl  over  in  the  form  of  \apor.  to  be  con- 
densed as  soon  as  it  reaches  the  colder  chamber. 

The  ri'siilt  has  been  highly  satisfactiii'y,  and 
I  can  indorse  heartily  the  conclusions  reached 
by  t".  v.  Dadantin  IMarch  l.")tli  (Ji.KANiNCis.  It 
is  only  a  (luestion  of  the  kind  and  (luality  ot 
absoi  bents.  It  is  beyond  (inestion,  that  damp- 
ness, or  a  moist  condition  of  the  brood -chamber, 
is  as  fatal  to  the  bees  as  is  the  sam<>  condition 
to  all  animal  life.  Dampness,  darkness,  and 
inaction  are  siii-e  pr(H'ursors  of  debility  and 
disease:  while  li<iht.  dryness,  and  exercise  (>m- 
body  health  and  human  ha()piness. 

My  bees  were  contined.  wiihont  a  tli^lil.  from 
Jan.  1  until  March  4.  On  examination  I  found 
the  hives  dry — no  moldy  combs  nor  dripping 
cushions.  The  pads  coulil  be  determined  damp; 
but  no  appreciable  gain  in  weight  — a  fact 
which  was  tested,  of  course.  At  this  writing, 
April  1,  the  boos  are  employing  daily  flights, 
and  there  is  absolutely  not  ono  pint  of  dead 
bees  in  the  whole  18  colonies.  This  has  been 
proven  by  thorough  examination,  and  by  raking 
the  dead  bees  from  off  the  bottom-lioanl.  There 
are,  indeed,  some  colonies  that  seem  as  strong 
as  whiMi  \nit  into  winter  quarters. 

The  cost  of  this  material  for  pads  may  deter 
bee-keepers  from  enipl<iyi"g  it.  This  objection 
was  made  by  the  writer  to  the  company,  who 
met  it  by  the  declaration  of  tinding  means  to 
obviate  it.  I  should  regard  it  as  cheap  at  the 
price,  should  it  save  one  colony  in  fifty,  (xiven 
winter  cases,  minoi'al  wool  for  outside  packing, 
and  a  pad  of  the  incomparable  wood  wool,  and 
yon  liav(!  soh'od  the  Question  of  winteiing  as 
well  as  spi'inging  of  bees — the  latter  most  to  be 
dreaded  because  of  the  moisture-laden  w  inds — 
the  general  humidity  of  which  is  certainly  the 
cause  of  spring  dwindling.  1  have  in  noway 
exaggerated  the  benefits  of  pioper  packing  and 
proper  absorbents.  My  lo-ses  have,  after  live 
years  of  bee-keeping,  reached  a  minimum — in 
fact,  are  tiH.  For  this  reason  I  shall  most  cer- 
tainly employ  absorbents  in  the  future,  and  pin 
niv  trust  to  wood-wool  pads. 

Connellsville,  Pa.,  Apr.  1.    .1.  K.  Enos.  M.  I). 

[The  advocates  of  sealed  covers  or  sealed  tops 
claim  that  the  moisture  in  the  hive,  is  not  the 
product  of  a  normal  or  natural  condition.  It  is 
argued,  that,  whi'ii  the  top  of  the  hive  is  sealed 
and  the  same  covered  with  good  packing  ma- 
terial, little  or  no  moisture  will  be  precipitated, 
because  the  boated  air  is  retained  until  the  sur- 
plus finds  exit  at  the  entrance  below.  Moisture 
is  generally  the  result  of  a  cold  surface?  coming 
in  contact  with  a  warm  atmosphere;  as.  for 
example,  a  pitcher  of  ice  water  on  a  hot  sum- 
mer day.  Warm  or  heated  air  will  grailually 
pass  through  a  porous  substance;  and  when 
this  air  gets  near  the  top  of  the  absorbini?  nia- 
t«rial,  it  encounters  a  coldei'  temiieralure:  and 
the  result  is.  that  the  moisture  is  precipitated 
near  the  top  of  the  cushion.  Warm  air  still 
coming  in,  it  comes  in  contact  with  the  moi-t 
layer  of  packing  material  near  the  top.  and 
that  moist  layer  is  made  deeper.  In  this  way 
the  dampness  gradually  permeates  the  whole 
cushion.  Now.  a  wri  cushion  is  one  of  the 
worst  things  to  cover  a  colony  of  bees.  We 
have  seen  these  absorbing  cushions  frozen  solid 
with  the  moisture  in  tliem  clear  to  the  bees; 
and  in  that  condition  they  were  but  little  if  any 
better  than  cakes  of  ice.     Now,  the  theory  of 


the  sealed  cover  is,  that  no  warm  air  is  allowed 
to  escape:  and  hence  if  warm  air  does  not  get 
into  the  piicking  material  above  (whi-re  it  can 
not  w  itb  a  seali'd  coven,  there  is  no  chance  for 
the  pieci|)itation  of  moisture  in  the  packing, 
and  hence  this  packing  is  always  kept  dry. 
Perhaps  by  using  enough  packing  material,  or 
that  of  good  (inality,  \vi'  may  dispense  with  the 
sealed  cover,  and  at  the  same  time  largely  pre- 
vent the  undue  precipitation  of  moisture;  but  by 
using  a  sealed  cov(U',  a  very  little  packing  will 
answer,  where  a  large  amount  would  be  neces- 
sary otherwise.  We  received  the  samph's  of 
wood-wool  packing,  and  placed  them  on  our 
hives.  In  the  line  of  absorbents  they  are  the 
best  of  any  thing  we  have  ever  tried,  and  then? 
is  no  doubt  that  they  would  be  far  superior  to 
chatf.  Hut  they  have  one  insurmountable  ob- 
jection; and  that  is.  their  expense.  If  some- 
thing cheap  will  answer  just  as  well,  it  would, 
of  course,  be  preferable  to  use  the  cheaper  arti- 
cle; and  that  cheaper  article  will  probably  be  a 
thin  boaid  sealed  down  with  about  a  couple  of 
inches  of  chatf  on  the  top.  Now,  please  under- 
stand that  these  remarks  have  reference  only 
to  bees  iniiitcrnl  tmtiloors.  Read  our  footnote 
to  N.  D.  AVest"s  article  preceding,  for  our  ideas 
on  upward  ventilation  in  cellars.] 


RAMBLE  NO.  59. 


IX   TIOMKSCAL   CANYON. 


From  the  elevated  position  of  the  Bonfoey 
residence  a  grand  view  of  the  Santa  Ana  Valley 
is  obtained.  On  the  far  side  rise  the  sno\y- 
capped  San  Bernardino  Mountains.  .TO  miles 
away,  and  9000  feet  above  sea-level.  Numerous 
towns  dot  the  landscape,  and  all  easy  of  access 
on  the  Southern  Pacific  and  Santa  Fe  Railroads. 
The  most  noted  place  in  the  valley  is  Riverside, 
with  its  orange-groves;  the  Chiuo  (C/ieno)  beet- 
root sugar-factory,  said  to  be  the  largest  in  the 
world;  the  Arrowhead  hot  springs,  and  the 
famous  Temescal  tin -mines.  The  railroad 
does  not  run  into  the  Temescal  Canyon,  and 
Mr.  B.  very  kindly  proposed,  with  horse  and 
cart,  to  escort  the  Rambler  to  Temescal,  12 
miles  distant.  It  was  delightful  riding  in  the 
morning  as  we  jogged  along  across  the  mesa. 
The  unfilled  lands  here  make  ample  pasturage 
for  large  herds  of  sheep,  and  we  commented  on 
the  lonely  life  of  the  shepherd  who  [lassed  many 
nights  with  Mother  Faith  for  a  bod.  and  the 
starry  skies  smiling  down  upon  him. 


,^:r>^r 


-■p'/^..■'ii^.■•Vc^•K>'•.i^■;■■••■-• 


|j>5 


THE    IJAMBI.K|{  A.\I)   KlilKND    RIDING   IX    NUMKH- 
OITS   OUST. 

Barley  is  extensively  cultivated,  and  the 
ground  is  in  condition  to  secure  not  only  one 
crop  from  one  sowing,  but  two  more  volunteer 
crops  afterward;  but  all  this  land  will  soon  be 


370 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


covered  with  groves  of  orange,  lemon,  and  other 
fruits,  and  nuts.  The  land  is  under  the  control 
of  a  company  who  are  developing  a  water  sup- 
ply, and  settlers^  are  invited,  on  easy  terms,  to 
invest  in  their  lands. 

We  soon  entered  the  common  highway,  and 
then  our  pleasures  were  of  another  sort.  This 
country,  during  the  many  months  of  dry  weath- 
er, develops  something  that  the  land  companies' 
circulars  and  the  booming  local  papers  never 
mention.  It  is,  the  finest  and  most  numerous 
dust  you  ever  breathed.  A  horse  trotting  or 
even  walking  in  it.  where  the  feet  sink  inio  it 
up  to  the  fetlock,  is  sure  to  raise  an  impenetra- 
ble cloud  of  it.  We  were  obliged  to  talk  through 
our  noses  for  some  miles,  and  even  that  was 
disagreeable.  It  was  a  genuine  relief  to  drive 
off  the  road  and  approach  a  ranch  where  the 
pleasures  of  cooling  shade,  blooming  roses,  and 
refreshing  S])ring  water  were  to  be  enjoyed. 
This  lovclv  i)laci"]Ki(l    the  lovi'ly  name  of  Wild 


from  the  apiary  to  the  honey-house,  some  25 
rods,  on  a  wheelbarrow. 

Miss  Alfiretta  combines  schoolteaching  with 
her  other  duties;  and  from  the  enterprise  with 
which  these  ladies  manage  the  ranch,  it  was 
easy  to  see  that  they  were  thorough  business 
women. 

In  the  house  was  a  fine  library  and  a  case  of 
several  hundred  curios.  On  the  floor  was  a 
large  lynx  skin  to  which  Mrs.  Wood  called  our 
attention.  Herself  and  daughter  had  treed  the 
animal  in  the  night,  and  the  hired  man  was 
called  out  with  gun,  and  successfully  finished 
the  hunt. 

We  were  loth  to  get  out  into  the  dust  again; 
but  the  pleasures  of  Wild  Rose  Park  were  not 
so  irresistible  but  that,  after  another  quaff  at 
the  cooling  waters,  we  pursued  our  journey  and 
soon  arrived  at  the  Glen  Ivy  Hotel  and  the 
Temescal  hot  sulphur  springs.  We  were  in 
just   the  condition  to  appreciate  the  cleansing 


WILD    ROSE   PARK    APIARY. 


Rose  Park,  and  was  managed  by  two  lovely 
women,  Mrs.  Wood  and  her  daughter,  with  the 
lovely  name  of  Alfiretta.  Out  beyond  the  great 
oak-trees  that  surrounded  the  house,  and 
crowded  upon  a  narrow  margin  of  land  between 
the  wash  and  the  hillside,  was  a  long  array  of 
130  swarms  of  bees.  The  peculiarity  of  this 
apiary  was  the  large  number  of  Harbison  hives. 
These  hives  were  a  little  different  from  oui- 
Sacramento  friend's.  Instead  of  using  a  block 
to  fill  up  a  vacancy,  the  hive  had  been  increased 
to  such  a  degree  that  several  crates  of  sections 
could  be  storified,  and  the  hive  had  a  very 
lengthy  ai)pearance;  in  fact,  it  is  a  Long-Idea 
hive  pointing  toward  the  sky.  The  greater 
share  of  the  hives  in  the  apiary  were  of  the 
L.  pattern,  and  the  ladies  wished  to  sell  all 
of  their  Harbisons,  and  this  was  strong  evi- 
dence that  they  preferred  the  L.  During  the 
East  season  the  yield  had  been  .5000  lbs.  of  comb 
oney,  and   Mrs.  Wood   had  transported  it  all 


properties  of  a  bath,  and  made  haste  to  plunge 
into  the  water,  warmed  to  105  degi'ees  tempera- 
ture, and  medicated  by  nature  in  tne  hidden 
recesses  of  the  earth.  We  forgot  the  dust  and 
discomfort  of  the  ride,  and  exclaimed,  "Oh 
what  a  glorious  country  is  this  I"  The  hotel 
and  these  baths  make  the  locality  a  noted 
resort.  The  glen  from  which  the  hotel  takes 
its  name  is  a  beautiful  and  romantic  goi'ge  with 
a  clear  stream  of  water  tumbling  and  foaming 
over  the  boulders,  making  many  beautiful 
wateifalls.  Besides  the  hotel  there  is  a  little 
stoie,  a  pretty  and  commodious  school  house, 
used  also  for  a  church  and  Sunday-school,  and 
half  a  dozen  cottages  scattered  here  and  there 
among  the  oaks  and  cottonwoods.  This  com- 
prises Temescal.  The  main  product  of  the 
town  is  honey,  and  nearly  every  resident  is  in- 
tei'ested  more  or  less  in  its  production.  There 
are  over  1000  colonies  owned  in  this  vicinity. 
Mr.  Isaiah  Audi-rson  is  the  veteran  bee-keep- 


1S9-: 


CJLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


371 


cr  of  the  placo;  and  from  tlio  aiipcaiaiioc  of  liis 
jilcasaiit  homo  ami  siirrouiuliiiRS.  bcc-Ucciiiiig 
lias  iu)t  ht'cn  an  iin|)rotitalil<'  business  for  liim. 
His  a|iiary  was  onl  in  tiir  monntains.  as  were 
nearly  all  of  the  rest.  Mr.  Dawson  and  son, 
the  sion'keepers.  wei"e  also  lar>xely  interested  in 
bees,  having  apiaries  of  several  hundred  colo- 
nies. Mr.  Haz/.ard  and  Mr.  Henderson'  also 
numbered  tlieir  stocks  by  the  lumdred.  Others, 
as  far  away  as  Riverside — 'JO  miles — had  bees  in 
this  canyon.  Mr.  t;eorg(>  F.  I'feiffer  owned  a 
small  apiary  of  40  colonies  on  a  spur  of  the 
mountain  overlooking  the  valley,  and  the  lo- 
cation was  the  most  charmintr  and  cosy,  for  an 
apiary,  we  had  ever  seen.  \Ve  climbed  the  hill 
to  make  the  acquaintance  of  the  owner.  The 
little  one-room  lO.xl;.'  cabin,  with  adobe  Moor,  a 
bed  in  one  corner,  a  stove  in  another,  and  doors 
in  the  others,  was  vacant.  Mr.  P.  kept  bach- 
elor's hall,  and  the  feminine  portion  of  his 
hou.seliold  is  probably  being  considered  by 
matchmakers  above  (I  speak  only  from  hear- 
say, for  thafs  where  they  say  matches  are 
made). 

We  strolled  along  the  apiary,  which  followed 
the  contour  of  the  mountain  in  about  the  form 
of  a  letter  S;  and  as  Mr.  I'."s  40  acres  of  land 
nearly  all  hung  up  edgewise  on  the  side  of  the 
mountain,  the  land  for  the  apiary  had  to  be 
terraced. 

We  were  about  to  leave  the  place  when  the 
Rambler  thought  that  the  terrace  further 
around  would  reveal  something;  and  as  we 
turned  a  sharp  corner,  tiiere  we  found  our 
friend  fast  asleep  on  a  lounge  fashioned  into  the 
side  of  the  mountain,  directly  under  a  large 
oak-tree.  There  was  a  rude  table  in  front  of 
him.  with  books  and  newspapers  on  it,  and  a 


•'MY    gracious!    is   that   TIIK    RAMI5LE1!?" 

bottle  and  glass  on  the  top.  The  camera  was 
adjusted.  Mr.  Bonfoey  aroused  the  sleeper; 
and  as  soon  as  he  had  rubbed  his  eyes  open 
enough  to  take  in  the  situation,  he  shouted,  in 
evident  teiror,  "  My  gracious:  is  that  the  Ram- 
bler?*' Then  it  was  the  Rambler's  turn  to  be 
surprised  at  the  idea  that  be(>-keepers  in  the 
remote  places  of  the  earth  were  expecting  to 
see  that  camera  pointing  toward  them;  and  the 
question  arose.  '•  Isn't  it  about  time  the.se  ram- 
bles came  to  a  close?" 

After  our  various  surprises  had  subsided,  Mr. 
P.  exclaimed,  "  Well,  I  declare!  I  am  so  glad 
you  called;  and  you  are  really  one  of  us:"  and 
we  fell  on  each  other's  necks  for  joy.  Mr.  P. 
then  offered  us  some  milk  out  of  the  aforesaid 
bottle — the  veritable  milk  of  human  kindness — 
but  Mr.  Bonfoey  and  I  had  been  drinking  sul- 
phur water,  and  had  to  refuse  on  account  of 
the  shock  that  milk  and  sulphur  would  give  to 
our  organs  of  gastronomy.  When  we  got  around 


to  th(^  cabin  my  new  friend  was  glad  again  that 
I  was  one  of  us.  And  we  fell  on  each  other's 
necks  again.  (Joing  down  the  mountain  he 
was  overjoyed  again.  i>ut  we  omitted  the  neck 
oix'ration.  Our  footing  was  so  insecure  that  we 
might  have  fallen  and  in'oken  our  necks. 

We  will  now  Ic^t  Mr.  Bonfoey  return  to  his 
mountain  home,  and  for  a  day  I  am  in  the  hands 
of  Mr.  PfeitTer.  We  journeyed  up  through  the 
canyon  to  Elsinore  Lake  and  the  coal-mines, 
which  have  recently  be(Mi  d(!veloi)ed  here. 
Many  apiaries  were  .scattered  along  up  the  can- 
yon. As  I  was  one  of  us,  I  spent  a  night  in  the 
little  cabin.  Mr.  P.  is  an  excellent  cook,  and 
served  a  breakfast  fit  for  a  sovereign  American. 
T\u\  walls  of  his  cabin  were  decorated  with 
pictures  of  all  sorts  and  sizes,  from  the  illus- 
trated papers;  and  if  thens  was  any  thing  he 
didn't  want  around  in  the  way,  be  it  boots,  tin 
cans,  newspapers,  and  such,  it  was  thrown  un- 
d(!r  the  bed.  It  was  a  rather  cool  night,  and 
Mr.  P.  wasn't  a  very  salubrious  bed-fellow.  He 
had  a  way,  while  lying  on  his  back,  of  drawing 
his  feet  "toward  his  head,  and  thus  making 
Gothic  rafters  in  the  bed.  I  forgave  him,  how- 
ever, for  I  learned  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Sunday-school,  sang  in  the  choir,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Temescal  band.  He  is  the  lifer. 
I  bade  my  good  friends  adieu,  and  it  was  a  late 
hour  that  evening  before  the  railroad  was 
touched.  On  our  way,  as  the  horse  was  plung- 
ing through  a  wash  in  the  darkness  a  peculiar 
shouting  like  the  rolicking  voices  of  schoolboys 
and  of  babies  crying  saluted  us  from  a  point 
not  far  away.  I  asked  my  traveling  companion 
in  surprise  what  those  childn^n  were  celebrat- 
ing in  that  lonely  place  at  that  hour  of  night. 
He  laughed  aloud,  and  said,  "Those  are  not 
children;  they  are  coyotes''  (pronounced  feiotes). 
Says  I,  "Tenderfoot  again."  That  was  my  first 
experience  with  them.  Since  then  they  have 
many  times  saluted  the  Rambler. 


THE  T"WO-MILE  THEORY. 


DO  QUEENS  MEET  DRONES  IN  THE  SAME  APIARY? 
DRONES   CONGREGATING. 


In  a  recent  paper  I  see  that  my  name  is  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  that  of  A.  I.  Root  and 
others  as  having  seen  queens  mated  in  the 
apiary  by  drones  from  the  same  apiary,  the 
writer  trying  to  make  out  the  theory  true,  that 
is  put  forth  by  some,  that  diiTerent  races  of  bees 
can  be  kept  as  near  together  as  two  miles  and 
not  intermingle.  What  A.  I.  Root  has  seen,  I 
do  not  know;  but  when  I  witnessed  the  mating 
of  a  queen  and  drone  I  was  at  least  two  miles 
from  any  apiary,  and  gave  the  fact  in  connec- 
tion with  the  idea  that  drones  had  certain 
places  where  they  congregated,  which  I  then, 
as  now,  believe  to  be  the  truth  in  the  matter. 
If  drones  congregate  in  certain  places,  it  would 
be  but  natural  that  the  queens  should  be  drawn 
to  these  places;  and  the  fact  that  one  queen  was 
known  to  mate  at  such  a  congregation  of  drones 
went  quite  a  way  with  me  in  leading  me  to 
believe  that  queens  in  general  were  so  mated. 
As  many  are  now  trying  to  improve  their 
stock  by  reai'ing  queens  from  one  strain  of  bees 
and  tluiir  drones  from  another  strain,  some 
writing  me  that  they  have  two  queens  which 
they  wish  to  breed  from,  raising  drones  from 
one  and  qui^ens  from  the  other,  this  matter  of 
drones  congregating  should  be  of  interest  to 
such,  and  also  to  all  who  have  any  ideas  of  the 
improvement  of  stock  along  certain  lines.  If 
drones  do  thus  congregate,  and  the  queens  go 
to  this  congregation,  it  must  be  apparent  to  all, 
that,  where  there  are  any  bees  in  the  woods,  or 
bees  kept  by  the  fanners  within  the  flying  dis- 


372 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


tance  of  drones,  our  queen  will  stand  a  poor 
chance  of  mating  one  of  the  desired  drones,  as 
long  as  the  colonies  kept  on  the  let-alone  plan 
will  raise  ten  drones  to  where  our  colonies  rear 
one.  Where  I  witnessed  the  mating  of  a  queen 
was  on  a  high  hill  where  I  was  cutting  weeds 
out  of  a  cornfield  the  fore  part  of  August.  On 
every  fine  afternoon,  from  one  to  three  o'clock, 
there  was  such  a  humming  in  the  air  overhead 
that  it  seemed  that  a  swarm  of  bees  must  be 
going  over,  and  at  first  I  looked  for  them:  but 
seeing  nothing  I  concluded  that  it  was  flies  of 
some  kind.  One  hot  day.  being  tired  I  lay  down 
to  rest:  and  hearing  this  swarming  noise  I 
shaded  my  eyes  with  my  hands  and  looked 
steadily  up  into  the  clear  sky.  After  a  little  I 
could  see  thousands  of  living  creatures  shoot- 
ing in  all  directions,  and  finally  I  saw  a  dozen 
or  so  of  these  shooting  objects  give  chase  after 
another  and  overtake  it.  when  the  flight  was 
less  rapid.  Two  of  them  continued  circling 
around,  and.  nearing  the  ground,  stopped  on 
the  tassel  of  a  cornstalk  near  me.  I  got  up  at 
once;  but  before  1  reached  the  stalk  of  corn  one 
of  them  flew  away  and  the  other  fell  to  the 
ground.  From  what  I  saw  of  the  one  which 
flew  away,  I  called  it  a  queen  honeybee:  and 
upon  picking  up  che  one  that  fell  to  the  ground, 
I  found  it  was  a  dead  drone.  This  solved  the 
mystery  of  the  humming  noise;  and  when  I 
have  since  heard  this  same  humming  in  differ- 
ent places  I  have  believed  it  to  be  drones  in 
their  congregating-places.  The  fact  that  this 
noise  is  heard  only  in  the  early  afternoon  of 
pleasant  days  also  proves  that  di'ones  congre- 
gate, or  some  other  insects,  for  I  never  heard 
this  noise  except  at  this  time  of  day.  If  it  was 
made  by  the  worker  liees  it  would  be  heard  in 
the  forenoon  as  well  as  in  the  afternoon. 

One  other  item  bearing  on  this  subject  is  the 
faci.  that,  pi'ior  to  the  advent  of  the  Italian 
bee.  a  man  keeping  bi'KS  for  forty  years  near  us 
never  saw  aught  but  the  common  black  or  Ger- 
man bee.  Another  man  living  four  miles  from 
him  purchased  an  Italian  (|ueen  one  year  in 
July,  and  from  this  one  queen  he  stocked  all  of 
his  apiary,  some  forty  colonies,  with  Italian 
queens  the  same  year,  which,  according  to 
Dzierzon,  would  give  Italian  drones  but  hybrid 
workers,  as  the  purchased  queen  gave  no  drones 
the  first  year.  As  this  man  who  stocked  his 
apiary  with  Italian  queens  took  no  pains  to 
restrict  the  rearing  of  drones,  multitudes  of 
them  were  reared;  and,  as  a  result,  fully  one- 
third  of  the  queens  reared  the  next  year  (being 
in  the  old  colonies  of  after-swarms)  by  our 
black-bee  bee-keeper  gave  more  or  less  bees 
with  yellow  bands,  to  which  he  called  my  at- 
tention. Fully  one-third  of  my  queens  also 
gave  a  part  yellow  bees;  and  as  I  was  so  well 
pleased  with  them  I  was  not  long  in  procuring 
the  Italian  bees  myself. 

This  fact  has  always  proven  to  my  mind  that 
drones  not  only  congregate,  but  that  bees  must 
be  kept  at  least  five  miles  or  more  apart  to  se- 
cure the  absolutely  pure  maiingofour  queens. 
That  this  bee-keeper  had  kept  bees  for  forty 
years  w  ithout  any  of  them  showing  any  yellow, 
would  seem  to  point  to  the  fact  that  no  man 
could  take  our  black  bees  in  their  purity  and 
breed  yellow  Germans  from  them. 

I  see  Mr.  Alley  proposes  to  give  us  yellow 
Funics  this  year,  yet  admits  that  there  are 
apiaries  with  yellow  bees  in  them  only  two 
miles  from  where  be  rears  these  queens.  If  the 
Punic  bees  are  an  eZ)onj/-colored  bee  in  their 
native  home,  perhaps  they  would  not  bi>  so 
Inclined  to  sport  along  the  yellow  line  if  they 
were  isolated  on  some  island  in  the  large  lakes 
or  kept  five  or  more  miles  from  othei'  bees,  as 
they  are  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Alley.  Let  him 
place  his  apiaries  from  five  to  ten  miles  apart, 


and  he  will  not  be  criticised  so  nuich  in  putting 
forth  his  golden  Carniolans  and  Funics.  I 
heartily  wish  that  drones  could  he  controlled  as 
well  as  the  queens;  but  so  far  I  see  no  way  of 
doing  it.  If  we  have  an  inferior  queen  we  can 
pinch  her  head  ofl'  as  soon  as  we  see  her;  but 
when  we  come  to  say  to  a  certainty  as  regard- 
ing the  drones  our  queens  are  to  mate,  we  are 
not  sure  of  anything  about  it:  for  should  we 
pinch  tlie  heads  of  all  inferior  drones  (an  end- 
less task)  we  are  not  sure  but  that  there  will  be 
millions  of  inferior  drones  at  the  congregating- 
place,  which  will  stand  an  equal  chance  with 
our  best.  From  the  above  T  think  all  will  see 
the  folly  of  claiming  two  mih'S  as  sufficient 
distance  to  insure  the  pure  mating  of  all  the 
queens  reared.  G.  INL  Doolitti^e. 

Borodino,  N.  Y..  May  2. 

[So  far  as  my  experience  goes,  friend  Doo- 
little  is  entirely  right  in  what  he  says  in  the 
above.  Not  only  do  drones  thus  congregate, 
but  a  kind  of  flying  ants  may  often  be  seen  dur- 
ing pleasant  days  along  in  the  fall,  congregat- 
ing and  mating,  as  I  have  already  mentioned  at 
length  in  an  article  on  the  subject,  given  in 
Gleanings  sevei'al  years  ago.]  A.  I.  R. 


SELF-HIVERS. 


THE    STYLE    HEf'OM MENDED    BY    HENRY    ALLEY. 


Friend  Root: — T  promised  to  send  you  a  de- 
scription of  a  self  hi  ver  that  Mould  hive  every 
swarm  that  issued  through  it.  I  will  now  at- 
tempt to  do  so. 


FIG.  1. 

Fig.  1  shows  the  arrangement  attached  to  a 
Bay  State  hive.  It  will  be  seen  that  it  pi'ojects 
considerably  in  front  of  the  hive.  The  bees,  to 
gain  access  to  their  home,  must  pass  under  the 
swarmer  and  enter  through  the  metal,  A.  Now, 
this  is  no  serious  obstruction  to  the  bees,  as 
they  have  wings,  and  it  does  not  in  the  least 
seem  to  inconvenience  them  in  their  flight  from 
and  to  the  hive.  Of  course,  it  will  bother  them 
some  foi'  an  hour  or  so  when  first  placed  on  the 
hive,  the  same  as  the  trap  does. 

Fig.  2  shows  the  interior  of  the  hiver.  It  is 
the  same  as  the  drone-trap:  in  fact,  it  is  noth- 
ing else.  It  is  made  with  a  bay-window  attach- 
ment for  the  accommodation  of  a  large  swarm 


18<12 


GLEANINCJS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


373 


of  tiot's.  w  hilc   ilu'   trap  as  coniinonly  used  will 
hold  hut  a  (luait  of  lu-t'S. 

Fi^.  -  also  shows  ilu>  hivor  in  brokon  parts, 
iu  order  tliat  the  interior  maybe  illustrated. 
The  box  is  resting  upon  its  side,  bottom  to  the 
front,  and  showinjr  the  tubes  through  which 
the  queen  passes  when  the  swarm  issues.  .Inst 
in  front  of  the  tnl)es  will  be  seen  a  strip  of  per- 
forated metal.  This  is  so  arranged  that  it  is 
exactly  over  the  entrance  to  the  hive  when  the 
swarnier  is  in  position.  Now,  when  a  swarm 
issues  tlie  bees  do  not  rush  pellmell  up  through 
th(>  metal  iu  the  swarmi'r.  The  metal  is  not 
designed  for  that  purjiose.  When  the  bees  return 
from  the  air  after  missing  their  qu(>en,  tliey 
then  rush  pelhnell  through  the  metal  to  join 
their  queen,  which  is  lield  in  confinement  di- 
ri'ctiy  over  the  entrance  to  their  hive  by  a  piece 
of  perforated  metal 
placed  diagonally 
across  the  end  of  the 
box  to  cover  the  tubes 
ami  confine  the  queen 
in  a  place  easily  and 
(luickly  found  by  the 
;.  The  bees  read- 
ily find  their  queen, 
and  at  once  enter 
the  box  and  cluster  on 
the  little  comb,  when 
they  are  ready  to  be 
hived  at  the  option  of 
the  apiarist. 

Although  this 
swarmer  works  well, 
I  do  not  consider  it  as 
practical  as  the  one  I 
illustrated  in  a  recent 
issue  of  Gleanings. 
Swarmers  are  as  nu- 
luany  of  them   are  of 


meroiis  as  hives. 

practical  worth  ? 

This  swarmer. 


How- 


regular  queen -trap 


like  tl  _  . 

swarmer.  will  trap  all  the  drones  and  keep 
them  out  of  the  way  of  the  entrance;  hence  it 
is  a  safe  one  to  use  in  an  out-apiary,  as  there  is 
no  danger  of  drones  clogging  the  entrance  and 
smothering  the  bc^es  in  the  absence  of  the  bee- 
keeper. 

li,  in  Fig.  3.  represents  the  part  placed  at  the 
entrance  of  the  hive  expected  to  swarm.  C  is 
the  cover  to  the  box.  Henry  Ai.lky. 

Wenham.  Mass..  Mav.  1892. 


SELF-HIVERS. 


WESI.KV    DIHIU.I-:  S    NEW    II)E.\. 


Are  self-hivers  worth  any  thing?  Do  the 
parties  who  advertise  them,  make  them,  and 
sell  them,  deserve  to  be  recognized  as  truthful 
men?  Can  we  go  to  their  yards  and  find  these 
parties  using  wliat  they  advi'rtise?  are  they 
succeeding  exactly  as  they  tell  us  they  are?  If 
so.  let  us  give  these  men  credit. 

What  is  a  perfect  success  w  ith  them  would  be 
a  total  failure  with  others  by  a  little  deviation 
from  their  plans.  (Jo  slow  now.  and  give  these 
men  justice:  give  them  credit  for  their  hard- 
earned  inventions.  The  above  picture  will 
hardly  need  any  desciiption.  as  it  is  so  plain.  It 
is  intended  to  carry  a  swarm  from  the  lower  to 
the  upper  hive.  It  would  be  amusing  to  you  to 
see  my  museum  of  traps  since  1888  to  accom- 
plish the  above  object.  I  have  succeeded  far 
enough  to  say.  when  you  visit  me  you  will  find 
these  traps  in  use  all  through  my  yards. 

One  object  I  have  always  in  vi(;w:  (iive  the 
bee  free  access  to  the  hive,  and  don"l  obstruct 
the  entrance.   A  trap  of  any  kind  in  front  of  the 


hive  is  a  hindranci'  to  the  bees.  It  affords  a 
shade  and  place  to  cluster  in  front,  and  in  real 
hot  weather  they  are  a  nuisance.  To  illustrate: 
I  have  an  out-yard  supplied  with  entrance 
traps.  Tlie  bees  are  lying  out,  covering  the 
traps  and  fronts  of  hives.  Now,  I  arrive  at  this 
yard  at  4  p.  m..  because  I  can't  get  there  sooner, 
and  I  (ind  from  one  to  ten  hives  have  swarmea 
during  the  day.  What  would  be  the  chances  of 
knowing  which  one  of  those  hives  swarmed? 
Give  us  an  intelligent  answer  if  you  can.  Put 
>/ie  down  as  saying  the  man  who  succeeds  in 


THE   DIBBLE   SELF-IIIVEK. 

giving  us  a  successful  trap  of  any  kind  will  give 
us  something  besides  an  entrance  trap.  We 
must  have  a  trap  when  we  can  at  a  glance  tell 
where  our  queens  are.  We  must  know  instant- 
ly, when  passing  through  a  yard,  which  colonies 
have  cast  swarms,  without  opening  a  hive. 
We  haven't  any  time  to  spare  in  digging  clus- 
ters of  bees  froiii  in  front  of  hives.  We  are,  for 
instance,  alone  with  three  or  four  yards  to  care 
for,  and  can't  get  intelligent  help,  and  the  fam- 
ily is  large;  bread  and  butter  to  get:  children 
to  school  and  clothe;  and  perhaps,  as  I  have, 
invalid  parents  to  take  care  of.  You  see,  it  is  a 
good  deal  like  the  boy  digging  a  woodchuck 
beside  the  road  on  Sunday  morning.  The  min- 
ister comes  along  and  says,  "  My  boy.  do  you 
expect  to  get  that  woodchuck?"  "  Yes,  sir," 
the  boy  says;  "'got  to  get  it;  the  minister  is 
going  to  he  at  our  house  for  dinner,  and  we 
have  no  meat."  The  minister  got  woodchuck 
meat  for  dinner.  We  have  got  to  "get  there," 
as  did  the  boy,  and  get  meat  for  dinner.  Now 
look  at  the  above  picture,  and  I  haven't  a  doubt 
but  you  will  want  to  ask  some  questions.  W^hat 
kind  of  hive  do  I  use? 

Answer.  Eight-frame,  9>§'xl7^,  Langstroth 
exactly.  I  use  the  frame  reversible  by  notions 
of  my  own.  I  like  them  after  live  years'  ex- 
perience. 

Question.  How  does  that  trap  fasten  to  the 
bottom -board? 

Ansu^er.  A  small  strip  of  tin  nailed  across 
the  trap  slid<'S  behind  one  like;  it  nailed  on  the 
bottom  board.  With  these,  one  can  put  on  or 
take  off  100  in  half  an  hour. 

Question.  Where  does  the  queen  get  into  the 
tra  p  ? 

Ansirer.  Cut  off  the  strip  on  the  bottom- 
board,  two  inches;  slot  in  the  trap  to  corres- 
pond: and  also  the  top  of  the  trap  connects 
with  the  upper  hive  in  the  same  way.  There 
are  two  cones  in  the  trap,  so  afranged  they  will 
not  clog.  The  trap  furnishes  a  cavity  for  dead 
drones  and  bees,  bees  having  free  access  to  the 
trap  by  the  queen-slide,  as  shown  in  the  picture. 

My  next  article  will  be  a  continuation  of  self- 
hivers  hived  at  the  side;  size  of  swarms,  etc. 
Wesi-ey  Dibble. 

Middleburgh.  N.  Y.,  March  7. 


374 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH    OF    FBANCIS  A. 
GEMMILL. 


PRESIDENT    OF    THE    ONTAKIO    BEE-KEEPEKS 

ASSOCIATIOX. 


The  subject  of  our  illustration  is  now  46  years 
old,  and  a  Scotch  Canadian  by  birth.  His  first 
bee-keeping  commenced  in  1863,  when  a  lad  of 
only  17  years  of  age.  In  1864,  in  order  to  be  up 
with  the  times,  he  purchased,  in  addition  to 
Quinby 's  Mysteries  of  Bee-keeping,  a  copy  of  the 
third  edition  of  Langstroth  on  the  Honey-bee, 
and  also  his  first  Italian  queen  from  Mr.  Lang- 
stroth, at  the  same  time  procuring  one  of  his 
movable-comb  observatory  hives,  which  is  still 
retained  in  his  apiary  as  a  memento  of  his 
youthful  experience.  Mr.  G.  has  never  laid 
claim  to  being  what  many  consider  an  exten- 
sive or  specialist  bee-keeper,  his  colonies  never 
numbering  more  than  7.5.  It  is,  however,  his 
intention,  at  an  early  date,  to  go  more  exten- 
sively into  the  business. 


time,  neither  has  he  been  slow  in  adopting  such 
simply  because  new;  hence  his  preference  for 
such  labor-saving  apparatus  as  honey-boards, 
bee-escapes,  etc.;  among  others,  a  hive-cart 
a  la  Boardman. 

Of  late  years  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
attending  meetings,  etc.,  and  has,  besides  being 
president  of  a  number  of  local  or  county  asso- 
ciations, also  been  vice-president  of  the  Ontario 
Asso-^iation  for  two  years  in  succession,  and  is 
now  president  of  the  latter,  having  been  ap- 
pointed such  at  the  meeting  held  in  London  in 
January  last. 

Mr.  G..  like  most  bee-keepers,  has  had  his 
sweet  and  bitter  experience  in  apiculture — yes, 
has  had  experience  with  the  pest  of  the  apiary 
— foul  brood;  therefore  his  determined  stand  at 
urging  legislation  in  regard  to  the  disease  for 
two  years  past,  with  the  happy  result  that 
Ontario  has  one  of  the  best,  if  not  t}ie  best,  acts 
in  the  world,  the  forming  of  such  act  being 
principally  due  to  the  efforts  of  Mr.  A.  Pringle, 
late  president  of  the  association.  Mr.  G.  also 
took  an  active  part  in  securing  the  bill  now  In 
force  in  Ontario,  making  it  a  penalty  to  spray 
fruit-trees  while  in  full  bloom. 

In  his  younger  days  he  learned  the  printing 
business  in  his  father's  oCfice,  and  afterward 
followed  the  drug  business  for  ten  years;  but  for 
a  number  of  years  he  has  occupied  a  position  in 
the  civil  service  of  Canada. 

His  family  consists  of  wife  and  two  children 
(a  son  of  17  and  a  daughter  of  13).  It  was  the 
pleasure  of  the  younger  editor  of  Gi^kanixgs 
to  meet  Mrs.  G.  and  himself  at  Branlford  in  '89. 

Stratford.  Ont..  Apr.  :.'9.  A.  Lamont. 


F.  A.  GEM  MILL. 

His  preference  has  always  been  for  the  eight- 
frame  L.  hive;  and  with  the  exception  of  half 
a  dozen  Jones  style,  for  experiment,  has  had  no 
occasion  for  a  larger  one.  However,  he  secured 
25  of  the  New  Heddon  style  as  soon  as  manu- 
factured in  Canada,  and  is  more  and  more  lean- 
ing toward  fixed  distances  of  some  kind,  espe- 
cially as  the  moving  of  his  colonies  from  one 
location  to  another  is  not  only  a  benefit,  but  of 
late  an  actual  necessity. 

The  wintering  of  bees  has  been  a  fairly  good 
operation  with  him.  both  in  cellar  and  outside, 
and  he  is  a  little  inclined  of  late  to  the  outside 
method,  for  the  reason  that,  in  his  locality, 
cellar  -  wintered  bees  need  spring  protection. 
On  this  point  he  is  satisfied  beyond  a  doubt. 
His  location,  especially  since  the  late  poor  hon- 
ey-flows, is.  he  finds,  considerably  overstocked: 
notwithstanding  this  he  has  secured  fair  crops 
of  both  comb  and  extracted  honey.  This,  of 
course,  has  not  been  accomplish(id  without 
proper  attention  to  all  the  little  rules  and  regu- 
lations connected  with  the  pursuit. 

It  has  never  been  a  hobby  of  his  to  try  every 
new  -  fangled  device  appearing  from  time  to 


DR.  KELLOGG  AND  HONEY. 


A   C'KITIC   CRITICISED. 

You  ask  my  opinion  of  the  article  from  Dr. 
Kellogg  regarding  honey.  I  think  it  another 
case  of  a  man's  writing  on  matters  of  which  he 
knows  little,  accepting  statements  from  others 
which  lie  has  not  even  attempted  to  verify.  As 
a  result  he  has  crowded  about  as  much  error 
into  a  small  space  as  it  is  possible  to  do.  It  is 
true,  that  honey  is  not  wholly  sugar;  but  does 
that  prove  that  it  is  less  valuable?  Our  gold 
coins  are  alloyed,  and  who  would  say  that  they 
ai'e  "open  to  greater  objections"  because  of  the 
alloy?  The  alloy  makes  them  more  valuable, 
and  makes  them  worth  more  as  coins.  May 
not  the  flavoring  material  of  honey  make  it 
more  palatable,  and  possibly  more  nutritious? 
If  so,  it  adds  to  its  value  as  food.  If  the  glucose 
sugars,  to  which  honey  belongs,  are  not  better 
than  cane  sugar,  why  is  cane  sugar  reduced  to 
glucose  sugar,  or  digested,  when  eaten,  by  all 
animals?  Nature  shows  us  that  honey  sugar 
is  a  better  food.  Bees  have  to  digest  nectar — 
which  is  cane  sugar— or  change  it  to  reducible 
sugar,  before  it  can  be  absorbed.  We  have  to 
do  the  same.  May  it  not  be,  then,  that  reduci- 
ble sugar  such  as  honey  is  more  wholesome  than 
cane  sugar,  and  that  we  are  safer  in  eating 
honey  than  in  eating  our  common  sugars?  The 
presumption  is  strongly  on  the  side  of  the  hon- 
ey, and  so  the  burden  of  proof  lies  with  those 
who  favor  cane  sugar. 

That  bees  are  not  neat  is  a  new  idea.  I  wish 
we  could  be  assured  that  all  parties  engaged  in 
manufacturing  our  food-stuffs  were  as  neat. 
Bees  do  visit  uncanny  places,  but  in  quest  of 
water  and  saline  substances,  which  are  not 
mixed  with  honey.  The  nectar  which  comes 
from  flowers,  honey-dew,  etc.,  is  clean,  espe- 
cially as  it  is  placed  in  the  honey-cells.  It  may 
not  alsvays  be  of  good  quality;  but  that  which 
is  inferior,  either  in  taste  or  color,  is  easily  dis- 


1S92 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


375 


covorod.  and  is  not  used  or  sold  as  food  by  tlu» 
bt^e-kocpcr.  I  hclitno  tliat  no  sweot — not  fv»'ii 
niaplo  syrup  from  tlu>  iu>ati'st  sngar-bnsli—has 
so  nnioh  to  nn'oniintMui  it  in  tlic  way  of  cleanli- 
ness as  doos  lioin\v.  It  is  a  new  idea,  that  the 
bees  store  with  their  lioney  the  pollen  rubbed 
otT  as  they  toneh  the  anilieis.  Surely  Dr.  K. 
needs  to  brush  upon  tlie  habits  of  bees.  It  is 
true,  that  a  very  small  portion  of  pollen  is  taken 
with  the  nectar  as  they  sip:  but  this  is  mostly 
.separated  by  the  stomach-mouth  before  the  bee 
pets  to  the  hive,  so  that  only  an  inliiiitesimal 
portion  is  stored  in  the  hive  with  the  honey; 
and  why  does  he  say,  ""  if  the  i)ollen  happens  "to 
be  poisonous"?  We  know  that  bees  aii"  very 
easily  poisoned.  How  little  ether,  cyanofjen.or 
arsenic  it  takes  to  kill  a  bee!  And  yet  the  b(^es 
live  on  pollen  in  great  part,  and  digest  it  for 
their  brood,  and  not  only  live  butthi'iveon  it. 
Pollen  is  about  as  poii^onous  as  A  No.  1  tlour. 
That  Trebizond   honey  of  Turkey— so  fatally 

Foisonous— is  getting  to  be  a  veritable^  chestnut, 
don't  believe  the  honey  anywhere  in  the  world 
is  poksonous.  The  same  story  is  told  about  our 
mountain-laurel  honey.  The  old  Trebizond 
soldiers  ate  too  much  honey,  and  were  sick,  and 
so  the  old  story  about  poisonous  honey,  which 
has  been  kept  alive  for  centuries.  A  similar 
story  was  starti'd  in  Revolutionary  days  about 
American  honey  along  the  mountains  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Virginia;  yet  who  believes  that  it 
had  any  foundation?  Some  years  ago  the 
students  of  our  college  cut  a  bee  tree.  All 
feasted  to  the  fill  on  the  luscious  clover  honey. 
About  fifty  were  not  at  cla.ss  that  afternoon. 
All  we  needed  was  the  presence  of  some  Xeno- 
phon.  ignorant  of  bees,  to  get  up  some  superb 
canard  about  the  awfully  poisonous  quality  of 
the  Michigan  white-clover  honey. 

And.  last.  Dr.  K<^llogg  has  got  on  to  the  old 
canard  about  the  bees  poisoning  their  honey  by 
spraying  it  with  the  poison  from  their  honey- 
sacs.  And  more,  the  bees  are  vindictive,  as 
they  will  add  an  overdose  of  this  poison  if  irri- 
tated, which  makes  the  honey  rank  (sic),  and 
rank  honey  is  terrible — why.  it  will  often  create 
a  rash:  and.  worst  of  all,  "These  facts  have  all 
been  determined  by  scientific  investigation." 
The  fact  is.  the  above  statements  are  veritable 
"bosh.'"  and  not  facts  at  all,  and  so  could  not  be 
determined  by  scientific  or  any  other  investiga- 
tion. I  teach  my  students  that  good  nursing  is 
altogether  more  potent  to  stay  disease  than  the 
doctor:  and  when  I  read  such  nonsense  as  the 
above,  and  that  from  a  physician  of  wide  re- 
pute. I  feel  like  advising  great  caution  before 
we  give  the  lives  of  ourselves  or  our  families 
into  the  hands  of  men  who  are  not  more  care- 
ful in  their  statements.  To  write  so  carelessly, 
and  to  roll  misstatements,  with  no  attempt  to 
prove  them,  as  a  swe(;t  morsel  under  the  tongue, 
is  certainly  a  great  faith-shaker.    A.  J.  Cook. 

Agricultural  College,  Mich. 

[And  now.  my  good  friend  Cook,  are  you  not 
coming  down  rather  heavily  on  our  fi'iend  Dr. 
Kellogg?  I  think  he  deserves  it:  and  were  I 
sure  that  you  two  could  both  shake  hands  over 
it  in  a  friendly  way  after  Dr.  Kellogg  lias  read 
the  above.  I  should  not  fee]  troubled.  The  les- 
son that  comes  to  me  is.  that  we  should  all  be 
careful:  and  especially  do  we  need  to  be  careful 
when  acting  as  critic, "and  particularly  when  we 
are  a  little  out  of  our  legitimate  field.  I  greatly 
value  Dr.  Kellogg's  family  doctor  book:  but  I 
must  confess,  that,  when  I  read  his  rasli  ci'iti- 
cisms  on  our  own  industry.  I  fell  to  wondering 
whether  he  made  his  statements  in  his  book  on 
family  medicine  in  the  same  rash,  liasty  wav. 
We  are  all  anxious  to  be  right.  We  like.  also, 
to  be  considered  authority,  at  least  on  that 
which  is  in  our  own  line  of  work;  but  if  we  ex- 


pect to  lie  authority  on  any  thing,  we  must  be 
careful.  I'erhai)s  Dr.  K(dlogg  is  a  very  fiusy 
man;  and  I  wonder  if  it  would  not  l)e  better  for 
him  if  he  were  to  attempt  less  in  older  that  he 
might  l)e  sure  he  is  right  in  what  he  does  do. 
Let  us  all  take  the  lesson  home.    See  p.  33LJ 

A.  I.  R. 


Lad/es'  Conversazione. 


FLORIDA. 


MKS.     H.\I{I{I80N    OIVK.S    SOMK    OF    HER    IMPKES- 

SION8. 

Mr.  Editor:— k^Y\\  1.3th  I  enjoyed  the  plea- 
sure of  visiting  the  apiaries  of  Alderman  v'c. 
Roberts,  tlie  largest  in  Florida,  and  excelled  in 
number  by  few  apiaries  in  the  United  .States  or 
the  world.  The  home  of  the  Aldermans  is 
unique  in  its  kind,  being  built  over  the  waters 
of  the  lake,  and  steaml)oats  come  and  go  from 
its  wharf,  which  is  like  a  front  porch;  and 
baited  hooks  are  suspended  from  it  to  catcli 
fish.  The  lower  story  is  used  as  a  warehouse 
and  ofhce,  while  there  are  very  pleasant  family 
rooms  above,  and  a  promenade  around  on  the 
outside.  From  one  of  these  promenades,  ripe 
oranges  and  blossoms  could  be  reached.  I  en- 
joyed walking  around  this  promenade,  and 
looking  far  away  over  the  waters  of  the  lakes, 
whose  surface  was  covered  with  pond-lilies, 
with  their  great  green  leaves  spread  out  upon 
the  water.  This  paradise  of  a  home,  with  its 
damp  fertile  gardens,  luxuriant  orange-groves, 
boating  and  fishing,  has  but  one  drawback;  and 
that  is,  mosquitoes  and  malaria;  and  from 
May  until  September,  those  who  are  able  to 
leave  do  so,  to  avoid  its  baneful  attacks. 

Wewahitchka.  in  the  Indian  language,  means 
the  lakes  of  the  two  eyes,  or  eye-glasses  joined 
together.  These  lakes  are  eighteen  miles  long, 
and  from,  three  to  five  miles  wide;  they  are  fa- 
miliarly known  as  the  "  Dead  Lakes."  from  the 
dead  cypress-trees  with  which  they  abound. 

As  I  was  traveling  homeward  on  board  the 
Queen  City,  ascending  the  Apalachicola  River, 
I  continually  heard  sportsmen  congratulating 
one  another  on  their  success,  and  extolling  these 
lakes  as  the  greatest  place  in  the  world  for 
sport,  and  exhibiting  their  trophies  as  proof. 
My  interest  in  them  centered  greatly  in  their 
fjeing  such  rich  pasture  for  bees,  in  their  aquatic 
vines,  shrubs,  and  trees.  They  afford  a  rich 
study  for  the  naturalist  to  delve  into  natui'e's 
secrets,  and  endeavor  to  solve  the  problem,  by 
what  great  convulsion  of  nature  were  these 
mighty  giants  of  the  forest  lowered  into  the 
waters,  which  deprived  them  of  their  green 
leaves  and  pristine  loveliness?  Now  they 
stand  as  mute  monuments  of  their  former 
greatness,  shrouded  in  clinging  vines  and  dra- 
pery of  hanging  moss. 

APIAIUES. 

In  the  region  of  these  lakes  are  2r){X)  colonies 
of  bees,  and  the  firm  of  Alderman  i<:  Roberts 
own  1300  of  them.  On  the  afternoon  of  my  ar- 
rival Mr.  Alderman  escorted  m«!  to  s(>e  one  of 
their  apiaries,  located  ou  an  island.  We  wend- 
ed our  way  by  a  path,  through  the  orange- 
groves,  which  ended  in  the  water-side,  where  a 
boat  was  in  waiting.  I  was  directed  to  take  a 
seat  toward  the.  prow,  wiiile  Mr.  Alderman  and 
the  propelling  power,  in  the  person  of  a  sturdy 
descendant  of  Ham,  occupied  the  stern.  The 
boat  pushed  out  from  the  shore  into  a  labyrinth 
of  water-lilies,  aquatic  vines  and  bushes,  while 
above  towered  those  mighty  giants  of  former 
centuries,  clothed   in   funeral  garb.     When  we 


376 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


reached  the  opposite  shore  a  beautiful  panor- 
ama opened  to  our  view — orange  -  trees,  and 
long  rows  of  gayly  painted  new  hives,  under 
sheds.  These  sheds  had  roofs  inclining  in  op- 
posite directions,  supported  by  stout  posts.  The 
hives  were  placed  in  rows  facing  outward,  and 
there  was  plenty  of  room  in  the  shade,  between 
the  backs  of  the  hives,  out  of  the  bees'  flight,  to 
perform  the  woi'k  in  the  hives.  A  very  pretty 
star,  in  variegated  colors,  adorned  the  portico 
of  each  hive,  which  presented  a  pretty  effect. 
As  the  star  guided  tlie  wise  men  to  the  Babe  of 
Bethlehem,  so  this  apiary  should  be  the  guiding 
star  to  apiarists  in  the  way  of  neatness  and 
beauty.  Every  thine  was  in  holiday  garb,  as  if 
in  readiness  for  the  Columbian  Fair. 

As  the  sun  was  setting  we  entered  the  boat  and 
bade  adieu  to  the  manager  and  his  two  interest- 
ing little  boys  by  his  side.  Mr.  Alderman  re- 
mained to  go  the  village  by  another  route,  to 
attend  prayer-meeting  at  the  Methodist  church, 
of  which  he  is  a  devoted  member,  consigning 
me  to  the  care  of  his  faithful  colored  man,  who 
had  been  with  him  for  nearly  a  score  of  years, 
and  to  whom  he  had  intrusted  his  own  family 
in  numerous  instances.  During  a  drouth,  when 
the  waters  were  low,  obstructions  had  been  re- 
moved, a  roadway  cut.  and  guide-boards  nailed 
to  the  trees,  and  pieces  of  burlap  tied  to  the 
branches,  to  keep  travelers  from  getting  lost  in 
the  dense  swamp.  In  the  gloaming,  with  no 
sound  but  the  dipping  of  the  oars,  the  faithful 
oarsman  avoided  every  obstruction,  and  eager- 
ly scanned  fortho?e  bits  of  board  and  of  burlap, 
which  were  so  valuable  to  us  in  this  our  time  of 
need:  for  without  them  we  might  have  lost  our 
way,  and  been  compelled  to  pass  the  night  in 
the  swamp.  We  reached  the  shore  in  safety, 
and  soon  entered  the  hospitable  home  of  the 
Aldermans.     More  anon.    Mrs.  L.  Harhison. 

Peoria,  III.,  April  25. 


WAX  FLOWERS. 


MBS.    AXTEIX  TE:I.I.S    HOW   TO   MAKE    THEM; 
CONCLUDED    FROM   MARCH   1. 


Peach,  apple,  or  crabapple  blossoms  are  made 
by  putting  a  small  heading  on  a  wire  looped 
down  at  one  end,  of  a  little  fringed  yellow  or 
white  wax,  or  a  bit  of  pink  or  white  ribbon 
fringed,  and  the  petals  like  those  of  the  center 
of  the  fuchsia:  or,  get  a  blossom  and  cut  the 
pattern  from  them,  i-nbbing  a  very  little  red 
paint  underneath  each  petal  to  give  the  tint  of 
the  natural  flower.  Pear  or  plum  blossoms  are 
made  almost  the  same,  only  white.  A  cluster 
of  white  pear- blossoms  is  very  pretty  in  a 
wreath.  Cherry-blossoms  are  so  small  they  are 
tedious  to  make.  Cherry,  blackberry,  straw- 
berry, and  raspberry  blossoms  may  be  cut  out 
with  the  phlox-cutter.  For  lilac,  use  a  lilac- 
cutter,  and  white  or  purple  wax. 

Phlox  are  made  by  cutting  out  the  petals 
with  a  phlox-cutter:  also  verbenas  with  a  ver- 
bena-cutter. Stick  a  pin  through  the  center  of 
the  flower,  and  draw  a  pink  stamen  through: 
then  put  a  speck  of  wax  under  the  flower  and 
stick  it  to  the  stamen  to  keep  it  from  slipping 
down.  Make  several  of  these,  stick  them  all 
together  on  a  stem,  adding  green  leaves.  Tint 
the  phlox  if  you  like,  by  rubbing  a  little  of  the 
carmine  on  the  under  side  of  each  flower. 

Snowballs  are  made  by  putting  many  of  these 
white  phlox  together  with  plenty  of  green 
leaves.  Lilies  and  long-petaled  flowers  are 
more  apt  to  droop  and  get  out  of  shape.  If  they 
are  made,  use  double  wax,  or  the  thick  wax 
used  in  making  pond-lilies. 

For  pond-lily,  use  the  double,  or  pond-lily 
wax.    The  center  is  formed  on  a  stiff  wire,  of 


green  or  brown  wax,  about  as  large  as  a  small 
peanut.  Pinch  it  smooth  and  round;  then,  with 
the  sharp-pointed  molder,  press  the  sides  into 
ridges.  Take  two  strips  of  yellow  or  orange 
wax,  an  inch  and  a  half  wide,  if  for  a  western 
pond-lily;  if  for  a  New  England  lily,  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch  wide  is  sufficient  (as  the 
western  pond-lily  is  more  than  as  large  again 
as  the  eastern).  Cut  one  strip  in  coarse  fringe, 
and  the  other  in  fine  fringe.  Lay  the  fringe  on 
the  palm  of  the  hand.  Take  the  dull  molder 
and  stroke  each  thread  of  the  fringe,  which  will 
curl  it  up  like  center  leaves.  Put  the  fine  leaves 
on  first,  then  the  coarse  fringe,  letting  it  all  curl 
toward  the  center.  Stick  on  30  or  40  pond-lily 
petals,  hollowed  a  little  so  as  to  curl  slightly 
toward  the  center,  graded  in  size  and  length 
from  small  to  twice  as  large.  Lay  a  small  fold 
on  the  point  where  joined  to  the  stem,  to  make 
the  petal  stronger. 

The  sepal,  or  covering  of  the  flower,  is  made 
very  broad  and  rounding,  three  in  number,  and 
is  thrown  nearly  back  upon  the  stem,  made  of 
dark  green  wax  lined  with  white  wax  with  a 
very  thin  cloth  between,  pressed  firmly  togeth- 
er, made  very  hollowing  with  a  large  molder  (a 
round  door-knob  will  do  for  a  molder).  Trim 
neatly,  and  press  on  tightly.  This  supports  the 
long  petals.  Add  large  green  leaves  of  several 
sizes,  or  trim  the  large  ones  so  some  will  be 
smallei',  if  but  one  leaf-mold  is  used;  also  make 
some  buds  of  white  wax,  with  calyx  just  open- 
ing. As  this  is  a  large  flower,  place  it  at  the 
bottom  of  the  wreath,  or  put  it  above  in  a  pond- 
lily  vase,  which  should  have  a  mirror  in  the 
bottom,  to  look  as  if  the  lily  were  standing  in 
water.  If  used  above,  rub  upon  each  petal 
plenty  of  arrow-root,  except  at  the  base  of  the 
petal,  which  gives  it  a  velvety  look.  Some  of 
the  center  petals  may  have  the  least  shade  of 
pink  color  mixed  with  the  arrow-root.  Do  not 
get  too  much  color,  as  a  pond-lily  should  be 
nearly  white  or  yellow. 

Patterns  from  these  are  easily  cut  from  paint- 
ings, where  the  natural  lily  can  not  be  procured; 
they  are  also  often  seen  in  the  artificial  flowers. 
After  one  has  made  a  few  flowers  it  will  be  easy 
to  make  almost  any  flower  by  having  the  nat- 
ural flower  to  model  after:  but  as  some  flowers 
are  much  easier  made,  and  retain  their  shape 
better.  I  use  mostly  those  with  short  petals,  as 
they  do  not  droop  out  of  shape  as  do  long-petal- 
ed flowers. 

The  box  for  the  back  of  the  frame  for  flowers 
should  be  three  inches  deep,  and  the  flowers 
should  be  tacked  in  so  as  to  stand  out  distinct 
from  each  other,  nearly  touching  the  glass. 
Line  the  box  with  white  printing-paper.  Let 
the  green  leaves  come  between  the  flowers  and 
the  paper  for  a  contrast,  especially  the  light 
flowers.  Tack  the  flowei's  to  the  back  of  the 
box  before  fast(Miing  it  to  the  glass  front.  Use 
broad-headed  tacks  and  a  small  hammer,  and 
a  nail-set.  Ix'ginning  at  the  top  with  the  small 
flowers  and  small  leaves,  and  work  around  as 
in  a  wreath,  but  do  not  let  the  wreath  quite 
touch  in  the  center  at  the  top. 

The  first  flowers  I  generally  use  are  fuchsias 
drooping  down  from  the  center;  then  phlox, 
verbenas,  and  other  small  flowers  and  leaves; 
at  the  sides  come  in  groups  of  roses,  and  apple 
and  peach  blossoms,  chrysanthemums,  etc., 
while  at  the  bottom  are  the  heavy  flowers,  such 
as  snowballs,  dahlias,  etc. 

In  arranging  the  flowers  in  a  wreath,  be  sure 
to  use  as  many  red  flowers  in  one  side  as  you 
do  on  the  other,  or  as  many  white  or  pink  in 
one  side  as  the  other,  and  each  side  about  as 
many  and  as  lieavy  flowers  as  we  used  in  the 
other,  to  look  symmetrical. 

A  white  cross  arranged  for  the  center  of  a 
wreath  is  beautiful.    My  wreath  has  in  its  cen- 


ISifj 


(iLKAMNCiS  IN   I5KK  CUI/niliK. 


t*>r  a  (.•liromo  of  a  little  child,  whose  eyes  follow 
any  one  wheiover  he  may  he  in  the  room.  The 
fiowei's  are  ari'ansred  in  a  wn-atli  ai'onnd  it. 

The  yellow- headed  huniltle-hees  are  vei-y 
pretty,  killed,  and  a  [)in  stueU  thioiish  them, 
and  [)iiine(i  to  a  tlowef.  Tliey  do  not  withei"  up 
as  hoiiey-hees  do.  Do  not  impale  tliem  with 
th<>  jiin  until  they  nvo  dead.  One  of  more  hnt- 
terllit>s  are  pretty  in  a  wreath  if  the  hntterlly  is 
not  too  iarse  nor  too  many  of  them.  I  kill 
them  by  lioldinjr  th(>m  by  tiie  wing  and  cutting 
across  the  abdomen.  It  costs  too  ntuch  to  buy 
many  cutters.  I  buy  only  i)hlo\.  verbena,  and 
leaf-mold  cotters,  though  cutters  foreach  Mower 
can  be  purchaseil:  but  they  would  lu^'d  to  Ix' 
made  ditTereutly  froiu  the  directions  1  hav<' 
given. 

1  think  I  liave  mentioned  all  the  tools  that 
are  needed,  as  I  ha\'e  made  several  large  wreatlis 
and  a  good  many  bouciuets.  Next  time  I  will 
tell  how  to  luake  a  wliite  cross,  and  arrange 
other  flowers  into  cross(>s  or  a  harp. 

Instead  of  purchasing  a  picture-frame  for  the 
front  of  the  wax-tlower  box  they  look  very  well 
with  only  a  large  sheet  of  glass  glued  to  the 
box:  but  I  prefer  a  nent  frame  that  fits  on 
tigiitly  aud  is  screwed  to  the  box  of  wax  flowers 
— not  put  on  to  open  and  shut  like  a  door:  that 
lets  in  too  much  dust.  When  fastened  in  I  also 
paste  over  all  cracks  thin  cloth  or  paper,  as 
flowers  will  last  a  lifetime  if  kept  from  the  dust 
and  insects,  and  from  getting  too  warm  in  win- 
ter from  a  stove.  The  natural  heat  of  summer 
will  not  melt  them  unless  stove  heat  is  also 
added,  as  I  have  a  large  wreath  I  liave  had  for 
twelve  years  or  more  in  perfect  preservation. 

Roseville,  111..  Jan.  33.    Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtell. 


FOUNDATION-FASTENEKS. 


TUE     DAISY. 


AM)    WHAT     MISS    WILSOX     THIXKS 
OF   IT. 


When  Dr.  Miller  came  home  from  Medina  he 
told  me  he  had  bought  a  Daisy  foundation-fas- 
tener, and  wanted  me  to  wait  until  it  came  be- 
fore commencing  to  work  on  the  sections.  I  did 
not  say  so  to  him.  but  I  thought.  "I  know  I 
won't  like  it  as  well  as  the  Clark."  I  don't 
know  but  I've  said  I  didn't  want  any  thing  bet- 
ter than  the  Clark.  But  Tve  changed  my  mind 
— I  do.  I  want  the  Daisy,  for  it  is  far  ahead  of 
the  Clark:  and  if  you  have  any  thing  better 
than  the  Daisy,  I  want  that.  When  I  first  tried 
the  Daisy  I  could  do  very  good  work  with  small 
starters,  but  could  not  irianage  the  large  ones. 
We  use  a  small  starter  ■'i  in.  deep  at  the  bottom 
of  the  section,  and  a  large  one  at  the  top  that  will 
almost  till  the  remaining  space.  It  was  thes(> 
large  starters  tliat  bothered  me.  Their  own 
weight  would  invariably  bring  them  out  before; 
I  could  turn  the  sectif)ns  over,  and  I  could  see 
no  way  to  avoid  it.  With  the  Chirk  I  had  plac- 
ed my  fingers  behind  the  foundation, supporting 
it  as  I  turned  the  section  over  —  a  thing  I  could 
not  do  with  the  Daisy.  But  I  kept  trying  dif- 
ferent ways.  I  had  not  worked  very  long  before 
Dr.  Miller  says  he  heard  a  very  emphatic  "I 
have  it  I"  I  had  to  give  up  altogether  the  in- 
struction to  pusliin  the  section  with  the  riiig 
fingers.  Instead  I  used  the  third  and  fourth 
fingers  of  the  left  hand  on  the  top  of  the  sec- 
tion, and  the  thumb  on  the  bottom,  to  push  the 
section  in  place,  and  with  the  tips  of  the  first 
finger  of  each  hand  pressed  thi'  foundation  in 
place  as  it  slipped  off  the  healed  plate.  Then 
letting  go  the  right  hand.  I  turned  the  section 
over  with  the  left,  still  holding  the  foundation 
in  place  with  the  tip  of  the  first  finger,  as  I 
turned  it  over,  and  it  worked  nicely. 


Mr.  I{oot,  did  you  ever  try  putting  in  large 
starters,  and  could  you  make  it  work?  You 
s(M',  you  can't  throw  sections  with  large  start- 
ers directly  from  the  fasierier  into  a  basket. 
They  must  be  set  right  side  up,  b(H'ause  the 
large  starters  will  come  out  while  warm,  as  I 
have  already  said,  tfieir  own  weight  i)ulling 
them  over.  Indeed,  I  don't  think  that  at  any 
time  it  would  be  ji  good  plan  to  thr(jw  sections 
with  large  slarteis  into  a  basket  indiscrimi- 
nately. 

Let  me  name  some  of  the  advantages  that  the 
Daisy  has  over  the  Clark.  Yon  do  not  have  to 
use  the  fet't,  iind  using  the  feet  all  day  is  very 
tiresome.  You  are  noloiiliged  to  wet  tlu!  foun- 
dation-fastener to  keep  it  from  sticking.  The 
foundiition  is  heated  as  you  put  it  in,  and  you 
are  not  obliged  to  ket^p  your  foiuidation  in  nice 
even  piles  so  as  to  have  one  edge  warmed. 
(Sometimes  those  piles  would  tip  over,  much  to 
my  annoyance,  so  perhaps  the  Daisy  saves  my 
temper.)  Cold  foundation  is  easier  picked  up 
than  warm,  because  it  doesn't  stick  together  so 
much;  and  with  the  Daisy,  cold  foundation 
works  better  than  warm.  So  you  can  have  your 
foundation  in  your  lap,  and  thus  avoid  reaching 
for  each  piece — no  small  item  in  a  day's  work. 

The  hotter  you  can  keep  the  plate,  the  Ijetter 
work  the  Daisy  does,  both  as  to  speed  and  se- 
cure fastening.  I  questioned  a  little  at  first 
whether  the  sections  would  stand  hauling  as 
w(>ll  as  they  did  when  fastened  with  the  Clark: 
but  I  do  not  think  there  will  be  any  trouble  on 
that  score,  as  they  seem  to  be  very  securely 
fastened  when  you  keep  the^  plate  hot  enough. 
In  fact,  if  properly  put  In  you  can  not  pull  the 
starter  away  from  the  wood,  as  the  foundation 
will  give  way  elsewhere.  Emma  Wilsox. 

Marengo,  111.,  April  21. 

[We  never  put  in  large  starters  for  our  trade, 
as  they  would  not  stand  shipping.  For  large 
sheets  it  may  be  necessary  to  modify  the  direc- 
tions some;  in  fact,  we  rather  imagine  that 
every  one  will  have  his  own  way  rather  than 
follow  any  prescribed  directions.  Y^es.  we  were 
certain  you'd  like  the  Daisy,  and  told  Dr.  Mil- 
ler so.] 


THE  MOUNTAIN  LAUREL. 


HOW  THE  BEES  GATHER  HONEY  FROM  IT  IX 
KENTUCKY;  THE  HONEY'  NOT  POISONOUS. 

In  the  Apr.  1.5th  number.  J.  W.  Grove  says  he 
has  a  young  man  living  with  him  who  lived  all 
his  life  in  Northeast  Teiuiessee,  saying  he  never 
saw  a  bee  on  wluit  is  called  "  mountain  laurel  " 
there,  and  believes  bees  can  not  work  on  it.  on 
account  of  the  fact  that  the  blossoms  are  too 
sticky.  Yes.  bees  do  work  on  it  here  in  West 
Vii'ginia,  on  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  There 
arc  hundreds  of  acres  here  in  these  mountains. 
There  are  two  kinds— big  anil  little  laui'cl.  The 
little  is  the  kind  the  bees  work  on  tnost.  Last 
summer  bees  worked  on  laurel  quite  sti'ong  in 
preference  to  white  clover.  True,  the  blossimis 
are  sticky,  but  bees  load  up,  I  think,  in  half  the 
time  they  do  on  white  clover.  I  never  lieard  of 
any  one  being  sick  here  from  eating  laurel  hon- 
ey, although  the  leaves  of  the  little  laurel  are 
poisonous  to  cattle  and  sheep:  but  I  hardly  i)e- 
lieve  that  laurel  honey  would  have  so  much 
poison  as  to  make  one  sick.  I  have  found  about 
40  bee-trees  since  I  came  here,  and  all  in  reach 
of  laurel.  The  honey  from  these  trees  never 
made  us  sick.  John  Slauraugh. 

Eglon.  W.  Va.,  April  29. 

[See  Prof.  Cook's  article,  page  374.] 


378 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM  A.  I.  ROOT. 


Feb.  1. — We  are  now  at  San  Jacinto,  near  the 
foot  of  the  San  Jacinto  Mountains.  Although 
the  peak  is  only  ll,r>00  feet  high,  it  is  to  me  the 
most  wonderful  and  imposing  of  any  mountain 
I  have  yet  seen  in  California.  Of  course,  it  is 
snow-capped  at  this  season,  and  the  greater 
part  of  the  season  its  summit  is  more  or  less  ob- 
scured by  clouds  and  snowstorms.  There  is 
somehow  a  wonderful  fascination  about  it  to 
me,  and  I  turn  again  and  again  and  gaze  at  the 
rocky  citadel,  reaching  away  up  among,  and 
often  over  and  above,  the  clouds.  When  the 
weather  is  clear  we  can  see  the  summit  of  "  Old 
Baldy  "  also,  although  said  summit  is  toward  a 
hundred  miles  away.  Its  top  is  so  clean  and 
white  that  Mrs.  Root  insisted  it  must  be  some 
fleecy  cloud  illumined  by  the  sun;  but  clouds 
move  and  vanish  away,  while  the  white  tops  of 
the  "eternal  hills"  are  fixed  for  ever.  At  the 
base  of  the  San  Jacinto  range  of  mountains 
there  are  innumerable  hot  and  warm  springs 
that  are  a  never-ending  wonder  to  me.  You 
may  remember  my  theory  of  accounting  for  the 
heat,  on  the  ground  that  it  is  caused  by  the 
mixing  of  waters  highly  charged  with  chemical 
salts.  Well,  here  they  have  a  great  hot  spring 
that  would  almost  run  a  mill,  and  yet  the  water 
is  pure  and  soft,  and  does  not  seem  to  contain 
any  chemical  at  all.  In  fact,  they  send  it  up 
into  an  elevated  tank  by  means  of  a  hydraulic 
ram.  so  that  it  may  cool  off  and  be  fit  for  drink- 
ing and  domestic  purposes.  Now,  although  the 
temperature  of  some  of  these  springs  runs  up  as 
high  as  160°.  no  attempt  has  yet  been  made  to 
utilize  this  vast  quantity  of  heat  for  greenhouses, 
outdoor  gardens,  incubators,  or  even  for  warm- 
ing buildings,  so  far  as  I  can  find  out.  The 
people  at  the  bath-houses  buy  wood  and  fuss 
with  stoves,  while  at  the  very  same  time  they 
are  sending  this  hot  water  in  iron  pipes  right 
past  their  doors,  to  cool  it  off!  Why  in  the 
world  they  don't  run  it  through  a  coil  of  pipes 
placed  in  the  rooms,  or  even  through  a  single 
pipe  running  around  the  room,  is  more  than  I 
see.  Of  course,  it  is  often  tuo  warm  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  day,  even  occftsiondlly  in  winter;  but 
how  much  expense  would  it  be  to  close  a  valve 
and  let  the  water  flow  outdoors  as  it  does  now? 
Oh  I  I  wish  I  had  nothing  else  to  do,  so  I  could 
come  out  here  and  start  a  queen-rearing  plant, 
using  the  hot  water  to  warm  up  the  "lamp- 
nursery,"  the  nuclei,  and  perhaps  a  few  strong 
colonies  of  bees,  so  as  to  get  lots  of  drones  to  fly 
during  these  occasional  warm  days.  While  I 
raise  the  queens,  Mrs.  Root  is  going  to  raise 
chickens,  and  have  a  verii  .smaZf  egg-farm. 

East  of  the  town.  aDout  two  miles  ana  a  half, 
isla  sanitarium  where  the  hot  water  comes  out 
of  the  sides  of  the  mountain,  up  perhaps  200  ft., 
and  in  these  hot-water  canyons  are  sunflowers 
higher  than  your  head,  in  full  bloom;  and, 
mind,  this  valley  is  a  cold  location,  where  frost 
is  common,  and  snow  comes  occasionally.  The 
green  vegetation,  all  along  the  hot  water,  clear 
down  into  the  valley,  clearly  attests  the  value 
of  the  hot  water  for  pushing  vegetation  ahead 
of  the  season.  What  a  little  paradise  this  might 
be  for  the  strawberry-grower  I  At  both  places 
we  saw  arrangements  for  washing  clothes  right 
in  the  open  air.  and  in  one  an  aged  Indian  wo- 
man was  away  off'  up  the  mountain,  alone,  do- 
ing uj)  quite  a  large  washing  in  the  Indian 
fashion.  There  is  no  sort  of  question  in  regard 
to  the  curative  properties  of  the  hot  water  of 
these  various  mineral  springs.  I  was  at  first 
inclined  to  ascribe  it  to  the  dailyibathing;  but 
instances  that  came  to.my  knowledge  inciden- 


tally furnish,  an  amount  of  evidence  too  great 
to  be  set  aside.  One  of  our  bee-men  was  almost 
at  death's  door  with  rheumatism,  and  the  wa- 
ter of  the  springs  gave  him  almost  immediate 
relief;  and  after  only  five  weeks'  treatment  he 
climbed  the  steep  rocky  mountain  with  us,  with 
comparative  ease.  San  Jacinto  and  vicinity 
seems  to  be  a  favored  locality  for  people  afifiict- 
ed  with  asthma  and  kindred  diseases.  We  met 
again  and  again  with  people  who  really  can  not 
live  in  the  Eastern  States,  who  are  compara- 
tively well  while  they  stay  here.  Some  of 
them,  after  being  cured,  have  tried  going  back 
to  their  old  homes  and  relations;  but  the  mala- 
dy soon  comes  back.  It  seems  that  certain  lo- 
calities favor  certain  symptoms  or  constitu- 
tions; and  the  problem,  therefore,  seems  to  be 
to  find  the  place  where  you  get  most  relief.  The 
result  is.  that  we  find  many  intelligent  and  cul- 
tivated people  away  back  in  the  rocky  wilder- 
ness, keeping  bees  or  raising  fruit,  simply  be- 
cause they  can  not  live  anywhere  else,  and  they 
feel  as  if  they  must  have  something  to  do.  I 
would  most  earnestly  advise  those  who  can  not 
enjoy  fair  health  where  they  are,  to  give  differ- 
ent portions  of  California  a  trial.  Don^tlnvest 
until  you  are  tolerably  sure  you  have  found  the 
place  you  want;  but.  rather,  try  the  air  and 
surroundings  for  a  few  weeks,  a  month  or  two, 
or  a  year;  and  if  by  that  time  your  affliction 
seems  to  be  giving  way.  then  make  arrange- 
ments for  a  permanent  home.  At  San  Jacinto 
the  air  is  nearly  always  dry,  and  at  certain 
points  there  is  hardly  such  a  thing  as  a  fog 
known.  These  localities  are  especially  favora- 
ble for  drying  fruit  out  in  the  sun.  and  fruit  is 
often  shipped  to  quite  a  distance,  where  it  may 
dry  secure  from  fog.  Such  locations  seem  to 
favor  asthmatic  people. 

Here  is  one  of  the  great  grain-producing  val- 
leys of  the  world;  but  it  isn't  done  at  all  as  we 
do  it  in  the  East.  And  this  brings  to  mind  the 
fact  how  little  our  agricultural  papers  of  the 
East  are  fitted  for  farming  here.  Again,  the 
farming  of  one  portion  of  CdUfoiiiid  is  so  utter- 
ly unlike  that  of  the  other,  that  the  instruction 
and  papers  for  one  would  not  do  for  another  at 
all.  More  of  this  anon.  Here  in  the  valley  of 
the  San  Jacinto  they  sow  their  grain  at  any 
time  from  October  to  February,  rarely  later 
than  Feb.  1.  It  is  mostly  put  in  at  one  opera- 
tion, with  a  machine  that  is  in  itself  a  plow, 
seed-sower,  and  harrow  combined.  Mr.  H.  I. 
Morse,  to  whom  both  myself  and  Mrs.  Root  feel 
greatly  indebted,  told  me  the  following: 

He  rented  Ki  acres  of  gi-ound  for  -SlG.tK).  With 
the  help  of  his  son  and  eight  horses  they  sowed 
it  to  grain  in  one  day.  They  never  went  on  the 
ground  any  more  until  after  the  harvesting  was 
done;  then  tiiey  picked  up  the  sacks  of  grain 
and  hauled  them  to  the  depot,  where  they  re- 
ceived the  cash  for  the  crop.  After  taking  out 
all  expenses  they  received  -?iiO  for  the  one  day's 
wo7-k  I  have  mentioned.  Now.  please  don't  im- 
agine that  every  man  and  boy  in  the  San  Jacin- 
to Valley  gets  scto  for  every  day's  work  they  do. 
The  harvester  mentioned  is  shown  on  next  page. 

The  machine  cuts  the  grain,  thrashes  it, 
cleans  it,  and  puts  it  in  bags,  all  for  10  cents  per 
bushel,  and  it  wastes  less  of  the  grain  by  shell- 
ing out  than  any  of  the  common  ways  of  cutting 
and  thrashing.  Of  course,  such  a  machine  is 
possible  only  where  it  never  rains  in  summer. 
The  gang  that  run  the  machine  furnish  every 
thing  but  sacks  and  fuel.  A  "cook-wagon"  is 
a  part  of  the  apparatus,  so  that  the  farmer  has 
no  great  lot  of  men  to  board  and  lodge.  Well, 
in  San  Jacinto  they  do  not  irrigate  for  grain 
at  all.  The  rain  that  falls  during  the  winter 
months  starts  the  grain  to  growing  and  makes 
the  crop.  I  made  a  good  deal  of  inquiry,  but 
they  seemed  to  think  it  wouldn't  pay  to  irrigate 


18<J2 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


37» 


380 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


land   for  growing  grain   at  present  prices.     I  sometimes  not  only  hundreds,  but  it  seemed  like 

thought  of  the  artesian  wells  of  South  Dakota,  a  thousand  on  a  single  hill.    I  wondered  where 

of  the  fond  hopes  of  the  farmers  there,  and  felt  the  enormous  amount  of  fertility  could  come 

a  little  blue  about  it  myself.     Well,  where  I  sit  from.    Friend   Morse  explained  it  by  showing 

writing  this  morning  they  raise  miles  and  miles  me  roots  of  the  plant  that  had  been  plowed  out, 

of  beautiful  grain  of  <ill  kinds,  and  they  (tlwaijs  almost  as  big  as  a  eommon  stove.     Late  in  the 


irrigate  it.   How  little  does  one  part  of  the  world 
know  of  what  the  other  part  are  doing! 

A  NOVEL  METHOD  OF  TAKING  HONEY. 

Mr.  R.  S.  Thomas,  of  Winchester,  gave, 
among  other  valuable  facts,  the  following: 

Not  far  away  is  a  Mr.  James  Rawson.  who 
has  several  hundred  colonies,  and  he  takes 
away  alj  the  honey  by  means  of  what  he  calls 
a  sun  extractor.  As  fast  as  the  bees  get  the  up- 
per stories  well  filled,  the  whole  contents  is 
dumped  into  the  machine;  and.  under  the  in- 
tense heat,  wax.  honey,  and  all  runs  out  and  is 
caught  in  proper  receptacles.  The  extractor  is 
12  feet  long,  and  wide  enough  to  take  common 
window-sash.  The  bottom  slopes,  like  a  trough, 
so  as  to  run  out  the  honey  and  wax.  A  false 
bottom,  covered  with  wire  cloth,  holds  the  hon- 
ey near  the  sash.  Over  the  wire  cloth  is  coarse 
burlap;  this  strains  both  honey  and  wax.  With 
this  rude  apparatus  Mr.  Rawson  took  one  year 
23  tons  of  honey  and  $?,0n  worth  of  wax.  He 
admits  he  does  not  get  as  much  honey  as  when 
the  combs  are  emptied  and  put  back;  but  he 
claims  the  value  of  the  wax.  with  the  saving  of 
labor,  makes  up  the  diffen>.nce.  The  honey  is 
made  a  shade  dai'ker,  and  usually  bring-;  a  low- 
er price:  but  wh(>n  it  is  I'un  out  pretty  quickly 
from  soft  new  combs,  the  coloi'  is  pretty  fair. 
The  honey  is  run,  while  hot.  into  square  tin 
cans,  and  ilie  whole  product  of  the  apiary  is  got 


season  this  great  root  sends  up  sprouts  that 
grow  and  bear  fruit,  as  only  a  plant  with  such 
a  root  can  grow.  "Storage  battery"  again. 
It  would  seem  that  nature  is  not  only  ahead  of 
us  in  almost  every  invention  we  make,  but  this 
orange  seems  to  be  a  veritable  storage  battery 
indeed.  It  locks  up.  as  it  were,  in  that  great, 
heavy,  clumsy  root,  that  is  a  terror  to  the  gar- 
dener and  fruit-grower,  an  amount  of  material 
for  future  use  that  enables  the  plan  t  to  make  this 
astonishing  growth.  Are  you  watching  for  the 
moral?  Why,  train  the  plant  to  grow  some- 
thing useful  or  something  good  for  food,  and 
what  a  treasure  it  would  be  I  lam  impressed 
that  the  thing  is  possible  by  seeing  some  Hong 
Kong  cabbage  in  a  Chinese  garden.  The  veget- 
able seems  to  be  a  sort  of  hybrid  or  mongrel 
somewhere  between  a  cabbage,  lettuce,  and  ed- 
ible topped  beet.  The  inside  leaves  are  crisp, 
white,  and  nice  to  eat,  even  raw. 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


JUUIBARB,   OR    PIE-PLANT. 

Of  late   I   have   been   "getting  acquainted" 

^._    _ __  .       .       ^        with   tlie  aliove  plant;  and  it  seems  to  me  that 

ready  for  the  market  with  very  littlelabor.  The    it  has  hardly  had' the  attention   that  it  should 


heat'of  the  extractor  clears  the  frames  of  every 
thing,  so  thev  are  like  new  ones,  except  a  thin 
coat  of  wax  that  looks  like  varnish.  To  save 
time,  both  of  bees  and  operator,  a  new  set  of 
frames  is  put  at  once  into  the  super,  and  the 
bees  commence  at  once  to  till  it  up  as  they  used 
to  fill  boxes  in  olden  time.  I  believe  our  friend 
proposes  to  continue  this  method  during  the 
coming  year.  Should  he  have  a  good  yield  of 
light  sage   honey,  and   his  crop  bring  a  cent  or 


have.  At  seasons  of  the  year  when  fruit  is  dif- 
ficult to  obtain,  and  high-priced,  pie-plant  is 
cei'tainly  a  boon  to  mankind.  If  you  do  not 
believe  in  pies,  have  your  wife  make  some  nice 
bread,  and  use  the  rhubarb  as  sauce  with  your 
bread  and  butter.  If  you  want  it  before  it 
comes  outdoors,  a  very  little  heat  will  do  the 
business,  as  it  is  one  of  the  easiest  plants  to 
force  or  push  that  I  know  of.  In  the  cellar 
under  our  machine-shop  is  a  drip-valve,  as  we 


two  less  per  pouiid  than  his  neighbors  who  use  call  it,  that  takes  the  condensed  water  from  the 

the  extractor,  he  may  lose  some  of  his  enthusi-  steam-engine  above  down  to  the  cellar  bottom, 

asm.     If  I  am   correct,   he  depends  mainly  on  The  water    then    runs    into  the    cellar   drain 

smoke  to  get  the   bees  out  of  the  supers;  but  through   a  small-sized    tile.    Of  course,   when 

very  likely  a  good  many  of  them  never  get  out.  just  coming  from  the  engine  the  water  is  a  lit- 

but  go  into  the  sun  extractor  with  the  wax  and  itle  warm.     Well,  one  of  our  boys  said  he  knew 

honey.  he  could   raise  pie-plant  over  this  small  tile  in 

While  visiting  W.  J.  Haslam  I  examined  sam-  the  cellar  bottom;   and,  sure  enough,  right  in 

pies  of  the  foul  brood  they  have  in  the  vicinity,  the  depth  of  winter  he  had  the  most  beautiful 

My   impression   is,  that   it  is  a  different  and  a  rose-colored  stems  of  rhubarb  I  ever  saw.  They 

milder  form  of  the  disease   than  what  we  have  were  long,  and  delicately  tinted,  because  they 

the  East.    For  instance.  I   am   assured   by  grew  in  the  dark,  and  were  about  as  delicious 


several  reliable  men  that  it  has,  in  quite  a 
number  of  cases,  disappeared  of  itself.  I  also 
found  a  hive,  prettv  fairly  filled  with  good 
healthv  brood  in  all  stages,  and  perfect  bees 
hatching  out  in    considerable  number,   where 


as  an V  thing  people  often  put  into  pies.  Over 
the  exhaust  steam  outdoors  that  I  have  told 
you  about.  I'hubarb  starts  with  wonderful  lux- 
uriance.   It  is  true,  the  frost  has  "cooked  "it 

^   ... __  once  or  twice  during  our  recent  frosty  spring; 

old  sunken  cells  were  to  be  found  at  the  outside  but  the  plant  showed  its  goot?  wiZf,  anyhow, 
edges  of  the  combs.  These  cells  when  punc-  Well,  I  have  been  wondering  what  has  been 
tured  contained  the  ropy  matter,  and  seemed  to  done  in  the  way  of  new  varieties.  In  fact,  I 
have  the  familiar  smell.  Mr.  H.  had  iieen  am  just  preparing  to  have  a  trial  ground  of 
watching  this  colonv  over  a  year,  and  it  had  rhubarb,  testing  every  thing  in  the  catalogues, 
given  a  good  yield  of  honey;  and  this  spring  lipf'ore  doing  so,  however,  I  thought  best  to 
there  were  certainly  no  diseased  cells  right  write  to  our  good  friend  Green,  of  the  Ohio 
amo7ig  the  new  brood.  This  is  a  puzzle  to  me.  Experiment  Station,  and  see  what  they  had 
May  be  some  of  the  friends  can  tell  us  more  already  done  in  that  line.  Below  is  his  reply: 
about  it. 


In  our  apiary  (when  we  had  foul 
brood),  when  it  once  got  into  a  hive  the  numlier 
of  diseased  cells  never  grev  less. 

All  over  California  we  find  a  plant  growing 
wild,  called  "  mock  orange."  It  looks  like  the 
same  thing  we  sometimes  grow  in  the  East,  just 
for  playthings  for  the  children.  Well,  I  was 
astounded  here  at  the  enormous  crops  it  bore— 


?ady 
Mr.  Rant: 


-In  reply  to  yours  of  the  29th  I  would 
.say  that  my  experience  with  rhubarto  has  been 
rather  limited.  Two  years  ago  we  sowed  the  seed 
of  four  varieties— Victoria,  Linnteus,  Carlton  Club, 
and  Eg-yptiaii  Queen.  Of  tlie  first  two  Isinds  we  got 
a  fair  stand;  but  of  the  others,  hardly  enough  for 
a  fair  test  of  their  growth  out  of  doors.  The  Vic- 
toria seems  to  be  the  strongest,  but  tlie  Linnieus 


1S<»0 


GLEANINGS  IN  HKE  CULTURE. 


381 


ROLLING    Vr  TIIK   (TinAIN   TO   A    llEl)    l.")()   FKKT   LONG. 


suriiiR  iiioiiflis,  before  rlmharb  was  giowii  in 
tli(>  open  lield,  we  received  :.'()  cts.  per  lb.  for  it; 
and.  ill  fact,  we  received  '.'(i  cts.  per  lb.  for  all  we 
could  pet  outdoors  for  perhaps  the  lirst  week. 
'I  lien  coin|)etiti()ii  sent 
the  price  down  to  1.")  and 
then  to  10  cts.:  and  to- 
day. May  !t.  it  ha.s  got 
as  low  as  (i  cts.  at  re- 
tail. My  itnpression  is, 
however,  that  it  could 
be  raised  at  a  [irofit  at 
only  one  cent  a  iiound — 
that  is,  if  enough  of  it 
could  b(»  disposed  of  to 
make  it  an  object  to  pro- 
duce it  in  quantities. 


SO.ME      SKETCHES      FROM 

OUR     FORTHCOMING 

TOMATO-ROOK. 

In  our  issue  for  March 
15  I  gave  a  description 
of  the  new  industry  at 
Crystal  Springs.  Miss.— 
raising  early  tomatoes 
for  the  northern  mar- 
kets. At  the  time,  I  told 
you  I  would  give  some 
pictures  later  on.  The 
first  picture  shows  how 
one  man  rolls  up  the 
curtain  to  a  bed  1.50  feet 
long.  It  also  shows  the 
general  plan  of  the 
cloth-covered  cold-frame 
or  hot- bed. 

The  next  shows  the 
way  in  which  two  men 
can  roll  up  the  curtain 
to  a  bed  S.'iO  feet  long. 
It  also    shows    another 


Tlie  seed  is  rather  diffi- 
cult to  s(jw.  eitlier  witli  a 
drill  or  by  liand.  In  Uutk- 
iiiji-  tlirouK'i  tlic  books  I 
find  tliese  two  varieties 
recommended  in  about  tlie 
way  I  liave  described.  In 
the  cataloRues  tliey  are 
about  tile  only  kinds  men- 
tioned. Henderson  frives 
a  lu-w  kind,  and  so  does 
Rawsori,  witli  extra  prices. 
1  wish  othei-  veg-etables 
wvrv  cut  do\yn  to  two 
kinds  that  could  hv  rec 
ommended  as  well  as 
these  in    rliubai'b. 

The  (question  you  ask  in 
tlie  last  Gleanings  lean 
not  answer,  as  we  have 
never  raised  carrots  to 
>ipeak  of .  I  tried  your  plan 
of  plant  inf?  celery  early  to 
g'et  it  to  run  to  seed."  as  we 
wanted  to  ^et  a  cros.s  be- 
tween Silver  Spray  and 
White  Plume;  but  it 
\^-ould  not  go  to  seed,  and 
all  winter- killed  durinyr 
the  past  winter,  so  we 
shall  have  to  try  afrain. 

We  have  made  quite  a 
success  with  our  niiish- 
rfioms  this  winter.  From 
ioii/cr  tlif  hnis  of  about 
half  of  one  liouse  we  have 
sold  nearly  one  hundred 
dollars'  worth.  It  beats 
any  thing-  we  have  tried 
to  raise  under  the  beds. 

E.  C.  GUEEN. 

Columbus,  O..  May  2. 
During  the  winter  and 


CLOTH   C0LD-FI;AMK,    •.'.")()   FEET   LONG 


382 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


cloth  cold-frame  in  the  distance.  The  third  shorter  in  order  to  clear  the  curtain-roller  If 
is  a  view  of  one  of  these  cold-frames  with  its  made  shorter,  however,  they  do  not  hold  the  plank 
covering  of  pine  leaves  and  straw,  to  protect  ^9  securely  from  warping:.  I  have  had  some  e.xpe- 
the  plants  from  a  severe  frost.  In  the  picture  "e°ce  m  tins  line  witli  plant-beds.  Tlie  herry- 
you  will    notice    that  the  covering  has    been    t^'t^ '^^fTx^i::^  "^^'^^^^  ^'^l 

boug-h  t  very  cheaply 
without  bottoms.  Friend 
Dny})astliem  nailed  up. 
rig-lit  on  hisg-rounds.  just 
as  they  are  used  in  the 
bed.  Now.  with  us  we 
would  drive  a  very  lively 
trade  in  pelling-  plants, 
box  and  all.  In  fact,  we 
have  quite  a  few  custom- 
ers who  would  give  a 
nickel  for  a  nice  tomato- 
plant  growing-  in  a  box. 
It  is  true,  however,  tliat 
it  requires  more  care  to 
grow  plants  in  boxes  than 
in  the  entire  level  sur- 
face of  the  ground, espe- 
cially during  a  dry  time. 
As  friend  Day  suggests, 
they  will  dry  out,  and  the 
plants  will  die;  whereas, 
if  they  stood  right  in  the 
bed  there  would  be  no 
trouble.  Wliere  a  bed  is 
filled  with  these  boxes, 
the  dirt  is  first  shoveled 
up  in  a  lieap,  down  to 
about  four  inches  in 
depth,  then  the  bottom 
is  nicely  leveled  off.  and 
the  boxes  placed  in.  tight 
togetlier.  Now  the  dirt  is 
shoveled  into  and  over 
them,  until  a  strip  of 
board  can  be  passed  over 
so  as  to  level  otf  the  dirt, 
as  you  would  sti-ike  off  a 
measure  of  grain.    Now 

ONE   OF   TIIE3CLOTH   COI-D-FEAMES,  WITH  ONE   SIDE   FIXED   FOR   \  SEVERE  ^*^*  ^'^'^  plants,  one  in  the 

FROST.  center  of  each  box. 

removed  from  one  side  of 
the  bed.  the  oth<'r  being  left 
on.  With  a  rake,  and  sort 
of  brush  or  broom  made  of 
branches  of  trees,  this  light 
covering  can  be  thrown  off 
or  brushed  off  very  quickly. 
It  is  left  on  the  ground  at 
the  foot  of  the  curtain, 
where  it  will  be  ready  for 
use  the  next  spell  of  cold 
weather.  When  a  frosty 
night  is  coming,  his  men. 
with  appropriate  forks,  will 
scatter  the  litter  over  the 
canvas  beds  very  quickly. 

The  last  of  this  series  of 
pictures  is  a  wood  engrav- 
ing. We  copy  the  descrip- 
tion from  the  tomato-book. 

It  also  gives  a  nice  idea  of 
the  way  in  which  the  cloth 
frame,  double  width,  is  con- 
structed, e.xcept  that  the  en- 
graver has  shown  the  stakes. 
that  hold  the  plank  sides,  on 
the  insick  of  the  bed  instead  of 
the  tnitsklc.  I  suggested  to 
friend  Day  that  I  thought  the 
mside  preferable.  His  objer- 
tion  was,  that  they  occupied 
room  that  might  be  used  for 
plants;  and  wiien  I  still  sug- 
gested havingthem  on  the  inside 
instead  of  the  outside,  so  that 
they  would  be  entirely  out  of 
the  way  of  the  curtains,  he 
replied  that   they  made  them  THANSPLanting  wrrii  and  without  BEKRY-BOXES. 


CI.IOANINOS  IN   HKK  (.'ri/rUUE. 


383 


MiLU  t'L—{)\\  what  wcliH-s:  li  laiiird  uiilil 
tilt' »rioiiiid  was  soaki'd,  ami  tlu^i  raiiu-il  atiaiii; 
Hiui  w  litTc  the  jrardcncr  did  iiot  just  stJr  him- 
self and  malvt'  tiiiiiLTS  tly  w  hcin'vci-  till' j^i'oiiiid 
wa^iii  pfopcr  condiiiuii.  his  crops  af<>  not  in.  1 
lliiiiU  1  tu'vcf  t'lijoycd  seeing  uiidei'diains  do 
their  w.rk  as  mik-Ii  as  1  have  in  tho  past  lew- 
days.  A  new  pieee  of  groinia  ha'i  neve:  hern 
driiinea;  but  it  was  so  mar  liie  niilrohvl  Daniv 
that  it  seemed  to  me  as  if  it  did  not  roai'v  need 
it;  bi.'.  i  I  -.lally  p;;.  in  dfaiiis  over;  %'  To..,  even 
ihoujrh  tlie  ground  was  on  a  good  slope.  And 
now  as  I  go  along  the  hank  1  see  a  stream  of 
water  issuing  from  every  outlet,  and  the  piece 
of  ground  dries  out  heauti fully,  and  no  water 
ever  stands  on  its  surface  at  all.  To  keep  the 
outk'ts  from  washing  away  I  fastened  together 
three  pieces  of  one-foot  tile  by  crowding  iheni 
into  a  galvanized  pipe  two  feet  long,  the  tiles 
projecting  (l  in.  at  each  end  of  the  tube.  Where 
the  end  sticks  otit  of  the  bank  it  is  firmly  im- 
bedded with  stones  above  and  below  the  end. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


Xo  g-oiMl  tiling- will  he  witliliold  from  them  that 
walk  uprightly.— Psalm  84:11. 

For  many  years  there  has  been  more  or  less 
discussion  in  our  little  household  in  regard  to 
the  propriety  of  Christian  people  engaging  in 
card-jilaying  and  dancing.  Kow.  please  do  not 
imagine  that  I  am  going  to  take  up  the  suljject 
and  discuss  it  right  here.  I  presume  that  almost 
every  one  of  my  readers,  especially  those  who 
are  members  of  churches,  have  gone  over  this 
matter  again  and  again,  and  very  likely  they 
are  familiar  with  the  arguments  pro  and  con. 
I  may  simply  say,  however,  that  card-playing 
and  dancing  have  never  as  yet  found  a  place  in 
our  home.  Neither  have  the  •"  Root  boys  "  or 
the  ■■  Root  girls"  taken  part  in  such  amuse- 
ments in  <)th€r  homes.  Perhaps  this  might  not 
liave  been  the  case,  however,  had  it  not  been  so 
well  understood  by  all  members  of  the  family 
that  ■■  pa  Root  ■■  was  very  decided  in  his  views 
in  regard  to  such  matters.  I  do  not  wish  here 
to  convey  the  impression  that  there  was  a  dis- 
sension in  the  family  in  regard  to  the  matter. 
In  fact,  after  some  little  discussion  with  tlie 
young  people  a  few  days  ago  I  astonished 
them  somewhat  by  telling  them  that,  after 
thinking  over  the  matter  —  yes.  and  praying 
over  it — I  had  decidexl  that  it  was  my  iluty 
to  tell  Constance  (shi^  that  used  to  b(^  call- 
ed'"  Blue  Eyes'")  that  she  was  old  enough  to 
judge  for  herself  in  such  matters,  and  that, 
from  that  time  forth,  she  should  do  as  she 
thought  best  in  regard  to  taking  part  in  such 
amusements  or  ?iof  taking  part.  I  even  prom- 
ised that,  if  she  should  have  cause  to  regret  any 
thing  in  such  line  hereafter.  I  would  be  careful 
not  to  say  even  so  much  as  "  I  told  you  so."  At 
first  there  was  quite  a  little  excitement  over  my 
decision;  but  when  my  daughter  found  that 
my  sentiments  had  not  changed — only  that  I 
began  to  recognize  that,  as  she  was  nineteen 
years  old.  and  a  member  of  the  church,  she  cer- 
lainly  ought  to  be  able  to  take  care  of  herself— 
at  least  to  tliat  extent. 

Now.  in  our  household  the  children  have 
grown  up  with  such  pleasant  relations  between 
themselves  and  their  parents  that  I  hardly  be- 
lieve any  one  of  them  who  has  attained  a 
majority  has  ever  thought  to  note  the  fact,  as 
children  sometimes  do.  by  saying  to  themselves, 
if  not  out  loud,  "  Well,  to-day  I  am  eighteen;" 
or,  *'  To-day  I  am  twenty-one,"  as  the  case  may 
be,  •'  and  therefore  I  atn  my  own  "  boss,'  and  am 
not  in  the  future  to  be  ruled  over  by  any  one." 
Well,    Constance,    after    thinking  the    matter 


(i\('r.  concluded  that,  e  ;'ii  if  she  K'ccf  eiglit(((:n, 
or  even  niuet»MMi,  for  ihat  matter,  she  did  not 
feel  any  more  likedisa  jreeing  with  her  parents, 
«>v(>n  on  a  small  matter,  than  she  did  before. 
So  the  (luestion  ri'maiiis  just  about  where  it 
was.  Perhaps  I  might  say  that  the  discussion 
lirst  started  because  of  the  fact  that,  in  our 
town,  those  who  do  not  dance  or  play  cards,  are, 
at  liMst  to  .so/iic  (extent,  ostracized  from  certain 
gatherings,  by  certain  classes  cif  society.  I  do 
not  like  that  word  '■o<traci.ved,''  howeviT.  after 
all:  but  1  do  not  think  of  any  other  that  will 
better  express  the  meaning  just  iiow.  .Some- 
times, as  a  bit  of  pleasantry,  certain  ones  have 
said,  in  discussing  parties  "or  other  gath(!rings, 
•'Oh!  1  forgot.  I'oft  do  not  go,  because  your 
folks  won't  let  you  dance  or  play  cards."  as  the 
case  may  be.  I  do  not  think  that  any  spirit 
of  malice  actuates  the  young  people  who  make 
remarks  like  that;  but  still  it  cuts  and  hurts; 
and  sometimes  the  young  people  have  felt  a 
little  restless  under  the  restraint  that  making  a 
profession  of  Christianity  seemed  to  im])ose 
upon  them.  Then,  again,  a  good  many  will 
say.  "Oh  I  but  Christians  do  dance,  and  play 
cards  too.  Why,  some  of  the  very  best  people  in 
our  town,  and  some  who  are  first  in  prayer- 
meetings  and  in  the  Endeavor  society  do  both." 
A  little  quiet  questioning,  though,'  generally 
reveals  the  fact  that  those  in  question  do  not 
dance  or  i)lay  cards  very  much,  or  not  at  all,  or 
else  there  is  some  mistake  about  their  being 
foremost  in  Christian  progress. 

After  some  talk  of  this  kind  I  reached  for  the 
family  Bible  and  opened  it.  When  I  opened  it 
I  began  to  smile;  and  when  they  wanted  to 
know  what  made  me  look  so  pleased,  I  replied, 
•'  Were  it  possible  that  I  had  had  time  to  look 
at  the  Bible  a  little  you  would  be  sure  that  I 
had  selected  the  very  passage  that  met  my  eye. 
But.  on  the  contrary.  I  did  not  select  it  at  all. 
The  Bible  opened  of  Itself,  and  the  first  words 
that  met  my  eye  were  these:  '  No  good  thing 
will  he  withhold  from  tfiem  that  ivalk  up- 
rightly.''' There  was  a  general  smiling  all 
around.  By  the  way,  is  jt  not  a  little  strange 
that  the  liible  so  many  times  opens  to  the  very 
thing  that  it  seems  you  needed?  And  wheii 
we  consider  how  many  pages  there  are  in  the 
Bible,  and  how  many  texts  and  promises  there 
are  on  each  page,  it  does  seem  strange  that, 
out  of  the  thousands,  we  should  get  just  that- 
one.  I  presume  it  were  well  for  us  to  remem- 
ber, before  we  lean  too  much  toward  something 
that  might  be  called  superstition,  that  there 
are  thousands  of  texts  in  the  P.ilile  that  hit  a 
multitude  of  grand  truths,  and  this  is  one  of 
them.  Now.  dear  reader,  do  you  believe  the 
statement  of  our  text?  Do  you  believe  that 
those  who  persistently  and  contlniuiUy  "  walk 
uprightly  "  to  the  best  of  their  ability  will,  in 
the  end.  lack  or  lose  nothing  that  is  really  good 
in  the  best  sense  of  the  word?  Sometimes  it 
costs  us  quit(>  a  little  to  persist  in  walking  up- 
rightly: and  tli(M-e  are  not  a  few  who  really 
become  '•  weai'y  in  well  doing."  They  say.  "It 
does  not  make  any  difference!  how  loiig  or  how 
hard  I  try  to  do  right.  Nobody  notices  it.  and 
I  get  no  reward  for  it.  I  might  just  as  well 
hav<!  a  good  lime  with  the  rest  as  to  be  .so  very 
particular,  and  have  everybody  call  me  puritan- 
ical." Did  you  ever  feel  that  way  ?  But  here 
is  the  Bible  promise,  and  it  says,  "  A"o  good 
thing."  I  wish  I  could  tell  you  how  many  times 
I  have  seen  this  veritied.  Why.  it  is  not  only 
true  in  the  mcjial  and"  spiritual  world,  but  it  is 
true  in  business.  I  meet  it  at  every  turn. 
Among  the  old  and  the  young  there  seems  to  be 
coming  up  this  idea  that  it  really  does  ?iot  pay 
to  be  good  or  to  be  Iionest.  Sometimes  when 
our  spiritual  advisers  or  teachers  point  out  a 
path   that  seems  to  be  above  that  of  common 


384 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


people,  we  take  a  look  at  it  and  then  say  men- 
tally, if  not  out  loud.  "  Oh.  yes  1  that  is  all  very 
fine:  but  I  tell  you  it  is  tremendously  hard  work 
to  be  so  self-sacrificing  and  to  take  so  much 
pains."  Yes,  it  Is  hard,  my  dear  friend:  don't 
we  all  know  it?  It  seems  to  me  that,  if  thf-re 
was  ever  a  person  who  found  it  hard  to  choose 
the  straight  and  narrow  path  instead  ot  the 
broad  way  that  leads  to  destruction.  I  am  that 
very  one.'  Yes,  in  one  sense  it  is  terribly  hard 
for  me  constantly  "  to  love  righteousness  and 
hate  iniquity."  Satan  once,  with  a  wave  of  his 
hand,  showed  the  Savior  the  whole  earth:  and 
he  pointed  out  the  attractions  of  the  world. 
Well,  I  think  he  has  been  doing  that  way  with 
me  all  my  life.  Although  some  Christians  may 
say  the  world  has  nothing  to  offer,  to  me  it  has 
a  tremendous  sight  to  offer— yes,  even  if  I  am 
wearing  gray  hairs  and  spectacles.  I  can  fully 
sympdthize  with  every  child  of  humanity  who 
finds  it  hard  to  turn  away  from  things  that  are 
unquestionably  not  strictly  upright.  I  think  I 
can  hear  some  of  you  say,  "  Well,  Mr.  A.  I. 
Root,  I  really  think  you  ought  to  be  ashamed 
of  yourself."  And  you  are  right.  I  am  asham- 
ed of  myself  every  day.  lam  ashamed  to  think 
I  am  sinful,  and  that  I  have  such  longings  foi' 
the  ways  of  sin.  You  may  say,  no  doubt.  '•  Why, 
the  trouble  is,  you  have  not  said— at  least  you 
have  not  as  yet  said  so  with  sufficient  vehe- 
mence, '  Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan.'  "  Well,  I 
have  said  it  hundreds  of  times,  and  I  think,  too. 
with  a  good  deal  of  vehemence.  But  after  I 
think  the  old  fellow  has  gone  for  good,  and 
never  means  to  pester  me  any  more,  back  he 
creeps  again,  and  reminds  me  that  I  am  still 
earthy  and  still  human.  Sometimes  I  try  to 
console  myself  by  thinking  that  it  is  like  Paul's 
thorn  in  the  flesh,  and  that,  may  be.  it  will 
help  me  to  have  sympathy  for  others.  But  how 
about  our  text?  Why.  after  all  my  experience 
I  am  every  day  more  and  more  thoroughly  con- 
vinced that  it  is  true— every  word  of  it.  Yes.  I 
am  so  sure  it  is  true  that  I  have  not  a  moment's 
hesitation  in  saying  to  you.  my  good  friend, 
that  every  good  thing  you  can  think  of  shall  be 
yours  if  you  will  only  hold  out  in  "•  walking  up- 
rightly." Let  me  explain:  A  young  friend  of 
mine  is  feeling  sour  and  bad  Ijecause  he  does 
not  get  better  wages.  I  have  talked  several 
times  with  him  about  it.  I  told  him  that  those 
around  him  got  better  pay  than  he  did  just  be- 
cause they  walked  more  uprightly.  He  did  not 
feel  inclined  to  accept  this  explanation— that  is, 
he  did  not  believe  that  others  were  better  than 
he. 

'•  Why,"  said  I.  "  look  here.  Were  you  at 
your  post  every  day  last  week  during  working 
hours  ?" 

He  hung  his  head  a  little,  and  admitted  that 
he  was  not. 

"  Well,  were  yon  at  work  ten  hours  every  day 
week  before  last?" 

Again  he  was  obliged  to  admit  that  he  was 
not. 

"  Well,  once  more.  Did  you  put  in  a  whole 
week,  and  were  you  at  your  machine  every  day 
when  the  whistle  blew,  the  week  before  that?" 
He  said  he  could  not  remember  so  long  ago, 
but  he  thought  quite  likely  he  was  not  on  hand 
every  day.  And  he  then  ventured  to  urge  that, 
if  he  had  a  little  more  wages  than  he  was  then 
getting,  so  as  to  make  it  more  of  an  ohjcct,  he 
might  be  on  hand  more  promptly. 

••  Why.  my  good  friend^  do  you  think  it  would 
be  wise"or  well  to  pay  a  boy  more  wages  than 
he  is  earning,  simply  because  he  pronuses  to  do 
better  after  he  has  his  pay  raised  ?" 

He  admitted   that  it  would   not,  as  a  rule,  be 
the  thing  to  do.    Then  I  concluded  with  some- 
thing like  this: 
"  Now,  look  here.    To-day  is  Monday.    If  you 


will  put  in  one  good  week,  doing  as  well  as  you 
know  how  to  do.  and  at  the  same  time  do  it 
easily,  I  will  advance  your  pay  next  Saturday 
night;  and  the  advance  will  be  in  proportion  to 
the  amount  of  improvement  you  make  over 
these  past  weeks.  And  let  us  bear  in  mind  that 
one  special  point  where  you  are  lacking  is  in 
promptness.'' 

How  do  you  suppose  it  turned  out?  Why. 
the  weather  was  nice  and  I  suppose  some  of  his 
mates  were  going  fishing.  It  was  in  the  fore 
part  of  the  month  of  May,  mind  you,  and  every 
thing  outdoors  was  attractive  and  tempting. 
So  he  went  fishing,  and  was  gone  a  day  and  a 
half,  within  48  hours  from  the  time  I  had  my 
talk  with  him.  Perhaps  there  are  other  boys 
who  read  these  papers,  who,  like  the  friend  I 
have  spoken  of.  are  very  anxious  for  a  "raise." 
They  think  they  ought  to  have  better  pay  than 
they  are  getting;  and  may  be  the  reason  they 
do  not  get  it  is  just  because  of  their  lack  of 
punctuality.  Suppose  you  work  in  a  factory. 
The  big  engine  starts  at  7  o'clock.  The  pro- 
prietors have,  at  great  expense,  provided  steam 
sufficient  to  carry  your  machine  and  ail  the 
rest  of  the  machinery.  If  you  are  not  there 
to  use  it  the  steam  is  wasted,  and  the  work  you 
do  which  they  had  counted  on  is  not  done. 
May  be  the  man  next  to  you  will  run  out  of  a 
job  because  there  is  nobody  on  hand  to  do  your 
part  of  it.  If  some  one  does  not  bring  the  boss 
of  the  room  word,  the  machine  may  stand  idle, 
or  a  new  man  must  be  hunted  up,  and  trained 
on  short  notice  to  do  your  work.  After  he  has 
got  him  trained,  suppose  you  come  along.  Why, 
in  the  neighboring  town  of  Aki'on  I  understand 
they  lock  the  doors  at  7  o'clock,  at  one  of 
their  large  factories:  and  those  who  are  not  in 
their  places  will  have  lost  their  job  unless  they 
can  make  some  satisfactory  arrangement  with 
their  boss  to  try  them  again.  In  our  establish- 
ment we  try  to  be  as  easy  on  our  workmen  as 
possible.  If  some  one  comes  to  me.  or  even  to 
the  boss  of  his  room,  and  says,  '"  Would  it  be  so 
that  I  coukl  be  spared  to-morrow,  without  put- 
ting you  to  great  inconvenience?"  he  almost 
always  gets  leave  of  absence;  then  he  can  go 
fishing,  or  where  he  chooses,  far  happier  than 
the  one  who  "lights  out"  without  giving  a 
word  or  suggestion  or  any  sort  of  hint  to  any- 
body. 

And  finally,  dear  friends,  it  occurs  to  me  that 
almost  all  the  troubU'S  we  meet  are  in  some 
manner  or  other  the  consequence  of  not  walk- 
ing uprightly.  Now,  you  need  not  ask  what 
you  are  to  understand  by  the  word  "  uprightly," 
because  we  all  know  exactly  what  it  means— 
or.  at  least,  with  sufficient  exactness  to  earn  the 
promise.  Upright  men  and  women  I  oh  what 
a  demand  there  is  for  them!  Why,  they  are 
worth  tlieir  weight  in  gold— yea.  more  than  fine 
gold;  and  the  world  has  never  yet  been  supplied. 
If  somebody  else  gets  better  pay  than  you  do, 
or  if  he  receives  attentions  that  you  do  not,  you 
can  rest  assured  that,  in  a  majority  of  the 
cases,  it  is  because  he  has  u'<tlked  more  up- 
rightly. This  walking  uprightly  is  laying  the 
foundation  stones  for  future  character.  Away 
long  years  hence,  somebody  will  want  a  good 
man  or  woman  for  a  particular  place,  and  then 
comes  the  review.  VVhat  has  been  the  record  ? 
If  the  general  verdict  seems  to  be.  "This  boy 
has  been  ui)right.  honest,  and  straight  year 
after  year,  ever  since  he  has  been  in  our  town, 
and  no  one  ever  heard  of  his  doing  an  unmanly 
thing."  why.  the  gates  to  a  great  future  swing 
out  before  him;  and  finally,  when  the  Judge  of 
all  the  earth  shall  open  that  great  record,  I  can 
imagine  the  heavenly  gates  swinging  wide  open 
as  the  angels  bid  him  welcome  with  songs  of 
praise.  "  Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful 
servant." 


IS'.fi 


(il.KANlNUS  IN   HKE  CLII/rUUK. 


385 


If  tliou  raint  in  the  day  of  adversity,  thy  strength  Is  Binal I. 
Pkov   «:I0. 


Wk  notiiv  tliat  tho  Hig  Four  are  liaving  all 
tluMii-ais  paiiitini  wit.li  ochrr.  or.  at  loast,  with 
a  tint  iiiaiit'  up  largolj-  of  oclier.  When  a  great 
railroad  corporation  recognizes  the  (iurabiiity 
of  this  paint,  bee-keepers  may  well  take  a  hint. 


Hko.  Xi:w.m.\.x.  of  the  Aiucricim  lice  .hiurnal. 
has  returned  from  his  vacation,  with  renewed 
strength  and  vigor.  Gi,K.\.\iN(iS  wishes  that 
he  may  long  he  retained  at  the  helm  of  the 
Amcrlmn  Bee  Journdl.  and  therefore  trusts 
that  he  will  husband  his  strength  as  much  as 
possible.  

CoMi'LKTK  tiles  of  the  old  Aineriran  Bee 
.TourtKil  are  getting  to  be  veiy  scarce.  They 
are  most  valuable  for  reference.  The  time  will 
come  when  they  can  not  be  obtained  at  any 
price.  It  pays  bee-keepers,  generally,  to  pre- 
serve back  numbers  of  their  journals.  A  record 
of  what  has  been  done  is  often  worth  thousands 
of  dollars.  

We  most  heartily  indorse  Prof.  Cook's  article 
on  page  360  of  the  current  issue.  John  H.  Lar- 
rabee  is  the  right  man  in  the  right  place,  and 
we  sincerely  hope  that  the  Uepartinent  at 
Washington  will  retain  him.  not  only  for  this 
year,  but  for  years  to  come.  We  doubt  whether 
a  better  mail,  all  things  considered,  could  be 
found  for  the  position,  and  we  hope  that  bee- 
keepers will  use  their  influence  in  seeing  that 
he  is  retained. 


We  are  imtjedding  wires  in  brood-frames 
right  along  now  by  electricity.  It  does  the 
work  much  faster  and  nicer  than  any  other 
method  we  have  ever  tried.  So  far  electricity 
has  imbi'dded  some  six  or  seven  hundred  frames. 
and  our  folks  wouldn't  go  back  to  the  old  way — 
well,  for  a  good  deal.  Guess  the  bees  will  like 
it  better  al.-^o.  We  are  at  present  considering  a 
cheap  battery  for  the  purpose,  so  that  all  may 
use  the  new  plan. 


consumers  direct,  and  then  ask  them  what  they 
will  pay  for  it.     

Wk  have  been  experimenting  a  little  with 
tlie  noolittle  solar  wax-extractor.  We  have 
()bser\cd  that,  while  the  wax  would  be  melted, 
and  run  down  into  the  tin  pan,  the  surface  of 
the  glass  wonhl  be  quite  cold,  from  the  inllu(!nce 
ol  the  outside  temperature.  We  then  tried 
sash  having  two  glass  in,  and  we  found  that 
the  temperature  in  two  extractors,  side  tiy  side, 
one  having  doul)le  glass  and  the  other  single, 
each  having  inside  carefully  tested  thermome- 
ters, was  ten  degrees  higher  in  favor  of  the 
doul)le-glass  sash.  We  tried  the  experiment  at 
ditl'erent  times  of  the  day,  and  the  readings 
of  the  thermometers  would  show  for  the  same 
minute  a  dillVrence  of  ten  degrees.  .1.  A.  Gi'een 
will  ix'ihaps  remember,  that,  several  years  ago, 
we  held  the  position,  in  opposition  to  him,  that 
a  single  glass  was  preferable.  Well,  now  we 
will  hack  down  completely.  Although  it  costs 
a  little  more,  we  send  out  all  our  Doolittle  wax- 
extractors  with  double  glass. 


FoK  the  past  seven  or  eight  issues  we  have 
been  giving  our  readers  eight  extra  pages,  and 
in  addition  to  this  an  extra  number  of  engrav- 
ings. Alth(jugh  this  costs  us  a  good  deal  more, 
we  chaige  no  more  for  it,  and  are  satisfied  with 
the  "sticktoitiveness"  of  our  subscribers.  Dur- 
ing the  busy  days  of  early  spring  and  summer, 
bee-keepers  do  not  have  time  to  read  much; 
and  if  they  can  get  an  idea  by  a  single  glance 
at  an  engraving,  it  will  save  them  much  time 
and  trouble,  and  add  materially  to  their  knowl- 
edge of  apicultural  doings. 


Samples  of  pure  orange-blossom  honey  have 
been  sent  us  from  Florida.  The  llavor  is  superb, 
and  reminds  one  strongly  of  a  delicious  orange, 
with  the  added  quality  of  the  rich  oily  taste  of 
honey.  If  ccmsumers  knew  more  of  its  fine 
qualities,  they  would  pay  a  big  ]irice  for  it:  in 
fact,  we  are  not  sure  but  it  would  be  regarded 
by  the  best  connoisseurs  as  the  most  exquisitely 
flavored  honey  in  the  world.  The  bee-keeper 
who  has  several  thousand  pounds  of  orange- 
1)lossom  honey,  in  flavor  equal  to  what  we  have 
sampled,  is  fortunate.  But  in  order  to  get  the 
right  price  he  ought  to  submit  samples  of  it  to 


Ix  September  last  we  introduced  to  a  rather 
weak  colony  a  Punic  queen;  but  it  was  too  late 
to  say  much  regarding  the  character  of  the 
bees  that  subsequently  hatched  out.  We  find 
this  spring  that  they  are  doing  finely.  The 
queen  is  very  prolific,  and  tlie  bees  behave  very 
much  like  Italians;  in  fact,  they  resemble  them 
in  many  respects,  except  in  the  conspicuous  ab- 
sence of  the  yellow  bands.  They  look  different 
from  the  Carniolans  and  also  from  the  common 
blacks.  We  believe  it  has  already  been  inti- 
mated that  the  Italians  and  Funics  are  de- 
scended froiu  a  common  ancestry.  The  fact 
that  their  original  homes  are  not  so  very  far 
a|jart,  and  that  they  are  alike  in  disposition 
and  general  temperament,  may  make  this  pos- 
sible. However,  we  will  not  offer  any  more 
surmises  until  we  test  the  Funics  more  fully. 
Now.  please  don't  ask  us  to  furnish  Funic 
queens.  We  can  not  rear  the  two  races  in  their 
purity  in  one  locality;  and  until  we  know  some 
other  race  more  favorably  we  shall  stick  to  the 
original  three-banded  Italians. 


GLEANINGS   AND    PATENTS. 

Henry  Ali,ey  wants  to  know  where  we  stand 
on  patents.  It  luust  be  that  our  co-laborer  in 
apicultural  journalism  has  neglected  reading 
very  carefully  of  late  the  editorial  department- 
of  Gleanings.  Whatever  may  have  been  our 
position,  we  recognize,  and  are  glad  to  encour- 
age, all  useful  patented  inventions;  but  it  makes 
us  tired  to  see  would-be  bee-keepers,  with  little 
or  no  knowledge  of  bees,  or  the  past  literature 
relating  to  them,  rushing  ahead  and  patenting 
sundry  and  worthless  articles.  We  advise  every 
one  who  contemplates  getting  out  a  patent  in 
the  line  of  apiculture,  to  consult  confidentially 
two  or  three  practical  and  well-informed  bee- 
keepers with  reference  to  the  value  of  the  in- 
vention. If  they  say  go  ahead,  then  take  out  a 
patent  if  you  can  afford  it.  Some  of  our  readers 
si'cm  t«  be  in  the  dark  witli  regard  to  the  way 
that  we  regard  patents.  We  are  at  present 
paying  a  royalty  on  two  patents,  and  expect  to 
negotiate  for  the  use  of  another  invention,  also 
patented.  Now,  then,  some  of  you  will  ask, 
"  Why  don't  you  patent  some  of  your  own  ap- 
pliances, and  thus  secure  to  yourself  the  exclu- 
sive right  to  manufacture?"  There  are  very 
few,  if  any.  of  the  devices  we  manufacture  that 
we  consider  patentable;  and,  besides,  as  bee- 
keepers have  been  generous  to  us.  we  feel  that 
we  can  afford  to  give  in  return,  and  let  others 
manufacture  if  they  so  desire.  We  still  own  no 
patents  on  supplies,  and  do  not  expect  to. 


386 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


It  begins  to  look  as  if  the  Paddock  pure-food 
bill,  now  before  Congress,  would  fail  to  become 
a  law.  It  is  being  vigorously  assailed  by  some 
of  the  papers  as  being  •'  unjust  to  inventors  and 
manufacturers."  The  National  Dairy  Associa- 
tion, the  National  Association  of  Druggists, 
and  we  niiglit  almost  include  the  National 
Association  of  Bee-keepers,  all  demand  it.  The 
opponents  of  the  bill  seem  to  recognize  that,  if 
they  could  only  make  out  that  it  is  a  partisan 
measure,  they  would  be  able  to  kill  it.  and  we 
fear  that  they  are  going  to  be  successful.  It  is 
no  more  partisan,  in  our  estimation,  than  a  bill 
to  repair  a  levee  on  the  Mississippi  River  would 
be.  Of  course,  those  who  are  engaged  in  the 
mixing  or  adulterating  business  will  oppose  it 
with  all  their  might  and  great  capital:  and, 
taking  these  two  elements  together,  it  begins 
to  look  now  as  if  the  bill  would  fail  to  pass. 


FOUL  brood;    the   CHESHIRE   VS.  THE   STARVA- 
TION  PLAN.      S.  CORNEIL'S   CRITICISMS. 

On  page  6  of  the  Canadian  Bee  Journal  for 
April  1  appears  an  article  entitled  "  Foul  Brood 
and  its  Treatment."  by  S.  Cornell.  Friend  C. 
criticises  both  our  methods  of  curing  the  dis- 
ease, and  the  conclusions  at  which  we  arrived 
after  experimenting  and  testing  the  various 
remedies.  First,  he  can  not  understand  why 
we  abandoned  and  ceased  to  recommend  the 
phenol  or  carbolic-acid  tn^atment  when  we  had 
several  times  declared  in  favor  of  it  as  an  anti- 
septic in  our  earlier  reports.  We  will  admit 
that  our  first  utterances  respecting  the  acid 
treatment  are  somewhat  at  variance  with  our 
later  statements.  This  is  easily  explainable, 
because  our  knowledge  was  progressing:  and 
what  we  first  thought  to  be  true  we  lat  -r  con- 
cluded was  incorrect.  All  first  impressions  are 
not  liable  to  be  as  accurate  as  those  received 
later.  We  first  thought  the  acid  answered  as 
a  check  to  the  further  spread  of  the  disease: 
but  later,  when  the  field  of  our  observation  and 
experimentation  had  greatly  increased,  and  our 
knowledge  of  what  others  had  done  had  been 
extended,  we  changed  our  mind.  We  haven't 
the  time  or  space  to  make  numerous  quotations, 
as  our  critic  has  done,  nor  to  go  into  the  details 
affecting  this  belief,  but  may  give  one  of  them. 
Toward  the  latter  end  of  our  experiments  with 
phenol,  and  its  effect  on  foul  brood,  it  so  hap- 
pened that  Prof.  Sargent,  of  the  Michigan  Mil- 
itary Academy  of  the  Department  of  Sciences, 
was  home  on  a  vacation.  We  explained  to  him 
the  nature  of  foul  brood,  and  added  that  it  was 
due  to  a  small  microbe,  bacillus  alvel.  Having 
at  his  disposal  a  very  tine  microscope,  and  a 
^-inch  immersion  lens,  he  readily  found  the 
hacllll  in  samples  of  affected  brood  which  we 
submitted  to  him.  To  make  a  long  story  short, 
he  prepared  "■  pure  cultures"  in  a  series  of  test- 
tubes.  Some  of  these  he  inoculated  with  bacil- 
lus alvei.  and  allowed  them  to  grow  and  multi- 
ply, which  they  did  very  readily  under  sterilized 
cotton.  Into  these  were  tiien  inti'oduced  a  solu- 
tion of  phenol,  of  the  strenglii  rccum mended  by 
Cheshire.  The  acid  had  no  t'tfoct  whatever,  as 
other  tubes  could  be  inoculated  from  the  phe- 
nolated  tubes,  and  the  microscope  revealed  in 
each  case  the  gi'owing  bacilli. 

Mr.  Cornell  may  challenge  the  correctness  of 
these  experiments  of  Prof.  Sargent:  but  as  they 
dovetailed  nicely  with  our  own  experiments  in 
the  apiary.  I  can  not  think  that  phenol  did 
much  real  good,  if  any,  with  our  bees.  If  Mr. 
Cornell  will  consult  a  recent  bulletin  by  Prof. 
Cook  he  will  see  that  the  professor  and  his 
associates  quite  independently  came  to  the  same 
conclusion  that  we  did  respecting  carbolic  acid 
or  phenol. 

Our  critic  says  we  did  not  use  the  Cheshire 


plan  exactly  as  Cheshire  recommended.  While 
we  admit  that,  we  thought  we  did  in  a  practical 
way:  but  in  view  of  the  failure  of  the  acid  to 
kill  the  bacilli  in  the  test-tubes,  and  in  view  of 
the  corroborative  testimony  of  no  less  an  au- 
thority than  Prof.  Cook,  besides  scores  of  reports 
from  practical  bee-keepers,  testifying  to  the 
failure  of  the  acid  (whose  exact  statements  we 
haven't  time  to  look  up  and  quote  verbatim), 
we  must  still  insist  that  our  faith  in  phenol  is 
still  weak.  However,  in  spite  of  all  this  we 
might  be  mistaken  in  our  conclusion;  and  hence, 
if  another  opportunity  should  present  itself  we 
would  test  the  acid  exactly  a  la  Cheshire. 

We  have  run  across  a  few  reports — yes,  a  very 
few— where  carbolic  acid  cured  foul  brood.  We 
have  also  seen  reports  where  salt  water  cured 
it,  and  a  dozen  other  simple  remedies.  In  some 
of  these  cases  we  are  sure  there  was  no  foul 
brood,  and  that  the  apparent  disease  simply 
went  away.  We  find  there  are  some  very  crude 
ideas  regarding  foul  brood  and  what  it  looks 
and  smells  like,  and  hence  supposed  cures  are 
no  cures  at  all. 

So  far  as  we  can  learn,  Mr.  Cornell  has  never 
had  any  practical  experience  with  foul  brood — 
at  least,  not  to  any  great  extent:  and,  although 
a  close  student,  and  a  correspondent  whose 
writings  we  read  with  pleasure,  we  think  that, 
if  he  would  mix  a  little  practical  experience 
with  the  disease  with  which  he  is  dealing,  he 
might  modify  his  opinion  also.  At  all  events, 
it  is  a  pretty  safe  thing  for  us  to  recommend  for 
treating  foul  brood  wiiat  w^  have  tried  and 
know  to  be  a  safe  cure,  rather  than  something 
we  are  skeptical  about,  and  we  imagine  that  D, 
A.  Jones  will  agree  with  us. 


PROF.   H.  W.  WILEY  AND  ADULTERATED   HONEY; 

IS  IT  A  CASE   OF  OFFICIAL  INCOMPETENCY 

AT  WASHINGTON  ? 

BuLi>ETiN  No.  13.  of  the  United  States  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  entitled  "  Foods  and  Food 
Adulterants,"  by  H.  W.  Wiley,  Chief  Chemist, 
has  recently  been  laid  upon  our  table.  It  re- 
lates to  the  adulteration  of  sugar,  molasses, 
honey,  and  wax.  Prof.  Wiley,  it  will  be  remem- 
bered, is  the  author  of  what  Mr.  Newman 
appropriately  calls  the  '"  Wiley  lie."  Years  ago 
he  wrote  an  article  for  the  Popular  Science 
Monthly,  stating  in  all  seriousness  that  comb 
honey  was  successfully  manufactured,  filled 
with  glucose,  and  capped  over  by  appropriate 
machinery.  The  professor  was  called  upon  to 
retract  by  bee-keepers  all  over  the  land;  and 
finally,  years  afterward,  he  admitted  that  his 
article  in  the  Popular  Science  Mnntldy  was 
only  a  "scientific  pleasantry,"  and  that  he  had 
no  idea  it  was  possible  to  manufacture  comb 
honey.  Well,  now,  in  the  bulletin  above  men- 
tioned, page  744,  the  same  chemist  says: 

•*  Many  samples  of  comb  honey  containing  only 
glucose  have  come  under  my  observation.  But 
in  all  these  cases,  the  comb,  presumably  after 
the  separation  of  the  honey  by  a  centrifugal 
machine,  was  evidently  placed  in  glassed  bot- 
tles, and  the  glucose  then  added.  I  have  never 
yet  found  a  sample  of  comb  honey  sold  in  the 
frames  which  was  artificial,  except  in  the  use  of 
comb  foundation."  Here  we  have  the  professor 
down  in  plain  black  and  white;  and  why 
couldn't  he  have  been  candid  enough  to  give 
utterance  to  a  similar  statement  years  ago  ? 

Now,  instead  of  attacking  bee-keepers  on  the 
score  of  comb  honey,  he  and  his  associates  have 
struck  out  on  a  new  line;  and  that  is,  pi'onounc- 
ing,  by  chemical  analyses,  that  nearly  all  liquid 
honey  is  adulterated. 
Pnifi^ssor  W..  it  seems,  appointed  seven  or  eight 
chemists  lo  analyze  each  some  fifty  samples  of 
honey.    These  analyses  are  all  numbered   and 


IS'.i-i 


C.LKANINCS  IN  HKE  CULTURE. 


3S7 


taliiihiii'ii.  ill  llu'ivport  lu'forc  us.  witli  the  name 
anil  a  lit!  It 'ss  of  t  lu'  (xm'sous  pultiiiir  up  t  lio  satti- 
plo.  Tlic  latilcs  tlu'Misclvcs  arc  iiol  vciy  ddi- 
iiitc  to  tlio  iiiiiid  of  tlic  aviMaiic  btH'-kt'cpcr.  bt>- 
oaus(>  only  u  (.•luMuist  can  nial<(»  out  what  they 
mean:  but  th«'n'  aro  sonio  thiusis  that  cvcMy 
out'  iMu  undcrstauil.  It  scimus  that  some  saui- 
i)lt>s  of  honey  were  ohtaiufd  frtmi  ("harli's  F. 
Sluth.a  bt'i'-ktvpcr  and  com  mission  nuMcliaut 
of  iutefirity.  and  who.  as  is  well  known,  is  cu- 
tiivly  above  the  disreputable  business  of  adul- 
teratiuc  tiouey.  As  we  stated,  all  the  samples 
are  numbered",  and  we  will  quote  a  few  of  them. 
No.  1(>4.  page  7S8.  reads: 

"  Pure  machine  -  extracted  honey,  from  the 
Italian  apiary  of  C.  F.  Mutli,  contains  fully  .50 
per  cent  of  adulterant.  The  machine  alluded 
to  in  the  label  is  doubtless  the  convtM'ter  by 
which  corn  starch  is  changed  into  glucose  in 
ButTalo  and  other  places." 

Again  we  (]uote: 

••  No.  lOii.  labeled  '  Muth's  California  Honey.' 
is  almost  pure  glucose." 

And  again: 

*■  No.  127  is  warranted  pure  honey,  put  up  by 
C.  F.  Muth  vt  Son.     It  is  nearly  half  glucose." 

And  still  again: 

"  No.  149  is  another  illustration  of  adulterated 
honey  bearing  the  label  of  C.  F.  Muth  ifc  Son;" 
and  so  on  through  the  seveial  pages  of  num- 
bered samples  fi'om  different  commission  houses, 
the  honey  is  branded  as  "' adulterated."  But 
the  strangest  thing  about  it  is.  that  some  of  the 
scamps  whom  we  feel  sure  are  adulterating, 
are  counted  as  selling  pure  goods.  C.  F.  Muth's 
name  as  a  honey  merchant  and  a  bee-keeper  is 
above  reproach.  No  man  has  done  more  than 
he  to  fight  the  adulteration  of  honey,  and  he  is 
the  very  last  one  in  the  whole  trade  who  could 
be  pravailed  upon  to  enter  the  disreputable 
business.  We  can  say  with  almost  a  certainty, 
that  every  sample  of  honey  that  goes  out  of  C. 
F.  Muth's  establishment  is  absolutely  pure — at 
least,  if  adulterated  it  was  not  done  while  in 
his  hands:  and  he  has  been  too  long  in  the  bus- 
iness to  be  fooled  w^ith  honeys  that  are  not  pure. 

To  show  you  how  thoroughly  incompetent 
Prof.  Wiley  is  in  his  methods  of  analysis,  we 
will  state  that  Charles  F.  Muth  some  time  ago 
sent  him  samples  of  pure  honey,  just  as  it  was 
taken  from  the  hive,  asking  him  to  make  a  chem- 
ical analysis.  Professor  Wiley  did  so,  and  an- 
nounced that((/i  were  adulterated.  This  alone 
is  enough  to  show  that  the  methods  \\hich  the 
chief  chemist  in  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
and  his  associates  have  adopted  are  exceedingly 
faulty.  As  Prof.  Cook  has  so  ably  shown,  hon- 
ey does  contain  natural  glucose:  and  pure 
honeys  will  show  many  if  not  all  of  the  chemical 
reactions  found  in  adulterated  goods.  In  view 
of  this.  Prof.  Wiley  and  his  associates  have 
called  down  upon  themselves  the  reproach  of 
the  whole  bee-keei)ing  world;  and  at  a  large 
expense  to  the  government  have  giv(Mi  us  a 
report  (so  far  as  it  relates  to  honey)  lilled 
with  error  and  absurdity.  Professor  Wiley 
has  once  before,  by  virtue  of  his  high  o)'tic»\ 
done  bee-keepers  an  irreparable  damage  by  his 
falsehood  in  regard  to  manufacturtid  comb  lion- 
ey;  and  then  when  cornered  he  slyly  slipped 
out  of  it  by  saying  that  it  was  a']jiec(!  of 
"scientific  pleasantry."  If  not  malicious,  as  we 
hope  he  is  not,  we  deem  him  thoroughly  incom- 
petent to  analyze  or  direct  about  analyzing 
honey. 

As  we  have  said  before,  we  do  not  deny  that 
extracted  honey  is  adulterated  to  some  extent; 
but  we  do  deny  that  nearly  all  liquid  honey 
upon  the  market  is  glucosed,  as  this  report  tries 
to  make  us  believe.  The  truth  is  bad  enough; 
but  when  it  is  turned  into  a  falsehood,  we 
"kick.'" 


IF  YOU  WANT  BEES 

Tli.il  will  Just  "roll"  ill  the  JKUny.  I  ly  Moore's 
strain  of  italian>,  the  result  of  Hi  veai-s'  cat'eful 
breediiiK.  T.  .1.  Moflilt,  Kemps  Mills,  N.  C.,  suys: 
"Tlu-y  beat  any  thiiiff  T  cvit  saw  in  the  bee  line. 
Tliey  are  certainly  '  rollintr  '  in  the  lioncy  now;  one 
oftlicm  l)cat.s  thicc  of  my  others  at  work.  I  would 
not  take  .t.^.iH)  .■i])ieco  for  the  (jueeiis.  Tlie.v  seem 
very  Mt'ii'lc."  I'rici»8:  Warranted  queens,  in  June, 
$1. (It)  each;  ;i  for  *2  .50.  Tested  queens  in  May,  *:i.00 
each;  select  tested.  $2.50.   Circulars  free.  8d 

J.  P.  MOORE,  Mortran,  Pendleton  Co.,  Ky. 
In  writini?  to  advertisers  pleane  mention  this  paper. 


FOLLOWING      LOW     PRICES  : 

Untested,  before  June  1,  U  00;  after,  75c.  Tested, 
before  June  1,  $1..50;  after  June  1,  $1.00.  Safe  arriv- 
al and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  I  breed  a  fine  flve- 
banded  strain  of  Italians.  Send  for  my  price  for 
1892,  and  get  prices  on  nuclei  and  full  colonies. 
Cheaper  than  ever  before  known.  Write  for  prices 
on  large  orders. 

OTTO  J.  E.  URBAN,  Prop., 
Thorndaue,  Texas, 

t^"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanu.gs. 

Our   dolden   ami   L,eather   Col- 
ored   Itnliitn     Queens. 
Hrecl  for  Jiiisiiies.s. 

b^tWAYSj     Tested,  in  June,  $1.25;  untested,  75c;  3 

.ON_y    for  $2.00.    Our  stock  consists  of  300  col- 

JT0£/    onies  devoted  to  bees  and  queens  for 

the  trade.    Orders  filled  by  return 

mail.  Send  for  catalog  of  supplies,  etc. 

JNO.  NEBEl.  &  SON,  High  Hill,  Wlo. 

P.  S.— A.  J.  Fields,  of  Wheaton,  Ind.,  writes:  "The 

queen   and  bees  received  of  you  last  spring  made 

147  lbs.  of  comb  honey,  and  took  first  premium  at 

three  fairs."  8tfdb 

t^"In  responding  to  tliis  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

^  FINE   ITALIAN~QUEENS  ^ 

^  PRICES  FOR  MAY.  C 

^  1  untested  queen        $1.00  ^ 

Q  3  "  "        2.50  5^ 

fii  1  tested  queen 1..50 

i£  S        "  ••      4.01)  « 

Tj  Select  Tested,  each 3.(K)  ^ 

^  Two-frame    Nucleus  with    any  queen,  ^ 

»-J  $1.50    each    e.vtra.    Safe    arriA'al  guar-  rj: 

M  anteed.            W-  J-  KI^HSON,          lOd  , 
€atcliall,  Siimter  To.,  S.  V. 

iS^iu  respondlntr  to  tJiis  u(lv(■l■Ii^elllellt  mention  Gleanings. 

The  queen  I  got  of  you  lias  mtjre  brood  than  any 
colony  I  have.  A.  Mim.Ett,  Trail,  O. 

Our  Five-Banded  Italians 

Are  the  l)ees  for  business:  gentle,  and  beauties. 
CDCC  f  The  Amateur  Bee-keeper,  .52  pages;  price 
rntt.  ;>5c;  one  given  free  each  day  to  the  one 
sending  the  most  money  for  queens.  One  warranted 
queen  in  May,  .?l.l(l;  6  for  if5..5l).  June.  $1.00  each; 
(i  for  fo.OO.  Entire  satisfaction  guaranteed.  l-24db 
S.  F.  6c  I.  TKEOO,  Swedona,  III. 
C3'"ln  responding  to  tliis  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


388 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


Beautiful!  Gentle!  Prolific!    { 

The    Five  -  Banded  Golden    Italian    Bees.  I 

Send  .5c  for  sample  of  bees  and  be  t'on\inced.  P 
Catalogue  free.  One  queen,  June  or  July,  $1.00;  P 
six,  $.5.00.  ? 

J.  F.  MICHAEL.  I 

8-13db      GERMAN.  DARKE  CO.,  OHlO.> 

.   ■  ...  n_spoiiijiiig  i^>  Uii:s  aclverti.-^einunt  nientu>ii  <ii,>:AM.\(is. 

DR.  J.  W.  CRENSHAW, 

Versailles,      -      Kentucky, 

Offers  for  Sale- 

Untested  Italian  Queens  at  $1.00  each  tlu-oug-h  May 
and  June;  after,  75c  each.    Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed.   Queens  raised  only   from  Imported 
mother.    Drones  only  from  selected 
and  tested  mothers. 
Also  CELERY  PLANTS  from  July  f )  September,  at 

$3.00  per  M.  7-18db 

0*ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Oleanings. 

Good  Queens  Cheap. 

300  tested  Italian  queens,  raised  last  season,  for 
sale'at$l;  $10  per  doz.  A  few  hybrids  at  25c  each. 
They  will  be  shipped  about  June  15th  to  2,5th,  or 
later  if  desired.  Have  order  booked  now  and  send 
money  when  you  want  them.  My  bees  have  been 
HRED  FitR  ItVSlNUSS,  and  these  are  bar- 
gains.   Nuclei  and  full  colonies  at  very  low  rates. 

J.  A..  (3:ii.'EE^'^,  DaT-boza.,  ZU. 

Srin  respondinir  to  tliis  ailvei  tiseinent  mention  GLEANINOa. 

WHY,  YES,  EVERYBODY  KNOWS 

that  it  pays  to  purchase 
their  Honey-Comb  Foun- 
dation at  C.  W.  PHELPS 
&  CO.  S  Wholesale  and  Re- 
tail Foundation  Factory. 
They  sell  heavy  for  Brood, 
4.5e.;  thin  for  Comb  Honey. 
5.5c.  They  deol  in  all  kinds 
of  A  piarian  supplies.  Their 
customers  are  always 
pleased,  for  their  work  is 
good  and  prices  reasona- 
ble. Send  for  free  sam- 
ples Foundation  and  price-list  of  Bee  supplies, 
i^ddress  C.  W.  Phelps  &Co.,  74  Pettit  street, 
Binghamton.  N.  Y. 

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  &  KEITH, 
Utfdb  New  London,  Wis. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

J.  C.   SAYLES, 

HARTFORD,  WIS., 

manuf=actures  apiarian  supplies  of  every 

Description.     Catalogue  Free  to 

All.    Send  Your  Address. 

Stfdb  Please  mention  this  paper. 

Bee-Keepers'  Supplies. 

Hives.  Honey -Cases,  Sections,  and  Frames. 
We  are  the  only  concern  in  Southern  Califor- 
nia who  make  a 

SPECIALTY  OF  BEE-KEEPEKS'  MATEEIAI. 

Agents  for  the  white  basswood  1-1  b.  sections. 
Send  for  catalogue  and  price  list. 
6-13db  Oceanside  Mill  Co.,  Oceanside,  Cal. 

^7*In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings 


CONTROL  YOUR  SWARMS! 

N.  D.  WEST'S    SPIRAL    WIRE    QUEEN      CELL     PRO 
TECTORS    AND    CAGES. 

N.  D.  West's  Spiral  Wire  pat 
Queen-Cell  Protectors  will  o^^ 
do  it,  and  you  can  RE- 
QUEEN  your  apiary  during' 
the  swarming  season.  Pro- 
nounced the  Best  by  such 
men  as  Capt.  J.  E.  Heth- 
ERiNGTON.  Cherry  Valley, 
N.Y.;  P.  H.  Elwood,  Stark- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  and  others. 
Cell- Protectors,  $3.C0  per 
100,  or  12  for  60c,  by  mail.  Cages.  $5.00  per  100,  or  12 
for  $1.00,  by  mail.  Samples  of  both,  with  circular 
explaining,  25  cts.  The  cages  are  used  for  hatching 
queens  in  any  hive,  and  are  the  Best  Bee-Escape  in 
use.    Address  8-910d 

N.  D.  WEST,  Middleburgh,  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

Bees    For    Sa.le. 

COLONIES. 

NUCLEI, 
AND         QUEENS. 

at  living  rates.    Send  for 
circular  and  price  list  to 

C.  C.  VAUGHN  &  CO., 
Columbia,  Tenn. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.    5-lOdb 

Honey  ^  E:kti^aGtoi^. 

Squafe  Glass  }4oney-Jai»s, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee«hives. 
Honey-Seetions,  &e.,  &c. 

Peffeetion  Cold-Blast  Stnokefs. 
APPLY  TO  -^.^^^-wv^^^^^^x^^ 

CHAS.  F,  IWUTH  &  SON,  Cineinnatl,  O. 


Send  10-ct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers.' 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


PRICE  LIST  OF  BEE-HIVES. 


8-fr'me. 

lO-f'me. 

8-frme. 

10-f'me. 

l>^-st'y. 

VA-sfy. 

3  st'y. 

3-st'y. 

In  lots  of     5  . . . . 

73c 

83c 

87c 

97c 

In  lots  of    10  .... 

69 

79 

34 

94 

In  lots  of   35  .... 

6.) 

70 

75 

85 

In  lots  of    .50  . .  . 

6K 

68 

73 

83 

In  lots  of  loo  . . . 

57 

67 

70 

80 

The  reason  we  can  sell  so  cheap  is  that  lumber  is 
cheaper  in  Minnesota  than  any  other  State  in  the 
U.  S.  The  above  prices  are  for  Dovetailed,  Simplicity, 
and  tliree  otlier  styles.    Send  for  catalogue. 

F.  €.  EKKEli,  lieSueur,  ITIlnu. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

Engine  and  Boiler  For  Sale. 

A  si.x-horse  upright  engine  and  a  ten-horse  hori- 
zontal steel  boiler.  They  are  both  complete  and  In 
tine  condition;  have  been  used  only  about  six 
months.  Boiler  arched  in.  Both  are  W.  B.  Dunn- 
ing's  make,  Geneva.  N.  Y. 

Also  an  IH-incli  Feed-Mill,  French  buhr,  of  A.  W. 
Stevens'  make.  Auburn,  N.  Y.  Sheller.  Elevator, 
Shafting,  Belting,  Pulleys,  and  a  fine  lot  of  Simonds 
saws,  cut-off  and  rip,  from  5  inch  up  to  18.  Two 
Vandervort  Foundation  Mills,  6  and  13  inch,  steam 
melting-appaiatus,  etc.  The  whole  outfit  is  nearly 
new,  and  in  fine  ct)ndition.  Will  be  sold  at  a  bar- 
gain.   Write  for  particulars. 

O.  U^.  BALEY  &  SON, 

9tfdb  Ovid,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  If. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


1892 


(;i>KANlN(;s  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


389 


HUBBARD  BEE  HIVE  \ 

SECTION    PRESS. 


If  ymi  want  to  hnniilo  lues  easy  liy 
sitting:;  (Idwii  to  it.  liero  is  tlie  liive.  Iniiiu"s 
fixed  mill  vniint>li' (lisliiiii'e  coiiihiiifd  Nn 
wreiK'liing  nr  prying  or  scnipiiig  of  combs 
togt'tluT.  Many  tlioiisaiid.s  lu  use.  giving 
excflleiu  salisfiiction. 

Live  Agents  make  SDlenflid  Profits. 

l.ar^;i.'  Circuiar  of  'Jn  |)ai,'es  free. 
Iliis  SI'X'TION  I'UKSS  (Put'd  is  sold 
at  S3.50  by  tlu'  loadiriK  .supply  dealers  , 
A.'-k  iluni  lor  ii  or  send  lo  me  A  bov  i 
can  put  together  8u0  to  1000  .sections' 
an  hour  and  Imve  them  true,  liend  see 
tioii  around,  put  in  press  give  .i  little  push 
— 'IKS  done  Will  last  a  lil'e-time  and  is 
bound  to  please  yoti 

Send  for  my  Circular  about  Hive.  Press  Foundation  Kasteiier  Sections.  Foundation.  Italian  Queens,  Extractors, 
Veils.  Honey  Crates  and  f'ases.  fi-u  i'kc.  It  will  interest  you.  Or  send  15  cents  lorFraetical  Book  for  Hegiuiiera— 
*'  First  Principle.*  in  fJee  Culture."    11th  thousand  jilst  issued. 

G.  K.  HUBBARD,  277  Harrison  St.,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 

3-lOdb  I3?"ln  responding;  to  tliis  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


BEES 


350    COLOTOES    OF   BEES. 

1,000,000  Sections.  HIVES, 
Smokers,  Qubens.  etc.  Send  for 
price  list  to  E.  T.  FLANAGAN 
Box  783.  BeUeviU*.  Illinois. 


Q(TT-r\T)T  TT^QI  Lan^stroth  Bee-hives,  and 
M  I  II  I  J  I  iii)  every  thing-  needed  in  the 
^-  *-  ^  ^  '  -^  *^  "^  ^*  bee  3'ard ;  SiVpag-e  catalogue 
■^■^l^i^Hli^H  free.    "  BUSY  BEES,"  a 

book  telling  huw  to  manage  tliem,  10  cents  in 
stamps.  WALTER  S.  POUDER,       5-13db 

17S  E.  Walnut  St.,  Indianapous,  Ind. 

$iM         READY  TO  MAIL.  $m 

My  Golden  Italians  are  "Hustlers."  Untested,  six 
for  M.50;  dozen,  $s.OO.  Tested,  $1.50;  three  for  $4.00. 
Select  for  breeders,  $2.00;  very  clioice,  $3.00.  Safe 
arrival  and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  Make  P.  O. 
payable  at  Davtona,  Fla. 
JOHN  B.  CASE.  Port  Orange,  \o\.  Co.,  Fla. 

\         ..  .u.-iKjiiding  to  this  advertisement  mtiiti..M  uika.mnc;. 

Down  Go  the  Prices ! 

Must  Be  Sold ! 

100,000  No.  1  One-Piece  Sections  at  $3.00  per  M. 
In  5000  Lots,        -        -        -        -        $2.80  per  M. 

Fifty  (ninnies  of  It.'Ulan  Bees;  1  Colony.  $6.0(1; 
a  Colonies,  $."i.00  each.  Tested  Italian  Queens  in  May, 
$1.50  each.  Untested,  $l.i  0  each.  Hybrids,  75c  each. 
Comb  Foundation  and  a  full  line  uf  Ai>iaiian  Sup- 
plies.   Twenty-page  [Jrice  list  fice. 

J.  M.  KINZIE, 

9-12db  RocIieNter,  Oakland  Co.,  ITIicli. 

twin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

^TT^JTC!  1  JNTESTED  QUEENS  from  the 
*^  ^^  "^  ™^^^  original  and  only  imported 


nch. 


stocks  in  tlie  country;  fiiHi 
Pratt's  swariner.  by  mail,  BUc;  2 
for  $1.00.        li.  I..  PR.ITT. 
9-12db  Beverly,  JIauB. 

Plea-xe  mention  this  pajH-r. 

BEES    FOR    SALE. 

25  Colonies  ItaliaiiM,  lUO  <.'olonieM  Hybrlditi 
and  Blaekfi. 

All  on   Simplicity  frames.    Slate  what  you  want 
and  write  for  prices  to 

CiHa.  Jl.  HIT^T(J:S,  Fremont,  Miah. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

OAVE  MONEY — Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
**  ta,  Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.  Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 


Great  Crash  in  Prices ! 

From   10  to  25  ';' 

discount     from 

former  prices.  My 

40-page  Ciitalogu'e 

for  1893  gives  rea- 
sons.    I    offer    a 

new  -  style     chaff' 

hive    at    one-lialf 

the  cost  of  otlier 

styles,  and  just  as 

good.     This     hive, 

can  be  taken  apart 

almost    Instantly, 

and  packed  up 
in  small  space. 
It  can  be  used 
on  any  hive  (see 
cut).  Don't  fail 
to   get    my  3Sd 

annual  price  list.    I  mean  business,  and  am  bound 

to  sell  as  good  as  the  best,  and  at  equally  low  prices. 
Address  WM.  W.  GARY, 

6tfdb  CoLERAiNE,  Mass. 

Please  mentiun  this  paper. 


VIOLIN  S 


GUITARS 

MANDOLINS 


Murray  &.H  El  5S.'":" 


Frl£. 


twin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


PERSONS    LUAflTIflG 

APIARlflri    SUPPLiIES 

Would  do  well  to  send  to  W.  E.  Clark,  Oiiskany, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.    Send  for  illustrated  price 
list.    Dealers  should  send  for  Deal- 
ers' list  for  Smokers.  6-12db 
t^In  respondinsT  to  this  advertisement  mention  Qleanings. 

Called  "The  Chicken  Busi- 
ness, and  How  to  Make  it 
Pay."  Tells  all  about  it. 
Finely  illustrated,  practical,  and  origi- 
nal. Price  50  cents,  postpaid.  An  il- 
lustrated circular  f  I'ce,  giving  particu- 
lars about  the  book,  ami  prices  of  pure-bred  fowl.s 
and  eggs  for  sale  by  the  author.  4tfdb 

H.  B.  CEER.  Nashville,  Tenn. 

( "'"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  CiLEANiNGS. 


/\  POULTRY 

BOo"k 


BEE.HiVES  AND  SUPPLIES. 

Send  for  catalogue  free.  Address 
SA.^IIEL  JONES.  Highland  Park 
College,  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  9-lOd 


390 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


ELEVEN  YEARS 

WITHOUT  A 
PARALLEL,  AND 

THE  STAND- 
ARD   IN    EVERY 
CIVILIZED 
COUNTRY. 

Bingham  &.  Hetherington 

Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 

standard   Size. 

Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 

Six  Sizes  and  Prices. 

Doctor  Smoker,      3>i  in.,  postpaid  ...  ffS.uO 
Conqueror    "  3       "  "  .    1.75 

Largre  "  24    "  "        ...   1..50 

E.xtra  (wide  shield)  2       "  "        ...    l.'ib 

Plain  (narrow    "    )2       "  "        ...   100 

Little  Wonder,         IX    "  "  ..      65 

Uncapping  Knife 115 

Sent  promptly  on  receipt  of   price.    To 
sell  again,  send  for  dozen  and  half-dozen  rates. 


Milledge\  ilie.  111.,  March  8,  1S90. 
Sirs:— Smoliers  received  to-day,  and  count  cor 
rectly.    Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  1  do 
your  trade  wiU  boom.  Truly,       F.  A.  Snell. 

Vermillion,  S.  Dak.,  Feb.  17, 1890. 
Sirs  : — I  consider  your  smokers  the  best  made  for 
any  purpose.    I  have  had  16  years'  experience  with 
300  or  400  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak. 
Very  truly^ R.  A.  Morgan. 

Sarahsville.  Ohio,  March  12.1890. 
Sirs: — The  smoker  I  have  has  done  good  service 
since  1883.       Yours  truly,       Daniel  Brothers. 

Send  for  descriptive  circular  and  testimonials  to 

7tfdb  BmoEAM  Sc  HsTHEBmaioi^,  Abronia,  Mich. 

f3?*ln  respondinff  to  thl.s  advertisement  mention  Gi.EA.viNfis^ 


ITU  gOEEHS  FOB  W 

The  finest  honey-gatherers  in    the    land.  , 

.50  each.  Select  tested,  $2.00  each.  Unteste  .  i.OO 
each,  or  $9.00  per  doz.  Queens  ready  to  ship  by  April 
first.  I  guarantee  safe  arrival  and  satisfaction,  by 
mail.  Orders  booked  now  and  pay  wlien  you  want 
queens.  J.  "W.  TAYLOB, 

4tfdb  Ozan,  Ark. 

t^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkanings. 

p^BERRY 

"'fifcSiATESand 

m   iJASKKTS. 

~  Inilorsed  by  all 

fleadine  borry 

growers  as  The 

BEST.  Also  (.jft 

i  Packages,  Grape," 

I'eacta  ana  otaer  ttaskets.    Prices  low.    Illus.  Catalogue  Free. 

DISBROW  MFC.CO.,ROCHESTER,N.Y, 

"III  resixiiiairiK  to  tliis  adveitiseiiient  mention  (;lk.a.sim:s. 

SECTIONS. 

Snow-wliite  Sections, 

Cream  Sections, 

No.  2  Sections. 

Finest  goods  made. 

We  liave  a  large  stock  on  hand, 

and  can  fill  small  and  large 

orders  promptly. 

a.  B.  I^EWIS  CO., 

'Waierto-n-n,  Wis. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

ITALIAN     QUEENS. 

Untested,  85  cents.  Tested,  $1.35.  Special  terms 
for  large  orders. 

H.  FITZ  HART, 
6tfdb  Avery,  Iberia  Parisli,  lia. 

tyPlease  mention  Gleanings. 


Dovetailed  Hives,  Simplicity  Hives, 

SECTIONS,  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'    SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGB    CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


twin  respoTiflinir  ti>  tliis 


CIPRAf  YOUR  FRUIT  TREES  i  VINES 

Wnrmy  Fruit  and  Leaf  BJightof  Apples,  Pears,  Cherries,  CVppl  CinR  8PRAYINO 


OUTFITS. 


Gr  ipe  and  Potato  Rot,  Plum  Curculia  prevented  by  using 

PERFECT  FRUIT  ALWAYS  SELLS  AT  COO  D"P  RICES.  Catalogue  show" 
ing  all  injurious  insects  to  Fruits  mailed  free.  Tjiirui"  stork  of  Fruit  Tre«-!<,  Vinesj 
and  Berry  L'lauts  at  Bottom  Prices.      Address  WiU.  STAllli,  Quiucx,  Ills. 

*'"hi  resij.Mi.i.    ^  I     .    1.^  .iilv.i iif^enient  mention  GLKaMUJQS. 


ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

BCdr    u\    JVlind  that  vre  have  established  at  Syracuse  an  E3StCrn    DrBllCh 


where  our  Bee-keepers' Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and   prompt  shipment.    You  can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.    We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.    He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.  SALISBURY,   Agent,   Syracuse,   N.  Y. 


IS'.fJ 


(il.KANlNGS  IN  HEE  CUI/rURK. 


301 


I  am  Pushing  Ahead! 

Ami  am  so  far  in  the  U-ati  iliat  1  olialleiijiro 
any  one  to  sliow  up  superior  l)eos  to  my  bust 

Five-Banded  Golden  Italians. 

l,arg-o.  iK'aiitiful,  jrt-ntif,  iiiul  jrood  liont-y- 
jratlicrtTs;  tlio  rt'sults  of  ID  yoai-s' careful 
lireedinjr.  Try  tliem.  Snlisfaction  RUiirari- 
ti-oil.  Queens"  in  May,  Jl.i5  eacii;  6  for  *6. 
After  June  1.  $1  eaeli;  6  for  $5.  For  full  piir- 
tirulMi-s.  send  for  deserii>tiy(>  circular. 

CHAS.  D.  DUYALL,  Spencerville,  Md.      ,tfdi, 

t?'"lii  iv.-iKiiidim.'  til  tlii>  u.i\i-iu>«-iiitiii   111.  I I  •'! 

Foreipn  and  domestic.     Crude  and  refined. 

A  stock  constantly  on  liand. 

Write  for  prices,  stating  quantity  wanted. 

ECKERMANN  Sl  WILL,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 


f^rin  rt's^Hjiulinj;  to  tlil.-s  advertisement 


itlon  Ri,K\NiNf;s 


FKSBI 


My  new  price  list  of  Pure  Ital- 
lau  BepN.  White  Mild  Browii 
lieiirliorii  ('lil<-keu»>,  While  and  Bro^vii  Fer- 
relM,  and  S<-olfh  <'olliePiipn.    Address 

JV.  A.  KNAPP,  Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 

Htfdb 

CAA  Colonies  of  Bees  Devot- 
^W  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  for  prices  on  largre  quantities. 

TWO    MILLION      SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS. 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 

Send   for  our   24-Page    Catalogue    of  Dovetailed 

Hives.  Smokers,  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  MT'Gr  CO.,  Higginsville,  Missouri. 

Please  mention  tliis  paper.  Stfdb 

SECTldlfS. 

ii;2.5U  tu  .^3. .50  per  Jl.     Kee-Hives  and  Fix 
tur«M  «  heap.  NOVELTY    CO., 

6tfdb  Rock  Falls,  Illinois. 

tSrin  resiKindinjr  to  thisariveiti      iieul  iiieiili.m  Olkanings. 


One-Piece  Sections  Our  Specialty. 

I  I'lialleiiKe  comparison  of  mj-  goods  Willi  tliosoof 
any  other  make  on  the  market.  If,  upon  fair  trial, 
tlieyare  not  found  suj)erior  to,  and  cheaper  than, 
any  makes  of  s«>-ealled  snow-white,  premium,  sand- 
papered, etc., sections,  the  goods  will  cost  you  noth- 
itig,  and  you  are  invilcil  to  publish  me  as  a  fraud. 

lean  till  orders  i)romptlyfor  any  width  at  $2.75 
jier  M.;or  $3.50  per  M.  in  .50(10  lots  at  factory  at 
Wauzeka,  Wis.  Other  supplies  shipped  from  Capac, 
or  Evart,  Mich.  Sections  from  these  points  25  cts 
extra  per  M. 

8tfdb  Address        B.  WALKER,  Capac,  Mich. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

OATMAN'S    SOLDERING    AND    REPAIR    KIT 


Consists  of  fire  pot,  two  (•oi)per  soldering  irons,  b.ar  of  solder, 
soldering  tliiid  and  brush,  all-steel  ser-ipiT.  hammer,  scratt'h- 
awl.and  jilyers.as  shown  in  the  cut.  Any  one  purchasing  this 
otitftt  will  get  full  directions,  which  will  enable  him  to  repair 
tin.  copper,  brass,  metals,  and  iron;  also  how  to  keep  the  sol- 
deiing-irons  in  order.  Whole  kit.  boxed,  12  lbs.  Shipped  on 
receipt  of  $2.00.    Agents  wanted.     Reference,  .4.  I.  Root. 

O.  &  U.  OATMAN,  Medina,  Ohio. 

Mention  this  paper. 

rOR   SALE. 

50  colonies  of   Italian   bees  in  A.  I.  Root's  8- frame 

Dovetailed  and  Langstroth's  10-frame  hives,  at  five 

dollars  per  colony.  A  liberal  di.scount  for  more  than 

one  colony.    Safe  delivery  guaranteed.  8-lldb 

JOHN  GKANT,  Batavla,  Ohio. 

MARTIN'S  PROLIFIC  BUCKWHEAT. 

Same  kind  as  advertised  last  year  in  Gleanings. 
On  my  sandy  soil  it  yields  double  the  quantity  per 
acre  as  Japanese.  Gives  excellent  satisfaction. 
$1.00  per  bu.,  cash,  on  board  cars  here,  sacks  includ- 
ed. WM.  lUAKTIN, 
8-lldb                Highland,  Oaliland  Co.,  Mich. 


A  Grand  Success. 


Mew  Cowan  Reversible 

Honey-Extractor. 


Head   wliat    Frank   McNay   and  .T.   F.  Mclntyre  say  of  it 
in  this  issue. 

Strong,  well  made  in  every  respect,  light,  and  of  conven- 
ient size.  The  can  is  but  little  larger  than  that  of  the 
Novice.  The  gear  is  beveled,  and  covered  by  an  iron  shield 
as  shown  in  the  cut.  Though  not  automatic,  the  two 
baskets  can  be  operated  about  as  rapidly. 

Price  all  complete,  japanned  and  lettered,  for  L.  frame, 
$12.00. 


A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio. 


393 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


PT71TIC   QUEEITS 

FEOM  IMPORTED  MOTHERS.  Eacli,  S2.00.  This  is  :i  fine 
race  of  laees,  and  will  give  better  results  tluin  any 
other  race  or  strain.    Ready  to  mail  May  2.5. 

HENU  V  A1.L.KY,  AVeiiliani,  inass. 

FOB  SALE.— 100  acres  of  land,  60  in  cultivation, 
the  rest  timber;  log  house,  good  well,  barn, 
corn-crib,  and  otlier  buildings;  900  apple-trees,  100 
peach-trees;  cherry, plums,  grapes,  and  othersmall 
fruit,  which  is  4  years  old;  and  a  good  location  for 
Ijees.  Inquire  for  particulars.  Price  $1,500. 
lOd       J.  HULiSE,  Waco,  Cleburne  Co.,  Ark. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 

Notices  will  be  inserted  under  this  head  at  one  half  our  usu- 
al rates.  All  adverti.senients  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  five  lines  will  cost  you  according  to  our  regular 
lates.  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. 
Fot-  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.— To  trade  a  large  lot  of  Heddon  hives, 
nicely  made  and  good  as  new;  some  with  combs 
complete  for  honey,  now  or  after  crop  of  '92.  Write 
for  particulars.    Address  D.  S.  Hall, 

2tfdb  "*'  ■  South  Cabot,  Vt. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  brood-foundation,  at  40c 
per  lb.,  or  light  for  the  boxes  at  50c  per  lb.,  for 
wax  at  3i)c  per  lb.  B.  Chase, 

Ttfdb  Earlville,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. 

WANTED.— To  exchange    choice    Carniolan  and 
Italian  queens  for  supplies.  8-9d 

r.  A.XocKHART  &  Co.,  Lake  George,  N.  Y. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  for  bees,  1000  brood  and 
extracted  combs,  6  and  10  inch   foundation- 
mills,  dipping-board,  etc.,  shotgun  and  Safety  bicy- 
cle, write  to  me.  B.  W.  Hopper, 
(t-lUd                                     Box  224,  Garden  City,  Kan. 

n/ ANTED.— To  exchange  for  any  tiling  useful  on 
Vt  the  farm,  Canary  birds,  fine  singers,  raised 
from  imported  stock.  B.  Geissler, 

9-lOd  «       Basco,  Hancock  Co.,  111. 


TO  exchange.— Bee-hives  for  beeswax.  9-12db 

-     -  Wm.  Iden,  Etna  Green,  Ind. 

WANTED.— A  man  to  care  for  stock,  bees,  and 
fruit-trees,  on  shares,  in  the  Indian  Territory. 
For  f iirther  Infbrhiation  dpply  to 
10-ll-12d  Mr.  L.  C.  Axtell,  Roseville.  111. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  pure  Italian  queens,  3  or 
5  banded.    Write  what  you  have  to  exchange. 
F.  C.  Morrow,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 

TO  exchange.— For  wax  or  cash,  Standard  L.  or 
Heddbn  N.'H.  combs,  at  5c  each.    Combs  all 
worker,  and  in  good  order.       H.  D.  Burrell, 
lOd  Bangor,  Mich. 

\1T ANTED.— To  exchange  one  Joliet  Safety  bicycle, 
Vt  high  grade,  latest  pattern,  ball  bearings,  dia- 
mond fi'arae,  cusliion  tires,  nearly  new;  one  49-incli 
Columliia,  best  high  wheel  made,  good  as  new,  very 
cheap;  one  Odell  typewriter;  150  good  second-hand 
hives  for  L.  frame;  one  extractor  for  L.  frame, 
for  wax,  honey,  supplies,  or  offers.  lOtf db 

J.  A.  Green,  Dayton,  111. 

WANTED.— By  young  man  of  20  yeai-s,  a  position 
in  apiary  in  Ill...Wis[.,  or  Mich.  Wages,  $2u  per 
month,  board  and  washing  included;  havehad4y'rs 
experience.  Address  Apiarist,  Box  25><,  Mt.  Erie," 111. 


rnilKiriATinKI  Brood,  .38c;  Thin,  48c;  closing 
rUUIlUH  I  IMn.  out.  but  small  stock  left.  Also 
20  acres  fine  land  (see  Ex.  Col.  i  at  a  bargain,  for  ca.sh. 
lO-lld  H.  L.  Graham,  Grandview,  Iowa. 

PURE  ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

Tested  queens,  $1.25;  unttsted,  7.5c:   safe  arrival 
guaranteed.  HISSES  S.  &  M.  BARNES,  Piketoo,  Ohio. 

li>lld 


rrO  exchange.— 2J  acres;  10  in  alfalfa,  remainder 
l_  gardened,  under  irrigation;  adjoins  Garden  City, 
Kansas.  Country  rapidlyseeding  toalfalfa;  Glean- 
ings, Vols.  '81  to  '91  inclusive;  Am.  B.  Jour.,  Vols. 
'T8,  '79,  '83,  '83,  '85.    What  am  I  offered  ?  lOd 

H.  L.  Graham,  Grandview,  Iowa. 


Stanley  Automatic  Reversing 
HONEY  -  EXTRACTOR. 

As  announced  in  a  late 
number  of  Gleanings, 
we  have  leased  from  G. 
W.  Stanley  the  right  to 
make  his  automatic  ex- 
tractor, and  we  l)ought 
from  E.  R.  Newcomb  his 
stock  of  materials  and 
machines  unsold.  This 
stock  consists  of  about 
twenty  -  five  machines, 
twii  and  four  frame.  To 
wnrk  it  off  quick,  and 
tiive  us  a  chance  to  put 
out  macliinesof  our  own 
make,  we  offer  these 
machines  as  long  as  they 
last,  at  one-fourth  oft'  old 
prices.  We  will  sell  the 
two-frame  machines  as 
they  are  for  S9.00;  the  4-frame  for  $15.00.  They  are 
crated  ready  for  shipment,  with  crank  direct  on  the 
center-sliaft.  We  will  attach  our  new  horizontal 
gear,  as  shown  on  page  14  of  our  catalogue,  for  $3.00 
each  extra. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio. 

PfllflT  POH 
BEE-HIVES. 

After  much  experimentation,  and  a 
careful  study  into  the  paint  question, 
we  offer  a  mixed 

Paint  Prepared  Especially  for  Bee-Hives. 

It  will  not  Chalk  or  Flake  of. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  free  from  adulterants, 
stich  as  whiting,  barytes,  lime,  and  other  sub- 
stitutes that  do  not  add  to  the  enduring  quali- 
ties of  the  paint.  Our  paint  is  made  of  strictly 
pure  lead,  strictly  pure  zinc,  and  genuine  French 
ocher  of  about  equal  proportions,  mixed  in  pure 
linseed  oil.  It  is  generally  recognized  that  there 
is  no  pigment  more  permanent  than  French 
ocher;  and  this,  combined  with  zinc  and  lead, 
makes  a  most  durable  combination.  The  re- 
sultant tint  is  a  pale  straw  color.  Price:  Pint, 
3.5c;  quart,  60c;  half-gallon,  $1.00;  gallon,  11.75. 
Half  a  gallon  will  cover  ten  No.  1  Dovetailed 
hives  two  coats. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  O. 

Black  and  Hybrid  Queens  For  Sale. 

For  the  benefit  of  friends  who  have  black  or  hybrid  queens 
which  they  wish  to  dispose  of.  we  will  insert  notices  tree  of 
charge,  as  below.  We  do  this  because  there  is  hardly  value 
enough  in  these  queens  to  pay  for  buying  them  up  and  keep- 
ing them  in  stock ;  and  yet  it  is  oftentimes  quite  an  accommo- 
dation to  those  who  can  not  afford  higher-priced  ones. 


I  have  40  good  hybrid  queens  for  sale  at  40c  each, 
or  3  for  $1.00.  None  but  good  queens  are  sent.  Safe 
arrival  guaranteed;  stamps  taken. 

Jas.  M.  Smith,  Perklomenville,  Montg.  Co.,  Pa. 


1  S>.1? 


GLEANINOS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


303 


SOMETHING  NEW  in  Spray  and  Force  Pumps. 


small  clamp  whicli  attacli- 
es  to  the  stave  of  the 
bucket  or  tub,  and  steadies 
tlie  pump,  holding-  it  in 
pi-oper  position. 


A  Great  Improvement  on  the  Whitman 

and  Smith  Pumps  we  have 

been   Selling. 

Till' many  insect,  euomica  to  fruit  and 
fdliiiKe  iinve  compelled  !ill  iiilercsled  to 
study  foi'  the  best  means  to  destroy 
thi'se  ix'Sts.  The  most  ell'ective  means 
yet  d(!vised  is  to  administer  poison  in 
solution,  put  upon  tlic  tree  in  the  form 
a  si)iay,  at  justtlie  rif>lit  time.  Tlie  sprnying  of  fruit 
and  foliMfi'e  trees  hiis  oiiened  a  lartre  demand  for  spraying 
outfits  of  various  kinds,  and  the  number  of  kiiids  on  th(! 
m;irlu't  is  jrcttiiif:- to  be  legion.  We  have  been  on  the  look- 
out for  tlic  l)est  cheap  hand-pumps,  and  we  believe  we  have 
found  tlicni  in  the  two  following,  bntliof  which  have  come 
out  since  Marcli  1st— so  recent  that  we  are  rather  late  for 
this  ^e;i-;on  in  t)ringing  them  to  yo\ir  notice  now. 

The  tirst,  designed  to  take  the  place  of  the  Whitman 
Pump  in  our  trade,  is  the 

Myers  Bucket  Brass  Spray  Pump. 

Tt  is  constructed  of  material  that  is  not  attected  by  the 
iioisonnus  arsenites  used  in  the  different  formulas  for 
spraying  fruit-trees,  vines,  and  shrubbery-  The  cylinder 
and  iill  the  working  parts  are  brass;  has  rubber  ball  valves 
and  is  e(iuipped  with  the  combination  spray  nozzle,  and  will 
throw  a  spray  as  fine  as  mist.  It  is  so  fine  that  it  floats  up 
like  a  chnid.  By  this  feature  the  same  amount  of  liquid 
will  go  at  least  four  times  as  far,  and  does  more  effective 
work  than  with  a  perforated  spray  nozzle.  The  pump  dif- 
fers in  construction  from  tlie  old-line  pumps  of  this  cla.ss. 
and  is  arraiiKcd  so  that  the  lieavv  work  isdone  on  the  down 
stroke  of  the  plunger  and  nothing  on  the  up.  The  effect  of 
this  operation,  wliile  pumping,  is  to  hold  the  pump  down, 
and  it  is  not  necessary  to  use  a  foot-Test  or  m  any  way 
ste.idv  the  pump  while  in  operation,  except  by  means  of  ^' 


Bv  doing  the  pumping  on  the  down  stroke  of  the  piston,  and  the  fact  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  steady 
the"pump  with  any  foot-rest,  makes  it  verv  ciisv  to  operate,  and  gives  it  extraordinary  power.  It  is  pro- 
vided with  a  large'air-chamber,  and  has  a  valve  at  the  bottom  between  the  cylinder  and  the  air-cliamber, 
whereby  the  pressure  is  held  uniformly  in  the    dr-<liamber  and  on  the  hose,  so  that.the  nozzle  tnrows  a 

constant  continuous,  even  spray  all  the  time,  and  is  not  at- 
fccted  liy  the  movements  of  the  plunger,  and  tlie  operator  is 
enabled  "to  keep  a  constant  pressure  on  the  nozzle  of  from  .51) 
to  100  llis  with  very  ordinary  e.\erti(m.  It  will  throw  a  sohd 
stream  ,50  feet,  and  "is  of  unusual  value  for  washing  windows, 
etc.  For  spraying  it  is  arranged  so  it  discharges  a  tine  jet  in 
the  bottom  of  the  bucket,  to  keep  the  solution  thoroughly 
mixed  and  agitated— a  feature  peculiar  to  tins  pump. 

We  show  the  pump  in  operation,  and  a  larger  view  along- 
side.   By  simply  unscrewing  the  spray  nozzle   the  pump  is 
ready  to  throw  a  stream  which   is  very,  effective  in  wasliing 
buggies,  windows,  putting  (mt  fires,  or  ariostnig- swarins  of 
bees     The  pump  cnniplcte,  with  four  feet  of  X-inch  rubber  hose  and  noz- 
zle  'packed  for  shipment,  weighs  7  lbs.,  and  our  price  is  only  fo.OO.     Jt  can 
l)e  taken  apart,  and  sent  in  two  packages  by  mail,  where  you   haven  t  Msy 
access  to  express  office,  for  $1.30  extra.    A  pamphlet,  giving  fnll   instruc- 
tions   how    and    when    to    spr.ay,  goes   with    each    pump,  or    mailed    on 
application.    We  can  furnish  extra  combination  spra>    nozzles  with   at^ 
tachment  so  it  can  be  put  on  a  common  J^-inch  hose  connection,  at  bU  cts. 
each     Bv  mail  75c.    We  are  also  prepared  to  furnish   Myers   Barrel  spray- 
ing outtit,  without  the  barrel,  at  $7.50,  shipped  direct  from  Ashland,  Ohio. 


Common-Sense  Spray  Pump. 


Special 


There  are  a  number  of  cheap  tin  pumps  on  the  market ;  but,  so  far  as  we 

have  examined,  this  is  ahead  of   them   all.      The  adjoining  cut  shows  its 

construction  and  manner  of  working.    The   piston,  or  plunger,  is  worked 

with  a  lever  handle,  giving  greater  force  for  tlie  sami;  i)ower  exerted.  The 

|.liinger-tube  is  shorter,  and  larger   in  diameter,  than  the  ordinary  pump. 

If  tlie  water  comes  over  the  top  it  spills  right  into  the  i)ail   again.    It  has 

an  air-ihainljer,  with  valve,  giving  a  continuous  stream  or  spray.    It  has  a 

short  rubber  host;  to  give  direction  to  the  stream  or  spray,  witliout  moving 

the  pump      It  has  also  an  adjustable  nozzle  for  stream  or  spray.    In   all 

,^^    ^        these  points  we  regard  it  superior  to  the  Smith  pump  we  liave  been  selhng, 

-3^?*==  and  we  have  adopted  this  pnmp  in  place  of  the  Smith,  and  will  sell  at  the 

^  same  prices  as  given   in   our  price  list,  i)age  13.    Retail  price,  $1.00  each. 

prices  on  either  of  the  above  pumps  in  quantities,  to  those  who  buy  to  sellagain. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio. 


394 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


May  15. 


^EMPIREi- 
Safety  4*  Bicycles. 


Strictly  High-Grade  Machines. 
Made  of  the  Best  Materials. 
Solid  and    Cushion    Tire. 
For  Ladies  and  Gentlemen. 
PRICES: 

Gents'  30-in.  Solid  Tire,  like  cut 180.00 

134 -in.  Cushion  Tire 90.00 

Ladies'  28-in.  Solid  Tire 80.00 

"        13i-in.  Cusiiion  Tire 90.00 

R.  I.  t^OOT,  Medina,  O. 

JENNIE  ATGHLEY 

Will  send  you  queens  l)y  return  mail.  S:ife  firriv^al 
and  satisfaction  fj-uaranteed;  eitiier  three  or  five 
banded  strains.  Untested,  April  and  May,  $1  («• 
each;  six,  $5.00;  after,  7.5c  eacli;  six,  U'M;  or  $8  00 
per  dozen.  Tested  and  breedine:  queens  oa  applica- 
tion; try  my  queens.  Money-order  office,  Greenville. 

JEMNIG   ATCHLEY, 
Itfdb  Floyd,  Hunt  €o.,  Texas. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

BEE  SITPPUEe 
and  all  kinds  of 
Berry  -  p  a  c  li- 
a  g  e  8,  boxes 
and  basl£ets. 
We  malsea  spe- 
cialty of  one- 
piece  sections, 
and  wood  sepa- 
rators. Address 

BERLIN 
FRUIT   BOX 

CO., 

Berlin  Heights 

Erie  Co., 

Ohio. 

Please  mention  this  paper 


WANTED-LADY  OB  GENT  IN  EACH 
county  to  distribute  and  collect  for  Brabant's 
ladies' toilet  cases;  238  articles,  worth  $1;  will  send 
sample  and  full  particulars  by  mail  for  35c  in 
stamps;  returnable  if  not  satisfactory;  territory 
free;  $3  to  $5  per  day  easily  made.  Address  J.  C. 
Frisbee,  general  agent,  172  Maple  St.,  Denver,  Col. 
Reference,  A.  I.  Root,  Medina,  O. 

IMPORTED  ITAIilAN  QUEENS,  $3.50  on 
arrival,  June  1st.    Untested  queen,  $1.00.    Order 
now.  W.  C.  FRAZIER,  Atlantic,  Iowa. 


Hastings'  Lightning  Bee-Escape. 


Send  for  sample  of  Hastings' "  Lightning  "  Bee 
Escape,  and  you  will  be  convinced  that  it  is  tlie 
best  and  most  practical  escape  yet  produced.  It 
will  clear  ttie  supers  in  a  short  space  of  time  (2  to  4 
hours),  and  it  is  impossible  for  tlie  liees  to  clog  the 
passage,  as  they  can  not  return.  Each  escape  guar- 
anteed as  represented.  Price,  by  mail,  each,  $0.20; 
l)y  mail,  per  doz.,  $2.25.  Full  directions  with  each 
epcape.  Electrotypes  furnished  free  for  dealers' 
catalogues.    Write  for  discount.  7-12db 

M.  E.  HASTINGS,  New  Yorli  Mills,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Pleasse  m«ntion  this  paper 

Send  for  Price  TAst  to 

R.  E.  HARBAUGH, 
Wnnttf'r  atttl  Dealer  in  Bee-Keepers'  Supplies, 

Breeder   of    Italian    and   Carniolan    Bees   and 

Queens,  Light  and  Darls  Colored  Ferrets. 

2Jith  and  Clay  Sts.,      -        -       -       St.  >Tospj)h,  Mo. 

Italian  Bees  and  Queens  For  Sale. 

Untested  queens,  $1.00;  tested,  $1..50.  Bees,  $1.00 
per  lb.  Colony,  $5.00.  Also  barred  Plymouth  Rock 
eggs  for  sitting,  $1.00  per  13. 

7-16db  MRS.  A.  A.  SIMPSON,  Swarts,  Pa. 


POULTRY. 


Choice  Fowls  and  Eggs  for  sale  at 
all  times.    Finely  illustrated  circu- 
lar free.       GEER  BROS    St.  Marys.  Mo.    Sltfdh 


Hatch  Chickens  by  Steam. 
iimovED  EXCELSIOR  INCUBATOR 

S^D^ik'W'iU  do  it.  Tbooaandi  fai  Meoafltfiil  oper> 
■|Bl^sr»tioa.  SimmU.Pfftet and  Self- Regulating. 

Tl^^^nrLowefi-inieea  fint-elaM  Hatcher  made. 

Jl U u!?fi«JI  Oaa»ntaed  to  hatch  a  larcer  i 
^  f  ""^  of  fertile  ecga  at  lesa  cost  than 
Send  6o.  for  Illas.  OataloK.    OEO.  U.  STAUL, 


;er  percentage 
,an  any  other. 
(jninar.  111. 


QTlii  respondine  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkaninqs 

Bee-Hives  ^  Sections 

A  specialty.    Foundation,  Smokers,  etc.,  in  stock. 
Send  for  new  list,  free. 
4tfdb  W.  D.  SOPER.  Jackson,  Mich. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS' 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  can  be  had  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  at  ROOT'S  PRICES  The 
largest  supply  business  In  the  West. 
Established  18te.  Dovetailed  Hives,  Sec- 
tions, Foundation.  E.xf  raotors,  Smokera, 
Veils.  Crates,  Feeders.  Clover  Seeds,  et<-. 
ni ported  Italian  Queens.  Queens  and 
Bees.  Simjile  eoiiy  of  our  Bee  Journal, 
•THE  WESTERN  BEE-KEEPER."  and 
LATEST  CATAUXU'E  mailed  FREE  to 
Keu  keepers. 

JOSEPH  NYSEWANDER, 

Des  Moines,  Iowa. 
In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.       itfdb 

"IeSTED   ITALIAN  QUEENST 

50  tested  Italian  queens  for  sale  at  $1.00  eacli,to  be 
delivered  June  1st  to  15th,  all  raised  last  fall  from  an 
imported,  and  best  select  tested  queens.  Untested 
queens,  July  15th  and  after,  70c  each;  3  for  $1.75;  6 


or  more,  60c  each. 


D.  G.  Edmiston, 
Adrian,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich. 


Foundation  Wholesale  and  Retail. 

)    free  samples.  Special  prices  to  dealers  on  Foui 


imples.  Speciii 
Free  price  list  of  everything  needed  in  tlie  apiary. 


prices 
6tfdb 
M. 


If  you  would  like  to  see 

liow    nice     foundation 

can  be  made,  send  for 

Foundation  and  Sections,  etc. 

(Near  Detroit.) 

HUNT.  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


1  S«fJ 


(il.HAXlXtJS  IN   inOK  ("UI>TLIUE. 


TESTED  ITALIAN  QUEENS,  80c 


399 

IN  JULY   .\M>   AIJOHST. 

Ill  .luiic.  tl.Odc.Hli.   .MiMn;it<'d 
()iii'i'iis,  4(1  ccnls. 

J.C.WHEELER  PLANO,  ILL. 


B 


Yellow,   Extra,   Excellent 


111  sale  ill  .luiu 
:ii  ('  li  t>  n  a  iiK< 
ViiUoy    Apiary 


riu.-sto(i.>i  L 

OnliT   caiiv  r 
v:.,i.,l  f,»i   iwi  ■* 


I'  w  11-1'  ra  111 »' 
Niii'k'us  with 
t,»ui'fii,  .52.110. 
D.)irt  pa.ss  by 


Mhs.  Oi.ivKK  Coi.K.  Shorhurne,  Clu'iiaiigo  Co.,  N. 
jil'illi  Plwise  mention  this  paper. 


BEE-HllfES, 


Dovetailed  or  Otherwise 

All  Kinds  of  Bee  Supplies. 
Write  for  trer  i-alaldtiuc.       W.  H.  PUTNAM, 

s  Willi  River  Falls,  Pierce  Co.,  Wis. 

<yin  renpoiidingio  tills  udvfitiM m  iMintii.ii  (Ji.kaninhs. 

4B\N0I<:D  ITAI^IAN   Bl'-E^i.    Tested.  $1.00; 
I'lite.-^teil,   tide;  Selerted   tested,   *1.25;    one  2- 
fraiue  luieleiis.  tested  <nieeii,  12.00;  unte.sted, 
il.'A).     Safe  arrival  triiaranteed. 
'^-12dli        STEWAUT  BK<»>i.,  Kparta,  Tenii. 

LEATHER-COLORED  ITALIAN 

QUEENS. 

One  untested.  Jl.OO;  si.v,  if.5.5ii;  twelve.  $10.00;  one 
tested.  $1..tO;  six.  $8.00:  twelve.  Jlo.iKi;  selected  for 
breedliifr  wic(j/.  ench.  $2. .50;  one  vearold  tested.  i;i 
J'luif  'nxly.  $1.25;  six,  $7.(K1;  twelve.  $i:!  00.  Two-year- 
old  queens,  each.  .50c'.  Deseriptive  ratalojiue  mailed 
free  on  apidicatioii. 

^'^''^      A.  E.  Manum,  Bristol,  Vt. 

iSrinrespoiiiiuiu'' til  this  lulveitisement  mention  Gleaninss. 

I  DO  NOT  ADVERTISE 

a  speeialtw  Inn  cm  r\  thiiitr  found  in  apiauy.  Beesr- 

wax  wanted.  C.  E.  Lil  KE^VS. 

«-Td  19  IV.  2d  St.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

C^ln  respondinsr  to  this  advertisempTif  mention  (Jleanings. 


GLOBE  BEE- VEIL 

By  SSail  for  $1.00. 

,         A  center  rivet  holds  5  epring-steel 
I    ,  cross-bars  1  ike  a  globe  to  support  the 
bobinetVeil.  These  button  to  a  neat 
brass  neck-band,  holding  itflrtnly. 

It  is  easily  put  together;  no  trouble 
to  put  on.  or  take  off.  An  absolute 
^  protection  against  any  insect  that 
^  flies.  Will  go  over  any  ordinary 
^  sized  hat;  can  be  worn  in  bed  with- 
out discomfort;  fits  any  head;  does  not  obstruct  the 
vision;  folds  compactly,  and  can  be  carried  in  the 
pocket:  in  short,  it  is  invaluable  to  any  one  w'lom 
files  bother,  mosquitos  bite,  or  bees  sting. 
Extra  Nets.  50  Cents  Each. 

lOO  Rundulijh  St.,  Ciiicag-o,  111: 

Bee  -  Keepers'  *  Supplies. 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sun- 
plies  prompt!  J'  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladly 
furnished,  and  correspondence  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  first-class  in  quality  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
ahigue  sent  free.  Keference,  First  National  Bank. 
Sterling,  111.    Address  l-24db 

IVin.  IWcCUNE  A:  CO., 

Sterling,  Illinois. 

Bnn  respoiidlnp  to  tins  juivitf  l>fniirit  ineiiiion  Gl.KANINQS.. 

Wholesale  and  Eetail  Manufacturer 

andDealerin      BEE-KEEPERS'    SUPPLIES. 
ONE-PIECE  SECTIONS  A  SPECIALTY, 

AS  GOOD  AS  THE  BEST. 
Send  for  catalogue.  W.  E.  SMITH, 

otfdb  SucccjtKor  to  Smith  <t-  Smith, 

Kenton,  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio. 

In  writing  advertisers  ple.-ise  mention  this  paper. 


TEliLj-oii  what,  .loiii's,  l,evcring 

Bros,  sell  the  best  goods  and  at 

:     Die   lowest  price  of  any  one   I've 

\  struck  yet.   The  largest   and    best 

iiliiipped 

Bee  -  Hive  Factory 

III  llie  West.  The  Uo\elailed  Hive 
and  New  Holliiiaii  .self  -  spajing 
Kranie  a  specialty.  Every  tiling 
used  by  practiciU  bee-keepers  at 
wholesale  and  retail.  Send  for  their 
flee  Illustialed  Price  Li.st,  and 
save  money.  Supply  Dealers,  send 
for  their  Wholesale  List.     Address 

Z^SVZZRZXTG    BROS., 
6tfdb  "^nriotsL,  Cass  Co.,  Zo-vo-a.. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


BEE-HIVES,   SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  the  best  goods  aiul  sell  them  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world. 

Our  goods  are  known  as  the  best  tliroughout  the 
United  States  ami  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  juice  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS  &  CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

iJB^la  re^poiiaiiit;  t..  iin>  a.i>  eiu-fiiu  in   mu'i.mom  (^lkanINGs. 

J.  FOt^NCf^OOK  St  CO. 


(( 


WILL   FURNISH    YOU   THE 

BOSS"  ONE-PIECE  SECTION 

AS   ( :ilKAl>  AS   TIIK   CHEAPEST. 

And    the    Best   in   the    Market. 

ALSO        DOVETAILED       HIVES,        AND 

OTHER     SUPPLIES. 

j^-Write  for  Price  List. 

WATERTOWN,  Wis.,  Jan.  1,  1892.  7-9-lld 

Itfdb  Please  mention  this  paper. 


PURE 

ITALIAN 

BEES. 


By  the  pound,  90  cents.  Untested 
queens  from  imported  mother,  90  cts. 
Two-frame  nuclei,  both  frames  con- 
taining brood  with  all  adhering  bees, 
and  untested  <iueen  from  imported 
mother,  $:.'.(10.  Tested  queens,  $1.50. 
Satisfaction  guaranteed. 

MRS.  A.  F.  PROPER, 
Portland,  Jay  Co.,  Ind. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


OTTUMWA  BEE-HIVE  FACTORY. 

Bee-keepers,  look  to  your  interests.    Everything 
in    the    line  of  bee-supplies   constantly  on    hand. 
Price  list  free.        GREGORY  BROS.  &,  SON, 
l-12d  Ottumwa,  la.    South  side. 

JUST    OUT! 

BY  W.  I.  CHAMBEELAIK,  A.  M.,  LL.  D., 

Formerly  Secretary  of  the  Ohio  State  Board  of  Agriculture 
and  late  President  of  the  lowii  State  Agricultural  Col-      ' 
lege.    At  present  Associate  Editor  of  the 
Ohio  Fanner. 

This  is  a  valuable  companion  to  our  other  rural 
books.  It  embraces  the  experience  of  forty  years 
of  one  of  our  foremost  practical  agriculturists,  who 
has  laid  with  his  own  hands  over  15  miles  of  tile. 

Price  3.5c;  by  mail,  40c. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  MEDINA,  OHIO. 


400 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  1. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Battery,  Electric *11 

Bees  Allowed  to  Make  Wax.415 

Bees  Hived  in  Pants. 422 

Bees.  Carrying  to  Cellar 409 

Bee-keeping  in  Germany. .  .416 

Chaff  Boxes 41-') 

Chipmunk  Poem 414 

Cranks *13 

Dude  Bee  ...  414 

Feeder,  Johnny-cake 421 

Florida 413 

Grading,  Dr.  Miller  on 410 

Heat,  Artificial 418 

Hives,  Speed  in  Handling.  .406 


Paint  for  Hives 429 

Propolis.  Boiling  it  Off 419 

Punics,  Cross 421 

Queen-excluders  for  Ext'g..430 

Queens,  Two  in  Colony 416 

Rain  in  California 420 

Rambler  in  Ventura  Co 407 

Resti-ictors,  Cost  of 405 

Steam  as  Manure 430 

Swarms,  When  to  Expect..  .409 

Underdraining 424 

Ventilation,  XJpward 421 

Wilev.  Prof 409, 4.'?0 

Zinc,"  Perforated 429 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


The  Carolina   Bee-keepers'  Association  will    meet    at   the 
Court-house  in  Charlotte,  N.  C  ,  July  21.         A.  L.  Beach,  Sec. 
Steel  Creek.  N.  C. 


Special  Notices. 


Since  we  have  beg-uri  manufacturing-  the  Cowan 
Rapid  extractor  in  a  wholesale  way,  we  find 
we  can  put  them  on  tlie  market  for  a  little  less 
money  than  we  advertised  in  our  last  issue.  The 
price  from  now  on,  instead  of  $13.00  will  be  $10.00 
for  the  Cowan,  to  take  the  L.  frame.  To  be  fair  to 
all  parties  who  have  already  purchased,  we  will 
credit  them  $2.00  on  subscription  to  Gleanings,  or 
in  supplies,  as  they  may  elect,  providing-  they  writ§ 
asking  to  take  advantage  of  this  otter. 

LAWN-MOWERS. 

Now  is  the  time  for  trimming  the  lawns  and  bee- 
yards  to  make  them  neat  and  attractive,  i'ou  can 
not  do  this  successfully  without  a  good  lawn-mower. 
We  are  prepared  to  supply  you  with  one  of  the  best 
mowers  on  the  market  at  prices  lower  than  former 
years.  We  sell  the  Globe  in  five  sizes,  as  follows: 
10  in.,  $4.6');  12  in.,  $5.00;  14  in..  $.5.35;  16  in.,  $5.65;  18 
in.,  $6.00.  We  have  also  the  Young  America,  a  sin- 
gle driver,  in  two  sizes,  as  follows:  10  in.,  only  $3.50; 
13  in  .  $4.30.  In  lots  of  3  at  a  time,  3  per  cent  oft';  3 
together,  5  per  cent  off;  5  or  more  in  one  order,  10 
per  cent  off.  The  quantity  may  be  made  up  of  as- 
sorted sizes,  and  both  kinds  if  desired. 

A  CHEAP  BATTERY  MOR  IMBEDDING  WIRE. 

After  some  little  experimenting  we  are  in  a  posi- 
tion to  offer  a  battery  of  three  cells,  including  im- 
bedding-bnai-d,  i-licmicals  in  the  form  of  <-ryst.-ils, 
connrctidiis.  coinplfte  direclions  how  to  use,  with  a 
Daisy  fdUiulatidu-roller  thrown  in,  packed  for  $3.,')(l. 
The  billy  thing  th;it  you  will  need  to  buy  is  about  10c 
worth  of  suliihurii-  ;"i<-id  at  your  drug  store;  this  we 
can  mil  very  well  send  safely.  Our  first  outfit  cost 
us  abiiiit  $9.(10,  so  what  we  offer  is  very  cheap  and 
equally  scrvieeiible.  It  will  do  the  work  of  putting 
foundation  on  wire  the  nicest  and  most  rapidly  of 
any  thing  we  have  ever  tried. 

MASON  JARS. 

A  month  ago  we  gave  prices  of  Mason  jars,  in  this 
department,  for  immediate  orders,  and  to  be  shipped 
direct  from  Pittsburg,  from  June  1st  to  15th.  The 
orders  are  just  now  beginning  to  come  in,  and  the 
price  has  gone  up  already.  The  following  aie  the 
prices  to-day,  and  they  are  liable  to  be  from  $1.00  to 
S3.00  per  gross  higher  before  this  month  if  over,  so 
that,  if  you  expect  to  get  these  prices,  you  must 
send  your  orders  at  once. 
Pints,  green  glass,  large  caps,  8  doz.  in  a  box,  $5.65 

Quarts  "  "  6.00 

2        "        "         "  6  doz.     "        "       6.00 

We  will  give  you  the  best  price  we  can  at  tlie  time 
your  order  comes,  if  you  want  to  send  us  your 
orders.  The  sooner  you  do  it  the  better  off' you  will 
be.  

EGYPTIAN  ONION-SETS  READY  TO  PLANT   RIGHT    OFF 
NOW. 

Our  esteemed  friend  M.  S.  Klum  sends  the  follow- 
ing just  as  we  go  to  press. 

Mr.  A.  I.  ROOT :— I  have  been  gathering  some  Egyptian  onion- 
sets.  They  would  giow  right  off  if  planted  under  favorable 
circumstances.  Let  me  fill  a  few  orders  for  you  by  mail.  You 
set  the  price,  and  give  me  some  directions  about  packing  and 
mailing.  During  a  shower  a  few  days  ago.  some  tops  blew 
down,  and  some  sand  washed  over  them.    I  noticed  roots  on 


one  that  were  three  inches  long.  When  we  use  them,  after 
they  multiply  and  will  separate,  we  dig  down  on  one  side  to 
the  roots,  then  take  holcfof  all  the  tops  except  one,  two,  or 
three;  then  run  a  finger  between  them  and  those  in  my  hand, 
and  separate  them;  then  1  take  out  whatever  is  in  my  hand, 
and  those  left  are  the  better  for  the  division.  Then  I  eat,  set 
out,  give  away,  or  throw  away  those  pulled  up.  Very  few 
people  know  how  easy  it  is  to  have  more  than  they  want  of 
those  onions.  M.  S.  Klum. 

Jaxboro,  Texas,  May  21. 

Of  course,  they  will  grow.  Last  spring  I  pulled 
them  out  just  as  soon  as  they  began  to  look  like  sets, 
and  planted  them  at  intervals  all  along,  and  they 
grew  splendidly.  I  would  suggest  that  those  who 
want  them  send  at  once  to  friend  Klum.  Our  prices, 
when  we  have  them,  are,  15c  per  quart,  or  $1.00  per 
peck;  10c  per  quart  extra  when  ordered  by  mail. 


STEEL-L.-VID  SHEARS,  BEAUTIFULLY  NICKEL-PLATED, 
AT  HALF  THE  USUAL  PRICE. 

We  desire  again  to  call  the  attention  of  our  read- 
ers to  this  rare  bargain.  (See  adv't  on  another  page). 
We  have  been  selling  .shears  of  this  brand  for  ten 
years  or  more,  and  our  sales  are  constantly  increas- 
ing, which  shows  that  the  goods  are  appreciated. 
We  made  one  purchase  of  1.50  dozen,  which  .sold  so 
rapidly  that  we  bought  another  lot  of  350  dozen. 
Strictly  speaking,  they  are  seconds;  but  the  defects 
are  so  slight  that,  in  many  cases,  it  is  hard  to  find 
tliem  at  all.  It  may  be  a  slight  defect  in  the  nickel 
plating,  or  a  little  pit  in  the  metal  on  which  the 
steel  is  laid— any  little  thing  that  would  exclude 
them  from  perfect  goods,  but  which  does  not  injure 
their  cutting  quality.  The  cutting  quality  is  what 
you  want,  and  you  have  it  to  perfecticm  in  these 
Leader  shears;  and  when  you  see  them  I  think  you 
will  agree  that  thej'  look  pretty  nice  too.  As  we 
buy  the  whole  factory  output  of  this  grade,  we  get 
them  at  about  our  own  price,  and  are  thus  able  to 
make  the  very  low  prices  in  the  table,  page  437, 
which  you  will  find,  by  inquiring,  are  about  half 
what  you  have  to  pay  usually  for  the  same  size. 
You  notice  we  quote  the  price  in  quantities  as  well 
as  singly.  Quite  a  number  of  customers  are  doing 
a  good  thing  for  themselves  as  well  as  their  neigh- 
bors, by  buying  in  quantities  and  introducing  them 
among  their  neighbors.  You  notice  from  the  talkie 
we  have  none  of  the  8-inch  size,  but  we  have  about 
90  dozen  V^^-inch,  and  plenty  of  6.  6>i,  and  7.  Our 
.stock  of  8'/i  and  9  is  also  low.  The  four  smaller 
.sizes  are,  however,  the  best  for  general  use. 


SECOND-HAND  MACHINERY. 

During  the  past  few  months  we  have  bought  up 
several  outfits  of  machinery  for  making  bee-keep- 
ers' .supplies;  and  if  any  of  our  readers  or  their 
friands  contemplate  putting  in  machinery  we  are 
prei^ared  to  fit  you  out  from  cellar  to  garret  with 
everything  you  need  in  engines,  boilers,  machinery, 
shafting,  pulleys,  hangers,  belting,  saws,  etc.  The 
following  is  a  partial  list  of  the  second-hand  ma- 
chinery we  hnvc  to  sill.  If  you  desire  further  par- 
ticulars we  shall  be  pleased  to  hear  from  you. 

One  30-H.  P.  Fishkill  horizontal  engine,  rebuilt, 
and  as  good  as  new;  would  cost  new,  $4U0;  will  sell 
for  $300. 

One  5-H.  P.  horizontal  engine  and  boiler,  with  en- 
gine mounted  on  boiler,  in  good  running  order. 
Price  $150. 

One  24-inch  two-roll  Fay  sandpaper  machine,  near- 
Iv  new.    Price,  new,  $450;  will  sell  for  $175. 
"  One  9-inch  cigar-box  planer,  iiearlv  new;  has  been 
used  very  little.    Price,  new,  $65;  will  sell  for  $40. 

One  V-groove  section  machine,  nearly  new.  This 
is  our  make,  old  style,  with  screw-feed;  sold  some 
years  ago  for  $75;  will  sell  now  for  $40. 

One  cutter-head,  witli  table  complete,  for  cutting 
entrances  1o  sections.  Old  style,  but  nearly  new, 
and  in  good  repair.  Price,  new,  $25.00;  will  sell  for 
$15.00. 

One  iron-frame  hand-jointer;  well  worth  $35;  will 
sell  for  $15. 

One  double-head  tenoning-machine,  especially  ar- 
ranged for  making  the  c-ombined  rabbet  and  miter 
joint  of  the  Simpli<ity  hive,  but  can  be  used  for 
milking  sash  and  wiiiddw-screen  frames,  etc.  We 
could  not  build  such  ;i  inacliine,  and  .sell  it  for  less 
than  $150;  we  will  sell  this  for  $60. 

One  iron  planer,  16x36-inch  bed,  automatic  revers- 
ing device  to  run  back  and  forth.  It  cost  us,  second- 
hand, several  years  ago,  $150;  is  about  as  good  now 
as  then,  but  we  had  to  have  a  larger  size.  We  offer 
this  for  $.50. 

Two  extra  large  saw-tables  for  genertil  use,  to  cut 
off  or  i-ip,  with  counter-shaft  attached  to  frame; 
worth  new,  $50  each;  will  sell  for  $30  each. 


18'.>2 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


401 


Two  foiir-piofo  sect ioii-maohi IK'S,  as  tri'CKl  ii.s  mow. 
Tlu-y  rust  iu>w.  $85  caflj;  wo  will  sell  tlu-m  for  $30 
«'acli. 

Also  II  larKi'  lot  of  sliafiinv:.  pulleys,  lian)fei'8. 
iH'lttiifr,  and  saws,  too  niinn-mus  to  iiu-iitioii  luTf. 


•lAl'ANKSK  lift  KW  UK  AT. 
Tills  lon.ur-ooiitinucil  wet  anil  i-old  wcallnr  is  not 
only  cut tinjr  otf  tlic  prospect  of  a  full  hoiuy  ciop, 
but' is  preventing  the  plantinjr  of  <'orn  till  it  will  l)e 
too  late  for  it  to  mature  befoi'i>  frost  comes  in  the 
fall.  .Iap;tnese  Inickwheat  can  he  sown  as  late  as 
.luly  1,">.  anil  mature  before  frost,  in  ordinary  sea- 
sons. It  is  also  as  protitable  to  raise,  and  makes  as 
V'ood  feed  for  stock,  as  corn.  Mrs.  W.  H.  Shane, 
widow  of  the  late  \V.  H.  Shane,  who  was  one  of  the 
most  successful  bee-keepers  and  fanners  of  this 
(.•ounty,  raisi'd  sc\-eral  ai-res  of  .lapanese  buckwheat 
two  years  ajf<>.  which  yielded  si.\ty  busliels  to  the 
acre.  Last  sprinjr  oats  and  corn  were  scarce  in  this 
locality,  and  pi-iees  Were  rather  hijfh.  J{ather  than 
sell  the  buckwheat  for  6.1  cts.  a  liusliel  anil  bu>'  I'orn 
,it  t).T  or  TO  cts..  she  tried  the  buckwheat  for  feed, 
and  I  believe  her  verdict  was.  that  the  same  number 
of  l)ushels  would  go  fui-ther  tlian  corn.  May  be 
others  have  ti-iedit.  If  so.  we  would  be  ^iad  to  {fet, 
reports  of  its  value.  See  cut.  and  prices  of  seed,  in 
another  column. 


nKCI.INE   I.N    BEtiSWAX. 

A  year  ajro  at  tliis  time  l)eeswax  was  rather 
scarce,  and  the  market  advancing',  but  just  now  the 
conditions  are  reversed,  and  we  are  oblig'ed  to  drop 
2  cents  a  pound  on  the  price.  We  are  now  paying 
2.1C  per  lb.  cash,  or  •2t<c  in  trade  for  average  wax  de- 
livered here,  and  we  would  not  be  surprised  if  with-  | 
in  a  month  or  six  weeks  the  price  goes  still  lower, 
as  by  that  time  the  demand  for  use  in  making  comb 
foundation  will  be  o\er.  (Prices  in  advertisment  on 
page  434  are  2c  too  high).  We  made  no  advance  in 
the  retail  price  of  foundation  when  we  made  this 
2  cent  advance  in  price  of  wax,  and  therefore  we 
make  no  decline  now,  but  if  wax  goes  lower  we  will 
also  decline  the  price  of  foundation.  In  sending  us 
wax  please  don't  fall  to  put  your  name  and  address 
in  or  on  the  package  somewhere,  so  we  can  tell  who 
it  comes  from:  also  write  us  a  letter  stating  the  ex- 
ai.'t  number  of  pounds  you  ship,  so  we  can  tell  if 
there  is  any  shoi-tage  on  arrival.  We  have  two  lots 
of  wax  recently  received,  and  we  can  not  tell  who 
sent  it.  One  is  a  Iiarrel  of  over  2  JO  lbs.,  and  the  oth- 
er a  small  box  of  23  lbs.  net. 


Our  subscrption  li.st  at  this  date  is  10,050. 


IF  YOU  WANT  BEES 

Tliat  will  just  "roll''  in  the  honey,  try  ITIoorf^'s 
Strain  ol'ltalfann.  tlie  result  of  i;i  years'  careful 
breeding.  Prices  in  .lune:  Wariaiited  queens,  $1.00 
each;  3  for  ^2.5(1.  Strong  3-frame  nucleus,  with 
warranted  queen,  $3.00.  Safe  ari'ival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed.  Those  who  have  never  dealt  with 
me  I  refer  to  A.  I.  Root,  who  has  purchased  of  me, 
during  jwst  12  j-ears,  .")82  queens.  Circulars  free. 
J.  P.  jnOORE,  ITIurgan,  Pendleton,  Co.,  Ky. 
ll-12d        Money-order  office,  Falmouth,  Ky. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

^  ^^^i^mm.^  at  53  per  lOOO.  These  are 
OKClIOnS  perfectly  smooth,  and  flrst-cla.ss. 
^^^w»iwiiv  u,.,„,^i  foundation  45  cts.  per  lb. 
All  supiilies  e(iually  low.  Goods  shipped  direct 
from  New  York  citv.  l-18dt. 

I.  J.  StRINCHAM, 

92  Barclay  St.,  N.  Y. 

ty  In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANiKas. 

I  Will  Pay  $25  OCn"^^ce 

to  any  reliable    'k^-^^^'V^'     m<u\     who     will 
send  me.  by  the  fore  jjait  of  .June,  inii  |l)s.  of  young 
bees  in  2-lb.  packages.    Correspondence  solicited. 
TALBOT  AOTEEWS,  MOlTMOirTH,  'WAEEEN  CO.,  ILL. 


QI7SSITS. 


Italian    .5-banded    bees    for    ijusiness;    untested, 
June,  $1.00.  O.  F.  SNOW, 

lid  East  DenuiH,  Mass. 


HoNEr  Column. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

Nkw  Youk.— //<»iei/. -"No  change  in  the  honey 
market  since  last  issue.  Some  small  lots  of  south- 
ern and  orange-blossom  extracted  honey  arriving. 
Market  on  southern,  t>'i6r';r,  per  gallon,  according  to 
qualily;  orange  blossom,  7(///7X. 

Bfcsi/vir,  27fi(2'.i.  with  \((r>r  per  lb.  advance  for 
choic<'  run. 

May  19.  t'HAS.  Israel  &  Biio., 

110  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


Detroit.— Hone//.— The  market  is  about  cleaned 
up  ol  all  desirable  comb  honey.  Dark  and  inferior 
lots  selling  at  what  prices  buyers  will  give.  Ex- 
tracted, 7@8.    Bw.simx,  27@28. 

May  19.  M.  H.  Hunt, 

Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

Ai.UANV.—f/o7i(;{/.— Three  weeks  ago  we  did  not 
expect  to  be  able  to  close  out  our  large  stock  of 
comb  honey  before  July  1st;  but  the  cool  weather 
has  favored  us  and  we  are  entirely-  .sold  out,  includ- 
ing a  number  of  recent  con.signments.  Prices 
range  from  B@10  according  to  style  and  quality.  Ex- 
tracted selling  slow  at  6@7. 

Chas.  McCulloch  &  Co., 

May  13.  Albany,  N.  Y. 

St.  Louis.— Howej/.— There  is  quite  a  demand  for 
white-clover  comli  at  16@18.  Dark  can  not  sell  at 
any  price.  Extracted  in  barrels  sells  readily  at 
.5@5X.  Cans  are  slower  sale  at  6>$@7.  We  received 
first  shipment  of  new  crop  a  few  days  .since. 

Beeswax,  26. 

May  19.                                    D.  G.  Tutt  Gko.  Co., 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Chicago.  —  Honey.  —  Very  little  comb  honey  on 
sale,  and  tlie  small  amount  offered  is  chiefly  rejec- 
tions out  of  earlier  shipments;  sells  slow  at  15c,  for 
best  of  it.  Our  market  uses  very  little  at  this  sea- 
son. Extracted  in  steady  demand,  and  supplies 
are  about  exhausted,  «@7@8. 
Beemmx,  26.  R.  A.  Burnett, 

May  18.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111. 


Minneapolis.— Honey.— The  honey  market  is  Im- 
proving somewhat.  Fancy  white  comb.  In  1-lb.  sec- 
tions, Is  selling  at  17@18;  choice,  15;  dark,  11@12; 
strained,  7@8,  with  very  slow  sales. 

May  21.  J.  A.  Shea  &  Co., 

14  &  16  Hennepin  Ave.,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

Kansas  City.— Honey.- Demand  poor,  with  supply 
well  cleaned  up.  We  quote:  Comb,  l-lb.,  fancy, 
12;  dark,  8@9.  Extracted,  white,  7;  dark,  5@6. 
Beeifwax,  none  on  the  market. 

May  19.  Hamblin  &  Bearss, 

514  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Boston.  —  Honey.  —  No     change    in    the    honey- 
market.    Slow  sale,  and  fair  stock  on  hand. 
May  19.                                      Blake  &  Kipley, 
Boston,  Mass. 

Kansas  City.— Honey.- The  demand  is  very  light; 
supply  ample.  We  quote:  1-lb..  No.  1,  white,  ]2®13: 
No.  2, 1U@12;  No.  1  amber,  11@12;  No.  2  amber,  5@10; 
extracted,  .5@6i4.    Beeswax,  22(a»27. 

Clemons,  Mason  &  Co., 

May  20.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


WANITPn      "■"'  -swarms  of  bees  with  queens  by 

ITMIII  l-U.    ,1,,.   ]5,i,   ^,f  20th   of  June,   in  light 

sliipping-ljoxes  OK)  conil)s);  who  will  sell  cheapest? 

ROBX.  Ul^INN,  Sliellsbiirg,  Benton  Co.,  la. 

WANTED.— Old  stamps;  2oc  paid  for  each  10c 
stamp  used  from  1847  to  18.51.  All  old  stamps 
bought.  Look  them  up,  your  old  trunks  and  papers 
may  contain  several  dollars'  worth.  nd 

H.  Bricker,  Bellevue,  Pa. 

ITALIAN  QUEENS  f-°^,fl^^E.,.S: 

il.aU.  J.  C.  PEOVINS,  MASONTOWN,  PA. 


403 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


JV>E   1. 


por  1892  and  a  Fine,  Young,  Iiaying 


i  IT.X-  REVIEW 

3    fllone,  V5  Cts.     pov  $1.75,  the  l^evietu,  the  Queen,  and  the  SO  et.  Book, 

(J 


•© 


Italian    QUEEN   ^°'^   $1.50.     The    ^ 
I^evietu   Alone,    $1.00.      The  (^uesn    5 


Advanced  Bee  Culture,"  txiill  be  sent.  W.  Z.  Jlutehinson,  plint,  JVIich.    ^, 
P.  S. — If  not  acquainted  with  the  Review,  send  ten  cents  for  three  late  but  different  issues. 


STRAWBERRIES  ! 

Fresh  Picked  from  the  Vines. 

Shipped   by  first    train    at    the    ruling-    Marietta 
prices.    Or  will  contract  witli  you  for  rates. 
Address  all  orders  and  correspondence  to 

R.  STEHLE,  MARIETTA.  O. 

If  friend  S.  sends  j'ou  such  berries  as  he  sent  us  a 
year  ago,  you  will  surely  be  pleased.  A.  I.  R. 

|S"ln  respuiiiiiiiji  lo  tills  a<Jvertl.-.eiiieiit  mention  GLEANINGS. 


^ 


=^^as.  OATMAN'S 

SOLDEEINO  AND  EEPAIE  EIT 

(N)nsists  of  liie-pi)t.  solik-r- 
ing-irons,  solder,  and  soldt-r- 
ing-tluid.  with  tools  conipl'te 
as  shown  in  cut,  with  dii-ec- 
tions  for  soldering  tlitferent 
metals,  and  how  to  keep  your 
soldering  -  irons  in  shape. 
Whole  kit,  boxed,  12  lbs. 
Shipped  on  receipt  of  $2IH). 
Agents  wanted. 

O.  &  L.  OATMAN, 
Medina,  Ohio. 
IS'"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  glkaking* 

YOUNG    QUEENS   READY 

to  mail  to  any  one,  anywhere  at  any  time,  in  the 
U.  S.  or  Canada.  I'rAL>I.41\S,  untested,  $1.00;  3, 
$2.75;  6,  S5.00;  per  dozen,  $9.00.  Tested,  reared  last 
season,  $2.0U;  3  for  $.5.00.  Two-frame  nucleus,  with 
any  queen,  $1.35  extra.  Safe  arrival  guaranteed. 
Send  for  circular  of  Dovetailed  Hives,  Smokers, 
Foundation,  Drones,  eti'.  Money  -  order  office, 
Clifton.  COLWICK  &  COLWIGK,  NORSE,  TEX. 

|3rin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

m^  ^%  CENTS  WILL  BUY  A  GOOD  2-STORY 
■■^l  I  ^'  Hi^e-  ^100  Will  Buy  100  L. 
|^#  ^^  Brood  Frames.  SI.  00  Will  Buy  a  Nice 
Golden  Italian  ftueen.  Please  Write 
for  our  Circular  Before  you  Buy  your  Supplies. 

W.  H.  BRIGHT,  Mazeppa,  Minn. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

SUPPLIES  „„1E... 

Everytliing  used  in  the  Apiary. 

Greatest  varietj-  and  largest  stock 
in  the  West,  New  catalog-,  54  illustrated  pag-es, 
free  to  bee-keepei-s.       E.  ZEETCHMEE,  BED  OAK,  IOWA. 

In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

nADIIini  All  BEES  AND  QUEENS. 
UAnlllULAII  They  beat  tliem  all.    Never 

have  dysenteiy.    All  queens  reared  from  select  im- 
ported motliers.    Untested,  50c;  12  for  $5.00.  Tested, 
$1.00;  12  for  $10.00.    Select  tested.  $1,.50.    Descriptive 
circular  free.    A.  Li.  IjINDLiEY,  Jordan,  Ind. 
8-13db 


FOR    SALE. 

LARGEST  BEE  SUPPLY 

BUSINESS  IN  CANADA. 

Reputation  all  over  America, 

A'  Snap  for  some  enterprising:  business 
man  or  firm.  Good  reasons  for  selling; 
only  $2(100  or  $3000  required.  Send  for 
particulars.     Address 

PR,  R.  S.  CHEFFEY,  BtetOD,  Ont. 

«#  IF  YOU  WANT  GOLD.  s|e 

Send  for  one  of  my  golden  Italian  queens,  raised 
from  the  best  5-banded  stock,  that  has  been  award- 
ed FirHt  freiniiiiii  at  the  JJc^t  roit  E.xpositioii 
the  last  two  years.  Untested  queens,  $1.00  each; 
6  for  $5.00.  Tested  queens,  $3.00  each.  Breeding- 
queens,  $5.00  each. 

ELMER    HUTCHINSON, 
lltfd  Vassar.  Tuscola  Co,,  Michigan. 

y-lOd  Please  mention  this  iiaper, 

TT  FATS 

To  order  tlie  best  made  g-oods.  .For  Fine 
Sections,  Foundation,  Perforated  Zinc, 
Queen  Excluders,  and  the  best  lilve  for 
comb  honej'  now  before  the  public,  order 
of  Dr.  Tinker.  PRICES  GKEATLY  RE- 
DUCED.   Address  for  catalogue 

De.  Cr.  L.  TiNEEE,  New  Philadelphia.  0. 


Please  mention  this  paper. 


8-lldb 


FIVE-BANDED   GOLDEN  ITALIANS. 

Untested  li  or  .")  bandfd  stock,  ifl.Oil;  si.\  for  15.00, 
Tested  ;5-banded,  $l.:i5;  5-banded,  »3.U0;  hybiids,  35c. 
Full  colonies,  nuclfl.  and  supplies  cheap;  catalogue 
free.  CM  AS.  H.  '1  HIKS,  Sleelevllle,  HI. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

POSITIVELY 

By  return  mail,  beautiful  young  warranted  Italian 
queens,  at  $1.00  each.  Tested,  $1.50,  A  select  tested 
yellow-to-the-tlp  breeder,  $2,00.  Satisfaction  guar- 
anteed. W.  H.  1.A \VS,  Lavaca,  Ark. 

8tfdb 

One  of  our  5-banded  red-clover  queensV  100  lbs.  of 
clover  honey  in  poor  seasons.  Send  for  deserlptive 
circular  free.  LEININGER  BROS., 

7tfdb  Ft.  Jennings,  Ohio. 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 


We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  doz- 
en, you  do  not  And  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  within  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with  full  direc- 
tions, 20c;  per  dozen,  $2.25.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb    R.  «£  E.  C.  PORTER.  LEWISTOWN,  ILL. 


£S"lii  resiK)ndinK  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleam 


•  delvote: 
•To-BELE.^..™. 

•ANDHOMEL-     <^ 


\^     rAEDINAOHlO 


Vol.  XX. 


JUNE  1,  1892. 


No.  11. 


STRAr  Straws 

FROM      DR.    C.    C.    MILLER. 

I^kt's  Fi)i.iA)W  Prof.  Cook's  suggestion,  and 
write  to  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture. 

"Wet  axd  coi.d  most  of  the  time,"  says  Doo- 
llttle,  "and  that  tells  you  all  about  it." 

That  Myers  spray  pump  is  just  what  I've 
been  looking  for  this  good  while.  Must  have 
one. 

Dooi-iTTi.E  took  his  bees  out  of  cellar  April 
26.  r,»  davs  later  than  I  did.  Wise  Doolittle. 
Foolish  Miller. 

Nkw  Hampsuire  is  a  bad  State  for  selling 
artilieial  honey.  The  ^4.  B.J.  says  a  man  was 
fined  ?100  for  selling  it  there. 

My  bees  are  still  dying  off  in  the  middle  of 
May.  It's  not  dwindling;  the  weak  ones  just 
die.  same  as  they  do  in  winter. 

Two  YOUNG  queens  last  season  mated  31 
days  after  leaving  their  cells,  for  W.  P.  Fayloi;, 
and  he  says  they  were  good  in  every  respect. 

R.  (iAMMON  writes  that  he  is  afraid  the  name- 
less disease  may  become  a  very  serious  matter 
with  him.  and  he  finds  the  salt  cure  no  good. 

If  I  HAD  KEPT  EIRE  iu  my  cellars  all  winter 
and  then  not  taken  the  bees  out  till  May  1(5,  I 
think  I  should  have  had  more  bees  than  I  now 
have. 

SoFT-M.\PEE  Bi.ooM  is  becoming  less  and  less 
a  guide  for  me  as  to  taking  bees  out  of  the  cel- 
lar. Of  late  years  the  maple  doesn't  seem  to 
have  very  good  judgment,  and  blooms  too  soon. 

The  Keei>ey  Tobacco  Cure,  according  to 
the  Weekly  Medical  Rcvlcii\  killed  a  man  in 
Omaha,  after  two  weeks'  use.  It's  not  so  safe 
as  the  Root  smoker  cure,  and  I  don't  believe  it's 
as  sure. 

Laurel  honey  may  be  rank  poison,  but  if  it 
is  I'm  puzzled  to  know  win  I  never  heard  of 
any  one  being  poisoned  t)y  it" in  Western  Penn- 
sylvania where  we  had  acres  and  acres  and 
acres  of  laurel.    And  wasn't  it  beautiful? 

The  fuist  swarm  came  out  for  me  May  \2, 
but  it  was  a  "  fool  swarm,"  a  little  bit  of  a  colo- 
ny leaving  its  hive  without  the  shadow  of  an 
e.xcuse— had  plenty  of  honey,  a  clean  hive,  and 
all  that— what  makes  such  a  colony  swarm, 
anyhow  ? 

I  READ,  on  p.  38.5,  "  We  notice  that  the  Big 
Four  are  having  all  their  ears  painted  with 
ocher."  and  began  wondering  who  had  been 
decorating  the  ears  of  the  incorporators;  but  on 
reading  further  I  found  the  editor  was  talking 
about  a  railroad,  and  that  it  was  cars  and  not 
cor.s-  that  had  the  coat  of  ocher. 


Is  THE  THORAX  of  a  laying  queen  anv  larger 
than  it  was  when  she  was  a  viigin?  Who  can 
tell  us?  For  it's  the  thorax,  isn't  it,  and  not 
the  abdomen  that  prevents  a  queen  from  going 
through  an  excluder?  Bro.  Larrabee,  there's  a 
nut  to  crack. 

"  We  have  last  largely,"  writes  Mrs.  Axteil, 
"and  more  are  dying  every  day,  spotting  the 
hives  badly— not  enough  bees  left  to  cover  the 
capped  brood."  My  bees  differ  in  one  respect. 
They  haven't  as  much  brood  as  thev  can  cover. 
I  suspect  it  is  better  so. 

That  chapter  by  A.  I.  Root  in  the  new 
book.  "How  to  Support  a  Family  on  a  Quarter 
of  an  Acre  of  Giound,"  is  good,  I'll  warrant; 
but  the  question  that  interests  me  most  is, 
"  How  to  Support  Forty  Acres  of  Ground  with 
only  One  Small  B^amily." 

This  is  the  worst  spring,  I  think,  for  bees, 
that  I  ever  knew.  Changing  from  cool  to  cold, 
and  i-ain,  rain,  rain,  there  have  been  no  days 
when  bees  could  fly  all  day.  few  when  they 
could  leave  the  hive  at  all.  and  none  when  they 
could  gather  any  thing  to  speak  of. 

May  13  was  the  first  day  for  some  time  that 
bees  could  fly,  and  there  was  on  that  day  some 
spotting  of  hives,  just  as  on  first  flight  in  spring. 
Showed  they  were  injured  by  the  long  confine- 
ment. Then  ]\Iay  Ifi  was  good,  and  those  two 
days  are  the  only  good  ones  we've  had  in  the 
month,  up  to  the  20th. 

Bait  sections,  I  used  to  think,  were  better 
in  the  corners  of  the  super.  Latterly  I  prefer 
them  in  the  center.  I  think  one  Ijait  in  the 
center  is  as  good  as  one  in  each  ccn-ner.  Bees 
start  sooner  in  the  middle,  and  if  there  are  any 
unfinished  sections  left  in  a  super  I'd  alwavs 
rather  have  them  in  the  corners. 

Sweet  clover,  I  suspect,  may  have  a  future 
before  it  as  a  hay  plant.  I  have  lately  been 
feeding  some  sweet-clover  hay,  and  find  it  a 
success.  If  I  were  a  farmer,  I  should  give  it  a 
thorough  trial:  for  if  it  makes  good  hay,  I 
think  there  is  no  question  about  the  heavy 
yield  per  acre.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  it 
needs  no  cultivation  of  taste  for  the  dry  hay, 
as  it  does  for  the  green  plant. 

Looks  a  little  blue  to  see  the  bees  kept  the 
same  as  in  winter  quarters  up  to  May  20.  and 
no  telling  how  much  later,  but  there's  much  to 
be  thankful  for.  Pve  plenty  to  eat  and  drink, 
the  happiest  homc^  in  North(!rn  Illinois,  and  it's 
up  on  a  hill  where  there's  no  danger  of  its  being 
washed  away  lik(^  so  many  others;  and  al- 
though the  flood-gates  of  heaven  seem  wide 
open  all  the  time,  there  are  blessings  as  well  as 
rain  coming  down. 

Excluders  h.ave  been  reported  in  some  in- 
stances as  failures.  Was  it  because  the  ex- 
cluders were  faulty,  or  can  a  queen  go  through 


404 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  1. 


the  best  of  excluders  if  she  tries?  To  say  that 
a  queen  doesn't  go  up  into  a  .^uper  through  an 
excluder  proves  nothing.  Generally  she  doesn't 
wan't  to  go  up.  and  wouldn't  go  up  anyway. 
But  put  the  brood  above  and  all  empty  combs 
below,  will  the  queen  stay  down?  I  think  with 
the  right  kind  of  excluder  she  will,  but  I  don't 
know  for  certain. 

Hutchinson  is  a  philosopher.  He  says  it 
makes  no  difference  whether  you  charge  a  high 
price  for  the  bee-keeper's  time,  or  charge  a  low- 
price  and  make  a  big  profit;  that  in  either  case 
just  the  same  amount  of  money  goes  into  the 
bee-keeper's  pocket.  And  he's  clearly  right, 
and  it  sometimes  makes  a  difference  how  a 
thing  is  put.  Proclaim  to  the  world  that  the 
price  received  for  honey  is  nearly  all  profit,  and 
don't  you  think  it  will  have  more  tendency  to 
bring  down  the  price  of  honey  than  to  say  that 
the  bee-keeper  gets  no  more  than  fair  pay  for 
his  time  ? 


PROF.  H.  "W.  'WILEY'S  REPORT  ON  HONEY 
ADULTERATION. 


PROF.  COOK  REVIEWS  IT. 


This  report,  being  a  part  of  Bulletin  No.  13  of 
the  Chemical  Division  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture,  which  has  just  been  issued,  con- 
tains much  that  is  of  exceeding  interest  to  bee- 
keepers. It  is  not  altogether  conclusive,  and 
makes  it  exceedingly  desirable  that  we  should 
have  a  large  number  of  analyses  from  reliable 
chemists,  of  honey  of  all  kinds,  procured  in  such 
a  way  that  there  can  be  no  possible  doubt  as  to 
the  purity  of  the  article.  I  am  quite  of  the 
opinion  that  such  analyses  would  modify  the 
views  of  many  of  our  very  best  chemists.  Hon- 
ey comes  from  so  many  and  such  varied  sources 
that  it  must  vary  greatly  in  its  nature  and 
composition;  and  I  very  strongly  believe  that 
our  chemists  are  not  fully  conversant  with  all 
the  facts. 

Regarding  Prof.  H.  W.  Wiley,  let  me  say  that 
his  character  as  a  man  and  a  chemist  ranks 
very  high  with  those  who  know  him  most  in- 
timately, and  are  best  qualified  to  judge.  That 
he  made  a  terribly  mischievous  error  in  his 
Popular  Science  Monthly  article  regarding  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  artificial  comb  honey, 
there  can  be  no  question.  That  he  made  a  still 
more  unfortunate  mistake  in  not  frankly  ac- 
knowledging his  error,  and  at  once  correcting 
it  when  his  attention  was  called  to  the  matter, 
and  the  truth  pointed  out  and  demonstrated,  is 
also  beyond  question.  His  "scientific  pleas- 
antry "was  an  awkward  excuse,  unworthy  of 
the  scientist  and  the  man.  Yet  many  another 
good  man  finds  it  hard  to  retract  an  unwise  or 
incorrect  statement,  or  to  gracefully  acknowl- 
edge, even  when  convinced,  that  he  has  been 
led  into  erroi*. 

Prof.  Wiley's  first  mistake  was  in  publishing 
as  fact  that  which  was  only  rumor,  and  which 
he  had  taken  no  pains  to  verify.  Had  he  avoid- 
ed that  mistake  he  would  have  been  saved  all 
the  others.  It  seems  to  me  that,  in  this  last 
report,  he  may  be  repeating  this  mistake. 

On  page  744  he  speaks  of  temptations  which 
the  manufacturer,  producer,  and  dealer  have 
not  been  able  to  withstand.  That  manufac- 
turers and  wholesale  dealers  have  and  do  adul- 
terate honey  to  a  large  extent,  I  think  is  true 
beyond  dispute.  That  producers  do  this,  I  do 
not  believe,  and  I  have  investigated  the  matter 
quite  fully.  That  they  do  not  do  it  is  not  that 
they  are  all  exceptionally  honest,  but  they  are 
not  up  to  such  work,  and  are  not  skilled  in  such 


business.  TJiey  are  producers,  not  munufac- 
turers. 

Again,  bee-keepers  are"  generally  well  read, 
especially  any  who  would  be  led  to  such  work, 
and  our  bee-papers  are  loud  in  denunciation  of 
adulteration,  and  so  all  bee-keepers  know  that, 
to  be  discovered  as  adulterators,  would  at  once 
ruin  their  business.  But  all  bee-keepers  in  a 
community  know  each  bee-keeper,  and  watch 
his  work  and  methods;  hence,  to  engage  in  this 
work  extensively  at  all  (and  there  would  be  no 
profit  in  any  but  a  wholesale  business),  would 
surely  bring  detection.  I  have  long  been  con- 
versant with  bee-keepers  and  their  work  and 
methods,  the  country  over,  and  I  fully  believe 
that  no  one  could  make  this  profitable,  and  es- 
cape detection.  Again,  there  is  now  but  very 
little  profit  in  this  nefarious  work — I  say  "  ne- 
farious," for,  to  sell  any  article  for  what  it  is 
not,  is  to  defraud — and  so  the  manufacturer 
must  do  a  tremendous  business  to  make  it  pay. 
The  real  producer  of  honey,  we  know,  does  not 
do  this.  We  know  his  sales,  and  we  know  that 
they  are  just  about  what  the  season's  product 
permits.  Heioce  I  believe  Prof.  Wiley  does  our 
bee-keepers  a  serious  wrong.  I  have  no  doubt 
that  he  thinks  he  is  correct..  I  am  only  sorry 
that  he  had  not  studied  the  facts,  and  so  known 
whereof  he  affirmed.  I  am  quite  sure  he  has  no 
data  to  sustain  his  charge. 

A  study  of  his  tables  shows  that  it  is  the 
manufacturer,  not  the  producer,  who  sells  an 
adulteration  as  honey. 

On  page  74.5  we  find,  "  Artificial  comb  honey 
has  been  regarded  as  a  possible  article  of  com- 
merce by  many  scientific  men."  A  slip  sent  out 
after  the  report,  puts  a  not  before  '•  been  "  in 
this  sentence.  The  truth  is,  no  scientific  man 
thinks  it.  The  thing  is  impossible,  and  has 
never  been  done.  A  real  scientist  does  not 
think  a  thing  till  he  studies  into  it  and  has  a 
reason  for  his  conviction.  It  is  unfortunate 
that  Prof.  Wiley  had  not  ended  his  sentence 
with  "  by  any  scientific  man.''' 

Page  745  states  that  •'  pure  honey  has  a  slight 
left-handed  effect  on  the  plane  of  polarized 
light,  less  than  invert  cane  sugar."  He  states 
further,  on  p.  796,  "  By  reason  of  the  fact  that 
these  five  samples  were  right-handed  they  have 
an  unusual  interest."  These  are  stated  as  sure- 
ly genuine.  Again,  p.  798.  we  find  honey  from 
pine  honey-dew  with  a  right-handed  rotation. 
I  have  delicious  honey  from  several  kinds  of 
honey-dew,  and  some  from  ergot.  Does  Prof. 
Wiley  know  but  that  some  of  this — which  is 
genuine  honey — may  be  very  strongly  right- 
handed  ?  Is  there  not  room  for  more  investiga- 
tion? 

Again,  has  Prof.  Wiley  analyzed  honey  which 
was  gathered  very  rapidly — basswood  for  in- 
stance— when  the  bees  may  gather  20  lbs.  per 
colony  in  a  single  day— to  note  whether,  in  such 
cases,  the  bees  may  not  fail  to  reduce  the 
sucrose  of  the  cane  sugar,  and  thus  possibly 
give  us  a  genuine  honey  of  very  best  quality 
which  is  strongly  right-handed?  He  says,  p. 
746.  "The  amount  of  cane  sugar  varies  from 
nothing  to  8  to  10  per  cent  according  to  the 
quantity  of  cane  sugar  in  the  nectar.  a?icZ  the 
extent  of  inversion  to  which  it  Is  subjected  in 
passing  the  organism  of  the  bee.  We  here  have 
acknowledgment  that  the  digestion  of  the  nec- 
tar— that  is.  the  inversion  of  the  cane  sugar  of 
the  nectar — varies.  May  not  rapidly  gathered 
honey,  then,  like  our  basswood  and  the  sage  of 
California,  which  is  often  collected  with  tre- 
mendous rapidity,  be  stored  without  inversion, 
and  so  be  rich  in  cane  sugar  and  be  strongly 
right-handed?  I  have  good  reason  to  think 
this  may  be  true. 

On  p.  745  we  have:  "  The  content  of  water  in 
pure  honey  may  vary  from  12  to  20  per  cent.    It 


18«>2 


GLEANIN(;S  IN  IJEE  CULTURE. 


405 


is  seldom  as  low  as  r.\  and  docs  not  fii'(iii(Milly 
(>xotM>d  ".'0  iKT  rcnl."  On  p.  7S()  «(>  lind  tliat  IS 
sanipli's  an-  |ii'onoiiiu't'd  impiiro  licoaiisc  of  cx- 
ci'ss  of  water.  S(>V('i'al  saini)l('s  jravc  ov(>r  .'{() 
por  I'iMii.  wliilo  one  fiavc  over  .'ill  jicr  cent.  Tliis 
stMMiis  to  tli(>  h(>('-l<('t'i>cf  lil<('  a  jolo'.  and  siifcdy 
eivos  aiiotluT  reason  why  wc  sliould  put  only 
luliy  ripened  honey  on  the  market.  Had  Prot\ 
Wiley  consulted  even  a  novitiate  in  extraoted- 
hone>  nfodiu'tion  he  could  have  learned  that, 
since  tlic  lione\ -extiactof  has  been  hroucrht  into 
use.  the  neiventage  of  watef  is  no  test  for  honey. 
How  well  it  would  bo  if  the  scientist  could 
know  mon^  of  what  is  A  B  C  to  the  practical 
man  I 

The  analy.ses  given  in  the  report  are  from  ten 
of  the  best  of  our  American  chemists.  Fifty 
samples  were  analyzed  by  each  one.  The  adul- 
terated samples  as  repoit<'d  range  from  i:.'  per 
cent— ttiose  by  Dr.  S.  P.  Sharpies,  who  procured 
his  material  from  Boston,  wher  '  there  are  very 
stringent  laws  against  adulteration— to  76  per 
cent— those  reported  by  I'rof.  H.  H.  Nicholson, 
of  Lincoln,  Neb. 

KNCOtTRAGING   POINTERS. 

There  is  much  in  this  report  that  will  prove 
gratifying.  Tlie  fact,  as  just  stated,  that  Bos- 
ton, with  a  good  law  against  adulteration, 
shows  so  clean  a  record,  is  surely  enough  to 
move  every  bee-keeper  to  work  for  such  a  law 
in  his  own  Stat(\  Esp(>cially  is  such  a  law 
needed  in  Nebraska,  if  the  report  is  a  correct 
guide.  Should  not  bee-keepers  everywhere 
urge  the  passage  of  the  Paddock  law  now  pend- 
ing in  congress? 

Again,  nearly  if  not  quite  all  the  samples  con- 
demned in  the  report  are  from  manufitcturers. 
Those  from  apiarists,  so  far  as  I  know  or  can 
determine,  are  all  pronounced  pure,  I  have 
long  believed  and  urged,  that,  if  all  would  pur- 
cliase  honey  witli  the  producer's  stamp  or 
trade-mark  on  it,  they  would  get  genuine  honey. 
As  shown  above,  producers  do  not  77ia?)»/(fcture. 
The  very  words.  "  Strained  honey  "  and  "Cali- 
fornia white-clover  honey,"  show  that  the  hon- 
ey was  never  put  up  by  a  bee-keeper. 

PUZZLES. 

That  two  chemists'  report  adulterated  honey 
from  C.  F.  Muth  is  puzzling.  No  one  who 
knows  Mr.  Muth  and  his  earnest  work  against 
adulteration  can  believe  for  a  moment  that  he 
is  guilty  of  any  such  meanness  and  fraud. 
Eitlier  "the  analyses  are  conducted  on  a  false 
basis,  or  else  Mr.  Muth  has  been  deceived  in 
his  purchases.  As  I  understand,  he  purchases 
mostly  of  real  producers,  and  so.  as  above 
sho^v  n.  would  get  pure  honey.  In  case  he  pur- 
chased of  these  manufacturers,  we  should  sup- 
pose him  too  experienced  and  wary  to  be 
caught,  as  I  have  previously  stated.  Analyses 
which  condeiun  honey  with  Mr.  Muth's  gijar- 
antee  of  purity  affixed  cause  us  to  doubt  the 
methods  of  an.'lysis. 

Again,  how  can  California  honey,  sold  at 
three  and  four  cents  per  pound,  be  adulterated 
at  a  profit?  Is  it  not  possible  that  California 
honey  lias  properties  that  deceive  the  very  elect 
chemists? 

The  high  standing  of  all  the  chemists  en- 
gaged in  this  work  proves  conclusively  that,  in 
case  there  are  errors,  it  iswitt  the  methods. 
As  the  report  states,  honeys  are  complex  and 
varied  in  character,  and  "often  old  chemical 
methods  have  had  to  be  given  up  with  the  ad- 
vent of  new  light.  The  fact  that  several  whole- 
sale dealers  furnished  only  pure  samples  in 
every  case,  and  that  the  most  of  Mr.  Muth's 
samples  are  pronounced  genuine,  should  tend  to 
strengthen  our  confidence  in  the  report. 

A.  J.  Cook. 

Agricultural  College,  Mich,  May  19. 


[The  article  ai)ove  was  vvritt(Mi  ixifore  I'rof. 
Cook  saw  our  editorial  in  May  1.5th  Gi,e.vn- 
iN(js.  Since  receiving  that  numl)er  he  writes 
as  follows:  —  iOi).] 

It  seems  to  me  that  you  are  very  severe  in 
your  editorial  regarding  Prof.  Wiley's  report. 
I  am  sure  you  intend  to  do  only  exact  justice, 
and  that  you  have  reason  to  feel  strongly;  but 
we  can  not  afford  to  do  injustice;  and  I  know 
that  you  are  th((  last  person  that  would  inten- 
tionally do  injustice  to  anyone.  You  will  no- 
tice that  not  one  of  the  samples  purporting  to 
come  from  INIr.  Muth  was  bought  of  him;  and 
any  man  that  would  lie  by  selling  an  article  as 
pure  honey  which  was  adulteratcid  stuff  would, 
I  imagine,  not  hesitate  to  steal  a  man's  name 
and  character.  If  he  did  this  he  would  likely 
steal  the  best  Ik^  could  find,  which  means  Mr. 
Muth's.  Prof.  M.  A.  Scovell,  who  analyzed  the 
samples  you  refer  to,  is.  to  my  certain  knowl- 
edge, as  I  know  him  well,  one  of  our  finest  men, 
and  one  of  our  best  American  chemists.  He 
uses  the  best  means  known  to  science.  I  be- 
lieve, as  you  know,  that  the  method  is,  very 
likely,  faulty;  but  we  must  not  condemn  a  luan 
who  acts  according  to  the  best  light  he  has.  I 
have  already  consulted  with  Prof.  S.,  and  he 
desires  to  cooperate  with  mein  settling  this  mat- 
ter once  for  all.  I  wish  you  would  aid  us  by 
helping  me  to  get  several  .samples  of  basswood 
and  white-sage  honey — surely  genuine— right 
from  the  apiarist,  which  was  gathered  very 
rapidly  by  the  bees.  I  hope  to  show  the  chem- 
ist that  a  new  and  better  method  is  demanded. 

You  say  Dr.  Wiley  starts  out  on  a  new  line,  to 
show  that  nearly  all  liquid  honey  is  adulterated. 
Would  it  not  be  more  correct  to  say,  to  show 
that  much — less  than  half,  really  about  38:o — of 
the  honey  prepared  by  wholesalers  is  not  genu- 
ine? Are  we  sure  this  is  not  true?  I  believe 
this  report  will  do  good.  If  the  chemists  are  in 
the  dark,  we  are  going  to  show  it.  If  wholesale 
dealers  are  defrauding  our  people  we  should 
know  that,  and  take;  immediate  measures  to 
prevent  it.  I  tell  you,  we  can  secure  laws  and 
action  to  stay  such  iniquity,  and  we  must.  1 
do  not  think  Prof.  W.  an  incompetent.  He  is 
one  of  the  ablest  chemists  in  the  country,  and,  I 
believe,  wishes  only  the  best  good  to  all  our 
bee-keepers.  If  the  chemical  methods  need  re- 
forming, Prof.  Wiley  will  be  very  glad  to  know 
it.  and  suit  his  methods  to  the  latest  and  best 
advice  that  science  can  give.  This  is  the  cer- 
tain conviction  of 

Yours  truly,  A.  J.  Cook. 

Ag'l  College,  Mich. 

[vSee  editorial  comment  el.sewhere.]    . 


COST  OF  RESTRICTOES. 


MANIPULATING   COLONIES. 

In  Gleanings  for  March  1,  page  1G4,  is  an 
article  by  Mr.  .S.  A.  Dyke  upon  the  subject  of 
queen  restriction,  with  the  editor's  notes  to  the 
same,  which,  it  seems  to  me,  should  be  recon- 
sidered. 

First,  Mr.  Dyke  pronounces  them  "quite  ex- 
pensive," and  figures  the  cost  of  ten  at  S6.70  as 
compared  with  the  labor  of  unqueening  ten 
hives,  which  is  figured  at  ¥!3.00.  In  this  .S6.70  he 
has  figured  40  brood-frames,  made  up,  which  he 
already  has  and  would  not  need  to  buy.  We 
may  call  these  frames  worth  §!J.(X).  If  the  re- 
strictors  are  to  be  shipped  without  frames, 
another  dollar  may  be  deducted,  leaving  -54.70 
for  ten  restrictors.  All  the  parts  of  the  restrict- 
or  are  composed  of  metal,  and  will  last  20  years. 
The  labor  of  unqueening  might  be  performed 


4(J6 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  1. 


evpry  year,  so  that  for  30  yeais  it  would  amount 
to  UO.OO  instead  of  Mr.  Dyke"s  S2.00.  Taking 
the  cost  of  the  ten  restrictors  (S4.70)  from  the 
$40.  it  shows  a  balance  of  $35.30  in  their  favor. 
It  is  no  more  reasonable  to  use  restrictors  only 
one  season  than  to  use  hives  only  one  season 
and  throw  them  away. 

In  the  footnotes  the  editor  says.  "The  object 
of  queen  -  restriction,  advocated  by  C.  VV. 
Dayton,  is  primarily,  as  we  understand  it,  to 
control  unnecessary  brood  -  rearing  out  of 
season.'"  This  understanding  is  faulty.  It  is 
not  primarily  nor  any  other  "marily."  In  my 
last  pamphlet,  no  such  function  is  mentioned; 
iDut  for  correction,  and  any  one  who  cares  to 
know.  I  may  explain  somewhat  further.  You 
use  an  excluding  honey-board  on  top  of  the 
brood -chamber,  to  prevent  the  queen  from 
going  above  into  the  sections.  Very  well;  the 
restrictor  consists  of  what  may  be  called 
excluding  honey-boards;  one  for  each  side  of 
the  brood-combs,  as  well  as  one  for  the  top,  to 
prevent  the  queen  from  going  into  the  sections 
or  extracting  combs  at  the  sides  and  top  of  the 
hives,  and  also  an  excluder  to  prevent  the 
queen  from  going  out  at  the  entrance. 

I  know  there  may  be  more  honey  obtained  by 
having  the  surplus  receptacles  arranged  upon 
three  sides  of  the  brood  than  when  we  depend 
upon  the  top  of  the  hive  alone.  Again,  ihere 
are  not  such  a  perplexing  set  of  bee-spaces  at 
the  sides  to  coax  the  bees  through  as  at  the  top, 
because  brood-combs  may  be  placed  outside  of 
the  excluders,  and  the  excluders  moved  toward 
the  center  of  the  hive.  With  the  common 
excluding  honey-board,  having  two  bee-spaces, 
it  takes  about  five  days  for  the  bees  to  work 
their  way  through  them,  and  then  they  enter 
at  the  bottom  of  the  sections,  four  inches  from 
where  they  wish  to  begin  work.  The  bees  will 
never  go  into  surplus  receptacles  thus  arranged, 
until  the  honey-flow  forces  them  to  go  soiiie- 
where.  These  claims  may  be  tested  by  a  proper 
arrangement  of  the  bee-hive,  as  for  instance: 
About  ten  days  before  the  opening  of  the  honey 
harvest,  select  a  number  of  strong  colonies  and 
separate  their  brood-combs  in  the  middl(\  and 
put  in  three  courses  of  pound  sections  through 
the  center  of  the  brood-nest.  At  the  end  of  ten 
days  the  outside  sections  will  be  filled  with 
comb;  but  the  center  rows  will  seldom  be  work- 
ed upon  any.  If  only  one  row  of  sections  is  put 
in  they  will  be  filled  with  comb  in  thirty-six 
hours. 

This  shows  plainly  that  the  bees  work  much 
more  readily  close  by  the  brood.  Again,  two 
wide  frames  full  of  sections  may  be  placed  in 
the  center  of  the  brood-nest,  with  a  slatted 
honey-board  (or,  rather,  a  slatted  division- 
board)  on  one  side,  and  nothing  between  the 
sections  and  brood  on  the  other  side.  The 
ifoundation  next  the  division-board  remains  un- 
touched day  after  day,  or  until  the  honey  har- 
vest sets  iii.  From  16  to  40  sections  are  filled 
with  comb  by  the  time  the  bees  begin  on  the 
foundation  after  going  through  the  slatted 
division-board,  or  the  excluding  honey-board, 
on  top  of  the  hive. 

A   NEW-FANGI>ED   QUEEN-EXCLUDEK. 

Friend  Dyke  says  I  "seem  to  think  four  frames 
about  the  right  number"  for  the  n^strictor. 
Exactly.  Now  suppose  your  colony  contains 
the  eight  combs  of  brood.  Of  course,  this  may 
not  apply  to  mri  colonies,  because  my  hives 
liold  twelve  combs,  and  there  are  usually  more 
than  eight  combs  of  brood;  but  if  you  area 
bee-keeper  who  keeps  up  with  the  times  we 
may  be  safe  in  counting  on  eight  combs  of 
brood  for  j/oirr  colony.  Separate  the  eight 
combs  into  three  groups— four  combs  in  the 
middle  group,  and  two  in  each   outside  group. 


Attach  the  restrictor-excluders  to  the  outside 
frame"  of  the  middle  group,  and  arrange  the 
three  excludingstripsin  the  bee-spaces  between 
the  frames.  Now  you  will  have  the  queen  con- 
fined on  four  conibs.  and  there  will  be  two 
brood -combs  on  each  side,  outside  of  the  exclud- 
ers. In  this  way  the  effects  of  the  excluders 
are  entirely  overcome,  and  sections  or  frames 
placed  beside  or  alternated  with  these  outside 
brood-combs  will  be  worked  upon  just  as  readi- 
ly as  they  will  take  i)OSsession  of  any  comb 
alternated  with  the  brood-combs.  The  line  of 
queen  exclusion  or  resti'iction.  to  bring  the  best 
results,  should  be  drawn  within  the  limits  of 
the  brood-nest  instead  of  outside. 

In  the  case  of  the  excluding  hom^y  board, 
used  between  the  brood -nest  and  supers,  it  is 
considerable  distance  outside. 

SPEED   IN   MANIPULATING    HIVES. 

On  page  161  Mr.  Dyke  estimates  ten  colonies 
as  a  day's  work  in  unqueening  and  destroying 
queen-cells.  On  the  next  page  you  place  two 
hours'  work  at  40  hives,  which  would  be  equal 
to  300  per  day  and  1300  per  week.  Now.  after 
ten  years  of  practice  I  confess  that,  to  find  and 
clip  the  queen's  wing,  break  a  little  capping 
for  stimulation,  etc.,  60  colonies  is  a  good  fair 
ten  hours'  job.  I  can  set  13,000  ems  of  type  in 
ten  hours,  which  is  considerably  above  the  or- 
dinary speed  of  composition:  but  I  am  not  nim- 
ble enough  to  manipulate  75  colonies  of  bees  in 
the  ten  hours;  so  you  see  we  have  a  variation 
as  to  a  day's  work  of  fiom  10  to  (iOto  3(X)  colonies 
— still  further  apart  than  were  Messrs.  Doolittle 
and  Taylor  as  to  what  a  day's  work  is  worth. 
Who  is  the  nearest  right? 

Whatever  discussion  any  one  may  enter  into 
regarding  the  cost  of  restrictors  will  not  ti'ouble 
me.  as  I  am  not  in  the  notion  of  manufacturing 
them  to  sell,  but  am  in  the  notion  of  maintain- 
ing my  originality  and  priority  of  invention 
without  such  a  dispute  as  was  caused  by  the 
invention  of  bee-escapes,  divisible  brood-cham- 
bers, and  swarm-hivers. 

Several  have  intimated  that  Heddon  hives 
with  a  queen-excluding  honey-board  on  the  top 
and  bottom  would  accomplish  about  the  same 
results.  Certainly  they  would;  but  their 
greater  expense  is  against  them.  The  two  ex- 
cluding boards  cost  40  cents,  while  the  total 
expense  of  the  I'estrictor  is  47c(^nts.  leaving  only 
7  cents  with  which  to  change  fi'om  the  common 
frames  and  hives  in  use  to  the  Heddon  style. 
To  adopt  restrictors  is  simply  to  change  from 
one  form  of  excluder  to  another.  Hives  and 
frames  remain  the  same.  C.  W.  Dayton. 

Greeley,  Col.,  May  10. 

[The  average  bee-keeper  does  not  use  one 
kind  of  frame  or  hive  more  than  ten  years.  He 
either  goes  out  of  the  business  or  runs  on  to 
some  new  hobby.  So  ten  years  would  be  about 
as  long  as  you  could  safely  count  upon  the  use 
of  your  restrictors  on  the  average,  although 
they  would  doubtless  last  twice  that  length  of 
time;  so  there  would  hardly  be  a  balance  of 
$35.(X)  in  favor  of  the  restrictors.  Moreover,  as 
it  has  been  already  observed  by  another,  it 
seems  to  us  there  must  be  a  good  deal  of  labor 
used  in  handling  so  many  pieces  of  metal;  and 
if  for  any  reason  it  is  desired  to  see  the  queen  or 
to  inspect  the  brood  surfaces,  these  pieces  of 
metal  must  be  handled  at  a  considerable  ex- 
pense of  time. 

Referring  to  our  footnotes,  our  understanding 
of  the  restrictor  may  be  faulty;  but  arestrictor 
is  something  to  restrict  something,  and,  in  the 
case  of  your  device,  to  restrict  brood-rearing. 
Either  the  device  is  not  well  named,  or  our  un- 
derstanding, as  stated,  was  correct.  The  object 
of  contraction   is,  to  prevent  excessive  brood- 


IS'.tJ 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


407 


rt'iiiiiis  at  till'  wnuiii  tiiiir  of  tlic  yi-ar;  iiiid  \\r 
may  add,  also,  to  foivi'  llic  Ih-cs  into  I  \\r  siiriilus. 
Vour  rcstrii-tor  (s  a  iiu'IIumI  of  arcomplisliiiig 
ooiitraotioii.  and  n'strictinj^  tlic  c^j^-layiiif;  to 
les-s  tlian  a  hrood-i-liamhii-  of  the  ordinary  I^. 
hivo.  It  ditTcrs  from  ordinary  contraflioii.  tliat 
you  insert  brood-rombs  or  widi'  frames  of  sec- 
tions in  place  of  iiiittinjj  in  dummies  at.  the 
sides:  and  for  sucti  use  we  have  no  doubt  it 
accomplishes  a  very  useful  pui'pose.J 


RAMBLE  NO.   60. 

IX    VKXTl  I!.\   COrXTY. 

Many  of  tlie  readers  uf  Gi.iCAXixcis,  1  jiave  no 
doubt,  love  to  read,  now  and  then,  a  good  book 
of  fiction.  There  is  an  interesting  romance  of 
Southern  California,  which  gives  an  insight 
into  the  easy-going  ways  of  Spanish  life  at 
about  ilie  time  the  Americans,  with  their  greiid 


to  me<'t  ail  association  of  schoolteachers,  to  give 
them  a  lecture  on  the  insect-j)ests  of  the  coun- 
try, and  especially  facts  in  I'elation  to  the  de- 
tiH'tion  of  si-alc  that  is  so  destructive  to  citrus- 
trees.  The  teachers  would  impart  the  instruc- 
tion to  i)upils,  and  th(>  rising  generation  would 
be  b(>tter  picparod  to  fight  the  destfoyer. 
Orange-growing  is,  therefoi-e.  not  all  a  thing  of 
ease  and  protit,  but  has  fully  as  many  discour- 
aging phases  as  bee  culture. 

Mr.  M.  directed  me  to  diive  his  horse  to  his 
re,sidenc(\  about  three  miles  up  tlu^  S(!spe,  and 
he  would  return  on  the  morrow.  Now,  that 
horse  of  M.'s  is  a  remarkable  animal.  Mr.  Root 
says  it  is  patient.  It  is  more  than  patient. 
Aftei- 1  had  pushed  on  the  lines,  clucked  at  him, 
and  said.  ■' Gidup,"  I  gave  him  a  cut  with  the 
whip,  and  he  stopped  and  turned  his  head 
around,  and,  with  his  big  eyes,  plainly  indicated 
that  he  was  thinking  of  a  quotation  from 
Shakespeare.  Said  he,  in  language  that  speaks 
plainer  than   words,   '"Stranger,  this  was  the 


-.  -i 


.MRS.  M  I.XTYRE  .S  QUEEN-REAKIXG  APIARY   UNDER   THE   ORANGE-TREES. 


for  gold,  acquired  jKjssessionJ  of  the  country. 
The  story  was  founded  upon  facts,  and  the 
main  cliaracters  in  the  romance  were  veritable 
inhabitants  of  the  .Santa  Clara  Valley,  and 
many  place.s  are  pointed  out  as  landmarks 
mentioned  in  the  story.  I  therefore  recommend 
the  ••  Story  of  Ramona." 

It  was  down  this  valley  I  traveled  to  find  the 
home  of  .1.  F.  Mclntyre.  I  had  almost  madf  up 
my  mind  to  say  nothing  about  this  portion  of 
my  travels,  for  Ventura  Co.  has  now  been  quite 
well  written  up:  but  in  looking  the  ground 
over  I  find  that  not  half  the  wonders  of  this 
beautiful  country  have  ever  been  told.  About 
tlie  first  man  I  met  at  the  PMlImore  depot  was 
Mr.  Mclntyre  himself.    He  had  an  ajipointment 


most  unkindest  cut  of  all."  I  admired  the 
horse's  intelligence,  and  thereafter  allowed  him 
to  proceed  at  his  own  gait,  and  arrived  at  the 
Mclntyre  mansion  after  dark.  I  had  met  Mrs. 
M.  in  Los  Angeles,  and  tiierefore  felt  at  home.  ~ 
Mrs.  M.,  I  will  agree,  can  make  good  bread; 
but  that  isn't  all  of  her  accomplishments.  She 
can  make  canned  peaches.  Dears,  apricots,  and 
put  up  oranges  in  the  following  styles:  Orange 
jelly,  fritters,  cake,  pie,  ambrosia,  and  heavenly 
hash.  Then  there  are  the  four  babies  to  train 
into  usefulness,  the  organ  to  play,  and  queens 
to  raise.  I  have  a  photo  of  Mrs.  M.'s  queen- 
raising  apiary  under  the  orange-trees.  It  is 
located  under  those  beautiful  orange-trees.  An 
oiange-tree  has  a  peculiar  charm  about  it — the 


408 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  1. 


deep-green  foliage;  the  clean,  trim  appearance, 
and,  in  the  fruiting  season,  the  golden  fruit. 
Four  stands  are  placed  around  each  tree;  on 
these  stands  are  two  little  hives,  with  frames 
the  size  of  a  iJi^^H  section.  The  frames  rest 
on  two  bottom  stiips,  and  the  whole  little  hive 
can  be  removed  f)om  the  frames,  leaving  them 
free  to  be  manipulated.  The  stands  are  also  of 
sufficient  height  to  work  around  without  much 
bending  of  the  back,  which  is  an  excellent  pro- 
vision when  a  dignified  lady  manipulates  the 
hives. 

I  have  no  doubt  Mrs.  M.  can  run  that  whole 
apiary  of  500  colonics,  and  do  it  as  well  as  she 
can  make  bread.  She  comes  honestly  by  her 
bee-lore.  for.  as  the  most  of  bee-keepers  know, 
she  is  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Robert  Wilkin,  one 
of  the  pioneer  bee-keepers  of  this  portion  of 
California,  and  she  has  been  used  to  the  hum  of 
bees  all  her  life. 

Mr.  Mclntyre  has  been  written  up  so  much 
that  you  would  hai'dly  know  that  he  had  a 
helpmeet  of  ability,  and  1  hope  the  above  will 
set  her  right  before  the  public. 

Mr.  M.  returned  the  next  day,  and  we  made  a 
short  call  at  the  apiary  of  Mr.  Keeney.  A  de- 
scription of  his  apiary  tallies  well  with  others. 
Let  me  describe  nine-tenths  of  the  California 
apiaries  in  a  few  words.  Pasturage,  bees,  hives 
(good,  bad,  and  indifferent),  stones,  a  10x12 
honey-house  (sometimes  only  a  frame  covered 
with  burlap,  or  in   Mexican  style  of  adobe):  a 


especially  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of  beans; 
and  this  is  probably  the  greatest  bean-produc- 
ing valley  in  the  world.  The  largest  bean- 
ranch  contains  2300  aci-es,  and  produced  1030 
tons  of  lima  beans,  making  several  solid  rail- 
road trains  of  beans  from  one  ranch.  About 
1.500  carloads  from  the  county  were  handled, 
and  the  value  was  $133,000. 

In  Ventura  we  find  many  bee-keepers.  Mr. 
Mercer,  well  known  to  the  fraternity,  is  in  the 
business  to  the  number  of  1200  swarms.  Mr.  M. 
has  four  stalwart  sons  to  help  him,  and  is  a 
general  driver  in  business.  He  and  his  sous  are 
all  engaged,  not  only  in  bee  culture,  but  also  in 
carpentry  and  building,  and  have  a  planing- 
mill  to  aid  them  in  their  various  enterprises, 
and  are  doing  a  great  amount  of  business  in  the 
building  line,  all  the  time  adding  to  and  ex- 
tending the  size  of  the  growing  town  of  Ven- 
tura. In  the  honey  season,  he  too.  like  Mr. 
Richardson,  of  Santa  Paula,  goes  out  to  his 
apiaries  with  his  whole  family  and  his  horses, 
and  the  cow  and  the  calf  and  the  colt.  Our 
photo  shows  the  train  coming  in  after  thi^  con- 
clusion of  the  labors  of  the  season.  The  colt 
is  mounted  in  the  wagon;  the  head  wagon  has 
the  inevitable  trail  wagon  behind,  and  Mr. 
Mercer  is  driving. 

Mr.  Robert  Wilkiii,  of  Ventura,  has  retired 
somewhat  fi'om  the  activities  of  the  pursuit, 
though  he  still  has  apiaries  in  a  distant  portion 
of  the  county.     He  has  a  very  pleasant  home, 


THE    WAY   A   CALLFOENIA  HOUSEHOLD   MIGKATES   TO   AN   OUT-APIAKY. 


gaivanized-lron  honey-tank:  sun  wax-extractor; 
badger,  skunk,  squirrel,  and  gopher  holes  all 
around;  sometimes  a  little  10x12  cabin  to  bach 
it  in  through  the  honey-season. 

Mr.  Keeney's  apiary  was  near  his  residence, 
and  was  in  very  good  trim.  Mr.  K.  himself  is 
not  only  a  bee-keeper,  but  he  is  also  a  cultivator 
of  the  vine,  and  produces  quantities  of  raisins. 
If  the  bees  get  troublesome  he  covers  the  grape- 
trays  with  wire  cloth,  so  the  fruit-growing  and 
bee  culture  go  hand  in  hand,  as  they  should. 

From  Mr.  Keeney's  I  proceeded  to  Santa 
Paula.  Here  Mr.  Wm.  T.  Richardson  resides, 
and  is  owner  of  1200  colonies  of  bees.  He  is  a 
contractor  and  builder;  but  when  the  honey- 
season  opens,  with  his  family  and  a  crew  of 
helpers  he  goes  from  one  apiary  to  another 
until  the  flow  ceases.  His  bees  were  out  in  the 
mountains  on  what  is  called  the  Sime  ranche. 
Mr.  R.  Touchton  also  has  kept  bees  in  Santa 
Paula  foi'  1(3  years,  and  is  one  of  the  veterans  in 
the  business.  In  a  good  season  he  can  take  ten 
swarms  and  increase  them  to  one  hundred. 

Mr.  C.  W.  Metcalf,  of  Santa  Paula,  is  a  metal- 
worker and  tinner,  and  has  invented  a  new  re- 
versible extractor.  The  baskets  are  operated 
by  a  sprocket-chain,  very  ingeniously  arranged 
around  several  sprocket-wheels.  The  machine 
workis  very  well,  and  the  inventor  is  selling  a 
number  of  them. 

While  the  foot-hills  and  the  mountains  are 
rich   in  honey,  the  fertile    bottom    lands    are 


presided  over  by  his  youngest  daughter.  In  his 
front  yard  I  noticed  a  pretty  fountain  and  reser- 
voir with  goldfish.  His  house  and  surroundings 
denote  refinement  and  comfort,  and  I  believe  it 
all  came  through  bee  culture.  In  his  palmy 
days  he  was  ambitious  to  secure  a  crop  of  50 
tons  of  honey,  and  accomplished  it.  He  then 
sought  a  market  for  it  in  England,  with  good 
results.  Since  living  in  California  he  had 
bought  and  sold  many  apiaries.  I  find  that 
apiaries  are  more  salable  property  in  California 
than  in  the  East.  Every  season  those  who  wish 
to  enlarge  their  business  are  looking  for  api- 
aries, either  to  purchase  or  to  rent;  while  in 
the  East,  if  an  apiary  is  sold  it  has  to  be  broken 
up  and  sold  to  vai'ious  parties,  unless  the  pur- 
chaser buys  bees  and  farm.  Here  the  apiary 
is  located  upon  government  land,  or  land  that 
can  be  used  for  nothing  else,  and  the  purchaser 
buys  the  bare  bees,  hives,  and  fixtures. 

Mr.  Wilkin  is  a  progressive  man,  takes  an 
active  part  in  the  prosperity  and  upbuilding  of 
the  town  in  which  he  lives,  and  has  also  been 
an  active  factor  in  the  formation  of  bee-keep- 
ers' associations. 

Mr.  Walker,  a  few  miles  out  of  Ventura,  com- 
bines bee-keeping  with  ranching.  He  has  sev- 
eral thousand  acres  of  land,  and  cattle  and 
horses.  We  read  of  the  "  cattle  on  a  thousand 
hills."'  Here  it  would  seem  there  are  a  thousand 
cattle  on  a  hill.  P'ruit  culture  is,  however.  Mr. 
Walker's  hobby,  and  all  kinds  and  of  the   best 


IS'.l'J 


(JLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


409 


irrowii  iiri'  foiirui  nn  Mr.  W.'s  raiioli.  His  In^os 
\V('n>  atlliricd  laiju'ly  witli  tin'  tr(Mi\MinK  tlis- 
t'usc.  or  i)aralysis.  1  fear,  however,  tliat  Mr. 
\V.  has  ••  loo  many  irons  in  liu-  tire."' and  tiie 
hoc  iron  is  tlu'  ono  tiiat  sntTcrs. 

The  reader  will  jierliaps  hegin  to  thinl\  tiiat 
tlie  al)o\e  enumeration  of  bee-keepers,  witli 
tlieir  tiundreds  and  tiiousands  of  eoionies,  is 
enough  for  one  eoiinty:  l)ut  tiiere  art'  more  to 
foiknv.  Not  half  of  the  wonders  of  tiiis  beauti- 
ful eountry  iiave  ever  been  told:  neither  can 
thev  all  be  rehearsed  h\  the  Ua.mulkh. 


CARRYING  BEES  FROM   THE  CELLAR,   ETC. 


now    AND  W  IIK.N    I'M    DO    IT    SO    AS    NOT    TO    IIAVK 
THE   BEKS    FI,Y    OUT. 


In  a  back  number  of  Gi.kamxgs  I  tihd  this 
question:  "I  see  quite  a  good  many  of  the 
brethren  who  practice  cellar  wintering  advise 
putting  tlie  bees  in  the  cellar  without  any  bot- 
tom-boards to  the  hives.  I  should  like  to  liave 
them  tell  me  iiow  they  manage  in  the  spring  to 
keep  the  bees  from  getting  in  an  uproar  when 
being  phiced  on  their  summer  stands."  I  have 
waited  some  time  to  see  if  some  one  else  would 
not  answer  this  question,  as  I  should  like  to 
hear  the  plans  of  others;  but  as  no  one  has 
done  so. -and  as  I  have  a  request  privately,  to 
answer  this  question.  I  will  try  my  hand  at  it. 

One  of  the  most  dreaded  things"  which  I  used 
to  do  was  the  setting  of  the  bees  out  of  the  cel- 
lar, where  the  hives  had  no  bottom-boards  on 
them  during  the  winter,  as  the  bees  would  fly 
out  in  spite  of  all  the  carefulness  in  handling 
which  I  could  do.  and  these  bees  which  flew  out 
were  the  most  wicked  to  sting  of  any  which  I 
had  to  encounter.  Also,  all  the  bees  which  flew 
out  on  the  journey  from  the  cellar  to  their 
stands  apparently  marked  the  spot  where  they 
left  the  hive,  and  would  hover  about  there  for 
some  time  after,  ready  to  sting  whatever  came 
along,  as  well  as  being  a  loss  to  the  colony  and 
the  apiarist.  -Studying  on  the  matter  for  some 
time  1  Anally  resolved  to  smoke  each  colony  as 
soon  as  out  of  the  cellar-door:  and  ujjon  trying 
it  I  found  that  smoke  would  drive  the  few  bees 
that  were  ready  to  rush  out  and  fly,  right  back 
to  the  cluster,  where  they  would  stay  for  a  mo- 
ment or  two  before  attempting  to  fly  out  again. 
In  this  way  I  got  along  very  well  unle.ss  the 
stand  the  colony  was  to  occupy  was  so  far  from 
th(;  cellar  door  that  the  cluster  would  break  up, 
and  a  general  rush  would  be  mad(!  for  the  light 
and  warm  air  which  greeted  them,  after  being 
in  the  dark  cellar  four  f)r  five  'uonths. 

One  day  I  thought  of  the  spring  wheelbarrow, 
so  I  tried  setting  them  on  th;it  and  wheeling 
them  to  their  stands.  This  was  much  easier 
for  me:  but  there  was  a  cf^rtain  amount  of  jar- 
ring to  it,  in  spite  of  the  springs,  that  irritated 
the  bees  so  that  they  were  ready  to  rush  out 
en  mf<8.S'e  when  I  waslitting  the  hive  from  the 
barrow  to  the  stand;  and  often  the  bottom  of 
the  baiTOW  would  be  covered  with  the  Vjees 
which  had  come  down  before  the  stand  was 
reached.  This  saved  all  of  the  bees,  as  they  all 
marked  the  right  spot,  but  did  not  do  away 
with  tlie  stinging  from  the  bees  which  flew  in 
the  air  before  the  hive  was  on  the  stand.  I  next 
took  an  old  sheet  and  wet  it.  and.  after  doub- 
ling, put  that  on  the  bottom  of  the  wheelbar- 
row and  tip  over  the  front  end- board.  This 
took  off  all  the  jar.  and  also  kept  the  few  bees 
which  might  straggle  down  on  to  the  bottom  of 
the  l)arro;v  from  staying  there  ;  for  as  soon  as 
they  came  in  contact  with  the  wet  sheet  they 
would  run  hack. 

I  now  went  into  the  cellar,  took  a  hive  of  bees, 
and  placed  it  on  the  sheet,  tipped  it  up  a  little 


in  frontso  as  to  blow  under  three  or  four  jtull's 
of  smoke,  lowered  it  to  its  place,  and  put  a  wet 
rag  down  in  front  ovei-  the  entrance,  when  I 
had  the  thing  just  as  I  wanted  it,  for  1  could 
wheel  them  wherever  I  wished,  without  their 
apparently  bicaking  tht^  cluster  at  all.  The 
wet  sheet  gave  a  chill  to  the  air  inside  of  the 
hive  so  the  i)ces  did  not  fe<!l  the  warmth,  and 
th(^  wet  rag  at  the  entrance  excluded  the  light, 
so  that  they  apparently  did  not  realize  but  that 
they  were  still  in  the  cellar  till  they  weiv  safely 
on  theirstands.  I  now  have  no  dread  of  setting 
th(!  bees  out  of  the  cellar,  and  they  also  are  not 
in  such  a  huiTy  to  rush  out  but  that  they  prop- 
erly mark  tlieir  entrance!,  thus  saving  the  mix- 
ing of  iii'es  so  frequently  occurring  in  the  old 
way,  by  which  some  colonies  liavi;  more  bees 
than  th(!y  should,  and  others  being  deficient. 

WIIKX   SVVAKMS   MAY   BE   p:xrECTED. 

A  party  wishes  to  know  when  he  may  expect 
swarms  fi'om  his  colonies.  It  should  be  no 
trouble  to  tell  when  the  first  swarm  of  the  sea- 
son will  issue,  with  any  one  who  is  thoroughly 
conversant  with  the  inside  of  a  bee-hive;  but 
when  the  swarming  fever  runs  high,  swarms 
may  be  expected  contrary  to  almost  any  of  the 
rules.  With  me  I  never  had  the  first  swarm  of 
the  season  issue  except  under  the  following 
conditions,  which  are  those  upon  which  the 
larger  part  of  all  first  or  prime  swarms  issue, 
except  when  we  have  the  swarming  fever  as 
mentioned  above.  The  hive  becomes  populous 
with  bees  and  brood:  drones  are  under  headway 
in  the  drone  comb,  and  eggs  are  deposited  in  the 
queen-cells.  These  eggs  hatch  out,  and  are 
cared  for  abundantly  by  the  bees,  the  queen- 
cells  being  sealed  nine  days  after  the  egg  svas 
laid  by  the  queen,  and  six  days  from  the  time 
the  larva  hatches.  Now,  if  this  cell  is  sealed 
previous  to  6  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  swarm  will  issue 
on  that  day.  if  the  day  is  pleasant:  if  not  pleas- 
ant, then  the  next  pleasant  day.  If  the  cell  is 
sealed  after  fi  o'clock,  then  the  swarm,  as  a 
rule,  will  not  come  till  the  next  day.  This  I  be- 
lieve to  be  the  rule  with  all  first  swarms,  and  a 
positive  thing  with  the  lii'st  swarm  of  the  sea- 
son, after  twenty  years'  experieiiLC  Some 
writer  has  said  that  the  time  of  expecting 
swarms  is  when  we  find  several  queen-cells 
which  will  hatch  in  24  to  48  hours;  but  I  can 
not  but  think  that  this  is  a  mistake.  This  state 
of  afifairs  nuty  exist  where  a  swarm  has  been 
kept  back  by  bad  weather  ;  but  where  one 
swarm  issues  under  these  conditions,  a  hundred 
will  issue  under  the  conditions  described  above, 
and  five  issue  under  the  swarming  fever,  under 
which  fever  they  generally  issue  as  soon  as  the 
eggs  are  placed  in  the  queen-cells,  or  as  soon 
as  the  larva  hatches.  Some  Italian  colonies 
will  send  out  swarms  under  a  high  pressure  of 
swar'Tiing.  without  any  preparations  for  swarm- 
ing being  made,  except  for  drones;  but  I  never 
knew  a  colony  to  wait  till  within  48  hours  of 
the  time  of  the  hatching  of  the  first  queen-cell, 
unless  kept  back  by  unfavorable  circumstances. 

G.  M.  DOOLITTLE. 

Borodino,  N.  Y.,  May  14. 

[Bees  should  never  be  carried  out  of  the  cellar 
on  a  warm  or  hot  day.  or  else,  with  all  the  pre- 
cautions taken,  they  will  fly  out  and  hover 
about  the  cellar-opening  for  hours:  and.  worse 
than  all,  attack  persons  going  to  and  from  the 
house.  A  cool  morning  should  be  selected, 
when  few  if  any  bees  are  flying,  and  the  en- 
trance, as  Doolittle  says,  smoked  a  little,  to 
drive  back  the  guards  and  those  chaps  that  are 
ready  to  fly  out.  We  find  it  very  convenient, 
also,  to  close  the  entrance  entirely  in  some 
cases,  and,  after  the  hive  is  set  carefully  on  its 
stand,  remove  the  entrance  screen  or  stopper. 


410 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  1. 


using  a  little  smoke  to  prevent  the  bees  from 
flying  out  too  strongly  at  first.  Colonies  that 
are  on  our  fixed  Hoffman  frames  can  be  set  on  a 
wheelbarrow,  and  wheeled  quite  a  distance: 
but  as  the  barrow  jars  the  bees,  the  entrances 
should  be  closed,  as  above  directed.  If  the  col- 
onies are  light,  three  can  be  put  on  the  barrow 
at  once;  but  if  heavy,  only  two,  putting  the 
heavy  one  next  to  the  wheel,  crosswise  on  the 
barrow.  Now,  in  wheeling  colonies  it  will  be 
found  mch  easier  to  drtiw  the  wneelbarrow 
than  to  pusJi  it,  because  it  is  easier  to  draw  a 
vehicle  very  gently  over  an  obstruction  than  to 
push  it.  We  have  just  been  trying,  and  know 
from  experience.] 


GRADING,  AGAIN. 

DR.  MII.LEK   CONSIDEKS   THE   SUH.JP:CT  FUKTHEK. 


I  had  hoped  that  moi'e  rapid  progress  would 
have  been  made  in  the  matter  of  grading,  for  I 
believe,  as  many  others  do.  that  it  is  a  matter  of 
great  consequence.  At  the  outset  it  was  ad- 
mitted that  there  were  difficulties  'n  the  way. 
and  this  was  very  plainly  seen  in  the  difficulty 
of  coming  to  any  kind  of  agreement  at  Albany 
and  at  Chicago.  Instead  of  thinking  that  suffi- 
cient has  been  said  about  it  in  print,  and  thai 
the  matter  should  rest  until'  the  meeting  at 
Washington,  it  seems  to  me  that  it  would  hard- 
ly oe  lost  time  or  space  to  keep  up  the  discus- 
sion until  that  time. 

One  reason  I  have  for  thinking  so,  is,  that 
different  localities  will  have  different  views 
about  grading,  and  in  the  public  print  there  is  a 
fuller  representation,  or,  at  least,  a  more  equal 
representation,  of  all  parts  of  the  country,  than 
we  are  likely  to  have  at  any  one  convention; 
for  at  every  convention  there  is  always  a  strong- 
er representation  from  near  than  from  distant 
points.  True,  this  may  be  less  so  than  usual  at 
Washington;  still,  I  expect  it  to  hold  true  to  a 
great  extent. 

I  think  that  neither  at  Chicago  nor  at  Albany 
did  any  one  advance  the  view  that  i'  was  either 
useless  or  bad  to  adopt  a  system  of  grading;  the 
only  difficulty  was,  to  come  to  any  agreement 
as  to  what  it  should  be.  Since,  then,  however, 
some  one  has  suggested  that  it  would  not,  on 
the  whole,  be  a  desirable  thing,  and  that  it 
might  be  subject  to  abuse,  an  inspector  being 
necessary  to  carry  it  out,  and  the  inspector 
might  not  act  in  the  interests  of  the  producer. 

Personally,  I  think  I  can  get  along  independ- 
ently of  any  established  system  of  grading,  and 
I  have  no  doubt  that  others  can.  If  I  have  a 
class  of  customers  with  whom  I  have  been  deal- 
ing for  years,  and  if  they  have  entire  confidence 
in  the  manner  in  which  I  have  graded  my  hon- 
ey, it  is  not  very  unnatural  that  I  should  be 
somewhat  averse  to  making  any  change,  and  on 
that  account  I  may  think  it  best  not  to  agitate 
the  subject  of  grading.  But  if  it  should  be  for 
the  general  good,  I  should  be  willing  to  yield, 
especially  as  there  is  nothing  to  prevent  my  go- 
ing on  just  as  I  have  done  iu  the  past  with  any 
established  set  of  customers. 

But  a  more  conclusive  answer  to  any  who 
may  not  think  it  be^t  to  have  any  system  of 
grading  is  the  fact  that  we  have  it  already. 
Every  time  you  look  at  the  market  report-;  in 
the  bee-journals,  you  are  making  use  of  a  sys- 
tem of  grading.  "Fancy,"  "fair,"  "'dark," 
"No.  l,""No.  2,"  etc.,  are  simply  terms  indi- 
cating grades,  and  they  will  continue  to  be  used 
in  an  arbitrary  way.  not  satisfactory  to  any  one, 
until  something  better  can  be  agreed  upon.  So 
it  is  not  a  question  as  to  whether  we  shall  have 
any  system  of  grading,  but  whether  we  shall 
have  a  better  one.    I  do  not  see  the  necessity 


for  an  inspector  after  we  agree  upon  a  better 
classification,  any  more  than  there  is  a  necessity 
for  one  now.  If  I  sell  Smith,  at  Jenkins' Cor- 
ners, two  cases  of  honey,  it  w  ill  hardly  be  neces- 
sary to  have  an  inspector  appointed  at  Jenkins' 
Corners,  but  it  may  be  very  convenient  for  Mr. 
Smith  and  me  if  we  have  something  definite  to 
go  by  iu  our  dealings  with  one  another. 

But  when  we  get  down  to  the  business  of  de- 
ciding what  the  best  system  of  grading  is,  then 
the  trouble  begins.  What  suits  one  doesn't  suit 
another.  B  wants  nothing  but  white  honey  in 
the  first  grade,  and  C  says  his  Spanish  needle  is 
better  than  white  clover.  The  suggestion  has 
been  offered,  that  a  different  system  of  grading 
must  be  adopted  for  different  regions.  Will  not 
coufusion  arise  from  that?    Is  it  necessary  ? 

Not  having  settled  upon  any  system  of  my 
own,  I  have  been  anxiously  watching  to  see 
what  might  come  up  to  help  us  out  of  the  diffi- 
culty. The  plan  of  J.  A.  Green  would  suit  me — 
suit  me  well.  But  it  will  not  suit  all.  Either 
that  or  the  Albmy  or  Chicago  might  be  an  im- 
provement on  the  plan  now  in  use,  perhaps  with 
an  appendix  to  suit  some  particular  cases.  But 
on  the  whole  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  some- 
thing based  iu  some  degree  on  the  plan  present- 
ed by  W.  C.  Frazier  may  be  most  feasible. 

The  objection  is  urged,  that  it  is  too  compli- 
cated—  makes  too  many  grades.  Ten  grades 
may  be  easier  to  manage  than  five,  if  there  is  a 
simple  system  about  the  ten  that  does  not  pre- 
vail with  the  five.  If  I  am  to  select  a  coat,  it 
may  confuse  me  somewhat  when  you  describe 
nine  different  kinds  without  letting  me  know 
that  any  one  of  them  bears  a  relation  to  any 
other.  But  if  you  tell  me  that  there  are  three 
kinds  of  cloth  used  in  making  the  nine  coats, 
and  that  I  can  have  either  kind  of  cloth  in  a 
Prince  Albert,  a  sack,  or  a  cutaway,  the  thing 
looks  simple  enough.  Isn't  it  somewhat  the 
same  way  in  grading  honey?  Let  there  be  first 
a  grading  according  to  the  appearance  of  sec- 
tions and  combs,  independent  of  the  honey  con- 
tained, and,  having  this  done,  it  will  be  easy  to 
say  what  material  the  coat  shall  be  made  of. 

Certainly  there  would  be  one  great  advantage 
in  some  system  of  this  kind ;  and  that  is,  that  all 
would  be  more  likely  to  agree  upon  it  than  upon 
any  system  which  sliould  pretend  to  make  gra- 
dations by  having  honey  from  one  source  stand 
above  that  from  some  other  source;  for  a  per- 
fect section  of  white  clover  would  be  exactly 
the  same  as  a  perfect  section  of  buckwheat,  bar- 
ring the  difference  in  the  contents  of  the  cells. 

Can't  we  then  agree  first  upon  something  for 
fancy,  first  class,  second  class,  and  possibly 
third  class  of,  say,  clover  honey?  Perhaps 
there's  no  need  of  any  third  class.  Now.  if  we 
have  agreed  upon  what  is  first  and  second  class 
of  clover,  will  not  that  be  exactly  right  for 
Spanish  needle  or  buckwheat  or  what  not  ? 

Then  it  remains  to  classify,  if  possible,  the 
material  in  the  cells.  I  doubt  whether  there 
will  be  much  trouble  in  bunching  white  clover, 
linden,  alfalfa,  and  other  light  honeys  in  one 
lot  under  the  nann-  of  white  honey.  Possibly 
amber  and  dark  will  include  the  rest,  but  I  be- 
lieve it  was  decided  at  Albany  that  buckwheat 
must  stand  by  itself.  Why  should  it  stand  by 
itself?  Perhaps  because  it  is  better  known  than 
some  other  varieties,  and  because  tastes  differ 
widely  concerning  it,  some  considering  it  the 
best  kind  of  honey,  while  others  think  it  is  the 
poorest.  Well,  even  at  the  risk  of  weakening 
some  other  things  I  have  been  saying,  let  me 
tell  you  that,  as  the  public  becomes  better  edu- 
cated as  to  different  kinds  of  honey,  it  is  quite 
possible  that  buckwheat  is  not  the  only  kind 
that  will  stand  by  itself.  Just  now  the  dear 
public  doesn't  know  a  section  of  white  clover 
from  one  of  linden,  white  sage,  alfalfa,  fireweed, 


IS'CJ 


CLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


411 


or  any  oilier  that  looUs  white.  lUit  a  boo-keep- 
«'!•  has  his  prefenMices  for  tiiese  difTeroiit  kinds, 
aiul  the  publie  will  too.  just  as  soon  as  it  is  bet- 
ter posted.  So.  if  we  settle  on  three  or  four 
jri'ades  bas(>d  on  th(>  inake-uoof  the  siH'tion.  in- 
dependent of  the  sonii'e  of  t lie  contents,  we  can 
then  start  in  with  white,  amber,  dark,  and 
buckwheat,  if  yon  choose,  and  then  there  will 
be  no  dilliculty  afterwarii  in  adtiing  particular 
kinds  alontr  with  buckwheat,  just  as  rapidly  as 
there  is  any  need  for  it. 

If  you  say.  "  Hut  W(^  don"i  want  more  tlian 
four  or  live  grades  all  told,  takiiifi  into  account 
tiie  kind  of  honey  and  every  thins."  I  i"<'ply 
that,  if  there  (rrt' moie  kinds,  then  you  may  as 
well  recognize  tliem.  There's  buckwlieat.  that 
stands  out  byitself:  it  isn't  amber,  it  isn'tdark: 
it's  buckwheat,  and  yt)n  can't  lump  it  in  \vith 
any  thing  else.  Isn't  it  possible  that  Spanish 
needle  ought  just  as  much  to  stand  by  itself".' 
Of  course,  as  long  as  the  jinblic  tiiake  nodis- 
erimination  atnong  the  dilTei'ent  light  honeys  it 
is  well  enough  to  put  them  all  into  one  class 
and  call  them  white:  l)ut  our  system  siiould  be 
such  as  to  allow  a  change  any  time,  if  for  any 
reason  the  public  want  any  one  of  the  whites 
singled  out  from  the  others. 

Let  me  repeat  what  I  have  been  trying  to  get 
at:  That  the  three  or  four  grades  dep.MKling  up- 
on make-up.  independent  of  the  flowers  from 
which  the  honey  was  gatjiered.  is  something 
that  ought  not  to  he  so  very  hard  to  agree  upon, 
no  matter  liow  much  we  may  differ  as  to  the 
relative  merits  of  the  different  honeys  them- 
selves: that  part —that  is,  the  appearance — ran 
be  graded.  I  doubt  whether  you  can  grade 
with  any  general  satisfaction  the  different  kinds 
of  honey.  Plenty  of  people  consider  buckwheat 
a  higher  grade  of  honey  than  white  clover.  If 
you  attempt  to  call  one  or  the  other  first  grade, 
you  make  an  invidious  comparison.  But  you 
may  cUi-ssif})  the  kinds  of  honey  without  strok- 
ing any  one's  fur  the  wrong  way.  If  you  class- 
ify very  simply  as  WjJit  and  d(trk,  that's  not 
saying  which  is  best.  So  it  seems  to  me  we 
might  agree  on  a  few^  (/rndes  based  on  appear- 
ance, and  then  more  or  less  rldsses  based  on 
contents. 

I  know  that  most  of  us  are  pretty  busy  now, 
but  I  do  hope  that  we  may  have  a  fuller  ex- 
change of  views  on  this  subject  before  we  meet 
at  Wasliington.  C.  C.  Mili^ek.  : 

Marengo,  111. 

[We  are  heartily  in  sympathy  with  you  in 
your  efforts,  doctor,  to  get  a  uniform  system  of 
grading,  but  our  faith  is  weak.  As  bee-keepers 
will  not  all  use  the  same  kind  of  hive,  so  we 
doubt  wh(!ther  they  would  agree  upon  one  sys- 
tem of  grading.  However,  we  do  not  wish  to 
throw  cold  water  upon  the  att<>mpt  to  secure 
this  object,  worthy  as  it  is:  and  we  therefore 
submit  again,  for  easy  reference,  the  system  of 
W.  C.  Frazier,  which  Dr.  Miller  seems  to  favor 
more  than  a'l  the  rest. 

COLOK. 

Gnuk  -'A." 
AV'liite  honey,  clover,  l);issw()()(l,  and  tiiiubed  Imn- 
«ys,  which  are  white  or  hg'lit  colored. 
Ormlf  "B." 
Honey.s  wliich  are  yellow  or  aiiil)er,  such  iis  alfalfa. 
Spanish  needle,  etc. 

Oradf  "C." 
All  dark  honeys,  l)nckwlieat,  etc. 

CONDITION. 

"  Faiiry." 
Combs  which  are  well  .sealed,  stiaifrht,  and  even; 
sufficiently   attached    to    ship    without     breaking-; 
combs  ana  sections  unsoiled. 

"  Choke." 
Corn  lis  well  filled,  firmly  attached;  not  more  tlian 


one-fourth  of  the  surface  can  l)i'  travel-stained  or 
unsealed,  but  inny  be  Ijulged. 

"  Family." 
.\ll    honeys   whose    condition    floes    not    wariant, 
placing  them  in  eithei'  of  the  al)ove  grades. 

Now,  in  support  of  the  ;il)ove  I  Iwive  not  much 
arjiuinenl  to  oll'ei-,  :is  I  think  it  is  simple,  not  neai-ly 
as  complex  ;is  , my  tliMt  have  heretofoic  been  otJer- 
I'd;  also,  hy  it  all  honey  raised  in  this  country 
conid  be  graded,  and  its  e.xact  <piality  known.  For 
instan<'e.  the  best  honey  from  t'alifoi'nia  would  be 
marked  "  Fanc>  11."  'I'he  reyrioiis  that  pr'oduce 
buckwheat  honey  would  mark  tln'ir  liest  coml)  hon- 
ey "  l"'ancy  (",  "  while  those  who  are  fortunate 
eiiou^rh  to  secure  white  honey  in  first-class  style 
could  mark  their  product  "  Fancy  A."  The  Krade 
marked  "  Fainil.\  "  will  find  a  nnich  more  ready  sale, 
at  a  better  prict',  than  the  .same  honey  would  tiring' 
if  miirked  3d  or -tth  {frade.  It  would  not  take  the 
lioney-producers  loiifr  to  learn  that  "A"  means 
white,  "B"  yellow  oi'  ambei-,  and  "C"  dark,  and 
thentoKrade  a<-cordinfj- to  condition;  and  there  is 
no  use  in  having-  four  or  five  ditlerent  gi-ades  so 
that  it  would  take  an  expert  to  jiaok  honey.  The 
three  grades  of  condition  are  enough—"  Fancy  '  for 
the  best;  •'Choice"  for  good  honey,  slightly  bulged 
or  travel-stained;  "Family"  for  what's  left  after 
the  two  above  grades  are  taken  out.  Then  the  let- 
ters can  be  used  for  grading  extracted  honey;  as  it 
is  graded  mostly  according  to  color,  they  would  be 
as  applicable  to  extracted  as  to  comb. 

Now.  is  it  not  possible  that  we  can  adopt  this 
in  the  luanner  proposed  by  Dr.  Miller,  with 
some  very  slight  changes,  or,  at  least,  agree 
enough  upon  it  so  as  to  be  able  to  submit  it  to 
the  North  American  when  we  assemble  at 
Washington'?] 


IMBEDDING  "WIRES  IN  FOUNDATION  BY  THE 
USE  OF  ELECTRICITY. 


A    ClIEAI'   BATTERY    FOR   EVERY    ONE. 


We  had  intended,  as  announced,  to  write  up 
more  fully,  and  illustrate,  the  method  of  im- 
bedding wires  by  electricity;  but  the  following, 
from  the  Bec-hcepers'  Review,  covers  the  sub- 
ject so  well  that  we  thought  we  could  do  no 
better  than  to  copy  it  entire: 

To  make  a  batterj',  take  three  one-quart  fiaiit^jars 
(glass),  and  cut  ott'  the  tops  just  lielow  the  taper. 
The  best  way  to  do  this  is  to  cut  with  a  glass- 
cutter's  diamond,  then  tap  lightly  with  a  small 
hammer  or  the  head  of  an  iron  bolt,  all  around  in- 
side the  jar.  just  opposite  the  cut  made  by  the  dia- 
mond, when  the  toi>  will  come  off  just  where  the 
diamond  made  the  cut.  Another  way  is,  to  file  a 
groove  around  the  jar,  or  grind  one  with  an  emery 
wheel,  then  tap  with  a  hammer.  This  is  the  way  I 
do  it;  and  although  it  is  not  so  perfect  as  the  above 
methods,  yet  it  answers  the  purpose.  Take  a  red- 
hot  poker  and  move  it  slowly  around  the  |)lace  to  be 
cut.  When  1  have  l)een  around  the  jar  abtint  twice 
I  drop  about  a  taljlesi)oonful  of  cold  water  on  the 
place  whence  I  remove  the  poker,  when  the  top  will 
bi-eak  off.  but  not  always  so  very  straight. 

Out  of  i's  hard  wood  make  a  round  cover.  Vi  inch 
laiger  all  around  than  a  jar,  for  each  jar'.  Scribe  a 
cir'cle  on  each  cover,  one  incli  less  in  diameter  than 
the  inside  diameter  of  a  jar.  Make  five  or  six  holes 
ihrongh  this  cii'cle,  having  them  equallj'  distant 
from  one  anotlrer,  and  of  such  a  size  that  a  carlxm 
will  fit  tightly  in  each  liole.  (See  Fig.  8,  C,  C,  C.) 
Tlie  center  hole  is  for  zinc.  The  more  carbons  used, 
tlie  higher  the  tension  of  the  battery.  Get  carbons 
long  enough  to  I'each  within  >4  inch  of  the  bottom  of 
t  Ik'  jar  wlien  complete.  [In  this  place,  waste  pieces 
of  cai'lion  long  enough  for  this  purpose  can  l)e  ol>- 
laiiied  of  the  electric-light  trimmers,  simiily  for  the 
asking. — Ed.]  File  a  notch  around  one  end  of  each 
carbon,  .^  of  an  inch  from  the  end.  (See  Fig.  1.) 
Put  the  carbons  half  waj'  through  the  cover,  and 
fasten  one  end  of  a  No.  20  copper  v,'irv  around  the 
notched  place  ill  one  carbon;  then  wind  it  around 
the  next  carbon,  and  so  on,  until  the  last  one  (in 
that  cover)  is  leaelied;  leaving  one  foot  of  surplus 
wire  for  making  connection.    Shove    the  carbons 


412 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


JUXE   1. 


through  the  cover  until  the  shoulders  formed  by 
the  wires  rest  on  top  of  the  cover.  A  little  melted 
resin  and  beeswax  poured  around  the  wire  and  car- 
bons on  top  of  the  cover  will  make  permanent  con- 
nections. 

A  piece  of  zinc  (cast  from  any  old  scraps)  i4  to  % 
inch  in  diameter,  with  a  shoulder  and  a  wire  cast  in 
it  (see  Fig-.  2(,  the  zinc  to  fit  loosely  in  the  cover,  is 
next  needed.  Amalgamate  tlie  zinc,  and  its  con- 
sumption will  be  less  rapid.  To  do  this,  take  one 
part  sulphuric  acid  and  two  of  water  and  put  in  a 
saucer  with  some  quicksilver.  Rub  tlie  zinc  with 
this  mixture,  vising  a  woolen  cloth,  until  the  zinc  is 
bright.    Amalgamate  only  below  the  shoulder. 

With  both  zinc  and  carbons  in  place,  put  the 
cover  on  the  jar  and  fill  the  latter  with  water  to 
within  )^  inch  of  the  cover.  Take  off  the  cover  and 
mark  the  watei'-line  by  pasting  a  strip  of  paper  on 
the  outside  of  the  jar,  just  at  tlie  point  reached  by 
the  water  when  the  cover  is  off.  Treat  all  three 
jars  and  covers  the  same. 

To  make  the  solution,  take  one  part  commercial 
sulphuric  acid  and  seven  parts  water.  Pour  the 
acid  slowly  and  gradually  into  the  water,  stirring  it 
with  a  glass  rod  or  hard-wood  stick.  To  each  quart 
of  this  mixture  add  four  ounces  bichromate  of 
potash,  or  about  three  ounces  to  each  jar,  stirring  it 
until  it  is  almost  dissolved.  Pour  the  water  from 
the  jars  and  pour  in  the  solution  until  it  comes  up 
to  the  aforesaid  water-line;  put  on  the  covers; 
place  the  zincs  in  their  places  and '"connect  up." 
(See  Fig.  3.) 


^J> 


To  connect  the  battery,  take  the  surplus  wire 
from  the  carbon  of  one  jar  and  connect  it  to  the 
zinc  of  the  next  jar.  Take  the  carbon  wire  from 
this  jar  and  connect  to  the  zinc  of  the  third  jar. 
Now  you  have  two  surplus  wires  left— one  from  the 
zinc  in  jar  No.  1,  and  tlie  other  from  the  carbon  in 
No.  3;  i.  e.,  positive  and  negative  terminals.  Take 
in  your  right  hand  the  surplus  wire  from  No.  3  and 
touch  it  to  tlie  suiplus  wire  of  No.  1,  and  you  will 
see  quite  a  Hash  of  lightning  You  will  then  know 
that  the  batteij-  is  in  good  working  order.  Don't  be 
afraid  of  a  shock,  for  there  is  none  where  there  is 
no  magnetism,  and  there  is  no  magnetism  about  a 
naked  battery.  You  might  burn  your  tingers, 
though,  by  catching  hold  of  the  small  wii'e  in  the 
brood-frame  when  the  current  is  on. 

A  word  of  caution  just  here.  Remove  the  zincs 
from  the  solution  as  soon  as  you  are  through  using 
the    battery,  otherwise  the  solution  will    become 


overcharged  with  sulphate  of  zinc,  which  renders  it 
worthless.  Make  all  connections  as  s/iorf  as  possible, 
as  this  style  of  battery  is  of  low  tension,  and  would 
not  heat  50  feet  of  wire  2°. 

Oh,  yes  !  it  will  burn  a  four  or  five  volt  lamp,  as 
bright  as  day,  for  a  few  minutes;  but  fifteen  min- 
utes with  a  closed  circuit  at  any  one  time  would 
ruin  the  carbon  element  for  ever;  but  if  the  battery 
is  used  simply  for  imbedding  wires,  the  carlionswill 
last  for  years.  Before  connecting,  scrape  or  emerj-- 
paper  all  parts  to  be  connected.  Soldering  them  is 
better.  For  all  connections,  use  copper  wire,  about 
No.  20. 

[If  a  battery  of  three  jars  proves  too  weak,  more 
jars  can  be  added  until  the  desired  I'esult  is  obtain- 
ed. If  any  one  should  prefer  to  buy  batteries 
instead  of  making  them,  they  can  be  bought  (those 
called  the  Diamond  Carbon)  at  $1.25  each,  of  the 
Electrical  Supply  Co.,  102  Mich.  Ave.,  Chicago,  111. 
—Ed.] 

To  wire  a  frame,  attach  one  end  of  the  wire  (use 
No.* 30)  to  a  tack  in  the  end-bar  (see  Fig.  4):  and 
after  the  frame  is  wired,  attach  the  other  end  to  a 
tack  in  the  opposite  end-bar;  the  tacks  to  corres- 
spond  ^vith  metal  springs,  S  S,  on  cleats,  in  Fig.  5. 
No  one  part  of  the  wire  must  touch  another  part 
throughout  its  length,  nor  any  part  be  connected  to 
the  same  piece  of  metal  that  another  part  is  fasten- 
ed to,  as,  if  your  wires  cross  each  other,  thei-e  will 
be  what  is  called  a  "short  circuit,"  and  the  current 
will  take  the  shortest  route  back  to  the  battery, 
leaving  part  of  the  wire  "dead."  If  you  undertook 
to  imbed  crossed  wires,  only  that  part  would  be 
imbedded  that  the  current  heated,  and  you  would 
count  the  wliole  thing  a  grand  failure;  yet  if,  in 
your  style^of  wiring,  the  wires  do  cross,  put  a  small 
piece  of  p'lper  between  them,  just  enough  to  keep 
them  separate,  and  you  will  meet  with  no  trouble 
at  all. 

To  rig  up  a  table,  make  a  drop  board,  ju.st  thick 
enough  so  that,  when  nailed  to  the  table,  and  a 
wired  frame  laid  over  it,  the  frame  will  rest  on  the 
table,  and  the  wires  will  be  the  proper  distance 
above  board;  i.  e.,  half  the  thickness  of  the  founda- 
tion. Next  make  two  square  cleats,  as  thick  as  the 
end-bars  of  a  brood-frame  are  wide.  Make  two  metal 
springs  (thin  brass)  as  wide  as  the  cleats  are  thick, 
and  fasten  to  the  cleats  with  screws  (see  Fig.  5). 
Nail  the  cleats,  one  on  either  side  of  drop  board 
(see  Fig.  5),  so  that,  when  the  end-bars  of  the  frame 
rest  between  the  cleats  and  drop-board,  the  tack- 
heads  (to  which  tlie  wire  is  fastened)  will  press 
tightly  against  the  springs.  Have  the  springs  two 
or  three  inches  long,  so  if  you  don't  get  the  tacks 
always  in  the  same  place  on  every  frame  the  tack- 
heads  will  press  against  the  spring  anyhow. 

To  make  the  contact^button,  take  some  oi  tlie 
same  metal  (brass)  as  mentioned  above,  K  inch  wide 
and  3  inches  long,  and  bend  it  in  the  shape  shown  in 
Fig.  6,  and  screw  it  to  the  table,  six  inches  or  there- 
abouts, to  the  right  of  the  right-hand  cleat.  Just 
under  the  spring,  or  raised  end,  drive  a  brass-headed 
tack,  of  the  kind  u.sed  in  perforated  chair-bottoms. 
(See  Fig.  6.) 

To  connect  the  battery  with  the  t.^.ble  (make  all 
connections  under  the  table  for  convenience  as  well 
as  looks),  take  the  surplus  carbon  wii'e  in  cell  No.  3; 
run  it  through  a  small  hole  made  with  an  awl  close 
ti)  the  tack  in  contact-button;  wind  the  wire  around 
the  tack  between  the  table  and  the  head  of  the  t|ick; 
drive  the  tack  home,  and  that  connection  is  com- 
plete. (See  Fig.  7.)  Make  an  awl-hole  through  the 
table,  alongside  of  one  of  the  scicws  that  hold  the 
contact-button  to  the  table,  aiiothei'  awl-hole  close 
beside  the  spring,  in  the  rUjht-haud  cJnit;  put  one 
end  of  a  short  piece  of  wire  around  one  screw  in 
the  contact-botton ;  drive  the  screw  home.  Run 
the  other  end  of  the  wire  down  through  the  hole 
made  in  the  table,  and  u()  through  the  hole 
alongside  of  the  spring  in  tlie  rigJit-liand  cleat,  and 
fasten  the  end  of  the  wire  around  the  screw  and 
drive  the  screw  home.  (See  Fig.  7.)  Now  take  the 
surplus  zinc  wire  in  cell  No.  1  and  connect  it  to  the 
spring  in  the  Jf/'t /uoid  c^iaf,  and  your  table  is  com- 
plete.    (See  Fig.  7.) 

To  operate  the  "machine,"  place  your  wired 
brood-frame  over  the  drop-board  with  the  top-bar 
from  you.  See  that  the  tack-heads  press  against 
the  spring  in  the  cleats;  place  your  foundation  on 
the  wires;  "press  the  (contact)  button,  and  the 
electricity  does  the  rest."  A  man  with  nimble  lin- 
gers could  do  ten  a  minute.  Don't  you  tliink  I  have 
made  it  all  plain  ?  W.  E.  Dages. 

Morris,  111.,  March  26,  1892. 


1892 


('.LEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


413 


FLORIDA. 

I.KXGTH  OF  TIIK  llONI.  V -KI.OW  ;    KATTLESNAKKS. 


The  llrst  tliinir  wlicn  I  lake  up  (ii.KAXiNGs  is 
to  look  lip  ill  tlio  tahlc  of  I'oiiti'iits  ili(>  word 
Florida:  but  my  eye  is  very  seldom  sralilied. 
How  ott<>ii  I  wish"  that  thi>  talontod  oiu's  of 
Florida  hcp-kci'pt'rs  would  givo  us  some  items 
iificiicr  than  thi'v  dol 

Wt'll.  friend  uVowii  has  taken  groat  pains  in 
iriving  us  his  annual  Florida  report.  I  see  by  it 
liiat  some  i)eople  leaii  us  to  think  tliat  they  get 
honey  the  "year  round."  Do  they  mean  to  get 
a  i-rop  every  day'.'  Here  in  Orange  County  I 
ean  get  honey  only  in  Mairh.  April.  May,  or 
.liiiy  and  October.  "  Hetween  tli(>  tiiree  distinct 
crops  of  orange-blossom,  palmetto,  and  golden- 
rod,  there  is  (|iiite  a  cut -off. 

Northern  bee-keepers  are  sending  their  bees 
here  to  gather  in  line  orange-blossom  honey, 
and.  I  suppo.se.  get  back  north  in  time  for  the 
clover  crop.  A  .Mr.  Lane,  from  Michigan,  has 
visited  my  apiary,  and  consulted  me  with  a 
view  of  moving  some  bees  liere. 

Dr.  Harry  Siites.  of  Harrisbiirg.  Pa.,  has  first 
<eiit  a  carload  of  hives  to  .lupiter.oii  the  Indian 
River,  and.  a  week  after,  he  sent  a  carload  of 
bees.  They  must  have  hummed  in  that  car. 
This  was  in  March,  our  swarming  time.  My 
first  swarm  came  out  the  15tli  of  March. 

I  never  thought  that  first  swarms  would  de- 
spise nice  orange-trees  as  an  alighting-spot, 
and  would  take  themselves  tiway  to  the  top  of 
a  pine-tree  a  hundred  feet  or  so  from  the  apia- 
ry. Well.  I  had  such  a  case.  Two  sturdy  ne- 
groes blazed  away  with  their  a.\es  on  that  giant, 
which  finally  came  down  with  a  terrific  crash, 
bees  and  all.  half  of  them  mashed  to  jelly;  but 
the  other,  which  I  suppose  was  the  better  half, 
went  back  to  the  hive  sadder,  but  much  wiser, 
to  all  api)earances. 

Friend  Olsen.  from  New  Smyrna,  writes  me 
that  he  lost  2:3  colonies  out  of  50.  through  some 
greedy  bears.  Bruin  evidently  thought  him- 
self sadly  in  need  of  a  la.\ative.  Olson  gave 
him  some  strvciinine  to  put  him  in  order.  I  do 
not  object  to  bears,  especially  in  the  oven:  but, 
as  the  croaker  says.  I  liave  no  use  for  the  rat- 
tler. In  finishing  np  my  twenty-acre  vineyard, 
one  of  the  boys  very  nearly  stepped  on  one  of 
those  "varmints."  It  was  dispatched  before 
doing  any  damage.  The  rattlesnake  measured 
.5-._.  ft.,  and  was  the  happy  possessor  of  four  rat- 
tles and  a  button.  Mr.  Root,  if  you  come  down 
here  ne.xt  winter,  as  I  know  you  must  do,  I  will 
show  you  that  skin.  J.  B.  LaMontagxe. 

Winter  Park,  Fla..  Apr.  2.5. 

CRANKS. 


ARE    THERE    ANY    AMONG    REE-KEEPERS?    THE 
GREAT   INVENTORS   IN    HEEDOM. 


Some  time  ago  I  was  talking  with  a  man 
about  bees,  and  he  made  the  remark  that  all 
bee-keepers  were  cranks.  I  am  a  bee-keeper  on 
a  small  scale.  This  man  knew  it,  and  it  did  not 
lake  me  long  to  recall  my  rhetoric  to  this  ex- 
tent: Major  premi.se.  all  bee-keepers  are  cranks; 
minor  premise,  you  are  a  bee-keeper.  Conclu- 
sion ('.). 

I  had  never  before  been  called  a  crank  in  such 
an  indirect  way,  and  it  rather  surprised  me.  He 
went  on  as  though  he  were  saying  an  -undisput- 
ed thing:  that  h(»  did  not  know  whether  they 
were  cranks  before  they  commenced,  or  wheth- 
er the  pursuit  made  them  cranks  after  they 
took  it  up;  but  cranks  they  were,  all  of  them. 

.Since  then  I  have  often  thought  of  this  con- 
versation, and  wondered  if  there  might  not  be  a 
grain  of  truth  in  it.    There  is  one  point  of  re- 


sembhuice  to  cranks  which  we  must  acknowl- 
edge. I  never  knew  a  Ikh'- keeper  of  two  years' 
exjierience  but  had  a  hobby.  This  hobby,  how- 
ever, changed  as  he  gained  exi)erience.  Ho 
rode  them  to  death  in  short  order,  but  still  he 
had  ti)  ride,  and  he  tiOok  a  good  many  trials  be- 
fore 111'  felt;  |)i-operly  mounted.  A  peculiarity 
about  this  is,  that  every  one  thinks  his  hobby  is 
diU'erent  from  and  a  little  better  than  that  of 
any  one  else. 

DoiTt  you  remember  driving  along  the  road 
and  coming  to  a  farmhouse  with  an  orchard  and 
lots  of  bee-hives  scattered  among  the  trees? 
The  sight  of  the  hives  gave  you  a  sort  of  fellow- 
feeling,  and,  notwithstanding  you  were  a  per- 
fect stranger,  you  made  up  your  mind  to  go  in 
and  have  a  little  chat.  So  you  tied  your  horse 
at  the  gate,  and  followi^d  the  family  |)atli  round 
the  house.  There  stood  the  bee-keeper  by  the 
well,  with  some  of  his  neighbors  who  had  come 
over  to  make  him  a  call.  How  did  you  know 
him  ?  Oh:  I  can't  begin  to  tell  all  the  little  de- 
tails of  appearance  by  which  you  recognized 
him  :  it  was  all  these  put  together — his  tout 
ensemble. 

After  introducing  yourself  you  went  out  to 
see  the  bees,  and  in  five  minutes  you  learned 
from  your  host  that  he  "s'posed  "  there  wasn't 
another  man  in  the  world  that  kept  bees  just  as 
he  did.  You  were  instantly  on  the  (luivive  to 
learn  something  new;  but  five  minutes  more 
disclosed  the  fact  that  his  peculiarity  consisted 
in  being  just  seventeen  years  behind  the  times. 

I  have  heard  that  cranks  are  great  pairons  of 
the  patent  office.  This  may  be  an  additional 
point  of  resemblance,  for  I  believe  bee-keepers 
haye  a  penchant  in  that  direction.  They  are 
great  inventors,  anyhow,  though  some  of  them 
claim  that  the  monopoly  of  a  patent  is  wrong, 
and  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the  profession. 
This  smacks  of  sour  grapes,  however.  If  one 
finds  hidden  treasure,  ought  he  not  to  be  entitl- 
ed to  it,  even  if  some  one  else  has  pointed  him 
on  the  road?  Still,  there  are  many  who  have 
lived  up  to  this  doctrine,  foolish  as  it  may  seem, 
for  I  have  met  the  inventors  of  all  the  most  im- 
portant features  of  modern  bee-keeping,  and 
thev  had  not  taken  out  patents,  nor  derived  one 
cent  of  benefit  from  their  ingenuity.  For  in- 
stance, within  the  last  year  I  met  two  men  who 
were  each  the  first  to  make  and  use  comb  foun- 
dation. They  told  me  so  themselves.  Dadant 
must  certainly  be  mistaken  when  he  ascribes 
this  invention  to  Johannes  Mehring.  I  have 
also  recently  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  face 
to  face  the  inventor  of  the  honey-extractor,  and 
it  was  not  Major  Hi  Hruschka  either.  He  of- 
fered to  take  me  out  to  his  shop  and  show  me 
the  crank  to  his  old  original  extractor;  but  I 
did  not  have  time.  I  was  satisfied  to  see  him. 
I  regret  to  say  that  I  am  not  ac(iuainted  with 
father  Langstroth,  but  I  have  seen  the  man 
who  invented  the  hanging  movable  frame:  also 
the  man  who  first  imported  Italian  bees — every 
one  of  him.  * 

It  has  been  a  source  of  surprise  to  me  that  the 
leading  bee-papers  do  not  use  more  wisdom  in 
selecting  the  contributors  to  their  pages.  Why 
listen  to  such  green  hands  as  Doolittle,  Miller, 
Cook,  and  Root?  They  are  still  fussing  about 
hiving  swarms,  prevention  of  increase,  winter- 
ing, springing,  maximum  product  to  minimum 
expense,  etc..  while  the  woods  are  full  of  men 
who  solved  these  problems  years  ago,  and  who 
would  be  glad  to  tell  about  it.  They  are  not  all 
like  the  party  I  met  a  few  days  since.  He  was 
never  bothi'red  with  increase  — oh.  no  I  easiest 
thing  in  the  world  to  previsnt:  but  he  kept  the 
method  to  himself.  All  the  best  bee-keepers  of 
his  vicinity  had  watched  him  time  and  again 
without  learning  the  secret  of  his  manipulation. 
These  things.  I  say.  sometimes  make  me  think 


414 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


JrxE  1. 


that  perhaps  bee-keepers  are  cranks;  but  at 
other  times  I  reach  a  simpler  conckision;  name- 
ly, that,  in  their  business,  bee-keepers  are  the 
greatest  liars  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 

One  of  Them. 


THE  DUDE  BEE. 

A   BURLESQUE   ON   ALL   DUDES. 

This  is  not  a  new  race  of  bees,  but  only  a 
new  name  for  an  old-fashioned  bee  that  may  be 
found  in  almost  any  hive  at  certain  times,  and 
in  many  hives  is  often  found  in  too  great  num- 
bers. The  reason  I  propose  to  give  him  this 
name  is  because  the  old  name  has  become  such 
a  chestnut,  and  has  been  abused,  not  only  by 
the  poet  but  by  the  prosaic  writers,  when  the 
writer  or  poet  wishes  to  compare  some  one  or 
some  thing  to  another  thing  that  is  extremely 
indolent  and  useless,  just  as  the  writer  who  is 
at  a  loss  for  a  subject  writes  about  all  that  he 
does  not  know  about  the  busy  bee. 

The  dude  bee,  like  the  dude  of  the  genus 
homo,  seems  to  be  a  sort  of  "  necessary  evil." 
The  two  are  in  many  respects  considerably 
alike,  while  in  other  respects  they  differ.  The 
one  wears  trousers  in  which  the  stripes  go  up 
and  down:  while  on  the  other,  if  he  wears 
stripes,  they  go  around  or  across.  The  dude 
bee,  however,  never  wears  a  fancy  vest  and  cut- 
away coat;  but  he  makes  a  loud  noise,  and 
seems  to  wish  to  be  noticed  by  every  one  when 
out  parading,  or  conning  a  damsel  bee. 

Many  of  the  text-hoolvs  teach  us  that  the  dude 
bee  Is  a  sou  of  his  mother,  and  is  not  contami- 
nated with  the  blood  of  his  mothers  husband; 
but  for  my  part  I  am  like  G.  M.  Doolittle  in  my 
opinion  on  this  matter.  We  know  that  a  virgin 
queen  may  become  the  mother  of  dude  bees, 
and  in  this  case  they  would  surely  be  of  the 
same  blood  as  their  mother;  but  with  all  this  I 
am  inclined  to  believe  (from  observation)  that 
an  Italian  queen  mated  with  a  black  dude  will 
produce  dudes  of  the  same  or  similar  blood  as 
her  worker  progeny. 

Some  dude  bees  are  black,  some  have  a  few 
yellow  stripes,  and  others  have  nearly  the  whole 
waist  yellow,  or  of  a  reddish  hue.  The  latter 
are  the  kind  of  dude  bees  to  keep  if  you  wish  to 
breed  tive-banded,  red-clover,  golden,  platinum- 
point,  ne  plus  ultra  queens.  I  don't  know  how 
the  Punic  dude  bees  look;  but  I  suppose  they 
are  just  about  as  black  as  the  ink  with  which 
this  is  written.  But  I  don't  suppose  they  fly 
when  the  entrance  is  plugged  shut  with  snow 
and  ice.  As  a  rule,  though,  the  Italian  dude 
bee  does  not  like  to  venture  out  except  on  pleas- 
ant days. 

A  few  days  ago  I  noticed  the  bees  running 
about  on  the  alighting-board  of  a  nucleus,  as  if 
they  had  lost  something  which  they  were  try- 
ing to  find.  As  they  had  a  queen  about  five 
days  old  I  concluded  that  she  had  gone  to  take 
a  ramble  (flight)  in  search  of  a  dude;  so  I  sat 
down  to  watch  the  proceedings.  The  day  was 
rather  cool  and  cloudy;  and  as  dude  bees  are 
like  the  dude  of  the  other  genus  in  this  respect, 
not  many  had  ventured  out.  In  a  short  time  I 
saw  the  queen  near  the  entrance,  and  supposed 
she  had  returned  from  a  flight.  The  worker 
bees  would  cha>e  after  h(>r  and  pull  at  her 
while  there;  but  soon  she  flew  away,  and  was 
gone  four  minutes  by  my  watch  and  chain, 
when  she  returned  and  remained  on  top  of  the 
hive  about  half  a  minute  by  the  same  watch 
and  chain.  Then  she  flew  away,  and  was  gone 
about  one  minute.  This  she  repeated  two  or 
three  times,  and  finally  went  into  the  hive 
without  having  met  a  dude  bee.  Soon  the 
worker  bees  all  went  into  the  hive,  and  were  as 


quiet  as  usual.  Since  then  the  weather  has 
been  cool,  cloudy,  and  rainy,  and  I  fear  she  has 
not  met  her  prince  dude  bee  yet.  as  the  dude 
bees  have  flown  scarcely  any;  and  I  fear  that, 
if  the  weather  continues  this  way  many  days, 
there  will  bo  a  chance  of  her  becoming  an  old- 
maid  bee.  Here  we  usually  have  plenty  of  dud(^ 
bees  during  apple  bloom:  but  most  of  them  are 
generally  killed  off  during  a  cool  spell  that 
comes  between  that  and  white-clover  bloom. 
Such  has  been  the  case  here  this  year. 

Many  years  ago  some  of  the  bee-keepers  of 
the  old  brimstone  school  thought  that  the  dude 
bees  sat  on  the  eggs  that  the  king  laid,  and 
hatched  them  out;  but  I  can  not  believe  this, 
as  the  workers  sit  down  on  the  dude  bees  as 
soon  as  they  have  given  up  the  notion  of 
swarming,  and  yet  the  eggs  in  the  combs  hatch 
just  the  same  without  the  dude  bees  to  sit  on 
them. 

To  the  queens  that  produce  good  workers  and 
dude  bees  with  yellow  pantaloons,  we  give 
plenty  of  dude  comb:  but  those  that  produce 
poor  workers  and  black  dudes  are  deprived  of 
all  or  nearly  all  dude  comb.  In  this  way  we 
are  likely  to  have  real  nice  dudes.  Dude  bees 
sometimes  poke  their  heads  through  the  per- 
forations in  zinc  honey-boards,  and  then  turn 
one-fourth  round,  and  hang  themselves;  then 
the  workers  pull  them  to  pieces  and  try  to  get 
them  out  of  the  hive. 

The  dude  bee  is  not  to  be  blamed  for  not 
working,  as  he  is  not  able  to,  even  if  he  were 
willing:  and.  altogether,  he  is  a  very  useful  an- 
imal at  tinie.s.  even  if  he  does  not  sit  on  the  eggs 
and  hatch  them  out. 

This  name  is  not  patented:  and  anyone  can 
call  his  bees  with  a  broad  back  and  a  loud  hum, 
"dudes"  if  he  wants  to.  S.  E.  Millek. 

Bluffton,  Mo.,  May  13. 


THE  BOYS,  THE  CHIPMUNK,  AND  THE 
HORNETS. 

Two  boys,  youiifj'  and  gay.  left  school  one  bright  daj^ 

To  rove  ill  tlie  woods  for  a  wliile; 
And  they  jumped  witli  delight,   (or  the  very  first 
siglit 

Was  a  munk  on  tlie  old  woodpile. 

They  thought    not  of  l30oks,   nor  of  still-riuniing' 
brooks. 

As  the  sport  of  tlie  day  had  begun; 
For  all  of  you  know,  who  weie  boys  long  ago. 

That,  in  puggUng  munks,  there  is  fun. 

But  the  cliipmunk  so  bright  soon  skipped  out  of 
sight, 
In  tlie  end  of  au  old  hollow  rail; 
And   the  boys,  full  of  tricks,  tried  witli  spllt-eiidfd 
sticks 
To  pull  the  munk  out  by  the  tail. 

So  they   puggled  and  twisted,  and  long  they  per- 
sisted. 

And  rubbed  up  the  ears  of  their  dog; 
But  the  chipmunk  so  red  had  a  scheme  in  his  liead. 

So  he  out,  and  ran  under  a  log. 

Now,  an  old  hornet  she,  of  her  young  in  this  tree 
Had  sought  to  raise  up  a  good  batch; 

And  all  of  you  know,  that  four  years  ago 
Was  a  good  one  for  hornets  to  hatch. 

But  the  l)()ys'  eyes  were  full  (of  Austr;ili;iii  wool). 
And  they  looked  out  for  iidthing  l)ut  fi;ime; 

So  they  puggled  llie  log,  and  sicked  on  tlieii-  dog. 
And  this  is  just  where  they  were  lame; 

For  each  hornet  witliin,  rushed  out  with  a  pin 

To  tickle  the  boys,  young  and  bold; 
While  they  jumped  over  hummocks,   rolled   heels 
over  stomachs. 
And  the  rest  of  my  story  is  told. 

Chester  Ol.mstead. 
East  Bloomfleld.  N.  Y.,  Alay  10. 


189'J 


(JLEANIN(;s  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


415 


CHAFF  BOXES  AND  WINTER  LOSSES. 


IN    KAVOK   OF   AH.SOKBKNT8. 


I  liave  boon  much  intoiostod  in  tho  artielos 
on  wintering  with  soalod  oovors.  and  wa.'^  voiy 
Moarly  of  tlio  opinion  tiiat  the  only  way  to  win- 
tor  hoes  was  to  seal  iicnnotit'aliy  the  fovor  to 
tlio  hivo  wlion  I  road  ('.  V.  Dadant's  articio  on 
pago  198.  and  it  oarriod  mo  hacl<  (montaily)  to 
tlio  wintors  of  1S71  and  IS?;?.  At  tliat  lim(\  not 
liavinfi  otdiar  room  for  our  itoos,  wo  wore  ol)]ig- 
od  to  wintor  a  pai't  of  thiMu  on  tiioir  suminor 
stands.  Tho  most  of  tiioso  outsiders  woro  in 
ciiatT  donbio-wallod  hivos,  covorod  witli  a  box 
of  thin  lumi)or  six  inches  doop.  with  a  bottom 
of  burlap  or  similar  coarso  cloth,  and  no  top. 
This  cloth  bottom  was  lacked  socuroly  to  the 
box.  and  filled  witii  dry  oat  chatf.  Tho  honoy- 
board  was  removed:  two  sticks,  half  an  inch 
square  and  12  inches  long,  wore  placed  across 
the  tops  of  the  frames  near  the  center  of  the 
hive,  to  form  a  boo- passage  over  the  combs. 
The  box  was  placed  over  the  tiees:  and  a  cap 
with  gabh>  roof,  with  a  I'j-inch  hole  in  each 
end.  covered  with  wire  cloth,  to  admit  air.  was 
placed  on  tho  hive.     Results  wore  as  follows: 

On  removing  the  caps  on  any  usually  cold 
winter  day.  a  hoar  frost  could  bo  found  cover- 
ing the  inside  of  the  roof-boards.  By  passing 
tho  hand  down  carefully  through  the  chaff,  a 
very  comfortable  warmth  could  be  found  next 
the  bees:  and  if  the  box  was  lifted  from  the 
hive,  the  bees  would  lioil  up  over  the  top-bars. 
ready  to  fly  out  and  die  in  the  snow  if  the  chaff 
box  was  not  at  once  replaced.  Water  in  saucers 
froze  hard  when  put  on  top  of  the  chaff  only 
five  or  six  inches  above  the  cluster  of  bees.  In 
very  cold  weather,  10  to  25°  below  zero,  the  frost 
on  the  insidt,'  of  roof-boards  was  very  thick. 
At  times  a  very  little  frost  would  gather  on  the 
top  of  the  chaff,  only  to  disappear  when  the 
weather  became  mildei-,  and  combs  and  bees 
came  out  dry  and  clean  in  the  spring,  with  a 
loss  of  less  than  half  of  one  per  cent.  The 
chaff  was  left  on  those  hives  until  the  beginning 
of  May.  when,  noticing  the  ground  in  front  of 
one  or  two  hives  covered  with  chaff,  we  began 
moving  the  boxes,  as  the  boos  were  eating  the 
cloth  and  working  chaff  down  among  the 
combs.  Night  overtook  us  before  the  job  was 
finished;  and  next  morning  we  discovered  the 
bees  busy  at  the  task  of  removing  chilled  brood 
from  nearly  all  the  hives  that  were  minus  chaff 
boxes,  and  none  of  the  others.  We  took  the 
hint,  replaced  the  chaff,  and  left  it  until  cool 
nights  were  the  exception  and  not  the  rule. 

In  the  winter  of  which  we  more  particularly 
speak,  1871,  the  loss  was  very  heavy  in  our  sec- 
tion. Colonies  perished  by  the  hundred,  leaving 
hives  heavy  with  stores,  and  reeking  with 
dampness  and  tilth,  not  only  on  the  summer 
stand,  but  in  the  collar.  Our  own  loss  was  fully 
80  per  cent  in  a  special  wintor  repository,  from 
diarrhea.  Had  our  apiaries  been  chaff-packed 
throughout,  our  loss  would  have  been  merely 
nominal. 

Now,  this  may  sound  like  extravagant  praise 
for  chaff  hivos  and  absorbents.  I  use  neither 
the  one  nor  the  other,  and  have  none  to  sell.  I 
abandoned  the  chaff  hivo  with  genuine  regret, 
as  one  takes  leave  of  an  old  and  tried  friend. 
But  I  will  say,  that,  were  I  to  return  to  outdoor 
wintering,  my  own  experience  of  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century  in  the  apiary,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  that  of  men  like  the,  Dadants  and  others 
who  have  grown  gray  in  the  business,  teaches 
me  that  I  cotild  winter  safely  by  using  properly 
constructed  hives  and  an  absorljent  over  each 
hive,  that,  while  retaining  the  warmth  of  the 
colony,  would  allow  the  dampness  to  escape 
from  the  interior  of  the  brood-chamber;  and 


while,  as  friend  Dadant  says  on  page  l",t8,  you 
can  bring  your  b(>os  througlia  mik!  winter  with 
a  sealed  cover,  just  try  the  experiment  in  a 
hard  wintor  on  a  largi^  scale,  with  sealed  covers 
and  chad'  l)oxes  side  and  side.  .1.  A.  Nash. 
iMonroe.  Iowa,  March  :.'l. 


SHOULD  BEES  BE  ALLOWED  TO  MAKE  WAX  ? 


KXPEIitMKNTS   IN   FKANCK. 


Do  Layons.  a  prominent  French  bee-keeper, 
gives  in  L' A piculteur  &  detailed  account,  oc- 
cupying ton  pages,  of  experiments  with  18  colo- 
nies, allowing  half  of  tht^m  to  build  combs,  and 
sui)|)lyiiig  the  other  half  with  combs  ready 
built.  Each  half  of  the  18  colonies  were,  as 
nearly  as  possible,  of  the  same  strength,  with 
the  same  amount  of  brood  and  honey.  M. 
de  Layens  says  the  object  was  not  to  find  how 
many  pounds  of  honey  were  consumed  to  make 
one  pound  of  wax.  Previous  experiments  had 
satisfied  him  that  <').3  pounds  of  honey  were 
necessary. 

Right  here  ho  gives  a  blow  to  the  long-estab- 
lished method  of  reasoning  on  this  matter. 
The  orthodox  thing  has  been  to  say,  "  If  G 
pounds  of  honey  make  one  of  wax,  and  that 
(■)  pounds  of  honey  will  bring  40  cents  at  whole- 
sale, while  the  pound  of  wax  will  bring  only  30 
cents,  then  it  is  a  clear  case  that  it  is  better  to 
sell  the  honey  and  not  allow  the  bees  to  build 
wax."  But  M.  de  Layens  says  the  question  of 
how  many  pounds  of  honey  make  one  of  wax  is 
not  a  question  of  importance  at  all.  But  he 
says,  and  says  truly,  the  practical  question  is, 
whether  the  harvest  of  wax  and  honey  produced 
by  a  colony  is  of  more  value  than  the  harvest  of 
honey  from  the  same  colony  furnished  with 
ready-built  combs,  and  thus  prevented  from 
secreting  wax. 

The  9  colonies,  furnished  only  with  starters, 
produced  almost  exactly  the  same  amount  of 
honey  as  the  other  lot.  and  built  31  combs,  thus 
making  a  clear  gain  of  31  combs  over  the  colo- 
nies which  had  no  combs  to  build. 

One  might  readily  conclude,  that,  if  it  is 
economy  to  allow  the  bees  to  secrete  wax,  it  is 
useless,  or  worse  than  useless,  to  give  them 
foundation.  Not  so,  says  M.  de  Layens.  The 
gain  in  preventing  drone  comb  is  so  much,  in 
addition  to  having  combs  promptly  ready  for 
the  grand  harvest,  that  it  is  true  economy  to 
have  all  the  frames  which  the  bees  are  to  fill 
with  wax.  completely  filled  with  foundation.  I 
suppose  his  plan  would  be,  to  melt  up  con- 
stantly the  poorest  combs,  to  be  replaced  by 
those  newly  built. 

Looking  just  alone  at  his  experiments,  it 
seems  a  pretty  clear  case  that  we  are  astray  in 
not  giving  our  bees  a  chance  to  build  plenty  of 
comb:  but  there  remains  something  to  be  satis- 
factorily explained  away.  How  does  it  come, 
if  building  comb  has  some  effect  upon  the  bees 
to  mak(;  thorn  harvest  more  (for  it  must  be 
remembered  that  they  harvest  the  honey  that 
is  used  in  building  the  combs),  how  does  it  come 
that  a  greater  yield  of  extracted  than  comb  can 
be  obtained  ? 

On  the  whole,  I  should  not  feel  sorry  if  obliged 
to  believe  that  M.  de  Layens  is  right  in  his 
views,  for  it  would  be  a  very  nice  thing  to  be- 
lieve that  wo  could  readily  ciiange  from  one 
style  of  frame  to  another  without  any  pecuniary 
loss,  and  that  when,  for  any  reason,  a  brood- 
comb  did  not  exactly  suit  us,  we  could  make 
money  by  melting  it  up. 

But  I  can  not  say  that  I  am  willing  to  swal- 
low his  conclusions  without  making  a  wry  face 
over  them.    His  conclusions  are,  that,  to  obtain 


416 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  1. 


at  the  same  time  few  swarms  with  a  maximum 
of  honey  and  new  wax,  a  large  horizontal  hive 
is  necessary,  containing  at  the  same  time  enough 
combs  for  the  laying  of  the  queen  that  she  may 
not  be  hindered,  enough  combs  to  store  all  the 
honey  harvested  and  enough  empty  frames  to 
permit  the  young  bees  to  construct  new  combs 
at  the  time  of  their  own  preference  for  such 
work.  Of  course,  these  conclusions  may  be  all 
right  for  extracted  honey,  but  how  about  comb 
honey  '? 

His  plan  of  having  the  new  combs  built  is  in 
his  large  hive  of  twenty  frames,  the  brood-nest 
being  at  one  end.  then  empty  combs,  then 
combs  of  honey  alternating  with  the  empty 
frames  or  frames  of  foundation. 

TWO  QUEENS  TO  ONE  COLONY. 

An  esteemed  correspondent  across  the  water 
asks  my  opinion  as  to  the  new  method  of  man- 
agement inaugurated  by  Mr.  West  in  England. 
It  certainly  looks  as  though  it  might  be  success- 
ful. Yet  so  many  times  I  have  settled  upon 
some  new  plan,  fe'eling  sure  that  it  must  work, 
and  have  been  sadly  disappointed  to  find  that, 
when  turned  over  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the 
bees,  the  plan  worked  just  the  wrong  way.  I 
am  getting  to  be  a  good  deal  of  a  skeptic.  The 
fact  that  it  has  worked  well  in  the  hands  of  one 
man,  or  for  one  year,  or  In  one  place,  is  not 
conclusive  proof  that  it  will  always  work 
everywhere.  It  is,  however,  well  worth  a  trial, 
and  "I  have  no  doubt  it  will  be  thoroughly 
tried  this  season,  at  least  in  Great  Britain. 

The  plan,  in  brief,  is,  to  have  a  perforated 
division-board  in  the  center  of  a  hive,  the  per- 
forations being  queen-excluding,  a  queen  in  each 
half  of  the  hive,  and  a  queen -excluder  placed 
over  the  brood-chamber  and  under  the  supers. 
Thus  the  workers  are  allowed  to  commingle 
freely,  while  each  queen  is  kept  on  her  own 
side  of  the  house.  It  is  a  generally  accepted 
theory,  and  I  believe  it  is  a  fact,  that  strong 
colonies  are  the  ones  that  yield  the  most  profit. 
Indeed,  the  great  effort  of  every  bee-keeper  is  to 
get  his  colonies  strong  by  the  time  the  princi- 
pal harvest  begins.  With  two  queens  in  a  hive 
it  is  possible  to  have  a  larger  force  than  with 
one.  I  have  little  fear  that  either  queen  will 
be  killed.  And  yet  my  attempts  to  throw  a 
double  force  of  workers  into  one  set  of  supers 
has  not  been  crowned  with  the  success  that  I 
felt  sure  it  deserved.  One  year  I  had  a  number  of 
colonies  placed  in  pairs,  practically  two  hives 
on  one  stand.  When  the  harvest  began,  I  shook 
nearlv  all  the  bees  of  one  hive  into  the  other, 
leaving  the  latter  alone  on  the  stand.  I  could 
not  make  out  that  I  got  any  thing  more  from 
this  united  colony  than  I  got  from  other  single 
colonies  of  the  same  strength  as  each  of  this 
pair  was.  I  don't  know  why.  It  certainly 
seems  they  ought  to  have  done  better.  Possi- 
bly another  trial  would  result  differently.  So  I 
don't  feel  very  sanguine  as  to  Mr.  West's  plan. 
One  objection  to  it  is.  that  the  chances  for 
swarming  are  increased.  Trial  alone  will  de- 
cide as  to  the  merits  of  the  system. 
Marengo,  111.,  May  5.  C.  C.  Mn,i.ER. 

[We  believe  it  is  a  fact,  doctor,  that  can  not 
be  disputed,  at  least  if  we  can  rely  upon  the  re- 
ports of  large  and  extensive  bee-keepers,  that 
more  extracted  than  comb  honey  can  be  pro- 
duced. C.  A.  Hatch  brought  this  point  out 
quite  plainly  on  page  229,  April  1,  and  the  same, 
we  notice,  was  copied  recently  in  the  British 
Bee  Journal,  with  the  indorsement  of  the  ed- 
itors in  a  footnote.  Well,  then,  your  question, 
"If  building  comb  has  some  effect  upon  the 
bees  to  make  them  harvest  more,  how  does  it 
come  that  a  greater  yield  of  comb  than  ex- 
tracted can  be  obtained?  "  it  seems  to  us  would 


be  a  poser  for  M.  de  Layens.  Possibly  he  made 
some  mistake.  We  should  like  to  see  Layens' 
experiment  tried  by  different  bee-keepers  in 
this  country,  particularly  by  John  H.  Larrabee, 
of  the  Michigan  Apiculiural  Experiment  Sta- 
tion at  Lansing.  We  hope  he  will  undertake  it 
this  summer  and  give  us  the  results  of  the  same 
in  due  season.] 


BEE-KEEPING  AFTER  THE  OLD  FASHION  IN 
NORTH  GERMANY, 

THE    EDITOR    OF    THE    "  ILLUSTRIEETE    BIENEN- 
ZEITUNG  "    RELATES    IN    AN    INTERESTING 
MANNER  HOW  BEE-KEEPING  IS  CARRIED 
ON  WITHOUT  MOVABLE  FRAMES;  HOW 
HIVES   ARE   QUEENED   AND    UN- 
QUEENED,   ETC. 


It  may  interest  many  of  the  readers  of  Glean- 
ings to  know  how  the  bee-keepers  of  North 
Germany,  especially  in  the  province  of  Hann- 
over and  the  dukedom  of  Brunswick,  manage 
their  bees  in  the  dome-shaped  hives  I  described 
in  my  last  article.  The  readers  will  be  aston- 
ished to  know  by  what  simple  methods  they 
keep  their  bees  in  the  most  profitable  way. 

Well,  they  do  not  know  any  thing  about  the 
natural  history,  anatomy,  and  physiology  of 
bees,  nor  what  is  written  about  theory  in  bee- 
books.  All  they  know  of  bees  and  their  man- 
agement is  the  result  of  the  experience  of  their 
forefathers,  handed  down  from  century  to  cen- 
tury. After  they  have  selected  their  colonies 
in  the  fall,  and  placed  them  in  their  house- 
apiary,  that  has  an  open  front  side,  they  shelter 
the  entrances  with  little  boards  so  that  the  sun- 
beams and  birds  may  not  disturb  the  bees;  but 
this  is  done  in  such  a  way  that  the  bees  may  go 
out  and  in.  During  the  winter  the  bee-keepers 
do  absolutely  nothing  with  their  bees  till  the 
time  of  a  cleansing  flight  at  the  end  of  February 
or  in  the  month  of  March.  Then  they  are 
anxious  to  know  the  exact  condition  of  every 
colony.  This  is  accomplished  by  turning  over 
the  hive  and  getting  a  glimpse  between  the 
combs,  finding  how  strong  the  colony  is,  etc. 
After  cleaning  the  bottom -lioard  they  prepare 
their  colonies  for  the  first  moving  to  another 
place,  because  their  bees  in  their  home  have 
little  or  nothing  to  live  upon  till  July.  Here  in 
their  home  it  would  take  2}o  barrels  of  honey — 
that  is  to  say,  700  pounds — for  nO  colonies,  to  get 
as  many  swarms  as  they  wish  for.  To  save 
this  honey  they  move  their  stocks.  Covering 
the  opening  of  each  hive  with  a  cloth  that  they 
tack  to  the  hive,  they  load  the  hives  on  their 
wagons  and  move  their  bees  20  or  more  miles  to 
a  region  where  they  find  good  bee-pasture  in 
the  spring. 

One  who  has  .50  colonies  will  take  with  him 
300  lbs.  of  honey  and  100  empty  straw  hives  on 
a  second  wagon.  In  an  orchard  our  bee-keeper 
has  hired  a  place  for  such  a  bee-house  as  he  has 
at  home,  and  therein  he  places  his  colonies. 
After  this  he  goes  home.  In  April  and  May,  on 
some  fine  days  he  visits  his  bees  to  look  them 
over  with  the  utmost  care  for  three  or  four 
days.  As  he  has  mostly  colonies  with  young 
queens  of  the  previous  year,  he  has  seldom  to 
unite  queenless  colonies  with  others.  Weak 
colonies,  if  he  has  such,  he  provides  with  bees 
from  his  best  colonies.  This  is  accomplished  in 
the  following  manner:  When  the  bees  are  fly- 
ing best,  he  sets  a  weak  colony  in  the  place  of 
a  stronger  one,  but  never  a  very  weak  one  in 
place  of  a  very  strong  one,  because  the  queen  of 
the  weaker  one  would  be  killed. 

Another  way  to  build  up  a  very  weak  colony 
is  this:  Toward  evening  he  puts  a  flat  feeding- 
trough,  with  honey,  under  a  strong  colony.    As 


ISiCJ 


(iI.EANINCJS  IN  HKK  CULTURE. 


417 


soon  as  tin'  hci's  covfi'  tlii>  food,  upon  wliit-li  lie 
liiis  put  sonic  sliavliiLTS  or  straw,  lie  takes  lli(> 
trouiili.  with  all  tlic  bees,  and  S(>ts  it  und<'r  tlic 
weak  colony.  Tliis  lie  repeats  fur  tlire(>  or  four 
eveninfis.  In  this  manner  lie  jfoes  on  in  April 
and  May  till  he  has  eqnali/.ed  his  colonies.  If 
the  honey-llow  in  thes(>  two  niontiis  is  very 
ijood.  then  he  does  not  feed:  hut  if  not.  he  will 
feed  V(>ry  liberally  for  three  or  four  days.  ]{y 
equalizing  and  feiuiing  tlie  colonics  at  tho  right 
time  lie  shortens  the  swarming  season.  All  hi.s 
first  swarms  will  issue,  accoiding  to  the  weather, 
within  eigiit.  lune.  or  ten  (hiys.  aiui  those  colo- 
nies that  (h)  not  swarm  at  tliis  time  lie  will 
swarm  artiticially  by  driving.  Most  of  tlie  nat- 
ural swarms  lie  takes  in  swarm-catchers  to 
prevent  missing  tiie  swarms  and  killing  the 
queens. 

Every  one  of  these  swarms  the  bee-keeper 
puts  into  a  th(»roughiy  cleans(>d  liive.  He  does 
not  like  very  strong  swarms,  because  they  are 
Inclined  to  build  too  much  drone  comb.  There- 
fore, if  a  prime  or  after  swarm  is  not  too  weak 
he  lets  it  build  its  combs  as  well  as  it  may.  But 
as  soon  as  such  a  swarm  lias  made  a  good  start, 
the  bee-keeper  will  build  up  this  colony  with 
an  after-swarm.  This  he  accomplishes  in  this 
way:  He  selects  an  after-swarm,  and  takes 
from  it  every  queen.  After  sunset  he  puts  the 
queenless  bees  into  an  eat  th-pit,  and  sprinkles 
them  with  salt  water,  and  places  over  the  pit 
the  colony  ho  wishes  to  build  up.  Early  next 
morning  the  bees  have  united  friendly,  and  the 
colony  is  placed  on  its  old  stand.  Such  a  swarm 
with  its  young  bees  will  work  very  satisfac- 
torily. The  after-swarms  are  the  pets  of  the 
bee-keeper. 

If  a  parent  colony  has  cast  several  swarms, 
and  has  not  as  many  bees  as  it  should  have,  the 
bee-keeper  will  return  a  good  swarm;  then  the 
stronger  these  stocks  are,  the  better. 

To  prevent  queenlessnessof  the  parent  colony 
that  has  swarmed,  the  bee-keeper  will  give  a 
young  queen  in  a  queen-cage  like  this.    The 


opening  of  it  is  closed  with  fresh  wax.  If  the 
colony  has  a  queen,  then  the  bees  will  not  gnaw 
open  the  cage,  otherwise  they  will. 

In  order  to  provide  himself  with  young 
queens,  the  bee-keeper  will  hunt  out  from  the 
after-swarms  as  many  queens  as  he  can  get. 
He  puts  all  into  such  a  cage,  closes  the  (jpening 
with  a  wooden  plug,  and  then  he  puts  from 
three  to  six  queens  in  an  after-swarm  that  has 
only  these  caged  queens.  Such  a  one  will  feed 
all  the  queens  for  some  time,  and  the  bee-keeper 
will  use  them  as  they  are  needed.  Colonies 
with  a  laying  worker  he  cures  without  fail  with 
a  little  after-swarm. 

From  .')()  colonies,  spring  count,  the  bee-keeper 
will  get  100  swarms,  so  that  he  lias  at  least  150 
colonies.  The  most  care  he  takes  is  to  get  such 
combs  built  as  he  needs;  therefore  he  will, 
three  days  after  hiving  the  swarm,  and  every 
third  day  after,  turn  over  the  hives  in  which 
the  bees  build  combs.  Every  comb  runs  straight 
to  the  entrance.  All  drone  comb  is  cut  out  till 
three-fourths  of  the  combs  an;  finished,  then 
the  bees  are  allowed  to  build  a  little  of  it.  Too 
much  drone  comb  will  induce  untimely  swarm- 
ing, and  produce  too  many  consumers  of  the 
honey.  As  soon  as  a  swarm  issues,  all  drone 
comb  with  brood  in  it  is  cut  out. 

The  bee-keeper  has  to  take  the  utmost  care 
to  prevent  the  swarming  of  the  first  swarms. 
Cutting  out  drone  comb  will  not  save  him  that 


tridubh^  Hut  what  shall  be  done  now  to  pre- 
vent the  loss  of  honey  by  swarming?  As  soon 
as  till'  colony  gives  the  signal  that  it  will  siindy 
swafm,  then  tho.  bee-kcu'per  drives,  by  drum- 
ming, the  bees  from  tin?  combs,  and  also  from  a 
young  after-swarm  that  has  iDifiiiiHhejl  combs. 
Now  he  hives  the  first  swarm  on  the  combs  of 
the  aftiM'-sw  arm,  and  this  on  the  combs  of  the 
lirst  swarm.  The  young  (lueen  destroys  all 
queen-cells,  and  tlui  first  swarm  resumes  comb- 
building,  and  so  swarming  is  prevented. 

As,  with  the  beginning  of  July,  buckwheat 
comes  in  bloom  at  the  home  of  our  bee  keeper, 
he  i)repares  at  the  end  of  June  all  colonies  for 
moving  home.  Hcm'c^  he  has  a  be(*-shed  that  is 
so  situated  that  the  bees  placed  in  it  may  have 
the  buckwheat  fields  on  on(^  side,  and  lh(i  large 
plains  of  the  heather  on  the  other.  If  the 
weather  is  favorable,  the  bees  will  work  with 
great  vigor  till  the  middle  of  September,  when 
his  L50  colonies  will  have  gathered  so  much 
honey  that  S  of  them  give  300  lbs.  of  honey. 
However,  in  very  bad  years  he  will  have  only  a 
wax  crop,  and  among  his  150  colonies  as  many 
as  will  winter  well  without  much  feeding  in  the 
fall  or  spring.  In  good  years  he  will  i)ut  only 
.50  colonies  into  winter  quarters;  but  in  a  bad 
year  as  many  as  he  can.  recognizing  that,  in  a 
bad  season,  a  better  one  may  follow. 

During  the  whole  season  the  bee-keeper  has 
watched  his  colonies.  He  is  as  familiar  with 
every  one  as  a  shepherd  with  every  sheep  of  his 
fiock,  and  he  can  tell  you  a  long  story  of  every 
colony  without  any  note-book.  According  to 
this  he  now  selects  all  the  colonies  he  intends 
to  put  into  winter  quarters,  and  the  others  he 
puts  on  the  sulphur-pits  before  he  moves  to  his 
home  yard. 

Selecting  his  colonies  for  the  next  season,  he 
goes  on  with  the  utmost  care.  At  first  he  selects 
every  after-swarm  that  has  young  combs,  and, 
of  course,  a  young  queen  with  the  necessary 
winter  stores.  The  whole  weight  of  a  colony 
must  be  from  26  to  36  or  40  lbs.;  10  lbs.  is  the 
weight  of  a  hive  net.  Bees,  bee-bread,  and 
combs  weigh  perhaps  5  to  6  lbs.  The  best  colo- 
nies are  those  from  30  to  36  lbs.  If  he  can  not 
find  .50  colonies  among  his  after-swarms,  then 
he  selects  some  colonies  that  have  swarmed 
early,  with  a  young  queen,  and  combs  from  the 
year  before.  From  the  utmost  necessity  he 
selects  first  swarms  with  queens  from  the  year 
before. 

Hives  with  short  combs,  perhaps  as  long  as  a 
hand,  or  shorter,  he  preserves.  After  he  has 
killed  the  bees  he  closes  the  entrance  and  the 
opening  of  the  hive  with  a  cloth,  and  then  he 
hangs  up  the  hives  in  a  lofty  room.  At  swarm- 
ing time  he  puts  swarms  in  them.  He  also  pre- 
serves some  hiv(>s  with  good  combs,  and,  say,  15 
to  30  lbs.  of  honey.  If  he  has  wintered  colonies 
with  26  or  less  pounds  of  honey,  then  he  will, 
after  the  first  cleansing  fiightin  February,  drive 
the  bees  off  by  drumming,  and  put  them  in 
their  reserved  hives.  All  the  honey  in  the  other 
hives  goes  into  three  grades.  The  best  white 
sealed  hoiK^y-combs  he  cuts  into  pieces,  and  sells 
them  at  from  25  to  37  cents.  Then  ha  selects 
the  next  best  combs  of  sealed  honey  and  pollen. 
He  puts  these  combs  with  honey  in  pans,  and 
pounds  them  all  to  "  pap."  This  is  his  "  futter- 
honig,"  or  honey  for  f(>eding.  All  the  other 
honey  he  strains.  The  honey  for  feeding  bees 
he  will  sell  at  from  24  to  26  cents,  and  the  other 
16  or  20  cents. 

I  have  now  given  the  reader  only  an  outline 
of  the  management  of  bees  by  the  bee-keeper 
of  North  (rermany,  but  I  think  it  will  be  suffi- 
cient to  see  that  these  men  very  well  know 
what  they  are  doing.  .\t  the  end  of  my  article 
let  me  say  that  I  am  a  descendant  of  the  bee- 
keepers of  North  Germany;   that  I  have  kept 


■418 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jnue  1. 


bees  in  the  way  of  my  forefathers  before  I  heard 
of  the  movable-comb  hive.  If  the  kind  reader 
will  take  this  into  consideration,  then  I  hope  he 
will  understand  that  I  prefei-  a  hive  that  has 
all  the  good  qualities  of  the  old  straw  skep  in 
combination  with  the  best  qualities  of  the  mov- 
able-comb hive.  C.  J.  H.  Gravenhokst. 
Wilsnack,  Germany. 

[Most  of  the  readers  of  the  bee-journals  of 
this  country  have  been  educated  in  the  use  of 
the  movable-frame  hive;  and  the  idea  that  a 
colony  in  straw  skeps  can  be  divided,  doubled 
up,  queened  and  unqueened,  as  you  have  so  well 
explained,  seems  well  nigh  an  impossibility  if 
not  an  absurdity.  Even  if  we  do  not  propose 
for  a  moment  to  go  back  to  straw  skeps,  and 
manage  as  your  people  do  in  North  Germany, 
it  is  exceedingly  interesting  to  read  how  they 
manage  to  pei'form  the  necessary  alterations  in 
the  internal  economy  of  the  straw  skep.  Our 
older  readers  will  remember  how  well  father 
Quinby  managed  without  movable  combs,  and 
how  the  mere  reading  of  his  first  book  on  bees 
gives  one  a  fever  to  do  as  he  did. 

There  is  also  a  practical  side  to  us  In  this 
whole  matter;  and  it  is  the  same  that  we  re- 
ferred to  in  our  footnote  to  the  former  article; 
and  that  is,  that,  even  though  we  do  have  mov- 
able frames,  it  does  not  hinder  us  in  the  least 
from  diagnosing  colonies  or  changing  their  in- 
ternal anatomy  without  handling  the  frames 
whenever  we  can  do  so  profitably.  Let  us  by 
all  means  have  movable  frames;  but  let  us  not 
abuse  their  use.  The  beginner  and  enthusiast 
can  afford  to  handle  frames  over  and  over 
again,  just  for  the  fun  of  it  and  for  the  knowl- 
edge thereby  gained;  but  the  practical  honey- 
producer  can  not  afford  to  do  so. 

Now,  because  we  have  so  expressed  ourselves, 
don't  jump  to  the  conclusion  that  we  are  going 
back  to  old  box  hives.  Far  be  it.  We  would 
cull  out  the  useful  in  all  things.! 


LADIES'  Conversazione. 


A  REPORT  FROM  MRS.  AXTELL. 


BLASTED   hopes;    ARTIFICIAL   HEAT,   ETC. 

Mr.  i?oot;— We  are  nearly  fit  subjects  to  fill 
the  column  of  Blasted  Hopes,  so  far  as  the  pro- 
duction of  honey  is  concerned  this  season.  But 
we  are  truly  thankful  that  so  many  of  our  little 
pets  are  alive,  and  hopeful  that  we  can  save 
enough  to  stock  up  again,  as  probably  we  shall 
not  live  to  see  another  twelve  months  that  will 
be  so  disastrous  to  bee  culture.  One  year  ago 
this  spring  our  bees  came  out  of  winter  quarters 
In  good  condition  in  both  apiaries,  except  being 
short  of  stores.  We  fed  granulated-sugar  syr- 
up, what  they  needed,  to  bring  them  through 
until  they  could  gather  a  living  themselves, 
which  was  the  second  week  in  June.  There 
seemed  to  be  scarcely  any  honey  in  white  clo- 
ver, which  blossomed  very  scantily;  but  on  all 
hickory-trees  was  honey-dew,  some  trees  fairly 
dripping  with  it. 

The  bees  at  Timber  Apiary  increased  very 
rapidly,  and  nearly  all  colonies  became  strong 
enough  to  swarm,  but  they  did  not;  but  the 
bees  in  the  home  apiary  began  to  dwindle  about 
the  time  we  sprayed  our  apple-trees,  which  was 
after  all  the  flowers  had  fallen,  and  they  still 
dwindled  all  through  May  and  June.  There 
was  plenty  of  brood  in  the  hives  all  the  time; 
but  as  soon  as  the  young  bees  could  fly  they 
would  disappear,  leaving  only  about  enough  to 


take  care  of  the  brood.  During  July  the  best 
colonies  built  up  and  became  fair  in  point  of 
strength,  and  gathered  honey-dew  enough  to 
winte;-on.  This  was  apparently  all  the  honey 
the  bees  gathered  last  year,  though  probably 
they  did  gather  some  from  catnip  and  other  fall 
flowers,  for  immediate  use.  Timber  Apiary 
gave  about  .500  lbs.  of  surplus  in  sections,  and 
we  had  perhaps  .50  lbs.  at  the  home  apiary.  The 
bees  at  Timber  Apiary,  being  so  populous,  used 
up  much  of  their  honey,  and  about  half  of  them 
had  to  be  fed  sugar  syrup  for  winter.  When  we 
found  they  were  not  going  to  fill  up  for  winter 
we  sent  to  Chicago  for  sugar,  which,  through  a 
mistake,  was  sent  to  Rossville,  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State.  By  the  time  we  traced  it  up 
and  had  more  sugar  sent  us  it  was  very  late  to 
feed. 

THE   RESULT. 

When  we  took  the  bees  out  of  the  cellar  on 
the  first  of  April,  about  a  third  of  them  were 
dead.  Many  more  were  so  near  dead  that  they 
were  united;  but  they  were  so  diseased  that  the 
united  colony  died  also,  in  a  few  days.  Those 
wintered  at  Timber  Apiary  fared  no  better.  By 
the  first  of  April  more  than  a  third  were  dead, 
and  many  so  weak  that  they  soon  died.  We 
tried  putting  a  few  of  the  weak  colonies  into 
nucleus  boxes  and  placing  them  in  a  warm 
room  at  night,  and  setting  them  out  of  doors  in 
the  daytime  when  warm  enough  to  fly;  but 
they,  too,  all  died.  We  put  some  of  them  on 
sugar-fed  combs,  and  fed  warm  thin  sugar  syr- 
up, but  it  did  no  good.  Even  the  colonies  whose 
stores  were  wholly  sugar  syrup  fared  but  little 
better  than  those  with  honey-dew.  For  some 
reason  they  would  not  feed  up  their  brood.  It 
looked  dry,  and  soon  died.  Only  a  few  scatter- 
ing cells  were  sealed  over.  This  was  the  case 
with  all  colonies  until  about  the  last  week  in 
April,  when  the  remaining  colonies  began  to 
get  solid  patches  of  brood.  This  was  about  the 
time  they  took  flour  freely.  Before  that  they 
would  not  notice  the  flour  although  we  set  it 
out  for  them.  The  combs  contained  plenty  of 
eggs  all  through  March  and  April,  but  the  bees 
would  not  feed  the  larvte,  except  a  cell  here  and 
there. 

May  11th  finds  all  our  bees  brought  home 
from  the  out-apiary.  Last  fall  we  had  236  colo- 
nies; now  we  have  90  with  bees  in.  Some  are 
but  mere  handfuls;  50,  I  think,  will  build  up  by 
the  middle  of  June;  the  I'est  will  barely  save 
their  queens,  and  some  will  yet  die.  But  they 
all  have  the  most  brood  I  ever  saw  in  hives  with 
so  few  bees,  and  this  brood  is  now  beginning  to 
hatch  out.  We  had  two  queens  sent  us  by  Mr. 
Doolittle  the  last  of  July,  which  we  introduced 
on  hatching  brood,  and  built  up  into  good  colo- 
nies by  feeding  granulated-sugar  syrup.  By 
the  way,  their  progeny  are  beauties  —  yellow, 
clear  to  the  tips  of  their  bodies.  Those  colo- 
nies were  fed  sufficient  to  build  them  up,  and 
for  winter  stores,  in  August  and  September;  but 
they  were  given  a  very  little  in  October,  to 
make  sure  they  had  plenty.  They  wintered 
well  and  came  out  with  plenty  of  bees,  but  no 
brood  except  eggs. 

ARTIFICIAL  HEAT. 

Into  those  two  Doolittle  colonies,  and  into 
about  fifty  others  of  the  weakest  taken  from  the 
cellar,  we  put  the  bees  from  two  to  four  combs, 
and  set  them  to  one  side  of  the  hive  with  two 
division-boards  between  the  bees  and  the  side 
of  the  hive,  and  on  the  other  side  we  put  a  di- 
vision-board and  set  in  a  jug  or  jar  of  hot  wa- 
ter, and  filled  up  the  hive  with  dry  ehafl".  Eve- 
ry day  for  nearly  a  month  we  changed  the  wa- 
ter, filling  the  jars  with  boiling  water  each 
time.  I  think  it  prolonged  the  lives  of  the  ma- 
ture bees,  but  I  could  not  see  that  it  caused  the 


1802 


CLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


419 


brood  to  hatch  any  better  than  that  in  the  hives 
that  iiad  no  hot  wati-r.  In  tlie  one  and  two 
pallnn  jiijrs.  and  in  tlie  two  and  tiiree  {gallon 
jars,  tile  water,  after  ".M  lionis.  wonld  still  lie  as 
warm  as  fresh  niilU.  Tiie  jiiiis  and  Jars  retain- 
ed their  heat  better  liian  larjie  stones,  and  lliey 
did  not  endanger  the  oluilT  by  heat.  Neither 
eould  we  see  tliat  tlie  water  was  an  injury,  as 
all  tlie  brood  they  had  was  stored  in  the  lirst  or 
secoiui  ooiiili  nearest  tlie  heat,  and  tlie  liees 
would  (.•lusti'r  the  most  on  the  eoiiib  nearest  the 
heat. 

The  two  Doolittle  colonies  tliat  were  fed  np 
early  in  the  summer  and  fall,  and  had  iilenty  of 
bees  when  set  out  of  the  cellar,  had  plenty  of 
eggs  all  the  time,  and  did  not  feed  ii|)  their  lar- 
v;e.  nor  caji  over  any  more  brood  than  the  other 
colonios.  and  dwindled  just  as  much  as  the  oth- 
er. In  fact,  there  were  a  few  colonies  that  win- 
tered on  hom>y-dew  that  did  not  spring  dwindle 
as  mudi  as  theydid.  To  keep  tliem  from  dying 
we  have  had  to  help  them  w  itb  lirood  from  oth- 
er colonies,  as  we  wished  to  save  their  queens. 

This  we  have  observed:  The  blacker  the  bee, 
the  better  they  have  wintered.  Our  hybrids 
wintered  better  than  our  pure  Italians,  and  our 
neighbors"  blacks  are  now  in  better  condition 
than  even  our  liybrids  that  have  been  given  so 
much  care. 

The  jugs  of  hot  water  wei-e  corked,  and  the 
jars  were  covered,  to  prevent  steam  from  get- 
ting out  into  the  hives.  We  did  not  expect  to 
put  the  water  in  so  long  when  we  began.  We 
thought  if  we  could  only  keep  up  the  warmth 
for  ten  days  or  so  after  first  taking  them  out  of 
the  cellar,  so  that  they  could  get  capped  brood, 
that  the  weather  by  that  time  would  be  warm; 
but  we  have  been  having  an  unusually  cold, 
backward,  and  rainy  spring  all  through  March 
and  April,  so  we  kept  up  the  hot  water  until  the 
weather  got  warmer,  and  until  w(^  concluded 
they  would  be  just  as  well  off  to  put  the  combs 
in  the  center  of  the  hive,  and  put  dry  chaff 
around  them  and  leave  them  alone,  closing  the 
entrances  v(>ry  small,  putting  them  on  from 
one  to  three  and  four  com  lis,  the  size  of  our 
combs  being  11,'..'  x  1931.  Now.  as  we  have  them 
on  so  few  combs,  and  there  are  so  few  old  bees, 
the  next  thing  is  to  keep  them  from  starving, 
as  we  want  them  to  have  fresh  sugar  syrup. 
They  won't  take  syrup  from  our  feeders  to 
amount  to  much;  but  they  go  for  the  honey  in 
the  combs,  so  we  have  been  pouring  very  rich 
syrup  into  the  combs,  in  one  side  only,  setting 
the  combs  in  a  barrel,  with  the  mouth  of  it 
pointing  toward  the  sun.  We  first  lay  a  strong 
comb  in  the  barrel  to  catch  the  drip,  if  there  is 
any,  and  then  set  the  combs  on  top  of  this. 
Drone  combs  are  the  easiest  to  till.  The  bees 
take  the  syrup  out  of  these  combs  nicely  on 
warm  days  :  but  there  are  so  many  cool  and 
cloudy  days  that  we  have  to  feed  some  in  their 
hives' or  they  would  starve.  As  we  have  not 
had  to  feed  much  in  the  hives,  we  have  made 
the  syrup  very  rich,  and  poured  it  down  be- 
tween the  combs  and  between  the  combs  and 
division-board,  but  not  a  great  deal  on  the  clus- 
ter of  bees,  as  we  feared  it  might  injure  their 
wings  in  getting  it  cleaned  off.  The  hives  must 
be  level  or  it  would  leak  out.  We  never  bi'fore 
saw  bees  refuse  to  take  syrup  from  the  feeders, 
or  work  in  them  so  lazily.  It  is  the  condition  of 
the  bees.  I  think. 

One  day  about  the  last  of  March  the  bees 
brought  in  natural  pollen  quite  freely,  and  then 
for  three  weeks  they  brought  none  in.  We 
mixed  graham  and  fine  flour  with  corn  meal, 
and  fed  them.  They  took  it  quite  freely  after 
they  got  started. 

Now.  I  should  like  to  inquire  why  the  two  su- 
gar-fed colonies  that  w^ere  fed  early  in  the  sea- 
son dwindled   this  spring  so   badly.     Why  did 


not  the  other  colonies  that  were  fed  up  late,  but 
sealed  up  their  stores,  winter  iiiitter,  as  we  have 
in  past  years  led  just  as  late,  and  yet  they  win- 
tered weir.'  Was  it  not  liecanse  the  colonies  on 
honey-dew  became  diseased,  and  infected  the 
rest?  If  tiiat  was  the  reason.  tluMi  why  did  our 
neighbors'  black  bees,  that  were  wintered  whol- 
ly on  hon<'y-dew,  winter  better  than  ours? 

We  had  several  days  of  cold  high  winds;  and 
as  our  Dees  havt>  dwindled  down  so  much  we 
thought  to  sliut  them  in  the  hives  two  niglits 
and  one  day;  liut  tin  y  were  so  uneasy  that  a 
few  coloni«^s  of  tlu^  liees  crowded  out  through 
holes  that  they  could  not  get  back  in  again,  and 
we  w(M'e  busy  and  did  not  notice  all  of  them.  In 
tlu!  morning,  after  a  cold  rain,  I  found  one  liivt; 
where  they  had  crowd(!d  out  and  remained  all 
night.  I  picked  them  up  and  put  them  in  a  big 
cup  and  brought  them  to  the  lire.  They  soon 
became  lively,  and  I  carried  them  back  to  the 
hive,  and  they  went  in.  In  another  hive  they 
crowded  up  through  tlie  straw,  and  quite  a  lot 
lay  stupid  in  the  top  of  tlu^  hive.  I  took  those 
in  and  warmed  them  up,  and  they  became  live- 
ly, and  I  returned  them  to  their  hive;  so  1  con- 
clude that,  if  bees  are  fastened  in  the  hives, 
there  ought  not  to  be  any  chance  for  them  to 
crowd  out  of  orupintotiie  tops  of  the  hives; 
for  they  will  crowd  harder  to  get  out  than  they 
will  to  get  in.  I  believe  I  prefer  to  close  the 
entrance,  leaving  only  room  enough  for  a  few 
bees  to  get  out  easily,  and  then  they  will  not  be 
so  uneasy.  Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtell. 

Roseville,  111.,  May  11,  1892. 

[Well,  Mrs.  A.,  you  have  been  going  through 
with  some  experience  with  bees.  The  results 
of  your  experiments  with  artificial  heat  in 
warming  up  colonies,  so  far  as  we  remember, 
have  been  like  all  the  rest— a  failure— at  least, 
productive  of  no  very  great  good  to  the  bees. 
The  results  of  youi'  wintering  seem  to  show 
that  your  bees  Were  bent  upon  spring  dwin- 
dling, whether  they  had  sugar  stores  or  honey- 
dew.  After  all,  we  question  very  much  whether 
honey-dew  has  not  been  condemned  a  great 
deal  more  severely  than  it  deserves,  as  a  winter 
food.] 

PROPOLIS. 


AND     HOW   TO   REMOVE    IT    FROM     SEPARATORS, 
HIVES,  ETC.,  WITH  LITTLE  LABOR. 


When  I  cleaned  the  T  tins  with  concentrated 
lye.  I  felt  pretty  sure  that  hives,  supers,  separa- 
tors, etc.,  could  be  cleaned  in  the  same  way,  but 
was  so  busy  I  could  not  take  time  just  then  to 
experiment,  so  concluded  to  say  nothing  about 
it  till  I  could  find  time  to  test  the  matter.  This 
morning.  May  .">,  being  the  first  opportunity  I 
have  had.  1  concluded  to  experiment  a  little. 

I  put  on  ray  wash-boiler  with  water  and  lye, 
then  went  to  the  shop  and  selected  the  most 
badly  propolized  supers  and  separators  that  I 
could  find  as  fit  subjects  on  which  to  experi- 
ment. I  dropped  a  few  separators  into  the 
boiler  whih;  the  water  was  yet  cold,  to  see  what 
effect  it  would  have  on  them.  I  couldn't  see 
that  it  affected  them  in  the  least  until  the 
water  almost  reached  the  boiling-point,  when 
the  propolis  disappeared. 

What  I  was  most  afraid  of.  was,  that  the 
separators  while  wet  would  cling  so  closely  to- 
gether that  the  lye  would  not  reach  every  part, 
and  that  th(!y  would  not  be  perfectly  clean.  I 
was  glad  to  find  these  few  did  not  bother  at  all, 
but  came  out  perfectly  clean.  I  stirred  them  with 
the  poker  while  boiling,  although  I  don't  know- 
that  it  was  necessary,  as  I  tried  another  lot 
without  stirring,  and  they  came  out  just  as 
clean.    I  next  tied  up  a  bundle  of  5!>  separators, 


420 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Junk  1. 


that  being  the  number  I  had  handy.  Of  course, 
they  were  tied  loosely.  I  dropped  them  in.  hav- 
ing a  strong  cord  tied  around  tlae  middle  of  the 
bundle  to  lift  them  out  by.  I  left  them  boil 
two  or  three  minutes,  and  took  tliem  out;  33  of 
them  were  perfectly  clean.  The  rest,  the  cen- 
ter of  the  bundle,  still  had  some  propolis  left  on, 
and  were  treated  to  a  second  dose. 

Taking  a  very  large  quantity  of  the  separa- 
tors at  one  time,  there  might  be  more  trouble 
than  I  tliink,  about  getting  them  clean,  but  I 
don't  believe  there  would  be  if  the  water  were 
kept  hot  enough,  and  enough  of  the  lye  used. 
I  don't  think  any  harm  would  come  from  hav- 
ing it  unnecessarily  strong. 

I  next  tried  dipping  the  T  supers.  My  boiler 
was  large  enough  to  clean  only  half  a  super  at 
a  time,  so  I  had  to  dip  in  one  half,  reverse  it, 
and  dip  the  other  half.  Had  I  been  able  to  dip 
one  all  at  once,  I  think  I  could  have  cleaned  one 
a  minute.  And  they  are  beautifully  cleaned. 
I  don't  know  of  any  other  way  they  could  be 
cleaned  so  nicely — quite  as  clean,  I  think,  as 
when  new.  We  scraped  all  our  supers  before 
the  lye  was  iliouglit  of;  and  wliile  they  are 
much  improved  by  the  scraping,  they  are  not 
nearly  as  nice  as  wlien  cleaned  with  lye,  and 
the  scraping  is  harder  worl\. 

I  did  not  have  any  thing  large  enough  to  dip 
a  hive  into,  but  of  course  a  hive  would  clean  as 
readily  as  a  super.  With  convenient  apparatus 
to  work  with,  a  large  number  of  such  articles 
as  separators  could  be  cleaned  at  a  time  with 
no  very  great  amount  of  labor.  It  is  such  a 
comfort  to  have  every  thing  clean  I  Wood 
separators  are  so  cheap  that  we  have  always 
thought  it  did  not  pay  to  clean  them.  I  rather 
think  we  shall  conclude  that  it  does  pay,  after 
this,  providing  we  can  get  them  satisfactorily 
dried  in  good  shape.  Emma  Wilsox. 

Marengo,  111.,  May  .'5. 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 


LETTER  FROM   J.  H.   TOWNLEY,  OF  CHAFF-PACK- 
ING   FAME. 

We  have  no  use  for  bee  -  keepers'  supplies 
here;  but  thanks,  all  the  same,  for  illustrated 
catalogue.  The  beautifully  neat  and  tasty 
picture  of  your  grapevine  apiary  and  its  sur- 
roundings on  the  front  cover  reminds  one  of  his 
old  occupation,  and  almost  makes  him  wish 
that  he  were  again  engaged  in  his  nearly  life- 
long favorite  pursuit.  The  picture  of  your 
factory,  and  the  piles  of  apiarian  supplies 
around  the  depot  and  along  the  railroad  track, 
awaiting  shipment,  on  the  last  cover,  shows 
that  you  have  "spread  out  "quite  extensively 
since  I  was  in  Medina  something  like  fifteen 
years  ago. 

I  brought  one  colony  of  bees  with  me  when  I 
came  here  in  188:.'.  The  first  year,  they  stored 
enough  honey  to  winter  them;  the  next  season 
I  fed  them  honey  all  summer,  and  let  them 
starve  in  October.  It  was  useless  to  keep  them 
longer.  They  wintered  well  in  a  large  goods 
box,  packed  below,  above,  and  on  all  sides 
with  from  4  to  V.1  inches  of  chaff,  without  a  fly 
from  October  until  April.  What  honey  they 
had  was  mostly  goldenrod  and  the  excrements 
of  plant-lice. 

Bees  are  successfully  kept  in  the  south  part 
of  the  State  and  along  the  Missouri  River.  I 
think  they  could  be  kept  here  in  more  favored 
localities  along  streams,  where,  in  its  season, 
there  are  scores  of  acres  covered  with  a  sea  of 
goldenrod  for  six  or  seven  weeks. 


We  can  get  white-clover  honey,  extracted, 
laid  down  here,  by  the  barrel,  for  7  and  8  cents 
per  lb.  It  retails  now  at  the  stores,  put  up  in 
1  and  2  lb.  tin  cans,  at  ~0  and  3.5  cents  per  can. 
Comb  honey,  in  1-lb.  sections,  some  of  it  quite 
dark,  is  retailing  at  30  cents.  J.  H.  Towni.ey. 

Ashton,  S.  D.,  May  7. 

[Some  of  our  older  readers  will  remember 
this  as  the  Townley  who  first  suggested  to  us, 
years  ago,  the  use  of  chaff  for  packing  double- 
walled  hives.  In  the  interim  we  had  nearly 
lost  track  of  him.] 

A   2K-INCH   RAINFALL,  IN   THE     MONTH   OF   MAY 
IN   VENTURA   CO.,  CAL. 

There  is  a  general  feeling  among  bee-keepers 
in  this  region  that  they  will  get  no  surplus 
lioney  tliis  year.  However,  I  expect  a  small 
crop,  and  especially  as  we  have  just  had  the 
very  extraordinary  experince  of  a  2}.<-inch  fall 
of  rain  in  May.  R.  Wilkin. 

Newhall,  Cal.,  May  4. 

[We  are  glad  to  hear  of  the  rain,  friend  W., 
and  shall  watch  anxiously  for  its  effect  on  the 
honey  crop.  And,  by  the  way,  do  you  not  be- 
lieve that  tliis  rainfall  was  produced  by  irriga- 
tion? Near  Tropico  I  saw  a  tract  of  land  that 
had  been  covered  with  fruit,  and  at  one  time  it 
was  worth  •?10U0  an  acre.  The  ground  Kept  get- 
ting wetter  and  wetter,  however,  until,  when  I 
saw  it,  it  was  but  little  better  than  a  swamp. 
All  the  fruit  had  been  killed  by  the  wetness, 
and  the  tract  was  abandoned.  This,  I  was 
informed,  was  probably  the  result  of  excessive 
irrigation  year  after  year.  The  water  had  set- 
tled down  in  this  low  place:  and  as  the  subsoil 
was  probably  impervious,  it  became  wetter  and 
wetter  each  successive  year.  In  diflferent 
pi '.ces  I  saw  evidences  of  what  might  be  expect- 
ed by  continued  irrigation;  and,  if  I  am  cor- 
rect, such  a  state  of  affairs  favors  rainfalls 
where  they  have  not  been  previously  known.] 
A.  I.  R. 

SOMETHING   FROM   "TOMMY   IRONDAI^E." 

Mr.  Root: — We  were  glad  to  hear  of  your  safe 
return  home  after  your  long  journey,  and  we 
liope  that  you  health  is  much  improved  by  the 
trip.  Tell  Mrs.  Root  that  the  book  she  sent  the 
children.  "First  Steps  for  Little  Feet,"  was 
much  enjoyed  by  them.  After  your  report  in 
Gleanings,  that  the  Eaton  P'alls  picture  was  a 
failure,  we  wondered  if  Pole  Canyon  Falls  had 
impressed  itself  properly  on  the  Kodak.  We 
shall  have  no  honey  to  speak  of  in  Southern 
California  this  year,  as  the  rainfall  is  less  than 
for  seven  years;  13,^.1  inches  have  fallen  here  so 
far  this  winter.  It'is  I'eported  that  Mr.  Mercer 
has  only  .500  colonies  alive  now  out  of  a  total 
last  summer  of  1100.  There  has  been  gi eat  loss 
from  starvation  the  past  winter  all  through  the 
honey-belt  of  this  country. 

T.  F.  AND  Mrs.  Arundell. 

Fillmore,  Cal.,  May  8. 

[We  are  very  sorry  indeed,  friends,  to  hear  of 
the  bad  prospects  for  honey.  I  think  you  Cal- 
ifornia folks  will  have  to  get  down  to  feeding 
in  winter,  under  such  circumstances,  and  also 
to  giving  your  bees  a  little  more  attention  dur- 
ing the  winter  and  spring  months.  Pole  Canyon 
Falls  will  appear  presently.]  A.  I.  R. 

QUEEN-EXCLUDERS    FOR    EXTRACTING;      PROPO- 
LIS  DOES   NOT   INTERFERE. 

On  page  333,  INTay  1st,  Wm.  Seeman  tells  how 
his  bees  filled  up  the  holes  in  his  excluders,  and 
would  not  woi  <<  above  them  in  extracting 
supers.  As  excluders  between  brood-chamber 
and  top  story  is  one  of  the  most  satisfactory 
arrangements  I  have  ever  used,  I  write  this  to 


18lfJ 


(;lkanin(;s  in  hiok  cui/ruKK. 


421 


t4'Stify  to  their  worth.  l'id|iolis  is  one  thiiii; 
tliat  Ikm's  tfiulu'f  here  iit';iil\  nil  tin'  yaw.  Tin'V 
trciiui'iitiv  covi'i-  every  eraciv.  joint.  »iiiilt.  and 
lill  rabbets  full,  hilt  liuv(>  never  yet  lilled  holes 
in  exi'linh'r.  Often.  framt>s  aresosliu-k  that  a 
lever  has  to  be  tistMl  to  starf  them. 

In  IS'.Kl  1  fiot  .'ii>  exi'lniiers.  to  try  them.  Next 
year  1  liatl  4(1  in  the  home  yard,  and  .'!.'".  in  an 
ontapiary  for  another  party.  I  have  always 
left  thom  on  all  tlie  year.  Last  year  I  got  nearly 
■.'(HI  lbs.  from  several  colonies  that  tlie  excltidcM's 
had  been  on  a  year.  This  year  I  liave  taken 
nearly  1(X)  pounds  from  several  that  the  exclud- 
ers have  been  on  two  years  ;  some  of  them 
havi-  a  part  of  the  lioles  IIIIchI  with  wax.  but 
not  enonjrh  to  interfere  any.  It  is  a  nice  thing 
to  know  tliat  tlie  top  is  full  of  honey,  not  lialf 
full  of  brood.  I  am  inclined  to  tliink  excluders 
discourage  swarming;  but  why.  I  do  not  know. 

Our  orange  bloom  was  killed  by  frost,  and 
early  bloom  greatly  injured:  yc^t  several  colo- 
nies" have  tilled  a  set  of  10  combs,  and  built  and 
tilled  a  set  of  10  frames  of  comb— no  foundation 
—besides.  Our  best  flow  is  just  commencing. 
Some  seem  to  prefer  the  black  bees;  but  the 
■•golden"  is  good  enough  for  me,  and  so  gentle. 

Port  Orange.  Fla..  May  11.  J.  B.  Case. 


VINDICTIVE    ITXICS. 

Last  winter  I  brought  my  Punic  stock  from 
Illinois  to  this  place,  where  1  am  now  located. 
They  cam(>  through  all  right;  and  I  must  say, 
that,  just  as  I  was  getting  ready  to  prevent  the 
issue  of  swarming,  behold,  when  I  came  to  look 
at  them  they  had  evidently  taken  a  few  days 
tlie  start  of  me.  and  my  §5.00  Punic  that  I  pur- 
chased of  Pratt  was  to  be  seen  no  more.  She 
was  an  extra  tine  queen,  and  left  behind  at 
least  1.50  queen-cells.  As  one  would  emerge 
from  her  cell  she  would  run  like  mad;  and,  al- 
low me  to  say.  all  this  took  place  the  latter 
part  of  March;  and  last,  but  not  least,  they  are 
the  most  vindictive  of  any  bees  I  ever  handled. 

Bakersfield,  Cal..  April  19.  F.  D.  Lowe. 

[We  do  not  quite  understand.  Do  you  mean 
the  progeny  of  the  Punic  queen  you  lost,  or  that 
from  the  queens  you  raised  from  hei-  were  the 
most  vindictive  of  "any  you  ever  handled  ?] 


A   JOHNNV-CAKE   BEE-FEEDER. 

Bees  in  these  parts  are  wintering  finely,  on 
the  average.  The  outlook  for  a  good  year  com- 
ing was  never  better.  A  new  bee-feeder  has 
come  to  the  front,  or  is  coming.  A  friend  of 
mini'  having  150  colonies  of  bees  has  a  feeder 
that  is  new  to  me.  Perhaps  you  have  seen  one; 
if  it  is  not  new.  he  doesn't  want  to  waste  money 
in  getting  a  patent.  He  bakes  johnny-cake.s,  3 
inches  thick;  splits  them  in  the  middle;  soaks 
with  sugar  syrup:  puts  in  front  of  hives,  and 
the  bees  carry  off  syruj).  johnny-cake,  and  all, 
into  their  hives.  I  should  like  your  opinion  of 
this  feeder.  It  is  possible  he  has  the  kind  of 
be(!S  Dr.  Miller  or  some  one  else  saw  carrying 
ofT  the  raisins.  Rkv.  .I.vmes  Andrews. 

Pved  House.  N.  Y.,  .March  7. 

I  We  must  certainly  give  your  friend  credit 
for  originality;  and  whether  or  not  the  idea  is 
patentable  need  not  be  discussed.  We  have  no 
doubt  but  that  it  will  work  perfectly.] 


upward  VENTILATION   IN  THE  CELLAR. 

There  has  been  much  said  in  Gleanings  in 
regard  to  ventilating  hives,  by  the  best  bee- 
mtm,  and  they  do  not  si'em  to  agree  in  all  re- 
spects; and  now  I  wish  to  tell  what  I  saw  this 
spring.  Quite  early  this  spring  we  were  com- 
pelled to  take  our  bees  out  of  the  cellar.  It  was 
warm  and  they  were  uneasy,  and  some  were 


dying,  and  there  was  no  good  way  to  ventilate 
the  cellar;  the  result  is,  we  ha\'e  7  colonies  left, 
out  of  :.'('.  last  fall.  1  went  to  friend  A.  .1.  Tib- 
bits  for  a  little  advice,  and  he  said  if  I  had  come; 
to  him  in  the  fall  he  could  hav(>  helped  me. 
lie  then  led  u\o  to  his  cellar,  and  truly  I  never 
saw  a  tiner  sight  -nearly  :.'00  colonies  with  cov- 
ers all  olT.  with  a  piece  of  loose  sacking  snread 
on  the  hi\e;  over  this  a  strip  of  lath,  tnen  a 
hive  on  that,  and  only  the  loose  cloth  on  the 
top  hiv(>s.  and  th(>  bees  all  (luit't.  But  there  is 
no  doubt  that  his  cellars  are  as  good  as  can  be 
found.  Tlu^y  are  built  in  a  dry  sandbank,  with 
'.'0  or  moi'e  feet  fall  below  the  cellar  bottom,  and 
are  lined  with  iilank.  They  ar(^  dry  and  frost- 
proof. On  the  w  hole,  brother  T.  is  a  successful 
bee-keeper, and  a  good  Christian  man;  and  now 
will  Gleanings  tell  us  why  so  many  bee-keep- 
ers speak  the  language  of  Canaan  ? 
Weston,  Wis.,  April  29.  J.  C.  Staysa. 


T11I<:    EXPERIENCE    OK   THE    M.\N   WHO   TRIES   TO 
MAKE   HIS   OWN    HIVES. 

You  remember  I  bought  a  lot  of  frames,  sec- 
tions, and  section-holders  of  you  some  time  ago. 
I  made  a  big  mistake  by  not  buying  the  bodies 
and  supers  at  the  same  time;  and  if  you  and 
the  good  Lord  will  overlook  that  little  miscalcu- 
lation I  will  not  do  so  again.  I  have  made  ten 
bodies,  and  am  tired  and  ashamed  of  the  job; 
so  I  want  an  estimate  on  10  bodies,  20  supers, 
and  1.50  wood  separators;  and  hereafter  I  will 
order  all  at  once.  I  have  15  colonies,  all  in  good 
condition.  D.  H.  Weijr. 

Artemns,  Ky.,  April  20. 


•'  ONE   OR   TWO   AVARM   DAYS,   ETC." 

In  Gleanings,  page  2,50,  you  have  me  stand- 
ing lop-sided— need  a  little  bracing  up.  Would 
you  advise  wearing  corsets  ?  Dr.  Miller's  Stray 
Straws  must  be  for  the  land  of  blizzards.  He 
says,  "  Don't  be  fooled  by  one  or  two  warm  days 
into  bringing  your  bees  out  of  the  cellar  too 
soon,"  etc.  Here  they  are  swarming  every  day, 
and  have  been  for  two  weeks. 

Wm.  Stevenson. 

Pasadena,  Cal.,  April,  1892. 

[No.  no.  dear  friend — don't  wear  corsets.  You 
must  not  lay  the  blame  on  the  Kodak,  for  its 
mission  is  only  to  take  things  as  it  finds  them. 
May  be  you  were  a  little  tired  after  your  long 
tramp.  We  hope  Dr.  Miller  will  take  notice 
that  everybody  who  reads  Gleanings  does  not 
live  in  a  land  of  blizzards.]  A.  I.  R. 


DRY    IN    FLORIDA. 

I  am  putting  on  section  boxes,  but  I  don't 
look  for  much  honey  this  season.  It  has  been 
too  dry.  The  bloom  could  not  opi'u;  no  rain 
since  .January  till  this  morning.  I  am  in  a 
good  locality  for  honey— 100  to  1.50  lbs.  to  the 
hive,  the  most  of  it  the  whitest  comb  honey  I 
ever  saw.  Joseph  Baker. 

Sopchoppy,  Fla.,  May  11. 

[.Send  a  little  of  your  drouth  up  North,  if  you 
have  any  to  spare.     We've  got  too  much  wet.] 


RAD   WEATHER   FOR   REES   IN   OREGON. 

There  have  been  but  a  few  days  for  the  last 
six  weeks  when  bees  worked  to  amount  to  any 
tiling.  It  has  rained  and  rained,  and  has  been 
very  cold.  There  was  ice  last  night  }4  inch 
thick,  but  it  has  cleared  off'  to-day,  and  the 
bees  are  working  finely.  I  have  30  stands.  I 
lost  only  two  last  winter.  Thc^y  had  old  queens, 
and  (lied.     I  don't  think  we  shall  have  much  of 


a  honey  crop  here  this  season 
Wilhoit,  Ore.,  May  9. 


Henry  Russell. 


422 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  1. 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM  A.  I.  ROOT. 


At  San  Jacinto  I  was  asked  to  give  a  talk  to 
bee-keepers  and  others.  We  had  a  pretty  fan- 
room  full,  and  my  audience  seemed  so  much  in- 
terested that  I  (after  being  urged  to  go  on) 
talked  a  full  hour  and  a  qiutrter.  This  is  the 
longest  talk  I  think  I  ever  made:  but  some  of 
them  had  come  over  the  mountains,  twenty 
miles  or  more,  and  it  seemed  too  bad  to  stop 
while  any  of  them  had  any  more  questions  to 
ask.  Another  request  came  for  me  to  speak  at 
Winchester  the  next  evening,  and  we  had  a 
very  pleasant  visit  there.  A  long  buggy-ride 
through  the  mountains  by  way  of  Teraecula, 
Fall  Brook,  and  Oceanside,  had  been  planned; 
but  we  were  obliged  to  give  it  up  on  account  of 
the  tremendous  rains.  As  the  rain  was  greatly 
needed,  however,  we  were  glad  to  give  way  to 
the  public  good.  While  at  Winchester  our 
good  friend  E.  S.  Thomas  gave  me  the  follow- 
ing: 

Quite  a  young  boy  in  the  neighborhood  took 
a  shine  to  bee  culture.  He  read  every  thing  he 
could  lay  hold  of  on  the  subject;  watched  bee- 
men,  listened  to  their  talk  until  he  was  ready 
to  put  his  knowledge  to  some  practical  use. 
His  father,  however,  objected  to  purchasing  a 
colony,  saying  they  would  find  plenty  of  stray 
swarms  at  the  proper  season,  and  so  our  friend 


THE   BOY   THAT   HIVED  THE   BEES  AND   CAKKIED 
THEM   HOME   IN    HIS   PANTS. 

watched  and  waited.  At  length  a  swarm  came 
one  day  when*  he  was  at  work  in  the  fields, 
quite  a  way  from  home.  He  threw  sticks  and 
dirt  among  them,  as  he  had  read  about,  in  order 
to  make  them  alight,  and  finally  scooped  water 
with  his  hat,  from  a  puddle,  threw  it  among 
them,  and  was  at  length  rewarded  by  seeing 
them  alight  and  cluster  on  a  bush.  What 
should  he  hive  them  in?  If  he  went  somewhere 


for  a  box  he  feared  they  would  start  off  again 
before  he  returned.  It  was  hot  weather,  so  he 
took  off  his  pants,  tied  up  the  legs,  and  hived 
the  bees  in  the  pants.  They  evidently  consider- 
ed this  a  very  fair  hive,  for  they  stayed  in  it 
while  he  trudged  all  the  way  home  with  them. 
His  good  mother  saw  him  coming,  and  helped 
him  hive  them  in  good  shape.  By  the  way, 
boys,  is  there  any  truer  or  kinder  friend  to  a  boy 
of  thirteen  than  his  mother?  After  the  bees 
were  hived,  then  the  mother  looked  after  the 
boy.  The  weather  was  hot  and  the  road  dusty, 
and  poor  Willie's  bare  legs  were  covered  with 
a  mixture  of  sweat,  dust,  and  occasionally  a 
bee  -  sting.  His  enthusiasm,  however,  was 
enough  to  help  him  hold  on  to  his  prize,  and 
now  he  has  a  rousing  colony  of  bees  in  a  mova- 
ble-comb hive,  and  bids  fair  to  be,  in  due  time, 
one  of  the  shining  lights.  His  name  is  Willie 
Guthridge,  and  our  engraver  has  tried  his  hand 
at  a  rough  sketch  of  him,  as  he  brought  home 
his  first  swarm. 

During  the  past  season  the  honey-crop  of 
San  Jacinto  Valley  has  been  small,  and  the 
quality  not  up  to  the  usual  standard;  but,  not- 
withstanding, one  of  the  firm  of  the  Oceanside 
Milling  Co.  came  out  and  bought  nearly  the 
whole  crop,  paying  $5.30  per  case  (two  60-lb. 
cans)  right  at  the  depot.  Of  course,  this  is 
rather  low— not  quite  r>  cents  per  lb.;  but  when 
the  bee-keeper  has  no  freight  to  pay,  no  risk  of 
damage  or  leakage,  and  no  rebate  to  be  made 
for  poor  quality,  etc.,  he  can  afford  to  sell  low. 

Perhaps  I  should  say  something  more  about 
the  real-estate  craze  in  the  West,  and  may  be  I 
haven't  given  both  sides  fairly,  so  I  think  I  will 
give  something  on  the  other  side.  I  went  into 
the  postofhce  at  East  Riverside  to  mail  some 
photographs.  The  postmaster  looked  at  me 
sharply,  and  then  said,  with  a  comical  look  on 
his  face: 

"  Well,  my  good  friend,  why  do  you  mail  let- 
ters to  yourself  in  Ohio  when  you  are  here  in 
California?" 

It  transpired  we  had  met,  three  years  before, 
on  the  cars;  and  I  presume,  although  I  do  not 
remember  now,  that  I  exhorted  hira  toward 
God's  kingdom  and  his  righteousness.    Said  he: 

"  Mr.  Root,  when  we  had  that  talk  that 
night,  I  thought  I  was  a  rich  man;  but  iu  reali- 
ty I  was  not  worth  a  copper.  I  was  even  then 
'dead  broke;'  but  I  didn't  know  it.  I  will  tell 
you  what  ruins  so  many  here  in  the  West.  We 
can't  stand  prosperity.  At  first  I  made  a  very 
successful  speculation.  Invested  a  few  hun- 
dreds, and  it  soon  turned  into  thousands.  Now, 
had  I  been  contented  to  purchase  just  what  I 
had  money  to  pay  for,  and  no  more.  I  should 
have  been' a  little  poorer,  but  still  have  been 
comfortably  situated.  What  I  did  do  was  this; 
I  made  large  purchases  of  real  estate,  paying 
only  enough  on  each  purchase  to  hold  the  pro- 
perty. When  the  depression  came,  instead  of 
being  poorer,  all  my  money  went  like  smoke.  I 
did  my  best,  however,  to  make  an  honorable 
failure.  I  went  to  each  and  every  one  who 
held  the  property  I  had  made  payments  on, 
and  told  them  just  how  I  stood:  and  although 
they  had  lost  too,  they  all  gave  me  up  my  notes, 
so  that  although  I  lost  all,  I  came  down  owing 
no  man.  One  of  them,  and  a  close  shrewd  man 
too.  felt  so  sorry  for  me  he  gave  me  a  hundred 
dollars,  besides  giving  up  my  notes;  and  on 
this  I  have  started  again.  It  is  a  little  hard  for 
a  man  of  60  to  start  again  on  nothing:  but  with 
a  clear  conscience,  and  a  faith  in  God,  truth, 
and  right,  it  isn't  so  very  bad  after  all.  If  you 
possibly  can,  come  to  our  Sunday-school  over  in 
the  schoolhouse  right  over  there,  next  Sunday 
afternoon,  and  see  if  we  are  not  laying  up  trea- 
sure that  does  not  pass  away  with  the  change 
in  real  estate." 


IS'.i-J 


t;i>KANINliS  IN  HKK  CULTURE. 


423 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


BY     A.      I.      ROOT. 


JIDW    TO    SIIM'OHT    A    FAMILY    ON    ONK-FOUHTII 
ACKK   OF    (.KOUNn. 

I  prcsumo  likoly  a  groat  iiumy  of  tlio  friends 
will  tluiil<  that  I  iiavc  started  out  in  a  very  bis 
undertaking  this  time.  Well,  perhaps  I  have; 
init  may  be  yon  will  think  difTerently  after  you 
liave  gone  over  the  ground  with  me.  Vou  see. 
if  there  is  only  one-fourth  acre  we  can  go  ()V(>r 
it  (luite  ofteii.  and  not  get  very  tired  either. 
Ana.  by  the  way.  I  shall  expect  the  proiJiielor 
of  this  oni'-foui'th  acic  to  see  ev»>i'y  footof  it. 
not  only  tnn'C  n  ditij.  but.  if  practicable,  scvcnil 
times  a  day.  If  he  loves  ulants  and  sunshine. 
and  the  great  (iiver  of  all  tliese  things  as  I  do. 
I  think  he  will  enjoy  looking  over  this  place  of 
beauty,  not  only  the  very  first  thing  in  tht> 
morning  when  he  op(>iis  his  eyes,  l)ut  the  last 
thing  at  night  before  he  goes  to  bed.  In  fact,  I 
ratlier  suspect  he  will  be  found  there  at  work 
sometimes  when  everybody  else  has  tjoiic  to  bed. 
Well,  let  us  get  at  it.    The  tirst  thing  vvill  be 

LOCATIO.V. 

May  be  you  will  think  I  am  particular  about 
the  location.  Most  books  on  gardening  direct 
that  you  select  good  soil.  ^ow.  I  shall  say  that 
soil  is  one  of  the  iant  things  to  be  considiM'ed. 
Of  course,  we  want  and  expect  the  very  best 
soil  that  the  world  knows  any  thing  about:  but 
the  greatest  part  of  it  is  to  be  ■"  made  to  order." 
I  think  I  should  put  the  tirst  essential,  •s'n/i.s/k'mc. 
You  want  your  quart(>r  of  an  acre  wheic  it  can 
gel  the  sun  the  tirst  thing  in  the  morning,  and 
continue  to  receive  its  direct  rays  all  day  long 
until  the  last  thing  at  night.  There  should  be 
no  buildings  nor  trees,  nor  rocks  nor  liills.  nor 
any  thing  eL-^e  to  cut  off  (rod's  sunlight.  Almost 
every  thing  else  you  can  furnish  or  get  a  sub- 
stitute for.  But  there  has  been  very  little 
progress  made  as  yet  in  artificial  sunshine. 
The  electric  lights  may.  it  is  true,  give  the 
light,  but  we  want  light  and  heat  combined: 
and  I  believe  the  natural  sunlight  is  the  cheap- 
est and  best.  Therefore,  my  friend,  if  yoti  own 
a  quarter  of  an  acre  of  siiitshine  I  think  you 
ought  to  be  happy,  even  if  you  have  not  much 
else.  If  the  soil  is  also  good,  it  will  save  us 
considerable  money.  But  there  are  other  things 
that  need  to  be  considered.  I  have  already 
said,  or  intimated,  that  this  quarter-acre  should 
be  your  own  property.  Of  course,  you  may  rent 
it  for  a  term  of  years,  and  under  some  circum- 
stances perhaps  this  would  be  the  best  way. 
But  I  would  tiy  very  hard  to  buy  it  right  out, 
some  way  or  other.  After  you  consider  sun- 
shine. I  think  I  would  put  nearness  to  market 
next.  You  ought  to  be  inside  of  the  corpora- 
tion of  some  town  or  city:  and  if  the  family  you 
wish  to  support  from  your  iiuarter-acre  is  a 
pretty  good -sized  one.  you  ought  to  have  a 
pretty  good-sized  town,  say  .5<XK)  people  for  a 
family  of  five  children:  ItXK)  for  one  child,  or 
10,000  for  ten  children.  And.  by  the  way.  there 
should  certainly  be  sonic  children.  I  do  not 
see  how  a  man  can  succeed,  in  the  best  sense  of 
the  word,  in  any  thing,  without  a  family  of 
children.  One  reason  why  I  love  this  matter  of 
intensive  agriculture  is.  that  it  furnishes  so 
much  irark  for  children,  and  woik  that  children 
as  a  rule  enjoy.  It  may  be  a  little  inconvenient 
to  find  a  place  inside  of  a  city  corporation  where 
there  an;  no  trees  nor  buildings  to  cut  (jtT  the 
sunshine.  But  come  as  near  to  it  as  you  can. 
Either  have  as  few  buildings  and  as  few  tre<!s 
as  possible,  or  else  get  a  little  outside  of  the 
corporation.  Now.  besides  being  near  the  town 
or  city,  you  want  to  be  on   the  noi-tli  xiile  of  a 


street  running  east  and  west;  and  you  want 
your  premises  to  come  clear  up  to  the  street. 
iSli-eets  running  in  other  directions  will  answer, 
and  a  locatimi  on  the  south  side  instead  oi  the 
nort  h  will  also  do  in  a  pinch ;  but  it  is  not  nearly 
as  good,  as  you  will  i)resently  see.  We  want  to 
be  in  town,  to  save  carrying  stuff  so  far  to 
market.  We  want  to  be  close  to  the  street  be- 
cause we  expect  to  sell  a  great  amount  of  stuff 
to  the  passi'isby :  for  this  fourth-acre  is  to  be 
so  handsome  aiui  attractive  that  every  one  will 
stop  involuntaiily  as  he  goes  by.  Now,  this  is 
iKtt  theory,  by  any  m(>ans.  I  enjoy  seeing  peo- 
ple stop  as  they  pass  by  our  fourth-acre  (that 
is  right  befor(!  ine  as  I  write),  every  day  of  my 
life.  Farmers  in  coining  to  town  and  going 
home  usually  bring  their  wives  too.  and  the 
women  always  stop  and  look,  turning  their 
h(>ads  as  the  buggy  pas.ses  on,  fixing  their  gaze, 
seemingly  oblivious  to  every  thing  else.  An- 
other thing  that  has  taken  attention  for  three 
or  four  (lays  back  is  the;  fact  that  a  neat,  newly 
planed  hoard,  about  10x18  inch(!S.  stands  in  a 
bed  of  Jersey  Wakefield  cabbage-plants,  with 
an  inscription  on  it  something  like  this:  "2.5  of 
these  nice  plants  for  only  10  cents.'"  You  see, 
the  good  wife  not  only  sees  the  plants,  but  she 
gets  sight  of  the  little  board,  and,  catching  her 
husband  by  the  arm,  says,  "O  John!  •.'.")  of 
those  beautiful  early  cabbage-plants  are  only 
10  cents.  See  what  it  says  on  that  board. 
Surely  we  can  afford  10  cents.  Let  us  stop  and 
get  some."  Not  far  from  the  sign  is  a  man  en- 
gaged at  work  among  the  plants.  Near  him 
are  some  stout  paper  bags,  and  a  watering-pot 
full  of  water.  He  gives  the  cabbage-plants  a 
sprinkling,  pulls  up  2.")  with  great  bushy  roots, 
taking  some  of  the  rich  black  soil  along  with 
them,  squeezes  the  roots  all  together,  and  pushes 
the  whole  2.5  down  to  the  bottom  of  one  of  the 
paper  bags,  hands  it  over  to  the  people  who  are 
passing  by.  and  receives  his  dime.  I  mention 
this  part  a  little  ahead  of  my  story,  to  show  you 
how  important  it  is  that  you  locate  on  a  well- 
traveled  public  road.  It  is  not  absolutely 
necessary  that  the  fourth-acre  should  have 
very  much  front.  In  fact,  it  may  be  a  long 
narrow  strip,  only  one  end  of  whch  reaches  out 
to  the  road.  But  the  broader  a  front  you  have, 
the  more  room  you  will  have  for  display;  and 
in  this  business  we  are  going  into,  there  is  no 
sign  that  can  be  produced  by  all  the  combined 
arts  of  the  painter  that  can  for  a  moment  com- 
pare with  the  fruits  and  vegetables  themselves, 
fresh  from  Cod's  o\\ii  hand.  If  it  were  not  for 
putting  in  so  many  wants  I  would  also  urge  you 
to  locate  near  a  rdllroad  depot.  This  will  be 
very  desirable  if  you  can  make  it.  for.  sooner  or 
later,  you  will  be  .sending  plants  by  both  mail 
and  express,  and  it  will  not  be  veriy  strange  if 
the  crops  vou  receive  from  this  quarter-acre 
will  be  shipped  hy  freUjht  as  well  as  by  express. 
Beiore  we  go  further  we  should  consider  the 
(juestion  of  water.  The  man  who  gardens  on  a 
quarti'rofan  acre  should  know  no  such  thing 
as  a  drouth  or  lack  of  water.  In  fact,  his  great- 
est income  is  to  be  during  drouths,  and  unfa- 
vorable seasons  for  working  in  the  soil  ordi- 
narily. If  your  quarter  acre  is  a  square  plot, 
you  want  either  a  well  or  hydrant  right  in  the 
center.  If  it  is  oblong  you  will  need  two 
hydrants— one  in  the  middle  of  each  end  or 
toward  each  end.  There  is  no  objection  to 
having  a  irell  in  the  center;  but  where  large 
quantities  of  water  are  to  be  used  we  want  a 
windmill,  tank,  or  reservoir,  and  these  large 
objects  must  be  out  of  the  way  somewhere, 
where  they  will  not  shade  the  garden.  In  fact, 
there  should  bi'  no  structure  nor  object  in  this 
whole  quarter- acre  that  comes  up  inore  than 
two  feet  high.  If  it  does  it  throws  a  shade,  and 
we  can   not  afford  to   have  "shadows"  work- 


434 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  1. 


ing  against  us.  If  you  have  your  plot  square,  a 
hose  should  be  attached  to  the  hydrant  in  the 
center,  with  length  sutlficient  to  reach  every  one 
of  the  four  corners.  This  hose  should  have  on 
the  end  a  sprinkler,  like  tiiat  used  on  large- 
sized  sprinkling-cans.  The  perforations  must 
be  thi-ough  a  plate  of  zinc,  or  copper,  which  is 
still  better.  You  want  something  that  will 
neither  clog  nor  rust.  When  the  wagon  is  load- 
ed up  witli  vegetables  to  be  taken  around  to  the 
houses,  it  is  to  be  driven  along  this  main  street 
I  have  been  so  emphatic  about,  until  opposite 
the  middle  of  the  garden.  Then  the  hose  and 
sprinkler  are  lifted  up  into  the  wagon,  and  the 
stutf  all  receives  a  good  drenching.  If  the 
wagon  comes  around  at  nine  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  give  the  stulT  another  drenching. 
Make  the  radishes,  beets,  turnips,  onions,  etc., 
look  as  shiny  and  handsome  as  they  do  in  the 
pictures  in  your  seed  catalogue.  When  you 
show  them  to  your  customers,  make  the  stuff 
do  the  talking.  If  the  weather  is  very  hot  and 
dry,  spread  pieces  of  coarse  sacking  over  your 
products,  to  shield  them  from  the  sun,  and  keep 
this  wet. 

CiPerhaps  it  were  well  to  mention  here  in  re- 
gard to  the  matter  of  frost  and  snow.  If  you 
can't  do  so  all  at  once,  you  are  to  lay  your  plans 
with  the  idea  of  ultimately  being  able  to  cover 
every  bed  on  the  quarter-acre  with  glass  or 
cloth  when  a  frost  comes  unexpectedly.  As  the 
improvements  will  in  many  cases  be  made  little 
by  little,  as  the  business  seems  to  warrant,  we 
would  make  every  move  with  a  view  of  having 
steam  heat  a,\so  under  each  bed.  This  can  be 
arranged  at  the  same  time  you  arrange  for 
drainage.  And,  by  the  way,  while  we  plan 
that  no  crop  shall  be  lost  through  lack  of  mois- 
ture, we  should  also  say  that  no  crop  should  be 
lost  on  account  of  excessive  moisture.  Plan  at 
the  outset  so  as  to  take  care  of  the  most  tre- 
mendous flood  you  ever  heard  of.  I  do  not 
mean  by  this  that  we  can  plan  to  have  our 
plant  take  a  water-spout  without  injury,  but 
we  must  fix  for  every  thing  short  of  that.  If 
possible,  have  a  roadway  clear  around  the  out- 
side of  your  plant.  Now,  when  I  say  we  want 
a  roadway  wide  enough  for  the  wagon  to  cross 
the  middle,  both  north  and  south,  and  east  and 
west,  you  will  think  I  am  extravagant  in  road- 
ways; but  I  believe  it  will  pay.  It  is  a  great 
deal  of  work  to  wheel  in  stable  manure,  even  on 
a  quarter  of  an  acre;  and  where  you  can  drive 
right  through  the  middle,  clear  up  to  the  cen- 
ter, you  can  hustle  things  along  a  good  deal 
fa.ster.  If  you  do  not  keep  a  horse  of  your  own, 
when  you  hire  one  you  want  to  have  him  do  a!^ 
much  as  possible,  and  get  through  as  soon  as 
possible,  in  order  to  stop  expenses.  Well,  these 
roadways  all  around  the  outside,  and  through 
the  middle,  are  to  be  outlets  for  the  water  when 
we  have  big  rains.  Aside  from  these  we  have 
tiles  laid  under  the  center  of  each  bed,  and  these 
must  have  outlets  that  can  not  be  stopped  up. 
These  carry  out  the  water,  and,  when  occasion 
demands  it,  carry  in  steam. 

OPPOSITION   IN    THE    BUSINESS   OF   MARKET- 
GARDENING. 

A  great  deal  of  complaint  is  made  at  one  time 
or  another  about  overproduction,  too  many  peo- 
ple being  occupied  in  the  same  line  of  business, 
etc.:  and  it  is  true,  tliat.  at  times,  an  oversupply 
in  the  market  compels  us  to  sell  stuff  perhaps 
helow  the  cost  of  production.  But  at  the  same 
time,  we  should  remember  that,  in  almost  every 
locality,  every  little  while  there  is  a  scarcity  of 
some  particular  product;  and  he  who  has  a 
supply  can  fix  his  own  price.  Whatever  we  do, 
let  us  work  for  peace,  friendship,  and  good  will. 
Let  me  give  you  some  illustrations.  In  our 
locality  there  is  just  one  man  who  might  be 


considered  somewhat  of  a  rival  in  growing 
small  fruits  and  garden-stuff.  But  he  and  I  are 
on  the  best  of  terms,  and  always  expect  to  be. 
Both  of  us  are  professing  Christians;  and  that 
alone,  if  nothing  else,  should  hinder  us  from 
feeling  even  touchy  toward  each  other.  Well, 
whenevei'  friend  Green  has  a  big  crop  of  some- 
thing at  the  same  time  that  we  also  have  a  big 
ci'op,  prices  are  pretty  sui-e  to  go  pretty  low, 
and  people  will  keep  quoting  Mr.  Green,  telling 
what  large  bunches  he  gives,  and  how  low  he 
sells.  At  one  time  we  both  had  more  green 
peas  than  the  town  could  well  take  care  of. 
But  it  also  happens  very  often  that  we  are  both 
out  of  the  same  special  product.  Yesterday 
friend  Green  asked  me  if  we  could  furnish  him 
some  lettuce  to  fill  an  order.  Well,  it  happened 
that  we  had  three  nice  beds  of  Grand  Rapids 
lettuce  about  half  grown.  I  had  been  telling 
people,  however,  who  stopped  to  look  at  it  as 
they  went  by,  that  they  could  have  it  if  they 
were  willing  to  pay  30  cts.  per  lb.  for  it;  and  for 
nearly  two  weeks  we  have  been  selling  two  or 
three  dollars'  worth  a  day  at  the  above  price. 
I  cut  it  myself,  and  go  over  the  beds,  and  take 
out  the  heads  that  are  beginning  to  crowd  their 
neighbors.  In  this  way,  each  morning  shows 
the  beds  just  as  full  as  they  were  the  day  before. 
No  one  could  see  that  any  one  had  taken  out 
any  at  all.  I  told  friend  Green  how  it  was;  and 
although  he  said  he  could  not  afford  to  pay 
such  a  price,  he  said  it  was  perfectly  right  and 
fair  to  charge  it,  for  he  himself  was  in  the  same 
predicament.  '  In  talking  over  supply  and  de- 
mand, it  transpired  that,  while  we  both  had  an 
abundance  of  asparagus,  so  that  the  price  had 
gone  down  to  S  or  10  cts.  per  lb.,  we  were  both 
behind  on  radishes,  bunch  onions,  and  a  good 
many  other  things.  Now,  right  here  comes 
just  one  point  in  favor  of 


I     UNDERDRAIXINGrAND    SURFACE    I^RAINING.^^ 

It  is  now  almost  June  1,  and  we  are  hoeing 
Corey  sweet  corn  three  or  four  inches  high.  It 
is  too  wet  to  hoe  to  good  advantage;  but  by 
taking  clean,  sharp-toothed  rake  hoes,  the  boys 
were   mellowing   up  the  ground  so  it  could  dry 

out  faster,  pretty  fairly. ^Said  l:Jl_  

l"  Friend  Green,  have  you  any  sweet  corn  as 
large  as  this?" 

"  Why,  no.  Mr.  Root,  I  don't  believe  I  have, 
in  one  sense.  In  another  sense,  I  have  some 
that  is  considerably  higher.'" 

•  Well,  friend  G..  how  aid  you  manage  to  get 
any  considerably  higher,  in  any  sense  of  the 
word,  during  this  wet  season?" 

'■  Why,  it  is  this  way,  Mr.  Root.  It  is  higher, 
because  it  is  upstaii-s  in  a  bag,  waiting  for  the 
ground  to  dry,  so  it  can  be  planted;  for,  to  tell 
the  truth,  I  have  not  yet  planted  a  kernel  of 
early  corn." 

Now,  friends,  you  see  the  point.  We  have 
three  pieces  of  Corey  s  early  corn  that  is  up. 
Where  we  were  then  working  was  on  a  side  hill 
fronting  the  south,  and  underdrains  were  laid 
just  20  feet  apart.  When  I  did  it  my  conscience 
troubled  me  a  little  for  fear  that  I  was  going  to 
extremes  on  undi'idraining.  But  just  now  this 
piece  of  ground  is  the  only  spot  on  our  premises 
where  I  could  use  a  horse  and  cultivator.  The 
frequent  drains,  with  gjood  slope  straight  down 
the  hill,  did  the  business.  A  great  bank  of 
earth  runs  along  on  the  crest  of  the  hill  thrown 
up  by  the  new  railroad,  so  I  have  a  fine  protec- 
tion from  north  winds,  a  southern  slope,  and 
almost  perfect  underdraining.  so  this  will  give 
me  a  fine  stock  of  early  sweet  corn  when  there 
probably  is  not.  and  will  not  be  for  weeks,  any 
more  in  the  county.  And  now  I  wish  to  put  in 
a  word  right  here  in  regard  to 


ISirj 


IJLEANlNCiS  IN  HEPi  CULTURE. 


425 


SIKKACK      DUAINS    111    KKKl'     IIIK    \VA  IKU     KUOM 

lUNMNO    KKO.M    YOfK     NKUi  lIltoK's   (fKolND 

DOWN    ON    VdlU    OWN. 

After  I  hiiil  got  in  my  drains  JO  feci  apart,  so 
nuK'h  wat(>r  came  down  the  (MubanlvnitMit 
thrown  np  hy  tlic  railroad  that  it  was  oontin- 
naliy  washinsi  yeikiw  chiy  over  tiic  siilaoc  of 
my  (Mirit'lKMl  fxardcn  soil;  and  1  finally  went  to 
thi>  expense  of  niaUinfi  a  shallow  open  ditch 
clear  alonp  tlie  foot  of  the  emiiani<m(>nl.so  as  to 
carry  the  water  from  both  w  ays  ((nvii/  from  my 
gronnd  instead  of  iti-mss  it.  In  Ihi'  same  way  I 
have  been  gradnally  making  shallow  op(^n 
ditches  clear  around  all  of  my  premises,  wher- 
ever there  is  any  danger  that  any  water  may 
come  in  on  my  ground;  and  thes(>  open  ditches 
also  carry  the  surface  water  speedily  away 
from  my  own  land:  and  every  time  we  plow 
and  cultivate,  we  keep  constantly  in  view  and 
work  toward  this  end  of  making  all  ground 
slope  toward  these  open  ditches.  Ttie  furrows 
between  the  crops  are  always  h^ft  open,  when 
we  stop  cultivating,  so  the  water  can  get  out  of 
them  into  the  before-mentioned  open  ditches. 
During  this  remarkably  wet  spring  of  181)2  this 
has  been  a  wonderful  help  toward  getting  our 
grounds  dry  and  keeping  them  dry.  In  fact, 
while  it  rains  I  keep  watching  these  open 
ditches,  and  every  little  while  a  man  is  sent  out 
with  a  shovel  to  open  the  ends  of  the  furrows, 
and  thus  help  the  water  to  run  away.  You  see, 
the  point  is,  when  everybody  else  has  their 
crops  drowned  out  by  the  e.xcessive  water,  my 
own  are  going  to  be  almost  unharmed.  Now, 
please  do  not  think  that  I  am  altogether  selfish 
in  this  line.  There  are  very  many  reasons  why 
it  is  better  for  one  man  to  have  a  good  crop  in  a 
neighborhood  than  that  there  should  be  no 
good  crop  at  all.  One  particular  reason  is, 
that  he  teaches  his  neighbors  what  may  be 
done  by  incessant  watching  and  planning. 

Now.  then,  my  friends,  are  you  sure  that  the 
north  boundary  of  your  land  has  surface  drains 
so  that  no  water  in  a  time  of  great  flood  can 

four  over  into  your  premises  in  that  direction  ? 
f  so,  how  is  it  about  the  east  side,  and  the 
south  side,  and  the  west  side?  And,  again, 
have  these  open  ditches  as  well  as  these  under- 
drains  good  sufficient  outlets  at  all  times?  Ob- 
structions left  carelessly  in  the  bottom  of  drains 
often  hinder  them  from  doing  their  work,  to  the 
extent  of  great  loss  of  property  or  even  of  life. 
Again  and  again  I  have  noticed  my  water- 
passages  temporarily  stopped  by  some  work 
that  is  going  on;  and  I  have  said  to  myself, 
'•  I  am  sure  we  shall  get  around  to  fix  it  before 
a  big  rain  comes.  It  does  not  look  a  bit  like 
rain,  nor  act  like  rain."  Hut  almost  every  time 
it  has  seemed  as  if  I  paid  the  penalty  for  my 
negligence.  The  careful  grower  should  be  al- 
ways ready  for  a  tremendous  i-ain  that  may 
come  unexi^ectedly.  Whatever  you  do,  don't 
have  your  plant-garden  ruined  by  a  flood. 

SELLING    ONION-PLANTS. 

It  has  rained  again  to-day,  and  the  ground  is 
so  wet  I  hardly  knew  what  to  do  with  the  troop 
of  boys  that  just  came  in  from  school;  but  just 
in  the  nick  of  time  one  of  tlie  express  clerks  an- 
nounced that  there  was  an  order  for  25(X)  onion- 
plants  as  ijuick  as  we  co\ild  put  them  n\).  One 
of  the  boys  who  packs  the  plants  provided  him- 
self with  some  rubber  bands  and  strips  of  oiled 
paper,  and  stationed  himself  near  a  pile  of  sash. 
Thi'  schoolboys  lifted  the  onions  carefully  from 
the  .soil,  counted  tliem  in  bunches  of  50,  and 
then  passed  them  on  to  be  tied  up:  and  by 
working  all  together,  with  a  hint  now  and  then 
from  :your  humble  servant,  within  one  hour 
after  the  letter  was  opened  the  plants  were  on 
the  train  for  their  destination.  Hy  the  way. 
few  things  in  market-gardening  have   pleased 


me  as  much  as  lliis  onion-iilant  business.  In 
order  to  have  good  sti'ong  jihiiit-s  t-o  put  out  in 
the  li<'l{ls.  we  have  |)ushed  them  pretty  freely 
with  guano;  and  if  th(!  tops  get  so  tall  as  to  be- 
gin to  lop  over,  we  shear  them  oiT.  Hy  the 
way,  these  trimmings  are  just  the  things  to  cut 
up  with  salt  and  vinegar  and  pejjper.  for  the 
table.  These  unions  are  so  tenacious  of  life 
that  1  hav(>  seen  every  one  grow  in  a  long  I'ow 
through  a  large  field,  when  tln^  planting  was 
done  by  schoolboys  so  small  that  I  fi-ared  they 
would  not  be  able  to  do  it  successfully.  The 
ground  was  fine  and  mellow;  and  as  it  was  just 
after  a  rain,  all  that  the  boys  did  was  to  push 
the  onion  down  into  the  ground  with  their  fore- 
fingers, and  then  press  a  little  earth  on  top  of 
them.  No  mat-ler  how  crookedly  they  stuck 
them  into  the  ground,  they  all  stood  up  straight 
in  a  few  days.  The  ground  was  marked  out  for 
onion-plants  with  a  wheat-drill,  running  a  good 
dressing  of  ferti'izer  into  the  ground  at  the 
same  time  that- it  was  ma.rk(>d.  We  plant  tlie 
onions  in  every  other  drill-mark. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


And  God  blessed  them,  and  God  said  unto  them. 
Be  fruitful,  and  multiply,  and  replenish  the  earth, 
and  subdue  it:  and  have  dominion  over  the  flsh  of 
tlie  sea.  and  over  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and  over  every 
living-  thing-  that  moveth  upon  the  earth. —Gen.  1:38. 

When  I  gave  them  that  talk  of  an  hour  and  a 
quarter  at  San  Jacinto,  as  referred  to  in  another 
column,  I  commenced  something  like  this: 
Said  I,  "  My  friends,!  have  been  asking  myself, 
over  and  over  again,  what  1  should  talk  to  you 
about;  in  other  words,  why  did  God  send  me 
away  off  here?  and  what  does  he  want  me  to 
do?  Well,  the  replies  came,  as  nearly  as  I  can 
understand,  that  I  am  sent  here  to  hunt  up 
(iiid's  ;///7.s-  to  the  children  of  men;  and  my  talk 
to  you  to-day  will  be  in  regard  to  these  gifts." 

Now.  instead  of  talking  to-day  about  God's 
gifts  which  I  saw  and  found  round  about  San 
Jacinto,  I  am  going  to  speak  of  some  of  them 
that  I  have  found  right  around  home  here  in 
Ohio.  The  way  I  ran  on  to  them,  seemingly  by 
accident,  was  something  like  this:  One  day  as 
I  sat  at  my  table  a  letter  was  placed  before  me 
from  which  I  make  the  following  extract: 

Last  season  T  used  about  100  feet  of  bed  heated 
with  live  steam,  blowing- it  into  two  rows  of  drain 
tile  under  the  bed.  This  season  1  am  using- 1000  feet 
of  bed  heated  in  the  same  manner.  It  is  working- 
very  well,  bringing- the  young-  plants  through  the 
recent  cold  weather  in  g-ood  shnpe.  A  month  or  two 
latei- I  may  be  able  to  give  some  points  on  this  way 
of  heating.  If  it  is  satisfactory  this  season,  1  expect 
to  arrangt^  all  my  beds  for  steam  heat,  using  only 
enough  manure  to  keep  the  soil  rich.  My  object  is, 
to  get  a  heat  that  can  be  controlled.  The  manure- 
bed  is  often  too  hot  when  waim  days  come,  causing- 
a  soft,  weak,  spindling  growth,  even  when  ah  cover- 
ing is  removed.  D.  Cum.mins. 

Conneaut.  ().,  April  22. 

I  at  once  wrote  to  friend  C,  begging  an  invi- 
tation to  come  and  see  how  h(^  us(;d  live  steam 
to  help  him  giovv  tomato- plants  to  supply  the 
farmers  who  raise  tomatoes  for  the  great  Lake 
Slior(>  Canning-  Factory  at  Conneaut.  O.  I  pre- 
sume yon  already  know  that  I  am  deeply  inter- 
ested in  this  n)atterof  using  steam  h(>at  through 
drain  tile,  in  place  of  fermenting  manure,  to 
heat  hot-beds.  I  found  friend  Cummins  wait- 
ing for  me  at  the  station,  with  a  horse  and 
buggy;  and  on  the  way  to  his  home  and  factory 
he  gave  me  the  following  (to  me)  precious  bits 
of  history.  Thirty  or  forty  years  ago  he  was  a 
harne.ss-maker  by  trade.  There;  was  not  busi- 
ness in   the  shop,  and,  besides,  it  was  a  little 


436 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  1. 


confining  for  one  who  loved  to  be  outdoors  as 
well  as  he  did.  He  went  back  into  the  garden 
near  the  shop  and  started  a  hot- bed  for  raising 
tomato-plants.  When  he  got  some  nice  plants, 
of  course  they  sold  for  a  good  price,  as  they  al- 
ways do.  So  he  enlarged  his  hot- beds  until 
finally  his  plant-business  covered  the  greater 
part  of  an  acre  right  in  town:  and  when  he  got 
to  a  point  where  he  made  a,  thousand  dollars, 
besides  supporting  his  family,  on  this  one  acre 
in  one  season,  there  was  quite  a  stir  in  the  com- 
munity. I  presume  others  did  not  go  and  do 
likewise  all  at  once,  for  they  had  probably 
noticed  that  he  did  a  great  deal  of  hard  work, 
and  was  out  among  his  plants  at  almost  all 
times  of  day.  and  sometimes  even  in  the  night. 
Well,  he  not  only  grew  nice  plants,  but  he  grew 
so  many  nice  tomatoes  that  the  whole  town 
could  not  take  care  of  them.  Finally  he  went 
to  the  tin-shop  and  bought  some  cans.  If  I 
remember  correctly,  the  cans  cost  him  some- 
where between  ten  and  fifteen  cents  apiece. 
But  he  canned  his  tomatoes  that  were  spoiling; 
and  as  he  did  it  well,  as  he  does  every  thing 
else,  they  did  not  want  for  purchasers.  Next 
year  he  canned  more;  and  by  this  means  he  got 
the  cans  a  little  cheaper,  and  was  enabled  to 
sell  for  a  little  less  money.  Every  year  the 
business  kept  increasing.  His  family  of  boys, 
three  in  number,  although  they  didn't  care 
much  about  the  "garden  sass"  part  of  the  bus- 
iness, liked  the  part  pertaining  to  making  cans 
and  putting  up  tomatoes;  and  now  the  Lake 
Shore  Canning-Factory  is  not  only  one  of  the 
oldest,  but  perhaps  the  oldest  successful  institu- 
tion of  the  kind  that  gives  employment  to  hun- 
dreds of  men  and  women,  and  furnishes  the 
farmers  for  miles  around  with  a  new  industry 
in  the  way  of  tomato-growing.  Friend  C.  said 
that  he  very  soon  decided  that,  to  make  his 
factory  a  success,  he  would  have  to  save  his  own 
seeds,  raise  his  own  plants,  and  supply  the 
farmers  at  the  proper  season  with  the  plants  he 
wished  to  use  to  produce  the  product  that  was 
to  fill  his  cans.  In  order  to  keep  business  going 
during  the  dull  seasons,  they  manufacture  cans 
all  through  the  year,  employing  various  ex- 
pensive automatic  machinery  that  folds  up  the 
tin.  solders  the  joints,  and  finally  sends  word 
down  to  the  office  below,  just  how  many  they 
are  making  an  hour  for  every  working  hour  in 
the  day.  If  there  is  any  hitch  in  the  machine 
or  among  the  hands,  the  dial  of  the  counter 
tells  it  as  plainly  as  the  clock  near  by  tells  the 
hours  of  the  day.  Some  of  this  expensive  auto- 
matic machinery  has  been  purchased,  but  the 
greater  part  of  it  is  the  invention  of  friend  C. 
and  his  boys;  and  the  pleasant  way  in  which 
the  family  seem  to  work  together  reminded  me 
forcibly  of  the  Home  of  the  Honev-liees. 

Now,  although  it  may  be  a  little  foreign  to 
my  subject,  I  wish  to  say  a  word  in  regard  to 
the  way  in  which  friend  Cummins  has  built  up 
a  beautiful  home,  and  made  it  a  veritable  little 
temple  of  God's  gifts.  In  the  first  place,  he  has 
a  cistern  in  tlie  attic.  Of  course,  it  stands  on  a 
solid  foundation,  and  is  strongly  made  of  boards 
spiked  together  flatwise.  After  being  suffi- 
ciently braced  and  strengthened  it  is  lined  with 
tinned  copper;  and  as  its  upper  edge  is  level 
with  the  conductor  under  the  eaves,  when  the 
cistern  is  full  no  more  runs  into  it,  but  the 
water  runs  otf  through  the  waste-pipe,  or  con- 
ductor, in  the  ordinary  manner.  This  cistern 
supplies  a  closet  adjoining  every  bedroom,  with 
beautiful  soft  water,  for  washing,  bathing,  or 
for  use  in  the  water-closet.  Next,  he  has  on 
his  own  premises  three  wells  that  furnish  nat- 
ural gas.  This  natural  gas  does  the  cooking, 
lighting,  and  part  of  the  heating,  and  furnishes 
either  hot  or  cold  water  in  every  one  of  the 
wash-rooms  before  mentioned.    As  the  gas  is 


his  own.  and  costs  nothing  except  putting  in  the 
plant,  little  gas-jets  are  burning  day  and  night; 
so  when  you  need  light  or  lieat  you  do  not  have 
to  even  scratch  a  match — simply  turn  a  valve  or 
move  a  lever  with  the  foot.  Well,  besides  hav- 
ing water,  both  hot  and  cold,  and  heat,  at  pleas- 
ure, he  has  one  of  the  most  perfect  systems  of 
ventilation  that  I  have  ever  seen.  Abundance 
of  pure  air  is  taken  from  outdoors:  but  it  is 
carried  into  the  rooms  so  quietly  and  gently 
that  no  draft  is  e\er  fell  anywhere.  Before  I 
retired  for  the  night,  friend  C.  stepped  to  one  of 
the  windows  and  pulled  down  one  of  the  upper 
sash.  As  the  sash  came  down,  a  wire  screen 
followed  it.  The  wire  screen  was  incased,  when 
the  building  was  made,  in  a  cavity  just  above 
the  window.  When  you  want  the  breeze  from 
outdoors  to  blow  in.  the  screen  comes  down 
automatically  and  keeps  out  insects  or  too  heavy 
a  draft;  and  when  you  don't  want  it,  it  goes  up 
into  its  cavity,  and  stands  like  a  faithful  senti- 
nel until  wanted  again.  The  kitchen  is  a 
model  of  convenience,  simplicity,  and  neatness. 
In  fact,  about  all  the  housewife  or  help  has  to 
do  is  to  sit  down  and  pull  levers,  a  great  deal  as 
a  locomotive  engineer  handles  his  train  and 
gives  orders  to  his  men.  Now,  water,  air,  light, 
and  heat  are  not  the  only  gifts  of  God  that  are 
pressed  into  service.  Electi'icity  also  plays  a 
part;  and  if  you  are  sick  in  the  night,  and  wish 
to  summon  some  of  the  household,  you  may  do 
it  by  pressing  on  an  electric  button,  which  is 
to  be  found  close  by  the  side  of  the  bed  in  any 
of  the  sleeping-rooms.  Of  course,  there  is  a 
windmill  surmounting  the  neatly  arranged 
carriage-house  and  stable.  This  mill  sends  soft 
well  water,  almost  but  not  quite  as  soft  as  that 
which  comes  from  the  clouds,  to  any  part  of  the 
premises,  in  case  there  should  be  a  continued 
drouth,  or  when  water  in  greater  quantity  is 
needed  than  it  would  be  wise  to  draw  from  the 
cistern  in  the  attic.  So  perfect  are  all  these 
helps  and  aids  that  the  kitchen  help  has  plenty 
of  time  to  take  a  seat  at  the  table  with  the  rest; 
and  I  suppose  you  know  that,  on  general  prin- 
ciples, A.  I.  Root  would  always  prefer  to  take 
his  meals  at  the  same  table  where  his  helpers 
take  theirs.  The  best  part  of  all  the  above  is, 
that  the  whole  is  the  work  of  himself  and  his 
boys,  even  to  the  plumbing  and  piping  and 
hard-wood  finishing  of  the  various  apartments. 

Of  course,  I  saw  the  hot-beds:  and  I  smiled 
to  sei' that  th(^y  were  covered  with  cloth,  on  a 
plan  quite  similar  to  tlieone  used  by  friend  Day; 
but.  unTke  friend  Day,  he  nses  steam,  sent 
through  common  drain  tiles,  to  warm  up  the 
l)eds.  As  the  beds  are  all  alike,  and  the  strips 
of  cloth  that  cover  them  are  also  alik(\  when- 
ever a  freeze  comes  they  can  put  two  or  more 
blankets  over  the  same  seed-bed:  and  with 
plenty  of  blankets  above,  and  live  steam  in  the 
tile  underneath,  there  is  no  trouble  about  keep- 
ing off  the  frost.  Years  ago  they  adopted  beds 
only  five  feet  wide.  This  makes  it  easy  for  the 
boys  and  girls  to  reach  across  in  transplanting, 
weeding,  sowing  seeds,  etc.  I  say  girls,  because 
they  told  me  they  had  been  doing  what  I  had 
thought  of  for  years — that  is.  employing  girls 
and  women  outdoors  to  raise  plants. 

It  rained  all  the  time.  ])retty  much,  while  I 
was  tliere.  They  said  if  I  would  wait  until  the 
sun  came  out  I  could  not  only  see  the  thing  at 
work,  but  I  might  take  views  of  the  workwomen 
as  well  as  of  the  beds,  with  my  Kodak.  Of 
course,  I  shall  have  to  give  the  views  a  little 
later  on.  Before  they  used  cloth  in  their  hot- 
beds, they  had  a  plan  of  using  boards  that  I 
think  may  be  useful  to  many  of  ihe  readers. 
Boards  about  one  foot  wide  are  cut  into  lengths 
of  a  little  more  than  five  feet.  By  the  use  of  these 
one  man  alone  can  cover  and  uncover  the  beds 
without  assistance.  As  the  boards  are  stripped  off 


<;lkanin(;s  ln  hkk  cui/ruKE. 


427 


tlifv  arc  pili'd  in  licaps  ahuiK  tlic  imth.  Almost 
aiiy'olil  lioards  will  do.  if  ilicy  liavc  sliaiKlit 
"•d^fs.  'I'licsfi'aii  he  usi'd  with  t  lie  I'lot  li,  <n' entire- 
ly w  illiunt  the  clotii.  Tlu'ir  cloth  eoviMs,  instead 
of  being  lolled  up  on  a  iioU'.  are  simply  spread 
over  ihe  bed.  and  rings  sewed  in  the  selvag)' at 
intervals  are  liooUed  over  nails  driven  part  way 
in  on  tlie  outside  nl'  the  bed:  and  these  rings, 
hooked  over  the  appi'opriate  nails,  give  the  neat 
white  sh(>et  eovers  with  their  scalloped  edges  a 
very  pretty  appearance.  N'otwitiistanding  the 
rain  laftcr  I  had  looked  over  the  premises  pret- 
ly  well)  Dur  good  friend  l\  got  t)Ut  the  horse 
and  l)uggy  an<i  took  me  .o  ttu'  residence  of  Mr. 
Kmery  Ransom.  Ambov.  Ohio,  a  mile  and  a 
half  away.  ,Mr.  K.  is  also  an  exUMisive  plaut- 
grower  and  gardener;  but  he  raises  vegetiible- 
plants  for  sale,  w  hile  our  friends  at  the  canning- 
factory  raise  tomato-plants  for  their  own  use 
only.  'Mr.  Kanso?n  has  a  very  pretty  littli' 
greenhouse,  and  also  (juite  an  array  of  plant- 
beds.  He  is  the  friend  inentitmod  (see  page  7S4. 
Oct..  18U1)  who  raised  iStWl.OC)  worth  of  cucum- 
bers n  three  hot-beds,  each  .lO  f^-et  long.  He 
showed  me  certainly  thc^  most  beautiful  cucum- 
l)ers.  lettuce,  and  a  Variety  of  other  egetables 
grown  under  glass,  that  I  ever  met  in  my  life; 
and  he  also  is  now  full  of  life  and  animation  in 
regard  to  heating  his  beds  by  steam.  As  he 
owns  a  steam-mill  only  a  few  hundred  feet 
from  his  home,  this  will  become  an ea-y  matter; 
and  I  found  about  a  (piarter  of  an  acre  on  the 
side  of  the  hill,  with  a  southern  slope,  already 
divided  off  into  beds,  ai.d  the  piiies  laid  for 
warming  them  up.  Ir,  seemed  to  me  as  if  he 
were  just  beginning  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the 
hidden  treasures  that  God  has  stored  away  for 
his  children— that  is,  the  children  who  care  to 
lake  the  trouble  to  reach  out  and  appropriate 
lliem. 

It  rained  all  the  time  I  was  there;  but  this 
glimpse  of  verdure  and  thrift  and  beauty  that  I 
got  in  perhaps  one  hour  will  long  last  to  mem- 
ory's view,  even  if  the  Kodak  did  not  catch  on 
very  well  because  of  the  rain.  Before  I  started 
for  home  our  good  friends  urged  that  I  must 
certainly  call  at  the  Record  manufacturing  es- 
tablishment, as  Mr.  Record  is  the  man  of  whom 
we  get  all  our  honey  and  syrup  cans.  Now,  I 
can  not  take  space  to  tell  you  of  all  the  wonder- 
ful machines  I  saw  there  for  making  cans  of  a 
larger  capacity  than  those  produced  by  friend 
(iiinmins:  l)ut  1  want  to  tell  you  how  surpi'ised 
I  was  to  see  them  making  .<4merk'a?i  tin  plate 
light  here  in  one  corner  of  our  .State  of  Ohio. 
Imagine  a  great  vat  of  molten  tin.  glistening 
and  rippling^  as  it  were,  like  so  much  (luick- 
silver.  Underneath  this  molten  tin.  ponderous 
machinery  is  doing  its  work,  apparently  obliv- 
ious of  the  intense  heat  of  the  molten  metal 
that  must  fill  every  crack  and  crevice  in  the 
machinery.  At  one  end  of  the  vat  stands  a 
man  who  feeds  the  iron  plates.  These  iron 
plates  are  also  made  in  our  own  United  States, 
mind  yon.  Well,  out  of  this  pool  of  molten 
tin  comes  a  pair  of  jaws,  making  one  think  of 
the  crocodiles  of  the  Mississippi  River.  These 
crocodile  jaws  seize  the  sh(H>t  of  iron,  as  if  it 
were  just  what  they  had  been  fed  on  all  tlieii' 
lives,  and  down  went  the  jaws  and  all.  Just 
then  I  noticed,  some  distance  awu.y.  at  another 
part  of  the  tank,  sheets  of  shining,  glistening 
tin.  perfectly  covered.  poi)ping  themselves  up. 
I'eady  for  some  kind  fi-iend  tostretcii  forth  a 
helping  hand  and  lift  them  out  of  their— pur- 
gatory, shall  I  call  it?  I  don't  quite  like  the 
word.after  all:  for  the  tin  is  so  beautiful  as  it 
comes  out  that  it  sugge.sts  the  thought  of  our 
text,  or  the  subject  of  my  talk,  rather — Ood's 
gifts.  Hy  the  way.  as  the  glittering  sheets  kept 
coming  up  as  fast  as  the  man  reached  out  for 
them,  it  made  me  think  of  Sir  Launcelot  of  old. 


when,  in  tinu'  of  direst  need,  the  sword-hilt 
came  up  out  of  the  water  ready  for  his  hand  to 
grasp  it.  Tliniugh  the  intervention  of  man 
with  intelligence,  these  sln'cts  of  tin  are  rising 
out  of  th(>  depths  and  heat,  ready  for  man  to 
grasp  them— a  gift  of  (Jod  in  very  truth,  even  if 
political  machinery  inay  iiave  liad  something 
to  do  with  their  birth  on  American  shori'S.  1 
asked  a  good  many  (piestions  about  the  (|uality, 
cost  of  making,  etc..  to  all  of  which  Mr.  Record 
replietl  that  we  had  finally  afrived  at  a  point 
where  he  could  give  satisfactory  answers.  \V(^ 
can  not  only  make  as  good  tin  as  there  is  on  the 
face  of  the  earth.  t)ut  we  are  making  it  at  a 
price  that  pays.  If  you  ask  whom  it  pays,  I 
answer,  it  |)ays  tlie  man  who  makes  it,  liim 
wiio  luiys  it,  iiim  who  uses  it  for  tea-kettles, 
cans  for  his  tomatoes,  etc.  I  was  pleased  to 
note  that  this  great  achievement,  like  other 
great  things  nowadays,  has  not  been  brought 
about  w  itliout  the  aid  of  women-folks.  In  fact, 
three  smait  women  stood  ready  to  receive  tiie 
sheets  of  tin  as  soon  as  they  were  cold  enough 
to  handle,  and,  with  heaps  of  wheat  shorts  or 
middlings  on  their  three  respective  tables,  they 
gave  the  tin  such  a  scouring  and  rubbing  that 
it  was  free  from  all  acid  or  flux,  or  any  thing 
else  that  might  tend  to  rust  or  dim  its  bril- 
liancy. The  whole  establishment  of  the  Record 
Manufacturing  Co.  seemed  to  b(>  (dive  with 
God's  gifts.  Of  course,  however,  they  were 
like  the  boy's  potatoes.  He  said,  in  reply  to  a 
question,  that  they  did  not  "  turn  out  "  at  (ill- 
he  had  to  dig  them  out.  While  waiting  a  min- 
ute or  two  in  the  office  I  noticed  a  great  pile  of 
books  that  had  a  striking  resemblance  to  the 
Gospel  Hymns  we  use  at  our  noon  service;  and 
then  it  turned  out  that  they  too  have  a  noon 
service  every  Saturday  afternoon,  before  the 
men  and  women  (two  or  thre:-  hundred  of  them) 
get  their  pay.  They  have  something  like  our 
noonday  service,  and  I  presume  very  likely  they 
sing  hymns  about  (lOd's  gifts  to  the  children  of 
men.  and  take  their  Saturday  night's  pay  as  a 
veritable  gift  from  God.  Oh  I  do  you  see,  my 
good  friend,  what  a  grand  thing  it  is  to  have 
employer  and  employe  who  are  (lajudinted  with 
each  other— yes.  acquainted  through  Christ 
Jesus  who  died  for  all?  Suppose  an  employer, 
when  he  shows  a  visitor  through  his  factory, 
could  say,  "  Gentlemen,  here  is  the  place  where 
myself  and  my  neUjhhors  enjoy  working  to- 
gether"—capital  and  labor,  linked  together, 
through  a  tie  that  God  has  instituted,  and 
linked,  too,' in  a  neighborly  and  friendly  way. 

On  my  way  home  I  discovered  that  I  had  to 
wait  in  Cleveland  two  or  three  hours.  A  little 
in(iuiry  brought  out  the  fact  that  part  of  the 
waiting  time  might  be  managed  so  as  to  come 
at  North  Ridgevill<%  O.;  and  as  I  step|)ed  from 
the  cars  at  the  above  named  point  the  old  gen- 
tleman who  carried  the  mail  informed  me  that 
he  knew  O.  J.  Terrill  quite  well;  but  he  lived 
about  a  mile  from  the  station.  In  due  time  I 
set  foot  in  the  dooryard  of  another  home  b(!- 
longing  to  one  who  loves  (rod's  gifts  in  the 
sliape  of  vegetables  and  garden-stutT.  Why.  it 
is  worth  traveling  a  good  many  miles,  not  only 
to  see  that  pretty  home,  but  to  see  the  shining 
welcome  in  the  face  of  my  good  friend;  but 
when  I  told  him  that  I  should  have  to  take  the 
next  train  for  Medina,  and  he  discovered  that  I 
liad  only  about  twenty  minutes  to  visit  with 
liim.  the  sunshine  vanished  from  his  face  at 
once.  •'  Look  here.  Mr.  Root,  what  did  yon 
come  here  for.  to  stay  just  twenty  minutes  and 
no  more?" 

•'  Now\  don't  scold,  friend  T.  I  did  not  come 
here  at  all.  I  just  had  to  wait  for  a  train,  and  I 
thought  I  would  rather  wait  here  than  in  the 
great  cit^'  of  Cleveland."' 

Well,  what  should   we  do  with   that  twenty 


428 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  1. 


minutes?  There  was  a  greenhouse,  and  frames 
for  all  the  plants  like  those  I  saw  at  friend 
Ransom's;  and  how  I  did  long  to  look  over  the 
plants  I  But  he  said  his  wife  and  family  had 
read  Gleanings  so  long  they  would  never  for- 
give me  if  1  did  not  go  in  and  just  speak  to 
them.  When  I  suggested  that  he  had  got  more 
beautiful  tomato-plants  than  he  could  probably 
sell  in  that  locality,  he  pointed  to  a  little  board 
tacked  to  the  top  of  the  bed,  where  I  read  some- 
thing like  this:  "459;.'  tomato  -  plants- sold  to 
John  Smith."  And  then  he  informed  me  that 
pretty  much  all  the  stuff  he  had  was  in  that 
same  predicament,  only  waiting  for  milder 
weather  to  let  the  owners  take  them  away. 
God's  gifts,  again. 

What  kind,  pleasant  neighbors  we  can  always 
find  if  we  toofe  for  them  !  and  what  little  gar- 
dens of  Eden  there  are  scattered  throughout 
this  land  of  ours,  if  we  only  ?f?jcw  it!  The  text 
gives  us  a  hint  of  what  God  expects  us  to  do — 
"And  have  dominion  over  the  fish  of  the  sea, 
and  over  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and  over  every 
living  thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth." 
And  in  the  n<^xt  two  verses  it  speaks  about  hav- 
ing given  us  every  green  herb,  as  well  as  the 
birds  and  fishes — yes.  every  herb  bearing  seed; 
and  he  says  it  shall  be  to  us  for  meat.  Do  you, 
my  friend,  believe  that  the  outcome  of  all  "this 
beautiful  world  of  ours  is  to  be  only  destruction 
and  death  and  ruin  ?  Why.  the  idea  is  ridicu- 
lous. There  may  be  some  things  wrong  in  this 
world  of  ours:  but  God  has  laid  upon  us  the 
responsibility  of  righting  them.  And  very  little 
faith  in  him.  and  faith  in  and  love  for  our 
fellow-men  will  do  a  tremendous  lot  of  righting. 


'~36TiAGEs7xI0 
°°  PER  YEARj 


Thou  niadest  man  to  have  dominion  over  the  works  of  thy 
hands;  thou  hast  put  all  things  under  his  feet.— Psalm  8;  6. 


The  first  number  of  the  Ndtlondl  Bee  Gii- 
zette,  published  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  by  Geo.  H. 
Penn,  comes  out  neatly  printed,  and  very  nicely 
bound  in  magazine  form,  with  a  tinted  cover. 
Gleanings  extends  its  right  hand  of  welcome. 

In  Stray  Straws,  in  the  present  number.  Dr. 
Miller  wants  to  know  whether  it  is  the  thorax 
or  the  abdomen  that  prevents  the  queen  from 
going  through  the  zinc.  It  is  both;  but  more 
the  abdomen  than  the  thorax,  and  that  is  the 
reason  why  an  occasional  virgin  queen  will  go 
through,  when,  after  she  begins  laying,  she  will 
fail  to  do  so. 

We  notice,  in  one  of  the  agricultural  ex- 
changes, that  the  V  edge  of  the  Hoffman  frame 
is  strongly  objected  to.  on  the  ground  that  the 
sharp  edges  will  come  together  in  some  cases, 
and  in  others  the  square  edges,  and  destroy 
correct  spacing.  If  the  frames  are  nailed  up  as 
per  our  catalogue,  the  V  edge  will  always  come 
next  to  the  s(iuare  edge,  and  they  can't  come 
any  other  way. 

Dr.  Miller  is  bound  to  see  fun  in  all  things. 
How  could  he  ri'aii  (see  .Straws)  that  the  Big 
Four  were  going  to  have  their  ears  painted 
with  yellow  ocherV  We  liad  it  printed  right — 
cars.  It  is  possible,  however,  that,  in  the  doc- 
tor's journal,  it  was  printed  ears.  But  the 
typos  shake  their  heads.  Say.  doctor,  hadn't 
you  better  get  another  pair  of  those  2.5-cent 
specs  ? 


The  great  unsolved  problem  in  bee-keeping 
is,  to  control  swarms  when  working  for  comb 
honey,  or,  at  least,  make  it  possible  for  an  out- 
apiary  to  be  run  so  as  not  to  require  the  con- 
stant attention  of  a  managing  apiarist.  Auto- 
matic swarmers,  while  far  from  perfect,  give  us 
hope.  While  they  may  in  time  become  an  entire 
success,  they  may  prove  to  be  only  an  utter 
failure.    Let  us  go  slow,  and  make  sure. 


The  Rev.  L.  L.  Langstroth.  the  father  of 
American  bee-keeping,  has  recently  been  re- 
lieved of  one  of  his  distressing  brain  troubles — 
a  peculiar  malady  that  seems  to  afflict  him  for 
two  or  three  years  at  a  time.  He  is  now  feeling 
so  very  much  better  that  he  expects  to  make  a 
visit  to  the  Home  of  the  Honey-bees,  and  look 
upon  the  faces  of  the  big  and  little  Roots,  and 
also  to  see  with  his  own  eyes  "  how  the  little 
acorn.  Gleanings,  thatl  saw  in  1875,  has  grown 
into  such  a  large  oak."'  Of  course,  we  will  try 
to  give  to  the  readers  of  Gleanings  the  benefit 
of  his  visit,  sp  far  as  we  may  be  able  on  paper. 

The  initial  number  of  the  National  Bee  Ga- 
zette copied  a  last  year's  advertisement  of  the 
W.  T.  Falconer  Manufacturing  Co.,  Jamestown. 
N.  Y.,  in  which  the  company  offer  a  five  per 
cent  discount  on  all  goods.  This  advertise- 
ment (no  doubt  intended  as  a  favor),  we  were 
informed  by  the  company,  was  inserted  without 
authority,  and  therefore  it  causes  them  a  good 
deal  of  annoyance,  because  they  are  not  now 
offering  any  discount  on  their  goods.  By  the 
way,  it  is  a  rather  had  idea  to  insert  an  adver- 
tisement, free  or  otherwise,  without  first  con- 
sulting the  parties  in  question. 

Since  our  statistical  report  published  on  page 
297,  April  15,  it  is  evident,  from  the  letters  com- 
ing in  every  day,  that  the  past  spring  weather 
has  been  rather  destructive  to  bees.  Many 
have  lost  from  half  to  two- thirds  of  their  colo- 
nies since  April  15.  Reports  also  show  that 
fruit-bloom  while  it  lasted  was  exceptionally 
good.  In  the  two  days  that  our  bees  had  a 
chance  at  it,  they  gathered  quite  a  quantity  of 
honey — the  stronger  colonies  getting  enough  to 
neai'iy  fill  the  hives.  But  it  has  been  raining 
nearly  every  day  for  the  last  month,  and  the 
poor  little  fellows  have  had  to  gather  what 
nectar  they  did  in  between  times,  or  when  the 
honey  was  not  entirely  washed  out  of  the 
blossoms. 

On  p.  382  of  this  issue.  Miss  Wilson  contrib- 
utes a  valuable  article  on  how  tc^  remove  prop- 
polls  from  supers,  separators,  etc.  The  idea  is 
not  entirely  new,  because  something  of  the 
kind  has  been  advocated  before.  But  for  some 
reason  or  other  the  times  were  not  ripe  enough 
to  recognize  the  value  of  the  plan.  This  is 
something  that  our  subscribers  can  put  to  the 
test  at  once.  Any  thing  is  an  improvement  over 
scraping,  resulting  in  particles  of  propolis  flying 
all  around.  By  the  way.  we  hope  oin-  readers 
will  also  test  the  use  of  grease  rubbed  over  the 
contact  parts  of  brood-frames  for  preventing  the 
deposition  of  propolis.  Oh,  yesi  prevention  is 
better  than  cure  ;  but  it  is  very  desiralile  some- 
times to  have  a  cure  when  prevention  is  not,  or, 
rather,  was  not,  available.  , 


LIGHT      BltOOI)      FOITND.VTION     VKRStS     MEDIUM 
BROOD    FOR   WIRED   FRAMES. 

Last  fall,  in  our  experiments  with  light 
brood  foundation  we  found  there  was  no  trouble 
about  its  buckling  when  being  drawn  out  by 
the  bees  on  horizontal  wiring.  This  spring  we 
find  that  it  does  buckle,  much  to  our  astonish- 
ment. This  issomewhat  humiliatingto  confess 
after  having  once  or  twice  recommended  this 


1892 


liLEANINCJS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


429 


light  hnioil.  li  is  piovoUiiitf  that  bees  will  not 
always  lio  thiiiirs  aliUc  Why  didirt  tlu-y  inaUc 
tlu'  fiiiiiKlaiiiMi  hiii-klc  last  fall,  as  well  as  this 
spiiii^.  iiinlcr  comlitinns  thai  seem  to  he  pfccisc- 
Iv  parallel,  and  saved  iis  this  morlilicatit)ii '.' 
llowcvef.  tlwfo  is  no  tronhlc  witii  iiiciliinii  hi'ood 
foundation  on  hoii/.ontal  wires,  and  w(>  believe 
that  it  is  thisiirade  that  is  used  :ind  rt'LH)iHinen(i- 
ed  by  those  who  are  enthusiastic  on  horizontal 
wirinjj.  

(  V1U5AXT   WORMS— LOOK   OUT! 

Day  before  yt»sterday  I  was  showing  Mrs. 
Root  our  great  thrifty  gooselierry-bnshes,  load- 
ed with  fruit,  ami  1  jiointed  to  the  fact  that  not 
a  currant  woi  in  had  as  yet  made  its  appearance, 
.lust  4S  hours  after,  two  large  tine  bushes  were 
stripped  of  their  leaves,  so  that  nothing  but  the 
green  fruit  hung  from  bare  poles.  For  a  while 
I  was  pretty  nearly  as  mad  as  a  Christian  has 
any  right  to  be.  Didn't  I  dust  those  fellows 
with  hellebore!  and  then  didn't  I  make  huge 
resolutions  that  I  would  watch  my  gooseberry 
and  currant  bushes  every  day  instead  of  every 
iit]u'r  day!  You  see,  these  fellows  live  over 
winter  inthe  ground.  They  got  pretty  bad  last 
fall  when  I  was  sick,  and  so  1  had  not  watched 
for  them.  Hut  1  presume  the  weather  had  kept 
them  back  until  the  conditions  were  just  right, 
and  then  they  just  "went  in"  for  my  choice 
gooseberries.  Now.  remember  you  have  had  a 
fair  warning.  A  stitch  in  time  certainly  saves 
nine.  A.  I.  R. 

SPRAYING.  AND   THK    WAY'   IT   IS   DAMAGING 
KKK-KEEPING   INTERESTS. 

The  following  are  samples  of  some  of  the 
reports  that  we  get  from  time  to  time,  proving 
beyond  doubt  that  spraying  while  the  trees  are 
in  bloom  is  fearfully  destructive  to  bees: 

Friend  Root :  —  Reports  come  from  Strawtown, 
seven  iniies  northeast  of  liere,  tliat  the  farmers' 
bees  are  all  dyiuR,  caused,  as  suspected,  from  fruit- 
tree  spraying-.  Foree-tiumj)  uyents  have  canvassed 
that  country  witli  their  maeliiiies.  and  excited  the 
wliole  neigiit)orliood.  Tlie  next  thing  will  be  tlie 
ruin  of  tlieir  orcliards  by  using-  insecticides  too 
strong.  G.  L.  Hollenbach. 

Xoblesville.  Ind.,  May  23. 

In  your  journal  of  May  1st  I  read  Prof.  Cook's 
letter  on  tlie  spraying-  of  trees  while  in  liloom.  I 
am  very  much  pleased  witli  his  letter,  and  believe 
it  is  tlie  most  valuat)le  one  that  lias  appeared  in  the 
journal  for  many  j'ears.  Judging-  from  the  poison- 
ed colonies  that  I  examined  after  they -were  killed 
bv  neighljoi's  mixing-  Paris  green  in  honey  and 
placing  it  where  the  bees  took  it,  and  from  all  tlie 
reports  of  the  killing  of  bees  by  ignorant  fruit- 
growers sijraying  tiees  while  in  l)IO(jm,  I  CI  insider  it 
a  very  danner'int.s  Ihind  to  spnti/  trHit-tree.'<  with  Parin 
green  vJiile  Oiey  are  in  hlooin.  If  the  fruit  trees  in 
every  luc.ility  were  sprayed  with  poison  while  In 
full  bloom  it  would  kill  every  colony  of  bees;  and, 
■wliat  would  l)e  still  worse,  it  would  kill  every  fam- 
ily that  used  tlie  honey  after  the  bees  were  poison- 
ed. Wm.  McBvoy. 

Foul-brood  I  nspector  for  the  Province  of  Ont.,  Can. 

Woodbuni,  May  23. 

That  spraying  does  kill  bees  when  improperly 
done,  ciin  not  now  be  disproved.  Facts  are 
stubborn  things,  and  what  bee-keepers  need  to 
do  is  to  labor  with  the  pump-manufacturers, 
and  induce  them  to  modify  their  directions  so 
as  not  to  be  injurious  to  the  bee-keeping  inter- 
ests. Prof.  Cook's  article  on  page  .322  (May 
1st  issue;  covers  the  whole  question,  and  we 
shall  be  glad  to  mail  it  to  any  addres-;  that  may 
be  given  to  us.  If  we  get  out  of  this  number  we 
will  print  extra  leaflets  of  the  article,  for  gratu- 
itous distribution^ 

INCORPORATION   OF   THE   N.  A.  B.  K.  A.,    AGAIN. 

The  following  from  Prof.  Cook,  has  our  most 
hearty  indorsement:  and  if  the  Canadian  quar- 
tet or  trio,  as  the  case  may  be,  can  not  meet  us 


half  way  on  one  of  the  suggestions  given  by  tlui 
professor,  they  are  hard  to  please  indeed. 

Mr.  Editor:  May  1  have  a  wmd  legai-diiig  this 
iiialti'i-  which  has  so  agitated  some  of  our  good 
fiii'iuls,  and  led  to  aelioii  wliicli  I  can  not  but  con- 
sidei-  liiisl.\  .-111(1  uiiloilunate  in  the  Uist  degiee';'  The 
scientist  ;ind  tiir  apiarist  can  not  alli>r<l  to  l<now 
C-iiiada  or  the  I'liiled  States.  We  arc  all  working 
lugcl  her  for  a  eoiniiioii  i>ui-iioso,  and  should  exercise 
till'  fullest  regard  and  sympathy  for  all  of  like  pur- 
suits. Hence  J  say."  if  incorporiition  must  estrange 
or  otVend  any  one,  let  us  throw  the  wliole  thing 
to  the  winds.  We  surely  can  do  wiiliout  it.  for  we 
have.  It  cerlaiiily  oilers  no  adequate  conipeiisation 
if  it  shall  alienati'  any  of  our  brolhers  ovei-  the  line. 
We  ha\-i-  been,  U)  our  great  advantage,  as  one,  in 
the  past.  We  must  continue  to  act  together.  Hut 
wliy  do  oui-  Canadian  friends  object?  1'heactof 
incorporation  only  means  that  wv.  can  do  Inisiness. 
n7ic/-e  we  are  incorporated  is  of  no  importance.  If 
tlie  friends  over  the  line  desire,  li't  us  incorporate 
there.  I  am  sure  none  of  us  would  oliject.  Tnatall 
may  know  that  there  is  precedent  for  just  this  thing, 
let  me  say  that  the  American  Association  foi-  the 
Advancement  of  Science — our  greatest  American 
scientific  society- is  incorpoiated.  The  incorpora- 
tion was  secured  in  Massachusetts;  yet  many  Cana- 
dians are  among  (uir  best  members,  and  two  of  the 
best  meetings  I  have  ever  attended  were  held  on 
Canadian  soil — the  one  at  Montreal,  the  other  at 
Toronto.  I  have  never  learned  that  any  Canadian 
scientist  felt  aggrieved  at  this;  and  certainly  the 
old  A.  A.  A.  S.  has  lieen  a  power  for  good  to  all  con- 
nected with  it.  A.J.  Cook. 

The  North  American,  in  its  act  of  Incorpora- 
tion, did  just  the  very  thing  that  other  like  so- 
cieties have  done,  and  many  other  instances 
might  be  given;  but  the  one  cited  by  Prof.  Cook 
is  a  case  quite  parallel  to  that  of  the  N.  A.  B.  K. 
A.  If  the  Canadians  accept  that  as  being  or- 
thodox in  the  one  case,  why  can  they  not  in  the 
other?  As  we  have  said  before,  we  will  do  any 
thing  that  will  help  toward  pleasant  and  har- 
monious relation  with  that  whole-souled  body 
of  Canadian  bee-keepers. 


PAINT   FOR  BEE-HIVES,   AGAIN. 

The  Other  day  we  were  talking  with  an  ex- 
perienced painter.  Said  he,  "  You  are  right  in 
advocating  yellow  French  ocher  for  paints  hav- 
ing this  most  excellent  pigment  in  them.  Amer- 
ican yellow  ocher  is  fair;  but,  let  gray  ocher 
entirely  alone.  It  is  but  little  better  than  first- 
class  mud  mixed  with  oil."  And  while  speaking 
of  adulterants  he  added,  "  Next  to  spices  there 
is  probably  nothing  that  is  adulterated  more 
than  paint." 

There  may  be  some  of  our  readers  who  would 
like  to  know  where  to  get  absolutely  pure  white 
lead  ground  in  pure  linseed  oil.  We  would  refer 
all  such  to  HaiTison  Brothers,  of  Philadelphia. 

You  can  probably  get  it  of  your  dealer  if  you 
insist  on  getting  it.  even  though  it  does  cost 
more.  In  this  connection  we  would  say  that 
this  is  published  without  the  knowledge  of  the 
afore-mentioned  tirm.  Neither  do  we  expect 
nor  would  we  accept  any  bonus  for  such  a 
notice.  It  gives  us  pleasure,  however,  to  rec- 
ommend pure  honest  goods;  and  we  know  that 
there  are  some  of  our  bee-keeping  friends  who 
wantonly  pure  lead  on  their  hives.  There  are 
probably  other  manufacturers  of  paint  who  sell 
just  as  good  lead,  but  they  are  also  scarce. 

Why  is  paint  so  generally  adulterated  ?  It 
was  explaiiu'd  in  this  way:  A  painter  who  can 
paint  a  house  for  the  least  money  gets  the  job, 
irrespective  of  the  enduring  qualities  of  the 
paint.  This  thing  has  been  carried  on  so 
extensively  by  contractors  and  jiainters  (not 
through  any"  fault  of  theirs,  however,  but 
through  the  fault  of  the  consumers),  that  differ- 
ent painters  and  contractors,  in  order  to  com- 
pete; with  each  otluu-.  have  been  obliged  to  buy 
paint  adulterated  with  cheap  and  absolutely 
worse  than  worse  worthless  pigments. 


430 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Junk  L 


Our  painter  friend  also  added,  in  conclusion, 
that  the  priming-coat  should  always  be  of  the 
very  best  paint.  There  is  a  sort  of  popular  im- 
pression that  anybody  can  put  on  the  first  coat, 
and  it  does  not  make  very  much  difference 
what  sort  of  paint  it  is.  '"  Better  a  good  painter 
with  poor  paint,"  said  our  friend,  "  than  a  poor 
painter  with  good  paint.  But  better  by  far  is 
a  good  painter  with  good  paint."  If  you  are 
not  a  practical  painter,  and  wish  to  do  the 
work  as  economically  as  possible,  and  yet  do  it 
well,  buy  the  ready-mixed  paints  of  known 
purity. 

PKOF.     AVILEY    AND    ADULTERATED    HONEY. 

On  page  356  of  last  issue,  under  the  head  of 
Special  Notices  appeared  a  correction  exoner- 
ating Prof.  Wiley  from  one  of  the  charges  made 
against  him.  We  were  so  anxious  to  state  only 
absolute  truth  that  we  felt  called  upon  to  make 
a  correction  in  the  same  number;  but  we  have 
since  learned,  that,  while  Mr.  Charles  F.  Muth 
did  not  send  samples  of  honey  to  Prof.  Wiley  to 
be  analyzed,  he  left  with  him  some  samples  of 
pure  honey  at  a  convention.  Prof.  Wiley  took 
them  with  him,  and,  after  mailing  an  analysis, 
reported  that  they  were  "  probably  "  adulterat- 
ed or  *•  probably  "  pure.  Of  course,  this  placed 
a  ban  upon  Mr.  Miith's  honey;  so,  while  our 
statement  on  page  387  was  not  strictly  correct  in 
detail,  the  main  fact  remains  essentially  the 
same.  We  stand  ready  at  any  time  to  make 
corrections,  where  we  have  made  a  misstate- 
ment, and  we  also  do  all  we  possibly  can  to  get 
at  the  exact  facts. 

Prof.  Cook,  in  another  column,  is  much  more 
charitable  toward  Prof.  Wiley  than  we  were  on 
page  386,  last  issue;  and  it  is  very  possible  that 
we  were  a  little  harsh  in  our  criticism.  If  so. 
we  beg  Prof.  W.'s  pardon.  But  when  we  re- 
membered the  effect  of  his  "  scientific  pleasant- 
ry," and  that  he  had  pronounced  samples  of 
pure  honey,  obtained  from  C.  F.  Muth,  "  proba- 
bly pure"  or  "  probably  adulterated,"  and  when, 
too,  we  read  the  report,  just  out,  reflecting 
against  many  of  our  best  and  most  reliable 
commission  houses,  particularly  that  of  C.  F. 
Muth,  we  feel  as  if  our  pursuit  had  been  wrong- 
ed, and  that  strong  language  was  justifiable. 

On  page  640  of  Gleanings  for  1888  appears  a 
very  able  article  from  Prof.  Cook,  on  the  tests 
of  honey.    In  this  article  friend  Cook  says: 

We  see,  then,  tfiat  tlie  chemist  can  not  toll  us  ab- 
solutely wliether  lioney  is  adulterated  oi'  not.  There 
is  reason  to  believe  that  absolutely  ))ur('  honey  has 
been  pronounced  as  probably  adultt'iatcd.  '  The 
chemist  was  honest  and  able,  but  did  nut  under- 
stand the  whole  question  or  its  many  difKculties. 

A  little  further  on.  in  the  same  article.  Prof. 
Cook  shows  very  plainly  that  the  polariscope  is 
very  unreliable  in  detecting  adulterations  in 
honey.  Prof.  Wiley,  in  spite  of  all  his  facilities, 
seems  not  to  know,  or  to  have  overlooked  all  of 
this.  If  he  had  taken  the  pains  to  analyze 
samples  of  honey  of  known  purity,  that  he 
could  have  obtained  easily  from  reliable  bee- 
keepers who  would  obtain  the  honey  direct  from 
the  hive,  he  would  probably  have  seen  how 
they  differ  from  each  other,  and  tliat  the  meth- 
ods he  has  employed  all  along  were  unreliable. 

We  do  not  wish  to  do  Prof.  Wiley  or  his  asso- 
ciates any  injustice;  but  we  do  think  our  chief 
chemist  of  the  government  ought  to  inform 
himself  properly  in  regard  to  the  proper  constit- 
uents of  honey,  instead  of  jumping  at  conclu- 
sions, as  we  know  he  has  done,  from  evidence  in 
some  of  his  published  statements;  for  instance, 
the  Wilev  canard  about  manufactured  comb. 

Later. — Since  the  above  was  written  we  dis- 
cover an  article  in  the  ChduUmquan  for  June, 
1892,  by  Prof.  Wiley,  on  the  subject  of  "  Some- 


tliing  about  our  Sugar."  We  have  glanced' 
hastily  through  the  article.  It  reads  well,  and 
no  doubt  it  is  correct  in  the  main;  but  somehow 
our  confidence  is  somewhat  sliaken  when  we 
read  such  a  sentence  as  this,  which  we  copy: 
"Artificial  comb  foundation  is  often  supplied  ta 
the  bees;  <ind  this  is  sometimes  so  perfect  that 
the  bees  have  little  to  do  in  completing  a  cell 
except  to  cover  it.''  The  italics  are  ours.  This 
is  another  evidence  of  how  Prof.  Wiley  some- 
times writes  about  things  when  he  has  only 
a  superficial  knowledge  of  the  thing  in  question. 
While  there  is  an  element  of  truth  in  this  quo- 
tation, it  is  very  misleading.  All  foundation 
that  is  sent  out,  so  far,  is  only  foundation,  from 
1^  to  ^  inch  thick,  and  the  bees  have  to  draw 
out  and  thin  out  the  cell-walls,  and  then  cover 
them,  after  tilling  them  with  honey.  The  cap- 
ping, or  covering,  of  the  cell  is  only  a  very  small 
part  of  the  whole  work.  By  the  way.  we  shall 
be  glad  to  make  Prof.  Wiley  a  present  of  a  nice 
colony  of  bees  if  he  will  accept  them,  and  then 
he  can  study  nature  as  it  is. 


STEAM   AS   manure,  ETC. 

Perhaps  some  of  the  friends  may  think  that 
A.  I.  Root  is  crowding  his  gardening  hobby  a 
good  deal  in  this  issue  of  Gleanings.  Even 
the  boss  printer  suggested  that  the  Home  Talks 
and  the  Garden  department  had  in  some  way 
run  into  each  other  a  good  deal  in  this  number. 
Never  mind;  if  we  make  a  mistake  in  taking 
too  much  space  in  discussing  God's  precious 
gifts,  it  will  not  be  a  very  bad  mistake.  And 
now  here  is  another  one  that  seems  bursting 
forth  right  before  my  very  eyes.  When  I  com- 
menced planting  rows  of  difTerent  crops  across 
that  pipe  that  carries  the  exhaust  steam,  again 
and  again  did  it  seem  to  force  itself  on  to  me 
that  the  steam  was  acting  like  stable  manure. 
The  Hubbard  squashes,  the  American  Wonder 
peas,  strawberries,  and  every  thing  else,  assum- 
ed a  rich  dark  green  right  over  that  hot  drain 
tile,  as  if  a  great  quantity  of  very  rich  manure 
had  been  strung  along  that  very  spot.  Well,  a 
few  days  ago  Prof.  W.  J.  Green,  of  the  Ohio 
Experiment  Station,  dropped  in  upon  us;  and 
when  I  mentioned  the  matter  to  him  he  answer- 
ed at  once,  '"  Why,  Mr.  Root,  the  steam  is  ma- 
nure, or,  at  least,  it  amounts  to  the  same  thing, 
for  it  has,  without  question,  been  unlocking  the 
nitrates  in  your  soil;"  and  we  estimated  that 
the  effect  of  this  steam-pipe  showed  itself  on 
the  plants  from  five  to  eight  feet  away  from  the 
tile;  so  if  we  ran  steam  under  a  quarter  of  an 
acre  of  ground,  with  pipes  even  fifteen  feet 
apart,  the  whole  plot  would  be  from  two  weeks 
to  a  month  earlier  than  ground  without  the 
steam,  and  this  entirely  without  protection. 

Our  Warfield  strawberries,  right  over  tlie 
heat,  are  full  of  green  berries,  almost  large 
enough  to  color,  and  runners  have  been  out 
thickly  for  two  or  three  weeks  past.  Some  are 
even  now  taking  root.  Here  is  a  hint  for  prop- 
agating some  choice  vaiiety  of  strawberry  wheu 
there  happens  to  be  a  demand  for  it.  Just  now 
it  looks  to  me  as  if  that  strawberry  is  to  be  the 
Parker  Earl.  It  is  ahead  of  any  thing  else  on 
our  grounds,  all  things  considered.  Michel's 
Early  was  the  first  to  blossom;  and  if  it  bears 
such  a  crop  as  the  blossoms  at  present  indicate, 
we  shall  give  it  a  place  in  our  select  list.  No 
plant,  liowever.  that  we  have  evei'  seen,  bears 
such  a  quantity  as  the  Jessie.  The  rows  are 
now  literally  a  bank  of  white,  and  the  perfume 
is  like  that  from  an  apple-orchard;  and  the 
humming  of  the  bees  over  the  blossoms,  when 
it  does  not  rain,  is  pretty  nearly  like  that  which 
we  hear  in  an  apple-orcliard  also.  I  think  this 
is  the  last  I  shall  have  to  say  about  God's  gifts, 
in  this  issue,  as  the  forms  are  being  closed  up. 


1  SiCj 


(iLKANlN(;S  IN   15HK  CljI/niRK. 


431 


Our     (.<>/</fii    mill     l.tuttluT    C«)/- 
<ir-tM/      Itiilliiii      <^iit><>/is. 

Iffl'f/     )'<»f-     llllMyilC'MM. 

Ti'slvti.  ill  .Intu".  il.'Sf.  iiiilosti'd,  T.'r-;  3 
f«>rJ-,M>ll.  Our  >t<>cU  c. Heists  of  :Mii  col- 
oriii's  (U'Ndtfd  1(1  lice-;  .ind  qiH'ciis  for 
the  trade.  OrderK  lilloo  b}  rctiirii 
mall.  Send  Un  c-itl:dii>;-  nf  supplies,  ele. 
JM>.  M-:1II-:L.  A  NOK     lll<:li   HIII.  ITIo. 

1'.  S.     A.. I.  FieUl.s,  of  \Vlie:iU)ii.  lad.  wiiies:  "  Tlie 

■<liiet'ii   :ii.d    lioes   rei'.'ived  of  yoii  la.-^t  spring  made 

U7  ll>>.  of  i-oiiU)   honey,  and    U>ok  tlist  pivnuiuu  at 

tliree  faiJN."  8tfdb 

t^ln  rt'stMiiidlnsr  to  thlsadvei-tl.sement  mention  Glkaninqs. 

li'TJ  T^TJ*  T      ^''*'  "'^^*'  l""icf  li^^f  of  I»nre   Ital- 

*  *^JS*^  ■  laii  Uc«i.,  White  itiid  Bro%vii 
Lfuliorii  i'liia-kciiM,  Wliilp  mikI  Krowii  Fer- 
rets, aliil  .S«oi«-li  i'olllo  Fli|>K.     Addi-es.s 

JM.  A.  KNAPP.  Bochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 

f<tfdl) 

The  tiueeii  I  got  of  you  has  more   lirood   tlian  aiij- 
<'olony  1  have.  A.  Miller,  Ti'ail,  O. 

Our  Five-Banded  Italians 

.\tetlie  l)i'es  for  l)iisine>s:    y-eiitle,  and  l)eauties. 
PpCC  \    The  Amateur  Bee-keeper,  5:i  i)ag-es;  price 

•  •'^^'  »oe;  one  jriven  free  eaeh  day  to  tlie  one 
sendiiLfr  tlie  un>sit  money  for  queens  One  warranted 
queen  in  May,  ^l.Hi;  6  for  J:;i.5ii.  June,  $1.00  eacii; 
*i  for  $')M.  Entire  satisfaction  g-uaranteed.        l-24db 

S.  F.  <V  I.  TKEGO,  Kweduiia,  111. 
t  '*"lii  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

rOR   SALE. 

50  colonies  of    Italian    bees  in  A.  I.  Koofs  S-frame 

Dovetailed  and  Lang'stroth's  10  fiaine  hi\  es,  at  five 

dollars  per  colony.  A  lil)eral  discdunt  for  more  than 

one  colonv.     Safe  deliverj'  Kiiaianteed.  ,S-lldb 

J4»HN  OKAN'I',  Batavfa.  Oliiu. 


FOLLOWING      LOW     PRICES  : 

Untested,  before  .lune  1,  *!  00;  after.  Toe.  Tested, 
l)efore  June  1.  $1..50;  after  June  1,  $1.00.  Safe  arriv- 
al and  satisfaction  gruaranteed.  I  breed  a  fine  flve- 
baiuled  strain  of  Italians.  Send  for  my  price  for 
1)^92.  and  get  prices  on  nuclei  and  full  colonies. 
Cheajjer  than  ever  before  known.  Write  for  prices 
on  larg-e  orders. 

OTTO  J.  E.  URBAN,  Prop.. 
Thorndale,   Texas, 

t^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  (iLEAXiNiis. 

Foreign  and  domestic.     Crude  and  refined. 

A  stock  constantly  on  hand. 

Wiite  for  prices,  stating-  qutintity  wanted. 


MARTIN'S  PROLIFIC  BUCKWHEAT.   ECKERMINN  &  WILL,  Syracuse,  H.  Y. 


Same  kind  as  advertised  last  year  in  Gleanings. 
On  my  sandy  soil  it  yields  double  the  quantity  per 
acre  as  Japanese.  Gives  excellent  satisftictiou. 
f  UK)  per  bu.,  cash,  on  board  ears  here,  sacks  includ- 
ed. \%]tt..TIARTII\, 
S-lldb  Hlghlaiid,  OakLtud  Co.,  lUicli. 
Mention  this  paper. 

SECTIONS. 

$a.50  to  $3.50  per  ?l.    Bec-Hivent  and  Fix- 
tures cheap.  NOVELTY    CO., 

«tfdb  Rock  Falls,    llinois. 

tarin  respondinjr  to  tliis  advert!      nent  mention  Glkanings 


0'"ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glk  VNINGS. 

CAA  Colonies  of  Bees  Devot- 
^W  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 
TWO     MILLION      SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS. 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 

Send   for  our   24-Page    Catalogue    of  Dovetailed 

Hives.  Smokers,  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  MT'G  CO..  Higginsville,  Missouri. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  Stfdb 


A  Grand  Success. 


Mew  Cowan  Reversible 

Honey-Extractor. 


i:ea<l   wiiat   Frank   McNay   and  .1.    F.  .Mcliityie  say  of  it 
in  May  15th  issue. 

Strong,  well  made  in  evtM-y  respect,  light,  and  of  conven- 
ient size.  The  can  is  but  little  larger  than  that  of  the 
Novice.  The  gear  is  beveled,  and  covered  by  an  iron  shield 
as  shown  in  the  cut.  Though  not  automatic,  the  two 
baskets  can  be  operated  about  as  rapidly. 

Price  all  complete,  japanned  and  lettered,  for  L.  frame, 
$10.00. 


A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio. 


432 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  1. 


Japanese  Buckwheat, 


This  is  one  of  the  most  profitable  of  farm  crops, 
and  is  especially  valuable  to  the  bee-keeper  because 
of  the  pasturage  it  affords  for  the  bees.  It  is  har- 
vested within  three  months  from  the  time  it  is 
sown.  Under  fair  treatment  it  yields  50  bushels  to 
the  acre,  and  rarely  brinjis  less  than  50c  per  bushel. 
The  time  for  seeding-  is  at  hand  and  we  are  prepared 
witli  several  hundred  buslielsof  choice  seed,  whicli 
we  will  sell,  as  long-  as  it  lasts,  at  tlie  following- 
prices.  Former  years  we  have  run  shoi't  and  had  to 
advance  prices  in  June  so  as  to  supply  orders  with- 
out a  loss.  We  hope  to  have  enough  tliis  year  for 
all  orders,  but  we  advise  you  not  to  put  off  ordering 
too  long. 

Per  bushel,  $1.00;  Vi  bushel.  60c;  per  peck,  3.5c;  1 
lb.,  5c.  If  wanted  by  mail,  add  9c  for  postage.  Two 
bushels  for  $1.90;  10  bushels  or  more, 90c  per  bushel. 
Above  prices  include  bags  to  ship  in. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  O. 


SHORT -HORN  CALVES 

For  sale.  Registered  in  purchaser's  name  and  de- 
livered at  exijress  office  in  light  crate  (from  one  to 
six  montlis  okb  $25.00  each;  20  head  of  cows  and 
heifeis,  and  t  young  bulls,  cheap.  For  prices  and 
breeding,  address  7-8-9d 

CALVIN  LOVETT,  Otsego,  Mich. 

^"In  responding  to  this  aiivertisenient  mention  Olkanings, 


1892 


ROOT'S  Dovetailed    Hive 


1892 


Golden  Italian  queens,  $1.00  each,  or  6  for  $5.00. 
Itfd  Geo.  W.  Cook,  Spring  Hill,  Kan. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

PI71TIC   QTJEEITS 

PROM  IMPOETED  MOTHEES.  Each,  $3.00.  Tliis  is  a  fine 
race  of  bees,  and  will  give  better  results  than  any 
other  race  or  strain.    Ready  to  mail  May  35. 

HENRY  AL.IiEY,  Tl^enliam,  IVIass. 

BEES  BY  THE  POUND. 

Friends,  yesterday  I  took  control  of  300  colonies  of 
Italian  and  hybrid  bees,  tliat  I  will  ship  you  in 
June  and  July.  $1.35  per  lb. ;  10  or  more,  $1.15.  Safe 
arrival  guaranteed.    Moncv-order  office,  Greenville. 

iURS.  JENNIE  ATCHliEY. 
ll-12d  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texas.  T] 

^7*In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANiNoa. 


Choice  Young  Queens. 

Impixne  3'our  stock  by  introducing  superior 
British  queens,  raised  under  most  favorable  condi- 
tions.   Post  free  $3.00.     Address  ^ 

The  Rev.  C.  brereton. 

PuLBOKOUGH,  Sussex,  England. 

|^"ln  respondinjr  to  ilUf- cuivii  ci>f  nunc   iii,-i,ii.  i.  •■  -i 

75c.    Golden  Queens  by  Return  Mail.    75c. 

My  Golden  Italians  are  good  workers,  and  gentle. 
Queens  are  carefully  bred  from  best  stock.  Three 
queens,  $3.00;  six  for  $3..50;  dozen,  $6.00.  Safe  arriv- 
al and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  Money  order  office, 
Daytona,  Fla.  JOHN  B.  CASE, 

Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 

RARRITQ  Black  and  White,  40c  a  Pair. 
nHDDI  I  O.  L.  W.  BOYDEN,  Sahne,  Mich. 

GOLDEN  HONEY  QUEENS. 

Queens  in  June,  untested,  .fl.OO;  M  doz.,  $5.00; 
tested,  $1.70;  select  tested,  $3.50;  extra  select,  f4..50; 
the  very  best,  $8.00;  impoj'ted,  $6.(MI.  Satisfaction 
guaranteed.        LEININOEE  BEOS.,  FT.  JENNINGS,  OHIO. 

Queens  From  Imported 

Stock,  reared  bv  Doohttle's  method.  Untested,  60c 
each;  >^  doz..  $3;  one  doz.,  fS.OO.  Tested, $1;  K  doz., 
%?>.  Virgins,  $4  per  doz.  After  July  1,  untested,  50c 
each;  virgins,  $3  per  doz.  Send  for  circular  and 
learn  particulars.  Reference,  Chase  Matz,  Wells- 
Fargo  Express  Agent.  H.  G.  QUIRIN, 

Beulevue.  Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 

ty In  responding  to  this  aaverti.-ienien I  meiitiun  Oleanings. 


Queens!  Queens!  Queens! 

If  you  want  the  best  bees  you  ever  saw  in  every 
respect,  try  my  strain  of  Italians.  Result  of  eight 
years'  careful  breeding.  Warranted  queens,  each, 
$1.00;  six,  $4.50;  doz.,  $8.00.  Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed. If  you  prefer,  pay  on  arrival.  Make  money 
orders  payable  at  Apollo.  F.  B.  YOCKEY, 

ll-lSd     North  Washington.  Westm-o  Co.,  Pa. 

{^"in  responding  to  tills  .adverti-^enient  ineiition  frLKANiNGS, 

GOLDEN   CARNI-ITAUm. 

The  largest,  most  beautiful,  gentle,  and  industri- 
ous bees;  try  them  and  be  convinced.  Queens.  $1 
each.  Sample  bees,  10c.  Send  foi-  (Mrcular  giving 
full  description,    lltfdb     J.  A.  EOE,  UNION  OITY.'IND. 

TO  exchange.— For  wax  or  cash.  Standard  L.  or 
Heddon  N.   H.  combs,  at  5c  ench.    Combs  all 
worker-,  and  in  good  order.       H.  D.  Burrell, 
lOd  Bangor,  Mich. 

ITALIAN    QUEENS    FREE 

Willi  supplies.  Root's  Dovetailed  hives  and  all  oth- 
er supplies  cheap.  Write  for  particulars  and  save 
money.  A.  F.  McADAMS,  Columbus  Grove,  O. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  9tfdb 

TAKE  NOTICE.       ' 

If  you  are  looking  for  the  bees  tliat  give  tlie  best 
profits,  and  most  gentle  in  liandling,  try  the  Albi- 
nos. I  also  have  the  Golden  Italian,  and  can  fur- 
nish either  variety.  But  if  you  ask  for  my  prefer- 
ence I  say  Albino,  and  in  my  circular  you  can  see 
what  others  say  of  them.  Send  for  circular  and  see 
how  cheap  I  sell  them. 

I  also  manufacture  and  deal  in  Hives,  Sections, 
Foundation,  Extractors,  and  other  Apiarian  Sup- 
plies. S.  VALiENTINE, 

Hagertttown,  Md. 

^"In  responding  to  this  advertisenunt  mention  Glbanb'g.s. 


.    DO  YOU  WANT   • 

Good,  gentle,  and  prolific  bees?  Then  get  an  Albi- 
no (or  white-banded  Italian)  queen.  Catalogue  free. 
5tfd  A.  L.  KILDOW,  Sheffield,  Illinois. 


1802 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


433 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 

Notioes  will  be  Inserted  under  this  head  iit  one  liulf  our  usu- 
al rates.  All  ndvertlsements  intended  for  this  ilepiirtinent 
inu>t  not  exeeed  live  lines,  and  you  must  say  yi>u  wiint  your 
a«lv't  in  this  deiiartinenl.  oi'  we  will  not  he  n  ^poiisilile  tor  er- 
roi-s.  You  <'an  nave  the  notice  as  many  lims  as  ymi  phase; 
hut  all  oviT  live  lines  will  cost  vou  ueror<liiinr  to  our  retruUir 
rates.  This  department  is  intended  only  fur  hoiia  tide  ex 
.harirt'S.  Kxchantres  for  eash  or  for  prii-e  lists,  or  notices  of- 
leriiiff  articles  for  sale,  can  not  he  iiiscitcd  umler  tliis  head. 
For  .-uch  our  rc>:ular  rates  of  'JOcts.  a  liiii>  will  he  c.'ii  r^red.  and 
they  will  h.-  put  with  the  refntlar  advertisenvnts  W.  can  not 
he  r-esponslbie  lor  dissatisfaction  nrisiii);  from  these  "swaps." 

WANTKn.  To  0XL'li;ui)i0  iiiu>  E.  ScttiT  l)itch.  five 
Sootfli  ooUii-  (logs  ithoroiitrlilireds  and  iuhH- 
vrri'tHli  10  pairs  Wliite  Faiitail  iiijfi'ons,  for  poultry, 
incubator,  bees,  brood  foundation,  or  offers. 

F.  Andhews,  FiSptinola,  N.  M. 


VX^ANTED— to  excliaiifre  ii   H;iriies  ronihined   foot- 
iT      iiower  saw,  8  vols.   Gi.KANiNf;s,  bees  in  Root's 
oliatT  liives,  for  saw-table,  band  or  jijr  saAv,  ftu'   li^ht 
power.  M.  Ltdtman.  Hannibal,  Mo. 


WANTED.— To  trade  a  larg-e  lot  of  Heddon  liives, 
nioely  made  and  good  as  new;  some  with  combs 
(^•omplete  for  honey,  now  or  after  crop  of  '93.  Write 
for  particulars.    Address  D.  S.  Hall, 

•_tfdb  South  Cabot,  Vt. 


TO  exchange.— Bee-hives  for  beeswax.  9-12db 

Wm.  Iden,  Etna  Green,  Ind. 

WANTED.— A  man   to  care  for  stock,  bees,  and 
fruit-trees,  on  shares,  in  the  Indian  Territory. 
For  further  information  ai>plj'  to 
10-ll-12d  Mr.  L.  C.  Axtell,  Roseville,  111. 


WANTED.— To  exchang-e  one  Joliet  Safety  bicycle, 
TT  high  grade,  latest  pattern,  ball  bearings,  dia- 
mond frame,  ciisliion  tires,  nearly  new;  one -tO-inch 
Columbia,  best  high  wheel  made,  good  as  new,  very 
cheap;  one  Odell  tj-pewriter;  15U  good  second-hand 
hives  for  L.  frame;  one  extractor  for  L.  frame, 
for  wax,  honey,  supplies,  or  offers.  lOtfdb 

J.  A.  Green,  Dayton,  III. 

ANTED.    To  exchange  chaff'  hives  for  bees  and 
queens,  or  pure-bred  poultry  or  eggs. 
Sam'l  Boyd,  Fremont,  Newaygo  Co.,  Mich. 

WILL  exchange  bees  in  8-frame  Lang.stroth  hive, 
on  wired  combs  of  foundation,  for  S.  C.  Brown 
Leghorns;  old  or  young  birds  taken. 

Address       Brown  Leghorn, 
lid  P.  O.  Box  36,  Browntown,  Green  Co.,  Wis. 


W 


Black  and  Hybrid  Queens  For  Sale, 


Mismated   Italian    queens    bred    from    selected 
>tock,  40c  each ;  three  for  $1.00. 

J.  C.  Whekler,  Piano,  III. 


7.5     black    and    hybrid    queens    by   return  mail. 
Ulacks,  20c;  hybrids,  25.  .].  H.  Siple, 

Phalia,  Bolivar  Co.,  Miss. 

Hybrid  queens  for  sale  at  30c  each,  4  for  $1.00. 1  send 
out  none  but  flrst-class  queens,  and  guarantee  safe 
arrival.       Plinnv  Shepardson,  Freeport,  Wash. 
ll-12d 


I  have  four  German  queens  at  20c  each,  and  seven 
liybrids  at  30c  each.  H.  G.  guiRi.v, 

Bellevue,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 


Mismated  queens,  50c  each;  hybrid  queens,  3  for 
•fl.2o.  Queens  not  t)ne  year  old  yet.  Bee-men  in  the 
North  and  Northwest  whtj  need  queens  should  send 
at  once.  Dr.  E.  Anderso.v, 

Comanche.  Comanche  Co.,  Texas. 


We  have  several  mismated  Italian  queens,  all 
reared  from  best  imported  mothers  at  30c  each.  Tlie 
bees  from  these  queens  all  show  two  yellow  bands, 
and  the  most  of  them  show  three.  The  bees  are 
gentle  enough,  andean  not  be  excelled  for  gather- 
ing honey.  Sent  bj'  mail  upon  receipt  of  price. 
Safe  arrival  guaranteed.    Ic  stamps  taken. 

Cleveland  Bros.,  Decatur,  Newton  Co.,  Miss. 


One-Piece  Sections  Our  Specialty. 

I  i';iti  till  (inlets  pfumiilh  for  an\-  widi  h  ;it  $2.75 
per  M.:or  $2.5(1  per  M.  iti  5(H)0  lots  ;it  factory  at 
Wauzi'kn,  Wis.  Ol  Iter  supiilies  sliippctl  fnini  Cajiac, 
Of  Eviirl.  Mich.  Sections  fioiii  t  licsc  jioiiUs  2.")  cts. 
extitt  per  M.  Sec  .-nl.  in  M;i\-  l-'itli  issue. 
8tfdb   Address         B.  "WALK BH,  Capac,  Mich. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


o 

CO 


w 

CD 
CD 
(A 


FINE   ITALIAN   QUEENS 

PRICES     FOK    .IFNE    AM)    AFTER. 

1  untested  i|iieen         f    75 

3         ••  '•       :.   10 

Itested  queen 1.    i 

3        •'  "      4.1 

Select  Tesled,  each..: 3.(X 

Two-frame     Nucleus  with    any  queen, 
$1.50    ench    extra.    Safe    tirrival  guar- 
anteed. W.  J.  |i:iiL.I>»4»1V,  lOd 
Cattliall,  Sumter  <'o.,  S.  V. 
Please  mention  this  paper.  11121  -14 

Stanley  Automatic  Reversing 
HONEY  -  EXTRACTOR. 

Asatmounced  in  ;i  late 
number  of  Gleanings, 
we  have  leased  from  G. 
\N  Stanley  the  right  to 
make  his  automtitic  ex- 
it ictor,  ;ind  we  bought 
tidtii  E.  R.  Newcoml)  his 
stock  of  materitils  and 
machines  unsold.  This 
stock  consists  of  about 
twenty -Ave  machines, 
two  and  four  frame.  To 
work  it  off  quick,  and 
give  us  a  cliance  to  put 
(Hit  machines  of  our  own 
in  1  ke,  we  offer  these 
machines  as  long  as  they 
last,  at  one-fourth  off  old 
prices.  We  will  sell  the 
tT^o-frame  machines  as 
tliej  ate  foi  $9.00;  thc4-fiame  for  3il6.00.  They  are 
crated  ready  for  shipment,  with  crank  direct  on  the 
center-shaft.  We  will  attach  our  new  horizontal 
gear,  as  shown'on  page  14  of  our  catalogue,  for  $3.00 
each  extra. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio. 

PfllflT  POH 
BEE^HIVES. 

After  much  experimentation,  and  a 
careful  study  into  the  paint  question, 
we  offer  a  nii.xed 

Paint  Prepared  Especially  for  Bee-Hives. 
It  will  not  Chalk  or  Flake  off. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  free  from  adulterants, 
such  as  whiting,  barytas,  lime,  and  other  sub- 
stitutes that  do  not  add  to  the  enduring  quali- 
ties of  the  paint.  Our  paint  is  made  of  strictly 
pure  lead,  strictly  pure  zinc,  and  genuine  French 
ocher  of  about  equal  proportions,  mixed  in  pure 
linseed  oil.  It  is  generally  recognized  that  there 
is  no  pigment  more  permanent  than  French 
ocher;  and  this,  combined  with  zinc  and  lead, 
makes  a  most  durable  combination.  The  re- 
sultant tint  is  a  pale  straw  color.  Price:  Pint, 
3oc:  quart.  60c;  half-gallon,  $1.00;  gallon,  f  1.75. 
Half  a  gallon  will  cover  ten  No.  1  Dovetailed 
hives  two  coats. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  O. 


434 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


JrxE  I. 


JENNIE   ATCHLEY 

Will  send  you  either  three  or  five  banded  Italian 
queens  in  "June,  Julv,  and  August,  7'ic  each;  $4.20 
for  6,  or  $8.00  per  doz.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed. 

Itfdb  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

BEE  SUPPLIES 
and  all  kinds  of 
Berry  -  pack- 
ages, boxes 
and  baskets. 
We  make  a  spe- 
cialty of  one- 
piece  sections, 
and  wood  sepa- 
rators. Address 

BERLIN 
FRUIT  BOX 

CO., 

Berlin  Heights 

Erie  Co., 

Ohio. 

Please  mention  this  paper 

WANTED-LADY  OR  GENT  IN  EACH 
county  to  distribute  and  collect  for  Brabant's 
ladies' toilet  cases;  238  articles,  worth  Jl;  will  send 
sample  and  full  particulars  by  mail  for  35c  in 
stamps;  returnable  if  not  satisfactory;  territory 
free;  $3  to  $5  per  day  easily  made.  Address  J.  C. 
Frisbee,  general  agent,  172  Maple  St.,  Denver,  Col. 
Reference,  A.  I.  Root,  Medina,  O. 
Orin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gi.kaninq£ 

Bee-Hives  ^  Sections 

A  specialty.    Foundation,  Smokers,  etc..  In  stock. 
Send  foi'  new  list.  free. 
4tfdb  "W.  D.  SOPER.  Jackson,  Mich. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


IMPORTED  QUEENS. 

In  May  and  June,  each $2.00 

In  July  and  August,  each 1.80 

In  September  and  October,  each 1.60 

Money  musti  be  sent  in  advance.  Safe  arrival 
guaranteed.  Queens  that  die  en  route,  if  returned 
in  the  letter,  will  be  replaced  by  mail,  postpaid.  No 
order  for  less  than  8  aueeus  hy  express  will  be  accept- 
ed. CHAS.  BIANCONCIIVI, 
1-lld  Bologna,  Italy. 
Please  mention  this  paper.  7d 

PATENT    WIRED    COMB    FOUNDATION 

HAS   NO    SAG    IN    BROOD-FRAITIES. 

THIN     FLAT  .  BOTTOM     FOUNDATION 

Has  No  FlKli-boue  iu  Surplus  Honey. 

Being  the  cleanest  is  usually  worked 
the  quickest  of  any  Foundation  made. 
J.  VAN  DEUSEN  &  SONS, 

Sole  Manufacturers,  5tfd 

Sprout  Brook,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y. 

PIea.se  mention  this  paper. 

Italian  Bees  and  Queens  For  Sale. 

Untested  queens,  $1.00;  tested,  $1.50.  Bees,  $1.00 
per  lb.  Colony,  $.5.00.  Also  barred  Plymouth  Rock 
eggs  for  sitting,  $1.00  per  13. 

7-16db  MRS.  A.  A.  SIMPSON,  Swarts,  Pa. 


POULTRY. 

I         Lit.   fT'oo  f 


Choice  Fowls  and  Eggs  for  sale  at 
all  times.    Finely  illustrated  circu- 
lar free.       GEER  BROS    St.  Marys,  Mo.    21tfdb 


Hastings'  Lightning  Bee-Escape. 


Send  for  sample  of  Hustings' "  Lightning  "  Bee 
Escape,  and  you  will  be  con-snnced  that  it  is  the 
best  and  most  practical  escape  yet  produced.  It 
will  clear  the  supers  in  a  short  space  of  time  (2  to  4 
hours),  and  it  is  impossible  for  the  bees  to  clog  the 
passage,  as  they  can  not  return.  Each  escape  guar- 
anteed as  represented.  Price,  by  mail,  each,  $0.20; 
by  mail,  per  doz.,  $2.25.  Full  directions  with  each 
escape.  Electrotypes  furnished  free  for  dealers' 
catalogues.    Write  for  discount.  7-12db 

M.  E.  HASTINGS,  New  York  Mills,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Please  mention  this  paper 

Cash  for  Beeswax! 

Will  pay  27c  per  lb.  cash,  or  SOc  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  32c  per  lb.,  or  35c  for  beM 
selected  wax. 

Unless  you  put  your  name  on  the  b'lx,  and  notify 
us  by  mail  of  amount  sent,  I  can  not  hold  myself 
responsible  for  mistakes.  It  will  not  pay  as  a  gen- 
eral thing  to  send  wax  by  exp'Css. 

A.  T.  ROOT,  Medina.  Ohio 

QUEENS    FREE. 

Italians,  untested,  75c.  Warranted,  $1.00.  Tested, 
$1.25.  One  Cholt-e  Breeder  Oiven  Aivay  with 
each  dozen.  Five- Banded  Golden  Queens,  $1 
to$'i.    Satisfaction  guaranteed. 

F.  U.  MOBBOW,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


Barnes'  Foot-Power  Machinery. 

Read  what  J.  I.  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,  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. 
It  will  do  all  you  say  it  will." 
Catalogue  and  Price  List  free.  Address  W.  F.  & 
JOHN  BARNES,  545  Ruby  St.,  Rockford,  111. 

When  Imore  convenient,  orders  for  Barnes'  Foot- 
Power  Machinery  may  be  sent  to  me.    A.  I.  Root. 
2itfd 

VANDERVORT 
COMB -FOUNDATION  MILLS. 

Send  for  samples  and  reduced  price  list. 
itfd  JNO.  VANDERVORT,  Laceyville,  Pa. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

TESTED   ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

50  tested  Italian  (jui'dis  fur  sale  at  $1.00  each,  to  be 
delivered  .luiu'  1st  to  15tli,  all  raised  last  fall  from  an 
imported,  and  liesi  select  ti'sted  (lueens.  Untested 
queens,  July  15th  and  after,  70c  each;  3  for  $1.75;  6 
or  more,  60c  each.  D.  G.  Edmiston, 

Adrian,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich. 


If  you  would  like  to  see 
how    nice     foundation 
can  be  made,  send  for 
iples.  Special  prices  to  dealers  on  Foundation  and  Stn'tions,  etc. 
Free  price  list  of  everything  needed  in  the  apiary.  6tfdb  (Near  Detroit.) 

M.  H.  HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


Founddtion  Wholesale  and  Retail. 

7    free  samples.  Special  prices  to  dealers  on  Four 


1892 


(;i,KAMX(iS  IN   lUOE  CUI/rURE. 


435 


CONTROL  YOUR  SWARMS! 

N.   O    WESTS    SPIRAL    WIRE    QUEEN      CELL     PRO 
TECTORS    AND    CAGES. 

N.    I).  Wt'sfs   Spiral  Wiif       pat 

l,>llfOIlH'Cll    PrOtl'CtOI-S     will      DEC.  IS.  91. 

(Ill    it.    and    you    can    RE-_ 
Ol'KF.N  \()urai)iar.v(lurin>r" 
in<"  suai-min>r  st-ason.   Pro- 
nounoeil  tlio    IU\<t   by  siicli 
iniMi    as  C'Al'T.  .1.   K.  Uk.th- 
KUlN'(5TON,    ClitTiv    Vallov, 
N.Y.;  P.  H.  El, WOOD,  Staik- 
ville,    N.    v.,    and     others. 
rdl-Protortors.    *;?.liO    per 
KHI.  or  1~  foriiOo.  by  mail.    ('a)j:es.  $'tM  \wv 
tor  i^l.ixi.  by  Miail.    Samples  oi  botli,  witli 
ixpliuniny.  2.">  I'ts.    The  cajres  are  visi'd  for  1 
(|ueens  in  any  hive,  and  are  the   Best    Hee-K 
use.     .\(l(lres- 
N.  D.  WEST.  Middleburgh,  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y. 

I'lea.^e  mention  this  paper 

Honey  -  E:>^tractoi^. 

/  Square  Glass  Honey-Jat»s, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee-hives. 
Honey-Seetions,  &e.,  &e. 

Pecfeetion  Cold-Blast  Smokers. 

APPLY  TO  ^.^v./-v..-^.^%.^v.yN.^-v^ 

CHAS.  F.  JVIOTH  &  SON,  Cincinnati,  O. 

SendlO-ct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


a|i 
t<-i»  lod 


PRICE  LIST  OF  BEE-HIVES. 


8-fr'me. 

lO-fnie. 

8-fr'me. 

10-f'me. 

l>^-sfy. 

1%-sfy. 

3  st'y. 

3-st'y. 

Iti  lots  of  5  . . 

73c 

82c 

87c 

97c 

In  lots  of  10  .. 

69 

79 

84 

94 

In  lots  of  25  . . 

. . ,   61) 

70 

75 

85 

In  lots  of  .50  .. 

.'   58 

68 

73 

83 

In  lots  of  100  .. 

57 

6; 

70 

80 

The  reason  we  can  sell  so  cheap  is  that  lumber  is 
clieai)er  in  Mimiesota  tlian  any  other  State  in  tlie 
U.  S.  The  above  prices  are  for  Dovetailed,  Simplicity, 
and  tliree  other  stjles.    Send  for  catalogue. 

F.  <;.  ERKELi,  LeSueur,  lUfnn. 
Please  mention  this  pajier. 


^       WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS' 
^  SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

„  ROOT'S  (JOODS  can  be  liad  at  Des 
"^Moines,  Iowa,  at  KOOT'S  I'KICES.  The 
largest  supply  Irii^iness  In  tlie  West. 
Estal)lishe<i  1S8.5.  U.^vctailed  Hives.  Sec- 
tions, Foundation.  K\traiti>rs,  Smokers, 
Veils.  Crates.  Feeder-.  Chiver  Seeds.  et<-. 
nipor  ed  Italian  Qiieens.  Queens  and 
Bees.  Sanii)le  copy  of  our  Bee  .Journal, 
•THE  WESTEllN'BFK  KEF  ,-;K."  and 
L.XTEST  CATALOIiFK  ?nni  FREE   to 

Bee-keepers. 

JOSEPH  NYSE««/ANDER, 

Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.        4tfdb 

"Engine  and  Boilerpor  Sale. 

A  si.\-li'>r>e  upriybt  enji-ine  and  a  ten-horse  hori- 
zontal steel  boiler.  They  are  bolli  complete  and  in 
Hne  condition;  have  been  used  only  about  six- 
months.  Boiler  arched  in.  Hoth  are  W.  B.  Dunn- 
ing-'s  make,  Geneva.  N.  Y. 

Also  an  18-inch  Feed-Mill,  French  buhr,  of  A.  W. 
Stevens'  make.  Aulturn,  N.  Y.  Sheller,  Elevator, 
Sliafting,  Belting-,  Pulleys,  and  a  fine  lot  of  Simonds 
saws,  cut-off  and  rip,  from  5  inch  up  to  18.  Two 
Vandervort  Foundation  Mills,  6  and  12  inch,  steam 
melting-apparatus,  etc.  The  whole  outfit  is  nearly 
new,  and  in  fine  condition.  Will  be  .sold  at  a  bar- 
gain.   'Write  for  particulars. 

G.  1»^.  BAliEY  &  SON, 

9tfdb  Ovid,  Senet-a  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


Beautiful !  Gentle!  Prolific!    \ 

The    Five  -  Banded  Golden    Italian    Bees.  ^ 

Send  ."»•  for  sample  of  bees  ;Mid  be  convinced. 


Catalogue  free. 
si.\,  |r).Oti. 


One  queen,  .June  or  .July,  $1.00; 


> 

J.  F.  MICHAEL,  \ 

^-VM\h       GERMAN.  DARKE   CO.,  OHIO.  > 

l_8riii  K'spumniiK  li>  mis  aavertl.-einent  mention  (ii,KA.M.M;.s. 

DR.  J.  W.  CRENSHAW, 

Versailles,      -      Kentucky, 

Offers  for  Sale 

Untested  Italian  (.>ueens  at  $1.(K)  each  tlirough  May 
and  June;  after,  7.')c  eacli.    Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed.   Queens  raised  only   from   Imported 
mother.     l)r(>nesonly  from  selected 
and  tested  mothers. 
Also  CELERY  PLANTS  from  .luly  to  September,  at 

•t3.0lt  per  M.  7-18db 

f7*In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANiKGa. 

Good  Queens  Cheap. 

300  tested  Italian  queens,  raised  last  season,  for 
saleat  $1 ;  $10  per  doz.  A  few  hybrids  at  25c  eacli. 
They  will  be  ship])ed  about  June  15th  to  35th,  or 
later  if  desired.  Have  order  booked  now  and  send 
money  when  you  want  them.  My  bees  have  been 
HRED  Ftnt  ItirsiyESS,  and  these  are  bar- 
gains.   Nuclei  and  full  colonies  at  very  low  rates.  J 

J.  A..  GKSSXT,  Z^a-y-boxa.,  111. 

^P"In  responding- to  this  adverii-enieiit  mention  Gleanings, 

WHY,  YES,  EVERYBODY  KNOWS 

that  it  pays  to  purchase 
their  Honey-Comb  Foun- 
dation at  C.  W.  PHELPS 
&  CO.  'S  'Wholesale  and  Ke- 
tail  Foundation  Factory. 
They  sell  heavy  for  Brood, 
■4,5c.;  thin  for  Comb  Honey, 
.55c.  They  deal  in  all  kinds 
of  A  piarian  supplies.  Their 
customers  are  always 
pleased,  for  their  work  is 
good  and  prices  reasona- 
ble. Send  for  free  sam- 
ples Foundation  and  price-list  of  Bee  supplies. 
Address  C.  W.  Phelps  &Co.,  74  Pettit  street, 
Binghamton,  N.  Y. 

TAKE   NOTICE!  ~ 

BEFORE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
for  prices  on  (int^Piece  Basswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,   Shipping-Crates,   Frames,   Fotuidation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
14tfdb  New  London,  Wis. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

J.  C.   SJLYLES, 

HARTFORD,  WIS., 

Manufactures  Apiarian  Supplies  op  Every 

Description.     Catalogue  Free  to 

All.    Send  Your  Address. 

Stfdb  Please  mention  this  paper. 

Bee-Keepers'  Supplies. 

Hives.   Honey -Cases,   Sections,  and   Fi'ames. 
We  ai-e  the  only  concern  in  Southern  Califor- 
nia who  make  a 
SPECIALTY  OF  BEE-KEEPERS'  MATERIAL. 

Agents  for  the  white  basswood  1-lb.  sections. 
Send  for  catalotrue  and  price  list. 
(j-l.Sdb  Oceanside  Mill  Co.,  Oceanside,  Cal. 

lyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANlNaa. 


0436 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


JlXE  1. 


HUBBARD  BEE  HIVE  \ 

SECTION    PRESS. 


If  ynii  want    to    handle    bet-s   easy  1. 
sitting  down  to  it.  here  is  the  liive.   iranu 
flxod  and  variable  distance  combined      X 
wrenching  or  prying  or  scrjipiiig  of  com)  s 
together.     Many  thousands   in  use    giving 
excellent  satisfaction. 

Live  Agents  make  Splendid  Profits. 

Large  Circular  of  20  pages  free. 
'Ibis  SECTION  PRESS  (Pat'd  is  sold 
at  S-S.SO  by  the  leading  snpply  dealers 
Ask  tlieni  tor  it  or  send  to  me.  A  bo\ 
can  put  together  800  to  1000  sections 
an  hour  and  have  them  true.  Rend  sec 
tion  around,  put  in  press  give  a  little  push 
— 'tis  done  Will  last  a  life-time  and  is 
bound  to  please  you. 

Send  for  my  Circular  about  Hive.  Press.  Foundation  Fastener.  .Sections.  Foundation  Italian  Qulciis.  Extractors, 
Veils,  Honey  Crates  and  Cases.  &C  &c  It  will  interest  you.  Or  send  15  cents  lor  Practical  Book  for  Beginnera— 
"First  Principles  in  Bee  Culture."    11th  thousand  jiist  issued 

G.  K.  HUBBARD,  277  Harrison  St.,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 

3-lOdb  tyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLKANDJGa.  s 


BEES 


S50    COLOKIBS    OF   BEES. 

1,000,000  Sections.  HIVES, 
Smokers,  Qubbns.  etc.  Send  for 
price  list  to  E.  T.  FLANAGAN 
Box  783.  BelleviU*.  lUinois. 


nTTT)r)T  TT7CI        Langstroth  Bee-hives,  and 

^1  r  r  I  j|  Ti^  every  thing  needed  in  the 
kJ  U  i  i  XJiJ^KJ.  ^gg  j-.jj,f|.  3o.|,;^gre  catalogue 
H^^^HHH^BM  free.    "  BUSsY  BEES,"  a 

book  telling  liow  to  manage  them,  10  cents  in 
Stamps.  WALTER  S.  POUOER,       o-VZdh 

175  E.  Walnut  St.,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

Please  mention  tills  paper. 
PEI^SOflS    tUfl^^TIJMG 

APlflJ^IflJvl    SUPPlilES 

Would  do  well  to  send  to  W.  E.  Clark,  Oriskany, 
•         Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.    Send  for  illustrated  price 
list.    Dealers  should  send  for  Deal- 
ers' List  for  Smokers.  6-12dh 
^P'ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleakikqs. 

Down  G-o  the  Prices ! 

Must  Be  Sold ! 

100,000  No.  1  One-Piece  Sections  at  S3. 00  per  M. 
In  5000  Lots,  ...  -  S2.80  per  M. 
Fifty  Colonies  of  Italian  Bees;  I  Colony.  $6.00; 
5  Colonies,  $5.00  each.  Tested  Italian  Queens  in  May, 
$1.50  each.  Tested  Italiiiii  queens,  last  year's  rais- 
ing, 11.00  each.  Comb  Foundation  and  a  full  line  of 
Apiarian  Sup-plies.    Twenty-page  price  list  free. 

J.  M.  KINZIE, 

9-12db  Roc-be»itrr,  0>iklaud  Cu.,  micli. 

tyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings 


1  TNTESTED  QUEENS  from  the 
"^    original  and  only  imported 


stocks  in  tlie  country;  $'J(Xi  eacli. 
Pratt's  swarmer,  bj'  mail,  60c;  i 
for  $1.00.        E.  I..  PRATT, 
9-I3db  Beverly,  3I»ma. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

My  Catalogue  of  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES 
for  1892  is  free;  My  Pamphlet,  "HOW  I 
PRODUCE  COMB  HONEY,"  by  Mail,  5  cts. 

GEO.  E.  HILTON.  Fremont,  Mich. 

Please  mention  Gleanings.  2-13db 

SAVE  MONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augrus- 
ta,  Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 


Great  Crash  in  Prices ! 

From  10  to  25  % 

discount     from 

former  prices.  My 

40-page  catalogue 

for  1892  gives  rea- 
sons.    I    offer    a 

new  -  style     chaff 

hive    at    one-half 

tlie  cost  of  other 

styles,  and  just  as 

good.     This     hive 

can  he  taken  apart 

almost    instantly, 

and  packed  up 
in  small  space. 
It  can  be  used 
on  any  liive(see 
cut).  Don't  fail 
to    get    my  3Sd 

annual  price  list.    I  men  n  business,  and  am  bound 

to  sell  as  good  as  the  best,  and  at  equnlly  low  prices. 
Address  W/V7.  W.  GARY. 

6tfdb  CoLERAiNE,  Mass. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


07  KV.V  V\\UOS>. 


Murray  s-Hei5s."':^o"^h^^^"° 


v:iQLms 


GUITARS 

MANDOLIKS 


Frce. 


K°ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEAN1NG3. 

Called  "Tlie  Chicken  Busi- 
ness, and  How  to  Make  it 
Pay."  Tells  all  aliout  it. 
Finely  illustrated,  practical,  and  origi- 
nal. Price  50  cents,  pt)Stpaid.  An  il- 
lusti-ated  circular  free,  giving  particu- 
lars about  tlie  book,  and  prices  of  pure-bred  fowls 
and  eggs  for  sale  bv  tlie  author.  4tfdb 

H.  B.  CEER.  Nashville,  Tenn. 

'    """in  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  CrLKANlNGS. 


/\  POULTRY 

goolT 


FOUNDATION. 


Brood,  38c;  Thin.  48c;  closing 
out,  but  small  stock  left.  Also 

20  acres  fine  land  isec  Ex.  Col.)  at  a  bargain,  for  cash. 

10-lId  H.  L.  Grah.\m,  Grandview,  Iowa. 

•'nuliier  to  tills  advertisement  mention  (ii-KANINO'. 

PURE  ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

Tested  queens,  $1.25;  untested,  75c:   safe  arrival 
guaranteed.  MISSES  S.  4  M.  BAKNES,  Piketon,  Ohio. 

ty  In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkanings- 

▼TAL.IAN  QUEENS.    Choice   tested,    $1.50;  un- 

™  tested,  90c.    Satisfaction  guaranteed. 

9-Ild  S.  P.  RoDDV  &  Bro.,  Mt.  St.  Mary's,  Md. 


1892 


GLEANlN(iS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


437 


HAND-FORGED  AMERICAN  POCKET-KNIVES. 

SOME  CHOICE  GOODS  AT  A  BARGAIN. 


ri>ti>tho  fallof  1M»1  tlio  Anu'ii.-iiM  Kiiifv  Co..  of  Th.imastdii.  ("oiin.,  Ii:i(l  for  t  w  inty-flve  years  been 
iuakin»r  norkft  ,-ntl.MV  tliat  lias  lu-cn  tin-  staiidani  of  ox.-HI.mu'c,  iind  not  siirpiisscd  by  any  tnadf  in 
\nuM-ioa  llv  unfoit  niiato  ciivnnistancos  tlioy  bad  to  make  an  assin-nnicnt .  We  liav<;  ifcoiitly  purchased 
i.no  buniired'and  forty  dozen  of  four  or  Ave  styles,  at   prices   froin    bMoHll  per  cent  ^'.V'^s  tban   the  siinie 

Qualit  V  of  vrood>^  ■">"  'i'^  t^oiiD-lit  ti)-d:iv  in  anv  (luat    "       '      '     '  '    '' "'  "   "■■""•""     "   ■■"«'" 

Dur  readei-s  anc 

though  we  hiive  niauy  otlier  styles  given  in  our  i 


akinjr  pocket  cntl.-rv  that  has  been  the  standard  oi  ex.-eucnce,  and  mi  sii  |m>si-..  .,»  u..:>  ....  uv  i.. 
nierica  llv  unf.irtuiiate  circumstances  tliey  bad  to  make  an  assin-nnient .  We  have  recently  purchased 
le  buniired'and  forty  dozen  of  four  or  Ave  styU's,  at  prices  from  KMoHllper  cent  less  than  the  same 
lalitvof  iroods  can  be  bought  to-day  in  any  (luaidity  at  wholesale  jolihcrs  pvu-es.  We  propose  to  give 
ir  readei-s  and  their  friends  the  bcuellt  of  this  low  purchase.  This  li>t  includes  our  special  bargains, 
lough  we  have  many  other  styles  given  in  our  price  list. 


Ten-oeut  Vmerlean  Knife.  e.\act  size  of  cut,  either  sharp  or  round  pointed  blades  1  his  has  been 
one  of  our  leaders  for  many  years,  and  is  still  as  good  as  ever.  Blades  are  best  steel,  and  the  knives  are 
well  finished.  Price  10c  each';  by  mail,  12c;  or  given  postpaid  for  one  subscription,  either  new  or  renewal. 
One  dozen  by  mail,  postpaid  for  $1.25.  or  $1.10  sent  at  your  own  expense,  with  other  goods. 

Our  30 -cent  Blu:  -  bargain 
Kuile,  2  blades.  We  have  no  cut 
that  accurately  represents  this 
knife,  but  we  consider  it  a  big 
bargain.  It  is  the  same  length  as 
the  cut.  but  thicker.  It  is  brass 
lined,  and  German-silver  tipped; 
has  best  hand-forged  razor-steel 
blades,    which    we     can     furnish 

^        either    spear ~-n^ 

^>     point  or  clip  \ 

^'^     point.       Han-    

dies  are  either  ebony  or  cocoa;  41 1 
or  .tO  cents  would  be  the  usual 
price  for  such  a  knife;  but  by  tak- 
ing a  quantity  we  are  enaliled   to 

make  the  price    3nc;    6   for  ?1..50.  ,  .     ,. 

Postage,  -tc  i-a^'h  extra.     CJivoii  free  for-  one  new  subscription  with  $1.00,  and  4c  lor  ])o^laye. 

Exfelslor     Knlle,     No. 

46;  price  40c;  6  for  $2.00. 
1U-  mail,  .5c  each  extra.  This 
is  exact  si/.e  of  cut,  but  the 
shield  inlaid  in  the  handle  is 
a  little  different.  It  has  two 
^  lilades,  as  sliown,  is  brass- 
ned  with  German  -  silver 
tips,  cocoa  handle.  The 
same  pattern  of  knife  is  usu- 

ally  retailed    for   6U    or    75 

cents,  and  could  not  be  sold  for  less  than  .50  cents  if  we  had  to  pay  the  prices  asked  by  manufacturers  at 
present.  We  got  57  dozen  of  these,  so  we  have  enough  to  treat  a  good  many  of  our  I'oaders  with  one  ot  tne 
best  bargains  it  is  often  your  good  fortune  to  meet.  Price  40c  each ;  3  for  $1.10;  6tor  t-.oi).  ±Jy  man,  oc 
each  extra.  Given  free  for  one  new  subscription  with  your  own  renewal,  and  $.i.ou,  witn  bc  to  cover 
postage. 

Diamond  Knife,  No.  2255,  price  50c;  6  for  13.50.  This  is  the  same  knife  we  have  been  selling  for  a 
number  of  vears.  It  is  tlie  same  size  as  No.  46  above,  but  the  handle  is  diamond  shape,  large  in  the  mia- 
dle.  gracefully  curving  to  ilie  end.  It  has  two  hand-forged  razor-steel  blades;  is  brass-lined,  with  German- 
silver  tips  and  ebony  handle;  asidendldknife  forSOc;  3  for  $1.35,  or  6  for  $2..50.  By  mail,  5c  eacU  extra. 
Given  for  one  new  subscription,  with  youi'  own  renewal  and  S2.0I),  with  .5c  for  postage. 

LadleH'  Penicnife.  or  Queen-ecll  Knife.  Price  1.5c.  By  mail,  17e:  6  for  7.5c,  or  85  Ijy  mail.  This 
is  3  inches  long.  clo.sed;  4?^  open,  with  a  long  slender  l)lade  t'g  wide,  hand-forged  from  razor  steel;  Drass 
lined  and  ebony  handle;  a  wonderful  l)argain  for  the  price.  Given  free  for  a  subscription  to  OLEAMNGb, 
either  new  or  renewal. 


NICKEL-PLATED  STEEL-LAID 

SHEARS. 


These  shears  are  sec- 
onds, with  occasional 
blemishes,  which  do 
not  hurt  them  for  ser- 
vice, but  shut  them 
out  of  the  best  grade. 


TABLE  OF  I'KICKS. 
6    inch  Leader  Shears 

t'A ; 

7 

TK    " 


Less  than  half 
usual  prices.  We 
bought  350  dozen 
in  one  lot  to  make 
it  possible  to  offer 
these  prices. 


Post, 

,  Price  eaoh. 

Mtloz. 

3doz. 

ft 

.80 

tl.lO 

t  6.00 

-  f. 

.2& 

1.25 

7.00 

ft 

.30 

1.40 

8.00 

-  ft 

.36 

1.60 

9.00 

A 

.16 

2.00 

11.00 

-    7 

.50 

2.25 

12.00 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio. 


438 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  1. 


^BEST    OIT    EiiB.TH4* 

ELEVEN  FEARS 
WITHOUT  A 

PARALLEL,  AND 
THE  STANIJ 

ARD    IN     EVtKY 

CIVILIZED 

COUNTRY. 

Bingham  &  Hetherington 

Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 

Standard    Size. 

Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 

Six  Sizes  and  Prices. 


Doctor  Smoker, 

3}i 

in. 

postpaid  . . 

.t:i.uO 

Conqueror    " 

3 

1  Vo 

Larjre              " 

m 

1  m 

Extra  (wide  shield)  2 

I  -^b 

Plain  (narrow    " 

)t 

I  00 

Little  Wonder. 

IX 

65 

Uncapping-  Knife 

.  115 

Sent  promptly 

on   receipt 

of    price 

.    To 

I  am  Pushing  Ahead ! 

And  am  so  fai'  in  tlio  lead  that  I  cli;ill(>ii<>e 
any  one  to  show  up  supei'ior  bees  to  \n)j  uest 

Five-Banded  Golden  Italians. 

Large,  beautiful,  gentle,  and  good  honey- 
gatherers;  the  results  of  10  years'  careful 
breeding'.  Try  them.  Satisfaction  g-uaran- 
teed.  Queens  in  May,  $l.;i6  each;  6  for  $6. 
After  June  1,  $1  each ;  6  for  $5.  For  full  par- 
ticulars, send  for  descriptive  circular. 

CHAS.  D.  DUYALL,  Spencerville,  Md.      .t^b 


sell  again,  send  for  dozen  and  half-dozen  rates. 

MilledgeviUe,  111  ,  March  8,  1S9U. 
Sirs: — Smokers  received   to-day.  and  count  cor 
rectly.    Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  I  do 
your  trade  will  boom.  Truly,        F.  A.  Snell. 

Vermillion,  S.  Dak.,  Feb.  17, 1890. 
Sirs:— I  consider  your  smokers  the  best  made  foi 
any  purpose.    I  have  had  15  years'  experience  with 
300  or  400  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak. 
Very  truly,  R.  A.  Morgan. 

Sarahsville.  Ohio,  March  12. 1890. 
Sirs: — The  smoker  1  have  has  done  good  servicf 
since  1883.       Yours  truly,       Daniel  Brothers 

Send  for  descriptive  circular  and  testimonials  tr 

vtfdb  BiNQHAU  &  HsTHEBiiTaTOiT,  Abronia,  Mich. 

lyin  respondlnjr  to  tills  axiveifisement  mention  r;i.KAMM;s 


Pure  Italian  queens  in  June  and  alter,  one  untest- 
I'd,  80c;  Vi  dozen,  M. 50.  Tested  queens,  $1..50  each. 
Guarantee  safe  arrival.  Address  lOd 

D.  E.  ALDEEMAN,  CLINTON,  SAMPSON  CO.,  N.  C. 

SECTIONS. 

Snow-white  Sections, 

Cream  Sections, 

No.  2  Sections. 

Finest  goods  madt\ 

We  have  a  large  stock  on  hand, 

and  can  fill  small  and  large 

orders  promptly. 

a.  B.  LE\VIS  CO., 
atfdb  ^Vate^to\vn,  Wis. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

ITALIAN     QUEENS, 

Untested,  85  cents.  Tested,  $1.25.  Special  terms 
for  large  orders. 

H.  FITX  HART, 
6tfdb  Avery,  Iberia  Parish,  La. 

tS"Please  mention  Glkanings. 


Dovetailed  Hives,  Simplicity  Hives, 

SECT/ONS,  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGE    CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


OPRAf  YOUR  FRUIT  TREES  I  VINES 

Wormy  Fruit  and  Leaf  Blight  of  Apples,  Pears,  Cherries,  CVOCI  CinP  3PRAVINO 
Gr  ipe  and  Potato  Rot,  Plum  Curculia  prevented  by  using  CAULLOIUII    OUTFITS. 


5 


PERPi^CT  FRUIT  ALWAYS  SELLS  AT  COOD  PRICES. Catelopneshow- 
ing  all  iniurious  insects  to  Fruits  mailed  free.  I^arse  Ntock  of  Fruit  Trees,  Vines, 
and  Berry  IManls  at  Bottom  Prices.      Address  WiU.  STAULi,  Quincs,  Ills. 


ROOTS  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST, 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

BCdr    In    IVIind  that  we  have  established  at  Syracuse  an  EBStCm    BrdnCll 

where  our  Bee-keepers' Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and   prompt  shipment.     You  can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.    We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.     He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.  SALISBURY,   Agent,   Syracuse,   N.  Y. 


l-^Oi 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


TESTED  ITALIAN  QUEENS,  80c  i 


443 

N  JULV  AN»  AieuST. 

II  .Iiiiic,  tl.Odciicli.  Misinatfd 
(jiii'fiis.  411  mil  s. 

J.C.WHEELER   PLANO,  ILL. 


B 


Yellow,  Extra,  Excellent 


BEE-HllfES, 


t'orsalc  in  .hiiic  L  Intcstoil.  i>I  L  Niirlcus  witli  V 
:il   Clieiia  MK-o  r  Onicr   early  ["  (,)ui'fii.  $2.00.  |J 
Valley    .Apiary  **Si"ii(l  foi  list  *■  I)  m'l  pass  by  " 
.Mks.  Oi.ivek  C'di.k,  Sherlninie,  Clienaiifro  Co.,  N.  Y. 

9tfilb  Ploaf-e  mention  this  paper. 

Dovetailed  or  Otherwise. 

Fa       All  Kinds  of  Bee  Supplies. 
Write  for  free  eatalofriie.       W.  H.  PUTNAM, 
?-l3di)  River  Fails,  Pierce  Co.,  Wis. 

'^"In  respondini?  to  tliis  luivi-rti^eimMt  ini'iitiuii  (ii.KAXJXGS. 

4   BIN  OK  D  IT  A  LI  A  IN  !««*>.    Tested.  $1.00; 
rntested,  60c;  Selected  tested,  $1.2.5;    one  2- 
frauie  iiueleus,  tested  queen,  $2.00;  untested, 
H.M.     Safe  arrival  Kuaianteed. 
S-V2db       S  rEU'AUT  BK<»»i.,  !>«|>arta,  Teiiu. 

LEATHER-COLORED  ITALIAN 

QUEENS, 

One  untested,  f  1.00;  sl.x,  $5.50;  twelve,  $10.00;  one 
tested,  $1.50;  six,  $8.00:  twelve,  $15.00;  selected  for 
breeding  early,  eacli,  $2..50;  one  yeai-  old  tested,  in 
June  only.  $1.25;  six,  $1.00;  twelve,  $13  00.  Two-j'ear- 
old  queens,  eaoli.  50c.  Descriptive  catalogue  mailed 
free  on  application. 

^'^"^      A.  E.  Manum.  Bristol.  Vt. 

lyinrespoiiuiiin  lu  tliis  advettiseiiient  mention  GLEAKmas. 

I  00  NOT  ADVERTISE 

a  specialty,  but  every  thing-  found  in  aim  Ait  v.  Bees- 

waxwanted.  €.  E.  LIKENS. 

6-7d  19N.  2d  St.,  a'liiladelphia.  Pa. 

cyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  (Jleaninos. 


GLOBE  BEE- VEIL 

By  Mail  for  $1.00. 

A  cpntor  rivet  holds  5  spring-steel 
,  cress-bars  like  a  globe  to  support  the 
bobinetVeil.  These  button  to  a  neat 
brass  necli-band,  holding  it  firmly. 

It !  s  easily  put  together ;  no  trouble 
to  jnit  on,  or  take  off.  An  absolute 
I'-  lection  against  any  insect  that 
t:  1  ^.  Will  go  over  any  ordinary 
-  /e,i  hat;  can  be  worn  in  bed  with- 
out discomfort;  fits  any  head;  does  not  obstruct  the 
vision;  folds  conjpacily,  and  can  be  carried  in  the 
pocket:  in  short,  it  is  invaluable  to  any  one  whom 
flies  bother,  mosquitos  bite,  or  bees  sting. 

Extra  IVets,  50  Cents  Eai-li. 
TIIOMXS  a.  2>^n\\M\X  .V-  .SO.V. 

lUO  I^mtdalith  St.,  Chlcit^o,  111: 

Bee  -  Keepers'  *  Supplies. 

We  are  prepared  t<j  furnisli  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladly 
furnished,  and  correspondence  solicited.  Our  g-oods 
are  all  flrst-elass  in  quality  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
aliigae  sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling-,  111.    Address  l-24db 

WM.  IWcCUNE  A  CO., 

Sterlin<;,  ■llinoiH. 

^^n  respondini,' !•■  I'  I  ■  ii.i' ,  .-1  ,  ,, m-nilon  Uleanings 

Wholesale  and  Retail  manufacturer 

andDealerin       BEE-KEEPERS'    SUPPLIES. 
ONE-PIECE  SECTIONS  A  SPECIALTY, 

AS  GOOD  AS  THE  BEST. 
Send  for  catalogue.  W.  E.  SMITH, 

otfdb  Succm'iintd  Smith  &  Smith, 

Kenton.  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio. 

In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 


'IKLLjoii  what.. Jones,  Levering 

-    Brow,  sell  the  best  goods  and  at 

\     the   lowest    price  of  any  one   I've 

^   struck  yet.    The  l:irgest   and    b«St 

'  equipped 

Bee  -  Hive  Factory 

intlieWest.  The  Dovetailed  Hive 
and  New  Hottnian  self  -  spa:;mg 
Frame  a  specialty.  Every  thing 
used  by  practical  bee-keepers  at 
wlidlesale  and  retail.  Send  for  their 
Irrc  lihistrated  Price  List,  and 
sa\f  tnoney.  Supply  Dealers,  send 
fill-  their  Wholesale  List.    Address 

I-EVERIira    BROS., 
6-15db  VTio-ba,  Cass  Co.,  lo-wp-a. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


BEE-HIVES,   SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  tlie  best  goods  and  sell  Ihem  clieap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry iu  the  world. 

Our  goods  are  known  as  the  best  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS  &  CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

i^ln  re.-.pi^Hilliiy  I"  uui,  iulvt-i  li>eir]i  i.i    riiij.i  j..ri  i^lkanimgs. 

BF  YOU  WANT  BEEy 

That  will  just  "roll"  in  the  lionev,  try  Moore's 
Strain  of  Italian!*,  the  result  of  i:j  years'  careful 
breeding.  Prices  in  June:  Warranted  queens,  $1.00 
each;  3  for  $3..50.  Strong  3frame  nucleus,  with 
warranted  queen,  $.3.00.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed.  Those  who  have  never  dealt  with 
me  I  refer  to  A.  I.  Root,  who  has  purchased  of  me, 
during  past  12  years,  .582  queens.  Circulars  free. 
J.  P.  ITIOORE,  Moraan,  Pendleton,  Co.,  Ky. 
ll-12d        Money-order  oflQce,  Falmouth,  Ky. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

0^^i.S^__  at  $3  per    lOOO.    These  are 

OSCllOnS  perfectly  smooth,  and  first-class. 
Brood  foundation  45  cts.  per  lb. 
All  supplies   eqi;ally    low.    Goods   shipped   direct 
from  New  V'ork  citv.  l-18dt 

I.  J.  StRINCHAM, 

92  Barclay  St.,  N.  Y. 

C-!^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  QLEAinNG& 

Hastings'  Lightning  Bee-Escape. 


Send  for  sample  of  Hastings' "  Lightniug "  Bee 
Escape,  and  you  will  be  convinced  that  it  is  the 
best  and  most  practical  escape  yet  produced.  It 
will  clear  the  supers  in  a  short  space  of  time  (2  to  4 
hours),  and  it  is  impossible  for  the  bees  to  clog  the 
passage,  as  tliey  can  not  return.  Each  escape  guar- 
anteed as  represented.  Price,  by  mail,  each,  $0.20; 
by  mail,  per  (loz,.  $3.25.  Full  diiections  with  each 
escape.  Elect  rot  >- pes  furnished  free  for  dealers' 
catalogues.     Write  for  di.scount.  7-12db 

M.  E.  HASTINGS,  New  York  Mills,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Please  mention  this  paper 

Italian  Bees  and  Queens  For  Sale. 

Unte,sted  queens,  $1.00;  tested,  $1..50.  Bees,  $1.00 
per  lb.  Colony,  $5.00.  Also  barred  Plymouth  Rock 
eggs  for  sitting,  $1.00  per  13. 

T-16db  MRS.  A.  A.  SIMPSON,  Swarts,  Pa. 


444 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Alfalfa,  Time  to  Cut i65 

Artesian  Well 470 

Bees  of  India 449 

Bottom-bars.  Doolittle  on..4ri0 

Cases,  Surplus 4ol 

Combs,  Empty 458 

Covers,  Sealed 465 

f  (titivating  for  Health 468 
ebts,  Repudiating 473 

Drones  and  Queens 452 

Drones  Congregating 45i> 

Electricity  for  Wiring..   ..  467 

Food  for  Out-apiary 4.iS 

Foul  Brood,  Spontaneous.  453 
Grading— A  Compromise. .  .4-54 

Hartlib  on  Honey 448 

Hiver,  Dibble 4.w 


Iron,  Galvanized 464 

Labor,  To  Lessen 4.')7 

Langstroth  in  Medina 476 

Lettuce 471 

Mindelson. M.  H i&> 

Milk  and  Honey 448 

Patents  and  Gleanings 4,53 

Pure-food  Bill 453 

Ramblei'  at  Mendelson's 461 

Sealed  Covers 451 

Self-hivei-s 459 

Soui-gum  Tree 457 

Swarms,  To  Make  Cluster.  .461 

Swarmer,  Pratt 4.59 

Swarming  Controlled  460 

Tupelo,  or  Sour-gum  Tree  .4.57 
Wewahitehka  Apiaries 456 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 

The  Carolina    Bee-keepers'  Association  will    meet    at    the 
Court-house  in  Charlotte,  N.  C,  July  21.         A.  L.  Beach,  Sec. 
Steel  Creek,  N.  C. 


Specml  Notices. 


We  have  just  been  advised  of  tlie  sliipment  of 
another  importation  of  queens,  which  are  now 
on  the  way,  and  we  expect  them  to  be  here  now 
within  two  or  three  days,  or,  perhaps,  by  tlie 
time  this  journal  reaches  its  readers.  These  queens 
are  all  young  and  select.  The  price,  during- June, 
will  be  $6.00;  next  montli,  $.5.00  for  the  best.  For 
the  second  grade,  if  there  are  any,  $5.00  and  $4.00 
respectively. 

MASON  JARS  ADVANCING. 

We  can  not  receive  any  more  orders  for  Mason 
jars  at  the  prices  in  last  number  of  Gleanings,  as 
the  market  is  active  and  prices  advancing.  For  the 
next  two  weeks  we  venture  to  quote  the  following 
prices;  but  we  can  not  guarantee  these  prices: 
1-pint  Mason  jars,  per  box  of  8  doz.,  $6.00;  1-quart 
Mason  jars,  per  box  of  8  doz.,  $6.40;  2-quart  Mason 
jars,  per  box  of  6  doz.,  $6.25;  f .  o.  b.  Pittsburg,  Pa. 


L.AWN-MOWEKS. 

Now  is  the  time  for  trimming  the  hiwns  and  bee- 
yards  to  make  them  neat  and  attractive.  You  can 
not  do  this  successfully  wit  liout  a  good  lawn-mower. 
We  are  prepared  to  supply  you  with  one  of  tlie  best 
mowers  on  the  market  at  piices  lower  than  former 
years.  We  sell  the  Globe  in  five  sizes,  ;is  follows: 
10  in.,  $4.65;  13  in.,  $5.00;  14in.,  $5.a5;  16  in.,  $5.65;  18 
in.,  $6.00.  We  have  also  tlie  Young  America,  a  sin- 
gle driver,  in  two  sizes,  as  follows:  10  in.,  only  $3..50; 
12  in.,  $4.20.  In  lots  of  2  at  a  time,  3  per  cent  off;  3 
together,  5  per  cent  off;  5  or  more  in  one  order,  10 
per  cent  off.  The  quantity  may  be  made  up  of  as- 
sorted sizes,  and  both  kinds  if  desired. 


business  at  this   DATE. 

The  long-continued  wet  weather  has  had  a  very 
depressing  effect  on  bee-keepers  in  all  tlic  regions 
affected.  Reports  of  many  losses  of  bees  iiave  been 
received,  chiehy  from  spring  dwindling;  and  many 
of  tliose  remaining  are  In  poor  condition  for  a 
honey-flow,  of  wlilch  we  have  a  pretty  good  pros- 
pect if  the  pre.sent  fair  weather  continues.  Owing 
to  the  many  losses,  and  gloomy  outlook,  tlie  trade 
in  supplies  has  fallen  off  very  materially:  and 
whereas,  two  years  ago  we  were  running  night  and 
day  trying  to  get  orders  filled,  we  now  have  time  on 
our  liands,  and  can  serve  you  the  same  day  your  or- 
der comes.  If  you  get  in  a  pinch,  and  want  some- 
thing in  a  hurry,  don't  be  deterred  from  ordering 
because  you  tliink  there  is  a  possibility  of  delay  in 
filling  your  order  now;  but  remember,  we  are  only 
waiting  an  opportunity  to  serve  you. 


JAPANESE   BUCKWHEAT   ADVANCED. 

rOur  stock  of  nearly  200  bushels  of  Japiinese  buck- 
wheat was  gone  liythe  10th;  and  to  meet  the  de- 
mand we  have  been  obliged  to  order  over  100  bushels 
already  from  New  York,  at  a  cost  of  $1.00  per  busliel 
there,  and  2Ui- each  extra  for  bags.  Of  coui-se,  we 
can  not  afford  to  pay  this  price  and  sell  it  at  the 
price  quoted  in  our  catalogue.  Since  June  Kith 
we  have  been  charging  on  all  orders  tlie  following 
price,  wliich    barely  covers  cost:    1  peck,  40c;    Vi 


bushel,  75c:  1  bu.shel,  $1.25;  2  bu.shels,  $2.40;  10 
bushels,  fll.50.  If  any  of  our  readers  have  any 
Japanese  buckwheat  seed  for  sale,  or  know  of  any 
in  their  vicinity  that  they  can  guarantee  to  be  good 
seed,  true  to  name,  write  at  once  when  you  see  this, 
stating  the  number  of  bushels  (50  lbs.  to'the  bushel), 
and  send  us  a  sample  in  the  same  mail.  The  chances 
are  that  we  can  give  you  orders  for  it  by  return 
mail.  If  the  quality  is  not  equal  to  that  we  get 
from  New  York,  of  course  we  could  not  paj-  the 
same  price.  If  you  wish  to  set  a  price  you  will  take, 
name  it  in  your  letter  to  us,  advising  us  of  the 
amount  you  have  to  sell.  There  is  at  least  a  month 
yet  when  tlie  seed  can  be  sown  and  mature  ripe  seed 
before  frost;  and,  owing  to  the  late  planting  time 
for  other  crops,  there  will  be  a  good  demand  for 
buckwheat.  

NEW  HONEY-JARS. 

We  have  added  to  our 
stock  of  glass  jars  for  ex- 
tracted lioney  the  one 
sliown  adjoining.  It  is 
straight  up  and  down,  with 
a  tin  screw  top,  witli  open- 
ing in  the  top  nearly  the 
full  size  of  jar,  making  it 
easy  to  take  out  candied 
honey.  The  top  edge  is 
ground  so  that  they  can  jje 
sealed  with  a  rubber  band 
if  desired.  Tliere  are  six 
sizes  made,  but  we  keep 
only  two— No.  200,  holding 
1  lb.  of  honey,  as  shown, 
and  No.  500,  same  diameter, 
twice  as  long,  holding  2  lbs. 
Prices,  without  rubber 
rings,  will  be  as  follows: 
No.  200,  holding  Mb.,  7c 
-.,«^,.,„..«d« —  each;  60c  for  10;  $7.00  per 

bbl.  of  12  doz.  No.  SCO,  holding  2  lbs.,  12c  each ;  $1.00 
for  10;  $6.-50  per  bbl.  of  7  doz. 

There  are  two  sizes  smaller,  and  two  between, 
which  we  can  furnish  direct  from  Pittsburg  at  pro- 
portionate prices  if  any  desire  them.  Either  of 
above  sizes  can  be  furnished  from  here,  or  in  bar- 
rel lots  from  Pittsburg. 


SECOND-HAND  MACHINERY. 

During  the  past  few  months  we  have  bought  up 
several  outfits  of  machinery  for  making  bee-keep- 
ers' supplies;  and  if  any  of  our  readers  or  their 
friends  contemplate  putting  in  machinery  we  are 
preparcil  to  tit  you  out  from  cellar  to  garret  with 
eveiytliing  you  need  in  engines,  boilers,  machinery, 
.shafting,  pulleys,  hangers,  belting,  saws,  etc.  Tlie 
following  is  a  partial  list  of  the  second-hand  ma- 
chinery we  have  to  sell,  if  you  desire  further  par- 
ticulars we  shall  be  pleased  to  liear  from  you. 

One  3U-H.  P.  Fishkill  horizontal  engine,  rebuilt, 
and  as  good  as  new;  would  cost  new,  $400;  will  sell 
for  f 200. 

One  5-H.  P.  horizontal  engine  and  boiler,  with  en- 
gine mounted  on  boiler,  in  good  running  order. 
Price  $1.50. 

One  24-inch  two-roll  Fay  sandpaper  machine,  near- 
ly new.    Price,  new,  $450;  will  sell  for  $175. 

One  9-inch  cigar-box  planer,  n(>aily  new;  has  been 
used  very  little.    Price,  new,  #t;5;  will  sell  for  f40. 

One  V-groove  section  machine,  nearly  new.  Tliis 
is  our  make,  old  style,  with  screw-feed;  sold  some 
years  agt)  for  $75;  will  sell  now  for  $40. 

One  cutter-heatl,  witli  table  complete,  for  cutting 
entrances  to  sections.  Old  style,  but  nearly  new, 
and  in  good  repair.  Price,  new,  $26,00;  will  sell  for 
$15.00. 

One  iron-frame  hand-jointer;  well  worth  $25;  will 
sell  for  $15. 

One  double-head  tenoning-machine,  especially  ar- 
ranged for  making  the  coinbined  rabbet  and  miter 
joint  of  the  Simplicity  hive,  liut  can  be  used  for 
making  sash  and  window-screen  frames,  etc.  We 
could  not  build  such  a  machine,  and  sell  it  for  less 
than  $1.50;  we  will  sell  this  for  $60. 

One  iron-planer,  16x36-inch  bed,  automatic  revers 
ing  device  to  run  back  and  forth.  It  cost  us,  second- 
hand, several  years  ago,  $150;  is  about  as  good  now 
as  then,  but  we  had  to  have  a  larger  size.  We  offer 
this  for  $.50. 

Two  extra  large  saw-tables  for  general  use,  to  cut 
off  or  rip,  with  counter-shaft  attached  to  frame; 
worth  new,  $50  each;  will  sell  for  $20  each. 


189'J 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


445 


Two  foui'-piivo  sootioi)-m:n'liiiu\s.  as  g-ood  as  iu>w. 
Tlu'V  cost  iii'w,  #85  »';u"h;  wo  will  sell  tlicni  for  $30 
taofi. 

:   Also  a  larjro  lot   of     slmfliiiK,   pulloys.  haiifrors, 
iH'lUnjr.  and  saws.  loo  luinii'i-ous  to  mention  here. 


MURDER  YOURSELF 

No  lonjjci-.  but  t  ry  sonir  of  Ihcse  ti'ajis. 
One  of  ciilier  kind,  as  ilhisi rated  in  (_ii,KANiN(iS, 

hv  mail 60 

One  of  each  kind,  by  mail 100 

Oiie-lialf  dozen,  eitlier  kind,  by  expi'ess 2  75 

One  dozen,  eillier  kind.  b\  expn'ss        5  00 

Money-order  oflic-c.    Middleburjrii.   N.    Y.      Refer- 
ence. Middlebiu'^rli  National  IJank. 

W.  DIBBLE, 

MiDOUEBURGH,   SCHO.  Co.,  N.  Y. 
C^lii  rfsiMiniliinr  to  liii'^  iuImi  1 1  ciinri     ii»-iiniii<  or  kam^-   ■ 


Biiii;liam's  Perfect  Safety 

SMOKER. 

l'at.lS78;  Re-issued  1882.  Pat.  1892 


No  more  soiled  sections,  burned 
fingers,  or  burned  Apiary.  Any 
larKe  advertiser  of  Bingham  Smo- 
lders will  send  you  a  Perfect  Doc- 
tor. Perfect  Conqueror,  or  Perfect 
l.arfic  Smoker,  if  ynu  will  send  to 
him  2">  cts.  more  than  the  regular 
mail  prirc.  and  ask  for  either  Ol 
the  three  sizes  mentioned. 

Bingham  &  Hethering'ton,  Abronia,  Slicli- 


|^"ln  respondinir  to  tlii 


^(i^elnollt  mention  Gleanings. 


HAVKS'  i:tiproved 

FOUNDATION    FASTENER. 

CASTENS  Full  Sheets  or  Starters.— Instruc- 
'  lions  Sent  out  with  everj-  machine.  Satisfaction 
jruaranteed.  Price,  without  lamp.  $1.75;  with  lamp, 
S2.00.  Manufactured  by  permission.  See  illustra- 
tion in  Gi,EAXiNf;s  for  April  1st.  1891.  page  268. 
12d  E   J.  \Vfi:AKIi\  ,  U'a«Iiiii;|rton,  Kan. 

Cyin  responding  to  this  ativrrtiM-nitiit  meiitmn  (tI.kaningm 

OK  PURE  TESTED  Vounj?  Italian  Queens,  80c 
^^   each;  *9.tiU  I'er  (loz.  A.  B.  Man, 

12d  Wallaceburg-,  Ark. 

WANT  TO    Rl  I Y  100  lbs.  of  bees,  and  100  queens. 
If  nil  I     lU    UU  I       Bee-men,  give  prices.       12d 
J.  B.  MuRHAY.  Ada,  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio. 

5pnrQ     will  pet  a  sample  cage  of  my  .T-banded 
VXkJ.       bees;  1  untested  3-banded.6;Jc;  six   for 
J3.00;  1  .5-lmnded.  :.')(•;    six  for  :S4.2.5.     Full  colonies, 
nuclei,  and  supplies  clieap;  calalog-ue  free. 
12tfdb         CHAS.  H.  THIES,  Sleeleville,  111. 
please  mention  tliis  paper. 

on  STANDS  OF  ITALIAN  BEES  for  sale, 
'^^  in  new  L.  l]i\-es.  (jn  wired  frani(>s,  foundation 
pressed  on.  t,»ueens  of  1891;  some  are  Doolittle's 
strain.  Bees  are  very  strong-.  Price  #.5  00;  bees  must 
be  .sold.  Address,  Api.vkist, 

12d  Browntowti,  Green  Co.,  Wis. 


A  Four-Color   Label  for  Only  75 
Cts.  Per  Thousand. 

Just  think  of  itl  we  can  furnish  you  a  very  neat 
four-color  label,  with  your  name  and  address,  with 
the  choice  of  having  either  "ci;mb"  or  "extracted  " 
before  the  word  "honey."  for  only  75  cts.  per  thou- 
sand ;  60  cts.  per  .".iX),  (jr  30  cts.  for  250,  postpaid.  The 
size  of  the  label  is  2)^x1  inch— just  right  t<3  go  round 
the  neck  of  a  bottle,  to  put  on  a  section,  or  to  adorn 
the  front  of  a  honey-tumbler.  Send  for  our  special 
label  catalogue  for  samples  of  this  and  many  other 
pretty  desig-ns  in  label  work. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  jnedlna,  O. 


HoNEr  Column. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

St.  Louis.— Hoiuy.— At  present  there  is  not  any 
demand  for  honey  to  speiik  (»f.  Choice  wliiteclover, 
nominal,  15;  good,  12;/j@];i;  buckwheat  and  wild 
flower,  l(l@ll;  dark  and  broken,  5(5!6;  extracted, 
white-clover,  5'A(5i6X;  southern,  ii^fiJ)}^.  Betsicdx, 
prime,  26.  W.  B.  \Vkst( ott, 

June  10.  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Mi.nneapolis.—Hojicj/.— Market  is  quite  active. 
Fancy  white  selling-  at  16@17;  dark  honey  13@14. 
Strained  honey  slow  at  7.        J.  A.  Shea  &  Co., 

J  une  11.    14  &  16  Hennepin  Ave.,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 


Kansas  City.— Hotjey.— We  quote:  1-lb.,  No.  1, 
white,  1-lb.  comb,  10@]2;  No.  2,  8@10;  No.  1  amber, 
8@10.  Extracted,  white.  6'/2@7;  amber,  .5@6.  Comb 
honey  will  have  to  .sell  faster  to  get  out  of  the  -w-ay 
of  the  new  crop.    Beeswax,  22@25. 

CleiMons,  Mason  &  Co., 

June  10.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

New  York.  —  Honey.  —  Comb  -  honey  market  is 
about  at  a  standstill,  little  or  no  demand.  There  is 
a  small  demand  for  extracted,  selling-  at  65@75  per 
gal.  for  Southern ;  6;4@7  for  clover  and  basswood; 
buckwheat,  ti@bH-  Beeswax.  Southern  is  coming  in 
now,  making  the  market  a  little  easier,  quoting- 
25@27,  with  a  small  advance  for  e.xtra  selected. 

June  9.  Chas.  Isiiael  &  Bro., 

110  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


At^bany.— Honey.— As  reported  in  last  issue,  we 
closed  out  all  of  our  stock  of  comb  honey;  but  some 
other  dealers,  unable  to  sell  theirs,  have  turned 
over  their  remaining  stock  to  us;  but  it  is  selling 
very  .slow,  and  prices  are  nominal.  Extracted,  in 
moderate  demand,  at  6@8.  Beiswax,  more  plentiful, 
and  price  lower,  2-t(si35. 

Chas.  McCulloch  &  Co., 

June  9. Albany,  N.  Y. 

Cincinnati.—  Honey.—  Demand  is  good  for  ex- 
tracted honey,  and  very  .slow  for  comb.  Extracted 
brings  5@.8  on  arrival,  while  prices  of  comb  honey 
are  nominal  at  11@15  for  best  white  in  a  jobbing 
way.  Beeswax,  in  fair  demand  at  25@27  for  good  to 
choice  yellow  on  arrival.    Chas.  F.  Muth  &  Son, 

June  «. Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

St.  Louis.— Houey.— No  changes  to  note.  Receipts 
light;  demand  fair.    Beeswax,  prime,  26. 
June  10.                               D.  G.  Tutt  Gro.  Co., 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Detroit.— Honey.— Very  little  honey  to  quote. 
No  first  class.  Market  will  be  awaiting  new  crop 
Extracted,  7@S.  Beeswax,  26(§*27. 

June  8.  M.  H.  Hunt, 

Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

Chicago.— Ho?ify.— Selling  slowly,  trade  being  in 
strawberries  and  other  small  fiuit.  There  is  not  any 
fine    comb  on  the  market;  It  would  bring  15@16. 
Extracted,  6(g>7@8,  according  to  quality. 
Beeswax,  27.  R.  A.  Burnett, 

June  9.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111. 

Portland.— Honey.— Comb,  Mb.  fancy,  17X;  1-lb. 
choice,  15@r6;  extracted,  white,  7^.  Beeswax,  none 
here.  Levy,  Spiegl  &  Co., 

May  28.  Portland,  Or. 

Kansas  City.— Honey.- All  the  old  honey  cleared 
up;  look  for  the  new  crop  the  first  of  July. 
June  10.  H.\.MBLIN  &  Bearss, 

514  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


San  Francisco.— Honey.— Comb  ea-sy,  but  choice 
stock  not  plentiful.  Extracted  in  fair  demand, 
and  rather  scarce.    Beeswax,  quiet  but  scarce. 

June  9.  Schacht,  Lem(  ke  &  Steiner, 

San  Francisco,  Cal. 

Boston.— Honey.— We  quote  you  our  market  on 
1-lb.  white  honey,  13(§>14.  Extracted,  7@8;  demand 
very  light.    Beeswax,  none. 

June  9.  Blake  &  Ripley, 

Boston,  Mass. 


446 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


JrsE  15. 


I  The  Bee-^ 


REVIEW 


poP  1892  and  a  pine,  Voung,  liaying  €) 

«  Keeoetts'    II  Li  ¥  I  Li  II     "''"""  QUEEN  *ot.  $1.50.    The  | 

(J    jr\««p«X  »       l.Vl^  A  XX^  XX       i^eviem    fllone,    $1.00.       The   Queen  g 

0  Hlone,  75  Cts.     pof  $1.75,  the  J^evietu,  the  Queen,  and  the  50  et.  Book,  C 
2    "  Advanced  Bee  Cultune,"  ixtill  be  sent.  W.  Z.  Hutehinson,  piint,  JWieh.  f) 

1  ® 

P.  S.— If  not  acquainted  with  the  Review,  send  ten  cents  for  three  late  but  different  issues. 


DR.  J.  W.CRENSHAW, 

Versailles,      -      Kentucky, 

Offers  for  Sale 

Uutested  Italian  Queens  at  $1.00  eacli  tlu-oug-h  May 
and  June;  after,  75c  eacii.    Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed.   Queens  raised  only  from  Imported 
mother.    Drones  only  from  selected 
and  tested  moth  ere. 
Also  CELERY  PLANTS  from  July  to  September,  at 

$2.01)  per  M.  7-18db 

|7*ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANlNoa. 

~  OATMAN'S 

SOLDEEING  AND  EEPAIE  EIT 

Ct-Hisists  of  fire-pot.  solder- 
ing-irons, solder,  and  solder- 
ing-fluid,  with  tools  compl'te 


hown  in  cut.  with  direc- 
tions for  soldering  diflfei-ent 
metals,  and  how  to  keep  your 
soldering-irons  in  shape. 
Whole  kit,  boxed,  12  lbs. 
Shipped  on  receipt  of  $2  00. 
Agents  wanted. 

O.  &  L.  OATMAN, 
87db        Medina,  Ohio, 
^"in  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings, 

YOUNG    QUEENS    READY 

to  mail  to  a^^•  one,  aiiywliere  at  anytime,  in  the 
U.  S.  or  Canada.  ITALI-A^XS.  untested.  fl.OO;  3, 
$2.75;  6,  «5.00;  per  dozen,  $9.00.  Tested,  reared  last 
season,  $2.00;  3  for  $5.00.  Two-frame  nucleus,  with 
any  queen,  $1.35  extra.  Safe  arrival  guaranteed. 
Send  for  circular  of  Dovetailed  Hives,  Smokers, 
Foundation,  Drone»i,  etc.  Money  -  order  office, 
Clifton.  COLWICK  &.  COLWICK,  NORSE,  TEX. 

^^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

■^  ^V  CENTS  WILL  BUY  A  GOOD  2 -STORY 
la^B  1  L.  Hive.  SI.  00  Will  Buy  100  L. 
|^#^^  Brood  Frames,  f  1.00  Will  Buy  a  Nice 
Golden  Italian  Queen.  Please  Write 
for  our  Circular  Before  you  Buy  your  Supplies. 

W.  H.  BRIGHT,  Mazeppa,  Minn. 

7-12db  Please  mention  this  paper. 


RETAIL 


m  SUPPLIES  WHO..S.... 
Every  tiling  used  in  the  Apiary. 
Greatest  variety  and  largest  stock 
in  the  West.  New  catalog,  54  illustrated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  EEETOHMEE,  EED  OAE,  IOWA. 

In  writing  advertisers  plesise  mention  this  paper. 

ItADilini  III       BSSS     AND       Q,USE!NS. 
llAnlllULAIl  Tliey  beat  tliem  all.    Never 

have  dysantery.    All  queens  reared  from   select  im- 
ported'motliers.    Untested,  50c;  13  for  $5.00.  Tested, 
81.00;  12  for  $10.00.    Select  te.sted,  $1..50.    Descriptive 
circular  free.    A.  L.  IjINDIiEY,  Jordan,  Ind. 
8-13db 


P 


UEENS  FREE! 


«#  IF  YOU  WANT  GOLD.  «# 

Send  for  one  of  my  golden  Italian  queens,  raised 
from  the  best  5-banded  stock,  that  has  been  award- 
ed First  Premium  at  tlie  Detroit  Exposition 
the  last  two  years.  Untested  queens,  $1.00  each; 
6  for  $5.00.  Tested  queens,  $3.00  each.  Breeding 
queens,  $5.00  each. 

ELMER    HUTCHINSON, 
lltfd  Vassar,  Tuscola  Co.,  Michigan. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

Italians,  untest- 
ed, 75  cts.  War- 
ranted,  $1.00. 
Tested,  $1.35.  One  Cliolce  Breeder  Given 
Away  with  each  dozen.  Five-Bauded 
Golden  Queens,  »1  to$.?.  Write  for  low- 
er prices.  Satisfaction  guaranteed.  lOtfdb 
F.  u.  MORROW^,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

JENNIE   ATCHLEY 

Will  send  you  either  three  or  five  banded  Italian 
queens  in  June,  July,  and  August,  7yc  each;  $4.30 
for  6,  or  $8.0  J  per  doz.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed. 

Itfdb  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

BEE  SUPPLIES 
and  all  kinds  of 
Berry  -  pack- 
ages, boxes 
and  baskets. 
We  make  a  spe- 
cialty of  one- 
piece  sections, 
and  wot)d  sepa- 
rators. Address 

BERLIN 
FRUIT  BOX 

CO., 

Berlin  Heights 

Erie  Co., 

Ohio. 

Please  mention  this  paper 

75c.    Golden  Queens  by  Return  Mail.    75c. 

My  Golden  Italians  are  good  vyoikers.  and  gentle. 
Queens  are  carefully  bred  from  best  stock.  Three 
queens,  $3.00;  six  for  $3..50;  dozen,  $6.00.  Safe  arriv- 
al and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  Money  order  office, 
Daytona,  Fla.  JOHN  B.  CASE. 

lltfdb  Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 


One  of  our  5-banded  red-clover  queens?    100  lbs.  of 

clover  honev  in  poor  seasons.    Send  for  descriptive 

circular  free.  LEININGER  BROS.,  _ 

7ttdb  Ft.  Jennings.  Ohio." 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 


We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  adoz- 
an,  you  do  not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  within  90 
davs  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with  full  direc- 
tions, 30c;  per  dozen,  $3.35.  Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 

lOtfdb    R.  di  E.  C.  PORTER,  LEWISTOWN,  ILL. 


0"ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glk 


^Journal- 

•  DELVoT 

•To-B . 

•andHoNEV- 
•MDHOMEL 


iiiHEOBY^^l-rfooT- 


Vol.  XX. 


JUNE  15,  1892. 


No.  12. 


STRjir  Straws 

FROM      DR.    C.    C.    MILLER. 

Oh  for  some  weather! 

The  tops  of  hills  around  Marengo  are  all 
swampy  nowadays. 

I  once  tried  a  quill  covered  with  tallow. 
The  bees  gnawed  it  all  the  same. 

119  bee-keepers'  societies  this  side  the 
water,  as  shown  by  an  interesting  list  in  ^4.  B.J. 

A  self-hiver  has  been  invented  in  England 
by  J.  M.  Hooker.  It  works  something  like  the 
Dibbern. 

I  SECOND  THE  MOTION  to  have  the  N.  A.  A. 
incorporated  in  Canada.  The  old  incorporation 
can  be  sandpapered  off. 

The  editor  suggests  that  I  buy  a  pair  of 
2.5-cent  specs.  ^Yonderifhe  thinks  I'm  a  mil- 
lionaire: 10-cent  specs  are  all  I  can  afford. 

Doolittle  says  {A.  B.  J.),  "  Don't  give  a 
newly  hived  swarm  more  than  4  or  5  empty 
combs  at  first,  if  you  want  them  to  work  on 
sections." 

I'm  trying  a  pile  of  Miller  feeders  off  the 
hives.  Bees  work  on  them  wet  days  (and  that's 
pretty  nearly  all  the  days)  when  they  can't  do 
any  thing  on  fruit  bloom. 

The  laziest  feeding  I  have  ever  known 
has  been  this  spring.  Feeders  that  ought  to 
have  been  emptied  in  24  hours  have  stayed  on 
the  hives  for  three  weeks. 

Don't  forget  that  you  can  keep  the  chick- 
ens off  the  flower-beds  by  putting  around  them 
poultry  netting  only  two  feet  high.  Hens  can 
fly  over  it.  but  they  never  do. 

For  some  of  us  it  will  be  a  comfort  to  read 
the  report  of  losses  of  twenty  bee-keepers  given 
by  Benj.  E.  Rice,  in  A.  B.  J.  The  losses  range 
from  25  to  KKJ  per  cent,  the  average  b(!ing  '*{). 

After  reading  Prof.  Cook's  words  on  pages 
404  and  429,  all  that  saved  him  from  having  his 
right  hand  shaken  nearly  to  pieces  was  that  I 
couldn't  reach  all  the  way  from  here  to  Michi- 
gan. 

Now  look  here.  A.  I.  Root  must  be  stopped 
from  writing  so  nuich  about  gardening  or  we'll 
all  get  the  gardening  fever  and  give  up  keep- 
ing b<'es.  I  iust,  ache  to  get  at  some  of  the 
things  he  tells  about. 

Emma  HAS  seen  a  number  of  laying  queens 
go  through  excluders.  I  asked  her  whether 
the  thorax  or  the  abdomen  seemed  to  hinder 
them  most  about  going  through.  "  Well."  she 
replied.  •■  they  kept  trying  and  trying:  and 
when  they  did  go  through  they  went  so  quick 
you  couldn't  tell  how  they  did  go." 


Doolittle's  article  in  a  late  Gleanings  is 
a  very  mild  plaint  compared  with  the  rough- 
shod manner  in  which  Chas.  L.  Strickland  goes 
for  "'he  sponger  of  bfee-knowledge,"  in  The 
ATnerlcan  Homestead. 

I'll  leave  it  to  friend  Larrabee  to  settle 
about  queens  going  through  excluders,  Ernest. 
What  cases  I  have  known  about,  as  soon  as  the 
thorax  passed,  the  rest  went  like  a  streak. 
Laying  queens,  mind  you. 

The  new  paper.  National  Bee  Gazette,  St. 
Louis.  Mo.,  like  all  Missouri  bee- journals,  is 
beautifully  pi'inted  with  clear  type  and  good 
paper,  and  shows  a  good  spirit.  Might  do  well 
for  the  proof-reader  to  get  a  new  grammar  and 
spelling-book. 

Oh:  but  won't  some  of  those  Canadians  just 
go  for  editor  Newman!  He's  gone  and  included 
half  a  dozen  Canadian  bee-keepers'  societies  in 
a  list  of  those  belonging  to  the  United  States. 
Clear  proof  that  he  wants  to  incorporate  Can- 
ada into  the  U.  S.  on  the  sly. 

In  the  discussion  as  to  whether  bees  make 
or  merely  gather  honey,  the  advocates  for  mak- 
ing have  a  strong  argument  in  the  report  of 
the  government  chemist,  when,  referring  to 
nectar,  he  speaks  of  "  the  extent  of  inversion  to 
which  it  is  subjected  in  passing  the  organism 
of  the  bee." 

It's  well  alway'S  to  be  on  good  terms  with 
the  vvomen.  The  printing-press  that  has  print- 
ed the  A.  B.  J.  for  15  years  was  burned  May  13; 
but  friend  Newman,  being  on  good  terms  with 
the  W.  C.  T.  U..  their  largest  press  was  at  his 
disposal,  and  "the  old  reliable"  kept  up  its 
record  for  being  always  on  time. 

"  Some  YE.\Rs  we  have  the  whitest  kind  of 
honey  from  buckwheat,"  says  S.  Nelson,  in 
National  Bee  Gazette.  I've  seen  tolerably  light 
honey  with  a  buckwheat  flavor,  but  I  always 
supposed  it  was  mixed.  The  flavor  of  buck- 
wheat is  so  strong  that  a  very  little  will  give  a 
decided  flavor  without  giving  much  color. 

A  good  one  is  told  in  (Jreen's  Fruit-Oroiver, 
to  the  effect  that  a  cavity  8  ft.  by  "}■<  inches  in 
an  elm  was  completely  filled  with  honey-combs, 
and  had  been  fastened  up  for  .SO  years  with  no 
chance  for  entrance  or  exit.  •'  Empty  combs  of 
the  queen-bee  also  showed  that  they  had 
swarmed."  Query:  Do  bees  always  swarm 
when  the  queen  builds  combs? 

Dwindlers,  Mrs.  Axtell  reports,  had  plenty 
of  brood  in  the  hives  all  the  time.  I've  some- 
times suspected  that  the  severe  drain  on  the 
bees,  of  caring  for  so  much  brood,  was  the  cause 
of  dwindling.  Did  any  one  ever  know  a  case  of 
dwindling  without  the  be(!S  having  more  brood 
than  they  could  well  cover.  Still,  dwindling 
might  bring  about  that  state  of  affairs,  no  mat- 
ter how  well  the  brood  was  covered  in  the  first 
place. 


448 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


'•  The  good  feeling  that  exists  between  the 
bee-keepers  of  Canada  and  the  United  States 
can  not  be  broken  by  a  half-dozen  -Incorpora- 
tions.' Next  fall,  when  we  all  meet  at  Wash- 
ington, and  get  to  shaking  hands  and  talking 
over  bee-matters,  we  shall  never  imagine  there 
was  such  a  thing  as  "Incorporation'  or  any 
thing  else  that  would  tend  to  sever  our  friend- 
ship." So  says  D.  A.  Jones.  His  head  is  level, 
and  his  heart  as  big  as  ever. 

Prof.  Cook  laughs  at  Prof.  Wiley  for  doubt- 
ing the  purity  of  honey  which  contains  more 
than  30  per  cent  water.  Now,  I  feel  like  siding 
just  the  least  bit  with  Prof.  Wiley.  Have  we 
any  right  to  send  out  raw  nectar  as  honey? 
Ought  it  to  be  called  honey?  Ought  it  to  be 
called  honey  if  it  contains  30  per  cent  water? 
Of  course,  there  was  no  ground  for  Prof.  Wiley's 
suspicion  that  man  had  mixed  water  in  it;  but 
ought  it  not  to  be  evaporated  down  to  a  certain 
consistency  before  it  can  be  called  honey  ? 


'  THERE  IS  NOTHING  NEW  UNDER  THE  SUN." 

SOMETHING   NEW   UNDER  THE   SUN. 


Friend  Root;— I  send  you  an  extract  from  an 
old  and  very  rare  book  in  my  library.  I  copV  it 
just  as  it  is— spelling,  capitals,  etc. 

"Samuel  Hartlib, 

HIS 

LEGACY 

OF 

Husbandry. 

London,  165.5. 

"  Some  Physical  uses  of  Milk,  and  of  Curing 
the  Black  Jaundies,  &c."    Page  361. 

"  I  thought  to  have  imparted  unto  you  the 
Secret  how  to  preserve  Milk  from  souring,  but  I 
must  refer  it  to  a  person  of  singular  Honour, 
Piety,  and  Experimental  learning  who  has 
made  some  trial  of  it,  but  has  not  fully  satisfied 
his  mind  about  it.        .       .        . 

"  As  for  Doctor  Ziegler's  Germane  Book,  writr 
ten  purposely  on  the  subject  of  Milk,  when  I 
visited  him  at  Zurich  he  shewed  it  me,  not 
far  written  for  the  Press.  It  will  not  be  great, 
unless  he  resolved  to  add  much  of  his  own 
experience.  For  he  tells  mee.  that,  being  mis 
erably  infected  with  the  BlacJi  Jaundies  in 
PrjissUi.  and  having  been  purged  by  the  Phy- 
sicians of  that  Country,  with  above  30  several 
sorts  of  purgations,  even  the  most  violent  they 
could  think  of.  he  found  himself  never  the  bet- 
ter. Whereupon  he  resolved  to  take  no  more  of 
their  Counsel,  but  to  try  some  conclusions  of  his 
own.  And  with  the  sole  use  of  Milk  he  was 
perfectly  cured.  Besides  he  tells  me  that  he 
hath  several  times,  finding  himself  in  some  in- 
disposition, prevented  the  returning  of  some 
hereditary  diseases  in  himself,  by  abstaining 
from  all  manner  of  meat  and  drink,  and  living 
upon  raeer  Milk.  somelinu'S  for  fourteen  days 
together.  And  I  remember  heretofore  I  have 
heard  him  say,  that  Milk  is  hurtful  with  other 
meats,  but  alone  it  is  of  unknown  vertue." 

I  have  requested  that  the  above  be  given  with 
the  quaint  spelling  and  capital  letters  used  by 
Hartlib. 

Now,  if  any  are  disposed  to  try  this  milk  diet, 
they  may,  especially  if  bee-keepers,  find  much 
benefit  from  it.  We  know  that  milk  is  good 
for  babes;  and  I  can  testify  from  my  own  ex- 
perience that  it  is  very  good  for  the  aged  who 
may  not  be  very  far  off  from  second  childhood. 
Infants  need  to  be  fed  frequently.  Let  me  sug- 
gest that  old  people  require  the  same,  and  many 


of  them  are  great  sufferers  by  adhering  to  the 
old  rule  of  three  meals  a  day,  and  nothing  be- 
tween these  meals.  If  upon  the  milk  diet.  I 
would  by  no  means  recommend  that  it  should 
all  be  taken  in  the  hours  of  the  regular  meals, 
but  at  much  more  frequent  intervals — in  short, 
as  often  as  the  appetite  craves  it. 

Let  me  give  a  leaf  from  my  own  experi- 
ence, when  I  was  so  constantly  handling  bees. 
My  dear  wife  once  said  to  me,  "How  strangely 
your  appetite  for  milk  seems  to  varyl  Some- 
times you  care  nothing  for  it,  while  at  other 
times  you  seem  almost  to  live  upon  it;  and 
often  you  drink  a  quart  or  more  at  a  single 
meal."  Having  my  attention  thus  called  to  the 
matter,  a  new  and  interesting  train  of  thought 
occurred  to  me.  I  often  remembei'ed  hear- 
ing persons  say,  "Mother  would  never  allow  us 
to  eat  new  honey  unless  we  drank  milk  with  it, 
because  otherwise  it  gave  us  the  colic." 

Extending  my  inquiries  I  became  satisfied 
that  milk  is  an  antidote  for  bee-poison;  for 
when  I  was  not  working  with  bees  I  cai'ed  little 
or  nothing  for  it;  and  it  was  only  when  my 
system  was  fairly  saturated  with  bee-poison, 
that  I  had  an  almost  insatiable  craving  for 
milk.  I  then  began  to  study  what  eminent 
writers  had  to  say  about  any  connection  be- 
tween milk  and  honey,  and  found  that,  from  the 
time  of  Hippocrates,  who  was  born  460  years 
before  the  birth  of  Christ,  down  to  modern 
times,  successive  testinlony  could  be  found  as 
to  the  value  of  milk  to  prevent  any  injurious 
effects  from  eating  honey. 

Notice,  now,  how  frequently  the  sacred  Scrip- 
tures commend  the  Holy  Land  as  aland  flowing 
with  milli  and  honey. 

Notice,  also,  the  curious  association  of  milk 
with  honey  in  "  the  Song  of  Songs,  which  is  Sol- 
omon's,"— Chap.  4:11:  Thy  lips,  O  my  spouse, 
drop  as  the  honey-comb;  honey  and  milk  a,re 
under  thy  tongue. 

PERHAPS  THERE  IS  SOMETHING  NEW  UNDER 

THE  SUN. 

The  bridegroom,  meaning  to  compliment  his 
spouse,  says,  •'  Honey  and  milk  are  under  thy 
tongue;"  which  is  the  same  as  saying,  "  Thou 
art  a  very  sweet  woman!" 

In  conferring  with  Mrs.  Kerr,  my  friend  and 
next-door  neighbor,  she  said  to  me,  "  My  moth- 
er, who  was  German,  often  made  us  eat  butter 
with  honey,  because  it  [)revented  honey  from 
giving  us  the  colic."  This  immediately  suggest- 
ed to  my  mind  a  new  train  of  thought.  In 
Isaiah  7:1.5,  it  is  written  of  the  Holy  Immanuel, 
"  Butter  and  honey  shall  he  eat,"  etc.  Verse  33, 
"  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that,  for  the  abun- 
dance of  milk  that  they  shall  give,  he  shall  eat 
butter;  for  butter  (ind  honey  shall  every  one  eat 
that  is  left  in  the  land."  Seealso  Job  30:19:  "He 
shall  not  see  the  brooks  of  honey  and,  butter.'" 
Unquestionably,  milk  and  honey  and  butter 
and  honey  are,  in  the  Bible,  closely  associated 
together. 

In  an  article  I  wrote  in  1870  for  the  Aynerican 
Bee  Journal  I  announced  my  discovery  of  the 
reason  why  honey  so  frequently  disagrees  with 
those  who  eat  it.  I  showed  that  it  was  scarcely 
possible  to  take  it  from  the  bees,  either  in  the 
comb  or  in  a  liquid  state,  without  more  or  less 
of  the  bee-poison  being  in  it;  that  if  any  one 
said  to  me  that  he  could  not  eat  honey  with  im- 
punity I  could  assure  him  that,  by  bringing  it 
nearly  to  the  boiling  -  point,  the  bee-poison, 
which  is  very  volatile,  would  escape,  so  that  he 
could  use  it  freely,  while  if  a  very  little  of  this 
poison  was  put  into  any  syrup  which  he  had 
before  used  with  impunity,  it  would  affect  him 
just  as  honey  did.  Unquestionably,  the  sacred 
writers,  who  so  often  refer  to  milk  and  honey 
and  butter  and  honey,  knew  that  milk  or  butter 
added  to  the  honey  prevented  the  pain  caused 


IS'.fJ 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


449 


to  so  many  porsous  from  eating  puiv  lioney 
alone:  and  tlius  milk  and  butter  wim'o  so  fro- 
qnently  spoken  of  in  the  same  connt'clion. 
Miirlu  not  i-lieese.  anotlier  prodnet  of  milk,  he 
also  the  risiht  tluTig  to  use  with  honey?  i*ut- 
tinji  all  these  things  toiielher,  it  will  he  seen 
ho\\  naturally  I  was  led  to  what,  I  think,  is 
sometliing  new  in  exegesis,  and  gives  a  better 
understanding  of  some  passages  in  the  word  of 
God —"  The  good  land!"  "  Th(>  land  flowing 
with  milk  and  hoiu'yl"  Wherever  milk  is  found 
in  abundauee,  there,  as  a  matter  of  course,  will 
bees  and  honey  also  be  found.  At  some  future 
time  1  may  give  my  readers  a  new  exegesis  of 
some  other  passages  of  Scripture  relating  to 
bees.  L.  L.  Langstroth. 

Dayton.  Ohio.  June  6.  1S93. 


THE  GEEAT  BEES  OF  INDIA— WILL  THEY  BE 
IMPORTED  T 

THE    PKOPOSEl)   EXPEDITION   OF   THE    NATIONAI. 

GOVERNMENT    FOR     THE     FINDING    OF    NEW 

RACES     OF    BEES  ;     AN    AUTHORITATIVE 

STATEMENT    FROM    FRANK    BENTON. 


The  Junior  editor  of  Gleanings  requested 
me  some  time  since  to  furnish  for  his  readers 
information  regarding  the  truth  of  a  report 
recently  circulated  by  the  newspapers,  to  the 
effect  that  the  government  Intended  to  under- 
take the  importation  of  the  Giant  East-India 
Bee,  Apis  dorsaUi,  and  that  this  work  was  to 
be  entrusted  to  me.  I  have  deferred  somewhat 
my  compliance  with  his  request,  hoping  later 
to  be  able  to  give  definite  information — in  fact, 
to  be  able  to  say  tliat  this  work,  whose  accom- 
plishment has  been  so  long  desired  by  the  bee- 
keepers of  both  Europe  and  America,  would  be 
undertaken:  when  the  work  would  be  entered 
upon:  and  how  we  proposed  to  accomplish  it. 
I  regretted  the  appearance  of  the  newspaper 
reports  referred  to.  They  were  premature,  and 
wholly  unauthorized  by  myself  or  any  one  con- 
nected with  the  Division. 

Something  over  a  year  ago  Dr.  Riley,  U.  S, 
Entomologist,  first  addressed  me  in  regard  to 
the  governnient  work  in  apiculture,  supposing 
at  the  time  that  I  was  still  abroad,  and  that  he 
could  secure  an  authorization  for  me  to  proceed 
to  India  after  Apis  dor s<it(t,  wiiich.  he  stated, 
he  was  very  desirous  of  importing  into  this 
country.  His  letter  passed  me  in  mid-ocean, 
for,  after  a  long  self-imposed  exile,  I  was  on  my 
way  to  my  native  land.  It  finally  reached  me 
in  Western  New  York,  whither  I  had  gone. 
We  had  considerablt;  corn'Spondence  about  the 
matter,  and,  as  I  learned  afterward,  it  was  Dr. 
Riley's  intention  to  have  me  endeavor  to  intro- 
duce some  other  desired  insects  at  the  same 
time.  Thus,  he  had  assured  prominent  fig- 
growersof  California  that  he  would  make  every 
effort  possible  to  introduce  the  caprifig  insects, 
which  are  necessary  to  the  pollen izing  of  the 
Smyrna  tig,  this  valuable  variety  not  being 
productive  in  California  solely  for  want  of  such 
distribution  of  its  pollen.  He  was  also  quite 
anxious  to  introduce  certain  parasites  of  well- 
known  injurious  insects  which  have  been  im- 
ported without  their  natural  checks.  Diflficul- 
lies  unforeseen  by  both  Assistant  Secretary 
Willits  and  Dr.  Riley  made  the  postponement 
of  this  work  imperative.  But  the  subject  is 
again  under  consideration,  with  a  much  better 
prospect  than  heretofore  that  Dr.  Riley's  desires 
in  this  direction  can  be  carried  out.  This  does 
not,  of  course,  mean  a  certainty,  but  merely 
that  the  chances  are  now  good  for  its  accom- 
plishment. They  will  be  enhanced  if  bee-keep- 
ers and  apiarian  journals  make  known  their 
desire  to  see  the  experiment  tried. 


I  believe  the  experiment  of  introducing  A))ifi 
dorsiiUt  is  worth  trying.  Mr.  Dathe.  the  only 
practical  bee-keep(»r  besides  myself  who  has 
visited  India  in  search  of  .i/i/.s-  (Inrsiitd,  and 
who  followed,  in  his  efforts  to  introduce;  this 
be(>  into  Europe,  exactly  in  my  footsteps,  agrees 
with  me  in  tlu>  desirability  of' testing  this  giant 
bee.  Indeed,  at  the  Frankfort  Wandcrver- 
sinninlinm,  where  I  met  liiin,  he  proposed  to 
me  that  w(>  should  mak(i  the  third  effort  togeth- 
vr.  Yet  I  siiould  not  like  to  have  any  oin- en- 
tertain such  great  expiictations  I'egarding  these 
bees  as  to  cause  him  to  be  disappointed  if  the 
experiment  should  not  result  in  all  we  hope  for. 
At  present  the  whole  undertaking  must  be 
viewed  strictly  in  the  Ught  of  (tti  experiment 
from  which  it  is,  however,  possible  we  may 
obtain  important  practical  results,  and  highly 
probable  that  the  direct  practical  results  will 
at  least  be  sufficient  to  prove  the  wisdom  of 
such  an  expenditure  on  the  part  of  the  govern- 
ment, though  private  parties  attempting  it 
could  hardly  hope  to  recover  the  cost.  In  any 
event,  a  more  extended  investigation  of  the 
bees  of  the  Far  East  than  I  was  able  to  make 
during  my  stay  in  India  is  greatly  to  be  desired. 
How  frequently  far  greater  sums  of  monev  have 
been  granted  to  fit  out  expeditions  to  go  to  dis- 
tant parts  of  the  earth  to  make  observations 
during  an  eclipse  or  transit  of  some  heavenly 
body,  the  main  object  of  which  might  be  to 
determine  wliether  the  sun  or  some  star  is  more 
or  less  distant  from  the  earth  than  was  gener- 
ally supposed:  And  how  often  almost  the 
whole  benefit  to  result  from  such  an  undertak- 
ing depends  upon  as  slender  a  chance  as  the 
presence  of  clear  weather  during  the  few  min- 
utes' time  the  phenomenon  lasts!  It  is  far 
from  my  purpose  even  to  hint  that  such  work 
is  not  valuable,  for  it  adds  to  the  sum  of  human 
knowledge;  and  often  the  most  abstract  and 
apparently  useless  information  proves  of  great 
practical  use  to  the  world.  But  I  wish  to  point 
out  how  much  greater  reason  there  is  for  at- 
tempting work  such  as  the  investigation  of 
these  eastern  honey  and  wax  producers— work 
which,  viewed  abstractly,  has  a  value  equal  to 
such  undertakings  as  have  been  mentioned, 
and  which,  at  the  same  time,  promises  to  add 
another  source  to  our  national  wealth.  And 
the  interest  in  our  pursuit  which  this  work  will 
arouse  when  done  under  the  auspices  of  the 
national  government  will  not  fail  to  redound  to 
the  advantage  of  apiculture. 

what   may  be   hoped   for   FROM   THIS  UNDER- 
TAKING. 

A  brief  statement  of  the  results  which  it  is 
hoped  might  be  brought  about  through  this 
undertaking  will  be  of  interest  to  all  bee- 
keepers. 

1.  It  is  hoped  Apis  dorsatn  may  be  domesti- 
cated and  kept  in  hives  in  a  manner  similar  to 
our  ordinary  bees:  and  that  this  large  bee, 
having  a  tongue  longer  than  that  of  ordinary 
bees,  will  be  able  to  secure  the  honey  from 
various  blossoms— notably  those  of  red  clover— 
from  which  our  bees  get  little  or  nothing.  Also 
that  they  will  at  the  same  tinn;  aid  in  the  fer- 
tilization of  these  blossoms,  so  that  better  seed, 
and  more  of  it,  will  result,  especially  in  the  case 
of  the  first  crop  of  red  clover  produced  when 
bumble-bees  an;  not  numerous. 

2.  An  effort  would  be  made  to  produce  and 
test  various  crosses  between  dorsatn  and  mel- 
lifica.  If  such  crosses  can  b(>  obtained,  possibly 
something  more  valuable  than  either  of  these 
bees  would  result.  One  is  led  to  think  of  this 
by  the  fact  that  drones  of  dwsata  do  not  differ 
greatly  in  size  or  general  appearance,  though 
somewhat  in  habit,  from  ordinary  drones. 

3.  Even  if  ^/>i.s  dorsatn  should  not  prove 
valuable  in  domestication,  there  seems  to  be  no 


450 


GLEANlKtiS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


reason  why  it  should  not,  if  introduced  and  set 
free  in  our  Southern  States,  produce  there,  as 
it  does  in  the  forests  of  India,  gieat  quantities 
of  honey  and  wax,  the  latter  product  (derived 
almost  wholly  from  Apis  dorsaUi)  forming  an 
important  article  of  export  from  India. 

4.  We  may  hope  to  bring  to  this  country 
Jij)is  indica.  a  bee  smaller  than  our  ordinary 
honey-bee,  but  an  industrious  gatherer,  wtaich, 
in  quite  limited  numbers,  is  kept  in  hives  by 
the  natives  of  India.  It  miglit  be  found  that 
A.  indica  would  visit  only  smaller  flowers  than 
our  bees,  and  thus,  even  if  kept  in  the  same 
fields,  not  lessen  the  yield  we  obtain  from  the 
races  already  here.  It  would  be  no  small  gain 
for  the  apicultural  interests  of  the  country  if 
three  apiaries  could  be  kept  at  one  point  with- 
out material  interference  with  one  another. 

There  is  also  in  connection  with  this  under- 
taking much  other  work  from  which  we  have 
reason  to  expect  important  results.  Of  this, 
information  will  be  given  In  due  time.  I  have 
no  desire  to  arouse  hopes  that  might  prove  ill- 
founded  and  thus  bring  only  disappointment. 

In  conclusion  I  wish  to  ask  the  indulgence  of 
my  readers  to  enable  me  to  correct  an  error 
connected  with  the  subject,  bnt  the  original 
source  of  which  I  do  not  know.  It  first  appear- 
ed long  ago,  and  has  been  repeated  frequently — 
even  in  books  on  bee-keeping.  I  refer  to  the 
statement  that  "the  first  expedition  after  ^pis 
dorsata  cost  Mr.  D.  A.  Jones,  of  Canada,  a  small 
fortune,"  and  that  in  this  undertaking  I  "  was 
the  agent  of  Mr.  Jones.'  The  facts  are,  the 
expedition  cost  less  than  SIOOO;  I  was  in  part- 
nership with  Mr.  Jones  in  this  work,  and  it  cost 
me  just  as  much  as  it  did  him;  moreover,  as 
Ml".  Jones  did  not  go  to  India,  but  was  in  Cana- 
da at  the  time,  I  had  the  hardships  of  the  work, 
and  the  illness  which  followed  my  exposure  in 
the  jungles,  to  bear.  Frank  Benton. 

Washington,  D.  C. 

[We  had  seen  the  newspaper  reports  referred 
to,  and,  hesitating  to  reproduce  thi'm  for  fear 
that  they  might  not  be  authoritativfi,  we  wi'ote 
to  Mr.  Benton  for  a  reliable  statement,  with 
the  above  I'esult.  Of  course,  every  bee-keeper 
and  every  bee-journal  will  hail  with  delight 
this  effort  on  the  part  of  the  government  in  our 
behalf,  and  Gleanings  will  do  every  thing  in  its 
power  to  assist  the  enterprise.  We  owe  a  vote 
of  thanks  in  advance  to  Prof.  Riley  and  to  Hon. 
Edwin  Willits.  and  congratulate  them  on  being 
able  to  secure  the  services  of  so  experienced  a 
man  for  the  work  as  Frank  Benton.  The  read- 
er should  not  confuse  the  name  of  Prof.  i?i ley 
with  that  of  Prof.  ^Filey.  The  former  has  been 
our  friend;  and  it  is  he  who,  through  the  influ- 
ence of  Prof.  Cook,  autluiiized  the  establish- 
ment of  an  apicultural  station  at  Lansing,  and 
which  already  promises  much  good  to  bee-keep- 
ers. We  wish  we  could  say  as  much  for  the 
author  of  the  Wiley  canard — the  professor  whose 
name  begins  with  a  W^  It  is  an  open  question 
with  intelligent  and  honest  bee-keepers  wheth- 
er the  chief  chemist  (the  wily  man)  is  a  friend 
or  foe.] 


WIDTH  AND    THICKNESS    OF    BOTTOM-BARS, 
ETC. 

DOOLITTI.E    DECLARES   IN   FAVOR  OF   THE   NAK- 
ROAV   BOTTOM -BAR. 


A  correspondent  writes:  "What  width  and 
thickness  of  bottom-bars  do  you  use,  and  why 
do  you  use  them  thus?" 

When  I  first  began  using  the  frame  hive  I 
used  a  bottom-bar  the  same  width  as  the  rest 
of  the  frame,  which  usually  was  one  inch,  and 
}i  inch   thick.    The  bottom -bar  to  the  frame 


was  also  X  inch  above  the  bottom-board  of  the 
hive.  After  using  frames  thus  for  some  years 
it  came  to  me  one  day  that  half  an  inch  was 
too  great  a  space  under  the  fi'ami'S.  not  only  on 
account  of  this  being  a  waste  space  for  the  iiees 
to  loaf  in.  but  in  many  of  the  hives  the  becs 
were  bent  on  building  little  mounds  of  wax  and 
propolis  up  to  the  bottom  of  the  frames,  seem- 
ing, apparently,  to  use  these  as  step-ladders,  if 
I  may  be  allowed  the  expression,  on  which  to 
climb  up  to  the  combs  or  bottom-bar  of  the 
frame.  After  a  while  these  mounds  got  so  high 
that  the  bottom-bars  of  the  frames  would  rest 
on  them,  and  then  I  had  the  frames  tipping 
every  way,  not  at  all  to  my  liking.  I  now  re- 
solved to  reduce  the  distance  between  the  bot- 
tom-bar of  the  frame  and  the  bottom  of  the 
hive  to  i%of  an  inch,  as  I  had  always  called  j4 
of  an  inch  about  right  for  a  bee-space,  where 
the  matter  could  be  made  exact;  and  knowing 
that  the  hive  would  shrink  and  swell  some.  I 
allowed  the  extra  -^  of  an  inch  for  that.  After 
using  frames  thus  for  some  time  I  found  that 
now  and  then  a  frame  would  be  glued  down  to 
the  bottom -board,  and  concluded  that  ?^  of  an 
inch  would  have  been  a  better  space  below  the 
frames  than  the  one  I  had  adopted.  When 
thinking  this  matter  over.  I  finally  concluded 
that  there  was  no  need  of  the  bottom-bar  to  the 
frame  being  34  thick  for  the  bees  to  brood,  as  i% 
would  furnish  all  the  strength  needed  at  this 
point. 

In  thinking  this  matter  over  it  was  but  natu- 
ral that  I  should  look  at  the  frames  of  combs  to 
see  if  I  thought  a  bottom -bar  so  thin  would  be 
strong  enough.  In  thus  looking  over  the  frames 
I  see  that,  in  nearly  every  one,  the  combs  were 
up  a  bee-space  from  the  bottom-bars  of  the 
frames,  this  space  giving  a  place  for  bees 
and  queens  to  hide,  when  I  wished  to  find  the 
queen,  or  -"hen  I  wished  to  clear  the  combs  of 
bees;  besides,  the  bees  were  keeping  this  space 
warm,  with  no  profit  as  regarding  young  bees. 
After  some  careful  thought  along  this  line  I 
decided  to  make  100  fiames  with  bottom-bars 
3?8  wide  by  ^  thick,  and  try  them.  The  result 
of  the  trial  gave  neither  trouble  in  the  frames  be- 
ing glued  to  the  bottom-board,  nor  mounds  of 
wax;  but.  what  was  of  greater  importance  to 
me,  it  gave  me  a  comb  built  clear  down  to  the 
bottom  -  bars  of  the  frames,  and  fastened  to 
them  in  most  instances,  thus  doing  away  with 
all  the  troubles  along  all  lines  which  I  had  en- 
countered before.  I  have  also  used  bottom- 
bars  k'  inch  wide;  and.  so  far  as  I  can  see,  these 
work  equally  well,  and  have  the  advantage, 
when  we  come  to  wire  the  frames  for  founda- 
tion, of  being  a  little  stiffer  to  resist  the  tension 
of  the  wire.  For  these  reasons  I  have  used 
these  narrower  and  thinner  bottom -bars  for 
several  years  past,  and  am  so  well  pleased  with 
them  that  I  desire  no  others. 

QUEEN-CELLS   IN   THE   UPPER   STORY. 

As  the  time  is  here  for  queen-reai'ing  again,  I 
will  try  to  make  the  cell-cup  plan  a  little  more 
plain,  if  possible,  especially  as  I  see  on  page  692 
of  Gleanings  for  1891  that  friend  Root  wishes 
I  should  point  out  the  "  missing  link."  I  there 
see  that  J.  D.  P^ooshe  starts  his  cells  in  queen- 
less  colonies,  after  which  he  gives  them  to  the 
upper  stories  of  colonies  having  queens  below  to 
finish,  and  friend  Root  says  he  is  doing  the  same 
thing,  for  only  in  that  way,  or  where  the  queen 
was  absent  from  the  lower  story,  does  he  have 
success.  I  can  not  understand  why  the  cell-cup 
plan,  just  as  I  (jive  it  in  my  book,  does  not  work 
in  the  hands  of  a  few,  while  hundreds  write  me 
that  it  is  a  perfect  success  with  them.  There  is 
no  "  missing  link  "  to  be  supplied,  that  I  know 
of,  if  the  directions  are  followed  just  as  f  give 
them.    Queen-cells  will  be  just  as  good  if  start- 


1S92 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


451 


ed  in  qiuHMiloss  oolonios,  as  tlu>  two  friends  say 
t hoy  do  it;  but  I  never  )n((  ttic  ccll-cui)s  into 
(/i/('c/i/('.s,s  cohuih's  to  havo  tiuMn  startrd.  and. 
taking  the  year  Ihiongh,  liavc  fully  So  per  cent 
of  all  started,  ai-oepted.  and  completed.  I>o  the 
friends  that  fail  put  the  amount  of  No.  1  shot. 
as  to  hulk  of  royal  h'lly.  into  each  cell-cup  he- 
fore  transferrintr  tii(>  larva  to  the  cup?  1  see 
neither  speaks  of  this.  A  (lueenless  colony 
having  its  comhs  of  hroo<l  taktMi  away  from  it 
will  woik  the  cups  without  the  royal  jelly,  hut 
the  hees  in  an  upper  story  will  not.  Again,  so 
far  as  I  can  see.  the  hees  in  an  upi)er  story  will 
work  the  cell  cups  just  as  well  uh;  re  the  royal 
jelly  is  put  in  hy  a  person  as  they  will  where  it 
IS  put  into  these  cups  by  a  queenless  colony. 
One  of  the  objects  of  my  jllan  of  queen-rearing 
was  to  do  away  with  all  iiueenless  colonies. 
Again.  1  see  both  of  the  friends  say  that  they 
find  that  colonies  get  tired  of  cell-huilding  in 
the   upper  stories.    This  is  contrary  to  my  ex- 

fierience.  for  I  keep  colonies  building  cells 
rom  the  time  they  are  strong  enough  in  the 
spring  till  I  get  through  in  the  fall.  To  do  this 
I  se(>  that  the  upper  story  is  supplied  with  two 
frames  of  larva?  all  the  while,  the  frame  of  cell- 
cups  being  between  these  frames  of  laivie.  each 
lime.  I  have  been  wondering  if  this  might  not 
be  the  ••  missing  link."  This  larva  is  not  only 
supplied  so  the  bees  will  accept  the  cell-cups 
better,  but  also  that  the  proper  amount  of  jelly 
may  be  supplied  to  the  larva;  for  where  bees 
are  feeding  plenty  of  larv;e  they  have  an  abun- 
dance of  chyme  for  the  cell-cup.s.  Every  week 
I  take  the  two  frames  of  sealed  brood  and 
change  them  or  two  frames  of  eggs  and  small 
larv;e.  Again,  if  honey  is  not  coming  in  I /cerZ 
liberdlly.  Is  not  the  missing  link  in  some  of 
the  above  ?  G.  M.  Doolittle. 

Borodino,  N.  Y.,  May  20. 

[Your  experience  with  narrow  bottom-bars  is 
quite  in  line  with  what  we  have  observed  in  va- 
rious apiaries  as  well  as  with  what  we  have 
picked  up  from  various  sources.  For  this  rea- 
son all  our  brood-frames  of  the  later  types  have 
the  new  style  of  bottom-bar. 

We  are  having  better  success  this  season  in 
having  the  be(!s  complete  the  cell-cups  ;  but 
you  have  supplied  in  your  article  above  two 
possibly  missing  links.  While  we  have  given 
all  our  cell-building  colonies  unsealed  larvie,  we 
have,  perhaps,  neglected  to  give  them  eggs  or 
very  younfj  unse(tlcd  larvaj ;  and,  again,  we 
have  not  ffd  them  "  liberally"  when  no  honey 
was  coming  in.  It  is  attention  to  these  very 
small  details  tliat  brings  success,  and  we  will 
report  results  later.] 


STJEPLITS  CASES  AND  SEALED  COVERS. 

SOMKTHIXG    Kf'.O.M    .JAMKS    HEDI)(»N    KEGAKDING 
TIFEM. 


The  good  qualities  of  the  surplus  storing- 
cases  we  use  in  our  apiaries  is  a  matter  of  great 
importance  to  the  success  of  bee-keepers.  The 
requisites,  as  I  view  them,  are  as  follows:  The 
case  should  be  light,  not  deeper  than  sufficient 
for  one  tier  of  sections,  and  free  from  any  thing 
like  complications.  If  thf  l)ee-kt'eper  issatisfi- 
ed  to  raise  section  honey  without  separators  of 
any  kind.  1  believe  my  old-style  case,  known  as 
the  '•  Heddon  case."  has  never  been  improved 
upon  nor  equaled  by  any  other.  It  is  light,  very 
strong  and  durable;  most  simple  with  which 
to  quickly  remove  the  sections  or  to  get  the  hees 
out  of  the  case  before  carrying  it  to  the  honey- 
house  ;  it  is  also  a  cheap  case,  which  is  a  great 
consideration  with  the  large  honey-producer. 
But  if  separators  are  to  be  used,  and   the  apia- 


rist is  producing  on  a  small  scale,  the  wide- 
frame  case,  witli  its  one-story  wide  frames  and 
tin  separators,  is  my  choice;  but  these  arc  more 
costly,  heavier,  and  require  more  time  for  their 
manipulation.  For  the  large  apiarist  who  pre- 
fers to  use  separators,  the  tin  1  case,  witli  the 
wood  separatois,  is  certainly  the  best  of  any 
extant.  The  first  I  ever  saw  or  made  was  before 
they  were  described  to  the  public  (so  far  as  I 
know).  Vandervort,  of  Pennsylvania,  of  foun- 
dation mill  fame,  visited  m<'  and  showed  me 
how  to  make  the  tin  T  surplus  case,  as  then 
used,  and,  if  I  remember  correctly,  invented  by 
liim.  In  his  ca.se,  Mr.  Vandervort  used  the 
"  follower  "  with  si)ring  pressnre  at  one  side  of 
the  case.  Now,  I  object  to  followers,  springs, 
wedges,  or  any  thing  of  the  kind,  in  tin  T  cases. 
I  have  used  a  great  many  liundred  of  these 
cases  for  many  years,  and  I  have  experim<^nted 
with  them  with  followers,  etc..  but  I  find  that 
our  sections  are  made  accurately  enough  so  that 
they  can  be  diopped  into  the  case  with  separa- 
tors, and  fitted  there  snugly,  if  necessary,  by 
pushing  in  an  extra  wood  separator.  I  prefer 
to  have  my  tin  T  stationary;  that  is,  solidly 
nailed  into  a  saw-kerf  let  into  the  sides  of  the 
case.  There  are  not  enough  advantages  to  be 
found  in  movable  tin  T's  to  offset  the  disadvan- 
tages and  extra  cost,  in  my  experience. 

SEALED    COVERS. 

On  page  .34.'^  you  ask  for  reports  from  keepers 
experienced  in  the  u.se  of  absorbents  over  large 
numbers  of  colonies,  in  winter.  Up  to  about  15 
years  ago  I  never  wintered  without  absorbents; 
but  at  that  time,  in  an  out-apiary  containing 
207  colonies,  packed  outdoors.  I  placed  the  ab- 
sorbents over  about  half,  and  left  the  cover 
tightly  sealed  over  the  other  half.  I  could  not 
detect  any  difference  in  the  result.  During  the 
many  years  since.  I  have  packed  in  both  ways  ; 
and  until  the  last  few  years  I  have  left  all  tight- 
ly sealid,  both  in  the  cellar  and  out-doors,  be- 
cause it  is  less  trouble  and  expense;  and,  during 
all  the  years,  I  think  it  is  a  little  the  safest.  If 
this  experience  is  of  any  value  to  you,  I  am 
pleased  to  give  it.  James  Heddon. 

Dowagiac,  Mich.,  May  7. 


SEALED  COVERS  OR  ABSORBENTS. 

THE   liAMlU^EH   DISCUSSES   THE    MATTER. 

I  have  been  quite  interested  in  the  discussion 
of  upward  ventilation  vs.  sealed  covers,  and  my 
interest  is  emphasized  somewhat  by  learning 
that  my  old  apiary  in  Eastern  New  York  has 
wintered  in  the  cellar  with  sealed  covers,  and 
not  a  swarm  lost;  and  it  is  needless  to  say,  that, 
were  I  to  keep  bees  again  in  the  East,  sealed 
covers  would  be  used;  but,  mind  you,  that  two 
and  a  half  inches  of  ventilation  would  also  be 
used  under  the  brood-chain l)('r.  The  diversity 
of  expi'rience,  as  recorded  of  late  in  Gleanings, 
lathink.  arises  from  difference  in  climate  and 
also  in  methods  of  packing.  It  is  more  difficult 
to  winter  bees  in  ('(mtral  New  York  than  it  is 
further  north  down  the  Champlain  Valley;  and 
the  method  of  packing  that  would  answer  in 
one  area  might  not  answer  in  another;  and  so 
it  goes  all  over  the  northern  country,  and  cellar 
vs.  outdoors,  absorbents  vs.  sealed  covers,  have 
their  advocates. 

Siiould  I  winter  bees  outdoors  with  sealed 
covers  I  should  certainly  u.se  a  generous  pack- 
ing over  them;  for,  in  whatever  position  they 
may  be.  if  cold  air  strikes  its  upper  surface  the 
under  surface  becomes  a  good  condenser  of 
moisture;  while  if  protected  with  packing 
above,  and  a  good  swarm  of  bees  below,  the 
condensation   takes  place  in  the  generous  air- 


452 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


JvsE  15. 


space  below:  or.  in  its  absence,  the  condensa- 
tion is  found  in  the  corners  of  the  hive  nearest 
the  entrance. 

In  the  case  of  Mr.  Dadant,  I  should  not  wish 
to  judge  the  matter  merely  with  the  use  of 
oilcloth,  for  I  believe  there  is  a  vast  difference 
between  the  impervious  surface  of  an  oilcloth 
and  a  planed  board,  though  it  may  be  covered 
with  propolis;  furthermore,  an  oilcloth  over 
such  a  mammoth  hive  as  the  Dadants  use, 
where  the  brood-nest  in  winter  contracts  to  less 
than  half  of  the  space,  invites  rather  than 
averts  condensation.  , 

Bees  wintered  in  a  cellar,  with  surrounding 
equal  temperature,  and  no  di'afts,  need  no  pack- 
ing over  the  covers:  the  temperature  is  equally 
maintained  above  and  below.  In  the  com- 
munications of  W.  W.  Larrabee  and  Miss  Cyula 
Linswik  I  find  testimony  for  sealed  covers.  I 
have  been  in  the  apiary  of  the  formei-,  and  have 
seen  the  large  cushions  of  sawdust  and  chaff 
that  lap  away  over  the  brood-chamber,  and  of 
many  inches  in  depth,  when  placed  over  a 
swarm,  the  escape  of  air  and  moisture  is  so  very 
moderate  that  it  is  practically  a  sealed  cover; 
so  is  also  that  woolen  comforter  and  additional 
packing  used  by  the  beautiful  name  spoken  of. 

Mr.  Doolittle  said,  some  time  ago,  that  he 
made  his  packing  solid  by  tramping  it  into 
place.  I  don't  remember  as  to  the  size  of  his 
feet,  but  the  body  above  them  is  no  light 
weight;  and  whatever  was  tramped  would 
necessarily  have  the  consistency  and  effect  of  a 
board.  Mr.  Manum  uses  several  bushels  of 
poplar  shavings  over  his  bees.  In  all  cases  in 
favor  of  absorbents  we  find  the  same  care  and 
thoroughness  of  having  plenty  of  it,  well  pack- 
ed down. 

The  whole  matter  can  therefore  be  summed 
up  thus:  The  point  is,  to  keep  an  equal  temper- 
ature (ibove  and  below  the  cover.  The  heat 
above  tends  to  prevent  condensation;  the  heat 
below  carries  off  what  little  there  is.  Our  dif- 
ference of  opinion  will  be  mainly  as  to  which  is 
the  more  convenient — a  board  or  a  heavy  cush- 
ion.   Give  the  board  to  the  Rambler. 

[You  have  stated  the  case  exactly,  and 
summed  it  all  up  in  a  nutshell.] 


DRONES  AND    ftTJEENS. 

THE   TWO-MILE   THEORY,   ETC. 


I  notice,  in  friend  Doolittle's  article,  p.  371, 
he  mentions  (and,  if  I  remember  rightly,  it  is  the 
accepted  theory)  that  queens  do  not  lay  drone 
eggs  till  the  second  season  of  their  existence. 
Now,  I  have  had  experience  in  two  cases  that  is 
decidedly  to  the  contrary.  Of  course,  your 
A  B  C,  or  some  other  authority,  may  suggest 
exceptions  to  the  rule;  but  if  so,  I  do  not 
remember;  however,  I  will  give  my  observa- 
tions in  one  case.  Last  season,  some  time  in 
May,  I  wrote  to  a  Mr.  Taylor,  of  Ozan,  Ark.,  to 
know  if  he  could  furnish  me  a  tested  breeding- 
queen,  anc}  received  the  answer  that  he  had 
none,  but  would  have  in  two  weeks,  or  by  the 
time  my  order  might  reach  him.  I  ordered  and 
got  my  queen,  I  should  say  by  return  mail,  or 
about  the  first  of  June.  I  introduced  her  to  a 
colony  of  about  one  poiuid  of  bees.  She  proved 
to  be  very  prolific  and  soon  had  several  frames 
full  of  brood.  Now,  witii  this  very  same  theory 
in  view.  I  put  cages  in  all  my  other  colonies  (no 
other  Italians  in  ten  miles  of  my  apiary,  mind), 
put  a  full  frame  of  drone  comb  in  the  center  of 
the  above  colony,  and  had  drones  duly  hatched, 
and  raised  a  dozen  and  a  half  of  queens,  every 
one  purely  mated,  and  have  as  good  queens 
from  this  in-and-in   breeding  as  I  ever   saw. 


Now,  it  is  for  Mr.  Taylor  to  inform  us  if  this 
queen  was  six  months  or  less  old  when  she  pro- 
duced drones,  as  I  can  furnish  plenty  of  wit- 
nesses as  to  the  truth  of  the  above  statement. 

DRONES  AS  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

Friend  D.  is  also  of  the  opinion  that  drones 
have  a  certain  place  to  congregate,  and  that 
the  queens  meet  them  there.  Now.  as  to  their 
congregating  inclinations,  I  read  some  writing 
on  this  subject.  I  don't  know  how  long  ago,  and 
accepted  the  theory  as  fact,  as  I  had  noticed  them 
so  congregated,  and  they  do  every  season  in  one 
mile  of  my  place;  but  do  queens  very  often  meet 
them  there?  Observation  again  says,  "  Rarely;" 
for  instance,  those  queens  above  mentioned, 
that  I  reared  in  August  and  September,  with 
"  free  and  unlimited  Coinage  "  of  drones  in  one 
mile  on  either  side  of  me.  Now,  I  don't  want  to 
compare  my  observations  with  those  of  Mr.  D.; 
but  sometimes  the  "small  fry,"  as  you  some- 
times call  us  fellows,  see  some  little  kink  that 
has  escaped  the  more  busy  eyes  of  the  big  guns. 
The  fact  is,  my  connection  with  the  bee-busi- 
ness, though  for  years,  has  been  more  of  the  ex- 
perimental than  otherwise.    J.  H.  Makklet. 

Carbondale.  Kan.,  May  13. 


OLD  BEES  AND  COMB -BUILDING. 


FACTS   FROM   OBSERVATION. 


On  page  326  friend  Doolittle  takes  up  my 
theory,  that  the  old  bees  do  the  housework  and 
the  young  ones  go  to  the  field,  and  gives  us  some 
good  arguments  to  prove  that  I  am  wrong. 
Perhaps  my  suggestions  were  a  little  amiss,  and 
maybe  he  is  a  little  amiss  too.  I  don't  think 
the  young  bees  do  all  the  housework— they  may 
do  a  part  of  it.  But  we  do  know  that  bees  that 
have  passed  the  winter,  act  as  nurse  bees  until 
they  get  young  ones  hatched  in  the  spring,  and 
those  bees  of  mine  last  summer  nursed  their 
young  and  built  combs  until  they  were  at  least 
96  days  old.  You  will  see  by  my  report  last 
year,  Oct.  1st  Gi>eanings,  page  761,  that  I  ex- 
amined them  Sept.  10th.  They  were  then  90 
days  old;  and  as  I  had  taken  all  of  their  brood 
from  them  Aug.  24,  it  would  be  21  days  after 
Aug.  24  before  they  could  hatch  a  bee,  or  until 
the  14th  of  September— 96  days  in  all.  I  said  in 
my  report  that  I  was  not  sure  but  they  would 
pass  the  winter  if  allowed  to  hatch  the  crop  of 
brood  that  was  then  coming  on.  Well.  I  did  let 
them  alone  after  that.  I  let  them  hatch  all 
the  brood  they  could.  The  middle  of  October  I 
packed  my  home  yard  for  winter.  This  colony 
had  on  a  second  story  above  the  honey-board. 
I  filled  that  upper  story  with  straw,  and  did 
not  open  the  hive.  This  spring,  April  loth,  I 
looked  over  the  yard  to  see  if  all  had  honey  to 
live  on.  When  I  came  to  this  hive  I  saw  a  few 
bees  going  into  the  hive.  I  supposed  they  were 
other  bees  taking  out  what  honey  they  had  left. 
I  opened  the  hive,  and,  to  my  surprise,  the  col- 
ony was  alive  and  in  fair  condition,  and  is  yet. 
May  30.  Of  course,  I  don't  believe  that  any  of 
the  bees  that  are  there  now,  except  the  queen, 
were  put  in  there  last  June.  But  wliat  bees 
they  raised  logo  into  winter  must  have  hatched 
after  the  14th  of  September.  They  are  now  a 
fair  colony,  and  have  had  no  help  except  being 
furnished  with  plenty  of  honey,  and  wintered 
on  their  summer  stand. 

CONGREGATING   DRONES. 

I  read  Mr.  Doolittle's  article  on  page  372, 
about  drones  congregating  in  certain  places, 
and  the  queens  going  there  to  mate.  My  opin- 
ion is,  he  is  right.  I  believe  in  his  theory,  ex- 
actly.   I  will  give  a  little  bit  of  my  experience 


18il2 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


453 


in  that  line.  When  I  was  a  boy  about  15  y»nus 
old  I  lived  with  mv  luu-le  in  HtM-Uimcr  Co., 
X.  Y.  Nearly  all  of  the  neighbors,  as  well  as 
my  uncle,  kept  a  few  hives  of  bees.  On  my 
uncle's  farm,  in  th(>  hack  pasture,  w;is  a  grov(> 
of  timber,  live  or  six  acres.  Among  the  small 
timber  tlien>  were  a  few  iai'ge  trees.  I  think  now 
about  :.'0.  One  liot  day  in  the  summer  I  went 
over  there  to  catch  the  horsi's.  Tlu-y  were  in 
the  grove.  I  heard  a  great  roaring  of  t)ees,  as  I 
tliouglit.  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  there 
was  a  swarm  of  bees  there  somewhere.  When 
I  got  to  the  house  I  told  what  I  had  hoard  in 
the  grove.  My  uncle  w(Mit  witli  me  to  the 
grove  to  see  what  we  could  tiud.  When  we  got 
there  the  roaring  was  as  loud  as  ever.  He 
thougiit  as  I  did.  that  there  were  bees  there. 
We  looked  all  the  large  trees  over  for  bee-trees, 
but  found  none,  and  gave  it  up  for  the  present. 
The  next  day  was  the  4th  of  duly.  I  remember 
that  all  the  family  except  me  went  off  to  a. 
picnic.  I  had  to  go  over  to  that  grove.  I  would 
rather  go  there  than  to  the  picnic.  I  wanted  to 
find  out  what  made  that  humming  over  there. 
I  hunted  a  while  for  bee-trees.  There  was  one 
tree  about  the  center  of  the  grove  that  was  big- 
ger and  taller  than  any  other  tree  in  the  grove. 
I  saw  that  I  could  climb  that  tree,  clear  to  the 
top,  if  I  could  get  up  the  first  20  feet.  There 
was  a  small  tree  near  that  I  could  fall  against 
the  large  one.  I  went  back,  got  an  ax,  and  fell 
the  small  tree  against  the  large  one.  It  lodged 
against  the  large  tree  good  and  strong.  Then 
up  I  went,  to  the  top  of  the  large  tree.  The  top 
of  the  large  tree  was  in  such  shape  that  I  could 
get  my  head  above  all  the  foliage  in  the  grove. 
I  sat  and  rested  awhile.  The  humming  was 
still  loud,  but  appeared  to  be  mostly  overhead. 
Pretty  soon  I  saw  a  drone  bee  alight  on  a 
branch  near  me.  Very  soon  another  stopped  on 
another  branch,  and.  by  looking  close,  I  could 
see  '20  or  30  perched  on  the  top  twigs  of  the  trees 
about  me.  I  don't  think  that  any  one  of  them 
rested  more  than  half  a  minute  at  a  time.  As 
other  drones  or  flies  passed  they  would  give 
chase.  Soon  others,  or  the  same  ones,  would  be 
back  again.  So  they  kept  it  up,  having  a  play- 
spell— a  regular  Fourth  of  July.  I  stayed  over 
two  hours  in  that  tree-top.  watching  them.  I 
enjoyed  the  sport  better  than  going  to  the  pic- 
nic. I  have  heard  that  same  kind  of  humming 
in  the  woods  a  great  many  times  since,  and  am 
satisfied  that  drones  do  have  their  playgrounds 
where  they  congregate,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  the  queens  are  attracted  then;  by  the  noise, 
or,  perhaps,  by  the  scent,  of  so  many  drones 
flying  together. 

MV   WINTEi;   liKPOKT. 

Our  bees  have  wintered  as  well  as  usual.  I 
lost  very  few.  About  all  the  loss  came;  from 
queenless  colonies.  We  have  looked  over  one 
yard  and  clipped  the  queens.  We  expect  to 
clip  all  queens  this  week.  After  that  we  can 
tell  better  how  they  are  doing,  and  how  many 
we  have. 

Four,  BROOD. 

In  the  Wisconsin  Fanner  I  read  an  article,  a 
clipping  from  the  Canddian  Bee  Journ<il,  by 
John  Gates,  of  Ovid.  Pa.  He  says,  extracting 
from  the  brood -chambers  is  one  great  cause  of 
foul  brood.  It  throws  out  the  larval  food, 
leaving  the  larvie   bare.    The  bees  can  not  re- 

f)lace  this  food  as  it  was,  in  time  to  save  the 
arvie,  so  of  course  it  dies,  causing  foul  brood, 
elc^ 

Now.  I  don't  believe  that  extracting  honey 
from  combs  that  contain  larvie  will  cause  foul 
brood,  from  the  fact  that  we  have  done  it  right 
along  every  year  for  over  20  years,  f  have  ex- 
tracted thecombs  from  300  to  .500  colonies  three 
to  five  times  in  a  season,  and  have  never  had  a 


case  of  foul  brood  yet.  I  don't  say  that  all  the 
combs  that  we  extract  contain  larviii,  but  some 
of  them  do  contain  brood  in  all  stages,  from  the 
egg  up  to  hatcliing  bees. 

When  we  commenced  to  extract  the  first  time 
for  the  season  we  want  to  take  out  every  bit  of 
honey  that  the  combs  contain,  for  the  reason 
that  the  honey  gathered  in  the  fall  and  early 
spring  is  daik.  We  get  it  just  ahead  of  the 
white-clover  honey,  and  it  is  important  to  get 
the  dark  honey  out  as  close  as  possible.  If  we 
leave  any  of  it,  it  will  come  out  with  our 
second  extracting;  and  a  little  dark  honciy 
mixed  with  a  good  deal  of  white  will  cut  down 
the  price  of  the  white  a  cent  or  two  a  pound. 
To  get  rid  of  th(;  dark  at  this  time,  we  have  to 
extract  combs  that  contain  brood.  We  are 
careful  not  to  whirl  them  too  hard,  and  I  don't 
think  it  hurts  the  brood  as  much  as  Mr.  Gates 
tries  to  make  out.  E.  France. 

Platteville,  Wis.,  May  30. 

[The  above  illustrates  with  what  painstaking 
care  friend  France  verifies  his  statements.  We 
have  had  so  many  reports  fi'om  eye-witnesses, 
to  the  effect  that  drones  do  congregate,  we  maj'' 
now  safely  put  it  down  as  a  fact,  although  fur- 
ther corroborative  testimony  is  always  interest- 
ing, as  in  the  case  of  Mr.  France. 

Although  we  have  refuted  it  again  and  again, 
it  seems  as  if  the  theory  of  spontaneous  genera- 
tion, or,  in  other  words,  that  dead  larva?  will 
develop  into  foul  brood,  must  now  and  then 
crop  out.  It  is  wholly  unscientific,  and  not  in 
accordance  with  theory  or  fact.  As  we  have 
said  before,  corn  can  never  grow  where  no  corn 
was  ever  planted;  neither  can  the  germs  of 
Bacillus  alvel  generate  spontaneously  in  living 
or  dead  larvie.J 

^     I     ^ 

GLEANINGS  AND  PATENTS. 


ADULTERATION   OF   HONEY,  AND   ITS   ANALYSIS. 


I  was  very  much  pleased  to  read  what  you 
wrote  on  page  385.  on  the  above  topic.  There 
has  been  a  great  deal  of  confusion  nnd  misun- 
derstanding regarding  the  attitude  oleanings 
assumes  toward  patents.  Now  we  are  told, 
practically,  that  that  class  of  results  of  mental 
labor  secured  by  patents  is  property;  that  is,  as 
we  understand  it.  Now  there  will  be  no  dispute 
in  regard  to  the  moral  right  for  one  to  dictate 
the  terms  upon  which  he  will  dispose  of  his 
property.    Now  the  whole  controversy  is  ended. 

THE    PURE-FOOD   BILL. 

Bee-keepers  have  a  moral  interest  in  this  bill, 
and  they  likewise  have  also  a  business  interest 
in  its  passage.  I  do  not  think  there  is  rot)m  for 
any  discussion  among  any  of  us  with  regard  to 
its  being  right,  and  to  our  interest;  but  there  is 
one  factor  connected  with  it— one  no  doubt  seen 
and  well  understood  by  our  legislators  at  Wash- 
ington— which  usually  their  constituents  do  not 
comprehend.  Law  is  always  an  evil;  but  very 
many  of  our  laws  ai-e  necessary  evils,  and  there 
is  no  dispute  regarding  the  necessity  of  law  and 
order;  but  from  tli(!  fact  that  all  laws  can-y 
more  or  less  evil  consequences,  I  am  opposed  to 
any  law  that  we  can  possibly  get  along  without. 
I  do  not  believe  that  any  of  our  food  is  adulter- 
ated with  any  thing  injurious.  All  that  talk  I 
believe  to  tie  sensational;  it  is  simply  food  for 
newspapers.  The  Wiley  reports  are  right  in 
line,  and  of  just  the  nature  of  a  thousand  oth- 
ers, about  other  food  than  honey.  The  terrible  (?) 
mixtures  found  in  coffee,  tea,  and  spices,  are 
similar  fabrications.  Full  in  the  faith  that 
adulterants  in  pepper  and  other  spices  are  not 
of  an  injurious  nature.  I  do  not  want  any 
guardian  to  protect  me  from  the  avarice  of  my 


454 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


neighbor.  I  ana  sorry  that  such  avarice  exists, 
but  I  would  rather  go  without  protection  than 
have  our  people  lawed  to  death.  It  would  be 
good  if  we  could  do  something  to  prevent  over- 
eating. I  am  in  favor  of  lectures.  It  will  tend 
to  correct  our  people  regarding  this  matter, 
which  is  the  great  cause  of  that  dire  ailment 
known  as  dyspepsia,  which  in  time  becomes  a 
cause  of  evil.  I  do  not  want  any  law  enacted 
to  determine  the  quantity  or  quality  of  the  food 
we  eat.  If  we  are  to  produce  we  must  depend 
upon  ourselves  for  something — must  cultivate 
self-reliance,  and  not  feel  that  we  are  guided 
by  law  through  every  movement  in  life.  It  is 
my  opinion  that  those  principles  have  in  the 
past  and  will  in  the  future  prevent  the  passage 
of  many  bills  intended  by  some  to  produce  good 
results.  As  regards  our  product,  honey,  we 
have  had  ample  evidence  that  the  science  of 
chemistry  is  unable  to  detect  the  addition  of 
manufactured  cane  and  grape  sugar.  As  a 
juryman  I  would  not  convict  any  man  upon  the 
evidence  of  all  the  chemists  in  the  world,  for  I 
know  that  they  do  not  know,  and  that  they 
know  they  do  not  know;  and  I  want  them  to 
know  that  I  know  that  they  know  that  they  do 
not  know.  They  draw  a  handsome  salary  for 
holding  down  a  soft  seat,  and  it  is  enough  for 
people  to  pay  it  without  being  scandalized  and 
persecuted  as  friend  Muth  and  others  have  been. 
Prof.  Wiley  did  not  know  about  the  honey,  and 
he  had  also  learned  that  the  city  dealers  did  the 
adulterating;  so,  without  knowing  the  char- 
acter of  our  Cincinnati  friend,  he  fired  his  gun, 
arid  the  recoil  hurts  worse  than  the  charge. 
Ignorance  is  usually  the  cause  of  wrong-doing. 
Dowagiac,  Mich.,  May  25.  James  Heddon. 


GRADING. 


A   PROPOSED   COMPROMISE. 


Deor  £rne.st;— Although  exceedingly  anxious 
that,  before  the  convention  at  Washington, 
some  system  of  grading  should  be  offered  that 
would  be  so  nearly  acceptable  to  all  as  to  meet 
general  acceptance,  yet  I  shrink  from  any 
attempt  at  formulating  such  a  system.  The 
plain  truth  is,  I  don't  feel  that  I  know  enough 
for  such  a  task.  Yet  I  have  made  the  attempt 
to  do  as  requested.  I  can  not  apologize  for  the 
system  I  offer  by  saying  it  is  hastily  thrown  to- 
gether. It  is  nothing  of  the  kind.  It  has  been 
the  subject  of  much  care,  and  the  hardest 
thought  I  am  capable  of  giving.  There  is  noth- 
ing original  about  it,  except  the  string  that 
ties  it  together.  It  is  a  mosaic,  made  up  from 
all  the  systems  that  have  been  offered,  modified 
somewhat  by  the  discussions  I  have  heard  and 
read.  If  freely  criticised  in  the  right  spirit,  it  is 
possible  that  something  may  be  made  out  of  it 
that  shall  be  satisfactory,  even  if  it  be  so  mod- 
ified as  a  result  of  the  criticisms  that  nothing 
of  the  original  draft  can  be  recognized.  But 
here  is  the  system,  having  four  grades,  depend- 
ing on  appearance  or  condition  iTKlcpciuicnt  of 
the  source  of  honey,  and  four  classes  of  lioney. 

FoHcj/.— Combs  straight,  wliite.  well  filled,  flrraly 
fastened  to  wood  on  all  four  sides;  all  cells  sealed; 
no  pollen,  prupolis.  nor  travel-stain. 

JVo.  /.—Wood  well  scraix'd.  or  entirely  free  from 
propolis;  one  side  of  tlie  section  sealed  witli  white 
cuppings,  free  from  pollen,  :iiid  liaviiig'  all  cells 
sealed  except  the  line  nf  cells  next  the  wood;  the 
other  side  white,  oi'  but  slightly  discolored,  with  not 
more  than  two  cells  of  |)(>llen,  and  not  more  than 
ten  cells  unsealed  beside  the  line  of  cells  touching 
the  wood;  comb  fastened  to  the  wood  on  four  sides. 

No.  2.— Three-fourths  of  the  tottd  surface  must  be 
filled  and  sealed;  wood  well  scraped  of  propolis. 

No.  .'i.— Must  weigh  at  least  half  as  much  <is  a  full- 
weight  section. 


There  are  the  four  grades. 

For  the  classes  of  honey,  1  would  suggest  the  four 
already  in  use,  sufficiently  understood  from  the 
names  alone;  namely,  Uijht,  amber,  dark,  mixed. 

You  will  see  that  there  is  nothing  new  in  any 
of  this.  It  is  hardly  probable  that  it  will  en- 
tirely suit  any  one.  It  does  not  suit  me.  I  have 
not  tried  to  give  what  would  suit  any  one  man 
or  set  of  men.  I  have  merely  made  an  attempt 
to  come  as  nearly  as  I  could  to  what  all  might 
agree  upon,  each  one  making  some  concession 
for  the  general  good.  If  some  one  has  some- 
thing better  as  a  basis  to  start  with,  I  shall  be 
not  only  willing,  but  glad  to  see  this  thrown 
aside  and  the  better  taken  in  its  place.  But 
something  must  be  taken  as  a  basis.  It  will  not 
do  for  each  one  to  offer  the  system  that  exactly 
suits  him.  We'll  not  get  on  very  fast  in  that 
way.  If  no  better  basis  is  offered  than  the  one 
I  have  given,  then  let  each  one  look  it  over  and 
see,  not  what  changes  must  be  made  to  make 
the  plan  entirely  acceptable,  but,  rather,  let 
him  see  what  is  the  least  change  necessary  to 
make  him  willing  to  agree  to  the  system,  taking 
into  account  what  others  as  well  as  himself 
may  desire. 

I  see  I  have  made  the  impression  that  W.  C. 
Frazier's  system  suits  me  better  than  all  the 
rest.  That  is  hardly  trtie.  as  will  be  seen  from 
the  system  I  have  attempted;  but  I  like  his 
idea  of  having  a  system  of  grading  which  does 
not  involve  the  honey  itself,  leaving  that  as  a 
separate  classification.  Others  had  the  same 
idea,  but  did  not  bring  it  out  so  clearly,  or,  at 
least,  it  did  not  strike  me  so. 

The  names  of  the  grades  are  simple.  They 
are  easily  understood,  both  by  the  producer  and 
consumer.  And  I  don't  know  why  the  constira- 
er  shouldn't  fully  understand  just  what  they 
mean.  There  will  never  be  a  great  overstock.  I 
fancy,  of  honey  classed  a»  fancy.  Perhaps  it  is 
drawing  the  lines  rather  tightly  to  <ay,  "  All 
cells  sealed."  Possibly  a  certain  number  of 
cells  next  the  wood  ought  to  be  allowed  unseal- 
ed. I  think  very  few  have  been  in  the  habit  of 
sorting  out  their  best  honey  into  this  grade; 
but  the  man  who  puts  several  tons  on  a  large 
market  could  select  a  number  of  crates  for 
which  an  extra  price  could  be  obtained,  and 
that  without  lowering  the  price  of  his  No.  1 
honey. 

The  No.  1  contains  the  bulk  of  a  good  bee- 
keeper's crop,  and  on  that  accotint  it  is  the 
most  important  of  all.  The  only  bee-keeper 
with  whom  I  have  had  a  chance  to  talk  the 
matter  over,  objects  to  my  putting  down  •'  ten 
cells"  as  the  limit  allowed  unsealed  on  the 
poorer  side  of  a  No.  1  section.  But  it  seems  to 
me  that,  so  far  as  possible,  every  thing  should 
be  very  exact.  If  stich  a  phrase  as  "  only  a  few 
cells  "  should  be  used,  then  somt^  would  under- 
stand that  to  mean  three,  and  some  fifty.  If 
ten  isn't  the  right  ntimber.  then  make  it  five, 
twenty,  or  whatever  is  thought  best;  but  don't 
leave  it  ind(>finite.  The  term  "slightly  discol- 
ored "  is  indefinite,  and  on  that  account  objec- 
tionable, but  I  don't  see  how  to  better  it  easily. 

In  No.  ;2,  not  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  to- 
tal surface  must  be  left  unfilled  and  unsealed. 
Possibly  it  is  not  necessary  to  say  three-fourths 
of  the  surface  must  be. /)??cd  ai'id  sealed,  for  it 
will  hardly  be  sealed  without  being  filled.  As 
to  the  remaining  fourth,  it  may  be  filled  and 
not  sealed,  or  there  may  be  empty  comb  or  en- 
tire vacancy  to  the  amount  of  one- fourth  of  the 
section.  Of  course,  the  uns(aled  part  might  be 
on  one  or  both  sides.  That  is.  one  side  might  be 
all  filled  and  sealed,  and  the  other  side  half 
sealed,  or  each  side  might  be  three-fourths 
sealed,  or  one  side  may  have  anywhere  from 
the  half  to  the  whole  of  it  sealed,  only  so 
that  there  shall  be  enough  sealed  on  the  other 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


455 


sld»>  so  that  tho  soaling  oil  botli  sides  taken  to- 
gether shall  be  as  much  as  tliree-foiirths  of  the 
total  siirfare  of  both  sides  added  toj^etlier. 

The  dillieiilly  of  adopliiifX  a  system  of  ^radiiiji 
that  shall  be  satisfaetoiy  to  all  is  greatef  than 
at  liist  antieipated.  so  that  I  ilo  not  wonder  that 
some  have  little  faith  that  any  one  system  can 
be  agrei'd  upon.  1  think  that  all  agree  that 
the  gnuiiul  of  the  ditliculty  lies  in  the  fact  that 
ditTerent  localities  raise  different  kindsof  honey. 
and  each  locality  wants  a  system  of  grading 
that  shall  throw  no  discredit  upon  the  honey 
raised  in  that  locality.  If  I  am  rightly  inform- 
ed, the  York  State  men  have  no  dilliculty  in* 
agreeing  upon  a  system  that  suits  them:  so  can 
tlie  California  men:  so  can  the  Mississippi  Valley 
men.  Now  suppose  white  clover  is  the  only 
kind  of  honey  raised  all  over.  There  would 
probably  be  no  great  difiiculty  in  settling  upon 
a  system  acceptable  to  all.  No.  1  white  clover 
would  easily  be  the  sam(>  in  York  Stale  or  in 
Western  Illinois:  and  then  suppos(>  that,  all 
over  the  land,  a  second  crop  should  be  obtained 
from  Sjjanisli  needles.  Would  not  all  agree 
that  a  No.  1  Spanish-needle  section  should  be 
just  the  same  as  a  No.  1  white-clover  section, 
except  that  one  was  filled  with  white-clover 
honey  and  the  other  witli  Spanish-needle?  and 
the  same  way  if  all  the  different  sourcc^s  of 
honey  ruled  in  every  location.  Now.  if  I  am 
correct  in  this  then  there  ought  to  be  no  more 
difficulty  in  agreeing  upon  the  grades,  as  things 
now  exist:  and  then  the  only  thing  to  add  is,  to 
say  what  kind  of  honey  is  contained — light, 
.'rnber,  dark,  or  mixed.  If  any  one  objects  that 
light,  amber,  etc..  are  not  distinctive  enough, 
then  there  need  be  no  difficulty  at  any  time  in 
specifying  particularly  any  one  class  of  honey. 
Indeed.  I  should  expect  that,  in  time  at  least, 
some  few  particular  kinds  of  honey  would  come 
prominently  to  the  front,  and  that  possibly  in 
some  markets  No.  1  Spanish  needle  might  be 
quoted  higher  than  No.  1  light.  But  the  great 
tiling  is,  to  agree  upon  the  grades,  to  be  alike 
applied  to  all  kinds  of  honey,  and  I  have  some 
hope  that  we  may  reach  that.     C.  C.  Millek. 

Marengo,  111. 

[We  are  heartily  in  sympathy  with  the  doc- 
tor in  his  effort  to  get  a  system  of  grading  that 
will  insure  some  probability  of  adoption  at  the 
North  American  at  Washington.  While  his 
plan,  as  he  suggests,  is  not  original  with  him- 
self, it  embodies  the  idea  of  simplicity,  and.  at 
the  same;  time,  elasticity  for  different  locations 
and  different  kinds  of  honey,  in  a  way  that  is 
better,  perhaps,  than  any  thing  else  that  has 
been  proposed.  There  is  possibly  one  criticism 
that  will  be  made;  and  that  is,  that  the  differ- 
ent grades  should  be  lettered  rather  than  inim- 
hercd.  After  all.  we  do  not  know  that  we 
would  insist  on  that  point  too  strongly,  because 
the  No.  2  grade  is.  in  reality.  No.  2  honey. 

When  our  forefathers  framed  the  articles  of 
our  constitution  —  an  instrument  admired  the 
world  over  —  it  was  by  no  means  satisfactory  to 
every  member  of  the  body  that  framed  it.  But 
each  one  was  willing  to  yield  a  point  for  the 
sake  of  getting  something  better  than  they  liad; 
and  what  a  world  of  good  it  has  done  I  Now, 
we  as  bee-keepers  should  be  careful  to  see  that 
we  are  not  prejudiced,  but  willing  to  yield  a 
point  for  the  sake  of  obtaining  Nonicthing;  and 
even  if  all  do  not  use  it  after  it  has  been  for- 
mally adopted  by  a  national  body  of  bee-keep- 
ers, a  large  majority  probably  would.  We  need 
something,  and  must  have  a  system  of  grading 
whereby  honey-buyers  all  the  wav  from  San 
Francisco  to  New  Y^ork  may  be  able  to  know 
iust  what  is  meant  bv  a  certain  description  of 
honey.  We  should  like  to  hear  briefly  from  all 
those  who  have  proposed  systems  of  grading,  as 


to  what  they  think  of  the  one  above;  and  par- 
ticularly should  we  like  to  hear  from  commis- 
sion men. J 

DIBBLES  LATEST  SELF-HIVEE. 


A     CO.Vrt.MATloN     OK     Till-;     SI  li.lIOCT. 


Gi.p:anings  for  May  15  contains  an  article  ex- 
plaining how  to  hive  bees  upstairs.  My  de- 
vice (see  engraving)  is  an  altogether  different 
oiu!,  and  I  will  explain  to  you  how  I  use  it.  and 
I  know  it  works. 

I  use  the  .James  Ileddon  bottom-board  and 
stand,  v;-inch  rim  on  bottom-board,  except  the 
front,  and  2-inch  on  side  corner.  The  front  I 
use  perforated  metal  to  conline  the  queen  on  the 
combs,  and  allows  the  bees  free  access  to  the 
hives;  and  it  furnishes  no  roosting-place  for 
bees  to  cluster  in  the  shade.  The  2-inch  space 
is  furnished  with  a  button  which  closes  this 
space  when  the  trap  is  not  in  use.  This  trap 
hangs  on  the  bottom-board  by  tacking  a  strip 
of  tin  3  inches  long  on  each  end.  On  the  trap  is 
a  similar  tin  which  shoves  b(diind,  and  firmly 
holds  the  trap  to  its  place.  I  use  either  trap  as 
a  queen-catcher,  or  to  hive  bees  automatically. 
As  a  queen-trap  I  use  it  as  shown,  closing  the 
outlet.  As  a  self-hiver.  conn(!ct  the  outlet  of 
the  trap  with  the  adjoining  hive:  prepare 
the  hive  with  one  dry  comb,  if  convenient. 
Even  though  I  have  worked  hard,  and  have 
been  determined  to  get  an  even  full-sized 
swarm  every  time  in  the  empty  hive.  I  have 
not  accomplished  the  object.  Y'et  with  this 
trap,  and  the  man  who  tells  you  he  can 
with  any  trap,  it  will  probably  pay  you  to  in- 
vestigate a  little  before  investing  largely.  I 
speak  now  of  hiving  on  the  side.  The  results  I 
get  will  vary  from  one  pint  to  a  full-sized 
swarm  going  with  the  queen  to  the  new  hive. 
I  don't  care  which  when  I  use  the  extra  hive. 
I  generally  use  it  for  increase:  and  when  I  find 
a  stock  of  bees  that  has  swarmed  in  my  absence 
(prepared  as  above)  I  shake  as  few  or  as  many 
bees  with  the  new  swarm  as  desired,  and  re- 
move the  old  hive  to  a  new  and  permanent  lo- 
cation. 

This  work  can  be  done  at  any  time  from  one 
hour  to  four  days  usually.  It  must  be  done  be- 
fore the  young  queen  hatches.  If  you  are  a 
farmer,  mechanic,  doctor,  or  preacher,  doit  any 
time  you  have  the  time  to  do  it. 

This  arrangement  furnishes  me  positive  proof 
that  my  queens  are  cared  for,  and  not  returned 
to  the  hive  to  be  killed,  whicli  will  often  hap- 
pen. It  furnishes  me  instant  proof  that  this 
stock  of  bees  has  swarmed  and  needs  attention. 
Without  extra  labor  I  can  pass  down  a  row  of 
hives,  and  each  hive  tells  its  own  story.  You 
have    noticed,   probably,  that  a   newly    hived 


'..■....iii.»iiiiiV. .Ill ffi 


DIBBLE  8   AUTOMATir   SW.\KMER. 

swarm  of  bees  works  with  a  will  that  you  will 
.seldom  see  at  any  other  time:  and  if  I  had  the 
time,  and  not  too  many  bees.  I  would  hive  all 
of  my  bees  by  natural  swarming,  and  use  the 
old  hive  as  a  feeder  to  the  new  one  by  setting  it 
on  one  side,  in  such  shape  and  form  as  to  cause 
the   field   bees  to  return  to  the  old    home.    I 


456 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


think  no  other  management  will  produce  better 
results  for  surplus  honey  and  little  or  no  in- 
crease. 

Please  allow  me  to  go  back  a  little  to  the  up- 
right trap,  Gleanings.  May  15,  and  say  that, 
if  you  want  a  full-sized  swarm  upstairs  with 
the  queen,  without  any  assistance,  use  your 
bottom-board  between  the  two  hives  only,  and 
a  hole  or  a  connection  in  it  with  perforated 
metal  tacked  on.  An  inch  hole  is  sufficient.  If 
you  want  every  thing  in  bees  upstairs,  put  a 
bee-escape  in  place  of  the  metal.  Every  bot- 
tom ought  to  be  supplied  with  vent  for  air,  and 
so  arranged  as  to  close  when  not  wanted. 

I  have  studied  days  and  weeks,  nights  and 
Sundays  included  (excuse  me;  I  remember  Mr. 
Root's  Sunday  thoughts  while  the  minister  was 
preaching — couldn't  helj)  it,  you  know),  to  per- 
fect a  trap  or  traps  that  would  allow  me  time  to 
care  for  bees  from  homo.  I  expect  to  keep  right 
on  studying;  and  any  skeptic  who  doubts  my 
being  able  to  do  it  can  get  positive  proof  by 
sending  for  a  list  of  free  testimonials. 

I  don't  want  it  understood  that  I  care-for  my 
different  yards  of  bees  alone,  and  allow  my 
bees  to  swarm  to  their  hearts'  content.  No. 
sir;  I  don't  do  it.  It  may  be  a  little  new,  per- 
haps, but  I  am  preparing  now,  ready  for  use,  a 

COMB-KECEIVICR 

for  every  hive  of  bees.  I  hang  it  on  the  side  of 
an  eight-frame  hive,  with  openings  between  it 
and  the  brood  hive,  so  constructed  that  it  is 
open  for  queen  and  bees  and  all  to  pass  in 
either  apartment,  or  perforated  metal,  to  sepa- 
rate queens  only.  If  more  than  one,  or  close,  it 
entirely  separates  the  comb-receiver  from  the 
hive. 

I  use  this  comb-receiver  for  the  following 
purposes:  As  a  feeder,  a  nucleus  hive  supplied 
with  bees  from  the  same  colony,  attached  to  it 
or  any  other.  My  queens  are  all  mated  from 
them.  Every  strong  stock  is  a  nucleus;  every 
nucleus  is  a  strong  stock  of  bees,  using  it  at  any 
or  all  times  when  wanted;  and  when  you  don't 
want  them  any  more,  the  bees  belong  to  that 
colony.  It  needs  no  extra  preparation  for  unit- 
ing or  building  up  nuclei. 

I  use  it  to  prevent  swarming,  by  taking  the 
comb  the  queen  is  on,  bees  and  all,  in  the  re- 
ceiver when  the  stock  is  preparing  to  swarm; 
and  I  hold  her  there  until  I  care  to  return  her 
back  to  the  stock  she  came  from,  or  any  other. 

I  use  it  to  introduce  queens  or  supersede  any 
queen  you  wish  to  dispose  of.  No  time  is  lost 
in  egg-laying;  no  queens  are  lost  in  introducing. 
If  for  want  of  time,  or  I  can't  find  the  queen 
when  exchanging  the  queen  to  the  comb-receiv- 
er, or  any  other  carelessness  or  absent-minded- 
ness, I  am  arranging  for  such  emergencies  to 
let  the  traps  return  the  queen  to  the  receiver. 
Either  trap  will  do  it;  and  when  I  have  an  out- 
yard  marked  to  return  in  four  days.  I  know 
every  thing  is  all  right.  I  can  sleep  better  by 
knowing  it.  I  know  this  location.  Everybody 
ought  to  know  his  location  well  enough  to 
know  when  to  expect  honey,  and  about  when  to 
proceed  as  above.  At  times,  when  only  occa- 
sionally a  swarm  issues,  let  the  trap  do  the 
work:  time  is  money,  and  bee-keepers  must 
adopt  new  methods  if  they  succeed  at  the  pres- 
ent price  of  honey. 

Bee-keeping  is  the  most  enticing  business  I 
know  any  thing  about;  and  I  have  never  known 
a  genuine  bee-man  to  give  up  the  business  who 
ever  succeeded  in  any  thing  else.  He  is  spoiled 
for  any  other  occupation. 

SUCCESS   IN   BEE   CULTURE. 

He  who  obtains  it  is  the  most  happy  man  liv- 
ing. "  Blasted  Hopes  "  means  the  most  misera- 
ble being  living.    I  have  been   there,  you  see. 


Mr.  Root.  I  suppose  it  is  customary  among 
readers  of  Gleanings  who  invent  or  introduce 
something  new,  to  send  you  reliable  testimony 
as  to  the  success  of  their  inventions.  Allow  me 
to  present  to  you  testimonials  of  reliable  men 
where  I  keep  bees;  also  my  neighbor  bee-keep- 
ers. 

A   FEW   AFTER-THOUGHTS. 

I  received  a  patent,  May  3,  1892,  for  my  side 
trap;  patent  applied  for  on  upright  trap  and 
other  things  connected  with  it.  When  these 
traps  get  clogged  with  hundreds  of  dead  drones, 
clear  them.  Several  swarms  at  one  time  will 
often  all  unite  and  cluster  together.  I  hear 
of  heavy  losses  of  bees  all  around  me.  My  loss 
is  less  than  3  per  cent.  Young  queens  out  mat- 
ing will  often  lead  swarms  off. 

Wesley  Dibble. 

Middleburgh,  Scho.  Co.,  N.  Y. 

[Mr.  Dibble  has  sent  us  a  number  of  reports 
from  bee-keepers  and  friends,  testifying  to  the 
success  of  his  automatic  swarmers.  Now,  per- 
haps you  would  like  to  know  just  what  we 
tliink  of  his  swarmers.  We  have  had  no  experi- 
ence, and  can  not  at  present  offer  any  opinion 
of  any  of  the  swarmers. 

Since  the  foregoing  was  written  we  have  had 
a  little  experience — just  a  little.  We  prepared, 
as  mentioned  elsewhere,  several  colonies  a  la 
Pratt.  From  one  of  these  a  swarm  has  just 
come  forth.  The  queen  went  into  the  prepared 
hive  below,  and  finally  the  bees  returned  and 
assembled  on  the  entrance.  They  act  very  much 
disconcerted,  however  —  as  if  they  hadn't  been 
satisfied.  Well,  we  haven't  time  to  tell  you 
how  it  will  "  pan  out,"  because  Barney,  the 
boss  printer,  says  "  this  hole  "  must  be  tilled  up 
now.  so  as  to  get  this  form  of  type  on  the  press 
in  time.] 


Ud/e$'  Conversazione. 


WEWAHITCHKA  APIARIES. 


AN    INTERESTING    LETTER   FROM    MRS.    L.    HAR- 
RISON. 


Mr.  Alderman  had  made  ai'rangements  for 
me  to  visit  the  company's  large  apiary,  located 
at  the  home  of  Mr.  Roberts;  and  on  the  morn- 
ing of  April  14th  I  was  driven  over  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Wewahitchka,  where  I  met  Mr.  Alder- 
man, who  was  my  companion  the  rest  of  the 
way.  This  drive  of  five  miles  was  a  delightful 
one,  especially  to  a  Northerner  unaccustomed 
toil.  Part  of  the  drive  was  over  the  roadbed 
of  the  old  .St.  Joe  railroad,  discarded  since  the 
town  of  St.  Joe  was  destroyed  by  yellow  fever 
many  years  ago.  Tall  trees  lined  the  way  each 
side  of  the  road,  covered  with  semi-tropical 
verdure,  creeping  vines,  Cherokee  roses,  etc. 
Pari  of  the  roadbed  was' peculiar,  reminding  me 
of  the  walks  around  the  Japanese  building  at 
Fairmount  Park  during  the  Centennial  at 
Philadelphia.  They  are  neither  hard  nor  soft, 
muddy  nor  sandy;  the  wheels  of  the  vehicle  did 
not  cut  in,  bnt  rolled  over  this  soft,  springy 
substance,  which  words  fail  me  to  describe. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roberts,  and  their  interesting 
family  of  nine  children,  gave  us  a  cordial  recep- 
tion, and  we  were  soon  talking  bees  as  no  others 
can  who  have  no  practical  knowledge  of  and  love 
for  these  industrious  insects.  Mr.  Alderman 
drove  away  to  another  apiary,  while  I  remain- 
ed and  was  soon  out  among  the  bees.  I  never 
saw  such  a  large  bee -city  before — six  hundred 
colonies,  under  sheds  with   upright  roofs;  two 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


457 


li>nij  rows  luuliT  carli  diit'.  faoiiin  in  (iilTcriMit 
dirt'olitiiis,  \\itl\  plenty  of  sp;u-i'  lictwecn  tliciii 
for  llii'  apiaiisl  toworU  in  tiu-  sliado  and  iu)l 
intcrft'it'  Willi  tiicir  tlig;iu.  Mr.  Roberts  pointed 
ti>  a  nninber  of  liives  that  \\i're  in  tlie  partial 
sliade  of  small  oaUs.  and  said  that  they  (lid  the 
best:  and  when  a  ixrove  of  small  oaks  near  by 
were  larijer.  he  wonld  place  iiives  amoiifj;  iIkmii. 
These  oaks  are  dei'idiioiis  trees,  and  lose  tiieir 
leaves  when  bees  are  bent^ited  by  the  sun's 
rays.  When  looking  at  the  hot-beds  in  Gi.kan- 
ixos  1  thoniJcht  of  these  beeslu'ds,  and  wonder- 
ed if  it  would  not  be  a  good  idea  to  cover  them 
with  muslin  during  hot  wcatiier.  and  renu)ve  it 
during  the  winter  months.  My  observations  in 
the  State  of  Florida  were  conlined  from  dan.  Uth 
to  the  middle  of  April:  and  during  that  time  I 
should  have  preferred  colonies  to  stand  in  the 
sunshine,  for  there  appeared  to  be  such  a  great 
ditTereiice  in  the  warmth  betwt'en  it  and  shade. 
This  is  the  time  of  tiie  year  when  bees  should 
bo  rearing  brood  in  order  to  be  populous  when 
flowers  are  most  abundant. 

When  this  locality  is  favored  with  abundant 
rain  it  might  be  an  impossibility  to  overstock 
it:  but  for  several  years  it  has  been  dry — last 
year  especially  so:  for.  for  four  months  there 
was  not  rain  enough  to  wet  a  pocket  handker- 
chief, and  three  more  partially  so.  As  the 
result  of  this  drouth,  the  water  in  the  titles 
dried  uj).  and  (ires  ran  through  them,  destroy- 
ing the  titi  bushes,  whicli  are  valuable  sources 
for  honey.  Frosts  the  ITth  and  18th  of  March, 
this  spring.  destroy<>d  much  of  the  titi  bloom, 
and  bees  fared  poorly,  and  hives  were  not  popu- 
lous at  tlie  time  of  my  visit. 

.JUMBO. 

I  went  into  the  honey-house,  and,  lo  and  be- 
hold I  there  he  stood — not  an  elephant,  but  an 
extractor  that  kept  ten  men  busy  to  feed,  and 
had  the  capacity  of  twenty-five  barrels  per  day. 
It  was  the  Stanley,  and'  had  eight  baskets. 
The  yield  last  season  was  '.I'tO  barrels,  averaging 
340  poutids  net.  From  34(J  to  3.50  barrels  is  con- 
sidered a  good  crop.  The  trademark  for  the 
honey  of  Alderman  it  Roberts  is  orange- bloom, 
though  the  surplus  is  not  gathered  from  orange- 
blossoms,  as  this  is  all  consumed  in  rearing 
brood,  as  is  also  that  gathered  from  titi.  Mr. 
Roberts,  who  is  the  practical  apiarist  of  the 
firm,  said  that  he  could  get  7.5  lbs.  of  extracted 
honey,  when,  if  he  should  run  for  comb  honey, 
only  50  lbs.  could  be  obtained. 

TUPELO — SOUR-GUM   TKEES. 

This  is  the  source  from  which  the  honey 
whose  trademark  is  orange-bloom  is  obtained. 
The  honey  is  of  light  straw  color,  of  agreeable 
flavor,  weighing  12  lbs.  to  the  gallon,  and  does 
not  granulate  at  th(^  .South.  Xyssa  (uputtied 
(water  tupelo)  and  Xiissd  nnipora<\-dvgi',  tupelo) 
are  very  numerous  in  the  dead-lakes  region. 
During  their  blooming,  a  colony  kept  upon  the 
scales  registered  18  lbs.  in  one  day;  then  eight, 
four,  and  twelve,  according  as  the  winds  pre- 
vailed from  the  south. 

There  is  a  vine  called  snowvine  growing  in 
that  locality,  which  yields  much  honey.  I  can 
not  find  a  description  of  it  in  Gray's  Botany  that 
I  have  at  hand.  I  plucked  a  branch  of  it  from 
a  tree  while  I  was  standing  on  the  guards  of  a 
steamboat  coming  u|)  the  Apalachicola  River. 

I  regret  that  I  was  not  able  to  visit  more 
apiaries  in  that  interesting  locality,  and  ascer- 
tain more  of  its  honey  resources:  but  a  boat 
stopped  at  the  landing  "the  following  morning, 
and  liom*!  was  too  strong  a  temptation  for  me 
to  resist,  as  there  would  not  be  another  one  to 
land  there  for  one  week. 

Bro.  Root,  if  you  have  to  rest  next  winter, 
visit  Florida,  and  give  us  in  Gi.EANiX(is  .some 
views  of  that  land  of  flowers,  as  you  have  done 


of  California.  There  is  healing  in  her  resinous, 
piney  woods,  pure  air,  and  soft  water  which  you 
like  so  well;  and  when  you  do,  may  I  be  there 
to  greet  you.  Mk.s.  L.  Harkison. 

Peoria,  111. 

[My  good  fri(uid,  I  have  long  been  watching 
and  waiting  for  something  from  you  from  your 
Soutlx'rn  home.  I!(^  it  know  n  unto  you,  there 
was  very  much  talk  lietween  Mrs.  Root  and  my- 
self in  ri'gard  to  our  visit:  and  I  once  actually 
laia  the  money  on  the  counter  for  the  purchase 
of  two  tickets;  but  something  turned  up  that 
interrtipted  the  plan.  I  remember  of  writing 
home  that  we  were  going  to  take  the  cars  for 
Chattahoochee,  and  ride  on  the  steamer  Apa- 
lachicola to  Wewahitchka.  You  see,  I  was  go- 
ing to  astonish  tliem  by  the  great  places  we 
were  visiting  —  great  in  name  if  no  other  way. 
Whyl  your  story  is  not  half  long  enough.  You 
touch  upon  ever  so  many  things  that  I  am  anx- 
ious to  know  about,  and  I  sniipose  I  shall  have 
to  go  there  myself  some  time  and  see.  1  was 
not  before  aware  that  any  apiarist  or  company 
in  the  whole  of  Florida  produced  2.50  barrels  of 
honey  in  a  season.  Eighteen  pounds  a  day  is 
certainly  enough  to  make  a  stir  in  almost  any 
locality.  No  wonder  home  was  a  temptation.  I 
have  never  regri'tted  that  I  did  not  i)ush  on  to 
Florida  just  then;  but  I  am  strongly  determin- 
ed, Providence  permitting,  to  visit  Florida  and 
take  the  Kodak  along.  I  wonder  whoiher  we 
could  not  make  it  '"catch  on"  to  that  resinous 
perfume  you  speak  of.  I  should  suppose  of 
course,  my  good  friend,  you  would  have  been 
keeping  some  bees  yourself— at  least  a  few — in 
that  land  of  flowers.  By  the  way,  you  let  out  a 
secret.  I  fear,  when  you  speak  of  four  months 
without  rain.  I  think  one  of  the  Florida  friends 
told  me  that  it  alivays  rained  down  there,  win- 
ter and  summer.]  A.  I.  R. 


HOW  TO  LESSEN  THE  LABOR  OF  WOMEN 

WHO   HAVE   SWARMING   BEES   TO   CARE   FOR. 


If  the  dishes  are  washed  and  immediately 
replaced  upon  the  table  it  saves  much  time,  for, 
when  dish-washing  time  comes,  one  generally 
has  more  time  than  just  before  the  meal.  To 
keep  the  table  neat  and  clean,  have  a  frame 
made  of  lath,  about  one  foot  deep,  to  keep  the 
cloth  that  covers  the  table  from  getting  into 
the  food  left  on  the  table.  Make  the  frame  so 
that  it  will  just  tit  the  top  of  the  table,  and 
cover  it  with  some  pretty,  dark  calico  that  does 
not  fade  when  washed.  The  frame  should  be 
covered  plainly,  but  there  should  be  a  scant 
frill  gathered  and  sewed  around  the  sides,  to 
hang  down  a  few  inches,  and  all  should  be  fas- 
tened to  the  frame.  When  the  frame  is  not  in 
use  over  the  table  it  should  be  hung  upon  two 
hooks  on  the  wall,  so  that  it  may  not  be  broken 
or  soiled. 

Leave  the  sugar,  butU^r.  salt,  pepper,  honey, 
spoons,  and  such  things  as  are  needed  each 
meal,  always  upon  the  table.  Do  not  go  to  the 
cellar  for  potatoes  each  meal,  but  bring  up  a 
large  panful  at  some  leisure  time,  and  wash  all 
at  onc(!  by  pouring  warm  water  over  them. 
Let  them  "stand  five  minnti's  or  so,  to  soak  the 
dirt  loose,  then  roll  them  round  and  round  until 
the  dirt  is  removed.  Now  with  both  hands  take 
all  out  and  put  them  into  a  hirge  pan  that  has 
been  punched  full  of  holes,  kept  for  that  pur- 
pose. If  the  pan  lias  become  rusty  from  con- 
tinual use.  coat  the  bottom  over  with  rosin  and 
lard.  Not  enough  lard  should  be  used  in  the 
rosin  to  make  it  sticky,  but  just  enough  to  pre- 
vent its  cracking  off.  The  potatoes  will  need 
two  washings,  and  should  be  left  in  the  pan  to 
drain  over  an  old  pail  until  done  dripping. 


458 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


The  washings  may  be  done  on  rainy  or  dark 
days,  when  the  bees  choose  to  stay  at  home. 
The  underclothes,  sheets,  and  towels  may  be 
used  without  ironing,  rather  than  overwork,  or 
rather  than  let  the  bees  go  to  the  woods  or 
swarra  when  thei'e  is  no  one  to  care  for  them; 
for  if  one  keeps  bees  it  pays  to  take  care  of  them 
in  the  proper  time.  It  takes  the  beauty  all  out 
of  the  pursuit  to  make  it  work  that  is  looked 
after  only  when  all  other  work  is  done. 

If  you  give  the  children  a  penny  or  more 
every  time  they  get  stung  while  helping  with 
the  bees,  most  of  them  will  be  I'eady  to  run  the 
risk  of  stings,  especially  if  they  are  carefully 
protected  against  them.  My  little  adopted  girl 
used  to  make  a  great  fuss  over  a  sting;  but 
when  1  give  her  a  penny  for  each  one  she  re- 
fuses to  have  her  hands  covered,  as  she  says  she 
can  work  easier  without  the  covering.  But  it 
is  the  pennies  she  cares  foi-  more  than  the 
amount  of  work  done.  Children,  like  grown 
folks,  like  money  of  their  own.  and  it  is  better 
for  them  to  earn  it  than  to  give  it  to  them.  If 
they  are  paid  10  cents  oi'  more  for  every  swarm 
they  detect  coming  out  when  no  one  else  is 
watching,  they  will  be  quite  attentive  in  watch- 
ing for  swarms. 

The  bread  may  be  set  in  the  evening,  so  that 
it  may  be  baked  before  swarming  time  next 
day.  Many  prefer  setting  the  bread  at  night, 
thinking  it  makes  better  bread. 

FOOD   FOR  THE   OTJT-APTAKY. 

Much  of  this  may  be  cooked  while  getting 
breakfast.  .Just  cook  a  little  more — a  little 
more  coffee,  a  few  mon^  potatoes,  to  make  into 
potato-balls  by  running  them  through  the 
potato-masher  advertised  in  Gleanings;  sea- 
son them  with  a  little  sugar,  pepper,  butter, 
and  salt.  They  are  nice  cold,  rolled  into  balls 
for  the  out-apiary  dinner,  or  slowly  fried  in  a 
little  butter  or  fat  for  the  home  dinner.  Eggs 
and  meat  may  be  boiled  the  evening  before, 
which  will  answer  just  as  well  for  the  home 
dinner  as  for  the  out-apiary. 

When  much  extra  work  is  expected,  as  swarm- 
ing or  harvesting,  it  pays  to  bi'  libei'al  with  the 
pennies  for  the  children,  to  induce  them  to  save 
steps  for  their  parents,  and  thus  tide  them 
over  the  hard  places,  rather  than  for  either 
of  the  parents  to  overwork:  for  if  either  gets 
sick  just  then  it  makes  it  hard  all  around,  be- 
sides the  great  loss  sometimes  sustained.  Leave 
as  little  to  be  done  in  the  mornings  as  possible. 
If  there  is  time  in  the  evening,  pick  the  berries. 
Take  the  children  along,  and.  if  they  can't  be 
induced  in  any  other  way,  reward  them  a  little 
for  picking.  Some  object  to  paying  children 
for  work  done.  Perhaps  it  is  not  best  to  do  so, 
except  to  get  as  much  help  as  possible  in  these 
special  times  of  extra  labor. 

Sweeping  and  dusting  spare  rooms,  scrubbing 
porches  and  walks,  may  be  done  in  the  even- 
ings, if  there  is  spare  time;  if  not.  they  had  bet- 
ter be  left  undone  than  to  ov{>rwork.  It  is  very 
little  our  walks  getscrulihed  in  swarming  time, 
except  with  honey.  Such  work  can  better  be 
neglected  than  cooking,  for  it  helps  one  to  be 
good-natured  to  have  appetizing  food;  and  of 
all  limes  when  I  appreciate  good  dinners.it  is 
when  I  have  been  wearied  and  worried  catching 
swarms.  It  helps  to  settle  the  nerves,  which 
helps  to  keep  cool-headed.  And  yet  one  had 
better  live  very  plainly  than  to  overwork,  espe- 
cially during  swarming  time,  remembei-ing 
that  swarming  comes  only  once  in  three  or  four 
years,  or  at  most  for  three  weeks  once  in  a  year, 
unless  it  be  a  year  like  18S:,>,  when  we  had  one 
or  more  swarms  every  day  from  the  first  of  June 
to  the  middle  of  September,  except  about  a 
week  in  the  first  of  August. 
How  every  thing  goes  wrong  if  one  allows 


himself  or  herself  to  get  worried  and  excited,  or 
out  of  patience!  It  would  seem  that  all  the 
bees  were  intending  to  come  out  of  the  hives  at 
once,  and  to  have  things  their  own  w-ay.  Of  all 
places  in  the  world,  it  seems  to  work  the  worst 
to  lose  one's  patience  with  the  bees.  I  remem- 
ber watching  one  of  our  helpers  as  he  was 
working  alone  with  the  bees.  As  they  flew  at 
him  he  would  strike  at  them  with  the  smoker. 
The  more  he  struck  at  them,  the  more  enraged 
they  became.  I  don't  know  how  it  would  have 
turned  out  had  I  not  told  him  that  would  ruin 
any  colony,  and  proceeded  to  help  him  finish 
the  colony  and  close  the  hive.  After  that  I 
never  trusted  him  alone  with  a  hive  of  bees. 

A  hammock  or  two  in  each  apiary,  or,  what  I 
like  better,  a  bench  with  a  raised  head-board 
and  a  quilt  folded  and  spread  over  it,  on  which 
to  rest  whenever  there  is  time,  is  a  great  com- 
fort, as  has  been  spoken  of  before  in  the  bee- 
journals.  Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtell. 

Roseville,  Illinois. 


EMPTY  COMBS. 


HOW  TO   CAKE   FOR    THEM   WHEN   NOT   IN   USE. 


We  are  especially  interested  this  year  in  tak- 
ing care  of  an  unusual  number  of  extra  combs — 
those  that  are  thrown  on  our  hands  to  care  for 
by  having  so  many  colonies  die,  and  it  is  no 
small  task.  We  have  considerably  more  than  a 
thousand  to  so  care  for.  Heretofore  we  have 
given  our  extra  combs  to  the  b^es  to  take  care 
of.  Filling  a  hive  with  these  cf)mbs.  we  placed 
them  under  a  strong  colony,  and  the  bees  would 
take  the  best  of  care  of  them.  Sometimes  one 
colony  would  take  care  of  several  hives  of  combs 
placed  under,  and  I  know  of  no  better  way  to 
care  for  them,  providing  you  have  plenty  of 
bees.  But  taking  care  of  such  a  number  of  ex- 
tra combs  must  be  some  detriment  to  the  bees, 
as  it  gives  them  just  so  much  extra  work.  This 
year  we  are  very  anxious  to  make  the  most  we 
can  of  what  bees  we  have  lef',  so  we  are  going 
to  try  to  take  care  of  some  of  the  combs  our- 
selves. 

In  the  shop  cellar  we  nailed  lath  on  each  side 
of  the  joists,  near  the  lower  edge.  On  this  lath 
we  hung  the  frames.  There  not  being  room  to 
hang  them  straight  across,  they  were  hung  on 
a  slant.  About  an  inch  space  was  left  between 
them.  If  there  was  to  be  any  great  amount  of 
jarring  they  might  not  be  very  secure,  as  they 
have  only  the  thickness  of  the  lath,  about  %  of 
an  inch,  to  hang  on;  and.  being  hung  on  a 
slant,  they  will  be  more  easily  knocked  down. 
There  are  several  advantages  in  having  them 
hung  u[)  in  this  way.  There  is  not  so  much 
danger  of  their  being  injured  by  mice;  they  are 
entirely  out  of  the  way,  as  they  do  not  take  up 
any  available  room,  and  are  very  easily  got  at 
when  wanted.  With  a  free  circulation  of  air, 
and  the  coolness  of  the  cellar,  the  worms  will 
not  get  at  them  so  early  nor  work  so  rapidly. 
They  are  in  such  condition  that  they  are  easily 
examined,  and  we  will  keep  close  watch  of 
them;  and  the  first  trace  of  worms  that  we  see 
we  will  be  on  hand  with  brimstone,  as  they  are 
in  excellent  shape  to  fumigate.  It  is  important 
to  take  them  when  the  worms  are  small;  for 
after  they  are  full  grown  they  will  stand  an  im- 
mense amount  of  brimstone  without  seeming 
injury.  But  there  is  one  objection.  The  combs 
will  not  be  nearly  so  nice  and  sweet  as  when 
kept  by  the  bees,  and,  with  any  reasonable  pro- 
portion between  the  bees  and  combs,  I  would 
much  rather  leave  them  to  the  tender  mercies 
of  the  bees.  Emma  Wilson. 

Marengo,  111.,  June  2. 


1892 


GLEANINCS  IN  TJEE  CULTURE. 


459 


SELF-HIVERS. 

SOMK  KKCKNT  IMri{0\  KM  K.N  IS  AMI  K\  \  KNIION.S. 


I  liavo  bocn  anxiously  wiitt'liiiisi  (lie  various 
bi'i'-papt'rs  for  any  furliicr  siiiifirslions  or  iin- 
prov(Mi\onts  ill  sclf-hivcrs.  to  luaivc  tln'iii  more 
noarly  pt>rft'L-t.  We  arc  (.•crtainly  iiialsiiifj  rapid 
prottrcss  on  tliis  lino:  but.  so  lar.  tlw  pcrfi-i-t 
swarm-iiivcr  is  still  in  tbo  future.  Mr.  Pratt  lias 
inaiit'  soiuc  cxccik'nt  suiif^cstioiis  in  liis  last 
plan— that  of  putting  the  hive  expected  to 
swarm  on  top  of  the  hive  or  section -cas(>s.  to 
receive  the  swarm.  The  bees  are  to  pass 
tlirough  perforated  zinc,  under  an  (>scape-board, 
witli  a  |)lace  for  the  queen  to  escape  into  tlie 
empty  hive,  at  tlu>  apex  of  the  V-shiipcd  escape. 
Tlie  small  perforated  zinc  iiuard  in  his  original 
swarmer  is  replaced  by  a  sheet  covering  the 
entire  end  of  an  open-end  section-case.  The 
bees  have  not  so  far  to  travel  as  in  his  other 
one.  and  he  has  lessened  the  trouble  from  drones 
a  little,  but  not  much.  Xo  matter  how  care- 
fully the  combs  may  be  selected,  some  drones 
will"  be  produced:  and  there  is  no  chance  for  a 
single  one  to  get  outside  the  hives.  It  is  true, 
the  drones  will  escape  into  the  empty  hive,  and 
will  speedily  die  there.  These  dead  drones  are 
very  objectionable  to  the  workers,  and  they 
will  try  to  pull  them  through  the  perforations 
in  great  numbers.  It  will  be  rather  difficult  to 
clean  the  receiving  hives  of  them,  as  the 
swarming  hives  are  all  on  top,  and  it  would 
certainly  involve  lots  of  heavy  lifting,  and  dis- 
turbing" the  bees.  Then  suppose  the  bees 
swai-m.  and  hive  themselves,  just  as  Mr.  Pratt 
says  they  will;  would  not  such  swarm  work 
back  through  the  perforated  escape  to  the 
brood-combs  above,  leaving  only  the  queen  and 
a  handful  of  drones?  As  hivers  will  likely 
prove  of  the  greatest  value  in  running  out- 
apiaries,  one  can  never  tell  what  hives  have 
swarmed,  without  examining  each  empty  hive. 
Possibfy  one  could  see  tlirough  the  perforations 
in  the  e'^nd  of  the  super.  There  are  many  cases 
of  superseding  queens  during  a  season,  that  are 
liable  to  cause  fouble  if  one  is  not  constantly 
on  the  watch  for  dead  queens  when  cleaning  out 
the  drones. 

Mr.  Alley  has  made  some  progn^ss  with  his 
swarmer  lately.  Now,  if  the  bees  will  only  do 
as  he  says  they  will,  it  is  proliable  that  he  has 
taken  a  step  in  the  right  direction.  By  the 
way,  Mr.  A.  has  switched  around  a  good  deal 
on  this  self-hiver  question.  If  his  self-hiving 
arrangement  would  secure  99  per  cent  of  all 
swarms,  what  was  the  use  of  all  this?  Again, 
if  he  secured  two  nice  swarms  by  my  device, 
why  does  he  claim  that  I  can  not  secure  any? 
He'says  that  my  plan  is  a  failure;  yet  I  ran  two 
apiaries,  which  can  botli  be  considered  out- 
apiaries,  as  I  could  be  at  only  one  place  at  a 
time,  hiving  some  50  swarms  by  means  of  my 
hiver.  and,  "after  manipulation,  I  had  over  200 
hives,  and  I  do  not  think  I  lost  a  single  swann. 
Has  Mr.  Alley  or  any  one  else  tried  his  swarmer 
on  a  lil<e  scale,  with  equal  results?  Mr.  A.  now 
uses  a  "  decoy  "  hive  in  front  of  the  one  expect- 
ed to  swarm. V(  In  Pratt.  For  a  swarmer  he  has 
fallen  back  on  his  drone-irap.  provided  with  a 
piece  of  di'one-excluding.  (lueen-escai)iiig  zinc, 
.that  is  to  allow  the  queen,  after  being  trapped 
with  the  drones,  to  escape  into  the  decoy  hive: 
but  what  is  to  prevent  her  from  running  back 
into  the  original  hive?  Then,  too,  when  we 
remember  that  queens  differ  greatly  as  to  size 
at  swarming  time,  is  not  the  queen-passing, 
droHe-excluding  zinc  a  doubtful  point?  Queens, 
too,  have  a  way  of  trying  to  go  through  the 
perforations  toward  the  sunlight,  when  trapped, 
and  not  into  strange  dark  places.  The  empty 
comb  in  the  decoy  will  help  some;  but  if  left 


too  long,  would  it  not  become  infested  with 
moth  ?  To  pro\id('  several  hundred  decoy  liiv(?s 
of  an  old  pattern  is  certainly  quite  an  objection, 

I  do  not  write  this  in  a  faiilt-linding,  criticis- 
ing s|)irit,  but  only  to  point  out  some  of  the 
diOiculties  that  have  suggested  themselves  in 
my  own  experience.  Holh  Mr.  Alley  and  Mr. 
Pratt  deserve  great  credit  for  their  ell'orts  in 
this  direction,  even  if  they  do  think  they  must 
have  a  patent  on  it. 

Well,  after  considering  all  the  various  plans 
of  self-hivers  so  far  published,  I  have  about 
concluded  to  stick  to  my  own  plan.  I  will  modify 
it  somewhat,  using  wire  cloth  on  the  lower 
swarmer,  exce|)t  two  rows  of  perforations.  The 
lower  frami!  will  also  be  made  large  enough  to 
include!  the  s(H'tion-case.  There  will  be  three 
large  cones  foi'  <|ue(>n  and  drones,  with  two 
rows  of  workc^r  perf(jrations  between.  The  up- 
per frame  will  be  all  perforated  zinc,  giving 
free  access  to  the;  bees  returning  from  swarm- 
ing, while  the  lower  will  become  temporarily 
clogged.  A  comb  or  two  will  be  tried  in  the 
empty  hives,  as  an  additional  attraction.  Judg- 
ing from  my  past  year's  experience,  /  know 
that  this  will  give  me  swarms  tliat  can  be  seen 
at  a  glance,  and  then  fixed  up  to  suit  me,  I 
prefer  to  make  the  innv  colony  quite  strong,  so 
that  there  will  be  no  cessation  of  work  in  thi^ 
supers.  This  can  l)e  done  only  by  brushing  ofT 
enough  bees  from  the  combs  of  the  swarming 
hive,  or  using  my  bee-escape  plan. 

That  bee-escape  of  Larrabee's  is  a  good  one, 
as  I  had  a  very  similar  arrangement  two  years  ' 
ago.  It  would  work  a  little  better  without  that 
extra  curve  at  the  apex  of  the  V.  Bees  are  shy 
of  long  narrow  passages.  It  would  also  be 
more  rapid  if  two  openings  were  left  for  the 
bees  to  get  in,  toward  the  ends  of  the  board, 
with  one  space  to  get  out,  at  the  center.  But 
the  fact  that  it  is  not  removable  from  the  board 
is  an  objection.  I  have  lately  seen  one  of  the 
Hastings  escapes,  and  think  it  an  improvement 
on  the  Porter.  This  one,  however,  was  faulty 
in  construction,  as  the  exits  were  hardly  large 
enough  to  let  a  worker  pass.  What  would  be- 
come of  the  drones  when  trying  to  get  out? 

Milan,  111.,  May  11.  C.  H.  Dibbern. 


THE  PRATT  AUTOMATIC  SWARMER. 


A   CIUTICISM    ON   TlIK   DEVICE    SHOWN    ON    PAGE 
318,    MAY   1. 


Last  year  I  used  thirty  of  the  Pratt  swarmers 
on  almost  the  same  plan,  putting  the  old  swarm 
above  the  new  hive,  with  the  queen-excluding 
bee-escape  between  them,  and  excluding  zinc  at 
the  lower  hive-entrance.  The  reason  that  this 
does  not  work  is,  that  a  bee-escape  under  the 
brood- nest  works  very  diflferently  from  one  over 
it,  especially  wlien  it  is  used  for  the  entrance  to 
the  hive.  In  my  experiment  I  used  three 
escapes  between  each  pair  of  hives,  and  yet  they 
would  clog  almost  every  lime.  The  escape 
would  have  to  be  watched  and  cleaned  nearly 
every  day,  to  insur(>  success.  This  would  be  a 
large  task  wltli  fifty  or  a  hundred  hivers.  This 
is  no  theory — I  know  from  experiment. 

If  there  is  passage  sufficient  for  the  swarm  to 
issue  from  the  up|)ei-  hive  into  the  lower,  there 
will  certainly  be  passage  enough  for  them  to 
get  back  again  after  they  have  been  hived,  and 
it  seems  to  me  that  tliis  would  be  the  most  nat- 
ural thing  for  them  to  do,  carrying  the  supplies 
above  the  cluster,  tempted  by  the  bees  and 
brood  above.  One  would  have  to  be  on  hand  to 
remove  them  very  soon  after  they  had  swarm- 
ed. 

The  hiver  that  I  sent  you  meets  all  the  points 
claimed  by  Mr.  Pratt,  and  avoids  all  the  objec- 


460 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


tions;  and  yet  it  has  not  been  tried  to  hive  a 
swarm,  so  it  is  at  least  partly  theory;  but  if  it 
clogs,  it  can  be  cleaned  in  half  a  minute.  I 
should  not  offer  them  foi'  sale  until  I  had  prov- 
en them.  The  reason  that  I  sent  it  to  you  was, 
that  you  might  criticise  it;  and,  if  you  thought 
best,  let  others  do  the  same;  also,  that  they 
might  improve  upon  it. 

Geo.  H.  Sprague. 
Haskinville,  N.  Y.,  May  7. 

[The  self-hiver  that  Mr.  Sprague  says  he  sent 
failed  to  come  to  hand.  As  we  have  had  no 
practical  experience  with  the  hiver  in  question, 
nor,  in  fact,  with  any  of  them,  we  forwarded 
Mr.  Sprague's  letter  to  Mr.  Pratt.  His  sub- 
joined reply  possibly  suggests  the  cause  of  the 
trouble.] 

In  the  above,  Mr.  Sprague  does  not  give  a 
clew  as  to  how  his  queen-excluding  escapes 
were  attached;  but  I  should  judge  that  they 
simply  led  from  the  holes  in  the  thin  board  di- 
rectly into  a  dark  chamber,  and,  there  being  no 
provision  for  light,  they  became  clogged. 

In  my  directions,  where  I  tell  how  to  attach 
the  Pratt  swarmer  to  any  hive  having  a  loose 
bottom,  I  speak  of  this,  and  it  is  a  very  impor- 
tant matter.  If  these  directions  are  strictly 
followed  there  will  be  no  fear  of  the  escape  be- 
coming clogged.  For  the  benefit  of  your  read- 
ers I  will  give  further  directions  here. 

First,  take  any  kind  of  thin  board  that  will 
cover  your  hive-bodies  (a  bee-escape  board  will 
do)  and  nail  strips  of  wood  all  around  the  outer 
edge  of  one  side  so  as  to  form  a  bee-space  from 
three-fourths  of  an  inch  up  to  seven-eighths  of 
an  inch  deep.  Now  lay  the  escape  into  this 
bee-space,  zinc  up,  and  its  apex  pointing  to  one 
end  within  an  inch  of  the  end  cleat;  and  after 
you  have  marked  the  position  it  is  to  occupy, 
remove  it  and  cut  several  holes  through  the 
thin  board  so  they  will  all  come  inside  the  es- 
cape, but  not  too  far  up  into  where  the  escape 
begins  to  taper.  The  more  holes  you  can  get 
in,  the  better.  It  would  do  no  harm  if  one 
large  hole  were  made  the  size  of  the  base  of  the 
escape.  Place  the  escape  in  position,  and  fix  it 
to  the  thin  board  with  a  few  wire  nails.  Pro- 
vide an  opening  thiough  an  end  cleat,  directly 
opposite  the  apex  of  the  escape,  at  least  four 
inches  long,  and  cover  it  with  a  piece  of  ex- 
cluding metal.  By  thus  admitting  light  to  the 
opening  of  the  escape,  the  bees  are  attracted 
there,  and  they  will  keep  it  clear  of  all  rubbish. 
Plenty  of  light  and  air  let  into  the  escape  is 
necessary  for  success  in  keeping  it  clear. 

The  readers,  of  course,  understand  that  the 
escape-board  is  placed  on  top  of  the  new  hive, 
escape  down,  and  apex  pointing  toward  the 
front.  The  colony  expected  to  swarm  is  then 
set  on  the  escape-board.  E.  L.  Pratt. 

Beverly,  Mass. 


SWARMING  CONTROLLED. 


INCREASE  PREVENTED  OH  REGULATED;   QUEENS 
RESTRICTED. 


On  page  282  is  a  cut  of  a  bee-escape  used  by 
J.  H.  Larrabee.  My  queen-escape  and  exclud- 
ing-board  is  made  in  a  similar  manner,  except 
that  I  use  perforated  zinc  in  place  of  the  wire, 
when  a  colony  is  expected  to  swarm.  A  set  of 
combs,  frames  filled  with  foundation  or  starters, 
as  I  have  them,  or  the  particular  line  I  am 
working  on  requires,  is  placed  under  the  colony, 
with  the  above  board  between,  the  entrance 
being  closed  with  queen-excluding  material 
in  some  shape.  A  queen  and  drone  trap  answers 


very  well.  The  hive  now  consists  of  two  parts. 
That  above  the  board  contains  the  bees,  brood, 
sections,  etc.;  that  below,  a  set  of  frames  with 
comb,  starters,  or  foundation,  as  the  case  may 
be. 

When  the  swarm  issues,  the  queen  remains 
in  the  lower  part;  the  bees  return  and  go  to 
work  there;  often  the  queen  will  go  below,  and 
that  part  be  occupied  without  a  swarm  issuing. 
The  presence  of  eggs  below  shows  that  the 
queen  is  there.  If  I  desire  increase,  I  remove 
the  top  part,  about  the  seventh  day  from  the 
time  I  have  reason  to  suppose  the  lower  part 
was  occupied,  to  a  new  stand,  doing  so  at  a  time 
when  the  bees  are  working  strongly.  This 
leaves  all  the  field  bees  and  many  young  ones 
at  the  old  stand,  leaving  them  in  shape  to  do 
good  work.  They  are  given  surplus  room  ac- 
cordingly, while  the  part  removed  is  weakened 
enough  to  prevent  any  after-swarms.  The 
queen -escape  and  excluding  -  board  remain 
under  them;  a  half-set  of  frames  is  placed  un- 
der it;  the  queen  becomes  fertile,  the  colony 
builds  up  in  good  shape  for  winter;  as  the  brood 
finishes  hatching,  the  set  of  frames  above  the 
board  is  filled  with  fine  honey  for  extracting. 
This  can  be  depended  on  with  certainty — a 
gain  of,  say.  .50  lbs.  by  this  management,  as 
otherwise  no  surplus  would  be  stored  above  the 
frames. 

In  place  of  adding  a  full  set  of  frames,  as 
mentioned  in  the  first  instance  above,  I  often 
add  only  a  half  or  third  set  in  this  manner, 
restricting  the  queen  and  reducing  the  number 
of  eggs  laid.  It  does  not  injure  the  queen  like 
caging.  In  this  case,  room  is  added  at  the  same 
time  above  the  board  and  under  the  upper  set 
of  frames;  in  this  the  surplus  is  stored.  If  no 
increase  is  wanted,  enough  surplus  room  is 
added  above  the  board  and  under  the  upper  set 
of  frames  to  last  about  two  weeks.  By  this 
time  one  or  more  queens  will  have  hatched  out 
and  passed  down  through  the  board,  and  the 
"  best  one  "  will  occupy  the  hive.  The  exclud- 
ing material  is  now  removed  from  the  entrance, 
so  that,  if  it  is  a  young  queen,  she  can  go  out 
and  mate.  If  a  queen  and  drone  trap  is  used, 
all  undesirable  drones  can  be  killed.  The  zinc 
used  in  making  the  board  should  be  wide 
enough  to  allow  of  free  passage  and  ventilation; 
if  too  wide,  the  bees  seem  to  feel  that  it  is  the 
same  old  hive,  and  continue  to  swarm,  or  to 
sulk;  if  the  zinc  used  is  not  too  wide,  the  queen 
will  almost  always  go  below,  and  young  queens 
be  reared  above.  This  of  itself  is  a  cheap,  con- 
venient, and  very  efficient  way  of  requeening. 
The  fittest  will  survive,  and  by  this  natural 
selection  we  get  the  best  queens  obtainable, 
reared  under  the  natural  impulse,  in  strong  col- 
onies, and  at  no  extra  cost,  either  by  reason  of 
work  done  by  ourselves,  or  by  loss  of  work  oc- 
casioned to  the  bees.  After  all  danger  of 
swarming  is  over,  the  board  is  removed  and  a 
common  excluder  put  in  its  place. 

On  page  54.5  of  the  American  Bee  Journal 
for  April  31,  1892,  G.  W.  Demaree  tells  how  to 
prevent  swarming  by  placing  the  queen  on  a 
set  of  frames  under  a  queen-excluder,  etc.  The 
use  of  the  queen-escape  and  excluding-board 
not  only  saves  the  work  of  finding  the  queen, 
etc.,  but  gives  the  bees  a  chance  to  put  a  younger 
and  better  queen  in  her  place. 

The  honey  is  taken  off  by  the  aid  of  escapes. 
There  is  a  great  advance  over  the  methods  in 
use  only  a  few  years  ago— no  brushing  of  bees 
in  the  hot  sun;  no  hunting  for  queens;  no  clip- 
ping of  queens'  wings;  no  loss  by  absconding 
swarms;  no  hiving  the  same  when  they  are 
doubled  up  three  or  foiu"  deep;  and,  by  no 
means  least,  no  loss  of  honey  incident  to  inter- 
rupting and  exciting  the  bees  during  these 
manipulations;   on  the  contrary,  some  boards 


1802 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


4G1 


HIV  put  h(>t\vt't>n  cjisfs,  soino  cinpfy  casos  addrd, 
then  some  nutrc  boards,  and  tlio  full   cases,  aro 
taken  otT.    Tliis  is   pro^ricss.  inori>  tliaii   many 
tluiiiulit  possiliii'.  (iiiil  the  (•)((/  is  iKit  \n't. 
Herliii.  Mo..  Mav  i:t.  Gko.  K.  "Wki.i.kI!. 


HOW  TO  MAKE  SWARMS   CLUSTER  IN  ONE 
OR  TWO  PLACES. 


K.   < OK,    Now    OF   Wl.NOHAM. 
now  TO  DO  If. 


\.    Y.,    TKI.I.S 


Frioul  Root:  —  In  the  matter  of  hiving 
swarms  I  i-an  now  swing  my  hat,  and  cry 
'■  EiircUal"  I  have  no  fiirtliei-  use  for  hiving- 
box  and  onamcl-cloth  apron  that  have  served 
me  so  well  in  the  past.  This  is  how  I  do  it  now: 
I  have  several  boxes  made  as  Doolittle  recom- 
mends in  making  nucU'us  colonies  in  which  he 
conlines  tlie  bees.  Mine  are  made  about  six 
inches  square,  and  13  inches  long.  Two  sides 
are  made  of  wire  cloth,  one  of  wiiich  I  can 
remove  at  pleasuie.  I  have  a  .3).2-inch  holo  on 
top  of  the  box,  in  which  the  funnel  fits,  and 
through  wliich  I  shake  the  bees  into  tlie  box. 
Doolittle  recommends  taking  combs  witli  bees 
on.  and  placing  them  outside  of  the  hive  to  let 
the  bees  till  themselves  with  honey;  but  I  have 
found  a  better  way.  On  the  inside  of  the  board 
that  forms  the  bottom  of  the  box  I  nail  four 
str.ps  -'s  inch  square,  so  as  to  make  a  little 
troughs  inches  square  and  ,?f^  inch  deep;  and 
over  this  trough,  in  the  top  of  the  box.  I  make 
a  1-inch  hole,  and  nail  wire  cloth  over  it  on 
the  inside.  Now.  when  the  bees  are  in  the 
boxes  I  can  till  them  with  honey  by  pouring 
honey  through  the  1-inch  hole,  so  that  it  will 
fill  the  trough,  and  in  that  way  fill  all  of  the 
bees  with  honey,  Ijy  using  a  dozen  boxes,  quick- 
er than  the  bees  will  fill  themselves  from  the 
comb;  at  least,  my  part  is  done  quicker,  and  the 
bees  can  take  up  the  honey  at  their  leisure. 
This  matter  of  having  the  bees  filled  with 
honey  in  some  way  is  important,  as  I  have  had 
more  than  half  of  the  confined  bees  die  in  le.ss 
tlian  ten  hours,  in  a  cage  into  which  the  bees 
had  been  shaken  from  the  combs  without  let- 
ting them  fill  their  honey-sacs,  or  feeding  them. 

Every  morning,  about  7:30  or  8  o'clock,  1 
shake  l)ees  into  two  boxes  (taking  them  from 
upf)er  stories  over  queen-excluders),  pour  in  a 
little  honev.  and  hang  them  from  tripods  by  a 
siring.  These  I  place  on  either  side  of  my 
apiary,  and  the  bees  just  howl  to  get  out.  which 
attracts  swarms  to  them;  and  1  get  14  or  15 
swarms  to  cluster  on  them  without  touching 
them.  For  those  swarms  that  don't  go  to  the 
place  where  the  confined  bees  hang,  I  take  one 
of  the  cages  of  bees,  slip  a  string  over  one  tine 
of  a  potato- hook,  walk  out  with  it  to  the  place 
where  the  swarm  is  fiying  thickest,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  the  bees  will  begin  to  cluster  on 
the  cage.  Then  I  walk  back  and  lead  the  bees 
to  the  place  where  the  tripod  is,  and  let  the 
whole  swarm  settle  on  it.  I  now  prepare  the 
hive  for  them  by  placing  an  empty  story  on  the 
stand  where  I  am  to  hive  them.  When  tlie 
swarm  is  all  settled  on  the  cag<>,  or  box  that 
has  the  confined  bees  in,  I  take  hold  of  the 
string  and  carry  the  swarm  to  the  place  where 
I  am  to  hive  them.  I  now  sprinkle  the  bees, 
and  also  the  insidi-,  of  the  empty  hive,  with 
water  that  is  one-fourth  honey,  using  a  brush- 
broom  for  the  purpose.  Then  I  shake  the  bees 
into  the  empty  hive,  and  place  the  hive  over 
them.  I  think  I  have  hived  swarms  in  this 
way  in  one  minute,  and  not  had  over  .50  bees  fly. 
This  preventing  bees  flying  and  making  a  great 
commotion  that  is  likelv  to  call  any  swarm 
just  issuing.  I  successfully  accomplish  by  this 
method;  and  I  tell  you  tliere  is  some  poetry  in 


seeing  swarm  after  swarm  come  out  and  begin 
to  cluster  on  the  cag(^  Ix'fore  they  are  all  out  of 
the  parent  hive,  while  I,  witii  a  pail  (»f  sweet- 
ened water  and  brush-liroom,  keep  back  all 
other  swarms,  if  any  are  likely  to  issue,  until 
they  ai'e  settled  on  the  cage,  and  tluui  have 
nothing  to  do  but  take  hold  of  the  string  that 
suspends  the  cage;,  carry  them  t,o  an  empty  story, 
shake  them  into  it,  and  place  their  hive  over 
them;  then  I  return  the  cage  to  its  jjlace,  ready 
for  another  swarm.  0.  R.  Cok. 

Fort  Collins,  Col.,  July  7. 

[As  will  be  seen  from  the  address  above,  this 
article  was  written  last  summer  while  Mr.  Coe 
was  in  Colorado;  but  on  account  of  the  pressui'c^ 
of  matter  we  were  not  then  abh;  to  give  it  an 
insertion,  and  therefore  held  it  over  until  tiie 
proper  season  this  year.  If  w(!  undc^rstand  Mr. 
Coe  correctly,  his  two  wire-cloth  boxes  or  cages 
of  bees  were  used  as  decoys;  and  these  d(!coys 
were  so  perfect  that  they  attracted  the  larger 
part  of  all  the  swarms  in  the  air.  Ttiis  same 
plan  was,  years  ago,  practiced  and  recommend- 
ed by  L.  L.  Langstroth.  Why  more  has  not 
been  made  of  it  we  can  not  say.] 


RAMBLE  NO.  61. 


ONE   OF  VENTURA'S  GREAT  P.EE-MEN. 


A  few  years  ago  a  young  man  presented  him- 
self at  Mr.  Wilkin's  apiary,  desiring  to  learn 
the  business  of  bee  culture  as  i)racticed  in  Cali- 
fornia. He  had  journeyed  all  the  way  from 
New  York  State,  and  had  but  a  few  dimes  left 
in  his  pocket.  Mr.  Wilkin  then  allowed  his 
hair  and  beard  to  grow  to  great  length,  as  a 
substitute  for  a  bee-veil;  and  the  wild  appear- 
ance of  the  man,  and  the  still  wilder  surround- 
ings of  rocky,  mountainous  country,  gave  the 
youth,  who  had  been  used  to  different  scenes,  a 
little  touch  of  homesickness.  But  this  was  only 
momentary,  for  the  kindly  manner  of  Mr. 
Wilkin  and  family  soon  made  the  place  a  home; 
and  he  resolutely  took  the  position  assigned  to 
him.  and  performed  his  duties  so  faithfully  that 
it  was  but  a  comparatively  short  time  until  he 
graduated  from  the  position  of  helper  to  that  of 
owner  of  an  apiary.  He  is  now  owner  of  over 
7(X)  colonies,  in  two  apiaries,  and  perhaps  ere 
this  article  is  read  he  will  have  the  third  apiary 
and  lOOfJ  colonies.  Allow  mc;  to  introduce  to 
you  Mr.  M.  H.  Mendelson.  of  Ventura. 

Southern  California  has  been  much  infested 
with  foul  brood,  and  heroic  measures  are  taken 
to  stamp  out  the  disease.  As  before  stated, 
foul-brood  inspectors  are  appointed,  and  much 
depends  upon  their  thoroughness  in  aliating  the 
disease.  Mr.  Mendelson  is  foul-brood  inspector 
for  his  district,  and  that  there  is  not  much  of 
the  disease  visible  speaks  well  for  the  energy  of 
the  officer. 

Mr.  M.'s  largest  apiary  is  seven  miles  from 
Ventura,  and  I  did  not  decline  an  invitation  to 
mount  a  road-cart,  and  go  out  with  him.  A 
portion  of  the  journey  is  very  delightful,  riding 
past  orchard  after  orchard  of  English  walnuts 
and  fruits  of  many  kinds.  There  are  many 
handsome  residences  in  Ventura,  surrounded 
with  grounds  which  in  point  of  beauty  ap- 
proach your  ideal  of  what  an  Ed(!n  would  be. 

A  short  distance  from  V<'ntura  is  a  very  old 
and  very  large  grapevine.  In  Santa  Barbara 
(the  county  adjoining  Ventura)  is  the  largest 
grapevine  in  the  United  States,  being  12  inches 
in  diameter,  and  the  product  of  which  is  often 
four  tons  of  graju'S.  This  Ventura  vine  is  the 
next  largest,  is  fully  ten  inches  in  diameter,  and 


462 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


spreads  over  a  trellis  fully  40  feet  square.  The 
product  is  also  in  proportion  to  its  size. 

If  Ventura  has  not  tlie  largest  vine,  it  boasts 
of  the  largest  rose-tree  in  the  United  States. 
The  body  is  a  foot  in  diameter,  and  the  estimat- 
ed number  of  roses  on  it  at  one  time  is  10,000. 
California  is  eminently  the  land  of  the  rose. 
The  climbing  varieties  will  cover  a  cottage; 
and  what  an  enchanting  sight  when  the  blos- 
soms burst  forth  in  all  their  regal  beauty  I 

Mr.  M.'s  apiary  is  over  a  mile  from  the  high- 
way, and,  instead  of  being  amid  rocky  canyons, 
it  seemed  like  going  into  somebody's  extensive 
back  pasture,  and  the  idea  was  emphasized 
when  we  encountered  a  large  herd  of  cattle. 
While  passing  several  larg<^  oak-trees  Mr.  M. 
pointed  out  here  and  there  decoy  hives  he  had 
distributed,  with  which  he  had  caught  twenty- 
three  swarms. 


M.    II.    JIENDELSOX,   VENTUKA,   CAL. 

Another  object  of  interest  was  an  asphaltum- 
mine,  wliere  quantities  of  the  pure  material  are 
obtained  by  tunneling  into  the  side  of  the 
mountain.  Tar-springs  are  also  not  far  away, 
but  tlu^y  have  not  yet  become  noted  as  a  sum- 
mer resort  or  for  bathing  purposes. 

Upon  arriving  at  the  apiary  a  glance  was 
sufficient  to  show  that  tlie  owner  was  a  careful, 
methodical  man,  and  had  ]earn(>d  his  trade 
well:  for,  next  to  Mr.  Mclnlyre's  apiary,  it  was 
in  all  appointments  the  best-regiihitcd  apiary 
I  had  seen.  The  fine  plioto  I  present  to  you 
shows,  as  very  few  photos  do  or  can,  owing  to 
the  impossibility  of  getting  a  good  point  of 
view,  every  detail  of  a  model  California  apiary. 

This  apiary  contains  400  swarms  in  L.  hives, 
and  is  worked  for  extracted  honey.  The  first 
building  at  the  right  is  a  little  workroom  well 
supplied  with  tools.  The  next  little  building  is 
the  extracting-room.  Tlie  cart  in  front  has 
room  for  a  large  load  of  hives,  which  are  passed 
to  the  operator  inside.  A  long  galvanized-iron 
pipe,  two  Indies  in  diameter,  conducts  the 
honey  to  the  strong  wooden  ripening-tank, 
which  has  storage  capacity  for  eight  tons  of 


honey,  and  generally  aflPords  sufficient  storage 
until  it  ripens  enough  to  draw  into  cans,  whicli 
are  piled  at  the  end  of  the  tank,  when  it  can  be 
filled  again.  But  knowing  the  possibilities  of 
the  country  for  honey,  and  wishing  to  have  his 
dish  right  side  up,  Mr.  M.  has  put  in  an  emer- 
gency tank  at  the  corner  of  the  extracting- 
room.  This  is  made  of  galvanized  iron,  and 
will  accommodate  enough  drops  of  honey  lo 
weigh  over  ten  tons.  The  entire  storage  capaci- 
ty in  the  two  tanks  and  various  other  utensils 
is  about  37  tons.  Two  sun  wax  extractors  take 
care  of  all  the  cappings  and  odds  and  ends  of 
wax.  Mr.  M.  is  seen  manipulating  a  hive  near 
the  small  wax-extractor.  Root's  bee-tent  oc- 
cupies a  prominent  position,  and  received  an 
unqualified  indorsement  from  the  proprietor. 
The  large  pile  of  empty  hives  neatly  painted 
are  also  ready  for  an  emergency.  As  to  the 
nice  long  ladder,  I  don't  know  what  he  uses  it 
for,  unless  it  is  to  get  into  the  manhole  in  the 
top  of  his  emergency  tank.  If  not  used  for 
honey,  the  tank  is  not  idle;  water  is  caught 
from  the  buildings  during  the  rainy  season,  and 
stored  for  irrigating  and  drinking  purposes. 
The  Rambler  drank  water  that  had  been  in  it 
(jver  nine  months,  still  it  was  sweet,  refreshing, 
and  cool. 

A  few  grapevines,  also  quite  a  variety  of  rose- 
Inishes,  are  set  out.  In  the  latter  line  Mr.  M. 
is  something  of  an  enthusiast.  Around  the 
wooden  tank  is  a  valuable  nursery  of  orange 
seedlings.  While  looking  out  for  the  profits,  he 
finds  pleasure  in  the  things  of  beauty. 

For  storage  tanks,  galvanized  iron  is  used 
almost  exclusively  in  California;  and  if  there 
are  any  deleterious  efJects  on  honey  stored  in 
them,  California  bee-keepers  should  have  found 
it  out  before  this  time.  I  think  the  recent 
advice  of  our  English  friends  and  the^4?/ier/e(rji 
Dec  Jdurnal  will  scarcely  be  listened  to. 

Although  Mr.  M.  is  a  careful  breeder  of  his 
stock,  much  of  it  is  bred,  I  believe,  from  Hed- 
don"s  strain.  The  bees  were  inclined  to  follow 
us  around,  and  veils  were  resorted  to.  Not  a 
few  California  bee-keepers  claim  that  bees  here 
are  more  vindictive  than  in  the  East.  Mr. 
Mclntyre's  large  apiary  is  near  a  public  high- 
way where  there  is  much  heavy  teaming  to  and 
from  stone-quarries  and  oil-wells,  but  his  bcn^s 
seldom  molest  passing  men  or  horses.  Mr. 
.Meiidelson,  on  the  contrary,  was  compelled  to 
move  an  apiary  from  near  a  public  road.  Peo- 
ple driving  in  light  vehicles  learned  to  get  by 
on  the  run,  while  teamsters  with  loads  put  bur- 
lap sacks  over  their  heads.  One  teamster 
thought  himself  thus  duly  protected;  but  a 
small   unobserved   hole  in  th<^  sack,  in  front  of 


V// 


now   MENDELSON  S   BEES   GET  THEIJE. 

his  nose,  was  too  much  of  an  inducement  to  an 
angry  bee,  and,  to  the  man's  surprise  and  con- 
sternation, this  important  organ  was  punctur- 


iS'.v? 


OLEANTNt^S  IN  KEE  CULTURE. 


463 


464 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


ed  and  materially  enlarged  in  size.  From  the 
jocose  way  in  which  Mr.  M.  related  the  inci- 
dent, he  had  nearly  enough  fun  out  of  it  to 
compensate  for  removing  the  apiary. 

In  many  other  apiaries  I  have  found  the  pro- 
pensity to  sting  exceedingly  rampant,  and  I 
have  come  to  the  positive  conclusion  that  Cali- 
fornia bee-keepers  need  a  new  and  vindictive 
smoker — one  that  will  run  by  clockwork  and 
send  a  continuous  stream  of  smoke  into  the 
hive.  In  many  cases  a  more  careful  breeding 
would  overcome  this  propensity,  and  a  more 
tliorough  warfare  upon  nightly  visitors,  such  as 
skunks  and  other  small  animals,  would  have  a 
further  toning  induence. 

I  found  in  Mr.  M.  s  apiary  the  gravity  strain- 
er, which  is  used  quite,  generally  by  bee-keepers 
in  Ventura  County.  This  strainer  was  de- 
scribed and  illustrated  on  page  248,  Vol.  XVIIL, 
of  Gleanings,  as  used  and  improved  by  Mr. 
Mclntyre.  Tlie  strainer  can  not  clog,  and  the 
extractor  does  not  have  to  be  stopped  in  order 
to  let  the  honey  get  out  of  the  way.  The  in- 
ventor of  it  ought  to  be  known  and  receive  the 
award  of  a  medal. 

Another  instrument  of  general  use  is  a  com- 
bined  lever,  chisel,  and   sciaper.    The  nearest 


CHISEI-,    LEVER,   AND   SCRAPER. 

approach  to  it  I  ever  saw  in  the  East  was  a 
piece  of  an  old  wagon-spring.  The  usual  length 
of  this  tool  is  8  or  10  inches,  and  Ihi  inches 
wide.  Mr.  M.'s  was  longer,  and  provided  with 
a  handle. 

A  commodious  cabin  is  located  near  the 
apiary,  or  out  of  cross  bee- range,  where  Mr.  M. 
and  his  helpers  live  during  the  honey  season. 

In  Ventura  I  found  another  manufacturer  of 
reversible  honey-(^xtractors,  Mr.  W.  E.  Leach. 
There  are  several  styles  of  these  extractors, 
and  California  inventors  are  busy  at  work 
evolving  still  more  ei'ticient  machines. 

I  found  Mr.  Mendelson  a  very  agreeable 
traveling  companion,  and  he  seemed  to  be  the 
favorite  with  all  the  boys  and  girls.  The  young 
ladies  beamed  on  him  with  wistful  glances,  but 
seemingly  to  no  purpose.  That  his  days  may 
be  long  upon  ttie  land,  and  full  of  continued 
success,  is  the  wish  of  the  Rambler. 

[Friend  Rambler,  I  am  very  glad  indeed  that 
you  took  it  into  your  head  to  introduce  to  our 
readers  our  good  friend  Mendelson.  As  it  was 
not  the  time  for  hon(>y  when  I  was  ther^.  I  did 
not  see  much  of  him  except  indoors;  and  I  hope 
he  will  excuse  me  for  saying  that  he  seemed  to 
be  so  mucli  of  a  polished  gentleman  that  I  won- 
dered how  he  got  ■'  down  to  business  "  enough 
to  manage  his  large  apiaries  successfully.  If  I 
am  not  mistaken,  somebody  told  me  that  he  is 
a  Jew  by  birth.  Well,  if  that  is  true  then  I  have  a 
warmer  feeling  toward  the  whole  tribe  of  Israel- 
ites than  I  should  have  had,  had  I  not  met  friend 
M.  Yes,  I  noticed  how  kindly  the  young  ladies  all 
seemed  to  feel  to*  ard  him:  bntat  tlie  same  time 
ttey  seemed  to  look  up  to  him  as  one  who  was 
worthy  of  their  highest  respect  and  esteem. 
The  view  you  give  is  certainly  a  good  one,  and 
it  indicates  that  he  has  not  hesitated  to  invest 
money  in  commodious  appliances,  and  appli- 
ances, too,  that  ai'e  adequate  to  taking  care  of 
ton  after  ton  wlien  the  honey  comes. 

GALVANIZED      IRON       FOR      RECEPTACLES      FOR 
FOOD   AND   DRINK. 

Yes.  friend  R.,  I  am  well  aware  that  Califor- 
nia people  are  in  the  habit  of  ignoring  the  dan- 
gers and  poisonous  tendency  of  galvanized  iron. 


We  need  not  waste  time  in  argument,  however. 
Just  put  a  little  honey,  or  even  water,  in  a 
shallow  galvanized-iron  pan,  and  ]o.t  it  stand 
for  two  or  three  days;  then  take  a  good  dose  of 
the  honey  or  an  ordinary  drink  of  the  water, 
and  see  if  it  does  not  make  yon  Sick.  If  the 
honey  or  water  does  not  stand  long  in  the  uten- 
sil, or  if  the  quantity  stored  is  very  large  com- 
pared to  the  surface  exposed  to  the  liquid,  the 
poison  will  be  too  much  diluted  to  do  hdrm.  A 
teacupful  of  ordinary  hard  di'inking-water  left 
in  the  bottom  of  a  drinking  tank  made  of  gal- 
vanized iron  made  me  so  sick  that  I  did  not 
care  to  try  the  experiment  a  second  time,  and 
the  water  stood  in  the  tank  only  over  night. 
The  same  experiment  was  tried  after  the  same 
tank  was  lined  with  tin,  and  there  was  no  bad 
taste  to  the  water  nor  any  unpleasant  symptom. 
Galvanized  iron,  in  one  sense,  .does  not  rust; 
therefore  people  generally  feel  sure  that  it  is 
clean,  pure,  and  wholesome.  But  this  property 
it  has  of  keeping  bright  and  clean  is  just  be- 
cause of  the  fact  that  the  surface  is  being  con- 
stantly and  evenly  dissolved  by  liquids  or  by 
rain.  A  cake  of  ice  will  keep  clean  in  the  same 
way,  because  it  is  constantly  melting  away. 
Well,  now,  this  surface  that  is  melting  away  is 
being  constantly  dissolved  in  the  liquid  with 
which  it  comes  in  contact.  Ordinarily  the  zinc 
compound  is  in  too  small  quantity  or  too  much 
diluted  to  do  any  harm.  But  the  effects  of  zinc 
poisoning  will  always  be  too  vivid  in  my  mind 
to  let  me  feel  easy  when  I  see  galvanized  iron 
used  so  indiscriminately  for  articles  of  food  and 
drink.  Using  a  galvanized-iron  tank  for  hold- 
ing a  large  quantity  of  drinking-water  may  not 
make  the  water  perceptibly  unwholesome;  and 
it  is  quite  likely  that  different  kinds  of  water 
— that  is.  water  from  different  wells  or  cisterns 
— might  attack  the  zinc  covering  with  more  or 
less  energy,  according  to  the  mineral  salts 
found  in  the  water.  Prof.  Cook  can  tell  you  of 
cases  of  poisoning  from  stirring  off'  maple  sugar 
in  a  galvani/.ed-iron  pan.]  A.  I.  R. 


Heads  of  Grain 


FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS 


DISCOURAGED    FARMERS   AND   BEE-KEEPERS  IN 

ILLINOIS. 

I  am  almost  discouraged  with  bee-keeping, 
and  wish,  througli  Gleanings,  to  inquire  how 
many  others  there  are  to  sympathize  with,  for 
I  find  there  are  many  that  have  suffered  in 
losses  as  heavily  as  myself.  I  have  lost  fully 
one-third,  and  fear  I  have  not  got  through  yet. 
I  find  the  majority  of  my  lo.sses  are  confined 
principally  to  the  black  bees,  Italians  being 
stronger.  The  disease  was  dysentery,  and  I  am 
inclined  to  attribute  the  whole  matter  to  honey- 
dew,  for  I  never  suffered  such  losses  before. 
All  can  have  all  tlie  honey -dew  they  want.  I 
am  not  in  want  of  any.  Weather  is  very  wet, 
and  the  season  backward— rain,  rain,  almost  ev- 
ery day.  Farmers  arc  discouraged;  much  corn 
to  be  planted  yet.  A.  Y.  Baldwin. 

De  Kalb,  111.,  June  1. 


A    BIG     REPORT     FROM    A     YOUNG     BEE-KEEPER 

IN   CUBA;    77,000  LBS.  OF   HONEY   AS   ONE 

SEASON'fl   CROP. 

I  am  not  quite  21  years  old,  and  have  gotten, 
the  past  season,  77,(X)0  lbs.  of  honey,  which,  if  I 
am  correct,  is  the  largest  amount  ever  taken  by 
one  apiarist  in  Cuba.  F.  O.  Somerford. 

San  Miguel,  Cuba,  May  15. 


ISO'J 


(JLKANlNliS  IN  HIOE  CULTHUK, 


•Kir. 


ArSTHAMA    AM)   TIIK    WOKI.D's   KA11{.    A<iAIN. 

Our  assooiatioii  hero  intends  siMiding  an  cx- 
liibit  of  honoy  to  tlic  World's  Fair,  whcro  it  will 
be  cnttM'cd  for  roinpi'titioii  \viM>  a  view  of  scc- 
inir  liow  our  iiroourts  C(Mni)arr  with  tlioso  of 
ArntM'it'a.  Our  intention  is.  to  present  tlic  now 
ncparlnuMit  of  Af^rii-iilturc  in  tlic  U.  S.  with 
th(>  t'xliibit  whiMi  tlic  fair  is  ovor,  to  form  a  nu- 
cl(Mis  of  thoir  apii'uitnral  innsouni,  and  w(> 
hopo  in  ri'tiirn  to  reccivo  a  small  sample  of 
Amcrii-an  honoys  for  display  in  tho  technologi- 
cal mnstMim  honv  R.  1'attkn. 

l?alwarra.  West  Maitland,  N.  S.  W.,  Apr.  16. 


Tobacco  Column. 


DROWNED  IN  HONEY  IN  WINTEK;  A  SWEET 
DEATH. 

Nino  of  my  colonics  of  bees  drowned  in  honey 
last  winter.  The  combs  inadi^  last  summer 
were  so  white  and  tender  they  could  not  hold 
the  lioney,  and  so  it  ran  out  among  tlie  be«is 
and  drowned  tiiem.  The  hom^y  ran  out  the 
entrance  on  to  the  ground  in  tinfuls.  Old  bhvck 
combs  are  the  best  to  wint(!r  bees  on. 

Keating,  Pa.,  May  5.  S.  Nelson. 

[This  occurrence  is  very  unusual.  It  looks 
like  a  case  of  combs  built  ofiF  from  paraffine 
foundation.] 

AI-FALFA    IN   DIFFEUENT   LOCATIONS. 

I  see  in  Gleaninos  that  some  one  says  alfalfa 
is  allowed  to  blossom  nicely  before  cutting.  In 
this  country  it  is  cut  as  soon  as  it  gets  nicely  in 
bloom,  and  "just  as  it  is  getting  to  do  the  bees 
some  good;  but  there  are  generally  corners  and 
round  ditches  that  don't  get  cut.  I  have  to 
feed,  up  to  alfalfa  bloom.  I  am  mowing  some 
alfalfa  for  soiling  now.  It  is  splendid  cow  feed. 
RoBT.  P.  Lanchestek. 

Bliss,  Idaho,  May  10. 

SEALED    COVERS   AND   ABSORBENTS. 

I  winter  outdoors  in  double-walled  hives — 
Langstroth  and  the  Bristol,  or  Manum  hive. 
I  have  tried  tight  honey-board,  cotton  cloth, 
enamel  cloth,  etc..  but  none  were  satisfactory. 
I  have  now  adopted  this  plan:  I  take  my  honey- 
Ixtards,  bore  a  .3-inch  hole  out,  and  nail  wire 
cloth  on  the  under  side;  look  over  my  bees  as 
early  as  I  can  aftrr  surplus  ends,  and  then  let 
them  stick  down  the  honey-l)oard,  if  they 
please,  with  the  enamel  cloth  over  the  hole 
until  time  to  pack  them  for  winter;  then  I  take 
a  burlap  bag,  put  in  %  of  a  bushel  of  dry  saw- 
dust, take  off  the  cloth  that  is  over  the  hole, 
put  on  the  hag.  well  tucked  down,  and  th(;  .job 
is  done  until  spring.  I  liave  practiced  this  way 
for  a  number  of  years,  with  good  success;  and 
the  average  loss  is  far  hiss  than  many  of  my 
neighbors  have  had.  P.  D.  Percival. 

North  Ferrisburgh,  Vt.,  May  21. 


THE   industrial    MISSIONARY   ASSOCIATION    OF 
ALABAMA. 

We  own  a  town  (a  little  one)  now,  and  I  am 
postmaster,  freight  agi'ut,  store-keeper,  .iustice 
of  till'  peace,  general  iiumager  of  some  30(X) 
acH'Sof  farming  and  timlx'r  land  (with  40  mules 
and  100  hands  at  workj;  run  a  s;>wmill,  grist- 
mill, blacksmith  shop,  etc.  Of  course.  I  do  this 
largely  through  assistants,  as  I  am  also  general 
missionary,  and  conduct  services  at  two  points 
every  Sundav,  and  sujierintiMid  seveinl  other 
churches  and  schools.  The  late  widening  of 
our  work  gives  us  a  very  extensive  influence  in 
every  department  of  their  well-being.  Send  me 
two  smokers  for  colored  men  that  have  left  off 
tobacco;  I  will  be  responsible  for  them. 

Saltmarsh,  Fla.,  May  13.         C.  B.  Curtiss. 


CONDITIONS  UNDBR  WHICH    WK    QIVK    SMOKKR8  TO  rRRSONS  WHO 

STor  USINO  TOBACCO. 
First,  the  candidate  must  Ijr  one  of  those  who  have  given  up 
tobacco  in  consequence  "f  what  he  has  seen  and  read  in  this 
department.  Second,  lie  promises  to  ]>oy  for  the  smoker 
sho\iId  he  ever  resume  tlie  use  of  tobacco  in  any  form,  after 
receivintf  the  smoker.  Tliini,  he  must  be  a  subscHber  to 
Gi,KANiN(;s.  .\ii.vsubsciil)er  may,  however,  have  smolcers  sent 
to  neiKbt>ors  or  persona!  ai'qualntnnces  whom  he  has  labored 
with  on  the  iMftller  of  tobacco-usiuK.  providing  he  give  us  his 
pleiiKe  tli.o  il  till  line  who  receives  the  smolcer  ever  uses  to- 
bacco Rk'.ii".  lie  ( the  subscriber)  will  pay  forthe  smoker.  The 
one  who  receives  the  smoker  in  this  ease  need  not  be  a  sub- 
scriber to  (ii.KANi.N(;s,tIiough  we  greatly  prefer  that  he  be  one, 
because  we  think  he  would  be  strengthened  by  reading  the 
testimonials  from  time  to  time  in  regard  to  this  matter.  The 
full  name  and  address  of  every  one  who  makes  the  promise 
must  be  furnished  for  publication. 

Please  send  me  a  smoker,  and  I  will  stop 
short  oil'  my  tobacco,  and  will  pay  for  the  smo- 
ker if  I  ever  use  tobacco  again.     II.  Holler. 

Newark,  O.,  Mar.  18. 

Mr.  J.  E.  Iludgins  promis(>s  to  quit  using  to- 
bacco if  you  will  send  him  a  smoker,  and  I  agree 
to  pay  for  it  if  he  breaks  his  pledge. 

Anneville,  Texas,  March  24.       G.  II.  Reed. 

I  have  made  a  pledge  to  quit  the  use  of  To- 
bacco since  reading  Gleanings.  Send  the 
smoker:  and  if  I  break  the  pledge  I  will  pay. 

Jug  Tavern,  Ga..  April  6.  H.  S.  Perry. 

Please  send  one  smoker  to  Thomas  M.  Todd. 
He  has,  he  says,  quit  the  use  of  tobacco  forever. 
I  will  pay  if  he  returns  to  "  the  mire." 

James  A.  Todd. 

Payson,  Utah  Co.,  Utah,  April  16. 

The  dollar  is  to  pay  for  a  smoker  that  you 
sent  to  Anthony  (Jruell  for  quitting  smoking. 
He  has  gone  to  smoking,  so  I  pay  for  the  smo- 
ker. J.  W.   NiCODEMUS. 

Newcomerstown,  Ohio,  Feb.  '35. 

Please  send  a  smoker  to  C.  F.  Bassett.  He 
said  if  you  would  do  so  he  would  not  use  any 
more  tobacco.  If  he  does  I  will  pay  for  the 
smoker.  Mrs.  Carrie  Bassett. 

Hillsdale.  Ind.,  April  8. 


Please  send  a  smoker  to  my  husband,  M.  D. 

Morehouse,  who  quit  the  use  of  tobacco  one 

y(!ar  ago.    He  used  tobacco  25  yeai's.     I  promise 

to  pay  for  the  smoker  if  he  uses  the  weed  again. 

Mrs.  M.  D.  Moi!ehouse. 

Loveland,  Iowa,  April  20. 

I  have  been  a  moderate  smoker  of  cigars  for 
some  8  years;  hut  I  have  made  up  my  mind  it 
is  a  foolish  habit,  and  have  quit  for  good.  Send 
me  a  smoker;  and  if  I  ever  use  tobacco  again 
in  any  form  I  will  pay  you  for  the  smoker. 

Moscow,  Vt.,  April  19.  E.  U.  Foster. 

Send  Mr.  (J.  W.  Wray  one  smoker  free.  He 
has  quit  the  use  of  tobacco.  We  agree  to  pay 
for  the  smoker  if  Mr.  G.  W.  Wray  ever  resumes 
the  use  of  tol)acco.  under  your  conditions.  I 
hav(!  known  Mr.  Wray  for  yc^ars.  and  he  (juit 
chewing  about  one  year  ago.  and  I  think  he  is 
entitled  to  one.  Ed.  W.  Green. 

Pickering,  Mo.,  Apr.  8. 

I  received  a  smoker  from  you  about  Ave  years 
ago  as  a. reward  for  quitting  the  use  of  tobacco. 
I  never  expect  to  use  the  weed  again.  I  use  my 
influence  against  the  use  of  tobacco.  My 
brother.  Frank  Mitchell,  has  quit,  and  .says 
if  you  will  send  him  a  smoker  he  will  pay  for  it. 
If  he  doesn't  I  will.  May  (Jod  bless  you  in  this 
work !  G.  W.  Mitchell. 

Union  City,  Tenn.,  April  18. 


466 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


My  father  has  quit  chowing  tobacco,  and  he 
says  if  you  will  send  him  a  smoker  he  will  keep 
it  as  a  pledge  to  never  use  tobacco  again  in  any 
form.  Send  it  to  me  and  I  will  stand  as  a  wit- 
ness. M.  C.  Rawsox. 

Quincy,  Mich.,  Mar.  17. 

Mr.  Chas.  Ferris  and  N.  J.  Whitlock  have 
this  day  quit  the  use  of  tobacco  in  any  form, 
through  the  influence  of  CJleanings.  Please 
send  them  smokers.  If  they  use  tobacco  again 
I  will  pay  for  the  smokers.  O.  C.  Abel. 

Wayviile,  N.  Y.,  April  30. 

Will  you  please  send  to  my  brother,  A.  C. 
Whiting,  a  smoker,  as  he  has  quit  the  use  of 
tobacco  through  the  inlluence  of  Gleanings'? 
He  also  has  a  few  bees.  He  has  not  used 
tobacco  for  about  three  months.  If  he  ever 
uses  it  again  I  will  pay  for  the  smoker. 

Mapleton,  Utah,  April  14.    E.  M.  Whiting. 


John  Riley,  a  friend  of  mine,  of  this  place, 
after  using  tobacco  for  about  six  years,  solemn- 
ly pledges  himself  to  quit  the  use  of  it.  If  he  is 
entitled  to  a  smoker,  please  send  it;  and  if  he 
ever  resumes  the  use  of  tobacco  I  hereby  agree 
to  pay  you  for  the  smoker.  Thomas  Tousley. 

Woodyard,  Ohio,  Mar.  14. 


Please  send  Mr.  Irwin  Johnson  and  E.  M. 
Carrier  one  smoker  apiece.  They  have  stopped 
using  tobacco,  and  say  if  you  will  send  them 
a  smoker  they  will  keep  it  in  sight  to  remind 
them  of  their  pledge.  I  will  vouch  for  their 
honesty.  G.  A.  Cakriek. 

Summersville,  Pa.,  March  7. 


My  two  sons  are  beginning  to  keep  bees. 
They  have  been  using  tobacco  for  some  time, 
but  have  quit,  and  agreed  to  stay  quit,  and 
think  that,  under  your  offer,  they  are  each 
entitled  to  a  smoker.  If  they  break  over  they 
will  pay  for  the  smokers.  J.  S.  Withehspoon. 

Siverly,  O.,  March  Id. 

Having  been  a  subscriber  to  (tLeanings,  and 
being  induced  to  give  u\)  the  use  of  tobacco  by 
reading  it,  I  now  claim  a  smoker.  I  quit  it  nine 
months  ago,  after  having  used  it  for  32  years. 
If  I  ever  use  it  again  in  any  form  T  will  pay  for 
the  smoker.    I  want  it  as  a  reminder. 

Reed  Creek,  Ga.,  April  29.        J.  L.  Bailey. 


I  referred  C.  W.  Satterloe  to  the  Tobacco  Col- 
umn, and  showed  him  what  it  had  done  for 
friend  March  and  his  German  friend,  and  he 
wants  one  too,  so  please  send  him  a  smoker: 
and  if  he  ever  uses  tobacco  in  any  form  again  I 
will  pay  you  for  the  smokt^r.         F.  B.  Jones. 

Howard  Lake,  Minn..  Mar.  1. 


Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  send  me  a  smo- 
ker ?  I  have  quit  the  use  of  tobacco  altogether. 
I  never  intend  to  use  it  again.  I  feel  much 
better  than  when  I  used  the  weed.  I  have 
gained  15  lbs.  in  weight  since  I  gave  up  the 
filthy  habit.  Should  I  ever  use  it  again  I  will 
remit  the  price  of  the  smoker.  Samuel  Cole. 

Cass  City,  Mich.,  April  6. 


I  have  received  the  third  copy  of  Gleanings; 
and  after  reading  the  Tobacco  Column  I  have 
resolved  to  stop  the  use  of  tobacco.  If  you 
desire  to  add  one  more  to  your  list  of  converts, 
please  send  me  a  smoker.  I  will  solemnly 
pledge  myself  never  to  use  tobocco;  and  by  the 
help  of  God  I  hope  to  keep  my  pledge.  Should 
I  ever  use  it  again  I  will  ])ay  for  the  smoker. 
FuED  W.  L.  Schmidt. 

Long  Grove,  Iowa,  Apr.  11. 


After  using  tobacco  thirty  years.  I  have, 
through  the  influence  of  Gleanings,  and  the 
help  of  God,  quit  the  bad  habit;  and  I  intend 
to  stay  quit.  If  I  am  entitled  to  a  smoker, 
please  send  it,  and  I  will  pay  for  it  if  I  ever  use 
tobacco  again.  Joseph  H.  Rf:DFiELD. 

Franklin,  Tenn.,  May  2. 

I  see  that  you,  like  myself,  are  opposed  to  the 
use  of  tobacco.  I  have  quit  the  vile  stuff  while 
I  have  recently  become  a  subscriber  to  Glean- 
ings. You  have  been  sending  me  sample  copies, 
and  I  have  noticed  the  Tobacco  Column,  but  I 
can't  say  that  I  was  influenced  to  quit  from 
what  I  read  in  that,  for  I  read  all  that  I  saw  on 
the  subject.  If  you  think  I  am  entitled  to  a 
smoker,  send  it  along.  I  will  never  use  tobacco 
again.  God  being  my  helper.  J.  S.  Mann. 

Princeton,  Ark.,  April  .30. 

If  you  are  still  sending  out  smokers  to  those 
that  give  up  the  use  of  tobacco,  you  may  send 
me  one  of  them  if  you  please,  a.s  I  believe  I  am 
entitled  to  it.  I  have  used  tobacco  for  about 
l(i  or  IS  years;  but  after  reading  your  Tobacco 
Column  for  some  time  I  made  up  my  mind  to 
quit  the  use  of  the  filthy  as  well  as  hurtful  weed. 
I  have  not  used  tobacco  in  any  form  since  last 
Fourth  of  July,  and  it  is  my  honest  intention 
never  to  use  tobacco  again;  if  I  ever  do  I  will 
pay  you  for  the  smoker.     John  J.  Hoffman. 

Elsinore,  Cal.,  Feb.  1.5. 


I  have  induced  my  brother,  Mr.  George  W. 
Dewiit,  of  Sunny  Side,  Md.,  to  stop  the  use  of 
tobacco,  and  he  agrees  to  pay  you  for  a  smoker 
if  he  ever  commences  the  use  of  it  again.  He 
has  some  fine  Italian  bees,  and  it  would  be  an 
acceptable  present  if  you  can  send  it.  I  will  go 
his  security,  and  see  you  get  your  pay  if  he 
ever  uses  the  weed  again.  Please  send  a  smo- 
ker to  him  at  Sunny  Side,  Garrett  Co.,  Md. 

Matthew  H.  Dewitt. 

Sang  Run,  Md.,  April  4. 

A  terrible  ending. 

I  know  of  a  young  man  20  years  of  age  who 
had  a  shock  a  few  weeks  ago,  caused  by  using 
tobacco.  It  affected  him  so  as  to  kill  his  will 
power,  so  he  would  not  work  or  care  for  a  thing 
but  that  and  idleness,  etc.  He  made  a  constant 
use  of  it,  night  and  day;  and  the  worst  of  it 
was,  he  began  when  only  nine  years  old,  and 
kept  it  from  his  father  for  two  years.  He 
offered  his  son  a  little  farm  and  all,  if  he  would 
give  it  up,  all  to  no  use.  and  they  say  he  can 
live  but  a  short  time.  He  is  in  the  hospital  in 
Lewiston.  E.  P.  Churchill. 

Hallowell,  Me.,  April  5. 

[Well,  well,  boys;  if  this  is  not  an  "e.xperience 
meeting,"  then  I  never  attended  one.  Some 
way,  March  and  April  seem  to  have  been 
prolific  in  good  results  in  the  tobacco  line.  May 
God  bless  you  all,  and  may  he  speed  the  work. 
And  now  while  it  is  well  under  way,  who  else  is 
there  who  will  join  in  and  keep  the  ball  rolling? 
Why,  it  seems  as  if  such  enthusiasm  must  be 
catching.  Think  of  the  younger  ones  who  are 
growing  up,  many  of  them  ready  to  turn  one 
way  or  the  other;  and  then  stand  up  and  say, 
"  I  too,  God  helping  me,  take  the  tobacco 
pledge."  When  friend  March  told  me  his  story 
I  felt  sure  it  would  bear  a  ci'op  of  something 
good;  and  it  seems  to  me  I  can  see  that  genial 
smile  spread  over  his  face  as  he  reads  this  num- 
ber of  Gleanings.  Old  friend,  how  are  you  by 
this  time,  anyhow?  How  are  the  cabbages  and 
the  celery  and  the  cauliflower?  and,  of  far  more 
importance,  how  is  the  work  going  on  for  Christ 
Jesus  over  in  that  new  town  of  AnacortesV] 

A.  I.  R. 


18<»-' 


GLEANINtiS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


467 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


And  the  prayer  of  faith  shall  skvi>  the  siok,  and 
tho  lA)rd  shall  raise  him  up.    .l.\MEs5:lfi. 

I  am  afraid  my  talk  to-day  will  be  a  good 
deal  /»i!/.s(7/ ralhoi"  than  lu'igiibors;  but  it  may 
bfl  tlie  iKMRhbois  will  he  bciiotittHl— .^omo  of 
thorn — at  least.  1  hope  so.  Well,  for  the  past 
few  weeks  I  have  b(>eii  weariiiR  my  overooat 
and  my  old  fur  eap:  yes.  and  1  liave  had  sore 
throat.  I'olds  almost  all  lln'  tiiite.  and  have  l)(>en 
sick  generally,  so  lliat  1  hijjran  to  think  again 
that  I  sliotild  never  be  real  well  any  more.  Mrs. 
Root  talked  about  a  i)ermanent  remove  to  a 
dryer  climate,  and  my  mind  has  b(>en  running 
over  San  Jacinto.  Tropico.  Wiisoirs  Peak,  and 
other  points  where  1  felt  well  at  the  time  I  was 
there.  But.  oh  dear  me:  I  couldn't  bear  the 
thought — neither  can  I  bear  the  thought  now — 
of  a  pennaiieiit  banishment  from  my  home 
here  in  Medina.  1  didn't  tell  anybody;  but  I 
thought  a  good  many  times  to  myself,  that  I 
believed  I'd  about  as  soon  die  in  Medina  as  to 
live  in  any  other  place. 

Over  and  over  again  I  tried  to  think  it  was 
only  a  notion,  and  I  left  otT  my  overcoat  when 
theweather  was  so  warm  and  tine,  but  it  was 
inevitabli'  and  sure;  the  sore  throat  and  chills 
came  back,  and  I  had  to  be  bundled  every  night 
like  an  Egyptian  mummy,  and  have  a  hot 
stone  to  one  of  my  feet  besides.  Things  went 
on  after  this  fashion  until  Decoration  day.  Of 
course,  feeling  as  I  did.  I  had  no  desire  to  mix 
in  with  crowds:  in  fact.  I  didn't  really  want  to 
see  iniyhody.  The  friends  readily  excused  me 
on  account  of  my  well-known  poor  health:  and 
while  the  r*  st  of  the  factory  was  deserted — or, 
at  least,  almost  deserted— I  was  left  alone.  I 
remember  on  that  particular  morning  thinking 
of  the  text  at  the  head  of  my  talk  to-day,  and  I 
wondered  why  it  was  so  plain  and  positive,  and 
yet  people — even  ministers — have  so  little  to 
say  about  it.  'Tis  true,  the  "  faith  cure"  peo- 
ple have  laid  considerable  stress  on  the  matter. 
and  they  also  claim  great  things:  but  their 
plan  of  work  has  somehow  never  commended 
itself  very  much  to  me.  I  have  felt  a  good 
many  times  as  if  I  didn't  care  so  much  about 
being  made  well  ?ny,se// as  I  did  about  under- 
standing the  mystery  and  real  cause  of  sickness 
and  disease.  If,  in  answer  to  prayer,  I  should 
be  made  well  and  my  neighbors  left  sick,  it 
wouldn't  particularly  commend  itself  to  me. 
What  I  craved  was  wisdom  from  on  high  to 
know  wherein  I  was  transgressing,  that  I  might 
leach  others  the  laws  of  health,  fori  feel  sure  we 
do  transgress  when  we  get  into  these  troubles. 

Perhaps  some  of  you  think  that  A.  I.  Root  is 
always  bright,  cheerful,  and  hopeful.  I  have 
fo/'7  you  several  times  it  wasn't  true,  but  you 
don't  seem  to  believe  it.  I  am  afraid  sometimes 
it  is  not  quite  right  for  me  to  apnear  so  bright 
and  full  of  faith  when  in  reality  I  get  the 
'■  blues  '■  as  other  people  do.  There  was  a  letter 
in  my  pocket  on  Decoration  morning  that  some- 
what disturbed  me.  My  very  dear  friend  J.  L. 
Peabody,  of  Denver.  Col.,  in  speaking  of  my 
pleasant  visit  thee,  tises  the  following  words: 

"I  often  look  back  to  that  Sabbath  morning 
when  you  led  family  wijrship.  I  do  not  know 
that  I  ever  enjoyed  such  a  service  more  in  my 
life.  Certainly  very  few  read  the  Bible  as  you 
did  that  morning." 

Yes,  I  was  bright  and  hopeful,  and  full  of 
faith  during  that  visit.  I  now  remember  my 
hopeful  exhortations  during  family  worship 
that  morning:  but  I  fear  1  should  never  have 
remembered  it  again  had  it  not  been  for  this 
reminder.  Well,  on  this  Decoration  morning  I 
was  very  much   inclin»>d   to  be  "blue."    Even 


the  plants  and  gafdeii  and  strawberri<'s  didn't 
interest  me  very  much:  no,  not  even  the  fact 
tiiat  we  were  luiving  a  nice  trade,  and  the  busi- 
ness was  paying  tolerably  well.  I  felt. just  tlxMi 
that  1  didn't,  care  lor  idaiits  or  gard(Mis:  I  didn't 
care  for  moin'v:  in  fact,  I  didn't  care  for  any 
thing  the  whole  wide  world  liad  to  offer.  I 
had  no  enthusiasm  for  any  thing.  Did  you 
ever  feel  that  way,  my  friend?  1  knew  the 
remedy  full  well.  I  had  "been  there"  before. 
.Such  experiences  often  make  me  tliiuk  of  the 
worils  of  the  Savior  when  he  told  his  disciijles: 
■"This  kind  goetli  not  out  but  by  prayi'r  and 
fasting."  I  had  already  fasted  enough,  the 
dear  wife  knows,  if  nobody  (^Ise  does;  but  she 
didn't  know  how  little  I  had  been  praying  off 
alone  by  myself  for  a  few  days  back.  \Vell, 
w  hen  I  felt  I  could  stand  it  no  longer  I  pushed 
off  alone,  away  by  myself,  vvheri;  I  could  speak 
aloud  without  danger  of  intrusion.  I  prayed 
and  kept  praying— not  in  a  fei^ble,  formal  way, 
but  in  real  earnest,  because  I  ivas  in  reitl  trou- 
ble, and  then  I  thought  of  the  text.  Somebody 
repeated  it  a  few  days  ago  at  the  noon  service, 
and  I  wondered  at  the  time  so  little  attention 
had  been  called  to  a  text  so  plain  and  jwsitive. 
I  thought  of  Wilson's  Peak,  and  wondered  if  it 
would  just  now  awaken  enthusiasm;  and  I  re- 
member, too.  wondering  whether  th(>  enthusi- 
asm would  cure  my  sore  throat  and  allay  its 
stinging,  and,  above  all,  give  me  a  relish  for 
life's  duties.  While  in  this  frame  of  mind  I 
wandered  down  to  the  creek  bottom  and  noticed 
the  soil  was  just  getting  in  prime  shape  to  cul- 
tivate. Everybody  had  gone  to  the  Decoration 
services,  and  there  wasn't  a  man  on  the  place 
that  could  be  spared  to  cultivate.  I  passed  by 
the  stables,  and  old  Charley  looked  around  in- 
quiringly, evidently  thinking  it  was  a  little 
funny  that  (»'o  Sundays  should  come  together. 
He  backed  up,  looked  toward  his  bridle  with  a 
sort  of  inquiring  manner,  as  if  he  suggested  it 
was  about  time  to  be  hitched  to  that  cultivator. 
Then  it  occurred  to  me  that  I  would  rather  take 
old  Charley  down  in  the  lot  and  cultivate — at 
least,  as  long  as  I  could  stand  it— than  to  do 
any  thing  else  in  the  world.  Somehow  it  al- 
ways does  me  good  to  go  off  alone  with  old 
Charley,  and  get  (tcquainted  with  him.  There 
is  something  noble,  and  I  was  going  to  say  man- 
ly, about  that  horse,  and  I  think  1  shall  say  it. 
He  never  shrinks  duty,  even  though  he  is  old 
and  broken-winded.  If  the  work  is  hard  he 
will  push  ahead  and  outwalk  almost  any  sound 
horse;  in  fact,  if  the  day  is  very  hot  he  will 
push  ahead  until  so  out  of  wind  that  he  will 
fall  down  in  sheer  exhaustion,  if  his  driver  will 
let  him.  But  how  should  I  cultivate?  Mrs. 
Root,  the  doctor.  Ernest,  and  the  scores  of 
friends  have  been  scolding  me  for  weeks  back 
iihoMt  overexertion;  in  fact.  I  had  given  up  go- 
ing up  town  to  evening  prayer-meetings  because 
the  walk  of  half  a  mile  seemed  to  use  me  up  so 
nuich.  Notwithstanding.  I  decided  to  cultivate 
for  a  little  while,  just  for  the  fun  of  it.  Old 
Cliarley  very  kindly  hacked  up.  held  down  his 
head,  and  even  opened  his  mouth  to  take;  in  the 
bits.  He  seemed  to  be  quite  willing  to  save  my 
health,  and  to  save  exertion:  and  I  felt  grateful 
to  him  right  away.  Before  he  commenced  cul- 
tivating I  remembered  there  had  been  a  good 
deal  of  discussion  about  his  stepping  on  choice 
plants,  and  I  have  .several  times  thought  his 
stepping  on  plants  was  caused  more  by  his 
driver  yanking  on  the  lines  than  by  any  fault 
of  Charley's.  For  instance,  he  would  get  pretty 
near  the  plants  that  were  just  coming  up  and 
the  driver  would  give  him  a  yank,  so  much 
stronger  than  was  necessary,  that  lie  would  go 
straight  across  and  step  on  the  row  opposite. 
The  day  was  hot,  and  every  little  thing  was 
burdensome.     I  remembered  what  friend  Terry 


468 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


had  said  about  cultivating,  and  I  meditated 
taking  off  his  lines  and  all  unnecessary  parts  of 
the  harness,  to  make  the  poor  fellow  as  com- 
fortable as  possible  in  his  intirmity. 

Now.  this  brings  me  to  a  humiliating  confes- 
sion:    If  I  took  off' his  lines  1   must  guide  him 
by  '"gee"   and   "haw:"  and.  to  be  downright 
honest,  and  own  up.  I  never  coul^l  learn  to  tell 
"gee"   from   ''haw."'      My   father  scolded  me 
time  and  again  because  I  got  them  wrong  ;  but 
the  more  he  scolded,  the  worse  I  got  ;  and  I  am 
afraid   that  my  good   parent  gave  way  in  des- 
pair when  I  was  a  boy.    I  was  like  the  little  girl 
who  was  counting  the  chickens.     She  said  she 
counted  them  all  butooe;  but  that  one  ran  about 
so  "  everlastingly"  she  really  couldn't  count  it. 
I    could    learn    every    thing    but   "gee"    and 
"  haw  ;"  but  nobody  could  teach  me  that ;  and 
here  1  was,  53  years' old,  and  didn't  know  "  gee" 
and  "  haw  "  yet.    My  teamster  had  consented 
to  drive  the  big  team  so  as  to  get  in  some  crops, 
even    though  it  loas  Decoration  day,  since  it 
was  the  only  suitable  weather  we  had   had  for 
weeks,  and  I  meditated  asking  him  to  explain 
to   me    about    "gee"    and   "  haw,"  bat  I   was 
ashamed    to.    Finally  a    thought    struck    me: 
Oh.  yes!  old  Charley   is  to  be  my   helper  and 
teac/ier  to-day,  and  he  knows  sure!''    I  ventur- 
ed to  say  "haw"  when   I  wanted   him   to  go  a 
little    further  off  from   a  row  of  strawberries. 
He  very  promptly  walked  right  on  to  them.    So 
I  learned  which  way  "  haw  "  was,  by  sad  ex- 
perience.   Pretty  soon  we  were  working  nicely 
without  any  lines  at  all,  and  when  we  came  to 
a  shady  tree  I  let  Charley  eat  grass  while  he  re- 
covered his  wind,  and  I  leaned  over  against  the 
cultivator    and    recovered   my  wind.    Charley 
looked  at  me  several  times  with  his  great  hon- 
est eyes,  thinking,   perhaps,  that  was  a   new 
glimpse  of  my  character  ;  and  I,  too,  had  got  a 
new  glimpse  of  Charley.    He  knew  "  gee  "  and 
"  haw  "  just  as  well  as  he  knew  this  name,  and 
minded  to  a  dot.    For  a  while  we  had  a  little 
confusion   in  turning  around,  because  without 
the  lines  he  couldn't  tell  whether  I  wanted  him 
to  go  once  or  twice  in  a  row,  and  sometimes  I 
skipped   from   one  part  of  the  grounds  to  the 
other,  cultivating  the  stuff'  that  needed  it  most. 
How  was  Charley  to  know  when   he  should   go 
ahead   to  some  other  place,  and  just  when  he 
should  turn   in?    I  was  greatly  surprised   and 
pleased    to    find    that,   by  telling  him   to  "go 
ahead  j/ee."  or  "/laif  right  in   there,  Charley," 
he  would  do  it  every  time.    I  didn't  know  be- 
fore that  a  horse  could  be  taught  so  much   as 
Charley  seemed  to  know  already  that  afternoon. 
I  knew  that  for  several  years  Charley  had  been 
very  impatient  at  being  led  by  the  bits  by  any- 
body.    He  will  even  bite,  snort,  and  stamp  his 
feet  in  protest,  when  you  attempt  to  take  him 
by   the  bit.     He  seems  to  say  by  his  actions, 
"  Oh !  you  go  and  take  hold  of  the  lines  and  tend 
to  your  business.    If  you  will  tell  me  what  you 
want,  in  plain  English,  I  can  understand,  and  I 
have  got  sense  enough  to  know  how  to  do  all 
sorts  of  work." 

All  of  his  drivers  sooner  or  later  learn  that, 
and  they  often  remark:  "  You  can  drive  Char- 
ley anywhere  with  the  Hues,  but  he  doesn't  lead 
by  the  bits  worth  a  cent."  We  have  been  told, 
in  old-time  fables,  of  people  who  had  been,  by 
some  scorcery  or  incantation,  transformed  into 
certain  animals  for  a  certain  period  of  years. 
These  people  knew  everything,  but  could  indi- 
cate who  they  were  only  by  signs.  My  friend, 
did  you  ever  think  it  possible  that  your  patient 
horse  might  be  one  of  that  sort?  Hadn't  you 
better  be  kind  and  gentle  to  him,  and  even  re- 
spectful, even  if  it  isn't  true  ? 

Well,  while  Charley  was  getting  his  wind  I 
took  the  opportunity  to  get  "  acquainted  "  with 
the    Planet  Jr.   cultivator  also.      I   had    been 


annoyed  by  having  young  stuff,  just  peeking 
through  the  ground,  covered    up    by   soil  ;  in 
fact,  the  cultivator  had  sometimes  thrown  c  ods 
on  my  choice  strawberry-plants.    I  soon   found 
that,  by  swinging  the  slender  narrow  teeth,  I 
could  make  them  draw  the  soil  away  from   the 
plant.    Now,  this  wasn't  just  what  was  needed 
exactly,  so  I  put  a  rather  wide  shovel   in  the 
center  that  linished  up.  by  throwing  tine  soil 
back  where  the  front  tooth  had  drawn  it  away; 
and  I  not  only  tore  out  the  weeds  close  up  to 
the  plants,  but  I  threw  up  a  mulch  of  fine  soil, 
leaving  a  furrow  in  the  center  to  take  away  the 
water  from    heavy  rains.    Oh  I  I  tell  you,  but  I 
did  enjoy  the  worls   that  afternoon.    It  is  true, 
I  sat  down  and   rested  at  the  end  of  every  row, 
and  sometimes  in  the  middle  of  a  row  ;  but  be- 
fore long  the  blood  was  tingling  to  my  very 
tlngers'  ends,  just  as  it  did  when  I  climbed  Wil- 
son's Peak  ;  and  notwithstanding  my  clothing 
was  removed,  one  ai'ticle  after  another,  it  seem- 
ed as  if  the  perspiration  ran  in  streams  from 
almost  every  part  of  my  body.    With  surprise 
and  thanksgiving  I   began   to  realize  that  not 
only  entusiasm  but  strength  was  coming  back — 
strength  and  a  keen  sense  of  enjoyment  in  liv- 
ing, that  was  new  and  most  wonderfully  deli-- 
cious.    I  was  enthusiastic  about  accomplishing 
so  much  work  to  my  perfect  satisfaction,  and  I 
was  enthusiastic,  too.  in  finding  what  a  grand, 
capable  helper  I  had  found  in  poor  old  Charley. 
When  the  sun   came  out  between   the  clouds, 
and  poured  down  its  rays  full   upon   him,  with 
very  little  breeze  blowing,  his  labored  wheezing 
admonished  me  he  could  not  hold  out  to  the  end 
of  the  row.  for  the  cultivator  was  almost  buried 
in  the  soil,  for  it  hadn't  been  stirred  before  in  a 
month;  in  fact,  pretty  good-sized  weeds  made  it 
laborious.      After    the    sun    was    obscured    by 
clouds,   however,   and   a   big    breeze  came  up, 
Charley  held  his  wind  rather  better  than  I  did 
mine.     I    think    it  was  about  half-past  three 
when  I  first  began  to  feel  a  little  symptom  of 
fatigue.    The  teamster,  who  is  a  good  neighbor 
of  mine,  also  began  to  remonstrate.    If  Mrs.  R. 
and  Ernest  knew  what  I  was  doing  I  felt  pretty 
sure  my  enjoyment  would  have  been  cut  short. 
Finahy  I  left  Charley  eating  grass  under  a  tree, 
and  I  made  my  way  slowly  to  the  house.  When 
my  strength   commenced   to  give  out  it  went 
out   pretty  fast.    Mrs.    Root   supposed    I  had 
changed  my  mind,  and  tinallygone  to  Decora- 
tion, and   no  one  had  missed  me.    Perhaps  I 
should   mention,  that,  down   in  the  field,   the 
men  drink  hard  water  from  the  windmill  pump; 
but  I  have  been  so  feeble  —  at  least  I  thought  I 
was — that  I  always  have  to  have  soft  water 
from  the  cistern  ;  but  while  I  was  cultivating 
and  perspiring  at  such  a  rate  I  drank  the  hard 
water — well,  I  should  say  quarts  of  it— and   it 
didn't  hurt  me  a  particle.    I  lay  on   the  lounge 
perhays  20  minutes,  drank   a  cup  of  beef-tea, 
and,  oh  my  I  what  a  supper  I  had  that  nightl — 
Wilson's   Peak  over  again,  as  sure  as  you  live  ; 
and  it  didn't  costseveral  hundred  dollars  either, 
because  it  was  thousands  of  miles  away.    My 
prayer  was  answered.    The  overcoat,  fur  cap, 
the  flannels,  and  a  great  lot  of  other  trumpery, 
were  disposed  of  on  that  afternoon.  The  friends 
all  prophesied  a  reaction  ;  but  it  hasn't  come, 


*  Since  the  above  was  submitted  to  Ernest  he  tells 
me  that  tliere  is  a  scliool  i)f  physicians  who  practice 
on  the  line  I  have  indicated.  I  do  not  knuw  wlieth- 
er  they  prescribe  horses  and  cultivators  or  not;  but 
this  thing  is  certain— at  least  to  my  mind— outdoor 
exercise,  or,  if  you  choose,  any  sort  of  exercise, 
must  be  accompanied  witli  enthusiasm  in  and  for 
the  work:  and  1  do  not  know  of  any  better  place  to 
g-o  for  this  eutliusiasm  than  to  Him  who  gave  lis 
tlie  promise:  "If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him 
ask  of  God,  who  giveth  to  all  men  liberally,  and  up- 
braideth  not." 


lS'.)i 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


469 


ami  it  is  mow  Tlmrsday.  1  am  wdriciiiiroul  with 
the  men  I'Vfry  day.  catiiiK  bin  S(|iian'  meals, 
poiiiil  in  my  siiirt-sict'vcs.  ami  am  well  ovcry 
way.  Tilt'  oiiit'  rami'  stni'njlit  and  iirdinpt  and 
spiiih/  after  tliat  vdnicst  prayer  and  |ileadins 
tlie  pi'omises  (if  (ioti's  iioly  word.  It  eame  in 
tlie  line,  liowever.  of  a  Imrsv  and  <-iiltivittnr. 
Now,  I  don't  Iviiow.dear  friends,  liow  many  itiay 
be  eiired  in  a  lilve  mannef  :  and  I  liave  no  rifjlit 
to  say.  either,  that  1  sliail  not  liave  a  feenrreiice 
t)f  tht'se  tfonbies.  .Sjnoe  tiiat  Monday  afternoon, 
the  weather  has  been  warmer  ;  the  amount  of 
rain  has  been  less,  althoiifih  it  has  rained  more 
or  less  every  day.  It  is  possible  that  I  may  net 
be  obliged  to  se(>k  a  warmer  and  drier  eiiiiiate. 
I  ran  not  lay  down  or  i)reseribe  rules  of  hailth 
for  every  one;  but  I  ean  with  perfeet  faith  and 
assuranee  point  every  child  of  humanity  to  the 
promises  in  the  little  text  at  the  head  of  this 
talk  to-day.  Go.  \u  fulth  hcIlcriiKj.  to  the  great 
Father  above,  and  fie  will  surely  point  out  the 
way. 

"And  the  prayer  of  faith  sliull  save  the  sick,  and 
tlie  Lord  shall  raise  him  up." 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM  A.  I.  ROOT. 


In  the  valley  of  .San  Jaeinto  we  first  saw  a 
wind-storm.  It  took  up  the  sand  and  dust,  and 
sent  it  all  through  the  houses,  and  into  every 
crack   and  cranny,   uutil   it  caused     the  good 


AUTKSIAN    WEI.t.   IN   TIIK 


.MIDDLE   OF   A   I,ITTI,E    LAKK    OF    ITS   OWX 
MAKING. 


housewife  a '•  heap  of  trouble."  After  we  had 
a  good  rain,  said  I.  "No  more  sand-storms:" 
but  the  old  inhabitant  said.  "  Not  so.  The  hot 
whirlwind  from  off  the  Mojave  Desert  dries  the 
sand,  almost,  in  the  very  act  of  whirling  it  into 
the  air."  and  so  we  found  it.    This  hot  wind  is 


a  foe  to  the  bee-keeper,  for  it  melts  down  the 
combs  whereviM' it  strikes.  Some  sort  of  shade 
to  keep  off  the  sun  is  here  almost  a  nece.ssi- 
ty.  and  many  bee-men  have  windbreaks  also, 
to  keep  otT  the  hot  winds.  They  do  not,  how- 
ever, come  very  (jfteii,  and  some  seasons  not  at 
all. 

All  through  the  valley,  as  well  as  at  other 
points,  one  is  astonished  at  the  wonderful 
growth  fruit-trees  luake:  iin<i  this  wonderful 
luxuriance  never  seems  to  prm'cuit  them  from 
bearing  prodigious  crops  as  soon  as  they  are 
old  enough,  and  sometimes  even  sooner.  I'each- 
trees  b(^ar  at  two  years  from  the  bud,  and  a 
grape  ciUtinu  has  been  known  to  bear  a  good- 
sized  Jynncli  of  ijrapcs  the  very  y<'ar  it  was 
planted  in  the  field.  This  Is  what  I  mean:  Cut- 
lings  were  set  in  the  (ield  instead  of  young 
vines:  and  although  these  cuttings,  when  set 
out  in  the  sjiring,  had  no  sort  of  root  whatever, 
befori^  another  spring  some  of  them  had  pro- 
duced bunches  of  good  rijie  grapes.  This  is, 
doubtless,  owing  to  the  long  growing  season, 
and  to  the  water,  that  was  given  without  stint, 
as  often  as  needed. 

You   know  how  much  I  am   interested  in  ar- 
tesian  wells?    Well,  San  Jacinto  is  one  of  the 
favored  localities  where  water  ri.ses  several  feet 
above  the  surface,  where  a  pipe  is  driven  down 
only  a  little  over  KX)  feet.    The  first  morning 
after  my  arrival  I  found  my  way  to  one  of  these 
wells.    The  men  had  not  quite  finished  it:  but 
I  was  so  much  taken  up  with  the  gushing  wa- 
ter as  it  escaped  ovc^r  the  top  of  their  pipes, 
that  I  scarcely  looked   at  the  workmen  at  all, 
when  somebody  startled 
me  by  saying.  •'  Mr.  Root, 
how  do  yon  do?"   Glanc- 
ing up  i  saw  one  of  our 
~^-.  Medina  people — in    fact, 

"^v  a  near  neighbor.    It  then 

transpired  that  his  son 
was  the  man  who  super- 
intended the  drilling  and 
putting  in  the  pipe.  I 
did  not  learn  how  the 
iron  tube  is  put  dosvn, 
but  was  told  that,  while 
sinking  the  pipe,  they 
make  a  note  of  the  points 
where  water  seems  to  be 
plentiful.  Then,  after 
the  pipe  is  driven  clear 
down,  an  ingenious  ma- 
chine, specially  designed 
for  the  purpose,  is  put 
down  in  the  pipe,  and, 
by  proper  manipulation, 
the  pipe  is  bursted  at  the 
points  where  the  water  is 
to  come  in.  This  burst- 
ing opens  a  seam  that 
will  let  in  the  water,  but 
not  permit  gravel  or 
sand  to  flow  through. 
The  lowermost  vein  is 
opened  first:  then  the 
different  veins  above  it, 
the  volume  of  w'ater  con- 
tinually increasing  at 
each  subsequent  open- 
ing. While  I  stood  by, 
the  well  was  finished, 
and  the  proi)rietor  had  to 
hustle  himself  with  his 
hoe  to  make  a  channel 
to  let  the  water  run  away  so  It  would  not 
drown  him  out.  lie  was  alieady  making  gar- 
den, and  had  his  grape-cuttings  out.  and  I  could 
see  his  face  light  up  with  animation  as  he  con- 
ducted this  liquid  treasure  around  through  the 
light  .soil    between   the  rows  of  cuttings,  trees, 


470 

etc.    I 

Kodak. 

refresh 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


covered   the  top  of  the   pipe   with   my     sparkling  water  applied  right  in  the  middle  of 

and  anticipated  giving  you  something     January.     We  saw  the  astonishing  growth  of 

ing  and  beautiful  in  the  way  of  a  picture;     fruit-trees,    and     witnessed    the    manner    in 

which  a  fruit-orchard  can 
.     .     •  .  be  got  under  full   head- 

way in  less  than  half  the 
time  we  do  it  here  in  Me- 
dina. 

While  on  the  subject  of 
artesian  wells,  I  will  give 
you  a  Kodak  view  of  one 
taken  on  the  farm  of  C.  E. 
Hinds,  at  Woonsocket,  S. 
D.  The  pipe  comes  up 
in  the  middle  of  a  res- 
ervoir, which  you  will 
find  fully  described  on 
page  9(30  of  last  year. 
When  this  reservoir  is 
full  of  water,  to  get  to 
the  pipe  it  is  necessary 
to  go  out  over  the  water 
on  a  raised  walk.  At  the 
time  of  ray  visit  the  res- 
ervoir was  empty,  and 
the  ground  covered  with 
snow.  The  valve  was 
opened,  and  the  full  vol- 
ume turned  on.  You  will 
notice  the  immense  ici- 
cles hanging  down  by  the 
walk  close  to  the  pipe 
that  comes  out  of  the 
well.  As  it  was  freezing 
weather,  it  was  a  rather 
difficult  matter  to  get  the 
cap  screwed  over  the 
large  tube.  Could  we 
-^^  ""  ■*  ^  have  done  so,  the  water 

^^         ~       "l^^  would  have  been  thrown 

-  ^Bfim  .^^  yp  jjj  ^he  small  pipe  more 

ARTESIAX   WELL   AND   RESEKVOIK   AT   WOUNSOCKET,   .S.   I).  than  100  feet  high. 

but  rill  my  anxiety  I 
placed  the  instrument 
too  near  to  the  water  (so 
Ernest  says)  and  it  did 
not  work.  On  the  pre- 
vious page,  however,  I 
give  you  something  sim- 
ilar. 

When  the  water  pours 
over  the  top  of  the  iron 
pipe,  if  the  top  is  square 
and  level  it  looks  like  an 
inverted  glass  vase  or  a 
bell-glass,  and  is  about 
as  handsome  as  any 
thing  that  can  be  imag- 
ined. Mr.  Elmer  Scott, 
who  has  been  drilling 
the  wells  around  San  Ja- 
cinto, left  Medina  only 
two  or  three  years  ago: 
now  he  has  a  beautiful 
little  home  of  his  own, 
garden  full  of  fruit,  and, 
of  course,  an  artesian 
well  with  a  bubbling 
brook  of  pure  soft  water 
flowing  out  among  his 
plants.  It  was  in  the 
evening,  after  dark, when 
we  made  hiin  a  call; 
but  the  children  were  so 
animated  about  the  gar- 
den that  we  went  out  by 
lamplight  and  saw  the 
lettuce,  radishes,  and 
other  things  just  coming 
through  the  ground  un- 
der the  influence  of  that 


POLE   CANYON   FALLl 


NEAK   THE    RESIDENCE     OF   T.    F.    AIIUNDELL, 
FII-LMORE,   CAL. 


18<fJ 


CiLEANINGS  IN  IJEK  CULTURE. 


471 


HcfDrc  we  get  any  further  along  I  wish  to 
give  you  a  picture  of  the  fails  alliuied  to  on 
page  4".'(i  of  our  last  issui'.  and  descrihed  more 
fully  on  page  173  of  oui'  issue  for  Maicli  1. 
Fiiend  Mi'lnlyre  liandled  tlie  Kodak,  and  you 
see  he  has  (as  he  usually  does)  made  a  success 
of  it. 

This  falls  is  remarkable  from  the  fact  that 
chemicals  contaiuinl  in  the  water  have  formed 
a  sort  of  li'ough  or  spoul  ail  the  way  fiom  llie 
toi)  of  tiie  falls  to  the  hottoiu.  So  the  water 
insti'ad  of  falling,  simply  "  slides  down,"  as  it 
wero.  Xotic(>  the  heni  strata  of  rocks,  as  if 
some  mighty  crushing  weight  liad  hent  down 
tht>  very  (>arth  itscMf  at  ilie  vi'ry  point  where 
the  water  runs  over.  At  the  left  of  the  picture 
is  a  cavity  in  the  rocks.  One  of  the  boys  en- 
sconced hiiuself  in  here;  but  the  Kodak,  it 
seems,  did  uot  quite  bring  him  out.  The  rest 
of  us  were  around  the  falls  in  different  positions; 
but  we  do  not  seem  to  be  thei'e  In  the  picture. 
I  have  forgotten  liie  distance,  but  I  think  the 
water  comes  down  soiue  :«)  or  40  feet.  I  had 
cliiubed  up  the  rocky  clitTs  until  I  was  nearly 
on  a  level  with  the  canyon  above;  but  friend 
M.  admonislied  us  tiiat.  if  we  did  not  hasten 
back,  we  could  not  make  the  train  and  keep  our 
appointments.  In  our  next  issue  I  shall  have 
something  more  to  say  about  the  San  Jacinto 
Valley  and  the  good  people  who  live  there. 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


BY     A.      I.      ROOT. 


THE     MATTEK  OF   LETTUCE   ON    OUR     QUARTER- 
ACRE    FARM. 

In  our  issue  for  June  1  I  spoke  about  getting 
30  cents  per  lb.  for  Grand  Rapids  lettuce.  We 
get  only  20  cents  now:  but  I  have  a  little  more 
to  tell  you  in  regard  to  those  lettuce-beds. 
They  are  covered  by  IS  sash,  making  about  <30 
feet  of  bed.  About  a  month  ago  I  commenced 
cutting  the  lettuce  wherever  it  seemed  to  be 
thickest,  or  had  just  begun  to  crowd  a  little. 
The  demand  for  it  was  a  little  more  than  the 
supply,  so  we  kept  the  price  up  to  30  cents  per 
lb.,  right  straight  along,  until  about  a  week 
ago. 

The  plants  were  put  out.  as  nearly  as  I  can 
recollect,  about  the  middle  of  March.  The 
ground  was  already  rich,  and  we  put  on  the 
glass  and  took  off  the  glass  until  I  really  be- 
gan to  be  afraid  the  labor  was  going  to  be  more 
than  the  lettuce  would  come  to.  As  there  was 
no  steam  heat  under  the  beds,  the  lettuce  did 
not  grow  (piite  to  suit  me.  One  day  our  team- 
ster said  he  must  have  the  horses  shod;  and  in 
order  to  kill  two  birds  witli  one  stone,  we  get  a 
load  of  manure  of  the  blacksmith  while  he  is  at 
work  at  the  horses.  This  manure,  you  know, 
has  no  straw  nor  bedding  with  it.  Besides 
that,  it  has  parings  from  the  horses'  hoofs,  par- 
ticles of  iion.  etc.  Somi'ljody  has  suggested 
that  iht!  iron  is  valuable  for  manure.  I  do  not 
know  how  true  this  is.  but  I  rather  doubt  it.  I 
do  know,  however,  that  the  manure  that  we 
get  at  the  blacksmith-shop  is  always  very  val- 
uable. It  wa*  put  down  in  one  of  the  roads 
near  these  lettuce-beds:  and  as  it  rained  al- 
most every  day  I  wanted  to  hurry  and  put  it  on 
some  crop  before  its  streiigth  was  leached  out. 
Two  schoolboys  came  along  pretty  soon  and 
wanted  a  job.  "All  right."  said  I.  "(Jet  a 
couple  of  dust-pans  out  of  the  store,  and  put 
that  heap  of  manure  nicely  between  those  let- 
tuce-plants. Cover  the  ground  entirely,  but 
don't  you  cover  a  single  lettuce-leaf."  They 
went  at  it  like  young  beavers;  and  although  it 


was  (|uite  a  job  they  got  it  done  in  nice  shape. 
Of  course,  it  took  some  tinu',  aiui  1  again  began 
feeling  troubled  for  fear  the  lettuce  would  nev- 
ei  pay  for  the  time,  manure,  and  handling  the 
sash.  With  the  April  showers,  however  (that 
did  not  comi'  until  along  in  Man),  it  began  to 
attract  the  attention  of  pass(>rsby:  and  when  I 
found  that  peopl(>  would  have  it  before  it  was 
ready  to  cut,  and  even  if  it  did  cost  .'50  cis.  per 
III..  1  took  courage.  \Vell.  I  havi'  been  taking 
out  a  |)lanl  here  and  there,  wherever  it  was 
crowded  most,  for  fully  four  wc^eks:  and  even 
now.  .June  8,  the  beds  are  full  and  entire*— "  a 
thing  of  beauty  aiul  a  joy  forever"  to  the  really 
enthusiastic  gardener.  Every  man,  woman,  or 
child,  or  (iven  litlli'  girl,  that  pa.sses  those  let- 
tuce-beds responds  with  a  smile  to  my  interro- 
gation, "There,  sis,  isn't  that  pretty?'' 

How  nuich  money  have  I  taken  from  that 
bed  in  tli<>se  four  we(!ks,  and  still  have  it  full 
and  comi)lete  everyday?  Well,  we  have  got 
as  much  as  .*30.()()  or  !?40.00:  and  as  the  remain- 
ing heads  weigh  nearly  a  pound  each,  and 
some  of  them  would  about  (ill  a  peck  measure, 
if  they  do  not  go  to  seed  prettv  soon  we  shall 
get  S30.00  or  $40.(XJ  more.  In  order  to  get  these 
I)rices.  however,  we  have  got  to  work  and  plan. 
For  instance:  We  had  a  similar  bed  of  Boston 
Market  lettuce.  But  the  people  had  taken  such 
a  fancy  to  the  Grand  Rapids,  with  its  wonder- 
ful beauty,  that  they  did  not  care  much  for  the 
Boston  Market.  The  latter  was  headitig  up, 
however,  and  I  knew  it  must  be  sold.  So  I  fixed 
a  basket  so  as  to  look  very  attractive,  with  the 
little  rose-tinted  heads  sprinkled  with  dew,  and 
told  the  boys  they  must  push  it,  and  therefore 
put  it  at  half  price,  only  10  cents  per  lb.  This 
made  the  large  heads  come  to  a  nickel,  while 
the  moderate-sized  ones  were  two  for  a  nickel. 
And  then  they  started.  I  was  just  in  time  with 
my  project,  for  next  morning  at  least  a  dozen 
heads  had  burst  to  send  up  a  seed-stalk;  by 
noon  another  dozen  had  done  the  same  thing; 
and  by  another  morning,  over  30  or  40  had  to  be 
sold.  I  put  on  the  wagon  such  a  quantity  that 
I  felt  sure  the  boys  would  not  sell  them  all. 
But  by  9  o'clock  I  was  encouraged  by  the  re- 
port that  the  Boston  Market  lettuce  was  all 
gone,  and  that  thc^y  could  have  sold  more. 
From  that  time  on  I  made  it  my  business  to 
watch  that  bed  and  take  out  every  head  just  as 
it  showed  symptoms  of  shooting  up  to  seed. 
To-morrow  morinng  takes  every  last  head, 
and  hardly  otie  was  lost.  This  bed  is  only  1.5 
feet  long — just  about  what  would  be  covered  by 
five  sash,  and  it  has  yielded  us  altogether  fully 
.'JIO.OO.  or  S2.00.p(u-  sash.  It  is  now  ready  for 
another  crop. 

You  may  say.  "  Oh  I  well,  lettuce  is  a  big  staple 
in  market-gardening.  You  could  not  do  it  on 
your  rvhiile  quarter  -  acre."  Wait  a  minute. 
Asparagus  under  glass  will  do  fullv  as  well,  if 
not  better;  wax  beans,  ditto;  bush  lima  beans, 
ditto.  Eclipse  beets,  our  first  crop  under  per- 
haps 10  sash.  I  think  have  done  fully  as  well. 
They  have  all  been  sold  at  from  10  to  l.'i  cents 
peril).;  perhaps  fully  half  at  15  cents.  Early 
cabbage  will  do  nearly  as  well:  and  I  feel  sure 
that  the  White  Plume  celery  will  do  as  well, 
although  we  have  not  got  "around  to  iirove  it 
yet;  extra  early  corn,  nearly  as  well:  cucum- 
bers, you  have  already  heard  a  report  from  by 
friend  Ransom.  I  have  doiu^  but  little  with 
early  melons.  Onions  will  surely  do  as  well  as 
lettuci'.  We  made  our  first  pulling,  of  onions 
under  glass,  to-day.  American  Wonder  peas  we 
have  tested  to  some  extent.  Our  first  picking  is 
ready  to-day. grown  over  the  steam-pipes.  Our 
first    Early  Ohio    potatoes   were    dug  June  4. 

*  Our  minister  says  these  lettuce-beds  are  like  the 
widow's  ci  use  of  oil. 


472 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


They  were  quoted  at  the  time  at  ?7.00  a  bushel, 
wholesale.  Right  before  me  as  I  write,  is  a  bed 
of  Early  Ohio  potatoes  with  foliage  that  seems 
to  promise  a  yield  of  certainly  more  than  1000 
bushels  per  acre.  Early  Sugar  pumpkins  we 
started  under  glass,  and  moved  them  to  the 
field  when  they  were  just  beginning  to  run; 
the  same  with  cucumbers,  summer  squashes, 
and  other  vines.  A  nice  bed  of  radishes  under 
glass,  prudently  managed,  gave  a  tremendous 
crop — I  never  figured  up  just  how  much.  Spin- 
ach we  propose  to  grow  next  season  under  the 
sash  made  of  slatted  glass,  said  sash  never  to 
be  handled  at  all  until  it  can  be  removed  en- 
tirely. We  have  not  yet  raised  tomatoes  under 
sash,  but  I  will  tell  you  what  I  have  done. 
About  a  month  ago  we  had  some  beautiful 
Dwarf  Champions  getting  to  be  too  large  for 
the  greenhouse.  They  were  removed  out  into 
the  plant-beds,  and  set  far  enough  apart  so 
they  could  make  great  stocky  handsome  plants. 
Well,  these  plants  grew  up  to  be  the  finest- 
looking  ones  I  ever  saw  in  my  life.  We  did  not 
intend  them  for  sale,  but  they  were  to  be  plant- 
ed out  in  our  own  ground.  A  lady  went  by, 
however,  and  declared  that  she  must  have 
some  of  them,  if  they  were  to  be  bought. 
Thinking  she  would  not  want  more  than  two 
of  them,  I  told  her  they  were  worth  to  us  about 
a  nickel  apiece.  She  took  eight  of  them,  and 
went  away  highly  pleased.  Well,  at  a  nickel  a 
plant  (and  th  ■  plants  occupied  the  bed  for  only 
about  four  weeks,  so  late  the  sash  was  not  put 
over  them  more  than  once  or  twice  all  together) 
how  much  profit  do  you  suppose  there  would 
be? 

This  ground,  mind  you,  is  to  be  occupied  over 
and  over  with  crops — not  only  three  months  or 
six  months  in  the  year,  but  with  many  crops 
the  ground  can  be  earning  something  every 
month  in  the  year. 

We  have  been  selling  Prizetaker  and  White 
Victoria  onion-plants  for  a  dollar  a  thousand 
as  you  may  know.  Well,  one  customer  paid  us 
a  dollar  for  the  onions  that  grew  in  a  single 
roiv,  said  row  being  the  length  of  the  sash,  or 
six  feet  long.  The  rows  were  about  as  far 
apart  as  i\w  lights  of  glass;  and  at  that  rate 
we  should  get  #4.00  for  the  use  of  a  sash  for  GO 
days.  By  the  way,  these  plant-beds  afford  the 
very  finest  opportunity  to  use  concentrated 
manures.  At  present,  however,  my  experience 
is  in  favor  of  only  one  such  fertilizer— guano. 
Of  course,  stable  manure  is  always  safe.  In 
one  of  our  onion-beds,  one  end  seemed  to  be 
poor;  in  fact,  the  onions  were  not  half  as  large 
as  those  at  the  other  end  ;  and  for  several  weeks 
it  seemed  almost  impossible  that  they  could 
ever  be  made  to  catch  up.  As  an  experiment,  I 
directed  some  guano  to  be  sifted  over  the  poor 
onions  until  the  ground  was  pretty  much  hid- 
den by  the  yellowish  red  of  the  fertilizer.  Then 
with  hand-weeders  it  was  stirred  in  between 
the  I'ows  and  between  the  plants.  It  was,  per- 
haps, ten  days  before  the  onions  began  to  "  feel 
their  oats;"  and  then  after  a  warm  shower — 
myl  but  didn't  they  just  climbl  Whenever  the 
boys  look  at  that  onion-bed  they  just  wonder 
to  see  those  little  yellow  puny-looking  things 
outstripping  the  rest  in  both  tops  and  bottoms. 
I  have  tried  nitrate  of  soda  in  the  same  way. 
and  it  has  never  yet  showed  any  benefit  what- 
ever. Fearing  that  we  had  not  used  enough, 
we  commenced  increasing  the  dose  gradually 
until  we  leally  injured  the  onions;  but  the 
ground  has  never  since  shown  any  benefit 
whatever  to  any  crop  where  the  nitrate  of  soda 
was  put  on.  You  will  notice  that  the  experi- 
ment stations  in  different  States  are  making  re- 
ports quite  similar.  It  seems  pretty  hard,  dear 
friends,  to  think  that  any  seedsman  would 
encourage  people  to  buy  a  fertilizer  that  was  of 


no  benefit  whatever.  I  speak  thus  strongly, 
for  it  pains  me  to  see  nitrate  of  soda  continual- 
ly and  persistently  recommended  by  so  many 
who  have  it  for  sale. 

From  the  reports  I  have  made  above,  it  would 
seem  not  a  difficult  matter  to  make  the  space 
occupied  by  each  sash  bring  six  or  eight  dollars 
during  the  whole  year.  As  it  is  a  pretty  hard 
matter,  however,  to  plan  so  as  to  have  every 
foot  of  space  going  at  a  high-pressure  rate  all 
the  while,  we  shall  have  to  figure  more  moder- 
ately. Theoretically,  either  seed  should  be 
sown,  or  plants  put  but,  within  one  hour  after 
a  bed  has  been  vacated.  But  experience  seems 
to  indicate  that  average  humanity  is  hardly 
equal  to  crowding  things  like  this.  Sooner  or 
later  some  piece  of  ground  will  be  doing  little 
or  nothing;  and,  no  matter  how  much  help  is 
employed,  the  boss  will  now  and  then  forget  or 
neglect  to  do  every  thing  in  the  time  it  should 
be  done.  Some  unprofitable  crop  will  be  al- 
lowed to  cumber  the  ground.  For  instance, 
part  of  the  radishes  will  be  pulled  from  a  bed 
and  the  remnants  left,  when  they  are  not  really 
worth  any  thing.  Now.  just  as  soon  as  this 
time  comes,  the  rest  should  be  cleaned  up  and 
sold  for  what  they  will  bring;  but  instead  of 
doing  this,  such  beds  frequently  stand  until  the 
radishes  go  up  to  seed,  and  possibly  weeds  are 
also  doing  the  same  tiling  along  with  them. 
No  matter  hov/  much  the  rich  fertile  soil  costs, 
nor  how  expensive  the  land  is,  I  have  never 
known  a  man  yet  who  didn't  get  caught  nap- 
ping now  and  then;  therefore,  instead  of  saying 
that  the  space  of  bed  occupied  by  each  sash  will 
bring  us  at  least  SfJ.OO  each  year,  we  will  count 
it  at  just  half  that;  and  if  the  gardener  is  at  all 
enterprising  and  enthusiastic  it  should  do  this. 
Well,  our  model  quarter-acre  of  ground  is  to 
have  24  beds,  of  14  sash  each.  This  would  make 
33(5  sash  all  together;  tlieretore  the  net  returns 
from  a  quart<>r  of  an  acre  arranged  as  I  have 
planned  should  be  about  ?1(X)0.  Some  localities 
may  make  it  twice  that,  and  others  perhaps 
half  as  much;  and  if  the  cost  of  labor  and 
manure  for  the  quarter-acre  be  subtracted,  the 
remainder  will  snow  you  what  you  have  to 
support  the  family.  The  labor,  we  expect,  will 
all  be  done  by  the  father,  mother,  and  children. 
Mrs.  Root  thinks  she  could  take  care  of  a  quar- 
ter of  an  acre  herself  except  handling  the  sash. 
My  impression  is,  however,  she  would  find  the 
help  that  three  or  four  children  could  give  very 
convenient. 

It  has  occurred  to  me  many  times  that  such 
an  arrangement  would  be  a  wonderful  thing 
for  a  florist.  But  this  will  be  rather  out  of 
the  line  of  the  present  little  treatise.  Last  sea- 
son I  had  a  bed  of  portulaccas  that  seemed  to 
me  were  '"  a  thing  of  beauty  and  a  joy  for  ever  " 
for  many  months.  On  our  rich  plant-bed  soil 
all  sorts  of  flowers  flourish  with  wonderful  lux- 
uriance. The  third  crop  on  a  piece  of  bed  about 
the  size  of  four  sash  is  now  occupied  by  gladio- 
luses. First,  we  had  cabbage-plants.  Just  be- 
fore they  were  to  be  taken  up  and  sold,  the 
gladiolus-bulbs  were  put  in,  a  foot  apart  each 
way.  Before  they  had  come  up.  Dwarf  Cham- 
pion tomatoes  were  transplanted  as  thickly  as 
if  no  bulbs  were  in  the  way  at  all.  By  the  time 
the  tomato-plants  were  ready  to  be  sold,  the 
sharp,  knifelike  blades  of  the  bulbs  were  just 
shooting  up  among  them.  This  gives  you  a 
hint  of  the  way  in  which  the  ground  may  be 
occupied  with  two  crops  at  once,  keeping  the 
surface  of  the  soil  covered  constantly  with  a 
heavy  growth  of  something. 

STRAWBKRRY   REPORT  UP  TO  JUNE   10. 

Michel's  Early  blossomed  quite  profusely,  and 
we  had  hopes  that  it  was  going  to  make  a  bet- 
ter  record.    It  is  just  now   fruiting,  and  the 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


473 


bt'irit's  aiv  of  fair  sizo  ami  Rood  flavor;  but 
soiut' way  thorc  an>  not  t(i«(»<!//i  of  tlH'tii.  Not- 
witlistaiidiiiij  tlic  fai't  that  it  is  almost  a  wcok 
earlirr  than  any  otlicr  siraw  lu-rry,  I  do  not 
thinlv  we  shall  Rive  it  aiuiiln'r  trial".  For  tlnvo 
seasons  it  has  blossomed  fairly:  but  when  it 
comes  to  frniting.  only  a  tcw  blossoms  seem  to 
produce  any  thing.  The  llaverlands.  right  ad- 
joining it.  are  loaded  so  that  the  stems  are 
really  sprawling  into  tiie  paths,  with  great 
bundles  of  green  fruit:  and  at  the  same  lime 
it  is  not  more  than  four  nr  tivc  ihiijs  l)ehind 
Michel's  Early.  The  Jessie,  while  it  is  loaded 
witli  fruit  as  usual,  is  going  to  be  a  little  later 
this  season,  as  it  does  not  stand  frosty  weather 
as  well  as  most  oilier  varieties.  A  plant  called 
]{eeder  Wood  has  at  present  more  green  berries 
ilian  any  thing  else  1  tiiiiik  I  ever  saw  in  the 
line  of  strawberries;  and.  what  is  strange  about 
it.  is.  that  the  berries  are  all  held  aloft  above 
the  foliage,  right  up  in  the  sun.  As  I  have 
never  yei  lieard  this  peculiarity  mentioned  in 
regard"  to  this  variety.  I  am  inclined  to  think 
it  is  the  effect  of  the  season.  If  the  plant  suc- 
ceeds iu  ripening  all  the  green  berries  that 
stand  up  in  sight  it  will  certainly  be  a  wonder. 
I  have  thought  of  giving  it  a  dose  of  guano  to 
"kind  o"  brace  it  up  "  for  the  tremendous  task 
it  has  ahead  of  it.  So  far  there  has  been  quite 
a  trouble  on  account  of  rot — a  kind  of  rot  that 
commences  before  the  berries  are  perfectly  ripe. 
We  presume  it  is  caused  by  the  unusual  amount 
of  dampness,  and  lack  of  sunshine.  When  these 
defective  berries  are  picked  they  do  not  seem  to 
show  it;  but  after  only  a  few  hours  they  be- 
come so  soft  they  have  to  be  thrown  out.  With 
more  sunshine,  the  prospect  with  us  is  good  for 
a  wonderful  crop  of  fine  berries.  A  good  many, 
however,  are  greatly  damaged  if  not  entirely 
spoiled  by  being  under  water;  and  this  will, 
perhaps,  be  a  trouble  more  or  less  general. 

MURE     AISOUt'    the     AMEIUCAX     PEARL     ONION, 
AND   HARDY   ONIONS   THAT  WILL   WIN- 
TER  OVEH. 

We  have  been  expecting  some  more  and  some 
better  reports  from  the  American  Pearl  onion, 
for  we  sold  altogether  nearly  ten  bushels  of 
sets.  The  onions  down  in  our  lot  are  now  larger 
than  hen's-eggs.  and  are  a  nice  thing  to  have,  I 
tell  you.  I  can  hardly  understand  why  we 
should  succeed,  while  so  many  others  fail.  Here 
are  a  couple  of  letters  that  may  throw  some 
light  on  the  subject: 

WINTERING   OVER   POTATO  ONIONS. 

On  pages  339  and  340,  Mr.  A.  F.  Ames,  of  Ten- 
nessee, speaks  of  wintering  potato  onions;  and 
it  seems  a  surprise  to  you  that  they,  being  plant- 
ed a  month  later  than  other  varieties,  wintered 
well.  Perhaps  if  friend  Ames  had  planted  the 
others  at  tlie  same  time,  they  might  have  win- 
tered as  well.  I  do  not  know  any  thing  abo+it 
those:  but  we  have  grown  potato  onions  for  the 
last  'M  years  with  success,  and  but  very  little 
loss,  with  the  exception  of  two  or  three  years 
when  we  had  over  two-thirds  of  a  crop.  We 
always  calculate  to  plant  about  the  10th  of  Octo- 
ber: iu  a  warmer  climate  I  should  think  better 
a  little  later,  so  the  (mioii  would  get  well  rooted 
before  it  freezes  up,  not  putting  on  your  mulch 
until  the  ground  is  well  frozen,  so  you  can  wheel 
your  manure  on  with  a  wheelbarrow.  This 
mulch  will  then  keep  the  ground  from  thawing 
and  freezing,  which  rots  the  onion.  That  is 
how  we  had  our  losses.  It  would  freeze  a  trifle, 
and  then  thaw.  Perhaps  Mr.  Ames  put  on  his 
mulch  before  the  ground  was  frozen,  and  they 
were  kept  too  warm,  and  smothered.  You 
might  get  some  information  on  this  subject 
from  T.  W.  (iriner,  of  La  Salle,  N.  Y.,  who  has 
tried  to  winter  several  kinds.  I  was  there  in 
March.     They  were  coming  up  then  ;  but  how 


well  he  succeeded    I  do  not  know,  as  I  haven't 
heard  from  him.  H.  F.  Gkks.sman. 

Hamburg,  N.  Y..  .May  9. 

SWAMP   .MICK   FOR   A    Mt'IXH. 

I  noticed  with  interest  what  was  said  in  iMay 
1st  (Ji.i;ANi.\<is  in  regard  to  (ini(>ns  wintei'ing 
when  planted  in  the  fall.  There  are  a  great 
many  of  the  potato  onions  raised  here  (ov  mar- 
ket. We  aim  to  plant  them  as  late  in  the  fall  as 
the  ground  can  be  worked,  some  as  late  as  Dec. 
1.  The  later  they  are  plaiiteii,  tlie  iK'tter  they 
winter.  The  best  mulch  I  have  found  is  muck 
from  a  mai'sh  near  l)y.  It  protects  the  onion 
perfectly,  can  be  left  on.  and  keeps  the  ground 
I'rom  getting  dry  and  hard  in  the  spring.  Hay 
or  fodder,  or  straw  manure,  is  apt  to  rot  them. 

Ada,  O.,  May  11.  Jac.  Giisinglv. 

I  got  half  a  peck  of  the  American  Pearl  onion 
of  you  last  fall,  and  planted  part  of  them  Sept. 
1.  the  rest  Sept.  'JO.  Many  of  tlw  earlier  planted 
ones  sent  up  seed-stalks,  which  the  later  ones 
did  not.  The  larger  sets  were  first  planted. 
I  now  have  onions  2^  inches  in  diameter,  sweet 
and  tender.  I  do  not  believe  a  single  one  failed 
to  winter.  L.  C.  Smallwood. 

Russellville,  Ark.,  May  9. 

[Friend  S.,  it  is  nothing  at  all  strange  that 
they  wintered  all  right  witli  you  in  your  south- 
ern locality,  even  if  you  did  put  them  out  so 
late  as  Sept.  20.  This  year  we  have  had  much 
the  best  success  with  those  planted  early.] 


REPUDIATING  HONEST  DEBTS. 


is   THERE    DANGER   THAT   SICH   A   COURSE   MAY 
GET   TO   BE   FASHIONARLE  ? 


The  above  headings  were  suggested  by  some 
recent  articles  in  our  agricultural  papers,  par- 
ticularly the  Rural  New  -Yorhcr.  Now,  please 
remember  that  I  am  a  staunch  friend  of  the 
Rural,  and  I  do  not  believe  that  it  would  ever 
knowingly  teach  or  give  place  to  any  thing  that 
might  be  unsound;  yet  I  feel  that  there  is  dan- 
ger in  giving  people  space  who  seem  to  claim 
that  affairs  in  our  country  are  at  present  in  such 
a  shape  as  to  partly  if  not  entirely  excuse  a  man 
for  repudiation.  I  was  recently  met  with  a  re- 
mark something  like  this: 

"  Is  it  a  man's  duty  to  work  himself  to  death, 
even  if  his  debts  do  go  unpaid  ?  " 

The  reply  I  made  was  something  like  this: 

"  My  friend,  1  should  rather  die  from  over- 
work than  to  die  with  the  consciousness  in  my 
heart  that  I  had  been  living  on  other  people's 
hard  earnings." 

The  talk  in  this  line  has,  perhaps,  started 
along  with  the  conflict  between  capital  and  la- 
bor. People  who  have  money  to  let,  or  who 
make  their  living  by  lending  money,  are  called 
usurers  and  extortioners;  and  the  laboring  class- 
es— at  least  some  of  them — complain  that  these 
money-lenders  go  around  with  good  clothes  on, 
and  do  not  work  at  all,  and  yet  grow  rich,  while 
the  laboring  classes  grow  poor.  My  friend,  our 
country  is  so  free  that  anybody  may  make  his 
money  by  loaning  if  he  wislies  to.  Of  course,  he 
must  have  some  to  start  with;  but  very  many 
of  the  capitalists  — perhaps  the  greater  part  of 
them  —  tarned  their  money  fairly  and  squarely 
to  start  with.  There  are  millions  of  people 
wanting  to  borrow  money:  and  I  am  sorry  to 
say  that  there  are  -a  great  many  who  would 
borrow  money  if  they  could,  with  very  little 
prospect  of  their  ever  being  able  to  pay  it  back. 
You  all  know  this.  There  are  such  people  all 
about  you.  If  they  can.  by  hook  or  crook,  get 
somebody  to  make  them  a  loan  without  securi- 
ty, as  soon  as  the  money  is  in  their  possession 


474 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


all  anxiety  about  repaying  it  seems  to  be  at  an 
end.  Perhaps  there  are  not  many  who  are  so 
bad  as  this.  But  we  all  know  them.  Now,  to 
let  such  people  have  money  is  a  damage  on  both 
sides.  You  do  them  harm  while  they  do  you 
harm.  To  prevent  tl)is  state  of  affairs,  people 
who  wish  to  borrow  are  asked  to  give  reference, 
security,  or  mortgage.  And  this  thing  of  giv- 
ing security  is  helpful  to  both  parties.  If  a 
man  buys  a  piece  of  ground,  and  gives  a  mort- 
gage as  security,  it  acts  as  a  safegard  to  prevent 
him  from  buying  foolishly. 

Years  ago,  in  our  community  there  was  a 
man  who  loaned  money,  and  there  was  so  much 
complaint  and  hard  talk  anout  this  man  that  I 
felt  a  good  deal  suspicious  when  I  first  became 
acquainted  with  him.  I  happened  to  be  in  his 
office  one  day  when  a  laboring  man  wanted  a 
loan,  and  proposed  to  give  a  mortgage  on  his 
house  and  lot.  The  money-lender  spoke  some- 
thing like  this: 

''  My  friend.  I  make  my  living,  as  you  know, 
by  loaning  people  money;  and  I  like  to  let  them 
have  money  when  it  will  be  a  help  to  them. 
Now.  if  I  should  refuse  to  accommodate  you, 
and  even  refuse  to  take  a  mortgage  on  your 
home,  you  would  be  very  much  put  out.  But 
from  what  I  know  of  you  and  of  your  prospects. 
I  feel  sure  it  will  get  you  into  trouble.  If  you 
will  take  my  advice,  and  go  home  and  keep  on 
at  work,  saving  up  money  by  strict  economy 
until  you  get  what  you  want,  it  will  be  very 
much  better  for  yon." 

The  man  demurred,  and  the  money-lender 
went  on: 

"Well,  now,  suppose  I  let  you  have  the  mon- 
ey and  take  the  mortgage  you  wish  to  give  me. 
If  you  fail  in  meeting  your  payments,  which  I 
feel  sure  you  will  do.  you  and  the  public  at 
large  will  censure  me  severely  for  taking  your 
land:  and  yet  I  shall  liave  to  do  it.  I  do  not 
deal  in  laud,  and  I  do  not  want  your  place.  It 
will  be  a  hindrance  to  me  if  it  comes  into  my 
hands:  but  there  is  no  other  way  to  do.  I  could 
not  do  business,  and  accommodate  people  by 
loaning  them  money,  unless  I  used  them  all 
alike,  and  took  their  property  when  they  failed 
to  pay  their  money.  And  yet.  whenever  I  do 
this,  people  call  me  hard  and  unfeeling.  With 
this  explanation,  if  you  still  insiston  having  the 
money,  I  will  let  yon  have  it;  but  remember, 
you  have  had  fair  warning." 

This  money-lender.  I  believe,  was  very  care- 
ful through  all  his  life  to  do  all  he<ujreed  to  do; 
and  1  confess  that,  wlicn  I  came  to  know  him 
better.  1  could  not  help  having  more  respect  for 
him  than  for  some  p<>ople  who  do  not  by  any 
means  do  all  they  agree  to  do.  I  suppose  this 
matter  of  mortgages  —  mortgages  on  farms  and 
homes — has  started  this  whole  trouble.  Our 
property  is  mortgaged  —  at  least  a  part  of  it  —  a 
great  part  of  the  tim»\  I  very  much  prefer  to 
give  a  mortgage  rather  than  ask  a  neighbor  to 
sign  with  me.  In  the  one  case,  if  misfortune 
overtakes  me  I  shall  wrong  my  neighbor:  on 
the  other  hand.  I  should  simply  lose  that  which 
is  my  own:  and  nobody  but  myself,  or,  possibly, 
my  wife  and  children,  are  harmed. 

Let  us  now  go  back  to  that  first  thought.  "I 
am  not  going  to  work  myself  to  death,  even  if  I 
never  do  pay  my  debts."'  Is  there  any  reader  of 
Gleanings  who  feels  like  saying  this?  If  there 
is,  I  wish  to  say  to  such  that  he  is  on  dangerous 
ground.  It  will  spoil  his  peace  of  mind,  and 
spoil  his  peace  wi  h  (iod.  just  as  soon  as  he  be- 
gins to  let  Satan  put  such  ideas  into  his  head. 
This  morning  I  got  up  at  half-past  five,  and  as- 
sisted in  getting  the  wagon  ready  for  market; 
and  by  six  o'clock  it  was  all  complete,  across 
the  railroad  track,  out  of  the  way  of  the  train. 
When  the  six-o'clock  train  drew  up,  a  small 
boy  stood  near  me  with  a  light  wheelbarrow. 


By  the  time  the  train  had  fairly  stopped,  two 
bushel  crates  of  strawberries  were  lifted  from 
the  car  right  on  to  the  light  wheelbarrow.  This 
was  run  up  by  the  side  of  the  market-wagon, 
and  the  fresh  berries  were  around  to  the  people's 
houses  between  six  and  seven.  These  berries 
came  from  our  good  friend  R.  Stehle.  of  Mariet- 
ta. O.  We  help  him  by  getting  up  in  the  morn- 
ing and  starting  things  promptly,  and  he  helps 
us.  To  make  things  go  oft'  smoothly,  and  con- 
nect all  around,  it  seems  necessary  for  me  to  get 
up  between  five  and  six.  Now,  some  people 
who  see  me  looking  after  and  directing  things 
at  this  early  hour  of  the  day  will,  perhaps,  say, 
"Well,  if  A.  I.  Root  wants  to  wear  himself  out 
in  that  way  he  can  do  it.  I  am  not  going  to  do 
it  for  anybody."  And  very  likely  they  have 
their  breakfast  at  seven,  or  half-past,  and  get 
around  to  work  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock. 
If  this  sort  of  man  has  a  mortgage  on  his  house 
and  lot  he  will  probably  lose  it.  and  then  capi- 
talists will  be  blamed,  the  laws  of  our  country 
will  be  censured,  and,  in  a  little  while  after,  the 
great  God  himself  will  be  criticised  and  possi- 
bly defied.  Once  more:  When  you  borrow  of 
somebody  you  almost  always  go  to  him.  asking 
him  to  do  you  a  favor.  When  you  ask  a  man  to 
sUjii  with  you.  you  certainly  beg  of  him  to  do 
you  a  favor  and  a  kindness.  You  go  to  a  neigh- 
bor, very  likely,  and  take  with  you  some  one 
with  whom  you  are  on  intimate  terms.  For 
friendship's  -ake,  and  because  your  neighbor 
dislikes  to  refuse,  he  signs  with  you;  or.  per- 
haps, he  lends  you  the  money  himself  —  the  cir- 
cum-tances  are  not  very  much  different.  Now, 
after  he  has,  out  of  the  kindness  of  his  heart, 
helped  you  by  giving  you  a  portion  of  his  earn- 
ings, or.  if  you  choose,  given  you  a  portion  of 
his  good  name  (which  cost  him  as  much  hard 
work  as  his  money),  can  you.  with  any  sense  of 
right  or  justice  in  your  heart,  consider  for  a 
moment  the  repudiatwn  of  this  honest  debt'? 
One  poor  fellow,  who  had  gotten  considerably 
into  farm  politics,  said  something  like  this: 

"Mr.  Root,  we  are  all  going  down  together, 
sooner  or  later;  and  I  do  not  know  that  it  will 
be  any  worse  for  me  to  repudiate  my  honest 
debts  than  for  other  people." 

Now,  while  he  was  in  this  attitude  of  heart  he 
was  going  around  with  good  clothes  on,  when 
other  farmers  were  hard  at  work,  and  perhaps 
were  covered  with  dirt  ano  perspiration.  I  do 
not  believe,  however,  that  he  enjoyed  "taking 
things  easy"  very  much,  after  all,  for  of  late  he 
has  been  hard  at  work.  and.  if  I  am  correct,  is 
doing  well,  and  bids  fair  to  pay  all  he  owes.  In 
the  first  place,  dear  friends,  do  be  careful  about 
giving  anybody  a  mortgage  on  your  property. 
If  you  really  believe  that  money-lenders  are 
rascals,  keep  away  from  them  and  "  starve  'em 
out."  If  circumstances  are  so  that  there  may 
be  doubt  about  your  being  able  to  pay  it,  I 
would  exhort  you  to  wear  old  clothes,  and  even 
go  hungry;  but  I  do  not  believe  that  anyt)ody, 
or,  at  least,  not  many  people,  have  come  to  that 
last  alternative.  Somebody  has  said,  "The 
way  things  are  nowadays,  the  poor  man  can 
never  get  ahead."  Why,  bless  your  heart,  my 
good  friend,  the  greater  part  of  all  the  people 
who  do  get  ahead  started  poor.  Think  of  the 
men  who  are  well  to  do  right  around  you.  and 
see  if  this  is  not  true.  There  never  was  a  bet- 
ter place  nor  a  better  time  for  a  poor  man  to  get 
ahead,  in  my  opinion,  than  right  in  this  land, 
and  in  this  our  nineteenth  century.  Of  course,  - 
there  is  much  competition,  and  we  must  get  up 
early,  fly  around,  and  use  our  brains.  Getting 
right  down  to  work  in  real  earnest  does  not  oft- 
en hurt  people.  Sometimes  it  is  quite  the  con- 
trary. See  what  I  have  said  in  another  place 
about  cultivating  during  a  hot  summer  after- 
noon.   The  great  adversary  has  not  yet  given 


18i»2 


CJLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


475 


up  scoking  wliom  he  may  dc^vour;  and  it  lias 
(.•oiiu' into  my  mind  of  ialc  that  he  lias  studied 
up  a  plan  of  ircttinsr  pood  (icoplcolT  thi-  track  by 
the  ic}ii>hsiiU\  He  pcrsuaiics  them  tlial  tlicy 
art'  not  havlnji  a  fair  ohaiu'c.  and  tlial  no  man 
ever  secures  a  eonipetenee  liy  iioni'St.  earnest 
lal>or.  Don't  listen  to  him.  Throw  the  lie  back 
into  his  teeth,  and  say,  "<;ei  thee  behind  me. 
Satan:"  tlicMi  turn  around  and  put  in  liie  phKM> 
of  his  evil  sufisrestion  the  bright  little  text  giv- 
en us  by  that  veteran  saint.  "■  Owe  no  man  any 
thiufi.  but  to  love  one  aiioiher." 


|iii|^%S^ 


^::>^-X^^^--^l°.2  PER  YEABj 


\Vk  are  informed  that  Ur.  . I.  H.  Kellogg,  of 
Itattle  Creek.  IVlieh..  foi  •  the  best  part  ot  an 
hour  spoke  of  the  object  ions  to  the  use  of 
honey."  This  is  another  (ividi'iice  of  how  doc- 
tors and  bifj;  professors  sometimes  '"put  their 
foot  in  it."  We  have  no  doiilit  that  Dr.  K.  is 
honest  in  his  opinion;  but  we  can't  help  adding 
that  it  is  nothiiifi  but  an  opinion.  If  the  doctor 
had  made  a  propel-  iiivestifratioii  he  could  not 
have  conn^  to  any  conclusion  but  that  honey  is 
wh.olesonu!  to  the  average  consumer.  Certain 
kinds  of  new  fruits  are  very  distressing,  pro- 
ducing colicky  pains  in  many  people.  Even 
strawberries  can  not  be  eaten  by  some;  and  yet 
we  know  that  strawberries,  honey,  and  nearly 
all  fruits,  are  wholesome  and  nutritious  to  the 
average  person.  It  will  be  in  order  now  for  the 
doctor  to  lecture  for  "the  best  part  of  an  hour 
on  the  objections  to  the  use"  of  strawberries, 
watermelons,  and  the  like. 


It  is  gooil  for  iiie  to  draw  near  to  God:  I  have  put  my  trust 
in  the  Lord  God.  th.it  1  may  declare  all  thy  works.— Ps.  73:28. 

Lettkks  are  Still  coming  in,  saying  that  the 
weather  has  been  very  unfavorable — rainy  and 
bad.  in  nearly  all  sections  of  the  Northern  and 
Middle  States,  but  the  main  honey-flow  is  be- 
fore us.  

"Wk  have  not  had  enough  faith  in  automatic 
swarmers  to  even  try  them  till  this  season; 
and  now  we  have  actually  told  the  boys  to  at- 
tach them  to  several  of  our  stronger  colonies. 
We  await  results. 

It  has  rained  almost  every  day  since  our  last 
issue.  To-day.  June  10,  the  sky  is  cleared  up, 
and  indications  are  that  we  shall  have  pleasant 
weather  again.  Clover  is  just  opening  up,  and 
honey  is  just  beginning  to  come  in. 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  we  publish  in  this 
issue  an  article  from  the  Rev.  L.  L.  Langstroth. 
the  father  of  American  bee-keeping.  We  have 
already  another  article  in  hand  which  we  will 
present  to  our  readers  in  our  issue  for  July  1. 

Wk  are  getting  a  good  many  letters,  ordering 
subscriptions  continued,  saying,  "  W(>  can't  get 
along  without  Gleanings.  Please  continue 
until  I  order  it  stopped."  etc.  Many  times  let- 
ters of  appreciation  are  so  strong  that  w(i  feel 
like  thanking  each  one  individually.  IJiit  this 
can  not  very  well  be  done.  We  would,  there- 
fore, say  to  one  and  all.  that  all  these  (expres- 
sions are  appreciated,  and  have  a  molding  intlu- 
ence  on  the  character  of  the  journal. 

Wk  must  remind  our  friends  again  not  to  send 
us  models  or  samples  of  implements  or  devices 
bv  express  or  freight,  to  illustrate  some  new 
idea,  without  first  writing  us.  It  goes  rather 
against  our  grain  to  charge  up  the  express 
charges  to  some  kind  and  well-meaning  friend 
who  sends  us  an  elaborate  trap  or  device,  even 
if  it  is  entirely  worthless,  old.  and  abandoned. 
It  may  seem  like  a  simple  matter  to  complain 
of:  but  when  things  are  sent  to  us  constantly 
in  this  way.  charges  not  prepaid,  the  matter  is 
not  so  small  as  it  might  be. 


Good  clean  alsike  clover  seed  is  just  the  tiling 
to  sow  for  new  lawn  plots.  It  will  take  root 
where  all  other  seeds  would  fail  ;  and  after  it 
has  got  nicely  started  you  can  sow  IvcMitucky 
blue  grass,  or  any  other  grass  that  is  of  a  slower 
or  more  tender  growth,  and  under  the  protecting 
leaves  of  the  alsike  it  will  grow  and  thrive. 
After  the  Kentucky  grass  is  well  rooted  it  will 
"runout"  alsike  and  all  other  clovers.  You 
can  get  a  good  lawn  of  blue  grass  when  you 
could  do  it  in  no  other  way. 


PERFORATED   ZINC,  AND   THE    KIND   THAT  IS 
QUEEN-EXCLVDING. 

We  have  been  making  some  experiments 
with  the  Chicago  zinc,  and  find  that  loaded 
workers  can  not  get  through  it  very  readily. 
In  fact,  we  could  not  easily  foi'ce  the  bees 
through  it  by  smoking.  This  zinc  has  perfora- 
tions only  i\',\;  of  an  inch  wide.  The  zinc  that 
we  now  manufactur(!  has  holes  A"jj.  and  that  of 
Dr.  Tinker  about  the  same.  While  jVfr  is  per- 
fectly queen-excluding  to  the  average  queen,  it 
offers  no  particular  hindrance  to  the  workers. 
Two  years  ago  we  made  zinc  with  holes  jVi^fi  of 
an  inch,  and  discovered  to  our  sorrow  and  that 
of  our  customers  that  an  occasional  fertile 
queen  would  get  through  it.  We  may  safely 
put  it  down,  then,  in  our  books,  if  our  experi- 
ments and  the  reports  of  our  customers  are  any 
safe  criterion,  that  the  zinc  perforations  for  ex- 
cluding zinc  should  be  ^^jy  wide.  Perhaps  we 
should  say  that  the  Chicago  zinc  was  originally 
made  for  another  purpose;  but  we  sell  it  for 
only  a  very  limited  use;  and  noone  should  buy  it 
for  any  other  purpose  than  to  prevent  virgin 
queens  from  going  from  one  part  of  the  liive 
to  another.  It  is  alxsolutely  unsuited  for  use 
in  honey  production. 

THE    "AMERICAN    UEK-JOURNAL  "    AND    ITS 
TRANSFER   OF   OWNERSHIP. 

We  were  greatly  pained  upon  seeing  the  an- 
nouncement that  the  health  of  Mr.  Thomas  G. 
Newman  has  been  such  that  lie  w  as  obliged  to 
sell  the  Americ(t)i  Bee  Jounidl,  the  "old  relia- 
Vile"'  that  has  been  so  successtully  conducted  by 
him  for  nearly  twenty  years.  We  have  known 
for  some  time  that  Mr.  Newman's  health  has 
been  very  poorly;  liut  wt>  did  not  suppo.se  that 
it  had  come  to  such  a  [jass  that  it  would  be  nec- 
essary for  him  to  dispone  of  some  of  his  business 
interests.  We  are  very  glad  to  learn,  however, 
that  the  Jourmit  has  b(!en  transferred  to  entire- 
ly competent  and  worthy  hands  in  the  person  of 
G.  W.  York — an  old  assistant  and  employe  who 
has  for  eight  years  lieeii  more  or  less  connected 
with  the  publishing  and  editing  of  the  Journal. 
Mr.  York  is  full  of  Dusimsss  vim  and  enterprise; 
and  we  have  no  doubt  that  the  change  will  be 
bett(!r  for  all  parties  concerned.  We  (>xtend  our 
right  hand  of  fellowship  to  the  new  publisher; 
and  it  will  give  us  gi(;at  pleasure  tocooperate 
with  him  as  we  did  with  Messrs.  Newman  & 
vSon.  Mr.  York  is  a  young  man  of  just  our  own 
age;  and  although  we  have  never  met  him.  we 
have  a  sort  of  kiushi])  feeling  for  him  already. 
In  our  next  issue  we  fiope  to  introduce  him  for- 
mally to  our  readers  through  the  medium  of  a 
biographical  sketch  and  a  portrait  engraving. 

We  are  glad  to  know  that  Thomas  G.  New- 
man still  remains  as  one  of  the  editors  of  the 
Bee  Journal:  and  we   may  therefore  expect — 


476 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


though  perhaps  less  frequently— the  same  char- 
acteristic and  vigorous  editorials  that  have 
graced  the  pages  of  tlie  Journal  in  the  past: 
and  these  supplemented  by  those  from  young- 
er blood  will  add  life  and  strength  to  an  already 
flourishing  paper. 

Thomas  G.  Newman  &  Son,  while  they  have 
sold  out  the  Amerlatn  Bee  Journal,  still  retain 
the  Illustrated  Home  Journal  and  the  bee- 
supply  business.  

A  KEQUEST  FKOM  PBOF.  COOK. 

Prof.  A.  J.  Cook,  of  the  Michigan  Agricultu- 
ral College,  desires  us  to  secure  for  him  small 
samples,  one  pound  or  so,  of  comb  or  extracted 
honey  from  various  parts  of  the  United  States, 
and  from  various  flora,  stored  rapidly  in  the 
hives.  These  samples  of  honey  should  be  sent 
direct  to  Prof.  Cook,  who  will  see  that  they 
are  analyzed  by  competent  chemists.  The  ob- 
ject is,  to  determine  how  the  proportion  of  natu- 
ral glucose,  cane  sugar,  water,  etc.,  varies  in 
honey  of  known  purity.  The  point  is  here:  The 
chief  chemist  at  Washington  has  decided  that 
pure  honey  must  contain  certain  proportions  in 
order  to  be  pure.  Prof.  Cook  is  of  the  opinion 
that  these  fixed  proportions,  as  settled  upon  by 
Prof.  Wiley,  are  incorrect;  that  many  of  the 
pure  honeys  will  show  the  same  chemical  prop- 
erties and  proportions  as  adulterated  honey. 
This  fact  nstablished.  will  show  that  Chemical 
Bulletin  No.  13  is  not  to  be  relied  upon  for  its 
analyses  of  honey,  because  the  whole  bottom  of 
a  false  basis  will  be  knocked  out.  Again,  if  gen- 
uine honey  varies  largely  in  the  proportion  of 
cane  sugar,  depending  on  the  more  or  less  perfect 
digestion  as  the  bee  gathers  more  or  less  slowly, 
then  chemists  should  know  this,  so  as  to  have  a 
correct  standard  to  guide  them.  We  ought 
soon  to  have  laws  in  every  State  that  shall 
make  adulteration  too  dangerous  a  crime  to  be 
safely  practiced;  but  such  laws  can  be  enforced 
only  by  our  having  a  correct  method  to  detect 
adulteration  in  case  it  is  attempted  or  practic- 
ed. Let  all  who  have  honey  that  they  know 
ivas  very  rapidly  (jathered,  send  a  sample  to 
Prof.  Cook.  In  sending  honey,  state  what  it 
was  collected  from;  at  what  date  it  was  collect- 
ed, and  how  much  the  bees  gathered  in  a  day. 
Wisconsin  ought  to  send  some  basswood  honey, 
and  California  some  sage. 

THE    KEV.   L.    L.    LANGSTROTH    AT    MEDINA. 

As  announced  in  our  last  issue,  Mr.  Lang- 
stroth  called  upon  us  on  Saturday  last,  June  4, 
remaining  over  Sunday,  and  going  away  Mon- 
day night.  After  these  17  years  of  that  dis- 
tressing intermittent  brain  trouble  since  we  last 
saw  him,  we  were  surprised  to  see  him  looking 
so  hale  and  hearty;  and  although  he  was  81 
years  old  last  Christmas,  his  mind  seemed  to  be 
as  strong  and  vigorous  as  ever;  indeed,  it  was 
several  times  remarked,  "  What  a  powerful 
mind  I  what  breadth  of  culture!  what  learn- 
ing! "  It  was  interesting  to  see  how  he  enjoy- 
ed talking  about  bees  and  the  later  improve- 
ments. In  fact,  he  was  more  enthusiastic  than 
many  of  the  younger  bee-keepers.  In  spite  of 
the  fact  that  age  is  usually  conservative,  Mr. 
Langstroth  seemed  to  be  thoroughly  alive  to 
the  value  and  importance  of  the  later  improve- 
ments and  developments.  To  illustrate:  Said 
he,  with  his  old-time  fervor,  "  If  money  is  to 
come  from  honey,  manipulation  must  be  re- 
duced to  a  minimum."  He  indorsed  thorough- 
ly the  idea  of  handling  hives  more  and  frames 
less  ;  of  using  out-apiary  hives  ;  hives  with 
self-spacing  frames:  hives  that  can  be  manip- 
ulated on  the  plan  hinted  at  in  the  quotation. 
He  still  thought  the  new  Heddon  hive  best  for 
the  expert  and  advanced  bee-keeper;  but  he 
did  not  believe  it  would  ever  come  into  general 


use  with  beginners  and  those  farmers  who  keep 
only  a  few  bees.  For  the  mass  of  bee-keepers, 
the  self-spacing  Langstroth  frame  and  system 
would  be  used.  Indeed,  he  even  questioned 
whether  many  farmers  were  advanced  enough 
to  have  even  movable-frame  hives;  because, 
even  with  such  hives  they  would  not  handle 
the  frames  if  they  could. 

In  speaking  of  his  own  invention  he  very 
modestly  remarked  that  others  before  him  had 
come  very  near  giving  to  the  world  the  Lang- 
stroth hive;  and  that,  if  he  had  not  invented  it, 
it  would  have  come  very  soon.  Debeauvoy,  for 
instance,  had  invented  a  hive  that  needed  only 
some  very  slight  changes  in  order  to  make  a 
practical  hive — such  a  oneas/ie  (Mr.  L.)  gave  to 
the  world,  and  that  any  practical  bee-keeper  of 
to-day  could  have  shown  in  five  minutes  how 
to  make  so  that  it  would  be  practicable. 

In  our  next  issue  we  will  try  to  give  you  a  lit- 
tle more  about  Mr.  Langstroth.  and  a  little  bet- 
ter idea  of  his  personal  appearance.  On  the 
day  he  arrived,  toward  evening  we  took  out  our 
best  camera  and  "  shot "  him  in  several  charac- 
teristic attitudes — one  or  two  of  which  we  hope 
to  present  to  our  readers. 


HORIZONTAL  WIRING  AND  LIGHT  BROOD  FOUN- 
DATION;   ELECTRICITY    IN    APICULTURE. 

On  page  428  of  our  issue  for  June  1  we  ex- 
pressed the  fear  that  the  light  brood  foundation 
on  horizontal  wires  would  buckle  enough  to 
make  trouble.  As  we  had  already  advocated 
the  use  of  light  brood  in  preference  to  any  other 
grade,  we  felt  in  duty  bound  to  notify  our  read- 
ers at  once.  Well,  since  that  time  those  very 
same  frames  of  foundation,  about  which  we 
wrote  as  having  a  tendency  to  buckle,  are  de- 
veloping into  nice  combs;  so  those  who  may 
have  gone  ahead  and  followed  our  advice  will 
probably  find  that  they  will  get  good  combs, 
after  all.  Taking  it  all  in  all,  however,  we 
would  rather  recommend  the  use  of  medium 
brood  foundation  on  the  horizontal  wires.  If, 
however,  you  have  a  lot  of  light  brood  it  will  be 
better  to  put  it  on  four  horizontal  wires  than 
three. 

By  the  way,  we  are  still  using  electricity  for 
imbedding  wires  into  foundation.  It  is  such  a 
saving  in  time  over  the  old  way,  and  so  much 
better  in  its  results,  that  we  shall  never  think 
of  going  back  to  the  old  plan.  Neither  is  it  so 
expensive  that  the  average  bee-keeper  can  not 
afford  to  use  it. 

UNCAPPING  COMBS  BY  ELECTRICITY. 

The  Rambler,  now  at  Riverside,  Cal.,  since 
we  have  been  advocating  the  use  of  electricity 
for  imbedding  wires,  cherishes  the  idea  of  using 
the  same  invisible  force  and  heat  for  uncapping 
combs  for  extracting.  His  plan  is,  to  run  a 
current  of  electricity  through  a  small  thin- 
bladed  knife  or  knives,  strong  enough  to  heat 
them,  and  thus  greatly  facilitate  the  operation 
of  uncapping.  Although  we  have  been  and 
still  are  very  enthusiastic  on  the  subject  of 
electricity,  and  have  given  it  considerable 
study,  it  seems  to  us,  after  giving  the  matter 
due  consideration,  that  the  strength  of  the  cur- 
rent required  will  make  battery  power  too 
expensive  to  be  feasible;  for,  usually,  extract- 
ing is  not  and  can  not  be  done  where  the  proper 
current  can  be  taken  ofT  from  some  electric- 
light  wire.  Mr.  James  Heddon  is  somewhat  of 
an  electrician,  and  possibly  he  can  give  us  some 
suggestions  along  this  line. 


We  have  iust  received  the  First  Annual  Re- 
port of  the  Illinois  State  Bee-keepers'  Associa- 
tion. It  is  neatly  printed,  bound  in  cloth,  and 
contains  175  pages.  It  comprises  both  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Illinois  State  Bee-keepers'  Con- 


181)2 


(;leanin(;s  in  bee  culture. 


vt'iitioii  and  t liii-itMif  tlu>  Ndi'lliwcsttTM.  All  in 
ill!  it  is  tlu>  iimsi  I'lalHiratc  and  i-oiiiplftt'  rci)()rt. 
of  any  ln'c-ki'ipcrs"  i-oiivciuion  ever  before 
issued.  The  Illinois  Slate  Kei'-keepers'  Assoei- 
aiioii  is  a  lonp  way  aliead  of  tlie  i-est  of  lis.  in 
that  tiiey  have  an  annual  appropriation  of  $.")(K) 
witii  wliioli  to  Ret  out  a  fepoit.  It  is  too  bad 
lliat  \v(>  liavo  not  a  siinilai-  api)ropi'iation  for 
our  North  .\nierican. 


J.\ri)H    T.    TIMPE,    OF    GRAND    I.KDCiK.     MICH. 

In  the  dune  issue  of  our  esteemed  ootenipora- 
ry,  the  Aimrirax  licc-hct  I'tr.  \ho  editor  lias 
seen  lit  to  warn  tiie  bee-keeping  pultlic  against 
sending  Mr.  Tiiiipe  any  more  money.  While 
tills  is  a  hard  thing  to  do,  we  feel  sure  that  the 
Bcc-kvcinr  has  don(>  right.  It  is  true,  friend 
Timpe  has  probably  had  bad  luck;  but  my  im- 
pression is,  that  anyboily  will  have  bad  luck 
wlio  receives  money  and  (uits  it  into  his  own 
pocket,  and  then  writes  liis  customers  that  h<>  is 
too  poor  or  too  uiifoitunate  to  send  it  back.  His 
fault  is  in  not  sending  the  money  back  when  he 
found  he  could  not  send  the  queens.  It  may  bo 
claimed  that  otln-rs  have  done  the  same  thing, 
and  have  not  been  imblished.  Well,  this  may 
he  true:  imt  I  think  our  bee-journals  have  been 
at  fault,  perhaps,  in  this  very  line.  Mr.  Timpe 
not  only  kept  the  money,  but  failed  to  answer 
letters  of  inquiry  from  those  whom  he  had  de- 
frauded. It  is  true,  he  did  send  out  a  sort  of 
general  printed  letter;  but  printed  letters  don't 
answer  under  such  circumstances.  I  believe 
our  bee-journals  have  tried  to  exercise  charity, 
and  have  been  backward  about  complaining; 
but  I  am  impressed  just  now  that  the  man  who 
receives  money  for  the  goods  he  advertises,  and 
hccpn  it.  wlien  he  finds  himself  unable  to  send 
the  goods,  should  be  shown  up  promptly  and 
without  much  mercy.  Of  course,  he  should 
have  fair  warning;  but  just  as  soon  as  he  con- 
fesses that  he  is  either  unwilling  or  unable  to 
borrow  money  and  protect  his  reputation,  just 
so  soon  should  the  public  be  warned.    A.  I.  R. 


LITHOGRAPH  LABELS 

Zza.  12  Colore,  s.-b  $2.00  per  lOOO. 

The  12  colors  are  all  on  each  label.  They  are  ob- 
long in  shape,  measuring  3^^x25^.  They  are  about 
the  nicest  labels  we  e%'er  saw  ti)r  glass  tumtilers, 
pails,  and  small  packages  of  honey.  We  will  mail 
a  sample.  inclo«ed  in  our  label  catalogue,  free  on 
application,  and  will  furnish  them  postpaid  at  the 
following  prices:  Sets,  for  10;  2r)CtK.  for  100;  f  1.00 
for.5(J0;   ?1.7.')  for  KKX).  A.  1.  Root  Medina. O., 


Black  and  Hybrid  Queens  For  Sale. 


I  have  a  few  mismated  Italian  queens,  that  are 
No.  1  queens;  will  sell  for  .35c;  3  for  60c;  black 
queens.  30c;  3  for  50.    Safe  arrival  guaranteed. 

J.\MES  M.  Gordon.  Belmont,  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio. 
12-16db 


Mismated  golden  queens.  .tOc;  hybrids  and  blacks, 
15c.  A.  B.  Man,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 


5  or  6  hybrid  queens  that  wei-e  raised  last  summer 
for  sale  at  25  cents  each.  Addre.ss 

F.  W.  Fairbanks,  Rockland,  Plymouth  Co.,  Mass. 


Hybrid  queens  for  sale  at  30c  each.  4  for  $1.00.  I  send 
out  none  but  first^cla.ss  queens,  and  guarantee  safe 
arrival.       Plinny  Shepards(jn,  tYeeport,  Wash. 
ll-13d 

I  have  a  few  mismated  5-l)anded  queens  at  40c; 
hybrids,  30c;  clipped  queens,  20c  each. 
12tfdb  Chas.  H.  Thies,  Steeleville,  III. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 

Notices  will  be  liisiTted  undi-r  thi^  lu^ml  at  one  hall'  o>ir  usu- 
al rates.  All  .ulviitis.  in.iits  inleiideil  lor  this  ilepartment 
iiiu.st  not  exc.-id  llv.  Iiii(>.  iikI  vou  mmisI  say  vmi  want  your 
adv't  in  tliis  (leiiiulnirni ,  ..i-  we  will  noi  l)c  rcsfionsihic  lor  er- 
rors. You  can  fiavr  the  Tintii'e  as  niaiiv  lini's  ,-ih  you  please; 
but  all  over  live  lines  will  cost  vou  ar.;,i  .linj;  ti>  our  re(rular 
rates.  This  department  is  intended  ..niv  tnv  bona-llde  ex- 
chantjCes.  KNeliannes  for  easli  or  fur  |.iire'  lists,  or  notices  of- 
ferinp  artiele.s  for  sale,  can  md  be  inserted  under  this  hea<l. 
For  such  our  regular  ratesof  20ets.  a  line  will  he  eharpred,  and 
they  will  be  nut  with  the  retfular  advertisements  We  can  not 
be  responsible  for  dissatisfaction  arising  from  these  "swaps." 

Uf  ANTED.— To  exchange  one  E.  Setter  /bitch,  five 
Vy  Scotch  collie  dogs  (thoroughbreds  and  pedi- 
greed) 10  pairs  White  Fantail  pigeons,  for  poultry, 
incubator,  bees,  brood  found.-ition.  or  offers. 

F.  Anouews,  Espanola,  N.  M. 

WANTED— to  e.vchange  a  Barnes  combined  foot- 
power  saw,  8  vols.  Gi.EANiNOS,  bees  in  Koot's 
chaff  hives,  for  saw-table,  band  or  jig  saw,  for  light 
power.    _  M.  Ludt.man,  Hannibal,  O. 

TO  exchange.— Bee-hives  for  beeswax.  9-12db 

Wm.  Iden,  Etna  Green,  Ind. 


WANTED.— A  man  to  care  for  stock,  bees,   and 
fruit-trees,  on  shares,  in  the  Indian  Territory. 
For  further  information  apply  to 
10-ll-12d  Mr.  L.  C.  Axtell,  Roseville,  111. 

VIT  ANTED.— To  exchange  one  Joliet  Safety  bicycle, 
Vt  high  grade,  latest  pattern,  ball  bearings,  dia- 
mond frame,  cushion  tires,  nearly  new;  one  49-iuch 
Columbia,  best  high  wheel  made,  good  as  new,  very 
cheap;  one  Odell  typewriter;  150  good  second-hand 
hives  for  L.  frame;  one  extractor  for  L.  frame, 
for  wa.x,  honey,  supplie.s,  or  otters.  lOtfdb 

J.  A.  Green,  Dayton,  111. 

WANTED.— A  3  or  4  H.  P.  Boiler,  also  regulator 
VV  for  yj-inch  pipe.  Would  like  to  exchange  Giv- 
en dies,  L.  size,  with  press,  etc.  Address 

H.  E.  Harrington,  Walden,  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt. 

\y  ANTED.— Bees  or  queens  in  exchange  for  spring- 
*T  tooth  harrows  (new)  manufactured  by  Whipple 
Harrow  Co.,  of  St.  Johns,  Mich.,  or  will  buy  for  cash 
if  prices  are  right.        Ezra  Baer,  Dixon,  111.       12d 

ly  ANTED.— To  exchange  a  new  Novice  extractor, 
VV  never  been  used,  has  60-lh.  space  below  the 
reel.  Price  $7.00;  will  exchange  for  beeswa.v.  honey, 
repeating  rifle,  or  any  thing  I  can  use.  Write  at 
once;  state  wliat  you  have  to  trade,  with  price, 
quality,  etc.  A.  A.  Weaver,  Warrensburg,  Mo. 
12-1 3d 

ANTED.— To  exchange.   Sun    type-writer,   cost 
112,  for  bees  in  Dovetailed  hives.  12d 

S.  Washburn,  Minneapolis,  Fair  Oaks,  Minu. 


W 


E    POINTER  and  setter  pups   for  a  Barnes  foot- 
.     power  saw,  or  best  otters.      C.  H.  Nesmith. 
12d  Bluford,  III. 


W 


yiT ANTED.— To    exchange  a  good    Incubator,  for 
Vt      bees  or  offers.  J.  T.  Stegnek, 

12-13d  Redwood  Falls,  Minn. 

ANTED.— To  exchange  pure  Italian  queens,  3  or 
5  banded.    Write  what  you  have  to  exchange. 
F.  C.  MoRR(jw,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  25  new  "Hunt"  hives 
(chatt).  about  one  half  nailed  together,  balance 
in  flat ;  250  good  straight  brood  or  extracting  combs, 
built  from  full  sheets  of  l'oundatit)n;  100  Hott'man 
frames,  wired,  and  a  quantity  of  other  frames;  also 
a  honey-extractor,  used  but  one  season,  and  in  first- 
class  condition ;  also  10  Langstioth  Portico  hives, 
single  wall,  in  good  condition,  for  Safety  wheel,  or 
otters.  Kea.son8  for  selling  hives,  etc.,  have  sold  all 
my  bees.  Geo.  N.  Cornell, 

Lock  Box  6.  Northville,  Mich. 


-jrjrj  2-FRAME   nuclei  wanted  before  J uiv  10th, 
l\J\J    on  frames  'J%   deep  by   either  ITjs   ()r  1354 
long;  two  frames  must  l)e  well  covered  with   bees, 
and  filled  with  sealed  brood.      Frank  McNay, 
12d  Maustou,  Wis. 


478 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


HUBBARD  BEE  HIVE 


SECTION    PRESS. 

If  you  want  to  handle  bees  easy  hj 
sitting;  down  to  it.  here  is  the  hive,  branie'^ 
tixed  and  variable  distance  comb.ned  No 
wrencliing  or  prying  or  seraping  of  combs 
together.  Many  thousands  in  use  giving 
excellem  satisfaction. 

Ll?e  Agents  mU  SDlendll  Profits. 

Large  Circular  of  2i-)  pages  free. 

This  SKCTION  PRESS  (Pat'd    is  sol.i 

at    *3.50  by  the  leading  supply  dealel'^ 

\vk  them   for  it  or  send  to  me.     A  bo\ 

m    put    together    800    to    lOOO    sections 

II  liour  and  have  them  true.     Hend  sec 

tion  around,  put  in  press  give  -i  little  push 

— 'tis  done      Will   last  a   life-time  and  is 

bound  lo  please  you 

Send  for  mv  Circular  about  Hive  Press  Foundation  Fastener  Sections.  Foundation.  Italian  Queens.  Extractors, 
Veils  Hone\  <  Trites  and  '  ases  &c  Re  It  will  interest  you  Or  send  15  cents  lor  Practical  Book  for  I. egiunera — 
*'  First  Principles  m  Bee  Culture."     llth  thousand  just  issued 

G.  K.  HUBBARD,  277  HarHcion  »+  .  Port  Wayne,  I nd. 

S-lOdb  tyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEAlONaa. 


BEES 


350    COLOimil    OF   BEES. 

1,000,000  Sectioni.  HIVES, 
Smokers,  Qobkns.  etc.  Send  for 
price  list  to  E.  T.  FLANAGAN 
Box  783.  BeUaviU*.  Illinois. 


nxyriT^T  TT1C1        Lang-stroth  Bee-hives,  and 

^1  r  r  I  il  Fi^  every  thing  needed  in  the 
KJ  KJ  ^  M-  ±jx.x^Kj.  ^jgg  yard;  30-pase  catalogue 
^^HHHU^^HlHBi  free.  *'  BUSY  BEES,"  a 
book  telling  how  to  manage  them,  10  cents  in 
stamps.  WALTER  S.  POUDER,       5-12db 

175  E.  Walnut  St.,  Indianapolis.  Ind. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


PHI^SOflS    CUHflTiriG 

flPlA^Iflrl    SUPPIilES 

Would  do  well  to  send  to  W.  E.  Clark,  Oriskany, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.    Send  for  illustrated  price 
list.    Dealers  should  send  for  Deal- 
ers' list  for  Smokers.  6-12db 
^P*In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

Down  Gro  the  Prices ! 

Must  Be  Sold ! 

100,000  No.  1  One-Piece  Sections  at  $3.00  per  M. 
In  5000  Lots,        -        -        -,g^-       S2.80  per  M. 

Fifty  Colonies  of  Italian  Bees;  1  Colony.  $6.00; 
5  Colonies,  $.5.00  each.  Tested  Italian  Queens  in  May, 
$1.60  each.  Tested  Italian  queens,  last  year's  rais- 
ing, $1.00  each.  Comb  Foundation  and  a  full  line  of 
Apiarian  Sup-plies.    Twenty-page  price  list  free. 

J.  M.  KINZIE, 

9-12db  Rocliesiiter,  Oakland  Co.,  I?ltcli. 

lyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


PITNTCi 
BSBS 


"I  TNTESTED  QUEENS  from  the 
*-^  original  and  only  imported 
stocks  in  the  country;  $2.iH)  ecteli. 
Pratt's  swarmer,  bj'  mail,  60c;  2 
for  $1.00.  E.  Li.  PRATT, 
9-12db  Beverly,  Mass. 


Please  mention  this  pajier 


My  Catalogue  of  APIAEIAN  SUPPLIES 
for  1892  is  free  ;  My  Pamphlet,  "HOW  I 
PRODUCE  COMB  HONEY,"  by  Mail,  5  cts. 

GEO.  E.  HILTON.  Fremont,  Mich. 


Great  Crash  in  Prices! 

From  10  to  2.5  % 

discount     from 

former  prices.  My 

40-page  catalogue 

for  1893  gives  rea- 
sons.    I   offer    a 

new  -  style     chaff 

hive    at    one-half 

the  co.st  of  other 

styles,  and  just  as 

good.     This     hive 

can  be  taken  apart 

almost    instantly, 

and  packed  up 
in  small  space. 
It  can  be  used 
on  anj^  hive  (see 
cut).  Don't  fall 
to   get    my  32d 

annual  price  list.    I  mean  busine.ss,  and  am  bound 

to  sell  as  good  as  the  best,  and  at  equally  low  prices. 
Address  WM.  W.  GARY, 

6tfdb  CoLERAiNE,  Mass. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


GOO'OS 


Murray  s.He.ss.'^':^o^^h';|^° 


VIOLINS 


GUITARS  ^^ 

MANDOLIKS 


|^°In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleandjos. 


A  POULTRY 
ROOK 


Please  mention  Gleanings. 


SAVE  mONBY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 


Called  "The  Chicken  Busi- 
ness, and  How  to  Make  it 
Pay."  Tells  all  about  it. 
Finely  illustrated,  practical,  and  origi- 
nal. Price  50  cents,  postpaid.  An  il- 
lustrated circular  free,  giving  particu- 
lars about  the  book,  and  prices  of  i>uie-bred  fowls 
and  eggs  for  sale  by  the  author.  4tfdb 

H.  B.  CEER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

I  '"111  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  ((leanings. 

Bee-Hives  ^  Sections 

A  specialty.    Foundation,  Sinoker.s,  etc.,  in  stock. 
Send  for  new  list,  free. 
4tfdb  W.  D.  SOPER,  Jackson,  Mich. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

GOLDEN  HONEY  QUEENS. 

Queens  in  June,  untested,  $1.00;  '/2  doz.,  $.5.C0; 
tested,  $1.70;  select  tested,  $2.50;  e.vtra  select,  $4..50; 
the  very  best,  $8.00;  imported,  $6.00.  Satisfaction 
guaranteed.        LEININOEK  BEOS.,  FT.  JENNINaS,  OHIO. 


1892 


(iLKAMNCiS  IN  BEKCUI/rURE. 


47!) 


(till-   <i'<)/</i-;i    iiinl    /,fjif/»t>r    C"«)/- 
oriM/     Itiiliiiii     <^ii<.>t>»j.'-i. 

'IV'stcd,  ill  .luiH'.  *1.2.");  uiilcstcil,  7">c';  3 
for  if^'.lH).  Our  stuck  fDiisisls  of  ItiMl  col- 
onies ilcNoted  to  lii'os  iiiul  (luooiis  fur 
tlio  trade.  Ordcri*  tilled  by  rt'liirn 
mail.   Send  for  catalofr  of  siiiiplies,  etc. 

JNO.  MCBK:L,<V  son,  HI^Ii  Hill,  IMo. 

p.  S.— A.  J.  Fields,  of  Wlieatoii.Ind..  writes:  "Tlie 
(liieen  and  bees  received  of  you  last  sjiriiiK'  made 
HT  lbs.  of  ooiuli  honey,  and  took  Hrst  preminni  at 
three  fairs."  8tfdb 

t3rin  responding  to  tblaodvei-tlseiiient  mention  GLEAXiMis. 


BEES  BY  THE  POUND. 

Friends,  .veslei(hn'  I  took  control  of  :i(iO  colonies  of 
Italian  and  Iniirid  liees.  that  I  will  sliip  vou  in 
June  and  .Inly!  SLIi:")  per  lb.;  10  or  more,  *1. 15.  Safe 
arrival  K>"i''ti'deed.     Monev-order  oflice,  (Ireenville. 

ITIICiS.  JKNNII<:  ATi'IlLKl, 
ll-12d                              Floyd,  Hunt  Cum  Texas. 
Uriii  respondlnir  tu  thlxiulveiXlM^iiK 


T7iT5T^T«»  T  ^'v  "''W  price  list  of  Pure  Ital- 
^  *>i^^  .  iaii  Beet4,  White  and  Rrowii 
Le^iliorii  i'liickoiiM,  Wlilte  and  Brown  Fer- 
rets, and  S«-oteli  <'ollle  Pupw.    Addri'ss 

N.  A.  KNAPP.  Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 
■  stfdb 

Queens!  Queens!  Queens! 

If  you  want  the  best  bees  you  ever  saw  in  evei'j' 
respect,  try  my  strain  of  Italians.  Result  of  eiji'lit 
years'  careful  breeding'.  Warranted  queens,  each, 
$1.00;  six,  $4.50;  doz.,  ?8.00.  Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed. If  you  prefer,  pay  on  arrival.  Make  money 
orders  payable  at  Apolh").  /=".  S.  YOCKEV, 

ll-12d     North  Washington.  Westmd  Co.,  Pa. 

lariii  res|K)ndiiin:  to  lliis  udveiti-eiiient  iiieiilioii  (Ji.K.^MNGS. 

The  queen  I  g'ot  of  you  has  more  brood  than  any 
iliiny  I  have.  A.  Mn.i.EH,  Trail,  O. 


< 

jThe 


Beautiful!  Gentle!  Prolific! 

Five  -  Banded  Golden    Italian    Bees. 

Send  5c  for  sample  of  bees  and  be  (■onvin(;ed. 
Catalogue  free.    One  queen,  June  or  July,  $1.00; 


six,  $5.00. 


5  J.  r.  MICHAEL. 

<  S-i3db      GERMAN,  DARKE  CO..  OHIO.  > 

i^Ui  lespuiiUiutf  to  this  advertisement  mention  ULEANiNn.s. 

TESTED   ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

50  tested  Italian  iiueeiis  for  sale  at  $1.00  each,  to  be 
delivered  June  1st  to  l.">th,  all  rai.sed  last  fall  from  an 
imported,  and  best  select  tested  queens.  Untested 
queens,  July  15th  and  after,  70c  each;  3  for  $1.75;  6 
or  more,  50c  each.  D.  G.  Edmiston, 

9tfdb  Adrian,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich. 


The  queen  I  got  of  you  has  more  brood  than  any     ^^   ^^  ^^    ,^^  m.  mm  ^  •m.M    m 
rolonv  I  have.  A.  Mn.i.EH,  Trail,  O.      \  ^^  ^~  ^"   O^  \mM  wi.  ^f     1 

Our  Five-Banded  Italians  D  C»C»o)N j\X  \ 


Are  the  bees  for  business:  gentle,  and  beauties. 
ppcp  I  The  Amateur  Bee-keeper,  .52  pages;  price 
'  ■•^^'  2oc;  one  given  free  each  day  to  the  one 
sending  the  most  money  for  queens.  One  warranted 
queen  in  May,  «:1.10;  6  for  f.5.50.  June,  $1.00  each; 
6  for  f5.00.  Entire  satisfaction  guaranteed.       l-24db 

S.  F.  &L  I.  TREGO,  Swedona,  111. 
C^^ln  responding  to  tliis  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

TO  exchange.— For  wax  or  cash.  Standard  L.  or 
Heddon  N.   H.  combs,  at  .5c  each.    Combs  all 
worker,  and  in  good  order.       H.  D.  Borkell, 
lOtfdb  Bangor,  Mic-h. 

SECTIONS. 

$2.50  to  $3.50  per  .^I.    Bee-Hivet*  and  Fix- 
tures cheap.  NOVELTY    CO., 
6tfdb  Rock  Falls,    llinois. 

HTln  respondini.' to  tills  itdvi-ni       neui  ineiitiun  Glkaninos 


Foreign  and  domestic.     Crude  and  refined. 

A  stock  constantly  on  hand. 

Write  for  prices,  stating  quantity  wanted. 

ECKERMANN  &  WILL,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

|^*In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glh  vnings. 

CAA  Colonies  of  Bees  Devot- 
^'VV  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 

TWO    MILLION      SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS. 

Write  for  pi-ices  on  large  quantities. 

Send   for  our   24-Page    Catalogue    of  Dovetailed 

Hives,  Smokers,  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  MT'G  CO.,  Higginsville,  Missouri. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  5tf  db 


A  Grand  Success. 


Mew  Cowan  Reversible 

Honey-Extractor. 

iVIay  be  Reversed  Without  Stopping  the  Machine. 


Strong,  well  made  in  every  respect,  light,  and  of  conven- 
ient size.  The  can  is  but  little  larger  than  that  of  the 
Novice.  The  gear  Is  beveled,  and  covered  by  an  iron  sliield, 
and  the  crank  outside  the  can.  Frank  McNay,  of  Mauston, 
Wis.,  a  bee-keeoer  who  produces  tons  and  tons  of  extracted 
honey,  says  of  it: 

After  carefully  examining  and  trying  the  Cowan  extractor,  I 
have  failed  to  find  a  weak  part,  and  1  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that 
it  is  the  best  extiac-tor  made,  both  in  regard  to  convenience  and 
durability,  ancl  F  slj.ill  icjilace  all  of  my  five  machines  with  the 
Cowan  as  .soon  as  possible. 

It  is  indorsed  also  by  J.  F.  Mclntyre,  an  extensive  ex- 
tracted honey  producer  in  California;  by  W.  Z.  Hutchinson, 
Dr.  C.  C.  sillier,  and  others 

Price  all  Complete,  Japanned  and  Lettered,  for  L.  Frame,  $10. 
A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio. 


480 


GLEANINGS  IN  15EE  CULTURE. 


June  1^. 


JXJST      OXJT  2 

THE    A  B  C    OF 

Ferret   Culture. 

Containing-  Full  Instrui'tions  for  tlie  Breeding. 
Feeding:,  Care,  and  Manag'enient  of  this  little  ani- 
mal. It  telLs  Howt<i  Raise  lliem  in  the  Greatest 
Numbers,  with  the  least  expense.  Price  ten  cents; 
by  mail,  13  cents. 

Free !  My  new  price  list  of  pure  Italian  Bees 
and  Queens,  White  and  Brown  Leg-horn  ChickiMis, 
and  White  and  Brown  Ferrets,  and  Scotcli  Collie 
Pups.    Address  IN.  A.  KN.%PP, 

Rochester,  lioraiii  Co.,  Oliio. 
ICWln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings, 

Colonies  Italian  and  Hybrid  Bees. 
$4  per  Colony,  f.  o.  b.  cars.  Queens  all 
young-.    Combs  straight. 

F.  L.  WRIGHT,  Plainfield.  Mich. 


75 


GOLDEN  HONEY  QUEENS. 

Bred  from  stock  tliat  can  not  be  excelled  for 
honey-gathering,  beauty,  gentleness,  and  all  that 
make  a  desirable  bee.  Warranted  Queens,  $1  each; 
6  for  $.5;  Select  tested  and  breeding-  queens  after 
July  1st.  Write  for  sample  of  bees  and  prices. 
Circular  free.    Address 

E.  F.  ftUIGLEY,  TJnionville,  Mo. 

iS-fn  respond  Intr  tn  tliis  a.nci  u.  iim  iii   mi,-iiiii>ji  ui.kanings. 

20  Colonies  Black  Bees 

In  pattern  of  Simplicitj- hives.  All  full,  and  work- 
ing, f  01-  $60,  on  stands. 

J.  M.  OVENSHIRE,  D.  D.  S.,  Dundee,  N.  Y. 

▼TALIAN  QI^EENS.  Tested,  W.3.5.  Untested, 
"    80c.  Mks.  a.  M.  Kneelanp. 

P.  O.  Box  77.    Mulberry  Grove,  Bond  Co.,  111. 

Bfllll  TRY  Choice  Fowls  and  Eggs  for  sale  at 
|«IIU  I.  I  n  I .  all  times.  Finely  illustrated  circu- 
■     lar  free.      GEER  BROS  -  St.  Marvs,  Mo.    Sltfdb 


100  ROOT'S  DOVETAILED    BEE-HIVES, 

1892    PATTERN, 

For  sale  at  a  bargain  as  long  as  tliej"  last.  Wriie  for 
prices.  A.  F.  McADAMS,  Columbus  Grove,  O. 

Untested  Queens  From  Imported 

stock,  reared  by  Doolittle's  method,  6i)c.  Warranted 
7.5c.  Virgins,  4.5c.  Reference,  Chas.  Matz,  Wells- 
Fargo  express  agent.  H.  G.  QUIRIN, 

Beulevue,  Huron  Co.,  O. 

Take    this   Address 

p.  L.  ViALLON  Mfg.  Co., 
Bayou  Croula,  La., 

For  Beautiial  Italian  Queens 

AND  APIAEIAN  SUPPLIES. 

CYFRESS    DOVETAILED    HIVES    A 
SPECIALTY. 

p^ln  responilin:'  tn  tlr«  nih-,-r;Nf>i.i,  .,-    rnciin'i.n  Ri.kaxinos*. 

SAMFI.S    FB.SS 

of  my  1-piece  white-poplar  sections.  Wax  worked 
into  foundation  by  the  lb.  Samples  and  prices  free. 
13d  O.  H.  TowNSEND,  Alamo,  Kala.  Co.,  Mich. 

JUST   OUT! 

BY  W.  I.  OHAMBEELAIN,  A.  11.,  LL.  D., 

Formerly  Secretary  of  tlie  Ohio   State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
and  late  President  of  tlie  Iowa  State  Agricultural  Col- 
lege.   At  present  Associate  Editor  of  the 
Ohio  Faimer. 

This  is  a  valuable  companion  to  our  other  rural 
books.  It  emljraces  the  experience  of  forty  years 
of  one  of  our  foremost  practical  agriculturists,  who 
has  laid  -with  his  own  hands  over  15  miles  of  tile. 

Price  35c;  by  mail,  40c. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  MEDINA,  OHIO. 


B.  B.  Creamery. 

A.  I.  Root  is  mailing  for  the  B.  B.  Cream- 
ery Co.,  of  this  place,  the  creamery  shown  in 
adjoining  cut.  No  doubt  many  of  his  readers 
keep  a  small  dairy.  If  so,  you  should  investi- 
gate tliis  most  invaluable  aid  to  dairymen. 
Several  hav^e  testified  that  they  have  seciu-ed 
enough  more  cream  to  pay  for  the  creamery 
ill  six  months.  Besides,  think  of  the  amount 
of  labor  saved.  This  is  the  most  successful 
creamery  to  use  without  ice.  You  notice  one 
of  the  cans  standing  in  front.  The  milk  is 
put  between  the  two  walls  of  this  can,  and  the 
water  comes  up  the  center,  all  around  the  out- 
side, above  and  below,  giving-  the  greatest  cool- 
ing surface.  It  being  only  5  inches  from  inner 
to  outer  wall,  it  leaves  no  milk  further  than 
3^  inches  from  the  cooling  surface.  Write  for 
circular  giving  further  particulars. 


PRICE  LIST. 

No.            Cap.acity  of  can.            No.  of  cows. 

Price. 

0  16  quarts.                 1  to  3. 

1  30      "                          3  to  4. 
3                60      "                          4  to  8. 
3                75      "                       8  to  13. 

$33..50 
30.00 
40.00 
60.00 

Price  includes  milk-strainer,  glass  thermo- 
meter, faucet,  brusli,  etc.    We  give  5  per  cent 
off  for  cash,  and  make  special  terms  to  dealers 
and  agents.      Address 

B.  B.  Creamery  Co.,  Medina,  Ohio. 


Found3tion  Wholesale  and  Retail. 

/    free  samples.   Special  prices  to  dealers  on  Foui 


iples.   Spi 
Free  price  list  of  everything  needed  in  the  apiary. 


price 
6tfdb 
Hi. 


If  you  would  like  to  see 
how    nice     foundation 
can  be  made,  send  for 
indation  and  Sections,  etc. 
(Near  Detroit.) 
HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


1S92 


GLEANINCS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


481 


,)ai)aiu'8e  iiuclvwiieat  is  advanced 
this  date  ^Lllo  per  single  bushel; 
^2.40  for  :2  bushels;  811.50  for  10 
bushels;  \  bushel.  75  cents;  1  peck,  40 
cents.     Bags  included. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina.  O. 
June  10,  1892. 

Bee-Keepers'  Supplies. 

Hives.   Honey -Cases,   Seclious,  and   Frames. 
We  are  the  only  concern  in  Southern  Califor- 
nia who  make  a 
SPECIALTY  OF  BEE-KEEPERS'  MATERIAL. 

Ajjents  for  the  while  basswood  1-ib.  sections. 
Send  for  catalogue  and  price  iist. 
6-13db  Oceanside  Mill  Co.,  Oceanside,  Cal. 

^7*In  responding  to  tliis  advertiseiiu'iit  mention  Glkaning& 

DONT  STOP  ME  !  I  am  going  to  send 
at  once  to  C.  W.  PHELPS  &  CO.'S 
Wholesale  and  Retail  Foundation  Fac- 
tory. Binghamton.  N.  Y..for  a  free  sam- 
ple of  Honey  Comb  Foundation,  and  buy 
all  of  my  Bee  Supplies  of  them.    Its  THE  place. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


IMPOETED  ITALIAN  ftUEEN.  $3  50:  UNTESTED,  $1.00. 

•  \V.  C.  FRAZIEK,  Athintio,  Iowa. 


ITALIAN  QUEENS  ^^^  ^^^^-   ^" 


?1.50. 


tested,  $1.00:    tested, 
J.  0.  PEOVINS,  MASOHTOWN,  PA. 


PXJITIC  QTJEEITS 

PEOM  IMPOETED  MOTHERS.  Eaeli.  S2.00.  Tliis  is  a  fine 
race  of  bees,  and  will  ^ive  better  results  than  any 
other  race  or  strain.    Ready  to  mail  May  25. 

HENKY  ALiliEY,  Wenbam,  mass. 


PRlfiT  FOH 
BEE-HIVES. 

After  much  experimentation,  and  a 
careful  study  into  the  paint  (juestion. 
we  offer  a  mixed 

Paint  Prepared  Especially  for  Bee-Hives. 

It  will  not  Chalk  or  Flake  off. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  free  from  adulterants, 
such  as  whiting,  baryles,  lime,  and  other  sub- 
stitutes that  do  not  add  to  the  enduring  quali- 
ties of  the  paint.  Our  paint  is  made  of  strictly 
pure  lead,  strictly  pure  zinc,  and  genuine  French 
ocher  of  about  equal  proportions,  mixed  in  pure 
linseed  oil.  It  is  generally  recognized  that  there 
is  no  pigment  more  permanent  than  French 
ocher;  and  this,  combined  with  zinc  and  lead, 
makes  a  most  durable  combination.  The  re- 
sultant lint  is  a  pale  straw  color.  Price:  Pint, 
3.Sc:  quart.  130c;  half-gallon.  ?i.(X);  gallon.  $1.75. 
Half  a  gallon  will  cover  ten  No.  1  Dovetailed 
hives  two  coats. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  O. 


Honey  -  Extractot^. 

Squafe  Glass  Honcy-Jars, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee-hives. 
Jloney-Sectlons,  &e.,  &c. 

Penleetion  Cold-Blast  Smokefs. 
APPLY  TO  •^^^.^^^v.^-^^v.^-^^^^ 

CHHS.  F.  IVIUTH  &  SOfl,  CineinnatI,  O. 

SendlO-ct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


Good  Queens  Cheap. 

300  tested  Italiiui  queens,  raised  last  season,  for 
sale'atSl;  $10  per  doz.  A  few  liybrids  at  :J5c  each. 
They  will  be  shipped  about  .June  15th  to  3.5th,  or 
later  if  desired.  Have  order  booked  now  and  send 
money  wlien  you  want  them.  My  bees  have  been 
/<«/•;/>  FttJt  HlffiiNKus,  and  tliese  are  bar- 
gains.   Nuclei  and  full  colonies  at  very  low  rates. 

jr.  A.  GREEIT,  Day-fcoxi,  111. 

^"In  respondinj;  to  this  advert iseimiit  nientiun  Rlkanings. 

WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS' 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

IIOOT'S  GOODS  can  ho  liarl  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  at  ROOT'S  PRICES.  The 
liitrest  supply  business  in  the  We.st. 
Established  1885.  Dovetailed  Hives,  Sec- 
tKjns,  Foundation,  Extractors,  Smokers, 
Vuls.  Crates,  Feeders,  Clover  Seeds,  etc. 
Imported  Italian  Queens.  Queens  and 
Bt  es.  Sample  copy  of  our  Bee  Journal, 
•  THE  WESTERN  BEE  KEEPER,"  and 
L  \TEST  CATALOGUE  mailed  FREE  to 
Bte-keepers. 

JOSEPH  NYSEWANDER, 
Des  Moines,  iowa. 
In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.       itfdb 

GOLDE/]/   GARNI -ITALIANS. 

The  largest,  most  Ijeautiful,  g-entle,  and  industri- 
ous bees;  try  them  and  be  convinced.  Queens.  $1 
each.  Sample  bees,  lUc.  Send  for  circular  g-ivinff 
full  description,    lltfdb     J.  A.  EOE,  UNION  CIT7,  IND. 

t^"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


ITALIAN     QUEENS. 

Untested,   75  cents.    Twenty  for    *i:.'.(i().    Tested, 
$1.(K).  H.   FITZ  HART, 

6tfdb  Avery,  Iberia  Parish,  L.a. 

lS"Plea.se  mention  Glkaninos. 


CO 

o 

CO 


p 

CD 
CD 
(A 


FINE  ITALIAN  QUEENS 

PRICES     FOR    .JUNE    AND    AFTER. 

1  untested  queen  I  .75 

3  "  '■         2.00 

1  tested  queen 1..50 

3        "  "      4.00 

Select  Tested,  each 3.(X) 

Two-frame  Nucleus  with  any  queen, 
•fl.50  each  extra.  Safe  arrival  g-uar- 
anteed.  W.  J.  KliLIMtm,  lOd 

Catcliall,  Sumter  Co.,  S.  €. 
Please  mention  this  paper.  11-12-1  -11 

Cash  for  Beeswax! 

Will  pay  'Zi>v  per  lb.  cash,  or  2sc  in  trade  for  asy 
quantity  of  good,  fair,  average  tieeswax,  delivered 
at  our  R.  R.  station.  The  same  will  be  sold  to  those 
who  wish  to  purchase,  at  32c  per  lb.,  or  35c  for  best 
xelected  wax. 

Unless  you  put  your  name  on  the  box,  and  notify 
us  by  mail  of  amount  sent,  I  can  not  hold  myself 
responsible  for  mistakes.  It  will  not  pay  as  a  g-en- 
eral  thing  to  send  wax  by  exj>re.-*.s. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio 


482 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


June  15. 


ELEVEN  YEARS 

WITHOUT  5\ 
PARALLEL,  AND 

THE  STAND- 
ARD   IN    EVERT 
CIVILIZED 
COUNTRY. 

Bingham  &.  Hetherington 

Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 

standard   Size. 

Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 

Six  Sizes  and  Prices. 

Doctoi"  Smoker,      3X  in.,  postpaid 

Conqueror    "  3       "  " 

Largre  "  Wt    " 

Extra  (wide  shield)  3       " 

Plain  (narrow    "    )3       "  " 

Little  Wonder,         IX    " 

Uncapping  Knife 

Sent  promptly  on   receipt  of   price.    To 
sell  again,  send  for  dozen  aud  half-dozen  rates. 

Milledgeville,  111.,  March  8, 1890. 
Sirs:— Smokers  received  to-day,  and  count  cor 
rectly.    Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  I  dc 
your  trade  will  boom.  Truly,       P.  A.  Snell. 

Vermillion,  S.  Dak.,  Feb.  17, 1890. 
Sirs  :— I  consider  your  smokers  the  best  made  for 
any  purpose.    I  have  had  1.5  years'  experience  with 
300  or  400  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak. 
Very  truly^ R.  A.  Morgan. 

Sarahsville,  Ohio,  March  12, 1890. 
Sirs: — The  smoker  1  have  has  done  good  service 
since  1883.       Yours  truly,       Daniel  Brothers. 


SECTIONS. 


I3.U0 
1.75 
l.,5U 
1.35 
100 


115 


Otfdb 


Send  for  descriptive  circular  and  testimonials  to 

7tfdb  BmaEAM  &  HsTHEsmaTOir,  Abronia,  Mich. 

^P"In  resDonding  to  this  advertisement  mention  fiLKAMN<;s^ 

WANTED— LADY  OR  GENT  IN  EACH 
county  to  distribute  and  collect  for  Brabant's 
ladies'  toilet  cases;  238  articles,  worth  $1;  will  send 
sample  and  full  particulars  by  mail  for  35c  in 
stamps;  returnable  if  not  satisfactory;  territory 
free;  $3  to  $5  per  day  easily  made.  Address  J.  C. 
Frisbee,  general  agent,  172  Maple  St.,  Denver.  Col. 
Reference,  A.  I.  Root,  Medina,  O.  8-l-2db 

I^ln  respondinK  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLRixmag 


Snow-white  Sections, 

Cream  Sections, 

No.  3  Sections. 

Finest  goods  made. 

We  have  a  large  stock  on  hand, 

and  can  fill  small  and  large 

orders  promptly. 

a.  B.  LEWIS  CO., 

Watertown,  XVis. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

CONTROL  YOUR  SWARMS! 

.   D.  WESTS    SPIRAL    WIRE    QUEEN  •  CELL     PRO- 
TECTORS   AND    CAGES. 

N.  D.  West's  Spiral  Wire  pat 
Queen-Cell  Protectors  will  decjs.sl 
do  it.  and  you  can  RE-^  '^ 
QUEEN  your  apiary  during' 
the  swarming  season.  Pro- 
nounced the  Best  by  such 
men  as  Capt.  J.  E.  Heth- 
erington, Cherry  Vallev, 
N.Y.;  P.  H.  Elwood,  Stark- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  and  others. 
Cell -Protectors,  $3.t,0  per 
100,  or  13  for  60c,  by  mail.  Cages.  $5.00  per  100,  or  12 
for  81.00,  by  mail.  Samples  of  both,  with  circular 
explaining,  35  cts.  The  cages  are  used  for  hatching 
queens  in  any  hive,  and  are  the  Best  Bee-Escape  in 
use.    Address  8-9-lOd 

N.  D.  WEST,  Middleburgh,  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

TAKE   NOTICE! 

BEFORE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
for  prices  on  One-Pieee  Basswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,  Shipping-Crates,  Frames,  Foundation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
14tfdb  New  London,  Wis. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

J.   C.   SAYLES, 

HARTFORD,  WIS., 

Manufactures  Apiarian  Surpuies  of  Every 

Description,     Catalooue  Free  to 

All.    Send  Your  Aodress. 

Stfdb  Please  mention  this  paper. 


Dovetailed  Hives,  Simplicity  Hives, 

SECTIONS,  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'    SUPPL/ES. 

eO-PAGE     CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 

CS'"In  responclini.'  to  tliis  ariviiti>fMurii   nii  nlion  Ri.KA.viNf;-;. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

Bcdr  In  lYiind  ^'^^^^'^  ^^^^^^^^^''^^'^'^^^^y''^'^"^^^"  E3st0rn  Brdnch 

where  our  Bee-keepers' Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and   prompt  shipment.    You  can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.    We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  lake  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.    He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.   SALISBURY,   Agent,   Syracuse,   N.  Y. 


is<.»-: 


<;lkaxin'(;.s  in  ijek  cui.turk. 


TESTED  ITALIAN  QUEENS,  80c ' 


4S7 

N  .11  b\    ANH    AIOI  NT. 

11  .Iiini'.  tl.iiii  <-acli.    MiMiiatod 

"  J."  C^W HEELER   PLANO,  ILL. 


I  TELL  you  what.  Jones,  Leverliij^ 
BroH.  sell  llic  bost  jroods  and  at 
tlu>  lowi'st  pi-ico  of  .-iMy  one  I've 
struck  yi't.    The  largest    and    best 

'  Bee  -  Hive  Factory 

ill  the  West.  The  Dovetailed  Hive 
and  New  UotTinan  st'lf  -  spa'ing 
Frame  a  specialty.  Every  thing 
used  b.v  luaetical  bee-keepers  at 
wliolesale  and  retail.  Send  for theii 
f!-ee  Illustrated  Price  List,  and 
save  nv)ney.  Supply  Dealers,  send 
for  their  Wholesale  List.    Address 

I-EVERIlTa     BROS., 
6-l-5db  "^RTio-fca,  Cass  Co.,  lo-cwa- 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

0-*^A!.#ik-»**  at  $3  per  lOOO.  These  are 
dSCllOnS  perfectlv  smooth,  a-id  first-class. 
^i^ww%iwiiw  Hrood  foundation  45  cts.  per  II). 
All  supplies  eiiually  low.  Goods  shipped  direi't 
from  New  Vork  citv.  1-lSdt. 

I.  J.  STRINCHAM, 

92  Barclay  St.,  N.  Y. 

t  i?"lii  responding  to  this  advertisement  Dieiitlon  OLKANlNGa, 


B 


Yellow,  Extra,  Excellent 


Italian  Queens  f  Tested.  *l..5(i  !■  T  wo-f  r  ame  fl 
for  sale  ill. June  L  t^iit(,'stcd.i?l  L  Nucleus  with  lij 
at  Chenang-or  Order  early  F  Queen.  $2.00.11 
Valley  Apiary  **Seiid  for  list  **D.)irt  i)ass  by  " 
Mks.  (  »i,ivei<  Cole:,  Sherburne,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y. 

9tt'db  Please  mention  this  paper. 


BEE-HIVES, 


Dovetailed  or  Otherwise. 

All  Kinds  of  Bee  Supplies. 
Write  for  free  catalogue.       W.  H.  PUTNAM, 

River  Fa'ls,  Pierce  Co.,  Wis. 


8-13db 
^"In  responding  to  tliisadvei-tisei 


Hilt  mention  (JLKANlKGa. 


^^--.-^  r'- 


Biiigham's  Perfect  Safety 

SMOKER.     .    * 

Pat.  1878;  Ee-is8ued  1882.  Pat.  1892 


No  more  soiled  sections,  burned 
finytTs,  or  tiiirnerl  Apiary.  Any 
lar^e  advertiser  of  Bingham  Smo- 
kers will  seii'l  you  a  Perfect  Poc- 
tor.  Perfect  Conqueror,  or  Perfect 
l.argc  Smoker,  it  you  will  send  to 
him  2.")  cts.  more  tn.Tn  the  regular 
mail  prico,  and  ask  for  either  o£ 
tlie  tlirt-e  sizes  mentioued. 

Bing'hani  &  Hetherington,  Abronia,  Micb. 


twin  resDondini.'  Id  tliis 


LEATHER-COLORED  ITALIAN 

QUEENS. 

One  untested,  .tl.(K);  six.  *.")..50;  twelve,  $10.00;  one 
tested,  fl..TO;  six,  $8.00:  twelve,  -11.5.00;  selected  for 
breeding-  mWv,  each,  83..50;  one  year  old  tested,  in 
June  Diily,  U.'^r>;  six.  $7.(10;  twelve,  $13.00.  Two-year- 
old  iiueeiis,  each,  .50c.  Descriptive  catalogue  mailed 
free  on  apjilication. 

^^^^      A.  E.  Manum,  Bristol,  Vt. 

lyin  resi)oii(iiMif  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkakino* 

Italian  Bees  and  Queens  For  Sale. 

Untested  queens,  $1.(I0;  tested,  ?l..-)0.  Bees,  fl.(X) 
per  lb.  Colony,  $.5.(X).  Also  barred  Plymouth  Rock 
eg-g-s  for  sitting-.  $1.00  per  13. 

7-lfklb  MRS.  A.  A.  SIMPSON,  Swarts,  Pa. 


lilt  mention  (Ji.kakinqs.     1 


GLOBE  BEE- VEIL 

By  Mail  for  $1.00. 

A  center  rivra  holds  5  aprinR-stoel 
,  cross- h;i  IS  like  a  globe  to  support  the 
liobinetVeil.  These  hutton  to  a  neat 
brass  neck-band,  holding  it  tlrraly. 

It  is  easily  put  together;  no  trouble 
to  put  on,  or  take  otT.  An  absolute 
protection  against  any  insect  that 
tiies.  Will  go  over  any  ordinary 
sized  hat;  can  bo  worn  in  bed  with- 
out discomfort;  titaany  head  ;  does  not  obstruct  the 
vision;  folds  compactly,  and  can  be  carried  in  the 

Socket;  in  short,  it  is  invaluable  to  any  one  whom 
ies  bother,  mosquitos  bite,  or  bees  sting. 

Kxua  N«ai.,   iti)  <'oiil!!i  Kueli. 
TIIUM.XS  fV.  JSIiWM^XX  <t  SOA% 

l!n>  Kiin<l(>li>li  Mr.,  Cliiciiirfi,  111: 

Bee  -  Keepers'  ^  Supplies. 

We  are  prepared  tn  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies pninii>tlj'  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates g-ladly 
furnished,  ;tiid  correspondence  solicited.  Our  g-oods 
are  all  flrst-class  in  quidity  :ind  workmanship.  Cal- 
(iliigae  »e,it  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling,  111.    Address  l-24db 

WM.  ITIoCINE  Sl  €0., 

Merlin^,  Illinois. 

t^"ln  respondinp- to  f'>  i.iri  ciLKANUJGS 

SP'TC     will  get  a  .sample  cage  of  my  .5-banded 
\J  i-^*      bees;  1  untested  3-banded.6lJc;  six  for 
*3.0ti;  1  .5-banded,  75c;    six  for  H. 25.    Full  colonies, 
nuclei,  and  supplies  cheap;  catalogue  fiee. 
12tfdb         €HAS.  H.  THIKS,  Steelevllle,  III. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

COA  Colonies  of  Bees  Devot- 
^vv  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  foT-  prices  on  large  quantities. 

TWO    MILLION      SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS. 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 

Send   for  our   24-Page    Catalogue    of  Dovetailed 

Hives.  Smokers,  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  MT'G  CO.,  Higginsville,  Missouri. 

Please  mention  this  paiier.  .itfdb 

WHY,  YES,  EVERYBODY  KNOWS 
that  it  pays  to  purcUa.-^a 
their  Honey-Comh  Foun- 
dation at  C.  W.  PHELPS 
'  &CO."S  Wholesale  and  Re- 
tail Foundation  F''actory. 
They  sell  heavy  for  Brood, 
45c.;  thin  for  Comb  Honey, 
5.5c.  They  deal  in  all  kinds 
of  j^piarian  supplies.  Their 
customers  are  always 
pleased,  for  their  work  "is 
good  and  prices  reason  a- 
—  ble.     Send  for   free  sam- 

ples Foundation  and  price-list  of  Bee  supplies. 
i^ddressC.  W.  Phelps  &Co.,  74  Pettit  street, 
Binghamton.  N.  Y. 


Four-Color   Label   for  Only 
Cts.  Per  Thousand. 


75 


Just  think  of  it!  we  can  furnish  you  a  very  neat 
]  fdur-ciibir  label,  with  your  name  and  address,  with 
,  the  choice  of  havinj;- either  "comb  "  or  "extracted  " 
\  before  the  word  "honey,"  for  only  75  cts  per  thou- 
[  sand;  50  cts.  per  .500,  or  3(1  cts.  for  3.50,  postpaid.  The 
I  size  of  the  label  is  2)4x1  inch— just  right  to  go  round 
the  neck  of  a  bottle,  to  put  on  a  section,  or  to  adorn 
[  the  front  of  a  honey-iumbler.  Send  for  our  special 
I  label  catalogue  for  samples  of  this  and  many  other 
I  pretty  designs  in  label  work. 
I  A.  I.  ROOT,  inediiia,  O. 


488 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Bees.  Xursing  Them 498 

California  Bee-keepers 504 

Cell-eups.  Doolittle 52ii 

Chronicle  of  Picnic ."ilH) 

Colorado,  Iowa,  Wisconsin.5()3 

Currant-worms 515 

Dustin's  Apiary 512 

Flour,  Home-made 510 

Frames,  Tool  to  Wire 511 

Hewitt,  John 520 

Hive-shade,  Day's 496 

Holy  Spirit's  Influence 519 

Honey,  Artitieial 511 

Honey,  Grading 496 

Hose,  Rubber 516 

Increase,  To  Prevent 491 

Jokes,  How  to  Tell 506 

Lady-bugs  515 


Manura's  Letter 493 

Miller's  Outburst 519 

Murray.  R.  V 502 

Funics,  Benton  on 504 

Funics  at  Medina 492 

Rambler  in  Matilija  Can'n.507 

Scarabseids 497 

Sealed  Covers  in  Cellar 511 

Section-case,  New  D 500 

Smoker,  Bingham 521 

Strawberry  Talk 514 

Tobicco-dust 515 

Wax  at  Entrance 509 

Wax  Flowers 499 

Webster's  Bad  Advice 511 

Whitewood  Honey 511 

World's  Fair 498 

York,G.  W 495 


Special  Notices. 


HONEY  WANTED. 

We  are  entirely  sold  out  of  both  comb  and  ex- 
tracted honey,  and  should  be  pleased  to  receive 
offers.  We  have  a  demand  for  only  the  best  grade. 
If  you  have  any  new  comb  honey  to  offer  yet,  let 
US  iiear  from  you,  with  quantity,  and  price  j'ou  asli. 
We  can  use  either  new  or  old  extracted  honey  of 
good  quality.  Mail  sample,  naming  quantity  and 
price,  and  tell  how  put  up.  In  this  connection  we 
desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the  screw-top  mail- 
ing-block in  another  column. 


OUR  NEW  TOMATO-BOOK. 

Sixty-four  pages  of  this  work  are  now  printed  and 
bound  together  in  convenient  form  for  reference. 
This  book  gives  the  most  complete  directions  for 
making  hot-beds  of  every  description,  perhaps,  of 
any  thing  now  in  print.  It  also  includes  the  use  of 
cloth,  glass,  and  even  boards  for  covering  the  beds, 
and  considers  all  the  practical  appliances  in  use  for 
growing  plants  of  every  description  under  protec- 
tion, not  only  in  our  locality,  but  away  down  south 
and  away  up  north.  The  price  of  the  work  is  40  cts., 
postpaid  by  mail.  If  you  send  for  it  now  you  will 
get  the  advance  sheets  as  fast  as  they  come  from 
the  printing-press,  and  the  complete  book  when  fin- 
ished besides.  

JAPANESE   BUCKWHEAT. 

Our  call  for  offers  on  Japanese  buckwheat  in  last 
number  has  revealed  the  fact  that  there  is  a  good 
deal  of  it  to  be  had.  At  least  a  thousand  bushels 
have  been  ottered  us,  and  some  at  such  a  price  that 
we  are  able  to  sell  at  the  old  figure  given  in  our  cat- 
alogue, except  that  you  must  pay  extra  for  bags. 
This  will  make  tlie  prices,  including  bags,  as  fol- 
lows: 1  bush.,  $1.2(1;  3  bu.sh..  $2.10;  1"  bush,  or  over, 
$1.00  per  bushel.  We  liave  secured  a  good  supply, 
and  can  fill  orders  promptly  at  above  figures.  We 
sowed  some  as  late  as  August  10,  some  years  ago, 
and  matured  a  crop  of  seed,  so  there  is  time  to  send 
for  a  month  yet;  although  if  you  can  it  is  best  to 
get  it  in  by  the  1.5tli  to  20th  of  July,  to  be  sure  of 
maturing  the  seed  before  early  fall  frosts. 


STRAWBERHY-PLANTS,  ETC. 

There  is  a  short  period  during  the  last  of  .Tune 
and  first  of  July,  wliile  strawberries  are  fruiting, 
when  it  is  not  advisable  to  sliip  plants,  for  the 
llimmj  plants  have  not  yet  made  sufficient  root  to 
bear  transportation.  You  can,  however,  set  them 
out  during  this  period  if  the  young  plants  are 
grown  on  your  own  grounds  or  on  those  of  a  neigh- 
bor near  by,  .so  you  can  move  them  with  sufficient 
dirt  adhering  to  the  roots.  During  the  coming  fall 
we  sliall  give  place  to  three  new  varieties;  viz., 
Parker  Earle,  Edgar  Queen,  and  Wartield.  We  may 
drop  some  of  our  old  ones,  but  have  not  decided 
just  which  ones  to  drop,  at  pre.sent  writing.  For 
several  se;  sois  iiast,  the  demand  in  our  locality  lias 
been  tor  a  berry  that  would  stand  wet  weather. 
If  now,  however,  we  should  have  a  dry  season,  or  a 
succession  of  dr.v  seasons,  it  might  materially 
change  our  decision  as  to  what  varieties  to  recom- 
mend. We  presume  we  shall  have  a  limited  number 
of  plants,  rooted  enough  to  send  out  l)y  the  middle 
of  July.  Large  orders,  however,  can  not  well  be 
filled  until  two  weeks  or  a  month  later. 


SQUARE  CANS  FOR  EXTRACTED  HONEY. 

I  believe  bee-keepers  generally  are  learning  more 
and  more  the  advantage  of  putting  up  extracted 
hone.v  foi'  shipment  in  these  square  cans.  Honey 
in  square  cans  handles  much  more  satisfactorily 
than  in  any  other  package,  according  to  our  expe- 
rience. We  are  prepared  to  furnish  you  the  square 
cans,  f .  o.  b.  at  Conneaut,  Ohio,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  or 
from  here,  at  the  following  prices: 

Two  five  gal.  cans,  boxed  with  IV^-inch  screws, 
each,  75c;  10,  $7.00;  100,  f  65.00. 

Two  five-gal.  cans,  boxed  with  \}i  and  4  in.  screws, 
each,  85c;  10,  $8.00;  lOi),  $75.00. 

One  five-gal.  can,  boxed  with  l>^-iuch  screws, 
each,  45c;  10,  $4.20;  100,  $40.00. 

One  five-gal.  can,  boxed  with  lH  and  4  inch  screws, 
each,  50c;  10.14.70;  100,  $45.00. 

Ten  one-gal.  cans,  boxed  with  screws,  each,  $1.50; 
10,  $14.00;  luO,  f  130.00. 

One  hundred  one-gal.  cans  in  one  box,  $12.00. 


WINTER   OR   EGYPTIAN   ONION-SETS   NOW  READY. 

If  these  are  set  out  at  once  they  will  make  a  large 
growth  before  winter  sets  in;  and,  under  favorable 
circumstances,  will  divide  up,  making  many  onions 
where  you  planted  only  one  set ;  so  you  will  see 
there  is  a  big  advantage  in  getting  them  in  early. 
Of  course,  tliey  are  now  green,  for  we  pick  them 
from  the  stalks  just  as  they  are  sent  out,  and  they 
are  expected  to  be  planted  at  once.  If  j'ou  wish  to 
keep  them  for  any  length  of  time  liefore  planting, 
you  will  need  to  wait  until  the  sets  are  more  mature 
and  dry.  The  demand  for  these  sets  for  many  years 
has  been  greater  than  the  supply,  so  you  will  heed 
to  send  in  your  orders  early.  Prices:  15  cts.  per  qt., 
or  $1.00  per  peck.  If  wanted  by  mail,  add  10  cts.  per 
qt.  extra.  This  is  the  only  onion,  .so  far  as  my 
knowledge  extends,  that  is  so  hardy  as  to  stand  any 
winter  in  any  locality ;  audit  furnishes  onions  for 
market  or  table  u.se  not  only  weeks  but  months 
ahead  of  any  other.  In  cold-frames  and  hot/-beds, 
such  as  I  have  described,  it  can  readily  be  grown 
and  marketed  every  day  in  tltc  year. 


BEESWAX   DECLINED  AG.\IN. 

The  market  on  beeswax  is  still  growing  easier, 
and  we  make  a  further  decline  of  2  cents  per  lb. 
From  now  till  further  notice  we  will  pay  for  aver- 
age wax.  delivered  here,  23  cts.  cash;  26  in  trade. 
Our  selling  price  will  be  29  cts.  for  average,  33  for 
select  yellow.  Our  retail  price  of  foundation  is 
reduced  3  cts.  per  lb.,  and  the  table  of  prices  will 
stand  as  follows  from  now  till  further  notice: 

TABLE  OF  PRICES  OF  COMB  FOUNDATION. 

When  you  order,  be  sure  to  tell  which    grade  you 
want,  and  give  price. 
Small  samptes  of  each  grade  will  he  mailed  free. 

>— Price  per  lb.  in  lots  not  less  than  - 
Sq.  ft 
NAME  OF  GRADE,     per  lb    lib.    10  Ibs.    25  lbs.    50  lbs.    100  lbs 


Heavy  brood  fdn. 
Medium    "  ' 

Light 

Thin  surplus      " 
Ex.  thin    "  " 

Van    Deusen    thin 
flat  bottom 


SECOND-HAND  MACHINERY. 

During  the  past  few  months  we  have  bought  up 
several  outfits  of  machinery  for  making  bee-keep- 
ers' supplies;  and  if  any  of  our  readers  or  their 
friends  contemplate  putting  in  machinery  we  are 
prepared  to  fit  you  out  from  cellar  to  garret  with 
everything  you  need  in  engines,  boilers,  machinery, 
shafting,  pulleys,  hangers,  beltiii,u-,  saws,  etc.  The 
following  is  a  partial  list  of  the  sfcond-hand  ma- 
cliinery  we  have  to  sell.  If  you  desire  further  par- 
ticular's we  shall  be  pleased  to  hear  from  you. 

One  20-H.  P.  Fishkill  horizontal  engine,  rebuilt, 
and  as  good  as  new;  would  cost  new,  $4u0;  will  sell 
for  *200, 

One  .5-H.  P.  horizontal  engine  and  boiler,  with  en- 
gine mounted  on  boiler,  in  good  running  order. 
Price  $1.")0. 

One  24-inch  two-roll  Fay  sandpaper  machine,  near- 
ly new.    Price,  new,  $450;  will  sell  for  S175. 

One  9-inch  cigar-box  planer,  nearlj-  new;  has  been 
used  very  little.    Price,  new,  f65;  will  sell  for  $40. 

One  V-groove  section  machine,  nearly  new.  This 
is  our  make,  old  style,  with  screw-feed;  sold  some 
j-ears  ago  for  $75;  will  sell  now  for  $40. 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


489 


OiiiM'utU'i^lu'ad,  Willi  t;ilih'  roiiipli'lo,  f»)r  cutting' 
fntr;iiiOfs  to  sin-tioiis.  Old  style,  but  lu'arly  now, 
ami  ill  KiKxJ   ropair.    Price,  lu-w.  $2ij.tl0;  will  sell  for 

Oiu' iron-franu' liaiul-jiiintcr;  woU  wortli  $2.");  will 
svll  for  *l.i. 

Oiu' (loulili'-lu'ad  ttMioiiiiifr-niacliiiio,  I'spccially  ar- 
ranjred  for  inakiiiir  the  coinbiiu'd  rablu't  aiul  mitfr 
joint  of  tlu'  Siiujiliiiiy  tiivc,  but  can  be  usi'd  for 
inakinu:  sasli  and  window-screen  frames,  etc.  We 
could  not  l)uild  sucli  a  niacliine,  and  sell  it  for  less 
than  n''Oi  we  will  sell  tins  for  $(>(). 

One  iron-planer,  lt5x:{fi-incli  bed,  automatic  rev'ers- 
iiijr  device  to  run  back  and  fortli.  It  cost  us,  secoiid- 
liaiid.  several  years  ajro.  $1.")0;  is  about  as  g-ood  now 
as  tlion,  but  we  had  to  have  a  larger  size.  We  offer 
this  for  S.MI. 

Two  extra  large  saw-tables  for  general  use,  to  cut 
off  or  rip,  with  counter-shaft  attached  to  frame; 
worth  new,  $t)Q  each;  will  sell  for  $Ai  each. 

Two  four-piece  sectjon-macliine.s.  as  prood  as  new. 
They  cost  new,  $85  each;  we  will  sell  them  for  $30 
each. 

Also  a  large  lot  of  shaflinji-,  pulleys,  hangers, 
belting,  and  saws,  too  numerous  to  mention  here. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 


Notices  will  be  inserted  under  this  head  at  one-half  our  usu- 
al rates.  .\11  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. Toucan  have  the  notice  as  many  lines  as  you  please; 
but  all  over  five  lines  will  cost  you  siccording  to  our  regular 
rates.  This  department  is  intended  only  for  bona-lide  ex- 
chantres.  Exchanpes  for  cash  or  for  pricelists,  or  notices  of- 
ferintr  articles  for  sale,  can  not  be  inserted  under  this  head. 
For  such  our  regular  rates  of  20(ts.  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." 


VI^  ANTED.— To  e.xchangre  a  tame   fox  for  a  pair  of 
M      lop-eared  rabbits,  or  offers. 
13d  B.  B.  MoRKiLL,  Stanstead,  P.  Q. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  one  high-grade  Safety 
bicycle;  one  49-inch  Columliia  liglit  roadster 
bicycle;  one  Odell  typewriter;  tested  Italian  queens, 
for  wax,  honey,  or  offers.  J.  A.  Green, 

IStfdb  Dayton,  III. 


W 


ANTED.— To  exchange  golden  Italian  queens  for 
brood  combs  or  offers.         .Ias.  M.  Smith, 
13d  Perkionienville,  Pa. 


WANTED— To  exchange  supplies  for  bees  and  a 
small  printing-press.        I.  J.  Stringham. 
13d  92  Barclay  St.,  New  York  City. 

WANTED— to  exchange  a  Barnes  combined  foot- 
power  saw,  8  vols.  Gleanings,  bees  in  Root's 
chaff  hives,  for  saw-table,  band  or  jig  saw,  for  light 
power.  M.  Ll'dtman,  Hannibal,  O. 

^  TIT  ANTED.— To  exchange  a  new  Novice  extractor, 
\l  never  been  used,  has  6(>-lh.  space  below  the 
reel.  Price  JT.Ud;  will  exchange  for  beeswax,  honey, 
repeating  rifle,  or  any  thing  I  can  use.  Write  at 
once;  state  what  you  have  to  trade,  with  price, 
quality,  etc.        A.  A.  Weaver,  Warrensburg,  Mo. 

T17 ANTED.— To    exchange  a  good    incubator,  for 
Vt      bees  or  offers.  J.  T.  Stegner, 

12-1:M  Redwood  Fall.s,  Minn. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  pure  Italian  queens,  3  or 
5  banded.    Write  what  you  have  to  exchange. 
F.  C.  Morrow,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 

n^^ANTED.-To  exchange  2.5  new  "Hunt"  hives 
IT  ichaffi,  about  one  half  nailed  together,  balance 
in  tiat;  2.5  i  good  straight  brood  or  extracting  combs, 
built  from  full  sheets  of  foundation;  KH)  Hoffman 
frames,  wired,  and  a  quantity  of  other  frames;  also 
a  hoiiey-e.xtractor,  used  but  one  season,  and  in  lii-st- 
class  condition;  also  10  Langstroth  Portico  hives, 
single  wall,  in  good  condition,  for  Safety  wheel,  or 
offers.  Rea.sons  for  selling  hives,  etc.,  have  sold  all 
my  bees.  Geo.  N.  Cornell, 

Lock  Box  6.  Northville,  Mich. 


HoNEr  Column. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

Chicago.— H()?if J/. —The  volume  of  business  is 
small.  We  obtain  former  jtrices  for  any  thing  good 
in  comb.  Very  litt  leolVered.  Extracted  unchanged 
at  <;,  7,  and  Sc.  S;iles  are  small,  as  all  are  running 
light,  awaiting  result  of  new  crop.   Brrswdx,  25  to 27. 

R.  A.   HUKNETT, 

June  18.  161  St).  Water  St..  Chicago,  111. 

Albany.— Houei/,— Comb  honey,  slow  sale  and  but 
little  to  sell  as  yet.  Extracted  honey;  stock  light, 
some  new  Florida  orange-blossom  selling  well. 
Bc<su)ax.— Scarce  at  28@30c  if  flue.  Consignments 
solicited.  R.  R.  Wright, 

June  24.  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Kansas  City.— Hojicy.— All  the  old  honey  cleared 
up.  Season  late.  We  look  for  the  new  crop  in 
al)out  tlie  middle  of  July. 

June  20.  Hamblin  &  Bearss, 

514  Walnut  St..  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Detroit.— Ho?iej/.— No  good  honey  in  the  com- 
mission houses  to  quote.  What  is  left  is  very  unde- 
sirable. A  good  article  would  not  bring  over  12c. 
Extracted,  7@8c.    Beeswax,  25@26. 

June  20.  M.H.Hunt, 

Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

Boston.— Hfmey.— We  quote  you  our  market  on 
honey  as  follows:  Mb.  comb,  white.  12(«il4,  de- 
mand very  light;  extracted,  7@8.  No  beeswax  on 
hand.  Blake  &  Ripley. 

June  20.  Boston,  Mass. 

San  Francisco. -Ho/icy.— Stocks  of  old  crop  are 
very  light;  new  crop  just  commencing  to  come  in; 
crop  prospects  are  poor  and  estimated  considerably 
lighter  than  last  season.  We  quote  extracted  hcmey, 
white.  53i@6c;  light  amber,  5ii'@5>^.  Comb  honey 
dull;  1-lb.  frames,  10®llc;  2-lb.,  7@10.  Bees ira.c,  22 
@25.  SCHACHT,  Lemcke  &  Steiner. 

June  23.  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

Chicago.— Hojzey.— Comb  honey  dull  and  no  de- 
mand. Selling  finest  grade  white  15c.  With  new 
crop  prices  will  rule  firmer.  Extracted  scarce  and 
in  good  demand  at  7  to  7i4c.      Bee«M;a.r.— Selling  26c. 

June  20.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Kansas  City.— Honew.— We  quote:  1-lb..  No.  1, 
white,  1-lb.  comb,  10@12;  No.  2,  .s@10;  No.  1  amber, 
10;  No.  2,  amber,  6@8.  Extracted,  .5@7.  Bee»wax, 
22@25.  Clemons,  Mason  &  Co., 

June  20.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Albany.— Honey.— As  reported  in  last  issue,  we 
closed  out  all  of  our  stock  of  comb  honey;  but  some 
other  dealers,  unable  to  sell  theii-s,  have  turned 
over  their  remaining  stock  to  us;  but  it  is  selling 
verj'  slowly,  and  prices  are  nominal.  Extracted,  in 
moderate  demand,  at  6@8.  Beeswax,  more  plentiful, 
and  price  lower,  24@25. 

Chas.  McCulloch  &  Co., 

June  9.  Albany,  N.  Y. 

St.  Louis.— Honey.— We  have  no  changes  to  note. 
Extracted  honey  quite  scarce,  and  in  demand  in  bar- 
rels at  5'/4@5M  for  light  color. 

June  21.                                 D.  G.  Tutt  Gro.  Co., 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

New  York.— Hojiey.— No  particular  change  since 
your  last  issue,  e.vrepting  that  southern  extracted 
is  coming  a  little  more  freely,  that  having  a  ten- 
dency to  reduce  the  price.  Southern  honey,  60@70c 
per  gallon.  Bee,si«(,r,  25@27c;  29c  per  lb.  tor  extra 
selected.  Chas.  Israel  &  Bro., 

June  23.  110  Hudson  St.,  New  York, 

PORTL.AND.-Hojicy. —There  is  no  demand  here 
now  for  honey.  Everybody  using  fruit,  which  is 
cheap.  Stocks  are  light.  There  are  no  changes  to 
note  since  our  last  quotations. 

Levy,  Spiegl  &  Co., 

June  22.  Portland,  Or. 

Wanted.— One  hundred  thousand  pounds  choice 
comb  and  extracted  honey.  Name  source  from 
which  your  honey  is  gathered.  Mail  samples  at 
once  and  quote  prices.  13tfdb 

J.  A.  Buchanan  &  Sons,  Holliday's  Cove,  W.  Va. 


490 


GLEAIS'INGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


I  The  Bee« 
I  I^eepeps' 


REVIEW 


pop  1892  and  a  pine,  Voursg,  Liaying  €> 

Italian    QUEEN"   ^°'^   $1.50,     The  © 

l^eviecu    Alone,    $1.00.       The   Queen  ^ 

O    Alone,  "75  Cts.     Fop  $1.75,  the  I^evieixi,  the  Queen,  and  the  SO  et.  Book,  C 

2    "  Advanced  Bee  Culture,"  tjuill  be  sent.  W.  Z.  Hutchinson,  plint,  Jflich.  ^, 

(1  €) 

P.  S.— If  not  acquainted  with  tlie  Review,  send  ten  cents  for  tliree  late  but  different  issues. 


DR.  J.  W.  CRENSHAW, 

Versailles,      -      Kentucky, 

Offers  for  Sale 

Untested  Italian  Queens  at  $1.00  each  through  May 
and  June;  after, 75c  each.    Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed.   Queens  raised  only  from  Imiiorted 
mother.    Drones  only  from  selected 
and  tested  mothers. 
Also  CELERY  PLANTS  from  July  to  September,  at 

$2.00  per  M.  7-I8db 

^9*In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANDiaa, 

OATMAN'S 

SOLDEEING  AND  KEPAIE  KIT 


^  [\  Consists   of    lire-pot.    t-oUier- 

rf    inti-iron.s,  siildf  1-.  and   scikii.-r- 

U  ini.'-fluid.  with  tools  ooinprte 

'   'n  cut.  with  flircc- 

_1  tions  tor  soldfiiiig-  ditlfivnt 
metals,  and  how  to  keep  your 
soldering-irons  in  shape. 
Whole  kit,  boxed,  12  lbs. 
Shipped  on  receipt  of  $200. 
Agents  wanted. 

O.  &  L.  OATMAN, 
8-7db       Medina,  Ohio. 
lyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  uleamngs 


QUEENS  FREE!  ^Slt:S 
Tested,  $100.  One  Choice  Bre«'der  Given 
Away  with  each  dozen.  Five-Banded 
Oolden  Queens,  *1  to  $  ^  Write  for  low- 
er prices.  Satisfaction  guaranteed.  Bees,  80c 
per  lb.    F.  '  .  MORKOW,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 

^?"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANINGS. 


BEE 


SUPPLIES 


RETAIL 

—.\  NO- 
WHOLESALE. 

Everytlilng  used  in  the  Apiary. 

Greatest  variety  and  larj;;est  stock 
in  the  West.  New  catalog-,  .54  ilhisi  rated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  KEETOHMEK,  EED  OAE,  IOWA. 

In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

ninyifii  ill     bcbs   and    qusens. 

uAlllllULAIl  They  heat  them  all.  Never 
have  dysentery.  All  queens  reared  from  select  im- 
ported'raotliei-8.  Untested,  50c;  12  for  $5.00.  Tested, 
$100;  12  for  $10.00.  Select  tested,  $1.50.  Descriptive 
circular  free.  A.  li.  liINDLEY,  Jordan,  Ind. 
8-13db 

75c.    Golden  Queens  by  Return  Mail.    75c. 

My  Golden  Italians  ai'e  good  Wdi-keis,  and  gentle. 
Queens  aic  raiffullv  bred  fiom  best  stoek.  Tliree 
queens,  $2.00;  six  f(ir  $;5..")0;  dozen,  $ti.OO.  Safe  arriv- 
al and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  Money  order  oflice, 
Daytona,  Fla.  JOHN  B.  CASE. 

lltfdb  Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 


•I®  IF  YOU  WANT  GOLD.»l«j 

Send  for  one  of  my  golden  Italian  queens,  raised 
from  the  best  5-banded  stock,  that  has  been  award- 
ed Firfit  Premium  at  tlie  Detroif  Exposition 
the  last  two  years.  Untested  queens,  $1.00  each ; 
6  for  $5.00.  Tested  queens,  $2.00  each.  Breeding 
queens,  $5.00  each.  -•'ki^  .^ 

ELMER    HUTCHINSON,'^ 
lltfdl)  Vassar,  Tuscola  Co.,  Michigan. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

JENNIE   ATCHLEY 

Will  send  you  either  three  or  five  banded  Italian 
queens  in  June,  July,  and  August,  75c  each;  $4.20 
for  6,  or  $8.0iJ  per  doz.    Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed. 
Itfdb  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texais. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS' 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

ROOT'S  GODPS  can  he  had  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  at  ROOT'S  PRICES.  The 
largest  supply  business  in  the  West. 
Established  18te.  Dovetailed  Hives,  Sec- 
tions, Foundation.  Extractors,  Smokers, 
Veils.  Crates,  Feeders,  Clover  Seeds,  etc. 
Imported  Italian  Queens.  Queens  and 
Bees.  Sample  copy  of  our  Bee  Journal, 
■  THE  WESTERN  BEE-KEEPER,"  and 
L.\TEST  CATALOGUE  mailed    FREE  to 

"  'Joseph  nysewander, 
Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.       Itfdb 

Bee-Hives  ^  Sections 

A  specialty.    Foundation,  Smokers,  etc.,   in   stock. 
Send  for  new  list,  free. 
4tfdb  W.  D.  SOPER.  Jackson,  Mich. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

ITALIAN     QUEENS. 

Untested,  75  cents.  Twenty  for  fl2.00.  Tested, 
$1.00.  H.   FITZ  HART, 

etfdb  ,   Avery,  Iberia  Parisli,  La. 

Bee-Keepers'  Supplies. 

Hives,  Honey -Cases,  Sections,  and  Frames. 
We  are  the  only  concern  in  Southern  Califor- 
nia who  make  a 

SPECIALTY  OF  BEE-KEEPERS'  MATERIAL. 

Agents  for  the  white  basswood  1-1  b.  sections. 
Send  for  catalogue  and  price  list. 
6-13db  Oceanside  Mill  Co.,  Oceanside,  CaL~i 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  doz- 
en, you  do  not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat,- 
isfactory  in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  within  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  wiU  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with  full  direc- 
tions, 20c;  per  dozen,  $2.25.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb    R.  <£  E.  C.  PORTER.  LEWISTOWN,  ILL. 

L^lu  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  HLKi^iNo; 


•  Journal- V-' 

•  DELVOTED' 

•andHoNEY- 

•ANDHOMEL-     ■n  ' 


^\•^KooT' 

\  \©)    /Medina  Ohio 


Vol.  XX. 


JULY  1,  1892. 


No.  13. 


Stray  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.    MILLER. 

What  causes  swarming? 

Look  out  for  those  empty  combs. 

Didn't  it  come  hot  when  it  did  come? 

To-day.  JrxK  20,  I'm  going  to  put  on  first 
supers  on  strongest  coloni(>s.  (/  it  doesn't  rain. 

Aqi'A  AMMtjxiA  is  a  specific  for  bee-stings, 
says  a  late  medical  journal.  Will  that  old  error 
be  kept  up  for  ever? 

CuTTixii  HAY  with  a  binder  is  higlily  com- 
mended in  the  Stockman  by  a  correspondent 
who  has  tried  it.    Why  not? 

Some  bkk-keepeks,  according  to  correspon- 
dents of  the  Revue,  have  such  a  keen  sense 
of  smell  that  they  can  distinguish  the  odor  of  a 
queen. 

Hiccough  can  gi'nerally  be  stopped  by  a  few 
drops  of  strong  vinegar  dropped  on  a  small 
lump  of  sugar  and  held  in  the  mouth  till  dis- 
solved. 

Dkoxes  set  up  an  exciting  roar  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  day.  and,  in  the  opinion  of  the  B.  B. 
J.,  that  rouses  the  bees  to  swarming.  That's 
worth  thinking  over. 

We  have  the  A.  B.  J..  B.  B.  J..  C.  B.  J.,  and 
several  I).  H.  J.'s.  The  number  of  the  latter  is 
increasing,  for  ev<  ry  bee-journal  that  gives  up 
the  ghost  is  a  D(ead)  B.  .1. 

A  spiDEH  FAHM  is  suggested  by  Eugene  Secor, 
in  Fdnncr  and  Breeder,  as  a  possibly  good 
thing  to  be  started  by  bee-keepers  who  have 
many  empty  combs  to  keep  from  moths. 

The  Mvehs  spkay  pump  is  perfection  for 
spraying  rose-bushes,  or  for  anything  not  too 
high.  I  wish  it  had  a  nozzle  long  enough  to 
reach  the  top  of  apple-trees,  and  still  throw  as 
fine  a  spray. 

Allen  Pringle  (C.  B.  J.)  wants  tlu;  women 
removed  from  the  Boaid  of  Lady  Managers  of 
the  World's  Fair,  and  men  put  in  thcsir  places. 
But  would  there  then  be  any  lioard  of  Lady 
Managers  left? 

DoE.s  SOUR  stomach  trouble  you  ?  Don't  take 
saleratus  or  any  other  alkali,  but  try  this: 
Drop  ;iO  drops  of  dilute  hydrochloric  acid  into 
two-thirds  of  a  glass  of  sweetened  water,  and 
lake  a  swallow  as  needed. 

Fears  are  expressed  in  the  C.  B.  J.  that 
the  women  will  get  the  upper  hand  and  run  the 
whole  business  at  the  World's  Fair.  Don't 
worry.  They'll  only  run  the  women's  depart- 
ment: and  when  it  comes  to  fried  cakes,  crazy 
quilts,  and  such  things,  why,  a  woman  will  beat 
a  man  at  managing  that  department  all  hollow. 


Doolittle  says  (Stnckman).  "With  me. 
bees  will  not  half  work  in  sections  without  a 
laying  (pieen."  Seems  so  to  me:  but  it's  so  hard 
to  be  [)ositive.  Fd  like  to  hear  Elwood;  and 
Doolitlh;  discuss  the  question.  CZZZI     — IJ  [ ; 

Fruit  trees  were  never,  I  think, -so  full"of 
blossoms  in  this  region  as  this  year.  But  there 
is  now  very  little  fruit  on  them.  Was  it  because 
the  bees  flew  so  little?  There  was  some  bright 
weather  when  tamt^  plums  were  in  bloom,  and 
they  have  set  full  of  fruit. 

The  Bee  keepers'  union  is  doing  a  grand 
work  in  the  prevention  of  trouble.  Does  it  seem 
just  exactly  right  that  a  very  few  should  bear 
the  expense  and  all  have  the  benefit?  There 
ought  to  be  such  a  large  membership  that^  the 
annual  dues  would  be  nominal. 

Decoy  hives  are  having  some  discussion  in 
the  B.  B.  J.,  some  thinking  a  law  should  forbid 
their  use.  Others  claim  they  have  a  right  to 
place  empty  hives  for  their  own  bees  to  enter 
when  they  swarm.  If  a  swarm  runs  away  from 
me,  I  don't  know  that  I  care  whether  it  goes 
into  a  neighbor's  decoy  hive  or  goes  off  to  the 
woods. 

'•  Foul  brood,"  John  F.  (Jates  says  in  Amer- 
ican Bee-keeper,  he  knoivs,  "  is  caused  by  whirl- 
ing the  combs  of  brood  in  an  extractor."  The 
thousands  who  have  extracted  honey  from 
brood-combs  without  ever  seeing  foul  brood 
might  dispute:  but  Mr.  Gates'  earnest  protest 
against  putting  brood  in  the  extractor  may  be 
a  good  thing  on  other  grounds. 

Here's  A  chance  for  a  fight  with  Doolittle. 
He  speaks  in  Stockman  as  if  it  were  a  common 
thing  for  colonies  to  issue  ten  days  or  more 
before  the  main  harvest  commences.  Not  one 
swarm  in  a  hundicd.  with  me.  issues  till  after 
the  commencement  of  the  main  honey  harvest. 
But  thiMi.  we  couldn't  get  up  much  of  a  fight, 
either,  for  his  main  harvest  is  linden  and  mine 
is  clover. 

Sections  left  on  the  hive  without  being 
used  by  the  bees  for  two  or  three  weeks  in  May, 
or  ev(ui  in  June,  seem  hardly  the  worse  for  it; 
hut  if  left  on  in  August  or  September,  when  no 
honey  is  coming  in.  the  bees  are  loth  to  use  them 
afterward,  because  they  are  varnished  with 
propolis.  The  same  is  true  of  sections  that  have 
been  partly  filled.  I  wonder  if  that  isn't  the 
reason  that  some  find  the  bees  so  slow  about 
finishing  up  '"  bait"'  sections. 

Thp;  Britinh  Bee  Journal  says  an  American 
writer  complains  that  British  bee-journals  are 
always  writing  about  the  weather.  That  writer 
was  only  envious  because  he  couldn't  write 
about  the  same  thing.  The  weather  is  talked 
about  in  America  just  as  much  as  in  England, 
but  it  won't  do  to  write  about.  If  you  say, 
"The  weather  is  so  cold  that  it  is  not  safe  to 
bring  bees  out  of  cellar  yet,"  some  one  will  howl 


493 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


back,  "  What's  the  matter  with  you  ?    Our  bees 
are  swarming  down  here." 

Now  LOOK  HERE.  Doii't  get  clear  discourag- 
ed. I've  known  seasons  a  good  deal  worse  than 
this— at  least,  worse  than  I  think  this  will  be. 
Spring  opened  up  in  good  shape— plenty  bees, 
plenty  flowers,  but  not  a  pound  per  colony 
stored.  On  the  other  hand,  I  recall  one  spring 
like  the  present  (but  not  so  bad,  I  must  say), 
when,  after  discouraging  losses,  I  took  13  colo- 
nies to  an  out-apiary,  and,  with  the  aid  of  emp- 
ty combs,  increased  to  81.  and  took  1200  pounds 
extracted. 


PUNIC  BEES  AT  MEDINA. 

WHAT  THE   REV.  L.  L.  LANGSTROTH   HAS  TO   SAY 
OF   THEM. 


Having  had,  for  the  flrst  time,  an  opportunity 
of  seeing  the  so-called  Punic  bee,  in  the  apiary 
of  Mr.  A.  I.  Root,  I  will  give  my  impressions  of 
It,  formed  from  what  information  I  could  pro- 
cure from  the  apiarist.  Mr.  Spafford,  who  has 
the  care  of  Mr.  Root's  bees. 

The  single  colony  in  the  apiary  was  far  from 
being  strong  when  put  into  winter  quarters. 
At  the  present  time,  June  4,  they  are  much 
stronger  in  bees  and  bi-ood  than  any  other 
colony  that  last  season  was  of  about  equal 
strength. 

I  expected  to  find  them  quite  dark— much 
darker,  indeed,  than  the  common  so-called 
German  brown  bee.  Nothing,  however,  in 
their  color  would  have  suggested  to  me  the 
idea  that  they  were  not  ordinary  black  bees.* 
nor  did  they  seem  much  if  any  difl'erent  in  size 
from  that  bee.  Of  course,  there  were  some  bees 
in  the  colony  with  Italian  markings;  but  these 
were  evidently  strangers  which  had  intruded 
themselves  upon  the  Funics,  as  all  the  young 
bees  appeared  to  have  the  same  markings. 

When  opened  the  first  time,  and  carefully 
looked  over,  the  queen  was  not  found.  The 
bees  were  much  agitated,  and  acted  almost  pre- 
cisely like  ordinary  black  bees— racing  back- 
ward and  forward  on  the  bottom- board,  and 
over  the  sides  of  the  hive.  A  second  search  for 
the  queen  was  equally  unsuccessful.  This 
morning,  June  6,  the  weather  being  as  favor- 
able as  it  could  be,  bright,  warm,  and  calm, 
with  the  help  of  Mr.  Spafford,  and  without  any 
assistance  from  Ernest  Root,  wlio  wished  me  to 
give  my  own  impressions,  without  any  sugges- 
tions from  him.  I  carefully  examined  them 
again.  I  gave  them  sufficient  time  to  fill  them- 
selves with  honey  before  the  combs  were  lifted 
out.  The  same  agitation  which  I  noticed  on 
Saturday.  I  noticed  again— the  bees  running 
from  one  side  of  the  bottom-board  to  the  other, 
and  evidently  acting,  as  nearly  as  I  could  judge, 
much  like  black  bees.  We  took  out  the  frames 
and  examined  them  at  least  three  times  before 
we  could  find  the  queen.  Four  years  ago,  in 
the  apiary  of  Mr.  James  Heddon,  of  Dowagiac, 
Mich.,  I  saw  more  than  a  dozen  hives  opened, 
and  the  queens  were  found,  I  should  say,  in 
half  the  time  that  we  spent  in  finding  this  one 
queen.  She  was  noticed  near  the  bottom  of  a 
frame,  evidently  frightened,  running  around 
the  corners,  and  seeking  in  every  way  to  hide 
herself.  In  this  respect  she  seemed  to  me  to 
act  like  an  ordinary  black  queen.  As  to  the 
bees,  they  were  not  as  scary  as  I  have  frequent- 
ly noticed  the  blacks  to  be.  When  a  comb  was 
lifted  out  they  did  not  string  out  from  the  bot- 
tom of  it  and  drop  upon  the  grass,  ready  to 
crawl  up  my  pants,  as  is  so  common  with  the 
black  race. 

*  I  should  have  been  much  better  pleased  if  Mr. 
Rot)t  had  had  a  single  colony  of  pure  black  bees. 


Now  as  to  the  color  of  the  queen.  She  was 
not  nearly  as  dark  as  I  expected  her  to  be.  I 
know  that  I  have  seen  many  imported  Italian 
queens  darker  than  she  was.  On  a  mere  super- 
ficial observation  one  might  have  declared  that 
we  had  here  nothing  but  common  black  bees; 
but  a  more  thorough  examination  suggested 
that  they  might  be  a  cross  of,  say,  the  black 
with  some  other  race.  The  color  of  the  queen 
might  again  suggest  that  the  Funics  were  a 
cross  between  the  black  and  the  Italian  races, 
as  the  so-called  hybrid  Swedish  clover  resem- 
bles in  many  respects  the  red  and  white  clover, 
seeding  in  the  first  crop  like  the  white,  and 
sending  up  many  stalks  of  blossoms,  like  the 
red,  the  size  and  color  of  the  bloom  being  a 
beautiful  compromise  between  the  two  kinds. 
Now,  it  is  quite  supposable  that  the  Funic,  so- 
called,  may  be  a  cross  between  the  black  and 
some  of  the  yellow  races,  and  may  have  been, 
like  the  Morgan  horse,  the  starting  of  a  race  of 
bees  possessed  of  uncommon  and.  valuable 
peculiarities.  We  know  that  that  Morgan  sire 
so  impressed  himself  upon  his  progeny  that 
even  now,  after  many  generations,  there  can 
easily  be  seen  in  Morgan  horses  the  type  of  their 
great  ancestor.  The  question  then  arises.  How 
can  we  decide  that  this  bee  is  worthy  of  propa- 
gation? It  evidently  has  some  of  the  bad  qual- 
ities of  the  black  bees,  such  as  its  scary  nature, 
and  the  difficulty  of  finding  the  queen.  I  could 
not.  on  so  short  an  observation,  decide  whether 
it  had  the  cowardly  nature  of  the  black  bee: 
whether  in  nuclei  made  of  this  race  we  should 
find  them  so  easily  discouraged  as  to  "skedad- 
dle ''  on  the  first  appearance  of  adverse  circum- 
stances. And,  again,  it  is  impossible,  from  so 
slight  an  observation,  to  know  whether,  like 
the  black  bee,  it  is  a  natural-born  robber,  caus- 
ing often  the  most  trying  difficulties  in  the 
management  of  an  apiary.  Nor  could  I  tell 
whether,  when  an  attempt  should  be  made  by 
other  bees  to  rob  it,  how  brave  a  defense  it 
would  make.  We  all  know  that  the  black  bee 
is  by  nature  such  a  coward  that  often,  when 
attacked  by  great  forces  of  its  own  or  other 
races,  like  the  dog  that  drops  its  tail  in  the 
fight,  and  is  soon  a  beaten  dog,  or  the  cock  that 
runs,  after  a  few  exchanges  of  blows,  it  will 
give  up  the  battle  and  suffer  itself  to  be  robbed 
of  every  thing;  or  even,  like  the  black  race, 
join  forces  with  the  robbers,  and  rob  their  own 
hive.  If  I  had  only  a  single  warm  day  which  I 
could  spend  in  observations,  I  could  easily,  in 
ways  which  I  have  not  time  to  suggest,  decide 
these  points. 

Now.  as  to  the  conclusion  of  the  whole  mat- 
ter. I  would  not  advise  any  one  to  attempt  at 
once  to  supplant  the  good  races  of  bees  which 
are  in  his  apiary,  with  this  race;  nor  would  I 
so  condemn  it  as  to  say  that  nearly  every  enter- 
prising bee-keeper  ought  not  at  least  give  it  a 
fair  trial.  In  a  single  season,  if  the  season  is  a 
favorable  one  for  honey,  I  believe  all  the  dis- 
puted points  will  be  settled,  and  no  one  would 
rejoice  more  than  myself  if  it  should  prove,  like 
the  Morgan  horse,  the  progeny  of  an  improved 
and  improving  race  of  bees. 

My  readers  will  bear  in  mind  that  these  ob- 
servations were  made  upon  only  a  single  colony 
— that  this  colony  might  not  have  been  entirely 
pure,  and  that  I  had  not  any  blacks  with  which 
to  compare  it.  L.  L.  Langstroth. 

Dayton,  O. 

[Among  the  things  in  our  apiary  that  Mr. 
Langstroth  desired  particularly  to  see  was  that 
new  race  of  bees,  the  Funics;  and,  as  he  has  al- 
ready stated,  we  desired  him  to  form  his  own 
opinions  and  conclusions  in  regard  to  them  so 
far  as  he  might  be  able,  during  the  short  time 
he  was  to  be  in  Medina,  independently  of  any 


1S9:J 


liLb:A>;iNCiS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


403 


supgt'stiiins  from  us.  It  is  now  .Iiiiio  ;.'l  ;  and 
sinc<^  llu>  tinit'  tlic  aiticlc  was  w  ritUMi  our  ob- 
Sl>^vation^  only  oonlirin  wliai  Mr.  L.  has  already 
said.  Ill  addition  wi'  ob.scrvc  that  tlicy  arc  very 
active,  and  seem  lo  be  a  little  aheail.  in  honey 
prodni'lion.  of  tlu'  aveiaiie  Italians.  We  also 
discover  that  they  are  f^ood  defenders  of  their 
iiome  ajjaiiist  rolibeis.  liuieed.  we  have  seen 
them,  lilce  the  Cyprians,  catch  tlie  intruders  on 
the  «  ing,  "ilow  11  "em."  and  then  two  or  tliree 
others  would  pounce  upon  thcMU.  Asain,  we 
observe  that  they  deposit  more  i)ropolis  in  the 
sann'  leiiiitii  of  time  than  any  niher  bees  wo, 
ever  saw.  Som<>  of  tht>  new  frames  we  gave 
them  ten  days  ago  look  as  if  they  had  been  in 
use  in  a  hybrid  colony  for  a  year  or  more;  and 
for  that  reason  the  Tunics  may  be  a  terror  to 
exact  spacing  or  to  spaced  frames.  In  brood- 
rearing  they  are  a  little  bit  ahead  of  the  Ital- 
ians, but  not  quite  equal  to  the  eastern  races  of 
bees.  They  are  quick  of  Hight:  and  when  they 
come  in  lad(Mi  with  honey  they  dart  in  at  the 
entrance  like  a  shot.  AsMr.  Langstroth  says, 
they  are  not  as  quiet  on  the  combs  as  Italians — 
a  little  inclined  to  be  nervous,  and  jun.  In  fact, 
by  giving  them  a  few  whitls  from  our  Kingham 
Doctor  smoker,  we  caused  them  to  '"  boil  over  " 
in  a  regular  stanii)ede. 

Now.  after  having  said  all  this  we  ought  to 
state  that  we  have  come  to  the  conclusion,  since 
Mr.  L.  was  here,  that  our  Punic  queen  was  not 
strictly  pure:  for  we  find  occasionally  a  one  or 
two  yellow- banded  bee  just  emerging  from  the 
cell.  So  it  is  possible  the  bees  we  have  may 
have  inherited  some  of  their  good  qualities  from 
the  Italians.  It  is  well  known,  that  even  a 
slight  admixture  of  Italian  blood  in  black  bees 
improves  their  honey-gathering  qualities  won- 
derfully: and  may  not  this  be  the  case  with  the 
Funics?  Mr.  Langstroth  uses  the  terin  "  so- 
called  Punic  bee  ""  advisedly.  We  have  just  re- 
ceived information  almost  direct  from  the  ex- 
porter himself,  in  Africa,  to  the  effect  that  they 
are  nothing  more  nor  less  than  the  Tunisian 
bees  —  bees  that  have  for  a  long  time  been  well 
known  to  the  apicullural  world.  We  should, 
therefore,  be  pleased  to  have  some  of  our  Euro- 
pean corresj  ondents,  who  are  in  a  position  to 
know,  tell  us  something  about  the  general  char- 
acteristics of  the  Tunisians. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  some  of  our  readers 
to  know  that  the  article  above  was  dictated  to 
our  regular  ofh'ce  >tenographer:  and  although 
it  was  Mr.  Langstroth's  first  attempt  at  dictat- 
ing offhand,  the  article  seems  to  have  lost  none 
of  the  usual  literary  excellence  so  characteris- 
tic of  Mr.  L.'s  writings.  In  fact,  it  could  not  be 
otherwise,  for  he  is  a  fluent  conversationalist. 
and  writes  as  he  speaks.] 


MANUM  IN  THE  APIARY  AND  ON  THE  FAKM. 


PAINTING   HIVES    DIFFEiiKXT    COLOK.S;     VALUA- 
BLE  HIXTS  AND   SUGGESTIONS. 


■•  Hello,  ManumI  what  are  you  trying  to  do 
witli  that  colony  of  bees?  " 

■"Hello  yourself,  Leslie;  and  what  are  you 
prowling  around  here  for,  with  a  gun  in  your 
hand  ? "'  ( Leslie  worked  for  me  six  years  at  the 
bee-business.) 

"Ohl  yon  see  I  got  tired  of  the  shop,  and  I 
suspected  you  would  be  here  on  the  farm,  either 
working  at  the  bees  or  setting  out  fruit  this 
pleasant  day:  so  I  just  took  my  gun  along, 
thinking  I  might  see  a  woodchuck  to  shoot  at, 
and  at  the  same  time  take  a  little  airing." 

"I  hope,  Leslie,  you  will  shoot  a  large  num- 
ber of  woodchucks'  for  they  do  me  lots  of  dam- 
age in  the  course  of  the  summer.  There!— there 
is  one  now  over  there  by  that  apple-tree,  sitting 


up  near  liis  hole.  You  can  rest  your  gun  on  this 
hive,  and  let  him  have.  WhangI  There,  sir, 
you  hit  him.  sure;  so  there  is  one  less  to  (^at  my 
r#eaiis.  Ohl  you  asked  what  I  was  doing  to 
tliat  colony.  Well,  it  is  one  from  which  I  have 
sold  a  breeding  queen:  and.  having  fed  it  regu- 
larly every  day  siiu-e  the  <iueen  was  removed, 
for  the  purpose  of  getting  nice  queen-cells.  I 
am  now  breaking  it  up  and  making  a  nucleus 
of  each  comb  of  brood.  There  I  just  s(!e  what 
nice  queen-cells  these  are  on  this  comb.  I  tell 
you,  it  pays  to  feed  liberally  when  trying  to  get 
queen-cells  thus  early  in  thi-  season.'' 

"  Are  you  selling  many  of  your  breeding 
queens?" 

"  Yes;  I  am  having  more  orders  this  spring 
than  ever:  and.  really,  I  am  sorry  for  it.  be- 
cause, when  I  remove  a  queen  from  a  full  colo- 
ny likc^  this  it  just  spoils  it  for  the  season,  as 
regards  any  surplus.  The  best  1  can  do  with 
such  is  to  make  nuclei  of  them,  as  I  am  doing 
with  this  one." 

"  Is  this  the  way  you  secure  so  many  queen- 
cells  early  in  the  season,  as  well  as  after  the 
swarming  season  ?" 

"  Yes.  Usually  I  do  not  ship  a  breeding 
queen  until  I  have  fed  that  colony  a  week  or 
ten  days,  in  order  to  get  them  in  thriving  condi- 
tion; then  after  the  queen  is  removed  I  continue 
feeding  regularly  until  the  cells  are  all  capped, 
when  I  either  break  up  the  colony  or  remove 
the  cells  to  other  nuclei.  If  I  simply  remove 
the  queen-cells  I  then  run  in  a  virgin  queen. 
Then  if  basswood  yields  well  they  will  get  up 
in  shape  to  give  me  a  fair  amount  of  surplus; 
but  nothing  from  clover,  and  often  nothing 
from  basswood.  You  see,  there  is  no  difficulty 
in  getting  plenty  of  nice  cells  at  any  time  from 
a  strong  colony  that  is  well  fed." 

"  How  much  do  you  feed  such  a  colony  at 
each  feed  ?  " 

"I  usually  feed  about  one  pound  of  diluted 
extracted  honey  or  thin  sugar  syrup  every 
night." 

"  Manum,  who  are  those  two  men  driving  up 
here?" 

"Really,  Leslie,  I  don't  know.  Let  me  see. 
One  of  them  is  a  Mr.  Knowls,  of  Ferrisburgh; 
the  other  is  a  stranger  to  me." 

"  Why!  how  do  you  do,  Mr.  Knowls?" 

"Mr.  Manum,  this  is  Mr.  Joshua  Bull,  of 
East  Farnham,  P.  Q..  who  is  a  bee-man,  and 
wishes  to  talk  bees  with  you." 

"  Mr.  Bull.  I  am  pleased  to  meet  you  and  your 
friend  Mr.  Knowls." 

"  Mr.  Manum,  I  have  heard  and  read  so  much 
about  you  and  your  bees,  your  hives,  and  your 
methods,  that  I  have  come  a  long  way  to  satisfy 
my  curiosity,  and  to  learn  what  1  can,"  says  Mr. 
Bull. 

"  Very  well,  Mr.  Bull;  you  are  welcome,  and 
at  liberty  to  ask  all  the  questions  you  please." 

"  I  learn  that  you  feed  back  some  of  your 
extracted  honey  for  the  purpose  of  finishing  up 
partly  tilled  sections.  Now,  how  do  you  do  it, 
and  how  do  you  prepare  the  honey?  " 

"  Yes,  I  sometimes  do  feed  back;  and  since  I 
got  up  my  new  feeder  I  find  I  can  do  so  at  a 
profit.  I  prepare  the  honey  by  adding  X  its 
bulk  of  hot  water,  by  reducing  it  that  much.  I 
find  the  bees  take  it  much  faster  than  when  fed 
without  reducing,  and  they  cap  it  over  much 
nicer." 

••  W^ell,  now,  that  is  just  what  I  want  to  see- 
that  new  feeder." 

•'Here  is  one  right  here  in  this  blue  hive, 
where  I  am  feeding  a  colony  for  queen-cells." 

"Oh  my!  do  see  the  bees  working  over  those 
partition  boards.  Well,  I  should  say  it  was  a 
good  feeder,  sure.  What  would  you  ask  me  for 
one  of  them  to  work  from?  I  suppose  you  do 
not  make  them  in  quantities  for  sale?" 


494 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


JuTA-  1. 


•' Xo:  as  vRt  I  do  not  sell  ill  large  lots.  I  sell 
now  and  then  only  one  as  a  nioilel  to  work  from. 
I  charge  ^1.00  for  thei-e  models.  Of  course,  they 
are  a  full-sized  fcfder.  such  as  I  use  myself,  but 
they  can  be  varied  in  size  to  fit  any  hive  or 
clamp.'" 

"At  what  time  do  you  put  on  the  sections?"' 

"That  question  has  been  many  times  answer- 
ed by  Mr.  Doolittle  and  others.  I  put  mine  on 
just  as  they  direct;  that  is.  as  soon  as  I  notice 
that  honey  is  coming  in  freely.  This  can  be 
detected  by  the  drawing-out  of  the  comb  near 
the  top-bars  of  the  brood -frames.  When  they 
begin  to  whiten  it  is  usually  time  to  put  on  a 
few  sections— just  a  few— at  first.  My  clamps 
hold  only  16  sections  each,  and  it  takes  two 
clamps  to  cover  the  hive;  but  I  rarely  ever  put 
on  more  than  one  at  first,  covering  the  other 
half  of  the  hive  with  a  board;  and  then  when 
the  bees  got  well  at  work  in  the  first  clamp  I 
put  on  another,  and  tier  up  when  necessary." 

"  Now.Jf  I  should  decide  to  make  clamps  like 
yours  would  it  be  infringing  on  any  one's 
patent  by  using  the  screws  ?" 

"  No.  sir!  you  would  not.  as  I  am  the  first  who 
used  the  wood  screws  in  clamps  or  crates,  and  I 
have  never  taken  out  a  patent  in  my  life;  hence 
everybody  is  at  liberty  to  use  wood  screws." 

•'  Mr.  Manum,  what  is  that  man  doing  over 
there  on  his  knees?" 

••  He  is  setting  out  strawberry-plants." 

"  Are  you  in  the  fruit  as  well  as  bee  business?" 

"  Well.  I  am  getting  into  fruit  a  little.  My 
land  is  rightly  adapted  to  fruit:  and.  being  so 
near  the  village.  I  am  trying  it  on  a  small  scale 
to  test  the  matter.  Last  winter  I  read  Mr.  T. 
B.  Terry's  little  book  on  strawberries;  and  be- 
fore I  had  read  it  half  through  I  had  the  fruit 
fever:  and  by  the  time  I  read  it  through  I  had 
it  bad:  and  it  so  happened  that,  in  a  day  or 
two,  a  fruit  agent  came  along.  I  called  him 
the  doctor:  and  he,  having  caught  on  to  me 
just  at  fever  heat,  I  took  a  strong  dose  by  giving 
him  an  order  for  plants  enough  to  set  three- 
fourths  of  an  acre  of  strawberries  and  three- 
fourths  acre  of  raspberries,  and  a  lot  of  black- 
berries, blackcaps,  cherries,  apples,  quince, 
etc.:  and  now  we  have  them  all  set  except  a 
few  hundred  strawberries." 

"  How  can  you  attend  to  the  picking  of  fruit, 
and  care  for  bees  at  the  same  time?  " 

"  Well,  don't  you  see  I  can  attend  to  the  care 
of  the  plants  and  trees  in  spring  and  fall;  and 
wife  says  she  will  attend  to  the  picking  of  the 
fruit.  In  that  way  I  thiuK  we  can  make  it  go 
pretty  well;  however,  the  fr\iit-business  is  not 
wholly  new  to  me,  as  I  have  dabbled  in  it  in  a 
small  way  for  a  number  of  years.  I  also  find 
that  raisiiig  choice  varieties  of  seeds  helps  when 
the  honey  crop  fails.  I  make  it  a  point  to  have 
seed  corn,  barley,  oats,  beans,  and  choice  pota- 
toes, to  sell  every  spring  at  a  good  price.  I 
have  at  present  over  100  varieties  of  potatoes, 
some  of  which  are  very  fine.  The  most  of  them 
I  raised  myself  from  the  seed-balls.  I  have  not 
named  my  newest  ones  yet,  as  I  wish  to  test 
them  another  year  before  offering  them  for 
sale." 

"  Do  you  name  all  your  new  varieties?'" 

"No,  I  do  not,  as  some  of  the  parties  who  buy 
certain  varieties  prefer  to  name  the  new  ones 
themselves." 

IN   THE   STOREHOUSE. 

"  Mr.  Manum,  I  see  you  have  a  peculiar-look- 
ing bean  here  in  this  box.    What  are  they  ?  " 

"  Those  are  a  remarkable  bean,  and  one  of 
the  best  garden  httsh  beans  I  ever  saw.  I  call 
them  'Wife's  Choice.'  They  are  especially 
adapted  to  cook  as  sJiell  beans,  being  as  nice 
and  tender  In  winter  as  the  cranberry  bean  is 
in  the  summer.    They  are  also  very  productive. 


My  neighbors,  to  whom  I  have  given  trial 
me.^ses  the  past  winter,  speak  so  highly  of  them 
that  I  have  decided  to  plant  Ini-gely  of  them 
this  seaM)n.  to  supply  the  demand  I  ^llall  doubt- 
less have  riglit  here  in  our  village." 

BACK   IN   THE   API.ARV. 

"Mr.  Manum,  do  you  think  that  painting 
hives  different  colors,  as  you  have  yours,  has  a 
tendency  to  help  the  bees  locate  their  own 
hives?" 

"Yes.  I  believe  it  is  a  help  at  least,  and  I 
have  used  different-colored  paint  for  that  pur- 
pose principally." 

"  VVhat  is  your  opinion  regarding  the  new 
self-hiving  hives? '" 

"Well,  really  I  know  nothing  about  them, 
except  what  I  see  in  the  bee  journals.  I  think 
possibly  that,  in  time,  such  a  hive  may  be  in- 
vented, if  not  already  so.  I  should  be  glad  of 
such  a  hive;  but  I  should  be  much  more  pleased 
with  a  method  by  which  swarming  could  be 
prevented,  and  yet  keep  the  colony  in  a  normal 
or  natural  condition." 

"  Now,  Mr.  Manum.  I  want  to  ask  you  one 
more  question.  Do  you  find  that  bee-keeping 
pays  at  the  present  prices  of  honey?" 

"Really,  Mr.  Bull,  I  must  say  that,  of  late 
years,  it  has  not  paid  me.  We  have  had  5  poor 
seasons  in  succession.  Last  year  was  a  little 
better,  inasmuch  as  the  crop  just  about  paid 
expenses.  I  find  that,  by  careful  management 
and  close  economy,  I  can  produce  comb  honey 
in  a  fairly  good  season  for  ten  cents  per  pound. 
In  order  to  do  so,  however,  I  find  I  must  do  the 
greater  part  of  the  work  myself.  It  won't  pay 
to  hire  very  much  help  in  the  apiary  at  present 
prices  of  honey."  A.  E.  Manum. 

Bristol,  Vt. 

PREVENTION  OF  INCREASE. 


HOW   DR.    C.    C.   MILLER   MANAGES   IT. 

A  correspondent  from  Indiana  comes  at  me 
with  the  following  conundrum,  asking  me  to 
give  the  answer  in  Gleanings:  ""  How  would 
you  manage  to  prevent  increase  in  an  apiary 
where  the  queens'  wings  were  kept  clipped, 
when  running  for  comb  honey  ?  " 

That"s  easy.  There  are  various  ways.  Dou- 
ble up  in  the  fall:  double  up  in  the  spring;  va- 
rious other  ways;  but  the  plan  that  has  suc- 
ceeded with  the  least  effort  on  my  part  is  the 
one  I  tried  last  winter.  Put  your  bees  in  a  cel- 
lar too  cold  for  them,  and  then  let  them  stay  all 
winter  without  any  fire.  That  kept  down  in- 
crease for  me;  and,  having  the  additional  ad- 
vantage of  a  remarkably  cold,  wet  spring,  I 
have  now  less  than  half  I  put  in  the  cellar. 

Still,  there  are  some  things  about  the  plan  I 
don't  like,  and  I'll  tell  you  a  way  that  suited  me 
better  than  any  other  I  ever  tried.  The  only 
reason  I  don't  practice  it  now  is  because  I  don't 
keep  my  bees  all  in  one  apiary,  and  I  don't  want 
to  keep  some  one  constantly  on  the  watch  for 
swarms  in  the  out-apiairies.     Here's  the  plan: 

When  a  swarm  issues,  catch  and  cage  the 
queen  (queens  must  be  clipped),  and  put  her 
somewhere  in  the  hive,  so  that  the  bees  can 
take  care  of  her.  The  bees,  having  no  queen, 
will  return  to  their  old  hive.  Sometimes  they 
make  trouble  by  going  into  another  hive,  but 
not  often.  When  it  suits  your  convenience, 
either  right  away  or  any  time  within  five  days, 
take  out  all  the  combs  and  put  them  into  an 
empty  hive,  first  shaking  off  about  half  the 
bees.  Generally  I  put  in  half  the  combs  with- 
out shaking,  and  gave  three  or  four  hard  shakes 
to  each  of  the  other  combs.  Now  put  into  the 
old  hive  at  least  one  comb  containing  eggs  and 
young  brood,  being   sure  you  give  no  (jueen- 


i8<v: 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


495 


cells.  Hosiiii's  this  comb  of  lirixwi,  vou  may  rIvc, 
at  your  roiivtMiidirc.  franirs  of  l)rood,  cniiity 
combs,  or  combs  of  lioiicy:  but  if  you  give  emp- 
ty combs  the  bees  will  put  honey  in  tlu>in  that 
you  want  in  tht>  sin-tions.  If  you  don't  care  to 
put  in  more  than  t\\x>  or  three  combs  all  toKetii- 
er  (tliat's  all  I  generally  put  in),  put  in  a  dum- 
my, and  the  bees  will  not  Imild  comb  in  the  va- 
cant space— at  least,  mine  didn't.  If  you  want 
to  raise  (jutMMi-cells.  put  in  choice  brood  and  you 
will  get  tine  cells.  Now  put  on  the  supi'r~you 
probably  luui  oni'  on  before  they  swarmed — and 
cover  up.  On  top  of  the  cover  set  the  new  hive 
containing  the  brood-combs  :  release  the  ()neen 
in  tliis  hive  on  top.  and  let  them  alone  until  t(>n 
ilays  from  the  time  the  swarm  issued.  Then 
take  away  the  new  hive  with  its  contents,  and 
put  back  in  its  place  the  old  hive,  (lueen  and  all, 
and  tile  work  is  done.  They  may  swarm  again, 
wlun  the  same  process  will  be  repeated. 

What  shall  you  do  with  the  hive  with  the  few 
combs  that  yon  have  taken  away?  Well,  they 
are  yours,  and  you  can  do  what  you  please  with 
them.  You  have  a  grand  chance  to  start  one  or 
two  nuclei,  for  these  qu<'enless  bees  will  stay 
wherever  they  are  put.  and  their  cells  will  soon 
hatch.  Or  you  can  give  back  the  bees,  and  use 
the  combs  wherever  they  are  wanted. 

Perhaps  it  occurs  to  you  that  I  have  not  told 
you  to  kill  any  queen-cells.  You  needn't  pay 
the  slightest  attention  to  the  queen-cells  that 
were  left  with  the  queen.  That  colony  is  weak 
in  bees,  and  for  a  few  days  no  honey  is  brought. 
in.  and  the  bees  themselves  will  destroy  every 
last  cell. 

It  is  only  fair  to  say  that  this  is  merely  a  vari- 
ation of  the  Doolittic  plan,  to  cage  the  queen, 
kill  the  cells  in  five  or  six  days,  then  in  live  or 
six  days  more  release  the  queen  after  again  kill- 
ing the  queen -cells.  I  followed  his  plan  with 
satisfaction  for  some  time,  and  it  has  the  ad- 
vantage that  I  never  had  a  colony,  so  treated. 
swarm  the  second  time,  while  my  plan  has  the 
advantage  that  I  do  not  have  to  go  over  all  the 
combs  twice  to  kill  queen-cells. 

i*ossibly  you  may  raise  the  question.  '"  When 
the  old  hive  is  moved  below  fi'om  above,  what 
becomes  of  the  field-bees  on  their  return  to  the 
old  spot  they  have  marked  above?"  Well.  I'll 
tell  you.  They'll  fly  around  th(!  spot  where 
they  think  their  home  ought  to  be:  then  a  dis- 
consolate cluster  will  settle  on  top  of  the  super, 
and  finally  a  line  of  march  will  crawl  over  the 
front  to  the  entrance  below,  and  the  trouble  is 
over. 

SEALED  COVERS. 

Strong  arguments  have  appeared  in  favor  of 
sealed  covers  for  winter  :  but  the  experience  of 
the  Dadants  seems  to  be  a  settler  on  the  other 
side.  It  seems  a  clear  case,  that,  at  least  in 
that  instance,  .sealed  covers  meant  death,  and 
absorbents  life.  Hut  isn't  it  possible  that  other 
conditions  were  different?  How  was  the  venti- 
lation at  the  entrance?  If  the  entrance  was 
very  small,  or  closed  entirely,  it  might  be  the 
saving  of  the  colony  to  have  a  good-sized  hole 
at  top.  Before  I  used  movable  frames,  follow- 
ing the  advice  of  Mr.  (^)uinby.  I  turned  my  box 
hives  upside  down  in  the  cellar;  and  with  the 
whole  bottom  of  the  hive  thus  open  they  win- 
tered well.  Certainly,  with  sealed  covers  there 
is  need  of  more  ventilation  below  than  where 
the  air  can  escape  above. 

Then  there  might  be  other  conditions  making 
a  difference.  I  think  that  any  one  who  looked 
at  Ernest's  colonies  with  sealed  covers,  as  I  did 
last  February,  would  have  been  favorably  im- 
pressed, as  they  looked  so  comfortable,  bright 
and  lively,  and.  withal,  so  small.  One  thing  I 
noticed  :  In  every  case,  on  that  cold  day,  the 
thermometer  over  the  cluster,  with  the  glass  in- 
tervening, showed  the  same  temperature,  45°; 


and  as  the  bees  in  the  centei'  of  the  cluster  al- 
ways looked  jusi  as  wide  awak(!  as  in  sumnn'r. 
it  raised  the  query  in  my  mind  whether  bees 
are  often,  if  cNcr.  dormant  right  in  the  middle 
of  th<>  cluster.  ( )r(iinarily.  only  the  outside  bees 
can  be  seen.  Still.  I  think  I  have  read  of  the 
cluster  having  i)eeu  torn  open  in  winter,  when 
all  were  dormant  at  the  centei'.  If  Ernest  made 
observations  in  that  diri'ction,  it  would  be  in- 
teresting for  him  to  tell  us  whether  he  (!ver 
foiuid  the  b(H!S  entirely  dormant  in  the  cisnter 
of  the  cluster;  and.  if  so,  what  relations  seemed 
to  exist  between  dilTerent  outside  temperatures 
and  the  appearance  of  the  center  of  the  cluster. 

Marengo.  III.  C.  C.  Mii.i.ion. 

[No.  we  have  never  found  them  so.]; 


G.  "W.  YORK. 


THE   NEW   rriU>ISHEK  OF  THE   BEE  .tOUKNAI.  . 


In  accordance  with  our  promise  of  last  issue, 
we  now  introduce  to  you  our  friend  and  co- 
worker of  the  American  Bee  Journal,  Mr.  G. 
W.  Y'ork.  We  bespeak  for  him  the  same  liberal 
patronage  that  was  bestowed  on  the  former 
proprietor,  Thos.  G.  Newman.  The  subjoined 
biographical  sketch,  with  the  half-tone,  we  ex- 
tract from  the  ,1  (/M'/'/'vni  n<'r  Jiiii nidi : 


G.  w.  y()i;k. 

George  Washington  Y'ork,  whose  picture  is 
shown  herewith,  was  born  on  February  21,  lS(i2, 
in  Mount  Union  (near  Alliance).  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  where  his  father,  John  B.  Y'ork,  was  com- 
pleting the  course  of  studies  in  Mount  Union 
College,  which  is  there. 

When  "(Jeorge"  was  seven  years  old,  the 
York  family  (which  later  consisted  of  ten  mem- 
bers) moved  upon  a  farm  of  nearly  100  acres,  in 
Randolph,  I'ortage  County,  O.  Here  he  found 
ample  opportunity  to  work  as  well  as  to  grow. 
Each  winter  he  attended  the  country  school, 
and  at  the  age  of  U'>  years  began  teaching  in 
the  district  schools  of  surrounding  townships, 
which  he  continued  until  30  years  old,  excepting 
the  time  spent  upon  the  farm  during  summers. 


4% 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


and  studying  at  Mount  Union  College,  from  the 
Commercial  Department  of  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  June,  1882,  and  continued  there,  for  a 
time,  as  instructor  in  penmanship,  mathematics, 
and  book-keeping. 

r  In  the  spring  of  1884,  after  a  most  successful 
term  of  teaching,  we  met  Mr.  York  while  visit- 
ing our  nephew.  Mr.  B.  Harding,  where  Mr.  Y. 
had  boarded  during  two  of  three  winters  that 
he  had  taught  the  district  school  of  which  Mr. 
Harding  was  a  director,  in  Kent,  O. 

Being  much  pleased  with  his  attainments  and 
industrious  habits,  we  engaged  Mr.  York  as  an 
assistant  in  the  office  of  the  American  Bee 
Journal,  and  in  due  time  he  followed  us  to  this 
city,  and  entered  upon  his  labors.  Here  he 
learned  the  printing  business,  and,  step  by  step, 
advanced  to  positions  of  confidence  and  respon- 
sibility, until,  during  our  late  and  long-contin- 
ued indisposition,  he  has  had  the  entire  ed- 
itorial management  of  the  Bee  Journal,  and 
that  work  not  only  received  our  approval,  but 
has  merited,  as  well  as  received,  the  commen- 
dation of  many  of  our  readers  and  patrons. 

He  is,  therefore,  not  a  stranger,  but  a  faithful 
friend  and  co-worker,  who  steps  into  our  shoes, 
wears  our  mantle,  and  we  feel  sure  will  be  re- 
ceived by  all  as  a  successor  worthy  of  ranch 
esteem. 


SHADING  BEE  HIVES. 

THE   WAY    FRIEND   DAY  (THE   TOMATO-MAN) 
MANAGES   IT. 


While  taking  views  of  the  tomato-beds  in 
Crystal  Springs,  Miss.,  I  looked  over  friend 
Day's  small  apiary,  for  he  is  something  of  a 
bee-keeper,  like  many  of  the  rest  of  us,  and  I 
was  at  once  struck  with  his  arrangement  for 
shading  his  hives.  I  accordingly  turned  the 
Kodak  toward  it,  and  here  is  an  engraving 
showing  the  result.  The  engraver  forgot,  how- 
ever, to  leave  the  cross-pieces  off  from  one  end 
in  order  that  the  machine  may  be  wheeled  over 
any  bee-hive. 


.1.   W.    DAY  S   SHADE   FOR  BEE-HIVES. 

Of  course,  the  machine  above  may  be  varied 
according  to  the  taste  of  the  bee-keepei',  or 
according  to  the  material  he  may  have  on  hand. 
The  ones  I  saw  were  made  of  pieces  of  rough 
boards.  As  Crystal  Springs  is  in  a  pine  region, 
very  nice  lumber  can  be  had  at  an  almost  in- 
significant price.  The  wheels  were  cut  out  of 
boards.  The  advantages  of  this  shading  ar- 
rangement are,  that  you  do  not  have  to  put  any 
stones  on  top  of  them  to  keep  the  wind  from 
blowing  them  off:  neither  must  it  be  lifted  up 
and  laid  down  when  you  open  a  hive.  It  can 
be  placed  so  as  to  shade  the  hive  only  in  the 
middle  of  the  day,  leaving  the  sun  to  strike  it 
mornings  and  evenings.  The  roof  is  so  high 
above  the  top  of  the  hive  that  there  is  a  good 


circulation  of  air  between  the  hive-cover  and 
the  shade.  In  Arizona,  and  other  places  where 
the  summers  are  exceedingly  hot,  we  found  fine 
large  buildings  with  a  shading  roof  placed  from 
four  to  six  feet  above  the  ordinary  roof.  This 
shading  roof  extended  perhaps  ten  or  twelve 
feet  beyond  the  roof  proper  in  every  direction; 
but  the  space  between  the  two  was  all  open,  so 
as  to  give  a  constant  circulation  of  air.  I  am 
told  that  this  arrangement  makes  buildings 
very  comfortable  that  would  be  hardly  endur- 
able without  something  to  keep  the  sun  from 
the  top  of  the  house.  Well,  you  see  this  hive- 
shade  on  wheels  works  exactly  in  the  same  way. 
When  you  are  tired,  all  you  have  to  do  is  to 
push  it  away  from  the  hive  far  enough  so  you 
can  raise  up  the  hive-cover.  Said  cover  is  then 
laid  on  the  roof  of  the  machine  till  wanted 
again.  They  can  be  made  to  shed  rain  or  not, 
just  as  you  choose.  As  it  will  be  quite  a  pro- 
tection to  the  hive,  I  think  I  would  have  them 
shed  I'ain  as  well  as  sunshine. 

There,  friend  Day,  haven't  I  given  your  hive- 
shade  a  good  puff?  If  I  should  wind  up  by  say- 
ing ^5.00  for  an  individual  right,  you  might 
think  I  was  interested;  but  I  am  glad  to  tell 
you  that  Mr.  Day  is  not  that  sort  of  man. 
When  I  spoke  of  having  an  engraving  made  of 
it,  I  could  hardly  persuade  him  that  it  was 
worth  the  while.  By  the  way.  if  your  section- 
cases  or  other  surplus  arrangements  are  so 
made  as  to  be  bee-tight  on  top,  you  might  en- 
tirely omit  covers  to  the  hives  during  extremely 
hot  weather.  Such  a  machine  would  be  very 
unlikely  to  be  disturbed  by  the  wind,  unless  it 
should  blow  with  more  than  ordinary  violence. 

A.  I.  R. 


GRADING  HONEY  A  LA  MILLER. 


K.     A.     BURNETT       OFFERS       SUGGESTIONS      AND 
CRITICISMS. 


Editor  Gleanings. -—Having  read  Gle.^xings 
of  June  1.5th,  I  find  that  our  persistent  and 
sagacious  Dr.  Miller  has  got  around  more  near- 
ly to  the  classifying  and  grading  of  honey,  in 
this  last  article,  than  in  any  former  effort;  and 
I  want  to  encourage  him  to  still  further  perfect 
a  plan  by  which  he  can,  from  his  desk,  inform 
the  world  just  what  he  has  in  merchantable 
honey — when  the  time  comes  for  marketing. 

The  difficulty  with  many  if  not  all  the  plans 
offered,  or  papers  read  or  written  upon  the  sub- 
ject, is,  that  they  confound  ck(S.si/i/mf/  and 
grading.  Even  the  good  doctor  does;  for  the 
third  word  in  his  grading  of  fancy  is  "  white." 
By  striking  out  the  word  "'white  "  we  have  a 
good  description  of  a  fancy  article,  be  it  white, 
brown,  yellow,  or  black.     His  grading  of  a  No. 

1  article  is  free  from  the  objection  noted  above, 
and  is  very  much  to  my  notion,  as  is  also  Nos. 

2  and  3. 

The  point  aimed  at  is,  to  convey  an  accurate 
description  of  what  one  has  to  sell  to  a  possible 
buyer,  or  to  give  an  intelligent  account  of  the 
results  of  the  harvest.  The  doctor's  argument 
in  support  of  his  grades  juay  be  accepted  as 
covering  the  views  of  a  majority:  hence  my 
suggestion  would  be:  First,  classify  by  taking 
the  product  of  the  hive  to  a  table,  sorting  out 
the  diff'eient  kinds,  which  we  will  classify  as 
wiiite  clover,  basswood,  alsike,  sweet  clover," 
sage,  alfalfa,  buckwheat,  goldenrod,  Spanish 
needle,  or  any  other  variety  that  may  appear. 
Thus  classified,  proceed  to  grade,  selecting,  say, 
from  the  buckwheat,  the  fancy  combs;  straight, 
well  filled,  firmly  fastened  to  wood  on  all  four 
sides,  all  cells  sealed,  no  propolis,  pollen,  or 
travel-stain.  No.  1  buckwheat:  wood  well 
scraped,  etc.;    No.    2,  etc.;    No.  3,  etc.    Thus 


IS'.t-' 


(}l>KAi\IxNCJS  IN  I5KE  CULTURE. 


4'.»7 


having  disposed  of  the  liiu-Uuiicat  iiom'V.  t;il\<' 
some  other  <-litss  ami  gnuie  as  before. 

Fiviu'v  white  clover,  rombs  straiglil,  well 
tilled.  e"to. 

No.  1.  white  clover,  wood  well  scraped,  etc. 

No.  -',  wliite  clover,  three-fourths  of  the  .  .  . 
etc. 

No.  3.  white  clover,  must  weigh,  etc. 

I  can  see  no  objection  to  using  the  teriiis 
F  ncv.  No.  1.  No.  2.  and  No.  3:  in  fact,  I  prefer 
them'to  letters,  as  A.  li.  C.  D.  as  the  latter  are 
more  lial)le  to  mislead,  ami  that  would  defeat 
the  purpose  of  houey-producers  as  well  as  tin' 
honest  (ji-aler.  Comb  honey  l)eiiig  classilied  as 
•■  Fancy  Buckwheat."  "  Fancy  Spanish  Ne<'dle,"' 
•■  Fancy  l?asswood."  or  "  No.  1  IJuckwheat," 
etc..  the  terms  light,  amber,  dark,  and  ini.xed 
would  become  obsolete,  as  they  now  convey 
only  a  vague  idea  of  what  is  really  meant. 
Mixed  grades — well,  they  belong  to  the  back 
age.  Very  few  now  put  white  and  black  combs 
into  the  same  case  for  marketing,  as  jjcople 
want  to  know  what  they  are  buying;  hence  a 
mixed  case  sells  at  the  price  usually  obtained 
for  the  grade  in  it:  that  is.  the  cheap  in  market 
at  that  time,  the  shipper  thus  losing  the  benefit 
of  the  higher- priced  article  mixed  therewith. 

To  me  the  cl(isslfyin{j  and  grddiiKj  of  honey 
is  not  a  difficult  matter:  and  when  intelligently 
presented  to  the  average  producer  it  will  be  ac- 
cepted as  a  guide  that  will  be  of  much  value, 
as  it  determines  what  heretofore  has  been 
indefinite.  R.  A.  Burnett. 

Kil  South  Water  St..  Chicago,  111.,  June,  1892. 

[tJoodl  we  hope  more  of  our  commission 
honey  irierchants  will  respond  to  Dr.  Miller's 
article.     Light  is  surely  breaking  in.] 


TWO  SCARABa:iDS. 


PROF.   COOK   DESCRIBES  TIIKM. 


The  family  Scnrabfeidiv  consists  of  large  ro- 
bust beetles,  most  familiar  in  the  June  beetle. 
They  all  feed  on  vegetable  matter.  One  group, 
like  "the  common  "  tumble-bug" — more  proper- 
ly tumble-l)eetle — feeds  on  decaying  matter; 
the  other,  on  plants.  Of  these  latter  are  the 
June  beetle,  rose  chafer,  and  a  host  of  others. 
The  grubs. or  larva},  feed  on  roots  of  plants;  the 
mature  insects,  on  blossoms,  leaves,  fruit,  etc. 


FIG.   I. 

One  of  these  (Fig.  1)  I  have  received  from 
Mr.  Chas.  P.  Coflin.  Pontotoc.  Mississippi.  It  is 
a  beautiful  green  beetle,  though  the  elytra,  or 
wing-covers,  may  be  brownish  with  a  greenish 


relleclioii.  The  ligure,  which  is  enlarged  twice, 
shows  well  the  foi'in.  These  l)eetles  are  found 
from  the  gulf  to  the  great  lakes.  They  delight 
in  sweet  juit'es,  and  so  are  seen  sipping  from 
flowers,  though  tlu^y  may  visit  flowers  more  for 
the  pollen  than  for  th<'  nectar;  lioring  into,  and 
sucking  the  Juice  from  ripe. juicy  fruit,  like  the 
peach:  or.  again,  sipping  from  the  well-lilled 
combs  of  the  hive.  Mr.  Collin  found  the  b(>e- 
tle  balled  at  the  entrance,  much  as  the  bees 
ball  a  strange  queen,  that,  perchance,  may 
enter  the  hive.     The  beetle  was  not  there  to  de- 


stroy or  injure  the  bees,  but  simply  to  rob  them. 
Their  attack  would  not  seriously  injure  the 
beetle,  as  its  thick  crust  would  be  too  hard  for 
their  stings.  I  have  before  heard  of  this  beetle 
as  a  honey- thief,  from  Florida.  In  the  more 
northern  States  it  is  content  to  depredate  on 
our  choice  fruits. 

From  San  Jacinto,  California,  comes  another 
one  of  these  Scarahirld  beetles  (Fig.  2).  Serica 
ftmbriuta.  This  is  rich  in  its  dress  of  velvety 
purplish  brown,  and  is  well  described  by  the 
figure,  which  is  magnified  three  times.  It  is 
said  to  entirely  defoliate  the  plums  and 
prunes,  especially  the  young  trees.  I  would 
recommend  the  kero.sene  emulsion  on  this  bee- 
tle. I  proved  this  a  remedy  for  the  closely  re- 
lated rose  chafer— one  of  our  most  dreaded  in- 
sects— last  season,  and  should  hope  and  expect 
thu-t  it  would  be  a  quick  and  ready  destroyer  of 
this  plum  chafer  of  the  far  West.  I  hope  some 
of  our  California  l)ee  and  fruit  men  may  give  it 
a  trial,  and  report  the  results  in  Gleanings. 
May  not  Mr.  McDiarmaid,  who  sent  the  fine 
beetles,  be  the  one  to  do  so  ?  I  am  very  glad  to 
recei  e  insects,  especially  from  the  South  and 
West.  Sent  alive  in  a  small  pasteboard  box, 
with  a  little  cotton  about  them,  they  come  in 
nice  shape. 

ANOTHER   CAI.IFOI5NIA   HONKY- PLANT. 

The  honey-i)lant  received  from  Mrs.  J.  Hil- 
ton, Los  Alamos,  Cal..  is  a  rosaceous  plant.  The 
name  is  UorkeWt  Californicd.  Mrs.  H.  says  it 
'•grows  on  sandy  land,  and  yields  nearly  if  not 
quite  as  much  honey  as  the  white  sage.  The 
honey  is  thick  and  waxy,  but  not  quite  as  white 
as  sage  honey."  The  phint  is  described  in  the 
Government  Report  on  Botany,  where  it  is  said  to 
grow  abundantly  in  the  Coast  Mountains  from 
Los  Angeles  to  San  Francisco.  The  rose  fami- 
ly, which  includes  nearly  all  of  our  fruit-trees, 
is  rich  in  bee-plants,  and  we  are  not  surprised 
that  this  is  no  exception.  The  blossom  of  this 
plant  remi'.ids  one  of  the  strawberry  and  cinque- 
foil,  or  Potentilla,  in  which  genus  the  plants 
were  formerly  placed,  if  I  mistake  not.    It  is  a 


498 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


JVLY  1. 


good  'thing  lo  get  these  unknown   friends  on 
record.  A.  J.  Cook. 

1.  Agricultural  College,  Mich.,  May  31. 


WORLD'S    FAIR. 


APIARIAN   EXHIBIT. 


The  apiarian  exhibit  to  be  made  at  the 
World's  Fair  next  year  was  written  about  by 
Dr.  Mason,  on  page  7(30  of  last  week's  Bee  Jour- 
nal. Reference  was  therein  made  to  something 
that  Mr.  W.  I.  Buchanan.  Chief  of  the  Agricul- 
tural Department,  would  publish  soon,  regard- 
ing the  bee  and  honey  exhibit.  Below  we  give 
the  special  rules,  and  also  an  illustration  of  the 
proposed  glass  cases  in  which  the  exhibit  will 
be  made.  We  commend  what  Mr.  Buchanan 
has  to  say,  to  the  attention  of  our  readers,  and 
trust  that  they  may  now  begin  to  prepare  for 
one  of  the  grandest  apiarian  shows  that  the 
world  has  ever  seen.  Here  are  the  "  Special 
rules  and  information  governing  the  exhibit  of 
Bees.  Honey.  Beeswax,  and  Bee-appliances:"" 

1.  Exhibits  of  honey  will  be  classified  as  follows: 

Class  1.  Clover  and  basswood. 
Class  2.  White  sage. 
Class  3.  Buckwheat. 

Class  i.  All  light  honey,  other  than  enumerated  in  Classes  1 
and  2. 
Class  5.  All  dark  honey,  other  than  enumerated  in  Class  3. 


Chief  of  tlie  Department  for  :i  limited  exhibit  of 
bees. 

11.  Collections  of  honey-producing'  plants,  suita- 
bly mounted  and  labeled,  will  be  accepted  if  satis- 
factory to  the  CI  lief  of  the  Department. 

12.  The  right  is  reserved  to  add  to,  amend,  or  in- 
terpret tlie  above  rules. 

Signed,  W.  I.  Buchanan, 

Chief  of  Dept.  of  Ay. 
Approved,       Geo.  R.  Davis, 

Director  General. 
—American  Bee  J<iurnal,  June  16. 


Lad/es'  Conversazione. 


NURSING  BEES  UNPROFITABLE. 


VALUE   OF   THE   APIAKY   AND    FIXTURES 
THE   DECEASE   OF   THE   OWNER. 


Mr.  Editor:— \  have  been  impressed  with  the 
idea  of  late,  that  we  should  not  advise  a  person 
who  has  a  young  family  dependent  upon  him 
for  support  to  invest  all  his  means  in  bees  and 
fixtures  unless  his  wife  or  some  other  person 
connected  with  him  works  with  him  and  learns 
how  to.  take  care  of  them.  If  he  should  be 
called  away  by  death  it  would  take  a  pretty 
large  apiary  to  bring  enough  ready  money  to 


The  dimensions  are  as  follows:  Height  of  base,  18  inches;  width  of  case,  n  feet;  lieight  of  case  above 
base  (inside  measure),  6  feet.    Total  heiglit,  »  feet.    It  lias  sliding  doors  on  both  sides. 


2.  Exhibits  of  honey  produced  during  1892,  or  ear- 
lier, must  be  in  place  on  or  before  April  20, 1893. 

3.  Exliibits  of  lioney  in  Classes  1,  2,  and  4,  produc- 
ed during  1893,  will  be  received  between  July  15  and 
Aug.  15;  and  in  Classes  3  and  5  between  Aug.  15  and 
Sept.  1,  1893. 

4.  The  following  infoi'mation  should  accompany 
eacli  exhibit. 

a.  Kind  of  honey. 

b.  Name  of  exhibitor. 

c.  Place  where  produced. 

d.  Character  of  soil  in  locality  where  produced. 

e.  Variety  of  bee. 

f.  Name  of  plant  from  which  honey  was  produced. 

g.  Yield  per  colony. 

h.  -\verage  price  of  product  at  nearest  home  market. 

5.  In  order  to  secure  a  uniform,  handsome,  and 
economical  installation  of  honey  and  beeswax,  the 
Exposition  will  erect  suitable  glass  cases,  of  a  uni- 
form character,  in  which  such  exhibits  will  be 
made;  tlie  cost  of  these  cases  to  be  borne  by  the 
different  State  Commissions,  Bee-keepers'  Associa- 
tions, or  by  individual  exhibitors,  in  proportion  to 
the  number  of  lineal  feet  occupied.  These  cases 
will  become  the  property  of  sucli  exhibitors  at  the 
close  of  the  Exposition.  Bt-low  is  a  very  good  illus- 
tration (if  the  proposed  cases. 

6.  Individual  exhibits  of  comb  honey  will  be  lim- 
ited to  lUO  pounds,  and  may  be  made  in  any  manner 
the  exhibitor  may  desire,  subject  to  the  approval  of 
the  Chief  of  the  Department. 

7.  Individual  exhibits  of  extracted  honey  must  be 
made  in  glass,  and  must  not  exceed  :"0  pounds. 

8.  Individual  exhibitsof  beeswa.v  must  not  exceed 
50  pounds,  and  should  be  prepared  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  will  add  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  exhibit. 

9.  Exhibits  of  primitive  and  modern  appliances 
used  in  bee  culture,  both  in  this  country  and 
abroad,  will  be  received,  sul  ject  to  the  approval  of 
the  Chief  of  the  Department. 

10.  Special    arrangements  will   be    made  by  the 


bury  him.  I  have  known  of  several  estates, 
consisting  of  bees  and  fixtures,  which  brought 
nothing  in  comparison  to  their  real  value.  The 
reason  of  this,  in  a  measure,  is  due  to  the  ad- 
ministrator and  heirs  not  being  posted,  and 
advertise  only  in  their  county  papers:  while  if 
in  bee-periodicals  it  might  fall  under  the  notice 
of  an  apiarist  who  desires  to  increase  the  size 
of  his  apiary,  or  start  an  out  one.  and  pay  some- 
thing nearer  their  value  than  they  would  bring 
at  auction  among  those  who  cared  little  or 
nothing  for  them. 

The  administrator  of  an  estate  called  lately 
to  consult  me  with  reference  to  some  bees  be- 
longing to  it.  The  owner  died  in  January;  it 
was  then  June,  and  they  had  not  been  disturb- 
ed in  the  least.  I  went  to  see  them,  out  of  curi- 
osity, for  I  had  been  very  much  interested  in 
reading  how  Mrs.  Axtell  nursed  her  colonies, 
and  I  wanted  to  see  what  were  her  ways  in 
comparison  with  bees  that  had  not  been  cared 
for  in  the  least.  I  found  the  colonies  located 
on  the  east  side  of  a  light  board  fence,  on  a 
platform  about  a  foot  from  the  ground.  The 
hives  were  placed  pretty  closely  together,  and 
the  space  between  them  packed  with  straw, 
with  chaff  cushions  in  the  upper  story,  and  well 
protected  from  rain.  There  had  been  nineteen 
colonies  packed  together  in  the  fall,  and  eleven 
were  living  and  ten  quite  strong,  and  one  weak. 
Their  owner  was  a  dear  good  old  soul,  and  a 
lover  of  bees;  and  I  think  that,  if  he  had  been 
living,  and  cleaned  their  hives,  spreading  brood, 
feeding,  and  puc  hot  bricks  to  their  feet,  and 
fomentations  on   their  heads,  there  would  not 


1S'.>2 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


41)9 


t)(>  si)  many  to  n'spmid  to  loll-t-all  as  now .  1 
spcaU  from  expcMiiMU't',  for  I  used  to  follow  the 
calling  of  nnrsing  bt-cs  in  tlic  si)i'inji;  lint  I 
found  thai  tlic  wages  were  b(>low  zero,  and  I 
gave  it  up.  bolitning  that  it  was  a  bettor  way 
to  keep  none  over  the  winter  but  goo(i  strong 
colonies  with  plenty  of  stores,  and  pi'otect  them 
against  severe  cold  and  piercing  winds. 

As  an  illustration  of  this  nursing  business. 
rii  give  an  example:  When  I  ft)und  a  hive 
wiiliout  a  tenant  tliis  sjiring  I  cleaned  it  out 
thoroughly,  and  tiien  jiut  it  down  cellar  to  pro- 
tect it  from  moths.  While  doing  this,  one  day 
a  queen  with  about  a  dozen  bees  was  discover- 
ed. 1  caged  th(>  (iue(>n  ami  laid  her  upon  the 
franu'S  of  a  strong  colony.  whin>  she  remain(>d 
for  a  couple  of  weeks.  In  my  rounds  I  discov- 
ered a  small  colony  that  was  (jiKHMiless.  I  went 
into  the  "good  Samaritan"  business.  conRning 
them  to  one  side  of  the  hive  with  a  division- 
board,  and  went  for  my  (|ueen.  Sh(»  liad  been 
well  treated,  was  pluinp  and  fat.  and  the  "bees 
welcomed  her  with  open  arms.  I  daily  fed 
them  with  warm  syrup  made  from  the  best 
granulated  sugar,  and  all  was  merry  as  a 
marriage-bell.  I  congratulated  myself,  like 
tlu-  '"country  milkmaid. ""  that  I  should  have  a 
good  strong  colony  to  roll  in  the  honey  from  the 
clover.  One  day  at  mess  they  did  not  appear; 
and  on  opening  the  hive  there  was  not  a  bee  to 
be  seen,  but  one  comb  well  tilled  with  eggs. 
What  will  my  wages  be?  Mrs.  L.  Hahkison. 

Peoria.  111.,  June  18. 

[You  hav(^  given  us  a  glimpse  of  something 
that  is  to")  true.  One  great  reason  why  bees  and 
fixtures  of  the  apiary  go  so  cheap  is  because  the 
stuff  is  odd  sized,  and  made  especially  for  the 
deceased.  Regular-sized  supplies  liave  a  value, 
and.  in  the  hands  of  a  bee-keeping  friend  of  the 
family,  ought  to  be  made  to  yield  a  fair  price.] 


WAX  FLOWERS. 


WAX    CROSS,    UAUP,   ETC. 

These  may  be  made  by  fitting  delicate  white 
flowers  together  in  the  shape  of  a  cross  or  a 
harp,  pendulous  Mowers  and  sprays  droojiing 
from  the  arms  of  the  cross,  the  box  to  be  lined 
with  jet-black  cloth,  without  luster.  Velvet  is 
best. 

Another  way  is  to  make  a  cross  of  seasoned 
wood,  and  blocks  of  ditfei  ent  sizes  for  tlie  base, 
to  represent  marble  slabs  for  steps,  two  or  three 
in  numVier.  Paint  all  pure  white,  and  let  them 
dry,  and  cover  with  double  white  wax — not  two 
sheets  of  white  wax.  but  sheets  of  double  thick- 
ness, such  as  is  used  in  making  nond-lilies. 
Make  an  ivy-vine  with  small  wiiite  leaves  and 
flowers,  or  a  rose-vine  and  plant,  back  of  the 
cross,  letting  a  few  sprays  fall  over  the  marble 
steps;  but  the  main  vine  twine  gracefully 
around,  up  and  over  the  cross,  as  fancy  dictates. 
If  a  rose-vine,  use  a  small  leaf-mold  and  mostly 
buds. 

FOR   A    BOtQlTET. 

Tack  green  leaves  in  a  circle;  two  or  three 
autumn  leaves  are  pretty  put  in.  Do  not  use 
many,  as  it  makes  too  much  yellow.  Fill  tlie 
center  with  flowers  'and  small  leaves.  Place 
the  smallest  flowers  at  tlu-  top  of  tlie  bouquet. 
Do  not  have  thom  all  lie  flat  against  the  back, 
but  stand  out  distinct  and  loose,  so  as  not  to 
look  crowded  and  stiff.  When  the  bouquet  is 
finished,  press  and  tack  on  a  few  brown  and 
green  stems  at  the  bottom,  the  lower  end  of  the 
stems  to  stand  out  distinctly:  then  finish  with 
a  ribbon  made  of  wax.  by  cutting  wax  into 
strips  and  folding  into  bows,  and  stick  on,  mak- 


ing it  look  like  a  ribbon  tied    round    the  stems 
in  a  bow-knot. 

MOTTOKS   IN    UlirrK    WAX. 

Use  small  leaves  and  (lowers,  such  as  tlie  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  ivy,  myrtle,  or  the  lily  of  the 
valli'y.  Make  letters  out  of  seasoned  wood.  J4 
inch  thick,  and  paint  white,  and  cover  with 
white  wax  when  well  dried.  Tack  the  white 
letters  on  to  a  background  of  black  velvet,  or, 
what  is  better,  put  the  letters  on  with  a  screw, 
as  Jhe  wax  is  so  easily  broken  if  tacked  on, 
unless  don(^  very  gently  and  the  room  warmed. 
If  there  are  s(!veral  words  in  the  sentence, 
divide  it  thus:  "  Worship  the  Ixjrd,"  at  the  top 
in  a  half-circle;  "in  the,"  in  the  center;  "Beau- 
ty of  Holiness"  completing  the  circle  at  the 
bottom.  Touch  tlx^  linger  in  the  diamond  dust 
and  press  it  upon  (>acii  leaf  and  llower,  and 
upon  the  letters.  Lay  the  little  spi'ig  of  leaves 
and  Mowers  over  the  hitters  tastefully,  and  tack 
them  on  firmly  with  snuill  tacks.  To  give 
Mowers  that  soft  velvety  api^earance  that  is 
called  bloom,  when  making  tliem  dip  them  in 
arrowroot  powder  for  white  Mowers;  for  pink 
Mowers  and  fruit,  use  arrowroot  and  a  trace  of 
carmine  well  pulverized  together. 

Yon  can  not  well  use  both  diamond  dust  and 
arrowroot,  as  they  do  not  look  well  together. 
Use  diamond  dust  on  leaves,  and  the  arrowroot 
for  bloom  on  velvety-looking  Mowers  and  fruits 
by  touching  the  finger  in  the  diamond  dust  and 
pressing  it  on  w  luui  making  them;  or,  when 
done  and  ready  to  hang  up,  it  may  be  sprinkled 
over  them,  as  it  would  fall  off  if  handled  much 
unless  pressed  into  the  wax. 

SOME  CURIOUS  insects;  what  are  thev? 

A  neighbor,  calling  in  to-day,  told  us  of  what 
he  saw  in  1800,  as  he  went  through  Laramie, 
Neb.,  eii  route  for  Pike's  Peak,  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  tiie  old  fort  and  a  few  rods  out 
of  the  town  of  Laramie.  A  piece  of  ground 
about  one-fourth  mile  square  (not  square,  but 
containing  that  much  ground)  was  literally 
honey-combed  by  an  insect  that  looked  and 
acted,  he  thought,  exactly  like  our  black  honey- 
bees, except  that  they  were  going  into  the 
ground  instead  of  hives,  and  had  no  stings;  at 
least  he  thought  they  had  no  stings,  as  they 
were  'not  irritated  by  the  streams  of  wagons 
passing  into  and  out  of  Laramie,  right  over 
their  entrances,  which  were  simply  round  holes 
in  the  ground.  The  ground  they  occupied,  he 
noticed,  was  a  little  higher  than  the  surround- 
ing ground.  He  did  not  know  but  it  w  as  caused 
by  the  bringing- up  of  the  dirt  from  underneath 
and  dropping  it  above  ground,  thus  building  it 
up  higher.  I  wonder  if  any  of  our  Nebraska 
friends  have  ol)serv(!d  the  lik(!;  or,  did  he  make 
it  up?  He  seems  like  a  man  of  veracity.  Were 
they  bees,  or  were  they  some  other  insects?  If 
they  were  bees,  did  ihey  store  honey  in  the 
ground?  He  said  it  looked  to  him,  as  he  passed 
through  them,  as  if  there  were  bees  enough  to 
make  a  dozen  swarms.  They  were  under  the 
horses  and  the  wagons,  literally  filling  the  air. 

now  to  get  the  reks  off  the  windows. 

When  bees  get  into  the  house  and  on  the 
windows,  I  do  not  want  to  kill  them;  and  the 
windows  can  not  well  be  opened  to  let  th(>m  out. 
I  take  a  (luart  jar  (a  two  quart  will  do  ju'-t  as 
well)  and  iiold  it  in  one  hand,  with  the  bottom 
of  the  jar  lowaid  1  he  window  and  the  month 
toward  rn(\  slanting  upward  so  that  it  is  not 
quite  l(!vel.  and  then  I  can  very  quickly  pick 
the  bees  off  from  the  window,  catching  some  by 
one  wing,  others  by  both  wings,  and  still  others 
by  the  thorax,  and  letting  them  loose  in  the 
niouth  of  the  jar.  As  they  will  all  My  toward 
the  light,  scarcely  one  will  fly  out  of  the  jar. 
When   all  are  put  into  the  jar  I  hold  it  upright 


500 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


and  carry  it  out  the  door,  placing  my  hand  on 
the  cover  over  the  top  of  the  jai".  Turn  the  top 
toward  the  sun,  or  on  a  level  toward  the  south. 
and  all  will  fly  out.  If  one  does  much  bee-work 
in  a  room,  he  should  have  a  window  where  the 
bees  are  most  apt  to  congregate  fixed  in  a  way 
that  the  bees  can  easily  be  let  out.  either  by 
throwing  the  whole  window  wide  open,  or  by 
letting  it  down  at  the  top  and  allowing  them  to 
run  up  a  wire  screen  tacked  over  the  window 
and  above  it,  slanting  upward  in  the  shape  of 
an  inverted  V.  as  so  often  spoken  of  in  the  jour- 
nals a  few  years  past.  The  bees  naturally 
crawl  upward  and  come  out  at  the  bee-space 
left  open  at  the  top,  but  seldom  find  their  way 
back,  if  this  wire  cloth  runs  up  far  enough.  It 
is  cruel  to  let  them  perish  on  the  windows. 
Before  I  learned  to  put  them  into  a  glass  jar  I 
found  it  very  tedious  to  get  them  picked  up  one 
by  one  and  carried  to  the  door.  Often  I  would 
get  stung  carrying  them  so  far,  and  it  took  too 
much  time:  but  if  they  are  picked  off  fi'om  the 
windows  and  put  into  a  jar,  the  work  is  done  so 
quickly  that  they  get  no  chance  to  sting. 

FEEDING    IN    SPRING. 

Very  weak  colonies  should  be  fed  but  little, 
early  in  the  spring.  A  tablespoonful  or  two  is 
better  than  more.  If  too  much  is  fed  it  daubs 
the  bees,  and  some  will  die  from  being  swamped 
in  it,  others  from  overwork  in  taking  it  up. 
Just  a  little,  to  stimulate  them  to  do  their  best, 
is  enough.  We  all  know  that  bees  live  the 
longest  when  they  are  most  quiet;  and  in  the 
spring,  if  fed  too  liberally,  they  will  die  off  one 
way  and  another  before  the  brood  hatches  fast 
enough  to  take  their  places. 

HEAVY  WINTER  AND  SPRING  LOSSES. 

Out  of  235  colonies  last  fall,  we  have  but  75 
hives  with  bees  in,  and  not  more  than  35  will 
be  strong  enough  to  gather  the  spring  white- 
clover  honey.  We  bought  0  colonies;  7  of  these 
are  in  fair  condition,  making  but  42  fair  colo- 
nies; and  37  can  barely  save  their  queens. 
Some  of  these  colonies  may  die  yet,  as  they  are 
dying  nearly  everv  day.    Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtell. 

Roseville,  111.,  May  2(1 


CHRONICLE  OF  THE  VERMONT  BEE-KEEP- 
ERS'  REUNION  PICNIC. 

BOOK    I.,   CHAPTER   1. 


And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  latter  days  of  the 
fifth  month,  in  the  third  year  of  the  reign  of  V. 
v.,  whose  surname  is  Blackmer,  a  president  of 
great  bee  fame,  who  resideth  in  a  town  called 
Orwell,  which  bordereth  on  the  shores  of  Cham- 
plain  Lake,  in  Vermont,  that,  behold,  messages 
were  sent  unto  many  dwellers  round  about — 
bee-keeping  men  and  women — that  they  should 
gather  themselves  together  at  his  house  upon  a 
certain  day  of  the  the  sixth  month,  in  A.  D. 
1892.  and  delight  themselves  with  a  reunion 
picnic. 

Now,  having,  the  year  before,  likewise  assem- 
bled themselves  together,  they  all  cried  out  in 
one  accord.  "  Let  us  go  as  we  are  bidden!"' 

Now,  when  the  time  was  at  hand,  verily  tliey 
did  go  from  the  north  and  from  the  south,  and 
from  the  east  and  from  the  west,  bringing  witli 
them  bread  and  meat,  and  baskets  full  of  many 
good  things;  and,  behold,  some  journeyed  miles, 
and  the  day  was  part  spent  when  they  did  ar- 
rive; in  sooth,  the  dinner  and  all  things  were 
about  ready,  and  soon  the  company  were  invit- 
ed to  sit  down  to  the  small  tables  that  had  been 
distributed  in  their  midst,  that  they  might  be 
comfortable;  and   they  did  so,  and  were  glad, 


for  the  much  journeying  had  caused  them  to  be 
sore  and  ahungered;  and  they  did  all  eat.  and 
were  filled;  and  of  the  fragments  that  were  left 
there  were  several  baskets  full;  and  they  that 
did  eat  were  about  thirty,  including  men, 
women,  and  children.  'Zn 

Now,  it  came  to  pass  that,  on  that  day,  much 
Interest  was  taken  in  the  things  pertaining  to 
the  honey-house,  which  is  nigh  unto,  and  a 
convenient  distance  from,  the  dwelling-house. 
Of  the  late  and  modern  improvements  in  api- 
cultural  implements  there  seemeth  no  end. 
Exceeding  great  preparations  for  abundant 
surplus  honey  had  been  made  by  V.  V..  whose 
surname  is  Blackmer,  and  also  his  son.  the  dili- 
gent, who  abideth  with  him.  Not  only  do  they 
pursue  bee  culture,  but  beautiful  flowers,  and 
multitudes  of  savory  garden  vegetables  do 
they  also  produce.  Much  counsel  took  we  to- 
gether all  the  day  long. 

Now,  it  came  to  pass,  that,  before  the  day 
was  far  spent,  a  sojourner  in  Brandon  came 
unto  us,  bearing  with  him  a  camera  to  "catch 
our  shadows  ere  the  substance  fadeth,"  and 
verily  we  did  all  appear  before  his  presence 
with  smiling,  squinting  faces. 

Now,  straightway  after  these  things,  piano 
music  was  discoursed  by  a  fair  damsel  of  the 
house  of  Blackmer.  And  it  came  to  pass,  before 
the  evening  drew  nigh,  that  the  assembly  dis- 
persed, and  of  a  truth  took  with  them  memories 
of  a  day  which  profiteth  sornething.  A. 


THE  NEW  D.  SECTION-CASE. 


ITS  ADVANTAGES  FOR  THE    SMALL    BEE-KEEP- 
ER  AND   BOX-HIVE   MAN. 


After  using  the  D.  section-case  I  am  ready  to 
say  it  is  just  what  the  bee-keepers  on  a  small 
scale  need.  It  places  the  honey  in  a  marketa- 
ble shape,  so  that  it  will  sell,  even  to  the  poorest 
purchaser  that  may  be  found.  Many  people 
can  command  money  enough  to  buy  one  pound 
that  could  not  buy  more;  so  a  section  will  sup- 
ply them.  For  illustration,  a  D.  case  will  sup- 
ply one;  three  or  four  will  furnish  another;  and 
soon  till  any  order  can  be  filled.  The  cases  can 
be  taken  out  of  the  super,  the  bottoms  put  on, 
and  put  away  and  kept  ready  for  market  at  any 
time.  Those  who  hold  to  the  old  box  hive,  and 
will  not  exchange,  can  use  them.  Three  just  fill 
the  cap  of  an  old  box  hive.  Many  persons  who 
use  the  old  box  hive,  and  consider  all  movable- 
frame  hives  "  patented  swindles,"  can  be  in- 
duced to  risk  3u  cents  for  three  cases  with  sec- 
tions to  try:  and  when  we  get  them  to  try  once 
they  will  always  "  stick."  I  consider  the  I). 
section-case  the  best  invention  yet  made  for 
getting  the  "  old  fogies  "  out  of  the  old  box  hive. 
A  very  important  point  in  favor  of  the  D.  case 
is,  that  the  exact  bee-space  is  always  retained 
between  the  brood -frames  and  sections,  even 
though  the  top-bars  do  sag  a  little.  They  can 
be  carried  on  the  streets  and  sold  in  any  quan- 
tity that  may  be  desired.  The  honey  is  pretty, 
clean,  and  handy;  and  bee-keepers  who  have 
twenty  or  thirty  colonies  in  the  D.  case  will  find 
a  ready  market  for  their  honey.  If  sale  is  not 
found  where  you  live,  the  cases  may  be  crated 
and  shipped  to  some  commission  merchant  or 
some  poor  widow  lady  who  has  boys  selling 
newspapers,  who  would  be  more  than  glad  of 
the  opportunity  of  handling  your  honey,  and 
would  handle  it  at  a  reasonable  per  cent— less 
than  the  commission  man,  and  at  the  same 
time  you  would  be  helping  the  widow  and  or- 
phan. W.  H.  Hughs. 

Bowls,  Ga.,  May  30. 


i8iv: 


DLEANINliS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


501 


'^[Mr.  UiiJilis  lias  iiicnlioiiod  most  of  tli<>  points 
of  merit  in  the  D.  S(H'lioii-i-as(>.  It  was  iiot(i<'- 
sieiu'd  for  the  iaific  hec-kt^MJCM',  but  for  tiiosc 
who  lia\  ('  only  modcratt'-si/cci  upiaiirs,  such  as, 
for  instani't".  fanners,  'riicn*  arc.  i)criiaps,  as 
many  iiox  iiivcs  in  use  in  the  conntry  a><  tlie 
movable  frame,  and  our  effort  was  to  select 
somethinji  that  would  suit  tliis  class  of  bee- 
keeptMS.  Tliat  we  were  successful  is  shown  by 
letters  of  appreciation  that  are  coming  in  like 
the  above.] 


GLEANINGS'  ARTIST. 


A    15KK-KKKrKK.  MUMCIAX.  AND    AHTIST. 


A  great  many  of  our  readers  have  admired 
the  humorous  style  of  the  Rambler  etchings. 
While  the  Rambler,  or  Jolin  H.  Martin,  of  Riv- 
erside. Cal..  suggests,  by  a  rough  drawing,  the 
funny  incidents  of  his  travel  and  observation, 
it  is  R,  V,  Murray,  of  CIev(>]and,  O.,  who  re- 
models the  drawings,  giving  them  character 
and  expression.  As  iMr.  Murray  is  a  bee-keep- 
er and  an  artist,  and  is  already  familiar  to  the 
readers  of  Gleanings,  ve  thought  it  might  be 
interesting  to  give  you  his  picture,  and  there- 
fore solicited  from  him  notes  from  which  we 
might  prepare  a  biographical  sketch.  These 
notes  contain  interesting  incidents  of  prominent 
persons  and  things;  and  they  are  so  modest  in 
their  tone  that  we  submit  them  direct,  just  as 
they  came  from  the  hand  of  the  writer,  R.  V. 
Murray  himself. 

From  family  and  other  records,  and  from 
what  I  have  been  told,  I  am  inclined  to  believe 
that  I  first  saw  the  light  of  this  world  on  Feb. 
8.  1S44.  in  a  part  of  that  renowned  and  classic 
town  of  Andover  called  IJaliard  Vale,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Shawsheen  River,  and  about  20 
miles  northeast  of  the  Hub  of  the  Universe, 
Boston.  My  father  was  a  Highlander,  a  rem- 
nant of  clan  Murray,  and  my  mother  a  Low- 
lander.  They  had  been  married  but  a  month 
or  two.  and  that  a  time  of  preparation  for  their 
journey  to  this  great  and  glorious  country, 
America,  to  which  they  came  by  slow-sailing 
vessel:  and  after  being  driven  from  their  course 
several  times,  and  undeigoing  extreme  hard- 
ships, they  finally  landed  at  hoston.  Thus  all 
the  family  were  given  to  them  in  this  country 
which  both  of  them  loved  so  well.  I  am  one  of 
a  family  of  six.  Their  life,  with  but  few  ex- 
ceptions and  at  short  iiitervals,  has  been  spent 
at  this  same  town  and  in  the  same  house  in 
which  we  were  born,  and  in  which  some  of  the 
family  still  live. 

Nothing  special  need  be  said  of  my  early  life. 
It  had  its  ups  and  downs,  and,  to  my  eyes  at 
that  time,  apparently  more  downs  than  ups. 
The  first  ten  years  of  life  were  spent  in  a  vague 
and  misty  way.  and  we  went  through  the  gen- 
eral range  of  boyhood  realities  and  dreams. 
About  this  time  I  was  broken  to  harness,  and 
was  given  to  understand  that  my  contributions. 
however  little,  were  needed  in  the  family:  i^o  I 
commenced  work  in  a  woolen-mill,  which  was 
one  of  the  principal  industries  of  the  town  at 
this  time.  As  years  went  on.  and  the  pei'ceptive 
and  rational  faculties  began  to  evolve  and 
shape  themselves,  I  could  not  help  seeing  the 
slavery  of  the  mass  of  employes  of  eastern  mills, 
though  those  views  have  been  moditir-d  some  in 
later  years— the  seldom  varying  round  of  life 
which  they  led,  the  few  and   spasmodic  plea- 


sures that  came  like  gleams  of  biightiiess  now 
and  then,  and  the  depressions  which  followed — 
the  greed  of  corporations,  the  icalization  of  life 
and  its  environments,  and  the  hopes  and  desii'es 
to  bettei'  the  tMindit ions.  1.  like  thousands  of 
(tthi'rs,  ha\-e  |)asse(l  along  this  road,  and  on  the 
wav  luive  ahsorlxnl  both  good  and  (wil,  true 
ana  false,  which  have  entered  into  my  make-up, 
and  have  left  theii-  impressions. 

Like  the  rest  of  our  family,  especially  on  the 
Morrison  (or  mother)  sid(>,  I  early  po.'jsessed  an 
intense  lov(>  of  music,  and  from  my  father's 
direction  a  natural  love  and  taste  for  thi^  beau- 
tiful in  nature,  from  whence  I  trace,  in  combi- 
nation with  the  music,  the  early  desire  and 
tendenci(>s  to  ultimate  the  same  by  drawing. 
I  was  always  extremely  fond  of  reading,  and  I 
can  see  that  the  mental  material  gatlien'd  by 
that  means  was  by  far  the  best  educator  I  ever 
had,  for  my  schooldays  actually  were  very 
meager.  l{ooks  wen;  rare,  but  good  use  was 
made  of  them.  I  was  early  taught  a  profound 
and  lioly  reverence  for  the  Lord  and  all  his 
woi'ks,  and  was  led  to  early  engage,  to  the  best 
of  what  ability  I  possessed,  in  his  work  in 
whatever  station  or  place  I  should  be  in:  and  I 
believe  that  this  helped  me  wonderfully  in  my 
early  endeavors  to  draw  the  reed  and  rushes 
along  the  Shawsheen  River — to  sketch  the 
noble  hills  and  valleys  that  lay  around  m(^ — the 
endeavor  to  express  ideas  by  form,  the  study  of 
the  dififerent  forms  on  every  hand,  from  cloud 
to  play  of  light  and  shadow  on  various  objects 
ever  before  me.  and  the  realizing  how  bungling 
my  work  in  comparison.  The  drawing  of  the 
common  weeds  by  the  roadside — all  these  and 
myriads  more  have  been  the  means  of  opening 
the  eye  of  the  blind,  and  enables  one  to  work 
from  within  out.  Some  great  thinker  has  said, 
that  drawing  should  go  with  if  not  before  writ- 
ing, and  I  agree  heartily  with  the  sentiment; 
for  with  nature  without  one,  and  the  Lord 
within,  the  tendency  can  not  but  be  upward. 

At  about  the  age  of  19  I  took  my  first  lessons 
from  a  teacher  in  drawing,  who  located  for  a 
while  in  our  village — a  Mr.  Bryant — a  painter 
and  lover  of  art,  and  those  three  terms  of  eve- 
ning lessons  I  to-day  look  back  upon  as  one  of 
the  brightest  spots  in  my  life.  But  the  dark 
cloud  of  the  Rebellion  interrupted  my  studies, 
and  shot  the  life  out  of  one  of  the  most  lovable 
of  teachers;  for,  true  to  his  moral  teachings, 
he  was  willing  to  die  for  the  principles  he  loved. 
His  teachings  were  always  accompanied  with 
moral  lessons.  This  man,  for  he  was  a  true 
man,  and  one  who  followed  closely  after  his 
Maker,  and  has  left  an  impression  upon  my  life 
coupled  with  his  noble  actions,  was  always  in 
the  endeavor  to  show  the  why  and  wherefore  of 
every  thing— the  cause  and  effect,  whether  ap- 
plied to  drawing  or  other  things. 

During  the  war  I  was  engaged  by  the  Spencer 
Rifle  Co..  of  Boston,  and  while  there  made  good 
use  of  my  time  evenings,  and  what  spare  time 
I  could  command,  by  studying  under  various 
teachers  and  schools.  From  there  I  went  to 
Amesbury,  Mass.,  with  the  intention  of  learn- 
ing photography:  but  my  employer.  Mr.  Clark- 
son,  soon  went  out  of  business,  and  my  career 
in  that  dii'ection  came  to  a  sudden  close.  In 
my  early  days  our  family  lived  in  this  same 
town  of  Amesbury.  and  I  felt  somewhat  at 
home,  so  I  went  into  the  mills  there  and  stayed 
a  year  or  so.  It  was  at  this  time,  or  just  ])efore 
the  photographing  business  was  given  up,  that 
I  made  the  acquaintance  of  that  lovable  and 
renowned  Quaker  iioet.  John  G.  Whittier,  and 
I  have  had  many  friendly  talks  and  visits  with 
him:  have  met  him  in  his  rambles  along  the 
Powow  Riverand  the  meadowsof  the  Merrimac. 

During  the  war,  my  brother,  James  R.  Mur- 
ray, whose  bent  had  been  in  the  direction  of  a 


502 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


JuiA-  1. 


musical  career,  issued  his  first  important  song. 
Daisy  Deane,  the  words  of  which  were  written 
by  a  cousin,  a  quartermaster  of  the  19th  Regi- 
ment. After  the  close  of  the  war,  James  be- 
came associated  with  the  music  house  of  Root 
&  Cady,  of  Chicago,  where  he  filled  various 
positions.  Under  his  brotherly  care  I  was  en- 
couraged to  design  for  sheet-music  title-pages 
and  covers  of  books,  which  led  me  more  partic- 
ularly to  study  composition,  ornament,  and 
design,  as  well  as  lettering.  In  1867  or  '68  1  left 
home  to  take  up  that  branch  of  business,  and 
to  engrave  the  same  on  metal,  at  first  under 
a  Mr.  Chandler,  then  under  Woodbury,  whose 
place  I  afterward  filled.  It  was  here  that  I 
first  met  Dr.  C.  C.  Miller,  or,  as  he  was  best 
known  to  us.  under  the  mo7JI  de  plume  of  P. 
Benson,  Sr.  (which  the  Sr.  stands  for  Singer). 
A  series  of  his  letters  were  running  in  the  Song 
Messenger,  and  afterward  issued  in  book  form. 
I  met  him  many  times  there,  and  also.  I  think, 
at  a  place  when^  we  all  loved  to  go,  the  home 
of  Prof.  Orlando    Blackman,  now  teacher  of 


K.   V.   MTKIIAV. 

music  in  the  schools  of  Chicago.  It  was  also 
the  home  of  Rev.  Dr.  Hibbard.  a  minister  of  the 
New  Jerusalem  Church,  or,  as  commonly,  but 
erroneously,  called  Swedenborgians.  Many 
musical  people  of  note  were  frequenters  at  this 
home,  among  them  our  esteemed  and  lamented 
P.  P.  Bliss  and  wife.  Bliss  had  a  good  deal  of 
the  comic  in  him,  as  well  as  the  doctor.  Bliss 
has  written  several  comic  songs:  but  his  humor, 
like  the  doctor's,  requires  somi'  thinking  to  see 
rightly.  All  true  genuine  luunor  I'equires 
thought,  in  a  true  sense,  to  look  below  the  sur- 
face and  see  what  is  intended  to  be  taught — not 
vulgarity,  as  some  imagine  humor  to  consist  in. 
lean  remember  the  expressions  of  regret  tiiat 
Dr.  Geo.  F.  Root  felt  that  P.  Benson  could  not 
be  retained  as  a  feature  of  the  great  music 
house,  and  which  was  shared  in  by  others. 
While  at  Chicago  the  firm  were  kind  enough 


to  influence  themselves,  and  I  was  in  due  form 
introduced  and  admitted  to  the  Chicago  Acad- 
emy of  Art  and  Design,  and  I  was  allowed  half 
a  day  a  week  to  study  there,  as  an  extra  help 
from  what  the  evening  classes  could  give  me. 
There  I  met  and  came  under  the  infience  of 
artists  and  teachers  such  as  Dehil,  P.  F.  Reede, 
Donaldson,  Wilson,  and  others.  Then  came 
that  great  event,  and  what  appeared  as  a  ter- 
rible evil  (which  turned  out  a  blessing,  as  most 
appearances  do),  the  great  fire  of  Oct.  9.  1871. 
and  blotted  out  academy,  music-house,  and  a 
thousand  things  which  entered  into  my  life, 
and  at  one  time  barely  escaping  with  even  that: 
with  clothes  torn  and  burnt,  witli  body  bleed- 
ing, I,  with  multitudes,  made  our  way  to  the 
lake,  and  in  many  dangers  made  our  way  to 
places  of  safety.  I  was  in  a  dazed  and  helpless 
condition.  But.  let  the  details  of  those  events 
pass.  Suffice  it  to  say.  that  at  that  time  I  real- 
ized more  than  ever  that  great  truth,  and  the 
blessed  hope  that  came  with  it,  that  "the  Lord's 
providence  is  exerted  for  our  good  every  atom 
of  time." 

The  mhsic-plates  of  the  sheet-music  depart- 
ment were  saved  in  an  underground  vault,  and 
were  afterward  purchased  by  S.  Brainard's 
Sons,  of  Cleveland:  and  thi?  circumstance,  and 
my  intimate  knowledge  of  the  catalogue,  etc., 
brought  me  to  Cleveland  (have  not  seen  Chicago 
since).  The  music-books  went  to  John  Church 
»*t  Co.,  of  Cincinnati,  where  my  brother  now  is. 
Afier  serving  the  Brainards  about  a  year  I 
became  associated  with  the  business  of  wood 
engraving  as  artist  and  designer,  and  have  been 
in  that  up  to  date. 

In  looking  back  I  can  see  now  what  the 
Chicago  fire  was  all  about  (that  is,  so  far  as 
regards  myself),  which  was,  that  I  might  meet 
and  wed  one  of  God's  loving  helpmeets,  and  to 
give  me  work  to  do  which  I  should  not  other- 
wise have  had.  Then  there  was  the  church 
work  and  Sunday-school,  which  I  am  just  old 
enough  to  attend:  then  the  Medina  Roots  were, 
with  many  others,  looking  for  me,  for  I  had  to 
become  attached  to  a  Root  of  some  kind;  then 
you  know  the  Rambler  was  gradually  edging 
this  way,  and  he  had  to  be  "done  up,"  thougli 
he  doesn't  stay  so.  but  persists  in  unraveling 
himself.  R.  V.  Murray. 

Cleveland,  O.,  June  1. 

[R.  V.  Murray  is  the  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Murray  &  Heiss.  the  engravers  who,  we 
presume,  have  done  three-fourths  of  all  the 
engraving  that  has  been  done  for  the  bee-keep- 
ers of  the  United  States.  When  we  talk  about 
hives,  brood-frames,  bee-spaces,  queens,  drones, 
and  workers,  they  know  just  what  we  mean. 
For  instance,  in  writing  instructions  we  tell 
tnem  to  put  the  bee-space  above  the  frames  or 
sections,  and  they  know  exactly  what  we 
mean.  Mr.  Murray,  however,  is  a  bee-keep- 
er, oi",  rather,  owns  a  few  colonies  in  or  near 
tlie  city  limits  of  Cleveland.  He  has  had  the 
bee-fever,  got  over  it,  and  experienced  the  ex- 
quisite pain  of  bee-stings,  hived  swarms,  and 
lias  done  every  thing,  in  fact,  except  secure  a 
big  crop  of  honey.  In  fact,  in  a  city  like  Cleve- 
land it  is  a  hard  matter  for  bees  to  find  very 
much  natural  forage,  and  no  doubt  Mr.  Mur- 
ray has  done  well  under  the  circumstances, 
even  to  make  the  bees  woi-k  for  nothing  and 
board  themselves.  Many  a  Ijee-keeper  counts 
himself  lucky,  in  these  days  of  bad  seasons,  if 
he  can  do  even  that. 

From  the  reading  of  the  notes,  one  might  pos- 
sibly gather  the  idea  that  Mr.  Murray  knows 
something  about  music.  Although  he  gives 
you  no  direct  liint  to  that  etfect.  he  is  a  very 
fine  musician,  and  is  especially  skilled  in  play- 
ing the  guitar.] 


18'.>'J 


GLEANINGS  IN  WKK  CULTURE. 


503 


COLORADO,  IOWA,  AND  WISCONSIN. 

SO.MK      INTKl{K.><riN(i       FACTS      AND       STATISTIC." 

KKOM  c.  w.  davton;    vam'k   of   pko- 

TKCTION;    hood    I.OCAMTIKS   FOK 

AI'IAHIKS     IN     COI.OHADO 

VKKY    FKW.    KTC. 


Ilaviiifx  assisted  in  tlic  iiiaiiiiniliition  in  a 
Colorado  apiary  for  a  little  iiioic  tliaii  a  inotitli. 
and  as  we  are  lapidly  apinoacliintr  the  opetiini,' 
of  the  hoiu-y  harvest  and  haviiifi  more  or  less  col- 
onies sctitterod  here  and  tliere  ahoiu  tiie  apiary, 
which  are  so  weak  as  to  trouble  us  to  get  theiii 
up  to  tlie  proper  streiifith  to  take  the  best  a<l- 
vaiitaiiP  of  said  hai'vest.  I  can  begin  to  look 
back  over  the  records  of  tlie  colonies  and  un- 
derstand liow  the  springing  of  bees  in  Colorado 
compares  with  the  same  season  in  Iowa  or  Wis- 
consin. 

The  following  table  gives  the  number  of 
combs  containing  brood  in  each  of  2.*)  colonies 
on  liie  difTerenI  dates.  It  is  remembered  tliat 
Iho  amount  of  honey  tiiat  is  ol)taiiied  is  directly 
dependent  upon  the  amount  of  brood  the  colo- 
nies have  about  30  days  before  the  harvest. 


No. of  colony  No.  fr'm'sof  br"dj 
on  register.    Mar.  5.  |  May  27.  | 

4 
4 


m) 

3 

isl 

4 

1.S2 

3 

mi 

3 

184 

2 

18.1 

3 

l.St) 

3 

187 

2 

188 

1 

189 

3 

19U 

3 

191 

Dead- 

l!ta 

3 

iW 

0 

194 

•> 

19.T 

3 

]9ti 

•J 

l'.)7 

3 

198 

2 

199 

2 

aio 

Dead. 

201 

2 

2(J2 

2 

3t.:j 

2 

204 

3 

Kind  of  hive  for 
winter. 

Sing-le-wall. 

Sing-le-wall. 

Cliatf. 

Sing-le-wall. 

Chair. 

Chaff. 

Chaff. 

Singl('-w;ill. 

Single-wall. 

Chaff. 

Siiig'le-wali. 

Sing-le-wall. 

Cliaff. 

Single-wall. 

Single-wall. 

Chaff. 

Chaff. 

Single-wall. 

Single-wall. 

Single-wall. 

Chaff'. 

Chaff. 

Single-wall. 

Single-wall. 

Chaff. 

This  table  shows  an  average  number  for  the 
11  chaff  hives  as  4  combs,  and  the  single-wall 
hives  .^K,  whicli  makes  a  point  in  favor  of  pro- 
tection, the  live  colonies  averaging  a  little 
more'  than  four  combs  of  brood  eacli. 

My  old  rule  for  Iowa,  and  a  ruh;  that  has 
proved  good  for  sevei'al  years  past,  is.  to  get 
from  (5  to  7  combs  of  brood  in  each  colony  by 
May  20  to  2.").  Only  one  season  in  the  last  ten 
have  1  failed  to  average  r,^.:  combs  of  brood  on 
May  2.5.  and  that  was  pronounced  a  very  late 
spring.  The  honey  liarvest  is  looked  for  on 
.lune  15  or  20.  the  same  date  as  in  Iowa  or  Wis- 
consin, on  the  43d  parallel:  and  those  which 
have*)  combs  of  brood  on  May  2.')  in  Iowa  are 
able  to  take  good  advantage  of  the  harvest  at 
the  start.  If  a  colony  had  more  than  that.  I  re- 
duced them  by  helping  up  w(?aker  colonies.  If 
a  colony  had  but. 5  combs  of  brood  they  were 
slow  l'._,  frames,  which,  in  the  amount  of  honey 
obtained,  I  estimate  at  from  15  to  30  lbs. 

What  the  outcome  in  Colorado  will  be  I  cotild 
not  guess:  but  the  be<'s  are  from  otu!  to  two 
combs  of  brood  below  what  they  should  be,  and 
I  probably  have  one  of  the  best  if  not  the  best 
apiary  in  the  State  to  judge  from. 

Basswood  and  clover  often  yield  at  the  rate 
of  10  or  15  lbs.  p<'r  colony  a  day:  but  the  harvest, 
being  of  short  duration,  together  with  several 
cloudy  days,   prevents    our  obtaining  a  large 


yield.  <  »ne  year  t  here  were  barely  7  days  from 
spring  until  fall  when  the  bees  laid  by  a  sur- 
plus; still,  in  that  short  sjiace  of  time  my  colo- 
nics stored  neatly  70  lbs.  of  extracted  honey 
each.  lOvery  colony  was  ready  and  wailing  for 
the  blossoms  to  open. 

Here,  with  this  probably  lengthy  honey-How, 
the  yield  each  day  nuist  be  light  or  wff  should 
hearof  some  astonishing  reports  from  this  State. 
In  Colorado  the  honey  nearly  all  comes  from 
alfalfa,  a  plant  very  much  resembling  clover, 
but  larg<'r  and  stouter  in  growth,  and  it  is  said 
to  yield  honey  for  50  or  (50  days.  With  so  long 
a  harvest,  even  weak  coloni(!S  should  be  able  to 
build  uj)  to  the  necessary  strength,  and  do  good 
work  for  a  month  or  more. 

White  clover  and  basswood  in  Iowa  or  Wis- 
consin seldom  yield  honey  over  20  days. 

The  most  noticeable  feature  of  the  above 
table  of  colonies  is  the  large  amount  of  brood 
in  March,  and  but  little  mor<'  late  in  May.  The 
cause  of  this  is,  that  there  are  many  siiiishiny 
days  along  through  the  winter,  and  that,  when 
the  sun  shines,  it  is  very  warm:  and  when  there 
are  clouds,  and  during  the  nights,  it  is  very 
cold.  These  warm  days  (or,  I  may  truthfully 
say.  hot  days)  thorougiily  arouse  the  bees  as  iii 
mid -summer,  and  they  begin  breeding  in  Feb- 
ruary for  all  they  aro  worth.  The  cold  checks 
the  brood-rearing,  and  the  waimth  again 
stimulates  it.  When  there  comes  a  week  of 
warm  prosperous  weather,  and  then  suddenly 
comes  a  cold  snap,  its  eft'eet  can  be  as  plainly 
seen  in  the  brood  combs  as  on  the  tomato- 
plants  in  the  garden— not  always  in  brood 
killed,  but  in  the  appearance  and  manner  in 
which  it  is  placed  in  the  combs.  For  instance: 
On  April  23  to  2(3  there  were  three  very  warm 
days.  Previous  to  those  days  it  had  been 
quite  cold.  The  brood  in  the  combs  was  in 
patches  from  4  to  6  inches  in  diaineter.  and  was 
of  all  ages— eggs,  larva?,  capped  and  hatching 
bees,  all  mixed  together.  That  is  the  way  the 
brood  is  when  the  bees  must  cluster  compactly 
to  keep  it  warm.  When  the  three  warm  davs 
came,  the  bees  began  to  get  a  little  new  pollen, 
and  the  cluster  spread  out  through  all  the 
combs,  and  the  queen  went  to  depositing  eggs 
at  a  great  rate  until,  at  the  close  of  the  warm 
days,  there  was  a  stripof  eggs  from  2  to  3  inches 
wide  around  every  patch  of  old  brood.  Then  the 
weather  tui'ued  a  little  colder — not  cold  enough 
to  destroy  the  eggs,  but  cold  enough  to  prevent 
the  queen  from  making  a  circle  of  eggs  any 
larger.  The  eggs  hatched,  and  the  larvic  were 
capped  and  maintained  as  a  belt  of  brood  of  one 
age.  and  nearly  every  cell  occupied.  The 
weather  continued  cold  and  rainy  for  15  or  20 
days  more,  and  for  20  days  this  belt  of  brood 
measured  the  size  of  the  brood-space.  It  is  very 
convenient,  sometinu^s,  to  help  a  weak  colotiy 
by  giving  it  a  comb  from  a  stronger  colony  that 
has  many  hatching  bees.  In  the  case  of  such 
brood-rearing,  if  the  comb  was  secured  before 
this  belt  of  brood  had  hatched,  it  was  all  right; 
but  if  this  belt  of  brood  had  hatched  before  it 
was  given  to  the  weak  colony  it  would  b(!  the 
worst  thing  that  could  be  done,  as  there  were 
scarcely  a  dozen  bees  a  day  hatching  afterward 
for  21  days,  or  until  this  belt  brought  out  an- 
other quota  of  bees.  One  mod(!rately  warm  day 
would  not  send  the  queen  over  the  belt:  but 
threeor  four /(of  days  did  it.  It  was  about  the 
21st  f)f  May  when  these  last  hot  days  came. 

It  is  a  question  for  consideration.  If  the 
queen,  during  th(!  three  hot  days  in  April,  will 
lay  an  amount  of  eggs  more  than  t^qual  to  all 
the  brood  there  was  in  the  hive,  will  she  not, 
with  all  the  days  hot.  or  at  a  t(nnperatur<!  of 
85  to  'M  degrees,  lay  that  much  every  three 
days?  This  would  amount  to  (J  or  7  such  belts 
of  brood  where  we  now   have  only  one  and  a 


504 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


part  of  another.  We  look  for  great  re.sults  with 
the  one.  What  might  wo  look  for  with  6  or  7? 
If  this  could  be  accomplished  with  artificial 
heat,  would  it  not  be  somewhat  like  gardening 
under  glass?  Enough  of  theory,  and  to  return 
to  the  subject. 

Unlike  Iowa  and  Wisconsin,  the  old  bees 
which  go  into  winter  quarters  in  the  fall 
are  entirely  gone  in  May  if  not  in  April,  and 
the  colonies  then  consist  of  fewer  and  newly 
reared  bees  which  may  live  to  rear  brood 
and  assist  in  the  honey  harvest.  These  young 
bees  are  more  tenacious  of  life,  and  weak  colo- 
nies dwindle  out  very  slowly  compared  with 
the  dwindling  of  colonies  of  old  bees  in  Iowa. 
The  cold  nights  and  cloudy  days  (which  are 
always  cold)  continue  so  late  in  the  spring  that 
these  weakened  colonies  can  scarcely  build  up 
before  the  alfalfa  comes  into  bloom.  This  con- 
stant brood-rearing  takes  a  large  amount  of 
honey — from  50  to  60  pounds  to  la'3t  from  one 
honey  harvest  until  the  next;  and  by  all  this 
labor  and  consumption  of  stores  the  colonies 
through  February,  March,  and  April  become  a 
trifle  weaker,  showing  that  it  takes  the  life  of  a 
little  more  than  one  old  bee,  besides  the  honey, 
to  produce  a  young  bee;  and  that,  if  the  old 
bees  can  be  made  to  live  until  settled  warm 
weather,  without  rearing  brood,  it  is  the  most 
economical  plan  by  about  25  lbs.  of  honey. 

In  April  the  colonies  are  so  small  that  they 
must  be  doubled  twice  to  till  the  hive  with  bees. 
This  is  easier  done  with  young  bees  than  old,  I 
have  learned. 

In  Iowa,  when  the  colonies  are  set  out  of  the 
cellar,  or  when  warm  weather  enough  to  start 
brood-rearing  comes,  the  hives  are  crowded 
with  old  bees  sufHcient  in  number  to  care  for 
large  quantities  of  brood,  and  from  3  to  G  combs 
are  filled  with  brood  at  the  start;  and  ere  the 
old  bees  die  off  there  will  be  more  than  enough 
young  bees  hatched  out  to  take  their  places. 

Good  locations  for  apiaries  in  Colorado  are 
very  few.  Four-fifths  of  the  State  would  not 
support  bees  at  all. 

Alfalfa  is  practically  the  only  honey-yielder, 
though  there  is  a  small  amount  of  sweet  clover. 
All  crops  depend  upon  irrigation  with  the  snow 
water  which  comes  from  the  mountains,  and 
which  (juantity  can  supply  only  a  limited 
amount  of  land  situated  nearby;  and  it  is  al- 
most entirely  along  these  irrigating  ditches  in 
cer.ain  favored  spots  where  bees  thrive — just 
about  like  the  location  for  basswood  in  Iowa; 
but  it  does  not  compare  with  the  basswood  of 
Wisconsin  or  the  white  clover  of  any  of  those 
States. 

This  apiary  produced  9  tons  last  season — one- 
half  comb,  and  is  equipped  with  Simplicity 
hives  and  frames;  Root  mills,  which  turn  the 
wax  into  foundation  of  excellent  quality;  ex- 
tractors, sections,  smokers,  supers,  foundation- 
fasteners,  and  section-folders,  from  the  Home 
of  the  Honey-bees;  together  with  100  new  Hed- 
don  hives  contribute  to  the  pleasure  and  profit 
of  the  apiarist. 

One  of  the  great  drawbacks  to  the  business  is 
the  long  distance  from  market,  as  the  honey 
must  be  nearly  all  shipped  to  the  eastern  cities. 

Greeley,  Col.,  June  1.  C.  W.  Dayton. 


PTINIC  (OK  TUNISIAN)  BEES. 

BENTON    GIVES    HIS    OPINION    OF  THEM 
AFTER  TRYING   THEM. 


the  sooner  bee-keepers  in   general    know   the 

facts  in  the  case,  the  better  it  will  be  for  them. 

Rochester,  O.,  May  19.       M.  W.  Shepherd. 

Many  boe-keepers  will  want  to  buy  queens  of  some 
one  of  tlie  Ijettei"  races  this  spiiag'  to  improve  their 
stock.  At  the  present  time  the  clioice  lies  practi- 
cally between  tlie  Italians  and  Carniolans.  Tlie 
former  have  been  known  for  over  30  years  in  tliis 
country,  and  are  very  generally  recognized  as  su- 
perior to  tlie  common  brown  bees.  Tlie  Carniolans 
have  grown  in  favor  very  rapidly  since  their  intro- 
duction, less  tlian  10  years  ago,  largely  on  account 
of  their  uniting,  to  tlie  same  general  good  qualities 
of  the  Italians,  far  greater  gentleness,  enabling 
timid  bee-keepers,  ladies,  and  young  people  to  man- 
age an  apiary  with  much  greater  safety  and  pleas- 
ure than  formerly;  also,  they  winter  the  best  of 
any  race,  and  their  combs  rival  in  whiteness  tliose 
built  by  any  otlier  race. 

Another  race  of  bees  has  recently  been  advei-tised 
under  the  name  of  "Punic  "  bees,  the  queens  hav- 
ing been  offered  at  from  $1.50  to  $50  each.  The  for- 
mer price  is  for  unfertilized  queens;  $5  is  asked  for 
fertilized  queens,  $10  if  purely  mated,  $40  if  selected, 
and  $50  for  such  as  are  said  to  huve  been  imported 
from  the  native  land  of  this  wonderful  new  race, 
which,  according  to  the  claims  of  the  advertiser, 
unites  all  tlie  virtues  that  one  coukl  possibly  imag- 
ine ;is  bi'longing  to  bees,  with  none  of  their  faults. 
As  tilt'  writer  iiappens  to  have  been  the  first  to  call 
general  attention  to  this  race  of  hves,  under  the  far 
more  appropriate  name  of  Tunisian  l)ees  (Tunis 
being  the  native  land  of  the  I'ace),  and  as  he  lias 
had  considerable  experience  with  them  in  Tunis, 
and  also  in  several  other  countries,  he  may  be 
allowed  to  express  an  opinion  as  to  their  merits  and 
demerits.  The  former  are  soon  told,  for  the  Tunis- 
ians (or  Funics)  are  industrious  and  prolitic,  some- 
what more  so  than  any  race  of  bees  coming  from 
Europe,  but  rather  less  so  than  tlie  eastern  Medi- 
terranean races  (Cyprians,  Syrians,  and  Palestines). 
But  their  faults  make  a  list!  They  are  small  and 
very  black;  are  spiteful  stingers,  as  vindictive  as 
the  woj'st  race  known;  bite  in  addition  to  stinging; 
are  great  propolizers,  daubing  hives,  sections,  and 
combs  lavishlj'  with  "bee-glue;"  they  swarm  as 
much  as  do  Carniolans,  and  winter  as  poorly  as  do 
Palcstiiifs.  iSIost  people  will  think  tlie  genuine 
im])(iiti'd  (iiUTiis  area  tritle  extravagant  at  $50  each, 
esi)erially  those  who  remember  that,  in  1885  and 
1880,  just  such  queens  were  offered  at  from  $4  to  $10 
each,  direct  from  Tunis,  northern  Africa.  Million- 
aires who  keep  bees  will,  of  course,  buy  "  Punic  " 
queens  at  $.50  each  for  all  of  their  hives,  although 
they  wouldn't  look  at  Tunisians  a  few  years  since 
at  ^4  to  $10.  But  the  rest  of  us  will  plod  on  with 
bees  wliose  (jueeiis  iMist  us  $1  to  $5  each,  and  that 
are  chii'tly  noted  for  Vi\ing  us  honey,  money,  and 
pleusui-eiii  liaiulling  tliem.  Fkank  Benton. 


CALIFORNIA. 


representatives  of  the  eastern  and 

western  bee-keepers  sitting 

together. 


Inclosed  you  will  find  a  clipping  from  the 
American  Farmer,  Washington,  L).  C.  Evi- 
dently, such  well-known  authority  as  Frank 
Benton  knows  what  he  is  talking  about;  and 


We  enjoyed  the  visit  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Root 
very  much  indeed,  and  only  regret  their  stay 
could  not  have  been  prolonged.  At  the  late 
reunion  of  the  C.  S.  B.  K.  A.  a  photograph  was 
taken  of  our  late  guests  and  the  officers  of  the 
C.  S.  B.  K.  A.  The  photographer  informed  me 
a  few  days  ago  he  had  forwarded  one  to  Mr. 
Root's  address  at  Medina,  so  I  will  give  you  the 
key  to  it. 

Mr.  Mclntyre,  president  (No.  3),  you  will 
recognize;  also  .1.  H.  Martin,  secretary  (No.  9). 
At  the  left  of  Mr.  A.  I.  (No.  4)  is  L.  T.  Rowley 
(No.  5),  vice-president.  At  the  right  of  Prof. 
Cook  (No.  2)  is  T.  II.  Hunt,  vice-president  (No. 
1).  At  the  left  of  Mrs.  Root  (No.  10)  is  the 
treasurer,  the  writer  (No.  11).  Mrs.  Hunt's 
wife  (No.  6)  stands  at  his  back;  the  other  lady 
in  the  picture  is  her  friend  (No.  8);  and  the  tall 
gentleman  between  the  two  is  a  Mr.  Young  (No. 
7),  a  member  of  the  Association. 

Our  honored  guests  are,  I  trust,  distinguish- 
able; and  while  the  photo  is  not  as  good  as  we 


500 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


could  wish,  yet  the  individuals  connected  will 
ever  tend  to  make  us  prize  it  highly. 

Gko.  W.  Brodbfxk. 

Los  Angeles,  C'al.,  Feb.  1. 

[Friend  B.,  you  may  think  we  have  been  a  long 
time  finding  a  place  for  the  above  picture  in 
Gleanings;  but  I  suppose  our  readers  will  be 
as  glad  to  see  it  now  as  almost  any  time.  You 
didn't  tell  us  that  No.  i»  was  "Rambler;"  in 
fact,  by  looking  closely  you  will  see  a  small  por- 
tion of  the  strijjed  breeches  that  have  so  many 
times  delighted  our  eyes.  As  I  look  over  the 
picture  while  adding  my  notes,  it  brings  back  so 
vividly  that  pleasant  month  in  Los  Angeles 
that  it  almost  seems  as  if  we  were  back  there.  I 
don't  suppose  you  will  feel  so  much  interested 
in  No.  10  as  I  do;  but  she  looks  in  the  picture  so 
<'xactly  as  she  did  when  I  found  her  in  San 
Francisco  that  it  makes  my  heart  beat  quicker 
when  I  look  at  the  picture.  /\ndNo.  Ill  Dear 
friend  B.,  it  almost  makes  me  feel  bad  to  think 
how  much  you  and  your  good  wife  did  for  us 
when  we  were  there;  and  it  almost  seems  as  if 
we  didn't  quite  say  "thank  you''  for  it  all. 
And  how  I  do  like  to  see  friends  Cook  and  j\Ic- 
Intyre  sitting  there  together  like  a  couple  of 
brothers!  It  makes  me  think  of  the  time  when 
I  told  Prof.  Cook  that  he  must  get  acquainted 
with  Dr.  Miller;  and  then  I  told  Dr.  Miller  that 
he  must  get  acquainted  with  Prof.  Cook.  It 
was  really  one  of  my  fond  projects  to  get  the 
two  to  know  each  other.  Well,  it  was  just  so 
with  Cook  and  Mclntyre;  and  even  if  they  did 
talk  bees  and  entomology  and  other  things  so 
much  that  ihey  almost  forgot  I  was  around,  it 
didn't  trouble  me  a  bit.  I  haven't  so  much  to 
say  about  the  others,  foi-  I  didn't  get  to  know 
them  quite  so  well  as  I  did  the  otheis;  but  I  got 
acquainted  enough  to  ff(>l  toward  them  like  a 
lot  of  kind  br  .thei'S  and  sisters,  which  they  re- 
ally were.  Say!  don't  you  think  that's  a  nice 
crowd  to  be  in,  any  way?  Some  such  thought 
must  have  b(^en  on  my  mind,  and  that's  what 
made  me  look  so  good-natured  and  happy.] 

A.I.  R. 


JOKES  IN  GLEANINGS. 

AN  "outsider"'  thinks  THEV  OUGHT  TO  BE 
LABELED. 


Editor  Gl callings. ■—!  hope  you  will  pardon 
the  intrusion,  for  I  am  not  a  subscriber  to  your 
journal,  albeit  a  "constant  reader"  through 
the  coui'tesy  of  one  who  is,  and  with  whom  I 
exchange.  We  can  not  afford  to  each  subscribe 
to  all  the  bee-journals  we  wish  to  read,  so  we 
are  neighborly. 

What  I  wish  to  say  is,  that  I  should  think 
you  would  shut  down  on  those  people  who  are 
eternally  reminding  the  Dadants  that  they  are 
Frenchmen— as  if  they  were  to  blame.  I  dare 
say  they  are  as  good  United  States  as  any  of 
their  traducers.  Dr.  Miller,  who  takes  every 
opportunity  to  speak  of  those  "miserable 
Frenchmen  over  at  Hamilton,"  would  certainly 
think  the  wit  rather  far  fetched  if  he  were 
reminded  of  his  likeness  to  St.  Patrick.  Ham- 
baugh  would  not  care  to  have  the  honored 
name  he  bears  traced  to  Hamburger — Limbur- 
ger— bah!  cheese  it!  We  like  a  joke  as  well  as 
any  one,  but  don't  mix  them  up  with  your  ar- 
gument so  much,  else  we  may  not  be,  able  to  tell 
which  is  argument  or  which  is  intended  for 
joke. 

I  don't  know  Dadant  from  a  last  year's  bird's- 
nest  —  never  had  even  a  circular  from  him, 
though  lam  a  bee-keeper;  but  if  I  wanted  to 
deal  with  him  or  any  of  the  crowd — Miller, 
Doolittle,  Hambaugh,  et  omnes  (is  that  correct? 
twenty-five  years  since  I  tried  Latin  afore),  I'd 


just  deal  with  them  regardless  of  "  previous 
condition  of  servitude." 

I  suppose  I  ought  to  apologize  for  writing, 
even;  if  so,  I'll  accept  it.  This  is  "  not  neces- 
sarily for  publication,  but  as  evidence  of  good 
faith."'  C.  H.  Clayton. 

Lang,  Cal.,  April  10. 

[Upon  receiving  the  above  we  studied  upon  it 
for  some  time  to  know  whether  the  writer  was 
joking  or  really  meant  what  he  said.  As  it 
was  a  case  wherein  Di'.  Miller  was  particularly 
involved,  we  sent  it  to  him.  asking  him  what 
his  opinion  was  in  regard  to  it.  In  reply  he 
wrote,  "Some  tilings  in  it  look  plainly  in  the 
direction  of  its  all  being  a  joke,  and  there  sure- 
ly is  some  joking  about  it:  but  the  last  sentence 
in  the  second  paragraph  seems  in  earnest,  in 
which  he  condemns  the  fault  in  which  he  him- 
self sins  so  grievously."  We  then  wrote  Mr. 
Clayton  himself,  explaining  that  Dr.  Miller, 
Mr.  Dadant,  and  Mr.  Hambaugh  were  old-time 
friends,  and  were  in  the  habit  of  bantering  each 
other  at  conventions  and  through  the  bee-jour- 
nals. We  further  added,  that,  if  he  meant  it 
for  a  joke,  we  would  give  it  insertion,  and  that 
we  thought  our  readers  would  so  understand  it 
— at  least  if  we  appended  a  footnote  to  that 
efPect.  Mr.  Clayton  replied  in  the  same  face- 
tious style;  and  as  it  is  somewhat  sparkling  in 
its  humor,  we  present  the  same  to  our  readers.] 

Editor  Gleanings: 

There!  just  what  I  expected!  The  whole 
staff  of  (Cleanings  turned  down.  The  proof  of 
the  pudding  is  in  the  eating.  If  they  don't 
know  a  joke,  how  in  the  world  can  you  expect 
us  "outsiders"'  to  recognize  oiu>— unless  "'tis 
English,  you  know"?  Of  course,  I  could  see 
that  Dr.  M.  et  al.  were  joking,  else  Taylor 
would  not  keep  bees  to  eke  out  a  living;  he 
would  have  too  much  to  do  defending  libel 
suits,  etc.  My  mother  always  said  I  was  a 
Icette  smarter  than  common  children,  hence  I 
knew  they  were  joking  all  the  time.  But, 
seriously,  all  jokes  should  be  labeled  in  three 
colors,  like  Mark  Twain's  picture,  "This  is  a 
horse."  Then  there  could  be  no  mistake  about 
it — it  would  be  known  like  the  woman's  turkey 
— by  "walk,  talk,  and  conversation."  How 
would  this  do  for  a  label  on  Hambaugh"s  joke? 
"  Monsieur,  by  gar,  you're  a  Frenchman;  voiis 
understandes?  This  is  the  first  of  April,  and 
this  is  a  joke."  This,  coupled  with  a  footnote 
by  the  editor,  explaining  that  it  was  intended 
as  a  joke,  would  make  it  real  spicy.  I  hate 
to  have  to  explain  a  joke.  Don't  you?  Why 
can't  we  "outsidei's"  be  let  into  the  secret,  so 
we  can  laugh  with  Dr.  M.  and  Ernest?  Misery 
loves  company.  I  am,  I  suppose,  what  you  call 
an  outsider.  lam  not  a  subscriber  to  Glean- 
ings. I  read  it  through  kindness  of  a  more  for- 
tunate neighbor;  but  I  hope  by  and  by,  as  soon 
as  I  can  afford  it,  to  get  on  the  inside,  and  pay 
for  Gleanings.  Times  have  been  mighty 
"  corky  "  for  a  year  or  two,  and  the  "  kids  "  are 
lightning  on  shoe-leather;  so.  per  force,  I  must, 
for  a  time  at  least,  stay  outside  the  fence,  and 
continue  to  swap  journals  with  my  neighbor; 
but  whatever  betide,  I  shall  not  fail  to  take  an 
interest  in  every  thing  pertaining  to  bee  culture. 

Lang.  Cal.,  April  30.  C.  H.  Clayton. 

[While  the  correspondence  above  was  appar- 
ently intended  for  the  private  ear  of  the  editor, 
we  thought  it  might  be  interesting  to  the  read- 
ers in  general.  It  will  explain,  perhaps,  a  little 
better  to  some  of  the  "outsiders"  how  some  of 
the  principal  eontributoi'S  do  sometimes  banter 
each  other— not  because  they  have  any  ill  will 
or  spite,  but  because  they  are  such  good  friends 
they  can  poke  fun  at  each  other's  expense,  and 
not  "  get  mad."    If  Dr.  Miller  et  al.  are  jokers. 


1802 


(■.LBANIN(JS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


507 


tlit'ii  our  (aliforniu 
(jokiT).] 


-|iiiii(ii'iil  "  is  aiiol  liiM' 


RAMBLE  NO.  62. 

MATII.I.IA    r.\NV(>.\. 

At.  till'  kociHswopt  boe-ko(>p(M's' coiivciilioM  in 
Los  .Viigi'lcs  I  niado  tho  aciinaiiiliiiu-c  oT  Mi-.  15. 
A.  Rapp,  also  nl"  N'cntura.  'I'in'  Utile  city  of 
Ventura  is  liiiilt  alonii  ilic  slioif  of  die  I'ac-ilic: 
ami  I'losc  to  it.,  fof  a  hacking,  arc  .several  stcH'p 
and  barren-looking  liiils.  Someliines  these 
liillsidcs   are  covercii  with   residences,  for   Ikm'c 


?r7 


m 


w 


€^ 


■M^X- 


W' 


THK    RAMBLER   ON    THE    WARI'ATH;     AFTER   THE   EDITOR   OF 
GEEANING.S  WHILE  IN    CALIFORNIA. 

we  gel  a  grand  view  of  tlie   Pacific  Ocean,  and 
the  h<'althfiil  salt-water  breezes  come  up  to  yon 
withonl  let  or  hindrance.    The  residence   hav- 
ing tli(;  higliest  elevation  is  occupied  by  Mr.  B. 
A.  Rapp   and    his  hi-other.  .1.  .1.     1  climbed   the 
hill  in  the  evening,  and  could   hear  the  steady 
roar  of  the  ocean- waves  as  they  dashed  in  upon 
the  shore.     All    night    this    mo- 
notonous movement  of  tlie  waters 
sound  d    much    like   the    steady 
contlict  of  waters  at  Niagara. 

B.  .V.and  the  Rambler  occupiec' 
the  same  bed  harnu)niously  to- 
gether, and  felt  very  fraternal,  as 
we  had  both  been  upon  the  gold- 
en shore  less  than  a  year,  and 
were  both  still  in  the  order  of 
"tenderfoot."  It  was  quite  late 
when  we  closed  our  eyes  in 
slumber,  iind  also  late  when  we 
opened  them  in  the  morning.  A 
grand  view  was,  however,  wait- 
ing to  impress  itself  upon  our 
opening  eyes.  While  yet  in  the 
bed  sve  could  see  far  out  upon  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  The  long  lazy 
swells  came  rolling  in:  and  upon 
their  approach  to  shore  their 
crests  would  sharpen  up  and'sud- 
denly  break  into  white  foam  all 
along  the  line,  and  lash  far  up 
on  thi'  pebbly  beach.  The  shore- 
line mak«!S  a  curve  here,  and  the 
foaming  breakers  were  visible  for 
a  long  distance;  and  for  severa 
admired  a  grand  picture  of 
nev»U'  forget.  ZZJL 

During  th<;  short  lime   Mr.  B.^A.  Rapp  had 


been  in  N'entui'a  he  had  come  into  possession  of 
two  a|iiaries:  lirsi  by  purchase,  then  i)y  in- 
cr(>ase,  which  speaks  well  for  his  energy  and 
close  application  lo  business.  We  enjoyed  a 
very  |)leasaiit  ride,  some  ten  miles  o\it.  to  them, 
and  found  them  apparently  in  excellent  condi- 
tion for  winter.  We  found  all  of  the  usual 
concomitants  of  a  California  ajjiary  —  hives, 
stones,  tank,  extracting-hut,  and  sun  wax- 
extractor. 

This  locality  differed  somewhat   from   other 
places  I  had  visited.  From    the   number  of  live- 
oak  trees.     There  were  many  of  tliem,  and  they 
aifonied  a  plenliful  shade,  and  gave   the   land- 
scape, a   more    pleasing    appear- 
ance.    Shade,  however,  is   not  so 
essential  nc^ar  the  coast  as   it  is 
in    the   interior.     The;    .sea-breeze 
nuikes   a   very  even   temperature 
here,  while  In    the    interior    the 
mercury  often   rises    to  -lir)    de- 
grees in  the  shade.    Still,  owing 
to  the  dryness  of  the  atmosi)here 
there  are  but  few  ca.ses  of  sun- 
stroke*. 

.1.  J.  Rapp's  apiary  is  20  miles 
from  his  residence,  and  well  up 
in  the  Matilija  Canyon,  into 
which  the  editor  of  Gleaning.s 
has  twice  journeyed;  and  from 
his  recent  experience  in  getting 
his  feet  cleansed  from  a  heavy 
coating  of  Medina  garden  soil, 
he  may  be  expected  again  when 
said  pedal  extremities  get  into 
the  s;ime  condition.  But  bewari". 
Mr.  Editor;  this  makes  several 
times  the  path  of  my  travels  has 
been  crossed,  and  patience  has 
ceased  to  exert  a  virtuous  influ- 
ence. I  have  the  promise  of  a 
shotgun  for  defense,  and  now 
would  say,  in  the  immortal  words 
of  the  poet:  "Beware  the  pine-tree's  withered 
branch;  beware  the  fearful  avalanche;  be- 
ware of  my  shotgun." 

Mr.  Rapp  was  going  into  the  canyon  to  regu- 
late his  apiary  for  the  rainy  season;  and.  desir- 
ing an  expert  helpei'.  we  concluded  the  follow- 
ing very  satisfactory  bargain:  I  was  to  ride  ;2() 


l^ 


THE    RAMBLER    A.NI)   FRIEND   EN    ROUTE   TO   AN  OUT-AI'IARY 
IN   CALIFORNIA. 


minutes  we 
nature  we  shall 


miles  on  the  nigh  side  of  a  road-cart;  open  all 
the  gates,  etc..  that  obstructed  our  way;  eat 
what  Mr.  R.  had  a  mind  to  givi'  me;  sleep 
where  he  told  me.  and  do  as  he  did  in  the  apia- 


508 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


ry.  He  was  to  care  for  the  horse,  and  shoo 
away  any  bears,  girls,  or  grass  widows  that 
might  be  prowling  around. 
DWe  jogged  along  for  miles  in  a  very  numerous 
dust  which  arose  in  clouds  all  around  us.  As 
soon  as  we  entered  the  canyon,  however,  we 
left  the  disagreeable  behind  us.  The  Ventura 
River  takes  its  rise  away  up  somewhere  in  these 
mountain  fastnesses,  and  comes  whirling  down 
witla  many  a  crook  and  turn  to  encounter. 
When  we  enter  the  canyon  we  circle  around  a 
point  of  jagged  rocks  that  almost  overhang  our 
heads.  For  over  five  miles  we  follow  the  ever- 
shifting  scenes;  much  of  the  way  we  follow  the 
winding  way  of  the  river-bed.  and  cross  it  14 
times.  At  the  little  hamlet  of  Matilija  is  a  hot 
sulphur-spring,  where  the  editor  bathed  so 
gloriously;  but  there  is  a  much  better,  hotter, 
more  solvent,  and  more  sulphurous  spring  a 
couple  of  miles  further  up  the  canyon.  This 
spring  is  so  hot  the  hand  can   not  be  held  in  it. 


to  work  the  apiary:  but  a  rifle  settled  the  ques- 
tion of  proprietorship.  Mr.  R.  had  not  been  to 
the  apiary  for  several  weeks.  His  work  now 
was  to  move  back  several  colonies  from  the 
river-bank,  where  there  was  danger  of  a  wash- 
out. Then  the  hives  were  closed  up  to  small 
entrances;  the  covers  were  evenly  adjusted, 
and  heavy  stones  were  placed  on  the  covers. 
A  few  swarms  were  united,  and  the  apiary 
would  not  be  visited  again  for  three  or  four 
months.  Owing  to  tlie  road  following  the  bed 
of  the  river  there  are  several  weeks  du>'ing  a 
season  of  heavy  rains  when  the  upper  portion 
of  the  canyon  is  impassable;  and  people  resid- 
ing far  up  have  to  lay  in  an  extra  supply  of  pro- 
visions or  move  out.  The  move-out  plan  is 
usually  adopted. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day  our  work 
with  the  bees  was  finished.  Mr.  R.  had  an  idea 
of  dividing  his  apiary  and  starting  another 
three  miles  further  up;   and  he  proposed  that 


J.   J.   RAI'P'S   BI.ACK-BEAK   APIARY,   M.VTILLJA   CANYON.    CAI.IFOHXI.V. 


I  suppose  this  extra  high  temperature  is  owing 
to  its  proximity  to  the  Devil's  Slide.  This  his- 
toric slide  is  a  very  jagged  seam  of  rock,  set  at 
an  acute  angle,  and  hundreds  of  feet  down  the 
side  of  the  mountain.  It  is  evidiMit  that,  if  Old 
Nick  ever  did  slide  down  that  rough  place,  the 
seat  of  his  pants  must  have  suffered  exceeding- 
ly. Several  times  in  going  up  the  canyon  we 
approached  a  blank  wall  of  rock  which  seemed 
to  bar  our  further  progress;  but  a  way  of  escape 
and  progress  was  opened  by  a  short  turn  to  the 
right  or  the  left.  Near  such  a  place  we  made  a 
sharp  turn  and  came  suddenly  upon  the  busy 
city  of  be(>s,  located  upon  a  littlC  level  of  land 
with  prodigious  mountains  all  around  it.  In 
addition  to  hives,  stones,  etc.,  there  is  a  little 
cabin,  and  here  Mr.  Rapp,  his  wife,  baby,  and 
a  helper,  stay  through  the  busy  season.  This 
apiary  numbers  37.5  colonies,  and  it  is  a  piece  of 
property  that  has  changed  hands  several  times. 
A  previous  owner  had  trouble  from  bears  trying 


we  settle  our  dinners  by  riding  that  distance 
further  into  the  canyon.    The  road  was  exceed- 
ingly well   adapted  to  the  purpose,  and  it  re- 
quired much   skill  witli   the  reins  to  avoid  the 
stones.     Mr.  R.  was  an  adept  at  missing  them 
on  liis  side  of  the  cart,  but  was  sure  to  bounce 
the   Rambler  over  every  big  boulder  that  was 
on  his  side.    Every  time  I  came  down  witli  an 
exclamation  he  would  say: 
'•  We'll  get  there  soon;  no  harm  done." 
"Oh,  no!"  says  I;  "no  harm  done." 
We  forded  the  river  again,  and  his  side  of  the 
cart  got  a  bounce;  and  as  we  went  up  the  bank 
at  an  angle  of  45  degrees,  says  I,  "  We're  getting 
there;  no  harm  done." 
"Oh,  no!"  says  he;  "no  harm  done." 
We  agreed  jiist  beautifully.    Right  here  on 
the  bank  of  the  river  is  the  residence  of  an  old 
Spaniard,  and  the  last  house  in  the  canyon,  and 
the  end  of  the  road  for  wagons.    A  trail  can  be 
followed  still  farther  up.    The  horse  was  secur- 


18<)0 


GLEANINC.S  IN  UEE  CULTURE. 


509 


od.  ami  wo  procoodod  on  foot.  A  .^^iiitablo  placo 
was  foiiiui  for  lofatins:  an  auiaiy.  Tlir  [)asUii- 
asr*^  was  fcitainly  unlimited,  hut  it  looUtnl  like 
a  dn>ary  spot  to  a  man  inst  from  the  East;  hut 
1  siijiposc,  (Mc  this  will  he  rcaii.  Mf.  K.  will 
liavf  an  apiary  in  full  blast  in  tlicrc. 
C'TIh'  oKi  Spaniai'd  had  a  few  rattle  on  his 
ranoli,  and  had  also  made  iiimself  famous  a 
few  months  pn<vioiis  by  lassoing  a  bear  that 
was  i)i'o\\  lintr  ai'ound  his  pi-emis(>s. 
'  I  found,  dui'ini;  th(>  cabin  experience,  tiiat 
Mr.  K.  was  an  excellent  cook.  He  could  maUe 
cotTee.  take   beef  out  of  a  can.  and   slice   bread 

i"ust  as  iiandily  as  a  woman.  Duriii);  our  stay 
If.  R.  pave  me  the  choice  of  sleeping  in  a  strad- 
dling sort  of  cot  or  on  the  Iloor.  1  chose  the 
floor,  and  was  pleased  to  see  him  mount  the  cot 
and  pili^  blankets  on  top  of  ids  corporosity  wliih; 
Jh>  had  nothing  but  canvas  under  lum.  The 
night  being  ipiite  cool,  and  being  attacked  from 
that  quarter,  my  friend's  slumbers  were  much 
agitated  with  dreams. 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day  we  broke 
camj)  and  started  for  civilization.  My  friend 
felt  it  his  duty  to  bid  good-by  to  all  the  lone 
widows,  who  seemed  to  be  abundant  in  the 
canyon. 

There  are  several  apiaries  in  the  canyon. 
Mrs.  I>yon  and  daughter  have  an  apiary,  and  a 
very  pretty  home  completely  embowered  in 
shade  and  fruit  trees;  and  in  the  season  of 
flowers  the  rose  lends  its  charm  to  beautify  the 
surroundings.  These  ladies  are  also  lieroines 
in  their  exploits  with  wild  animals.  A  moun- 
tain-lion came  down  upon  their  fold  one  night, 
and.  having  no  man  around  to  call  upon,  they 
went  out  and  shot  the  lion  themselves.  Such 
is  the  grit  possessed  by  the  women  of  Matilija 
Canyon.  A  little  further  down,  Mr.  Lewis  has 
a  large  apiary,  and  runs  his  extractor  by  weight 
power.  The  machine  was  not  visible.  It  was 
behind  locked  doors,  and  there  was  nobody  at 
home.  At  another  point  we  see,  away  across 
the  river,  the  Hellow  apiary,  and  the  owner 
means  that  everybody  passing  that  way  shall 
know  it,  for  the  words  are  painted  on  the  end 
of  his  cabin  in  letters  over  a  foot  long,  which 
can  be  read  a  mile  away.  I  have  no  doubt  about 
the  proprietor's  .'sociability,  for  his  cheery, 
warm-liearted  greeting  is  always  there  if  he  is 
not. 

I  parted  with  my  friend  Rapp  on  the  streets 
of  Ventura,  and  shall  ever  hold  in  grateful 
remembrance  the  many  kind  bee-keepers  who 
reside  in  Ventura,  that  beautiful  city  fanned 
by  the  breezes  of  old  P'acilic,  and  lulled  to  re- 
pose by  the  music  of  her  dashing  waves.  That 
evening,  in  order  to  make  railroad  connections, 
I  left  Ventura  a  little  more  abruptly  than  I 
intended  to.  and  again  the  ratth;  and  turmoil  of 
a  train  was  the  music  that  surrounded  the 

Rambler. 

[Now,  friend  R.,  you  have  gone  and  trodden 
on  and  run  over  a  good  many  things  that  are 
almost  sacred  to  my  memory.  It  is  not  .so.  that 
I  carried  Medina  soil  all  the  way  to  the  hot 
springs  of  Matilija.  Mrs.  Root  would  have 
never  married  me  if  I  had  done  that  way.  That 
Matilija  Canyon  is  one  of  the  things  of  nature 
that  makes  my  heart  swell  when  1  think  of  it. 
Your  description  of  it  is  grand,  especially  where 
you  come  on  to  me,  lixed  up  like  a  wild  Indian 
on  the  war-path.  Your  description  of  the  way 
in  which  bee-keepers  go  up  there  and  get  shut 
in  by  the  high  waters  is  a  real  truth;  and  it 
seems  to  me  a  little  sad  to  think  that,  not- 
withstanding the  immensi'  yields  of  honey  that 
this  wilderness  affords,  most  people  sooner  or 
later  abandon  it.  The  jncture  of  riding  'n  a 
cart  down  the  canyon  is  wonderfully  lifelike; 
and  the  old  inhabitants  have  a  provoking  way  of 


looking  so  cool  and  indilTerent,  exactly  like  the 
man  in  the  picture  who  sits  by  your  side,  that  it 
used  to  vex  me.  The  pony,  too.  will  walk  right 
straight  through  heaps  of  rocks  half  a  big  as 
liiinself,  with  the  utmost  indilTerence;  tluwi  the, 
occupants  of  the  Nchii'le  won't  e\en  make  a  re- 
mark or  lose  the  smile  on  their  faces, even  wln^n 
they  are  shaken  about  in  a  way  that  must  dis- 
lodge all  their  fals(>  teeth  —  if  they  have  any.  I 
found  out,  after  my  last  visit,  that  there  was  an 
apiary  and  a  hot  Uir  spring  up  there.  Why!  I 
thouglit  I  was  chuir  to  th(!  borders  of  civili/.a- 
tit)n.  l{y  the  way.  I  wondei- wluither  anybody 
could  kee])  climbing  for  ever,  furth(!r  on  into 
tliose  wild  t'anyons.  Yes,  no  doubt  Ventura  is 
a  nice  place  to  live  in;  and  what  lots  of  good 
people  are  to  be  found  there!  Now,  in  regard 
to  your  remark  that  it  is  the  Devil's  Slide  that 
makes  the  spring  water  so  hot.  Why,  friend 
R.,  have  you  forgotten  that  we  gave  a  most 
beautiful  picture*  of  the  i)lace  whefe  his  Satanic 
Majesty  is  reputed  to  have  slidden  down?  You 
will  lind  it  on  p.  27,  .Ian.  1st  issue,  '8'.).]  A.  I.  R. 


ftUESTIONS  ANSWERED. 


FACT.S    FKO.M    OI5SEIJVATION,    BY    DOOLITTLE. 

A  correspondent  writes:  "Will  you  please 
answer  the  following  questions  through  (Ji.kan- 
iNGs?  1.  What  is  the  significance  of  lindingin 
the  morning,  say  from  twenty  to  fifty  little 
round  caps  of  wax  near  the  entrances  of  the 
hives?" 

Answer.— So  far  as  ray  observation  goes,  the 
finding  of  such  caps  signifies  that  drones  are 
hatching  out;  for  if  any  one  will  take  the  time 
to  examine,  he  will  find  that  the  drone,  in 
hatching  from  the  cell,  bites  the  cover  of  the 
cell  entirely  off  by  a  smooth  cut,  while  the 
workers  leave  only  fragments  of  the  cappings 
of  their  cell-coverings  in  hatching.  The  queen 
cuts  off  the  capping  of  her  cell  the  same  as  does 
the  drone,  except,  as  a  rule,  a  little  piece  on  one 
side  is  left,  which  often  acts  like  the  hinge  to 
a  door,  the  door  often  closing  after  the  queen 
has  gone  out.  Where  no  such  hinge  is  left, 
then  the  caps  to  the  queen-cells  are  tumbled 
out  of  the  hive  the  same  as  are  the  drone  cap- 
pings. but  in  no  case  would  there  probably  be  as 
many  caps  from  queen-cells  seen  as  our  cor- 
respondent mentions.  If  the  little  door  thus 
closes  as  spoken  of  above,  the  bees  often  make 
it  fast,  so  that  the  inexperienced  bee-keeper  is 
often  deceived  into  thinking  that  the  queen  has 
not  hatched.  It  often  happens,  as  soon  as  the 
queen  has  emerged  from  her  cell,  that  a  worker 
goes  into  the  cell  to  partake  of  the  royal  jelly 
left  in  the  cell,  after  which  the  cell-cover  flies 
back,  or  is  pushed  back  by  the  ever  traveling 
bees,  and  the  worker  is  a  prisoner,  which  has 
caused  many  to  think  that  the  inmate  of  the 
cell  was  not  a  queen  but  a  worker;  hence  they 
call  their  colony  queenless,  and  send  off  for  a 
queen,  only  to  have  her  destroyed  when  they 
try  to  introduce  her.  It  is  well  to  understand 
all  of  these  little  things  in  bee  culture.  Some 
suppose  that  the  round  ca|)S  spoken  of  by  the 
corres|)ondent  indicate  the  uncapping  of  cells 
of  lioney.  either  by  robbers  or  preparatory  to 
tlie  carrying  of  the  honey  from  the  outside  to 
the  center  of  the  hive:  but  I  think  this  is  a 
mistake,  as  the  cappings  of  the  honey-cells  are 
gnawed  off  in  little  fragments,  and  not  in  the 
round  form  spoken  of. 

"2.  In  gathering  honey, do  bees  visit  different 
kinds  of  llowers  on  one  trip,  or  gather  honey 
from  one  kind  of  flowers  only?" 

Answer. — From  the  fact  that  bees  never  bring 
in  pollen  of  different  colors  in  their  pollen-bas- 
kets at  the  same  time,  the  idea  has  obtaiiK'd 


510 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


that  thoy  visit  only  the  sanip  blossoms,  or  blos- 
soms of  thfi  same  color,  which  id^a  in  the  main 
is  correct,  or  very  nearly  so.  Regarding  this 
point  I  will  say  that,  in  gathering  pollen,  I 
never  saw  a  bee  change  from  one  kind  of  flower 
to  another,  except  on  the  clovers.  I  have  seen 
bees  gathering  pollen  from  white,  red,  and 
alsike  clover  at  the  same  time;  but  those  clo- 
vers gave  the  same-colored  pollen.  When  we 
come  to  honey.  I  liave  seen  bees  tly  from  a 
gooseberry -bush  to  a  currant-bush,  and  froni 
clover  to  raspberry- bloom,  and  vice  versa.  I 
have  also  seen  them  go  from  the  red  variety  of 
I'aspberry  to  the  black,  where  the  different 
kinds  of  bushes  were  planted  side  by  side,  or  in 
alternate  rows;  still,  all  that  does  not  prove 
that  bees  gather  honey  pi'omiscuously,  for  I  do 
not  believe  they  do.  It  will  be  observed  that 
all  of  the  above,  except  "  from  clover  to  rasp- 
berry," were  of  the  same  species  of  plants,  or 
nearly  so.  Teasel  and  basswood  bloom  at  the 
same  time;  but  never,  in  all  of  my  watching, 
did  lever  see  a  bee  go  from  teasel  to  basswood 
or  from  basswood  to  teasel. 

"3.  A  swarm  came  out  one  day.  clustered, 
and  was  hived.  In  the  evening  they  swarmed 
out  and  went  back  into  the  old  hive,  leaving  a 
small  bunch  of  bees  in  the  hive;  these  remained 
six  days,  when  they  swarmed  out.  I  found  the 
queen  with  them.  What  made  the  most  of  the 
bees  leave  their  queen  and  go  back?" 

Answer.— The  above  is  one  of  the  most  per- 
plexing things  which  occasionally  happen  in 
the  swarming  season  in  a  large  apiary.  The 
general  cause  is,  that  a  few  strange  bees  from 
another  swarm  or  elsewhere  go  in  with  the 
swarm,  and  for  this  reason  the  queen  is  balled 
for  safe  keeping,  or  for  some  other  purpose; 
just  what.  I  never  knew.  Where  the  queen  of 
a  newly  hived  swarm  is  thus  balled,  the  bees 
seem  to  think  that  they  have  lost  their  queen, 
and  so  return  to  the  old  hive,  all  except  a  few 
which  are  near  the  ball  of  bees.  If  they  are 
stopped  from  going  home  they  will  try  to  go 
into  other  hives.  I  used  to  get  a  large  propor- 
tion of  them  killed  in  this  way.  by  their  trying 
to  go  into  other  hives,  or  else  I  had  to  let  them 
go  back,  until  I  learned  how  to  keep  them  from 
going  back.  At  first  I  hunted  out  the  queen  by 
smoking  the  ball  of  bees  until  they  released  her, 
when  she  was  caged  and  placed  between  the 
combs,  or  hung  down  from  the  top -bars  of  the 
frames  when  no  combs  were  used.  In  about  a 
half  of  these  cases  this  satisfied  them,  while  at 
other  times  they  would  ball  the  cage,  so  it  did 
no  good.  I  now  secure  the  queen  as  before;  but 
instead  of  using  a  common  round  cage  I  make 
a  large  flat  one  to  reach  clear  across  the  frames. 
Into  this  I  put  the  queen  and  lay  it  on  top  of 
the  frames,  when  the  bees  can  get  at  her 
through  the  wire  cloth  between  every  frame  in 
the  hive,  which  satisfies  them.  The  next  morn- 
ing I  let  her  loose  and  remove  the  cage,  when 
all  goes  well.  G.  M.  Doolittle. 

Borodino,  N.  Y.,  June  14. 


MAKING  YOUR  OWN  FLOUR. 

AN   IMPltOVEMENT    SUGGESTED   ON   THE    WILSON 
MILL. 


I'erhaps  some  of  the  readers  of  Gleanings 
have  felt  the  need,  as  I  have,  of  a  family  grist- 
mill. If  they  have,  and  have  nuide  any  attempt 
to  find  one,  they  know  that  little  attention  has 
been  given  to  the  manufacture  of  such  ma- 
chines. I  am  confident  that  a  pi'actical  hand- 
mill  can  be  made,  costing,  perhaps,  twelve  or 
fifteen  dollars,  about  the  size  and  weight  of  a 
farm  corn-sheller,  with  gearing  and  balance- 
wheel  similar  to  the  same,  that  will  grind 
wheat  fine  enough  so  that  the  entire  product, 


minus,  perhaps,  the  coarsest  bran,  may  be  mad(> 
into  light  bread;  and  which  will  not  recjuire  an 
excessive  amount  of  time  or  labor  to  operate. 
If  such  a  mill  is  manufactured,  lean  not  find  it. 
The  nearest  thing  that  I  can  find  to  it  that  I 
have  discovered  is  Wilson  Bros'.  No.  0  mill. 
This  mill,  costing  about  five  dollars,  is  sent  out 
without  legs,  and  is  designed  to  be  bolted  on  a 
bench  and  operated  by  a  handle  on  the  rim  of 
the  balance-wheel.  If  any  of  the  friends  have 
one,  they  know  that  the  time  and  labor  neces- 
sary to  grind  any  thing  fine  is  so  great  that  the 
tnill,  as  made  by  the  ma:;ufacturers.  is  practi- 
cally limited  to  coarse  corn  meal  and  cracked 
wheat.  They  also  know  that  the  number  of 
turns  of  the  crank  required  to  do  the  work 
wearies  the  operator  more  than  the  resistance 
of  the  mill,  even  if  the  resistance  were  some- 
what increased.  Having  purchased  one  of 
these  machines  to  produce  graham  flour  fine 
enough  for  bread,  and  feeling  that  it  was  not  a 
success  in   this  respect,  as  it  stood,  I  set  about 


incK'asing  its  spe(>d  at  the  expense  of  power. 
The  accompanying  illustialion  will  show  quite 
clearly  the  manner  in  which  this  was  done.  It 
is  not  a  diltictilt  matter  to  find  two  cog-wheels, 
related  to  each  other  as  one  to  three  or  four, 
the  smaller  of  which  must  fit  the  j J  inch  shaft 
of  the  mill.  A  piece  of  old  shafting,  fitted  (by 
a  blacksmith)  with  a  crank,  and  fastened  into 
the  larger  cog-wheel,  and  the  whole  connected 
with  the  smaller  cog  and  fastened  to  the  bench 
with  wooden  boxing  (if  iron  boxing  can  not  be 
found),  completes  the  machine.  One  turn  of 
the  crank  gives  four  of  the  mill,  and  the  in- 
creased speed  causes  the  balance-wheel  to  assist 
in  the  operation.  Those  who  own  these  mills 
will  be  well  paid  for  the  money  and  time  re- 
quired to  gear  them  as  above;  and  how  they  do 
crack  corn  for  the  chickens!  But,  best  of  all, 
we  now  transfer  wheal  from  the  bin  to  the 
gem  -  pans  and  bread  -  pans  quite  frequent- 
ly, and  with  comparatively  little  time  and 
labor.  If  every  one  knew  what  sweet  nice 
bread  this  fresh  new  flour  makes,  there  would 
be  a  notabh^  falling-ofT  in  the  use  of  white  flour, 
and  tlu^  feed-mill  manufacturers  would  be  lying 
awake  nights  devising  a  perfect  family  grist- 
mill. Millers,  also,  instead  of  offering  you,  as 
they  do,  nothing  but  graham  flour  a  year  old, 
or  that  made  of  musty  or  grown  wheat,  would 
be  taKing  some  pains  to  furnish  something  nice. 
Green  Spring,  O.,  May  23.  N.  E.  Loveland. 


lS«.i:.' 


GLEANINCiS  IN  HPiE  CULTURK. 


511 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 

A  TOOI,  FOK   AV1KI.\«   FRAMKS. 

If  tiioso  who  art"  wiriiitr  frann's  by  tlio  Kcpiicy 
plan,  ami  liavc  uo  small  iilitTs,  will  niaUo  ii 
nook  of  stilT  w  ire.  jiisi  lariii>  ctioiigh  to  slip  over 


tlit>  nails,  ami  tit  it  into  a  suitable  luindlc.  1  am 
suiv  they  will  be  plca.sod.  as  the  hooks  can  be 
ft)rmt'd  rapidly  and  easily. 


HOFFMAN   FKAMKS    VVT   TOGETHER  WRONG. 

The  above  diagram  shows  how  HoflFman 
frames  may  be  put  up  with  the  V's  on  opposite 
sides,  and  vet  be  wrona  when  placed  in  the  hive. 

Reeds  Coineis.  ^'.  Y.  Jame.s  Roat. 

[Yes.  the  Hoffman  frames  can  be  nailed  togeth- 
er wrong:  but  to  prevent  this,  our  catalogue, 
and  also  the  jxinled  matter  accompanying  the 
frames  in  the  Hat.  warn  against  the  mistake, 
and  tell  how  to  put  the  frames  together  so  that 
the  V  edge  will  always  came  next  to  a  square 
edge.  Th(!  shai'p  edge  should  always  point 
Unnird  you.  and  next  to  the  left  thumb,  when 
the  frame  is  suspendi-d  by  both  forefingers.] 

death  of  an  oi.i)  bee-keeper. 

Will  you  kindly  announce  the  death,  on  May 
:.*t)lh.  at  4  .v.  m..  of  our  esteemed  friend  Mi'.  Oluf 
Olson,  of  this  place?  Mr.  Olson,  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  was  about  40  years  of  age.  He  was 
born  in  Sweden,  but  canie  to  America  some  22 
years  ago.  After  visiting  and  stopi)ing  a  while 
in  Memphis.  St.  Louis,  ami  Cincinnati,  he  set- 
lied  in  Springlield.  O.  Fnim  thej-e  he  came  to 
Florida,  and  has  been  in  this  State  about  11 
years,  though  one  winter  was  spent  in  Cuba 
assisting  Mr.  O.  O.  Poppleton  in  caring  for  an 
apiary  there.  He  was  an  a|)ianst  by  occupa- 
tion: "was  well  skilled  in  the  different  branches 
of  the  business,  and  has  nuide  some  tine  records 
here.  Yet  he  was  an  exceptionally  modest 
man.  and  talk<>d  but  little  of  iiis  successes.  His 
last  sickness  was  brought  on  by  overwork  in 
his  line  of  business:  but.  though  failing  for 
some  weeks,  his  sufferings  were  not  particularly 
severe,  nor  had  he  apparently  any  fear  of  death. 

Hawks  Park.  Fla.,  June  i).         "\V.  S.  Hart. 


sealed  covers  and  absorbents  in  Tin; 
ceij.ar. 

I  see  on  page  'iCu  you  want  testimony  on  win- 
tering bees  in  cellar  with  tight  bottoms  and 
sealed  covers  on.  Last  fall  I  put  my  bees  in  the 
cellar  just  the  same  as  they  were  in  the  yard. 
To  make  sure  most  of  them  were  tight.  I  set 
one  tier  of  hives  with  a  wide  hoard  iiiniiing 
lengthwise  of  them:  then  another  tiei' of  hives 
(m  top.  This  weight  on  top  would  make  the 
lower  ones  very  tight,  and  they  were  new  hiv(!S. 
Now.  every  one  of  those  colonies  came  out  in 
No.]  shape;  and  I  like  it  so  well  that  all  my 
bees  will  go  in  in  that  way  this  fall.  I  winter 
under  my  house,  and  I  had   more   light   in   the 


cellar  this  wintei'  tiiaii  evei'  before.  I  find  it 
made  no  difference.  I  set  my  bees  facing  the 
wall,  lower  tier  about  a  foot  from  the  ground. 
1  lind  the  most  essential  point  is  to  have  plenty 
of  bees  and  stores  in  the  hives.  I  have  also 
found  it  does  not  pay  to  bother  with  small  weak 
colonies  that  are  short  of  stoiH^s — better  be 
united  and  fed  up,  as  one  good  swarm  is  worth 
a  dozen  poor  ones. 

In  conclusion  I  will  say  there  will  be  thou- 
sands of  i)ouiids  of  honey  this  season  for  all  if 
it  will  only  stoj)  r-aining  long  enough  for  the 
bees  to  get  out.  The  harvest  will  come  with  a 
iiish  w  hen  it  does  come.  W.  D.  Soi'ER. 

Jackson,  Mich.,  May  19. 

AirriFICIAI.   HONEY. 

Well  merited  was  the  fine  of  SUM)  recently 
imposed  ujjon  a  man  in  New  Hampshire,  con- 
victed of  .selling  artilicial  honey.  Now  "trot 
out"  the  man  who  "manufactures  artificial 
combs  and  fills  them  with  artificial  honey.'' if 
he  can  be  found.  He  is  talk(>d  about  a  gi'eat 
deal:  the  editui' of  th(^  vl.  Ti. /.  has  diligentlv 
sought  him.  but  his  location  or  a  sample  of  his 
artificial  comb  honey  the  vigilant  editor  has 
not  yet  been  able  to  find.  If  a  Chicago  man 
can  make  artificial  comb  honey,  a  Chicago 
editor  is  smai't  enough  to  find  him  out. 

It  can't  be  that  Mr.  Newman  is  after  the  JilOOO 
that  has  been  offered  for  one  pound  of  artificial 
comb  honey.  No,  he  is  after  the  scalp  of  the 
fellow  that  keeps  up  the  ceaseless  reiteration 
of  the  '"Wiley  pleasantly."  Mr.  N.  applies  a 
stronger  term  usually.  The  story  may  have 
started  as  a  "pleasanti'y,"  but  we  can't  any 
longer  call  it  a  pleasantry.  It  is  neither  pleas- 
ant nor  tiue,  and  is  too  serious  a  "chestnut"  to 
be  denominated  any  thing  but  a '"  lie."  If  it 
were  true,  does  anybody  believe  ttiat  the  sum 
of  one  thousand  dollars  would  remain  unclaim- 
ed for  vears? — Wisajnshi  Farmer. 


HONEY   IN   WHITEWOOD-BLOSS<JMS. 

Yes,  friend  Root  (for  I  feel  that  I  can  call  you 
friend  since  readingtln^  A  li  C),  thatwhitewood- 
tree  you  climbi d.  if  you  had  taken  someof  those 
large  buds  just  as  they  were  opening  you  would 
have  found  the  honey  ready  made  that  you 
could  have  gathei'ed  as  well  as  thi^  Iwes.  When 
a  boy  I  have  climbed  the  old  poplar-tree  to  get 
the  honey  from  its  buds.  You  are  right  in  say- 
ing that  the  bud  will  yield  sometimes  a  tea- 
spoonful  of  honey.  B.  L.  INIaddkn. 

Sago.  O..  June  IJ^ 

A   .SHORT   TALK   FROM   FATHER   LANGSTUOTU. 

What  splendid   weather  I  but, '"Oh.  how  un- 
comfortably hot!"  ci\y  out  so  many.     Well,  if  we 
had   real   comfortable   weather,  as  we   usually 
have  in  summer  weather  in  (ii'eat  HritaitK  the 
could  never  ripen  a  bushel  of  Indian  corn. 

Dayton,  Ohio.  June  1(5.     L.  L.  LangstrotH. 


I'ROF.     WEBSTER,    OF      THE      OHIO      EXPERIMENT 
.STATION,    AND    HIS   BAD  ADVICE. 

There  is  an  article  in  the  Oliio  Fanner  of 
June  4.  page  4:27.  entitled  "  Hees  and  vSpraying." 
by  Fiof.  F.  M.  Webster,  of  the  Ohio  Experiment 
Station,  that  I  think  needs  some  correcting,  and 
it  should  be  done  in  the  same  paper  it  was  orig- 
inally published  in.  I'lof.  Uebster  takes  ex- 
ceptions to  an  article  published  in  (Ji.eanings. 
entitled  ".Spraying  Fruit-trees  whih;  in  Hloom," 
and  tries  to  make  out  that  spraying  while  trees 
ai'e  in  bloom  will  not  injure  bec^s.  There  is  too 
much  such  stuff  simU  out  by  our  scientific  (?) 
men.  and  I  think  it  should  be  answered  by  those 
best  posted,  in  the  best  and  ablest  manner  pos- 
sible. J.  S.  Barb. 

Oakfield.  Trumbull  Co.,  O.,  June  10. 

[Pi'of.  Cook  is  the  one  to  answer  the  above.] 


512 


itLkanings  in  bee  culture. 


July  1. 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM   A.  I.  ROOT. 


In  California  we  havo  ppople  of  all  nationali- 
ties, and  people  from  almost  every  quarter  of 
the  United  States.  My  ^ood  friend  Woodberry, 
of  whom  I  have  fiequently  spoken,  is  a  Down- 
easter.  In  fact,  his  former  home  was  in  the 
State  of  Maine.  Well,  after  being  with  him 
for  several  days  I  became  so  accustomed  to  his 
little  peculiarities  of  speech  that  I  thought  I 
could  tell  whether  a  man  came  from  Maine  or 
not  by  talking  with  him  for  a  few  minutes — 
that  is,  providing  the  people  in  the  State  of 
Maine  all  talked  pretty  much  alike.  Near  the 
hot  springs  of  San  Jacinto  I  found  some  very 
pleasant  people  by  the  name  of  Dustin.  After 
I  had  been  there  an  hour  or  two  I  spoke  some- 
thing like  this: 


.J.  H.  DUSTIN".S   APIAKY  near   SAN   JACINTO,  CAL. 

"Mr.  Dustin,  yon  are  a  Downeaster?"  He 
nodded  his  head,  and  then  I  went  on:  "And  is 
it  not  true  that  you  came  from  the  State  of 
Maine?"  He  smiled  as  he  assented.  I  did  not 
know  then  but  he  might  be  an  acquaintance  of 
friend  Woodberry;  but  I  found  lie  was  not. 
Some  time  afterward  in  Tempe,  Arizona,  I 
made  the  same  remark  to  a  third  beekeeper; 
and  I  was  right  that  time.  He  also  was  a 
Downeaster,  and  came  from  the  State  of  Maine. 
Well,  I  hope  the  people  who  live  away  out  in 
that  corner  of  Uncle  Sam's  domain  arc  all  as 
nice  as  the  three  I  have  mentioned.  Friend 
Dustin  has  not  been  very  long  a  bee-keeper. 
His  good  wife  was  in  very  poor  health,  and 
nothing  gave  her  so  much  relief  as  the  hot 
springs  of  San  Jacinto;  therefoie.  like  a  good 
and  dutiful  husband,  he  located  a  little  home 
upon  the  granite  gravel,  part  way  up  the  moun- 
tain-side. As  he  must  have  something  to  do, 
he  got  some  books  and  papers,  and  commenced 


studying  up  bee  culture.  Like  all  other  bee- 
keepers he  is  a  fine  mechanic,  after  the  fashion 
of  Yankees  generally.  As  timber  is  scarce  and 
high  he  decided  to  make  his  honey-house  of 
adobe.  The  material  lay  all  around  right  un- 
der his  feet — every  thing  he  needed,  in  fact, 
except  watei',  and  this  he  drew  up  in  barrels. 
His  building  was  not  quite  all  adobe,  however, 
for  adobe  houses  are  made  of  sun-dried  brick, 
whih'  this  structure  was  all  one  solid  brick. 
He  made  a  sort  of  frame,  or  trough,  without 
bottom,  and  into  this  he  poured  his  mud.  Then 
the  frame  was  lifted  up  until  the  mud  was  dry 
enough  to  stand  alone,  and  then  he  lifted  the 
frame  again,  and  so  on.  Every  thing  in  his 
apiary  was  in  apple-pie  order — even  the  shade- 
boards  to  keep  olif  the  hot  sun;  and  his  apiary 
looked  so  pretty,  that,  with  his  assistance,  I 
climbed  upon  his  mud  honey-house  and  snap- 
ped my  Kodak  at  it.  Here  is  the  result. 
A  little  way  from  the  apiary  was  a  novel 
Wotering-place  for  bees. 
A  can  of  water  stood  on 
the  edge  of  a  platform 
perhaps  a  yard  square. 
The  faucet  of  the  can 
was  turned  so  the  water 
dropped  about  as  fast  as 
sap  runs  from  a  maple- 
tree  on  a  good  sugar  day. 
Underneath  the  faucet 
was  a  tray  of  tin.  This 
tray  is  tilled  up  with  lit- 
tle blocks  of  granite 
picked  up  where  it  is 
thickly  strewn  all  over 
the  ground.  See  cut  on 
next  page. 

At  the  time  I  took  the 
view,  the  granite  pebbles 
were  thickly  covered  with 
bees  sipping    the   water. 
In  fact,  the  pebbles  were 
covered    so    thickly  that 
the    faucet    had    to     be 
turned   till   the  water  al- 
most ran  a  stream.   I  told 
friend    D.    that    he    was 
rather  babying  his  bees; 
for  by  going  down  to  the 
hot  spring  at  the  foot  of 
the  mountain  they  could 
get  water  in  great  abun- 
dance.    But    instead    of 
making  the   little  chaps 
fly    up    hill    with    it    he 
drew  it  up  in  a  barrel  on 
a  stoneboat,  with  a  horse. 
And  this  brings  us  to  the 
problem   as   to   which   is 
cheaper — to  let  your  bees 
bring  water  up  hill  on   the  wing,  or  draw  it 
up  with   a  horse  and    stoneboat.     Friend   D., 
Yankeelike,  concludes  that,  if  the  bees  draw  it, 
it  must  consume  muscular  energy;  and  muscu- 
lar energy  means   the  consumption  of  honey; 
therefore  when   the  horse  draws  the  water  up 
for  them  to  drink  he  makes  (or  saves)  honey  by 
using  his  immense  strength    in    going   afoot. 
Oh  :  I  forgot  to  say  that  the  apparatus  was  ex- 
temporized from  a  gasoline-oil  can.  as  you  can 
see  in  the  picture.    Now.  in  order  that  you  may 
become  better  acquainted  with  our  good  friend 
Dustin  I  will  let  you  see  a  letter  from  him: 

Friend  Root:—!  feel  that  I  owe  you  a  letter  of 
thanks,  if  notlnng-  more,  for  the  kindness  you  man- 
ifested in  sending-  nio  a  year's  coii)i>limenlriry  sub- 
scription to  Gi^KANiNGs.  I  saw  Ijy  tlie  hist  Glean- 
ings thiit  you  arrived  liome  on  the  5th.  We  can 
imafrino  your  joy  on  reacliing  home  again.  "  Home 
again  from  a  foreign  sliore."  We  liope  and  trust 
tliat  you    luive  received  great  benefit  from  your 


1S»I2 


GLEANINGS  IN   IJKK  rU  l/ll  i;  K. 


513 


trip  to  Citlifoniisi.  We  wish  you  could  have  stiiyed 
until  alHHit  this  tiuio.  or  a  llttio  later.  This  State 
has  a  vt'iy  ditVcri'iit  aspect  now  from  wliat  it  had 
wlieii  \o(i  were  here.  Then,  almost  every  tliiiiK 
looked  dry  and  liarren:  now,  all  is  jji'»'t'n.  Kven  the 
brown,  dried-iip  nuuintains  :ire  eoveicd  with  >ireen 
folia>re  and  llowi'is  of  every  culoi-  of  the  tainbuw. 
Grain  is  wavinj;  in  the  wind,  and  alfalfa  is  about 
ready  to  cut. 

The  hee-inspector  was  here  Saturday.  He  thouKlit 
my  lu-es  were  in  jrood  shape  for  woi'k.  1  have  k"' 
my  extractiiiK-house  completed  that  1  was  at  woik 
ou  when  you  wore  here.  1  have  also  k"'  'h'd  ■''"" 
evaporator  completed.  We  have  had  quite  a  liti  le 
shock  of  earth«iuake  since  you  were  heic.  It  has 
given  us  about  a  tliinl  more  wati>r  in  the  spiings 
and  artesian  wells;  and  the  water  in  the  siniii^is  has 
been  considerably  hotter  since.  .1.  11.  Utstin. 

San  Jacinto,  Cal.,  Mar.  29. 

Well,  well  !  so  the  earlliiiaakes  really  loosen 
lip  water  in  the  artesian  wells,  do  they?  This 
is  the  lirst  I  ever  heai'd  of  earthquakes  doing 
anybody  any  good. 
Thanks  "for  the  facts, 
friend  1).  And  is  it  really 
true  that  earilnniakes  as 
a  general  thing  make  hot 
springs  still  hotter.'  I 
ani  afraid  I  shall  have 
to  go  hack  to  my  old 
theory,  that  hoi  springs 
gel  their  heal  from  pent- 
up  volcanic  energy  away 
down  in  the  earth. 

While  at  San  Jacinto 
we  were  very  pleasantly 
entertained  alwhal  many 
travelers  might  call  :i 
humble  and  unpreten 
tious  little  hotel.  It  wa- 
kepi  by  a  widow  lady  and 
her  daughters.  The  spe- 
cial feature  that  please 
me  was  to  see  the  daiigli 
ters  all  taking  hold  u: 
the  work.  I  soon  found 
they  were  Methodist  peo- 
ple, and  I  had  some  curi- 
osity to  know  how  pro- 
fessing Christians  would 
manage  a  hotel,  especial- 
ly on  Sunday.  The  sit- 
ting-room contained  a 
piano;  and  one  of  the 
boys  who  belonged  to  the 
institution  played  well 
on  the  bass-viol  ;  and 
during  the  whole  of  ev- 
ery Sunday  afternoon 
that  it  was  our  good  for- 
tune to  be  there,  they 
had.  In  the  best  room,  a 

little  concert  of  sacred  music.  The  young  men 
and  women  of  the  town  dropped  in,  one  after 
another,  and  each  look  part  in  vocal  music,  or 
playing  on  some  kind  of  instrument. 

I  was  [(leased  to  note,  t(X).  that,  in  the  town  of 
San  Jacinto,  the  girl  who  wailed  on  us  at  the 
table  seemed  to  stand  just  as  well  in  good  socie- 
ty as  the  banker's  wife  or  anybody  else.  There 
was  a  bar,  of  course,  but  no  liquors,  and  several 
of  the  boarders  saw  (it  to  pass  their  Sunday 
afternoons  in  smoking,  and  in  playing  cards. 
Mrs.  Root  wondered  how  our  good  Methodist 
friends  cotild  permit  this.  Now.  I  do  not  pre- 
tend to  decide;  the  question  right  here,  as  to 
whether  a  hotel-keeper  should  ab-soltitely  pro- 
hibit card-playing  and  tobacco-using  in  the 
barroom  or  not.  If  I  kei)t  a  hotel.  I  am  pretty 
sure  I  should  undertake  to  get  along  without 
thi'se  things.  But,  at  the  same  lime,  my  way 
might  not  be  the  wisest  one.  I  wish  to  say  this, 
however:  That  the  good  music  and  refined  con- 
versation in   the   parlor  gradually  drew  away 


the  occuptints  of  the  barroom,  one  by  one,  until 
tliQ  card -playing  and  at  W^ast  most  of  the  smok- 
ing seemed  to  be  dropped.  Of  course,  it  was  tht; 
landlady's  daughters  who  were  waiters  at  the 
tables,  and  w  ho  performed  the  oflices  of  clerk 
at  the  desk,  chaiubermaid.  or  whatever  needed 
to  1)1' ilone.  They  were  all  /»/f/k'.s-,  nevertheless; 
and  I  really  wish  that  all  llie  hotels  in  our  land 
might  hold  out  such  an  influence  for  good  as 
does  the  San  Jacinto  hotel.  Now.  you  must  not 
think,  because  1  told  you  the  young  peoijje  met 
;ind  sung  hymns  all  Sunday  afternoon,  that 
San  Jacinto  is  a  model  place  so  faf  as  morals 
are  concerned.  The  beautiful  romance  of 
Kamona  has  most  of  its  incidents  located  in  this 
vicinity;  and  every  visitor  to  the  placid  should 
read  the  book.  Shooting  is  no  uncommon  thing 
there;  and  the  man  who  shot  the  Indian  Ales- 
sandro  walks  about  the  streets  as  thouiili  he 
had  done  a  meritorious  thing  instead  of  having 


J.  H.  dustin'.s  api>aratus  fok  watp:i{ixg  15i;i;.s. 

committed  a  crime.  Although  his  photograph  is 
offered  for  sale  side  by  side  with  ihat  of  tlie  Indi- 
an womati  called  Rainona,  I  did  not  care  to  pur- 
chase; his  picture  nor  even  to  shake  hands  with 
him.  Wcdl.  the  nearest  station  to  San  Jacinto 
is  called  Alessandro.  in  memory  of  the  book 
Ramona.  Mrs.  Root  was  more  inler(;sied  in 
the  Indians,  and  in  going  to  their  Indian  school, 
than  in  almost  any  thing  else;  and  at  length 
sh<!  was  gratilied  to  see  the  dusky  children  of 
the  forest  actually  at  work  learning  tlnnr  tasks, 
like  the  children  in  any  while  school.  And  in 
our  next  we  will  try  ro  give  you  a  picture  of  the 
Indian  boys  and  girls  at  school. 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


The  Cirolin.i   Bee-keepers'  Association  will    meet    at   the 
Court-house  in  Charlotte,  N.  C  ,  July  21.         A.  L.  Beach,  Sec. 
Steel  Creek.  N.  C. 


514 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


STKAWBERKY   TliME. 

Now  is  the  harvest  time  for  garden  stuff  and 
small  fruits.  The  latter  part  of  June  is  gener- 
ally the  height  of  the  strawberry  season  in  our 
locality.  Mrs.  Root  has  several  times  worried 
about  strawberry  time,  for  she  said  it  would 
make  us  so  much  business  that  I  would  over- 
work again.  It  is  not  only  the  pickers  that 
have  to  be  looked  after,  but  the  folks  who  do 
the  selling;  and  as  we  have  a  larger  area  of 
strawberries  than  ever  before,  it  looked  quite 
likely  that  there  would  be  difficulty  in  selling 
the  whole  product.  Of  course,  we  might  ship 
them  off:  but  my  experience  has  been  so  unsat- 
isfactory in  shipping  strawberries  that  I  have 
decided  to  sell  what  we  can  at  home,  and  let 
the  rest  go.  To-day,  June  22,  we  are  right  in 
the  midst  of  the  battle.  The  town  is  full  of 
berries,  and  loads  are  coming  in  from  every 
direction:  and  the  report  comes,  that,  even 
though  they  offer  them  at  5  cts.  by  the  bushel, 
they  do  not  sell.  I  knew  by  past  experience 
just  what  was  needed — more  energy  and  care 
all  around.  Of  course,  we  have  been  having 
excessive  rains,  and  many  kinds  of  berries  are 
soft.  The  pickers,  too,  where  they  pick  by  the 
quart,  get  eager  to  fill  the  boxes,  and  quite  a 
few  that  are  soft  on  one  side,  and  sometimes 
rotten,  get  in.  I  went  down  among  them  ray- 
self,  and  told  them  that  we  could  not  sell  our 
berries  unless  they  were  more  careful.  Some- 
times, through  false  economy,  they  picked  ber- 
ries too  small  to  be  of  any  account;  and  every 
little  while  some  new  hand  would  be  getting 
them  before  they  were  fully  ripe.  A  little  kind 
exhortation  made  quite  a  difference  in  the  looks 
of  the  products.  Then  the  market  was  watch- 
ed, just  as  we  watched  the  barometer.  By  ten 
or  eleven  o'clock,  if  sales  were  dropping,  pickers 
were  stopped,  each  one  being  directed  to  make 
a  mark  in  his  row  just  where  he  left  off,  so  he 
could  find  it  when  he  commenced  again.  As 
they  began  work  at  five  in  the  morning,  and 
sometimes  earlier,  they  did  not  much  mind 
resting  from  ten  till  two  or  three.  If  the  folks 
on  the  wagon  sold  out  sooner,  of  course  we 
started  to  pick  earlier:  and  when  sales  were  so 
close  on  the  heels  of  the  pickers  that  they  had 
to  wait  for  berries,  there  is  quite  an  advantage 
in  being  able  to  tell  purchasers.  "There,  these 
berries  have  not  been  oft'  the  vines  an  hour." 
If  any  stock  began  to  get  poor  or  old,  the  direc- 
tions were  to  let  it  slide  for  any  decent  offer. 
They  were  also  directed  to  keep  the  berries  out 
of  the  sun.  For  several  days  I  have  been  sta- 
tioned in  front  of  our  factory,  where  the  berries 
are  stored  on  the  north  side  of  our  fruit- house, 
right  out  upon  the  walk.  To  save  myself  steps, 
half  a  dozen  small  boys  are  across  the  stn-et  in 
the  plant-gardens,  weeding,  picking  peas,  ch^an- 
ing  the  walks,  or  doing  something  to  keep  them 
busy  until  I  need  them.  If  a  message  comes 
from  the  wagon,  half  a  dozen  of  them  can  pick 
peas,  go  to  the  berry- patch  and  help  the  berry- 
pickers,  or  bring  in  berries  on  the  Daisy  wheel- 
barrows. Monday  we  picked  10} .1  bushels;  yes- 
terday (Tuesday)  we  picked  QJo.  A  heavy  rain 
broke  in  upon  us  in  the  afternoon.  This  morn- 
ing the  wagon  started  out  with  an  unusually 
heavy  load;  but  by  nine  o'clock  they  had  sold 
out.  In  the  meantime  I  had  done  a  lively  busi- 
ness on  the  sidewalk,  selling  by  the  bushel 
where  I  had  a  chance.  The  price  had  been 
running  from  .5  to  7  cts.,  till  one  of  the  boys 
brought  in  a  basket  of  Parker  Earles.  These 
went  oft'  so  quickly  at  8  cts.,  that,  when  another 
boy  came    in   with    some  very  choice    Edgar 


Queens.  I  put  the  price  at  10  cts.,  and  they  sold 
without  a  bit  of  trouble.  Both  of  the  two  above 
varieties  are  wonderful  acquisitions.  The 
Beederwood,  spoken  of  in  our  last  issue,  have 
ripened  up  better  than  I  supposed  they  could 
ripen;  but  the  vines  were  so  overloaded  that 
the  largest  part  of  them  are  necessarily  small. 
While  speaking  of  varieties,  I  wish  to  say  a 
good  word  for  VVarfield  No.  2.  It  is  not  a  large 
berry,  but  it  is  of  the  deepest  red  of  any  beriy 
that  comes  in  market:  and  with  this  bright 
attractive  color  comes  the  most  fascinating  and 
dainty  tart  flavor,  and  that  makes  them  my 
favorite  berry.  It  is  also  quite  firm;  and  when 
the  weather  is  so  wet  that  the  others  are  in 
danger  of  mashing  down  in  a  heap,  the  Warfield 
is  firm  and  solid.  The  Haverlands,  on  very  rich 
soil,  and  with  a  superabundance  of  rain,  are 
rather  too  soft  to  be  handled.  In  fact,  the 
Haverland  and  Bubach  both,  many  of  them, 
taste  watery,  and  they  sometimes  begin  to  spoil 
before  they  are  fully  ripe.  The  matter  may  be 
remedied  somewhat  by  i)lanting  them  in  single 
hills  instead  of  matted  lows;  and  this  giv-es 
still  larger  bei'ries;  but  it  is  quite  expensive  to 
mulch  where  plants  are.  say.  a  foot  apart.  In 
the  matted  row,  very  little  mulching  keeps  all 
the  berries  out  of  the  dirt.  We  have  lost  bush- 
els and  bushels  of  beautiful  berries  this  season 
because  the  excessive  wetness  and  lack  of 
mulching  made  them  too  muddy  to  bring  even 
half  price.  I  should  not  forget  to  add,  that, 
when  all  other  resources  failed  to  get  rid  of  a 
great  quantity  of  berries,  the  cook  in  our  lunch- 
room has  disposed  of  many  bushels  by  making 
them  into  strawberry  jam. 

The  lettuce-beds  I  spoke  about  in  our  last 
issue  have  done  nobly;  but  when  strawberries 
crowded  on  us  at  n  cts.  a  quart,  lettuce  had  to 
come  down.  In  three  days  it  fell  from  20  cts.  to 
5  cts.;  and  then  a  great  lot  of  it  reluctantly  (so 
it  seemed)  commenced  to  push  up  seed-stalks 
because  we  could  not  find  a  purchaser.  Please 
notice  that  our  management  (i.  e.,  scanning 
closely  each  plant  every  day,  and,  as  fast  as 
one  showed  symptoms  of  wanting  to  shoot  up 
to  seed,  taking  it  promptly  for  market)  results 
in  leaving  in  the  seed-bed  only  those  heads  that 
are  the  very  last  to  go  to  seed ;  and  by  taking 
our  seed  each  season  from  those,  we  expect  to 
get  a  strain  that  will  make  immense  heads 
before  shooting  up.  Very  rich  soil  contributes 
to  this. 

We  are  still  getting  10  cts.  a  quart  for  early 
peas.  The  first  planting  has  been  marketed, 
and  the  ground  planted  to  something  else;  ditto 
the  second  planting,  and  we  are  now  commenc- 
ing on  the  third. 

Cauliflower  is  easier  to  get  into  market  with 
us  than  Wakefield  cabbage;  therefore  we  are 
selling  cauliflower  and  cabbage  now  at  the 
same  price — .5  cts.  per  lb. 

A  week  ago  I  feared  that,  owing  to  the  wet- 
ness of  the  season,  we  should  never  get  rid  of 
more  than  a  small  part  of  our  cabbage-plants, 
tomato-plants,  and  celery-plants;  but  in  just 
two  days,  after  people  could  get  their  gardens 
made  and  ready  for  planting  out,  our  plant- beds 
were  cleaned  out  at  such  a  rate  that  they  look- 
ed almost  like  a  ruin.  But  I  tell  you  it  is  pleas- 
ant to  tell  every  customer  that  we  have  plenty 
of  nice  plants,  large  or  small,  just  as  each  one 
may  prefer.  Two  men  were  kept  busy  from 
early  in  the  morning  until  late  at  night  taking 
up  plants,  and  a  great  deal  of  the  time  a  third 
one  assisted,  besides  what  I  did.  The  way  we 
put  up  plants  now  is  this:  An  a«sortment  of 
good  stout  paper  bags  is  kept  atdift'erent  points 
where  the  plants  are  to  be  taken  up.  If  the 
ground  is  not  already  very  wet.  with  hose  and 
sprinkler  the  ground  is  thoroughly  soaked 
first.  Then  with  a  trowel  the  soil  is  lifted,  roots 


1S92 


GLEANlNtJS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


515 


and  uU.  while  tlio  plants  arc  K*^ntlv  pullod  from 
tho  plant-lH'd.  so  as  to  brinir  all  the  roots  and 
sonn' of  tlit>  soil.  As  caoh  one  is  talxcn  iii»  it  is 
laid  on  the  trroiind;  the  ncxi  scinarcly  on  it,  and 
soon.  Hy  tlic  tinn'  yon  fjot  out  a  do/cn  or  two. 
tlicir  is  miito  a  litth>  pilo  of  soil  adhering  to  tho 
riK)ts.  TluMi  tlio  opt'i-ator  gfasps  the  whole 
hnndle  hy  the  roots,  siinet/insx  the  roots  and 
«lirt  together  until  they  inai<e  a  tolerably  com- 
pact ball.  Taking  this  ball  in  one  luiiid  and 
the  paper  bag.  that  he  had  previously  spread 
open,  in  the  other,  he  pushes  the  ball  of  roots 
clear  to  the  bottom  of  the  bag.  This  is  very 
inipi'i'tant  if  you  do  not  want  tluMlirt  toili'op 
ofT  and  rattle  "to  the  bottom,  thus  leaving  the 
roots  loose  and  dry :  tiien  if  the  tops  an>  large 
they  are  gently  pi"(>ssed  together  so  as  to  let  the 
paper  bag  come  clear  np  above  them.  The 
result  is,  that,  when  the  j)lants  are  handed  to  a 
customer,  the  roots  are  well  protected  from  the 
air.  and  the  ball  of  loose  dirt  envelopes  them  all; 
at  the  same  time,  the  tojjs  are  exposed  just 
*»nongh  land  no  morei  to  give  th(>m  the  requisite 
amount  of  air  to  prevent  heating.  The  top  of 
tlie  bag  is.  of  course,  left  open.  When  the  pur- 
cha-er  gets  where  he  is  ready  to  set  them  out. 
he  tears  the  bag  open,  takes  them  out.  one  plant 
at  a  time,  with  some  of  the  rich  dirt  adhering 
to  the  roots.  All  kinds  of  plants  are  handled 
in  just  this  way.  Where  they  are  shipped  by 
express  or  mail,  dampened  moss  takes  the  place 
of  the  soil,  as  it  weighs  much  less,  and  saves 
postage  or  express  cliarges.  Tomato-plants,  if 
sent  by  mail,  must  be  packed  in  a  strong  light 
box.  The  foliage  of  the  tomato  is  too  soft  and 
watery  to  bear  tying  up  like  cabbage,  celery,  etc. 

ONION -PLANTS. 

Wiien  I  first  suggested  the  idea  of  selling 
onion-plants  from  the  iiot-beds,  we  planted 
such  a  quantity  of  Pi-izetaker  and  White  Vic- 
toria seed  that  I  thought  we  should  have  a 
great  surplus:  and  for  a  time  it  seemed  as  if 
such  would  be  the  case:  but  as  all  the  plants 
that  have  been  put  out  fur  two  months  back 
started  nicely,  our  farming  friends  have  gained 
confidence,  and  they  are  even  now.  this  32d  day 
of  June,  taking  the  platits  by  the  liundreds  and 
thousands.  When  it  seemed  likely  that  we 
should  not  sell  them  all,  and  some  of  the  plants 
were  getting  to  be  overgrown,  we  pulled  the 
White  Victorias,  and  btinclied  them  up.  roots 
and  all.  giving  three-fourths  of  a  pound  for  a 
nickel.  These  were  bunched  iqi  with  rubber 
bands,  tops  squared  off.  and  jjlaeed  on  the  mar- 
ket-wagon. Pretty  soon  the  boys  informed  me 
that,  instead  of  using  these  onions  for  the  table, 
purchasers  were  planting  them  out,  and  that 
they  grew  all  right.  As  there  were  40  or  .50 
onions  in  the  three-fourths  of  a  pound  of  sets, 
it  was  quite  a  cheap  way  to  get  plants:  and  it 
has  also  pleased  us  quite  well  to  sell  them  in 
that  way.  Selling  onion -plants  luis  already 
become  a  leading  industry :.  and  1  feel  quite  a 
little  pleasure  to  know  thai  it  was  first  suggest- 
ed and  started  through  our  journal. 

TOB.\CCO    DUST  ON   MKLON   AND    CUCUMBER 
VINt;s. 

So  far  this  year  we  have  used  no  other  remedy 
for  bugs  on  vines  than  the  toliacco  dust;  f)ut 
Ave  put  it  on  by  the  doufilc  handfnls.  Covering 
the  plants  all  up  with  the  tobacco  dust  does 
ihem  no  harm  at  all,  but.  on  the  contrary,  it 
makes  an  excellent  fertilizer.  After  a  heavy 
rain,  the  strength  of  the  tol)acco  du><l  is  so  far 
washed  out  that  another  dose  is  needed.  If  you 
buy  the  toliacco  dust  by  the  barrel,  as  every  one 
sfiould  do.  it  is  prol)ably  the  cheapest  preven- 
tive that  can  be  used.  During  the  few  hot  days 
when  the  vines  were  quite  small,  it  seemed  for 
a  time  as  if  the  bugs  were  going  to  do  a  great 
deal   of  damage  in  spite  of  the  tobacco;   but 


lieavier  afjplications  of  the  tobacco  did  the 
business.  They  gradually  abandoned  every  hill 
where  it  has  l)een  applied  as  above. 


KKIKM)    STKIIl.ES   RKI'OKT   ON    ST]!A WBKHKTES. 

The  strawlx'rry  season  is  closed  for  lS!ir2.  and. 
to  sum  up  the  result,  I  would  say  that  we.  had 
about  half  a  crop.  Our  loss  was  caused  by  the 
cold  and  excessive  wet.  It  was  too  cold  for 
polhMi  gathering  insects  to  work  on  the  blos- 
soms, hence  many  berries  were  worthless  on  this 
account.  Then  many  berries  rotted  and  caused 
a  great  deal  of  trouble  and  loss.  We  are,  liow- 
ever,  not  discouraged,  but  have  much  reason  to 
be  thankful  to  the  Giver  of  all  good  gifts. 

Marietta.  ().,  June  30.  R.  Stehle. 


r,.\DY-I{UGS    AND    POTATO-BEETLES. 

Friend  Root: — Last  week,  while  visiting  a 
friend  up  in  Michigan,  I  went  into  his  potato- 
patch  for  a  little  exercise,  and  soon  my  atten- 
tion was  drawn  to  the  little  yellow  patches  of 
potato- beetles'  eggs  on  the  under  side  of  the 
leaves.  Each  one  contained  from  ten  to  fifty 
eggs;  and  I  usually  found  two  or  three  clusters 
of  them  on  each  hill  of  potatoes.  I  went  care- 
fully over  two  rows  of  100  hills  each,  and  must 
have  picked  off  at  least  10,000  eggs.  While  at 
work  at  this  I  frequently  saw  a  little  beetle  of 
the  lady-bug  family,  in  color  a  dark  red,  with 
black  spots,  and  spry  in  its  motions.  1  also  ob- 
served now  and  then  a  bunch  of  eggs  that  look- 
ed as  if  something  had  eaten  a  part  of  them. 
The  next  day  I  went  over  two  more  rows,  and  in 
doing  so  caught  sight  of  a  red  and  black  lady- 
bug  with  his  head  in  a  half-devoured  cluster  of 
eggs  ;  hence  I  concluded  that  this  lady-bug  has 
a  fondness  for  potato-bugs'  eggs,  and  ought  to 
be  encouraged.  As  I  worked  along  I  also  hap- 
pened on  to  a  red  and  black  lady-bug  that 
would  not  run  away,  even  when  I  touched  it 
with  my  finger.  A  closer  look  showed  that  it 
was  brooding  over  something  enveloped  in 
a  downy  fuzz.  It  seemed  rather  small  for  a 
chrysalis,  and  large  for  an  egg.  A  day  later 
the  lady-bug  was  still  there  guarding  her  prog- 
eny. I  judge  from  this  that  she  raises  only  one 
young  one  at  a  time. 

Perhaps  Prof.  Cook  can  tell  us  more  about 
this  red  and  black  lady-bug:  how  it  rears  its 
one  child,  and  whether  or  not  Paris  green  will 
be  likely  to  injure  it. 

When  I  began  work  on  the  potatoes  they 
were  not  a  foot  high,  but  growing  rapidly,  and 
it  was  much  slower  work  the  second  day  than 
the  first,  just  from  the  increased  size  of  the 
potato-vines.  On  the  first  day  I  found  no  eggs 
hatched  out;  but  on  the  second  day  I  found  a  few 
patclies  where  the  grubs  had  hatched  out  and 
l)egun  to  eat  the  under  side  of  the  leaf:  and  it 
was  evident  that,  in  a  few  days,  the  grubs 
would  be  all  ov(!r  the  vines,  and  then  it  would 
not  be  practical  to  pick  them  off.  My  friend 
had  put  Paris  green  on  the  vines,  and  was  sur- 
prised to  find  bugs  still  at  work  on  them;  but  I 
told  him  I  thought  the  full-grown  beetles  were 
on  the  vines,  not  to  eat.  but  to  lay  eggs,  and  so 
would  iu)t  be  affected  by  it.  The  grubs  just 
hatched  out  were  eating  only  the  under  side  of 
the  leaf,  while  the  poison  was  all  on  the  upper 
side.  Hy  and  by,  when  they  were  a  little  larger, 
they  would  attack  the  whole  leaf,  and  them  the 
poison  would  finish  them.  .1.  H  Wai.kek. 

Oberlin,  Ohio.,  June  20. 


MOUK    AROtTT   rrKRANT-WORMS. 

Friend  Root: — I  wish  to  express  my  interest 
in  those  currant-worms  that  ruined  your  goose- 
berry croi>.  1  am  surprised  that  you  do  not  un- 
derstand them.  I  trust  you  did  not  let  the  sun 
go  down  on  your  wrath.    Currant- worms  do  not 


516 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


live  over  the  winter,  as  you  intimate,  in  the 
ground.  Oh.no!  The  eggs  for  the  year's  crop 
of  worms  were  laid  last  fall  on  your  bushes  near 
the  ground.  The  way  to  kill  ihem  is  to  take 
them  before  you  can  see  them.  It  is  easier  to 
kill  kittens  befoi'e  they  get  their  eyts  open,  and 
so  with  currant- worms.  Use  your  hellebore 
when  the  leaves  of  your  currant  or  gooseberry 
bushes  are  about  the  size  of  a  dime,  and  you 
need  not  spray  more  than  a  foot  or  eighteen 
inches  above  the  ground,  as  the  eggs  are  ail 
laid,  and  the  worms  all  hatch,  near  the  giound. 
and  eat  or  work  upward;  so  unless  you  know 
where  to  look  for  them  you  will  not  see  them 
until  they  are  so  large  they  soon  defoliate  the 
plants.  Another  thing,  it  takes  much  less  hel- 
lebore and  time  to  go  over  the  lower  part  of  the 
bushes  early.  I  was  formerly  much  troubled 
with  these  pests;  but  since  adopting  this  way  I 
have  had  but  little  trouble.  Last  year  I  spray- 
ed my  currants  only  once,  and  it  now  looks  as 
though  I  should  have  to  go  over  them  but  once 
this  year.  I  have  sprayed  my  gooseberries 
twice.  J.  E.  CuANE. 

Middlebury,  Vt.,  June  15. 


RUBBER  HOSE   FOR  THE  GARDEN;    TAKING  CARE 
OF   IT,   ETC. 

We  shipped  you  our  Para  brand  of  hose,  which 
has,  without  question,  no  equal,  and  is  the  best 
hose  in  the  world.  The  writer  has  a  piece  7.5  ft. 
long  which  has  been  in  use,  commencing  this 
summer,  four  years,  and  is  in  as  good  shape  to- 
day as  it  was  when  first  bought.  There  is  a 
great  deal  in  giving  it  proper  care,  to  make  it 
last.  The  water  should  always  be  drained  out 
after  use:  and  do  not  let  it  lie  in  the  sun  when 
the  water  is  not  going  through  it;  and  if  your 
customer  observes  these  precautions  we  think 
he  will  have  as  good  results  as  the  writer.  It  is 
also  quite  necessary  at  the  end  of  the  year,  when 
the  hose  is  about  to  be  put  away,  to  inspect  it 
carefully  and  see  that  there  is  no  water  in  it, 
lest  it  freeze  during  t*he  winter,  which  so  often 
happens  to  a  great  deal  of  hose,  and  is  never  no- 
ticed, and  for  that  reason  it  is  not  known  why, 
on  taking  the  hose  out  in  summer,  it  should 
suddenly  burst  or  become  unsatisfactory  in  oth- 
er respects.  The  W.  H.  H.  Peck  Co., 

per  S.  R.  Driffield,  Sec. 

Cleveland.  O..  June  1(5. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


Now  there  was  a  daj'  when  the  sons  of  God  came 
to  present  themselves  before  the  Lord,  and  Satan 
came  also  among-  them.— Job.  1:6. 

The  whole  book  of  Job  is  a  strange  part  of  the 
Bible,  especially  the  fii-st  chapter;  and  I  would 
particularly  request  our  readei's  to  read  from 
the  sixth  to  the  thirteenth  verses.  You  will 
notice  the  above  are  set  apart  by  paragraphs. 
For  ages  there  has  been  trouble  in  reconciling 
this  book  of  Job;  and  many  good  men  have 
questioned  whether  or  not  it  should  have  a 
place  in  the  Bible.  As  it  still  stands  there, 
however,  we  may  presume  that  it  is  right  that 
it  should  stand  there.  We  may  not  all  agree, 
however,  that  such  an  occurrence  actually  took 
place  exactly  as  it  reads  in  the  Bible.  When 
Jesus  gave  us  that  beautiful  parable  of  the 
prodigal  son.  none  of  his  hearers,  probably,  and 
nobody  since,  ever  took  it  for  granted  that  such 
a  thing  actually  happened  as  he  related  it.  We 
all  regard  it  as  a  parable;  and  at  the  saiue  time 
it  was  one  of  thi'  most  beautiful  and  helpful 
parables  that  God  ever  gave  to  man.   Of  course. 


transactions  like  it  are  happening  constantly: 
and  very  likely  thousands  upon  thousands  of 
wayward  sons  have  decided  to  go  back  home 
and  choose  riy/iteo«S7ie.s.s  rather  than  i?af/t<iti/, 
just  from  hearing  or  reading  this  sitnple  little 
story. 

Now.  I  presume  there  is  no  harm  in  taking 
the  book  of  Job  exactly  as  we  take  the  parable 
of  the  prodigal  son.  if  we  choose  to  take  it  that 
way.  It  does  not  matter  very  much  whether  it 
actually  happened,  or  whether  it  was  simply  a 
parable  to  make  known  to  us  truths  that  we 
might  not  readily  get  hold  of  otherwise.  With 
our  weak  and  limited  human  intellect  we  can 
comprehend  or  understand  but  very  little  of 
God,  any  way. 

The  story  given  us  includes  three  principal 
personages,  if  I  may  so  term  them— God,  Satan, 
and  humanity.  It  teaches  us  God's  relations  to 
humanity,  and  also  Satan's  relations  to  it,  and 
his  relations  to  God.  Mind  you,  the  Bible  does 
not  anywhere  tell  us  jnst  why  God  saw  fit  to 
permit  sin  to  come  into  the  world;  neither  does 
it  tell  us  why  Satan  should  have  such  large 
liberty.  It  only  says  he  does,  and  teaches  us  to 
beware  of  him.  Let  us  commence  at  that  sixth 
verse  and  look  it  over  a  little.  What  a  strange 
idea  I  A  day  seems  to  have  been  appointed 
when  the  "  sons  of  God  "  came  to  present  them- 
selves before  the  Lord.  Now.  we  can  not  com- 
prehend very  much  the  nature  of  such  a  meet- 
ing; in  fact,  we  do  not  exactly  know  what  is 
meant  by  the  expression  "  sons  of  God."  It  may 
have  reference  to  some  of  the  angelic  hosts,  or 
to  God's  leaders  among  the  human  family:  or, 
may  be,  it  is  entirely  figurative.  In  any  event, 
"  Satan  came  also;"  and  he  came  among  the 
others.  Our  first  thought  is,  to  wonder  that  he 
should  have  the  cheek  and  assurance  to  present 
himself  among  the  sons  of  God.  O  my  dear 
friend!  if  there  is  any  thing  that  is  absolutely 
true  of  Satan,  it  is,  that  he  has  any  amount  of 
cheek.  You  may  expect  him  anywhere.  If 
there  is  a  religious  gathering  going  on.  he  is 
sure  to  push  himself  right  in  among  the  fore- 
most; and  if  any  body  of  people  are  getting 
close  to  Christ  Jesus.  Satan  will  show  himself 
sooner  or  later.  He  will  be  clothed  like  an  an- 
gel of  light:  and  his  counsels  for  a  time  will  be 
such  as  may  deceive  and  delude  the  very  wisest. 
That  is  Bible  doctrine,  and  may  be  you  have 
had  some  humiliating  experience  right  in  this 
very  line. 

A  skeptical  friend  of  mine  said,  not  very  long 
ago,  that  nine-tenths  of  all  the  ministers  of  the 
gospel  who  commit  crime  do  so  in  the  line  of 
Urentiousness.  I  aiu  afraid  the  statement  is 
pretty  near  the  truth;  but  I  sincerely  hope  that 
the  whole  ten-teuths  is  a  very  small  number 
compared  with  all  the  ministers  we  have  in  our 
land.  The  idea  of  a  minister  of  Ood—a  spirit- 
ual leader— committing  cri'me  is  awful  fo  con- 
template: and  when  we  consider  further,  that, 
when  a  minister  does  commit  a  crime  that  has 
something  to  do  with  a  Christian  woman,  the 
thought  is  indeed  appalling.  Surely,  none  but 
Satan  could  ever  have  succeeded  in  bringing 
about  any  evil  that  has  to  do  with  womankind 
and  God's  spiritual  leaders.  Such  things  are 
terrible  when  they  do  occur:  and  I  hope  our 
brethren  of  the  ministry,  as  well  as  the  Chris- 
tian women  of  our  land,  will  comprehend  more 
and  more,  as  the  years  go  by.  the  fearful  wreck 
and  ruin,  and  the  awful  slur  that  they  bring 
upon  the  name  of  Christ  Jesus  when  they  vol- 
untarily become  parties  to  any  such  evil.  Par- 
don me' for  the  digression;  but  please  bear  in 
mind  that  "  Satan  came  also."  Now  comes  an- 
other astounding  truth.  God,  the  creator  and 
great  ruler  of  the  universe,  the  embodiment  of 
truth  and  purity,  condescends  to  speak  face  to 
face  with  the  arch  fiend  of  darkness.    The  first 


1892 


(JLKANlNiiS  IN   HEE  CULTURE. 


517 


quostidti  woiilii  imply  ihat  Satiiii  was.  aiui  Uiicw 
iu>  was.  within  i-<>rtaiii  liniils  ami  uiidcr  ('(Mlain 
n>siraiiits:  foi-  tlic  Lord  sa\s,  "  Satan,  wliciirc 
roincst  thou  ?  ■■  Wo  (.-an  imagine  Satan  sneak- 
ing hack  a  little  in  ihe  rear,  perhaps  fearing  he 
slionld  he  ordered  away  entirely,  lint  iiiste:id 
of  that.  th(>  Lord  seems  to  see  lit  to  speak  to  him 
in  what  we  might  almost  eonsider  a  friendly  oi" 
neighhorly  way:  and  this  vi'ry  incident  makes 
it  soom  to  me  us  though  this  must  be  a  parable. 
It  is  well  to  recognize  that  we  can  not  expect  a 
parable  or  fable  to  teach  truth  in  rrcri/ direc- 
tion. 1  have  heard  our  friends  of  the  cli-rgy 
express  it  by  saying.  "  No  pai-able  can  walk  oii 
all  fours."  l'arabl(>s  are  generally  expected  to 
leach  some  principle  or  truth,  or.  may  be.  sever- 
al truths:  but  a  good  deal  must  be  a  sort  of  till- 
ing-in  to  make  the  story  consistent,  and  to  make 
it  read  smootlily.  I  am  inclined  to  think  that 
this  conversation  between  (lod  and  Satan  is 
somewhat  of  a  tilling-in.  Humanity  comes  on 
the  stage  just  now  in  this  wonderful  poetic 
drama,  as  it  has  sometimes  been  called,  and  Ood 
and  Sdtim  discuss  a  (jnod  man.  Satan,  as  you 
will  notice,  continually  bi'Jittles  Irumanity  and 
mankind.  He  has  no  love  for  them.  On  the 
contrary,  we  know  that  for  ages  he  lias  been 
actuated  only  by  hatred  of  human  kind.  His 
whole  office  and  mission  is  to  make  out  human- 
ity just  as  bad  and  selfish,  and  mean  and  low 
and  animal,  as  he  can:  and  when  he  can 
whisper  to  some  poor  troubled  soul  that  he  is 
only  a  miserable  bungle  that  has  always  dis- 
figured the  face  of  the  earth  as  a  hideous  blot, 
then  he  is  in  his  element.  If  he  can  suggest,  so 
as  to  have  it  put  in  practice.  *•  Better  end  your 
miserable  life  the  quickest  and  shortest  way 
you  can  before  going  further,"  he  has  finished 
the  job  with  that  individual,  and  is  ready  for 
another.  What  we  know  of  .Satan  seems  to  indi- 
cate clearly  that  this  is  the  great  ultimatum  he 
is  working  for.  H'  lie  can  get  the  poor  victim  to 
murder  his  best  friends  before  he  kills  himself, 
he  is  better  pleased  still.  Every  little  while  we 
read  of  some  such  awful  tragedy.  In  fact,  you 
may  find  records  of  such  things  every  day  if  you 
choose  to  look  at  them.  And  not  a  community 
escapes — I  had  almost  said  not  a  family  con- 
nection but  that,  sooner  or  later,  has  to  pass 
and  meet  something  of  the  sort. 

In  the  parable.  Job  is  represented  as  a  model 
man— the  best,  perhaps,  that  anybody  could 
pick  out  in  any  nation  or  clime.  The  Lord 
points  him  out.  What  does  Satan  answer? 
Something  that  is  characteiistic  of  him.  for  all 
the  world.  It  is  short,  but  it  is  .Satanlike: 
'•  Doth  Job  serve  God  for  naught?"  How  often 
do  we  hear  such  things  said  of  a  good  man! 
"Oh.  yesl  who  wouldn't  be  good  when  he  has 
every  thing  that  heart  can  wish?  Just  hst  him 
stand  in  imj  shoes,  and  see  where  his  piety 
would  go."  I  have  heard  this  a  great  many 
times.  My  impression  is,  could  this  good  man 
stand  rigiit  square  in  the  shoes  of  thi;  one  who 
is  having  so  much  trouble,  he  would,  as  a  rule, 
begin  to  mend  things  right  and  left,  from  the 
very  moment,  tiecanse  of  the  little  text  I  have 
so  recently  used:  "  No  good  thing  will  he  with- 
hold from  them  that  walk  uprightly."  But 
this  book  of  Job  puts  another  phase  on  that 
text.  It  gives  us  an  extreme  case,  no  doubt.  A 
good  man  may  sometinus  be  called  upon  to 
meet  disaster. "and  sorrow  and  death;  and  he 
may  meet  them  again  and  again  for  a  very  long 
time,  (iod  remembers,  however,  and,  in  his 
own  good  time,  rewards.  Well,  in  the  parable 
Ciod  and  .Satan  together  plan  to  test  this  good 
man.  Will  he  hold  out.  or  will  he  not.  under 
trials  the  most  severe  that  can  be  ptit  upon  a 
child  of  God?  If  you  pick  out  the  best  Chris- 
tian we  have  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  or  in  any 
other  State,  and  send  him  to  Congress,  give  him 


a  big  salary.  exiKise  hiin  lo  bribes  and  all  the 
femptations  that  usually  meet  a  good  man, 
how  long  will  he  hold  nut?  Will  his  religion 
liear  the  test  ?  .Satan  says  there  is  no  man  and 
no  religion  that  will  hold  out  very  long.  He 
says  it  is  only  a  question  of  time.  Did  yon  ever 
hear  ))Ciiiilc  as  well  as  Satan  talk  in  thiit  way  ? 
Satan  and  these  jieople  say.  "  \Ve  read  in  books 
alxtut  men  who  would  die  tiefort-  they  would  do 
a  dishonorable  thing;  but  don't  you  believe  any 
thing  of  the  sort.  It  is  all  stuff  and  nonsense. 
I'eojile  are  much  alike,  and  sooner  or  later  it 
crops  out."  These  people  '?o  not  say.  but  they 
might  add.  "It  is  a  nice  thing  to  talk  about 
(iod  and  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spiiit.  etc.; 
but  the  ti'uth  of  it  is,  there  is  no  God  about  it. 
It  is  just  religious  cant  and  i)retense.  You  just 
bring  the  right  sort  of  temptation  to  bear,  ana 
down  goes  your  godly  man,  or  woman  either, 
for  that  matter."'  My  friend,  when  you  feel 
like  talking  in  that  way.  remember  yoii  are  in 
Satan's  service,  and  a  follower  of  Satan.  If  you 
are  a  professing  Christian,  you  are  awfully  out 
of  the  track. 

Well,  the  bargain  is  made.  Humanity  is  to 
be  tried,  and  Satan  is  given  all  the  liberty  that 
either  he  or  any  other  devil  could  ask  for.  He 
goes  to  work.  But,  mind  you.  not  a  hint  of  the 
awful  trial  our  poor  friend  Job  is  to  be  subject- 
ed to  is  given  to  him.  That  would  not  do. 
That  would  spoil  the  whole  of  it.  He  must  be 
human,  just  as  we  are.  He  is  to  have  no  as- 
sistance from  on  high.  For  the  time  being  his 
Creator  is  to  turn  his  back  upon  him,  and  Satan 
has  full  swing.  The  Devil  says,  very  confident- 
ly, "  Put  forth  thy  hand  now  and  touch  all  that 
he  hath,  and  he  will  curse  thee  to  thy  face." 
Poor  Job  I  Suppose  it  were  you  or  I:  how  would 
we  stand  the  ordeal?  Are  you  sure,  my  friend, 
that  out  of  the  depths  of  trouble  and  despair 
you  would  say,  as  did  Job,  "I  know  that  my 
redeemer  liveth  "?  or. '"  Though  he  slay  me,  yet 
will  I  trust  in  him"?  or,  "  My  righteousness  I 
hold  fast,  and  will  not  let  it  go"? 

"What  good  comes  from  believing  in  the  ex- 
istence of  Satan  ?  "  some  may  ask.  "  Why  not, 
in  place  of  Satan,  say  '  evil  impulses  '  ?  "  Well, 
friends,  my  conviction  is  that,  the  sooner  we 
believe  in  Satan  exactly  as  we  are  taught  of 
him  of  God's  holy  word,  the  better  for  humani- 
ty. A  man  has  a  quarrel  with  his  neighbor. 
It  waxes  more  and  more  bitter;  and  if  it  is  not 
stopped  it  often  ends  in  murder.  Suppose  you 
talk  to  one  or  both  of  the  parties — may  be  you 
have  tried  to.  Each  one  is  so  absorbed  in 
dwelling  on  the  mean  traits  of  the  other  that 
he  can  not  think  or  talk  of  any  think  else. 
Suppose,  however,  you  suggest  that  the  offend- 
ing one  is  deluded— that  is.  fallen  intcj  the  power 
of  Satan,  and  is  really  to  be  pitied.  Or  suppose 
you  say  to  lioth  of  them.  '•  Dear  friends,  you  are 
both  making  a  great  mistake.  You  magnify 
the  wrong  that  each  one  of  you  has  done  the 
other.  You  are  not  yourselves.  Satan  has  got 
between  you;  in  fact,  he  has  found  a  lodging- 
place  in  both  of  youi-  hearts,  I  fear,  and  he  is 
the  one  to  blame.  Fight  him;  but  for  God's 
sake  do  not  fight  each  other.  Just  say  to  him, 
each  of  you, 'Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan.' and 
by  so  doing  recognize  the  real  sourc(>  of  the 
whole  trouble,  and  see  how  quick  you  will  be 
on  friendly  terms  as  you  used  lo  be.'"  If  you 
can  get  them  to  recognize  this,  and  assent  to  it, 
the  quarrel  is  over.  Here  you  see  a  real  belief 
in  a  devil  is  helpful.  Suppose  a  boy  in  some 
community  has  done  a  great  amount  of  mischief 
— in  fact,  so  much  that  the  whole  neighborhood 
rises  up  against  him.  demanding  that  he  be 
sent  to  a  reform  farm  or  prison.  Suppose,  how- 
ever, it  turns  out  a  little  later  that  some  older 
person  has  been  persistently  putting  him  up  to 
all  these  things — how  quickly  public  sentiment 


518 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


changesi  Why!  tho  boy  is  almost  exonerated 
by  this  discovery.  Well,  now,  let  us  apply  this 
same  sort  of  reasoning  to  Satan's  work:  let  us 
recognize,  whenever  one  offends,  that  it  is  the 
prince  of  darkness  back  of  him  that  is  responsi- 
ble for  it  all:  and  if  the  offending  one  can  be 
made  to  believe  this  also,  he  is  ready  to  turn 
about  and  give  up  his  evil  ways. 

Satan  is  at  bitter  enmity  with  every  sort  of 
educating  influence  —  especial. y  that  sort  of 
education  that  goes  along  with  Christianity. 
It  seems  as  if  he  would  have  no  stone  unturned 
nor  means  untried  to  discoui'age  the  work  of 
reforming  savages  and  civilizing  the  heathen. 
In  my  recent  visit  .«onlh  we  were  discussing  the 
schools  and  the  methods  employed  for  educat- 
ing the  colored  people.  A  dozen  of  us  were 
gathered  one  evening,  just  before  going  to  bed, 
and  we  were  considering  the  future  of  the  col- 
ored folks  in  the  South.  The  friends  were  all 
Southern  people  except  myself.  Several  of 
them  had  been  slave-owners  in  former  years; 
and  we  had  a  real  kind,  friendly  talk— such  a 
talk  as  I  never  expected  to  be  able  to  have  with 
our  Southern  people.  In  fact.  I  did  not  know 
that  those  who  formerly  held  slaves  would  care 
to  discuss  with  a  Northerner  the  whole  social 
problem  in  such  a  kind,  pleasant  way.  Most  of 
us  were  professing  Christians.  They  told  me 
that  the  greatest  obstacle  in  the  way  of  elevat- 
ing the  colored  students  was  a  line  of  Satan's 
work  I  have  already  referred  to — unchastity. 
Even  the  theological  students  among  the  col- 
ored folks,  after  they  had  got  so  well  along  in 
their  studies  that  every  one  had  reason  to  sup- 
pose they  were  truly  born  again,  and  lifted 
from  the  miry  clay — even  these  theological 
.  students,  or  even  pastors  with  people  under 
their  charge,  would  now  and  then  relapse,  and 
away  went  their  Christianity.  I  do  not  know 
of  any  thing  in  this  world  that  so  thoroughly 
kills  out  spirituality  as  yielding  to  Satan  in 
this  way.  Even  permitting  sensual  thoughts 
to  occupy  one's  mind  grieves  away  the  Holy 
Spirit  and  opens  the  gates  to  intidelity  and  un- 
belief; and  thp  om^  who  has  gone  so  far  as  to 
break  the  command, '•  Thou  shalt  not  commit 
adultery."  seems  from  that  time  forth  to  be 
posses-^ed  with  a  hard,  cold,  sarcastic  kind  of 
infidelity.  lie  joers  at  Christianity,  scoffs  at 
purity,  and  not  only  evidently  tries  to  make  a 
heir  here  on  earth,  but  he  seems  to  take  it  for 
granted  that  this  world  is  a  hell,  and  all  who 
profess  any  thing  lieitcr  are  lying  hypocrites. 
Now  in  regard  to  our  colored  brethren: 

It  .seemed  as  if  Satan  could  not  rest  when  he 
found  one  of  thesis  i)eople  was  determined  to 
rise  above  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  and  stand 
before  God  a  pure  and  true  man.  Somebody 
suggested  in  that  evening  circle  that  it  was  not 
the  colored  people  alone  who  fall  from  grace  in 
this  way.  and  then  there  was  a  general  laugh 
all  around.  Then  came  the  question  that  has 
come  up  so  many  times  before,  "How  far  does 
God  hold  a  man  responsible?"  If  a  minister  of 
the  ffosp(>l.  under  terrible  temptation,  forgets 
liis  reli<rion  and  his  Savior,  for  ev(Mi  one  brief 
moment,  must  he  give  up  preaching  for  tlie  rest 
of  his  life?  This  very  thing  has  come  to  me 
face  to  face  several  times  in  life.  What  I  mean 
is,  I  have  seen  the  question  come  up,  "Shall 
this  man.  after  having  conf(;ssed  his  sin  of 
adultery,  and  asked  pardon  of  God  and  his  fel- 
low-men, keep  on  preaching,  or  shall  he  do 
something  else  for  a  living?"  May  be  I  am 
wrong  about  it;  but  my  conviction  is,  just  now, 
that  he  had  better  do  somethinu  else  for  a  living. 
I  am  now  going  to  repeatsomething  here  that 
may  seem  to  some  a  little  out  of  place  in  a  pub- 
lic journal;  but  I  take  the  liberty  on  the  ground 
that  the  man  who  is  forewarned  is  forearmed. 
Satan  can  not  well  be  pointed  out  too   plainly. 


One  of  the  friends  present  during  that  evening 
talk  made  a  remark  something  like  this: 

"  Look  here,  boys;  suppose  a  pretty  woman 
puts  her  arm  around  your  neck  —  what  are  you 
going  to  do  about  it?'' 

"  Yes,  friends,  what  are  you  going  to  do  about 
it?"  said  another. 

The  first  speaker  answered: 

"  Well.  I  do  not  know  what  the  rest  of  you 
would  do;  but  as  formyself.it  would  be  quite 
natural  for  me  to  put  my  arms  around  the 
i('0(;(o)i." 

And  this  brings  us  to  face  the  fact  that  Satan 
may  not  only  come  before  you  as  an  angel  of 
light,  but  he  may  possibly  appear  in  the  guise 
of  —  as  our  friend  expressed  it  —  a  "pretty 
woman.'"  She  may  be  pretty  in  one  sense,  but 
not  according  to  the  old  adage,  that  "hand- 
some is  that  handsome  does.''  Of  course,  any 
true  Christian — and.  for  that  matter,  any  true 
man — would  at  once  say,  "  Get  thee  behind  me, 
SatMU."  If  he  did  not  do  so  promptly  and  on 
the  in.stant.  he  is  unworthy  of  even  the  name 
of  Christian  or  man  either.  In  the  very  first 
page  of  the  Bible  we  have  very  plain  directions 
as  to  what  a  man  should  do  under  such  tempta- 
tion— "How,  then,  can  I  do  this  great  wicked- 
ness and  sin  against  God?'"  First  of  all,  Joseph 
recognized  that  it  was  before  Ood  that  he  was 
standing,  and  the  sin  would  be  against  him. 
He  also  explains  to  this  woman  that  her  hus- 
band had  trusted  him — in  fact,  he  had  given 
him  charge  over  his  whole  household,  and  did 
not  even  look  offer  things  where  Joseph  had 
charge.  As  this  was  a  woman  of  high  rank,  we 
have  reason  to  believe  that  she  was  not  only  a 
beautiful  woman,  as  the  world  puts  it.  but  she 
was  the  wife  of  a  high  officer  under  Pharaoh. 
There  is  a  kind  of  low-lived  philosophy  among 
a  certain  class  of  men,  to  the  effect  that,  where 
a  woman  takes  the  had.  a  man  is  partially  or 
entirely  relieved  of  responsibility.  Shame  on 
the  men  who  can  take  any  such  stand  as  that! 
Job  said,  "  Till  I  die  I  will  not  remove  mine  in- 
tegrity from  me."  Even  in  heathen  mythology 
a  knight  (who  is  supposed  to  be  a  (joad  tn((n  and 
nothing  more)  is  expected  to  lay  down  his  life 
to  defend  the  virtue  of  (iny  woman.  If  occasion 
demands  it.  he  must  be  father,  priest,  or  kinei  to 
any  woman  in  distress.  My  friend,  if  Satan 
has  ever  appeared  to  you  in  any  such  guise  as 
we  have  been  talking  about,  and  you  are  in 
danger  of  falling,  let  me  suggest  to  you  to  im- 
agine how  the  thing  would  look  if  this  woman — 
beautiful  woman  if  you  choose  to  so  put  it— were 
your  oivn  daughter  or  sister  instead  of  the 
daughter  or  sister  of  some  other  man.  Oh  I  that 
alters  the  case.  I  tell  you,  it  does  indeed  alter 
the  case.  But  when  tiod  said,  "Thou  shalt 
love  thy  neighbor  as  thys^elf,"  he  most  siu'ely 
intended  it  should  cover  all  circumstances  like 
the  above.  And  this  little  illustration  gives  us 
a  glimp.se  of  Satan  and  of  his  work  as  perhaps 
no  other  thing  could  give  it.  Satan  makes  self 
fill  the  wide  universe,  but  he  would  make  yoiir 
neighbor  an  utter  nothing  and  not  to  be  con- 
sidered at  all.  So  long  as  this  lost  or  tempted 
woman  was  the  daughter  or  sister  of  s(nnel)ody 
else,  it  is  a  small  matter.  Does  the  whole  wide 
world  furnish  another  such  parallel  of  brutish 
selfishness?  Yes,  grown-up  men — the  fathers 
of  families — will  sit  down  and  coolly  debate 
whether  a  man  is  very  much  to  blame  after  all, 
when  the  woman  leads.  But  let  us  just  for  a 
moment  think  if  it  were  one  of  our  children,  or 
one  of  our  sisters  who  has  been  tempted  liy 
Satan;  and,  dear  friend,  the  thing  is  not  so 
utterly  imi>o.'<sible.  after  all.  Here  and  there 
we  have  sad  records  of  just  such  things.  When 
it  is  your  daughter  or  sister  that  is  in  the  toils 
of  Satan,  how  do  you  expect  every  real  man  to 
behave  toward  her?    If  he  is  a  Christian,  surely 


lS'.t2 


CI.KANIN'CIS  IN  1U-:E  L'LII/rUKK. 


519 


lit'  will  treat  ln'i'  as  a  fatlici-  would  tii'at  an 
iifiiii:  I'liiUi:  and  if  lit'  is  iint  a  prDfcssiiig 
(  hiistiaii.  wt'  Impc  li(»  will  luivo  iiianiioi)d 
«ii(iu<;ii  al)oiit  liiiii  to  do  tlif  same. 

Xiiw.  if  any  of  you  afc  I'vci-  ttMiiptcd  to  think 
tliort' ari' soint'  tjood  things  even  ahont  Satan, 
let  lis  <jn  a  little  further.  Suppose  Satan  gels  a 
foottiold.  and  eriininal  relations  slowly  develop 
between  some  man  and  woman.  The  woman 
is  deluded  into  a  belief  that  there  f-K/i  l)i' scune- 
tiiing  honorable  and  manly  about  sin-li  a  man. 

•  iiiil      tKruW'^      liitrcitlf       !iv\''ii'      f<ii'      lti<     c*il.*it         S\lir> 


SOMK     KIND     WORDS,   NOT    ONLY     TO   A.    I.    ROOT 

ALONK,   BUT   TO   THE    WHOLE   WIDE 

WORLD,    FOR  THAT   MATTER. 

Dear  Brother  A.  I.  Root:— In  perusing  your 
Notes  of  Travel,  page  2'y2,  my  attention  was  ar- 
rested when  I  read.  '"  When  we  pray  for  the  in- 
Huenees  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  our  hearts."  I 
stopped  and  mused  over  the  sentence.  I  thought 
to  myself.  "  And  is  that  all— only  an  injiuencef' 
I  thought,  •■  Well,  however  great  a  blessing 
even  that  would  be,  onr  real  blessed  privilege  is 
incalculably  greater.  We  are  encouraged  to 
ask,  with  the  sweet  assurance  that  our  prayers 
will  be  answered,  for  the  real  personal  Holy 
.Spirit,  the  Comforter,  to  comi;  and  dwell  in  us." 
A  few  passages  will.  I  think,  make  all  clear. 
See  Luke  11:13:  "If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know- 
how  to  give  good  gifts  to  your  children,  how 
much  more  shall  your  heavenly  Father  give  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him?"  Now  turn 
to  Romans  8:9:  "  Hut  ye  are  not  in  the  flesh, 
but  in  the  Spirit,  if  so  be  that  the  S|)irit  of  God 
dwell  in  you."  Verse  11:  "  P>iit  if  the  Spirit  of 
him  that  raised  ujj.Iesus  from  the  dead  dwell  in 
you.  he  that  raised  up  Christ  from  the  dead 
shall  also  quicken  your  mortal  bodies  by  his 
Spirit  that  dwelleth  in  you."'  See  I.  .John  3:  24: 
"  And  hereby  we  know  that  he  abideth  in  us  by 
the  Spirit  wiiich  he  hath  given  us."  What  a 
stupendous  thought — (Jod  the  Holy  (Ihost  is 
Deity  communicated  to  us  1 

If  you  will  bear  with  me  I  will  give  a  few 
more  verses  on  the  same  subject.  Look  at  I. 
Cor.  3:  Hi:  "  Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  the  tem- 
ple of  (Jod.  and  that  the  Spirit  of  (yod  dwelleth 
in  you?"  Read  tlie  17th  verse  also.  Now  turn 
to  II.  Coi-.  <>:  Ki:  "  For  ye  are  the  tem[)le  of  the 
living  God:  as  (iod  hath  said.  I  will  dwell  in 
them  and  walk  in  them."  Ephesians  .5:  8:  "Be 
not  drunk  with  wine,  wherein  is  excess:  but  be 
filled  with  the  Spirit."  I  will  now  give  a  few 
quotations  to  show  that  the  power  of  the  Chris- 
tian to  ri.se  above  the  little  perplexities  of  eve- 
ry-day  life,  as  well  as  to  rejoice  in  peace  and 
joy  that  he  has  continually,  is  through  the  in- 
working  of  the  Spirit — the  ])ower  of  the  Holy 
(ihost.  and  not  a  mere  "  influence."  Turn  to 
Romans  1.5:  13:  "Now  the  God  of  hope  fill  you 
with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believing,  that  ye  may 
abound  in  hope  through  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Spirit."  Colossians  1:8:  "  Who  also  declare  un- 
to us  your  love  in  the  Spirit."    Now  look  at  I. 


Thessalonians  l:i'i:  "  Having  received  the  woid 
in  much  aflliction  will:  joy  of  ihe  Holy  (Ihost." 
Fphesians  ;i:  HI:  •■  Thai  he  would  grant  you  ac- 
cording to  the  riches  of  his  glory  to  be  strength- 
ened with  might  by  his  Spirit  in  the  inner 
man."  Hut.  u'y  brother.  I  feel  sure  that  we  are 
not  far  a[)ait  in  thi^se  glorious  truths.  It  ap- 
pears to  me  that  you  were  just  a  little  at)sent- 
ininded  when  you  used  the  term  ■■influences." 
You  have  more  than  an  iulluenci^  in  your  heart 
to  eiialile  you  to  wri te  so  sw eet ly  as  you  do  in 
those  Home  i'apers.  I  always  feel  ti'oubled 
when  I  s(>e  a  long  bitter  article  containing  a  lot 
of  unkind  taunting  words,  written  by  t)ne  who 
claims  to  be  a  true  believer,  evidently  meant  to 
wound  some  one  in  the  keenest  fashion  in  the 
wi-iter"s  i)ower.  To  one  who  lias  the  lov<!  of 
God  shed  abroad  in  his  heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
which  is  given  us.  the  (iii(>stion  will  come  up. 
Does  the  writer  know  that,  by  his  professions  of 
Christianity,  li<^  claims  to  br>'the  templt^  of  the 
living  God'?  If  ye  have  not  the  Spiritof  Christ, 
ye  are  none  of  his.  Th<'  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is 
love.  joy.  etc..  not  bitterness.  S.  T.  Pettit. 
Belmont.  Out.,  Can.,  April  13,  18<.t'. 

[  Dear  friend  I'.,  I  am  very  glad  of  your  kind 
criticism.  No  doubt  you  are  right,  biit  perhaps 
an  explanation  may  make  it  plainer  why  I 
should  use  the  word  "  influences."  In  praying 
for  our  unconverted  friends  we  usually  pray 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  may  strive  with  them,  al- 
ways recognizing  that  every  sane  Individual  is  a 
free  agent,  and  can  yield  to  the  Holy  Spirit  or 
not.  as  he  chooses ;  therefore  I  have,  perhaps, 
been  in  the  habit  of  using  the  term  ■■  influences 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,"  for  these  influences  are 
round  about  us  all,  urging  us  toward  justice 
and  right,  while  the  luince  of  darkness  is  as 
constantly  endeavoring  to  turn  us  to  evil.  Your 
selections  from  (Jod's  holy  word  are  all  precious 
promises,  and  it  makes  iiuite  a  little  Bible- 
reading  to  take  them  in  the  oi"der  in  which  you 
have  arranged Xhem.  Your  concluding  thought 
ought  to  inspire  us  all  with  a  more  earnest  de- 
termination to  live  up  to  our  profession.  I,  like 
yourself,  have  often  wondered  how  earnest 
Christians  could  let  such  words  go  into  print. 
If,  before  sending  them  to  the  publisher,  they 
would  pray  over  the  matter,  and  wait  for  some 
indication  of  the  Holy  Spirit  as  to  whether 
what  was  written  was  right  and  proper,  in  line 
with  what  I  recently  told  you  in  the  Home 
Papers,  I  think  many  of  them  would  be  greatly 
modifled  or  would  not  go  into  print  at  all,  and  I 
think  that  editors  need  a  great  deal  of  exhorta- 
tion on  this  v(!ry  f)oint.  We  have  many  times 
regretted  hitting  things  go  into  print  before 
suggesting  to  the  writer  that  he  might  make 
all  his  points,  and  do  it  in  a  gentler  and  kinder 
way.  Now,  friend  P..  you  and  I  both  have 
committed  ourselves — yes,  pnblicly  committed 
ourselves;  and  may  this  same  Holy  Spirit  give 
us  grace  to  carry  out  our  resolution.  Is  there 
another  brother  who  feels  a  desire  to  join  in 
with  US'?  There  is  never  any  exclusion,  you 
know,  in  such  a  brotherhood  as  this.] 

A    SPONTANEOUS   OUTBlIiST   FROM    DR.    MILI,ER. 

Mjj  Oe(tr  old  Friend .--Vve  just  finished  read- 
ing (JlI'Ianings,  and  feel  like  writing  a  few 
words  to  you  more  than  any  thing  else  in  the 
world  just  now.  It's  a  quarter  of  six.  and  a 
nice  morning  after  the  big  rain  and  hail  we  had 
last  night.  It's  the  nicest  world  I  was  ever  in. 
I'm  sitting  at  the  typewriter,  with  only  a  pair 
of  overalls  on  me,  and  a  vest,  undershirt,  shoes, 
stockings,  and  a  pair  of  glasses.  I'm  so  thank- 
ful that  I'm  not  living  in  some  city  where  I 
must  be  all  dressed  ui).  sweltering  under  the 
heat,  sighing  to  get  out  into  the  country,  in 
God's  pure  air  and   sunlight  I     Before  I  write 


520 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


any  further  I  may  as  well  tell  you  now  that 
this  letter  is  written  with  no  special  purpose  — 
just  because  I  feel  like  it ;  and  if  you  haven't 
time  to  read  it  now.  you  can  read  it  a  week 
later.  I  think  the  thing  that  made  me  feel 
most  like  writing  you  this  little  letter  was  the 
reading  of  "  Ourselves  and  Neighbors"  in  June 
1.5th  Gleanings.  I  enjoyed  it  ever  so  much. 
It's  capital.  Then  your  gardening  talks  inter- 
est me  very  much. 

How  I'd  like  to  see  you,  and  have  a  real  good 
talk  with  you!  I  feel  bad  sometimes  to  think 
that  so  much  of  the  writing  I  do  to  Medina  is 
so  much  in  the  nature  of  fault-finding  and 
scolding.  But  if  I  don't  scold,  who  will?  And 
then  I  know  you'll  take  it  in  good  part  from 
me,  for  I'm  sure  you  know  that  I  love  you.  By 
the  way,  I'm  glad  to  say.  as  you  will  see  in  one 
of  the  Straws,  that  the  Myers  spray  pump  does 
grand  work  on  roses  and  any  thing  it  will  reach. 
It's  a  pity  so  much  was  claimed  for  it. 

I  just  believe  that,  if  your  identity  could  be 
changed,  and  you  lived  at  San  Jacinto.  Tropi- 
co,  or  Wilson's  Peak,  and  then  could  come  on  a 
visit  to  Medina,  where  some  one  else  had  a  big 
supplv-plant,  a  big  garden,  hot-oeds,  etc.,  you'd 
find  Medina  was  the  one  place  in  all  the  world 
that  had  just  the  climate  to  suit  you,  and  you'd 
want  to  move  there  instanter.    God  bless  you! 

Marengo,  111.,  June  17.  C.  C.  Miller. 


"Pages? -xlO 
PErYEARj 


And.  behold,  the  devils  cried  out,  sayiiiR,  Wliat  have  we  to 
do  with  thee,  Jesus,  thou  Son  of  God!  art  tliou  come  hither  to 
torment  us  before  the  time?— Matt  8:  i9. 

We  have  secured  some  very  excellent  photo- 
graphs of  Mr.  Langstroth  standing  in  front  of 
the  Home  of  the  Honey-bees;  and  we  hope  in  a 
later  issue  to  give  some  of  the  results  in  half- 
tone.   

The  Australian  Bee  Bulletin,  Vol.  I.,  No.  1, 
has  just  come  to  our  table.  It  is  a  monthly  pe- 
riodical, and  contains  16  pages.  Gleanings 
extends  hfr  greeting,  and  trusts  they  will  meet 
with  success.         

Our  bees  in  the  house-apiary  are  now  put 
into  separate  hives,  and  confined  exclusively  to 
those  stands.  This  is  a  great  improvement  in 
that  it  prevents  bees  from  crawling  all  around 
on  the  inside  of  hives,  and  mingling  more  or 
less  from  one  colony  to  another. 


We  would  call  especial  attention  to  the  auto- 
biographical sketch  of  our  special  artist,  R.  V. 
Murray.  In  its  allusion  to  great  persons  and 
things  it  is  exceedingly  interesting.  It  tells  of 
P.  P.  Bliss.  John  G.  Whittier,  Dr.  C.  C.  Miller. 
P.  Benson,  Sr..  one  or  two  of  the  great  music- 
houses,  the  Chicago  tire,  and  many  other  things 
ofinten'St.  Bi>  sure  to  read  it,  and  then  you'll 
know  who  P.  Benson  was. 


Charles  Dadant  &  Son,  of  Hamilton,  111., 
write.  "  We  have  never,  nevei-  seen  so  poor  a 
season,  and  yet  we  think  our  bees  are  going  to 
make  a  crop  by  and  by.  Every  thing  is  soaking 
wet  most  of  the  time."  This  status  of  things  is 
nearly  as  bad  in  our  own  vicinity,  and  most  of 
the  reports  from  various  parts  of  the  country 
tell  a  similar  tale.  A  few  have  reported,  so  far, 
big  crops  of  honey—"  best  in  years."    Basswood 


promises  "  big  "  if  the  multitude  of  flower-buds 
means  any  thing,  in  our  vicinity.  By  the  way, 
adulteration  can  not  be  going  on  very  exten- 
sively, else  why  do  the  market  reports  show 
"last  year's  crop  of  extracted  honey  scarce,  and 
waiting  for  new  crop '"  ?  This  speaks  strongly 
for  little  or  no  adulteration. 


A  SORT  of  impression  seems  to  prevail,  that 
the  slotted  separators  which  we  have  lately  in- 
troduced are  regarded  by  us  as  something  new 
and  original.  Nothing  could  be  further  from 
the  truth.  These  separators  were  introduced 
years  ago;  but  for  some  reason  or  otlier  the 
times  were  not  ripe  for  them,  and  they  were 
used  only  here  and  there  by  rather  obscure 
bee-keepers.  Wheu  we  adopted  them  for  the 
Dovetailed  hive,  we  did  so  knowing  they  were 
old,  and  so  stated  it.  Some  of  our  friends  seem 
determined  to  think  that  we  were  trying  to  rob 
them  or  somebody  of  apicultural  glory.  The 
mere  fact  that  we  introduced  them,  and  they 
became  popular,  does  not  signify  at  all  that  we 
invented  or  originated  it.  It  does  signify  that 
we  have  seen  their  practicability,  and  therefore 
believe  it  is  our  duty  to  give  to  bee-ke<pers 
what  is  both  useful  and  practicable. 


We  are  having  better  success  with  the  Doo- 
little  cell-cups,  but  we  find  there  is  a  great 
difference  in  colonies  in  regard  to  cell-btiilding. 
While  some  will  complete  the  whole  number 
given  them,  others,  under  conditions  that  are 
as  nearly  identical  as  may  be.  will  reject  every 
one.  We  have  followed  Doolittle's  directions  to 
the  letter,  with  all  his  later  suggestions;  and 
we  must  account  for  the  difference  in  results  by 
a  difference  in  bees  and  hives.  We  are  of  the 
opinion  that  a  deeper  hive  than  the  Langstroth 
is  more  favorable  for  cell-building,  for  the 
reason  that  the  upper  story,  or  the  upper  part 
of  it  is  at  a  greater  distance  from  the  brood  in 
the  lower  hive.  Putting  between  the  two  sto- 
ries of  the  colony  an  extra  empty  body  or  super 
seems  to  have  a  beneficial  cfTect.  Nine-tenths 
of  all  our  cells  are  reared  on  Doolittle's  plan; 
and  while  it  is  not  an  entire  success,  it  is  suffi- 
ciently so  to  warrant  us  in  the  continuance  of 
the  plan.  

Some  two  months  ago  we  inserted  an  adver- 
tisement, in  a  couple  of  Lssues  (April  1,5th  and 
May  1st)  from  John  Hewitt,  Shefiield,  Eng., 
"  Hallamshire  Bee-keeper,"  as  he  has  signed 
himself  in  his  articles.  Since  giving  insertion 
to  his  advertisements  we  have  found  that  he  is 
entirely  unreliable.  This  information  we  get 
from  various  sources  in  England,  and  from  par- 
ties there  who  are  wholly  disinterested,  either 
in  Punic  bees  or  in  the  Piinic-bee  controversy 
that  has  appeared  in  the  British  Bee  Journal. 
In  view  of  the  excellent  behavior  of  the  Punic 
bees  we  have,  we  regret  very  much  to  say  this; 
but  we  do  not  wish  our  readers  who  have  seen 
the  advertisement  of  John  Hewitt  to  send  him 
money  with  no  probability  of  getting  any  re- 
turns. And,  again,  we  are  assured  that  the 
prices  he  charges  for  Punic  bees  are  enormous — 
far  in  exce.ss  of  their  real  value.  If  Punic  (or. 
rather,  Tunisian)  bees  should  prove  to  be  a  val- 
uable acquisition  we  are  informed  that  they  can 
be  imported  direct  from  Africa  at  a  moderate 
price. 

Bug.  Hutchinson,  of  the  Bee-keepers'  Review, 
has  ali'eady  begun  to  inquire  when  the  North 
American  shall  meet  at  Washington,  and 
whether  it  is  too  early  to  decide  the  question. 
Not  a  bit  too  early.  Quite  a  number  at  Albany 
thought  it  would  be  well  to  hold  the  convention 
on  a  G.  A.  R.  day  when  very  low  railroad  rates 
could  be  secured;  but  resident  bee-keepers  in 


IS'.K' 


(U.EANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


5J1 


ami  about  \Vasliinf.'liin  have  assurod  us  tliat 
tilt'  holds  ai  tlial  time  will  ln'ovi'irrowdcd,  and 
acoDniinuiiatioMs  will  tlioi'i't'Drr  ix'  poor.  It  lias 
hct'U  sii^u:('>tcil  tliat  some  other  dat(>.  thorcfofo, 
be  si'ici'tcd  when  icducrd  I'nilroad  rates  will  he 
nearly  if  not  quite  a-^  jxood  aiul  still  the  aei-oiu- 
iiiodatious  at  the  capital  not  ovi'rorowdod.  We 
are  satislied  of  this  one  thiiip.  however:  Our  as- 
soi-iaiiou  of  itself  is  not  lar^^' enouju'h  to  secure 
the  necessary  low  rate  to  induce  bee-keepers  to 
attemi  to  any  considerable  de.iiree.  We  oufjht, 
therelore,  to  select  some  date  w  hen  there  will 
be  some  ■■  big  doings  ■'  at  the  national  ca|)ital, 
when  generally  reduced  ralt'S  will  be  allowed. 
Let  us  be  thinking  the  matter  over,  because 
there  are  many  bee-keepers  who  will  want  to 
go  to  Washington,  and  take  their  wives,  sweet- 
hearts, and  friends  along. 


e 
for 


THAT   NKW   lUNGUA.M   SMOKKR. 

A  FEW  days  ago  Mr.  Kinghara  sent  us  one  of 
his  latest  improved  Doctor  smokers,  with  the 
curved  snout,  and  device  for  lifting  the  cone  oft' 
from  th<>  tire-box,  with  the  request  that  we  try 
it  in  the  apiary.  At  first  we  were  not  favorably 
impressed  with  it:  but  the  more  we  tried  it,  the 
more  we  liked  it.  We  have  two  Doctor  smokers 
in  the  apiary — one  with  a  straight  nozzle,  and 
the  other  with  a  curved  one:  but  we  notice  that 
our  boys  take  the  latter.  •"  How  about  the 
Clark?"  you  may  ask.  Oh.  yes  I  we  use  that 
too.  There  are  certain  kinds  of  work  where 
our  boys  prefer  the  Clark,  and  for  certain  kinds 
the  Bingham.  For  a  large  volume  of  smoke, 
and  for  general  subduing  qualities,  we  believe 
there  is  nothing  equal  to  one  of  the  large  Bing- 
ham smokers.  Our  boys  always  u.se  them  when 
working  over  cross  colonies.  "  Take  care  there!" 
you  will  say:  "you  will  be  hurting  your  trad 
in  Clark  stuokers."  Yes;  but  the  Clark  sells  fo* 
about  one-fourth  th(^  price  of  the  Bingham,  and 
ought  not  to  be  expected  to  do  the  work  of  a 
high-priced  implement;  and,  besides,  even  if  it 
should  kill  the  trade  entirely,  we  propose  to 
tell  the  truth,  uo  matter  which  way  it  cuts. 

QUEEN.S    TO    FOKEIttN     COUNTHIES;       IS     TIIEKE 
TKOCBLE   AHEAD? 

One  of  our  customers  in  Jamaica  ordered  of 
us  one  Carniolan  queen,  one  Doolittle  queen, 
and  one  of  our  own  select  tested  Italians.  Not 
having  tin-  Caruiolans,  we  ordered  Mr.  F.  A. 
Lockhari.  of  Lake  George,  N.  Y.,  to  send  one  of 
his  select  tested  direct;  and  to  make  sure  eveiy 
thing  would  be  all  I'ight.  we  sent  him  one  of 
our  export  cages  with  directions  for  mailing, 
etc.  We  had  several  times  before  sent  queens 
to  Jamaica,  and,  of  course,  had  no  doubt  that 
we  could  do  so  again.  In  a  week  or  ten  days 
we  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Lockhart.  stating 
that  the  queen  which  he  had  sent  had  been  re- 
turned to  him,  and  marked  "Prohibited  by 
Country  of  Destination."  Having  previously 
sent  queens  to  the  same  island,  as  above  stated, 
and  not  liearing  of  any  trout)l(!  from  the  Doo- 
little queen,  and  therefore  supposing  she  went 
through  all  right,  we  wrote  to  the  Second  As- 
sistant Postmaster  General,  and  the  following 
is  the  answer  we  received: 

POSTOFFICE  DEPARTMENT. 

OFFICE  OF  FOREKiN  .MAILS. 

Wasliiiig-toii,  U.  C,  June  20,  1892. 
S(»\'— Referring  to  your  letter  of  the  ITth  instant, 
to  the  Second  Assistant  Postni;ister  General,  asking 
for  an  expliinalion  of  tlie  circumstance  tliat  s(jme 
packages  of  "  live  bees"  addressed  for  delivery  in 
Jamaica,  W.  I.,  which  you  have  caused  to  be  mailed 
iti  this  country,  liave  been  despatcJied  to  Jamaica, 
while  others  liave  been  retuined  to  you  marked 
"Prohil)ited  l)y  Country  of  Destination."  I  have  to 
inform  you  that  '"live  bees  "are  transmissible  l)y 
mail  to  those  countries  only  which  have  given  notice 


thai  llielr  legislation  perinits  live  l)ces  to  be  admit- 
ted to  tlie  mails.  The  p  isinl  olhcials  of  .laniaica 
have  not  given  such  noi  u-c.  and  conse(iuetit  ly  live 
l)ees  ari'  not  allowed  to  I  e  loiwarded  by  mail  to 
•latiuiica.  The  only  explanation  that  can  be  given 
of  1  he  fact  Ihat  sui'li  packages  have  been  allowed 
to  go  forward  to  t  hat  island  is,  that  the  Tiature  of 
the  contents  of  said  i)ackages  escaped  observation 
at  the  iiostoflice  in  New  York. 

The  foregoing  siali-inent  applies  ecjually  to  pack- 
ages of  bees  addressed  for  deli\ery  in  the  Austra- 
lasian colonies,  none  of  those  idknnes  having  as  yet 
indicated  thi'ir  willingness  to  allow  packages  of  live 
l)ees  to  be  admit  ted  to  the  mails  exchanged  between 
them  and  foreign  countries. 

1  am,  very  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

N.  M.  ilKOOKS, 

Supei'intendeiit  of  Foreign  Mails. 

We  have  known  that  the  Australian  colonies, 
as  well  as  some  of  the  other  foreign  countries  to 
wliich  we  nave  sent  queens,  provided  no  legis- 
lation whereby  queen-bees  coul(J  be  mailed  to 
their  ports.  In  the  absence  of  any  statement, 
we  have  taken  the  liberty  to  send  the  queens 
riglit  along,  just  the  same,  paying  letter  post- 
age. In  all  probability  Mr.  Lockhart  marked 
his  cage  "  Queen-bee,"  and  that  is  just  exactly 
what  would  excite  the  attention  of  red-tape  olh- 
cials. Our  queens  are  all  sent  in  plain  boxes — 
simply  the  address  and  necessary  postage  at- 
tached. If  the  aforesaid  olhcials  should  put 
these  boxes  to  their  ears,  tliey  would  probably 
be  able  to  detect  the  buzzing  of  bees.  While  we 
do  not  make  any  attempt  to  explain,  we  do  not 
try  to  conceal  the  contents  of  tlie  package,  or 
disguise  it  for  something  else.  The  countries 
not  making  legislation  admitting  queens  are 
depriving  a  certain  class  of  their  citizens  of  real 
substantial  benefits;  and  it  is  only  because 
their  bee-keepers  have  not  taken  the  necessary 
pains  to  see  that  suitable  legislation  is  made  in 
their  favor.  We  trust  that  the  Australian  bee- 
keepers will  give  their  attention  to  this  matter 
at  once — especially  so  as  they  have  a  new  bee- 
journal  that  will  be  able  to  represent  their 
interests. 

AUTOMATIC   SWAKMERS,   AND   HOW   THEY   WORK 
AT   THE   HOME   OFTHK   HONEY-BEES. 

We  have  had  two  swarms  come  out  and  hive 
themselves  automatically.  ((  la  Piatt.  The  de- 
vices have  worked  to  perlection.  The  swarm  we 
mentioned  on  page  4.")(;,  last  issue,  as  having 
come  out,  not  only  hived  itself,  but  the  entire 
swai"m  seems  to  have  taken  up  with  their  new 
quarters  and  gone  to  housekeeping,  while  the 
parent  hive  has  nothing  but  young  bees,  sealed 
brood,  and  queen-cells,  just  as  it  ought  to  have. 
The  other  swarm  must  have  come  out  while  we 
were  at  church  on  Sunday.  At  any  rate,  in  the 
fore  part  of  the  week  we  found  it  in  its  new 
quarters  as  successfully  and  nicely  hived  as  if 
we  had  put  them  there  ourselves. 

For  the  first  time  we  began  to  feel  really 
hopeful  and  enthusiastic  in  regard  to  the  au- 
tomatic swarmers;  and  it  now  appears  to  us 
that  the  idea  lirst  made  public  by  E.  L.  Pratt, 
of  hiving  the  be(!S  automatically  in  a  hive,  Wie 
entrduce  to  ivliick  tlieij  luive  loyig  been  accus- 
tomed, is  the  key  to  success;  and  even  Mr.  Al- 
ley, in  his  latest  swarmer.  we  notice,  has  adopt- 
ed the  Pratt  idea,  although,  if  we  remember 
corniclly,  he  at  first  condemned  it.  Mr.  Pratt"s 
automatic  swarmers,  both  on  the  same  princi- 
ple, wen;  illustrated  on  page  199,  March  1,  and 
page  318,  May  1.  Of  the  two,  we  rather  prefer 
the  latter,  as  does  also  Mr.  Pratt,  we  believe. 
The  last  named  requires  only  one  bottom-board; 
and  any  one  who  lias  the  ordinary  Dovetailed 
hives  and  furniture  can  construct  it  by  buying 
of  Mr.  Pratt  his  bee  escape  honey-board.  We 
should  mention,  also,  that  these  swarmers  are 
so  constructed  that  the  hives  may  be  lett  for 


522 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


ten  days  or  two  weeks  after  the  swarm  has  is- 
sued, and  that  every  thing  will  go  on  all  right. 

Other  swarmers  may  be  a  success;  but  a  num- 
ber of  reports  have  shown  that  some  of  them, 
at  least,  hived  only  from  a  third  to  a  half  of  the 
bees,  the  other  portion  going  back  into  the  old 
hive.  It  should  be  thoroughly  understood  that 
we  have  liad  only  two  swarms  come  out  and 
hive  themselves  so  far,  and  that  neither  one 
nor  two  swallows  make  a  summer;  therefore  it 
would  not  be  wise  for  any  one  to  invest  largely 
in  any  one  of  the  plans  at  first.  Before  the  sea- 
son is  over,  however,  we  shall  probably  know 
more— that  is,  providing  those  who  have  them 
under  experiment  will  carefully  report  results. 

DOIXG   THINGS   THOBOUGHLY. 

I  HAVE  written  on  this  subject.  I  presume, 
every  little  while  during  almost  every  year 
since  Gleanings  has  had  an  existence:  and 
notwithstanding  what  I  have  written  and  what 
I  have  talked,  the  greater  part  of  my  life  is 
given  to  teaching  people  to  do  ihingsthoroiKjIily. 
and  afterward  following  after  and  making 
good,  as  best  I  can.  the  consequences  of  doing 
work  in  a  half-hearted  or  slipshod  way.  We 
can  pardon  small  boys  for  only  half  doing  their 
work,  for  they  are  not  old  enough  to  know  bet- 
ter; but  we  have  a  right  to  expect  that,  with 
years  of  experience,  comes  thoroughness.  Come 
to  think  of  it.  I  do  not  believe  I  will  deliver  a 
very  long  lecture  just  now  after  all.  The  mat- 
ter was  simply  brought  to  mind  by  finding  three 
very  valuable  eggs  for  hatching,  remaining  in 
a  basket.  Four  weeks  ago  to-day  I  received  by 
express  from  Wm.  N.  French.  New  Haven,  Vt., 
a  basket  of  White  Wonder  eggs.  Now,  I  have 
had  so  many  mishaps  in  setting  hens  that  I 
felt  afraid  I  should  have  only  trial  and  tribula- 
tion with  this  lot.  So  I  gave  the  basket  of  eggs 
to  an  old  experienced  farmer— the  one  who  has 
charge  of  the  horses,  poultry,  etc.  I  told  him 
they  were  very  valuable  eggs,  and  to  put  them 
under  the  first  sitting  hen.  an4  see  that  nobody 
went  near  to  or  disturbed  her.  In  course  of 
time  she  hatched  out  eight  White  Wonder 
chickens,  and  I  felt  glad  to  think  I  had  suc- 
ceeded so  much  beyond  my  expectations.  I 
saw  the  basket  standing  around  several  days 
afterward,  with  its  oilcloth  covering  only  part- 
ly torn  off, .and  the  excelsior  in  which  the  eggs 
were  packed  not  entirely  removed.  I  remem- 
bered feeling  a  little  worried  and  anxious  about 
it,  and  I  wondered  why  he  didn't  takeout  every 
thing,  turn  the  basket  over,  and  shake  it,  to  be 
sure  he  had  got  all  of  those  precious  eggs. 
Finally,  to-day  a  basket  was  wanted  in  a  hurry, 
and  I  felt  a  little  vexed  to  see  that  one  still 
standing,  doing  nobody  any  good.  So  I  tore  off 
the  covering,  told  the  express  clerk  to  take  care 
of  the  excelsior,  for  it  would  be  nice  for  him  to 
pack  his  goods  in,  and  there  they  were  —  three 
of  those  precious  eggs  wrapped  up  in  paper 
ever  since  they  came  just  four  weeks  ago  to- 
day. And  what  else  do  you  think  happened? 
Why,  there  was  not  a  sitting  hen  to  be  found 
on  the  place,  while  for  three  months  back  they 
have  pestered  us  continually  by  wanting  to  sit. 
Never  mind— a'l  is  well  that  ends  well;  and 
may  be  a  hen  will  want  to  sit  before  night;  and 
I  shouldn't  wonder  if  those  three  White  Wonder 
eggs  would  give  us  three  more  chickens,  and 
that  will  make  eleven.  Oh!  hold  on!— hold  on! 
It  seems  to  me  some  one  has  said  that  it  is  not  a 
good  plan  to  count  chickens  before  they  are 
hatched. 

Mo/-oL— Whenever  you  empty  a  basket,  box, 
bag,  barrel,  or  any  thing  else,  be  sure  you  get 
"  all  there  is  in  it."  I  do  not  know  of  any  thing 
that  has  ever  vexed  me  much  more  than  hav- 
ing boys  bring  only  a  part  of  what  they  were 
sent  for,  saying  they  "'  did  not  see  the  rest."' 


Tobacco  Column. 


CONDITIONS  DNDEB  WHICH    WE    GIVE    SMOKERS  TO  PERSONS  WHO 
STOP  USING  TOBACCO. 

First,  the  candidate  must  be  one  of  those  who  have  given  up 
tobacco  in  consequence  of  what  he  has  seen  and  read  in  this 
department.  Second,  he  promises  to  pay  for  the  smoker 
should  he  ever  resume  the  use  of  tobacco  in  any  form,  after 
receiving  the  smoker.  Third,  he  must  be  a  subscriber  to 
Gleanings.  Any  subscriber  may.  however,  have  smokers  sent 
to  neighbors  or  personal  acquaintances  whom  he  has  labored 
with  on  the  matter  of  tobacco-using,  providing  he  give  us  his 
pledge  that,  if  the  one  who  receives  the  smoker  ever  uses  to- 
ijacco  again,  he  (the  subscriber)  will  pay  for  the  smoker.  The 
one  who  receives  the  smoker  in,  this  case  need  not  be  a  sub- 
scriber to  Gleakings,  though  we  greatly  prefer  that  he  be  one, 
because  we  think  he  would  be  strengthened  by  reading  the 
testimonials  from  time  to  time  in  regard  to  this  matter.  The 
full  name  and  address  of  ever3'  one  who  makes  the  promise 
must  be  furnished  for  publication. 

If  you  think  I  deserve  a  smoker  for  not  using 
tobacco  you  may  send  one.  If  I  use  it  again 
you  shall  have  double  pav  for  it. 

W.  F.  RiNCH. 

West  Alexandria,  Ohio,  May  18. 

Plea.se  send  to  W.  J.  Jemmerson,  Junction 
City,  Texas,  a  smoker.  I  am  a  subscriber  to 
Gleanings,  and  will  pay  for  it  if  he  commences 
tobacco  again.  L.  L.  Skagg.s. 

Junction  City,  Tex.,  Mar.  24. 

Send  a  smoker  to  my  son.  If  he  returns  to 
the  use  of  tobacco  in  any  form  I  will  pay  for  the 
smoker.  I  would  rather  pay  you  for  40  smo- 
kers than  for  him  to  return  to  the  habit. 

W.  J.  Forehand. 

Fort  Deposit,  Ala.,  May  14. 

I  have  given  tobacco  a  final  discharge;  and 
by  so  doing  I  think  I  am  entitled  to  a  smoker. 
I  think  your  plan  for  stopping  the  us<>  of  tobac- 
co is  a  good  one.  C.  Barnes. 

Roxobel,  N.  C,  April  20. 

I  see  you  offer  to  those  who  give  up  tobacco,  a 
smoker  free.  I  promise  to  use  it  no  more;  and 
if  I  do  I  will  pay  you  the  price  of  smoker. 
There  is  also  a  neighbor  of  mine,  A.  M.  May, 
who  has  agreed  to  do  the  same,  and  he  asked 
me  if  he  could  get  one  to.  A.  E.  Hill. 

Seattle,  Wash.,  April  29. 

Having  quit  the  use  of  tobacco  in  March  last 
I  think  Mr.  J.  M.  Ross  deserves  a  smoker. 
Please  send  him  one:  and  if  he  uses  the  filthy 
stuff  again  I  will  pay  for  the  smoker. 

Connersville,  Ind.,  Apr.  29.        A.  S.  Brown. 

I  am  glad  to  report  that  Mr.  Hiram  Yarboro, 
one  of  our  most  wealthy  and  highly  esteemerl 
citizens,  has  given  up  the  use  of  tobacco,  and 
wants  you  to  send  him  a  smoker,  as  a  pledge, 
to  Adairsville.  Ga.  He  told  me  to  tell  you. 
that,  if  he  ever  used  tobacco  again,  he  would 
pay  you  §10  for  the  same. 

Bowls,  Ga.,  May  6.  R.  W.  J.  Stewart. 

Do  you  still  give  smokers  to  those  who  quit 
smoking?  If  so,  is  father  entitled  to  one?  He 
quit  last  August,  after  smoking  over  37  years. 
If  he  ever  starts  again  I  will  pay  for  it;  will 
also  pay  expenses.  Jessie  Waddell. 

Wingham,  Ont.,  Can..  Apr.  28. 

I  want  you  to  send  a  smoker  to  W.  R.  Tlbbets, 
So.  Cabot,  Vt.,  on  the  tobacco  scheme,  as  this 
is  as  genuine  a  case  of  quitting  the  habit  as  I 
ever  knew  of.  Should  he  ever  resume  the  hab- 
it he  understands  that  he  is  to  pay  for  the  smo- 
ker, and  will  do  it  to.  We  are  having  quite  a 
tobacco  revival  here  at  present.  One  merchant 
has  quit  the  use  of  it,  as  his  physician  told  him 
that  he  could  live  a  year  if  he  did  not  stop  short 
off,  and  it  has  set  others  to  thinking. 

South  Cabot.  Vt.,  Mav  3.  D.  S.  Hall. 


IS'.fJ 


Cl.KAXIXdS  IN   HIOE  CLII/PIIRE. 


:,-n 


JXJST      OTJiri 

THE    A  B  C    OF 

^:*r/^ :  Ferret   Culture. 

Coiit^iiininK  Villi  I  n-n  inM  ion-  Imi  tlir  Hictdiii;;. 
Fccdintr,  ("aro.  and  MaiiaRctiuiil  of  this  litlk'  ani- 
mal. It  tt'IIs  How  to  Kaiso  Ilu  ni  in  tln'  Greatest 
NiinilHTs.  wit  li  tlio  ll'a.>^^  i'.\|iiMisi'.  IMii-v  ton  cont!-; 
))>•  mail.  V2  rents. 

Fro«- 1  Mv  tu'w  i>i-ic("  list  of  pure  Italian  Boos 
and  t^iKH-ns.  While  and  Brown  Lefrlioiii  Chirkeiis, 
and  White  and  Brown  Ferret •<,  and  Scotch  Collie 
Pups.    Addmss  N.  A.  KN.\I»P, 

Kuc'liOMter,  Loralii  <'0.,  Ohio. 
i:7*In  resiiondlni;  to  this  advt'rtlsenient  mention  Gleanings. 

JVIuth's ^ 

Honey  -  B:>ttPeietoP. 

Square  Glass  Honey-Jar»s, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee-hives. 
Honey-Seetions,  &e.,  &e. 

Pepfeetion  Cold-Blast  SmokePs. 

APPLY  TO  -..^.^.^^./-^^^^^^^.^ 

CHflS.  F.  JWUTH  &  SON,  Cineinnati,  O. 

Send  10-ct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

PATEHT    WIRED"C0Wrr  FOUNDATION 

HAS    NO    SA<;    IN    KK<>4tI>-Fi:A.lIKS. 

THIN     FLAT  ■  BOTTOM     FOUNDATION 

Ha»  No  Fibli-boiie  in  SiirpluH  Huiie}'. 

Being  the  cleanest  is  usually  worked 
the  quickewt  of  any  Foundation  made. 
J.   V\N   DEI'SEN  <k  SONS, 

S 'le  Manutacturers,  5tfd 

Sprout  Brook.  Moiittroiuery  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Plea.'ie  mention  this  paper. 


^  FINE   ITALIAN   QUEENS  ^ 

r.  I'KICKS     FOB    .HNK    AND    AFTER.  K 

Z  1  untested  queen        f  .75  ^ 

O  :5  "  '•         3.(10  S^ 

rr\  1  tested  queen 1.50 

Zd  :t        '•  "     4.00  HH 

.   -I  Select  Tested,  each 3.00  ^ 

^  Two-fi-ame     Nucleus   with    any   queen,  jm. 

^  $1.50    each    e.xira.    Safe    ari'ival   guar-  fZi 

M  anteed.             W    J.  I<:L.L.iSON,           lOd  , 
Catcliall,  Sumter  <'<>.,  S.  i\ 

Please  iiuntinii  this  paper.  11-tt!-I  -It 

PUITIC   QTJEEITS 

FEOM  IMPOETED  MOTHEES.  Each,  $3.00.  This  is  a  fine 
race  of  bees,  ajid  will  trixe  better  results  than  any 
otlier  race  nv  strain.     Ueadv  tii  mail  May  25. 

HKNU  V  AL.L.KV,  Weiiliain,  Iflass. 

C3'"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Oi,k\nino8. 

▼TALiIAN  Ql'EENS.  Tested,  $1.25.  Untested, 
•    SOc.  Mhs.  a.  M.  Kneelanp. 

P.  O.  Box  77.    Mulberry  Grove,  Bond  Co.,  III. 

Dfllll  TRV  C'loice  Fowls  and  Egg-s  for  sale  at 
VUU I.  i  R  I .  all  times.  Finely  illustrated  circu- 
■     lar  free.       GEER  BKOS.,  St.  Marys,  Mo.    21tfdb 

JUST    OUT! 

BY  W.  I.  CHAMBEELAIN,  A.  II.,  LL.  D., 

Formerly  Secretary  of  the  Ohio  State  Board  of  .\grieulture, 
and  late  President  of  the  Iowa  State  Agricultural  Col- 
lege.   At  present  Associate  Editor  of  the 
Ohio  Farmer. 

This  is  a  valuable  companion  to  our  other  rural 
books.  It  embraces  the  experience  of  forty  j'ears 
of  one  of  our  foremost  practical  agriculturists,  wlio 
has  laid  with  his  own  hands  over  15  miles  of  tile. 

Price  35c;  by  mail,  40c. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  MEDINA.  OHIO. 


B.  B.  Creamery. 

A.  I.  Root  is  making-  for  the  B.  B.  Cream- 
ery Co.,  of  this  place,  the  creamery  shown  in 
adjoining' cut.  No  doubt  many  of  his  readers 
keep  a  small  dairy.  If  so,  you  .should  investi- 
jrate  this  most  invaluable  aid  to  dairymen. 
Several  have  testified  that  they  have  secured 
enough  more  cream  to  pay  for  the  creamery 
in  si.v  months.  Besides,  thitik  of  the  amount 
of  labor  saved.  This  is  the  most  successful 
creamery  to  use  without  ii'e.  You  notice  one 
of  the  cans  standing  in  front.  The  milk  is 
put  between  the  two  walls  of  this  can,  and  the 
water  comes  up  the  center,  all  aicjund  t  he  out- 
side, above  and  below,  jrix-injc  the  tsieat est  cool- 
ing surface.  It  being  only  5  inches  from  inner 
to  outer  wall,  it  leaves  no  milk  further  than 
2'A  inches  from  the  cooling  surface.  Write  for 
cireuliir  giving  further  particulars. 


PRICE 

LIST. 

Cajiacity  of  can. 

No.  of  cows. 

Price. 

16  quarts. 
30      " 

60      •' 
75      " 

1  to  2. 

2  to  4. 
4  to  8. 

8  to  12. 

$22.,50 
30.00 
40.00 
50.00 

3 

Price  includes  milk-strainer,  glass  thermo- 
meter, faucet,  brush,  etc.  We  give  5  percent 
off  for  cash,  and  make  special  terms  to  dealers 
and  agents.      Address 


i^--  B.  B.  Creamery  Co.,  Medina,  Ohio. 


Founddtion  Wholesale  and  Retail. 

/    free  samples.  Special  prices  to  dealers  on  Foui 


iples.  Spt 
Free  price  list  of  everything  needed  in  the  apiary. 


prices  1 
6tfdb 
M. 


If  you  would  like  to  see 
how     nice     foundation 
can  be  made,  .send  for 
mdation  and  Sections,  etc. 
(Near  Detroit.) 
HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


524 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


Get  the  Best ! 


Five-banded     Golden 
Italians  that  will  give 
satisfacticm.    Queens 
by  return   mail,  *1  each ;  6  for  $5;  for  full  particu- 
lars send  for  circular.  13tfdb 
CMAS.  1».  MUVALli,  Speiicervllle,  Mrt. 
|^"In  respondinfr  to  this  adveiti>fiiieiit  mti.ii..ri  iji.KAXUG.<i 

UI^TESTBU  IT^\T.lA]Sr  QUBENS. 

From  best  imported  stock,  .5Uc  each;  X 
doz.,  $2  75.    Circular    free.    Safe    arrival 
and  satisfaction  guaranteed. 
H.  G.  QuiRiN,  Belleville,  Huron  Co.,  O. 

TILL  on  hand  about  a  dozen  of  tliosespecial- 
Iv  mated,  vellow-to-the-tip  breeders  of  last 
fall's  rearing,  at  $2  00  each.  Beautiful 
Warranted  Queens.  80c;  3  for  $2.00.  For 
square  dealing  and  good  goods  I  refer  to 
the  editor  of  this  journal  1^-Ud. 

W.  H.  Laws,  L  ivaca,  Ark. 


s 


Queens  in  July,  untested,  7.5c;  hi  doz.,f3  6u;  tested, 
$1..50;  select  tested,  $3.(>0:  extra  select,  $4.00;  the  very 
best,  $8.00;  imported,  $.5.00.  300  queens  ready  to  send 
by  return  mail.    Leininger  Bros.,  Ft.  Jennings,  O. 


IMPOETED  ITALIAN  aUEENS.  $3  25:  UNTESTED,  75c. 

I  W.  C.  FKAZIEK,  Atlantic.  Iowa. 


Murray  £.Heiss.-o 


VIOLINS 

GUITARS^     ,  ^,^ 


pRLE. 


LITHOGRAPH  LABELS 

1»  IS  Colors,  a-fc  $S.OO  per  lOOO. 

The  12  colors  are  all  on  each  lat)el  They  are  ob- 
long in  shape,  measuring  'i%x'i%.  They  are  about 
the  nicest  labels  we  ever  saw  for  glass  tumblers, 
pails,  and  small  packages  of  honey.  We  will  mail 
a  sample,  inclosed  in  our  label  catalogue,  free  on 
application,  and  will  furnish  them  postpaid  at  the 
following  prices:  5  cts.  for  10:  2.5cts.  tor  100;  fl.OO 
for  5t)0;   *].75  for  1000.  A.  1.  «OOT  Medina.O.. 


MAILING   •     • 
.    .    BLOCKS 

FOR 

SAMPLES    . 

OF 

.     .     HONEY. 

The  adjoining  cut 
shows  a  very  convenient 
package  for  mailing 
samples  of  honey  and 
other  liquids.  Tlie  cut 
is  only  about  half  size  of 
the  one  we  are  prepared 
to  furnish,  wliich  holds 
%  ounce,  and  gives  a 
good  taste  of  the  honey 
and  some  to  spare.  We 
also  use  a  very  wide- 
mouthed  bottle  so  the 
lioney  will  run  out  eas- 
ily. You  notice  the  top 
screws  on,  closing  it 
tiglit  and  making  a  very 
handy  package,  easily 
opened,  and  accepted  liy 
the  postal  aut  iiorilies. 
We  have  just  bought  25 
gross  so  as  to  be  able  to 
sell  them  at  only  5c  each, 
55c  per  doz.  By  mail,  ^5c 
extra  on  one,  or  2c  each 
extra  in  quantities. 


A.  I.  ROOT, 

Medina,  0. 


VIRGIIV  QITEENS.  50  CTS.  EACH;  select, 
75  cts.  Untested,  75  cts.;  select,  fl.OO.  Tested 
Italian,  $1  5);  select,  ■$2.,50.  I  breed,  n  la  Doolitile, 
from  leatlier-cotoied  imported  mother,  also  >e.low 
strain.  Bees,  in  nuclei  or  by  the  pound,  cheap 

J.  J.   HARDY,  LAVONIA,  GA. 
I^°ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEAKlNGSe 


Black  and  Hybrid  Queens  For  Sale. 


I  have  a  few  mismated  Italian  queens,  that  are 
No.  1  queens;  will  sell  for  35c;  2  for  60c;  black 
queens,  20c;  3  for  50.    Safe  arrival  guaranteed. 

James  M.  Gordon,  Belmont,  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio. 
12-16db 


I  have  a  few  mismated  golden  Italian  queens  for 
sale  at  4iJ  cts.  each,  safe  arrival  guaranteed.  Stamps 
taken.  Jas.  M.  Smith,  Ferkiomen^•ille,  Pa. 


I  have  liybrid  queens  for  sale  at  25  cts.  each,  or  5 
for  $1.00.    Address  Albet  Mines, 

Independence,  Iowa. 

A  few  mismated  Italian  queens  at  35  cts. 

C.  G.  Fenn,  Washington,  Conn. 

A  premium  free  to  all  who  send  me  an  order  for  1 
or  more  of  my  fine  mismated  Italian  queens,  raised 
from  a  choice  tested,  prolific,  leather-colored  motli- 
er,  at  35  cts.  for  1,  or  3  for  $1.00.  I  will  send  free  a 
recipe  for  making  one  of  the  best  tooth-powders 
known  to  the  dental  profession. 

Enoch  Anderson,  Dentist,  Comanche,  Tex. 


Kind  Words  From  Our  Customers, 


My  advei'1  isement  in  Gleanings  this  year  has 
paid  me  well.  Dr.  G.  L.  Tinker. 

New  Philadelphia,  O.,  June  15. 


Do  not  continue  my  ad't  in  Gleanings.  The 
most  orders  I  have  received  in  one  day  was  26,  and 
the  least  was  12.    I  can  till  but  a  few  more. 

Carlisle,  Ark.,  April  28.  G.  E.  Dawson. 


Friend  R(«<;:— The  wheelbarrow  came  along  all 
right,  and  we  are  pleased  with  it._The  Jiaby  has 
liad  a  ride  in  it. 

Glenwood,  la..  May  2. 


E.  W.  PlTZER. 


The  Dovetailed  hive  you  sent  me  is  admired  by  all 
who  see  it.  If  crops  are  good  here  this  season  I  aim 
to  sell  IQJ  of  tliose  hives  next  winter  for  you. 

White  Rock,  Ark.,  May  6.  A.  L.  Baker. 


I  received  T  tins  this  morning  in  good  shape. 
Many  thanks  for  promptness.  You  people  are  al- 
ways so  pn)mpt  and  reliable  that  it  is  a  pleasure  to 
send  to  you  for  goods.  J.  K.  D.wis. 

Dixmont,  Pa.,  May  24. 

I  am,  as  the  boys  say,  "  kinder  stuck  "on  your 
establishment,  and  some  way  I  would  rather  order 
from  you  than  any  one  else  when  all  things  agree. 
I  have  three  sample  hives,  sent  me  free,  from  other 
factories,  for  inspection,  and  use  if  they  pleased 
me;  but,  as  I  have  before  told  you,  I  know  but  very 
little  about  the  business,  .and  would  rather  deal  with 
men  who  ».se  their  hivea  themselves  i)i  tlieir  ott'd  api- 
ariex,  and  can  recommend  tliem  from  experience. 

Dyer,  Tenn.,  June  20.  R.  U.  Jones. 

OUR   BOOK  on  tile  DRAINAGE. 

Mr.  ir.  I.  CJiaiiiherlaiii :--I\e  read  "Tile  Drain- 
age "  thoroughly,  and  it  is  the  most  interesting  sub- 
ject I've  "  tackled."  Let  me  say  that  you  make  the 
tiling  as  clear  and  plain  as  could  possibly  be  done,  I 
believe,  and  progressive  men  ouglit  to  find  it  won- 
derfully valuable.  I  wish  we  had  more  men  like 
vourself  and  Terry  around  here. 

Harry  M.  Wheelock. 

Fergus  Falls,  Minn.,  May  26. 


1892 


(JLKANINCJS  IN  HEK  (UI/rrRK. 


5:>5 


/   HAVE     100    ONE-YEAR-OLD 


HYBRID     QUEENS, 

Wings  clipped.     Send  me  so  cts. 
for  1,  or  $1.00  for  3. 

Ill  rojrill'd  to  till'  rolor  ol'  tlu'si-  (jin'i'iis  !iii(i  tlifif 
Ih'i's,  tliori- ;iro  all  tho  >rr;i(li's  1  lull  can  foiiic  frmii  a 
cross  iH'tWfcn  Alliiiios  and  Italians,  hvil  tlu'yiiavc 
licon  Uvvi\  with  ail  cyi'  solely  to  tlirir  lioncy-Kiltlu'r- 
iiiir  i|i':'l'''^'^.  ^o  1  linil  my  siti  ions  slowly  tllliiiir  iii> 
Willi  lioiicy.  while  not  oiii-  of  my  iieifilihors  has 
any  jrniiis  U)  report.  Send  . Ml  cents  for  one  of  these 
tested  (iiieeiis  and  have  some  surplus  honey,  if 
there  is  any  anywhere.  You  can.  just,  as  well.  "  .^I.v 
iieijrhbors  are  Wiiutiiijr  m.v  queens  also,  and  will  fi-et 
them,  if  tlir\  are  not  too  close  bv. 

Addnss  W.   B.   WEED. 

Hartford,  Wash.  Co.,  /V.  Y. 

tyin  responding: to  tliis  lulvfitisiMncnt  iiii'iition  IJi.EA.si.NGi 


BY    RETURN    MAIL. 

PmiU- <iui'eii>  from  Iiii|>oi-to<l  .Hollieri*.,  each. 
$2.1X1.  It.tliau  i|ueeiis  fiom  our  Hundred  Dollar 
strain.  ?l.~"i.  tioldou  (arniolan  bees  jiossess  all 
the  g'ood  qualities  of  other  races.  Queens  larfro 
and  prolilic,  each.  $IM.  Our  Italian  and  Golden 
Carniolaii  bees  are  as  handsome  as  five-baiided  bees. 
Fifteen  per  cent  discount  on  all  orders  for  more 
than  one  queen.  The  Aiiiericuii  Apic-iiItiiriHt, 
one  of  the  oldest  bee-pajieis  published,  will  lie 
mailed  free  three  months  to  all  purchasers  of 
queens.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfaction  {guaranteed. 
Sample  copy  of  Apiculturist  and  S-jiage  catalogue 
free.  HKNRV  AL.LIj:Y, 

W^euhaiu,  li^ssex  Co.,  ITIa»>8. 

tSrin  respomllng  to  tliis  luivei-ti.-f  iiM'nr  mention  Hlkanincs. 

an^  -^f^  mP-  i^fL  -Tfjfmgtra^  ai|jjiir luptr  -MHirJiflF  ''W  'W'W. 

J  Queens  Yellow  to  the  Tip  J 
L  IVIated  with  Drones  Yel-  J 
r     low  all  over.  ^ 


^  Vueeii-niother  from  an  entirely  differ-  J 

r  ent  strain  from  the  drones,  hence  a  di-  "^ 

^  reel  cro.ss.    None  but  selected  drones  al-  J 

B"  lowed   to  Hy  from  the    most   desirable  "^ 

%.  colonies.      I  am  i  or  .">  miles  from  any  ^ 

■■  bees  except   my  own.    I  can  therefore  "s 

^  larg-elj' contn)]  the  inating-of  mj' queens.  M 

B"  ?e\en  years  as  aijuecn  specialist  and  no  "s 

^  complaints  that  the  fidlden  Italians  are  M 

F  inferior  to  the  leather  xai'iety  uonvini;es   "S 

t  me  that  the  specialist,  by  verj'  careful  M 

=  seliH-tion.  and  nlinti/.s  crossing-  with  an-   ^. 

%  other  strain,  can   combine  beauty  with  M 

^  business.    The  novice  only  fails.'  Send  "^ 

fc  for  circular.      Price  of  (jueens,  75c  each.  M 

f  James  Wood,  No.  Prescott,  Mass.       ^ 

mTAfTtitj£itjA:^-JkTitri/kjtk.3ik.  ]ilfejd!ftiuiilili!iir.  jAiicji' 
ty  In  responding  to  tills  advertiseiiifnt  mention  ^iLKANI^•li^? 

Send  50  cts.  f(jr  trial  box  of  Eucaloline.  A  never- 
failing'  remedy  for  PILES,  poison  oak.  cuts,  bruises, 
burns,  or  wounds,  etc.  Made  from  the  famous 
Eucalyptu.s-tree.    Address  13d 

G.  W.  G1.0VER,  Jr.,  South  Pasadena.  Cal. 

Queens  by  Return  Mail. 

Keared  in  tlie  natural  wa.v  from  swarminsr  cells. 
Just  look  at  the  following  very  low  prices,  and  order 
at  once. 

Tested,  each.  $1..")0;  warranted  purel.v  mated,  each, 
SOc;  warranted  purely  mated.  'A  doz.,  $4..50;  warrant- 
ed purely  mated,  jier  doz.,  $S.OO. 

All  the  above  are  reared  in  full  stocks  from  my 
old  relialile  honev-gathering  strains.    Address 

WM.  W.  GARY,  Colerain,  Mass. 

Send  for  40-page  catalogue.  Full  line  of  IJee-keeiJ- 
ei-s'  Supplies  and  Bees  at  prices  way  down.       13tfdb 


Golden  Italian  Queens 

Warranted  pnirly  m.-ili'd,  -  b aeli;   -i\    ioy  ■f5.(KJ. 

Our  ll\  ( -baiiiled  Ita  lians  a  1  e  ijc'od  worUeis.  gent  le 
and  beaut  ifiil,  and  t  he  queens  are  \er.\  prolillc.  AH 
queens  reared  1>.\  the  Doolitlle  met  boll,  and  .are  al- 
most iHire  .yellow.  We  handle  our  best  beeswithout 
sniiikeor  veil,  and  can  jar  the  hive  or  blow  our 
breath  on  the  bi-es  wiihout  exciting  them.  Money- 
order  otlice.  Cable.  111.  Itfdb 
N.  F.  A^^  I.  'rKi:<a>,  Swedoiiu,  111. 

tjrin  reaponrtlnn  to  thl.saxlvertlsirnent  mention  ULKAKlNOa 


IF  YOU  WANT  BEES 

That  will  .just  ■•mil"  in  ihc  lioni'\-,  t  ij- ITIooro'w 
Strain  ol'  Italian-,  the  result  of  l.i  years'  careful 
breeding.  Reduced  prices:  Warranted  quiieiis,  HOc 
each;  '.i  for  $:i.(Ui.  i^trong  3  frame  nucleus,  with 
warranted  iiueeii,  $;i..")0.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed.  Those  who  have  never  dealt  with 
me  I  refer  to  A.  I.  Root,  who  has  purcliased  of  me, 
during  past  iri  years.  583  queens.  Circulars  free. 
J.  P.  ITIOORE,  lUorsfau,  Peudleton,  Co.,  Ky. 
ll-lr.'d        Money-order  office.  Falmouth,  Ky. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 


Barnes'  Foot-Power  Machinery. 

Read  what  .[.  1.  Parent,  of 
Chahi-ton,  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,  2,000 
iioney-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. 
It  will  do  all  you  say  it  will." 
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  me.    A.  I.  Boot. 
23tfd 


VANDERVORT 
COMB -FOUNDATION  MILLS. 

Send  for  sam files  and  reduced  price  list. 
itfd  JNO.  VANDERVORT,  Laceyville,  Pa. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

PRlfiT  pOt^ 
BEE-HIVES. 

After  much  experimentation,  and  a 
careful  study  into  the  paint  question, 
we  ofTer  a  mixed 

Paint  Prepared  Especially  for  Bee-Hives. 
It  will  not  Chalk  or  Flake  off. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  free  from  adulterants, 
such  as  whiting,  barytes.  lime,  and  other  sub- 
stitute's that  do  not  add  to  the  enduring  quali- 
ties of  the  paint.  Our  paint  is  made  of  strictly 
pure  lead,  strictly  pure  zinc,  and  genuine  French 
ocher  of  about  equal  proportions,  mixed  in  pure 
linseed  oil.  It  is  genisrally  recognized  that  there 
is  no  pigment  more  permanent  than  French 
ocher;  and  this,  combined  with  zinc  and  lead, 
makes  a  most  durable  combination.  The  re- 
sultant tint  is  a  pale  sti'aw  color.  Price:  Pint, 
35c;  quart,  GOc;  half-gallon,  $1.00;  gallon,  $1.75. 
Half  a  gallon  will  cover  ten  No.  1  Dovetailed 
hives  two  coats. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,©. 


526 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  1. 


SECTIONS. 

Snow-wliite  Sections, 

Cream  Sectiuns, 

No.  3  Sections. 

Finest  goods  made. 

We  have  a  larg'e  stock  on  hand, 

and  can  fill  small  and  large 

orders  promptly. 

a.  li.  i^Kwis  ca., 

9tfdb  Watertown,  Wis. 

Please  mention  thi>  paper- 

My  Catalogue  of  APIARIAN  SUPPLIES 
for  1892  is  free;  My  Pamphlet,  '"HOW  I 
PRODUCE  COMB  HONEY,"  by  Mail,  5  cts. 

GEO.  E.  HILTON.  Fremont,  Mich. 

Please  mention  Glranings.  2-13db 

SAVE  IWONEV.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wliolesale  rates.  4tfdb 


Our  Golden   and   L,eather   Col- 
ored   Italian     Queens. 
Bred  for  Business. 

Tested,  in  June,  $1.2.5;  untested,  75c;  3 
for  $:i.OU.    Our  stock  onsists  of  300  col- 
onies de\'oted  to  bees  and  queens  for 
the  trade.    Orders  filled  by  retarn 
mail.  Send  for  catalog-  of  supplies,  etc. 
JNO.  NEBEL.  •&  SON,  High  Hill,  JTIo. 
P.  S.— A.  J.  Fields,  of  Wlieaton,  Ind.,  writes:  "The 
queen  and  bees  received  of  you  last  spring-  made 
147  lbs.  of  comb  honey,  and  took  first  premium  at 
three  fairs."  8tfdb 

t^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkanings 

TESTED   ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

60  tested  Italian  queens  for  sale  at  11.00  each,  to  be 
delivered  June  1st  to  l.")th,  all  raised  last  fall  from  an 
imported,  and  best  select  tested  queens.  Untested 
queens,  July  15th  and  after,  70c  each;  3  for  $1.75;  6 
or  more,  50c  each.  D.  G.  Edmiston, 

9tfdb  Adrian,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich. 

t^ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  ULEANDiGa 

SECTIONS^ 

$2.5U  to$3.50  per  .71.     Bee-Hive«  and  Fix 
tares  cheap.  NOVELTY    CO., 

6tfdb  Rock  Falls,    iiinois. 

It^ln  rcspotlllillL'  to  tlii>  .Tllv.-rll  o.-ril    Ill.-l.tloM    Ol.EANINOS 

OTTUMWA  BEE-HIVE  FACTORY. 

Bee-keepers,  looktoyout-  interests..   Everything 
hi    the    line  of   liee-supplies    constantly  on    liand 
Price  list  free.        GREGORY  BROS.  &.  SON, 
l-12d  Ottumwa,  la.    South  side. 

1. 1  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEANINGS. 

iPORfETiEENS: 

In  May  and  J  une,  cacii     $2.00 

In  July  and  August,  each 1.8u 

In  September  and  October,  each 1.60 

Money  musti  be  sent  in  advance.  Safe  arrival 
g-uaranteed.  Queens  that  die  en  route,  if  returned 
in  the  letter,  will  be  rei>laced  by  mail,  postpaid.  No 
order  for  less  than  8  aueens  by  exp)-a<ii  will  be  accept- 
ed. E.  BIANCONCINI, 
1-lld  Boloaiua,  Italy. 
Please  mention  this  paper.  7d 

.    DO  YOU  WANT    • 

Good,  {gentle,  and  pi-olific  bees  V  Then  g-et  an  Albi- 
no (or  white-banded  Italian)  queen.  Catalogue  free. 
.5tfd  A.  L.  KILDOW,  Sheffield,  Illinois. 

([^"In  respondinjf  to  this  advertisement  mention  ULKANEJGa 


ELEVEN  YEARS 

WITHOUT  A 
PARALLEL,  AND 

THE  STAND- 
ARD   IN    EVERY 
CIVILIZED 
COUNTRY. 

Bingham  &.  Hetherington 

Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 

Standard   Size. 

Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 


Six  Sizes  and 

Prices, 

Doctor  Smoker,      3}i  in. 

postpaid  . 

.  .  $2.00 

Conqueror    "           3       " 

.    1.75 

Lara-e            "          2^4"' 

.      1  50 

Extra  (wide  shield)  2       " 

.      L25 

Plain  (narrow    "    )2 

..    100 

Little  Wonder,         IX    " 

..      65 

Uncapping  Knife 

..115 

Sent   promptly  on  receipt  of    price.    To        ^ 
sell  again,  send  for  dozen  and  half-dozen  rates. 

Milledgeville,  III ,  March  8,  1890. 
Sirs: — Smokers  received  to-day.  and  count  cor 
rectly.    Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  I  do 
your  trade  will  boom.  Truly,       F.  A.  Snell,. 

Vermillion,  S.  Dak..  Feb.  17, 1890. 
Sirs:— I  consider  your  smokers  the  best  made  for 
any  purpose.    1  have  had  15  years'  experience  with 
300  or  400  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak. 
Very  truly^ R.  A.  Morgan. 

Sarahsville.  Ohio,  March  12,1890. 
Sirs: — The  smoker  1  have  has  done  good  service 
since  1883.       Yours  truly,       Daniel  Brothers. 


Send  for  descriptive  circular  and  testimonials  to 

Ttt'db  Ei»aBAU  Si  HETHEBii7aT0»,  Abronia,  Mich. 

^^In  resDondine  to  this  ativerrisetnent  m<-iitioii  (ii.h  a  v  i  ^o> 

WANTED-LADY  OR  GENT  IN  EACH 
county  to  distribute  and  collect  for  Brabant's 
ladies' toilet  cases;  238  articles,  worth  $1;  will  send 
sample  and  full  particulars  by  mail  for  35c  in 
stamps;  returnable  if  not  satisfactory;  territory 
free;  $3  to  $5  per  day  easily  made.  Address  J.  C. 
Frisbee,  ueneml  agent.  Hi  Maple  St.,  Denver.  Col. 
Reference,  A.  I.  Root,  Medina,  O.  8-l-2db 

isrin  respondine  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLKiNiNoa 

TAKE   NOTICE! 

BEFC^RE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
for  prices  on  One-Piece  Basswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,  Shipping-Crates,  Frames,   Foundation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
Uttdb  New  London,  Wis. 
Pleaae  mention  this  paper. 

jr.   G.   SAYLES, 

HARTFORD,  WIS., 

Manufactures  Apiarian  Supplies  op  Every 

Description.     Catalogue  Free  to 

All.    Send  Your  Address. 

3tfdb  Please  mention  this  paper. 

Gash  for  Beeswax! 

Will  pay  25c  per  lb.  cash,  or  28c  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  32c  per  lb.,  or  35c  for  best 
seAfcted  war.. 

Unless  you  put  your  name  on  the  b  >x,  and  notify 
us  by  mail  of  amount  sent,  I  can  not  hold  myself 
responsible  for  mistakes.  It  will  not  pay  as  a  gen- 
eral thing  to  send  wax  by  expreKS. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio 


IS'.r: 


(iLi:AXiX(is  IN  luoK  cm/niRi': 


531 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Biisswooil 5r>8  ; 

Bees,  nvf  lmn<l.<l 54« 

Bee  kliitrs  of  C.ilifornla MS 

Ciilifornlii  Apinrieii 642 

Colonies,  nitferf  noes  In M7  , 

Oomlis.  Ci-Dokeit        M7  ' 

Comhs.  I'li'scrvintr 54S 

C.x.k  on  Hnll-tuni-Cut r.*8 

Orones  l\iii(rre(fatin(r KW 

Kami.  Quarter  Here '■♦il 

Cray.  Luther  \V .V.9 


Hl\er.  Alley's  Latest 640 

Hives  I'lir  Karniers 5.17 

Indian  SeliiHil ftW 

Mulh'    L:iliels .'.58 

I'liiiie^  l>iyeu8sed 5S8,  MO 

IJiiinblii    ill  Utah Ii44 

Santa  Cm/.  Island MS 

Swcl  Clover M« 

\V.i\.  s.ir.tion  of  ft39 

Wilev  Vindieated riSfl 

Worhl's  l-'iir Ml 


Special  Notices. 


NEW  IMPLKMENT  FOR  SfKAVlNC.    PLANTS,   APPLV- 
INf;    INSKCTICIDES,    KTC. 

Tlie  little  implement 
sliown  ill  the  cuts  below  has 
been  hiiviiijr  quite  a  sale  for 
a  few  montlis  back.  It  is 
not  a  spraying-pump;  but 
although  it  is  small  and 
cheap,  it  answers  the  pur- 
pose of  a  more  expensive 
machine,  for  many  pur- 
poses. In  shape  it  is  some- 
thing like  a  lemon-squeezer; 
but  instead  of  a  lemon  j'ou 
have  a  l)all  made  of  puie 
soft  rubber,  with  very  mi- 
nute perforations  on  one 
side,  and  a  sort  of  valve  on 
tlie  other.  Shut  it  up,  then 
dij)  it  into  a  bowl  or  pail  of 
■water,  and,  while  immersed,  open  the  handles. 
This  fills  the  ball  wiili  tlie  liriiiid.  Now  hold  it  over 
the  plant  you  wsh  to  spiny,  aiul  it -ends  a  great 
number  of  streams  so  intiiiit>ssiniallv  small  that 


AGENTS 
SUPPLIED 

Wholesd/e 
PlilCES, 


Truest  (lollies 
Jspriukkr  iu  the  I 
-^  World. 

iiir  : :  -all  i-  a  aiie  vapor,  or  dew,  covering  both  the 
upper  and  under  side  of  the  leaves,  as  tlie  operator 
may  clioo.sc.  For  sprinkling  clothes,  or  watering 
plants  ill  the  window,  of  course  you  use  pure  water. 
For  applying  poisons,  however,  you  use  any  of  the 
solutions  of  Lond(jn  pur|)le,  I'aris  green,  hellebore. 


•or  pyrethrum,  according  to  the  insetts  to  Oe  Vanish- 
ed. For  convenience  j-ou  want  an  extra  rubber  ball 
for  the  poisons.  It  uses  the  poisons  in  such  econo- 
my that  a  pint  bowl  of  the  liquid  may  be  made  to 
go  over  a  vei-y  large  surface.  The  first  engraving 
shows  t4ie  manner  of  applying  it  to  a  liill  of  pola- 
.toes;  the  next,  to  sprinkling  clothes;  and  the  third. 


to  sprinkling  plants  and  \ines.  It  is  also  recom- 
mended for  hugs  and  insects  on  cai-pets,  furs,  or 
clothes.  For  this  purpose  a  carbolic-a<'id  solulion 
is  used.  Full  directions  for  using  tlii!  ditl'erent 
kinds  of  poisons  are  seiil  with  each  sprayer.  'J'he 
regular  price  of  tliis  little  inipleineiil  is  r>(lc.  By 
buying  I  hem  in  nuanl  ilies,  howi'ver,  we  are  enabled 
to  sell  them  for  it'ic.  If  .sent  by  niail,  llie  price  will 
lie  Kic  iiioie.  Fxtra  bulbs  for  various  iiciiiids  will 
lie  sent  liy  mail  for  2(lc  each.  There  is  one  I'eature 
about  this  rubber-ball  sprinkler  thai  gives  it  an 
advant.age  over  all  of  the  melal  nozzles;  and  that 
is,  it-  can  not  elog  nor  iiisl  up;  for,  by  applying 
sullicient  pressure,  the  obstruction  maybe  forced 
through  the  openings,  for  these  iipeniiigs  are  of 
rubber.  We  are  using  one  of  these  rubber  balls  on 
the  end  of  a  hose,  for  sprinkling  our  plant-heds. 
When  the  full  head  of  the  water  is  let  on,  the  rub- 
ber ball  expands  to  more  than  double  its  ordinary 
size.  This,  of  course,  makes  the  perforations  cor- 
respondingly larger,  .iiid  i  his  brings  them  about  the 
right  size  for  watering  beds. 

PUOSPECT   OF  STKAWBKKRY-PLANTS    AT     THE     PRES- 
.j»ra  ENT  WKITING.  ^ 

As  we  have  not  had  a  drop  of  rain  for  ten  daysi 
the  plants  out  in  the  field  are  not  in  condition  to 
send  out;  and  those  uiid('r  irrigation  in  our  plant- 
beds  have  not  yet  got  a  going  .so  there  are  any  to 
fill  orders;  therefore  the  friends  will  have  to  wait 
about  another  two  weeks,  I  presume,  before  we  can 
ship  stiawbcrry-iilants  to  them.  The  exceedingly 
iK.ny  rains  during  the  fore  part  of  the  month,  that 
flooded  our  beds  and  [jacked  tlie  earth  so  hard,  have 
had  much  to  do  with  keeping  the  plants  back.  We 
are  stirring  the  soil,  however,  hauling  on  manure 
in  place  of  that  which  was  washed  away,  and  doing 
every  thing  we  can  to  be  able  to  furnish  good 
strong-rooted  plants  for  our  customers.  Parker 
Earle  and  Edgar  Queen  will  be  double  our  usual 
rates,  viz.,  20e  for  10,  or  $1.50  per  1(K).  Warfleld  will 
be  usual  prices,  10c  for  10,  T.'ic  per  100,  or  $6.00  per 
1000.     By  mail,  .5c  for  10,  or  a.5c  per  1(10  additional. 

lydter.  -Just  as  the  above  was  written  (July  13)  a 
very  welcome  shower  came,  which  puts  a  more  fa- 
vorable aspect  on  things,  and  we  can  fill  small  or- 
ders, say  for  only  10  plants,  at  once. 


THE  Tf)MATO  BOOK   AND   ITS  TEACHINGS. 

Just  as  we  go  to  press,  the  following  comes  from 
friend  Day  in  regard  to  the  tomato  crop  of  the 
present  year : 

The  tomato  crop  here  has  been  enormous.  Crystal  Springs 
has  shipped  about  430  carloads,  and  could  have  shippe<l  100 
ears  more  if  w.-  ha<l  had  crates  in  time.  The  cannina:-factoi-y 
is  duinK  a  heavy  business.  The  crop  is  about  all  gone  from 
here  that  will  go  norlh.  .1.  w.  Day. 

Cry.-tal  Springs,  Miss.,  July  11. 

You  cjiii  see  from  the  above  whether  the  teachings 
of  the  new  tomato  book  are  probabl.y  sound  or  not, 
for  friend  Diiy  certainly  practices  what  he  teaches. 


•lAPANESE  BUCKWHEAT   FOR  LATE  SOWING. 

We  have  now  a  full  supply  of  nice  seed  at  the 
regular  i^rices  given  in  our  catalogue;  viz.,  trial 
)iacket,  4  ounces,  by  mail,  postpaid,  ."ic;  I  lb.  by 
mail,  postpaid,  lOc;  peck,  :i")c;  'A  bushel,  tide;  bush., 
•■fl.i  It.    These  latter  prices  include  liag  to  ship  it  in. 


PURE  ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

i      Untested,   70c  each;  3  for  f  1.7.5;    6  or  more,   .50c 
each.    Tested  queens, !?!. 00  each. 

D.  G.  ED.MISTON,  Adrian,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich. 

I       ELMER  HUTCHINSON 

I  Can    furnish    untested  5-banded  Italian  ijueeiis  for 
J  *l.tiO  each;  6  for  $5.00.    Tested   queeii.s,  $1..50  each; 

breeding  queens,  f 4. 00  each. 
!       13ltdb  \'iin<^nr,  Tnncuilfi  Co.,  Jilidt. 

▼▼N'»  KSTED  QIJFENS.  75f,  Each;  Select. 
^^  J*l.(iO.  Te.sted  Kalian,  $1.£0;  select.  $-^.m.  I 
breed 'I  /'(  Doolittle,  from  leather-colored  imported 
mother,  also  yellow  strain.  Bees,  in  nuclei  or  by 
the  pound,  cheap. 

J.  J.    HARDY,  UAVONIA,  GA. 

WAN!  ED.— To  rent  or  on  shares,  an  apiary  of 
about   2ii0  (colonies    of    bees.    Gulf    States,  or 
California.         English  B.  Mann,  New  Iberia,  La. 


533 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE 


TESTED  ITALIAN  QUEENS,  80c 


July  15. 

IN  JUI.Y  AND  AUGUST. 

In  June,  11.00  each.  Mlsmated 

queens,  4U  cents.  ll-1.5db 

J.  C.  WHEELER.  PLANO,  ILL. 


I 


JTJST      OXJT ! 

^  THE    A  B  C    OF 

^  Ferret   Culture. 

Containing-  Full  Iiistiuctii:>ns  for  the  Breeding-, 
Feeding,  Care,  and  M;inag-enient  of  this  little  ani- 
mal. It  tells  How  to  Raise  them  in  the  Greatest 
Numbers,  with  the  least  expense.  Price  ten  cents-; 
by  mail,  12  cents. 

Free !  My  new  price  list  of  pure  Italian  Bees 
and  Queens,  White  and  Brown  Leg-horn  Chickens, 
and  White  and  Brown  Ferrets,  and  Scotch  Collie 
Pups.    Address  N.  A.  KNAPP, 

IStfdb  Rocliester,  l>oraiii  Co.,  Oliio. 

C^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

1TELL  you  what,  Jones,  lievering 
Bros,  sell  the  best  g-oods  and  at 
\      the  lowest  price  of  any  one    I've 
\   struck  yet.    The  largest   and    bes1 
■a  ecjuipped 

'  Bee -Hive  Factory 

in  the  West.  The  Dovetailed  Hive 
and  New  Hoffman  self  -  spa3ing 
Frame  a  specialty.  Every  thing 
used  by  practical  bee-keepers  at 
wholesale  and  retail.  Send  for  their 
free  Illustrated  Price  List,  and 
save  money.  Sui)ply  Dealers,  send 
for  their  Wholesale  List.    Address 

LEVSRZXTGI    BROS., 
6-15db  ^T^io-ba.,  Ca.ss  Co.,  ZcT^a. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


J\ ^{*f  ions  perfectly  smooth ,  and  flrst-class. 
%i^ww»iwiiw  Brood  foundation  4.5  cts.  per  lb. 
All  supplies  equally  low.  Gotjds  shipped  direct 
from  New  York  city.  l-18dt. 

I.  J.  STRINCHAM, 

92  Bare  ay  St  ,  N.  Y. 

t^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  QLKANiNGa, 

ITAIilAN    Ql^EENS.    Tested.   $1.35.    Untested, 
75c.  Mrs.  A.  M.  Kneelanfi. 

P.  O.  Box  77.    Mulberry  Grove,  Bond  Co.,  111. 

irSTESTED  ITA.LIA]>r  QtTEJEJVS. 

From  best  imported  stock,  .50c  each;  X 
doz.,  $2  75.    Circular    free.    Safe   arrival 
and  satisfaction  guaranteed. 
H.  G.  QuiRiN,  Bellevue,  Huron  Co.,  O. 

^?"Irk  respondinjr  ti)  this  ;iilvt.iti:-einrMt  mention  ULEANlNGa, 


Bingham's  Perfect 

SMOKER. 

Pat.  1878;  Ee-issued  1882.  Pat.  1892 


No  more  soiled  sections,  burned 
lingers,  or  burned  Apiary.  Any 
large  advertiser  of  Bingliam  Srao 
kcrs  will  sen'1  you  a  Perfect  X)c^- 
tor.  Perfect  Conqueror,  or  Perfect 
Large  Smoker,  if  you  will  send  to 
hira  25  cts.  more  than  the  regular 
mail  price,  and  ask  for  either  oi 
tlie  three  sizes  mentioned. 
Bing-ham  &  Hethering-ton,  Abronia,  Mich. 


t^"ln  resporuliiiL.' to  tliis  ailv 


It  inentiuu  U1.KANING& 


Italian  Bees  and  Queens  For  Sale. 

Untested  queen.s,  $1.00;  tested,  $1..50.  Bees,  $1.00 
per  lb.  Colony,  $5.00.  Also  barred  Plymouth  Rock 
eggs  for  sitting,  $1.00  per  13. 

7-16db  MRS.  A.  A.  SIMPSON,  Swarts,  Pa. 

t^ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gi.KA.MN(i>* 


GLOBE  BEE-VEIL 

By  mail  for  $1.00. 

,         A  center  rivet  holds  5  spring-steel 
I    ,  cross-bars  like  a  globeto  support  the 
bobinetVeil.  These  button  to  a  neat 
brass  neck-band,  holding  it  firmly. 

It  is  easily  put  together;  no  trouble 
to  put  on,  or  take  off.  An  absolute 
protection  against  any  insect  that 
flies.  Will  go  over  any  ordinary 
sized  hat:  can  be  worn  in  bed  with- 
put  discomfort;  fits  any  head;  does  not  obstruct  the 
vision;  folds  compactly,  and  can  be  carried  In  the 
pocket:  in  short,  it  is  invaluable  to  any  one  -whom 
files  bother,  mosquitos  bite,  or  bees  sting. 

Extia  NetM,  50  Cents  Ka«li. 

TIIOMA.S  G.  :>^E\\MA.J>^  »t  SOA, 

109  Raiiclolfjh  St.,  Ciiicag-o,  111: 

Plea-<e  mention  this  paper. 

Bee  -  Keepers'  ^>  Supplies. 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladly 
furnished,  and  correspondence  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  flrst-class  in  quality  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
alogue sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling,  111.    Address  l-24db 

WITI.  McClNE  &  CO., 

Sterling,  Illinois. 

£^"In  respond intr  To  >  r,i.  i  linn  RLEANINGS; 

SpT'C     will  get  a  sample  cage  of  my  5-banded 
V  1  O*       bees;  1  untested  3-banded,  6.ic;  six  for 
$3.0(1;  1  5-banded,  75c;    six  for  $4.25.    Full  colonies, 
nuclei,  and  supplies  cheap;  catalogue  free, 
latfdb         CHAS.  H.  THIKJ*,  Sieeleville,  111. 
Hlease  mention  this  paper. 

CAA  Colonies  of  Bees  Devot- 
^VV  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  foi-  prices  on  large  quantities. 

MILLION      SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS, 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 
for  our   24-Page    Catalogue    of  Dovetailed 
Hives.  Smokers,  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  M'F'G  CO.,  Higginsville,  Missouri. 


TWO 


Send 


Please  mention  this  paper. 


5tfdb 


Queens  in  Julv,  untested,  75c;  V^  doz., $3  60;  tested, 
U.'>»:  select  tested,  *2.i.0:  extra  select.  $4.00;  the  very 
best.  ifS. 0(1;  impoi-ted.ifo.OO.  2ii0  queens  ready  to  send 
by  return  mail.    Leininger  Bros  .  Ft.  Jennings,  O. 

IMPORTED  ITALIAN  QUEENS.  $3  25:  UNTESTED,  50c. 

'        12tfdb  W.  C.  FUAZIER,  Atlantic,  Iowa. 

Bee-Hives  ^  Sections 

A  specialty.     Fc(undati(.)n,  Smokers,   etc.,   in   stock. 
Send  for  new  list,  free. 
4tfdb  W.  D.  SOPER.  J  ickson,  Mich. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

A  Four-Color   Label   for  Only   75 
Cts.  Per  Thousand. 

Just  think  of  it!  we  can  furnish  you  a  very  neat 
four-ciiliir  label,  with  your  name  and  address,  with 
the  choice  of  having  either  " comb  "  or  "extracted  " 
before  the  word  "honey,"  for  only  75  cts.  per  thou- 
sand ;  50  cts.  per  .5(X),  or  30  cts.  for  3.50,  postpaid.  The 
size  of  the  label  is  3Xxl  inch— just  i-ight  to  go  round 
the  neck  of  a  bottle,  to  put  on  a  section,  or  to  adorn 
the  front  of  a  honey-tumbler.  Send  for  our  special 
label  catalogue  for  samples  of  this  and  many  other 
pretty  designs  in  label  work. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  medina,  O. 


18i)-i 


(iLHANlNtiS  IN   nVA-:  CULTURE. 


533 


/   HAVE     too    ONE-YEAR-OLD 

HYBRID     QUEENS. 

W/fl/GS    CLIPPED.       SENa    ME    50    CTS. 
FOR    J,    OR    $1.00    FOR    3. 

Ill  rotrard  to  tin-  rolor  <<(  {\n-•^'  (iincns  :im<1  tlii'ir 
lifos,  there  arc  all  the  vr:iiU>  that  ran  I'niiif  frmii  a 
.Tdss  iH'twi'cii  All)irios  and  Italians,  but  thcjliave 
lu't'ii  bie<i  Willi  an  eye  solelv  td  their  hdiiey-Katlier- 
iliir  iiualitie^.  sn  I  liiul  my  seel  ions  slitwij'  tilliiiti-  ui> 
with  lioiie\.  whiU'  not  oiu'  of  ni.\'  neijihbors  has 
any  jriiins  to  report.  Send  M  rents  for  one  of  these 
tesii'd  iiui'eiis  aii<i  have  some  surplus  honey,  if 
there  is  liny  anywhere.  Yon  caiujnsl  as  well.  ".My 
nei>rhbors  are  wantiiijr  my  queens  also,  and  will  g'ot 
thetn,  if  they  are  not  ton  i-losi'  bv. 

Address  W.   B.   WEED. 

Hartford.  Wash.  Co.,  N.   Y. 
Hr"ln  responding:  to  this  ndverfi.-eniont  mention  Gl,EA^■lNO& 


Honey  Column. 


CITT  MARKETS. 


Ni:w 


BEE-HIVES,   SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  the  best  g-oods  and  sell  them  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  tlie  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry iu  the  world. 

Our  poods  are  know-n  as  the  be.st  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS  &  CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 


YoKK.-  7/(»((c//.  ("omb,  new  fancy  white, 
Mb.,  14;  extracted,  Southern,  6.5@7r)  per  gallon.  De- 
mand good  for  rich-liavore(i  honey.  Orange-blos- 
som, 7(5j7>s  :  if  in  good  new  n-gallon  cans,  2  in  a  case, 
TViQiH.  Beeswax,  27®28;  market  llrm,  supply  small. 
July  8.  F.  G.  Stroumeyek  &  Co., 

New  York  City. 

Kansas  City.— Honey.— We  liave  just  received  a 
number  of  shipments  of  new  honey,  same  selling  at 
16c.  Hamblin  &  IJearss, 

July  8.  514  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


V  OLINS 


GUITARS 


MANDOLINS 


l^"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gi-EAXiNoa 

wrj^  ]^-^jpi-^pc-^iz  jiRgpic  -j.jj|«!:  :i5!«r  »ilijpi'-™ljl»i' •J«gii'nnjj|iir-j«!|j[iu.Te 

h  4 

I  Queens  Yellow  to  the  Tip         j 

%    Mated  with  Drones  Yel-         4 

w     low  all  over.  < 


(,)iieen-inoiher  from  an  entirely  ditter- 
ent  strain  from  tlie  drones,  lieiice  a  di- 
rect cross.  None  but  selected  drones  al- 
lowed to  liy  from  the  most  desiral)le 
colonies.  I  am  4  or  .">  miles  from  any 
bees  except  my  own.  I  can  therefore 
largely  control  the  mating  of  mj' queens. 
Seven  years  as  aQueen  siiecialist  and  no 
complaints  that  the  golden  Italians  are 
inferior  to  the  leather  variety  e(jn\inces 
me  that  the  specialist,  b.y  very  careful 
selection,  and  alwaij.-^  crossing  with  an- 
other strain,  can  combine  beauty  with 
business.  The  novice  only  fails.  Send 
for  circular.     Price  of  queens,  7.ic  each. 


Boston.— Hojiej/.— We  quote  you  our  market  on 
honey  as  follows:  1-lb.  comb,  white,  12@14,  de- 
mand very  light;  extracted,  Kgib.  No  beeswa.x  on 
hand.  Blake  &  Ripley, 

Julys.  Boston,  Mass. 

Chicago.— Honey.— Some  new  western  comb  on 
the  market,  sells  at  10^1.'),  according  to  quality  and 
condition.    E.xtracted,  steady,  at  6@7@8,  according 
to  kind,  quality,  and  flavor.    Beeswax,  36@27. 
R.  A.  Burnett, 

July  7.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  Dl. 

Albany.— H'>//ri/.— There  is  nothing  doing  in 
comb  honey,  and  but  very  little  in  extracted. 

Bc(.s'i('<(.r  is  coming  forward  more  freely  and  sell- 
ing at  24@25.  Chas.  McCulloch  &  Co., 

July  8.  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Detroit.— i3o?iey.— No  new  honey  in  the  market, 
and  what  there  is  left  of  the  last  year's  crop  is  very 
undesirable,  and  selling  at  11@12.  Extracted,  7@8. 
Beeswax,  2.5.  M.  H.  Hunt, 

July  8.  BeU  Branch,  Mich. 

Kansas   City.— /Yoj«w— The    old    crop  of  comb 
honey  is  all  cleaned  up.    We  quote    new:    No.  1 
white.  1-lb.  comb,  16.    Extracted,  old,  7. 
Beeswax.  30@2.5.      Cle.mons-Mason  Com.  Co., 
July  9.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

New  York.— //ofiej/.- Demand  for  comb  honey  at 
a  standstill;  extracted,  moving  very  slowly. 
Markets  on  above.  Southern,  60@70c  per  gallon,  ac- 
cording toquality;  clover,  6X@7;  buckwheat,  5@5>^. 
Bee.'iwax,  demand  moderate,  2i@27. 

July  8.  Chas.  Israel  &  Bro., 

110  Hudson  St.,  New  York, 


James  Wood,  No.  Prescott,  Mass. 


itr  tXt  i^ir -^^fcr -Ar -JW  -i^r-Jtr  jj^.  JlSfe  jlkuUkji&mji&kjS 

tSTln  respondlnii  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glka.msos 

BY    RETURN    MAIL. 

Pniiif  queens  from  Imported  .tlotliero,  each, 
>,iOii.  It  ilinn  queens  from  our  Hundred  Dollar 
strain.  ?1."~.").  <i;olden  Carniolan  bees  i)ossess  ail 
the  good  qualities  of  other  races.  Qu(;eiis  large 
and  prolific,  eacli.  -H.-oO.  Oiii'  Italian  and  Golden 
Carniolan  liees  are  as  handsome  as  five-banded  bees. 
Fifteen  per  cent  discount  on  all  orders  for  more 
than  one  queen.  The  American  ApicnltiiriHt, 
one  of  the  oldest  bee-papers  pulilished.  will  be 
mailed  free  three  months  to  all  ijurchasers  of 
queens.  Safe  arrival  ;ind  satisfaction  guaranteed. 
Sample  copy  of  Apiculturist  and  8-page  catalogue 
free.  HKNKY  ALLEY, 

AVenliani,  Eissex  Co.,  :TIa»«i«. 

lyin  respoiiiling  to  llils  udveiTl.eriii'iit  mention  Gi.kasincs. 


Cincinnati.— J?(()if{/.— There  is  a  good  demand  for 
extracted  honey  at  5(§i8c  on  arrival.  We  solicit  ship- 
ments, stock  on  hand  being  small.  Demand  is  sh)w 
for  coml)  honey,  and  prices  nominal  at  12(g;16c  for 
best  white  in  the  jobbing  way.  Beeswax.— Is  in  fair 
demand  at  23@2.5c  on  arrival,  for  good  to  choice  yel- 
low Chas.  F.  Muth  &  Son,  Cincinnati,  O. 

July  11.  

Chicago.— //y/iey.-Demand  as  yet  limited  for 
comb.  Market  15c  for  best  white.  Extracted,  act- 
ive sale  and  scarce,  7@i7'/2<-.    Beeswax.— I)uU,  26c. 

July  8.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Wanted.— One  hundred  tliou.sand  pounds  choice 
con  b  and  extracted  honey.  Name  source  from 
which  your  honey  is  gathered.  Mail  samples  at 
oiii-e  and  quoie  prices.  ]3tfdb 

.1.  A.  Blchana.n  &  Sons,  HoUiday's  Cove,  W.  Va. 


IF  YOU  WANT  BEES 


Thai    will   just    "  i-oU  " 
Strain  <*!'  Italian^,  the 


the  honey,  tiy  ITIoore's 
result  of  13  years'  careful 


breeding.  Reduced  iirices:  Warranted  queens,  SOc 
each;  3  for  .{2.(in.  Strong  3-frame  nucleus,  with 
warranted  queen,  $2.50.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed.  Those  who  have  never  dealt  with 
me  I  refer  to  A.  I.  Root,  who  has  purchased  of  me, 
during  past  12  vears.  .")S2  (pjeens.  Circulars  free. 
J.  P.  .YIOOKE,  .Tloriran.  Pendleton,  Co..  Ky. 
ll-i;.'d        >biney-oiderol1ice.  Falmouth,  Ky. 

m  wvjtint;  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 


534 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  15. 


i  MORE  HONEY 


can  be  secured  byg-iving'  plenty  of  room  in  the  supers  to  the  very 
end  of  the  harvest.  Tliis  plan  results  In  a  larger  proportion  of 
unfinished  sections,  but  tliey  can  be  flnislied  up  at  a  GOOD 
PROFIT  by  "  feeding  bacli"  during  the  hot  weather  1  lint  comes,  in  July  and  August,  between  bass- 
wood  and  "fall  llowers.  All  that  is  needed  Is  a  knowledge  of  "  liow  to  do  it,"  and  this  is  given, 
even  to  the  smallest  detail,  in  one  cliapter  of  "flnVlANPFH  RFF  PIIITIIRF  " 
Remember,  too,  that  tliis  is  only  one  chapter  MUUMMUCU  DCE.  V^ULI  Unt. 
out  of  32.  Price  of  the  book,  50c.  The  RE  VIEW  one  year  and  tlie  book  for  *l.:.'r,.  F.ir  *1.75,  the 
Review,  the  book,  and  a  tine  young  laying  Italian  queen  will  be  sent.    Oueen  alone,  tnc. 

W.  Z.HUTCHINSON,  Flint,  IVIich 


DR.  J.  W.  CRENSHAW, 

Versailles,      -      Kentucky, 

Offers  for  Sale 

Untested  Italian  Queens  at  $1.00  each  throug-h  May 
and  June;  after,  75c  each.    Sate  arrival  guaran- 
teed.   Queens  raised  only  from  Imported 
mother.    Drones  only  from  selected 
and  tested  mothers. 
Also  CELERY  PLANTS  from  July  t<3  September,  at 

$3.00  per  M.  7-18db 

^*In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLKANiNGa, 

OATIVIAN'S 

SOLDEEINtJ  AND  EEPAIE  SIT 

Coii'^ists  of  flie-pot.  solder- 
ing-irons, solder,  and  solder- 
inyr-rtuid,  with  tools  compl'te 
as  shown  in  out,  with  direc- 
tions for  soldering  different 
metals,  and  how  to  keep  your 
soldering-irons  in  shape. 
Whc.h-  kit,  boxed,  12  lbs. 
Shipi)ea  on  i-eceipt  of  $2.00. 
Agents  wanted. 

O.  &  L.  OATMAN, 

^^_^^___^  87dii        Medina,  Ohio. 

|»"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLKANiNoa 

QUEENS  FREE!  f?™EH 
Tested,  $1.00.  One  Clioit-e  Breeder  Given 
Away  with  each  dozen.  Five-Banded 
Golden  Queens,  «1  to%i.  Write  for  low- 
er prices.  Satisfaction  guaranteed.  Bees,  HOc 
per  lb.  F.  C  ITIOKKOW,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 
Please  mention  this  paper.  lOtfdb 


BEE 


SUPPLIES 


RETAIL 

—A  NO- 
WHOLESALE. 

Everything  used  in  the  Apiary. 

Greatest  variety  and  largest  stock 

in  the  West.    New  catalog,  54   illustrated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  KEETCHUEB,  EED  OAK,  IOWA. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  2tfdb 


JENNIE  ATGHLEY 

Will  send  vou  either  three  or  five  banded  Italian 
queens  in 'June,  Jul>,  and  August,  75c  each;  $4.30 
for  6,  or  $8.0,1  per  doz.    Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed.  _ 
Itfdb                             Floyd,  Hunt  €o.,  Texas. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


75c.    Golden  Queens  by  Return  Mail.    78c. 

My  Golden  Italians  are  good  workers,  and  gentle. 
Queens  are  carefullv  bred  from  best  stock.  Three 
queens,  $3.00;  six  f<ir  *:i  50:  dozen,  $6.00.  Safe  arriv- 
al and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  Money  order  office, 
Daytona,  Fla.  JOHN  B.  CASE. 

lltfdb  Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 


Golden  Italian  Queens 

Wan-anted  purely  mated,  $1.00  each;  six  for  $5.(X). 
Our  tivc-lKindfd  Italians  are  good  workers,  grentle 
and  beautiful,  and  the  queens  are  very  prolific.  All 
queens  reared  by  the  Doolittle  method,  and  are  al- 
most pure  yellow.  We  handle  our  best  bees  without 
smoke  or  veil,  and  can  jar  the  hive  or  blow  our 
breath  on  tlie  bees  without  exciting'  tliem.  Money- 
order  office.  Cable,  111.  Itfdb 
S.  F.  6c  I.  TREGO,  Swedona,  III. 

In  writintf  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.       Itfdb 

WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS' 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  can  be  had  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  at  ROOT'S  PRICES.  The 
largest  supply  business  In  the  West. 
Established  188.i.  Dovetailed  Hives,  Sec- 
tions, Foundatitm.  E.\t:-actors,  Smokers, 
Veils.  Crates,  Feeders,  Clover  Seeds,  etc. 
Imported  Italian  Queens.  Queens  and 
Bees.  Sample  copy  of  our  Bee  Journal, 
■THE  WESTERN  BEE-KEEPER,"  and 
LATEST  CATALOGUE  mailed  FREE  to 
Bee-keepers. 

JOSEPH  NY5;EWANDER, 

Des  Moines,  Iowa. 


EXTf^fl   FINE    QOEE^MS. 

Now  is  tlie  time  to  introduce  a  strain  of  Ital- 
ians that  will  reap  you  larg-e  harvests  even  in 
poor  seasons.  Send  a  trial  order  and  be  con- 
vinced. Queens  warranted  purely  mated,  each, 
80c;  six,  $4  00;  doz.,  $7.00.  Order  now;  pay  on 
arrival.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfaction  guaran- 
teed. F.  li.  H'OC/Cii^'. 


Please  mention  this  paper. 


4  BANDED  ITA1.I AN  BEES.  Tested,  $1.00; 
Untested,  60c;  Selected  tested,  $1.3.5;  tested 
queen,  $3.00;  untesied,  $1  iiO.  Safe  arrival 
guaranteed.        STEWABT  BKOS., 

Sparta.  Tenn. 

Queens  by  Return  Mail. 

Reared  in  the  natural  way  from  swarmine-  cells. 
Just  look  at  tlie  following  very  low  prices,  and  order 
at  once.  ,  ,  ,         , 

Tested,  each,  $1.50;  warranted  purely  mated,  each, 
80c;  warranted  purely  mated,  X  doz.,  $4.50;  warrant- 
ed purely  mated,  per  doz.,  $8.00. 

All  the  above  are  reared  in  full  stocks  from  my 
old  reliable  honev-gathering-  strains.    Address 

WM.  W.  GARY,  Colerain,  Mass. 

Send  for  40-page  catalogue.    Full  liiieof  Bee-keep- 
ers' Supplies-aiul  Bees  at  prices  way  down.       KJtfdb 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 

We  gxiarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  doz- 
en, you  do  not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  within  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with  full  direc- 
tions, 30c;  per  dozen,  $3.35.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb    R.  <£  E.  C.  PORTER.  LEWISTOWN.  ILL. 

ils?"Iii  r.-^!M>ridinr  to  this  advertisement 


mention  GlKj»nings 


fK<<li^ 


•  de:.voted-  ./ 

•  AN  D  Hon  EV-  "fh  ^^J" 
'AND  HOME.'    v; 


$lo°PERYEAf^  \©)     r^EDINAOHlO 


Vol.  XX. 


JULY  15,  1892. 


No.  14. 


Strav  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MIULER. 

Strawberkies  are  composed  largely  of  water 
this  year. 

That  ■•silver-lixing"  to  the  clouds  seems 
badly  water-soaked  as  yet. 

Two  WHOLE  DAYS  without  rain — well,  at 
least  only  a  little  shower  on  one  of  them. 

FEEniNG  has  kept  the  size  of  ray  apiaries  a 
good  bit  larger  than  if  I  had  left  them  to  them- 
selves. 

Mrs.  AxTEi.r,  always  had  a  kind  heart.  8he 
gives  me  no  little  comfort  by  reporting  a  great- 
er loss  than  I've  had. 

Chas.  Dadant,  in  Revue,  gives  a  black  eye 
to  De  Layens"  theory  that  there's  profit  in  let- 
ting bees  make  wax. 

Pi'RE  BEESWAX  and  clean  unsalted  butter 
make  an  excellent  substitute  for  creams  and 
balms. — Ladies''  Horne  Journal. 

JfLY  4.  I  remember,  was  the  close  of  the 
honey  harvest  one  year.  This  year  July  4  is 
before  thi!  beginning— if  there  is  to  be  any  be- 
ginning. 

YoiR  HEAi>"s  LEVEL,  Mr.  Editor.  We  musn't 
think  of  going  to  Washington  at  any  time  when 
there  isn't  something  else  going  on  to  bring 
down  railroad  rates. 

Nect.vr  .\ni)  pollen.  I  have  always  thought, 
went  pretty  much  togeihcr;  but  nowadays  I 
find  bees  bringing  in  big  loads  of  pollen,  and 
their  honey-sacs  empty. 

Emma's  using  one  of  the  improved  Binghams, 
and  it's  g(K)d;  no  burnt  lingers  when  you  want 
to  load  up,  and  no  need  of  coals  dropping  out 
from  turning  upside  down. 

Florists  are  not  like  bee-keepers.  You  can't 
subscribe  for  the  Amr.rlcnn  Florist  without 
some  proof  that  you  are  already  a  florist.  But 
b(-e-keepers  will  "coax  you  to  enter  their  ranks. 

I  worried  somewhat  because  it  seemed  im- 
possible to  get  colonies  strong  enough  in  time 
for  the  harvest.  Now  I'vi-  got  most  of  th(!m  in 
good  shape,  and  I'm  trying  hard  not  to  worry 
because  the  harvest  doesn't  come  as  soon  as  the 
bees  are  ready. 

Bee  culture  has  more  public  encourage- 
ment in  England  than  here.  The  BritUih  Bee 
.Journal  shows  some  -S.TOOO  appropriated  by  the 
government  to  provide  free  teaching  in  practic- 
al bee  culturi'.  How  about  slow  Johnny  Bull 
now.  you  bragging  Yankees? 


For  chapped  hands  or  any  sort  of  rough- 
n(\«s.  sage  tea  or  oatmeal  gruel,  sweetened  with 
honey,  is  good.— Ladt-cs'  Home  Jour  mil. 

That  man  McIntyke- I  feel  jealous  of  him 
if  he's  going  to  win  away  Prof.  Cook's  affec- 
tions from  me.  But  then,  if  Mclntyre  is  as  nice 
as  his  picture  looks,  I  can't  blame  the  professor. 

More  and  more  it  is  becoming  true  that 
women  of  real  refinement  and  taste  dress  plain- 
ly. \'ou  can  often  pick  out  the  wives  of  mil- 
lionaires by  their  plain  dress.  A  loud  dress  on 
a  woman  generally  advertises  the  fact  that  she 
is  dressing  beyond  her  means. 

How  that  picture  on  page  50:3  takes  me 
back  to  old  times!  The  Murrays  were  two 
very  lovable  brothers— '•  Rob,"  as  we  always 
called  him,  so  modest  and  quiet  that  you'd 
hardly  know  he  was  around,  and  James  over- 
flowing with  fun— fun  that  was  always  kind. 

Comb-building,  Doolittle  says  in  Stockman, 
is  supposed  to  be  done  by  exact  measurement. 
The  antenna  of  the  worker  are  used  full  length 
to  measure  the  diameter  of  drone-cells;  and 
when  it  wants  to  measure  for  a  worker-cell  it 
doubles  up  the  end-joint  of  the  antennae  like  a 
jack-knife. 

Do  you  want  company  and  comfort  in  your 
misery?  Well,  here  I  am  this  5th  of  July  with 
130  colonies  (if  some  of  them  didn't  die  last 
night)  left  out  of  389.  some  of  them  mere  nuclei, 
and  not  a  bee  working  in  supers,  and  some  hives 
with  not  a  drop  of  honey  to  be  seen  in  the 
brood-combs.     But  it  might  be  worse. 

A  LITTLE  economy  I  saw  this  morning 
amused  and  rather  pleased  me.  A  white  cake 
about  a  foot  long  had  a  gash  cut  across  the 
middle,  and  in  the  gash  a  wall  of  w»'iting- paper 
erected.  Then  one  half  the  cake  was  frosted 
with  chocolate,  and  the  other  with  plain  frost- 
ing. Two  kinds  of  cake,  you  see,  with  only  one 
baking. 

Clover  pollen  is  coming  in,  when  it  comes 
in  at  all,  in  larger  pellets  than  I  ever  saw  be- 
fore; for,  usually,  clover  pollen  comes  in  in 
small  pellet  A.  Possibly  this  is  the  explanation: 
Ordinarily  bees  working  on  clover  get  filled  up 
with  nectar  before  they  liave  tiine  to  get  much 
pollen;  but  when  getting  little  or  no  nectar 
they  have  time  to  get  full  loads  of  pollen. 

Dictating  to  a  stenographer  all  right  the 
first  time  trying  is  spoken  of  by  th(!  editor  as 
quite  a  feat  on  the  part  of  father  Langstroth. 
So  it  was.  If  any  of  you  think  it's  an  easy  thing 
to  do  without  being  first  hardened  to  it,  just  try 
sitting  down  and  talking  to  an  imaginary  au- 
dience with  no  one  to  hear  you,  and  a  pretty 
girl  overhearing  all  you  say.  and  see  if  you 
don't  feel  kind  o'  confused  like. 


536 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  15. 


I 


DroiS^es  raised  from  unfertilized  queens,  we 
have  been  taught  by  good  authority  to  believe, 
are  as  good  as  any.  Experiments  made  by  Mr. 
Dragan,  a  Carniolan  bee-keeper,  throw  doubt 
on  this  belief.  On  two  diffei'ent  occasions  he 
took  a  colony  with  such  drones  to  a  distance 
from  other  colonies,  introduced  a  virgin  queen, 
and  in  spite  of  the  numbers  of  drones  each 
queen  turned  out  a  drone-layer. 

The  wedding-tour  of  the  young  queen  oc- 
curs, according  to  some,  as  early  as  the  third 
day  after  leaving  the  cell,  while  others  stoutly 
assert  that  she  waits  till  the  sixth  day.  Both 
are  probably  right.  If  only  one  cell  is  in  the 
hive,  the  queen  is  fertilized  the  fifth  or  sixth 
day;  while  if,  on  account  of  other  cells  in  the 
hive,  she  remains  a  prisoner  In  her  cell  three 
days  she  will  be  so  many  days  sooner  fertilized 
after  she  leaves  the  cell.  But  her  real  age 
from  the  egg  is  the  same  in  both  cases. 


PROF.  H.  W.  WILEY. 


SOMETHING  IN  HIS  DEFENSE  FROM    PROF.   A.  .J. 
COOK. 


Dear  Mr.  Editor: — I  have  had,  recently,  quite 
an  extensive  correspondence  with  Pi'of.  H.  W. 
Wiley;  and  if,  as  I  think,  he  has  been  misun- 
derstood, and  hence  unjustly  denounced  by 
bee-keepers,  it  is  certainly  none  too  soon  to  call 
attention  to  the  matter,  and  ask  that  we  con- 
sider before  we  condemn  further.  This  is  a 
pleasanter  duty,  as  I  am  sure  that  bee-keepers 
are,  almost  to  a  man,  fair,  right-minded,  and 
most  desirous  that  every  person  should  have 
his  just  deserts.  Let  me  call  attention  to  some 
facts  that  I  believe  will  mollify  the  bee-keepers 
in  respect  to  this  able  scientist,  and,  as  I  be- 
lieve, most  excellent  man. 

When  Prof.  Wiley  wrote  his  Popular  Science 
Monthly  ai'ticle,  in  which  he  stated  that  comb 
honey  was  extensively  made  and  sold,  he  fully 
believed  it.  He  had  had  the  facts  from  a  relia- 
ble party;  and  in  these  days  of  marvelous 
inventions  it  is  no  wonder  that  he  was  deceived. 
Bee-keepers  knew  at  the  time  that  it  was  ut- 
terly untrue,  as  the  most  thorough  investiga- 
tion has  since  fully  confirmed.  Prof.  Wiley 
could  not  know  this,  and  looked  upon  the  mat- 
ter as  a  very  curious  and  interesting  fact, 
whicli,  as  is  his  fashion,  he  clothed  in  such 
happy  phrase  as  to  add  to  the  humor  and  in- 
terest of  the  subject.  This  article  was  widely 
copied,  and,  from  the  known  ability  and  usual 
reliability  of  the  author,  had  great  influence. 
Bee-keepers,  in  attempting  ti)  sell  comb  honey, 
were  repeatedly  ni<t  w  ith  refusal,  and  the  taunt- 
ingexplanatioullialit  wasartiticial,andafraud, 
and  tbey  would  have  none  of  it.  Of  course,  bee- 
keepers were  justly  indignant,  and  the  more  so 
as  the  error  continued  to  spread  and  to  work 
its  evil  influence.  Prof.  Wiley  knew  nothing  of 
this.  As  he  writes  me.  he  had  never  regarded 
the  error  as  more  than  a  harmless  and  comical 
mistake.  If  he  had  in  the  least  appreciated 
the  true  state  of  tbe  case,  I  am  very  sure  he 
would  have  made  all  haste  to  retract  and  cor- 
rect. Smarting  under  the  injury,  bee-keepers 
rushed  into  print,  and,  not  without  reason,  as 
we  have  S(!en.  commericed  the  denunciation 
with  which  we  arc  all  familiar.  It  is  most  un- 
fortunate that  some  editor  or  bee-keeper  had 
not  done  as  we  always  ought  to  do  in  such  cases 
— written  a  courteous,  friendly  letter  to  Prof. 
Wiley,  explaining  the  matter  from  the  bee- 
keepers' standpoint,  then  all  would  have  been 
explained,  all  misunderstanding  removed,  and 
all  unkindness  and  wrong  avoided.  The  bitter 
denunciation  led  to  Prof.  Wiley's  Indiana 
Farmer  article  in  June,  1883.    Not  understand- 


ing the  real  state  of  the  case,  and  doubtless 
influenced  by  the  harsh  criticisms  in  the  bee- 
journals,  which,  from  his  standpoint,  seemed 
violent  and  uncalled  for.  Prof.  Wiley  wrote  the 
unfortunate  "  scientific  pleasantry  "  article,  lie 
thought  he  was  aiming  his  sarcasm  at  a  cause- 
less and  morbid  sensitiveness  or  irritability  on 
the  part  of  bee-keepers.  It  was  really  rasping 
a  real  wound.  Bee-keepers  thought  that,  by 
"scientific  pleasantry,"  Prof.  WMley  meant  he 
wrote  his  statement  as  a  joke,  not  as  fact. 
Thus  many  excellent  men  thought  him  disin- 
genuous, to  say  the  least.  Prof.  Wiley  meant 
to  give  no  such  impression.  He  belieVed  the 
statement  true,  and  thought  the  matter  very 
interesting,  not  to  say  humorous,  and  hence  the 
expression  which  gave  so  much  offense  to  bee- 
keepers. Thus  we  see  that  Prof.  Wiley  was 
not  untruthful,  nor  even  disingenuous.  Indeed, 
those  who  know  Prof.  Wiley  know  him  to  be  a 
courteous  gentleman,  incapable  of  deceit  or 
intended  misrepresentation. 

Since  the  Indiana  Farmer  letter.  Prof.  Wiley 
has  made  no  reply.  The  attacks  upon  him 
were  so  violent,  and.  to  his  mind,  so  unjust  and 
uncalled  for.  that  he  felt  that  it  were  most 
wise  and  dignified  to  give  them  no  heed. 

Prof.  Wiley  has  published  two  Bulletins,  giv- 
ing analyses  of  honey.  He  also  published  an 
article  in  the  American  Apiculturist,  where 
he  mentioned  receiving  and  analyzing  honey 
received  from  Mr.  Muth.  He  did  not  state  in 
this  last  article  that  Mr.  Muth's  honey  was 
adulterated,  but  that  samples  14.  16,  and  17, 
which  were  from  Louisiana  and  Florida,  were 
apparently  adulterated  with  invert  sugar.  He 
adds  that  these  may  not  have  been  adulterated, 
but  may  have  been  the  result  of  bees  gathering 
from  or  taking  sucrose  food.  In  speaking  of 
the  honeys  from  Mr.  Muth.  he  says:  "These 
honeys,  obtained  directly  or  indirectly  from 
well-known  apiarists,  I  have  every  reason  to 
believe  to  be  pure."  In  the  reports,  much 
honey,  and  some  with  Mr.  Muth"s  labels,  is 
pronounced  adulterated.  But  these  analyses 
were  not  made  by  Prof.  Wiley,  but  by  Profs. 
Webber,  of  Columbus — Ohio  State  University — 
and  Scovell,  of  Lexington,  Ky.  I  know  both  of 
these  gentlemen  well,  and  know  them  to  be 
among  the  most  able  and  capable  chemists  of 
our  country.  That  the  analyses  were  well 
made,  and  correct,  so  far  as  our  present  meth- 
ods of  analysis  will  permit,  there  can  not  be  a 
shadow  of  doubt.  Either  the  honey  was  adul- 
terated, or  else  the  methods  for  chemical  anal- 
ysis are  at  fault.  The  latter  may  be  true.  In 
either  case  we  ought  to  be  glad  of  the  report. 
Mr.  Muth  buys  his  honey.  Can  he.  buying  so 
much,  be  always  sure  that  all  is  pure?  Most 
of  the  sampjes  with  his  label  are  pronounced 
pure  in  the  report.  Might  not  occasional  sam- 
ples be  adulterated,  and  Mr.  Muth  not  know  it? 
If  so,  we  S(>e  there  is  much  room  for  doubt. 
Possibly  the  chemists  have  made  mistakes, 
owing  to  inability  to  always  detect  the  spuri- 
ous or  genuine;  and  possibly  Mr.  Muth  has 
been  mistaken.  We  are  all  human — all  liable 
to  make  mistakes. 

Now,  Mr.  Editor,  to  the  point.  It  is  of  the 
utmost  importance  that  we  be  able  to  always 
decide  correctly  between  the  spurious  and  the 
genuine.  Prof.  Wiley  admits  that,  at  present, 
we  may  be  unable  to  do  so.  He  further  ex- 
presses not  only  willingness  but  eagerness  to 
aid  the  bee-keepers  in  every  way  possible.  We 
all  know  that  extracted  honey  is  adulterated  to 
an  enormous  degree.  It  is  for  the  best  good  of 
the  honey-producer  and  the  public  alike  that 
all  adulteration  be  surely  and  speedily  detect- 
ed, and  all  adulterators  severely  punished. 
That  Prof.  Wiley  desires  right  and  justice,  ap- 
pears from  the  following  in  his  article  in  the 


IS'.l'J 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


537 


il.  vui..  p.  tl:.'7 
iio  dt'siiv  wiuitt'ViT  to  lio  Mr.  ^Illlh  iiijiisliro. 
ami  I  mil  roaiiy  at  any  time  to  inako  aiiu'iKis  in 
i-asi'  I  liavt>  (louf  so."  In  ifoly  to  a  ooiiiMi'ous 
criticism  liy  the  tniitor  of  tiH<  Aititlyst,  I'l'of. 
Wiley  says:  '"  Von  allude  to  lliis  saim-  iffcreiicc 
as  umiijiiiitiod.  ami  perhaps  it  is  so:  bul  when 
I  saw  the  (iionnoiis  frauds  wliioh  were  practic- 
ed on  tlie  commnnitv  by  seljins  silncose  as  jiure 
honey,  and  esixn-ially  under  the  names  of  ucll- 
knowii  ajjiarists.  I  felt  that  some  flraslic  mea- 
sures were  necessary  to  correct  tlie  fault." 
Surely  bee-keepers  niay  well  say  amen  to  this. 
Prof.  WiU'V  adds  furtlier:  "J  may.  therefore, 
have  sometimes  indulged  in  language  not  alto- 
gether proper:  but  if  so.  1  am  ready  to  make 
any  necessary  apologies."  And  sliould  not  ev(»- 
ry  "bee-keeper  unite  with  him  in  the  following? 
*■  1  am  only  too  anxious  to  join  with  Mr.  Muth 
and  all  otiiers  who  are  dis])osed  to  put  an  end  to 
honey  adulteration.  All  the  bee-keepcM's  tliem- 
selves  ought  to  join  most  heartily  in  this  move- 
ment:  for  if  the  adulteiated  iioncy  could  be 
kept  out  of  the  market,  tlie  price  of  the  pure  ar- 
ticle would  be  verv  much  increa.^ed.  and  their 
business  become  all  the  more  profitable." 

Prof.  Wiley  has  practically  contirmed  this 
willingness  by  a  hearty  consent  to  analyze,  in 
conjunction  with  two  other  well-known  chem- 
ists, all  samples  which  I  will  send  him.  I  have 
already  sent  on  .33  samples  by  number,  whose 
history  and  quality  I  alone  know,  as  the  sam- 
ples are  marked  only  by  number.  The  results, 
I  believe,  will  bring  substantial  aid  to  bee-men. 

Now.  Mr.  Editor,  it  seems  to  me  that  all  in- 
nuendoes and  defamation  should  cease.  They 
will  do  no  good,  and,  if  unjust,  as  they  usually 
are.  will  do  much  harm.  Let  us  never  say  more 
of  the  •■  Wiley  lie."  which,  we  see.  was  no  lie — 
only  a  mistake:  or  of  the  "  scientific  pleasant- 
ry "  article,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  was  the  re- 
sult of  misundei>tanding.  and  was  itself  misun- 
derstood. Prof.  AViley  is  strong  in  himself:  is 
backed  by  the  strong  arm  of  the  government, 
and  is  ready  and  willing  to  give  to  bee-keepers 
all  possible  aid.  Let  us  show  our  appreciation 
of  this  offer  by  joining  hands  with  nim  in  de- 
tecting adulteration,  and  in  banding  together 
to  secure  legislation  to  drive  this  terrible  evil 
from  our  midst.  1  am  fully  persuaded,  that,  if 
we  rightly  understand  the  matter,  no  one,  who 
is  moved  by  right  feeling  and  righteous  im- 
pulses, will  in  any  way.  either  by  written  word 
or  by  word  of  mouth,  do  any  thing  to  keep 
alive  these  old  rancors  and  unkindnesses  which 
make  not  for  peace,  but  do  every  thing  we  can 
to  push  the  unsavory  past  into  oblivion,  and  to 
urge  the  spirit  of  help  and  co-operation,  that 
together  we  may  throttle  one  of  the  greatest 
evils  that  now  confront  our  industry  and  peo- 
ple. A.  J.  Cook. 

Agricultural  College,  Mich.,  July,  1892. 

[Prof.  Cook  deserves  a  vote  of  thanks  for  the 
very  kindly  way  in  which  he  has  succeeded  in 
adjusting  an  old  trouble  of  long  standing.  No 
matter  what  Prof.  Wiley's  past  utterances  re- 
specting honey  may  have  been,  or  whether 
some  of  tho.se  utterances  may  have  been  un- 
wise, we  are  more  than  willing  to  bury  the 
hatchet.  Prof.  Cook's  very  excellent  article 
above,  in  his  defense,  as  also  some  very  plea- 
sant letters  received  from  Prof.  Wiley  himself. 
shows  that  we  have  misunderstood  him,  and 
proves,  to  our  mind  at  least,  that  he  has  only 
the  best  interests  of  the  bi-e-keepers  at  heart. 
It  is  a  pity  that  some  of  us  did  not  correspond 
with  him  sooner:  but  his  long  silence  (too  long 
It  seems  to  us)  to  the  articles  in  the  various 
bee-journals  which  attacked  him  led  us  to 
believe  (erroneously,  as  we  now  know;,  that, 
inasmuch  as  he  was  a  high  official  of  the  gov- 


ernmment.  he  would  not  deign  to  notice  even  a 
private  letter,  and  henc<^  the  contiiiui;d  public 
attack.  There  will  be  no  more  of  it  in  Gf.k.vn- 
iNtis:  but.  on  tlu^  conti'ary,  we  hooe  to  pursue 
an  opposite  policy,  tor  Prof.  Wiley  is  both 
willing  and  al)l(!  to  do  bee-kiu^pers  great  ser- 
vice.) 


BEES  AND  HIVES   FOR  THE  FARMER. 


h.  I..  LANGSTKOTH   CONTI.NUES   THE   SUB.IKCT  IX- 
TRODUCED   IJV  C.  .J.  H.  (JRAVENHOKST,  P.  3(3L 


I  send  you  a  copy  of  an  article  of  mine  pub- 
lished in  the  Farmer's  Friend.  About  four 
years  before  the  date  of  the  article,  I  communi- 
cated the  same  ideas  to  the  Farmers'  Club,  of' 
Oxford.  ().,  and  a  report  of  the  same  appeared 
in  the  Cincinnati  Cuiuinercial.  I  have  never 
seen  any  notice  of  either  article. 

Since  the  very  interesting  article  of  our  good 
friend  Gravenhorst  (Gleanings,  May  1.5,  p.  3()l), 
with  a  cut  of  a  straw  hive  admirably  suited  to 
carry  out  my  views,  1  again  call  the  attention 
of  bee-keepers  to  them. 

Notice  particularly  Mr.  Gravenhorst's  re- 
mark, "The  top  has  no  hole  for  a  super,  as 
these  are  not  in  use.'"  For  the  class  of  bee- 
keepers I  had  reference  to,  the  very  first  at- 
tempt to  improve  the  old  box  or  gum  hive,  by 
giving  bees  access  to  supers,  was  a  step  back- 
ward; for  in  taking  away  the  surplus  honey, 
so  called,  stored  in  these  supers,  often  the  honey 
absolutely  needed  to  carry  the  bees  through  till 
the  next  harvest  was  taken  from  them,  and  the 
colony,  unless  fed.  perished. 

Dayton,  O.,  June  30.        L.  L.  Lang.stkotii. 

[The  following  is  the  article  referred  to:J 

WliUe  movable-frame  liives  liave  revolutionized 
bee-keeping-  in  tlie  hands  of  tliose  wlio  learn  how  to 
use  tliem,  I  believe  tlint,  to  the  mass  of  farmer.s  who 
liave  tried  tlieni,  they  have  been  an  injury  rather 
tlian  a  benefit.  In  tliose  parts  of  our  country  where 
they  liave  been  most  largely  introduced,  the  num- 
ber of  farmers  who  keej)  bees  lias  most  largely  de- 
creased. At  the  same  time,  the  important  services 
wiiicii  the  bees  perform  m;ike  it  very  desirable  tliat 
a  few  hives,  at  least,  should  be  kept  on  almost  every 
farm. 

1.  In  unpropitious  seasons  they  aid  materially  in 
causing  the  fruit-blossoms  to  set. 

2.  Tlie  Italian  bees  contribute  materially  to  the 
fertilization  of  tlie  seed  in  the  second  crop  of  red 
clover.  For  tliis  reason  alone  it  would  paj'  our 
farmers  wlio  iiave  not  sucli  bees  near  tliem  to  keep 
a  few  stocks  of  this  variety.  Now,  liow  can  we  in- 
duce tliem  to  doit?  Certainly  not  by  recomraeud- 
ing  the  use  of  movable-frame  hives.  Bee-keeping 
with  such  liives  is  a  science,  or  art,  and  most  of 
them  have  neither  the  time  nor  the  disposition  to 
learn  it. 

I  believe  tliat  most  farmers  would  liave  better 
success  with  their  bees  if  tliey  used  only  the  old 
straw  or  box  liives.  A  simjile  tool  in  the  hands  of 
one  who  knows  how  to  use  it  will  turn  out  much 
better  work  than  an  iiiijiioved  implement  wliose 
proper  use  has  never  been  learned. 

The  old  straw  hive  is  the  simple  tool.  Before  the 
advent  of  the  bee-moth,  with  such  liives  nearly 
every  farmer  kept  bees;  and  as  the  introduction 
of  the  Italian  bee  has  done  away  with  all  serious 
trouble  from  the  moth,  there  is  nothing  to  prevent 
them  from  doing  so  now.  With  these  old-fashioned 
hives,  the  women  and  the  childi'en  can  do  mo.st  of 
the  work,  and  bee-keeping,  like  poultry-raising,  will 
l)e  their  special  province  and  profit.  Aside  from 
learning  how  to  hive  the  new  swarms,  little  knowl- 
edge is  needed.  After  the  honey-gathei'iiig  is  over, 
all  the  hives  were  c-arefully  "hefted;"  the  extra 
light  ones  were  condemned  to  be  "taken  up,"  as 
not  having  stores  enough  to  winter;  the  extra 
lieavy  ones  also,  for  the  value  of  their  honey,  wliile 
a  sufficient  number  of  well-provisioned  stocks  were 
kept  for  seed.  It  were  easj' to  show  that,  to  allow 
the  liglit  stocks  to  die  of  starvation,  as  is  now  prac- 
ticed by  the  common  bee-keeper,  is  far  more  ci'uel 
tlian  to  kill  them  at  once;  but  tliere  will  be  no  neces- 


538 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jui-Y  15. 


sity  of  killing  any  bees.  Tlie  skilled  apiarian,  who, 
of  course,  uses  movable-frame  hives,  will  be  jrlad 
for  the  value  of  the  condemned  bees,  to  drive  them 
from  their  combs;  and  witli  his  honey-emptier  to 
give  the  farmer  the  honey  from  the  bees  in  its  pur- 
est form,  and  leave  him  the  empty  combs  to  be  ren- 
dered into  wax. 

1  believe  that,  if  the  mass  of  our  farmers  could 
be  persuaded  to  resume  bee-keeping  with  the  old- 
fashioned  straw  hive,  there  would  not  only  be  a 
large  increase  in  the  number  of  bees,  but  also  in  a 
short  time  a  larger  increase  in  the  number  of  mov- 
able-frame hives  than  can  be  brought  about  in  any 
other  way.  How  many  farmers  would  be  asked  by 
their  smart  boys  and  girls,  who  naturally  take  to 
bees:  "Father,  why  can't  we  get  some  movable- 
frame  hives,  and  do  as  well  with  them  as  neighbor 
A  does?"! 

It  is  from  this  class  that  new  recruits  will  be  con- 
stantly raised  up  to  swell  the  ranks  of  improved 
bee-keepers.  Let  our  dealers  in  bee-keepers'  sup- 
plies profit  by  these  hints,  and  I  think  that  they  will 
not  only  find  large  sales  for  straw  hives,  but  an  in- 
creased demand  for  their  best  improvements. 

Being  the  first  person  to  invent  and  introduce  a 
practical  movable  hive,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  give 
these  suggestions  to  the  public,  and  to  invite  frank 
comment  upon  them. 

Dayton,  ().,  January,  1888. 


THE  CONGREGATING  OF  DRONES  DENIED. 

HOW    TO   INSERT   QUEEN-CELLS. 


habit  of  congregating  at  a  distance  from  your 
apiary,  and  this  would  account  for  the  piare 
stocli  you  have.  Your  manner  of  inserting 
queen-cells  is  described  exactly  in  the  ABC, 
under  the  head  of  Queen -rearing— see  page  "242, 
last  edition.  The  same  plan  has  also  been  de- 
scribed in  several  of  the  former  editions.  It  is 
the  best  method,  when  used  in  connection  with 
a  queen -cell  protector.] 


I  have  noticed  recently  several  articles  in  re- 
gard to  the  daily  congregation  of  drones,  said 
articles  advancing  the  theory  that  queens  usu- 
ally repair  to  these  congregations  to  be  fertil- 
ized. While  I  undertake  to  differ  with  the  ex- 
perienced authors  of  these  articles  with  a  great 
deal  of  trepidation,  yet  I  am  so  firm  in  the  be- 
lief that  they  are  mistaken,  that  I  am  con- 
strained to  relate  my  experience  and  observa- 
tion in  the  matter. 

I  began  bee-keeping  as  one  of  your  ABC 
scholars  in  188.5,  at  which  time  I  Italianized  an 
apiary  of  about  20  hives.  Of  course,  as  all  the 
bees  around  me  were  blacks,  my  bees  were 
mostly  liybrids  after  requeening.  Since  that 
time  I  have  increased  my  apiary  a  little  each 
year,  raising  my  own  queens,  till  now  I  iiave 
60  hives,  over  half  of  which  are  pure  Italians, 
and  the  rest  high-grade  hybrids.  Now  there 
are.  within  a  mile  of  me,  twice  as  many  bees  as 
I  have,  and  they  are  all  blacks  except  four 
hives.  It  seems  to  me,  that,  if  queens  were 
gi-nerally  fertilized  in  the  congregations  refei'i'ed 
to.  my  bees  would  have  retrograded  badly— in- 
deed, have  gone  back  to  blacks,  nearly.  I  have 
made  no  effort  to  raise  the  strain,  except  to  se- 
lect eggs  from  purest  motiicrs  to  raise  queen- 
cells  from  to  put  into  new  aitilicial  swarms.  I 
hav<'  never  practiced  disiJacing  queens  because 
tliev  weic  low-grade  hybrids 

Speaking  of  queen-cells.  I  find  it  as  good  a 
way  as  any  (and  I  think  bi>tter)  to  give  a  nu- 
cleus a  quetMi-cell.  to  just  separate  two  center 
frames  a  little,  and  slip  a  ciueeii  cell  between 
tiiem.  clo>ing  the  frames  on  it  tight  enough  to 
liold  it  till  the  bet^s  can  stick  ir,  wliich  they  will 
do  at  once,  and  take  care  of  it  till  hatched. 
This  may  be  a  common  practice,  but  it  is  not 
mentioned  in  the  ABC,  nor  any  other  book  1 
(>ver  read. 

The  honey  crop  was  very  short  in  South  Mis- 
sissippi this  year,  owing  to  late  freezes. 

i^L  M.  Evans. 

Moss  Point,  Miss.,  .June  21,  18'.)2. 

[It  does  not  seem  to  us  that  your  experience 
disproves  yhv.  theory  (or.  perhaps,  we  had  better 
say  tlu'  f(ict)  of  drones  congregating.  If  any 
thing,  it  rather  confirms:  for  tlie  majority  of 
voiir  colonies  wcic  hybrids.  It  is  not  at  all  im- 
probable that  youi'  Italian  drones  were  in  the 


PALESTINE  AND  TUNISIAN  (OR  PTINICj  BEES, 
SAID  TO  BE  BAD  ROBBERS. 


We  extract  the  following,  with  footnote  by 
the  editors,  from  the  BriUsh  Bee  Journal,  June 
16.  We  have  not  had  a  chance  to  test  the  rob- 
bing tendency  in  our)  Funics,  or  Tunisians.  We 
shall  likely  give  them  a  chance  soon — perhaps 
sooner  than  we  like. 

□  This  is  a  very  busy  season  with  us  (making 
comb  foundation  still).  The  orange-trees  are 
filling  the  air  with  their  odor,  and  the  bees  are 
busy.  From  sunrise  to  sunset  all  is  movement, 
diligence,  and  bustle.  It  was  too  warm  in  Feb- 
ruary, and  the  bloom  was  out  ten  days  too  soon; 
this  generally  proves  a  great  loss,  for  the  bees 
are  not  all  quite  ready.  February  was  just  as 
warm  as  March,  the  thermometer  never  going 
below  14°  Celsius  (.57.20°  Fahr.)  before  sunrise, 
i.  c,  the  coldest  time  in  the  twenty-four  hours. 
At  noon  it  only  once  rose  to  22°  C.  iTl.GO"  F.). 
but  as  a  rule  remained  at  17°  or  18°  ((32.(30°  or 
64.40°  F.).  This  equal  temperature  was  not 
very  conducive  to  the  flow  of  nectar,  and  up  to 
the  16th  of  March  we  had  only  1  kilo.  .500 
grammes  brought  in,  and  on  the  16th  2  kilos. 

On  account  of  poor  health  and  other  reasons 
I  shall  leave  Palestine  in  May  and  settle  in  the 
south  of  France;  and  if  you  are  passing  Mar- 
seilles from  Algiers  or  Tunis  I  should  be  glad  to 
know  it  and  call  upon  you.  I  followed  your 
"  Punic  war "'  with  interest,  and  have  been  whol- 
ly on  youi'  side  of  the  question.  I  have  had 
Tunisian  bees  in  my  apiary,  and  found  them  a 
busy,  'prolific,  but  a  very  robbing  race.  Just  to 
mention  to  you  one  case,  1  had  one  hive  of 
Tunisians  in  188(5,  and  several  hundred  Pales- 
tines.  At  the  end  of  April  a  window  of  the  honey- 
house  was  left  open  by  accident  without  being 
covered  by  the  wire  gauze  In  this  room  there 
were  several  tanks  holding  500  i)ounds  of  honey 
each,  and  one  happened  not  to  be  covered  with 
the  muslin.  The  orang(vblossom  was  over,  and 
tlit^  robbers  made  a  start:  but  imagine  my  sur- 
prise when  1  found  dciid  TiinisiiDts  one  inch 
deep,  and  only  a  few  Palestiiies.  I  should  call 
them  90  per  cent  greatei'  robbers  than  Pales- 
tines;  at  any  rate,  the  dead  were  in  this  pro- 
portion. They  are  very  tenacious  robbers,  and 
very  difficult  to  send  away,  and  contrast  un- 
favorably with  our  Palestiiies.  who  will  leave 
off  rol)bing   aft<'r  an  hour  or  two,  even  in    the 

worst  CaSe>.  Pll.  .1.   li.^LDKNSI'KIUiER. 

Jaffa. 

We  can  thoroughly  indorse  all  our  correspon- 
dent says  about  Tunisian  bees  and  their  rob- 
bing propensities,  notwithstanding  what  has 
been  said  to  the  contrary  by  persons  interested 
in  their  sale.  .\s  none  of  these  bees  are  now 
being  importwl  into  this  country,  and  as  it  is 
more  than  twelve  months  since  any  have  been 
sent  over,  it  is  fortunate  that  the  few  queens 
that  came  over  before  that  time  are  not  likely 
to  have  much  contaminated  our  own  races.  We 
very  much  doubt  whether  there  is  any  bee- 
keeper in  this  country  who  has  a  pure  Tunisian 
queen;  and  if  there  happens  to  be  such  a  queen 


IS'.)-: 


CLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


539 


sill'  must  he  prcHy  :\k<h1.  Wo  shall  havo  a  good 
doul  nioiv  to  say  aliDUt  Tunisian  bocs  now  that 
wo  havo  ivturniHi  front  Tunis,  bnt  must  icsiM'vc 
this  for  a  special  anioli'.  We  hanliy  need  tell 
our  corrfsiiondoiit.  thai,  alilmiiyrh  we  niado  tlio 
most  i-aroful  iiivt-siijiations,  wo  failod  to  lind 
anv  (tf  the  soi-ailod  I'unio  bees. — Eus.  B.  li.  J. 


THE  SECRETION  OF  WAX  BY  BEES. 


DK     t.AVi:NS      (  (INCI.rSION     NOT    COIJUOHOHATEI) 
AT   rilK  KAXSIXO  AIMCl'I.Tl  HAI,  KXl*.  STATION. 

Tliorocont  articloof  Dr.  Millorin  (Jlkanings, 
rocounting  tho  oxperimonls  of  DoLayens,  of 
I'-raiu'i'.  upon  tho  subject  of  wax  socrotion, 
brings  before  ii<  once  more  this  oft-debated 
question.  1  lind  it  impossible  to  reconcile  the 
results  t)f  that  e\|)erimonl  with  the  recorded 
experiences  of  other  apiarists.  It  seems  that 
tile  nine  colonies  that  l)uilt  their  own  combs 
ipai'tially  at  least)  gathered  aisoasniuch  honey 
as  the  nine  that  were  provided  with  combs.  If 
the  bees  socr(>to  wax  whenever  gathering  honey, 
whether  combs  are  noedi  d  or  not.  then  this  re- 
sult w  as  to  be  expi  cted.  Hardly  any  one  be- 
liov(^s  this  now,  so  that  wo  ar(>  forced,  if  we 
acknowledge  the  exactness  of  the  experiment, 
to  one  of  two  conclusions — either  that  wax  is 
secreted  at  times  with  almost  no  loss  to  the 
bees,  or  that  the  building  of  comb  sometimes 
leads  the  bees  to  greater  exertion-.  This  latter 
seems  to  be  the  conclusion  arrived  at  by  the 
experimenter. 

Now,  our  experiment  last  summer  to  deter- 
mine the  amount  of  honey  consumed  in  secret- 
ing a  pound  of  wax,  was  not  very  conclusive. 
There  were  some  elements  of  uncertainty,  and 
the  experiment  will  be  repeated  this  summer. 

Colony  No.  1  was  given  a  virgin  queen  and  no 
combs. 

Colony  No.  :.'  was  given  a  virgin  queen  and 
combs. 

Colony  No.  3  was  given  a  laying  queen  and 
com  bs. 

Colony  No.  3  was  used  merely  for  a  compari- 
son of  work  done.  The  bees  were  fed  21  lbs.  of 
honey  in  10  days,  and  the  wax  secretion  by  No. 
1  amounted  to  ll'^  oz.  During  the  experiment 
No.  •-*  gained  in  weights  lbs.  more  than  No.  1, 
so  that  this  8  lbs.  should  represent  the  11>4  oz. 
of  wax  secreted.  It  was  intended  to  conduct 
the  experiment  immediately  after  the  close  of 
the  basswood  harvest:  but  some  honey  was 
gathered  by  tiie  bees  at  this  time. 

No.  •.'  was  a  heavier  colony  than  No.  1.  and 
gathered  and  consumed  more  honey:  but  it  was 
scarcely  possible  to  estimate  this  variation  with 
any  assurance  of  correctness.  This  season  this 
experiment  will  be  repeated  with  all  these  ele- 
ments of  uncertainty  eliminated  so  far  as  pos- 
sible. 

Mr.  Samuel  Simrains  says  that,  in  testing 
this  matter  of  wax  secretion,  the  bees  must 
have  access  to  both  water  and  pollen,  and  that 
no  bro<xl  should  l)e  produced.  The  bees  should 
not  he  contined  to  tlie  hive,  and  should  gather 
no  other  food  than  that  supplied.  I  am  assured 
that  he  is  right;  and  that  the  above  method, 
followed  out  with  care  at  the  proper  time,  will 
give  nearly  true  results.  Pollen,  of  course,  en- 
ters into  thi!  food  of  bees  secreting  wax.  so  that 
the  abundance  or  scarcity  of  this  will  cause 
different  results  to  be  obtained  at  different 
times. 

DeLayens  is  imdoubtedly  right,  that  the 
practical  question  with  this  problem  of  wax 
secretion  is  that  of  money  income  to  be  derived: 
but  if  we  can  know  how  much  honey  is  con- 
sumed on  an  average  by  the  bees  in  the  secre- 


tion  of  wax,  wo   then    have  a  fact  as  a  basis  of 
future  work  in  this  diri'ction. 

Thus  far  this  season  no  honey  to  speak  of 
has  been  gathered  i)y  the  t)ees.  and  it  now  looks 
as  if  wo  should  i)e  compelled  to  feed  if  any  ex- 
periments of  this  kind,  depending  upon  the 
iioney-llow,  are  to  be  consummated. 

I  hope  that  Mr.  E.  h'rance  is  repeating  the 
experiment  of  which  he  wrote  in  (Jij^ani.nus 
last  fall,  with  the  modilii-ations  that  oxiiorionce 
taught  him  should  hr  made.  That  bees  mix 
from  hive  to  hive  when  in  rows,  w(^  all  know; 
but  the  extent  of  this  mixing  when  then!  are  no 
landmarks  to  guide  the  bees  is  not  generally 
realized.  When  Mr.  V.  places  his  experimental 
colony  by  itself  ho  can  be  quite  sure  of  his  re- 
sults. I  imagin(>,  however,  that  his  results  of 
last  summer  wore  about  correct.  I  have  ob- 
served that,  when  bees  are  placed  under  abnor- 
mal conditions,  they  live  longer,  or  their  func- 
tions are  more  active,  and  in  various  ways  the 
common  rules  of  th(Mr  whole  lives  seem"  to  be 
changed  in  the  attempt  to  bridge  the  chasm 
that  endangers  the  life  of  the  colony.  This 
shows  us  how  strangely  the  mind  of  the  bee 
conirols  its  body.  We.  of  course,  have  often 
observed  this  in  the  human  family,  and  yet  I 
think  that  the  bee  is  not  less  govtM'ned  by  its 
feelings  and  desires  than  many  of  us. 

Dr.  Miller  has  agreed  to  leave  to  me  the 
question  of  how  queens  go  through  perforated 
zinc.  I  think  ho  has  left  it  in  rather  poor  hands, 
for  I  know  almost  nothing  about  it.  Whether 
the  thorax  of  a  queen  increases  in  size  after 
mating  is  a  rather  delicate  question.  I  found 
it  impossible  to  measure  it  accurately  by  any 
mechanical  means,  and  resorted  to  the  practical 
test  of  the  zinc  itself.  I  placed  two  strips  of 
zinc  so  that  the  opening  between  them  could  be 
delicately  adjusted  at  the  opening  of  a  cage. 
With  this  I  found  that  a  young  queen  would 
make  the  most  frantic  exertions  to  escape,  and 
would  pass  through  as  soon  as  the  opening 
became  large  enough  to  admit  her  thorax.  The 
same  queen  when  laying  would  not  go 
through  exactly  the  same  opening.  She  would 
not,  however,  try  as  hard  as  when  a  vir- 
gin, and  was  not  as  anxious  to  get  out.  My 
belief  is,  from  these  tests  and  from  other  ob- 
servations, that  the  thorax  of  a  queen  is  no 
larger  after  mating.  The  difference  seems  to 
be  caused  mostly  by  the  activity  of  the  young 
queens.  I  think  that  Ernest  is  a  little  mistaken 
in  his  assertion  that  the  abdomen  of  a  queen 
ever  prevents  Iter  passage  through  zinc.  Any 
one  who  has  handled  queens  knows  that  the 
abdomen  is  not  as  hard  as  the  thorax,  and 
would  be  readily  compressed  to  allow  the 
queen  to  pass.  Also,  if  this  idea  were  true, 
would  not  queens  sometimes  be  hung  in  the 
zinc  with  wings,  legs,  and  thorax  on  one  side, 
and  abdomen  on  the  other? 

If  bees  are  reared  in  contracti'd  cells,  or  are 
supplied  with  too  little  food  or  heat,  they  are 
sometimes  small  at  birth.  However,  they  usu- 
ally s(jon  attain  their  normal  size.  It  is  also 
often  true  of  queens.  But  this  developmcMit 
after  birth  is  not  at  all  dependent  upon  their 
mating,  and  generally  takes  place  soon  after 
birth.  Hut  can  we  ever  hope  to  get  our  zinc  to 
such  perfection  that  no  virgin  will  ever  pass? 
I  think  not:  for,  as  long  as  small  queens  are 
reared,  so  long  shall  we  be  troubled  occasional- 
ly in  this  way.  Sometimes  a  poor  ()ueon  will 
be  reared  in  any  apiary.  It  is  impossible  to 
avoid  this. 

Since,  Prof.  Cook  has  ,so  earnestly  interested 
him.self,  and  obtained  the  co-operation  of  the 
State  Board  of  Agriculture,  Prof.  H.  W.  Wiley, 
and  others,  in  testing  the  validity  of  the  pres- 
ent methods  of  honey  analysis,  I  think  it  is  the 
duty  of  all  to  furnish  him  with  samples  of  hon- 


540 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  15. 


ey  desired.  I  am  much  interested,  and  I  am 
sure  we  shall  experience  a  general  awakening 
upon  the  subject  of  adulteration. 

I  have  read  carefully  this  last  report  of  Dr. 
Wiley,  and  I  must  say  I  can  find  little  to  crit- 
icise in  the  intentions  apparent.  I  believe  that 
honey  is  mixed  and  sold  in  that  state,  in  our 
cities  much  more  generally  than  most  of  us 
imagine  it  to  be.  We  all  know,  too,  that  this 
adulteration  is  done  by  wholesale  packing- 
houses in  the  cities.  Those  who  read  Byron 
Walker's  article  on  page  lfi3  of  March  1st 
Gleanings  must  realize  that  he  tells  the  truth; 
and  if  so.  we  may  well  be  on  the  war-path 
rather  than  holding  back  and  crying  "  a  liel" 
The  latter  will  accomplish  nothing,  while  a 
course  of  active  interest  in  securing  good  laws, 
and  then  of  aggressive  warfare  in  enforcing 
them,  will  help  the  market  for  our  product, 
and  our  good  name  as  honest  producers. 

If  the  Bee-keepers' Union  would  nail  to  its 
masthead  the  legend,  "'  Death  to  adulteration," 
it  should  secure  immediately  a  number  of  thou- 
sand names.  Such  a  cause  of  universal  interest 
would  be  worthy  of  this  noble  organization. 
J.  H.  Larkabee. 

Ag"l  College,  Mich.,  June  2S. 

[We  may  be  mistaken  in  regard  to  the  perfo- 
rated-zinc matter;  but  we  feel,  from  some  obser- 
vations that  we  have  made,  that  the  abdomen 
does  Itelp  to  prevent  the  queen  from  going 
through.  We  propose  to  measure  at  the  earliest 
opportunity  the  thorax  of  queens,  laying  and 
virgin.] 


ALLEY'S  LATEST  SELF-HIVEE. 


HE   THINKS  HE   HAS   ATTAINED   PERFECTION  AT 
LAST. 


After  •'  fooling  around"  some  little  time.  I've 
finally  hit  upon  a  perfect  practical  self-swarni- 
hiver.  The  cut  above  fully  illustrates  it.  As 
stated  in  the  June^-lpf.,  it  is  an  arrangement  of 
the  drone-and-queen  trap.  The  traj).  Fig.  2.  is 
made  nearly  twice  as  wide — that  is,  nearly  twice 
as  large  —  from  end  to  end  as  those  usually  sold 
for  drone-and-queen  catchers.  It  is  also  pro- 
vided with  four  tubes;  and  the  luckless  drone 
or  queen  that  sallies  forth  to  leave  the  hive  is 
sure  to  be  trapped.  The  trap  has  a  metal  front 
and  back.  This  provides  the  needed  ventila- 
tion to  the  largest  colony  of  bees.  Then,  again, 
the  entrance  is  so  much  wider  than  the  one  in 
the  old  trap  that  the  bees  have  no  more  trouble 
in  coming  out  and  going  in  than  they  do  in 
hives  where  no  trap  is  used.  In  fact,  this  self- 
hiver  is  a  superior  drone-catcher,  as  no  drone 
returns  to  the  hive  after  once  leaving  the  brood- 
chamber;  nor  are  they  fussing  at  the  entrance 
a  long  time  trying  to  escape,  as  in  the  old  trap 
when  there  are  many  drones  in  a  hive.  Hardly 
does  the  drone  go  to  the  entrance  when  he  dis- 
covers one  of  the  four  tubes,  and,  before  he 
knows  it,  he  is  in  the  trap.  It  is  the  same  with 
the  queen.  As  surely  as  she  leaves  the  hive 
with  a  swarm  she  is  trapped. 

Vig.  1  illustrates  the  swarmer  complete,  ready 
to  catch  a  swarm.  The  box  A  is  18  in.  long,  lOi 
in.  wide,  and  10  in.  deep.  This  is  large  enough 
to  give  the  largest  swarm  all  the  room  it  needs 
to  cluster  in,  for  a  while  at  least.  A  larger  one 
can  be  used. 

Fig.  2  shows  the  trap,  or  queen-and-drone 
catcher.  It  is  not  attached  permanently  to  the 
box.  Half  of  the  front  of  box  A  is  cut  oft',  and 
the  trap  is  pushed  in  to  fill  the  space,  and  so 
that  the  front  of  the  latter  is  flush  with  the 
front  (or  face)  of  the  box.  It  will  be  seen  that 
the  bottom  of  the  metal,  whei-e  the  bees  pass 


through,  is  depressed,  so  the  bees  enter  the  hive 
easily,  and  with  as  little  delay  as  possible. 

The  trap  is  provided  with  a  small  swinging 
door,  B,  at  one  end,  so  that  the  queen  can  be 
taken  or  shaken  out,  also  for  removing  dead 
drones,  etc.  The  trap  can  be  used  on  any  hive 
for  catching  drones  when  not  used  as  a  self- 
hiver.  The  box  has  two  covers.  One  is  con- 
structed of  w're  screen  nailed  to  a  light  frame, 
which  is  used  so  that  the  inside  of  the  box  can  be 
seen  without  letting  the  bees  out.  The  other,  a 
common  board  cover,  is  to  keep  out  sun  and 
wet,  and  is  placed  directly  on  the  screen  cover. 
One  comb  is  placed  in  the  box  just  far  enough 
from  the  trap  for  a  bee-space  between. 


FIG.  1.— ALLEY 


SWARMER. 


When  a  swarm  issues,  the  queen  enters  the 
trap.  The  bees,  after  circulating  about  in  the 
air  for  a  while,  return,  or  they  may  settle  on 
some  tree  and  hang  there  for  a  while,  and  then 
return  to  the  hive.  As  soon  as  they  reach  the 
entrance  they  discover  their  queen  (the  very 
object  they  returned  for),  and  the  bees  at  once 
cluster  in  the  box  on  the  comb.  I  want  it  un- 
derstood, that,  when  I  say  the  bees,  I  mean  nil 
that  issued  with  the  swarm.  Not  even  one  bee 
will  return  to  the  brood-combs.  This  arrange- 
ment is  a  self-hiver  in  every  sense  of  the  word, 
as  it  catches  the  entire  swiu-m. 


FIG.  2. — ALLEYS   LATEST  TR.VP. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  bees  have  but  one 
piece  of  metal  to  pass  thi-ough  on  their  way  out 
of  and  into  the  hive,  and  that  is  at  the  regular 
entrance;  thus  their  passage  out  of  and  into  the 
hive  is  not  seriously  obstructed.  When  a  swarm 
has  been  hived  automatically  in  one  of  the  Per- 
fection swarmers,  it  is  easily  and  quickly  trans- 
ferred to  the  hive  they  are  to  occupy.  As  soon 
as  the  bees  are  all  in  the  hiver.  place  the  new' 
hive  upon  the  ground  (or  on  a  blanket);  smoke 
these  in  the  box  and  turn  them  down  in  front  of 
the  new  hive,  when  they  commence  to  I'un  in; 
take  the  trap  from  the  box,  open  the  door,  and 
shake  the  queen  and  bees  out  among  those  at 
the  entrance  of  the  hive.  Now,  isn't  this  an 
easy  and  interesting  operation  as  well  as  a  labor 
and  bee  saving  method?  Just  think  how  hap- 
py a  fellow  can  be  when  he  leaves  home  in  the 
morning,  to  know  that,  on  his  return,  he  will 
find  his  bees  already  in  a  box  to  be  hived  if  they 
have  swarmed  during  his  absencel  All  he  has 
to  do  on  returning  home  is  to  raise  the  board 
cover  of  the  swarm-box.  If  the  box  is  full  of 
bees,  a  swarm  has  issued.  This  is  the  only  at- 
tention the  bees  need.  His  wife  or  attendant 
won't  have  a  chance  to  say,  when  the  bee-keep- 
er returns  home,  ""The  bees  have  swarmed  and 
decamped."  No.  sir;  no  bees  can  decamp,  nor 
will  a  swarm  be  found  hanging  fifty  feet  in  the 
air  on  the  limb  of  some  neighbor's  tree,  in  some 
chimney,  or  in  the  coving  of  some  neighbor's 
house. 

Th(>  other  morning  a  swarm  came  off  just  as 
I  was  going  to  the  postoftice.  They  settled  on 
the  limb  of  a  tree  near  by.  When  I  returned, 
twenty  minutes  later,  the  bees  had  gone  back 


1S92 


(i\ 


.N({S  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


541 


lo  their  old  location,  solf-hiV(>d,  a  i  so  (Hiicl  no 
Olio  would  liavo  siispcctod  that  colony  as  the 
one  that  had  jnst  cast  a  swarm.  Dosiriiig  to 
tt'St  the  sidf-liivcr  again,  the  boos  wore  returned 
to  the  hive  from  which  they  issui'd.  I  was 
a>\ay  the  next  foi'enoon  at  an  out-apiary,  look- 
ing fonpuvns  to  shij).  On  my  nMurn,  my  wife 
said  a  swarm  of  bees  had  been  out.  and  settled 
on  a  tree.  She  had  wtH  ihem  down  to  hold 
theni  till  I  returned;  but  wh(Mi  she  hxtked  after 
tliem  later  they  had  left,  and  she  had  no  idea 
where  they  had  gone.  I  said  that  I  could  lind 
them.  1  went  to  the  hive  having  the  Perfec- 
tioi.  swarm<'r  on,  and.  sure  enough,  the  b(>es 
were  there  all  safe.  The  self-hiver  has  been 
thoroughly  tested  in  my  own  apiary  within  two 
weeks,  and  I  feel  warianted.  with  the  experi- 
ence that  I  have  had  with  it,  in  guaranteeing 
that  it  Hill  self-hive  nearly  eviM'y  swarm  that 
issues. 

There  may  be  queens  in  a  second  swarnt  that 
can  pass  through  the  metal:  yet,  with  an  e.xpe- 
rience  of  nearly  ten  years  with  the  drone-and- 
queen  trap.  1  have  never  known  either  a  virgin 
or  fertilized  queen  to  pass  it. 

The  last  Hve  years  I  have  used  Root's  metal; 
and  while  it  is  not  as  smoothly  made  as  some 
other  brands.no  queen  has  passed  it  with  me; 
and  as  the  i)rice  of  this  metal  is  so  reasonable, 
and  so  much  less  than  otlu^-  brands,  I  use  and 
sell  it.  and  also  advise  others  lo  purchase  it  for 
queen-excludeis.  H.  Alley. 

Wcnham.  Mass..  June.  IS'.i'.'. 

—Aii}crican  ApiculUirist. 


IMPORTANT. 


SOMETHING    FHOM    DK.    .MASON   I.V   REGARD   TO 
THE   world's   fair. 


Friend  i?ooi;— Will  you  please,  in  the  next 
issue  of  Gleanings,  urge  upon  "  the  powers 
that  be."  of  all  the  State  Bee-keepers'  Associa- 
tions in  the  United  States,  the  necessity  of  call- 
ing the  attention  of  the  several  State  Commis- 
sions to  the  needs  of  our  specialty  at  Chicago  in 
18ii3?  It  seems  to  me  that  nothing  definite  can 
be  accomplished  in  the  way  of  making  State 
exhibits  and  applying  for  space  until  it  is  defi- 
nitely known  who  will  "foot  the  bills,"  and 
how  much  that  "  footing  "  amounts  to  in  each 
State. 

Mr.  Buchanan,  Chief  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture,  is  doing  all  he  can  in  tlie  matter, 
and  will  sooti  send  out  some  rules  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  apiarian  department.  In  a  re- 
cent lettei"  he  asked  me  how  much  space  Ohio 
bee-keepers  would  want.  Of  course.  I  could 
not  tell  iiim,  and  could  not  tell  him  who  could. 
I  don't  know  tliat  Ohio  wants  iitiy  space.  Near- 
ly a  year  ago  the  matter  was  presented  to  our 
State  Commission,  when  in  session  at  Cleveland, 
bv  Ernest  R.  Root,  Mr.  J.  T.  Calvert.  Mr.  J.  B. 
Hains.  Miss  Dema  Bennett,  and  "your  humble 
servant;"  and  as  yet  nothing  has  been  said  as 
to  what  the  commission  intends  to  do;  at  least, 
I  have  heard  of  nothing  having  been  done. 
The  commissi(m  was  asked  to  put  the  preparing 
and  makintrof  the  apiarian  exhibit  of  Ohio  in 
the  hands  of  the  Stat^^-  Hee-keepers'  Association, 
the  commission  giving  till!  nee<led  instructions. 
The  commission  did  not  meet  again  till  last 
January;  and  as  our  .State  Bee-k(!epers' Asso 
elation  had  met  and  appninti'd  a  new  committee 
to  meet  with  the  commissioners  of  th<^  World's 
Fair,  it  is  possible  that  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments have  been  made  with,  and  instructions 
received  from,  the  commissioners. 

Thecommitlen  appointed  at  tiie  meeting  at 
Toledo  was  Charles  F.  Muth.  J.  1'..  Ilains.  and 
myself:  and  if  I  read  the  proceedings  of  the 
meeting  at  Cincinnati  in  January  last  aright. 


that  cominittee  has  been  superseded  by  a  new 
one  composed  of  J.  B.  Hains,  E.  R.  Root,  John 
T.  Calvert,  and  O.  A.  Corey;  and  I  have  Ix'en 
anxiously  waiting  to  know  what  the  committee 
has  done,  and  learn  what,  if  any  thing,  I  am  lo 
furnish  to  help  make  up  the  exhitiit  at  Chicago. 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  N.  A.  B.  I\. 
A.  at  Albany  have  done  what  they  could  by 
way  of  urging  upon  the  Columbian  Exposition 
managers  the  ai)i)()intment  of  a  superintendent 
forour  de|)arliiient.  and  the  prepaiation  of  ruh^s 
for  the  government  of  the  exliibit.  so  that,  liee- 
keepers  might  know  what  lo  do  tiie  coining 
season. 

At  the  r(>quest  of  Mr.  Buchanan,  ('hief  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture.  I  went  to  Chicago 
a  few  weeks  ago,  and  Mr.  Thos.  G  Newman 
and  myself  spent  the  <iay  with  him  in  visiting 
the  exposition  grounds  and  the  building  where 
the  apiarian  exhibit  is  lo  be  made,  and  in  talk- 
ing over  matters,  and  laying  plans  for  the  ex- 
hibit. It  is  in  as  nice  a  place  as  could  possibly 
be  furnished  us,  being  about  40  feel  wide  and 
500  feet  long.  It  is  proposed  to  have  two  glass 
cases,  live  feet  wide,  six  feet  high,  and  ea(  '.  500 
feet  long,  in  which  the  honey  is  to  be  displayed. 

I  don't  just  like  the  "glass  case  arrangcMiient. 
It  seems  to  me  a  belter  plan  would  be  to  have  a 
separate  case  made  for  each  State,  to  be  small 
or  large,  as  may  be  needed. 

I  see  by  the  American  Bee  Journal  that  the 
Wisconsin  bee-keepers  have  secured  an  appro- 
priation of  ?!5{X)  from  their  vStalc  Commissioners, 
with  which  lo  make  their  exhibit.  I  don't  know 
how  economical  our  Wisconsin  bee-keepers  are, 
or  how  much  of  a  disjilay  they  Intend  lo  make; 
but  I  don't  think  I  should  have  much  energy  lo 
put  into  a  State  exhibit  unless  I  could  have  three 
or  five  limes  that  amount  to  draw  on.  If  Wis- 
consin should  use  but  35  feet  in  length  of  the 
glass  ca.ses  for  the  exhibit,  the  case  alone  w-ould 
cost  S140,  and  the  honey,  etc.,  with  which  lo 
make  the  exhibit  would  cost  not  less  than  .?400; 
and  where  will  be  the  "needful  "  for  other  ex- 
penses? No  one  will  be  found  willing  to  put 
things  in  shape,  get  them  lo  Chicago,  and  in 
place,  and  care  for  ihein  "just  for  the  fun.'" 

Since  writing  the  above  I've  again  been  to 
Chicago,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Buchanan,  to 
talk  over  "  ways  and  means,"  etc.;  and  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  Thos.  G.  Newman,  of  the  Amer- 
ican Bee  Jour)ial,  wii  soon  came  lo  an  agree- 
ment. Mr.  Buchanan  and  myself  had  had 
quite  a  good  deal  of  correspondence,  but  could 
not  agree.  After  a  few  minutes'  talk  we  found 
that  we  had  misunderstood  :'ach  other,  and  it 
took  but  a  few  minutes  to  come  to  an  agree- 
ment, the  plan  being  what  I  suggested  nearly  a 
year  and  a  half  ago. 

June  '42. — The  above  has  been  lying  on  my 
table  for  six  weeks,  and  I  had  long  ago  given 
up  sending  it  to  you;  but  on  looking  it  over  this 
evening  I  thought  ])erhaps  there  might  be 
something  in  it  of  interest  to  some  who  may 
wish  lo  exhibit. 

Since  the  meeting  of  our  Stale  convention  at 
Cincinnati  I  have  felt,  from  the  rt^port  I  saw  in 
the  American  Bee  Journdl,  that  I  had  no  more 
to  do  in  the  mailer  than  any  other  bee-keeper, 
and  that  those  having  the  matter  in  charge 
should  look  after  the  exhibit;  but  as  one  inter- 
ested I  should  like  to  know  if  any  thing  is  being 
done  lo  have  Ohio  l)e(»-keepers  make  an  exhibit. 

White  clover  is  in  full  bloom;  colonies  strong; 
feeding  to  keep  from  starving.  A  large  number 
of  full  combs  of  last  year's  honey  dew  come  in 
play  for  feeding.  Neighboring  bee-keepers 
report  the  same  lack  of  honey.    A.  B.  Mason. 

Auburndale,  O. 

[We  confess  we  don't  either,  doctor.  We 
didn't  attend  the  Cincinnati  convention.  Who 
will  enlighten  us?] 


o42 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  15. 


"BEE-KINGS"  IN   CALIFORNIA. 


EXAGGERATED  STATEMENTS    REGARDING  CAL- 
IFORNIA    HONEY    crops;     THE     FOLLY     OF 
THOSE   GREAT  HUNDRED-TON   HONEY- 
TANKS  AND   MAMMOTH  REVERSI- 
BLE  HONEY -EXTRACTORS. 

We  bee-keepers  of  Southern  California  have 
another  bad  season  to  report,  owing  to  the  very 
slight  rainfall  the  past  winter  and  spring. 
The  loss  of  bees,  from  honey  being  extracted 
too  closely  last  season,  and  neglected  afterward, 
has  been  very  great.  I  think  a  third  of  all  the 
bees  in  this  district  have  died,  principally  from 
starvation.  One  apiarist  who  last  season  had 
1200  hives  with  bees  in  them  has  now  some  300 
with  bees  and  iK)0  filled  with  moth-eaten  combs 
and — experience.  Another  who  had  400,  has 
now  80.  His  loss  was  caused  from  being  too 
good  to  his  bees — left  them  full  of  honey,  and 
the  combs  melted  down  on  one  of  our  pleasant 
summer  days,  when  the  mercury  I'egistered  120° 
F.  in  the  shade.  Still  another,  the  proud  pos- 
sessor of  25  stocks,  has  now  only  his  experience 
and  the  empty  hives.  Two  more,  with  some  50 
each  a  year  ago,  have  less  than  20.  Four-fifths 
of  all  this  loss  has  been  caused  by  neglect.  I 
mention  none  ot  the  "  bee-masters'  "  names,  as 
somehow  they  are  not  at  all  proud  of  the  record 
they  have  made. 

Most  of  the  California  bee-keepers  aspire  to 
be  "  bee-kings,"  but  which  they  will  not  be  un- 
til more  attention  is  given  to  the  management 
and  care  of  the  bees,  and  less  to  the  acquisition 
of  monstrous  honey-tanks  and  jumbo  extractors. 
There  are  many  apiaries  here  where  the 
honey-tanks  have  a  capacity  of  from  twenty  to 
forty  tons — more  than  the  apiary  can  fill  in 
three  seasons  on  an  average.  These  jumbo  ex- 
tractors, which  most  of  the  bee-men  think  a 
necessity,  a  little  reasoning  will  show  to  be  a 
useless  expense.  I  have  alone  taken  in  one  day, 
with  T.  G.  Newman's  Excelsior  non-reversible 
extractor,  100(3  lbs.  of  honey.  Four  persons  can 
take  3000  lbs.  A  good  season  here  lasts  eight 
weeks.  Working  six  days  a  week,  and  taking 
out  3000  lbs.  a  day,  we  have  H4,(X)0  lbs.  of  honey. 
Is  there  any  bee-keeper  in  the  world  who  ever 
took  that  much  honey  from  one  apiary?  The 
largest  amount  I  have  ever  known  taken  from 
one  apiary  in  one  season  was  80.000  lbs.  That 
was  in  1884.  when  the  honey-flow  continued  for 
four  months.  In  that  time  that  amount  could 
be  taken  on  the  small  machine.  But  it  is  use- 
less to  go  on:  for  anybody  can  see  that  $50  ma- 
chines are  money  out  of  pocket,  not  to  speak  of 
thirty-basket 

STEAM-POWER    AFFAIRS, 

such  as  one  of  the  fraternity  in  Cuba  uses. 
The  climate  of  Cuba  must  be  very  enervating. 
In  none  of  the  reports  from  brother  Osborn 
which  I  have  seen  does  he  claim  a  crop  of  80,000 
lbs.  His  season  lasts,  according  to  his  state- 
ments, four  months.  Why!  fie  upon  you  I  lean 
take  single  handed,  with  the  meanest  little 
machine  ever  constructed,  that  amount  of  hon- 
ey in  that  length  of  time.  If  this  last  statement 
of  mine  smacks  of  braggadocio,  remember  that 
the  habit  of  lying  is  said  to  be  superinduced  by 
our  glorious  California  climate. 

Reversible  extractors  are  a  good  thing,  as  I  he 
combs  do  not  break  down  so  badly  as  in  the 
non -reversible  ones.  When  my  extractor  is 
worn  out,  I  shall  get  a 

COWAN   EXTRACTOR. 

I  believe  that  the  biggest  crop  in  the  biggest 
season  that  ever  has  been  or  will  be  taken  fi'om 
one  apiary,  can  be  handled  easily  with  a  810 
Cowan. 

In  Gle.\nl\gs  I  have  sometimes  seen  a  state- 


ment by  the  editor,  which  reads  something  like 
this.  "  In  California,  where  crops  of  from  fifty 
to  one  hundred  tons  are  taken  in  a  single  sea- 
son," etc.  Mr.  Root,  will  you  please  name  an 
individual  who  ever  made  a  crop  of  one  hun- 
dred tons  of  honey?  Have  you  not  been  im- 
posed upon  by  the  formidable  array  of  tanks? 
Seeing  the  tanks,  you  naturally  thought  they 
were  sometimes  filled.  I  have  lived  in  and 
kept  bees  in  Ventura  and  Los  Angeles  Counties 
now  for  nine  years:  and  the  biggtst  crop  I  ever 
heard  of  was  that  of  Mr.  Easley,  who,  in  1884. 
from  two  (and  I  am  not  sure  but  that  there 
were  three)  apiaries  took 

EIGHTY-SEVEN   TONS   OF   HONEY. 

Two  years  later,  from  the  same  apiaries, 
Mr.  W.  T.  Richardson,  then  and  now  the  pro- 
prietor, canned  up  some  sixty  tons.  Your 
fiiend  Mr.  WMlkin  scattered  bees  all  over  Ven- 
tura County  in  1884,  and  satisfied  his  ambition 
with  a  crop  of  fifty  tons.  Mr.  Moftitt  is  reported 
to  have  made  two  crops  of  fifty  tons.  Mr. 
Mitchell,  of  Soledad  Canyon.  Los  Angeles  Co., 
has  had  the  jilcasui-e  (if  some  forty  tons  of  hon- 
ey as  the  pioduct  from  his  bees  for  a  single  sea- 
son, and  a  few  more  I  can  name  who  have  made 
from  twenty  to  thirty  tons.  But  a  large  ma- 
jority of  the  would-be  "bee-kings,''  among 
whom  is  your  humble  servant,  have  never  top- 
ped ten  tons. 

The  largest  yield  to  the  spring  stock  of  which 
I  know  any  thing  definite  is  that  of  Mr.  Wm. 
Whittaker,  Piru  Canyon.  Ventura  Co.  In  1884, 
from  some  1.50  hives,  he  made  over  thirty  tons. 
Four  hundred  and  nineteen  pounds  per  colony 
is,  I  believe,  the  exact  average.  Mr.  Nathan 
Shaw,  also  of  Ventura  Co.,  somewhere  back  in 
the  seventies,  averaged  more,  I  believe,  than 
Mr.  Whittaker,  but  I  have  not  the  exact  figures. 

THE  DISPOSITION  OF  THOSE    CALIFORNIA  BEES. 

In  the  last  Gleanings  Rambler  speaks  of  the 
propensity  of  bees  in  California  to  fight.  I 
know  of  apiaries  where  the  bees  are  nearly 
pure  blacks,  where  a  bee-veil,  except  on  rare 
occasions,  is  unnecessary.  The  fighting  apiaries 
are  where  the  bee-man  has  made  an  abortive 
attempt  to  Italianize.  The  apiary  (mentioned 
in  same  article),  which  Mi'.  Mendelson  had  to 
move,  had  much  Cyprian  blood  in  it.  As  I  re- 
member it.  that  apiary  wa.s  located  some  500 
feet  from  the  road.  Those  bees  were  so  mean 
they  would  fight  the  stovepipe  all  day.  and 
Mendelson  would  sit  and  listen  for  it  to  "syueai 
as  they  would  sometimes  make  him  do. 

I  believe  it  was  at  Mr.  Richardson's  Si  mi 
apiary  that  two  horses,  tethered  out  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  distant  from  the  bees,  were  so  badly 
stung  that  one  died,  and  the  other  went  crazy, 
and  used  to  chase  people.  Wm.  G.  Hewes. 

Newhall,  Cal.,  June  24. 


CALIFORNIA  APIARIES. 

THE  DIS0IU)ERKD  CONDITION  OF  SO.ME  OF  TIIE.M 
interesting  NOTES  FROM  A  LEADING 
CALIFORNI.V   BEE-KEEPER. 


Friend  JRoot;— When  visiting  W.  D.  Wright, 
of  Albany  County,  N.  Y..  in  1886,  he  gave  me  a 
sample  wooden  separator,  identical  with  the 
improved  kind  you  advertise  of  late.  I  supi)Ose 
it  was  his  own  invention.  He  also  gave  me  a 
wire  spring  to  wedge  up  sections,  which  is  a 
great  advantage  over  the  wooden  wedge.  The 
spring  is  good  for  narrow  or  broad  sections,  and 
will  follow  up  the  least  shrinkage  of  sections 
and  separators.  Mr.  W.  is  orderly  and  neat 
about  his  business,  and  deserves  success. 

No  doubt  you  have  noticed  the  disorder  in 
many  of  our  ('aliloiiiia  apiaries  and  surround- 


ISifJ 


(JLKAXINCS  IN  HEECULTURK. 


543 


ings— weeds  and  hrusli.  a  harbor  fctr  verniiii  and 
destniotion  to  b(>t>s.  and  an  iiieoiiveiiiciu'e  in 
manipiilatin!;  lo  the  best  advantaK''  and  hi;,'h- 
esi  piolii.  1  lives,  seelions,  ete..  an'  seatlered 
aronnd,  a  tiaibor  lor  rats  ami  mice;  tools,  also. 
in  di.sorder.  expt)sed  to  the  weather,  and  good 
ot>nibs  exposed  to  thi' moth.  One  friend  had  a 
ten-ineh  mill  fi'om  yon.  not  iis(>d  as  yet.  He 
left  it  ont  in  rains  and  lofis.  Our  fogs  are  worse 
than  the  rains  to  iient'trate  and  rnst  tools.  Hut 
little  thouglil  is  exercised  for  thi'  same;  and 
these  bee-ket'pei's.  too.  are  men  of  intelligence. 
Again,  you  will  tiiid  apiaries  in  prime  condition 
— order  on  every  hand,  and  which  it  is  a  plea- 
sure to  visit. 

THK    NEED    OF    OJ{I)KK    IN    THE    AflAUV. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  me  to  have  proper  places 
for  my  tools,  hives,  etc..  and  to  know  where  to 
tind  them  without  taking  valuable  time  to  hunt 
them,  and  to  have  all  in  order  for  immediate 
use.  I'll  allow  for  some  disorder  with  some 
from  inconveniences:  but  general  disorder  is  in- 
excusable. I  have  a  friend  here  whose  disorder 
and  waste  would  keep  an  oidinary  family.  His 
excuse  would  b<'.  ""  I  haven't  any  time."  His 
lime  is  taken  up  in  looking  around  for  what  he 
wishes.  The  time  so  lost  would,  many  times, 
put  it  in  its  proper  place,  oesides  resulting  in  the 
preservation  of  the  same.  When  a  customer 
wishes  a  certain  article  in  a  store.  1  wish  to 
wait  upon  him  with  the  least  possible  delay,  by 
knowing  where  goods  are.  I  do  not  expect  per- 
fection in  any  one.  Laziness  will  cau.se  disor- 
der, or.  at  least,  it  is  one  cause. 

Now  as  to  the  season.  To  begin  with,  many 
apiaries  were  starved  out  through  the  pa^t  win- 
ter: some  were  not  able  to  feed,  while  others 
did  not  realize  their  loss  until  too  late;  conse- 
quently the  amount  of  bees  to  begin  the  season 
with  was  small  coinpaicd  with  past  seasons. 
One  cause  of  loss  of  bees  was  an  unusually  long 
cold  winter  and  backward  or  very  late  spring, 
causing  a  greater  consurapiion  of  honey.  In 
some  sections  last  season  bees  did  not  gather 
suflicient  to  carry  them  through  an  ordinary 
winter.  I'>y  the  time  these  weaker  colonies  were 
strong  the  season  was  over,  the  stronger  being 
in  prime  condition  for  winter;  consequently  I 
expect  a  greater  loss  of  bees  next  spring  than  we 
had  during  the  past. 

As  to  the  flow  of  honey,  the  requisites  are.  a 
real  wet  winter  and  soaking  late  rains  in  spring, 
keeping  the  vegetation  and  sages  continually 
growing.  I  have  noticed  that,  if  the  sages  have 
a  check  in  growth,  they  do  not  produce  nectar 
as  freely:  in  other  words,  the  stem  gets  hard, 
and  the  bloom  is  not  as  thrifty;  while,  appar- 
ently, the  blooiTi  seems  healthy  to  the  inexperi- 
<'nced.  Again,  we  have  bad  unusually  drying 
coast  winds,  or  idse  we  should  have  bad  a  fair 
crop  of  honey  near  the  coast  ( whci'e  I  anu.  from 
altilaree  and  other  small  vi'getation,  although 
we  seldom  get  any-surplus  from  altilaree. 

Have  you  ever  used  excelsior  for  smoker  fuel? 
It  makes  a  dense  smoke. 

WOOD    yLKEXEXCI.lTDEKS    A    FAlI.UKi:. 

I  made  a  trial  of  1(X)  wood  queen-excluders 
last  sea.son  and  this.  They  are  a  failure;  with 
rae,  as  the  bees  enlarge  the  cuts,  and  the  queens 
go  above  :  and  a  few.  where  they  were  cut 
smooth,  did  fairly.  If  hard  wood  wen;  used  in 
its  construction,  and  the  apertures  cut  to  a  bev- 
el (><)  the  bees  would  crawl  through  much 
easier.    The  wood  zinc  is  my  prefenmce. 

.SAXTA    CRUZ    ISr..\NI)    FOIJ    (^lEEN-KEA  |{I\(;. 

Since  Rambler  spoke  of  Santa  Cruz  Inland  as 
a  good  place  to  raise  queens,  I  have  taken  a 
trip  over  there  to  investigate.  Tne  island  at 
its  nearest  point  is  about  rjfj  miles  from  the 
mainland.    It  is  .30  miles  long.  15  across.     It  is 


owned  by  .some  San  Francisco  parties,  and  they 
employ  from  :.'(K)  to  r)(K)  men  annually  to  work 
upon  it.  They  have  1'.'  large  ranch  houses,  all 
connected  liy  ielephone.  They  have  hail  thou- 
sands of  head  of  shicp  upon  it;  and  of  late 
they  are.  as  1  was  intormeO,  changing  to  cattle. 
Some  vegetation  dilt'eis  from  that  on  the  main- 
land. In  all  it  is  piclui'esque,  and  it  would  be  a 
l)leasure  for  you  to  visit  it.  I  nearly  forgot  to 
mcnition  that,  while  a  friend  and  1  were  walk- 
ing over  a  mountain  ridge,  I  was  surprised  to 
lind  nuuiy  bei's  at  wt)rk:  and.  walking  a  short 
distance  further,  we  were  reniinded  of  their 
presence  in  force,  my  fi'iend  making  a  hasty  re- 
treat, while  I  went  to  lind  the  cave  close"  by, 
which  an  immense  swarm  was  working  to  and 
from,  and  which  it  was  a  n^al  jileasure  to  wit- 
ness. Theic  were  other  bee-caves  close  by.  but 
I  did  not  have  time  to  go  further,  as  my  stay 
was  limited.  I  went  over  a  small  scope,  but  I 
shall  soon  go  over  the  whole  island,  as  one  of 
the  foremen  has  promised  to  show  me  around.  I 
shall  also  borrow  a  Kodak  of  one  of  my  friends, 
to  take  a  few  choice  views  for  some  of  my 
friends  on  the  mainland. 

We  had  frost  near  me.  on  the  second  of  this 
month,  at  .'>  a.m..  and  at  noon  it  was  up  to  80°  in 
the  shade.  This  is  unusual  for  this  section. 
This  has  been  a  very  odd  season  indec^d. 

It  will  take  ten  tons  of  honey  to  winter  my 
bees  properly  for  another  honey-How  in  1S1«. 

THE   ROOT   BEE-TENT. 

I  am  Using  your  tent  for  inspecting  bees.  It 
is  very  handy.  I'd  suggest  some  material  much 
stronger  than  the  mosquito- bar.  It  is  easily 
torn,  and  the  bees  crowd  out  through  the  ridge, 
for  I  use  it  also  during  swarming  time..  I  set 
the  tent  over  the  swarm,  and  attend  to  some 
other  swarm.  When  I  return,  the  swarm  is 
clustered  at  the  ridge.  I  think  I  shall  have  a 
number  of  those  tents  another  season.  I  tind 
them  convenient  for  other  purposes.  I  should 
not  wish  to  be  without  them,  and  shall  have 
them  in  each  of  my  apiaries.  The  tent  is  a  la- 
bor-saving device.  "  M.  H.  Mendei.son. 

Ventuia.  Cal..  June  ll.  I8'.t:i. 

[Our  readers  will  recognize  the  writer  as  the 
one  whose  portrait  and  apiary  Rambler  gave  on 
pages  4f)3  and  463.  The  slotted  wood  separators 
were  first  introduced  to  us,  we  think,  some- 
where in  the  latter  "TO's;  but  just  exactly  by 
whom,  and  when,  we  can  not  now  say.  The 
spring  has  been  before  suggested  by  one  of  your 
old  California  bee-keepers.  We  use  the  wooden 
key  because  it  is  much  cheaper.  '  We  use  the 
excelsior,  or  such  as  comes  from  handholes  of 
hives,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  other  fuel.] 


EAMBLE  63. 


ON     THE     SIDE     TltACK;      .STRAY     STRAWS     AND 
LON(i   STRAWS. 


The  Rambler  in  his  travels  has  many  times 
been  run  off  upon  a  side  track  to  let  another 
train  pass;  but  as  I  watched  the  other  train, 
all  at  once  that  would  apparently  stop  and  my 
train  would  be  the  one  apparently  going;  and 
how  nicely  our  train  did  glide  without  a  tremor! 
but  .just  as  I  began  to  r<;joice  at  the;  smooth  and 
rapid  rate  we  were  going,  the  trains  parted, 
and.  behold.  I  hadn't  been  moving  at  all.  Now, 
there  is  a  little  moral  to  this.  A  great  many 
people  imagine  they  are  on  the  train,  and  go- 
ing like  Jehu.  when,  in  fact,  they  are  side-track- 
ed, and  are  standing  stock  still. 

P^very  now  and  then  some  one  will  arise,  and, 
right   in   the  face  of  all  the   brilliant  lights  in 


544 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


JUI-Y   15. 


1S02 


iJLKAMNCiS  IN  IJEE  CULTURE. 


545 


tlio  Ix'c-woi'ki,  iiiui  tlic  li'siinumv  of  iliousaiuis 
not  so  lirilliaiit.  will  advocate  hlaok  bci-s  and 
box  hives.  That  man  is  perhaps  lioiiest,  l)ul  he 
is  side-traoUed.  and  seents  incaimble  of  geltinR 
on  to  tlie  main  line  where  th(>  progressive 
movement  is. 

1  Tlie  l)ee-l<eej)er  who  uses  little  stingy  starters 
of  fotindation  in  his  brood-frames  and  sections. 
and  claims  tluit  he  can  get  just  as  much  honey 
as  tlie  one  using  full  sheets,  is  also  standing  on 
the  side  track. 

The  bee-keeper  who  will  go  to  a  convention, 
smile,  and  shake  hands  all  around,  learn  all  he 
can  and  not  bt-come  a  member  of  the  t)rganiza- 
lion.  and  ln-lp  with  the  usiuvl  fee.  is  not  only  on 
the  side  track,  but  is  on  the  dirt-train  (excep- 
tions, visitors  from  another  association).  On 
the  same  train  is  the  man  who  gets  all  he  can 
out  of  a  bee-paper,  then  refuses  to  pay  for  it. 


rails  were  incorporated  to  the  ties  with  Illinois 
spikes.  Toot:  toot!  all  aboard!  For  the 
land's  sake,  let  us  kee()  on  the  main  line. 

Well,  therel  1  won't  say  another  word  about 
side  tracks.  (Piily  to  explain  that  several  illus- 
trations from  tiu'  llawkeye  got  side-tracked  in 
the  Home  ot\;tlie  Honey-bees,  and  this  Kamble 
of  stray  straws  is  to  get  them  switched  on  to 
the  main  line  again.  Nothing  about  Rambles 
or  (Jlkanixos  stands  on  the  sidetrack.  The 
word  is  "  progress." 

Thelargr'  picture  gives  you  a  view  of  an 
apiary  in  the  Salt  ]>ake  Valley,  I'tah.  and  is 
the  property  of  A.  H.  Thomas,  of  Springlake. 
The  village  where  Mr.  T.  resides  takes  its  name 
from  a  very  pretty  and  picturesque  lake  near  it. 
Mr.  Thomas  and  his  son  are  the  parties  in  the 
apiary.  The  owner  looks  a  little  surprised,  for 
the  photo  was  taken  soon  after  the-   apiary  had 


<i.N    TIIK   15ANKS   OF   TIIK    SESI'K— MOW   THEY    HAUL   STONES   ynuM    THE   t^L'AKKV. 


Some  veteran  bee-keepers  are  strongly  inclin- 
ed to  pitch  into  their  brethren  with  a  pen  dip- 
ped in  the  gall  of  bitterness,  because  of  a  little 
difference  of  opinion.  Their  train  was  side- 
tracked in  the  seventies.  Let's  keep  them 
there. 

Those  far-western  bee-keepers  who  put  up 
their  honey  in  bad-smelling  second-hand  kero- 
sene cans  are  not  only  side-tracked,  but  they 
are  trying  to  side-track  all  on  the  main  line. 

Those  fellows  using  glucose  are  the  ones  not 
exactly  side-tracked,  but  they  are  tampering 
with  the  switch.  Look  out.  therel  skedaddle! 
there's  going  to  be  a  collision! 

But  the  queerest  case  of  this  kind  is  where  a 
whole  train-load  of  bee-keepers  in' Canada  were 
side-tracked,  because  one  or  two  inquisitive 
men  examined   the  road   and   found    that  the 


been  moved  to  its  present  location,  and  he  was 
hardly  ready  for  having  pictures  taken.  Upon 
that  point  he  was  very  much  like  all  other  bee- 
keei^ers — not  quite  slicked  up  enough.  The 
apiary  is  worked  for  extracted  honey,  and  the 
yield  last  season  was  about  100  lbs.  per  colony. 
The  crop  is  mainly  from  sweet  clover,  and  al- 
falfa, which  grows  in  great  abundance.  It 
seems  that  L'tah  has  not  outgrown  the  use  of 
quilts  on  the  hives,  and  Mr.  T.  believes  in  using 
a  generous  amount,  as  will  be  seen.  The  apiary 
is  nicely  located  in  a  fruit-orchard. 

Salt  r^ake  Valley  is  noted  for  the  variety  and 
fine  quality  of  its  fruits,  and  bees  get  a  vigorous 
start  from  that  source.  Mr.  T.  has  not  been  in 
the  business  long,  but  bids  fair  to  become  one  of 
the  leading  honey-producers  in  the  valley.  In 
looking  at  the  photo  you  wouldn't  suspect  Mr. 


S46 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  15. 


T.  to  be  a  Mormon.  He  has  no  more  horns  on 
his  head  than  a  shouting  Methodist  or  a  spout- 
ing Baptist.  Being  one  of  that  kind  who  think 
for  themselves,  we  can  take  him  by  the  hand 
and  call  him  brother,  and  wish  him  success  in 
this  life  and  a  happy  hereafter. 

The  white  streaks  across  the  pic- 
ture, which  look  like  irrigating- 
ditches,  is  naught  but  a  fence  of  poles. 
used  much  in  Utah.  For  the  photo, 
and  points  in  description,  I  am  indebt- 
ed to  Mr.  John  C.  Swaner.  of  Salt 
Lake,  the  secretary  of  the  Utah  Bee- 
keepers' Association. 

The  next  half-tone  is  from  a  snap 
shot  with  the  Hawkeye  on  the  banks 
of  the  Sespe  River,  at  the  entrance  of 
the  Big  Sespe  Canyon.  This  rough 
and  rugged  road  crosses  the  river 
and  leads  to  a  stone-quarry  near 
those  oil-wells  described  by  the  ed- 
itor of  Gleanings.  Immense  stones 
for  building  purposes  are  quarried  in 
great  quantities  in  this  canyon.  This 
was  one  of  the  immense  stones  that 
required  an  immen.se  wagon  and  the 
hauling  power  of  twelve  horses.  The 
stone,  however,  was  too  much  for  the 
wagon.  One  of  the  wheels  gave  out 
under  the  crushing  weight.  All  of 
this  heavy  teaming  passes  Mr.  Mcln- 
tyre's  apiary  of  .500  swarms,  with  but 
little  trouble  to  the  horses  or  men,  and  this 
shows  how  well  trained  the  bees  are,  and 
there's  "  no  harm  done." 

The  apiary  is  near  the  entrance  of  two  can- 
yons—the Big  and  Little  Sespe;  and,  having 
exclusive  right  to  all  above  him.  he  can  keep  a 
large  number  of  colonies  in  one  place.  By ""  ex- 
clusive right."  1  mean  that  then  ihei'e  is  no 
availalh'  place  for  an  ai)iary  Ik  yond  him,  and, 
both  Ciin\'oiis  being  cm  u\>  inio  side  canyons, 
like  tiie  Hagadorn.  de.^rrihed  in  Ramble  Ko.  .58. 
gives  a  lai'ge  field.  Both  of  the  Sespe  Can\ons 
are  noted  for  rough  and  rocky  scenery,  and 
many  places  in  them  are  inaccessible. 

when  the  Rambler  started  out  alone  on  an 
exploring  tour,  Mrs.  Mclntyre  gave  due  caution 
about  getting  lost  among  the  I'ocks.  I  secretly 
thought  that  was  peculiar  advice  to  give  a  fel- 
low who  had  apparently  grown  beyond  the  care 
of  apron-strings.  But  I  learned  that  experi- 
enced old  prospectors  had  lost  their  lives  in 
these  mountain  fastnesses.  There  are  many 
places  that  look  very  inviting  for  a  short  cut; 
and  the  traveler,  upon  getting  down  a  steep 
precipice,  finds  himself  in  a  trap.  He  can  go 
no  further  and  can  not  return,  and  either 
starves  or  (in  his  mad  endeaver  to  escape)  falls 
from  a  height  he  can  not  scal(\  and  is  dashed  a 
lifeless  form  on  the  rocks  below.  I  was  there- 
fore thankful  for  the  caution;  and  that  I  am 
still  in  the  land  of  the  living  is  proof  that  I 
heeded  what  was  so  kindly  told  me. 

SHOKT  STRAW'S. 

A  manzanita  stick  with  a  broad  flat  end, 
dipijed  in  lard,  is  a  good  thing  on  a  bachelor's 
pancake  griddle. 

Don't  try  to  make  a  postage-stamp  stick  by 
moistening  it  with  your  mouth  full  of  dough- 
nut. 

Mocking-birds  are  a  smileful  orchestra  to 
listen  to;  but  the  smiles  are  di'awn  in  when, 
every  time  they  finish  a  warble,  you  see  them 
catch  a  honey-bee. 

Picture-sque.  That's  so;  thank  you.  I  was 
admiring  the  picture  part,  and  didn't  mind  the 
"  sque."  Bro.  R.,  did  you  lose  the  effect  of  the 
"  sque  "  in  the  Sespe? 

An  outward  application  of  rattlesnake  oil  is 
good  to  limber  up  the  muscles— .so  they  say.    A 


rattlesnake's  head  coming  toward  you  has  the 
same  effect,  but  a  mighty  sight  quicker — I 
know. 

Tell  that  man  up  in  Minnesota,  with  a  20u-lb. 
bunt  sheep,  to  keep  his  off  eye  open;  there's  a 


I 


ILI-INOIS  AND   CAI.IFOKNIA   STKAW.S. 

20()-ton   cyclone    coming.     He'll    be  landed  in 
Lake  Superior. 

Ui'.  Tinker,  give  us  your  hand;  glad  you 
didn't  get  angry  over  that  little  attachment 
between  yourself  ana  Bio.  Heddon;  hope  the 
attachment  will  be  mutual,  and  strengthen 
between  front  and  rear. 

Anoiiier  case  of  foul  brood  that  stinketh  unto 
heaven  I  Where,  oh  where?  W^hyl  among 
McAllister's  4(X). 

Do  yctu  know.  Bro.  Root,  that,  every  time  I 
read  Prof.  Cook's  articles,  it  seems  that  he  is 
standing  before  me,  and  talking  just  as  pleas- 
antly as  when  at  the  Los  Angeles  convention? 

Rambler. 

[Friend  Rambler,  I  think  you  have  made 
some  excellent  points  along  on  that  side-track 
business,  but  we  want  to  go  gently.  I  have 
thought  sometimes  that  a  nuin  might  be  side- 
tracked all  his  life  by  a  little  injudicious 
rulHing  of  his  feathers  the  wrong  way.  when 
perhaps  kindness  and  charity  might  induce 
him  to  move  on  with  the  rest  of  us.  I  have  felt 
especially  sad  to  see  .some  very  good  men  at- 
tend a  convention  and  utterly  refuse  to  put 
down  their  names  or  give  a  copper  to  pay  the 
necessary  expenses.  But  we  want  to  go  gently 
here.  Sometimes  the  managers  of  the  conven- 
tion, or  the  people  themselves,  make  a  poor  use 
of  the  funds  after  they  have  been  collected. 
And,  again,  bee-keepers  sometimes  find  it  con- 
venient to  attend  a  convention  when  they  have 
absolutely  not  half  a  dollar  in  their  pocket  to 
contribute.  I  think  in  that  case  1  would  bor- 
row just  that  much;  but  may  be  they  have 
good  reasons  for  not  wanting  to  borrow. 

Your  picture  of  the  entrance  of  the  Big  Sespe 
Canyon  is  a  grand  one.  When  Mrs.  Root  and 
I  took  in  these  startling  views  with  friend 
Mclntyre,  we  thought  it  was  too  bad  the  read- 
ers could  not  be  tliere  to  see  it  with  us.  But  in 
your  good  picture  you  have  got  it  almost  to  a 
dot;  and  it  is  through  just  such  fearful  places  as 
these  that  bee-keeper.s  and  their  horses  go  with 
such  provoking  indifference,  as  though  it  were 
the  most  natural  thing  in  the  world  to  be 
tipped  and  jolted  until  your  very  teeth  (natural 
as  well  as  artificial)  seem  ready  to  drop  out. 

I   heartily  agree  with  you   in  the  point  you 


lS<t2 


(}lf:anings  in  hee  cui/ruuK. 


547 


niiikt'.  tliiit.  ufti'i-  licarin;,'  I'mf.  ("ooU  talk  in 
his  inimitable  way.  whiMicvcr  \v«'  road  one  of 
ins  articles  wo  can  almost  see  him  and  hoar  his 
voice.  And  this  is  not  tine  of  him  alone,  Ivnt 
of  many  others,  and.  perhai)s.  1  iniixht  alnu)si 
say  of  most  other  encM-p'tic  speakers  ami 
tliinkei-s.  And  herein  is  one  of  the  yiand  siood 
tliiniis  of  conventions.  Aft(M- yon  know  a  man 
intimately,  and  have  enjoyed  a  good  hearty 
laniihwiih  him  and  the  rest,  the  be(>-;»(//>(;r.s' 
liave  a  new  signilicance.  Yon  read  their  writ- 
inirs  with  a  new  zeal  and  intensity  thai  biiniis 
deeper  meaning  ont  of  tiie  words  on  the  printed 
page.]  A.  1.  U. 


DIFFERENCES  IN  COLONIES,  ETC. 

WHY    SD.MK    iJATllKK     MOItK     IIONK.Y    T1I.\N     OTIt- 

KHS.    AM)    now    TO    MAKI<:   THKM    VAiVAlA/.K 

THK    AMOINT   OF    HOXKY    STOHI<:i). 


A  correspondent  writes  that  he  has  noticed 
for  some  years  back.  that,  of  many  colonies  in 
the  spring.  \s  hich  were  exactly  alike,  us  nearly  as 
he  conld  discov(>r.  some  Colonies  would  yield  an 
excellent  surplus,  while  others  would  give  vei-y 
little  or  none  at  all.  and  says.  •■  Why  is  this? 
Please  answer  through  (;i.t:AXiN(iS.'"  Here  is 
a  question  wliich  used  to  boiher  me  greatly,  for 
I  was  formerly  troubled  in  the  same  way:  but 
of  late  years  I  have  succeeded  in  making  the 
most  of  my  colonies  which  were  worked  for 
lioney.  produce  lU'arly  like  results;  that  is,  if 
one  colony  contains  4<:>.()0()  bees  and  produces 
100  lbs.  of  honey.  I  obtain  about  that  amount 
from  every  colony  containing  that  number  of 
bees:  while  one  having  20.000  bees  gives  a  yield 
of  about  4.")  lbs.,  for  a  small  colony  will  not  give 
quite  as  large  a  yield  in  pioportion  to  its  num- 
bers as  a  large  one.  After  carefully  studying 
the  matter  1  found  that  colonies  I  i)ronounced 
•"exactly  alike"  on  May  l.'ith  would  not  be  so 
at  the  lime  the  honey  harvest  was  at  Its  best. 
The  trouble  was.  I  did  not  have  a  thorough 
knowledire  regarding  the  working  force  of  my 
bees  at  all  limes,  nor  of  the  interior  of  the  hive. 
For  instance,  the  colony  which  I  called  the  best 
on  May  15th  might  become  the  poorest  by  July 
10th.  at  which  lime  the  honey  harvest  arrived. 
This  might  be  owing  to  two  causes,  one  of 
which  would  be  the  failing  of  their  queen,  and 
the  other  that  the  colony  would  reach  its  max- 
imum of  strength  some  lime  previous  to  the 
harvest,  either  of  which  is  sure  to  lessen  the 
yield.  1  liave  often  noticed  that  a  colony 
which  winters  extremely  well,  and  goes  to 
breeding  rapidly  in  early  spring,  is  generally 
sure  to  produce  less  honey  than  the  colony  that 
begins  to  breed  rapidly  from  forty  to  fifty  days 
previous  to  the  honey  harvest.  The  reason 
seems  to  be,  tliat  the  queen  in  such  a  colony  as 
breeds  rapidly  very  early  ceases  her  proliticness 
to  a  very  great  extent  by  June  ."ilh  to  loth,  this 
allowing  the  bees  to  put  tlie  first  honey  coming 
in  into  the  brood-combs,  rather  than  forcing  it 
into  the  sections,  as  does  the  queen  which  ar- 
rives at  her  maximum  egg-laying  at  this  lime. 
If  this  is  not  the  case,  the  colony  becomes  de- 
moralized by  becoming  too  strong  at  this  time, 
and  so  goes  to  loafing  around,  or.  what  is  still 
woi'se.  contracts  the  swarming  mania,  either  of 
which  is  against  a  large  yield  of  honey.  If  the 
bees  become  overanxious  to  swarm,  or  the 
queen  ceases  lo  be  prolilic.  so  that  the  bees  get 
tlie  start  of  her  and  store  lioney  to  any  great  ex- 
tent in  the  bi()od-chambr>r  during  the  lirstofthi^ 
honey  harvest,  that  colony  will  be  an  unprotiia- 
ble  one.  The  remedy  is.  to  keep  the  queen  on 
only  a  few  combs  early  in  the  season,  or  take 
away  a  part  of  her  brood  to  strengthen  other 
colonies  till  the  right  time  has  come,  when  her 


extra  uowers  will  raise  lices  that  will  corneal 
just  the  right  time;  then  coax  her  lo  do  her 
level  best,  and  yon  will  succeed.  At  this  time 
give  all  the  comi)s  the  hive  will  contain,  and 
let  her  spread  herself  lo  \ii'V  greatest  capacity: 
then  the  colony  will  it  ach  its  sirongi'st  point 
just  wlien  the  harvest  is  on.  and  thus  bend 
every  energy  at  storing  in  the  sections  ratlier 
than  crowding  the  queen  or  loafing  around. 
Again,  the  giving  of  a  colony  a  large  amount  of 
surplus  room  to  start  with  has  a  tendency  to 
tiiuke  the  colony  an  iinpiolitable  one,  which 
has  not  a  force  ()f  bees  largi'  enough  to  occupy 
llie  whole  of  the  sui'pliis  aiiartmeiil  at  once. 
Tliey  seem  to  become  discouraged,  and,  instead 
of  taking  possession  of  a  part  of  it,  they  will 
often  cluster  on  the  outside,  and  crowd  the 
brood  out  with  honey,  never  entering  the  sec- 
tions at  all.  1  usiiaHy  give  only  section  room, 
or  room  in  the  mu  plii.'-  apartment  to  the  amount 
of  15  to  20  lbs.,  and  a  part  of  this  space  has 
combs  in  it  left  over  from  the  i)revious  season, 
thereby  coaxing  the  bees  into  the  sections  with 
liKMr  first  loads  of  new  honey.  In  a  w(>ek  or  so. 
more  room  is  given,  and  so  I  continue  lo  give 
suipius  room  as  nei'ded.  In  this  way  a  good 
yield  of  honey  is  obtained  from  all  the  colonies, 
if  the  season  is  so  any  colony  gives  a  good  yield. 
It  is  the  attending  lo  the  little  items  in  bee 
culture  thai  gives  success. 

CliOOKEL)    COMBS. 

In  a  paper  which  I  recently  picked  up  I 
found  tlie  following  words:  -  In  the  fall,  after 
extracting  the  honey  from  the  partly  filled 
sections,  and  rt  casing  the  sections  of  empty 
combs  (as  we  use  no  separators),  the  combs  are 
not  always  perfect  in  these  sections.  When  we 
find  one  side  a  little  fuller  than  the  other,  we 
put  the  two  full  sides  together,  and  the  hollow- 
ing sides  together.  No  matter  if  the  full  sides 
of  the  combs  should  touch  each  other,  when  the 
bees  begin  operations  the  following  season  they 
will  cut  right  through,  building  out  the  other 
sides  equally,  and  the  occasional  crooked  ones 
are  thus  made  straight."'  Upon  reading  the 
above  I  began  to  wonder  if  the  writer  had  ever 
practiced  the  plan  given,  and.  if  so.  how  it 
could  be  that  his  experience  was  so  much  differ- 
ent than  mine  had  been  when  trying  the  same 
plan.  In  every  case  where  I  ever  put  two 
combs  in  sections,  or  brood-combs  even,  so  that 
they  touched  each  other,  I  luive  found  that  the 
bees  always  left  little  liridges  of  comb  from  one 
comb  to  the  other,  so  that,  when  the  combs 
were  pulled  apart,  ihe  capping  of  one  or  both 
combs  was  broken,  thus  setting  the  honey  lo 
running  and  making  the  sections  unsalable, 
unless  put  back  on  tlie  iiive  for  the  bees  lo  re- 
cap the  cells.  In  so  doing,  the  bees  nearly  al- 
ways remove  the  hiuiey  out  of  these  damaged 
cells,  so  tiiat  tue  whole  process  requires  nearly 
half  as  long  a-  it  does  lo  fill  a  section  from  the 
start.  This  causes  a  great  waste  of  time  to 
the  colony,  for  they  are  thus  kept  fussing  over 
a  bad  job  instead  of  doing  new  work.  My  plan 
has  be<'n.  to  place  such  crooked  combs  at  the 
top  of  a  wai'in  room,  on  a  piece  of  canvas,  until 
Ihoroughlv  warmed  through,  when  the  combs 
can  be  bent  and  straight I'ned.  to  the  perfect 
satisfaction  of  the  operator.  In  this  way  I  have 
a  sure  thing  of  it:  and  as  the  work  is  performed 
in  the  winter  it  is  much  more  cheaply  done  than 
in  having  the  bees  make  a  ■'  botch  job '"  of  it  in 
the  summer.  (">.  M.  Doomtti.k. 

Borodino.  N.  Y..  July  :.'. 

[Our  observation  al  the  Shane  out-apiary 
with  reference  to  bulged  combs  was  just  the 
same  as  yours.  They  would  build  bracers 
across:  and  whei-e  th<'  iwo  combs  were  separated 
the    combs  were    uncapped   and   honey  set  to 


548 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  15. 


running.  Theoretically  it  ought  to  work  very 
nicely,  but  the  bees  didn't  propose  to  confirm 
our  theory.] 


Heads  of  Grain 


FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 


WHAT  PKOF.  COOK   THINKS  OF  THAT  HALF-TONE 
GROUP  ON  PAGE  .503,  .7ULY   1. 

Dear  Mr.  £?r7ttor;— May  I  congratulate  yon 
on  that  excellent  photographic  reproduction  of 
the  group  that  sat  for  their  pictures  at  the  Los 
Angeles  convention  last  January?  It  is  rare  to 
see  even  an  original  photograph  where  each 
person  shows  so  distinctly.  How  is  it  that  all 
look  so  pleased  and  amiable?  Of  course,  we  had 
just  had  our  dinner,  and  were  having  a  superb 
time  at  the  convention.  That  I  should  be  in 
good  spirits  between  two  such  royal  good  fel- 
lows as  brothers  Mclntyre  and  Hunt,  is  not 
strange.  Mrs.  Cook.  Bert,  and  I  visited  the  lat- 
ter at  his  home  in  that  incomparably  beautiful 
Redlands,  where  we  got  better  acquainted  with 
him  and  his  delightful  wife:  and  as  I  read  your 
own  and  Rambler's  descriptions  I  regret  that  we 
had  not  gone  up  to  Ventura  Co.  and  greeted 
President  Mclntyre  under  his  own  vine  and 
pepper-tree:  looked  upon  the  beautiful  coun- 
try, and  bathed  in  the  springs.  It  is  easy  to 
see  why  Rambler  is  happy.  He  couldn't  help 
it.  sandwiched  in  as  he  was.  Put  Rambler  be- 
tween two  nice  ladies,  and  yon  may  always 
count  on  one  satisfied  person:  and  I  say.  "Good 
for  Rambler."  Perhaps  the  best  reason  of  all 
was.  that  we  were  all  of  one  accord,  and  were 
piloted  by  snch  a  grand  fellow  as  G.  \V.  Broad- 
beck.    It  was  a  grand  company.     A.  J.  Cook. 

Agricultural  College,  Mich..  Jnlj  5. 


ANOTHER   METHOD   OF   PRESERVING   COMBS. 

Many  bee-keepers  like  myself  have  not  a 
suitable  cellar  to  hang  up  our  empty  combs  in, 
as  represented  in  last  Gleanings.  The  way  I 
care  for  them  is  as  follows:  I  use  the  Bristol 
hive.  I  put  a  sheet  of  tarn-d  paper,  one  inch 
larger  than  the  top  or  bottom  of  the  brood -bo .\, 
or  floor  of  the  honey-house:  set  a  brood- box  on 
it,  and  fill  it  with  combs,  and  then  another 
sheet  of  paper,  and  then  a  l)rood-box  of  combs, 
and  so  on,  and  on  the  upper  brood-box  put  a 
honey-board  to  hold  the  paper  down  tight  to 
the  brood-box.  The  above  is  for  combs  I  know 
are  free  from  moths,  or  have  been  exposed  to  a 
temperature  of  zero — combs,  as  I  bring  them  in 
from  the  yard,  that  are  liable  to  have  some 
moth-eggs  in.  I  put  only  8  combs  in  a  brood- 
box  1}4  in.  apart,  and  then  look  them  over  in 
about  a  week:  and  if  I  find  any  moths  in  the 
combs  I  put  them  into  some  of  the  hives  for  the 
bees  to  care  for,  and  clean  them  out.  Should  a 
moth  chance  to  hatch  in  any  of  the  combs  be- 
tween the  tarred  paper,  it  can  not  get  out.  I 
have  combs  I  have  thus  taken  care  of  for  three 
years  that  I  have  not  looked  at  except  the  first 
year,  to  see  that  the  tarred  paper  would  pre- 
serve them,  packed  in  brood-boxes,  from  mice, 
moths,  bugs,  dust,  and  ants,  till  I  want  to  use 
them.  H.  B.  Isham. 

New  Haven,  Vt.,  June  22. 

GOOD     PROSPECTS     FOR      FLORIDA;       OVER     1200 
COLONIES   IN   ONE    LOCALITY. 

So  far  as  I  can  learn,  bees  have  done  quite 
well  in  Florida  so  far  this  season.  Black  man- 
grove is  just  coming  into  bloom,  and  gives 
promise  of  a  full  yield.  Over  1200  colonies  are 
now  collected  in  a  space  about  two  miles  wide 
by  six  miles  long,  nearly  half  of  them   having 


been  moved  in  from  outside  localities  for  the 
mangrove  season  only.  O.  O.  Poppleton. 

Hawks  Park,  Fla.,  June  23. 

[We  hope  you  will  give  us  further  particulars.] 

SWEET     CLOVER    AS  A  FODDER;     WHEN  TO  SOW 
AND   WHEN   TO   CUT,   ETC. 

I  should  like  to  be  enlightened  upon  the  fol- 
lowing points: 

1.  How  and  when  to  plant  sweet  clover. 

2.  How  and  when  to  cure  it. 

3.  How  and  in  what  quantity  to  feed  it. 

4.  Will  stock,  especially  sheep,  thrive  upon  it, 
or  eat  it  at  all  ? 

5.  What  per  acre  ought  it  to  yield  as  hay  upon 
comparatively  poor  land? 

6.  Has  it  any  virtue  as  a  soiling  plant,  for 
enriching  sandy  land? 

This  portion  of  Nebraska  will  have  to  find 
some  new  fodder  jjlant.  or  revert  back  to  graz- 
ing land — the  ranch  in  turn  replace  the  farm. 
Wild  hay  is  becoming  scarce.  It  requires  too 
many  acres  to  produce  a  little  fodder.  Millet 
r  quii'es  planting  every  year.  and.  besides,  ex- 
hausts the  soil.  That  fodder  is  good,  but  re- 
quires great  care  and  experience  in  feeding.  Red 
clover  and  timothy  have  been  tried,  but  with 
indifferent  success.  White  clover  and  blue 
grass  catch  easily,  and  do  well  for  pasture,  but 
do  not  grow  rank  enough  to  make  a  meadow. 

Bee-keeping  will  succeed  and  follow  the  in- 
troduction of  the  white  and  sweet  clovers,  but 
not  till  then.  J.  S.  Dart. 

Orchard,  Neb..  June  2.5. 

[Sweet  clover  is  not  a  success  with  us  for  fod- 
der or  feed  at  all,  although  stock  will  eat  it  to 
some  extent  if  cut  at  just  the  right  time. 
Neither  does  it  succeed  with  us  under  cultiva- 
tion nearly  as  well  as  it  does  on  barren  hill- 
sides and  roadsides.  It  would  yield  an  im- 
mense quantity  of  hay,  or  a  sort  of  hay,  if  we 
could  get  a  good  stand  and  have  it  cut  exactly 
the  right  time.  I  am  quite  certain  it  would  be 
very  valuable  as  a  soiling  plant  if  we  could  se- 
cure a  good  stand  of  it  as  we  do  of  other  clover. 
Some  of  the  bee-fi'iends  around  Salt  Lake  can 
answer  all  of  your  questions  for  their  locality, 
for  it  is  really  a  desert  plant,  and  will  grow 
through  dry  seasons  when  almost  every  thing 
else  is  killed  out  by  long  drouth.]  A.  I.  R. 


A   GOOD    report;    are    FIVE-BANDED    BEES 
GOOD    WORKERS? 

Bees  are  just  booming.  I  hived  a  swarm  May 
31st  on  10  L.  frames,  with  4-inch  starters.  At 
this  date  the  body  of  the  hive  is  so  "  full  it  can't 
get  no  fuller."'  and  I  have  taken  off  one  crate  of 
28  sections  434x414x1X1  of  the  finest  honey  I 
have  handled  in  .30  years.  The  bees  are  "  low- 
down  hybrids "'  at  that.  Please  let  me  know 
what  your  five-banded  bees  are  doing.  My 
bees  are  working  on  red  raspberry. 

Rev.  James  Andrews. 

Red  House,  N.  Y.,  June  20. 

[See  editorial  column.] 

bees  booming  on  honey. 

June  has  been  a  grand  month  in  Northern 
Michigan  for  bees.  The  increase  has  been  sur- 
prising, and  white-clover  honey  is  coming  in 
fast,  of  which  I  am  now  extracting.  At  this 
time  last  year  we  had  no  swarms  and  no  honey; 
now  I  have  two  or  three  a  day,  and  one  day  five 
from  40  colonies,  spring  count. 

Chef,  Mich..  June  27.        Walter  Harmer. 

MRS.  Harrison's  crop. 

Unite  with  me  in  singing  "  Praise  God,  from 
whom  all  blessings  flow,"  for  we  are  removing 
cases  of  white-clover  honey. 

Peoria,  111.,  July  9.  Mrs.  L.  Harrison. 


lSit2 


GLEANINGS  IN  HKE  (  LILT U RE. 


54(J 


HIGH-PRESSURE  GARDENING. 


THAT   t;iARTi:i!-ArHK   KAHM. 

Of  course,  tho  Icnsitli  of  the  bods  and  tlio  ar- 
ransiiMiUMit  of  tlio  i)atlis  and  strcots  will  dciicnd 
mucli  on  till' shapi'  of  tlir  ijict-c  of  ground  you 
may  he  able  logct  iiold  of.  The  plan  below  is 
for  a  piece  of  siound  wiili  about,  100  feet  front. 
If  you  have  more  than  1(K)  feet  front,  make  your 
beds  shorter  —  say  for  ten  sash,  and  have  threc^ 
lengths  of  tiiem:  if  less  than  100  feet,  modify  it 
in  a  similar  way.  The  host>  attached  to  the  hy- 
drant should  be  of  sullicient  length  to  reach  all 
of  the  four  corners.  It  ought  also  to  have  a 
coupling,  or  even  two  coui)lings,  so  that  oik! 
length  may  be  unscrewi'ti  and  laid  aside  when 
working  near  the  center.  The  amount  of  cloth 
that  may  be  used  in  place  of  glass  will  depend 
upon  your  locality,  and  also  upon  the  kind  of 
croi)S  you  raise,  and  the  season  of  the  year  you 
wish  to  put  them  on  the  market.  If  yon  are  go- 
ing to  raise  stufT  all  winter,  say  in  otir  locality. 


That  we  tuny  talk  about  this  little  plantation 
moi.'  undei>  .  ndingly.  I  give  you  a  picture  of  it. 

The  cut,  .  s  you  may  surmise,  is  an  Ideal  jiic- 
ture.  1  hi.\c  never  yri  liad  this  amount  under 
glass  in  just  the  way  it  is  pictured.  It  is.  how- 
ever, as  I  should  recommend  it  if  circumstances 
w(M'e  convenient.  The  above  arrangement 
makes  a  sijuaic  plot  of  the  whole.  There  are 
24  beds,  as  explained  heretofore.  '!  ' -.  )■" ''ant 
in  the  middle  has  sutlicient  hose  attacuv,a  to 
reach  each  of  the  four  corners.  You  will  notice 
in  the  cut  a  man  sprinkling  one  of  the  comers 
most  remote  from  the  hydrant.  The  streets 
running  through  at  right  angles  are  wide 
enough  for  a  wagon,  even  w  hen  the  sash  are 
otT'  from  the  beds.  The  hose  is  to  be  unscrewed 
and  laid  to  one  side  when  it  is  necessary  to  pass 
through  the  middle.  As  immense  (juantities  of 
manure  are  used  in  these  beds,  even  if  heated 
by  steam,  it  is  quite  important  to  have  these 
wagon-roads.  The  windmill  and  tank  on  the 
hill  are  supposed  to  supply  the  water.  In  the 
drawing,  a  little  bit  of  lawn  is  shown  between 
the  walk  and  the  street.  I  suppose  there  would 
be  no  objection  to  nsing  this  little^bit  of  lawn 


1       H4^=?— - 


H 


.jm^S^  ' 


<A^-.-/6-J'^r 


ARRAXGEMENT   OF  BEDS   FOR  ONE-FOURTH   ACRE   OF   GROtTND,  FOK   GARDENING   UNDER  GI>ASS. 


you  should  have  sash  enough  to  cover  perhaps 
a  half  of  the  hed.s.  The  other  lialf  may  be  cov- 
ered with  cloth:  and  as  the  season  advances, 
cloth  may  take  the  place  of  glass,  as  it  is  much 
less  work  to  handle.  By  putting  up  a  tempora- 
ry ridge-pole  between  any  two  of  the  bed.*,  a 
cloth  covering  in  the  form  "of  a  tent  may  be  put 
over  them.  This  had  better  be  aiTanged  on  the 
north  side  of  the  garden,  so  its  shade  will  not 
come  over  any  beds  behind  it.  This  tent-like 
covering  will  be  very  handy  to  work  under 
when  it  rains,  for  the  very  best  time  in  the 
world  to  do  transplanting  is  during  a  summer 
shower:  and  haijds  that  might  otherwise  be 
out  of  a  job  can  work  under  this  tent.  Spin- 
ach, and  other  hardy  plants  of  a  like  nature, 
will  need  no  more  covering,  even  during  the 
most  severe  weather,  than  the  cloth. 


for  plants  if  desired:  and  it  would  make  an  excel- 
lent place  for  some  handsome  plants,  to  adver- 
tise the  business.  When  a  load  of  produce  is 
ready  to  go  to  market,  it  is  driven  to  where  you 
.see  the  dog  sitting.  The  hose  is  then  handed 
to  the  driver,  and  the  whole  contents  of  tlie 
wagon  can  be  showered  in  a  very  few  minutes. 
l}y  the  way,  a  special  wagon  is  much  the  han- 
diest for  marketing  these  products.  We  will 
consider  this  further  on.  Now.  this  picture  is, 
as  I  have  said,  somewhat  of  an  ideal — that  is,  it 
shows  what  I  recommend.  Ou'"  own  plant-beds 
occupy  a  little  less  than  a  quarter  of  an  acre: 
but  as  we  have  a  frontage  on  the  street  of 
about  2:.'.")  feet,  instead  of  100,  we  have  it  in  an 
oblong  form  instead  of  square.  The  second 
picture  gives  you  a  glimpse  of  our  real  plant- 
garden. 


550 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  15. 


In  the  cut  you  will  notice  three  rows  of  beds. 
Since  we  have  had  a  view  taken,  another  has 
been  added,  and  so  there  are  now  four  rows  of 
beds;  and  as  there  are  five  beds  in  each  row.  we 
have  20  beds  in  all.  The  most  of  them  are  long 
enough  to  contain  14  sash  each,  like  the  ones  in 
the  former  picture.  We  also  have  three  hy- 
drants instead  of  one.  This  is  quite  conven- 
ient, for  it  enables  us  to  use  a  shorter  length 
of  hose.  Those  who  have  used  a  piece  of  hose 
even  50  feet  long  have  discovered  that  it  is  la- 
borious and  unwieldy;  and  unless  great  care 
is  taken  to  prevent  the  hose  from  kinking,  it 
su-^tains  permanent  injury. 

The  first  bed  on  the  right  contained  Wake- 
field cabbage-plants  at  the  time  the  -^riew  was 
taken;  the  one  back  of  it.  the  Grand  Rapids 
lettuce  I  have  written  you  about;  the  one  back 
of  that.  Flat  Dutch  cabbage-plants.  On  the 
left  of  the  picture  we  have  more  lettuce.  Back 
of  it,  where  you  see  the  handle  of  the  spade,  is 
still  another  bed  of  lettuce:  still  further  back, 


the  sash  are  off  there  is  a  space  of  only  16 
inches  for  the  workmen  to  pass  through.  We 
once  tried  working  without  any  openings:  but 
it  was  not  only  fatiguing  to  step  over  the  bed, 
but  the  soft  soil  was  injured:  and  the  bed.  and 
sometimes  the  plants,  were  made  to  look  very 
untidy:  therefore  we  cut  passages  as  above. 
When  the  beds  are  all  uncovered,  the  piles  of 
sash  rise  only  about  two  feet  above  the  beds,  as 
I  have  explained.  As  this  first  bed  is  pretty 
well  down  in  the  ditch  by  the  roadside,  a  cheap 
plank  walk  has  been  laid  for  the  convenience 
of  the  men  in  handling  the  sash.  The  bed  full 
of  foliage  in  the  center  of  the  picture  contains 
at  one  end  that  big  crop  of  beets  I  have  told 
you  about;  at  the  other  end  are  some  cucum- 
bers with  the.  second  or  third  leaves  on;  and 
still  further  along  some  Dwarf  Champion  toma- 
toes two  or  three  inches  high.  The  white  spot 
at  the  end  of  the  bed  is  white  sand  put  over 
the  sweet  potatoes.  A  barrel  of  sweet  potatoes 
fills  just  about  two  sash.    From  these  two  sash 


'  ^■^»^^^^^' 


""^ii^l 


A  GLIMP8E30F  OUR  OWN   PLOT  OF  GROUND  FOR  GARDENING  UNDER  GLASS. 


where  yon  see  one  of  the  men  setting  out  plants, 
is  a  bed  of  onions  that  wintered  over.  They 
had  no  protection  at  all  except  a  little  straw. 
They  were  not  winter  onions  either,  but  White 
Victorias.  Right  back  of  the  watering-pot  is  a 
square  piece  of  board  with  a  handle  in  the  cen- 
ter. This  is  used  a  great  deal  in  firming  the 
ground,  and  in  leveling  it  off,  just  before  put- 
ting in  plants  or  seeds.  This  is  a  very  handy 
tool,  not  only  improving  the  looks  of  the  sur- 
face of  the  soil,  but  making  both  plants  and 
seeds  do  better  for  firming.  The  first  bed  on 
the  left  was  made  with  strips  of  stone  flagging. 
Although  this  stone  is  more  durable  than  wood, 
it  conducts  frost  with  more  facility,  therefore 
we  use,  at  present,  only  wood.  We  shall  give  a 
description  of  the  way  in  which  the  beds  are 
made,  a  little  further  on.  The  third  picture  (see 
next  page)  is  taken  from  the  top  of  our  factory, 
and  a  little  further  down  the  street. 

In   this  cut  you  will  notice  the  passage  be- 
tween  the  beds  is  much   narrower:  for  when 


we  have  sold  sweet-potato  plants  to  the  amount 
of  at  least  $10  or  $15,  and  they  occupied  the 
ground  only  from  60  to  75  days.  At  the  ex- 
treme left  of  the  bed  described  you  see  rows  of 
Prizetaker  onion-plants.  Just  beyond  the  cen- 
tral bed  is  one  of  wax  beans.  It  took  a  great 
deal  of  handling  of  sash  to  save  them  from 
frost,  and  they  got  pretty  well  scorched  as  it 
was.  Right  back  of  them  is  a  crop  of  Early 
Ohio  potatoes  that  I  expect  to  yield  at  the  rate 
of  KKX)  bushels  per  acre.  As  you  know,  the 
Early  Ohio  is  not  a  large  yielder.  At  the  ex- 
treme right  of  the  picture,  near  the  hydrant 
(said  hydrant  being  close  to  the  pile  of  sash), 
you  can  get  a  glimpse  of  the  result  of  one  line 
of  the  steam-pipes.  It  runs  right  under  all 
three  of  the  beds,  and  goes  away  back  in  the 
garden.  Every  thing  under  glass  and  in  the 
open  air  over  this  steam-pipe,  and  for  five  or 
six  feet  on  each  side,  shows  a  very  marked  lux- 
uriance. Just  back  of  the  pile  of  sash,  near  the 
hydrant,  you   can   get  a  little  glimpse  of  what 


(.LKANLNCS  IN   inOK  CU  LTL1K1>:. 


551 


it  dtK>s  in  a  tied  of  ladislifs.  Sec  llic  Inxiiiiaiil 
folia^'c  \\fi\\\  ovci'  111.'  |)i|ic;  and  at  tlic  siunc 
time,  said  stcani-pipc  is  only  fourini-h  tile 
laid  aboiii  l-i  im-lics  iindci-  tlio  surface  of  tiie 
ground.  Exluiust  steam  fiom  on(>  of  our  little 
entrine>  troe>  tlirouirli  this  tile  only  in  tlie  day 
time:  hut  even  now  at  the  preseui  dale.  .lulv 
1.  when  no  steam  has  heen  ihroiish  the  tile  for 
more  tlian  a  month,  every  tiiinfj  prows  with 
marked  hixuriance  over  this  tile.  Prof.  Green 
said,  in  a  recent  visit  to  us.  that  the  action  of 
the  >ieam  resulted,  he  thoufjht  without  ques- 
tion, in  assisting  to  disintegrate  the  soil  and 
liberate  the  nitrates.  I  am  hoping  to  see,  ere 
long,  the  whole  quarter-acre  warm(>d  by  steam 
in  tliis  way. 

SELLING   YOIH  t'KODUCE. 

The  gardener  who  raises  his  stuff,  and  esoc- 
cially  the  early  stulT  that  he  secures  by  workfng 


that  we  were  afiaid  they  could  not  well  ripen, 
so  we  got  these  by  laUiiig  oil  a  part  of  lh<'m."' 

I  could  not  lieip  smiling  at  her  simplicity  ill 
olTeriiig  to  almost  (//re  the  goods  away  hefore 
she  had  sounded  the  purchaser  a  little;  audi 
was  forci'd  to  smile  again  at  her  simplicity;  for, 
before  1  had  time  to  make  any  reply  whatever, 
she  went  on  something  as  follows; 

■■  We  will  lake  it  all  out  in  trade.  .Mr.  Root, 
and  I  do  lioi)e  you  will  give  us  something  for 
them  so  we  shall  not  have  to  take  them  t)ack 
home.  I  really  should  not  know  wliat  to  do 
with  so  many."' 

When  she  "first  took  them  out  of  the  buggy 
and  showed  them  to  me  I  meditated  giving  her 
something  liki'Oor  7  cents  a  quart  for  them: 
but  her  discouragement  at  her  want  of  finding 
a  buyer  actually  infected  me  a  little,  for  1  be- 
gan to  think  that  nobody  wanted  green  goose- 
berries; but  as  fruit  was  very  scarce,  I  could 


ANOTHER   VIEW   OF   GAKDEXING    UNDER   GLASS. 


with  glass,  is  surely  entitled  to  all  his  produce 
will  bring.  If  anybody  is  able  and  willing  to 
pay  him  a  dollar  a  quart  for  his  strawberries 
rorced  under  glass,  it  is  perfectly  right  and 
proper  that  he  should  take  it.  Now,  right  here 
is  where  a  part  of  the  trouble  comes  in  with 
those  who  raise  vegetables  and  small  fruits. 
They  sell  them  for  a  mere  song,  comparatively, 
when  the  real  state  of  the  market  warrants  a 
good  price.  Let  me  illustrate.  A  week  ago  a 
young  farmer  and  his  wife  drove  into  town 
with  half  a  bushel  of  green  gooseberries.  They 
went  to  all  of  the  grociTies.  but  could  not  get 
an  offer  for  them.  Finally  they  came  to  me. 
knowing  tliat  we  raise  small  fruits  consider- 
ably. They  were  evidently  not  schemers  in 
selling  good.s— at  least  the  wife  was  not,  for 
she  spoke  something  like  this:    ■ 

"Mr.  Root.  won"t  you  please  take  these 
gooseberries  off  our  hands  at  some  price?  We 
have  been  all  over  town  with  them,  and  th<n- 
are  afraid  to  buy  them.    Our  bushes  are  so  full 


not  quite  understand  it  either.  Now,  there  is  a 
moral  right  here:  The  seller  may  easily  spoil 
the  faith  of  the  would-be  purchaser  if  he  is  un- 
wise in  trying  to  dispose  of  his  crop.  Of  course, 
he  should  have  something  good.  These  goose- 
berries were  very  fine,  and  had  been  carefully 
picked  and  sorted  over.  To  be  on  the  safe  side 
I  finally  gave  4  cts.  a  quart  for  the  lot.  Now, 
here  comes  in  the  importance  of  a  daily  wagon 
in  place  of  a  grocery  store  or  any  thing  of  the 
sort,  especially  for  small  towns.  The  boys  soon 
drove  up  with  the  wagon,  and  I  told  them  to 
start  the  gooseberries  at  5  cents.  How  do  you 
think  it  turned  out?  Why,  the  first  purchaser 
took  the  whole  lot.  The  next  day  she  sent  for 
another  similar  lot.  to  be  sent  her  by  express. 
Then  somebody  who  heard  of  it  wanted  another 
lot  at  the  same  price;  and  the  orders  came  so 
thick  and  fast  that  I  was  obliged  to  mak<>  an 
advance  from  .">  up  to  8  cents.  Had  I  not  done 
so.  every  gooseberry  would  have  lieen  taken 
from  our  whole  plantation    before  it  was  any- 


552 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


JuiA'  15. 


where  near  ripe.  This  tian-action  indicates 
bunglinji  work.  Tiii^  grocers  made  the  tirst 
bungle  in  r('fll^ing  to  buy  the  gooseberries  of 
;his  young  man  and  woman.  Then  she  bungled 
by  letting  me  know  tliat  she  was  afraid  that 
nobody  wanted  them  at  any  price.  Then  I 
bungled  still  worse  by  letting  the  report  from 
the  grocers  influence  my  better  judgment.  As 
our  bushes  were  also  overloaded,  I  sold  three 
lots  at  5  cents  a  quart,  and  then  found  that  the 
real  value  of  the  ijroduct— that  is.  letting  sup- 
ply and  demand  regulate  the  price— was  about 
8  cents  a  quart,  or  GO  cents  a  peck;  and  they 
are  going  at  this  price  fully  as  fast  as  I  want 
to  see  them  go.  Why.  if  any  of  us  had  looked 
at  the  daily  quotations  in  the  papers,  in  the 
city  of  Cleveland,  we  should  have  found  green 
gooseberries  worth  $2.IM)  at  wholesale.  Now, 
the  price  we  get.  $2.40  per  bushel,  is  a  very 
moderate  profit  indeed  for  such  a  class  of  goods. 
The  same  thing  is  to  be  seen  daily  in  almost  all 
sorts  of  garden  produce.  For  instance,  we  are 
getting  a  cent  an  ounce  for  early  cucumbers 
and  crookneck  squash  this  tirst  day  of  July. 
But  then;  is  a  little  moral  in  regard  to  this. 
The  man  who  drives  the  w  agon  told  me  that  it 
did  not  please  well  to  tell  customers  that  cu- 
cumbers, squashes,  and  wax  bi'ans  were  (t  cent 
an  ounce.  A  better  way  is  to  put  them  up  in, 
say,  KVcent  packages — 10  ounces,  of  course, 
making  a  package.  If  a  customer  is  shown 
.some  nice  squashes  or  cucumbers,  and  told  that 
the  lot  is  worth  10  cents,  he  will  buy  right 
along.  But  experii  nee  has  shown  that  it  is  not 
well  to  talk  ounces  or  pounds  to  him.  Weigh- 
ing seems  to  be  the  only  fair  way  of  treating  all 
alike;  but  the  weighing  is  a  matter  that  the 
seller  tisually  keeps  to  himself.  Of  course,  every 
little  while  somebody  thinks  we  give  only  a 
very  small  lot  for  a  dime;  but  the  seller  can  say 
to  him  truthfully.  ■"  My  friend,  at  this  season  of 
the  year  this  sort  of  stuff  must  be  that  which 
has  been  started  under  glass:  and  the  very  late 
and  frequent  frosts  of  last  spring  necessitated 
an  unusual  amount  of  handling  of  sashes.  We 
succeeded  in  this  svay  in  getting  these  nice 
goods  when  no  one  else  has  any,  as  you  see.  Is 
it  any  thine  more  than  fair  that  we  should 
have  something  for  our  labor?  "  Explanations 
like  these  make  a  transaction  pleasant  that 
otherwise  would  only  awaken  hard  feelings, 
and  may  be  complaining  remarks.  With  the 
aid  of  such  a  garden  as  I  have  been  trying  to 
describe,  we  are  independent  of  the  weather. 
W^e  produce  crops  when  noliody  else  has  any. 
We  have  no  opposition — at  least,  not  in  our 
town;  and  stuff  sent  in  from  the  cities  can  not 
compare  with  ours,  as  I  have  explained  to  yoti; 
therefore  it  is  our  right  and  privilege  to  have 
good  pay  for  nice  goods.  We  first  started  wax 
beans,  raised  under  glass,  at  10  cents  a  quart. 
After  the  demand  had  been  greater  than  the 
supply  for  almost  a  week.  I  suggested  that  we 
could  get  15  cents  a  quart  just  as  well,  and  the 
supply  is  still  less  (July  12)  than  the  demand. 


Notes  of  Travel 

FROM  A.  I.  ROOT. 
THE   INDIAN    SCHOOL. 

All  along  our  trip  the  native  Indians  were  an 
object  of  most  intense  interest,  both  to  my  wife 
and  to  myself:  and  our  frequent  inquiries  in  re- 
gard to  what  had  been  don<'  toward  educating, 
civilizing,  and  Christianizing  these  dusky  broth- 
ers and  sisters  often  brought  out  th(^  remark. 
"Why.  you  should  visit  the  Indian  scliool."  An 
opportunity.  howeviM*.  had  not  presented  itself 
until  we  were  along  as  far  as  the  San  Jacinto 


Valley;  and  then  Mrs.  Root  insisted  that  we 
must  visit  the  schools,  even  if  we  did  not  visit 
any  thing  else.  We  frequently  saw  the  Indians 
on  the  streets  as  they  cam(>  to  town.  We  were 
told  that  many  of  them  could  read  and  write 
fairly.  Quite  a  few  owned  property,  and  did 
more  or  less  in  the  way  of  farming.  Finally  a 
message  came  one  morning,  saying  that  we 
were  invited  to  call  on  some  bee-friends  wlio 
lived  quite  near  the  Indian  reservation;  and  on 
this  reservation  was  the  Indian  village  of  Sabo- 
ba,  the  very  same  that  is  made  prominent  in  the 
story  of  "Ramona."  Our  new  young  friend 
Moriis  had  a  span  of  colts  and  a  buggy  waiting 
to  take  us  to  his  father's  home.  Young  Morris 
is  very  fond  of  horses,  and  1  heard  it  intimated 
that  he  loves /a.si  horses  a  little  better  than  any 
other  kind.  If  that  is  true,  I  hope  he  will  use 
the  fast  horses  as  one  of  (rod's  gifts,  and  by  no 
means  get  to  be  what  is  sometimes  called  a 
"fast"  boy.  Young  Morris  gave  us  a  great 
amount  of  information  during  our  visit.  He 
knew  pretty  much  all  about  the  country,  and  a 
great  deal  about  the  Indians.  As  we  passed 
beautiful  fruit  farms  and  fruit-gardens,  some 
of  them  had  sustained  in  the  recent  fntst  but 
little  if  any  damage.  At  other  points,  not  half 
a  mile  away,  the  damage  was  considerable,  and 
it  was  a  question  whether  the  lemons  and  or- 
anges would  all  recover.  '•  T/fC/'c  is  an  orchard 
that  was  pretty  badly  iKtndijzed"  said  friend 
Morris:  and  it  soon  "became  apparent  that  "par- 
alyzed'' was  one  of  his  favorite  words.  Some  of 
the  Indians  had  a  fashion  of  borrowing  farm- 
ing-implements, and,  like  some  of  their  white 
biethren.  they  did  not  always  remember  to 
bring  them  back.  Some  of  Mr.  Morris"  tools 
were  now  and  then  missing  in  the  same  way; 
and  as  we  drove  into  Saboba  he  began  looking 
about  to  see  if  he  could  not  catch  a  glimpse  of 
some  of  their  lost  tools.  "  If  I  find  the  chap 
that  took  them,  he  will  just  get  paralyzed, 
sure,"  was  announced  as  the  cheerful  prospect 
awaiting  the  delinquents.  The  colts  that  he 
drove  did  not  always  understand  exactly  the 
program,  and,  perhaps,  were  a  little  inquisitive, 
as  colts  often  are,  as  to  where  we  were  going, 
and  what  was  going  to  be  done,  when  friend 
Morris  straightened  them  up  with  a  gentle  lap' 
of  the  lasli  as  an  admonition  to  attend  to  their 
business.  I  suggested  that  he  should  remember 
that  they  were  only  cotts,  and  make  allowances. 
He  said  that  w-as  all  very  well,  but  added,"! 
want  them  to  understand  that,  when  I  am  driv- 
ing, they  are  to  attend  to  business,  and  to  re- 
member that,  if  they  do  not,  they  will  get  paral- 
yzed right  on  the  spot,  sure."  When  I  suggest- 
ed that  perhaps  the  schoolma'am  might  not 
care  to  see  us  intrude  upon  the  lessons  in  that 
sort  of  way.  he  remarked,  with  a  comical  ex- 
pression, "Oh!  the  schoolma'am  is  a  particular 
friend  of  mine;  s/ie  will  always  be  glad  to  see 
me,  you  may  be  sure."  He  reined  his  horses  up 
beside  the  door,  and  tied  them  to  one  of  the 
trees  you  see  in  the  picture  (oh!  by  the  way,  I 
forsot  to  tell  you  there  Is  a  picture;  and  don't 
you  think  it  is  a  good  one  too? — many  thanks  to 
our  friend  Murray,  whose  acquaintance  we 
made  in  our  last  issue).  These  trees  are  the 
cottonwoods  I  am  going  to  tell  you  something 
about  before  we  leave  San  Jacinto.  Well,  after 
the  horses  wei-e  fastened,  and  before  we  had 
time  to  rap  at  the  door,  the  schoolma'am,  whom 
you  see  in  the  easy  chair,  welcomed  us  smiling- 
ly, especially  friend  Morris:  and  I  fell  to  won- 
dering whether  the  influence  of  the  friendship 
of  that  good  woman  might  not  lielp  to  hold  our 
young  friend  steady  and  level  as  he  progresses 
from  "boyhood  to  manhood.  The  juvenile  part 
of  liie  school  was  out  at  recess  when  we  came 
up.  In  their  plays  they  are  very  much  like 
white  children,  only  they  seem  to  have  a   little 


1  s«,»-j 


c.LKANiNcs  IX  m;i<;  (  ii/rnnE. 


554 


GLEANIJsGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  15. 


more  love  for  outdoor  aii',  or,  rather,  more  pref- 
erence to  being  barefooted  and  bareheaded, 
and  their  sport  seemed  to  be  with  veritable 
bows  and  arrows,  true  to  nature  and  instinct. 
If  the  girls  can  get  a  bright  colored  handker- 
chief to  tie  over  their  heads,  or  a  thin  shawl, 
with  glaring  bright  colors,  to  throw  over  their 
shoulders,  then  they  are  content  to  be  clothed — 
at  least  to  this  extent. 

Here  is  a  point,  perhaps,  which  should  be 
emphasized  a  little  more.  The  Indians  are  ex- 
pert hop-pickers  and  berry-pickers,  and,  in  fact, 
they  are  adepts  in  every  thing  in  that  line.  You 
see,  gathering  wild  fruits  and  berries  is  a  part 
of  their  earliest  experience,  and  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal ways  in  which  they  obtain  a  subsistence. 
Well,  now,  this  love  of  finery  is  so  strong  that 
the  average  Indian  will  work  through  a  whole 
hop-picking  season,  doing  a  tremendous  sight 
of  hard  work:  and  when  he  is  through  he  will 
take  the  whole  of  his  earnings  and  pay  it  out 
for  a  single  blanket,  providing  the  coloi'sof  it 
are  bright  enough.  In  fact,  he  won't  save  out 
even  a  nickel  to  buy  him  a  supper,  even  though 
tlie  hop-picking  season  is  over,  and  he  does  not 
know  when  he  will  have  a  chance  of  earning 
another  cent.  Of  course,  he  wants  a  blanket 
that  will  take  the  shine  from  any  thing  else 
owned  in  the  whole  tribe;  and  then  he  will 
parade  the  streets,  and  enjoy  the  attention  he 
receives  from  everybody,  right  and  left.  When 
1  say  he  I  do  not  mean  it  is  the  men-folks  alone 
that  are  guilty  of  this  weakness.  A  nice-look- 
ing young  squaw  is  just  as  fond  of  attracting 
admiring  glances  as — suppose  we  say  any  of  her 
white  sisters.  Her  white  sister  has  a  little  more 
modesty  and  decorum  about  it;  but  is  it  any 
thing  so  very  strange  that  this  untaught  child 
of  the  forest  should  show  this  trait  (or  better, 
perhaps,  weakness)?  Oh  for  some  good  Chris- 
tian woman,  or  man  either,  to  look  after  these 
children,  to  protect  them,  to  watch  over  them, 
and  lead  them  to  something  better,  purer,  and 
a  thousand  times  more  satisfactory  in  every 
way.  than  any  thing  that  can  be  got  out  of 
beads  or  shawls  or  handkeichiefs  1  In  the 
picture  you  will  see  a  little  chap  with  a  ring  in 
one  of  his  ears.  W'here  they  can  not  get  two 
earrings  they  do  the  best  they  can  with  one; 
and  I  have  been  led  to  believe  they  sometimes 
divide,  where  there  is  not  enough  to  go  around. 
When  recess  was  over,  the  sch(»olma'am  seemed 
to  have  some  little  trouble  about  getting  her 
flock  back  inside  of  the  schoolhouse  door. 

I  did  not  know  but  friend  Morris  and  the  rest 
of  us  had  "paralyzed"  them  a  little  into  be- 
ing even  more  bashful  than  usual.  Finally, 
however,  they  were  all  brought  in — even  tlie 
little  chick  who  sits  between  her  two  sisters, 
on  the  right  of  the  picture.  From  their  looks  I 
feared  they  were  not  going  to  be  very  ready 
with  their  lessons;  but  imagine  my  surprise 
vvhen  they  answered  promptly,  spoke  more  dis- 
tinctly, and  perhaps  more  correctly,  than  any 
of  our  Yankee  schoolchildren.  You  go  into  a 
Yankee  school,  and  you  hear  more  or  less  of  the 
Yankee  nasal  twang  and  flatness  to  many  of 
the  word-.  The  Indian  children,  when  they 
dropped  their  mother  tongue,  sei'med  to  adopt 
pure,  sharp-cut,  clear  English.  I  was  more  as- 
tonished to  hear  them  recite  in  geography. 
The  hard  Indian  names,  that  bother  almost 
every  one  to  pronounce,  .seemed  to  be  at  their 
tongues*  ends.  y\nd  why  should  they  not? 
By  the  way.  are  they  having  due  credit  for 
having  given  henntlful  names  to  almost  all 
the  lakes,  rivers,  and  town^^,  of  our  whole  na- 
tion ?  In 'answer  to  my  many  questions,  the 
teacher  showed  us  some  of  their  compositions; 
and  Mrs.  Root  said  she  never  wanted  any  thing 
much  more  in  her  life  tiian  some  of  the  com- 
positions written    by   those    Indian     boys  and 


girls.  But  when  the  teacher  remarked  that  all 
the  best  had  been  carried  off  by  visitors,  we 
hardly  had  the  cheek  to  ask  for  more  of  them. 

I  suppose  you  know  that  a  good  many  people 
have  given  the  Indians  a  rather  hard  name. 
They  call  them  shiftless,  dishonest,  and  thiev- 
ish; and  I  have  b(>come  almost  discouraged  in 
trying  to  plead  charity  for  these  friends  of  our.s 
who  possessed  our  land  long  before  we  knew 
there  ums  such  a  land. 

Another  thing  impressed  me,  and  I  hope  no 
one  will  feel  hurt  if  I  speak  out  plainly.  Chris- 
tian people,  and  educated  and  intelligent  peo- 
ple as  a  rule,  spoke  hopefully  of  the  work 
among  the  Indians:  Non-professors  of  religion, 
especially  those  who  made  lightof  Christianity, 
seemed  to  think  the  Indians  and  the  Chinese 
ought  to  be  pushed  back  until  they  finally 
reach  the  jumping-off  place,  and  then  they 
thought  they  ought  to  be  pushed  clear  off  out 
of  the  way.  Some  professors  of  religion  talked 
a  good  deal  in  the  same  way,  but  they  were 
usually  backslidden  spiritually.  A  faith  in  God 
is  surely  conducive  to  hope  in  these  lower  races. 

One  reason  why  I  wanted  this  picture  en- 
graved foi'  Gi>EANiNGS  was.  that  you  might 
look  into  the  faces  of  these  children,  and  catch 
the  inspiration  that  such  a  picture  always 
gives  me.  A  single  glance  at  that  teacher's 
face  shows  hope  and  love  and  faith.  Y'es. 
come  to  think  of  it,  it  shows /aifli,  hope,  chari- 
ty ;  and  her  pupils,  especially  the  older  ones, 
are  fast  coming  to  imitate  her.  I  have  been 
told  that  she,  too.  has  some  Indian  blood  in  her 
veins.  If  it  be  true,  I  hope  she  is  proud  of  it.  I 
am  sure  I  should  be  if  I  were  in  her  place;  and 
if  any  one  suggests  by  word,  thought,  or 
action,  that  she  is  any  less  to  be  respected  on 
that  account,  may  God  forgive  him,  and  may 
his  Holy  Spirit  teach  such  a  one  the  error  and 
the  wrong  he  is  doing.  My  friend,  as  you  look 
upon  the  picture  before  us,  can  you  imagine  any 
more  noble  calling  than  to  be  teacher  in  that 
humble  little  adobe  schoolhouse.  and  to  be  lead- 
ing these  precious  children  on  the  way  from 
earth  to  heaven  ?  As  I  look  again  on  th(>ir 
faces,  even  in  the  picture,  that  little  prayer 
wells  tip  anew,  "Lord,  helpl"  and  may  the 
Lord  in  real  truth  help  us  all  to  remember  the 
sacred  responsibility  that  rests  upon  us  as  we 
take  possession  of  this  fair  land  of  America,  and 
subdue  it  to  our  use;  and  may  he  help  us  to  re- 
member these  children  of  the  forest,  and  their 
cliildr(>n"s  childien;  for  if  they  have  vicious 
pr(ii)ensiiies.  so  have  we.  If  they  are  inclined 
to  be  sellish  and  indolent,  so  are  we.  And,  dear 
friend,  dare  you  undertake  to  say  that  you  and 
I  would  not  have  been  heathen  and  savages  too, 
had  it  not  been  for  the  influences  of  civilization 
and  Christianity  round  about  us?  Somebody 
has  said  that  we  are  all  Zvorri savages;  and  that, 
but  for  the  influences  of  Clirist's  redeeming 
blood,  we  should  all  be  savages  still.  The  re- 
sponsibility, the  entire  work  of  making  us  men 
and  women  in  the  image  of  God,  rests  upon  the 
careful  teaching  and  manipulation  of  the  little 
minds  in  their  tender  years.  Some  of  those 
girls,  and  I  hope  boys  too.  will  grow  up  to  be 
teacliers  like  the  teacher  who  sits  in  the  chair. 
May  God  strengthen  her  for  her  work,  and  in  a 
like  manner  strengthen  the  great  army  of 
teachers  throughout  our  land,  especially  the 
teachers  who  are  doing  missionary  work. 

And  now  if  I  have  taught  yoti  to  love  these 
children,  and  to  love  their  teacher,  by  this  pic- 
lur(!  and  my  short  talk.  1  shall  feel  happy. 
Some  oiK^  may  whisper  that  I  do  not  know 
these  people.  Wtdl.  in  one  sense  I  atn  glad  I 
do  not.  I  do  not  want  to  know  the  bad  there  is 
about  them.  I  want  to  know  only  tln^  good.  I 
thank  Heaven  I  do  know  theri;  are  susceptibil- 
ities for  good  in  the  face  of  eveiy  one  of  them; 


l.S'l-' 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


155 


and  1  do  not  (loiibl  ai  all  lliat.  if  we  oom(»  to 
follow  tlioir  histories  ihrouKli  life,  the  tinic 
inipht  I'onii'  wticii  any  of  ns  might  he  proud  to 
niako  the  ai-tniaintanco  of  sonu'  who  aro  gath- 
cicd  t licit",  (iod  hloss  tlio  toachors,  and  Ciod 
bless  ihc  work  I 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


FMvo  of  you  shall  rhaso  a  liundred.  ami  a  liuiidred 
of  ymi  shidl  put  ten  thousand  to  Hifrlit.— Lev.  26  :  8. 

This  is  Strong  language— the  language  of  our 
text — is  it  not?  And  what  does  it  mean?  If 
you  go  hack  to  the  beginning  of  the  chapter,  it 
seems  very  clear  that  it  is  those  who  keep  God's 
fnihlmthn.  and  who  walk  in  his  stittuie-s  and 
keep  his  roiiuniDKls.  In  fact,  this  is  a  chapter 
of  promises  to  those  who  obey.  In  other  words, 
we  are  told— nay.  have  the  promise  in  God's 
holy  word— that  five  true  Christians  shall  chase 
a  hundred  unbelievers,  and  so  on;  therefore  in 
this  coiuiiig  World's  Exposition  just  before  us, 
tliere  will  not  be  any  dilliculty  at  all  about  the 
matter  of  having  thi^  Exposition  closed  on  Sun- 
day if  C/ir/-v^(V(/i.s  really  (rrf;(f  it  closed.  Why, 
suppose  the  enemies  of  righteousness  and  god- 
liness do  outnumber  us.  The  Bible  tells  us  that 
a  hundred  shall  put  ten  thousand  to  flight; 
that  is.  a  hundred  faithful  devoted  Christians. 
Some  of  you  are  perhaps  ready  to  laugh  in  de- 
rision at  such  an  idea.  But,  dear  friends,  I 
believe  the  Bible  statement.  Furthermore.  I 
hope  you  may  be  induced  to  believe  it  too.  if 
you  who  profess  to  be  followers  of  Christ  can 
"work  with  Christian  weapons  and  nothing  more. 
Then,  what  are  Chiistian  weapons?  Well.  I 
can  not  not  tell  you  exactly  what  sort  of  weap- 
ons to  use  under  all  sorts  of  circumstances;  but 
perhaps  I  can  help  a  little  by  some  suggestions. 
This  I  do  believe  most  firmly— that,  if  we  are 
constantly  seeking  the  guidance  of  the  Holy 
.Spirit,  we  shall  not  go  very  far  astray.  At  a 
n-cent  Ohio  State  Endeavor  convention  held  in 
our  neighboring  city  of  Akron,  there  was  a 
movement  started  to  get  names  or  pledges  of 
those  who  would  refuse  to  attend  the  Exposition 
if  it  were  open  on  Sunday,  or  if  intoxicating 
liquors  were  sold  on  the  ground.  The  matter 
has  troubled  me  somewhat.  It  does  not  trouble 
?iie  Ucau>e  I  think  that  Christian  people  ought 
not  to  go  to  such  a  place  where  these  things  are 
countenanced,  but  it  troubles  ine  to  know  what 
is  the  wisest  and  best  way  to  l)ring  about  what 
we  desire.  I  once  heard  a  very  earnest  Chris- 
tian man — yes.  an  intelligent  man  too— say  he 
would  not  go  to  the  Exposition  if  it  were  open 
on  Sunday.  His  neighbor,  who  is  an  unbeliever, 
retorted  instantly  that  he  would  not  go  if  tliey 
closed  on  .Sunday.  It  gave  me  a  sort  of  feeling 
as  though  that  was  no:  the  best  way  to  settle 
differences  among  "ourselves  and  our  iieigli- 
bors."  Only  yesterday  I  heard  of  a  good  woman 
who  is  not  living  with  her  husband.  The  rea- 
son was.  that  she  told  him  plainly  she  would 
not  live  with  him  any  longer  unless  ln'  gave  up 
tobacco.  As  soon  as  I  heard  it  I  said  at  once, 
"Oh  dear!  oh  dear!  What  a  .srn/  blunder  they 
are  boDi  making!''  I  repeated  the  conversation 
at  the  breakfast-table,  and,  to  my  distuay,  Con- 
stance declared  she  thought  the  woman  did 
just  right:  and  when  I  looked  up  in  astonish- 
ment and  pain,  she  clinched  her  argument  by 
saying,  "Look  here,  father;  if  mother  used 
tobacco  (and  some  women  do  use  it,  you  know) 
would  you  live  with  her?" 

I  replied  instantly,  without  stopping  to  think 
a  moment,  and  glanced  over  to  my  wife  lovingly 
as  I  made  answer: 

"To  be  sure.  I  would   live  with   her:   and  I 


would  stick  by  lierevtMi  more  faithfully,  in  such 
an  (>vent,  than  I  do  now." 

I  think  she  fully  agieed  with  ni(>,  for  she  gave 
me  a  l)right.  encouraging  smile,  any  way.  .Shall 
I  explain  fniiher  what  1  meant  by  such  a  rc- 
niark?  Well.  1  meant  this:  That."if  my  dear 
wife  were  wedded  to  toixicco  or  any  other  such 
l)ad  habit  nu)re  than  she  felt  wedded  to  her 
liKNitand.  I  would  set  to  work  and  do  my  level 
best  in  siti)j>l<intin<i  tobacco.  I  would  try  to 
"cut  out"  tol)acco,  if  that  is  the  right  way  to 
express  it.  Years  ago.  when  one  voting  man 
worked  his  way  into  the  affections' of  a  voung 
lady  who  was  already  waited  upon  by  another 
"  feller."  he  was  .said  to  "cut  "  the  said  party  of 
the  .second  part  "out."  And  that  is  just  what 
1  should  try  hard  to  do.  I  remember  quite  well, 
away  back  when  my  wife  and  myself  were  in 
our  teens,  some  little  difficulty  came  up  between 
us;  and  I  said  that,  unless  she  would  consent 
to  do  as  I  thought  she  ought  to  do,  I  would  go 
away  and  not  come  back  <tny  more.  A  sad 
state  of  affairs,  was  it  not?  She  very  quietly 
said,  "All  right."  I  went  away  to  do  as  I  said. 
I  concluded,  however,  after  a  few  days,  that  I 
had  got  the  worst  of  the  bargain,  and  begged 
pardon,  and  took  back  ray  ugly  threat.  There 
(S  one  way  in  which  a,  hundred  Christians  can 
chase  ten  thousand,  but  I  don't  believe  it  is  by 
threats.  Threats  are  almost  always  bad.  Cer- 
tain kinds  of  threats  are  called  boycotting;  and 
boycotting  is  certainly  a  very  dangerous  weap- 
on. I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  it  should  never 
be  used;  but  it  should  be  used  with  great  care 
and  wisdom.  I  am  sure  it  is  right  to  bovcott  a 
saloon  keeper,  and  to  starve  him  out;  but.  come 
to  think  of  it.  I  do  not  think  "boycotting"  is 
just  the  word  I  would  recoiuinend,  after  all.  I 
oiu'e  told  a  saloon-keeper  that,  if  he  set  up  a 
bar  in  his  boarding-house.  I  would,  by  every 
fair  and  honorable  means  in  my  power,  keep 
my  employes  from  patronizing  him:  but  that, 
if  he  would  keep  a  respectable  house.  I  would, 
on  the  contrary,  do  all  I  could  to  assist  him  in 
building  up  a  prospei'ous  business.  I  said  it  to 
hiiu  plainly  and  kindly,  and.  I  believe,  with 
neighborly  feelings.  Well,  now,  suppose  my 
good  wife  did  use  tobacco;  how  would  I  go  to 
work?  Why,  I  would  endeavor  to  get  between 
her  and  the  appetite  for  tobacco;  and  I  would 
do  luy  level  best  to  succeed.  Under  certain 
conditions  almost  any  young  man  can  work 
pretty  earnestly  in  w  inning  a  young  lady's  af- 
fections. Once  upon  a  time  it  was  deemed 
expedient  to  keep  some  piece  of  news  from  me. 
My  good  wife  suggested  that  it  was  next  to 
impossible.  She  said  that,  when  I  got  hold  of 
the  least  clew,  no  one  who  talked  with  me  at 
all  could  resist  my  ability  to  bring  to  light  the 
full  facts  in  the  case;  and  yet  I  always  did  it 
by  fair  and  honorable  means.  I  do  not  mean  to 
boast,  but  quite  the  contrary.  When  one  sets 
about  something  lie  very  earnestly  wishes  to 
accomplish,  if  he  works  hard  enough,  and  holds 
on  long  enough,  if  he  is  an  earnest  Christian 
he  will  generally  succeed;  and  he  will  do  it  by 
fair  means  too.  Why.  we  have  the  Bible  prom- 
ise for  this  very  thing.  You  will  remember  the 
bright  little  text  I  talked  about  a  few  weeks 
ago.  "No  good  thing  will  he  withhold  from 
them  that  walk  uprightly."  I'esterday.  in  our 
morning  reading  at  church  I  was  almost'startled 
by  one  almost  parallel  to  it.  I  put  inv  finger  on 
it  to  call  my  wife's  attention  to  the  bri(!f  little 
promise:  "  Unto  the  ujjright  there  ariseth  light 
in  the  darkness." 

Well,  now.  this  matter  of  tobacco  I  would  get 
my  good  wife  to  give  up  by  showing  her  some- 
thing a  great  deal  better  than  tobacco.  I  would 
get  myself  in  between  her  and  the  tobacco 
habit.  I  do  not  mean  particularly  to  call  mi/- 
•sc?/ something  a  greatdeal  better  than  tobacco; 


556 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  15. 


but  I  would  show  her  something  higher,  nobler, 
purer,  and  a  thousand  times  more  satisfactory 
than  any  enjoyment  or  comfort  that  tobacco 
could  give.  You  may  suggest,  that  may  be  I 
might  slip  up  in  my  undertaking.  No,  I  should 
not.,  I  am  sure  of  it.  God  hclpimj  inc.  I  should 
succeed.  Pardon  me  if  I  revertagain  and  again 
to  this  matter  of  winning  a  companion  for  life. 
No  young  man  wins  his  girl  by  boycotting. 
Why,  the  very  minute  be  begins  to  use  any  sort 
of  threat  he  has  lost  his  chance.  A  threat  in 
such  a  case  would  not  do  at  all,  especially  with 
a  woman  that  is  worth  having.  He  must  win 
his  prize  by  pleading;  by  kindness  and  gentle- 
ness; by  being  a  m<tn  in  the  truest  sense  of  the 
word:  and  in  just  this  way  we  are  to  win  the 
world  to  Christ.  Yes.  in  just  this  way — at  least, 
so  it  seems  to  me — we  are  to  win  the  (jredt  wide 
ti^orld  to  the  desirability  of  keeping  the  Sab- 
bath; and  we  need  not  go  about  it  with  trem- 
bling knees  and  sinking  hearts  either;  for  every 
good  man — every  one  who  loves  purity  and  god- 
liness and  straightforwardness  in  its  iaest  sense, 
should  have  reason  to  know  by  past  experience 
that  he  is  more  than  a  match  for  twenty  men 
who  are  bad  and  wicked.  But  he  must  preserve 
his  integrity;  he  must  meet  them  with  such 
kindness  and  gentle  bearing,  that,  even  though 
he  is  opposed  to  their  plans  and  schemes,  his 
very  demeanor  commends  itself  to  them.  He 
must  be  a  pure  man;  and  if  he  is  obliged  to  use 
force,  or,  in  other  words,  to  have  recourse  to 
law,  he  must  do  it  in  such  a  gentle  way  that 
those  he  punishes  will  feel  as  if  he  were  a 
friend  and  neighbor  still. 

I  do  not  know  how  the  matter  will  turn  out 
about  this  Sunday  opening  at  the  Exposition, 
eventually;  but  I  do  not  believe  that  our  nation 
is  going  to  go  backward  in  such  an  important 
matter.  Neither  do  I  believe  that  intoxicating 
liquors  will  be  sold  on  the  grounds.  With  all 
the  good  people  we  have  in  this  United  States  of 
America,  the  matter  seems  impossible.  It  is  but 
a  few  years  since  intoxicating  liquors  were  sold 
on  our  Medina  fairgrounds;  yet  public  opinion 
is  such  that  it  would  be  next  to  impossible  now. 
I  believe  it  was  the  county  fairs  that  com- 
menced to  banish  the  beer-trade;  then  the 
State  fairs  followed,  one  State  after  another. 
You  see,  the  movement  for  good  commenced 
with  individuals;  and  it  grew,  and  is  going  to 
keep  on  growing. 

I  am  now  going  to  touch  upon  something 
more  sad  and  alarming  than  the  Exposition 
question.  In  the  great  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
just  a  few  days  ago  there  was  an  outbreak  be- 
tween capital  and  labor.  The  police  regula- 
tions were  not  sufficient  to  preserve  law  and 
order.  I  may  not  be  in  possession  of  the  full 
facts  in  the  case;  but  I  believe  it  was  some- 
thing like  this:  The  workmen  of  a  certain  large 
manufacturing  establishment  either  demanded 
moi^e  pay  or  else  objected  to  a  reduction  in  pay. 
The  result  is  about  the  same  in  either  case. 
The  proprietors  must  either  shut  down  or  train 
new  men  to  till  the  places  of  the  strikers.  This 
latter  the  strikers  would  not  permit.  And  in 
this  they  rebelled  against  the  laws  of  the  Unit- 
ed States  when  they  undertook  to  use  force  to 
prevent  others  from  taking  the  places  they  had 
vacated.  It  was  a  rebellion  on  a  small  scale. 
A  rebellion  of  any  sort  should  be  put  down;  or, 
better  still,  if  it  is  a  possible  thing  we  should 
avoid  having  a  rebellion.  In  this  case  preven- 
tion is  certainly  better  than  cure.  Well,  the 
proprietors  called  for  additional  police  force 
and  assistance.  Our  pastor,  in  referring  to  it 
yesterday  in  his  sermon,  said  that,  under  some 
circumstances,  calling  for  additional  police 
force  is  like  loading  the  safety-valve  to  get 
more  work  out  of  your  boiler.  It  might  get  you 
out  of  temporary  embarrassment,  providing  the 


boiler  did  not  burst  and  blow  up  the  whole 
ranch.  Police  force  is  all  right  and  good  so  far 
as  it  goes;  but  in  this  case,  for  some  reason  or 
other  the  addi:ional  force  was  not  forthcom- 
ing. Public  sentiment  was  so  against  the  pro- 
prietors, or  the  millionaires,  if  you  choose,  that 
they  refused  to  arrest  the  strikers;  oi-.  if  they 
did  not  refuse  to  arrest  them,  they  did  it  with 
reluctance  and  a  want  of  heartiness.  If  you 
want  a  policeman  to  work  effectually,  you  want 
to  give  him  a  cause  where  he  can  have  his 
heart  in  his  work,  and  where  he  feels  sure  that 
he  is  working  for  the  public  good;  then  the 
moneyed  men,  who  doubtless  thought  niillions 
would  do  every  thing,  sent  for  Pinkerton  detec- 
tives. But  this  so  incensed  the  strikers  that 
they  turned  their  whole  spite  on  the  Pinker- 
tons,  and  a  sad  sight  followed.  When  I  heard 
of  it  I  said  almost  exactly  as  I  did  when  I 
heard  of  the  good  wife  who  left  her  husband 
because  he  did  not  give  up  tobacco,  "Poor  de- 
luded mortals  on  both  sides  I  " 

Do  you  wish  to  know  why  I  feel  sorry  for 
them  ?  Well,  I  feel  sorry  for  the  millionaires 
because  they  are  so  foolish  as  to  imagine  their 
money  was  going  to  enable  them  to  rule  their 
workmen  by  might  and  by  power;  or  that  they 
imagined  Pinkerton  detectives  were  going  to 
bring  peace  and  harmony  into  that  community. 
When  the  Bible  says  that  five  shall  chase  a 
hundred,  do  you  think  it  means  that  five  Pin- 
kerton  men  shall  chase  one  hundred  strikers? 
Why,  they  might  if  they  had  rigJit  and  Justice 
on  their  side.  But  even  if  they  did,  they  would 
have  to  do  it  over  again  every  day  or  two.  One 
good  earnest  Christian  ought  to  be  able  to  do 
more  for  peace  and  harmony  at  such  a  time 
than  all  the  Pinkertons  in  Chicago.  May  be 
you  think  I  do  not  know  what  I  am  talking 
about.  In  my  last  talk,  perhaps  some  of  you 
thought  I  was  presuming  a  good  deal  in  what  I 
said.  I  talked  as  if  I  were  intimately  acquaint- 
ed with  the  prince  of  darkness.  Well,  I  tell 
you  I  ought  to  feel  acquainted  with  him;  yes,  I 
ought  to  feel  that  I  know  him  better  than  any 
other  individual  in  this  whole  wide  world. 
Well,  I  am  somewhat  acquainted  with  detect- 
ives too.  Once  or  twice  I  have  been  persuaded 
that  it  was  well  to  do  evil  that  good  might  come 
of  it.  I  have  paid  some  hard-earned  money  to 
detectives,  and  have  had  a  glimpse  of  their  way 
of  managing.  Christ  Jesus  said,  "In  secret 
have  I  done  nothing;"  and  I  do  not  see  how  a 
follower  of  his  can  be  in  the  detective  business, 
or  help  employ  detectives.  Well,  what  shall  be 
done  in  Pennsylvania?  Why.  it  seems  very 
clear  and  plain  that  loading  down  the  safety- 
valve  is  not  the  way  to  run  machinery:  it  is 
behind  the  times.  It  is  not  in  harmony  with 
the  teachings  of  Him  who  said,  ■'  Love  ye  your 
enemies."  I  have  no  sympathy  with  the  strik- 
ers, as  you  may  well  know;  neither  have  I 
sympathy  with  the  millionaires,  who  think 
tnat,  because  they  control  millions,  they  are 
better  than  other  people.  I  havi>  been  told  that 
the  rebels  in  Pennsylvania  (and  thoy  are  rebels) 
are  not  only  skilled  workmen,  many  of  them, 
but  are  among  the  better  classes.  This  would 
show  that  the  provocation  has  been  great  and 
severe. 

I  have  told  you  about  a  large  factory  where 
they  paid  their  men  Saturday  night  20  per  cent 
less  than  they  had  been  in  the  habit  of  paying. 
This  they  did  without  notice  or  consultation  of 
any  kind  with  the  workmen.  When  some  one 
had  the  "  cheek,"  as  the  employers  termed  it, 
to  inquire  about  this  reduction  without  notice, 
all  the  reply  he  received  was,  "'  If  you  don't  like 
our  way  of  doing  business,  you  know  what  to 
do."  This  is  what  I  should  call  loading  the 
safety-valve.  Well,  friends,  you  have  probably 
guessed   that  what  I  mean   is,  that  five  shall 


1892 


C.LEANIN(}S  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


oliaso  a  luiiulivd  by  doin;:  it  by  the  power  of 
hiVi\  and  not  by  mitrlu  or  stivnjith  or  moiii'v. 
If  I  went  to  woiK  to  stop  my  wifo  from  using 
lobaci'o,  iior  alTcotion,  love  and  t'st(>cm  for  me. 
and  mini'  for  licr.  wonlii  be  ilicgi'i-at  lever  on 
wliii'li  1  would  \\oiU.  In  all  tbese  years  sini't' 
my  lirst  t'liristian  experience,  iliis  iniRbty  lever 
has  lieen  gro\viii}i  so  long  and  strong  that  I  am 
SUP!'  that  even  Satan  himself  with  all  his  allie^; 
could  never  break  nor  bend  it.  I  should  I'xpect 
her  to  spring  forward  on  the  instant,  wi'h  ^ome- 
ihing  liUe  this:  "All  right,  dear  husband.  If 
ihe  loliac'o  I  use  gives  you  so  much  p;iin  I  will 
drop  it  this  inslant.  no  matter  what  it  costs 
me:""  uud  net  to  Lave  the  matter  one-sided,  I 
should  exc>c;.  r' course,  to  do  tiie  same  iu  re- 
gard tc  SLi.)  jLU.r  hiibiiof  mine  that  gave  her 
pain.  Why.  I  should  not  be  }utlf  n  mun  if  I 
could  not  saci'itice  simicthimi  for  her  deai"  sake. 
And  riow  l)etween  proprietors  and  their  help, 
there  should  be  this  same  priuciph'  of  Christian 
lovi'.  When  the  proprietor  is  in  a  tight  place, 
with  work  to  be  done  at  a  certain  tinu;.  the  feel- 
ing of  good  will  between  himself  and  his  men 
should  be  such  that,  just  us  soon  as  he  came 
among  them  and  stated  his  wishes,  there  would 
be  a  grand*iallying  to  the  front,  with  an  invita- 
tion to  him  to  ■■  bring  on  the  work."'  telling  him 
it  would  be  tinished  in  tirst-class  style  at  the 
time  he  wanted  it.  Wliy.  such  a  state  of  affairs, 
compared  with  things  as  they  are  in  that  com- 
munity in  Penusylvania.  would  seem  like  a 
heaven  upon  earth.  Hm  yet  it  is  no  myth. 
There  are  various  manufactories  hert^  in  our 
country  that  come  very  near  to  it.  Now.  this 
gooti  will — this  cheerful  alacrity  among  men — 
can  not  be  purchased  with  //lo/ic// alone.  It  can 
not  be  worked  up  in  a  day.  The  employer 
mu>t.  by  personal  acquaintance,  gain  the  good 
will  of  his  helpers  by  just  and  considerate  deal- 
ing and  acts  of  kindness  and  sympathy.  He 
must  be  one  among  them.  In  this  way  five  men 
slidll  chase  a  hundii-d.  and  a  hundred  shall  put 
ten  lli<nistni(l  to  tlitrlit. 


Jesus  said.  I  am  the  li(fht  of  the  world:  he  that  fullnweth  me 
shall  n"t  walk  in  darkness,  but  sliiU  have  the  light  vt  life. 
— JoH.N  8.  12. 


Oil  myl  you  just  ought  to  see  what  be-auti- 
ful  combs  horizontal  wiring  gives  on  medium 
brood  foundation.  It  is  re;illy  <.oo  bad  that  bee- 
keepers generally  have  never  given  tliis  plan  a 
careful  trial.  Tlie  combs  that  we  are  now 
getting  are  like  solid  boards;  and  in  many 
cases  they  are  already  being  built  clear  down  to 
the  bottom-bar.  leaving  no  lurking-jilace  for 
queens  or  bees  to  hide.  So  much  for  a  narrow 
bottom- bar. 

The  flow  from  basswood  has  been  exception- 
ally heavy.  We  never  saw  the  bees  working  so 
strong  as  they  have  been  during  the  last  week. 
On  or  about  the  first  of  July  our  colonies  were 
on  the  verge  of  starvation.  '\t  this  date,  July 
I'i.  all  the  hives  are  crammed  full  of  honey, 
and  even  nuclei  have  filled  their  combs.  This 
large,  supply  of  nectar  seems  to  come  entirely 
from  young  basswood-trees,  because  the  old 
ones  have  been  cut  down  for  sections. 

Later.— U  transpires  that  some  of  this  honey, 
at  least,  is  from  white  clover,  which  this  year 
we  thought  would  amount  to  nothing. 


SoMK  years  ago  we  weri'  (piite  severely  and 
harshly,  as  we  thought,  criticised  for  ofterjug 
to  .sell  laying  queens  at  a  dollar  each,  such 
queens  being  styled  worthless,  etc.  It  is  a  little 
refreshing,  if  not  comical,  to  notice  how  those 
Siime  i)arties  are  now  •celling  unlesled  queens 
for  from  7.")  cts.  to  *1.0().  Did  these  critics  of  by- 
gone days  forget  the  past  when  the  logic  of 
■ioUars  and  cents  convinced  them  of  their  for- 
mer error,  and  that  good  queens  could  be  produc- 
ed for  this  money? 

We  shall  be  v(>ry  much  obliged  if  bee-keepers 
all  over  the  country,  just  as  soon  as  thev  read 
this,  will  send  us  a  pt)stal  card,  answering,  in 
not  more  than  four  or  live  words,  these  two 
questions:  1.  How  has  the  honey  season  been 
with  you  this  year?  'i.  What  is  vour  average 
per  colony  up  to  date?  .\nswer' by  number. 
We  an- well  aware  that  this  will  be  too  early 
for  many  localities,  on  account  of  the  lateness 
of  the  season;  but  we  want  just  such  informa- 
tion as  you  are  able  to  give  at  the  time;  of  sign- 
ing the  postal  card.  What  we  desire  to  do  is  to 
report  the  condition  of  the  honey  .season,  so  far 
as  possible,  throughout  the  country. 

We  are  receiving  excellent  reports  from  the 
new  Hoffman  frame,  with  its  V  edge  on  one 
side  of  the  end-bars.  Theory  says  the  sharp 
point  will  not  work:  but  practice  and  experi- 
ence say  emphatically  that  it  does.  The  more 
we  try  and  use  these  frames,  the  more  pi-ide  we 
take  in  feeling  that  we  called  the  attention  of 
bee-keepers  in  these  latter  days  to  something 
which  has  been  used  successifully  for  the  last 
ten  or  twelve  years.  The  V  edge  has  been 
quite  severely  attacked  by  those  who  have  not 
tried  it.  It  might  be  well  for  those  critics  to 
give  it  a  trial. 

E.  T.  Flanagan,  of  Belleville,  111.,  says,  in 
the  Bee-keepers'  Review,  that,  after  years  of 
experience,  he  has  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
it  is  far  better  and  safer  to  ship  bees  on  a  frame 
of  brood  and  honey  than  to  ship  them  in  pound 
packages  with  only  candy:  and  that  the  slight 
additional  express  charges,  as  a  result  of  the 
former  method,  are  more  than  made  up  by  the 
better  condition  of  the  nucleus.  This  is  exactly 
our  experiiMice.  We  have  been  testing  the  mat- 
ter again  this  summer,  with  the  same  old  result 
that  pound  packages  on  the  Good  candy  are  a 
VI  ry  unreliable  method  of  shipping  bees.'  Bees 
on  combs  invariably  go  through  in  good  order, 
while  bees  on  pound  packages  .seldom  do. 

Some  weeks  ago  we  purchased  one  of  Doo- 
little's  queens  that  produce  bees  having  abdo- 
mens almost  .solid  yellow.  On  most  of  the  bees 
there  is  only  a  little  ti[)  of  black  just  back  of 
the  sting.  They  are  not'  old  enough  yet  to  be 
tested  for  honey.  La.si  fall  we  received  fi'om 
W.  H.  Laws  a  queen  whose  bees  are  four  and 
live  banded.  These  bec^s  are  also  beautiful, 
and  good  honey-gatherers,  as  well  as  being 
gentle.  We  have  had  other  bees  of  the  five- 
banded  sort  that  were  very  inferior— not  only 
as  to  the  industry  of  tin;  bees,  but  as  to  the 
prolificness  of  the  queen.  Three  such  (pieens 
witli  their  colonies  succumbed  duiing  winter, 
while  almost  the  whole  apiary  wintered  nicely! 
The  Laws  queen  proved  to  be  hardv.  and  we 
have  no  doubt  that  the  one  from  Doolittle  will 
do  equally  well. 

To  test  more  carefully  horizontal  wiring  we 
have  been  trying  frames  with  three,  four,  and 
five  horizontal  wires,  for  the  purpose  of  deter- 
mining which  number  of  wires  would  give  the 
best  results.  Three  wires,  such  as  we  have 
been  advocating,  do  quite  well;  but  four  wires 
are  belter;  but  we  do  not  yet  discover  that  the 


558 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Jui,Y  15. 


five  wires  have  any  particular  advantage  over 
the  four,  because  the  combs  built  from  light 
brood  foundation  on  the  four  wires  are  very 
nice  Fi-om  some  careful  experiments  we  have 
bi'en  mailing.  w(>  find  that  medium  brood  foun- 
dation gives  rather  better  combs  than  the  light 
brood  under  the  same  conditions.  We  there- 
fore recommend  four  horizontal  wires  and  me- 
dium brood  foundation  for  tlie  Langstroth  size 
of  frame.  This  brings  the  wires  about  two 
inches  apart.  Try  the  experiment  yourself; 
and  if  von  can  get  more  perfect  combs  in  any 
other  way,  we  should  like  to  know  it.  Those 
we  have  are  as  smooth  and  even  as  the  surface 
of  a  board. 

Perhaps  some  of  our  readers  would  like  to 
know  how  thick-top  frames  are  doing  as  re- 
gards presence  or  absence  of  burr-combs.  Some 
of  them  have  been  in  use  now  for  three  years, 
and  they  are  perfectly  clean  to-day.  so  far  as 
spurs  of  wax  are  concerned,  although  they  are 
soiled,  as  a  matter  of  course,  with  propolis.  It 
is  such  a  comfort  to  pull  off  the  cover  of  hives 
having  these  frames  inl  The  bee  keeper  who 
has  tried  the  two  kinds  of  frames  in  hives  side 
by  side,  the  old  burr-comb  frame  and  the  non- 
biirr-comb,  we  are  sure  will  declare  that  he  will 
never,  never  go  back  to  thin  and  narrow  top- 
bars. 

Pkospects  for  a  honey  crop,  according  to  the 
reports  we  are  receiving  from  various  parts  of 
the  country,  have  improved  very  much  during 
the  last  ten  days.  The  season  has  been  very 
late,  and  consequently  many  bee-keepers  were 
discouraged,  fearing  the  honey  would  never 
come  While  a  couple  of  weeks  ago  we  were 
getting  reports  almost  daily,  to  the  effect  of 
^No  honey,"  "'Season  a  total  failure,"  etc.,  we 
are  now  receiving  reports  more  of  this  charac- 
ter- "Bees  just  booming;"'  "Basswood  prom- 
ises big;"  "We  are  extracting  our  first  honey; 
"Never  saw  such  an  immense  amount  of  bass- 
wood  bloom."  And  even  clover  at  this  late 
date  seems  to  be  making  a  tremendous  effort  to 
make  up  for  lost  time,  in  furnishing  nectar  at 
the  eleventh  hour.  Clover  is  folloivimj  bass- 
wood  in  our  locality  this  year.  General  indica- 
tions are.  that  in  the  basswood  regions  there 
will  be  a  very  heavy  flow  of  honey. 

RASCALITY   WHERE   IT   BELONGS. 

It  seems  to  me  that  there  has  not  yet  been 
sufficient  emphasis  put  upon  the  fact  that  the 
adulterated  honey  which  Prof.  Wiley  supposed 
came  from  Mr.  C.  F.  Muth  was  not  Muth  s 
honey  at  all.  You  will  notice  the  labels  read. 
'■  Muth'sCalifoi'nia  Machine-extracted  Honey." 
Now  friend  Muth  writes  us  that  he  never  had 
any  labels  in  the  world  with '•  California"  on 
them:  and  the  evidence  is  plain  and  clear  that 
some  rascally  adulterator,  having  found  out 
that  Muth's  name  and  reputation  are  worth 
more  than  any  thing  else  he  could  say  in  a  few- 
words  used  this  means  to  sell  his  spurious 
trash.'  and.  of  course,  this  exoni'rates  friend 
Wiley  He  supposed,  of  course,  that  the  honey 
on  the  market,  labeled  as  above,  was  horn  C.  F. 
Muth,  of  Cincinnati.  Ohio.  Now,  then,  can  t 
somebody  find  out  where  packages  bearing  the 
above  label  came  from?  and  then  let  us  make 
it  as  hot  for  the  real  rascal  as  we  can.  and 
teach  him.  if  possible,  that  the  way  of  the 
transgressor  is  harih^ A.  I.  R. 

STARTING   BEES   TO   WORK   ON   BASSWOODS. 

During  the  last  week  or  so  of  June  we  had 
been  expecting,  for  nearly  every  day,  that  the 
bees  would  start  on  clover-blossoms;  but  for 
nearly  ten  days  they  seemed  to  be  on  the  verge 
of  starvation,  and  some  nuclei  required  to  be 
fed     We  finallv  became  discouraged,  and  made 


up  our  minds  to  feed  them  anyhow.  The  bees 
had  inst  started  a  little  on  basswood:  but  we 
had  little  faith  that  any  thing  would  yield 
honey  this  year,  so  we  told  the  boys  to  go  ahead. 
Well,  it  seems  the  bees  had  been  working  on 
basswood  more  than  we  supposed;  and  al- 
though it  was  pretty  well  toward  evening  after 
they  had  been  given  the  big  feed,  the  stimulus  of 
the  syrup  just  given  them  started  them  out  in 
a  perfect  I'oar  on  the  young  hasswoods.  The 
result  is,  that  they  worked  on  the  trees  till  late 
in  the  evening.  The  poor  bees,  like  ourselves, 
had  probably  become  discouraged,  and  did  not 
believe  there  was  any  honey  in  the  basswoods; 
but  the  sudden  supply  of  stores  made  them 
think  there  must  be  honey  somewhere,  and  out 
they  rushi'd  for  the  trees.  Some  of  our  older 
readers  will  remember  our  experiment  of  years 
ago.  how,  when  we  fed  the  bees,  they  would 
immediately  rush  out  and  buzz  around  the 
honey-house  door,  where  they  had  at  one  time 
been  robbing  heavilv. 


AUTOMATIC   SWARMERS. 

The  Pratt  automatic  swarmers  are  still  doing 
good  work.  Sincp  the  two  swarms  came  out. 
and  were  successfully  hived,  as  reported  in  our 
last  i-ssue,  the  swarmers  have  captured  several 
others,  and  the  bees  have  gone  to  work  in  dead 
earnest  in  their  new  quarters.  As  an  illustra- 
tion: On  Sunday  morning,  the  10th,  Huber. 
our  small  brother,  you  know,  came  rushing 
over,  saying  that  a  swarm  of  bees  was  out.  We 
very  leisurely  made  our  way  to  the  apiary,  and 
contented  ourselves  with  the  assurance  that  it 
must  be  from  one  of  the  colonies  rigged  up  for 
swarming,  H  iff  Pratt,  and  would  therefore  re- 
quire no  attention.  We  looked  over  a  number 
of  hives,  but  could  not  determine  from  which 
one  the  swarm  came.  The  bees  finally  alighted 
on  a  grapevine,  and  to  hurry  things  along  we 
smoked  them  off'.  After  circling  about  a  few 
minutes  they  began  to  pour  back  by  the  hun- 
dreds into  the  hive  from  which  they  came.  On 
Monday,  the  next  day,  examination  showed 
that  they  had  not  only  gone  into  their  new 
quarters  but  had  drawn  out  eight  frames  of 
foundation  and  deposited  honey  therein,  leaving 
one  or  two  frames  in  which  the  queen  deposited 
eggs.  There  was  nothing  but  young  bees  in  the 
upper  story,  and  that  nervous  hum  that  indi- 
cated th(>y  felt  that  they  were  queenless.  The 
swarm  below  must  have  drawn  out  eight  combs 
and  gone  a  long  way  towtud  filling  them  with 
honey  in  about  thirty-six  hours  ;  because  the 
night  before— that  is.  on  the  evening  of  the  9th — 
the  empty  hive  with  frames  of  foundation  was 
giviM)  them. 

Although  we  have  had  excellent  success  with 
the  automatic  swarmers.  we  advise  all  to  go 
slow.  One.  two.  three,  or  even  a  dozen  swallows 
do  not  necessarily  make  a  summer. 


BASSWOOD   AS   A    HONEY-PLANT. 

It  is  now  something  like  twelve  years  since 
we  planted  a  row  of  basswood-trees  on  the 
north  side  of  our  ranch:  and  we  have  been 
watching  these  trees  season  after  season,  to 
learn  what  we  could  about  the  growth  of  them, 
the  secretion  of  honey,  etc.  During  this  present 
year  of  18UI'.  when  my  mind  was  occupied  a 
good  deal  on  other  matters,  my  attention  has 
been  called  to  the  basswoods  by  the  exceedingly 
profuse  bloom  and  loud  roar  that  greeted  my 
eyes  and  ears  every  morning  about  sunrise,  or 
a  little  after.  It  was  not  the  ears  and  eyes 
alone  that  were  delighted  either,  for  the  per- 
fume of  ten  thousand  opening  blossoms  was 
quite  a  prominent  part  of  the  enjoyment. 
Every  tree  that  was  large  enough  has  been  for 
several   days  back  just  bending  under  its  load 


1892 


GLEANINCiS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


fwil 


of  bloom,  and  it  socins  as  if  a  part  of  llu' load 
wore  inadf  up  of  in>otar:  ami.  liiially,  wlitMi  \\  t> 
almost  b(>Kan  to  lU'spair  of  any  liom-y  How  at 
all.  fvcii.  //lis  ycaf.  the  gati'S.  as  it  would  soi»m. 
ha\  •  Iti'cii  oix'iicd.  ami  we  liavc  had  a  (low  of 
lioiicv  thai  many  think  cxcfcds  any  thiiisi  dui- 
inj;  till' past  ten  ycais.  .lust  as  we  ijo  to  pi'i'ss. 
reports  begin  to  i'om(>  in  from  cvt-fv  diiiTtion. 
about  the  hoiu-y-tlow:  and  my  enthusiasm  in 
jLrrowintr  basswoods  for  honey  as  well  as  for 
timber  has  ajiain  awaUened.  TlKM'e  is  not  a 
Itaiidsomer  shade-treein  the  world,  in  my  opin- 
ion: and  I  am  tpiite  certain  tliat  thi'ie  is  no 
other  iilani  that  bears  honey,  that  /xv/i/is-  to 
furnish  any  lliinjr  like  the  (luanlity.  If  I  could 
only  make  the  pesky  little  seeds  germinate  and 
firow  as  we  do  cabbage-i)lants,  I  should  just 
deliirht  in  fuinishing  the  whole  wide  world 
with  millions  of  l)ass\\ood- trees  at  an  (exceed- 
ingly low  ligiir(>.  Weil,  we  shall  see.  Who 
knows  but  tliat  a  plant-garden  so  fully  equip- 
ped, wliich  I  have  pictured  to  you  on  another 
page,  may  not.  after  all.  be  just  the  thing  for 
turning  out  basswood  seedlings  without  limit. 
as  well  as  tomato-plants,  cabbage-plants,  etc.? 
A.  I.  H. 

LUTHEK   W.  GKAY. 

On  page  695,  Sept.  1, 1S91,  is  an  article  with 
tlie  above  heading.  At  the  same  time  we  also 
published  a  letter  from  his  father,  telling  why 
we  should  not  publish  his  son  as  a  swindler, 
even  if  he  did  receive  money  for  queens  for 
which  he  made  no  returns.  At  the  conclusion 
of  the  above  editorial  I  stated,  "There,  I  have 
tried  to  treat  this  whole  matter  in  a  Christian- 
like way.  and  in  a  fair  way  to  all  parties  con- 
cerned." In  the  same  editorial  I  asked  all 
those  who  had  lost  money  by  friend  Gray  to  tell 
us  how  much.  etc.  Since  that  time  I  have  set- 
tled all  claims,  or,  at  least,  settled  with  all  who 
would  allow  me  to  pay  them  for  the  money  they 
lost  by  intrusting  it  to  friend  Gray.  And  now 
comes"  the  best  part  of  it.  To-day  we  received 
the  following  letter: 

3//-.  -4.  I.  R«f./;~Inclosed  tind  draft  for  $9t).00.  l)al- 
aiu'O  due  on  l)ee  cliiims;  also  M  cts.  for  Glkam.ngs. 
Yours  truly,  Luthek  W.  Gray. 

Zanesville,  O.,  July  8. 

Friend  Gray  had  previously  sent  us  $10.00; 
and  although  the  claims  against  him  amounted 
to  >oinething  more  than  ^^UX),  I  had  agreed  to 
give  him  a  receipt  in  full  upon  payment  of  that 
sum.  And  I  hereby  request  all  those  who  sent 
money  to  friend  (Jray,  in  response  to  his  advi'r 
tisement  in  (ii.EANiNGS,  who  liav*;  not  already 
received  pay  in  full,  to  let  us  know  at  once. 
Some  of  you  may  know  that  I  was  censured 
quite  severely  because  I  was  so  easy  with  one 
who  received  money  and  did  not  send  the 
queens  nor  return  the  money  either.  I  tried  to 
do  what  I  thought  was  right.  And  now  I  am 
very  glad  indeed  that  I  was  slow  to  condemn. 
May  the  Lord  be  praised  for  th*;  outcome!  It 
only  illustrates  the  point  I  tried  to  make  in  our 
little  text  to-day:  "Five  of  you  shall  chase  a 
liundred."  etc.  I  hardly  need  say.  that.  >ince 
friend  Gray  has  nuide  the  ameiide  lionnnililf 
to  all  partio  concerned,  he  is  entitled  to  the 
full  contidence  and  nespect  of  the  bee-k(!eping 
fraternity.  A.  I.  K. 

THOSE  NAUGHTY   FUNICS. 

Ouii  PuiHcs  are  doing  no  better  in  honey- 
indeed,  we  doubt  whether  they  are  doing  as 
^ypll_as  the  average  colony  of  Italians  of  equal 
strengtii:  and.  with  the  exception  of  the  Cyp- 
rians, they  are  the  ineduext  bees  we  ever 
brought  into  the  apiary.  July  4th  we  wanted 
to  show  A.  I.  R.  the  new  race.  He  at  once  sug- 
gested that  we  open  the  hive  witliout  smoke, 
which  we  did.  perhaps  a  little  unceremoniously. 


The  air  was  immediately  lilled  with  hundreds 
of  mad  bees;  and  so  persistent  were  they  t,hat 
iir  glailly  rail  for  a  veil  and  smoker,  altlioiigh 
A.  I.  R..  true  to  liis  aversion  for  be(>-veils. 
crouched  down  under  a  sheltering  grapevine, 
with  his  hands  up  to  his  face.  We  t-lwii  smoked 
the  bees,  but  they  boiled  all  over,  about  as  bad 
as  black  bees;  and,  like  lilack  bees,  they  would 
hold  themselves  suspended  on  th(!  wing,  per- 
fectly motionless,  apparently,  with  th(!  excf^p- 
tion  of  tile  wings,  right  bcd'ore  th<>  eyes,  in  a 
tantalizing  way.  Hy  tin-  way.  we  would  pi-efer 
to  be  stung,  and  done  w  ith  it,  than  to  be  iield  in 
constant  fear  of  it.  The  next  day  one  of  our 
boys  attemped  to  run  a  lawn-mower  some  few 
rods  away  from  the  Punic  colony;  but  he  was 
very  glad  to  put  on  a  veil,  and  (!V(m  then  the 
little  scamps  pestered  his  hands.  When  Mr. 
Langstroth  was  here,  and  shortly  after,  we 
took  every  precaution  to  keep  the  bees  quiet, 
or,  at  least,  not  to  arouse  them  unnecessarily, 
for  we  did  not  wish  to  test  the  temper  of  a  new 
race  of  bees  in  the  presence  of  one  whom,  at 
his  advanced  age,  stings  might  be  nc^xt  thing  to 
serious.  The  bees  were  also  younger  w  hen  he 
was  here,  and,  of  course,  gentler.  Now  that 
they  are  two  or  three  weeks  older,  they  are 
regular  little  d(!mons,  unless  handled  carefullv. 
We  should  state  this,  however,  that  they  de- 
light more  in  bluster  and  angry  buzzing  than  in 
actual  stings. 

In  our  last  issue  we  stated  that  they  were  the 
worst  bees  for  depositing  propolis  we  ever  saw. 
For  example,  we  have  a  crate  of  sections  on 
their  hive;  and  even  before  there  was  an  ounce 
of  honey  put  in  them  (there  is  not  more 
than  a  few  ounces  now  in  the  whole  crate) 
these  Funics  besmeared  the  sections  all  around 
the  edges  in  six  days  in  a  way  that  is  worse 
than  any  hybrids  ever  thought  of  doing  in  six 
months.  If  our  Funics  are  a  fair  sample,  we  do 
not  see  how  any  one  can  regard  them  as  gentle: 
and  more  and  more  they  are  beginning  to  show 
the  regular  characteristics  of  the  common 
black  bee. 


QUIGLEYS  GOLDEN   QUEENS. 

Are  larg-e,  beautiful,  and  inoUflc.  Tlie  bees  are  ui- 
dustrious,  gentle,  and  hardy.  Warranted  purely 
mated,  each,  $1.00;  6  for  $.5.00.  Untested,  each,  70c; 
3  for  $3.00.  Satisfaction  and  safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed. Circular  free. 
14tfdl)  E.  F.  Ql'IGLEY,  UTiionville,  Mo. 


QUEENS  BY  RETURN  MAIL 

Punic  queens  after  July  1.5.  Untested,  each.  $1.00; 
6  for  $5.(10.  None  but  Punic  drones  tiyiug.  No  oth- 
er beis  near.    Sale  arrival  guaranteed. 

J.  S.  KLOCK.  Urban.  Nortli'd  Co..  Pa. 

PA  I  I    Eggs  and  Plants.  Fowls.  Poultry-books  and 
f  "^^    Papers;  finely  ill.  circular  free.    Address 
'  GEEK  BHOS..  St.  Marvs.  Mo.. 

14tfdb  Or,        H.  I?.  (iEEK.  Nashville,  Tenn. 


ITALIAN  QUEENS 


FOR  SAI.S. 

At  $4.0"  per  colony;  20  colonies  of   Italian  bees  in 
U-story  Dovetailed  hives.  H.  Bennett. 

14-l.")d  Union  FurnHce,  Hocking  Co.,  O. 

FROM    IMPORTED 
MOTHER,   in    .luly, 
August,  and  Sci)lember;  untested,  75c  each;  $6  per 
doz.    Tested,  f  l.tiO  each;  ?I0  jier  doz. 

PERCY  COVINGTON.  Appleton.  Cecil  Co..  Md. 

UNTESTED  ITALIAN   (pieens    reared    from 
imported    mothers,  icady  to   mail  at    60c;  6  or 
more,  .">(ic  caeh.   W.  A.  Ci>.\fi'TON.  Lynnville,  Tenn. 

5-BANDED  ITALIANS 

In     KootV     Siiiiplicily      Hives, 
Wired   FrameH,  ?';i.50   E:acb. 
W.  HUSSEY,  Nit.  Pleasant,  Ohio.        14-I.5d 


560 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  15. 


f  he  Weekly  "  American  Bee  Journal "  ^ 

-32  pages — $L.UO  a  Year 

Tiie  Oldest,  laarg'es  ,  Best  and  Only  Weekly 
Bee-Paper  in  America.    Sample  Copy  Free 


GEORGE   W.  YORK  &  CO., 

CHICAGO,  ILLS, 


Address 
W:     199  Randolph  St., 


Dovetailed  Hives,  Simplicity  Hives, 

SECT/0/\/S,  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGE    CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 

t^"In  responding  to  this  advertlt-eniem  mention  Glkanixgs. 

Foundation  Reduced  3  cts.  Per  Pound. 

SECTIONS  I  sold  iit  $3.00  ndw  selling  at  $3.60.    Bingham  Smokers  at  cost.     Send   for  Free  Prire  List  of 
every  thing  needed  in  the  apiary.  6tfdb  M.  H.  HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


A  Grand  Success. 


Mew  Cowan  Reversible 

Honey-Extractor. 

JVlay  be  Reversed  Without  Stopping  the  Machine. 


Strong,  well  made  in  evei-y  respect,  light,  and  of  conven- 
ient size.  The  can  is  but  little  larger  than  that  of  the 
Novice.  The  gear  is  beveled,  and  covered  by  an  iron  shield, 
and  the  crank  outside  the  can.  Frank  McNay,  of  Mauston, 
Wis.,  a  bee-keeoer  who  produces  tons  and  tons  of  extracted 
honey,  says  of  it: 

After  carefully  examining  and  trying  the  Cowan  extractor,  I 
have  failed  to  find  a  weak  part,  and  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  tliat 
it  is  the  best  extractor  made,  both  in  regard  to  convenience  and 
durability,  and  I  shall  replace  all  of  my  live  machines  with  the 
Cowan  as  soon  as  pos.sible. 

It  is  indorsed  also  by  J.  F.  Mclntyre,  an  extensive  e.x- 
tracted  honey  producer  in  California;  by  W.  Z.  Hutchinson, 
Dr.  C.  C.  Miller,  and  others 

Price  all  Complete,  Japanned  and  Lettered,  for  L.  Frame,  $10. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina.  Ohio. 


ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

Bcdr  In  JVIind '^^^^*^^®^^^^^^''^'''^^'^*^*^^^'^^''*^"^®^"  E3 stern  Brdnch 

where  our  Bee-keepers' Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and   prompt  shipment.    You  can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.    We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.    He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.  SALISBURY,   Agent,   Syracuse,   N.  Y. 


1892 


(ILEANINdS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


-.(41 


FINE   ITALIAN   QUEENS  ^ 

I'Kit  Ks    K()i{  .mm:   and  AKTKH.       3 

1  lliHi-.Icil  niU'cli         J   .',!'■,  ^>, 


CO 

^  1  linU'-Icil   iiiU'cli 

^^  •>  ..  k. 

O        '^ 

jy»  1    tOStOO    (IIUH'II 

Select  Tested,  eiich 


2.(MI 

4.1HI 
3.IH1 


ilj         :<  4.1HI  Hrt 

2  Select  Tested.  eiiL-h 3.IH1  Jp 

"^       Two-frHine     Xin-leus  with    any  queen.  ff^ 

•—I       *1..tM    e.icli    extra.    Safe    arrival  jiiiar-  fji 

Ui       anteed.  \V    J    KL.L.IKON,  lOd  , 

ratcliiill.  Kiiiiiicr  4'o.,  s.  r. 

I'li-asf  iiuiuioii  this  puin-r.  11121-14 

JUST    OUT! 

B7  W.  I.  CHAilBERLAIN,  A.  M..  LL.  D., 

Foinieil.v  Secretary  of  the  CUiio  State  Board  of  Ajfriculture, 

and  late  Pi-esid"ent  of  the  Iowa  State  Agrieultural  Col- 

lejre.    At  present  Associate  Editor  of  the 

Ohio  Fanner. 

This  is  a  \aluable  companion  to  our  other  rural 
books.  It  embraces  the  exjierience  of  forty  years 
of  one  of  our  foremost  practical  agriculturists,  who 
has  laid  with  his  own  iiands  over  1.5  miles  of  tile. 

Price  35c;  by  mail.  40c. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  MEDINA,  OHIO. 

Five-banded     (Jolden 

Iialians  tliat  will  give 

satisfaction.     (,)ueens 

b\  return    mail,  jl  each ;  6  for  i^.");  for  full   jiai'ticu- 

lars  send  for  circular.  13tfdb 

CHAN.  U.  UUVALL,  »«pencerville,  ITIcl. 

Sr-ln  resiMMiilini.' to  III1-- advfiri  .-n.^iii    nu'ntlon  GLKANiros 


Get  the  Best ! 


Honey  -  B:^tPEietott. 

Square  Glass  Honey-Jafs, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee»liives. 
Honey-Sections,  &e.,  &e. 

Perfection  Cold-Blast  Snookers. 

APPLY  TO  ^^■^.y^.^^'.^-.^^^^^ 

CHflS.  F,  jnVTH  &  SOJ4,  Cincinnati,  O. 

SendlO-ct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers.' 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

TILL  on  liand  about  a  dozen  of  those  special- 
ly mated,  yellow-to-the-tip  breeders  of  last 
fall's  rearing-,  at  $21)0  each.  Beautiful 
Warranted  Queens.  Silc;  3  for  !f2.(K).  For 
sijuare  dealing'  and  tro<jd  g^oods  I  refer  to 
the  editor  of  this  journal.  13-14d. 

W.  H.  Laws,  Lavaca,  Ark. 


s 


SAVE  MONEV.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augrus- 
ta,  Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 


Our  Golden   and   Leather   Col- 
ored   Italinn     Queens. 
Hred  for  Utisiness. 

Tested  queens.  il.lO;    untested,  70c;  3 
for  $2.00.    Our  stock  consists  of  3UU  col- 
onies devoted  to  bees  and  queens  for 
the  trade.    OrderM  filled   by  return 
mail.  Send  for  catalog  of  sui)i)lies,  etc. 
JNO.  NEBEL  &  SON,  Hi|£li  Hill,  ITIu. 
P.  S.— A.  J.  Fields,  of  Wheaton,  Ind.,  writes:  "The 
queen   and  bees  received  of  you  last  spring  made 
147  lbs.  of  comb  honey,  and  took  first  premium  at 
three  fairs."  »tfdb 

tyin  respondlntf  to  this  advertl.sement  mention  Gleani.vos 


SECTIONS. 

$2.50  to  i?3.oO  per  :>I.     Bee-HiveH  and  Fix- 
tures cheap.  NOVELTY    CO., 
etfdh  Rock  Falls,    llinois. 

t^In  respondinp- t<i  this  ailvcrti       m-iit  tncutiun  Gi.ka.sings 


HAVEN'  l.lII*BOVEI» 


FOUNDATION     FASTENER. 

CASTENS  Pull  aheets  or  Starters.  Instruc- 
'  lions  sent  (lilt  wit  li  e\  cr\  iiiachine.  Salisfaction 
Miiaianleed.  Pi  ice.  withoul  lamp,  it' '  -75;  with  lamp, 
S<'2.00.  Manufactured  li\-  peiniission.  See  illustra- 
tion in  Gi.KANlN(;s  for  April  1st,  IS'.M.  iia^e  2t;8. 
12d  E    J.  U'E.VKLV,  Waoliiiiutoii.  Kan. 

•jfBEST    OIT    EAKTSi 

RLKVEN  VEAKS 

WITHOL'T  A 
P.AKALLEL,  AND 

I'HE  STAND 

AKD    IN     EVRliy 

(    1  \'  I  L  I  Z  K  D 

COUNTKY 

Bingham  &.  Hotherington 

Patent  Uncapping-Knife, 

Standard    Size. 

Bingham's  Patent  Smokers, 

Six  Sizes  and  Prices 

Doctor  Smoker,      3}i  in.,  postpaid  ...$2.u0 
Conqueror    '  3       "  "  .    1 75 

Large  '■  3H    "  "         •.      150 

Extra  (wide  shield)  3       "  "        ...    1.25 

Plain  (narrow    "    )2       "  "        ...   100 

Little  Wonder,  IX    "  "  ..      65 

Uncapping  Knife 116 

Sent  promptly  on   receipt  of   price.    To 
sell  again,  send  for  dozen  and  half-dozen  rates. 


Milledgeville,  111  ,  March  8, 1S9U. 
Sirs:— Smokers  received   to-day,  and  count  cor 
rectly.    Am  ready  for  orders.    If  others  feel  as  I  do 
your  trade  will  boom.  Truly,        F.  A.  Snell. 

Vermillion,  B   Dak.,  Feb.  17,  1890. 
Sirs:— I  consider  your  smokers  the  best  made  for 
any  purpose.    1  have  hart  15  vears'  experience  with 
30u  or  400  swarms  of  bees,  and  know  whereof  I  speak. 
Very  truly^ R.  A.  Morgan. 

Sarahsville,  Ohio,  March  12, 1890. 
Sirs: — The  smoker  I  have  has  done  good  service 
since  1883.        Yours  truly,        Danikl  Brothers. 

Send  lor  descriptive  circular  and  testimonialp  to 

7ttdb  BiMGHAM  Si  Hbtheeimotom,  Abronia,  Mich. 

I^'ln  reapondins  to  this  atlvt-rri„.|,i.  n.   i,„,:.    ., 


UIANTED-LADY  OR  GENT  IN  BACH 
•■  county  to  distribute  and  collect  for  Brabant's 
ladies' toilet  cases;  238  articles,  worth  ifl;  will  send 
sample  and  full  particulars  by  mail  for  3.5c  in 
stamps;  returnable  if  not  s.itisfactory;  territory 
free;  S3  to  $5  per  day  easily  made.  Address  J.  C. 
Frisbee,  general  agent,  I7-2  Maple  St.,  Denver.  Col. 
Reference,  A.  I.  Root,  Medina,  O.  8-24db 

i^*'"ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  (}LKijjD(e6 


TME   NOTICE! 

DEFORE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
"    for  prices  op  One-Piece  Basswof)d  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,  Shipping-Crates,   Frames,   Foundation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH. 
14ttdb  New  London,  Wis. 

Plea.><e  mention  this  paper. 

Cash  (or  Beeswax ! 

Will  pay  2:^c  per  lb.  casli.  or  26c  in  trade  for  any 
quantitj-  of  good,  fair,  average  beeswax,  delivered 
at  our  R.  R.  station.  The  same  will  be  sold  to  those 
who  wish  to  purchase,  at  29c  per  lb.,  or  33c  for  best' 
selected  wax. 

Unless  you  put  your  name  on  the  box,  and  notify 
us  by  mail  of  aniount  senl,  I  can  not  hold  myself 
responsible  for  mistakes.  It  will  not  pay  as  a  gen- 
eral thing  to  send  wax  by  exjyress. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio 


562 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


July  15. 


LOOK  HERE! 

Sample  tive-banded  Italian  bees 
free  in  July.  Prices  of  untested 
queens:  One  queen  in  July,  $1.00; 
six.  So.OO;  August  and  September, 
750:  six.  «4.()().    Address 

J.  F.MICHAEL,  German,  Darke  Co,  0. 
FOR  SiiliS. 

One  Barnes  combined  machine,  with  three  circu- 
lar saws,  three  cutter  heads,  and  gig-saw  attach- 
ment; all  in  good  order;  Bingham  smoker  and 
honey-knife;  13  6ii-lb.  square  hoiiey-cans,  and  tin 
frame  basket;  some  40  colonies  of  Italian  and 
Carniolan  bees  in  liives,  witli  a  good  outside  case, 
made  to  use  winter  and  summer,  with  space  around 
brood-ch;imlier  for  packing,  tin  roof  hinged,  and 
movable  brood-chamber;  l)rood  -  chamber  takes  9 
frames  9x12,  or  10  if  spaced  IV4;  outside  case  holds 
two  brood-cliambers  which  lock  together  with  bee- 
space  which  cart  be  used  for  extracting  combs,  or 
comb  honey;  bound  perforated  zinc  (lueen-exclud- 
ers  and  wood  honey-boards,  all  painted  and  in  good 
order;  also  3000  one-piece  1-lb.  sections,  4>sx45^xlVi, 
open  on  all  sides,  of  basswood,  first  quality.  The 
brood-frame  holds  six  of  these  sections;  some  15-lbs. 
light  surplus  foundation  in  strips  4  in.  wide;  one 
new  Novice  lioney -extractor  for  the  above  frames 
to  hang  asin  hivewitli  space  below  basket  for  30-lbs. 
of  honey;  300  9x13  brood  and  extracting  combs. 

Sold  in  a  lot  or  singlv  at  very  low  figures.  Address 
at  once,  GEO    A   "WALRATH. 

14d  JM  orwood,  St.  Law   Co  ,  N.  Y. 


FOR  SALE  OR  EXCHANGE. 

Sixteen    Hcddon   improved    Langstroth  hives  in 
the  fiat,  with  doulDle  surpkis  honey-cases,  and  one- 
pound  sections  for  same,  r//(  ((p.   Must  sell  at  once. 
Ad  Iress        Kir.BiKS  &  Kirkland, 

336  Broadway,  Knoxville,  Tennessee. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 


To  Exchange.— Egyptian  or  Winter  Onion  Sets  for 
English  Multipliers— sets  or  large  onions.  Offers 
solicited.  Will  sell  for  cash.  Write.  t^Md 
Edward  B.  Beebee,  Oneida,  N.  Y. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  one  high-grade  Safety 
bicycle;  one  49-inch  Columbia  Ught  i-oadster 
bicycle;  oneOdell  typewriter;  tested  Italian  queens, 
for  wax,  honey,  or  offers.  J.  A.  Green, 

13tfdb Dayton,  III. 

WANTED. — To  exchange  pure  Italian  queens,  3  or 
5  banded.    Write  what  you  have  to  exchange. 
r.  C.  Morrow,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 

HAVING  come  into  possession  of  3  sets  Interna- 
tional Cyclopedia,    different  bindings,   15  vols, 
each.  I  will  exchange  at  half   price  for  money  or 
wax.      A.  H.  Van  Doren,  Mons,  Bedford  Co.,  Va. 
14-15d 

WANTED.— To  exchange  25  new  "Hunt"  hives 
(chaff),  about  one  half  nailed  together,  balance 
in  fiat;  2.50 good  straight  Ijrood  or  extracting  combs, 
built  from  full  sheets  of  foundation;  100  Hoffman 
frames,  wired,  and  a  quantity  of  other  frames;  also 
a  lioney-extractor,  used  but  one  season,  and  in  first- 
class  condition;  also  10  Langsti'oth  Portico  hives, 
single  wall,  in  good  condition,  for  Safety  wheel,  or 
otters.  Reasons  for  selling  hives,  etc..  have  sold  al! 
my  bees.  Geo.  N.  Cornell, 

Lock  Box  6.  North^-llle,  Mich. 


Black  and  Hybrid  Queens  For  Sale. 

Ten  mismated  Italian  queens,  of  good  business 
qualities;  one  queen,  40c;  tliree  for  $1.00. 

Hill  Mfg.  Co.,  Box  120,  Dennison,  Olno. 


I  liave  for  sale  about  6  black,  or  nearly  so,  queens 
at  25c  each;  and  about  3J hybrid  queens,  at40c  each: 
three  for  fl.OO.    All  our  queens  are  clipped. 

J.  H.  N ELLIS,  Canajoharie,  N.  Y. 


ENGINES. 

Yes,  we  build  a  few.  We  have,  in  connection  witli  our 
large  bee-plant,  a  first-class,  well-equipped  macliine-shop, 
in  which  we  build  all  kinds  of  bee-liive  maclnnery,  saw-man- 
drels, saw-tables,  dovetalling-machines,  foundation-mills, 
extractor-gearings,  etc.,  and,  when  our  men  have  notlnng 
else  to  do,  engines.  These  are  upright  in  style,  and  econo- 
mize Hoor  space.  Tliey  are  built  under  tlie  special  supervi- 
sion of  an  expert  machinist  of  many  years'  expeiience.  The 
rods  are  all  of  finished  steel.  Tlie  cross  heads  and  slides  are 
of  the  substantial  locomotive  style.  The  cylinders  are 
lagged  with  Russia  iron,  and  are  brass-b  )und.  The  boxes 
arc  babliitted,  and  csiii  l)e  easily  taken  up  for  wear.  The 
piston  -  iiead  is  provided  witli  two  expansion  -  rings.  The 
bright  parts  shine  like  a  dollar.  The  governor  is  a  Waters, 
substantial  and  relial)le.  We  have  three  of  these  engines 
running  in  our  works.  One  has  been  running  two  >  ears, 
with  excellent  results.  Making  them,  as  we  do,  during  our 
dull  sea.son,  they  ate  immeasurably  superior  to  tlie  ordinary 
engines  of  their  kind,  and  the  price  is  low,  consideiing  tlie 
veiy  fine  quality  of  the  work.  Price  of  the  2>4-horse-power 
engine,  governor  and  govener-belt,  all  ready  to  attacli  to  a 
boiler.  $75;  5  h.  p.,  $100;  ".'A  h.  p.,  $13.5;  10  h.  p.,  $150.  These 
prices  are  net,  although  we  will  make  the  usual  disruunt  for 
cash.  If  you  want  a  thoroughly  well-made  engine,  you  can 
not  do  better  than  \o  select  one  of  these,  providing  the 
range  of  power  is  within  what  you  need.  While  we  com- 
pete in  quality  of  workmanship  we  can  not  compete  in  price 
with  some  of  the  cheap  engines  on  the  market. 

A.  I.  f^OOT,  jVIEDlHfl,  OHIO. 


1SH2 


(JLEAN1N(;8  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


5«7 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Aiitu  ill  Hives fi76  I 

Bios  Bt  Knlrs :>M 

Kws.  Ti«  Stiirt  In  Sections.  Jiia  1 

Befs,  Lnritt"  Ifnlian 574  | 

Boe-<ll»eii.-e.  New ii»5  1 

Bi'e-krepinir.  MieratoiT 58.i  ' 

Bliist  tiibc.T..  CWn 683  ' 

Blowing-  (.11  n..> m)  I 

fiinacliaii  (iiips 579  i 

<.VIls.  ^iiitsiilc  How ,     ..576 

Cmiml    189-,' 5M  , 

Oiibii  Letter 574 

Kiiel  fiT  Suuikei-s 583  ' 

Himliios.  Starving. 591 

Hoiu  y  I  rciin  draiiK'O .'iT? 


Honey -Junibles 583 

Hope .583 

i.iinfrstrotli's  Ti-ouble...        57S 

Manum'B  Bad  Report 585 

Monster  Ahead., 58.S 

olnisteail's  Straws 58",' 

riant-lieds 588 

I'ropoUs  on  Tin .'iSl 

I'rotector,  The  West  58i 

runics.  H  istory  of 584 

yiieens  to  .vusiralia 580 

uueeii  fxrliuliTs 575 

llambUr  .11  Uivirside 576 

S>.ntrs.  lUr  kicpiis' 5X;) 

Tools.  Hoiiu-niudi- 581 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


The  l\>lor;ido  State  Bee-kccpt  rs" 
'  Honev  li.iv"  at  Lonpmont.  Sept.  28. 
Littleton.  Col. 


.•iatioii  will  hold  its 
II.  K.snaiT,  Si'c. 


Special  Notices. 


DAlSr   WHEELBAHKOW. 

We  are  i-emiiided,  nearly  pvt>ry  time  we  sell  one 
of  these,  of  the  appropriateness  of  the  name,  for 
tliey  arc  a  daisy,  and  no  mistalje.  Now,  altliough 
We  have  sold  over  two  carloads  of  tliem  I  don't 
believe  our  readers  and  tliiir  friends  who  need  just 
sucli  a  barrow  are  all  supplied.  As  it  takes  three 
barrows  to  weigh  about  lOii  lbs.,  and  they  will  there- 
fore g'O  by  freiglit  for  the  same  as  a  single  one,  we 
liave  decided  to  make  a  special  low  iirice  in  lots  of 
three,  so  that  in  most  cases  our  readers  can  supply 
themselves  with  tlie  wheelbarrow,  fieiM'ht  ijaid,  for 
less  tliaii  the  retail  price  here,  provided  they  club 
their  orders  or  induce  some  of  their  neighbors  to 
go  ill.  We  will  furnish  three  of  the  No.  ~,  or  large 
size,  on  board  cars  here,  for  $10.5U;  or  three  of  the 
No.  3,  orsniall  size,  for  ^liJ.iNi.  Our  retail  price  for 
a  single  one  is  HMh  and  J4.0U,  while  tlie  usual  price 
is  Jo.OJ.  Here  is  a  chaiu'e.  by  taking  three  together, 
to  get  them,  freight  paid,  al  f  I'om  )f3.50  to  $4.00  each. 
This  is  a  special  offer  for  a  limited  time. 


BUSHEL   BO.VES. 

It  is  Hearing  tlie  time  when  potatoes,  tomatoes, 
onions,  and  otlier  special  crops  must  be  taken  care 
of;  and  those  wlio  handle  them  will  be  (or  ought  to 
bei  considering  the  ea.siest,  cheapest,  and  best  means 
of  doing  so.  T.  B.  Terry  lias  conclusively  shown, 
in  Ills  admirable  little  book,  the  A  B  C  of  Potato 
Culture,  that  potatoes  bring  a  better  price,  can  be 
liandled  with  less  work,  and  better  in  every  way,  by 
using  bushel  boxes.  More  and  more  eacli  year  are 
learning  the  truth  of  Mr.  Terry's  reasoning,  and 
some  are  also  tiiiding  out  that  tliese  bo.xes  are 
equally  valuable  for  handling  otlier  crops,  such  as 
onions,  tomatoes,  cucumbers,  melons,  etc.  We 
make  and  keep  in  stock  three  styles  of  these  boxes, 
as  atlvertised  in  another  column.  If  none  of  these 
is  to  your  notion,  we  are  I'repared  to  make  any 
.style  you  want,  in  any  rjuantity  mot  less  than  lOUi, 
at  very  l(jw  prices.  We  use  basswood,  wliicli  holds 
nails  "witliout  splitting,  and  is  lighter  tlian  any 
other  wood  we  could  use.  Dealers  or  agents  wish- 
ing to  work  up  large  orders  will  do  well  to  write  us 
for  special  prices. 

LAWN-.MOWERS  AT    COST. 

As  tlie  season  is  getting  late,  and  we  have  a  stock 
of  machines  greater  tliaii  we  care  to  carry  over,  we 
offer  them  for  the  next  OJ  days,  or  as  long  as  they 
last,  at  tlie  following  cut  prices,  which  are  about 
i;ost  to  us.  or  below,  and  about  20  per  cent  below  our 
regular  list  price. 

]0-iii(h  V'ouiig  America $3  00 

]:;-iiicli       "  "  3  .50 

lo-liicii  Globe  mower  3  7.t 

12-iiich       "  ••        4  00 

14-inch       "  "        .  4  :« 

16-inch       "  "        4  7.5 

IWnch       "  "        .5  10 

Here  is  a  rare  chance  to  get  a  good  machine 
cheap.  Even  if  you  don't  ni^ed  it  till  ne.xt  summer, 
this  is  good  interest  on  your  money.  Kemeijaber, 
these  are  no  seconds  or  inferior  goods.  The  Globe 
is  a  higli-grade  machine,  first  class  in  every  respect. 


The  'V'oung  America  is  a  good  light  machine  with  a 
single  drive-wheel.  On  the  inside  of  back  cover  of 
last  number  you  will  llnd  cut  and  further  particu- 
lars In  regard  to  these  mowers,  as  well  as  of  the 
wheelbarrows  mentioned  in  this  department. 


DOVETAILED  CHAFF  HIVES  AND  WINTEK  CASES. 

During  these  extremely  hot  days,  when  the  tlier- 
mometer  is  hovering  around  100°  in  the  shade,  and 
when  one  can  hardly  move  a  finger  without  .starting 
the  perspiration.  It  maj'  seem  incongruous  and  out 
of  pliice  to  mention  chaff  hives  and  winter  eases. 
It  is  a  wise  general  that  plans  for  the  whole  cam- 
paign, so  it  is  not  too  soon  to  begin  thinking  and 
plamiing  how  you  will  protect  your  bees  during  the 
cold  weather  that's  coming  by  and  by.  If  you  are 
in  the  extreme  north,  say  above  latitude  42°,  prob- 
ably the  safest  way  to  winter  is  in  the  cellar.  Those 
south  of  latitude  36°  or  37°,  are,  with  few  exceptions, 
not  bothered  with  the  wintering  problem.  Those 
between  these  limits,  with  some  exceptional  locali- 
ties, can  winter  best  out  of  doors;  but  some  addi- 
tional protection  more  than  the  ordinar\-  sitiglo- 
walled  hi\es  is  needed  for  safe  and  ecoiionlical  win- 
tering. Those  who  use  our  dovetailed  8-fiame  hive, 
or  similar  hive  of  same  size,  can  not  do  better  than 
use  our  dovetailed  winter  case,  and  it  is  better  to 
use  with  it  the  telescopic  cover.  The  winter  cases 
list  at  $3.60  for  10,  and  the  covers  at  $:.'.riO,  dr  $(5.oo 
for  the  two.  See  pages  23  and  34  of  our  price  list 
for  further  particulars.  As  a  special  Introduction 
price,  to  get  a  good  many  to  try  them,  we  will  send, 
to  those  who  have  not  tried  them,  10  winter  cases 
with  telescoiiic  covers  for  $5.CI0;  or  the  cases  without 
the  coveis  for  !B:i.OO.  These  prices  are  for  goods  in 
the  flat,  and  do  not  include  any  cushions. 

The  dovetailed  chaff' hive  affords  protection  from 
the  cold  in  fall,  winter,  and  spring,  and  extreme 
heat  in  summer;  .saves  the  bother  of  packing  and 
unpacking,  and  costs  only  40  cts.  more  than  a 
single-walled  hive  furnished  in  the  same  way. 


SECOND-HAND    FOUND.ATION-MILLS. 

We  have  the  following  list  of  second-hand  foun- 
dation machines  which  liave  accumulated  during 
the  past  few  months,  .some  in  exchange  for  new 
machines,  others  from  those  who  have  decided  to 
buy  what  foundation  they  use.  We  give  as  fair  a 
description  as  we  can  of  these  machines,  with  the 
price  at  which  we  will  sell.  We  can  furnish  sam- 
ples from  any  of  the  machines  to  intending  pur- 
chasers. 

One  6-inch  hex..  No.  O,  u.sed  a  short  time  in  our 
wax-room;  in  good  order;  makes  fdn.  10  or  11  feet 
to  the  lb.    Price  $10.00. 

One  6-iiicli  Hex.,  No.  N,  about  the  same  as  above. 
Price  $10.00. 

One  6-inch  hex..  No.  M,  extra-thin  mill,  in  splendid 
order.     Price  $10.00. 

One  6-inch  hex..  No.  Iv,  thin  surplus  mill,  in  good 
order.    Price  $9.00. 

One  HMnch,  round  cell.  No.  L,  in  good  order  for 
liglit  brood  fdn.    Price  $14  00. 

One  10-inch,  round  cell,  No.  I,  for  light  or  medium 
fdn.;  in  good  order.    Price  $14.00. 

One  10-incli,  round  cell,  No.  E,  old-style  frame; 
made  some  years  ago,  but  used  scarcely  any,  and  in 
good  order.     Price  $14.00. 

One  10-inch,  round  cell.  No.  C,  old-style  frame;  in 
fair  order.    Price  $12.00. 

One  12-iiich,  round  cell.  No.  D,  for  heavy  brood . 
fdn.;  roll,  same  size  as  10-inc)i,  only  2  inches  longer; 
one  of  the  original  Washburn  mills,  in  fair  order. 
Price  $15.00. 

One  12-inoh  Dunliam  mill,  for  heavv  brood  fdn.; 
in  splendid  cn-der;  well  worth  $20.00,  but  will  sell  for 
$16.00. 

One  12-inch  Dunham  mill  for  heavy  brood  fdn.; 
not  so  good  as  the  above,  but  in  fair  order;  will  sell 
for  $14.00. 


CRAY    CARNIOLANS 

Take  the  lead  in  gathering  honey.  This  season  we 
have  compared  them  with  the  Punics,  Italians,  and 
blacks,  and  they  are  t  lie  only  bees  that  gave  us  any 
surplus  honey  this  (poori  season.  Prices,  untested 
queens,  each,  7.5c.    Tested  queens,  each,  $1.50. 

Prices   of    Golden    Italians  same  as  Carniolans. 
For  large  oi-ders  write  for  prices. 

F.  A.  LOCKHAUT  &  CO.,  Lake  George.  N.  Y. 

t^"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  (JLrEAsnJGS. 


568 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


TESTED  ITALIAN  QUEENS,  80c 


Ai-G.  1. 

IN  JULY  AND   AUGUST. 

Mismateri  queens,  40  cents. 
J.C.WHEELER  PLANO,  ILL. 

ll-15dl) 


1  TELL  you  what.  Jones,  licverlng 
Broit)'.  sell  the  best  goods  and  at 
the  lowest  price  of  any  one   I've 
struck  yet.   The  largest  and    best 
\  equipped 

'  Bee -Hive  Factory 

in  the  West.  The  Dovetailed  Hive 
and  New  Hoffman  self  -  spacing 
Frame  a  specialty.  Every  thing 
used  by  practical  bee-keepers  at 
wholesale  and  retail.  Send  for  their 
free  Illustrated  Price  List,  and 
save  money.  Supply  Dealers,  send 
for  their  Wholesale  List.    Address 

LEVEIIIITG    BROS., 
6-1.5db  "WTio-fca,  Cass  Co.,  lo-wra. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


Sections 


at  $3  per    lOOO.    These  are 

perfectly  smooth,  and  first-class. 

Brood  foundation  45  cts.  per  lb. 

All   supplies   equally    low.    Goods   shipped   direct 

from  New  York  city.  l-18dt. 

I.  J.  STRINCHAM, 

92  Barclay  St.,  N.  Y. 

C^ln  responding  to  this  advertSsement  mention  Gleanings, 

ITA1.IAN    Ql'EENS.    Tested,   $1.25.    Untested, 
75c.  Mks.  A.  M.  KsEELANn. 

P.  O.  Box  77.    Mulberry  Grove,  Bond  Co.,  III. 

U:\TESTED  ITJi^T^IA.?^  Qt.JBJBJVS. 

From  best  imported  st<5ck,  50c  each;  X 
doz.,  $2.75.    Circular   free.    Safe   arrival 
and  satisfaction  guaranteed. 
H.  G.  QuiRiN,  Bei-l-evue,  Huron  Co.,  O. 

^?"In  responding:  to  tills  advertisement  mention  Gleanings, 

Italian  Bees  and  Queens  For  Sale. 

Untested  queens.  $1.(M);  tested,  $1.50.  Bees,  Sl.OO 
per  lb.  Colony,  $5.00.  Also  barred  Plymouth  Rock 
eggs  for  sitting.  $1.00  per  13. 

7-16db  MRS.  A.  A.  SIMPSON,  Swarts,  Pa. 

^^■lu  resimiKlint' tu  diis  a.lvertis.-iiii  i.     >.  ■  ■ 

IMPORTED  QUEENS. 

In  May  and  June,  each $2.00 

In  July  and  August,  each 1.80 

In  September  and  October,  each 1.60 

Money  must:  be  sent  in  advance.  Safe  arrival 
guaranteed.  Queens  that  die  en  route,  if  returned 
in  the  letter,  will  be  replaced  by  mail,  postpaid.  No 
order  for  less  than  8  aueens  hy  express  will  be  accept- 
ed. E.  BIANCONCiNI, 
1-tfd  Bolosna,  Italy. 
Please  mention  this  paper.  7d 

OTTUMWA  BEE-HIVE  FACTORY. 

Bee-keeper.s,  look  to  your  interests.    Every  thing 
in    the    line  of   bee-supplies    constantly  on    hand. 
Price  list  free.        GREGORY  BROS.  &  SON, 
l-12d  Ottumwa,  la.    South  side, 

t^ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

PATENT    WIRED    COMB     FOUNDATION 

HAS   NO    SAti    IN    BROOV-FKAinES. 

THIN     FLIT  ■  BOTTOM     FOUNDATION 

Has  No  Flstt-boiie  iu  iSurpluf*  Honey. 

Being  the  cleanest  is  usually  worked 
the  quickest  of  any  Foundation  made, 
pj  J.  VAN  DEUSEN  A:  SONS, 

Sole  Manufacturers,  5tfd 

Sprout  Brook,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


GLOBE  BEE-VEIL 

By  Mail  for  $1.00. 

,         A  center  rivet  holds  5  spring-steel 
I    (Cross-bars  like  a  globe  to  support  the 
bobinetVeil.  These  button  to  a  neat 
brass  neck-band,  holding  it  firmly. 

It  is  easily  put  together;  no  trouble 
to  put  on,  or  take  off.  An  absolute 
protection  against  any  insect  that 
flies.  Will  go  over  any  ordinary 
sized  hat;  can  be  worn  in  bed  with- 
out discomfort;  fits  any  head;  does  not  obstruct  the 
vision ;  folds  compactly,  and  can  be  carried  in  the 
pocket:  in  short,  it  is  invaluable  to  any  one  whom 
flies  bother,  mosqultos  bite,  or  bees  sting. 

Kxtru  iVeisk,  5U  iX'iiis  J<:<i<-li. 
THOM^XS  G.  :SB\VM^Vyr  cV-  SOAT, 

li>9  Randoljih  St.,  C/iicag-o,  111. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

Bee  -  Keepers'  ^  Supplies. 

We  are  prepared  to  furnisli  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladly 
furnished,  and  corresixmdfiK'e  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  llrst-class  in  quality  and  wtirkmanship.  Cat- 
alogue sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling,  111.    Address  l-24db 

IVM.  McCiL'NE  A  C;0., 

Sterling,  Illinois. 

|^"ln  respoiirlin' T-i  •  turn  GLEANINGS 

.    DO  YOU  WANT   • 

Good,  gentle,  and  prolific  bees  ?  Then  get  an  Albi- 
no lor  white-banded  Italian)  queen.  Catalogue  free. 
.5tfd  A.  L.  KILDOW,  SheflSeld,  Illinois. 

C^ln  responding  to  this  tuivertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

5pT<C     will  get  a  sample  cage  of  my  .5-banded 
\J  i-O*       bees;  1  untested  3-banded,  6.ic;  six  for 
S.3.00;  1  5-banded,  75c;    six  for  $4  25.     Full  colonies, 
nuclei,  and  supplies  cheap;  catalogue  free. 
12tfdb         CMAS.  H.  THIES,  Sieelevllle,  111. 
Please  mention  this  pape?- 

CAA  Colonies  of  Bees  Devot- 
wW  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 

TWO    MILLION      SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS. 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 

Send   for  our   24-Page    Catalogue    of  Dovetailed 

Hives.  Smokers,  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  MT'G  CO.,  Higginsville,  Missouri. 

Please  mention  tUis  paper.  Stfdb 


IMPOETED  ITALIAN  aUEENS.  $3  25;  UNTESTED,  50c. 
'        12tfdb  VV.  C.  FRAZIER,  Atlantic, 


Iowa. 


T 


» 


BEFORE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
for  prices  on  One-Piece  Basswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,   Shipping-Crates,  Frames.   Foiindation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
14tidb  New  London,  Wis. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

LITHOGRAPH  LABELS 

In.  IS  Colors,  a-b  $2.00  per  lOOO. 

The  13  colors  are  all  on  each  label.  They  are  ob- 
long in  shape,  measuring  2^x2^8-  They  are  about 
the  nicest  labels  we  ever  saw  for  glass  tumblers, 
pails,  and  small  packages  of  honey.  We  will  mail 
a  sample,  inclosed  in  bur  label  catalogue,  free  on 
application,  and  will  furnish  them  postpaid  at  the 
following  prices:  Sets,  for  10;  25cts.  for  100;  $1.00 
for  .500:   $1.75  for  1000.  A.  1.  Root  Medina.O., 


iso-j 


CLHAN'INCiS  IN   UICE  ClTI/rURK. 


509 


hut  ;il\-  :ill  .\tll 
Hftli  isjiiii-t  yt'lhiwwitli  :ui  nreasion- 
iil  bee  with" ;i  hitlc  yi-llow  on  tlie 
sixtli  scali'.  Tin-  above  lioiiey  vvc 
ord  is  of  white  clover  in  l-lli.  see's, 
worth  #]~  ill  our  iiinrket  today.  No 
drones  near  us  but  tlie  yellowest. 
One  wari'aiitetl<iueen,?'l ;  six  ft)r  ^."i. 
Reference :     A.  1.  Koot. 

S.  F.  &  I.  TRECO, 

Swedona,  III. 

Qyin  responding  to  this  lulvi 


80  LBS.  PER  COLONY 

is  thr  iceoid  of  three  of  our 
golden  (|ueens,  Willi  se\'eral 
other--  not  far  behind,  while 
the  best  record  of  anj- other 
race  is  4»  lbs.  from  li-bandi'd 
bees. 

We  are  makinjr  a  specialty 
of  tln'se  beauties  for  busi- 
ness, and  are  so  sure  that 
the,\  will  please  you  tliat  we 
iruar.Mitee  tlieni  to  fsivQ 

ENTIRE  SATISFACTION, 

or  We  will  return  your  money. 
Coidd  you  ask  more'/ 
These  bees  are  not  banded, 
n  tin-  tiist    four   scales,  and   the 


HoNEr  Column. 


EFFECT. 
Ill  mention  GLEANINGS. 


Best  on  Earth. 


]More  than  one  hundred 
thousand  Bingham  & 
Hetherington  Honey - 
knives  and  Bee-smok- 
ers in  daily  use.  Il- 
lustrations sent  free. 


Bingham  &  Hetherington, 

Abronia,  IVIich. 

PfliflT  FOH 

BEE-HIVES. 

After  mtich  experimentation,  and  a 
careful  study  into  the  paint  question, 
we  offer  a  mixed 

Paint  Prepared  Especially  for  Bee-Hives. 
It  will  not  Chalk  or  Flake  off. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  free  from  adulterants, 
such  as  whiting,  barytes,  lime,  and  other  sub- 
stitutes that  do  not  add  to  the  enduring  quali- 
ties of  the  paint.  Our  paint  is  made  of  strictly 
pure  lead,  strictly  pure  zinc,  and  genuine  French 
ocher  of  about  equal  proportions,  mixed  in  pure 
linseed  oil.  It  is  generally  recognized  that  there 
is  no  pigment  more  permanent  than  French 
ocher;  and  this,  combined  with  zinc  and  lead, 
makes  a  most  durable  combination.  The  re- 
sultant tint  is  a  pale  straw  color.  Price:  Pint, 
3.5c:  quart.  60c;  half-gallon,  81.00;  gallon,  SI. 7.5. 
Half  a  gallon  will  cover  ten  No.  1  Dovetailed 
hives  two  coats. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  iMedina,  O. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

New  YoHK.—JInney.  Demand  for  comb  honey  at 
!i  standstill:  extracted,  moving-  very  slowly. 
Markets  on  above,  Soul  hern,  60(r' 7"c  per  gallon,  ac- 
cording- toquality;  clover,  CX@7;  buckwheat,  .5@5>i. 
Beeswax,  demunci  moderate,  :i.i@»27. 


.Tuly22. 


CHAS.  ISIIAEL  &  BrO., 

no  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


San  Francisco.— floxcy.— Our  honey  crop  this 
vear  is  very  lig-ht.  We  quote  to-day :  White,  C>k ; 
light  amber,  fi@i)V;  comb,  1-lb.  white, 'lO@  11;  amber, 
and  dark,  1  and  ;i  lb.,  r@t9.  Slocks  of  comb  honey 
ample  for  all  I'equirements;  demand  verv  light. 

.Tidy  13.  SCHACHT,  Lemke  &  Steinek, 

San  Francisco,  Cal. 


Chicago.— Ho/ic;y.— Market  is  very  dull  just  now; 
it  is  the  f  i-uit  season,  and  peaches  are  beginrung  to 
come  in  freely,  as  also  the  blueberries  and  other 
^niall  fruits.  Comb  honey  ranges  from  i0@15;  ex- 
1  racted,  6@7@8.    Bea<u'ax,  2.5(§>26. 

R.  A.  Burnett, 

July  19.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111. 

Detroit.— Hojiey.— The  market  is  bare  of  choice 
comb  honey.  New -would  bring  12^@13;  extracted, 
7®8.    Beeswax,  24@2.5. 

July  20.  M.  H.  Hunt, 

Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

Albany.— Ho?iei/.— We  have  received  no  new 
comb  honey  yet;  but  parties  have  written  us  that 
they  win  forward  some  in  a  few  days.  We  can  not 
tell  what  price  it  will  start  off  at  before  next  issue. 
Extracted  moving  slowly  at  6@8.    Beeswax,  25@36. 

July  20.  Chas.  McCulloch  &  Co., 

393,  395,  397  Broadway,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Kansas  City.— Ho»cj/.— We  have  received  a  num- 
ber of  shipments  of  new  honey,  same  selling  at  16c. 
for  l-Ui.  white  comb. 

July  21.  Hamblin  &  Bearss, 

,514  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Kansas  City.— iTr(j?i«'y.— New  comb  arriving,  .sell- 
ing at  16c  for  1-lb.  comb;  old  all  cleaned  up.  Ex- 
tracted, 7@7'/4  for  white.    Beeswax.  20(§i2.5. 

July  2U.  Clemons-Mason  Com.  Co., 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

St.  Loui8.—Ho?i6y.— Market  more  active  on  ex- 
tracted. Receipts  liberal.  We  quote:  Dark,  in  bar- 
rels, 4%@5;  light,  6M®»}4.    No  demand  for  comb 


except  choice  white,  at 
July  22. 


Beeswax,  26. 
D.  G.  TUTT  Gro.  Co., 


Wanted.— One  liundred  thousand  pounds  choice 
comb  and  extracted  honey.  Name  source  from 
which  your  lioney  is  gathered.  Mail  samples  at 
once  and  quote  prices.  13tfdb 

J.  A.  Buchanan  &  Sons,  Holliday's  Cove,  W.  Va. 


Wanted.— Best  grade  of  comb  and  extracted  hon- 
y.       Wai/iek  S.  Poudek,  Indianajiolis,  Ind.     1.5-16d 


FOR  S^IiS. 

At  $4. 0:i  per  colony ;  2U  colonies  of  Italian  bees  in 
U-story  Dovetailed  hives.  H.  Bennett, 

14-1.5d  Union  Furnace,  Hocking  Co.,  O. 

Cash  for  Beeswax! 

Will  pay  23e  per  lb.  ca.sh,  or  26c  in  trade  for  any 
quantity  of  good,  lair,  average  beeswax,  delivered 
at  our  R.  R.  station.  The  same  will  be  sold  to  those 
who  wish  to  i)urchase,  at  29c  per  lb.,  or  33e  for  best 
selected  wax. 

Unless  you  put  your  name  on  the  b'>x,  and  notify 
us  by  mail  of  amount  sent,  I  can  not  hold  myself 
responsible  for  mistakes.  It  will  not  pay  as  a  gen- 
eral thing  to  send  wax  by  exprens. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio 


570 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


O 


9                                                                                                                        .  §' 

The  Bee^^    1^1717117^17     FQ^*  1892and  apine.Voung,  Uaymg  |) 

n  n  V  I  n  W    "^^^^'^  QUEEN  ^°^  $i  so    The  I 

'''*-'■-'  *  '*"^   **       f^evietu    fllone,     *1.00.       The   Qaecn  p; 

*^  ^  . 

(3    fllone,  "75  Cts.     poi»  $1.75,  the  I^evietu,  the  Queen,  and  the  SO  ct.  Book,  . 

fC    «'  Advanced  Bee  Culture,"  uxill  be  sent.  W.  Z.  Hutehinson,  Flint,  JWieh.  c) 


5  I^eepeps' 


p.  S. — If  not  acquainted  with  the  Review,  send  ten  cents  for  three  late  but  ditterent  issues. 


DR.  J.  W.  CRENSHAW, 

Versailles,      -      Kentucky, 

Offers  for  Sale 

Untested  Italian  Queens  at  $1.00  each  through  May 
and  June;  after,  75c  each.    Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed.   Queens  raised  only  from  Imported 
mother.    Drones  only  from  selected 
and  tested  mothers. 
Also  CELERY  PLANTS  from  July  to  September,  at 

$3.00  per  M.  7-18db 

0*ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


^ 


^^^s^ 


OATMAN'S 

SOLDEEING  AND  EEPAIS  KIT 

Consists  of  tire-put.  solder- 
ing-irons, solder,  and  solder- 
ing--fluid,  with  tools  compl'te 
as  sliown  in  cut.  with  direc- 
tions for  soldering  different 
metals,  and  how  to  keep  your 
soldering  -  irons  in  shape. 
Whole  kit,  boxed,  12  lbs. 
Shipped  on  receipt  of  $2.00. 
Agents  wanted. 

O.  &  L.  OATMAN, 
8-7db        Medina,  Ohio. 


lyin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings 


OUEENSFREE!^!SEH 
Tested,  $1.00.  One  Choice  Breeder  Given 
Away  with  each  dozen.  Five-Bnnded 
Golden  Qiieeii!!),  »1  to$>.  Write  for  low- 
er prices.  Satisfaction  guaranteed.  Bees,  80c 
per  lb.  F.  C.  MORROW,  Wallaeeburg,  Ark. 
Please  mention  this  paper.  lotfdb 

DTjTU  SUPPLIES  „„^L. 

I  ^11  11    Everytlilng  used  in  the  Apiary. 

^^  ^^  A^  Greatest  variety  and  large«>t  stock 
In  the  West.  New  catalog-,  54  illustrated  pag^es, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  KEETCHUEE,  EED  OAS,  IOWA. 

Please  mention  this  paper  2tfdb 

SAVE  MONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 


GLEY'S  GOLDE^'   QUEENS. 

Are  large,  lieautiful,  and  prolific.  The  bees  are  in- 
dusti'iou.s,  gentle,  and  liardy.  Warranted  purely 
mated,  each,  $1.00;  6  for  $.i.OO.  Untested,  each,  70c; 
3  for  $2.00.  Satisfaction  and  safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed. Circular  free. 
14tfdb  E.  F.  QUIGLEY,  Unionville,  Mo 

5-BANDED  ITALIANS 

III     Root's     Simplicity     Hives, 
U'ired  Frames,  )?3.50   Eacli. 
W.  HUSSEY,  Nit.  Pleasant,  Ohio.         U-iod 

PURE  ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

Untested,  70c  eacli;  3  for  SI. 75;    6  or  more,   50c 
each.    Tested  queens.  $1.00  each. 

D-.  G.  EDMISTON.  Adrian,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich. 

WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS' 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  can  be  had  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  at  ROOT'S  PRICES.  The 
largest  supply  business  in  the  West. 
Established  188.5.  Dovetailed  Hives.  Sec- 
tions, Foundation,  Extractors,  Smokers, 
Veils.  Crates,  Feeders,  Clover  Seeds,  etc. 
Imported  Italian  Queens.  Queens  and 
Bees.  Sample  copy  of  otn'  Bee  Journal, 
•THE  WESTERN  BEE-KEEPER,"  and 
L.VTEST  CATALOGUE  mailed  FREE  to 
Bee-keepers. 

JOSEPH  NYSEWANDER, 

Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

tPSSSSSSESS  5BSSSSS3SZSSSES3SSSSSSSSSB  SS3SSSSSSSZSSSBS 

I    EXTf^fl   FINE    QUEEJSlS. 

Vi  Now  is  the  time  to  introduce  a  strain  of  ital- 
K  ians  that  will  reap  you  large  liarvests  even  in 
Cj  poor  seasons.  Send  a  trial  order  and  be  con- 
Ci  vinced.  Queens  warranted  purely  mated,  each, 
Cj  80c;  six,  $4.00;  doz.,  S7.00.  Order  now;  pay  on 
a  arrival.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfaction  guaran 
^  teed.  J^.  K.  YCtCIiJS^\ 

^    A'orf/j  ^Vll<ihiIlu■t(in•  Wcf^t'cl  Co.,  l*ii 


Please  mention  this  pape- 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  doz- 
en, you  do  not  find  them  so,  or  if  tliey  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  witliin  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with  full  direc- 
tions, 20c;  per  dozen,  $3.35.  Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 

lOtfdb    R.  <S  E.  C.  PORTER,  LEWISTOWN.  ILL. 

tariii  respondinkT  to  this  advertlseroen 


fhe  Weekly  "  American  Bee  Journal "  ^ 

32  pages — §1.00  a  Year 

The  Oldest,  Larg-est,  Best  and  Only  'Weekly 
Bee-Paper  in  Amexica.    Sample  Copy  Free 


GEORGE  W.  YORK  &  CO., 

199  Randolph  St.,      -      CHICAGO,  ILLS. 


•  DELVOTE. 

•ANDHoNEy-'- 

'AND  HOME.-     -f-i' 

•lNTIi.f^EST6 


i^speryeai^  \§j  ^^EDl^lAOHlO 


Vol.  XX. 


AUG.  1,  1892. 


No.  15. 


STRAr  Straws 


FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 


A  STAKT.  at  least,  making  in  supers. 
Whoopee ! 

Whitk  ci.ovkk  is  not  a  Hood,  but  I'm  thank- 
ful for  even  a  moderate  yield. 

I  KKCEivED  one  of  Allej^'s  self-hivers.  and 
not  a  swarm  has  gone  off  since. 

L00K.S  as  if  Prof.  Wiley  and  the  bee-keepers 
would  yet  be  the  best  of  friends. 

Do  LAYING  WORKERS  ever  exist  in  a  hive 
where  you  tind  si'aled  worker  brood? 

Your  lindens  at  Medina  are  smarter  than 
they  are  at  Marengo.  July  16  showed  the  first 
bloom  here. 

Up  in  Canada  there  has  been  much  opposi- 
tion to  wired  traines.  but  there  are  some  signs 
of  weakening  on  the  part  of  the  opposition. 

Do  BEES  IN.JURE  crops  bv  working  on  the  blos- 
soms? is  a  question  still  asked  sometimes. 
Change  just  one  letter,  and  you  have  it:  Bees 
do  not  injure  but  in.sure  crops. 

York,  of  the  ^4.  B.  J.,  won't  dare  comjnit  any 
crime,  for  his  picture  is  getting  into  "all  the 
journals  so  much  that  he'd  be  detected  and 
identified  wherever  he  sought  safety  in  flight. 

Losing  bees  so  heavily  has  given  me  time  to 
hoe  a  little  in  the  garden  and  rose-beds;  and  if 
I  had  a  little  more  time  I'm  afraid  I'd  get  as 
crazy  about  working  in  the  dirt  as  A.  I.  Root. 

A  .STEEi,  TR.\p  is  what  I'm  going  to  set  in  my 
straw-patch  for  Rambler.  Just  look  at  him  oil 
page  .54(51  He's  lugged  off  a  lot  of  my  best 
straws,  and  then  labeled  them  '"California 
Straws." 

"  Somehow  the  bees  have  decided  notions  of 
their  own."  says  C.  H.  Dibbern.  "and  will  often 
persistently  refuse  to  do  the  very  thing  wh  think 
they  ought  to  do'" — the  very  same  trouble;  I 
have  with  my  bees. 

DoE.s  "raking'"  presage  swarming?  Now 
is  till'  time  to  watch  and  report.  It  seems  to 
me  I  have  seen  bens  "  raking  ""  at  the  entranci- 
after  the  harvest  and  all  swarming  was  over, 
but  I  may  be  mistaken. 

Bee-keei'ers  who  have  out-apiaries  are  spe- 
cially interested  in  the  agitation  arising  over 
the  subject  of  good  roads.  They  >.ay  that,  as  a 
nation,  we"re  away  behind  in  the'  matter  of 
roads.    It's  a  coming  topic. 

Italians  swarm  sometimes,  we  are  told, 
without  having  queen-cells  stalled.  Now,  do 
they,  really?  Did  you  ever  know  of  a  case 
where  the  colony  had  not  been  meddled  with? 
Hadn"t  cells  been  previously  removed?    And 


might  not  blacks  swarm  without  queen-cells 
if  you  kept  cutting  them  out? 

Mrs.  Woodman  thinks  her  cure  for  sour 
stomach  beats  mine.  She  was  cured.  '•  not  by 
taking  medicines  of  any  kind,  but  bv  not  taking 
tea  or  coffee,  simply  hot  water  and  milk,  half 
and  half."  and  th(!  change  in  health  was  such  a 
blessing  she  wants  others  to  know  of  it. 

Black  bees,  some  claim,  are  as  good  as  Ital- 
ians, if  they  have  the  same  care  and  attention 
in  developing  a  good  strain.  S.  E.  Miller,  in 
.A.  B.  J.,  makes  a  good  point  asHinst  such  by 
asking  why  they  don't  give  the  proper  care  and 
attention,  and  produce  a  superior  strain  of 
blacks. 

Milkweed.  L.  Posey  reports  in  A.  B.  J.,  is 
avoided  by  black  bees,  while  the  Italians  do  a 
big  business  on  it.  Prof.  T.  J.  Burrill  says  Ital- 
ians seem  strong  enough  to  escape,  while  the 
bla'"ks  would  be  caught,  and  raises  the  question 
whether  the  blacks  may  not  have  learned  to 
avoid  the  plant  on  that  account. 

To-DAY,  July  20.  honey  shook  out  of  the 
combs  very  plentifully:  and  yet  a  comb  with  a 
little  honey  in  it  standing  unprotected  a  few 
minutes  started  the  robbers  fiercely— something 
I  think  I  never  saw  before.  Was  it  because, 
not  many  days  ago,  the  same  bees  were  fed  by 
allowing  them  to  rob  out  sections  standing  out? 

An  Oregon  woman  thinks  the  horses  in  Cal- 
ifornia have  a  queer  way  of  moving  their  feet 
when  they  walk,  as  she  thinks  that  horse  of 
Rambler's  is  doing  on  page  .507.  Why,  bless 
your  heart.  Mrs.  W..  you  don't  suppose  Rambler 
would  think  of  poking  along  at  a  walk  on  a 
bit  of  road  no  rougher  than  that?  That  horse 
is  a  fast  pacer. 

Editor  Alley  says  he  tried  my  plan  of  rais- 
ing queen-cells  in  a  lower  story,  having  queen 
above  and  quilt  between.  He  failed,  and  now 
he  wants  some  mie  to  report  success  so  as  to 
save  iny  credit.  i)on't  worry  about  my  credit. 
Henry.  It's  good  for  what  flour  and  bacon  I'll 
need  for  a  year,  and  may  be  I'll  get  a  crop  next 
year. 

Pouring  feed  into  the  entrance  of  hives 
with  tight  bottoms  is  practiced  by.some,.and 
highly  commended.  I  formerly  fed  many  pounds 
in  that  way.  and  liked  it  much.  But  I  began 
to  notice,  that,  after  a  colony  was  thus  fed,  a 
good  many  dead  bees  would  be  found  carried 
out,  and  I  gave  up  the  plan.  Whether  the  bees 
were  drowned,  or  what  caused  their  death,  I 
could  not  determine. 

New  comb  is  often  built  that  is  quite  dark. 
A  writer  in  B.  B.  .J.  thinks  his  bees  found  some 
old  comb  in  an  attic,  and  carried  it  into  the 
hive  to  make  this  brown  comb.  I  doubt  it. 
When  not  storing  rapidly  I  think  they  often 
take  old  comb  where  it  is  in  extra  quantity  in 
their  own  hive,  and  build  afresh  where  they 


572 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


want  it.  I've  had  sections  capped  darli  when 
facing  old  brood  comb,  even  when  the  harvest 
was  flush. 

Young  queens  pulled  out  of  their  cells  and 
introduced  with  success  is  the  theme  of  an  item 
in  the  French  Revue.  We  call  them  "pulled 
queens"  at  our  house,  and  have  used  them  for 
several  years.  Just  tear  open  a  queen-cell: 
and  if  the  young  queen  is  strong  enough  to  hold 
on  to  the  comb  she  will  be  kindly  received  al- 
most anywhere  by  merely  placing  her  on  the 
comb  among  the  bees.  Friend  Root  was  quite 
interested  on  seeing  us  use  "  pulled  queens  "  on 
one  of  his  visits  here. 


MY  HEAD  TROUBLE. 


L,.    L.   LAN6STR0TH   DESCRIBES   THAT   PECULIAR 
FORM   OF   MELANCHOLIA  THAT  HAS  DIS- 
TRESSED HIM  AT  TIMES  FOR 
MANY  YEARS. 


For  many  years,  as  most  of  your  readers 
know,  I  have  suffered  from  what  I  have  been 
wont  to  call  "  my  head-trouble."  which  not 
only  unfits  me  for  mental  exertion,  but  also  dis- 
qualifies me  for  enjoying  almost  any  thing 
personal  to  myself.  While  under  its  full  power, 
the  things  in  which  I  usually  take  the  greatest 
pleasure  are  the  very  ones  which  distress  me 
most.  I  not  only  lose  all  interest  in  bees,  but 
prefer  to  sit.  when  they  are  flying,  on  that  side 
of  the  house  where  I  can  neither  hear  nor  see 
them.  Gladly,  if  at  all  convenient,  would  I 
have  my  library  of  bee-works  hidden  from  my 
sight;  and  often  I  have  been  so  morbid  that 
even  the  sight  of  S  big  letter  B  would  painfully 
affect  me.  At  such  times,  fearful  of  losing  my 
reason  if  I  allowed  my  mind  to  prey  upon  itself, 
I  have  resorted  to  almost  constant  reading  to 
divert  my  thoughts.  The  great  objection  to 
this  is,  that  it  not  only  fails  to  interest  me  when 
I  am  the  inost  unwell,  but.  by  association  of 
ideas,  too  often  deepens  my  distress.  To  u>e  the 
words  of  the  old  poet  Herbert, — 

My  tlioughts  like  case-knives  are; 

They  pierce  me  to  the  heart. 

I  have,  therefore,  for  years,  read  less  and  less, 
and  occupied  my  time  mainly  with  chess,  which 
is  too  impersonal  to  suggest  the  melancholy 
ideas  which  so  often  torment  me  when  read- 
ing. As  soon  as  I  awake  I  try,  by  chess  prob- 
lems, the  most  intricate  that  I  can  find  or 
invent,  to  forestall  the  approach  of  gloomy 
thoughts,  continuing  to  play  as  though  a  for- 
tune could  be  made  by  it,  or  as  if  I  were  playing 
for  my  very  life;  and  often,  during  the  large 
part  of  the  night,  my  brain  seems  to  be  inces- 
santly mo\ing  and  supervising  the  pieces  on  the 
chess-board.* 

Methinks  I  hear  some  of  my  readers  exclaim, 
*'  Can  this  be  the  condition  of  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ?  Ought  not  the  blessed 
promises  of  God's  word  always  to  enable  him  to 
attain,  in  some  measure  at  least,  to  the  apostle's 
experience  when  he  said,  "  Now  the  Ood  of 
hope  Jill  you  with  Joy  and  peace  in  believing, 
and  make  you  to  abound  in  hope,  by  the  power 
of  the  Holy  Ghost'?"  No  I  no!  God  has  not 
promised  to  overrule  his  natural  laws  by  con- 
stant miraculous  interposition.  Can  you  give  a 
wholesome  appetite  for  food  to  a  person  in- 
tensely nauseated,  by  merely  showing  it  to  him 
and  inviting  him  to  sit  down  and  partake  of  it? 
He  knows  that  the  food  spread  before  him  is 
good;  but  can  this  knowledge  give  him  an  appe- 
tite for  it?   It  is  a  great  help,  doubtless,  even  un- 

*  I  ocfij  seldom  play  with  any  antagonist — on  an 
average,  not  as  often  as  once  a  year,  lest  I  shoukl 
abuse  their  time. 


der  the  most  depressing  circumstances,  to  know 
that  (iod  is  good,  and  to  hope  that,  in  due  time, 
the  dark  side  of  the  picture  will  be  turned  from 
us,  and  its  bright  one  again  be  displayed.  Thi-^ 
hope  often  sustainsus  when  otherwise  we  might 
l)e  utterly  cast  down. 

Read  the  42d  and  43d  Psalm,  if  you  doubt 
what  I  affirm. 

"  My  tears  have  been  my  meat  day  and  night, 
while  they  continually  say.  Where  is  thy  God  ?" 
(The  Psalmist  undoubtedly  had  in  mind  those 
who  say.  "  Of  what  worth  is  a  religion  which 
can  leave  a  believer  so  despondent?")  "  When  I 
remember  these  things,  I  pour  out  my  soul  in 
me;  for  I  had  gone  with  the  multitude,  I  went 
with  them  to  the  house  of  God,  with  the  voice 
of  joy  and  praise;  why  art  thou  cast  down,  0 
my  soul,  and  why  art  thou  disquieted  within 
me?  Hope  thou  in  God.  for  I  shall  yet  praise 
him  for  the  help  of  liis  countenance.  O  my 
God,  my  soul  is  cast  down  within  me.  Deep 
calleth  unto  deep,  at  the  noise  of  thy  water- 
spouts. All  thy  waves  and  thy  billows  have 
gone  over  me.  Why  art  thou  cast  down.  O  my 
soul?  Hope  thou  in  God:  for  I  shall  yet  praise 
him  who  is  the  lielp  of  my  countenance  and  my 
God."  Not  now!  oh.  not  now!  bat  I  sluill  yet 
praisehiin.  ■"  Oh  send  out  thy  light  and  thy 
truth!  Let  them  lead  me;  let  them  bring  me  to 
thy  holy  hill  and  to  thy  tabernacles.  Then  will 
I  go  unto  the  altar  of  God,  unto  God,  my  ex- 
ceeding joy.  Yea,  upon  the  harp  will  I  praise 
thee.  O  God  my  God  I" 

In  the  30th  Psalm  we  have  the  experience  of 
one  who.  out  of  the  deepest  depression,  had 
been  raised  to  the  heights  of  joy  and  gladness. 
■'  O  God.  my  God,  I  cried  unto  thee,  and  thou 
hast  delivei'ed  me!  Thou  hast  brought  up  my 
soul  from  the  grave.  Sing  unto  the  Lord,  all 
ye  saints,  at  the  remembrance  of  his  holiness; 
for  his  anger  endureth  but  a  moment,  and  in 
his  favor  is  life.  Weeping  may  endure  for  a 
night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning.  Thou 
hast  turned  my  mourning  into  dancing.  Thou 
hast  put  otf  my  sackcloth,  and  girded  me  with 
gladness." 

If  further  confirmation  is  needed,  see  the  book 
of  Job.  the  3d  chapter  especially,  when,  in  the 
profoundest  depths  of  depression,  he  even  cursed 
the  day  in  which  he  was  born.  "  Wherefore  is 
light  given  to  him  that  is  in  misery,  and  life 
unto  the  bitter  in  soul,  which  long  for  death,  but 
it  cometh  not;  which  are  glad  when  they  can 
find  the  grave?  Why  is  light  given  to  a  man 
whose  way  is  hid,  and  whom  God  hath  hedged 
in  ?" 

I  quote  so  largely  from  the  blessed  book,  be- 
cause I  hope  that  some  of  my  readers,  almost 
overpowered  by  gloomy  forebodings,  may  find 
help,  and  much  more,  from  my  own  personal  ex- 
periences, and  from  their  confirmation  by  (xod's 
word.  Of  the  Psalms  in  particular,  it  is  evident 
that  all  of  them  which  express  our  strongest 
emotions  could  have  been  born  only  outof  deep, 
personal  experience;  some. 

"■Wlien  gladness  wiiigsour  favorite  hours;" 

others,  when  we  are  almost  disposed  to  repeat 
that  anguished  cry  of  our  Savior. '"  My  God! 
my  God!  why  hast  thnn  forsaken  me?"  Only 
thus  originating  could  they  have  lived  in  the 
memory  of  man  for  so  many  ages.  As  in  water 
face  answereth  unto  face,  so  the  heart  of  man, 
and  I  earnestly  hope  that  some  afflicted  brother 
or  sister  who  has  been  crying  out.  "  All  thy 
waves  and  all  tiiy  billows  have  gone  over  me," 
may  be  helped  by  this  recital  of  my  sufferings, 
and  much  more  helped  by  realizing  that  the 
great  Father  of  our  spirits,  who  pitieth  his 
children,  who  knoweth  their  frame,  and  who 
remembereth  that  they  are  dust,  has  caused 
special  Psalms  to  be  written,  even  for  them. 


IS92 


GLEANlN(;s  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


573 


To  rosuiiip  tlitMlosori|)ti(>ii  of  my  own  cxpcii- 
onoo: 

I  (MU«'ivtl  Yale  College  in  my  17tli  year:  and 
i-an  ivnit'inbcr  that,  oven  hcforo  tliat  tiinc  I 
liad  timt's  wlicn  I  lost  my  usual  interest  in  my 
studies.  Twiee.  in  eoUefrr.  tliey  wimc  entirely 
snsiii'iuli'd:  but  neithei'  in\  pai'ents  nor  myself, 
at  that  time,  had  any  idea  of  what  was  the 
matter  svitli  me. 

Whih'  tutor  of  mathenuitics  at  Vale,  from 
is;i4  to  ':w.  I  was  similarly  affected;  so.  also, 
wluMi  pastor  of  the  old  .South  Congregational 
Church  in  Aiidover.  Mass. 

I  was  at  last  compelled  to  resigi;  my  jtastorate. 
and  t)ecam<'  princii)al.  suci-essivcly  of  the  Ab- 
bott Fenmie  ."seminary,  and  the  Ilighschool  for 
young  ladies,  at  Greentield.  Mass..  and  after- 
ward accepted  the  charge  of  tiu>  Second 
IJreenlii'ld  Congregational  Church.  During  tiie 
latter  part  of  this  charge  I  made  many  of  my 
sermons  on  foot,  walking  long  distances,  and 
trying  by  severe  exercise  to  get  the  better  of 
the  incipient  attacks.  Nev^er.  however,  was  I 
able  to  elTect  this.  An  attack  might  be  of 
longer  or  slu>rt<'r  duiatioii  Ix^foi'e  it  pi'osti'ated 
me:  but  it  ;il\\ays  had  but  on(»  issue.  Struggle 
as  I  would,  tight  as  I  could  against  it.  my  condi- 
tion was  that  of  the  man  lost  in  the  quicksands, 
so  vividly  described  by  Victor  Hugo.  Walking 
carelessly  over  its  treacherous  surface,  he  first 
notices  that  his  freedom  of  movement  is  some- 
what impaired:  but  he  thinks  little  of  this 
until  he  finds  it  more  and  more  difficult  to  lift 
his  feet.  Alarmed  at  last,  he  vainly  tries  to 
escape  to  the  tii'mer  land,  only  to  find  that  each 
step  that  he  taki'S  sinks  him  deeper  and  deeper, 
until  the  engulHng  sands  reach  his  lips,  and  his 
shrieks  of  agony  are  stilled.  His  head  disap- 
pears: only  the  faint  motion  of  a  sinking  hand 
is  visible,  and  soon  every  trace  of  him  disap- 
pears forever. 

The  first  light  thrown  upon  my  case  was  by  a 
German  physician  who  told  me  that  my  brain 
troubles  were  caused  by  blind  piles:  but  he 
failed  to  cure  me. 

I  shall  never  forget  the  remark  of  an  electric 
physician,  who.  in  18.53.  while  passing  his  hand 
over  my  neck,  exclaimed.  "  How  can  a  man 
with  the  flesh  over  his  spine,  in  such  a  rigid 
condition,  be  otherwise  than  iniserablel"  This 
was  the  first  time  that  my  attention  was  called 
to  the  abnormal  congestion  of  the  flesh  over  the 
whole  length  of  my  spinal  column.  "' You  will 
be  happy."  said  he,  "  as  soon  as  I  relieve  you  of 
this  congestive  condition.""  He  worked  upon 
my  si)inal  column  at  intervals  for  several  hours 
a  day.  rubbing  and  kneading  it.  much  as  they 
do  in  the  massage  treatment,  all  the  while  pass- 
ing a  current  of  electricity  through  his  own 
body  into  mine,  till  at  last  he  effected  what 
seethed  to  be  a  perfect  cure.  He  died  before  I 
could  avail  myself  of  another  treatment. 

.So  intimate  is  the  connection  between  this 
rigidity  and  my  mental  depression,  that  they 
are  never  dissociated:  but  in  vain  have  I  called 
the  attention  of  able  physicians  to  this  feature 
of  my  case.  When  it  began  to  develop  they 
never  succeeded  in  arresting  it. 

While  a  considerable  time,  often  several 
months,  elap.sed  from  the  time  I  could  first  per- 
ceive that  another  attack  was  coming  on,  re- 
covery from  these  attacks  has  almost  always 
been  verv  rapid.  Let  me  describe  my  recovery 
from  my  last  attack,  which  had  lasted  over 
three  years.  In  the  winter  of  1891  I  suffered 
from  grip,  complicated  with  other  dangerous 
symptoms.  Our  change  of  residence  in  Dayton, 
in  April  last,  seemed  to  my  daughter  to  give 
me  considerable  relief,  althougii  I  was  not  mv- 
self  assured  that  I  was  substantially  better.  In 
walking  to  church  on  the  morning  of  the  17th  I 
stopped  for  a  moment  to  notice  the  bees  work- 


ing on  the  fruit-blossoms.  H  the  worst  of  the 
attack  had  not  been  over,  instead  of  slopping  I 
should  have  given  the  bees  a  wide  circuit  to 
avoid  tlie  sight  of  them.  The  next  day  I  re- 
tired to  my  room  after  breakfast,  to  get,  if  pos- 
sii)le  more  sleep.  In  my  diseased  state  my 
sleep  is  so  poor  t  hat  I  often  spend  at  least  twice 
as  many  hours  in  bed  as  wluui  wcill.* 

My  mind  bc^came  unusuallv  active:  my 
thoughts  darted  with  grinit  rapidity  from  one 
subject  to  another,  when,  almost,  instantane- 
ously, the  oppressive  burden  of  gloom  seemed  to 
be  lifted  from  me.  and  I  cried  out  in  joyful 
ecstacy,  "  O  blessed  Father!  I  shall  be  well 
again."  From  long  experience  I  recognized  the 
usual  signs  of  a  recovery,  which  I  might  hope 
would  last  for  half  a  year,  a  whole  year,  or  pos- 
sibly a  year  and  a  half.  When  this  change 
comes,  an  electrical  thrill  seems  to  pass  through 
my  hands,  extending  itself  to  the  verv  tips  of 
my  fingers,  just  as  though  something  like 
quicksilver  wen;  forcing  itself  through  them  for 
an  exit.  At  tifn(!S  this  sensation  is  so  powerful 
a<  to  be  quite  painful.  I  never  have  these  symp- 
toms except  when  1  am  free,  or  soon  about  to  be, 
from  the  hedd- trouble. 

And  now  begins  a  period  of  mental  activity 
and  intense  enjoyment.  My  dear  wife  used  to 
say,  "Although  you  have  been  a  great  sufferer 
at  least  half  of  your  life  since  I  first  knew  you, 
yet  none  of  my  acquaintances  seems  to  have 
got  so  much  enjoyment  out  of  life  as  you;  for 
when  you  are  happy  you  are  so  intensely 
happy."  To  this  I  once  replied.  "  I  could  wish 
that  this  happiness  might,  be  spread  a  little 
thinner,  if  only  it  could  thus  be  made  to  last  a 
great  deal  longer."  My  mind  now  seems  to 
work  with  almost  lightning-like  rapidity,  and  I 
feel  as  though  I  could  keep  many  persons  busy, 
in  merely  writing  out  iny  thoughts.  Every  one 
to  whom  I  try  to  explain  myself,  or  whom  I  ask 
to  execute  my  directions,  .seems  to  catch  my 
thoughts,  or  to  obey  me,  so  slowly  that  with 
great  difficulty  can  I  repress  my  impatience; 
and  often  I  can  hardly  refrain  from  seizing  hold 
of  them  to  push  them  into  swifter  execution. 
In  the  night  my  brain  is  disposed  to  work  as  it 
were  double  tides,  until  I  quite  wear  myself  out. 

We  read  of  intermittent  springs  which  dis- 
charge no  water  until  they  are  full  enough  for  a 
syphon  arrangement.  Then  they  gush  forth  and 
flow  until  entirely  empty,  to  remain  quiescent 
until  they  are  full  again.  After  long  depression, 
seldom  speaking  unless  personally  addressed, 
shutting  myself  up  in  my  room.t  I  seem  to  act 
as  though  I  had  been  cheated  out  of  my  legiti- 
mate amount  of  talk,  and  must  make  up  for 
lost  time  by  uttering  as  much  in  a  few  days  as 
any  reasonable  person  ought  to  say  in  as  many 
tiionths.  I  am  sensible  that  this  exuberance  is 
often  so  great  as  to  be  oppressive  to  my  friends; 
but  I  do  not  despair,  although  over  81  years  of 
age,  of  learning  to  control  it  better.  Sometimes, 
however,  it  seems  to  have  its  advantages;  for 
after  I  have  given  scarcely  a  willing  thought  to 
any  thing  connected  with  bees,  for  a  year  or 
more  at  a  time.  I  have,  in  a  very  short  time,  re- 
gained my  position  in  the  mass  of  inventors,  and 
often  been  able  to  keep  step  with  those  who 
have  never  been  fori-ed  to  leave  tlie  ranks. 

Dayton,  Ohio,  .Inly  4.      L.  L.  Langstroth. 
To  he  continued. 


*Had  it  occurred  to  any  of  them  to  try  tlie  Moxa 
cauterizing-  of  my  spine,  by  wliich  Dr.  Brown-Se- 
quard  cured  Senator  Sumner,  it  might  liave  suc- 
ceeded. 

+  Ps.  88:8.— JrtHi  Khut  up;  1  can  not  come  forth. 

No  commentator,  so  far  as  I  know,  seems  to  me  to 
have  apprehended  the  full  meaning  of  these  words. 
Only  profound  melancholia  can  adequately  interpret 
them. 


574 


GLEANINGS  IN   BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


LABGE  ITALIAN  BEES. 


AN   ACCOUNT    OF   A   STRAIN    THAT    CAMK    FKOM 
IMPOHTED   ITALIANS. 


Mr.  Root:— By  this  mail  I  send  you  a  sample 
of  my  bees.  They  are  the  result  of  a  queen 
from  you  about  eleven  years  ago,  and  the  care- 
ful breeding  of  the  same  during  all  that  time. 
Located  as  I  am  away  from  hummocks  and  all 
wild  bees,  I  have  had  no  trouble  in  keeping 
them  strictly  pure  Italians.  When  I  came  here 
from  the  North  I  was  informed  that  it  was  no 
use  to  try  bees  here,  foi'  all  would  die.  At  first 
it  did  seem  so,  for  all  they  would  make  was 
consumed  by  the  bees.  In  two  or  three  years 
they  did  much  better,  and  gave  us  some  honey; 
and  now  we  get  from  75  to  1.50  lbs.  of  comb  hon- 
ey per  stand,  and  the  hive  the  sample  is  taken 
fi'om  made,  during  March,  03  lbs.  of  the  finest 
and  fairest  orange-blossom  honey  I  have  ever 
seen,  as  it  is  almost  clear  orange-bloom.  To 
say  they  are  all  business,  is  putting  the  claim 
very  moderately.  There  is  no  doubt  that  you 
sent  me  the  purest  stock  to  begin  with  that  it  is 
possible  to  find:  and  this  by  careful  selection 
has  brought  about  such  wonderful  results. 

Early  in  my  experience  with  bees  I  had  a  very 
impressive  lesson  on  the  need  of  selection,  when 
I  had  only  live  colonies.  One  of  these  had  in 
all  not  more  than  a  quart  of  bees,  and  had  not 
really  kept  to  the  size  of  the  original  swarm, 
and  only  two  or  three  pounds  of  honey,  while 
all  others  had  ten  L.  frames  pretty  well  filled 
with  brood  and  honey.  Not  long  after  this  I 
found  one  that  seemed  to  devote  all  its  time  to 
raising  drones,  and  swarming.  It  swarmed  till 
the  effort  was  no  larger  than  one's  fist,  and  all 
that  seemed  to  be  left  in  the  hive  were  drones. 
These  I  trapped  out  and  killed  the  queen,  then 
gave  them  a  frame  of  young  brood  and  eggs 
from  my  brag  hive,  and  in  an  astonishingly 
short  time  they  were  as  good  as  any  in  my 
apiary.  I  hived  37  during  March,  and  those 
that  came  early  have  filled  eight  and  nine 
frames,  all  of  orange;  and  when  it  is  capped 
over  it  is  surely  as  white  as  this  paper.  The 
strange  feature  about  my  bees  is  their  size. 
How  this  came  about  (if  it  really  is  so,  and  I 
think  you  will  say  ""/iou;  Mg  "  when  you  have 
compared  them  with  others),  I  will  leave  to  tell 
at  another  time.  Aware  of  their  large  size.  I 
sent  to  quite  a  number  of  our  brethren  north 
for  samples.  The  heaviest  came  from  friend 
Frazier.  from  Iowa,  and  the  lightest  came  from 
the  "  Home  of  the  Honey-bees."  They  were  of 
the  bronze  type,  and  the  strongest  marked  I 
ever  saw;  15  of  them  weighed  n^s  grs.  troy, 
and  15  of  Mr.  F.'s  went  to  23^  grs.  The  same 
number  of  mine  went  to  38^^  grs.  All  were  fed 
or  offered  all  the  honey  they  wanted,  for  an 
hour  before  being  weighed.  Might  not  the 
worry  of  a  long  confinement,  and  being  knock- 
ed about  in  a  mail-bag,  make  much  of  the  dif- 
ference? I  have  sent  you  these  to  test  the 
matter;  and  having  heard  of  bees  that  would 
work  on  red  clover,  my  conclusions  were  that 
they  were  large,  with  proportionately  long 
tongues  that  enabled  them  to  reach  to  the 
place  in  the  bloom  where  the  nectar  was  se- 
creted. 

If  I  am  right  in  my  deductions,  I. will  send  a 
queen  or  two  to  some  one  in  a  red-clover  region 
the  coming  summer  to  test  their  ability  in  that 
particular  industry.  There  is  no  question  about 
their  being  hustlers  here  when  it  comes  to  gath- 
ering in  the  sweets.  What  they  might  do  with 
you  is  more  than  I  am  able  to  say,  as  I  have 
never  offered,  sold,  nor  sent,  one  north. 

My  bees  have  never  been  troubled  with  any 
disease,  which  induces  me  to  ask  if  bees  in  the 


South  are  subject  to  foul  brood.    I  have  never 
heard  of  its  being  in  the  State. 

Please  tell  us  what  you  think  of  their  size, 
and  whether,  in  your  opinion,  they  would  be  a 
success  as  honey -gatherers  on  red  clover. 

J.  PlEKRPONT  MURDOCK. 

Oxford,  Fla.,  Apr.  5. 

[The  bees  sent  to  us  were  extra  large,  even 
after  having  been  on  a  journey  for  several  days 
— a  condition  that  is  apt  to  make  all  bees  look 
smaller  than  their  wont.  This  queen  came 
from  our  imported  stock,  and  was  selected,  not 
so  much  for  color  as  for  gentleness  of  her  stock, 
and  general  good  working  qualities.  Some  day 
there  will  be  a  louder  demand  for  bees  of  busi- 
ness vim  and  gentleness,  without  regard  to 
color.  We  can't  say  how  they  would  do  on  red 
clover.] 


A  LETTER  FROM  CUBA. 


A   KKMAKKABLK   INCREASE   FROM    ONE   COLONY. 


My  fi'iends  Dr.  Warner  and  Mr.  Somerford 
have  suggested  to  me  that  my  experience  in 
starting  an  apiary  might  be  worth  reporting  to 
you.  As  an  indication  of  the  possibilities  of 
bee-keeping  hei'e  in  Cuba,  doubtless  it  is;  but 
when  I  look  back  in  the  light  of  the  experience 
gained,  and  see  how  much  better  I  might  have 
dune.  I  don't  feel  that  it  is  any  thing  to  be  proud 
of.  Sumnuirized  briefly,  the  increase  from  one 
colony  had  amounted  in  18  months  to  over  30 
colonies,  and  these  had  produced  7240  lbs.  of 
honey. 

Our  friend  Dr.  Warner  has  an  apiary,  and  my 
better  half  thought  it  would  be  nice  lo  have  a 
hive  of  bees  up  on  our  azotea  (flat  tile  roof),  and 
I  made  no  objection.  The  colony  of  bees  came 
in  December.  1890.  the  queen  having  begun  lay- 
ing Nov.  Kith.  It  was  my  wife's  affair;  but  as 
she  happened  to  be  away  the  first  time  our 
friend  came  to  open  the  hive  and  attend  to  the 
bees,  I  assisted  and  thought  it  rather  interest- 
ing. I  attended  to  them  myself  the  next  time, 
and  my  interest  grew,  and  we  thought  we 
should  make  five  colonies.  Dr.  Warner  having 
explained  to  us  how  to  increase  by  dividing. 
Our  experience  (Mrs.  L.  got  almost  as  deeply  in- 
terested as  I  did)  the  next  three  months  was 
doubtless  very  much  that  of  most  beginners. 
How  cross  those  hybrids  were!  We  got  brood 
and  cells  from  our  fiii^nd's  pure  Italians,  and 
were  bound  to  have  no  other  queens.  Ey  and 
by  we  forgot  our  limit  of  five  colonies,  and  did 
not  insist  on  purity  of  breed.  We  wanted  bees, 
no  matter  what  color.  We  got  past  the  stage 
of  gloves  and  armlets,  and  antidotes  for  stings, 
and  concluded  we  would  keep  on  until  we  had 
20  hives.  In  August  we  had  26 colonies,  and  the 
fever  (bee,  not  yellow  fever)  became  so  strong 
that  we  came  near  giving  up  our  visit  to  the 
States,  for  the  sake  of  staying  to  take  care  of 
the  bees.  We  did  not  give  it  up,  howevei-.  and 
were  away  three  months  (went  to  the  Pacific 
coast,  and  followed  the  same  route  over  which 
we  have  since  accompanied  Mr.  Root  with  so 
much  pleasure),  leaving  the  bees  to  the  care  of 
our  friend.  He  could  not  see  them  very  fre- 
quently. A  good  many  swarms  went  out;  but 
when  we  returned  in  November  we  found  on 
our  azotea  32  hives,  mostly  with  upper  stories. 
This  was  exactly  one  year  from  the  time  the 
first  queen  began  laying.  We  began  extracting 
in  December  from  27  colonies,  having  lost  one 
by  accident;  given  away  two,  and  placed  sec- 
tions on  two.  The  bellflower  lasted  only  until 
about  Jan.  ().  giving  2.30  gallons.  This  usually 
lasts  until  a  month  later.  Romerillo  {Bkletis 
leucanthus)  following,  soon  gave  about  as  much 


1S9J 


GLKANlNCiS  IN  BEE  CUI/rURE. 


575 


niori'.  This  lioiu-y  caiulK'S  —  ll)i>  only  Ixiiicy 
pi'otiiii'cti  in  ("uha  w  liii-li  iloi's  not  rrniain  lii|ui»l. 
so  far  as  I  know.  Fruit  and  otliiT  hiossonis  pid- 
duot'd  soMH'  fnitliiT  siiipins.  hut  i-ontinucd  rains 
provtMitcd  MX  ffoin  ohtaininii  more  tlian  lialf  the 
nianjirovi'  (low;  hcsidcs.  1  liad  sold  i'i)j;lit  of  my 
h»»si  colonics  hcfoif  it  hrixaii.  My  hives  have 
nine  frames,  i;?'4Xl3'4.  in  hrood-ohaiitlicr.  and 
eight  above.  I  began  with  ten  frames  below, 
spaced  according  to  rule,  lint  found  better  re- 
sults with  one  less.  My  location  is  very  favor- 
able in  ont^  respect.  About  tliree-tjuarters  of  a 
mile  distant  are  molasses  storehouses:  and  when 
every  thing  els(>  fails,  tiie  bees  manage  to  scrape 
a  living  from  the  draininiis  of  tlie  hogsheads. 
T\)\>  undoubtedly  heli)ed  i  hem  through  our  two 
bad  montiis.  August  and  Septembei'.  One  cir- 
cumstance, liowever.  is  unfavorable;  and  that 
is.  our  liouse  is  located  on  the  edge  of  the  bay. 
so  tliat  half  of  the  ai'ea  of  the  range  is  water. 

The  total  amount  of  extiacted  honey  was  TO','") 
lbs.:  comb  honey.  Ul.")  lb<.:  wax.  70  lbs.  Of  the 
27  colonies,  about  two-thirds  were  strong:  but 
all  gave  surplus  in  upper  stories.  Since  begin- 
ning to  extract  I  nav(>  permitted  no  increase 
until  now.  not  intending  to  keep  on  with  the 
apiary.  I  now  protio^e  to  increase  to  100:  and 
if  I  get  as  good  results  ])er  colony  next  season  I 
will  report  again.  One  result  I  have  still  to 
tnention— a  fund  of  health  and  enjoyment  from 
my  work  with  the  bees  that  I  could  hav(>  ob- 
tained here  in  no  other  way.  B.  W.  Law. 

Havana.  Cuba.  July  1. 


DOOLITTLE  ON  ftUEEN-EXCLUDERS. 


WHAT   PART   OF   THK    HIVE    FIELtl     BEES     STOKE 
TifEIK   HOXEV   IX. 


A  coiTespondent  writes.  "According  to  page 
ll<i  of  Gi.EAXiXGS.  a  correspondent  of  the  Brit- 
ish Bcc  Jiiunud  thinks  that  queen-excluders 
under  the  surplus-chambers  are  needed  only  at 
the  front  and  back  end.  and  a  thin  board  over 
the  rest.  Is  he  right?"  Bv  turning  to  the 
page  referred  to.  I  see  that  this  is  taken  from 
one  of  Dr.  Miller's  Stray  Straws,  and  I  will  say 
that  he  voices  my  opinion  exactly  where  he 
says.  ••Soineho'v  lam  afraid  that  the  bees  will 
not  work  quite  so  well  over  the  board:  and  if 
he  had  said  I  k)iow.  instead  of  "  I  am  afraid,"  I 
would  have  indorsed  it  just  as  quick.  To  be 
sure.  I  hav(»  known  bees  to  go  clear  around 
division- boards  and  up  into  the  cap  of  the  hive. 
and  go  to  building  comb  and  storing  honey 
there:  but  from  close  observation  I  am  satisfied 
that,  the  more  perfect  the  connection  between 
the  brood-apartment  and  the  surplus  arrange- 
ment, the  more  readily  the  bees  start  to  work: 
and  the  iniicker  the  bees  start  in  the  sections, 
the  better  the  results  in  the  number  of  pounds 
of  honey. 

••  Very  well."  says  one:  "  but  if  this  is  so.  why 
do  you  recommend  excluders  at  all?  for  the 
connection  between  the;  two  apartments  can 
not  be  as  perfect  with  excluders  as  without 
them." 

Probably  this  "one"  is  correct:  but  in  reply 
I  would  say  that  it  is  not  the  largest  number  of 
pounds  of  honey  that  is  always  the  most  prolit- 
able  to  the  apiarist:  for  if  so.  why  not  do  as 
our  fathers  used  to— hive  our  bees  in  barreU? 
Elisha  (iallup  once  said  that  bi'es  would  store 
as  much  honey  in  a  barrel  or  a  nail- keg  as  any- 
where: and  I  have  no  reason  to  disjjute  it.  Ah  1 
but  honey  stored  in  this  way  is  not  in  market- 
able >ihape:  and  >ioney  stored  without  queen- 
excluders,  especially  where  the  shallow  frames 
are  used,  is  not  always  in  marketable  shape,  for 
thousands  of  sections  have  been  spoiled  for 
market  by   having  brood  in   them   where  ex- 


cluders were  not  used.  I  contend  that  more 
lioney  in  iiuirliclalilc  slutpc  run  t)e  secured  by 
the  use  of  separators  and  (excluders  than  can  be 
without  tiiem:  and  this  is  the  reason  why  I  use 
theni.  That  "bees  don't  go  up  through  the 
middle  of  the  brood-nest"  I  think  a  mistake  on 
the  part  of  our  Enclish  friend:  for  certainly  the 
most  of  the  hives  of  our  fathers  allowed  them 
to  go  up  nowhere  else,  and  they  s(»cured  much 
surplus  in  that  way,  my  father  taking  as  much 
as  75  lbs.  from  a  single  luiw  swarm  with  a  two- 
inch  hol(»  from  the  center  of  th<'  brood-chamber 
h'ading  to  the  one  surplus-apartment. 

But  the  correspondent  asks  further:  "  If  he 
should  be  wrong,  does  his  theory  not  hold  good 
concerning  excluders  that  stand  vertical  ?"  I 
am  using  large  frames,  and  have  my  honev 
stored  at  \ho  sides.  Now.  wiien  the  bees  inarch 
from  the  entrance  toward  the  excluders  do  they 
not  move  along  at  the  bottom  of  the  hive?  and 
do  thev  not  therefo'-e  go  through  the  lower 
rows  of  zinc?  If  I  am  I'ight.  how  many  rows 
would  be  needed  where  the  American  frames 
are  used?" 

It  is  evident  that  our  correspondent,  as  well 
as  our  English  friend,  is  laborins  under  the  de- 
lusion so  often  taught  in  the  past,  thai  the  bee 
which  gathers  a  load  from  the  Meld  must  of  ne- 
cessity deposit  that  load  in  the  surplus  recepta- 
cles. For  this  reason  outside  entrances  were 
made  at  the  top  of  the  hive,  to  be  opened  when 
the  harvest  came,  so  the  bees  could  go  direct 
from  the  fields  to  the  boxes,  thus  saving  them 
that  much  of  "foot  weariness"  and  time,  for  it 
was  too  bad  to  have  them  traveling  and  being 
jostled  all  the  way  from  the  lower  entrance  up 
through  the  crowded  hive  in  the  dark  when 
they  could  just  as  well  go  right  from  the  field 
by  daylight  to  the  combs  where  they  were  to 
store  the  honey.  However  nice  and  poetical 
this  appeared,  the  coming  of  the  Italian  bee 
virtually  stopped  up  this  upper  entrance,  for  it 
was  soon  found  that,  wlien  there  were  only 
black  bees  going  in  and  out  at  ihe  entrance, 
just  before  the  Italians  commenced  to  work  in 
the  fields,  there  were  very  few  if  any  black 
bees  in  the  sections;  and  a  look  through  the 
glass  showed  these  black  laborers  giving  up 
their  loads  of  honey  to  the  young  Italians  upon 
their  return  from  the  fields,  allowing  these 
nimble-footed  young  fellows  '  to  run  upstairs 
with  the  honey,  taking  the  shortest  and  quick- 
est way  they  could,  whether  at  the  top  or  bot- 
tom, front  or  back  end,  or  ri<iht  thrmujh  the 
colter.  -  Moreover,  it  was  ascertained  thai,  un- 
less there  was  a  very  large  yield  of  honey,  these 
young  Iellc^vs  held  this  honey  in  their  honey- 
.<acs,  or  deposited  it  in  the  brood-combs,  right 
among  the  brood,  wherever  an  empty  cell  was 
found,  till  it  was  sufficiently  riiiened  to  be 
stored  in  the  sections  or  placed  permanently  in 
the  comb-..  Bees  have  no  paths  staked  out.  nor 
lawns  with  "keep  off  the  (jniss  "  notices  posted 
up:  but  they  do  like  to  cluster  with  and  about 
the  brood,  and  deposit  their  honey  above  and 
around  it;  and  the  more  this  "like"  is  inter- 
fered with,  the  less  will  be  thi>  results  in  honey. 

Another  coiTespondent  wishes  me  to  tell 
which  hatches  first— a  queen  from  a  larva  four 
davs  old.  or  one  from  a  larva  from  2-f  to  36 
hours  old.  He  .seems  to  think  that  the  queen 
would  hatch  first  from  the  2-i-hour  larva,  and, 
after  quoting  Mr.  R.  C.  Aikin,  in  the  Revieir, 
as  saving  that  the  queen  from  the  4-day  larva 
would  hatch  first,  says,  "If  this  is  as  Aikin 
says,  there  is  no  such  thing  as  the  "survival  of 
the  fittest"  in  queen-rearing.  Mr.  Aikin  is 
certainly  right  in  saying  that  a  queen  from  an 
old  larva  will  hatch  sooner  than  one  from  a 
young  larva— that  is,  where  both  are  started 
ifor  queens  at  the  same  time;  hence  the  chances 
are.  that,  where  a  queen  is  taken  from  a  colony, 


576 


GLEAMlNliS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


At^G.  1. 


and  the  bees  are  allowed  to  have  their  own 
way  in  rearing  a  queen,  the  first  hatching 
queen  will  not  be  as  good  as  those  which  would 
hatch  a  little  later.  Bui  our  correspondent 
must  bear  in  mind  that  this  has  little  to  do 
wiin  the  "survival  of  the  fittest,""  lor  this 
means  where  nature  is  allowed  to  have  its  own 
way;  and  in  that  case  queens  would  be  reared 
on  the  swarming  plan,  in  which  case  queens 
are  reared  from  the  egg,  or  the  larva  is  fed  all 
its  life  on  royal  jelly.  G.  M.  Doolittle. 

Borodino,  N.  Y.,  July  16. 

[We  have  noticed  particularly,  during  the 
past  summer,  that  frames  of  foundation  would 
be  drawn  out  and  filled  with  raw  neciar  first  at 
those  ends  next  to  the  entrance,  and  that  a  little 
further  on  this  nectar  would  be  gone.  This 
rather  corroborates  the  facts  presented  by  our 
close-observing  correspondent.] 


THAT  OUTSIDE  RO"W 


OF   CELI>S   IX   A   SECTIOX. 

A  correspondent  writes:  "I  have  just  taken 
off  ?M)  lbs.  of  comb  honey,  snowy  white,  well 
tilled,  and  nicely  capped,  save  one  row  of  cells 
next  the  wood.  Later  on,  many  of  these  will 
leak,  which  is  worse  than  being  travel-stained. 
How  would  it  do  to  lift  the  super,  put  an  empty 
super  under,  and  let  them  btay  on  till  the  end 
of  the  seairon  ?  or  is  it  best  to  put  the  empty  one 
on  top '?" 

I  confess  that  I  do  not  feel  very  fully  posted 
as  to  that  outside  row  of  cells.  In  the  first 
place,  1  don't  know  what  is  the  reason  that  one 
lot  of  sections  has  a  row  of  unsealed  cells  next 
the  wood,  while  another  lot  has  no  cells  unseal- 
ed. J  su>pect  it  may  be  that  a  colony  must  be 
somewhat  crowded  for  room  before  it  will  seal 
the  outside  row.  If  that  be  the  case,  it  is  pos- 
sible that  it  might  cost  more  than  it  would  be 
worth,  to  force  the  bees,  by  crowding,  to  seal 
the  outside  row. 

I  am  not  certain  just  what  you  expect  to  gain 
by  leaving  the  super  on  till  the  end  of  the  sea- 
son. If  you  expect  thus  to  get  the  outside  row 
of  cells  sealed.  I  am  afraid  you  will  be  disap- 
pointed. So  long  as  there  is  abundance  of  room 
in  the  second  super,  whether  it  be  above  or  be- 
low. I  should  expect  the  outside  row  to  remain 
unsealed.  Even  supposing  that,  by  leaving  the 
super  on  till  i  he  close  of  the  season,  the  cells 
would  be  ail  sejilt^d.  I  think  the  remedy  would 
be  \\  of^c  than  the  disease,  foi' I  can  not  agree 
with  you  that  it  is  necessai'y  to  have  leaking 
cells,  even  thoufili  they  are  not  sealed. 

How,  then,  shall  we  manage  these  unsealed 
cells?  I  must  admit.  1  have  plenty  of  them 
every  seiison.  and  yet  I  think  it  is  a  rare  thing 
to  have  tht^in  leak.  If  the  cells  are  empty  it  is 
pretty  certain  that  they  will  not  leak.  I  think 
mine  are  genei'ally  empty.  When  it  is  time  to 
take  off  a  .-uper.  if  the  bees  act  for  you  as  they 
do  forme  they  will  (;mpty  neai'ly  all  those  un- 
sealed ci'lls  before!  they  leave  the  supi^r.  Prob- 
ably they  do  this  on  the  sann^  piinciple  that 
they  always  act  when  afraid  that  eveiy  thing 
is  to  be  taken  fiom  them;  that  is,  they  load  up 
all  the  hoiiey  tlu-y  can.  so  as  to  be  ready  for  any 
etnergeiicy.  IJhick  bees,  when  frighteui  d.  are 
lik:'ly  to  tear  holes  in  the  ca[j|)ings.  but  Italians 
selilom  do.  Thev  taki^  lime  lu  look  ai'oniid  for 
cells  that  are  alri'ady  unsealed,  and  lujid  up 
from  them. 

Whethei'  tliey  would  do  this  when  not  at  all 
frightened,  as  in  the  case  of  going  dnwn 
through  a  bee-escape.  T  do  not  know.  Hut 
mine  always  get  a  pretty  good  do-e  of  .-meke 
before  renujval. 


Even  although  honey  should  be  left  in  the 
unsealed  cells,  it  is  not  necessary  to  have  it 
leak.  It  will  not  leak  if  thick  enough:  and  if 
the  sections  ai'e  kept  in  a  proper  place  the  hon- 
ey will  become  thicker  instead  of  thinner:  for  I 
think  I  am  safe  in  saying  that  honey  mtist 
become  thinner  than  it  was  before  it  left  the 
hive  before  it  will  leak.  If  I  am  not  mistaken, 
Mr.  Doolittle  depends  almost  entirely  on  the 
ripening  of  the  honey  in  these  unsealed  cells  to 
prevent  leaking,  laying  great  stress  on  keeping 
the  honey  for  some  time  in  a  building  painted  a 
dark  color  so  as  to  be  heated  by  the  sun.  with 
a  good  circulation  of  air  so  as  to  encourage 
evaporation.  Indeed,  honey  should  be  kept  in 
some  such  place  in  any  c;ise.  I  never  heard  of 
any  honey  being  ripened  too  much  by  it,  but  I 
have  often  known  honey  to  be  in  bad  condition 
for  want  of  evaporation  or  ripening. 

So  I  su-'ipect  that  you  will  always  have  a  good 
many  unsealed  cells  in  the  row  next  the  wood; 
but  you  can  prevent  their  leaking,  either  by 
getting  the  bees  to  empty  them  or  by  evaporat- 
ing them  so  they  will  not  leak.  You  may  ask 
whether  there  is  any  surety  that  such  cells  will 
not  leak  if  kept  in  an  improper  place  after  they 
are  evaporated.  No.  there  is  no  surety  against 
such  a  thing.  Neither  is  there  any  surety 
against  the  sealed  c<>lls  leaking.  Put  honey  in 
a  cool,  damp  place,  where  the  unsealed  cells 
will  get  to  leaking,  and  it  will  require  only  a 
little  time  for  the  hontiv  in  the  sealed  cells  to 
become  thin  and  ooze  through  the  cappings. 
I  feel  pretty  sure,  thnt.  in  any  case  where  you 
have  had  the  outside  low  of  cells  leak,  if  you 
should  leave  it  long  enoush  in  the  same  place, 
honey  would  weep  through  the  cappings. 

ANTS  IX    HIVES. 

You  also  ask  for  a  remedy  against  small  black 
ants  in  hives.  Oh.  yesi  a  liberal  sprinkling  of 
borax  or  common  salt.  But  as  I  read  further,  I 
find  you  say  you  have  tried  this  without  effect. 
Well,  it  seems  to  me  it  worked  with  me.  for  in 
former  years  I  had  trouble  galore  with  ants, 
sometimes  the  little  ones  like  yours,  not  more 
than  1^  of  an  inch  long,  and  also  with  the  large 
ones.  I  don't  know  that  they  troubled  the  bees 
very  much:  but  they  did  trouble  nie.  crawling 
all  over  my  hands  and  arms,  and  viciously  bit- 
ing me  every  time  I  opened  the  hive.  Well,  if 
borax  and  salt  are  of  no  use.  couldn't  you  make 
your  covers  ant-proof,  so  that  no  ant  can  enter? 
fori  don"t  think  you  will  ever  lind  the  ants 
have  an  eniranee  through  the  hive  where  the 
iiees  are;  tliey  get  in  between  the  cover  and  the 
hive,  and  then  stay  only  on  top  of  the  cloth. 

But  ril  tell  you  what  has  proved  a  perfect 
remedy  with  me;  and  that  is.  flat  boaid  covers 
without  any  sheet.  You  see  in  that  case  there 
is  nowhere  for  the  ants  to  have  a  nest  without 
being  I'iglit  among  th(>  hees.  and  I  don't  think 
you  evei'  found  them  nesting  where  the  Ijees 
had  free  range.  At  any  rate.  I  have  never 
known  ants  in  hives  with  flat  board  covers. 

Marenjio.  III.  ('.  C.  Miller. 


RAMBLE  NO.  64. 
IX    Tin<;    oHAXGE-GKovEs:    orange  -  growers 

SUB.JEC'T   TO   THE    Bt^UES   A.S   WELL 
AS   REE   KEEPER.S. 

After  my  pleasant  experiences  in  Ventura  Co. 
I  riHurni'd  again  to  San  Bernardino  Co..  noted 
for  being  the  largest  county  in  the  U.  S..  and 
also  for  being  the  banner  fruit  county  of  Cali- 
fornia. Its  acreage  of  oranges  alone  is  fully 
liO.OOO.  and  rapidly  going  up  at  that.  It  is  also 
great  in  honey;  but  as  to  which  county  can 
bear  the  banner,  the  honey  statistician  has  not 
as  yet  told  u.-. 


ISICJ 


(il.KA.\lx\(.s  IN'   |{EE  CULTURE. 


57; 


1  cnii'ml  till'  couiiiy  in  ^cairli  nf  ;iii  ii|ii;iiv, 
ami  liad  tliat  sul)missivi'  spirit  that,  if  1  could 
not  imrchasc.  1  would  take  tlic  lowest  round 
on  the  apic'iiltiiral  laddn-  and  wofk  my  way  up. 
Tliorcfoic.  during  the  la-^i  week  in  Dcccnihrr  I 
rainlilt'd  on  the  bcautilul  strt'cts  of  liiNcisidi-, 
noted  as  tli(>  i-cntcf  of  tiie  citriis-fii()win!;  hell 
of  (alifoinia.  Hivcrsidc  has  a  population  of 
about  S(KH):  has  a  Chinatown  and  Indian  town. 
Mexican  M'ttlemeiit.  and  the  inasnitieent  Maji- 
noiia  Avenue.  l.V)  feet  wide  and  :.'i)  miles  in 
length,  of  which  only  about  10  miles  is  impfov- 
ed.  Tlie  area  of  this  city  is  the  largest  in  the 
country,  and.  except  in  tlie  business  center,  en- 
tire blocks  are  occupied  liy  only  oni'  house  and 
its  surrounding  orange-grove  and  ornamental 
siirubberv.  Tiiis  plan  necessarily  spreads  the 
city  to  a  groat  extent.  The  sidewalks  in  many 
places  are  shaded  by  orange- trees,  and  the 
golden  fruit  is  sometimes  literally  kicked  around 
under  foot.  The  principal  shade-tree  is  the 
pepper-tree,  which  forms  a  canopy  over  the 
walks,  and  ih<>  ii«''iti<'nt  fernlike  leaves  lightly 
brush  the  hat  as  we  walk  along.  I  had  quite 
a  vivid  premonition  that  Riverside  would  be 
mv  home  for  a  time,  and  the  feeling  was  some- 
what intensified  when  I  found   myself  on  the 


THE    MOTLEY   CKOWD    IX   KIVEIISIDE,   CAT. 

main  business  street  in  a  group  of  humanity 
consisting  of  an  Indian  leaning  against  an 
awning  post,  and  looking  sad:  two  negrons 
chatting,  and  happily  showing  their  ivories;  a 
Mexican,  nearly  as  dark-skinned,  resting  on  a 
box.  and  evidently  tired.  Mexicans  are  noted 
for  being  tired:  in  fact,  they  were  born  tired. 
Then  there  was  a  light-complexioned  Spaniard 
dismounting  fr<jm  liis  broncho.  Coming  down 
the  street  was  a  Chinaman  in  his  national  cos- 
tume: several  whit(!  men  showing  the  charac- 
teristic features  of  as  numy  nationalities  W(!re 
standing  around:  and.  lastly,  there  was  that 
fellow  called  the  Rambler.  It  was  a  motley 
ciowd.  and  such  as  you  will  often  see  in  these 
far-we-stern  cities.  Such  a  variety  of  human 
beings,  I  suppose,  is  necessary  to  carry  on  the 
various  operations  of  fruit  culture,  for  there  is 
niuch  hard  labor  connected  therewith,  ^'or 
instance,  to  keep  an  orang(^-grove  up  to  its  best 
requires  constant  attention.  It  must  be  irri- 
gated at  least  once  a  month,  and  also  cultivatiHl 
both  ways  and  around  the  trees  once  a  month, 
and  sometimes  twice.  Then  comes  the  trim- 
ming and  the  search  for  the  destructive  scale 
bug.  The  greatest  damage,  however,  and 
against  which  then-  is  no  remedv.  is  from  the 
cold  grip  of  .Jack  Frost.     In   I)i"ce"mbi'r  last  th^' 


merciuy  fell  to  :.'0°  al)ove  zero.  This  was  unusu- 
ally cold  for  this  climate,  and  the  damage  was 
measured  i)y  the  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dol- 
lars, and  that  was  why  so  many  oranges  wt-re 
kicking  around  und.'i'  foot.  Orange  culture, 
therefoH'.  is  not  all  smooth  woi'k.  and  the  own- 
er of  a  grove  is  subject  to  as  hciavy  a  lit  of  the 
blues  as  was  ever  a  honey-producer. 

The  picking  lasts  two  or  thrcM!  months,  and 
here  is  w  here  every  one  of  our  motley  crowd 
finds  employment.  .\ny  eastern  bee-kreper  de- 
siring tu  pr(Kluc(!  oianges  can  purcha.se  a  live 
or  ten  acre  grove  l:.'  y.ars  old.  and  in  full  bear- 
ing, for  the  moderate  sum  of  S'^OW  per  acre:  or 
unimproved  land  snl)ji'ct  to  iii-igaiiun.  for  $100 
to  .^:i(H)  i)cr  acre.  PUnsf  (jlm;  the  Rdinhler  due 
notice  jvhcii  i/oii  are  coining,  <in<1  lie  will  try  to 
care  for  1/0 k. 

IIOXKY    FROM   OKANGE-THEES. 

The  chief  interest  a  bee-keeper  has,  however, 
in   an  orange  grove  is  the  honey  it  produces. 
In  Marcli  and    qjril  tli(>  blossoms  come  out  in 
profusion,  and   the  air  is  burdened  with  their 
fragrance.    The  odor  is  not    unlike    our   old- 
fashioned   lilac  of  the   East.     The   blossom    is 
slow  to  open,  and  not  in  a  hurry  to  fall;  it  there- 
fore gives    the    bee    three;    or    more 
weeks  in  which  to  collect  the  nectar. 
At  present  the   orange  area  is  not 
great  as  compared  to  sage  and  other 
flora;   but  in  a  few  years,  where  there 
are    now    a    thousand     orange-trees 
within  easy  range  of  an  apiary  there 
will   be  tens  of    thousands,   for    the 
level  sage  lands  are  being  reclaiiued 
by  irrigation,  and  planted  to  orange 
and  other  fruits.    The  bee  works  all 
day    long   on    the    orange-blossoms, 
and  their  busy  hum  rises  so  loud  and 
earnest  as  to  attract  the  attention  of 
the  most  indifferent  pedestrian:  and 
although   there  is  an    abundance  of 
honey    obtained    from    the    orange, 
there  is  much  more  sold  in  the  mar- 
kets than  is  obtained.    Orange  honey 
is  considered  rare,  and  pure  orange- 
blossom  honey  is  rare,  from  the  small 
area  in  which   it    is    gathered;    but 
rarities  are  always  sought  after,  and, 
of  course,  the   average    grocerymaii 
has  not  cultivated  his  conscience  to 
tha^    superlative    degree    that    will 
prevent  him  from   calling  any   nice 
honey  "orange;"  and  I  am  somcnvhat  skeptical 
about   there    being   much  purely  orange  honey 
shipped  from  this  State,  though  there  are  tons 
of  honey  sold  as  such. 

Usually  in  P''ebruary  or  March  the;  inten-st  in 
the  citrus  culture  reaches  its  culminating  point 
in  grand  exhibits,  and  a  citrus  fair  is  worthv  a 
long  journey  to  see.  All  sorts  of  designs  and 
lettering  devices  are  worked  out  through  the 
contrast  in  the  color  of  oranges  and  lemons. 
The  photo  shows  in  some  degree  the  novelty 
and  beauty  of  a  citrus  fair  in  this  seiui- tropical 
climate,  where  huge  lemons  can  be  made  if 
they  can  not  be  grown. 

Iti  some  quiet  corner  is  usually  foitnd  an  ex- 
hibit of  honey,  orange  and  otherwise,  but  it  is 
quite  overshadowed  by  the  great  citrus;  and 
though  there  are  enough  bee-keepers  in  Cali- 
fornia, and  the  product,  even  in  a  poor  .season, 
is  enough  to  make  a  creditable  exhibit.  1 1>  lieve 
there  has  never  been  a  spt  cial  honey  fair,  and 
only  occasionally  a  largo  e.vhibit  at  fairs  jn 
general. 

Riverside  has  something  of  a  local  notori.-ty 
for  the  number  of  swarms  of  bees  in  residences, 
where,  instead  of  being  a  benefit,  they  are 
nuisances.  During  a  booming  season,  "whi-n 
absconding    swarms    are   plentiful,   they   have 


578 


GLEANiNGS  IN  UEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


1892 


(^JLKANlNCiS  IN  HKE  CULTURE. 


579 


b('(>n  known  to  ('liter  iiiuisid  i-liiniiioys  ami  all 
imai:iiialilt>  spaocs.  larsjf  and  small.  It  was 
durimr  siu'li  a  season  thai  Mr.  I'hasc.  who  came 
to  IviviTsido  with  little  nu-ans.  went  around 
takinjr  these  nuisances  out  of  houses,  and  giv- 
iuii  them  hives.  Tiiis  |»ian.  and  imttins  up 
decov  hives,  soon  put  him  in  possession  of  an 
apiaiv  of  ItX)  swarms.  Thi^e  were  iuereas(>d  to 
•J(Xi.  and  sold  for  .*UKX).  Here  was  a  ease  of 
tilntoxl  somethinsr  from  iioihiiii;.  and  such  cases 
can  he  multiplied  all  over  Southern  California. 

Kvery  year  hundreds  of  nondescript  boxes  of 
various  sizes  are  put  among  the  rocks  in  the 
foot-hills  and  among  the  willows,  with  good 
results. 

If  the  cilv  is  noted  for  its  motley  population, 
the  country  is  fully  as  interesting  from  the 
queer  characters  we  meet.  About  every  other 
rude  cabin  we  encotmter  has  a  lone  occupant. 
.Such  a  person  is  a  "bach.""  and  his  luethod  of 
living  is  called  "Imcliing  it.*'  To  show  what 
proportion  of  bee-keepers  live  in  this  way.  I 
would  say  that,  during  the  convention  in  Los 
Angeles.  spv(>n  were  grouped  around  the  Ram- 
bler in  the  St.  Elmo  hotel,  and  one  remarked 
that  he  was  baching  it.  I  passed  the  remark 
around,  and  they  all  contributed  the  fact  that 
they  were  in  the  same  condition.  There  are  a 
few  benedicts,  however,  as  you  have  before 
learned. 

hamhler's  dog-.story.  and  tiii<:  moi;.\i.. 

While  perambulating  across  the  mesa,  about 
four  miles  from  Riverside.  1  was  passing  one  of 
these  rude  cabins,  when  a  man  made  his  ap- 
pearance at  the  door.  He  seemed  anxious  to 
speak,  but  was  evidently  debating  as  to  wheth- 
er I  was  a  tramp  or  a  book  agent.  I  startled 
him  by  shouting.  "The  top  of  the  morning  to 
yezl""  He  answered.  "Good  mornin',"  and  at 
the  same  time  cast  his  eyes  eastward  over  his 
cabin,  evidently  expecting  to  see  the  top  I  men- 
tioned. Says  he.  "It's  cold  this  mornin'.'"  Says 
I.  "It's  hot  this  morning;"'  and  with  my  right 
forefinger  I  squeezed  the  sweat  from  my  brow. 
We  had  a  little  further  conversation  in  relation 
to  the  varying  conditions  of  the  body  w-hen  in 
action  or  when  passive.  Coming  to  an  agree- 
ment we  entered  the  cabin.  My  nose  arrived 
first,  as  it  usually  does,  and  it  sent  back  this 
brief  but  significant  dispatch:  "There's  some- 
thing rotten  in  Denmark."    To  my  eyes  there 


A    F.\MII.Y   OK    MEXICA-N    IxXiS. 

was  revealed  a  very  disorderly  room.  A  broom 
was  n"ver  wielded  by  the  occupant,  and  the 
only  bare  spot  was  under  the  treadle  of  a  sort 
of  drilling-machine.  This  man  was  a  jeweler, 
and  he  made  scarf-pins  in  various  styles,  from 
the  shells  of  the  Pacific.  I  accepted  the  proffer- 
ed chair  and  a  proffered  orange.  The  latter 
was  in  a  clean  paper  bag:  but  that  smell  haunt- 
ed me.  and  the  first  morsel  of  orange  I  swallow- 
ed wanted  to  come  back;   but  I  swished  down 


another  piece,  and  after  that  I  bid  detiance  to 
sntells.  I  was  on  the  lust  quarter  of  the  orange 
when  there  was  a  movenuMit  in  a  mysterious- 
looking  box  al)out  !>;  inches  square,  and  out 
came  one  of  those  liairless  Mexican  dogs.  My 
nose  and  I  agreed  right  otT  that  we'd  found  the 
source  of  the  smell.  Tiie  smell  grew  louder. 
Then  another  hairless  varmint  canu'  out:  then 
anotlier:  and  just  as  I  had  conclud<!d  that  I 
had  found  Pandora's  l)()x  of  evils,  the  hfth  and 
last  attenuated  specimen  of  a  (nuidruped  cam(! 
out.  At  this  titue  the  smell  was  very  loud,  and 
I  had  linished  eating  oranges.  The  ijroprietor 
said  that  rearing  Mexican  dogs  worked  in  well 
with  his  shell  jewelrv.  Many  ladies  purchased 
them  for  pets,  and  lie  readily  realiz(id  *10  each 
for  theiu.  Th(>  poor  things  were  shivering, 
even  on  that  mild  morning,  and  he  proceeded 
to  blanket  his  pets. 

A  hairless  Mexican  dog,  when  his  fancy 
blanket  is  off.  is  the  color  of  an  angleworm.  They 
are  narrow-chested  and  consumptive  looking. 
They  are  very  transparent.  You  can  see 
through  them,  except  in  the  region  of  the 
stomach.  They  never  bark  unless  the  temper- 
ature is  above  10().°  and  just  one  bark  exhausts 
them  for  a  whole  day.  Like  true  Mexicans, 
they  are  born  tired,  and  are  useful  only  for 
ladies  with  perverted  tastes.  They  always 
smell  bad,  and  fleas  will  have  nothing  to  do 
with  them.  Fleas  love  decent  dogs.  Ladies 
use  highly  scented  mixtures  to  keep  down  the 
smell,  and  spend  much  lime  in  dressing  their 
pets  in  fancy  blankets,  and  also  make  little 
four-legged  trousers  for  them,  and  a  striped 
socket,  tipped  with  a  tassel,  for  its  dear  little 
tail.  The  moral  I  draw  from  the  above  infor- 
mation is,  that  that  Mexican-dog  worship  is  a 
luost  heinous  sin;  and  any  one  owning  such  a 
dog  should  be  labored  with  in  season  and  out  of 
season,  as  St.  Paul  says.  The  best  labor,  how- 
ever, would  be  to  destroy  the  id,ol  by  killing  it. 
I  admonished  the  man  on  the  error  of  his  ways, 
and  went  my  way.  wondering  what  sort  of 
character  would  next  meet  the        Rambler. 

[After  our  artist  had  read  Rambler's  dog- 
story  with  a  moral  to  it  he  was  moved  with 
compassion,  and  this  is  what  we  find  penciled 
at  the  bottom  of  the  last  page  of  Rambler's 
manuscript:] 

Don't  kill  the  hairless  dog;  only  cut  his  fancy 
tail  oflf  close  behind  his  ears,  or  get  some  patent 
hair-grower,  and  turn  him  to  use  by  making  a 
mat  of  him.  Cork  the  smell  up  and  sell  it  for 
Lubin's  Extract.  I  suppose  if  these  lazy  Mexi- 
cans should  by  any  accident  do  two  days'  loaf- 
ing in  one  it  would  be  fatal.  3fo7V(f.— Encour- 
age the  accident.  M. 


CANADA. 

CLOVER  A  failure:    prospects   from   bass- 
wood  GOOD. 

Rain.  rain,  rain,  is  still  the  order  of  the  day. 
These  tw^o  days  it  has  either  poured  or  come  in 
inoderate  showers  a  great  part  of  the  time;  and 
for  some  while  back,  rarely  have  34  hours  passed 
without  more  oi'«less  of  the  watery  element  de- 
scending upon  the  devoted  earth.  Hay  and 
straw  are  consequently  in  luxurious  growth,  and 
field  crops  generally  are  in  excellent  condition, 
save  that  the  straw  is  so  heavy  somewhere  that 
the  wheat  is  beginning  to  lodge  As  for  our 
own  particular  industry,  there  seems  little  that 
is  roseate  in  the  horizon,  save  that  the  basswood 
is  literallv  tilled  with  blossom,  and  promises 
well  for  its  own  season;  but  as  far  as  present 
acquisition   is    concerned,   the    clover,   though 


580 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


healthy  and  thrifty  to  appearance,  has  yielded 
nothing  here  so  far. 

A  week  ago  I  commenced  to  clean  out  the 
spring-gathered  mixture  from  the  hives,  in  the 
hope  that,  as  clover  pollen  was  coming  in,  the 
bees  would  fill  up  with  clover  honey;  but  I  was 
disappointed  in  finding  them  continue  to  store 
in,  as  before,  a  mixture  of  dark  honey  and 
darker  honey  dew;  so.  as  the  quantity  coming 
In  was  only  about  sufticient  to  keep"  the  bees 
ahead  of  immediate  wants,  I  had  to  let  up  on 
the  extractor,  and  I  see  no  prospect  at  nresent 
of  being  called  to  resume. 

This  condition  of  things  in  what  should  be 
the  best  part  of  the  honey  season  is  not  very 
encouraging:  but  I  am  exceedingly  thankful. 
however,  that  the  result  of  just  such  disap- 
pointments and  repeated  disappoinlments  may 
be  patience,  experience,  hope:  hope  centered  in 
the  never-failing  goodness  of  Him  who  never 
gives  a  stone  for  bread,  though  he  does  not 
always  bring  us  prosperity  in  the  line  along 
which  we  are  seeking  it. 

THE      DIFFEREXf  E       BETWEEN      BEOWES'G      AND 
BREATHING   ON   THE   BEES. 

I  don't  know  whether  any  of  the  bee-keeping 
friends  have  discoveied  the  difference  between 
breathing  and  blowing  on  bees.  To  breathe  on 
them  in  the  way  you  would  on  a  light  of  glass 
you  were  polishing  would  instantly  result  in 
your  getting  one  of  the  most  sadden  and  smart- 
ing lessons  you  could  think  of:  but  if  you  form 
your  lips  as  though  you  wanted  to  concentrate 
your  breath  on  the  smallest  possible  point,  and 
blow  with  vigor,  as  though  you  were  trying  to 
cool  a  Clip  of  tea  or  coffee,"vou  will  find  it  to 
have  quite  a  different  effect,  and  to  exert  a  sub- 
duing influence  over  the  few  bees  you  direct  the 
stream  of  air  again-i.  In  examining  combs  of 
brood  with  my  two  hands  occupied,  this  is  often 
very  u-cful  to  me  in  getting  the  bees  to  move 
off  particular  cells  that  I  may  want  to  have  a 
look  at.  The  air  directed  upon  them  causes 
them  to  wince  and  withdraw  to  one  side. 

R.  W.  McDonnell. 

Gait,  Ont.,  Can.,  June  28. 

[Yes,  breathing  upon  the  bees  is  like  a  red 
rag  to  a  bull;  but  blowing  smartly  does  not  seem 
to  anger  them.] 


QUEEN-BEES  TO  AUSTRALIA. 

SOME    UNJUST    RULINGS    BY    THE     POSTAL     AU- 
THORITIES   OF     NEW   SOUTH   WALES,    BY 
WHICH   QUEENS  ARE   EXCLUDED 
FROM   THE   MAILS. 


Friend  Root:  —  I  was  much  disappointed 
when  my  No.  .5  Gleanings  did  not  come  to 
hand.  Kindly  siMid  me  one  by  next  mail.  If  I 
had  received  it  I  might  have  "been  able  to  re- 
port success  in  having  the  postoffice  of  N.  S.  W. 
pass  queens  through  the  mails.  I  borrowed  a 
copy  from  friend  Scobie  about  14  days  ago.  and. 
after  reading  Doolittle's  article.  I  wrote  imme- 
diately to  the  Director  of  Agriculture,  asking 
him  to  let  me  know  the  law  in  reference  there- 
to. I  inclose  a  copy  of  his  reply,  which  will 
explain  itself: 

Department  of  Agriculture. 
Sydney,  .lutiel.  1S93. 
Sir:— In  answer  to  your  inguiiits  rejjrarding-  the 
carryhig:  of  queen-lDees  from  Aniciie;!  as  mail  mat- 
ter. I  have  the  lionor  to  inform  you  that  some  of 
the  colonies  agreed  to  pass  such  packag-es;  Ijut  N. 
S.  W..  at  the  postal  conference  held  recently,  ob- 
jected to  doing:  so.  At  the  present  time  such  pack- 
ages are  being-  passed;  but  so  far  as  America  is 
concerned,  instructions  are  going-  forward  by  the 
next  American  mail,  asking  the  postal  authorities 
to  inform  all  their  officers  of  tho  decision  of  our 


own  postal  department.    Probal)ly  some  few  weeks- 
^^^ll  elai.ise  after  the  arrival  of  the  oificial  letter  be- 
fore the  American  postofflces  are  advised;  but  you 
can  see  there  is  a  risk  of  your  queens  liciiig-  stopjied, 
unless  forwarded  by  the  next  outcomino-  mail  from 
'Frisco.    Any  representations   that  individuals  or 
the  l)ee-keepers'  association  may  desire  to  make  on 
the  subject  should  be  made  direct  to  the  Postmas- 
ter-General. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant. 
Henrv  C.  L.  Anderson, 
Director  of  Agriculture. 

[The  next  is  the  letter  from  the  secretary  of 
the  Hunter  River  Bee-keepers'  Association:] 

West  Maitland,  June  4,  18K. 
To  the  Postmaster-General,  Sydney: 

Si")-;— At  a  meeting-  of  the  committee  of  the  Hun- 
ter River  Bee-keepers'  Association  held  this  evening- 
the  following-  resolution  to  which  I  would  respect- 
fuUj- draw  your  attenti(^n.  was  (arriedon  the  mo- 
tion of  Mr.  Miuiday.  seconded  by  Mr.  Pullen.  'That 
the  attention  of  the  Postmastei-General  be  drawn 
to  the  fact  that  in  a  lecent  number  of  Gleanings 
IN  Bee  Culture,  published  in  America,  it  is  stated 
that  queen-bees  are  not  legal  mail  matter  in  Aus- 
tralia, and  to  request  him,  if  it  is  true  that  they  can 
not  legally  be  sent  by  post,  to  make  them  leg-al  mail 
matter,  as,  to  improve  our  strain  of  bees,  we  need 
frequent  impoitations  of  new  blood." 

In  the  event  of  qvieen-bees  being-  prohibited  in 
our  local  mails  a  great  blow  will  ha  .stiuck  at  the 
rapidly  growing-  bee-keeping-  industry,  as  so  many 
are  purchasing-  queen-bees  from  distant  bee-keepers 
with  the  object  of  improving  the  strain  of  bees  in 
their  apiaries.  As  a  number  of  bee-keepers  are 
importing-  bees  (queens  and  attendants)  from  Amer- 
ica, we  would  request  that  a  speedy  reply  be  sent 
to  this  communication,  so  that  these  gentlemen 
may  write  to  America  by  the  outgoing  mail  as  to 
the  decision  of  your  department  in  the  matter. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 
Mich.  Scobie, 
Hon.  Sec.  H.  R.  Bee-keepers'  Association. 

If  I  could  have  written  before,  the  N.  S.  W. 
representative  at  the  conference  might  have 
been  posted  up  and  taken  a  different  stand. 
On  receipt  of  the  letter  from  the  Director  of 
Agriculture  I  communicated  with  Mr.  Scobie, 
Hon.  Sec.  Hunter  River  Bee-keepers'  Associa- 
tion, and  a  committee  meeting  was  called  on 
short  notice.  This  meeting  passed  a  resolution, 
and  wrote  to  the  Postmaster-General,  as  per  in- 
closed. We  await  his  decision:  and  if  not 
favorable  we  will  adopt  further  means  to  gain 
our  end.  Perhaps  you  might  see  ht  to  do  some- 
thing on  your  side"  of  the  globe  to  help  in  this 
matter.  W.  S.  Pender. 

West  Maitland,  N.  S.  AV..  Australia.  June  10. 

[By  what  reason  or  logic  the  postal  authori- 
ties of  New  South  Wales  could  consider  queen - 
b'-es  not  legitimate  mail  matter,  we  can  not  un- 
derstand. It  is  the  same  old  story  over  again — 
cutting  off  their  own  noses  to  si)ite  their  own 
faces.  It  is  a  direct  blow  at  bee-keeping  in  the 
most  important  i)rovince  of  Australia,  and  we 
certainly  hope  that  the  letter  from  the  secreta- 
ry of  the  Hunter  River  Bee-ke(>pers'  Associa- 
tion will  cause  the  department  to  reverse  its 
decision.  Such  prompt  action  is  commendable, 
and  should  be  imitated  in  Jamaica.  W.  I.,  where 
official  ohiciousness  has  also  interfered.  We  are 
glad  to  notice  that  the  postal  magnates  of  the 
other  i)rovinces  of  Australia  have  taken  no  ac- 
tion against  the  mailing  of  queens  to  their 
ports,  and  we  therefore  accept  this  as  a  permis- 
sion. 

There  are  several  prominent  queen -bn-eders 
in  the  United  States  who  are  both  competent 
and  willing  to  send  queens  to  foreign  countries: 
and  it  therefore  devolves  upon  the  bee-keepers 
of  those  countries  to  see  there  is  no  legislation 
enacted  prohibiting  the  mailing  of  queens:  and 
if  such  action  has  been  taken,  to  have  it  re- 
versed. There  is  no  reason  in  the  world  why 
new  blood  should  not  thus  be  introduced,  and 


ISifJ 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


581 


tln'PtMS  cvciy  reasdii  in  its  favor:  aiul  we  liavo 
IK)  lioiibi  tliat.  w  lion  the  pidpcr  iciiicsmtatidns 
uri'  inaiir  Itv  ili<'  propi-r  persons,  tlic  otlicials  of 
the  postal  (IcpaiiMit'hts  ol  ilic  various  povcrn- 
nuMils  will  be  very  iilad  lo  inako  sncli  regula- 
tions as  will  admit  of  inailin};  (pieen-hecs.    . 

We  presnnn'  the  reascii  wliy  (ii.KAXiNGS  No. 
5  failed  to  I'eai'li  our  i'orii«;p()ii(|ent  was  on  ac- 
count of  the  fact  that  copies  of  ouf  journal  are 
occasionally  lost  in  the  mails  in  going  so  great 
u  distance.  \\\'  have  mailed  anotlier  copy,  and 
trust  there  will  he  lu)  more  missing  links  in  the 
chain.! 


OLD  THINGS  FOR  NEW  USES. 

C.    -V.    K.VrCH    DESCRIBES   .SOME     USEFUL     IIO.ME- 
MADK   TOOLS   FOR   USI^   IN   THE   APL\1{V. 

We  are  all  more  or  less  Inclined  to  try  new 
things  that  look  plausible;  but  how  maiiytimes 
do  we  want  to  try  things  that  are  old.  for  the 
same  reason  I  Out'  predecessors  may  not  have 
l)een  quite  up  to  ns  in  point  of  smartness;  but 
somehow  as  I  gel  older  I  am  inclined  to  have 
more  respect  for  them  and  iheir  ways. 

One  of  the  old  things  that  has  proved  u,«eful 
to  me  is  the  old-siyle  level.     It  has  the  merit  of 


16  IN. 


being  cheap:  and  any  one  rea-^^onably  handy 
with"  saw  and  square  can  mak(!  it.  and  it 
does  its  work  well.  Mine  is  made  of  a  piece  of 
■:i\l2  plank:  li5  in.  is  about  the  proper  length. 
To  lev(»l  lip  hive-stands,  set  it  on  a  bottom- 
boaid  on  the  stand,  and  block  uj^  under  until 
the  line  falls  naturally  paralhd  with  the  mark 
on  the  plank.  Any  bit  of  hutd,  or  even  an  old 
burr,  will  do  for  the  plumb-bob.  Bore  a  hole  in 
one  corner  to  hang  it  up  by  when  not  in  use. 

l.ANGSTIJOTH    HKUSH. 

I  have  tried  all  styles  of  brushes  known  to 
the  fraternity,  from  a  turkey  feather  to  a  bunch 
of  asparagus  tops.  and.  all  things  considered.  I 
like   the   one   father   Langstroth    described   in 


end,  and,  after  separating  the  rope  into  strands, 
force  them  down  inm  the  opening  left  by  the 
two  saw-kerfs:  dri\e  three  oi'  four  wire  nails 
through  anfl  clinch  light,  and  it  is  done,  except 
that  the  rope  will  need  to  be  wet  and  straight- 
ened. I  have  two  or  three,  so  when  one  is 
daubed  another  is  ready.  To  clean,  put  it  in 
warm  water,  and  whirl  as  if  it  were  a  top  you 
were  going  to  spin.  The  same  motion  when 
out  of  the  water  will  throw  the  brush  all  out 
straight,  and  get  rid  of  surplus  moistui'e.  only 
it  is  apt  to  riy  into  your  face  or  on  your  clothes; 
but  if  it  is  not  dirty  water  this  will  do  no  harm. 
Lay  them  down  to  dry.  It  works  best  while 
yet  damp. 

SP()Ki:-SH.\VE. 

I  have  found  that  your  straight  iron  spoke- 
shave  beats  any  thing  yet  tried  for  putting 
dipping-boards  in  shape  after  the  ends,  sides, 
and  corners  get  rough  by  use.  It  will  "bite" 
on  a  board  that  is  so  wet  that  a  common  plane 
will  not  touch;  and  where  it  is  too  cros.s-grained 
to  work  well  with  any  other  tool,  by  holding  it 
so  as  to  run  cornerwise  you  can  do  a  good  job 
with  the  spoke- shave.  Of  course,  it  must  be 
kept  quite  sharo  to  do  this.  I  would  not  be 
without  one,  for  this  use  only,  for  twice  your 
price. 

SCUAI'EK. 

This  is  an  old  tool  with  some  new  features.  I 
got  mine  from  Harry  Lathrop,  our  State  secre- 
tary; and  for  cleaning  up  hives,  crates,  frames, 
or  lor  cleaning  otr  the  dirt  from  the  bottom  of 
cakes  of  wax.  it  beats  all.  I  think  if  Dr.  M. 
would  try  one  he  would  go  and  bury  that  clumsy 
hatchet  of  his  for  ever;  but  I  presume  he  is 
wedded  to  his  idols,  so  don't  tell  this  to  him, 
but  consider  it  strict  y  conlidential. 

5haVe. 


his  book  years  ago  best  of  all.  Two  pieces 
of  half-inch  rope,  0  in.  long,  and  a  piece  of 
broom-handle  8  in.  long,  is  all  that  is  need- 
ed. Make  two  saw-kerfs,  as  close  together 
as  you  can  conveniently,  3  in.  deep  from  one 


Fig.  1  differs  from  the  scraper  you.  sell,  in  hav- 
ing two  right-angled  corners,  which  are  quite 
important  in  getting  into  the  corners  of  a  liive 
and  cleaning  out  the  rabbet  where  wooden  rab- 
bets are  used.  A  common  mowing-machine 
"section  "  just  fills  the  bill  for  one.  and  any 
blacksmith  can  do  the  rest.  The  shape  of  the 
handle  is  also  important:  ^^'-inch  oval  iron  is 
best  to  make  it  of.  If  there  are  many  wood- 
zinc  honey-boards  to  clean,  it  will  pay  to  file 
one  of  the  square  corners  so  as  to  just  fit  be- 
tween the  wooden  strips— see  Fig.  :.'. 

CLEANING   OFF  WAX   AND    PHOPOLIS  FROM   TIN. 

Has  any  one  tried  boiling  water  and  one  of 
your  cheap  scrubbing-brushes,  with  plenty  of 
soft  soap,  to  lake  off  wax  and  propolis  from  tin? 
If  not.  let  him  try  and  see  how  it  will  melt  and 
disappear  as  if  by  magic.     I  have  no  doubt  the 


582 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


lye  recommended  by  Miss  Wilson  would  do  as 
well  as  the  soap  and  boiling  water.  It  would 
do  better  for  small  things  like  separators;  but 
large  things,  like  wax-boilers  and  pails  to  cool 
wax  in,  must  be  scrubbed.  I  have  found  that 
the  large  pails  I  use  to  cool  wax  in  when  puri- 
fying get  so  coated  that  the  cakes  refuse  to 
come  out,  even  though  there  is  quite  a  differ- 
ence in  the  size  of  the  top  and  bottom.  But 
after  giving  them  a  good  scrubbing  with  the 
brush,  as  above,  there  is  no  more  trouble  for 
some  time.  Any  one  who  has  fussed  fifteen  or 
twenty  minutes  with  a  cake  of  wax  that  will 
not  come  out,  can  appreciate  this.  It  is  the 
little  annoyances  that  waste  our  time  and  spoil 
our  temper. 

The  outlook  in  Wisconsin  is  very  gloomy  in- 
deed. I  estimate  the  loss  on  wintering  and 
springing  at  40  per  cent,  and  loss  on  the  remain- 
ing (50  per  cent,  by  bad  condition,  30  per  cent 
more,  leaving  less  than  half  the  bee  force  of 
last  fall.  The  season  is  at  least  four  weeks 
late,  and  still  the  rains  continue.  Clover  is 
largely  killed  by  last  year's  drouth  and  winter 
exposure,  so  all  we  have  to  look  forwai'd  to  is 
the  basswood,  which  we  are  hoping  to  get  all 
right.  C.  A.  .Hatch. 

Ithaca,  Wis.,  June  7. 


THE  WEST  ftUEEN-CELL  PROTECTOR. 


HOW     THEY     MAY    BE     USED     FOE     liEAKlXO 
yUEENS. 


I  am  running  six  apiaries  this  summer,  and 
get  just  about  swarms  enough  to  furnish  me 
with  what  increase  and  choice  queen-cells  I 
want.  These  I  carefully  cut  out  and  place  in 
the  cell-protectors  and  cages  attached;  and 
when  I  arrive  at  any  out-yard  I  always  have  on 
hand  a  fine  lotof  young  virgin  queensall  hatched, 
and  in  cages — sometimes  15  on  one  comb.  I  use 
the  bestof  these  where  I  want  them;  and  if  they 
are  very  choice,  and  I  want  to  save  more  of 
them,  I  just  break  up  the  hive  that  has  done 
the  hatching,  placing  only  one  comb  of  bees 
and  one  of  the  queens  let  loose  upon  the  comb, 
in  an  empty  hive.  I  shut  the  hive  up,  and 
carry  it  where  I  want  it  to  stand.  I  then  open 
the  entrance  >.2  inch  wide.  8o  I  keep  on  until 
the  combs  are  used  up,  leaving  one  on  the 
stand  where  the  queens  were  hatched. 

Now,  Mr.  Root,  you  will  see  that  this  hatch- 
ing all  of  these  queens  was  done  by  the  parent 
hive  that  had  cast  a  swarm  five  or  six  days  be- 
fore the  cells  were  caged;  and  by  the  time  the 
young  queens  are  hatch-^d  there  are  a  great 
many  young  bees  hatched  too.  We  thus  have 
a  hive  full  of  young  bi'es  that  have  never  been 
outside  of  the  hive  to  mark  the  location  of  their 
home,  and  they  are  just  the  ones  to  make  the 
nuclei  of.  as  they  will  stay  where  they  are  put 
and  needed.  These  nuclei  must  have  some 
honey  and  brood,  so  that  the  bees  will  neither 
starve  nor  swarm  out  when  the  young  queens 
leave  their  hives  to  mate  witli  the  drones. 
Other  hives  that  have  cast  swarms,  and  whose 
cells  are  not  desirable  to  save,  make  good 
nuclei  after  their  cells  have  been  destroyed, 
and  treated  the  same  as  the  ones  j  List  described, 
with  the  exception  that  each  nucleus  is  given  a 
choice  virgin  queen  hatchi'd  elsewiiere.  I  leave 
the  queen  in  the  cage,  and  pack  one  end  of  the 
cage  full  of  hard  queen  candy.  These  young 
bees  will  receive  the  queens.  iSfow.  at  the  time 
the  nuclei  are  made,  or  at  any  time  after  the 
work  is  done,  if  they  have  only  one  frame  of 
bees  (two  would  be  a  little  better,  especially  if 
the  weather  is  cool),  a  division-board  should  be 
placed  at  the  side  of  the  frame  of  bees,  or  an- 
other comb  and  a  frame  of  brood   from  other 


hives.  If  increase  is  desired,  keep  adding  brood 
taken  from  other  hives  as  fast  as  there  are  bees 
enough  to  care  for  it,  and  these  nuclei  will  soon 
be  strong  colonies.  When  preferred,  the  queens 
may  be  used  elsewhere  as  soon  as  they  are  lay- 
ing without  adding  to  the  strength  of  the  nuclei, 
and  more  queens  can  then  be  mated  in  these 
same  nuclei.  After  the  queens  have  been  taken 
from  the  nuclei,  a  queen-cell  can  be  given  to 
each  one  at  any  time  with  perfect  safety  by 
placing  the  cell  in  the  spiral  wire  cell-protector, 
and  placing  one  in  each  nucleus,  on  the  side  of 
the  comb,  of  course.  The  nuclei  must  not  be 
allowed  to  raise  a  queen  from  their  own  brood; 
and  any  cells  being  started  that  would  hatch 
before  the  one  in  the  protector,  should  be  de- 
stroyed at  the  time  the  cell  is  introduced. 

I  keep  the  age  of  every  queen  I  own,  marked 
on  the  hive;  and  at  any  time  I  find  a  queen 
condemned  on  account  of  age  or  any  other 
cause  I  mark  it  down  on  the  hive  and  on  my 
book:  and  when  I  have  some  of  these  choice 
queen-cells  on  hand  at  the  right  age,  I  cut 
them  out  and  place  them  in  the  cell-protectors. 
I  then  open  the  hives  that  have  the  condemned 
queens,  find  and  kill  them,  and  introduce  the 
cells  before  the  hives  ai'e  closed.  The  cells  are 
peifectly  safe.  I  look  again  after  it  is  time  for 
the  queens  to  be  laying  without  doubt;  and  if 
any  queen  should  happen  to  be  lost  in  mating, 
etc..  I  then  go  to  a  nucleus  and  get  a  laying 
queen  and  introduce  her. 

All  who  practice  taking  away  the  queens  for 
a  short  time  during  the  swarming  season,  and 
then  running  in  a  virgin  queen  later,  will  find 
that  they  can  very  easily  get  all  of  the  queens 
very  cheaply  by  the  use  of  the  spiral  wire 
queen-cell  protectors  and  cages;  and  from  one 
to  twenty  virgin  queens  can  be  hatched  in  each 
hive  that  is  being  run  for  box  or  extracted  hon- 
ey without  a  queen  being  loose  in  the  hive.  It 
is  not  necessary  that  there  be  food  in  the  bot- 
tom of  the  cages  in  hatching  queens,  as  there 
should  be  no  loose  queen  in  a  hive  that  is 
hatching  young  queens,  and  then  the  bees  will 
feed  and  provide  for  all  of  the  young  queens  in 
the  cages  better  than  we  can.  If,  however, 
there  is  one  queen  loose  in  the  hive,  the  bees 
will  not  care  for  the  young  queens,  but  will  kill 
them  if  they  could;  and  if  they  can  get  a  hold 
of  a  wing  or  a  leg  of  these  caged  queens  they 
will  pull  it  off. 

But,  to  return.  Suppose  you  have  one  or 
twenty  queens  hatched  in  a  queenless  hive. 
Let  one  queen  out.  and  slie  is  safely  introduced 
every  time.  Do  what  you  please  with  the  rest. 
It  is  better  to  have  ninety  queens  to  spare,  and 
use  the  best  and  kill  the  rest,  than  to  lack  ten 
queens  and  have  to  use  some  you  had  rather 
not,  because  you  have  to  use  all  you  have  on 
hand  and  then  lack  ten,  N.  D.  West. 

Middieburg,  N.  Y.,  July  I.'). 

[We  have  been  using  the  West  queen-cell 
protectors  with  much  satisfaction  for  two  sea- 
sons in  queen-rearing.] 


OLMSTEAD'S  STRAY  STRAWS. 


the  aveatheu;  honey-ju.mbles,  etc. 


It's  rained,  It's  stormed:  small  lakes  it's  formed; 

It's  hailed,  then  rained  some  more; 
While  men  with  1)1  ues  and  low-cut  shoes 

Have  riiiped  and  raved  and  tore. 

Well,  this  is  the  ever-glorious  Fourth,  and,  to 
my  great  surpi'ise,  it  is  as  cleai'  as  a  bell,  and  the 
bees  are  just  pouring  in  with  honey,  while  for 
the  last  two  hours  I  have  been  reading  Glean- 
ings. I  don't  think  I  ever  more  enjoyed  read- 
ing.   The  last  number  I  think  unusually  good. 


1893 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


583 


It's  iust  ohiR'k  full  of  good  tliiiiRS.  and  I  havo 
laiigiu'd  till  I  i-ried  ovor  Kiiiiibler"s  description 
of  liis  journey  up  tho  canyon  over  the  half-nitch 
road,  and  yei  "no  harm  done:"  and  tho  littlo 
siiit>  piiMurc  showing  the  editor  in  hot  water: 
the  doctor's  outburst,  etc.  I  sui>i)ose  the  weatli- 
er  has  something  to  do  wit ii  it,  for  I  feel  more 
like  laughing  than  I  do  any  thing  else;  and  the 
more  solid  matter:  the  biography  of  your  art- 
ist ;  the  present  editor  of  the  A)ncyir(i)i  Tin 
JtiKrnal.  besides  the  Home  talks,  are  exceeding- 
ly intert'Sting  to  me. 

now  TO  ri.EAX  tiik  hl.\st-tuhk. 
.\  few  days  ago  I  pickeii  up  the  directions  for 
using  whicii  are  S(Mit  with  Clark  smokers:  then 
I  road  in  a  back  number  of  (;i,i;.\NiN(iS  how  Dr. 

M uses  a  crooked  wire  with  a  hoou  on  one 

side,  to  clean  the  blast-tube.  That's  all  right, 
doctoi',  till  you  can  do  better.  I  tri(>d  the  bent 
wire:  but  aftei'  hooking  a  while  I  found  ihe 
scraping,  like  the  handle  of  a  .jug.  to  be  all  on 
one  side:  and  witli  INIr.  Root's  green  stick  I 
rammed  more  in  tlian  I  imlled  out.  When  you 
have  como  to  this  conclusion,  go  to  your  shop, 
and.  with  a  '^s-inch  bit(l  mean  a  l)it.  and  oni' 
that  will  cut.  too  —  not  a //(//;;/ that  will  turn  in 
like  a  screw):  bore  a  hole  in  the  under  side  of 
your  bellows,  in  line  with  the  blast-tnbo  (when 
the  bellows  is  closed).  Xow  pass  a  stick,  small 
end  first,  through  from  the  underside,  and  pull 
it  out  at  the  nozzle,  bringing  the  obstruction 
out  instead  of  pushing  it  down  in.  Cork  the 
hole,  and  try  a  smoke:  and  if  you  don't  like  this 
plan,  keep  on  with  the  wire,  or  ramming  it  in 
with  a  stick.  You  will  get  your  bell(y)ows  full 
of  it  after  a  while. 

FUEL  FOK   SM0KP:RS. 

Take  dry  cobs  and  pound  them  up  the  size  of 
hiekorynuts  or  walnuts,  and  start  the  first  time 
with  a  few  coals  from  the  stove.  When  refill- 
ing, save  a  few  of  the  coals  to  start  the  fresh 
col)s:  and  if  they  have  gone  out  you  can  start 
or  light  them  with  a  match,  or  use  a  little  rot- 
ten wood  to  start  them,  as  you  can  not  easily 
light  the  fresh  cobs  with  a  match.  I  prefer 
cobs,  as  the  smoke  is  more  agreeable  to  me  and 
to  the  bees,  and  it  takes  loss  to  quiet  them;  no 
sparks  to  burn  me  and  my  clothes,  nor  ashes  to 
blow  into  our  honey  while  smoking  the  bees  out 
of  the  crates.  I  can  load  a  Clark  smoker  with 
cobs  so  it  will  last  three  or  four  hours. 

BEE-E.SCAPE.S    NOT  WANTED. 

We  have  no  use  for  bee-escapes.  I  believe  I 
can  take  oft'  a  thousand  pounds  quicker,  and 
with  less  trouble,  without  thera  than  with. 

TO  START  BEES  IX  SECTIONS. 

Sometimes,  when  bees  will  not  go  into  sec- 
tions they  can  be  started  by  lifting  tho  crate  or 
super,  and  scattering  some  small  [)iocosof  jjapor 
between  tho  frame  and  crati;  (don't  bo  afraid  to 
put  on  enough),  and  then  sprinkle  sawdust  in 
the  boxes  from  the  top:  and  if  some  is  left  on 
top  of  them,  if  there  is  a  bee-space  above  it  is 
all  right.  The  bees  begin  by  gnawing  and  car- 
rying out  the  paper,  and  get  interested  in  the 
boxes  wliile  clearing  them  from  sawdust.  Try 
it.  It  doesn't  always  work,  but  generally  does 
if  there  is  plenty  of  honey. 

HONEY -JUMBLES. 

If  there  is  any  such  thing  as  a  recipe  for  mak- 
ing honey-jumbles  or  honoy-jumboos.  oi'  any 
thing  else  in  tlie  line  of  honey,  fit  to  eat.  I  wisli 
you  would  publish  it  in  (ii>E.\NiNGs,  unk^ss  you 
think  I  would  l)e  the  only  one  who  would  care 
foi'  them. 

BEE-KEEPEKS'  SOlNGS  WANTED. 

There  is  another  thing  I  should  like  to  know, 
and  that  is,  where  to  send  and  get  all  the  bee- 


keepers'.songs  with  music.  1  think  tho  oflicers 
in  every  bee-kee])ers'  convention  ought  to  have 
two  or  them  included  in  their  program,  and 
have  them  sung  by  some  good  singers. 

MAKING    FOUNDATION    IN    LONG   STRIPS. 

\^'e  make  our  foundation  in  strips  up  to  :.'0  or 
:i()  feet  long,  and  cut  up  for  use.  Wo  intend  to 
make  a  piece  7.")  or  KXt  foc^t  long  to  drapi'  our  ex- 
hibit at  the  county  fair. 

A    GRKEN-KVEI>    MONSTKI!   AHEAD. 

Do  you  know  tliat  there  is  a  great  green-eyed 
yellow-backed  monster  nibbling  at  tlio  bee-men 
of  this  land,  and  that  by  and  by  ho  will  get 
through  the  skin  (so  it  hurts),  and  then  they 
will  begin  to  realize  tho  cause  of  their  trouble? 
Oh  what  a  squirming  there  will  be  I 

CUESTEK   Ol.MSTEAD. 

East  Bloomfield,  N.  Y.,  .Inly,  1892. 


T"WINS. 


HOPE.  THE  BEE-KEEPERS  BANK  ACCOUNT. 

Misfortunes  seldom  come  singly,  so 'tis  said. 
But  they  don't  always  conu;  in  pairs— some- 
limes  in  swarius.  But  we  are  not  complaining 
of  swarms  this  year,  in  this  corner  of  the  uni- 
verse— only  twins — not  twin  babies,  for  they  are 
never  an  affliction — never  a  misfortune — unless 
two  mouths  have  to  bo  satisfied  with  one  ration 
or  less.    Twins,  nevertheless — two  of  a  kind. 

Last  season  was  one  of  the  worst  ever  known 
here,  for  bee-keepers.  There  wasn't  honey 
enough  to  sweeten  one's  temper,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  rest  of  the  family.  The  profits  of  the 
business  were  obtained  chiofiy  by  banking  on 
hope— that  18913  would  be  better-^mitst  be  bet- 
ter, l^ecauso  the  probabilities  were  that  we'd 
not  have  two  poor  years  in  succession.  So  tlie 
compensations  that  were  to  be  in  1893  were  set 
over  against  the  losses  in  1891.  and  the  average 
looked  quite  respectable.  Whereas  we  got  zero 
in  1891,  we  expected  the  biggest  kind  of  a  crop 
in  1892 — on  the  theory  that  our  compensations 
and  our  disappointments  will  somehow  average 
in  the  long  run. 

You  have  heard  of  Hosmer?  Let's  see;  was 
it  a  thousand  pounds  per  colony  lie  wagered  to 
produce,  and  no  takers'?  Some  of  us  had  read 
that  charming  fiction.  So  you  see  how  profita- 
ble the  season  was  to  be.  We  laid  in  sections 
by  the  carload  (or  less),  and  foundation  at 
wholesale  rates.  Hope  was  our  hank  account. 
We  were  drawing  against  it.  What  a  misera- 
ble old  world  this  would  be  wore  it  not  for 
hope!  Paul  said  hope  was  like  an  anchor  to 
the  soul.  Yes;  and.  as  paradoxical  as  it  sounds, 
hope  is  wiiKjs  to  tho  soul.  By  it  we  soar  be- 
yond the  clouds.  By  hope  we  overcome  dis- 
couragements and  drown  despondency.  Hope 
nerves  tho  arm  and  cheers  tho  heart.  By  hope 
we  dwell  in  kings'  palaces.  So  while  our  bees 
slept  we  figured  future  profits.  Thank  God  for 
hope  I 

But  spring  came — not  early,  but  it  came.  We 
an^  pi'otfy  sure  to  ha,v(>  warm  wcnithor  in  this 
country  by  tlu?  first  of  July.  We  did  this  year. 
The  bees  were  out  earlier  than  that,  through 
force  of  habit,  but  they  didn't  bother  the  neigli- 
bors'  watering-troughs.  Those  able  to  leave 
the  hives  could  got  a  good  supply  without  go- 
ing far.  Water  wasn't  a  scarce  article.  1  heard 
no  one  in(|uiring  for  it — no  schemes  for  making 
rain  artificially.  If  what  fell  had  btn-n  nectar, 
we  could  have  gotten  our  pitchers  full  without 
any  bees.  The  sun  did  shine  occasionally,  but 
the  bees  did  not  report  for  duty  with  the  vigor 
and  alacrity  we  had  counted  on.  In  our  eager- 
ness to  record   results  we  had  neglected  to  in- 


584 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEK  CULTURE. 


Aug.  L 


voice  our  "  stocks."  When  the  roll  was  finally 
taken.  June  1st,  about  40'  answered  at  this 
ranch;  but  some  of  them  were  fit  subjects  for 
the  hospital,  and  I  find  I  have  the  liveliest 
and  best  outfit  in  the  neighborhood.  Some 
have  held  memorial  si'rvices  over  their  dead 
hopes — all  gone.  It's  the  grip,  I  suspect.  One 
man  who  had  about  fifty  colonies  last  year, 
and  who  lost  all  but  one.  said  he  wouldn't 
have  cared  a  fig  if  Secor  had  lost  all  his  too. 
There's  sympathy  for  you. 

Swarming  at  a  lively  rate  now,  and  storing 
honey  from  clover.  "  It  is  good  that  a  man 
should  both  hope  and  quietly  wait" — especially 
hope.  EuGEXE  Secor. 

Forest  City,  la.,  .July  D. 


PUNIC    BEES— THEIR   HISTORY  AND  ORIGIN. 


NOT    A     NEW     RACE,     BUT     THE     OLD     TUNISIAN 

BEES   THAT   HAVE   BEEN   TESTED   AND 

DISCARDED. 

By  Ernest  R.  Root. 

Those  of  our  readers  who  take  the  BriUsh 
Bee  Journal  know  something  of  the  controver- 
sy that  has  taken  place  in  the  columns  of  that 
periodical  in  regard  to  Punic  bees.  Hallam- 
shire  Bee-keeper,  or  John  Hewitt,  of  Sheffield, 
England,  the  importer  of  Funics,  and  the  editors 
of  the  British  Bee  Journal  have  been  the 
parties  in  the  controversy.  Finally  the  former 
threatened  to  enter  proceedings  for  libel  against 
the  latter;  but,  so  far  as  we  can  ascertain,  no 
such  action  has  as  yet  been  formally  taken, 
nor  is  there  any  likelihood  that  there  will  be. 

Editor  Cowan  insisted  that  there  were,  strict- 
ly speaking,  no  such  bees  as  Funics — that  they 
were  only  Tunisian  bees — a  race  that  was  long 
ago  tried  and  discarded  by  competent  European 
apiarists.  To  remove  some  uncertainties  in 
regard  to  the  bees  of  North  Africa,  Mr.  Cowan, 
at  his  own  private  expense,  made  a  journey 
into  Tunis  and  Algeria,  Africa,  visiting  on  his 
way  som(>  .i2  apiaries,  to  determine,  beyond  a 
question  or  doubt,  whether  the  Tunisians  were 
the  same  as  the  Funics,  or  wh"ther  the  Funics 
were  a  distinct  race.  He  found  no  bees  what- 
ever'"  bordering  on  the  Great  Sahara."  but  he 
did  find  plenty  of  Tunisian  bees,  in  their  own 
native  country,  and  the  very  man  himself 
who  exported  the  so-called  Funics  to  Hallam- 
shire  Bee-keeper  in  England.  The  exporter 
was  greatly  astonished  that  Hewitt,  the  import- 
er, should  claitii  that  they  v  ei-e  a  new  race  of 
bees;  that  he  (Hewitt)  had  claimed  that  they 
were  caiTied  fi'om  the  borders  of  the  Sahara 
on  the  backs  of  donkeys  and  on  the  heads  of 
negroes  to  hahitalile  regions,  and  tlience  for- 
warded on  to  England  at  an  enormous  exi)i'ns(>: 
or.  in  the  words  of  Hewitt,  at  a  cost  that  he 
■'dare  not  mention  for  fear  of  being  regarded 
as  a  crank  or  lunatic."  The  facts  are,  the  ex- 
porter, a  resident  of  Tunis,  lives  only  ten  miles 
from  the  railway  station.  He  bought  up  the 
queens  from  the  Anibs  in  his  vicinity,  as  all 
kept  a  few  hives.  The  queens  were  th(>n  put 
into  cages  and  sent  liy  mail  postpaid  to  Hal- 
lamshire  Bee-keeper,  or  John  Hewitt,  for  about 
S'LChjeach.  Making  due  allowance  for  the  fact 
that  some  of  the  quffiis  died  on  or  behire  ar- 
rival, the  actual  cost  of  the  live  queens  could 
not  have  much  exceeded  ?2.0().  x\s  ISIr.  Cowan 
sarcastically  remarks,  '•  It  is  no  wonder  tliat  he 
did  not  dare  to  mention  the  cost  for  fear  of  bo- 
ing  thought  a  crank  or  a  lunatic."  In  the 
Canadian  Bee  Journal  for  1891,  page  4.58,  Mr. 
Hewitt,  after  telling  the  donkey  story  and  the 
enormous  cost  of  the  liees.  etc.,  actually  con- 
sents to  sell  afeui  at  the  nomiiuil   price  of  forty 


dolUtrs  to  help  defray  the  expense  of  importing 
theiu  from  Africa  !  It  appears  from  this  that 
Mr.  Hewitt  intended  to  make  only  2000  per  cent 
on  his  investment. 

We  regret  very  much  to  cotue  out  with  these 
facts:  btit  it  seems  to  us  to  be  only  justice  and 
right  that  we  should  do  so  sitice  we  inserted 
Hewitt's  advertisement*  to  prevent  unsuspect- 
ing bee-keepers  of  this  country  from  sending  to 
England  and  paying  these  enormous  prices, 
when  the  facts  are,  these  queens  can  probably 
be  purchased  direct  from  Tunis  for  an  insig- 
nificant sum. 

We  will  conclude  this  with  a  statement  from 
the  editor,  Mr.  Cowan,  which  details  carefully 
the  characteristics  of  the  bees  as  observed  anS 
found  in  their  native  home.  It  is  only  necessary 
for  us  to  state,  that  many  of  these  characteris- 
tics tally  very  closely  with  our  own  Funic  bees. 
We  should  probably  find  that  they  would  all 
tally  exactly  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  we 
have  had  them  for  only  a  limited  titne.  The 
following  extract  is  taken  from  the  British 
Bee  Journal  for  July  7,  page  2.54,  and  it  will  be 
read  with  interest: 

VVe  have  now  been  able  to  satisfy  ourselves  that 
tliei-e  is  only  one  race  of  ]u»ney-bees  in  Tiniis  and 
Algeria,  and  that  this  j-ace  is  Apis  incUifirn  and  not 
Apis  )ii<jer.  We  have  broug-ht  specimens  from  dif- 
ferent parts,  and  in  due  time  we  shall  exhiliit  them 
in  tlie  proper  quarters.  Tliese  North  African  bees, 
as  a  climatic  variety,  are  Ijlaeli,  and  as  small  as  the 
small  black  bees  found  in  this  country,  as  well  as 
in  other  parts  of  Europe.  Tlie  queens  are  prolific, 
and  the  workers  industrious;  but  this  is  the  most 
that  can  l)e  said  in  tlieir  favor.  _  Thej'  are  certainly 
the  most  vindictive  bees  we  have  come  across,  more 
so  even  than  Cyprians  or  Syrians.  They  will  sting- 
without  the  slightest  provocation,  even  when  one 
is  not  near  the  hives.  We  found  strong  colonies  al- 
ways inclined  to  sting,  and  only  weak  colonies  and 
those  having  young  bees  less  inclined  to  do  so,  al- 
thougli  we  were  told  that  sometimes  they  were 
quieter.  They  were  said  to  be  "  the  tamest  bees 
known."  "  The  honey-producer  l^eing  the  party  to 
appreciate  the  bee  that  does  not  sting"  (C.  JB.  J., 
p.  45V,  1891),  but  this  is  not  borne  out  liy  our  own  ex- 
perience, or  the  unanimous  verdict  of  those  culti- 
vating tliese  bees.  On  one  occasion,  before  we  got 
near  the  apiary  we  were  attacked  and  were  pursued 
for  a  considerable  distance  by  enraged  bees,  and 
this  was  not  during  their  swarming  time.  It  was 
useless  to  attempt  any  iTispcction  of  tlie  bees  with- 
out veils  and  a  profusion  of  smoke.  So  well  is  this 
character  of  the  bees  known  tiiat  the  liee-keepers 
take  great  care  to  place  their  apiaries  as  far  away 
frcnii  houses  as  possible.  Not  satisfied  witli  sting- 
ing, they  even  bite.  Tlie  queens  resemble  tlie 
eastern  races,  in  that  they  are  extremely  prolific, 
but  are  very  short-lived,  and  a  colony  fi-equently 
renews  its  queen  several  times  during  the  year.  On 
the  lossof  a  queen  alarge  number  of  fertile  workers 
commence  laying. 

This  race  of  bees  swarriis  frequently,  and  it  is  not 
unusual  to  iiave  from  five  to  eight  small  swarms. 
Alaige  number  of  (lueeii-cells  are  raised,  and  we 
luive  ourselves  counted  as  many  as  sixty  on  one 
conil).  The  swarms  are  small,  and  tlie  after-swarms 
frequently  consist  of  almo.st  as  many  queens  as 
worker-liees.  The  workers  spread  over  the  hive, 
and  do  not  protect  their  brood  so  well  as  other  races. 
Til ey  are  the  most  persistent  robbers,  alii lough  it 
has  bi'en  stated  that  they  aie  "  non-robbing."  ')ur 
eorresponde-t,  Mr.  Ph.  J.  Baldensperger,  on  p.  227 
of  the  '{.  '{.  J.,  gives  a  c:ise  of  robliiim-  and  we  our- 
selves liad  an  opportuiniy  of  witnessing  a  hive  lie- 
ing  robbed.  A  liee-keeper  ia  Tunis,  having  12()  hives, 
is  so  annoyed  at  lieing  so  pt  rsistently  st  ung  liy  his 
liees  that  he  talks  <  f  living  ilieni  up,  and  we  met 
several  who  were  going  to  import  Carniolan  queens 
to  improve  the  race  or  to  supersede  the  natives. 

We  shall  have  a  good  deal  more  to  say  abc  ut 
these  liees  and  tlie  i>ieasant  limes  we  spent  with  the 
beekeepers  in  Afi-ica,  in  due  '.ime.    These   bees,  as 


*  Hewitt,  true  to  all  reports  in  England,  from 
parties  outside  of  the  controversy,  refuses  to  reply 
to  our  statements.  We  question,  from  some  un- 
published evidence,  if  he  ever  intended  to  pay  for 
the  advertising. 


18'.t2 


(;i>EAMX{;s  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


585 


wo  st:itf(l  in  li.  li.  J.  fur  1801.  i>.  asi.  Iiiivt>  liocii  tiiid 
ill  E\in>iu'  siiier  1ST4.  and  li.ivc  lioen  aliaiuloiifd.  and 
it  is  fdiliiiiatc  tliat  not  iniin\  Ikivi'  Iioimi  inl  I'lxiuccd 
into  tliis  coiiiitrj  .  so  not  much  liarni  lias  lucn  done. 
It  is  to  the  civdit  of  oiif  dealers  that  tliey  have  had 
nothinvr  to  do  wit  h  them.  No  doubt  tl  race  that  will 
rear  hundreds  of  (Hieon-eells  is  .a  valnalile  one  for 
the  virKi"-<l>ii>eM  dealer,  l>nt  siicii  a  race  is  not  one 
for  tlie  l)Ce-keCi>or  whoso  <d)ject  is  lioiu'y. 

These  bees  are  cultivated  in  a  vi'ry  siinv>lo  fashion 
by  the  natives.  The  nomad  .\rabs  that  live  in  tents 
have  a  few  hives— sometimes  tivo  or  six— which  they 
plaot'  at  a  distance  from  their  tents.  These  hives 
are  o\  lindors  of  cork  or  basket-work,  or  oven  in 
some  places  ihey  are  madi'of  the  llower-stems  of 
the>riant  fennel.  The  hi\  es  are  about  three  feet 
loiifr  and  ei.irht  ini-hi's  in  dianieti'r,  and  are  eovoreii 
with  cow-diiiifi-.  They  are  plaec^d  horizontally,  and 
have  a  i>ieet'  of  cork  bark  or  wood  at  each  end.  wiih 
a  hole  for  an  entrance  cut  in  them.  When  the  Arab 
wishes  to  take  the  honey,  1h'  removes  the  board  at 
one  end.  and  thoroiigidj'  smokes  the  bees.  For  this 
piiipose  dry  eow-dun^,  reduced  to  a  p(.wder,  is  set 
on  tiro  in  a  pan,  ami  the  dense  smoke  is  blown  into 
the  end  of  the  hive.  This  drives  the  bees  forward, 
and  nearly  stiipofli-s  thorn.  The  Arab  then  cuts  out 
about  a  third  of  tlie  combs,  replaces  the  board, 
opens  the  hole,  and  turivs  the  hive  round.  In  this 
way  the  combs  are  constantly  renewed.  The  combs 
are  then  mashed  up  tog'et  her  with  brood  anfl  iiollen. 
This  moss  is  used  as  lionov,  and  the  w;ix  molted  and 
sold. 

The  Kabylos.  who  live  in  vdlag'es,  cultl\-ato  bees 
more  o.vtonsively,  and  sometimes  have  as  many  as 
from  2lK)  to  rOd  of  such  hives,  generally  of  cork.  We 
have  lii'ontrht  home  some  Arab  hives,  and  hope  to 
show  them  to  our  friends.  We  were  offered  queens 
by  many  of  the  bee-keepers,  but  preferied  to  bring 
them  pinned  out  in  our  insect  -  case  to  taking- 
them  alive,  so  convinced  were  we  from  what  we 
saw  that  they  would  not  be  an  acquisition,  and 
would  oidy  damage  our  more  quiet  races.  What 
we  want  besides  industry  is  good  temper;  and  in 
this  respect  there  are  no  bees  superior  to  Caruio- 
lans. 

Eveiy  bee  is  suited  to  its  own  countrj';  and  our 
advice  to  our  African  friends  was,  to  make  the  best 
of  their  bees  by  selecting  the  quietest  for  breeding, 
and  eliminating  the  bad-tempered  ones,  and  thus 
improve  their  own  breed.  The  entire  behavior  of 
these  boos  showed  that  they  were  suited  oidy  to  a 
warm  climate.  Thej'  are  enormous  propolizers,  and 
rear  a  large  quantity  of  drone  brood.  In  fact,  one 
bee-keeper  showed  vis  frames  that  had  been  fitted 
with  Worker  combs  where  the  bees  had  cut  clown 
the  combs  and  constructed  drone  comb,  so  intent 
were  they  on  liaving  a  large  number  of  drones. 
This  certain Ij-  is  consistent  with  their  habit  of  rear- 
ing a  large  number  of  queens. 

VVe  will  just  conclude  by  observing  that  the  place 
from  wiionce  these  bees  wore  sent  to  England  is  200 
miles  from  the  <lesert.  Moreover,  there  are  no  bees 
at  all  in  the  desert,  nor  for  some  distance  before 
one  gets  there,  the  upper  phiteaus  being  arid  and 
barren.  We  traveled  as  far  into  the  Desert  of  Sa- 
hara as  the  third  oasis,  Sidi-Okba,  but  did  not  see  a 
single  bee,  either  wild  or  domesticated.  In  fact, 
there  are  no  flowers  for  them  to  gather  rrom,  and 
little  else  besides  date-palms  are  cultivated  in  the 
oases. 

[Gleanino.';  desires  to  be  fair  in  all  things, 
and  to  give  all  the  facts,  pro  and  coti.  Since 
our  adverse  statement  ill  regard  to  the  Puiiic 
bees  in  our  last  issue,  we  have  received  from 
Mr.  Alley  a  letter  which  he  received  from  one 
of  his  customers  that  speaks  verj-  highly  of  the 
queen  he  received,  and  we  give  place  to  it  here:] 

Editor  Am.  Ai)iculiuiiHt  :'T\tcre  has  been  .so  much 
said  concerning  the  Punic  bees,  and  the  many  good 
qualities  claimed  for  them,  1  will  give  j'ou  my  ex- 
perience from  last  October  up  to  date.  I  procured 
a  Punic  queen  from  Henry  Alley  about  the  tlist  of 
October,  and  introduced  her  to  a  small  colony— not 
over  one  quart  of  bees— and  no  honey.  I  fed  them, 
and  the  queen  began  layiiifj  the  third  day  after  she 
was  introduced.  By  the  first  day  of  Dect-mber  thej- 
Were  more  than  double  in  numbers,  and  had  plenty 
of  honey  for  the  winter.  By  .May  l.")th  they  were 
the  strongest  colony  I  had.'  I  liave  taken  from 
them  14  frames  of  honey  and  brood  for  other  hives, 
and  divided  tliera  once,  and  now  the  old  hive  con- 
tains 1.5  frames  of  brood  and  honey,  13.xl2.  and  the 
new  colony  is  full  of  honey  and   brood,  and   in   fine 


condition.  M.\-  new  <'oloiiy  of  I'niiics  have  gatliered 
as  much  honey  as  an.\(if  the  old  colonies  of  the 
n.Mtivo  liees;  and  the  old  colonj-  of  Punics  have 
gathered  nearly  twici>  the  amount  of  honey  of  any 
of  the  otiier  colonies.  So  far  tlie.\  have  come  iij)  to 
all  the  good  qualities  elainied  for  them.  They  are 
(liiick  aiKl  active,  woik  t-arly  and  late;  thev  are 
woi'king  before  the  otiu'i-s  are  mit,  and  .ifler  all 
others  iiavo  (luit.  lam  saiistled  thev  are  t  he  com- 
ing boo;  and  if  they  are  given  a  la iV  trial  1  think 
they  will  give  perfect  satisfaction.  1  am  well 
pleased  with  mine,  and  hope  other  bee-keepers  will 
give  them  a  trial.  t^.^.;    I.  N.  Mooke. 

I-os  Angeles,  Cal.,  July  12 

[There  is  nothing  in  the:abovo  that  directlv 
contradicts  Mr.  CowaiTs  statement.  Punics 
may  l)e  good  worki'rs  and  prolific,  and  yet  have 
(itlirr  ciiaracteristics  that  would  make  thera 
very  undesirable.  Cyiirians  were  both  prolific 
and  good  workers,  hut,  oh  my!  nobody  wants 
them  now.  They  can't  even  be  l)oiiglit  in  this 
country.] 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 


A    DISCOUK.VGING    REPORT    FROM    A.   E.    MANU-M. 

I  am  sorry  to  say  that  honey  is  almost  a  fail- 
ure with  mo.  Nothing  has  secreted  any  honey 
of  any  account  this  year  except  clover,  white 
and  alsike.  But  when  these  were  at  their  best 
we  were  favored  with  rain.  rain,  rain,  wind  and 
wind,  with  plenty  of  cold  days  thrown  in.  The 
14th  and  l.ith,  basswood  commenced  to  open: 
and  when  I  saw  that  the  blos.soms  wore  fresh 
and  idump.  I  thought  sure  we  should  get  a  good 
flow  from  that  source;  and  fearing  I  might  get 
short  of  foundation,  and  have  no  time  to  make 
it,  I  wired  you  to  send  me  30  lbs;  but  before  it 
arrived  I  decided  I  did  not  need  it.  as  there  was 
no  honey  in  the  basswood -blossoms.  It  is  not 
in  full  bloom:  but  the  bees  take  no  notice  of  it. 
They  are  barely  picking  a  living— the  strongest 
colonies— while  I  am  obliged  to  feed  my  nuclei. 
I  shall  have  only  about  one-fourth  as  much 
honey  as  I  had  last  year,  or  about  one-eighth 
of  a  crop.  I  never  was  so  surprised  and  com- 
pletely done  up  as  I  am  this  year  over  the  fail- 
ure of  the  basswood.  But.  what  can't  be  cured 
must  be  endured.  I  hope  bee-keepers  in  other 
localities  have  met  with  better  success.  I  never 
had  my  bees  in  better  condition  than  now. 
They  were  ready,  and  are  now  waiting  for  fall 
harvest,  which,  I  ho[)e.  may  help  us  out.  The 
prospect  surely  looks  fair  from  that  source. 

Bristol,  Vt..  July  :12.  A.  E.  Manum. 

MIGRATORY   BEE-REEPIXG    IN    FLORID.^. 

I  shall  go  south  down  the  river  125  miles  with 
my  bees  about  the  -.'Oth  of  August,  for  a  full 
crop.  This  migratory  bee-keeping  is  a  great 
thing.  I  have  already  taken  two  good  crops 
of  honey,  and  am  now  preparing  for  a  third 
one:  and  this  is  the  most  certain  on(>,  of  all 
— the  pennyroyal — as  it  yields  honey  for  three 
months:  and  it  makes  no  diflcrence  wiiether  it 
is  wet  or  dry,  warm  or  cold:  the  honey  is  there: 
all  you  want  is  to  go  where  the  bloom  is,  and 
have  plenty  of  surplus  combs,  with  hives  full  of 
bees.    These  are  the  winning  cards. 

New  Smyrna,  Fla..  .Inly  14.      A.  F.  Bitowx. 

IX-HREEDINf;.   AND   ITS   PIFFECTS. 

Please  inform  me  whether  bees  will  deterio- 
rate, run  out.  degenerate,  or  become  in-bred,  by 
starting  with  one  sA\arm  where  there  are  no 
other  bees,  and  kei'piiig  them  for  si.\  years. 

IlackbeiTy,  Ariz.  Mrs.  Tiios.  B.  Shipp. 

[We  think  .so  to  a  certain  extent.  The  bees  of 
Mr.  Murdock  may  l)e  an  exception.    See  p.  .5.56.] 


586 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM   A.  I.  ROOT. 


IN   THE   SAN  .JACINTO   YAI.LEY. 

The  day  before  leaving:,  our  good  friend  Morse 
hitclied  up  and  took  Mrs.  Root  and  myself, 
together  with  his  good  wife,  and  we  went  off 
to  a  wild  mountain  spot,  where , his  apiary  is 
located.  Through  this  valley  there  aie  occa- 
sional isolated  mountains  that  rise  from  lOO  to 
1000  feet  or  mor.-  in  height,  and  a  great  many 
times  it  is  a  level  plain  all  around  them.  Some- 
times one  of  these  mountains  rises  up  in  the 
middle  of  a  farm.  The  rainy  season  had  com- 
menced, and  we  saw  the  rain  falling  on  the 
different  mountain-peaks  all  around  us:  but 
down  in  the  valley  we  had  sunshine  most  of 
the  time.  There  ai'e  some  strange  things  about 
these  little  mountains.  Not  very  long  ago.  a 
cloudburst  occurred  near  friend  Morse's  apiary. 
It  poured  down  a  hollow  on  one  side  of  the 
mountain,  like  a  deluge  indee  I,  Every  thing 
in  the  way  of  improvements  was  swept  away; 
and  when  the  water  reached  the  valley  below, 
it  came  over  the  plain  in  the  shape  of  a  huge 
wave  two  or  three  high,  taking  fences  and  all 
before  it  until  it  had  spread  out  so  as  to  do  but 
little  harm.  Well,  up  in  this  notch  of  the 
mountains  some  would-be  explorer — a  man  of 
considerable  means — had  tunneled  into  the  side 
of  the  mountain,  at  an  expense  of  several  thou- 
sand dollars,  in  the  vain  hope  of  finding  water, 
so  as  to  make  this  notch  that  contained  two  or 
three  hundred  acres  a  spot  of  value.  After  he 
had  given  it  all  up,  there  came  this  cloudburst. 
Well,  what  do  you  suppose  this  cloudburst  re- 
vealed ■?  Why,  within  less  than  half  a  mile 
from  where  he  wasted  his  money,  a  torrent  of 
water,  in  washing  away  a  bank  of  earth,  dis- 
closed a  spring;  and  as  we  came  near  the  spot 
my  ears  were  greeted  with  the  sound  of  a 
waterfall.  I  left  the  rest,  and  ran  down  behind 
some  bushes,  and  there  indeed  was  quite  a  little 
volume  of  water  pouring  over  a  rocky  ledge  two 
or  three  feet  high.  This  spring  runs  winter  and 
summer,  I  was  told:  but  the  strange  part  of  it 
is,  that,  a  few  rods  below  the  waterfall,  the 
stream  gradually  disappears  in  the  porous 
gravel  formed  of  powdered  granite.  Now,  this 
lets  us  into  a  secret.  There  are  springs  of  much 
volume  round  about  the  bases  of  many  of  these 
mountains;  but  nobody  suspects  it,  for  the 
water  sinks  down  into  the  porous  soil  before  it 
ever  reaches  daylight. 

On  account  of  the  rain  we  pushed  on  to  River- 
side in  the  hope  of  meeting  our  good  friend 
Rambler  in  his  present  home.  We  found  his 
abiding-place;  but  the  good  woman  who  had 
charge  of  the  rooms  informed  us  that  he  was 
out  at  his  apiary,  somewhere  off  in  the  moun- 
tains; and  as  he  usually  went  away  on  foot, 
she  could  not  tell  us  when  he  would  be  at  home; 
neither  could  I  start  after  him  on  foot  very 
well,  for  there  were  several  routes  which  he 
might  have  taken  in  going  and  coming.  Re- 
sides, I  might  get  lost;  and,  moreover,  it  rained 
— that  is,  it  rained  now  and  then,  and  then  the 
sun  shone  now  and  then.  Between  the  showers 
Mrs.  Root  and  I  managed  to  take  in  a  view  of 
the  town  of  Riverside  pretty  thoroughly.  On 
another  page  friend  Rambler  has  given  us  a 
glimpse  of  the  Riverside  postoltice.  I  do  not 
think  he  used  his  Kodak,  however,  for  the 
building  is  rather  more  imposing  than  the  one 
shown  in  the  cut.  and  the  buildings  adjoining 
were  also  much  more  citified.  Riverside  has 
grown  so  rapidly  during  the  past  three  years, 
that,  had  I  been  set  down  in  the  place  without 
knowing  where  I  was,  I  should  not  have  recog- 


nized a  single  landmark.  So  much  for  a  town 
that  does  not  have  any  saloons  or  whisky- 
shops.  Riverside  and  vicinity  is  truly,  so  far 
as  I  know,  the  garden  of  the  world.  As  we 
came  in  on  the  train  we  saw  oranges  heaped 
up  in  the  orange-orchards  until  it  seemed  as  if 
all  the  world  could  never  use  so  many:  and 
when  we  went  into  towns  in  the  adjoining  sub- 
urbs, it  seemed  just  so  everywhere.  At  River- 
side the  orange-trees  are  not  only  close  to  the 
sidewalk,  but  there  are  trees  outside  of  the  side- 
walk, expres'^ly  for  the  comfort  and  refreshment 
of  the  thirsty  traveler;  and  the  most  beautiful 
oranges  were  right  overhead  and  all  around 
your  head.  Sometimes  you  had  to  dodge  to 
keep  your  head  from  bumping  against  them. 

When  the  rain  abated  a  little  I  took  Mrs. 
Root  along  to  one  of  my  repeated  visits  to  see  if 
Rambler  had  got  around.  You  see  he  blames 
me  a  little  because  I  did  not  hunt  him  up:  and 
he  says.  too.  I  might  have  sent  him  word  that 
I  was  coming.  What  a  preposterous  idea,  when 
it  rained  every  day.  or  two  or  three  times  a  day, 
so  that  nobody  could  tell  what  he  was  going  to 
do!  Well,  even  if  we  did  not  find  Rambler 
himself  we  found  some  beautiful  fancy  poultry; 
and  among  the  collection  were  some  wild  quail. 
Now.  you  nuiy  talk  all  you  like  about  fancy 
poultry,  pigeons,  guinea  hens,  peacocks,  and 
every  thing  else  in  the  whole  line;  but  to  my 
mind  there  is  nothing  in  this  whole  wide  world 
so  pretty  and  graceful  and  so  cute  as  the  Cali- 
fornia quails.  Why.  I  do  not  understand  how 
it  is  that  Rambler  has  lived  there  right  close 
beside  them  all  this  time,  and  has  not  said  a 
word  abouL;  them.  I  did  not  have  my  Kodak 
along,  so  I  can  not  give  you  a  view;  besides,  if 
I  did  have  it  I  am  afraid  the  birds  would  not 
have  stood  still  long  enough  for  even  the  Ko- 
dak. At  the  different  restaurants  I  had  fre- 
quently dined  on  quail  on  toast;  but  when  I 
came  to  see  the  dainty  little  birds  alive  and  on 
foot,  I  felt — well,  rather  ashamed  of  myself. 

Well,  as  Rambler  would  not  come  nome,  and 
we  did  not  know  how  to  send  word  to  him,  we 
resolved  to  see  what  we  coidd  do;  so  we  took  an 
excursion.  It  was  on  what  they  call  the  "'  kite 
track."  You  go  off'  on  one  line  of  railroad  and 
come  back  on  another,  going  around  a  loop.  We 
had  time  to  take  in  only  half  of  the  small  loop, 
for  you  see  the  excursion  route  is  something  in 
the  shape  of  a  figure  S.  W^hile  we  were  at  Riv- 
erside it  was  clear  sky  and  sunshine  ;  but  away 
off  on  the  San  Bernardino  range  of  mountains, 
especially  toward  the  Arrowhead  Springs,  we 
could  see  it  was  raining  furiously.  We  con- 
cluded, however,  it  would  stop  before  we  got 
there;  but  it  didn't,  and  we  went  through  the 
beautiful  towns  clear  out  to  Mentone  and  Red- 
lands,  and  lots  of  other  places,  through  the 
continuous  rain:  and  when  we  got  back  it  was 
clear  sky  and  sunshine  again.  The  rain  did 
not.  however,  entirely  cut  off  the  wondrous 
beauty  of  these  new  towns  round  about  Red- 
lands.  We  thought  we  had  seen  orange  and 
lemon  groves  and  orchards  before;  but  on  this 
little  trij)  it  was  a  perfect  maze  of  fruit-farms. 
In  fact,  almost  every  foot  of  land  seemed  to  be 
laid  out  and  planted  with  fruit  of  some  kind.  I 
sincerely  hope  all  of  the  fond  dreams  will  be  re- 
alized that  seem  to  have  given  such  a  wonder- 
ful boom  to  Redlands  and  vicinity. 

When  we  fetched  around  to  Colton,  on  the 
Southern  Pacific,  we  decided  to  leave  the  land 
of  flowers  and  sunshine  (and  rain  too,  some- 
times), and  start  for  home.  As  we  had  a  cou- 
ple of  hours  at  Colton.  even  though  it  was  after 
dark  I  went  on  a  little  exploring  expedition 
around  the  town.  Mrs.  Root  thought  she  had 
explored  enough  for  one  day.  especially  as  it  be- 
gan to  rain.  As  I  pushed  off'  into  one  of  the  by- 
streets a  little,  my  ear  caught  the   notes  of  a 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


587 


faiuiliar  liyiiiii.  ami  prcny  soon  1  was  looking 
in  at  tin'  oixmi  lioor.  It  was  so  near  tfaiii  time 
I  did  not  dai-f  to  <;o  in  and  tal«'  a  scat,  so  I 
stood  lluTt"  listening,  with  a  (."liinanian  on  one 
side  and  an  Indian  on  tln>  otlior.  Tliry  looked 
at  the  andienre,  listened  to  the  inn>ie,  then 
stared  at  me  inqnirinsly:  hnt  either  they  did 
not  nnd(>rstand  my  lingo  or  else  thev  did  not 
choose  to  talk,  and  so  I  did  not  do  very  much 
missionary  work  that  (>vening — or.  at  h^asl.  if  I 
did  I  didiiot  know  it.  A  bystander  informed 
me  that  it  was  a  ininHing  of  the  Salvation  Ar- 
my: and  though  I  have  said,  during  my  trip,  a 
great  many  times.  "God  bless  the  Salvation 
Army.""  I  said  it  again  then  and  there.  They 
were  right  on  the  streets,  among  the  people. 
The  audience  was  matle  up  of  common  peopl(>. 
not  very  much  unlike  the  Chinaman  and  Indi- 
an. Thoy  all  looked  friendly,  and  they  acted 
friendly:  "and  I  am  sure  that  Christ  .b^sns  was 
in  their  midst,  for  he  went  about  among  the 
very  same  sort  of  people,  and.  in  many  fespects, 
in  liuich  the  same  way  that  they  did. 

I  could  not  iielp  feeling  a  little  uit  sad  when  I 
thouglit  of  leaving  California,  even  though  it 
was  the  tirst  step  toward  (lohuj  Jiome.  Before 
we  quite  take  leave  of  California,  however,  I 
want  to  give  you  some  beautiful  pictures  of  the 
vineyards  and  orange-groves  of  that  land.  But 
Ernest  tells  me.  however,  that  there  are  so 
many  nice  pictures  laid  out  for  this  issue  that  I 
must  save  mine  for  next  time. 


High-pressure  Gardening. 

BY     A.     I.     ROOT. 
THE    AMERICAN    PEARI.   ONIOX. 

Ours  wi^re  harvested  July  1.5.  and  they  are  at 
present  spread  out  on  trays  in  the  sun,  right  in 
front  of  our  plant-garden  across  the  street. 
The  sight  of  great  large  white  onions,  fully  ma- 
tured and  dry  at  this  season  of  the  year,  calls 
attention  from  many  passersby.  We  are  at 
{)resent  retailing  them  at  8  cts.  per  lb.,  which  is 
about  equal  to  .■s4.(XJ  per  bushel.  People  do  com- 
plain some  of  the  price:  but  there  is  no  opposi- 
tion, and  nothing  like  them  in  the  market  any- 
where; and  they  are  so  handsome,  and  mild  in 
flavor,  that  they  sell,  even  though  the  price  is 
high.  I  confess  I  can  not  understand  why  it  is 
that  they  winter  over  in  our  locality,  and  fail  in 
so  manyother  places.  Perhaps  it  niay  be  owing 
to  our  "very  rich  market  ground.  We  use  no 
mulch  whatever,  and  a  part  of  all  our  plot  was 
under  water  perhaps  half  a  dozen  times,  and 
sometimes  for  nearly  24  hours.  This  seems  to 
indicate  that  they  are  very  hardy.  Where  they 
had  been  wet  so  much,  however,  we  noticed 
some  inclination  to  rot.  On  this  account  they 
were  harvested  and  put  in  the  sun  a  little  soon- 
er than  thev  would  have  been  otherwise.  We 
shall  offer  the  sets  for  sale  again  another  sea- 
son: but  the  sale  will  doubtless  be  limited,  ow 
ing  to  the  many  failures  reported  in  wintering. 

THE   OXIOX-PT.AXT   HfSINESS. 

In  our  locality,  all  that  I  have  heard  from 
who  purchased  onion-plants  of  us'have  nothing 
to  report  but  a  big  success.  Will  those  who  re- 
ceived onion-plants  hy  mail  or  express  please 
tell  US  whether  they  have  succeeded  likewise? 
We  are  anxious  to  know  how  onion-plants  bear 
shipping  to  di.-iant  points. 

THAT   C^UAHTEIJ-ACIiE    I'LANT-G.AHDEX. 

After  all  lhe.se  preliminaries,  we  are  now 
ready  to  consider  the  best  manner  of  going  to 
work  to  put  up  our  little  plant  for  gardening 
under  glass.  I  have  said  before,  that  your 
ground  should,   ii    possible,  slope    toward   the 


south.  However,  this  is  not  imperative.  Y(ni 
can  give  the  same  slant  to  glass  by  having  the 
back  side  of  the  beds  al)outso  much  higher  than 
the  front.  If  you  can  affonl  the  expense  I 
would  advise  you  to  havt^  tin;  whole  l)lot  of 
ground  graded  like  a  nice  lawn.  Have  it  high- 
est in  the  ci'iiter,  and  lowest  all  around  except 
on  the  north  side.  Every  path  and  every  street 
should  act  as  a  stu-face  drain:  and  it  should  be 
so  graded  that  no  water  will  stand  an  hour  in 
any  of  the  paths.  If  you  propose  to  u.se  steam 
under  your  beds  1  would  have  two  lines  of  tile 
under  each  bed.  Let  these  tile  be  about  a  foot 
below  the  path  near  it.  As  the  soil  in  the  beds 
will  he  something  like  (l  inches  high(>r  than  the 
path. 'his  will  give  Is;  inches  of  depth  IksIow  the 
surface  of  the  hi'd.  If  the  beds  are  (l  fo.p.i  wide, 
as  I  have  advised,  the  lines  of  tiles  should  be 
about ;?  feet  apart.  Supi)0sc  the  heat  to  extend 
IS  inches  each  way,  this  will  just  warm  all  the 
ground  under  the  bed.  Now,  I  would  have 
these  same  tile  laid  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
carry  off  the  suridus  water;  that  is,  let  them 
act  as  underdrains  as  well  as  for  steam-pipes. 
Be  sure  you  provide  ample  outlets  at  each  end, 
or  wherever  the  lowest  spot  is. 

Aside  from  these  lines  of  tile  I  think  it  would 
be  well  to  have  other  lines  at  right  angles  to 
these,  and.  say.  (>  inches  below  them.  These 
latter  would  be  2  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
beds,  and  18  inches  below  the  paths.  These 
latter  lines  may  be  20  feet  apart.  You  may 
think  so  much  drainage  is  unnecessarry:  but 
with  extremely  wet  seasons  I  am  sure  It  will 
pay.  Another  thing.  I  am  more  and  more  con- 
vinced that  the  office  of  tile  drains  in  letting 
air  down  into  the  soil  is  a  most  important  mat- 
ter. If  the  tile  used  be  the  smallest  -ize.  say  2}i 
inches  inside,  the  expense  of  it  will  not  be  very 
great,  neither  will  the  expense  of  digging^  be 
verv  much  for  only  a  quarter  of  an  acre.  With 
all  "the  underdraiiiing  and  surface  draining  we 
have  had  on  our  plot  during  the  past  season, 
several  times  the  paths  have  been  muddy  and 
sloppy.  The  steam  is  admitted  to  the  tiles  at 
one  end  of  the  bed,  and  at  the  opposite  end  the 
tiles  are  turned  up  so  as  to  reach  out  of  the 
ground,  say  about  a  foot:  then  when  you  open 
the  valve  to  let  in  the  steam,  you  simply  intro- 
duce enongh^steam  to  let  it  get  out  of  the  oppo- 
site end  so  as  to  be  visible.  A  very  little  steam 
will  warm  up  the  beds,  and  a  very  moderate 
pressure  is  all  that  is  needed.  I  have  not  found 
it  necessary  to  put  any  collars  nor  any  thing  of 
the  sort  over  the  joints  of  the  tile.  If  the  steam 
gets  out  around  the  end  of  the  tile  where  it  is 
tirst  let  in.  a  little  packing  and  tamping  of  clay 
seems  to  answer  every  purpose. 

MAKIXG   THE   1?EI>S. 

For  making  the  sides  of  the  lieds  I  would  use 
common  pine  or  hemlock  boards.  1  inch  thick, 
ti  inches  wide  —  say  such  as  are  comtnonly  used 
for  fencing.  For  beds  long  enough  to  hold  14 
sash,  boards  li">  feet  long  are  about  what  you 
want.  You  can  now  nail  them  to  oak  stakes 
driven,  say,  every  four  feet  apart  in  a  straight 
linis  in  the  usual  way  of  making  hot-beds.  We 
have  found  these  stakes  convenient  made  2 
inches  square,  and  about  2  feet  long.  This  al- 
lows for  driving  them  into  the  ground  about  18 
inches.  Of  coiirse.  the  fence-boards  are  to  be 
nailed  to  the  stakes.  Now.  I  want  to  tell  you 
that,  after  using  stakes  for  several  years.  I  am 
decidedly  in  favor  of  something  more  substan- 
tial. The  constant  exposure  to  sun  and  rain 
and  frost  verv  soon  ros  and  uses  up  the  best  of 
timber.  For  the  Inst  two  years  we  have  made 
our  beds  by  boring  holes  into  an  edge  of  the 

*On  our  lowest  ^ouiid  we  have  placed  an  inch  or 
more  of  coarse  cinders,  along  the  paths  that  were 
inclined  to  be  wet. 


588 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


board,  every  four  feet.  These  holes  are  bored 
with  a  boring-machine,  and  they  reach  almost 
through  the  board  — that  is,  through  it  edge- 
wise; therefore  the  machine  must  be  arranged 
so  as  to  bore  to  ^  depth  of  tive  inches  or  a  little 
more.  Into  the.-e  holes  we  drive  pieces  of  half- 
inch  iron  rod.  The  cheapest  kind  of  round  iron 
is  just  as  good  as  any.  You  will  notie<»  that 
this  iron  rod.  when  driven  into  the  board,  holds 
it  from  warping,  which  the  board  is  quite  apt  to 
do  under  the  influence  of  wet  ground  on  one 
side  and  the  liot  sun  on  the  other;  and  the  tend- 
ency to  warp  is  so  great  that  it  very  soon  pulls 
thenars  from  the  damp  stakes:  therefore  1  like 
the  iron  rod  much  tli<-  best.  Of  coui'se.  these 
iron  rods  are  driven  into  the  ground  far  enough 
to  make  them  solid.  I  have  never  known  them 
to  be  drawn  out  by  frost.  They  are  so  smooth 
that  the  frost  does  not  lift  on  them  as  it  does  on 
a  wooden  stake.  Now.  after  having  you  under- 
stand how  my  iron  stakes  are  used  instead  of 
wooden  stakes,  I  am  going  to  suggest  to  you  the 
plan  of  not  having  stakes  at  all.  You  will  re- 
member our  paths  are  only  16  inches  wide  ; 
therefore,  instead  of  having'  the  iron  stake  go 
down  into  the  ground,  we  simply  bend  it  like 
the  letter  [J.  letting  it  go  down  under  the  path 
and  up  again,  to  hold  the  opposite  board.  Per- 
haps a  drawing  will  make  this  a  little  plainer. 
In  order  to  get  these  U-shaped  irons,  we  first 
have  the  blacksmith  make  us  some  square 
frames  of  half-inch  round  iron,  like  those  in  the 
cut  below. 


IKON    FRAMES    KI<:FOKE   THEY    AKE    CUT   IX   TWO. 

After  he  has  got  a  lot  of  them  made,  of  the 
dimensions  16x20  inside,  he  cuts  each  one  in  two 

so  as  to  make  two  U-shaped  irons,  thus:  | |  | | 

Now,  these  U-shaped  pieces,  you  will  no- 
tice, go  under  the  path,  and  reach  up  and  hold 
the  boards  on  each  side  of  the  path.    Below  is 
the  engraving  of  two  16-foot  boards  attached 
together  with  the  U-shaped  irons. 


THE     WAY    THE      BOARDS     AKE      ATTACHED     TOGETHER 
ORDER  TO   MAKE  THE  PLAKT-BEDS. 

Wheie  the  ends  of  the  16-foot  boards  come 
together,  a  short  piece  of  board,  say  three  or 
four  feet  long,  is  placed  on  the  inside,  so  as  tn 
lap  over  the  joint,  and  is  securely  nailed  with 
nails  that  will  clinch.  We  will  "now  suppose 
our  ground  has  been  underdrained,  with  the 
tiles  running  north  and  south,  and  also  the  nip- 
per layer  of  tiles  running  east  and  west.  \Ylien 
you  have  got  this  far,  you  want  to  plow  and 
harrow  and  roll  that  piece  of  ground  until  it  is 
just  as  tine  and  soft  and  nice  as  you  can  inake 
it;  then  with  a  double-moldboard  plow — or.  if 
you  haven't  got  it.  use  a  common  plow — fui'row- 
ing  out  the  paths  and  throwing  the  fine  dirt  up 
into   beds.    Of  course,  you  run   the   beds  from 


east  to  west.  After  this  is  done,  with  the  same 
plow  you  can  throw  out  the  street  running 
north  and  south  through  the  center.  The 
broad  street  through  the  middle,  running  east 
and  west,  will  probably  have  to  be  shov^eled 
out.  If  there  are  any  depressions  anywhere  in 
the  plot,  use  the  dirt  that  comes  out  of  the 
streets  for  filling  said  depressions.  Now  stretch 
your  lines  from  east  to  west,  and  shovel  out  the 
paths  so  as  to  set  in  the  boards  that  make  the 
sides  of  the  beds.  Y'ou  will  need  to  take  very 
great  pains  in  this  matter.  If  you  do  not,  you 
will  have  trouble.  If  you  have  any  number  of 
sash  on  hand.  I  hope  they  are  all  of  one  exact 
size.  If  not,  you  will  have  the  same  trouble  a 
good  many  of  us  encountered  when  we  first  be- 
gan to  work  with  the  movable-comb  bee-hives 
— having  frames  and  hives  of  different  dimen- 
sions. If  your  sash  are  not  all  alike,  pick  out 
one  that  is  to  be  your  standard,  and  sooner  or 
later  I  think  you  will  conclude  to  make  them 
all  of  one  lengtli  if  you  do  not  have  them  all  of 
one  width.  I  have  purchased  sash  made  in 
New  Y^ork,  Cleveland.  Chicago,  and  other 
places;  and  the  general  tendency  seems  to  be 
for  a  sash  6  feet  long  by  3  feet  -t"  inches  wide; 
in  reckoning,  say  33:iX6  feet.  Now  have  the 
standard  sash  with  you  when  you  lay  out  your 
beds;  and  be  sure  that  the  bonrds  mentioned 
above  are  just  far  enough  apart  for  sash  to  catch 
easily  on  each  board.  When  my  beds  were 
made  I  exhorted  my  men  to  be  very  careful  to 
have  the  beds  all  of  the  same  width;  but  about 
as  soon  as  we  got  to  work  covering  plants, 
(when  a  sudden  blizzard  came  up)  we  founl 
some  of  the  beds  so  wide  that  the  sash  would 
drop  down  on  the  plants:  and  one  bed  was  so 
narrow  that  the  sash  lapped  enough  at  both 
ends  to  let  the  frost  in  where  the  glass  project- 
ed over  the  boards.  When  I  called  the  men 
who  made  the  beds  to  account  for  such  a  state 
of  affairs,  they  said  they  lost  the  measuring- 
stick  I  gave  them,  and  so  they  had  to  make 
another  themselves.  I  asked  them  where  they 
got  the  dlinensions'for  the  stick  they  made 
themselves.  They  said  they  knew  it  was  right. 
because  they  took  it  from  another  bed.  I  asked 
what  bed,  and  discovered  that  they 
had  gone  to  a  very  poorly  made  bed 
— one  of  the  first — where  the  stakes 
!iad  rotted  so  the  boards  were  out 
of  place.  Now,  had  they  come  and 
informed  me  that  they  had  lost  the 
measuring-stick  I  had  given  them, 
it  would  have  saved  some  bitter 
thoughts  and  hard  feelings,  per- 
haps, on  my  part.  I  suppose  you 
have  all  had  experience  in  just  this 
sort  of  stupidity.  Come  to  think, 
I  believe  you  had  better  be  around 
when  your  beds  are  made  up.  Ev- 
ery bed  should  be  just  like  every 
other  bed.  and  every  sash  should 
fit  nicely,  whether  it  is  moved  from 
one  bed  to  another  or  not.  In  our 
work  it  constantly  occurs  that 
some  plants  will  need  protec- 
tion, while  some  may  not:  and  every  sash  in  a 
lot  is  bound  to  travel,  sooner  or  later,  to  every 
bed  in  the  lot.  It  is  almost  as  easy,  in  the  out- 
set, to  do  things  right  as  wrong.  The  end-pieces 
of  the  beds  are  simply  nailed  from  one  side- 
piece  to  the  other:  I  think  it  is  a  pretty  good 
idea  to  have  a  substantial  stake  in  each  corner: 
then  you  can  cross-nail  so  as  to  have  the  cor- 
ners strong.  If  you  think  it  advisable  to  use  a 
horse  for  working  up  the  beds,  the  end-pieces 
may  be  left  movable:  but  \\hen  your  soil  is 
made  exceedingly  rich  with  lots  of  manure  and 
the  best  materials  you  can  hunt  up,  I  think  you 
will  not  care  to  have  a  horse  set  his  foot  on  the 
bed — at  least,  not  verv  often.    When  the  soil  is 


IN 


1892 


(;LKAMMiS  IN  BEE  CLU/rURE. 


580 


up  til  the  lii>;lii>>i  noti'li.  it  is  nhviiys  soft  ami 
light  and  triable.  Tin' idtus  of  llic  i)laiil.s  w  ill 
reach  lapiiily  i-lear  down  to  tlie  tiles  that  carry 
the  sti'aiii.  ami  wfedsean  be  piilleil  out  so  easily 
that  neither  a  hoe  nor  any  other  tool  is  ol'ieii 
needed. 

Ill  fact,  small  boys — or  small  girls  for  that 
matter— will  pull  the  weeds  out  when  they  are 
small,  about  as  cheaiily  as  yon  can  got  them 
out  in  any  othei'way.  j'.esides,  we  expect  to 
have  these  beds  so  full  of  growing  [)laiits.  al- 
most every  month  in  the  year,  then^  is  hardly  a 
chance  for  a  weed,  unless  it  squeezes  in  between 
the  crops;  and  in  tiiat  case  it  is  easier  to  "yank 
him  out  "as  soon  as  the  eye  of  the  gardener 
gets  a  glimpse  tif  him  than  it  is  to  us(>  the  hoe 
or  any  sort  of  weeder.  If  your  soil  is  naturally 
very  sandy  you  will  need  to  bring  on  some  of 
the  right  kind  of  clay  or  clayey  loam,  or  per- 


ihere  was  anywhere  in  tlie  neigliborhood.  It 
also  seemed  to  be  a  dumping-place  for  all  the 
old  boots,  tin  boilers.  cast-otV  clothing,  and 
what  not.  I  looked  at  it  a  great  many  times, 
and  longed  to  try  my  hand  at  making  achange; 
so  as  soon  as  I  made  a  purchase  of  ilie  ground  I 
went  at  it.  The  picture  gives  you  a  glimp.se  of 
that  corner. 

The  old  building  you  see  in  the  upper  corner 
at  the  right  is  a  sort  of  stable  for  a  coal  oiTice. 
It  is  not  on  my  premises,  so  of  course  1  did  not 
meddle  with  it.  The  cars  b(\v<)ii(l  indicate  the 
railroad  track.  The  piles  of  drain  tile  are  my 
own  property,  but  the  railroad  company  permit 
me  to  store  on.  theii'  land,  right  whei-e  we  un- 
load them.  Well,  this  deserted  corner  was  on 
such  low  ground  thai  I  was  obliged  to  raise,  my 
beds  some  two  or  three  feet.  Then  with  un- 
der and  surface  drains  I  got  rid  of  the  water. 


'— t'^^>a  — '""fir— ^ 


TiiK  i)Ksi;i;-n:i)  <  oknki;  aftki;  it  was  juxi.aimi;!). 


haps  muck  from  the  swamps.  If.likeonrs.it 
is  naturally  very  clayey,  you  will  ru'<'(\  a  car- 
load or  two  of  sand.  We  get  a  beautiful  white 
sand  from  the  shores  of  Lake  Erie  that  does 
not  contain  any  weed  seeds  at  all.  Stable  ma- 
nure, of  course,  contains  more  or  less  weed 
seeds.  By  composting  it.  however,  until  it  is 
very  old  and  thoroughly  rotted,  we  get  rid  of 
most  of  these  foul  seeds.  By  the  way.  it  is  just 
fun  to  see  om-  of  the  melon  or  squash  family 
get  a  foothold  in  this  sort  of  rich  soil.  They 
will  come  up  in  a  night.  like  Jonah's  gonrd. 
and.  almost  before  you  are  aware  of  it.  the 
roots  have  gone  clear  down  to  the  drain  tile. 
and  clear  out  under  the  paths:  and  pumpkins 
and  squashes  and  melons  iriake  their  appear 
ance  as  if  by  magic.  In  fact,  with  us  tliey 
seem  to  keep  coming,  and  I  feel  so  sorry  for  the 
poor  things,  they  look  so  rank  and  thrifty,  that 
I  generally  let  them  go — thai  is.  unless  they 
crowd  something  else  that  is  of  loo  much  value. 
Let  me  digress  a  little. 

At  one  corner  of  my  plant-garden,  right  op- 
posite our  factory,  used  to  be  one  of  the  most 
unsightly  mud-holes  and  deserted  spots  that 


In  fact.  I  greatly  enjoyed  making  the  open 
ditch  that  runs  up  by  the  side  of  the  roadway 
leading  to  the  tile-yard.  The  white  stakes  you 
notice  along  this  ditch  are  made  of  gas-pipe  to 
indicate  where  my  land  adjoins  that  of  the 
railroad  cotupany. 

The  first  crop  in  the  corner  is  curled  parsley. 
Next  to  that  are  some  young  cauliflower-plants, 
and  then  a  bed  of  Grand  IJapids  lettuce.  Just 
back  of  this  first  bed  is  the  cloth-covered  cold- 
frame.  Inside  of  this  there  are  Prizetaker 
onion- plants.  The  onion-plants  did  just  as 
well  under  the  cloth  covering  as  those  on  the 
left  that  were  covered  witli  glass  sash.  Onion- 
plants  must  not  be  kept  too  hot.  Without  th(i 
use  of  the  cloth,  how cvei'.  th<'y  would  have  been 
killed  entirely,  as  I  proved  by  e.xperiment.  You 
will  notice  that  the  cloth  is  rolled  half  way 
down.  Back  of  the  cloth-covered  bed  are  early- 
frame  radishes.  These  stood  the  frost  with 
little  injury,  when  the  onion-plants  would  have 
been  killed.  At  the  left  of  the.se  radishes  are 
some  more  radishes  coming  up;  in  fact,  they  are 
just  putting  on  the  lirst  leaf.  At  the  left  of  the 
first  bed.  reaching  from  one  side  to  the  other,  is 


590 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


one  of  the  strips  of  wood,  or  plank,  rather,  that 
we  use  when  working  among  the  plants.  They 
are  made  of  13.j-inch  clear  pine.  (5  feet  long  and 
8  inches  wide.  Nailed  to  each  end  is  a  block 
about  2  inches  square.  When  the  plants  are  so 
tall  that  this  bar.  as  we  call  it.  would  crush 
down  their  tops,  we  turn  it  over  so  it  rests  on 
the  blocks  instead  of  flat  down  on  the  top  of  the 
bed.  We  used  about  a  dozen  of  these  boards  on 
our  quarter-acre  plot.  Half  of  the  dozen  are 
painted  slate  color,  and  the  other  half  are 
painted  bright  red.  I  will  tell  yon  why.  The 
red  ones  are  made  long  enongh  so  the  blocks  at 
each  end  will  just  i-each  over  the  side-boards  of 
abed  that  is  i^xactly  the  right  width.  One  of 
these  red  bars  enables  us  to  see  instantly 
whether,  under  the  influence  of  frost  and  damp- 
ness, the  side-boards  have  been  spreading.  If 
they  have  been  spreading  we  run  an  iron  rod 
across  the  bed,  hooking  each  end  over  the 
afore-described  iron  stakes.  This  holds  the 
sides  rigidly  in  place,  and  then  there  is  no 
more  trouble  from  spreading.  In  this  first  bed, 
at  the  extreme  right  end  of  the  picture,  you  can 
see  one  of  these  iron  rods,  the  ground  having 
been  scraped  away  so  as  to  show  it.  They  are 
usually  three  or  four  inches  under  the  surface 
of  tht-  soil.  Sometimes  they  make  a  little 
trouble  in  spading  or  forking  up  the  bed,  but 
not  verv  much. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


.    .    .    And  thy  neighbor  as  tliyself.— Luke  10:27. 
Who  is  my  neig-hbor  ?— Lcke  10:29. 

The  above  texts  were  biought  to  mind  by 
looking  at  a  picture  that  appeared  in  the 
Scientific  Americnn  of  June  J8.  A  few  years 
ago  we  might  have  said.  ■•  Oh!  it  is  only  a  pic- 
ture," and  probably  let  it  slip  from  our  minds 
by  thinking  likely  it  was  an  exaggerated  view, 
or  that  they  tried  to  make  it  sensational,  or 
somethiiig  of  that  sort.  But.  alas!  the  picture 
is  not  an  ideal  one,  but  the  reality  itself,  for  it 
is  one  of  the  half-tone  reproductions  of  a  photo- 
graph from  real  life,  for  we  find  on  it  the  well- 
known  impiini  of  Crosscup  A:  West,  one  of  the 
pioneer  firms  in  making  photographs  print 
themselves  on  the  pages  of  almost  every  jour- 
nal in  the  land.  When  I  first  looked  at  the 
picture  I  felt  like  saying.  '•  May  God  bi^  praised 
that  the  time  is  here  when  our  periodicals  ean 
tell  us  exactly  the  condition  of  affairs  in  everv 
part  of  the  globe;"  and  at  the  same  time  I  feft 
a  wish  that  this  picture  should  be  given  the 
largest  publicity.  It  may  shock  people,  and 
jar  on  their  nerves,  and  may  be  the  memory  of 
it  will  haunt  you  not  only  thiough  the  day,  but 
in  your  dreams  at  night.  I  hope  it  will:  and 
that  the  picture  may  meet  still  more  eyes  (and 
hearts  too.  I  hope)  than  it  has  already  through 
the  Scieiititic  American,  we  have  thought  best 
to  give  it  a  place  here. 

The  matter  that  comes  with  the  cut  was 
furnishi  d  bv  Frank  Van  Allen,  medical  mis- 
sionary to  Madura.  India.  But  before  making 
extracts  from  the  Scientific  .^/Hcricroi  I  wish 
to  consider  our  texts  a  little.  It  is  the  Bible. 
God's  own  word,  that  makes  this  somewhat 
startling  demand  upon  us,  that  we  shall  love 
our  "  neighbor"  as  ourselves;  and  it  was  Christ 
Jesus,  the  Son  of  God.  who  explained  to  us  in 
that  well-known  parable,  that  our  ■■  neighbor '' 
might  live  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  globe;  in 
fact,  that  (tnyhody  is  our  neighbor  who  is  in 
trouble.  Contrast  for  a  moment  the  attitude  of 
heart  of  the  people  who  have  no  Bible,  and 
who  know  nothing  of  New  Testament  teach- 


ings. We  are  sometimes  told  little  stories 
about  the  affection  of  the  dumb  brutes.  I  have 
tried  at  times  to  see  whether  I  could  detect  it. 
As  a  rule  an  animal  will  scarcely  turn  its  head 
when  its  comrade  meet-  with  an  accident  that 
deprives  it  of  its  life.  It  might  express  fright, 
it  is  true,  under  some  circumstances;  but  as  a 
rule  it  goes  on  eating  its  feed  or  to  its  ordinary 
occupation  as  if  nothing  had  happened.  If  it 
does  notice  what  happened,  it  evidently  seems 
to  think  it  is  no  concern  of  its  own.  There  may 
be  exceptions  to  this  rule,  but  I  believe  it  is 
quite  general  among  all  the  brute  creation.  In 
the  great  busy  world  we  many  times  see  brute 
nature  show  itself,  even  among  human  beings. 
An  accident  happens;  somebody  loses  his  life 
or  property.  There  is  a  class  of  people  who 
poke  along,  paying  no  attention  whatever  to 
the  sufferings  of  a  comrade,  especially  if  he 
happens  to  be  a  stranger.  Such  people,  of 
course,  can  not  be  Christians.  They  may  be 
professors,  but  certainly  they  ar"  not  possessors 
of  the  love  that  should  fill  the  heart  of  every 
follower  of  Christ  Jesus.  They  evidently  have 
never  felt  any  thrill  of  joy  when  reading  the 
familiar  words  that  close  with  the  first  of  my 
texts — ••  And  his  neighbor  as  himself." 

Again,  there  is  a  class  of  people  who  are  very 
ready  to  bristle  up  when  something  touches  one 
of  their  own  family.  lam  glad  of  this,  for  I 
like  to  see  people  loyal  to  tiidr  brothers  and 
sisters.  I  like  to  see  them  show  by  their  actions 
that  a  blow  struck  at  one  of  the  family  seems 
to  hit  every  individual  meniber  alike.  But 
even  this  feeling  may  be  distorted  into  a  kind 
of  low  selfishness:  but  on  the  whole  I  like  to 
see  it.  In  the  same  way  we  see  a  whole  town 
all  in  arms  because  a  single  individual  has  been 
unjustly  used.  May  be  this  individual  is  a 
very  quiet  sort  of  fellow,  and  one  whom  nobody 
knows  very  much  about;  but  he  belongs  to  the 
town;  and  when  he  receives  an  undeserved 
blow,  every  true  citizen  springs  up  as  if  the 
blow  had  been  aimed  at  himself,  and  our  poor 
friend  who  has  been  badly  used  finds  a  little 
recompense  in  discovering  he  has  a  hundred 
warm  friends  and  earnest  champions  where  he 
had  scarcely  suspected  one.  Christianity,  of 
course,  expands  and  enlarges  this  feeling.  If  a 
man  is  in  trouble  he  is  a  brother,  and  entitled 
to  our  sympathy  and  our  aid;  and  this  should 
be  true,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  no  matter 
what  his  color  or  nationality  may  be.  Every 
little  while  during  my  whole  life,  before  I  was 
a  Christian,  and  since  I  became  a  Christian.  I 
have  been  now  and  then  astonished  to  see  how 
the  great  wide  world — yes,  the  great  busy 
world,  wouM  at  times  droj)  every  thing — yes, 
all  consideration  of  gain,  for  the  time  being, 
and  spring  forward  to  assist  some  one  in  dis- 
tress. My  first  recollection  in  this  line  was 
during  the  famine  in  Ireland.  I  confess  I  was 
boyish  enough  then  to  wonder  a  little  why  peo- 
ple should  care  so  much  about  folks  away  off  in 
Ireland.  Later  I  was  shocked  at  the  Chicago 
fire,  and  rejoiced  at  the  way  in  which  people 
whom  the  world  generally  considered  parsimo- 
nious opened  their  purse-strings.  On  the  whole, 
I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  a  great  many 
times,  that,  after  all.  "this  is  a  pretty  good 
world  to  live  in."  I  think  I  first  heard  Prof. 
Cook  make  that  remark.  Somebody,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  course,  was  tt^ling  at  length  of  the  injus- 
tice, the  cheat,  and  tlie  fraud  there  is  in  this 
world.  Our  good  friend  Cook  very  quietly 
mentioned  some  of  the  good  things  about  our 
pi'ople  and  our  country,  and  then  ended  up 
with  the  expression  I  have  quoted. 

Well,  here  we  are.  friends,  more  than  half 
way  through  the  year  1892.  Has  ihe  spirit  ex- 
pressed in  the  two  texts  at  the  head  of  my  talk 
to-day  been  growing  during  this  19th   century 


CLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


591 


or  not".'  Oh.  Vi's!  it /hi.s  been  growing.  It  has 
bci'ii  growing  through  raiiroiids.  stcnmboats, 
teU'graphs.  teU-phont'S.  photograpiis,  and  typc- 
writcrs.  We  arc  belter  picparod  than  we  ever 
were  before  to  feed  tile  liuiigry  and  to  elotlie 
the  nal<ed.  Suppose  you  tal<e  a  lool<  at  tlial 
picture  again.     May  be  some  of  you    liave   fell 


in  his  eye,  after  all.  Do  you  suppose  it  is  pos- 
sible for  him  to  be  a  little  bit  roguish,  as  your 
l)oy  and  mine  are  every  dav  of  their  lives? 
Why,  if  a  tioy  of  his  age  could  not  ix^  roguish 
now  and  then,  he  wouldn't  he  a  l)oy:  and  then 
just  think  of  starving  the  poor  little  life  out  of 
himl     That  yotmg   liUow  on   the  bench,  with 


.just  a  little  hungry:  but  hunger  itself— why.  it 
is  nothing  to  seeing  our  little  ones  starvlna 
before  our  eyes.  Think  of  that  tiiother  with 
that  little  bundle  of  flesh  and  bones  in  her  arms. 
Perhaps  she  has  been  trijiyiu  to  give  it  nourish- 
ment to  keep  the  little  spirit  in  its  body.  Then 
see  that  little  chap  down  by  the  bench,  almost 
out  of  sight.  Why  I  he  is  just  a  living  skeleton. 
But  if  you  look  close  there  is  something  boyish 


his  head  up.  looks  as  if  he  had  .some  life  and 
ambition  left,  even  yet.  If  somebody  could 
come  forward  and  tell  him  what  to  do,  I 
shouldn't  be  surprised  if  you  would  see  him  do 
a  tolerably  good  day"s  work,  even  gaunt  as  he 
is.  His  companion  at  hi-;  feet  i<.  perhaps,  too 
near  dead:  and  evn  yet.  if  well  fed  they  might 
be  fine  specimens  of  physical  humanity.  And 
now  look  at  that  poor  brothi'i-— yes,  brother  he 


592 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


is— who  lies  on  the  ground  from  sheer  exhaus- 
tion. His  bones  startle  one  by  their  fearful 
resemblance  to  a  skeleton  without  flesh  or  skin 
either.  In  the  countenance  of  every  one  you 
see  an  expression  of  hopelessness.  I  suppose 
they  are  thinking  they  might  as  well  give'  up 
and  die.  as  their  friends  and  neighbors  have 
done  right  before  their  eyes  day  after  day, 
week  after  week,  and,  may  be,  month  after 
month.  Well,  what  are  we  going  to  do  about 
it?  Really,  I  do  not  know:  but  I  have  faith  to 
believe  that  something  will  soon  be  done — yes, 
that  something  is  being  done;  and  I  want  to 
give  you  this  picture  that  I  might  urge  you  to 
hurry  up  and  give  courage  and  help  to  those 
who  are  already  helping  them.  Giving  money 
outright  is,  perhaps,  the  first  thing  to  be  done; 
and  the  very  next  thing  is  to  devise  ways  and 
means  whereby  these  people  may  help  them- 
selves. Perhaps  my  ideas  are  crude;  but  in 
some  respects,  at  least,  I  know  they  are  sensi- 
ble, because  I  have  been  all  ray  life  putting 
them  into  practice.  Ever  since  I  became  a 
Christian,  at  least,  I  have  been  working  and 
planning  that  I  might  be  helpful  in  the  best 
sense  of  the  word  to  those  who  need  help.  I 
have  tried  giving  money  outright;  yes.  I  have 
given  money  to  the  poor  friends  I  meet  in  our 
county  jail,  because  I  felt  sorry  for  them.  But 
it  did  not  work  well.  If  one  were  starving,  I 
would  give  him  money,  or,  better  still,  food; 
but  it  is  not  the  thing  to  keep  doing,  after  all. 
I  once  had  a  queen -bee  that  could  not  lay  eggs 
enough  to  keep  her  colony  going.  As  her  bees 
were  very  pretty  I  boosted  her  season  after  sea- 
son with  frames  of  brood.  I  thought  that,  may 
be,  if  she  got  a  great  big  colony,  she  would  get 
a  going  and  keep  going:  but  she  didn't.  By 
and  by  the  colony  went  down  to  its  normal  size. 
Giving  brood  did  not  hit  the  real  trouble  at  all. 
Well.  I  have  found  by  experience  that  giving 
somebody  money,  and  then  letting  him  go  and 
forgetting  all  about  him  does  not,  as  a  rule, 
make  any  lasting  or  permanent  improvement. 
I  hardly  need  tell  you  of  the  better  way  in 
which  I  have  been  working  to  give  the  man 
who  does  not  get  along  well  something  to  do. 
Tell  him  plainly  where  he  is  at  fault,  and  teach 
him  to  be  skillful,  and  by  and  by  he  will  be 
self-sustaining;  yes,  and  if  he  gets  the  love  of 
Christ  Jesus  in  his  heart,  as  an  inspiration  to 
better  things,  he  will  not  only  be  self-sustain- 
ing, but  he  will  turn  around  and  help  others  in 
the  same  way  he  has  boen  helped.  I  have  seen 
this  over  and  over  again.  That  sort  of  spirit 
will  lift  a  whole  town— yes,  a  whole  nation; 
and  the  great  problem  that  lies  before  us  is  to 
examine  into  the  slate  of  affairs  to  find  out  how 
these  people  came  into  this  condition  where 
they  must  starve  by  the  millions,  and  then  we 
can  show  them  how  to  get  on  their  feet  and 
stay  there;  nay,  more;  to  help  them  feed  other 
nations,  and,  above  all,  to  help  teach  other 
nations. 

Perhaps  you  have  wondered  why  I  have  of 
late  years  taken  such  a  craze  to  see  things 
grow.  If  you  have  not  wondered  at  it,  I  have. 
Sometimes  I  have  asked,  "Where is  God  calling 
me,  and  why  has  he  put  it  into  my  heart  to  love 
with  such  an  intense  devotion  the  soil  and  its 
products?"  Just  nineteen  days  ago  I  sowed 
some  radishes.  They  were  Wood's  Early 
Frame,  and  I  put  them  into  one  of  our  plant- 
beds,  and  gave  them  the  best  chance  that  my 
skill  and  experience  could  devise,  because  we 
were  short  of  radishes,  and  wanted  some  as  soon 
as  possible.  Well,  to-day  nice  little  bunches  of 
them  were  on  the  wagon;  and  they  were  so 
handsome  and  fine  that  people  actually  came 
down  to  the  factory  for  more  of  them.  So  there 
is  one  thing  that  will  give  us  a  crop  fit  to  eat  in 
nineteen  davs  after  the  seed  is  sown.   Of  course. 


I  know  radishes  could  not  go  very  far  in  keep- 
ing people  from  starving;  but  other  things 
could  be  grown  almost  as  quickly.  Perhaps 
you  say.  "  Why,  these  people  have  not  the 
seeds,  the  water,  nor  the  manure  which  you  use 
without  stint."  Don't  be  too  sure.  Not  many 
days  ago  I  was  talking  with  a  young  man 
whose  father  owned  a  spring  thai  was  never 
know  n  to  fail,  either  summer  or  winter.  It  ran 
continually,  and  made  only  a  nasty,  swampy 
place  all  through  the  best  part  of  his  farm. 
Not  a  dozen  rods  away  was  a  great  quantity 
of  sheep  manure  that  had  been  lying  there  for 
years,  unused.  This  young  man  wanted  some- 
thing to  do.  I  told  him  to  take  that  water  and 
sheep  manure,  and  the  two  or  three  acres  of 
swampy  land,  and  grow  celery.  But  he  did 
not  do  it,  and  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  the  manure 
and  water  and  land  would  be  almost  useless 
for  a  dozen  years  to  come.  If  I  could  go  among 
these  people  of  India,  I  think  I  could  find  a 
similar  state  of  affairs.  I  think  I  could  find 
springs  and  rivers  unused.  "Oh,  yesi"  you 
say  again:  "but  where  are  you  going  to  get  the 
money  to  bring  the  rivers  on  to  tlie.se  desert 
lands,  as  we  do?"'  Now,  my  friends,  some  of  you 
will  get  cross  if  I  suggest  that  our  poor  neigh- 
bors in  India  need  great  capitalists.  Why,  very 
likely  the  only  thing  that  can  feed  their  people 
is  to  construct  dams  that  cost  a  million  of 
dollars  each.  Then,  again,  they  must  have 
railroads  that  cost  other  millioTis,  to  equalize 
the  produce.  Why.  if  it  were  not  for  our  rail- 
roads we  should  be  in  danger  of  starving — at 
least  some  of  us;  and  yet  some  of  you  who  read 
Gi-EANiNGs  feel  hurt  because  I  sometimes  say 
out  loud.  "Thank  God  for  railroads."  Never 
mind.  Let's  not  waste  time  in  arguing;  let's 
go  to  work  and  help  our  neighbors  in  India — 
the  very  neighbors  that  God  told  us  to  love  as 
ourselves:  let's  give  up  some  of  our  pet  plans 
and  projections;  let's  live  in  cheaper  houses, 
and  ride  in  buggies  that  are,  perhaps,  a  trifle 
shabby — at  least  until  there  is  no  place  in  the 
whole  wide  world  where  people  are  starving  by 
millions. 

1  will  now  close  by  giving  the  article  from 
Mr.  Van  Allen,  accompanied  with  the  cut  from 
the  Sclentiflc  American,  where  I  first  found  it. 

The  attention  of  the  whole  world  is  dh-ected  to  the 
terrible  famine  in  Russia,  consequently  it  is  not 
g-eneraliy  Isiiowu  that  a  similar  scourge  is  afflicting- 
India.  In  tins  country,  all  the  horrors  wliich  follow 
in  the  wake  of  starvation  occur  with  fearful  regu- 
larity every  fifteen  years,  or  twice  in  every  genera- 
tion." The  last  great  famine  was  in  1S76,  and  it  was 
estimated  tiy  the  government  that  five  million  per- 
sons died  of  starvaiion  and  the  two  diseases  that  go 
with  it— dysentery  and  famine  fever. 

The  cycle  is  completed  again.  Owitig  to  a  partial 
failure  of  rains,  the  feiirful  calamity  of  anotlier 
famine  was  threatened  a  year  ago.  This  year  the 
rains  have  entirely  1  ailed;  however,  the  famine  is 
not  yet  at  its  height,  for  tliere  are  districts  here  and 
there  where  a  slender  harvest  is  possible,  which  for 
a  few  weeks  will  ameliorate  the  condition  of  the 
people  who  live  in  these  favored  parts.  When  this 
small  supply  of  grain  is  e.xliausted,  the  famine, 
which  is  already  very  serious,  will  grip  tlie  whole 
nation  in  its  withering  hand,  and  there  is  no  hope 
or  help  from  within  their  borders  until  the  next 
rains,  nearly  a  year  hence. 

No  one  who  has  not  seen  and  felt  the  awful  deso- 
lation can  lealize  into  what  a  fearful  condition  a 
country  is  plunged  hy  famine.  No  rain,  crops 
scorched  by  intense  lieat;  tanks,  whose  supply  of 
water  has  been  depended  on  for  irrigation,  empty, 
and  their  beds  baking  in  the  blazing  sun;  all  vege- 
tation withered,  ind  rivers  and  wells  dry;  the 
scarcity  of  food  increasing,  the  price  of  grains  rap- 
idly rising;  the  people,  with  their  gaunt,  emaciated 
bodies,  flocking  by  the  liundreds  and  thousands  to 
the  relief-camps  established  by  the  British  govern- 
ment. All  this  misery  and  sufifering  because  the 
blessed  rain  has  been  withheld.  In  many  places 
fodder  for  cattle  is  unattainable,  and  the  people  are 


issi-j 


ULliAMNCiS  IN   nVA-:  (  I    I/l'I'KK 


rm 


toariiiK  lliati'lifs  from  Imildinvr-^  to  fiH'd  the  faiuisli- 
iiiK  aiiiiii!il>.  Ill  otliiT  loi-aliiics  catllc  arc  bi'itiK 
killed  in  ^rn'at  imiiilivi-s,  as  llicii-  owtu'is  ;irc  iinalilc 
to  frcil  tlu'iii.  Also  lhons:iii(ls  aiul  tiiousniids  ha\e 
(iio<i  and  hit  dviiiK  of  siiiivaiion.  Kvci'y  clfiiit  is 
niado  to  kffi>  a  (.•(•riniii  iiiiinlu'i'  alive,  whii'li  must 
lie  done  at  all  li;i/.anls,  for  idowing- wIk'h  the  next 
seedinjjT  time  eomes. 

Hi;w  the  people  are  to  maintain  tlieraselves  until 
tile  lU'Xt  aiMHial  niiiis  is  a  most  serious  qiu-stion, 
and  will  donl)tless  he  answered  in  theusuiil  way  — a 
larKe  p;iit  of  tlie  population  will  be  snppoiteil  by 
the  jroviTMinent  at  tlie  fainine-eiimps.  Tlieie  wifl 
iH'abari-  existenceof  in:in\  dl  liei-s,  and  tlie  lieatli 
of  thousands  and  even  millions  of  peopU'.  The  bet- 
ter class  will  have  enouirh  to  eat,  as  tliey  will  im- 
port trrain  at  enormous  jn-iei-s  from  other  countries. 

But  the  matter  of  food  is  not  the  only  problem 
connected  with  existence  'I'lie  (jucstion  of  water 
becomes  a  pressing.'  one,  and  is  more  serious  from 
tlio  wretched  relifrious  caste  customs:  a  hig-h-c:isti' 
man  will  not  drink  from  a  well  if  a  low-caste  man 
lias  lowered  his  waier  pail  into  it,  and  so  defiled  its 
cont.ents.  This  really  iiflecis  the  low-caste  man,  be- 
cause lie  is  driven  away  and  not  allowed  U)  ct)me 
near  tliese  wells;  and  liis  own,  l)eing  more  sliallow, 
have  become  dry.  In  tliis  emergencv  tlie  g'o\ei'ii- 
ment  comes  forward,  and.  as  a  part  of  the  relief 
Work,  otTers  to  loan  money  foi-  the  digsi'ing  of  wells. 
The  people  avail  themselves  of  this  oiler,  and  just 
now  there  are  being-  dug-  in  one  presifleney  upward 
of  19,000  wells  from  loans  so  made  by  the  govern- 
ment. This  money  is  loaned  on  thirty  years' time, 
vrith  interest  at  three  per  cent  per  annum,  and 
often  without  sufficient  securitj%  but  is  done  to  re- 
lieve tlie  distress  of  this  ill-fated  nation. 

With  all  that  the  Eng-lish  g-overnment  are  doing 
to  alleviate  the  horrors  of  the  famine,  there  is  much 
unnecessary  suffering,  which  arises  from  the 
peculiarities  of  the  people,  jiarticularly  tlie  higlier 
castes.  For  a  cast  »•  man  to  eat  or  drink  anything- 
which  has  been  touched  by  oni'  not  of  Ills  caste  is  so 
degrading  that  lie  would  rather  suffer  death.  Tliis 
•  is  a  religious  matter  with  liim,  and  there  is  no 
doubt  but  tliat  multitudes  die  because  they  will  not 
accept  food  at  government  relief-camps  or  famine- 
kitchens.  Many  others  of  not  so  high  a  caste  liold 
out  for  a  while,  then  come  and  p;irtake  of  the 
wholesome  food.  Tliis-istoo  much  for  their  weak- 
ened condition;  tlu'ir  stomachs  refuse  to  dige.st  it, 
dy.seiiter.v  results,  and  in  a  few  days  they  die. 

The  one  disease  accompaMying  a  famine,  and 
causing  more  deaths  than  either  dy.sentery  or  actu- 
al starvation,  is  famine  fever.  It  is  a  late  attendant, 
appearing  when  the  people  ai'e  emaciated  and  weak, 
and  for  it  there  is  no  remedy,  and  the  other  reme- 
dies have  no  effect  on  it.  When  once  begun,  it  be- 
comes widespread.  Tlie  weak  and  ill-nourished 
who  have  resisted  other  Intlucnces,  and  but  for  this 
might  Iiave  lived  until  the  next  rains,  fall  easy  vic- 
tims. It  is  during  tliis  ix-riod  that  deaths  are  so 
numerous.  The  dead  lie  b,\  ilie  loadside  in  great 
numbers;  the  dying  i-rawl  oil  into  the  jungles  and 
are  eaten  by  wild  animals. 

All  tliat  a  go\eiiirnent  could  do  for  a  famine- 
stricken  country  the  English  government  d<jes  for 
India  at  these  soi-e  times,  and  deserves  much  praise 
for  the  energi^tic  measures  taken.  Leave  on  fur- 
lough to  all  officers  of  government  is  forbidden. 
Those  alisent  on  leave  are  summoned;  relief  works 
ai^  begun.  These  consist  of  building  new  roads, 
canals,  etc.,  and  are  designed  to  helji  those  wlio  ai'i- 
able  to  work.  During  a  famine  many  such  public 
improvements  are  constructed  whicli  the  govc-rn- 
ment  would  not  otiierwise  afford.  For  those  who 
are  not  abU-  to  work  Ijy  reason  of  their  reduced 
strength,  debility,  or  age,  a  form  of  relief  is  eslab- 
lished  known  as  the  famiiie-ltitcliens.  There  meals 
are  c<H)ked  and  given  away  t(j  all  who  come.  For 
those  who  are  unable  to  walk,  camps  are  provided; 
they  are  generally  located  near  a  kitchen,  and  are  a 
refuge  for  thousands.  These  relief  works,  famine 
■cami)s  and  kitchens,  are  to  be  found  every  few 
miles  all  over  India  while  a  famine  lasts.  But  al- 
though the  government  fleals  thus  energetically 
with  the  problem,  and  grants  every  alleviation  iii 
its  power  for  tlie  distressed  country,  the  suffering 
and  loss  of  life  is  cxtiemc. 


The  Darke  County  Union  Bee-Keepers'  Society  will  hold  a 
grand  basket  meeting  in  the  fairjrrounds  at  Greenville.  Ohio, 
Friday,  Aug.  19.  1892.  Vocal  and  instrumental  music  suitable 
for  the  occasion  is  being  prepared. 

GEO.  H.  KIRKPATRICK,  SeC. 


-^-^112  FED  YEAjCs 


Then  shall  the  King  say  unto  them  on  his  right  hand.  Come 
ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  tlie  kingdom  prepared  lor  you 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world;  for  I  was  a  hungered,  and 
.ve  gave  me  meat.— Matt.  2!):  .'i4. ;«. 


The  Progressive  Bee-keeper  \ii  stU]  progi-ess- 
ive— tilled  with  good  things. 


The  iioney  crop  is  a  total  failure  in  Califor- 
nia, .so  our  correspondents  say.  Rambler  was 
more  foriniiate,  liowover,  and  securtid  a  very 
fair  crop.  There  will,  therefore,  be  very  little 
California  honey  on  the  eastt^rn  markets,  and 
tlio  eastern  product  will  have  full  swing. 

We  have  just  discovered  that  the  Tunics  soil 
their  capped  honey  all  over  witli  bee-glue;  in 
fact,  it  looks  as  if  it  had  been  daubed  over  with 
a  dark-colored  dirty  varnish.  If  this  is  true  of 
all  Funics  (and  Mr.  Cowan  says  as  much  in  an- 
other column),  it  will  rule  them  out  of  all 
apiaries. 

The  Alley  traps  have  done  for  us  good  service 
this  year.  We  bought  a  number  of  colonies 
this  year,  the  drones  of  which  were  not  select. 
Upon  all  such  the  Alley  trap  was  placed,  trap- 
ping all  undesirable  drones.  We  then  encour- 
aged those  colonies  that  had  very  fine  drones, 
to  rear  as  large  a  numl^er  as  possible. 

It  is  a  very  noticeable  fact,  that  commission 
houses  have  reported,  for  the  past  couple  of 
months,  little  or  no  tirst-class  honey  on  the 
market,  either  comb  or  e.\tracted.  We  can  not 
believe  adulteration  is  carried  on  so  extensively, 
otherwise  there  would  be  plenty  of  e.xtracted 
honey;  and  while  we  do  not  want  to  deny  that 
adulteration  may  be  practiced  to  a  considerable 
extent,  we  ought  to  be  careful  not  to  rush  to 
the  other  extreme. 


Trying  to  smoke  in  loafing  bees  at  the  en- 
trance does  not  make  them  go  to  work.  On  the 
contrary,  it  causes  them  to  boil  all  over,  and  to 
alight  on  the  nearest  objects.  They  will  then 
rub  their  abdomens  and  waists  with  their  legs, 
showing  that  the  breath! itg-pores  have  been 
irritated  by  the  quantity  of  smoke.  Give  them 
plenty  of  shade,  plenty  of  room,  and  a  large 
wide  entrance.  As  an  extra  inducement,  if  you 
are  running  for  comb  honey  use  full  sheets  of 
foundation— yes,  always  do  it;  and  if  this  does 
not  fetch 'em,  insert  a  bait  section— that  is,  a 
section  partly  drawn  out.  and  filled  with  a  little 
honey  from  some  super  where  the  bees  have 
already  gone  to  work. 

AUTOMATIC   SWAK.MEKS— ARE  THEV  A  SUCCES.S '? 

We  are  more  than  pleased  with  the  workings 
of  our  Pratt  automatic  swarmers.  In  our  out- 
yard  we  found  that  they  worked  to  perfection. 
The  swarmers  were  attached  some  ten  days 
previously;  and  when  we  went  down,  the  bees 
had  cast  swarms,  and  the  same  had  taken  up 
their  abode  in  their  new  quarters,  filling  their 
combs  with  brood  and  lioiiey.  just  as  good  bees 
ought  to  do.  In  some  cases.the  hives  to  which 
the  ^swarmers  were  attached  failed  to  send  out 
swarms.  In  that  event,  while  the  queen  was 
being  occupied  in  the  upper  hive,  the  bees  went 
below,  built  out  the  frames  of  foundation,  and 
filled  them  with  honey.  So  it  seems  to  us  that 
the  swarmer  is  bound  to  be  a  success,  whether 
the  bees  swarm  or  not.    In  the  one  case,  it  ac- 


594 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


coinplishes  the  result  expected  (i.  e.,  hiving  the 
swarm),  and  in  the  other  case  it  provides  ample 
room  in  an  extra  hive,  provided  the  bees  need 
it;  and  the  result  is,  that  this  new  hive  is  filled 
with  honey.  Honey,  after  all,  is  what  we  are 
after. 

Well,  now,  it  begins  to  seem  to  us  as  if  the 
automatic  swarmer  were  going  to  solve  the 
swarming  problem,  and  at  the  same  time  keep 
down  increase,  and.  instead,  allow  colonies  to 
run  up  to  gi'cat  strength.  Most  of  our  stands  to 
which  the  Pratt  automatic  swarmers  have  been 
attached  are  four  or  five  sto.ies  high,  each 
story  tilled  with  brood  and  honey.  Given  these 
big  colonies,  and  nectar  in  the  fields,  and  a  crop 
is  assured. 

Henry  Alley  deserves  credit  for  sticking  to 
automatic  swarmers  all  these  years,  when  the 
most  of  the  rest  of  us  r?garded  them  as  not 
practical.  They  may  not  prove  to  be  piactical, 
even  yet;  but  the  evidence  in  our  yards  points 
that  way  strongly. 

HOW     TO     KEEP      BEES     AT     HOME      FROM       THE 
COUNTY   FAIKS. 

It  will  soon  be  time  now  to  hold  our  county 
fail's:  and  at  such  times  the  bees  and  candy- 
men  are  liable  to  come  in  conflict.  Every  year, 
until  last  year,  our  bees  fairly  swarmed  around 
the  candy-stands.  Although  there  was  a  dearth 
of  honey,  we  managed  to  keep  the  bees  at  home 
from  the  last  fair.  On  the  morning  of  each  day 
of  the  fair,  we  blew  tobacco  smoke  into  the  en- 
trances of  every  one  of  our  colonies;  this  was 
repeated  along  about  noon.  The  effect  was  to 
stupefy  the  bees,  and  to  make  them  stay  at 
home.  As  a  further  precaution  we  provided 
each  of  the  candy-men  with  wire-cloth  paddles, 
with  wire  cloth  in  the  centers,  the  wire  cloth 
being  used  to  prevent  the  bees  from  being  fan- 
ned away  or  to  one  side,  in  hitting  at  them  on 
the  wing.  With  these,  every  candy-man  was 
to  kill  the  first  bee  that  came  around:  for  we 
told  them  that  every  bee  that  went  away  loaded 
would  bring  back  a  dozen  more.  The  effect  of 
the  tobacco  smoke  and  the  wire-cloth  paddles 
was  magical;  and  the  casual  observer  would 
have  said,  standing  around  the  candy-stands, 
that  not  a  bee  came  around.  At  the  previous 
fair,  f<ur  bees  made  so  much  trouble  that  the 
candy-men  threatened  to  sue  us  for  damages, 
because  the  bees  swarmed  around  the  stands  so 
strong  that  people  were  afraid.  We  have  men- 
tioned this  before,  but  it  will  bear  repetition 
for  the  benefit  of  those  who  have  bees  located 
near  fairgrounds,  and  who  should  do  every 
thing  in  their  power  to  prevent  bees  from  being 
a  nuisance.  

ATTENTION,   BEE-KEEPEKS. 

Just  after  our  last  issue  had  bei'U  mailed  we 
received  the  following  from  Prof.  A.  J.  Cook, 
which  will  explain  itself: 

Dear  Mr.  Editor:— -I  regret  to  write  tliat  our 
friend  Larrabee  has  been  discontinued  in  liis  posi- 
tion as  experimenter  in  Apiculture  for  the  United 
States  government.  The  cause  is,  tlie  larg-e  reduc- 
tion iSlU.iiUU)  of  the  appi'Opriation  by  congi'ess  to  tlie 
entomolugical  division  of  the  Dei)artTnt'iit  of  Agri- 
culture. I  think  tliis  a  grave  misfortune,  as  it 
seems  to  me  tliat  at  least  one  person  niig-lit  be  se- 
lected and  kept  for  tlie  purpose  of  aiding-  this  pur- 
suit. Tliere  are  yet  several  thousand  dollars  to  be 
e.xpended  in  experimental  work  and  research  in 
entomology.  I  believe  if  bee-keepers  would  cry 
loud  enouHli  they  would  yet  get  the  mere  pittance 
of  $10(111  arimiaily.  A.J.  CoOK. 

Agricultural  College,  Mich.,  July  16. 

We  are  thoroughly  in  accord  with  Prof. 
Cook's  belief,  that,  if  bee-keepers  will  cry  loud 
enough,  they  will  yet  get  the  mere  pittance  of 
ilOOO  annually.  Mr.  Larrabee  is  and  has  been 
a  successful   bee-keeper;    and    since    h(^    com- 


menced experimental  work  at  the  college,  for 
the  government,  he  has  rendered  most  evccUent 
service.  It  is  indeed  a  grave  misfortune.  The 
bee-keepers  of  our  land,  unlike  those  of  any 
other  nation,  have  received  little  governmental 
aid.  and  to  have  this  little  cut  ofT  just  when 
grand  work  was  being  and  about  to  be  done,  is 
a  little  hard  on  our  industi-y.  We  hope  every 
one  of  our  subscribers  will  write  at  once  to 
Prof.  C.  V.  Riley,  and  Jeremiah  M.  Rusk. Sec.  of 
Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C,  asking  for  the 
continuance  of  Mr.  John  H.  Larrabee  as  api- 
cultural  experimenter,  and  that  the  appropria- 
tion of  at  least  i'lOOO  be  again  granted  for  the 
support  and  maintenance  of  an  apicultural  sta- 
tion. The  Agricultural  College  of  Michigan  is 
eminently  the  place  for  such  a  station;  and  we 
hope  that  the  authorities  at  Washington  will 
reconsider  the  matter. 


THE  HONEY  CROP  FOR   1893;   WHERE    THEY   DID 
AND   didn't   GET  THE   HONEY. 

In  response  to  our  request  on  page  .567.  ask- 
ing bee-keepers  all  over  the  land  to  send  us  a 
postal  card  answering  our  questions  as  to  what 
the  season  had  been,  and  what  the  average 
colony  was  up  to  date,  quite  a  number  have  an- 
swered. The  replies  show  thai  it  is  a  little 
early  yet  to  show  what  the  average  per  colony 
will  be  for  the  season.  By  collating  all  the 
answers  by  States,  and  condensing  the  replies 
of  all,  we  are  enabled  to  give  you  the  following 
by  States,  up  to  date: 


M:s-ouri— poor  to  fair. 
New  Hampshire— poor. 
New  Jerse.v— poor. 
New  York — poor  to  fair. 
North  Carolina 


poor,  pros- 
pects good. 
Ohio — poor  to  very  good. 
Pennsylvania — fair  to  good. 
Tennessee— very  poor. 
Vermont — poor  to  fair. 
Virginia— medium. 
West  Virginia— fair. 
Wisconsin— very  poor  to  good. 


Alabama — fair. 
A  rkansas— f  air. 
California- very  poor. 
Colorado— average. 
Delaware— very  poor. 
Illinois— fair  to  good. 
Iowa— very  good. 
Michigan— good. 
Kansas— good. 
Kentucky— poor. 
Maine— average. 
Maryland — pool'. 
Minnesota— prospects  good. 
Mississippi— very  poor.  I 

On  the  whole  the  showing  is  no  worse  than 
last  season,  and  certainly  promises  to  be  a  little 
better.  Bee  -  keepers  this  season  have  been 
thrown  out  of  all  their  calculations.  The 
season  has  been  fully  a  month  later  than  usual, 
and  clover  has  followed  basswood  in  many 
localities.  The  probabilities  are,  so  far  as  we 
can  ascertain  from  reports,  that  clover  will  be 
yielding  nectar  for  a  considerable  period  this 
year.  In  our  locality  we  have  had  a  steady 
flow  from  basswood  for  just  about  a  month, 
and  this  is  indeed  remarkable.  It  is  also  evi- 
dent that  bees  are  getting  considerable  honey 
from  white  clover;  and  sweet  clover  never 
yielded  more  honey  than  this  year;  in  fact,  we 
have  had  the  best  and  heaviest  honey- flow  in 
many  years.  Some  of  our  hives  have  five 
stories,  all  full  of  bei  s,  honey,  and  brood.  We 
have  been  contemplating  putting  on  the  sixth 
story,  and  hope  to  be  able  to  do  so  yet.  These 
five-story  colonies  were  all  run  for  extracted 
honey,  and  the  bees  were  made  to  draw  out 
frames  of  foundation  in  every  case.  If  we  had 
given  them  empty  combs  perhaps  we  should 
have  been  more  astonished  than  ever  at  the 
amount  of  honi'y.  It  has  been  over  ten  years 
since  we  were  able  to  put  on  more  than  the 
second  story  to  any  colony. 


IS    IT  A  new  BEE-DISEASE?    SOMETHING    THAT 

resembi.es  foui,  brood:  its  cause  and 

cure  not  definitely  known. 
Some  two  or  three  weeks  ago  we  found  two 
or  three  colonies  among  our  Shane-yard  bees, 
the  brood  of  which  bore  some  resemblance  to 
foul  brood.  The  cells  were  perforated,  a  little 
sunken,  and  the  larvii?  dead,  and  having  a  cof- 
fee color.    But  it  lacked  two  of  the  decisive 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


5!C) 


symptoms  of  tlir  leal  virulent  distuisc;  viz..  the 
usual  ropiiifss  ami  llii'  t'haracloristii"  odoi' as 
fiom  a  rahiiu'l-maUt'i's  jihu'-pol.  Soinr  i\\  o  or 
llifi't'  yi'afs  affo  \m'  foiiiul  in  ouf  basswttod  api- 
ai'v  Itrood  siniilaily  atlVi'ti'd.  The  laf\  a*  weic 
dead,  and  of  a  lirown  colof.  Al  tlic  lime,  we 
oalltd  it  fliUUd  brood.  It  was  not  t'ontajrions, 
and  tinaily  it  went  away  of  itself,  witiiont 
tieatnn'iit.  As  this  discasinl  brood  wliieh  we 
found  in  our  own  yard  rcfently  oi-ciirrcd  during 
our  liotti'st  wcatiii'r.  we  (.-onld  liaidly  call  it 
chilled  brood,  altliongli  we  wire  thoroughly 
satisfied  that  it  was  not  a  oast^  of  foul  brood. 
In  the  colony  the  wor^^t  alTectod,  the  queen 
died.  A  new  cell  was  given  them,  and  in  due 
time  another  laying  queen  was  in  the  hive. 
Her  brood  was  all  healthy,  and  every  thing 
seemed  to  be  all  right.  The  dis(>ase.  oi-  what- 
ever yt)u  may  call  it.  subse(|uently  disajjpeared 
in  the  otluM-  two  colonies.  Along  about  this 
lime  a  bee-keeper  who  lived  some  ten  or  twelve 
miles  away  from  here  had  found  some  dead 
lirood  that  tallied  with  the  description  above. 
He  brought  us  a  small  sample,  and  asked  if  we 
called  it  foul  brood.  We  stated  what  we  had 
found  in  our  own  yard,  and  added  that  we  did 
not  think  it  was  aiiy  thing  of  which  he  iieeded 
to  be  afraid.  We  suggested  that  probably  the 
trouble  might  be  traceable  to  the  queen.  He 
had  already  removed  her  and  introduced  an- 
other. We  desired  him  to  keep  us  thoroughly 
posted,  and  to-day  we  received  a  letter  which 
will  explain  itself." 

Mr.  K.  R.  R<>(it:—l  liave  not  written  to  you  before 
concerning  tlie  l)ees  wliich  weic  aft'i'cted  with  some- 
tliingr  wliicli  I  was  afraid  might  jjiove  to  be  foul 
tn-<_iod,  because  I  wished  to  write  sometliing'  definite. 
Number  38  was  tlie  worst  affected.  Tiie  queen  died, 
and  cells  were  capped,  but  failed  to  hatcli.  I  g-ave 
Them  a  youne;  queen,  but  slie  was  not  received,  and 
was  then  united  witli  anotlier  colony,  and  now  is 
all  rig-ht.  One-tliird  of  tlie  brood  in  every  fi'ame 
of  No.  38  at  tlie  time  the  old  queen  died  failed  to 
hatch.  No.  88  was  g-iven  a  new  queen,  and  is  all 
riRlit  to-day,  as  is  also  No.  109.  I  am  very  g-Iad  that 
your  opinion  proved  to  be  correct  in  regard  to  its  not 
being  foul  brood.  I  should  hardly  think  that  it  was 
starved  brood  with  plentj'  of  honey  in  the  hives; 
and  it  was  not  chilled  brood. 

Bees  have  been  storing  h(mej'  well  for  the  past 
week,  and  a  g'ood  many  are  now  working  on  the 
second  tier  of  sections,  but  1  suppose  basswood  will 
soon  be  over.  U.  P.  Prince. 

Litchfield,  O.,  July  13. 

From  the  above  it  would  look  as  if  there  were 
an  ovarian  trouble  with  the  queen:  that  the 
eggs,  at  the  time  they  were  deposited  in  the 
cells,  were  disea.sed:  and  that  the  disease,  after 
the  larva?  began  to  grow,  developed  and  finally 
killed  the  grub  just  before  or  just  after  the  cell 
was  capped  over. 

Perhaps  some  of  our  readers  may  think  we 
were  deceived,  and  that  what  appeared  in  Mr. 
Prince's  yard,  and  also  our  own,  was  real  foul 
brood.  We  have  seen  that  disease  too  much  to 
be  deceived.  It  never  disappears  of  itself  — 
that  is,  when  half  of  the  brood  is  dead  in  the 
comb.  With  us,  changing  the  queen  never  had 
any  effect. 

Perhaps  we  might  also  state,  that  we  have 
had  ri'ports  of  a  similar  malady  in  various  parts 
of  the  United  States.  The  strange  part  of  it  is. 
that  it  occurred  just  before  the  honey-flow,  and 
it  is  barely  possible  that  the  larva;  had  been 
starved:  but  this,  you  say.  does  not  seem  so 
plausible  >*  hen  we"  consider  that  the  disease 
went  off  when  the  queens  were  changed:  but, 
mark  you.  the  change  of  queens  was  simul- 
taneous with  the  beginning  of  the  honey-flow. 

Now.  if  this  sort  of  disease  has  been  going  on 
year  after  year  in  different  apiaries,  it  is  quite 
probable  that  it  has  been  mistaken  for  foul 
brood:  and  hence  experimenters  trying  salt, 
carbolic  acid,  and  a  great  many  other  things. 


concludt^  that  their  nostrum  cured  the  disease, 
and  of  course  rush  into  print  heralding  their  (?) 
discovery:  when  the  fact  was,  if  not  advanced 
toofar.it  would  Have  gone  otl'  of  itself.  Tliis 
is  an  exceedingly  important  matter,  and  it  Ix;- 
hooves  us  to  be  sure  we  have  foul  brood  before 
we  begin  the  ex|jensive  proc<>ss  of  total  extermi- 
nation. Perhaps  Fiof.  I'ook  can  throw  some 
light  upon  the  cause  and  cure. 


CONTROL  YOUR  SWARMS! 

N.  D.  WEST?     SPIRAL     WIRE     QUEEN     CELL     PRO 
TECTCRS    AND    CAGES. 

N.  D.  Wesi's  Spiral  Wire 
Queen-Cell  Protectors  wil' 
do  It,  and  you  can  HE- 
OUEENyourapiarj'dui-iiig" 
tne  swai'niiiig  season.  I'ro- 
nounced  the  Best  by  sucli 
men  as  Capt.  J.  E  Heth- 
ERiNGTON,  Cherry  Vallev, 
N.  Y.;  P.H.  ELWOOD.Stark- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  and  others. 
Cell-Protectors,  $3.00  per 
too.  or  12  for  Wic.  by  mail.  Cages,  $.5.00  iipi-  KiO,  or  12 
for  $1.00,  by  mail.  Samples  of  both,  with  circular 
explaining,  2.")  cts.  The  cages  are  used  for  hatching 
queens  in  any  hive,  and  sire  tlie  Best  Bee-Escape  in 
use.    Address 

N.  D.  WEST,  Middleburgh,  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y. 


l^'In  responding-  to  this  atlveiLi^eiM 


mention  GLEANINGS. 


5-Banded  Queens 

100  Now  Ready  for  Sliipiiieiit  of  untested  at 
$1.00  each.  This  breed  build  and  cap  their  sections 
as  white  as  snow.  They  are  the  finest  breeil  in  the 
world  for  beauty  and  business  and  gentleness. 
Mated  from  hand-picked  drones,  and  bred  on  Hau- 
lon's  Island,  Toronto.  For  Ireeders  and  tested, 
prices  on  apiJlication. 

T.  C.  Bee-Hive  Supply  &  Mf&.  Co., 
Lock  Bos  IH.  Tilbury  Center,  Ont.,  Can. 

ar-fii  responding  to  tliis  ailvtitif-einent  mention  (ii.KANiNdS. 

ITALIAN  BEES  uTtHEIR  PURITY. 

Tested  daughters  of  inqxirted  (lueens,  of  this 
season's  rearing,  mated  lo  drones  from  imported 
and  daughters  of  imported  queens  only,  $1.2.5  each; 
6  for  $7.U0;  $13.50  for  12.  Large  and  prolific.  Safe 
arrival  guaranteed.  CLEVELAND  BROS., 

15-16d  Decatur,  Newton  Co.,  Miss. 

H?"ln  responflinir  to  this  .nilv."  ■  i  ••'•mh'   iii.Mifinn  r;i.KA,viNO.><. 

GREAT  SALE! 

Until  April  1st  I  will  sell   bee-sup|)lies   for  nearly 
one-third  otT  my  former  list.    Send  for  my  new  red- 
mark  price  list,  out,  Aug.  1.  free. 
1.5tfdb  IV.  D.  SOPER,  Jackson,  Mich. 

l^"In  resDondinir  to  tills  a<lvuiti'<enieiit  mention  Gleanings. 

TT^ANTED.— Comb  and  extracted  honey;  name 
''"    .source  from  which   your  honey  is  gathered, 
style  of  package,  and  price. 

H.  G.  Ca.mi',  Winona.  Ohio. 


G-olden  Honey  Queens. 

Queens  in  August,  untested,  7.5c;  six 
for  ?3.6J;  tested,  $1.25;  select  tested, 
fJ.OO;  extra  select,  $4  (W;  the  verv  best, 
$7.00:  imported.  $4  IKI.  1.5tfdb 

LEmnTGEB  Bbos.,  Ft.  Jennings,  Ohio. 


i^\i 


le  to  this  jiiU 


^'OR  SAIjE.— An  apiary  of  65  colonies  of  Italian 
^  bees  in  L.  and  S.  liives,  cheiip,  with  fixtures  and 
eveiything  needed  in  an  aplarN'.  with  honey  crop  If 
bought  Soon.     For  p;irticul;iis  address 

LOUIS  WEKNEK.  Edwardsville,  111. 
LF^ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkaningj. 


596 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


IF  YOU  WANT  BEES 

That  will  just  "roll"  in  the  honey,  try  Moore's 
Strain  of  Italians,  the  result  of  13  years'  careful 
breeding-.  Reduced  prices:  Warranto' 1  queens,  80c 
each;  3  for  $3.00.  Stroni?  3-frame  nucleus,  with 
warranted  queen,  $3..50.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion g-uaranteed.  Those  who  have  never  dealt  with 
me  I  refer  to  A.  I.  Root,  who  has  purchased  of  me, 
during-  past  12  years,  583  queens.  Circulars  free. 
J.  P.  MOORE,  Morgan,  Pendleton,  Co.,  Ky. 
ll-13d        Money-order  oflQce,  Falmouth,  Ky. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

Job 

HYBRID     QUEENS, 

A  few  of  these  left  that  are  flrst-class  at 

50  CTS.  EACH,  OR  3  FOR  SI. 

•'More  than  mtisficd;  delighted,  hcautiful !  " 

Another  says : 

"  Well,  wait  until  you  see  them  wurk.  When  the 
Jioncij  eomes  vilinu  inilll  your  neiyhhiirs  and  ive  icill 
aU  lanijh  together  at  bees  that  are  valuable  only  because 
of  their  color." 

lean  also  supply  a  few  fine  young  queens  from 
pure  Albino  mother,  at  $1.00  each. 

Address  W.   B.  WEED, 

Hartford.  Wash.  Co..  N.  Y. 

lS°ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleandjos., 


BEE-HIVES,   SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  the  best  goods  and  sell  them  clieap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  tlie  best  on  the  marliet. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  g-oods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world. 

Our  g-oods  ;ire  known  as  tlie  best  throug-hout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  f  i-ee,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS  &  CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 


iS'ln  respuiiaiii^'  t' 


(4lk.\xijjgs 


VIOi^lNS 


GUITARS 


Murray  e<HEiss.^':'o'^;|'^° 


Mi^NDOLiN'S 


ty  In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glea.vings^ 


JUST   OUT! 

B7  W.  I.  CHAMBSELAIN,  A.  M.,  LL.  D., 

Formerly  Secretary  of  the  Ohio  State  Board  of  .\griculture, 
and  late  President  of  the  Iowa  State  Agricultural  Col- 
lege.   At  present  .Associate  Editor  of  the 
Ohio  Farmer. 

This  is  a  valuable  companion  to  our  other  rural 
books.  It  embraces  the  experience  of  forty  years 
of  one  of  our  foremost  practical  agriculturists,  who 
has  laid  with  his  own  hands  over  16  miles  of  tile. 

Price  35c ;  by  mail,  40e. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  MEDINA,   OHIO. 


Four-Color   Label  for  Only 
Cts.  Per  Thousand. 


75 


Just  think  of  it!  we  can  furnish  you  a  very  neat 
four-color  label,  with  your  name  and  address,  with 
the  choice  of  having  either  "  comb  "  or  "  extracted  " 
before  the  word  "honey,"  for  only  76  ots.  per  thou- 
sand; 50  cts.  per  500,  or  30  cts.  for  250,  postpaid.  The 
size  of  the  label  is  3^x1  inch— just  right  to  go  round 
the  neck  of  a  bottle,  to  put  on  a  section,  or  to  adorn 
the  front  of  a  honey-tumbler.  Send  for  our  special 
label  catalogue  for  samples  of  this  and  many  otlier 
pretty  designs  in  label  work. 

A.  I.  BOOT,  Medina,  O. 


Our   Golden    and   Lenther   Coi- 

ared    Italian     Queens. 

Bred  for  Btisiness. 

Tested  queens,  $1.10;    untested,  TOc;  3 
for  $3.00.    Our  stock  cjnsists  of  3JU  col- 
onies devoted  to  Ijees  and  queens   for 
the  trade.    Orders  filled  by  return 
mall.  Send  for  catalog  of  sup]ilies,  etc. 
JNO.  NEBEL.  &  SON,  Higli  Hill,  Mo. 
P.  S.— A.  J.  Fields,  of  Wheaton, Ind.,  writes:  "The 
queen  and  bees  received  of  you  last  spring  made 
147  lbs.  of  comb  honey,  and  took  first  premium  at 
three  fairs."  8tfdb 

J^rin  responding  to  tills  advertisement  mention  Gleani.nh« 

SECTIONS. 

$2.5U  to  $3.50  per  M.    Bee-tf  ives  and  Fix- 
tures clieap.  NOVELTY    CO., 

6tfdb  Rock  Falls,    llinois. 

t^"ln  respondini.' to  t!ii>  :ulv,-iti      ntjii  mention  Gleanlnos 


WANTED— LADY  OR  GENT  IN  EACH 
county  to  distribute  and  collect  for  Brabant's 
ladies' toilet  cases;  338  articles,  worth  $1;  will  send 
sample  and  full  particulars  by  mail  for  35c  in 
stamps;  returnable  if  not  satisfactor.v;  territory 
free;  $3  to  $5  per  day  easily  made.  Address  J.  C. 
Fbisbee,  general  agent,  172  Maple  St.,  Denver.  Col. 
Reference,  A.  I.  Root,  Medina,  O.  8-31db 


BUSHEL-BOXES. 


ALL-SLATTED  BUSHEL  BOXES. 

The  above  cut  shows  our  new-style  all-shitted 
bushel  box.  We  have  two  other  styles;  one  has 
slatted  bottom  and  sides  with  one  solid  hoard  for 
each  end,  called  the  slatted  bushel  box.  The  other 
has  solid  ends  and  close  bottom  and  sides  and  is 
bound  with  galvanized  iron  and  called  the  galvaniz- 
ed bnundbox.  These  boxes  were  devised  by  T.  B. 
Terry  for  handling  potatoes,  for  which  purpose 
nothing  could  be  handier.  The  potatoep  are  picked 
up  into  the  boxes  in  the  field  and  left  in  them  till 
sold.  Other  crops,  such  as  cucumbers,  tomatoes, 
and  apples  are  heing  handled  in  these  same  boxes. 
They  are  of  such  a  size  that  two  go  crosswise  in  an 
ordinary  wagon  box.  Outside  measure  is  14^x16% 
xl3i4  deep,  and  they  hold  a  bushel  of  potatoes  level 
full  so  they  can  be  piled  one  upon  another.  The 
above  cut  shows  two  all-skitted  bores  nailed  up,  and 
a  bundle  of  fifteen  along  side;  13  of  the  15  are  in  the 
flat  packfd  inside  the  other  two.  and  nails  of  the 
proper  kinds  are  included.  Ttie  slatted  and  galvan- 
ized J)ound  boxes  are  put  up  in  the  same  way,  only 
there  are  on'y  13  in  a  package  instead  of  15.  Each 
package  weighs  about  100  lbs. 

PRICE   LIST. 

All-slatted  bushel  box  per  crate  of  15 S1.50 

Slatted  '    "   13 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,  20,  and  25  cents, 
respectively.  The  early  order  discount  will  not  ap- 
ply to  those  boxes,  but  above  prices  are  net  all  the 
year. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  C 


1S93 


(;Li;.\xiN(is  IX  inoK  rm/niRK. 


Bishop's  Oscillating  Road-Wagon,  pafd  March  24, 1891. 


Most    Durable  and   Easiest 

Riding  Wagon  on  the 

Market. 

An  oscillating  tifili  whi'i  1  jicr- 
niils  llu'  whool;:  Id  i);iss  over  an 
obstruction  l.'tinoncs  high  wiih- 
ont  ohanginsr  the  lovcl  o*"  the 
bodv. 


Write  for  calalofiuo. 


Uody     hangs    .',    inches    lower 
liian  on  anv  olhrc  ^I'lir. 

Prices,  $40,  $45,  &  $50. 

With  white   chapel    body  and 
lop.  .•?ln  and  S:2()  exM'a. 

A.  B.  BISHOP, 

89  Euclid  Ave., 

Cleveland,  0. 


Dovetailed  Hives,   Simplicity  Hives, 

SE"Cr/OA/S,  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     Or 

BEE'  KEEPERS'     SUPPL/ES. 

60-PAGE     CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 

t?'"!!!  resi«>ii.|ri;-  To  this  uilv.-r  t  i>i'iii.-iii  ui.-t.linri  Or.KAMMis. 

Foundation  Reduced  3  cts.  Per  Pound. 

SECTIONS  I  sold  lit  4^3.(10  now  selling- at  $2.61).     Bingiiam  Sinokeis  ;it  cost.      Send    for    Free   Price    l.ist   of 

every  ihiiiu  needed  in  ti,eapi;ir,v.  fiifdb  IV».  H.  HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


JEPS^IE  ATCHLEY 

Will  send  you  eitlier  three  oi  five  banded  Italian 
queens  in  .lune,  July,  and  August,  75c  each;  $4.30 
for  K,  or  §8.0.i  per  doz.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion gnaranteed. 

ttfdl)  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

75c.    Golden  Queens  by  Return  Mail.    75c. 

My  Golden  Italians  aix-  good  workers,  and  gentle. 
Queens  are  carefulh' bied  from  best  stock.  Three 
queens,  12.00;  six  for  *3.50;  dozen.  S6.00.  Safe  arriv- 
al and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  Money-order  office, 
Daytona,  Fla.  jr4»HIN  B.  <\\SE:. 

lltfdb  Port  Orange,  V..1.  €...,  Fl-i. 


HOW  TO  MAKE 

RUBBER     STAMPS 

AND    MONEY. 

Fsetlie  Latest  Iininovt'd  Process aii()  ,a 
New  York  Vulcanizer.  Circulars 
f)..-.  Siiul  this  ailvfitisiiiu'iit,  with  l» 
(■(■rii-,  .'irid  you  will  ni-.ivi-  a  Pep  and 
I'.Mc  il  Stall!  1 1  With  VI  mr  name,  postpaid. 

UMMON   MF«;.  CO.,  ! 

338  ISrimdwuj,  >'c\v  York.  I 


Queens  by  Return  Mail. 

Reared  in  tlie  natural  way  from  swarmine  ceils. 
Just  lf)ok  at  tlie  following  very  low  prices,  and  order 
at  once. 

Tested,  each.  $1..50;  warranted  purel.v  mated,  each, 
80c;  warranted  purely'  mated,  X  doz.,  $4.50;  warrant- 
ed purely  mated,  per  doz.,  $s.OO. 

All  the  above  are  reared  in  fidl  stocks  from  my 
old  reliable  bonev-gatberinj.'-  strains.     Addi-ess 

WM    W.  GARY.  Colerain,  Mass. 

Send  for  4i>-page  catalogue.     Full  lineol  iiee-keep- 
ei-s'  Supplies  atid  Bees  at  prices  way  down.       13tfdb 
Plea.ie  mention  this  paper. 

ELMER  HUTCHINSON 

Can   furnish   untested  5-banded  Italian  queens  for 
11.00  eacli;  6  for  $5.00.    Tested  queens,  |1.50  each; 
breeding  queens,  f4.00  each. 
13tfdb  T«.ss«/-,  TtiHcalu  Co.,  Allah. 


VANDERVORT 
COMB -FOUNDATION  MILLS. 

Send  for  sauiiiles  and  reduced  iirice  list. 
itfd  JNO.  VANDERVORT,  Laceyvilie,  Pa. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

Barnes'  Foot-Power  Machinery. 

Read  what  ,f.  1.  Parent,  of 
Chahlton,  N.  Y.,  says— "We 
cut  with  one  of  your  Combined 
Machines  last  winter  .50  chaff 
hives  with  7-ineh  cap,  100  honey- 
racks.  5(0  tnoad  frsimes.  2.000 
honey-btjxcs,  and  a  great  deal  of 
other  work.  This  winter  w  e 
liave  doubled  the  amount  of  bee- 
hives, etc.,  to  make,  and  we  ex- 
pect t(j  do  it  all  with  this  saw. 
It  will  do  all  you  say  it  will." 
Catalogue  and  Price  List  free.  Address  W.  F.  & 
JOHN  BARNES,  545  Ruby  St.,  Rockford,  III. 

When  more  convenient,  orders  for  Barnes'  Foot- 
Power  Machinerv  may  be  .sent  to  me.    A.  I.  Root. 
2:jtfd 

Honey  ^  E:>^tPactotT^. 

Squafe  Glass  Honey-Jai<s, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee-hives. 
Honey-Seetlons,  &e.,  &e. 

Pepfeetion  Cold-Blast  Smokeps. 

APPLY  TO  ■^•v.^>..^^^v..^N^v.^-v^ 

CHflS.  p.  JVIUTH  &  SOfl,  CineitinatI,  O. 

Send  lO-ct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Beekeepers." 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

Five-banded     Golden 
Italians  that  will  give 
satisfaction.    Queens 
by  return   mail,  *1  each ;  G  for  $5;  for   full   particu- 
lars .send  for  circular.  13tfdb 
€HAS.  U.  nUVALl.,  Speucerville,  mA. 
ty^n  responriintj  to  thisadveitir-enient  mention  Gleani2"G8. 


Get  the  Best ! 


598 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  1. 


A  Colorado  Bee- Ranch 
and  Fruit-Farm  for  Sale 
at  a  Bargain. 

I  hereby  offer  for  sale  my  ranch  of  150  acres,  in- 
cluding- 130  stands  of  bees  in  70  10-fiame  Simplicity 
and  50  Dovetailed  8-f  rame  hives.  Simplicity  size,  all 
transferable;  also  extractor,  combs,  supers,  and 
everv  thing-  needed  for  comb  honey.  Eighty  acres 
are  in  alfalfa  and  40  in  grain  ;  full  water-right; 
plenty  of  water ;  house  of  seven  rooms ;  ice-house, 
cellar,  etc.  I  will  sell  all  in  one  piece  or  in  tracts. 
I  have  apple  and  peach  trees  in  bearing.  The  land 
Is  all  suitable  lor  fruit,  being  situated  in  the  fruit- 
belt;  alfalfa  all  around.  My  market  is  all  within 
100  miles.  The  land  is  IK  miles  south  of  Delta. 
Full  particulars  will  be  furnished  on  application. 

MRS.  A.  A.  HODCDON, 
•  Delta,  Col. 

rOOiTHERE! 

Sample  tive-banded  Italian  bees 
free  in  July.  Prices  of  untested 
queens:  One  queen  in  July,  ^1.00; 
six,  65.00:  August  and  September, 
75c:  six.  ?4.00.    Address 

J. F.MICHAEL, German,  Darke  Co,  0. 

t^In  responding  to  this  aavertisement  mention  ijLKANiNGa 

ifALIAIM    QUEENS. 


mother,  60c  eiich. 
15d 


Untested    aueens 
from      imported 
MRS.  A.  F.  PROPEK. 

Portland,  Jay  Co.,  Iiid. 


HOW  DOES  THIS  STRIKE  YOU? 

One    Piiiiir.  One    Italian    and    one    Golden 
Carnle^lan  queen;  all  three  queens  and  Ameri- 
can Api4-iil»U''i»l  one  year  for  $;}.0;j.  l.>16d 
HENKV  ALiLiKV,  W.-iiSiani,  iTIas*. 

larinresiioM.nn.  [Uii  r.i.K.^KiNGa. 

FOR   SALE. 

Tested  Italian  (iiiei-n.  60c;  untested  Ital- 
ian qneen.  .^ic.  Ilalian  bees,  in  lO-frame 
hive,  $4.1,0.    Address  15-16-17d 

Otto  Kleinow,  150  Military  Ave.,  Detroit,  Mich. 

jfALIArTQUEENS  fi^-)iKS^TrS^ 

August,  and  Se)3tember;  untested,  75c  each;  $6  per 
doz.    Tested.  Sl.'iO  each  ;  $10  per  doz. 

PERCY  COVINGTON,  Appleton,  Cecil  Co.,  Md. 

reared    from 


UNTESTED   I'l'ALIAN    . 
imported   mothers,  ready   to   mail  at    60';  6  or 


queens 
to   ma 
more,  50c  each.   W.  A.  Compton,  Lynnville,  Tenn. 

CAI  I    Ea-gs  and  Plants.  Fowls.  Poultry-books  and 
rHLL    Pav)ers;  tin'^lv  ill.  circular  free.    Address 
'  GEEK  BROS.,  St    Marys.  Mo.. 

Utfdb  Or,        H.  B.  GEER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 


%\nd  and  iprid  Oueens  For  Sale. 


I  have  alotof  hybiid-Italian  queens  for  .sale  at  25c 
each.     Geo.  A.  Wiuc.ht,  Glenwood,  Susq.  Co.,  Pa. 

I  liave  30  mismated  Italian  (jueens,  all  young,  and 
No.  1,  3ijc  each;  3  for  itdc;  S  l)lacks,  2,le  ea<-h;  3  for 
50c.  James  M.  Gordon,  Belmont,  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio. 


Italian  liybrid  queens  by  return  mail,  while  they 
last,  at  30c  each.    Postage-stamps  taken. 
IStfdb      N.  A.  Knapp,  Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 

Six  mismated  Italian  queens  for  sale;  3  hybrids, 
3  blacks;  3  for  $1.00. 

L.  Werner,  Edwardsville,  Illinois. 


HAYES'  IITIPROVED 


FOUNDATION    FASTENER. 

FASTENS  Full  Sheets  or  Starters.— Instruc- 
tions sent  out  with  e^try  machine.  Satisfaction 
guaranteed.  Price,  without  lamp,  $1.75:  with  lamp, 
$2.00.  Manufactured  by  permission.  See  illustra- 
tion in  Gleanings  for  April  1st,  1891,  page  268. 
12d  E .  J.  WEAKLY,  Washington,  Kan. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 

Notices  will  be  inserted  under  this  head  at  one  half  onr  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-flde  ex- 
changes. Exchanges  for  cash  or  for  price  lists,  or  notices  of- 
fering arti'-les  for  sale,  can  not  be  inserted  under  this  head. 
For  such  our  regular  rates  of  20  cts.  a  line  will  be  charged,  and 
they  ^vill  be  put  with  the  regular  advertisements.  We  can  not 
be  responsible  for  dissatisfaction  arising  from  these  "swaps.' 


WANTED.— To  exchange  25    colonies    of    Italian 
bees,  in   chiitf  hives,  or  1   Kelley  Duplex  corn- 
grinder.   No.  3,  been  used  only  one  season,   for  a 
Safety  bicycle,  30-in.  wheel,  must  be  good  as  new. 
Geo.  Beagle,  Thornville,  Perry  Co.,  O. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  for  honey  or  offers,  30 
square  60-lb.  honey  cans,  boxed,  used  but  once, 
at  30c;  loo  sawdust-filled  wood  "dummies,"  for  1 
and  2  L.  combs,  at  3c. 

H.  D.  BURRELL,  Bangor,  Van  Buren  Co.,  Mich. 

/ANTED.— Bees  on  L.  frames.    State  paiticulars 
and  price  to    J.  Singleton,  Eddy,  New  Mexico. 


W 


I V  ANTED. — To  exchange  honey  or  beeswax  for 
VV  good  2d-hand  10-inch  foundation-mill.  Write 
me.      H.  S.  BuRTCH,  Franklin,  St.  Marys  Par.,  La. 

Ill ■  ANTED.— Several  thousand   pounds  good  comb 
VV      and  extracted  honey;  name  kind.    Send  sam- 
ple and  quote  prices  at  once.    J.  E.  Henderson', 
15d  Roneys  Point,  Ohio  Co  ,  W.  Va. 

\V ANTED.    To  excliange  Scotch  Collie  pups  for 
VV      any  thing  useful  on  farm  or  in  iiee-yard. 
15tfdb  N.  A.  Knapp,  Rochester,  Lorain  C  >.,  O. 

V\  ANTED —To  exchange  yellow  Italian  queens, 
>'  and  s!  rawbci-iy-plants  cheap.  Bubach,  Jessie, 
Eureka,  Havcrlancls,  VVaitleld,  Crescent,  Lady  Rusk, 
for  |joulii-y,  or  offers.  lottdb 

Mrs.  Oliver  Cole,  Sherburne,  Chen.  Co.,  N.  Y. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  one  high-grade  Safety 
bicycle;  one  49-inch  Columbia  light  roadster 
bicycle;  one  Odell  typewriter;  tested  Italian  queens, 
for' wax,  honey,  or  offers.  J.  A.  Green, 

13tfdb  Dayton,  111. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  pure  Italian  queens,  3  or 
5  banded.    Write  what  you  have  to  exchange. 
F.  C.  Morrow,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 

\17  ANTED.— Offers  on  a  good  working,  f  ull-bk)0ded, 
VV    English  setter  bitch.    Cost  $2.5.    Would  like  to 
have  a  printing  or  photographic  outfit. 
1.5d  W.  M.  Bolton,  McComb,  Ohio. 

HAVING  come  into  possession  of  3  sets  Interna- 
tional Cyclopedia,    different  bindings,  15  vols, 
each,  I  will  exchange  at  half   price  tor  money  or 
wax.      A.  H.  Van  Doben,  Mons,  Bedford  Co..  Va. 
14-15d 

WANTED.— To  exchange  25  new  "Hunt"  hives 
(Chaff),  about  one  half  nailed  together,  balance 
in  Hat;  2.50goi)d  straight  brood  or  extracting  combs, 
built  from  full  sheets  of  foundation;  100  Hoffman 
frames,  wired,  and  a  quantity  of  other  frames;  also 
a  honey-extractor,  used  but  one  season,  and  in  first- 
class  condition;  also  10  Langstroth  Portico  hives, 
single  wall,  in  good  condition,  for  Safety  wheel,  or 
offers.  Reasons  for  selling  hives,  etc.,  have  sold  all 
my  bees.  Geo.  N.  Cornell, 

Lock  Bo.x  6.  Northville,  Mich. 

WANTED.— To  rent  or  on   shares,  an  apiary  of 
about  200  colonies   of    bees.    Gulf   States,  or 


California. 


English  B.  Mann,  New  Iberia,  La. 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


603 


80  LBS.  PER  COLONY 

is  tlu' ri'ford  of  tlirci'  of  our 
>rol(U>n  (lUoi'Ms,  witli  several 
ollicis  not  far  il)eliiii(l,  while 
till'  best  record  of  any  otlier 
rai-e  is  i'2  lbs.  from  ;i-'bainled 
bet-s. 

We  are  makln^r  a  specialty 
of  tliese  beauties  for  busi- 
ness, and  an-  so  sure  tliat 
tluy  will  please  you  that  we 
jruaranlee  tlieni  to  pive 

ENTIRE  SATISFACTION, 

or  wr  will  nluni  yniii'  money. 

Could  you  ask  more? 
These  bees  are  not  banded, 
but  are  all  >tllciwon  the  first    four   scales,  and   the 
fifth  i>  pa  ft  yellow  with  an  oceasion- 
albeewiiha    little   yellow  on   the 
sixtli  scale.     'I'he  above   honey  rec 
ord  is  of  white  clover  in  1-lb.  sec'>. 
•worth  flii  in  our  market  today.     N" 
drones  near  us  but    tlie  yellowest. 
One  warranted <iueeM,$l;  six  for  i*."). 
Reference:     A.  J.  Itoot. 

S.  F.  &  I.  TRECO, 

l.vi8tlb  Swedona,  III.  effect. 

tyin  responding  to  this  advelt^^eInent  mention  Glkanings. 


Sect 


•  at  $3  per    fOOO.    These  are 

I  oris  perfectly  smootli,  and  flrst-cla.ss. 
■  \^ii«#  Brood  foundation  45  cts.  per  lb. 
All  supplies  equally  low.  Goods  shipped  direct 
from  New  York  city."  l-18dt. 

I.  J.  STRINCHANI, 

92  Barclay  St.,  N.  Y. 

t?"ln  responding  to  this  adrertisement  mention  Qleandjos. 


CTAIilAN    QI'EEISS.    Tested,   $1.25.    Untested, 
75c.  Mks.  a.  M.  Kneeland,     IStfdb 

P.  O.  Box  77.    Mulberry  Grove,  Bond  Co.,  111. 


UNTESTED  ITALIAX^  QUEEIS'S. 

From  one  of  Doolittle's  best  breeders,  or  im- 
ported stock,  .50c:  i4  doz.,  $2.75.    Safe  arrival 
and      satisfaction     gruarant^ed.        Reference, 
Cliase  Matz,  Wells-Fargo  Express  agent. 
H.  G.  QuiRiN,  Bellevue,  Huron  Co.,  O. 


Italian  Bees  and  Queens  For  Sale. 

Unt-ested  queens,  $1.00;  tested,  $1.50.  Bees,  $1.00 
per  lb.  Colony,  $5.00.  Also  barred  Plymouth  Rock 
eg-gs  for  sitting,  $1.00  per  13. 

7-16db     •  MRS.  A.  A.  SIMPSON,  Swarts,  Pa. 

thrill  ifsiKiiifl I ni^  to  this  advertisement  mention  Olkaninos. 


Queens  by  Return  Mail. 

Reared  in  the  natural  way  from  swarmiiifr  cells. 
Just  look  at  the  following-  very  low  prices,  and  order 
at  once. 

Tested,  eiich.  $1..tO;  warranted  purely  mated,  each, 
80c;  warranted  purely  mated,  X  doz.,  $4. .50;  warrant- 
ed purely  mated,  per  doz.,  $8.00. 

.All  the  above  are  reared  in  full  stocks  from  my 
old  reliable  honey-gatheiing  strains.    Address 

WNI.  W.  GARY.  Colerain,  Mass. 

Send  for  40-page  catalogue.    Full  line  of  Bee-keep- 
ers' Supplies  and  Bees  at  prices  way  down.       18tfdb 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

ELMER  HUTCHINSON 

Can  furnish  untested  .5-banded  Italian  queens  for 
$1.00  each;  6  for  $5.00.  Tested  queens,  *1..50  each; 
breeding  queens.  $4.00  each. 

IStfdb  I'fi.s.sar,  Tiiscoln  C<».,  AUch. 

t^ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Qleaninrs. 


TAKE   NOTICE! 

BEFORE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
for  piices  on  One-Piece  Basswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives.  Shipping-Crates,  Frames.   Fo\indation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH. 
14tfdb  New  London,  Wis. 
PIea«e  mention  this  paper. 


Best  on  Earth. 


More  than  one  hundred 
tliousand  Bing'liam  & 
Hetherington  Honey- 
knives  and  Bee-smok- 
ers in  daily  use.  Il- 
lustrations sent  free. 


Bingham  &  Hetherington, 

Abronia,  Mich.  7tfdb 


GLOBE  BEE- VEIL 

By  Mail  for  $1.00. 

I  A  center  rivet  holds  5  spring-steel 

L  (Cross-bars  like  a  globeto  support  the 
bobinetVeil.  These  button  to  a  neat 
brass  neck-band,  holding  itflrmly. 

It  is  easily  put  together;  no  trouble 
to  put  on,  or  take  off.  An  absolute 
protection  against  any  insect  that 
flies.  Will  go  over  any  ordinary 
sized  hat;  can  be  worn  in  bed  with- 
out discomfort;  fits  any  head;  does  not  obstruct  the 
vision;  folds  compactly,  and  can  be  carried  in  the 
pocket:  in  short,  it  is  invaluable  to  any  one  whom 
flies  bother,  mosquitos  bite,  or  bees  sting. 

Extra  IVetet,  50  Cente«  Kacli.  Itfdb 

TJaOMA.S  G.  I<fE\VMA.]S^  *  SO:X, 

liiO  RandoliJh  St.,  C/iicag-o,  111. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


Bee  -  Keepers'  ^  Supplies. 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladly 
furnished,  and  correspondence  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  first-class  in  quiility  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
alogue sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling,  111.    Address  l-24db 

WVl.  OTcCUNE  &  CO., 

Sterling,  Illinois. 

^?nn  responrtint' r.i  ti,r- .  .1'      • '  .  ■  im.  nilon  GLEANlNoa. 


5pnrQ     will  get  a  sample  cage  of  my  5-banded 
^AkJ.       bees;  1  untested  3-banded.  60c;  six  for 
S-3.00;  1  5-banded,  75c;    six  for  ^4. 25.    Full  colonies, 
nuclei,  and  supplies  clieap;  catalogue  free. 
12tfdb         CHAS.  H.  THIES,  Steelevllle,  111. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

CAA  Colonies  of  Bees  Devot- 
^vw  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 
TWO    MILLION     SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS. 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 

Send   for  our   24-Page    Catalogue    of  Dovetailed 

Hives,  Smokers,  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  M'F'&  CO.,  Higginsville,  Missouri. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  5tfdb 


lUFOBTED  ITALIAN  aUEEiTS.  $3.25;  UKTESTED,  50c. 
'        12tfdb  W.  C.  FKAZIER,  Atlantic, 


Iowa. 


78c.    Golden  fiueens  by  Return  Mail.    76c. 

My  Golden  Italians  are  good  workers,  and  gentle. 
Queens  are  careful! v  Ijred  from  best  stock.  Tliree 
queens,  $3.00;  six  for  $3..50;  dozen,  $6.00.  Safe  arriv- 
al and  s.atisfaction  guaranteed.  Money-order  office, 
Daytona,  Fla.  JOHN  B.  CASE, 

lltfdb  Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 

^yiii  rei-poTidint;  to  tlil.f  adveltl^em*■llt  mention  Oleaxings, 


604 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Artistic  Studie:^ ' 

Bees  Doctoring  each  Other.l 

Bees  Carrying-  Bees i 

Beetles,  Ladybird i 

Birds  that  Kill  Bees i 

Cow-klUer.  Hairj- i 

Currant-worms    i 

Frame.  Hoffman i 

France's  Report  i 

Honey  Graded  by  Dealers. . 

Honev  Statistics i 

Introducing.  Failures  in. . 
Langstroth's  Trouble 


Lippia  Lanceolata 617 

Milkweeds 615, 623 

Moving  Apiaries 622 

Paris  Green 616 

Queens.  Losing  616 

Oueens.  Rearing 619 

Rambler  in  his  Cabin 613 

Straws  from  Ohio 611 

Swarming,  Cause  of 612 

Swarming,  Cohsor's  Flan... 621 

Tin  in  Missouri 622 

Union,  a  New 610 

Wil»y,  H.  W 629 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


The  Colorado  State  Bee-keepers'   . 
•'  Honey  Day"  at  Longmont,  Sept.  28. 
Littleton,  Col. 


soeiation  will  hold  its 
H.  Knight,  Sec. 


The  eleventh  semi-annual  meeting  of  the  Susquehanna  Co. 
Bee-keepers'  Association  will  be  held  at  Rush,  Pa.,  on  Thurs- 
day, Sept.  1,  at  10  A  M.  .\U  are  cordially  invited;  and  any  who 
have  ti.xtures  which  they  think  are  lietter  than  those  of  old, 
bring  along  a  sample.  H.  M.  Seeley,  Sec,  Harford,  Pa. 

The  Southwestern  Wisconsin  Bee-keepers'  .Association  will 
hold  its  ne.xt  annual  meeting  in  Boecobel,  Grant  Co.,  Wis.,  on 
the  13th  and  l«h  of  January,  1893,  commencing  at  10  a.m.  All 
members  of  the  association  are  requested  to  be  present,  as  the 
following  officers  are  to  be  elected:  President,  vice-president, 
secretary,  assistant  secretary,  and  treasurer.  Blank  reports 
will  be  sent  to  each  member  of  the  association  for  1892,  with 
instructions.  A  cordial  invitation  is  extended  to  all  bee-keep- 
ers, and  especially  to  those  who  would  like  to  .loin  us.  Each 
member  will  be  notified  at  least  one  month  before  said  meet- 
ing. Benj.  E.  Rice,  Sec. 

Boscobel,  Wis. 


Excursions 

^WILL   BE   RUN   ON— 

August  30th  ^^  Sept.  27th, 

— TO   THE— 

Pecos  Valley 

The  ppuit    Belt   of   |Sleixj    |V[e3<iieo. 

Tickets  may  be  bought  at  any  important  railway 
station,  in  the  Northern  or  Eastern  Stales,  to 

EDDY,  flEW   MEXICO, 

and  return— good  twenty  days— at 

One  FaPe  ^ov  the   f^ound  Trip. 

Don't  miss  tliis  opportunity  to  see  tlie  rlcliest 
and  most  fertile  valley,  and  tlie  most  complete 
and  elaborate  system  of  Irrigating  Canals  in  the 
United  8tat«s.    For  particulars,  address 

G.O.  SHiELiDS,  Eddy,  fizxxx  |V[e3iieo 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

Queens  Yellow  to  the  Tip 
Mated  to  Drones  Yellow  all  over. 

FROM    an   entiielv  ditferei*    strain   is   what   that 
QUEEN  SPECIALIST 

Jas.  Wood,  North  Prescott,  Mass., 

Issendhig  by  Return  Mail  at  75ots.  each. 

Every  queen  warranted  purely  nialed,  and  safe   ar- 
rival guaranteed.      1  am  five  miles  from  any  other 
bees,  and  none  but  selected  Drones  allowed  to  fly. 
Please  mention  this  paper 

GOLDEN  ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

60c  each,  or  6  for  $3.00.    Italians  same  price.     None 
after  Sept.  30.     Albert  Hines,  Independence.  la. 


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  Ave  lines  will  cost  you  according  to  our  regular 
rates.  This  department  is  intended  only  for  bona-flde  ex- 
changes. Exchanges  for  cash  or  for  price  lists,  or  notices  of- 
fering articles  for  sale,  can  not  be  inserted  under  tliis  head. 
For  such  our  regular  rates  of  20  cts.  a  line  will  be  charged,  and 
they  n^ill  be  put  with  the  regular  advertisements.  We  can  not 
be  responsible  for  dissatisfaction  arising  from  the-<e  "swaps." 


WANTED.— To  exchange  for  honey  or  offers,  30 
square  60lb.  honey  cans,  boxed,  used  but  once, 
at  80c;  100  sawdust-filled  wood  "dummies,"  for  1 
and  3  L.  combs,  at  3c. 

H.  D.  RurrelIj,  Bangor,  Van  Buren  Co.,  Mich. 

WANTED.    To  excliange  Scotch   Collie  pups  for 
any  thing  useful  on  fai'm  or  in  bee-yard. 
IStfdb  N.  A.  Knapp,  Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  yellt)w  Italian  queens, 
and  strawberry-plants  cheap.  Bul>ach,  Jessie, 
Eureka,  Haverlands,  Warfleld,  Crescent,  Lady  Rusk, 
for  poultry,  or  offers.  15tfdb 

Mrs.  Oliver  Cole,  Sherburne,  Chen.  Co.,  N.  Y. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  one  high-grade  Safety 
bicycle;  one  49-inch  Columbia  light  roadster 
bicycle;  one  Odell  typewriter;  tested  Italian  queens, 
for  wax,  honey,  or  offers.  J.  A.  Green, 

13tfdb Dayton,  111. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  pure  Italian  queens,  3  or 
5  banded.    Write  what  you  have  to  exchange. 
F.  C.  Morrow,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  a  new  hand-cart  with 
springs,  will  carry  500  lbs.,  cost  $14.00;  would 
make  an  excellent  honey-cart,  for  $8.00  worth  of 
honey,  or  offers.       Dean  Ferris,  Peekskill,  N.  Y. 

Uf ANTED. —To  exchange  25  new  "Hunt"  hives 
W  (chatt),  about  one  half  nailed  together,  balance 
in  flat;  350  good  straight  brood  or  extracting  combs, 
built  from  full  sheets  of  foundation;  100  Hoffman 
frames,  wired,  and  a  quantity  of  other  frames;  also 
a  honey-extractor,  used  but  one  season,  and  in  flrst- 
class  condition;  also  10  Langstroth  Portico  hives, 
single  wall,  in  good  condition,  for  Safety  wheel,  or 
offers.  Reasons  for  selling  hives,  etc.,  have  sold  all 
my  bees.  Geo.  N.  CoRNELii, 

Lock  Box  6.  NorthviUe,  Mich. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  1  "11  A  Little  Giant" 
hand  and  power  feed-cutter,  capacity  1  ton  per 
hour— Ro.ss  Mfg.:  1  No.  3  power  feed-mill,  with 
l)urrs  extra  for  grinding  green  bone;  also  1  hand 
mill  for  grinding  bone,  shells,  or  grain,  Wilson  Bro. 
pat.;  1  Dederick  pat.  toggle  lever  hay-press,  all  .in 
first-class  cundition,  and  some  never  u.sed  but  very 
little,  for  fiist-chiss  live  stock,  or  otters. 

L.  M.  KussELL,  SOO  E.  Preston  St.,  Baltimore.  Md. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  one  .55-in.  Columbia  light 
roadstei-  bicycle,  made  by  the  Pope  Mfg.  Co., 
Boston,  Mass.,  with  full  nickel-plated  ball  bearings, 
t«ol-bag,  tools,  rubber,  and  lump,  cost  $145.00,  for 
pony,  or  offers. 
H.  P.  Kettering,  Greensburg,  Westm'd  Co.,  Pa. 

WANTED.— I  would  desire  to  work  with  a  compe- 
tent apiarist  for  a  season  or  two.    Address 
16-17d  P.  T.  Hanna,  Epworth,  Iowa. 

WANTED.— To  rent  or  on  shares,  an   apiary  of 
al)()ut  2ii0  colonies    of    bees.    Gulf   States,  or 
California.         English  B.  Mann,  New  Il)eria,  La. 


A  goodly  number  of  flrst-class  pure-bred 
yellow-to-t  he-tip  queens,  this  season's  rear- 
ing, will  breed  yellow  queens,  and  suitable 
asthe  best  of  breedei's,  now  on  hand  at  $1.50 
each.  Untested,  75c  each.  Satisfaction,  or 
money  refunded.  W.  H.  Laws, 

16-17d  Lavaca,  Ark. 

TO  exchange  tested  Italian  queens,  3  to  5  bands,  50 
to  75c;  fdn.  36c;  for  offers.  16-17-18d. 

F.  C.  Morrow,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 


180-: 


(JI.i<:anln(;s  in  hkp:  culture. 


fiOS 


APIARY  AND  FARM   FOR  SALE 

Si.\l\  i'oliiiiic-  l>la<'ks  ;iim1  Italians,  mixed;  I., 
t'raiuos;  Siiiipln-ity  ami  l)<>\ftailr(l  liivrs;  with 
farm  of  57  ai'ii'-.,  t wi)-t liiids  linttoin  llal  land,  witli 
hill- fi)\rri'(l  Willi  timlx'r:  cvciy  way  you  look  you 
••an  si'f  fi-din  li  to  lit  mills:  4  miles  iioiii  inwn;  any 
quanlily  «if  poplar.  Iiasswiiod.  liai'd  and  sofl  maple, 
soiirwoud,  ■.'Im,  cliesnuit.  hii-kory,  sumac,  jfolden- 
nid.  etc..  witliin  i-an>rc.  What  1  know  about  bees:  1 
think  tiiKi  st:inds  by  the  house  would  not  l)i'  over- 
stocked; no  dan^rei-  of  i-ompetition,  only  5  of  H  bo.\ 
hives  within  :i  or  4  miles  tli;it  1  know  of.  Satisfacto- 
ry reiusons  for  selling.  For  any  other  particulars 
w-rite,  i)r  come  and  see  me.  $it.">(i.t)ii  is  the  price.  :J(K) 
fruit-trees,  mostlv  younn',  many  commencing-  to 
Ix-ar.    Applv  to  J.  HAMMOND, 

BuENA  Vista,  scioto  Co.,  O. 

tarin  r.-wi>on<llnk'  to  Oils  ndviitlsement  im-ntloii  Gleanings. 

Trained  Setter  Bitch  For  <iale. 

Thoroujililj  broken  on  woodcoi'k,  snipe,  (juail, 
and  partridge,  by  one  of  the  best  trainers  in  the 
U.  S.  Also  litter  of  Pointer  i)uppies,  out  of  regis- 
tered stocli.     Write  for  price  and  vwi'ticulars. 

E.  A.  BOAL,  Hinchman,  Mich. 

FOR  SALE  AT  $1600. 

My  residence  at  Plattsmouth,  Nel)raska,  consist- 
ing "of -5  acres  of  land;  'Zy^  acres  in  cultivation,  bal- 
ance in  natural  timber;  one  good  house,  14x18,  i>^ 
stories  high,  kitchen  10x14;  140  bearing  grapevines, 
65  apple-trees,  all  4  years  old;  a  good  well;  one  tool- 
house,  10x10.  Also  80  colonies  of  Italian  bees,  all  in 
movable-<-(jmb  hives,  mostly  in  2-story  chaff  hives 
of  10  frames.  Simplicity  size;  combs  are  nice  and 
straight.  Bees  are  in  splendid  condition.  No  foul 
brood  ever  existed  in  this  locality.  Good  honey 
market.  No  large  bee-keepers  near.  Plenty  of 
■white  clover  abounds,  and  plenty  of  apple  orchards 
within  3  miles  of  apiary.  Residence  located  inside 
of  boundary  of  a  city  of  lO.OOit  inhabitants,  and  2.5 
miles  south'of  Omaha.  Will  sell  the  apiary  alone 
for  S500.00,  or  place  separate  for  $1100.00.  or  all  to- 
gether for  $1600.00,  apiary  fixtures  iucluded.  Terms 
of  sale,  cash  down.  Furtlier  particulars  on  applica- 
tion.   Plea.se  inclose  stamp  for  yuur  reply. 

Address  J.  M.   YOUNG, 

16-I7d  Plattsmouth,  Box  874,  Neb. 

^P*Iii  resuondlng:  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkaning» 


ADDRESS 

W.    e.    WEED, 

Hartford,  Wash.  Co.,  N.  Y ., 
For- 

Did  vou  notice  wlnit  I  said  in  Glkamncs  in  July 
—  10  J  Hybrid  Queens  n\-  each,  3  for  $1? 

People  write  me, 

"  More  than  f<atinfkd;  deUfjhted." 

"Beautiful!"     "•  I  am  u-('ll  jjleased." 

So  am  1;  for  I  have  IJ  tons  of  honey  so  far.  and  more  coming 
in  every  ilay  it  don't  rain.  My  bee  keeping  neighbors  boa^ted 
a  good  deal' of  "  My  bees.'"-  My  Italians."  etc.,  but  they  are  aft- 
er my  queens  fast  enough  now. 

Young  queens  from  my  best  honey-gatherers, 
large,  gentle,  .*1.."0  each ;  untested  Sl.OO.  16d 

tSria  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  iTLEANlNfi-" 

UNTJB8TED   ITALIAW    queens    reared    from 
imported   mothers,  ready   to   mail  at    60c;  6  or 
more,  .50c  each.   W.  A.  Compton,  Lynnville,  Tenn. 


Ho/\/Er  Column. 


OrSQOn  °^^'"'^n.  name  ancfaddre^s. 
■«*■  w^wii  w,.  want  to  correspond  with  yr)u 
concerning  honey.  We  are  ready  to  make  outright 
purchases  of  both  C(jmb  and  extracted  honey  in  any 
quantity.  If  you  do  not  care  to  sell,  we  will  handle 
tor  your  account.  All  we  want  is  to  get  plenty  of 
Oregon  honey;  if  possible,  we  want  to  handle  the 
entire  crop.  We  are  satisfied  the  result  would  be 
mutuallv  advantageous.  16-17d 

LEVY,  SPIEGL  &  CO., 
113-115  Front  St.,  Portland,  Ore. 

Wanted.— Best  grade  of  comb  and  extracted  hon- 
ey.      WAI..TER  S.  PouDER,  Iiidianapolis,  Ind.    1.5-16d 


CITY  MARKETS. 

Cincinnati.— Hour}/.— There  is  ready  sale  for  (ex- 
tracted hoiu-y  at  •5(f/'iHc  on  arri\al.  Demand  exceeds 
the  arri\als.  We  solicit  shipments.  Deinand  for 
comb  honey  Is  slow  and  prices  nominal  at  l;.'(a*|.5c  for 
best  white  in  the  jobbing  way.  Bccsu'ax.— There  is 
a  slow  demand  al  ~':J@.25e  for  good  to  choice  yellow 
on  arrival.    Arrivals  are  good. 

Ch.\s.  F.  Muth  &  Son, 

Aug.  10.  CinciiMiati,  O. 

Albany.— Hodcy.— We  have  received  one  con- 
signment of  new  comb  lioney.  The  quality  is  only 
fair  clover,  and  we  have  not  yet  had  an  offer  on  it. 
There  is  not  much  demand  for  honey  this  hot 
weather,  but  we  have  had  a  number  of  inquiries  for 
iww  hoiiey  from  out-of-town  trade.  We  have  no 
new  extracted  yet,  and  our  stock  of  old  is  exhausted. 

Aug.  11.  Chas.  McCulloch  &  Co., 

393,  395,  397  Broadway,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Kansas  City.— Honej/.— Keceigts  of  new  comb 
honey  light;  deinand  fair.  We  quote  No.  1  1-lb. 
comb,  white,  1.5@16;  No.  2,  white,  1(%14;  No.  1  comb, 
amber,  14@15;  No.  2  amber,  12@13.  Extracted,  white, 
7c;  amber,  .5@6.    Baswax,  20@2.5. 

Aug.  8.  Clemons-Mason  Com.  Co., 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Chicago.— ifouey.— Some  consignments  of  new 
comb  on  the  market,  but  there  is  not  much  trade  in 
it.  1.5c  is  asked  for  best  white;  dark  colors  sell  down 
tol0@12c.  Extracted,  without  special  change  at  6, 
7,  and  8c.    Beeswax,  25c. 

R.  A.  Burnett, 

Aug.  9.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  HI. 

New  York.— Ho?iei/.— No  demand  for  comb  honey 
yet.  Some  little  demand  tor  extracted  honey. 
Market  pretty  well  cleaned  up  of  N.  Y.  State  and 
Western  honey;  Southern  honey  arriving  quite  free- 
ly. Beeswax,  tlrm  at  26@27c.  Clover  and  basswood 
extracted,  7i/^c;  buckwheat,  .5@5>^c;  Cal.  ex.,  7i4®8c; 
Southern,  60@70c  per  gal. 

Aug.  8.  Chas.  Israel  &  Bro., 

110  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 

New  York.— Honey.— No  supply  of  comb  honey 
yet.  Might  place  a  few  small  lots  at  14c  for  No.  1 
fancy  white.  Southern  extracted,  6U@70c;  orange 
bloom  and  palmetto,  7@754 ;  Cal.  light  amber,  7J^c. 
Becfiirax,  27@28c.     Market  very  quiet. 

Aug.  9.  F.  G.  Strohmeyer  &  Co., 

Kansas  City.— Hojicy.- There  is  a  light  supply  of 
honey,  with  a  good  demand.  Price  of  1-lb.  white, 
16c;  extracted  white,  6(5*7;  dark,  .5@6.  There  is  no 
beeswax  on  the  market.  The  iiew^  crop  of  honey  is 
arriving  and  is  very  flue. 

Aug.  9.  Hamblin  &  Bearss, 

514  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Boston.— Honey.— Demand  for  honey  is  very 
light.  We  have  a  very  light  supply  on  hand.  Frt)m 
present  reports  crop  is  light  throughout  New  Eng- 
land.   No  change  in  prices. 

Aug.  9.  Blake  &  Ripley,  Boston,  Mass. 

St.  Louis.- Honey.- Excellent  demand  from  all 
sections  for  extracted,  which  we  are  selling  at 
5^@5?8,  the  latter  for  straw-colored.  No  demand 
for  comb.    Bcaswax,  prime.  26c. 

Aug.  8.  D.  G.  TuTT  Gro.  Co., 

Detroit.— Honey.— Best  white  honey  selling  slow- 
ly at  12^@13c;  extracted,  7@8c.    Beeftwax,  2y@26c. 
Aug.  8.  M.  H.  Hunt, 

Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

For  Sale.  '.Um  lbs.  basswood  honey  mixed  with 
about  one-third  white  clover.  The  honey  is  thick, 
extra  quality,  put  up  in  new  60-lb.  cans,  2  cans  in 
case,  at  8c  i)er  lb.  F.  W.  Holmes, 

C<jopersville,  Ottawa  Co.,  Mich. 


WANTED.-One  hundred  thousand  pounds  choice 
comb  and  extracted  honey.  Name  source  from 
which  your  honey  is  gathered.  Mail  samples  at 
once  and  quote  prices.  13tfdb 

J.  A.  Buchanan  &  Sons,  Holliday's  Cove,  W.  Va. 


606 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


If  You  Wish  to  Know  | 

How  to  get  the  honey  off  the  liives  with  the  leiist  =5^ 

labor  and  annoyance,  how  to  store  it  and  care  for  j^^ 

it,  how  to  prepare  it  for  market,  what  kind  of  ?a^ 

packages  to  use,  and  how  to  send  them  to  market  jjaa 

in  such  a  manner  that  they  will  not  even  be  soiled,  ■^si 

much   less  the  contents   Injured,  buy  the   book  =ii 

'*Advanood  Bee  <'ul lure,"  and  read  the  chap-  ^^ 

ter  entitled ''  From  the  Hive  to  tlie  Honey  Market."  =i= 

Remember,  too,  that  this  is  only  one  chapter  out  ^= 

of  33.    Price  of  the  book,  50c.    The  Revleiv  one  ^^^ 

year  and  the  book  for  $1.2.5.    For  $1.7.5,  the  book,  ^^ 

the  Kevie^v,  and  a  fine,  young,  laying  Italian  -s^ 

queen  will  be  sent.    Queen  alone,  7.5c.  -gg^ 

W.  Z.  HUTCHINSON,  Flint,  Mich.  ^ 


OUEENSFREEIjSEH? 
Tested,  $1.00.  One  Choice  Breeder  Given 
Away  with  each  dozen.  Five-Banded 
Golden  Queens,  #1  to$<?.  Write  for  low- 
er prices.  Satisfaction  guaranteed.  Bees,  80c 
per  lb.  F.  C.  MOKROW,  Wallaceburg,  Ark. 
Please  mention  this  paper.  lOtt'db 


RETAIL 

— AND— 

WHOLESALE. 


T>VV  SUPPLIES 

l\l'i  I'i    Everything  used  in  the  Apiary. 

K^  m^  m^  Greatest  variety  and  largest  stock 
in  the  West.  New  catalog,  54  illustrated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  EEETOHMES,  EED  OAS,  IOWA. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  2tfdb 


QUIGLEYS  GOLDEN   QUEENS, 

Are  large,  beautiful,  and  prolific.  Tlie  bees  are  in- 
dustrious, gentle,  and  liardy.  Warranted  purely 
mated,  each,  $1.00;  6  for  $5.00.  Untested,  each,  70c; 
3  for  $2.00.  Satisfaction  and  safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed. Circular  free. 
14tfdb  E.  F.  QUIGLEY,  Unionville,  Mo 


sasa5asssHSHsas2SHSssHSEsasHSSEsasasasasHS2SHsasHs2g 

EXTf^fl   FINE    QUEErlS.    g 

K  Now  is  the  time  to  introduce  a  strain  of  Ital- 
ic ians  that  will  reap  you  large  harvests  even  in 
ffi  poor  seasons.  Send  a  trial  order  and  be  con- 
K  vinced.  Queens  warranted  purely  mated,  each, 
C{  80c;  six,  $4  00;  doz.,  $7.00.  Order  now;  pay  on 
K  arrival.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfaction  guaran 
^  teed.  Utfdb  1^.  li.  ^'OCUHW 
g     IS^ortli  Wnfihinurton,  Woit'd  Co.,  I^n 


DR.  J.  W.  CRENSHAW, 

Versailles,      -      Kentucky, 

Offers  for  Sale 

Untested  Italian  Queens  at  $1.00  each  through  May 
and  June;  after,  75c  each.    Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed.   Queens  raised  only   from  Imported 
mother.    Drones  only  from  selected 
and  tested  mothers. 
Also  CELERY  PLANTS  from  July  to  September,  at 

$3.00  per  M.  7-18db 

^7*In  responding  to  this  adTertisement  mention  OiXAXUias, 

OATMAN'S 

^^^  SOLDEEIN(J  AMD  EEPAIE  Elf 


Consists  of  tire-pot.  solder- 
ing-irons, solder,  and  solder- 
ing-tiuid.  with  tools  compl'te 
as  shown  in  cut.  with  direc- 
tions for  soldering  different 
metals,  and  how  to  keep  your 
soldering-irons  in  shape. 
Whole  kit,  boxed,  12  lbs. 
Shipped  on  receipt  of  82.00. 
Agents  wanted. 

O.  &  L.  OATMAN, 
87db        Medina,  Ohio. 


WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS' 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  can  be  had  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  at  ROOT'S  PRICES.  The 
largest  supply  business  In  the  West. 
Established  188.5.  Dovetailed  Hives.  Sec- 
tions, Foundation.  Extractors,  Smokers, 
Veils.  Crates.  Feeders,  Clover  Seeds,  etc. 
In)|iorted  Italian  Queens.  Queens  and 
Bfcs.  S.inuile  copy  of  our  Bee  Journal, 
■THE  WESTERN  BEE-KEEPER."  and 
LATEST  CATALOGUE  mailed  FREE  to 
Bee-keepers. 

JOSEPH  NYSEWANDER, 

Des  Moines,  Iowa. 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  doz- 
en, you  do  not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  within  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  ^vlll  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with  full  direc- 
tions, 30c ;  per  dozen,  $3.35.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb    R.  <£  E.  C.  PORTER,  LEWISTOWN,  ILL. 

t^ln  resi)Oiiding  to  this  advertisem 


Weekly  "  American  Bee  Journal "  ^ 

32  pages— $1.00  a  Year 

The  Oldest,  Largest,  Best  and  Only  Weekly 
Bde>Faper  in  America.   Sample  Copy  Free 


199  Randolph  St., 


YORK  &  CO., 

-      CHICAGO,  ILLSr 


'Jour 

•  DELVoTED' 

•ANdHoNLV-7- 
•MDHOME.-     <^' 


UBlliMCD  BY  ^/;r\  i  •  r\_0  C  !• 


Vol.  XX. 


AUG.  15,  1892. 


No.  16. 


STRAr  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 

That  silver  t.ixixc;  hasn't  come. 

•'The  Bee-Age"  never  came  to  any  age. 
Died  before  it  was  born. 

So  you've  i,eakxei).  at  Medina,  that  you 
can't  smoke  in  bees  to  worl<.  Told  you  so  long 
ago. 

One  page  of  A.  B.J.  for  July  28  is  made  very 
bright  by  the  face  of  Mrs.  Jennie  Atchley. 
She  looks  as  good-natured  as  she  writes. 

July  30.  This  morning  I  find  my  self-hiver 
empty,  queen  and  swarm  having  moved  back 
into  the  hive,  bag  and  baggage.  But  it  doesn't 
seem  to  me  that  a  queen  would  often  get  out  of 
that  trap  as  she  did. 

Clearing  sui'ers  of  bees  is  ordinarily  best 
done,  the  B.  B.  /.'thinks,  by  means  of  cone  es- 
capes, letting  the  bees  escape  outward  to  find 
their  own  way  back  to  the  hive — practically 
my  little  mosquito-tents. 

Have  you  sent  to  father  Langstroth  the 
amount  you  promised?  If  you  made  no  promise, 
it  would  be  a  nice  thing  anyhow  to  send  some- 
thing to  him.  We  owe  him  much,  and  he  ought 
not  to  lack  in  his  few  last  years. 

Just  think  of  A.  I.  Roor  encouraging  the 
tobacco  habit  in  his  bees  by  giving  them  a 
social  smoke,  morning  and  noon,  each  day  of 
the  countv  fair!  Then  I  s'pose  each  bee  gets  a 
smoker  that  swears  ofif  afterward. 

As  A  BUSINESS  to  accompany  bee-keeping, 
Dooliltle  says  in  A.  B.  J.  that  raising  small 
fruits  will  not  work;  but  that  raising  small- 
fruit  plants  for  sale  works  well.  But  he  adds, 
"  If  I  were  to  choose  any  business  to  go  with 
bee-keeping  it  would  certainly  be  farming." 

Too  BAD,  just  as  we've  got  a  real  live  bee- 
keeper at  work  making  experiments  at  Mich- 
igan Ag'l  College,  if  th(!  government  should 
stop  the  whole  business.  Be  sure  to  write  a 
letter  to  Uncle  Jerry  and  Prof.  Riley,  and  tell 
Ihem  we  need  J.  H.  Larrabee. 

LATE.ST  Bulletin  from  the  self-hiver.  Aug. 
5  1  find  a  few  eggs  and  bi'ood  in  all  stages  in 
No.  70,  six  sealed  queen-cells  and  one  unsealed, 
old  queen  dead  on  the  bottom  of  the  hive,  and 
beautiful  young  queen  hatched.  I  think  the 
self-hiver  will  come  out  ahead  yet. 

That  old  item  is  still  going  the  rounds,  that 
in  Australia  the  bees  gather  all  the  year  and 
soon  learn  not  to  store  honey,  and  so  constant 
importations  must  be  made  of  green  bees  that 
haven't  yet  learned  the  ropes.  Is  a  lie  round, 
that  it  never  stops  when  once  started  rolling? 


Two  swahms  issuing  at  about  the  same  time, 
where  self-hivers  are  used.  C.  H.  Dibbern  agrees 
with  Henry  Alley,  will  always  return  to  the 
right  hives.  They'll  sometimes  both  go  to  the 
■iame  hive  when  I  pick  up  and  cage  the  queens. 
Why  should  there  be  any  ditt'erence  when  the 
queens  cage  themselves? 

"Automatic  swarmers  "  are  talked  about 
on  p.  .593.  I  like  the  way  Gleanings  encour- 
ages new  inventions,  but  please  draw  the  line 
at  ssvarmers.  Non-swarmers  and  self-hivers 
may  be  good  things,  but  bees  swarm  entirelv 
too  much  already,  and  they're  automatic  too, 
so  we  don't  need  any  other  "  automatic  swarm- 
er." 

The  plan  of  working  two  queens  in  a  hive, 
as  given  by  Mr.  Wells,  of  England,  according 
to  ••  A  Lanarkshire  Bee-keeper "  in  the  Jour- 
nal of  Horticulture,  is  practically  the  Baird 
system,  nearly  forty  years  old.  The  principal 
difference  seems  to  be  the  intermingling  of  the 
bees  of  both  queens  in  the  super  in  the  VVells 
system. 

Blowing  the  breath  on  bees  slowly  has  a 
very  different  effect  from  a  sharp  blast,  as 
R.  W.  McDonnell  says,  p.  .580.  My  practice  for 
years,  when  I  wanted  to  get  the  bees  off  any 
particular  spot  on  the  combs,  has  been  to  make 
a  rapid  succession  of  forcible  puffs,  much  like 
a  stuttering  man  making  a  frantic  effort  to  get 
out  the  letter  p. 

Washington  is  the  place  of  the  next  North 
American  convention.  Time  not  set.  Frank 
Benton  thinks  it  better  not  goat  the  time  the 
G.  A.  R.  meets,  as  there  will  be  too  much  of  a 
jam.  December  is  now  talked  of,  when  other 
meetings  will  give  reduced  rates.  Better  stand 
the  jam  if  rates  are  enough  lower.  But  Decem- 
ber's a  good  month. 

A.  Y.  Baldwin  says,  in  A.  B.  J.,  that  his 
bees  were  at  the  starvation  point  Julv  4.  and  he 
was  about  to  despair;  but  a  '•  stray  straw  " 
said,  '•  Don't  be  discouraged;"  and  as  •"  drown- 
ing m(^n  catch  at  straws  "  be  immediately  or- 
dered a  barrel  of  sugar  and  continued  feeding. 
Now  I  wonder  if  he'll  charge  up  that  sugar  to 
me  if  his  bees  fail  to  store. 

DooLiTTLE  says,  in  A.  B.  J.,  that  a  swarm 
issued  without  a  queen  from  one  of  his  colonies, 
he  having  removed  the  queen  a  few  hours  pre- 
viously. I  had  a  swarm  once  issue  within 
about  an  lioui'  after  I  i-emoved  the  queen;  but  in 
that  case  I  think  they  had  perhaps  not  learned 
yet  that  they  were  queenless.  I  had.  however, 
another  swarm  issue  and  hang  on  a  bush  two 
or  three  days,  and  I  tldrik  they  had  no  queen. 

Mr.  a.  Leggott  doubts  that  old  bees  ever 
leave  the  hive  when  swarming.  A  California 
newspaper  and  the  A.  B.J.  ixrc  so  earnest  in 
convincing  him  that  old  bees  do  swarm,  that 


608 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


they  get  all  tangled  up  and  tinally  leave  it  that 
only  old  bees  go  with  the  swarm.  Bro.  Leggott, 
just  get  down  and  watch  a  swarm  issuing,  and 
then  when  you  see  old  bees  coming  out  with 
wings  so  ragged  they  can  hardly  rty,  youMl 
know  for  yourself. 

Some  veky  small  bees  were  sent  by  W.  C. 
Frazier  to  the  A.  B.  J.  and  thence  to  Prof. 
Cook,  who  says  if  all  are  small  the  queen  is  at 
fault;  but  if  only  part  are  small,  then  it  prob- 
ably arises  from  their  being  raised  in  comb  so 
old  that  the  cells  have  become  too  small  for 
full  development.  In  view  of  the  many  proofs 
that  old  combs  raise  as  large  workers  as  any. 
would  it  not  be  more  reasonable,  professor,  to 
say  that,  in  some  way,  the  comb  had  been  bent 
so  as  to  cramp  the  cells  ? 

Frank  Benton,  in  Apt,  says  migratory  bee- 
keeping is  followed  to  a  large  extent  in  Carniola. 
He  says:  "Whole  apiaries,  consisting  of  sever- 
al hundred  hives,  are  transported  to  distant 
pastures  in  one  or  two  nights.  Sometimes  the 
railway  lines  are  used,  and  I  have  seen  a  bee- 
train,  mainly  of  flat  cars,  bearing  some  5000 
colonies  of  bees  from  the  northern  valley  of  the 
Carnic  Alps  to  the  central  plains,  where  the 
fields  are  white  with  buckwheat  in  August  and 
September." 


MY  HEAD-TROUBLE. 


CONCLUDED  FROM  PAGE  572. 


When  75  years  old,  the  blind  piles,  of  which 
my  physician  spoke  in  my  yoixth,  became 
only  too  apparent.  I  suffered  so  much  that  I 
seldom  went  abroad,  and  spent  most  of  my 
time  in  a  reclining  position;  and  I  was  able 
to  get  home  from  my  last  attendance  at  church 
only  by  planting  my  hands  and  knees  on  the 
bottom  of  the  carriage. 

While  thus  suffering,  my  friend  Dr.  G.  VV. 
Keeley,  of  Oxfoi'd,  urged  me  to  put  myself 
under  the  care  of  Dr.  G.  R.  Prezinger,  of  Green- 
ville, Ohio,  who  had  successfully  cured  many 
persons  similarly  afflicted.  At  first  I  declined 
to  be  treated,  saying  I  was  too  old  to  be  cured, 
and  believed  it  better,  not  to  leave  well  enough 
alone  (for  there  was  no  well  enough  about  my 
case),  but  to  leave  bud  enough  alone.  Inter- 
views with  parties  at  Oxford,  however,  who 
had  been  entirely  cured  by  him,  changed  this 
decision.  An  examination,  made  by  the  doctor 
in  the  presence  of  Dr.  Keeley,  showed  that  I 
was  suffering  severely  from  bleeding  ulcers  and 
numerous  piles,  one  of  which  had  been  protrud- 
ing for  nearly  a  year.  On  the  doctor  s  assuring 
me  that  he  could  effect  a  radical  cure,  I  placed 
myself  under  his  care.  No  cutting,  burning,  or 
clamping  operation  was  performed;  and  I  re- 
ceived only  one  treatment  a  month.  I  suffered 
no  pain  worthy  of  mention. 

My  family  physician  had  before  this  assured  me 
that  my  melancholy  came  mainly  from  a  diseas- 
ed state  of  the  rectum;  but  he  failed  to  cure  me. 
Before  I  was  fully  relieved  by  Dr.  Prezinger  I 
fell  again  into  my  usual  morbid  condition,  and 
■did  not  see  him  for  about  two  years. 

While  under  treatment  I  conversed  with 
many  of  his  patients,  and  for  the  first  time  be- 
came aware  of  the  intimate  connection  between 
melancholia  and  rectal  disease.  I  believe  that, 
without  a  single  exception,  all  with  whom  I 
conversed  admitted  that  they  were  sufferers 
from  mental  depression. 

Some  confessed  even  to  suicidal  inclinations. 
I  remember  one  in  particular  who  said.  "  I 
often  thought  of  taking  my  life,  and  was  deter- 
red only  by  apprehensions  of  what  would   be- 


come of  my  dear  wife  and  our  poor  little  chil- 
dren!" 

How  often  we  hear  it  said,  that  religion  is  a 
leading  cause  of  so  much  melancholy  and  in- 
sanity! I  firmly  believe  that,  where  one  person 
is  made  insane  by  perverted  religious  views, 
many  are  kept  sane  by  the  consoling  hopes  of 
the  gospel  of  Christ.  If  a  man  has  no  belief  in 
a  loving  Father,  and  no  fear  of  "  that  dread 
bourne  from  which  no  traveler  returns,"  wby 
should  he  wish  to  live  on.  when  to  live  is  only 
to  be  wretched?  Why  should  he  not  believe 
with  Hume,  that  suicide  is  only  '"  the  diversion 
of  the  current  of  a  little  red  fluid  "?  Very  often 
no  motive  is  strong  enough  to  prevent  a  man 
from  taking  his  life  but  consideration  for  those 
who  depend  upon  him  for  support,  and  the  horror 
of  leaving  to  family  and  friends  a  suicidal  leg- 
acy. 

Removing  from  Oxford  to  Dayton,  and  re- 
covering again,  I  sought  further  treatment,  and 
seemed  at  last  to  be  almost  if  not  completely 
cured.  I  had  better  health,  and  for  a  longer 
period  than  I  could  remember  to  have  ever  en- 
joyed in  all  my  previous  life:  and  for  the  first 
time  in  many  years  I  strongly  hoped  that  I 
should  have  no  return  of  my  former  troubles. 
But  after  an  interval  of  a  year  and  a  half  the 
old  symptoms  returned.  I  fought  them  again  in 
every  way  that  I  could,  but,  as  usual,  the  battle 
was  not  won.  Clouds  and  darkness  settled 
upon  me  so  that  I  could  say,  in  the  words  of  the 
88th  Psalm, '■  My  soul  is  full  of  trouble;  lam 
counted  with  them  that  go  down  into  the  pit: 
I  am  as  a  man  that  hath  no  strength.  Thou 
hast  laid  me  in  the  lowest  pit,  in  darkness,  in 
the  deeps.  Thou  hast  put  mine  acquaintance 
far  from  me;  I  am  shut  up  and  I  can  not  come 
forth." 

Previous  to  this  last  attack  I  always  expected, 
even  when  most  exuberant,  that,  sooner  or 
later,  I  should  again  fall  under  the  power  of  the 
old  disease.  Many  of  my  readers  will  naturally 
think  that  such  an  expectation,  suspended  over 
my  head  like  the  sword  of  Damocles,  must  in- 
evitably have  caused  me  constant  and  dis- 
tressing apprehensions:  but,  instead  of  this, 
scarcely  any  fear  of  the  future  disturbed  me. 
I  could  almost  always  say,  "  Sufficient  unto  the 
day  is  the  evil  thereof,"  and  I  was  very  much 
like  a  playful  child.  Goto  it  and  say, '"Dear 
little  child,  this  is  a  very  sorrowful  world! 
How  can  you,  then,  be  so  light-hearted  when 
so  many  trials  are  in  store  for  you  ?"  The  hap- 
py child  will  not  suspend  his  sports— if  he  can 
help  it  — long  enough  to  listen  to  your  sad  fore- 
bodings. 

I  have  often  thought,  that,  but  for  the  spe- 
cial mercy  of  our  loving  Father  in  freeing  me, 
when  well,  almost  entirely  from  dismal  appre- 
hensions, I  could  never  have  lived  and  retained 
my  reason  so  long  beyond  the  period  usually 
allotted  to  man. 

I  should  here  say,  that,  in  my  worst  attacks, 
I  was  never  subject  to  any  illusions.  I  always 
knew  that  physical  causes  mainly  were  at  the 
bottom  of  my  sufferings,  and  felt  sure  that,  as 
soon  as  these  disappeared.  I  should  be  happy 
again.  In  my  cheerful  moods  I  seldom  felt  any 
solicitude  about  the  future  :  yet  when  under 
the  power  of  disease  it  was  almost  impossible 
for  me  to  even  conceive  how  I  could  ever  be 
well  and  happy  again. 

While  the  nauseated  stomach  rejects  the 
most  wholesome  food,  the  patient  knows  all 
the  time  that  this  is  only  disease;  but  this 
knowledge  not  only  fails  to  stimulate  his  ap- 
petite, but  it  seems  almost  impossible  for  him 
even  to  imagine  how  he  can  ever  want  to  eat 
again. 

Since  my  recovery,  in  the  fall  of  1887,  I  found 
that  Dr.  Prezinger's  treatment  had  not   been 


18112 


(U.EANINtJS  IN   HEE  CULTURE. 


cm 


coiuiiiut'd  Idmh  (Midiiiili  til  coinoloto  tlu'cuif; 
but  as  soon  as  the  lolapsc  was  fully  ostablislitHi. 
no  piTsnasions  of  my  family  could  iudui-i>  mi>  to 
submit  to  furtlicr  tivatmcnt. 

In  ivvisiiii:  liiis  stati'mcut.  I  ougiit.  to  coiTcct 
what  1  said  about  there  never  beinj;  but  one 
issue  to  an  attack  after  its  inoiuiont  staRes  were, 
clearly  develojted.  In  the  fall  of  IS.V?  I  was  as 
much  depressed  as  I  had  ever  i)eeii.  when,  by 
the  kindness  of  friends.  I  was  able  to  visit  a 
brother  w  ho  was  resiilinij  in  Matainoras.  Mexico. 
Wliile  travelinii  by  steamboat,  railroad,  and 
stasje-coach  to  New  Orleans— a  journey  which 
then  occupied  ov(>r  a  week — I  recovered  en- 
tirely before  1  reached  tliat  city,  and  had  an 
unusually  long  interval  of  complete  relief. 
Also  on  anoth(>r  occasion  while  greatly  desjion- 
dent.  I  was  suminoniHi.  at  the  expense  of  oti(>  of 
the  parties,  as  a  witness  in  a  suit  at  law,  which 
had  bei'n  brought  against  him  for  an  alleged 
infringment  on  the  right  of  another  patentee, 
Tho  entire  change  of  scene,  with  all  its  many 
diversions,  completely  cured  me.  lUit  for  these 
instances.  I  might  naturally  infer  that  time 
was  the  only  remedial  agent,  and  that  the 
disease  could  never  be  arrested,  but  must  al- 
ways run  its  usual  course. 

Among  the  many  mistakes  of  my  life.  I  connt 
this  to  be  one  of  the  greatest,  that,  instead  of 
seeking  an  entire  change  as  soon  as  I  begin  to 
feel  the  api)roach  of  another  attack,  I  have 
usually  refused  to  admit  the  possibility  of  suc- 
cumbing to  it,  and  have  struggled  against  it 
until  no  power  of  will  was  left  for  further  con- 
flict. Those  who  know  how  large  a  portion 
of  my  life  1  have  lost  by  this  disease  will  not  be 
surprised  at  my  unwillingness  to  quit  my  work, 
when  to  give  it  up  often  meant  to  forego  oppor- 
tunities never  to  be  recalled.  Besides  all  this, 
I  have  usually  been  so  straitened  for  means 
that  it  has  been  very  difficult  for  me  to  give  up 
my  necessary  avocations  for  change  of  scene. 

With  thankfulness  to  God  I  can  truly  §ay 
that  few  men  have  had  better  friends,  and  that 
there  has  never  been  a  time  when  I  might  not 
have  secured  means  for  travel  and  change  of 
occupation  simply  by  applying  to  them.  But 
I  have  received  so  many  favors,  often  most  un- 
expected and  entirely  unsolicited,  that  it  is  only 
with  extreme  reluctance  that  I  have  been  able 
to  ask  assistance  of  even  my  most  intimate 
friends  and  relations.  It  may  well  be  that  some 
of  them  will  be  pained  to  know  that  I  did  not 
do  so.  when  a  little  timely  aid  might  have  pre- 
served me  from  long  periods  of  snfT'ering  and 
inactivity.  For  the  many  favors  I  have  receiv- 
ed from  bee-keepers  at  home  and  abroad,  and 
from  personal  friends  and  relations.  I  hereby 
tender  my  most  heartfelt  thanks. 

No  doubt  some  of  my  readers  will  blame  me 
for  spending  so  much  time,  when  under  the 
power  of  melancholy,  in  playing  chess,  even 
though  I  tempted  nobody  else  to  waste  any  time 
upon  it.  But  I  most  devoutly  believe,  that,  in 
fighting  such  a  malady,  the  end  fully  justifies 
all  means  which  are  not  in  themselves  immoral. 
It  would  be  well,  if  it  were  plainly  understood 
and  more  fully  realized,  that,  by  dwelling  too 
long  upon  painful  subjects,  we  may  at  last 
lose  mental  control  and  become  absolutely  in- 
sane. There  is  no  doubt  that  many  who  have 
strong  hereditary  tendencies  that  way  may, 
by  wise  foresight  and  strong  effort,  counteract 
them.  The  following  true  story  will  make  more 
emphatic  the  above  remarks: 

About  .50  years  ago  the  Rev.  Dr.  Walker,  who 
was  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Brattleboro.  Vermont,  exchanged  pulpits  with 
me.  On  Saturday  evening  his  wife  spoke  of 
the  singular  state  of  mind  into  which  a  well- 
known  minister  had  fallen.  He  had  been  a  very 
acceptable  pastor,  and  had  declined,  but  a  short 


time  liefoi'e.  an  invitation  from  an  institution 
of  learning,  to  solicit  funds  for  them.  As  they 
still  urged  him  to  accept,  he  call(>d  a  council  of 
the  neighboring  ministers,  who  advised  him  not 
to  accept  the  Mgenc>':  whereii[)on  (snch  often  is 
human  nature)  he  rejected  their  advice.  l'"rom 
the  beginning  of  his  work,  his  health,  whicli 
before  had  been  unusuallv  good,  b(>gan  to  fail. 
He  became  discouraged  and  morbid;  and  in 
conversation  with  Mrs.  Walker  he  contended 
that  his  alllictions  were  even  greati^r  than  those; 
of  ,Jol).  H(»  was  reminded  l)y  her  of  a  Chris- 
tian brother  known  to  thetii  both,  who.  after  an 
absence  from  hom(!  of  a  few  days,  found,  on  his 
return,  his  beloved  wife  dead,  and  her  dead  in- 
fant lying  in  her  arms.  Even  such  an  over- 
whelming calamity  he  thought  was  more  bear- 
able than  those  which  had  befallen  himl  At 
tnis  point  in  her  narrative  I  Ix-came  too  much 
excited  to  sit  still.  Rising  to  my  feet  I  exclaim- 
ed. "Oh  that  I  could  see  this  unhappy  brother, 
and  warn  him  of  the  fate  which,  if  he  persists 
in  cherishing  these  delusions,  may  soon  over- 
take him  '  He  is  on  the  very  verge  of  insanity, 
if  not  already  insane."  After  the  sermon  next 
morning,  Mrs.  Rockwell,  the  wife  of  the  super- 
intendent of  the  insane-a.sylum  of  that  place, 

said  to  us,  "  Do  you  know  that  Mr. "  (the 

very  brother  we  had  been  talking  about)  "  was 
brought  to  our  institution  last  night,  quite  in- 
sane?" 

I  once  related  this  circumstance  to  a  family 
circle,  entirely  unconscious  that  it  could  have 
any  personal  application.  To  my  surprise,  the 
father  of  the  family  privately  said  to  me,  with 
deep  emotion,  that  nothing  could  have  been 
told  better  adapted  to  influence  for  good  one  of 
his  own  children. 

Oh  how  often  does  some  bereaved  soul  cry 
out  in  anguish,  "  I  do  well  to  give  myself  up  to 
the  indulgence  of  grief.  I  have  no  heart  for 
any  thing  but  lamentations  for  the  loved  ones 
who  have  been  buried  out  of  my  sight"!  No! 
poor  afflicted  soul,  you  do  not  do  well  when  you 
neglect  any  positive  duty.  Beware  lest  what 
you  call  "the  luxury  of  grief"  may  be  carried 
so  far  as  to  become  rebellions  murmurings 
against  the  divine  will. 

I  can  not  here  forbear  giving  a  short  extract 
from  Walter  Scott's  Antiquary.  An  old  fisher- 
man had  lost  his  son  in  a  storm  at  sea.  His 
landlord  makes  him  a  visit  of  condolence. 

"  When  he  came  in  front  of  the  fisherman's 
hut  he  observed  a  man  working  intently,  as  if 
to  repair  a  shattered  boat  that  lay  upon  the 
beach;  and  going  up  to  him  he  said,  in  a  tone 
of  sympathy,  '  I  am  glad,  Saunders,  that  you 
feel  yourself  able  to  make  this  exertion.'  '  And 
what  would  ye  have  me  do, '  answered  the 
fisherman.  "  unless  I  wanted  to  see  four  children 
starve  because  one  is  drowned?  It  Is  weel  with 
you  gentles,  that  can  sit  in  the  house  with 
hankerchers  at  your  eyes  when  ye  lose  a  friend; 
but  the  like  of  us  maun  to  our  work  again,  if 
our  hearts  were  beating  as  hard  as  my  hammer. 
.  .  .  .  She  maun  be  mended  for  the  mornin' 
tide — that's  a  thing  of  necessity."  Let  us  thank 
God  for  these  "  things  of  nece.ssity." 

Many  of  my  experiences  when  under  the  at- 
tack of  melancholia  resemble  very  closely  those 
of  the  poet  Cowper.  He  had  long  spells  of  de- 
spondency, when  his  pen  was  entirely  idle,  and 
no  persuasions  of  his  most  intimate  friends  could 
induce  him  to  resume  employments  in  which 
he  once  took  so  much  delight.  After  he  had 
abandoned,  apparently  for  ever,  the  revision  of 
his  translation  of  Homer's  Iliad,  a  relative  one 
day  placed  on  his  writing-desk  the  manuscript 
at  the  place  where  he  had  left  off,  together  with 
his  books  of  reference.  It  was  with  great  de- 
light that  he  perceived  that  it  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  afflicted  poet,  and  that  he  be- 


610 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


gan  to  resume  the  work  of  revision,  so  long 
suspended. 

This  reminds  me  of  an  incident  in  my  own 
experience.  The  first  revision  of  my  worl<, 
"The  Hive  and  Honey-bee."  had  been  about 
one-third  completed,  when  the  return  of  my 
disease  compelled  me  to  lay  it  aside  for  nearly 
a  year,  and  nothing  could  induce  me  to  resume 
It.  My  wife  and  mother  had  been  for  some  time 
noticing  that  the  violence  of  the  attack  seemed 
to  be  wearing  away,  and  were  daily  hoping  for 
some  more  decided  signs  of  improvement.  My 
mother,  in  joyful  excitement,  said  to  my  wife 
one  day.  "Oh!  our  dear  one  will  soon  be  well 
again,  for  I  saw  him  in  his  study,  with  his  pen 
in  his  hand."  They  had  both  learned,  from 
long  experience,  how  invariably,  in  my  case, 
were  the  cramp  mental  and  the  cramp  digital 
associated  together. 

How  often  has  Cowper's  sad  history  awaken- 
ed our  deepest  sympathy!  and  to  think  that  he 
never  recovered  from  his  last  attack,  but  passed 
away  under  the  terrible  delusion  that  he  was  a 
hopeless  outcast  from  all  God's  mercies!  Let 
me  give  some  of  its  mournful  stanzas  from  the 
last  original  piece  Cowper  ever  composed: 

THE  CAST-AWAY. 

Obscurest  night  Involved  the  sky! 

Th'  Atlantic  billows  roared, 
Wlien  sucli  a  destined  wretch  as  I, 

Washed  headlong  from  on  board. 
Of  friends,  of  liope,  of  all  bereft. 
His  floating  home  for  ever  left. 

He  long  survives  who  lives  an  hour 

In  ocean,  self -upheld; 
And  so  long  he,  with  unspent  power, 

His  destiny  repelled; 
And  ever,  as  the  minutes  flew. 
Entreated  help,  or  cried,  "Adieu!" 

No  poet  wept  him ;  but  the  page 

Of  narrative  sincere. 
That  tells  his  name,  his  worth,  his  age. 

Is  wet  with  Anson's  tear. 
And  tears  by  bards  or  heroes  shed, 
Alike  immortalize  the  dead. 

I  therefore  purpose  not,  nor  dream, 

Descanting  on  his  fate. 
To  give  the  melancholy  theme 

A  more  enduring  date; 
But  misery  still  delights  to  trace 
Its  semblance  in  another's  case. 

No  voice  divine  the  storm  allayed. 

No  light  propitious  shone; 
When,  snatclied  from  all  effectual  aid. 

We  perished,  each  alone; 
But  I  beneath  a  rougher  sea. 
And  whelmed  in  deeper  gulfs  than  he. 

Such  a  close  to  his  sorrowful  life  is  verily  one 
of  the  inscrutable  mysteries  of  Providence. 
God's  judgments  are  indeed  a  great  deep;  and 
when,  to  human  sight,  only  clouds  and  darkness 
are  round  about  him,  we  are  sure  that  justice 
as  well  as- judgment  is  the  everlasting  founda- 
tion of  his  throne,  and  that  what  we  know  not 
now  we  shall  know  hereafter. 

Blessed  be  the  teachings  of  that  Book  which 
enables  us  to  follow  the  flight  of  such  a  soul  as 
that  of  Cowper's  from  all  the  fetters  and  limi- 
tations of  diseased  flesh  and  sense  to  the  pres- 
ence of  Him  who  brought  life  and  immortality 
to  light! 

"  Through  life's  vapors  dimly  seeing. 
Who  but  longs  for  day  to  break  ? 
Oh  this  mystery  of  being! 

When,  oh  when!  shall  we  awake  ? 
Oh  the  hour  when  this  material 

Shall  have  vanished  like  a  cloud- 
When,  amid  the  wide  ethereal. 
All  th'  invisible  shall  crowd. 
And  the  naked  soul,  surrounded 

With  realities  unknown, 
Triumph  in  the  view  unbounded. 


Feel  herself  with  God  alone! 
In  that  sudden,  strange  transition. 

By  what  new  and  finer  sense 
Shall  slie  grasp  the  mighty  vision. 

And  receive  its  influence  ? 
Angels  guard  the  new  immortal 

Through  the  wonder-teeming  space. 
To  the  everlasting  portal. 

To  the  spirit's  resting-place. 
Can  I  trust  a  fellow-being  ? 

Can  I  trust  an  angel's  care  ? 
Oh  thou  merciful  All-seeing, 

Beam  around  my  spirit  there! 
Jesus!  blessed  Mediator, 

Thou  the  airy  patli  hast  trod! 
Thou  the  Judge,  the  Consummator, 

Shepherd  of  the  fold  of  God! 
Blessed  fold!  no  foe  can  enter. 

And  no  friend  departeth  thence; 
Jesus  is  their  Sun  and  Center; 

And  their  Guide,  Omnipotence. 
Blessed!  fortheLambsliall  feedtliem. 

All  their  tears  shall  wipe  away— 
To  the  living  waters  lead  them. 

Till  fruition's  perfect  day. 
Lo.  it  comes!  that  day  of  wonder; 

Louder  chorals  shake  the  skies; 
Hades'  gates  are  Inirst  asunder — 

See  thenew-clothed  myriads  rise! 
Tliouglit.  repress  thy  vain  endeavor; 

Here  must  reason  prostrate  fall; 
Oil  ih'  inefl'ahle  for  ever! 

Oh  th'  eternal  All  in  all!" 

JOSIAH  CONDER. 

Dayton,  O.,  July  14.        L.  L.  Langstroth. 


ANOTHER  BEE-KEEPERS'  UNION. 

A  SCHEME  TO  PROSECUTE  ADULTERATORS,  AND 

TO   URGE  THE  PASSAGE  OF  PURE-FOOD 

LAWS. 


I 


I  would  urge  all  honest  bee-keepers  who  meet 
in  Washington  next  fall,  to  organize  another 
bee-keepers'  union  for  the  express  purpose  of 
fighting  the  adulteration  of  honey.  I  believe 
such  a  union  would  soon  have  ten  times  the 
strength  of  our  present  one,  because  we  are  all 
interested  in  this  matter,  except  a  few  dishon- 
est ones,  and  we  will  soon  make  it  interesting 
for  them.  I  have  known  for  several  years  that 
a  large  proportion  of  the  extracted  honey  sold 
in  eastern  cities  was  adulterated.  This  is  why 
our  dark  honey  sells  for  nearly  as  much  as 
white — it  will  stand  more  glucose;  and  this  is 
why  the  price  does  not  go  up  in  a  poor  year.  I 
am  very  glad  to  hear  H.  W.  Wiley  say.  "  There 
is  no  variation  in  genuine  honey,  which  would 
make  it  similar  to  corn-starch  glucose."  And 
I  sincerely  hope  he  will  not  be  obliged  to  take  it 
back;  for  if  that  is  true,  we  can  easily  trace 
the  honey  back  to  the  adulterator,  and  then 
place  a  detective  to  watch  until  he  gets  proof 
that  will  convict  the  guilty  parties,  if  the  evi- 
dence of  the  chemist  is  not  sufficient:  but  we 
must  have  a  union  to  furnish  funds,  and  a  strict 
law  against  adulteration.  If  I  go  into  a  store 
here  and  ask  for  maple  syrup,  the  storekeeper 
asks.  "Which  do  you  want — Vermont  or  Ohio?" 

"  What  is  the  price  ?  " 

"  Vermont  is  25  cts.  per  quart,  and  Ohio  3.5." 

Now,  what  do  you  suppose  makes  this  differ- 
ence? Is  it  the  soil,  the  kind  of  trees,  or  the 
law  ?  We  know  it  is  the  Ohio  law,  and  take  the 
35-cent  can  every  time.  I  say,  give  us  laws 
that  will  increase  the  price  of  our  honey,  and  a 
union  to  see  that  they  are  enforced.  We  do  not 
make  enough  honey,  even  in  California,  to  com- 
pete with  adulterators,  and  enjoy  the  fun;  and 
I  can  not  see  how  any  honest  man  can  be  op- 
posed to  laws  that  would  remove  this  competi- 
tion. J.  F.  McIntyre. 

Fillmore,  Cal.,  July  26. 

[Mr.  McIntyre  is  on  the  right  track,  and  his 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


611 


schpiiio  should  ctMiainly  itH-i-ivo  hearty  encour- 
agenuMit.  AVhcnhcril  wnuUi  ho  host  to  organ- 
ize a  now  union  luivinii  nt>\v  functions  wo  can 
not  sav.  It  ooonrs  to  us  that  it  minht  \w  more 
feasible  to  modify  the  eonstitution  of  the  exist- 
ing Hee-l<(>epers'  Union  so  as  to  cover  the  ob- 
jects above  set  fortli.  We  iuive  no  doubt  that 
every  memlier  of  tliut  organization  would  vote 
to  have  this  cliange  made.  i)roviding  that  (Jen- 
eral-manager  Newman  should  sanction  it.  It 
may  not  be  b(>st,  however,  to  interfere  with  or 
enlarge  the  scope  of  an  organization  that  has 
already  done  great  good  by  the  precedents  in 
law  wliich  it  has  established  in  the  interest  of 
the  bee-keeper.  While  we  do  not  believe  that 
adulteration  of  our  product  has  been  carried  on 
extensively,  we  can  not  d(Miy,  in  the  face  of 
some  facts  which  have  been  brought  to  light, 
that  it  has  been  done  to  some  extent,  and  we 
therefore  need— yes.  must  have— an  organiza- 
tion whose  business  it  shall  be  to  ferret  out  the 
adulterators  and  bring  them  to  justice.  Honey 
will  probably  be  a  little  scarce  this  year,  and 
the  temptation  to  mix  in  glucose  will  be  great. 
A  union  such  as  Mr.  Mclntyre  outlines,  with 
competent,  conscientious  oflicers,  it  seems  to  us 
ought  to  secure  easilv  a  membership  of  not  less 
than  10()0.  With  annual  fees  of  iSl.OO  from  each 
member,  some  telling  and  effective  work  could 
be  done.  Let's  hear  from  you,  brother  bee- 
keepers.] 


STRAWS  FROM  OHIO. 


THIS    'ere    season,  ETC. 


Ah  me  I  it  m.akes  a  sinner  wondrous  blue 
To  see  the  bees  with  nothing  else  to  do 
Than  wonder  how  they  came  to  be  a  bee, 
And  if  they'll  ever  live  to  see 
Another  such  a  season  tlirough 
As  this  'ere  present,  1892. 

I  began  taking  off  boxes  to-day,  but  they 
were  empty. 

It's  just  fun  to  mind  the  bees  this  year— no 
swarms  nor  honey  to  bother. 

I  think  Rambler  had  better  come  home.  We 
had  better  luck  wheii  he  didn't  ramble  so  much. 

You  can't  winter  bees  on  the  40th  parallel 
without  honey  or  sugar,  or  something  like  that; 
don't  try  it. 

I  will  experiment  with  "sealed  covers"  next 
winter,  if  I  can  hnd  a  sealer.  Anyone  having 
one.  let  me  know. 

Dr.  Miller  says.  "Look  out  for  those  empty 
combs."  But,  Dr.  M.,  how  did  you  know  I  had 
any '? 

Now,  just  as  I  had  started  into  the  beeswax 
business,  cliey've  gone  and  put  the  price  down 
—loo  bad. 

Who  said.  "  Let's  quit"  ?  Don't  say  it  again, 
or  I'll  do  it:  for  about  all  I'll  have  left  by  fall 
will  t)e  the  hives  and  wire  fence. 
"  Manum's  getting  int<j  the  fruit  business,  and 
Root  into  the  patent-process  garden  business 
until  he  can't  sleep  late  in  the  morning;  won- 
der if  that  has  any  thing  to  do  with  these  poor 
seasons. 

The  McKinley  billlowered  the  price  of  sugar, 
and  honey  too.  and  he's  the  man  I  "holler  fer." 
Well.  I  don't  care.  I  have  no  honey  to  sell,  any- 
how: but  my  tariff-reform  friends  rub  it  in  so 
hard  I  don't  like  it  pretty  good. 

Manum  says  bees  haven't  paid  him,  and  I 
know  they  haven't  paid  me;  but  it  always  did 
take  me  so  long  to  find  out  any  thing.  No 
charge  for  this:  it's  free,  like  Root's  dovetailed 
fixin's;  no  patent. 

I  took  off  some  upper  stories  yesterday,  and 
the  bees  hadn't  built  a  sign  of  any  brace-combs, 
nor  any  other,  either.    This  kind  of  season  is 


the  best  preventive  I  know  of,  and   I  haven't 
Hoffman  iraniivs  cithn-. 

I  try  to  bi>  nu-rry,  but  'tis  no  use; 

My  cjisi-  is  woiuhous  liard; 
For  I  fi'el  just  :is  silly  iis  a  farmyard  goose 
When  I  go  out  into  the  l)ee-yard. 

Springfield,  O.,  July  8.     Fkank  McGlade. 


E.  FRANCE'S  REPORT  FOR  1892. 


NEARLY  .500  COLONIES.  AND   LITTLE  OR  NO 
HONEY. 


We  went  into  the  winter  of  1891  with  about 
(300  colonies.  I  say  (ihout,  for  I  don't  know  ex- 
actly. We  always  count  our  bees  in  the  spring, 
after  the  season  is  far  enough  advanced  so  we 
are  sure  that  tliere  will  not  be  any  more  losses. 
We  pay  rent  for  our  locations,  25  cts.  for  each 
colony,  spring  count,  so  we  know  and  keep  rec- 
ord of  each  yard,  spring  count.  We  seldom 
count  up  in  fall.  In  the  spring  of  1891  we  had 
580  colonies.  We  made  but  very  little  increase 
last  year.  We  lost  none  during  the  winter  ex- 
cept a  few  queenless  stocks.  In  fact,  that  is  the 
cause  of  most  of  our  losses.  Some  queens  get 
old  and  die  at  times  when  they  can  not  be 
raised:  then,  of  course,  the  colony  is  gone  up. 
Our  bees  came  through  the  last  winter  in  good 
order.  Up  to  the  first  of  May  we  never  had 
them  look  better.  They  were  strong  and 
healthy;  plenty  of  drones  hatched  and  flying 
the  last  days  of  April.  Then  it  began  to  rain, 
and  it  rained  about  all  the  time,  or  nearly  every 
day,  until  the  second  day  of  July;  since  then 
we  have  not  had  any  too  much  rain.  I  heard 
one  man  say  that  it  rained  40  days  in  May  and 
.50  in  June.  Of  course,  he  was  a  little  off;  but 
if  he  had  said  that  it  rained  that  many  times 
during  those  two  months,  I  don't  think  he 
would  have  been  far  out  of  the  way.  It  not 
only  rained,  but  it  was  cold,  so  if  a  bee  did  go 
out  between  showers  its  chances  were  that  it 
never  got  home  again:  at  any  rate,  the  bees 
were  stronger  the  middle  of  May  than  they 
were  the  first  of  July.  Thev  had  to  live  and 
breed  up  on  what  they  had  left  of  their  winter's 
stores.  Thanks  to  France's  motto  (that  a  great 
deal  too  much  honey  for  winter  stores  is  just 
enough).  That  was  all  that  saved  the  bees 
this  time— not  the  motto,  but  the  honey  that 
was  in  the  hive  last  fall.  It  lasted  them  until 
July.  But  many  of  them  were  in  a  starving 
condition  at  that  time. 

July  came  in  with  very  little  clover  in  blos- 
som; but  a  few  days  of  ifair  weather  improved 
the  clover.  Now  there  is  an  abundance  of  clo- 
ver, but  there  is  not  much  honey  in  it.  Bass- 
wood  is  now  in  full  blossom,  but  there  is  not 
more  than  a  fourth  of  the  trees  that  bloom  this 
year,  and  the  bees  don't  work  much  on  them. 
They  are  getting  a  little  honey,  but  it  comes  in 
slowly,  and  is  very  thin.  We  have  .560  colonies, 
almost  all  very  strong  now;  but  at  this  date, 
July  24,  only  one  swarm,  and  not  a  pound  of 
surplus  honey.  From  the  present  outlook,  if 
the  bees  gel  their  winter  supply  it  is  all  they 
will  do.  We  are  very  anxious  to  save  the  bees 
until  next  year,  as  1  V)elieve  next  year  will  be 
the  best  honey  year  that  we  ever  had.  for  next 
year  will  be  tlie  regular  basswood  year,  and 
there  are  millions  of  young  white  clover  that 
came  up  this  wet  season.  We  will  try  to  save 
the  bees,  and  live  in  hopes.  This  year  we  got 
every  thing  ready  for  a  big  crop— did  every 
thing  we  could  in  advance.  The  first  of  May  I 
saw  no  reason  for  a  failure  But  such  is  life. 
I  used  to  think  there  was  nothing  in  luck— that 
a  man  made  his  own  luck,  and  to  a  great  extent 
I  think  so  yet;  but  in  such  years  as  this  the 
best  must  "fall   behind,  or,  in  other  words,  will 


6r2 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


fail  to  secure  a  crop  of  honey.  Il  is  these  bad 
years  that  try  a  man's  ability  to  handle  large 
lots  of  bees.  One  has  to  look  sharp  if  he  holds 
his  own  and  keeps  his  stock  up.  It  will  take 
about  18,000  lbs.  of  honey  to  winter  our  bees.  I 
am  in  hopes  they  will  gatlipr  it:  if  not,  they 
will  have  to  be  fed  sugar  to  make  it  up.  I 
should  guess  they  have  about  half  enough  now 
to  winter  them.  I  am  glad  of  so  much;  and  if 
they  winter  themselves  without  the  expense  of 
sugar  we  shall  be  very  glad.  There  is  one  thing 
to  make  us  glad.  We  have  all  the  supplies  that 
will  be  wanted  until  we  do  get  a  crop  of  honey. 
There  will  be  but  little  expense  next  year — only 
to  harvest  the  crop,  if  we  have  it. 

As  for  the  experiments  that  I  was  thinking  of 
for  this  year,  I  am  not  doing  any  thing  about  it. 
So  far  I  have  had  no  swarms  to  work  with.  It 
is  a  bad  year  to  make  experiments;  every  thing 
Is  out  of  its  natural  course,  and  I  could  not 
prove  any  thing  if  I  tried  to. 

It  is  now  July  30.  The  clover  and  basswood 
are  both  done,  and  the  bees  have  about  half 
enough  to  winter  them— poor  prospects  for  them 
to  get  any  more.  Some  two  or  three  yards, 
however,  have  some  buckwheat  near  them. 
There  are  bushels  of  bees  lying  out  this  hot 
weather.  The  honey  came  in  so  slowly  that 
brood-rearing  used  the  most  of  it  up  as  it  was 
gathered,  and  there  are  yet  large  quantities  of 
brood  in  the  combs.  We  can  not  do  any  thing 
with  them.  If  we  open  a  hive,  the  robbers  are 
on  hand  in  a  moment.  In  fact,  take  a  smoker 
and  blow  the  smoke  over  the  grass  and  there 
will  be  a  large  number  of  bees  hovering  over 
the  grass  and  crawling  over  it  for  an  hour  aft- 
erward; and  just  blow  a  few  whitTs  of  smoke 
in  at  the  entrance  of  a  hive,  and  the  robbers 
will  be  crowding  in  in  a  minute:  in  fact,  I  nev- 
er saw  the  robbers  so  bad  before.  But  so  far 
there  is  no  trouble  if  we  let  the  bees  alone. 
They  are  not  cross,  and  we  can  go  all  about  the 
yards,  stand  around,  sit  down  on  a  hive,  and 
they  don't  object. 

So  much  for  the  bees  and  honey  crop.  How 
they  come  out  at  the  end  of  the  season  I  will 
report  latt'r.  E.France. 

Platteville,  Wis. 


CAUSE    OF   SWARMING. 


DK.  MILLEK  AGAIN  HAS  TO  SAY,  "  I  DON't  KNOW." 


Of  all  the  will-o'-the-wisps  I  know  about, 
the  prevention  of  swarming  is  one  of  the  worst. 
Some  plausible  theory  entices  you,  the  thing 
seems  just  within  reach;  but,  alas!  when  the 
theory  is  put  to  the  test  you  find  the  object  of 
your  search  just  as  far  off  as  ever.  I  think  a 
great  majority  of  bee-keepers  would  esteem  it 
a  great  gain  if  a  non-swarming  race  of  bees 
should  be  found,  or  if  some  one  should  discover 
a  plan  not  diflficult  of  application,  by  which  we 
could  make  sure  of  a  strong  colony  of  bees  going 
through  the  entire  season  storing  comb  honey 
without  ever  attempting  to  swarm. 

It  is  true,  that  some  say  it  is  best  to  let  each 
colony  swarm  once;  but  those  same  persons 
think  it  would  be  a  gain  if  the  bees  should  not 
(lestre  to  swarm  that  once.  But  believing  that 
there  is  no  way  yet  known  to  thwart  that  de- 
sire, they  thiiik  it  best  to  yield  to  the  inevita- 
ble. 

As  a  general  rule,  the  first  thing  in  attempt- 
ing to  remedy  or  prevent  a  disease  is  to  find  out 
the  cause.  So  it  is  a  matter  of  prime  interest 
to  discover  what  it  is  that  causes  swarming. 
And  so  important  is  this  that  it  may  be  worth 
while  to  indulge  in  a  great  deal  of  speculating, 
a  great  deal  of  experimenting,  in  the  hope  that 


some  one  may  be  fortunate  enough  to  make  the 
happy  discovery. 

I  think  it  was  a  few  years  ago  that  Hasty,  in 
reply  to  a  question,  said  he  thought  the  bees 
wanted  to  swarm  because  the  glands  which  se- 
creted the  food  for  the  larvie  became  surcharg- 
ed. At  the  time  it  did  not  seem  very  clear  to 
me  how  there  could  be  any  close  connection 
between  the  two;  but  of  late  a  writer  in  one  of 
the  German  bee-journals  has  somewhat  care- 
fully elaborated  the  idea,  making  it  seem  quite 
plausible.  Whether  he  had  got  the  idea  from 
Hasty,  or  started  out  on  a  fresh  track  for  him- 
self, i  do  not  know. 

His  reasoning  was  something  like  this: 
Starting  out  in  the  spring,  the  queen  is  capable 
of  laying  more  eggs  than  the  workers  can  care 
for.  An  increase  of  bees  is  followed  by  an 
increase  of  laying,  and  for  some  time  the 
increase  of  each  goes  hand  in  hand.  Finally 
the  queen  I'eaches  her  limit  in  laying  at  a  time 
when  there  are  thousands  of  young  bees  con- 
stantly coming  on,  and  thus  they  are  thrown 
out  of  balance.  The  queen  becomes  stationaiw 
in  her  work,  if,  indeed,  she  does  not  fall  off, 
while  the  increase  of  nurse-bees  is  greatei'  than 
ever.  The  food  pi-epared  by  the  vast  throng 
can  not  all  be  utilized.  The  congested  organs 
of  the  nurses  cause  a  feverish  condition,  and 
swarming  seems  the  only  relief.  Incidentally, 
it  occurs  that  some  relief  comes  from  building 
comb,  from  feeding  a  larger  number  of  drones, 
but  especially  from  depositing  large  quantities 
of  the  elaborated  food  in  the  form  of  royal  jelly 
in  a  numoer  of  queen-cells.  But  with  all  this 
there  is  still  a  large  surplus  of  food  elaborated 
with  no  young  bees  to  consume  it,  and  then 
comes  swarming. 

I  was  curious  to  know  if  that  genius.  Hasty, 
had  any  additional  light  on  the  subject,  and 
wrote  asking  him  about  it,  as  to  whether  he 
made  up  the  theory  all  out  of  his  own  head,  or 
where  he  got  it.  He  replied  that,  so  far  as  he 
remembered,  he  had  not  met  with  the  theory 
elsewhere,  and  then  saved  me  the  trouble  of 
putting  the  theory  to  the  test  by  saying:  •"  The 
next  season  I  tried  to  utilize  the  theory  to  pre- 
v(Mit  second  swarms  by  keeping  the  colony  sup- 
plied with  young  brood.  Probably  a  supply  of 
young  brood  does  tend  thnt  way  a  little,  but  it 
does  not  tend  that  way  hard  enough  to  stop  the 
fever  when  once  begun.  The  fatal  defect  is, 
that  in  furnishing  young  brood  you  also  have  to 
furnish  them  with  the  means  of  keeping  up 
the  row  indefinitely,  and  they'll  do  it.'' 

A  writer  in  a  late  number  of  the  ^4.  B.  J.  de- 
clares in  a  very  positive  manner  that  the  one 
sole  cause  of  swarming  is  the  playing-out  of 
the  queen,  and  that  in  all  cases  tlie  queen  is 
soon  superseded  after  swarming.  I  think  very 
few  bee-keepers  of  experience  would  accept 
this  theory  after  studying  over  it  a  very  little. 
For  one  thing,  I  think  facts  will  hardly  carry 
otit  the  assertion  that  a  queen  that  has  gone 
out  with  a  swarm  is  promptly  superseded. 
Does  not  a  laying  queen  that  heads  a  swarm 
often  lead  out  a  swarm  the  next  season?  An- 
other proof  against  it  I  find  in  looking  over  my 
record-book  of  last  year.  In  that  I  find  plenty 
of  instances  in  which  queen-cells  with  eggs  in 
them  were  destroyed  and  the  bees  gave  up, 
either  for  a  time  or  entirely,  the  idea  of  swarm- 
ing. To  a  less  extent  the  same  was  true  when 
grubs  in  cells  or  sealed  cells  were  destroyed. 
Now.  if  the  queen  was  too  old,  she  kept  getting 
older,  making  the  bees  still  more  anxious  to 
swarm,  if  the  theory  be  true. 

But  the  Hasty  theory  is  not  so  readily  refut- 
ed. Hasty's  test  was  not  a  conclusive  one.  if  he 
is  right  that,  with  the  cure,  he  furnished  also 
an  aggravation  of  the  disease.  Still,  I  haven't 
as  much  faith  in  it  as  I  had.    If  the  supply  of 


1S92 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


013 


hont'V  foasos,  oitlitM-  hocauso  tht>  flow  in  tlio 
iioltis  stops  or  hci-ausi"  tho  liivt>  has  liccn  riMiiov- 
ed  so  as  to  lose  its  Held  foii-(>,  tlic  hi'cs  }^ivt>  up 
all  idea  of  swarming,  altliongii  Iho  iinrsc-hoi^s 
HP'  just  as  nuK-ii  suiviiargod  as  ovci-.  It  luifjiit 
lio  answcivd.  iioweviT,  that,  when  th<>  (low 
oeasos.  the  uufscs  do  not  cat  so  niiii-ii.  and  that 
stops  tin'  ifoiihlc.  l?ut  Willi  aluindant  stoivs 
in  tho  hiv<\  may  the  nurses  not  oat  just  as 
much  as  if  it  woro  coining  in  regularly  ? 

Hut  litMv's  an  objection  that-I  can't  so  readily 
get  over.  Dadant  vV;  Son,  with  their  large 
hives,  have  almost  no  swarming.  Now.  is 
there  not  the  same  chance  there  for  the  nurse- 
b(>es  to  get  out  of  balance  with  the  larviO  to  be 
fed  as  there  is  in  smaller  hives? 

If  anv  brother  knows.  I  hope  he  will  please 
rise  an^  answer  the  QU(>stion.  just  this  one 
question.  '"  Wlidt  is  the  rrju.se  of  swarming  f^' 

Marengo.  111.,  July  23.  C.  C.  Miller. 


EAMBLE   NO.  65. 


A  pkovidence:  rambler  at  home. 


There  are  times  in  our  lives  when  it  seems 
that  some  hidden  influence  is  guiding  our  foot- 
steps: and  it  is  so  plainly  felt,  and   the  results 


viousjy  mentioned  premonition  waned:  and 
when  I  arrived  in  Kedlands,  nearly  twenty 
luiles  away,  though  iu)t  extinct,  it  was  very 
diiu.  Kediands  is  the  liead<(uarters  of  the 
honey-producing  lirni  of  Wheeler  i<:  Hunt,  who 
own  many  apiaries,  and  to  whom  I  had  been 
directed,  with  the  assurance  that  thev  wck^ 
generous  and  square-dealing  m(!n,  all  of  which 
I  have  since  found  to  be  true. 

Mr.  Hunt  is  the  lield-marshal  of  the  honey- 
gathering  hosts,  and  Mr.  Wheeler  superintends 
the  Rose  gold-mine  up  in  the  mountains  be- 
yond the  Cajon  Pass,  in  which  he  has  a  large 
amount  of  capital  invested;  so  if  the  honey- 
mine  is  a  failure,  the  gold-mine  makes  a  awnl 
backing  to  the  business.  I  found  Mr.  Hunt 
and  one  of  his  helpers,  Mr.  Curl,  who,  by  the 
way,  was  formerly  a  workman  at  the  "  Home 
of  the  Honey-bees."  at  work  in  liis  shop,  sur- 
rounded by  a  wilderness  of  hives,  section-cases, 
and  the  hundred  and  one  traps  found  in  all 
large  apiaries.  After  the  usual  salutations, 
and  the  comparing  of  notes  on  the  delightful 
weather,  and  as  to  how  we  all  were  impressed 
with  the  beauties  and  advantages  of  California. 
I  seated  myself  on  the  end  of  an  up-turned 
bee-hive  and  proceeded  to  business  by  asking 
him  whether,  among  his  numerous  apiaries,  he 
had  one  for  sale  or  to  rent  that  was  worked  ex- 
clusively for  extracted  honey. 


uivKiisiDK  apiai:y,  operatei*  by  i;amhli<;h. 


soclearly  defined  for  our  good,  that  it  has  been 
variously  termed  as  "chance,"  or  to  the  power 
of  a  spirit,  or  to  Providence.  The  last  term 
seems  to  be,  the  broadest,  and  to  include  all  of 
the  rest:  and  though  the  Rambler  may  be  un- 
worthy of  it.  he  feels  many  times  the  guidance 
of  a  Providence,  and  the  promptings  of  a  con- 
science in  thi^  small  affairs  of  life,  and  especial- 
ly so  in  this  search  for  an  apiary,  as  the  sequel 
will  show. 

When  I  had   strayed   beyond   the   bounds  of 
Riverside  in  my  search  for  an  apiary,  my  pre- 


"  No,"'  said  he:  "  we  hire  men  by  the  month, 
and  have  better  results  that  way  than  to  rent. 
If  we  rent  an  apiary  of  200  swarms,  and  it  is  a 
good  season,  there;  is  a  chance  for  the  jjerson 
working  the  apiary  to  make  a  thousand  dollars. 
The  average  yield  in  a  good  season  is  not  less 
than  20(J  lbs.  per  colony,  while  we  sometimes 
get  three  and  four  hundred  from  an  occasional 
colony:  and  we  have  never  had  a  season  that 
has  failed  to  give  us  enough  to  pay  our  help 
and  have  some  to  spare." 

This  strain  of  talk  was  very  encouraging  in 


bi4 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


one  sense,  and  discouraging  in   another;   and, 
as  the  lawyers  say,  we  rested  the  case. 

That  night  Mr.  H.  must  have  enjoyed  very 
pleasant  dreams;  for  in  the  morning  he  relent- 
ed from  his  previous  position,  and  said  that 
their  most  remote  apiary,  near  Riverside,  he 
would  rent  providing  Mr.  Wheeler  had  not 
already  rented  it;  but  Mr.  W.  was  at  the  gold- 
mine, and  it  would  take  a  week  to  hear  from 
him.  How  those  few  words  did  elevate  my 
hopes,  only  to  be  jounced  down  again!  I  re- 
solved to  hold  on  to  this  hope,  but  at  the  same 
time  pursue  a  further  search.  Train  time  in 
an  hour;  live  minutes'  walk;  umbrella,  grip, 
and  hat  near  at  hand.  Just  then  Mr.  Gunther, 
a  bee-keeper  of  Redlands,  a  very  pleasant  young 
gentleman,  and  locally  noted  for  his  musical 
talents,  came  in,  and  the  conversation  flowed 
so  pleasantly  that  the  hour  passed,  and  the 
train    also.     But    this    is  a  very  enterprising 


the  settlement  seemed  to  be  very  thrifty.  Here 
was  formerly  an  adobe  mission;  but  the  walls 
have  crumbled  to  dust,  and  all  that  remains  to 
mark  the  site  and  to  remind  one  that  people 
were  called  here  to  worship  is  an  old  Mexican 
copper  bell.  Some  kind  hands  rescued  it  from 
the  ruins,  and  it  is  suspended  from  the  broken 
branch  of  a  dead  cotton  wood -tree,  mute  and 
tongueless.  To  the  lover  of  the  chiming  bells 
this  one  is  in  a  condition  to  excite  sentimental 
and  retrospective  thoughts. 

I  found  the  apiary  of  15.3  colonies  located 
upon  th-  northeastern  point  of  the  Jurupa 
range  of  hills,  and  in  front  of  it  was  the  broad 
Cucaraonga  Valley,  bounded  in  the  distance  by 
the  snow-capped  San  Bei'uardino  mountains. 
It  was  a  mile  from  any  occupied  dwelling;  and 
as  far  as  loneliness  is  concerned  it  would  suit 
almost  any  hermit.  Water,  that  necessary  ar- 
ticle  for  man,  beast,  bee.  or  vegetation,  was  a 


THE   CABIN   WHERE   KAMBbER   KEEPS   BACHELOR'S    HALL. 


country.  There  are  two  railroads,  and  trains 
run  often;  but  before  the  next  one  arrived, 
something  happened.  Mr.  Wheeler,  the  much- 
unexpected  and  much-wanted,  arrived,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  I  learned  that  I  could  have  the 
Riverside  apiary  if  it  suited  me.  Of  course.  I 
knew  it  would  suit,  or,  in  other  words,  I  would 
iivike  it  do  so. 

With  the  burden  of  doubt  and  uncertainty 
rolled  away,  it  was  with  a  felicitous  feeling 
that  I  started  out  with  the  stalwart  Mr.  Curl 
thn  next  forenoon  for  a  ride  of  a  dozen  miles  to 
inspect  the  apiary.  My  escort  was  also  in  a 
felicitous  state  of  mind,  and  beguiled  the  jour- 
ney with  stories  and  bee- talk,  and  calling  at- 
tention to  things  of  interest  by  the  way.  Within 
two  miles  of  the  apiary  we  passed  through  an 
old  Spanish  settlement,  and  these  people  were  to 
be  ray  most  numerous  neighbors.  Their  adobe 
houses  and  wide  verandas  had  an  air  of  com- 
fort; and  from  the  number  of  urchins  around. 


mile  away;  and  what  was  used  had  to  be  car- 
ried by  horse  or  man  power.  The  ground  all 
around  the  apiary  was  littered  with  tin  cans, 
packing-cases,  and  various  utensils.  A  very 
good  honey-house,  12x8  feet,  a  six-ton  honey- 
tank,  and  a  sun  wax-extractor,  were  on  the 
grounds.  The  wax-extractors  used  in  Califor- 
nia are  no  such  small  things  as  we  find  in  the 
East.  The  glass  surface  is  usually  23^x5  feet, 
and  sometimes  much  larger,  and  they  are 
capable  of  reducing  to  wax  all  the  combs  in  an 
apiary.  It  was  something  of  a  nov(>lty  to  ex- 
amine the  colonies  in  mid-winter,  and  find  them 
carrying  in  pollen  and  rearing  brood,  and  in  as 
flourishing  a  condition  as  we  usually  find  them 
in  the  East  in  May.  Remembering  some  of  my 
disastrous  wintering  experiences  I  exclaimed  to 
Mr.  Curl: 

"  What  a  terror  in  the  shape  of  winter  the 
California  bee-keeper  does  escape!" 

'•  Yes,"  said  he;  "  the  only  terror  here  is  now 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


615 


and  then  a  short  honey  st^ason  and  starvation; 
and  there  is  no  excuse  for  even  that  if  proper 
care  is  tal<i'n/" 

Tlie  mention  of  starvation  had  a  wonderful 
effect  upon  my  y:uitie:  and  witli  a  rai)id  stride 
he  started  for  our  liasii-tiasUet.  It  was  diinier- 
tinie:  and  liis  favorit(>  cotTee-ni>t.  wiiieli.  iil<e 
tiie  Irisliman's  pipe,  tlw  l)lacKer  it  was  tli(» 
better  tlu»  contents,  was  soon  sininierinjj  over  a 
pile  of  dry  greasewood  twigs.  My  friend  looked 
so  poetical  starting  the  tire  that  my  piMicil 
caught  him.  The  sketch  is  wondrously  like 
starting  a  western  town.  The  next  stage  would 
be  a  stove,  a  rude  table,  and  a  blanket  to  sleep 


HOW    RAMBLER  S     COMPAXIOX    MAKES    COFFEE. 

on:  then  a  cabin  would  grow  around  the  table 
and  the  stove,  and  by  and  by  a  village. 

The  land  whereon  we  ate  our  dinner  is  owned 
by  the  Semi-tropical  Land  and  Water  Co.;  and 
afterward,  in  looking  at  their  maps,  1  found  we 
were  anticipated  in  our  starting  a  town,  for  the 
apiary  was  appropriately  located  at  the  end  of 
Linden  Avenue.  A  great  amount  of  grease- 
wood  and  other  brush  will,  however,  have  to  be 
grubbed  out  before  the  avenue  materializes. 

My  Riverside  premonition  being  fultilled,  I 
made  that  place  my  headquarters  and  went  out 
daily  and  put  the  apiary  in  better  shape  than 
when  I  tirst  saw  it.  A  great  many  out-apiaries 
in  this  country  are  run  on  the  slam-bang  prin- 
ciple. Having  many  to  attend  t.o,  the  work  is 
done  up  in  a  hurry,  and  some  things  are  neces- 
sarily slighted.  Then,  again,  it  is  only  occa- 
sionally that  a  hired  man  understands  his  work 
thoroughly  and  does  it  faithfully.  »Such  as  do 
this  are  in  demand  at  all  times. 

The  greatest  evil  I  found  in  this  apiary  was 
the  waste  of  bees  from  drowning  in  their  own 
sweets.  Several  0()-lb.  cans,  half  full  of  honey, 
were  left  with  the  screw  cap  off.  and,  of  course, 
the  can  was  well  filled  with  dead  bees.  An  un- 
known amount  of  honey  was  left  in  the  tank; 
an  insecure  cover  let  the  bees  in.  and  over 
three  bushels  of  the  dead  were  thrown  out. 
The  blame  for  loose  covers,  etc..  might  be  laid 
to  meddlesome  parties  who  are  prone  to  examine 
such  things  and  carelessly  leave  them  open. 
The  Rambler  was  occupied  many  days  in  clean- 
ing up  and  in  i)uilding  a  lean-to  and  workshop 
by  the  side  of  the  extractfng-house.  When 
completed,  and  a  spring  bed,  chair,  table,  oil- 
stove,  etc..  added.  I  felt  much  at  home,  and 
have  enjoyed  living  in  it  many  days  at  a  time; 
but  Sunday  usually  found  me  in  my  other  home 
in  Riverside  among  the  comforts  of  civilization. 
Like  Henry  Thoreau.  the  Concord  philosopher 
who  retired  to  a  lone  cabin  in  the  woods  to 
study  the  effects  of  isolation  from  his  kind, 
I  have  become  quite  well  acquainted  with  ani- 
mal life.  The  cotton-tailed  rabbit,  though 
much  hunted,  is  quite  numerous  and  quite 
domestic  when  unmolested.  A  half-dozen  of 
them  will  come  within  20  feet  of  my  cabin  door 
at  evening  and  gnaw  at  a  pile  of  refuse  thrown 


from  the  wax-extractor,  showing  iheir  appre- 
ciation of  tlie  products  of  the  hive.  The  gray 
squirrel  also  has  a  taste  for  the  same  pile,  and 
gambols  around  and  on  the  roof  of  my  cal)in. 
The  lark  and  the  mockingliird,  especially  the 
latter,  lill  the  air  willi  the  richest  and  most 
varied  music;  and  at  evening  will  drop  down 
in  front  of  the  door  for  any  stray  crumbs  I  may 
throw  out.  Occasionally  in  the  night  a  band 
of  coyotes  have  added  their  discordant  notes 
t)y  giving  a  serenade  from  the  rocks  above. 
The  dandy,  however,  among  my  numerous 
companions,  is  the  festive  skunk.  I  have  one 
special  pet,  with  a  beautifully  mottled  back, 
that  comes  from  his  den  under  the  wax- 
extractor  just  as  the  evening  shadows  fall,  and, 
raising  his  hind  feet  and  tail  high  in  the  air, 
will  waltz  back  and  foith  within  20  feet  of  me, 
and.  with  his  gracefully  waving  tail,  says  si- 
lently, but  plainly,  "Come  if  you  dare."  But 
he  does  it.  I  suppos<',  for  the  edification  and 
amusement  of  the  lonely  Rambler. 


MILKWEED. 


WHAT    SPECIES    DOES   AND    DOES    NOT    DISABLE 
BEES. 

Mention  is  made  in  the  A  B  C  of  the  mis- 
chievous properties  of  Asclepias  corniiti  in 
gumming  the  feet  of  bees  and  thereby  disabling 
them;  and  the  plant  is.  therefore,  rightly  con- 
demned. The  remarks  justly  apply  to  the 
variety  in  question;  but  a  distinction  should  be 
made  in  favor  of  Asclepins  tuberosa.  which  is 
one  of  the  most  valuable  honey-plants  of  this 
vicinity,  from  the  tirst  to  the  middle  of  July. 
It  is  not  chargeable  with  the  mentioned  objec- 
tion of  the  other  varieties,  and  is  a  rich  honey- 
plant,  furnishing  a  good  quality  of  honey.  It 
grows  on  sterile  soil,  and  flourishes  under  con- 
ditions that  would  be  fatal  to  most  other  honey- 
plants.  Bee  men  should  not  ignorantly  cut  it 
down.  If  they  are  not  botanists  they  may 
know  it  from  the  injurious  varieties  of  milk- 
weed by  its  rich  orange  or  scarlet  colored 
flowers,  which  are  really  ornamental,  and  from 
the  fact  that,  when  the  leaves  or  plants  are  cut 
or  broken  they  show  no  milk  exuding  from  the 
wound. 

DLSTURBING    BEES  TO   MAKE   THEM   BUILD 
COMB. 

You  note  on  page  17(i,  A  B  C,  that  disturbing 
certain  swarms  of  bees  resulted  in  their  gorg- 
ing themselves  with  honey,  which  had  the 
etfect  to  start  them  to  building  comb.  Will, 
then,  alarming  bees  frequently  —  as,  for  in- 
stance, pounding  on  their  hive,  cause  them  to 
build  more  comb  than  they  otherwise  would  in 
case  you  should  wish  them  to  build  comb? 
Would  it  s(!rve  as  a  reliable  method?  Some- 
times bees  seem  to  be  averse  to  building  comb, 
even  on  fresh  foundation,  when  it  is  really 
needed. 

DO  BEES  TREAT  EACH  OTHER  FOR  INDISPO.SI- 
TION  ? 

From  my  observation  I  believe  that  bees 
treat  one  another  at  times  for  indisposition. 
You  will  sometimes  see  a  bee.  and  often  as 
many  as  three  at  once,  going  all  over  another 
and  pushing  and  pressing  it  with  their  fore  feet, 
as  if  they  were  administering  a  kind  of  massage 
treatment.  It,  in  the  meantime,  will  liold 
quiet  and  take  the  dose  in  best  good  nature. 
They  are  not  cleaning  it,  but  appear  to  be  rub- 
bing out  its  rheumatic  pains.  It  reminds  me 
sometimes  of  a  barber  shampooing  a  customer. 
No  doubt  many  have  observed  the  fact. 


616 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


HOW  YOUNG  QUEENS  ARE  LOST  BV  GOING  INTO 
THE  WRONG  ENTRANCE. 

Young  queens  are  undoubtedly  sometimes 
lost  in  returning  from  their  wedding-flight  by 
entering  the  wrong  hive.  I  saw  one  of  mine  do 
this  one  afternoon.  It  caused  a  great  commo- 
tion in  the  colony,  and  I  thought  by  their  pour- 
ing out  they  would  certainly  swarm.  The  next 
morning  I  found  an  adjoining  hive  without  a 
queen,  and,  in  looking  into  the  other  hive,  I 
found  two  queens.  As  I  did  not  wish  to  trans- 
fer one  of  them  just  then,  I  placed  the  combs 
they  were  on  on  opposite  sides  of  the  hive,  and 
ventured  to  leave  them  both  in  until  the  next 
day.  When  I  went  to  hunt  them  next  morning 
I  found  them  both  on  the  same  side  of  a  comb, 
and  within  four  inches  of  each  other.  They 
would  probably  soon  have  come  to  a  conflict. 
When  I  placed  one  of  these  in  the  queenless 
hive,  to  my  great  alarm  the  bees  immediately 
balled  her  in  a  most  furious  manner.  Having 
some  thin  sugar  syrup  near  I  dropped  this  cau- 
tiously on  the  mass  of  bees,  and  they  soon 
turned  their  attention  to  cleaning  themselves 
up,  and  gradually  released  the  queen.  The 
next  morning  she  was  all  right  and  laying.  I 
have  since  used  the  same  remedy  in  bad  cases 
of  balling,  and  always  with  entire  success. 

Elkhart,  Ind.,  July  26.  C.  H.  Murray. 

[The  case  to  which  you  refer  under  '"Hybrids" 
was  intended  to  show  that  dark  hybrids,  when 
the  hive  was  opened,  and  sutticient  smoke  was 
given  them  to  subdue,  would  sometimes  uncap 
the  honey.  We  doubt  whether  it  would  work 
generally  in  inducing  them  to  build  comb  after 
uncapping  their  honey,  particularly  after  the 
honey-flow — certainly  not  with  gentle  bees  or 
Italians. 

Bees  will  sometimes  pick  over  their  fellows, 
as  you  describe.  Bees  slightly  afl'ected  with 
paralysis  are  often  subjected  to  this  treatment 
from  the  other  healthy  bees.  In  our  back  vol- 
umes this  sort  of  picking  was  attributed  at  the 
time  to  a  mistake  of  the  bees  in  getting  into  the 
wrong  entrance.  The  strange  bees  do  not  act 
like  robbers,  and  hence  are  not  so  summarily 
dealt  with  as  in  the  case  of  actual  robbing. 

Young  queens  very  often,  in  returning  from 
their  matihg-tour,  get  into  the  wrong  entrance.] 


THE  "CURRANT-WORMS." 


BEE-KILLING  BUGS,   ETC. 

Mr.  Root: — You  were  right  regarding  currant- 
worms,  and  Mr.  J.  E.  Crane  was  in  error.  The 
insects  spend  the  winter  in  the  earth,  just  be- 
neath the  leaves,  at  the  base  of  the  bushes,  in  a 
thick  paperlike  cocoon.  Often,  before  the  leaves 
are  all  unrolled  from  the  buds,  the  yellow  saw- 
flies  come  forth  and  lay  their  70  or  80  white  eggs 
along  the  veins  on  the  under  side  of  the  young 
leaves.  These  eggs  will  be  seen  in  early  spring 
on  the  lower  leaves,  and  look  like  strings  of 
beads.  Soon  the  little  larv;e,  the  so  called 
"worms,"  hatch  out  and  commence  to  eat,  and 
perforate  the  leaves  so  that  they  look  sievelike. 
As  they  grow,  like  all  insect  larvie  they  shed 
their  skins,  and  soon  they  are  green,  dotted 
with  black.  In  three  or  four  weeks  they  are 
full  grown,  and  go  into  the  ground,  or  just  be- 
neath the  old  leaves,  and  spin  their  cocoons,  in 
which  they  pupate.  In  a  week  or  two  another 
brood  of  flies  comes  forth,  and  the  same  round 
is  repeated,  except  that  these  pass  the  entire 
winter  as  pupit.  As  Mr.  Crane  says,  white 
hellebore — one  ounce  to  a  pailful  of  water — will 
kill  them,  and  should  be  put  on  as  soon  as  the 
small  holes  show  that  the  insects  are  at  work, 


before  the  leaves  are  fully  out.  I  And  a  very 
dilute  mixture  of  London  purple  or  Paris  green 
—  half  a  teaspoonful  to  two  gallons  of  water  — 
will  kill  them  quickly.  It  is  much  more  effec- 
tive than  the  hellebore;  and  as  every  gardener 
or  orchardist  will  have  it  at  hand  it  will  often 
be  more  convenient  than  the  hellebore.  No 
one  need  fear  harm  from  the  poison.  So  little 
is  used,  and  this  at  so  early  a  date,  not  a  trace 
will  be  on  the  currants  when  ready  for  picking. 

PARIS   GREEN   FOR   POTATO-BEETLES. 

Mr.  J.  E.  Walker  (see  Gleanings  for  July  1) 
is  quite  wrong  in  suggesting  that  you  can  not 
poison  mature  potato-beetles  with  London  pur- 
ple and  Paris  green.  I  always  apply  it  on  the 
potatoes  as  soon  as  they  are  up,  and  always  kill 
the  mature  beetles,  and  so  prevent  egg-laying. 
This  is  a  sure  remedy,  and  saves  much  work.  I 
apply  it  to  the  young  vines  by  sprinkling  it  on 
dry,  mixed  with  plaster,  1  lb.  to  7,5  of  the  plas- 
ter. Later  I  spray  the  potato-vines,  when  they 
get  large,  using  1  lb.  of  poison  to  200  gallons  of 
water.  Let  all  remember  Prof.  Gillett's  discov- 
ery, that  a  little  fresh  lime,  thoroughly  slacked, 
mixed  with  the  London  purple  and  water,  will 
prevent  all  burning  of  the  foliage.  We  may 
use  two  or  three  pounds  to  one  of  London  pur- 
ple.   This  is  a  very  important  discovery. 

THE   WHITE   HAIRY   COW-KILLER. 

There  is  a  large,  hairy,  ant-like,  wingless  in- 
sect, found  from  Indiana  south  to  the  Gulf,  that 
is  red,  banded  with  black.  It  has  no  wings, 
and  can  sting  with  terrible  efl'ect.  I  suppose 
that  is  why  it  is  called  cow-killer.  It  sometimes 
kills  bees.  I  have  illustrated  this  insect  in  my 
Manual,  p.  427.  I  have  just  received  another 
species  of  cow-killer,  much  resembling  the  pre- 
ceding in  form  and  size,  but  covered  above  with 
long  white  hair,  and  beneath  with  very  black 
hair.  This  comes  from  M.  H.  Mendelson,  Ven- 
tura, California.  The  name  of  the  insect  is 
Sphcvro  opthKlmus  s((cl<e)ui.  He  says  it  is 
common  in  orchards  and  timbered  lands.  Mr. 
M.  has  discovered  that  this  species,  like  our 
ea'stern  cow-killer,  can  use  its  long  curved 
sting  with  tremendous  effect.  Mr.  M.  wishes 
to  know  through  Gi,eanixgs  something  of  its 
history.  I  presume  it  is  predaceous,  and  lives 
on  other  insects.  It  would  be  interesting  to 
know  if  it  kills  bees.  I  presume  the  male  would 
be  smaller,  and  would  have  wings.  The  genus 
Sphwro  opthdlmus  consists  of  many  species,  of 
wlaich  several  live  in  California. 

Mr.  Theodore  Lohf  sends  me  three  inlets 
from  Brighton,  Colorado,  for  which  he  wl%fi«s 
a  brief  description  in  Gleanings.  The  first 
©ne.  he  says,  is  very  voracious  and  very  numer- 
ous. It  walks  into  the  hive,  seizes  a  bee,  and 
walks  off  with  it.  Mr.  L.  thinks  the  bee  is  kill- 
ed utterly  at  once.  I  find  that  this  bug  (for  it 
is  a  true  bug)  is  known  as  Ampioinerns  cras- 
sipes.  Fab.  Its  head,  thorax,  scutellum.  thick- 
ened base  of  the  wing-covers,  and  legs,  are  dull 
red.  or.  better,  dusky  red.  The  narrow  posterior 
border  of  the  thorax,  and  thickened  portions  of 
the  wing  covers,  are  white,  while  the  mem- 
braneous portion  of  the  wing-covers,  and  the 
under  side  of  the  thorax,  arr  black.  The  under 
side  of  the  abdomen  is  transversely  striped  with 
black  and  white.  The  insect  is  about  the  size 
and  form  of  the  common  black  squash-bug. 
The  record  of  this  insect's  habits  is  important, 
and  so  I  have  given  quite  a  full  description.  I 
think  it  may  well  be  called  the  Colorado  bee- 
killing  bug. 

The  second  insect  I  would  call  the  zebra 
locust.  It  is  beautifully  speckled  with  black, 
white,  and  red.  The  na.me  \s  Dactylotuin  pic- 
tum.  This  insect  is  not  yet  full  grown.  It  is 
three-fourths  of  an  inch  long,  and,  when  full 
grown,  will  be  twice  as  large. 


I 


IS'.fJ 


(JLKANINCS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


()17 


The  tliiid  oiu'  is  ;i  lon«  slim  green  prasshon- 
ptT.  with  spcarlikf  lionis.  or  anteniiu'.  Tno 
iiamt'  is  Mrmps  U'l/iu/inir/c/ix/.s-.  It  is  rcniarlc- 
al)le  for  its  slim  form,  pointtni  front,  and  heavy 
spearlike  lioriis.  The  two  last  feed  on  plants. 
I  should  liki'  several  nun-e  of  all  of  these. 

I..\l)V-mi{l>    liKKTI.KS. 

These  beautifnl  ronnded  beetles  are  known, 
admired,  and  not  dreaded  and  abhorred,  by 
nearly  every  one.  The  efZfjs  are  laid  on  the 
leaves  of  plants  that  are  infested  with  plant- 
lice  or  some  other  insects.  The  elongated  sjji- 
noiis  or  liairy  larv;e  are  active,  and  so  soberly 
garbed  that  th<>y  are  rarely  seen  except  when 
we  shake  the  branches  of  trees  and  plants  over 
a  sheet  or  nmbrrlla.  when  they  fall  and  are  dis- 
covered. These  larva>  are  onr  good  friends,  as 
ihey  feed  not  alone  on  plant-lice,  bnt  on  the 
eggs  of  potato-beetles  and  other  injnrions  spe- 
cies of  insects.  Last  year  the  plnm-tifes  in 
many  sections  were  terribly  devastated  by  plant- 
lice,  and  were  saved  from  serious  injury,  and, 
possibly,  total  destruction,  by  a  host  of  these 
lady-beetle  larva^  that  came  to  feast  on  the  lice 
and  save  the  trees.  The  beetles  are  yellow  or 
red.  dotted  with  black,  or  black  dotted  with 
red.  They  are  also  our  good  friends,  as  Mr.  J. 
E.  \Valk<'r  says  in  d leanings,  July  1.  page  .51.5. 
They  feed  on  the  eggs  of  the  potato-beetles. 
They  are  ravenous  feed- 
ers: and  as  they  devour 
many  kinds  of  our  nox- 
ious insects  they  do  im- 
mense good.  They  pu- 
pate on  the  twigs,  leaves, 
or  sometimes  on  the  fruit 
of  the  plum  (.see  Fig.  1) 
and  apple.  I  inclose  fig- 
ures of  the  beetle  (Fig."J) 
and  pupa  (Fig.  1)  of  the 
species  that  did  so  much 
to  rid  us  of  the  plum 
plantrlice  last  summer.  It 
is  one  of  our  largest  spe- 
cies. As  will  be  .seen,  both 
the  beetle  and  pui)a  are 
enlarged.  The  pupa  re- 
sembles both  the  larva 
and  the  beetle.  I  have 
seen  these  pupie  so  thick 
on  a  twig  that  they  re- 
minded one  of  a  cluster 
of  currants.  This  species 
is  "Aiuitis  15-fmnctfiUi,^'' 
Oliv.  Mr.  Walker's  interpretation  of  what  he 
saw   was   not  correct.      Th(!   beetles   lay   their 


Fig.  1.— Pupa  of  Beetle. 


Flo.  2.— Ladybird  B?:etlb. 


the  best  one  that  I  can  give.  It  certainly  was 
not  brooding  on  its  young,  for  that  is  not  their 
way  of  doing  things.  The  beetles  lay  many 
•■ggs. 

I>IfIMA    I.A.\('KOI,.\TA    .\S   A    HONKV-I'I.ANT. 

1  have  receiv<'d  a  small  inconspicuous  flower 
from  Mr.  V.  II.  I'etts.  \Varsaw,  Mo.,  which  \w, 
says  is  constantly  crowded  with  bees.  This 
proves  to  be  lAppUi  ItinfcoJdUi.  or  fog-fruit. 
It  belongs  to  the  same  family  as  the  blue  and 
white  vervains— T"cr/<C7(//  luisUifd  and  V.  urtici- 
folin.  which  1  have  long  obs(irv(Hi  to  be  among 
our  l)est  honey-plants.  I  have  no  recollection 
of  ever  hearing  of  this  lippia  as  a  honey-plant 
till  now;  but  as  it  is  so  closely  related  to  our 
verbenas  we  might  expect  it  to  possess  virtue  in 
this  direction.  A.  .1.  Cook. 

Agricultural  College,  Mich.,  July  16. 

[Many  thanks,  friend  Cook,  for  giving  us  the 
minutiie  of  the  habits  of  the  currant-worm.  As 
both  you  and  friend  Crane  recommend  the  same 
treatment,  the  difference  is  not  material.  You 
speak  of  Paris  green  doing  no  harm  when  put 
on  so  early;  but,  my  dear  friend  Cook,  the  cur- 
rant-worms are  trying  hard  to  make  a  stand 
against  us  even  now,  when  our  fruit  is  dead 
ripe.  As  the  hellebore  we  get  at  the  drugstore 
is  labeled '■  Poi-son,"  and  an  antidote  is  printed 
on  each  label,  I  hesitated  somewhat  about  dust- 
ing the  powder  on  the  fruit  when  we  were  pick- 
ing it;  so  I  used  pyrethrum,  which  seems  to 
answer  equally  well,  if  not  better;  and  this,  I 
am  told,  is  harmless,  even  if  put  right  on  the 
fruit.  My  impression  was.  that  friend  Walker 
was  making  a  mistake;  but  as  we  have  had 
some  potato-bugs  that  acted  quite  stubborn  and 
contrary  when  we  tried  to  poison  them,  I  con- 
cluded it  was  best  to  let  the  statement  go  into 
print,  feeling  sure  that  you  or  some  other  good 
friend  would  straighten  us  out  where  we  were 
wrong.  I  am  very  glad  to  know  that  the  addi- 
tion of  lime  prevents  Paris  green  from  injuring 
the  foliage.  I  have  for  some  time  objected  to 
poison  for  potatoes  on  this  account;  and,  by  the 
way.  wher(^  our  potatoes  grew  real  rank  and 
strong,  we  have  had  but  little  trouble  of  late 
years  from  the  potato-beetle.  During  the  past 
spring,  however,  when  the  potatoes  were  so 
saturated  with  wetness  that  their  life  was  al- 
most drowned  out  of  them,  the  beetles  seemed 
to  think  it  a  fine  opportunity  to  pitch  in  and  eat 
them  up,  and  therefore  we  have  resorted  to  poi- 
son once  tnore.]  A.  I.  R. 


INTRODUCING  ftUEENS. 


EVEN    UOOLTTTLE  BAFFLED. 


yellow  eggs  on  the  leaves  or  twigs,  and  never 
care  for  them  more.  I  presume  the  beetle  was 
accidentally  near  a  larva,  or,  possibly,  its  own 
pupa-case  from  which  it  had  escaped.  This 
may  not  be  the  correct  explanation;  but  it  is 


It  would  seem  that  enough  has  already  been 
written  on  this  subject;  but  after  the  experi- 
ences of  this  season  I  am  led  to  ask,  "  Is  tnere 
anv  mode  of  safe  introduction  of  queens?"'  I 
thought  I  had  mastered  the  subject,  and  had 
settled  down  contented  in  the  thought  that,  in 
the  hatching-brood  plan, the  caged-bees  nlan 
as  given  in  my  book,  and  the  large  wire-cloth 
cage,  to  stick  into  the  combs  over  hatching 
brood,  allowing  the  (pieen  to  stay  here  with  the 
young  bees  till  she  had  filled  the  cells  under 
this  cage  with  eggs,  we  had  something  perfect, 
or  so  nearly  so  that  no  one  need  lose  any  queen, 
when,  to  my  chagrin,  I  have  to  acknowledge 
that  I  don't  know  how  to  introduce  a  queen 
successfully  every  time.  If  this  is  to  be  said  of 
one  who  has  been  in  the  business  of  handling 
queens  almost  constantly  for  fifteen  years,  is  it 
any  wonder  that  the  novice  handles  and  tries 
to  introduce  queens  '•  with  fear  and  trembling  "  ? 


618 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


If  not  out  of  place  I  wish  to  tell  a  bit  of  experi- 
ence. 

The  latter  part  of  June,  on  a  Saturday,  I  took 
a  queen  away  from  a  moderately  strong  colony 
of  peaceable  Italian  bees,  and  late  that  after- 
noon a  choice  queen  came  to  me  in  the  mails, 
quite  unexpectedly.  I  thought,  to  put  the  cage 
wire-cloth  side  down  over  this  colony,  and  leave 
her  for  safe  keeping  till  Monday  morning,  was 
the  best  thing  I  could  do,  as  it  was  now  nearly 
dark.  I  did  not  notice  that  the  wire  cloth  did 
not  go  back  clear  over  the  candy-hole,  which 
was  covered  with  thick  manilla  paper;  so  I 
ignorantly  started  to  introduce  this  queen  just 
exactly  according  to  directions  accompanying 
the  cages  sent  out  by  the  editor  of  Gleaxings; 
for  when  I  went  to  look  after  the  queen  on 
Monday  I  found  that  the  bees  had  cut  through 
the  paper,  when  there  was  just  room  for  one 
bee  to  get  at  the  candy  at  a  time  at  the  back 
end  of  the  wire  cloth,  and  that  they  had  eaten 
out  the  candy  and  liberated  the  queen.  Well, 
thought  I,  she  will  be  all  right,  for  this  is  the 
common  mode  of  introduction  nowadays.  Open- 
ing the  hive  I  soon  came  to  a  ball  of  hissing 
bees,  and  I  knew  that  my  choice  queen  was  in 
peril.  I  liberated  her  from  from  the  bees  with 
smoke,  and  caged  her  on  hatching  brood  with 
one  of  the  large,  open-mouthed  wire-cloth 
cages.  I  now  left  her  four  days,  when  I  found 
the  cage  balled  with  bees  on  opening  the  hive. 
I  now  waited  two  days  more,  or  eight  days  from 
the  time  the  queen  was  taken  out.  when  I  took 
out  every  frame  and  shook  off  the  bees  and  cut 
the  queen-cells,  thus  leaving  thr^  colony  hope- 
lessly queenless,  save  the  queen  that  was  in  the 
cage,  at  which  there  were  still  a  few  bees 
gnawing.  I  now  had  them  in  the  condition  in 
which  all  authorities  said  they  would  take  a 
queen.  Two  days  later  I  found  plenty  of  eggs 
in  the  cells  under  the  cage,  and  the  bcc^s  quiet 
all  throngh  the  hi\  r  and  on  the  cage,  while  the 
queen  looked  as  large  and  plump  as  any  laying 
queen  does.  I  said,  ""  Now  I  am  all  right;"  so 
I  took  off  the  cage  and  set'  the  frame  with  her 
on  it,  walking  around  quietly  in  the  hive.  In 
an  hour  I  opened  the  hive,  only  to  find  the 
queen  balled  again,  with  two  of  her  legs  badly 
crippled,  when  I  got  her  released.  She  was 
caged  again  and  left  till  she  again  laid  under 
the  cage.  I  now  took  the  frame  out,  removed 
the  cage,  and  watched  her  some  minutes  on  the 
comb,  when  I  set  it  down  on  the  outside  of  the 
hive,  took  another  frame  out  and  stood  it  up 
beside  the  first,  so  the  queen  was  between  them, 
the  same  as  she  would  be  in  the  hive.  I  fre- 
quently do  this:  and.  if  the  queen  is  not  molest- 
ed, set  the  two  in  the  hive  together  so  the  queen 
is  not  frightened,  and  find  it  a  good  thing.  In 
a  moment  or  two  I  parted  the  frames,  and  the 
queen  was  all  right. 

Just  then  I  was  called  to  the  house  a  few 
moments,  when  I  returned  to  set  the  frames  in 
the  hive.  I  thought  1  would  peep  in  and  see  if 
the  queen  was  all  right  between  the  two  combs, 
when,  to  my  surprise,  and.  I  might  add,  disgust, 
I  saw  a  little  ball  of  bees  about  the  size  of  a 
walnut,  and  my  choice  queen  stung  to  death  in 
the  center.  I  now  take  back  all  I  have  said, 
that  no  queen  need  be  lost  if  care  and  persever- 
ance are  used  with  this  open-mouthed-cage 
plan.  I  said,  "  Doolittle,  you  are  a  dunce;  you 
missed  some  cell,  and  they  have  hatched  a 
young  queen;"  so.  to  test  the  matter,  I  gave  a 
frame  of  larvie  to  them,  when,  lol  I  was  not  a 
"dunce"  after  all,  for  I  found  plenty  of  queen- 
cells  in  progress  three  days  after.  The  next 
day  a  swarm  came  out,  and  I  thought  to  hive 
it  fight  in  with  this  queenless  colony,  and  thus 
secure  a  big  yield  of  basswood  honey,  as  bass- 
wood  was  then  at  its  best.  I  soon  had  all  the 
bees  shaken  off  the  combs  from  four  to  five  feet 


from  the  entrance  to  the  hive,  combs  put  back, 
excepting  the  one  with  queen-cells  on  it,  a  full 
set  of  sections  put  on,  and  the  swarm  and  the 
bees  shaken  off  their  combs,  entering  their  hive 
together.  By  the  way,  this  is  the  proper  way 
to  hive  a  swarm  in  a  hive  already  having  a  col- 
ony in  it,  if  we  wish  to  prevent  having  a  part 
or  all  of  the  swarm  killed.  Now.  thought  I, 
they  have  a  queen,  and  are  in  good  shape.  The 
next  day  they  appeared  to  work  as  if  all  was 
right;  but  on  the  early  morning  of  the  fourth 
day  after  the  swarm  was  hived  I  chanced  by 
this  hive,  when  I  saw  a  ball  of  bees  at  the  en- 
trance, and,  upon  examination,  found  my  clip- 
ped queen,  which  I  hived  with  the  swarm,  all 
scraped  by  the  bees  till  she  was  hairless,  but 
otherwise  unharmed,  as  she  has  since  proved 
by  giving  to  another  colony. 

After  noon  of  this  day  I  thought  to  try  this 
colony  at  cell- building  by  my  plan:  so  at  three 
o'clock  I  gave  them  23  eel  I -cups,  prepared  in 
the  usual  way.  Yesterday  I  took  away  20  nice 
queen-cells  nearly  ready  to  hatch,  and  left  one 
to  see  if  they  would  accept  a  queen  hatched  in 
their  own  hive.* 

This  story  has  spun  out  pretty  long;  but  as 
it  is  something  different  from  any  thing  I  have 
ever  experienced  before,  or  ever  read  about,  I 
thought  I  might  be  paidoned  for  telling  it.  I 
have  also  lost  a  queen  by  the  caged-bees  plan 
this  summer,  which  heretofore  I  had  considered 
sure,  and  one  or  two  losses  have  been  reported. 
I  now,  instead  of  dropping  the  queen  down  into 
the  box  of  bees,  after  they  have  been  caged 
three  or  four  hours,  as  I  formerly  did,  put  her 
in  a  round  wire-cloth  cage  having  a  hollow 
stopper,  which  is  filled  with  enough  Good  candy 
so  it  will  take  the  bees  three  or  four  hours  to 
eat  it  out.  In  this  way  I  am  successful;  but 
how  long  it  will  last  I  do  not  know.  Giving  a 
queen  to  frames  of  hatching  brood  is  safe  if  the 
proper  temperature  is  maintained  and  the  hive 
is  made  tight;  but,  alas!  many  fail  here,  as 
many  piivate  letters  tell  me.  Who  will  give  us 
an  absolutely  safe  plan  ?      G.  M.  Doolittle. 

Borodino,  N.  Y. 

[It  has  been  our  experience,  that  there  is  oc- 
casionally some  one  particular  colony  that  ab- 
solutely refuses  to  accept  a  queen,  no  matter 
what  method  of  introduction  we  use.  It  is  a 
rule  laid  down  in  our  apiaries,  not  to  fuss  witla 
them  very  much,  but  to  give  them  a  cell  in  a 
protector,  at  the  same  time  keeping  away  all 
unsealed  larviB.  If  this  fails  we  give  them  a 
very  little  young  larvte  from  a  choice  queen, 
and  allow  them  to  follow  their  own  sweet  will 
in  rearing  a  mother  from  the  start. 

We  have  also  observed  that,  when  a  queen 
has  been  once  balled,  she  is  more  apt  to  be 
balled  again,  even  when  given  to  strange  bees. 
There  is  a  sort  of  odor  from  the  anger  of  ball- 
ing bees  that  still  clings  to  the  queen,  we  think; 
and  whenever  she  is  released  again,  the  bees 
take  the  initiative  and  seem  to  think  that,  be- 
cause the  queen  has  been  balled  once,  she  is 
therefore  undesirable. 

You  misunderstand  our  method  of  introduc- 
ing queens,  or,  at  least,  do  not  correctly  state  it 
above.  We  formerly  used  a  mailing-cage,  the 
wire  cloth  of  which  did  not  quite  cover  the 
candy-hole:  but  we  found  this  faulty  because 
the  bees  would  gnaw  in  to  the  queen  too  soon. 
We  now  use  a  cage  made  on  the  same  principle, 
only  it  takes  the  bees  from  4S  to  60  hours  to  get 
to  the  queen;  and  even  then  it  takes  her  a  con- 
siderable length  of  time  to  discover  how  to  get 
out.    A  quarter-inch  hole  is  bored  into  the  end 

*  Tills  is  the  largest  number  of  perfect  queen- 
cells  witli  only  two  missing  I  ever  had  built  by  one 
colony  at  one  time. 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


()19 


of  tho  ciiRo.  Tliis  holt>,  bciiiR  so  small,  allows 
onlv  Olio  b(  t>  to  jfiuvw  at  thf  candy  at  a  timo. 
and  tluM't'forc  tlio  opciation  of  roleasiiig  is  noc- 
ossarily  slow  —just  what  wf  want. 

Wo  roconinuMui  tiiis  inolhod  to  bo^innors  bo- 
causo  its  application  is  oxcoodinfjly  sininlo;  and 
thon  wo  caution  fnrtlior  not  to  opon  tno  liivo, 
as  distiirbanco  is  liable  to  sot  tlio  lioos  lo  ball- 
ing tho  (juoon.  Now.  wbilo  tbo  inotliod  does 
not  jjivo  invariable  succoss,  in  nino  casos  ont  of 
ton  it  works,  i'roni  nunioroiis  t'xporinicnts  and 
observations  which  wo  havo  niado,  wo  have 
come  to  tho  conclusion  that  opening  tho  hive 
just  as  tho  queen  is  re|(>asod  is  quite  apt  to 
make  tho  boos  ball  her.  Tho  poor  liillo  chaps 
know  that  st)mething  is  wrong,  and,  by  a  mis- 
taken notion.  i)ul  the  blame  all  on  tho  queen. 
We  do  not  know  positively  that  this  is  tho  case, 
but  only  surmise  that  it  may  be  so,  in  view  of 
our  oxporiments;  for  we  can  judge  only  by  re- 
sults and  tho  behavior  of  the  bees  under  certain 
conditions. 

Your  footnote  suggests  to  us  another  idea.  We 
have  found  that  colonies  that  are  the  meanest 
about  accepting  a  queen  are.  as  a  general  rule, 
excellent  cell-builders.  How  does  this  coincide 
with  your  experience ?] 


NOTES  FROM  A.  N.  DRAPER. 


DOOOTTLE  .S   METHOD   OF   HEARING   QUEENS. 


The  imported  queen  came  to  hand.  I  thought 
I  bad  lost  her,  but  I  think  she  is  all  right,  as  I 
saw  lots  of  young  brood  in  the  hive  a  few  mo- 
ments ago:  but  I  could  not  take  time  to  look 
her  up.  I  think  you  are  making  a  big  mistake 
in  advising  the  use  of  your  shipping-cage  for 
the  purpose  of  introducing  queens.  I  followed 
your  advice,  and  tried  it.  The  bees  were  still 
trying  to  ball  the  queen  in  the  cage  after  4S 
hours.  I  went  to  the  shop  and  got  a  cage  that 
is  just  large  enough  to  admit  of  a  small  corn- 
cob at  each  end  for  a  stopper.  I  use  these  cages 
just  about  a  foot  long.  I  find  that  they  are 
just  the  thing  where  bees  will  persist  in  balling 
a  queen,  as  the  queen  can  just  walk  clear  away 
from  where  the  bees  are  trying  to  ball  her.  I 
don't  know  whether  this  idea  has  ever  been 
published  before  or  not;  but  I  have  been  using 
these  long  cages  for  several  years  with  good 
success. 

I  am  surprised  at  Manum's  advice  on  page 
493,  July  1st  No.  of  Gleanings.  Is  it  possible 
that  Manum  has  never  heard  of  Doolittle's 
method  of  starting  queen-colls?  Manum's  way 
of  handling  the  old  hive  is  all  right  to  got  plen- 
ty of  royal  jelly,  then  you  must  stop  right  th<'re 
and  follow  Doolittle  to  th<'  letter  if  you  want 
the  very  best  queens.  At  tirst  I  had  a  good 
deal  of  trouble  to  get  a  quill  in  proper  shape  so 
that  I  could  handle  tho  little  three-day-old  lar- 
va to  advantage.  Now  I  use  any  kind  of  (|uill; 
simply  shave  it  down  to  about  ^  of  an  inch  in 
width  at  the  point  wliore  you  want  to  use  it  to 
lift  the  larva,  then  press  the  point  of  the  quill 
against  the  side  of  a  hot  smoker,  when  tho 
quill  can  be  made  to  assume  any  shape  desired, 
and  it  will  retain  this  shape  on  being  removed 
from  the  smoker.  Hy  no  plan  that  I  have  ever 
tried  can  I  get  queens  so  uniformly  good  as  by 
the  Doolittle  plan.  When  I  want  real  light- 
colored  queens  I  get  the  whitest  wax  possible 
to  make  my  qui-en-cell  cups  of.  It  is  interest- 
ing to  make  part  of  the  cells  of  white  wax  and 
part  of  colored  or  dark  wax,  and  note  the 
result. 

On  page  829.  American  Bee  Journal,  Mr. 
Doolittle  speaks  of  "  ring-straked,  speckled, 
and  spotted,"  etc.  Why  not  rear  queens  with 
the  ••  ring-straked,  speckled,  and  spotted  "  pre- 


dominating? If  you  want  a  dark  spot,  simj)ly 
bore  a  little  hole  in  a  white  wax  coll,  after 
the  embryo  (luoon  has  boon  sealed  over,  by 
lirst  cutting  into  the  base  of  the  coll  and  care- 
fully observing  how  the  queen  is  facing.  The 
hole  can  be  placed  just  where  the  dark  spot 
is  wanted.  1  hen  till  tho  hole  up  with  dark- 
colorod  wax.  I  am  trying  several  of  them  now, 
to  see  if  I  can  start  a  spotted  variety. 

My  honoy-tlow  was  of  short  duration — only 
about  t<>n  days.  It  comes  in  slowly  some  days 
yet.  The  best  yield  was  when  the  ground  was 
wet,  and  especially  when  there  W(!ro  heavy 
dews  during  the  night.  Just  as  soon  as  the 
dew  was  not  heavy  in  the  morning,  the  honoy- 
tlow  coas(>d.  I  had  never  noticed  this  so  closely 
as  I  did  this  summer,  from  the  fact  that  I  have 
been  turning  my  horses  out  in  the  pasture  every 
night,  and  thon  going  after  them  myself  on 
foot,  the  first  thing  in  the  morning.  I  have 
been  noticing  the  Spanish  needle  some  too, 
lately.  It  is  in  great  abundance,  and  is  thrifty 
and  large  for  the  time*  of  year,  probably  on  ac- 
count of  so  much  rain. 

I  have  just  examined  the  hive  with  imported 
queen.  I  found  her  majesty  all  right,  with  con- 
siderable brood,  and  I  immediately  prepared 
two  dozen  queen-cell  cups  and  placed  the  young 
larvte  in  them,  according  to  the  most  improved 
method.  I  shall  replace  nearly  all  of  my  queens 
yet  this  fall  and  summer.  I  am  satisfied,  that 
"  around  the  queen  centers  all  there  is  in  mod- 
ern bee  culture."  With  extra  good  queens,  suc- 
cess is  far  more  certain. 

Friend  Stone  writes  me  that  the  Chicago 
meeting  of  the  Illinois  State  Association  will 
be  about  the  time  of  the  opening  of  the  World's 
Fair.    We  ought  to  have  a  large  attendance. 

A.  N.  Draper. 

Upper  Alton,  Illinois,  July  4. 

[The  idea  that  new  white  comb  furnishes 
queen-cells  producing  queens  of  lighter  color 
than  those  reared  from  cells  built  on  dark  comb 
was  brought  up  and  discussed  years  ago;  but  I 
do  not  now  recollect  just  what  the  final  decision 
was.  I  am  inclined  to  doubt,  however,  that  a 
dark  spot  could  be  produced  on  a  queen  in  the 
way  suggested.]  A.  I.  R. 


AN  ARTISTIC  STUDY  FOR  THOSE  WHO 
LIKE   IT. 


HOAV   TO   MAKE    COPIES   ON   PAPER  OF   BASS- 
AVOOD    LEAVES,    ETC. 


The  end  and  aim  of  all  knowledge  and  ob- 
servation is  to  produce  rational,  thinking, 
human  beings;  and  I  believe  that  study  and 
observation  in  the  realm  of  nature  is  one  of 
the  most  important  of  the  means  employed, 
and  one  that  ought  to  be  encouraged  in  every 
one  of  us,  and  especially  by  tho  young;  for 
always  and  ever  the  young  are  the  hope  and 
strength  of  the  future. 

One  of  tlio  best  and  most  beautiful  ways  of 
studying  leaves,  gra.ssos,  and  a  myriad  of  nat- 
ural objects  of  similar  nature  (aside  from  the 
objects  themselves)  is  to  have  a  precise  and 
exact  duplicate— a  leaf,  for  instance,  where  you 
may  get  a  complete  drawing  of  every  fiber, 
vein,  and  part,  with  all  exactness,  and  with  the 
utmost  regard  to  detail.  A  little  practice  and 
pains  is  all  that  is  needed.  Now  for  the  man- 
ner of  operating. 

Select  a  leaf  of  strawberry,  maple,  or  any 
other  that  you  desire  to  have  an  exact  copy  of, 
and  determine  what  side  of  the  same  you  shall 
copy,  and  commence  as  follows:  Take  a  sheet 
of  smooth  paper,  somewhat  larger  than  the 
object  or  leaf,  and  smoke  it  black  over  a  tallow 


(520 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


candle,  lamp,  or  stove — over  any  thing,  so  as  to 
get  a  deposit  of  soot  upon  the  paper.  Smoke 
evenly  and  not  too  thickly.  Lay  the  paper  on 
a  smooth  surface,  and  gently  drop  a  leaf,  the 
desired  side  down,  on  the  black  surface.  Put 
anothiT  paper  over  the  leaf,  and  gently  press 
and  slightly  rub  over  all  portions  of  the  object 
underneath,  being  extremely  careful  that  the 
leaf  does  not  move  sidewise.  Having  prepared 
a  nice  clean  sheet  of  smooth  white  paper  for 
your  finished  picture,  take  the  leaf  with  an  up- 
right motion,  or  with  a  pin,  from  the  black 
surface,  and  place  the  leaf  on  the  fine  paper. 
Lay  a  very  clean  paper  over  the  leaf  as  before, 
and  press  and  rub  as  before,  using  great  care. 
Remove  the  leaf  as  before,  and  a  perfect  copy 
of  the  objects  is  before  you,  better  than  can  be 
drawn  by  hand. 

The  picture  as  it  is  now  will  be  injured  with 
the  slightest  rub  or  contact  with  any  moving 
surface;  but  it  can  be  made  as  durable  as  need 
be,  or  as  any  print,  by  spraying  the  same  with 
artists'  crayon  fixative,  made  as  follows:  1  part 
white  gum  shellac;  3  parts  alcohol;  or  you  can 
fix  the  picture  moderately  fast  by  putting  some 
strong  cofl'ee  in  a  shallow  dish  and  fioating  for 
a  moment  the  picture,  face  down,  upon  it.  The 
coffee  will  give  the  paper  a  tint,  but  that  is  no 
great  objection.  If  it  is,  then  use  fresh  milk; 
but  the  fixative  is  a  little  the  best. 

I  have  seen  books  of  such  collections  that 
hundreds  of  dollars  could  not  buy. 

You  may  not  do  the  best  work  at  first;  but 
then,  you  can  not  expect  that  amount  of  suc- 
cess at  any  thing  any  more  than  at  this.  You 
will  "get  there"  if  you  keep  trying.  The 
process  is  adapted  to  all  flat  objects,  but  more 
especially  plant  life.  If  the  perusal  of  such  a 
collection  will  give  you  half  the  enjoyment 
and  serve  but  half  the  means  of  study  and  in- 
struction it  did  the  writer  he  will  feel  abundant- 
ly repaid.  A  Gi-eanings  Reader. 


LADIES'  Conversazione. 


HOFFMAN  FRAMES. 

MISS  EMMA   \VII.SON   DISCOUKSES    ON    THE    CON- 
VENIENCE  OF   SEI.F-SI'ACING   FRAMES. 

For  many  years  Dr.  Miller  has  been  opposed 
to  having  more  than  one  kind  of  frames  in  his 
hives.  But  of  late  the  matter  of  fixed  dis- 
tances and  thick  top-bars  having  been  dis- 
cussed, he  became  convinced  that  something 
else  in  the  way  of  frames  might  be  better;  and 
we  have  tried  various  ones  until  we  now  have 
nine  different  kinds,  and  it  has  become  no  light 
atfiiction.  Fortunately  we  have  kept  our  ex- 
periments confined  to  the  home  apiary,  the 
out-apiaries  having  one  kind  of  frame. 

We  both  agreed  that  we  wanted  thick  top- 
bars.  That  much  we  settled  on.  Dr.  Miller 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  fixed  distances 
were  a  necessity,  while  I  didn't  object,  provid- 
imj  they  could  be  handled  as  easily.  But  I 
felt  quite  inclined  to  rebel  whenever  I  came  to 
handle  a  hive  with  fixed  distances,  because  it 
seemed  to  me  it  took  more  time. 

This  spring  it  fell  to  my  lot  to  do  the  first 
overhauling  of  all  the  hives  with  the  different 
kinds  of  new  frames.  And  what  a  sweet  time 
of  it  I  did  have  !  I  found  the  wedges  very 
tightly  glued  in.  and.  to  add  to  the  difficulty, 
the  excessive  rains  had  swelled  every  thing 
until  they  were  wedged  in,  glued  in.  and  swell- 
ed in.  We  had  been  using  two  wedges  to  each 
hive,  pushing  one  down  at  each  end  of  the 
hive.    They    had    been    carelessly    pushed    so 


close  to  the  end  of  the  hive  that  there  was  not 
room  enough  left  to  insert  a  chisel.  That  was 
one  reason  they  were  so  troublesome  to  get  out. 
In  every  case  I  had  trouble  in  getting  them  out. 
Finally  I  came  to  one  I  labored  over  in  vain. 
After  getting  pretty  red  in  the  face  with  my 
exertions.  I  told  Dr.  Miller  I  didn't  believe  I 
wanted  any  thing  more  to  do  with  the  Hoffman 
frames.  (You  see,  we  had  both  agreed  before 
this  that  the  Hoffman,  all  things  considered, 
was  the  best  of  the  new  frames).  He  laughed 
a  little,  and  said.  "Don't  be  too  hasty  in  your 
conclusions.  The  fault  may  be  in  lis  rather 
than  in  the  system.  Perhaps  our  wedging  is 
not  right.  We  will  try  the  wedge  we  use  in 
supers,  and  see  how  it  will  work."  Then  he 
came  and  dug  out  the  wedges  in  pieces,  and  we 
replaced  them  by  one  of  the  super  wedges. 
This  wedge  is  simply  a  straight  stick,  about  17 
inches  by  %  by  ^.  We  push  it  down  between 
the  side  of  the  hive  and  the  dummy,  nearly  to 
the  bottom  at  one  end,  then  push  the  top  end 
of  the  stick  just  below  the  surface  at  the  other 
end  of  the  hive.  This  leaves  the  stick  diago- 
nally across  the  side  of  the  hive.  I  think 
instructions  have  been  given  to  push  the  wedge 
partly  down  and  then  twist  it  around  to  make 
it  tighter.    Our  hives  will  not  admit  of  this. 

Well,  after  trying  these  wedges  we  found 
they  worked  nicely.  I  have  not  had  any  trou- 
ble getting  wedges  out  since.  And  now  after 
getting  more  used  to  manipulating  it  I  am  in 
love  with  the  Hoffman.  I  am  sure  I  can  han- 
dle them  more  rapidly  than  the  old  frames.  It 
took  me  a  good  while  to  believe  it.  but  I  can. 
And  I  am  very  sure  I  do  not  kill  nearly  as  many 
bees  with  them  either.  With  the  old  frames 
we  have  so  many  brace-combs  that  it's  almost 
impossible  to  handle  the  frames  without  killing 
bees.  These  brace-combs  are  generally  filled 
with  honey;  and  every  time  they  are  pried 
apart  the  bees  will  cluster  on  them  to  get  the 
honey;  and  when  you  go  to  replace  your  combs 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  dislodge  them.  Some 
of  them  are  sure  to  be  killed— indeed,  a  good 
many  of  them,  unless  the  operator  is  very  care- 
ful and  works  very  slowly.  It  is  often  a  ques- 
tion as  to  which  is  more  valuable — your  time  or 
the  bees.  Still,  one  dreadfully  hates  to  kill  a 
bee  unnecessarily,  and  you  will  be  very  apt  to 
take  the  time,  much  as  you  dislike  to. 

With  the  Hoffman,  by  taking  out  the  dummy 
and  one  frame,  you  can  push  all  the  frames  at 
one  time  and  take  a  frame  out  of  the  opposite 
side,  or  you  can  part  them  and  take  one  out 
from  the  center — in  fact,  you  can  handle  them 
about  as  you  please,  and  no  danger  from  brace- 
combs  either.  True,  some  bees  may  be  killed 
by  being  squeezed  between  the  parts  of  the 
frames  that  touch;  but  bees  are  not  so  likely 
to  stick  to  wood  as  they  are  to  brace-combs 
daubed  with  honey. 

With  the  old  frames,  each  one  must  be  care- 
fully spaced;  and,  no  matter  how  careful  you 
are,  they  will  not  all  be  spaced  just  at  equal 
distances.  To  be  sure,  the  brace-combs  will 
help.  If  you  do  not  change  the  order  of  your 
combs  you  can  push  your  brace-combs  tightly 
together  and  they  will  be  spaced  about  as  be- 
fore. But  this  very  help  is  a  hindrance,  as 
here  is  where  the  killing  of  the  bees  comes  in; 
and  to  avoid  this  you  must  take  just  so  much 
time  to  get  them  out  of  your  way.  With  the 
Hoffman  you  can  give  the  frames  a  quick  push, 
and  push  half  a  dozen  of  them  in  place  at  once, 
and  feel  sure  the  spacing  is  all  right. 

Then  their  being  all  ready  to  haul  is  another 
item  in  their  favor.  The  hive  may  be  picked 
up  and  placed  in  any  position,  and  you  are  sure 
there  is  no  danger  of  queens  being  killed  by 
frames  getting  out  of  place,  as  every  thing  is 
snug  and  firm. 


1892 


(iLHANINCiS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


()21 


And.  oh  the  i-Diiit'ort  itf  not  liaviii^  to  use  any 
stii'ky  hoiicy-hoai'd!  I  belicvi'  tliat  is  best  of 
all.  .\mi  lu'rt>  aijain  you  savt>  both  time  and 
bi'os.  Just  try  putting  on  a  iioncy-boaid  that 
has  bciMi  taken  off  a  stronjj  colony  where  the 
burr-eoiubs  are  lilled  witii  lioney,  and  see  if  it 
doesn't  take  both  tiiur  and  palieiioe  to  got  it 
on  iiirain  and  not  kill  any  bees. 

Our  UolTnians  ai'e  mostly  tliose  that  wei'e 
lirst  sent  out  fioni  Medina,  and  we  have  not 
tried  the  latest  so  ihoioushlv. 

Mai-engo,  111. ..July  H'..  E.mm.\  Wit.sox. 

[We  do  not  wonder  that  yoti  '•grew  red  in  the 
face"  in  trying  to  pull  tlie  wedges  out  :  so  did 
we.  To  confess,  we  shall  have  to  acknowledge 
that  the  use  of  wedges  in  connection  with  the 
llotTinau  frante  was  a  scheme  of  our  own;  but 
after  using  them  one  season  we  pulled  them  all 
out.  even  for  use  in  the  old-style  Uotl'mau.  We 
have  learned  that  the  V  edges  to  the  Hoffman 
end-bars  render  keying-up  unuec(issary.  kill  al- 
most no  bees,  and.  contrary  to  what  you  might 
expect,  propolis  offers  very  little  interference. 
The  last  time  we  talked  with  ]Mr.  Hoffman  he 
assured  us  that  wedges  were  not  n(H'(>ssary.  pro- 
viding the  V  edges  were  used:  and  we  are  sat- 
isfied that  he  is  right.  If  you  like  the  old-style 
Iloffinan  frames— and  they  were  a  very  good 
frame  — you  will  be  delighted  with  the  new 
ones.  And  those  burr-combs!  Mow  any  sane 
bee-keeper  who  has  tried  the  burr-comb  and  non- 
burr-comb  frames  side  by  side  can  declare  for 
the  former  is  beyond  our  comprehension.  Per- 
haps no  one  has  ever  done  so;  but  quite  a  num- 
ber who  have  not  used  the  thick  top-bars  insist 
that  th(>y  do  not  find  the  burr-combs  any  in- 
convenience, and.  on  the  contrary,  they  argue 
they  are  a  necessity,  heanisc  the  bees  need  little 
ladders  to  climb  up  into  the  upper  story.  Our 
bees  store  honey  above  the  thick- top-bar  frame 
as  nicely  and  as  readily  as  above  old  thin-top- 
bar  frames.  No.  no,  no!  when  the  bee-spaces 
are  only  I4  inch,  bees  do  not  need  ladders  to 
climb  up  into  the  supers. 

You  have  described  e.xactly  the  two  impor- 
tant features  of  the  Hoffman  "frame;  viz.,  being 
always  ready  for  moving,  and  being  more  easily 
handled.  It  is  a  great  comfort  to  he  able  to 
split  the  brood  -  chamber  into  perpendicular 
halves  or  quarters;  to  shove  over  the  whole  or 
a  part  of  a  set  of  frames  at  one  operation,  with- 
out being  obliged  to  finger  over  each  frame  in 
order  to  get  room  to  pull  out  the  middle  frame, 
and  then  afterward  spacing  them  all  back,  on 
the  cut-and-try  plan.  About  half  of  our  apiary 
is  on  Hoft'man  frames,  and  the  other  half  on  the 
old  thin-top-bar  frames  and  some  old  Iloff'nian 
frames.  We  have  a  splendid  opportunity  for 
testing  the  relative  merits  of  each.  Our  boys 
are  just  i-nthusiastic  over  the  new  self-spacing 
fratnes.  and  they  are  very  anxious  to  have  us 
get  the  old  combs  on  loose  frames  out  as  soon  as 
possible,  because,  as  thev  say,  they  can  save 
time,  stings,  and  bother  all  around.]    E.  R.  R. 


colonies  that  did  nearly  as  well.  I  don't  know 
but  it  was  Just  as  ijrolitaitle.  Once  in  seven 
days  I  would  open  the  hives  and  take  out  a 
comb  of  brood  near  the  center,  each  time  tak- 
ing out  the  same  coiiih.  which  would  not  weak- 
en the  colony  very  much  nor  stop  its  working 
in  sections,  if  I  put  in  two  empty  combs,  onlv 
one  would  l)e  lilled  with  brood,  the  other  witfi 
honey,  and  the  work  in  sections  would  cc^ase  or 
go  very  slowly  for  a  few  days:  but  if  only  one 
was  given,  the  queen  would  nearly  every  time 
lill  it  full  of  eggs,  and.  at  the  end  of  a  w(!ek,  the 
eggs  would  be  hatching  into  larva^.  If  I  found 
(lueen-cells  I  brok(>  off  those  I  found  without 
hunting  much  for  tlietn,  and  inverted  the 
combs:  not  having  to  hunt  for  the  (lueeiis,  the 
work  could  be  more  quickly  d<jne.  In  hybrid  or 
black  colonies  that  ar(!  very  large  it  is  oftcm 
very  diilicult  to  find  the  queen,  especially  ja 
black  colony,  as  the  bees  run  so. 

The  colonies  worked  on  the  Consor  plan,  one 
colony  gave  two  .'iti-lb.  supers  full,  and  8  sec- 
tions, making  eighty  1-lb.  sections.  Another 
colony  did  nearly  as  well,  giving  82  sections; 
but  their  queen  was  lost.  We  gave  another 
from  a  nucleus  hive,  and  saved  the  queen-cells. 

The  third  colony  lost  its  queen  also;  and 
when  another  was  given  it  killed  her,  and  they 
were  slow  to  work  in  sections. 

One  colony  in  the  apiary,  let  alone,  gave  two 
supers  full  of  sections;  72  one-pound  sections, 
and  10  eighty-pound  section-cases.  As  it  was 
near  the  house  I  took  no  brood  from  it,  and  it 
did  not  swarm;  and  all  three  of  the  above  good 
colonies  are  now  slowly  working  on  their  third 
supers.  Even  small  colonies  are  bringing  in  a 
little  honey  daily.  If  our  colonies  had  been  in 
good  condition  this  spring  we  should  have 
secured  a  good  spring  crop  of  honey. 

Roseville.  111.,  Aug.  1.     Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtell.g 

[If  we  understand  the  Consor  plan,  it  is  "a 
good  deal  on  the  principle  used  by  the  Dadants 
for  so  many  years  with  success.  Their  large 
hives  give  queens  unrestricted  room  for  egg- 
laying,  and  herein  is  the  secret,  as  it  seems  to 
us,  of  a  large  hive.  We  applied  the  same 
principle  this  summer  to  our  eight-frame  Dove- 
tailed hives.  By  tiering  them  up  three  or  four 
bodies  high  we  made  a  large  hive,  tree-shaped, 
something  as  the  bees  have  it  in  nature.  The 
queen  occupied  two,  and  sometimes  three 
stories;  but  the  bees  did  not  swarm — no,  not 
even  building  queen-cells.  This  plan  is  not 
practical,  however,  except  in  the  production  of 
extracted  honey.  When  running  for  comb 
honey  we  do  not  see  how  it  is  possible  to  avoid 
more  or  less  swarming,  because  the  brood-nest 
must  be  contracted  to  some  extent  in  order  to 
force  the  bees  into  the  sections  in  the  first 
place.] 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 


PREVENTION  OF  SWARMING. 


THK    CONSOK    i'I-\.\. 


John  Consor's  idea,  advanced  in  the  Progress- 
ive Bee-heeper  of  May.  to  give  the  queen  plenty 
of  combs  that  she  may  not  be  restricted  in  lay- 
ing her  eggs.  I  believe  is  correct.  This  summer 
we  had  three  colonies  run  on  the  Consor  plan 
to  prevent  swarming,  and  they  did  not  swarm. 
We  liked  the  system,  except  the  trouble  of  hav- 
ing to  hunt  out  the  queens  every  ten  days, 
which  is  quite  a  task  in  such  enormous  colonies; 
but  they  gave  large  surpIu.s.cWe  had  a  few 


A  HEAAV  FLOW  OF  HONEY  AT  RENO,  NEV. 

As  I  have  read  Gi.kaxinos  for  weeks  and 
have  failed  to  see  our  prospering  State  and  fiow 
of  honey  mentioned,  it  makes  me  feel  as  though 
it  were  time  to  give  our  niughboring  States  an 
idea  of  what  we  are  doing  in  lhe„  line  of  bees 
and  honey.  ; 

We  are  enjoying  a  large  and  wonderful  flosv 
at  present.  I  have  one  swarm  that  I  transfer- 
red out  of  an  old-style  box  hive  into  a  Dove- 
tailed hive.  .July  4th;  and  on  the  24th  I  received 
48  one-pound  sections,  well  sealed.  I  have  a 
large  number  of  the  hives  that  you  made^in 


622 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


your  factory  in  Medina,  and  I  am  well  pleased 
with  them.  The  improved  Hoffman  frame  is 
the  best  that  I  ever  saw,  and  I  have  been  in  the 
business  for  eight  years.  I  started  first  in 
Morrow  Co.,  O.,  and  have  started  and  built  up 
three  different  apiaries  in  that  time,  with  the 
best  of  success.  I  attribute  my  success  to  the 
ABC  book  and  Gleanings,  although  I  have 
read  many  other  works,  and  practiced  them  to 
a  small  extent;  but  when  I  get  puzzled  I  fall 
back  on  the  A  B  C  book  for  information,  and 
hardly  ever  fail  to  be  successful  in  my  under- 
taking. As  long  as  I  have  been  in  the  business, 
this  is  the  first  attempt  to  write  to  any  paper. 
Reno,  Nevada,  July  23.       James  Clagett. 


WHY  THE    bees  ARE    CARRYING     EACH     OTHER 
OFF. 

I  see  my  bees  are  carrying  one  another  off. 
Two  bees  will  come  out  of  the  hive:  one  has 
hold  of  the  other,  and  will  pull  and  tug  and 
buzz  away  until  one  gets  started  with  its  load. 
and  away  they  both  go.  Sometimes  they  get 
on  the  ground  in  front  of  the  hive.  The  one 
can  not  rise  with  the  other,  and  they  will  part, 
and  finally  they  will  rise  (both  of  them)  and 
return  to  the  hive.  I  have  seen  a  few  separate 
in  the  air.  and  both  bees  will  fiy  off  by  them- 
selves. What  does  mean?  This  is  carried  on 
extensively,  sometimes  five  or  six  coming  out 
at  the  same  time,  and  it  would  appear  as 
though  one  half  was  trying  to  carry  off  the 
other  half.  They  have  not  swarmed  this  sea- 
son, have  plenty  of  brood,  both  sealed  and  un- 
sealed, and  some  colonies  are  storing  surplus  in 
supers.  ;Wm.  Miller. 

Emporia,  Kan.,  June  37. 

[We  can  not  suggest  the  trouble  with  your 
bees  unless  perchance  a  part  of  them  are  affect- 
ed with  bee-paralysis.  Bees  having  this  dis- 
ease are  shiny  black:  their  abdomens  appear 
distended,  and  the  legs  and  wings,  particularly 
the  latter,  show  in  some  specimens  a  tremulous 
motion.  Such  bees  may  be  found  crawling 
around  the  entrance  and  in  the  grass:  and  al- 
though we  have  never  observed  it.  it  is  possible 
that  the  healthy  bec^s  may  attempt  to  carry 
them  away  in  the  air.  If  your  bees  are  not 
thus  affected  there  is  something  the  matter 
with  those  bees  that  are  carried  away.  Th(>y 
may  have  been  injured  in  the  brood  form.] 

grading    HONEY   BY   COMMISSION    MEN. 

Mr.  Root:— We  think  you  have  hit  the  nail 
on  the  head  at  last  in  regard  to  grading. 
You  say.  "  Let  us  hear  from  commission  men 
especially,"  or  words  to  that  effect.  Is  not  that 
the  way  to  get  the  matter  solved  ?  We  as  bee- 
keepers may  know  better  than  any  others  what 
honey  Is,  and  which  is  the  best:  but  unless  we 
supply  the  consumer  we  can  not  tell  how  to 
grade  or  classify  it  to  suit  the  trade  (for  the 
very  object  of  grading  and  classification  is  to 
be  satisfactory  to  the  consumer).  This  as  bee- 
keepers we  can  not  know;  but  the  man  who  is 
a  dealer  in  honey  knows  it  in  exact  proportion 
to  his  experience,  and  it  is  to  him  that  we  must 
look  for  instruction  in  this  matter.  The  mean- 
ing of  the  terms  of  trade,  "  fancy."  "  choice." 
etc..  may  be  different  from  what  we  understand 
them  to  be.  and  the  taste  of  the  public  may  be 
different  from  ours.  It  is  the  commission  man 
and  dealer  who  understands  these  things  best. 

A. 


mornings.  "He"  is  fiery  red,  and  sings  more 
beautifully  than  the  Baltimore  oriole  of  your 
latitude.  "She  "is  more  modest  in  her  color- 
ing, yellow  being  the  prevailing  hue.  There  is 
another  bird,  about  the  size  of  my  scarlet  ene- 
my, who  is  of  a  rich  blackish  brown.  His  note 
is  also  very  sweet.  These  birds  subsist  entirely 
on  honey.  They  crush  the  bee  and  sip  the  con- 
tents of  the  honey-sac,  and  then  reject  the 
fragments  of  their  victim  and  catch  another. 
They  are  far  worse  than  the  bee-martin  or 
king-bird,  although  the  latter  are  bad  enough. 
I  kill  the  bee-martin  on  sight.  The  other  birds 
work  havoc,  but  I  can't  find  it  in  my  heart  to 
kill  them. 

The  robbers  raided  two  weak  hives  here  late- 
ly. Following  a  suggestion  in  the  book  you 
sent  me,  I  scented  a  rag  with  musk  and  dropped 
it  into  the  assaulted  hive  over  night.  It  worked 
like  magic,  and  restored  peace  to  the  apiaijy  in 
some  way.  Probably  the  robbers  were  killed 
on  their  return  home.  T.  S.  Ford. 

Columbai,  Miss.,  July  27. 


BEE-ENEMIES   AMONG     THE    FEATHERED     TRIBE 
OF   MISSISSIPPI. 

The  worst  enemy  among  the  feathered  tribe 
that  the  bees  have  here  is  a  species  that  makes 
the   sweetest   music    for   our  April  and   May 


A  BEE-KEEPER  IN   TROUBLE  (?). 

Last  September  I  dug  a  well,  and  found  silver 
and  tin.  I  have  been  trying  to  work  it.  I  find 
it  mostly  tin.  There  is  no  one  here  who  knows 
how  to  reduce  the  ore.  It  is  in  great  quantity, 
beyond  estimate.  I  think  fully  6  per  cent  of 
the  ore  is  pure  tin.  Knowing  this,  I  thought  it 
would  turn  up  something  before  now.  We 
have  the  best  of  courage,  but  no  money.  If  you 
can  tell  us  how  to  reduce  the  ore  I  shall  have  a 
fortune,  and  pay  up  and  be  a  life  subscriber. 

Sni  Mills,  Mo.,  July  19.  D.  L.  Lord. 

[Well,  friend  Lord,  I  do  not  know  but  that  I 
made  a  mistake  in  the  heading:  In  fact.  I  hope 
I  did.  You  know  I  am  great  on  wells  and 
springs,  and  every  thing  of  that  sort.  When- 
ever 1  buy  a  piece  of  land  I  always  feel  happy 
in  thinking  that  it  is  not  only  so  many  feet  and 
rods  and  acres  on  the  surface,  but  that  it  is  all 
mine  "way  down."  Whenever  I  see  anybody 
digging  a  well.  I  am  always  curious  to  see 
what  there  is  down  under  the  surface;  and  had 
I  found  tin  and  silver,  as  you  have.  I  do  not 
know  but  I  should  have  neglected  my  bees  and 
garden,  and  wasted  my  money  and  time,  just 
as  you  have,  may  be.  But  perhaps  we  had  bet- 
ter hold  on  a  little.  Is  there  not  one  among  the 
readers  ©f  Gleanings  who  can  tell  friend  Lord 
how  to  reduce  this  ore  and  "get  the  tin  "  '^  Of 
course,  I  am  interested,  for  he  is  goiug  to  take 
Gleanings  all  his  life — don't  you  see?  and  then 
I  want  to  see  him  make  a  success  besides;  and 
I  want  our  great  nation  to  have  all  the  tin  (and 
silver  too)  there  is  to  be  had.  You  see,  we  are 
going  to  need  it  after  a  while,  even  if  we  don't 
just  now.  Now,  old  friend,  when  that  well  of 
yours  gets  to  panning  out,  may  be  I  will  happen 
down  that  way.  and  you  will  take  me  through 
the  whole  thing — won't  you  ?  —  even  down  into 
the  well,  may  be.] A.  I.  R. 

MOVING  TO  PASTURES  NEW  NOT  ALWAYS 
PROFITABLE. 

I  thought,  for  the  good  of  all  of  those  who 
were  thinking  of  moving  to  pastures  new.  es- 
pecially their  bees.  I  would  give  you  some  of 
my  experience.  As  usual,  we  began  bee-keep- 
ing witli  box  hives,  three  in  number;  bought 
and  increased  to  120  colonies:  then  got  uneasy, 
and  thought  we  could  do  better  to  go  south. 
So  we  sold  off  all  of  our  personal  property,  and 
went.  Tht^  outcome  of  it  all  was.  we  came 
back  here  in  five  months,  completely  broke,  and 
sold  what  bees  did  not  get  smothered  in  going 
down  there,  for  §7.5.  We  have  started  to  build 
up  another  yard,  and  have  six  colonies. 

I  have  read  Gleanings  so  much  that  I  have 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


(523 


fallen  in  lovowitli  the  Iloiiit' of  tho  Honoy-bops. 
I  should  like  to  visit  yon  some  time,  and.  above 
all.  I  shonUi  like  to  g<>t  ao(inainti'd  with  sonic 
of  tlu'  bee-wonuMi.  (.'i.aua  Ci  ti.ku. 

Paw  Paw,  Mich.,  July  .5. 

MII.KWKKDS. 

Mr.  Adrian  .1.  Hesse,  Uay  Shore,  N.  Y.,  sends 
one  of  our  common  milkweeds.  ^.sT?c/»i».s'  cor- 
)iuti.  He  wisiies  to  know  why  it  kills  bees.  He 
finds  bees  dead  on  it.  and  sent  some  along  with 
the  sample  that  he  mailed  to  me.  This  is  noth- 
ing new  or  uncommon.  The  large  sticky  polleti 
masses  catch  the  bees  and  hold  them  as  pi'ison- 
ers  till  they  die.  I  figure  the  trap  in  my  Man- 
ual. Even  if  the  bee  is  strong  enough  to  pull 
away,  it  drags  the  large  mass  of  pollen  with  it, 
and  often  is  regarded  as  an  intruder  by  the 
other  bees,  and  is  dragged  forth  from  the  hive 
as  relentlessly  as  are  the  drones  when  they  are 
no  longer  useful.  We  have  this  species  abun- 
dantly on  our  river-fiats,  close  by  the  college; 
and  although  I  find  the  bees  made  prisoners 
each  year.  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the  fiowers 
are  more  beneficial  than  harmful  to  the  bees. 

Agricultural  College.  Miph.         A.  J.  Cook. 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM  A.  I.  ROOT. 


Before  leaving  the  Pacific  States  I  wish  to 
say  a  few  words  in  general  in  regard  to  the 
fruit  industry.  .Somebody  has  said  that  the 
fruit  crop  of  California  is  worth  more  than  the 
gold  output.  Very  likely  this  is  true;  but 
every  one  should  remember — in  fact,  lie  should 
keep  constantly  in  mind  the  fact — that  people 
fail  in  fruit-growing  in  California  as  well  as 
here  in  Ohio  and  everywhere  east.  Even  in 
California  there  is  no  excellence  without  great 
labor:  and  there  are  places  where  great  sums 
of  money  have  been  invested,  and  yet  a  major- 
ity of  the  people  say  ■■  fruit- farming  does  not 
pay,"  just  as  they  say  here  in  the  east  that 
"  farming  doesn't  pay."  In  the  suburbs  of  Pas- 
adena, one  of  the  most  beautiful  fruit-growing 
regions  on  the  whole  Pacific  coast,  there  are 
individuals  who  will  assure  you  that  nobody 
around  there  makes  it  pay  to  grow  fruit.  And 
now  comes  another  thing  that  some  of  you 
friends  will  hate  to  hear  me  say.  It  is  this: 
The  great  achievements  in  the  way  of  fruit- 
growing have  mostly  been  accomplished  by 
men  or  companies  of  large  means.  There  are 
certainly  great  advantages  in  doing  things  by 
the  wholesale — that  is.  if  you  can  get  good  men 
to  look  after  them  and  manage  them.  While 
we  were  at  Santa  Paula  our  good  friend  Rufus 
Touchton  took  myself  and  Mrs.  Root  around 
among  the  fruit-growers  quite  a  good  deal.  I 
was  especially  pleased  to  be  driven  through  an 
orchard  of  a  hundred  acres  set  to  lemons  and 
oranges.  A  very  fair  illustration  of  the  way 
that  hundred-acre  orchard  looked  is  given  in 
the  picture  on  next  page. 

The  picture  is  not  one  of  my  taking.  The 
Kodak  is  hardly  equal  to  such  a  view  as  I 
wanted,  and  therefore  I  purchased  a  picture 
there  that  seemed  to  tell  the  story  as  I  wanted 
it  told.  Observe  the  men  in  the  trees,  with 
their  sacks  strapped  about  their  shoulders; 
see.  also,  the  heaps  of  fruit,  the  arrangement 
of  boxes,  etc.  To  get  an  orange  grove  in  full 
bearing  like  the  above,  one  must  labor  for  years, 
and  it  must  be  no  slipshod  labor.  If  the  owner 
becomes  discouraged,  and  loses  heart,  the  whole 
bottom  drops  out  of  his  enterprise  at  once. 
Unless  the    trees  are  watered  with  immense 


quantities  of  water  they  will  die  in  a  few 
months  or  even  weeks.  Hut.  on  the  other  hand, 
where  a  num  is  full  of  faith  ami  (Miergy,  and 
doi'S  every  thing  in  the  best  manncrr  at  just  the 
right  time,  the  possibilities  are  wondiirful.  I{ut 
so  they  are  here  at  lutme  where  I  live  and 
where  you  live.  A  man  who  will  work  for  it, 
and  who  selects  fruit  adapted  to  the  locality 
where  he  lives,  can  produi'e  wonderful  results, 
even  froiu  a  single  acre  of  ground. 

To  show  you  what  is  possible  to  do  with  a 
single  orange- tree.  I  submit  a  cut  that  I  found 
in  one  of  the  photograph  galleries.  It  is  a  pic- 
ture from  real  life,  without  question;  but  very 
likely  the  artist  .selected  the  very  best  specimen 
he  could  find.  Perhaps  this  picture  is  one  out 
of  a  thousand,  but  it  is  reality. 

Before  I  go  further  I  wish  to  say  a  word  more 
in  regard  to  our  friend  Rufus  Touchton.  of 
Santa  Paula,  Ventura  Co.  Friend  T.  does  not 
belong  to  the  same  church  that  I  do:  but  for 
all  that,  Mrs.  Root  says,  and  I  say  ainen  to  it, 
that  he  and  his  good  wife  are  two  of  the  nicest 
people  we  found  in  California  or  in  any  other 
place.  Of  course.  I  had  to  visit  their  new 
church,  which  was  then  in  process  of  construc- 
tion; and  afterward  we  had  a  glimpse  for  the 
first  time  of  the  Japanese  persimmons  as  they 
grew  on  the  trees.  And,  by  the  way,  of  all  the 
beautiful  and  luscious  fruits  that  God  in  his 
love  and  mercy  has  given  us,  it  seems  to  me 
there  is  nothing  much  nicer  than  a  real  ripe 
Japanese  persimmon.  Perhaps  three-fourths 
of  the  people  who  undertake  to  eat  them  do 
not  like  them  at  all.  The  trouble  is,  they  are 
stubborn  and  contrary.  You  take  a  person 
who  lacks  charity,  and  he  would  not  like  a  per- 
simmon—funny, isn't  it '?  Well,  let  me  explain. 
You  step  up  to  any  of  the  fruit-stands  in 
Los  Angeles  or  any  other  of  the  beautiful  cities, 
and  ask  for  persimmons,  and  tlie  dealer  will 
give  you  some  mushy,  rotten-looking  ones.  If 
you  are  one  of  those  suspicious  people  who  have 
learned  about  "  tricks  in  trade,"  and  firmly  be- 
lieve that  every  one  is  bent  on  swindling  you, 
you  will  say  to  yourself,  if  you  do  not  say  out 
loud.  "  Oh,  no,  my  good  friend  I  you  can't  come 
any  such  game  on  us  as  that.  No  doubt  you 
would  1)6  glad  to  peddle  oft'  your  stale  rotten 
fruit;  and  perhaps  you  think  tliat,  because  we 
are  new  comers,  you  can  pull  the  wool  over  our 
eyes  by  that  sort  of  talk;  but  it  is  altogether 
too  thin." 

The  experienced  merchant,  who  knows  how 
to  serve  his  customers  as  he  would  like  to  ije 
served  himself,  and  who  knows  there  is  more 
money  in  the  golden  rule  than  in  any  thing  else, 
pleasantly  replies,  '•  I  know  very  well,  friends, 
that  it  looks  to  you  eastern  people  as  if  these 
persimmons  that  I  offer  you  were  unfit  to  eat; 
but,  in  fact,  they  are  the  only  ones  that  are  so 
perfectly  ripened  as  to  be  really  i)alatable.  But 
you  must  overcome  your  prejudice  a  little  in 
order  to  enjoy  this  really  fine  fruit.  Now,  I 
should  be  quite  giad  to  sell  you  these  firm, 
smooth,  handsome  ones;  l)ut  before  you  can 
eat  them  you  will  have  to  take  them  home  and 
keep  them  till  they  are  soft  and  mellow  like 
this." 

'■  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  these  soft  things, 
that  will  almost  flatten  down  if  you  touch  them, 
are  not  spoiled?" 

"Exactly:  and  if  you  will  overcome  your 
prejudice,  and  eat  one  of  them,  you  will  agree 
with  me;  and.  liesides.  you  will  know  how  to 
eat  persimmons  ever  afterward." 

Well,  I  learned  the  trick,  for  such  you  may 
call  it.  I  picked  the  softest  and  most  forbid- 
ding-looking ones  on  the  tray  that  belonged  to 
tlie  fruit-stand,  and  ate  them  with  avidity; 
but  when  as  wise  a  man  as  our  good  friend 
Prof.  Cook,  and  he  a  college  professor  too,  came 


624 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


()35 


AN    lI.I.rSTRATION   OF   ON'E   OF   THE    POS.SIlJII,ITIKS    IX   OHAXGK-fiROWINfi. 


626 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


along.  I  could  not  succeed  in  persuading  him 
that  they  were  good  to  eat,  aud  he  gave  it  up 
with  a  remark  something  like  this: 

"Well,  Bro.  Root,  .some  people  may  learn  to 
eat  these  mushy  things,  but  I  am  afraid  I  never 
shall." 

Well,  when  we  were  out  on  that  trip  with 
friend  Touchton  we  passed  a  beautiful -shaped 
tree  of  Japanese  persimmons.  It  was  just  a 
model  in  symmetry  and  grace;  and  the  beauti- 
ful handsome  fruits  were  set  evenly  through 
all  the  tree,  just  as  thick  as  they  could  hang  on 
the  leafless  limbs — the  leaves  had  all  fallen, 
you  see.  Why,  you  would  have  said,  to  look  at 
that  tree,  that  nature  never  could  have  pro- 
duced any  thing  so  faultless.  It  must  have 
been  fixed  up  for  an  exposition  or  for  a 
fruit-dealer's  catalogue.  Why  didn't  I  take  it 
with  the  Kodak?  Oh  dear!  the  Kodak  was  at 
home;  and  it  was  so  near  night  that  we  could 
not  have  time  to  go  back  and  get  it.  If  I  ever 
do  come  across  a  truthful  picture  of  a  persim- 
mon-tree full  of  fruit  I  will  try  to  give  it  to  you. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


Let  tlie  words  of  my  mouth,  and  the  meditation 
of  my  heart,  be  acceptable  in  thy  sig-ht,  O  Lord,  my 
strength  and  my  redeemer.— Psalm  19:14. 

It  was  about  a  quarter  past  eleven  in  the 
forenoon.  I  had  just  awakened  from  my  fore- 
noon nap.  By  the  time  I  had  washed  my  face 
and  brushed  my  hair  hastily,  the  whistle  blew. 
It  was  text-day;  and  by  the  time  I  was  on  hand 
for  the  noon  service,  the  friends  were  gathered 
there,  each  having  in  his  hand  a  neat  little 
text,  as  is  the  custom  every  Thursday.  There 
had  been  a  beautiful  summer  shower  the  day 
before;  and  under  the  influence  of  the  hot  July 
weather  every  thing  was  growing  wonderfully. 
I  had  been  refreshed  by  my  sleep,  and  perhaps 
that  was  why  I  was  in  a  thankful  frame  of 
mind  rather  more  than  usual.  As  soon  as  I 
ascended  the  stairs  it  occurred  to  me  that  the 
hymn  they  were  singing  was  one  of  wonderful 
beauty — in  fact,  it  seemed  almost  an  inspira- 
tion. During  the  singing  I  opened  my  Bible, 
and  on  a  slip  of  paper  were  the  words  of  our 
text.  The  penmanship  seemed  at  the  time 
wonderful:  but  the  thing  above  all  others  that 
atti-acted  my  attention  was  the  words  of  the 
text.  During  my  recent  travels  I  met,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  many  unbelievers;  and  I  was 
especially  pained  to  hear  more  than  one  good 
brother  say  that  he  would  be  glad  to  believe  as 
I  do,  but  he  could  not.  Nothing  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures  seemed  to  come  home  to  them  as  it 
did  to  me,  carrying  conviction  that  the  words 
were  unquestionably  the  words  of  God.  I  have 
thought  of  these  friends  a  good  deal,  and  I  have 
prayed  for  them.  In  reading  my  Bible  I  have 
often  wondered  what  passages  or  what  texts 
would  be  most  appropriate  to  indicate  its  divine 
origin;  and  I  have  taken  up  passage  after  pas- 
sage in  that  way.  You  see,  I  wanted  some- 
thing that,  in  small  compass,  would  cover  suf- 
ficient ground  to  settle  the  question.  I  told  you 
about  once  finding  a  scrap  of  paper  in  the  dirt 
and  debris  and  ISits  of  leather  on  the  floor  of  a 
shoeshop.  The  occupant  of  a  drugstore  adjoin- 
ing the  shoeshop  ^old  me  afterward,  that,  if  the 
Bible  were  all  lost  except  that  scrap  of  paper, 
that  alone  was  sutticient  to  take  man  from  earth 
to  heaven.  Well,  while  I  held  this  slip  of  paper 
in  my  hand,  and  looked  at  the  words,  it  seemed 
to  me  that,  if  the  whole  Bible  were  lost  except 
this  one  little  verse,  this  verse  alone — or,  per- 
haps, I  should  say  that  prayer,  for  it  is  a  prayer 
— ought  to  be  enough  of  itself  to  lift  one  from 


earth  and  its  uncertainties  to  a  conception  of 
God,  his  infinity  and  unchangeableness.  Now, 
then,  you  friends  of  mine  who  do  not  find  the 
Bible  sufficient  of  itself,  listen  to  me  for  just  a 
little  time,  will  you,  please? 

Somebody— we  do  not  know  who — that  is, 
providing  we  have  this  text  and  not  the  rest  of 
the  chapter  or  the  rest  of  the  Bible— somebody, 
I  say,  was  uttering  a  prayer.  The  very  first 
words  indicate  unquestionably  that  it  is  a 
prayer.  There  have  been  many  definitions  of 
prayer,  I  know;  but  I  am  going  to  give  you  a 
definition  of  my  own  just  now.  Some  of  you 
might  say  that  prayer  alone  by  one's  self  is 
simply  to  talk  to  one's  self.  No,  no!  it  is  more 
than  that.  We  will  suppose  that  the  individ- 
ual who  gave  voice  to  these  words  was  one  like 
ourselves  (or  "  our  neighbors  "),  if  you  choose, 
who  had  found  by  sad  experience  that  his  words 
were  not  always  wise  and  not  always  the  best 
words  that  could  be  spoken.  Nay,  further: 
this  individual  had  lived  a  life  of  ups  and 
downs,  just  as  we  do.  He  had  met.  perhaps, 
many  discouragements.  He  had  made  resolu- 
tions to  be  better  and  to  be  purer;  he  had  again 
and  again  felt  dissatisfied  with  selfish  longings 
and  the  pursuit  of  selfish  ways.  He  had  been 
groping  in  darkness  for  something  purer  and 
better  beyond.  He  might  have  said,  '*  In  future 
I  am  resolved  to  be  careful  what  I  say;"  but, 
dear  friends,  this  little  word  ''let"  reveals 
something  more.  It  is  not  only  a  resolution  but 
a  promise,  or  a  promise  and  petition  together, 
if  you  choose.  He  is  speaking  to  somebody 
more  than  human;  he  is  asking  for  help;  and 
in  this  attitude,  under  these  circumstances,  he 
says,  "iet  the  words  of  my  mouth."  This  is 
good — it  is  grand— it  is  inspiring.  It  sounds 
like  a  desire  and  a  longing  to  climb  above  hu- 
man weakness — or  a  plea  for  help,  and  now 
for  the  second  part  of  this  wonderful  sentence. 

It  is  not  only  the  words  of  his  mouth,  but 
right  along  come  these  awful,  solemn  words, 
"  the  meditation  of  my  heart.^''  Some  of  us  talk 
a  great  deal,  and  I  think  it  is  well  that  we  do. 
There  are,  perhaps,  extremes  both  ways;  but  I 
do  love  people  who  talk  freely  and  familiarly 
with  their  fellow- men.  Now,  we  talk  a  good 
deal,  but  we  think  a  great  deal  more.  In  fact, 
from  the  time  we  get  ideas  in  our  childhood 
from  our  teachers  to  the  time  we  close  our  eyes 
in  death,  we  are  constantly  meditating.  Even 
while  asleep  a  sort  of  meditation  seems  still  to 
be  going  on — at  least,  part  of  the  time.  Now, 
we  soon  learn  to  be  very  careful  to  keep  our 
meditations  to  ourselves.  The  most  of  us  med- 
itate one  thing,  very  frequently,  v\'hile  we  talk 
something  else.  Oh!  don't  be  in  haste  now  to 
call  us  hypocrites.  Surely  you  would  not  de- 
mand that  a  young  lady  who  has  decided  to 
say  yes  when  the  proper  time  comes  should 
talk  right  out  the  meditation  of  her  heart. 
Why,  when  these  two  young  people  are  just 
becoming  acquainted,  it  would  be  the  most 
foolish  thing  in  the  world  for  her  to  tell  him 
exactly  what  she  is  thinking  of.  May  be  you 
think  I  get  on  to  this  subject  a  good  deal,  in 
regard  to  the  relations  of  our  young  people  as 
they  emerge  from  their  teens.  Well,  if  I  do  I 
am  sure  I  need  not  be  ashamed  of  it.  One  of 
the  most  sacred  and  holy  relations  we  meet 
here  in  this  life  is  that  of  the  sexes;  and  with 
(rod's  love  in  the  hearts  of  both  of  them,  the 
relation  is  as  holy  and  sacred  and  safe  as  that 
between  parent  and  child.  Well,  now,  let  us  go 
back  to  the  prayer. 

The  one  who  is  praying  has,  without  question, 
some  conception  in  his  heart  of  an  infinite  being 
far  above  any  thing  that  is  human.  He  be- 
lieves in  some  one  who  not  only  hears  all  words 
spoken  by  the  mouth,  but  even  looks  into  the 
innermost  recesses  of  the  heart,  and  reads  our 


1802 


CLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


()27 


MTV  tlioughts.  SdiinMiiiu's  \vi'  say.  "Oil  if  all 
tlu'  world  wt-ri'  honest!"  ami  of  late  a  sjood 
niany  sccin  to  he  fciiiafUahiy  fond  of  dwcllinfj: 
on  tilt'  (lislnmcstii  of  tlu-  wofltl.  Tlicy  say. 
'•  Talk  is  dioap:  but  whi'ii  a  man  gots  a  e'liancc, 
soe  how  iinirkly  ho  l(Ms  out  tlio  sccrot  that  the 
almJKlity  d»)llar  is  as  dear  to  him  as  it  is  to  the 
rest  of  ns."  Vou  have  ln'ard  this  soilof  talk. 
no  doubt;  and  folks  jeer  at  (hfistianity  because 
it  claims  that  its  toliowers  are  honest,  or,  at 
least,  more  honest  than  people  who  make  no 
pfofession.  Well,  now,  dear  friend  (I  mean  you 
will)  lack  faith  in  a  (Jod  above,  and  in  a  here- 
after for  huniaiiity).  I  want  yon  to  take  a  look 
at  this  individual" who,  ages  "ago.  uttered  this 
prayer.  IVrhaps  I  can  not  prove  to  you  that 
tills  prayer  was  utteretl  while  he  was  nUnic  in 
his  vliisi'i.  or  away  olY  in  the  fields,  under  (5od"s 
clear  sky:  but  I  know  ihal  iik my  prayers  have 
been  uttered  under  such  circumstances.  I  know 
it.  because  I  have  prayed  in  real  earnest  in  just 
that  way.  | 

Let  us  now  consider  a  human  being  or  indi- 
vidual who.  away  ott'  by  himself,  has  honest 
longings  to  be  so  upright  and  honest  and  true 
that  he  can  lift  his  heart  to  heaven  and  use 
these  words:  "  Let  the  words  of  my  mouth  and 
the  meditation  of  iny  heart."  While  he  breathes 
these  words  he  believef<  that  God  hears  them. 
Why,  there  is  not  a  bit  of  doubt  of  It.  Whoever 
used  those  words  in  prayer  felt  as  certain  of  the 
existence  of  the  God  above  as  he  did  of  his  own 
existence.  There  are  wonderful  things  in  crea- 
tion, and  the  most  wonderful  thing  I  know  of 
Is  humanity.  There  is  no  humbug  or  mistake 
about  it.  We  are  here  in  this  world.  All  these 
strange  things  about  ourselves  that  we  have 
learned  by  experience  are  true.  We  are  sinful, 
we  are  erring,  we  are  ignorant.  Why.  we  strike 
the  boundary  of  our  wisdom  at  almost  every 
move.  Jdo  not  know;  nobody  knows — that  is, 
no  person  knows.  God  knows,  but  «'e  do  not. 
He  who  created  us,  and  framed  the  heavens 
with  its  myriads  of  worlds,  knows  all  about 
these  things.  We  are  just  getting  a  little 
glimpse  of  electricity,  and  we  are  climbing 
higher.  Every  day  reveals  new  wonders.  Why, 
who  could  have  supposed  that  all  these  things 
were  all  round  about  us,  right  by  our  sides,  for 
ages  past,  and  we  did  not  know  it?  We  were 
too  stupid.  No,  stupid  is  not  the  word.  Hu- 
manity has  been  in  its  infancy;  and,  for  that 
matter,  it  is  in  its  infancy  now.  God  knows, 
but  we  do  not.  It  seems  to  me  that  this  con- 
ception of  liod  is  a  right  one.  It  is  not  all  of  it. 
of  course;  for  God  made  us.  and  he  loiies  us, 
the  creation  of  his  own  hands.  He  has  great 
plans  in  store  for  us,  just  as  an  earthly  father 
has  plans  in  store  for  his  chrldren.  One  of  the 
pleasant  things  in  our  neighborhood  is  to  see 
Ernest  take  his  little  boy,  a  year  and  a  half  old. 
on  his  wheel.  A  dainty  little  seat,  of  nickel 
and  st«el,  is  made  on  the  front  part  of  the 
machine.  The  little  fellow  claps  his  hands  and 
crows  with  delight  when  his  father  starts  off 
to  show  him  something  of  the  great  world.  He 
is  not  a  bit  afraid,  for  his  father's  arms  are 
right  beside  him— each  side  of  him,  for  that 
matter;  and  if  he  knows  (tny  thing  in  this  little 
world,  this  short  svorld  of  his,  he  knows  of  his 
piipd's  love.  He  looks  up  at  hinf other  wonder- 
ingly,  and  he  looks  out  upon  the  world  wonder- 
ingly:  and  he  enjoys  it  all,  because  it  speaks, 
even  to  his  little  mind,  of  greater  and  more 
wonderful  things  yet  to  be  learned.  Every  d/iy 
is  a  new  experience.  I  verily  believe  every  day 
is  to  him  a  new  deWjIit.  The  Bible  teaches  us 
of  God  the  Father;  and  so  does  this  nmverse 
about  us  teach  us  of  God  the  Father.  Why  did 
he  take  so  much  pains,  and  place  us  at  the  }iead 
of  it  all,  if  he  hadn't  some  loving  plan  for  us? 
Why,  if  it  were  not  for  humanity,  for  "our- 


selves and  our  neighbors."  if  yon  choose,  there 
would  be  no  (itidiiHcc  to  this  gn-at  play  that  Is 
going  on — the  play  on  earth  and  the  play  in  the 
heavens— an  i()irc(/.si;((/  play.  What  would  you 
tiiink  of  some  people  or  somebody  who  would 
get  up  some  great  show  without  any  (>x|)ecta- 
tion  of  having  anybody  to  see  it?  Think  of  the 
World's  Exposition,  if  ourselves  and  our  neigh- 
bors, jiooc  of  us,  wen^  expected  togol  \Vell,  a 
universe  without  people  would  be  like  that; 
and  we  see  the  plan  unfolding,  exactly  as  little 
Leland  sees  the  plan  unfolding.  When  that 
litlli'  nickel-i)lat(>d  seat  was  purchased  and  first 
exhibited  to  his  infantile  gaze,  he  hadn't  much 
comprehension  of  what  it  was  for.  But  he 
caught  on  very  cpiickly,  I  tell  you;  and  we 
should  be  stupid  and  dull  if  we  didn't  catch  on 
in  something  the  same  way.  Now  for  the 
prayer— a  prayer  to  Go(Z..  What  follows?  Why, 
not  only  the  words  that  are  s[)oken,  but  the 
very  thoughts  of  this  petitioner,  he  wishes  to 
be  such  as  may  be  acceptable  in  the  sight  of 
this  great  Ruler  of  the  wide  universe.  What  a 
grand  conception!  Even  if  the  text  ended  there, 
it  would  be  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  in- 
spiring of  the  whole  Bible.  But  after  these 
wonderful  words  comes  a  confession  of  loving 
faith.  This  individual,  who  has  had  disheart- 
ening experiences,  closes  his  petition  with  a  few 
brief  words  that  of  themselves  reveal  wonders 
—  "O  Lord,  my  strength  and  my  redeemer." 
Already  in  life  he  has  become  so  disgusted  and 
disheartened  with  his  ouni  strength,  and  with 
his  own  wisdom,  that  he  counts  it  as  nothing 
compared  with  the  strength  from  on  high.  His 
feeble  human  strength  is  not  to  be  counted — 
not  even  to  be  placed  in  the  scale.  All  that  is 
worth  counting  or  considering  is  the  strength 
that  has  been  given  again  and  again  from  the 
great  Father  above  — "My  stremjih  and  my 
redeemer."  And  that  word  "redeemer"  holds 
in  itself  another  revelation.  The  one  who 
prays  has  been  lost;  but  the  Father  has  redeem- 
ed him.  and  lifted  him  up.  He  has  been  bought 
with  a  price;  and  I  am  sure  that,  as  the  words 
come  from  his  lips,  they  come  lovingly.  There 
is  music  in  the  very  word.  Did  you  ever,  my 
friend,  in  your  life  speak  somebody's  name 
again  and  again  to  yourself?  Perhaps  you 
wrote  it  and  tore  the  paper  up  and  threw  it 
away.  You  loved  to  speak  even  the  name  of 
the  one  so  dear  to  your  lieart;  you  loved  to  see 
it  written,  and  it  gave  your  blood  a  new  im- 
pulse as  it  coursed  through  your  veins.  Well, 
that  is  proper  and  right — it  ought  to  be  so.  even 
if  it  were  the  name  of  some  poor  mortal  like 
yourself.  But  when  your  faith  is  such  that  you 
feel  a  thrill  of  joy  as  you  utter  the  words  of 
prayer  with  something  like  the  words  of  our 
closing  text,  oh!  I  tell  you,  you  are  then  on  the 
road  from  earth  to  heaven;  nay,  more:  while 
one  foot  stands  on  the  earth,  the  other,  1  might 
almost  say,  is  in  heaven  already. 

How  many  times  we  lament  that  humanity 
is  so  divided  !  We  lament  that,  while  one  pulls 
one  way,  somebody  else  pulls  in  the  opposite, 
and  so  nothing  is  accomplished.  Yes,  the  same 
state  of  affairs  is  sometimes  seen  in  churches, 
and  even  in  Sunday-schools;  and  you  say.  in 
real  discouragement.  "  Oh  if  people  would  only 
be  agreed — i  f  Christians  would  be  agreed  !  Why, 
if  all  Christians  in  tlie  world  would  pull  all  to- 
gether in  one  direction,  the  millenium  would 
be  here,  almost,  already."  What  shall  be  done 
— what  can  be  done  to  cure  people  from  pulling 
for  self  while  they  at  the  same  time  try  to  make 
believe  they  are  pulling  for  the  common  good 
ofhumanity?  Now.  do  you  see  the  point?  If  you, 
my  friend,  utter  the  words  of  my  text  as  your 
prayer,  and  I  utter  it  as  my  prayer — an  honest 
prayer,  you  know — why.  we  shall  be  working 
and  praying  in  the  same  line.    Our  aspirations 


628 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


and  our  wants  will  be  alike.  If  you  really  wish 
that  God  would  look  into  our  hearts  and  see  the 
purposes  written  there,  then  these  purposes 
must  be  honest  and  good — at  least,  we  desire 
that  they  should  be  honest  and  good.  If  God 
sees  our  hearts,  and  we  want  him  to  see  them 
— if,  in  fact,  we  enjoy  having  him  look  over  our 
plans  and  purposes  that  are  concealed  from 
mortal  eyes,  why,  there  can  7iot  be  any  bad 
ones.  And  the  text  includes  something  morn. 
It  takes  in  the  thought  that,  if  our  words  and 
our  meditations  are  not  wholesome  and  proper. 
God  will  straighten  us  out — tell  us  our  errors, 
and  make  us  good  and  pure:  make  us  love  our 
neighbors:  make  us  at  an  agreement  with  him; 
and  if  we  agree  with  him.  we  shall  agree  with 
each  other.  Oh!  but  wouldn't  it  just  be  fun  to 
do  business  were  all  people  like  that — where 
everybody  desires  the  good  of  his  neighbor  as 
much  as  he  desires  his  own  good  ? 

And  now,  my  unbelieving  friend.  I  want  to 
leave  this  verse  with  you.  I  want  you  to  be 
honest  in  this  one  thing,  anyhow.  Am  I  not 
right  in  saying  that  we  should  have  a  heaven 
here  on  earth  if  everybody  honestly  prayed — 
prayed  to  God,  I  mean  —  that  simple  little 
prayer?  And  now  if  you  really  feel  aroused 
and  intiTested  in  this  wonderful  text.  I  wish 
you  would  read  the  whole  chapter.  This  19th 
Psalm  is  one  of  the  celebrated  ones. 

And  now  I  want  to  close  this  little  talk  with 
two  other  texts  that  run  quite  parallel.  Here 
they  are: 

Search  me,  O  God,  and  try  my  lieai-t;  try  me,  and 
know  my  tliouglits.  and  see  if  there  be  any  wicked 
way  in  me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting. — 
Psalm  139  :  3:5,  34. 

You  will  at  least  admit  this  much— I  am  sure 
you  will,  every  one  of  you:  Wouldn't  this  world 
be  a  better  one  if  there  were  more  people  who 
honestly  prayed,  from  the  bottom  of  their 
hearts,  such  prayers  as  these  I  have  given  you? 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


PLANTING   STRAWBEKRIKS   IN   AUGUST. 

This  will  always  be  the  favorite  time.  or.  at 
least,  one  of  ihe  favorite  times,  with  market- 
gardeners,  for  putting  out  strawberries,  for  the 
reason  that  spots  of  ground  will  be  vacated 
all  through  this  month  and  next.  Another 
thing,  our  ground,  as  a  rule,  is  in  better  con- 
dition to  work  in  August  and  September 
than  at  any  other  mouth  of  the  year;  and  es- 
pecially during  the  past  four  or  five  seasons  has 
it  been  too  wet  to  get  the  ground  in  proper  con- 
dition in  the  spring.  I  know  there  has  been  a 
good  deal  of  grumbling  because  certain  straw- 
berry-growers have  advised  fall  planting.  Their 
objections  may  hold  good  so  far  as  the  average 
farmer  is  concerned.  But  with  the  market 
gardener  who  is  accustomed  to  putting  out 
plants  whenever  he  gets  ready  or  feels  like  it. 
and  who  knows  exactly  what  he  can  do  and 
what  he  can  not  do.  it  is  just  the  time  for  him. 
We  have  been  putting  out  strawberry-plants 
almost  daily  for  a  month  back,  or  wh(>never  a 
piece  of  ground  could  be  cleared  off.  Of  course, 
we  put  in  lots  of  manure,  plow  it  deep,  and 
work  it  up  fine:  then  if  the  weather  is  very  hot, 
dry.  and  sultry,  we  pour  about  a  teacupful  of 
water  around  the  roots  of  each  plant.  Then, 
to  prevent  baking,  we  cover  the  surface  with 
fine  dry  soil.  Whole  rows  of  plants  put  out  in 
this  manner,  during  the  hottest  and  dryest  days 
of  this  hot  month  of  August,  show  every  plant 
living.     Furthermore,  as  we  ran  short  of  plants 


of  some  varieties,  to  fill  out  the  row  we  took  up 
old  plants  with  black  dry  roots.  These,  too. 
are  growing  and  sending  out  I'unners.  But 
pleai^e  bear  in  mind  that  tlie  ground  was  made 
very  rich:  and  right  where  the  plant  was  put 
out  it  was  made  very  wet.  fine  dirt  being  pulled 
over  the  wetness,  so  as  to  prevent  it  from  dry- 
ing out.  Of  course,  however,  we  have  had  so 
far  good  soaking  rains  on  an  average  of  once 
evei'v  week  or  ten  days. 

Now.  another  advantage  of  fall-set  plants  is 
this:  If  done  in  the  proper  manner  they  will 
put  out  runners,  and  you  will  have  a  nice  stand 
of  plants  (not  at  all  crowded,  of  course)  by  the 
time  winter  sets  in;  and  if  you  want  fruit  you 
will  get  at  least  half  a  crop  of  the  veiy  largest 
and  linest  berries,  providing  always,  of  course, 
that  you  mulch  them  to  keep  them  out  of  the 
dirt.  During  the  next  summer  you  can  get 
just  as  complete  a  stand  of  pi  ants  for  a  matted 
row  as  you  may  desire.  As  a  rule,  work  is  not 
crowding  during  August  and  ■September,  as  it 
is  in  spring:  and  although  we  have  tried  both 
ways  repeatedly,  this  month  and  the  next  will 
probably  always  be  our  I'egular  time  for  putting 
out  strawberries.  After  they  have  given  us 
two  crops,  the  whole  bed  is  turned  under,  just 
as  soon  as  the  last  beri'y  is  picked;  and  we  so 
invariably  get  splendid  crops  of  almost  every 
thing  planted,  where  stra\Nberries  have  been 
turned  under,  I  am  beginning  to  think  that 
a  heavy  growth  of  strawberry-plants  is  worth 
almost  as  much  to  turn  under  as  a  heavy 
stand  of  clover.  Cucumbers  for  pickles,  wax 
beans,  late  beets,  and  lots  of  other  things 
that  should  be  put  in  just  about  the  time 
berry-picking  is  over,  always  thrive  wonder- 
fully after  strawberries.  Prof.  Green,  of  the 
Ohio  Experiment  Station,  was  on  our  grounds 
this  week,  and  he  could  hardly  realize  that  the 
cabbages  we  showed  him  were  planted  after  an 
immense  crop  of  strawberries  had  been  taken 
from  the  same  ground. 

CABBAGE-WORMS    BANISHED    BY   THE    USE   OF 
COMMON  WHEAT    FLOUR. 

For  destroying  cabbage-worms,  sift  common 
wheat  tiour  over  the  plants  while  the  dew  is 
still  on  them,  and  it  will  stop  the  ravages  of 
said  worm.  The  dew  makes  a  sort  of  paste 
with  the  flour,  which  sticks  to  the  worm,  hold- 
ing him  fast,  and  the  heat  of  the  sun  later  in 
the  day  destroys  what  remains  of  his  majesty. 
I  have  copied  and  tried  it.        R.  V.  Murray. 

Cleveland.  O. 

[Thanks,  friend  Murray.  It  is  very  comfort- 
ing to  know  that  our  engraver  knows  "sum- 
mut"  about  gardening  as  well  as  bees.  I 
have  several  times  noticed  the  use  of  flour  for 
cabbage-worms;  but  my  faith  was  small,  owing 
to  the  fact  that  almost  as  many  remedies  have 
been  given  through  the  papers  as  we  have  rem- 
edies for  bee-stings.  Vvith  your  explanation, 
however.  I  look  at  it  differently,  and  we  will 
make  a  test  of  it  at  once.  By  the  way,  as  we 
wish  to  use  as  much  I'conomy  as  possible,  even 
with  wheat  flour,  can  it  not  be  used  in  our  ordi- 
nary dust- bellows^] 

WHAT   IS   A    FAIR     STRAWBERRY     CROP  ? 

I  bought  100  Strawberry-plants  one  year  ago, 
and  want  to  know  how  much  fruit  I  should  have 
for  a  good  crop.  I  got  this  year  only  1.54  quarts. 
Have  I  done  well  ?    They  are  Sharpless. 

Jackson.  Mich.,  June  27.         W.  D.  Higdon. 

[Why.  I  should  think  you  had  done  exceed- 
ingly well,  friend  H.  A  hundred  plants,  as  we 
put  them  out.  would  make  only  200  feet  of  row; 
and  if  increased  so  as  to  give  over  three  pints  of 
berries  from  the  parent  plant  and  its  surround- 
ing young  plants,  you  should  be  satisfied.] 


189-: 


(JLEANINCIS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


(WO 


"PAGts-TxIO 
YEARj 


Read  Mr.  Mcliityre's  article  on  the  proposed 
new  bee-keepers*  union. 

The  following,  iust  received  from  iht^  serre- 
tary  of  the  N.  A.  U.  K.  A.,  will  explain  itself: 

FriV/idj  K. :  — You  may  say  in  llio  m.'.\t  issue  uf 
Gle.\NINOS,  tliat  tlio  Kxi'ciilivi'  Hcarcl  of  the  North 
Auiericaii  has  dei'uied  (mMo  liold  tlii'  coiivontion 
duriii>!r  the  Ci.  A.  I{.  eiicatniniu'nt.  As  soon  as  it  is 
known  detlniU'ly  at  what  time  toward  tlie  end  of 
tlie  year  some  soi-iety  will  meet  in  Wasliing-ton,  Mr. 
Benton  will  let  us  know,  and  the  titne  of  liolding 
I  he  meeting-  will  be  deci<led.     W.  /,.  Hutchinson. 

Flint,  Mich..  Aug.  6. 


We  have  jtist  received  information  from  W. 
.^.  Pender,  of  West  Maitland.  Ans..  to  the  effect 
that  the  postoflice  department  of  New  South 
Wales  is  about  to  reconsider  the  matter  of  ad- 
mitting queens  to  the  mails  to  that  province; 
for.  as  you  will  remember,  it  was  about  to  debar 
them.  In  the  meantime,  any  live  bees  arriving 
in  the  province  will  be  delivered.  We  hope, 
therefore,  that  the  matter  will  be  considered  In 
the  interests  of  bee-keepers. 

OiTR  energetic  friend  Ed.  Bertrand,  of  Nyon. 
Switzerland,  has  just  sent  us  a  copy  of  the  7th 
edition  of  his  work.  '"Management  of  the  Api- 
ary." entirely  revised,  and  enlarged.  The 
mechanical  work  of  the  book  is  of  the  very  best 
grade.  As  Mr.  Bertrand  is  so  well  known  in 
Europe,  no  recommendation  of  his  work  is 
necessary  on  our  part  to  those  who  can  read 
French.  His  ability  as  an  apiculturist  and  as 
a  writer  is  well  attested  by  the  fact  that  he 
assisted  Mr.  Charles  Dadant  in  his  French 
compilation  of  Langstroth.  The  book  is  hand- 
somely illustrated  with  91  cuts  and  3  plates. 
copiously  inde.xed.  and  contains  380  pages. 


Ox  page  594,  last  issue,  we  announced  that  J. 
H.  Larrabee  had  been  discontinued  from   his 

Eosilion  as  experimenter  in  apiculture  to  the 
'nited  States  government.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  Prof.  Cook  requested  bee-keepers  to 
write  to  the  Department,  asking  that  Mr.  Lar- 
rabee be  retained.  Besides  sending  a  marked 
copy,  we  sent  a  personal  letter,  and  hav(!  just 
received  word  from  the  Department  this  morn- 
ing, informing  us  that  the  employment  of  Mr. 
Larrabee  is  (juite  out  of  the  (question,  as  the 
appropriation  by  Congress  has  been  reduced 
from  .$2T..5(XJ  to  -^IT.iStX),  and  that  the  latter  sum 
is  insufficient  to  carry  on  the  more  legitimate 
work  of  the  Division.  Mr.  Frank  Benton,  how- 
ever, is  retained  on  the  force  at  present,  so  api- 
culture will  not  be  entirely  neglected. 


We  have  just  learned  that  a  prominent  com- 
mission liou>e— well,  this  side  of  the  Mississippi 
— has  lieeii  adulterating  its  consignuienis  of  ex- 
tracted honey  with  glucose.  This  information 
comes  from  one  of  their  traveling  salesmen, 
who  stated  to  a  retailer  that  the  crop  of  honey 
was  so  short  that  it  was  necessary  to  piece  it 
out  with  corn  syrup.  As  the  information  comes 
in  a  sort  of  roundabout  way  we  hope  there  is 
some  mistake.  We  shall  investigate  further: 
and  if  the  report  is  true,  and  they  show  no  dis- 
position to  discontinue  the  practice,  we  may 
test  the  law.  By  the  way,  so  far  we  have  in 
two  or  three  instances,  as  we  have  reason  to 
believe,  stopped    the    adulteration   in   certain 


phices  by  simply  warning  the  parlies  that  we 
would  proseeuie  if  we  go!  evidenee  that  they 
wei'e  continuing  that  disiepuiahle  business. 
Weil,  now.  a  bi'c-keepers"  protective  union  could 
do  that  kind  of  work  Ix'tter  than  we  could.  We 
need  a  watch -dog  to  see  iliat  this  miseral)le 
"piecing  out"  work  when  the  honey  crops  are 
small  isstfrpped  and  kept  stopped. 

We  have  received  two  oi-  three  letters  from 
prominent  bee-keepers,  criticising  the  course 
of  Prof.  Cook  and  ourselves  in  making  peace 
with  Prof.  Wiley  so  soon.  Mention  is  made  of 
the  fact  that  the  chief  chemist  wrote  an  article 
for  \\\c  America n  An(tl]iKt,\n  which  he  inti- 
mated that  th<'  bee-jouniais  have  noi  only  de- 
nied that  honey  is  adulterated,  but  that  they 
might  actually  be  in  league,  with  the  adultera- 
tors. Of  conrs(>,  both  of  these  are  untrue.  It 
should  be  borne  In  mind  that  this  article  of 
Prof.  Wiley's  was  written  before  (although 
published  after)  a  reconciliation  was  effected, 
and  when  he,  like  ourselves,  was  feeling  some- 
what at  swords"  points.  We  have  every  reason 
to  believe  that  he  feels  differently  now":  at  any 
i"ate,  we  are  very  sure  that  it  is  a  better  policy 
to  err  on  the  side  of  charity.  Prof.  Wiley,  in 
his  letters  to  us.  and  also  to  prominent  bee- 
keepers, regrets  some  of  his  public  utterances, 
and  seems  perfectly  willing  to  work  hand  in 
hand  with  bee-keepers.  We  feel  fully  satisfied 
that  he  and  the  bee-keepers  at  large  have  for  a 
long  time  misunderstood  each  other:  and  the 
thing  for  bee-journals  to  do  now  is  to  give  him 
a  fair  chance  to  prove  his  expression  of  good 
will,  and  we  believe  he  is  sincere. 


HOXF.Y   STATISTICS— REPORTS   FROM  ALL   PARTS 
OF   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Within  the  last  two  or  three  weeks  we  have 
receiv<'d  a  large  number  of  additional  responses 
in  answer  to  our  request  on  page  o.^V,  asking  for 
reports  regarding  the  condition  of  the  honey 
crop  of  l.S9"2.  This  lequest.  the  ^4(»er(c«H  Bee 
Juuriud  kindly  copied,  urging  their  readers  to 
send  on  their  answers  to  us.  Through  the 
courtesy  of  that  journal  we  are  enabled  to  make 
this  report  very  much  fuller  and  more  accurate 
than  we  should  otherwise  have  been  able  to  do. 
By  condensing  the  repli<is,  and  collating  them 
together  by  States,  we  submit  the  result  to  you 
in  the  revised  table  below. 


-Uabaina— fair. 
Arkaiisa. — indifferent. 
C  ilifurnia— very  poor. 
Canada -fair. 
Colorado— below  average, 
Connecticut — poor. 
Delaware — very  poor. 
Florida— fair  to  good. 
(Jcorgia — fair. 
Illinois — poor  to  good. 
Indiana— poor  to  fair. 
Iowa—  fair  to  very  good. 
Kansas— fair  to  good. 
Kentucky  -poor  to  fair. 
Louisiana— fair. 
Maine— fair. 
Maryland— poor. 
Massachusetts— fair. 


Mi 


Ml 


Ne 


i!j.'nii 


fair  to  good. 

(  -cita     fair  to  e.Ktra  good. 

s-ipp-     very  poor. 

HiiMipsliire— fair. 

.Itrscy— poor. 

York— poor  to  fair. 
North  Carolina— poor. 
Ohio— fair  to  extra  good, 
t'cnnsylvania— fair  to  good. 
South  Carolina— fair. 
TeiuK-ssee— poor  to  fair. 
T.N.is— poor  to  fair. 
It. ill  -poor. 
WiiiiDiit— poor  to  fair. 
\irtriiiia— fair. 
VV.i>hintrton— good. 
West   Vii^rinia  -poor. 
Wisconsin  -poor. 

The  adjective  or  adjectives  deliniiig  the  con- 
dition of  the  honey  season  opposite  each  State 
ri'presents  the  majority  of  the  reports  for  that 
State.  In  some  cases  only  one  or  two  liave  re- 
sponded for  their  States,  ihe.se  being  mostly  in 
the  South:  but  from  the  leading  honey  States, 
reports  came  in  very  freely,  so  we  think  we  are 
enabled  to  give  a  pretty  fair  idea  of  the  season. 
For  the  United  States  as  a  whole,  the  honey 
season  has  been  a  slight  improvement  over  last 
year,  although  we  can  not  call  it  an  average 
year.  It  may  be  well  to  call  attention  to  the 
fact  shown  in  the  table,  that  Ohio.  Iowa,  Min- 
nessota.  Michigan,  took  the  lead  in  honey  pro- 
duction this  yeai".  while  California,  usually  the 
banner  honey  State  of  thr^  Union,  shows  almost 
a  total  failure. 


630 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


HOW  DOES  THIS  STRIKE  YOU? 

One    Punic,  One    Italian    and    one    Golden 
Carniolan  (iiii'on;  all  three  queens  and  Ameri- 
can Apiciillurist  one  veai-  for  ^J.OO.  15-16d 
HENRY  ALLEY,  Wenliam,  ITIass. 

Srin  respondintf  to  tlii.s  uilvHiti.^eiMfiit  mention  GLBANXNoa. 

Golden  Honey  Queens, 

Queens  in  Aug-ust,  untested,  75c;  six 
for  $3.60;  tested,  $1.25;  select  tested, 
S'i.OO;  extra  select,  $4.00;  the  very  best, 
$7.00;  imported,  $4.00.  15tfdl3 

LEmi^aEB  Ebos.,  Ft.  Jennings,  Ohio. 

t^ln  ler-iionduii^  to  this  advertisement  mention  (jLEANlNGS. 

BEE-HIVES,  SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  the  best  g-oods  and  sell  them  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world. 

Our  g-oods  are  known  as  the  best  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS    CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

t^"In  respoiidins;  to  thi.s  advertisement  mention  GlkaNINOS 

TAI  I    Eggs  and  Plants,  Fowls,  Poultry-books  and 
rHLL    Papers;  finely  ill.  circular  free.    Address 
'  GEER  BROS.,  St.  Marys,  Mo.. 

14tfdb  Or,       H.  B.  GEER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 


SAVE  MONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  his  price  li.st  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 


VWS\C^V 


Murray  s.Hei5s.^':^o^^;|'^° 


VIOLINS 


GUITARS 

MANDOLIKS 


ly  In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


LITHOGRAPH  LABELS 

la  IS  Colors,  a-b  $S.OO  'p&x  lOOO- 

The  12  colors  are  all  on  each  label.  They  are  ob- 
long in  shape,  measuring  2^x3?^^.  They  are  about 
the  nicest  labels  we  ever  saw  for  glass  tumblers, 
pails,  and  small  packages  of  honey.  We  will  mail 
a  sample,  inclosed  in  our  label  catalogue,  free  on 
application,  and  will  furnish  them  postpaid  at  the 
following  prices:  Sets,  for  10;  25cts.  for  100;  f  1.00 
for  500:  $1.75  for  1000.  A.  1.  Root  Medina.O., 

A  Four-Color   Label  for  Only  75 
Cts.  Per  Thousand. 

Just  think  of  it!  we  can  furnish  you  a  very  neat 
four-color  label,  with  your  name  and  address,  with 
the  choice  of  having  either  "  comb  "  or  "  extracted  " 
before  the  word  "honey,"  for  only  Y5  cts.  per  thou- 
sand ;  60  cts.  per  500,  or  30  cts.  for  250,  postpaid.  Tlie 
size  of  the  label  is  2Xxl  inch— just  right  to  go  round 
the  neck  of  a  bottle,  to  put  on  a  section,  or  to  adorn 
the  front  of  a  honey-tumbler.  Send  for  our  special 
label  catalogue  for  samples  of  this  and  many  other 
pretty  designs  in  label  work. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina.  O. 


Cash  for  Beeswax! 

Will  pay  23e  per  lb.  cash,  or  26c  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  29c  per  lb.,  or  33c  for  hest 
seUcted  wax. 

Unless  you  put  your  name  on  the  box,  and  notify 
us  by  mail  of  amount  sent.  I  can  not  hold  myself 
responsible  for  mistakes.  It  will  not  pay  as  a  gen- 
eral thing  to  send  wax  by  express. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio 


GREAT  SALE! 

Until  April  1st  I  will  sell  bee-supplies   for  nearly 
one-third  off  my  former  list.    Send  for  my  new  red- 
mark  price  list,  out  Aug.  1,  free. 
15tfdb  'W.  D.  SOPER,  Jackson,  Mioh. 

tyin  responding?  to  tliis  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


ITALIAN  BEES  IN  THEIR  PURITY. 

Tested  daughters  of  imported  queens,  of  this 
season's  rearing,  mated  to  drones  from  imported 
and  daughters  of  imported  queens  only,  $1.25  each; 
6  for  $7.00;  $13.50  for  12.  Large  and  prolific.  Safe 
arrival  guaranteed.  CLEVELAND  BROS., 

15-16d  Decatur,  Newton  Co.,  Miss. 

twin  respondini-  to  th's  .Tdv,Tii~eiii.i>'   m.-ntion  Oi.kaninos. 


PURE  ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

Untested,  70c  each;  3  for  $1.75;    6  or  more.  50c 
each.    Tested  queens,  $1.00  each.  14tfdb 

D.  G.  EDMISTON,  Adrian,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich. 


FOR   SALE. 

Tested  Italian  queen,  60c;  untested  Ital- 
ian queen,  50c.  Italian  bees,  in  10-frame 
hive,  $4.00.    Address  15-16-17d 

Otto  Kleikow,  150  Military  Ave.,  Detroit,  Mich. 


BUSHEL-BOXES. 


ALL-SLATTED  BUSHEL  BOXES. 

The  above  cut  shows  our  new-style  all-slatted 
bushel  box.  We  have  two  other  styles;  one  has 
slatted  bottom  and  sides  with  one  solid  hoard  for 
each  end.  called  the  slatted  bushel  box.  The  other 
has  solid  ends  and  close  bottom  and  sides  and  is 
bound  with  galvanized  iron  and  called  the  galvaniz- 
ed bound  box.  These  boxes  were  devised  by  T.  B. 
Terry  for  handling  potatoes,  for  which  purpose 
nothing  could  be  handier.  The  potatoes  are  picked 
up  into  the  boxes  in  the  field  and  left  in  them  till 
sold.  Other  crops,  such  ns  cucumbers,  tomatoes, 
and  apples  are  being  handled  in  these  same  boxes. 
They  are  of  such  a  size  that  two  go  crosswise  in  an 
ordinary  wagon  box.  Outside  measure  is  14ii^x  16 ?i 
xVZYi  deep,  and  they  hold  a  bushel  of  potatoes  level 
full  so  they  can  be  piled  one  upon  another.  The 
above  cut  shows  two  all-slatted  boxes  nailed  up,  and 
a  bundle  of  fifteen  aUmg  side;  13 of  the  15  are  in  the 
flat  packed  inside  the  other  two,  and  nails  of  the 
proper  kinds  are  included.  The  slatted  and  galvan- 
ized bound  boxes  are  put  up  in  the  same  way,  only 
there  are  only  12  in  a  package  instead  of  15.  Each 
package  weighs  about  100  lbs. 

PRICE   LIST. 

All-slatted  bushel  box  per  crate  of  15 $1.50 

Slatted  "         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,  20,  and  25  cents, 
respectively.  The  early  order  discount  will  not  ap- 
ply to  those  boxes,  but  above  prices  are  net  all  the 
year. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  C 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


(531 


KIND  WORDS  FROM  OUR  CUSTOMERS. 


Those  Hoffniaii  f  niinos  I  bouKht  of  you  this  sjiring' 
are  Tho  talkof  tho  iieljrhhorhood,  and  pleasod  me 
all  to  hits.  John  Wkir. 

("arboiidalo,  Kan.,  May  13. 


1  rt'oeivod  tho  fotiiidation  all  rl>rht  wiiidi  you  soiit 
me.  It  was  all  rifrlit  and  well  put  up.  and  "in  g-ood 
shape.    I  am  well  pleased  with  it. 

Defiance.  O..  May  6.  Wesley  Kendio. 


tCrnost's  notes  on  paint  and  iijiintinj,'.  April  1.5.  are 
worth  a  year's  subscriiition  to  most  readefs  who 
paint  hives  or  houses.  W.  \V.  Somekforu. 

Navasota,  Tex.,  Apr.  27. 

The  two  select  untested  queens  sent  me  came 
throug-h  last  nigrht  all  rig-lit,  as  chipper  as  bees  well 
could  be.  Stephen  Uhese. 

Sutton.  Que.,  June  17. 


My  3-line  ad't  In  Gleanings  of  May  1st  brought 
me  a  tlood  of  letters  from  Texas  to  New  York;  no 
trouble  to  get  help  in  the  bee-yard  if  we  advertise 
in  Gleanings.  A.  A.  Knott. 

Berthoud,  Col..  May  16. 


Orders  for  queens  are  coming  in  by  the  dozen. 
Our  .Vbanded  red-clover  bees  just  fill  the  bill.  We 
consider  Gleanings  indeed  a  good  bee-journal  to 
advertise  in.  Leininger  Bros. 

Fort  Jennings.  O..  May  31. 

Tlie  "  best  imported  queen  "  reached  me  in  good 
order  yesterday  at  6  p.  m.  The  candy  was  a  little 
soft — one  or  two  bees  stuck  it;  queen  all  right.  She 
is  very  handsome.    Many  thanks. 

Versailles,  Ky..  May  12.  J.  W.  Crenshaw. 


Just  a  week  ago  today  I  sent  you  a  small  order, 
and  I  take  pleasure  in  saying  that  every  thing  has 
come  to  hand  O.  K.  I  emphasize  every,  because  I 
know,  for  I  kei)t  a  copy  of  the  order.  You  were 
very  prompt.  Mark  W.  Moe. 

Denver,  Col.,  May  7. 

Please  send  me  another  knife.  Excelsior  No.  46.  I 
want  it  immediately.  I  sold  my  other  one  for  .50 
cts.,  and  I  want  another  just  like  it.  They  are 
grand  for  the  price,  and  sell  here  in  the  stores  for 
70  cts.  Arthur  J.  Bucher. 

Decherd,  Tenn.,  June  23. 


The  10  Dovetailed  hives  in  flat  you  sent  me  are 
received,  and  more  than  satisfactory.  How  so  much 
for  so  little  money  can  be  furnished  by  you  is  really 
a  wonder.  It  shows  what  machinery,  under  intelli- 
gent guidance,  is  capable  of  doing. 

Princeton,  Ind.,  May  4.  C.  A.  Buskirk. 


a  kind  word  for  dr.  miller. 

I  think  Stray  Straws  a  great  improvement  to  your 
paper,  especialij'  sis  the  straw  has  never  been 
thrashed— the  golden  grains  are  all  left  on.  May 
Dr.  Miller  live  long  to  gather  such  straws. 

Taylorsville,  Utali,  July  2.  Homer  Brown. 


My  goods  were  received  in  fine  order,  and  I  am 
well  pleased  with  everything.  It  is  a  satisfaction 
and  a  pleasure  to  look  at  and  use  such  sections  as 
you  sent  me.  The  Daisy  foundation-fastener  is  also 
a  •'  daisy."  M.  Nevins. 

Silver  Cliff,  Col..  May  .5. 

good  measure. 

The  stands  and  buckwheat  I  ordered  came  in  good 
condition.  There  seems  to  me  to  be  fully  a  bushel 
of  buckwheat,  though  I  ordered  onlj-  three  pecks; 
but  I  have  no  way  to  determine  exactly.  I  am  well 
pleased  with  the  stands.    They  are  all  w«>  expected. 

Gastonia,  N.  C.  May  11.  W.  C.  C  Foster. 


how  our  dovetailed  hives  please. 

The  last  lot  of  KX)  hives  are  of  good  lumber,  and 
dovetails  are  better  made  than  any  we  liave  yet 
had.  If  we  can  depend  on  getting  such  goods  al- 
ways, we  can  hold  our  trade,  and  can  favor  you 
with  quite  a  number  of  carloads  of  the  Dovetailed 
hives  this  coming  winter.  Jno.  Nebel  &  Son. 

High  Hill,  Mo..  June  7. 


A  GOOD  WORD    FOR   THE   ONION-PLANTS   BY   MAIL. 

In  respon.se  to  riMpiest  on  i>age  .5^7.  last  (! lean- 
ings. 1  will  say  tliat.  the  onloii-plaiils  I  got  by  mail 
are  wonderful.  1  never  saw  any  thing  equal  to 
them.  Not  a  plant  failed  to  grow.  Onion-|)lants  by 
mail  are  a  success;  no  more  sets  or  sowing  seed  for 
me.  M.  H.  Hunt. 

Bell  Branch,  Mich.,  Aug.  3. 


I  received  the  honey-frames  yesterday,  and  they 
iire  all  right — the  best  frame  I  ever  saw.  I  told  my 
wife,  that,  when  a  man  gets  any  thing  from  A.  I. 
Root,  it  is  right,  and  always  up  to  order  in  every 
respect.  Accept  thanks  for  good  goods  and  your 
prompt  work.  H.  D.  Brubaker. 

Erwin,  Ind.,  July  14. 


A.  I.  Root:~1  w;us  much  interested  in  your  ser- 
monizing in  last  Gleanings.  If  you  have  written 
any  thing  in  a  similar  strain  in  previous  numbers  I 
should  like  to  see  it.  Please  send  copies,  as  our  ex- 
changes are  destroyed,  and  I  will  remit.  1  always 
try  to  glance  through  Gleanings,  but  very  seldom 
read  it,  for  lack  of  time  and  partly  for  lack  of  inter- 
est in  bee  matters.  J.  G.  Kingsbury, 

Editor  ludimia  Farmer. 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  June  17. 

that   BINGHAM  SMOKER. 

Accept  thanks  for  Gleanings  report.  I  am  glad 
the  device  is  convenient,  and  more  so  by  use.  O.  J. 
Hetherington  gives  almost  word  for  word  the  same 
result— "Improves  by  use."  He  turns  the  smoker 
to  the  right.  I  have  several  reports;  all  agree  so 
far.    Prospect  of  immense  basswood  bloom. 

Abronia,  Mich.,  July  4.  T.  F.  Bingham. 


BRIGHT-YELLOW  VERSUS   THE    YELLOW-COLORED 
STOCK. 

Please  find  inclosed  $2.00  for  two  untested  Italian 
queens.  Please  send  as  soon  as  you  can.  I  have 
tried  queens  from  several  different  breeders,  but  no 
queens  have  ever  done  as  well  as  the  one  I  got  from 
you.  There  is  no  place  in  my  yard  for  the  flashy 
yellow  bees,  any  more.  Of  all  the  queens  I  have 
ever  bought,  except  the  one  from  you,  none  has 
proved  prolific,  some  never  laying  over  four  frames 
of  eggs  at  any  time  of  the  year.  I  want  no  more 
queens  from  such  stock.  Wm.  Housel.    , 

Wertsville,  N.  J.,  June  27. 


With  pleasure  I  announce  the  arrival  of  our  bees, 
which  came  to  hand  on  the  eve  of  the  7th  iiist.,  in 
good  order,  considering  the  distance  they  came  and 
the  length  of  time  they  were  on  the  road.  One  of 
them  was  nearly  out  of  feed,  so  I  had  to  give  them 
one  square  meal,  and  then  they  were  ready  for  the 
field.  From  some  cause  or  other  the  one  had  more 
dead  bees  than  both  of  the  others  together,  but  was 
not  reduced  in  numbers  t(j  hurt  Ihem.  They  are  all 
doing  finely,  and  are  busy  to-day  gathering  honey 
and  pollen.     You  sent  a  No.  1  (lueen. 

Berkstresser  &  Frederick. 

Elberton,  Wash.,  June  11. 


gleanings   and    the   WIDE    CIRCULATION    OF  ITS 
ADVERTISEMENTS. 

I  am  glad  you  get  inquiry  and  calls  for  the  West 
queen-cell  protector  and  cages,  and  I  gladly  send  you 
circulars.  When  you  want  more,  let  me  know.  The 
cage  and  protector  are  giving  good  satisfaction  all 
over  the  world.  I  guess.  I  this  day  send  a  bo.v  of 
cages  to  New  Zealand.  They  saw  the  advertisement 
in  Gleanings,  April  1.5,  l«'.il.  So  says  the  letter  that 
ordered  the  goods.  Mr.  Boot,  where  doesn't  your 
paper  get  to';*  I  have  received  orders  from  England, 
France,  Canada,  and  from  every  State  and  territory 
in  America,  I  tliink,  that  say,  "I  saw  the  adver- 
tisement in  Gleanings."  N.  D.  West. 

Middleburgh,  N.  Y.,  July  15. 


kind   WORD    FROM  A   MISSIONARY. 

The  tools  have  arrived,  and  give  good  satisfaction. 
They  are  a  treasure  in  tliis  out-of-the-world  place. 
Gleanings  makes  its  appearance  along  with  many 
periodicals;  and  although  it  is  not  much  in  my  line, 
I  find  a  few  moments  to  glance  at  nearly  every 
copj',  and  fail  to  do  so  without  pleasure  and  satis- 
faction. My  oflice  is  a  .sort  of  box  bee-hive,  but 
honey  does  not  accumulate.  We  are  trying,  how- 
ever, to  distribute  to  these  people,  as  wild  as  the 
birds,  the  sweets  of  heaven,  and  this  is  making 
changes  among  them.    Some  316  converts  have  put 


633 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


on  Christ,  as  we  believe,  during  the  yeai'  just  closed, 
and  we  expect  them  to  come  in  still  larger  numljers. 

M.  C.  Maso-n. 
Tura.  Assam,  Britisli  India.  A  in-.  1.5. 


Black  and  Hybrid  Queens  For  Sale. 

1  have  30  mismated  Italian  queens,  all  young,  and 
No.  1,  3.5c  each;  3  for  90c;  8  blacks,  2uc  each;  3  for 
oOc.  James  M.  Gordon,  Belmont,  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio. 


I  have  40  mismated  Italian  and  Albino  queens  for 
sale  at  25c  each,  or  5  for  $1.00,  or  11  for  $2.00;  they 
are  all  young  and  prolific. 

J.  W.  Taylor,  Ozan,  Ark. 


We  have  a  few  fine  mismated  queens,  one  year 
old,  at  25c  each,  or  5  for  $1.00.    All  the  queens  are 
fine  prolific  ones.    Can  send  same  by  return  mail. 
F.  A.  Lockhart  &  Co.,  Lake  George,  N.  Y. 


Sixty  hybrid  and  mismated  queens  for  sale;  mis- 
mated, 35c,  or  5  for  $1.00.    Hybrids,  35c  each. 

J.  W.  Poole,  Russellville,  Ark. 


Hybrid    queens    at   30c;    and     mismated   Italian 
queens  at  3Uc.  C.  G.  Fenn,  Washington,  Ct. 


Spec/al  Notices. 


DISCOUNTS   FOR  EARLY   ORDERS. 

We  call  the  attention  of  our  customers  to  the 
fact  that,  on  such  goods  as  you  find  on  pages  10  to 
30  of  our  price  list  that  you  buy  for  next  season's 
use  between  now  and  Dec.  1,  a  discount  of  5  per 
cent  may  be  deducted.  This  applies  to  goods  of  our 
manufacture  only,  which  are  found  between  pages 
mentioned.  

g  WHITE  DUTCH   CLOVER  SEED  WANTED. 

This  seed  seems  to  be  very  scarce  In  the  market, 
and  hard  to  get.  If  any  of  our  readers  have  any, 
or  know  of  any  for  sale,  they  will  oblige  us  by  send- 
ing a  small  sample;  at  the  same  time  write,  telling 
how  much  you  have  to  spare,  and  what  you  will 
take  for  it.  If  we  can  not  use  every  lot  submitted 
we  may  be  able  to  find  you  a  market  for  it. 


STRAWBERRY-PLANTS  FOR  IMMEDIATE   DELIVERY. 

On  account  of  the  recent  rains  we  have  now  an 
abundance  of  strawberr,\--plants  of  the  following 
varieties:  First ourolcl  varieties,  Jessie,  Sterling,  Bu- 
bach,  Haverland,  and  Wartield  (the  last  four  being 
pistillate  varieties.)  These  are  for  sale  at  our  old 
established  prices:  10  cts.  for  lU;  75  cts.  per  100,  or 
$6.00  per  lodo.  Our  iriends  will  observe  that  we 
have  dropped  the  Gandy.  Of  tlie  new  varieties  we 
have  selected  Parker  Earle  and  Edgar  Queen,  Ijotli 
staminate.  These  will  be  just  double  the  prices  of 
those  above.  If  wanted  by  mail,  add  5  cts.  for  10.  or 
25  cts.  per  100,  for  postage.  We  can  furnish  straw- 
berry -  plants  from  the  present  time  until  the 
ground  freezes— say  late  in  November. 


NEW  COMB  AND  EXTRACTED  HONEY. 

We  have,  dui'ing  the  past  few  weeks,  received 
quite  a  number  of  otters  and  samples,  and  have 
bought  a  few  small  lots.  We  have  not  secured 
much  comb  honey  as  yet,  but  are  expecting  more  to 
arrive  soon.  It  is  little  use  for  those  in  far  distant 
States  to  send  samples  and  otters,  as  the  cost  of 
transportation  is  so  much  in  small  lots  that  it  pays 
to  move  it  long  distances  only  in  carload  lots.  We 
shall  be  pleased  to  receive  otters  from  this  State  and 
tho.se  near  by.  We  t)fl'er  choice  white  honey  to 
those  who  wish  to  buy,  at  the  following  prices: 

Extracted  basswood,  in  60-11).  cans,  9c  per  11).  In 
lots  of  two  or  moi-e  cases  of  two  cans  each,  8;^c. 

White  comb  honey  in  31:-lb.  eases,  single-case  lots 
at  19c;  4  cases  or  over,  18c;  a  full  crate  of  9  cases  at 
17c  per  lb.  

EGYPTIAN   OR   WINTER  ONION-SETS. 

These  will  grow  anywhere,  and  winter  anywhere 
—at  least,  I  never  heard  of  a  failure  in  wintering. 
The  only  drawback  is,  that  they  do  not  prctduce  a 
large  onion,  like  the  American  Pearl.  Tliey  are 
specially  for  bunch  onions  early  in  the  spring,  and 


for  this  they  are  far  in  advance  of  anything  else 
known,  and  require  no  trouble  whatever.  If  plant- 
ed on  very  rich  soil,  you  can  pull  them  and  sell  them 
in  February,  if  the  ground  happens  to  be  thawed 
out.  One  set  planted  now  on  very  rich  market- 
gardening  ground  will  make  a  dozen  onions  or  more 
by  next  spring.  As  we  have  a  verj-  large  crop  of 
these  winter  onions  ready  to  ship  we  will,  until 
further  orders,  send  them  for  10c  per  quart;  75c 
per  peck,  or  $3.50  per  bu.shel.  If  wanted  by  mail, 
add  10c  per  quart  for  postage. 


ONION-SETS   AND   ONION-SEED. 

Early  in  September  we  expect  to  have  extra  early 
Pearl  onion-sets  for  sale  at  25c  per  quart,  $1.75  per 
peck,  or  $6.00  per  bushel.  If  ordered  by  mall,  10c 
per  qt.  e.xtra.  Now,  if  you  purchase  these  it  must 
be  on  your  own  respousibility.  If  you  set  them  out 
any  time  in  September  they  will  come  up  and  grow 
in  any  locality;  but  as  to  their  wintering  over,  you 
will  have  to  take  your  chances.  Here  in  Mediiui  we 
have  wintered  them  over  two  seasons  with  scarcely 
a  failure,  and  we  shall  plant  them  largely  again 
this  fall.  A  little  further  south  the  seed  may  also 
be  sown  in  September,  and  it  will  grow  all  winter 
and  produce  onions  a  little  later  than  where  sets 
are  planted  in  the  fall.  The  price  of  the  seed  will 
be  $4.00  per  lb.  We  have,  under  favorable  circum- 
stances, got  fine  onions  in  the  spring,  fi-om  seed 
sown  ill  September;  but  it  is  verj- uncertain  in  our 
locality.  

BUSHEL  BOXES. 

It  Is  nearing  the  time  when  potatoes,  tomatoes, 
onions,  and  other  special  crops  must  be  taken  care 
of;  and  those  who  handle  them  will  be  (or  ought  to 
be)  considering  the  easiest,  cheapest,  and  best  means 
of  doing  so.  T.  B.  Terry  has  conclusivelj'  shown, 
in  his  admirable  little  book,  the  A  B  C  of  Potato 
Culture,  that  potatoes  bring  a  better  price,  can  be 
handled  with  less  work,  and  better  in  every  way,  by 
using  bushel  boxes.  More  and  more  each  year  are 
learning  the  truth  of  Mr.  Terry's  reasoning,  and 
some  are  also  finding  out  that  these  boxes  are 
equally  valuable  for  handling  other  crops,  such  as 
onions,  tomatoes,  cucumbers,  melons,  etc.  We 
make  and  keep  in  stock  three  styles  of  these  bo.xes, 
as  advertised  in  another  column.  If  none  of  these 
is  to  your  notion,  we  are  prepared  to  make  any 
style  you  want,  in  any  quantity  (not  less  than  100), 
at  very  low  prices.  We  use  basswood,  which  holds 
nails  without  splitting,  and  is  lighter  than  any 
other  wood  we  could  use.  Dealers  or  agents  wish- 
ing to  work  up  large  orders  will  do  well  to  write  us 
for  special  prices. 

SECOND-H.\ND  MACHINERY. 

During  the  past  few  months  we  have  bought  up 
several  outfits  of  machinery  for  making  bee-keep- 
ers' supplies;  and  if  any  of  our  readers  or  their 
friends  contemplate  putting  in  machinery  we  are 
prepared  to  fit  you  out  from  cellar  to  garret  with 
everything  you  need  in  engines,  boilers,  machinery, 
sli:iftiiig,  pulleys,  hangers,  belting,  saws,  etc.  The 
following  is  a  partial  list  of  the  second-hand  ma- 
chinery we  have  to  sell.  If  you  desire  further  par- 
ticulars we  shall  be  pleased  to  hear  from  you. 

One  20-H.  P.  Fishkill  horizontal  engine,  rebuilt, 
and  as  good  as  new ;  would  cost  new,  $400;  will  sell 
for  *200. 

One  5-H.  P.  horizontal  engine  and  boiler,  with  en- 
gine mounted  on  boiler,  in  good  running  order. 
Price  $130. 

One  24-inch  two-roll  Fay  sandpaper  machine,  near- 
ly new.    Price,  new,  $450;  will  sell  for  $175. 
"One  V-groove  section  machine,  nearly  new.    This 
is  our  make,  old  style,  with   screw-feed;  sold  some 
years  ago  for  $75;  will  sell  now  for  $40. 

One  cutter-head,  with  table  complete,  for  cutting 
entrances  to  sections.  Old  style,  but  nearly  new, 
and  in  good  repair.  Price,  new,  $25.00;  will  sell  for 
$15.00. 

One  double-head  tenoning-machine,  especially  ar- 
ranged for  making  the  cdnibined  rabbet  and  miter 
joint  of  the  Simplicity  hive,  but  can  be  used  for 
making  sash  and  window-screen  frames,  etc.  We 
could  not  build  such  a  machine,  and  sell  it  for  less 
than  $1.50;  we  will  sell  this  for  $60. 

Two  extra  large  saw-tables  for  general  use,  to  cut 
off  or  rip,  with  counter-shaft  attached  to  frame; 
worth  new.  SfiO  each;  will  sell  for  $30  each. 

Two  four-piece  section-machines,  as  good  as  new. 
They  cost  new,  $85  each;  we  will  sell  them  for  $30 
each. 


ISif-' 


(JI^HAMNliS  IN   KHK  CUI/rUKE. 


(IH.J 


RUBBER  STAMPS. 


Wf  have  for  the  past  twflvo  <ir  llftion  yoiiis  bcon 
fiiini>liiii>r  ">ii' pairoiis  witli  rubber  sltim|is  whicli 
wo  Uuvv  liad  niailo  funis  by  varimis  inaiiiifactiii'ors. 
As  our  Iradi' lias  lioi'ii  trrowinn,  and  we  ha\i'  orca- 
sion  to  use  a  jrood  iiiaiij-  i)iir><'l\  os.  wr  haw  foil 
justitU'il  ill  luiri'liasiiiK  ;iii  outllt,  and  will  lioroaftor 
fiiriiisli  stamps  of  our  own  niaiiiifaotiiro.  Wo  aro 
proparin;^'  a  fataloKUo  of  ilioso  K<'<ids,  wliitli  wo  liopo 
to  liavo  n-ady  ill  a  fow  wooks.  In  ilio  nioanliiiie  wo 
nuMitioii  lioro  a  fow  of  tho  spociallios.  with  out, 
dosoription,  and  luii-os  at  wliicli  wo  i-nn  funiisli 
tliciii.  Rubbor  strtinps  arc  eoiuin^-  moro  and  iiior(> 
into  Koiieral  iiso.  anil  wo  fool  safe  in  sayiiiK  lliat 
tlu'V  will  rontiiiuo  to  do  so.  If  all  our  custoiiiois 
would  uso  a  stamp  with  tlicir  namo  and  addross  wo 
sliould  not  lia\o  so  iiuicli  troublo  in  tig:uriuK'  out 
poorly  writtoii  siv^iiatiiros  and  addnsscs.  It  is  not 
uiiooniinoii  for  us  to  g'ot  li'ttois  without  tho  addross 
at  all.  and  soinotimos  without  tho  namo  sijjiioii.  All 
theso  troublos  niij^'ht  lio  avoidod  by  iiic  uso  of  a  rub- 
ber stamp.  Your  littlo  boy  or  jriil  mifiht  stami) 
j'tiur  pai'or  and  oiivolopos  boforohand.  so  that,  if 
you  sat  down  to  writo  a  lotter  or  ordor  in  a  hurry. 
the  iiauu'  and  addross  would  be  on  it  if  you  did  for- 
get to  writo  it ;  in  faot,  you  would  bo  reliovod  of  tho 
necessity  of  tliinking'  of  that  part  of  it  at  all.  A 
groiKl  many  producers  of  nice  comb  honey  are  in  the 
habit  of  stamping  each  section  with  a  stamp  similar 
to  this: 

aOMB  HONRY 

FKOM   THE    APIAKV    OF 

u^.  X.  leooT, 

If  the  honey  is  real  nice,  the  persons  wlio  oat  it 
will  ask  their  dealer  for  more  from  the  same  apiary, 
and  you  thus  not  only  work  up  but  keep  a  demand 
for  your  lionoy.  A  rubber  stamp  is  neater  for  this 
purpose  than  a  label,  and  is  more  quickly  applied. 

In  making  stamps  we  have  a  very  large  variety  of 
job  type,  u.sed  in  the  advertising  columns  of 
Gi^EANiNGS.  and  in  job  and  label  printing,  to  mold 
from,  and  are  thus  able  to  give  you  a  more  neat  and 
tasty  job  in  more  modern  type  than  most  of  the 
small  dealers  with  only  a  few  fonts  of  type  to  work 
from.  We  can  mold  a  press  full  of  stamps  about  as 
cheaply  as  a  single  one;  we  are  thereby  able  to 
make  better  prices  on  club  orders;  and  if  any  of  our 
readers  wish  to  act  as  agents  we  should  be  pleased 
to  hear  from  them. 

In  onki  itnj  ridiher  stamps,  he  sure  to  wi'iie  very 
pkiiuli)  jiii<t  trh<it  you  want  the  stamp  to  print;  and 
if  possible,  in  tho  shape  you  want  it. 

Midget  Self-Inker. 

Tliisistlio  most  convenient 
stamp  to  use;  and  if  you  have 
to  use  It  a  good  deal  it  is  the 
cheapest,  as  you  don't  have  to 
spend  time  inking  it,  that  be- 
ing done  automatically.  These 
are  made  in  various  sizes,  as 
per  the  following  diagram. 
No.  4  is  a  size  we  sell  a  good 
many  of  for  marking  sections. 
Wo  furnish  ihcso  stamps  witli 
any  lottoiiiijr  dosirod,  and  in- 
cluilo  a  srnallljDttlo  of  ink  at 


the    following    prices,   which 
aro  a  third  less  tlian   tho  low- 


est list  we  have  seen: 
No.  1     Midget  self-inker,  $  .50 
No.  IX        ■•  "  .60 

No.  2  "  "  .75 

No.  3  "  '•  .90 

No.  i  "  "  1.00 

No.  5  "  "  1.50 

No.  6  "  "  1.75 

For  $1.00  eacli  extra  we  can  furnish  the  No.  4  and 
larger  witli  liand-dating  attachment,  so  that  a  date 
line  will  appear  in  tlie  center  of  the  stamp.  The 
smaller  sizes  can  be  f  urni.shed  with  movable  dates 
at  50  cts.  each  extra.  With  above  and  the  pencil 
stamp  following  no  pad  is  necessary,  a.s  that  is  at- 
tached to  and  is  a  part  of  the  stamp.  Witli  the 
molding  and  block  stamps  you  need  one  of  the  self- 
inking  pads  below. 


Novelty  Pen  and  Pencil  Stamp. 


T  r^^-HK-^^ 


I'his  is  a  ver.\  ooiivoiiioni 
-I  I f-i liking  stamp,  and  inch i<li'^ 
a  |)(Mi  and  poncil  besides,  all  in 
cino.  It  t;ikos  a  die  /nXlAi'  in. 
(if  Olio,  two.  three,  or  four 
linos,  depending  on  the  size  <if 
t.^•po  used,  and  what  you  waiii 
to  iirint.  Wo  incliHlo  with 
each  a  small  tulio  of  ink,  as  shown  to  tho 
right.  The  lowest  pri(;e  j'ou  will  usually 
find  for  these  is  ."lO  cts.  Our  price  is  :i5  ets.. 
or  a  club  of  5  fori?1.00. 


a 


Molding;  Stamp. 


This  is  the  cheapest 
style  of  stani])  we 
make.  The  rubber 
is  mounted  on  ijolish- 
ed  cherry  molding, 
as  shown.  Those  aro 
nicely  finished,  and 
vary  in  width   from 

A  to  1  inch,  and   up      . 

to  .3  inches  Ion-  or  --^W^c^r^ww^- 
over,  depending  on  tho  sl/.i-  and  nuinboi  of  lines  of 
type  used.  Price  of  molding  stamp,  without  ink  or 
pads,  for  one  line  not  over  3  inches  long,  15  cts.;  2 
lines,  35  cts.;  for  each  additional  line,  5  cts.  Over  3 
inches  to  6,  double  above  prices. 


Block  Stamp. 


These  are  mount- 
ed on  a  cherry 
block,  witli  a  turn- 
ed enameled  han- 
dle, as  shown,  and 
can  be  made  any 
size  up  to  the  size 
of  a  postal  card. 
This  is  a  style  verj' 
much  used  as  a 
business  sta  m  p, 
and  tlie  print  can 
be  round,  oval,  or 
oblong,  with  or 
without  border. 
The  price  without 
ink  or  pad,  and  not 
over  3  inches  long, 
b|wiII  be  ?5  cts.  for 
one  line;  35  cts.  for 
2  lines;  5  cts.  for 
each  addit  io  n  al 
From  tliese  data  you 


line.    A  border  adds  lo  ets 

can  figure  the  price  of  any  style  you  want. 

Excelsior  Self-inking  Pads. 


Tliese  are  now  so  cheap  that  it  does  not  pay  to 
bother  with  the  old-style  felt  pads.and  ink. 

PRICE  lilST. 

No.  0  Excelsior,  2x3?^',  20c.    No.  1,  2Mx4ir,  2.5c. 

No.  2,  3j^x6i8,  4()c.    No.  3,  4x7,  60c. 

We  can  furnish  any  color,  as  follows:  Red.  \nolet, 
blue,  black,  green,  or  eosine.  Unless  otherwise 
specified  we  will  send  red  or  \'iolet.  Above  prices 
include  postage  in  every  case;  the  pads,  by  freight 
or  express  with  other  goods,  at  5  cts.  each  less. 

Any  thins-  else  in  the  rubber-stamp  line  not  men- 
tioned above  will  be  furnished  at  lowest  price. 


634 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Aug.  15. 


Dovetailed  Hives,  Simplicity  Hives, 

SECTIONS,  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGE    CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


iWln  responifinu'  tn  tills  aflveiti>eiiit-rn  mention  Gi.kaxin 


Foundation  Reduced  3  cts.  Per  Pound. 

SECTIONS  I  sold  at  $3.00  now  selling- at  $2.60.    Biiigliam  Smokers  at  cost.     Send  for  Free  Price  List  of 
every^tliing  needed  in  the  apiary.  6tfdb  M.  H.  HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

where  our  Bee-keepers' Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and   prompt  shipment.    You  can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.    We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.    He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.   SALISBURY,   Agent,    Syracuse,   N.  Y. 


JENNIE  ATGHLEY 

Will  send  you  either  three  or  five  banded  Italian 
queens  in  June,  July,  and  August,  V5c  each;  $4.30 
for  6,  or  $8.00  per  doz.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed. 

Itfdb  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texac*. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

Our  Golden   and  Leather  Col- 
ored   Italian    Queens. 
Bred  for  Business. 

Tested  queens,  $1.10;    untested,  70c;  3 
for  $2.00.    Our  stock  consists  of  300  col- 
onies devoted  to  bees  and  queens  for 
the  trade.    Orders  filled  by  retnrn 
mall.  Send  for  catalog  of  supplies,  etc. 
JNO.  NEBEL  &  SON,  High  Hill,  HTKo. 
P.  S.— A.  J.  Fields,  of  Wheaton.Ind.,  writes:  "The 
queen  and  bees  received  of  you  last  spring  made 
147  lbs.  of  comb  honey,  and  took  first  premium  at 
three  fairs."  8tfdb 

^^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkamnl- 

SECTIONS 

$3.50  to  $3.50  per  .11.     Bee-Hives.  hiuI  IKI» 
turen  ciieup.  NOVELTY    CO., 

6tfdb  Rock  Falls,    Hi  'Ois. 

WANTED-LADY  OK  GENT  IN  EACH 
county  to  distribute  and  collect  for  Brabant's 
ladies' toilet  cases;  238  articles,  worth  $1 ;  will  send 
sample  and  full  particulars  by  mail  for  3.5c  in 
stamps;  returnable  if  not  satisfactory;  territory 
free;  $3  to  $5  per  day  easily  made.  Address  J.  C. 
Frisbee,  general  agent,  17'2  Maple  St.,  Denver.  Col. 
Reference,  A.  I.  Root,  Mediiui,  O.  8-34db 

jyin  resiionilini.'  t"  tliis  advert!       iient  mention  fJLKANINGa 

Five-banded     Golden 

Italians  tliat  will  give 

satisfaction.    Queens 

"by  return   mail,  $1  each;  6  for  1.5;  for  full   jiarticu- 

lars  send  for  circular.  13tfdb 

CHAS.  D.  DWALIj,  SpencerYllle,  Md. 


Get  the  Best ! 


Honey  ^  E:)^ti^aGtoP. 

Squafe  Glass  Ho^ey^tTaPs, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee~hives. 
Hotiey^Seetlons,  &e.,  &e. 

Pepfeetion  Cold-Blast  Smokers. 
APPLY  TO  ^.^•.^^^^^-.^•.^.^^.^ 

CHAS.  F.  1«IUTH  &  SOfl,  Cincinnati,  O. 


Send  10-ct.  stainp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


IF  YOU  WANT  BEES 

That  will  just  "roll"  in  the  honey,  try  Moore's 
Strain  of  ltallan»,  tlie  i-esult  of  13  years'  careful 
breeding.  Reduced  prices:  Warranted  queens,  80c 
each;  3  for  $3.ti0.  Strong  3-frame  nucleus,  with 
warranted  queen,  $3.50.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed.  Those  who  have  never  dealt  with 
me  I  refer  to  A.  I.  Root,  who  has  purchased  of  me, 
during  past  12  vears,  583  queens.  Circulars  free. 
J.  P.  mOORE,  JVIor^au,  Pendleton,  Co..  Ky. 
I3tfdb       Money-order  ofTice,  Falmouth,  Ky. 

Ill  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

JUST    OUT! 

B7  W.  I.  CEAMBEBLAIK,  A.  U.,  LL.  B., 

Formerly  Secretary  of  the  Ohio  State  Board  of  Agricvilture, 
and  late  President  of  the  Iowa  State  Agricultural  Col- 
lege.   At  present  Associate  Editor  of  the 
Ohio  Farmer. 

This  is  a  valuable  companion  to  our  other  rural 
books.  It  embraces  the  experience  of  forty  years 
of  one  of  our  foremost  practical  agriculturists,  who 
has  laid  with  his  own  hands  over  16  miles  of  tile. 

Price  35c;  by  mail,  40c. 

A.  I.  ROOT.  MEDINA,  OHIO. 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Best  on  Earth. 


Me)iX'  lluiii  Olio  huiulrocl 
thousand  Bingliam  & 
Hothoring"ton  Honey- 
kuives  aud  Bee -smok- 
ers in  daily  use.  Il- 
lustrations sent  free. 


Bingham  &  Hetherington, 

Abronia,  IVIich.  7tfdb 

IF  YOU  WANT  BEES 

Tlial  will  just  "roll'"  in  tlu'  lioiu'.v,  try  ITIoorc's 
Strain  of  Italians.  tl>e  result  of  1:5  years'  direful 
breeding.  Uedueed  prices:  Warranted  queens,  SOc 
each;  3  for  ftJ.tlO.  Strong  3-frame  nucleus,  with 
warranted  queen,  $2.50.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed.  Those  who  ha  »"e  never  dealt  with 
me  I  refer  to  A.  I.  Root,  who  lui-s  purchased  of  me, 
during  past  12  vears,  582  queens.  Circulars  free. 
J.  P.  iTIOORE,  ITIorgan,  Pendleton,  Co.,  Ky. 
rjtfdb        Money-order  oflfice,  Falmouth,  Ky. 

in  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

Bee  -  Keepers'  «-  Supplies^ 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladly 
furnished,  and  correspondence  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  flrst-class  in  quality  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
ahtgue  sent  free.  Keference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling,  111.    Address  l-24db 

WM.  McCHNE  &:  CO., 

Sterling,  Illinois. 

U^in  respoiidlnp  to  this  arlv.-iti  1 1;..  nt  mention  GLEANDiGSo 

CAA  Colonies  of  Bees  Devot- 
^vv  ed  to  Queen-Rearing. 

Write  for  prices  on  large  quantities. 

TWO    MILLION      SNOW  -  WHITE     SECTIONS. 

Wiite  fur  prices  on  large  quantities. 

Send   for  our   24-Page    Catalogue    of  Dovetailed 

Hives,  Smokers.  Extractors,  Etc. 

LEAHY  MT'G  CO.,  Higginsville,  Missouri. 

Plea.se  mention  this  paper.  Stfdb 

IMPOSTED  ITALIAN  at7EEHS.  $3  25:  UNTHSTES,  SOc. 

'        12tfdb  W.  C.  FKAZIEU,  Atlantic,  Iowa. 

75c.    Golden  Queens  by  Retarn  Mail.    75c. 

My  Goldfu  Italians  are  li-mid  workers,  and  g(Mitle. 
Queens  are  carefullj'  bred  from  best  stock.  Three 
queens.  $2.1K);  six  for  .$3  .50;  dozen,  ffi.OO.  Safe  arriv- 
al and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  Monej-order  office, 
Davtona,  Fla.  J<HI^  B.  CASE, 

lllfdb  Port  Oransc,  V«»l.  Co.,  Fla. 

It3fln  rt->-Mimlint' to  tJll^^  advertf.-*niHiit  mention  Gleaj>i.vi..h. 


(539 

80  LBS.  PER  COLONY 

is  the  re<'i>r(i  of  three  of  our 
golden  (lueens,  willi  several 
others  not  far  behind,  wiiile 
the  best  record  of  any  other 
race  is  4^  lbs.  from  3-banded 

llees. 

We  are  making  a  specialty 
of  these  l)eauties  for  busi- 
ness, and  are  so  sure  that 
ihey  will  please  you  that  we 
guarantee  them  to  give 

ENTIRE  SATISFACTION, 

or  we  will  return  your  money. 

(.'ould  you  ask  more':' 

The  l)ees  from  our  best 
queens  are  not  lianded,  but  are  all 
yellow  on  tlie  tiisl  lour  scales,  and 
the  fifth  isiiartyellow,  with  an  occa- 
sional bee  with  a  little  yellow  on  the 
sixth  scale.  Tlie  above  honi'y  rec 
ord  is  of  white  clover  in  1-lb.  "see's, 
worth  112  in  our  market  today.  No 
drones  near  us  but  the  yellowest. 
One  warranted  queen,  $i ;  12  for  ifll. 
Reference:    A.  I.  Root. 

S.  F.  &  I.  TRECO, 

ir,-l8(lb  Swedona,  III. 

tariuredponding  to  this  adverti>eiii.-iit  mention  Gleanings. 


^ 

jm 

CAUSK. 

EFFECT. 


BEE-HIVES,  SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  the  best  goods  and  sell  them  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  tlie  world. 

Our  goods  are  known  as  the  best  througliout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS    CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 


JENNIE  ATGHLEY 

Will  send  you  either  three  or  five  l)anded  Italian 
queens  in  June,  July,  and  August,  7."jc  each;  $4.20 
for  6,  or  $8.0 )  per  doz.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed. 

ttfdb  Floyd,  Hunt  Vo.^  Texas. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

Otir   Golclem   and   L,enther   Col- 
ored   Italian     Queens. 
Bred  for  Business. 

Tested  queens,  $1.10;  untested,  70c;  3 
for  $2.00.  Our  stock  consists  of  300  col- 
onies devoted  to  bees  and  queens  for 
the  trade.  Orders  filled  by  return 
mall.  Send  for  catalog  of  supplies,  etc. 
JNO.  NEBEL.  &  SON,  High  Hill,  Mo. 

O.A^iS^«%*»  at  $3  per    lOOO.    These  are 

OgCllOnS  perfectly  smooth,  and  flrst-class. 
'«^w'w%iwiiw  jjj.QQ(j  foundation  4.5  cts.  per  lb. 
All  supplies  equally  low.  Goods  shipped  direct 
from  New  York  city.  l-18dt. 

I.  J.  STRINCHAM, 

92  Barclay  St.,  N.  Y. 

Five-banded    Golden 
Italians  that  will  give 
satisfaction.    Queens 
by  return   mail,  $1  each;  6  for  $5;  for  full  particu- 
lars send  for  circular.  13tfdb 
CHAS.  D.  DUVALIi,  Speucerville,  ind. 

Queens  by  Return  Mail. 

Reared  in  the  natural  way  from  swarming  cells. 
Just  look  at  the  following  very  low  prices,  and  order 
at  once. 

Tested,  each,  $1..50;  wiirranted  purely  mated,  each, 
80c;  warranted  i)iirely  mated.  >^  doz.,  $4..50;  warrant- 
ed purely  mated,  per  doz.,  $8.00. 

All  t!ie  above  are  reared  in  full  storks  from  my 
old  reliable  honev-gathering  strains.     Address 

WM.  W.  GARY.  Colerain,  Mass. 

Send  for  40-i!age  catalogue.     Full  line  of  Bee-keep- 
ers' Supplies  and  Hees  at  [irices  way  dow'n.       13tf(Jb 
riease  mention  thi.s  paper. 

TAKE^OflCE! 

BEFORE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
for  prices  on  One-Piece  H.usswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,  Shipping-Crates,  Frames,   Foundation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
1  Utfdb  New  London,  Wis. 
Please  mention  tliis  paper. 


Get  the  Best ! 


640 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Alsike  Clover 666 

Apiai-y  in  Cuba 6.il 

Bees,  Distance  to  Breed 666 

Bees,  Kive-banded 667 

Bee-keeping  North  and  So'h  647 

Bee-moths MS 

Bicycles  for  Girls 675 

Black  Mangrove 66.1 

Brood-combs 664 

Burr-combs,  Preventing — 649 
Capital  and  Labor. ..  .673 

Cobs  and  Kernels.  Greiner  644 
Copiib-honey  Production.   ..661 

Cuban  Apiaries 651 

Cucumbers.  To  Cook 667 

Cummins,  Visit  to. 661) 

Ear-trumpet 663 

Foul  Brood.  False 674 

Fruit,  Cold  Process 664 

Grapes  in  California 669 

HolvLand 645 


Honey,  Comb  and  E-xtrac'd.6.i5 

Italians  in  California 6.i4 

Migratory  Bee-keeping 66.5 

Pecos  Valley 676 

Potatoes  in  Colorado 662 

Punirs.Bad  Keport 665 

Rambler  and  the  Skunk 6.57 

Self-hivers 652 

Skunks 6.55 

Smokers  and  Fuel 663 

Spiders,  Fish-killing 667 

Supers.  When  to  Put  on...  656 

Tobacco  Story 648 

Tomato-book,  Chap,  from  .660 

Tomato-worms 661 

Underselling 659 

Virgin  Queens,  Snipping  .  .656 

Water-willow 666 

World's  Fair. . .     649 

Wormwood 666 

Worms  in  Honey 6.53 


CONVENTION  NOTICES 


The  Colorado  State  Bee-keepers'  Association  will  hold  its 
"  H.mev  Day"  at  Longmont.  Sept.  28.  H.  Knight,  Sec. 

Little'ton,  Col. 

Black  and  Hybrid  Queens  For  Sale. 

I  liave  40  mismated  Italian  and  Albino  queens  for 
sale  at  25c  each,  or  5  for  $1.00,  or  11  for  $2.(0;  they 
are  all  young  and  prolific, 

J.  W.  Taylob,  Ozan,  Ark. 


Hybrid  queens  at  20c;  and  mismated  Italian 
queens  at  30c.  C.  G.  Fenn,  Washing-ton,  Ct. 

We  have  15  very  fine  young  miemated  Italian 
queens,  reared  from  best  imported  mother?,  at  30c 
each.  No  bees  from  these  queens  sliow  less  tlian 
two  yellow  bands.  Safe  arrival  of  queens  guaran- 
teed. Clf-veFjAnd  Bros., 

Decatur,  Newton  Co..  Miss. 


I  have  8  black  and  h>  brid  queens  whicli  I  will 
send  free  to  any  one  as  long  as  they  last.  I  will  not 
promise  to  send  them  bj'  I'eturn  mail,  but  will  send 
some  time  before  tlie  middle  of  October. 

W.  D.  L.\KKiN,  West  Berlin,  Mass. 


I  have  a  lot  of  hybrid  queens  that  I  will  close  out 
at  20  cts.  ea<'h.  Geo.  A.  Wright. 

Glenwood,  Susq.  Co.,  Pa. 


FARM     FOR     SALE      OR     EXCHANGE. 

My  farm  consisting  of  1.52  ;icres,  l)i  miles  fi'om 
towii;  about  100  acres  in  cultivation,  the  rest  in 
pasture  and  hay  land.  Good  two-story  house  of  7 
rooms;  line  buy  window.  Good  barn  24x34,  with 
basement;  also  lean-to,  14x34.  Granary.  12.v30,  corn- 
crib,  lienhouse.  and  two  good  wells.  I  wish  to  go 
into  the  bee  and  poultry  l)usiness,  and  will  exchange 
for  small  farm  iieitr  some  large  town  in  Iowa,  east- 
ern Nebraska,  N.  E.  Kansas,  or  N.  W.  Missouri.  Will 
sell  at  $30  per  acre;  $25'lfl  down,  balance  five  years' 
time.     Address    C.  W.  HALL,  Marathon.  Iowa. 

TjrTANTKO — To  buy  150  colonies  in  L.  hives,  in 
""  the  l)asswood  region  of  Wisconsin,  in  May, 
1803.    Would  p:iy  $4.(  0  to  $5.00  for  good  bees. 

G.  K.  Pendleton,  Old  Ripley,  Bond  Co.,  111. 

Barnes'  Foot-Power  Machinery. 

Read  what  .1.  I.  Pai  ent,  of 
Charlton,  N.  Y.,  says  — "We 
cut  with  one  of  your  Combined 
Machines  last  winter  50  chaff 
hives  with  7-ineh  cap,  100  honey- 
racks,  .500  broad  frames,  2,000 
horn  y-boxes,  and  a  gre;it  deal  of 
other  work.  This  winter  we 
have  doubled  the  amount  of  bee- 
liives,  etc.,  to  make,  and  we  ex- 
pect to  do  it  all  with  this  saw. 
It  will  do  all  you  say  it  will." 
Catalogue  and  Price  List  ti-ee.  Address  W.  F.  & 
JOHN  BARNES,  545  Ruby  St.,  Rockford,  111. 

When   more  convenient,  orders  for  Barnes'  Foot- 
Power  Machinery  may  be  sent  to  me.    A.  1.  Root. 
23tfd 


FIVE-BANDED  GOLDEN  ITALIANS. 

100  queens  now  ready  at  75e  each;  6  for  S4.25;  3- 
banded,  each,  60c;  6  for  $3  W.  Breeders  on  applica- 
tion CHAS.  H.  '•  HIES.  Steeleville,  111. 

GOL.DK<\  IIALIAN  Ql  EENS.  60c  each,  or  6 
for   $3.00.    Italians    same    price.      None    after 
Sept.  30th.      Albert  Hines,  Independence,  Iowa, 
t  16-17d 


Wants  or  Eynhannfi  Denartment. 


Notices  will  be  inserted  under  this  head  at  one  half  oui-  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  tor  er- 
rors. Toucan  have  the  notice  as  many  lines  as  you  please; 
but  all  over  five  lines  will  cost  you  according  to  our  regular 
rates.  This  department  is  intended  only  for  bona-flde  ex- 
changes. Exchanges  for  cash  or  for  price  lists,  or  notices  of- 
fering artiides  for  sale,  can  not  be  inserted  under  this  head 
For  such  our  regular  rates  of  20cts.  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.' 


IITANTED.    To  excliange  Scotch  Collie  pups  for 
VV     any  thing  useful  on  farm  or  in  bee-yard, 
lotfdb  N.  A.  Knapp,  Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  yellow  Italian  queens, 
and  strawl^erry-plants  cheap.  Bubaeh,  Jessie, 
Eureka,  Haverlands,  Warfleld,  Crescent,  Lady  Rusk, 
for  poultry,  or  offers.  IStfdb 

Mrs.  Oliver  Cole,  Sherburne,  Chen.  Co.,  N.  Y. 

ly  ANTED. — To  exchange  one  high-grade  Safety 
VV  bicycle;  one  49-inch  Columbia  Light  roadster 
bicycle;  one  Odell  typewriter;  tested  Italian  queens, 
for  wax,  honey,  or  offers.  J.  A.  Gkeen, 

13tfdb Dayton,  111. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  a  new  hand-cart  with 
springs,  will  carry  500  lbs  ,  cost  $14.00;  would 
make  an  excellent  honey-cart,  for  $8.00  worth  of 
honey,  or  offers.       Dean  Ferris,  Peekskill  N.  Y. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  25  new  "  Hunt  "  hives 
(chaff),  about  one  half  nailed  together,  balance 
in  Hat ;  2.50  good  straight  brood  or  extracting  combs, 
built  from  full  sheets  of  foundation;  bO  Hoffman 
frames,  wired,  and  a  quantity  of  other  frames;  also 
a  honey-extractor,  used  but  one  season,  and  in  first- 
class  condition  ;  also  10  Langstroth  Portico  hives, 
single  wall,  in  good  condition,  for  Safety  wheel,  or 
offers.  Reasons  for  selling  hives,  etc.,  have  sold  all 
my  bees.  Geo.  N.  Cornell, 

Lock  Box  6.  North\iUe,  Mich. 

l\  ANTED.— Young  men  16  to  35  years  old.  to  cor- 
V.V  respond  with  the  subscriber  in  regard  to  hon- 
orable employment  in  Chicago.  Must  be  familiar 
with  bee-keeping  and  maple-sugar  making.  Give 
references.  Do  nut  come  to  city  unless  requested  to 
do  so.    I  refer  to  editor  of  Gleanings. 

Address  Herman  F.  Moore, 

7C9  Tacoma  Bnilding,  Chicago,  111. 


\17  ANTED.— To  exchange  Italian  bees  on  Langst'h 
VV    frames,  for  Odell  type  wi'iter.  printing  outfit. 
Safety  wheel,   Barnes  toot-power  saw,  6  and  10  in., 
second-hand  foundation-machines,  or  bee-supplies. 
Clark  A.  Montague,  Archie,  Mich. 

11 'ANTED. — To  excliange  for  Italian  queens  and 
VV  bees  in  D  )vetailed  hives.  155  books,  a  combina- 
tion Safi'ty  bicycle,  24-inch  wheels,  ball  bearings, 
and  accortiion,  all  in  fine  condition. 

L.  A.  Webster,  Strafford,  Mo. 

\y  ANTED.— To  exchange  comb  or  extracted  honey 
VV  forgi-ipes  and  peaches.  How  cheap  can  you 
deliver  them  at  my  depot"? 

N.  E.  DoANE,  Breckenridge,  Gratiot  Co.,  Mich. 

U  ANTED. —To  exchange  town  lots  in  marvelous 
Marion,  Queen  city  of  the  Indiana  gas-belt,  for 
honej-;  also  200  colonies  of  bees   for  small   proper- 
ties, btiilding  material,  live  stock,  or  offers. 
17-18d  B.  T.  Baldwin,  Marion,  Ind. 

\y  ANTED. —I  desire  to  work  with  a  competent 
VV  apiarist  for  a  season  or  two  with  a  view  of 
learning  the  business,  at  fair  wages. 

P.  T.  Hanna,  Epworth,  Iowa. 


IS'.fJ 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


641 


Honey  Column. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

New  Yokk.  Ho/iii/.— Our  market  has  not opeiiod 
uv>  as  yot  on  uow  comb  honey;  and  as  supply  and 
<leniand  only  rovuhite  prices,  we  are  unable  just 
now  to  say  e.\«<'lly  what  new  (.'I'op  will  rule  at.  We 
have  11  few  lots  on  the  way,  and  in  joui-  next  issue 
will  he  able  to  ^ive  you  exaet  ipiotations.  Extracted 
is  in  >rood  demand;  Southern  is  arrivinir  freely,  and 
selling- at  iV><{"(.TOi'  for  common,  and  70@7")C  per  Kal- 
for  choice.  Oranjre  bloom.  7,'i;@t*.  No  extracted 
clover  and  basswood  in  market  yet.  Be4;»ivctx,  in 
limitotl  demand,  at  »6@.2T. 

Autr.  2.5.  HiLOKCTH  Bkos.  &  Seoei.ke.n, 

28  \-  3(1  West  Broadway,  New  York. 


New  Yokk.— Hodt'j/.  (\)mb  lioney  i-ommences  to 
attract  attention,  and  we  ha\i'  li.id  several  incpiiries 
from  buyers,  hut  are  still  witliout  stock.  Choice 
sections  would  sell  at  13@U;  :i-lbs.  at  ll(g;12.  We 
liave  a  good  demand  for  all  kinds  of  extracted  ex- 
<'ept  basswood  and  buckwheat.  We  quote:  Florida 
mangrove  and  palmetto,  ^ood  stock,  7®7>^;  good 
Southern,  7('@7.t  per  gal. ;  white  clover,  7'/4@t<. 

Aug.  20.  F.  G.  Sl'HOHMEYEK   &  Co.. 

New  York  City. 

New  Youk.  — Honew.— No  demand  for  comb  honey 
yet.  Some  little  demand  tor  extracted  honey. 
Market  pretty  well  cleaned  up  of  N.  Y.  State  and 
Western  honey;  Southern  honey  arriving  quite  free- 
ly. if'Oici.r,  firm  at  26@27c.  (Clover  and  basswood 
extracted,  7'jc;  buckwheat,  5@o>^c;  Cal.  ex.,  7H@8c; 
Southern,  6(Ka,7iic  per  gal. 

Aug.  20.  CH.\S.  ISIt.*EL  &  BrO.. 

110  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


Albany.— //(Kicjy.- -No  receii)ts  of  new  comb  hon- 
ey \et.  although  some  call  for  it,  at  1.5(/>  16  foi-  light, 
1.3@U  for  medium;  12@13  for  dark.  Good  demand 
for  extracted  honey  at  7@9c.  Bi:<:i<wnx,  steady,  26® 
;iO,  according  to  style  and  color-.  Consignments  .so- 
licited. H.  K.  Wright, 

Aug.  29.  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Albany.— Honey. — We  have  received  three  con- 
signments of  new  comb  lioney  up  to  date,  and  made 
one  sale  of  No.  2  clover,  at  l.'ic.  Have  received  no 
new  extracted  as  yet,  and  are  entirely  out  of  stock. 

Aug.  23.  Chas.  McCulloch  &  Co., 

393,  395,  397  Broadway,  Albany,  N.  Y. 


Chicago. — Ho/i/jj/.— We  are  now  having  Inquiries 
for  white  1  11).  section  comb  honej',  and  quote  mar- 
ket Itic  on  best  grade;  amber,  14.  There  is  a  good 
demand  for  extracted,  and  we  can  sell  all  our  re- 
•  •eipts  promptlv  on  arrival  at  7@8 

Aug.  20.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co. 


Chicago.— W"n«iy.— White  comb  honey,  crop  of 
lHn2.  sells  at  1.5@16  for  best  grade.  Very  little  dark 
I'orah  is  being  sold,  at  prices  ranging  from  l(l@13. 
Extracted  is  stea<^ly  at  t)®7®8.  as  to  kind,  duality, 
and  flavor.    Beeswax,  2.5c;  market  is  good  generalls'. 

R.  A.  Bl'KNEMT, 

Aug.  18.  161  So.  Water  St..  Chicago.  111. 

MiLWAiJKRE.— Hooey.— As  yet  there  have  been  no 
receipts  of  new  crop  section  honey  in  this  market. 
Ext  I  acted  in  good  demand,  with  small  supidy;  the 
<jld  nearly  all  gone,  and  not  much  new  arriving. 
Can  quote:  Wliite  1-lb.  seci  ions,  i:lioice,  16@17;  fair 
to  good.  Mb.  sections.  14®1.5.  Extracted,  wliite,  in 
l)bls.  and  kegs,  6®7.     lieeswax,  2o@26. 

Aug.  22  A.  V.  Bishop. 
Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Cincinnati.— H/neu.— Demand  is  very  good  for 
extracted  honey,  ancf  is  in  excess  of  arrivals.  It 
brings  .5®^  on  arrival.  Comb  honey  is  of  slow  de- 
mand, and  prices  are  nominal  at  12@16  f(jr  best 
white  in  the  jobbing  way.  Beeswax,  is  in  fair  de- 
mand at  23@2  )  for  good  to  choice  yellow  on  arrival. 
Chas.  F.  Muth  &  Son, 

Aug.  20.  Cincintiati,  O. 

Minneapolis.- Houcy.— We  are  receiving  small 
lots  of  new  fancy,  paying  16c  for  the  bost.  Demand 
yet  is  very  light,  only  occasioinil  calls. 

Aug.  22.  J.  A.  Shea  &  Co., 

Minneapolis,  Minn. 


ruiLADELPHiA.— Honey.— Some  good-sizcfi  lots  of 
Smithern  and  New  York  State,  No.  1  white,  have 
come  in,  which  we  Inive  sold  at  16@17c.  IJuyei's  are 
coming  into  tlie  market  now.  We  (pioie  No.  1 
fancy  white,  n^^'M-;  No.  1  white,  ISC^ltic;  No.  2 
white,  14@16<';  buckwheat,  12^/illc;  extracted,  7J<'@ 
8c.  E.  .1.  Walker, 

Aug,  23.  31  So.  Water  St.,  Phihidelpliia. 


Kansas  City.— Hojiey.— Supply  light,  both  comb 
and  extracted,  demand  goo<l.  Fancy  1-lb.  white,  16c; 
dark,  12;  extracted  white,  7@7X;  dark,  i^'/ifiiti. 

Aug.  20.  Ha.mblin  &  Bearss, 

514  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Kansas  City.— Ho7iey.— Receipts  of  comb  honey 
fair;  demand  fair.  We  quote:  No.  1  white  1-lb. 
comb,  15@16;  No.  2  white,  Mb.,  13(5;14;  No.  1  amber, 
1-lb.,  14@15;  No.  2,  10@12.  Extracted,  white,  7@7!4; 
amber,  5®6.    Beeswax,  20@25. 

Aug.  24.  Clemons-Mason  Com.  Co., 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

St.  Louis.— Honey.— Good  demand  for  extracted 
at  6>^@5%  ;  for  comb,  6V4@7.  No  demand  foi-  comb, 
except  white  clover.    Bcesivax,  prime,  24!4@26c. 

Aug,  20.                                 D.  G.  TUTT  Gro.  Co., 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

St.  Louis.— Honey.— We  quote:  Choice  white-clo- 
ver comb.  14@15;  fair,  10@]3;  broken  and  dark,  4@8; 
extracted,  choice  white-clover  in  cans,  7@7X;  in 
barrels,  6;  Southern  strained,  454  for  dark;  5!4  for 
choice.    Beexwax,  prime,  25. 

Aug.  20.                            W.  B.  Westcott  &Co., 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Boston.— Ho/(ey.— Demand  for  honey  is  very 
light.  We  liave  a  very  light  supply  on  hand.  From 
present  reports  crop  is  light  throughout  New  Eng- 
land.   No  change  in  prices. 

Aug.  20.  Blake  &  Ripley,  Boston,  Mass. 

Detroit.— Ho/iey.  —  Honey    in    better    demand. 
Comb  selling  at  14@16.    Extracted,  7@8. 
Beeswax,  24®2o.  M.  H.  Hunt, 

Aug.  23.  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

W.a,nted.— 5t).000  lbs.  of  choice  white  comb  honey. 
Address       Byhon  Walker, 
17tfdb  Evart,  Mich.,        or       Wyalusing,  Wis. 

Wanted— .5G00  lbs.  extracted  honey,  basswood  and 
white  clover.    Address  E.  Peterman,  Waldo,  \*  is. 
17-18d 

For  Sale.— Choice  white-clover  honey,  in  60-lb. 
cans  (net>,  at  $5.10  per  can;  two  cans.  $li;.00. 

Oliver  Foster,  Mt.  Foster,  Linn  Co.,  Iowa. 


Oregon 


Bce-iVlcn. 


Send  us  your 
name  and  address. 
We  want  lo  correspond  w.ith  you 
concerning  honey.  We  are  ready  to  make  outright 
purchases  of  both  comb  and  extracted  honey  in  any 
quantity.  If  you  do  not  care  to  sell,  we  will  handle 
for  your  account.  AH  we  want  is  to  get  plenty  of 
Oregon  honey;  if  possible,  we  want  to  handle  the 
entire  crop.  We  are  satisfied  the  result  would  be 
muiuallv  adv;intagciius.  16-17(1 

LEV/Y,  SPIEGL  &  CO., 
113-115  Front  St.,  Portland,  Ore. 

ESTABLISHED    1876. 

S.X.  KISH  &  CO., 

COMMISSION      MEECHANTS. 

Dried  Fruit,  Honey ,  and  Farm  Produce, 

189    South    Water  St.,  Chicago. 

We  make  a  specialty-  of  our  Honey  Department, 
and  ask  for  j uur  consignments  and  correspondence. 
Reference,  any  bjc-paper.  17-24db 

Al/li  who  wish  my  Re.strictor  books  should  address 
C.W.Dayton,  Bert  houd.  Col.,  and  not  Clinton, 
Wis.  The  first  edition  is  all  gone,  but  I  will  |)rint 
another  edition  as  soon  as  the  honey  harvest  is  t)Ver, 
and  mail  one  to  all  appplieants. 

C.  W.  DAYTON,  Berlhoud,  Larimer  Co.,  Colo. 
Ill  writing  aUvertiserfi  please  mention  ibir  paper. 


(>42 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


i  The  Bee-    D  1711117117     Foi.  I892  and  aFine.Voung.  Haying    | 

3  KeeoetTs'    K  Ci  V  1  hi  W     ""'""  QUEEN  *o-  $50    The  | 

I  l^eepeFS       ILJJ  1  IJJ   11       ^^^^^^    Alone,    $1.00.       The   Queen    | 

O  Hlone,  "75  Cts.     pov  $1. "75,  the  t^evieuj,  the  Queen,  and  the  SO  et.  Book,    © 

^  «'  Advanced  See  Culture,"  tuill  be  sent.  W.  Z.  Hutehinson,  plint,  JVIieh.    g, 

(J  •     e 

p.  S.— If  not  acquainted  with  the  Review,  send  ten  cents  for  three  late  but  different  issues. 


PURE   ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

Untested,   70c  each;  3  for  ^l.To;    6  or  more.   .50c 
each.    Tested  queens,  $1.00  each.  14tfdb 

D.  G.  EDMISTON,  Adrian,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich. 

FOR   SALE. 

Tested  Italian  queen,  60c;  untested  Ital- 
ian queen,  .5flc.  Italian  bees,  in  10-frame 
hive,  $4.00.    Address  1.5-16-17d 

Otto  Kleinow,  150  Military  Ave.,  Detroit,  Mich. 


Goldsn  Honey  Queens. 

Queens  in  Sept.,  untested,  65c;  half 
doz.,  $3.0J;  tested,  $1.U0;  one  year  old,  8.5e; 
select  tested,  $2.00;  extra  select,  $4.00;  the 
veiy  best,  $7.00;  imported,  $4.00. 

LEmmaEB  Bbos.,  Ft.  Jennings,  Ohio. 


SAVE  MONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Aug-us- 
ta,  Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wliolesale  rates.  4tfdb 


SUPPLIES 


WHOLESALE. 

Everytliing  used  in  the  Apiary. 

Greatest  variety  and  largest  stock 
in  the  "West.  New  catalog-,  54  illustrated  pag-es, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  KEETCHMEE,  SED  OAS,  IOWA. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  2tt'clb 

QUIGLEYS  GOLDEN   QUEENS. 

Are  large,  beautiful,  and  prolific.  The  bees  are  in- 
dustrious, gentle,  and  hardy.  Warranted  piu-ely 
mated,  each,  $1.00;  6  for  $.5.00.  Untested,  each,  70c; 
3  for  $3.00.  Satisfaction  and  safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed. Circular  free. 
Utfdb  E.  F.  QUIGLEY,  Unionville,  Mo. 

WSSSSB5S5S  ^BSSSSS5SSSESSSSSSSSSSS3SS  iSSSSSSSSSSSSSSB 

I   EXTl^fl   FINE    QUEENS 

K  Nt)w  is  tlie  time  to  introduce  a  strain  of  Ital- 
Ifl  ians  that  will  reap  you  large  liarvests  even  in 
I  poor  seasons.  Send  a  trial  order  and  be  con- 
Dl  vinced.  Queens  warranted  purely  mated,  eacli, 
g  80c;  six,  $4  00;  doz.,  S7.00.  Order  now;  pay  on 
In  arrival.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfaction  guaran- 
%  teed.         14tfdb  F.  U.  YOCKHY, 

I     IS^nrth  WuHhiiiiitaii,  Wa>it'd  Co.,  Pn. 


DR.  J.  W.  CRENSHAW, 

Versailles,      -      Kentucky, 

Offers  for  Sale 

Untested  Italian  Queens  at  $l.tH)  eacli  througli  May 

and  June;  after,  75c  eacli.    Safe  arrival  guaran- " 

teed.    Queens  raised  only  from   Imported 

mother.    Drones  only  from  selected 

,T,nd  tested  mothers. 

Also  CELERY  PLANTS  from  July  to  September,  at 

$2.0i»  per  M.  7-18db 

i^Tn  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glea^hnos. 

OATMAN'S 

30LDEKINQ  AND  EEPAIE  KIT 


I'on^i-ts  uf  tire-pnt.  solder- 
iWiX  irons.  soldtT.  and  solder- 
iu,'-tluid.  witli  tools  compl'te 
IS  sUown  in  cut.  with  direc- 
tions for  s  'Iderinjj:  different 
metals,  and  how  to  keep  your 
sotilering:  irons  in  shape. 
Wh.iU-  kit.  boxed.  12  lbs. 
Shiiipel  on  receipt  of  82,00. 
.Vprnits  wanted. 

O.  &.   L     OATMAN, 


8-7dli 


Medina,  Ohio. 


WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS' 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

ROOT'S  GOt)DS  can  he  had  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  at  ROOT'S  PRICES  The 
largest  supply  business  In  the  West. 
Established  188.').  Dovetailed  Hives,  Sec- 
tions, Foundation,  Extractors,  Smokers, 
Veils.  Crates,  Feeders,  Clover  Seeds,  etc. 
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Vol.  XX. 


SEPT.  1,  1892. 


No.  17. 


Stray  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.    MILLER. 

My  hoxey  is  light,  so  is  my  crop. 

Light  si-pkks  make  a  light  pocket-book,  but 
they  don't  hinder  a  light  heart. 

HoxKY  GKANui.ATES  sooner  when  extracted 
than  when  left  in  the  comb.  It's  the  shaking 
that  does  it. 

Thk  Revikw  jv  a  review  nowadays,  and  it's 
no  skim-milk  affair  either,  (iives  good  cream. 
Glad  it's  gone  back  to  the  "  special  topic  "  plan. 

What  a  season  !  White  clover  abundant, 
but  supers  have  come  come  off  nearly  empty; 
and  but  for  the  baits  most  of  them  would  be 
entirely  so. 

The  FEr-fXDiTY  of  the  queen,  C.  Dadant 
thinks,  commences  generally  to  diminish  only 
at  the  end  of  the  third  year,  and  sometimes  not 
till  after  the  fourth. 

Do  YOU  LIKE  Fux  ?  Just  put  a  Larrabee  es- 
cape on  top  of  a  pile  of  supers  taken  off  the 
hives,  and  see  what  fun  it  is  to  see  the  bees 
zigzag  their  way  out. 

Swarming  troubled  less  than  usual  this  year 
in  the  usual  season,  but  seemed  to  keep  up 
straight  along,  and  get  worse  in  August,  with 
no  promise  of  stopping  yet. 

"  I  have  spent  three  years  in  carefully  ex- 
perimenting with  spring  packing  with  outer 
ca.ses.  and  I  now  declare  emphatically  that  with 
me  it  does  not  pay." — B.  Taylor,  in  Revieio. 

TKAXsFEKiaxti — M.  de  Layens'  plan.  Shake 
out  the  bees  by  bumping  the  hive  on  the  ground 
several  times,  mouth  down,  then  place  the  new 
hive  over  the  cluster  and  let  the  bees  run  into  it. 

I've  got  a  (^rEF:N  of  those  big  Florida  bees. 
If  she  lives  through  the  winter,  her  bees  can 
have  the  red  clover  all  to  themselves  next  year, 
and  then  I'll  be  sure  of  a  crop  from  one  colony. 

Pi'Nic  BEES  have  favorable  reports  from  two 
men  in  A.  B.  J.  Demaree,  in  Guide,  says  the 
little  black  imps  are  the  most  unmanageable  he 
ever  tried  to  handle,  and  he  had  to  break  them 
up. 

Conduite  I)L'  Rucher  is  a  book  you  ought  to 
have  if  you  read  French.  It's  the  book  that 
last  Gleanings  noticed  as  '-Management  of 
the  Apiary."  .Main  part  of  the  book  gives  work 
of  apiary  according  to  season.     It's  good. 

A  8t.\ni)Ard  as  to  the  weight  of  a  section  is 
being  urged  by  some.  A  standard  size  of  sec- 
tion is  desirable  and  possible,  but  a  standard 
weight— well,  whoever  has  succeeded  in  getting 
the  bees  to  put  the  right  weight  in  every  sec- 
tion, let  him  rise  and  so  state. 


P'ouNDATioN- ROLLS,  wheu  badly  stuck  up 
with  wax.  E.  S.  Brooks  says,  you  should  not 
pick  much,  but  just  take  a  "cotton  cloth,  folded 
to  proper  thickness,  run  it  through  the  machine, 
and  see  how  nicely  it  does  the  work. 

White  clover  is  reported  by  the  B.  B.  J.  as 
in  full  bloom  July  30,  with  a  prospect  of  ten 
days'  continuance.  "Moreover,"  it  says,  "the 
bees  are  working  on  it  vigorously,  a  thing  quite 
unprecedented  in  all  our  former  experience." 

Asphalt  felt  for  quilts  is  recommended  by 
C.  N.  Abbott,  former  editor  of  B.  B.  J.,  as  a 
preventive  of  foul  brood.  It's  not  the  common 
roofing  felt.  "  has  no  stringy,  textile  fabric 
about  it,  and  cuts  something  like  vulcanite." 

I've  some  hopes  that  bees  may  yet  fill  up  for 
winter.  Aug.  30  they  seem  to  be  working  hard- 
er than  at  any  previous  date.  Clover  is  still  in 
bloom,  and  they  are  doing  a  little  on  that,  as 
also  on  buckwheat,  but  their  chief  work  is 
probably  on  cucumbers.  I'll  be  deeply  grateful 
if  fall  feeding  can  be  omitted. 

Too  MUCH  SMOKE  used  on  bees  is  thus  figured 
on  by  C.  W.  Dayton,  in  Rcvleio.  If  smoked  till 
all  bees  are  subdued  and  retreat,  work  is  stojtped 
for  at  least  an  hour.  If  a  hive  is  handled  every 
fifteen  minutes,  that  means  four  colonics  kept 
idle  all  day — a  matter  of  some  thirty  pounds  of 
honey  in  a  good  basswood  flow. 

The  Hill  smoker  is  called  by  E.  R.  Root 
"cold-blast."  The  Revieio  gives  a  picture  of 
" Hill's  cold-blast  smoker"  illustrating  an  ar- 
ticle written  by  A.  G.  Hill;  but  the  Ouide  says 
it's  not  a  cold-blast  smoker,  and  that  "the 
whole  cold-blast  principle  is  false  and  a  fraud." 
What  is  a  cold -blast,  anyway,  and  who  got  up 
the  principlf!  ? 

Emma  was  smoking  bees  out  of  supers,  and 
every  little  while  she  emptied  her  smoker;  and, 
leaving  a  few  coals,  started  it  afresh.  "  What's 
that  for?"  said  I.  "  Because  I  don't  want  fire," 
said  she,  "  I  want  smoke.  As  soon  as  the  wood 
burns  into  coals  it  makes  a  hot  fire,  but  it 
doesn't  make  smoke  like  fresh  wood."  And 
she  did  make  smoke — the  smokiest  kind  of 
smoke. 

M.  DE  L.\YENs  excited  my  envy  by  reporting 
his  management  requiring  only  two  visits  in  a 
year  to  each  apiary.  Chas.  Dadant,  in  the  Re- 
vwe,  shows  that,  although  he  makes  nine  times 
as  many  annual  visits,  yet  the  actual  number 
of  days"  work  is  10  per  cent  less  than  the  Layens 
plan  requires.  Thtui  he  goes  to  work  and 
shows  that,  in  a  number  of  respects,  the  Layens 
plan  is  nowhere  a*  compared  with  that  of  the 
American  Frenchman. 

T.  F.  Bingham,  in  the  Review,  enters  a  pro- 
test, and  a  proper  protest,  against  inventors 
losing  the  credit  of  their  inventions.  Some  lit- 
tle change  is  made  in  an  article,  and  the  chang- 


644 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


er's  name  attached  to  it,  while  the  r^al  inventor 
is  not  recognized.  Still,  it  would  be  bungling 
to  have  names  always  attached.  Langstroth 
is  the  inventor  of  movable  hives,  and  Reese  of 
bee-escapes;  but  it's  shorter  to  say  Porter  and 
Larrabee  and  Dibbern  and  the  others,  than  to 
say  Porter- Reese,  etc. 

That  self-hiver.  You  remember  previous 
history.  July  28,  swarm  caught  in  self-hiver; 
queen  got  out  of  trap,  back  in  hiver;  July  30, 
all  moved  back  into  hive;  Aug.  .5.  old  queen 
killed,  leaving  eggs,  brood,  queen-cells,  and  one 
queen  hatched.  Well,  the  cells  were,  one  after 
another,  torn  down,  all  gone  by  Aug.  8.  Aug. 
16  I  found  the  young  queen  in  the  hiver,  not  in 
the  trap,  so  I  put  her  back  in  hive  and  took 
away  trap.  This  morning,  Aug.  20,  she  is  lay- 
ing.   Perfection  self-hiver  a  success. 


COBS  AND  KEENELS. 


ANOTHER    INSTALLMENT    BY    F.    GREINER. 

What  Mr.  Doolittle  says  on  p.  .547,  on  the  sub- 
ject of  '■  why  some  gather  more  honey  than  oth- 
ers." confirms  the  position  I  took  in  my  "  Cobs 
and  Kernels  "  in  a  former  issue  of  Gleanings. 
Perhaps  a  little  more  on  that  subject  might  be 
said.  We  have  so  often  been  taught  to  keep 
our  colonies  always  strong,  particularly  to  get 
them  so  in  Uie  spi'ing,  and.  if  necessary,  stimu- 
late thein  by  feeding  or  otherwise,  that  begin- 
ners are  apt  to  follow  such  teachings  only  to 
find,  many  times,  that  their  neighbors'  bees,  be- 
ing managed  on  the  let-alone  plan,  would  do  as 
well  as  theirs,  if  not  better.  Success  depends 
upon  whether  the  main  honey-flow  comes  early 
or  late.  If  late.  I  have  noticed  that  even  such 
colonies  as  come  out  quite  weak  in  the  spring 
would  build  up  fast  enough  to  be  ready  for  the 
basswood  flow,  and  become  most  profitable  colo- 
nies. Some  years  ago  ■' e  had  much  trouble 
with  weak  colonies  in  the  spring — robbing  being 
the  worst.  We  used  to  content  ourselves  by 
saying,  "They  will  make  thje  honey  if  we  can 
only  get  them  through;"  and  the  fact  was,  they 
did  make  the  honey.  It  seemed  a  little  strange 
that  this  should  be  so;  but  the  solution  of  the 
problem  was,  no  useless  amount  of  bees  was 
produced:  the  vitality  of  the  queens  was  saved 
and  prolonged,  and  they  themselves  did  the  best 
business  at  the  right  time,  when  the  produced 
bees  became  producers  and  not  consumers.  In 
connection  with  the  above  I  want  to  say  that 
we  must  not  leave  the  young  bees,  not  yet  six- 
teen days  old.  out  of  our  calculation,  for  they 
are  the  comb-builders,  nurses,  etc. — very  essen- 
tial to  have. 

More  loss(>s  of  queens  have  occurred  among 
my  biH^s  during  the  past  winter  and  spring 
months  than  ever  before.  Perhaps  the  reason 
is  this:  1.  I  have  paid  little  attention  to  renew- 
ing queens.  Through  carelessness,  or  because  I 
followed  the  advice  of  prominent  bee-keepers,  I 
left  my  bees  to  take  care  of  this  matter.  2.  It 
so  happened  tliat.  for  three  successive  years,  we 
have  had  but  little  swarming,  consequently  not 
many  queens  were  reared,  leaving  quite  a  good 
many  colonies  with  old  queens.  I  have  now 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  will  be  a  safer 
way  to  substitute  young  queens  for  all  three- 
year-old  ones  whenever  piacticable;  and  it  ap- 
pears to  me  that  the  period  of  swarming  is  a  fa- 
vorable time  for  this  work.  Ph-nty  of  queens 
can  be  on  hand  then;  and  when  a  swarm  is  be- 
ing hived,  a  young  vigorous  queen  from  a  nu- 
cleus can  at  once  be  substituted  without  the 
bees  knowing  the  diffe.'ence.  Should  a  swarm 
come  out  with  a  virgin  queen,  another  virgin 
queen  of  superior  blood  may  be  substituted  in 
the  same  way. 


Many  bee-keepers  provide  the  lids  of  their 
chaff  and  Langstroth  hives  with  inch  holes  in 
the  gable  ends,  for  ventilation  as  well  as  for  the 
exit  of  the  bees  that  may  accidentally  get  im- 
prisoned under  them.  It  has  been  very  annoy- 
ing to  me  to  have  wasps  enter  and  build  nests  in 
these  rooms  above  the  brood-chambers:  also 
yellow-jackets,  spiders,  etc.  To  avoid  all  this 
trouble,  others  as  well  as  myself  have  placed 
little  cones  over  these  holes  with  good  success; 
but  these,  projecting  as  they  did.  soon  became 
jammed,  and  got  out  of  order.  I  now  use  a  flat 
pear-shaped  escape,  which  any  one  can  make 
from  a  piece  of  wire  cloth.  They  answer  the 
purpose  first  rate,  and  do  not  get  out  of  order. 

A  few  colonies  fitted  up  with  glassed  sections 
often  afford  much  pleasure  to  show  to  visitors, 
and  for  making  observations  from  hour  to  hour, 
from  day  to  day.  Four  closed -top  sections, 
clamped  together  by  the  simple  device  of  a 
slightly  curved  piece  of  Kinch  hoop  iron,  four 
inches  longer  than  the  width  of  the  four  sec- 
tions, bent  at  right  angles  at  each  end  2  in., 
answer  the  purpose  well.  There  is  sufficient 
spring  in  the  iron  to  hold  glass  and  sections  in 
place.  Eight  of  these  now  four- pound  boxes 
raayjae  placed  on  top  of  a  Langstroth  hive. 
'The  combs  in  the  iDrood -chambers  are  usually 
spaced  IJ^g  or  l^.j  inches  from  center  to  center. 
In  my  extracting  supers  I  use  seven  combs  to 
the  foot.  I  am  not  sure,  however,  but  that  six 
would  be  better;  for,  the  greater  the  thickness 
the  less  sealing  has  to  be  done,  and  the  less  un- 
capping by  the  apiarist  when  extracting.  But 
can  the  bees  as  easily  repair,  clean  out.  refill, 
and  ripen  the  honey  in  deep  cells?  is  a  question 
I  know  nothing  about,  and  I  should  be  glad  to 
get  some  light  on  it. 

In  the  last  two  years  I  have  used  a  brood- 
frame  with  a  top-bar  ^xl^g  inches,  using  eight 
frames  to  the  foot.  These  frames  are  free  from 
burr  and  brace  comics.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  take 
the  full  supers  from  hives  with  such  frames. 

In  removing  filled  supers,  the  bee-escapes 
again  prove  to  be  a  great  help.  Nearly  all  the 
different  escapes  work  well  at  this  time  of  the 
year.  I  find  the  new  Dibbern  mica-spring  es- 
cape to  be  another  valuable  acquisition. 

Several  queens  have  found  their  way  through 
the  excluders  into  the  extracting  supers,  and  set 
up  housekeeping  therein  in  good  earnest.  I  did 
not  like  that.  Root's  excluding  metal  seems  to 
be  no  good  for  qui-en-feriilizing  chambers  over 
other  colonies.  Only  two  queens  became  fertile 
in  a  hirge  number.  I  will  try  the  Chicago  zinc 
another  year,  and  report. 

The  telephone  connecting  my  shop  with  the 
house  is  a  good  swarm-indicator.  When  a  swarm 
issues  from  a  hive  nrai'  the  wire,  many  bees 
stiike  it  (ihey  do  not  s^em  to  be  aware  of  iti.  In 
the  house  and  slioi)  it  sounds  like  a  shooting- 
alfairiu  the  distance,  and  we  know  immediate- 
ly what's  up.  I  am  satisfied  that,  if  I  had  two 
or  three  wires  stretched  over  the  yard  (of  125 
colonies)  at  proper  distances,  every  swarm  is- 
suing would  Di-  reported  as  it  makes  its  appear- 
ance. 

The  expei'iment  of  Schonfeld.  in  (rermany, 
seems  to  prove  that  the  ripening  of  honey,  or 
the  change  from  nectar  to  honey,  is  a  process  of 
evaporation  only.  Dzierzon,  however,  thinks 
that  this  condensing  process  is  performed  by 
the  direct  action  of  the  bees.  He  says:  "It 
seems  we  can  reasonably  suppose,  that  the 
honey-stomach  of  the  bee  is  like  a  filter,  allow- 
ing the  water  to  pass  through  its  walls.  I  be- 
lieve nectar  would  much  sooner  turn  sour  than 
thicken  to  the  consistency  of  honey  inside  of 
the  hive."  Schonfeld,  in  his  experiment,  form- 
ed a  colony  of  young  bees  only,  which  he  knew 
would  not  and  did  not  go  out  in  search  of  fooil. 
To  this  colony  he  introduced  a  comb  filled  with 


1892 


liLEANlNUS  IN  KEE  CULTURE. 


(>45 


siisriir  syrup,  but  iiK'losod  in  wire  cloth.  TIumi 
h(>  ft'd  this  colony  the  Siiim^  kind  of  thin  syiuj). 
At  the  ciui  of  seven  diiys  the  fed  and  stored 
syrup  was  compared  with  the  screen-inclosed 
syrup,  and  only  an  insifjjnilicant  tliU'eicnce  was 
ascertained  in  favoi'  of  the  lirst  named.  The 
syrup  in  the  inclosed  comb  had  not  soured,  and 
was  so  nearly  of  the  same  consistency  that  v. 
rianta.  who  made  the  analysis,  thinks  it  (pies- 
liiMialile  whether,  in  this  process  of  concentra- 
tion, the  orsj.mizatioii  of  the  l)ee  plays  any  pii't 
at  all. 

.Vccordins  to  an  article  by  F.  Kuehne,  of 
(ierniany.  appearing  in  No.  5  of  the  Bknenzclt- 
Kiiij.  the  bee  has  two  sets  of  eyes — two  conspic- 
uous and  complicated  ones  at  the  sides  of  the 
head,  for  use  near  by.  and  three  small  eyes  (in 
their  relative  position  forming  a  triangle)  in  tiie 
center  of  the  head— these  to  se(>  at  a  distance. 

A  certain  tierman  writer  announces  tlie  dis- 
covery that  the  laying  of  the  ([iieen  is  periodi- 
cal, with  resting-spells  of  three  or  four  days  in- 
tervening. We  have  not  noticed  any  such 
thing:  and  the  best  of  German  authorities  ridi- 
cule and  disprove  the  assertion. 

Experiments  made  years  ago  in  Geiraany  have 
shown  that  drones  can  not  withstand  as  strong 
a  current  of  electricity  as  workers.  Would  it 
not  be  simpler  and  cheaper,  by  means  of  an 
electrical  batUM'y  constructed  in  such  a  manner 
that  the  strength  of  the  current  could  be  chang- 
ed ad  libitum,  to  kill  all  drones  of  a  colony  in- 
stantly, than  to  use  drone-traps  for  the  pur- 
po.se  ? 

The  mother  colonies  having  .swarmed  late  in 
the  season  can  not  be  counted  on  for  storing  any 
more  in  sections  ;  but  one  can  make  good  use  of 
such  by  dividing,  allowing  each  to  raise  its  own 
queen.  If  combs  or  foundation-tilled  frames 
can  be  given,  they  will  build  up  and  store  sufli- 
cient  honey  for  winter,  providing  there  is  a  flow 
from  buckwheat.  I  always  increase  my  stock 
this  way  to  some  extent. 

The  best  time  to  put  foundation  starters  into 
sections  is  in  the  morning,  before  you  need 
them.  The  best  time  to  give  sections  to  your 
colonies  is  the  minute  they  are  ready  for  them 
and  hor.ey  is  coming  in;  but  the  best  time  to 
make  up  your  sections  is  in  the  winter,  when 
there  is  plenty  of  spare  time.  I  use  section- 
holders  or  broad  frames,  and  handle  the  sec- 
tions, after  they  are  made. up,  in  fours. 

We  can  rejoice  over  a  fair  honey  season  in 
this  location — the  first  one  in  a  number  of  years. 

Naples,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  8.  F.  Gkeiner. 


FEOM  THE  HOLY  LAND. 


>ME  i.\tp;ke.stixg  item.s  fkom  the  land  of 

KIJ.JAH,   AHAB,  AND  JONAH. 


De<ir  Mr.  Editor:— '-Ji'dhr  in-Jadeed  "  means 
•■  New  .Sea."  an  old  Turkish  steamer  on  board 
of  which  I  look  my  family  over  the  old  Medi- 
terranean. The  agent  madi-  us  hurry  on  board 
amid<t  a  tempestuous  sea,  the  steamer  lying 
half  a  mile  off  the  shore.  lie  said  it  would 
leave  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  I'er- 
haps  he  didn't  mean  to  say  it  was  on  that  self- 
s  .me  afternoon:  but,  be  tliat  as  it  may,  we  had 
the  pleasure  of  being  in  sight  of  Jalfa  for  the 
next  twenty-four  hours.  Finally  we  left  the 
very  rough  harbor.  The  passengers  were  all 
kinds  of  Orientals — Palestim-  recruits,  Armeni- 
ans, Turks.  .lews,  and  some  muriierers  with 
heavy  chains  around  their  waists  and  feet,  com- 
ing from  Asia  Minor  to  the  prison  of  Acre, 
whither  our  steamer  was  going.  The  criminals 
offered  different  articles  for  sale:  among  others 
a  good  revolver  and  a  Damascene  yatagan.  He 
took  out  the  weapon,  and,  with  the  motion  of 


stabbing,  showed  the  passengtirs  how  well  it 
would  work  (if  he  were'  able  to).  .lust  at  sun- 
set the  prisoners  and  ourselves,  the  only  passen- 
gers for  Acre,  were  landed,  and  we  were  glad  to 
step  aslioic  again.  This  forlicss,  defended  by 
bastions  and  ditches,  has  been  famcjus  tor  its 
sieges  from  time  imiiKMnorial.  Tln^  Crusaders 
were  there,  and,  at  tlu!  end  of  th<'  last  century, 
it  was  the  place  where  Napoleon  Bonaparte 
met  the  resistance  of  Djez/.ar  I'asha,  assisted  by 
Sir  Sidney  Smith.  It  is  still  considered  to  be  ah 
impregnable  place;  but  its  fortification  toward 
the  sea  could  not  resist  the  slightest  attack;  but 
not  so  the  landward  buildings.  This  is  a  great 
cereal  markcst;  aTid  the  Bedouins  of  Bashan. 
the  Hauran,  and  all  (ralilei^.  come  iiere  with 
their  produce,  whence  it  is  shipped  to  Europe 
and  Egypt. 

We  started  for  Haifa,  about  eight  miles  away, 
at  the  foot  of  Mount  Carmel.  Hundreds  of  sea- 
gulls were  busy  gathering  the  grain  with  which 
the  seashore  all  along  the  eight  miles  was  liter- 
ally covered.  A  ship  loaded  with  wheat  was 
ready  to  start  for  Egypt  a  few  weeks  ago,  and 
suddenly  a  tempest  arose  and  drove  it  against 
the  rocks.  We  now  crossed  the  mouth  of  the 
celebrated  river  Bellis,  on  the  shores  of  which 
the  Phoenicians  are  said  to  have  invented  glass 
by  doing  their  cooking  in  the  sand.  Soon  after 
this  we  crossed  that '' ancient  river,  the  river 
Kishon,"  of  .Judges  .5:  21,  spoken  of  by  Deborah 
in  her  song,  and  where  the  prophets  of  Baal 
were  slaughtered— see  I.  Kings  18:40.  I  send 
you  a  photograph  of  the  mouth  of  the  river.  It 
is  stagnant  water.  The  banks  are  covered  with 
rushes,  and  in  the  background  are  i)alm-trees. 
The  mountain  back  of  it  'S  old  Carmel. 

We  soon  came  through  the  town  and  took  our 
lodgings  with  the  (rerman  colony,  established 
here  in  18(39  by  Wurttemberg  farmers,  under 
the  auspices  of  two  leaders  whose  aim  was  to 
take  them  out  of  the  corrupt  evangelical  church 
and  await  the  kingdom  of  God  in  Palestine. 
They  have  been  struggling  very  hard  for  their 
living  during  the  past  twenty  years,  and  many 
of  them  were  wholly  broken  up,  both  in  body 
and  mind.  They  have  changed  and  rechanged 
ideas,  so  that,  from  the  one  original  sect  of 
"  Templars,"  as  they  were  to  rebuild  the  temple 
spiritually,  they  are  now  divided  into  four  di- 
visions or  denominations. 

Bee-keeping,  new  and  old.  is  also  flourishing 
to  some  extent,  from  the  native  clay  cylinder  to 
the  bar-frame  hive  in  different  stages  of  perfec- 
tion. One  man  has  about  twenty  box  hives.  He 
cuts  out  the  honey  once  a  year,  and  never  looKS 
after  them.  He  has  no  time,  because  he  has  a 
farm  to  attend  to;  and.  besides  this,  Haifa  isn't 
the  place  to  keep  bees.  A  near  neighbor,  a  lit- 
tle more  "  enlightened."  has  a  number  of  home- 
made German  hives  with  movable  combs  stuck 
fast  in  the  hives.  He  has  also  an  extractor,  and 
extracts  honey  once  or  twice  a  year  when  he  is 
not  hard  pressed  making  shoes.  His  bees  gath- 
er honey  from  the  flowers  "  they  like  best  " — he 
doesn't  know  and  doesn't  care  from  which.  The 
honey  has  a  tine  aromatic  taste.  I  supposed  it 
to  be  sage  honi^y.  with  which  Carmel  abounds. 
Another  man.  th(>  schoolmaster,  Mr.  Lange, 
keeps  some  thirty  well  made  hives  on  Roth- 
schiitz's  system.  He  has  an  extractor  in  fine 
order,  on  account  of  its  being  used  very  seldom, 
as  his  lessofH  and  amateur  pfiotographing  leave 
him  but  little  time  to  hxik  for  his  bi^es.  ■■  Be- 
sides," said  he,  "  this  is  not  the  proper  place  for 
taking  honey."  though  he  has  taken  a  good  deal 
of  it  in  past  years. 

The  last  but  not  least  fin  knowledge)  is  an 
English  bee-keeper,  a  Mr.  (Jee.  who  came  out 
here  for  the  late  Mr.  Oliphtint.  M.  P..  who  lived 
here  many  years,  and  brought  with  him  a  num- 
ber of  empty  bee-hives,  and  worked  them  with 


646 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


success  at  Dalia,  a  Druse  village  in  Carmel. 
This  man  is  up  with  the  times,  and  was  glad  to 
have  a  bee-chat  in  English.  He  had  saved  up 
all  the  back  volumes  of  the  British  Bee  Jour- 


standard  hives  left.  The  other  hives  and  fix- 
tures have  been  given  away  to  one  of  my  pupils 
in  the  Jewish  settlement  of  Trichron  Jacob, 
founded  in  Carmel  by  Jewish  refugees,  under 


A 

^r'...>t.    ■ 

m 

■'mm 

W- 

V 

-ir   JCI^^^^^ 

/ 

-11 

fm 

"4 

.     1  ■ 

^^^^1 

.  1 

'9KtK^^^KtKiifi^'-' 

^K 

1 

^^S^^I^^H 

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'i^S^I^I 

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—'^^^^^^I^^^^^M 

nal,  and  followed  all  innovations,  till  the  death 
of  Mr.  Oliphant,  which  suddenly  cut  him  short, 
without  any  means  for  continuing.  The  heirs 
of  said  gentleman  did  away  with  every  thing 
pei'taining  to  bees.    This  man  has  only  a  few 


the  auspices  of  Rothschild,  in  18S3.  That  man 
came  down  to  Jaffa,  learned  the  art  of  apicul- 
ture in  three  •' full  lessons,"  went  back  and  es- 
tablished an  apiary,  and  has  been  in  doubt  ever 
since  the  four  years  as  to  where  he  shall  put  his 


1S02 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


IH7 


swarms  wIumi  tlu^y  I'oino  out.  Ht>  occasionallv 
writt's  to  asl<  mo  wIkmi  to  put  mi  ttio  sii[)i'is.  and 
invariably  i-cci'ivcs  the  aiiswcr,  "  NVlit'ti  tii(>  bees 
liav(>  tilled  the  liivi'  and  want  inoic  foom." 

A  stfoll  abont  (  ai'mcl  sbowcd  me  a  wondci'fiil 
val'it'ty  of  thirUly  sirown  liont'y-plants.  miles 
and  miles  in  extent  —  saae.  majoiam,  lavender; 
we  also  found  a  "  Wad-el-Nahel.""  tlio  Hco  Val- 
ley, where,  in  times  past,  bees  aboiindtni  in  the 
roi'ks.  bni  they  are  not  now  to  lie  fonnd.  This 
plaee.  the  whoh-  Carmel  raiifie.  is  more  oi"  less 
covered  with  uncultivated  honey-plants,  and 
would  [five  honey  to  thousands  and  thousands 
of  colonies  of  bees,  now  all  ffoins  to  waste.  A 
few  \illafjes  only  are  now  to  lie  found;  and  the 
'•  vineyard  of  (rod."  as  Carm-El  means,  is  terri- 
bly neglected.  A  dense  thicket  affords  shelter 
to  birds  of  all  classes,  as  well  as  to  the  wild 
beasts.  .*>oine  panthers  among  them  are  still 
reigning  as  feline  kings. 

>Ir.  Keller,  the  (German  vice-consul  for  Hai- 
fa, lias  built  some  houses  on  the  top  of  Mount 
L'armel.  and  I  succeeded  in  showing  him  the 
many  honoy-plants  going  to  waste  right  before 
his  house,  while,  with  a  small  sum  invested  in 
bees,  he  could  have  ample  returns.  I  offered  to 
teach  his  son.  and  have  had  him  for  the  past 
few  months,  instructing  him  in  the '•  mysteries 
of  bee-keeping."  I  managed  to  give  him  an 
apiary,  our  Langstroth  system,  with  American 
utensils  from  the  Home  of  the  Honey-bees,  and 
hope  he's  going  to  thrive,  though'he  depends 
very  much  on  the  I  ees  and  his  workmen  to  do 
thework  for  him.  I  have  sown  the  seed,  and  it 
will  in  time  spi'ing  up. 

At  the  point  of  Carmel.  on  the  seashore,  is  a 
new  cloister  of  veiled  French  nuns  who  came 
here  si.v  months  ago.  The  •'father  confessor " 
brought  with  him  from  France  a  bee-hive.  The 
father  was  no  good  bee-father,  for,  after  hav- 
ing brought  them  from  France,  by  way  of  Jaf- 
fa, being  about  thirty  days  shut  in.  he  put  them 
temporarily  in  the  garden  of  the  Carmelite 
monks,  two  miles  away,  without  opening,  for 
fear  of  losing  his  bees  if  he  should  wish  to  move 
them  again,  thus  leaving  them  another  ten  days 
cloistei'ed  up.  Happily  this  was  in  Deceiiiiier; 
but  still,  when  he  finally  placed  them  in  the 
cloister  garden,  and  opened  them,  he  found 
two-thirds  dead.  The  wax-moth  had  eaten  a 
good  deal  of  the  comb:  but  the  queen  was  still 
living.  It  is  now  a  four-frame  nucleus  of  brown 
bees. 

An  Italian  bee-keeper,  with  <jO  clay-cylinder 
hives,  lives  in  the  town  of  Haifa,  and  has  a  fair 
revenue,  comparatively,  on  his  "  let-'em-alone '' 
system.  The  hornets  trouble  Mr.  Gabrielli's 
bees  most.  He  showed  me  the  finest  specimen 
of  wax  I  had  seen,  selling  at  about  :.'0  cents  a 
pound.  An  Arab  bee-keeper  of  the  country  one 
day  brought  him  an  enormous  cake  of  yellow 
beeswax  weighing  about  6()  lbs.,  which  he  pur- 
cha.sed  at  10  cents  per  lb.,  bringing  it  home. 
The  cake  turned  out  to  be  a  spring.  How  the 
man  managed  to  put  about  3.t  lbs.  of  water  into 
the  cake  is  what  made  me  wonder.  "  Si  noii  e 
vero.  e  bene  trovato!"  The  wax  here  in  our  lo- 
cality has  risen  from  about  l.'do  30  cents  pov  lb., 
accounted  for  by  the  numbers  of  pilgrims  to  .Je- 
rusalem, wlio  all  buy  genuine  wax  candles  fi-om 
the  many  merchants  about  the  holy  city.  Hav- 
ing had  a  good  deal  of  foundation  comb  to  make 
this  year,  the  pilgrims  visiting  Palestine  were 
not  very  interesting  to  me. 

Ph.  J.  Bai-densperger. 

Jafifa,  Syria,  July  '.). 

[Many  thanks,  friend  B..  for  the  beautiful 
view  and  description  of  the  real,  genuine  Mount 
Carmel.  But  you  don't  tell  us  whether  or  not 
they  are  able  to  find  at  this  date  the  spot  where 
Elijah  performed  the  wonderful  miracle  of  call- 


ing fire  down  from  heaven.  Very  likely,  how- 
ever, you  can  liiid  tin-  peak  where  his  servant 
ascended  and  lookeil  off  toward  the  sea  ;  and 
then  iierhajis  one  might  guess  at  the  path  where 
Fli.jali  ran  dow  n  the  mountain  before  tln^  char- 
iot of  Aliab.  And  is  it  really  true  that  our  bee- 
hives and  uttuisils  have  made  their  way  to  old 
Mount  Carmel.  so  celebrated  in  Bible  history? 
May  success  attend  our  young  friend  who  is 
working  for  you. J  A.  I.  R. 


THE 


DIFFERENCE     IN     BEE  -  KEEPING 
TWEEN  THE  NORTH  AND  SOUTH. 


I'ROPOLIS   IN   THE   SOUTH,   ETC. 


BE- 


I  often  hear  the  wish  expressed  by  bee-keep- 
ers, that  we  had  some  distinctively  Southern 
bee-literature  — a  book  or  a  journal  devoted 
mainly  to  our  warm  climate.  The  bee  is  the 
same  "ill  all  lands;  but  the  environment,  the 
temperature,  the  seasons,  and  the  flora  here, 
demand  an  entirely  different  system  of  treat- 
ment from  that  prevailing  in  the  latitude  of 
(iLEANiXGS  and  the  lesser  lights  of  apiculture. 
The  great  question  of  w'interiiig,  with  its  train 
of  appurtenances  and  methqds,  does  not  touch 
us:  It  is  more  a  (luestion  of  summering.  The 
times,  too,  are  out  of  joint.  While  you,  in  Feb- 
ruary and  March,  are  resting  from  your  labors, 
and  your  bees  are  down  cellar,  or  chaffed, 
cushioned,  sealed,  ventilated,  frozen,  or  starved, 
as  the  case  may  be.  we  are  hustling  around 
with  swarming  fever  and  surplus  cases;  and 
when  you  and  your  bees  are  out  of  winter  lim- 
bo, and  at  work  in  leafy  fiowery  June,  we  are 
at  the  beginning  of  a  three  months'  term  of  en- 
forced idleness.  So  the  little  we  do  get  that  is 
practical  comes  six  months  after  date,  and  is 
useless,  and  beginners  have  to  depend  mainly 
on  that  somewhat  stern  and  expensive  but 
thorough  teacher— experience. 

The  great  obstacle  in  the  way  of  a  successful 
bee-journal  adapted  to  Florida,  Southern  Cali- 
fornia, and  Southern  Texas,  is  the  limited  area 
over  which  it  would  be  useful;  and  even  Florida 
and  California  methods  and  seasons  differ  wide- 
ly. But  a  book  or  manual  might  pay;  and  I 
hope  we  have  somewhere  on  our  peninsula  a 
dormant  "  Root"  or  "Cook"  who  will  wake  up 
and  do  the  deed.  Perhaps  it  is  early  yet  for 
any  one  to  write  a  thorough  work  on  bee-keep- 
ing in  Florida. 

Is  it  not  one  of  the  strange  things  in  our  his- 
tory, that  this  State,  wherein  was  located  the 
first  colony  from  the  old  world:  and  Southern 
California,  visited  by  Cortez,  both  garden-spots 
in  our  vast  territory,  should  be  the  last  to  have 
their  wonderful  resources  developed?  Florida, 
the  oldest  Stale  in  our  history,  is  to-day  the 
newest,  the  youngest.  Another  want  felt  by 
bee-keepers  as  well  as  other  students  of  nature 
is  a  botany.  I  have  made  careful  inquiry  for 
one;  but,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn, 
there  is  no  work  in  which  the  flora  peculiar  to 
this  State  is  included  with  any  degree  of  thor- 
oughness, though  the  most  of  the  plants  the 
bees  work  on  are  classilied. 

In  this  part  of  Florida  there  is  nothing  for 
the  bees  to  work  on  during  June.  July,  and 
August;  and  if  they  had  to  gather  their  daily- 
food  they  would  stand  about  as  good  a  chance 
of  surviving  the  stimmer  as  yours  would  the 
winter  months  under  like  conditions.  Mine 
have  gathered  no  hoiuiv  for  five  cr  six  weeks; 
yet  each  colony  has  two  or  more  frames  of 
brood  in  all  stage.s,  and  their  stores  are  dimin- 
ishing so  rapidly  that  it  will  not  be  long  until 
they  will  have  to  be  fed.  They  fly  out  every 
morning  after  propolis  and  pollen.  The  first, 
they  stick  over  every  thing;  and  some  of  the 


648 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


old-style  frames  are  a  sight.  In  some  cases  the 
rabbets  are  full  of  what  looks  and  tastes  like 
pure  pine  pitch.  I  will  send  you  a  sample.  In 
the  improved  Hoffman  frames  they  get  only  a 
little  line  where  the  frames  touch — none  in  the 
rabbets.  Devoted  as  they  seem  to  be  to  this 
plastering  industry,  it  takes  but  the  merest 
hint  of  honey  to  make  them  drop  their  tools 
and  go  to  robbing;  and  when  they  are  started 
they  beat  the  record  for  persistence.  About 
Sept.  1st  the  partridge  pea  will  give  them  the 
first  of  the  fall  flow:  and,  a  little  lati'r  on.  a 
wild  flower,  which  I  have  been  unable  to  name 
or  identify,  gives  the  bulk  of  the  crop. 

When  I  first  saw  bees  at  woik  on  the  par- 
tridge pea  I  was  not  a  little  puzzled  to  know 
where  the  honey  came  from.  They  do  not  pay 
any  attention  to  the  yellow  flower,  but  get  the 
nectar  from  extra  floral  glands.  There  is  one 
at  the  base  of  each  leaf-stalk,  about  a  line  in 
diameter — the  globule  of  honey  in  plain  view 
on  its  surface.  Almost  any  of  our  local  bee- 
keepers will  tell  you  that  the  fall  flow  is  in  good 
part  fi'om  goldenrod;  and  I  see  that  flower 
mentioned  by  several  in  friend  Krown's  report. 
But  I  am  still  skeptical.  The  plant,  in  difl'erent 
varieties,  is  all  about  us  here,  and  I  have 
watched  it  every  hour  in  the  day  when  bees 
were  flying,  and  never  yet  have  seen  a  honey- 
bee on  it.  I  have  also  noticed  the  entire  ab- 
sence of  flies  and  other  insects,  so  common  on 
it  in  the  north. 

With  your  permission  I  want  to  tell  the  read- 
ers of  Gleanings  a  good  thing  in  relation  to 
the  flat  covers  of  the  Dovetailed  hive.  I  have 
tried  the  hive  this  year,  and  can  see  but  one 
fault;  viz..  the  covers  ivill  warp  Now  and 
then  one  will  lie  perfectly  flat;  but  the  most 
of  thi'm  are  "cantankerous."  and  I  have  to 
pile  brick  on  diagonally  opposite  corners  to 
make  them  robber-excluding.  Well,  if  you  are 
bothered  the  same  way.  when  you  order  covers 
just  a-^k  friend  Root  to  run  them  over  a  circular 
saw,  cutting  two-thirds  of  the  way  through  the 
board,  from  the  under  side.  Make  three  or 
four  of  the  grooves,  equal  distances  apart. 
Wh(m  tluit  cover  is  cleated  it  is  flat  to  stay,  and 
as  strong  as  ever.  One  can  even  use  the  edge 
for  a  seat  if  he  feels  so  disposed. 

A   TOBACCO- STORY   WITH   A   MORAL. 

I  have  been  much  interested  in  the  Tobacco 
Column  in  Gi.kanings.  and  have  been  wonder- 
ing if  1  do  not  deserve  a  smoker,  for  I  have  quit 
using  tobacco.  Hut  as  I  quit  about  thirty 
years  ago.  and  umlei- rather  sudden  and  peculiar 
circuni^tanc's.  vou  may  not  think  so.  .As  the 
story  might  help  some  one  who  does  not  know 
how  to  infiuencc  his  boys  to  let  the  weed  alone. 
I  will  give  it.  I  was  a  ten  or  twelve  year  old 
boy.  wJH'u  I  one  day  found  some  "fine  cut," 
kept  by  our  hired  man.  in  the  stable.  I  knew  I 
ought  not  to  touch  it.  but  I  took  a  good  big 
chew  of  it  anyhow,  just  as  I  had  often  seen 
Abe  do.  It  was  sweet,  mild  tobacco,  and  tasted 
rather  pleasant.  My  next  sensation  was  also 
not  unpleasant,  a  sort  of  light  airy  feeling  about 
the  head.  My  errand  to  the  barn  was  to  gath- 
er the  eggs;  and  I  now  climbed  up  into  the 
hen-house,  got  the  eggs,  and  was  preparing  to 
descend  the  old  ladder  when  sensation  No.  3 
announced  itself,  and  I  sat  down  to  consider  it. 
In  a  minute  or  two  I  became  deathly  sick,  and 
faint  and  blind  I  tried  to  go  down  the  ladder, 
and  fell  headlong  en  feet  to  the  ground,  for  a 
wonder  witliout  breaking  i7iy  neck.  At  about 
this  time  Mother  Nature  turned  me  as  nearly 
inside  out  as  possible,  and  then  my  own  mother 
took  in  hand  the  sickest  boy  she  ever  nursed 
back  to  health  and  strength.  The  next  morn- 
ing my  fath(>r  and  I  had  an  interview — a  pain- 
ful one  to  hitn  nuMitally  and  to  me  physically; 
and  I  promised    to  let  tobacco  alone,  without 


even  a  smoker  in  view.  As  it  relates  to  my 
moral  and  physical  welfare,  I  now  know  that 
the  punishment  was  one  of  the  kindest  acts  he 
ever  did.  I  yet  honor  and  thank  him  for  it. 
He  believed  and  taught  his  children  that  the 
use  of  tobacco  was  purely  evil  in  its  tendency, 
and  in  a  neighborhood  where  every  farmer 
drew  half  his  income  from  its  culture,  would 
never  allow  a  stalk  to  grow  on  his  land.  He 
was  a  pioneer  in  the  an ti- tobacco  crusade,  for 
at  that  time  its  effects  in  dwarfing  mind  and 
body  were  not  taught  so  thoroughly  as  now, 
and  around  us  the  habit  was  almost  universal. 
Boys  became  habituated  to  its  use,  saturated 
with  nicotine,  before  their  teens  were  reached. 
Indeed,  tlie  habit  is  almost  invariably  formed 
in  early  boyhood,  and  the  middle-aged  votaries 
of  the  weed  who  have  not  at  some  time  tried  to 
get  rid  of  their  tyrant  are  scarce.  And  those 
who  have  succeeded  in  their  effort  are  scarce 
too.  Save  the  boys  from  the  debasing  habit 
while  they  are  so  easily  influenced  for  good  or 
evil.  That  is  where  work  will  give  the  biggest 
returns.  E.  J.  Baird. 

Orlando,  Fla.,  July  26. 

[Friend  B.,  we  realize  what  you  say  about  a 
bee-book  specially  adapted  to  the  Southern 
States,  and  such  a  book  might  be  very  con- 
venient; but  then,  its  sale  would  be,  for  a  great 
part,  restricted  to  the  South.  Now,  inasmuch 
as  the  great  bulk  of  the  teachings  of  our  books 
on  bees  are  applicable  to  any  locality,  it  hardly 
seems  to  me  there  would  be  demand  enough  to 
warrant  such  a  work.  Another  thing,  an  in- 
telligent reader  would  have  no  difficulty  in 
tnodifying  the  general  teachings  to  suit  his 
climate  and  locality.]  A.  I.  R. 


BEE-MOTHS. 


E.     FRANCE     THINK.S      THE      IT.\I.IANS     ARE     NO 

MORE   PROOF  AGAINST   THE.M   THAN   THE 

BLACK   BEES. 


I  read  in  the  bee-papers  that  the  Italian  bees 
are  proof  against  the  bee  inotli.  and  that  the 
black  bees  are  not  as  good  as  the  Italian  in  that 
respect.  Now,  the  fact  of  the  case  is,  I  don't 
set"  any  difference  in  the  two  races  about  keep- 
ing the  moths  out  of  their  hives.  We  have 
some  good  Italians  y<>t.  and  plenty  of  hybrids, 
a  cross  betwiH'ii  Italians  and  blacks.  Tlicn  we 
have  Carniolans.  and  their  crosses  with  blacks 
and  Italians.  No^v.  friends.  I  don't*  sei-  any 
difference  as  far  as  moths  are  concerned.  We 
have  had  some  good  tests  with  bee-worms  this 
year.  Bees  died  or  dwindled  out  until  there 
was  not  one  left.  Then  the  combs  were  exposed 
to  the  bee-moth.  We  always  ha  e  more  or  less 
of  such  combs  every  spring.  We  usually  man- 
age to  use  them  up  in  making  new  colonies  by 
division.  This  year  has  been  different  from 
other  years.  The  fore  part  of  May  we  had 
some  combs  in  almost  all  the  yards;  and  as  we 
expected  to  use  them  soon  we  left  them  in  the 
hives,  as  we  usually  do.  But  we  did  not  get  a 
chance  to  use  them;  and  the  first  thing  we 
knew,  the  moth-worms  had  them  used  up.  In 
some  cases  the  wax  was  all  eaten  up,  and  noth- 
ing remained  but  webs,  worms,  and  cocoons. 

Now,  mind,  we  use  a  quadruple  hive  that 
holds  four  colonies  of  bees.  It  is  a  fact,  that  in 
those  hives  that  had  one.  two,  and  sometimes 
thi'ee  divisions  destroyed  by  the  worms,  in  oth- 
er parts  of  the  hive  there  were  one  or  more 
colonies  of  bees  alive  and  in  good  order — no 
worms  in  their  combs — just  a  loose  honey-board 
over  the  top.  In  some  cases  the  honey- board 
would  be  warped  up  enough  to  let  a  worm 
crawl  througli  into  the  part  that  was  occupied 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


649 


by  iho  living  beos.  I  did  not  soo  thai  it  nuido 
iiliy  difToivnoo  what  kind  of  bcvs  tiioy  \v(M'(>  that 
kt>i)t  t lie  worms  out.  It  was  iiitcrcstinfr  to  soc 
how  tilt'  bees  would  poiinco  on  the  worms  when 
wr  piii'd  lip  tiic  honcy-lioard.  Tiit'  hatred  tliat 
tho  bees  liavt>  for  tlicsc  worms  is  all  that  saves 
tile  bees  from  entire  destrnetioM.  The  bees  o/' 
hate  them.  1  don't  see  any  ditTerence  l)etween 
Italians,  blacks,  or  Carniolans,  as  to  that,  for 
thev  will  all  take  care  of  the  moths  if  they  have 
hal^  a  chance. 

We  had  one  case  this  year  of  three  divisions 
in  one  hivt>.  the  combs  all  eaten  up  with  tlie 
worms,  and.  after  takinjj  out  the  frames,  there 
were  enoneh  worms  in  the  three  to  till  a  two- 
quart  measure  full  of  clean,  wisRling,  crawling 
worms.  In  the  fourtli  division  of  the  same 
hive  there  was  a  good  colony  of  bees,  and  they 
were  blacks— not  a  yellow  mark  on  them.  We 
had  quite  a  talk  over  the  case,  and  would  will- 
ingly have  given  another  colony  of  bees  to  have 
three  or  four  of  our  great  guns  there  to  see  for 
themselves  that  tlu'  despised  blacks  would  pro- 
tect themselves  and  light  their  own  way  among 
the  worms.  We  never  had  a  colony  of  bees  de- 
stroyed by  the  worms:  but  it  is  not  uncommon 
to  liave  iiiore  or  less  combs  destroyed  by  worms. 

HOW   TO   PKEVEXT   BUltRCOMBS. 

Have  such  seasons  as  this,  then  burr-combs 
won't  be  any  trouble.  I  have  seen  no  burr- 
combs  this  year;  neither  have  I  seen  a  piece  of 
comb  as  big  as  my  band,  that  was  built  this 
season.  It  is  a  splendid  season  to  keep  down 
increase— .5fi<)  colonies  and  only  one  swarm,  and 
that  went  back.  No  new  hives  to  build  next 
winter.  We  are  ready  for  a  good  honey  season 
if  the  winter  doesn't  kill  the  bees. 

Platteville,  Wis..  Aug.  1.  E.  France. 

[Your  experience  with  the  black  bees  and 
moth-worms  seems  to  be  at  variance  with  all 
tlie  rest  of  the  Ijee-keeping  world.  We  venture 
to  say,  that,  if  you  had  no  black  bees  at  all.cer- 
tainlV  nothing  nearer  than  hybrids,  you  would 
hardly  know  what  moth-worms  are  in  the  hive. 
When"  we  used  to  have  black  bees  and  Italians 
we  bad  moth-worms:  now  that  we  have  only 
Italians,  the  moths  are  never  seen  in  our  hives. 
Of  course,  if  we  leave  combs  exposed  in  build- 
ings, or  away  from  the  bees,  moth- worms  do 
make  havoc  with  them. 

Regarding  burr-combs,  we  had  an  unprece- 
dentedly  heavy  honey-tlow.  and  no  burr-combs 
on  till' "llofltnan  or  thick  top-bars,  and  this  is 
the  third  season  that  some  of  them  have  been 
in  the  hives.  Our  old  thin  and  narrow  top-bars 
were  liierally  covered  with  burr-combs.] 


■WORLDS    FAIR. 


THOSE    I.ADY    MANA<;KHS:    the    AIMCl'I/riRAI, 
EXUIBIT.S,    ETf. 


Inclosed  find  copy  of  a  letter  I  have  received 
from  the  chairman  of  the  Women's  Hoard  of 
Lady  Managers  on  liee  Culture.  World's  Colum- 
bian. I  wrote  her  to  inqiiii-e  what  their  duties 
would  be,  hopintr  they  were  to  be  more  orna- 
mental tlian  useful.  If  there  is  a  time  for  every 
thing,  why  would,  not  tiiis  lie  a  good  time  for 
bee-keepers  to  kick  ?  What  kind  of  a  show  are 
they  going  to  have  at  Chicago,  any  way '.'  In- 
competent judges  and  "'fne  whisky"  won't 
maive  the  lirst  premium  necessarily  an  article 
of  merit.  I  have  knowledge  of  a  judge  of  sheep, 
as  good  as  tiiere  is  in  the  L".  S.:  imt  he  is  con- 
vivial: after  me(aiiig  the  boys  a  few  times,  and 
being  "glad  to  see  them,"  he  can  not  tell  a 
Cotswold  ram  from  a  billy  goat.  The  Chicago 
committee  can   not  tell  the  difference,  to  com- 


mence with.  If  there  is  any  reason  (of  policy) 
why  we  should  not  bring  this  matter  up,  please 
let  me  hear  from  you.  I  mail  you,  with  this, 
an  Iowa  State  Fair  premium  list,  and  current 
issui»  of  77o»iH'.s7(7(r/.  W.  C.  Fkazieh. 

Atlantic.  la.,  .liily  :.';{. 
[The  following  is  the  letter  referred  to:] 
ir.  C.  Frnzier:—Yo\\v  letter  of  the  25th  of 
June  has  been  received  and  contents  noted.  As 
I  understand  the  relation  of  the  various  com- 
mittees from  the  Board  of  Lady  Managers  to 
exhibitors,  it  is  twofold:  First,  to  endeavor, 
Isefore  the  opening  of  the  exjiosition,  to  awaken 
interest  and  induce  exhibitors  to  make  a  display 
of  their  wares,  works,  arts,  etc.:  and,  second, 
in  connection  witli  the  gentlemen  commission- 
ers, to  pass  judgmcHit  upon  the  relative  merits 
of  competitive  exhibits  during  the  time  th(^ 
exposition  is  opened.  I  can  well  realize  that 
the  bee-keepers  would  prefer  that  only  tliose 
ladies  should  be  upon  the  committi'e  on  "  Bees 
and  Bee  Culture"  who  are  practical  apiarists; 
but  if  you  will  consider  how  the  Board  of  Lady 
Managers  was  formed,  you  will  see  that  it 
would  be  unreasonable  to  expect  them  to  be 
specialists  and  experts.  Mrs.  Palmer,  in  mak- 
ing her  appointments,  was  obliged  to  use  the 
material  she  had.  At  the  same  time.  I  would 
say  that  a  capacity  to  judge  of  results  is  not 
necessarily  allied  to  the  ability  to  create.  The 
"Committee  on  Fine  Arts,"  for  instance,  might 
well  judge  of  the  merits  of  pictures  and  statues 
without  being  able  to  paint  the  one  or  to  chisel 
the  other.  I  do  not  profess  to  be  a  skilled  bee- 
lieeper;  but  to  the  best  of  my  powers  I  am  in- 
forming myself  on  the  subject,  and  hope  to  be 
able  to  do  my  duty  when  the  time  comes.  I 
trust  that  you  will  .send  a  fine  exhibit  to  the 
fair,  and  that  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  meet- 
ing you  there. 

Mrs.  Charles  H.  Olmstead, 
Chairman  of  Committee  on  Bee  Culture 

(Lady  Manager  for  Georgia). 
Savannah,  Ga..  July  1. 

[Both  letters  above  were  forwarded  to  Dr.  A. 
B.  Mason,  who  replies:] 

Friend  Root: — Your  favor,  with  a  letter  from 
W.  C.  Frazier,  of  Atlantic,  Iowa,  and  one  from 
Mrs.  Chas.  H.  Olmstead,  of  Georgia,  inclosed, 
has  been,  received.  I  presume  Mr.  Frazier 
would  not  be  far  from  right  if  he  had  said  the 
duties  of  the  lady  managers  on  bee  culture  for 
the  Columbian  Exposition  would  be  more  orna- 
mental than  useful,  and  still  they  may  be  more 
useful  than  we  imagine.  W^e  all  know  that 
the  ladies  in  our  homes  are  the  ornaments  we 
love,  and  we  find  them  exceedingly  lovable  and 
useful  ornaments  too.  If  these  lady  managers 
at  the  exposition  show  their  good  sense  by  fall- 
ing in  line  with  the  bee-keepers,  and  do  their 
best  to  make  our  exliibit  a  grand  success,  we 
may  well  be  glad  they  are  ladies,  if  not  bee- 
keepers. 

I  have  no  idea  that  the  Board  of  Lady  Man- 
agers, with  the  gentlemen  commissioners,  will 
have  any  thing  to  do  with  passing  judgment  on 
the  relative  merits  of  the  exhibits.  It  is  fair  to 
prtrstime  that  that  will  be  done  by  competent 
judges,  if  not  by  experts. 

Mr.  W'.  I.  Buchanan,  Chief  of  the  Department 
of  Agriculture,  has  this  whole  matter  in  charge. 
By  his  invitation.  Mr.  Thos.  G.  Newman  and 
myself  have  met  him  twice  in  his  of1ic(i  in 
Chicago,  to  confer  in  the  interest  of  tlie  Api- 
arian Exhibit,  and  lie  seems  anxious  to  aid  us 
all  he  can. 

Personallv  I  do  not  like  the  glass  cases  that 
have  been  "illustrated  in  the  bee-journals,  to 
show  in.  I  should  like  to  have  Ohio  have  a 
space  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  square  to  make  her 
honey  display  in,  and  go  to  such  height  as  the 


650 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


committee  in  charge  miglit  desire,  and  make 
one  grand  display  of  sweetness  and  beauty; 
and  don't  you  think  the  lady  managers  would 
say.  "  Oh  my!  isn't  that  sweet"  '? 

But  then.  I  have  to  get  back  from  "  fancy"  to 
facts,  which  are  "stubborn  things."  It  is  not 
the  intention  of  the  Columbian  Commissioners 
to  try  to  show  a  large  quantity  of  any  thing, 
but  to  see  how  much  of  a  variety  of  the  very 
best  quality  of  every  thing  can  be  placed  on 
exhibition  in  the  smallest  space,  quality  and 
beauty,  and  not  quantity,  to  count.  Ohio, 
Michigan.  New  York,  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Cali- 
fornia, or  any  other  State  mkjht  occupy  the 
whole  space  that  is  allotted  to  the  bee-keepers; 
then  where  would  the  other  States  exhibit? 

Knowing  the  design  of  the  Commissioners, 
any  one  can  at  a  glance  see  the  propriety  of 
limiting  every  exhibit  as  to  the  space  it  shall  be 
permitted  to  occupy,  and  the  height  to  which 
it  may  extend. 

Mr.  Frazier  says,  "  If  there  is  a  time  for  every 
thing,  why  would  not  this  be  a  good  time  for 
bee-keepers  to  kick  ?  "  I  believe  there  is  a  time 
for  every  thing,  but  I  don't  believe  the  time  for 
"  bee-keepers  to  kick  "  has  arrived.  I  don't  see 
any  thing  to  "kick  "or  to  "  kick  for."  If  Mr. 
Frazier.  and  all  other  interested  bee-keepers, 
instead  of  waiting  to  find  something  to  kick, 
would  take  a  little  time  in  writing  to  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan just  what  their  views  are,  and  what 
they  would  like  to  have  done,  it  might  give 
him  new  ideas,  and  be  of  material  aid  to  him 
and  our  specialty;  but  to  stand  back  and  find 
fault  and  "kick,"  won't  help  one  bit.  But 
don't,  for  mercy's  sake,  flood  him  with  long- 
winded  letters  that  don't  have  a  good  sound 
suggestion  in  them.  First,  decide  what  you 
want  if  you  know,  and  then  "boil  it  down" 
into  a  few  lines,  if  possible,  and  send  it  to  him 
at  once,  or  as  soon  as  possible. 

I  am  no  more  interested  in  this  matter  than 
any  other  bee-keeper  who  is  desirous  of  doing 
his  or  her  part  toward  making  a  creditable 
exhibit  of  our  product.  I  can  not  speak  author- 
itatively, but  simply  give  my  views  as  any  one 
else  might. 

It  is  expected  that  every  person  furnishing 
honey  or  beeswax  will  have  the  same  labeled, 
in  accordance  with  the  rules  already  published, 
so  that  every  package,  whether  comb  or  extract- 
ed honey,  or  beeswax,  will  show  what  it  is, 
where  it  came  from,  and  who  produced  it.  In 
your  next  issue  I  will  try  and'  say  more  as  to 
what  to  do.  A.  B.  Mason. 

Auburndale,  O.,  Aug.  3. 


FIVE -BANDED  BEES. 


A  criticism;  cajoling  things  by  their 

RIGHT   NAMES. 


I  have  felt  for  a  long  time  as  if  it  were  the 
privilege  of  the  average  bee-keepers  of  this 
country  to  know  something  more  definite  con- 
cerning the  so-called  five-banded  Italian  bees 
that  are  so  much  advertised  at  present.  I  have 
taken  considerable  pains  to  glean  what  infor- 
mation I  could  from  those  who  have  advertised 
them  the  past  two  years;  but  I  consider  the  in- 
formation that  comes  from  practical  honey- 
producers  (which  I  am  constantly  receiving)  of 
the  most  value  to  those  who  are  interested  in 
fancy  bees.  The  first  report  I  ever  had  con- 
cerning them  was  two  years  ago,  from  W.  S. 
VandrufF,  of  Pennsylvania.  He  reported  them 
as  the  poorest  honey -gatherers,  and  bees  that 
would  not  winter  with  any  certainty,  even  in 
Pennsylvania.  This  was  the  first  impression, 
and  the  first  impression  often  goes  a  long  way 


with  many  of  us;  so  it  was  with  me,  and  I  con- 
sidered the  four-banded  bees  (as  then  called)  as 
a  worthless  inbred  strain,  which  I  have  good 
reasons  to  believe  those  that  Mr.  VaudrufI  de- 
scribed to  me  were. 

During  the  season  of  1891  several  parties 
wrote  me  concerning  the  so-called  five-banded 
bees,  wishing  me  to  try  them.  I  at  that  time  had 
resolved  to  make  a  fair  trial  of  them  before 
recommending  them  to  those  inquiring  about 
them.  I  accordingly  sent  to  Jacob  T.  Timpe 
for  a  select  queen.  Aug.  3.  1891;  and  late  in  Oc- 
tober I  received  a  fair-looking  queen  that  he 
promised  would  produce  four  bands  on  "the 
scale  "  as  he  termed  it.  Well,  this  queen  was 
wintered  successfully,  and  this  season  I  care- 
fully compared  them  with  my  other  bees,  which 
were  then  all  common  three-banded  Italians. 
The  colony  was  strong  in  the  spring,  but  did 
not  build  up  as  rapidly  as  did  others:  and,  what 
was  most  noticeabU'.  they  would  cease  flying 
much  earlier  at  night,  and  would  not  be  seen 
flying  at  all  during  cloudy  weather,  when  most 
bees  were  working  freely  on  apple-bloom.  They 
were  as  cross  as  Cyprians,  and  not  a  bee  shows 
any  yellow  on  the  fourth  segment.  I  gave  her 
away,  and  the  party  I  gave  her  to  declare  they 
are  the  poorest  bees  he  ever  saw. 

But  this  is  not  a  fair  representation  of  the 
golden  bees  bred  by  our  best  breeders  of  to-day, 
as  I  have  proved  during  the  past  few  weeks  in 
the  midst  of  a  good  honey-flow  for  this  locality. 
By  a  close  comparison  with  the  best  three- 
banded  Italians  I  can  see  very  little  ditTerence 
in  their  prolificness,  gentleness,  or  as  honey- 
gatherers.  I  feel  sure  that  they  are  equal  to 
any  bees  I  ever  had,  in  this  respect.  But  where 
the  complaint  comes  now  is  mostly  from  those 
who  expect  to  get  bees  from  their  queens  that 
they  get  from  these  five-banded  advertisements, 
that  the  workers  will  show  five  yellow  bands, 
or.  in  other  words,  yellow  on  five  segments; 
and  I  believe,  right  on  this  point,  the  breeders 
have  made  a  mistake  in  calling  them  .5-banded. 
Let  me  explain,  and  then  I  thfnk  all  will  agree 
with  me.  especially  those  who  have  purchased 
queens  and  have  seen  their  progeny. 

Early  in  the  spring  I  sent  to  nearly  every 
breeder  of  five-banded  bees  for  a  sample  of 
bees  from  the  best  queens,  and  at  the  same 
time  I  inquired  for  prices  of  breeding  queens. 
The  answer  was  the  same  in  nearly  every  in- 
stance: "  I  can  not  send  a  queen  that  will  pro- 
duce over  50  per  cent  of  five-banded  bees  like 
sample;"  and  I  wish  to  have  it  distinctly  un- 
derstood, that  not  a  single  bee  that  I  received 
from  the  many  excellent  breeders  showed  a 
particle  of  yellow  below  the  fourth  segment; 
and  several  of  them  wrote  me  that  the  young 
queens  would  not  produce  over  10  to  20  per  cent 
of  five-banded  workers,  the  remainder  three- 
banded.  Now.  I  have  always  suppo.sed  the 
segments  were  the  bands,  as  we  have  been  in 
the  habit  of  calling  our  Italians  three-banded, 
and  surely  a  part  of  three  distinct  segments  on 
the  abdomen  are  yellow.  The  golden  variety 
have  the  segments  solid  yellow,  with  no  black 
stripe  at  the  extremity.  I  have  two  colonies 
whose  drone  progeny  is  yellow  all  over  the  ab- 
domen, including  the  tip;  but  I  might  add  that 
one  of  the  queens  produces  not  a  bee  showing 
over  three  bands.  I  feel  sure  that  there  is  a 
mistake  in  calling  them  five-banded  bees  when 
it  is  difficult— yes,  very  difficult  to  get  a  queen 
that  will  produce  all  her  working  progeny 
showing  yellow  on  the  fourth  segment.  It  is 
almost  certain  we  shall  not  have  bees  yellow  all 
over  like  the  queen,  in  time;  but  I  believe  in 
calling  things  by  their  right  name,  and  think 
it  is  time  this  matter  were  set  right. 

James  Wood. 

North  Prescott,  Mass.,  Aug.  8. 


189"J 


(JIJOAXl  XC.S  IN   1  IKE  CULTURE. 


651 


[Our  oorrt'spondcnt  lias  limii^rlit  up  a  maltci- 
tliat  sorely  iiiM'ds  I'ornH'tion.  We  do  not  tliiiiU 
that  those  who  have  adviTtised  queens  of  the 
five-banded  typ<'  iiHdiit  to  inisi-cprescMit:  hut 
the  wording  of  th(Mf  advertisements  in  sonio 
eases  is  niisleadiufj.  Hees  of  the  live-handed 
sort  are  a  rarity,  and    purchasers  should  not  ex- 

f)ect  the  untestt'd  and  many  of  the  tested  (pieens 
II  the  "live-handed  ads"  to  produce  live  bands. 
Most  of  the  bees,  as  wo  know  from  experience. 
will  be  only  real  yellow  three-banded  bees  with 
a  small  per  cent  of  five-banded  bees  sprinkled 
iti.l 


CUBAN  APIARIES. 


A   STUDY   IN   ETHNOI,OOV. 


Dear  Mr.  Root:— I  have  put  an  elaborate  title 
across  the  head  of  this  sheet,  and  feel  like  writ- 


er climate  and  not  in  the  tropics.  But  to  this  I 
can  testify. 

Now.  the  jioint  I  want  to  make  Is  this:  If  our 
friend  and  Ms  wife  (for  she  had  a  hand  in  it  too, 
who  are  foreii,Miers  in  that  country  can  accom- 
plish so  much  in  spite  of  many  other  duties,  and 
in  spile  of  being  foreigners,  "what  may  we  ex- 
I)(>ct  from  one  born  iti  that  beautiful  island,  and 
free  from  the  cares  of  an  exacting  business?  I 
will  not  attempt  to  answer  this  question,  but 
will  merely  put  one  fact  in  evidence. 

It  was  my  fortune  to  enjoy  the  hospitality  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Law  a  year  ago  last  winter.  This 
was  when  their  apiary  consisted  of  a  single  col- 
ony. While  with  them  they  took  me  on  a  long 
journey  over  the  island  —  a  never-to-he-forgot- 
ten trip.  \Vf)uid  I  could  tell  you  of  the  i)alrns, 
the  ceibas,  and  the  — but  I  am  writing  about 
Cuban  apiaries. 

Well,  we  found  one— a  real  pure-blooded  Cre- 


A    "full-blooded"   CUBAX   Al'IAHY, 


ing  a  monograph  under  it.  But  the  pre.-s  of 
other  matters  warns  me  that  this  must  be  mere- 
ly a  squib.  The  insijiration  to  write  comes  from 
reading  in  (Jlkanings  of  Aug.  1st  a  letter  from 
my  friend  and  college  liiate.  Mr.  B.  W.  Law.  of 
Havana.  Cuba.  In  this  letter  friend  I>aw  tells 
you  how  his  apiary  has  increased  in  eighteen 
months  from  one  colony  to  over  thirty,  and  that 
they  have  produced  724(J  lbs.  of  honey.  He  tells 
you.  also,  that  this  increase  has  taken  place  in 
spite  of  an  absence  of  three  months,  during 
■which  the  bees  received  only  the  attention  of  a 
friend  who  could  see  to  them  only  at  infrequent 
intervals.  He  does  not  tell  jou  what  I  feel 
ought  to  be  said  in  order  that  you  may  under- 
stand the  matter — how  fully  his  own  time  is  oc- 
cupied with  the  demands  of  an  extensive  and 
exacting  business  —  a  business  that  would  wear 
out  a  less  vigorous  man,  even  were  he  in  a  cool- 


ole  apiary — not  a  hybrid.  Yankee  aflfair  such  as 
Mr.  Law  describes  in  his  letter.  It  was  in  an 
orange-grove,  near  a  magnificent  group  of  palm- 
trees.  The  golden  fruit  loaded  the  trees  and 
covered  the  ground.  Saucy  wild  flowers  poked 
their  heads  fairly  into  the  hives;  and  the  hives, 
in  return,  stuck  out  their  white  tongues  of 
comb.  I  will  not  attemjit  to  describe  the  scene. 
Fortunately  we  had  a  camera  with  us,  so  I  can 
send  you  a  picture  of  this  wonderful  apiary. 

J.  H.  COMSTOCK. 

Cornell  University.  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  4. 

[Many  thanks,  friend  C,  for  your  brief  com- 
munication, and  especially  for  your  cut  of  the 
apiary  showing  us  plainly  the  oranges  on  the 
trees,  and  the  flowers  that  do  really  poke  them- 
selves almost  into  the  hives.  What  a  field  for 
enterprise  and  thrift  indeed  I    Now,  when  the 


652 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


inspiration  comes  again,  please  do  not  quench  it 
nor  cut  it  short.  The  locality,  even  in  far-off 
Cuba,  where  such  increase  and  crops  of  honey 
can  be  made  as  you  mention,  can  never  be  unin- 
teresting to  the  readers  of  Gi-eanings.] 


MY  EXPERIENCE  WITH  A  SELF-HIVER. 


DR.    MILI.ER    FEELS     SOMEWHAT     HOPEFIJI.    OF 
THEIR   SUCCESS. 


I  received  from  Henry  Alley  a  "  Perfection  " 
self-hiver,  but  did  not  have  a  chance  to  use  it 
very  early,  for  the  season  was  so  late,  and 
swarming  has  not  been  very  troublesome.  In- 
stead of  putting  it  on  any  hive  at  random,  with 
the  possibility  of  its  remaining  on  all  the  sea- 
son witliout  being  used,  I  concluded  to  wait  till 
I  felt  pretty  sure  a  swarm  would  come  from 
some  particular  hive,  and  then  put  it  where 
there  would  be  a  certain  chance  to  test  it.  July 
18  an  egg  was  found  in  a  queen-cell  in  No.  70.  I 
said,  '•  There's  the  place  for  the  self-hiver."'  So, 
on  it  went.  It  was  a  little  troublesome  to  make 
it  bee-tight,  as  the  cleat  of  the  hive  prevented 
the  hiver  from  fitting  up  tight  to  the  hive.  A 
little  strip  was  nailed  on  at  each  side  to  close 
the  open  space.  Then  I  waited,  and  lifted  the 
cover  every  day  or  two,  only  to  find  the  hiver 
empty,  except  the  trap,  and  in  that,  I  found 
drones.  As  a  trap  for  drones  it  is  a  big  success, 
and  it  is  a  very  easy  matter  to  take  out  the 
trap,  empty  it.  and  put  it  back  again.  About  8 
o'clock  this  morning.  July  28,  Mrs.  Miller  said. 
"I  think  there's  a  swarm  out."  Going  down  I 
found  bees  issuing  from  No.  70,  and  in  a  fcnv 
minutes  they  had  settled  in  two  clusters  on  two 
different  trees.  Turning  my  attention  to  tl.e 
hive  I  saw  the  queen  on  the  ground.  "There, 
now,"  said  I  to  myself.  •'  Emma  will  say  she  is 
more  sure  than  ever  that  no  reliance  can  be 
placed  on  any  excluder  holding  a  queen  if  it 
will  let  workers  through,"  for  she  has  always 
said  to  any  thing  I  miglit  say  about  a  queen- 
excluder.  "I/it  will  exclude."  And  then  I'd 
reply,  "It  is  hardly  wise  to  ignore  the  experi- 
ence of  otliers;  and  while  ive  have  been  so  un- 
fortunate as  not  to  be  very  sure  that  any  queen 
has  ever  been  prevented  fi'om  going  through  an 
excluder  when  she  really  tried  to.  others  say 
that  excluders  do  work;  and  we  can  hardly  put 
our  little  experience  against  that  of  a  good 
many  others."'  But  then  I  would  get  the  wo- 
manlike reply.  "I  don't  care  for  the  experience 
of  others  if  I've  had  experience  enough  of  my 
own;  and  you  know  very  well  that  oar  queens 
have  gone  through,  even  when  using  the  latest 
and  best  excluders.  When  I've  seen  the  queens 
go  through  with  my  own  eyes,  I  don't  need  the 
evidence  of  others  that  they  can't  go  through."' 
To  this  I  could  only  reply  that  the  cases  slie  had 
seen  were  not  with  the  latest  excluders,  and 
there  was  some  chance  for  mistake  in  the  mat- 
ter so  long  as  she  had  not  actually  seen  the 
queens  go  through  the  proper  perforations.  But 
in  this  case,  if  the  queen  went  through  I  could 
hardly  say  any  thing  in  defense. 

Looking  closely,  while  the  bees  were  still  is- 
suing. I  saw  some  of  them  coming  out  at  the 
side,  between  the  hive  and  hiver.  Stooping 
down  I  could  see  tliat  I  iiad  not  put  my  strip 
quite  low  enough,  but  ha<l  left  a  little  crack 
which  had  been  gnawwd  larger  by  the  bees. 
Through  this  the  queen  had  undoubtedly  come, 
as  she  was  on  that  side,  and  not  far  from  the 
opening  when  I  found  her.  I^ifting  tlie  cover  I 
dropped  the  queen  into  the  hiver  to  give  her  a 
second  chance.  Then  I  watched  closely  to  see 
whether  she  came  out  again  through  the  same 
crack,  for  tliere  were  still  a  good  many  bees 
coming  through  it.    Pretty  soon  the  procession 


ceased,  as  the  swarm  was  all  out.  Then  I  want- 
ed to  find  out  whether  the  queen  had  gone  into 
the  trap  or  had  gone  back  into  the  hive.  I 
thought  I  might  be  able  to  see  her  in  the  trap 
by  looking  through  the  front,  if  she  were  there. 
I  could  .see  plenty  of  drone  heads  trying  to  get 
through,  but  notliing  that  looked  like  the  head 
of  a  queen.  To  make  sure.  I  took  out  the  trap, 
opened  the  tin  slide  at  the  end,  and  watched 
eagerly  to  see  the  queen  come  out.  Drones 
came  one  after  the  other,  but  no  queen.  At 
last,  as  I  was  just  concluding  all  had  emerged, 
out  came  the  queen. 

I  put  her  back  into  the  trap,  p.ut  the  trap  in 
its  place,  and  then  went  for  a  hammer.  I 
pulled  off  the  strip,  nailed  it  on  just  a  little 
lower  down,  and  then  awaited  the  return  of  the 
swarm.  They  had  very  kindly  consented  to 
wait  long  enough  for  me  to  make  any  necessary 
repairs,  and  were  out  in  all  about  a  quaiterof 
an  hour.  At  last  they  came  back,  just  as  I 
have  seen  them  come  many  a  time  when  there 
was  no  hiver  in  the  case  —  first  a  few  anxiously 
inquiring  bees,  then  a  sprinkle,  then  a  full 
shower'.  No  other  swarms  were  out,  so  there 
was  no  chance  for  unpleasant  complications  by 
the  mixing  of  two  swarms.  Some  time  after 
they  had  had  time  to  get  settled  I  went  down 
to  see  how  many  bees  were  in  the  hiver.  A 
goodly  cluster  was  there,  but  there  didn't  seem 
nearly  so  many  as  had  been  hanging  on  the 
trees  —  I  should  hardly  think  more  than  half  as 
many.  Still,  there  were  enough  for  a  good- 
sized  swarm;  and  if  as  many  would  always  be 
found  there  I'd  call  it  a  success,  for  it  will  be  an 
easy  matter  to  add  to  the  swarm  as  many  as  de- 
sired from  the  old  hive.  I  think  I  shall  leave 
them  in  the  hiver  foi'  two  or  three  days,  to  see 
what  the  outcome  will  be;  for  if  it  is  to  be  a 
practical  thing  with  those  who  have  out-apia- 
ries, there  will  be  times  when  a  swarm  will  be 
left  to  its  own  resources  for  two  or  three  days. 
I  should  hardly  want  to  be  obliged  to  go  the 
rounds  of  the  apiaries  every  day. 

I  have  not  felt  very  enthusiastic  over  the  mat- 
ter of  self-hivers,  but  I  am  inclined  to  believe 
they  have  come  to  stay.  The  little  experience 
I  have  had  in  this  one  case  shows  me  that  great 
care  is  necessary  in  making  perfect  connection 
between  th(>  hive  and  the  hiver,  so  that  no  bee 
be  allowed  to  get  out  between.  And  I  suspect 
it  may  be  well  to  fasten  the  hive  and  hiver  to- 
gether with  nails  or  sciews,  so  there  may  be  no 
possibility  of  their  getting  accidentally  pushed 
apart  or  slowly  drawn  apart  by  alternate  swell- 
ing and  shi'inking  of  the  wood. 

July  29,  11: 30  a.  m.— I  have  just  been  down  to 
interview  the  colony  with  the  self-hiver.  We 
had  a  heavy  rain  last  night,  and  the  thermome- 
ter took  a  sudden  drop  from  the  place  it  has 
been  holding  the  past  few  days  among  the  nine- 
ties, and  stood  this  morning  at  .58°.  "VVas  there 
any  danger  that  the  queen  would  be  deserted 
and  chilled  in  the  trap?  Of  course,  it's  a  rare 
thing  to  have  the  thermometer  at  .58°  during 
swarming  time  ;  but  then,  it  might  happen 
again  any  lime.  I  looked  through  the  front  in 
the  trap,  and  could  see  not  more  than  eight  or 
ten  bees,  but  could  see  no  queen.  vStill.  it's  not 
easy  to  see  through  the  excluder  zinc,  and  she 
might  be  there  witliout  my  seeing  her.  I  lifted 
oft'  the  board  cover.  The  cluster  was  still  there, 
but  shrunk  in  size.  The  difference  in  tempera- 
ture would  shrink  it  without  there  being  any 
fewi^r  bees  in  it. 

Then  I  took  out  the  ti'ap  to  make  sure  whetii- 
er  the  queen  was  there.  I  opened  the  tin  slide 
and  watched  carefully  all  bees  that  came  out — 
on(^  drone,  a  vei'y  few  workers  but  no  queen.  I 
looked  carefully  to  see  if  any  thing  more  was 
left  in  the  trap,  dead  or  alive.  No.  there  was 
certainly  no  queen  there. 


1892 


(;lioanin(;s  in  hkh  cui.turk. 


fi53 


!  put  till'  liap  hiu'k  in  iis  pliu-<'.  lifti-il  olT  the 
board rovt-r  from  tlu'  liivcr.  then  liftcii  Ihcwirc- 
clotli  I'oviT  oarcfulh  .  ami  with  it  all  I  lie  t'lustcr 
of  bcos  I'M-cpt  w  hill  well'  on  the  comb.  Then  1 
lifttHl  out  llif  comb  (they  liad  built  no  comb. but 
I  had  put  in  a  frame  at  tlic  front  of  tlic  iiivcr! 
and  immediately  found  the  (inecn  on  it.  looking 
smaller.  I  liiink".  tlian  she  did  yestefday.  She 
was  puuing  Iter  head  into  one  cell  aftef  anoth- 
er, as  if  looking  for  u  cell  in  which  to  lay.  It 
seemed  not  easy  to  find  one  to  her  mind  (they 
were  mostly  drone-celis).  but  tinally  siie  laid  in 
one.  I  left  her  oti  the  comb,  and  put  things 
back  as  they  were. 

How  did  she  get  out  of  tlie  trap?  for  I  aiu  pos- 
itive I  left  her  in  it  yesterday.  Emma  thinks 
she  got  through  the  excluder  /.inc.  but  I  hardly 
believe  it.  If  she  could  get  back  through  the 
zinc,  why  didn't  she  get  out  through  it  yester- 
day, when  she  was  ti-ying  so  hard  to  leave  the 
hiv(>?  True,  she  looks  smaller  than  she  did 
then,  but  her  thorax  is  probai)ly  the  same;  and 
until  I  have  good  proof  to  the  contrary  I  shall 
continue  to  believe  that  it  is  tlie  thorax  and  not 
the  abdomen  that  stops  h<>r  from  going  tlirough 
the  zinc.  1  think  it  more  likely  she  got  out  of 
the  trap  in  the  same  way  she  got  in  — through 
one  of  the  cones.  Is  that  likily  to  happen  oft- 
en? Hut  if  the  queen  does  not  go  back  into  the 
hive,  but  stays  in  front  with  the  cluster,  isn't  it 
better  that  she  should  get  out  of  the  trap'.'  If 
she  would  stay  out  wiili  the  cluster  of  her  own 
accord  in  the  first  place,  would  it  not  be  better 
to  have  no  trap  or  any  thing  else  to  prevent  her 
going  back  ? 

I'd  like  to  see  the  experiment  tried,  of  having 
a  hive  placed  in  front  with  free  communication 
betweeti.  and  only  a  strip  of  perforated  zinc  in 
front  of  the  fronthive.  C.  C.  Mii.i.er. 

Marengo,  III.,  .July  29. 

[If  you  had  tried  the  Pratt  plan  there  would 
have  been  no  leak  holes  from  which  the  queen 
could  escape.  We  presume  it's  too  late  for  you 
to  try  it  this  year;  but  next  spring,  if  you  will 
remind  us.  we  will  send  you  a  few  of  the  Pratt 
swarming  escape-boards,  and  then  all  you  will 
have  to  do  will  be  to  put  the  parent  colony  into 
an  upper  story  or  super  above  the  board,  leaving 
the  lower  story  filled  with  combs  for  the  recep- 
tion of  the  swarm.  Of  course,  an  entrance- 
guard  should  be  attached.  Alley's  arrangement 
is  too  expensive.  Instead  of  going  to  the  ex- 
pense of  an  extra  box.  an  ordinary  super  or  up- 
per story  shotild  he  used  in  connection  with  an 
escape-board.  The  latter  can  be  furnished  at  a 
small  expense.  The  Alley  l)ox  is  not  easy  to  at- 
tach to  all  hives  so  as  to  he  bee  and  queen  ijroof 
in  its  connections;  but  a  super,  such  as  is  being 
used  in  the  apiary,  being  made  for  the  hives, 
will  fit  as  a  matter  of  course.] 


•WORMS  IN  COMB  HONEY. 


now    DOOI.ITTLE   DESTHOY.S   THE.M. 


Whr'U  honey  is  stored  in  a  warm  room,  as  it 
always  should  Ije.  there  is  a  difliciilty  which 
arises,  which,  if  not  headed  off.  often  results  in 
quite  a  .serious  los-;.  Tliis  difficulty  comes  in 
the  shape  of  the  larva  of  the  wax-moth.  I 
have  yet  to  .^ee  the  pile  of  l'(KK)  pounds  of  comb 
iioney  which  does  not  have  more  or  less  of  these 
worms  or  larv;e  upon  it,  after  it  has  been  stored 
in  a  warm  room  for  two  or  thre(>  weeks,  al- 
though, as  our  bees  b<>come  more  and  more 
Italian,  we  see  less  and  less  of  their  work.  Aft- 
er the  honey  has  been  away  from  the  bees  about 
ten  days,  if  we  inspect  the  cappings  of  the  hon- 
ey closely,  we  shall  detect  little  places  of  white 
dust  resembling  fiour  upon  the  surfaceof  the 


combs,  and  usually  the  most  almndant  near 
the  bottom  of  the  comb.  Now.  although  this 
place  may  not  l)e  larger  than  the  eyi'  of  a 
tine  needle,  still  it  tells  us  for  certain  that  a 
tiny  worm  of  tiie  wax- moth  is  there,  and  that, 
unless  it  is  destroyed,  it  will  d(^stroy  more  or 
less  of  till'  iHce  whiU'  cappings  which  incase  our 
honey. 

While  in  different  cities  a  numl)er  of  years 
ago,  looking  after  the  honey  market,  I  saw 
boxes  of  honey  which  had  worms  in  them  as 
large  around  as  a  slate-pencil,  and  an  inch  or 
more  long:  and  although  they  hail  nearly  de- 
nuded the  honey  of  the  nice  white  cappings  to 
the  cells,  still  I  could  not  make  some  of  the 
grocerymen  believe  that  the  worms  lived  on 
the  wax,  they  calling  them  "honey-worms." 
Such  a  spectacle  soon  disgusts  customers,  and 
injures  the  sale  of  comb  honey  very  much.  If. 
after  several  examinations,  you  fail  to  find  such 
little,  white,  tlourlike  places,  you  need  be 
thankful.  If  vou  should  find  these,  the  next 
thing  is  to  sulphur  your  honey,  as  this  is  the 
only  known  remedy  for  these  pests  except  pick- 
ing' the  worms  ofT  by  hand,  which  is  too  slow 
where  there  are  many  of  them.  To  sulidiur, 
I  procure  an  old  kettle  and  put  some  ashes  in 
the  bottom  of  it  so  there  will  be  no  danger  of 
fire  resulting  from  the  heat  from  the  coals 
which  are  to  be  placed  therein.  When  I  have 
the  kettle  thus  prepared  I  take  it  to  the  honey- 
room  and  pour  sulphur,  which  has  been  pre- 
viously w'eighed,  on  the  coals,  to  the  amount  of 
4  oz.  to  every  7;")  culMc  feet  contained  in  the 
room,  when  the  kettle  is  quickly  pushed  under 
the  pile  of  honey  (it  having  been  piled  a  little 
oflf  the  floor  for  this  purpose),  and  the  room 
closed.  You  will  have  to  be  spry  or  you  will 
take  some  of  the  fumes  thereof  yourself,  which 
is  not  very  pleasant.  I  assure  you.  I  now  go 
and  look  in  at  the  windows  (two  of  which 
should  be  provided  for  ventilation  in  any  honey- 
room),  to  which  the  few  flies  which  chance  to 
be  in  the  room  will  come,  hoping  to  escape 
their  doom.  As  soon  as  I  see  that  the  last  fly 
is  lifeless  I  talie  out  my  watch,  and,  after  the 
lapse  of  five  minutes,  I  open  the  windows  so  as 
to  carry  out  the  smoke  as  soon  as  possible,  for, 
if  allowed  to  settle  on  the  combs,  it  will  give 
them  a  greenish  color,  which  will  be  a  damage 
to  the  sale  of  it.  This  same  thing  will  aNo  be 
likely  to  occur  if  much  more  sulphur  is  burned 
than  the  amount  given  above.  It  seems  to  be  a 
very  nice  point  to  have  this  matter  just  right; 
for  if  too  much  is  used  the  combs  are  sure  to  be 
turned  green;  while  if  too  little  is  used  the 
worms  will  not  be  killed.  The  above  amount 
has  been  arrived  at  after  years  of  trial  and  ex- 
perience. If  more  honey  is  lironght  into  the 
room  after  the  first  has  been  sulphured,  this  is 
also  watched:  and  when  the  marks  of  worms 
are  seen  on  these,  the  same  operation  is  repeat- 
ed again,  and  so  on  till  we  are  sure  the  honey 
leaves  our  hands  without  danger  of  these  pests 
making  an  appearance  after  it  has  been  placed 
upon  the  market.  All  sections  having  cells  of 
pollen  in  should  be  stored  by  themselves,  as 
such  combs  are  almost  sure  to  be  infested  with 
worms,  where  there  is  any  trouble  in  this  re- 
spect. 

While  on  this  subject  it  might  not  be  amiss 
to  say  that  we  are  not  troubled  nearly  as  much 
with  these  worms  at  the  present  time  as  we 
formerly  were;  and  the  reason  for  this  I  at- 
tribute to  the  greater  intelligence  of  our  apia- 
rists along  the  line  of  not  leaving  comlise.x- 
posed  after  the  bees  are  off  them  so  as  to  breed 
these  pests,  as  was  formerly  done  by  our  fore- 
fathers. Still  more  care  in  the  years  to  come 
will  certainly  largely  free  our  apiarists  of  this 
moth  difficulty.  Hives  of  comb  left  standing  in 
the  apiary  after  the  bees  have  died  from  them. 


654 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


as  they  nearlj'  aiwaj'S  used  to  be.  will  give 
moths  by  the  thousand,  to  be  a  nuisance  in 
years  to  come.  Care,  by  all,  in  this  matter  will 
soon  bring  us  to  where  no  sulphur  will  need  be 
used.  Vr.  M.  DooiJTTLE. 

Borodino,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  15. 

[In  our  locality,  moth-worms  in  comb  honey 
have,  of  late  years,  been  so  rare  that  we  have 
ceased  giving  any  attention  to  the  matter  what- 
ever—that  is,  we  have  not  done  any  brimston- 
ing  for  years  back;  and  although  we  do  not 
produce  much  comb  honey,  we  buy  quite  a 
little.  Wherever  these  worms  do  make  their 
appearance,  however,  the  matter  should  by  no 
means  be  neglected;  and  the  directions  given 
above  by  friend  Doolittle  are,  in  my  estimation, 
as  brief  and  as  much  to  the  point  as  any  thing 
that  has  ever  been  written  upon  the  subiect.] 

A.  I'.  R. 


ITALIANS  AS  HONEY-GATHERERS  IN  CAL- 
IFORNIA. 


AN   EXPERIENCE   IN   GETTING    QUEENS    FROM 
THE   EAST. 


In  an  editorial  in  Gleanings  of  July  15  you 
ask  that  each  bee-keeper  send  in  a  report  of  his 
season's  honey  crop.  As  the  fraternity  gener- 
ally do  not  like  to  make  reports  unless  they 
can  make  good  ones.  I  do  not  think  you  will 
hear  from  the  individuals  of  this  district  this 
season,  so  I  will  report  not  only  for  myself  but 
for  all  of  us.  Probably  I  had  better  begin  by 
telling  of  M'hat  we  have  done  in  the  past,  so  by 
comparison  can  be  seen  what  a  very  poor  season 
this  has  been. 

From  the  country  contiguous  to  Newhall, 
two  years  ago  there  was  produced  some  300  tons 
of  honey,  or  30  carloads,  mostly  extracted.  This 
year,  from  the  same  country,  tliei'e  has  not  been 
produced  one  carload.  I  can  hear  of  but  37 
cases,  a  little  more  than  two  tons.  Of  course, 
this  small  quantity  has  all  been  taken  from 
two  or  three  apiaries,  the  most  of  the  bee-men 
not  having  extracted  an  ounce.  My  own  aver- 
age has  been  about  9  lbs.  to  the  hive  in  an 
apiary  of  235  colonies. 

ITALIANS   AHEAD. 

The  superiority  of  the  Italian  bee  has  been 
very  forcibly  demonstrated  to  me  this  season. 
All  such  of  my  stocks  gave  a  surplus,  while 
many  of  my  hives  with  black  bees  have  not 
gathered  enough  for  their  own  use.  There  are 
very  few  Italian  apiaries  in  this  section,  and  I 
believe  the  difficulty  of  getting  queens  to  breed 
from  is  the  principal  cause.  This  statement 
may  seem  absurd  when  we  think  of  the  great 
number  of  queen-breeders;  but  I  will  give  my 
experience  in  procuring  queens  from  the  east, 
and  then  I  think  you  will  admit  there  is  some 
truth  in  it.  To  begin  with,  the  honey  season 
here  is  generally  over  before  you  eastern  queen- 
breeders  have  young  (jueens  for  sale,  and  the 
bee  man  is  then  often  away  from  his  ai)iary. 
engaged  in  other  work.  If  he  should  then  send 
for  queens,  the  chances  are  they  will  die  in  the 
postoffice  before  he  gets  them.  Our  California 
queen-breeders  are  all  so  surrounded  with  dung- 
hill bees  that  the  possibilities  of  getting  one 
worthy  of  being  the  mother  of  an  apiary  are 
small  indeed.  I  have  never  sent  .'outh,  because 
the  only  bee-keeper  1  know  there,  even  by  rep- 
utation, Mr.  P.  L.  Viallon.  advertises  no  more, 
so  I  take  it  he  has  quit  the  business. 

In  the  last  two  years  I  have  sent  east  for  20 
queens,  some  of  them  for  a  neighbor.  One.  a 
"tested"  one  from  a  breeder  in  Michigan, 
proved  to  be  a  hybrid ;  anothei-,  from  the  "  Home 
of  the  Honey-bees,"  I  lost  in  introducing.  A 
man  in   Massachusetts  still   has   the  75  cents 


sent  him  two  years  ago,  but  I  have  never  seen 
a  queen  from  him,  dead  or  alive.  To  Michigan 
again  I  sent  for  13  queens;  and  if  the  miles  cov- 
ered by  myself  and  a  neighbor  in  trotting  back 
and  forth  from  our  apiaries  to  the  postoffice  (33 
miles  round  trip)  were  all  added  together  it 
would  make  a  distance  almost  as  great  as  from 
California  to  Michigan.  After  two  months  of 
this  kind  of  fun,  a  letter  of  inquiry  was  sent; 
and  in  answer  we  found  out  that  the  man  had 
been  down  with  rheumatism,  and  his  wife  run- 
ning the  business,  or  not  running  it,  whichever 
you  like.  It  was  then  too  late  in  the  season  to 
get  the  queens,  so  the  money  was  returned. 

Four  more  queens  have  arrived  dead;  and 
although  the  cages  with  the  dead  queens  were 
returned,  the  senders  do  not  think  the  respon- 
sibility rests  with  them — at  least,  they  sent  no 
more.  Two  of  those  arriving  dead  I  sent  for  to 
J.  A.  Green,  of  Dayton,  III.,  this  summer.  The 
weather  being  cold  in  Illinois,  he  put  up  the 
bees  to  suit  that  climate;  and,  their  wire-cloth 
tops  being  covered,  they  both  promptly  suffo- 
cated on  reaching  this  Stale,  where  the  ther- 
mometer was  over  a  hundred. 

In  spite  of  such  vexations  I  would  advise 
every  California  bee  luan,  and  their  name  is 
legion,  whose  bees  are  not  good  Italians,  to  send 
to  some  responsible  breeder  (A.  I.  Root,  for  in- 
stance) and  get  an  Italian  queen.  It  is  better 
to  get  as  many  as  half  a  dozen;  then  by  feeding 
the  hives  containing  them  as  soon  as  brood- 
rearing  commences  the  following  spring,  get 
early  swartns  and  the  choicest  of  queen-cells. 
I  have  tried  the  Alley,  the  Doolittle.  and  most 
other  ways  of  getting  queen-cells;  but  none 
suit  me  so  well  as  those  from  natural  swarm- 
ing. If  there  is  but  one  queen  to  breed  from,  or 
one  extra  tine  one  from  which  it  is  desired  to 
raise  a  great  number  of  queens,  hives  with  any 
kind  of  scrub  bees  can  be  encouraged  to  swarm; 
then  with  a  toothpick  lift  the  scrub  maggots 
from  the  queen  -  cells,  replacing  them  with 
blooded  ones,  the  progeny  of  your  best  queen. 
The  maggots  with  wliich  you  replace  the 
scrubs  should  be  the  smallest  you  can  get. 

If  living  a  great  distance  from  a  postoffice.  so 
that  you  can  not  visit  it  every  day  or  two.  ex- 
plain \he  matter  to  the  breeder,  and  state  that, 
on  a  certain  day,  say  15  days  from  the  date  of 
your  letter,  you  will  be  at  the  postoffice.  The 
breeder  can  then  figure  out  how  long  it  will 
take  the  queen  to  make  the  trip,  and  ship  her 
so  that  she  will  arrive,  say,  just  the  day  before 
you  are  to  be  there.  If  any  thing  prevents  his 
shipping  the  queen  he  can  have  a  letter  await- 
ing you,  stating  what  day  he  can  put  a  queen 
at  your  postoffice  for  you.  Whatever  you  do. 
do  not  buy  queens  because  of  the  beauty  of 
theii-  bees.  I  have  never  owned  a  leather- 
colored  swarm  of  Italians  that  were  not  good 
workers;  and  I  have  never  owned  a  straw- 
colored  swarm  that  were.  These  "yellow-to- 
the  tip."  "  tive-banded,"  etc..  iiiay  be  good,  but 
those  from  imported  mothers  wehnoic  are  good. 

Last  year  I  gave  a  neighbor  the  privilege  of 
selecting  ten  queens  from  my  apiary  in  exchange 
for  one  of  these  queens  producing  "  yellow-to- 
the-tip"  bees,  which  he  had  procured  from  a 
prominent  eastern  breeder.  This  spring  these 
yellow,  etc.,  beauties  were  afflicted  with  the 
"nameless  disease,"  or  trembles;  and  seeing 
that  the  colony  was  destined  to  die  unless  they 
were  given  a  Ijetter  queen,  I  killed  the  old  one, 
and  from  the  resulting  que(>n  cells  reared  three 
nice-looking  queens.  After  they  had  been  lay- 
ing a  few  weeks  I  had  occasion  to  examine 
their  hives,  and  found  two  were  dead  and  the 
third  was  a  feeble  thing  not  worth  having. 

As  I  write,  the  mercury  in  the  thermometer 
hanging  on  the  wall  of  my  adobe  registers  an 
even  100°  F.    In  a  wooden  cabin,  such  as  most 


1802 


(JI.EANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


W5 


of  tlii>  bfoiiiiMi  iiilKihit,  it.  WDiilii  he  from  ten  to 
fourteen  di'jiii'fS  lioltcf.  In  such  wcutlicr  ;is 
this,  liivi's  not  looUtni  aftor  tuv  li:il)l<>  to  melt 
down,  or  at  least  thi'ir  combs  arc.  Tlic  best 
insurance  aiiainst  tliis  catastroph(MS  plenty  of 
shade:  Itut  hives  |)ainted  white,  and  given 
plenty  of  ventilation,  will  generally  pull 
tlirough.  Single-story  hives  arc  almost  certain 
to  melt  down,  while  one  with  three  stories  will 
stand  all  the  heat  tliat  comes,  even  when  not 
protected.  Tiie  apiaries  here  being  run  almost 
exclusively  for  extracted  honey,  the  hives  gen- 
erally are  of  two  stories.  At  l!liis  season,  leav- 
ing the  extra  story  on  is  good;  but  most  of  the 
bee-men  leave  it  on  also  all  winter,  and  that  I 
think  is  bad.  This  is  the  land  of  the  orange 
and  lemon:  but  for  all  that  it  is  coUi  enough 
liere  to  mal«'  bees  suffer  tliat  are  left  ail  winter 
in  great  two-story  hives,  all  warped  and  crack- 
ed as  most  of  them  arc.  and  letting  escape  the 
warmth  generated  by  the  bees  within.  In  such 
hives,  bees  consutne  two  or  tliree  times  as  much 
honey  as  they  would  in  a  single-story  one  fixed 
up  snug,  as  "the  bees  have  to  consume  large 
quantities  of  honey  in  order  to  generate  a  suf- 
ficiency of  heat.  It  is  this  great  consumption 
of  honey  necessitated  by  cold  hives  which  oc- 
casions so  much  loss  of  bees  from  starvation  in 
California  apiaries  every  year.  With  the  let-up 
in  summer's  heat  is  the  time  to  take  off  supers. 
Moths  will  not  bother  the  extra  combs  until 
the  following  spring,  at  which  time  they  should 
be  replaced  on  the  hives.  With  hives  where 
upper  and  lower  stories  are  interchangeable,  a 
good  way  is  to  leave  the  two  stories  on  the 
hives;  but  place  the  brood-nest  above,  as  heat 
ascends.  If  there  is  no  upward  ventilation  the 
brood-nest  will  be  kept  as  warm  as  though  in  a 
single-story  hive;  and  the  super  underneath 
will  act  as  a  deterrent  of  swarming  the  follow- 
ing spring— something  which  is  appreciated  by 
those  of  us  who  prefer  to  make  our  increase 
by  dividing.  If  you  want  swarms,  confine  your 
bees  to  one  story  and  you  will  get  them  in  abun- 
dance if  the  season  is  good. 

SKUNKS. 

Now  is  the  time  to  make  war  upon  skunks. 
After  three  or  four  months  of  hot  rainless 
weather  the  ground  gets  so  hard  that  these 
odious  and  odorous  little  animals  can  not 
scratch  it  up  to  get  the  choice  tid-bits  in  the 
shape  of  bugs  and  grubs  off  which  they  com- 
monly live;  consequently  they  congregate 
around  the  apiaries  and  consume  enormous 
quantities  of  bees.  I  have  seen  their  dung  in 
my  apiary,  and  it  was  composed  entirely  of 
bees.  I  should  say  one  skunk  would  eat  several 
hundred  in  a  night.  A  neighboring  bee-keeper, 
Mr.  (1.  M.  (iardiner,  who  has  had  considerable 
•  experience  in  poisoning  them,  do(!S  so  by  the 
following  method:  In  front  of  each  hive  tliat  is 
being  bothered,  and  this  can  be  told  by  the* 
scratches,  bury,  a  few  inches  d(!ep.  a  small 
piece  (inch  stjuarei  of  comb  honey  with  which 
strychnine  has  Ix-en  mixed.  The  skunk  will 
dig"  it  out.  eat  it,  and  give  up  the  ghost.  A  few 
seasons  ago  Mr.  C.ardiner  by  this  method  killed 
some  thirty  in  one  apiary  that  h('  found;  there 
were  probably  more  wliose  dead  bodies  he  did 
not  find.  I  rid  my  apiary  of  them  last  season 
by  trapping  eight.  This  method  entails  shoot- 
ing them,  and  a  most  sickening  job  afterward 
when  taking  from  the  grasp  of  the  trap.  Some 
one  has  told  me  that  a  ^kunk  held  up  by  the 
tail  is  not  dangerous.  I  can  not  vouch  for  the 
truth  of  it;  but  I  do  know  that  I  do  not  want 
to  be  the  one  to  try  to  get  him  in  that  predica- 
ment. 1  think  that  tail  story  is  about  on  a  par 
with  that  of  catching  birds  by  putting  salt  on 
their  tails.  \Vm.  G.  Hewes. 

Newhall,  Cal.,  Aug.  3. 


GETTING  COMB  HONEY  AND  EXTRACTED 
HONEY 


FItOM   TIIE   SAME    HIVE    AT  THE    SAME   TIME. 


Friend  Rt tot: — Since  I  wrote;  you  on  .June  38, 
lamenting  the  wet  weather  and  non-yii^iding  of 
the  white  clover,  a  change  of  a  more  satisfac- 
tory character  has  taken  place.  The  w(;ather 
shortly  after  became  as  dry  as  it  liad  previously 
bcHMi  wet;  clover,  basswood,  and  thisth;  all 
yielded  up  their  sweets,  and  numy  a  b(!(>-man's 
heart  has  revived  as  his  barrels  and  tins  have 
been  called  into  use.  In  this  neighborhood  we 
have  got  almost  our  usual  cro|).  which,  however, 
fi-om  the  nature  of  the  locality  is  nciver  very 
large— 40  to  .W  lbs.  per  colony;  but  I  hear  of 
good  crops  being  obtained  elsewhere — in  one 
instance  about  SOOO  lbs.  from  .52  hives,  and  in 
another  about  100  lbs.  per  colony  from  about  80 
hives. 

Thunderstorms,  with  soaking  rains,  have 
been  frequent  for  the  past  fortnight,  and  the 
white  clover  is  freshened  up  again,  and  yield- 
ing quite  a  little,  though  not  enough  to  amount 
to  surplus.  Good  buckwheat  and  fall-flower 
sections  will  probably  yield  well  for  the  next 
six  or  seven  weeks. 

I  have  this  season  been  trying  a  plan  sug- 
gested to  me  by  Mr.  McEvoy,  our  foul-brood 
inspector,  for  getting  comb  and  extracted  honey 
from  the  same  hive,  and  have  been  so  far  pleas- 
ed with  the  results,  as  I  would  in  some  in- 
stances obtain  as  much  comb  honey  from  an 
extracting  hive  as  I  would  from  one  run  for 
comb  honey  alone,  and  would  have  a  consider- 
ble  quantity  of  extracted  honey  besides,  and 
finally  leave  enough  in  the  hive  for  wintering. 

The  hive  I  run  is  a  twelve-frame  one,  taking 
what  is  known  as  the  Jones  Combination  frame. 
The  frame  is  12%  wide  by  IQi.,  deep.  I  use  a 
section  33^x4)^x1)^,  of  which  nine  fill  up  a  wide 
frame.  At  the  commencement  of  the  season, 
three  or  four  of  these,  with  sections  duly  filled 
with  foundation,  are  intermixed  with  the  oth- 
er combs  in  the  top  story;  and  as  the  other 
combs  are  filled  up,  the  foundation  in  these  is 
being  drawn  out,  and  the  sections  are  gradually 
going  on  toward  completion.  As  one  goes  on 
the  rounds  extracting  he  notes  the  progress  be- 
ing made;  and  as  they  advance  toward  the 
proper  depth  of  cell  he  removes  the  intervening 
combs  and  crowds  all  the  wide  frames  together. 
They  can  be  pushed  up  to  one  end  or  side  of  the 
hive,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  a  division-board 
or  nice  straightly  shaved  extracting  comb  be 
placed  ijehind  them,  or,  as  I  have  been  doing, 
leave  them  over  the  middle  of  the  brood-nest 
with  a  straightly  shaved  comb  on  either  side  of 
them.  When  they  are  all  sealed  up— and  tiiere 
is  no  outside  row  of  unsealed  sections,  such  as 
you  have  on  the  crate  system— the  frame  is 
removed,  the  bees  brushed  off,  and  I  have  a 
nice  lot  of  comb  honey  in  a  very  convenient 
form. 

The  sections  taken  in  this  way  are  not  nearly 
so  much  trouble  to  scrape  off,  as  the  bees  can't 
get  any  chance  to  place  propolis,  except  just 
about  the  edges. 

The  sections  I  liave  used  are  slotted  all 
round,  and  the  small  size  as  above;  but  if  it 
were  not  so  that  this  size  suits  our  trade  here 
better.  I  should  prefer  to  have  six  sections  to 
the  frame  instead  of  nine,  and  have  them  slot- 
ted top  and  bottom  only.  The  bees  work  more 
willingly  and  to  better  advantage  on  the  large 
section  than  on  the  small,  as  I  have  satisfied 
myself  by  experiment,  and  the  neighboring 
combs  are  left  with  a  more  natural  surface. 
With  the  small  sections,  the  surface  of  the 
flanking  combs  is  left  uneven,  an  outline  cor- 
responding with  the  form  of  the  sections  oppo- 


656 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


site  being  indented  upon  it.  thus  malving  them 
need  a  little  extra  care  in  uncapping;  with  the 
larger  section,  slotted  top  and  bottom  only, 
there  is  very  little  impression  on  the  corres- 
ponding comb.  R.  W.  McDonnell. 
Gait,  Ont.,  Aug.  15. 


SHIPPING  AND  INTRODUCING  VIRGIN 
QUEENS. 


"  ONE   SWALLOW   DOESN'T   MAKE   SPRING  ;  "   DR. 
miller's  EXPERIENCE. 


July  12,  John  Hewitt,  "'  A  Hallamshire  Bee- 
keeper," sent  me  by  mail  two  virgin  Punic 
queens  from  England.  Tliey  were  six  days  old 
when  mailed,  and  were  ten  days  on  the  way, 
making  them  sixteen  days  old  at  the  time  I  re- 
ceived them.  I  introduced  thera  to  nuclei  that 
had  been  formed  three  days  previously.  No  un- 
sealed brood  was  in  the  nuclei,  and  I  cut  out  all 
queen-cells  before  introducing. 

The  queens  were  dropped  on  top  of  the  frames 
in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  without  putting 
with  them  any  of  the  workers  which  accompan- 
ied them.  In  one  of  the  cages  the  bees  were  all 
alive  and  lively.  The  queen  immediately  ran 
down  among  the  bees  in  the  hive  when  dropped 
on  the  combs.  In  the  other  cage  one  of  the 
workers  was  dead,  and  the  queen  appeai-ed  a 
little  sluggish.  I  found  that  all  the  food  in  the 
cage  had  been  eaten  except  a  few  grains  that 
appeared  very  hai'd  and  dry.  When  I  attempt- 
ed to  put  this  queen  on  the  top  of  the  combs  she 
Si^emed  bent  on  crawling  up  my  hand,  and  final- 
ly took  to  flight. 

In  spite  of  the  general  teaching,  that,  when  a 
queen  flies  away,  if  you  will  wait  it  will  always 
come  back,  I  think  I  have  never  before  had  any 
come  back.  But  I  stepped  back  so  as  to  give  it 
a  fair  chance;  and  although  it  was  getting  so 
dark  it  was  not  easy  to  see,  I  thought  I  saw  it 
alight  and  go  in  among  the  bees  after  flying 
around  for  a  minute  or  two. 

The  second  day  after,  July  14,  I  found  each  of 
the  queens  all  right  in  their  hives.  July  18, 
both  queens  were  laying  nicely,  and  have  con- 
tinued to  lay  well  ever  since. 

Of  course,  I  am  not  able  from  the  above  to 
say  any  thing  about  the  character  of  Punic 
oees;  but  I  think  it  a  matter  worth  taking  note 
of,  that  these  queens,  as  well  as  two  others  that 
I  received  last  year,  were  safely  introduced 
when  sixteen  days  old,  after  making  a  journey 
across  the  ocean  and  a  long  way  across  the  con- 
tinent. Formerly  it  was  considered  a  very  diffi- 
cult thing  to  introduce  a  virgin  queen  unless  she 
was  very  young,  perhaps  less  than  a  day  old. 
But  Mr.  Hewitt  insists  that,  by  taking  the  pre- 
caution to  Introduce  them  in  the  evening,  giv- 
ing them  to  bees  that  have  been  queenless  for 
48  hours,  with  nothing  from  which  a  queen 
could  possibly  be  raised,  there  need  be  no  trou- 
ble in  the  case. 

If  success  can  always  be  had  in  introducing, 
is  it  not  possible  that  the  sale  of  virgin  queens 
may  get  to  be  a  matter  of  some  importance? 
Certainly  it  is  easier  to  furnish  virgin  queens 
than  laying  ones.  It  is  no  unusual  thing  to  find 
a  dozen  queens  just  ready  to  come  out  of  their 
cells,  in  a  strong  colony  that  has  cast  a  swarm. 
If  these  are  to  be  sold  as  laying  queens,  there 
must  be  the  trouble  of  keeping  each  one  some 
days  in  a  separate  colony  or  nucleus  to  await 
the  time  of  laying.  How  much  easier  to  put 
the  young  queen  immediately  in  a  cage  and 
mail  it!  The  person  receiving  the  queen  will, 
to  be  sure,  be  under  the  necessity  of  furnishing 
a  nucleus,  or  some  other  place  in  which  to  put 


the  queen,  but  this  he  would  be  obliged  to  do  in 
any  case. 

It  may  be  said,  that  the  fertilization  of  the 
queen  should  occur  before  shipping;  and  there 
is  weight  in  this  if  only  black  bees  reign  at  the 
receiving  end,  or  only  Italian  at  the  shipping 
end;  but  in  many  cases  it  would  be  about  as 
safe  at  one  end  as  at  the  other,  so  long  as  the 
matter  of  fertilization  is  so  little  under  control. 

If  it  is  necessary  to  wait  till  a  queen  is  six 
days  old  before  shipping,  it  will  not  be  so  easy 
as  to  take  her  right  from  the  cell ;  but  even  then 
it  need  not  be  such  a  very  great  deal  of  trouble 
to  cage  all  the  young  queens  in  a  hive  for  a  few 
days.  Still,  it  might  not  be  for  the  well-being 
of  a  queen  to  be  shut  up  the  first  six  days  of  her 
life.  I  have  never  taken  any  very  great  inter- 
est in  the  shipping  of  virgin  queens,  and  per- 
haps less  is  said  about  it  now  than  formerly; 
but  sometimes  a  thing  is  dropped  as  of  no  ac- 
count, and  afterward  taken  up  with  general  in- 
terest. The  one  thing  that  I  know  in  this  case 
is,  that  it  does  not  seem  a  very  difficult  matter 
to  ship  a  virgin  queen  a  long  distance  and  then 
have  her  promptly  introduced  and  do  well  aft- 
erward. 

WHEN   TO   PUT  ON   SUPERS. 

A  correspondent  writes  from  Arkansas  that  he 
does  not  find  in  the  books  proper  instructions  as 
to  putting  on  supers,  and  says,  "  When  I  got  my 
bees  I  put  them  into  a  hive  with  full  frames  of 
foundation,  and  super  with  full  frames.  It  has 
often  occurred  tome  that  I  did  wrong  in  putting 
on  the  super  before  the  bees  had  the  brood- 
chamber  full."  As  the  books  say  nothing  about 
it  he  wants  me  to  write  about  it  in  Gleanings. 

Why.  friend  H.,  you  will  find  all  about  it  in 
the  ABC,  on  page— page— page— well,  now,  I 
can't  just  turn  to  the  page  ;  but  just  turn  to 
"Comb  Honey,  How  to  Secure."  Well,  now, 
just  as  sure  as  any  thing,  you're  right.  I  felt 
sure  I'd  find  there  all  about  it;  but  it  tells  when 
to  contract  (and  I  doubt  whether  I'd  contract  at 
all),  and  tells  when  to  tier  up;  but  a  beginner 
who  bought  a  hive  with  all  appurtenances  com- 
plete might  easily  suppose,  as  nothing  is  said 
about  it,  that  the  bees  are  to  have  the  whole 
business  at  the  outset. 

Well,  you're  right  about  how  much  the  bees 
are  to  have  in  the  spring  — only  the  brood-n(>st 
till  that  is  filled;  and  the  general  rule  is,  to 
watch  for  the  time  when  the  bees  begin  to  put 
bits  of  white  wax  on  top  of  the  combs,  and  then 
pur  on  supers.  The  objection  to  putting  supers 
on  sooner  is,  that  it  does  not  keep  the  hive  suf- 
ficiently warm.  With  a  very  strong  colony,  or 
in  a  warm  country,  the  objection  would  be  less. 
In  my  own  practice  I  don't  watch  for  the  bits  of 
white  wax,  but  put  on  supers  as  soon  as  conven- . 
lent  after  I  see  clover  in  bloom,  that  being  my 
source  of  surplus.  That  gives  me  plenty  of 
time  to  get  supers  on  without  being  hurried,  and 
I'd  sooner  have  them  on  a  week  too  early  than 
a  day  too  late.  Moreover,  by  that  time  the 
weather  is  so  warm  that  no  great  damage  is 
done  by  having  the  extra  room.  Of  course,  if 
something  else  than  white  clover  was  the  source 
from  which  I  got  my  surplus  I  should  be  guided 
accordingly,  always  aiming  to  get  the  supers  on 
a  little  before  the  time  they  will  be  needed  for 
the  main  flow.  C.  C.  Miller. 

Marengo,  111.,  Aug.  3. 

[Perhaps  you  and  your  friend  are  about  right, 
doctor,  that  not  enough  is  said  in  the  ABC  in 
regard  to  just  when  the  surplus  receptacles 
should  be  put  on  the  hive.  Page  76  of  the  ABC 
book,  however,  considers  the  matter  pretty 
thoroughly,  and  may  be  we  shall  find  some- 
thing still  more  definite  elsewhere.  If  we  do, 
we  wfll  try  to  have  it  incorporated  in  the  next 
edition.]  A.  I.  R. 


1892 


GLEANrNCJS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


(jS-? 


RAMBLE   66. 


A    TWO-IIOIINKD    KII.K.MMA. 


Hcsidcs  tlu'  hariuloss  cMvatiircs  in  tliis  i-oim- 
try.  tlicro  art>  other  classes  of  liviiiR  tliiii>;s  tliat 
are  not  so  pleasant  to  meet.  As  my  time  he- 
eanie  now  more  fully  oeeiipied  1  found  it  neces- 
sary lo  arise  very  early  in  the  morning.  My 
caliin  door  faced  the  east,  and  the  first  piM-p  of 
day  came  directly  into  it.  for  my  door  and  win- 
dows were  lefl  open.  The  lirsi  morniiifr  I  aiose 
so  early  tin-  lii-st  olnect  I  saw  when  I  stepped 
outdoors  was  an  usly  head  j)rotr\idinf2:  from  un- 
der my  cabin,  and  only  a  few  inches  from  the, 
thr(>shold.  From  the  size  of  the  head  I  jud)JC(^d 
there  was  (juite  a  serpcMit  attached  to  it.  I  de- 
clarinl  war  by  securinji  a  piece  of  board,  and, 
fiettiuij  into  a  safe  position,  I  put  the  end  of  it 
down  in  no  gentle  manner  on  its  neck;  and  the 
lieavier  I  bore  down,  the  heavier  the  .serpent 
br(>athed.  Says  I.  all  to  myself.  "This  must  be 
a  new-fangle<l  snake,  with  powerful  lungs." 
The  body  meantime  kept  up  such  a  wolloping 
under  the  cabin  that  I  give  the  board  a  twist 
away  from  the  hole,  and  I  was  startled,  and 
came  near  dropiiing  the  board  as  the  body  of  a 
rattlesnake  rolled  out  before  me,  and  I  saw  it 
was  the  whirr  of  those  rattles  that  I  had  mis- 
taken for  breathing.  There  were  ten  rattles, 
and  ills  snakeship  was  nearly  four  feet  in 
length.  For  a  long  time  after!  had  "  pulver- 
ized ""  his  head,  the  rattles  vibrated  rapidly. 
The  sound  is  much  like  that  made  by  the  sing- 
ing of  a  locust.  When  he  was  stone  dead  the 
rattles  were  cut  oil,  and  in  my  cabin  they  hang 
as  a  trophy.  My  thoughts  run  to  rattlesnakes 
more  or  less  all  day.  I  always  did  believe  it 
was  wrong  to  get  up  so  very  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  here  was  a  case  of  genuine  danger. 


•■\vhp:w!  such  a  pkkfume!" 

The  next  morning  when  the  day  broke  into 
my  cabin  I  thought  of  the  danger  lurking 
around  my  door,  and  1  rolled  over  and  prepared 
to  take  another  nap:  but,  whew!  there  arose 
such  a  perfuin*!  as  Araby  the  blest  never 
dreamed  of.  A  skunk  had  fired  off  a  whole 
battery  of  hi-  ammunition  right  under  my  bed. 
I  had  heard  of  dilemmas  with  two  horns  to 
them;  but  this  was  the  first  that  ever  .sorely 
perplexed  me.  I  could  not  get  out  of  bed  for 
fear  of  snakes,  and  could  not  stay  in  bed  oii 
account  of  skunk  perfumery.  When  I  had 
stormed  around  a  while,  and  remarked  many 
things  about  the  glorious  climate  and  its  per- 
fumes. I  cooled  down  and  considered  that  rat- 
tlers and  skunks  wouldn't  come  every  alternate 
day  in  the  year,  and  I  would  strike  a  happy 
mean  between   four  and  six  o'clock,  and  get  up 


at  live,  which  resolve  I  kept,  and  was  troubled 
no  more  with  undesirable  dangers  and  per- 
fumes ai'ound  my  cabin,  though  1  met  and  van- 
(luished  an  occasional  rattler  on  the  plain. 

'I'he  moral  I  leai'iied  from  tlu^  dilemma  was 
tliis:  Never  build  a  cabin  sciiiat-  down  on  Uw. 
ground  in  this  country.  Huild  itup  so  that  you 
can  at  least  circulate  a  club  under  it. 

1  relat<'d  the  incident  and  the  dilemma  I  was 
in.  to  my  old  washwoman  (now.  tiiy  old  wash- 
woman is  a  femal(!  not  to  b(>  sne,(>z<^d  at;  she 
takes  two  daily  papers  and  weeklies,  and  regu- 
lates an  old  v(!teran  for  a  companion).  This 
veteran  was  the  happy  possessor  of  a  shot-gun; 
and,  being  a  liberal  olil  veteran,  he  lent  me  tin; 
gun. 

"Why,"  said  he,  "it's  really  dangerous  for 
you  to  live  away  out  then^  all  alone.  Somebo<ly 
will  come  along  and  kill  you  for  ?>r).()0." 
"  Why,"  says  I,  "  I  haven't  got  r^.tX)." 
"  Well,  they  don't  know  but  you  have.  Take 
my  gun,  and  welcome*.  Why,  what  if  you 
should  b(!  taken  sick  away  out  there  alone? 
You  can  tire  the,  gun  and  attract  attention. 
This  gun  hasn't  any  quirkums  about  it."  I 
mentally  blessed  th(!  old  veteran,  and  took  the 
gun.  Nothing  very  exciting  happened  for  a 
few  days;  and,  seeing  two  well-dressed,  good- 
looking,  and  accomplished  ladies  successfully 
hunting  rabbits.  I  shouldered  my  gun,  not  very 
early,  one  morning,  and  sallied  forth.  1  didn't 
wish  to  shoot  my  tame  rabbits,  and  got  beyond 
their  run;  and  the  first  rabbit  I  fired  at,  I  found 
that  the  gun  had  a  quirkum — it  kicked,  and  the 
muzzle  arose  in  the  air.  I  didn't  kill  a  hawk; 
but  if  there  had  been  one  above,  I  surely 
should. 

"  Well,"  says  I,  "  that  would  be  a  funny  case 
— shoot  at  a  rabbit  on  the  ground  and  kill  a 
hawk  in  the  air.  The  feat  would  beat  Dr. 
Carver." 

I  next  ran  into  a  shoal  of  quail.  They  flew 
up  on  both  sides  of  me;  and  before  I  could  get 
my  gun  organized  in  the  right  direction  they 
were  out  of  sight. 

I  entered  town,  and  met  a  watermelon  ped- 
dler, and  wishing  to  show  game;  of  some  kind  I 
purchased  a  large  one  for  .5  cents,  and  though  I 
kept  on  the  back  streets  I  met  several  smart 
young  men  who  would  sing  out,  "  Did  you  shoot 
tliat  watermelon '?" 

Another  very  important  thing  I  learned  about 
setting  a  cabin  down  close  to  the  ground  is, 
that  ants  will  love  you  so  as  to  be  your  con- 
stant companions.  Ants  are  very  numerous  in 
California,  and  the  little  red  ants  ar(i  about  as 
numerous  and  enteriirising  as  any  little  people 
on  the  face  of  the  earth.  I  put  my  eatables  in 
a  little  cupboard,  and  suspended  it  by  wires 
from  above;  but  a  prospecting  ant  found  the 
road  down  the  wire;  and  one  morning  when  I 
returned  from  town,  about  a  million  were  btisy 
carrying  otr  two  loaves  of  bread,  a  pound  of 
butter,  a  cup  of  honey,  and  a  pound  of  sugar. 
While  I  was  a  little  provoked  at  them  I  could 
not  buL  admire  their  imterprise.  The  reader 
will  therefore  see  why  bee-keepers  on  a  lone 
ranch,  miles  from  any  habitation,  seldom  gc^t 
lonesome.  Animate  and  inanimate  nature 
gives  them  enough  to  think  about. 

The  cooking-utensils  of  a  b<'e-man  are  in 
number  according  to  his  ability  as  a  cook,  and 
also  as  to  whether  he  resides  permanently  on 
the  ranch.  The  latter  has  a  stove  that  he  has 
picked  up  at  a  second-hand  store,  while  the 
transient-dweller  uses  an  oil-stove,  or  makes  a 
stove  out  of  five-gallon  tin  cans.  In  the  [)hoto 
tiie  RambhT's  tin-can  stove,  with  its  pipe  made 
from  the  same  material,  shows  to  good  advan- 
tage, and  would  com|)aie  favoral/ly  with  any 
thing  Robinson  Crusoe  ever  made.  The  water- 
bucket  hanging  up  is  also  made  from  a  tin  can. 


658 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Skpt.  1. 


Such  a  can  cut  off  three  or  four  inches  up  will 
make  a  very  good  wash-basin.  Cut  it  length- 
wise the  same  distance  up  froiu  the  side,  and  it 
makes  a  good  dish-pan.  In  fact,  tin  cans  and 
wire  can  be  found  anywhere  in  California,  and 
are  utilized  for  many  purposes.  Take  out  the 
top  and  bottom  of  old  rusted  cans,  and  cut  the 
tin  in  twain;  and  if  you  have  enough  of  them 
they  will  make  a  covering  to  a  cabin.  In  Cali- 
fornia, canned  goods  enter  largely  into  the  liv- 
ing of  not  only  lone  bee-men  but  the  dwellers 
in  towns;  and  a  grocery  is  largely  filled  with 
canned  goods.    Roast  beef,  chicken,  fish,  baked 


plenty  of  small  game;  and  a  short  walk  with  a 
shot-gun  brings  down  a  rabbit,  pigeon,  or  quail, 
to  grace  his  table. 

Work  in  a  California  apiary  is  much  easier 
than  in  an  apiary  of  the  same  size  in  the  East. 
There  is  no  preparation  for  winter,  such  as  chaff 
packing  and  carrying  into  the  cellar.  The  only 
preparation  is  to  see  that  they  have  honey  suffi- 
cient to  last  through,  and  a  large  stone  on  the 
cover.  That  bee-keepers  ai'e  careless  to  leave 
insufficient  stores  is  evident  from  the  number 
of  bees  that  have  starved  this  season.  They 
become  so  accustomed  to  the  good  seasons  that 


RAMBI.EK'S   culinary   DEPAKTMICNT. 


beans,  condensed  milk,  and  all  kinds  of  fruits, 
are  on  the  market  in  great  quantities;  therefore 
whether  he  lives  on  canned  goods  and  the  ba- 


OPEKATING  THE  CULINARY  DEPARTMENT. 

kery,  or  on  his  own  cooking,  the  lone  Californi- 
an  lives  well.  His  ranch  being  located  in  the 
canyons,  or  remote  from  dwellings,  there  is  a 


a  poor  season  is  the  one  they  run  a  risk  on.  and 
get  left.  During  the  poor  season  just  past,  tlie 
Rambler  considers  himself  providentially  for- 
tunate in  having  a  location  that  produced  hon- 
ey. From  173  swarms,  spring  count,  I  increased 
to  200.  and  secured  5H  tons  of  honey,  which 
sold  for  G  cts.  per  lb.,  which  was  fully  as  well  as 
an  apiary  would  average  in  the  East,  while  the 
possibilities  were  great.  In  the  manipulation 
of  the  bees  I  made  the  queen-excluder  and  bee- 
escape  something  of  a  factor.  My  method  of 
management  was,  to  first  get  the  colonies 
strong.  When  the  honey- flow  commt^nced  I 
put  on  the  queen-excluders;  when  the  super 
was  full  it  was  raised  up;  an  empty  super  with 
empty  combs  put  under  it,  and  a  Porter  bee- 
<'scape  board  placed  between.  This  was  done 
near  evening.  In  the  morning,  before  five 
o'clock  (if  rattlesnakes  do  not  interftu'e),  com- 
mence taking  off  the  supers.  In  taking  them 
off  I  found  that  queen-excluders  and  bee-escapes 
were  not  perfect  in  their  operation.  I  found  the 
queen  would  g<^t  above  the  excluder  in  about 
every  fifth  hive  at  the  commencement  of  the 
season,  and  but  few  above  at  the  close.  Where 
the  queen  was  above,  of  course  the  escape  was 
useless.  The  escape  was  also  not  effective 
where  a  large  number  of  young  bees  were 
above.    Sometimes  two  or  three  center  frames 


IS'.rj 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


659 


would  h:ivo  to  ln<  bnisliod;  Imt  it  was  a  ffcmiiiit' 
ploa>Jun'  to  take  otT  tlic  hives  lliat  were  empty, 
and  wheel  them  into  the  extraeliiin-room;  and 
I  found  ili(>  appliances,  tliouyrh  iiuDei'feet.  a 
Hi'eat  help— so  iiuu'li  so  that,  when  Ufi  s\ipers 
were  a  ixmni  (iay's  work  for  one  man  in  the  old 
brushing  way.  I  could  take  olT  :.*.")  and  extract 
them  before  dinner.  It  also  made  the  work 
come  in  the  yard  at  morninL:  and  eveniufr.  and 
in  the  shadeof  th(>  house  dniinii  the  heat  of  the 
dav.  which  is  no  small  it,em  in  this  clinuiie. 

As  to  how  much  I  mijiht  have  gaiin'd  with  a 
revoi-sibU'  extractor  run  by  a  water-molor  is 
only  Ji  question  of  oxporience.  The  question 
with  the  beo-koepor  who  wishes  to  produce 
ohoap  hon(>y  is,  "  How  much  of  the  work  can  I 
do  without  hirintr  help?  "  and  all  of  these  hol|js 
ai'c  means  to  solve  the  jirohhMn. 

The  bees  in  tliis  apiary  were  worked  with  a 
bnxid -chamber  and  one  super.  The  best  results, 
I  think,  can  be  obtained  with  a  brood-chamber 
and  two  supers.  The  two  lower  supers  should 
be  used  for  a  brood-chamber  until  the  middle 
of  .June,  and  then  contine  tiie  (pieen  to  the  low- 
er chamber.  ShonNi  I  adopt  a  new  hive  for 
tliis  climate,  my  Tiiind  now  is,  that  any  hive 
that  can  be  manipulated  to  give  a  large  or  small 
brooil-chamber.  as  the  season  rc^juires,  will  se- 
cure the  best  results.  These  are  the  present 
views  of  the  Ramhlkh. 

[Friend  R.,  your  pictures  and  description  of 
your  culinary  department  make  me  sorry  that 
I  did  not  wait  longer  and  go  with  you  out  on 
your  ranch.  It  reminds  me  of  the  time  I  took 
supp<T  with  friend  Farrat  Oceanside.  The  coal- 
oil  stove  hadn't  capacity  to  cook  fast  enough 
for  two  to  eat;  therefore,  while  each  dish  was 
being  ctxiked  we  talked  bees  and  other  things. 
Then  you  see  we  had  our  rations  smoking  hot 
right  from  the  fire.  Before  I  come,  however,  I 
hope  you  will  clean  out  all  the  rattlesnakes  and 
those  other  "  varmints."]  A.  I.  R. 


WHO  IS  MY  NEIGHBORS 


SUI'PLY   AND   DEMAND. 


One  of  the  saddest  spectacles  in  this  our 
United  States  of  America  is  the  cross-firing,  or 
working  against  each  other,  among  the  same 
classes  of  people.  Of  cours<%  you  all  know 
about  the  complaint  that  has  come  up,  that 
*'  farming  doesn't  pay,"  and  you  have  all  heard 
men  talk  who  abu.se  the  bankers,  railroads,  and 
merchants,  because  they  believe  them  to  be 
bitter  enemies  to  the  farmer.  A  great  deal  of 
this  comes  from  mistaken  notions.  It  comes 
from  zeal  without  wisdom.  The  saddest  part 
of  it  is,  that,  when  certain  ones  get  a  going  on 
their  peculiar  notions,  nothing  can  stop  them, 
and  nothing  can  convert  them.  Below  is  a  typ- 
ical letter.  It  comes  from  a  farmer,  or  gar- 
dener, perhaps,  and  yet  he  is  at  odds  and  ends 
with  his  own  class  of  people;  in  fact,  I  greatly 
fear  that  he,  through  his  mistaken  notions,  is 
damaging  and  hurting  community  round  about 
him.  Perhajts  you  think  this  is  strong  lan- 
guage, and  very  likely  many  of  our  Headers 
will  insist  that  he  is  right  and  I  am  wrong. 
May  God  in  his  infinite  goodness  and  mercy 
help  rae  to  present  the  matter  to  you  in  its  true 
light.    Here  is  the  letter: 

Friend  Root: — I  noticed  in  Gleanings  for 
August  1st  your  statement  in  regard  to  your 
selling  Pearl  onions  at  s  cents  per  lb.  Now, 
one  or  two  years,  while  I  was  in  tn(!  Northwest, 
some  kinds  of  vegetables  were  very  scarce  on 
account  of  the  drouth  on  the  great  Dakota 
prairie.    My    land    was    not   all    level,    and  1 


chose  it  on  that  account,  as  I  knew  that  draws, 
as  we  called  them  thei'e((lepressioiis,  or  shallow 
ravini's),  would  not  be  so  apt  to  dry  up.  Nearly 
everybody  tried  to  get  every  footof  their  land 
perfectly  level.  I  found  my  theory  pi'oved  true. 
1  niiide  all  my  gai'den.  and  had  all  my  vegeta- 
ble grounds  in  the  draw,  and  never  failed  of  a 
gooil  gaiden  and  plenty  of  vegetables.  When 
my  neighbors  failed,  1  had  tine  cabbage  and 
potatoes,  and  sev(>ral  times  th(!se  articles  weni 
very  scarce.  I  could  sell  my  surplus  at  my  own 
[irice;  but,  who  were  my  neighbors?  VVhen 
they  came  for  my  potatoes,  which  I  could  have 
cliarged  5^2. .^)0  per  bushel  for,  and  25  cents  per 
head  for  m(>dium-si7.ed  cabl)age,  did  I  do  it? 
Not  at  all.  I  told  them  10  cents  [)er  head  for 
cahiiage  was  all  they  were  worth,  and  •*=1.50  per 
buslnd  was  all  I  would  take  for  potatoes.  I  also 
had  the  Peail  onion,  which  I  had  sent  way 
down  to  i'hiladelphia  and  got  the  sets  and  seed 
for  at  a  big  cost;  and  I  was  the  only  pi'rson  in 
that  section  who  raised  onions  of  any  kind  for 
three  years.  I  could  have  sold  as  high  or  even 
higher  than  you  did.  But.  who  were  my  neigh- 
bors? I  never  took  advantage  of  their  necessi- 
ties— n(!ver  took  over  .?1..50  per  bushel.  Now, 
how  any  Christian  can  reconcile  Christianity 
with  extortion  is  beyond  my  comprehension, 
whether  it  be  myself  or  A.  L  Root.  If  you  can 
bring  your  Christian  conscience  up  to  the  point 
of  charging  8  cents  per  lb.  for  onions  because 
you  happen  to  have  a  monopoly  on  that  partic- 
ular kind,  I  confess  you  can't  know  who  your 
neighbors  are.  I  could  get  3.5  cents  per  lb.  for  all 
my  comb  honey  here,  b(^cause  no  one  within  the 
county  lias  any  like  it,  and  I  can  monopolize 
the  trade;  but  I  charge  20  cents  and  think  that 
is  enough.  I  have  even  sent  up  north,  and 
bought  some  that  cost  me  over  19  cen-ts  to  get 
it  here,  and  sold  it  for  20.  "O  consistency! 
thou  art  a  jewel."  F.  H.  Finch. 

Florence,  Ala.,  Aug.  10. 

[At  very  many  of  our  bee-keepers'  conven- 
tions there  have  been  grievous  complaints  about 
men  who  persist  in  cutting  down  prices.  Friend 
France  told  me  of  a  man  who  persisted  in  n;- 
tailing  blackberries  at  10  cents  a  quart,  when 
they  were  worth  14  at  wholesale.  He  finally 
went  to  the  man  and  proposed  togive  him  more 
for  his  whole  crop  outright  than  he  was  getting 
by  retailing  them  out  a  quart  at  a  time.  The 
man,  through  his  mistaken  notions,  refused  to 
sell  them  to  him  at  any  price,  but  kept  on 
Hitailing  at  10  cents.  Now,  some  of  yon  will 
say  that  this  man  was  c(mscientious,  and  that 
hewas  doing  as  he  would  be  done  by.  I  won- 
der whether  I  can  show  you  your  mistake.  We 
will  suppose  some  farmer  to  be  straining  every 
nerve  to  pay  off  a  mortgage  on  his  farm.  He 
goes  into  blackberries.  Di'outh  or  floods  are 
against  him,  and  he  has  only  a  small  crop.  The 
prospect  is,  he  will  not  be  able  to  pay  a  cent  on 
his  mortgage.  By  and  by  it  turns  out,  how- 
ever, that  others  have  had  short  crops  too,  and 
the  market  price  is  doul)le  wliat  it  has  been  in 
foi-mer  years.  He  looks  up  and  takes  courage; 
for  his  short  crop,  owing  to  the  scarcity,  will 
bring  double  the  usual  price,  and  so  he  is  on 
his  feet  again.  I  can  imagine  such  a  man,  with 
tears  in  his  eyes,  thanking  (rod  for  this  unlook- 
ed-for opening  out  of  his  troubles.  Now,  sup- 
pose, instead,  that  some  eccentric  individual, 
like  the  one  above  who  writes  the  letter,  says 
that  10  ccMits  is  enough  for  blackberries,  and  so 
he  breaks  down  the  nuirket,  to  the  damage  and 
real  hurt  of  his  unfortunate  neighbor.  Is  that 
a  Christian  act?  Supi)ose  we  call  it  honey  in- 
stead of  blackberries.  Our  good  friend  Finch 
admits  that  all  the  honey  they  could  raise  or 
get  hold  of  would  readily  bring  2.5  cents  in  their 
locality;  but  in  spite  of  this — in  spite  of  the 


660 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


fact,  that  supply  and  domand  have  fixed  the 
price  at  25  cents,  he  goes  ont  of  his  way  and 
loses  money,  because  of  his  foolish  ideas  that 
it  should  be  kept  down  at  20  cents.  He  sent  up 
north  and  bought  honey  that  actually  cost  him 
19  cents,  and  then  sold  it  for  20.  when  every- 
body would  have  been  pleased  to  pay  25.  In 
doing  this  he  damaged  liis  neighbors,  and  did 
them  an  unkindness  that  pci'haps  can  not  soon 
be  undone.  Perhaps  a  few  people  are  benefited 
by  getting  an  article  below  the  market  price; 
but  even  this  is  not  clear.  Let  me  explain:  We 
started  cucumbers  under  glass,  so  that  we,  per- 
hiips.  could  have  afforded  them  at  10  cents  per 
lb.  Our  neighbors  (grocers),  however,  who 
brought  them  in  from  Cleveland,  could  not  get 
any  at  that  price,  and  so  they  had  to  give  up 
the  business.  Again,  all  we  put  on  the  wagon 
in  the  morning  would  be  gone  before  the  wagon 
would  be  half  way  round.  My  own  sister  com- 
plained that  she  never  could  get  a  sight  of  cer- 
tain desirable  products  because  they  were  all 
sold  off  the  wagon  before  it  reached  her  home. 
Now,  in  order  to  make  the  limited  supply  go 
around,  the  only  way— in  fact,  the  proper  and 
fairway — was  to  raise  the  price  enough  so  the 
corumodity  would  hold  out  during  pretty  near- 
ly the  whole  route.  Thus,  you  see,  all  could 
gel  a  fair  chance,  and  ive  could  get  a  good  deal 
more  money. 

Now  one  more  point  still:  Perhaps  I  should 
have  mentioned  before  in  my  articles  on  gar- 
dening, that,  owing  to  the  excessive  rains,  and 
consequent  flooding  of  our  products,  up  to  the 
first  of  August  all  the  money  we  received  from 
our  market-garden  would  not  pay  the  wages  of 
our  hired  help.  Our  early  crops  were  disaster 
after  disaster.  As  it  was  so  with  other  folks, 
the  price  of  every  thing  was  unusually  high; 
but  even  these  high  prices  gave  us  no  profit. 
On  the  whole,  it  was  a  steady  loss.  When  I  got 
8  cents  per  lb.  for  those  onions  it  helped  quite  a 
little:  but  it  did  not  come  anywhere  near 
liringing  up  the  figures  so  there  was  any  profit 
ai  all.  The  question  is,  "  Is  it  wrong  or  out  of 
th(^  way  for  ilie  farmer  or  gardener  to  take  all 
his  produce  will  bring  in  the  genei'al  market?"' 
Why,  most  surely  not.  In  most  cities  they 
have  a  market-place  and  a  market  day.  Peo- 
ple are  bringing  in  their  produce,  and  there  are 
l)uyers  who  are  watching  and  figuring  to  se.^ 
where  the  demand  and  supply  will  fix  the  price. 
Here  purchasers  and  producers  meet  together 
in  a  friendly  counsel;  that  is,  when  we  know 
what  the  demand  and  supply  are.  what  is  an 
honest  and  fair  price?  A  few  days  atro  a  man 
drove  up  with  a  load  of  small  apples.  I  offered 
him  30  cents  a  bushel  for  the  lot.  A  market- 
gardener  who  had  just  brought  in  some  black- 
berries said  he  was  going  into  Cleveland  the 
next  day,  and  that,  if  I  had  no  o'lje  -tion.  he 
would  give  the  man  .5  cents  more  than  1  had 
offered.  I  told  him  I  was  very  glad  indeed  to 
have  him  do  so,  for  I  was  well  aware  that  30 
cents  a  bushel  scarcely  paid  foi-  picking  the  ap- 
ples, as  they  were  all  carefully  hand-picked. 

It  seems  to  me  that  a  greater  enemy  than  the 
banker,  merchant,  or  railroader,  to  the  farmer, 
is  the  farmei''s  neighbor  who  drives  his  stuff 
into  market,  and,  in  a  heedless  and  stupid  way, 
sells  it  off  for  less  than  the  supply  and  demand 
would  warrant.  Yes,  I  do  think  that  it  is  a  sin 
against  your  neighbor,  to  sell  your  stuff  for  less 
than  the  proper  market  price:  and  especially  is 
this  the  case  when  the  market  is  being  first  es- 
tablished. When  I  mentioned  that  I  got  S  cents 
per  lb.  for  those  onions  I  had  not  a  thought  of 
Dragging  ahoui  how  I  had  cheated  somebody. 
I  was  simply  trying  to  tell  you  that  if  we  can, 
by  improved  culture  or  by  the  introduction  of 
some  new  variety,  put  on  the  market  something 
of  this  sort  at  a  time  when  people  are  not  accus- 


tomed to  seeing  it,  we  can  get  unusual  prices. 
There  is  a  craving  for  these  early  vegetables, 
and  this  makes  a  demand.  The  craving  is 
healthy  and  proper;  and  the  demand  is  a  prop- 
er and  healthy  demand,  and  there  is  certainly 
nothing  wrong  in  letting  people  who  can  af- 
ford it  pay  extra  prices.  To  a  great  part  of  my 
readers  this  whole  thing  seems  clear  and  plain, 
and  they  perhaps  wonder  that  I  wastes  spac(!  on 
any  thing  so  clearly  self-evident;  but  yet  with 
sadness  I  say  it,  individuals  like  our  friend 
Finch  are  scattered  all  through  the  land.  We 
find  them  here  and  there  in  every  community; 
and  they  wind  up  their  exhortations  with 
scripture  texts,  and  perhaps  say  in  conclusion 
as  ^c  .says.  "  O  consistency !  thou  art  a  jewel." 
You  see,  this  brother  takes  it  for  granted  that  I 
am  entirely  wrong  and  that  he  is  entirely  right. 
He  tells  me  that  I  am  a  sinner;  that  I  do  not 
love  my  neighbors;  while  he  is  a  Christian  who 
loves  liis  neighbors,  and  that  he  believes  in  his 
Bible.  I  hope  he  will  forgive  me  for  my  very 
plain  speaking.  Oh  if  I  could  only  hear  him 
say,  or,  better  still,  if  I  could  hear  individuals 
of  his  class  say,  when  proper  facts  are  presented 
to  their  notice,  "  Bro.  Root,  as  you  put  it  I  do 
think  that  I  have  been  at  least  partly  in  the 
wrong.  I  hope  you  will  forgive  me,  and  I  will 
try  to  be  Ijetter"!  If  I  could  hear  him  say  this, 
I  should  feel  some  hope  that  our  labor  troubles 
might  be  cured:  but  when  I  see  a  real  farmer 
striking  blows  that  tell  vitally  to  the  hurt  of 
his  own  neighljoring  farmers,  I  can  not  but  feel 
sad.  If  peeple  were  getting  rich  in  market- 
gardening;  \f farmers  were  getting  rich,  and 
were  proud  and  arrogant  toward  the  bankers 
and  railroad  men.  why,  then  I  might  be  led  to 
consider  the  point  he  makes— are  w(>  wronging 
the  town  and  city  folks  by  charging  them  too 
much  for  early  onions,  etc.? 


A    CHANCE    CHAPTER    FROM    THE    TOMATO- 
BOOK. 


SOMETHING    FURTHER  IN   REGARD   TO   MY   VISIT 
TO   THE   LAKE   SHORE   CANNING-FACTORY. 

During  my  visit,  mentioned  in  a  previous 
number,  I  brought  out  several  facts  that  may 
be  of  interest  to  our  readers;  for  instance,  the 
proprietors  of  the  canning  -  factory  pay  the 
farmers  who  raise  the  tomatoes,  as  a  general 
thing,  about  SS.OO  per  ton  for  the  tomatoes. 
This  would  be  about  24  cents  per  bushel,  which 
agrees  very  nearly  with  what  we  have  purchas- 
ed round  about  Medina  i^or  our  small  operations 
ill  the  way  of  canning  tomatoes;  for  we  have 
usually  paid  from  20  lo  2.i  cents  per  bushel,  ac- 
cording to  quality.  Friend  Cutnmins  found  it 
profitable  to  have  suitable  springs  made  that 
could  be  attached  to  any  ordinary  lumber  wag- 
on; and  these  springs  were  furnished  to  the 
farmers  at  a  moderate  price,  in  order  that  they 
might  bring  the  product  to  the  factory  in  good 
order. 

One  advantage  of  steam  heat  in  hot-beds 
over  manure  is  this:  When  the  weather  is 
suitable  they  can  sow  the  seeds  in  all  their  beds, 
and  do  it  all  t)n  the  same  day.  But  the  steam 
is  not  turned  under  the  beds  until  at  such  a 
time  as  the  plants  are  needed.  P'or  instance, 
one  bed  is  made  to  start  first.  When  it  gets 
well  along,  the  steam  is  let  on  under  the  next, 
and  so  on,  thus  making  the  plants  come  along 
one  bed  after  another,  so  as  to  avoid  having 
them  reach  the  proper  age  all  in  a  heap.  This 
is  certainly  a  very  important  matter.  In  our 
business  of  plant  -  raising  I  have  sometimes 
thought  it  needed  a  mechanical  engineer  or  a 
Philadelphia  lawyer,  as  the  saying  goes,  to  re- 
member to  get  out  the  tools  and  sow  seeds  for 


1S92 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


661 


till'  (litTt>n'iit  varieties  of  iiliiiits,  iiiul  ^rct  lliciii 
toconifnui  at  just  tlic  ritrlii  tiiiic.  In  iDnkiiifj; 
over  the  btiis,  1  irot  luild  of  one  very  impniiaiit 
item.  At  the  lirst  lime  nf  traiisplaiitiii!^ 
tliev  nsnaliy  pill  ticn  pliuils  in  a  plaee.  If  one 
of  tliein  fails,  the  other  euines  in  lo  iiiaUe  a  full 
stailii.  If  lintll  of  tlleiii  tirow.  tliey  jjel  alollf,' 
very  well  until  the  seeoiid  naiisplanting.  if  it  i> 
nut  put  off  till  too  late.  And  lliis  reveals  the 
fact  ihat.evi'n  in  raisiiifr  plants  by  the  hun- 
dreds of  thoiisaiuls  for  lield  eultiive  they  have 
fomid  it  prolitalile.  as  a  rule,  to  iransi)laiil  tin  in 
ainiricf  hefore  tliiyiro  inlo  the  lield.  I  have 
for  years  felt  sure  that  this  would  pay.  hul  1 
have  not  foiiiul  people  w  ho  would  pay  for  the 
additional  expense.  In  fai't,  a  jiood  iiiany  will 
take  totiiato-i)laiils  out  of  the  seid-hed  at  ."> 
cents  per  dozen,  when  they  can  have  nice  tians- 
planted  ones  for  10  eeiils  i)er  dozen.  Hut  in 
running  a  great  euniiing-fartoiy  they  tind  it 
pavs  to  have  twioe-transplauled  plants  to  take 
to  the  lield. 

v.\kii;ti?;.s  of  ti).matoes  grown  at  the  can- 
mxg-factohy. 

When  friend  Day  gave  me  his  preference  in 
regard  to  varieties  I  was  a  little  bit  suii)iised, 
especially  to  know  that  he  i)Ut  the  old  and 
well-known  Acme  equal  to  or  ahead  of  all  other 
new  varieties.  Well,  whai  kind  do  you  suppose 
friend  Cummins  uses'?  Why,  the  old  and  well- 
known  Trophy.  For  many  years  we  were  in 
the  habit  of  regarding  the  Acme  and  Trophy 
as  a  soi-t  of  fairly  well  "  matched  span,"  that  is, 
when  they  were  young,  or  new  to  the  gardening 
people.  I  felt  like  remonstrating:  but  he  as- 
sured nie  that,  after  having  tested  every  new 
variety  as  it  came  before  the  tomato-growing 
wor.d.  they  had  yet  to  lind  oii(>  that  suited 
their  business  as  well  as  the  Trophy. 

I  was  much  stiiprised  when  my  kind  friend 
turned  his  hoise  from  tlie  main  road  and  drove 
off  into  the  wet  fields  through  a  pii'ce  of  line- 
lotjking  rye.  By  the  way.  rye  is  largely  grown, 
and  the  crops  are  turned  under  just  before  the 
tomato- plants  are  set.  Yon  see,  it  can  be  put  in 
after  the  frost  has  killed  thi;  tomatoes;  and  by 
the  time  it  is  warm  enough  lo  plant  tomatoes 
out  for  the  next  season,  there  will  be  a  big 
stand  of  rye  to  turn  under.  In  fact,  friend 
Cummins  says  they  often  turn  it  under  when  it 
is  in  the  head.  ]{y  the  use  of  a  chain  attached 
propei'ly  to  the  plow  there  is  no  trouble  in  get- 
ting every  spear  of  it  out  of  sight.  Well,  now, 
if  you  will  excuse  this  digression  I  will  tell  you 
why  he  drove  out  into  that  wheat-lield.  In 
order  to  see  what  the  skins  and  refuse  of  the 
tomatoes  are  worth  for  enriching  the  ground, 
they  loaded  wagons  with  this  pomace  last  fall 
and  drew  it  out  into  the  tields.  and  spread  it 
around  as  they  would  manure— of  course  put- 
ting it  on  the  poorest  spots.  Well,  wtierever 
this  tomato  pomace  was  scattered  through  the 
field,  you  could  see  the  effect  of  it  on  the  rye 
almost  as  plainly  as  if  it  had  been  loads  of 
stable  manure.  My  impn^ssion  is,  that  the 
pomace  was  put  on  as  a  top  dressing  after  tlie 
rye  was  up.  Of  course,  it  was  scattered  enough 
so  it  would  not  smother  the  young  grain. 

A   NOVKI-     WAY     OF     HIDPIXO     TIIK     FIELDS     OF 
TO.MATO-WOKMS. 

You  will  notice  in  the  book  .just  mentioned. 
a  suggestion  in  regard  to  getting  rid  of  the 
tobacco-worm;  and  this  brings  to  mind,  that,  a 
good  many  years  ago.  we  purchased  some  even- 
ing piimroses  of  one  of  oui'  leading  seedsmen, 
because  the  catalogue  said  the  blossoms  weie 
sometimes  foiii-  inches  acros-;.  Well,  they  were; 
and  not  only  that,  but  just  at  dusk,  when  the 
plants  looked  like  a  thing  of  lile,  because  of 
the  rapid  unfolding  of  the  flowei'S,  we  weie  de- 
lighted to  see  great  numbers  of  beautiful  tiny 


"  hnmmingbinls  "  going  from  blossom  to  blos- 
som, ami  uniolling  great  tongues,  of  micIi  won- 
derful length  that  I  hey  would  reach  clear 
down  into  the  tube  of  ihe  Mower.  Tlnse  hum- 
mingbirds were  exhibited  for  weeks  to  adniir- 
iiiLT  friends  as  a.  beanlifiil  supplement  lo  the 
lloial  tr<'asuie,  the  primrose.  And  now  it 
transpires  (in  fact.  1  found  it  out  at  the  time) 
that  these  winged  things  were  not  birds  at  all, 
but  a  great  l)ig  moth:  and  that  these  birds  C.') 
of  ours  weie  the  motlii  rs  of  t  he  gicat  hideous 
tomato  worm.  I  rcmcmlier  the  cliildren  got  a 
fashion  of  knocking  tlnin  (low  n  because  it  was 
such  line  fun  to  hit  such  big  fellow^  a  clip.  Hut 
I  never  dreamed  at  the  lime  that  the  childicn 
were  really  doing  gardeners  a  service.  Now 
for  the  other  remedy. 

Mrs.  Cummins,  like  her  husband,  has  now 
and  then  hobbies  of  her  own;  and  one  yiuir  she, 
took  it  into  her  head  to  raise  turkeys,  and  suc- 
ceeded so  well  that  she  had  a  beautiful  Hock  of 
toward  a  hundred.  When  they  got  big  enough, 
turkey  fashion  they  Ix  gan  roaming  the  Melds; 
and,  what  do  you  think?  There  was  much 
rejoicing  when  somebody  made  the  discovery 
that  the  turkeys  were  peeking  around  under 
the  tomato-plants,  and  gobbling  up  the  tomato- 
worms  before  they  were  big  enough  to  be  visi- 
ble to  any  other  eyi  s  than  their  own.  Their 
keen,  sharp,  piercing  scrutiny  cleaned  the^e/(7.s'. 
while  it  fatted  the  turhcyN.  The  flock  was  sold 
before  the  holidays,  at  a  big  price.  As  it  was 
desirable  to  lead  tin  m  over  as  large  an  area  as 
possible,  Mrs.  Cummins  used  to  start  out  with 
their  feed,  and  call  them  where  they  seemed  lo 
be  Oiost  needed.  After  a  while,  however,  they 
'■  caught  on  "  to  the  program;  and  as  soon  as 
she  appeared  outside  of  the  house  they  were 
all  ready  for  the  game.  When  the  weather 
was  bad,  and  it  was  still  desirable  that  the  tur- 
keys should  ke(>p  on  with  tlwir  part  of  the  work 
of  running  a  tomalo  factory,  she  clad  herself  in 
suitable  water-proof  clothing,  donned  light 
rubber  boots,  and  led  her  rambling  family  off 
to  the  hunting  grounds.  This  is  only  another 
illustration  of  how  much  there  is  lo  learn  and 
proMt  by.  in  any  sort  of  calling  that  one  takes 
up  and  pursues  with  enthusiasm:  and  it  illus- 
trates, loo.  how  one  department  of  rural  work 
may  be  made  to  com  •  in  and  nicely  supplement 
another  part. 


THE  PRODUCTION  OF  COMB  HONEY. 


THE    I)OVETAII-EI)-IIIVK   SECTION-SlTI'Ei;  INDOKS- 
EI)   BY    H.   F.  HOI/rEI{.MA.V.\. 


I  am  more  and  more  convinced  that  your 
section-super  with  closed-end- frame  follower 
and  separator  can  not  be  surpassed  for  the  pro- 
duction of  comb  honey.  For  years  I  have  looked 
about  for  a  better  method  of  taking  comb  honey 
—sent  for  a  sample  crate,  and  now  after  testing 
yours  for  two  seasons  I  am  satisMed.  I  Hnd 
with  it.  that  good  straight  comb  is  .secured.  If 
I  am  particularly  anxious  to  get  nice  comb 
honey,  white,  I  can.  when  two-thirds  of  the, 
sections  are  ready,  take  out  my  wedge,  loosen 
the  follow'er.  and  immediately  every  section  is 
ready  for  removal.  The  rest  of  the  sections, 
which  are  not  ready.  I  can  put  back  on  the 
hive,  or  the  unMnisiied  sections  from  several 
supers  can  be  put  together.  This  yi  ar  I  worked 
for  comb  honey  in  a  litll(^  diffficnt  manner 
than  n>-ual.  I  put  on  all  tin'  section-supers 
Mist;  and  as  the  latter  pari  of  Hh;  honey  .reason 
came  on  I  changed  over  lo  extr;icl<d.  This 
method  necessitates  a  few  extra  supers,  but  it 
reduces  the  chance  of  having  cull  sections  to  a 
minimum.  With  your  super,  toward  the  end  of 
the  honey -How  some  of  the  section- holders  can 


662 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


be  removed,  and  ouly  the  unfinished  section 
left,  be    they  four,  eight,    twelve,  or    sixteen^ 
sections. 

The  bee-escapes  work  very  well.  I  have' 
been  in  the  habit  of  using  a  cloth  soaked  in  a 
weak  solution  of  carbolic  acid.  The  cloth  is 
wrung  nearly  dry.  The  bee-hive  is  opened  in 
the  usual  manner.  The  cloth  is  then  laid  on 
in  place  of  the  quilt;  the  bees  disappear  like  a 
shot  out  of  the  super,  and  the  crate  can  be 
removed.  The  bees  adhering  to  the  bottom-bar 
of  the  section-holder  must,  of  course,  be  re- 
moved. R.  F.  H01.TERMANN. 

Brantford,  Ont.,  Aug.  5. 

[The  section-holder  arrangement  with  the 
new  separators  worked  well  in  our  apiary.  The 
sections,  on  being  filled,  come  out  the  easiest 
and  cleanest  of  any  thing  we  have  before  seen 
or  tried,  and  just  as  we  have  advertised  of  it. 
It  saves  scraping  off  propolis  to  a  great  extent.] 


THE  POTATO  INDUSTRY  IN  COLORADO. 


RAISING  POTATOES  BY  IRRIGATION. 


Ever  since  friend  Root  visited  us  here  last 
winter,  and  then  wrote  back  in  his  "  Notes  of 
Travel  "  a  short  and  graphic  description  of  the 
way  that  we  store  our  potatoes,  I  have  been 
thinking  about  sending  in  a  short  essay,  setting 
forth  in  a  brief  way  the  way  that  we  raise, 
tend,  and  dispose  of  our  potato  crop  in  this  far- 
away western  land. 

The  fii'St  thing  to  be  considered  is  seed,  for 
the  abundance  of  the  crop  depends  in  a  great 
measure  on  the  quality  of  seed  that  you  plant. 
If  the  seed  is  poor  you  may  expect  a  poor  crop 
of  potatoes. 

Then  we  prepare  the  land  in  very  much  the 
same  way  that  you  would  for  corn,  harrowing 
it  thoroughly.  When  this  is  done  we  begin  to 
look  about  for  the  machine  to  plant  them  with; 
and  we  bring  out  a  very  intelligent-looking 
little  machine  called  the  Aspinwall  potato- 
planter,  manufactured  at  Three  Rivers.  Mich. 
We  are  careful  to  see  that  the  machine  is  well 
oiled  up,  and  in  good  trim  for  work.  All  the 
dropping  pickers  are  set  to  drop  all  the  very 
same  distance  apart;  then  with  a  great  big 
load  of  cut  potatoes,  loaded  on  a  wagon,  we 
bring  out  the  machine  and  attach  it  to  the  rear 
of  the  wagon  by  means  of  a  rope,  and  we  go  to 
the  place  in  the  field  where  we  wish  to  begin 
planting,  and  drop  off  our  planter,  and  along 
with  it  a  few  sacks  of  spuds  (as  we  call  them — 
potatoes  is  too  long  a  word)  and  then  we  dis- 
tribute the  sacks  along  the  end  of  the  field,  very 
much  the  same  as  though  you  were  going  to 
drill  in  wheat;  and  when  all  is  out  of  the  wagon, 
you  drive  the  team  back  to  the  f)lanter  and 
hitch  on,  and  away  we  go:  drive  fast  or  slow 
they  drop  all  the  same  distance  apart;  and  if 
we  put  in  all  day  in  the  field  with  team  and 
planter,  we  are  apt  to  have  about  eight  acres  of 
spuds  planted  at  the  end  of  the  day's  work. 

The  next  thing  to  be  looked  after  will  be  the 
tending  of  the  crop.  This  is  done  generally  by 
han-owing  the  potatoes  when  they  are  just 
coming  through  the  ground.  Some  might 
think  this  would  ruin  them.  Well,  it  docs 
seem  to  tear  them  some;  but  in  two  or  three 
days  they  are  as  nice  and  green,  and  perhaps 
more  so  than  if  they  had  not  had  that  scratch- 
ing. In  a  few  days,  too,  we  look  to  the  condi- 
tion of  our  cultivator.  This  is  the  same  as  a 
corn-cultivator;  and.  all  being  in  shape  for 
work,  we  go  into  the  field  and  give  another 
scratching,  or  cultivating  with  the  cultivator; 
and  after  we  have  been  over  the  crop  about 
three  times  we  then  consider  them  as  cultivated 


enough,  and  we  begin  to  prepare  them  for  ir- 
rigating. 
iC  Now  the  interesting  part  of  the  job  com- 
mences. First  of  all.  we  begin  by  ifurrowing 
out  our  crop  with  a  ditching-plow.  This  is  to 
make  a  ridge  on  which  the  potato  can  grow, 
and  also  make  a  ditch  between  the  rows,  so 
that  we  can  run  water  in  them  to  irrigate  with. 
This  ditching  is  accomplished  by  taking  a  very 
long  evener.  or  doubletree,  as  some  call  them; 
hitch  up  your  team  with  one  horse  at  each  end 
and  with  one  horse  walking  between  the  first 
and  second,  and  the  other  between  the  third 
and  fourth  rows,  making  the  space  between  the 
second  and  third  row  the  one  where  you  want 
to  make  the  furrow.  Remember  that  this  plow 
throws  a  furrow  out  each  way.  When  you 
have  come  to  the  end  of  the  row  you  turn  your 
team  around,  with  one  horse  to  walk  back  in 
the  same  place  he  did  when  you  were  coming 
up,  thus  making  the  ditch  between  the  fourth 
and  fifth  row  as  we  return.  Keeping  on  in  this 
way  till  the  field  has  been  gone  over  once  in 
every  other  row,  we  turn  around  and  go  over  it, 
furrowing  out  the  middles  this  time  in  which 
our  horses  walked  before.  In  doing  this  it 
makes  the  plow  run  level,  where,  if  we  furrow- 
ed out  every  middle  as  we  went  along,  it  would 
make  one  horse  walk  down  in  the  furrow  and 
one  out.  thus  making  the  plow  run  lop-sided. 

When  we  are  done  furrowing  out  we  begin  to 
look  about  turning  the  water  into  our  field.  We 
go  to  our  lateral  head  and  leave  orders  for  our 
water-shares  to  be  turned  in — that  is,  if  we  are 
not  already  using  the  water  to  irrigate  our  al- 
falfa with.  In  this  case  we  go  and  turn  the 
water  into  our  ditch  that  carries  it  around  to 
our  potato-field,  and  with  shovel  in  hand  we 
liie  us  to  the  place  where  we  want  to  turn  in 
the  water  into  the  furrows,  and  we  have  to  do 
some  pretty  lively  shoveling  if  we  keep  the 
water  divided  up  in  a  great  many  rows.  But, 
my  I  how  nice  it  is  to  see  the  bright  sparkling 
water  go  trickling  down  through  the  furrows, 
and  while  every  thing  else  is  dry  and  parched 
outside,  where  the  water  has  not  been  to  it  ! 
we  see  every  thing  here  where  we  have  irrigat- 
ed, fresh  and  green  as  in  spring  time.  If  we 
have  very  much  water,  as  I  have  said  before, 
it  may  keep  us  pretty  busy  shoveling;  but  when 
we  go"  in  the  fall  to  dig  our  crop  of  spuds,  and 
we  find  from  six  to  ten  in  every  hill  that  weigh 
from  8  ounces  to  3  and  4  lbs.,  then  we  feel  doubly 
repaid  for  all  our  hard  work  which  we  did  in 
irrigating  time. 

We  aim,  after  giving  our  crop  one  good  soak- 
ing, to  keep  the  ground  moist(not  too  wet),  and  it 
should  not  be  allow  ed  to  get  too  dry,  else  the 
growth  of  the  potato  is  hurt,  and  it  causes  the 
scab,  or,  as  some  call  it,  the  blight. 

It  is  now  getting  late  in  the  autumn,  and  we 
bejjin  to  think  about  digging  our  crop,  and  we 
want  to  see  what  our  potatoes  are  like;  so  with 
fork  and  basket  we  wend  our  way  to  the  field, 
and  we  begin  to  fork  out  a  hill  here  and  a  hill 
there;  and  as  we  turn  out  the  great  big  round, 
hard,  smooth  tubers  we  exclaim,  "  Well,  I 
never!"  We  shall  now  Tvant  to  be  getting  our 
sacks  in  readiness  to  put  our  potatoes  in.  If 
we  have  never  raised  potatoes  before  we  had 
better  get  somebody  to  tell  us  about  what  they 
will  go  to  the  acre,  and  we  can  easily  tell  then 
something  near  how  many  sacks  we  shall 
want,  striking  an  average  of  so  many 
sacks  to  the  acre.  Of  course,  we  should  know 
how  many  acres  we  have  in.  Well,  now,  if  the 
shippers  do  not  pay  us  as  much  as  we  think 
they  will  bring  us  in  a  few  weeks  or  months, 
we  have  these  big  dugouts,  or  cellars,  to  store 
our  crop  in.  If  these  great  underground  houses 
are  made  right  as  they  should  be,  our  spuds 
will  keep  just  as  nice  as  you  ever  saw  any  tning 


IS'.i-' 


GLEANIN(;S  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


e\r,[\ 


ill  vour  life:  ;uui  slioiild  ihc  tluM-iiionio.t<>r  go 
down  as  low  as  '.W  to  .15"  below,  if  tlu'  door  and 
vontilatois  liavo  hocn  sen- nrdy  shut  the  potatoes 
will  not  fn-i'/t'.  altlioiisjh  I  he  meivuiy  seldom 
or  never  soes  down  that  low  in  this  eliMial(\ 

Altlionjrh  1  iiave  prohahly  omitted  some  small 
ilenis  concerning  potato  culture  by  irrlsalion.  I 
thinl<  1  liave  jjiven  enonph  to  make  it  clear  to 
the  average  n^ader  about  the  way  w(>  go  at  it 
to  raise  tliose  great  big  crops  of  spuds. 

(Jreelev.  Col..  June  U,        TiiKo.  V.  .Ikssit. 


L.  L.  LANGSTROTH'S  EXPERIENCE  WITH  THE 
LONDON  EAR-TRUMPET. 


HKI.I'   FOK    DEFIOf'TIVK    UKAHINO. 


Perhaps  very  few  of  my  read"rs  realize  how 
Tiiucli  more  comfortable  it  is  to  be  old  in  theso 
days  than  it  was  some  two  or  three  liundred 
years  ago.  liefore  the  invention  of '^l)ectacles. 
how  often  a  man.  still  in  the  very  prime  of  life, 
must  have  found  himself  no  longer  tit  for  nice 
work,  through  the  failing  of  his  eyesightl  Now 
we  have  sp(>ctacles.  for  the  i-elief  of  such  in- 
ability, and  also  for  seeing  objects  at  a  distance, 
such,  for  instance,  as  the  pebbles  on  the  road- 
side or  the  cherries  on  th'  trees,  almost  if  not 
quite  as  well  as  the  young.  It  is  true,  that  de- 
fective teeth  were  not  so  commcju  in  the  olden 
times  as  they  now  are.  but  still  we  know  that 
they  were  so  comtnon  that  specimens  of  how 
this  intii-mity  was  remedied  have  been  found  in 
old  skeletons,  almost  as  perfect  as  the  modern 
invention. 

But  what  can  be  done  to  relieve  those  who 
are  liard  of  hearing?  Few  can  be  persuaded  to 
use  the  huge  old-fashioned  ear-trumpet  or  the 
long  rubber  tube;  and  yet  when  one  becomes  so 
hard  of  hearing  as  not  to  hear  the  preacher  or 
the  orator,  or  even  the  ordinary  conversation  of 
the  social  circle,  it  does  not  take  long  to  realize 
what  a  great  misfortune  has  befallen  him. 
Such  an  unfortunate  soon  perceives  that  the 
world  is  too  busy  to  try  to  make  a  deaf  man 
hear,  and  gradually  ceases  to  attempt  to  hear 
any  spoken  words,  except  such  as  are  directed 
to  himself  personally.  vSlowly  but  surely  he 
drops  out  of  social  intercourse  with  his  fellow- 
men,  and  life  has  lost  a  very  large  part  ofcits 
charms. 


oi'.Ai'iroxE.  oi:  i.ondox  ear-trlmpet. 

About  two  months  ago  a  friend  who  is  very 
hard  of  hearing  told  me  how  he  remedi(id  it  by 
pressing  the  thin  surface  of  a  patented  inven- 
tion against  his  teeth:  but  as  I  had  none  but 
artificial  teeth  it  was  of  no  use  to  me.  He  then 
gave  me  a  little  ear-trumpet,  known  as  the 
London  trumpet,  or  oraphone.  I  was  so  de- 
lighted with  it  that  I  took  it  to  bed  the  first 
night  to  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing  the  clock 


tick  when  I  awoke.  Sjx'akingof  it  todiffen-nt 
friends  I  found  that  there  wasadcnuand  for  it; 
l)ut  whil(>  it  helned  many,  others  seemed  to  get 
no  important  relief  from  its  use.  I'^inding  that, 
by  helping  jxior  deaf  humanity.  I  can  at  the 
same  time  iielp  myself.  I  am  prepareti  to  sell 
thi'S(>  trumiM'ls  at  thi'  usual  retail  price.  .*4.. 50, 
to  any  of  your  r(^aders  who  are  bard  of  heacing 
or  have  friends  or  acquaintances  who  may  be 
so  unfortunate. 

This  cut  represents  its  ap|)('ara,nce:  three 
and  a  half  inches  long,  and  two  and  on(!-eighth 
inrlies  in  diameter,  is  the  si/.(>  usually  preferrecJ. 
On  receipt  by  mail  of  a  money  order  or  check 
for  .^4..5()  I  will  mail  one  prepaid  to  any  address. 
It  may  be  kept  on  trial  for  two  weeks;  and  if 
not  found  serviceabUi  it  may  then  be  remailed 
to  me  in  the  original  package  (postage  only  ."> 
cts.).  and  the  check  or  money  order  sent  mi-  \\  ill 
be  returned.  L.  L.  Laxostrotii. 

120  Ford  St.,  Dayton,  O. 

[Perhaps  some  of  the  friends  may  think  that 
the  above  is  somewhat  in  the  nature  of  a  free 
advertisement:  but  we  should  rememeer  that 
friend  Langstroth  takes  the  chances  of  sending 
them  out  broadcast,  on  trial;  and.  judging  from 
some  experience  of  my  own  in  a  similar  line.  I 
fear  he  will  have  considerable  trouble  in  col- 
lecting them  all  in  promptly  or  the  pay.  And 
may  I  be  permitted  to  urge  that  all  who  get  one 
on  trial  will  try  hard  to  return  the  instrument 
promptly,  or  else  the  price,  $4.50,  say  inside  of  a 
week  ?  I  hope  there  is  no  one,  among  the  bee- 
keepers at  least,  who  would  annoy,  or  allow  his 
friends  to  annoy,  one  who  has  all  his  life  been 
such  a  benefactor  to  bee-keepers  as  our  good 
friend  L.  L.  Langstroth.] 


LADIES'  Conversazione. 


ANOTHER  POOR  HONEY  YEAR  AT  MARENGO. 


smokers  and  smoker  fuel. 


This  spring  our  bees  were  not  in  very  good 
condition  when  taken  from  the  cellar  to  begin 
with.  Then  the  disastrous  weather  that  fol- 
lowed made  sad  havoc  with  them.  We  put  289 
colonies  in  the  cellar  last  fall.  Dr.  Miller  had 
concluded  we  had  too  many  bees  for  two  to  take 
care  of  comfortably  witii  what  else  we  had  to 
do,  and  that  he  would  double  up  and  reduce  the 
number  to  200  colonies. 

Well,  they  saved  him  the  trouble  by  doubling 
themselves  up,  only  they  did  the  work  on  a 
little  more  extensive  scale  than  he  intended 
doing,  as  they  reduced  themselves  to  128  colo- 
nies to  commence  the  season  with.  We  bent 
all  our  energies  to  get  them  in  good  condition 
for  the  harvest.  AVe  fed  Ww.m  lil)erally,  and 
yet  about  the  5th  of  .July  some  of  them  were 
almost  in  a  starving  condition. 

Dthers  began  to  report  wonderful  floods  of 
honey,  so  we  kept  our  courage;  up.  expecting 
our  turn  would  come  next.  VVhen  our  bees  be- 
gan storing  in  sections  we  felt  very  much  en- 
couraged. The  honey  shook  out  of  the  l)rood- 
frames  readily,  and  yet  robbers  bothered  at 
times  even  then.  The  expected  flood  has  not 
yet  come.  With  a  few  exceptions,  work  in  the 
supers  is  irregular,  sealing  i)eing  commenced 
on  the  center  sections  before  the  outer  ones  are 
half  filled,  even  in  supers  that  are  overflowing 
with  bees. 

In  a  few  cases  we  thought  we  were  justified 
in  giving  second  supers.  It  begins  to  look  now 
as  if  we  were  hardly  wise  in  doing  so,  as  by  that 


664 


GLEANiNGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  ]. 


means  we  may  have  no  finished  sections  in 
eitiier  super:  whereas  we  might  have  had  one 
super  finished.  In  fact,  it  looks  a  little  as  if  we 
were  to  be  sl<ipped  this  year.  We  certainly  are 
having  no  ttood  of  honey,  although  white  clover 
is  and  has  been  abundant.  Basswood  has  come 
and  gone,  and  given  us  nothing.  Only  a  small 
number  of  the  lew  trees  we  do  have  gave  us  any 
bloom.  Swarming  has  troubled  us  less  than 
usual.  It  gives  us  a  sort  of  homesick  feeling  to 
read  of  the  big  crops  oth(TS  are  harvesting. 
Nevertheless,  we  are  glad  they  are  getting 
them. 

We  have  one  of  the  improved  Bingham 
smokers,  and  I  have  ii?ed  it  almost  entirely  this 
summer.  One  thing  I  like  about  it  very  much 
is,  that  you  can  burn  such  long  pieces  of  wood 
in  it.  We  use  apple  wood  a  good  deal  as  fuel. 
and  it  is  excellent.  As  two  of  our  apiaries  are 
under  apple-trees,  it  is  very  convenient  to  fill  a 
smokei',  when  necessary,  by  simply  breaking  ott' 
a  dead  limb  and  breaking  it  in  pirces  small 
enough  to  go  in  a  smoker.  If  a  dense,  sharp 
smoke  is  needed,  we  get  a  hot  fire  started,  cut 
up  some  green  apple  wood,  and  what  a  very 
dense  smoke  it  gives  usi  This  will  work  in 
either  the  Bingham  or  Clark. 

W'e  keep  a  box  for  holding  shavings  at  each 
of  the  out-apiaries,  and  although  they  are  cov- 
ered with  tin  covers  we  did  have  trials  this  ex- 
traordinarily wet  spring  in  keeping  the  shav- 
ings dry.  If  you  have  never  had  auy  experience 
in  starting  a  smoker  with  damp  fuel,  tliere  is  no 
use  telling  you  about  it.  You  couldn't  appre- 
ciate it.  A  few  live  coals  from  the  stove,  or  a 
piece  of  saltpeter  wood,  is  a  great  help  in  light- 
ing a  smoker.  I  can  hardly  tell  whicli  smoker 
I  like  l^etter,  the  Clark  or  the  Bingham.  They 
are  both  good.  The  Bingham  is  the  more  dur- 
able one,  as  it  does  not  suck  smoke  back  into 
the  bellows.  I  think  the  Clark  not  quite  so 
clumsy  to  handle,  and  I  prefir  it  for  driving 
bees  out  of  sevtn-al  supers  at  a  time,  as  it  sends 
a  stronger  blast.  Emma  Wilson. 

Marengo.  111.,  July  28. 


BBOOD-COMBS. 


MKS.  L.  C.  AXTELL  EXPLAINS  HOW  TO  PKHSKKVE 
THEM. 

It  is  not  a  very  easy  task  lo  presei-ve  old 
combs  when  one  has  uver  a  thousand,  as  we  had 
this  spring.  We  piled  ihem  up  carefully,  so 
that  no  comb  should  touch  the  other,  and  with 
spaces  between  and  aiound  tlieui,  upon  slielves. 
in  a  small  plastered  room  wdere  we  had  been 
keeping  our  comb  honey  in  years  past.  Four 
times  we  smoked  them  with  sulphur  until  there 
was  no  living  insect  on  the  window.  The  burn- 
ing sulphur  was  set  under  them,  so  as  to  as- 
cend through  them.  The  fumes  of  the  sulphur 
killed  the  millers,  or  moths,  but  not  tlie  worms, 
in  the  room  or  in  the  combs.  I  have  seen  al- 
most no  dead  worms.  The  weather  being  hot 
they  breed  fast;  and  as  we  were  using  those  off 
the  lower  tier,  and  not  using  many,  we  did  not 
notice  how  bad  they  were  up  high  in  the  room 
near  the  roof,  especially  on  the  west  side  of  the 
room.  A  few  days  more  and  they  would  have 
been  entirely  ruined.  As  it  was,  we  picked  off 
nearly  a  wash-boiler  of  webs  and  cocoons,  and 
left  many  tliousands  in  them  for  the  bees  to 
clean  out,  by  placing  thom  in  all  hives  that 
have  no  supers  on.  111  ling  the  bodies  of  the 
hives;  and,  if  enough  bees,  tiering  them  up  one 
and  two  tiers  high  above  the  l)e(>s.  But  as  the 
bees  wer(>  getting  no  honey  at  tlie  time  of  find- 
ing them  in  tliat  condition,  we  feared  robbing 
out  those  colonies,  wliicli  would  most  surely 
have  been  done.     We  first  put  them,  with  tln'ir 


thousands  of  worms,  into  empty  hives,  and  fas- 
tened them  up  so  but  an  inch  or  two  of  room 
was  left  for  the  bees  to  go  out  and  in.  The  bees 
cari'ied  out  what  little  honey  was  in  them,  and 
cleaned  out  most  of  the  worms  ;  but  if  the 
combs  were  not  set  an  incli  or  two  apart  tlie 
worms  again  made  webs  and  went  on  with 
their  work  of  destruction.  Aft(>r  the  honey 
was  taken  out  we  then  tiered  them  up  over 
hives  as  above  spoken  of. 

Some  of  the  worst  combs  we  set  four  and  five 
together,  close  in  front  of  the  comb-honey  colo- 
nies— the  large  colonies,  which  came  out  of  their 
own  hives  and  clustered  over  tliem  cleaning  out 
all  worms  and  webs,  and  sealing  up  the  injured 
combs  where  the  webs  were  torn  out.  I  believe 
they  might  be  left  thus  at  one  side  the  entrance 
of  large  hives  for  some  time  —  I  don't  know  but 
all  summer — provided  the  wind  would  not  blow 
them  down,  nor  the  rains  wet  and  rot  them,  nor 
the  sun  melt  them.  Of  course,  we  could  set  tliem 
in  fi'ont  of  such  hives  only  as  were  under  shade; 
or,  if  not  shaded,  we  leaned  some  old  boards  up 
against  them. 

I  had  no  idea  how  nicely  the  bees  would  clean 
and  patch  up  those  combs;  but  we  shall  have  to 
take  thetn  in  before  a  heavy  storm,  as  I  think  a 
storm  would  injui-e  them.  If  the  t)ees  were  get- 
ting much  honey  it  might  do  to  set  combs  having 
a  little  honey  in  that  were  i^eing  injured  by  the 
moths,  close  to  the  fronts  of  full  colonies;  but  I 
think  it  would  cause  robbing  nights  and  morn- 
ings unless  honey  were  coming  in  very  plentiful- 
ly. They  might  be  left  there  over  night  and  ta- 
ken away  in  the  morning:  but  those  dry  combs 
cause  no  rohlMng  or  commotion  whatever.  We 
had  a  few  combs  left  in  hives  .all  summer  that 
bees  could  get  at,  and  not  a  moth  troubled  them 
at  all.  After  this,  when  we  lose  bees  in  winter- 
ing I  think  we  shall  leave  the  combs  in  the  hives 
they  died  in.  and  leave  the  entrance  open  for 
the  liees  to  keep  out  the  moths  and  take  out  the 
honey.  Moths  do  not  seem  to  work  so  much  in 
dried  combs  that  are  perfectly  free  from  honey 
and  bee- bread.  I  think  it  is  pollen  that  they 
like  much  better  than  honey.  I  think  I  have 
seldom  or  nevei'  S(  en  moths  in  a  section  of  comb 
honey  if  there  were  no  eel  Is  of  bee- bread  in  them. 

Putting  combs  in  a  cellar,  and  fastening  them 
an  inch  or  so  apart,  would,  I  think,  be  a  good 
place  to  keep  them,  as  some  have  recommend- 
ed, provided  they  could  be  kept  from  the  mice. 
Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtell. 

Roseville,  111.,  Aug.  11,  1892. 


HUMBUGS  AND  SWINDLES. 


the    cold    process   of   PUTTING   UP   FHUIT. 

Friend  Root: — Can  you  give  me  any  informa- 
tion of  the  Ohio  Fruit  Company,  New  Concord, 
Ohio?  They  are  selling  the  California  cold 
process  of  putting  up  fruit,  and  I  liave  bought 
the  recipe.  They  use  compound  extract  of 
salyx.  Is  there  any  danger  in  its  use?  What 
is  it?  Is  the  process  a  humbug  or  not?  Why  I 
ask  is  this:  I  see  in  a  ladies'  journal  a  notice  of 
its  lieing  a  fraud,  and  the  salyx  extract  as  poi- 
sonous, and  telling  us  not  to  run  any  risk.  I 
thought  if  any  man  in  Ohio  would  know  of  its 
reliability  it  would  be  you. 

Hloomdale,  O.,  Aug.  3.        W.  N.  Ferguson. 

[My  good  friend,  neither  Bradstreet  nor  Dun 
makes  any  mention  of  any  such  fruit  company 
at  all;  therefore  there  is  no  such  company,  or. 
at  least,  it  is  a  very  small  institution:  and,  be- 
sides, this  whole  matter  of  selling  I'ecipes  for 
doing  any  thing  is  a  humbug  and  a  swindle. 
The  matter  has  been  gone  over  again  and  again; 


1S'.>2 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


665 


and  our  best  autlioritios.  our  oxpcrimoiil  sta- 
tions, and  our  apririiltural  eollogcs  will  tell  you 
that  no  valual>l«>  inforiuatiou  ever  ooincs 
throuuli  some  scrivt  process  that  is  sold  for  a 
oortaiu  sum  of  luoiicy.  Our  a',M'ii'ultural  prri- 
odirals  art'  rousiatitly  on  tin'  lool<out  for  \alu- 
abli>  proot'ssos  of  any  sort  \vliati'V(»r.  If  ihvro 
is  any  sui'li  thing  they  aro  ready  to  buy  it  and 
give  it  to  tlio  world.  If  you  will  look  over  tho 
back  volunit>s  of  i;i,kamn'gs  you  will  lintl  that 
wo  have  boufiht  recipes  again  and  again,  just 
to  see  if  any  thing  valuable  ever  comes  in  that 
way.  All  siicli  venturt^s  have  b(>on  failures  so 
far.  One  of  the  recipes  for  making  artiticial 
honey,  that  was  advertised  in  most  glowing 
eolors.  was  found  in  Dr.  Chase's  Family  Recipe 
Book:  and  the  (jrait  sa-rct  for  curing  disease 
without  medicine,  that  a  short  time  ago  bid 
fair  to  take  humanity  by  storm,  and  make  the 
vender  of  the  secret  a  millvmnire.  was  all  found 
in  our  f<imihj  ilocUir  book.  It  is  hclihid  tlie 
times,  this  whole  matter  of  getting  information 
in  that  style.  You  do  not  say  what  you  paid 
for  your  recipe,  but  no  doubt  enough  to  have 
bought  a  nice  book  covering  the  whole  matter 
of  preserving  fruits.  I  have  no  per.sonal  knowl- 
edge in  reeai'd  to  the  matt(>r  of  the  "e.xtract  of 
salyx:"  but  many  of  our  agricultural  papers 
have  been  notifying  the  public  that  the  use  of 
salicylic  acid,  and  all  such  substances  of  like 
nature,  for  this  purpose,  is  at  least  very  danger- 
ous to  health.  It  is  a  shame  that  papers  that 
claim  to  be  working  for  the  public  good  should 
give  i)lace  to  such  schemes.  The  cold  process 
of  putting  up  fruit  is  advertised  much  like  the 
silver-plating  outfit.  Some  woman  or  some 
farmer's  ihixujhter  writes  to  the  paper  some 
sort  of  hint  about  housekeeping,  and  then  she 
winds  up  by  saying  that  she  has  been  making 
money  very  fast  with  tlie  cold  process  or  the 
silver-plating  ajtparatus.  Now.  an  editor  who 
will  accept  a  blind  advertisement  of  this  sort, 
and  take  pay  for  inserting  it  in  his  columns, 
deserves  to— become  a  bankrupt.  The  truth  is, 
all  letters  of  this  sort  are  not  letters  at  all.  No 
woman  or  farmer's  daughter  ever  wrote  any 
thing  of  the  kind.  The  whole  thing  is  a  cheat 
and  a  swindle,  gotten  up  by  the  unprincipled 
m<(n  at  the  bottom  of  it,  and  he  pays  the  editor 
of  the  paper  a  certain  sum  of  money  for  putting 
it  in  the  pai)er  in  a  place  where  it  will  seem  to 
be  a  honn-fide  letter.  Please  note  that  most  of 
these  swindles  direct  people  to  send  their  mon- 
ey to  Zanesville.  Ohio.  If  the  good  people  of 
Zanesville  do  not  soon  wake  up  and  get  this 
man  Bain  and  his  associates  out  of  their  midst, 
their  town  will  soon  acquire  a  reputation  for 
swindling  concerns  that  it  may  not  recover 
from  in  years  to  come. 

We  find  New  Concord  is  in  the  same  county 
(Muskingum)  that  Zanesville  is;  and  very 
likely  the  rascals  thought  that  another  post- 
oftice  would  be  a  better  place  for  their  scheme. 
The  Postolhce  Department  of  the  U.  S.  has  at 
least  once  forbidden  mail  matter  being  deliver- 
ed to  Bain  and  his  clique.  Will  the  proper  of- 
ficials at  New  Concord  please  look  after  this?] 


Heads  of  Grain 


FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS 


PL'XIC    KEE.S  :     AXOTHEK    ADVERSF:    REI'ORT. 

As  I  have  five  colonies  of  I'unics,  and  in  a  cli- 
mate'almost  like  their  own  nhermometer  from 
100  to  117°  in  the  shadei.  I  have  been  putting 
them  right  down  to  a  test.  I  heartily  indorse 
all  you  have  to  say  regarding  them  in  a  recent 
issue  of  (iLEAXixfis.    More  is  to  be  learned.   As 


for  their  being  very  gentle,  they  are  directlvthe 
opposite.  Go  within  three  or  four  feet  of  the 
side  of  a  hive  just  after  they  have  (juit  work  for 
that  day.  and  they  will  dart  at  yijin-  pants  legs 
like  arrows.  I  have  looked  time  and  again  to 
find  a  (iiieen.  but  all  my  efforts  were  in  vain.  I 
find  they  also  have  a  terrible  swarming  propen- 
sity. A  few  we(>ks  ago.  while  in  an  alfalfa  lield 
I  noticed  on  one  of  the  checks  (that  had  been 
nuuieto  hold  the  water)  a  badgcM'  hole  about  8 
inclu's  in  diameter.  In  this  hole.  ai)()ut  :5  ft.  in 
the  ground,  was  a  fine  swarm  of  bees,  hard  at 
work,  and  W(>11  satisfied.  I  could  easily  see 
them.  They  were  suspended  from  the"  top, 
building  their  combs  to  the  sandy  soil.  This  is 
a  feature  that  I  had  never  seen  or  heard  of  be- 
fore. F.  D.  Lowe. 

Rosedale,  Cal..  July  23. 

[Here  is  another,  from  Mr.  Klock.  that  does 
not  speak  very  well  for  tli((  new  bees:]  , 

The  Funics  are  prolilic.  and  the  very  best 
workers,  but  that  is  all  that  can  l)e  said  for 
them.  They  build  neaily  all  drone  comb,  and 
the  comb  honey  in  boxes  has  a  very  watery  ap- 
pearance. They  handle  like  Cyprians.  Smoke 
had  but  very  little  effect  on  them. 

Urban,  Pa.,  July  25.  J.  S.  Klock. 

HONEY    FHOM     I5LACK     MANGROVE:     A     REPORT 
FROM   W.    S.    HART,   OF   FLORIDA. 

Tt.e  honey-flow  from  black  mangrove  still 
continues,  and  is  now  as  abundant  as  at  any 
time  this  season,  but  is  liable  to  cease  at  any 
time  within  the  next  ten  days.  Up  to  date  the 
flow  has  been  considerably  below  an  average, 
and  bees  have  been  notably  cross  throughout 
the  season,  though  the  bloom  has  been  profuse. 
The  late  winter  and  spring  flows  were  some- 
what scant  in  this  section,  owing  to  forest  fires 
and  a  late  frost.  Late  in  April  and  the  first 
half  of  May  there  was  a  light  flow  that  caused 
the  queens  to  lay  well,  and  then  came  another 
break  in  the  flow  that  left  the  colonies  with  al- 
most no  young  brood  or  eggs  at  the  beginning 
of  June,  the  very  time  when  brood  was  most 
needed,  as  the  mangrove  flow  came  late  this 
year.  A  little  stimulative  feeding  the  last  three 
weeks  of  May  would  have  been  a  most  profita- 
ble investment:  but  I  had  several  weighty  mat- 
ters upon  my  hands  at  the  time,  and  did  not 
watch  my  bees  sufficiently  close  to  realize  the 
need  until  it  was  too  late. 

MIGRATORY   KEE-KEEPIXG. 

This  seems  to  be  getting  quite  popular  here. 
.Several  bee-men  have  brought  their  apiaries 
here  from  the  interior  to  secure  the  mangrove 
yield,  and  these  bees  come  in  good  shape,  as 
they  had  built  up  strong  on  the  orange-blossom 
and  other  interior  crops.  Mes.srs.  Poppleion 
and  Storer  also  brought  their  bees  back  from 
the  .St.  Lucie  River,  where  they  had  secured  a 
good  crop  of  wild-pennyroyal  and  saw-palmetto 
honey,  a'ld  got  in  good  condition  to  make  the 
most"  of  (he  summer  crop  here.  The  Florida 
honey  ci'op  will  run  considerably  below  the 
average  for  this  season,  lieyond  question 

My  friend  Harry  Mitchell  made  a  little  dis- 
covery lately  in  regard  to  an  application  to  the 
hands  that  prevents  the  bees  from  stinging 
them,  but  I  will  let  him  give  it  to  the  public  if 
he  cares  to  do  so.  W.  .S.  Hart. 

Hawks  Park,  Fla.,  July  28. 


B.^SSWOOD   A    FAILURE   IN     RICHLAND     CO.,    WIS. 

Bass  wood  is  now  in  bloom.  Bees  did  not  be- 
gin to  work  upon  it  this  year  till  the  18th  of 
July.  Last  year  they  began  upon  some  trees 
on  the  :sd  of  July.  This  is  the  "off "  year  up 
here  for  l)assvvood  to  bloom.  Not  inore  than 
one  tree  in  ten  will  bloom  at  all  this  year,  and 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  L 


hence  the  yield  of  honey  will  be  light.  If  bees 
in  Richland  Co.  get  enough  honey  this  year 
from  all  sources,  to  winter  on,  the  bee-keepers 
will  be  thankful. 

ALSIKE   CLOVER. 

There  is  a  tine  crop  of  white  clover  growing, 
but  it  is  mainly  from  the  seed,  and  may  not 
bloom  much;  and,  in  case  it  does,  it  may  not 
secrete  honey  this  season.  The  farmers  here 
are  beginning  to  grow  alsike  quite  extensively. 
Those  who  have  grown  it  speak  well  of  it. 
They  think  it  makes  the  best  of  hay.  both  for 
cows  and  sheep,  and  that  it  is  very  profitable 
when  grown  for  its  seed.  One  farmer  in  this 
county  has  sold  §=300  worth  of  seed  from  3  acres 
of  alsike  clover  in  3  years.  Besides  the  seed, 
his  stock — cows  and  sheep — have  eaten  every 
bit  of  the  thrashed  straw.  He  values  the 
thrashed  alsike  as  highly,  at  least,  as  the  un- 
thrashed  red  clover.  M.  M.  Bai-deidge. 

Richland  Center,  Wis.,  July  21. 


HOW  FAB   APART     MUST     TWO     RACES     OF   BEES 
BE   KEPT   TO   BE   PURE  ?   SOME   INTER- 
ESTING  FACTS. 

I  see  some  write  as  though  they  thought  two 
different  races  of  bees  could  be  kept  within  one 
mile  of  each  other  and  yet  be  no  mixing  from 
one  to  the  other.  If  such  writers  are  practicing 
what  they  teach  they  do  not  know  what  mixed 
bees  are. 

When  the  apiary  of  which  I  am  part  owner 
was  fii'St  Italianized  the  Italian  bees  were  un- 
known about  here.  At  that  time  there  were 
within  five  miles  of  our  apiary  about  as  many 
hives  of  black  or  Germau  bees  as  we  had  Ital- 
ians; and  by  the  second  season  about  half  of 
the  hives  of  black  bees  within  that  distance 
showed  trace  of  the  Italian  blood.  A  few  colo- 
nies mixed  seven  miles  off.  The  bees  in  some 
of  these  hives  would  be  pretty  fair  hybiids. 
while  in  others  about  a  fourth  of  the  bees  would 
show  one  and  two  bands,  the  others  none  at  all. 
Up  to  this  time  no  swarms  had  left  our  yard; 
and.  according  to  the  theoiy  of  nearly  all  the 
best  authorities  on  bees  (in  which  they  surely 
aie  wrong),  there  could  not  have  been  any  hy- 
brid drones  in  the  hives  of  black  bees  by  the 
second  season. 

Mr.  Editor,  you  say,  in  your  ABC,  that  you 
have  never  noticed  any  particular  difference  in 
the  progeny  of  an  Italian  queen  mated  to  a 
black  drone  and  that  of  a  black  queen  mated  to 
an  Italian  drone.  Tlwre's  something  wi'ong. 
We  have  reared  all  of  our  queens  from  imported 
mothers  from  the  beginning,  and  I  have  yet  to 
see  my  first  black  bee  from  a  daughter  of  an 
imported  queen,  no  matter  what  kind  of  drone 
she  mated  with.  Was  it  not  drones  from  queens 
that  were  producing  hybrid  bees  (for  of  such 
about  half  of  our  queens  were  at  that  time) 
that  gave  the  black  bees  the  small  taint  of  Ital- 
ian blood '?  George  W.  Cleveland. 

Decatur,  Miss.,  July  28. 

[Friend  C,  you  have  struck  a  very  important 
point.  Since  you  mention  it.  I  do  remember 
that,  when  we  first  introduced  Italians,  every 
queen  we  reared  produced  yellow  bees,  almost 
without  regard  to  what  kind  of  a  drone  she  met 
in  her  flight ;  and  friend  Doolittle  has  said  the 
same  thing.  Perhaps  the  third  band  was  not 
always  very  distinct,  but  the  workers  all  seem- 
ed to  be  Italians,  before  tln.'re  was  any  chance 
for  hybrid  queens  in  our  apiary  or  neighbor- 
hood. Very  soon  I  noticed  that  same  thing  you 
mention,  among  the  bees  in  our  neighbors"  api- 
aries, say  all  the  way  from  one  to  five  miles 
away  from  our  Italians.  There  were  more  or 
less  yellow  bees  among  all  the  blacks.  Some  of 
them   were  very   finely  marked.    The  greater 


part  of  them  had  only  two  bands,  and  some 
even  only  one.  I  rather  think  my  statement  in 
the  A  B  C  book  was  intended  to  apply  to  the 
honey-gathering  qualities  of  the  bees  rather 
than  to  the  color.]  A.  I.  R. 

"  ALL   CENTERS   ON   A   GOOD   QUEEN.' 

Bees  have  done  pretty  well  with  me  this  sea- 
son. A  year  ago  this  spring  I  had  1(3  colonies, 
and  6  were  queenless.  I  was  discouraged.  But 
I  went  to  work  and  built  them  up  to  .56  colonies, 
raising  my  own  queens  and  furnishing  them 
full  sheets  of  foundation.  I  fed  three  barrels 
of  sugar  in  doing  it.  and  wintered  every  colo- 
ny. They  came  through  in  fine  shape.  I  fed  a 
barrel  of  sugar  this  spring;  and  when  every- 
body was  complaning  of  the  bad  weather,  and 
bees  running  down,  mine  were  increasing  in 
numbers.  They  have  swarmed  and  swarmed — 
had  a  mania  for  it;  but  I  tried  to  keep  them 
back.  One  reason  why  they  have  done  so  well, 
and  I  want  to  emphasize  it,  is  because  all  the 
queens  were  raised  from  fl  colony  that  came 
through  good  and  strong  a  year  ago  last  spring, 
and  queens  were  fertilized  by  drones  from  a  col- 
ony that  gave  me  the  most  honey  iwo  years 
ago.  The  queens  were  all  in  vigorous  condition, 
being  only  one  year  old.  You  know  Doolittle 
says.  ■'  All  centers  on  a  good  queen."  and  I  be- 
lieve it.  All  my  colonies  worked  about  alike  in 
the  sections.  I  could  see  no  difference.  I  had 
nuclei,  made  the  10th  of  June,  give  me  on  an 
average  30  lbs.  of  comb  honey.  I  believe  that, 
if  bee-keepers  would  give  more  attention  to  the 
blood  of  their  queens,  they  would  get  better 
results.  I  shall  get  about  3000  lbs.  from  .55  col- 
onies. 

I  have  just  tried  a  Porter  bee-escape.  They 
make  it  only  fun  to  take  off  honey. 

Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  2.     F.  A.  Salisbury. 


WATER-WILLOW   AS  A   HONEY-PLANT. 

I  saw  E.  R.  Root  at  the  bee-keepers'  conven- 
tion at  Toledo,  O.,  in  1891.  I  was  telling  him 
about  a  honey-plant  that  grew  in  the  Raisin 
River,  and  he  wished  me  to  send  a  sample  to 
you  and  have  you  tell  what  it  was.  I  got  .some 
to  send  last  year  ;  but  it  got  destroyed,  so  I 
have  cut  some  more  to-day.  The  blossoms  fall 
off  so  easily  that  I  don't  know  whether  you  can 
tell  much  about  it.  I  send  some  of  the  seed- 
pods  also,  and  a  root  from  another  stalk  that  I 
had  trimmed  before  I  noticed  it.  I  first  noticed 
it  by  the  great  buzzing  of  the  bees  as  I  was  go- 
ing up  the  river  in  the  summer  of  1890.  I  did 
not  see  many  on  it  last  summer,  and  have  not 
seen  any  on  it  this  summer.  It  seems  to  me  it 
was  in  blossom  in  June  last  year.  It  grows 
where  bars  form  in  the  river,  in  quite  large 
patches.  It  came  from  up  stream.  It  had  not 
got  down  as  far  as  Monroe  last  year.  I  live  six 
and  a  half  miles  west  of  Monroe. 

Jonathan  Atkinson. 

Raisinville,  Mich.,  July  29. 

[Prof.  Cook  says  of  this:] 

The  name  of  the  above  is  D'umthera  Ainerl- 
ama — water-willow.  I  know  of  no  other  bee 
or  honey  plant  in  this  family,  which  is  the 
Acanthus  family.  A.  J.  Cook. 

Ag'l  College,  Mich. 


WORMWOOD   smoke   FOR  ROBBERS. 

As  there  is  now  getting  to  be  a  dearth  in  the 
honey- flow,  so  robbers  are  coming  around,  there 
is  a  chance  to  play  Chinaman  on  them.  To  do 
that,  just  put  a  little  dry  wormwood  into  the 
smoker;  and  when  the  wormwood  smoke  gets 
well  to  going,  go  to  work,  and  if  you  are  trou- 
bled with  inquisitive  bees  you  will  see  what  I 
have  not  known  to  happen  in  the  19  years  that 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


0()7 


I  havo  us(>il  it  ;H  odd  tiiiK^:  and  wlini  the  Ihm>s 
get  to  omiiiiii:  in  w in'fc  1  am  liaiidliii;^  honey  I 
ft'l  tlii'in  lid  (|iiit»'  niiiiKitiiis.  and  ilicn  put  a 
iiandlid  in  tlic  smoloT  and  set  it  goinc;  heavy; 
aiul.collvl  ain't  it  fun  to  see  ilieiii  leave  in- 
stanter?  "Try  it.  H.  f/.  .Ikkkkkv. 

Woodlieiiy.  ("t..  Aug.  3. 

[Wo  have  not  Hied  the  exporiineut  above  but 
will  do  so  >oon.l 

FISH-KII.l.lNti    SIMPKHS. 

A  subscriber  to  Gi,K.\NiN<is  ffoin  Iowa  sends 
me  a  large  spider  which  he  .-ays  UMlled  a  tish— a 
minnow.  He  asUs  ine  if  I  would  be  willing  to 
have  niy  children  handle  iliis  one.  The  spider 
is  a  species  of  l)ni)<.sux.  These  are  large,  dark, 
sober-colored  spiders.  The  eggs  are  in  two 
parallel  rows,  four  in  each  row.  The  four  mid- 
dle legs  are  shorter  than  are  the  other  four. 
Some  are  very  large,  as  was  the  one  sent.  The 
common  house  spider.  Tc(jctutri(t  duincstmi,  be- 
longs to  the  same  family — Drassida'.  I  have 
handled  just  such  spiders  often,  and  have 
taught  my  children  not  to  fear  them;  and  I 
assure  my  Iowa  friend  that  we  all  are  yet  here, 
and  never  yet  were  harmed  by  a  spider.  I  will 
agree  to  handle  any  Michigan  or  Iowa  spider, 
without  gloves,  even  as  large  a  one  as  that  sent 
by  our  friend.  A.  J.  Cook. 

"Agricultural  College,  Mich. 


THE  BEAUTIFUL  MAY— THAT  DIDN  T  COME. 

All  tlirougli  the  long  dreary  April 

Wc  longed  for  the  lovely  May 
With  her  sunshine  and  liirds  and  flowers 

That  come  with  the  soft  spring  day. 
But  we  watched  her  birth  in  the  morning. 

Through  teardrops  of  falling  rain; 
For  nature  was  grieved  for  her  darling. 

And  wept  that  she  came  thus  in  pain. 

We  hoped  she  would  smile  on  the  morrow, 

And  watched  through  each  dreary  day 
For  the  tit)wei-s,  the  birds,  and  the  sunshine. 

To  welcome  the  lovely  Maj'. 
But  the  winds  grieved  with  mournful  sighing. 

And  the  clouds  wept  their  tears  of  pain. 
Till  all  of  lier  sad  days  were  ended. 

And  she  died  in  the  sobbing  rain. 

JUNE. 

Hut  .luTie  came,  and  with  it  the  sunshine; 

It  came  as  if  meaning  Ic)  stay; 
The  clovfr-l)lnonis  nod  to  the  breezes; 

The  bu.sy  bees,  working  away, 
Bring  joy  to  the  hearts  of  tlieir  keepers, 

And  teach  us  U)  never  despair; 
For  He  who  gives  all  of  our  blessings 

Knows  liow  to,  and  when  to,  and  where. 

Mrs.  a.  L.  Hali.enbeck. 
Millard,  Net).,  June  2.i. 


High-pressure  Gardening. 

BY     A.      I.      ROOT. 


WINTER   ONIONS. 

As  it  is  about  time  to  plant  Egyptian,  or  win- 
ter onions,  I  will  give  you  an  idea  which  may 
be  new  to  you.  It  is  this:  Plant  them  very 
deep— from  four  to  six  inches.  If  the  ground  is 
in  good  order  it  is  not  hard  to  do  this  with  a 
dibber  or  sharp  stick.  As  the.se  onions  do  not 
form  bulds,  and  as  the  part  which  grows  in  the 
ground  is  always  white  and  tender,  it  is  desira- 
ble to  have  this  part  as  long  as  may  be. 

CABBAGE- WOH.MS. 

I  have  for  the  last  five  seasons  successfully 
used  wheat  bran  to  exterminate  cahhage-worms. 
I  put  from  a  tablespoonful  to  half  a  teacupful 
into  the  heart  of  each  plant,  according  to  the 


si/.e.  A  second  application  is  sometimes  neces- 
sary, but-  not  often.  When  I'arly  cabbage  does 
not.  nuitiire  before  the  second  crop  of  worms  ap- 
pear it  is  well  to  give  it  another  dose  at  that 
time.  I  do  not  know  whether  the  bran  kills  the 
worms  or  driv<'S  them  oil':  hut  I  do  know  that 
they  Stop  their  work.  I  have  always  a|)plied 
the  bran  after  the  worms  were  at  work,  but  I 
think  it  could  be  used  as  a  i)reventive.  as  I  have 
never  yet  seen  a  moth  alight  on  a  cabbage 
where  the  bran  had  been  applied. 

'■  Nary  "  honey  this  year. 

E.  S.  Easterdav. 

Nokomis.  111.,  Aug.  :i:i,  1892. 


HOW   TO  USE  LARGE    CUCUMBER.S. 

I'are.  and  remove  the  seeds;  cut  in  strips  and 
lay  in  cold  water  half  an  hour.  Add  salt,  and 
pour  boiling  water  over  them;  then  boil  until 
tender  (usually  about  20  minutes);  make  a 
cream  dressing,  taking  for  six  fair-sized  cucum- 
bers about  a  tablespoon  of  flour;  butter,  the  size 
of  an  egg.  Rub  the  Hour  and  butter  together 
until  smooth,  in  a  saucepan;  add  a  cup  of  milk; 
salt  and  pepper  to  suit;  boil  a  moment  or  two 
until  it  thickens.  Serve.  The  same  is  nice 
served  on  broken  toast. 

ANOTHER    RECIPE    FOR  LARGE    CUCUMBERS. 

Sliced  lengthwise  and  dipped  in  egg,  or  fried 
after  dipping  in  a  batter,  same  as  egg-plant  is 
usually  cooked.  Or,  cut  off  one  end  of  the 
cucumber;  take  out  seeds,  and  fill  with  dressing 
of  bread  crumbs,  onions,  and  a  little  chopped 
meat.  Replace-the  cover  and  bake  like  stuffed 
tomatoes.  This  will  apply  also  to  tomatoes. 
Rice  can  be  added  for  those  desiring. 

No  one  need  fear  any  trouble  from  eating 
cucumbers,  tomatoes,  or  egg-plant  so  cooked, 
as  all  the  hinges,  or  doubling-up  tendencies, 
have,  in  the  process  of  cooking,  been  extracted. 

Cleveland,  O.,  Aug.  24.  R.  V.  Murray. 


STRAWBERRY   REPORT. 

My  first  season  of  growing  strawberries,  ac- 
cording to  Terry's  A  U  C  of  Strawberry  Culture, 
has  just  closed,  and  has  been  perfectly  satisfac- 
tory, both  as  to  pleasure,  profit,  and  glory.  In 
fact,  it  was  almost  a  repetition,  in  a  small  way, 
of  Bro.  T.'s  book.  We  had  only  a  small  patch 
— an  eighth  of  an  acre — and  wife  and  children 
did  a  great  part  of  the  picking.  The  berries 
just  sold  themselves.  We  did  not  have  enough 
to  go  around.  Some  private  customers,  who 
appreciate  a  good  article,  actually  spoke  in  ad- 
vance for  their  berries  next  season.  I  averaged 
nearly  10  cts.  per  quart  for  my  berries,  while 
common  ones  were  a  drug  at  one  time  at  ">  cts. 
Total  cash  sales  we'-e  -M.^.  We  have  had  berries 
on  our  tabh;  three;  times  a  day  for  nearly  a 
month,  and  have  canned,  jammed,  and  given 
away  several  bushels  not  included  above.  All 
the  common  berries  in  market  were  besmeared 
with  earth,  and  of  poor  flavor  and  color.  Mine 
had  been  well  miilched  and  thinned,  conse- 
quently were  quite  choice  during  the  wet  cold 
spell  the  first  of  the  season.  If  all  my  plants 
had  been  Haverland.  with  Mt.  Vernon  as  a  fer- 
tilizer, my  sales  would  have  been  fully  ?10  more. 
My  Haverlands  were  so  large  and  fine  that 
some  of  our  local  growers  who  have  it  asked 
what  variety  they  were.  The  Eureka  I  place 
next  to  Haverland,  as  it  is  rather  more  produc- 
tive than  Bubach  with  me,  and,  coming  in  so 
late,  they  sold  very  readily  at  1.")  cts.  They  are 
at  this  date,  June  1.5,  large  and  showy.  The 
Sterling  and  Saunders  were  a  complete  failure 
on  my  soil.  Beder  Wood  and  Mrs.  Cleveland  ran 
down  too  soon,  though  good  bearers.  The  Mt. 
Vernon  does  better  pretty  thick. 

Winchester,  Ky.  Walter  Stuart. 


1892 


(JMOANINCIS  IN  KKKCULTUUE. 


cm 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM   A.  I.  ROOT. 


OKAl*K-(iR<>WlN«J   IN   CAMFORNIA. 

Tho  pii'tuiv  I  siibiuit  is  one  that  I  pnrchasod 
of  a  photofiraplicr  in  Riv(>rsid«>,  and  I  do  not 
even  l\no\v  wIk  ri>  llir  srcni'  comes  frcjni.  Very 
liiu'ly  it  was  one  sptH-ialiy  sclct'tcd.  There  is 
no  question,  liowever.  hut  that  it  is  real  tnitli 
and  real  life:  and  I  feel  sure  that  all  the  fruit 
wliioh  you  see  seattered  about  actually  grew  on 
those  very  ■■  bushes:"  for  in  California.  grapi'S 
grow  on  hnshi'S  rather  than  on  vines.  It  makes 
one  think  of  the  old  tH)Uplet: 

Where  the  gold,  it  hanps  on  bushes, 
.\iui  the  fish  swim  on  dry  land. 

The  lifelike  action,  movements,  and  faces  of 
the  workmen  would  of  itsi>)f.  if  nothing  else, 
make  one  believe  the  picture  is  real.  Then  the 
trays  that  they  spi'ead  the  fruit  on  are  no  fancy 
got-up  alTairs:  in  fact,  tiiat  one  in  the  fonv 
ground  is  so  rickety  that,  if  the  workman  does 
not  handle  it  carefully,  it  will  be  likely  to  come 
to  pieces.  The  severe  h(>at  and  intense  dryness 
of  the  atmosphere  have  much  to  do  with  the 
splitting  and  breaking  of  the  wood.  And,  l)y 
the  way.  one  wonders  how  it  is  possible,  witli- 
out  irrigation  or  water,  for  a  single  vine  to 
bear  sucli  quantities  of  a  fruit  ihat  is  mostly 
wat'-r  itself.  I  told  you  ihat  gi-apes  in  Cali- 
fornia grow  on  bushes  instead  of  on  vines. 
With  tlie  thousands  of  acres — yes,  sometimes 
miiny  hundrids  of  acres  in  one  vineyard — pi'o- 
viding  trellises  where  lumber  is  so  expensive 
would  be  entirely  out  of  the  question,  and  so  all 
the  grapevines,  both  for  wine  and  grape-grow- 
ing, are  trained  to  stand  alone.  In  fact,  many 
of  the  vines  look  like  tlie  stump  of  a  small  tree. 
Gr  at  numliers  of  shoots  come  out  of  this  slump 
in  the  spring:  and  after  bearing  their  fruit 
they  are  cut  back  within  two  or  three  buds  of 
the  top  of  the  stump:  and  this  laborious 
trimming  is  the  most  expensive  part  of  grape 
growing.  While  at  friend  Morris',  in  San 
Jacinto.  I  saw  a  man  with  appropriate  shears 
trimming  tlie  vines.  Well,  there  was  such  a 
profusion  of  shoots,  and  such  a  brush- heap 
of — not  foliage,  because  the  leaves  were  all  off 
in  January— that  it  looked  to  me  as  if  it  would 
be  a  good  halfhuur's  work  to  trim  even  a  sin- 
gle vine.  JJut  there  is  no  help  for  it.  It  has 
to  be  done  if, yon  want  good  fruit.  I  do  not 
knosv  what  would  .become  of  one  of  these  big 
vines  if  it  were  not  trimmed.  Yes,  I  do  too; 
for  at  an  old  mission  we  had  a  view  of  a  single 
grapevine  that  covered  a  trellis  big  enough  to 
make  a  good-sized  dooryard.  Well,  if  gfape- 
vini'S  bear  fruit  every  st^ason.  as  you  see  them 
bearing  in  the  picture,  what  a  splendid  business 
it  would  be  to  glow  these  big  white  California 
grapes,  that  sell  for  from  .">  to  10  cents  per  lb.  I 
Well,  there  are  a  good  many"ifs"in  grape- 
growing  as  well  as  in  fruit-growing,  there  and 
elsewhere.  Where  one  has  tons  upon  tons  of 
grapes,  he  does  not  get  any  thing  like  the  price 
they  sell  for  by  the  single  pound  at  the  fruit- 
stands.  It  costs  money  to  get  them  to  market, 
and  it  costs  money  to  get  them  before  the  peo- 
ple. While  great  fortunes  are,  of  course,  many 
times  made  in  grape-growing,  there  are,  on  the 
other  iiand.  many  grape  growers  who  do  not 
make  thfdr  expenses,  and  the  vines  are  fre- 
quently grubbed  up  to  give  place  to  orange  or 
lemon  irees  or  something  else,  because  "  grape- 
growing  don't  pay."  I  suspect,  however,  the 
trouble  is.  usually,  because  the  proprietor  does 
not  rmike  it  pay.  These  things  rarely  if  ever 
pay  anywhere  unless  the  proprietor  puts  his 
brains  light  into  it  and  iimheH  it  pay. 


I  hinted  that  gra|)e-Kro\ving  could  be  carried 
on  without  irrigation.  This  is  certainly  triift 
in  some  locaIitie><— that  is,  aftnr  the  vines  get 
started.  It  must  be.  I  think,  that  the  i-o(jts  go 
down  so  deep  that  iliey  lind  tin-  necessary 
amount  of  \\  aler  to  perfect  the  fruit. 

There  is  another  pleasant  tiling  about  grape- 
growing,  especially  where  they  grow  the  kind 
of  grajies  t  hatinake  raisins.  You  do  not  have 
to  peddle  them  out  quick,  as  we  do  strawberries 
and  most  kinds  of  fruit  here  in  Ohio.  Just  put 
them  on  liie>c  trays,  spreafi  them  out  in  the 
sun.  and  lei  them  dry  into  raisins,  In  fact,  they 
will  dry  into  vi'iy  fair  raisins,  hanging  right 
on  the  bushes:  hut  I  believi'  this  is  not  consid- 
ered a  suitable  way  of  making  good,  raisins. 
With  so  much  foliage  in  the  way.  the  fruit  is 
usually  iilcked  and  carried  away  to  a  piece  of 
grouitd  where  they  can  have  iiiiobstrucled  sun- 
shine: anil  sometimes  they  hunt  up  a  locality 
where  there  are  no  dews,  for  there  are  i)laces  in 
California,  as  I  have  told  you.  where  fogs  and 
dews  are  both  almost  if  not  quite  unknown. 

Now.  very  likely  I  have  "put  my  foot  in  it" 
a  good  many  times  in  my  descri|)lion  above.  If 
so,  vvill  some  good  California  friend  have  pity 
on  me.  and  give  us  a  brief  article  descriptive  of 
this  fine  picture  —  straightening  me  out.  of 
cour-e.  where  I  have  gone  astray?  And  I  will 
say.  in  conclusion,  that,  with  all  the  discourage- 
ments to  the  grape,  industry.  I  tell  you  a  man 
ought  to  feel  happy  who  owns  a  vineyard  con- 
taining such  a  crop  as  the  one  in  the  picture. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


If  liny  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ai-li  of  God.— James  1 :  5. 
He  irivetii  power  to  the  faint;  and  to  them  that  liave  no 
might  heincreaseth  strergth.— Isaiah  40:  29. 

It  would  seem,  from  the  above  text,  tliat  the 
Cliiistian  should  be  a  wiser  man  than  the  un- 
believer. Well.  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  he 
should  be  a  wiser  man.  The  trouble  is.  there  is 
too  little  faith  and  too  little  comniori-scniie 
Christianity.  If  you  apply  it  to  natioux  rather 
than  to  individuals,  I  suppose  the  world  g.  ner- 
ally  will  assent.  Christian  nations  have  more 
wisdom  than  savage  ones,  or  a  nation  that  dis- 
putes the  existence  of  God — if  there  is  any  such 
nation  in  the  whole  wide  world.  The  trouble 
about  applying  such  a  test  to  individuals  is, 
that  individuals  are  of  such  great  variety  we 
need  an  assembly  of  individuals  or  a  committee 
to  embody  real  common-sense  wisdom.  I  will 
tell  you  why  I  use  the  term  "common-sense 
wisdom."  Not  many  hours  ago  it  was  repeated 
in  my  hearing  that  some  of  my  "  neighbors  " 
(now,  don't  be  in  haste  to  feel  hurt,  any  of  you, 
for  I  have  a  great  many  neighbors  here  and 
there)  had  made  the  remark,  "  You  must  not 
set  your  hens  on  Friday.  I  once  knew  a  woman 
who  set  a  hen  on  Friday,  and  she  put  fourteen 
eggs  in  the  nest,  and  not  an  egg  hatched.  You 
see.  in  the  first  place  Friday  is  an  unlucky  day, 
and  fourteen  is  an  unlucky  number.  When  she 
had  got  these  two  together,  she  did  not  get  even 
a  chicken.'''  Now.  I  do  not  know  that  those 
were  the  exact  words,  but  somebody  in  our 
neighborhood  did  repeat  something  pretty 
nearly  like  the  above.  It  might  have  been  in 
pleasantry,  and  may  be  nobody  among  my 
neighbors  has  any  faith  in  such  silly  nonsense. 
Hut  we  can  not  get  rid  of  the  whole  matter  of 
superstition  quite  so  easily  as  that:  for  I  think 
yon  know,  my  friends,  as  well  as  /  know,  that 
there  are  a  good  many  people  in  this  world  who 
repeat  such  stuff'  and  hand  it  down  to  the  com- 
ing generation,  with  an  honest  belief  that  it  is 
jriftclom.  Now,  if  all  the  wisdom  there  is  in  the 
world  were  of  this  class,  I  honestly  think  the 


670 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


best  thing  that  the  Almighty  could  do  with  us 
would  be  to  sweep  us  from  the  face  of  the 
earth,  and  give  us  all  up  as  a  sad  and  hopeless 
blunder.  A  man  who  once  worked  for  me  ob- 
jected to  purchasing  a  horse  because  it  was 
Frklny,  and  he  was  honest  and  sincere  about 
it.  What  an  idea  —  that  some  superstitious 
tradition  should  Teach  that  it  is  right  to  start 
work  on  one  day  of  the  week  rather  than  on 
another!  or,  in  the  same  line, .that  there  is  a 
particular  virtue  in  numbers;  as,  "There  is 
luck  in  odd  numbers."  Come  to  think  of  it, 
there  may  be  luck,  after  all.  But  the  whole 
matter  of  luck  is  being  very  rapidly  relegated 
to  the  past.  Somebody,  out  of  pity  for  the 
superstition  about  setting  hens,  has  suggested 
that  thirteen  eggs  make  a  circle  in  the  nest 
better  than  fourteen.  If  you  put  in  fourteen, 
owing  to  the  size  and  shape  of  the  nest  one  of 
them  gets  pushed  out  and  does  not  hatch;  and 
that  an  even  dozen  or  a  little  more  is  just  about 
what  an  ordinary  hen  can  cover.  This  reminds 
me  that  a  good  lady  friend,  who  is  both  a  neigh- 
bor and  a  relative,  has  21  White  Leghorn 
chickens,  all  hatched  by  one  White  Leghorn 
mother.  It  would  seem  from  this  that  a  dozen 
or  a  little  more  is  not  all  that  even  a  vioderate- 
sized  hen  can  cover.  Now.  will  some  of  my  good 
friends  pardon  me  if  I  suggest  right  here,  that, 
with  all  the  wisdom  that  God  has  given  me— 
yes,  and  in  answer  to  most  earnest  prayer,  too, 
for  wisdom.  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the 
good  brothers  and  sisters  who  think  the  world 
would  be  greatly  benefited  by  having  Sunday 
on  Saturday  are  but  little  better  off  than  one 
who  can  not  eveji  set  a  hen  on  Friday  because 
it  is  an  unlucky  day. 

It  is  in  regard  to  this  matter  of  sickness,  dis^ 
ease,  and  death  that  I  propose  to  talk  to-day. 
People  say  they  know  that  Friday  is  an  un- 
lucky diiy,  because  they  have  tried  it  again 
and  again.  In  the  same  way  of  reasoning  they 
buy  bottles  of  medicine,  and  stoutly  insist  that 
they  fee!  better  after  taking  it.  It  may  occur 
to  you  that  I  am  getting  a  little  wiser  on  some 
things  than  I  was  a  year  ago  when  I  said  so 
much  in  defense  of  doctors  and  medicine. 
Well.  I  trust  I  aril  a  little  wiser,  for  I  have  been 
watching  and  praying  over  the  matter.  In 
striving  to  separate  superstition  from  real 
science  and  scientific  research,  we  come  on  to 
many  things  that  seem  to  stand  about  midway. 
One  of  the  most  familiar  illustrations  is  this 
matter  of  the  moon.  Day  before  yesterday  a 
very  intelligent  and  skillful  farmer  told  me  he 
was  very  busy  cutting  down  all  the  bushes  on 
his  farm;  for  he  had  noticed,  for  many  years, 
that,  when  cut  down  during  the  last  full  moon 
in  August,  they  were  sure  to  die.  May  be  I  am 
mistaken  about  its  being  full  moon.  It  was 
some  kind  of  moon,  any  way,  and  it  does  not 
matter  whether  I  have  got  it  right  or  wrong. 
Now,  so  far  as  cutting  bushes  in  the  latter  part 
of  August  Is  concerned,  that  part  is  all  right 
and  sound.  At  about  this  time  of  the  year  they 
have  so  nearly  perfected  their  growth,  they  are 
not  as  apt  to  start  out  and  grow  up  again,  as  if 
cut  earlier;  neither  are  they  so  likely  to  pre- 
serve vitality  till  another  season,  and  start  up 
in  the  spring,  as  if  they  were  cut  later.  About 
the  last  of  August  is  the  time  to  clean  out  the 
fence- corners,  etc.  You  may  say,  "  Mr.  Root, 
why  should  you  presume  to  teach  all  the  world, 
and  go  against  the  experience  of  old  farmers'?" 
I  will  tell  you.  Our  agricultural  experiment 
stations  have  been,  for  some  years  back,  doing 
a  wonderful  work  in  this  line.  They  have 
tested  this  matter  in  regard  to  the  moon,  and 
its  influence  on  vegetation,  in  a  way  that  settles 
it  beyond  question.  If  I  am  correct,  tables 
noting  the  changes  of  weather,  and  the  changes 
of  the  moon,  have  been  kept  up  by  our  govern- 


ment for  years;  in  fact,  they  have  been  com- 
pared, until  the  times  that  the  weather  changes 
and  when  the  moon  changes  run  up  into  many 
thousands.  This  work  has  been  done  by  the 
wisest  and  most  careful  men  we  have;  and 
their  decision  has  invariably  been  that  the 
moon  has  no  influence  whatever  on  the  weath- 
er, vegetation,  nor  diseases  of  the  human  fami- 
ly. This  latter  point  was  settled  by  keeping 
some  tables  and  statistics  in  our  public  hos- 
pitals. The  question  ought  to  be  settled  for 
ever.  It  is  laid  down  in  our  books  on  astron- 
omy, and  in  the  text-books  in  our  schools.  But 
when  you  explain  the  whole  thing  to  the 
average  farmer,  especially  if  he  is  fifty  or  sixty 
years  old,  although  he  may  assent  for  the 
time  being,  he  will  go  on  planning  his  work  by 
the  moon,  just  the  same  as  ever,  for  it  has 
bec6me  a  sort  of  second  nature  to  him.  The 
moon  does  have  an  influence  on  the  tides.  This 
is  fully  explained  and  understood  in  our  scien- 
tific books;  and  therefore  there  is  more  reason 
in  thinking  it  may  affect  the  planting  and  dig- 
ging of  potatoes,  etc.,  than  in  the  old  humbug 
about  commencing  work  on  Friday.  And  now 
here  comes  something  that  I  wish  to  illustrate: 

There  are  people,  and  vei'y  likely  a  good 
many  among  my  readers,  who  insist  that  Fri- 
day is  an  unlucky  day.  Would  these  people 
dai'e  to  suggest  to  our  great  institutions  of 
learning  that  they  keep  tables,  such  as  I  have 
mentioned,  to  see  whether  business  ventures, 
etc.,  turn  out  more  badly  on  Friday  than  on 
some  other  day?  This,  you  see.  brings  the 
utter  stupidity  of  the  whole  thing  to  light.  A 
college  or  place  of  learning  that  would  even 
undertake  to  demonstrate  a  thing  so  silly  should 
have  all  its  managers  and  pupils  sent  to  an 
asylum  for  idiots. 

We  now  come  to  this  matter  of  sickness,  dis- 
ease, and  death.  I  suppose  that  our  readers 
are  well  aware  that,  among  savage  and  heathen 
nations,  they  doctor  disease  almost  entirely  in 
a  line  with  the  wisdom  (?)  of  the  woman  who 
would  not  set  her  hen  on  Friday.  Their  doc- 
tors have  their  whole  heads  filled  with  just 
such  senseless  jargon.  One  of  our  surgical 
missionary  institutes  worked  a  long  time  in  a 
certain  part  of  China,  and  failed  to  convert  a 
single  heathen  to  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 
They  could  not  do  a  thing.  The  heathen  in- 
sisted that  their  idolatrous  rites  were  just  as 
good  as  our  religion.  Finally  an  old  man  had 
a  fall  that  injured  him  in  such  a  way  that  a 
severe  stricture  of  the  bladder  resulted,  render- 
ing it  entirely  inoperative.  Of  course,  the 
heathen  doctors  went  through  their  incanta- 
tions, and  prayed  to  their  idols — consulted  the 
birds  and  snakes,  and  I  suppose  you  know  just 
about  what  else  they  would  do.  Finally  they 
went  to  the  missionary  doctor,  and  he  at  once 
relieved  the  man  by  a  simple  mechanical  ap- 
pliance— a  catheter — and  saved  his  life.  A 
crowd  of  people  followed  the  poor  suffering 
brother,  and  saw  the  way  in  which  he  was 
cured.  It  was  such  simple,  plain  common 
sense  that  even  the  dullest  savage  intellect 
could  understand  it.  It  was  a  big  thing  for  the 
missionary.  Right  on  the  spot,  fathers  and 
mothers  accepted  the  Christian  faith,  and  a 
school  was  formed  to  teach  them  sense.  Now, 
we  surely  ought  to  have  as  much  sense  as  these 
heathen;  but  when  we  quote  such  senseless 
jargon  as,  that  a  person  who  is  better  on  Sun- 
day will  never  get  well,  and  stuff  of  that  sort, 
we  deserve  to  be  sent  away  from  th<»  company 
of  enlightened  people. 

Of  late  I  have  prayed  more  earnestly  on  this 
matter  of  disease  and  the  remedy  than  on  any 
thing  else  in  the  world.  I  have  begged  for  wis- 
dom—not only  that  I  might  get  well,  but  that  I 
might  help  in  this  work  of  eliminating  blunders 


1802 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


671 


and  siipt-rstitiiin  fioiii  real  s(>iiso  and  wisdom. 
You  may  rcmt'mlx'r  that  Taul  liassfvtM-al  times 
spoiitMi  of  tliinRS  in  rcjiani  to  which  God  had 
not  si'cn  lit  tosiivc  iiim  lifiiu  that  lhor:i  in  tho 
tiosh.  for  iiistaiK'i'.  w  liicli  was  nt'vrr  i-cmovcd. 
Apain.  in  tlic  Tiii  ohaiJloi-  of  \.  Corintiiians  lie 
speaks  of  i-(M'tain  thinjjs  wliereiii  he  liad  receiv- 
ed no  lijjht,  as  it  were,  from  the  Lofd — he  sim- 
ply irives  liis  own  private  opinion.  Now,  I 
liresiime  1  may  lie  paidoned  if  1  say  tiiat.  in 
tliis  matter  of  medicine,  I  seem  to  liave  liad  no 
direct  answer  to  i)rayer.  God  has  not  seen  lit — 
at  least,  so  it  S(>enis  to  me-  lo  give  me  any  iifrlit 
in  tlie  matter  as  to  wiiethet  we  sliould  continue 
to  doctor  our  bodies  witli  incdicines  or  not. 
Several  times  I  have  thoufrht  I  received  so 
nuich  benelit  from  a  certain  medicine  recom- 
mended by  kind  friends  that  I  have  felt  almost 
as  if  it  were  in  answer  lo  prayer;  but  on  giving 
tlie  matter  a  full  and  fair  test,  as  our  exper- 
iment stations  lest  the  valu(>  of  fertilizers,  etc., 
I  am  forced  lo  the  conclusion  that  each  separate 
medicine  in  question  had  ndthtiuj  tn  do  with 
my  feeling  better  or  worsi  I  do  not  mean  while 
I  was  conHned  lo  my  bed  by  sickness,  but  since 
I  have  been  enjo\lng  lolerabl(>  health;  there- 
fore I  say  1  do  not  kuoir  whether  it  is  wisdom 
to  take  ionics  and  invigorators  or  not.  So  far 
as  I  am  concerned.  I  am  inclined  to  think  that 
I  have  received  no  licncflt  from  them  whatever, 
and  I  have  tried  a  great  many  that  were  rec- 
ommended most  vehemently.  I  think  I  may  be 
pardoned,  however,  for  saying  this,  that  I  don't 
believe  God  intended  we  should,  as  a  general 
thing  any  way,  make  ourselves  well  by  the  use 
of  medicines,  "either  animal,  vegetable,  or  min- 
eral. 1  cdn  say.  however,  with  a  clear  con- 
science, and  with  perfect  faith,  that  God  has 
given  me  some  most  wonderful  and  striking 
answers  lo  prayer  in  this  matter  of  coping  suc- 
cessfully with  "sickness  and  disease;  and  the 
answers  have  come  along  the  lini;  where  com- 
mon sense  would  seem  to  indicate  they  s/i-outd. 
come.  I  have  been  over  the  ground  before  so 
much  that  you  probably  know  what  I  tnean. 
Pure  air  to  breathe,  and  plenty  of  it;  pure  water 
to  drink,  and  plenty  of  it:  free,  unobstructed 
sunshine,  and  plenty  of  it;  the'  right  sort  of 
exercise,  and  plenty  of  it,  to  develop  energy  and 
muscle  to  enable  nature  lo  cure  the  different 
organs  of  the  body,  in  her  own  way;  plenty  of 
sleep:*  and,  lastly,  summing  up  all  the  rest,  as 
it  were,  perfect  cleanliness— not  only  clean  In 
body,  butc^can  In  heart.  If  you  want  to  get 
well,  commence  with  my  favorite  text  that  I 
gave  in  the  last  number,  and  one  that  still 
rings  in  my  ears  like  music— ■•  Let  the  words  of 
my  mouth  and  the  meditation  of  my  heart  be 
acceptable  in  thy  sight."  Ilememlx'r.  also,  "If 
I  regard  iniijuiiy  in  my  liearl,  the  Lord  will 
not  liear  me."  Of  course,  you  remember 
well  what  1  said  about  being  cureii  by  us- 
ing a  horse  and  cultivator  on  Decoration  day. 
In  fact,  few  things  I  have  ever  written  have 
called  forth  more  comment  and  sympathy  than 
this  one  article.  In  that  case  the  answer  to  my 
jtrayer  came  in  the  lineof>orne  simple  c(jnimun- 
place  work  right  near  my  home.  First.  I  needed 
laitli  in  God:  theu  the  right  ^ort  of  exi-rcise.  1 
very  much  doubt  whether  the  use  of  the  horse 
and  cultivator,  without  faith  that  God  heard 
and  was  pleased  to  answer  my  fervent  prayer, 
would  have  done  any  thing  like  the  amount  of 
good  I  received  from  the  exercise  of  that  one 

*  While  Mr-.  Langsti-otli  was  visiting-  us,  one  day  at 
dinner  lie  was  commenting-  on  my  good  fortune  in 
being  able  to  sleep  just  l)efore  dinner  and  just  be- 
fore supper  time;  and  then  he  repeated,  in  liis  inim- 
itable waj-,  the  following  lines: 

For  if  ignorance  be  indeed  a  bliss. 

What  blessed  ignorance  equals  this, 

To  sleep  and  not  to  know  it! 


afternoon.  Similar  experienc<'s  have  come  all 
along.  Of  course,  I  could  not  be  sjiared  to  cul- 
tivate all  the  whilci;  and  although  this  is  a 
healthy  occupation,  we  are  by  no  means  to  take 
it  that  it  is  the  best  occui)ation  at  all  times  and 
for  all  persons:   but  it  has  its  |)lace. 

In  my  enumeration  of  things  that  had  im- 
pressed themselves  on  my  mind  in  answer  to 
prayer,  1  mentioned  first  pure  air,  and  ph>uty  of 
it.  Now.  a  plenty  of  it  can  not  very  well  b(^ 
secured  without  brisk  exercise  of  some  s(jrt.  So 
you  see  they  are  linked  together.  Again,  with 
brisk  exercise  and  jiure  air  comes  thirst.  Water 
to  drink  seems  to  be  a  great  luxury:  and  one 
who  is  worn  out  by  nervous  disorders  and  in- 
digestion becomes  very  sensitive?  to  imiiurities 
in  drinking-water.  I  believe  the  whole  world 
is  now  giving  more  attcntieii  lo  tliis  matter 
of  pure  and  wholesome  water  lo  drink  than  it 
ever  has  before^  Sonn;  time  ago  oik;  of  our 
agricullurul  papers  ask(>d  if  it  paid  Sor  fanners 
to  take  a  vacation;  and  they  called  upon  several 
prominent  men  to  give  their  experience.  One 
man  said  that  a  vacation  of  a  few  weeks  once 
gave  him  almost  a  new  lease  of  life.  He  visited 
a  relative  in  some  distant  State.  On  the  prem- 
ises was  a  spring  of  pure  soft  w-ater  that  seemed 
to  him  more  delicious  than  any  he  had  ever 
tasted  before.  He  went  into  the  harvest-Held  and 
helped  them  out  in  their  work,  and  drank  great 
quantities  of  this  spring  water.  It  acted  like 
magic  on  his  worn-out  and  run-down  system. 
Chronic  ailments  of  years'  standing  disappeared 
in  a  few  weeks.  We  have  all  heard  of  cases 
of  similar  experiences.  Many  leading  physi- 
cians are  recotnmending  large  quantities  of  hot 
water  as  a  beverage,  to  be  drank  either  two 
hours  before  or  two  hours  after  a  meal.  Drink 
as  much  as  you  can.  and  as  hot  as  you  can. 
This  is  one  of  the  uses  of  water  in  different 
forms,  for  different  conditions  of  the  system. 
Sometimes,  wh(m  one  is  continually  thirsty, 
and  is  distressed  by  drinking  water  either  hot 
or  cold,  he  can  swallow  almost  any  quantity  of 
pounded  ice,  putting  it  down  as  fast  as  he  can 
swallow  it,  in  pieces  as  large  as  he  can  swallow. 
I  have  frequently  had  a  disordered  stomach 
made  sweet  and  clean  in  just  this  way:  and  I 
do  not  know  that  I  ever  experienced  any  bad 
result  from  swallowing  great  quantities  of  ice 
in  this  way.  It  seemed  to  cool  off  the  stomach, 
allay  the  fever,  break  up  fermentation,  and,  in 
fact.  I  felt  much  as  one  does  when  he  has  had  a 
good  wash  during  a  hot  summer  day.  The 
washing  was  inside,  however,  instead  of  exter- 
nal. The  internal  water  cure  has  been  helpful 
to  me  many  times.  On  one  occasion,  for  several 
days  I  felt  a  pain  at  the  base  of  my  spinal 
column.  It  kept  there  day  and  night,  and  I 
began  to  feel  as  if  I  could  not  stand  on  my  feet 
much  longer,  unless  I  could  get  relief.  I  thought 
of  going  to  a  physician.  Instead  of  that,  how- 
ever. I  concluded  I  would  try  a  very  thorough 
cleansing  of  tlu!  colon,  with  a  large  quantity  of 
water  as  warm  as  I  could  beai-  it.  After  per- 
sistent effort  I  succeeded  in  rcunoving  a  mass  of 
trash,  among  which  were  (juiti-  a  good  many 
blackberry  seeds  from  berries  I  had  eaten  sev- 
eral days  before.  The  relief  was  as  pi-oinpt  and 
plain  as  if  1  had  washed  soniethiug  out  from 
between  my  toes,  that  had  been  making  my 
feel  sore  and  lame.  l'erhai)S  nature  would 
have  succeeded  in  expelling  that  foreign  mat- 
ter without  the  use  of  the  water;  and  may  be  a 
heavy  dose  of  physic  would  have  done  it  in  the 
same  way:  but  I  greatly  preferred  the  use  of 
the  water,  ajiplied  in  a  common-sense  way. 
The  question  might  arise.  "Are  not  blackber- 
ries, which  have  been  so  much  lauded,  unwhole- 
■some  after  all.  with  their  quantity  of  gritty 
seeds  and  skins?"  I  do  not  think  that  follows. 
They  may  be  unwholesome  to  persons  of  weak 


67 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  I. 


or  feeble  digestion,  and  they  may  lodge  in  some 
part  of  the  digestive  apparatus,  as  any  other 
thing  might  so  lodge.  Perhaps,  also,  the  right 
kind  of  very  brisk  exercise  might  have  enabled 
nature  to  dislodge  the  hurtful  refuse.  The 
great  point  to  me  was  this:  Many  people  have 
distressing  backachi^'S.  They  put  on  plasters, 
and  take  tonics  and  stimulants.  It  seemed  to 
me  as  if  my  spine  were  really  diseased  or  giving 
way,  whereas  the  whole  trouble  was  something 
almost  as  simple  as  a  little  sand  or  gravel  be- 
tween your  toes,  only  the  latter  comes  to  us 
exterjially.  where  we  ought  to  have  been 
ashamed  to  allow  any  such  accumulation.  In 
the  former,  it  was  away  where  the  scrutiny  of 
the  human  eye  could  never  detect  it. 

I  now  wish  to  close  this  paper  with  a  descrip- 
tion of  one  of  the  brighest  and  happiest  experi- 
ences that  ever  came  in   this  line.     You  will 
notice  that  it  includes  pretty  much  all  I  have 
mentioned     in    the    foregoing.     Two  or  three 
weeks  ago  I  was  feeling  very  much  as  I  did  oni> 
year  before  that  time— the  time  when   I  was 
laid  up  with  nervous  malarial  fever.     Evm  the 
cultivator  and  the  work  in  the  garden  did   not 
seem  to  meet  the  case.     My  strength  was  fail- 
ing;  I  was  getting  thin   (119  lbs.)   and    poor. 
For  the  first  time  in  my  life— that  is,  while  able 
to  be  about,  it  seemed  a  task  to  go  on  foot  the 
half-mile  to  where  our  weekly  prayer-meetings 
are  held,  and  I  had  stayed  away  for  several 
times.    I  feared  another  attack  of  fever.    Such 
exercise  as  I  had  taken  with  the  cultivator  was 
almost  too  much  for  my  strength,  for,  in  fact,  I 
hadn't  any  strength  worth  speaking  of.  nor  ap- 
petite either.    I  began  to  pray.    I  plead    the 
Bible  promises.    I  told  the  Lord  that  all  evil 
or  wrong  purposes  or  longings   had   been   put 
aside,  and  that  it  was  that  I  might  teach  others 
that  I  begged  him   to  give  me  wisdom   in   the 
language  of  our  text.    The  answer  came  in  a 
very  unexpected  direction.     Ernest  has,  for  two 
or  three  years  past,  been  urging  me  to  try  a 
wheel.     He  said  it  would  take  me  off  from  my 
feet,  and  relieve  me  of  the  burden  of  bearing 
my  own  weight.    He  said  it  would   also  carry 
me  away  from   the  factory  and  grounds,  and 
from   business  cares;  it  would  divert  my  mind, 
and  give  me  wholesome  exercise  while  using  a 
set  of  muscles  that  wei"e,  perhaps,  almost  com- 
paratively new  and  unused.     But  I  objected,  on 
the  ground  that  I  was  too  old  (.53)  and  stiff  and 
feeble  any  way,  even  if  I  knew  how  to  use   the 
wheel.    And  so   matters  stood   for  a  couple  of 
years.    I  do  not  just  know  what  prompted  me 
to  think  of  trying  a  wheel  again  during  this 
present  month  of  August.     I  know  I  had  been 
praying  a  good  deal;    but  the  idea  that  the 
wheel    should   have  any  association   with    an 
answer  to  my  prayer  never  entered  my  head 
until  I  began  to  receive   benefit  from   it.     Per- 
haps I  might  remark   here,  that,  toward   forty 
years  ago,  my  brother  and  I  tried   to   build  a 
rude  velocipede.    Of  course,  it  did   not  work; 
but  when  I  gave  it  up  I  declared  to  the  rest  of 
the  family  that  the  day  would  come  when  peo- 
ple would   go  faster  than  a  horse,  with  a  ma- 
chine made  after  that  fashion.    Then  I  turned 
my  attention  to  roller  skates,  said  skates  being 
manufactured  by  sawing  little  wheels  from  the 
end  of  spools,  and  screwing  them  on  to  a  block. 
This  only  resulted,  however,  in   bumping  my 
poor  boyish  nose;  but  when  I  n^linquished  both 
projects   with   tears   in   my  eyes,  I  assured  my 
good  mother  that  people  would  somi;  time  both 
ride  and  slide  on  the  plan  I  was  then  working 
on.     When    the    Scientific  Atnerican.  toward 
twenty- five    years    ago,  gave  a    picture    of  a 
French  velocipede  I  wrote  them   at  once;   and 
as  soon   as  a  machine  could  be   purchased  on 
American  shores  I  was  the  happy  owner  of  one 
of  them.    This  all  happened  before  Gleanings 


was  published.     From  this  you  can  see   that  it 
did  not  take  very  long  for  me  to  learn  to  run 
the  machine.    The  only  trouble  was  in  getting 
on  and  oft'.     I  got  oft' without  very  much  trou- 
ble, or.  at  least,  tumbled  off,  and  let  the  machine 
go  where  it  wanted  to;  but  to  get  on  was  such 
a  task  that  I  surely  should  have  given  it  up  in 
despair  had  not  Ernest  held  on,  and   plead  and 
entreated.     While  I  am  about  it,  I  think  I  will 
tell   you   plainly  and   fieely  of  my  discourage- 
ments  in   this  line.    I  was  weak  and  nervous: 
and   to  think  of  springing  so   high  while   the 
treacherous  machine  was  in   motion  jaried  on 
my  nerves  to  such   an   extent  that  I  was  really 
afraid  it  would  make  me  sick.    I  felt  much  as  I 
did  when   I  had   my  last  tooth  pulled;   and  I 
might  as  well  confess  to  you,  that  again   and 
again    I  prayed  the  good   Father  to  give   me 
strength  and  courage,  and  tranquility  of  nerves, 
to  make  theeft'ort.  After  that  brief,  simple  pray- 
er I   made  better  progress.     When   I   tried  so 
many  times  that  I  was  almost  ready  to  give  up, 
then  came  the  prayer,  and  almost  immediately 
afterward   I  was  .seated  securely,  and  gaining 
confidence  with  every  success.    One  day  I  went 
down   to  see  my  mother,  who  lives  half  a  mile 
away.      I  had    been    feeling   very   badly   that 
afternoon,   and   had  been    praying   with    more 
than  usual  earnestness.     When  I  tried  to  get  on 
the  wheel   to  come  home,  as  the  ground  was 
rough  I  did  not  get  it  started  readily.    Finally  I 
thought  I  would  turn  it  in  the  opposite  direction. 
Stangely  enough,  this  time  I  got  seated,  with- 
out a  bit  of  trouble.    At  the  end  of  the  road  I 
proposed  to  get  oft'  and  stop;  but  the  wheel  took 
a   fashion   of   its   own,   and    started    off   on   a 
diagonal   road  down   a   long   steep    hill.    ''All 
right,  old   fellow."  said  I;  •' if  you   can't  go  7ny 
way,  suppose  I  go  yours.'''    Before   I  reached 
the  bottom  of  the   hill,  I  had  learned  to  coast; 
and,  to  my  great  surprise.  I  succeeded,  without 
very  much  eft'ort,  in  propelling  it  up   the  next 
rise.    Pretty  .soon  I  was  off  in  the  country;  and 
with   the  blood  tingling  to  the  very  ends  of  my 
fingers  and   toes,  skill   came   to  me  as  if  by  in- 
spiration.    I  suppose  memory  was  beginning  to 
'"catch  on,"  and  I  managed  the   modern  wheel 
vei'y  much   as"  I  did   the  velocipede  so  many 
years  ago.    I  went  down  to  the  river  and  back; 
and  by  the  time  I  reached  home  I  felt  more  like 
riding   further  than   even  sitting  down  to  rest. 
My  faithful  teacher  (Ernest),  however,  insisted 
that  I  should  not  overdo.    I  felt  confident,  how- 
ever, that  I  could  make  a  ten  mile  trip  to  some 
scenery  in  our  county,  which  I  had  never  vis- 
ited.   On  the  day  appointed,  however,  Aug.  Itl, 
my  old  troubles  had  almost  all   returned,  with 
some   new  ones.    I   felt  sick,   weak,   and   low- 
spirited.      I    remember  very   distinctly   how   I 
prayed  as  I  sat  on  the  doorstep  by  myself,  early 
in   the   morning.     My  feeiing  was,  that,  if  any 
happiness  or  enjoyment  cd^ine  to  me   that  day, 
it  would  have  to  be  something  little  short  of  a 
miracle.    Could  it  be  possible  that  one   feeling 
as  1  did  could  receive  relief  simply  by  open-air 
exercise?    I  thought  of  Wilson's   Peak,  and  of 
the  horse  and  cultivator,  as  well  as  the  wheel; 
but  I  felt  sure  that  I  was  not  well  enough   for 
any  one    of    the    three.     However,   I   decided, 
after  breakfast,  to  trv  a  short  run  on  the  wheel, 
and  see  how  I  felt.    The   first  part  of  the  jour- 
ney  was  down   hill;   and   as  the   morning  air 
whistled  by  me  I  began  to  gather  strength  and 
hope.     Then    came  the  tussle  of  climbing  hills. 
I  think  I  nt^ver  breathed   so   hard,  nor  exerted 
myself  to   the  full  extent  of  my  strength,  as  I 
did  on  that  morning.    But  something  began  to 
tell   me  that  it  was  not  hurting  me  a  bit.     My 
mouth  was  wide  open,  and   my  lungs  were  ex- 
panding wider  than  they  had  before  for  years. 
In  fact,  it  seemed  as  if  I  could  feel  them  letting 
themselves  out  and  shaking  out  the  folds  as  we 


IS'.CJ 


(;moanin(;s  in  bekculturk. 


C.T.'J 


shake  mil  tlic  folds  of  tissue  paper  of  a  toy 
balloon.  Strenpth  was  roming- nay,  it  /i(((/ 
come.  I  renicinhenii  tlie  words  in  tlie  hooU  of 
.lob.  w  liere  tlie  lioisc  is  dcscrihcd  — '"  He  pau(>th 
in  the  valley,  and  rejoieeth  in  his  strenKlli." 
Well,  in  one  sense  /  w  as  "•  jiawing  in  the  valley;" 
and  as  I  went  up  the  hillsides  out  of  the  valley, 
I  rejoiced  in  my  new-found  strength  as  I  rarefy 
five  rejoiced  in  an\  thing  hefoic  Vou  may  he 
sure  thai  I  was  ihanUing  (  kkI  for  the  answers 
lo  my  prayer. 

At  just  11  o'clock  I  arrived  at  a  ncdghhoring 
town,  eight  miles  from  where  I  stalled.  Al- 
tliough  1  felt  more  like  going  on  than  taking 
any  rest.  I  knew  that  Ernest  and  Mrs.  Root, 
were  they  present,  would  insist  on  my  stojiping, 
and  taking  my  accustomed  nap.  What  a  |)retty 
hotel  met  my  gaze  as  I  came  into  the  town  I 
Yes.  every  tiling  was  beautiful,  for  Cod's  love 
and  a  new  faith  in  him  wi'i-c  in  my  heart.  The 
men -folks  were  away  somewheie,  but  the  good 
landlady  ush(>red  tue  into  a  pleasant  rooru.  gave 
rae  a  lounge  almost  exactly  like  mine  at  home, 
and  a  nice  clean  pillow.  The  first  tiling  I  did 
when  the  door  was  closi'd  was  to  fall  on  luy 
knees  and  pour  out  my  lH>artin  thanksgiving 
and  praise  for  the  wonderful  stiength.  and 
through  it  new  life,  that  seemed  opening  up 
before  me:  and  while  I  prayed,  there  came  a 
bright,  clear,  distinct  protuise  of  new  blessings 
and  evidences  of  God's  love,  to  be  met  before 
the  day  should  close.  1  do  not  know  whether  I 
have  spoken  of  this  to  you  or  not;  but  it  has 
been  one  of  the  bright  things  through  all  my 
Christian  experience,  to  feel,  while  I  was  pray- 
ing, that  the  answer  had  come  and  w<ts  coinirig. 
I  think  it  was  President  Finney  who  says  in 
his  biography,  that  he  has  had  this  feeling 
until,  if  one  were  to  sum  it  up  in  words,  it 
would  be  as  if  God  should  say,  "There,  there. 
dear  child;  do  not  pray  ;iny  more  about  it  just 
now.  You  shall  have  all  you  ask — yea,  and 
more  too."'  I  am  well  aw  are  that,  to  a  class  of 
my  readers— perhaps  a  large  class— this  will 
sound  very  strange,  and  may  be  you  think  I  am 
as  superstitious  as  some  I  have  coudemned  so 
severely.  Not  so,  my  good  friend.  God  is  our 
Father.  W^e  are  the  work  of  his  hands:  and  it 
were  strange  indeed  if  he  who  planned  the  uni- 
verse, and  placed  us  at  its  head,  should  lose 
interest  in  or  oversight  over  us.  This  thing  I 
have  told  you  about  is  right  in  line  with  Bible 
leaching:  "Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  my 
name,  it  shall  be  given  you:"  "  Refore  they  call, 
I  will  answer;  and  while  they  are  yet  speak- 
ing, I  will  hear."  I  placed  tuy  head  on  the  pil- 
low, at  peace  w  ith  God  and  at  peace  with  all 
the  world:  and  before  1  knew  it,  came  happy, 
peaceful  oblivioti.  I  slept  almost  an  hour:  and, 
what  a  dinner  I  did  eat  when  1  awoke!  Of 
course,  the  w  heel  and  my  unusual  exercise  had 
much  to  do  with  it:  but  it  seems  to  me.  that  in 
none  of  the  great  cities  and  in  none  of  the  high- 
priced  restaurants  did  I  ever  enjoy  a  betu^r 
dinner  than  that  one.  Just  the  day  before, 
when  dinnertime  came,  all  I  could  possibly  eat 
was  a  pai  t  of  a  small  potato  and  a  little  milk; 
but  on  this  day  I  told  my  good  fiiend,  w  hen  I 
came  to  pay  my  bill,  that  she  ought  to  charge 
me  something  extra  on  account  of  the  appetite 
my  ride  had  given  me.  When  she  said  it  was 
only  2.")  cents,  and  nothing  for  the  use  of  the 
lounge,  it  seemed  to  me  lik(^  trespassing  on  good 
nature.  I  can  not  take  space  to  tell  you  all  the 
events  of  that  afternoon.  But  I  w'ish.  how- 
ever, to  tell  you  that  I  found  a  spring  of  pure 
cold  water  coming  forth  from  a  V)eautiful  cave 
in  the  rock.s,  and  that  the  water  filled  the  bill 
to  the  fullest  extent  of  my  imagination  when  I 
lay  awake  nights  thinking  of  the  soft-water 
springs  of  my  childhood.  I  drank  the  water  by 
cupsrul;  then  while  further  up  in  the  woods  I 


put  my  mouth  down  to  the  mossy  trough  and 
drank  again  until  it  would  seem  a  miracle  that 
one  could  drink'  so  much  anti  not  he  harmed. 
The  man  who  owned  the  sprintr.  however,  said 
that  evei'vbody  always  drank  as  much  as  they 
liked  at  that  spring. 

I  made  the  run  home  easily;  in  fact,  as  I  came 
through  the  streets  of  Medina  I  fellas  if  I  would 
rather  make  another  run  of  twc'iity  miles  (the 
distance  1  had  covered)  than  to  do  any  thing 
else.  Mrs.  Root  and  others  felt  sure  that  a  re- 
action would  follow;  but  none  has  come  yet.  I 
feel  stout  and  strong  and  well;  but  when  the 
roads  are  muddy,  as  they  are  to-day,  I  feel  a 
craving  for  that  exercise  on  the  wheel.  I  long 
to  coast  past  the  fields  and  through  the  green 
woods.  Now,  don't  you  see  that  it  is  not  pure 
water  aZoiie,  nor  |)ure  air;  it  is  not  being  out- 
doors, and  it  is  not  outdoor  exercise,  nor  even 
sleep:  but  it  seems  as  if  the  answiu'  to  prayer 
had  come  by  taking  all  these  together.  My 
past  ill  health  has  very  likely  come  from  having 
too  many  cares  —  possibly  from  being  too  much 
on  my  feet.  A  certain  set  of  bones  and  mus- 
cles, and  may  be  a  certain  amount  of  nerve  pow- 
er, has  been  worn  out  and  used  up.  But  this 
new  method  of  travel,  which  (lod  in  his  infiiute 
mercy  and  goodness  has  seen  tit  to  give  to  the 
world— that  is.  he  has  given  it  as  a  reward  for 
close  study  and  application  — this  new  gift  of 
his,  lifts  us  from  our  feet  and  spares  us  the  ne- 
cessity of  bearing  these  weary  bodies  of  ours; 
yes,  a  set  of  muscles  that  have  heretofore  been 
almost  entirely  unused,  are  brought  into  play, 
and  are  developed;  and  at  the  same  time  the 
weaiy  bi-ain  worker  is  carried  away  fi'om  the 
scene  of  his  labors,  and  his  mind  is  kept  so  busy 
in  a  new  direction  that  he  has  th  -very  best  pos- 
sible chance  of  taking  the  i)ure  outdoor  air.  and 
of  expanding  his  lungs  while  he  develops  his 
muscles.  And  then  when  he  has  ridden  until 
every  thread  of  hi-  clothing  is  wet  with  perspi- 
ration, he  is  in  just  the  best  possible  trim  to  use 
great  quantities  of  spring  water  in  just  the  way 
God  intended  it  to  be  used;  namely,  to  cleanse 
and  purify  and  wash  out  the  whole  system. 

Now,  dear  friends,  I  am  not  laying  down  laws 
or  rules  for  anybody.  Some  may  be  benefited 
bv  the  use  of  a  wheel,  and  some  may  not.  I  am 
simply  trying  to  tell  you  this:  God  irill  give  you 
wisdom,  as  in  the  promise  in  our  text.  Yes,  he 
will  give  us  wisdom  to  care  for  these  bodies  of 
ours  that  are  so  often  racked  with  pain.  And  I 
feel  perfectly  safe  in  saying  that  our  emancipa- 
tion from  sickness  and  disease  is  going  to  come, 
not  through  drugs,  nor  even  expensive  articles 
of  diet;  nor,  as  a  general  rule,  in  traveling  to 
distant  climes.  It  is  coming  in  the  line  I  have 
indicated:  Pure  air,  pure  water,  outdoor  sun- 
shine, refreshing  sleep,  and  a  sort  of  exercise  of 
both  brain  and  muscle  a  little  out  of  the  line  we 
have  heretofore  enjoyed. 

If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  liim  ask  of  God. 

CAPITAL   ANT)    I.ABOIJ. 

We  copy  the  following  from  a  periodical  call- 
ed Bus  me-ss.  It  seems  to  voice  our  sentiments 
a  little  better  than  any  thing  we  c<juld  put  into 
w'ords  ourselves: 

I  am  not  like  other  writers  on  this  subject.  They 
all  know  what  is  tlie  matter,  and  try  to  settle  it.  I 
don't  know  exactly  wliat  is  wroiiK',  and  there  are 
several  questions  "raised  by  the  issue  wliicli  I  can 
not  settle.  It  is  intimated  lluit  labor  is  not  jrett  insr 
its  rig-lits,  its  fair  share  of  the  nroftts;  lait  when  I 
ask  that  the  labor  in  question  lie  s|)c'rifled— pointed 
out  so  tliat  I  may  examine  it—I  find  it  is  the  labor 
tliat  uses  hand.s  and  muscle,  and  works  eig'ht,  nine, 
or  ten  hours  a  day  with  no  care  or  resjjunsiljility 
between  times  as  to  jiroperty  oi-  management  of 
affairs.  NotliiiiK  is  said  al)  ut  the  lalior  that  uses 
the  brain,  that  nhms  and  maiiag-es  and  directs,  nor 
yet  about  the  labor  that  invents  and    urg'anizes. 


674 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


Nothing  is  said  about  the  hig-her  grades  of  labor, 
apparently,  but  a  great  deal  is  urged  for  that  which 
is  comparatively  crude  and  unintelligent.  Capital 
is  denounced  even  when  it  is  found  in  tlie  honest 
possession  of  the  one  who  created  it  by  the  skill  of 
his  own  liands  and  brain;  and  the  intelligence 
which  is  capable  of  managing  savings  so  that  the 
little  money  in  hand  shall  help  to  make  more  money 
is  beginning  to  be  looked  upon  as  almost  criminal. 


up;  at  any  rate,  we  shall  keep  on  hoping;  for 
"  hope,"  says  Eugene  Secor,  •'  is  the  bee-keeper's 
best  bank  account.'' 


They  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their  strength; 
they  shall  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles;  they  shall  run  and 
not  be  weary;  and  they  shall -"-" >-.»•-.--.      ■«.    -a   •>. 


ilk  and  not  faint  — Isa.  40:  31. 


The  following  stanza,  by  E.  L.  Pratt,  of 
Beverly,  Mass.,  after  "  How  doth  the  busy  bee," 
etc..  is  so  unique  that  we  gladly  give  it  position 
at  the  head  of  this  column. 

Now  doth  the  busy  little  moth 

Improve  each  shining  minute 
By  liunting  up  your  nicest  comb 
And  laying  millions  in  it. 


In  the  articles  on  the  smoker  question  that 
have  appeared  of  late  in  the  Bee-keepers'  Re- 
view, the  Bingham  seems  to  have  carried  off 
the  palm.  

Like  ourselves,  the  bee-keepers  of  Australia 
are  preparing  to  grapple  with  the  question  of 
adulteration— how  it  may  be  ferreted  out,  and 
how  it  may  be  put  down. 

Fixed  distances  are  being  introduced  in  Aus- 
tralia by  quite  a  number  of  prominent  bee- 
keepers. They  have  corne  to  about  the  same 
conclusion  we  have  in  regard  to  self-spacing 
frames  and  non-burr-comb  top-bars. 


On  page  633,  Fr.  Greiner  notes,  among  other 
good  things  in  his  Cobs  and  Kernels,  the  fact 
that  honey  evaporated  by  artificial  means  is 
just  as  good  as  that  evaporated  by  the  bees.  I 
agree  with  Dzierzon,  that  it  seems  the  bees 
must  have  some  process  of  separating  the  hon- 
ey from  the  water  quicker  than  by  the  slow 
method  of  evaporation.  I  allude  to  this  in  the 
ABC  book,  in  describing  an  experiment  that  I 
made  while  the  bees  were  working  on  figwort. 

A.  I.  R. 

What  an  excellent  bee-paper  the  Bee-Ueeii- 
ers'  Review  isl  It  seems  to  be  improving  month 
by  month.  We  have  wanted  to  pat  Bro.  Hutch- 
inson on  the  back  several  times  of  late,  but  we 
were  afraid  that  our  readers  would  begin  to 
think  that  Gi>eanings  and  the  Review  were 
somewhat  under  one  management.  Not  a  bit 
of  it.  Both  journals  are  managed  and  conduct- 
ed separately;  and  although  there  may  be  a  ri- 
valry, it  is,  in  the  language  of  Bro.  Hutchinson, 
"  not  an  unpleasant  one." 

A  FE"W  days  ago  we  were  talking  with  a  gen- 
tleman who  kept  bees  many  years  ago.  We 
referred  to  tht-  poor  seasons  that  bee-keepers 
had  been  having  for  the  last  four  or  five  years, 
and  asked  whether  this  was  to  continue.  Our 
old  bee-keeping  friend  then  related  that,  away 
back  in  the  60's,  bee-keepers  had  four  or  five 
poor  honey  years  in  succession,  followed  by 
many  years  of  good  honey-flows.  He  also  al- 
luded to  the  fact  that  certain  agricultural 
products  were  subject  to  cycles  of  four  or  five 
poor  years,  followed  by  good  years.  Well,  our 
cycle  of  poor  years,  we  are  in  hopes,  is  about 


THE   FOUI.-BROOD   QUESTION   IN    AUSTRALIA. 

Mr.  James  Pender,  of  Tallarook,  Australia, 
in  a  well-written  paper  read  at  a  bee-keepers' 
convention  in  Australia,  takes  the  ground  that 
foul  brood  is  not  necessarily  a  curse  to  the  bee- 
men  of  that  country.  He  argues  that,  if  it  were 
not  for  the  ravages  of  that  disease,  there  would 
be  thousands  of  box -hive  bee-keepers  who 
would  compete  with  the  product  from  well- 
regulated  apiaries;  that  tjie  disease  does  not 
trouble  greatly  the  expert  Bee-keeper,  and  hence 
there  is  little  or  no  competition  in  the  way  of 
prices  cutting  from  box-hive  men.  Taking  it 
all  in  all,  he  thinks  foul  brood  is  a  friendly  en- 
emy: and  therefore  he  questions  whether  it  is 
desirable  to  have  a  foul-brood  act.  because 
there  is  already  law  enough  to  compel  apiarists 
to  remove  such  a  nuisance  as  foul  brood  in  the 
vicinity  of  neighboring  bee-keepers.  There 
may  be  something  in  Mr.  Pender's  position; 
but  we  should  feel  safer  with  the  foul-brood 
act,  so  that  we  could  '"press  the  button"  and 
let  the  foul-brood  inspector  with  the  arm  of  the 
law  "do  the  rest.'^^ 

ANOTHER   BICYCLE  TOUR  AMONG    BEE-KEEPERS. 

Just  about  the  time  that  our  last  issue  finds 
its  way  into  the  homes  of  the  bee-keepers  all 
over  the  land  we  shall  be  starting  on  another 
bicycle  tour.  Our  steed  will  be  a  Victor  pneu- 
matic, and  we  expect  to  make  a  tour  of  300  or 
400  miles  among  bee-keepei"S  and  friends  in 
Northern  Ohio  and  Southern  Michigan.  Yes- 
terday, Aug.  1(1.  we  rode  .55  miles,  and  the  same 
distance  the  day  before.  To-morrow  we  are 
going  to  try  to  cover  7.5.  Oh  I  but  it  is  fun  to 
come  and  go  when  you  please — no  horse  to  feed, 
no  railroad  tickets  to  buy;  no  bills  of  any  kind 
to  pay.  except,  perhaps,  now  and  then  for  a 
ijooci  big  hearty  breakfast,  dinner,  or  supper  at 
a  hotel. 

But  perhaps  some  of  the  friends  think  we 
ought  to  have  given  them  notice  before  this  in 
Gleanings.  Well,  the  fact  was  we  did  not 
know  when  we  were  going  to  start,  nor  exactly 
our  route.  All  depends  upon  the  weather  and 
the  roads.  We  disappointed,  two  summers  ago, 
so  many  of  our  friends  by  not  making  them  the 
expected  call,  that  we  thought  this  time  we 
would  make  no  promises.  We  —  who's  we  f 
Why,  don't  you  know?    It  is  E.  R.  R. 

Oh,  yes  !  we  will  try  to  send  home  some  bee- 
notes. 

THAT   NEW   BEE-DISEA.SE. 

On  page  504  of  our  last  issue  we  referred  to  a 
new  bee-disease  that  resembled  foul  brood  in 
many  respects.  We  not  only  had  cases  of  it  in 
our  own  yards,  but  had  reports  of  the  same 
from  others:  and  we  there  stated  that  it  was 
quite  probable  that  this  disease  had  been  mis- 
taken for  real  foul  brood  on  the  part  of  a  good 
many.  Here  is  a  letter  just  at  hand  that  is  a 
sample: 

The  foul  brood  that  I  made  such  a  fuss  about  last 
spring  has  all  disappeared.  I  found  in  all  about 
four  hives  affected,  I  destroyed  two,  and  one  of  the 
two  was  in  a  bad  state,  half  of  the  brood  being  rot^ 
ten.  Your  editorial  in  last  Gleanings  sliows  that 
you  have  been  troubled  tlie  same  as  I. 

Worthington,  \V.  Va.  L.  H.  Robey. 

While  we  should  not  put  aside  our  usual  vig- 
ilance, we  do  not  on  the  other  hand  want  to 
destroy  colonies  when  they  do  not  have  the 
contagious  disease.  Very  recently  we  ran  across 
some  old  drone  brood  that  had  been  put  in  a 
hive  and  confined  by  itself  with  no  bees.  It 
had  lain,  perhaps,  for  two  or  three  weeks  when 


1892 


i;leanin(}s  in  bee  culture. 


I'.:-) 


w»>  disi'OvtM"(>d  it.  Out  of  i-uiiosity  \v(^  iiiu'ai)p«>d 
sonio  of  tilt'  ot'lls,  ami.  behold,  it  1oo1<im1  for  all 
tiu>  world  lil<t'  foul  brood.  Ii  had  that  brown 
cotTot'  folor.  and  tlit>  larva  was  dead  and  soiiic- 
wlial  sliriv  ('l(<i  up.  It  hu-kcd  ihc  two  tiistiiict- 
ivt' I'haoaotcristii's  of  llic  real  vinilciit  disease. 
It  was  not  ropy,  nor  did  it  liavc  tlii>  poculiar 
odor  iliat  bt'Ioncs  to  foul  brood. 


WIIKKI.S    von    WO.MKN     .\Nr)    GIKI.S. 

( U  K  daviirlUi'r  has  for  sovcral  yoars  siiffcrc'd 
from  nt'rvons  di'bilily  and  iiidiixcstion.  (>sp(»cial- 
ly  abiMit  till'  lini(»  hfi' school  closes.  Slie  is  now 
foiirtt'cn  years  of  aiie;  but  she  always  lias  a 
hard  pull  to  sret  tliroiiLch  her  studies  toward  the 
close  of  the  teiin:  and  on  s:  veral  occasions  we 
iiave  been  obliged  to  lake  her  out  of  school, 
thinking  it  best  to  incur  the  risk  of  stopping 
her  mental  rather  than  physical  developni(Mil. 
Doctors  were  consulted:  wine  and  pepsin,  and 
other  tilings  from  the  drugstore,  were  taken 
"before  meals"  and  •"  after  meals."  year  after 
year,  as  the  end  of  the  school  term  came  round. 
She  couldn't  eat  this,  that,  and  the  other,  with- 
out reiicnting  that  she  had  not  heeded  he  motli- 
er"s  repeated  cautions. 

Well,  the  wheel  Ernest  seh'cted  for  me  is  a 
ladies'  Safi'ty  pneumatic  tire.  He  said  I  was 
so  light  that  a  ladies' wheel  would  answ-er  every 
purpose,  and  he  felt  quite  sure  that  the  girls 
also  would  learn  to  ride,  although  the  rest  of 
the  family  did  not  think  it  very  likely.  Well, 
Caddie  climbed  on  to  the  wheel  almost  as  soon 
as  she  saw  it:  and  the  machine  actually  behav- 
ed as  if  it  had  a  liking  for  her.  When  J  touched 
it,  the  wheel  was  sure  to  pitch  one  way  and  my- 
self the  other,  and  we  both  got  into  the  dirt. 
Caddie,  however,  stepped  on  as  nimbly  as  a  kit- 
ten, and  commenced  to  ride  at  once.  And  now 
comes  the  most  important  part  of  it.  Her  nerv- 
ous troubles  have  all  disappeared;  her  muscles 
are  getting  strong,  and  she  eats  whatever  she 
chooses,  even  pickles,  with  impunity:  and  she 
will  make  a  five-mile  run  on  a  common  country 
road  at  a  speed  that  puts  some  of  the  big  boys 
'"on  their  mettle  "  to  keeji  up  with  her.  I  am 
well  aware  that  I  am  giving  a  heavy  commend- 
ation of  the  wheel  in  this  present  issue;  but  I 
tell  you.  good  health  is  beyond  price.  If  some- 
bcxly  had  told  me.  a  month  ago.  that  the  time 
woiild  ever  come  when  I  could  exert  the  amount 
of  strength  that  I  did  this  forenoon,  and  at  the 
same  time  rejoice  in  it,  I  would  not  have  be- 
lieved it  possible.  It  seemed  to  me.  when  I  was 
riding  at  the  rate  of  six  or  eight  miles  an  hour. 
that  there  was  within  me  a  great  reservoir  of 
strength  and  energy  almost  untouched.  I  pre- 
sume likely  it  comes  by  bringing  into  play  a  set 
of  muscles  tha,t  have  been  through  all  my  life 
almost  unused.    A.  I.  R. 

■  SFX'OXD  wind"'— LATEST  FKOM  THE  WHEKI,. 

I  Toi.D  you  about  getting  my  second  wind 
while  climbing  Wilson's  Peak,  in  California. 
Well.  1  am  just  now  making  some  wonderful 
discoveries — at  least,  they  are  discoveries  to  me 
in  this  second-wind  business.  Yesterday  (Aug. 
23)  I  started  on  my  wheel  for  a  thirty-mile  trip. 
I  did  not  gi'l  business  attended  to.  the  outdoor 
hands  look<'d  after,  selling  ijroduce.  etc..  until 
about  half-i)ast  nine,  and  by  that  time  I  felt 
pretty  well  used  up.  mentally  and  physically. 
Had  I  not  judged  from  past  experience,  I  should 
have  concluded  that  I  was  too  sick  to  ride  a 
wheel  or  to  do  any  thing  else  unle.ss  it  was  to 
go  and  lie  down  on  the  lounge  and  take  a  nap. 
However,  as  I  had  made  my  arrangements  I 
started  off.  At  the  end  of  the  first  five  miles  I 
seriously  meditated  turning  round  and  going 
back,  buring  the  last  mile  the  exertion  of 
going  up  hill  had  made  me  pant  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  I  remember  of  having  my  mouth  wide 


open,  and  that  my  heart  was  beating  like  a 
tri J)- hammer.  I  was  taking  immense  breaths 
of  air,*  for  I  could  not  go  up  the  hills  without 
tremendous  bn-alhing.  A  little  after  this,  the 
second  w  ind  i-anie  in.  I  w  as  sweating  pi'ofusely 
at  tlie  time,  w  hen  I  felt  sinuigth  coming — yes, 
a  great  flood  of  it.  Under  its  stimulus  I  began 
to  make  tlie  wheel  just  i)u/.z.  up  hill  and  dow'n; 
and  the  faster  I  went,  the  larger  seemed  the 
reserve^  force.  Why!  I  fell  like  a  small  steain- 
(Migin(\  w  ith  muscles  of  iion  and  m-rves  of  steel. 
By  11  o'clock  1  had  reached  the  point  whei'e  I 
proposed  to  take  dinner.  I  did  not  feel  like 
stopping  at  all,  but  I  had  been  counseled  so 
much  about  saving  this  energy  that  I  went  into 
the  hotel  and  lay  down.  By  trying  hard  I 
managed  to  sleep  just  ten  minutes  liy  the 
watch,  but  it  took  three-quarters  of  an  houi'  to 
do  it.  iMy  strength  and  spirits  held  out  all  day 
long,  and  I  made  my  thirty  miles,  and  arrived 
home  before  five  o'clock.  This  morning  I  do 
not  feel  a  bit  stitT  nor  used  up,  but  (niite  the 
contrary.  Now,  there  is  something  simply 
wonderful  about  this.  Through  the  inlluence 
of  what  might  be  called  excessive  outdoor  ex- 
ercise I  have  got  entirely  rid  of  all  my  aches 
and  pains  and  nervous  prostration.  I  can  eat 
every  thing  and  drink  every  thing  that  God 
intended  we  should  eat  and  drink.  At  present 
it  seems  there  inay  be  no  further  need  of  my  naps 
before  dinner,  and  there  is  almost  no  further 
need  of  the  internal  water  cure.  I  am  a  big 
strong  man,  and  Nature  is  performing  all  her 
functions  without  any  artificial  help  of  any 
sort.  To  give  the  credit  all  to  the  wheel,  or  to 
ruling  the  wheel,  would,  of  course,  be  a  blun- 
der. Working  in  the  harvest-field,  working  on 
a  thrashing-machine,  and  a  thousand  other 
kinds  of  outdoor  employments,  would  probably 
answer  almost  as  well  for  the  majority  of  man- 
kind. For  those  who  work  indoors,  however, 
and  especially  for  those  who  do  severe  mental 
work,  I  do  think  the  wheel  is  going  to  prove 
one  of  God's  most  precious  gifts  to  suffering 
humanity. 

I  wish  to  close  this  editorial  with  an  extract 
from  Prof.  Huxley,  that  I  tore  out  of  the  Rural 
New  Yorker.    Its  application  is  obvious: 

1  have  long  l:)een  convinced  (and  to  a  great  ex- 
tent by  personal  e.xperience)  that  what  penijle  are 
pleased  to  call  "  overwork"  in  a  large  pioiunt ion  of 
cases  means  uiider-oxygenatiou  and  conseciueiit  ac- 
cumulation of  waste  matter,  which  operates  as  a 
poison.  The'  depression  "  of  overworked,  nervous 
oryanizatioiis  is  very  commonly  tlie  "  oppre.ssion  " 
of  some  plii'siological  candle-snuff  not  properly 
burned. 

And  now  I  want  to  say,  may  God  in  his  great 
mercy  bless  the  message  I  have  been  trying  to 
give  you  through  this  number  of  Gleanings. 
Long  ago  men  gave  up  the  fruitless  search  for 
the  fountain  of  youth;  but  it  looks  to  me  as 
though  something  prettv  nearly  equal  toitwere 
coming.  It  is  coming  along  the  line  of  the  .sec- 
o/u7  ii'lnd;  and  while  I  say  it.  I  fear  that  many 
there  be  who  may  never  find  it  at  all.  They 
have  not  the  patience  and  perseverance  to  get 
on  the  right  track  and  to  hold  on.  And  another 
thing,  dear  friends:  When  you  ar(>  struggling 
against  tdiiiitntion  and  .sj/i— it  may  he  agsinst 
the  cravings  of  a  depraved  appetite — let  mo  beg 
of  you  to  hold  on  and  wait  for  the  second  wind. 
It  is  t/ierc,  for  God  pineal  it  there;  and  if  you 
persevere,  even  though  it  may  make  you  pant 
and  hhnv.  you  >vill  reach  the  goal,  and  gain 
faith   and   strength  in  so  doing. 

*  An  unusual  quantity  of  dxygcn,  mind  you,  but  it 
wasn't  "Oxygenated  Bittei-s,"  nor  any  sort  of 
" drugstore  oxygen;"  and,  furtliermore,  there  has 
never  jet  l)een  any  reaction,  even  if  it  is  a  wonder- 
ful stimulant.  xVfter  that  liard  tramp  up  Wilson's 
Peak  I  received  permanent  l)eneflt  that  I  felt  more 
or  less  for  ten  days  or  two  weeks. 


676 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Skpt.  1. 


JAPANESE    BUCKWHEAT. 

July  30  we  sowed  about  an  acre  of  our  rich 
market  ground,  and  in  just  one  week  it  was  up 
so  as  to  make  the  ground  green.  In  two  weeks 
the  ground  was  entirely  coven  d  so  as  to  be 
invisible,  on  account  of  the  foliage.  In  three 
weeks  the  bees  were  working  on  an  occasional 
blossom;  and  in  four  weeks  (last  Saturday)  all 
the  field  was  white,  and  the  bees  were  hum- 
ming about  as  lively  as  I  ever  saw  them  on  a 
buckwheat-field.  We,  however,  made  a  mis- 
take in  putting  in  so  much  seed;  for  on  our 
very  rich  ground  every  stalk  would  branch  out 
if  it  could;  and  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  half  a 
bushel  of  seed,  or  even  less,  per  acre,  would 
give  a  better  yield  than  any  larger  quantity. 

A.  I.  R. 

THE    I'ECOS   VALLEY. 

The  following  postscript  to  a  letter  illustrates 
vividly  how  differently  piople  may  look  at  cer- 
tain things.  Some  may  be  pleased  with  a  new 
country,  in  spite  of  its  many  disadvantages: 
others  may  see  the  disadvantages  and  nothing 
else,  and  so  be  very  much  disgusted. 

Brother  Rout:— 1  have  been  in  New  Mexico,  and 
find  it  no  g-ood  for  a  poor  man,  and  no  bonanza  for 
a  ricli  man,  water  being  scarce  and  hard  to  get,  and 
good  drinking-water  rare.  In  Eddy,  it  costs  3.5  ots. 
per  barrel.  It  is  very  sandy  in  and  around  Eddy, 
and  strong  in  alliali,  and  sand  storms  are  frequent. 
Tliat  country  is  too  much  advertised.  Many  are 
going  there,  "and  manj^  are  leaving— some  not  even 
staving  tliere  over  night.  Andrew  Ckaig. 

Abilene,  Texas,  Aug.  Sa,  1893. 

Even  though  every  thing  that  has  been  said 
in  favor  of  the  Pecos  Valley  be  true,  I  have  all 
along  had  a  sort  of  feeling  that  only  the  favora- 
ble features  were  meniioned;  therefore  1  am 
glad  to  give  place  to  a  lettei-  fi-oin  one  who  has 
been  right  on  the  spot,  giving  us  the  unfavora- 
ble side.  A.  I.  R. 

THE    SUFFEKEltS   IN   INDIA. 

Since  our  article  and  picture  iu  the  August 
1st  issue,  we  have  received  in  contributions  the 
sum  of  $12.00  for  the  starving  brothers  and  sis- 
ters. Funds  may  be  sent  by  postal  order  to 
Frank  Van  Allen,  Medical  Missionary,  Madma, 
India;  or.  if  more  convenient,  you  may  remit 
directly  to  us,  and  we  will  forward. 


Specml  Notices, 


We  have  a  few  hybiid  queens  which  we  will  dis- 
pose of,  as  long  as  they  last,  for  40  cts.  each. 


DISCOUNTS   FOR  EARLY   ORDERS. 

We  call  the  attention  of  our  customers  to  the 
fact  that,  on  sucli  goods  as  you  find  on  pages  lu  td 
30  of  our  price  Hst  that  you  buy  for  next  season's 
use  between  now  and  Dec  1,  a  discnnnt  of  .">  per 
cent  may  be  deducted.  This  applies  in  goods  of  our 
manufacture  only,  which  are  found  between  pages 
mentioned.  

DAMAGED  BOOKS  BELOW  COST. 

Owing  to  a  leak  in  the  water-tank  in  the  tower 
aht)ve  our  vault,  the  walls  became  damp,  and  a  few 
copies  of  our  paper-bound  edition  of  the  Christian's 
Secret  of  a  Happy  Life  are  a  little  soiled  by  mold. 
■We  offer  them  by  mail  posipaid  for  15  cts.  each:  or 
by  express  or  freight  witli  other  goods,  singly  or  in 
quantities,  at  10  cts.  each;  regular  price.  25  cts. 

SCARCITY   Oir  WHITE   DUTCH  CLOVER   SEED. 

At  present  this  seed  .  is  worth  30  cts.  per  lb.  at 
wholesale,  and  40  at  retail.  1  am  very  glad  to  see 
one  thing  more  that  farmers  raise  bringing  a  good 
price;  and  tliis  tiling,  or  sonietliing  like  it,  lias  liap- 
pened  so  many  times  with  the  different  kinds  i>f 
clover  that  I  think  it  would  belioove  some  bee-keep- 
er to  make  a  business  of  having  some  seed  on  hand 


so  he  could  reap  the  advantage  when  these  seasons 
of  scarcity  occur.  It  does  not  hurt  my  conscience 
a  bit  to  take  40  cts.  for  a  pound  of  clover  seed,  so 
long  as  there  is  none  to  be  liad  anywhere  else  at  a 
less  price.  If  wanted  by  mail,  add  10  cts.  per  lb. 
extra  for  postage  and  packing. 

STANLEY  HONEY-EXTRACTORS. 

Last  spring  we  acqtiired  the  riglit  to  make  these 
machines,  and  at  the  same  time  we  bought  what 
stock  Mr.  Newcomb  had  on  hand.  We  have  offered 
tliese  at  25  per  cent  off  the  regular  prices,  in  the 
hope  of  working  them  oft'  to  give  us  a  chance  to 
make  some  ourselves.  Quite  a  few  have  been  sold, 
but  we  still  have  five  or  six  two-frame  machines, 
and  ten  or  twelve  four-frame,  with  crank  directly 
on  the  shaft,  and  no  gear.  The  prices  at  which 
these  have  sold  was  $12.00  for  the  two-frame  and 
$20.00  for  the  four-frame;  $8.00  extra  for  the  hori- 
zontal gear.  We  are  still  desirous  of  closing  out 
this  stock;  and  as  a  further  inducement  we  will  sell 
the  two-frame  for  $8.00,  and  tlie  four-frame  for 
$12.00— almost  h<df  price.  We  will  put  on  our  bevel 
gear,  3  to  1,  for  $3.(0  each  extra.  If  anybodj'  is  in 
want  of  one  of  these  machines  he  will  never  have  a 
better  chance  to  buy  one  cheap.  We  bought  them 
low,  and  can  afford  to  sell  them  as  above  rather 
than  to  keep  them  over  till  anotlier  season.  Re- 
member, this  price  lasts  only  as  long  as  the  old 
stock  lasts;  for  when  we  have  to  make  them  new 
we  must  charge  full  list  price. 


LAWN-MOWERS. 

A  month  ago  we  offered  lawn-mowers  at  reduced 
prices,  to  work  down  our  stock  ratlier  than  carrj'  it 
over  to  another  season.  A  good  many  have  taken 
advantage  of  the  otter;  and  one  size,  the  18-inch 
Globe,  are  all  gone  We  still  have  plenty  of  tlie  10 
and  12  inch,  and  a  few  left  of  14  and  16  inch.  The 
prices  we  ottered  tlien  are  as  follows: 

]0-incb  Young  America $3.00 

12inch  •'  ■'        3.50 

in-iiieh  Globe ..      3.75 

13  inch       "       4.0U 

14-inch       "       4.30 

Itj-inch       "      4.  i'5 

Above  prices  are  very  nearly  cost,  and  available 
as  long  as  the  stock  lasts. 


bbl 
for 


of  12 

10;  $6 


NEW   HONEY-JARS. 

We  have  added  to  our 
stock  of  glass  jars  for  ex- 
tracted lionej^  tlie  one 
shown  adjoining.  It  is 
straight  up  and  down,  with 
a  tin  screw  top,  with  open- 
ing in  the  top  nearly  the 
full  size  of  jar,  making  it 
easy  to  take  oiU  candied 
honey.  The  top  edge  is 
iriound  so  that  they  can  be 
sealed  witli  a  rubber  band 
if  desired.  There  are  six 
sizes  made,  liut  we  keep 
only  two— No.  2.i(i,  li<jlding 
1  II).  of  honey,  as  shown, 
and  No.  5U0,  same  diameter, 
twice  as  long,  holding  2  !bs. 
Prices,  witliout  rubber 
rings,  will  be  as  follows: 
No.  20a.  Iiolding  1-lb.,  7c 
each;  6ac   for  10;  $7.00  per 

doz.    Mo.  510,  holding  2  lbs.,  13c  eacli ;  $1.00 

.50  per  bbl.  of  7  doz. 


SQUAHE   C.4NS  FOR   EXTRACTED   HONEY. 

I  believe  bee-keepers  generally  are  learning  more 
and  more  the  advantage  of  putting  up  extracted 
honey  for  shipment  in  these  square  cans.  Honey 
in  square  cans  handles  much  more  satisfactorily 
than  in  any  other  package,  according  to  our  expe- 
rience. We  are  prepared  to  furnish  you  the  square 
cans,  f.  o.  b.  at  Conneaut,  Ohio,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  or 
from  here,  at  the  following  prices: 

Two  five  gal.  cans,  boxed  with  l'/2-inch  screws, 
each,  7.5c;  10,  $7.00;  100,  $65.00. 

Two  tive-gal.  cans,  boxed  with  l}i  and  4  in.  screws, 
each,  85c;  10,  $8.00;  100,  $75.00. 

One  five-gal.  can,  boxed  with  l>^-iiich  screws, 
each,  45c;  10.  $4.20;  100,  $40.00. 

One  tive-gal.  can,  boxed  with  IK  and  4  inch  screws, 
each.  50c;  10.  $4.70;  100,  $45.00. 


IS'.f,' 


i;leanin(js  in  bee  culture. 


677 


Ton  one-Kill-  cans,  huxod  with  aorows,  enoli,  $1.51): 
10.  ?U.(»0;  UK).  $i;J().(lO. 
One  Imndrt'd  one  tral.  cans  in  ono  bo.x.  $1U'.IH). 


(3.AI.V.\XI/.KI)-W1HK  I'OL'I.TUV-NKTTINO  AN1>  FKNCINO. 
THK     »KST   .MADE    AT  TllK    I.DWKST    I'KU'E. 

Wo  liandlo  only  ilio  G.  &  H.  brand,  wliirli  w»>  con- 
si'icr  the  best  ni;i(ir.  as  it  is  intnle  of  wiro  f nlly  np 
tovailiri'.  and  bas  t  hrcc-slrand  twistod-wiie  si'lvaffi', 
wliilo  otbiT  makes  liave  only  two.  We  liave  serni-ed 
a  carload  from  the  fai'tory.  at  a  special  low  price, 
wldi'h  we  arealile  to  sell  lower  than  yoti  can  bii.>-  it 
any wliere  elst>  of  eijual  iinalit\.  and  lower  than  we 
liave  ever  sold  it  before,  thovifi-h  wc  Inive  been  fiet- 
tiiiK  more  for  it  tlu-  past  two  years  than  we  tiid  in 
ISittl.  This  carload  that  we  lia\e  purchased  is  all 
2-incli  No.  19  nettiiijf.  tlie  si/.e  jrenerally  used  for 
poultry.  It  was  made  nearly  a  year  aK<i,  and  has 
lost  Some  of  the  lirijrht  luster  of  fresh  new  Roods; 
anil  it  Was  for  this  reason  alone  tliat  we  Ixui^ht  it 
lower  and  are  at)le  to  sell  it  cheai  cr.  It  is  ^"-uaran- 
teed  equal  in  every  respect  to  fresh  new  {roods  of 
the  liest  quality,  i  .\cept  in  luster,  which  practically 
is  of  no  account,  liecause  tlic  l)rightest  lu'ttiiiK 
becomes  dull  in  a  few  weeks  after  being  put  up. 
We  have  in  stoclv  all  widtlis  from  13  inches  up  to  60, 
which  we  can  furnisli  at  tlie  following  prices.  All 
shipments  must  l)e  made  from  liere.  We  can  not 
sliip  from  New  York  or  Chicago  at  these  piices;  but 
as  we  are  al)le  to  secure  tli rough  rates  to  almost  all 
points  from  liere.  the  freig;ht  will  be  little  if  an.v 
more  than  if  shipped  from  either  city. 

Rolls  1.50  ft.  long.  1  roll.     .">  rolls.    10  rolls. 

2-in.  No.  19.  12  inches  wide      *1  0(1       $  4  .50       $  8  75 

18  "  1  .50  5  75  12  (10 

••         24  "  2  00  9  (Ml  17  .50 

30  "  2  50  12  (10  28  (Kl 

36  "  2  90  i:!  50  26  00 

42  "  3  40  16  00  31  00 

••         48  "  3  75  17  .50  JM  00 

60  ••  4  75  23  00  44  00 

Tiio  lot  includes  over  6i}0  rolls,  most  of  which  are  4tS 
inches  wide,  the  usual  size  used.  This  price  will 
la-st  onlj-  a-s  long  as  the  stock  lasts.  You  will  do 
well,  therefore,  to  order  early.  The  above  prices 
are  less  than  the  wholesale  quotations  to-day  on 
netting  not  one  whit  better,  if  as  good.  If  you 
want  other  sizes,  or  shipment  from  New  York  or 
Chicago,  write  for  our  special  20-page  netting  cata- 
logoie,  mailed  on  application. 


5-lb.  Jones  Lithogr'h, 

2H  (I'tto 

1     ditto  lisfht. 

1     ditto  darker. 

'/.  ditto, 

'i  ditto. 

!<;  ditto 

E  ditto. 
F  ditto. 
G  ditto. 
H  ditto. 
I  ditto. 
J  ditt. 


6X  X  14 

*H  X  9H 

4Mx    9>^ 
2%  X  8;v 
!2     X    7V|S 
1«  X    dV, 
2K  X  16 
2K  X  18 
185^  X  13K 
\2a  X  13^ 
IS^iJ  X  14 
2-5^  X  16 


1  009. 50| 
.60  5  50 
..5014  00, 
.50  4  001 
.2i  -i  00 
M.t2  (H) 
.15  1  00 
.50  4  50 
.50  4. .50 
55|0  00 
5o  .5  00 
.60,5  50 
.60:5. .50 
.30'2.00 


1  20 
52 


1  00 

75 

,50 

SO 

1  (H) 

75 

.50 

Wl 

1  (H) 

75 

.50 

»l 

l.(H) 

7.5 

.50 

:i() 

»0 

75 

.50 

■M 

W) 

75 

.511 

:«) 

.)W 

75 

60 

30 

1  00 
1.00 


Aljbott  oval  Lith'ph.  2Ji  X    iX 

In  order  to  work  down  our  stock  of  these  labels 
we  offer  a  reduction  of  25  per  cent  Irom  above 
prices  for  the  ne.vt  60  days,  or  as  long  as  stock  lasts. 
We  have  the  largest  stock  of  the  Mb.  light  and  dark, 
and  they  are  a  very  good  size  for  tin  pails  of  almost 
any  size. 

Those  of  you  who  have  never  seen  these  labels 
can  form  little  idea  how  handsome  they  are;  and 
that  you  may  see  Itiem  without  much  e.vpense  we 
•will  put  up  asaniple  iia<-kage  of  1  of  each  kind,  with 
one  dozen  of  the  last  named,  and  mail  postpaid  for 
ten  ccnlit.  Eight  of  the  above  may  be  divided  into  2 
and  3  labels  each,  so  that  you  can  g(!t  a  small  lot 
(over  30.  of  handsome  lithograph  labels,  no  two 
alike,  for  only  ten  '-eiits.  These  sample  packages 
would  be  very  good  for  labeling  a  small  fair 
exhibit.  They  would  at  least  add  variety  We 
can  not.  of  course,  print  your  name  and  address  on 
the  sample  package  or  any  number  less  than  100. 
and  those  opposite  wiiioli  we  give  no  price  for 
printing,  have  rn)  blank  place  for  such  printing, 
and  hence  can  not  be  printed.  All  the  above  are 
ungummed.  You  can  not  get  lithograi)h  or  many- 
colored  labels  on  gummed  paper. 


PRICE  LIST  OF  JONES    LITHOGRAPH   LABELS. 

25  per  cent  reduction  for  60  days  from  the  follow- 
ing: 

Size  in  |  Price.  |  Postage   Print'g  Add's 
Same  of  Label.         Inches.  1 100  lOOOJ  100  [  1000  lOOOjSOO  250  100 


76    60    30 
78    50    30 


llfSIIEl,    no.NES. 

It  is  Mealing  the  time  when  |>otatoes,  tomatoes, 
oidoiis.  and  other  special  crops  must  be  taken  care 
of;  and  those  who  iiaiidle  t  hem  will  be  (oi- ought  to 
be)  considering  the  easiest,  cheapest,  and  best  means 
of  doing  so.  T.  IJ  Terr\  has  conclusiveU  shown, 
in  his  admirable  little  book,  the  A  IJ  ('  c^f  Potato 
Cultiiic.  that  potatoes  biing  a  bettei'  pi-ice.  can  tie 
handled  witli  less  work,  and  better  in  every  way,  l)y 
Using  bushel  boxes.  More  and  more  each  jear  are 
learning  the  truth  of  Mi'.  Terry's  reasoning,  and 
some  are  .ilso  llnding  out  that  these  bo.ves  aic  e(iii;il- 
\\  valuable  foi-  ha n(l ling  other  <"rops,  such  as  onions, 
tomatoes,  cucumbers,  melons,  etc.  We  make  and 
kee|>  in  stock  three  styles  of  the.se  lioxes,  as  follows: 

All-slatted  bushel  box,  jier  crate  of  15 $1..50 

Sliitted  '        "      "12 1..50 

Galvanized  bound  bushel  box,  pc^r  crate  of  12...  2.10 

If  none  of  these  is  to  your  notion,  we  are  prepared 
to  maki'  any  style  you  want,  in  any  (iii.nitity  mot 
less  than  lOOi.  at  very  low  i)i-ices.  Weiise  basswood. 
which  holds  nails  without  splitting,  and  is  lighter 
than  any  other  wood  we  could  use.  Dealers  or 
agents  wishing  to  work  up  large  orders  will  do  well 
to  wiite  us  for  special  prices. 


Harvest 

ExeuPsions 

—  WILL    1$E    HUN    ON  — 

August    30th,    Sept.    27th, 
and  Oet.  25th, 

—TO  THE— 

Pecos  Valley 

The  Fruit    Belt  of   ^izxxx    JVIexieo. 

Tickets  may  be  bouglit  at  any  important  railway 
station,  in  the  Northern  or  Eastern  States,  to 

EDDY,  JMEW   MEXICO, 

a'ld  return     good  twenty  days— at 

One  Fare  fof  the   I^ound  Trip. 

Don't  miss  this  op|io'tunity  1o  see  the  riclie»t 
and  iuoi»t  fertile  valley,  and  the  most  complete 
and  elaborate  system  of  Irrigating  Canals  in  the 
United  States.     For  particulars,  address 

G.O.  SHIEliDS,  Hddy,  J^clu  |VIexieo 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

A  Colorado  Bee-Ranch 
and  Fruit-Farm  for  Sale 


at  a  Bargain. 


I  hereli.v  otter  tor  sale  m.v  ranch  of  1.50  acres,  in- 
chnling  120  stands  of  bees  in  70  ten-frame  Simplicity 
and  .50  Dovetailed  8-frame  hives,  Simplicity  size,  all 
transferable  ;  al.so  extractor.  coml)s.  supers,  and 
every  thing  needed  for  comb  honey.  Eighty  acres 
are  in  alfalfa  and  40  in  grain;  full  water-right; 
plenty  of  water:  house  of  seven  rooms;  ice-house, 
cellar,  etc.  I  will  sell  all  in  one  piece  or  in  tracts. 
I  liave  api>le  and  peach  trees  in  bearing.  The  land 
is  all  suitalile  for  fruit,  being  situiited  in  the  fruit- 
belt;  alfalfa  all  around.  My  market  is  all  within 
100  miles.  The  land  is  I'/i  miles  south  of  Delta. 
Full  particulars  will  be  furnished  on  application. 
mKS.  A.  A.  HODtiiDON, 

Delta,  <^olorado. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


678 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1. 


QUEENS  AT  COST! 


To  close  up  oiu"  surplus  stock 
(this  season)  of  Gray  Carniolans 
and  Golden  Italians  QUICK  we 
are  otfering'  choice  queens  at 
the  folic )\\"iiif;-  low  prices:  Tested  (jueens,  $1.00;  untested.  50c.  Now  is  your  time  to  get  a  flue  queen  at 
cost.  Our  queen-reaiiiig  apiaries  are  4  miles  apart,  and  are  near  no  otlier  bees.  Both  races  are  bred  for 
BUSINESS.    Give  them  a  trial  and  they  will  convince  vou.    Address 

F.   A.    LOCKHART   &   CO.,   LAKE   GEORGE,   N.   Y. 

Foundation  Reduced  3  cts.  Per  Pound. 

SECTIONS  I  sold  at  $3.00  now  selling-  at  $3.60.    Bingham  Smokers  at  cost.     Send  for  Free  Price  List  of 
every  thing- needed  in  the  apiary.  6tfdb  M.  H.  HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


FERGUSON'S 


Madison,  Morgan  Co.,  Ga.,  Sept.  1, 1893. 

Ferguson's  Lintless  Cotton  is  the  grandest  discov- 
ers^ of  the  ag;e.  For  four  years,  experiments  have 
been  made  with  this  Cotton  Seed.  It  comes  true  to 
name  every  lime.  It  is  one  of  the  most  abundant 
bearers  ever  seen  in  cotton  and  will  resist  a  drought 
ten  to  fifteen  days  longer  than  any  other  cotton. 
Stalks  bear  from  forty  to  eighty  seed  in  each  boll. 
Thej'  contain  more  oil  and  more  plant  food  than 
any  other  cotton  seed,  and  will  make,  this  sejison, 
four  hundred  or  five  hundred  bushels  of  seed  per 
acre,  planted  3x3  feet  and  cultivated  as  other  cot- 
ton. Sowed  broadcast  as  peas  for  fertilizing  pur- 
poses up  to  the  10th  of  June,  will  shed  on  the  land 
from  one  liundred  to  two  hundred  bushels  of  seed, 
without  any  work.  The  cotton  grows  tall,  putting 
out  from  six  to  eight  long  I'unning  limlis  near  the 
bottom  of  the  stalk,  They  resemble  potato  vines. 
Each  of  these  limbs  will  mature  from  eight  to 
twenty  bolls,  besides  the  short  limbs  and  brace 
limbs  common  in  otlier  cotton. 

For  stock  it  is  superior  to  all  others.  Chickens, 
turkeys,  and  ducks  devour  the  seed  when  in  the 
i-oasting-ear  state  as  eagerly  as  they  do  corn.  Stock 
of  all  kinds  eat  them.  No  humbug  whatever,  but 
the  greatest  blessing  of  the  age. 

This  cotton  is  planted  and  cultivated  as  other 
cotton.  In  harvesting  the  burr  is  pulled  and 
threshed  as  peas.  The  threshing  aud  gathering  is 
very  rapid  work. 

I  sell  seed  this  season  at  one  dollar  per  package. 
Am  filling  orders  every  day.  and  will  continue  as 
long  as  seed  lasts.  Each  iiackage  will  make  enough 
seed  after  one  planting  to  plant  10  acres  3x3.  Care 
should  be  taken  to  plant  these  seed  where  no  other 
cotton  previously  grew,  then  you  will  have  no  vol- 
unteer lint  cotton  stalks  among  it. 

This  seed  will  not  mix  with  any  other  seed. 

Can  refer  to  the  best  men  in  mj'  county. 

Please  hand  circulars  to  your  friends. 

All  letteis  of  inquiry  must  enclose  stamp  for  reply. 

Seed  sent  by  mail  at  purchaser's  risk. 
Yuui  s  ti-uh', 

R.  H.  CAMPBELL. 

fjS'ln  respondinif  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


A 


16-17d 


goodly  number  of  first-class  pure-bred 
yellow-to-the-tip  queens,  this  season's  rear- 
ing, will  breed  yellow  queens,  and  suitable 
as  the  best  of  liieeders,  now  on  hand  at  ^l.TiO 
each.  Untested,  75c-  each.  Satisfaction,  or 
money  refunded.  W.H.  Laws, 

Lavaca,  Ark. 


VANDERVORT 
COMB -FOUNDATION  MILLS. 

Send  for  samples  and  reduced  price  list. 
itfd  JNO.  VANDERVORT,  Laceyville,  Pa. 

tS^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings 

sections; 

$2.50  to  $3.50  per  ITI.    Bee-Hives  and  Fix- 
tures clieup.  NOVELTY    CO., 

6tfdb  Rock  Falls,  lllinoiR. 

tifln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Oleandjgs. 


Queens  Yellow  to  the  Tip 
Mated  to  Drones  Yellow  all  over. 

FROM    an  entirely  ditferent    strain  is  what  that 
QUEEN  SPECIALIST 

Jas.  Wood,  North  Prescott,  Mass., 

Is  sending  by  Return  Mail  at  75  cts.  each. 

Bverj' queen  warranted  purely  mated,  and  safe  ar- 
rival guaranteed.      1  am  five  miles  from  any  other 
bees,  and  none  but  selected  Drones  allowed  to  fly. 
Please  mention  this  paper 

FOR  SALE  AT  $1600. 

My  residence  at  Plattsmouth,  Nebraska,  consist- 
ing of  5  acres  of  land;  2)4  acres  in  cultivation,  bal- 
ance in  natural  timber;  one  good  house,  14x18,  IX 
stories  high,  kitchen  10x14;  140  bearing  grapevines, 
65  apple-trees,  all  4  years  old;  a  good  well;  one  tool- 
house,  10x10.  Also  80  colonies  of  Italian  bees,  all  in 
movable-comb  hives,  mostlj-  in  2-story  chatT  hives 
of  10  frames.  Simplicity  size;  combs  are  nice  and 
straight.  Bees  are  in  splendid  condition.  No  foul 
brood  ever  existed  in  this  locality.  Good  honey 
market.  No  large  bee-keepers  near.  Plenty  of 
white  clover  aboiuids,  and  plenty  of  apple  orchards 
within  3  miles  of  apiary.  Residence  located  inside 
of  boundary  of  a  city  of  10,000  inhabitants,  and  25 
miles  south  of  Omaha.  Will  sell  the  apiary  alone 
for  $500.00,  or  place  separate  for  $1100.00,  or  all  to- 
gether for  $1600.00,  apiary  fixtures  iucluded.  Terms 
of  sale,  cash  down.  Further  particulars  on  applica- 
tion.   Please  inclose  stamp  for  y(,ur  reply. 

Address  J.   M.    YOUNG, 

16-I7d  Plattsmouth,  Box  874,  Neb. 

^^n  responding  to  this  advei-tisement  mention  Gleanings. 

APIARY  AND  FARM  FOR  SALE 

Sixty  colonies  blacks  and  Italians,  mixed;  L. 
frames;  Simplicity  and  Dovetailed  hives;  with 
farm  of  57  acres,  two-thirds  bottom  flat  land,  with 
hills  covered  with  timber;  every  way  you  look  you 
can  see  from  3  to  10  miles;  4  miles  from  town;  any 
quantity  of  i)oplar,  basswood.  hard  and  soft  maple, 
sourwood,  elm,  chestnut,  hickory,  sumac,  golden- 
rod, -etc.,  within  range.  What  I  know  about  bees:  I 
think  600  stands  by  tlie  house  would  not  be  over- 
stocked; no  danger  of  competition,  onlj- 5  or 'i  box 
hives  within  3  or  4  miles  that  I  know  of.  Satisfacto- 
ly  reasons  for  selliig.  For  any  other  particulars 
write,  or  come  and  see  me.  $9511.0.1  is  the  price.  200 
fruit-trees,  m.)Stly  young,  many  commencing  to 
bear.    Apply  to  '     J.  HAMMOND, 

BuENA  Vista,  scioto  Co.,  O. 

If^ln  responding;;  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

FOK  SA1.E.— An  apiary  of  65  colonies  of  Italian 
bees  in  L.  and  S.  hives,  cheap,  with  fixtures  and 
everything  needed  in  an  apiary,  with  honey  crop  If 
bought  soon.     For  partiriihirs  address 

LOUIS  WERNER,  Edwardsville,  111. 

Eggs  and  Plants,  Fowls,  Poultry-books  and 
Papers;  finely  ill.  circular  free.    Address 
GEER  BROS.,  St.  Marys,  Mo., 


pALL 


14tfdb 


Or, 


H.  B.  GEER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 


VIOLilNS 


GUITARS 

MANDOLIKS 


07  KV-V  V\\U05. 


Murray  e-HEiss.'^'o 

ICaTAL."' 


Frle. 


twill,  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLKANlNoa. 


1892 


IJLKANMNliS  IN   HEKCULTURK 


Best  on  Earth. 


More  than  one  hundred 
thousand  Binirham  & 
Hetherington  Honey - 
knives  and  Bee-smok- 
ers in  dail}'  use.  II- 
hist rations  sent  free. 


Bingham  &  Hetherington, 

Abroia,    M  ch.  7tfdb 

IF  YOU  WANT  BEES 

Thill  will  just  "niU"  in  the  lionrN .  t ry  ITIoore's 
Strain  ol"  Italians,  the  rt'suli  of  13  ycurs'  caieful 
breeding.  Ht'cUicod  prices:  Wairaiitcd  queens,  SOc 
each;  3  for  $2.00.  Tested,  *1.0ti  each  ;  Select  tested, 
$1.50  each.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfaction  guaran- 
teed. Those  wlio  have  never  flealt  with  me  1  refer 
to  A.  I.  Koot,  who  has  purchased  of  me,  during'  past 
12  vears,  .")8~  queens.  Circulars  free. 
J."  P.  MOORE,  illorgan,  Pendleton,  Co.,  Ky. 
I3tfdb       Money-order  office,  Falmouth,  Ky. 

In  writing:  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 


Bee  -  Keepers'  *  Supplies. 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladly 
furnished,  and  correspondence  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  tlrst-elass  in  quality  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
alogue sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling-,  111'.    Address  l-24db 

AVM.  Wc€l  NE  &  CO., 

Nterling,  Illinois. 
|3?^n  respondlnpi"  thi- :..< iion  GLKANiNGi 


75c.    Golden  Queens  by  Return  Mail.    75c. 

My  Golden  Italians  are  good  workers,  and  gentle. 
Queens  are  carefully  bred  from  best  stock.  Three 
queens.  $2.00;  six  for  f3..T0;  dozen,  fti.OO.  Safe  arriv- 
al and  satisfaction  guaranteed.  Money-order  office, 
Davtona,  Fla.  JOHN  B.  CASE, 

lltfdb  Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 

tyin  rt-soi.M.linc  U>  tlii^  iulv.iti-criniii  numlon  Oleani.scm. 


SECTIONS. 

$2.50  to  $3.50  per  yi.    Bee-Hives  and  Fix- 
tures cheap.  NOVELTY    CO., 

6tfdb  Rock  FallB,  Illinois. 

t?"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


GOO'QS 
OF  KVV  W\U05. 


Murray  {^Heiss."':'o^'h^|"° 


VIOLINS 


GUITARS 


MANDOLINS 


queens  are  not  banded,  but  are  all 
yellow  on  the  tlrst  lour  scales,  and 
the  fifth  is  part  yellow,  with  an  occa- 
sional bee  with  a  little  yellow  on  tlie 
si.vlh  scale.  The  above  honey  rec 
ord  is  of  white  clover  in  1-lb.  see's, 
worth  Si;i  ill  our  market  today.  No 
drones  near  us  but  the  yellowest. 
One  warranted  queen,  tl ;  12  for  $11. 
Reference:    A.  I.  Koot. 

S.  F.  &  I.  TRECO, 
15-l8db  Swedona,  III. 


(183 

80  LBS.  PER  COLONY 

i^  ihc  rci'oid  of  ihiic  of  our 
tiolden  ipieiMis,  with  several 
others  not  far  lu'hind,  while 
thr  hesti  ri'<'ord  of  any  other 
race  is  42  lbs.  from  JJ-lianded 
bees. 

We  are  making  a  specialtj" 
of  these  beauties  for  busi- 
nrss,  and  are  so  sure  that 
they  will  please  you  I  hat  we 
guarantee  1  hem  1o  iiixv 

ENTIRE  SATISFACTION, 

or  \vc  will  return  your  money. 
Could  you  ask  more? 

The  bees   from  our  liest 


BEE-HIVES,  SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  the  best  goods  and  sell  them  eheaj). 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  l)est  on  tlie  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry In  the  world. 

Our  goods  are  known  as  the  best  throughout,  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS    CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 


JENNIE   ATGHLEY 

Will  send  you  either  three  oi'  live  banded  Italian 
queens  in'.Tune,  July,  and  August,  7.5c  each;  $4.20 
for  6.  or  $8.00  per  doz.    Safe  arrival  and  satisfac- 
tion guaranteed. 
Itfdb  Floyd,  Hunt  Co.,  Texas. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

Our  Golden   nnd   T^enther   Col- 
ored   Italian    Queens. 
Bred  for  Business. 

Tested  queens,  $1.10;  untested,  70c;  3 
for  $2.00.  Our  stock  consists  of  300  col- 
onies devoted  to  bees  and  queens  for 
the  trade.  Orders  filled  by  return 
mail.  Send  for  catalog  of  supplies,  etc. 
Ji\0.  NFBFIi  &  SON,  High  Hill,  Mo. 

^  ^^i.i^^^  at  $3  per  lOOO.  These  are 
^^PTIiinS  perfei'tlv  smooth,  and  first-class. 
V^VX^ilVfllO  ,5,.,,,,^,  t-,,uiidali.m4.5cts.  per  lb. 
All  supplies  equallv  low.  Goods  shipped  direct 
from  New  York  city.'  l-18dt. 

i.  J.  STRINCHAM, 

92  Barclay  St.,  N.  Y. 

Five-banded    Golden 
Italians  that  will  give 
satisfaction.    Queens 
by  return   mail,  $1  each ;  6  for  $.5;  for  full  particu- 
lars send  for  circular.  13tfdb 
CHAS.  D.  DUVALL,  Spencerville,  ITId. 

IVTuth's 

Honey  ^  E:>^tt^aGtoi^. 

Squafe  Glass  }ioney~tjQt<s, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee-hives. 
^oney-Sections,  &e.,  &e. 

Perfection  Cold-Blast  Smokers. 

APPLY  TO  -.^-.^^.^y^.^-^^-^-.^ 

CH^S.  F.  JWUTH  &  SOri,  Cineinnati,  O. 


Get  the  Best ! 


Send  10-ct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


lyin  responding  to  tills  aUvi-rtiMiiKiit  mention  Glkaxixg*. 


TAKE   NGTIGE! 

BEFORE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
for  prices  on  One-Piece  15a.sswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,  Shipping-Grates,  Frames,  Foundation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
14tfdb  New  London,  Wis. 
Plea.se  mention  this  paper. 


684 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  15. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Adulteration  of  Honey 690 

Analysis  of  Honey 68S 

Arizona 707 

Arizona  Honey 700 

Bands  on  Bees 710 

Battery,  Lewis' 710 

Brood.  Injured 700 

Califoraiu 693 

Detroit  Exposition 710 

Drones  Congregating 700 

Ear-trumpet  Recoinmended702 

Ernest's  Tour 697 

Farm  Hands  in  California.  .696 

Habit  of  Observation 694 

Heathen.  Confirmed 694 

Hirer,  Alley's 702 

Hoffman  Frames 702 

Honey,  Selling 689 

Introducing  Queens 700 


Laying  Workers 692 

Leucopliyllum  Texanum — 701 

Lizards 693 

Mantis.  Praying 701 

Muth  Vindicated 689 

Non-swariners 701 

Nuclei,  Nursing 698 

Peppermint  in  lntroducing700 

Funics  as  Stingers 702 

Queens,  Barren 701 

Rambler  at  John  Smith's  .  .69.i 

Rheumatism  and  Bees 699 

Silk-Moth 696 

Smokers 698 

Speckled  Beauty— Story.... 702 

Terracing  a  Field 704 

Union,  A  New 690 

Wa.x  Scales 701 

Wintering,  Pi-eparing  for.. 691 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 

The  Colorado  State  Bee-keepers'  Association  will  hold  Its 
"  Honey  Day"  at  Longmout,  Sept.  28.  H.  Knight,  Sec. 

Littleton,  Col.  

The  Capital  Bee-keepers'  Association  will  meet  in  the  Super- 
visor's Room  of  the  Court-house.  Springfield,  111.,  Oct.  4th,  1892, 
at  10  A.M.  C.  E.  YOCUM,  Stc,  Sherman,  111. 


The  Southwestern  Wisconsin  Bee-keepers'  Association  will 
hold  its  next  annual  meeting  in  Boscobel,  Grant  Co.,  Wis.,  on 
the  13th  and  14th  of  January.  1893,  commencing  at  10  a.m.  All 
members  of  the  association  are  requested  to  be  present,  as  the 
follo^ving  officers  are  to  be  elected:  President,  vice-president, 
secretary,  assistant  secretary,  and  treasurer.  Blank  reports 
will  be  sent  to  each  member  of  the  association  for  1892,  with 
instructions.  .\  cordial  invitation  is  extended  to  all  bee-keep- 
ers, and  especially  to  those  who  would  like  to  join  us.  Each 
member  will  be  notified  at  least  one  month  before  said  meet- 
ing. Benj.  E.  Rice,  Sec. 

Boscobel,  Wis. 


FERGUSON'S 

Madison,  Morgan  Co.,  Ga.,  Sept.  1, 1892. 

Ferguson's  Lintless  Cotton  is  the  grandest  discov- 
ery of  tlie  ag'e.  For  four  years,  experiments  have 
been  made  witli  tliis  Cotton  Seed.  It  comes  true  to 
name  every  time.  It  is  one  of  tlie  most  abundant 
bearers  ever  seen  in  cotton  and  will  resist  a  drought 
ten  to  fifteen  days  longer  than  any  other  cotton. 
Stalks  bear  from  forty  to  eighty  seed  in  each  boll. 
They  contain  more  oil  and  more  plant  food  than 
any  other  cotton  seed,  and  will  make,  this  season, 
four  hundred  or  five  hundred  bushels  of  seed  per 
acre,  planted  3x3  feet  and  cultivated  as  other  cot- 
ton. Sowed  broadcast  as  peas  for  fertilizing  pur- 
poses up  to  the  10th  of  June,  will  shed  on  the  land 
from  one  hundred  to  two  hundred  bushels  of  .seed, 
without  any  work.  The  cotton  grows  tall,  putting 
out  from  six  to  eight  long  running  limbs  near  the 
bottom  of  the  stalk.  They  resemble  potato  vines 
Each  of  these  limbs  will  mature  from  eight  to 
twenty  bolls,  besides  the  short  limbs  and  brace 
limbs  common  in  other  cotton. 

For  stock  it  is  superior  to  all  others.  Chickens, 
turkeys,  and  ducks  devour  the  seed  when  in  the 
roasting-ear  state  as  eagerly  as  they  do  corn.  Stock 
of  all  kinds  eat  them.  No  humbug  whatever,  but 
the  greatest  blessing-  of  the  age. 

This  cotton  is  planted  and  cultivated  as  other 
cotton.  In  harvesting,  the  burr  is  pulled  and 
threshed  as  peas.  The  threshing  and  gathering-  is 
very  rapid  work. 

I  sell  seed  this  season  at  one  dollar  per  package. 
Am  filling  orders  every  day,  and  will  continue  as 
long  as  seed  lasts.  Each  i)ackage  will  make  enough 
seed  after  one  planting  to  plant  10  acres  3.x3.  Care 
should  be  taken  to  plant  these  seed  wliere  no  other 
cotton  pre\iouslj'  grew,  then  you  will  have  no  vol- 
unteer lint-cotton  stalks  among  it. 

This  seed  will  not  mix  with  any  other  seed. 

Can  refer  to  the  best  men  in  my  county. 

Please  hand  circulars  to  your  friends. 

All  letters  of  inquiry  must  enclose  stamp  for  reply. 

Seed  sent  by  mail  at  purchaser's  risk. 
Yours  truly, 

R.  H.  CAMPBELL. 

B^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkandjgs. 


AUSTRALIA. 

Wanted— every  bee-keeper  in   Australia  to  send 
for  my  large  illustrated  catalogue  of  bee-keepers' 
supplies,  American  queens,  etc.,  etc.    Post  free. 
18-33db       H.  L.  JONES,  Goodna,  Queeuslaiid. 

For  Sa.le —  ^°  simplicity  hives,  cheap, 
12  nrklo-n-if^e  ^^*^^  fixtures  and  everything 
i.*  \^<JX<JUlt;»  needed  in  an  apiary,  with 
BlO/Ck  B668  Barnes  saw,  bee-veil,  and  smo- 
ker.    t\)r  particulars  address 

OSCAR   C.   ABEL, 
ISd  Wayville,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y. 


pALL 


14tfdb 


Eggs  and  Plants,  Fowls,  Poultrj'-books  and 
Papers;  finely  ill.  circular  free.    Address 
GEER  BROS.,  St.  Marvs,  Mo., 
Or,        H.  B.  GEER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 

Notices  will  be  inserted  under  this  head  at  one-half  our  usu- 
al rates.  .411  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-flde  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  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.- To  excliange  Scotch  Collie  pups  for 
any  thing-  useful  on  farm  or  in  bee-yard. 
1.5tfdb  N.  A.  Knapp,  Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  yellow  Italian  queens, 
and  strawberry-plants  cheap.  Bubach,  Jessie, 
Eureka,  Haverlands,  Warfleld,  Crescent,  Lady  Rusk, 
for  poultry,  or  offers.  1.5tfdb 

Mrs.  Oliver  Cole,  Sherburne,  Chen.  Co.,  N.  Y. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  one  high-grade  Safety 
bicycle;  one  49-incli  Columbia  light  roadster 
bicycle;  oneOdell  typewriter;  tested  Italian  queens, 
for  wax,  honey,  or  offers.  J.  A.  Green, 

13tfdb       Dayton,  111. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  2,5  new  "Hunt"  hives 
(chaff),  about  one  half  nailed  together,  balance 
in  flat;  2.50  good  straight  brood  or  extracting-  combs, 
built  from  full  sheets  of  foundation;  100  Hoffman 
frames,  wired,  and  a  quantity  of  other  frames;  also 
a  honey-extractor,  used  but  one  season,  and  in  first- 
class  condition;  also  10  Lang'stroth  Portico  hives, 
single  wall,  in  good  condition,  for  Safety  wheel,  or 
offers.  Reasons  for  selling  hives,  etc.,  have  sold  all 
my  bees.  Geo.  N.  Cornell, 

Lock  Box  6.  Northville,  Mich. 

WANTED.— To  cxcluinge  town  lots  in  marvelous 
Marion,  Queen  city  of  the  Indiana  gas-belt,  for 
honey;  also  20U  colonies  of  bees  for  small  proper- 
ties, building-  material,  live  stock,  or  offers. 
17-18d  B.  T.  Baldwin,  Marion,  Ind. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  a  Surprise  incubator,  204 
egg  capacity,  used  only  one  year,   cost  $50.00, 
for  $35.00  worth  of  good  extracted  honey.    Corres- 
pondence solicited. 
18d        R.  R.  Cuyler,  Alexandria,  Va.    Box  199. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  Light  Brahmas    (Felch 
strain),  .Silver  Dorkings,  1  bull  terrier  (female), 
2  rat  and   bull  terriers,  crossed  (females),  1  Novice 
extractor,  1  org-anini,  100  feet  music,  1  plow,  1  double 
shot-gun,  1  parlor  cigar-case,  for  offers. 
18-19d  Eli  AS  Fox,  Hillsboro,  Wis. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  a  Warwick  Perfection 
Safety  bicycle,  used  but  little,  and  good  as  new; 
also  a  Gunkel  E-flat  cornet  in  perfect  order,  silver 
and  gold  plated,  in  fine  case,  for  wax,  honey,  or 
offers.  18-19d  C.  A.  Graves,  Shelby,  Ohio. 


WANTED.— Situation  in  an  apiary,  or  on   farm, 
apiary  preferred,  by  a  young  man  of  .steady, 
temperate  habits.    For  particulars  iiddress 

O.  B.  Griffin,  423  Olney  St.,  Providence,  R.  I. 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


()85 


Honey  Column. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

Ai.HANV.— Hiiiii !/.— Wo  hini'  n-coivod  up  to  dato 
UKI  I'Hsos  of  roml).  iiiid  -Ti  lialf-bhls.  of  oxtractcd 
liont-y.  Tlio  (jiiality  of  tlio  comb  lioricy  is  only  fail', 
ami  wi'  are  si-iliii^r  tlio  ('lovci'  al  Inr,  and  bm-Uwhoat 
at  12.  Wo  think  fancy  clovof  would  biin«- IS.  Ex- 
tractod  soiling  fiooly  at  6' jCTohc,  accordinji-  lo  (]uali- 
tv.  Bi<>l<'(l.r,  36(n!28.  Wo  advise  oiii-  consignors  to 
sliip  thoir  luMioy  by  fi-i'i>;lil  I'atluT  than  bv  oxpross, 
as  It  arrive.s  in  bottor  condilion  and  costs  toss. 

Sept.  8.  Ch.\s.  M<'Cri,i,ocH  &  Co., 

393,  395.  397  Broadway,  Albany,  N.  Y. 


Ai.UANY.— HdiKV.-  Comb  lionov— Doinaiid  iniprov- 
injf  at  l.")@16c  for  wliito;  mixed.  "lafT;  U;  dark,  l:.'@13. 
Tliink  early  prices  will  be  best.  Receipts  light  yet. 
Extracted  honey— White,  8@8J4;  mixed,  7@T4;  dark, 
6@".    Btcxua.r,  26@28,  steady. 

H.  R.  Wright, 

Sept.  13.  Albany,  N.  Y. 

New  York.— Hoiicj/.  — Comb  honey  is  now  arriv- 
ing' freelv.  Demand  is  good,  and  we  quote  as  fol- 
lows: Fancv  white,  1  lb.,  15@17c;  -'  lbs.,  13@U;  fair 
white.  1  lb..  13(514;  2  lbs.,  12c;  buckwheat,  1  lb.,  11® 
12;  2  lbs..  Wc.  Extracted,  white  clover  and  bass- 
wood,  7H®^'^;  orange  bloom,  7><@8;  Southern,  65@76 
cts.  per  gallon  as  to  quality.    Bee,^wa.r,  26@27. 

Sept.  10.  HlLDRETH  TJnos.  &  Segelken, 

28  &  3U  West  Broadway,  Ne-w  York. 


Ne'W  York.— Ho«ej/. — Ttie  market  for  comb  honey 
is  about  opening  with  some  arriving,  prospects  are 
good  for  prices  and  demands.  1  lb.  fancy  clover,  16 
(517;  2  lbs.,  1.5;  1  lb.,  fair  clover,  14@16;  2  lbs.,  12@13; 
1  lb.  buckwheat,  10@]1;  2  lbs.,  9@10.  Extracted, 
basswtwd  and  clover,  8@8><;  buckwheat,  6@6>^. 
Bcciicax,  26@27.  Cha-s.  Israel  &  Bros., 

Sept.  9.  110  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


Kansas  City.— Honey.— There  is  a  good  demand 
for  honey,  but  a  very  light  supply.  Price  of  1  lb. 
comb,  wliite.  16c.  Extracted.  6®7i.  The  ne'vv  crop 
of  honey  is  arriving,  and  Is  very  tine.  There  is  no 
beeswax  on  the  market.        Hamblin  &  Beabss, 

Sept.  8.  514  Walnut  St..  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Kansas  City.— Honey.— The  receipts  of  both 
comb  and  extracted  are  litiht;  demand  good.  We 
quote  No.  1  wliite  1  lb.  coml),  1.5@16;  No.  2,  1  lb.,  13® 
14;  No.  1  amber,  1  lb.,  14®15;  No.  2,  1  lb.,  10@12.  Ex- 
tracted, white,  7®7X ;  amber,  .5@6.     Beenwax,  22®2b. 

Sept.  9.  Clemons-Mason  Com.  Co., 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Chicago.— Honey.— The  demand  for  comb  honey 
since  the  "weather  is  cooler,  is  biisk.  We  find  con- 
signments Soil  upon  arrival  ;it  16c'  for  best  grades  of 
white;  dark  comb,  liJ@13.  E.xtracted,  steady  at  6^ 
®7  and  8.    Bee.'<u'a.f,  2:^24.         R.  A.  Burnett, 

Sept.  7.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111. 

CHIC.A.GO.— Ho/iey.— We  are  now  having  inquiries 
for  wliite  1-lb.  section  comb  honey,  and  quote  mar- 
ket 16c  on  best  grade;  amber,  14.  There  is  a  good 
demand  for  extracted,  and  we  can  sell  all  our  re- 
ceipts promptly  on  arrival  at  7®8    Bcp.su'ox,  26. 

Sept.  9.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co., 

189  South  Water  St.,  Chicago. 


Philadelphia.— Honey.— Just  for  the  moment 
the  supply  some'what  ex<-eeds  the  demand  for  comb. 
Demand  foi-  extracted,  good,  with  small  supply. 
After  Sept.  21  the  market  will  open  in  earnest.  We 
think   prices  will   be  higher  than    last  year.     No.  1 


Bos'roN.  Hone;/.  New  honey  Is  coming  in  slowly, 
and  Vermont  croji  is  reported  short.  Best  No."  I 
white  in  1-lb.  sections,  selling  17®18c.  Extr.-icted, 
8@9.  Blake  &  Rn»r.,EY, 

Sept.  9.  Boston,  Mass. 

Buffalo.— Honey.  To-day  fancy  honey  is  hold 
and  .sells  moderately  at  about  l.'5®lCc  in  fancy  1  lb. 
sections;  No.  2,  about  13@14.  Fancy  beeswax,  about 
25®28;  seconds,  ]5@21.  The  fact  that  the  fruit  crop 
is  so  short,  it  is  cxiJectod  that  honey  will  do  well. 

Sei>t.  12.  Batterson  &  Co.,  BuUalo,  N.  Y. 


Iiiiik  prices  will  be  luglier  man  lasi  year.  rso.  i 
'ancv  white,  17®19c;  No.  1  while,  15®16;  No. 2  white, 
.3Ca,14;  buckwheat,  10®14.    Extracted,   7'A®8c.     We 


f       . 

13(5,14,    -  .      .._ 

solicit  early  shipments.  E.J.  Walker, 

Sept.  9.  31  So.  Water  St.,  Philadelphia. 

Cincinnati.— Honey.— The  demand  for  extracted 
is  in  excess  of  arrivals,  at  54®.Sc,  with  ready  sales. 
Tliere  is  a  good  demand  for  comb  honey,  and  not 
enough  on  the  market  to  meet  it.  It  brings  12@16c 
for  best  white  in  the  jobbing  way.  Bccsuitr,  de- 
mand is  good,  with  good  arrivals;  it  brings  2(J®25c 
for  good  to  choice  yellow. 

Chas.  F.  Muth  &  Son, 

Sept.  8.  Cincinnati,  O. 


Detroit.  —  Honey.  —  Comb  honey  continues  to 
be  scarce  and  prices  remain  firm  at  14®16c for  white; 
no  dark  offered.    Extracted,  8c.    Bir.su-n.r,  24®25. 

Sept.  8.  M.  H.  Hunt,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

MiNXEAPOLis.—Ho»n.y.— Supply  light.  Very  little 
call  from  trade  at  present.  Buying  very  little.  Do 
not  care  to  pay  over  14c.  J.  A.  Shea  &  Co., 

Sept.  9.  "  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

St.  Louis.— Honey.— Demand  for  extracted  con- 
tinues good,  at  5'/4@5M.  Demand  for  comb  quiet. 
We  quote  10@16.    Bcrswax,  prime,  25. 

Sept.  8.                               D.  G.  Tutt  Gro.  Co., 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Wanted.— 50.000  lbs.  of  choice  white  comb  honey. 
Address       Byron  Walker, 
17tfdb  Evart,  Mich.,       or       Wyalusing,  Wis. 


Wanted— .5000  lbs.  extracted  honey,  basswood  and 
white  clover.    Address  E.  Peterman,  Waldo,  Wis. 
17-18d 

For  Sale.— Choice  white-clover  honey,   in  60-lb. 
cans  (net),  at  $5.10  per  can ;  two  cans,  $10.00. 

Oliver  Foster,  Mt.  Vernon,  Linn  Co.,  Iowa. 


For  Sale.— Extracted  honey.    Samples  free. 

J.  B.  Murray,  Ada,  Ohio. 


For  Sale.— Three  tons  of  extracted  honey,  in  60- 
lb.  square  cans,  2  cans  in  a  box.  Mostly  red-clover 
honey,  mixed  with  alfalfa.    Quality  No.  1. 

AiKiN  Bros.,  Loveland,  Colorado. 


BUFFALO,  N.  Y.     Unsurpassed  Honey  Market. 
BATTERSON  &  CO.     Responsible,  Reliable, 
Commission  Merchants,      isttvib      and  Prompt. 

ESTABLISHED    1876. 

S.X.  FISH  <&  CO., 

COMMISSION      MERCHANTS. 

Dried  Fruit,  Honey,  and  Farm  Produce, 

189    South    Water  St.,  Chicago. 

We  make  a  specialty  of  our  Honey  Department, 
and  ask  for  your  consignments  and  correspondence. 
Reference,  any  bee-paper.  17-24db 

Golden  Honey  Queens. 

Queens  in    Sept.,   untested, 
$3.0U;  tested.  .ll.OO;  one  year  old,  85c; 


untested,  65c;    half 
doz. 

select    tested,  $2.(i(i;  extra  select,  $4.00;  the 
very  best.  J7.0U;  iini)orted,  $4.00. 

Leihingee  Beds.,  Ft.  Jennings,  Ohio. 

BEESTVR  BUS/NESS. 

Warranted  (lueons  from  my  choice  strain  of  yel- 
low hustlers,  bred  for  working  qualities  and  gontle- 
noss  as  well  as  beauty,  75  cts.  each  by  return  mail. 
Ti'stod.  $1.25.  A  tow  mismated  (juoons,  25  cts.  each. 
18tfdb  J.  A.  UKEI^N,  Oayton,  Illinoisi. 

^T^ANTED.    Reliable  parties  to  distribute  and 
VV      collect  for 

K.XUlliS'     TdlT^RT    -    CASES. 

Well  worth  ?1.00  in  any  family.    Will  send  sample 
and   full   instructions  by  mail  for  35  cts.  in  stamps, 
returnable    if     not    satisfactory.     Address     J.    C. 
Frisbee,  Gen'l  Agt.,  172  Maple  St.,  Denver,  Col. 
Reference,  A.  I.  Root,  Medina,  Ohio.  8-24db 


686 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  15. 


TO  RAISE  A  GOOD  CROP  i^-SEfHSii'I 

accoiiiplislnnent  (if  the  former,  and  then  neglect  the  latter  is  a  mistake.  Wliether  it  is  advisa- 
ble to  develop  the  home  market,  and,  if  so,  how  it  sliall  be  done;  whether  tlie  lioney  shall  be 
sent  to  a  distant  mai'ket,  and,  if  so,  when  and  whicli  one;  whetlier  it  shall  be  sold  outright  or 
on  commission,  and  why;  or  whether  it  shall  be  peddled,  and  how— these  and  several  other 
points  are  discussed  in  one  of  the  chapters  of  <<  hJ..^-^^  J  Ro»  Piilfiir^  "  P»'ict^ 
of  the  book,  50  cts.  The  REVIEW  one  year  rlUVdllUCU  DCC  \^UIlUriS.  ;^  „  (^ 
the  book  for  81.2.').  For  $1.75,  the  book,  the  REVIEW,  and  a  tine.  yiHint:-.  layino-  Italian  queen. 
Queen  alone,  75  els.  W.  X-  IIITC  II  I^.Sf>?^.  ri!i,i,  Mich. 


RRICE  S2.  !  FIVE-BANDED  GOLDEN  ITALIANS. 

100  queens  now  ready  at  75c  each;  6  for  $4.35;  3- 
banded,  each,  60c;  6  for  13.00.  Bi'eeders  on  applica- 
tion. CHAS.  H.  TH]E:S,  SteeJevllIe,  111. 

DR.  J.  W.  CRENSHAW, 

Versailles,      -      Kentucky, 

Offers  for  Sale 

Untested  Italian  Queens  at  $1.00  eacli  through  May 
and  June;  after,  75c  each.    Safe  arrival  guaran- 
teed.   Queens  raised  only  from  Imported 
mother.    Drones  only  from  selected 
and  tested  mothers. 
Also  CELERY  PLANTS  from  July  to  September,  at 

$2.00  per  M.  7-18db 

^*In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEAMlHoa. 


(rostpaidK 

Ladies'  Fine  Shoes,  Genuine 
Kid,  Soft  Soles;  Style,  Fit,  and 
Wear  Equal  to  $3  Shoes.  High 
01  Low  Heel;  Broad  or  Narrow 
Toe;  Sizes  1  to  7.  C  D  E  or  E  E 
Widtlis.  Send  your  size.  Sure 
Fit.  Patent  tips, 
same  price. 

C.LGriesinger 

Medina,  O. 

Send  P.  O.  or- 
der. Registered 
Letter,  or  Postal 

Note. 


Was  very  much  pleased  with  the  shoes 
Ocean  Springs,  Miss. 


Mrs.  Seymore. 


Please  mention  this  paper. 


CALIFORNIA  APIARY  FOR  SALE. 

IOC  S'W^ARinS,  prime  condition,  plenty  of  hon- 
IvJvl  ey,  5  acres,  house,  barn,  1>^  miles  from  the 
charming  village  of  Nordhoff,  Ventura  Co.  Thickly 
settled.  Christian  neighborhood,  churches,  scliools. 
This  is  not  an  isolated  bee  ranch,  away  from  civil- 
ization, but  is  in  the  most  hcmdifu}  xuMey  in  tlie 
State.  Climate  unsurpassed  for  weak  lungs.  Boun- 
tiful honev  pasturage.  Plenty  of  sliade  trees.  Who- 
ever offers  $l(i()(i  first,  gets  the  deal. 

C.  A.  SAYRE, 

1014  NOE  ST.,  SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  tliis  paper.       ttfdb 


SUPPLIES 


RETAIL 

— AND— 

WHOLESALE. 

Everytliins  used  in  the  Apiary. 

Greatest  variety  and  lary;est  stock 

in  the  West.    New  catalog,  ,54   illusti'ated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  EEETCHMEE,  BED  OAK,  IOWA. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  2tldb 


OATMAN'S 

SOLDEEINS  AND  EEPAIE  EIT 

Consists  of  tire-pot.  solder- 
ing- ir.iiis.  suldfr,  and  solder- 
niK-lluid,  with  tools  compl'te 
;is  shown  in  cut,  with  direc- 
tiiins  for  soldering  different 
metals,  and  how  to  keep  your 
soldering-irons  in  shape. 
Whole  kit,  boxed,  12  lbs. 
Shipped  on  receipt  of  $2.00. 
Agents  wanted. 

O.  &  L.  OATMAN, 
8-7db        Medina,  Ohio. 


WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS* 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

ROOT  S  GOODS  can  be  had  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  at  ROOT'S  PRICES.  The 
laigest  supply  business  In  the  West. 
FstabhshedlSfe.  Dovetailed  Hives,  Sec- 
tions, Foundation,  Extractors,  Smokers, 
Veils  Ci.ites.  Feeders,  Clover  Seeds,  etc. 
Impoited  Italian  Queens.  Queens  and 
Bees     S.imple  copy  of  our  Bee  Journal, 

THE  WESTER^I  BEE-KEEPER,"  and 
LVTtST  CAT.\LOGUE  mailed  FREE  to 
lift  Uiepi^rs. 

JOSEPH  NYSEWANDER, 

Des  Moines,  Iowa. 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  doz- 
en, you  do  not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  every  waj*,  return  them  by  mail  within  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with  full  direc- 
tions, 20c;  per  dozen,  $3.25.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb    R.  <&  E.  C.  PORTER.  LEWISTOWN.  ILL. 

iS'ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention 


The  Oldest,  Iiargfest,  Best  and  Only  Weekly 

•ee. 


Bee-Paper  in  America.    Sample  Copy  Free 

— :  32  pages — $1.00  a  Year 


From  September  1st,  1893,  to  January  1st,  1893 — 4  months — only  25c. 
From  September  1st,  1893,  to  January  1st,  1894—16   months  —  $1.15. 


GEORGE  W 

199  Randolph  St., 

To  New  Subscribers. 


YORK  &  CO., 

CHICAGO.  ILLS 


•  DELVoTE-b] 

•To  -B  E.  EL^^mm-/' 

•AND  HOME.-     <->  ' 
'1NTE.^EST6- 


'PuBlliHED  BY(j;AM^00T' 

?ppERYEAf\^  \g)    Medina  Ohio 


Vol.  XX. 


SEPT.  15,  1892. 


No.  18. 


STRAr  Straws 

FROM      DR.    C.    C.    MILLER. 

What  a  nice  world  this  is  I 

"The  OWNKK  of  the  robbed  colony  is  always 
the  guilty  party."'— iS(?'aitb. 

Buckwheat  hoxey  is  coming  into  my  hives 
for  the  first  time  in  eleven  years. 

Last  year  clover  yielded,  cucumbers  didn't: 
this  year  clover  failed,  cucumbers  yield. 

Pei.ham  foundation  -  MACHINES  Seem  to 
have  more  mention  in  (Termany  than  in  this 
country. 

■'Hope  springs  eternal  in  the"  bee-keeper's 
breast.  I'm  getting  my  bees  in  good  shape  for 
the  flood  of  honey  next  year. 

What  is  travel  statx?  If  it's  dirt  from 
the  feet  of  the  bees,  how  do  they  get  their  feet 
so  dirty  when  working  on  clean  white  flowers? 

Young  queens  wrong  end  foremost  in  queen- 
cells  have  been  unusually  plentiful  this  season. 
Last  week  we  found  three  of  them  on  one  comb. 

The  next  vou  hear  of  A.  I.  Root  he'll  be 
spinning  along  through  a  plowed  field  at  a  3:40 
gait,  with  a  bicycle  attachment  for  sowing  onion 
seed. 

It  is  convenient  to  have  one  hive  stand  so 
near  another  that  it  can  be  used  for  a  seat;  but 
when  three  or  four  supers  are  piled  up  on  it, 
how  then  ? 

Can't  some  one  tell  us  for  a  certainty  wheth- 
er a  queen  can  pass  through  a  smaller  perfora- 
tion while  a  virgin  than  she  can  after  she  com- 
mences to  lay'.' 

The  bee-keeper  is  one  of  the  happiest  of 
mortals.  His  chief  delight  is  in  the  great 
things  he's  yi/ir/  to  do:  and  what  a  lot  he  has 
to  enjoy  "along  that  line."  as  Doolittle  says! 

Inventions  AND  discoveries  in  bee-keeping 
are  plentiful  nowadays,  but  no  one  invents  a 
way  to  have  good  crops.  Whenever  such  a 
thing  is  inventi'd  and  patented  I'm  ready  to 
buy  the  patent  quick  I 

Douhle-tier  shipping-cases  are  used  by 
Frank  Rauchfuss,  a  piecn  of  corrugated  paste- 
board being  placed  in  the  bottom  of  the  case, 
one  between  first  and  second  tier  and  one  over 
second  tier.    Good  idea. 

Honey  consumed  by  a  colony  wintered  out- 
doors, says  the  linker,  averages  for  October  3 
lbs.:  Nov.,  1  lb.:  Dec,  lib.:  Jan.,  2  lbs.;  Feb.  3 
lbs.:  March,  4  lbs.:  April,  (i  lbs.;  total,  l\)  lbs. 
But  you  can't  tell  which  colonies  will  go  below 
or  above  the  average,  so  trie  safe  way  is  to  al- 
low 50  per  cept  more. 


Mrs.  Atchi.ey  says,  in  Prtiijrcs^ine,  that  she 
can  mate  queens  to  the  drones  she  wishes  by 
confining  them  in  nuclei  which  arc  fed  every 
night,  and  releasing  the  queens  about  the  fifth 
day  where  drones  are  flying  in  great  numbers. 

Salt  codfish  ought  to  have  a  law  to  protect 
it  fro*m  the  cruelty  of  cooks.  It's  barbarous  to 
boil  it— makes  it  hard  and  tough.  Soak  till 
fresh  and  thoroughly  softened,  then  merely 
warm  it;  pour  oft'  the  water  and  dress  with 
butter. 

Foui'yDATioN  is  not  safe,  left  in  a  hive  where 
the  bees  are  not  making  use  of  it.  If  very  thin 
they  are  likely  to  tear  it  down  or  tear  holes  in 
it.  If  thick  they  may  paint  it  all  over  with 
propolis.  This  is  true  at  least  toward  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  season. 

Shaving-soap  is  not  a  necessity,  even  for 
those  who  shave.  I've  used  none  for  some  time. 
Give  the  beard  a  good  rubbing  with  the  end  of 
a  towel  dipped  in  hot  water;  strap  your  razor, 
then  rub  the  beard  again,  and  see  if  it  doesn't 
go  just  as  well  without  the  soap. 

Treatment  of  swarms.  N.  P.  Aspinwall, 
in  A.  B.  J".,  reports  that  he  put  newly  hived 
swarms  in  a  dark  cool  cellar,  left  them  36  to  48 
hours,  then  shook  them  down  in  front  of  the 
parent  colonies,  and  four  colonies  so  treated  re- 
mained without  swarming  again. 

R.  F.  Hoetekmann  thinks  one  of  my  stray 
straws  has  gone  astray  in  saying  that  the  op- 
position to  wired  frames  was  weakening  in 
Canada.  Which  way  did  it  stray,  friend  II.? 
Was  there  never  any  opposition  ?  or  have  none 
of  the  opposers  changed  in  favor  of  wiring  ? 

A  writer  in  Deutsche  linker  says  he  made 
continual  use  of  honey  for  catarrh,  only  to  find 
the  difficulty  aggravated.  He  then  tried  it 
reduced  with  milk  or  lukewarm  water,  and  was 
astonished  at  the  beneficial  results.  Two  table- 
spoonfuls  of  honey  in  half  a  pint  of  water  at 
bedtime. 

My'  bees  are  getting  lazy.  Latterly,  when  I 
give  them  empty  combs  with  dry  pollen  they 
just  leave  the  pollen  and  paint  it  over  with  bee- 
glue,  and  make  no  use  of  that  part  of  the  comb. 
Earlier  in  the  season  they  gnawed  it  out,  often 
taking  the  septum  with  it.  Perhaps  it  would 
pay  to  soak  out  the  pollen  for  them  always. 

Do  YOU  remember  that  picture  of  W.  L. 
Coggshall  looking  like  a  chimnevsweep  with 
that  big  broom  hanging  by  his  side?  I  said, 
"  What  a  looking  thing  tor  a  bee-brush!"  But 
I've  been  using  on<!  of  those  same  things  this 
summer,  and  it's  far  and  away  ahead  of  all 
other  bee-brushes  I  ever  tried.  You'll  say  so 
too,  if  you  try  one. 

This  season  is  unusual  at  both  ends.  Clover 
unusually  abundant  in   bloom,  but  a  failure  as 


688 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1.5. 


a  honey-yielder.  preceded  by  the  most  wretched 
spring  I  ever  knew,  made  the  first  end  of  the 
season  one  long  to  be  remembered;  while  at 
present  and  for  some  time  preceding  this  5th  of 
September  the  bees  are  just  rolling  in  the  honey 
from  buckwheat  and  cucumbers,  and  crowding 
the  queens. 

Excluder  zinc  is  reported  by  some  as  fail- 
ing every  now  and  then.  I  wish  we  could  be 
told  just  what  kind,  for  there  are  differentrsized 
perforations  in  use.  I  got  two  different  times 
from  Medina,  and  both  kinds  let  about  one 
queen  in  si.x  pass  through  the  perforations. 
Then  I  got  another  kind  from  there  a  year  or 
so  ago.  and  I  have  never  known  it  to  pass  a 
laying  or  a  virgin  queen.  Can  the  editor  tell 
us  what  kind  I  have,  and  whether  it  is  the  same 
as  others  fail  with? 


HONEY  ANALYSES  AND  ADULTERATION. 


THOSE   .50   SAMPLES     SUBMITTED   BY   PROF.   A.   .1. 

COOK  ANALYZED   BY  LEADING   CHEMISTS; 

GLUCOSE   EASILY   DETECTED;    SUGAR- 

S^'RUP  MIXTURES   NOT  SO  EASILY 

RECOGNIZED. 


I  have  preliminary  reports  from  each  of  the 
three  able  chemists  who  have  kindly  consented 
to  aid  us  in  the  important  work  of  detecting 
adulteration,  and  arriving  at  some  standard 
which  shall  enable  us  to  determine  when  honey 
is  pure.  I  can  as  yet  give  on;y  a  preliminary 
report;  but  I  can  give  enough  to  show  that  the 
work  is  important;  and  as  I  am  being  pressed 
for  a  report  I  send  the  following: 

I  sent  over  50  samples  to  be  analyzed.  I  sent 
samples  of  honey  from  various  sources,  some 
gathered  very  rapidly,  some  slowly,  some  gath- 
ered from  honey-dew,  some  made  by  mixing 
honey  with  one-third  or  one-fourth  glucose; 
some  which  the  bees  stored  from  pure  cane 
syrup  very  rapidly— 23  lbs.  in  one  night— and 
extracted  the  next  morning,  and  the  same  ex- 
tracted after  it  was  capped  over.  These  were 
all  sent  by  number,  so  that  I  alone  knew  just 
the  source  of  each. 

Each  chemist  detected  the  honey  that  was 
adulterated  with  glucose,  and  placed  with  this 
a  sample  of  plant-louse  honey.  Thus,  as  glu- 
cose will  be  the  common  adulterant  we  may 
feel  that  this  is  practically  satisfactory.  If 
from  50  samples  taken  from  very  varied  sources, 
only  one  (and  that  honey-dewy,  that  never 
could  be  sold  as  honey)  was  found  which  could 
not  be  distinguished  from  glucose,  we  see  the 
chemists  can  detect  this  most  common  adulter- 
ant, and  enable  us  to  prevent  the  worst  form  of 
adulteration.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that 
Prof.  Wiley— See  Bulletin  No.  13.  p.  798— speaks 
of  pine-tree  honey  (this  is  undoubtedly  honey- 
dew)  which  was  like  honey  adulterated  with 
glucose.  The  honey-dew  which  I  sent  was  not 
from  pine-tree  aphis,  however.  I  also  sent  two 
other  samples  oi  honey-dew— one  from  oak- 
galls,  and  the  other  from  larch  aphis,  which 
were  pleasant  to  the  taste,  and  pronounced  by 
the  chemists  as  genuine  honey. 

The  honey  which  was  simply  cane  sugar 
rapidly  stored— and,  of  course,  as  we  know  par- 
tially digested  by  the  bees— was  pronounced 
adulterated  with  cane  sugar.  But  with  these 
were  included  samples  of  the  finest  honey  I 
ever  saw— one  from  basswood.  one  from  white 
clover,  very  fine,  and  one  from  horsemint,  all  of 
which  I  secured  because  they  were  gathered 
very  rapidly.  Thus  we  see  the  chemists  can 
notsurely  detect  adulteration  with  cane  sugar, 
if  the  bees  are  required  to  digest  or  invert  the 
sucrose.  If  the  chemist  puts  the  best  quality 
of  white  clover  and  linden   honey  with  honey 


stored  from  pure  cane  syrup,  it  stands  to  reason 
that  we  could  feed  our  bees  a  syrup  made  of, 
say,  one-third  honey  and  two-thirds  cane  syrup, 
and  the  chemists  could  not  detect  it;  nor  could 
the  consumer.  I  had  each  member  of  my  class 
of  40  in  entomology  taste  of  the  honey  from  the 
cane  syrup.  All  pronounced  it  fine,  and  not 
one  suspected,  even  when  asked,  that  it  was 
any  thing  but  genuine  honey  jarocured  from 
the  ordinary  source,  and  normal  in  every  way. 

Thus  we  have  proof  of  what  I  have  long  be- 
lieved, that  our  best  honey,  if  gathered  rapidly, 
can  not  be  told  from  honey  stored  from  pure 
cane-sugar  syrup. 

Three  samples,  one  white  clover,  one  golden- 
rod,  and  one  white  sage,  all  fine  and  rapidly 
stored,  are  regarded  as  suspicious,  as  they  de- 
port themselves  as  do  honeys  with  an  abnormal 
amount  of  invert  sugar.  Three  other  samples, 
one  smartweed,  one  black  mangrove,  and  one 
horsemint,  all  peculiar  in  that  they  were  very 
rapidly  gathered,  act  as  pure  invert  sugar — 
that  secured  by  artificially  reducing  cane  sugar. 
Thus  six  samples,  all  certainly  genuine,  and 
very  excellent,  would  be  pronounced  as  suspi- 
cious, though  possibly  not  condemned  as  im- 
pure. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

1.  We  see,  then,  that  the  chemist  can  detect 
honey  adulterated  with  commercial  glucose 
from  all  genuine  honey,  except  some  from 
honey-dew.  which  is  so  rank  that  it  would 
never  go  on  to  the  market. 

2.  The  chemist  can  not  tell  honey — even  the 
very  best — from  that  secured  by  feeding  a  syr- 
up made  of  pure  cane  sugar. 

3.  Honey  that  is  very  rapidly  gathered  de- 
ports itself  just  as  does  that  secured  by  feeding 
pure  cane  syrup;  and  so,  if  it  be  desirable  to 
detect  such  adulteration,  the  chemist  must 
revise  his  methods,  as  he  is  not  as  yet  able  to 
do  so. 

4.  Cane-sugar  syrup  fed  to  bees  is  inverted, 
and,  when  stored,  is  so  like  our  best  honey  that_ 
chemical  methods  can  not  detect  it. 

5.  Cane-sugar  syrup,  unless  fed  to  bees,  could 
be  easily  told.  The  bees,  by  digesting  the  syrup, 
change  it  as  they  do  the  nectar  which  they 
gather  from  flowers,  which  is  also  cane  sugar. 

0.  We  know  that  honey  is  largely  adulterat- 
ed; but  almost  always,  if  not  always,  by  feed- 
ing glucose.  This  can  be  detected.  Thus  we 
can  successfully  fight  this  evil.  Prof.  Wiley 
will  help  us.     Let  us  declare  the  battle  on. 

7.  I  urged  at  the  Detroit  convention,  in  1S90, 
that  the  Bee-keepers'  Union  wage  this  warfare. 
It  has  done  grand  service.  It  can  do  this  work. 
As  a  member  and  officer,  I  vote  that  it  assume 
this  added  responsibility,  and  win  yet  grander 
laurels.    Why  not?    It  can  crush  the  evil. 

8.  Bee-keepers  do  not  adulterate.  Dealers — 
wholesale  dealers— do  this.  If  bee-keeping 
dealers  have  done  it,  they,  with  all  of  their  kin, 
should  be  exposed  and  punished.  If  we  will,  we 
can  down  the  enemy.    /  vote  aye. 

Ag'l  College,  Mich.,  Sept.  3.         A.  J.  Cook. 


[The  results  of  the  above  analyses  are  indeed 
most  valuable.  If  it  Is  indeed  true,  that  glucose 
adulteration  can  be  readily  detected,  it  is  a  grim 
fact  that  will  make  evil-doers  tremble:  for  the 
courts  of  the  various  States  will  accept  the  evi- 
dences of  competent  chemists  in  regard  to  adul- 
terations, we  believe;  and  all  any  one  has  to  do 
is  to  have  certain  samples  of  doubtful  honeys 
analyzed  by  proper  chemists,  and  submit  the 
results  to  the  Bee-keepers'  Union,  or  such  a  un- 
ion as  will  take  cognizance  of  such  cases.  Glu- 
cose of  the  best  quality  can  be  bought  in  car- 
load lots  for  about  2  cts.  per  lb.  ;  granulated 
sugar,  for  not  less  than  5  cts.   Practically,  then, 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


689 


pliu'iiso  is  the  only  artii'lo  tliat  can  bt>  used  as  an 
adulterant,  (it  a  pmtlf.  .Sufrar  may  possibly  bo 
ust'ii.  but  \vt>  doubt  it. 

.Saiui)lrs  Xos.  KM.  110.  l:.'<).  l'?7.  149  (soo  bulle- 
tin No.  I'i  of  the  Departuient  of  AKrieulture). 
beariup  the  label  of  Clias.  V.  Mutli  i<-  Son.  were 
|)ronouiu'ed  adult<>rated  w  itli  ulueose.  We  knew 
that  the  Muths  would  not  adulterate.  One  of 
three  thiuffs  iintst  In-  true;  viz.  (1):  They  have 
unwittintrly  boujxlit  honey  from  parties  who 
adulterated:  ("Ji  Tlunr  labels  have  been  eoun- 
terfeileti:  i'.U  or  tlie  oliemists  may  not  always  be 
able  to  detect  glucose  adulterations.  We  in- 
cline toward  th(>  probability  of  (I )  and  (2).  that 
Muth  \-  Son  have,  as  innocent  parties,  been  im- 
posed upon.  In  view  of  the  [jossibility  of  (3) 
beins  true,  we  should  like  to  see  the  experiment 
of  I'rof.  Cook's  tried  once  more  by  three  other 
chemists,  and  the  results  compared  again.  If 
necessary  we  will  foot  the  bill,  providing  State 
or  national  funds  can  not  be  secured  for  the 
purpose.— .\fter  writing  the  above  we  read  the 
proof  of  the  following,  which  is  to  the  point:] 


PURE   HONEY. 

SOMK   BlIOTHEKLY  WOKDS  Fol!  C.  F.  MUTH  &  SON, 
BY  FATHEK  LANGSTROTH. 


Friend  Root:—A\\ow  me  to  give  my  reasons 
for  believing  that  pure  honey  and  C.  F.  Muth  iV: 
Son  have  such  a  natural  aflinity  for  each  other 
that  they  will  never  be  found  warring  against 
each  other. 

When  my  patent  on  movable  frames  was  ex- 
tended, in  i^i^ix  I  endeavored  to  sell  brass  trade- 
marks, each  having  its  own  number,  for  2r>  cents 
apiece  —  one  to  be  put  on  every  new  hive  made 
under  the  extended  patent.  "Mr.  Muth,  who 
was  then  just  beginning  his  apiarian  career, 
purchased  trade-marks  for  all  the  hives  he 
made  for  his  own  use  or  for  sale,  until  my  pat- 
ent expired.  He  had  no  personal  acquaintance 
with  me;  but  he  believed  that  I  had  rights,  and 
was  determined  lo  respect  them.  If  the  great 
mass  of  bee-keepers  who  were  benefited  by  my 
hive  had  done  the  same  thing  I  should  have 
been  well  rewarded  for  my  invention.  I  had, 
therefore,  ample  proof,  more  than  twenty-five 
years  ago.  from  Mr.  Muth's  dealings  with  me 
when  I  was  too  poor  to  defend  my  legal  rights, 
that  he  was  an  honest  man:  and  his  whole 
course  as  one  of  the  largest  (if  not  the  largest) 
dealers  in  the  United  .States  in  pure  honeys  has 
established  for  him  a  reputation  for  fair  dealing 
of  which  any  business  man  might  justly  feel  an 
honorable  pride.  For  the  twenty-five  years  I 
have  known  Mr.  Muth  I  have  been  a  frequent 
visitor  at  his  house,  often  spending  days  with 
him,  and  have  been  familiar  with  all  his  meth- 
ods of  putting  up  his  honey,  which,  indeed,  have 
always  been  open  to  the  honey-world,  as  his 
place  of  business  has  been  a  great  rendezvous 
where  all  bee-keepers  might  be  sure  of  a  hospit- 
able reception.  Jvow,  if  there  had  been  any  at- 
tempt lo  adulterate  the  goods  in  which  he  dealt, 
how  could  it  possibly  have  escaped  the  notice  of 
the  hosts  of  bee-keepers  who  were  welcome  at 
all  times  to  inspect  all  his  processes?  or  how 
could  it  have  failed,  sooner  or  later,  to  have 
been  exposed  by  some  of  his  many  employes '.' 

The  only  adulterants  of  honey  which  could 
ever  be  profitably  used  are  sugar  and  glucose; 
and  as  ^Ir.  Muth  deals  in  honey  by  the  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  pounds,  he  could  not  pos- 
sibly adulterate  his  honeys  with  either  on  so 
large  a  scale  as  to  make  it  profitable;,  without 
the  kind  of  business  he  was  carrying  on  betray- 
ing itself  by  the  sugar  and  glucose  barrels 
which  he  would  have  been  obliged  to  handle. 
The  idea  that  Mr.  Muth  could  adulterate,  and 


yet  escape  detection,  is  too  preposterous  to  be 
entitled  to  the  notic(>  I  have  alr(>ady  givim  it. 

It  is  true.  Mr.  Muth  deals  largely  in  all  kinds 
of  pun^  honey— good.  bad.  and  indillcrent ;  for 
there  is  a  large  demand  for  all  these  kinds,  (!ven 
for  the  darkest  and  poorest,  which  is  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  printers'  rollers— nothing 
else  being  able  to  compete  with  it  for  such  a 
puri)ose.  Tobacconists  and  brewers  are  also 
large  consumers  of  i)ure  dark  hom^ys,  while  the 
ciioicest  qualities  are  purchased  for  making  the 
famous  honey-cakes  which  keep  fresh  for  near- 
ly six  months.  A  single  maker  of  these  cakes 
buys  of  the  Muths  a  carload  of  choice  honey- 
some  20,0(X)  to  24,(XK)  pounds  — every  five  or  six 
weeks  I 

Enough  has  been  said  to  show,  not  only  that 
Mr.  Muth  is  not  the  style  of  man  out  of  which 
adulterators  are  made,  but.  apart  from  all  mo- 
tives of  honor  and  honesty,  he  is  a  man  of  too 
much  good  business  sense  to  engage  in  falsifica- 
tions which,  sooner  or  later,  would  surely  be  de- 
tected, and  would  end  in  the  ruin  of  his  exten- 
sive business. 

But  may  not  Mr.  Muth  be  imposed  upon  by 
those  who  have  adulterated  honeys  for  sale,  and 
thus  become  an  innocent  agent  for  imposing 
their  goods  upon  the  public  ?  Now,  as  the  only 
way  in  which  honey  can  be  profitably  adulter- 
ated is  by  using  sugar  or  glucose,  such  fraudu- 
lent mixtures  can  never  be  imposed  upon  such 
experts  as  Charles  F.  Muth  &  Son.  Before  I 
lost  ray  exquisite  sense  of  taste  and  smell  I 
could  always  recognize  any  honey  with  which 
I  had  once  become  acquainted. 

For  the  last  four  years  Mr.  Muth  has  associ- 
ated with  himself  in  business  his  son,  Augustus 
G.,  who  has  been  with  him  as  an  assistant  ever 
since  he  has  dealt  in  honey,  and  who  shares  the 
same  honorable  instincts  with  his  father. 

Those  who  are  personally  acquainted  with  C. 
F.  Muth  need  no  indorsement  of  his  honesty  by 
me  or  any  one  else;  but  as  his  good  name  has 
been  called  in  question  by  those  who  do  not 
know  him,  I  have  felt  that  it  was  a  duty  which 
I  owed  to  my  tried  friend  of  so  many  years,  and 
to  the  bee-keeping  public,  to  speak  as  I  have. 

If  any  honey  bearing  the  label  of  C.  F.  Muth 
&  Son  has  been  found  to  be  adulterated,  I  be- 
lieve that  either  some  mistake  has  been  made 
in  the  analysis  or  else  it  has  been  tampered  with 
by  dishonest  parties.  Dr.  C.  C.  Miller  is  confi- 
dent that  Muth's  labels  have  been  counterfeit- 
ed by  dealers  who  wished  to  dispose  of  their  bo- 
gus honey  on  the  strength  of  his  good  name. 

I  close  as  I  began— pure  honey  and  Charles  F. 
Muth  &  Son  are  words  and  things  which  have 
always  gone  together,  and  which  I  hope  will 
very  soon,  with  some  suitable  device  which  can 
not  be  easily  counterfeited,  become  the  legal 
trade-mark  of  a  firm  which  has  done  so  much 
for  the  bee-keepers  of  this  countrv  by  affording 
a  cash  market  for  their  products,  and  by  setting 
their  faces  as  a  Hint  against  all  adulterators 
and  adulterations.  L.  L.  Langstroth. 

Dayton,  O.,  Aug.  2.5. 


SELLING  HONEY. 

SOME   OF   THE   DIFFICULTIES   ENCOUNTERED. 

It  has  been  said,  that  •'selling  honey  is  a 
science;"  and.  after  doing  a  little  in  that  line 
every  year  "for  about  ten  years.  I  am  ready  to 
admit  the  truthfulness  of  the  saying,  and  inust 
also  admit  that  I  have  not  as  yet  quite  master- 
ed the  "science."  In  selling  honey,  new  obsta- 
cles confront  one's  path  continually;  new 
charges  are  constantly  being  made  which  must 
be  refuted,  and,  in  order  lo  do  so  intelligently, 
it  is  necessary  not  only  lo  know  the  constituents 


690 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  I.t. 


of  honey,  its  medicinal  and  food  value,  but  I 
believe  you  should  know,  or  at  least  have  a 
pretty  good  idea  of,  how  honey  acts  when  mixed 
with  the  different  compounds  said  to  be  used 
for  the  purpose  of  adulteration.  To  illustrate, 
I  will  recite  a  few  of  the  charges  that  have 
been  made  in  my  own  case,  notwithstanding  I 
never  adulterated  a  pound  of  honey  in  ray  life, 
and  can  make  affidavit  to  that  effect. 

When  at  Mt.  Sterling.  111.,  some  seven  years 
ago  I  extracted  some  white-clover  honey  which 
had  previously  been  all  sealed,  was  thoroughly 
ripe,  and  of  fine  quality.  I  put  a  quantity  of  it 
in  one-pound  Muth  jars,  labeled  it  "Pure  hon- 
ey," with  my  name  and  address,  and  placed  it 
in  several  of  the  grocery  stores  to  be  sold  on 
commission.  It  went  all  right  until  cool  weath- 
er, when  it  granulated  almost  solid,  and  was  as 
white  as  any  sugar.  Then  it  stopped  selling, 
and  the  grocers  told  me  that  their  customers 
said  it  was  "  mostly  white  sugar;"  that  I  "  put 
too  much  sugar  in  my  honey."  etc.,  and,  not- 
withstanding I  had  taken  the  precaution  to  put 
a  notice  on  each  jar,  stating  that  "all  pure 
honey  would  granulate,"  how  to  liquefy,  etc..  it 
would  not  sell.  I  then  took  it  home  and  lique- 
fied it,  when  it  sold  again.  After  selling  out  I 
purchased  three  barrels  from  neighboring  bee- 
keepers. One  was  pure  Spanish  needle,  and 
went  off  with  but  little  complaint;  one  was 
white  clover,  and,  being  candied,  I  had  some 
such  complaint  as  on  the  former  lot;  but  still  I 
sold  considerable  of  it  granulated.  The  other 
barrel  was  from  goldenrod:  and,  although  very 
fine  honey,  it  was  new  to  many  of  my  custom- 
ers, myself  as  well,  and  we  were  all  at  a  loss 
to  account  for  its  peculiar  flavor.  1  heard  that 
one  gentleman  said  there  was  lard  mixed  with 
it. 

Well,  last  year  we  got  a  dose  of  the  famous 
honey-dew,  so  copious  and  widespread  as  to  be 
unparalleled  in  apicultural  history  in  this 
country.  Of  course,  nearly  every  one  not  ac- 
quainted with  honey-dew  thought  it  was  adul- 
terated with  sorghum,  glucose,  etc.    I  sold  over 

3000  lbs.  in  Q .  most  of  it  direct  to  consumers; 

and  while  most  of  those  to  whom  I  sold  accept- 
ed my  explanation,  there  were  some  who  doubt- 
ed it.  One  lady,  to  whom  I  sold  about  75  lbs., 
told  a  neighbor  that  the  last  lot  I  brought  her 
was  half  sorghum;  that  it  was  honey  on  top 
and  sorghum  in  the  bottom.  See  how  she  gave 
herself  away  I  Had  I  mixed  sorghum  with  it, 
the  same  being  lighter  than  honey  it  would 
have  been  found  on  top  and  the  honey  in  the 
bottom.  To  sum  up.'the  white-clover  honey,  if 
mixed  with  sugar  (syrup)  as  alleged,  would  not 
have  granulated  solid  as  it  did;  while  the  gold- 
eni-od  honey,  if  mixed  with  lard,  would  have 
made  a  vile  mess  of  which  the  gentleman  wiio 
made  the  accusation  would  not  have  taken  the 
second  taste.  But  on  account  of  this  undying 
suspicion,  which  is  continually  bobbing  up. 
and,  like  Banquo's  ghost,  will  not  down,  I  must 
own  I  am  becoming  disgusted  with  the  extracl- 
ed-honey  trade. 

The  only  remedy  I  can  see  for  the  difficulties 
which  now  beset  its  path  is  for  the  government 
to  offer  a  bounty,  if  only  one  cent  a  pound,  on 
the  amount  produced  each  year,  putting  its 
stamp  on  each  producer's  output,  and  punish- 
ing with  heavy  fines  all  persons  or  firms  having 
adulterated  honey  in  their  possession.  This 
would  prove  the  death  of  that  hydra-headed 
monster,  Adulteration.  W.  J.  Cui.linan. 

Qulncy,  111. 

ADULTERATING       HONEY,     AND       THE      EXTENT 
THAT   IT   IS   PRACTICED. 

On  page  610  of  Gleanings  we  read  the  letter 
from  Mr.  J.  F.  Mclntyre.  and  also  your  nota- 
tions.   Responding  thereto  we  repeat    former 


assertions,  that  it  is  outrageous,  the  quantity 
of  adulterated  honwy  on  the  market.  We  are 
confident  there  is  a  way  in  which  laws  can  be 
framed  to  prevent  it,  and  we  are  ready  to  assist 
in  the  movement.  We  have  written  letters 
heretofore  on  this  topic,  and  we  must  rely  on 
the  bee-papers  for  support  and  encouragement 
of  the  movement.  We  will  sell  pure  honey 
only:  but  we  know  of  commission  firms  who 
are  placing  quotations  in  bee-papers,  jind  who 
not  only  sell  adulterated  honey,  but  who  prac- 
tice glucosing  themselves.  This  is  certainly 
an  outrage.  Start  the  ball  a  rolling,  and  we 
will  help  kick  it  along.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co. 

Chicago,  111..  Aug.  20. 


THAT  NEW  BEE-KEEPERS'  UNION. 

general   manager     NEWMAN     DISCUSSES   THE 
ISSUE. 


To  members  of  the  Bee-keepers'  Union: 

In  Gleanings  in  Bee  Culture  for  August 
15th.  Mr.  J.  F.  Mclntyre  suggests  a  matter  of 
considerable  importance  for  consideration  at  the 
coming  meeting  of  the  North  American  Bee- 
keepers'Association  at  Washington.    He  says; 

I  woukl  urge  all  honest  bee-keepers  who  meet  in 
Washingrton  next  fall,  to  org-anize  another  bee- 
keepers' union  for  the  e.vpress  purpose  of  ligliting' 
the  adulteration  of  lioney.  I  believe  such  a  union 
would  soon  have  ten  times  the  strength  of  our  pres- 
ent one,  because  we  are  all  interested  in  this  matter, 
except  a  few  dishonest  ones,  and  we  will  soon  make 
It  Interesting  for  them.  I  have  known  for  several 
years  tliat  a  large  proportion  of  the  extracted 
lioney  sold  in  eastern  cities  was  adulterated.  This 
is  why  our  dark  honey  sells  for  nearly  as  much  as 
white— it  will  stand  more  glucose;  and  this  is  why 
the  price  does  not  go  up  in  a  poor  year. 

Personally,  the  manager  of  the  National 
Bee-keepers'  Union  has  waged  war  upon  adul- 
ter-ators  for  many  years,  as  is  well  known  to 
readers  of  bee-literature  generally;  but  the 
Union  was  formed  for  quite  another  purpose^- 
that  of  defending  the  rights  of  bee-keepers 
when  assailed  by  jealous  or  vindictive  neigh- 
bors. 

During  the  eight  years  of  its  existence  the 
Union  has  gained  victories  to  be  proud  of.  It 
has  compelled  both  judges  and  juries  to  render 
just  and  fair  decisions  in  cases  where  bee- 
keeping was  involved,  and  has  won.  from  the 
highest  courts  of  the  country,  decisions  of  law 
which  will  be  pointed  to  as  precedents  as  long 
as  law  and  order  shall  endure. 

Its  history  and  achievements  are  too  glorious 
to  be  ignored,  even  if  a  score  of  similar  institu- 
tions are  projected.  It  is  also  true,  that  all  bee- 
keepers are  not  alike  personally  interested  in 
its  objects,  as  Mr.  Mclntyre  asserts,  and  there- 
fore its  membership  is  very  limited.  Mr.  Root 
makes  these  editorial  comments  upon  the  sug- 
gestion of  Mr.  Mclntyre: 

Whether  it  would  be  best  to  organize  a  new  union 
having  new  functions  we  can  not  say.  It  cc.'urs  to 
us  that  it  miuht  t)e  more  feasible  to  modify  the  con- 
stitution of  the  existing  Bee-keepers'  Union  so  as  to 
cover  tlie  objects  aliove  set  forth.  We  have  no 
doubt  tliat  every  member  of  that  organization 
would  vote  to  have  this  change  made,  providing 
that  General  Manager  Newman  should  sanction  it. 
It  may  not  be  best,  however,  tt)  iiiterfere  with  or 
enlarge  the  scope  of  an  organization  that  has  al- 
ready done  great  good  by  the  precedents  in  law 
which  it  has  established  in  the  interest  of  the  bee- 
keeper. 

Bro.  Root  is  evidently  mistaken  about  every 
member's  vote  depending  upon  my  "  sanction  " 
of  the  scheme.  It  is  true,  that  my  election, 
year  after  year,  to  the  very  important  position 
of  General  Manager,  in  such  a  unanimous 
fashion,  shows  that  I   have   the  confidence  of 


1892 


({LEANINGS  IN  UV.E  CUl/rURE. 


(;'.)! 


till'  iin'inbiTs  of  iht'  riiiiiM.  and  they  liavc  in 
tliis  manner  stamped  witli  tlicir  approval  tlic 
work  1  have  done  for  tlie  Union:  bnl  wlien  it 
I'omes  to  tile  consideration  of  a  new  policy  for 
tlie  fmiii'e.  tlu^  memtiers  of  ttie  riiion  are  fully 
competent  to  determine  for  tliemselves  as  to 
tlie  e\[)edii'iicy  I liereof,  ami  1  am  fully  persuad- 
ed lliat  tlii'y  will  act  for  the  peiiiianent  jjros- 
perity  of  the  organization.  witlu)ut  deference  to 
my  personal  views  or  desires.  I  would  tiiank 
Hro.  Root  for  th(>  compliment  intended,  and 
shall  treat  it  as  such. 

In  order  to  add  this  new  feature  to  the  Na- 
tional Hee-keepei-s'  I'nion.  the  Constitution 
must  be  amended:  and.  perliaps.  the  best  way 
will  be  to  have  10  members  sign  a  request  and 
send  it  to  me.  to  have  the  proposed  amendments 
submitted  to  vote.  Then  let  the  matter  be 
fully  discussed  in  all  tlu^  bee-periodicals,  so 
thai  the  members  may  vote  tinderstandingly, 
after  mature  deliberation. 

If  it  is  voted  to  add  the  new  feature,  then  the 
Washington  convention  can  formulate  plans  to 
make  an  aggressive  war  upon  adulteration  and 
adulterators. 

The  greatest  difficulty  to  be  encountered  will 
bf  the  diversity  in  the  laws  of  the  several 
States.  A  national  law  should  be  enacted  l)y 
Congress  against  adulteration,  applicable  alike 
to  every  State  and  Territoiy.  Then  something 
may  be  accomplished:  but  until  then,  I  fear 
much  of  the  labor  will  be  in  vain. 

Another  trouble  is.  that  the  honey  from  dif- 
ferent localities  varies  so  much  in  consequence 
of  the  diverse  soils  and  atmospheric  conditions. 
On  that  account,  even  the  analysis  of  honey  by 
chemists  of  national  reputation  is  totally  un- 
reliable. 

Another  thing  must  be  provided  for.  The 
new  departure  would  require  so  much  time  and 
energy  of  the  General  Manager  that  a  salary 
should  be  attached  to  the  office.  I  have  done 
the  best  I  could  for  the  love  of  the  pursuit 
alone:  but  it  is  hardly  probable  thai  my  suc- 
cessor would  accept  the  office  on  that  condition, 
with  that  additional  feature  attached,  to  prose- 
cute all  honey-adulterators. 

Such  a  union  will  require  a  young,  energetic, 
and  persistent  man.  and  he  should  be  a  good 
lawyer.  None  of  "'these  essential  qualities" 
will  be  found  in  the  present  General  Manager, 
and  therefore  a  new  man  will  have  to  be  elect- 
ed to  that  important  position. 

Fraternally  yours,    Thomas  G.  Newman. 

Chicago,  Ills..  Aug.  29. 

— American  Bee  Journal. 


WINTERING. 


WHKN    AXI)    HOW   TO    I'ltKI'AHP:    P"OK   IT. 


A  correspondent  writes,  asking  when  it  is 
best  to  prepare  his  bees  for  winter,  and  wants 
to  know  if  it  will  not  be  better  to  wait  till  it 
comes  cold  weather,  so  that  all  brood  is  out  of 
the  hives,  and  then  feed  and  fix  them  up  so  that 
they  can  carry  the  feed  right  into  the  center  of 
the'cluster.  As  I  have  many  questions  similar 
to  the  abovf!  I  thought  I  could  serve  the  readers 
of  Gi.KAXiN<iS  no  better  at  this  time  than  to 
talk  to  them  a  little  jusi  now  along  the  line  of 
getting  ready  for  winter.  To  the  above  ques- 
tion I  would  say.  Don't,  on  any  account,  wait 
till  cold  weather  comes  before  fixing  the  bees 
for  winter:  for  if  you  do.  winter  will  be  almost 
sure  to  come  and  find  your  bees  not  ready  for  it. 
Years  ago  I  used  to  think  that  the  month  of 
November  would  do  well  enough  to  fix  the 
bees  in:  and  when  November  came,  something 
would  occur  so  that  I  would  think  that  waiting 
a  few  inore  davs  would  do  no   harm,  and  so  I 


kept  putting  it  ofT  and  putting  il  oil'  till  I  was 
caught  by  freiv.ing  cold  weather:  and,  if  I  re- 
member rightly,  thei'e  can  be  foimd  in  tlie  back 
numbers  of  (Ji.kaninos  an  article  on  how  bei^s 
of  certain  colonies  had  their  stor(>s  e(|iialized  in 
cold  weallier.  when  the  mercury  was  near  zero, 
and  that  article  was  signed  by  Ci.  M.  Doolittle. 

Well,  the  next  spring  found  a  lellow  of  about 
my  size  looking  similar  to  that  fellow  of  the 
JJlasted  Hopes  depai'tment,  as  givciii  in  the 
A  H  C.  with  a  neighbor  telling  him  that  the 
month  of  September  was  the  proper  tiiiui  to  fix 
the  bees  for  winter.  After  [irohting  by  this  ad- 
vice for  yeai's  with  th(i  best  of  success.  I  am 
sure  that  the  neighbor  was  right,  and  more  es- 
pecially so  wliere  the  bees  have  not  stores 
enough  to  carry  them  through  to  the  next 
honey  harvest.  If  there  is  one  item  above  an- 
other having  great  iiriportaiice  in  the  wintering 
problem,  it  is  the  getting  of  the  winter  storeys 
near  and  around  the  cluster  of  bees  in  time  for 
them  to  settle  down  into  that  quiescent  state  so 
conducive  to  good  wintering,  prior  to  the  mid- 
dle of  October,  in  this  locality.  To  aiTange 
these  stores  and  properly  seal  thein  requires 
warm  weather;  hence  all  will  see  the  fallacy 
of  putting  oft'  caring  for  them  till  cold  weather 
aiTives,  as  is  suggested  by  our  friend  above. 
To  be  sure  that  all  have  the  desired  amount  of 
stores,  there  is  only  one  certain  way  to  do.  and 
that  is,  to  open  the  hives  and  take  out  each 
fratue  and  weigh  it.  after  having  shaken  the 
bees  oft'  it.  Next  weigh  a  frame  of  empty  comb, 
or  several  of  them,  so  as  to  know  the  average 
weight,  which,  when  deducted  from  the  weight 
of  those  in  the  hive,  will  give  the  weight  of 
honey,  note  being  made  in  all  cases  of  the 
amount  of  pollen  said  combs  may  contain,  their 
age.  etc.,  and  all  allowance  being  made  ac- 
cordingly. Not  long  ago  I  saw  it  advised  to  put 
into  an  empty  hive  the  number  of  combs  used, 
and  weigh  the  hive  so  arranged,  when  the 
hives  in  the  apiary  were  to  be  weighed,  the 
amount  of  the  other  deducted;  and,  if  there 
was  20  lbs.  left  above  this  deduction  there 
would  would  be  sufficient  stores  in  that  hive 
for  wintering  on  the  summer  stand:  and  if  15 
lbs.,  sufficient  for  cellar  wintering.  I  call  any 
such  mode  of  procedure  a  slipshod  way,  and  ^ 
one  which  tends  toward  making  wintering  a 
failure.  Hives  subject  to  the  weather  weigh 
more  than  dry  hives,  liable  to  be  taken  from 
the  shop,  do:  colonies  of  bees  differ  very  much 
as  to  size  and  weight;  old  combs  weigh  double 
that  of  new  ones:  combs  froiu  a  colony  which 
was  some  time  queenless  during  clover  bloom 
will  often  contain  one-half  the  amount  allowed 
for  cellar  wintering,  of  pollen:  hence  these  and 
other  factors  make  that  mode  of  procedure  lit- 
tle better  than  guesswork.  Again,  the  amount 
named  is  too  little  by  far.  were  this  all  availa- 
ble stores.  If,  after  going  over  a  hive  and 
weighing  each  comb  as  I  have  given  above.  I 
find  that  there  is  2.")  lbs.  of  actual  stores.  I  call 
that  hive  or  colony  all  right  for  winter.  If  less, 
it  must  be  fed  the  deficiency:  if  more,  it  can 
spare  some  to  help  another  colony  which  is 
sliort.  In  this  way  the  whole  apiary  should  he 
gone  over,  ecjualizing  and  feeding,  if  it  is  re- 
quired, till  all  have  the  requisite  25  lbs. 

But  I  hear  soiue  one  say.  "  This  is  a  fearful 
job  to  shake  the  bees  oft'  from  evi-ry  comb  and 
weigh  it.  W(>ll.  so  it  would  ho  if  done  with 
each  colony;  yet  I  think  it  would  pay  in  the 
long  run,  even  then;  but  you  will  have  to  do 
this  with  only  one  or  two  till  you  get  the  right 
conception  of  just  how  much  honey  there  is  in 
each  frame,  by  simply  looking  at  it.  when  you 
can  count  oft'  the  number  of  pounds  almost  to  a 
certainty,  and  doit  as  rapidly  as  you  can  handle 
the  frames.  However,  you  will  huve  to  weigh 
a  few  if  you  have  never  practiced   this   plan,  to 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  15. 


give  you  the  necessary  training  required,  after 
which  you  can  count  off  combs  of  honey  so  as 
rarely  to  vary  a  pound;  and  when  the  apiary 
is  thus  gone  over  there  is  a  certainty  about  it 
which  always  gives  success,  besides  which  we 
can  say  ive  knoiv  in  this  matter,  which  is  very 
consoling,  to  say  the  least. 

But  some  one  asks  for  my  formula  for  winter 
feed,  as  there  are  not  stores  enough  for  winter- 
ing in  the  whole  yard  after  equalizing.  I  have 
given  this  fomula  several  times;  but  as  I  have 
had  several  calls  for  it  during  the  past  ten  days 
I  will  give  it  again.  In  a  vessel  of  sufificient  size, 
pour  in  1.5'  lbs.  of  water.  Bring  to  a  boil,  and 
stir  in  30  lbs.  of  granulated  sugar.  Bring  to  a 
boil  again,  set  from  the  tire,  and  stir  in  ,5  lbs. 
of  extracted  honey.  When  cool  enough  it  is 
ready  for  feeding,  and  gives  about  50  lbs.  of 
feed  which  is  equal  if  not  superior  to  the  best 
of  honey.  Lately  I  saw  the  amount  of  honey 
given  as  10  lbs.;  but  after  experimenting  in  the 
matter  very  carefully  I  am  sure  5  lbs.  is  as  good 
as  more;  and  where  honey  is  scarce  this  is  quite 
an  item. 

Another  says,  "  Is  not  tartaric  acid  or  vine- 
gar as  good  for  keeping  the  syrup  from  crystal- 
lizing as  is  the  honey  ?"  No.  There  is  nothing 
I  have  ever  tried  which  will  equal  honey;  and  I 
would  have  the  honey,  even  if  I  had  to  send  a 
distance  for  it,  and  pay  a  high  price  for  it  at 
that.  One  says,  '•  I  am  afraid  of  getting  foul 
brood  with  the  honey."  There  need  be  no  fears 
on  this  score,  for,  were  you  to  be  unfortunate 
enough  to  get  foul-brood  honey  it  could  not 
possibly  carry  the  disease  to  your  bees  if  they 
secured  none  of  it  in  any  other  way  than  in  the 
feed;  for  the  boiling  syrup  would  scald  the 
honey  so  as  to  kill  all  germs  of  foul  brood,  if 
the  feed  is  made  as  I  have  given. 

While  I  regret  to  know  that  it  is  so,  it  would 
seem  that  many  localities  will  require  that 
bees  be  fed,  according  to  the  numbers  so  report- 
ing who  write  me;  and  I  have  written  this 
article  so  it  would  be  in  time  for  all  such,  and 
will  only  add  that,  in  this  locality,  we  have 
plenty  of  stores  for  winter.   G.  M.  Doolittle. 

Borodino.  N.  Y..  Sept.  2. 


LAYING  WORKERS. 


HOW   TO   DETECT  THEM. 


Generally  I  can  readily  detect  the  presence  of 
laying  workers;  but  sometimes  I  have  seen 
cases  where  I  could  go  no  further  than  to  say, 
"I  suspect  there  are  laying  workers  in  that 
hive."  They  are  often  called  fertile  workers; 
but  isn't  layinii  the  better  word  in  every  way  ? 

The  instruction  in  the  A  B  C  is  good  as  far  as 
it  goes.  "  If  you  do  not  find  any  queen,  and  see 
eggs  scattered  around  promiscuously,  some  in 
drone  and  some  in  worker  cells,  some  attached 
to  the  side  of  the  cell,  instead  of  the  center  of 
the  bottom,  where  the  queen  lays  them,  several 
in  one  cell  and  none  in  the  next,  you  may  be 
pretty  sure  yon  have  a  fertile  worker."  Yes.  if 
all  these  conditions  are  present  you  may  feel 
pretty  sure;  but  you  may  have  the  most  of 
them  without  a  laying  worker,  and  you  may 
have  a  laying  worker  with  very  few  of  the  pre- 
scribed symptoms. 

"  If  you  do  not  find  any  queen  "  doesn't  count 
for  a  great  deal,  for  sometimes  you  can  not  find 
a  queen,  although  a  good  laying  one  is  in  the 
hive. 

I  have  seen  "eggs  scattered  around  promis- 
cuously," at  least  somewhat  promiscuously, 
'"some  in  drone  and  some  in  worker  cells."  laid 
by  a  good  queen.  And  I  have  seen  eggs  "' at- 
tached to  the  side  of  the  cell  "  by  a  good  queen. 


I  had  a  fine  imported  queen  one  year  that  took 
it  into  her  head  to  stick  every  egg  on  the  side 
of  the  cell  some  distance  from  the  bottom:  and 
after  a  time  she  gave  up  her  foolishness  and 
laid  her  eggs  properly. 

On  the  other  hand.  I  have  had  cases  of  laying 
workers  without  having  the  eggs  laid  promis- 
cuously, or  on  the  sides  of  the  cells.  The  eggs 
were  attached  to  the  bottom  of  the  cells,  just 
as  a  queen  would  place  them,  and  there  was  no 
skipping  of  cells,  every  cell  in  a  given  space  con- 
taining an  egg,  and  only  one  egg. 

But  if  the  next-mentioned  condition  should 
be  found,  "several  in  one  cell  and  none  in  the 
next,"  I  think  I  should  feel  more  than  pretty 
sure  of  the  presence  of  laying  workers.  A  queen 
may  lay  more  than  one  egg  in  a  cell,  but  I 
think  it  Is  only  when  she  is  crowded  for  room; 
that  is.  room  covered  properly  by  bees,  and  in 
that  case  you  will  never  find  empty  cells  beside 
the  ones  containing  a  plurality  of  eggs— at 
least,  I  do  not  remember  ever  to  have  seen  such 
a  case. 

As  a  general  rule,  if  laying  workers  are  pres- 
ent you  may  find  sure  proof  of  their  presence  in 
the  condition  mentioned — several  eggs  in  one 
cell  and  none  in  others:  and  I  may  add,  that 
the  drone-cells  will  be  the  ones  that  have  the 
most  eggs.  Indeed,  if  I  should  at  any  time  find 
a  single  drone-cell  with  more  than  one  egg  in 
it  I  should  feel  pretty  sure  of  a  laying  w'orker. 
Now,  I  shouldn't  like  to  be  very  positive  about 
it;  but  I  think  that,  in  every  case  where  you 
find  this  irregular  and  multiple  laying,  you  can 
get  the  same  laying  workers  to  do  straight  reg- 
ular work  that  can  not  be  detected  from  that 
of  a  laying  queen.  Just  take  away  all  drone 
comb,  and  leave  them  nothing  but  worker. 

It  seems  as  if  a  laying  worker  found  it  more 
comfortable  to  lay  in  a  large  cell.  So  vou  will 
find  drone-cells  first  used,  then  used  over  again, 
and  afterward  worker-cells.  I  do  not  remem- 
ber ever  to  have  seen  two  eggs  laid  by  a  queen 
in  a  drone-cell,  and  I  do  not  remember  to  have 
seen  two  eggs  laid  by  a  laying  worker  in  a 
worker-cell  until  pretty  much  all  the  cells  were 
already  occupied. 

But  one  valuable  means  of  detection  is  not 
mentioned  in  the  A  B  C;  viz.,  queen -cells. 
Almost  always,  if  there  is  difficulty  of  detec- 
tion, one  or  more  queen-cells  will  settle  it.  If 
there  are  plenty  of  drone-cells  there  may  be  no 
queen-cell;  but  in  such  a  case  detection  is  not 
likely  to  be  diiificult.  If  there  are  no  drone- 
cells,  then  the  bees  seem  to  cater  to  the  comfort 
of  their  pseudo  sovereign  or  sovereigns  by  mak- 
ing a  more  roomy  place  in  which  to  deposit 
eggs,  and  you  find  the  queen-cell.  In  more 
than  one  case  I  have  found  not  an  egg  in  the 
hive,  except  one  in  a  queen-cell,  and  that  soli- 
tary egg  settles  the  case  in  ninety-nine  cases 
out  of  a  hundred,  the  hundredth  case  being 
that  in  which  a  very  poor  queen  has  just  com- 
menced to  lay  in  a  too  weak  nucleus,  and  there 
never  should  be  opportunity  allowed  for  that 
hundredth  case.  But  you  will  generally  find 
more  than  one  egg  in  the  queen-cell.  I  think  I 
have  seen  thirty  or  forty.  They  seemed  to  be 
piled  up. 

Of  course,  as  soon  as  the  brood  is  sealed  the 
projecting  caps  tell  the  story;  but  it  is  not  de- 
sirable to  wait  so  long.  True,  the  projecting 
caps  don't  say  whether  a  laying  worker  or  a 
drone-laying  queen  is  present,  but  I  wouldn't 
give  mnch  to  know  which.  The  same  treat- 
ment will  do  foi'  either. 

So,  in  addition  to  what  the  ABC  says,  it 
might  be  well  to  add.  as  signs  of  laying  workers, 
queen-cells  with  more  than  one  egg  in  them, 
as  also  a  queen-cell  containing  one  or  more  eggs 
when  there  i"*  no  unsealed  brood  in  the  hive — 
only  eggs.    I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  laying 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


693 


workt'is  do  not  comint'iieo  oponitions  until  all 
tho  sealed  brood  has  had  lime  to  hatch,  but  I 
am  not  siuv  of  this. 

In  brief,  satisfactory  evidence  of  the  presence 
of  layinR  workers  might  be  simmered  down  to 
this:  More  tlian  one  ejic  in  a  drone  or  queen 
cell. 

rrUK   FOR  I-AYING   WOKKKKS. 

I  think  I  have  tried  about  all  the  different 
cur(>s  I'eported.  and  I  am  not  sure  that  I  would 
use  any  of  them  that  c()nteini)late  the  contin- 
uance of  the  colony,  unless  it  b(>  to  ff(>t  the  bees 
to  raise  another  queen.  Taken  early  enough, 
the  tiees  will  respect  a  (iue(>n-c(>ll;  in  fact,  they 
are  trying  to  raise  a  queen  with  their  own  use- 
less brood;  and  if  you  give  them  a  frame  of 
good  brood  you  may  have  a  queen  raised.  Hut 
they  might  not  iais(>  a  very  good  qu(!en  thus, 
and  in  any  case  it  will  take  some  time,  and  it  is 
better  to  giv<>  them  a  sealed  cell  as  near  hatch- 
ing as  possible.  I_  have  succeeded  by  giving 
them  a  young  queen  just  hatched.  But  after 
the  affair  gets  to  be  chronic,  and  the  rounded 
cappings  are  seen  on  the  worker-cells,  more 
heruic  treatment  is  needed. 

Om  the  wholi'.  I  am  not  sure  but  it  is  best  in 
all  cases  to  resort  to  the  heroic  treatment  of 
breaking  up  the  colony.  Just  distribute  the 
contents  of  the  hive,  giving  one  or  two  frames, 
lices  and  all.  to  each  of  several  other  hives; 
and  if  you  wish  any  thing  more  continued  on 
the  same  stand,  just  put  another  hive  on  the 
stand,  having  in  that  hive  at  least  two  frames 
of  brood  with  adhering  bees,  and  a  sealed 
queeu-cell.  After  you  have  experimented  long 
enough  at  trying  to  save  a  colony  with  laying 
workers.  I  feel  pretty  sure  that  you  will  agree 
with  me  that  the  most  profitable  thing  is  to 
break  up  the  whole  business,  and  that  it  will  be 
cheaper  to  srart  a  new  colony  than  to  continue 
the  old.  "     C.  C.  Miller. 

Marengo.  111. 


CALIFORNIA. 


LAK(iK    YIELDS    PER    COLONY,  AGAIN;    SLIPSHOD 

BEE-KEEPERS  IX  THE  LAND  OF  THE  SETTING 

SI:N;    THE   OTHER   SIDE. 

In  (Jleanings  for  Aug.  15  I  read  with  interest 
the  two  articles  on  introducing  queens.  One  of 
the  writers  e.xpresses  the  opinion  that  the  meth- 
od given  on  your  queen-cages  is  not  good.  I  have 
jusi  been  introiJucing seven  by  that  method,  and 
six  out  of  the  seven  are  now  accepted,  and  lay- 
ing in  their  respective  hives.  I  say.  by  your 
method  :  but.  come  to  think  of  it,  I  did  make  a 
slight  change.  Instead  of  taking  out  the  cork 
on  ijulting  the  cage  among  the  frames,  I  left  it 
in  and  did  not  take  it  out  until  on  examination 
the  bees  seemed  to  be  walking  quietly  over  the 
wire  gauze  and  feeding  the  cagfd  bi<es.  On 
three  of  the  cages.  24  hours  after  being  in  the 
hive,  bees  were  clinging  clo.sely.  biting  at  the 
win-,  and  wishing  migh'ily  they  could  get  at 
those  queens;  but.  left  in  a  day  or  two  longer, 
they  became  more  friendly  to  the  caged  in- 
mates; and,  as  I  say  evi-ntually.  all  but  one 
weri'  accepted.  When  the  bees  have  been  in  the 
cages  for  a  week  or  more,  as  is  often  the  case 
when  sent  from  the  East  to  California,  so  much 
candy  in  the  cage  is  consumed  that  it  is  possi- 
ble for  the  bees  in  the  hive  to  eat  through  to  the 
queen  before  it  is  good  to  have  them  do  so;  and 
therefore  I  believe  it  is  good  not  to  remove  the 
cork  until  the  bees  seem  friendly. 

THE   LIZARD,   THE   t^UEEN.    AND   THE   FLIES. 

We  have  a  great  many  lizards  here,  and  I 
have  often  watched  to  see  whether  or  not  they 


eat  bees;  but  I  never  caught  one  in  the  act  till 
one  which  stays  about  my  house  —  a  species  of 
pet  — gobbled  "up  a  queen  for  me  the  other  day. 
The  qiieen.  which  had  a  clipped  wing,  had  fall- 
en to  the  llooi',  aiui  was  crawling  about  there. 
The  lizard  saw  her  from  the  rafters,  and,  quick 
as  a  Hash,  he  rushed  down  the  side  of  the  house 
and  swallowed  her.  Lizards  are  great  destroy- 
ers of  house-flies.  I  believe  my  pet  catches  a 
hundred  or  two  every  day.  In  extracting  time, 
when  my  honey-tiedaubed  clothing  makes  me 
particularly  attractive;  in  the  estimation  of  Hies, 
the  lizard  will  perch  him.self  on  my  knee  and 
catch  them  by  doz(^ns. 

In  my  article  in  (Jleanings  for  July  1.5th  I 
mentioned  Mr.  Whitiaker's  yield  of  419  lbs.  of 
honey  per  spring  st  ,ck  as  tieing  the  greatest 
amount  to  the  hive  ever  produced  here.  Mr. 
Lechler.  whose  {)lace  A.  I.  Root  visited  on  his 
lirst  trip  to  California,  takes  exception  to  that, 
and  mentions  a  crop  of  his  own — 18,7(i3  ll)S.  from 
30  spring  stocks,  or  iV.'o  lbs.  per  hive.  His  exf)e- 
rience  of  that  season  and  the  one  previous  is  il- 
lustrative of  the  nps  and  downs  of  the  bee-man, 
as.  the  previous  season,  beginning  with  130  col- 
onies he  got  no  honey,  and  lost,  besides,  from 
starvation.  100  of  his  stocks.  Mr.  L.  was  inex- 
perienced then;  but  nowadays  when  his  bees 
are  starving  he  feeds  them.  He  is  buying  su- 
gar this  year  by  the  ton  for  that  purpose. 

It  is  a  common  thing  here  for  persons  with  no 
experience  to  go  heavily  into  bee-keeping;  and 
as  a  general  thing,  too,  before  that  experience 
has  been  acquired  they  experience  some  heavy 
losses.  I  know  a  man  who.  three  years  ago,  was 
the  owner  of  800  hives  of  bees,  and  who  actually 
knew  not  much  more  about  the  management  of 
an  apiary  than  we  can  suppose  the  poor  crea- 
tures in  New  York  do  whom  we  read  of  as  hav- 
ing never  seen  a  blade  of  grass.  Of  course,  he 
has  not  8(X)  hives  now.  If  he  has  even  100  next 
spring  he  is  in  good  luck.  Many  of  the  special- 
ists in  bee-keeping  here  know  little  more  about 
the  pursuit  than  putting  the  bees  in  a  box  when 
they  swarm,  and,  when  the  box  is  filled  with 
honey,  taking  it  away.  Look  into  their  hives 
and  you  will  find  frames  tilled  with  drone  comb 
in  the  brood-nest.  Expostulation  calls  forth 
the  retort  that  the  bees  know  best  what  is  good 
for  them.  Some  will  argue  that  drones  help  to 
keep  the  hive  warm,  forgetting  that  the  work- 
ers which  they  have  displaced  will  not  only  do 
that,  but  also  help  to  keep  the  hive  cool,  which, 
in  this  climate,  is  ofttimes  a  more  important 
matter;  and  it  seems  to  me  that  the 

greatest   numbskull   of   THEiM   ALL 

should  see  the  greater  profitableness  in  rearing 
bees  which  gather  honey,  to  rearing  those  that 
only  eat  it.  The  production  of  drones,  like  the 
coming  of  immigrants  to  our  shores,  should  be 
restricted.  Even  in  the  apiaries  getting  the 
best  care,  there  are  many  times  more  drones 
raised  in  the  extracting-supers  than  are  at  all 
necessary.  Of  course,  queens  can  be  kept  out  of 
the  extracting-supers  by  the  use  of  queen-. -x- 
cluders  ;  but  for  my  part,  I  lost  so  heavily  from 
my  comijs  melting  down  a  few  years  ago  that  I 
am  afraid  of  any  thing  which  interferes  in  the 
least  witli  the  ventilation  of  the  hive.  Some  of 
our  bee-men  do  use  them,  however,  quite  ex- 
tensively. I  have  heard  that  one  of  them,  a 
frequent  contriljutor  to  th(i  columns  of  (Jlean- 
iNGs.  leaves  his  extracting-supers  on  all  winter, 
with  the  bees  confined  below  by  the  excluders. 
If  this  is  the  case,  and  there  are  no  quilts  be- 
tween the  two  sections  to  confine  the  warmth 
generated  by  the  bees  to  the  brood-nest,  it  ap- 
pears to  me  he  is  committing  as  great  a  mistake 
as  he  who  lets  his  bees  fill  the  brood-nest  with 
drone  comb.  By  the  way,  one  of  our  most  suc- 
cessful  bee-men,  one  who  has  700  stocks,  and 


694 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  15. 


produced  some  forty  odd  tons  of  honey  the  last 
good  season— two  years  ago  —  does  not  have 
frames  in  the  brood-chambers  of  his  hives,  but 
just  two  crossed  sticks,  as  in  the  old  box  hive. 

A   CONFIRMED   SET   OF   HEATHEN. 

I  am  writing  this  from  Needles,  Cal.,  a  place 
which  A.  I.  R.  should  have  stopped  at  if  he  is 
interested  in  Indians.  Unlike  those  he  saw  at 
San  Jacinto,  these  do  not  go  to  school.  In  fact, 
they  are  such  a  confirmed  set  of  heathens  that  I 
am  told  even  missionaries  have  given  them  up. 
Needles  is  a  railroad  town,  and  it  may  be  the 
counter-influence  and  example  which  the  pop- 
ulation of  such  a  town  supplies  which  is  too 
much  for  Mr.  Missionary,  more  than  the  con- 
firmed heathenism  of  the  Indian.  Christianity 
would  certainly  be  to  their  worldly  advantage, 
as  their  own  religious  rites  demand  the  burning 
of  all  their  houses,  clothes,  and  other  property, 
on  the  death  of  a  relative,  while  their  horses  are 
killed  for  the  feast  which  follows.  As  for  the 
burning  of  their  houses,  I  do  not  know  but  that 
it  would  be  a  good  thing,  from  a  sanitary  point 
of  view,  if  each  householder  were  to  lose  a  rela- 
tive every  month  or  so.  as  the  stink  which  ema- 
nates from  a  long-settled  house  can  hardly  be 
equaled  elsewhere  on  this  earth.  A  pig-sty  is  a 
bed  of  violets  in  comparison.  That  their  health 
suffers  from  so  much  filth  is  proven  by  the  great 
number  who  are  marked  by  smallpox.  The 
faces  of  many  of  them  are  so  full  of  holes  that 
they  resemble  a  big  sponge  more  than  anything 
else.  All  Indians  seem  fond  of  bright  colors, 
and  some  are  more  gaudy  with  them  than  any 
bird.  I  wish  I  could  describe  a  squaw  I  saw 
yesterday.  For  brilliancy,  rainbows  and  sun- 
sets must  take  a  back  seat.  Even  her  face  was 
painted  the  reddest  of  red.  I  saw  one  boy  who 
had  gilded  his  face.  Others  have  theirs  striped 
with  various  colors.  Some  one  has  expressed 
the  opinion  that  the  Indians  are  descendants  of 
the  ten  lost  tribes  of  Israel.  Is  not  that  the- 
ory sustained  by  their  love  of  colors?  Did  not 
Jacob  present  his  favorite  son  with  a  coat  of 
many  colors?  The  bucks  do  considerable  work 
in  one  way  and  another.  I  saw  one  gang  going 
out  on  a  hand -car  to  repair  some  railroad  track. 
The  roustabouts  on  the  little  steamboats  which 
run  on  the  Colorado  River  are  all  Indians.  Yes- 
terday a  big  six-foot  buck,  making  pretense  at 
cleaning  up  a  yard,  under  a  shady  tree  of  which 
another  man  and  myself  were  sleeping,  affected 
great  contempt  for  us,  and  remarked  to  his  em- 
ployei',  •'  Heap  lazy  mans— all  same  squaw." 
But  "  all  same."  Pete.  I  believo  you  were  envi- 
ous of  us,  and  would  have  been  infinitely  more 
happy  snoozing  under  that  tree  than  gathering 
up  rubbish.  Of  an  evening  the  stores  here  are 
literally  overrun  with  the  Indians  :  and  any 
money  which  they  may  become  possessed  of  is 
very  quickly  in  the  hands  of  the  merchants. 
They  are  very  fond  of  driving  a  bargain.  I  saw 
a  young  squaw  bargain  for  some  minutes  with 
a  Dago,  over  the  price  of  a  watermelon;  and  it 
finally  turned  out,  when  she  had  jewed  him 
down  to  her  figure,  that  she  did  not  have  a  pen- 
ny. Nor  did  the  evident  disgust  of  the  Dago  at 
the  unprofitable  result  of  so  much  bickering 
worry  her  in  the  least.  Wm.  G.  Hewes. 

Newhall,  Cal.,  Aug.  2.5. 

[Your  suggestions  on  our  method  of  introduc- 
ing queens  are  good,  and  perhaps  we  had  better 
incorporate  them  in  the  introducing  directions 
for  all  queens  sent  to  a  distance.  We  expect, 
liowever.  in  the  majority  of  cases,  that  the  re- 
cipient of  the  queen  at  a  distance  will  either 
slightly  modify  our  directions  to  suit  his  own 
case,  or  else,  as  is  more  commonly  the  case,  will 
use  a  method  of  introduction  with  which  he  is  fa- 
miliar, and  with  which  he  has  had  good  results.] 


BIG  YIELDS  PER  COLONY   IN  CALIFORNIA. 

I  note  Mr.  Hewes'  good  common-sense  article 
on  page  542,  in  which  he  says  419  lbs.  per  colo- 
ny is  the  largest  yield  he  knows  of,  etc.  I  show- 
ed the  article  to  Mr.  T.  C.  Porter,  who  managed 
the  San  Fernando  ranch  in  Los  Angeles  County, 
Cal.,  from  1874  to  1880.  This  ranch  is  only  nine 
miles  from  Mr.  Hewes'  place  at  Newhall.  Mr. 
Porter  says  he  rented  a  small  piece  of  land  to  a 
Mr.  Loap,  about  a  mile  northeast  of  the  San 
Fernando  depot,  in  1876.  he  thinks,  on  which 
were  placed  80  colonies  of  strong  hybrid  bees. 
The  whole  region  was  covered  with  white  sage 
and  other  flowers,  and  the  range  was  almost  un- 
limited at  that  time.  Mr.  Loap  took  from  those 
80  colonies  a  little  over  444  lbs.  each  that  season. 
He  had  in  all  350  colonies  In  thiee  different 
places  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  from  which  he 
took  in  all  over  (38  tons  of  honey  tliat  crop.  Of 
this,  about  40  tons  was  sent  to  London  on  a  ven- 
ture, and  netted  half  a  cent  above  the  local  mar- 
ket; but,  strange  to  say,  the  best  pure  water- 
white  honey  brought  less  than  the  darker  and 
heavier  grades  in  the  London  market,  and  they 
evidently  thought  the  light-colored  honey  had 
been  doctored.  At  that  time  the  bee-ranges 
were  not  half-occupied;  but  now  there  are  over 
3000  colonies  in  that  immediate  vicinity. 

Honolulu,  S.  I.,  Aug.  14.      J.  Farnsworth. 


CULTIVATE  THE  HABIT   OF  OBSERVATION. 


IT     IS     NECESSARY     FOR     THE     BEE-KEEPER    AS 
WELL   AS   THE   FARMER. 

Isn't  it  strange  that  so  many  people  go  through 
this  world  without  observing  the  little  things 
about  them?  Farmers,  especially,  fail  to 
notice  many  interesting  things  in  natrure  with 
which  they  constantly  come  in  contact.  I  have 
talked  with  many  farmers  about  the  fertiliza- 
tion of  flowers  by  bees  and  bumble-bees,  and  I 
do  not  now  remember  one  who  had  any  idea 
that  they  were  indebted  to  the  honey-gathering 
insects  for  the  complete  fertilization  of  the 
clovers.  Although  constantly  in  the  fields, 
and.  may  be,  aware  that  bumble-bees  visit 
their  red  clover,  they  had  not  given  them  any 
credit  for  the  work  done  in  insuring  a  crop  of 
seed.  The  nests,  perhaps,  are  destroyed  on 
sight.  I  venture  the  assertion,  that  nine  out  of 
ten  farmers  fail  to  give  bees  any  credit  for  their 
valuable  aid  to  agriculture.  They  have  been 
reared  in  the  midst  of  the  most  wonderful  ex- 
hibitious  of  divine  wisdom  and  beneficence, 
with  the  faculty  of  observation  as  blind  as  a  bat. 

There  is  one  argument  in  favor  of  bee-keeping 
that  ought  not  to  be  lost  sight  of— it  trains  the 
mind  to  observe.  If  he  would  make  a  success, 
the  bee-keeper  mu.st  train  this  faculty.  If  ed- 
ucation consists  in  storing  the  mind  with  facts, 
and  if  observation  leads  one  to  investigate, 
prove,  and  apply,  it  is  as  good  as  a  school  so  far 
as  it  goes.  This  is  probably  the  reason  that  a 
successful  bee-keeper  is  above  the  average  in 
intelligence.  He  has  learned  to  observe,  and 
hence  is  continually  gathering  new  facts  and 
adding  to  his  store  of  knowledge.  If  a  person 
doesn't  know  the  average  season  for  white 
clover  and  linden  to  bloom,  he  is  not  likelv  to 
know  when  to  put  on  supers  or  to  be  on  the 
lookout  for  swarms:  and  if  he  doesn't  know 
the  source  from  whence  comes  this  honey,  he  is 
likely  to  put  on  supers  till  frost  comes.  It 
sounds  odd  enough  to  charge  bee-keepers  with 
such  a  lack  of  bee-lore;  but  I  know  of  persons 
who  keep  bees,  and  who  are  as  ignorant  of  es- 
sentials as  that.  It  is  not  necessary  to  add, 
that  such  persons  never  study  books  or  papers 
on  the  subject,  and  that  they  never  succeed. 


18V»2 


(;i.HANIN(;s  liN  BEE  CULTURE. 


i«t5 


Ilui.  study  iill  \v(>  may.  and  road  all  we  may, 
•AC  ikmhI  to  cultivate  tli»>  faculty  of  observation, 
riicrc  are  always  sonii-  |)roble"m^  in  apiculture 
\  liicli  can  not  he  solved  hy  a  general  rule. 
Kach  one  must  work  it  out  for  himself  amidst 
his  own  environments.  Ei'OENK  Skcok. 

Forest  ("it v.  la. 


RAMBLE  NO.  67. 


>ii\  >Mrni 


AI.l'.\I,K.\-tii:oWIX(;  IN  CAI.I- 
I'OKM.V. 


A  short  distance  from  the  Rambler's  apiary, 
and  in  the  mountains,  upon  a  ten-acre  ranch, 
and  with  a  small  apiary,  resides  a  man  well 
known  to  every  to\ni  tlirou!;;hoiit  this  broad 
land.  Let  me  introduce  you  to  the  renowned 
John  .Smith.  Mr.  .Smith  has  but  si.\  swarms  of 
bees,  and  they  receive;  no  attention  whatever, 
even  in  swarminsr  time;  but  when  he  desires 
honey  for  his  table  a  man  is  employed  to  ex- 
tract once  from  tlie  hives.  This  once  extract- 
ing gives  him  enough  for  iiis  table  a  year: 
therefore  the  man  who  desires  only  a  few 
swaims  to  obtain  honey  for  his  own  use  will  .see 
in  what  an  easy  way  it  can  be  done  here  in 
California.  While  the  bees  seem  to  be  so  thor- 
oughly let  alone,  and  the  swarms  are  going  into 
the  rocks  at  their  own  sweet  will,  the  ranch  is 
not  neglected:  and  while  passing  it  many  times 
during  the  season  I  have  i)een  repeatedly  sur- 
prised at  the  wonderful  effects  of  water  upon 
vegetable  growth.  Twenty  months  ago  this 
ranch  was  covered  with  sage  and  chemise 
bushes:  now  there  is  a  vineyard  with  such  lux- 
uriant growth  as  to  cover  the  ground;  an 
■orange-orchard  with  wclldevi'loped  tops  that 
now  have  many  oraiiges  upon  them:  a  row  of 
eucalyptus-trees  around  the  ranch  has  shot  up 
twenty  feet,  and  the  growth  is  almost  visible. 
But  the  most  interesting  portion  of  the  ranch, 
■and  one  in  which  every  bee-keeper  would  be 
interested,  is  a  two-acre  Held  of  alfalfa.  When 
I  Hrst  passed  his  ranch  in  February  he  was 
mowing  it.  I  had  been  used  to  deep  snows  and 
cold  winds  at  that  time  of  the  year,  and  it  was 
indeed  a  novelty  to  hear  the  rattle  of  a  mowing- 
machine.  The  crop  in  due  time  was  drawn 
away,  the  water  glistened  again  in  the  stubble, 
and  in  what  seemed  to  be  an  incredibly  short 
time  the  mowing-machine  was  rattling  again, 
and  the  luxuriant  growth  was  falling.  As  Mr. 
Smith  halted  at  tlie  corner  I  said,  "Mr.  S.,  you 
•cut  that  field  about  three  weeks  ago." 

"Oh,  no!"  said  he;  "'it  was  six  weeks.  I  cut 
it  about  every  six  weeks."' 

The  six-weeks  period  seemed  to  go  around  so 
rapidly,  that,  on  the  8th  of  June,  while  he  was 
mowitig  again.  I  marked  the  date  on  his  flume. 
"Now."  says  L  "'we  will  see  about  this  six- 
weeks  business."  I  passed  again  on  the  !ith  of 
-Inly.  Mr.  S.  was  casting  his  eye  over  his  well- 
grown  field  of  alfalfa.  Said  1,  "Are  you  tliink- 
ing  of  mowing  again  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  he:  "  I  will  cut  it  on  Monday." 

I  then  showed  him  the  mark  on  the  flume. 
and  he  svas  himstdf  astonished  at  the  rapid 
growth  his  alfalfa  had  mad<;  in  a  trifle  f)ver 
four  weeks.  The  average  time,  however,  the 
year  round,  is  six  weeks.  Three  tons  per  acre 
is  the  average  yield,  and  .?12  per  ton  tVie  price; 
so  an  acns  of  alfalfa  brings  in  cjuite  a  revenue 
in  the  course  of  a  year.  The  chie.f  inter-st  to  a 
bee-keeper  in  an  alfalfa-field  is  its  period  of 
blossom;  but  our  rancher  defeats  the  wishes  of 
the  bee-keeper  and  the  work  of  the  bees  by 
mowing  it  every  lime  before  it  blossoms.  If  by 
«hance  he  neglects  to  mow  it  until  it  is  in  full 
bloom   the  busy  bee  is  there  in  great  numbers 


to  .secure  the  harvest.  Alfalfa  will  produce  for 
a  series  of  years  if  abundance  of  water  is  ap- 
plied; and  with  a  growing  interest  in  it.  and  an 
increase  in  the  number  (tf  acres,  if  the  rancher 
could  be  impressed  with  the  idea  of  allowing 
his  alfalfa  to  bloom,  it  would  make  (piite  a  dif- 
ference in  the  honey  yield  in  many  localities, 
and  especially  splice  out  in  a  bad  season  like 
the  present. 

Witnessing  the  wonderful  growth  of  tree  and 
grass  and  iiow(;ring  bush,  it  is  no  wonder  that, 
in  this  land  of  sunsliine  and  Mowing  water,  are 
found  the  most  beautiful  homes  that  can 
charm  the  eye.  Even  the  rud(>  cabin  can  liave 
its  imperfections  covered  with  th(!  various- 
hued  climbing  rose.  The  oleander  grows  here 
to  the  dignity  of  a  tree;  and  when  the  ditTerent- 
colored  flow(M's  are  grown  on  one  tree  by  graft- 
ing, they  make  a  rc^gal  appearance  upon  the 
lawn.  The  pami)as  grass,  with  feathered 
plumes,  is  another  object  of  beauty.  The  fan 
or  ray  palm  is  another  unioue  tree  much  used 
in  oriiamenting  a  town.  Tlie  Sinmish  bayonet, 
with  its  load  of  blossoms,  and  the  cn-ergreen 
and  ever  beautiful  pepper-tree,  lend  their 
charms.  The  two  latter  are  of  interest  to  the 
bee-keeper  as  hon(>y  producers.  The  pepper- 
tree,  while  in  blossom,  is  worked  freely  by  the 
bees;  but  the  hon(>y  from  it  is  of  poor  quality. 
All  of  the  above,  and  many  more  trailing  vines 
and  flowering  shrubs,  lend  their  charms  to 
beautify  hundreds  of  homes  in  Southern  Cali- 
fornia. 

The  science  of  irrigation  is  brought  to  such 
perfection  here  that  water  in  many  places  is 
apparently  running  up  hill;  but  when  we  get 
up  on  a  level  with  the  ditch  we  see  it  is  only  in 
appearance.  The  little  gates  from  the  main 
ditch  are  so  arranged  and  worked  that  the 
amount  of  water  in  inches  can  be  adjusted  to  a 
nicety:  and  the  rancher  or  fruit-grower  knows 
just  how  long  to  let  so  many  inches  run  on  to 
his  land  in  order  to  secure  its  highest  produc- 
tion. As  we  hear  the  little  streams  of  water 
gurgling  merrily  along  we  arc  reminded  of  the 
old  toper  who  was  so  overloaded  that  he  fell 
into  the  gutter.  His  jug,  witli  cork  out.  rolled 
beyond  his  reach,  and  the  whisky  gurgled  out 
upon  the  ground.  He  imagined  the  gurgles 
said,  "I'm  good.  Fm  good."  In  his  inability  to 
rise  he  exclaimed,  with  a  deep-drawn  sigh, 
"Oh.  yesi  I  know  you're  good,  you're  good;  but 
I  can't  save  you."  The  good  of  the  whisky 
was,  however,  a  misnomer,  as  the  condition  of 
the  man  indicated:  but  when  our  gurgliiig 
water  says,  "lam  good."  it  speaks  the  truth, 
and  the  evidence  of  the  truth  is  all  around  us. 

While  we  pass  the  beautiful  homes  and  ad- 
mire them  we  are  also  brought  face  to  face 
with  the  fact  that  the  securing  of  many  of  them 
cost  much  labor  and  hardship.  Many  of  these 
most  beautiful  homes  are  occupied  by  men  who, 
in  earlier  years,  rolled  themselves  in  a  blanket 
and  slept  under  the  stars  of  heaven. 

To  the  young  man  who  comes  from  the  farm 
of  the  East,  where  hit  is  treated  with  consider- 
ate kindness  by  his  employer,  it  seems  exceed- 
ingly hard  to  conform  to  the  ranch  life  in  this 
country.  In  a  great  majority  of  cases  here  the 
extensive  rancher  knows  little  about,  and  cares 
less  for,  the  comfort  of  his  laborers.  He  hires 
Chinamen,  Mexicans,  Indians,  negroes.  Dutch, 
French.  Swedes,  Jew  and  gentile;  and  a  young 
man  just  from  the  bosom  of  a  respectable  fam- 
ily in  the  East,  if  he  desires  to  work  on  a  ranch, 
has  To  put  up  with  the  same  fare  as  the  com- 
mon herd.  Instances  are  related  where  young 
men  from  the  East  have  hii-ed  out,  and  at 
night,  after  the  tiresome  toil  of  the  day.  asked 
the  rancher  for  a  place  to  sleep.  He  replied, 
"  Why!  I  have  3fJ00  acres  of  land  here;  you  can 
sleep  anywhere  outdoors  you  please."    Another 


696 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  15. 


young  man  was  directed  to  sleep  under  an  oak-  verance  he  will  soon  have  a  ranch  of  his  own, 
tree.  A  farm  hand  is  expected  to  furnish  his  and  can  tell  new  arrivals  how  he  grew  up  with 
own  blanket,  and  he  is  easily  distinguished  as    the  country. 


he  migrates  from  one  ranch  to  another,  for  he 
carries  his  (bed)  blankets  in  a  large  roll  strap- 


FAltM    llAXI)    WITH    HIS    HLA.VKKTS    (BED)    OX 
HIS   BACK. 

ped  to  his  back.  There  are  several  advatitages 
in  this  way  of  living — plenty  of  pure  air.  ab- 
sence of  bedbugs,  but  mien  may  frisk  around 
the  nose  and  try  to  curl  the  mustache.  The 
morning  toilet  is  necessarily  simple,  for  many 


PLANTED,  READY  TO  GROW  UP  WITH  THE 
COUNTRY. 

sleep  with  their  boots  on:  hence  the  expression, 
eminently  Californian,  '•  Died  with  his  boots 
on!"    If  he  is  a  young  man  of  grit  and  perse- 


This  great  country  of  ours  is  getting  quite 
thoroughly  equalized  in  respect  to  wages  and 
cost  of  living:  and  one  point  in  particular  the 
young  rancher  must  consider,  and  ihat  is,  that 
Horace  Greeley's  advice,  '■  go  west,  young  man," 
does  not  apply  to  people  here,  for  the  great 
Pacific  is  a  barrier  to  the  tide  of  emigration, 
and  hundreds  come  here  only  to  return  to  the 
East  again.  The  latter  are  mostly  transients, 
for,  after  a  year's  sojourn,  people  seldom  desire 
to  leave  this  country. 

The  above  facts  in  relation  to  ranch  work 
were  collected  for  the  benefit  of  several  cor- 
respondents who  have  written  for  the  informa- 
tion. As  to  what  kind  of  men  are  wanted  on 
bee-ranches  will  be  considered  at  another  time 
by  the  Rambler. 


THE  CECROPIA  SILK-MOTH. 


SOME    DELUSIONS    DISPELLED. 

Mr.  William  H.  Allen  has  sent  me  this  large 
handsome  larva,  or  caterpillar  —  most  people 
would  say  worm — for  identification  and  descrip- 
tion. He  thinks  them  rare,  as  he  has  not  seen 
one  before  for  eight  years.  He  adds  that  his 
hired  man  says  they  are  poisonous  (.^ic).  as  one 
once  fell  on  his  hand,  and  in  half  an  hour  it 
was  swollen  to  twice  its  normal  size.  He  thinks 
it  feeds  on  maple,  as  he  can  find  no  other  foliage 
that  it  will  eat. 

This  is  one  of  our  largest,  most  common,  and 
most  attractive  silk-moths.  The  caterpillar, 
except  for  the  unfortunate  prejudice  which  is 
bred  into  people,  would  be  considered  beautiful. 
It  is  as  large  as  one's  thumb,  and  nearly  as  long 
as  the  index  finger.  It  is  dark  green  "in  color, 
and  has  two  rows  of  tubercles  along  its  back. 
The  six  of  these  nearest  the  head  are  amber- 
coloi'ed,  decked  with  black  spines,  while  the 
others  are  light  yellow,  with  fewer  black  points. 
Ou  the  tenth  ring  —  all  insects  are  made  up  of 
rings,  or  joints — there  is  but  one  of  these  tuber- 
cles which  is  larger  than  the  other  yellow  ones. 
The  four  hinder  tubercles  are  blue.  On  each 
side  are  two  rows  of  bluish  tubercles.  The  six 
true,  jointed  legs,  near  the  head,  and  the  ten 
large  pro.  or  prop,  or  large  fleshy  legs  on  the 
other  end  of  the  body,  are  dark  green.  These 
insects  feed  on  apple,  basssvood,  maple,  and 
many  other  kinds  of  foliage.  As  apple  leaves 
are  preferred,  we  may  well  cUl  this  insect  the 
apple  silk-moth.  Its  scientific  name  is  PJoty- 
samia  cecropia,  hence  the  name  I  place  at  the 
head  of  this  article.  Mr.  Allen  says  he  has  not 
seen  one  for  six  years.  The  green  color  so  re- 
sembles the  leaves  that  he  does  not  see  them. 
My  students,  or  the  little  boys  here  on  the  col- 
lege campus,  would  find  a  score  in  less  than  a 
week  were  they  living  with  Mr.  Allen,  ytill. 
these  are  not  very  common,  because  of  parasit- 
ic enemies  which  feed  on  them.  Much  as  they 
resemble  the  leaves  on  which  they  feed,  yet 
they  can  not  evade  the  sharp-eyed  parasites, 
and  so  are  often  preyed  upon  and  destroyed. 
The  statement  that  they  are  poisonous  is  all  a 
mistake.  Myself,  my  students,  and  even  my 
girl  when  she  was  not  more  than  four  years  old, 
handled  these  beautiful  larvie  as  fearlessly  and 
as  safely  as  if  they  were  pet  kittens.  They 
never  yet  poisoned  anyone.  These  larvie  spin 
large,  loose,  dirty-white  silken  cocoons  in  the 
trees,  in  which  they  spend  the  winter  as  pupie. 
These  are  easily  found  in  the  leafless  apple-ti'ees 
in  winter:  and,  if  gathered  and  put  into  a  box 
in  our  rooms,  we  shall  rear  the  large  brown 
showy  moths  the  next  May  or  June.   The  moths 


1892 


GLEANINIJS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


&.n 


an*  very  large  aiui  show  y.  and  in  a  collootion 
always  "attract  n\ncli  notice  and  coninipnt.  We 
often'  rear  many  of  tliein  in  a  sinjile  season. 
Tliey  rarely  do  any  great  liarni.  as  they  have  so 
many  enemies  tiiat  they  do  not  become  very 
nnmtMons.  They  are,  however,  great  feeders; 
and  were  tliey  more  common  lliey  wonld  be  se- 
rions  pests.  S'tM  by  i;se  of  tiie  arsenites —  Lon- 
don imrple  or  Paris  green  we  could  (inietly  ex- 
termir.ate  them,  even  if  they  were  destrnctive. 
Now  that  we  know  tiiat.  by  adding  a  few 
pounds  of  thoronghly  slaUed  lime  to  each  hnn- 
<lred  gallons  of  Paris  green  or  London  purple 
anil  water,  we  render  it  harmless  to  vegetation. 
wliile  yet  poisonous  to  insects.  w(>  shall  lind  this 
even  more  valuable  than  formerly  for  killing 
insects.  A.  .L  Cook. 

Agricultural  College.  Mich..  Aug.  27. 


NOTES  FROM  THE  BICYCLE. 


KKNKST  S   TOUK   AMONG   BEE-IvEEPIOKS. 

I  made  the  trip  of  nearly  4tM)  miles,  and  now 
after  having  been  home  for  a  couple  of  weeks 
find  myself  none  the  worse  for  wear:  on  the 
contrary.  I  b<>lieve  I'm  (>ven  better  for  the 
"kicking."  yes.  in  the  best  condition  physi- 
cally or  athletically,  if  that  is  the  better  word, 
that  I  have  ever  been.  I  wasn't  sick  or  ailing 
when  1  left  home,  but  I  fairly  ached  to  get  out 
in  the  common  roads  again.  I  am  no  crank.  I 
hope,  but  somehow  I  do  like  to  push  a  crank 
while  riding  on  my  hobby,  a  Victor  pneumatic 
bicycle. 

Before  we  go  on,  perhaps  you  will  ask.  What 
is  a  pneumatic  wheel?  It  is  one  having  two- 
inch  hollow  rubber  tires  pumped  up  full  of  air. 
These  tires  being  soft  and  springy,  that  is,  re- 
silient, pass  over  slight  inequalities  of  the  road 
without  jar  to  the  rider.  For  instance,  if  you 
were  to  strew  a  lot  of  pebbles  on  a  hard  floor, 
and  then  run  a  pneumatic-tired  wheel  over  it. 
you  would  scarcely,  if  at  all,  notice  the  difl'er- 
ence  between  the  level  door  and  the  portion 
covered  with  the  pebblfs,  because  the  latter 
bury  themselves,  as  it  were,  into  the  tire  with- 
out affecting  the  even  course  of  the  wheel.  If 
you  still  don't  understand  the  pneumatic,  ask 
the  small  boy  for  further  particulars.  That 
piece  of  inquisitiveness  is  constantly  pushing 
and  squeezing  tires  with  his  hands  whenever  a 
wheel  is  at  rest. 

On  the  last  of  August  I  set  out  from  home 
with  my  necesiinry  luggage  strapped  to  my 
handle-bars.  I  carried  only  such  as  I  thought 
1  would  actually  need,  not  even  carrying  a 
small  revolver  to  keep  off  the  dogs  that  are — 
well,  as  the  other  fellow  said,  "'the  confounded 
nuisance  of  every  bicycle-touring  expedition." 
Perhaps  I'll  tell"  you  about  the  dogs  later. 
A.  I.  R.  accompanied  me  about  five  miles  from 
home  to  give  me  a  good  send-off.  After  leaving 
him  to  pursue  his  way  on  anothei'  road  to  a 
market-gardener's  place,  I  quickened  my  pace 
toaten-mil(^  gait.  Wellington,  20  miles  away, 
was  reached  in  two  hours.  Twenty  miles  more, 
which  was  run  in  another  two  hours,  brought 
me  to  East  Townsend.  the  home  of  II.  R.  Board- 
man.  By  the  roundabout  railroad  course  I 
could  not  havi'  reached  it  in  as  good  time,  so  I 
was  ahead  in  railroad  fare,  in  exhilaration  of 
spirits,  and  in  time. 

AT  THE   APIAKY   OF    II.    K.    BOAKTJMAN. 

Happily  I  found  him  at  home  and  in  his  shop 
with  nis  helper,  scraping  and  crating  filled  sec- 
tions for  market.  He  did  not  recognize  me  at 
first.  My  beard  had  been  shaved  off  and  I  was 
set  off  in  a  sweater,  knickerbockers,  and  a  Can- 
adian   hehn<t    hat.      Covered    as  I   was   with 


dust  from  the  road  it  was  not  much  of  a  wonder 
that  he  did  not  know  me  as  the  former  Ernest 
that  had  called  upon  him  som<'  two  or  three 
years  l>efoi-e. 

As  soon  as  I  had  exi)lained  my  identitv  I  ask- 
ed what  his  honev  crop  had  been.  He  had 
secured  this  year  the  finest  lot  of  honey  he  had 
ever  taken,  and  indeed  it  was  nice.  I  tried  to 
induce  him  to  sell  it  for  more  money  than  he 
was  asking,  but  he  shook  his  head,  saying  that 
he  would  have  to  adhere  to  his  original  quota- 
tions. Then  I  began  to  press  him  as  to  the 
(Iti(i)ititii.  He  didn't  know  exactly,  nor,  in  fact, 
did  he  want  to  know.  I  inferred  that  he  would 
just  as  soon  have  had  more.  Strangle  how  bee- 
keepers are  alike  in  this  respect  ! 

Mr.  Board  man  had  made  some  elaborate  ex- 
periments during  the  last  spring  in  feeding. 
He  was  satisfied  that,  had  he  not  fed  liberally, 
he  would  have  secured  little  or  no  honey. 
When  the  honey  did  come  (the  brood-nests 
being  well  supplied),  it  was.  as  a  matter  of 
course,  forced  into  the  sections.  The  result  of 
his  experiments  in  feeding,  both  as  to  the  time 
and  manner  in  which  it  was  done,  was  exceed- 
ingly interesting:  and  it  is  no  more  than  fair 
that  I  reserve  this  for  him  to  describe  himself 
at  some  future  time. 

The  thing  that  struck  me  forcibly  in  the 
apiary  was  the  great  strength  of  the  colonies. 
Most  of  his  hives  were  two-story,  and  evidently 
crammed  full  of  bees;  and.  while  the  majority 
of  tliem  were  hybrids,  they  were  quite  peace- 
able. His  home  apiary,  as  some  of  you  may 
remember,  is  in  an  orchard:  and  large,  luscious 
Queen  Ann  apples  were  dropping  every  now 
and  then  upon  the  hive-covers.  The  bees  seem- 
ed to  take  all  this  as  a  matter  of  fact.  During 
all  the  time  we  were  in  the  apiary,  not  a  single 
bee  offered  to  molest  us— not  even  when  we 
stood  right  in  front  of  the  entrances,  obstructing 
their  flight. 

BOARDMAN'S   SOI.AK   WAX-EXTRACTOK.      

During  the  past  summer  Mr.  Boardman  had 
been  melting  up  a  large  number  of  odd-sized 
combs  with  the  solar  wax-extractors.  He  had 
three  mammoth-sized  ones  (the  same  as  was 
Illustrated  in  Gleanings,  p.  .50,  1891),  the  di- 
mensions of  the  sash  being  somewhere  about 
3x<i  feet,  and  with  these  he  had  rendered  out 
several  hundred  pounds  of  wax.  I  asked  him 
what  he  did  with  the  residue,  and  he  pointed 
me  to  a  couple  of  barrelfuls.  This  he  burned.  I 
suggested  to  him  that,  if  he  would  render  this 
with  sulphuric  acid,  as  recently  described  in 
Gleanings,  he  would  secure  enough  wax  to 
more  than  pay  him  for  his  trouble.  He  did  not 
feel  so  certain  that  he  would,  but  promised  to 
make  the  experiment;  we  shall,  therefore,  all  be 
interested  in  the  result. 

After  we  had  walked  about  the  yard,  looking 
at  this  and  that.  Mr.  Boardman  again  took  me 
into  his  shop  and  showed  me  some  unfinished 
sections  that  had  been  filled  out  by  being  fed 
back  with  first  quality  of  extracted  honey.  It 
was  very  easy  to  sec  where  the  lunv  lot  of  honey 
had  been  joined  on.  as  it  were,  to  the  old;  and 
the  sections  altogether  had  an  inferior  look. 
The  conversation  gradually  turned  to  auto- 
matic hi  vers.  My  friend  felt  rather  doubtful 
about  their  ever  coming  into  general  use  in  the 
apiary.  The  expense,  and  troubk;  of  attaching 
them,  were  two  serious  objections,  he  thoughr 
With  the  swarm  oatc/iecs  he  was  greatly  pleas- 
ed. These,  the  reader  will  remember,  are  to  be 
attached  by  the  apiarist  to  the  entrance  of  the 
hive  from  which  the  swarm  is  just  issuing. 
The  flying  bees  are  caught  in  a  large  cage,  and 
are  then  hived  on  a  separate  stand — the  bees 
(except  the  first  few  that  come  forth)  not  so 
much  as  even  g(!tting  into  the  air. 


698 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  15. 


After  sampling  a  few  of  those  great  luscious 
Queen.  Anns  we  made  our  way  to  the  sweet- 
clover  patch.  The  bees  were  still  working  on 
it  busily,  although  his  cow  had  been  browsing 
on  it,  cropping  it  down  during  the  early  part  of 
the  season.  This  cow  has  learned  to  eat  it  in 
preference  to  any  other  clover  in  thf'  yard  when 
she  can  have  her  choice,  cr  piffi       ^-^ 

It  was  now  getting  dark,  and  I  told  my  friend 
that  I  would  have  to  take  my  wheel  and  hurry 
on  to  Norwalk.  from  which  point  I  was  to  start 
in  the  morning  for  Fostoria.  Bidding  him 
adieu,  I  mounted  my  wheel.  Just  before  I  got 
into  the  town  I  saw  "ahead  of  me  three  fellows 
who  seemed  to  have  imbibed  just  enough  liquor 
to  be  "gloriously  happy."  A  shepherd  dog 
accompanied  them.  By  the  way,  these  dogs 
are  the  meanest  animals  we  encounter.  Well, 
these  three  chaps  thought  it  would  be  just  fun 
to  set  that  dog  on  me.  and.  of  course,  he  came  at 
me  with  all  speed.  As  is  always  ray  custom.  I 
dismounted.  But  this  seemed  to  make  no  dif- 
ference to  the  dog.  He  ran  around  one  side  of 
the  wheel  and  I  the  other,  when  finally  I  es- 
pied a  small  boulder.  This  I  let  fly  at  him 
with  all  my  might,  but  to  no  purpose.  If  I 
could  have  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  it  crash 
against  his  side(  just  as  I  did  at  another  time  with 
another  dog)  I  think  ray  temper  would  have 
been  cooled  off  somewhat;  after  all,  the  dog 
ran  as  if,'  for  dear  life.  As  the  three  men 
came  up  after  I  had  vanquished  the  doji,  I 
turned  and  said.  "This  may  be  fun  for  you.  but 
not  for  rae.  Wait  till  I  catch  yuu  wheeling 
some  time."  At  this  one  of  them  seemed  dis- 
posed to  show  fight.  Now,  I  did  not  think  it 
would  look  very  well  to  be  seen  fighting,  even 
if  I  had  an  equal  chance,  so  I  mounted  my 
wheel,  and,  putting  on  full  speed,  said. '"  Good 
day,"  and  left  the  trio  contemplating  the  wheel- 
man vanishing  ahead  of  a  cloud  of  dust. 

AT   S.    F.   NEWMAN'S. 

Ne.\t  morning  it  rained.  From  all  appear- 
ances the  rain  would  not  stop  for  several  hours 
— at  least  it  would  rain  enough  to  get  the  road 
muddy  and  slippery.  In  the  mean  time,  while 
waiting  for  better  prospects,  I  called  upon 
S.  F.  Newman,  at  his  insurance  office.  His 
main  business  is  insurance,  for  bee-keeping  is 
simply  a  side  issue,  or  a  recreation  which  he 
took  up  some  years  ago.  As  a  bee-keeper  he 
has  been  quite  successful.  At  one  of  his  out- 
yards  the  farmers  have  been  induced  to  grow 
peavine  or  mammoth  clover,  and  it  is  now 
grown  so  extensively  that  he  had  secured  every 
year  considerable  honey  from  it.  Farmers  did 
not  have  to  be  urged  to  grow  it  any  more,  be- 
cause they  found  it  to  be  a  profitable  hay  crop. 
The  honey  itself,  the  finest  quality,  was  by 
some  pronounced  to  be  not  unlike  that  made  by 
bumble-bees. 

I  made  Mr.  Newman  only  a  short  call,  as  I 
was  anxious  to  get  started.  I  went  out  upon 
the  street,  and  it  was  still  raining  and  the 
thermometer  in  a  neighboring  drugstore  gave 
me  no  encouragement.  Still  I  decided  to  push 
on,  raud  or  no  mud.  rain  or  no  rain;  and  how  I 
regretted  it  I  will  tell  you  in  ray  next. 

Ernest. 


SMOKERS  AND  THE  REVIEW. 


the  way,  what  a  splendid  paper  the  Review  isT 
I  am  proud  of  it  and  its  editor  as  Michigan 
products. 

Apropos  to  the  subject  of  smokers,  a  word  as 
to  friend  Larrabee's  amusement  at  my  class 
and  myself  lighting  the  shavings  in  the  smoker. 
Will  it  seera  unfaii'  for  me  to  say  that  we  were 
also  amused  to  see  Mr.  Larrabee  try  and  fail? 
We  tried  two  or  three  times:  he  only  once, 
when  he  went  in  and  got  dry  shavings.  The 
trouble  was  that  suggested  by  Miss  Emma 
Wilson  —  the  shavings  were  damp.  Moral  — 
Keep  the  fuel  dry.  All  fire-making  depends 
upon  the  principle  of  keeping  open  a  draft,  or 
giving  a  passage  for  the  oxygen  of  the  air, 
which  must  come  or  the  fire  goes.  Any  one  who 
can  not  build  any  fire,  under  reasonable  cir- 
cumstances, is  either  stupid  or  ignorant  of  the 
principle  on  which  combustion  rests.  The 
other  morning  I  saw  "the  girl  "  trying  to  light 
the  fire  with  a  newspaper  doubled  as  it  goes  to- 
the  office  to  be  mailed.  She  seemed  very  grate- 
ful when  I  showed  her  that  a  crumpled  paper 
wooed  the  oxygen  and  won  the  flame.  I  should 
take  it  to  be  as  much  of  a  compliment  to  be  told 
that  I  ■■  did  not  know  beans  "  as  to  be  told  that 
I  did  not  know  how  to  make  a  fire  or  light  a 
smoker,  no  matter  what  the  fuel. 

I  am  glad,  my  brother,  that  you  are  riding 
the  bicycle.  I  am  with  you.  I  ride  a  pneu- 
matic Columbia  a  few  miles  each  morning  be- 
fore breakfast.  It  is  fun.  It  gives  one  great 
chestfuls  of  good  air;  it  makes  the  blood  fairly 
fly  through  the  arteries,  and  invigorates  the 
whole  body.  Saxe  said,  "God  bless  the  man 
who  first  invented  sleep."  I  say,  "Amen,"  and 
add,  "and  the  bicycle."  It  makes  exercise  a 
pleasure,  not  a  mere  duty.  A.  J.  Cook. 

Agricultural  College,  Mich. 


Lad/es'  Conversazione. 


NURSING  UP  NUCLEI  IN  THE  SPRING. 

MKS.  AXTEEL    TEI.ES   HOW  SHE   MANAGES  TO    DCV 

BOTH    THE    WORK   IN    THE   HOUSE    AND    IN 

THE    APIARY. 


PROFESSOlt  fOOK   AND   THE    RICYCEE. 


Friend  Root:— You  can  not  know  how  I  en- 
joyed the  last  Review.  I  have  long  thought 
the  Bingham  smoker  by  far  the  best.  I  could 
not  understand  how  any  one  else  could  differ 
with  rae.  To  note  that  I  ara  in  line  with  bee- 
keepers generally  is  very  pleasant.  The  new 
smoker  has  two  substantial  improvememts.    By 


Had  we  not  taken  away  all  the  honey-dew 
stores  from  our  bees,  and  put  feeders  into  each 
hive  and  fed  daily  of  sugar  syrup,  or  (>very  oth- 
er day  in  May,  I  fear  we  should  not  have  had 
any  bees  left.  Even  a  few  colonies  in  May 
seemed  to  dwindle,  and  many  died  outright; 
and  very  weak  colonies  would  leave  their  hives. 
Six  swarmed  out  in  one  day.  The  queens 
seemed  to  be  the  last  to  die;  so,  to  save  the 
queens,  I  fastened  several  to  a  bit  of  brood  and 
honey,  with  as  many  of  their  bees  as  I  could, 
by  placing  over  them  a  wire-cloth  cage  pressed 
into  the  comb,  and  then  placed  several  such 
combs  into  one  hive  with  the  rest  of  the  bees. 
The  queens  would  live  in  that  way,  apparently, 
as  comfortably  as  if  they  had  their  liberty. 
When  caged  in  small  cages  the  bees  died  off 
rapidly,  and  the  queens  would  crowd  behind 
their  bit  of  honey,  and  often  die;  but  if  given 
that  large  cage,  about  3x.')  inches,  pressed  into 
the  comb,  none  were  injured,  that  I  could  see. 
I  tried  to  save  some  of  the  queens  by  sewing  up 
cotton  cloth  and  inserting  thin  comb,  with 
brood  and  queen,  and  what  few  bees  they  had, 
into  it  and  setting  it  into  a  strong  colony  at  one 
side;  but  the  bees  would  soon  all  die,  and 
neglect  the  brood,  and  no  good  came  of  it.  If 
left  any  time,  the  queen  too  would  die. 

Sister  Harrison  (and,  I  suppose,  many  others) 
?aid,  I  thought,  "  I  told  her  so;  that  such  ftiss- 
ing  with  bees  will  not  pay;"  but  it  did  pay  in 
raore  ways  than  one.    I  am  confident  we  have 


IS'fJ 


(JLKAMXIJS  IN   HEE  I'UI/rURK. 


em 


many  nioiv  colonicsof  Ih-cs  than  if  left  to  tlicm- 
solvos.  Tho  liot-wattM"  iivalintMit  was  a  t'ail- 
ur<\  1  priu'ss.  I  am  not  (luilc  Hiirc  biil  it  did  tin' 
bocs  a  littlt'  snioii:  Imi  l>y  tal<iii>r  oiH  all  tin- 
combs  Init  Just  ciioukIi  tor  llii' bees  to  ()i\-ui)y. 
some  roioiiics  had  l)ut  two  romlis  left:  and  tlit^n 
foodinsr  daily  in  tho  hives,  as  1  had  stfi'njith  to. 
sav«n!  many  a  colony,  and  each  little  colony 
was  in  tile  center  of  the  hive  with  i-halT  on  eacii 
side  close  up.  and  lieavy  carpc-ts  and  (juillson 
top  tliat  1  could  lift  and  feed  on  top  of  the 
frames.  Some  of  those  two-comb  nuclei  are 
now  built  up  into  strong  colonies,  and  are  work- 
ing in  supers. 

We  have  now  74  full  colonies,  the  most  of 
them  in  supers.  About  50  liave  lilled  a  .Wlb. 
super,  and  S  a  second  super.  70  to  SO  lbs.:  '2.W 
lbs.  We  also  have  .iO  colonies  that  I  think  will 
all  be  l)uill  up  in  time  to  gather  the  fail  crop  of 
honey,  as  we  quite  confidently  look  for  one  this 
year.  We  have  had  much  rain,  and  rJ4  colo- 
iiies  all  together.  We  bought  10  fair  oik^s  and  1:.' 
tuere  nuclei.  We  liad  i)ul  3.")  colonies  built  up 
strong  enough  to  put  on  supers  at  the  b<'gin- 
ning  of  our  honey  harvest,  and  non(>  of  those 
could  be  called  good  for  that  time  of  year  (the 
middle  of  Junei;  but  they  have  increased  rap- 
idly since  then.  We  have  had  ten  natural 
swarms,  and  I  prevented  about  half  of  them 
from  swarming  by  taking  out  one  comb  of 
brood  once  a  week  in  the  center  of  the  hive, 
each  time  taking  out  the  same  comb,  which 
did  not  weaken  the  colony  very  much.  If  I 
took  out  two  it  slopped  some  of  the  colonies 
from  working  in  sections,  and  one  coml)  was 
sure  to  be  filled  with  honey.  One  comb  would 
not  stop  them  from  working  in  sections. 

We  began  the  spring  by  feeding  outdoors; 
but  we  soon  found  they  would  not  take  in  suffi- 
cient syrup  to  live  on.  even  if  we  kept  syrup  in 
feeders  all  the  time:  and.  being  exposed  to  the 
sunshine,  it  quickly  soured.  We  were  n"ver 
troubled  by  syrup  souring  before.  We  have 
always  had  such  a  cloud  of  bees  that  they 
would  pounce  upon  it  and  lick  it  up  and  quick- 
ly ask  for  more. 

"  Many  of  our  colonies  were  so  weak  they 
would  "not  take  it  up  when  given  in  the  hives, 
except  as  we  fed  just  a  little  daily.  They  were 
very  slow  to  take  it  out  of  wooden  feeders  of 
any  kind  that  we  tried,  so  we  Ijought  a  lot  of 
deep  four-cent  pie-tins,  and  cut  each  one  in 
two  with  the  tin-snips  we  bought  of  you:  and 
with  the  pincers  we  turned  up  an  edge  along 
the  center  where  cut.  which  then  held  about  a 
teacupful.  In  this  feeder  we  laid  a  clean  old 
cloth,  and  laid  across  it  two  corncobs,  and  set 
it  on  the  frames  under  the  quill.  Our  best  col- 
onies would  take  the  syrup  out  of  those  feeders 
lively,  bill  the  weak  ones  would  not:  so  I  took 
some  old  sections  that  were  filled  with  drone 
comb,  and  having  deep  cells,  and  would  fill 
three  or  four  by  laying  them  in  a  pan  and  pour- 
ing the  syrup  into  them:  and  when  I  came  to  a 
weak  colony  I  would  lake  out  their  empty  sec- 
tion and  lay  a  full  one  on  the  frames,  and  lav 
a  cob  over  the  section.  We  have  several  such 
two-frame  colonies  now  working  in  sections. 
paving  me  back  for  mv  work  (not  trouble)  ten- 
fold. 

Last  year  we  had  our  22r>  colonies  in  three 
out-apiaries  and  at  home.  Last  fall  we 
brought  home  all  from  two  out-apiaries,  and 
this  spring  we  brought  the  other  one  home,  so 
now  we  have  all  at  home.  It  is  just  a  pleasure 
to  care  for  one  apiary. 

I  said  I  felt  paid  for  caring  for  bees  in  more 
ways  than  one.  This  spring,  as  the  bees  were 
in  such  terrible  condition,  it  pushed  me  out  of 
doors  to  work  sooner  than  I  otherwise  would 
have  done,  and  my  health  has  improved  won- 
derfully, so  that  I  liave  enjoyed   better  health 


for  the  past  three  months  than  at  any  time 
since  I  was  a  voung  girl.  Having  but  the  one 
apiary,  and  that  so  small  to  begin  with.  I  have 
l)een  doing  all  my  own  housework'  and  Ihree- 
fourilis  of  the  ajuary  work,  as  Mr.  AxtelTs 
health  has  been  mori-  delicate  than  mine,  and 
hi'  does  not  like  to  work  with  bees,  and  I  do.  It 
s(>emed  quiet  and  nice  to  he  alone  one  summer. 
This  summer  we  are  of  age  as  bee-k-cepcrs.  for, 
;.']  or  :.':.'  years  ago  last  spring,  we  lirought  home 
our  first  bees. 

lean  stand  liie  heal  of  the  sun  so  much  bet- 
ter, and  thrive  in  it.  than  the  heat  of  the  stove, 
or  of  work  in  the  house,  that  I  do  all  the  house- 
work I  can  in  llie  inoining,  even  preparing  for 
dinner  all  I  can,  so  that  at  11  o'clock  I  liave 
only  lo  start  my  lire  and  place  the  food  on  the 
stove  to  cook,  and  I  can  rest  most  of  th(>  time 
while  it  is  cooking,  because^  I  am  generally 
pretty  lired  about  then  after  doing  up  my 
morning  work  and  working  with  bees  for  an 
hour  or  so.  I  do  not  like  to  work  willi  bees  be- 
fore it  or  10  o'clock,  and  in  ilie  afternoon  they 
are  more  docile  to  handle  than  in  the  forenoon; 
and  with  a  cool  bee-hat  and  loose  clothing, 
thinly  clad,  out  under  the  trees  lo  "ork.  it  is  as 
cool  as  in  the  house,  almost:  then  it  is  a  "  de- 
light and  a  joy  for  ever"  to  nu»  lo  be  out  with 
the  bees  and  see  them  groiv. 

Roseville.  III..  Aug.  10.  Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtell. 


Heads  or  Grain 


FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS 


BEE-STINGS   AND   RHEUMATISM. 

Being  a  reader  of  the  British  Bee  Journal, 
I  some  lime  ago  came  across  a  few  articles  hav- 
ing reference  to  bee-slings  as  a  cure  for  rheum- 
atism. The  subject  had  passed  from  my 
mind  until  just  recently,  when  a  particular 
friend  of  mine,  who  has  suffered  from  this  an- 
noying complaint,  was  staling  his  case  to  me, 
and  I  at  once  remembered  what  I  had  read,  and 
told  him  about  it.  His  curiosity  being  aroused, 
he  asked  lo  see  the  hntei's;  and  after  careful 
perusal  of  the  same.  In-  came'  lo  my  apiary  lo 
try  Ihe  effect  of  the  remedy. 

My  friend  is  an  ex-police  sergeant,  who  has 
suffered  acutely  for  years  from  rheumatism, 
and  passed  through  the  hands  of  several  medi- 
cal men.  and  spent  seasons  at  various  convales- 
cent h(nnes,  undergoing  various  kinds  of  treat- 
ment, but  all  to  no  purpose.  However,  on 
Monday,  the  11  ih  of  July  last,  he  came  to  see 
me.  suffering  from  severe  pain  in  his  right 
elbow  and  right  ankle.  With  the  heli)ofmy 
bees  I  gave  him  eight  slings,  three  u^)on  the 
elbow,  and  four  upon  the  ankle.  When  he 
came  he  could  not  lift  his  arm.  and  il  was  with 
very  great  dit'ticully  Ihal  he  managed  lo  walk 
a  distance  of  two  miles  lo  my  place;  but  twenty 
minutes  after  being  stung  he  could  work  his 
arm  about  as  freely  as  if  he  had  nevei-  had  any 
rheumatism  in  his  life,  and  he  walked  away 
like  a  two-year-old.  On  the  following  night  he 
came  down  lo  have  another  applica,tion,  and 
told  me  he  had  not  had  so  good  a  night's  rest 
for  six  months,  as  after  the  bee-slings  his  pain 
was  gone,  and  his  ankle  was  three  inches  less 
in  circumference  than  il  had  been  for  two  years 
previously.  I  gave  hitn  sixteen  more  slings, 
six  on  each  ankle,  and  four  on  the  elbow,  with 
the  result  thai  he  was  (juite  free  from  pain  un- 
til the  :i7th  ult..  when  he  fell  a  slight  return  of 
his  old  enemy,  and  came  for  a  third  dose.  I 
gave  him  another  twelve  stings,  six  on  each 
aiikle:  and  when  I  saw  him  on  the  30th  he 
treated  me  to  a  short  hornpipe  to  show  me  the 


700 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  1.5 


good  he  had  received  from  his  "  little  friends." 
as  he  called  them.  He  is  quite  anxious  for  the 
case  to  be  published,  in  order  to  ascertain  if  any 
case  of  permanent  cure  has  been  effected  by 
bees.  As  for  his  own  experience,  he  is  quite 
willing  to  answer  any  questions  with  respect  to 
it,  and  equally  anxious  to  know  if  he  may  look 
upon  it  as  a  permanent  cure,  or  only  as  a 
question  of  having  ease  for  a  time  only;  and  if 
any  of  your  numerous  readers  have  had  a  simi- 
lar experience,  he  would  like  them  to  state  the 
particulars  through  your  columns,  and.  in  re- 
turn, he  will  do  what  he  can  to  satisfy  them  as 
to  the  genuineness  of  his  own  cure,  so  far  as  it 
has  gone. — Philander  Joivett,  in  BritisJi  Bee 
Journal,  Aug.  11. 

INTRODUCING  WITH  PEPPEEMINT  CANDY;    HOW 
THE   SPIRAL   QUEEN-CAGES   MAY   BE   USED. 

I  notice  Doolittle's  way  of  putting  candy  in 
queen-cages  when  introducing  queens.  I  have 
this  season  been  using  small  button-shaped 
peppermint  candies,  such  as  I  buy  at  the  stores, 
and  I  crowd  one  in  between  the  coils  of  my 
spiral  wire  queen-cage,  and  in  a  strong  swarm 
I  put  in  two  and  even  three  of  these  candies  in 
different  coils  of  the  cage  at  the  big  end  of  the 
case,  according  to  the  time  I  want  the  queen 
to  remain  in  the  cage.  The  bees  will  usually 
release  the  queen  in  from  15  to  48  hours  when 
only  one  candy  is  used.  I  have  had  very  good 
luck  in  introducing  this  way.  When  I  want  to 
be  certain  about  the  time  the  queen  will  be 
caged  I  use  the  tin  cover  in  the  coils  of  the 
cage  and  the  candy  between  the  tin  and  the 
queen,  and  remove  the  tin  when  I  wish  to,  and 
leave  the  candy  in  the  cage;  then  the  queen 
will  leave  the  cage,  when  the  candy  is  eaten 
through  by  the  bees,  in  a  quiet  manner;  and 
the  bees,  not  being  disturbed  by  handling  the 
frames,  etc..  are  much  more  likely  to  receive 
the  queen,  especially  if  this  should  be  one  of 
those  swarms  that  are  bound  to  receive  no 
queen  but  of  their  own  raising.  In  cool  weath- 
er some  swarms  will  oall  and  kill  their  own 
queen  that  has  been  in  the  colony  a  year  or 
more.  By  handling  their  frames  I  have  seen 
this  done  several  times.  N.  D.  West. 

Middleburgh,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  18. 

INTRODUCING     QUEENS;    MBS.  .TENNIE  ATCHLEY 
OFFERS    SOME   SUGGESTIONS. 

After  trying  all  the  plans  known  to  the  bee- 
keeping fraterniiy,  or  all  that  I  have  seen  men- 
tioned, I  like  the  candy  plan  best;  but  I  do  not 
like  the  directions  usually  sent  out  with  the 
candy  plan.  First,  by  all  means  do  not  make 
your  hive  queenless  until  you  receive  the  new 
queen;  then  at  the  same  operation  take  out  the 
old  and  introduce  the  new  queen.  Now.  these  in- 
structions are  for  the  inexperienced,  as  an  ex- 
pert will  introduce  safely  almost  any  way,  and 
I  had  rather  leave  the  old  queen  in  till  ready; 
then  I  know  your  hive  is  queenless.  But  if  you 
have  had  your  queen  out  some  days  they  may 
have  some  kind  of  queen  you  are  not  aware  of. 
hence  a  failure.  Of  course,  if  your  hive  has  by 
accident  become  queenless,  get  a  queen  for  it 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  save  them.  Now  about 
the  directions.  Most  of  them  say,  let  the  queen 
remain  48  hours,  and,  if  not  out,  release  her. 
I  say.  do  not  do  it,  but  lay  the  cage  on  the 
frames,  or  in  some  part  of  the  hive,  and  don't 
touch  that  hive  any  more  for  one  week;  and 
now  if  you  have  been  careful  to  take  out  the 
queen  or  queens,  as  the  case  may  be.  I  will  al- 
most agree  to  I'eplace  every  queen  you  lose, 
especially  if  purchased  of  me.  When  I  say 
queen  or  queens.  I  mean  at  times  there  is  more 
than  one  (lueen  in  a  hive.  For  instance,  a  little 
while  before  a  second  swarm  comes  off  there 
are  from   one  to  half  a  dozen  queens;  then  at 


other  times  there  is  a  very  old  queen  and  a 
young  one  laying  at  the  same  time  together: 
so,  now.  you  see  we  can  not  be  too  careful  in 
introducing  queens.  Jennie  Atchley. 

Floyd.  Texas,  Aug.  19. 

[Our  printed  instructions  for  introducing 
queens  agree  substantially  with  your  directions 
above.  We  caution  our  customers  against 
tampering  with  the  hive  after  the  cage  is  laid 
upon  the  frames.] 

CONGREGATING    OF  DRONES;     AN    INTERESTING 

CASE. 

Having  noticed  articles  in  the  bee-journals 
this  season  about  drones  congregating,  I  will 
relate  what  I  saw  about  30  years  ago.  While 
out  one  day  in  August,  bee-hunting,  I  was 
about  half  a  mile  from  our  own  apiary.  There 
was  another  apiary  over  two  miles  away;  there 
were  also  two  fields  of  buckwheat.  The  lines 
crossed  at  the  point  mentioned,  on  a  ridge  near 
a  piece  of  woods.  We  carried  the  bees  to  this 
point  to  determine  whether  there  was  a  swarm 
there  or  not.  About  40  or  50  feet  from  the 
ground  there  was  a  multitude  of  drones.  It 
looked  like  a  very  large  swarm  of  bees.  They 
were  chasing  each  other,  and  having  great 
sport.  They  acted  just  like  the  male  flies  you 
will  sometimes  see  hanging  motionless  on  their 
wings,  then  darting  at  each  other  or  any  luck- 
less worker-bee  that  chanced  to  fly  near  them. 
As  the  lines  to  the  two  apiaries  crossed,  there 
were  a  good  many  workers  flying  at  that  point. 
It  was  about  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  I 
watched  them  for  more  than  an  hour.  They 
were  still  at  it  when  I  left,  although  in  dimin- 
ished numbers.  We  knew  they  were  drones  by 
their  size  and  the  noise  they  made. 

J.  R.  Common. 


THE  OTHER  SIDE  ON  THAT  ARIZONA  HONEY. 

Friend  Root: — We  take  pleasure  in  handing 
you  herewith  a  check  for  $28.50.  in  settlement 
of  the  Shel ton  affair.  We  should  like  to  know 
just  what  Mr.  Shel  ton's  real  loss  was.  We  want 
to  say  that  this  is  the  only  complaint  we  have 
ever  had.  except  from  that  one  carload,  and  we 
have  sold  quite  a  quantity.  Last  year  we  sold 
1,577  cases;  this  year,  so  far,  1487  cases.  We 
sold  three  carloads  besides  that  one,  that  same 
year,  with  no  complaint,  and  our  honey  is  in 
demand  wherever  sold.  Perhaps  it  would  be 
but  justice  to  us  to  say  this  in  your  journal,  for 
you  gave  us  such  a  going  over,  and  spread  the 
news  far  and  wide.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co.  sold  three 
carloads  in  Chicago;  Thurber,  Whyland  I't  Co.. 
New  York,  sold  two,  and  yourself  sold  two. 
R.  A.  Burnett,  of  Chicago,  sold  the  rest,  except 
a  part  of  one  car  sold  in  Fort  Worth.  Texas. 

Phcenix,  Ariz.,  Aug.  13.         J.  A.  R.  Irvine. 

"bees   carrying   EACH   OTHER   OFF;"  IN.JURED 
BROOD. 

Friend  Root: — I  am  having  exactly  the  ex- 
perience that  your  correspondent.  Wm.  Miller. 
Esq.,  of  Emporia,  Kansas,  describes  in  Glean- 
ings, August  15.  But  can't  you  tell  us  some- 
thing more  definite  about  the  cause  of  bees  be- 
coming paralytic '?  Those  that  are  being  car- 
ried off  are  '■  shiny  black."  etc..  just  as  you  de- 
scribe the  paralytics,  both  in  your  answer  to 
Mr.  Miller  and  in  A  B  C.  under "  Diseases  of 
Bees;"  but  in  neither  place  do  you  tell  the 
cause,  except  in  the  suggestion  that  ■"  they  may 
have  been  injured  in  the  brood  form."  which, 
you  will  adniit,  is  rather  indefinite.  Now.  at 
the  risk  of  its  being  regarded  as  a  ridiculous 
idea.  I  will  make  the  following  statement: 
Early  in  the  spring  I  frequently  noticed  small 
black  wasps  loitering  about  the  entrances;  and 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


701 


wiu'n  ilu'  I'oast  siMMiiod  clear  tlioy  would  (luii-k- 
ly  dart  into  tho  hivo,  soinctimt's  ivtuniiiig  in  a 
moment,  and  sometimes  remaining  inside  for 
several  miiuites.  Do  yon  think  iteonld  lie  pos- 
silile  that  they  injnred  the  hees  in  the  brood 
form'.'  Tiie  paralvties  look  verv  much  like 
half-lxH'  and  half-wasp.  .Iohn  T.  Sii.kk. 

Herkley  Spiings,  \V.  Va.,  Aug.  30. 

[No  one  .seems  to  know  the  cause  of  bee 
paralysis.  It  is  no  doubt  a  germinal  disease. 
\Vlieii  the  eonditions  are  favoral)le  the  germs 
lind  lodgment,  and  grow.  Perhaps  this  is  all 
we  ean  say  of  it  until  further  investigation  is 
made.  It  is  impossible  that  the  black  wasps 
could  have  had  any  thing  to  do  with  the  mat- 
ter at  ail.  I'^xtreiues  of  temperature,  cold  or 
heat,  insutlicient  nursing  of  the  larv;e,  poor 
honey— all  are  liable  to  injure  the  brood;  and 
the  result  is  more  or  less  imperfect  bees— bees 
with  defective  wings,  legs.  etc.  These,  of 
course,  are  carried  away  bv  the  other  l)ees  as 
of  no  further  use  in  the  economy  of  the  hive.] 

I.EVCOPHYI.LUM    TKXANUM. 

Prof.  Conk: — Inclosed  you  will  find  a  sp(>cl- 
men  of  a  shrub  that  grows  wild  in  this  vicinity, 
called  by  Mexicans  "  cenecia.""  which  name  is 
adopted  by  the  Americans  of  this  place,  and  by 
this  mail  I  send  a  package  of  the  leaves.  This 
shrul)  lilooms  after  every  sea.sonable  rain,  the 
year  round,  and  at  times  bees  literally  swarm 
on  the  tlowers.  and  at  other  times  scarcely  no- 
tice them.  The  leaves  have,  by  several  families 
here,  been  used  for  tea  instead  of  the  Chinese 
article,  and  is  said  to  havedisclosed  a  medicinal 
quality  in  purifying  the  hlot>d  and  curing  colds, 
dyspepsia,  and  various  disorders  of  the  digestive 
organs  and  nei'vous  system.  One  of  our  neigh- 
bors, wlio  had  for  years  been  in  ill  healtli,  has 
been  habitually  chewing,  consuming,  and  swal- 
lowing small  quantities  of  the  leaf,  and  is  now 
strong  and  vigorous.  I  should  be  pleased  if  you 
would  give,  through  Gi.EAXiNfiS.  the  botanical 
name  of  the  shrub,  and  such  characteristics  as 
you  may  be  able  to  discover. 

F.  Vandekvooijt. 

Carrizo  Springs.  Texas.  Aug.  1.5. 

This  plant  is  Leucophijllum  Texaiium.  It  is 
a  species  of  the  ScrophularUtceir.  and  so  be- 
longs to  the  figworts.  That  it  secretes  honey  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at  when  we  nsmember  how 
profusely  the  common  figwort  of  our  own  woods 
secretes  nectar.  We  may  call  this  the  Texas 
figwort.  The  plant  Is  about  as  light-colored  as 
the  white  sage  of  California.  It  is  a  good  thing 
to  get  all  these  lioney-plantson  record.  It  may 
pay  to  try  to  grow  this  on(!  north,  and  see  what 
it  will  do.  It  would  equal  some  of  our  common 
foliage  plants  in  bf^anty.  if  it  would  grow  here. 
I  see  no  reason  whv  it  might  not  do  well. 

A.  J.  Cook. 

Agricultural  College.  Mich..  Aug.  22. 


the  (Jironde,  must  hav<' a  vote  of  thanks  here- 
with, and  a  share  in  the  good  success  and  hoped- 
for  arrival  at  Marseilles.  exi)ected  to  take  place 

August  IS.  I'll.  .1.    U.VI.DKNSI'KRGKK. 

Ah'xandria,  Egypt,  Aug.  i;5. 


HKKS    OF   A    NON-SWAKMING   AND     NOX-IION'KV - 

GATHERING   TVl'E;    THAT  QUARTEIi-ACi:]; 

FARM. 

The  more  I  read  (ii,E.\NiNGs  the  better  I  like 
it.  I'm  getting  interested  in  tliat  quarter-acre 
farm.  I  think  I  will  venture  a  few  stei)S  in  that 
direction  next  s|)riMg.  I?ees  in  my  vicinity  have 
been  of  the  non-sw  iirming  typ(>  and  iion-honey- 
gathering  too,  for  that  matter,  for  this  season 
there  has  been  none  to  gather.  But  we  are 
lil<e  the  old  banker,  when  told  that  the  bank 
had  been  robb<'d.  He  replied.  "  They  got  all 
the  money,  but  they  left  us  the  bank,  and  we 
ought  to  be  thankful  forth  t."'  We  have  got 
the  be(>s.  and  we  are  very  thankful  for  that.  I 
like  Dr.  Miller's  Stray  Straws;  and  if  Rambler 
doesn't  get  all  the  l)est  of  th<>m,  we  might  bind 
some  golden  sheaves.  L.  B.  Wekb. 

Lynchburg.  Va..  Aug.  29. 


.MK.  BAI.DEXSPERGER  ON  THE  ROUTE  TO  -MAR- 
SEILLE.S.  FRANCE. 

I  am  on  board  a  French  steamer,  with  .50  nu- 
clei of  F'alestine  and  Cyprian  bees,  Ijonnd  for 
the  Marseilles  bee-exhibition  of  October  next. 
The  bees  are  j^acked  in  the  ordinary  way;  that 
is.  frames  fixed  with  distant  racks,  and  cfivered 
at  the  top  of  the  hive  with  wire  cloth.  .Some  of 
the  bees  got  through,  and  were  flying  as  if  they 
were  at  home,  without  disturbing  any  of  the 
passengers.  I  was  afraid  the  "*  Palestines,"  with 
their  stinging  prop'-nsities,  would  prove  dan- 
gerous; but  some  of  theiu  on  13  frames  (10x12; 
nave'come  out  by  the  hundreds.  It  amused  the 
captain  to  see  me  troubled  about  the  masses  of 
bees.  He  tried  to  be  kind,  which  was  a  great 
consolation  to  me.    The  captain,  Mr.  Isnard.  of 


THE    PRAYING    .MANTI.S. 

J.  M.  HaiTis.  Cedarrown.  Ga.,  sends  me  one 
of  our  most  curious  insects.  It  is  the  "  praying 
mantis  '" — MmitLs  CaroUna  —  and  is  sometimes 
called  the  "  Devil's  race-  horse."  For  figure  and 
description,  see  my  "  Bee-keeper's  Guide,"  page 
427..  It  is  called  "  praying  mantis  "  from  its  cu- 
rious forelegs,  which,  from  their  peculiar  atti- 
tude, suggest  that  of  supplication.  They  are 
very  predaceous,  and  often  kill  and  eat  bees; 
indeed,  they  are  said  to  eat  each  other  up.  The 
male  is  smaller  than  the  fi'male;  and  it  is  said 
that  he  often  is  eaten  by  his  spouse  as  the  last 
act  of  the  nuptial  ceremony.  I  think  this  insect 
may  be  counted  as  a  friend,  as  it  destroys  many 
of  our  insect- foes.  I  do  not  think  it  kills  bees 
enough  to  change  this  verdict. 

WHY    QUEENS    .SOMETIMES    BECOME    BARREN. 

Miss  (iertrude  S.  Luther,  Fairview.  Pa.,  sends 
a  queen  that  has  become  baiTen.  She  wishes 
to  know  the  cause.  I  speak  of  this  in  my  "  Bee- 
keeper's Guide."  In  some  way  the  queen  has 
been  injured.  The  reproductive  apparatus  is 
very  delicate  and  sensitive,  and  we  do  not  won- 
derthat  it  occasionally  becomes  disturbed  and 
even  disabled.  That  this  queen  was  ailing,  ap- 
pears from  the  fact  that  she  airived  dead.  She 
was  sent  in  a  cage  with  twelve  workers.  She 
and  two  workers  were  dead:  all  the  other  work- 
ers were  well  and  lively.  She  may  have  inher- 
ited some  weakness,  or  have  been  chilled  or 
balled,  or  in  .some  other  way  injured.  Such 
disability  is  met  among  all  kinds  of  animals. 
Cattle  with  tuberculosis  are  very  apt  to  become 
barren.  Examination  shows  th(!  ovaries  to  bi' 
the  seat  of  extensive  microbe  alTection.  Thus 
any  malady,  constitutional  or  acquired,  may  af- 
fect the  reproductive  organism,  and  impoteucy 
result. 

WAX   .SCAI-E.S. 

F.  M.  Humphrey,  Oronoque.  Conn.,  sends  me 
three  bees  with  wax  scales  on  the  under  side  of 
the  abdomen,  and  asks  me  to  state  in  Glean- 
ings whether  they  are  not  abnormal,  and  why 
they  are  there.  These  are  simply  the  white 
wax  scales  of  which  the  comb  is  made.  It  isn't 
strange  that  they  are  rarely  observed  nowa- 
davs.  We  use  so  much  comb  foundation  that 
bees  need  but  little  wax.  and  so  these  scales  are 
rarely  seen.  I  find  it  hard  to  lind  them  unless  I 
hive  a  swarm  or  colony  on  empty  frames;  then 
it  is  easy  to  tind  bees  laden  with  these  scales. 
We  thus  see  that  ^^ax  secretion  is  volnntary. 
and  is  practiced  only  when  the  bees  need  comb. 


703 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  15. 


I  think  that  the  bees  control  this  by  eating 
much  and  exe.cising  little  when  wax  is  secret- 
ed. A  cow  worked  hard  would  give  but  little 
milk.  When  the  bees  woik  hard  they  can  not 
secrete  wax.  Mr.  H.  will  find  all  about  wax  in 
any  of  the  excellent  bee-books.  A.  J.  Cook. 
Agricultural  College,  Mich.,  Aug.  27. 


UNCLE  TOMS  CABIN  OF  SPECKLED  BEAUTY. 


MR.   LANGSTROTH  S  EAR-TRUMPET. 

Mr.  Root: — I  can  heai'tily  indorse  all  Mr. 
Langstroth  says  on  page  063  in  favor  of  the  ear- 
trumpet.  I  have  used  one  like  it  for  three 
years,  and  find  it  a  great  help,  as  I  am  very 
deaf.  With  its  help  I  can  hear  conversation 
that  would  be  inaudible  to  my  unaided  ear. 
The  price  is  very  reasonable,  as  I  paid  ^IJyO  for 
the  first  one  I  owned. 

White  clover  was  a  failure  in  this  section 
this  year,  but  we  got  an  average  of  20  lbs.  of 
nice  white  honey  from  basswood  and  sumac; 
very  little  swarming.  F.  W.  Humphrey. 

Oronoque,  Ct..  Sept.  3. 


alley's    IIIVER. 

Bro.  Alley  has  sent  me  two  self-hivers.  and 
each  has  caught  a  swarm  since  their  arrival. 
They  will  catch  the  whole  swarm.  There  is 
no  mistake  about  it.  The  reason  is.  that  the 
bees,  in  leaving  and  returning  to  the  old  hive 
in  their  eveiy-day  labors,  pass  through  the 
hiver;  and  when  they  swarm,  the  queen  is 
caught  near  the  outer  entrance  of  the  hiver; 
and  when  the  bees  return  they  stay  in  the  hiver 
with  the  queen. — Bee-keepers^  Review. 

PUXICS  BAD  STINGERS. 

Dl  got  one  of  H.  Alley's  $.5.00  Punic  queens  last 
September,  but  they  are  good  only  for  sting- 
ing, and  packing  propolis.  It  is  a  pretty  hard 
matter  to  find  a  Punic  queen  when  you  want  to. 

No  honey  crop  here,  and  very  little  swarming. 
From  40  colonies,  spring  count,  I  have  taken 
only  300  pounds  extracted  and  about  70  pounds 
of  comb  honey. 

Roodhouse.Ill.,  Aug.  16. 
H.  Marden  in  The  Progressive  Bee-keeper. 


NOT  A   TC»TAL  FAILURE   OF   THE  HONEY  CROP  IN 
CALIFORNIA. 

I  think  your  correspondents  ought  not  to  say 
total  failure  of  the  honey  crop  here.  While  it 
has  been  total  in  some  localities,  other  localities 
are  getting  considei-able  honey.  I  learn  that, 
in  Eldorado  County,  the  yield  is  100  lbs.  per 
colony;  besides,  there  have  been  dozens  of  car- 
loads sent  from  Southern  California. 

Riverside,  Cal.,  Aug.  10.    John  H.  Martin. 


THOSE  HOFFMAN  SELF-SPACING  FRAMES. 

I  bought  six  of  your  Dovetailed  hives  with 
self-spacing  frames,  and  I  like  them  much  bet- 
ter than  any  other  frame  and  hive  that  I  have 
seen.  I  shall  want  some  more  next  spring.  I 
get  them  from  Mr.  Posson,  our  seedsman. 

Allow  me  to  say  this  much  for  Oregon  as  a 
honey- producing  State:  She  can  produce  as 
fine  honey  in  appearance,  and  as  fine  in  flavor, 
as  can  be  found  anywhere;  but  we  lack  in 
quantity,  no  doubt.  We  have  an  abundance  of 
clover,  but  it  does  not  learn  to  yield  much 
honey.  There  is  no  wild  basswood.  Peas, 
clover,  and  fireweed  are  the  main  honey-produc- 
ing plants  here.  Joel  Bowman. 

Portland.  Or.,  Sept.  3. 


My  crop  for  18<t2  is  16,(J00  lbs. 
Middleburgh,  N.  Y.  Wesley  Dibble. 


TWELVE     MONTHS    OF    POULTRY    LIFE  ;     AN     IN- 
TERESTING  CHICKEN- STORY   FOR   THE 
JUVENILES.   BY   MRS.   ANTELL. 

When  I  was  a  wee  bit  of  a  chick  my  first 
consciousness  was  when  I  was  all  cramped  up 
in  a  bunch,  struggling  to  get  out  of  my  shell. 
I  made  a  desperate  leap,  and  out  I  sprang, 
chirping  as  I  came.  Mother  Biddie  bade  me  be 
quiet,  as  she  was  watching  over  me,  and  cuddle 
up  close  under  her  wing.  I  was  very  quiet  for 
a  time,  when  I  began  to  feel  something  very 
annoying,  biting  and  running  over  me  and  try- 
ing to  get  into  my  eyes.  I  could  not  keep  still, 
and  my  little  brothers  and  sisters  complained 
of  the  same.  Mother  Biddie  would  stand  up 
and  pick  herself  every  once  in  a  while,  so  she 
stepped  on  and  killed  two  of  us.  She  did  not 
intend  to.  but  she  could  not  sit  still,  so  annoyed 
was  she. 

Mistress  Brown  said  she  w'as  a  naughty  biddie 
to  thus  tramp  her  chickens  and  break  her  eggs; 
but  mother  Biddie  told  her  it  was  she  who  was 
to  blame,  because  she  did  not  put  ashes  in  the 
bottom  of  her  nest,  with  a  little  straw  on  top. 
and  sprinkle  insect-powder  in  all  cracks  and 
corners  of  the  nest,  box,  and  through  her 
feathers.  She  said,  "  Do  you  not  see  how  I  ruf- 
fle up  my  feathers  when  you  come  near,  so  if 
you  would  spray  the  powder  above  me  it  would 
fall  all  through  my  feathers,  and  these  annoy- 
ing hen-mites  would  soon  be  gone,  even  before 
one  of  my  downiy  chicks  had  hatched?"  Mis- 
tress told  her  she  would  grease  her  under  the 
wings,  and  us  chicks  on  our  heads,  as  she  had 
raised  chickens  many  years.  I  guess  she  forgot 
how  much  to  use,  and  put  on  too  much:  for  we 
all  looked  slick,  and  two  of  us  died,  and  the  rest 
of  us  did  not  feel  very  well  either.  Old  mistress 
said  she  must  use  but  the  least  trifle  of  grease 
next  time,  and  may  be  she'd  better  try  the  Per- 
sian insect-powder. 

She  took  us  out  of  our  warm  nest  and  put  us 
into  her  apron,  one  on  top  of  the  other,  and 
then  went  to  another  nest  and  got  a  lot  more 
little  soft  downy  chicks,  just  like  ourselves, 
and  put  on  top  of  us.  in  her  apron,  and  doubled 
mother  Biddie  up  under  her  arm  by  holding  one 
leg  and  her  neck  in  the  same  hand.  Mother 
Biddy  felt  indignant  to  be  carried  in  that  w-ay, 
as  she  says  she  is  a  very  quiet  and  peaceable 
hen,  and  deserves  gentle  treatment.  As  a  mer- 
ciful man  is  merciful  to  his  beast,  so  a  merciful 
woman  is  merciful  to  her  chickens  and  bees. 

Mistress  Brown  sprinkled  insect-powder 
through  our  mother's  feathers,  and  took  us  out 
to  a  nice  large  coop  on  the  green  grass,  and 
gave  us  some  nice  food  to  eat.  as  we  had  been 
hatched  three  days,  and  had  not  tasted  food; 
but  we  were  a  big  lively  brood  of  chicks,  24  of 
us  all  together.  We  cuddled  up  under  mother 
Biddie's  wings  at  night,  and  when  it  was  cool 
and  rainy. 

When  the  sun  shone  warm  we  ran  out  on  the 
green  grass,  and  were  very  happy.  One  little 
sister  said  she  felt  very  badly  because  we  near- 
ly crushed  her  when  old  mistress  put  us  all  into 
her  apron. 

One  wet  and  rainy  morning  mistress  took  her 
to  the  house  and  said  she  would  wrap  her  up 
and  put  her  by  the  stove:  but  mother  Biddie 
said  she  had  better  not  have  mashed  little 
sister,  as  prevention  is  better  than  cure  for 
little  chicks.  Little  sister  never  came  back  to 
us  again. 

One  night  it  rained  very  hard,  and  the  water 
came  through  the  coop  and  ran  in  on  all  sides, 
and  we  had  to  stand  up  in  the  water.  Just 
think  of  it!  little  soft  downy  baby-chicks  stand- 
ing in  cold  water!     How  could  they  help  catch- 


1892 


(ILEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


703 


inp  I'olil".'  Ky  inorniiip  tlio  water  luul  run 
uway:  ami  we  luul.  as  maiiv  of  lis  as  could, 
orawlcd  up  into  motlicr  IJidtfic's  fcatlicrs.  and 
were  iii-arly  di'v :  luit  it  w  as  cool  the  next  d;iy, 
and  the  warm  sun  did  not  siiinc  on  us  for  scNcr- 
al  days;  so  wc  just  stooil  ai'ound  on  tlic  cold 
damp  jrround.  and  ddipid  until  cur  throats 
were  sore  in  trying  to  icll  mistress  how  badly 
we  all  felt.  'J'witofus  ilmopcd  our  winps  and 
liied  because  o(  th(>  dampness;  then  mistress 
said  the  coop  must  be  ptit  upon  higher  ground, 
and  a  tioard  floor  put.  in. 

Mother  Kiddie  said  it  was  bettor  late  than 
never,  hut  she  thouijlit  an  ounce  of  prev(Mition 
would  liave  been  better  than  a  pound  of  cure, 
and  so  it  proved,  as  two  mor(>  of  us  drooped  and 
died,  so  there  were  but  nineteen  of  us  left.  Rut 
it  save  all  tiie  more  room  under  mother  Kid- 
die's winirs,  and  we  were  very  happy  when  the 
sun  slione  on  us.  We  would  Hop  our  wings  and 
run  after  the  (lies,  and  UMck  and  scratcli  with 
all  our  miffht. 

Little  Clara  used  to  laugh  so  loud  to  see  us 
scratcli  the  ground  and  flop  our  wings,  she  now 
had  tliat  as  her  work  to  feed  and  water  us. 
Sometimes  she  gave  us  so  much  that  we  could, 
not  eat  it  up  in  all  day.  and  we  would  have  it 
pretty  well  tramped  down,  as  she  would  put  it 
just  where  we  wanted  to  run;  then  at  night 
she  would  put  in  more  food,  so  we  could  not  eat 
it  all  up.  and  mother  Biddie  must  have  some- 
thing to  do,  so  she  scratched  it  around  in  the 
coop,  stirring  our  food  up  in  the  tilth  in  the  coop. 

Old  mistress  said  she  hadn't  time  to  clean  out 
our  coop,  and  so  we  had  to  eat  that  dirty,  un- 
healthy food  all  day.  Mother  Biddie  said  if  she 
would  just  turn  a  small  box  down  in  front  of 
our  coop,  and  put  the  food  in.  that  would  be 
nice,  as  we  could  all  go  in  and  get  clean  food; 
and  old  Robinson  that  crew  so  could  not  stick 
his  long  head  and  neck  in,  and  eat  so  much  of 
our  food,  and  his  mates  could  not  trample  on 
us  so  badly. 

Our  drinking-water  was  even  worse  than  our 
food,  for  little  mistress  liadn"t  l^een  taught  to 
rinse  out  our  water-dishi's  each  time,  but  just 
put  water  in  the  dishes  day  after  day.  when 
they  were  nearly  half  full  of  filth  that  mother 
Biddie  had  kicked  out  of  our  coop. 

Now,  gentle  reader,  would  you  have  liked  to 
eat  such  food  and  drink  such  water?  Wasn't 
it  too  bad  to  l)e  treated  in  that  way.  as  mother 
Biddie  said  we  were  the  loving  Father's  little 
sparrows,  and  not  one  of  us  could  die  without 
his  notice? 

Some  of  us  did  die.  and  lay  there  in  the  coop 
until  the  heavenly  Father  sent  great  green  flies 
to  lay  eggs  that  would  soon  hatch  out  into 
worms  that  would  quickly  r -move  the  dead 
chicks,  or  I  guess  we  would  all  have  died,  so 
neglected  we  were. 

Old  mistress  did  not  mean  to  be  unkind,  but 
she  said  she  hadn't  time  to  look  after  us,  and 
trusted  us,  so  frail  and  tender,  to  the  care  and 
inexperience  of  little  mistress  Clara, 

One  night,  I  shall  always  remember,  we  were 
very  happy  when  we  gathered  under  mother 
Biddie's  wings,  as  she  was  teaching  us  to  make 
the  best  of  life,  and  rejoice  and  be  happy  in 
what  we  had,  instead  of  repining  and  wishing 
for  something  we  could  not  have,  l{ut  she 
seemed  to  know  there  was  danger,  as  a  big  rat 
hung  around  our  coop,  gathering  up  some  of 
the  food  we  left.  Mother  Biddie  would  cackle. 
and  try  to  tell  old  mistress  of  our  danger:  but 
we  were  so  far  from  the  house  no  one  could 
hear  her.  and  our  coop  was  near  an  old  brush- 
pile,  where  he  quickly  ran  and  hid  when  mis- 
tress Clara  came  near.  As  the  floor  of  our  coop 
was  laid  on  the  ground,  other  rats  came  with 
him.  and  they  dug  out  a  nest  for  themselves 
under  our  coop. 


One  night  they  thought  tliey  would  have 
some  meat  as  well  as  bread,  and  so  they  caught 
and  killed  four  of  my  little  l)rothers  and  sisters, 
anil  draggeil  them  under  the  cooi).  Mother 
Biddie  squealed  with  all  her  might,  and  so  did 
tlie  rest  of  us.  which  this  lime  brought  old 
mistress  out  to  see  what  was  tins  matter:  but  as 
the  old  rats  had  run  und(!r  the  coop  she  could 
not  see  any  thing.  She  went  back  to  her  soft 
quiet  l)ed,  scolding  because  we  had  distuibed 
lier  slumbers.  As  we  could  talk  only  chicken 
talk  we  could  not  tell  her  our  troul)les  and  her 
losses. 

Mother  Biddie  said  that  it  was  the  way  we 
had  been  neglected,  all  the  way  from  the  lime 
th(!  eggs  w(!re  hatched  up  t©  tlu^  present  time, 
that  only  fifteen  out  of  twenty-four  were  alive 
and  onjy  half  grown.  It  was  just  that  neglect 
that  rhade  poultry-raising  a  failure  with  so 
many,  and  tluit  negligi-nce  is  so  ofttui  to  be  seen 
everywhi;re  on  the  farm— the  reason  farming 
often  docs  not  pay. 

Mother  Biddie  is  now  three  years  old,  and  she 
knows  a  great  deal;  but  she  can't  tell  mistress 
what  she  does  know.  One  thing  she  knows  she 
w^onld  not  like  to  tell  her  if  she  could;  and  that 
is,  that  it  doesn't  pay  to  keep  old  hens,  as,  every 
year  after  they  are  three  years  old  they  lay  less 
and  less  eggs,  and  are  more  apt  to  die  during 
molting  time,  and  it  would  pay  old  mistress 
better  in  dollars  and  cents  to  kill  off  the  old 
hens  while  they  are  fat  and  healthy,  for  mas- 
ter's dinner,  and  not  leave  them  to  die  of  them- 
selves. Mother  Biddie  says  there  are  many 
hens  that  don't  lay  eggs  at  all:  some  of  them 
were  injured  when  they  were  pullets,  and  have 
never  laid  more  than  a  few  eggs,  and  yet  they 
are  kept  from  year  to  year  with  nothing  to  do 
but  to  eat  and  take  up  the  room  in  the  hen- 
house: and  yet  mistress  does  not  know  this.  If 
she  did  she  would  clip  the  wing  of  every  hen 
that  wanted  to  set.  Soon  every  good  hen  would 
be  marked,  and  those  that  were  incapable  of 
laying  eggs  could  make  potpies  for  master, 
though  master  doesn't  deserve  potpies  of  us, 
because  he  sets  the  dog  on  us  when  we  get  into 
the  barn  or  garden.  The  dog  so  frightens  us 
that  we  fly  against  the  barn,  and  into  such 
places  as  hurt  us  inwardly,  and  are  ruined  for 
laying  eggs  ever  after;  and  the  hired  man 
throws  clubs  at  us,  which  makes  us  wild,  and 
we  often  run  and  fly  when  there  is  no  danger. 
Mother  Biddie  says  if  everybody  would  always 
treat  us  kindly  we  would  be  very  tame,  because 
we,  being  Plymouth  Rocks,  are  a  very  gentle 
breed  of  chickens. 

Master  Williams,  who  owned  mother  Biddie 
until  she  was  a  grown  hen,  always  spoke  kindly 
to  her,  and  she  often  ate  out  of  his  hand  when 
he  came  around.  If  he  did  not  give  her  food 
she  would  jump  up  and  bite  his  hand,  or  pull 
the  leg  of  his  pants,  to  remind  him  to  give  her 
something  to  eat.  He  generally  understood 
what  she  meant,  and  would  pull  out  of  his 
pocket  a  few  kernels  of  corn,  and  stroke  our 
feathers,  and  we  would  look  straight  into  his 
kind  eyes,  and  he  would  call  us  wise  children; 
but  we  knew  it  was  he  that  was  wise  to  treat 
us  so  kindly  and  care  for  us  so  carefully  that 
few  of  us  died  while  young,  and  we  were  all  so 
well  and  hearty  we  could  do  a  chicken's  best 
for  him.  He  bragged  of  us,  and  told  what  good 
poultry  we  were,  and  how  well  we  paid  him. 
He  said  he  could  make  much  more  money  out 
of  poilltry  by  requiring  every  person  and  every 
animal  to  treat  us  kindly,  and  not  frighten  us, 
I  remember  how  well  we  all  liked  his  big  dog 
Towzer,  If  any  one  of  us  squalled,  Towzer 
came  bounding  out  to  see  what  was  the  matter. 
He  never  ran  us  nor  tried  to  catch  us,  but 
would  run  off  all  the  minks  and  skunks  and 
rats,  and  would  just  as  gently  put  his  nose  up 


704 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  15. 


against  us,  as  if  to  assure  us  we  need  not  fear 
him.  Mistress  Williams  would  always  call 
Towzer  to  go  with  her  when  she  went  to  close 
the,  hen-house  at  night.  He  would  go  in  with 
her  and  quickly  run  around  and  look  in  every 
corner  and  behind  the  boxes;  and  if  any  thing 
was  hidden  there  he  quickly  caught  it  or  scared 
it  out.  Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtell. 

Roseville,  111. 

[To  be  continued.] 


HIGH-PRESSURE  GARDENING. 

BY     A.      I.      ROOT. 

A  MATTER  OF  GREAT  IMPORTANCE   TO  ALL.  WHO 

CUI.TIVATE  THE   SOIL  WHERE   HEAVY  RAINS 

AND    FRESHETS  PREVAIL. 

After  the  tomato-book  was  all  finished.  I  sub- 
mitted it  to  friend  Day,  and  asked  him  to  make 
an  appendix  of  whatever  he  thought  should  be 
changed  or  enlarged  upon.  The  result  is  some- 
thing that,  my  impression  is,  will  be  worth 
millions  of  dollars  to  the  farming  people  of  both 
north  and  south,  and  east  and  west.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  brief  letter  from  him,  introducing 
the  matter: 


when  the  plumb-bob  hangs  in  the  notch  it  is  right. 
The  leg  that  is  one  inch  the  shortest  should  be  car- 
ried in  front  If  you  are  going  up  hill;  in  the  rear,  if 
you  are  running  the  way  the  water  is  to  go.  This 
gives  one  inch  fall  to  ten  feet.  We  lay  out  a  base- 
line about  every  100  feet,  on  a  hillside,  then  the 
rows  can  be  filled  in  between.  I  will  try  to  make  a 
drawing. 

We  always  have  a  plow  to  make  a  light  furrow, 
and  follow  right  after  the  leveler.  In  laying  out  the 
base-lines.  Sometimes  it  leads  you  contrary  to  your 
wishes,  but  it  is  always  HyM.  J.  W.  Day. 

Crystal  Springs,  Miss.,  Aug.  9. 

With  the  above  came  a  diagram  from  which 
the  engraver  has  been  enabled  to  make  the 
sketch  below. 

You  will  ob.serv^e  from  the  picture  that  we 
have  taken  a  piece  of  unusually  rough  country; 
in  fact,  the  engraver  has  given  us  tiie  summit 
of  two  quite  sharp-topped  hills.  The  hills  are 
so  steep,  that,  should  we  attempt  to  plow  and 
enrich  them  for  ordinary  market-gardening, 
the  heavy  rains  that  occur  in  most  parts  of  the 
United  States  at  least  occasionally,  would  wash 
all  of  our  fine  rich  soil,  and  a  great  part  of  our 
fertility,  clear  down  into  the  valleys,  or  off  into 
the  rivers;  therefore  we  commence  clear  up  to 
the  summit,  making  open  ditches. 

The-ie  are  to  take  the  water  and  carry  it 
straight  down  hill,  out  of  the  way.    Of  course. 


4>.^^^%' 


FRIEND    day's    PLAN    FOR    TEHKACING     AND     FURROWING    THE    HILLSIDES,   TO     PREVENT     WASH 

AND   GULLYING. 


On  page  5  you  say,  in  circling  my  land  I  give  one 
foot  in  twenty.  This  is  entirely  too  much  fall,  as  it 
will  cause  the  land  to  wash.  Now,  I  consider  this 
land-circling  a  great  thuig  to  lead  off  the  water 
without  washing  tlie  land,  if  it  is  done  scientiflcally; 
and  I  will  say  one  inch  in  ten  feet  is  enough  fall. 
Some  use  only  one  inch  tosir(ct'»  feet  fall.  Iherewith 
send  you  a  diagram  of  a  clieap  leveler.  It  is  simply 
a  large  compass  made  of  tiiree  tliin  laths,  about  two 
Inches  wide  by  one  incli  thick.  The  two  lower  ends 
should  stand  just  ten  feet  apart,  and  the  tops  nailed 
together.  The  cross-latli  should  be  1.5  Indies  from 
the  ground,  and  a  notch  exactly  in  the  middle,  so 


the  surplus  op(Mi  ditches  come  quite  near  each 
other  toward  the  summit  of  the  hill.  As  we  go 
down  into  the  lower  ground,  however,  they  get 
further  and  further  apart;  and,  in  fact,  they 
nuiy  be  half  a  mile  apart  if  the  lay  of  the  land 
favors  making  the  base-line  ditches  as  long  as 
that.  But  these  base-line  ditches  must  all  be 
worked  around  the  hillside,  or  uneven  ground, 
in  such  a  way  as  to  carry  them  almost  at  a 
dead  level— not  quite  dead  level,  however,  for 
they  are  to  drop  as  much  as  one  inch  in  twenty 


18*12 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


705 


fei't,  and  not  inoro  than  oiio  inch  in  ten  feel. 
T\u^  pitcli.  or  fall,  will  let  the  \vatt>r  off  each 
way  into  tlu>  siirphis-ditolii>s.  tlic  hiprlu'st  point 
boiiig  nsiially  midway  Iniirccii  tlii'  two  snipliis- 
ditohos.  Thus  tluMV  will  be  a  middle  |ioinl  in 
tho  baso-linc  whciT  Iho  wal(M'  rocs  each  way. 
Thoso  base-lino  furrows  aiv  a  hundred  feet 
apart.  After  tliev  are  all  ijraded  and  laiii  out. 
then  we  must  ma'l<e  furrows  for  our  tomatoes. 
peach-trees,  or  what  other  crop  is  raised,  be- 
tween the  base-lines,  and  parallel  witli  them. 
You  will  notice  that  this  kind  of  work  breaks 
up  entirely  the  plan  of  straight  furrows,  unless 
the  lay  of'tlie  land  should  favor  us  to  an  un- 
usual extent. 

In  order  to  do  our  cultivating  in  working  the 
ground  to  advantage,  we  should  endeavor  to 
get  rid  of  slmrt  crooks  in  the  furrows,  liut  it  is 
much  more  important  to  get  rid  of  the  water 
than  to  have  straight  furrows  for  cultivating; 
and  if  the  curves  are  large,  there  need  not  be 
anv  particular  hindrance  to  the  work. 

The  additional  diagraius.  Figs.  1  and  :3,  will 
make  th(>  whole  matter  plain,  without  further 
explanation. 

Froru  what  I  have  seen  of  the  washing  and 
cutting  and  gullying  in  the  South,  especially  in 
what  they  call  the  "red  lands,"  I  am  sure  that 
this  plan  as  given  above  by  friend  Day  is  a 
matter  of  the  greatest  importance  in  many 
localities.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  work  the 
greater  part  of  the  land  up  to  a  high  state  of 
fertility,  for  either  fruit  or  vegetables,  without 
making  provision  for  the  heavy  rains  and  the 
surplus  water:  and  even  here  in  our  State  of 
Ohio  I  have  been  coming  to  the  conclusion  more 
and  more,  as  each  season  passes  by,  that  we 
must  have  surplus-drains  as  well  as  under- 
drains.  The  great  market-gardener  of  Green 
Bay.  Wis..  Mr.  J.  M.  Smith,  has  been  for  years 
working  on  almost  this  plan,  except  that,  as  his 
ground  is  so  nearly  level,  it  does  not  make  such 
a  showing  as  the  plan  we  have  given. 

Another  thing  in  regard  to  this  plan  of  terrac- 
ing or  furrowing:  Every  year  that  passes  makes 
it  more  evident  that,  sooner  or  later,  irrigation 
is  going  to  be  used  by  all  who  are  engaged  in 
high-pressure  gardening.  The  market-garden- 
ers around  Boston  and  New  York  do  not  think 
of  risking  their  expensive  crops  without  provi- 
sion b<'ing  made  for  watering  in  times  of  drouth. 
Windmills  with  tanks,  and  steam-pumps,  are 
on  hand,  to  be  brought  into  requisition  when 
needed.  Well,  this  plan  of  terracing  fixes  the 
ground  exactly  as  you  want  it  for  irrigation. 
Carry  the  water  to  the  highest  point  in  the  fur- 
rows, and  let  it  flow  each  way.  and  the  fall  is 
exactly  right.  A  neighbor  of  mine  who  raises 
blackberries  on  land  that  is  not  worth  more 
than  -^.^O.tK)  or  .^T.^.fX)  per  acre  has  drawn  water 
in  barrels  for  his  blackberries  during  a  time  of 
drouth,  and  he  says  it  paid  big.  He  had  berries 
when  they  were  a  failure  elsewhere,  and.  of 
course,  got  big  prices  accordingly.  Another 
man  secured  a  tremendous  crop  of  onions  by 
watering  them  with  a  force-pump.  He  worked 
the  pump  while  his  wife  directed  a  streaiu  of 
water  through  a  hose.  Nobody  else  had  any 
onions,  and  so  he  got  over  a  dollar  a  bushel  for 
his.  Once  fixing  your  ground,  after  the  manner 
given  in  this  article,  lasts  a  lifetime.  Even  on 
lands  where  gullies  are  cut  by  very  heavy  rains, 
by  a  little  careful  watching,  and  prompt  repair- 
ing where  the  water  breaks  over  and  goes  di- 
rectly down  hill,  you  are  master  of  the  situa- 
tion: and  where  the  ground  is  brought  up  to  Its 
highest  state  of  fertility  by  tilth  and  manure  it 
is  terribly  expensive  business  to  have  it  cut  up 
and  washed  down  into  the  streams. 

Please  notice  that,  in  this  kind  of  terracing, 
little  if  any  [)iowing  or  scraping  is  to  be  done. 
The   levelwhicli  friend   Day   has  described  is 


simply  walked  around  the  hill, curving  the  fur- 
row so  as  to  strike  ground  that  is  neither  too 
high  nor  too  low  -  that  is,  when  you  are  laying 
base-lines  about  KK)  feet  apart.  The  ditches 
along  these  base-lines  ar(^  to  be  kept  carefully 
permanent,  so  the  wat(^r  runs  in  tiie  furrow  and 
does  not  break  over  and  run  straight  down  liill. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


For  unclean  spiiits,  cryinfi'  with  loud  voice,  came 
out  of  many  that  were  possessed  with  tliem.— ACTS. 
8:7. 

Am  1  my  biotlier's  keeper  V— Gen.  4:9. 

This  matter  of  unclean  spirits,  so  often  spo- 
ken of  in  the  Bilile.  has  for  ages  past  attracted 
considerable  attention;  and  I  believe  the  gen- 
eral verdict  is,  that  we  have  nothing  of 
that  kind  now— that  is,  nothing  just  like  what 
is  described  in  the  Scriptures.  Perhaps  the 
whole  thing  belongs  to  the  age  of  demonology; 
but  for  all  that.  I  can  not  h(!lp  thinking  that 
human  beings  nowadays  are  often  possessed 
with  something  that  might  be  appropriately 
called  an  unclean  spirit.  By  reading  the  fifth 
verse  of  the  same  i-hapter  from  which  this  text 
is  taken,  you  will  notice  that  it  was  through 
Christ's  name  that  these  unclean  spirits  were 
banished;  and,  indeed,  on  one  occasion  we  are 
told  that  the  spirit  that  possessed  a  man  talked 
back,  as  it  were;  for  we  read  in  Matt.  8:29, 
"  Behold  they  cried  out,  saying.  What  have  we 
to  do  with  thee,  Jesus,  thou  Son  of  God  ?  Art 
thou  come  hither  to  torment  us  before  the 
time?"  From  this  it  seems  as  if  the  spirits 
themselves  seemed  to  recognize  that,  where 
Jesus,  the  Son  of  God.  was,  they  had  no  abid- 
ingplace.  And  this  kind  of  unclean  spirit  that 
I  have  been  thinking  of  seems  to  come  under 
the  same  law.  Thev  can  not  exist  in  the  same 
heart  where  the  spirit  of  Christ  has  found  an 
abidingplace.  Let  me  now  give  you  some  of 
the  evidences  that  we  meet  with  in  our  day,  to 
show  that  unclean  spirits  are  among  us. 

A  few  days  ago  an  excursion  passed  over  our 
grounds  on  its  way  to  our  little  lake  a  few 
miles  from  here.  I  have  before  spoken  of  the 
piece  of  track  that  unites  our  two  raili'oads, 
passing  through  our  grounds;  and  I  am  hap- 
py to  tell  you,  that,  during  the  past  summer,  no 
Sunday  excursion  has  ever  passed  over  it.  The 
excursion  I  speak  of,  therefore,  was  on  one  of  the 
week-days.  The  locomotive  on  one  of  the  rail- 
roads drops  the  cars  on  our  curve  until  another 
one  can  come  from  the  other  road  to  pick  up 
the  cars;  therefore  the  excursionists  stopped  on 
the  track  close  to  our  factory  for  several  min- 
utes. Almost  as  soon  as  the  cars  stopped,  some 
of  the  passengers  began  jumping  oil' and  look- 
ing about  to  see  what  was  to  be  seen  or  to  be 
found.  Now,  this  is  all  right  and  proper.  I 
like  to  see  people  who  are  traveling,  wide- 
awake, and  with  eyes  open,  that  they  may  lake 
in  all  that  is  to  be  seen.  A  party  of  young  boys 
came  up  the  walk  toward  where  I  was  stand- 
ing. They  opened  the  different  doors  and  made 
inquiries  "for  something,  and  seemed  evidently 
disappointed,  I  linally  walked  toward  one  of 
them,  to  see  if  I  could  give  them  some  assist- 
ance. He  was  a  nice-looking  boy,  perhaps 
fourteen  or  fifteen  years  old.  His  fresh  young 
face  looked  almost  childish,  and  there  was  a 
sort  of  innocent  look  about  it.  although  at  the 
same  time  he  had  a  little  bit  of  swagger  about 
his  manner,  probably  put  on  because  they  were 
on  a  holiday:  and  I  thought  that,  perhaps,  at 
his  age  he  was  just  beginning  to  feel  that  it 
was  time  he  should  act  like  a  man  and  appear 
manly.  His  first  question  was  something  like 
this: 


70(5 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  J  5. 


"Can't  we  buy  any  cigars  or  tobacco  around 
here  ?" 

I  replied.  "  No.  my  young  friend.  I  do  not  be- 
lieve you  can  get  any  In  this  part  of  the  town." 

I  was  about  to  add  something  furtlier;  but  a 
boy  just  behind  me  interrupted  me  by  saying, 
"  Why.  what  a  God-forsaken  place  this  is,  any- 
how I'' 

I  opened  my  mouth  again  to  assure  him  that 
it  was  quite  the  contrary;  but  still  another  boy, 
a  little  further  behind,  began  such  a  string  of 
oaths  and  curses  in  regard  to  Medina,  this 
part  of  the  town,  our  establishment,  and  the 
owner  in  pai'ticular.  that,  before  I  had  a 
chance  to  collect  my  wits  so  as  to  make  even  a 
word  of  remonstrance,  the  bell  rang,  and  they 
scampered  back  to  grab  hold  of  the  moving 
cars,  and  otf  they  went.  The  boys  were  soon 
gone  from  sight,  but  not  the  memory  of  them. 
It  haunts  me  still,  and  troubles  me.  The  boys 
probably  came  from  an  adjoining  county; 
but  they  were  Ohio  boys,  even  if  they  do  not 
belong  to  this  county.  Their  ideas  of  enjoy- 
ment, even  at  their  tender  ages,  seemed  to 
include  tobacco  as  the  one  thing  especially 
needful.  May  be  they  do  not  use  it  e^ery 
day — at  least,  I  hope  they  do  not.  Perhaps 
it  was  because  they  were  off  on  an  excur- 
sion away  from  home  and  parents  that  prompt- 
ed them  to  go  in  a  whole  crowd  for  tobacco. 
May  be  they  do  not  swear  ordinarily  in  the 
impolite  way  they  did  then;  but  yet  I  fear  they 
do. 

Yesterday  was  the  last  day  of  our  Medina 
County  fair.  I  wa«  around  through  the  grounds 
more  than  usual.  I  felt  anxious  to  study 
humanity.  I  wanted  to  know  about  the  boys 
who  are  brought  up  on  our  farms.  Of  course, 
you  all  know  I  feel  an  anxiety  about  our  crops 
and  our  harvests;  but  I  hope  I  am  telling  you 
the  truth  when  I  say  I  feel  a  hundred  times 
more  anxious  about  another  kind  of  crops  and 
another  sort  of  harvest.  "  What  shall  the  har- 
vest be?"  Well,  even  on  the  fairgrounds  my 
ears  were  pained,  almost  everywhere  I  went, 
by  profanity.  Nobody  was  angry,  nor  even 
vexed.  They  were  just  talking  in  a  neighborly, 
sociable  sort  of  way,  and  yet  they  could  not  talk 
over  commonplace  matters  in  a  friendly,  quiet 
way,  without  oaths  and  curses  sprinkled  in  at 
times  with  fearful  and  alarming  frequency. 
Dear  friend,  is  this  state  of  affairs  true  in  your 
locality  and  in  your  neighborhood?  Do  boys 
and  men  swear  so  commonly  that  it  seems  as  if 
it  were  a  second  nature?  (rod  forbid.  1  have 
been  of  late  so  much  among  young  peojjle  who 
belong  to  the  Endeavor  Soc'ietyethat  I  had  be- 
gun to  think  that  this  low-lived  barbaric  age 
was  passing  away;  but  the  two  ^experiences  I 
have  given  you  have  given  me  a  setback. 
What  will  be  the  result  if  a  large  portion  of  our 
boys  grow  up  this  way?  Fi'equently  the  pro- 
fanity was  coupled  with  obscenity.  The  two 
go  together.  Yes,  and  this  is  why  it  has  seemed 
to  me  that  an  unclean  spirit  was  getting  pos- 
session of  our  boys.  I  asked  the  question  at  one 
of  oui'  mission  schools  as  to  where  these  boys  were 
brought  up.  I  had  been  tellinir  thcni  the  incident 
I  first  related.  Somebody  replied  out  of  the  audi- 
ence, that  the  boys  were  not  brought  up  at  all. 
Oh !  yes,  they  were.  They  had  a  sort  of  bringing- 
up,  and  they  are,  to  a  certain  extent,  well  in- 
formed. They  go  to  school  and  they  read  the 
papers;  but  somehow  or  other  they  do  not  get 
a  glimpse  of  that  pure  and  better  spirit  that 
would  banish  impure  and  unholy  talk.  The 
very  spirit  and  the  very  influence  that  prompt- 
ed these  boys  to  seek  tobacco  would  prompt 
them  to  seek  also  intoxicating  drinks.  One  i>i 
a  stimulant,  and  so  is  the  other.  Tobacco 
paves  the  way  for  the  stronger  stimulant,  and 
the  two  together  make  the  boy  brutal  and  un- 


gentlemanly.  They  fit  him  and  educate  him  to 
give  loose  rein  to  his  worst  passions  when  he 
gets  old  enough— yes.  a  great  many  times  he- 
fore  he  gets  old  enough.  If  this  kind  of  seed  is 
being  sown  throughout  our  land,  is  it  any  won- 
der that  we  have  anarchy  ?  Is  it  any  wonder 
that  men  pay  ten  dollars  for  a  seat  to  see  two 
men  fight  each  other  as  a  couple  of  dogs  might 
fight?  No,  no!  Dogs  are  never  so  low  and 
brutal — I  beg  their  pardon.  How  many  men 
went  from  your  neighborhood  to  New  Orleans 
to  see  the  recent  prize-fight?  If  nobody  went, 
how  many  men  and  boys— yes,  women  too — 
helped  to  spread  the  news  that  one  man  had 
pounded  the  other  into  a  "  bloody  heap  "?  It 
has  pained  me  to  talk  about  it.  It  is  behind 
the  times.  I  can  hardly  conceive  how  it  can 
be  possible  that,  in  these  days  of  Y.  M.  C.  A.'s 
and  Christian  Endeavor  societies,  such  a  scene 
can  be  enacted  right  here  in  our  land  of  liberty. 
The  papers  tell  us  that,  in  our  neighboring  city 
of  Cleveland,  a  "  seething  mass  of  humanity" 
gathered  together  to  get  the  first  news  from 
New  Orleans,  and  that  the  excitement  ran  as 
high  as  it  did  during  the  war,  when  great  issues 
were  at  stake.  I  may  be  mistaken;  but  it 
seems  to  me  that  every  man.  woman,  or  child 
who  makes  an  inquiry,  who  helps  circulate  re- 
ports, at  least  indirectly  gives  some  sort  of  en- 
couragement to  this  vei'y  thing.  People  are 
curious  abou.  it,  and  anxious  about  it,  and  this 
helps  to  sell  the  papers.  The  railroad  companies 
like  to  see  it  kept  up.  for  it  makes  trade  and 
traffic,  and  stirs  up  excitement.  Is  it  not  an 
unclean  spirit  that  is  at  the  bottom  of  it  all  ? 

Of  late  I  have  been  out  in  the  world  more 
than  I  used  to  be  when  I  was  first  writing  these 
neighborly  papers.  I  am  acquainted  with  more 
people  than  I  used  to  be;  yes.  I  have  acquain- 
tances— perhaps  I  might  say  neighborly  ac- 
quaintances— among  almost  all  classes  of  peo- 
ple. A  couple  of  burglars  or  housebreakers 
have  been  for  some  days  in  our  county  jail.  I 
have  had  so  many  neighborly  talks  with  them 
that  I  began  to  consider  them  as  almost  per- 
sonal friends.  They  have  told  me  of  tneir 
lives,  and  of  their  spiritual  experiences,  and  I 
still  believe  that  they  told  me  the  truth,  even  if 
they  did  break  out  of  jail  since  I  last  saw  them, 
and  commit  more  burglaries  since  then.  Now, 
in  getting  acquainted  with  all  sorts  of  people  I 
know  how  a  great  part  of  humanity  feel,  and 
I  know  how  they  think.  There  are  some 
very  good  friends  of  mine  who  use  tobacco. 
They  think  I  make  too  much  fuss  about  it. 
Perhaps  they  would  say  that  these  boys  I  have 
described  to  you  are  not  such  very  bad  boys 
after  all.  I  think  some  of  them  would  tell  me 
that,  if  I  would  keep  track  of  them,  I  should 
find  the  greater  part  of  them  would  make  tol-, 
erably  good  men  and  law-abiding  citizens. 
Well,  boys  do  sometimes  turn  out  better  than 
we  expect,  and  sometimes  they  turn  out  worse 
than  we  expect.  I  should  like  to  submit  the 
question  to  any  one — yes,  I  should  like  the 
opinion  of  those  who  do  not  accept  the  Bible  as 
the  word  of  God.  and  who  do  not  see  any  thing 
so  very  bad  about  tobacco,  or  even  strong 
di'ink.  Let  me  present  it  to  you.  These  boys 
stepjjed  from  a  train  into  a  new  locality.  They 
saw  from  the  signs  near  or  over  our  door  that 
refreshments  and  fruits  were  for  sale.  As  to- 
bacco is  so  often  sold  in  such  places  they  were 
not  very  much  to  blame  for  thinking  that 
tobacco  was  sold  here  too.  liut  now  comes  the 
test  of  the  gentleman.  The  boys  soon  discover- 
ed they  were  among  a  different  class  of  people 
from  \vhat  they  were  accustomed  to.  I  am  told 
that  some  of  them,  as  they  opened  the  doors, 
inquired  for  beer  and  whisky.  They  saw  on  the 
sign,  B-E-E-S;  and,  being  int  haste  to  make 
their  purchases  before   the  train  started,  they 


1892 


GLEANINHJ.S  IN  UKK  CULTURE. 


read  it  1?-K-K-K  insloiid  of '•  Hcos."  I  suppose 
the  U-K-K-K  is  more  oommon  to  tlio  eyes  of 
iravcltTs.  How  is  it  in  your  town,  my  friend  ? 
Well,  when  tiiey  saw  they  hat!  made  a  mistake. 
and  that  tlie  whole  lot  of  ns  were  what  llnu 
miiiht  call  a  "  imritanieal  "  class,  then,  instead 
of  submit  I  insf  to  the  customs  of  the  place  wheic 
they  happened  to  he  lantled.  they  commcMicins 
cursing  the  people  litrhl  to  their  faces.  Does 
tobacco  make  boys  unjientlemanly.  or  is  it  the 
lial)it  of  swearinsr".'  t)ne  of  our  old  pastors  once 
maiie  the  remark,  that  inhdelity  is  the  most 
uncourteous  and  ungeiitlemaniy  thing  tlu^ 
world  has  ever  invented.  There  are  not  many 
people  in  the  world  who  advocate  swearing. 
Skeptics,  however,  often  say  there  is  nothing 
particularly  w  rong  about  it.  liut  after  reason- 
ing with  them  some,  however.  I  believe  all 
liave  admitted  that  it  is  a  very  uncourt(>ous 
and  nngentlemimly  tiling.  Where  a  crowd  of 
people  get  to  swearing.  I  think  anybody  of  good 
sense  and  fairness  must  admit  it  is  bad.  It  is 
bad  for  boys  to  swear.  Swearing  almost  in- 
variably accompanies  drunkenness  and  crime. 
What  prompts  it.  anyliow?  A  man  who  has 
no  control  over  his  temper,  I  believe  almost 
always  swears.  It  seems  to  be  a  sort  of  indica- 
tion that  the  man  or  boy  is  more  or  less  of  a 
savage.  He  does  not  control  himself,  and  does 
not  try  to  do  so.  He  does  not  scruple  to  let  (til 
the  irorld  know  that  he  puts  no  restraint  on  his 
worst  passions.  It  is  prompted  by  an  unclean 
spirit,  even  if  you  make  the  best  of  it.  If  he 
lias  any  self  respect,  or  wishes  the  world  to 
know  that  he  has  respect  for  himself,  he  cer- 
tainly should  not  swear.  I  have  often  wonder- 
ed, with  the  great  amount  of  swearing  we  have 
in  public  places,  tliat  the  morals  of  our  country 
are  as  good  as  they  ar<'.  When  I  hear  so  much 
of  it  I  wonder  that  our  jails  and  penitentiaries 
are  not  tilled  to  overflowing  to  such  an  extent 
that  more  than  half  of  the  guilty  ones  go  free. 
There  is  a  law  against  swearing,  it  is  true;  but 
public  sentiment  has  not  yet  backed  up  this  law 
to  the  extent  that  it  is  verv  much  enforced. 

We  are  told  that,  in  olden  time,  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ  the  .Son  of  (iod  was  a  perfect  anti- 
dote for  all  unclean  spirits  of  every  description; 
but  we  are  also  told  that  it  was  the  only  reme- 
dy. ••  for  there  is  none  other  name  given  under 
heaven,"  etc.  ;  and  it  seems  to  be  true  now. 
When  a  boy  can  be  made  to  realize  that  his 
heart  is  sinful,  and  that  an  unclean  spirit  lurks 
therein,  then  he  is  near  salvation.  People  may 
break  off  from  using  tobacco  ;  they  may  quit 
swearing:  they  may  even  jjiomise  themselves 
and  promise  their  friends  that  they  will  give  up 
the  practice  of  repeating  low-lived  and  filthy 
stories;  they  may  sign  the  pledge:  and  I  would 
by  no  means  discourag*'  any  of  these  undertak- 
ings: but  the  unclean  spirit  can  never  be  fom^ 
jilcteUj  cast  out  and  banished  forever  until  that 
I>ure  spirit  of  Christ  tinds  a  lodgingplace  in  the 
lieart — that  spirit  that  said.  "  Love  ye  your  en- 
emies, and  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you." 
Dear  friend,  do  you  not  realize  the  contrast? 
Do  you  not  long  to  be  one  among  those  who  are 
hungering  and  thirsting  after  righteousness? 
If  so,  then  let  me  beg  of  you  to  join  a  Christian 
band.  You  will  not  have  to  go  far  to  do  it. 
The  church  of  Christ  is  found  in  every  neigh- 
borhood. Scarcely  one  among  the  thousands  of 
those  whose  eyes  rest  on  these  pages  but  can 
■easily  find  a  minister  of  the  gospel  inside  of 
twenty-four  hours.  The  little  church  in  your  lo- 
cality may  be  sadly  run  down,  and  the  profess- 
ing Christians  may  be  altogether  a  poor  lot.  If 
both  of  these  things  are  true,  then  the  need  is 
tenfold  greater  that  jyou  should  help  to  restore 
it.  Oh  I  I  beg  of  you  to  go  and  attend  to  it  this 
minute.  Drop  this  paper  you  are  now  reading; 
go  and  assure  bod's  ministering  servant  who 


lives  nearest  you  that  you  are  ashamed  of  your- 
self, and  that  you  will  hang  back  no  hmger. 
Tell  him  you  want  to /(r//>  in  the  work  of  ban- 
ishing uncleanness  and  impurity  from  the 
hearts  of  all  men:  study  (Jod's  lioly  word;  ask 
him  to  help  you  build  "up  that  little  church; 
kindle  anew  the  heavenly  llame  in  that  run- 
down Sunday-school;  wake  iii)  the  mi-mbersof 
that  Endeavor  society  if  they  liave  gone  to 
sleep.  With  the  spirit  of  Christ  in  your  heart, 
go  to  work  among  the  /^oj/s-  in  your  own  neigh- 
borhood. Discourage  profanity,  and  show  them 
that  there  is  something  better  than  tobacco 
when  they  start  out  to  have  a  holiday  or  a  good 
time;  and  when  you  go,  remember  tliat  your 
old  friend  A.  I.  Root  is  praying  that  God's  Holy 
Spirit  may  go  irilh  you,  and  that  you  may  be 
successful  in  holding  aloft  the  banner  of  Christ 
Jesus;  that  you  may  be  succe.ssful  in  driving 
out  and  keeping  away  the  unclean  spirits  that 
have  been  and  are  now  the  sworn  enemies  of 
all  that  is  good  and  pure  and  holy— the  sworn 
enemies  of  the  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh  away 
the  sin  of  the  world. 


Notes  of  Travel 

FROM  A.  I.  ROOT. 

IN    ARIZONA  TERKITORY. 

It  was  laining,  and  after  dark,  when  we  took 
the  train  at  Colton.  bidding  good-by  to  Califor- 
nia and  the  Pacific  coast.  I  greatly  longed  to 
make  all  this  trip  by  daylight,  but"  it  was  im- 
possible. There  is  only  one  train  a  day  over 
the  Southern  Pacific,  and  therefore  it  is  out  of 
the  question  to  see  a  great  part  of  the  road  by 
daylight  unless  you  happen  to  pass  it  in  going 
the  other  way.  I  especially  wanted  to  see  that 
new  lake  that  has  recently  been  formed  by  the 
overflow  of  the  Colorado  River.  I  asked  the 
porter  whether  it  was  true  that  they  were 
obliged  to  take  up  the  track;  but  he  said  it  was 
not.  At  one  time  they  feared  they  would  be 
obliged  to  do  so;  but  efiHcient  engineers  suc- 
ceeded in  giving  directions  so  that  the  overflow 
has  been  at  least  partially  stopped.  The  rail- 
way, however,  runs  close  beside  the  great  lake 
where  formerly  we  had  what  they  called  the 
bed  of  the  dried-up  ocean. 

As  soon  as  any  thing  was  to  be  seen  at  all. 
Mrs.  Root  and  I  were  pressing  our  faces  close 
to  the  window  of  the  sleeper.  It  was  just  get- 
ting daylight  when  we  passed  through  Yuma, 
at  the  extreme  southeastern  corner  of  Califor- 
nia. This  town  has  become  celebrated  because 
it  is  about  the  hottest  place  on  earth— at  least 
they  give  it  that  reputation.  When  the  light 
enabled  us  to  see  plainly,  we  began  studying 
with  much  curiosity  the  wonderful  objects 
along  the  desert  of  Arizona.  The  queer  cacti, 
taller  than  the  telegraph  poles,  were  objects  of 
great  interest.  Every  thing  is  odd  and  quaint 
and  weird  in  Arizona.  Its  vegetation  is  unlike 
that  in  any  other  part  of  the  world,  and  the 
mountains  themselves  make  one  think  he  is  in 
fairyland  instead  of  in  the  United  States  of 
America;  and  when  the  strange  mirage  puts  in 
its  appearance  early  in  the  morning,  one  might 
readily  be  excused  for  feeling  that  he  was  in  an 
enchanted  land  in  earnest.  I  am  not  ready  just 
now,  however,  to  speak  of  the  mirage.  It  did 
show  up — at  least,  on  that  particular  morning. 
At  Gila  Bend  (this  word  is  pronounced  Heela) 
we  encountercid  the  first  strange  group  of  Indi- 
ans. As  the  train  stopped,  the  crowd  gathered 
about  a  blind  Indian  boy  who  was  playing  on  a 
fiddle.  His  instrument  was  a  very  rude  one, 
wires  supplying  the  place  of  strings  to  a  con- 
siderable extent.   Although  his  eyeballs  seemed 


708 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  15. 


incapable  of  any  sort  of  sight,  he  put  out  his 
hand  for  a  nickel  very  readily  when  it  was 
extended  to  him.  -is  he  began  to  gather  in  the 
coins,  quite  a  crowd  of  Indian  men  and  boys, 
and  girls  and  women,  gathered  about  him.  the 
older  women  exhibiting  specimens  of  their 
pottery.  Many  of  them  had  babies  in  their 
arms,  "and  seemed  quite  willing  to  have  the 
passengers  notice  them  and  ask  questions. 
However,  they  did  not  or  wuuld  not  talk.  I 
tried  in  vain  to  find  out  what  tribe  they  I'epre- 
sented.  They  either  did  not  know  or  would  not 
tell.  Somebody  suggested  the  Kodak  they  bad 
seen  me  using:  but  a  bystander  remarked  that, 
the  instant  I  showed  it.  every  last  Indian  would 
vanish  with  a  hustling.  I  thought,  however,  I 
could  disarm  their  prejudice,  and  so  I  brought 
the  instrument  and  begged  permission  of  an 
Indian  woman  to  take  a  picture  of  her  baby. 
So  long  as  the  instrument  was  shut  up  in  its 
case  they  paid  but  little  attention  to  it:   but 


his  picture   taken  pro 


THE  BLIND   FIDDLER    AND   HIS   INDIAN   FRIENDS   WHEN   THE   KODAK 
SXTKPKTSKD    TllE.M. 

when  the  lens  was  pointed  toward  them,  con- 
sternation seized  upon  the  whole  group.  Tliey 
either  beat  a  hasty  retreat  or  covered  their 
heads  with  their  shawls;  and  when  I  ti'ied  to 
explain.  I  found  they  could  make  themselves 
understood  pretty  well,  whether  they  could  talk 
or  not.  The  woman  who  had  the  baby  said 
something  that  sounded  like  "No,  no!"  putting 
up  her  hand  in  protest,  and  shielding  her  baby 
with  her  shawl.  One  of  the  passengers  explain- 
ed that  they  have  a  superstitious  belief  in  the 
"evil  eye,"  and  this  machine  was  the  very 
thing  embodied.  Whoever  it  looked  at  was 
bewitched,  or  destined  to  meet  with  misfortune 
of  some  kind.  Not  an  Indian  would  face  it; 
therefore  I  succeeded  in  breaking  up  the  group 
in  a  twinkling.  The  blind  fiddler,  hearing  tiie 
melee,  put  oflf  with  the  rest.  But  he  had  been 
making  too  much  money  to  give  it  up  just  yet, 
and  so  he  rallied  near  the  forward  end  of  the 
train,  and  his  friends  gathered  about  him.    I 


confess  I  felt  a  little  guilty  about  it,  but  I  did 
slip  up  and  catch  a  picture  of  a  part  of  the 
group  Ijefore  they  knew  what  I  was  doing. 
Here  is  the  picture. 

You  will  notice  that  every  one,  except  the 
little  chap  with  the  calico  shirt  (excepting  the 
tiddler,  of  course),  has  either  covered  his  head 
or  turned  his  back.  Some  of  the  young  squaws 
would  be  tolerably  good-looking  if  they  would 
keep  tlieir  faces,  and  especially  their  noses,  a 
little  cleaner.  Instead  of  covering  themselves 
so  as  not  to  feel  the  chilly  morning  air  of  win- 
ter, they  seemed  to  prefer  getting  out  into  the 
sunshine.  Then  if  the  sun  is  not  warm  enough, 
they  stand  (or.  rather,  sit)  and  wait  for  it  to 
get  warmer.  If,  in  consequence  of  the  chilly 
air,  their  nostrils  become  clogged,  they  do  not 
take  the  trouble  to  blow  their  noses,  but  just 
let  the  accumulations  run  down  their  faces — 
■■  letting  Nature  have  her  own  way,"  as  some  of 
the  bee-friends  put  it.  Sometimes  when  it  be- 
comes very  obnoxious,  the 
mother  will  take  her  fin- 
gers and  give  the  child's 
nose  a  squeeze.  She  does 
not  wipe  her  fingers  or 
nose  with  her  apron  or 
dress,  as  her  more  civiliz- 
ed sisters  do,  but  she  just 
lets  it  dry  on.  Please  ex- 
cuse me.  dear  friends,  for 
telling  these  unpleasant 
things  ;  but  it  serves  to 
give  you  an  idea  of  the 
habits  and  ways  of  the  un- 
trained savage.  Before  I 
brought  out  the  Kodak 
they  seemed  very  pleasant 
and  sociable  among  them- 
selves. A  young  man  of 
eighteen  or  twenty  sat  on 
top  of  the  picket  fence, 
and  leaned  over  so  he 
came  quite  near  a  rather 
pretty-looking  squaw; and 
right  before  the  groups  of 
passengers  they  carried 
on  quite  a  little  flirtation 
—  that  is,  it  seemed  to  me 
it  might  have  been  "  quite 
a  little  flirtation  "  if  both 
parties  had  only  had  de- 
cency enough  to  wipe  their 
noses.  My  hand  would 
almost  instinctively  keep 
going  into  my  pocket  witli 
the  view  of  loaning  one 
of  my  soft  silk  handker- 
chiefs. Finally  somebody 
brought  up  an  old  chief 
who  was  willing  to  have 
rovided  I  would  pay  him 
something  for  it.  He  shook  hands,  and  seem- 
ed real  glad  to  see  me,  and  he  conversed  quite 
freely— that  is,  to  the  extent  of  his  vocabulary, 
which  seemed  limited  to  a  few  broken  common- 
place sentences.  As  he  looked  a  little  more 
respectable  than  the  rest  I  naturally  took  him 
to  be  the  chief  of  the  tribe;  and  when  I  asked 
if  I  might  take  his  picture  (touching  the  Kodak) 
he  assented  with  just  as  great  affability  and 
condescension.  But  he  immediately  put  out 
his  hand  for  the  pay  in  advance.  I  gave  him  a 
dime,  but  he  signified  that  that  was  hardly 
sufflcient  for  such  a  distinguisned  personage. 
He  did  not  say  "  Big  Injun  "  in  words,  but  his 
manner  put  it  with  great  emphasis.  Then  I 
gave  him  another  dime;  but  still  he  shook  his 
head.  Then  I  threw  in  a  nickel  more  to  make 
it  an  even  quarter.  But  when  he  found  that 
that  was  the  most  I  could  be  persuaded  to  give 
him  he  pulled  his  shawl  over  his  head  and  beat 


I 


1892 


(ILKAMNIJS  IN  HEE  CUI/rURI.:. 


70!» 


a  l\usty  rutrt'Ut  likt'   the  it>st,  leaving  me  witli 
mv  instninKMit  for  tho  ^)asst>llg('l•s  tn  lauRli  at. 

'riifir  houses  arc  ot  the  rudest  and  most, 
primitive  deseriptlon.  Many  of  them  can  not 
lie  entered  in  a  standing:  posture.  Most  of  tiiem 
are  eovered  with  weetls  and  tlien  witli  ehiy.  1 
iiittMideti  to  tret  a  view  of  some  of  tliese  Indian 
dweiliniis.  The  buildinsis  you  S(>e  above  tiie 
heads  of  tiie  i>iH)ph'  are  some  iielongiuff  to  the 
raih'oad  company.  All  tiie  rest  are  rude  iiuts 
witiiout  even  a  window,  and  nmny  times  notii- 
insr  in  the  shape  of  a  door  tint  a  piece  of  burhv|) 
or  some  old  sacl<  hung  over  the  o|)ening.  At 
Maricopa  Station,  where  we  changcHl  cars  for 
Tempe.  th'^  coudilion  of  things  is  sominvhal 
improved:  but  all  the  towns  along  here  are 
mostly  nothing  but  railway  stations  in  the 
midstof  the  desert.  So  little  attemjit  has  1)een 
luade  at  agriculture,  that  nothing  like  a  d(>cenl 
home  is  to  be  seen.  asid(^  from  the  hotel  and  the 
station.  Some  atti'uipts  have  been  made  in  the 
way  of  agriculture  and  farming  between  Mafi- 
ct)pa  and  Tempe;  yet.  so  fur  as  I  could  see,  the 
most  of  such  ventures  have  been  abandoned 
until  we  arrive  at  Tempe.  Here  we  begin  to 
see  iuil(>s  of  irrigated  and  fertile  fields  covered 
with  alfalfa  and  ditlerent  kinds  of  grain.  Of 
this  I  will  tell  you  more  in  my  next. 


Funds  received  for  India  famine  sufferers  now 
amount  to  ?;21.00. 

We  are  pleased  to  learn  that  Bro.  Newman's 
health  is  better.  We  hope  that,  with  his  les- 
sened responsibilities,  his  health  will  continue 
to  improve.  

Thk  Progressive  Bee-keeper  says  that  four 
horizontal  wiies  on  medium  brood  foundation 
for  L.  frames  is  a  grand  success  in  their  apiary, 
.lust  our  experience  exactly.  Bro.  Quigley. 

Referring  to  the  article  in  another  column 
on  honey  analysis,  Prof.  Cook  writes,  after 
having  seen  a  proof  of  our  footnote,  as  follows; 

Tlic  txpciise  is  borne  l)y  our  Agricultural  Collefac, 
Kentucky  Experiment  Station,  and  Departiiicnl  of 
Agriculture.  Please  add,  that  we  are  not  throug-li 
yet.  We  shall  go  clear  to  the  bottom,  so  we  sliall 
))ositively  know  all  the  truth.  We  mu.st  analyze 
many  more  samples.  A.  J.  Cook. 

Agricultural  College,  Mich.,  Sept.  12. 


"  SuPER-CLEAKEKs"  in  England  is  the  name 
used  to  designate  what  we  call  in  this  country 
•'bee-escapes."  Perhaps  the  former  is  the 
more  accurate  term;  but  then,  bee-e.scapes  are 
used  not  only  for  ridding  bees  from  the  supers, 
but  also  from  buildings,  when  attached  to  win- 
dows or  doors.  Reports  are  now  coming  in  to 
the  Britl'<h  Bee  JoiiriKti.  showing  that  super- 
clearers  are  giving  excellent  results. 

Reports  regarding  Punic  for,  rather,  Tunisi- 
an) bees  are  now  coming  in  quite  freely  through 
the  bee-journals.  Outside  of  the  statements  of 
those  who  breed  them,  with  perhaps  one  and 
possibly  two  exceptions,  the  reports  show  that 
the  new  race  is  decidedly  undesirable.  While 
they  are,  in  some  cases,  admitted  to  be  good 
workers,  there  seems  to  be  a  general  agreement 
that  they  are  cross,  and  bad  propolizers.  In- 
deed, a  correspondent  in  the  American  Bee 
Journnl  says,  "They  are  the  worst  bees  I  ever 
saw." 


We  have  just  been  informed  that  a  certain 
commission  house  in  the  east  refu.sed  to  give 
full  price  for  tirst-class  white  comb  honey,  sim- 
ply because  the  shi|)ping-cases  which  contain- 
ed it  were  made  of  crcdini'ohircil  basswood  in- 
stead of  lolntc.  This  is  decidr-dly  preposterous 
and  unjust.  It  looks  as  if  the  house  were  try- 
ing to  beat  th(!  bee-keeper  out  of  his  just  dues. 

Thk  American  Bee  Journal  has  just  incor- 
porated in  its  columns  a  new  department,  called 
"In  the  Suni;y  South."  It  is  to  be  conducted 
by  Mrs.  .Jennie  Atchley.  of  Floyd.  Tex.,  a  well- 
known  writer  ami  (|ueen-l)reeder.  The  lirst  in- 
stallment, beginning  with  the  Sept.  1st  number, 
is  good,  and  nodoul)twill  maintain  its  initial 
standard  of  excel lenct;.  It's  a  good  scheme, 
Bro.  York,  especially  for  the  far-south  readers. 

We  call  special  attention  to  the  leading  arti- 
cle, by  Prof.  Cook,  in  this  issue,  on  honi'y  adul- 
teration and  its  analyses.  It  givers  us  "strong 
hope  that  wc  may  be  able  to  ferret  out  and  lo- 
cate honey  adult(!rations,  punish  the  guilty 
parties,  and  thus  at  last  put  an  end  to  a  prac- 
tice that,  we  fear,  is  getting  to  be  too  common. 
The  fact  is.  the  mixers  have  been  hiding  behind 
tiie  impression  that  glucose  could  not  be  detected 
by  analysis  or  taste;  but  it  looks  now  as  if  they 
could  do  so  no  more. 


Here  is  another  of  the  many  evidences  of  the 
good  work  of  the  Bee-keeper.-'  Union.  We  ex- 
tract the  following  from  the  latest  issue  of  the 
American  Bee  Jonrnal: 

Jolm  Foulkes,  near  Dubuque,  Iowa,  sued  liis  two 
neighbors  wlio  kept  bees,  demanding  temporary  in- 
.iunctioiis.  compelling  the  owners  to  remove  the 
bees.  As  they  were  members  of  the  Union,  the  Gen- 
ei'al  Manager  took  charge  of  the  case.  Tlie  result  is, 
that  Judge  Leuehan  refused  to  grant  the  injunc- 
tion, because  it  would  "interfere  with  a  business 
which  the  courts  recognize  as  legal." 


A  NEW  or  old   bee-keepers'  UNION. 

A  new  bee-keepers'  union,  or  the  old  one  with 
a  modified  constitution,  is  a  proper  topic  for  dis- 
cussion. It  is  opened  by  General  Manager 
Newman,  in  another  coluinn.  We  talked  with 
a  number  of  bee-keepers  at  Detroit,  and  the 
impression  seemed  to  be  that  the  old  union 
should  not  be  meddled  with.  On  the  other 
hand,  it  is  urged  that  the  old  union  is  in  splen- 
did working  order,  and  can,  with  a  very  slight 
modification  of  the  constitution,  be  niade  to 
prosecute  adulterators.  It  seems  to  us  it  would 
be  more  economical  to  have  one  union,  the 
ofifice  of  which  should  be  to  defend  bee-keepers 
from  unjust  persecution  on  the  part  of  ignorant 
neighbors,  and  at  the  same  time  help  them 
prosecute;  and  put  down  adulteration.  Oeneral 
Manager  Newman  should  be  retained,  but 
he  should  have  competent  as.sistance. 

GOLDEN-YELI.cnV   OH   GENTLE   BEES. 

Our  golden-yellow  bees  are  not  proving  to  be 
as  gentle  as  our  leather-colored  stock  from  im- 
ported mothers.  As  there  seemed  to  be  a  rage 
this  season  for  yellow  bees  we  began  producing 
them.  We  are  now  getting  complaints  that  the 
temper  of  the  bees  is  not  of  the  good  quality  of 
the  queens  we  s(!nl  out  a  year  or  so  ago;  and 
yet  if  we  send  out  those  same  queens  again,  we 
shall  be.  as  we  hav(!  been  in  the  past,  roundly 
abused  because  the  iiueens  themselves  are  not 
golden  yellow.  Which  horn  of  the  dilemma 
shall  we  take?  If  our  advice  is  asked  we  rec- 
ommend bees  that  an;  gentle  and  good  workers, 
without  reference  to  the  golden  yellow.  We 
can  produce  one  kind  of  bees  just  as  well  as 
any  other,  and  are  willing  to  supply  to  the 
trade  what  it  calls  for;  and  that  is  iust  what 
every  queen-breeder  is  willing  and  able  to  do. 


no 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  15. 


A   SUGGESTIOXrTO   QUEEN-BREEDERS. 

Three  and  five  banded  queens  are  now  being 
advertised  quite  extensively,  both  being  listed 
at  the  same  price.  The  prolDabilities  are  that 
the  so-called  five-banded  queens,  if  untested, 
will  show  in  their  workers  three  and  not  more 
than  four  bands — the  five-banded  bee  being  the 
exception.  Is  it  not  a  misnomer  to  call  queens 
three  and  five  banded?  It  is  not  the  queens. 
but  the  hees  they  produce,  that  are  supposed  to 
bear  the  three  and  five  bands.  The  reason  we 
speak  of  it  is  because  we  have  one  quite  serious 
complaint  from  a  customer  who  had  sent  for  a 
five-banded  queen  from  one  of  our  advertisers, 
and  received  a  queen  that  was  not  banded  at 
all.  We  tried  to  explain  the  matter  to  him, 
saying  that  the  name  applied,  not  to  the  queen, 
but  to  the  bees.  But  the  customer  would  not 
be  satisfied,  and  blamed  us  for  accepting  adver- 
tisements that  do  not  read  as  they  mean. 


THE    DETROIT    EXPOSITION,    AND    OUR     OPINION 
OF   THE   HONEY   DISPLAY. 

In  our  bicycle  tour  we  did  not  go  very  far 
into  the  heart  of  Michigan — that  is,  no  further 
than  Detroit.  We  there  had  the  pleasure  of 
meeting  a  number  of  prominent  bee-keepers — 
W.  Z.  Hutchinson,  of  the  Revietv;  M.  H.  Hunt, 
of  Bell  Branch,  near  Detroit;  H.  D.  Cutting,  of 
Clinton.  Superintendent  of  the  Honey  Depart- 
ment; J.  H.  Larrabee,  of  Lansing;  the  Boyden 
Bros.,  J.  H.  and  A.  L.,  of  Saline,  Mich.;  and 
last,  but  not  least.  Dr.  A.  B.  Mason,  of  Auburn- 
dale,  O.,  who  followed  us  the  next  day  after  our 
arrival.  We  believe  we  have  often  said  that 
the  best  thing  about  conventions,  for  us,  is  the 
"  between-session  "  feature,  when  there  is  an 
opportunity  for  visiting  with  bee-keepers  face 
to  face.  This  was  one  of  the  pleasures  we  had 
at  the  exposition,  around  the  honey  department. 

The  honey  exhibits  were  something  unusually 
fine.  That  of  M.  H.  Hunt  was  not  only  exten- 
sive but  unique.  It  would  be  simply  impossible 
to  give  any  adequate  description  of  this  or  the 
other  exhibits.  The  novel  feature  of  Mr. 
Hunt's  display  was  a  booth,  set  off  with  sheets 
of  beautiful  foundation,  cakes  of  wax,  and  cases 
of  honey.  The  booth  proper  covered  a  floor 
space  of  8x32  feet,  and  was  14  feet  high  at  the 
archway,  and  the  entire  exhibit  comprised  the 
length  of  64  feet.  The  floor  of  the  booth  was 
nicely  carpeted,  and  there  were  such  things  as 
a  lounge,  easy-chairs,  and  other  conveniences 
of  the  home.  After  our  bicycle-tour  of  some  75 
miles  in  the  last  few  hours,  the  aforesaid  lounge 
was  highly  acceptable.  We  were  covered  with 
dust,  and  our  knickerbockers  were  torn  quite 
badly  as  the  result  of  a  fracas  with  a  dog.  Mr. 
Hunt  kindly  dusted  us  off,  and,  later  in  the 
day,  showed  himself  to  be  quite  an  adept  with 
the  needle  and  thread — articles  which  brother 
Hutchinson  kindly  furnished.  Our  suit  was  of 
a  dark  blue,  and  the  thread  white;  but  Mr. 
Hunt  skillfully  concealed  the  white  stitches. 

The  honey  exhibits  of  Mr.  Hutchinson  and  of 
the  Boyden  Bros,  were  also  beautiful  and  unique 
in  their  way;  and  Mr.  Larrabee,  the  judge,  had 
a  hard  task  before  him — one  which  we  did  not 
envy  him  at  all.  There  were  but  few  exhibits 
at  the  exposition  that  excelled  in  beauty  of  de- 
sign, and  in  size,  the  exhibits  of  honey,  as  a 
whole:  and  the  educational  effect  must  be 
tremendous  in  the  State  of  Michigan.  It  is  a 
pity  that  other  States  as  a  rule  do  not  do  as 
well. 

There,  now,  we  have  given  the  first  and  the 
last  part  of  our  bicycle-tour.  We  were  afraid 
that,  if  we  omitted  to  tell  of  the  Detroit  exposi- 
tion, the  matter  might  become  a  little  too  stale 
for  our  next  issue. 


NEW  KIND  OF   BATTERY  FOR   IMBEDDING  WIRES: 
DESCRIPTION   BY  RICHARD  M.  LEWIS. 

Some  time  ago  we  received  a  short  letter  and 
a  drawing,  descriptive  of  a  new  kind  of  battery 
for  imbedding  wires  into  foundation.  As  its 
form  seemed  to  be  simple,  and  cost  of  main- 
tenance small,  we  wrote  to  the  writer,  asking 
for  a  descriptive  article  for  Gleanings,  at  the 
same  time  furnishing  a  print  of  an  engraving 
we  had  made.    The  following  is  his  reply: 

Mr.  Rixit: — Tour  letter  of  the  second  inst.  was 
duly  received.  The  eng-raving-  of  the  battery  is 
excellent.  This  battery  is  adapted  either  for  open 
or  closed  circuit  work,  and  will  not  i-equire  replen- 
ishing- for  several  months,  as  there  is  no  action 
except  wlien  the  current  is  turned  on.  It  has  been 
used  successfully  in  electro-platinfj:  and  electric 
lighting-  on  a  small  scale.  The  cell,  or  jar,  being 
made  of  cast  iron,  serves  as  one  of  the  plates  of  the 
battery.  It  is  much  heavier  than  the  glass  cell, 
which  is  compensated  for  by  its  non-liability  to 
breakage. 

Referring-  to  tlie  cut,  I  calculated  to  have  tlie 
parts  come  in  numerical  order,  but  notice  that  No. 
7  has  been  omitted,  therefore  I  will  apjily  No.  7  to 
the  iron  jar.  No.  1  is  a  saturated  solution  of  caustic 
potash,  nearly  tilling-  tlie  jar,  and  completely  cover- 
ing No.  2.  No.  2  is  the  zinc  element,  formed  of  a 
plate  bent  spirally.  No.  3  is  a  small  tube  of  liard 
rubber,  or  a  goose-quill  would  answer,  for  vent  for 
accumulating  gases.  No.  4  is  a  cork,  preferably  of 
rubber.  An  ordinary  cork  will  answer,  but  the 
acids  are  likely  to,eat  it  away  in  time.  No.  7  is  the 
iron  jar  (but  not  numbered  in  cut).    No.  6  is  a  brass 


NEW  BATTERY  K(  )K  IMBKDDI.XG    FOUNDATION-WIRES. 

rod  resting-  on  the  zinc  element  (No.  2),  acting  as  a 
conductor.  Parts  not  numbered  are  the  lug- shown 
on  jar,  with  thumbscrew  inserted,  and  is  a  con- 
ductor from  the  iron  element.  In  the  bottom  of 
the  jar  is  a  tliin  layer  of  black  o.xide  of  copper.  No. 
.5.    I  think  this  takes  in  all  the  parts. 

Now  in  regard  to  this  being  a  constant  battery, 
as  you  term  it.  Of  course,  it  will  lose  its  strength 
to  some  extent  with  very  hard  usag-e;  that  is  to  say, 
by  using  it  to  its  full  capacitj-;  but  it  will  recuper- 
ate its  strength  by  gi^^ng  it  a  rest.  In  regard  to 
the  cost  of  maintenance  as  compared  ^vith  the 
bichromate  battery,  I  will  say  that,  after  once 
charging,  it  will  not  require  replenishing  for  sev- 
eral montlis,  with  ordinary  usage.  A  battery  of 
this  description,  made  on  a  large  scale,  say  nine  to 
ten  inches  in  diameter,  will  yield  a  current  of  8 
amperes,  while  the  smaller  one,  same  as  cut,  yields 
two.  The  E.  M .  F.  is  one  volt.  It  is  not  necessary 
to  amalganiate  the  zincs  in  this  class  of  battery. 

It  is  my  o])iiii()n,  tliat  this  battei-y  will  answer  the 
purpose  of  tlif  bee-keeper  for  imbedding  wires,  and 
be  much  handier  and  more  cleanly  than  the  plung- 
ing- battery,  as  it  is  not  necessary  to  remove  the 
zinc  from  the  solution  each  time  after  using  it,  and 


18*.»'J 


(;i>F]ANIN(iS  IN  I5BE  CULTURE. 


it  ill)!'-,  not  roiiniif  rc|>li'ni>liiim-  .is  nfini.  noi-  is  it  sn 
liable  tu  bfi'nka«f.  I'lilikc  t  ho  hichfomali"  battciy, 
this  I'aii  lu'  sliipix'd  i-oiii|)l»"li';  in  fiicl.  it  can  be 
shippiHl  siM  tip  icikIv  fur  use.  with  I  hr  o.vcplion  of 
satiiratliijf  tin- potash.  It  may  cost  a  t  fllU"  more  in 
till'  stai-t.  wliicli.  as  bcfoii'  stated,  is  (•oiiipciisatfd 
for  by  its  lon.ucr  life,  (•k'Uiiliiu'ss,  and  los.s  liability 
to  bivaka^'«>. 

Ry  tin-  way,  liaM'  >()ii  ovi'r  triod  using-  a  spark 
roil;-  If  yoti  have  any  IroniiU"  ill  frettinjr  thf  wiri' 
liot  .'iiotivh.  1  tliink  this  would  holp  yon  out.  Had 
1  not  boiMi  so  very  busy  for  the  past  two  or  lliroc 
inonlhs  1  should  lia\i'  ti'sti'd  tlie  ri-lative  inciitsof 
tlu"  two  battcrios,  and  also  of  the  spark  coil  in  llic 
wir<-imbtHidiiiir  (iiiostioii.  Our  wires  have  all  been 
ImViedded  with  a  piilty-kiiite. 

Omaha,  Neb..  Auji.  10.  Ricn.VRU  M.  Lkwis. 

[It  is  ttx)  lato  this  soason  to  use  any  battery 
for  imbedding  wire.'*  into  foundation;  but  we 
liope  to  test  this  another  year,  and  will  then 
report  on  the  result.  One  great  trouble  willi 
the  bichromate-potash  batteries  is,  that  the 
solution  gives  out— tliat  is,  it  seems  to  lose  its 
strength  in  a  very  short  time,  and  must  there- 
fore be  renewed.  If  there  should  be  a  call  for 
such  a  battery,  we  can  make  the  necessary  ar- 
rangiMneius  to  supply  them.] 


Special  Notices. 


DISCOUNTS    FOR  EARLY  ORDERS. 

We  call  the  attention  of  our  customers  to  the 
fact  tluit.  on  such  g'oods  as  you  find  on  pages  10  to 
:30  of  our  price  list  th;it  you  buy  for  next  season's 
use  between  now  and  Dec.  1,  a  discount  of  .5  per 
cent  may  be  deducted.  This  applies  to  goods  of  our 
manufacture  only,  which  are  found  l)etween  pages 
mentioned.  

DAMAGED  BOOKS  BELOW  COST. 

Owing  to  a  leak  in  the  water-tank  in  the  tower 
above  our  vault,  the  walls  became  damp,  and  a  few 
co|)ies  of  our  paper-l)ound  eililion  of  the  Christian's 
Secret  of  a  Hajipy  Life  area  little  soiled  by  mold. 
We  offer  them  by  mail  postjiaid  for  15  cts.  each;  or 
by  express  or  freight  with  other  goods,  singly  or  in 
quantities,  at  10  cts.  each;  reguhir  price.  25  cts. 


LAWN-MOWERS. 

A  month  ago  we  offered  lawn-mowers  at  reduced 
prices,  to  work  dtjwai  our  stock  rather  than  carrj'  it 
over  to  another  season.  A  good  many  have  taken 
advantage  of  tlie  offer;  and  one  size,  tlie  18-inch 
Globe,  are  all  gone  We  still  have  plenty  of  the  10 
and  12  inch,  and  two  each  of  14  and  16  inch.  The 
prices  we  offered  then  are  as  follows: 

10-inch  Young  America $.'^.00 

12-inch  "  "        3..5II 

10-inch  Globe 3.75 

12-inch       "      4.(H) 

14-incb       "       4.30 

16-lnch       "     4.V5 

Above  prices  are  very  nearlj-  cost,  and  available 
as  long  as  the  stock  lasts. 

STANLEY  HONEY-EXTRACTORS. 

Last  spring  we  acquired  the  riglit  to  make  these 
machines,  and  at  the  same  time  we  bought  what 
stock  Mr.  Newcomb  had  on  hand.  We  have  offered 
these  at  25  per  cent  off  the  regular  prices,  in  the 
hope  of  working  them  off  to  give  us  a  chance  to 
make  some  ourselves.  Quite  a  few  have  been  sold, 
but  we  still  have  five  or  six  two-frame  machines, 
and  ten  or  twelve  four-frame,  with  crank  directly 
on  the  shaft,  and  no  gear.  The  prices  at  which 
these  have  sold  was  $12.00  for  tiie  two-frame  and 
S20.00  for  the  four-frame;  .^s.on  extra  for  the  li«n-i- 
zontal  gear.  We  are  still  desirous  of  closing  out 
this  stock;  and  as  a  further  inducement  we  will  sell 
the  two-frame  for  18.00,  and  tlie  four-frame  for 
$12.00— almost  half  price.  We  will  put  on  our  bevel 
gear,  3  to  1,  for  ^3.00  each  extra.  If  anybody  is  in 
want  of  one  of  these  macliines  he  will  never  have  a 
better  chance  to  buj' one  cheap.  We  bought  them 
low,  and  can  afford  to  .sell  them  as  above  rather 
than  to  keep  them  over  till  another  season.  Re- 
member, this  price  la.sts  only  as  long  as  the  old 


stock  lasts;  for  when  we  have  to  make   tlieni    new 
we  must  charge  full  list  jirice. 

Sl,l|AHK   CA.NS    KOH    EXTIIACTr.D    IIONEV. 

I  believe  bee-keepers  generally  are  learning  more 
and  more  the  advantage  of  putting  up  extracted 
honey  lor  shipment  in  these  square  cans.  Honey 
in  s(inare  cans  handles  mui-h  more  Satisfactorily 
than  in  any  other  package,  according  to  our  expe- 
rience. We  are  jiicpared  to  furnish  you  the  square 
cans,  f.  o.  I),  at  C'onneani,  Ohio,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  or 
from  here,  at  the  following  prices: 

Two  five  gal.  cans,  boxed  with  li4-inch  screws 
each,  V5c;  10,  *7.(i0;  100,  $65.IX». 

Two  llve-gal.  cans,  boxed  with  \}i  and  4  in.  screws 
each,  8.5c;  10,  *S.0O;  lOO,  $75.00. 

One  flve-gal.  can,  boxed  with  IX-inch  screws 
each,  4.5c;  10,  $4.20;  100,  $40.00. 

One  Hve-gal.  can.  boxed  with  IX  and  4  inch  screws, 
each,  .50c;  10.  $4  70;  hlO.  $45.fX). 

Ten  one-gal.  cans,  boxed  with  screws,  each,  $1..50: 
10.  $14.00;   100,  $130.00. 

One  hundred  one-gal.  cans  in  one  box,  $12.00. 

NEW  HONEY-.JARS. 

We    have  added  to  our 

stock  of  glass  ja.rs  for  ex- 
tiiicled  honey  the  one 
shown  adjoining.  It  is 
straight  up  and  down,  with 
a  tin  screw  top,  with  open- 
ing in  the  top  nearly  the 
full  size  of  ,iar,  making  it 
easy  to  take  out  candied 
honey.  The  top  edge  is 
ground  so  that  they  can  be 
sealefl  with  a  rubber  band 
if  desired.  There  are  si,x 
sizes  made,  but  we  keep 
only  two— No.  200,  holding 
1  11).  of  honey,  as  shown, 
and  No.  5()0,  same  diameter, 
I  wiceaslong,  liolding  3  lbs. 
I'lices,  without  rubber 
lings,  will  be  as  follows: 
No.  200,  holding  1-lb.,  7c 
«■""""—-- each;  60c   for  10;  $7.00  per 

bbl.  of  12  doz.    No.  5(10,  holding  2  lbs.,  12c  each  ;  $1.00 

for  10;  $6..50  per  bbl.  of  7  doz. 


PRICE  LIST  OF  JONES    LITHOGRAPH    LABELS. 

25  per  cent  reduction  for  60  days  from  the  follow- 
ing: 


1  Size  in 

Price, 

Postage  iPrlnt'gr  Add's 

Name-of  Label.       |  Inches. 

100 

1000 

100 
.12 

1000 
1.20 

1000 
1  00 

500  250 
75    50 

100 

5-Ib.  Jones  Lithogr'h.'e?^:  x  U 

1  00 

9.50 

,S0 

2)4  ditto                          \Zy,  X  14 

.60 

,>>  t>0 

6 

Wl 

1  00 

75 

.50 

.•w 

1     ditto  light.                4Mx   9J<J 

..'.II 

4. IK) 

4 

.35 

t  00 

76 

.50 

ai 

1     ditto  darker.           i%  x   9y, 

60 

4  (HI 

4 

.•<5 

1  00 

75 

50 

30 

K  ditto.                          iVs-x.   %% 

.2.T 

2.00 

.:! 

,28 

90 

75 

60 

.so 

K  ditto.                        2     -x.   lYi 

.•& 

2  (K) 

,.s 

.25 

,90 

75 

60 

30 

K  ditto.                        11^  X   5M 

I."! 

1.00 

2 

IS 

90 

76 

60 

30 

E  ditto.                            2K  X  16 

M 

4  M 

4 

;;6 

F  ditto.                            2Mxl6 

U\ 

4  .M) 

4 

36 

G  ditto.                            2^  X  IVA 

m 

f)  (K) 

.42 

1.00 

75 

60 

30 

H  ditto.                           \iX  x  13K 

,=..5 

5.00 

5 

.42 

I  ditto.                             3^  X  U 

,60 

6.50'     6 

52 

1  00 

76 

.50 

30 

J  ditto.                            2%  X  16 

60 

5.50    .6 

f.2 

Abbott  Oval  Lith'ph.  2%  x   2% 

.30 

2.00 

In  order  to  work  down  our  stock  of  these  labels 
we  offer  a  reduction  of  25  per  cent  from  above 
prices  for  the  ne.\l  60  days,  or  as  long  as  stock  la.sts. 
We  have  Ihe  l.argest  stock  of  the  1-lb.  light  and  dark, 
and  they  are  a  very  good  size  for  tin  pails  of  almost 
any  size. 

Those  of  you  who  have  never  seen  these  labels 
can  form  little  idea  how  handsome  they  are;  and 
that  you  may  .see  them  without  much  expense  we 
will  put  up  a  sample  package  of  1  of  eacii  kind,  with 
one  dozen  of  the  last  named,  and  mail  postpaid  for 
ten  cents.  Eight  of  the  above  may  be  divided  into  2 
and  3  labels  each,  so  that  you  can  get  a  small  lot 
(over  30*  of  handsome  lithograph  labels,  no  two 
alike,  for  only  ten  cents.  These  sample  i)ackages 
w(juld  be  very  good  for  labeling  a  small  fair 
exhibit.  They  would  at  least  add  variety.  We 
can  not,  of  course;,  print  your  name  and  address  on 
the  sample  package  or  any  number  less  than  100, 
and  those  opposite  which  we  give  no  price  for 
printing,  have  no  blank  place  for  such  printing, 
and  hence  can  not  be  printed.  All  the  above  are 
ungummed.  You  can  not  get  lithograph  or  many- 
colored  labels  on  gummed  paper. 


712 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  15. 


ONE-PIECE   SECTIONS. 


We  don't  propose  to  be  behind  in  the  race  to  fur- 
nish the  best  section  honey-boxes  at  the  lowest 
cost.  We  are  at  work  on  macliines  by  which  we 
hope  to  not  only  reduce  the  cost  of  manufacturing- 
but  also  to  make  them  all  exactly  uniform,  We 
have  been  studying  on  this  for  some  time,  and  will 
reserve  further  mention  till  we  attain  its  full  real- 
ization. In  the  meantime  we  have  toward  two  mil- 
lions of  sections  of  different  widths  and  g-rades  on 
hand;  and  in  order  to  work  down  this  stock  we  will 
make  special  low  prices  on  application.  The  most 
of  these  sections  are  unsurpassed  in  color  and  work- 
manship. We  have  the  largest  stock  of  7-to-foot 
and  IJi'-inch,  on  which  we  will  make  extra  induce- 
ments. We  have  also  a  large  supply  of  i;i  and  1?8 
cream,  which  we  will  sell  at  or  below  cost.  Write 
for  terms  before  placing  any  contract. 


MARKET-GARDENING  FOR    THE    MIDDLE  OF  SEPTEM- 
BER. 

Now  is  the  time  to  put  out  spinach  for  fall,  win- 
ter, and  spring  use.  We  want  to  have  it  get  just  as 
large  as  possible  before  winter  sets  in,  and  not 
shoot  up  to  seed.  As  we  do  not  know  what  tlie 
weather  will  be,  I  would  recommend  two  sowings — 
say  one  the  15th  and  another  ten  or  fifteen  days 
later.  If  you  exjiect  to  make  any  money  on  spin- 
ach, you  want  your  gnnmd  exceedingly  rich,  and 
rich  away  down  deep;  then  you  will  get  leaves  as 
large  as  small  cabbiige-leaves.  In  this  way  we  get 
spinach  that  sold  for  1.5  cts  per  11).  two  years  ago, 
in  the  month  of  November.  This  is  also  the  time 
to  sow  cabbage-seed  to  get  plants  for  wintering 
over  in  cold-frames;  but  for  the  reason  given 
above  I  think  you  had  better  also  make  two  sowings 
of  tlie  cabbage-seed.  And  this  is  just  the  time,  also, 
for  planting  winter  onions,  if  you  have  ground  just 
cleared  ntt  tli;it  c;in  be  spared  for  them. 

We  are  pleased  to  tell  our  friends  that  we  have 
finally  obtained  the  American  Pearl  onion-sfte— at 
least,  we  have  just  received  one  barrel  of  them. 
Price  25  cts.  per  quart;  $1.75  per  peck;  $6.00  per 
bushel.  It  wanted  by  mail,  add  10  cts.  per  quart 
extra.  Tiie  seed  is  not  j^et  received,  but  I  do  not  be- 
lieve it  will  pay  anybody  to  sow  the  Keeel  in  tlie  fall. 

I  believe  there  is  no  Jersey  Wakefield  cabbage- 
plant  in  the  world  that  surpasses  our  strain,  raised 
by  H.  A.  March.  Price  20  cts.  per  oz.;  $2.50  per  lb. 
If  wanted  by  mail,  add  at  the  rate  of  9  cts.  per  lb. 
for  postage.  VV^e  are  testing  all  the  different  vari- 
eties of  spinach,  and  at  present  we  give  the  prefer- 
ence to  the  Bloomsdale  Extra  Cuiled.  Oz.,  5cts. ; 
lb.,  25  cts.;  5  lbs.,  $1.(W.  If  wanted  by  mail,  add  as 
above  for  postage.  If  you  have  a  market-  for  let- 
tuce during  Thanksgiving  and  Christmas,  now  is  the 
time  to  be  working  at  it.  You  will  have  to  have 
glass,  however,  to  grow  it  in  tlie  open  ground  fit  for 
Christmas.  Notliing  that  I  know  of  equals  the 
Grand  Rapids  for  this  purpose.  Price,  oz.,  2J  cts.; 
lb.,  $2.25.  Perhaps  I  may  say  we  have  tried  planting 
sets  of  other  kinds  of  onions,  in  Sejitember,  but 
have  had  no  success  worth  mentioning  with  any 
thing  but  the  American  Pearl.  Of  course,  the 
Egyptian  winter  onion-sets  always  succeed  every- 
where. Of  these  latter  we  have  quite  a  stock  on 
hand,  on  which  we  will  make  the  following  low 
prices  for  immediate  orders:  10  cts.  per  quart;  65 
cts.  per  peck;  1^2.'  5  pet-  busliel.  If  wanted  by  mail, 
add  10  cts.  per  quart  for  postage. 

Strawbeiiy-plant.s,  we  are  sending  out  both  by 
mail  and  t  xpress  every  day.  We  judge  from  this 
tliar  oui-  friends  succeed  as  we  do  In  planting  them 
out  in  Septemlier  Have  your  gi'ouiid  rich;  till  the 
hole,  where  you  put  the  plant,  witli  water,  at.  the 
time  of  planting,  then  pull  some  di'y  earth  around 
the  plant  to  prevent  the  soil  from  baking,  and  we 
think  you  will  have  no  tremble  in  getting  them  to 
grow  so  as  to  stand  the  winter.  For  prices,  see 
page  632  of  our  issue  for  August  15. 


PURE   ITALIAN  QUEENS. 

Untested,  70c  each;  3  for  $1.75;    6  or  more,   50c 
each.    Tested  queens,  $1.00  each.  14tfdb 

D.  G.  EDMISTON,  Adrian,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich. 

SAVE  MONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 


Qv^EEnsv 


A  few  fine  queens  of  5- 
banded  variety,  75  cents 
eacli;  tlirce,  $2.00. 

J.  F.  MICHAEL,  German,  Darke  Co.,  Ohio. 


A  1<L  who  wish  my  Restrictor  books  should  address 
■"■  C.  W.  Dayton,  Berthoud,  Col.,  and  not  Clinton, 
Wis.  The  first  edition  is  all  gone,  but  I  will  print 
another  edition  as  soon  as  the  honey  harvest  is  over, 
and  mail  one  to  all  appplicants. 

C.  W.  DAYTON,  Berthoud,  Larimer  Co.,  Colo. 
In  writing  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper. 

Onn  FERRETS,  and  a   fine 

%»         Oyjyf  lot     of     Scotch     Oollie 

'^'"'^^^  Pups  for  sale.    Price  list  free. 
^1     Address    N.  A.  KNAPP, 
^F"         Rochester,  Lorain  Co., 
'      IStfdb  Ohio. 

Harvest 

EXGUPsions 


-WILL  BE   RUN   ON- 


Sept.   27th    and  Oct.   25th, 

—TO  THE— 

Peeos  Valley 

The  ppuit    Belt   of   fiexxx    |V[exieo. 

Tickets  maybe  bought  at  any  important  railway 
station,  in  the  Northern  or  Eastern  States,  to 

EDDY,  l^EW   MEXICO, 

and  return— good  twenty  days— at 

One  pare  fop  the   ^ound  Tfip. 

Don't  miss  this  opportunity  to  see  the  ricliest 
and  most  fertile  ■valley,  and  the  most  complete 
and  elaborate  system  of  Irrigating  Canals  in  the 
United  States.    For  iiarticulars,  address 

G.O.  SHlELiDS,  Eddy,  ^em  JVIexieo 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


Black  and  Hybrid  Oueens  For  Saie. 

For  the  benetit  of  friends  who  have  black  or  hybrid  queens 
whic>i  they  wish  to  dispose  ol.  we  will  insert  notices  free  of 
charge,  as  "below.  We  do  this  because  there  is  hardly  value 
enough  in  these  queens  to  pay  for  buying  them  up  and  keep- 
ing them  in  stock ;  and  yet  it  is  oftentimes  quite  an  accommo- 
dation to  those  who  can  not  atford  higher-priced  ones. 

1  have  10  hj'brid  queens  I  year  oM,  wings  clipped, 
good  prolific  ones,  25  cts.  each,  or  1(1  for  $2.00.    A  few 
mismated   Italians,  30  cts.  each,  or   four  for  $1.00. 
All  go'id  prolific  queens.    Safe  arrival  guaranteed. 
Joseph  Brinich,  Denison,  Westm'd  Co.,  Pa. 


Young"  hybrids  and  mismated  Italians  at  15  and  25 
cts.  each.  C.  G.  Fenn,  Washington,  Conn. 


I  have  some  hybrid  queens  of  this  year's  rai.sing 
for  sale,  at  25  cts.  each.  18-19d 

J.  H.  Johnson,  Middaghs,  Northam'n  Co.,  Pa. 

Hybrid  and  mismated  Italian  queens,  20  cts.  each. 
W.  W.  KULP,  Pottstown,  Pa. 


We  are  now  requeening  one  of  our  out-apiaries 
and  will  have  a  few  mismated  queens  to  sell  at  25c 
each.  Leininger  Bros.,  Fort  Jennings,  O. 


A  few  black  and  hybrid  queens  at  15c. 

Root  Bros.,  Reeds'  Cornei's,  N.  Y. 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


713 


5  Pev  Cent  Discount 
On  All  Goods 

r^istod  from  pages  U)  to  ^tO  of  our  prii'c  list,  whifh  air  oidcrcd  hcLwccii  now  and  Dec.  1st,  for 
iii'Xt  S(^;isoir<  use.  TU\<  dofs  not  apply  lo  tjoods  on  other  pamcs.  cxccipt  those  nuMitioiK^d. 
A  special  reduction  of  20  cents  on  eaeh  tujo-'stopy  ehaff  hive,  ordered 
for  a  limited  tim(>.  The  (|iiaiitity  and  early-order  discoiiiits  lo  apply  also.  Special  prices  quoted 
on  sections  in  lots  of  2000  and  upward.  Name  the  quantity  and  size  when  you  write.  We  guar- 
antee as  good  a  quality  for  the  price  as  you  can  obtain  anywhere.  Dealers  should  not  fail  to 
write  lis  before  making  coiiMacts  for  another  season's  supply.    We  offer  special  inducements. 

R.  I.  HOOT,  jVIcdina,  Ohio. 

Galvanlzed-Wire    Poultry-Netting    and    Fencing. 
The  Best  IVIade  at  tlie  Lowest  Price. 

We  handle  only  the  G.  &  U.  brand,  which  we  consider  tlie  best  made,  as  it  Is  made  of  wire  full}-  up  to 
jraujfe,  and  lias  tlirei^st  rand  twisted-wire  selvage,  while  other  makes  have  only  two.  We  have  secured  a 
carload  frmn  the  faetm  y.  :ii  a  siieciai  low  price,  wluch  we  are  able  to  sell  lower  than  you  can  buy  it  any- 
where else  of  ecjual  quality,  a'nd  lower 
than  we  have  ever  sold  it  before,  though 
we  have  been  getting  more  for  it  the  past 
two  years  than  we  did  in  1890.  This  car- 
load that  we  have  purchased  is  all  2-inch 
No.  19  netting,  the  sizegenoally  used  for 
poultry.  It  was  made  iieaily  a  year  ago, 
and  has  lost  some  of  the  bright  luster  of 
fresh  new  goods;  and  it  was  for  this  reason 
alone  that  we  bought  itlowe7-and  ai'e  able 
to  sell  it  cheaper.  It  is  guaianteed  equal 
in  every  respect  to  fresh  new  goods  of  the 
best  quality,  except  in  lustei',  which  prac- 
tically is  of  no  account,  because  tlie 
biightest  netting  becomes  dull  in  a  few 
weeks  after  being  put  up.  We  have  in 
stock  all  widths  from  13  iticiies  up  to  60, 
which  we  can  furnish  at  the  following 
prices.  *  All  shipments  must  be  made  from 
here.  We  can  not  ship  fiom  New  York  or 
Cliicago  at  these  i)rices;  but  as  we  are  able 
to  secure  through  rates  to  almost  all 
points  from  here,  the  freight  will  be  little 
^-inch  staples  for  below, 30c  per  lb.;  .5 lbs.  or  over.  16c  per  lb. 
10  rolls,  i          Rolls  150  ft.  hmg.  1  roll.    .5  rolls.    10 rolls. 

$  8  7.5      a-in.  No.  19.  30  inches  wide,    $2  90      $13  .50         $26  00 
13  00    i    "          "42  "  3  40       16  00  31  00 

17  .50        "          "        4S  "  3  75       17  .50  34  00 

Zi  00    I    "          "        60  "  4  75       ai  00  44  00 

The  lot  includes  over  60O  rolls,  most  of  wliieb  are  48  inches  wide,  the  usual  size  used.  This  price  will 
last  only  as  long  as  the  .stock  lasts.  You  will  do  well,  therefore  to  order  early.  The  above  pric'es  ai-e  less 
than  the  wholesale  quotations  to-day  on  netting  not  one  whit  better,  if  as  good.  If  you  want  other  sizes, 
or  shl])ment  from  New  York  or  Chicago,  write  for  our  special  30-i)age  netting  catalogue,  mailed  on  appli- 
'-•atiori. A.  1.   ROOT,   MEDINA,  OHIO. 

Reduction  in  Price  of  Chaff  Hives. 

The  hive  shown  in  adjoining  cut  has  been  a  mcjst  successful  one  with  a  great  many 
bee-keepers  through  Ohio,  Indiana  Illinois,  Iowa,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  even  as 
far  iioi-th  as  Michigan,  Wiscon.sin,  and  Minnesota.  We  have  wintered  l)ees  success- 
full.\-  ill  them  for  the  past  13  winters,  and  still  use  them  l)ecause  they  arc  still  good. 
Wliile  we  would  rather  handle  liees  in  the  new  Dovetailed  chaff  hives,  and  think  they 
will  winter  as  safeh  in  I  hem,  .\  el  the  old  chaff  liives  are  too  good  to  discard,  and  there 
are  many  bee-keepers  who  stiil  prefer  them  to  any  hive  made.  As  we  lia\e  an  overstock 
of  them,  we  propose,  in  ordci'  to  reduce  this  stock,  to  make  a  I'eduction  of  3(1  ets.  on  a  hive 
for  a  limit€!d  time  only.  A  bo.v  of  5  hives  in  the  flat,  without  furniture,  is  listed  at  $7.00; 
with  above  reduction,  the  price  will  be  $6.00.  The  s.ime  ipiantil  v  disrounts  will  apiily  as 
well  as  the  early-order  discount  of  5  per  cent.  From  the  prices  of  complete  hives,  page  34  of  our  catalogue, 
deduct  30  cts.  on  each  hive.  As  soon  as  (mr  stock  Is  reduced  enough  to  warrant,  this  reduction  will  be 
withdrawn,  so  we  advise  you  to  take  early  advantage  of  it  if  in  want  of  anv  of  tlie.se  hives. 

A.  1.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio. 


if  any  more  than  if  ship|)ed  from  either  city. 


Rolls  150  ft.  long. 
1.  No.  19.  12  inches  widt 

IS 

24 
••        30 


1  roll. 
$1  Oi) 

1  .511 

2  01) 
2  .50 


5  rolls. 

$  4  .50 


9  (10 
12  (JO 


/14 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Sept.  15. 


Bishop's  Oscillating  Road-Wagon,  pafd  March  24, 1891. 


Most   Durable  and  Easiest 

Riding  Wagon  on  the 

Market. 

An  oscillating  fifth  wheel  per- 
mits the  wheels  to  pass  over  an 
obstruction  15  inches  high  with-  *^ 
out   changing  the  level   of  the 
body. 


Body    hangs    3    inches    lower 
than  on  any  other  gear. 

Prices,  $40,  $45,  &  $50. 

With  white  chapel   body  and 
top,  SIO  and  .?20  extra. 

A.  B.  BISHOP, 

89  Euclid  Ave., 

Cleveland,  0. 


Write  for  catalogue.    Agents  wanted. 


letfdb 


Foundation  Reduced  3  cts.  Per  Pound. 

SECTIONS  I  sold  at  $3.00  now  selling-  at  $2.60.    Bingham  Smoliers  at  cost.     Send  for  Free  Price  List  of 
every  thing  needed  in  the  apiary.  6tfdb  M.  H.  HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


Dovetailed  Hives,  Simplicity  Hives, 

SE'Cr/O/VS,  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'    SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGE     CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


t^*ni  respoiiriiny  tc  tliis  af1virtj> 


it  inn  Ri.KANiXf 


ROOrS  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

Bear  In  Jvlind^^^^^^'^^^^'^*^^*^^'^^^^*^^^^^^^'^"^®^" Eastern  Branch 

where  our  Bee-keepers' Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and   prompt  shipment.    You  can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.     We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.    He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.   SALISBURY,   Agent,    Syracuse,   N.  Y. 


A  Grand  Success. 


Mew  Cowan  Reversible 

Honey-Extractor. 

May  be  Reversed  without  Stopping  the  Machine. 

Strong,  well  made  in  every  respect,  light,  and  of  conven- 
ient size.  The  can  is  but  little  larger  than  that  of  the 
Novice.  The  gear  is  beveled,  and  covered  by  an  iron  shield, 
and  the  crank  outside  the  can.  Frank  McNay,  of  Mauston, 
Wis.,  a  bee-keeper  who  produces  tons  and  tons  of  extracted 
honey, says  of  it: 

After  carefully  e.xamining  and  trying  the  Cowan  extractor,  I 
have  failed  to  find  a  weak  part,  and  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that 
it  is  the  best  extractor  made,  both  in  regard  to  convenience  and 
durability,  and  I  shall  replace  all  of  my  five  machines  with  the 
Cowan  as  soon  as  possible. 

It  is  indorsed  also  by  J.  F.  Mclntyre,  an  extensive  ex- 
tracted honey  producer  in  California;  by  W.  Z.  Hutchinson, 
Dr.  C.  C.  Miller,  and  others 

Price  all  Complete.  Japanned  and  Lettered,  for  L.  Frame,  $10. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio. 


A 


(iLKAMMiS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


(19 


Contents  of  this  Nunnber. 


lUis,  T..  Vi'iililiito Ti4 

Bw.<\vax .  Trying 734 

nu(r.stiii|fiii(r 73» 


Bur 


"34 


Hutterllies 734 

O.'mt.s  mid  Moths 73.> 

l>is.ii-r.  r.ciili.ir     7Sil 

l>riMkiiic^Vii,ii  Wiim   739 

l>r. 'Ill'  t'oiiih.  Cm ti  11(1 73'< 

Krncst  lU  Pr.  Miison's TCS 

llotTmiin  Kriime  Abend 7:vs 

H.>1  bi.l>,  Sicmn 741 

liiiiviise.  T«>  Pi-evcnt 7i"i 

lntr<iiiiioinfr 724 

Li  HU-I .  Mammoth 731 

Milkwfe.1 74)1 

Moth.Wiiliuit 731 

Neisrhbor.  Who  is  Ourf.732.  733 


Onion.  I'.trjptian 741 

t)nionsets  In  Winter 741 

Taint ,  Choun 734 

IViis  in  the  Fnll 740 

ri-ii'es,  Running  Up  739 

Trop  )lis  and  Huff.  Krnmi's  74(J 

Qui-.'ns  a  111  Doolittlc 737 

Itainliler  on  Oiayback 720 

Sun  1  in  Hen  houses 740 

Seience,  I'nsrientittc 737 


Seouts 

Silver.  To  Test   

Spec-kled  Beautv 

Taiiwied   Honey 

T.nipe,  IMilor  in   

Wa-li  on  llill-i.les 

Wateiintr  i)laee  for  Bees.. 
Wiii.linilis  lor  Irrigation 


New  York.— Ho/ic;/.  W'f  arc  |>iijiiiK  for  wliite 
comb  honey,  fancy,  l4@15f;  fiiir,  ia@i;j;  huckwIn^Mt, 
10@10)i.     Bi(\-<it<i.v,  2«(?sL'«'/j. 

Thukbkk-Whylanu  Co., 

Sept.  21.  New  York. 

Albany.  Wo;ir/y.— We  have  received  up  to  date 
1096  eases  of  eomh  iind  4S  packajres  of  extracted 
lioiiey.  The  clover  is  only  fair  quality,  and  selUriff 
oil' fifoly  at  !:')(•  and  tlie  liuckwiiual  al  11(5*12.  Fan- 
cy wliitv  Ml),  .sections  will  hrinK  l(KStl«.  Extracted, 
ei4{fl>S.  'J'lic  displa.N  of  lionc.\  niatle  by  us,  at  the 
New  York  and  Ni-w  Kn^land  Fair,  just  closed  here, 
for  the  benellt  of  our  coiisiifnors,  attracted  much 
attention.  Chas.  McUulloch  &  Co., 

Sept.  24.  393,  :«t5,  397  Broadway,  Albany,  N.  Y. 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


Tile  fall   ini'etinjj:  i>f  the  Coiuieitieiit  Bee  keepers'  .\ss()cia- 

tion  will  he  held  at  the  Capitol,  in  Hartiord,  on  Thurs..  Nov.3. 

Waterbury.  Ct.  Mrs.  W.  E.  Rilky.  See. 

The  Southern  California  Bee-keepers'  Assoeiation  will  meet 
in  Los  .Xngeles.  at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  on  Thursday, 
Get.  20.  9  A.M.  G.  W.  Bropbeck.  Sec.,  Los  .-Vngeles. 


Chicago.— Hojifi/.— Fancy  white  comb  honey  sell- 
ing at  17@lHc;  second  grade,  15@I6.  We  guarantee 
to  sell  no  e.vtractcd  honey  less  than  Tc  and  from 
thattt)8>^.  Bctsw(U-.-Z6.  All  the  above  .scarce  on 
our  market,  and  in  good  demand.  We  advise 
pronipt  shipments.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co., 

Sept .  31.  189  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111. 


The  Knox  County.  Indiana,  fair  will  be  held  at  Vincennes. 
Oft.  10  to  Li.  .Vll  bee-keepers  and  suppl.v -dealers  are  requested 
to  make  e.\hibit,s.  Premiums  amounting  to  S20fl  are  offered. 
P.irties  interested  will  address  Frank  Vawter,  Vincennes,  Ind. 


A  eonvention  of  bee-keepers  will  be  held  in  Brick  and  Stone 
Masons'  Hall.  Salt  Lake  City,  at  10  a.m.,  Oct.  7  All  interested 
are  invited.  J.  C.  Swaner,  Sec'y. 


Chicago.— Ho?iej/.— The  demand  for  comb  honey 
is  very  good.  We  obtain  16c  for  white  comb;  a  fan- 
cy lot  sold  at  17c.  Dark,  13@14.  E.vtracted,  6@8. 
Uee-mmx,  2;i@3.i.  All  honey  and  beeswax  sliould  be 
.sent  by  freigiit.  R.  A.  Burnett, 

Sept.  21.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111 


The  AIleKaiiv  Countv  Bee-keejiers"  .\ssociati.iii  was  orjiaiiiz- 
ed  at  our  c-ounty  fair.  Sept  8tli.  willi  an  initial  niernli.-i -hi  h  of 
•i'l.  all  in  jfol.l  si.uulins.  Our  •ilHccrs  f.ir  tlir  coniinu'  \  <-.ir  .ue. 
H.  C  Farnum,  Tresident;  W.  .M.  Barnum.  Vii-e  pr'sideut :  H. 
L.  Dwig-ht.  Secretary ;  H   Sprinjr.  Treasurer. 

Belmont.  N.  Y.,  Sept.^^ W.  M.  B.^rncm. 

The  13th  annual  convention  of  the  Northeastern  Ohio,  North- 
em  Pennsylvania,  and  Western  New  York  Bee-keepers'  Associ- 
ation will  convene  in  the  parlors  of  the  Eureka  Mineral  Spring-s 
Hotel.  Sa^srertown.  Pa.,  Oct.  19. li.  1892  at  10  am.,  for  a  two-days' 
session.  The  program  will  c.nsi-i  of  i)r.ictical  topics  relating 
to  apiculture,  di-^cussed  by  p'-actie  il  bee  keepers.  Sa>»ertown 
is  situateil  sjx  miles  e.ast  of  M  -i  IviUe.  on  the  New  York,  Penn- 
sylvHiiia  &  Oli'O  K  lilroad.  Reilu  id  lates  have  bt-en  seiured  to 
those  attending  the  convention  Siegertown  is  situated  on  the 
banks  of  a  beautiful  stream  of  water,  and  is  one  I'f  tlie  finest 
summer  resorts  in  the  co'intr.v.  A  steamer  is  alloat  on  the 
river,  and  will  be  at  the  disposal  of  all  wishing  it.  It  is  liojied 
that  there  will  be  a  large  atten  lance.  Ladies  are  e-i)rciall.v 
invited.  Programs  will  be  sent  to  members,  and  toothers  who 
request  it  of  the  secretary.  M.  E.  Mason.  President. 

G   SriTLKK.  Secretary,  Andover.  O. 

-Mosiertown.  Crawford  Co..  Pa. 


HoNEr  Column. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

New  York.— //o?ic{/.  — Since  Sept.  3  we  received 
3223  crates  of  comb  nonej-.  Demand  Is  good  and 
market  firm  at  following  prices.  Fancy  white,  1  lb. 
sections,  1.7@17c;  2  lbs.,  13(3j14;  fair  white,  1  lb.,  13® 
14;  2  lbs.,  12c;  buckwheat,  l(l{a>12,  according  to  qual- 
ity- and  style  of  package.  E.vtracted,  basswootl, 
white  clover  and  orange  bloom,  I^Cq^Se;  Soutlicrn, 
65@7,5c  iier  gallon,  as  to  quality  No  demand  for 
e.vtracted  l)uckwheat.  The  crop  in  California  is  not 
a  failure  a.s  first  reported.  Since  .July  8th  we  pur- 
chased twelve  carloads  of  extracted  California 
honey.  Hildreth  Bros.  &  Segelken. 

Sept.  24.  28  &  30  West  Broadway,  New  York. 


Kansas  City.— Hodcy.- There  is  a  good  demand 
for  honey,  but  a  very  light  supply.  Price  of  1  lb. 
comb,  white,  17c.  Extracted,  6t^74.  The  new  crop 
of  Jioney  is  arriving,  and  is  very  flue.  Brinwax, 
22@25.  Ha.mblin  &  Beakss, 

Sept.  31.  514  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Kansas  City.— Wo ncj/.— The  receipts  of  both 
comb  and  extracted  are  light;  demand  good.  We 
quote  No.  1  white  1  lb.  comb,  15@16;  No.  2,  1  lb.,  13® 
14;  No.  1  amber,  1  lb.,  14@15;  No.  2,  llb.,iu@12.  Ex- 
tracted, white,  7@7><  :  amber,  .5@6.     Beeswax,  30@22. 


Sept 


Clemons-Mason  Com.  Co., 
Kansas  Citj-,  Mo. 


New  York.— Honef/.— Demand  for  honey  increas- 
ing, and  quote  jirices  as  follows:  lib.  fancy  comb 
lioney,  16®17:  2  lb.,  ia^l3:  I  lb.,  fair,  13@14;  2  lb.. 
IK/ 12;  1  lb.,  l)uckwheat,  10®  11;  2  lb.,  9®10.  Ex- 
tracted honey,  clover  and  basswood.Sc;  buckwheat, 
6;  S  lutliern,  7iJ®7.5c  per  gal.    B'jsicnx.  26®27. 

Sept.  21.  Chas.  Israel  &  Bros.. 

110  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


CiNCiSN.\Ti.— H(>/((;;/.— The  demand  tor  extracted 
honey  is  ver.\-  good,  and  in  excess  of  arrivals.  It 
5@8c  ou  arrival.  A  great  deal  of  comb  hoiiev  could 
be  sold  if  there  was  a  supply.  Small  arrivals  are 
disposed  of  as  they  ctmie  in  at  12@16e  for  Ijest  white. 
Beejiwax  is  in  good  supply,  and  demand  is  fair  at  20 
@25c  on  arrival  for  good  to  choice  j-ellow. 

Chas.  F.  Muth  &  Sox, 

Sept.  20.  Cincinnati,  O. 

St.  Louis.— H(»ci/.— Demand  for  extracted  con- 
tinues good,  at  5V4®5^.  Demand  for  comb  quiet. 
We  quote  10@16.    Beeswax,  prime,  2.5. 

Sept.  21.                               D.  G.  TuTT  Gro.  Co., 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Boston.— Ho«ey.— The  supply  of  honey  is  very 
light,  and  we  think  that  prices  will  rule  high.  We 
are  selling  best  one-pound  while  honey  at  18@19c. 
Extracted,  7®9.    No  lieeswax  on  hand. 

Blake  \-  Ripley, 

Sept.  31.  Boston,  Mass. 

Buffalo.— y/o/ic;/.- We  can  (juote  actual  sales 
to-day  of  fancy  No.  1  clover  honev  mostly.  ln@16<-; 
No.  2,  12@14.  Still  most  e.xcelleni  indications  for 
favorable  results.  We  advise  liberal  shipments. 
We  advance  liberall.\,  and  need  maii.\  tons  for  our 
winter  trade.  Batters()N  A:  Co., 

Sept.  30.  167,  169  Scott  St.,  Buttalo,  N.  Y. 


Alb\ny.— W'i)i*'y.--<)ur  market  is  active  now  and 
good  prices  beintr  realized.  We  have  sold  one  thou- 
sand cases  of  honey  so  far  this  season  and  six  tons 
of  extra  -ted.  Comb  honey,  white  clover,  14®]6; 
mi.xed.  13!S14;  buckwheat.  \2%Vii.  Extracted,  white, 
8:  amber,  7®8;  dark.  6@6H.  H.  U.  Wright, 

Sept.  26.  326,  ;i28,  ;«0  Broadwav,  Albany.  N.  Y. 


Detroit.— Wo/iey.  —  We  sold  our  crop  of  comb 
luiuey  .Yesterday  for  I.5c,  and  the  demand  is  good, 
with  no  honey  in  commission  houses.  Extracted, 
8c.     Brr.sirax,  ;--4®25.  .M.  H.  Hi  NT. 

Sept.  3:3.  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

For  Sale.— 30(i0  lbs.  comb  and  3000  lbs.  extracted 
honey.    The   former  in   1-lb.  sections.  ;Jt-lb.  cases. 
The   latter  in  60-11).  .Mjuare  cans.    The   honey  is  fine 
(jualitj-.    Sample  of  extracted  sent  on  application. 
Ezra  Baer,  Dixon,  111. 

W.vxTED.— 50.030  lbs.  of  choice  white  comb  honey. 
Address       Byron  Walker, 
17tfdb  Evart,  Mich.,        or        Wyalusing,  Wis. 


720  GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE.  Oct.  1. 

S.  T.  FISH  &  CO., 

Commission    (Tlepehants 


Green.  Dried,  and  Evaporated 
Fruits.  Honey.  Butter.  Cheese. 
Eggs.  Potatoes,  Poultry,  and 
Grain. 


189  South  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111, 


We  make  a  specialty  of  our  HO^lEY  DEPAl^T|VIEKT,  and  sell  our 
receipts  throughout  the  United  States.  We  have  exi)ort  connections 
whom  we  supply  when  prices  reac;h  such  jDoint  as  to  permit  foreign 
markets  placing  orders  with  us.  We  are  ojjposed  to  adulteration  in  any 
form,  and  will  positively  not  sell  anything  but  pure  honey.  Send  your 
adulterated  honey  elsewhere,  but  your  pure  honey  WE  Wflf4T.  We 
make  liberal  advances  on  consignments,  and  accept  goods  on  a  limit. 
What  Ha"^e  You  to  Fear  by  entrusting  goods  to  our  care  ?  Nothing. 
We  are  responsible,  and  refer  you  to  any  bank  or  to  Gleanings.  To 
those  who  wish  to  sell  at  home  we  beg  to  advise  we  are  buyers.  We 
ask  your  correspondence,  which  will  receive  immediate  response. 

Respectfully,  S.  T.  Pish  &  Co. 


^Bi 


Cut  tliis  out  and  plucv  in  your  lioney  Imuse.  Mention  (Jleanings. 

Galvanized-Wlre    Poultry-Netting    and    Fencing. 
The  Best  IVIade  at  the  Lowest  Price. 

We  handle  only  the  (J.  A:  B.  Ijrand,  wiiich  we  consider  the  best  made,  as  it  is  made  of  wire  fully  up  to 
gauge,  and  lias  three-strand  twist(j^-wire  selvage,  wliile  other  makes  have  only  two.  We  have  secured  a 
carload  from  the  factoi-j-,  at  a  special  low  price,  wliich  we  are  able  to  sell  lower  than  you  can  buy  it  any- 
where else  of  equal  qualitj',  and  lower 
than  we  have  ever  sold  it  before,  though 
we  have  been  getting  more  for  it  the  past 
1  two  yt'ars  than  we  did  in  1800.  This  car- 
load that  we  have  purchased  is  all  2-inch 
No.  l!i  netting,  tile  size generallj' used  for 
./         f  poultry.    It  was  made  nearly  a  year  ago, 

'pi,«~  '     and  lias  lost  some  of  tlie  bright  luster  of 

v'(  t!    ,,;'  fresh  new  goods;  and  it  was  for  this  reason 

alone  that  we  lH)Ught  it  lower  and  are  able 
to  sell  it  cheaper.  It  is  guaranteed  equal 
in  every  respect  to  fresh  new  goods  of  the 
best  (juality,  except  in  luster,  which  prac- 
tically is  of  no  account,  because  the 
biightest  netting  becomes  dull  in  a  few 
weeks  after  being  put  up.  We  have  in 
stock  all  widths  from  13  inches  up  to  60. 
wliicli  we  can  furnish  at  the  following 
pi'ices.  All  shipmentsmust  be  made  from 
£>'■■.,  here.    We  can  not  slii|)  from  New  York  or 

li'.r:'.    ^      oj  ^ -       -,s*j         _--:;-        '    Chicago  at  these  prices;  but  as  We  are  able 

'  '"-"■'"^^^^^^ni^^^^^^ms^^^       '■^^^li^T.a.vTi'.i*    to    secure   through    rates    to    aluiost   all 
"  ]ioui1s  from  here,  tlie  freight  will  be  little 

if  any  more  than  if  shipped  from  ill  hci-  cii^  .     Jj-incli  staples  for  below, 3i)c  per  lb.;  .'ilbs,  or  over,  16c  per  lb. 
Rolls  150  ft.  long.  IroU.    5  rolls.    10  rolls.  Kolls  150  ft.  long.  1  roll.    .5  rolls.    10  rolls. 

3-in.  ^o.  10,  12  inclies  wide,        $100      %\m       $  S  T.'i      3-in.  No.  19,  36  inches  wide,    $2  OJ      $13  50         $26  00 
IS  •'  1  .5;)  .->  T.)  12  ('0        "  "        42  "  3  40        16  00  31  00 

24  "  2  00  9  (10  17  .5(1    ,    "  "        48  "  3  75        17  50  34  00 

30  •■  2  .50        12  00  23  00        "  "        60  "  4  75        2:^  00  44  00 

The  lot  includes  o\ei' 600  rolls,  most  of  which  are  48  inches  wide,  the  usual  size  used.  This  price  will 
last  only  as  long  as  the  stmk  lasts.  You  will  do  well,  therefore  to  order  early.  The  above  prices  are  less 
than  the  wholesali'  quotations  to-day  on  netting  not  one  whit  better,  if  as  good.  If  you  want  other  sizes, 
or  shipment  from  New  York  or  Cliicago,  write  for  oiii'  special  20-page  netting  catalogue,  mailed  on  appli- 
cation. A.   I.   ROOT,   MEDINA,  OHIO. 


KS92 


(iLKAXINr.S  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


T'Jl 


1i^ 


<>v    jfc.    »■}>    <?>    ^y--    -.-?>    -■C'-    -<'-    -.■?■.-    -,-?i-    -.-v--    «■?>    -.-v--    -.-Si-    -■{>    -.-fe-    -^    <{5-    <fe-    -5fc-    <fe-    <$!-<?!-    -."fe-    --fc-    ^    -.-V  ^'^ 

'^-      -.}.-      -.{.-      <{>      -^-      -^-      '.{>      '^-      '^      'Jj>      -i^      •'^      'J^      'J(!-      -^      -S^-      •<}.'-      -.J.-      "^      <{>      <{C-      ■<}>     -'^~-      -^      'yf.'      -!{!-     -^»    •}l^ 

4f 


Bushel  Boxes. 

W.'  iual«'  and  sell  tlicm  DIRT  ClIlOAi'.  iHcaiisc  thry  uiv  made  of  ^>''* 

tlio   refuse   picocs   from   section    blocks  -i)icccs   Uial    arc   trood  and  4^w 

sound,  bnt  arc  slishtlv  discolored.     PRICE,  CRATE  OF  15  (13  IN  THE  '' 

FLAT  AND  2  NAILED  UP).  §1.50  ;  10  (CRATES  OF  15  EACH,  5  PER  CENT  OFF.  These  4f 

Kiislicl  Imixcs  sa\  '■  linic  In  loading  and  unload  in  fr.  and  bin  room  in  1  lie  cellar.  Send  .  . 

for  paniplilci  on  "HANDLING  FARM  PRODUCE."  free.  m' 

A.   I.   FJoot,  ]VIedina,  Ohio.  tt 


Dovetailed  Hives,   Simplicity  Hives, 

SECTIONS,  EXTRACTORS.  ETC. 

A     FULL.     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGE     CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


C»-|ii  rrsiXMirH 


r  I.)  tills  lulviMtiM'iu. 


i'iitii>n  Ol.i-.ANIN 


ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the   East  should 

Bear  In  IViind^i^^^""  have  established  at  syracu^^  Eastem  Branch 

where  our  Uce-kcepcrs"  Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and   prompt  shipmem.     You   can  save   time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.     We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.     lie  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.   SALISBURY,    Agent,    Syracuse.    N.  V. 


A  Grand  Success. 


Mew  Cowan  Reversible 

Honey-Extractor. 

May  be  Reversed  without  Stopping  the  Machine. 

Strong,  well  made  in  every  respect,  light,  and  of  conven- 
ient size.  The  can  is  but  little  larger  than  that  of  the 
Novice.  The  gear  is  beveled,  and  cov(;red  by  an  iron  shield, 
and  the  crank  ouiside  the  can.  Frank  McNay.  of  Mansion, 
Wis.,  a  bee-keeper  who  produces  tons  and  tons  of  extracted 
honey, says  of  it: 

After  carefully  examliiitig:  and  trying-  tlie  Cowan  e.vtractor,  I 
iiavo  failed  to  tlnd  a  weak  part,  and  1  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that 
It  is  tlie  best  extractor  made,  t)oth  in  reg-ard  t<)  convenience  and 
durability,  and  I  siiall  replace  all  of  my  five  machines  with  the 
Cowan  as  soon  as  possible. 

It  is  indorsed  also  by  J.  F.  Mclntyre,  an  extensive  ex- 
tracted-honev  producer  in  California:  by  W.  Z.  Hutchinson, 
1)1-.  ('.  ('.  Miller.  Dr.  .A.  li.  Mason,  and  others 

Price  all  Complete,  Japanned  and  Lettered,  for  L.  Frame,  $10. 
A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio. 


GLEANING8  IN  BEE  CaLTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


giQQQQiQQQQQQQQQQQiQQQQQ>QQQQQQQQQQ®QQ^QQQQQQQQQQ'QQQQQQQQ& 


pop  1892  and  a  Fii^e.  Voung,  liaying    €.' 
Italian    QUEEN   *°**  $1.50.     The    !• 


I  The  Bee-  RFVIFW 

I    I^eepePS'     IIJD  l!  lli   U       ^,^,,^    ^,,^,^    $,.00.       The   Queen  - 

O    Hlone,  75  Cts.     pop  $1.75,  the  l^evietu,  the  Queen,  and  the  SO  et.  Book,  €> 

(%  ^' 

/€    "  Advanced  Bee  Culture, "  tuill  be  sent.  W.  z.  Hutehinson,  plint,  JWieh.  g^, 

i  © 
P.  S. — If  not  ac(inaiiitf'(i  with  the  Review.  spikI  ten  cpnls  for  tliri'O  late  but  ditft'ient  issufs 


More  than  one  hundred 
thousand  Bingham  & 
Hetherington  Honey- 
knives  and  Bee-smok- 
ers in  daily  use.  Il- 
lustrations sent  free. 


Best  on  Earth  ^^^^  ''^^  business. 

^^^^         ^^  ■  ■      ^DBl^B   fcll*  AVarranteii   qupons   from  my  clioirL-  stiniii  of  3-el- 

low  hustlers,  bred  for  working  (lualitu's  and  gentle- 
ness as  well  as  beauty,  75  I'ts.  earh  l>y  retui'U  mail. 
Tested,  $1.35.  A  few  niismated  queens,  35  ets.  each. 
18tfdb  .T.  A.  (>:KE:i<:IV.  Oayton,  Illinois. 

^JPTANTliD.— Reliable  parties  to  distribute  and 
^"      collect  for 

T^A^LUHS'     TiJlT^nT    -    CASES. 

Well  wortli  $1.0)  ia  Hiiy  family.    Will  send  sample 
and   full   instructions  by  mail  for  35  ets.  in  stamps, 
returnable    if     not    satisfactory.     Address     J.    C. 
Frisbee,  Gen'l  Ag-t..  173  Maple  St.,  Denver,  Col. 
Reference.  A.  I.  Root,  Medina,  Obio.  8-34db 

G-olden  Honey  Qiieens. 

Queens  in  Sept.,  untested,  65c;  lialf 
doz.,  $3.00;  tested,  $1.00;  one  year  old,  85c; 
select  tested,  $3.00;  extra  select,  $4.00;  the 
very  best,  $7.00;  imported,  $4.00. 

LEiirmaEB  E^os.,  Ft.  Jennings,  Ohio. 

The  "'Progressive  Bee-Keeper." 

A  practical  monthly  journal  for  beginners.  Will 
be  sent  from  Seiit.,  '93,  to  Dec,  '93,  foi'  .50c,  to  all  ni^v>- 
subscribers.     Sample  copv  free.    Addi'ess  19tf 

E.  F.  QUICLEY,  Unionviile,  Mo. 

riOOD  apiary  and  fixtures  for  sale  cheap  at  Pat- 
\  I    tonsbuig,  Mo.    Address 

G.  F.  Tui'KER,  Yellville,  Ark. 

OATMAN'S 

SOLDEEINa  AND  EEPAIE  KIT 


Bingham  &  Metherington, 

Abronia,  iVIich. 


(tfdb 


RETAIL 

— AND— 

WHOLESALE. 


m  SUPPLIES 
Everytliiii^  used  in  the  Apiary. 
Greatest  variety  and  lara;et»t  stock 
in  the  West.    New  catalne-,  54  illustrated  i>age.s, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  KRETOHMEE.  EED  OAK,  IOWA. 

Plea.se  mention  rhi.x  pajier.  2tfdh 


WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS' 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

BOOT'S  GOODS  can  be  lind  at  Des 
Moines.  Iowa,  at  ROOT'S  PRICES  Tlie 
largest  supply  business  In  the  West. 
Established  18te.  Dovetailed  Hives.  .Sec- 
tions, Foundation.  Extractors,  Smokers, 
Veils.  Crates,  Feeders,  Clover  Seeds,  etc. 
Imported  Italian  Queens  Queens  and 
Bees.  Sample  imjiiv  of  our  Bee  .lournal. 
■THE  WESTERN  BEEKEEPER,"  and 
LATEST  CATALOGUE  mailed  FREE  to 
Bee-keepers. 

JOSEPH  NYREWANDER, 

Des  Moines,  Iowa. 


Consists  of  lire-pot.  solder- 
ing-irons, solder,  and  solder- 
infi:-t1uid.  with  tools  compl'te 
as  shown  in  cut,  with  direc- 
tions for  soldering  different 
metals,  and  how  to  keep  your 
soldering  ■  irons  in  sliape. 
Whole  kit.  boxed,  12  lbs. 
Shipped  on  receipt  of  $2.00. 
.\gents  wanted. 

O.  &  L.  OATMAN, 
87dij        Medina,  Ohib. 


Porter's  Spring  Bee-Escape. 


We  guarantee  it  to  be  the  best  escape  known,  and  far 
superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  tine  to  a  doz- 
en, you  do  not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  sat- 
isfactory in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  within  90 
days  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  money. 

PRICES:— Each,  by  mail,  postpaid,  with   full  direc- 
tions, 20c;  per  dozen,  $3.35.    Send  for  circular  and  testi- 
monials.   Supply  dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices. 
lOtfdb    R.  <£  £■.  O.  PORTER,  LEWtSTOWN,  ILL. 


tariii  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention?  Glkaningh 


The  Oldest,  Larg-est,  Best  and  Only  Weekly        j, 
Bee-Paper  in  America.    Sample  Copy  Free.      ^V 

— :  32  pages — $1.00  a  Yeai 


t1r<<i^. 


Address  GEORGE   W.  YORK  &   CO., 

W:     199  Randolph  St.,  CHICAGO.   ILLh 

TO^NEW  SUBSCRIBERS— FROM  NOW  TO  JAN.  1,  1893,  20  Cents;  TO  JAN.1, 1894,  S1.00. 


•  DELVoTtDf'* 

•andHoNEV-; 

•AND  HOME.-    <<  ' 


■^   i   ^    lv*l 


fll^b^^v^i^^' 


^^^'-^.'JAoH'^iJ^ 


.  t15*^'PuB^iMEDBY^•i•^(00^• 


Vol.  XX. 


OCT.  1,  1892. 


No.  19. 


STRjir  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 

FoK  ENTRANCE  FEEDING.  \V.  D.  Soper's  feeder 
is  a  simple  and  nice  arrangement.  Quite  bright. 

FiiiEND  Root,  if  you  and  your  family  will 
make  a  trip  to  Marengo  we'll  find  stabling  for 
tlii^  bicyeles. 

PuiCKs  OF  HONEY  are  slowly  climbing— a  sure 
indication  that  the  markets  are  not  Hooded 
with  that  commodity. 

If  GT.fCosE  can  be  delected  for  a  certainty  in 
adulterated  honey,  sadness  will  take  hold  of  the 
hearts  of  the  adulteratoi's. 

The  fight  is  on  1  and  ifs  to  the  death.  Pitch 
in.  Prof.  Cook,  and  keep  a-pitchin'-in  till  adul- 
teration gives  its  last  kick. 

•  Vindictive  little  sinners"  is  what  Em- 
ma calls  our  Punics,  or.  rather,  half-breed 
l^uiiics.  But  they  seem  to  be  making  good  work. 

It  wii.i.  he  cheaper  and  better  to  enlarge  the 
Held  of  the  good  old  Bee-keepers'  Union  than 
to  get  up  any  new  machinery  to  tight  adultera- 
tion. 

One  cent  a  glass,  A.  B.  J.  says,  will  get 
you.  at  the  World's  Fair,  mineral  water  piped 
directly  from  the  famous  Waukesha.  Wis., 
springs. 

Dog-fights  are  hardly  the  proper  thing  for 
an  editor.  Ernest;  but  if  you  must  indulge  your 
taste  in  that  direction  I  advise  you  to  get 
knickerbockers  of  sheet  iron. 

Your  Honev  Column,  friend  Root,  is  not  got- 
ten up  this  year  in  as  interesting  a  manner  as 
usual.  Somehow  you  always  fail  to  make  it 
very  spicy,  years  that  I  have  no  crop. 

Ctet  golden- yellow  bees  as  much  as  you 
like.  Bro.  Root,  to  suit  the  popular  demand: 
but  be  sure  to  furnish  me  a  queen  of  the  dark, 
leathery  sort  every  year  oi-  so.  I  can  bleach 
them  out  faster  than  I  like. 

If  keeping  expenses  down  is  the  way  to  get 
rich,  a  f'-w  seasons  like  the  present  will  make 
me  a  millionaire.  Pve  no  shipping-cases  to  buy. 
and  no  sections  to  get  ready  for  next  season. 
Oh.  yes!  I'm  keeping  down  expenses. 

Fou.NDATioN  with  complete  cells  is  something 
over  which  some  of  the  foreign  bee-journals 
are  (juite  enthusiastic.  Bees  accept  it  and  use 
it  quite  readily;  but  so  far,  queens'will  not  lay 
in  it.  They  are  sanguine  that  it  may  come  into 
general  and  profitable  use. 

Apis  doksata  will  not  be  brought  to  this 
coinitry  by  the  government,  W.  C.  Frazier 
thinks,  as  soon  as  it  might  be  by  private  enter- 
prise, and   asks  in  A.  B.  J.  how  many  will  take 


shares  of  &)  each  in  a  stock  company  with 
$5000  capital  in  order  to  get  tiie  big  bees  here. 

That  "'  silver  lining  "  to  the  cloud  has  at 
last  come  to  me  in  the  shape  of  an  unusual  fall 
flow,  and  hope— that  eternal  springer— softlv 
whispers  in  my  ear,  "Next  year  may  give  voit 
a  bright  sky  clear  through,  with  no  clouds"  to 
be  lined."' 

This  summer,  for  the  first  time  in  my  life  I 
saw  a  laying  worker  which  I  recognized  as  one 
— saw  it  in  the  act.  There  was  nothing  unusual 
in  its  appearance  — just  a  nice,  respectable- 
looking  worker  that  you  would  never  dream  of 
being  engaged  in  such  disreputable  business. 

Just  to  think  that  Prof.  Cook  should  turn 
out  to  be  a  thief!  And  to  steal  from  a  dead 
man  at  that!  On  page  (198  he  has  taken  from 
Sancho  Panza  his  benediction  on  the  man  who 
invented  sleep,  and  given  it  to  Saxe.  But  I 
can't  believe  the  professor's  heart  is  at  all 
wrong.  His  head  has  been  turned  by  turning 
that  bicycle. 

I  am  profoundly  thankful  to  be  able  to 
say  that  I  don't  need  to  do  any  feeding  for  win- 
ter. On  the  contrary,  I  have  been  obliged  to 
take  full  combs  from  a  number  of  colonies  so 
that  the  queen  might  not  be  utterly  crowded 
out.  There's  always  something— yes,  always 
plenty  to  be  thankful  for.  if  we're  "at  all  in  a 
thankful  mood. 

What  freakish  things  laying  workers  are! 
Lately  I  gave  a  sealed  queen-cell  to  a  colony 
afflicted  with  the  miserable  pests,  and  the  lay- 
ing stopped  before  the  cell  hatched.  Per  contra, 
laying  workers  commenced  work  in  another 
colony  while  a  number  of  queen-cells  of  its  own 
raising  were  steadily  going  on  to  completion, 
stopping  when  a  queen  hatched. 

Ilow  MUCH  hetter  your  own  discoveries  are 
than  what  you  learn  from  others'  Not  long  ago 
I  discovered  that,  when  using  planer  shavings 
in  a  smoker,  time  and  vexation  were  avoided  by 
having  a  few  bench  shavings  to  start  the  fire, 
and  ever  since  that  I  have  taken  solid  comfort 
in  the  improvenu^nt.  Yet  I  now  recall  that  I 
had  read  of  the  same  thing  years  ago,  and  never 
thought  worth  while  to  try  it. 

Hairpins  are  turned  to  all  sorts  of  service  by 
the  gentler  sex;  and  now  comes  J.  E.  Pritchard, 
in  A.  B. ./.,  and  tells  liovv  to  use  them  to  hold 
transferred  combs:  Pierce  the  side  and  bottom 
bars  with  a  small  awl  at  intervals  of  three  or 
four  incues.  with  two  holes  i',^  of  an  inch 
apart,  and  thrust  cheap  hairpins  through 
the  holes  astride  the  septum,  pulling  out  the 
pins  when  the  i^ees  have  fastened  the  combs. 

Goldenkod.  according  to  some,  is  a  fine 
honey-plant;  according  to  others,  no  good. 
Possibly  Mrs.  Harrison  gives  the  explanation 
in  Prairie  Farmer,  where  she  says:  "Where 


724 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


the  nights  are  cool,  as  in  the  Green  Mountains 
of  Vermont,  the  goldenrod  yields  much  honey, 
and  the  heads  of  bloom  are  full  of  bees  at 
such  limes;  but  here,  where  the  nights  are 
warm  during  its  blooming,  it  yields  sparingly." 
Pain  d'epice  is  a  sort  of  giiigei'bread.  ^old  in 
immense  quantities  at  fairs  in  Europe,  having 
the  good  quality  of  keeping  aveiylong  time. 
Honey  is  used  in  its  manufacture,  and  just  now 
there  is  considerable  stir  because  a  poisonous 
salt  of  tin  is  used  to  some  extent,  that  allows 
molasses  to  be  used  instead  of  honey,  and  poor 
flour  instead  of  good.  The  trouble  might  soon 
be  stopped  if  every  man  who  uses  chloride  of 
tin  should  be  compelled  to  swallow  as  much  as 
he  uses. 


HOW  TO  VENTILATE  OUR  BEES. 


DOOLITTLE   PiXPLAINS  THE   MATTER. 


Among  the  pleasant  recollections  of  the  past, 
the  bees  are  ever  foremost:  and  at  ten  years  of 
age  I  N\  as  an  anxious  watchir  of  these  little  in- 
sects, of  which  father  had  some  twenty  colonies 
or  moi-e.  These  were  kept  in  the  Weeks  patent 
hive,  where  the  bottom-board  was  attached  to 
the  hive  with  wire  hooks  and  staples,  and  with 
a  button  so  arranged  that,  for  winter,  the  bot- 
tom was  allowed  to  hang  suspended  an  inch 
below  the  hive,  while  in  summer  the  button 
was  so  turned  as  to  bring  the  bottom-board 
tight  to  the  bottom  of  the  hive  except  the  en- 
trance. With  his  hive,  father  had  poor  success 
in  wintering  bees,  while  a  neighbor  wintered 
his  safely  with  a  hive  closed  tight  at  the  bot- 
tom and  a  two-inch  auger-hole  at  the  top. 
This  success  of  a  neighbor,  and  our  poor  success, 
caused  father  to  fasten  the  bottom -boards  of 
the  Weeks  hive  in  winter,  or,  rather,  to  leav 
them  in  winter  the  same  as  they  had  been  all 
summer,  while  the  holes  in  the  top,  through 
which  the  bees  had  access  to  the  surplus  apart- 
ment, were  opened,  and  the  surplus  chamber 
filled  with  fine  hay,  straw,  a  lot  of  old  garments, 
or  something  of  the  kind,  which  came  mo-t 
handy.  Fixed  in  this  way  the  bees  wintered 
much  better  than  formerly,  and  gave  me  the 
idea  that  what  has  since  been  termed  '•  upward 
ventilation"  was  the  proper  ventilation  for 
good  wintering.  Soon  aftei'  this  all  the  bees 
were  lost  by  that  dread  disease,  foul  brood,  and 
no  more  were  kept  in  the  family  till  ]8()9.  when 
I  purchased  two  colonies,  whicli  were  the  foun- 
dation of  my  present  apiary.  At  that  time 
(1869)  there  were  plenty  of  bees  kept  near  me  in 
box  hives,  many  of  which  were  I'aised  on  half- 
inch  blocks  at  the  bottom  all  around,  that  be- 
ing something  similar  to  the  rim  one  inch  deep 
recommended  by  some  of  the  great  lights  of 
to-day.  I  adopted  the  plan  of  upward  ventila- 
tion, as  it  was  then  termed,  although  I  now 
look  at  it  as  practically  no  direct  ventilation, 
unless  you  can  call  it  ventilation  which  we 
have  when  sleeping  unflei'our  warm  comforters 
on  a  cold  winter  night. 

After  a  series  of  severe  winters,  myself  and 
four  othei'S,  all  wintering  witii  packing  above 
the  liees.  or  with  upward  ventilation  as  above, 
had  HOO  colonies  of  bees,  while  not  one  of  the 
box-hive  ur  lower-ventilation  men  had  a  single 
colon}.  15y  lookiiigat  beesiii  their  natural  home 
in  the  liollow  of  a  tree,  we  find  that  the  hollow 
is  composed  of  partly  decayed  wood,  especially 
above  the  combs.  Thus  in  winter  the  moisture 
from  the  bees  passes  into  the  decayed  wood 
which  surrounds  them,  and  is  expelled  each 
summer  by  the  heat.  In  this  we  laave  some- 
thing pointing  toward  the  porous  covering 
which  many  of  our  be.^-keepers  have  used  of 
late  years,  and   al^o   toward   the  chaff  hives  of 


the  present.  With  these  chaff  hives,  and  the 
slow  change  of  air  taking  place  through  the 
chaff  or  sawdust  cushions  we  have  something 
even  better  than  the  home  nature  provided  for 
the  bee;  and  with  hives  so  arranged  there  need 
belittle  provisions  for  venti;ation:  for.  should  ' 
the  entrance  become  obstructed  by  snow,  ice,  or 
dead  bees,  so  that  all  air  is  cut  oft"  at  the  bottom, 
the  bees  can  secure  all  the  ventilation  they  re- 
quire through  the  cushion  from  above,  thus 
passing  quietly  along  till  a  warm  spell  occurs, 
when  they  can  clear  their  dooi'way.  After 
years'of  e.xperience  with  chaff  hives,  with  saw- 
dust cushions  over  the  top  of  the  brood-cham- 
ber. I  have  become  convinced  that  there  is 
nothing  better  along  the  line  of  hives  for  win- 
tering bees  than  this,  and  I  would  hereby  ask 
every  reader  of  Gle.\nings,  who  is  at  all  skep- 
tical on  this  i)oint.  to  prepari'  five  colonies  in 
chaft'  hives  with  sawdust  cushions  as  above, 
which  is  according  to  the  best  approved  meth- 
ods, and  take  five  others  as  nearly  like  them  as 
possible,  except  that  they  be  left  in  ordinary 
hives  with  lower  ventilation,  and  see  if  all 
skepticism  does  not  vanish  at  the  end  of  three 
years.  I  even  use  these  chaft'  hives  with  saw- 
dust cushions  for  cellar  wintering,  and  think 
that  they  have  an  advantage  when  bees  are 
wintered  in  the  cellar. 

In  connection  with  ventilation  through  por- 
ous covering,  some  think  that,  as  all  the  mois- 
ture is  caiTied  oft',  the  bees  need  water  given 
them  to  keep  them  in  a  healthy  condition:  but 
I  think  it  wholly  unnecessary,  for  the  reason 
that  I  believe  it  a  bad  plan  for  bees  to  breed 
much,  if  any,  before  the  middle  of  ]\Iarcli  to  the 
middle  of  April,  according  to  the  season.  Col- 
onies that  commence  breeding  earlier  are  not 
as  good,  as  a  rule,  on  the  first  of  June,  as  those 
of  the  same  s  rength  as  to  number  of  bees  that 
do  not  commence  to  rear  brood  before  the  first 
of  April. 

I  am  becoming  more  firmly  convinced  that  the 
practice  of  keeping  bees  in  the  cellar  till  pollen 
is  plentiful  in  the  fields  is  the  correct  one;  and 
where  bees  are  wintered  out  of  doors  it  is  a 
great  help,  where  they  are  packed  in  chaff, 
along  this  line,  for  the  sun's  rays  will  not  arouse 
the  bees  to  activity,  and  from  this  to  brood- 
rearing,  every  time  it  shines  on  them  for  a  lit- 
tle while  in  the  middle  of  the  day.  when  the 
air  is  cool  otherwise.  This  early  breeding 
causes  a  much  gi'eater  consumption  of  honey, 
and  a  greater  lo^s  of  bees,  without  a  corres- 
ponding benefit.  When  it  comes  steady  warm 
weather,  two  bees  are  reared  for  an  old  one  lost: 
while  in  early  spring  or  late  winter,  two  old 
bees  are  lost  to  where  one  young  bee  is  reared; 
hence  any  thing  that  causes  eaily  breeding 
becomes  a  loss  to  us.  both  in  bees  and  stores. 
Several  have  asked  my  vimvs  on  this  subject, 
and  I  have  given  them  thus  eai'ly.  so  that  they 
maybe  in  time  f(U'  all  to  take  advantage  of 
them  this  fall,  who  wish  to  do  so. 

G.  M.  Doolittle. 

Borodino,  N.  Y..  Sept.  17. 


INTRODUCING  QUEENS. 


DR.    MIM.EK   AS  WEI.T.  AS   DOOLITTLE    BAFFLED. 

How  I  did  prick  up  my  ears  when  I  read  on 
page  (517.  at  the  head  of  an  article  about  intro- 
ducing queens, '■  Even  Doolittle  baffled  1"  and 
with  what  relish  I  read  the  whole  article  I  Was 
it  "  pure  cussedness"  in  me  that  made  me  en- 
jov  Doolittle's  discomfiture?  Hardly  that,  for 
J  like  the  man;  but  it's  always  interesting  to 
see  a  man  like  him  getting  into  trouble,  for  it 
gives  you  a  bit  of  comfort  to  think  that  others 
besides  yourself  are  sometimes   beaten  by  the 


I8i>2 


tiLi:.\NL\(iS  IN   MKK  CULTL'UE. 


lu'fs.     Ami  Tvc  IxHMi  n'pcaicdly  boatfii  in   tliat 
very  maltiTof  iiitrndiioiiiji  (lucciis. 

Ii  siMMiis  to  iiic  tliat  I'vi'  had  more  failures  (if 
iatt'  yi'Uis  (liaii  fonncily.  ^'('al■s  ajio  I  was 
siioi't'ssfiii  in  I'ViTy  instani'i'  for  a  ionti  time  in 
introdni'inff  tiut'cns  by  tucrcly  waitinf;  till  Ihc 
colony  lor  pcrnaps  it  was  always  a  niu-lcnsi  had 
coiunuMU'i'd  to  stai't  qiit'iMi-oi'lls.  and  then  sim- 
ply plai'insz  tln'  ijimmmi  witlionl  any  prcpaiaiion 
wliatrvtT  dii'i'Otly  on  one  of  th(>  brood-combs 
ainonsr  the  bees.  Adam  (Jrimm  lold  me  he 
thought  it  would  not  always  succeed,  and  at 
last  it  failed. 

Perhaps  one  reason  of  my  success  was  the 
fact  of  using  nuclei.  I  think  a  strong  colony 
is  mncli  liarder  to  please  with  a  new  sovereign 
than  a  weak  one.  Anotlier  thing  that  makes  a 
big  ditTerence.  I  think,  is  having  all  young  bees. 
Combine  these  two  factors,  weakness  and 
youth,  and  you  have  a  pretty  sure  thing  of  it. 
Set  a  hive  on  a  new  stand;  put  in  it  two  frarues 
of  brood  with  adhering  bees,  and  luy  expeiience 
is  that  aliuostany  thing  in  the  shape  of  a  queen 
will  be  kindly  received  after  it  has  stood  for 
two  days.  Possibly  it  luay  not  be  so  much 
because  the  be(\s  are  young  as  because  they  are 
thoroughly  dishmiitened.  There  they've  stood 
for  two  days  with  not  a  drop  of  honey  coming 
in.  for  all  the  field  bees  have  gone  back  to  the 
old  hive,  and  they  feel  themselves  weak,  hungry 
orphans.    Why  shouldn't  they  want  a  mother? 

The  plan  I  successfully  followed  in  introduc- 
ing four  virgin  queens  after  a  journey  across  the 
ocean,  under  the  advice  of  "'A  Hallamshire 
Bee-keeper,'"  might  be  successfully  followed 
with  either  laying  or  virgin  queens.  The  bees 
must  be  queenless  for  at  least  48  hours,  with 
nothing  from  which  by  any  possibility  a  queen 
could  be  raised:  then  at  dusk  the  queen  drop-, 
ped  in  from  above  as  quietly  as  possible.  Pos- 
sibly that  item,  "at  dusk."  may  be  important. 
There  are  then  no  strange  bees  prowling  about 
to  make  the  bees  suspicious  of  intruders. 

Although  I  have  had  success  in  introducing 
queens  by  means  of  introducing-cages,  there 
have  been  some  failures.  Partly  on  that  ac- 
count (yet  more,  perhaps,  because  I  am  given 
to  hobbies,  running  entirely  on  one  plan  till 
sometliing  new  switches  me  off  in  another 
direction  I  I  have  not  used  cages  this  year,  but 
taken  a  dilTerent  plan.  Queens  of  my  own 
raising  have  been  raised  in  nuclei  generally. 
Now.  suppose  a  full  colony  becomes  queenless, 
and  I  want  to  give  it  the  queen  of  a  nucleus 
having  two  frames  of  brood.  The  nucleus  is  in 
an  eight-frame  hive,  the  same  as  the  full  col- 
ony. Taking  the  full  colony  off  its  stand,  I  put 
in  its  place  the  hive  containing  the  nucleus 
with  its  two  frames,  then  I  take  one  by  one  the 
combs  out  of  the  old  colony,  shake  off  the  bees 
on  the  ground  about  four  feet  from  the  front  of 
the  old  stand  until  the  hive  is  full  of  combs; 
tlien  the  hive  is  covered  up  and  left  to  itself, 
and  supers  put  on  if  necessary.  The  bees  on 
the  ground  will  crawl  or  fly  back  in  a  subdued 
spirit,  with  no  desire  to  molest  the  queen. 
There  will  be  two  frames  still  left  with  their 
adhering  bees  in  the  old  hive.  When  shaking 
off  the  combs  I  reserved  two  in  the  best  shape 
to  form  a  nucleus,  and  the  hive  with  th(is<i  two 
combs  and  some  bees  is  put  on  the  stand  pre- 
viously occupied  by  the  nucleus.  If  the  stock 
is  good,  and  the  right  kind  of  queen-cells  are 
on  the  combs,  nothing  further  is  necessary- 
otherwise  I  try  to  give  them  right  away  a  good 
queen-cell. 

Practically  I  have  exchanged  two  combs  of 
the  full  colony  with  adhering  bees  for  the  two 
combs  of  the'  nucleus.  So  some  one  may  ask 
me  if  it  is  not  simpler  to  take  two  frames  out 
of  the  full  colony  and  put  in  their  place  the  two 
frames  of  the  nucleus  with  bees  and  queen.    I 


have  done  that  a  good  many  times,  and  gener- 
ally with  succe.-s;  but  failures  occur  often 
enough  to  make  it  |)ay  to  take  tiie  (Jtlier  plan 
with  its  additional  uoubh!.  I  do  not  ri-meinbei- 
to  have  made  a  failuii'  l)y  the  plan  described; 
but  if  I  had  a  very  valiuible  queen  to  introduce. 
I  misjht  not  be  willing  to  risk  it. 

When  I  get  an  imported  queen  I  generally 
use  the  plan  of  hiiving  two  or  more  frames  of 
hatcliing  l)i()od.  if  possible  having  no  unsealed 
brood.  Uoolittle  speaks  of  this  plan,  and  seems 
to  think  it's  all  right,  except  that  sometimes 
one  may  forget  to  bring  it  in  at  night,  or  it  may 
not  be  warm  enough  in  the  house,  and  so  tnere's 
a  chance  for  chilling.  I^et  me  tell  you  howl 
manage  so  there  is  no  danger  of  chilling.  I 
bore  in  the  bottom  of  a  hive  a  two-inch  auger- 
hole.  On  the  inside  of  the  hive  I  nail  over  this 
hole  a  piece  of  wire  cloth.  Turning  the  hive 
upside  down  I  nail  on  the  hole  another  piece  of 
wire  cloth.  Then  this  hive  is  placed  over  an- 
other hive  containing  a  strong  colony.  Nothing 
is  between  the  two  hives,  so  that  the  heat  from 
the  lower  hive  goes  directly  through  the  auger- 
hole  up  into  the  hive  above.  In  the  upper  hive 
I  put  the  frames  of  hatching  brood,  make  sure 
that  every  thing  is  bee-light,  put  the  queen  on 
top  of  the  frames,  and  quickly  put  on  the  cover. 
In  five  days  the  upper  hive  is  allowed  an  en- 
trance large  enough  for  the  passage  of  one  bee 
at  a  time,  and  I  have  seen  those  tive-day-old 
babies  bringing  in  loads  of  pollen.  In  a  few 
days  more  the  hive  can  be  removed  to  a  new 
location.  It  would  be  better.  I  think,  to  have 
the  hole  larger,  so  that  the  heat  would  pass  up 
more  readily.  The  hole  being  doubly  covered 
with  wire  cloth,  there  is  no  chance  for  the  bees 
below  to  communicate  with  the  ones  above,  so 
there  is  no  danger  of  their  hatching  mischief. 
I  have,  however,  sometimes  used  an  upper  hive 
without  any  bottom-bnard.  with  a  single  sheet 
of  wire  cloth  between  the  two  hives. 

Marengo.  111.  C.  C.  Miller. 


TO  PREVENT  INCKEASE. 


A   KEI'LY    TO   Dli.    MII>LER,   PAGE   484. 


I  have  just  read  Dr.  Miller's  article  on  page 
484,  six  weeks  after  receiving  it.  He  tries  to 
tell  an  Indiana  correspondent  how  to  prevent 
increase:  but  I  deem  my  method  worth  two  or 
three  of  the  one  he  gives.  His  plan  is  objec- 
tionable because  it  makes  too  much  work,  and 
queens  must  be  clipped,  a  thing  which  the 
majority  of  bee-keepers  do  not  practice  or  want 
to  practice.  His  method  will  also,  I  think, 
interrupt  honey-storing  luore  than  mine.  My 
plan  is,  in  substance,  this: 

I  nearly  always  have  a  few  weak  colonies  in 
the  spring  which  I  keep  confined  to  three  or  five 
combs.  Often,  about  the  beginning  of  the 
honey-flow,  I  remove  such  a  colony,  which  is 
generally  sitting  near  another  and  stronger 
OIK!,  to  a  new  position,  and  let  the  stronger  one 
catch  the  flying  bees.  When  a  swarm  issues  I 
hive  it  on  live  or  six  I'mpty  frames,  contracting 
the  hive  with  dummies  and  placing  it  on  the 
old  stand,  or  the  stand  of  some  other  colony 
that  has  lately  swarmed.  Either  that  evening 
or  within  a  few  days  I  remove  the  combs,  bees 
and  all.  in  the  old  hive  to  one  or  more  of  those 
weak  colonies.  When  I  get  them  all  tilled  up 
by  this  means  I  add  upper  stories  as  needed, 
and  till  them  up  with  these  combs  after  shaking 
them  in  front  of  the  hive  containing  the  new 
swarm.  Th<!  few  bees  that  still  adhere  to  the 
comb  1  pay  no  attention  to.  For  this  purpose  I 
select  .some  of  these  same  weak  colonies,  or 
some  other  ones  that,  for  any  reason,  may  not 
be  able  to  go  into  sections.    .Such  colonies  I  run 


726 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


for  extracted  honey.  I  usually  prefer  to  have  a 
queen-excluder  between  the  two  sets  of  frames. 
That  leaves  the  upper  one  for  honey  exclusive- 
ly. These  colonies  will  soon  be  booming  with 
bees;  and  unless  the  honey  is  extracted  so  as 
to  leave  plenty  of  room  to  store  honey,  they 
will  swarm  themselves  —  they  will  anyhow, 
sometimes.  If  you  use  a  hive  with  a  loose 
bottom-board  you  can  simply  carry  the  brood- 
chamber  and  set  it  on  top  of  the  other  one — 
Indeed,  I  sometimes  do  this  without  removing 
the  dummies  and  filling  up  the  lower  story  at 
all. 

I  am  generally  raising  queens  from  some  of 
my  choice  stock,  and  these  combs  come  into 
good  play  for  forming  nuclei.  Before  the 
swarming  season  is  over,  some  of  these  nuclei, 
with  newly  hatched  and  laying  queens,  are 
available  for  the  reception  of  other  sets  of 
frames. 

There  are  numerous  details  and  variations  in 
the  system,  that  I  have  not  mentioned,  which 
any  one  seeking  a  method  to  prevent  increase 
can  work  out  for  himself,  if  he  is  as  bright  as  I 
am.  I  can  go  through  any  ordinary  swarming 
season  with  a  maximum  increase,  under  this 
system,  of  20  per  cent — counting  each  weak 
colony  one,  and  I  generally  have  occasion  to 
greatly  reduce  during  the  succeeding  fall  and 
spring. 

I  might  add  here,  if  you  do  not  want  to  pro- 
duce extracted  honey  you  can  put  section  supers 
on  these  double-story  hives  and  stand  a  chance 
to  get  some  honey.  Or  you  can  do  as  Dr.  Tin- 
ker does— put  the  extra  story  on  top  of  the 
section  super,  with  a  broad  board — or  honey - 
board— with  a  single  slot  near  one  side  for  a 
bee-passage,  below  the  super  and  the  upper 
story. 

If  you  have  Gleanings  for  May  1st,  1891, 
read  in  this  connection  my  paper  on  "Swarm- 
ing and  the  Honey  Harvest,"  page  356. 

Geo.  F.  Robbins. 

Mechanicsburg.  111.,  Aug.  15. 


RAMBLE  NO.  68. 


A  bee-keepek's  outing  in  the  mountains 

IN  CALIFORNIA. 


Although  the  climate  of  California  enables 
the  people  to  work  all  the  year  round,  there 
comes  a  time  in  all  of  the  interior  valley  towns 
when  the  mercury  frisks  around  between  100 
and  115°;  and  all  who  can  get  away  do  so  for  a 
week  or  mo'-e.  It  is  the  boast  of  California 
that  any  kind  of  climate  can  be  found  in  a  few 
hours'  ride,  and  it  is  only  a  matter  of  taste 
where  the  person  goes.  Some  go  to  the  coast 
and  enjoy  the  waters  and  the  breezes  of  the 
Pacific:  others  prefer  to  seek  the  cool  and  in- 
vigorating air  of  the  mountains.  The  bee- 
keeper is  not  an  exception  to  the  crowd;  but  in 
the  heated  term  he  is  found  in  some  comfortable 
retreat  enjoying  himself. 

Two  of  my  prosperous  bee-keeping  neighboi-s, 
Mr.  H.  E.  Wilder  and  Samuel  Ferguson,  pro- 
posed that  we  go  to  the  mountains  for  a  week's 
outing.  The  proposal  was  agreeable  to  all  of 
us;  and  Mr.  Ferguson,  being  the  happy  possess- 
or of  a  team,  a  sucking  colt,  and  a  wagon, 
there  was  nothing  to  prevent  the  accomplish- 
ment of  our  plans.  When  ready  for  the  journey 
the  rest  of  our  outfit  consisted  of  two  saddles, 
several  blankets,  a  box  of  provisions,  two  Win- 
che.ster  rifles,  a  double-barreled  shotgun,  100 
rounds  of  ammunition,  and  a  camera.  We  had  a 
commodious  wagon,  and  in  every  vacant  cor- 
ner Mr.  Wilder  had  tucked  a  watermelon.  Mr. 
Ferguson   and  I  mutually  agreed  that  Wilder 


loved  the  melon,  and  we  were  convinced  of  it  a 
few  hours  later  when  we  struck  a  Spaniard  with 
a  load  of  a  hundred  melons,  and  he  offered  the 
lot  for  $5.00.  Our  friend  was  bound  to  buy  the 
load.  We  had  some  long  horse-ropes,  and  he 
wanted  to  string  the  melons  and  festoon  the 
wagon.  We  finally  compromised,  and  made 
things  harmonious  by  adding  a  few  more  mel- 
ons to  our  load.  Coming  events  cast  their 
shadows  before  them.  Mr.  Wilder  will  yet  sit 
in  the  shadow  of  his  own  vine  and  fig-tree,  but 
the  vine  will  be  the  happy  watermelon. 

The  portion  of  country  we  were  trying  to 
reach  is  known  as  the  "White  Water  Basin," 
close  under  the  highest  point  on  the  San  Ber- 
nardino Mountains,  the  highest  elevation  in 
Southern  California,  11,000  feet  above  sea-level, 
and  locally  known  as  old  "Grayback."  Another 
lesser  mountain  is  known  as  "Baldy."  Near 
Redlands  we  entered  the  San  Mateo  Canyon, 
and  night  soon  settled  down  upon  us,  and 
obliged  us  to  camp.  We  ate  watermelons  for 
supper,  and  fed  the  rinds  to  the  horses.  The 
bosom  of  Mother  Earth  was  not  a  soft  bed.  and 
a  good  share  of  the  night  was  spent  in  a  study 
of  the  constellations,  and  a  speculation  upon 
the  condition  of  apiculture  on  the  planet  Mars. 
It  also  being  near  the  10th  of  August,  a  large 
number  of  meteors  were  blazing  across  the 
heavens.  On  the  whole  we  had  a  very  enter- 
taining night. 

The  eastern  sky  had  hardly  a  forerunner  of 
day  when  we  were  np  and  away,  having  break- 
fasted heartily  on  watermelon,  and  again  fed 
the  rind  to  the  horses. 

At  Banning  we  halted  to  give  the  colt  a  rest, 
and  the  team  a  good  square  meal  of  barley. 
We  ate  another  watermelon,  and  gave  this 
rind  also  to  the  horses.  From  Banning  we 
.entered  Cold  Water  Canyon,  which  follows  a 
serpentine  course  for  13  miles  directly  into  those 
big  mountains.  Banning  is  served  with  a  copi- 
ous water-supply  from  this  canyon,  and  is  for- 
tunate in  having  it  served  ice  cold  direct  from 
the  heart  of  nature.  For  ten  miles  the  water 
runs  down  an  artificial  stone  and  cement  chan- 
nel with  as  much  of  a  fuss  and  a  splashing  as 
the  waters  of  Lodore. 

At  a  little  past  noon  we  arrived  at  the  head 
of  navigation— for  wagons.  We  had  got  beyond 
the  realms  of  dust,  45  miles  from  Riverside,  and 
we  camped  in  a  shady  nook,  ate  another  water- 
melon and  gave  liu^,  rind  to  the  horses,  and  en- 
joyed a  delightful  nap  under  the  trees. 


WHITE    WATEK   BASIN— OUK   PACK-TKAIX. 

Near  us  was  the  cabin  of  a  lone  mountaineer. 
He  was  a  bee-keeper  in  a  small  way,  and  gave 
a  very  good  report  as  to  the  honey  resources  of 
the  mountains.  The  blossoms  open  much  later 
here  than   in   the  valleys:  and  if  Califurnians 


IS'.IJ 


liLi;  \.\1N(;S  IN   KHI<:  CULTURE. 


ever  practice  migratory  bee-lvcepiufi  it  will  be 
to  move  bees  from  the  valleys  into  the  inoiiii 
tains,  thus  i)i'olonjiiii}i  the  season.  Many  of 
thesr  i-anyons  are  well  seeded  to  white  sat^e  and 
wild  hneUwheat.  The  latter  plant  continues 
to  blossom  lor  several  months  if  there  is  enougii 
moistnre  in  the  earth  to  keep  up  it.-? develop- 
ment. Many  of  these  canyons  are  entirely 
unoccupied  except  by  many  swarms  of  wild 
bees,  and  are  waiting  foi'  some  enterprising 
bee-keeper  to  step  in  and  test  tlicir  value  for 
honey  production. 

From  this  point  our  mode  of  travel  was  to  be 
changed:  every  thing  for  the  next  several  miles 
had  to  be  packed  on  the  backs  of  liorses.  and 
over  a  narrow  mountain  trail.  .\  long  way  up 
between  the  mountains  we  could  see  the  pass 
we  should  have  to  cross;  and  though  it  was 
four  o'clock  we  resolved  to  push  on.  Mr.  Fer- 
guson proved  to  be  an  expert  at  the  pack-saddle 


blind.  A  "blind '■  trail  is  where  short  bushes 
branch  over  it,  completi^ly  hiding  it  from  view; 
t)ut  by  entering  at  the  right  place,  and  pressing 
through,  the  hranclics  give  way  and  tlic  trail 
is  (>asily  follosvcd;  hut-  a  1)1  ind  trail  becomes 
indeed  blind  under  forest-trees  at  night,  and  we 
soon  lost  it  entirely.  While  Mr.  F.  and  myself 
were  peering  here  and  there  for  it  in  the  dark 
we  heard  tiu'  coo-cc  of  Mr.  Wilder,  who  was 
on  ahead;  and  after  exchanging  shouts  he  gave 
us  the  welcome  news  that  h(^  had  found  water. 
We  stum  hied  over  rotten  logs,  brush,  and  rocks, 
and  pitched  our  camp  in  a  deep  gulcli,  near  a 
beautiful  cold  spring,  and  it  was  a  rare  good 
fortune  to  find  it,  for  springs  have  a  way  of 
showing  them^ielves  for  a  fi-w  yards  and  then  as 
suddenly  dis;ii)pearing.  Our  camp-lire  liglitcd 
up  the  big  pines.  Our  fatiguing  forced  march 
gave  us  a  good  appetite  for  another  water- 
melon, and  the  horses  had  the  rind.  That  niglit 


WIIITK    W.VTER   BASIX. 


business,  and  every  thing  was  .soon  packed 
except  a  few  watermelons.  Mr.  VV.  looked  at 
them  so  afTectionately  that  a  couple  were  pack- 
ed, and  the  rest  were  left  in  nature's  refriger- 
ator, that  ice-cold  mountain  stream,  until  our 
return.  Owing  to  the  lati'ue.ss  of  the  hour  our 
journey  became  a  forced  march,  for  the  trail 
was  longer  and  steeper  than  we  imagined.  The 
shades  of  night  were,  however,  falling  as  w(> 
crossed  the  pass  and  hurriedly  plunged  into  the 
next  canyon. 

Our  anxiety  now  was  to  find  water  and  a 
camping-place.  Our  trail  was  on  a  rapid  down 
grade,  and  in  a  forest  of  immense  pine,  cedar, 
and  fir  trees,  eight  and  ten  feet  in  diameter.  A 
cedar  in  the  basin,  from  actual  measurement. 
was  40  feet  in  circumference.  As  the  shadows 
became  deeper  we  had  some  difficulty  in  keep- 
ing the  trail.  There  is  so  little  travel  in  this 
wilderness    that    the    trail    in   many   places  is 


we  had  to  make  our  bed  on  quite  an  incline, 
and  had  no  little  fear  of  slipping  out  of  bed  feet 
first.  =3 

The  light  of  another  day  revealed  our  lost  trail 
and  also  another  pass  to  surmount.  This  was 
easily  accomplished,  and  we  were  looking  down 
into  a  deep  and  wild  region  known  as  White 
Water  Basin,  the  mo^t  inaccessible  portion  of 
the  San  Bernardino  Mountains.  Our  descent 
here  in  many  places  zigzagged  down  declivities 
at  an  angle  of  4.5  degrees;  and  here  in  this  wild 
gorge,  witli  no  other  ()utlet  than  over  the  nar- 
row dilhcult  trail  we  had  travei-sed.  some  one 
at  some  time  had  made  an  abortive  effort  to 
build  a  rude  sawmill:  and  the  big  wheel  and 
timbei-s  looked  specterlike  in  their  wild  sur- 
roundings. A  little  beyond  was  an  unoccupied, 
well-ventilated  shake  cabin,  and  close  at  hand 
an  ice-cold  stream  of  water,  and  for  several 
davs  this  was  our  headquarters.    We  ate  our 


738 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  ]. 


last  watermelon  here,  and  Mr.  Wilder  sadly 
gave  the  last  rind  to  the  horses. 

A  few  days  were  now  spent  in  hunting.  My 
companions  strode  out  with  their  rifles  for  big 
game — bears,  mountain  lions,  mountain  sheep, 
wild-cats,  etc.  Signs  of  deer  were  quite  plenti- 
ful, and  some  were  visible;  but  State  laws  for- 
bid killing  them,   and   my   friends  were  law- 


THE   RAMBLER  BEFORE   CLIMBING   GRAYBACK. 


abiding:  then  would  not  shoot  deer— oh,  no! 
The  Rambler  contented  himself  with  the  shot- 
gun and  camera:  and  wiien  we  all  gathered  at 
night  around  our  camp-lire  it  was  the  shotgun 
that  brought  down  the  small  game  for  our 
repast. 

After  tramping  ii round  the  lower  mountains 
to  quite  an  extent  we  held  a  council  one  even- 
ing around  our  c;nnp-lire  in  relation  to  scaling 


old  Grayback.  There  is  no  trail  to  the  top  from 
this  basin,  and  the  ascent  is  very  difficult. 
The  mountains  here  are  scarred  with  deep 
gulches  running  up  their  sides.  The  ridge  be- 
tween the  gulches  is  called  a  "'hogback:"  and 
to  climb  any  of  these  mountains  we  must  take 
this  jagged  way.  While  discussing  the  pros 
and  cons  of  the  effort,  Mr.  Ferguson  mildly 
suggested  that,  if  there 
were  a  big  watermelon  up 
there.  Wilder'd  get  there 
certain.  We  all  resolved, 
however,  to  get  there,  and 
were  off  at  .5:30  in  the  morn- 
ing, with  a  few  rations  and 
bottle  of  water  each.  For 
a  few  hours  our  climb  was 
quite  steady:  but  as  we 
emerged  from  the  timber- 
line  our  way  was  more  and 
more  obstructed.  Our  short- 
er respiration  also  made  us 
take  frequent  rests.  Deep 
chasms  yawned  at  our  feet, 
and  a  careless  step  would 
slide  the  victim  down  a 
thousand  feet  into  a  jagged 
abyss  where  reigned  "'con- 
fusion worse  confounded,"  a 
lit  scene  for  the  location  of 
Dante's  Inferno. 

After  six  hours  of  climb- 
ing, the  last  summit  was 
scaled  with  a  shout,  and  we 
found  here  a  basin  se-veral 
acres  in  extent,  carpeted 
with  a  coarse  gray  sand — 
disintegrated  granite.  At 
one  side  was  a  very  at- 
tractive and  beautiful  snow- 
hank,  several  rods  in  extent. 
From  a  pool  in  its  side  we 
quenched  our  thirst,  replen- 
ished our  bottles,  and  in- 
dulged in  the  boyish  pastime 
of  snowballing,  and  this  on 
the  ()th  of  August,  when 
people  were  sizzling  with 
heat  in  the  valleys  below. 

After  enjoying  our  sand- 
wiches, snow  water,  and  a 
restful  nap  upon  the  sand, 
we  sought  the  highest  of 
the  three  mounts  that 
crown  the  summit  of  Gray- 
back,  anu  had  a  view  grand 
beyond  description.  To  the 
south  we  looked  down  upon 
the  San  Jacinto  Mountains, 
and  the  thriving  towns 
around  it.  To  the  east  the 
far-reaching  Mojave  Des- 
ert and  th(^  noted  Salton 
Sea:  nortli  is  a  series  of 
mountains  and  canyons,  and 
awav  beyond,  again,  the 
desert.  Over  the  distant 
mountains  a  thunderstorm 
is  bombarding  the  wilder- 
ness, adding  to  the  wildness 
of  the  scene.  To  the  west 
we  see  what  appears  to  be 
the  blue  of  distant  moun- 
tains: but  the  glass  reveals  it  to  be  the  Pacific 
Ocean.  Our  eyes  follow  down  the  range  toward 
Los  Angeles,  and  see  the  crown  of  Old  Baldy. 
then  the  lesser  Cucamonga:  and  away  down 
toward  the  coast  is  a  very  prominent  ant-hill. 
We  pass  the  glass  from  hand  to  hand,  and, 
"  Why!"  we  exclaim,  "  that's  Mount  Wilson." 
Then  we  all  put  our  thumbs  in  the  armholes 
of  our    vests    and  smile.    "-And  th<(Vs   Mount 


1893 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


720 


Wilson  I  What  a  fuss  some  pcoplo  do  iiiaUi' 
oviT  climbinir  iliat  little  hill,  and  over  a  good 
trail  tool  Wliyl  it  looks  as  thougli  it  could 
bo  put  on  a  wlu't'lbarrow  and  dumped  into  tlic 
racilicl  Y<^s.  yes!  l.,os  Ansrt  les  pi opie  must 
be  easily  saiislicd  to  climb  that  liiile  hill  and 
call   it  Kianil.'" 


KAMJ5LEH  rLIMHIXG  GRAYBACK:  XO  STDKWALKS 
HERE. 

Our  visit  was  limited  to  three  hours,  and  we 
kept  our  eyes  and  imagination  busy  absoi'bing 
the  grandeur.  From  such  an  elevation  one 
gets  a  clear  idea  of  the  lay  of  the  countiy  and 
the  location  of  towns,  and  can  imagine  the 
changes  to  be  wrouglit  in  the  next  few  years. 
Upon  the  summit  of  Grayback  there  is  no  vege- 
tation except  now  and  then  a  clump  of  hardy 
moss.  The  only  life  we  saw  was  a  butterfly; 
and  not  a  great  distance  from  the  top  we  saw  a 
honey-bee. 

Qui'  descent  was  by  another  route,  but  rough 
and  full  of  interest.  We  broke  camp  the  next 
day.  and  left  the  mo^^t  grand  and  silent  forest 
we  were  ever  in.  Our  ucck's  outing  had  cost 
us  more  hardship  and  labor  than  a  month's 
work  in  the  apiary:  and  though  the  dew  rested 
on  our  f;ices  while  sleeping  under  the  stars, 
we  caught  no  colds  nor  rheuinatir  puins.  No 
especial  episode  markcnl  our  homeward  Journey; 
therefore  when  you  eat  a  watermelon,  feed  the 
rind  to  the  horses  and  remember  Mr.  Wilder 
and  the  Rambler. 


NOTES  ON  TRE  BICYCLE. 


THHOL'OH   THE   GAS   AND   OIL   REGIONS;    ,V   CXIA. 
UPON  DR.   A.   B.   MA.SON  AND  E.   E.   IIASTy. 


Some  one  has  said,  that "'  variety  is  the  spice 
of  life,"  and  I  am  fast  beginning  to  believe  it. 
Good  roads,  no  hills,  no  mud.  no  sand,  no  rain, 
make  touring  on  the  wheel  easy  but  monoto- 
nous. Still,  if  I  were  to  have  my  way  in  stnH- 
iufj  out  for  a  flay  of  cycling  I  should  "prefer  to 
have  no  novelties  of  this  sort;  but  nfteitvard 
it  is  not  so  pleasant  to  look  back  uijon. 

You  remember  tliat  I  had  left  Norwalk  after 
visiting  S.  F.  Newman,  determined  to  make  a 
start,  even  if  it  did  rain,  which  it  did.  While  I 
was  on  the  brick  pavement  all  was  smooth 
sailing.  I  was  told  there  was  only  one  hill  aft- 
er leaving  the  pavement,  and  that  a  clay  one, 
that  would  be  likely  to  give  me  any  trouble, 
between  Norwalk  and  the  next  town;  but  that 
hill  I    After  the  lieavy  rain  during  the  forenoon. 


the  mud  was  about  the  consistency  of  iirst-class 
soap— slippery  and  heavy.  1  will  not  attempt 
to  give  you  my  exijerieiice.  but  simply  state 
that,  on  arriving  at  the  top,  I  concluded  there 
was  no  poetry  in  w  heeling  through  the  mud. 
The  conclusion  forced  itself  ujjon  me  that  I 
must"cl>an  up"" — at  least  dispose  of  some  of 
thesur[)lus  mud  adhiMing  to  my  shoes  and  the 
two  wheels.  After  hunting  about  a  little  I 
found  a  crooked  stick.  With  this  I  managed  to 
scraije  otT  the  great  cloilsof  clay  from  my  feet, 
and  tlien  with  tlie  same  instrniuent  piocecdcd  to 
push  the  chunks  of  mud  out  from  between  the 
spokes,  I  was  linally  obliged  to  tinish  up  with 
my  bare  hands.  While  thus  engaged  the  resi- 
dents along  the  street  se(>med  to  cast  pitying 
glances,  not  unmingled  with  ridicule.  Ail  of 
this  I  accepted  meekly.  After  the  job  was 
all  finished  I  found  a  nice  footpath  along 
the  side  of  the  road,  and  on  this  I  made, 
good  time,  though  I  was  obliged  to  run  over 
briers  for  s<'veral  stretches  with  my  pneu- 
matic tire,  where  a  hedge  fence  had  just  been 
trimmed.  But  it  was  either  briers  or  mud,  and 
I  chose  the  fortner,  willing  to  take  my  chances 
on  a  punctured  tire. 

Just  before  I  arrived  in  the  town  I  observed 
that  I  was  too  muddy  an  object  to  go  into  the 
town,  and  too  proud  to  receive  the  jeers  of  the 
"  small  boy,"'  Before  crossing  a  river  I  found  a 
chance  to  go  down  inio  the  water,  and,  by  the 
slow  process  of  splashing  water  with  my  hand, 
I  managed  in  time  to  wash  off  the  mud,  and 
then  with  my  hankerchief  I  wiped  off  the,  wet. 
After  cleaning  myself  up,  I  proceeded  to  go 
into  town,  determined  that  I  would  take  no 
more  road.  I  next  took  the  railroad  track,  and 
pounded  the  ties  —  literally  so — for  nearly 
twenty  miles,  some  of  the  time  crossing  trestle- 
work.  At  the  end  of  the  day  the  pneumatic 
tire  showed  the  effect  of  the  journey,  by  having 
horrid  gaps  in  one  or  two  places. 

As  it  was  night  I  put  up  in   the  hotel  in  the 

town  of .    After  a  good  supper  I  retired  to 

the  hotel  office,  or  barroom.  Three  men  were 
playing  cards,  and  I  was  invited  to  make  up 
the  company.  I  meekly  said  I  did  not  know 
how  ro  play.  The  trio  were  greatly  astoni-^hed. 
and  I  sat  down  to  read  the  |>aper.  They  cursed 
good  naturedly  over  the  ga'ne  to  such  an  ex- 
tent tliat  it  made  my  blood  fairly  tingle.  I  was 
just  deciding  to  go  out  of  the  room,  when,  in 
the  adjoining  room,  or  ladies'  parlor,  the  sweet 
strains  of  •'Neai'er,  my  God,  to  thee,'  rang  out. 
A  young  lady  had  been  practicing  on  a  piano, 
and  she  Hnaliy  turned  to  this  beautiful  piece, 
singing  in  a  strons.  clear  voice,  that  wonderful 
hymn.  I  wanted  to  go  into  that  room,  where 
the  atmosphere.  I  felt  sure,  was  purer  and 
better;  l)Ut  I  thought  it  would  be  intruding, 
and  so  I  heard  on  the  one  -ide  God's  name  tak- 
en in  vain,  and  on  the  other  his  name  not  in 
vain.  Itse(>med  impossible  to  me  t.hat  the  two 
kinds  of  sounds  could  very  long  continue  to- 
gether in  conflict;  and  (inally,  to  my  great  joy, 
the  swearing  ceased. 

The  next  morning  the  roads  had  improved 
considerably,  as  the  rain  had  stoijped.  I  made 
good  time  without  any  novelties  save  now  and 
then  the  troubh'some  dog.  and  linally  found 
myself  in  Fostoria.  :{0  miles  away.  Here  I  re- 
mained for  a  couple  of  days,  not  with  a  bee- 
keeper, but  with  an  old  chum  and  classmate, 
Mr.  Geo.  M.  Gray,  printer  and  publisher.  Fos- 
toria  is  one  of  the  great  booming  towns  of  Ohio. 
It  has  struck  natural  ga-^.  and  struck  it  rich, 
for  immense  glass-factories  have  started  up.  as 
the  gas  offers  peculiar  facilities.  On  Monday 
morning  I  started  on  my  tour  again.  Mr.  (Jray 
accompanying  me  a  part  of  the  way  on  another 
wheel.  We  went  through  the  gas  and  oil 
regions,  and    pursued   our  journey   together  as 


r30 


GLEAIsliSGS  IN  HKK  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


far  as  Perrysburg.  Hei-e  Mr.  Gray  left  me.  and 
I  proceeded  on  my  way  to  Aubiirndale,  a  sub- 
urb of  Toledo,  where  Ur.  Mason  resides.  I 
landed  in  a  region  largely  inhabited  by  Po- 
lacks,  in  Toledo.  In  making  ray  journey 
through  the  country,  I  had  been  depending 
upon  the  directions  given  by  English-speaking 
people:  but  here  I  was.  in  a  maze  indeed.  No- 
body knew  where  Auburndale  or  Wagonworks 
was,  at  least  they  gave  me  a  shake  of  the  head, 
although  I  knew  I  was  within  a  mile  and  a  half 
of  the  place:  and  when  I  did  find  somebody 
who  professed  to  know,  he  directed  me  wrong. 
The  result  was,  I  wandered  around  aimlessly, 
misdirected  for  two  hours,  within  a  compara- 
tively short  distance  of  Dr.  Mason's  home.  A 
small  boy,  also  a  Polack.  hearing  me  inquire 
the  way.  finally  gave  me  directions  that  sent 
me  straight  to  Dr.  Mason's  postoffice.  I  had 
begun  tomistrust  everybody,  and  did  not  even 
'  thank  him  for  his  kindly  service. 

I  found  Dr.  Mason  just  coming  out  of  his 
postoffice.  1  called  to  him,  but  he  failed  to 
recognize  me  at  first.  Quickly  recovering  from 
his  surprise,  he  broke  out  with  "Well,  welll 
where  did  you  come  from?"  I  accompanied 
him  home,  where  he  kindly  dusted  me  off  and 
made  me  look  a  little  more  presentable  to  civ- 
ilized society.  When  a  chap  has  been  out  on 
the  road,  covered  with  dust,  wearing  a  knick- 
erbocker  suit,  long  stockings,  low  shoes,  and  a 
Canadian  helmet  hat,  he  feels  as  if  he  did  not 
belong  to  decent  society.  But  Dr.  Mason  and 
his  family,  like  all  other  bee-keepers  I  have 
met,  cared  little  for  exterior,  and  I  felt  at  home 
at  once. 

The  next  morning  we  took  a  look  at  the 
Mason  bees.  I  had  brought  no  veil  with  me, 
and,  in  accordance  with  my  natural  instincts, 
I  stood  a  liitle  aloof:  but  the  doctor,  barehead- 
ed, barehanded,  and  without  smoker  or  veil, 
proceeded  to  open  up  the  hives,  and  ascertain 
w^hat  those  bees  were  doing.  •'!  thought  they 
Avere  bringing  in  honey,"  said  he.  "See  here," 
he  added,  showing  me  a  comb  crammed  full  of 
capped  honey.  "Tluise  colonies  need  an  ex- 
tracting." lie  had  been  so  busy  that  he  had 
not  had  time  to  look  them  over  befon-  then: 
but  he  fully  resolved  to  give  them  s^n  extract- 
ing at  once.  It  was  after  the  regular  honey- 
flow,  but  nevertheless  a  good  supply  was  coin- 
ing, evidently  from  sweet  clover.  Pretty  soon 
the  doctor  besan  to  feel  for  the  top  of  his  bald 
head,  and  then  for  his  nose,  for  the  bees  were 
beginning  to  imsh  in  tht'ir  stings  at  a  pretty 
good  rate.  lie  was  finally  obliged  to  take 
shelter  in  the  barn,  while  I  helped  him  pull  out 
one  or  two  ugly  stings.  The  next  time  he  re- 
turned he  had  on  a  Thos.  G.  Newman  globe 
bee-veil;  as  for  a  smoker,  he  would  not  bother 
with  one  for  just  two  or  three  colonies. 

A  little  later  in  the  forenoon  the  doctor  and  I, 
accompanied  by  the  Mason  horse,  already  men- 
tioned by  Rambler,  made  a  short  run  up  to  the 
residence  of  Emerson  E.  Hasty,  at  Richards,  O. 
After  making  many  crooks  and  turns  we  finally 
arrived  at  a  very  pretty  country  home.  The 
first  thing  that  struck  me  forcibly  was  a  long 
beautiful  double  row  of  maples  covering  the 
driveway  up  to  the  Hasty  house. 

Just  as  we  were  about  to  get  out  of  the  car- 
riage, our  friend  Hasty  made  his  appearance. 
He  had  been  working  among  the  bees,  having 
a  veil  and  a  hat  on  his  head,  th(^  veil  being 
tucked  up  under  the  hat  at  the  time,  ready  for 
emergency  as  we  shall  see.  He  had  been  water- 
ing some  of  his  choice  flowers,  for  it  was  easy 
to  see  that  he  was  passionately  fond  of  them. 
He  was  growing  them  in  luxuriance  all  about 
the  apiary>  and  here  and  there  he  showed  us 
some  of  his  choicest  beauties. 

True  to  the  instincts  of  all   bee-keepers,  we 


finally  worked  into  the  apiary:  and  after  we 
had  been  there  a  few  moments  I  rather  con- 
cluded that  the  temper  of  the  Hasty  bees  was 
nearly  as  bad  as  that  of  the  Punics,  or  Tunis- 
ians. In  every  apiary  there  are  some  novelties, 
or  some  new  wrinkles,  and  these  we  examined 
while  the  bees  now  and  then  reminded  us  of 
their  presence  by  a  fresh  injection  of  apLs 
Dirurn.  The  view  in  Rambler's  picture  (seep. 
914,  Dec.  1,  LS91),  of  the  apiary,  is  a  good  one. 
Mr.  H.  apologized  for  the  appearance  of  his 
yard,  adding  that  he  had  not  expected  visitors. 
Nevertheless  the  apiary  presented  a  much 
cleaner  and  neater  appeai'ance  than  most  of 
them  do  in.  the  country.  After  enjoying  a 
pleasant  chat  we  took  our  departure,  and  soon 
arrived  at  the  Mason  home. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  the  wheel  and  I  start- 
ed on  our  journey  on  the  most  direct  I'oute  to 
Detroit,  some  7.5  miles  away.  No  novel  experi- 
ences met  me  on  the  way.  save  once,  when  I 
came  to  a  standstill.  It  was  not  at  the  end  of 
the  road,  but  the  bridge  was  down,  and  the 
water  was  clear  and  deep.  I  finally  espied  a 
raft,  and  with  fear  and  trembling,  crawled  on 
to  it  with  the  wheel.  It  just  :M'ld  us  up.  By 
proceeding  cautiously  I  made  the  other  side, 
and  had  the  satisfaction  of  landing  my  Safety 
in  safety.  Well,  you  know  the  rest.  I  got  into 
Detroit,  feeling  unusually  well  after  my  long 
ride. 


THAT  PECULIAR  DISEASE. 


ONE   WHICH    ItESEMBLES    FOVl.    liliOOD: 
CUKE   IT. 


I  see  on  page  594.  August  1.  and  page  074. 
Sept.  1.  what  you  say  about  the  disease  that 
resembles  foul  brood.  If  you  will  turn  to  page 
2.56.  1883.  you  \\  ill  there  see  what  Miltdu  Hewitt 
said.  Is  this  not  the  same  disease?  Also  on 
page  398.  same  volume,  is  another  ai'ticle  from 
L.  C.  Lincoln,  speaking  of  something  similar. 
You  will  also  notice  what  I  said  on  page  4(il. 
same  volume.  I  then  stopped  the  disease  by 
giving  a  new  queen.  I  have  since  cured  (luite  a 
number  of  colonies  t)v' i'equ<'euing  them.  It  will 
work  every  time  if  there  is  a  good  honey-flow: 
but  if  there  is  no  hon«^y  coming  in.  it  will  not 
work  so  well.  I  have  also  cured  them  with  the 
carbolic-acid  solution  mixed  in  sugar  syrup, 
feeding  them  liberally  for  a  weiik  or  two.  I 
also  had  three  colonies  affected  in  the  same 
way  two  years  ago,  just  before  the  white  clover 
began  to  yield  honey,  and  it  disappeared  dur- 
ing the  honey-How,  and  has  never  returned. 
This  present  season  I  had  om'  colony  affected. 
I  cured  it  by  simply  feeding  sugar  syrup  for 
about  ten  days. 

By  the  way,  I  think  bees  are  something  like 
ourselves— plenty  of  good  healthy  food,  and 
something  to  do,  is  the  best  of  medicine:  and 
hereafter,  in  treating  the  above  disease,  if  the 
queen  is  not  an  exti'a  good  one.  off'  comes  her 
head,  and  I'll  r(>place  her  with  a  young  one: 
and  if  there  is  not  plenty  of  honey  coming  from 
the  field  I  will  supply  the  colony  with  a  feeder. 
This  disease  has  about  destroyed  all  the  bees  in 
box  hives  in  this  country.  I  think  it  is  conta- 
gious to  a  certain  extent,  but  nothing  like  real 
foul  brood.  P.  D.  Milleh. 

(Jrapeville,  Pa..  Sept.  13. 

[After  carefully  reading  the  references  you 
name,  we  are  not'so  certain  that  the  disease  to 
which  you  refer  is  the  same  as  the  one  which 
appeared  of  late  in  our  yard  and  in  other  places: 
still.it  may  be  the  same.  In  any  event  it  is 
good  policy  to  first  requeen;  and.  if  that  does 
iiot  answer,  to  do  something  else.] 


1892 


i;i,K.\NiX(;s  IN  mcE  cultlike. 


:?A 


A  MAMMOTH  LOCUST. 


SOMKllllNH   AHOIT  <iUA>s||()n'Kl{S  IX  G  KNKKA  I,. 


Tlu'  hiigo  loriist  received  tliroiiffli  you 
from  S.  F.  Hcniian.  Tuscaloosa.  Alabama, 
is  one  of  our  larpcsi  locusts.  It  is  Uiiown  to 
<i'i(MU'i'  as  lUctiinplmnis  rctlculittiis.  I  inclose 
a  LTood  (lra\viii<r— ualiiral  size— which  gives  an 
excellent  idea  of  this  colossal  liopper.  It  is 
fully  three  inches  in  length,  black,  with  obscui'e 
reddish  relicnlalions  on  the  tegmin;e,  as  the 
thick  iipi)er  wings  of  such  insects  are  called, 
and  is  marked  with   vdlow  as  follows:     Along 


katydids,  fasten  their  eggs  to  plants,  and  are 
rarely  so  numerous  sis  to  become  very  harmful. 
(;rasshoi>i)ers  and  some  of  the  locusts  stridulato 
—that  is,  make  a  whirring  sound  by  rubbing 
tlie  legs  against  ilie  wings.  This  noise  is  heard 
constantly  in  late  summer  and  fall.  Both 
locusts  and  grasslioppers  undergo  incoinphite 
transformations:  that  is,  tliey  look  alike  at  all 
ages,  but  the  larvje  hav(!  no  wings:  the  pupae, 
mere  wing-pods;  while  the  adult  has  coinplete 
wings,  and  is  sexually  developed.  I  should  like 
moreofthe.se  huge  locusts,  as  this  is  the  first 
one  in  our  collection. 


'<!^S^^ 


I.OC'ITST— FULL   SIZE. 


narrow  strip  runs  the  whole  length  of  the  body, 
from  the  vertex,  or  top  of  the  head,  along  the 
pronotuni.  as  the  back  of  the  lirst  thoracic 
ring  is  called,  and  extends  the  entire  length  of 
the  abdomen,  clear  to  the  tail.  On  the  abdo- 
men this  broadens  out  posteriorly  on  each  ring, 
so  we  see  a  succession  of  yellow  triangles, 
with  the  vertex  of  each  in  front.  The  prono- 
tum.  the  saddlelike  pii'ce  on  the  back,  between 
the  head  and  wings,  lias  a  narrow  yellow  bor- 
der behind.  There  is  also  a  yellow  short  line 
on  the  front,  just  below  the  eyes.  The  hinder 
margin  of  each  ring,  on  the  under  side  of  the 
abdomen,  is  bright  yellow,  and  a  broken  yel- 
lowish white  line  marks  each  side  of  the  abdo- 
men. A  sober  olive-colored  ring  surrounds  the 
base  of  the  four  hinder  legs,  and  lines  of  the 
same  color  mark  the  posterior  thighs.  The 
tegminie.  or  upper  wings,  are  short.  The  under 
wings  are  quite  small,  and  are  brilliant  red. 
bordi-red  with  black.  The  insect  is  confined,  I 
think,  to  the  Gulf  States,  and,  like  all  locusts, 
feeds  on  vegetation.  I  judge  it  must  be  a 
clumpy,  awkward  species,  much  easier  to  catch 
than  till'  most  of  our  northern  species.  It  is  easy 
to  distinguish  the  locusts,  as  entomologists  call 


Mr.  Ja.s.  P.  IJrown,  Colora,  Md.,  writes  me  as 
follows:  "I  send  you  by  mail  a  worm,  which  to 
me  is  a  stranger.  I  have  been  very  much  in- 
terested in  your  writings  in  Gleanings:  and 
hoping  that"  you  may  bi' able  to  spare  time  to 
name  and  describe  this  remarkable  specimen,  I 
send  it  to  von.'" 

This  is  e"ven  more  unique  and  startling  than 
is  the  locust  sent  by  Mr.  Herman,  from  Ala- 
bama. It  is  the  regal  walnut  moth.  We  call  it 
Cithcronia  retjdHs.  I  .send  a  drawing  which 
accurately  represents  this  larva,  which  has 
been  called  the  "  horned  devil."  It  is  over  four 
inches  long,  three-fourths  of  an  inch  thick,  and 
is  dark  green  in  color.  The  head  and  tip  of  the 
bodv  are  brown.  Small  black  spines,  as  shown 
in  the  figure,  mark  each  ring,  while  ten  large 
brown  spinous  hornlike  organs,  eight  of  which 
are  verv  long,  are  to  be  seen  just  back  of  the 
head.  As  the  insect  throws  up  its  head  and 
waves  these  horns  it  looks  very  frightful,  and, 
though  as  harmless  as  a  kitten:  it  would  no 
doubt  throw  niany  a  timid  person,  brought  up, 
unfortunately,  to  fear  and  dread  such  animals, 
into  spasms.  One  is  as  safe  in  handling  these 
caterpillars  as   he  would  be  to  handle  a  dower, 


THE    HEG.\L   W.XLNfT    MOTH.   FULL   SIZE. 


the.se  hoppers,  from  the  grasshoppers.  These 
are  usually  more  robust:  are  gray,  dusky,  or 
black,  and  have  rather  short  antennic.  as  the 
hornlike  organs  on  the  head  are  called.  The 
grasshoppers,  on  the  other  hand,  are  slim, 
usually  green,  and  have  very  long  antennte. 
The  locusts  place  their  eggs  in  the  earth,  and 
are  often  so  numerous  as  to  be  terribly  di-struc- 
tive.    The    grasshoppers,   which    include    the 


which  is  really  no  more  beautiful  or  interesting 
than  this  larva.  Thes(>  larva?  feed  on  hickory 
and  walnut.  The  moth  which  they  produce  is 
a  large  one.  of  a  rich  brown  color,  striped  with 
drab,  and  spotted  with  bright  yellow.  The 
body  is  brown,  and  bears  cross-lines  and  spots 
of  yellow.  It  is  one  of  our  most  interesting  in- 
sects. A.  J.  Cook. 
Ag'l  College,  Mich.,  Sept.  3. 


73:^ 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


WHO  IS  MY  NEIGHBOR  T 


SOMETIIIXG   FURTHER — SEE   P.   6.59. 


Frie7id  Root: — I  think  your  reply  to  Mr.  F.  H. 
Finch,  in  Sept.  1st  Gleanings,  is  a  little  inap- 
propriate. The  argument  of  the  farmer  strain- 
ing to  pay  his  mortgage  off  is  hardly  to  the 
point.  The  greatest  good  to  the  gi'eatest  num- 
ber is  what  brings  happiness  to  communities, 
and  communities  are  of  more  importance  tlian 
individuals.  Your  argument  seems  to. be  that 
the  seller  of  any  commodity,  no  matter  wheth- 
er it  be  a  luxury  or  a  necessity,  is  justified  in 
getting  all  he  can  for  it.  The  coal  barons, 
then,  are  quite  right  in  raising  the  price  of  coal. 
If  the  poor  can  not  pay  the  price,  let  them  go 
without  I  You  commend  the  conduct  of  Mr. 
France,  wlio  tried  to  buy  a  crop  of  blackberries 
that  he  might  bull  the  markei.  The  millionaire 
speculator,  then,  who  makes  a  corner  in  bread- 
stuffs  is  doing  a  Christian  work!  The  poor 
may  have  to  pay  more  for  tlieir  bread,  but 
what  does  that  matter?  I  fail  to  see  that  Mr. 
Finch  accuses  you  in  his  letter  of  having  cheat- 
ed any  one.  and  I  do  not  undersiand  how  you 
can  place  that  construction  on  what  he  says. 
It  seems  to  me  that  Mr.  F.  simply  mak^s  the 
accusation  that  you  are  a  little  inconsistent. 
He  would  not,  I  imagine,  write  as  he  did  to  you 
to  any  firm  of  nurserymen  or  gardeners  whose 
relations  with  the  public  were  of  a  purely  com- 
mercial nature.  But  it  is  somewhat  different 
with  you.  You  are  fond  of  sermonizing,  and 
pointing  out  to  your  fellows  tht'ir  moral  duties. 
Tlie  Christian  Endeavoreis  of  your  neighbor- 
hood are  a  source  of  pleasure  to  you,  and  no  one 
doubts  that  your  writings  do  a  considerable 
amount  of  good;  but  they  also  lay  you  open  to 
a  criticism  that  otliers.  whose  religion  is  less 
demonstrative,  would  escape. 

Your  line  of  reasoning  may  be  logical,  but 
yon  ought  not  to  feel  hurt  because  some  others 
vipw  it  in  a  different  light.        W.  E.  Money. 

Cobham,  Va.,  Sept.  11. 

[I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  indeed, 
friend  M..  for  your  kind  letter,  and  your  sug- 
gestion that  friend  Finch  and  I  did  imt  under- 
stand each  other.  I  did  not  think  of  carrying 
the  idea  that  the '-seller  of  any  commodity  " 
might  with  a  clear  conscience  cliarge  all  he  can 
get:  in  fact,  I  drew  the  line  fairly.  I  thought, 
in  my  concluding  remarks  when  I  said.  "•If  the 
farmers  were  getting  rich,  and  were  pi'oud  and 
arrogant  toward  the  banks  and  railroad  men,'" 
etc.  You  may  be  aware,  perhaps,  that  I  have, 
at  different  times  during  my  life,  taken  up  a 
great  variety  of  industries.  In  my  effort  lo  find 
work  for  people  to  do.  I  have  stood  behind  the 
counter  and  sold  a  great  variety  of  goods  :  I 
have  worked  in  the  factoiy.  and  I  have  also 
worked  in  the  fields.  The  products  of  the  farm 
and  garden  are  quite  ditTi-rent  things  from  the 
goods  produced  by  our  large  factories:  and,  in 
fact,  they  are  qiiite  different  from  flour  and 
coal.  These  latter  are  not  perishable  goods. 
and  are  obtained  from  so  wide  an  extent  of 
countiy  that  there  is  a  uniform  market  price, 
as.  for  instance,  the  goods  on  the  shelves  at  a 
hardware  store.  Now,  if  a  merchant  should 
purchase  either  coal  or  finnr  at  a  certain  price, 
say  a  dollar,  and  charge  his  customers  two  or 
three  dollars,  it  would  be  extortion,  providing, 
of  course,  he  knew  where  he  could  get  an  un- 
limited supply  at  the  price  mentioned.  He 
would  not  be  doing  by  his  customers  as  he 
would  be  done  by. 

I  hardly  need  tell  you  that'  the  products  of 
the  garden,  and  many  products  of  the  farm,  are 
different  matters  indeed.  Potatoes  are  worth 
to-day  in  our  market  from  (50  to  70  cents  per 


bushel,  and  I  am  exceedingly  glad  of  it.  It 
rejoices  my  heart  every  time  I  see  a  load  of 
potatoes  come  into  market.  A  neighbor  of 
mine  has,  by  great  care  and  perhaps  some  good 
luck,  secured  2000  bushels  of  nice  potatoes. 
Suppose  he  should  say  that  40  cents  is  enough, 
and  that  he  believed  it  to  be  unchristianlike  to 
take  more.  If  he  were  to  do  this  it  would  do 
great  damage  and  great  wrong  to  hundreds  of 
small  potato-growers  who  are  dependent  upon 
their  crop  of  potatoes  for  the  necessaries  of  life. 
If  potatoes  are  enough  cheaper  somewhere  else, 
so  somebody  can  bring  in  several  carloads,  and 
the  supply  is  great  enough  to  keep  the  price 
down  to  40  or  .50  cents,  it  would  be  all  right; 
for,  to  overlialance  those  who  suffer  here,  there 
would  be  a  benefit  to  potato-growers  where 
these  carloads  came  fjom— enough  to  compen- 
sate. 

I  heartily  ngr'ee  with  your  expression.  "'Tlie 
greatest  good  to  the  gicatest  number."  Friend 
Finch.  howev(>r,  by  his  own  confession,  did  a 
little  good  to  a  small  numlM'r,  and  by  so  doing 
did  a  great  damage  to  a  large  number  by  break- 
ing down  tbe  pi'ice  when  it  ought  ?iof  to  have 
been  broken  down.  Yon  see.  we  can  not  have 
an  established  price  on  gai'denstuff  and  per- 
ishable fruits  as  we  can  on  the  goods  we  find  at 
the  hardware  stores. 

Another  thing,  there  are  so  many  people  just 
now  deciding  that  farming  does  Hot  pay,  and 
there  is  such  a  widespread  stampede  froin  the 
farms  into  the  towns  and  cities,  that  real  trou- 
ble is  coming  unless  the  farmer  and  gardener 
get  some  encouragement;  and  this  encourage- 
ment must  come  in  the  way  of  better  prices. 
Our  own  industry  of  keeping  bees  is  exactly  in 
line  right  here.  The  townspeople  and  others 
who  work  in  factories  can  take  care  of  them- 
selves, even  if  prices  do  come  up.  a  great  deal 
better  than  the  farmers  and  gardeners  now 
take  care  of  themselves.  Very  likely  the  town 
and  city  people  will  not  fall  in  with.my  position 
liere;  hut  whether  they  fall  in  or  not,  it  is 
right.  If  our  boys  continue  to  leave  the  farms 
and  crowd  into  the  cities,  and  if  encouragement 
offered  to  those  who  work  in  tlie  open  air  is  not 
increased,  our  country  is  going  to  suffer,  not 
only  physically  and  financially,  but  it  is  going 
to  suffer  terribly  in  a  moral  and  spiritual  way. 
While  I  am  writing.  I  tear  out  the  following 
clipping  from  the  Rural  New-Yorker  of  Sep- 
tember 17: 

United  States  Senator  McConnell,  of  Idalio,  began 
lis  prosperous  career  by  starting  a  truck-patch  in 
the  then  Territory  and  selling  tlie  miners  cabbages^ 
at  76  cents  a  head,  and  turnips  at  45  ceiits  a  pound ! 

Now.  that  pleases  me.  I  should  like  to  shake 
hands  with  Senator  McConnell.  If  the  miners 
were  glad  to  get  his  cabbage  at  75  cents  a  head, 
and  tuinips  at  45  cts.  per  lb..  I  think  it  \\  as  per- 
fectly right  that  he  should  charge  it;  and  1  am 
glad  to  see  piogressive  farmers  and  gardeners 
look  over  our  country  and  hunt  up  corners 
where  there  is  plenty  of  money  and  a  scarcity 
of  vegetables.  Our  good  friend  J.  M.  Smith,  of 
Green  Bay.  Wis.,  built  up  a  great  business  by 
selecting  an  unpromising  piece  of  land  for  his 
garden;  but  to  overbalance  this  he  was  so  near 
the  mining-camps  that  he  was. sure  of  big 
prices  for  his  products,  (xardeners.  farmers, 
and  friiit-growers  should  have  inducements  to 
scatter  themselves  over  the  face  of  the  earth; 
and  in  one  sense  I  consider  them  like  Christian 
people — "  the  salt  of  the  ("arth." 

Thank  you  for  your  concluding  remarks, 
friend  M.  I  did  not  feel  hurt  at  what  friend 
Finch  wi'ote,  but  I  did  feel,  and  I  do  still  feel, 
that  he,  by  his  mistaken  acts,  was  hurting  and 
damaging"  the  interests  of  a  class  of  people  who- 
sadly  need  encouragement.  Our  stenographer 
very  justly  suggests  that  those  big  onions  (and 


1892 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


733 


jiariicii-stulT  in  fjciicnil.  w  lu'ii  it  brings  large 
prioos*  arc  not  really  a  neveKslty.  If  people 
ooiihl  not  alToid  to  pay  sueh  prices  for  the 
onions,  they  eould  bny  elieaper  ones  that  did 
not  look  (juitc  as  haiuisonie.  hut  w  liicli  were, 
doubtless,  nearly  as  jrood;  or  they  I'onld  f)ur- 
oliase  a  jrn>at  variety  of  other  vejietabh^s  that 
were  i)lentifnl  and  cheap.  I  did  not  for  a  mo- 
ment mean  to  eneonraiii'  extortion  in  the  ncces- 
■sitUs  of  life  like  Hour  and  coal,  especially 
during  a  time  of  unusual  public  distress;  nor 
did  I  think  of  recontmending  any  thins  that 
would  help  monopolies,  trusts,  and  million- 
aires: and  when  I  say  "  the  greatest  good  to 
the  greatest  n\imber."  1  should  wish  to  have  it 
understood  that  I  always  mean  to  be  partial  to 
the  poor  and  )i(iril-ir(t'rli)i<j  people.  Million- 
aires do  not  need  help  and  encouragement,  as 
we  all  know.]  A.  I.  K. 


WHO  IS  MY  NEIGHBOR  1 


SOMK    WISE   WORDS   FKOM    T.    GREINEK. 


Frietid  Root: — Your  articl<>  under  this  head- 
ing, page  G59.  accidentally  comes  in  my  way  the 
second  time,  and  I  could  not  iielp  reading  it 
over  once  more.  Although  1  have  more  work 
of  a  literary  nature  on  hand  just  now  titan  I 
■<.'an  handle.  I  can  not  withstand  the  temptation 
to  lay  my  other  matters  aside  for  awhile,  and 
send  you  a  few  words  commenting  on  the  ques- 
tion pH'sented  in  the  article  mentioned. 

First.  I  must  state,  with  all  emphasis,  that 
the  farmer  or  gardener  is  entitled  to  every 
penny  that  his  products  will  f(>tch  in  an  open 
market.  Average  farming  and  average  gar- 
dening do  not  pay.  I  make  this  statement  at 
the  risk  of  being  called  a  "  calamity  howler," 
for  the  crop  reports  back  me  up  in  it.  The 
average  crops,  such  as  given  by  the  statistics. 
as,  for  instance,  10  or  12  bushels  of  wheat.  7.5  or 
80  bushels  of  potatoes,  etc..  per  acre,  can  not 
possibly  leave  any  profits.  The  man  who  pro- 
duces them  receives  but  a  fraction  of  what  his 
labor  is  really  worth  in  the  open  market. 
.Specialists  in  wheat  and  potato  growing,  etc., 
on  the  other  hand,  make  these  crops  pay  them 
good  profits.  Should  the  latter,  then,  refuse  to 
accept  the  full  market  price  for  these  products, 
on  the  ground  that  their  profits  are  too  large 
for  their  consciences,  depress  prices,  and  make 
the  business  still  more  unprofitable  for  their 
less  skilled  brethren?  Nay.  Superior  skill 
should  find  superior  reward. 

I  believe  that  cheapness  of  the  necessities  of 
life  would  lie  a  blessing  to  our  people!.  In  fact, 
prices  of  all  products  have  a  downward  ten- 
dency, and  yet  1  believe  that  the  soil -worker  is 
usually  a  little  at  a  disadvantage.  If  the  law 
of  supply  and  demand  alone  were  to  regulate 
prices,  and  allowed  to  establish  them  on  a  more 
natural  basis  than  they  are  at  present,  the 
soil-worker  would  be  enabled  to  materially  re- 
duce the  cost  of  production:  and.  if  he  has  a 
level  head,  and  manages  things  with  ordinary 
skill,  to  put  cereals  and  fruits  and  vegetables 
into  the  market,  even  at  lowci'  ligui-es  than 
now  usually  obtained  for  them,  with  a  better 
chance  of  making  the  business  pay.  At  pres- 
ent the  farmer,  as  a  class  and  a  whole,  is  not 
making  money.  I  do  not  know  of  a  single  in- 
stance of  a  man  who.  in  the  la^^t  20  years,  has 
commenced  without  money  and  has  accuniulat- 
ed  wealth  in  (jcnerol  farniina.  I  know  in- 
stances of  money  being  laid  up  by  opi-cially 
shrewd  people  who  made  a  specially  of  this  or 
that  cro]):  but  they  got  only  tlu;  just  reward 
for  their  skill  and  painstaking.  Foiced  veget- 
able crops  can  hardly  be  called  necessities  of 
life.    They  are  at  least  half-and-half  lu.xuries; 


and  neonle  that  want  them  can  be  ex  peeled  to 
pay  tne  full  market  price  for  tluiin.  It  would 
be  foolish  in  such  case  to  talk  of  oppression,  or 
taking  an  unfair  advantage  of  our  neighbor. 
I  am  naturally  of  a  liberal  disposition.  I  give 
away  a  large  share  o!  my  suiplus  of  vegetables 
and  fruits  to  neighbors,  etc.:  but  I  have  no 
scrujiles  whatever  in  taking  for  the  products  I 
send  to  market  every  cent  that  the  salesman 
can  get  out  of  them  for  mc.  Vet  I  admire  the 
conscientiousness  of  our  friend  Finch,  of  Ala- 
bama. Would  that  we  could  instill  a  little  of  it 
into  th(>  coal  kings  who  got  immensely  rich 
when  we  paid  them  S4.,")()  for  a  ton  of  coal,  and 
who  now  force  us  to  pay  an  extra  tribute  of 
W.50  per  ton!  Would  that  Mr.  Finch  could 
spare  a  Utile  of  that  conscientiousness  for  some 
of  the  Hell  Telephone  Company,  who  might 
give  us  much  better  service  at  one-tenth  the 
present  cost,  and  then  amass  an  immense  for- 
tune. Let  a  little  of  that  conscientiousness  go 
to  some  of  our  highly  protected  manufacturers, 
too.  who  are  only  too  ready  to  take  advantage 
of  restricted  competition  and  squeeze  the  con- 
sumer on  one  side  and  their  employes  on  the 
other:  a  little  of  it,  also  for  politicians  in  liigh 
and  low  places,  etc.  But  then.  I  hardly  dare  to 
hope  that  the  millennium  will  come  yet  in  this 
century.  T.  Greixei;. 

[Well  done,  old  friend.  I  am  verv  giad  in- 
deed to  have  you  come  in  and  back  me  up  by 
saying  what  I  wanted  to  say.  better  than  I  am 
able  to  say  it  myself.  I  want  to  take  excep- 
tions, however,  to  just  one  sentence  of  yours: 
"I  do  not  know  of  a  single  instance  of  a  man 
who,  in  the  last  twenty  years,  has  commenced 
without  money,  and  accumulated  wealth.'"  Of 
course,  this  refers  to  farmers  in  general.  Now, 
I  suppose  the  difference  in  opinion  will  be  in 
regard  to  the  definition  of  the  word  "wealth." 
I  know  of  hundreds  of  farmers  who  commenced 
with  nothing,  and  have  earned  a  fair  compe- 
tence by  continuing  on  the  farm.  It  seems  to 
me  they  have  as  much  wealth  as  a  man  needs 
to  make  him  a  happy  and  useful  citizen.  I 
want  to  thank  you  especially  for  the  plea  you 
put  in  for  our  good  friend  Finch.  I  most  em- 
phatically indorse  it;  but  at  the  same  time  I 
think  he  is  making  a  mistake,  and  wronging 
his  neighbors  by  blocking  the  way  for  them  to 
get  the  highest  market  price  for  their  products.] 


Lad/es'  Conversazione. 


CUTTING  OUT  DRONE  COMB,  ETC. 

BLACK  OR  ITALIAN    BEES— WHICH  DO  I  PREFER  ? 

I  fear  that,  in  one  of  my  articles  to  Glean- 
ings not  long  since,  I  gave  a  wrong  impression 
about  wintering  when  I  said.  "'  The  blacker, 
the  better  they  wintered."  Since  spring,  I 
think  it  more  the  locality  that  made  part  of  the 
difllerence  in  wintering.  Bees  that  were  so 
situated  that  they  could  gather  basswood  honey 
last  summer  wintei'ed  iK'tter  than  other  bees; 
and  the  bees  that  wer(!  kept  in  and  near  the 
basswood  timber  near  us  were  blacks  and  hy- 
brids. Again,  an  apiary  of  20  hybrid  colonies 
nearly  all  wintered  near  us.  when  our  Italians 
fared  so  poorly.  On  inquiring  into  all  the  w-hys 
and  wherefores.  1  find  they  fed  them  up  for 
winter  in  pie  tins,  extending  the  feeding  some 
five  weeks.  The  long  unw.  of  feeding  caused 
them  to  raise  brood,  while  we  fed  ours  up  in 
two  or  three  feeds.  Our  bees  were  all  old  ones 
that  went  into  winter  quarters,  consequently 
they  died  before  they  could  raise  enough   bees 


734 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


to  fill  their  places  in  the  spring.  Yet  I  do  be- 
lieve the  black  here  is  a  hardier  one  for  winter- 
ing than  the  Italian;  but  the  Italian  is  superior 
in  so  many  ways  that  it  makes  an  apiary  more 
protitable  to  keep  them.  The  pure  blacks  run 
so  that  they  are  more  liable  to  lose  their  queens 
if  handled,  and  it  is  difficult  to  find  their  queens 
after  the  colonies  have  become  populous,  as 
they  run  so  badly.  We  bought  a  few  black  and 
dark  hybrid  colonies  this  spring.  The  queens 
were  very  prolific.  They  filled  their  hives  with 
bees,  but  they  don't  gather  so  much  honey  as 
good  hybrids  or  Italians. 

As  the  old  honey  of  last  year  is  almost  as 
black  as  tar.  we  extract  each  comb  before  giv- 
ing to  the  bees,  and  we  are  surprised  to  see  so 
much  drone  comb,  which  we  have  been  care- 
fully cutting  out.  I  don't  see  how  so  much 
drone  comb  got  into  our  combs,  for  we  have  for 
years  been  cutting  it  out,  and  always  watch 
our  combs  when  being  built.  Perhaps  the 
hives  have  been  heated,  and  the  combs  have 
sagged.  I  suspect  that  was  the  case  wiih  the 
combs  that  were  built  on  foundation  starters. 

TIJYING   OUT  BEESWAX. 

Yesterday  I  gathered  up  all  my  scraps  of 
drone  combs,  etc.,  and  tried  them  out  by  heat- 
ing in  our  old  wash-boiler  filled  with  water, 
then  dipping  them  out  into  the  wax-extractor, 
and  letting  them  drain  a  few  minutes,  then 
dipping  back,  and  heating  and  draining  again 
until  I  was  sure  I  had  got  the  wax  all  out.  I 
am  sure  I  save  much  wax  by  pouring  it  back 
into  the  boiler  three  or  four  times,  and  heating 
over.  I  had  GO  lbs.  of  beeswax,  clean  and  yel- 
low. W(^  have  a  solar  wax-extractor  also.  The 
scraps  that  were  rendered  by  the  solar  extract- 
or I  saved  and  heated  up  in  a  boiler  of  water, 
and  dipped  out  into  our  Root  wax-extractor.  I 
got  just  about  one-thii'd  as  much  wax,  peilniijs 
not  quite,  as  was  in  ken  out  by  the  sun:  and 
each  solar  extractotful  was  set  and  diain<d 
several  days  before  emptying.  The  solar  ex- 
tractor does  not  render  it  out  half  as  fast  as  I 
thought  it  would— perhaps  because  of  so  few 
hot  sunshiny  days  this  summer. 

Colonies  that  have  poor  queens.  I  think,  are 
crosser  than  those  with  good  ones:  also  queen- 
less  colonies,  if  large,  are  much  more  difficult 
to  handle  than  after  the  queen  becomes  fertile 
and  is  filling  the  hive  with  eggs.  This  summer, 
when  I  found  a  full  colony  queenless  I  gave  it 
a  queen  from  a  nucleus  hive,  as  I  do  not  find 
queenless  colonies  work  nearly  so  well  in  sec- 
tions as  those  with  good  laying  queens.  The 
more  thrifty  the  queen,  the  more  section  honey 
is  stored. 

We  had  a  few  colonies  quite  a  distance  from 
the  house.  I  prevented  swarming  entirely  by 
changing  one  comb  in  the  center  once  a  week, 
changing  the  same  comb  each  time.  It  is  some 
work,  hut  I  don't  l<now  that  it  is  much  more  if 
any  more  work  than  the  hivers  would  be:  and 
then  we  have  that  one  comb  of  eggs  or  small 
larvie  to  build  up  other  weak  colonies.  The 
comb  at  the  latter  part  of  the  harvest  need  not 
be  entirely  empty  of  honey  at  the  top  of  the 
comb. 

Honey  is  retailing  in  our  home  market  yet  at 
20  cents.  Our  two  colonies  that  gave  90  pounds 
each,  if  sold  at  ;i0  cents,  would  have  brought  us 
•f  19.00  already  and  probably  a  fall  crop:  but 
likely  the  price  will  come  down  to  15. 

HOW  TO  CURE  BURNS :  TO  GET  BEES  OUT  OF 
THE  TOP  OF  A  HIVE,  ETC. 

To  cure  a  burn,  light  your  bee-smoker  and 
smoke  the  burnt  place  vigorously  from  two  to 
five  minutes,  holding  the  nozzle  "of  the  smoker 
as  close  to  the  burn  as  can  be  borne.  The  heat 
and  smoke  will  draw  out  the  fire  so  it  will  give 


no  more  pain,  or  but  little,  though  it  may  blis- 
ter a  little. 

When  feeding  bees,  or  working  with  them 
otherwise,  if  they  run  over  the  top,  and  smoke 
is  not  at  hand,  if  a  cloth  is  thrown  over  the 
hive  and  drawn  to  one  side  before  placing  on 
the  cover  it  will  clear  the  top  of  the  hive  of 
bees,  and  the  cover  may  be  placed  on  without 
killing  any  of  them.  Of  course,  the  cloth  is  left 
on  until  some  other  time,  to  be  removed. 

When  mixing  sugar  syrup  for  bees,  put  the 
water  into  the  vessel  first,  then  pour  in  the  su- 
gar, and  it  will  dissolve  quicker  and  not  need  a 
fourth  the  stirring. 

When  bees  are  not  gathering  honey,  and  one 
is  desirous  of  working  with  them,  work  btit  a 
hive  or  two  at  a  place:  that  is,  skip  around, 
first  one  side  and  then  the  other:  and  when 
they  get  too  lively  to  work,  put  one  quart  of  su- 
gar to  1:2  quarts  of  water,  and  put  it  out  in  some 
stuiny  place,  in  a  wooden  feeder.  The  first  few 
times  in  being  fed  it  will  need  to  be  sweeter: 
but  after  being  taught  to  go  to  the  feeder  they 
will  take  it  readily  in  the  summer  and  fall'. 
Last  spring  they  would  not  take  rich  sugar 
syrup  from  our  outdoor  feeder.  I  found  I  could 
work  with  bees  so  long  as  I  wished  to  any  time 
this  summer,  by  thus  feeding. 

I  saw  it  recommended  in  some  periodical,  to 
put  thin  honey  into  combs  that  are  filled  with 
bee-bread,  and  let  it  stand  a  day  or  so.  and  then 
rinse  it  out  and  place  the  combs  between  other 
combs  in  a  hive  of  bees,  and  they  will  remove 
the  bee-bread.  Our  bees  will  remove  all  pollen 
gathered  in  this  locality  by  placing  the  combs 
in  the  hive  of  bees,  no  matter  whether  in  the 
brood -nest  or  above,  or  at  one  side,  and  the 
combs  do  not  need  any  honey  poured  into  them. 
We  had  over  1000  such  combs  to  care  for  after 
they  had  many  worms  in  them,  although  we 
picked  out  those  we  could  easily  get  at,  and 
most  of  the  cocoons,  after  which  the  combs  w"ere 
placed  in  the  hives  of  all  colonies  that  did  not 
have  section  honey  on,  and  they  rid  them  of  all 
moths  and  the  most  of  the  cocoons  and  pollen. 
They  cleaned  them  up  beautifully.  In  those 
hives  that  had  supers  on  we  set  four  to  six 
combs  in  front,  and  left  them  there  three  or 
four  week'^.  and  they  too  were  rid  of  bee-bread, 
as  we  could  see  the  little  round  pellets  or  pills, 
they  ought  to  be  called  (perhaps  capsules  would 
be  a  better  name),  in  piles  on  the  board  under 
them.  Some  of  the  bee-bi'ead  was  white  from 
the  flour  and  corn  meal  fed  them  in  the  spring. 
Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtem,. 

Koseville.  111..  Aug.  10,  lSii2. 


A  CHEAP  PAINT  FOR  WINTER  CASES. 


AN   INTERESTING    EXPERIMENT   FOR    THE    CHIL- 
DREN. 


I  am  painting  winter  cases,  and  think  others 
may  like  to  learn  of  a  cheap  paint.  I  am  using 
yellow ocher  mixed  with  equal  parts  of  kerosene 
and  linseed  oil.  A  gentleman  who  uses  this  for 
painting  barns  likes  it,  and  says  that  it  wears 
well.  The  winter  cases  are  made  of  good  lum- 
ber, and  will  each  contain  two  colonies.  This 
insures  one  warm  side  for  each  colony.  I  use  a 
great  many  newspapers  around  and  over  the 
hives.  I  like  this  way  of  wintering,  because 
they  can  have  the  protection  so  much  earlier 
and  later. 

BUTTERFI-IES. 

I  will  tell  the  juveniles  how  they  may  try  an 
interesting  experiment.  Look  on  the  milk- 
weeds for  a  striped  worm.  Place  it  under  a 
tumbler  and  feed  milkweed  leav<'S.  If  well 
grown  it  will  soon  crawl  to  the  top,  hang  itself 


IS'.i'J 


GLEANINCS  IN  BEE  CULTLTRE. 


73f; 


by  a  liiilc  web.  and— yon  must  watrb  rlosdv  or 
yoii  will  not  sec  how  it  is  doiu'.  but  \()u  will  scr 
a  beautiful  chrysalis  of  grocii  and  ^'old.  Hc- 
nt>Hth  in  a  little  heap  will  lie  the  old  skin. 
Watoh  tlio  chrysalis  and  you  will  see  the  dai'k 
si)ots  of  the  tiutterlly's  wings  app<>ar.  In  about 
twei\-e  days  the  pretty  cfeature  comes  forth. 

I  shall  try  again  to  induce  the  l)ees  to  take 
honey  from  siirnlns  biood-conibs.  I  will  take 
them  away  until  they  have  become  accustomed 
to  living  below,  and  storing  theri>  such  olh(>r 
stores  as  are  given  them.  Then  by  uncapping 
the  honov  and  inverting  the  frames  in  the  up- 
per story  I  think  they  will  be  promptly  cleaned. 
Warmth  is  essential  in  all  feeding. 

As  the  raspberry  is  an  important  honey-plant, 
will  Gi.KANiN(is  "please  give  an  article  on  its 
eni'mies.  and  how  to  meet  them? 

LlUHIK    WlI.IJAMS. 

Delavan.  Wis..  Sept.  17. 


HOW  MRS.  HARRISON    KEEPS    COMBS    FROM 
THE  MOTH  WORMS. 

in  tlie  general  round-up  of  the  apiary  in  the 
spring  there  wen-  many  colonies  that  did  not 
answer  at  roll-call.  I  cleaned  out  the  tenant- 
less  hives  and  put  them  into  the  cellar  with 
their  complement  of  combs.  Some  of  the  hives 
did  not  become  entirely  tenantless  until  iiuite 
late  in  the  season,  and  the  bee-moths  were  on 
the  wing.  dei)ositing  their  eggs.  When  swarms 
issued,  the  hives  latest  carried  into  the  cellar 
were  issued:  and  if  moths  had  hatched  in  any 
they  were  the  ones  chosen. 

I  looked  over  the  combs  occasionally,  and  did 
not  allow  any  cocoons  to  mature:  and  as  the 
windows  wei-e  covered  with  wire  gauze,  none 
could  come  in.  I  expected  to  burn  sulphur  to 
destroy  the  grub  of  moths:  but  when  swarming 
was  over  I  examined  all  the  remaining  combs, 
and  could  not  find  one.  This  morning,  Sept.  7, 
I  could  discover  none.  This  storing  of  combs  in 
the  cellar  has  saved  me  a  great  amount  of  hard 
work  and  worriment.  and  I  shall  practice  it  in 
the  future. 

Our  bees  have  stoi'ed  very  little  surplus  honey 
this  season,  but  are  now  pushing  out  lively  in 
the  direction  of  the  river-ltottoms.  and  I  am  in 
hopes  they  will  secure  sutticient  stores  for  the 
winter.  Mrs.  L.  HARtiisox. 

Peoria.  III. 


UNCLE  TOMS  CABIN  OF  SPECKLED   BEAUTY. 


TWKI.VK     MONTHS    OF    POfl.TRV    LIFE:     AN     IN- 

TEKESTINf;   fHICKEN-.STOP.y   FOR   THE 

.irVENII.ES.   BY    MRS.    AXTEI.I,. 

roNTINlED    FROM    I'.   7()"». 

After  this  long  talk  with  mother  Biddie  we 
all  ran  out  upon  the  green  grass,  and  mistress 
turned  mother  Biddie  out  of  the  coop  for  the 
first  time  since  we  were  put  in  there.  Vou 
ought  to  have  seen  how  glad  she  was  to  get 
out.  She  .lumped  and  ran  and  flew  with  all 
her  might,  and  came  neai'  scaring  us  out  of  oui' 
wits  Shut  in  that  foul-smelling  coop  for  six 
weeks,  and  never  let  out  once,  with  nothing  but 
corn  and  corn-meal  dough  to  eat,  no  nice  gravel 
to  eat.  that  all  poultry  must  iiave  to  make 
tliem  feel  well,  she  said  if  mistre.ss  had  kept 
her  in  much  longer  slie  knew  she  must  have 
died  of  disease  and  vermin:  and  as  she  said 
this,  how  she  did  make  the  dirt  fly.  scratching 
and  hunting  for  gravel,  and  rolling  in  the  dust 
to  rid  her.-elf  of  the  parasites  that  kept  us  un- 
easy all  night  of  late  I 

>iistress   Brown  came  out  with   a   basin  of 


kerosene  and  water  and  a  whisk -i>room,  and 
turned  our  c(M)p  back  and  gave  it  a  good  sprink- 
ling, and  cleaned  oil'  the  lloor  of  llie  coop,  and 
moved  it  to  a  fresh  piec«'  of  ground,  when  the 
rats  ran  off. 

On  seeing  the  rats,  mistress  said  slie  would 
set  the  t'oop  up  ofT  the  ground,  so  nothing  could 
hide  under  it  to  kill  us.  wliich  mother  Biddie 
said  was  a  nice  arrangement,  as  it  would  afford 
us  chickens  place  to  tjuickly  I'un  under  when  a 
dash  of  rain  came  up  suddenly. 

When  night  came,  mother  Biddie  did  not 
want  to  I'eturn  to  the  coop,  because  she  had 
been  kept  there  so  long.  She  said  master  Wil- 
liams would  not  have  allowed  her  to  be  shut  up 
a  prisoner' six  long  weeks.  He  used  to  let  all 
his  hens  with  young  chickens  out  two  or  three 
times  a  week  when  it  was  warm  and  dry;  and 
when  the  chicks  were  thiee  weeks  old  the  hens 
were  let  out  with  them  every  day  when  not 
raining.  What  nice  times  we  did-have  scratch- 
ing for  worms  and  bugs,  and  catching  grass- 
hoppers, which  made  us  grow  fast!  and  we 
were  not  bothered  with  hen-mites  either,  be- 
cause our  coops  wei'(>  sjirinkled  with  kerosene 
and  water  quite;  often,  and  a  healtliier  lot  of 
chicks  you  never  saw. 

Mistress  Brown  said  mother  Biddie  must  go 
back  into  her  coop,  and  she  threw  some  corn- 
meal  dough  down  for  us  to  eat:  and  when 
mother  Biddie  was  not  thinking  she  just  ran  a 
long  piece  of  stiff  wire,  .-ome  six  feet  long,  with 
a  loop  bent  up  at  one  end.  in  the  shape  of  the 
top  of  a  letter  f,  and  the  other  end  of  the  rod 
was  bent  to  form  a  handle  to  hold  by.  Mistress 
slyly  ran  the  wire  up  under  mother  Biddie.  and 
gave  it  a  quick  jerk,  and  it  caught  one  of 
mother  Biddie's  feet.  Oh  my  I  how  she  did 
jump  and  squeal  I  and  we  were  all  frightened, 
but  it  did  not  hurt  her  much,  and  she  was  put 
back  into  the  clean  coop. 

It  smelled  terribly  strong  of  kerosene  for 
several  days,  especially  at  night;  but  it  did  not 
hurt  us. 

The  coop  was  now  high  and  dry  off  the 
ground,  and  we  were  glad  of  that.  It  had  a 
wide  airy  crack  in  the  bottom,  which  I  think 
mistress  did  not  intend  to  leave.  She  said  she 
must  give  us  a  change  of  feed,  if  she  wished  us 
to  ever  get  large  enough  for  broilers,  as  we  look- 
ed so  poor  and  little.  Mother  Biddie  said  she 
ought  to  have  thought  of  that  sooner,  as  chicks 
that  are  stunted  when  young  will  never  make 
so  large  nice  poultry  as  if  properly  fed  at  first. 
She  said  master  Williams  was  particular  that 
all  his  youTig  chicks  should  have  curd  made 
from  sour  milk;  and  the  corn  meal  was  made 
up  into  bread,  and  baked,  for  very  young 
chicks.  We  were  occasionally  treated  to  wheat, 
oats,  and  buckwheat. 

Clara  washed  out  our  water-dish  and  poured 
in  some  clabbered  milk:  but  we  would  not 
drink  it  at  first:  but  as  we  could  get  no  water 
we  soon  learned  to  love  it  better  than  water. 
How  we  all  crowded  around  it  in  a  i)retty  little 
row  I  Little  mistress  said,  when  one  head  was 
bobbing  down  for  a  drink,  other  little  heads 
were  bobbing  up;  and.  oh  how  she  laughedl 
We  were  almost  scared  at  her.  she  laughed  so 
loud. 

She  gave  us  such  piles  and  piles  of  food  we 
could  not  eat  it  all.  and  old  Robinson  and  his 
mates  got  more  of  it  than  we  did.  Sometimes 
they  drove  us  away  and  took  it  all.  How  we 
wished  we  could  ask  foi'  that  box  arrangement 
to  be  placed  in  front  of  our  coop,  that  mothei- 
Biddie  had  when  she  was  a  chick,  as  old  Robin- 
son was  so  big  he  nearly  crushed  us  when  he 
stepped  on  us.  so  eag»r  was  he  to  get  our  food! 

Sometimes  mistress  Clara  would  drive  him 
and  his  mates  away,  and  sometimes  she  would 
set  little  dog  Fidoon  him.  and  that  taught  Fido 


736 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


to  chase  us.  Little  Bennie.  Clara's  brother, 
thought  it  fine  fun  to  see  Fido  chase  us.  He 
caught  and  liilled  two  of  us.  and  carried  one  to 
the  house  in  his  mouth.  Mistiess  Brown  saw 
him  have  it.  and  took  it  away  from  him  and 
whipped  him  hard,  and  showed  him  the  poor 
dead  chick,  and  whipptd  him  again.  After  that 
he  never  chased  us. 

One  very  warm  night  we  went  to  bed  very 
liappy;  and  as  mistress  Brown  had  placed  a 
board  up  in  front  of  oui-  coop  every  nieht  since 
the  rats  bothered  us,  it  was  so  warm  we  got 
over  the  hole  in  the  floor,  so  as  to  get  air.  as 
there  were  thirteen  of  us  left,  more  than  half- 
grown  chickens,  and  it  was  very  warm  in  the 
coop.  The  old  rat  had  not  forgotten  where  he 
could  get  food  to  rat,  so  he  thought  he  would 
have  some  more  chicken,  and  caught  some  of 
us,  and  tried  to  pull  us  through  the  hole  in  the 
floor:  but  we  wen^  too  large  to  pull  through. 
But  he  held  on  to  my  foot.  and.  oh  how  he  did 
hurt!  He  piflled  and  pulled,  and  I  squalled, 
and  mother  Biddie  squalled,  and  mistress 
Brown  came  running  out.  She  said  she  did 
not  see  what  was  the  matter  of  those  chickens, 
as  they  were  shut  up  tight  in  the  coop.  She 
knew  It  could  not  be  rats.  She  went  back  to 
the  house,  and  in  a  little  while  another  one  of 
us  was  caught  by  the  foot,  and  we  all  squalled 
again;  and  so  we  had  our  feet  caught  and  bit 
several  times  that  night. 

When  little  Clara  came  out  in  the  morning  to 
feed  us  she  said  she  was  so  sorry,  for  Beauty 
(that  was  my  name)  and  Toinmie  had  each  lost 
a  foot,  and  one  other  chick  had  lost  a  toe.  She 
told  her  ma,  who  came  out  and  examined  the 
coop,  and  said  it  was  no  wonder,  as  there  was 
such  a  great  hole  in  the  bottom  of  the  coop  a 
rat  could  almost  crawl  through.  Brother  Tom- 
niie  and  I  had  to  hobble  around  on  one  foot, 
and  suffer  much.  Mother  Biddif  said  it  was 
carelessness,  thoughtlessness,  laziness,  and  ig- 
norance that  caused  much  of  the  suffering  in 
this  world,  and  that  made  people  so  poor. 

Mistress  had  one  coop  of  downy  little  chicks, 
nearly  black  (as  all  little  Plymouth  Rocks  are 
when  just  hatched,  the  pullets  being  the  dark- 
est). This  coop  of  chickens  was  set  close  to  the 
bees  because  it  was  a  nice  shady  place,  shady 
at  noon,  but  had  the  sunshine  morning  and 
evening.  I  guess  she  forgot  that  bees  would 
sting  a  black  chicken  when  they  would  not 
notice  a  white  one;  and  they  will  sting  little 
downy  chicks  worse  than  when  feathered  out. 
The  bees  stung  those  little  black  chicks  so  bad- 
ly that  it  was  pitiful  to  hear  them  chirp  so 
often,  and  see  them  run  to  the  coop  with  two 
or  more  bees  stinging  them.  Sometimes  their 
mother  would  catch  the  bees  in  her  bill,  and 
pull  them  olT.  and  sometimes  some  of  the  older 
chickens  would  pull  them  off.  Several  chicks 
died  from  the  effect  of  the  stings  before  the 
coop  was  moved. 

After  a  few  weeks,  my  stump  of  a  leg,  and 
Tommie's,  got  well,  and  they  called  us 
"sturapies;"  and  little  mistress  petted  us  a 
great  deal  because  we  were  cripples. 

When  master  Brown  worked  with  his  bees 
we  learned  to  follow  along  with  him,  and  pick 
up  the  roaches  that  ran  out  of  the  hives.  We 
got  so  tame  he  rather  liked  us  because  we 
caught  the  roaches.  He  told  mistress  we  tag- 
ged him  around  like  little  dogs,  and  would  run 
to  him  as  soon  as  he  went  down  into  the  apiary. 
Sometimes  he  would  set  his  nice  honey  down. 
We  soon  found  out  it  was  delicious.  We  picked 
into  some  of  his  nice  combs,  which  made  him 
very  angry  and  throw  sticks  at  us;  but  I  guess 
honey  tasted  just  as  good  to  us  as  it  did  to  him. 
He  said  we  bothered  hiiu  ever  so  much,  for  he 
did  not  dare  to  set  honey  down  anywhere,  be- 
cause the  twostumpies  had  taught  all  the  other 


chickens  to  eat  honey,  and  it  would  teach  him 
a  lesson  never  to  let  chickens  get  a  taste  of 
honey. 

By  this  time  the  weather  was  very  warm, 
and  we  were  shut  up  tight  in  our  coops  at 
night  to  keep  out  the  rats.  Oh  how  warm  and 
uncomfortable  we  did  getl  Master  W'illiams 
called  one  day  to  see  how  mistress  Brown  suc- 
ceeded with  the  purebred  poultry  she  got  of 
him.  He  told  mistress  that  he  was  not  troubled 
with  rats  since  he  took  to  poisoning  them  in  a 
box  about  three  feet  long,  a  foot  and  a  half 
wide,  and  two  feet  high,  with  a  two-inch  hole 
bored  in  the  top  of  each  end.  He  made  two 
such  boxes  and  set  one  in  the  barn  and  one  in 
his  shop  near  his  chicken-house.  For  several 
nights  he  put  in  fresh  corn  meal.  At  first  they 
would  not  notice  it;  but  in  a  week  or  so  they 
took  it  finely;  then  he  mixed  some  rat-extermi- 
nator with  it.  which  they  ate,  and  which  must 
have  killed  great  numbers  of  them,  as  they  had 
not  bothered  him  since.  He  said  the  lid  ought 
to  be  locked  when  the  poison  is  in,  for  fear  of 
accidents. 

He  takes  old  wire  cloth,  and  nails  it  over  a 
frame  that  just  slips  down  into  two  grooves  at 
the  fronts  of  his  coops,  so  his  little  girl  can 
slip  them  in  at  night  without  his  having  to  look 
after  them,  which  makes  it  much  cooler  for  the 
chickens.  As  the  coops  are  all  set  in  a  row.  the 
little  girl  is  not  apt  to  miss  any,. 

Mother  Biddie  thought  that,'  as  we  were  get- 
ting so  old,  she  would  slip  away  from  us.  As 
mistress  had  not  been  keeping  her  in  the  coop 
during  the  day  of  late,  she  chose  her  nest  on  the 
ground,  and  filled  it  full  of  eggs  before  mistress 
found  it.  Mistress  said,  because  it  was  on  the 
ground  the  eggs  would  be  likely  to  hatch  well, 
because  of  the  dampness.  If  people  would  put 
fresh  earth  in  the  nests  when  up  from  the 
ground,  and  occasionally  dampen  them,  it 
would  cause  eggs  to  hatch  better,  as  many 
chicks  die  while  hatching.  Mother  Biddie 
said  if  some  careful  person  would  help  the  little 
chicks  to  get  out  of  the  shell  after  it  was  picked, 
many  chicks  might  be  saved— that  is,  if  the 
shells  did  not  readily  come  off;  but  they  must 
be  careful  or  they  will  injure  the  chick.  It  is 
the  inside  lining  of  the  shell,  more  than  the 
shell  itself,  that  detains  the  chick.  If  the  shell 
is  cracked  and  peeled  off.  and  the  lining  left  on. 
it  quickly  dries  and  becomes  tough,  and  the 
chick  can  not  help  itself.  This  should  be  care- 
fully peeled  off;  but  if  the  chicks  seem  to  be 
hatching  all  right  they  had  better  be  left  alone. 

When  mother  Biddie  was  allowed  to  set  this 
time,  mistress  set  two  other  hens  at  the  same 
time.  In  six  days  the  eggs  were  tested  by  tak- 
ing them  all  out  of  the  nest  after  dark;  then, 
taking  the  eggs  one  at  a  time  between  the 
thumb  and  forefinger  of  the  right  hand,  place 
them  in  front  of  the  blaze  of  the  lantern,  and 
shade  the  light  with  the  other  hand.  The  un- 
fertile eggs  will  be  clear,  and  the  fertile  ones 
will  be  dark,  with  an  air  space  at  the  large  end. 
There  will  be  some  you  can  not  determine 
whether  they  are  fertile  or  not.  and  should  be 
tested  again  on  the  thirteenth  or  fourteenth 
day.  The  fertile  eggs  may  now  all  be  put 
under  two  hens.  Th(>y  will  hatch  better  than 
if  the  unfertile  ones  are  left  in  the  nest.  As 
they  contain  no  embryo  chick  they  have  no 
warmth  of  themselves.  If  all  the  eggs  are  fer- 
tile, the  heat  is  greater,  which  is  very  impor- 
tant early  in  the  spring. 

If  more  convenient,  and  the  hens  are  wild, 
the  eggs  may  be  tested  in  the  daytime  by  hold- 
ing them  in  the  left  hand,  or  in  an  egg-tester, 
and  looking  toward  the  sun. 

Do  not  neglect  in  midsummer  to  use  the 
insect-powder  from  tlie  sprayer  two  or  more 
times  while  Biddie  is  sitting,  as  it  is  very  easy 


lSi»2 


(U.EANINCJS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


737 


u>  use  it  ilicn  w  licii  she  rulUcs  all  hci'  fcalliLTS 

up.  MUS.   L.  (".  AXTKLI,. 

Hosovillo.  111. 

[CnitrUiik'il  ill  licit  issue] 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 


HK-\mX<i    QTHK-NS   ON    OOOLITTLK's   PI.AX. 

Wp  liavi'  liad  protty  fair  snccc^^s  this  season 
in  having  <iii«'tMi-c('lls  drawn  out  from  coil-cups 
above  oxcludiTs.  as  per  Dooiitllc's  book  on 
iiue«'n-i-eafing.  \V(>  tind  that,  tirst,  the  colony 
should  be  very  strong:  second,  with  a  frame  as 
sliallow  as  the  Simplicity  the  stories  should  be 
three  high,  conlining  the  queen  to  the  lower 
story,  and  placing  the  i)r«'pared  cell-cups  in  the 
upper  story;  liiird.  that  some  colonies  will  ac- 
cept and  complete  thes(>  c(>ll-cups.  while  others, 
in  apparently  the  same  condition,  will  not. 
We  would  advise  those  who  have  tried  and 
failed,  to  try  different  colonies  until  th.ey  strike 
the  right  one.  and  then  they  can  keep  them  at 
it  all  summer,  provided  there  is  honey  coming 
in:  or  supplying  food  would  likely  answer  the 
same  purpose.  One  colony  has  built  the  most 
of  our  cells  this  year,  sometimes  bringing  on 
the  Second  set  when  the  first  had  been  sealed, 
and.  again,  working  on  others  while  queens 
were  hatching  in  the  nursery  just  alongside. 
This  has.  however,  been  an  exceptionally  good 
season  for  this  kind  of  work  here;  for,  while 
there  has  at  no  time  during  the  season  been 
any  considerable  flow  of  nectar,  and  conse- 
quently very  little  surplus  secured,  there  has 
been  scarcely  a  fair  day  that  bees  did  not  gath- 
er sufiicient  nectar  to  keep  up  brood-rearing  in 
full  blast.  Nearly  all  of  our  queens  thus  reared 
have  proven  to  be  of  good  size,  good  color,  and 
prolific  layers  so  far  as  tested. 

BlnlTton,  Mo.,  Sept.  17.  Miller  Bros. 

[Your  experience  agrees  substantially  with 
ours.  Some  colonies  will  do  fairly  well  at 
building  cells,  while  others  will  seemingly  re- 
fuse to  do  the  work  at  all.  Those  that  would 
build  colls  did  better  when  they  had  an  extra 
super  between  top  and  bottom  story.  We  do 
not  know  whether  any  one  else  has  observed  it; 
but  queens  raised  a  Id  Doolittle  were  smaller, 
nor  could  we  succeed  in  getting  large  queens 
from  any  queen-mother  by  that  plan,  although 
we  could  produce  them  of  any  shade  of  color 
desired.] 

AN    AKTIFiri.^I,   WATERING-PLACE    AFTER    NA- 
TURi;"s   WAY.S. 

Observant  people  will  notice  that  bees,  while 
drinking  at  a  branch  or  pool,  never  sip  the 
water,  but  abstract  it  front  the  sand  close  by. 
through  which.  Iiy  the  way.it  has  filtered  by  cap- 
illary attraction.  Trying  always  to  get  close 
to  Nature's  ways  I  built  me  a  watering-place 
for  my  bees.  A  trough  of  wood  14  inches 
square  and  one  inch  deep  was  filled  up  with 
clean  sand,  and  a  tiiree-gallon  demijohn  filled 
with  water  was  inverted  over  it.  its  moutli 
resting  on  a  thin  block  half  an  inch  under  th*; 
sand.  The  surrounding  sand  soon  absorbed 
moisture,  and  little  air-bubbles  could  be  seen, 
displacing  slowly  the  water  in  the  jug.  as  the 
water  in  the  sand  exhausts.  By  scooping  out  a 
little  hole  in  th<i  sand,  enough  water  will  gath- 
er to  furnish  the  poultry.  Put  syrup  in  the 
vessel,  and  you  will  liave  ihe  best  outside  feed- 
er I  know  of.  for  tina'e  is  no  end  to  the  extent 
of  the  sand  surface  you  may  use.  and  the  sand 
does  not  foul,  as  water  or  syrup  would  if  given 
alone.    In  order  to  introduce  this  to  the  bees  I 


put  a  |»iec(Mif  comb  honey  on  the  sand.  After 
they  liad  carried  olV  the  honey  they  looked 
about  for  more.  ami.  discovering  the  water, 
have  found  out  that  it  is  a  near  and  good  thing. 
The  princii)le  of  this  waterintr-device  is  well 
known,  but  I  have  not  heard  of  the  use  of  sand 
in  this  connection.  I'lease  give  tliis  a  trial,  if 
yon  have  not  such  already  in  use.  for  there  is 
nothing  mnv  under  the  sun.  To  hold  up  the 
jug  or  bottle,  bore  lour  holes  in  the  bottom 
hoard,  and  put  in  i)egs.  or,  better  still,  nail  a 
half-hoop  of  tin  or  strap  iron  against  a  wall  or 
board  fence,  and  put  the  jug  mouth  down 
through  it.  Arthur  T.  (Joi.DsitoRorGH. 

Washington,  D.  C,  Sept.  1. 


UNSCIENTIFIC   SCIENCE    AROUT   REES. 

Frie)id  Root: — I  send  you  by  to-day's  mail  a 
marked  copy  of  thc^  Santa  Paula  (Jlironicle. 
Sept.  :.',  containing  some  of  the  teachings  of 
Mr.  Archer.  fornuMly  the  king  bee-keeper  of 
Santa  Barbara  County.  He  retired  from  the 
bee-busine.ss.  and  went  into  horse-doctoring  a 
few  years  ago.  Since  coming  to  Ventura  Co. 
he  has  collected  a  few  colopies  of  bees,  and 
made  his  celebrated  '"Mammoth"  hive.  He 
exhibits  at  the  two  last  county  fairs,  and  uses 
the  same  colony  and  hive  at  the  district  fair 
held  at  Los  Angeles.  Now.  you  can  readily  see 
how  Langstroth.  Quinby,  Cook,  and  soon  your- 
self, have,  after  all  your  study  and  research, 
never  tumbled  on  to  the  racket  of  changing 
worker  brood  to  dione  by  simply  turning  the 
combs  around.  This  discovery  was  reserved 
for  Mr.  Archer,  the  sage  and  horse-doctor  of 
New  Jerusalem,  in  this  county,  to  give  to  the 
world  through  the  Chronicle. 

Santa  Paula,  Cal.,  Sept.  12.  Jno.  ti.  Corey. 

[The  following  is  the  extract  to  which  friend 
Corey  refers:] 

We  were  especially  interested  in  tiie  exhibit  of 
bees,  and  a  new  bee-liive  by  J.  Archer,  of  New  Jeru- 
salem. Tlirougli  tlie  glass  the  lioney-niakers  can 
be  seen  at  work.  We  liave  read  much  about  bees, 
but  Mr.  Archer  g-ave  us  some  information  we  never 
liad  before.  He  says  t)ef ore  the  young-  Ijees  hatcli 
out  one  can  tell  if  a  certain  cell  will  produce  a 
queen  or  a  worl<er  by  the  shape  and  position  of  tlie 
cell.  If  a  few  days  liefore  the  young-  bee  comes  out 
you  turn  tlie  cell  about,  reversing-  tlie  ends  of  the 
cell  you  chang-e  tiie  sex  of  tlie  bee.  He  says  during- 
the  incubation  process  the  workers  keep  Iwjvering 
over  and  about  tlie  ceils  of  the  young-,  keeping-  them 
warm  as  assiduoi  sly  as  a  lien  lieeps  her  eg-gs  warm 
in  tlie  nest  before  tin  y  iiatcli. 

[Some  of  our  older  readers  will  remember  Mr. 
Corey  as  the  one  who  shares  equal  honors  with 
Norman  Clark  in  having  introduced  simultane- 
ously the  principle  of  the  cold- blast  smoker. 
The  specimen  of  be(!-lore  fi-om  the  Chronicle  is 
a  good  deal  like  tli(;  information  we  get  ^ome- 
times  from  some  of  the  old  "know-it-all'" 
veterans.  However,  it  is  barely  possible  the 
reporter  got  things  badly  mixed  ("as  indeed  they 
do  sometimes  in  trying  to  report  facts  regard- 
ing bees),  and  therefore  Mr.  Archer  may  be 
innocent  of  such  a  gross  perversion  of  facts. 
Whichev(>r  way  it  may  be,  it  is  a  piece  of  non- 
sense that  wi'  do  not  desire' to  go  the  rounds  of 
the  pi-ess  unri^futed.j 

HOW  BEES   SENI»   OUT   SCOUTS   PREI'ARATORV  TO 
SWARMING. 

I  had  my  hives  all  placed  on  stands  in  rows, 
three  rows,  five  in  a  row.  but  only  two  colonies 
of  bees.  They  had  all  either  empty  frames  or 
frames  with  foundation  in  them.  My  bees  were 
Italians,  well  marked.  May  2")th  there  were 
quite  a  number  of  black  bees  flying  around  my 
hives.  Next  morning  more  came  and  kept  at  a 
certain  hive,  flying  in  and  out.  About  10  a.m. 
they  went  away;  but  about  11  there  was  a  roar 


738 


GLliANliStiS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


in  the  aii-.  and,  behold,  a  swarm  of  bees  tearing 
through  the  orchard  and  piling  into  that  jiar- 
ticuhir  hive.  This  scene  was<Miacted  in  all  four 
times — May  26.  31,  and  June  12.  21.  Ev'erj'  time 
it  was  the  same  thing  —  tii'St  a  few  strange  bees 
around  all  the  hives:  then  more  bees  around 
one:  ne.Kt.  no  bees  for  a  half  or  a  whole  hour; 
then  the  roar  of  the  swarm  through  the  woods. 
It  was  so  regular  ihat.  on  June  21st,  I  had  visit- 
ors, and  told  them  to  wait,  as  1  was  going  to  get 
a  swarm  of  bees  in  a  very  short  time,  and.  sure 
enough,  within  one  hour  they  were  there  and  at 
work.  If  this  is  not  proof  enough  that  bees 
send  out  scouts.  I  do  not  know  what  more  is  re- 
quired: besides,  ray  bees  are  Italians,  and  the 
new  comers  in  every  case  were  blacks. 

Adrian  J.  Hesse. 
Bayshore.  Long  Island,  Sept.  13. 

UOXEY   FKOM    TANWEp:i). 

Prof.  Cook: — If  it  is  not  asking  too  much,  will 
you  please  give  me  the  botanical  name  of  the 
plant,  sections  of  root  and  branch  of  which  I 
send  you?  On  cultivated  ground  it  blossoms 
rarely,  though  it. seems  to  thrive  in  every  other 
way ;  and  when  once  established  it  is  almost  im- 
possible to  e.xterminate  it.  Single  roots  are  oft- 
en found  30  ft.  in  length,  seldom  going  deeper  in 
the  soil  than  (3  inches.  At  intervals  of  two  or 
three  feet,  each  root  sends  up  an  independent 
plant.*  In  swampy  land  covered  with  a  few 
inches  of  water  it  blossoms  profusely  and  yields 
a  fair  flow  of  honey  nearly  every  year,  from  the 
last  of  July  to  the  middle  of  September.  The 
honey  is  very  light  amber,  and  on  tlie  market  it 
is  mistaken  for  white  clover.  It  is  rich,  and 
finely  flavored.  The  local  name  given  to  the 
plant  here  is  tanweed.  It  has  been  used  quite 
successfully  in  the  preparation  of  leather. 

I  am  harve^^ting  a  heavy  crop  of  beautiful 
honey  thi-;  season,  entirely  from  this  source.  I 
wish  to  put  it  on  the  market  nrandi'd  with  its 
own  name.  and.  if  possible,  establish  a  reputa- 
tion for  it  under  true  colors.         F.  M.  Crane. 

Little  .Sioux,  la..  Sept.  (i. 

[Prof.  Cook  replies:] 

I  inclose  .Mr.  Crane's  letter,  as  it  is  of  no  small 
importance  to  get  these  neu-  hfiuey  plants  re- 
corded. This  proves  to  be  another  of  the  poly- 
gonums, or  buckwheat  family,  and  ■^o  is  related 
to  heartsease,  smartweed,  etc.  This  is  Polygo- 
nium  Muhlcnhenjil  The  flower  looks  much 
like  that  of  smartweed.  and  heartsease  in  form 
and  eohtr:  but  the  leaves  are  much  coars(>r  and 
larger.  We  see  from  Mr.  Crane's  hatei-  that 
this  is  a  very  Hne  honey-plant.  The  hon(>y.  like 
that  from  the  willow-herb,  is  llghtcolonHJ. 
which  is  not  usually  true  of  honey  secured  from 
autumn  flowers.  In  a  recent  ti'ip  to  Northern 
Michigan,  both  sid-s  of  the  straits,  and  tlironi-'h 
all  the  Northern  Peninsula.  I  saw  acri-s  of  wil- 
low-herb in  bloom.  The  wild  bees  were  swarm- 
ing on  it;  but  there  was  a  great  scarcity  of  hon- 
ey-bees. I  did  not  see  one  north  of  the  Straits 
of  Mackinac.  A.  J.  Cook. 

Agricultural  College,  Mich.,  Sept.  10. 

TWO  TEXAS  apiaries:  difference  in  honey 

CROI'S. 

Mr.  Root:— In  answer  to  my  advertisement 
last  winter  I  employed  J.  P.  Watt,  of  (iarnett. 
Kansas,  as  apiarist,  and  turned  over  to  him  i\\  o 
apiaries,  one  located  in  a  valley  near  Little 
River,  containing  18  colonies,  and  Rattlesnake 
apiary,  on  Pond  Creek,  of  107  colonies.  From 
the  Cameron  apiary  Mr.  Watt  sold  100  sections, 
partly  tilled,  and  reported  that  thieves  had  gone 
through  ■  three  colonies.  From  Rattlesnake 
apiary  he  extracted  about  035  lbs.  and  about 
that  amount  in  supers  I'eady  for  the  extractor, 
which  will  wind  up  the  season  with  fewer  colo- 


nies than  he  opened  with  last  spring.  1  never 
failed  to  get  a  paying  crop  from  Rattlesnake 
apiary  bei'oie.  I  al.so  employed  Frank  Morton, 
a  novice  in  bei;  culture,  and  a  native  of  Texas. 
I  gave  him  charge  of  Little  River  apiary,  con- 
sisting of  96  colonies,  located  12  miles  southwest 
of  Cameron,  and  similarly  located  as  Rattle- 
snake apiai'y.  on  a  vall"v  with  a  wide  bottom, 
and  commonly  known  in  the  Southern  States 
as  swamp.  On  the  south  is  a  high  rolling  mes- 
quite  prairie:  on  the  north  a  wide  bottom.  The 
two  apiaries  are  about  26  miles  apart,  and  al- 
most identically  located,  with  a  little  more 
chaparral  and  cactus  on  Pond  Creek  than  on 
Little  River.  The  Little  River  apiary  has  this 
advantage,  if  advantage  at  all  (which  I  doubt): 
an  abundance  of  live  oak  along  the  breaks  of 
the  river  about  one  mile  from  the  apiary. 
Morion  increased  Little  River  apiary  from  96  to 
104  colonies,  and  has  extracted  S.iOO  lbs.,  and 
1100  lbs.  in  supers  ready  for  the  extractor  and  a 
honey-flow  at  the  present  writing.  Rain  has 
fallen  in  the  locality  of  each  apiary  about  the 
same.  Will  some  of  the  Texas  bee-keepers  ac- 
count for  the  difTerence? 

I  have  known  my  Little  River  apiarist  from 
a  boy,  and  believe  him  to  be  truthful.  He 
makes  the  following  unreasonable  statement: 
He  says  that  he  extracted  from  one  colony,  on 
July  1st.  of  three  stories  and  eighteen  frames, 
121  lbs.  of  honey,  and  reduced  it  to  a  two-story. 
July  10th  he  extracted  55  lbs.  August  10th  he 
extracted  from  9  frames  .55  lbs.  Total,  231  lbs. 
He  also  says  that  he  will  get  another  extract- 
ing. I  wish  to  know,  and  I  hope  the  bee-keepers 
of  Texas  will  not  all  answer  at  once,  or  before 
a  fair  test — can  a  three-story  hive  (a  hive  with 
two  supers)  support  more  bees  and  supply  more 
hoirey  than  a  two-story  hive,  and  about  how 
much  more?  I  have  been  a  continual  subscriber 
to  Gleanings  for  the  last  11  years:  and  'from 
its  t<-achir.gs.  and  fi'om  the  A  B  C  of  Bee  Cul- 
ture. I  have  been  abl(>  to  produce  tons  of  honey. 
Long  may  it  live.  E.  Y.  Terr.^i.. 

Cameron,  Tex.,  Sept.  S. 

[A  three-story  hive,  if  it  is  proportionately 
populous  in  bees,  will  produce  inoi'e  honey, 
other  things  being  equal,  than  a  two-story  col- 
ony. The  former  must,  of  course,  have  a  good 
prolific  queen,  preferably  nor  over  two  years 
old.]  

a  bee-keei'er  who   secured  a  large  CROI'. 

If  you  will  put  yourself  back  to  the  time 
when  you  were  at  our  convention  you  will  re- 
membei'  me  as  the  last  one  that  came,  having 
come  all  day  long  through  mud  and  mire  to  see 
the  editor  of  Gleanings.  Well,  as  I  said  then. 
I  had  just  requeened  my  apiary  from  an  im- 
porud  moihei'.  and  hi're  is  the  ri'sult:  I  incrnas- 
en  from  ISO  to  2.50;  shipped  to  Chicago  350  (iO-lh. 
cans;  sold  around  here  .50  60-lb.  cans;  have  on 
hand  34  (io-lb.  cans.  Shipped  to  Chicago.  370 
lbs.  of  wax;  on  hand.  300  lbs.  Hives  are  all 
full,  and  I  may  get  from  50  to  100  cans  more 
this  fall.  John  Nippert. 

Phcenix,  Ariz.,  Aug.  27. 


the  HOFFMAN  VERSUS   THE   SIMPLICITY  FRAME. 

I  want  to  say  a  good  word  for  the  Hofi^nian 
frame.  I  have  a  few  Simplicity  hives  with  thin- 
top-bar  frames,  and  a  lew  Dovetailed  hives  with 
Hoffman  frames.  I  mixed  the  frames  a  good 
deal:  and  in  hives  where  there  were  some  of 
each,  the  Simplicity  frames  would  be  covered 
with  burr- combs,  while  the  others  were  perfect- 
ly clean  on  top.  J.  T.  Shackelford. 
"  Napton.  Mo..  Sept.  12. 

[Your  experience  is  but  that  of  hundreds  of 
others  which  we  have  seen.  The  non-burr- 
comb  frames  have  come  to  stay.] 


18i>2 


(JI.KAN'INCS  IN   HKE  CUI/rUKK. 


73<.t 


rilK   sTlN(,l\(;-IU«i. 

Mr.  ("has.  Hlarkl)iiiii.  Laintint.  la.,  sends  iiK' 
M'Vt'ial  spcoiiiii'ii<()t'  llii'  stiii^iiifi  l)iis.  I'lnjiinitH 
enisn.  Si'e  my  ■' Hoc-keepers  (iiiitle,"  for  de- 
soriplioii  and  ei^lit,  illustrations,  showing  its 
stran','e  anatomy.  Tliey  have  Ixmmi  (piite  com- 
mon lieiv  this  year.  They  hide  in  Mowers.  (Es- 
pecially goUlenidd:  and  when  tlic  bee  comes  for 
pollen  or  nectar  it  linds  it  is  taken  in,  as  the 
hng  grasps  it  with  its  jawlike  front  legs,  and 
then  spears  it  with  its  v(>ry  sharp  beak.  This 
last  is  so  strong  and  sharp  that  tlie  little  bug 
can  liurt  lis  not  a  little:  hence  the  name, 
stinging-ling.  I  do  not  think  they  usually  do 
very  much  harm:  but  when  so  numerous  as  Mr. 
H.  iinds  them— lifty  on  one  llower— they  will 
destroy  large  numbers  of  bees. 

li(>es  are  now  gathering  rapidly  from  golden- 
rod.  A.J.  Cook. 

Agricultural  College.  Mich. 

THE    BEE-INDUSTRY    IK    UTAH. 

I  have  been  seven  years  a  bee-keeper,  but  this 
is  tlie  lirst  time  that  I  have  attemi)ted  to  write 
to  any  of  our  bee-journals.  I  wish  to  express 
manythanks  to  you.  and  to  give  yourself  and 
Trof!  Cook  the  credit  wliicli  I  think  is  due  you 
for  tlie  grand  send-oll  \\hich  you  heliied  to  give 
the  bee-industry  in  Utaii  last  winter.  We  have 
kept  the  ball  rolling,  and  the  interest  is  still 
growing.  We  have  organized  a  territorial  and 
several  county  associations.  A  number  of  meet- 
ings have  been  held,  making  bee-men  more  ac- 
ipiainted  with  each  other.  Some  good  has  been 
accomplished,  which  may  produce  greater  re- 
sults in  thi'  future. 

THE    CAUSE    OF    .SWAKMING. 

In  (ii.EAMNGS.  p.  61H.  Dr.  Miller  asks  what  is 
the  cause  of  swarming.  While  there  may  be 
several  causes.  I  think  the  principal  one  is  over- 
crowding, or  lack  of  room  in  the  hive.  I  work 
my  bees  on  the  dividing  plan,  and  they  do  not 
swarm.  I  have  not  had  a  swarm  come  out  in 
two  years:  in  fact,  when  I  do  not  neglect  them 
theydon't  swarm  at  all.  E.  S.  Levesy. 

Salt  Lake  Citv.  Utah.  Sept.  8,  18i»3. 


DRINKING  COPIOUSLY  AFTER  VIOLENT  EXEK(  ISE. 

Friend  Root: — I  have  just  read  (Jleanings 
for  Sept.  1st.  Please  don't  drink  so  much  cold 
spiing  watei-.  Warm  it  a  little,  and  then  drink 
all  you  want.  When  your  liver  gets  to  working 
us  iV  should,  you  won't  look  on  the  dark  side  of 
things  so  easily.  A  well-regulated  liver  leads 
one  to  see  every  thing  in  its  best  light.  An  old 
doctor  used  to  say.  that  the  liver  is  the  "  root  of 
all  evil."  I  guess  bilious  people  think  so.  Don't 
you".'  F.  A.  Blake. 

Rochdale.  Mass..  Sept.  r>. 

[Thank  you.  my  good  friend,  for  youi-  timely 
caution  and  suggestions.  I  can  not  discover 
that  drinking  great  quantities  of  wat(M- while 
riding  the  wheel  has  ever  donq  me  any  harm, 
lint  perliaps  I  should  add  that  I  rarely  drink 
even  so  much  as  a  teacu|)ful  <it  one  time.  Day 
before  yesterday  Ernest  and  I  went  on  our 
wheels  about  nine  miles  to  a  mission  Sunday- 
school.  We  made  the  distance  in  a  little  more 
than  an  hour.  Before  going  into  the  school  I 
expressed  a  wish  for  some  water.  He  objected; 
but  as  I  was  at  once  called  upon  to  speak  I  ask- 
ed for  a  glass  of  water.  A  boy  soon  l)iought  a 
pretty  good-sized  goblet  full.  I  drank  it  all  by 
drinking  four  times,  three  or  four  minutes  elaps- 
ing between  the  times  of  drinking,  and  I  just 
felt  good  and  happy.  My  experience  is.  that 
water  taken  in  this  way  never  does  me  any 
harm.  While  riding  on  my  wheel  continuously 
I  drink  great  quantities  by  taking,  say.  half  a 
teacupful  at  a  time.    May  be  I  drink  perhaps  a 


quart  in  this  way:  ami  if  the  elTect  of  this  is  to 
wash  out  and  ch'aiise  out  i  he  liver.  I  am  (juite 
I'eady  to  accept  your  explanation.  I  do  not  care 
for  rcrii  cold  waUM"  but  tliat  from  our  soft- 
water  springs  has  generally  seenu'd  about  right.] 

running    IP   PRICE.S   ON    IIONKV. 

Advices  yesterday  are  that  commission  u'en 
were  buying  all  honey  available,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  raising  prices  to  2.")c  retail.  I  have  very 
little  trouble  in  selling  at  this  price  for  comb, 
and  ¥!l.7.>  per  gallon  (\2  lbs.)  for  extracted,  to 
consumers:  but  I  am  producing  flionnnjlili) 
ripened,  best  quality  at  this  price.  This  spring. 
while  transferring  a  box  hiv(;  I  had  occa^ion 
to  take  out  several  pounds  of  unripent^d  honi-y. 
I  ripened  it  in  tin  pans  exposed  to  the  sun  until 
it  was  thick,  and  sold  half  a  gallon  to  a  neigh- 
bor. I  did  not  like  it.  neither  did  mother,  and 
the  neighbor  complaiiu'd  of  its  having  a  rank 
flavor.  It  was  fiom  white  clover.  1  afterward 
sold  him  five  gallons  of  thoroughly  ripened 
honey,  and  they  were  delighted  with  it.  for 
they  ate  it  up  a  month  ago. 

(}eo.  E.  Eradenbiijg. 

Kansas  City,  Mo..  Sept.  1(3. 

^  [W^e  must  confess  that  we  have  seen  nothing 
in  the  papers  to  the  effect  that  commission  men 
were  trying  trying  to  make  '"a  corner"  on  hon- 
ey. If  true,  it  is  good  news,  because  honey  is 
so  scarce  this  year  that  prices  ought  to  rule 
higher  than  last  year.] 


REPORT   FROM   O.    M.   RLANTON. 

The  cold  spring,  rainy  summer,  and  over- 
flow, cut  the  honey  cro])  of  Arkansas  shoi't  40 
per  cent.  On  tlie  Mississippi  side  we  had  no 
overflow,  the  300  miles  of  levees  remaining  in- 
tact, and  our  shortage  of  crop  will  be  about  :.'.5 
per  cent.  If  I  can  get  time  I  will  ti  y  to  wi'ite 
you  up  the  honey  season  and  incideiiLs  of  the 
overflow. 

I  don't  use  tobacco,  and  I  long  ago  quit  any 
beverage  that  has  alcohol  in  it  whatsoever,  and 
not  to  win  youi'  smoker.  (Mtlier,  but  solely  for 
the  good  of  the  constitution. 

O.  M.  Br,ANToN. 

Greenville,  Mis.s.,  Sept.  1. 


now   TO   TEST   silver   IN  ORE. 

Tell  our  Missouri  tin  and  silver  miner  that 
the  following  blow- pipe  analysis  will  answer 
his  purposes:  Pulverize  in  a  morter  8  oz.  of  ore 
to  a  fine  powder:  place  it  in  a  glass  or  porcelain 
vessel:  cov<'r  it  with  ('.  I*,  nitric  acid:  keep 
away  from  its  fuim^s  and  let  it  stand  an  hour, 
or  over  a  night  is  l)ett<u':  then  dilute  with  one 
gallon  soft  water:  add  2  oz.  common  salt.  If 
you  have  any  silver  in  your  ore.  this  water,  on 
the  additi<jn  of  tlii'  salt,  will  at  once  become 
milky,  and  finally  settle  on  the  bottom  as  clal»- 
bered  milk.  Pour  off  the  water  and  wash  this 
residue  until  neutral.  Place  this  curdy  mass  in 
a  glass  vessel  again;  cover  w^ell  with  C.  P. 
muriatic  acid;  place  in  the  acid  also  a  strip  of 
zinc  1x3  in.,  which  will  efferversce  as  it  is  dis- 
solved, and  a  gray  precipitate  will  be  found  on 
the  bottom.  Collect  this  in  a  small  cavity  of 
soft  charcoal;  add  an  equal  amount  of  powder- 
ed borax  as  a  flux;  now  with  your  alcohol-lamp 
and  blow-pipe  direct  the  flame  on  the  mass  for 
a  short  time.  and.  if  silver  exists,  it  will  appear 
in  little  shot  form,  dancing  about  like  fairies  at 
the  l)ottom.  If  tin  exists  it  will  be  in  the  resi- 
due as  putty  powder.  .1.  P.  Mukdock. 

Oxford.  Fla.       

A   POOR   SEA.SON.   BUT   A   GOOD   FALL  FLOW. 

This  has  been  one  of  the  poorest  honey  sea- 
sons that  I  ever  saw  in  this  locality.  I  had 
1100  lbs.  surplus  from  ."lO  colonies,  all  of  which 


740 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


is  of  a  tine  quality.  Tlie  bees  liave  been  getting 
enough  lioney  from  goldenrod  to  l\eep  up  brood- 
rearing  at  a  lively  rate.  At  present  ttiey  are 
filling  tlieir  combs  with  honey  from  the  asters; 
and  if  they  have  a  few  more  warm  days  they 
will  have  enough  to  winter  on. 
Dilworthtown,  Pa.  H.  P.  Faucett. 

By  all  means  let  us  have  a  union  as  spol^en 
of  by  Mr.  Mclntyre.  If  it  had  such  an  effect  on 
the  syrup-trade,  why  would  it  not  have  a  sim- 
ilar one  on  honey?  You  may  count  me  one  to 
help.  ■  O.  H.  Hyatt. 

Shenandoah.  la.,  Aug.  22. 

A  POSSIBLE  solution;  milkweed. 

I  thinlf  the  bees  that  Wm.  Miller  speaks  of 
as  trying  to  carry  each  other  off,  on  page  G22, 
were  "fastened  together  with  milkweed  pollen. 

New  Hampton,  N.  Y.  E.  E.  Howell. 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


PEAS   IN   THE   FALL. 

All  along  during  the  spring  month*  I  kept 
planting  peas  without  getting  enough  of  a  crop 
to  pay  for  seed  and  picking,  even  though  we 
got  high  prices  (none  sold  at  less  than  lo  cents 
a  quart)  for  them.  Well,  although  I  never  suc- 
ceeded very  well  in  getting  peas  in  the  fall.  I 
kept  putting  in  seed  of  the  American  Wonder 
clear  up  into  August:  and  during  the  whole  of 
September  we  have  been  having  the  nicest 
American  Wonder  peas  we  ever  had  in  the 
world.  I  suppose  it  was  owing  to  the  many 
cool  nights,  with  almost  a  frost  several  times. 
For  a  long  while  we  disposed  of  all  we  could 
pick,  at  10  cents  a  quart;  but  finally  we  had  to 
come  down  to  8  cents,  and  finally  the  bulk  of 
the  crop  went  for  .5.  A.  I.  R. 

THE   MAN -WEIGHT   CULTIVATOR. 

Mr.  Root:— 1)0  you  find  the  Man-weight  cul- 
tivator to  be  what  the  manufacturer  claims  for 
it?  I  bought  one  of  the  double-wheeled  ones, 
and  it  will  not  stand  the  work  where  there  are 
stones.  I  find  the  cast  parts  are  very  brittle, 
and  the  screws  that  are  intended  to  hold  the 
hoes  are  entirely  too  light,  and  break  befoi'e  I 
can  get  them  tight  enough  to  hold.  I  wrote  the 
Everitt  Co.,  stating  that  I  thought  they  ought 
to  make  the  machine  good  or  else  refund  my 
money.    They  did  not  answer  me. 

Our  bees  have  made  some  sui-plus  honey  from 
buckwheat.  The  honey  crop  in  this  vicinity 
will  be  a  light  one.  P.  Sutton. 

Exeter.  Pa..  Sept.  7. 

[My  experience  has  been  quite  like  yours  in 
regard  to  the  cultivator;  but  the  Everitt  people 
have  replaced  the  weak  parts  of  my  original 
machine.  It  now  does  fairly  well  where  the 
soil  is  sufficiently  mellow,  and  free  from  stones, 
etc.  Their  claims  in  regard  to  it,  however,  are 
greatly  exaggerated.  As  there  have  been  quite 
a  number  of  complaints,  to  the  effect  that  they 
do  not  answer  letters,  I  think  it  is  no  more  than 
fair  that  the  public  be  notified.] 

A   STKAWBERKY   REPORT,  AND   SOME  VALUABLE 
SUGGESTIONS. 

The  strawberry  crop  liere  was  about  one- 
fourth  of  a  good  crop.  Hubach  did  nothing. 
^Yhat  few  berries  there  were,  rotted  before  they 
ripened.  Warfield  and  Crescent  were  the  best. 
I  do  not  think  it  was  because  the  blossoms  were 
not  fertilized   enough,  because   beds  that   had 


the  fewest  plants  that  have  the  perfect  blos- 
soms had  the  most  and  best  berries. 

On  the  bed  I  set  out  this  spring  I  picked  off 
all  perfect  blossoms  and  let  the  others  blossom, 
thinking  they  would  not  have  any  berries  on; 
but  if  I  had  taken  up  all  of  my  Bubachs  and 
set  them  out  I  should  have  had  an  immense 
crop  of  fine  berries.  Now.  what  do  you  think 
of  having  the  perfect-blossoming  kind  to  make 
the  imperfect  bear? 

In  the  spring  of.  1891  I  bought  250  Warfield 
plants,  and  saved  only  35  of  them.  From  them 
and  their  increase  I  picked  (55  quarts  of  berries, 
besides  selling  a  good  many  plants. 

I  have  a  hotbed  that  1  heat  with  a  stove. 
The  wood  I  use  is  half-rotten  stumps  that  I 
grub  out,  whicli  would  not  be  of  any  use  if  not 
used  in  this  way.  It  is  4)^x34  feet;  from  this  I 
sold  S37  worth  of  plants. 

I  had  some  clear  sand  and  manure  that  the 
hens  had  mixed  together,  and  thought  I  would 
try  some  of  it  for  transplanting  in;  and,  how 
the  plants  did  growl  They  grew  more  than 
twice  as  fast  as  they  did  in  the  well-enriched 
garden  soil  I  was  using. 

I  shall  use  sand  and  manure  mixed  together 
entirely  next  year.  I  let  the  hens  do  the  mix- 
ing, asthey  can  do  it  better  than  I  could. 

Brodhead,  Wis.  P.  H.  Fellows. 

[Friend  F..  perhaps  we  may  remind  you  that 
many  of  the  berries  classed  with  the  imperfect 
varieties  produce  some  perfect  blossoms;  and 
the  Warfield  has  at  times  shown  so  many  as  to 
be  almost  worthy  of  being  called  a  perfect- 
blossoming  varieiy.  Yoiu'  plan  of  getting  a 
rich  compost  foi'  plant-beds  is  tiptop;  and  by 
the  use  of  the  sand  you  kill  two  birds  with  one 
stone— you  keep  your  poultry  clean,  tidy,  and 
healthy,  and  have  one  of  the  best  fertilizers 
made  and  mixed  by  the  hens.  They  can  be 
easily  induced  to  scratch  and  mix  the  dirt  up 
cheaper  than  anybody  can  do  it  with  a  rake. 
Some  of  us  have  learned  this  to  our  sorrow.] 


MULCHING     AND   WATEP.ING     STRAWBERRY- 
PLANTS. 

I  would  say  that  I  was  well  pleased  with  the 
strawberry  book  you  sent  me;  but  I  would  ad- 
vise friend  Terry  to  revise  it  some;  for,  if  I  had 
followed  directions  closely  1  should  undoubted- 
ly have  lost  all  the  plan*^s  you  sent  me.  On 
page  27  he  says,  "  Do  no  watering  or  covering." 
so  I  tried  about  ten  plants  according  to  direc- 
tions— "no  watering,"  and  lost  every  one  of 
them:  the  rest  that  I  watered  every  evening 
are  all  growing  and  doing  finely.  I  suppose  he 
intends  this  for  spring  planting  only;  if  he 
does,  he  should  say  so.  j    G.  J.  Sturm. 

Mount  Erie.  111.,  Sept.  12. 

[Thank  you,  friend  S.  Very  likely  you  are 
quite  right  about  it.  Friend  Terry,  you  know, 
practices  spring  planting  exclusively.  In  my 
directions  for  fall  planting  with  the  transplant- 
ing-tubes,  yon' may  remember  that  I  advised 
quite  heavy  watering.] 

WINDMILLS   FOR  ELEVATING    WATER     FOR   IRRI- 
GATION. 

Friend  Root: — I  am  gardening  two  acres  of 
ground,  and  have  lost  two  crops  of  celery  on 
account  of  the  drouth,  besides  other  crops  that 
were  short  on  the  same  account.  My  garden 
lies  on  the  banks  of  a  river,  and  the  water  must 
be  raised  24  feet,  so  that  it  will  run  on  the  high- 
est ground.  What  sized  windmill  would  I  need? 
also,  what  sized  tank  will  be  needed  to  hold  a 
surplus,  in  case  the  wind  does  not  blow  for  a 
day  or  two.  I  am  not  able  to  run  any  risk  in 
experiments,  so  I  thought  I  would  come  to  you 
for   advice,   which    you    might    give    through 


1S92 


(ji.HANixtis  IN  1{i:k  ci'i/ii'i;!;. 


741 


I'll, KAMNCJs.  ami  may  lu'  lit'lp  ot iters  as  well  as 
luo.  We  liave  not  hatl  any  rain  siiu-e  tht>  fore 
part  of  .Inly,  and  ev(>ry  tliinir  is  dried  up.  or 
ii<>Hrly  so.  F.  \V.  Moats. 

HriinersburK.  C)..  Sept.  (>. 

[FritMul  M..  yours  is  a  probiem  tliat  iscomin<i 
up  now  a  ixreat  many  times.  If  you  depend  on 
wind  yon  will  need  a  very  large  resei'voii'  to 
hold  the  supply  when  tiie  wind  does  not  blow; 
and  even  for  yoin-  two  acres  I  would  suggest  a 
tank  liolding  "from  iiKio  to  ^.'(KK)  barrels.  Now.  if 
tliere  is  always  running  water  in  that  river  I 
would  suggest,  insti^ad  of  a  windmill,  a  tide 
water-w  heel.  This  would  always  be  available, 
and  only  a  very  small  reservoir,  or  none  at  all. 
would  be  needed.  I  have  seen  such  wat<>r- 
wlieels  for  elevating  water:  but  I  do  not  think 
that  I  ever  heard  of  iheir  being  offered  for  sale.] 

I'UKVKXTING    WASH   ON    THE   HIIJ-SIDES,  ETC. 

^[r.  Rixit: — On  page  7()4,  Sept.  15th,  you  have 
given  a  nice  picture  of  a  land-leveler  and  two 
nice  rolling  hills  nicely  laid  out  to  drain  the 
water  by  circles:  but  you  have  made  one  little 
mistake,  and  you  may  as  well  have  it  right  as 
not.  while  you  are  at  it.  Remember,  there 
never  were  two  hills  unless  there  was  a  hollow 
or  depression  t)etween  them:  and  down  these 
sags,  or  hollows,  is  where  the  water  should  run. 
But  if  there  is  not  cnougli  of  these  hollows  run- 
ning up  the  hill  to  carry  off  the  water  without 
leading  it,  say.  over  two  hundred  yards,  each 
way  from  highest  point,  as  you  indicate,  then 
you  may  and  sliouUl  run  those  straight  ditches 
up  the  hill:  but  not  *^//f  of  them  entirely  up  to 
the  top.  as  one  or  two  are  enough  to  go  (ill  the 
way  up — say  one  on  each  side.        J.  W.  Day. 

Crystal  Springs.  Miss.,  Sept.  24. 

[Thanks  again,  friend  Day.  Since  you  men- 
tion it,  I  do  remember  that  your  waste  water 
was  finally  delivered  into  the  natural  water- 
course, or  gully,  between  the  hills,  but  I  did 
not  think  to  mention  it.  On  our  ground,  where 
we  have  been  doing  the  work  it  is  on  a  hill  so 
large  that  we  have,  in  place  of  a  hill,  only  slop- 
ing ground:  and  wherever  there  is  a  depression 
I  have  found  it  convenient  to  locate  these 
waste-water  ditches  straight  down  the  hill: 
neither  did  I  intend,  in  our  illustrations,  that 
these  waste  ditches  should  <tll  go  to  the  sum- 
mit of  the  hill.  The  idea  and  plan  of  working 
is  somewliat  complicated  at  best,  and  the  dia- 
gram which  you  refer  to  was  more  to  give  a 
general  idea  of  the  work  to  be  done  than  to 
show  just /iojr  it  should  be  done  in  practice.  I 
suppose  none  of  the  up-and-down  ditches  need 
run  clear  to  the  summit  of  the  hill.  During  the 
tremendous  rains  of  the  past  season,  however,  a 
large  quantity  of  water  would  accumulate  on  a 
very  small  area,  even  on  a  hilltop.] 


CORKECTEI)   AN1>   I>EFT   BKHIND  BY  ONE   OF  THE 

WOMEN-FOEK.S   IX   THE   MATTF:|{   OF 

ONION   Cri-TUKE. 

I  was  surprised  to  read  in  Gleanings,  Sept. 
1,  that  the  Egyptian  onion  did  not  produce 
bulbs  with  you.  I  sent  for  a  quart  of  your 
Egyptian  onion-sets  last  fall,  and  planted  them 
in  poor  sandy  ground,  covering  them  with  rot- 
ten buckwheat  straw  which  was  left  on  in  the 
spring— no  other  fertilizer  but  the  water  I  had 
to  carry  out  of  the  stable  after  a  hard  rain, 
which  I  put  between  the  rows.  They  will  av- 
erage the  size  of  turkey-eggs.  The  strip  of 
paper  just  meets  around  one  of  the  largest  after 
the  outside  was  peeled  off. 

Lochiel,  Wis.  Mrs.  Meea  Hael. 

[Well,  my  good  friend,  I  am  rejoiced  to  find 
that  I  do  not  even  yet  know  all  about  the 
Egyptian  onion.    The  strip  of  paper  you  send 


us  is  just  8  iiu'lies  long.  We  have  succeeded 
some  seasons  in  getting  tolerable  bulbs  from 
the  Egyi)tian  onions  when  given  plenty  of  room 
on  very  rich  ground:  but  we  have  ntn'er  yet 
succeeded  in  getting  any  so  large  as  yours.  VVe 
shall  liave  to  change  or  modify  our  description 
of  the  Egyptian.] 

(iETTlNG   ONION-SETS  TO   STAND   WINTEII    W  HEN 
PLANTED  IN   TIIE   FALL. 

Friend  Root: — Perliaps  my  experience  in  win- 
tering over  onion-sets  may  be  of  a  little  benefit. 
I  have  been  raising  Silver  King  onions  for  the 
past  four  years.  They  wer((  a  perfect  success 
three  years,  and  on(>  crou  was  a  complete;  fail- 
ure, i  sow  the  se(?d  early  in  the  spring,  quite 
thickly  for  the  .sets,  and  I  do  not  set  them  out 
in  the  fall  until  aliout  two  weeks  before  the 
ground  freezes.  The  object  is,  to  have  them 
get  thoroughly  rooted,  and  have  very  little  top 
before  winter.  One  year  I  set  in  September,  and 
lost  the  crop.  Mulching  is  of  no  benefit  on  my 
soil — a  sandy  loam.  I  .shall  try  the  Pearl  onion 
this  fall,  as  tiiis  class  of  onions  brings  double 
the  price  of  any  other  in  the  market. 

Eugene  Davis. 

Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  Aug.  24,  1892. 

[Many  thanks,  friend  Davis.  In  order  to  test 
this  matter,  last  season  we  planted  the  Ameri- 
can Pearl  sets  in  the  middle  or  early  part  of 
September,  then  some  more  two  weeks  later,  and 
so  on  until  only  a  short  time  before  the  ground 
froze  up.  Those  planted  earliest  did  altogether 
the  best.  They  took  root  and  grew,  and  seem- 
ed to  go  down  into  the  ground  far  enough  to 
stand  the  frost.  We  are  very  glad  indeed  to 
get  items  of  experience  from  the  originator  of 
the  Grand  Rapids  lettuce,  now  so  well  and 
widely  known  almost  over  the  whole  woi'ld.] 

STEAM  HOT-BEDS. 

We  are  putting  in  15.000  feet  of  double-thick 
glass  this  year  for  cut-t^ower  growing.  That 
makes  my  plant  36.000  feet.  We  expect  to  heat 
one-fourth  acre  of  hotbed  on  A.  1.  Root's  plan 
of  steam.  Geo.  M.  Kei.logg. 

Pleasant  Hill,  Mo. 


Notes  of  Travel 

from  a.  i.  root. 

TEMI'E,  aiuzona. 
When  we  arrived  at  the  station,  the  principal 
object  that  took  my  attention  was  an  Indian 
pacing  up  and  down  the  platform,  with  a  tuft 
of  feathers  on  his  head,  like  the  pictures  we  see 
in  the  geographies  and  other  books— a  veritable 
painted  and  feather-decked  Indian.  I  confess 
that  I  looked  up  to  him  with  considerable 
respect.  He  was  quite  a  good-sized,  tall,  well- 
developed  man,  and  I  concluded  that  he  must  be 
a  chief  or  something  of  that  sort,  as  he,  with  a 
sort  of  indifferent  air.  seemed  to  look  down 
upon  the  rest  of  mankind  who  hadn't  any  nice 
feathers  like  his  own.  When  I  began  to  inquire 
of  my  brother  and  his  family  about  this  ■■  big 
Injun  "and  his  feathers,  I  noticed  that  they 
seemed  to  smile  among  themselves  at  my  ex- 
alted conception  of  the  "red  man  of  the  forest;" 
but  as  we  did  not  think  aliki',  the  subject  was 
dropped.  Hut  they  smiled  in  a  sort  of  self- 
complacent  way  that  rather  vexed  me  just  a 
trifle:  but,  with  very  jjleasant  good  nature,  they 
told  me  to  keep  on  studying  the  habits  of  these 
dusky  friends  of  mine.  Well,  about  the  first 
thing  I  saw  when  I  looked  outdoors,  after  I 
had  begun  to  feel  at  home,  was  this  same  tuft 
of  feathers  bobbing  about  over  a  pile  of  garbage 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


that  had  been  dumped  out  in  one  of  the  alleys 
of  Tempe.  He  was  poking  over  the  trash, 
thinking  he  might  find  something  to  eat,  or 
pick  up  some  broken  dishes,  or  something  of 
the  sort,  to  carry  home.  I  was  astonished.  My 
hero  of  the  feathers  had  taken  a  sad  tumble. 
Afterward  I  saw  other  Indians  picking  up 
dirty,  nasty  feathers  from  dust-heaps  in  order 
to  stick  them  in  their  hair  in  a  like  manner. 
These  Indians  are  human  beings;  they  are 
God's  children,  like  ourselves:  but  what  a  dif- 
ference education  and  surroundings  make  I  If 
a  white  man  should  tix  up  his  hair  in  that  way. 
and  deck  himself  with  feathers,  and  then 
parade  the  streets  in  order  to  attract  attention, 
we  would  decide  at  once  that  he  was  stark  mad 
— downright  crazy,  and  very  fit  for  the  asylum. 
But  these  Indians  are  not  crazy  at  all.  It  is 
only  because  they  look  at  things  in  a  different 
way.  Some  of  them  can  chop  wood,  and  are 
quite  expert  with  an  ax;  but  they  do  no  regular 
work.  In  fact,  they  rarely  work  at  all  unless 
they  take  a  fancy  to  a  special  dress  or  some 
extra  fine  feathers.  The  whole  race  seems  to 
be  in  a  state  of  childhood;  but  yet  now  and 
then  we  have  occasionally  a  character  that 
shows  the  possibilities  that  lie  dormant  and 
undeveloped  under  that  dusky  skin.  One  might 
think,  when  the  Indian  looks  upon  the  whites, 
and  sees  the  progress  we  have  made,  that  they 
would  feel  sad  and  discouraged.  From  what  I 
can  learn,  however,  it  is  just  the  other  way. 
The  Indians,  both  men  and  women,  especially 
the  most  ignorant  and  savage,  seem  to  feel 
themselves  far  above  us.  They  even  laugh  in 
our  faces  to  think  we  take  so  much  pains  to 
build  houses,  put  up  machinery,  and  all  that, 
when  after  all  it  does  not  amount  to  any  thing 
comparatively — a  great  fuss  for  little  or  nothing. 
Tempe,  like  the  rest  of  Arizona,  seems  to  be  a 
sort  of  enchanted  land  or  new  world.  Nothing 
thei'e  is  as  it  is  here  at  home,  and  few  things 
are  even  like  California.  Right  close  to  the 
town— in  fact,  right  in  the  town— rises  one  of 
those  abrupt  rocky  mountains.  They  call  it 
the  Butte  (pronounced  hewt).  and  the  view  from 
it  is  so  striking  that  some  one  or  more  persons 
are  looking  off'  from  its  summit  almost  every 
hour  in  the  day.  In  fact,  the  smoke  from  the 
city  of  Phoenix,  the  capital  of  the  Territory,  is 
plainly  visible  from  the  top  of  this  butte.  The 
meanderings  of  Salt  River,  as  well  as  the  rail- 
road along  its  shores,  are  very  plain  and  quite 
pretty.  The  houses,  th(^  people,  the  customs 
of  Tempe,  are  in  great  part  borrowed  from  the 
Mexicans  and  Indians  that  form  a  large  part 
of  the  population.  What  would  you  think  of 
a  drygoods  store,  and  a  tolerably  fine  one  too. 
for  a  city  of  two  or  three  thousand  inhabitants, 
that  did  not  have  a  window  in  it  anywhere? 
How  do  they  display  their  goods?  Why,  they 
put  them  on  the  shelves  as  we  do.  and  then 
open  the  wide  front  doors.  These  front  doors 
are  always  open,  winter  and  summer,  in  the 
daytime.  I  do  not  know  how  they  manage 
when  they  have  a  driving  rain.  Perhaps  they 
turn  their  customers,  loafers  and  all.  out  into 
the  street,  and  then  lock  up  until  the  rain  is 
over.  Irrigating-ditches  are  everywhere,  and 
the  roads  and  streets  are  principally  laid  out  to 
accommodate  said  ditches.  There  is  no  timber 
nor  trees  of  any  sort  unless  we  call  the  great 
cacti  trees  —  except  along  these  irrigating- 
ditches;  and  these  are  bordered  by  fine  growths 
of  Cottonwood.  In  fact.  I  never  saw  cotton- 
wood,  nor  any  other  tree  or  plant,  grow  with 
such  luxuriance  as  do  these  cottonwoods  along 
the  ditches.  When  they  want  to  set  out  a  belt 
of  trees  they  just  chop  down  a  big  cottonwood, 
and  cut  it  up  into  poles  or  sticks.  Sometimes 
the  sticks  are  not  larger  than  your  finger,  nor 
longer  than  stovewood:    but  just  stick  these 


into  the  ground,  near  water,  and  they  will  all 
grow.  Artificial  forests  are  no  myth  in  Arizona, 
and  there  seems  to  be  almost  no  failure.  Cot- 
tonwoods two  or  three  feet  through  may  be 
seen  along  these  ditches:  and  if  one  wants  a 
shanty  or  stable  for  his  stock,  he  sets  up  poles 
or  crotches  to  hold  the  poles.  If  an  irrigating- 
ditch  is  anywhere  near  the  poles  and  crotches 
they  will  all  grow.  In  fact.  I  saw  them  making 
cuttings  in  the  month  of  January  from  pears, 
apples,  peaches,  and  apricots,  and  from  all  the 
trees  growing  in  the  nuiseries,  for  all  I  know, 
and  all  they  had  to  do  to  make  these  cuttings 
grow  was  to  stick  them  close  up  to  the  irrigat- 
ing-ditches—so  near  that  the  water  would  soak 
through  and  keep  them  constantly  wet.  The 
climate  and  soil  do  the  rest.  _ 

I  visited  some  of  the  Chinese  gardens,  but 
they  had  nothing  that  pleased  me  as  well  as 
the  garden-stuff'  that  grows  hrre  in  the  East. 
I  do  not  know  whether  it  is  the  Chinese  or  the 
climate.  I  am  well  aware  they  grow  fruits 
equal  or  superior  to  any  in  the  world;  but  I 
doubt  their  being  able  to  grow  general  garden- 
stuff  equal  to  ours.  As  I  was  there  only  in  the 
winter  time,  however,  I  may  be  mistaken.  A 
good  deal  has  been  said  about  the  wonderful 
skill  of  the  Chinese  in  making  garilens.  lean 
not  quite  agree  with  this.  The  Chinese  never 
read  an  agricultural  paper.  I  do  not  believe 
they  ever  look  at  our  seed  catalogues,  and  they 
know  nothing  of  new  varieties.  Most  of  their 
products  are  the  result  of  common  seed,  oi'  seed 
of  common  sorts.  If  a  Chinese  market-gardener 
wants  some  seeds  he  goes  into  a  seedstore  and 
simply  says.  "■  Led  ladish."  He  means  by  this 
that  he  wants  seed  that  will  produce  reel 
radishes.  There  being  no  sound  ofrin  their 
language,  they  use  I  in  its  place.  If  he  wants 
to  plant  some  peas  he  asks  for  peas:  and  when 
the  seedsman  asks  him  what  kind,  he  holds  his 
hand  over  the  ctjunter  to  indicate  that  he  wants 
peas  that  grow  short.  If  he  wants  tall  ones  he 
puts  his  hand  up  higher.  That  is  all  he  knows 
about  it — peas  that  are  tall  and  peas  that  are 
short.  He  never  uses  any  sort  of  improved  im- 
plement— no  modern  cultivators— none  of  the 
hand  wheel-hoes.  Our  good  friends  Posson  & 
Son,  who  sell  our  bee-hive  material  at  Portland. 
Ore.,  tried  in  vain  to  introduce  the  Planet 
wheel-hoes  and  seed-drills  among  the  Chinese. 
They  thought  once  they  had  got  the  thing 
started:  but  the  Chinamen  all  combined  to- 
gether, and.  through  some  superstitious  fear, 
or  something  else,  persuaded  their  comrade  to 
carry  back  all  his  new-fangled  tools;  and,  if  I 
remember  correctly,  their  reward  for  trying  to 
do  these  benighted  heathen  a  favor  ended  in 
getting  their  ill  will:  and  I  presume  they  verily 
believe  to  this  day  that  the  white  man  tried  to 
do  them  a  great  and  lasting  injury.  Now.  I 
protest  against  letting  this  class  of  people  drive 
intellieent  horticultui'e  out  of  any  community. 

Even  the  water  in  the  wells  of  Arizona  is  "on 
the  contrary."  Here  in  the  East,  if  we  want  a 
nice  drink  of  water  we  go  for  the  old  oaken 
bucket,  but  not  so  in  Arizona.  All  the  water 
in  all  the  wells  that  I  found  on  the  desert  is  too 
warm  to  drink.  If  you  want  it  cold,  and  have 
no  ice,  you  must  let  it  stand  in  the  open  air 
until  it  cools  off'.  During  the  nighttime  and 
in  winter  it  gets  to  he  cool  enough  to  be  quite 
refreshing.  In  the  summer  time,  however,  and 
during  the  daytime  in  winter,  they  get  it  cool 
by  the  use  of  the  well-known  Indian  ola — a  jar 
made  of  porous  earthenware,  large  enough  to 
hold  from  one  up  to  five  and  even  ten  gallons. 
These  water-jars  are  suspended  somewhere  in 
the  shade,  but  where  they  can  catch  all  the 
breeze.  They  are  then  covei'ed  with  some  coarse 
cloth,  like  burlap  or  bagging.  The  porous 
nature  of    the    eai'thenware    permits    enough 


1892 


GLKANlNdS  IN  HKECULTUKh 


74.1 


watcf  U)  slowly  seep  liiitniuli  lo  Uccp  ilic  t'lolli 
\v(>t:  ami  ihc  cvapoiaiidii  of  this  walcr  in  tlu' 
hrt'c/i'  mal<<>s  the  contents  cool.  Wherever  1 
fonnd  an  ola  suspended  orstaniliiiK  in  tli<'  shade, 
I  was  always  sure  to  gr\  a  nice  drink.  It  tool<  me 
some  time  to  he  convinced  that  well  water  theic 
was  n(n-er  rold.  One  day  when  out  on  the 
desert  several  miles  we  t-ame  to  a  ramdi  where 
a  new  oomer  iiad  just  demonstrated  that  he 
could  raist>  alfalfa.  In  order  to  got  (/ri;iA/>i(/- 
water  he  had  dug  a  W(>11  tlirough  tiio  sand  and 
gravel,  70  feet  deep.  I  lool<ed  down  from  aliove 
and  saw  the  water  shining  so  far  below  that  I 
felt  sure  I  had  tinally  found  a  well  deep  enough 
so  the  water  would  be  cool.  While  I  was  labor- 
ing to  pull  up  a  bucketful,  the  owner  and  my 
brother  came  around.  Tliey  laughed  at  my 
disgust  in  tinding  water  just  warm  enough  to 
be  fair  disiiwat(>r:  and  then  the  owner  took  us 
into  the  house  and  gave  us  some  that  had  cool- 
<'d  otT.  Tile  porch  in  front  of  liis  house  was 
niadeof  some  queer-looking  ribs.  I  first  thought 
it  must  be  some  sort  of  whalebone:  but  our 
host  explained  that  they  were  ribs  from  the 
giant  cacti.  They  were  about  as  hard  as 
whalebone,  and  so  stiff  and  strong,  that,  al- 
tliough  scarcely  larger  than  your  two  fingers, 
they  held  uj)  the  roof  of  a  heavy  porch. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


Unto  him  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly 
al)ove  all  that  we  ask  oi-  think,  according-  to  the 
powei-  tliat  workoth  in  us,  unto  him  be  glory  in  the 
chuicli  by  .Tesus  Carist  tliroughout  all  ages,  world 
without  end.    Amen.— Eph.  3:  :iU,  21. 

In  my  talk  to-day  I  wish  to  call  particular 
attention  to  the  words.  "Above  all  that  we  ask 
or  think."  In  my  last  I  did  not  mention  the 
wheel  and  the  new  lease  of  life  it  has  given  me, 
at  ail.  In  fact,  I  feared  I  had  said  a  little  too 
much  in  ray  talk  a  month  ago,  and  I  thought 
it  best  to  wait  at  least  a  little  longer  before  I 
added  any  thing  further.  Well,  about  four 
weeks  have  passed  since  I  spoke  to  yon  those 
<-arnest  words;  and  my  feeling  now,  in  thinking 
about  that  earnest  prayej',  is  e.xpressed  in  the 
words  I  have  just  quoted — "Above  all  that  we 
ask  or  think."  The  thought  is.  that,  when 
41od  does  see  (it  to  answer  our  prayers,  or,  if 
you  choo.se,  when  we  have  put  ourselves  in  a  line 
with  his  work  and  wishes,  so  that  he  can 
answer  our  prayers,  the  answer  comes,  "Above 
all  that  we  ask  or  think."  You  know  a  great 
deal  is  said  nowadays  about  people  wearing 
themsiilves  out  by  being  overworked.  Perhaps 
they  do  sometimes  wear  themselves  out  by 
overwork:  but  I  am  led  to  believe  that  it  is  not 
so  much  oveiwork  as  it  is  working  in  a  single 
line  or  single  channel.  If  I  have  interpreted 
God's  answer  aright,  it  is  to  the  effect  that  we 
are  to  exercise  not  only  all  our  mental  powers, 
but  all  of  our  muscles.  Re  intended  that  we 
shoukl  be  rounded  cut  and  developed:  that  we 
should  go  out  into  the  world  among  our  "neigh- 
bors "and  get  acquainted  with  them,  instead 
of  settling  down  to  narrow  and  contracted  lin(^s 
and  limits.  Since  I  wrote  you  I  have  been  tak- 
ing longer  and  longer  rides  out  into  the  coun- 
try. I  have  again  and  again  exerted  my 
strength  until  it  seemed  as  if  I  had  got  to  the 
utmost  limit.  In  climbing  hills  I  have  had  the 
muscles  and  bones  and  joints  of  my  legs  ache 
until  it  seemed  as  if  I  could  stand  it  no  longer. 
Had  I  not  been  working  for  several  weeks  right 
along  on  the  line  of  testing  and  developing  my 
muscles  I  should  have  feared  the  consequences. 
Yes.  I  have  panted  and  blowed.  and  had  my 
blood  heated  up  to  such  an  extent  that  I  should 


have  feared  rupturing  a  blood-vessel,  or  some- 
thing of  that  sort,  had  I  not  known  from  cr- 
p('r(<'/i(T  that  it  would  not-  luirm  me  at  all.  liy 
the  way,  isn't  there  a  mistake  somc^where  in 
this  matter  of  overexertion  that  we  hear  so 
much  about?  In  my  own  ex|ierience  there  has 
not  been  one  single  failure,  .\fter  using  my 
musch's  and  lungs  and  circulation  in  the  way  I 
have  told  you,  and  after  perspiring  until  I  was 
about  as  wet  as  if  I  had  been  dipped  in  water,  I 
have  (tlirays  ex|»erienced  this  strange  phenom- 
enon which  wheelmen  call  "second  wind."  It 
is  there,  and  1  reach  it  every  lime. 

One  day  during  this  present  week  I  rode  2'y 
miles  between  seven  in  the  morning  and  noon. 
Of  course,  this  is  no  feat  at  all  for  an  average 
wheelman:  but  it  is  to  me  sometliing  wonderful 
to  think  of  for  an  invalid  — or  one  who  was  an  in- 
valid—a pefect  wreck,  in  fact,  as  my  physician 
in  I'ortland.  Oregon,  told  me.  in  the  way  of 
nervous  exhaustion.  This  ride  of  25  miles  was 
also  over  the  hilliest  and  roughest  roads,  per- 
haps, in  our  county,  (^)uite  a  part  of  it  was 
climbing  great  hill's,  and  then  going  down  into 
great  valleys,  first  one  and  then  another.  In 
coming  home,  some  of  the  worst  hills  stood 
before  me  at  just  about  (eleven  o'clock.  This  is 
the  hour  of  my  forenoon  nap,  as  you  know%  and 
I  felt  strongly  inclined  to  stop  somewhere  and 
beg  the  privilege  of  lying  down.  I  also  f'T'lt 
somewhat  hungry  from  my  violent  exercise. 
In  Older  to  test  the  thing,  however,  of  which  I 
am  writing,  I  decided  to  push  on.  In  climbing 
great  hills,  for  perhaps  l.i  minutes  longer,  the 
muscular  exertion  was  so  great  that  I  was  liter- 
ally full  of  pain.  I  knew,  however,  from  past  ex- 
perience, that,  after  reaching  a  certain  point,  this 
would  give  way,  and  it  did,  I'"or  the  last  half- 
hour,  going  up  and  down  the  hills  was  simply  a 
pastime,  and  the  enjoyment  was  some  of  the 
keenest  I  ever  knew.  Now.  this  is  to  me  simply 
wonderful.  It  is  like  going  through  the  un- 
explored regions  of  Mammoth  Cave— yes,  ever 
so  much  moj'c  wonderful,  because  it  is  exploring 
storehouses  of  strength  in  my  own  body— a 
storehouse  of  Intent  strength,  if  I  may  use  a 
chemical  term,  which  1  feel  astonished  every 
time  to  find  that  God  Jias  placed  there  for  some 
good  and  wise  purpose,  l-^-a 

Permit  me  to  mention  a  queer  feature  of  this 
matter  of  latent  strength.  My  muscles  seem  to 
have  become  so  accustomed  to  the  motion  and 
the  exertion  of  power  that  they  do  it  almost  in- 
voluntarily. When  I  got  oft'  once  to  adjust 
something  about  my  machine  I  was  so  stiff  and 
sore  that  I  could  hardly  walk.  After  getting 
on  the  wheel  again,  and  taking  up  the  regular 
motion  of  the  treadles,  no  p^,in.  inconvenience, 
nor  stiffness  was  felt  at  all.  The  nerve  forces 
seemed  to  liave  worn  a  channel  along  the  line 
of  propelling  the  wheel.  I  might  almost  imagine 
some  other  power  than  my  own  had  come  in  as 
a  reinforcement.  Doubtless  others  have  gone 
tlirough  a  similar  experience.  Hut  now  here  is 
anoth(!r  strange  thing:  When  I  got  home  and 
sat  down  to  dinner  I  felt  stiff  and  soic.  After 
dinner  it -was  with  great  diflicully  that  I  could 
climb  the  stairs  at  Jill.  I  tried  hard  not  to  let 
my  friends  notice  it,  because  they  would  scold; 
but  I  really  could  not  walk  without  making  it 
appear  that  I  was  cripjiled  and  used  up.  I 
imagine'  I  can  hear  some  of  you  scolding  and 
protesting.  Wait  a  bit.  I  knew  by  experience 
that  this  would  Ix;  gone  in  two  or  three  hours. 
About  two  o'clock  1  went  over  to  the  house  and 
took  one  of  my  accustomed  naps.  When  I 
awoke,  the  stiffness  and  soreness  were  all  gone, 
I  walked  more  easily  than  usual,  and  I  was  full 
of  strength  and  vim.  No  reaction  followed  at 
all.  Of  course.  I  took  pain-  not  to  catch  cold. 
I  was  so  thoroughly  wet  through  by  perspira- 
tion—underclothing and  all— that  I  slept  inside 


744 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


of  a  big  warm  overcoat.  Now,  this  is  a  strange 
thing:  but  I  have  stranger  things  yet  to  tell 
yon.  Please  look  at  the  text  again — "Above  all 
that  we  ask  or  think."  For  many  years  I  have 
been  accustomed  to  drink  coffee  three  times  a 
day.  Mrs.  Root  has  worried  a  little  during  the 
past  year  because  I  kept  wanting  it  stronger. 
I  drink  so  little,  however,  that  I  have  always 
thought  it  could  not  harm  me — seldom  more 
than  a  half  or  two-thirds  of  n  cup.  When  suf- 
fering from  nervous  exhaustion,  and  feeling  as 
if  I  could  hardly  drag  one  foot  artei'  another, 
my  hand  would  often  shake  as  I  reached  nerv- 
ously for  the  coffee  that  I  knew  would  give 
me  steadiness  and  strength  for  the  time  being — 
that  is.  a  feeble  sort  of  strength.  How  is  it 
now?  Since  I  have  been  feeling  so  sti'ong  and 
well,  my  desire  for  coffee  has,  most  of  the  time, 
gone  entirely.  I  crave  milk  or  pure  water.  In 
my  most  earnest  prayers  for  health,  and  that  it 
might  be  made  known  to  me  the  secrets  of 
health  and  disease,  I  never  thought  for  a  mo- 
ment that  I  could  be  lifted  to  a  point  where  I 
should  not  crave  coffee,  beef  tea,  food,  or  sleep. 
Well,  for  three  days  past  I  have  entirely  omit- 
ted my  nap  just  before  diinier.  I  do  not  need  it 
any  more  than  I  need  coffee.  If  it  becomes 
necessary  for  me  to  keep  on  working  after  my 
accustomed  meal  hours,  I  do  it  without  incon- 
venience. Isn't  this  really  a  fulfillment  of  the 
promise  in  the  text — "Above  all  that  we  ask  or 
think"? 

Once  more:  Some  of  you  may  remember  of 
my  telling  you  that,  although  I  have  drank  no 
beer  nor  ale  for  about  twenty  years,  the  longing 
for  it  at  times  is  such  that  I  would  give  half  a 
dollar  for  a  drink  if  I  could  take  it  with  a  clear 
conscience,  and  if  it  wer^i  not  wicked  to  waste 
money  in  that  way.  Well,  this  intense  craving 
for  drinks  slightly  alcoholic  came  usually  with 
nervous  exhaustion.  For  the  past  month  or 
two,  since  I  have  been  riding  the  wheel,  I  have 
felt  nothing  of  the  kind.  I  have  been  around 
where  beer  was  drank  and  offered  for  sal(>,  and 
I  have  been  surprised  to  feel  that  I  had  no  de- 
sire for  it  whatever.  Now,  isn't  there  some 
explanation  here  right  along  in  this  line,  for  the 
taste  or  longing  for  stimulants?  It  is  a  per- 
verted taste,  I  know;  but  hasn't  this  matter  of 
lack  of  proper  exercise  something  to  do  with 
intemperate  habits?  We  stay  indoors  until  we 
suffer,  and  then  go  to  the  drugstore  or  physi- 
cian, in  the  vain  hope  that  tonics  may  take  the 
place  of  exercise,  outdoor  air,  and  sunshine. 

Now,  I  am  iiot  through  yet.  Thei-e  is  a  great 
deal  more.  But  I  want  to  digress  a  little  here. 
I  am  talking  about  myself — my  own  feelings, 
and  taking  it  for  gi'anted  that  every  one  else  is 
like  me — or,  at  least,  taking  it  partially  for 
granted.  Some  of  the  friends,  or,  may  be.  some 
who  are  not  specially  friendly,  may  say  that  I 
never  was  sick  at  all— I  just  imagined  it,  and, 
under  the  influence  of  the  fashionable  craze  for 
the  wheel.  I  simply  took  needful  exercise.  Well, 
you  may  have  it  that  way  if  you  like.  The 
doctors  here  and  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  every- 
wliere  else,  said  at  once  that  I  was  a  nervous 
and  physical  wreck;  that  I  could  nt^ver  be  a 
well  and  strong  man  again;  that  I  would  have 
to  give  up  work  and  business.  It  is  rather 
rough  on  the  doctors,  if  I  have  not  been  sick. 
Let  us  now  talk  about  somebody  else  besides  A. 
I.  Root. 

Some  years  ago  I  became  acquainted  with  a 
slight  and  in  many  respects  delicate-looking 
woman.  I  do  not  think  she  weighed  a  hundred 
pounds.  Years  passed,  and  somebody  told  me 
that  she  was  going  about  doing  washing,  and 
cleaning  houses  for  people,  because  she  wanted 
to  buy  a  home  for  herself  and  children.  Mrs. 
Root  and  I  both  wondered  how  it  could  be  that 
a  woman  so  slight  could  do  such  heavy  and 


fatiguing  work.  She  came  to  work  for  us— in 
fact,  she  cleaned  house,  and  my  wife  and  I  were 
astonished  to  find  that  she  was  a  young  torna- 
do for  hard  work.  .She  did  as  much,  oftentim  es 
as  three  of  some  women.  I  told  her  not  to 
waste  her  strength,  for  big  stout  men  were  near 
by,  and  would  willingly  move  the  heavy  arti- 
cles of  furniture.  But  she  did  not  care  for  the 
men.  It  took  too  much  time  to  "  go  "  for  them, 
and  they  wereoften  in  the  way.  anyhow.  After 
laborious  house-cleaning  that  would  use  up 
most  ordinary  women,  she  would  do  a  washing, 
and.  in  fact,  she  often  did  two  oi'  three  ordinary 
washings  in  a  day.  She  was  determined  to 
have  a  home  of  her  own,  and  to  have  her  chil- 
dren educated,  and  she  has  accomplished  her 
desire,  and  is  not  worn  out  nor  broken  down 
either.  Mrs.  Root  once  asked  htn-  how  it  was 
possible,  or  by  what  miracle  this  sudden  and 
wonderful  change  in  her  life  came  all  at  once. 
The  answer  she  gave  with  a  merry  laugh  was 
something  as  follows,  as  nearly  as  I  can  remem- 
ber, for  it  was  years  ago: 

"  Why,  Mrs.  Root.  I  used  to  be  one  of  these 
feeble  women  who  are  sending  for  the  doctor, 
and  going  to  the  drugstore  for  tonics  and  in- 
vigorators.  wearing  plasters  for  a  weak  back, 
and  not  able  to  do  their  own  washing.  I  finally 
made  up  my  mind  that  I  was  going  to  have  a 
place  of  my  own  where  I  could  live,  or  die  in 
the  attempt.  I  commenced  doing  my  own 
washing  first:  then  I  astonished  the  neighbors 
by  proposing  to  wash  for  thern.  When  all  the 
washing  was  done  I  felt  so  strong  and  well  I 
thought  I  should  like  to  clean  houses:  and  then 
I  found  out  that  my  aches  and  pains  were  all 
gone.  My  back  got  right  of  itself;  and  the 
more  work  I  have  to  do,  the  better  I  feel." 

How  much  does  this  experience  differ  from 
my  own  ?  You  may  ask  whether  this  woman 
had  been  praying.  I  have  talked  with  her 
about  it.  and  1  think  she  did  sometimes— per- 
haps, however,  without  a  very  large  amount  of 
faith,  and  I  presume  she  does  not  now  consider 
it  as  any  direct  answer  to  prayer.  Well,  the 
point  I  wish  to  make  comes  in  right  here.  I 
have  prayed  earnestly  for  days  and  weeks  that 
God  would  reveal  to  me  his  wishes  in  this  mat- 
ter of  medicine  and  disease.  Many  are  looking 
to  me  for  advice;  they  regard  my  opinion  and 
counsel  worth  something  at  least.  I  begged 
that  God  would  give  me  wisdom  to  advise 
aright,  and  I  felt  as  if  the  answer  had  come  to 
me  in  a  way  that  I  may  with  safety  say,  in 
regard  to  this  matter,  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord." 
I  do  not  mean  by  this  that  we  should  ignore  phy- 
sicians, and.  occasionally,  medicines;  I  simply 
mean  to  say  that  God  gave  us  these  bodies  of 
ours,  expecting  us  to  keep  them  well  and  strong 
by  using  our  muscles  as  well  as  our  brains,  and 
not  that  he  intended  or  now  wishes  us  to  get 
energy  and  strength  through  tea  and  coffee, 
alcoholic  tonics,  quinine,  or  any  thing  of  the 
sort.    Let  me  give  you  one  more  illustration: 

A  friend  of  mine  told  me  a  short  time  ago 
that  he  had  done  no  outdoor  work  in  the  open 
air  for  over  seven  years.  He  has  worked  in  the 
factory  when  able;  but  poor  health,  and  a 
complication  of  diseases,  have  kept  him  for  all 
these  seven  years  under  the  doctor's  care,  and 
have  prevented  him  from  working,  except  at 
intervals.  Our  business  has  been  dull  this  past 
season,  as  you  know,  and  there  was  really  noth- 
ing for  him  to  do.  He  remained  at  home, 
thinking  himself  unable  to  do  any  outside 
work.  Finally  he  felt  as  if  he  could  stand  it  no 
longer — that  is.  until  he  felt  as  \f  he  must  do 
something  for  a  living.  The  only  opening  we 
had  for  him  was  in  the  lumber-yard,  handling 
heavy  plank.  He  decided  to  try"  it.  In  a  week 
his  color  had  improved,  and  he  seemed  to  be 
fleshing  up.    In  a  month  he  had  become  tanned 


ISiti! 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


745 


by  iho  Sim.  ilis  miisflrs  liail  (levcloi'i'ii  iiml 
i'oiin>1iMl  oiil,  and  you  woulil  hardly  know  he 
\\a<  tin'  ^ann-  man.  To-day  he  is  slH)vcliim 
dirt  and  ;n>ts  the  pay  of  a  sjood  sloiit  man.  and. 
in  faot.  I  siionld  |)rononni'('  iiiin  to  be  a  good 
stoiil  man  forahnost  any  kind  oi  liusinoss.  lit' 
may  not  ajirtM'  with  nn-.  and  pcriiaits  ho  docs 
not  iiimsi'if  feci  tliat  severe  ontdooi- work  lias 
b«MMi  llie  means  of  i)uilding  iiim  np:  bnt  I  fet'i 
pretty  sn re  ihal  lie  lias  been  takin^i  no  medi- 
cine at  all  latply.  I  think  lie  found  by  experi- 
ence in  the  lumber-yaril.  .just  u  hat  I  have 
found  out  by  my  experience  on  the  wheel.  Of 
course.  I  have  lui  riglit  to  lay  down  rules  for  all 
sorts  of  people,  and  apply  tliiMii  to  all  sorts  of 
disease:  but  I  think  that,  if  you  look  about  you. 
you  can  lind  instances  .just  like  tlnMuies  I  have 
given.  One  may  lie  worn  out  and  used  up  by  a 
certain  line  of  work — especially  work  that  does 
not  take  him  into  the  open  air  and  frive  full 
swins  to  all  liis  muscles  and  joints. 

Now.  let  us  not  l)e  in  too  great  haste  in  con- 
demning doctors  and  medicine.  In  the  hand  of 
a  skillful  and  intelligent  physician,  medicine 
may  serve  as  wise  a  purposr  as  the  P. iris  gi-een 
and  copper  sulphate  we  use  to  banish  tlu^ 
woi'ms  and  scab  fiom  oui'  apples.  These  rem- 
edies, however,  are  th(;  result  of  careful  experi- 
ment, with  a  delinile  end  in  view-,  and  are  not 
at  all  to  be  compared  with  commencing  work 
on  Friday  or  working  in  the  right  lime  of  the 
moon.  The  world  is  just  now  struggliug  to 
have  science  and  sense  put  down  superstition 
and  nonsense:  and  God  the  Father  is  not  only 
willing  but  anxious  to  help  us  up  thi-ough  igno- 
rance and  superstition  into  the  light  of  true 
wisdom:  and  our  vet  ran  texcher  Paul  was 
riglit  when  he  used  tlie  words.  "Unto  him  that 
is  able  to  do  exc<'eding  abundantly,  above  all 
thai  we  ask  or  think. "' 

Years  ago  some  of  our  agricultural  journals 
decided  they  would  no  longer  accept  advertise- 
nienis  of  any  patent  medicia(>s.  The  Americau 
Agriculturist,  under  the  administi'ation  of 
Orange  Judd,  was  perhaps  the  litvt  one  to  take 
this  stand.  "No  patent  medicines  of  any  kind 
shall  be  advertised  in  these  columns,  no  mailer 
how  much  money  may  be  olT(H'ed."  was  the  way 
they  started  out.  Since  then  the  Runil  Neir- 
Yorker.  Pltilddclpliid  F(ir)n  Jourudl,  The 
Orange  Judd  Farmer,  and  perhaps  a  good 
many  other  home  journals,  have  taken  the 
same  stand.  Il  is  a  little  sad  to,lhink  that  our 
agricultural  peiiodicals  were  in  advance  of  our 
religious  and  scit-ntiHc  journals  in  this  line.  In 
fact,  nearly  all  of  our  religious  papers  seem  to 
think  it  fair  and  right  to  advertise  almost  any 
thing,  providing  the  advertisement  is  pr//(/  for. 
I  should  be  glad  to  add  thai  the  Ainerlcati  Ag- 
riculturist r^uW  holds  out  in  that  line:  but  only 
a  few^  months  ago  I  noticed  an  electrical-belt 
advertisement  occupying  the  greater  pari  of  a 
page,  displayed  with  great  headlines;  and  the 
proprietors  even  offered  to  send  one  for  thirty 
days  on  trial.  A  good  many  of  you  may  ask- 
how  the  proprii'iors  of  these  things  can  be  will- 
ing to  send  tlnun  out  on  trial  if  lliey  possess  no 
virtue  whatever.  My  dcai'  friend,  people  base 
their  faiih  in  such  things  exactly  as  they  stout- 
ly maintain  that  Friday  is  an  unlucky  day. 
They  have  tried  il  so  many  times  they  think 
there  can  not  be  any  mistake  about  il.  just  as 
the  farmer  insists  tiiat  the  moon  affects  the 
weather  and  planting  potatoes,  etc.  You  doubt- 
less lemeinbcr  how  many  years  I  have  iusisied 
that  none  of  the  thousand  and  one  rernedi.  s  for 
bee-stings  had  any  effect  whatever.  I  am  sure 
I  am  right,  even  while  I  am  met  at  every  turn 
by  neighhors  who  stonily  insist  they  have  tried 
this.  that,  and  the  olhci-.  and  they  kuow  il  does 
good.  If  I  am  correct,  the  truth  li^  s  right  here: 
As  soon   as  we  receive   hurt  or  injury  of  any 


kind,  naturi'  goes  to  work  al  once  to  r<'medy  lh<^ 
mi^chii'f:    and    we  sliouki    icmembei-   that    ^^he 

iisiiallv  Slice ds.     Most  of  our  aches  and  pains. 

as  well  as  our  beeslings.  are  gone  in  a  lillle 
while  if  we  just  let  nature  alone.  Now.  this 
superstition  and  blundering  come  about  because 
somebody  takes  a  remedy  and  feels  better  al- 
most immediately,  just  exactly  a,s  would  have, 
bi'en  the  case  had  no  remedy  been  administered. 
Many  and  many  a  time  have  my  good  friends 
and  neighbors  insisted  on  my  taking  fiuiiiine, 
or  some  other  sort  of  bitters.  U'ell.  if  1  did  not 
take  it  (and  most  of  the  time  I  didn'u  I  was 
careful  to  watch  and  see  if  I  did  not  get  belter 
soon.  Sometimes  the  trouble  would  disapiiear 
in  a  v(^ry  short  space  of  lime.  For  instance.  I 
would  iiave  neuialgic  pains,  and  my  friends 
would  urge  quinine,  but  I  did  not  lake  a  bit; 
nolwiihstanding.  the  next  morning  I  was  per- 
ftH'lly  w<>ll.  Had  I  taken  IIk;  quinine.  I  myself 
would  have  been  ready  lo  declare  thai  it  was  a 
wonderful  medicine.  While  traveling  in  the 
cars  in  the  South,  a  lady  with  whom  we  had 
become  acquainted  insisted  so  stoutly  that  Fel- 
lows' hypophosphil(!  was  just  the  thing  to  make 
me  entirely  well  that  she  almost  ])ersuaded  me 
to  have  faith.  Said  sh(>,  "' Mr.  Root,  you  just 
get  a  bottle,  and  take  it:  and  you  will  wriU'  me 
a  hotter  of  thanks  in  less  than  two  weeks.  Here 
is  my  address.  Now,  be  sure  you  do  il,  if  it 
makes  you  well,  as  I  am  sure  it  will.'"  Shortly 
after  I  got  home  one  of  our  Medina  doctors 
mentioned  favorably  the  same  remedy.  Then 
auolhi'r  doctor  prescribed  it  for  our  eldest 
daughter.  The  evidence  was  so  strong  that  I 
purchased  and  took  several  bottles  according  to 
directions,  and,  in  fact.  I  came  very  near  writ- 
ing to  this  good  friend  of  mine,  thanking  her. 
as  she  said  I  would  do.  But  I  made  up  my 
mind  lo  be  very  sur<'  that  I  was  right  before  I 
pushed  ahead.  I  commenced  taking  the  medi- 
cine and  studying  the  case,  exactly  as  our  peo- 
ple at  the  experiment  stations  kepi  track  of  the 
moon  and  the  weather.  After  having  given 
the  matter  a  very  full  and  faithful  test  I  became 
perfectly  satisfied  that  the  medicine  had  noth- 
ing to  do  whatever  with  my  bad  feelings  or 
good  feelings.  The  price  is  -SI."/)  per  bottle. 
At  the  very  time  I  was  taking  it  I  felt  sure,  from 
what  I  know  of  drugs  and  chemistry,  that  the 
whole  expense  of  these  .?1..50  bottles  was  less 
than  2.5  cents.  I  believe  patent-medicine  vend- 
ers admit  this.  They  claim,  however,  that  the 
expense  of  advertising  is  so  great,  that,  in  order 
to  get  a  medicine  fairly  going,  they  must  have 
tln'se  enormous  profits.  Now,  if  the  advertising 
were  square  and  honest,  it  would  not  be  so  bad; 
but  whal  kind  of  subterfuges  do  you  suppose 
they  resort  lo?  Hei'o  is  an  illustration,  i-ight 
from  our  own  county  paper.  The  heading  that 
I  quote  comes  right  along  in  the  reading-matter. 
The  type  and  every  thing  else  is  exactly  as 
local  news,  and  right  in  among  their  local  news. 

WAR  ECHOES. 


Exciting   Experience  of  Commander 


One  of  th(!  .Most  Popular  (r.  A.  R.  Veterans  in 
the   Country. 


A  Wonderful  Thiii^i-.  and  We  Believe  il  to  be  True. 


You  will  notice  ihe  atjove  seems  to  be  a  head- 
ing put  on  by  the  editor,  es|)ecially.  where  he 
says,  "  We  believe  it  to  be  true.''  The  ire  is 
understood  to  b'-  ilie  editor.  .Somelhing  re- 
markabh^  has  ccjine  within  hi-^  ob-^ervaiion.  and 
lie  describes  the-  whole  iransaclion  to  hi'^  read- 


746 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


ei'S.  and  that  strange  miraculous  system  of  cure, 
and  he  himself  accepts  it  as  true.  What  do  you 
suppose  the  whole  sensational  thing  is  about? 
Whv.  it  is  a  tremendous  advertisement  for  Dr. 
Green's  N<'rve  and  Wood  Remedy.  Now, 
please  do  not  think  that  I  mean  to  criticise 
particularly  the  editor  of  the  paper  I  happen 
to  pick  up.  You  take  up  almost  any  home 
paper  in  any  home  in  the  land,  especially 
the  I'egiilar  county  papers,  and  these  puffs  for 
patent  medicines  are  so  frequent  one  hardly 
knows  whether  or  not  the  item  he  undertakes 
to  read  is  going  to  turn  out  only  as  an  adver- 
tisement. You  may  say  this  is  only  a  joke- 
that  everybody  expects  it  as  a  matter  of  course. 
Mv  good  friend,  your  nearest  neighbor  accepts 
it  as  truth,  and  he  pays  more  money  than  he 
can  earn  in  a  day  for  a  bottle  of  this  same  med- 
icine. May  be  he  buys  half  a  dozen  bottles  be- 
cause he  gets  them  cheaper:  and  thus  it  goes 
on  until  he  decides,  as  I  have  done,  that  the 
medicine  orobably  has  no  effect  whatever. 
Whv.  it  has  got  to  be  such  an  everyday  mattei' 
that  manv  of  them  put  thetu  in  their  papers 
without  ever  seeing  them  or  reading  them  over. 
I  think  it  is  bad;  and  I  do  believe  the  editor 
who  sells  his  good  name  and  reputation  to  these 
medicine  makers  who  have  money  will  repent 
it  sooner  or  later.  In  California,  many  palatial 
residences  were  pointed  out  to  me  as  belonging 
to  millionaires  who  made  their  money  in  selling 
the  very  medicines  that  have  been  before  your 
eyes  in  your  county  paper  so  often  that  you 
have  really  become  tired  of  seeing  the  same 
thing  over  and  over. 


^ms^ 


'-3£-PAGEs7vclO 
""  PERYEAi<J 


In  tlie  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat  bread.— liKN.  3:  19. 

One  of  the  sweetest  and  nicest  of  baby  girls 
found  her  way  to  the  home  of  the  Bee-keepers' 
Review.    Gleanings  offers  congratulations. 


Bkwabe  of  the  Rambler  when  he  pulls  out 
his  camera.  We  show  him  in  another  column, 
so  that  you  may  be  on  the  lookout  if  he  should 
by  chance  come  your  way. 


It  is  getting  time  now  for  prices  on  honey  to 
he  stiffening  up  a  little.  Better  ligures  are 
usually  secured  from  now  on  until  the  holidays 
than  before  or  later.    Watch  your  chances. 


Hildreth  Bros.  &  Si':gelken,  in  the  Honey 
Column,  say  that  the  California  honey  crop  is 
not  a  failure,  as  first  reported,  and  that,  since 
July  S,  they  have  purchased  twelve  carloads  of 
California  "extracted  honey.  Good!  While  it 
may  not  have  been  a  failure,  yet  the  ciDp  was 
very  much  shorter  than  usual. 


The  following  from  Prof.  Cook,  in  regard  to 
honey-dew  and  its  analysis,  will  explain  itself: 

Will  you  iisk  bee-keepers,  tln-ough  Glr.^nings, 
to  send  nie  samples  nf  liuiiiw  from  lionoy-dew  y  I 
wish  all  Vcinds— g-ood.  bad,  and  indittcreiit;  fi'om 
acorns  or  oak;  Missouri  and  Arkansas,  and  from 
plant  and  bark  lice.  Will  all  w'lO  liavt-  samples  ex- 
press to  nie  three  or  four  i)ounds  at  nay  t'.xpenst' '!  I 
don't  care  when  it  was  collected.  1  need  it  for  the 
investigation  which  we  are  carrying-  on. 

A.  J.  Cook. 

Ag-ricultural  College.  Mich.,  Sept.  17. 


We  have  just  been  trying  the  new  Crane 
hot-blast  smoker,  as  recently  illustrated  in  the 
Bee-keepers'  Review.  From  some  lests  we  have 
made  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  superior 
to  any  other  smoker  ever  constructed.  It  has 
the  force  of  the  cold-blast  and  the  volume  of 
the  hot-blast  very  nicely  combined.  Mr.  Crane 
authorizes  us  to  say  that  the  smoker  will  not  be 
offered  for  sale  until  it  has  been  thoroughly 
tested  by  a  few  compi'tiMit  lice-keepers,  and  its 
value  fuliv  determined. 


There  seems  to  be  a  smaller  crop  of  honey 
this  year  than  usual — at  least,  there  is  not  very 
much  offered.  We  notice  from  the  reports,  that 
consignments  are  small.  Does  this  mean  that 
the  honey  crop  this  season  was  actually  smaller 
this  year,  even,  than  last?  By  the  way,  the 
fall  honey  crop,  judging  by  the  letters  we  are 
receiving  every  day,  is  unusually  large.  At 
our  basswood  "apiary  we  actually"  had  to  give 
the  bees  more  room  because  they  had  crammed 
almost  every  available  cell  with  honey  and 
brood.  Goldenrod  has  been  out  in  great  pro- 
fusion, and  this  is,  no  doubt,  the  source  whence 
the  honey  comes. 

Neat  and  novel  display  is  one  of  the  impor- 
tant requisites  in  advertising;  and  to  help  our 
patrons  we  are  always  glad  to  offer  suggestions 
or  to  submit  proofs  of  advertisements,  free  of 
charge.  As  a  general  thing,  if  our  customers 
will  allow  us  to  use  our  own  judgment  as  to  dis- 
play, not  cramping  us  too  much  in  space,  we  can 
suit  them  better  than  to  try  to  carry  out  a  cer- 
tain style  that  they  may  have  in  mind.  We 
have  a  good  many  advertisers  who  have  been 
with  us  for  years;  and  if  there  are  any  of  these 
who  would  like  to  see  a  proof  of  their  advertise- 
ment reset  according  to  our  own  ideas  of  dis- 
play, we  will  send  it  free  of  charge.  An  adver- 
tisement ought  to  be  changed  occasionally,  else 
it  becomes  worn  out  and  people  do  not  see  it. 

Next  to  the  North  American,  the  Illinois 
State  Bee-keepers'  Association,  formerly  the 
old  Northwestern,  is  the  most  important,  prob- 
ably, of  any  bee  keepers'  association  in  the 
United  States.  Since  it  receives  annually  an 
appropi'iation  of  $500  from  the  State  govern- 
ment, it  is  in  a  position  to  do  effective  and  im- 
portant work  for  the  bee-keepers  of  Illinois. 
The  next  meeting  promises  to  be  an  interesting 
one,  and  certainly  all  bee-keepers  of  the  State, 
besides  those  near  in  Wisconsin  and  Michigan, 
should  make  an  effort  to  attend.  The  following 
is  an  announcement  from  the  secretary: 

The  Illinois  State  Bee-keepers'  Association  will 
meet  at  the  Conimercinl  Hotel.  Chicago,  on  Tuesday 
and  Wednesday,  Oct.  ISth  and  19tli,  18t>:J.  This  being- 
tlie  week  of  the  dedication  of  the  World's  Pair 
Buildings,  we  may  expect  reduced  railroad  fare,  and 
consequently  a  large  attendance. 

Bradfordton,  111.,  Sept.  23.      Jas.  A.  Stone,  Sec. 


those   HOFFMAN   FRAMES   AND   PROPOLIS. 

Those  who  have  "been  using  the  Hoffman 
frames  have  doubtless  noticed  that  propolis 
seems  a  little  worse  just  before  cool  weather 
than  at  any  other  time.  In  pulling  apart  the 
frames,  the  bee-glue  acts  rather  w«,xy.  Some 
observing  this  might  feel,  perhaps,  this  was 
only  the  beginning  of  troubles:  but  for  their 
encouragement  we  may  say  that  new  propolis 
is  more  sticky  or  gummy  than  old.  When  it 
becomes  a  little  older  it  will  be  less  tenacious, 
and  give  less  trouble  in  separating  the  frames. 
We  know,  for  we  have  been  trying  the  experi- 
ment. If  one  desires  to  enjoy  immunity  from 
propolis,  let  him  rub  the  contact  edges  with 
grease.  But  even  with  tlie  propolis  we  can  not 
see  that  the  Hoffman  frames  on  the  new  tin 
rabbets  separate  with  any  more  difficulty  than 


i;i-i:.\MNi..s  IN  ui;k  ii:i/riiRK. 


7-47 


the  olil-r;isiiioiHHi  ()|)i'M-ciul  or  lnosc  riariii'^  on 
wood  bi'iirinjis.  Killicr  iiiusi  he  piicii  up  wiili 
a  sorcwili  ivi'f  or  l<iiif»'l)la(lf.  lire  Ucc^pcrs  lia\i' 
loDif  siiuM>  (ici'idcil  (hat  they  waul  tlicii'  lraiii<>s 
surtifii-nlly  fa>-l  to  n-qnirc  prviii<r.  so  thai  the 
ooloiiii's  may  h  ■  liaiullcd  wiilioiii  jariiiisr  ilu" 
traiiiis  all  togclinT  in  a  heap.  If  a  iraiix'  miis; 
he  priod,  why  not  liavo  ii  sclf-spa-oing? 


i.KKKNUOrSKS    AND   (iKKKN  IIOI'SK    WOKK. 

TiiK  Ohio  Kxpi  rinicnt  Siation.  in  its  Hnllctin 
4:!.  ha^  ffiviMi  ns  sonii'  of  the  most  valiialilc  in- 
fofmation  in  n'gard  to  vcKctahlc-frfowintr  in 
^riiMMihonsi'S.  that  we  ever  met  anywhere.  The 
different  snhjeets  treated  are,  "■  Fertilizers  in 
the  (Jreeniionse  :"■  •'Stili-irrijration  in  Green- 
houses;" "'The  Wator-btMU'h:"  "  Crops  Suitable 
for  Forcing:"  •"Calendar  of  Op.M'ations:"  ''To- 
matoes us  a  (Greenhouse  Crop:"  "  Lettuce  as  a 
Greenhouse  Ci'op."  Cheniical  fertilizers  so  far 
have  given  no  good  results  whatever.  Their 
experiments  with  nitrate  of  soda  are  just  like 
ours.  Whether  used  in  large,  small,  or  medium 
(luaiitities  it  is  of  no  benelit  whatever  to  the 
crop.  This  lUilletin  4.'?  is  sent  free  to  all  resi- 
dents of  the  State  who  request  it.  I  do  not 
know  on  what  terms  it  will  he  sent  out  of  the 
State:  but  every  one  who  is  working  at  all 
with  greenhouses  or  with  sash  should  have  this 
bulletin. 

SECO.M)    WIND— MOIIK   ABOUT    IT. 

Don't  forget  to  read  tlie  te.xt  at  the  head  of 
this  deparnient.  even  though  it  is  short  and 
in  small  print.  It  has  occurred  to  me  of  late, 
that,  -ilthough  the  text  is  a  part  of  the  curse 
pronunced  upon  Adam  and  Eve,  yet  thei'e  is  a 
wonderful  blessing  in  it  after  all.  Some  of  the 
fiiends  may  think  that  exercise  for  fifteen  or 
twenty  minutes  will  be  enough  for  half  aday^ 
in  school,  or  in  the  olhce  at  the  desk.  But  this' 
is  a  mistake.  You  must  labor  out  in  the  open 
air.  and  until  the  sweat  di'ops  from  your  face,  or 
you  can  not  eat  bread,  nor  enjoy  life  either,  as 
God  intended  you  should  enjoy  it.  Sometimes 
of  late,  when  huiTied  with  business  I  have 
thought  that  a  ride  on  the  wheel  for  a  couple  of 
miles  ought  to  answcu':  but  it  does  not  bring 
the  real  blessing  at  all.  It  takes  at  least  four 
or  tive  in  my  case  to  bring  that  delicious  second 
wind,  and  sometimes  it  takes  ten  miles.  Did 
you  ever  wish  you  could  have  back  again  the 
keen  relish  for  food  that  you  remember  of  hav- 
ing in  your  childhood  ?  Well,  you  pei-severe 
until  you  reach  the  second  wind,  and  you  will 
have  it.  Your  bread  and  butter  will  be  more 
delicious  than  any  thing  you  have  tasted  before, 
peifhaps.  in  forty  years;  aiid  a  drink  of  spring 
water  gives  you  such  satisfaction  that  you 
must  be  dull  and  undemonstrative  if  you  do  not 
breakout  into  exclamati(jns  of  delight.  P^very 
thing  that  is  put  on  the  table  is  so  refreshing 
and  satisfying,  that,  if  you  never  thought  of 
giving  thanks  to  God  before  eating  your  meal, 
you  will  think  of  it  now  and  feel  as  if  it  were 
the  thing  to  do.  Don't  be  discouraged,  and  give 
up  because  you  tried  once,  and  this  thing  I 
have  described  did  not  come  to  pass.  Keep  out 
in  the  open  air:  keep  testing  your  breath  and 
muscles;  and  when  the  sweat  drops  from  the 
end  of  your  nose,  and  runs  into  your  eyes  until 
you  can  scarcely  see,  then  you  will  iiegin  to  see 
something  in  the  little  text  I  have  quoted,  and 
may  be  you  will  think  as  I  do.  that,  if  there  is 
any  class  tliat  do  not  know  what  it  is  to  eat 
their  bread  by  the  sweat  of  their  face,  these  are 
the  ones  to  be  pitied.  May  the  Lord  be  praised 
for  this  wonderful — not  curse,  but  privilege. 

The  sweat  of  the  face  not  only  gives  physical 
strength,  but  spiritual  as  well".  We  copy  the 
following  from  "  Hints  to   Lady  Cyclers."  from 


the  pen  of  Kev.  ]■'.  \\ .  Rider,  I'astor  of  the  Cen- 
tral r.aptist  Church.  iJoston: 

The  I  i<\V(;le  is  a  jii'eiit  "  means  ol'  g-i:icc."  1  m-A  np 
sonieiiints.  of  a  .Monday  inoi'tiinji'.  rpervous,  hcaci- 
ache.w  an<:  hardl.v  williiit!' to  sec  my  liesi  li-it'nds.  .\ 
leii-inile  -^jiin  on  ni>'  wheel  hrin^rs  nie  home  in  :j  stale 
()f  peiNiiii'.ilion  an<l  l)liss;  and.  after  ;i  viKorons  rub- 
down  in  llie  b:it h-iooiii,  1  am  <iuite  prepared  to  love 
ni.\- enemies  and  pia.v  for  them  1  hat  despilef nllj- use 
nie. 


KIND  WORDS  FROM  OUR  CUSTOMERS. 


I  shall  have  to  buy  considerable  honey  from  some 
one  this  yeaiv  and  I  must  s:iy  that  I  have  had  more 
satisfaction  in  Iniyiug'  it  from  .vou  tlian  any  other 
dealer  I  have  met  with  yet.  M.  H.  TwiiKn. 

Pittsburg-.  Pa..  Sept.  6. 


I  have  taken  Olbanings  for  six  months,  and  it 
has  so  endeared  itself  to  me  that  I  feel  I  can't  do 
without  it.  Inclosed  lind  $1.01)  for  one  year's  sub- 
srriplion.  The  A  B  C  is  worth  f.5.()0.  I  don't  see 
liow  I  could  liave  done  witiiout  it. 

0(Hn.  Mo.,  Sept.  9.  I).  15.  TuoMAS. 


I  lia\e  tjorrowed  finm  a  iieiRhbor  your  book, 
"Wiial  to  Do,"  etc.,  and  it  contains  so  many  valua- 
ble liints  tliat  I  want  a  copy  for  myself.  I  am  es- 
pecially iileased  with  the  f'hristian  tdne  of  your 
l)ook.    It  does  ine  good.  F.  A.  Hobbakd. 

Carthag-e,  Mo.,  Aur.  -^2. 


MOKK   THAN    PI.EASED   WITH   THE    COW.^N    EXTItACT- 
OB. 

Cowan  extractor  received  in  g-ood  shape.  I  am 
more  than  pleased  with  Its  e.\ecution.  I  send  here- 
witii  supplementary  order.    Forward  at  once. 

Imlay  City,  Mich..  Sept.  3.  AVm.  Anderson. 


THE     BINGH.\M     SMOKER   AND  THE   COGOSHALL   BEE- 
BRUSH. 

The  g'oods  have  come  throufili  all  O.  K.  Every 
tliinfr  was  in  good  shape,  and  I  am  a  liappy  bee-man 
thinking  of  flowers  so  gay.  and  lioping  that  tliose 
snow-white  sections  will  l)e  filled  with  honej'.  I 
can't  s))eak  too  higlily  of  tlic  goods.  The  CogM'sliall 
bee-brush  and  liingliam  smoker  are  essential  ac- 
cessoi'ies  toever.v  bee-keeper.  J.  H.  (iOE. 

Mossy  Rock,  Wash.,  Aug.  2.5. 


DR.   MILLER   AND  THE    RAMBLER. 

Gleanings  always  comes  bright  and  sweet,  full 
of  fresli  straws  willi  golden  giains  from  Dr.  Mdler. 
.Mr.  Kool.  I  admire  the  "  Rambles"  and  "  Notes  of 
Tiavel  '  very  mucli ;  tint  they  give  me  tlie  Califor- 
nia, fever,  and  I  guess  it  won't  stoj)  till  I  have  been 
tliere.  Tell  the  RamlDler  to  kill  that  skunk  that 
lives  under  his  wa-\-extractor,  liefore  I  come  to  (,'al- 
ifornia;  but  let  some  of  those  cotton-tailed  I'abbits 
remain  aihe  till  I  come  out  there  and  show  him 
how  to  cook  them.  Wm.  H.  Cehrkls. 

Hiegel,  'I'exas,  Aug.  .Sl). 


THE    BOOK   "WHAT  TO   DO,"    ETC. 

Friend  Rool:  -  You  will  pardon  me.  I  hope,  if  I 
seem  to  use  a  familiaiity  accorded  only  to  old 
friends.  The  truth  is,  that  your  book,  "  VA'hat  to 
Do,"  etc.,  has  been  so  faithful!}'  read,  used,  and 
quoted  from  since  we  and  our  little  farm  took  pos- 
session of  each  otiier,  we  feel  quite  well  acquainted 
witli.  you;  and  when  I  earnestly  endeavor  to  thank 
you  for  enabling  me  I0  i)ut  into  the  hands  of  my 
boys  a  book  so  piac-iii-allj'  helpful  and  so  simpl.y 
and  reverentl.y  loyal  to  the  great  Father  of  us  all, 
l>lease  do  not  think  it  the  mere  customar.y  congrat- 
tilations.  Only  eternity  can  I'cveal  tlie  good  you 
have  done.  Meantime  it  will  not  harm  ycm  to  know 
that  your  book  is  used  and  loved.  M.v  hoys  of  ten 
and  twelve,  in  their  gardening  opsrations,  want  to 
know  continually  "  what  Mr.  Root  says,"  and  they 
read  youi-  boolt  as  eagerlj-  as  a  story.  What  a  blessed 
occupation  tilling  the  soil  is  for  growing  boys! 
Mine  just  love  it,  and  I  can  not  be  thankful  enough 
that  they  do.  Mrs.  M.  Slusser. 

Downers  Grove,  III.,  Aug.  !.'>. 


748 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


5  Pep  Cent  Discount 
On  All  Goods 

Listed  from  pages  10  to  30  of  our  price  list,  uiiich  are  ordered  between  now  and  Dec.  1st.  for 
next  season's  use.  This  does  not  apply  to  goods  on  other  pages,  except  those  mentioned. 
A  special  peduetion  of  20  cents  on  eaeti  tixio-stopy  ehaff  hive,  ordered 
for  a  limited  time.  The  quantity  and  early-order  discounts  to  apply  also.  Special  prices  quoted 
on  sections  in  lots  of  2000  and  upward.  Name  the  quantity  and  size  when  you  write.  We  guar- 
antee as  good  a  quality  for  the  price  as  you  can  obtain  anywhere.  Dealers  should  not  fail  to 
write  us  before  making  contracts  for  another  season's  supply.     We  offer  special  inducements. 

fl.  I.  HOOT,  JVIedina,  Ohio. 
Foundation  Reduced  3  cts.  Per  Pound. 

SECTIONS  I  sold  nt  $3.1)0  now  selling  at  $2.60.    Bingham  Smokers  at  ('(jst.      Senri    for  Free  Piire    List  of 
every  thing  needed  in  the  apiary.  fitfdb  |\n.   H     HUNT,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


Honey  ^  B:^tPEietott. 

Square  Glass  Honey-JaPs, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee-hives. 
Honey-Seetions,  &e.,  &e. 

Perfection  Cold-Blast  Snookers. 
APPLY  TO  ^^^.^^^-.^^..^^-^^-^^ 

CH^S.  p.  IWUTH  &  SOfl,  Cineinnatl,  O. 


Send  10-ct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
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  &  KEITH, 
Utfdb  New  London.  Wis. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

BEE-HIVES,   SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  the  l^est  goods  and  sell  them  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  tlie  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world. 

'Onr  goods  are  known  as  the  best  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list . 

G.  B.  LEWIS    CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 


VANDERVORT 
COMB -FOUNDATION  MILLS. 

Send  for  samples  and  reduced  price  list, 
itfd  JNO.  VANDERVORT,  Laceyville,  Pa. 

SAVE  OTONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wliolesale  rates.  4tfdb 

Bee  -  Keepers'  ^  Supplies. 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladly 
furnished,  and  corresiiondence  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  first-class  in  quallt  j'  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
ahjgue  sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
SterUng,  111.    Address  ]-24db 

Win.  McCriVE  A:  €0., 

Sterling,  Illinois. 

t^"In  respond inir  lo  f  i-    •.••  i...iiii(in  Glkaninqs 

AUSTRAL/A, 

Wanted— evei'.v  bee-keeiier  in   Australia   to  send 
for  my  large  illustrated  catalogue  of  bee-keepers' 
supplies,  American  queens,  etc.,  etc.    Post  free. 
18  23db       H.  Ij.  JOINES,  Uuodna,  Queensland. 


IF  YOU  WANT  BEES 

That  win  just  "roll"  In  the  honey,  try  ITIoorn^'s 
Strain  of  1  talian">,  the  result  of  13  years'  careful 
breeding.  Reduced  prices:  Warranted  queens,  80e 
each;  3  for  $-.i.OO.  Tested,  $1.00  each  ;  Select  tested, 
$1.50  each.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfactioti  guaran- 
teed. Those  who  have  never  dealt  with  me  I  refer 
to  A.  I.  Root,  who  has  purcliascd  of  me,  during  past 
12  years,  hS'Z  queens.  Circulars  free. 
J.  P.  MOORE,  ITIorgan.  Pendleton,  Co.,  Ky. 
13tfdb       Monej'-order  office,  Falmouth,  Ky. 


CAI  I    Eggs  and  Plants.  Fowls.  Poultry-books  and 
r"L»-    Papers;  finely  ill.  circular  free.    Address 
"  GEER  BROS..  St.  Marvs,  Mo., 

Utfdb  Or,        H.  B.  GEER.  Nashville,  Tenn. 

SECTIONS 

$2.50  to  $3.50  per  M.     Bee-Hives  and  Fix- 
tures clieup.  NOVELTY    CO., 
6tfdb  Rock  Falls,  Illinois 

t  rlti  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Olkanings. 


Murray  s^Heis5."^^o"^^^|"° 

CaTA1-°       f^LE 


VIOl-^INS 


lGUITARS 

MANDOLirNfS 


(^"In  responding  to  this  advertisf  meiit  mention  Gleanings 


1  >*'.»•-' 


(n.i-:Ai\iN(;s  in  hkk  cur/rnuK. 


C)\JEEUS\ 


A  few  tliio  (Ulceus  of  iV 
baiidod  varii'ly,  T.")  coiits 
cacli;  tliroi',  *;-'.(K). 


J.  F.  MICHAEL,  German.  Darke  Co..  Ohio. 


EXGUPsion 

-  UMI.T,    UK    KIN    ON 

Oetober  25th 

TO    Til  10- 

Pecos  Valley 

The   Ft'uit    Belt   of   H^uj    |VIexico. 

Tickets  may  bo  bouglit  at  any  important  railway 
station,  in  the  Northern  or  Eastern  Stales,  to 

EDDY,  HEW   MEXICO, 

and  return-  good  twenty  days-  at 

One   FaPe  for  the   f^ound  Trip. 

Don't  miss  this  opportunity  lo  see  tlie  rlcliest 
and  niuMt  lertile  valley,  and  tlie  most  complete 
and  elaborate  system  of  Irrigating-  Canals  in  the 
United  States.    Fur  particulars,  address 

G.O.  SfllEIiDS,  Eddy,  Ji^uu  |V[e3iico 

Please  nioiition  this  paptr. 


Qf\(\  FERKETS,  and  a  fine 
0\J\J  lot    of    Scotcb     Collie 

te.   Pups  for  sale.    Price  list  free. 

__^ Address    N.  A.  KNAPP, 

_^^^^^g:i^i=^         Rocliester,  Lorain  Vo., 

""^^s^^=^       18tfdb  Oliio. 

0"ln  respondiner  to  this  uilvHitiveint'iit  mention  GLKAKiNGi 

75c.    Golden  Queens  by  Return  Mail.    78c. 

For  beauty  and  business.    Safe  arrival  and  satis- 
faction guaranteed.    This  is  a  monev-order  office. 
J    B.  CASE,  Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 

t^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings- 

PATENT    WIRED    COMB     FOUNDATION 

H.VS   NO    SAG    IN    BKOOD-FKAIMES. 

THIN     FLAT  -  BOTTOM     FOUNDATION 

Has  No  Fisli-boiio  in  Surplus  Honey. 

Being  the  cleanest  is  usnallj  worked 
the  quickest  of  anv  Foundation  made. 
J.   VAN   DEIJSEN  &  SONS, 

Sole  Manufacturers,  5tfd 

Sprout  Brook,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

Barnes'  Foot-Power  Machinery. 

Kead  what  J.  1.  Pakent,  of 
Chaki.ton,  N.  Y.,  says— "We 
cut  with  one  of  jour  Combined 
Machines  last  winter  50  chaff 
hives  with  7-inch  cap,  W>  lioney- 
racks,  .500  broad  frames,  2,000 
honey-boxi's,  and  a  great  deal  of 
otiier  woik.  This  winter  we 
^  have  doubled  the  amount  of  bee- 
hives,  etc.,  to  make,  and  we  ex- 

fiect  to  do  it  all  with  this  saw. 
t  will  do  all  you  say  it  will." 
Catalogue  and  Price  I-ist  free.  Address  W.  F.  & 
JOHN  BARNES,  545  Kuby  St.,  Rockford,  111. 

When  more  convenient,  orders  for  Barnes'  Foot- 
Power  Machinery  may  be  sent  to  me.    A.  I.  Root. 
23tfd 


Specml  Notices. 


IIO.NKV    .MAHKKI. 

We  have  been  having  a  brisk  dcina tirl  fur  honey 
I'sptcialiy  comb.  Wc  are  not  able  lo  keep  much  of 
this  on  hand,  as  orders  reach  us  a'oni  as  fast  as 
the  h()rie>-  shipments.  W(>  should  be  pleiisi'd  to  cor- 
respond with  lliose  who  have  not  sold  \v\.  We  have 
paid  the  producer  net,  so  far.  from  1.')  to  Iticls.  for 
choice  while,  delivered  here.  We  have  lieen  selling 
at  IT  lo  18.  Good  extracted  honey  is  in  demand 
and  we  have  a  light  snppl>-. 


.EH 


FLOUR-KECEPTACLE. 

We  still  have  some  of  these  very 
useful  household  articles  on  hand, 
which  we  i-an  furnish  at  $3..50  each 
for  the  size  holding  50  lbs.  of  Hour 
or  *;i.(0  for  the  35-lb.  size.  A  <-rate 
of  0  of  the  50-lh.  size  for  tMM. 
We  use  these  reeeplachjs  in  our 
homes,  and  find  them  very  handy. 
The  cut  shows  how  they  are  used. 
We  hang  them  on  the  pantry  walh 
I'ight  over  one  end  of  the"  shelf," 
just  high  enough  to  allow  a  pan  to 
be  placed  undei'  to  catch  the  Hour 
as  you  turn  the  sifter  crank.  You  thus  get  the  Hour 
as  you  want  it,  already  sifted,  and  without  gettin"- 
it  on  your  sleeve,  as  is  often  the  case  when  you  din 
it  from  a  barrel  or  bin. 


KOSIEH    SUSPENDEHS. 

The  Foster  is  one  of  the 
best  suspenders  made, 
and  wear  verv  easy  on 
the  shoulders.  These, 
as  tlie  cut  shows,  have 
eveiiers  to  make  the 
strain  alike  on  each  but- 
ton. They  are  good 
web,  all  white  or  light 
drab,  and  nickel  trim- 
med, with  drawer  lift. 
_The  ends  button  on  to 
the  evener  the  same  as  t(j  the  pants  button. 

Mr.  H.  E.  Felger,  of  Geneseo,  111.,  after  ordering 
two  pair,  adds,  'I  think  this  is  my  fourth  or  fifth 
order  for  these  susi)enders,  and  I  certainly  think 
they  are  the  best  in  the  market."  We  have  them 
only  in  white  and  light  drab,  with  cotton  ends. 
Price 35c;  with  .silk  ends,  .5Uc.  Postage  extra,  ,5c  a 
pair. 


HENIS     FRUIT-PRESS. 


The^e  aiea\eM  hiii(l\  and  useful  instrument 
not  onlj  for  masliiny  potatoes,  as  shown  in  the  cuti 
but  especially  lor  making  fruit  jams  and  jells.  It 
is  a  press  and  sltainer  combined.  It  is  likewi.se  an 
excellent  tlniifi  tot  pressing  wax  out  (,f  old  combs 
when  you  melt  tliein  up.  We  have  sold  a  great 
many  of  tliese  in  the  past,  but  the  manufacturers 
advanced  the  price,  and  they  have  not  been  Selling 
so  rapidly  since.  We  laid  in  a  good  stock  when  the 
price  was  advancing,  and  tlie  prices  we  have  been 
offering  are  ;is  low  as  the  wholesale  prices  made  by 
the  manufacturer.  To  make  them  move  off',  now 
thai  they  should  be  in  demand,  we  offer  th(!  follow- 
ing prices:  30  cts.  each.  By  mall,  50  cts.;  1  doz.,  by 
freight  or  express,  $:i.00;  or  a  box  of  3  doz.  for  $8  25 


750 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1. 


EXTRA  EARLY  AMERICAN   PEARL,  ONION-SETS. 

We  have  just  succeeded  in  obtaining'  anotlier  bar- 
rel, and  expect  to  be  able  to  fill  orders  promptly. 
For  prices,  see  our  last  issue. 


BUFFALO,  N.  Y.     Unsurpassed  Honey  Market. 
BATTERSON  &  CO.     Responsible,  Reliable, 
Commission  Merchants.      ,.sttdb      and  Prompt. 


COTTON  CLOTH  FOR  COLD  FRAMES. 

.Tust  common  white  unbleached  cotton  cloth,  such 
as  you  get  at  your  neare'-t  drygoods  store,  is  all 
that  is  needed.  It  should  be  rather  stout  and 
heavy,  however,  (the  kind  known  as  8  oz.i  especially 
if  you  want  to  cover  your  cold-frames  with  straw 
or  "leaves,  as  directed  on  page  9  of  the  tomato  book 
The  kind  we  use  is  Utica  .sheeting,  nine-fourths 
wide  (78  in.,  to  be  exact),  and  it  is  wortli  just  now  in 
the  market  about  35c  per  yard  for  a  full  piece  of 
about  40  yards.  If  you  do  not  find  it  near  your 
liome  to  suit  you,  we  can  furnish  it  at  the  above 
figure.  

A   NEW  BOOK  ON   TOMATO     CULTURE,   PLANT    GROW- 
ING,  AND  HIGH-PRESSURE  GARDENING   IN 
GENERAL. 

The  tomato-book  is  finally  all  complete,  ready  to 
mail  to  applicants.    Price  35c;  by  mail,  postpaid,  40. 

To  get  your  tomatoes  started,  more  or  less  garden- 
ing under  glass  must  be  done,  as  you  are  probably 
well  aware.  Well,  when  you  can  manage  the  toma- 
to under  glass,  you  are  ready  to  manage  almost  any 
other  vegetable"  crop;  therefore  we  regard  the  to- 
mato book  as  one  of  the  most  valuable  if  not  (?)f 
most  valuable  of  any  work  on  raising  plants  and 
vegetables  that  require  protection  from  tlie  frost; 
and  whether  the  protection  is  to  be  in  tlie  fall  of  the 
year,  or  the  middle  of  the  winter,  or  in  the  spring 
montbs.  you  will  find  the  tomato  book  full  of  tiie 
latest  and  most  modern  appliances  for  giving- pro- 
tection at  the  smallest  expense.  Of  course,  a  part 
of  it  has  already  appeared  in  Gleanings;  but  prob- 
ably considerably  more  than  half  will  be  found  new 
to  our  readers.         

PLANTING  TO  BE  DONE  IN  OCTOBER. 

Asparagus-roots,  Hender.son's  Palmetto,  two  years 
old  last  spring.  1\  for  10c;  7.50  per  100;  $6  00  per  liiUO. 
If  wanted  by  mail  you  will  need  to  add  3c  extra  per 
root,  they  jire  .so"strong  and  he;ivy.  Winter,  or 
Egyptianonion-spts;  fur  prices,  see  last  is-iue.  Rliu- 
baib,  or  pie-plant,  either  Victoiia  or  Linntpus; 
strong  plants,  from  10  to  25c;  but  these  are  so  heavy 
they  will  liave  to  be  sent  by  express  or  freight. 
"Little  fellers."  fr(jm  seed  .sown  hist  spring,  .5c 
each;  35c  foi'  1 1,  or  $2.00  per  100.  These  can  be  sent 
by  mail  for  3c  each  additional.  Horseradish-roots, 
10c  for  25;  35c  per  ItX),  or  $2.00  per  1000.  If  wanted 
by  mail,  add  .5c  for  10,  or  25c  per  100;  also  strawber- 
ry-plants to  those  who  have  tried  October  planting 
and  know  they  can  make  a  success  of  it.  For  prices, 
see  page  632,  Aug.  15.  October  is  a  good  month  for 
putting  out  bass  wood -trees.  For  prices,  see  our 
catalogue,  mailed  on  application.  At  present,  how- 
ever, we  have  only  one  size  in  our  nursery— from 
one  to  five  feet. 


JENNIE  ATCHLEY'S  HOME 

will  be  ;it  Beeville,  Bee  County,  Te.x.,  in  lMt3,  ready 
witli  fHuea«i  again. 19tfdb 

^jr^AlMTKD.— To  exchange   my  new   Red   Mark 
*»     price  list  and  desciii»iion   of  the   new  So|)er 
Bee  Feeder:  best  entrance   feeder  made,  for   jour 
address.        W.  D.  Supkr.  .Tackson,  Mich.,  Box  1473. 

5  Horse  Power  Boiler         FOR 
and  4  Horse  Power  Engine      SALE. 

Ill  fine  order,  juice  1115.00,  free  on  cars. 
T.  S.  BARTL.ETT, 
Farnumsville,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass. 

<>ue  <  eiit  a  Hult-^Wall  Paper. 

Fnier,  2,  2.iC.  Gold,  3c.  Embossed  solid  gold,  4c.  In- 
grain. .5e.  Send  stamp  foi' 100  samples.  Reed,  Wall- 
paper Jobbei',  Kochesier,  Pa.  19d. 

LARGE  APIARY  FOR  SALE  in  Arizona.  For 
particulai-s  address        John  Nippert, 
Enclose  stamp.  19d  Plioenix,  Ariz. 

FOOTE  BROS.,  MEDINA,  O.,  otter  S.  C.  W.  Leg- 
horns, D.  Brahmas,  and  S.  P.  Hamburg  cockerels 
at  low  prices.  l'.t-2,j-2(d 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 

Notices  will  be  insi-rted  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  ynu  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  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.- To  exchange  Scotch  Collie  pups  for 
any  thing  useful  on  farm  or  in  bee-yard, 
lutfdb  N.  A.  Knapp,  Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 


WANTED. — To  exchange  yellow  Italian  queens, 
and  strawberry-plants  cheap.  Bubach,  Jessie, 
Eureka,  Haverlands,  Waifield,  Crescent,  Lady  Rusk, 
for  poultry,  or  offers.  1.5tfdb 

Mrs.  Oliver  Cole,  Sherburne,  Chen.  Co.,  N.  Y. 

U/ ANTED. —To  exchange  OLie  high-grade  Safety 
VV  bicycle;  one  4H-inch  Columbia  light  roadster 
bicycle;'oneOdell  typewritei';  tested  Itiilian  queens, 
for  wax,  honey,  or  offers.  J.  A.  Green. 

13tfdl) Dayton,  111. 

WANTED.— To  exchange   Light   Brahmas    (Felch 
strain),  Silver  Dorkings,!  bull  terrier  (female), 
2  rat  and   bull  terriers,  crossed  (females),  1  Novice 
extractor,  1  organini,  li)0  feet  music,  1  plow,  1  double 
shot-gun,  1  parlor  cigar-case,  for  otfers. 
18-19d  Emas  Fox,  Hillsboro,  Wis. 

\l'ANTED.— To  exchange  a  Wnrwick  Perfection 
VV  Safety  bicycle,  used  but  litth',  and  good  ;is  new; 
also  a  Guiikel  E-flat  cornet  in  perfect  order,  silver 
and  gold  plated,  in  fine  case,  for  wax,  honev,  or 
otfers.  18-19d  C.  A.  Graves,  Shelby,  Oliio. 

WANTED.— An  experienced  girl    or   woman    for 
general  housework.    A  permanent  place   and 
good  home  for  the  right  person.    Address 
Mrs.  Chas.  McClave,  New  London,  Huron  Co.,  O. 

7ANTED.— To  exchange  new  or  second-hand  bee- 
hives for  thoroughbred  poultry.  19d 
L.  W.  LiGHTY,  East  Berlin,  Pa. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  a  new  Model   Hall  type- 
writer for  bees  or  bee-supplies.  19d 
B.  Parker,  Chelsea,  Mich. 

T  WILL  EXCHANGE  for  the  best  offer  before  Nov. 
1  1st,  a  new  33-caliber  repeating  Wincliestei'  ritle, 
with  Ideal  reloader  and  3.IJ  loaded  sliells.  19d 

Percv  Covington,  Appleton,  Cecil  Co.,  Md. 


W 


WANTED.— Situation.  An  experienced  man.  Can 
woi-k  in  ail  apiary,  poultry,  or  on  l^eri'y  farm. 
Address,  in  ciire  <>f  po.stmaster,  Maratlion  City,  Mar. 
Co.,  Wis.    P.  O.  Box  lOeu. 


diack  and  Hybrid  ijueens  For  Sale. 

Kov  the  benetit  of  friends  »  ho  have  black  or  hybrid  queens 
which  they  wish  to  dispose  of.  we  will  insert  notices  free  of 
charge,  as  l)elow.  We  do  this  because  there  is  hardly  value 
enough  in  these  queens  to  pay  for  buying  them  up  and  keep- 
ing tliem  in  stock;  and  yet  it  is  oftentimes  quite  an  accommo- 
dation to  those  who  can  not  alf.o-d  higher-priced  ones. 

I  have  some  hybrid  queens  of  tliis  ye;ir's  raiding 
for  sale,  at  35  cts.  each.  lS-19d 

J.  H.  Johnson,  Middaghs,  Northam'n  Co.,  Pa. 

I  liave  5  mismated  Italian  queens,  some  producing 
3  and  3  bands,  and  some  young  ones  just  beginning 
to  lav,  that  1  will  sell  for. 3Jc  each,  or  4  for  $1.00. 
Some'of  these  may  produce  ]iure  bees. 

M.  H.  DeWitt,  Sang.Run,  Garrett  Co..  Md. 


IS'.l-J 


(JI.KANINCS  IN   HFA'l  t  LII>TURK. 


755 


S.  T.  FISH  &  CO., 

Commission    (Derehants. 


(h-t't'ii.  Dried,  and  Evaporated 
Fruits.  Honey.  Butter.  Cheese. 
E^yg-s.  Potatoes,  Poultry,  and 
(J  rain. 


189  South  Watcn  St.,  Chicago,  111. 


We  make  a  specialty  of  our  HOHEY  DEPfil^TlvrEKT,  and  sell  our 
receipts  throughout  the  United  States.  We  have  export  connections 
wliom  we  supply  when  prices  reach  such  point  as  to  i)ermit  foreig'n 
markets  placing-  orders  with  us.  We  are  opposed  to  adulteration  in  any 
form,  and  will  iiositively  not  sell  anything  but  pure  honey.  Send  your 
adulterated  honey  elsewhere,  but  your  pure  honey  WE  WflflT.  We 
make  liberal  ad\ances  on  consignments,  and  accept  goods  on  a  limit. 
What  Have  You  to  Fear  by  entrusting  goods  to  our  care  ?  Nothing. 
We  are  responsible,  and  refer  you  to  any  bank  or  to  Gleanings.  To 
those  wiio  wish  to  sell  at  home  we  beg  to  advise  we  are  buyers.  We 
ask  your  correspondence,  which  will  receive  immediate  response. 

Respectfully.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co. 


Cut  this  out  and  place  in  your  lioneyliouse. 


Mention  Gleanings. 


Galvanized-Wire    Poultry-Netting    and    Fencing. 
The  Best  JVIade  at  the  Lowest  Price. 

Wo  handle  only  tlie  G.  A:  B.  In-aiid,  whicli  we  consider  the  best  made,  as  it  is  made  of  wire  fully  up  to 
gauge,  and  has  three-st rail' 1  twi>tf(l-\vii-.'  selv;ij>e.  while  other  makes  have  only  two.  We  have  secured  a 
carload  from  the  factory,  :ii  a'-i>cr!:il  low  pricr,  whicli  we  are  able  to  sell  lower  than  you  can  buy  it  any- 
where else  of  equal  quality,  and  lower 
than  we  have  ever  sold  it  before,  though 
we  have  been  getting  more  for  it  the  past 
tw(}  years  than  we  did  in  1890.  This  car- 
load that  we  have  purchased  is  all  '.'-inch 
No.  1!)  netting,  the  size  generally  used  for 
poultry.  It  was  made  iK-ailv  a  year  ago, 
and  has  losi  some  of  the  bright  luster  of 
fresh  new  goods;  and  it  was  for  this  reason 
alone  tliat  we  bought  it  lower  and  are  able 
to  sell  it  (lieapt'r.  It  is  guaranteed  equal 
in  every  respect  to  fresh  new  goods  of  tlie 
best  quality,  except  in  luster,  which  prac- 
ticallj  is  of  no  account,  because  the 
briglitest  netting  becomes  dull  in  a  few 
weeks  after  being  ))ut  up.  We  have  in 
stock  all  widths  from  la  indies  uji  to  (iO. 
which  we  ran  furnish  at  the  following 
prices.  All  shipmentsniust  be  made  from 
here.  We  can  not  ship  from  New  York  or 
Chicago  at  these  prices;  but  as  we  are  able 
to  secure  through  rates  to  almost  all 
,.,,.,,  .,  .  ,  points  from  here,  the  treiglit  will  be  little 

if  any  more  than  if  shipped  from  either  city.     J^-inch  staples  for  below, 2Jc  per  lb.;  .5lbs.  or  over  16c  i)er  lb 


Rolls  150  ft.  long. 

1  roll. 

5  rolls. 

111  rolls. 

Rolls  1.50  ft.  long. 

1  roil. 

5  rolls. 

10  rolls 

'-in.  No.  19,  12  inches  wide. 

$1  OU 

*  4  .50 

S  8  75 

e-in.  No.  19,  36  Indies  wide. 

$2  9J 

$13  50 

*26  00 

18 

1  .511 

.1    <o 

12  00 

42 

3  40 

16  00 

31  00 

24 

2  W 

9  (JO 

17  50 

48 

3  75 

17  .50 

34  00 

30 

2  .50 

12  00 

Zi  00 

"       60 

4  75 

23  00 

44  00 

The  lot  includes  over  600  rolls,  most  of  which  are  48  inches  wide,  the  usual  size  used.  This  price  will 
last  only  as  long  as  the  stock  lasts.  You  will  do  well,  therefoie  to  order  early.  The  above  prices  are  less 
tlian  the  wholesale  quotat  ions  to-day  on  netting  not  one  wliii  liet  ter,  if  as  good.  If  you  want  other  sizes 
or  shipment  from  New  York  or  Chicago,  write  for  our  special  2  i-pMge  nettiiig  catalogue,  mailed  on  appli- 
^^t'""  A.   I.    ROOT,   MEDINA,  OHIO. 


756 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1.5. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Adulteration  of  Honey 760 

Basswoods.  Planting 769 

Books,  Rural 'flj 

Bordeaux  Mixture 780 

Celerv  Culture.  Nivens'. . .  .7i9 

Covers  for  Hives 768 

Diarrhea,  Bee 7W 

Extractor,  Boarilman  s. ...  (71 
Feeder  Made  of  Quart  Can. .771 

Foul  Brood.  Apparent 774 

Girdling  Trees 769 

Houev  Company 7W 

Lantcstroth's  History <61 


PuMn-Bay .  Wine  at 774 

Queens.  Mailing 782 

Rambler  at  Jurupa 766 

Raspberries,  Ever-bearing  781 


Roses. 


774 


Section,  A  Standard 76.5 

Self-hivei-s 764 

Smartweed 775 

Speckled  Beauty 772 

Superstition  Mountain 77.5 

Swarming.  Cause  of 762 

Transferring.  Easy 782 

Worms,  Sulphuring .772 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


to  come  be'foTe  the  meeting,  relating  t..  flu-  .ipiiropiiation  t^ 
a  display  at  said  fair,  a  large  attendance  is  expected     Let  all 
?omewe^l  prepared  to  ask  and  answer  questions  and  have  a 
good  time.                         .  J.  A.  bTONE,  sec. 

Bradfordton,  111.,  Oct^_6^ 

The  Southwestern  Wisconsin  Bee-keepers'  Association  will 
hold  its  next  annual  meeting  in  Boscobel,  Grant  Co  Wis.,  on 
^e  13th  and  14th  of  January.  189.S,  commencing  at  10  .\M.  All 
members- of  the  association  are  requested  to  be  present,  as  the 
Suowtng  officers  are  to  be  elected :  President,  N;ice-president, 
secretof,  assistant  secretary,  and  treasurer.  Blank  reports 
will  be  sent  to  each  member  of  the  association  tor  1892,  with 
Sstructions.  A  cordial  invitation  is  extended  to  all  bee-keep- 
Ss  and  especially  to  those  who  would  like  to  join  us.  Each 
member  wfu  be  nbtifled  at  least  «"e  mont^h^eW^said  meet- 

Boscobel,  Wis. 

The  13th  annual  convention  of  the  Northeastern  Ohio  North- 
ern Pennsylvania,- and  Western  New  York  Bee-keepers'  Associ- 
It  on  A?ill  convene  in  the  parlors  of  the  Eureka  Mineral  Springs 
Hotel  sigertown.  Pa.,  Oct.  19th,  1892,  at  10  a.m.  for  a  two-days' 
fessfon  The  program  will  consist  of  practical  topics  relating 
to  Iplculture  discussed  by  practical  bee-keepers.  Sa-gertown 
is  siuiated  six  miles  east  of  MeadviUe.  on  the  New  \  orTc,  Penn- 
svlvania  &  Ohio  Railroad.  Reduced  rates  have  been  secured  to 
fgose  attendhig  the  convention.  Sajgertovvn  is  situated  on  the 
banks  of  a  beautiful  stream  of  water  and  is  one  of  the  hnest 
Slimmer  resorts  in  the  country.  A  steainer  is  afloat  on  the 
river  and  will  be  at  the  disposal  of  all  wishing  it.  It  is  hoped 
[hat  thei*  will  be  a  large  attendance.  Ladies  are  especially 
nvuld''  Programs  Willie  sent  to  >"l>"'-,l;'::id  to  othei^  vvho 
request  it  of  the  secretary.  M.  L.  Mas.  .n.  President 

G.  Spitler.  Secretary,  Amiovei,u. 

Mosiertown,  Crawford  Co..  Fa. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 


Notices  will  be  inserted  under  this  head  at  one-half  our  usu- 
al ratef  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-tide  ex- 
changes. Exchanges  for  cash  or  for  price  lists,  or  notices  of- 
ferinlarticles  for  sale,  can  not  be  inserted  under  this  head. 
For  such  our  regular  rates  of  20  cts.  a  line  will  be  charged,  and 
thev  will  be  put  with  the  regular  advertisements^  We  can  not 
be  responsible  for  dissatisfaction  arising  from  these    swaps. 


WANTED.- To  exchange  Scotch  Collie  pups  for 
any  thing  useful  on  farm  or  in  bee-yard. 
15tfdb  N.  A.  Knapp,  Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 

W 


ANTED.— To  exchange  a  new  Model  Hall  type- 
writer for  bees  or  bee-supplies.  ^,.^^^^ 
B.  Pakkeh,  Chelsea,  Mich. 


IAVILL  EXCHANGE  for  the  best  offer  before  Nov. 
1st,  a  new  32-caliber  repeating  Winchester  riHe, 
with  Ideal  reloader  and  200  loaded  shells.  19d 

Percy  Covington,  Appleton,  Cecil  Co.,  Md. 


W\NTBD.— To  exchange  fox  -  hound  pups  foi- 
pointer  bird-dog,  breech-loading  or  Wincliestor 
repeating  shotrgun  or  rifle,  or  any  thing  useful  in 
apiary.       J.  E.  Pryor,  Middle  River,  Iowa.    30-21d 


The  "Progressive  Bee-Keeper." 

A  practical  monthly  journal  for  beginners.  Will 
be  sent  from  Sept.,  '93,  to  Dec,  '93,  for  50c,  to  all  new 
subscribers.    Sample  copy  free.    Address  19tf 

E.  F.  QUICLEY,  Unionville,  Mo. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

FOOTE  BROS.,  MEDINA.  O.,  offer  S.  C.  W.  Leg- 
horns, D.  Brahmas.  and  S.  P.  Hamburg  cockerels 
at  low  prices.  19-20-21d 


CLOSINC-OUT  SALE. 

No.  1  Sections,  $2..50  per  M.    Full  colonies  of 
bees  in  8-frame  L.  liives,  ^.00  per  colony. 
Send  for  reduced  list. 
W.  D.  SOPER,  Jackson,  Mich.  20tfd 


FOR  SALE. 


25  choice:  r.  p.  rock 
cocke:r¥:ls. 

Also  a   few  choice  S.  C.  W.  Legliorn   Cockerels. 
Good  healthy  birds.    For  prices  address  with  stamp, 
20-31d  WILL  HAu  LEY,  McConnell,  III. 

Qnn  FERRETS,  a  line  lot  of 
;>  0\J\J  Scotcb  Collie  Pups  and 

v^    ...«;»''- -j^Si  a  trained  bird-dog  for  sale.    Price 
3?^-=-'^ii>^B  list  free.         X.  A.  KNAPP, 
■^Is^L^E;^*:  .^^^         Rofliester,  lioratn  Co., 

~'"''^^^E^^^      IStfdb  Olilo. 

^■In  responding  to  this  uiivtrtisenieiit  mention  GLt;ANiNGS. 

^55^ ANTED.— To  buy  12.5  to  150  stands  of  Italian 
»»     or  hybrid  bees.    Must  be  cheap.    Address 
W.  D.  BUNTiNfi,  Uvalde,  Texas. 

75c.    Golden  gueens  by  Return  Mail.    78c. 

For  beauty  and  business.    Safe  arrival  and  satis- 
faction guaranteed.    This  is  a  money-order  office. 
J.  R.  CASE,  Port  Orange,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 
l^"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


SAVE  OTONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 

AUSTRALIA. 

Wanted— every  bee-keciier  in  Australia  to  send 
for  my  large  illustrated  catalogue  of  bee-keepers' 
supplies,  American  queens,  etc.,  etc.    Post  free. 
18-23db       H.  li.  JONES,  Ooodna,  Queensland. 

please  mention  this  paper. 


SECTIONS. 

$2.50  to  $3.50  per  M.    Ree-Hives  and  Fix- 
tures cheap.  NOVELTY    CO., 
6tfdb  Rock  Falls,  Illinois. 

Cr^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Qlkanings. 


NEW  YORK  CORRESPONDENCE 

FOR  home:  studv  m—"^— ^^" 
243  BROADWAY  N  .Y.  nWgB 
INTRODUCTORY  LECTUREUUlnJ 

(Sfln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


OT  KVL  VWUOS. 


Murray  s<HEi5s."':^o^^_j|"° 


VIOLINS 


GUITARS 

MANDOLINS 


lyin  responding  to  th 


tilt  mention  GLKANING8, 


Foundation  Reduced  3  cts.  Per  Pound. 

SECTIONS  I  sold  at  $3.00  now  selling  at  $^'.60.    Binglmm  Smokers  at  cost      Send  for  F.ee  Pri.xjList  of 
every  thing  needed  in  the  apiary.  6tfdb  Wl.  M.  MUNI ,  iseil  urancn,  mien. 


1S">2 


GLEANIN(JS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


Honey  Column. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

I'lNCiNNATi.  /fiDifj/— lH>in;itul  is  jrixid  fi)r  all 
kinds  of  extracted  lioney  at  r)'^@,Sc  on  arrival,  iic- 
eordiiijr  to  iiiiality.  Arrixals  are  not  cMiiial  to  t lie 
deiniiiul.  WtMlon't  dare  to  solieil  new  trade.  Coin!) 
honey  is  searee.  A  good  luisiiu'ss  eoiild  be  done  at 
l')(a)l«c  for  liest  white  if  stock  were  on  hand.  Tlieie 
is  a  fair  demand  for  beeswu.x  at '^(l@"35c  for  f^ood  tx) 
ehoiee  yellow  on  arrival.    Supply  is  jfood. 

Ch.vs.  F.  Muth  &  Son, 

Oct.  11.  Cincinnati,  O. 

llUFfALO.— Hoiu'!/.— Our  market  continues  steady 
and  firm  at  mostly  15@lt!  for  fancy  1-lb.  comb;  No. 
U',  12@U;  No.  3  clover,  etc..  8@lii.  \Ve  have  a  mucii 
llfrhter  supply  than  usual  lor  oui'  winttM-  trade,  and 
need  sexeral  tons  yet.  Should  be  much  pleased  to 
hear  from  all  those  adjacent  to  this  market,  assur- 
ing tliem  the  best  possible  results  obtainable  any- 
where. Will  advance  -.1  value  and  more  on  all 
grades.  Extracted  honey  for  this  market  should  be 
niostlj'  in  lO-oz.  tumblers,  12  or  IS  in  a  crate,  ranging 
$1.25  to  $1.,")U.  Battei{S()n  A:  Co., 

Oct.  8.  167,  169  Scott  St.,  liuHalo,  N.  Y. 

Al,b.\ny.—H<)hcj/.- -Demand  good  for  honey  now, 
and  receipts  lighter  than  will  be  later.  We  think 
early  s:iles  the  best.  We(iuite:  White  comb.  15@16; 
mixed,  i;5(5*ll;  buckwheat,  13@13.  Large  and  imper- 
fect combs  and  double  glassed,  etc.,  sell  for  less. 
Extracted,  white,  8(g)8|2:  mixed,  T^@8;  dark,  6@". 
Especial  good  demand  for  extracted  this  season. 
Befxwnx.  27@38.  If  you  wish,  will  advance  you  % 
market  on  rei'eipt  of  any  honey,  and  sell  promptly 
and  remit  balance.  Write  us  if  you  want  some 
shipping-pasters  with  a  numlier  indexed  to  you  on 
our  books.    It  is  a  neat  way  to  ship. 

H.  R.  Wrioht, 

Oct.  3.  :}26,  328,  330  Broadway,  Albany,  N.  Y. 


New  York.— Hon«j;.— Demand  for  honey  Increas- 
ing. Market  firm;  quote  ;is  follows:  Fancy,  1  lb.,  17; 
2  lb.,  13.  Fair,  1  lb.,  12@1.t:  2  lb.,  11@12.  Buckwheat, 
1  lb.,  10®  11;  2  1b.,9(§;10.  Extracted,  clover,  8@8'/^  ; 
buckwheat,  6.    BMswnx,  2.5f?(.27. 

Oct.  10.  Chas.  Israel  &  Bros., 

110  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


St.  Louis.— Ho/iej/.— Choice  white-clover  honey  in 
Mb.  sections,  1&§»18;  fair,  13@1.5;  buckwheat,  brok- 
en, and  dark,  7@10.  Extracted,  in  bbls.,  dark,  b^, 
<&o}i;  light,  oK<Si6]4,;  in  cans,  choice  white,  8@9; 
fair,  6'A^i,~y2.    Beeswax,  prime,  24'/^. 

Oct.  10.                               W.  B.  Westcott  &  Co., 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Boston.— ilo/ic;/.— Market  very  strong  for  comb 
honey.  Best  white  lib.  comb  selling  at  18@19;  no 
2-lb.  on  hand.  Extracted  white,  8(5*9.  No  beeswax 
on  hand.  Bt.AKE  &  Ripley, 

Oct.  10.  Boston,  Mass. 

Kansas  City.— Wohcj/. —The  supply  of  comb  and 
extracted  is  light ;  demand  good.  We  quote  No.  1 
white  1-lb.  comb,  umi'!:  No.  2,  I  lb.,  14@15.  No.  1 
amber,  1  lb..  1.5@I6;  No.  2.  lit(5;12.  Extracted,  white, 
7fa'7X:  amber,  .i®6.      Bec.si/n.r.  20<ft21. 

Oei.  10.  Cr.EMoNs-MAsoN  Com.  Co., 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Detroit.  —  f/oi/ei/.  —  Best  white  comb  liotu^y  in 
fair  demand  at  14@1.'>;  dark  or  amber,  12(S13.  V.x- 
tracted,  7®8.    Bi'rxirnx  dull  at  24@25. 

M.  H.  Hunt, 

Oc-t.  10.  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

K.\NSAS  City.— ffojiey.- There  is  a  good  demand 
for  horie5',  but  a  verv  light  supply.  Price  of  1  lb. 
comb,  white,  17c.  Extracted,  6'?;ui.  Bir.swax.  2i@2o. 
Hamblin  &  Beabss, 

Oct.  10.  514  Walnut  St..  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Chicago.— Honej/.— Fancy  white  comb  honey  sell- 
ing at  17(S18c;  second  grade,  1.5®  16.  We  guarantee 
to  sell  no  extracted  honey  less  than  7c,  and  from 
that  to  8)^.  Be«.si<Y(j:,  26.  All  the  above  scarce  on 
our  market,  and  in  good  demand.  We  advise 
prompt  shipments.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co., 

Oct.  10.  *  189  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago.  111. 


Ai-HANV.  Hodff/.  -Receipts  are  qidtc  large,  both 
of  comb  and  extracted,  but  it  is  i)rincipally  dark 
honev.  White  clover  seems  to  be  scarce,  a ntf  com- 
mands a  go(xl  price.  We  quote  fancv  white  1-lb. 
sections,  17@lSc;  good,  14(5>15;  mixed,  VZfft^V.i;  buck- 
wheat, lli@12;  ;i-lb.  sections  sell  at  a  (-eiit  a  pound 
less.  Extracted,  6@8c.  We  have  made  one  sale  of 
prime  beeswax  at  30c  per  lb. 

Chas.  McCclloch  &  Co., 

Oct.  12.  393,  395,  397  Broadway,  Albany,  N.  Y. 


Chicaoo.— H(i(i«ii/.— The  honey  market  is  firm,  and 
we  get  17(5  18c  for  best  lots  of  white  comb.  Extracts 
ed  brings  6(Hi9c  per  lb.,  according  to  quality  and 
kind.    Beeswax,  22@26.  R.  A.  Burnett, 

Oct.  8.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111 

St.  Louis.  Hodcj/.— Demand  for  extracted  con- 
tinues good,  at  oil (5*5 "s.  Demand  for  comb  quiet. 
We  quote  10®16.     Brcswax,  pi'ime,  :24^. 

Oct .  1.                                   i>.  G.  Tutt  G  ro.  Co., 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Wanted.— 50.000  lbs.  of  choice  white  comb  honey. 
Address       Bvkon  Walker, 
17tfdb  Evart,  Mich.,       or       Wyalusing,  Wis. 


For    Sale.— Comb    or    extracted    honey,  boss  in 
quality.    Will  sell  reasonable     Samples  free. 

J.  B.  Murray,  Ada,  Ohio. 


For  Sale.— 1000  lbs.  buckwheat  comb  honev. 
20tfdb  D.  F.  Lashieh,  Hooper,  N.  Y. 


For  Sale.— 10  liarrels  choice  white-clover  honey. 
Will  put  it  up  in  almost  any  style  of  package  de- 
sired.   Price  on  application. 

Emil  J.  Baxteii,  Nauvoo,  Hancock  Co.,  111. 


For  Sale.— 1500  lbs.  white-clover  honey;  nearly 
all  in  1-lb.  sections,  packed  in  24-lb.  single-tier  cases, 
delivered  at  R.  R.,  15c  per  lb. 

Wm.  Van  Auken,  Woodville,  Jefif.  Co.,  N.  Y. 


HONEY  WANTED. 


HlS,1ie!<t 
Itlarket 
Price. 
Spot  Cash.  BATTERSON  <£   CO., 

Buffalo,  N.  y. 

Please  mention  thi.s  paper. 

JVTuth's ^^ 

Honey  -  E:kttTaGtop. 

Square  Glass  Honey-JaPs, 

Tin  Buckets,  See~hives. 
Honey-Sections,  &e.,  &e. 

Pepfeetion  Cold-Blast  SmokeKs. 

APPLY  to  ^^^--v^-n.^^xv^-^^v^ 

CHflS.  F.  IVIUTH  St  SOfi,  Cineinnati,  O. 

SendlO-ct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


TAKE   NOTICE! 

DEFORE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
"    for  prices  on  Ont'-Piece  Basswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,  Shipping-Crates,  Frames.  Foiuidation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
Utfdb  New  London,  Wis. 
Plea.<!e  mention  this  paper. 

BEE-HIVES,   SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  the  best  goods  and  sell  them  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  be.st  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world. 

Our  goods  are  known  as  the  be.st  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  foi-  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  i)ricelist. 

G.  B.  LEWIS    CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


ro8 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1."i. 


Winter  bosses 


Are  not  always  the  i-esult  of  the 
same  cause.  They  may  come 
from  starvation;  from  poor  food; 
from  improper  preparations; 
from  imperfect  protection,  or 
from  a  cold,  wet,  or  possibly  a 
poorly  ventilated  cellar,  etc.,  etc.  Successful  wintering  results  from  a  proper  combination  of  different 
conditions.  For  clear,  concise,  comprehensive  conclusions  upon  these  all-important  points,  consult 
"ADVANCED  BEE  CULTURE."  Five  of  its  thirty-two  chapters  treat  as  many  different  pha.ses  of  the 
wintering-  problem.  Price  of  the  book  50  cts.;  the  REVIEW  one  year  and  the  book  for  $1.3.">.  Stamps 
taken,  either  U.  S.  or  Canadian.  New  subscribers  to  the  REVIEW  for  1893  receive  tlie  balance  of  this 
year  free.  W.  Z.  HUTCHINSON,  Flint,  MIch. 


Best  on  Earth. 


More  than  one  hundred 
thousand  Bingham  & 
Hetherington  Honey- 
knives  and  Bee-smok- 
ers in  daily  use.  Il- 
lustrations sent  free. 


Bingham  &  Hetherington, 

Abronia,  Mich.  rtfdb 

OATMAN'S 

SOLSEEINa  AKD  BEPAIE  KIT  ( 

Consists  of  fiie-pot.  sokler- 
injj-irons,  solder,  anil  sokltT- 
inyr-fluid,  with  tix.ls  cjumjirti- 
as  shown  in  cnt.  with  diric- 
tions  (or  soldi-iinK  dilt'rnnt 
metals,  and  how  to  keep  your 
soldering-irons  ni  sliape. 
Whole  kit,  boxed,  12  lbs. 
Shipped  on  receipt  of  $2.00. 
Agents  wanted. 

O.  &  L.  OATMAN, 
8-7db        Medina,  Ohio. 


WESTERN     BEE-KEEPERS' 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  can  be  had  at  Des 
Moines.  Iowa,  at  ROOT'S  PRICES.  The 
largest  supply  business  in  the  West. 
Establishedl88.5.  Dovetailed  Hives,  Sec- 
tions, Foundation,  Extractors,  Smokers, 
Veils.  Crates,  Feeders.  Clover  Seeds,  etc. 
Imported  Italian  Queens.  Queens  and 
Bees.    Sample  copy  of  our  Bee  Journal, 

THE  WESTERN  BEE-KEEPER,"  and 
L\TEST  CATALOGUE  mailed  FREE  to 
Bee-kcei)ers. 

JOSEPH  NYSEWANDER, 

Des  Moines,  Iowa. 


RRICE  $2. 

(postpaid). 

Ladies'  Fine  Shoes,  Genuine 
Kid,  ti^oft  Soles;  Style,  Fit,  and 
Wear  K(iu;il  to  *:!  Shoes.  Hig'h 
t)r  Ijow  Heel;  Bi-oad  or  Narrow 
Toe:  Sizes  1  to  7.  C  D  E  or  E  E 
Widths.  Send  your  size.  Sui-e 
Fit.  Patent  tips, 
same  price. 

C.  L.  Griesinger 

Medina,  O. 

Send  P.  O.  or- 
der. Registered 
Letter,  or  Postal 
Note. 


Was  very  much  pleased  with  tlie 
Ocean  Springs,  Miss. 


Mrs.  Seymore. 


Please  mention  this  paper. 


BEES  FOR  BUSINESS. 

Warranted  queens  from  my  choice  strain  of  yel- 
low hustlers,  bred  for  working  qualities  and  g'entle- 
ness  as  well  as  beauty,  75  cts.  each  by  return  mail. 
Tested,  ?1.3.5.  A  few  mismated  qvieens,  3.5  cts.  each. 
IStfdb  J.  A.  GREEN,  Dayton,  Illlnoi«i. 

TTT^ANTED.— Reliable  parties  to  distribute  and 
»  »      collect  for 

LA^UlIiS'     T<JILI£T    -    CA.SES. 

Well  worth  fl.OU  in  any  family.    Will  send  sample 
and   full  instructions  by  mail  for  35  cts.  in  stamps, 
returnable    if     not    satisfactory.     Address     J.    C. 
Frisbee,  Gen'l  Agt.,  172  Maple  St.,  Denver,  Col. 
Reference,  A.  I.  Root,  Medina,  Ohio.  8-34db 


BEE 


SUPPLIES 


RETAIL 

— AND— 

WHOLESALE. 


Everything  used  in  the  Apiary. 

Greatest  variety  and  largest  stock 
in  the  West.  New  catalog,  54  illustrated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  KEETOEMES,  RED  OAK,  IOWA. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  2tfdb 

Eggs  and  Plants.  Fowls,  Poultry-books  and 
Papers;  finely  ill.  circular  free.    Address 
GEER  BROS.,  St.  Marys,  Mo., 


pALL 


14tfdb 


Or,        H.  B.  GEER,  Naslmlle,  Tenn. 


Porter  Spring  Bee-Escape,     a  Great  success. 

We  guai-antee  it  to  l)e  far  supi'iior  In  all  others,  if,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  dozen,  you  do 
not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  jnove  satisfactory  in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  witli- 
in  90  days  aftei'  receipt,  and  wv  will  refund  your  money.  PRICES:  Eacli,  by  mail,  posti)aid. 
with  full  directions,  2i!c;  pei'  dozen.  $2.35.  Send  for  circulai'  and  testimoidals,  Sui)pl\- 
dealers,  send  for  wliolesale  prices,     Kltfdl)  R.  &,  £.  C.  PORTER,  LewiStown,  III.' 


-^   -«-   -M-   li-^ 


-A"-    -V-    'v.v 


Gleanings 


/S-    'A-    -A- 


■M-     ^A-     'A^  -fi 


The  Oldest,  Iiarg^est,  Best  and  Only  Weekly 
Bee-Paper  in  America.    Sample  Copy  Free. 

— :  32  pages— $1.00  a  Year  :— 


Address  GEORGE   W.  YORK  &  CO., 

"^^      199  Randolph  St.,  CHICAGO.  ILLS 

TO  NEW  SUBSCRIBERS— FROM  NOW  TO  JAN.  1,  1893,  20  Cents;  TO  JAN.1, 1894,  $1.00. 


^JOUR 

■  DElVoTE 

•To -Be. 

•andHo, 
•AND  home: 

•INTELJ^EST^ 


e;^iKooY- 

EAt^    \§)     fAEDINAOHiO 


Vol.  XX. 


OCT.  15,  1892. 


No.  20. 


Stray  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 

PijiCEs  OF  HONEY  arc  slowly  climbing. 

First  frost  on  my  place.  Oct.  5.  Long  season. 

The  crop  of  new  bef-journals  this  year  was 
not  unusually  large. 

HoxEY-Fi-ow  didn't  wait  for  frost,  btit  stop- 
p<xl  some  days  before. 

Fp:ei)Ixg  fok  wixtku.  Doolittle  says  in  Rc- 
cinr.  sliould  not  be  done  too  rapidly;  five  pounds 
a  day  is  better  than  faster. 

In  i.mi'kovino  a  strain  of  bees,  Hasty,  in  Re- 
view, thinks  ii  important  to  encourage  those 
colonies  which  start  very  few  queen-cells. 

Are  you  suke.  dead  sure,  that  your  bees 
have  stores  enough  for  winter?  May  be  you'd 
better  give  them  a  little  more.  They'll  not 
waste  it. 

Bicycles  ought  to  come  down  in  price,  ought 
they  not?  You  see^ii  doesn't  cost  them  any 
thing  for  advertising.  All  the  riders  advertise 
them  gratis. 

Laying  workers,  in  a  few  cases  that  I  have 
noticed,  ceased  laying  when  given  a  sealed 
queen-cell,  before  the  queen  hatched  out.  Is 
that  the  general  rule  ? 

Geo.  F.  Rohkins  doesn't  like  my  way  of  pre- 
venting increase  (p.  7r.'.">).  Neither  do  I.  But  I 
like  ills  still  less,  for  it  would  make  me  have 
additional  help  to  watch  for  swarms. 

Uniting  colonies  or  driving  away  robbers. 
J.  F.  Shirk  says  in  Reviev\  he  does  by  using  a 
a  spray  of  carbolic  acid— one  dram  of  acid  to 
seven  of  water,  with  half  a  drain  of  glycerine. 

HKAriip:R  honey  is  a  standard  article  across 
the  ocean,  but  it  seems  the  plant  will  not  grow 
this  side.  The  honey  is  tine,  but  has  the  pe- 
culiarity that  it  can  not  beextractcd— too  thick. 

The  Medical  Neirs  says  the  records  of  Yale 
College  during  the  past  eight  years  show  that 
the  non-smokeis  aie  :.'u  i)er  cent  taller  than  the 
smokers.  :.'.">  per  cent  heavi(!r.  and  had  tjii  \H',r 
cent  more  lung  capacity. 

Be?:-escapes  are  in  high  favor  in  England, 
where  they  are  very  appropriately  called  sniier- 
rlcdrcrx.  The  Britluli  Bee  Journdi  favors  sim- 
ple cones,  letting  the  bees  escape  outwardly, 
for  early  work;  but  as  soon  as  honey  hcnin-s  to 
fail,  then  the  Porter. 

"Once  a  robber  always  a  robber"  is  one  of 
the  teachings  about  bees  that  has  passed  cur- 
rent because  no  one  contradicted  it.  I  venture 
to  say.  with  some  fear  and  trembling,  that 
thereis  very  little  truth  in  it.    To-day,  with  no 


honey  yielding,  you  see  robbers  trying  every 
crack  and  crevice;  and  to-moirow,  with  a  good 
flow,  not  a  robber  is  to  be  seen.  What  has  be- 
come of  them,  if  they  are  robbers  for  life? 

Wax-wor.ms,  when  first  hatched  out.  are 
killed  by  a  very  little  sulphur;  but  when  they 
become  hoary  in  wickedness  they  need  to  soak 
for  hours  in  a  tliick  smoke  before  they  will  suc- 
cumb. They  are  somewhat,  in  this  respect, 
like  weeds  and  bad  habits. 

G.  M.  Doolittle  abuses  me  in  Review.  True, 
he  doesn't  call  me  by  name,  but  then  he  talks 
about  bee-keepers  that  get  on  a  craze  over  a 
new  thing  and  try  it  on  the  whole  apiary  in- 
stead of  first  trying  the  experiment  on  a  few 
colonies.  I  knew  whom  he  meant  just  as  soon 
as  I  read  it. 

Drone  brood,  well  advanced,  is  recommend- 
ed as  fish-bait,  particularly  for  trout,  by  Herr 
Tirpitz.  in  Deutschen  Blenenfreund.  Can't  we 
get  up  a  market  for  our  drone  brood,  selling  to 
anglers  for  so  much  a  pound,  or  shall  we  sell 
them  all  otir  colonies  that  have  drone-laying 
queens  or  laying  workers  ? 

Hutchinson  has  another  little  girl  to  help 
work  on  the  Revieir  when  she  grows  big  enough. 
The  twins  are  Nora  and  Cora,  and  now  he 
might  call  the  new  one  Dora.  Then  when  he 
grows  rich  through  the  Review,  and  retires  to 
his  country  estate,  he  can  go  out  in  the  woods 
and  call  one  of  the  girls  and  the  whole  three 
will  Hock  around  him. 

October  has  come. 
And  the  bees'  busy  hum 
Ls  kind  o'  dyin'  away. 

The  hope  of  a  crop 
Must  surely  now  stop, 

But  we  can   begin  gettin'  iii  talk 
about  the  bright  prospects  for  another  y(>ar. 

Anent  laving  workers.  H.  Fitz  Hart  says 
he  found  two  in  a  hive  with  a  laying  (jueen 
only  a  few  months  old.  He  thinks  laying  work- 
ers often  the  cause  of  queen lessness.  rather  than 
queenlessness  the  cause  of  laying  workers. 
Possibly:  but  in  that  case  I  should  hardly  ex- 
pect that  giving  brood  or  queen-cells  would 
lead  to  the  removal  of  the  pests. 

A  robbers'  exchange  is  Hasty's  last  conceit, 
in  Review.  "An  empty  hive  with  a  very  small 
entrance,  in  which  a  little  waste  honey  is  put 
from  time  to  time.  TIkmi  if  any  mischief  is 
going  on  any\\her(>  it  will  be  made  known  to 
you  by  the  crowd  of  would-be  robbers  bobbing 
around  the  exchange:  but  if  the  exchange  is 
quiet  you  may  feel  comfortably  assured  that 
honesty  prevails  throughout  the  yard." 

Prevention  of  after-swarms.  A  very 
simple  way  is  given  by  Hedrich,  in  Blenen- 
Vater.  Place  in  front  of  the  somewhat  enlarged 


r(50 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  15. 


entrance  of  the  hive  a  box  (a  cigar-box  for  350 
cigars  is  suitable),  having  an  entrance  one- 
fourth  as  large  as  the  hive-entrance,  a  suitable 
alighting-place  at  this  entrance  with  a  little 
board  to  shade  it.  The  first  swarm  goes  through 
all  right,  but  all  after-swarms  stop  in  the  little 
box,  make  a  big  row  there,  and  then  return  to 
the  hive. 

To  SEPAKATE  SWARMS  that  cluster  together, 
H.  L.  Jeffreys  gives  this  plan  in  American  Bee- 
keeper: Set  two  boards  up  edgewise,  far  enough 
apart  to  hang  frames  between,  making  a  sort 
of  temporary  bee-hive.  Hang  between  the 
boards  about  ten  frames  for  each  swarm  in  the 
cluster,  having  every  tifth  frame  contain  an 
empty  comb;  shake  the  bees  on  the  frames; 
cover  with  a  cloth;  leave  them  thus  for  three 
or  four  hours,  when  each  swarm  will  be  sep- 
arated with  its  own  queen,  and  can  be  put  in 
its  own  hive. 


HONEY  ADULTERATION. 


the  commission  man  versus  the  honey- 

proi>ucer;  something  from  a 

commission  man. 


I  read  Prof.  Cook's  article  on  honey  adultera- 
tion, page  688,  twice  and  thoroughly.  I  may 
be  mistaken;  but  if  I  read  it  right,  I  come  to 
this  conclusion:  Bee-keepers  have  an  enormous 
advantage  over  the  honey-dealers,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  the  packers  or  mixers.  The  new  law, 
which  went  into  effect  on  Sept.  1,  1892,  reads  as 
follows:  "  Whoever  shall  adulterate  maple  su- 
gar or  honey  with  glucose,  cane  sugar  or  syrup, 
beet  sugar  or  syrup,  or  any  other  substance  for 
the  purpose  of  sale,  or  offer  for  sale  maple 
sugar,  maple  syrup  or  honey  that  has  been 
adulterated  in  any  way,'' etc.  Would  not  the 
man  who  fed  his  bees  on  sugar  syrup  be  equally 
guilty  (if  not  more  so)  than  the  man  who  mixed 
honey  with  cane  syrup?  And  yet  it  could  not 
be  proven  against  the  foi'mer,  for  I  believe  no 
chemist  will  make  an  affidavit  to  positive  de- 
tection of  same  in  the  former.  But  in  the  latter 
he  can.  according  to  Prof.  Cook;  and  should  a 
man  suffer  penalty  of  the  law  because  he  added 
sugar  or  glucose,  to  protect  the  former,  who 
adulterates  the  bees,  to  prevent  the  discovery 
of  his  own  deception?  And  if  you  did.  would 
you  be  doing  the  public,  the  dealer,  or  the  bee- 
keeper good?  It  strikes  me  there  is  a  loophole 
for  the  latter,  only  the  public  and  the  dealer 
must  suffer  just  the  same. 

Prof.  Cook  also  states,  in  his  results,  that  the 
best  glucose  costs  about  3  cts.  per  lb.  The  price 
of  the  cheapest  is  more  than  that.  The  price 
of  the  cheapest  on  Saturday  was  3.37,  carload 
lots.  The  best  glucose  is  worth  5  cts.  per  lb.; 
the  price  of  granulated  sugar  is  .5.18;  cane  syrui) 
is  24  cts.  per  gallon,  which  is  cheaper  than  glu- 
cose, as  it  is  .O'lfi  per  lb.  You  will  also  see  here 
that  it  is  a  question  whether  that  new  law  will 
hold  good. 

But  the  best  I  have  seen  is  an  article,  also  in 
Gleanings  of  Sept.  15,  page  690,  by  Mr.  W.  J. 
Cullinan,  of  Quincy,  111.  But  then  yon  would 
have  to  get  a  standard,  and  then  there  would 
be  more  grades  of  honey,  which  would  be  better 
for  dealers,  and  the  price  would  be  according  to 
grade.  It  would  be  stamped,  which  would  hold 
the  dealer  safe.  As  it  is  now,  a  bee-keeper  can 
mix  honey,  ship  to  a  dealer  who  sells  on  com- 
mission, gets  his  money,  makes  his  returns,  and 
then  the  retailer  is  gobbled  up,  fined,  or  sent  to 
jail,  providing  the  dealer  is  out  of  the  State. 
If  the  dealer  is  in  the  State,  he  must  stand  the 
consequence.  He,  in  turn,  must  look  to  the 
bee-keener.  If  he  is  not  in  the  State,  he  can 
not  hold   him.     If  he  is  in  the  State,  and  the 


dealer  is  fined  .?,500,  he  looks  for  the  bee-keeper, 
finds  him  at  a  cost  of  another  $100,  and  then 
discovers  that  the  bee-keeper  is  not  worth  a 
cent.  The  dealer  loses  S.500  fine,  §100  in  looking 
for  his  man,  pays  cost  of  court  and  lawyer's 
fees,  which  will  be  making  it  light  at  S300, 
or  a  total  of  .?800;  then  it  may  cost  half  that 
much  to  have  the  supposed  bee-keeper  sent  to 
jail,  which  is  an  awful  lot  of  satisfaction  that 
a  dealer  gets  at  a  cost  of  ?!1300;  and  I  for  one  do 
not  believe  that  there  are  not  some  bee-keepers 
who  are  not  above  mixing  honey;  at  least,  from 
my  information  out  of  the  Americaii  Analyst 
of  June  18,  1893,  pages  309-311,  there  are  some 
of  the  most  reliable  dealers  in  the  country 
quoted  as  selling  adulterated  honey,  ourselves 
not  excepted;  and  a  large  concern  for  whom  I 
believe  Gleanings  has  a  very  high  regard  for 
its  honest  dealing  and  good  i-eputation  for  the 
honey  market,  also  state  they  trust  to  the 
honesty  of  their  shippers.  Truly  it  strikes  me 
as  being  a  sad  state  of  affairs — a  bee-keeper 
having  the  right  to  feed  his  bees  on  what  he 
likes,  and  no  one  to  interfere  with  him,  as  there 
can  be  no  direct  proof  brought  against  him. 
We  have  had  comb  honey  from  Virginia,  also 
from  New  York  State,  which  was  very  pretty, 
but  tasted  just  like  so  much  sagar-water;  but 
we  sold  it  for  what  it  was,  and  sold  it  cheap; 
and  yet  the  shippers,  I  believe,  were  not  satis- 
fied with  what  we  got,  although  for  our  own 
use  we  would  not  have  given  nearly  as  much  as 
we  got,  for  it  was  only  the  looks  that  sold  it. 

We  are  willing  to  keep  the  ball  rolling,  and 
help  along  the  sale  and  the  enforcement  of  sell- 
ing pure  honey;  butit  strikes  me  that  there  will 
have  to  be  some  other  plan  than  the  one  pur- 
sued so  far.  ■  Chas.  Israel. 

New  York,  Sept.  30. 

[As  we  stand  in  the  relation  of  honey-buyer 
and  honey-producer,  as  well  as  one  who,  from 
the  editor's  standpoint,  sees  more  intimately 
both  sides,  we  may  be  in  a  position,  possibly,  to 
give  some  facts  without  prejudice  or  bias. 
That  bee-keepers  may  adulterate  honey  before 
it  comes  from  the  hives,  as  made  by  the  bees,  is 
possible.  We  have  known  it  to  be  true  in  only 
one  case,  but  in  that  "the  other  fellow  squeal- 
ed," and  the  bee-keeper  himself  was  cautioned 
against  a  continuance  of  the  practice  under 
pain  of  receiving  a  little  unenviable  notoriety. 
Yes,  it  is  possible  that  the  producer  may  adul- 
terate, but  it  is  very  improbable.  Adulteration 
is  in  itself  so  iniquitous,  hateful,  and  injurious 
to  every  interest  of  the  bee-keeper  that  it  is  the 
very  last  thing  he  would  do.  He  feels  so  out- 
raged, that,  if  he  could  get  hold  of  the  dishonest 
city  adulterator,  he  would  prosecute  him  to  the 
fullest  extent  of  the  law.  Bee-keepers  as  a 
class  would  no  more  adulterate  their  honey 
than  farmers  would  make  oleomargarine  if 
they  could.  But  for  the  sake  of  argument  we 
will  suppose  that  a  certain  few  would  do  so. 
As  in  the  case  already  mentioned,  some  neigh- 
bor or  some  visiting  bee-keeper  would  be  liable 
to  discover  some  evidences  of  th(>  practice,  and 
report  the  same  to  the  bee-papers  at  once. 
Honey-producers  as  a  class,  we  firmly  believe, 
are  decidedly  social  in  their  relations  one  with 
another.  They  not  only  have  State  and  county 
conventions,  biit  visit  back  and  forth.  As  ed- 
itors of  Gleanings  we  have  visited  the  homes 
of  hundreds  of  bee-keepers  all  over  the  country. 
We  have  come  upon  them  unexpectedly,  when 
their  apiaries  and  bee-houses  were  in  all  sorts 
of  disorder,  but  never  have  we  seen  the  least 
evidence  of  any  kind  whatever,  that  glucose 
feeding  for  the  purpose  of  producing  comb 
honey  had  been  contemplated  or  practiced. 
We  know  of  just  one  who  did  do  it,  as  abov(^ 
mentioned,  and  possibly  there  may  be  a  few 


1802 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


761 


KtluM-s:  hut  tluMr  nninbiM",  as  coiiiparcd  witli 
lioin'st  lionoy-prodiK'iMs  who  ftvl  aRfiricvod  and 
injiiivd  bocausc  of  tlic  mixing  on  liic  part  of 
tlio  I'ity  I'luips  is  as  notiiinij.  Now,  if  we  arr 
wrong  in  our  assumption — and  possibly  we  arc 
—we  want  tiio  brotnicn  every wlicrt'  to  speak 
right  out.  If  you  do  not  wish  to  liav(>  your 
name  as  inforntanl  mentioned  in  eonnoction 
with  tht>  mattir.  nor  any  tiling  done  al)out  it  at 
all.  say  so;  at  any  rate,  tell  us  where  you  know 
of  a  i)roducer  who  is  engag<'d  in  the  mi.xing 
business,  and  we  will  keep  it  ■"  under  our  hat"  if 
you  say  so. 

Hut  our  friend  Israel,  as  above,  has  made  a 
good  point  as  to /loir  eomniission  men  maybe 
imVHised  on  —  not,  we  think,  by  bee-keepers 
themselves,  but  by  those  who  have  bought  from 
bee-keepers  direct;  for  not  all  honey,  if  we 
understand  the  matter  corr(H'l]y,  goes  directly 
from  the  hives  to  the  commission  house.  It 
very  freqtuMitly  passes  through  the  hands  of  a 
second  party.  We  should  like  to  hear  from 
honey-producers  and  other  commission  men  in 
regai'd  to  this  same  matter.  Let  us  have  the 
tnith.  cut  where  it  will.] 


REMINISCENCES. 
i:kv.  I..  L.  la.>;gstroti[  uecouxts.  ix  a  very 

IXTERESTIXG   WAY.    HIS   EARLY"   CAREER. 


I  was  born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Dec. 
25,  ISIO.  but  a  square  oiT  from  old  Independence 
Hall.  My  paternal  grandfather  was  an  Eng- 
lishman, who.  coming  to  that  city  on  business 
for  his  grandfather,  was  so  much  pleased  with 
the  country  that  he  made  it  his  home,  and  mar- 
ried a  young  woman  from  Berlin.  Settling  near 
PhiUdelphia.  he  built  one  of  the  (irst  mills  in- 
the  Hritish  colonies  for  the  manufacture  of  fine 
paper.  At  that  time,  the  preference  for  every 
thing  English  was  so  strong  that  it  was  only 
after  years  of  success  that  he  ventured  to  put 
his  own  mark  upon  his  paper.  By  his  friends 
and  acquaintances  he  was  often  called  by  the 
honored  title  of  "The  Peacemaker."  He  was 
noted  for  his  skill  in  horticulture,  and  this  once 
lirocured  for  him  a  visit  from  General  Wash- 
ington. An  anecdote,  which  I  had  from  the  lips 
of  my  aged  grandmother,  will  give  a  v  -ry  good 
idea  of  my  grandfather's  character. 

One  winter  evening,  toward  the  close  of  his 
life,  after  reminding  his  wife  how  greatly  God 
liad  prospered  them,  he  showed  her  some  pa- 
pers by  which  he  could  estaV)lish  his  claim  to  a 
considerable  estate  in  England.  '"But."  said 
he.  •■  my  relatives  there  are  much  more  in  need 
of  this  estate  than  we  are;  and,  with  your  con- 
sent. I  should  like  to  burn  these  papers."  She 
told  him  that  his  wishes  met  her  entire  approv- 
al. The  pa{)ers  were  thrown  into  the  fii-e,  and 
I  have  often  sat  before  the  old  Franklin  stove 
in  which  the  cremation  was  made. 

The  mind  of  this  venerable  relative  was  so  af- 
fect<-d  in  her  last  sickin^ss  that  she  spoke  no 
English,  although  it  had  long  been  familiar 
to  her:  but  her  prayers  and  hymns  and  Bible- 
texts  were  all  in  her  German  mother-tongue. 

My  great-grandfather,  on  my  mother's  side, 
was  also  of  English  descent,  and  his  wife  was  a 
I^orraine.  descended  from  a  ilnguenot  who  had 
been  impoverished  and  exili-d  because  he  would 
not  renounce  the  Protestant  faith.  It  will  thus 
be  seen  that  English,  French,  and  German  blood 
flows  in  my  veins.  The  children  of  our  family 
who.  in  after-life,  show  marked  traits  of  French 
descent,  often  begin  to  gesticulate,  even  in  their 
cradle,  with  the  index-tinger  of  the  right  hand. 
I  have  inherited  quite  largely  this  French  de- 
monstrativeness. 


The  old  family  house  is  still  standing  inChes- 
tertown.  Md.,  built  of  brick  brought  from  Eng- 
land l)y  my  motiier's  anct;stors,  as  ballast  to  the 
vessels  whose  return  freight  was  mainly  tobac- 
co from  tluMr  plantations. 

When  I  was  an  infant  in  the  cradle,  acar«dess 
servant,  in  the  absence  of  my  mother,  threw  on 
to  the  tire  a  rag  saturated  with  sulphur,  and 
left  the  room,  which  my  mother,  on  entering, 
found  tilled  with  choking  fumes.  She  had  bare- 
ly strength  to  snatch  me  from  my  cradle  and 
rush  to  the  door,  and  then,  by  a  supreme  effort 
throw  herself,  with  me  still  clasped  in  her  arms' 
into  the  hall.  ' 

Very  early  in  life  I  began  to  take  an  extraor- 
dinaiy  interest  in  observing  the  habits  of  in- 
sects. My  mother  has  often  told  me  that,  when 
I  was  about  six  years  old,  although  my  teacher 
reported  me  as  doing  well  in  other  respects,  she 
sometimes  had  to  ptniish  me  for  spending  so 
much  of  my  time  in  catching  Hies  and  shutting 
them  up  in  paper  cages.  I  remember  very  well 
how  she  once  put  me  into  a  dark  closet,  after 
tearing  up  my  cage  and  letting  out  my  flies.  I 
think  That,  if  I  were  again  In  that  room  I 
could,  even  if  blindfolded,  find  the  closet  aiid 
creep  into  the  corner  where,  as  a  little  child,  I 
cried  myself  to  sleep. 

Although  my  parents  were  persons  or  good 
intelligence,  and  in  comfortable  circumstances 
they  were  not  at  all  pleased  to  see  me  spend  so' 
much  time  in  digging  holes  in  the  gravel  walk, 
and  filling  them  with  crumbs  of  bread,  pieces  of 
meat,  and  dead  flies,  to  attract  the  roving  ants, 
so  that  I  might  better  watch  their  curious  hab- 
its. I  know  that  I  was  once  whipped  because  I 
had  worn  holes  in  my  pants  by  too  much  kneel- 
ing on  the  grav(>l  walks,  in  my  eagerness  to 
learn  all  that  I  could  about  ant-life.  No  books 
on  natural  history  were  given  me;  but  I  was 
considered  a  foolish  boy  whose  strange  notions 
ought  to  be  severely  discouraged.  But  nothing 
that  could  be  said  or  done  prevented  me  from 
giving  to  my  favorite  pursuits  much  of  the 
time  which  my  school  companions  spent  in 
play. 

Somehow  I  discovered  that  flies,  apparently 
drowned,  could  often  be  brought  to  life  by  ex- 
posure to  the  sun's  heat:  and  a  proud  boy  I  was 
when  I..made  a  practical  proof  of  this  fact  to  my 
incredulous  companions.  In  my  country  ram- 
bles on  Saturday  afternoon  (our  only  playday) 
I  often  brought  home  tne  nests  of  wasps,  which 
I  tied  to  the  branches  of  sunflowers,  so  that  I 
might  watch  with  absorbing  interest  the  ma- 
turing young  leave  their  cells,  and  make  so 
soon  a  vigorous  defense  of  their  homes.  They 
did  me  no  harm:  but  my  companions  were  not 
always  so  fortunate  if  they  ventured  too  close  to 
my  strange  pets. 

I  can  not  show  better  the  bent  of  my  mind, 
and  habits  of  observation  formed  so  early  in 
life,  than  by  giving  a  particular  account  of 
what  I  noticed  of  the  habits  of  the  seventeen- 
year  locust,  and  another  si)ecies  very  closely  al- 
lied to  it  — some  of  which  could  be  found  every 
year.  I  could  not  have  been  much  over  eight 
years  old  when  theses  locusts  first  attracted  my 
attention.  Year  after  year  I  visited  the' Center 
Square,  a  public  park  of  IMiiladelphia,  to  secure 
specimens  and  to  study  their  fascinating  ti-ans- 
formations.  The  larv;e  of  these  insects- came 
out  of  the  ground  late  in  th(>  afternoon:  and  I 
noticed  that  the  holes  out  of  which  they  crept 
were  almost  as  smoothly  bored  as  though  made 
with  an  auger.  As  .soon  as  an  insect  emerged 
from  its  hole  it  made  for  a  tree  or  some  other 
object,  up  which  it  could  cree|j  to  a  satisfactory 
height.  If  sudd.^nly  approached  while  in  the 
act  of  mounting,  it  would  often.  "  'possumlike." 
drop  to  the  ground  as  if  dead.  After  fastening 
its  sharp  claws  into  .some  chosen  surface  it  re- 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  15. 


mains  motionless  for  a  short  time.  When  a 
larva  first  leaves  its  hole  in  the  ground,  its  body 
feels  quite  hard;  but  before  long  it  becomes  al- 
most as  soft  as  dough.  Now,  in  its  soft  state  it 
can  no  longer  crawl;  and  if  prevented,  before 
it  became  helpless,  from  getting  a  firm  hold  on 
some  object,  it  would  be  quite  impossible  for  it 
to  emerge  from  its  shell;  but.  fastened  firmly  by 
its  claws,  it  soon  began  alternately  to  contract 
and  expand  its  body,  until  what  at  first  resem- 
bled a  little  crack  on  its  back  opened  wider  and 
wider,  continually  disclosing  more  and  more  of 
the  emerging  insect,  until  at  last  it  raised  its 
head  and  the  larger  part  of  its  body  from  the 
shell,  being  prevented  from  falling  out  of  it  by 
the  lower  part  of  its  abdomen,  which  was  still 
held  in  the  shell.  It  then  looked  considerably 
like  an  Egyptian  mummy  standing  upright  in 
its  case,  with  its  upper  wrappings  removed. 
Now,  as  the  transition  from  their  har.l  to  theii' 
soft  condition  is  a  very  short  one,  it  is  obvious 
that  these  holes,  which  are  often  bored  through 
hard  ground,  must  be  made  a  considerable  time 
before  they  are  wanted,  to  enable  the  insect  to 
push  quickly  through  the  little  space  that  is 
needed  to  let  it  out,  when  its  instincts  teach  it 
that  the  time  is  at  hand  for  its  coming  changes. 
As  soon  as  it  has  withdrawn  its  he=.d.  legs,  and 
other  parts  of  Hs  body  from  the  horny  shell  in 
which  each  was  separately  inclosed,  it  rests  a 
while  until  its  claws,  which  at  first  are  too  fee- 
ble to  grasp  any  thing,  become  strong  enough 
for  it  to  climb  out  of  its  shell  and  cling  to  tlie 
rough  surface  on  which  it  had  fastened  itself. 
Its  wings,  which  are  narrow  and  thick,  can  now 
almost  be  seen  to  thin  out  gradually.  liRe  a 
piece  of  dough  over  which  a  roller  is  continual- 
ly passing.  When  they  have  reached  their  full 
expansion  they  remain  thus  flattened  out  until 
they  become  quite  dry.  when  all  of  a  sudden,  by 
an  involuntary  motion,  they  assume  the  proper 
position  for  flight.  ,      

The  locust  lives  only  a  short  time  as  a  Hying 
insect,  when  the  female  bores  holes  into  the  ex- 
tremities of  small  twigs,  in  which  she  inserts 
her  eggs.  The  larva\  when  hatched,  feed  upon 
the  twigs  until  the  latter  wither  and  fall  to  the 
ground,  when  they  penetrate  the  earth,  to  reach 
the  roots  of  trees,  by  sticking  the  juices  of  which 
with  its  sharp,  hollow  proboscis  (as  was  discov- 
ered not  many  years  ago  by  a  distinguished 
lady),  one  species  lives  for  seventeen  years. 

I  was  not  over  twelve  years  of  age  when  I 
made  most  of  my  observations  upon  these  lo- 
custs; but  when  I  returned  to  Philadelphia,  in 
the  forti(!th  year  of  my  age.  it  being  locust  year, 
I  collected  a  large  number  of  the  larva?  from  the 
trees  in  Independence  Square,  and  sat  up  with 
my  daughter  and  some  of  hi>r  school  compan- 
ions until  after  midnight  to  show  them  the  cu- 
rious ch.mges  just  described:  but  from  my  boy- 
ish recollections  1  could  have  described  them 
almost  as  vividly  and  accurately  as  I  could 
after  these  last  observations. 

I  did  not  confine  my  attention  entirely  to  the 
insect-world.  Catching  mice,  not  fully  grown. 
I  put  them  into  water  until  they  were  appar- 
ently drowned,  and  then,  tying  a  string  about 
their  necks,  wrapped  them  in  cotton  and  placed 
tliem  near  the  fire.  After  reviving,  and  dis- 
gorging the  water  they  had  been  forced  to  swal- 
low, they  were  quite  willing  to  eat.  If  they  of- 
fered to  bite  me,  the  water  treatment  was  re- 
peated until  they  became  perfectly  tame.  In 
due  time  I  could  give  them  their  liberty,  and 
bring  them  at  call  to  eat  from  my  hand.  Old 
mice  might  be  drowned  again  and  again.but  they 
were  always  good  for  biting  when  they  came  to 
life;  and  I  found  that  experimenting  with  them 
was  like  trying  to  "teach  old  dogs  new  tricks."' 

{Continued.) 


CAUSE  OF  SWARMING. 


TRIALS  IX   INTKODIU  ING. 


In  answer  to  C.  C.  Miller's  request,  page  G1.3. 
it  seems  to  me  the  question  can  be  answered  by 
one  simple  word;  viz.,  "  Nature."  It  is  just  as 
natural  for  bees  to  swarm  as  it  is  for  them  to 
gather  honey.  It  is  simply  a  natural  provision 
for  the  ])ropagation  of  the  race.  He  further 
says,  some  people  say  it  is  best  to  let  each  colo- 
ny swarm  once:  but  those  same  persons  think 
it  would  be  a  gain  if  the  bees  would  not '"de- 
sire "  to  swarm  that  once.  Well,  I  don't  think 
so,  for  two  reasons.  In  the  first  place,  it  would 
cut  off  all  increase  unless  "  artificial:"  and  in 
the  second  place,  the  hives  would  be  over- 
crowded, and  bees  would  gather  less  honey. 
Some  will  doubtless  say,  "Give  them  moi'e 
room  " — a  very  good  idea  indeed;  but.  remem- 
ber they  must  have  room  to  work,  as  well  as  to 
store  honey.  It  is  just  as  easy  to  have  a  colony 
too  strong  as  too  weak. 

A  year  ago  I  had  one  overcrowded  in  three 
stories,  entrance  open  clear  across  the  front, 
and  an  inch  hole  in  the  center  of  the  from.  I 
divided  them,  and  either  colony  gathered  as 
much  honev  as  they  all  did  together,  thus  prov- 
ing to  me  that  it  is  far  better  to  let  nature  take 
its  course  this  far,  that  is,  to  allow  each  colony 
(that  desires  to)  to  swarm  once,  and  once  only. 
1  have  known  people  to  get  their  bees  to  sulk- 
ing so  they  would  do  a  mere  nothing  by  return- 
ing the  first  swarm  to  the  parent  hive,  time 
after  time,  and  cutting  out  queen-cells. 

I  should  also  like  to  say  just  a  few  words  in 
regard  to  introducing  queens.  On  page  (317  is 
an  article  headed  "  Introducing  queens;  even 
Doolittle  Baffled."  It  is  my  opinion  that  this 
branch  of  the  busine.^is  will  baffle  any  of  the 
best  of  them  so  far  as  being  "  sure  "  of  introduc- 
tion. Several  years  ago  I  had  only  a  few  colo- 
nies; and  early  in  the  spring,  long  before  there 
were  any  drones,  one  colony  lost  its  queen.  I 
sent  off"  for  a  queen  and  introduced  her  by  cag- 
ing 34  hours  ;  she  seemed  to  be  accepted 
all  light,  but  the  next  day  she  was  dead: 
and  in  a  short  time  I  took  a  queen  from  a 
strong  colony,  and  introduced  her  by  caging 
48  hours.  She  was  accepted,  apparently,  as 
the  mother  of  the  colony;  but  the  following 
day  she  was  dead.  1  then  waited  till  there 
were  cells  nearly  ready  to  hatch  in  the  hive  I 
had  taken  the  queen  from.  I  took  a  fine  cell 
and  coated  it  with  honey;  and  after  thoroughly 
subduing  the  bees  with  smoke  I  inserted  it 
between  two  combs;  but  they  tore  it  down  and 
killed  the  queen.  Then  I  took  another  cell  and 
inserted  it  in  a  wire  protector.  The  queen 
hatched  in  a  couple  of  days,  and  they  killed 
her;  then  I  took  another  cell,  just  ready  to 
hatch,  and  cut  the  queen  out  and  let  her  lun 
down  between  the  combs  after  thoroughly 
smoking,  and  she  fared  no  better  than  the  rest. 
I  then  gave  them  a  frame  of  brood  in  all  stages, 
and  they  reared  a  queen  of  their  own.  and 
killed  her.  I  repeated  this  operation  from  time 
to  time,  and  each  time  they  would  rear  a  queen 
and  kill  her  soon  after  hatching,  until  some- 
time in  September.  Then  they  reared  a  queen 
and  allowed  her  to  mate:  and  by  her  aid,  and 
the  occasional  addition  of  a  frame  from  other 
hives,  they  were  fitted  for  winter. 

Hillsborough.  Wis.,  Sept.  10.        Elias  Fox. 

[That  bees  swarm  because  it  is  in  accordance 
with  nature,  no  one  will  deny;  but  the  problem 
is,  how  to  overcome  nature  just  as  we  do  in 
other  things  whenever  we  may  desire.  Those 
who  have  out- apiaries  are  the  bee-keepers  who' 
would  like  to  do  away  with  swarming.  Vou 
see,  it  means  either  the  constant  supervision 


IS92 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


763 


of  an  atUMuliiiit.  and  tliut  costs  nionoy,  or  runa- 
way swarms,  and  that  costs  money.  Automatic 
liivt'rs  may  bring  relief,  but  thcij  cost  moiu'y. 
If  we  can,  tlicn,  it  would  be  cheaper  to  tal<e 
away  the  desire  for  swarming  at  out-apiaries, 
providing  it  does  not  mean  a  lessened  honey 
crop. 

Willi  regard  to  your  experience  in  iiilroduc- 
iiig.  there  are  rare  instances,  particularly  those 
winch  have  black  blood  in  them,  when  any 
method  of  introducing  will  fail.  It  is  useless  to 
fuss  with  theni  when  llieyget  into  the  mania 
of  queen-killing.  They  are  lik(>  .some  people — 
they  don't  know  when  they  are  well  off.  With 
sucii  a  colony  as  you  describe,  we  would  scat- 
ter the  bees  ithey  are  not  supposed  to  have  any 
broodtin  eight  or  ten  colonies,  and  move  the 
hive  aw  av.l 


BEE   DIARRHEA. 


DODI.ITTLK     .X.NSWKHS    A    gUKSTION     AHOIT     IT. 


f,>i(f.vf(o;i.— Last  winter  my  bees  contracted 
wliat  is  known  as  "  bee  diarrhea  "  quite  early  in 
tile  w  inter,  and  I  wish  to  know  what  should  be 
done  with  a  colony  of  bees  in  winter  quarters 
when  the  first  symptoms  of  this  dis(nise  appear. 

Ansucr. — If  the  bees  wei-e  in  the  cellar,  and 
the  temperature  of  the  cellar  were  above  48°  F., 
I  would  try  cooling  the  cellar.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  the  temperature  were  40°  or  cooler.  I 
would  try  warming  it  up  to  the  lemjierature 
first  given,  or  a  little  higher.  When  the  tem- 
perature of  a  cellar  is  just  right  it  may  be 
known  by  the  quietness  of  the  bees.  The  air  of 
any  room  is  always  the  warmest  at  the  top. 
wheie  any  warmth  producing  material  is  in  the 
room,  and  foi-  this  reason  I  always  place  the 
strongest  colonies  in  tlie  bottom  tier  when  put- 
ting theni  in  the  cellar:  the  colonies  of  medium 
strength  as  to  numbers  in  the  ne.xt  tier,  while 
all  of  the  colonies  having  the  smallest  number 
of  bees  are  placed  in  tlie  upper  tier.  I  have 
found  by  years  of  experience,  that,  if  a  strong 
col(*My  becomes  uneasy  while  in  the  top  tier,  it 
may  be  quieted  by  setting  it  on  the  cellar  bot- 
tom, and  that  a  small  colony  which  is  in  a  roar 
of  disturbance  can  be  caused  to  become  as  "still 
as  death  "  by  raising  it  from  the  bottom  of  the 
cellar  up  to  the  toiK  also  closing  most  of  the 
ventilation  from  the  hive  having  the  small 
colony  will  cause  it  to  become  quiet;  and  re- 
movins  a  whole  top  from  an  uneasy  strong  col- 
ony will  causi-  them  to  quiet  down  and  cluster 
compactly  together  for  the  rest  of  the  winter. 
Hut  all  this  should  be  attended  to  when  the 
Dees  are  Set  ill  the  cellar,  by  putting  them  in 
their  proper  places  in  the  cellar  and  ventilating 
each  hive  as  it  may  require.  If.  in  s\tlu\  of  all 
this  precaution,  some  of  them  begin  to  spot  the 
hive.  I  will  say  that,  after  trying  all  plans  of 
cure.  I  now  let  them  alone,  for  1  consider  it  only 
a  waste  of  time  to  fuss  with  them.  If  the  read- 
er does  not  agree,  he  can  try  giving  them  a 
flight  in  a  warm  room.  Fix  a  box  to  set  on  top 
of  the  hive,  tln'  same  having  a  glass  top:  oi'. 
should  a  warm  day  occur,  carry  tlu;  bees  out  for 
a  flight:  but  after  all  this  has  been  done,  the 
bees  will  generally  be  dead  before  .June,  if  they 
have  the  diarrhea  bad  enough  to  spot  their 
combs  and  the  inside  of  the  hive  during  mid- 
winter or  earlier. 

One  thing  which  is  always  against  this  fuss- 
ing with  single  colonies  of  bees  which  have  be- 
come diseased  is.  that,  by  doctoring  these,  the 
distui'bance  required  is  apt  to  get  othercolonies 
uneasy  and  cause  them  to  become  diseased, 
while  otherwise  they  would  have  gone  through 
the  w-inter  quiet  and  all  right.  A  change  of 
food  is  .sometimes  beneficial:  but,  as  I  said  be- 


fore, the  greatest  success  comes  by  letting  them, 
alone  after  placing  them  in  the  cellar,  provid- 
ing the  temp(>ratuie  of  llu^  cellar  can  be  con- 
trolled so  it  shall  not  go  above  4.5  nor  lower  than 
4".'     Fahrenheit. 

HTOHINii    (OMn    IKi.MCV. 

t^hic-'^tiiiii.  llow  and  wiieic  should  comb  hon- 
ey be  stored  during  winter?  Is  it  necessary  that 
the  temperature  in  the  room  in  which  it  is  kept 
shall  never  go  lielow  the  freezing-point?  Comb 
honey  which  I  trii'd  to  kee|)  over  winter  last 
year  cracked  badly.  Is  it  necessary  to  keep 
such  honey  in  a  warm  room  to  keep  it  from 
cracking? 

^[iisii'ir.—]  looked  all  through  this  qu(>ry,  ex- 
pecting to  find  that  this  honey  not  only  crack- 
ed, but  that  it  granulated  also,  for  I  do  not 
know  that  I  ever  kept  any  honey  over  winter 
where  no  pains  was  taken  to  keep  it  from  the 
cold  but  that  a  part  of  it  granulated,  and  the 
granuhitingof  honey  in  the  combmakes  it  more 
unsalable  than  almost  any  thing  else  which  can 
happen  to  it  which  does  not  entirely  destroy  the 
comb.  Comb  honey  should  always  be  stored  in 
a  warm  dry  place  during  the  fall  and  spring 
months  at  least,  when  a  great  change  of  tem- 
perature is  likely  to  take  place:  but  during  the 
winter  it  may  be  kept  in  a  dry  basement-room 
or  cellar  wher(>  no  frost  ever  reaches,  provided 
yon  are  on  the  lookout  to  take  it  out  when  the 
teniperaturi^  on  the  outside  rises  much  above 
that  in  the  basement,  otherwise  the  warm, 
moist,  outside  air.  coming  in  contact  with  the 
surface  of  the  cold  or  cooler  honey,  will  cause 
moisture  to  stand  in  drops  on  the  combs,  when 
the  honey  will  rapidly  deteriorate.  If  I  were 
trying  to  keep  honey  of  any  amount,  which  I 
wished  to  preserve  in  salable  form,  I  would  not 
let  the  temperature  of  the  room  ever  go  below 
(50°,  while  from  70  to  90°  would  be  better.  I  once 
kept  some  section  honey  for  three  years,  and 
found  it  lietter  at  the  end  of  the  three  years 
than  it  was  when  taken  from  the  hive.  This 
honey  was  placed  on  a  shelf  about  four  feet 
from  the  floor  of  the  sitting-room,  right  back  of 
a  base-burner  coal-stove,  during  the  time  the 
stove  had  a  fire;  in  it;  while  during  the  summer 
months,  when  no  fire  was  kept  in  th.e  stove,  the 
honey  was  carried  to  an  upper  chamber,  facing 
the  south,  where  the  sun  made  the  room  very 
warm,  in  addition  to  the  warmth  coming  from 
the  kitchen  stovepipe,  which  ran  through  this 
chamber.  In  this  way  the  lioney  never  '"saw  " 
a  temperature  of  less  than  iVi .  while  from  80  to 
100°  was  the  rule  much  of  the  time.  When  I 
cut  this  honey  it  was  nearly  "jack- wax."'  and 
for  quality  it  vva<  not  surpassed  by  any  I  ever 
tasted.  I  have  often  thought  that  it  inight  pay 
to  use  this  plan  on  a  whole  crop  of  honey  dur- 
ing years  when  the  production  exceeded  the  de- 
mand, thus  causing  low  pric<'S  to  pi'evail.  while 
the  very  next  year  might  be  a  poor  one,  .so  that, 
thus  keeping,  it  might  double  in  price.  When 
combs  of  honey  are  to  be  given  to  the  bees,  the 
cracking  of  the  comb  does  no  harm,  for  the  bees 
will  fix  it  up  during  the  next  season  so  it  can  not 
be  told  where  tiie  cracks  were. 

G.  M.  DOOLITTLE. 

Borodino.  N.  ^■..  Oct.  .3,  1893. 

[There  is  no  doubt  but  that  honey  stored 
away  three  years,  as  Mr.  Doolittle  describes, 
behind  the  coal  stove  in  winter  and  in  the  gar- 
ret in  summer,  will  surpass  by  far  in  (|uality  and 
richness  any  thing  just  taken  from  the  hive. 
We  should  like  to  in(|uire  whether  any  one  has 
tried  setting  aside  a  vvhoh^  crop  of  honey,  as  Mr. 
Doolittle  suggests,  keeping  thi;  same  within  a 
range  of  temperature  of  toward  UK)".  It  is  a 
question,  however,  whether  such  honey  would 
bring  more  money  in  the  marki-t   as  people  go 


764 


(iLEANiNGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  15. 


so  much  by  loofcs  rather  than  by  the  Utste,  in 
their  purchases.  But  there  is  a  time  coming, 
and  we  hope  it  will  come  very  soon,  when  there 
will  be  a  strong  demand  for  this  rich,  ripe, 
thick,  waxy  honey.  When  consumers  know 
what  it  is  they  will  be  willing  to  pay  a  big  price 
for  it  —  a  price  more  than  sufficient,  we  hope,  to 
pay  the  producer  for  holding  it  over. J 


SELF-HIVERS. 


SOME   EXI'EKIMENTS;    A  NEW   DEVICE. 


During  the  past  season  I  did  a  great  deal  of 
experimenting  with  the  self-hiver — not  only 
trying  all  the  known  devices,  but  also  originat- 
ing many  others  never  heard  of.  and  perhaps 
never  to  see  the  light  again.  My  faith  in  the 
self-hiver.  after  an  experience  with  it  of  three 
years,  is  unbounded;  and  while  my  devices 
were  imperfect  my  success  was  enough  to  con- 
vince me  that  the  thing  was  not  only  practica- 
ble but  destined  to  make  a  great  advance  in  our 
pursuit.  No  doubt  many  others  have  conducted 
experiments  on  this  line,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped 
that  they  will  give  their  experience  during  the 
winter,  as  bee-keepers  are  greatly  interested  in 
knowing  all  that  can  be  learned  on  the  subject. 
It  seems  to  me  like  foolishness,  because  one 
thinks  he  has  discovered  some  new  kink,  to  at 
once  rush  to  the  Patent  Office,  no  matter  how 
ill  he  can  afford  the  expense,  and, where  his 
money  is  usually  lost  to  him  for  ever,  in  order 
to  get  a  patent,  a  sort  of  notice  to  prevent  the 
adoption  of  his  devices.  But  I  did  not  intend 
to  switch  off  on  patents,  and  will  confine  myself 
to  the  matter  with  which  I  started. 

Last  year  my  experience  was  not  entirely 
satL-l'nctory  with  the  enipty-liive-oii-top  princi- 
ple, though  by  close  watcliing  and  aftei'-manip- 
ulation.  I  succeeded  fairly  well.  Tlu-re  was  no 
difficulty  in  getting  the  queen  to  run  up  into 
the  hiver  attached  to  the  empty  hive;  and  if 
one  could  always  be  present,  it  would  be  an 
easy  matter  to  remove  the  old  hive  and  thus 
secure  all  the  swarm  in  the  new  hive.  But  if 
left  to  themselves,  as  would  be  the  case  in  an 
unattended  out-apiary,  only  a  small  swarm 
would  be  secured;  and  if  left  a  number  of  days 
without  attention  it  would  gradually  return  "to 
the  old  hive  till  only  mere  handfuls  would  be 
left,  ami  would  be  liable  to  be  overlooked  in  ex- 
amini)ig  the  hives  for  swarms. 

During  the  past  winter  the  devices  of  Pratt, 
Alley,  and  others  were  published  in  Gleanings, 
and  they  set  me  to  thinking  that  it  would  be 
entirely  practicable  to  secure  the  entire  swarm, 
and  as  many  more  as  the  old  hive  could  spare, 
without  any  after-manipulation.  But  after 
studying  over  the  various  devices  a  while,  I 
decided  that  none  of  them  would  do  the  work 
without  serious  objections,  and  concluded  to 
give  the  most  promising  a  good  trial  before 
abandoning  my  old  plan.  Owing  to  my  heavy 
losses  in  bees  during  the  winter  and  spring,  I 
had  many  hives  of  empty  combs,  and  I  thought 
that,  by  using  these  for  hiving  the  swarms  on. 
better  results  could  be  secured.  I  also  used 
more  wire  cloth  and  less  perforated  zinc  in  my 
device,  and  generally  secured  larger  swarms: 
but  it  was  not  an  entire  success.  One  thing 
learned  was,  that,  during  warm  weather,  a  good 
many  bees  would  take  possession  of  the  combs 
and  keep  them  clear  of  moth,  so  there  was  no 
great  trouble  on  that  point. 

While  these  experiments  were  going  on  I  was 
trying  both  the  Pratt  and  Alley  methods,  and 
soon  found  objections  to  both.  The  Pratt 
method,  where  the  old  hive  rests  on  top  of  the 
empty  one,  works  very  well,  secures  good  large 


swarms,  and,  if  one  could  only  tell  when  the 
bees  had  swarmed,  it  would  not  be  very  objec- 
tionable. But  as  the  self-hiver  will  be  wanted 
largely  in  out-apiaries,  where  the  keeper  can 
see  them  but  once  a  week,  it  is  another  matter. 
Now.  suppose  I  were  to  use  this  plan  on  an  out- 
apiary  of  too  colonies.  I  should  have  to  lift  oft' 
100  full  heavy  hives,  supers  and  all.  just  to  see 
if  any  bees  had  swarmed.  If  you  think  this  an 
easy  matter,  just  try  it,  and  I  think  you  will 
soon  be  looking  for  something  easier.  Then, 
too.  when  the  old  colony  becomes  very  strong 
they  will  often  extend  their  combs  into  the 
empty  hive,  and  many  bees  occupy  it  without 
having  swarmed  at  all.  In  such  cases  the  old 
hive  must  not  only  be  lifted  oft',  but  the  combs 
in  the  lower  hive  must  be  examined  for  queen 
or  eggs,  and  this  must  be  repeated  on  every 
visit.  While  all  this  can  be  done,  it  is  too  much 
wo^'k,  and  an  easier  plan  must  be  found. 

Mr.  Alley  sent  me  one  of  his  very  latest 
hivers,  for  which  I  was  very  thankful,  although 
it  cost  me  .?1.50  for  express  charges.  It  was 
very  late  when  it  came,  and  I  did  not  try  it  as 
thoroughly  as  I  wished.  I  had  a  swarm  issue 
through  it  twice  on  succeeding  days,  but  some- 
how both  returned  to  the  old  hive.  In  the  sec- 
ond instance  I  saw  the  queen  plainly  in  the 
trap,  and  a  comb  had  been  placed  half  an  inch 
back  of  it,  just  as  directed:  but  still,  by  evening 
nearly  all  the  bees  were  back  in  the  old  hive.  I 
am  not  ready  to  say  that  it  will  not  generally 
catch  the  swarm,  as  I  have  too  much  coulidence 
in  Mr.  Alley's  statements,  tind  think  my  ex- 
perience was  exceptional.  Some  experiments  I 
had  previously  made  on  the  ^ame  principles 
have  convinced  me,  however,  that,  where  there 
is  no  guard  of  any  kind,  the  queen  is  often  liable 
to  return  to  the  old  hive.  Then  I  do  not  see 
that  Mr.  Alley's  device  is  a  self-hiver  at  all. 
He  simply  aims  to  catch  the  swarm  in  an 
empty  box,  to  be  afterward  hived  by  the  keeper. 
It  would  seem  to  me  that  it  should  be  called  a 
new  sort  of  swarm-catcher  rather  than  a  self- 
hiver. 

I  will  now  give  the  plan  that  I  have  finally 
adopted,  and  one  that  has  so  far  worked  to  my 
entire  satisfaction.  In  the  first  place,  we  want 
as  few  traps  about  it  as  possible,  and  to  use 
such  material  as  we  already  have,  as  far  as 
practicable.  I  remove  the  hive  expected  to 
swarm,  back  its  own  length,  and  place  a  bottom 
in  front,  with  the  rear  strip  removed.  On  this 
I  lay  a  queen -excluding  honey-board,  resting 
on  the  side  strips,  thus  leaving  a  bee-space 
under  it:  connect  this  space  with  the  entrance 
by  bridging,  the  top  of  which  may  be  wire 
cloth,  but  it  should  at  first  be  covered  by  a 
board,  to  keep  the  bees  from  bunching  on  it, 
till  they  become  accustoiued  to  their  new  en- 
trance. Lay  -^^H  -inch  strips  on  the  side  and  rear 
of  the  honey-board,  to  make  an  entrance  for 
the  new  hive,  and  place  the  empty  hive  on  it. 
Make  a  frame  of  lath,  the  size  of  the  front  of 
the  hive,  or  less  if  the  hive  has  no  portico  or 
projections.  The  lower  strip  should  be  placed 
up  from  the  bottom,  about  an  inch,  so  the  upper 
edge  will  come  flush  with  the  honey-board,  and 
it  is  to  be  provided  with  two  or  three  wire-cloth 
tubes,  for  drones  and  queens.  The  direct  en- 
trance to  the  old  hive  is  through  the  two  lower 
rows  of  perforations,  and  under  the  honey- 
board.  Now.  when  the  bees  swarm,  the  drones 
and  queen  find  their  way  through  the  tubes, 
and  remain  only  a  few  inches  above  their  old 
entrance,  and  most  of  the  bees  will  unite  with 
the  queen  in  the  new  hive  upon  their  return. 
Now.  when  I  find  a  hive  that  has  swarmed 
(which  can  be  readily  ascertained  by  lifting  off 
the  cover)  I  place  an  inch-square  stick  in  front 
of  the  old  entrance,  thus  compelling  all  the  bees 
to  use  the  new  entrance,  and  greatly  strengthen 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


705 


\\if  iiinv  swarm.  Of  i'onrst>,  soino  he(>s  will  cdii- 
tiiHii'  passiiiii  tliriiinili  the  lioiicy-board  to  the 
old  liivc.  This  is  all  the  niaiiipiilation  neces- 
sary for  from  7  to  14  days,  wlicii  tlio  old  hivi' 
must  be  n'moved  to  a  new  stand,  to  pivo  the 
younji  qni'iMi  a  oiianro  to  lly.  This  docs  away 
with  my  licc-cscapc  mcthoil  of  strcngthcniiifr 
the  swarm.  1  pet  liooming  swarms:  and  if  the 
snrpliis  cases  are  chanyed  to  the  new  hives,  the 
hees  will  kec^p  right  aioni:  at  worl<  in  them,  if 
any  honl'y  is  coming  in.  Ifoiu^  is  present  when 
the  bees  swarm,  tlio  sqnarc  stick  can  be  placed, 
to  cut  otT  the  direct  entrance,  while  the  swarm 
is  ont.  and  thns  gel  all  th(>  swarm  at  once.  The 
cnt  will  fairly  show  my  device:  and  1  want  to 
say  that  no  patent  will  he  applied  for  on  it.  and 
all  bee-keepers  are  welcome  to  whatever  rights 
I  niav  have  in  the  invention. 


a  swarm  and  will  not  necessarily  reqniro  the  at- 
tention of  an  a|)iarist  for  .several  days.  A  hiver 
is  not  strictly  antomatic  unless  it  does  this.] 


DIHBERX'S   NEW    SEI.F-HIVKIi. 

One  error,  in  connection  with  the  self-hiver, 
into  which  many  seem  to  have  fallen.  I  wish  to 
correct:  that  is,  about  swarms  doubling  up 
when  several  issue  about  the  same  time.  From 
an  experience  of  three  years,  with  more  than 
100  hives  each  season,  I  do  not  recall  a  single 
case  where  swarms  doubled  up  unless  a  (pieen 
was  out  somehow.  June  -jsth  I  had  five  swarms 
in  the  air  at  once,  and  each  quietly  returned  to 
its  own  hive.  A  numbei-  of  times  I  had  two 
and  three  out  at  once,  always  with  the  same 
result.  There  may  be  exceptions,  but  I  am 
satisfied  the  rule  is,  that  swarms  wWtout  ([ueens 
will  not  douhh?  up  by  going  to  a  strange  hive. 
Anothei-  error  is  the  idea  that  the  hiver  will  be 
useful  only  in  small  out-apiaries.  I  claim  that 
it  is  just  the  tiling  for  all  kinds  of  apiaries,  from 
the  mechanic's  or  farmer's  of  a  few  hives,  who 
is  away  all  day  at  his  woik,  to  the  bee-master 
with  hundreds  of  colonies  and  half  a  dozen  out- 
apiaiies.  ('.  H.  Dihijehn. 

Milan.  111. 

[So  far  as  we  can  gatlier  from  our  correspond- 
ent's article  above,  the  Pratt  automatic  hiver 
works  successfully,  his  only  objection  to  it  be- 
ing the  lifting  of  the  upper  story  off  from  the 
bottom-board.  Mr.  Pratt's  original  self-hiver 
obviaK's  this  ditVicully  —  that  is.  the  hives  are 
placed  one  in  front  of  the  other,  on  the  same 
plan  as  illustrated  above.  Mr.  Dibbern's  ar- 
rangement, however,  differs  from  F'ratt's  in 
that  it  providi'S  for  the  egress  of  the  drones,  and 
is  so  constructed  as  to  run  the  quecm  up  into  the 
perforated -zinc  apartment  in  front  of  the  en- 
trance, liut  I'ratt's  tiering-up  hivi'r  is  simpler 
than  the  horizontal  plan,  and  hence  we  prefer 
it.  The  lifting  of  the  upper  story  is  no  great 
objection.  In  the  production  of  honey  we  nev- 
ei-  object  to  the  lifting  of  heavy  supers.  The 
difficulty  that  you  found  with  the  Alley  hiver 
was  also  the  experic^nce  of  Dr.  Miller,  as  you  re- 
member. We  quite  agree  with  you  that  Alley's 
device  is  not  a  self-hiver.  but  simply  a  device  to 
catch  a  swarm  in  an  empty  box,  to  be  hived  aft- 
erward by  an  attendant.  "Swarm-catcher" 
would  be"  a  good  name  for  it.  The  principal 
feature  of  the  Pratt  device,  and  which  we  think 
would  be  true  of  yours  also,  is,  that  it  will  hive 


CAN  "WE  HAVE  A  STANDARD  SIZE  OF  SEC- 
TION T 

DK.    .MII-LKK   REVIEW^S  THE   M.\TTEH. 

That  wide-awake  Frenchman.  C.  P.  Dadant. 
put  me  down  on  the  Albany  prograrh  to  open 
the  discussion  aliout  the  size;  of  sections,  with- 
out asking  vvh(>ther  I  knew  or  cared  any  thing 
about  it.  It  so  happened  that  I  did  feel  some- 
what interested  in  it,  and  studying  the  matter 
up  a  little  has  naturally  increased  that  interest. 
G Before  I  forget  it  I  wish  to  refer  to  that  part 
of  my  paper  at  Albany  which  left  the  erroneous 
impression  that  I  opposed  the  \%  section  on  ac- 
count of  its  weighing  less  than  a  pound.  It  is 
probably  well  known  that  "  under-weight"  sec- 
tions are  quite  generally  preferred.  Whatever 
other  reason  theic  may  be  for  tlieir  preference, 
it  is  unfortunately  true  that,  in  loo  many  cases, 
they  are  preferred,  because,  going  under  the 
general  name  of  "■  pound  sections.'' lhe.se  "  un- 
der-weights"  can  be  sold  for  the  price  of  a  full 
pound.  How  general  this  system  of  cheating  is, 
I  do  not  know.  I  do  know  that  it  is  practiced 
by  some  of  the  most  prominent  and  popular  gro- 
cers in  one  of  our  lai-g^st  cities.  Thei'e  issiu^h  ir- 
regularity in  the  weight  of  sections  of  the  same 
'size,  it  would  seem  the  best  way  to  sell  every  sec- 
lion  by  actual  weight.  But  so  long  as  that  is 
not  done,  it  is  well  to  do  every  thing  possible  to 
prevent  a  section  from  being  sold  for  more  than 
its  true  weight.  A  414x414x1^  comes  so  near  to 
averaging  a  pound  that  many  of  them  dg  weigh 
a  pound  each,  and  this  gives  a  tietter  chance  for 
all  to  be  sold,  without  weighing,  for  a  full  pound 
each.  Now.  I  am  glad  to  come  down  to  a  size 
so  small  that  ((/?  will  be  less  than  a  pound:  for 
in  that  case  the  lack  of  weight  would  be  more 
noticeable.  If  each  section  should  weigh  only 
half  a  pound  it  would  not  be  possible  to  sell  it 
for  a  full  iiound;  and,  on  the  same  principle,  the 
lighter  it  is,  the  less  danger  of  selling  as  a  full 
pound.  For  the.se  I'easons  I  decidedly  prefer  a 
1%'  section  to  anything  larger. 

An  esteemed  friend  has  called  my  attention  to 
the  fact  thatdifferences  in  the  width  of  sections 
do  not  make  so  much  trouble  as  differences  in 
the  other  dimensions.  That  is.  if  all  sections 
were.  say.  4'4x4i4  there  would  not  be  so  much 
change  of  nuichinery  needed  to  make  all  differ- 
ent widths  from  1  to  2  inches  as  to  change  the 
4'4  to4}'.(,  .5,  etc.;  so  if  we  could  reach  a  stan- 
dard as  to  height  and  length  it  would  be  quite 
a  gain. 

Now,  I  am  glad  to  say  that  I  believe  we  have 
reached  a  standard  for  the  two  dimensions.  A 
table  of  the  different  sizes  of  sections  made  in  a 
year  by  one  of  the  large  manufacturing  con- 
cerns has  been  kindly  submitted  to  me,  and  I 
tind  that  about  08  per  cent  of  all  are  \li  square. 
Surely  that  is  a  sufficiently  large  number  to 
justify  its  being  called  standard,  especially  as 
the  odd  sizes  are  hopelessly  divided  up  into  .5;i 
different  kinds,  and  among  these  52  kinds  the 
most  formidable  rival  of  the  4H  (AH  square) 
reaches  onlv  a  little  more  than  one-tenth  of  the 
odd  sizes.  "It  is  noticeable  that  the  odd  sizes 
run  larger  than  AU  square,  the  two  largest  be- 
ing (ixf)  and  8.\4J^. 

On  page  19  the  statement  is  made,  that,  at 
Albany,  the  commission  men  seemed  to  prefer 
larger  and  thinner  coml)s.  thus  favoring  ^4 
square.  Let  me  implore  the  friends  who  favor 
this  last  size,  to  do  a  little  considering.  It  is 
only  H  inch  larger  in  height  and  length  than 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTUKE. 


Oct.  15. 


the  standard  size.  Can  that  triHiiig  increase  in 
size  warrant  l<eeping  anotlier  size  on  the  mar- 
kef?  If  a  thinner  section  is  wanted,  the  stan- 
dard 4I4  can  be  made  as  thin  as  any  otlier. 
There  is  one  objection  to  4i.j  square  that  would 
not  hold  against  a  size  considerably  lai'ger:  and 
that  is,  tlie  fact  that,  being  so  near  4I4.  there  is 
danger  of  confusion  wherever  the  two  icinds  are 
kept  in  the  same  place.  At  present  I  have  sec- 
tions measuring  l\f  and  1%  in  thickness,  and  I 
know  something  of  the  trouble  of  having  two 
sizes  so  nearly  alike  that  they  must  be  held 
close  together  to  tell  which  is  which. 

Is  there  any  likelihood  that\\<-  can  reach  a 
standard  as  to  the  thickness  of  the  4li?  1  be- 
lieve it  now  varies  from  ]}4  to  2.  Very  few 
reach  as  high  as  2.  and  very  few  want  any 
thing  less  than  7-to-the-foot;  so  that,  practic- 
ally, the  contestants  may  be  considered  four  in 
number— 7-to-the-foot.  1^4,  IX.  and  1\^.  Possi 
bly  l\'i  might  come  in  as  the  "dark  horse." 
For  a  long  time  I  supposed  ihat  1^^  was  the  pop- 
ular width;  but.  if  I  am  I'ightly  informed.  1%  is 
more  in  use.  I  changed  last  year  from  Ifg  just 
because  I  wanted  togo  witii  the  majority,  and 
also  because  1%  was  lighter  weight.  Vm  now 
ready  to  make  a  further  change  to  1,^4  or  7-to- 
the-foot.  if  the  majority  say  so. 

Se<ing,  tlien.  that  there  are  only  four  kinds 
that  are  used  to  any  considerable  extent,  and 
that  there  is  so  very  litthi  difference  between 
these,  it  does  not  seem  so  utterly  impossible  for 
us  to  get  down  to  two  kinds,  possibly  one.  Now. 
what  means,  if  any.  will  be  successful  in  bring- 
ing about  such  a  result?  The  .State  and  Na-* 
tional  Societies  might  do  something  by  resolu- 
tions. But  you  may  ■■  resolute'"  till  doomsday, 
and  I'm  not  likely  to  make  much  change  unless 
I  see  some  good  n^ason  foi'  it.  How  would  it  do 
for  the  manufacturers  to  agree  amoug  them- 
selves to  manufacture  only  the  kind  or  kinils 
agreed  upon  as standaid?  1  don't  think  it  would 
do  at  all.  If  they  are  wise  they  will  hardly  at- 
tempt it. 

No.  the  thing  will  not  he  brought  about  by 
any  sort  of  compulsion.  Indeed,  I  do  not  be- 
lieve there  would  hi'  any  use  in  trying  to  get  all 
to  agree  on  one  or  two  kinds.  A  man  who  has 
supers  and  all  otlier  fixtures  adapted  to  a  cer- 
tain odd-sized  section  is  not  very  likely  to  make 
any  sudden  change.  But  if  I  see  that,  in  the 
long  run,  there  will  be  an  advantage  gained  by 
changing,  and  that  change  can  be  made  with- 
out great  inconvenience,  you  may  count  on  my 
making  that  change.  In  this  way  I  think  it 
not  unreasonable  to  expect  something  like  a 
natural  gravitation  into  one  or  two  standard 
kinds,  that  gravitation  perhaps  materially  ac- 
celerated by  a  little  friendly  consultation. 

Suppcse  i  am  using  4x4^j.  and  no  one  else,  or 
very  few.  use  the  same  size.  When  I  send  for 
sections  there  are  none  of  that  size  kept  in  stock 
and  I  must  wait  till  tliey  are  made.  If  the  man- 
ufactiu'ers  are  crowded  with  work  on  regular 
sizes  I  may  have  to  wait  a  long  time.  This  of 
itself  is  a  pretty  strong  argument  in  favor  of  my 
coming  in  with  the  majority.  Then  the  manu- 
facturer says  to  me.  '"  There  is  so  much  call  for 
the  standard  kind  that  we  keep  thousands  of 
them  made  up  ahead,  all  packed  ready  for  ship- 
ment, and  can  ship  that  kind  any  day  you  send 
in  your  order.  Besides,  we  make  a  very  large 
(juantity  of  the  standard  at  one  time,  ni'cessi- 
tating  no  change  of  machinery,  so  giving  you  a 
little  advantage  in  the  lower  prices  we  can  af- 
ford.'" Unless  I  am  very  pig-headed,  that  sort 
of  argumentwill  have  its  effect  on  me;  and  just 
as  soon  as  I  can  do  so  without  actual  loss  I  am 
likely  to  adopt  a  regular  size. 

Now.  who  will  tell  us  which  of  the  leading 
widths  is  best,  giving  reasons  therefor?  I-n't 
there  some  reason  why  one  is  better  than  the 


others?  If  there  is  no  particular  reason  in  this 
case,  and  each  one  tises  a  particular  kind  just 
because  he  happened  to  get  started  that  way. 
then  the  question  is,  "What  width  or  widths 
are  in  the  majority?"  Perhaps,  Mr.  Editor,  you 
will  be  kind  enough  to  tell  us  about  that.  So 
far  as  any  thing  occurs  to  me  just  now.  the  ar- 
gument in  favor  of  something  as  thin  as  or 
thinner  than  ix'  is,  that  bees  generally  seem  to 
prefer  nothing  thicker  than  that,  and  that  any 
thing  thicker,  at  least  as  it  seems  to  nle.  helps 
to  perpetuate  the  system  of  selling  short  weights 
for  full  pounds.  Against  anything  as  thin  as 
or  thinnei'  than  7-to-the-foot,  it  may  be  said 
that,  when  separators  are  used,  this  comes  so 
near  to  the  width  preferred  by  the  bees  for 
brood-combs  that  there  is  more  danger  of  pollen 
being  stored  there,  and  the  queen  depositing 
eggs.  C.  C.  Mii.r.EK. 

JNlarengo,  111.,  Sept.  29. 

[Bee-keepers  will  have  what  they  want — that 
is,  what  their  supers  take  and  markets  call  for. 
in  the  way  of  sections;  and  supply-dealers  can 
do  but  little  toward  regulating  a  standard  size. 
We  have  practically  only  three  sizes  as  stan- 
dards; viz.,  I'm.  1^.  and  7-to-the-foot  —  all  434 
in.  square.  VVe  somewhat  question  whether  it 
would  be  feasible  or  even  desirable  to  have  less. 
Producers  and  the  various  markets  have  their 
various  likes  and  dislikes. 

Referring  to  the  1>^  section,  theie  are  two 
important  reasons  why  they  are  taking  the 
lead.  Wood  separators  are  so  much  better  and 
cheaper  that  bee  -  keepers  everywhere  have 
adopted  them  where  they  could.  As  the  ma- 
jority of  supers  in  use  took  the  1^;]  section  with 
tin  separators,  it  precluded  the  possibility  of 
using  iiKjod  separators  unless  a  narrower  sec- 
tion were  used  ;  namely.  Us-  This  fact,  cou- 
pled with  the  other  fact  that  the  markets  de- 
manded a  lighter  section,  made  the  I's  the  lead- 
er. Why  are  light  weights  desirable  ?  It  may 
be  answered  in  this  way:  A  buyer  comes  in  and 
inquires  the  price  of  hon(;y  per  pound.  "Six- 
teen cents.""  is  the  reply,  we  will  say. 

"Well,  I  will  take  a  section.  How  much  is 
this  one  worth  ?  "" 

"  That  is  wortli  13  cents." 

No  objection  is  made:  but  if  he  is  met  with 
the  statement  that  the  section  is  worth  is  cents 
he  may  demur.  Again,  sections  are  being  sold 
more  and  more  by  the  piece;  and  consumers 
generally  understand  that  a  section  of  honey  is 
usually  of  light  w(Mght — that  is.  hardly  a  pound, 
and  when  they  are  charged  less  there  is  no  ob- 
jection. Again,  for  the  same  money  a  thinner 
comb  shows  oft'  better  than  the  same  weight  of 
a  thicker  comb.  Next  to  tlie  I's  and  l^jj  size  of 
section,  the  7-to-the-foot  takes  the  lead. J 


RAMBLE  NO.  69. 

HEE-KEKPIXG    AROUND    .lURUPA    MOUNTAIN. 

The  Riverside  apiary,  described  in  Ramble 
(55.  is  situated  upon  the  extreme  eastern  point 
of  a  broken  range  of  mountains,  abotit  seven 
miles  in  length  and  not  over  a  mile  In  width, 
and  known  as  the  Jurupa  Mountains.  The 
formation  is.  in  many  respects,  peculiar,  and  it 
is  evident  that  some  convulsion  of  nature 
thrust  them  up  here  in  the  center  of  a  plain, 
or  it  might  be  calh  d  a  |)i'airie.  These  moun- 
tains are  nothing  more  nor  less  than  piles  of 
huge  granite  boulders.  The  granite  in  some 
places  is  quarried  for  building  and  monumental 
purposes.  Upon  another  detached  mountain 
near  Colton.  less  than  two  miles  in  circum- 
ference, are  limekilns,  cement  works,  marble- 
quarries,  both   white  and   variegated,   and   an 


1SS>2 


(JI.KANINliS  liN    HHK  CU  IvTlIRK. 


7(57 


oofasioiial  pocUt't  of  onyx.  In  ili<'  XiTiiumi 
<liiivrri(>s  tlic  stoiio  is  fijiiiiti  in  lavtn'  ami  iiicx- 
liiuistiblf  niassos  or  scams;  l)iil  licri'  il  is  in 
hunt'  boulders;  and  \\hoi\  one  has  hocn  ((uar- 
ricd  il  is  not  i-criain  that  another  of  lii<e  (inaiity 
will  l)e  found.  There  ai'e  also  tiaees  of  fj:ol(l 
ami  silver,  hut  it  is  found  in  quafi/  iiiekets.  and 
seai'i'ely  pays  for  the  investment  of  i-apilaito 
<levelop. 

To  siive  some  idea  of  tlie  hon(n'  fesoufc'(\s  of 
this  little  ranije  of  rorl<s.  with  the  aid  of  Mr. 
C'larU  on  one  side  ami  Mr.  Wildei's  broncho  on 
the  other.  I  obtained  some  notes  and  snap  shots 
from  th(>  saddle.  Setting  out  from  the  Ram- 
bler's i-abin  and  following  down  the  north  side 
of  the  ransre.  afti'ra  mile,  of  travel  we  find  the 
apiary  of  Mr.  t'hoate.  Mere  are  100  coloni(>s, 
and  a  new  and  complete  honey  house;  and. 
though  the  stocks  were  v(>ry  w(>ak  in  thesprini?. 
the  surpiu><  amounted  to  -'.■>( H)  lbs.  With  his 
bee-keei)ing  and  ranch  work  Mr.  C.  puts  in  his 
spare  time  in  the  large  cannei-y  at  Colton. 

Within  half  a  mile  of  Mr.  ('hoate"s  is  a  newly 
established  apiary  of  ."lU  colonies,  owned  by  Mr. 
N'anghn.  who  also  li\cs  in  Colton.  We  now 
proceed  nearly  a  mile  further,  and  in  front  of 
the  broad  and  level  Cucamonga  Valley  we  find 
the  20i)-acre  ranch  of  Mr.  W.  K.  Clark,  with 
cattle,  horses,  poultry,  and  peach,  orange,  ap- 
nle.  and  tig  tribes,  and  170  colonies  of  bees. 
While  Mr.  Clark  operati's  the  ranch.  Mrs.  Clark 
o[)erates  the  bees  and  proves  to  be  a  skillful 
operator.  This  apiary  was  started  about  six 
years  ago.  from  two  colonies  that  were  dug 
from  the  rocks  above  the  ranch.  Being  novices 
in  the  business,  the  b(>es  were  tirst  put  into  va- 
rious nondescript  hiv<'s:  but  learning  of  the 
better  management  in  movabhi-frami'  hives, 
the  swarms  were  prope-ly  transferred.  After 
an  increase  of  57  swarms  from  17.  and  consider- 
able honey  in  one  season,  the  bee  enthusiasm 
increased,  and  the  apiary  now  numbers  170.  and 
tlie  product  this  poor  season  was  10.800  lbs.  Of 
course,  they  believe  bee  keeping  pays,  even  in 
a  poor  season.  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  C.  belong  to  the 
class  of  hospitable  Californians;  their  latch- 
string  not  only  hang>  out.  but  their  door  is 
wide  open,  and  the  weary  traveler  is  always 
welcome.  The  nearest  niMghbois  are  two  miles 
away,  and  one  of  these,  a  Mr.  Button,  with  a 
poor  season  before  him.  commenced  with  25 
colonies;  increased  thcmi  to  50;  sold  some 
stocks,  and  secured  :.'()()()  lbs.  of  honey,  a  few 
colonies  "  giving  down  "'  at  the  rate  of  '.'(K)  lbs. 
<"ach. 

Down  toward  the  west  I'lid  of  tlu;  range  we 
find  the  apiary  of  Mr.  Langton.  an  Englishman 
who  came  to  California  with  barely  a  hope  of 
saving  his  life  fi-()ni  the  serious  inroads  of  con- 
sumption; but  the  climaK^  has  given  him  a 
measure  of  good  health  and  hope  for  many 
years  yet  on  this  tern^-^trial  ball.  We  found  .Mr. 
L.  very  busy  hanging  out  the  family  washing, 
which  showed  a  vi-ry  helpful  spirit  toward  the 
busy  hands  in  the  house.  .Mr.  L..  during  this 
very  pooi-  season,  has  increased  his  l)ees  from 
3.3  to  62.  and  secured  54(J<J  lbs.  of  honey. 

HOW    MR.  I,.\N'GTON    I'KIM'.VHKS    KKtlOSK.VII-r  .VXS 
FOK    II()N1-:V. 

His  honey  is  put  into  kerosene-cans;  but  if 
every  one  used  the  care  that  he  does  there 
would  be  no  kicking  from  buyers.  In  the  first 
place  he  takes  the  entire  top  from  the  can. 
Thi>  gives  ami)le  chance  to  discover  any  thing 
wrong  in  the  int'-rior.  If  it  is  rusty  it  is  n-ject- 
ed:  if  not.  it  is  thoroughly  cleamd.  and  a  new 
top  with  sc-rew-cap  is  soldei-cd  on.  and  the  can 
is  practically  as  good  as  new.  and  at  much  less 
co<t.  The  way  many  (irepare  kerosene-cans  for 
hoiu'V  is.  to  put  a  patch  over  the  fiil  outlet: 
put  a  scresv-cap   and    handle  on   w  hat  was  the 


iiottont.  That  puts  tlie  brand  tli,at  beti'ays  the 
can  at  the  bottom;  but  it  is  a  kero.sene-can  all 
the  same,  and  not  so  commendable  a  plan  of 
transformation  as  Mr.  Langtoirs.  A  little  less 
than  a  mile  froui  Mr.  L.'s  wi'  found  another 
bee-keejier.  Mr.  Bloom,  llislirst  colonies  were 
also  dug  from  the  rocks  and  plantiMl  at  the 
base  of  the  mountain,  where  they  had  grown  t,o 
a  good  apiary;  and  72  stocks  in  tlu^  spring  of 
this  very  poor  season  had  increased  to  110.  ami 
given  11. 3.;5  lbs.,  or  over  100  lbs.  to  the  colony. 
This  is  the  last  apiary  westward  on  the  range, 
and  t-h(>  valley  bniadensout  here  and  stretches 
away  olT  toward  Los  .\iigeles.  Tlu;  yields  of 
lioney  at  this  point  and  further  down  the  valley 
were  better  than  upon  the  eastern  end  of  th(! 
range. 

Mr.  Bloom  has  now  niad«>  arrangements  to 
sell  100  colonies  next  season  for  ^i.oo  per  colony, 
the  purchaser  to  furnish  the  hives.  He  i)iits  in 
no  Ifs  and  (tiids  about  their  wintering,  as  he 
is  quite  sine  of  that  part. 

From  this  point  a  lon(^  and  deserted  cabin  is 
pointed  out  on  the  plain,  when;  a  lone  bee- 
kee|)er  was  murdered  and  liis  body  cremated 
under  the  burning  material  of  his  l)ain.  So. 
lone  bee-keepers  do  come  to  a  bad  end;  but  it  is 
where  perhaps  (>nemies  follow  up  their  victim 
to  avenge  some  wrong. 

We  now  pass  around  the  mountain  and  w  ork 
our  way  up  the  south  side;  and  a  young  man, 
Mr.  Ranee,  from  25  colonies  in  the  spring  in- 
creased to  .50  and  secured  3120  lbs.  of  honey, 
which  is  not  bad  for  a  young  man  during  this 
poor  season. 

Another  hitch  along  the  base  of  the  moun- 
tains, and  we  enter  a  very  rocky  and  cup- 
shaped  canyon;  in  fact,  it  is  almost  an  amphi- 
theater, with  its  abrupt  rocl<y  walls  on  three 
sides.  Her(>  is  an  apiary  of  115  colonies,  owned 
by  our  friend  Wilder,  of  Grayback  and  water- 
melon fame. 


H.    K.    WILDER  S   APIARV    I.\    WILDER  S    CAXVOX. 

Mr.  Wilder  .searched  for  a  long  time  to  find  a 
location  that  would  fit  his  name,  and  finally 
succeeded.  The  sketch  shows  that  stones 
abound,  both  above  and  below,  and  of  a  size;  to 
suit  the  most  enthusiastic  admirer  of  stones. 
In  the  rocky  |)ass  above  the  apiary  it  is  Wil- 
ders  wildesi,  where  rocks  seem  ready  to  roll 
down  of  their  own  accord.  The  cabin,  as 
shown  in  the  cut.  is  about  as  large  as  the  big 
rock  shown  at  the  right,  and  is  located  n<;ar  an 
unfailing  spring:  and  upon  a  day  when  th(; 
mercury  gets  to  the  100  mark  it  is  wonderful  to 
see  the  st<^ady  stream  of  bees  that  pass  the  cab- 
in for  water.  In  this  rocky  retreat  Mr.  W.  has. 
in  this  season  of  uncertainty,  taken  9120  lbs.  of 


768 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  15. 


honey,  and  seems  to  have  no  appearance  of  the 
blues. 

This  retreat  abounds  in  small  game.  Both 
rabbits  and  quail  can  be  shot  from  the  door  of 
his  cabin.  As  our  friend  is  an  expert  cook  in 
all  of  its  departments,  quail  or  rabbit  on  toast 
Is  served  in  the  most  epicurean  style,  and  the 
California  flap-jack  act  can  be  performed  to 
perfection. 


he  has  the  reputation  of  securing  the  largest 
yields  of  any  bee-keeper  in  the  vicinity.  This 
very  poor  season  his  yield  from  G.5  colonies  is 
only  iJOOO  lbs.  Three  years  ago  he  had  a  good 
season,  and  his  7.5  colonies  gave  him  33,000  lbs., 
or  an  average  of  440  to  the  swarm.  Mr.  P.  be- 
lieves in  a  liberal  use  of  foundation,  and  combs 
that  get  clogged  with  bee-bread  are  taken  out 
and  replaced  with  it.  He  believes  in  using  a 
three-story  hive,  and  wants  a  queen  that  will 
keep  10  frames  filled  with  brood.  His  ranch 
and  orange  grove,  however,  encroach  so  much 
upon  his  time  that  he  think*  of  disposing  of  his 
bees  in  a  year  or  two;  but.  speaking  reflectively, 
he  said  if  we  have  another  season  like  this 
.  California  will  lose  its  reputation  as  a  large 
honey-producer. 

Mr.  Samuel  Ferguson,  who  was  with  us  on 
Grayback.  owns  the  next  ranch  and  apiary, 
and,  like  Mr.  "Wilder  and  the  Rambler,  he  is  a 
lone '•  bach."  He  has  a  cosy  cabin  enbowered 
under  eucalyptus  and  pepper  trees.  Water  is 
developed  in  the  canyon  above,  and  a  reservoir 
is  nearly  completed  to  collect  water  to  irrigate 
the  ranch.  The  apiary  numbers  21.5  colonies. 
The  hives  are  in  two  double  rows.  A  track  is 
laid  Ijetween  the  rows,  and  a  car  is  used  to  run 
the  combs  to  the  extractor.  The  hives  are  cov- 
ered with  a  framework  for  shading  them  in 
hot  weather.  The  shades  were  not  in  place 
this  season,  owing  to  the  short  yield  of  only 
11,000  lbs.  jNIr.  Ferguson  seems  to  have  every 
thing  ready  for  a  bird  in  his  cage,  but  the  birds 
around  the  cabin  seem  to  be  mostly  quail. 

A  little  apiary,  owned  by  a  consumptive,  and 
another  of  seven  hives,  complete  the  circuit  of 
the  mountain,  and  we  find  on  the  seven  square 
miles  1287  colonies  in  14  apiaries,  counting  both 
great  and  small.  The  total  amount  of  honey 
sold  was7G..500  lbs.;  and  although  the  bees  were 
on  the  seven  square  miles  embraced  in  the 
mountains,  their  field  of  operations  was  on 
valleys  ten  miles  wide.  The  sources  of  nectar 
were  sage.  orang<\  wild  buckwheat,  hoarhound, 
sunflower,  and  wild  flowers  in  profusion.  Ex- 
cepting the  temperature,  which  was  up  to  100°. 
I  had  a  veiy  pleasant  journey,  and  some  thrill- 
ing experiences  which  will  next  be  duly  record- 
ed bv  the  Rambi-er. 


5in.     WII.DEK 


PERFORMING      THE 
FEAP-.JACK    ACT. 


CAI,IFOKMA 


Mr.  W.  is  a  skillful  taxidermist,  and  samples 
of  his  handiwork  are  visible  in  the  shape  of 
rare  specimens  of  California  birds.  The  only 
missing  links  in  the  chain  of  his  enjoyment 
are  a  helpmeet  and  a  generous  patch  of  water- 
melons. : 

Messrs.  Helmer  A:  Pratt  have  a  flourishing 
bakery  at  Riverside.  The  Pratt  portion  of  the 
firm  devotes  a  part  of  his  time  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  busy  bee.  Near  another  spring  that 
seeps  out  of  the  mountain  is  this  apiary:  43 
colonies  in  the  spring  increased  up  to  98:  and 
4000  lbs. of  honey,  secured  as  tiie  product  of  this 
apiary,  is  sold  to  a  great  extent  in  the  bakery. 
Both  comb  and  extracted  honey  are  produced. 
Speaking  of  selling  honey  in  this  way,  Mr. 
Pratt  said  they  sold  for  a  little  better  price: 
but  as  it  came  in  littles  and  went  in  the  same 
way,  they  didn't  feel  the  profits  so  much  as 
when  sold  in  a  lumi),  and  they  could  handle  a 
roll  of  bills  or  a  bag  of  gold.  This  season  mi- 
gratory bee-keeping  has  been  practiced  by 
them.  The  bees  have  tieen  removed  to  the 
river  bottoms  with  good  results.  A  few  colo- 
nies kept  in  the  city  put  in  some  fine  orange- 
blossom  honey,  some  of  which  we  hope  will 
find  its  way  to  the  World's  Fair. 

The  nearest  apiary  to  Riverside,  on  this 
range,  is  owned  by  Mr.  Parks.  His  hives  are 
among  great  rocks  just  above  his  ranch,  and 


COVERS  TO  DOVETAILED  HIVES. 


INTRODrrlNG 


HOW     THE 

STING. 


CJUEEN       USES     HER 


The  cover  of  Dovetailed  hives  of  your  make 
is  not  good  enough,  for  it  catches  the  rain  and 
moisture,  and  will  lead  it  right  into  the  hives. 
If  the  top  were  made  exactly  like  the  liottom  it 
would  be  an  improvement.  I  for  my  part 
would  have  it  just  two  inches  wider,  and  have 
end  and  side  strips  to  run  down  about  one  or 
two  inches  over  the  body  of  the  hive.  I  had 
extra  gable-end  covers  made  for  all  hives,  and 
thus  have  a  better  shade  in  summer  and  a  dry 
home  for  bees  during  winter  and  spring. 

Some  time  ago  you  stated  the  different  views 
of  bee-keepers  on  the  so-called  r.aking  of  bees 
as  a  sign  of  swarming,  etc.  It  means  a  thun- 
derstorm and  nothing  else. 

Queens  do  sting,  if  they  find  chances  in  their 
favor.  During  last  year  I  experimented  in  the 
following  manner:  One  queen  was  left  with  a 
number  of  her  own  bees  in  a  Benton  cage  sev- 
eral days.  Then  I  removed  the  bees  and  gave 
one  bee  from  a  strange  colony.  It  instantly  at- 
tacked the  queen,  but  was  very  quickly  killed 
liy  her.  One  queen  killed  as  many  as  six  bees. 
A  virgin  queen  also  fought  for  life.  Put  in 
many  bees  and  the  queen  will  not  fight  at  all. 
These  experiments   are  in  accordance  with  the 


ISIVJ 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Ttili 


laws  of  iiatuiT  as  iiDticfd  witli  otluT  animals 
tiiiit  an'  known  as  tijrlitcrs.  and  why  not  with 
iht'hccsV  If  the  iim'fn  sees  a  chance  of  snc- 
(•(>ss  she  will  lisiht  the  I'licniy.  tu' it  anl.  hcc.  or 
any  thinir  t'lsc  :  bnl  wiiy  shiiuld  siic  lifxlitif  a 
dozen  of  dairiiei-s  are  ready  U)i  her? 

Dnrinii  last  winter  1  made  another  observa- 
tion of  value  ti)  some  of  your  readers.  Instinct, 
(and  natiirot  is  certainly  a  great  thins  with 
animals.  I  keep  message  doves.  In  Novem- 
ber the  cold  spell  endangered  the  yonng 
homers,  so  1  placed  some  in  my  room.  \Vhen 
six  weeks  old,  a  second  pair,  with  only  the 
mother,  was  caged.  One  tine  day  the  mother- 
nurse  escaped  from  the  cage  and  thnv  out  of  the 
open  window,  home  to  ihi'  belfry.  Then  I  took 
one  of  th(>  youngsters  of  six  weeks,  and  placed 
it  with  the  two  younger  cousins  only  five  or  six 
days  old.  The  llrst  hour  was  oiu;  of  astonish- 
ment, the  second  of  admiration,  and  the  third, 
motherly  love,  as  of  old.  and  the  two  little  pets 
were  feci  more  than  any  pair  will  feed  their 
yonng.  Ever  since.  1  remove  the  young  as  soon 
as  they  show  signs  of  feathers,  and  place  them 
with  such  an  extra  nurse.  The  lesson  is  a 
great  one.  Kindness  toward  fellow-creatures 
is  a  natural  law.  With  animals,  instinct  tells 
them  how;  with  human  beings,  the  intellect, 
tiod's  great  gift,  tolls  us  how  to  show  charity  to 
those  in  need. 

One  word  about  introducing  queens.  Give 
the  queenless  colony  a  new  hive  and  new  bot- 
tom-board: and  then  place  the  cage,  with  new 
(luiMMi.  as  jier  directions  on  your  Benton  cages. 
This  will  greatly  insure  success.  Another  way 
would  be  to  have  a  wire  screen  in  shape  of  a 
wide  frame,  wide  enough  to  cover  a  comb. 
Place  a  comb  with  hatching  brood  in  thi>  wire 
cage,  and  let  the  new  queen  loose  on  it.  Place 
the  screened  comb  in  thi'  center  of  the  colony 
two  or  three  days,  and  all  will  be  done  well. 
This  plan  has  only  one  advantage:  i.  e..  the 
queen  will  begin  to  lay  at  once,  and  this  is  one 
great  success.  I  had  one  that  came  from 
Maine:  and  before  lo  minutes  she  was  at  work 
laying  eggs.  To  havc^  her  in  the  small  cage, 
and  let  bees  release  her,  woukl  have  retarded 
the  work  24  or  48  hours.  Such  a  screen  cage 
can  be  made  by  any  one  who  can  handle  car- 
penter or  similar  tools.  You  could  keep  them 
for  sale  for  such  as  are  unable  to  get  them  at 
home.  P.  Stephen  Stengek. 

St.  Meinrad,  Ind. 

IWe  can  make  the  cover  just  as  you  want  it, 
side  strips  and  all:  but  that  would  destroy  the 
very  feature  which  so  many  prize — that  is,  the 
facility  for  sliding  the  cover  on  to  avoid  killing 
bees.  With  the  non-burr-comb  frames  of  to- 
day, this  feature  is  a  valuable  one  indeed.  If 
you  are  careful  in  putting  on  covers  you  will 
not  need  any  side  strips.  Hundreds  of  bee- 
keepers will  testify  to  that.  Moreover,  the 
bees,  when  left  to  themselves,  will  propolize 
points  of  contact  between  the  upper  edge  of  the 
hive  and  the  underside  of  the  cover  so  perfectly 
that  no  rain  can  beat  in.  Propolis  (that  great 
bugbear  of  bee-keeping)  right  here  does  a  good 
service.  It  not  only  keeps  the  top  of  the  hive 
tight  and  warm,  but  it  prevents  the  covers 
from  being  blown  off  by  every  little  wind,  and 
thus  renders  unnecessary  the  use  of  clamps  or 
hooks  to  hold  the  cov(irs  on.  Of  course,  if  you 
vise  enamel  cloths,  or  any  kind  of  covering  over 
the  tops  of  the  frames,  the  board  covers  will 
have  to  be  fastened  down,  and  then  it  will  be 
quite  necessary  to  have  the  side  strips  so  as  to 
make  practically  what  is  known  as  the  tele- 
scopic cover:  but  when  one  is  used  to  the  plain 
cover  over  non-burr-comb  frames,  he  can  not 
but  w-onder  why  any  one  would  want  the  extra 
cloth  or  covering. 


With  regard  to  the  washboard  act  on  the 
part  of  the  liees  at  certain  times  in  front  of  the 
entrance  (raking,  as  you  call  it),  we  can  not 
believe  that  it,  signifies  any  peculiar  phenom- 
I'uon  in  luiture,  either  of  swarming,  thunder- 
storms, or  any  tiling  else.  We  have  observed  it 
at  all  times  when  the  bees  had  nothing  tdse 
particularly  to  do,  without  any  subsequent 
swarms  or  thunderstorms.  It  is  our  opinion 
that  the  bees  do  that  simply  because  they  have 
nothing  else  to  do;  and  in  the  same  way  they 
will  gnaw  at  sprigs  of  grass,  small  weeds,  etc., 
that  stand  in  the  way  of  th(>  entrance.  "'As 
busy  as  a  bee"— if  they  can  not  do  one  thing 
they  will  do  another. 

It  is  not  denied  in  the  text-books  that  (pieens 
sting  rivals,  and.  occasionally,  workers:  but  it 
is  indeed  very  .^ieldom  that  they  sting  a  human 
being:  but  they  have  been  known  todo  it  in  I'are 
instances,  and  this  brings  us  to  a  case  that  per- 
haps we  have  never  mentioned.  Some  years 
ago  we  had  an  old  hybrid  qu<!en  in  one  of  our 
yards  that  we  could  let  right  loose  in  any  hive. 
If  the  bees  commenced  to  grab  hold  of  her  she 
would  simply  paw  and  light  them  like  a  wild 
tiger:  and  instead  of  the  bwa  intimidating /tcr 
she  intimidated  them.  We  used  her  rep'^iitf^d'y 
for  giving  eggs  and  larva?  to  colonies  that  were 
short:  but  we  never  had  any  other  queen  that 
we  could  use  in  a  similar  way.  .She  was  only  a 
hybrid,  and  not  worth  imich,  and  we  let  her 
loose  in  a  great  many  different  colonies  without 
even  the  formality  of  the  ordinary  methods  of 
introduction.  If  we  remember  correctly,  she 
simplv  (lied  of  old  age.  Such  a  queen  (and  they 
are  very  rare  indeed)  would  be  valuable  in 
many  queen-rearing  apiaries;  because  it  is 
easier  to  "drop"  brood  in  this  manner  into  a 
colony  rather  than  to  go  and  hunt  it  up  of  the 
right  age  from  some  other  stock. 

We  very  much  question  whether  the  new 
hive  or  new  bottom-board  had  any  Infiuence  in 
the  matter  of  introducing.  On  the  contrary, 
the  less  the  internal  arrangement  is  altered,  and 
the  less  the  routine  of  affairs  is  interrupted,  the 
better  will  be  the  chances  of  the  queen  being 
introduced,  other  things  being  equal.  The 
wire-cloth  cage  you  mention  is  used  by  quite  a 
number  of  practical  bee-keepers— notably.  J.  F. 
Mclntyre,  of  Filliuore.  Cal.  We  know  of  no 
better  cage  for  introducing:  but  it  is  good  only 
for  that  purpose  and  for  nothing  else.  It  is  a 
simplification  of  tht;  old  Peet  method  used  so 
successfully  two  or  three  years  ago,  but  now 
abandoned,  because  a  luore  successful  mniUng- 
cage,  as  well  as  an  equally  good  one  for  intro- 
ducing, was  devised.] 


PLANTING  BASSWOOD  FOR  HONEY. 

J.  A.  GKEKN    liECOMMENDS   THE   PRACTICE; 
filKDLING   TREES. 

I  have  always  opposed  the  planting  of  special 
crops  for  lioney.  and  I  do  not  think  that  such  a 
course  can  ever  be  made  profitable.  But  there 
are  times  when,  in  planting,  we  may  do  so  with 
an  eye  to  the  honey  that  the  crop  will  yield. 
One  form  of  this  should  be  encouraged  by  all 
who  have  an  eye  beyond  the  immediate  present. 
The  planting  of  "basswood  -  trees  for  shade 
wherever  shade-trees  are  needed  should  be  en- 
couraged by  all  possible  means.  As  a  shade- 
tree,  the  basswood  is  entirely  unobjectionable, 
and  has  many  points  in  its  favor,  considered 
aside  from  its  value  to  the  honey-producer.  Of 
its  great  value  to  the  latter  it  is  unnecessary  to 
speak.  There  is  probably  nothing  that  will 
produce  as  much  honey  from  a  given  amount  of 
ground  as  basswood;  and,  once  established,  it 
will  grow  for  many  years  without  attention. 


770 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  15. 


I  noticed  something  last  summer  that  was 
interesting,  and  may  prove  to  be  of  some  prac- 
tical value.  A  year" ago  last  June  I  went  to  the 
woods  to  get  some  basswood  bark  to  use  in  bud- 
ding roses.  The  bark  cut  at  this  time,  and 
soaked  for  several  weeks  in  water,  splits  into  a 
number  of  thin  layers  of  very  fine,  strong  fiber, 
useful  for  budding  as  well  as  many  other  pnv- 
poses. 

I  went  to  a  place  where  basswood -trees  had 
been  cut  eight  or  ten  years  before.  The  sprouts 
around  the  stumps  had  grown  up  to  a  consider- 
able height,  and  many  of  them  were  foui'  or  five 
inches  in  diameter.  Selecting  a  smooth  sprout 
I  removed  all  the  bark  from  it  foi'  a  distance  of 
about  three  feet  frpm  the  ground.  Last  June, 
a  year  later,  I  went  there  again  for  the  same 
purpose.  One  would  naturally  suppose  that  the 
sprout  that  had  been  girdled  th(^  year  before 
would  have  been  killed  by  the  operation.  The 
bark,  as  I  said  before,  had" been  entirely  remov- 
ed for  a  space  of  three  feet  or  more.  There  was 
no  new  growth  of  bark  over  it,  and  the  entire 
surface  that  had  been  exposed  seemed  perfectly 
dry  and  seasoned  for  half  An  inch  or  more  from 
the  outside;  yet  the  sprout  seemed  to  be  grow- 
ing and  thriving  just  as  well  as  the  others  from 
the  same  stump.  What  was  particularly  re- 
markable, though,  was.  that  thnt  sprout  nuts 
covered  ivith  blossoms,  while  none  of  the  other 
sprouts  from  the  same  stump  had  any  blossoms 
on  at  all. 

It  is  said  that  apple-trees  may  be  brought 
into  bearing  much  sooner  by  girdling,  without 
injury  to  the  trees:  and  I  know  from  my  own 
experience  that  girdling  grapes  causes  them  to 
produce  earlier,  larger,  and  finer  fruit. 

This  opens  up  a  way  of  great  possibilities.  It 
might  not  pay  to  set  out  trees  and  girdle  them 
all;  but  it  might  pay  to  set  out  a  double  num- 
ber and  girdle  half  of  them,  with  the  expecta- 
tion of  removing  those  girdled  in  case  the  gird- 
ling injured  their  growth.  Where  there  are 
sprouts  from  the  stumps  of  trees  that  have 
been  cut  for  some  years.  I  think  it  would  cer- 
tainly pay  to  girdle  a  part  of  them.  If  in  this 
way  we  can  have  our  basswood -trees  blooming 
again,  or  if  we  can  hasten  the  blooming  of 
young  basswoods  by  several  years,  it  will  be  a 
great  gain,  and  may  be  of  great  value  in  sonic- 
oca  I  i  tics. 

It  is  probable  that  the  removal  of  half  an  inch 
or  so  of  bark  would  have  the  same  elTect.  and 
that  this  would  grow  over  again  without  any 
more  injury  to  the  tree  than  the  maple-tree 
receives  from  the  yearly  tapping.  I  have  gird- 
led some  more  trees,  and  shall  watch  them  with 
interest  next  season. 

WHY  don't  the  blossoms  yiki.d  honey? 

The  season  of  1892  has  been  to  the  bee-keeper 
of  this  locality  one  of  abundant  promise,  with  a 
most  plentiful  lack  of  fulfillment.  White  clover 
abounded,  and  the  copious  rains  of  the  spring 
and  parly  summer  seemed  to  be  just  what  was 
needed  to  get  it  into  good  condition  to  yield 
honey  when  once  we  should  have  that  hot 
weather  that  seems  to  be  essential  to  the  secre- 
tion of  nectar.  But  the  flow  from  this  source 
was  at  no  time  heavy:  and  when  it  closed  its 
brief  career,  but  few  colonies  had  done  much 
moi'e  than  to  fill  up  the  empty  cells  of  the 
brood-chamber.  Basswood  bloomed  freely,  and 
I  confidently  looked  for  a  good  yield  from  that 
source;  but  the  blossoms  were  visited  but  little 
by  the  bees.  I  think  I  never  before  knew  it  to 
be  so  neglected  when  there  was  an  abundance 
of  bloom.  But  although  our  hopes  for  a  good 
yield  of  early  honey  were  thus  dashed,  we  did 
not  by  any  means  despair.  Had  not  the  super- 
abundant rain  left  hundreds  of  acres  unsown 
and  uncultivated?    This  was  just  what  was 


needed  for  a  good  crop  of  heartsease.  The 
heartsease  grew  and  thrived:  and  when  its 
blossoms  began  to  give  their  rosy  hue  to  stubble 
and  fallow  land,  and  fringe  the  fields  of  half- 
grown  corn,  it  seemed  that  the  prospects  of  the 
bee-keeper  were  never  brighter.  Again  the 
scent  of  newly  gathered  honey  filled  the  apiary. 
The  first  set  of  extracting-snpers  had  been  fill- 
ed, and  a  start  mane  in  the  sections,  when  a 
heavy  rain,  followed  by  cool  weather,  put  an 
end  to  honey-production.  Heartsease  usually 
yields  honey  until  it  is  killed  by  the  frost,  but 
this  year  the  blossoms  do  not  seem  to  open,  and 
the. acres  upon  acres  of  it  are  yielding  no  honey 
since  the  cool  weather  began.  In  other  years  I 
have  known  the  bees  to  gather  considerable 
honey  from  it  at  times  when  it  was  almost  too 
cold  for  tliem  to  leave  the  hive;  but  we  have 
had  some  quite  warm  days  lately  that  seem  to 
have  no  effect  in  starting  the  secretion  of  nectar 
again. 

The  experience  of  this  year  shows  so  plainly 
that  the  secretion  of  nectar  does  not  depend 
simply  on  the  amount  of  bloom,  but  upon  cli- 
matic and  atmospheric  conditions  that  are  en- 
tirely beyond  our  control,  that  it  seems  to  me 
that  any  attempt  to  increase  the  yield  of  honey 
by  planting  special  crops  rests  on  a  very  uncer- 
tain foundation.  The  three  principal  sources 
of  honey  in  this  locality  have  grown  and  bloom- 
ed abundantly  this  year,  yet  have  yielded  little 
oi'  no  honey.  One  might  plant  crops  of  honey- 
producing  plants  for  several  years  without 
getting  any  return  from  them  whatever  in  the 
way  of  honey.  Any  attempt  to  increase  the 
yield  of  honey  by  planting  a  crop  that  will  not 
be  profitable  aside  from  the  honey  that  is  ex- 
pected, is  liable  to  result  in  failure.  Of  course, 
there  is  no  reason  why  waste  places  may  not 
be  profitably  planted  to  something  like  sweet 
clover,  that  requires  no  cultivation,  and  will 
seed  itself  and  grow  from  year  to  year.  Great 
caution  should  be  exercised  in  this,  though. 
People  are  apt  to  be  very  suspicious  of  any 
thing  planted  in  this  way.  even  though  it  may 
be  harmless.  The  innocent  sweet  clover  is 
persf'cnted  as  a  deadly  enemy,  when  burrs  and 
other  noxious  weeds  are  allowed  to  go  unmo- 
lested and  with  scarcely  a  thought. 

Dayton.  111.  J.A.Green. 

[Igthink  that,  in  your  case,  friend  tJreen,  the 
trees  had  been  growing  with  too  much  vigor  to 
produce  bloom.  One  remarkable  featiue  of  the 
basswood  is.  that,  when  you  cut  a  tree  down 
for  timber,  the  strong  vigorous  roots  will  at 
once  send  up  sprouts  that  will  very  speedily 
take  the  place  of  the  original  tree.  These 
sprouts  grow,  of  course,  with  great  vigor,  and 
on  this  account  they  seldom  blossom  until  of 
considerable  size.  The  matter  has  been  referred 
to  in  these  pages.  Your  girdling,  however, 
proved  to  be  just  the  proper  sort  of  check  on 
their  rampant  growth,  hence  the  blossoms. 
Strong-growing  trees  often  survive  girdling, 
just  as  you  describe;  and  the  ijractice  of  gird- 
ling to  i)roinote  fruit-bearing  has  been  in  vogue 
for  many  years.  I  agree  with  you.  that  the 
basswood  seems  at  present  to  furnish  a  larger 
quantity  of  honey  than  any  other  one  plant  that 
has  been  brought  to  our  notice.  I  do  believe 
that  the  planting  of  basswoods  for  shade-trees, 
and,  very  likely,  for  timber,  will  be  the  means 
of  keeping  up  our  industry.  Possibly  our  chil- 
dren or  grandchildren  will  be  the  ones,  how- 
ever, to  reap  the  honey  crops.  Our  own  bass- 
wood  plantation  has  been  out  now  20  years. 
The  ground  is  some  of  the  poorest  in  this  part 
of  the  State.  Notwithstanding  this,  however, 
many  of  the  trees  are  a  full  foot  in  diameter. 
They  have  not  blossomed  as  profusely,  as  yet. 
as  some  other  basswood -trees  planted  about  the 


1S*»2 


(JLKANIN(;s  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


771 


saiiif  litnc,  (II-  a  little  later,  on  tiie  streets  of  our 
town.  There  are  now  a  do/.eii  or  two  of  the 
latter  that  liave  been  for  several  years  as  full 
of  hiiioiii  and  as  full  of  lie(>s  as  any  Wov  I  evei' 
saw.  cither  ill  the  forest  or  tields.  One  tree  in 
jiartieiiliir  is  now  about  M)  feet  high,  and  its 
iiraiu'hes  extend  to  a  distanee  of  fully  l.i  feet 
in  tnery  direetion.  This  tree  I  helped  to  siM 
out  less  than  •-'(•  years  airo.  The  soil  and  situ- 
ation are  favorable.]  A.  1.  K. 


BOARDMANS  SOLAR  WAX-EXTRACTOR. 

now  II   WdUKs;   xo  wax  in  riii-;  iskfi— i:. 

FrUnil  K.  Ti.  Root: — In  your"'  Notes  from  the 
Kioycli'."  in  (1i,f,.\xixgs  of  Sept.  1."..  you  jagged 
my  ineniory  in  regard  to  the  talk  we  had  when 
you  were  here  o\'er  the  st)lar  wax-extractors,  or 
i  should  likely  have  forgotten  my  promise  to 
test  the  residue,  or  slum^um,  by  rendering  it 
over  with  sulphuric  acid,  and  thus  save,  as  you 
hop«'d.  some  precious  dollars,  tnore  or  less — 
enough  to  more  tliau  pay  me  for  the  trouble. 

1  had  no  expectations  of  tinding  wax  in  pay- 
ing quantities,  but  I  was  Just  a  little  interested 
to  know  how  well  my  solar  extractors  did  their 
work.  After  procuring  some  sulphuric  acid  I 
looked  up  in  back  numbers  of  (xLeaxixgs  the 
modus  npcnitidi  of  ^rendering  wax  by  this 
process,  and  proceeded  accordingly.  Into  a 
tive-gallon  stone  crock  I  put2^j  gallons  of  soft 
water,  and  added  a  little  over  34  lb.  of  sulphuric 
acid.  I  then  went  to  a  barrel  of  the  residue, 
tlie  same  that  vve  examined  when  you  were 
here,  and  from  it  I  tilled  up  the  crock  and  left 
it  to  soak  until  next  day.  when  I  placed  it  upon 
the  stove  in  the  bee-house  kitchen,  and  let  it 
boil  for  some  time.  Then  I  let  it  remain  and 
cool  gradually.  The  next  morning  I  went  to 
investigate  the  results.  Well.  now.  how  much 
wax  do  you  think  I  found  cooled  in  a  beautiful 
yellow  cake  on  the  surface? 

■•  Two  pounds?'' 

••Well,  no.'- 

•■One  and  a  half  pounds?" 

••Hardly." 

I  was  disappointed,  and  I  am  sure  you  will  be 
when  I  ti'll  you  there  wasn't  any — no.  not  a 
trace  of  anything  that  looked  like  wax.  Let 
me  say  I  smiled  as  I  passed  the  solar  extractors 
that  morning,  and  said,  kind  o' softly.  "That 
was  a  pretty  good  joke  you  liave  played  upon 
us."' 

I  have  tried  about  all  the  plans  for  rendering 
wax  that  I  have  heard  suggested  or  could  think 
of.  and  I  would  always  find  in  the  residue,  aftei' 
it  had  cooled,  more  or  less  wax  in  little  yellow 
I)articles  dispersed  all  through  the  mass.  I  was 
never  satisfied  with  such  wasteful  methods. 
The  solar  extractor  eives  tht;  only  method  of 
rendering  wax  that  satisfies  me. 

It  might  not  be  out  of  place  to  say  here,  the 
larger  extractors  give  the  best  results.  I  should 
prefer  them  still  larger  than  I  now  use.  I  tFiink 
this  is  all  the  secret  of  my  success  with  them 
(iiaving  them  large).  I  can't  see  how  the  small 
ones  that  are  used  by  so  many  bee-keejjers  can 
be  made  at  all  practical.  The  only  imperfec- 
tion I  meet  with  in  this  method  oif  rendering 
wax  is.  it  will  not  work  without  sunshine.  In 
tills  respect  tlie  solar  extractors  are  somewhat 
like  A.  L  Root's  old  windmill  for  jiowcr.  which 
would  go  only  when  the  wind  blew. 

I  shall  continue  to  u.se  this  wax  residue  foi- 
fuel,  the  only  thing  for  which  it  has  any  value; 
and  for  this  purpose,  and  i-specially  for  kindling 
fires,  it  has  no  equal.  When  the  thrashers 
came  this  fall  I  had  no  coal  for  them  to  steam 
witii.  as  they  came  unexpectedly;  so  I  took  out 
some  boxes  of  slumgum.  and  said  to  the  tireman. 


"Try  that."  He  did  try  it,  and  up  wont  the 
steam;  and  he  said  it  beat  any  tiling  he  ever 
use<i  to  (ire  with  before.  "  Now."  said  he,  "  I 
shall  lia\('  a  good  story  to  tell  w  ben  I  am  an  old 
man,  how  1  once  Ijied  an  engine  with  liee-comb. 

n.   R.   HoAISM.MAX. 

East  Townsend,  O..  Oct.  7. 

[We  give  you  the  reputation  of  being  a  care- 
ful exi)erimenter.  and  the  credit  of  generally 
being  right  in  your  concltisions;  but  in  this 
case  we  are  not  quite  ready  to  give  ui»  yet. 
The  very  fact  tliat  this  "slumgum."  or  refuse, 
mak'es  a  tire  e(|ual  lo  or  better  than  coal,  for 
steaming  up  a  thrashing-boiler,  is  evidence  to 
us  that  there  is  considerable  money  left  in  it, 
in  the  shape  of  unrendered  wax.  To  back  our 
assertion  we  propose  that  you  shi])  us  by  freight 
two  or  three  bushels  of  that  slumgum;  and 
whatever  wax  we  can  get  from  it  by  tlu;  use  of 
sulphuric  acid,  if  any.  will  be  credited  to  your 
account,  and  the  n^snlt  either  way  will  be  re- 
ported through  these  columns.  VVe  may  have 
to  give  up.  but  our  experience  with  our  own 
slumgum  says  no.] 


FEEDING  BEES  TO  STIMULATE. 


A  xovKi.  feki)p:k  m.jldk  out  of  a  (^UAKT  cax 

AXI)   A    WIRE    XAIL. 


AVe  have  kept  bees  for  fourteen  years,  and 
have  had  our  share  of  trouble  in  spring  feeding, 
that  is.  between  apple  and  clover;  and  if  the 
latter  be  of  short  duration,  the  feeding  of  a  few 
pounds  may  make  the  dift'eience  between  a  fine 
lot  of  surplus  and  a  complete  failure.  The  Hed- 
don  wood  feeder  worked  well,  but  was  too  bun- 
gling and  expensive  for  spring  use,  and  Ijecame 
so  foul  that  we  were  glad  to  burn  them. 

To  make  feeding  a  success,  you  must  be  so 
prepared  that,  within  one  day  or  night,  you  can 
have  feeding  in  full  blast  on  every  hive,  be  it 
raining  hail  and  pitchforks.  For  three  years 
we  have  been  successful  witli  the  following: 

Having  70  colonies  vve  bought  70  one-quart 
tin  cans.  In  the  bottom  of  these  cans,  with  a 
smooth  awl.  and  from  inside  out.  we  punched  a 
hole  large  enough  to  drop  a  X-inch  flat  smooth- 
headed  wire  nail  in  easily,  but  leaving  a  good 
catch  for  the  head.  All  our  hive  boards  have  a 
two-inch  hole  in  the  center,  covered  with  a 
block  which  becomi'S  glued,  and  these  give  us 
no  trouble  when  not  in  use.  We  place  these 
cans  over  these  holes;  carry  a  faucet  can  of  70 
lbs.  of  honey  to  the  center  of  the  yard.  and.  by 
the  use  of  a  large  coffee-pot.  we  have,  in  '20  min- 
utes. 70  colonies  fed  each  a  pound,  more  or  less, 
as  desii'ed,  and  not  see  a  bee.  nor  chill  one  ei- 
ther. The  wire  nail  makes  the  fee(l(>r  work  au- 
tomatically. By  looking  into  the  can  after 
feeding,  you  will  see  the  head  of  the  nail  shak- 
ing about.  This  is  caused  by  the  bees.  It  reg- 
ulates the  flow,  and  keeps  any  sediment  from 
clogging  the  feeder. 

I  just  tried  two  cans  filled  with  water.  They 
held  thi- water  foi- hours;  but  on  agitating  the 
nail,  as  the  bees  do.  the  water  ran  out  in  a  little 
stream.  Fortunately  we  have  had  no  fall  feed- 
ing to  do  for  some  years,  but  we  think  one  can 
would  do  for  each  hive  if  fed  day  and  niglit  aft- 
er each  feed  at  night,  without  stimulating 
breeding.  Hy  bending  one  edge  of  the  nail-head 
up  it  will  make  more  of  a  force  feeder. 

F.  S.  COMSTOCK. 

North  Manchester.  Ind..  Sept.  i:5. 

[At  first  we  thought  our  correspondent  had 
struck  on  the  old  pepper-box  feeder  (a  very  good 
one,  by  the  way):  but  by  reading  more  careful- 


772 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  1.5. 


ly  we  discover  that  he  has  a  feeder  on  an  en- 
tirely new  plan.  We  have  uo  doubt  that  it  will 
work  very  nicely,  and  do  as  he  says.] 


LADIES'  Conversazione. 


were  fastened  solid  together  with  cocoons  and 
worms,  and  wei'e  utterly  ruined,  so  I  shall  have 
to  take  back  what  I  said  about  there  being  no 
worms.  None  of  the  other  combs  were  affected, 
which  is  very  strong  evidence  that  placing 
them  an  inch  or  two  apart  is  very  essential. 
Marengo,  111.,  Oct.  .5.  Emma  Wilsox. 


SULPHURING  WORMS  IN  COMBS. 


UNCLE  TOM'S  CABIN  OF  SPECKLED   BEAUTY. 


miss  wilson  tells  how  they  did  and 
didn't  succeed. 


After  reading,  on  page  664,  Mrs.  Axtell's 
ti'ouble  with  extra  comb**,  I  thought  I  would 
report  how  we  came  out  with  ours.  After  hang- 
ing them  in  the  shop  cellar  we  let  them  alone, 
except  occasionally  to  look  at  them  to  see  if 
there  were  any  vvoi'ms  at  work.  They  hung 
there  a  good  many  weeks  without  showing  any 
signs  of  worms.  I  beean  to  think  they  were 
not  going  to  trouble,  but  no  such  good  luck. 
Upon  taking  down  a  frame  for  examination, 
one  day.  a  good-sizctl  worm  was  discovei'ed; 
and  by  looking  furthei'.  quite  a  number  were 
found,  some  of  them  full  grown.  We  conclud(>d 
it  was  high  time  to  fumigate.  After  a  woi'm  is 
nearly  or  quite  grown  it  takes  considerable 
sulphur  to  kill  it:  so  we  concluded  to  use  enough 
to  make  a  sure  thing  of  it.  We  got  20  lbs.,  put 
it  on  the  cellar  bottom  in  four  dishes.  <et  fire  lo 
the  sulphur,  and  shut  the  door.  The  rooms 
above  were  blue  with  smoke,  and  smoke  issued 
from  every  crevice,  so  we  concluded  it  was 
burning  all  right.  We  did  not  open  the  door 
for  two  days,  when  we  discovered  the  fire  had 
gone  out  in  two  of  the  dishes.  On  weighing 
what  was  lefr,  we  found  that  only  8  lbs.  of  sul- 
phur had  really  been  bui'ned. 

I  was  vry  anxious  to  find  our  wlnthi'i'  thn 
worms  had  been  kilh'd  or  nut.  ami  ir,  was  with 
no  little  intei-est  that  I  examined  the  combs; 
and  when  I  came  to  a  big  worm  all  shriveled 
up  and  dead  I  gave  a  big  whoop  of  delight  and 
called  Dr.  INIiller  to  come  and  see  that  it  was 
really  and  truly  dead.  We  had  neither  of  us 
felt  very  sanguine  about  the  large  ones  being 
killed,  as  our  previous  efforts  had  not  been  en- 
tirely successful.  But  there  was  no  disputing 
the  fact  now.  We  never  found  ev-en  one  alive. 
We  left  the  cellar-door  open,  and  it  has  stayed 
so  all  summei'.  Combs  have  kept  nicely,  and 
no  more  trouble  about  worms.  I  don't  believe 
I'll  ever  worry  so  again  about  keeping  combs  as 
I  did  this  spring. 

Mrs.  Axtell,  don't  you  believe  if  you  had 
hung  your  combs  overhead,  so  as  to  have  them 
further  apart,  the  smoke  would  have  got  at 
them  better? 

From  past  experience  I  should  say  there  is  no 
use  to  smo'ke  lightly  when  the  worms  have  at- 
tained any  size,  and  one  heavy  smoking  is  worth 
a  great  deal  more  than  several  light  ones.  We 
used  about  one  pound  of  sulphur  for  every  275 
cubic  feet,  which  varies  very  littler  from  the 
amount  recommended  by  Mr.  Uoolittle.  An- 
other point  of  importance.  I  think,  is  to  keep 
the  room  closed  a  day  oi'  two  so  as  to  retain  th(^ 
smoke  as  long  as  possible.  We  might  have 
smoked  them  earlier,  before  the  worms  got 
quite  so  large:  but  by  waiting  as  long  as  we 
did,  all  eggs  were  hatched,  and  no  sub-equent 
fumigation  was  needt-d. 

After  writing  the  above  I  went  over  to  the 
shop  cellar  to  count  the  frames  we  had  left 
hanging  up.  I  thought  we  had  used  about 
two-thirds  of  them;  but  I  found  we  had  only 
260  left.  In  counting  them  I  found  5  combs  in 
one  place  and  2  in  another  that  had,  by  some 
means,  been  pushed  ud  close  together,  and  they 


twelve  months  of  poultky  life  ;    AN   in- 
teresting chicken- story  for  the 

.IUVENILES,   by   MRS.   AXTELL. 
CONTINUED   FROM   P.   735. 


Soon  the  bright  summer  wore  away,  and  the 
yard  was  filled  with  chicks,  big  and  little.  Cold 
weather  came  on.  and  our  coops  were  not  very 
warm;  and  as  mistress  liad  poisoned  the  rats, 
she  did  not  need  to  close  the  coops  at  night,  so 
now  we  were  often  very  chilly,  especially  when 
the  cold  wind  blew,  and  i-ain  Ijeat  in  upon  us,  as 
our  coops  leaked  badly. 

Master  Brown  came  one  night  and  caught 
ever  so  many  of  us  to  sell,  as  he  said  we  should 
all  be  sick  from  the  exposure,  as  some  were  al- 
ready dying  of  Ijowel  trouble  caused  by  the 
cold."  Some  said  it  was  cholera,  but  it  was  all 
caused  by  taking  cold. 

Master  Williams  advised  giving  us  sharp 
grit.  Pounded  crockery  was  good,  he  said; 
and  he  told  us  to  put  two  tablespoonfuls  of  cop- 
peras into  a  pail  of  water  for  us.  if  many  were 
sick:  if  not  very  sick,  one  spoonful  to  the  pail- 
ful would  do.  ri'moving  all  other  water,  so  we 
should  be  compelled  to  drink  the  copperas  wa- 
ter. Mistress  said  she  had  tried  so  many  differ- 
ent things  that  she  had  almost  come  to  believe 
nothing  would  do  any  good;  but  she  did  try  the 
copperas,  and'it  helped  us  right  away.  Then 
we  were  all  gathered  up,  what  were  left  of  us. 
and  put  into  a  warm  hen-house,  as  master 
Brown  had  built  a  new  one,  because  he  said  we 
were  fine  stock,  and  cost  too  much  to  let  die  in 
cold  weathei'  for  want  of  jn'oper  protection.  He 
sold  oft  the  homely  chicks,  and  kept  only  what 
master  Williams  lu-onounced  peifect  specimens. 
As  I  had  but  one  foot.  I  should  have  thought  I 
would  have  had  to  go;  but  I  had  been  given  to 
Clara,  and  I  was  pronounced  perfect  in  all  re- 
spects, except  the  loss  of  one  foot. 

The  new  poultry-house  had  large  glass  win- 
dows in  the  south  that  could  be  slid  to  one  side 
in  the  summer  time.  The  space  wa^  covered 
over  with  wire  cloth,  so  that  we  might  not 
break  the  glass:  and  when  slid  to  one  side  it 
would  not  let  rats  and  other  vermin  in.  There 
wei'e  two  doors,  one  in  the  south  and  one  that 
opened  into  the  old  hen-house,  that  was  not 
very  warm.  When  our  house  was  too  warm,  the 
door  into  the  old  house  was  opened,  which  pi'e- 
vented  the  cold  winds  from  out  of  doors  blow- 
ing directly  upon  us. 

I  wonder  whether  people  know  how  thankful 
poultry  are  for  dust  baths  in  winter  time.  Well, 
every  evening  Clara  came  out  with  a  large  pan- 
ful; and,  after  sweeping  our  floors,  she  took  the 
shovel  and  threw  ashes  all  around.  This  ab- 
sorbed the  moisture  of  the  droppings,  and  made 
it  easy  to  be  swept  next  day.  She  kept  a  shal- 
low box  full  for  us  to  wallow  in,  or,  to  be  more 
polite,  to  biith(>  in,  for  that  is  the  way  we  kept 
ourselves  clean  ami  healthy. 

We  soon  became  vei-y  healthy  in  our  warm 
sunny  house;  and  with  such  good  care  as  we 
were  getting  of  late,  through  the  influence  of 
master  Williams,  we  were  a  very  happy  lot  of 
chickens.  It  was  plain  to  be  seen  that  mistress 
was  proud  of  us,  for  we  were  pure-blooded, 
handsome  chickens.    I  heard  her  tell  a  neigh- 


1S92 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CUI/rURE. 


773 


hor.  will)  was  laiiMMitiiiir  that  shr  liad  no  iioud 
olacf  to  Urcp  Ikm"  I'liirki'iis  ill  winter,  that  sin- 
It>lt  so  l)ail  lot"  ln'f  oliiclM'ns  iho  wiiilci'  hcfoic. 
that  she  hiy  awaUi'  at  iiii,'l»l.  ami  ciicd  to  tliinl< 
of  f)/«'ir  sutl'rriiiss.  as  many  of  them  had  fro/.cii 
fppt  and  hills,  and  ffostt-d  t'omhs;  and  she  toi<l 
this  nt'iirhhor  that,  if  she  would  ixiM  pm'('-l)lood- 
t>d  I'hioUcMs,  hiT  husl)and  would  hrl  so  jn-oiid  of 
th«Mu  111'  would  huild  them  a  nii'f  warm  housi". 
That  was  what  indm-ed  farmer  Hfow  n  to  build 
hor  a  hiMi-housi'.  Sho  had  asked  him  many 
times  before  to  build  one.  but  h<'  had  nevei- 
thought  it  worth  while  to  do  so  tmtil  she  had 
gotton  a  nioo  (lock  of  puie  bloods. 

Auothor  trouble  was  eomiug  upon  us.  Very 
many  of  us  were  taking  sore  throats.  Mother 
Riddie  said  she  was  sure  it  was  becatise  master 
had  made  our  porches  so  high  that  we  could  not 
fly  up  to  them  easily.  As  we  wore  a  heavy 
breed  of  chickens  we  Hew  up  part  way.  and 
threw  our  heads  over,  and  hung  and  struggled 
before  we  wore  willing  to  let  go  and  drop  down, 
to  have  to  tly  up  and  try  it  over  again.  Master 
had  forgotten  to  put  up  ladders  to  hop  tip  on. 
What  would  have  boon  better  still  would  be  to 
put  the  roosts  so  low  down  that  we  could  (>asily 
hop  up  on  them  without  ladders. 

Mistress  said  she  did  wonder  what  the  matter 
was  with  us.  A.s  we  wheezed  and  breathed 
hard,  she  felt  of  many  of  us:  but  as  none  had 
sore  necks  she  believed  it  w^as  the  roosts,  and 
she  gave  master  no  peace  until  she  got  them  cut 
down  and  made  lower.  A  few  of  us  died,  but 
the  most  of  us  got  well:  Init  mother  Biddie  was 
a  big  heavy  hen.  and  it  went  hard  with  her. 
She  fairly  squealed  one  night  when  she  breath- 
ed, and  the  next  morning  she  lay  dead  under 
her  pei'ch. 

Mistress  felt  very  bad  about  mother  Biddie's 
death,  for  she  said  she  was  such  a  nice  hen. 
She  was  a  good  mother  to  her  chickens,  as  mis- 
tress could  put  chicks  of  almost  any  age  with 
her.  and  she  wovxld  take  them.  She  was  not 
lik<'  another  hen  whose  chick  got  hurt,  and 
which  was  kejjt  in  the  house  a  few  days  in  a 
box.  When  it  w^as  returned,  and  fastened  in  th(> 
coop  with  her  at  night,  she  jiicked  its  sktill  bare. 
But  it  recovered,  though  they  had  to  keep  it  in 
a  box  for  a  while.  As  it  was  a  nice  large  chick- 
en, mistress  nailed  some  pieces  of  carpet  in  a 
box  along  the  top  of  the  box.  and  let  the  carpet 
hang  loose.  The  chick  would  run  around  out- 
doors in  daytime,  and  return  to  its  bi'ooder-box 
at  night.  Mistress  kept  several  such  brooder- 
boxes,  so  when  the  mother-hen  left  lior  chicks 
when  tiie\  were  too  small  they  could  be  set  in 
their  coop,  and  the  chicks  would  run  into  them 
at  night  and  keep  warm:  and  when  the  hens 
were  inclined  to  stay  witli  their  chickens  too 
long,  mistress  would  take  them  away  and  shut 
them  up  a  few  days,  and  then  they  would  soon 
go  to  laying  again,  and  the  chicks  would  be 
better  off  in  the  brooder  than  with  her. 

Master  put  a  square  tube,  which  he  called  a 
ventilator,  in  the  middle  of  our  house.  The 
bottom  nearly  reached  the  floor,  and  the  top 
came  out  at  the  roof.  One  night  some  little  ani- 
inal  came  intf)  our  house  and  killofl  three  of  us 
by  jumping  on  our  backs,  and.  grabbing  u-  by 
our  necks,  sinking  his  teeth  into  our  throats 
until  we  were  dead.  Next  day,  mast^M-said  tlie 
doors  and  windows  must  be  clo.sed  tight,  as 
something  was  killing  the  chickens.  The  next 
night  si-ven  more  of  us  were  killed.  I  escaped: 
but.  oh  it  was  horrible  to  hear  the  otlier  chick- 
ens squall  and  drop  down  on  the  floor,  and  to 
know  they  were  being  killed,  and  that  my  turn 
might  come  next,  as  the  hen-house  was  so  far 
from  the  house  no  one  could  hear  usl  When 
mistress  Clara  came  out  witli  our  nice  warm 
breakfast,  how  frightened  she  was  to  see  so 
many  of  us  lying  around  dead!     She  went  to 


the  house  and  told  her  mother  that  seven  more 
were  deail.  Mistiess  came  out  with  hei-,  and 
they  hunted  long  for  holes,  and  lixed  up  very 
small  ones,  until  she  said  that  not  even  a  mouse 
could  get  in.  But  that  night  iho.  same  little 
animal  came  gliding  down  the  ventilator  as 
usual.  How  his  eyes  did  gleam,  like  stars  in 
the  moonlight  I  That  night  was  the  most  hor- 
rible of  any  in  all  my  life.  He  actually  caught 
and  killed  fourteen  of  my  brothers  and  sisters. 
In  the  morning  master  Brown  came  in  and 
said,  "'Oh  I  this  is  too  bad.  to  see  so  many  of 
iliose  nice  large  cliickens  dead  —  fourteen  of 
them  this  time."  \\i'  gathered  them  up  and 
jiut  them  into  his  bushel  basket,  and  it  well 
nigh  lilled  it  full.  Mistress  nearly  cried,  she 
feit  so  bad  —  tw(>nty-four  killed  in  three  nights. 
Master  said  he  believed  the  animal  came  down 
the  ve;itilator.  Ho  went  immediately  and  tore 
it  out.  so  none  of  us  were  killed  by  tlie  weasel 
after  that,  as  that,  was  where  he  came  in.  I 
knew  it  all  the  time:  biit  you  see  I  am  only  a 
chicken,  and  can  speak  only  •'hen  talk,"  or  I 
would  have  told  master.  Master  Williams  said 
there  were  enough  of  us  left  for  a  h(>n-house  of 
that  size.  There  had  been  so  many  of  us  before, 
that,  on  warm  nights  when  the  doors  and  win- 
dows were  closed,  we  could  hardly  get  our 
breath.  I  am  sure  we  should  have  been  sick  if 
they  had  not  been  so  careful  to  sweep  out  our 
house  nearly  every  evening:  and  after  sw-eep- 
ing  they  threw  coal  ashes  under  the  roosts.  That 
caught  the  dropi)ings.  and  made  ileasy  to  sweep. 
We  all  learned  to  love  little  mistress  Clara,  as 
she  was  taking  better  care  of  us  since  her  papa 
gave  her  that  nice  poultry-book  and  subscribed 
for  a  poultry-journal.  As  the  weather  was  oft- 
en very  cold  now,  we  very  much  enjoyed  the 
nice  warm  breakfasts  she  so  oft<!n  brought  us; 
but  she  generally  gave  us  full  grains  of  corn  at 
night,  as  slie  said  her  book  said  that  whole 
grains  remain  longer  in  the  crop,  and  so  we 
should  not  get  so  hungry  for  something  to  eat 
during  the  long  winter  nights.  What  we  very 
much  liked  was  the  stews  she  sometimes  fixed 
up  for  our  diiuier,  made  of  meat  and  vegetables 
cooked  together,  and  thickened  with  meal  and 
oat  flour,  and  seasoned  with  a  little  salt.  Oh 
my:  how  wi;  did  lay  eggs!  It  was  enough  to 
make  anvbody  smile  to  see  such  nests  full  of 
fresh  eggs,  in  January  and  February,  when  the 
price  of  eggs  was  high.  We  just  cackled  and 
cackled  ;  and  a  happier  lot  of  chickens  you 
never  saw  as  the  warm  sunshine  poured  in 
through  the  great  windows.  Little  mistress 
said  we  seemed  to  say.  when  we  cackled.— 

Cut-cut.  cut-at:  cut-cut,  cut-at: 

1  lay  three  e^gs  every  day; 
And  .vet  I  have  to  go  barefoot, 
(>o  barefoot. 
And   the  old  Rooster.  Robinson  Crusoe,  said. 
■■  Sell  your  eggs  and  buy  some  shoes,  and  then 
you  won't  have  to  go  barefoot." 

Mus.  L.  C.  AXTEM-. 

Roseville,  111.,  July  .\  189:.'. 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS 


ANOTHER   PROPOSED    HONEY   AND   APPLIANCE 
C<)^tI•ANV. 

Our  attention  has  been  called  by  several  sub- 
scribers to  the  prospectus  of  a  company  which  it 
is  proposed  to  form  inider  the  title  of  "  The  Api- 
ary Products  and  A|)pliances  Supply  Associa- 
tion, Limited,"  with  a  capital  of  :i0.000 "pounds  in 
1-pound  shares.  According  to  the  document 
before  us.  "The  company  is  formed  for  the  pur- 


774 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTUKE. 


Oct.  15. 


pose  of  purchasing  and  carrying  on  the  business 
of  Messrs.  -v.  it  H.  Timberlal<e,  honey  and  wax 
merchants."  After  the  failure  of  former  at- 
tempts to  establish  successful  companies  on  the 
above  lines,  even  when  guided  by  practical  men, 
this  last  attempt  shows  an  amount  of  hopeful- 
ness on  the  part  of  the  promoters  in  which  we 
can  notshai'e,  especially  as,  with  the  exception 
of  Mr.  Timberlake  (as  the  manager),  none  of 
the  directors,  so  far  as  we  know,  have  had  any 
knowledge  of  bees  or  their  products.  We  there- 
fore recommend  that  our  correspondents  make 
full  inquiry  before  investing. 

We  have  not  been  favored  by  the  promoters 
with  a  copy  of  the  prospectus,  and  it  is  only  by 
favor  of  certain  of  our  readers  that  any  infor- 
mation regarding  the  pi'oposed  comjjany  reaches 
us.  It  is  also  noticeable  that,  although  the 
prospectus  contains  a  statement  that  a  contract 
has  been  entered  into  between  certain  parties, 
no  names  are  given,  nor  does  the  date  of  the 
contract  referred  to  appear. — British  Bee  Jour- 
nal, Sept.  15. 

MOKE   OF   THAT   "  WHAT   LOOKS   I.IKE   FOUJ. 
15HOOU."' 

I  see  in  Gleanings  that  you  have  that  dis- 
ease that  looks  much  like  foul  brood.  1  have 
had  the  same  experience  with  it.  Last  year  I 
had  several  cases  of  it:  and  as  I  was  looking 
among  bees  that  belonged  to  the  neighbors  I 
found  the  same  thing,  but  not  so  bad.  I  had 
one  case  that  was  very  bad  last  year  in  the  fore 
part  of  the  season,  and  in  about  two  months  it 
disappeared,  and  I  haven't  seen  it  in  that  colo- 
ny since.  This  year  I  had  one  case  of  it.  but  it 
is  all  gone  now.  and  the  colony  is  strong.  I  am 
sure  it  is  not  foul  brood,  for  I  am  acquainted 
with  that.  I  never  could  tell  what  the  cause  of 
this  disease  is.  I  never  tried  to  cure  it.  and  it 
always  went  away  of  itself.  While  it  lasts  it 
weakens  the  colony  very  fast;  but  when  it  dis- 
appears the  colony  soon  "builds  up  again.  From 
what  experience  i  have  had  with  this  disease 
I  don't  think  it  will  spi'ead  among  other  colo- 
nies, or  that  it  is  very  bad,  except  at  the  time 
they  havr  it.  E.  H.  Trumi'er. 

Bankers,  Mich.,  Sept.  20. 

THE    MINNESOTA   STATPJ    FAIH    HONEY   EXHIBIT. 

We  have  just  returned  fi'om  the  State  Fair, 
and  I  want  to  tell  you  we  had  a  grand  exhibit — 
one  that  would  be  hard  to  beat  in  any  of  the 
States.  Everybody  who  saw  it  said  they  never 
saw  any  thing  so  nice  in  the  Eastern  States  or 
Canada.  To  get  up  such  an  exhibit  right  in 
the  face  of  one  of  the  poorest  seasons  that  the 
State  ever  had,  means  energetic  labor  on  the 
part  of  the  managers.  Our  superinteudent,  J. 
P.  West,  labored  with  the  bee-keepers  of  the 
State  in  season  and  out  of  season  to  persuade 
them  to  make  an  exhibit;  and  the  beekeepers 
of  the  State  want  a  little  space  in  Gi>eamxgs 
to  thank  him  for  the  good  work  he  did,  as  he 
did  not  get  any  other  compensation.  We  had 
some  photos  taken  of  the  exhibit.  I  will  send 
you  one.  W.m.  H.  Bright. 

Mazeppa,  Minn.,  Sept.  34. 


DR.  miller's   roses;    HOW  TO  RAISE  THEM.  ETC. 

I  have  been  interested  in  Dr.  Miller's  roses, 
and  1  should  like  to  know  how  he  grafts  th(»m. 
I  wish  he  would  please  write  a  piece  about  it, 
and  illustrate  his  manner,  so  that  I  could  do  so. 
I  have  succeeded  in  grafting  apples,  plums,  and 
cherries;  but  as  rose-twigs  are  small,  does  he 
practice  limb  grafting  or  budding? 

My  husband  and  family  are  much  interested 
in  Gleanings.  I  feel  as  if  the  sermons  were 
worth  the  price  of  the  book.  They  are  so  plain 
that  we  can  understand   and  apply  them  every 


day  of  the  week,  and  that  is  the  kind  of  leligion 
that  does  good  in  this  sinful  world. 

I  have  lived  on  this  farm  over  thirty  years. 
We  live  one  mile  from,  and  in  sight  of.  beauti- 
ful Canandaigua  Lake;  also  in  sight  of  the  vil- 
lage of  that  name,  which  is  famed  in  Indian 
legend  as  "  Sleeping  Heauiy;"'  and.  indeed,  it  is 
a  beautiful  village. 

We  were  pleased  with  Ernest's  writings  about 
our  Slate  last  vear.  We  wish  he  might  have 
stopped  at  our  house.  We  could  not  have 
shown  him  h  large  apiary,  but  we  could  have 
refreshed  him  with  food  and  water,  and  given 
him  GodspiM^d  on  his  journey.      J.  R.  Fisher. 

Rushville.  N.  Y. 

[Thanks.  We  should  have  been  very  glad  to 
call  upon  yon  had  we  known  we  were  so  near 
you.  With"  regard  to  the  i-oses.  Dr.  Miller  is 
respectfully  called  upon  to  answer.] 


NO   reason   TO   COMPLAIN. 

I  am  happy  to  report,  that,  after  all  our 
s|)ring  losses  and  summer  disappointments,  bee- 
keepers in  this  section  of  country  have  no  rea- 
son tc-  complain,  and  long  faces  should  be  done 
away  with,  for  the  month  of  August  tilled  many 
barrels  with  nice  extracted  honey.  Many  bee- 
keepers, who  had  invested  largely  in  supplies, 
and  seeing  June  and  July  pass  by  with  bees  in 
a  starving  condition,  had  almost  been  sinking 
in  despair.  The  writer  has  secured,  up  to  date, 
about  :.'50O  lbs.  of  No.  1  extracted  honey  from  t)8 
colonies,  spring  count,  and  nearly  all  colonies 
are  supplied  with  sufficient  stores  for  winter: 
and  if  Jack  Frost  does  not  visit  us  during  Sep- 
tember, quite  a  lot  of  nectar  sweets  will  be  re- 
alized, for  bees  are  working  finely  on  goldenrod 
and  tall  flowers;  but  those  who  worked  their 
bees  for  comb  honey  missed  it,  for  bees  could 
not  be  induced  to  work  in  the  sections. 

Stephen  Roese. 

Maiden  Rock,  Wis..  Sept.  3. 


AVINE    AS  A   BEVERAGE   ON   THE    ISL.A.NDS   OF 
LAKE    ERIE. 

In  reading  over  your  Home  talks  in  the  last 
number  as  to  boys  anil  their  search  for  beer,  it 
reminds  me  of  an  investigation  which  I  entered 
into  on  my  recent  and  first  and  only  visit  to 
Put-in-Bay.  I  found  wine,  wine  everywhere — 
every  few  feet— right  out  on  the  street  and 
lawns,  and  indoors,  and  only  one  temperance 
place,  and  that  a  couple  of  tents,  run  under  the 
care  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  I  went  to  those  tents 
with  a  friend  and  called  for  lemonade,  and  was 
told  that  they  had  none.  Inquirv  showetl  that 
they  were  not  allowed  to  sell  any  drink  but 
coffee,  tea,  and  water.  Why?  because,  to  sell 
such  would  interfere  with  the  wine-trade  I  The 
W.  C.  T.  IT.  could  not  rent  a  piece  of  ground  if 
they  should  sell  lemonade.  Comment  is  unneces- 
sary. On  this,  my  first  and  only  visit  to  Put- 
in-Bay, I  could  not  help  but  arrive  at  the  con- 
clusion that  it  was  a  good  place  to  stdj/  tiiray 
from,  and  to  recommend  otliers  to  do  the  same. 
I  am  told  that  the  other  islands  have  the  same 
rule.  Here  is  another  fact:  I  here  is  more  wine 
.eold  on  the  different  islands  there  as  "  native 
wine"  than  could  possibly  be  raised  on  a  third 
more  area  than  they  all  combined  contain.  As 
nearlv  as  I  can  make  out.  these  are  the  facts. 

Cleveland,  O..  Sept.  20.  R.  V.  Murray. 

[Well  done,  old  fiiend.  It  is  refreshing  indeed 
to  lind  that  the  man  who  makes  the  pictures 
for  (iLEANiNGS  is  oue  among  the  little  crowd 
who  are  hungering  and  thirsting  after  right- 
eousness. It  seems  to  me.  friend  Murray,  that 
the  W.  C.  T.  U.  needs  a  little  lifting  by  some  of 
the  men -folks.  As  Gleanings  goes  almost 
everywhere  nowadays,  perhaps  it  may  be  the 


I  S'.»2 


in.lOAMNCS  IN   HHE  CUI/miH. 


mt'iiiis  of  siiniii^;  up  soiin'  '^iood  hrollicr  to  come 
u>  tlu'ir  aid  and  to  give  thciu  a  littl<>  bit  of 
pioiiiid  on  wliicli  to  looati'  a  Icnioiiadi'-staiid.  1 


A     I'KOKISIOX    OF    SMAKTWKKD. 

Tilt'  season  lias  bj^cn  a  srood  ono  Ihto  sti  fai'  as 
clover  was  concerned:  but  the  bees  were  not 
gotten  into  shape  before  tlie  honey  crop,  and, 
as  a  result,  the  supers  an-  enii)ty.  Hees  will 
winter  well,  tor  there  has  l)een  the  greatest  pro- 
fusion of  sniartweed  lilonm  in  ten  years,  almost 
all  colonies  laying  up  enough  stores,  and  in 
some  instances  a  little  surplus. 

Alexandria.  Iiid.  E.  E.  Edwakds. 


My  report  for  the  pa.st  season  is.  iKXX)  lbs.  from 
KK)  colonies— a  poor  season  in  California. 
Riverside,  Cal.,  Aug.  \2.  H.  E.  Wii.dek. 


KAMHI.ER. 


What  makes  Rambler  look  so  pleased?  I  see 
he  has  lost  a  tooth.  Was  it  in  climbing  the 
mountains?  Has  he  got  a  m-w  hat?  It  looks 
like  one.  but  he  has  the  same  trousers  and  um- 
brella. Whafs  that  he  is  holding  in  his  hands? 
Oh.  yes!  a  camera,  and  a  book  and  pen  to  take 
the  notes  of  travel.  R.  L.  Rhodes. 

Mimtville.  O..  Oct.  t3. 


Hees  are  working  all  the  winter  when  not 
raining.  B 'St  report  (authentic)  last  season, 
(V40  lbs.  from  one  colony.  Honey,  extracted.  6 
to  y  cts. ;  comb,  12  to  K)  cts.:  wax.  '22  to  24. 

L.  T.  Chambkks. 

Melbourne.  Australia.  July  27. 


Notes  of  Travel 

FROM  A.  I.  ROOT. 

THE  EXCHANTED  MOUNTAIN. 

Long  before  we  reached  Maricopa  (a  station 
on  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  where  a  short 
branch  road  strikes  otT  into  the  desert  to 
Tempe  and  Ph<enix)  1  had  lixed  tny  eye  on  a 
strange  and  wonderful  mountain  away  off  in 
the  east.  It  seemed  to  rise  abruptly  from  the 
desert  until  it  was  well  up  in  the  clouds,  and 
then  there  was  a  level  space — a  sort  of  "mesa'' 
— on  the  top;  and  from  near  tlie  center  of  this 
level  space  arose  another  smaller  mountain,  but 
it  looked  more  like  the  turrets  and  battlements 
of  some  giant's  castle  than  it  did  like  the  moun- 
tains; and  this  uppermost  central  peak  was, 
of  course,  away  up  ami<i  the  clouds.  As  we 
?truck  off  toward  Temix'  I  f<'lt  sorry,  for  it 
seemed  as  if  we  were  going  away  from  this 
strange  and  grotesque  mountain.  But  by  and 
by  the  road  changed;  and  as  the  mountain 
grew,  and  became  larger  and  more  imposing,  I 
began  to  be  greatly  interested  in  it.  By  and 
by  my  curiosity  would  not  permit  me  to  kee|j 
still  longer:  and  when  a  passenger  informed  me 
that  the  object  of  my  attention  was  Supersti- 
tion Moioitdin.  I  became  as  much  excited  as 
was  the  Yankee.  Vou  see.  he  had  been  asking 
a  fellow-passengei-  a  great  many  questions,  be- 
cause tin-  latter  had  only  one  leg.  The  stran- 
ger finally  turned  to  him  and  said: 

■'.My  good  sir.  I  will  tell  you  how  I  lost  my 
leg  if  you  will  give  me  your  promise  not  lo  ask 
me  atiothei-  ([uestion." 

The  Yankee  readily  gave  the  promise;  but 
when  he  was  t(»ld  that  the  missing  limb  was 
■"bitoflfhe  probably  felt  a  good  deal  as  I  did 
about  the  mountain.  If  I  remember  correctly, 
he  did  make  answer  something  as  follows: 


"If  I  were  not  a  man  who  nhrmis  kcejis  his 
promises  to  the  leiier.  1  sliould  IVcl  very  much 
like  asking  what  sort  of  an  animile  it  was  that 
did  the  bitin"."  Therefore  I  immediately  ven- 
tured: 

"  Will  yon  be  so  kind  as  to  tell  m(\  if  yon  can, 
sir,  ii'lijj  they  call  that  wonderful  mountain  Su- 
perstition ?"" 

■'Well,  I  have  never  been  tlieie.  but  I  have 
been  told  that,  from  time  immemorial,  the  In- 
dians refuse  to  go  near  it.  much  less  to  climb  to 
its  rocky  heights.  They  give,  as  a  reason,  that 
st,range  nois(>s  ar(>  always  heard  around  its 
base,  and  that  those  who  have  been  bold  enough 
to  climb  up,  report  tliat  tlie  noises  increase  as 
one  goes  up,  and  that  strange  flashes  of  fire  flit 
from  cliff  to  clitT.  One  who  was  more  daring 
than  all  the  rest  kept  on  until  he  got  up  on  to 
that  turr(!t  that  looks  something  like  a  winding 
stair,  and  there  the  thunderings  and  lightnings 
became  so  terrible  that  no  mortal  could  stand 
it  " 

Of  course,  I  was  full  of  questions  about  Su- 
perstition Mountain  when  I  reached  my  broth- 
ers: and  I  was  greatly  disgusted  that  they  had 
all  lived  so  many  years  right  in  plain  sight  of 
it.  and  not  one  of  tlu'in  had  ever  been  so  far  as 
to  get  even  to  the  base.  In  order  to  satisfy  my 
inquiries  they  ref<'rred  me  to  several  personages 
about  town,  and  by  and  by  I  became  considera- 
bly acquainted  with  the  minister,  the  doctor, 
one  of  the  lawyers,  and  even  a  shoemaker  who 
had  been  at  least  part  way  up  the  mounta.in. 
There  were  inany  different  accounts  of  the  won- 
derful noises,  and  of  the  Indians"  superstition 
in  regard  to  thi'  strange  peak.  One  informed 
me  that  the  ruins  of  an  ancient  city  were  to  be 
found  away  up  on  the  summit.  The  shoemaker 
said  there  were  cliff  dwellings  near  there,  for 
he  had  seen  them;  and  an  old  ex-minister,  who 
probably  knew  more  about  the  strange  sur- 
roundings of  this  weird  country  than  almost 
anybody  else,  told  me  that  Gen.  J.  C.  Fremont, 
during  the  war  with  Mexico,  had  a  regiment  of 
drilled  Mexicans  and  Indians.  Once  upon  a 
time,  to  escape  a  fierce  thunderstorm  lie  ordered 
them  into  some  of  the  numerous  caves  found  in 
and  about  the  mountain.  They  obeyed  orders 
with  fear  and  trembling,  and  an  evident  incli- 
nation to  break  away  from  authority.  But 
Fremont  was  more  than  a  match  for  savage 
superstition  until  a  thunderbolt  of  startling  viv- 
idness, followed  by  a  fearful  crash,  shook  the 
mountain  to  its  very  summit.  This  was  too 
much  for  even  the  military  drill  of  those  chil- 
dren of  the  desert.  First  a  small  band  broke 
away  from  authority.  These,  as  soon  as  they 
dared,  gave  vent  to  the  Indian  yell  of  terror, 
and  th(!  whole  regiment  broke  out  into  the 
drenching  storm,  and  could  never  be  marshaled 
together  again. 

Now,  if  my  imagination  in  the  above  has 
supplied  something  which  I  could  not  exactly 
remember,  I  hope  you  will  forgive  me.  Almost 
every  one  I  invited  to  go  with  me  to  explore 
.Superstition  Mountain  readily  consented.  Per- 
haps they  were  interested  in  my  I'lithusiasm  if 
not  in  the  mountain:  hut  just  aixiut  as  we  had 
got  the  program  linished.  the  women-folks  set 
up  a  vigorous  jirotest.  I  was  an  invalid,  not 
yet  accustomed  to  camping  outdoors,  even  in 
that  mild  climate:  and  to  go  away  off  in  the 
wilderness  where  we  might  suffer  from  a  lack 
of  food  and  water,  or.  possibly,  be  devoured  by 
•*  w  ild  bi'astes."  was  a  thing  not  to  be  thought 
of.  Besides,  up  around  that  turret  it  was  all 
ice  and  snow.  Yes.  the  snow  was  right  bt^fore 
my  eyes  evfii  while  I  declared  I  could  not  live 
if  I  did  not  investigate  the  caves  and  wonderful 
sights  before  going  home.  One  after  another 
the  party  backed  out,  and  sadly  and  sorrowful- 


776 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  15. 


ly  I  was  induced  to  give  up  my  project  until 
summertime,  when  it  would  be  tolerably  warm 
weather,  even  away  up  amid  the  clouds.  How- 
ever, Jess  and  I  (that  is  what  I  call  my  brother) 
planned  one  day  to  drive  the  pony  about  ten  or 
twelve  miles  in  the  direction  of  the  mountain. 
Now,  although  it  looked  as  if  we  might  ivttlk  to 
its  base  in  one  afternoon.  I  was  told  that  it  was 
fifty  miles  away,  and  that  it  was  fifty  miles 
more  uphill  to  reach  the  summit.  As  there  was 
no  beaten  ti'ail  further  than  somewhere  near 
the  base,  and  none  at  all  around  and  up  the 
mountain,  first  one  way  and  then  another,  to 
find  an  accessible  path  to  the  summit,  we 
should  have  been  obliged  to  carry  provision 
and  blankets,  and  feed  for  the  horses  for  several 
days.  Imagine  how  surprised,  then,  to  find 
that,  after  we  had  gone  ten  or  twelve  miles 
toward  it,  the  old  mountain  looked  a  good  deal 
nearer  than  I  expected,,  and  ever  so  much  more 
fascinating.  Our  good  friend  with  whom  we 
took  our  dinner,  who  had  i)ushed  an  alfalfa 
ranch  away  off  there  alone  by  himself,  declared 
that  it  was  not  more  than  25  miles  from  where 
he  lived.  I  was  just  reckless  enough  then  to 
want  to  push  off  alone  without  provisions, 
water,  or  any  thing  else:  hut  I  knew  it  was  not 
wisdom.  But  in  the  last  few  days  I  have  been 
speculating  as  to  whether  my  trusty  wheel 
would  not  skim  over  the  sands  of  the  desert. 
If  not.  I  want  one  made  specially  with  a  wide 
pneumatic  tire — one  that  would  operate  some- 
thing like  snowshoes.  Then  you  see  I  could 
make  up  my  budget  and  spin  off  by  myself  and 
exjDlore  these  hidden  wonders,  and  get  back  to 
civilization  before  I  —  perished.  I  told  my 
brother's  folks  when  I  bid  good-by  to  Tcmipe, 
that  I  was  leaving  a  great  part  of  my  affections 
there.  When  they  began  to  look  pleased,  how- 
ever. I  told  them  that,  much  as  I  felt  attached 
to  that  little  family  circle  of  relatives,  to  tell 
the  plain  truth  said  affections  were  hanging 
about  old  Superstition.  Besides  this  mountain, 
the  good  old  minister  I  have  mentioned  gave 
me  a  history  of  the  wonderful  country"  out 
toward  Flagstaff,  where  we  find  the  real  Grand 
Canyon  of  the  Colorado.  There  were  cliffs 
there  where  you  could  look  a  mile  sti'aight 
down  beneath  your  feet:  and  there  is  a  natural 
bridge  so  large  "that  there  is  a  whole  farm  right 
on  the  top  of  it.  Somebody  said  an  old  farmer 
had  lived  there  all  his  life  without  knowing  he 
lived  on  a  bridge  at  all.  But  I  think  there 
must  be  a  little  exaggeration  about  it.  for  there 
is  a  hole  down  through  in  one  place  where  you 
can  look  through  and  see  the  river  below.  Be- 
sides, there  are  springs  there  more  wonderful 
than  are  to  be  found  anywhere  else  on  the  face 
of  the  earth.  A  railroad  is  now  in  process  of 
construction  from  PhaMiix  toPrescott,  and  then 
we  can  get  somewhere  without  being  in  dan- 
ger of  perishing  from  want  of  food  and  drink. 
Now.  if  my  ideas  are  wrong  in  regard  to  this 
wonderful  Arizona  region,  perhaps  some  of  our 
readers  who  live  there  will  kindly  straighten 
me  out;  but  I  do  think  it  is  too  bad  to  liv(i  in  a 
world  so  full  of  wonders,  and  find  so  many  peo- 
ple who  never  knew  any  thing  about  it  at  all. 
It  makes  me  think  of  the  time  of  Columbus, 
when  he  was  almost  the  only  chap  who  had  en- 
thusiasm enough  to  explore  the  great  unknown 
seas.  By  the  way,  do  you  know  it  is  almost  the 
400th  anniversary  of  the  wonderful  exploit  of 
that  intrepid  adventurer?  Ohl  but  I  should 
just  like  to  take  Columbus  by  the  hand  and  tell 
him  how  much  I  love  and  revere  his  name.  If 
I  just  had  him  to  help,  but  looiddn't  we  just 
explore  old  Superstition!  Now,  if  you  think  I 
am  telling  yarns  go  and  get  your  big  map  of 
Arizona,  and  see  that  great  expanse  of  country 
covered  by  the  title  of  "Superstition  Moun- 
tains." 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


In  the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat  bread,  till 
tliou  return  unto  the  ground.— Gen.  3  :  19. 

The  friends  may  remember  that  I  had  some- 
thing on  this  text  in  a  brief  editorial  in  the  last 
issue.  But  it  is  in  a  different  line  that  I  wish 
to  speak  just  now.  It  is  something  that  has 
been  pressing  itself  on  me  for  some  time  back, 
and  yet  I  have  neglected  it  and  put  it  off.  I 
have  put  it  oft'  because,  if  I  take  it  up,  I  shall 
say  something  that  will  come  nearer  speaking 
ill  of  my  neighbors  than  any  thing,  perhaps,  I 
have  said  previously.  It  may  seem  so.  and  yet 
I  wish  to  have  it  understood  that  I  feel  mysdlf 
to  blame:  in  fact.  I  try  to  believe  that  the 
larger  part  of  the  fault"  rests  on  "oiu'selves" 
instead  of  "our  neighbors."  I  presume  it  is 
very  likely  that  I  have  inherited  a  strong  ten- 
dency to  be  uncharitable.  My  good  old  father 
was  all  his  life  demanding  justice.  He  de- 
manded, or.  at  least,  he  was  inclined  to  demand, 
that  his  neighbors  be  just,  honest,  and  fair; 
yes,  and  I  fear  he  often  felt  inclined  to  demand 
that  his  neighbors  be  industrious  and  prudent; 
and  as  I  grow  oMer  I  find  myself  strongly  in- 
clined to  get  into  the  same  I'ut.  He  worked 
hard  for  a  living,  and  to  bring  up  his  large 
family;  and  when  others  about  him  did  not 
work  hard,  and  did  not  propos*!  to  do  so.  it  was 
his  natural  disposition  to  wish  to  make  them  do 
so.  If  they  transgressed  the  law.  even  in  any 
little  particular,  his  disposition  was  to  demand 
that  they  pay  the  penalty.  Some  of  you  may 
say  that  this  is  right;  but,  dear  friend,  let  me 
caution  you  about  going  out  into  the  world 
demanding  your  full  rights  as  you  look  at 
things,  and  full  justice  according  X,oyoxir  point 
of  view.  You  will  be  everlastingly  in  trouble. 
Let  us  now  drop  this  part  of  it  for  just  a  mo- 
ment. 

For  a  good  wliile  back  my  dear  wife  has  been 
saying  that  I  give  too  much  the  bright  side  of 
things  to  my  readers,  especially  in  my  eft'orts 
to  show  them  how  to  get  a  living,  and  to  make 
money.  She  insists  that  I  have  given  too  much 
prominence  to  the  pleasant  things  about  mar- 
ket-gardening and  intensive  gardening,  and 
that  I  have  not  said  enough  about  the  discour- 
agements  and  difficulties ;  and  particularly  has 
she  urged  that  1  should  say  more  clearly  and 
plainly  than  I  have  yet  said,  that  it  is  next  to 
impossibles  to  make  market-gardening,  garden- 
ing under  glass,  or  any  of  these  kindred  indus- 
tries, i)roHtable,  where  one  expects  to  hire  every 
thing  done,  and  do  little  or  nothing  himself  in 
the  way  of  manual  labor.  And,  come  to  think 
of  it,  the  successful  men  who  cultivate  the  soil, 
raise  berries,  or  fruit  of  any  kind,  are  almost 
always  tho.se  who  do  the  greater  part  of  the 
work  themselves,  or  with  the  help  of  their  chil- 
dren, or,  at  any  events,  work  right  along  with 
their  men.  There  may  be  those  who  run  a 
store  or  factory,  and  at  the  same  time  make  it 
pay  to  raise  crops  entirely  by  the  aid  of  hired 
help;  but  my  impression  is.  that,  if  there  are 
those  who  make  a  steady  profit  year  after  year 
in  this  way.  they  either  have  better  "neigh- 
bors" than  I  have  or  than  I  have  been  able  to 
find  anywhere.  May  God  help  me  from  being 
uncharitable,  or  falling  into  a  fault-finding  and 
complaining  spirit  when  I  give  to  you  in  detail 
some  of  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  making 
both  _ends  meet  with  hired  help.  My  impres- 
sion is.  that  it  is  more  difficult  to  make  farming 
and  gordc/iiJi;/ pay  with  hired  help  than  it  is 
to  succeed  in  the  various  kinds  of  manufactur- 
ing business.  If  farming  and  gardening  con- 
sisted in  raising  some  special  crop,  as  friend 
Terry  does,  a  great  part  of  the  ditficulties  would 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


777 


disappear.  Kut  a  sihkI  many  ncoplo  i-aii  (m*^ 
well  raise  mif  eroi)  or  speeial  crops.  Tliey 
would  sjet  a  irreai  lot  of  perishable  produels  on 
their  liands.  without  a  faeiilty  or  fienius  for  dis- 
posing of  tlicni  at  a  payinir  priei-.  It  is  easy  to 
niisc  crops— yes.  iireat  crops- tliat  can  not  lie 
disposed  of  for  any  thinii  iil<e  a  deciMit  price. 
.Inst  now  I  presume  I  could  pick  several  w  a«on- 
loadsof  wax  tieans;  hut  1  do  not  know  of  any 
place  in  the  world  where  I  could  get  even  :J.5 
ots.  a  Vuishel  for  the  crop.  A  ft>w  months  ago 
wo  got  !.'>  cts.  <i  intttrt.  and  did  not  have  nearly 
enough  to  go  around  even  llu'U.  Everybody  is 
now  tired  of  them:  the  sanu'with  tiu-nips.  I 
should  be  very  glad  indeeil  to  get  :.'0  cts.  a  bush- 
el for  my  entire  crop  of  turnips  that  are  ready 
to  harvest  now;  but  I  do  not  know  where  they 
could  be  sold.  I  have  not  the  time  nor  brains 
to  hunt  up  a  market  without  having  the  ellort 
cost  me  nu)re  than  the  tui  nips  are  worth.  Of 
course,  we  retail  them  around  town  at  a  good 
deal  more  than  that — say  l."!  cts.  a  peck,  or  40 
cts.  if  anybody  wants  a  whole  bushel.  1  asked 
the  boys  if  they  could  sell  any  mor(>  if  they 
offered  them  cheai)er.  and  they  said  they  did 
not  think  they  could.  It  is  the  sam(>  way  with 
summer  squashes.  In  order  to  get  them  off  the 
vines  befoic  they  got  too  liaril.  we  off'ei'ed  them 
at  a  i)enny  api(>c<'.  The  boys  found  a  customer 
who  wanted  a  nice  squash:  but  when  they  told 
him  he  could  have  his  ■"choice  foi' a  cent."' he 
replied.  ■■  No.  no.  my  friend  I  heic  is  a  nickel, 
and  that  surely  is  cheap  enough.  If  I  can't  get 
the  worth  of  a  nickel  out  of  it.  it  will  be  sur- 
prising." I  mention  this  to  show  you  some  of 
the  diiliculties.  Hut.  on  the  other  hand,  we  are 
getting  very  good  prices  indeed  for  our  stuff'  as 
a  rule — that  is.  if  we  don"t  raise  too  inudi.  In 
fact.  I  would  not  ask  for  better  prices,  provid- 
ing our  markets  w  ere  large  enough  so  that  they 
would  take  all  that  we  happen  to  raise.  The 
wa.\  beans  were  planted  with  the  hope  that  they 
might  mature  before  frost,  sufficiently  for  seed. 
and  a  large  part  of  them  have  done  so.  We 
have  had  one  pretty  severe  frost;  but  if  we  do 
not  get  any  more  for  a  week  or  ten  days,  my 
beans  will  be  a  paying  crop.  Summer  squashes 
may  also  be  utilized  for  seed  to  a  certain  extent. 
But  this  depends  upon  something  thai  T  am 
now  coming  to. 

It  used  to  be  the  fashion  for  boys  to  learn 
trades,  but  nowadays  they  don't  do  it.  They 
just  work  for  whoever  offifs  them  the  most  pay, 
first  at  one  thing  and  then  another;  and  the 
factories  and  other  industries  offer  these  untu- 
tored boys  so  much  that  I  do  not  see  how  the 
farmer  and  gardener  are  going  to  pay  such 
wages  for  untrained  and  unskilled  help,  and 
make  both  ends  meet.  Yes.  there  is  one  way  in 
which  the  farmer  or  gardener  might  do  it.  He 
could  take  an  untrained  and  unskilled  boy  right 
along  ivitli  him:  and  while  the  boy  is  />;/  lils 
.*.idf,  and  sees  all  the  time  just  what  he  is  do- 
ing, if  the  boy  really  means  well,  and  promises 
to  be  useful,  he  could  earn  his  pay.  But  sup- 
pose you  take  the  average  boy.  say  fifteen  or 
sixteen  years  old.  and  undertake  to  pay  him  7") 
cents  a  day.Gl  do  not  see  how  vou  could  do  it. 

If  my  whole  :;;0  acres  could  be  planted  to  wax 
beans,  and  if  that  were  the  only  croj)  we  raised. 
I  think  I  could  teach  the  boy,  without  very 
much  trouble,  so  he  would  know  all  about  it. 
from  getting  the  ground  ready,  to  gathering 
the  crop.  I  could  teach  him  not  to  pick  beans 
that  were  too  thin  and  green,  and  also  to  avoid 
the  other  extreme  and  not  let  them  get  so  old 
as  to  be  tough.  I  could  teach  him  not  to  set 
his  basketdown  where  nobody  could  find  it  until 
the  contents  were  so  wilted  and  dried  up  in  the 
sun  as  to  be  worthless;  and  I  could  also  teach 
him  not  to  put  into  his  basket  a  specked  or 
spotted   one.  and   not  to  get  leaves,  dirt,  and 


ruhbish;  and  I  could  make  him  understand 
that,  to  bring  the  best  price,  they  must  be  as 
spotless  and  perfect  as  wax.  for  this  is  why  they 
are  called  nvrr  beans.  But  suppose,  in  order  to 
get  the  two  or  three  thousaiul  dollars  a  year 
that  our  town  of  .Medina  will  pay  for  garden 
products.  I  undertake  to  teach  liim  just  how  to 
grow  anti  handle  civri/ crop,  all  the  way  from 
asparagus,  which  heads  thi'  list  of  vegetabli'S. 
clear  down  to  turnips,  which  usually  clo.ses  the 
catalogue  list.  The  boy  might  be  taught  all 
the  kinks  and  turns;  bui it  would  be  like  teach- 
ing him  a  trade,  or  taking  him  through  college; 
and  by  the  time  be  is  taught  so  as  to  be  an  ex- 
pert. s-omelKidy  else  would  offer  him  10  cents  an 
iiour.  or  l:i3'o,  or  possibly  1.")  ccMits.  Now.  this 
sounds  a  little  like  complaining.  It  strikes  me 
that  it  iN  a  littl(!  on  the  other  side  that  com- 
plaints are  usually  nuide.  Vou  may  say.  and 
very  likely  souu^  of  my  boy  readers  will  say. 
that  wages  are  a  good  deal  higher  in  our  local- 
ity. I  do  not  think  tlu^y  are.  my  friend.  There 
are  plenty  wanting  to  work  in  our  locality  all 
the  time.  '  In  fact,  for  years  past  I  have  been 
besieged,  as  I  have  told  you.  bv  those  wanting 
places.  A  good  many  would  offer  to  work  in 
our  locality  for  .50  cents  a  day:  but  these  are 
the  most  (Expensive  nien  and  boys  I  have  ever 
employed,  with  perhans  some  few  exceptions. 

A  good  man  or  a  good  boy  may  sometimes 
start  out  to  work  for  a  vei'v  low  jjrice.  be|i(n'ing 
that  he  will  be  able  to  make  hims(>lf  so  appre- 
ciated that  he  will  very  soon  rei-eive  higher 
pay.  Oh  how  I  do  like  to  meet  with  such  I  But 
they  are  the  exception  and  not  the  rule.  There 
is  more  to  be  considered  yet.  This  boy  that 
you  have,  by  months  and  perhaps  years  of 
painstaking,  taught  to  be  valuable,  will,  sooner 
or  later,  be  taken  from  you  suddenly.  He  may 
be  sick;  circumstances  may  call  him  away, 
even  if  somebody  else  does  not  offer  him  more 
pay.  This  is  a  world  full  of  changes.  Whoever 
goes  into  gardening  or  any  other  occujiation 
must  make  up  his  mind  to  meet,  and  he  must 
calculate  upon,  changes.  The  man  who  grows 
strawberries  for  a  living,  or  whose  strawberries 
make  a  part  of  his  living,  must  be  prepared  to 
have  his  best  man  stop  by  sickness  or  accident 
in  the  height  of  the  season.  On  this  account  it 
becomes  almost  necessary  to  keep  on  hand  at 
the  busy  season  a  little  more  help  than  we 
really  need.  This  is  an  (expense,  I  knosv;  but  it 
is  a  little  less  expense  than  to  see  your  crops 
spoil  because  you  can  not  get  hold  of  anybody 
who  knows  any  thing  about  how  to  go  to  work 
to  help  you  out  of  your  crowd.  There  are 
pleasures  and  delights  in  raising  berries,  and  in 
raising  garden-stuff  and  crops.  I  have  tasted 
them,  and  I  know;  but  there  are  also  trials  and 
perplexities  that  must  be  met  and  borne.  The 
curse  that  was  pronounced  upon  Adam,  is,  in 
the  language  of  our  text,  still  in  force—"  In  the 
sweat  of  thy  face  shall  thou  eat  bread;""  and 
he  who  undertakes  to  escape  or  avoid  it  must 
pay  the  penally  in  some  way  or  other.  The 
woman  or  man  who  proposes  to  eo  though  this 
world  without  earning  his  bread  by  the  sweat 
of  his  face,  will,  sooner  or  later,  find  difficulty 
and  trouble.  I  have  tried  a  great  many  kinds 
of  business,  and  I  have  succeeded  at  least  toler- 
ably in  several  different  kinds;  but  I  have 
found  the  rule  holds  good  all  through.  There 
is  no  excellence  without  great  labor;  and  I 
think  I  would  put  especial  emphasis  on  the 
word  great.  The  class  of  people  who  think  it 
is  a  fine  thing  or  a  grand  thing  to  hire  people 
and  tell  tliem  what  to  do.  instead  of  being 
obliged  to  do  it  himself,  or  to  woik  for  somebody 
else,  are  making  a  great  mistake. 

I  thought,  when  I  started  out  to  write  this, 
that  I  would  tell  you  of  some  of  the  special 
trials  that  meet  intensive  agriculture.    For  in- 


778 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  15. 


stance,  after  you  have  got  your  crops  all  raised, 
if  you  do  not  keep  a  careful  oversight  you  will 
be  discouraged  and  disheartened  every  little 
while  by  finding  something  that  is  costing  you 
more  than  you  get  for  it,  just  in  gatlieriiKj  and 
selling  the  crop.  In  the  course  of  the  year  we 
sell  a  great  mauy  bunch  onions.  Perhaps  there 
is  no  other  one  thing  that  sells  so  readily  every 
day  in  the  yiar.  at  a  nickel  a  bunch,  as  green 
onions:  but  if  you  do  not  look  sharp  some  boy 
will  stop  to  i)iay.  or  be  so  indolent  about  his 
work  that  it  will  cost  you  a  nickel  to  pull  a 
bunch  of  onions,  peel.  trim,  and  slip  a  rubber 
band  over  them.  Hoys  who  do  this  work  usu- 
ally get  from  three  to  five  cents  an  hour:  but  I 
have  known  some  of  them  (that  seemed  to 
mean  well  generally,  too)  who  would  manage  in 
some  way  to  [)ut  in  an  hour  on  one  bunch  of 
onions.  You  may  say  that  this  is  the  foreman's 
business,  who  looks  after  the  boys.  Well,  the 
foreman  was  perhaps  busy  at  something  else 
or  did  not  understand  that  he  was  to  look  after 
such  things.  The  boy.  too.  needed  teaching. 
His  emjjloyer  or  some  other  kind  friend  should 
take  him  by  the  shoulder,  and  say.  "  Look  here, 
my  son.  we  get  only  a  nickel  for  these  bunches. 
You  have  been  so  long  in  getting  so  nuiny  ri  ady 
for  the  market.'"  If  you  do  it  in  th<M'ight  way 
he  will  straighten  lip  and  do  four  bunches 
where  he  formerly  did  one:  and  this  sort  of  ex- 
hortation is  needed  all  around.  You  may 
think  it  easy  to  go  from  one  to  another  and  do 
this  sort  of  teaching.  Perhaps  one  does  not 
sweat  very  much  in  a  literal  sense  in  doing  such 
teaching,  but  it  wears  on  the  nerves  and  vitali- 
ty. It  is  like  the  work  of  teaching  school. 
Somebody  may  say.  "'  Why,  Mr.  Root,  boys  are 
not  fit  for  such  work  as  that.  Set  some  good 
smart  women  at  it — women  who  have  had  the 
care  of  a  family,  and  know  how  to  prepare  stuff 
for  the  table,  and  to  do  ir.  quick."  Well,  I  have 
had  a  largo  experience  with  women  of  chis  very 
kind,  and  1  know  very  well  that  this  very  boy's 
mother  will  sometimes  bunch  as  many  onions 
in  an  hour  as  the  boy  himself  would  in  half  a 
day.  Perhaps  she  wouldn  t  cost  more  than 
twice  what  yon  pay  the  boy:  but  when  she 
gets  to  be  skillful  and  valuable  help  to  yon.  she 
will  want  about  10  or  123v,'  cts.  an  hour.  Other 
people,  too.  will  find  out  that  she  is  skillful  and 
efficient,  and  the  mo)iey  value  of  every  wage- 
worker,  sooner  or  later,  finds  its  level. 

You  may  ^ay  that  the  illustrations  I  have 
given  are  only  trifling  matters,  and  that  it  is 
all  a  kind  of  five-cent  trade,  any  way.  True: 
but  it  is  a  cash-down  trade;  and  it  is  sometimes 
better  to  have  nickels,  spot  cash,  than  to  sell 
crops  foi- dollars  that  are  not  spot  cash.  And. 
by  the  way,  let  us  find  somn  of  the  difficulties 
where  more  capital  and  good  men  are  employed. 
If  you  garden  many  acres  you  want  a  manure- 
spreader,  a  grain-drill,  and  other  like  exi)ensive 
and  to  some  extent  complicated  machinery. 
Can  the  average  man  be  intrusted  with  such 
tools?  I  have  owned  two  manure-spreaders. 
The  first  one  was  worn  out  and  used  up  in  a 
few  years.  This  wa^  because  somebody  or 
several  "somebodies'*  were  not  careful.  After 
the  burning  of  our  warehouse  I  purchased  a 
new  spreader — the  best  to  be  had.  and  picked 
one  of  my  most  careful  men,  and  taught  him 
how  to  use  it.  Very  likely  the  first  mistake 
came  because  the  careful  man  was  sick  or  otf 
visiting,  and  somebody  else  had  to  be  hastily 
instructed  in  the  us<^  of  it.  Every  little  while 
it  would  be  I'un  without  propei-  oiling,  unless  I 
personally  got  out  my  pocket-knife  and  cleaned 
out  the  oil-holes,  and  made  the  oil  go  down  to 
the  bearings  though  the  hole.  Then  I  must  go 
back  to  the  >tore  or  ofh'ce  with  my  hands  cover- 
ed with  hlack  grease,  and  perhaps  my  clothes 
soiled.    The  new  machine  was.  in  three  or  four 


years,  about  as  badly  dilapidated  as  the  old  one, 
and  I  havi'  groaned  in  anguish  of  spirit  because 
mishaps  and  breakdowns  occur  with  that 
manure-spreader  so  continually.  Whenever  we 
have  a  rainy  day.  the  standing  orders  are  for 
all  hands  to  go  into  our  large  tool- house,  clean 
up,  oil,  tighten  up.  and  i)ut  the  tools  in  order. 
If  I  am  on  hand  when  it  rains,  and  can  spare 
the  time,  we  get  a  good  deal  done:  but  if  I  send 
somebody  to  give  oi'ders,  even  though  it  rains 
half  a  day  or  more,  the  next  time  we  want  to 
use  a  tool  we  are  almost  sure  to  have  a  big  team 
and  possibly  a  couple  of  men  standing  still  until 
somebody  brings  a  bolt  or  nut  to  replace  one 
that  is  lost  or  broken.  The  history  of  our 
grain-drill,  which  we  use  for  sowing  the  greater 
part  of  our  seeds  in  market-gardening,  is  much 
the  same.  A  good  deal  of  the  damage  to  our 
tools  has  been  done  by  lending  them.  vSonie  of 
the  neighbors  who  hired  them  thought  I  was 
getting  rich  by  charging  them  2.t  or  50  cts.  a 
day  for  the  ush  of  an  expensive  machine;  but  I 
am  sure  that  what  I  received  in  that  way  has 
not  paid  for  repairs.  This  is  a  dismal  story,  is 
it  not?  But  the  fault  is  largely  my  own.  I 
have  attempted  so  much  that  it  has  been  im- 
possible to  look  afti-r  it  all.  May  (xod  help  me 
to  reform.  My  neighbor  Terry  has  a  manure- 
spreader  that  has  been  used  for  a  dozen  years, 
with  less  than  a  dollar  expended  in  repairs, 
before  he  starts  to  use  it  he  goes  with  his  hired 
men  and  sees  ihem  oil  it.  Then  he  raises  the 
wheels  and  turns  them  by  hand,  and  the  ma- 
chine is  never  allowed  to  go  out  of  the  tool-shed 
until  every  wheil  moves  as  free  as  air.  Yester- 
day our  manure- spreader  was  started,  and  I 
saw  from  a  distance  that  the  drive-wheel  was 
sliding  on  the  mellow  ground.  I  hastened  out 
into  the  lot.  and  found  the  reel  that  does  the 
spreading  could  hardly  be  turned  by  hand.  In 
my  absence  the  machine  had  been  left  out  in 
the  rain.  One  of  the  boards  had  warped  so  as 
to  press  against  the  reel.  Do  you  wonder  we 
have  breakdowns  ?  Some  of  you  may  say  you 
would  not  have  such  men  around.  Gently,  my 
good  friend.  My  men  are  good  men;  but  the 
demands  of  our  factory,  and  large  business,  call 
them  fi'om  one  thing  to  another,  and  into  so 
many  different  lines  of  business,  that  it  is  next 
to  impossible  that  they  should  do  very  much 
bettei-  than  they  do.  Better  undertake  to  do 
one  thing,  and  do  it  well:  then  the  sweat  of  your 
face  will  stand  a  better  chance  of  bringing  you 
your  bread. 

No  matter  how  good  your  help  may  be,  you 
have  got  to  watch  things  and  keep  an  eye  on 
the  minutes  as  well  as  the  nickels.  People  who 
have  learned  how.  and  who  can.  if  they  have  a 
mind  to,  work  very  rapidly,  have  a  way  of 
backsliding  and  degenerating,  if  the  boss  is  not 
around.  Now,  I  hope  that  my  good  friends  who 
read  this  will  excuse  me  if  I  seem  to  be  com- 
plaining of  my  neighbors.  I  have  known  wo- 
men who  have  brought  up  families,  to  go  out 
into  the  fields  to  pick  snap  beans,  and  get  the 
wrong  variety — in  fact,  pick  a  great  lot  that 
were  fit  for  nothing  whatever.  I  have  also 
known  them  to  pick  peas  with  pods  about  as 
thin  as  caseknives;  and  I  have  known  men  who 
are  the  fathers  of  families,  to  pick  green  corn 
before  there  was  a  kernel  on  the  cob.  Some- 
times I  would  say.  "  Look  here,  my  friend;  how 
would  you  feel  if  somebody  were  to  sell  you 
some  corn  for  dinner  like  that?"  As  I  spoke  I 
stripped  down  the  hu*k.  He  did  not  reply  at 
first:  but  fiiiiillv.  when  urged,  he  said,  with  a 
smile.  ■■  I  guess  I  should  feel  pretty  mad."  To 
those  who  pick  the  peas  without  any  thing  in- 
side of  the  pods,  after  I  had  broken  them  open 
and  shown  the  contents  as  above,  the  reply 
would  bt^.  "  Well.  I  think  I  shouldn't  like  it  very 
much." 


1S92 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


In  tcacliiiiK  pcopli'  how  to  work.  I  often  mal<<' 
a  n-niaik  soiiictliinjr  liUo  tliis:  "My  friend.  llu> 
iiood  liooU  says  ilial  wt"  must  love  our  neighbors 
as  ourselves.  Now,  if  you  would  ^et  |)n'tty 
mad.  or  wouldn't  like  it  \  ery  mucli  if  somi'hody 
were  to  sell  you  sui'h  peas  or  sui-li  corn  or  sueli 
snap  lieans.  you  tmist  adiuil  that  you  are  not 
doing  as  you  would  be  dt)ue  by.*  You  say  you 
did  not  think  ov  did  not  inc<i)i  to  liarm  anybody, 
and  yei  you  have  wroufjed  mo:  and  you  iiunihJ 
have  wronired  my  (.'ustomers  fwliieh  would  ha\-e 
been  worse  yet.  so  far  as  1  am  eont-ernedi.  had  1 
not  'lappened  around  just  in  time  to  stop  vou." 
.•>ueh  teaehiiiK  and  sueli  exhortation  help  nial- 
teis  very  mui'h;  but  it  must  be  done  over  and 
uiTr.  If  you  do  not  keep  constantly  in  mind 
that  .lohn  i>  olf  across  the  creek  at  work  on  the 
strawberries,  and  lliury  is  ovei-  the  hill  picking 
peas,  and  William  in  aiioiher  direction  .-owing 
some  seeds,  and  get  around  to  all  of  them  pretty 
quickly,  you  will  have  tiouble  and  disaster.+ 
If  liie  person  who  is  sowing  the  seed  puts  in  too 
much  you  iiiinj  have  a  joi)  of  thinning  out  that 
will  cost  alnu>si  u  hat  the  cidp  is  worth.  If  ho 
does  not  put  in  enough  x-ed.  yon  must  either 
transplant  to  till  u])  the  vacant  room,  or  you 
must  let  your  lich.  expi'iisively  fertilized  ground 
lie  idle — ajiartofii — through  the  heightofthe 
season.  Our  good  friend  . I.  W.  Smith,  of  Green 
Bay.  Wis.,  has  about  40  acies  in  truu'ket-garden: 
and  he.  with  tJie  help  of  his  boys,  keeps  busy 
from  50  to  T.'i  hands,  including  women  and  chil- 
dren, in  thi'  height  of  the  season.  But  he  does 
not  manage  s-o  as  to  have  no  waste  or  disa-ier 
eithi-r.  Even  during  the  brief  hour  that  I  went 
over  his  grounds.  I  saw  several  things  that  weie 
going  to  ruin  though  negli'ct.  In  fact,  one  part 
of  his  wonderful  plantation  of  currants  came 
very  near  being  eaten  up  by  the  swift-moving 
currant-worm.  I  wonder  that  his  work  does 
not  wear  him  out  more  than  it  does. 

■■  Well.  Bro.  Root,  you  are  certainly  going  to 
give  us  a  remedy  for  this  state  of  affairs.  You 
.surely  do  not  mean  here  in  these  Home  talks  to 
tell  us  of  troubles  and  discouragements,  and 
not  suggest  a  way  out."  My  dear  friend,  I 
should  be  very  glad  indeed  to  give  you  some 
encouragement.  You  know  our  country  is  just 
now  having  much  troubh?  in  discussing  this 
very  problem.  The  people  who  tvorh  think 
they  do  not  have  as  much  as  they  should  have: 
and  those  who  hire  them — (^specially  farmers — 
think  they  can  not  stdnd  it  to  go  on  fanning 
and  pay  as  much  as  they  have  iDeen  paying.  I 
wish  it  weri'  possible  f(jr  a  poor  weak  faulty 
human  being  like  myself  to  suggest  a  remedy 
that  would  be  agreeable  to  all  parties.^    I  have 

*The  mail  and  tiny  who  sell  siiitt'  uii  thewag^on  will 
never  make  a  hhiiifler  of  this  kind,  you  may  be  sure. 
'I'liey  have  seen  customers  s(i  main  times  refuse  to 
take  iliem  l)ecause  Ihey  vvejc  uiuipe  or  overripe, 
that  tliey  have  learned' tlieii-  lesson  well;  Vmt  it  is 
not  always  j)ossil)le  or  convenient  to  have  the  men 
who  XI II  the  St  nil  clo  the  fraihcriiifr. 

+  My  wheel  is  proving  a  }rrcat  help  right  liore.  I 
now  jfo  across  the  creek,  or  np  l)y  the  windniiil,  and 
aloiifr  tlie  roads  and  paths  wherever  the  men  and 
hoys  are  at  work,  with  no  lalioiious  fatigue,  and  in 
a  twinkiiiif^  of  time.  It  makes  exhilarating  iiastime 
of  wliat  has  been  wearing  me  out — that  is,  when  tlie 
jrround  is  not  too  wet. 

$Oni-  sure  way  of  meeting  tlie.se  trials  and  difficul- 
ties forces  itself  almost  constantly  uiion  me.  The 
fat hei-.  with  liis  own  t)oys  and  girls,  can  meet  the 
demands  of  the  case— that  is,  if  the  f;iniily  relations 
are  such  as  tliey  shtjuld  t)e.  Tlie  hoys  can  be  taught 
how  to  care  for  machinery,  and  they  will  have  an 
interest  in  t;iking  i-are  of  it  that  hired  help  seldmri 
has  or  can  have.  I  believe  God  intended  tliat  the 
family  circle  should  be  a  partnershiii;  and  when  we 
i-aii  see  the  l)o\s,  after  they  are  married  and  Unvc 
families  (»f  their  own,  still  working  side  Ijy  side  with 
the  father,  we  get  a  glimpse  of  a  happy  soluti<m  of 
a  gi-eat  part  of  these  troubles. 


studied  over  the  matter  a  good  deal,  and  it  has 
seemed  to  me  tliat  the  remedy  must  come  along 
t'tie  line  of  our  te.\t.  Wo  must  all  be  w  illing  to 
"  sweat "  harder,  or,  in  other  words,  keep  our 
minds  more  on  our  work;  tlien  we  from  the 
opposite  exlrenu's  shall  lie  able  to  meet  each 
other — yi^s,  nn-et  and  clasp  hands  as  friends  and 
neiglibors,  even  though  one  of  us  does  the  /;o,s.s- 
//!(/ and  th(!  other  the  ivorh.  I'ossibly  we  may 
soon  exchange  places.  In  this  busy  world  of 
ours  we  are.  in  reality,  almost  constantly 
changing  places:  but  if  we  want  to  b(^  happy, 
if  we  want  to  enjoy  our  work  and  receive  (Jod's 
full  measure  of  blessing,  let  us  work  thankfully 
and  uncomplainingly.  Let  us  be  good-nalureil 
and  patient,  even  if  the  sweat  should  drop  from 
the  end  of  our  noses  and  run  down  the  face  into 
the  eyes,  as  I  suggested  to  you  in  the  last  iium- 
lier.  And  as  we  work  together  in  gathering 
the  crops,  may  God  the  Fathei-  give  us  grace;  to 
say  in  our  hearts  as  well  as  in  our  words, 
"Blessing  and  glory  and  wisdom  and  thanks- 
giving and  honor  and  power  and  might  be  unto 
our  Ond  for  ever  and  ever.'" 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


THE    NEW   CEIvERY    CULTURE. 

This  is  the  title  of  a  little  book  published  by 
the  Rural  Publishing  Co.:  and,  in  fact,  most  of 
it  has  already  been  given  through  the  columns 
oi  thi' Rnvtd  New-Y(jrker.  The  principal  idea 
in  this  new  celery  culture  is,  in  dispensing  en- 
tirely with  all  banking  up.  The  plants  are 
placed  so  close  together  that,  wlien  they  are 
fully  grown,  they  cover  the  ground  so  as  to  do 
their  own  bleaching.  Like  the  new- onion  cul- 
ture and  a  good  many  other  new  things,  it  is 
not  quite  new  after  all.  Peter  Henderson, 
years  ago.  recommended  planting  celery  a  foot 
apart  each  way,  with  this  very  purpose  in  view. 
Robert  Niven,  however,  the  principal  exponent 
of  this  plan,  puts  the  plants  only  7  inches  apart 
each  way.  \"ou  see.  it  is  an  important  point  to 
get  just  the  right  distance.  If  the  plants  are 
too  close  they  will  crowd  each  other,  and  you 
will  get  only  a  spindling  growth:  but  if  too 
far  apart  they  will  not  be  sufficiently  bleached. 
Of  course,  the  ground  must  be  tremendously 
rich  and  strong,  and  there  must  be  no  stint  of 
water,  if  you  would  have  good  strong  stalks  of 
celery  only  7  inches  apart.  My  plan  would  be, 
and  is,  to  use  stable  manure:  but  Mr.  Niven, 
however,  uses  the  Bowker  celery  -  fertilizer. 
Now,  I  have  never  hecMi  able  to  get  any  beneht 
frotn  chemical  manures  on  celery.  I  am.  how- 
ever, at  present,  testing  the  matter.  My  celery- 
bed  is  oblong,  and  made  as  rich  as  it  can  well 
b(;  made,  with  barnyard  manure.  After  doing 
this  I  have  used  lli<'  celery-fertilizer  on  alter- 
nate sqiuires.  At  present  I  can  discover  no  etlect 
whatever  from  it,  but  perhaps  it  is  not  yet 
time.  Mr.  Niven  uses  two  tons  of  fertilizer  per 
acre,  and  he  lias  already  succiseded  in  raising  a 
crop  of  celeiy  on  a  single  acre  that  sold  at  the 
vdte  of  $l').<ii)0  per  acre — at  least,  so  the  liiiral 
JVcw-i'orfcer  says.  Perhaps  I  may  state  that  we 
have  been  growing  celery  somciwhat  on  this 
plan  for  years:  that  is,  aftcu-  the  plants  are 
taken  from  our  seed  IxmIs  we  hav<' let  the  re- 
maining ones  grow,  banking  them  uji  otitside; 
and  in  jilaces  wln-re  the  plants  were  thick 
enough  there  would  be  no  banking  at  all.  The 
celery,  however,  was  never  quite  as  white  and 
crisp  as  that  bleaclied  with  earth.  A  relative 
of  mine,  however,  informs  me  that  he  has  now 
five  or  six  thousand  White  Plume  raised  on  the 


780 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  15. 


Niven  plan,  equal  to  any  celery  banked  up.  If 
this  should  be  a  success  it  will  be  a  wonderful 
advance  in  celery-growing.  We  shall  have  re- 
ports, doubtless,  before  winter  sets  in.  from  a 
great  many  experimenters.  The  people  at  our 
Ohio  Experiment  Station  have  been  for  some 
vears  raising  nice  celery  on  a  plan  somewhat 
similar.  The  plants  are  a  foot  or  more  apart, 
and  dirt  is  worked  in  between  them.  In  order 
to  get  them  out  of  the  dirt  you  make  a  row  of 
celery,  say  six  feet  wide,  and  then  you  have  a 
road  or  alley  six  feet  wide.  The  dirt  needed  is 
to  be  shoveled  out  of  this  road.  The  little  book 
entitled  "'The  New  Celery  Culture '"  also  dis- 
cusses other  methods,  and  is,  without  question, 
worth  the  small  price  asked  for  it— 20  cents— to 
any  celery-grower.  We  can  furnish  it  by  mail 
at  the  above  price. 

OTHER  NEW  KURAI.  BOOKS. 

The  Rural  Publishing  Co.  are  giving  us  some 
quite  valuable  hand-books  on  rural  matters, 
besides  "  The  New  Celery  Culture,"  which  I 
have  already  mentioned.  A  companion  to  this 
is  "  Chemicals  and  Clover,"  price  20  cts.  Now,  I 
should  be  very  glad  indeed  to  give  this  book  a 
recommendation;  but  it  makes  me  feel  bad,  and 
it  troubles  me  exceedingly,  to  think  that,  on  our 
soil,  whether  on  low  creek  bottom  or  on  upland, 
chemicals  seem  to  have  almost  no  effect  what- 
ever on  our  crops.  I  should  very  much  prefer 
to  use  fertilizers  than  to  get  so  much  manure 
from  the  livery-stables,  for  then  I  could  escape 
the  great  host  of  weed  seeds  that  are  sure  to 
come  with  stable  manure. 

We  have  already  given  a  notice  of  "  How  to 
Rid  Buildings  of  Rats,"  etc.  This  "  rat-book  " 
is  of  especial  value.  The  book  is  written  in 
such  a  happy  vein  that  almost  every  one  who 
takes  It  up  will  read  it  through:  and  after  they 
have  read  it  they  will,  all  their  lives,  be  better 
prepared  to  fight  rats  and  mice  successfully. 
The  price  of  the  book  is  20  cts. 

"  Spraying  Crops  "  is  another  little  book,  by 
Clarence  M.  Weed..  It  seems  to  cover  the  whole 
ground  (of  course  rather  briefly)  up  to  the 
pi-esent  time,  and  the  price  is  only  25  cts. 

Another  book  is  the  "  New  Po'ato  Culture." 
This  is  written  with  the  especial  view  of  rais- 
ing potatoes  by  the  use  of  chemical  fertilizers, 
and,  of  course,  like  my  good  friend  Terry,  I  can 
not  understand  how  anybody  can  raise  potatoes 
with  chemicalsalone— that  is,  judging  from  the 
experience  we  have  had.  When  they  talk  about 
guano,  that  is  all  very  clear  arid  plain  sailing, 
for  that  is  animal  manure;  but  the  statements 
in  regard  to  nitrate  of  soda  and  such  like  chem- 
icals are,  to  me,  a  stumbling-block.  Why  don't 
such  things  produce  any  result  whatever  in  any 
experiments  that  I  make?  The  price  of  this 
book  is  40  cts.  in  paper. or  T.^  cts.  bound  in  cloth. 
oThe  next  book  is  "The  Horticulturist's  Rule 
Book."  written  by  Prof.  Bailey.  This  4s  a  very 
valuable  reference-book  indeed;  in  fact,  it  is 
wonderful  to  see  how  much  real  knowledge 
and  information  is  given  briefly  in  a  few  words, 
and  it  covers  almost  the  whole  ground  of  horti- 
culture. The  price  is  60  cts.  in  paper  covers,  or 
ai.OO  bound. 

We  can  forward  any  of  the  books  mentioned 
above,  on  receipt  of  the  price  given.  I  would 
especially  recommend  the  "New  Celery  Cul- 
ture.'" This  will  b(!  particularly  valuable  to 
those  who  grow  only  a  little  celery  in  their  own 
garden,  for  by  this  new  process  we  can  get  al- 
most a  wagonload  of  celery  on  a  piece  of  ground 
not  much  bigger  than  the  wagon-box  itself; 
but,  oh  dear  me  1  you  have  got  to  give  it  ma- 
nure and  io((ter.  Celery  is  one  of  the  few  plants 
that  are  so  accommodating  as  to  grow  almost 
as  well  (or  sometimes  it  .seems  even  better)  in 
the  shade  of  buildings.    On  this  account  many 


people  can  have  a  little  celery-garden  where 
they  could  not  have  a  garden  of  any  sort  very 
well. 

THE   OHIO   STATE   UNIVERSITY   FARM. 

Inasmuch  as  we  have  had  frequent  contribu- 
tions from  our  Ohio  State  Experiment  Farm, 
and  have  also  published  the  results  of  many  of 
their  experiments,  we  think  it  quite  likely  our 
readers  will  be  interested  in  the  following  an- 
nouncement: 

The  management  of  the  Ohio  State  University 
Farm,  which  has  been  conducted  by  the  Ohio  Agri- 
cultural Experiment  Station  during  the  past  five 
years,  has  been  again  undertaken  by  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  tlie  University.  The  farm  has  beeTi 
placed  in  tlie  direct  cliarge  of  the  professor  of  agri- 
culture, wlille  the  horticultural  work  Is  In  the 
hands  of  tlie  professor  of  horticulture.  Mr.  Frank- 
lin P.  Stump,  a  recent  graduate  of  the  Course  in 
Agriculture,  has  been  appointed  Foreman  of  the 
Farm.  Mr.  W.  S.  Turner,  formerly  with  the  horti- 
cultural department  of  the  Experiment  Station, 
has  been  ap])oluted  Foreman  of  the  Gardens. 

The  re-occupatlon  of  these  grounds  by  the  Uni- 
versity will  enable  the  instructors  of  the  Depart- 
ments of  Agriculture  and  Horticulture  to  use  the 
farm  and  gardens  for  class  illustration  and  instruc- 
tion, andtfius  make  possible  a  considerable  enlarge- 
ment of  the  practical  work  in  agriculture  and  lior- 
ticulture.  It  is  not  the  purpose  of  these  depart- 
ments to  make  money,  but  to  make  men. 

A  large  portion  of  the  work  on  the  farm,  and  in 
the  gardens  and  orchards,  is  done  by  students,  pi-ef- 
erence  being  given  to  tlioseintlie  Scliool  of  Agri- 
culture. During  the  past  week  39  students  have 
been  on  the  i>ay-ron  of  the  Departments  of  Agri- 
culture and  Hni  liculture.  Five  other  men  were 
employed,  thvw  of  them  for  less  than  three  days. 

The  "members  of  tiie  faculty  composing  the  Com- 
mittee on  Agriculture  will  undertake  such  experi- 
mental work  as  their  time  and  tlie  funds  at  their 
disposal  will  allow.  Thos.  F.  Hunt. 

I  would  call  particular  attention  to  one  sen- 
tence in  the  above:  "It  is  not  the  purpose  of 
these  departiuents  to  make  money,  but  to  make 
men;'"  and  in  these  days  when  .so  much  is  said 
about  bribery  and  corruption  generally  in  pub- 
lic places,  it  is  pleasant  to  know  that  no  such 
charge  has  been  made  against  the  students  and 
managers  of  our  various  experiment  stations 
belonging  to  the  ditt'erent  States.  In  some 
cases  they  have  been  accused  of  stupidity,  but 
never,  to  my  knowledge,  of  dishonesty;  and 
when  it  comes  to  the  former,  the  man  in  the.se 
days  who  has  not  had  occasion  again  and  again 
to  call  himself  stupid  is  surely  not  a  progressive 
man.  The  stations  are,  by  their  tests,  giving 
us  a  glimpse,  for  almost  the  first  time  in  the 
history  of  the  world,  of  the  real  stupidity  and 
superstition  the  world  has  for  ages  been  groan- 
ing und(>r— that  is,  the  agricultural  world.  I 
have  often  wished  that  other  departments  of 
science  and  industry  might  be  weighed  in  the 
balance  in  about  the  same  way  that  our  agri- 
cultural colleges  are  now  weighing  and  testing 
every  thing  in  their  line. 

THE   BORDEAUX    MIXTURE     FOR    (JUINCE-TREES. 

Some  five  or  six  years  ago  I  purchased  fifty 
quince-trees,  and  have  been  trying  ever  since  to 
get  some  quince's.  They  are  on  very  rich  ground, 
and.  we  thought,  had  the  best  of  care:  yet  the 
fruit  was  so  knotty  and  gnarly,  and  the  foliage 
looked  so  spotted  and  twisted,  that  I  began  to 
accuse  the  friend  who  sold  me  the  trees  of  hav- 
ing ?iven  me  some  inferior  kinds.  In  fact.  Mrs. 
Root  vvould  scarcely  consent  to  waste  her  time 
in  cutting  over  any  quinces  of  our  own  raising. 
Last  spring  I  sprayed  them  three  times  with 
the  Bordeaux  mixture  ;  and  notwithstanding 
almost  every  time  the  solution  was  washed  off 
right  away  by  drenching  rains,  the  trees  have 
put  on  a  better  appearance  than  ever  before, 
and  I  have  succeeded  in  showing  some  of  the 
finest  quinces   that  anybody  ever  saw  around 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


781 


luTf.  Ill  fact,  tliey  wcro  larsjc  round.  sniODlli. 
unci  fair.  Soiin>hociy  said  thoy  used  to  sec  such 
quiiiot's  yoars  airo  when  tlio  coiintfy  was  new, 
hnt  not  of  lati-  > cars.  I  tiiinU  ilit'i'c  can  lie  nu 
inisiala' l>ut  liial  it  was  due  to  the  (.'opi)or  solu- 
tion, for  wo  have  novcr  brfon^  had  oven  a  singio 
quinco  that  was  worth  cai  ryiufj  home. 

AN    KVKU-HKAUING    HI.ACKCAI'    KASI'HKKRV. 

I  tiiini<  it  was  a  year  atro  last  February  liuit 
some  good  friend  among  our  readeis  sent  nie  a 
little  raspberry-plant,  with  an  injunction  to 
tako  good  caro  of  it.  saying  it  would  show  me 
soniiMhing  wonderful,  lie  further  added,  "It 
u  ill  bear  you  nice  b(>i'ries  tliis  y<'ar.'"  We  put 
it  in  the  gieenliouS(\  and  it  took  hold  and  grew 
amazingly,  lint  I  put  it  in  the  open  air  almost 
too  soon,  and  it  got  a  backset  that  it  scarcely 
recovered  from  d\iring  the  whole  of  last  season. 
This  year,  however,  it  started  again  and  grew 
as  it  did  in  the  greenhouse.  A  litth^  before 
other  blackcap  raspberries  were  bearing,  it  com- 
menced bearing  on  iwtf  uunnl  of  litis  season's 
gnnctJi.  and  it  has  been  blossoming  and  bearing 
ever  since,  and  gave  us  a  double  handful  of 
most  luscious  berries  on  the  :.'r)th  of  Septemt)er. 
The  berries  were  as  large  as  any  blackcaps,  and 
I  should  say  they  were  the  most  luscious  of 
raspberries.  We  have  failed,  so  it  seems,  in 
getting  ever-bearing  strawberries:  but  we  have 
an  ever-bearing  raspberry  that,  so  far  as  my 
experience  goes  with  a  single  plant,  fills  the  bill 
completely.  So  far  it  has  not  seemed  to  be 
affected  with  rust  or  blight,  nor  any  thing  of 
the  sort:  and  the  funny  thing  about  it  is.  that 
the  berries  grow  along  the  ends  of  the  new 
wood.  Will  the  kind  friend  who  sent  it  tell  us 
its  name?  and  if  he  has  plants  for  sale,  he  can 
probably  fill  orders.  A.  I.  R. 


Ij^ 


.^  -- xIO 


The  meek  shall  inherit  the  earth,  and  shall  delight  them- 
selves in  the  abundance  of  peace.  -I'salm  37: 11. 


Look  out  for  Rambler's  article  in  ne.xt  issue. 
It  is  rich  in  experience. 


Oct.  fi  we  sent  to  Frank  Van  Allen,  Medical 
Missionary.  Madna.  India.  .*!;u.80.  which  ha> 
been  contribuU'd  by  our  subscribers  for  the 
famine  sufferers  of  that  country. 


The  last  CinuuUan  Dec  JoiiriKil  contains  a 
very  interesting  picture  of  the  apiary  of  I".  A. 
Giiminill.  .Stratford,  Onl.  Mr.  tJemuiill  and  his 
family  sit  in  the  foreground,  and  the  whole 
view  shows  a  well-regulated  apiary  with  all 
the  best  modern  appliances. 

We  notice,  in  the  Cnnodlan  Bee  Joitrmtl. 
editorials  signi'd  •■  Assistant  Editor."  It  would 
give  us  considerable  satisfaction  to  know  who 
that  individual  is— not  that  we  wish  to  pry 
into  the  private  affairs  of  our  esteemed  cotem- 
porary.  but  it  is  pleasant  to  know  who  is  talk- 
ing.   '  

While  we  are  receiving,  as  usual,  some  dis- 
continuances in  subscription,  the  great  nia.iority 
in  renewing,  say.  "Don't  stop  (ir.EAXiNfis.  I 
want  it  as  long  as  I  live."  Another  that  lias 
just  come  to  hand,  says,  "  Keep  on  sending 
rrLE-^NiNGs  or  ril  puncture  your  pneumatic." 
Sometimes  we  feel  as  if  we  should  like  to  sit 
down  and  phonograph  thanks  to  all:  but  this 
is  impracticable,  and  we  hope  our  kind   friends 


will   understand  that  all  this  is  thoroughly  ap- 
preciated.   

The  Aniericdti  lice  Jouriuil  has  not  only 
been  renewing  its  youth  by  infusing  into  its 
editorial  veins  new  and  younger  blood,  but  now 
it  beams  forth  in  a  new  dress,  or,  more  exactly, 
a  new  covc^r  design,  and  here  and  there  through 
its  i)ag(?s  nov(!l  and  a|)proprial-e  department 
headings.  Even  though  the  "old  ii'liahle"  has 
lately  exchanged  ownersliii),  it  is  bound  some- 
how to  show  the  delightful  impress  of  a  new 
man,  be  he  old  or  young. 

The  Chautautiua  literary  course  has  been 
such  a  marked  success — a  scheme  whereby  old 
and  young  who,  for  various  reasons,  can  not 
leave  home,  can  take  a  systematic  course  of 
study  for  a  period  of  three  or  four  years,  pass 
examinatioii  and  nn-eive  a  diploma,  that  the 
Pennsylvania  .State  College  has  inaugurated  a 
Chautauqua  course  in  agriculture.  There  are 
many  farmers'  sons  who  will  be  glad  to  take  up 
such  a  course,  and  we  take  pleasure  in  calling 
attention  to  it.  For  full  particulars  address  H. 
.1.  Waters.  B.  A.  S..  State  College,  Center  Co..  Pa. 

Friend  Aeeey.  of  the  Apiculturist,  seems  to 
take  it  greatly  to  heart  because  we  can  not  de- 
clare that  his  (Alley's)  hiver  is  better  than 
Pratt's.  As  we  understand  automatic  hivers, 
and  the  objects  sought,  we  can  not  but  regard 
the  Pratt  as  superior  and  better,  both  as  to  its 
cheapness  and  general  operation.  The  grounds 
of  our  preference  have  already  been  given  be- 
fore, as  well  as  incidentally  in  this  issue.  Only 
time  can  decide  regarding  the  relative  merits 
of  any  hiver,  or  whether  ornot  they  will  ever  be 
regarded  as  a  permanent  success.  By  the  way, 
there  are  several  things  in  the  la^^t  Apiculturlst 
that  are  — well,  unjust  and  almost  unkind 
toward  not  only  ourselves  but  others.  If  they 
had  come  from  any  one  but  friend  Alley  we 
should  be  '"  mad." 

With  this  issue  the  Rev.  L.  L.  Langstroth 
begins  a  series  of  continued  articles,  giving  in 
detail  his  autobiography — his  early  boyhood, 
experiences,  and  tendencies:  short  sketches  of 
his  college  life,  how  he  became  interested  in  the 
study  of  bees,  the  circumstances  which  led  to 
his  invention  that  revolutionized  bee-keeping, 
with  here  and  there  interesting  reminiscences, 
charmingly  told,  of  noted  bee-keepers  of  the 
early  days.  These  articles  will  continue 
through  this  year  and  part  of  next.  The  whole 
matter  has  been  committed  to  manuscript,  so 
that,  in  the  event  of  a  relapse  of  Mr.  L."s  old 
head  trouble  barring  him  from  further  literary 
work,  the  articles  will  appear  just  the  same. 
Some  fine  and  expensive  engravings  have  been 
prepared  :  and  these,  with  the  interesting  sub- 
ject-matter—  apicultural  history  that  came 
well  nigh  never  being  told— will  make  a  valu- 
able addition  to  our  bee-lore.  Be  sure  not  to 
miss  the  reading  of  these  articles  through  the 
entire  series.  

THE     lU'KXING    OK    A    HEE-SUPPEY    ESTAIil.ISH- 
MENT. 

We  regret  to  announce  that  the  Ijee-hive 
factory  of  J.  W.  Bitienbender,  Knoxville.  la., 
was  burned  to  the  ground  a  few  days  ago.  Mr. 
B.  had  just  put  in  a  new  boiler  and  engine,  and 
it  was  while  the  former  was  fired  up  for  the  first 
time  thafthe  fatal  spark  from  the  stack  took 
its  flight  through  the  air  and  set  fin;  to  the  roof, 
and  then  to  the  whole  structure,  and  part  of  the 
lumber-yard  went  uj)  in  smoke.  There  was  no 
insurance,  and  the  loss  was  heavy.  The  insur- 
ance had  been  canceled  only  sixteen  days  pre- 
viously, the  company  at  the  time  rejecting  the 
risk,  probably  because  it  was  too  great,  and  Mr. 


782 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  In. 


E.  was  not  able  to  get  insurance  in  any  other 
companies.  He  was  fortunate,  however,  in 
saving  most  of  the  machinery,  amounting  to 
about  .?10()0. 

While  he  would  have  carried  insurance  if  he 
could  have  done  so.  the  lesson  comes  to  all  of  us 
to  have  our  property  in  such  shape  that  insur- 
ance men  by  the  score  will  be  willing  to  protect 
it  at  a  moderate  rate.  That  is  the  case  with 
all  the  buildings  here  at  the  Home  of  the 
Honey-bees.  With  one  e.xception  they  are  all 
built  of  brick,  and  i)rotected  by  automatic 
si)rinklers;  and  the  result  is,  we  get  a  com- 
paratively low  rate  from  the  best  of  companies. 
No  manufacturing  building  or  warehouse 
should  be  built  without  a  metal  roof;  and  the 
boiler-room  should  be  carefully  isolated  from 
the  rest  of  the  plant.  Ours  has  double  brick 
fire-walls  between  each  ofthe  buildings,  with 
metallic  doors  in  each  wall.  It  costs  but  little 
more  to  make  every  thing  comparatively  safe 
from  the  ravages  of  fire.  It  co.sts- a  little  more 
— nay,  verily,  it  is  really  cheaper  in  the  end,  as 
friend  Bittenbender  has  learned  by  dear  ex- 
perience. He  informs  us  he  will  rebuild  at 
once  of  biick,  and  no  doubt  will  be  ready  for 
next  season's  trade  as  usual. 


THE  SIMPLEST  METHOD  OF  TKAXSFERHING :  HOW 
TO  EXTRACT  HONEY  FROM  OLD  COMBS  WITH- 
OUT  AN   EXTKACTOK. 

Along  in  the  early  part  of  last  summer  we 
purchased  some  twelve  or  fifteen  colonies  that 
we  really  did  not  want,  but  took  them  because 
we  had  partially  agreed  to  do  so.  The  reason 
that  we  did  not  really  want  them  was  because 
thecombs  were  built  in  loose  frames,  said  fraTues 
having  been  spaced  so  unequally  that  the  combs 
were  decidedly  crooked,  to  say  nothing  of  being 
bulged  out  of  all  decent  proportions.  The  bees 
purchased  were  placed  at  the  out-yard,  and  the 
boys  were  instructed  to  select  one  of  the  best 
combs  of  each  colony  containing  unsealed  lar- 
vte,  and  place  it  in  a  new  hive,  together  with  a 
full  complement  of  HolTman  frames  of  wired 
foundation.  Another  hive  with  the  old  combs 
was  placed  on  top  with  a  perforated  zinc  honey- 
board  between.  The  bees  and  the  queen  were 
then  shaken  off  in  front  of  the  entrance,  and 
allowed  to  crawl  in.  This  plan  was  pursued 
with  all  the  colonies.  As  the  queen  could  not 
go  above,  of  course  no  more  eggs  were  laid  in 
the  old  combs.  In  two  weeks'  time  we  went 
down  and  found  that  the  frames  of  foundation 
below  were  being  drawn  out,  particularly  next 
to  the  frame  of  brood  of  old  comb.  In  the  mean 
time  the  young  bees  in  the  upper  story  were 
hatching  out  an  ■  coming  below  to  take  care  of 
the  young  larvtt  in  the  lower  hive.  In  about  a 
month's  time  the  bees  had  taken  up  thi^ir  quar- 
ters more  or  less  l)elow,  while  the  upper  combs, 
ci'ooked  and  undesirable,  were  emptied  of  brood, 
and  filled,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  with  hon- 
ey. The  drone  brood  (and  there  was  a  good 
deal  of  it)  was  uncapped  at  the  time  the  hives 
were  changed.  The  honey  season  came  on  rath- 
er before  we  expected  it  in  the  out-yard;  and 
the  result  was,  that  most  of  the  crooked  combs 
were  filled  with  honey.  These  we  expected  to 
extract,  and  melt  up  the  old  comb;  but  circum- 
stances so  transpi^'ed  that  we  did  not:  and  final- 
ly, toward  the  end  of  the  season,  we  took  oft' 
such  combs  and  placed  them  in  a  stack  of  Dove- 
tailed hives  piled  six  or  eight  high.  The  en- 
trance at  the  bottom  hive  was  contracted  so 
that  only  about  two  bees  could  get  out  or  in 
at  a  time.  Virtually  we  allowed  the  bees  to 
rob  the  honey  out;  but  it  was  so  slow  an  opera- 
tion that  it  made  no  commotion  in  the  apiary. 

With  little  or  no  labor  we  had  the  bees  all 
transferred  on  Hoffman  frames,  filled  with  nice 


beautiful  worker  comb  made  from  foundation 
on  horizontal  wires;  and  all  that  remained  was 
a  lot  of  crooked  combs  which  were  soon  con- 
verted into  wax.  the  home-made  frame  stuff 
making  excellent  firewood  for  the  boiler-furnace. 
Now.  there  is  nothing  particularly  new  in  any 
of  this.  The  plan  of  transferring  ^is  simply  a 
modification  of  Heddon's  short  way.  as  men- 
tioned in  the  ABC  book.  The  scheme  of  emp- 
tying the  honey  out  of  old  crooked  combs  was 
nothing  more  nor  less  than  what  was  described 
by  Dr.  Miller  some  two  or  thiee  years  ago.  It 
works  so  well  that  we  shall  never  again  leave  a 
lot  of  combs  stored  here  and  there  with  a  little 
honey  in  them  to  tempt  robbers. 


IMFOKTED       ITALIAN     (JUEENS     QUARANTINED   : 

DIFFICULTIES    IN   SENDING   QUEENS  OUT 

OF   THE    UNITED   STATES. 

The  imported  Italian  queens  that  were  or- 
dered from  Italy  about  the  middle  of  August, 
although  we  have  been  notified  that  they  were 
shipped  upon  the  receipt  of  the  order,  have 
failed  to  come  to  hand.  Queens  that  were  sent 
by  mail  on  the  same  date  from  Italy,  all  came 
through  dead,  including  all  attendants.  The 
rigid  quarantine  that  has  been  maintained  re- 
cently, necessitating  the  fumigation  of  all  mail 
matter,  explains  why  the  queens  came  dead: 
but  why  the  delay  of  fifty  that  are  to  come  by 
express?  We  have  notified  our  receiving 
agents  at  New  York  of  the  expected  arrival  of 
the  queens,  and  asked  them  to  instruct  the 
quarantine  officers  that  they  must  not  be  fumi- 
gated the  same  as  other  matter.  We  are  afraid 
that  those  officers,  not  knowing  what  to  do, 
have  held  them,  and,  of  course,  by  this  time  all 
are  dead.  We  have  a  great  many  orders 
booked  for  imported  queens;  and  we  make  this 
statement  so  that  not  only  those  who  have 
placed  orders  with  us,  but  those  who  intend  to 
do  so,  will  understand  the  situation.  It  is  true, 
the  queens  may  come,  and  come  through  alive, 
but  now  it  is  exceedingly  doubtful. 

By  the  way.  we  have  had  no  success  of  late 
in  sending  queens  to  Australia  or  to  the  islands 
of  the  sea.  Either  the  cages  failed  to  go 
through  at  all.  or  else  when  they  did  the  queens 
were  all  dead.  In  some  of  the  cases  the  quar- 
antine ol'ficers  are  responsible;  in  others,  it  is 
nothing  more  nor  less  than  official  bullheaded- 
ness  on  the  part  of  the  postal  authorities  in 
foreign  countries.  Just  as  we  were  succeeding 
nicely  in  sending  queens  to  all  parts  of  the 
world,  those  very  countries  where  we  desired 
most  to  send  the  queens  began  to  reject  them. 
We  have  been  sending  them  out  ii])  until  with- 
in a  few  days,  but  we  think  we  shall  have  to 
refuse  to  do  so,  for  this  year  at  least,  in  justice 
to  ourselves  and  customers,  until  the  quaran- 
tine and  official  bullheadedness  are  adjusted  in 
better  shape.  We  do  not  complain  at  the  quar- 
antine on  account  of  cholera,  but  we  do  feel 
justified  in  using  pretty  strong  language  when 
official  red  tape  interferes  with  the  interests  of 
the  people. 

Later.— The  L'nited  States  Official  Postal 
Guide  for  September  contains  the  following: 

POSTOFFICE  DEPARTMENT, 

OFFICE  OF  FOREIGN  .MAILS, 

Washington,  D.  C,  Sept.  7, 1892. 
The  Interuatioiial  Bureau  of  the  Universal  Postal 
Union,  at  Berne,  Switzerland,  has  ollii-ially  informed 
this  Deiiartnienl  lliat  the  Pi)slal  Administiation  of 
the  Colonies  of  Stnitli  Australia.  West  Ansti'alia,  and 
Victoria  g-ive  circulation  in  tlieir  mails  to  liv*;  bees. 
Consequently,  live  bees  will  be  admitted  to  the  mails 
hereafter  dispatched  from  this  country  for  South 
Australia,  West  Australia,  and  Victoria,  provided 
the>-  aie  i)ac'lveti  in  exact  accordance  with  the  con- 
ditions prescribed  in  paragiaplis  "i"  and  "j,"  Note 


14,  |iM>ii*   '.HIS   of    (lie    I'liiif 
(iiii(l«>  for  Jaiiwarv,  IS'.^. 
H\  onlor  of  ilicP.istmasl. 


tiLKANINiiS  IN   liEE  CULTURE. 


783 


Slalo   UUi.-i.il    I* 


-\:i\ 


■-(Jfii(>ral. 

N.  M.  llHdOKs, 
Siii>ni)itiiitliiit  ill  F<iri-i{iii  M(tit.'<. 

W'v  Motioc  that  Now  Zealand  and  New  Soutli 
Wall's  art'  not  iiKMitiimcd  -tw  o  provinces  to 
whioli  \vt'  liavt'  sent  more  (iiii'ciis  tlian  to  an\' 
othiT  ill  Australia.  Wo  had  liopod  tliat  tlioso 
misilit  l)o  iiu'iiidi'd  when  the  riiiinjr  oamo  out. 


'riio  paragfa|)hs"  i  "  and  "j  "  rotor  particular- 
ly to  tho  sizo  of  tho  queon-cages;  iiamoly, 
.">.\".'\1'..>,  with  w  in;  clotli  and  a  movahle  wooden 
lid.  Tho  ratos  of  [wstago  to  tho  provincefs 
luontionod  will  bo  1  coiit  for  :.'  oiuicos.  This  is  a 
groat  roductioii  from  lottor  postage.  Until  all 
danger  I'roni  (luaraiitino  disinfoction  is  over  wo 
would  not  oven  send  (lUotMis  to  the  provinces 
mentioned  in  the  line  print  above. 


:»??????????????????!!??????!?!mu 


FACILITIES? 


Look  where  you  will,  there's  no 
bicycle  i)lant  so  grandly  complete  as 
the  one  devoted  exclusively  to  the 
manufacture  of  Victor  Bicycles. 

For  years  the  work  has  gone  oil  — 
and  still  at  it  —  of  making  a  model 
home  for  the  best  bicycles  the  world 
ever  saw. 

No  other  bicycle  plant  compares 
with  this  one,  as  no  other  bicycle  com- 
pares with  the  \"ictor  —  or  is  ever 
likely  to. 

Victor  catalog  for  the  asking. 


OVERMAN  WHEEL  CO. 

SPRINGFIELD  BRANCH;     i  28  WORTHINGTON  ST. 


THAT'S 
IT. 


-^«il» 


^^ 


IF  „YOU  WANT  BEES  Bee  -  Keepers'  ^  Supplies. 

al    "ill   just       rdll       in   tlie  lioiiev.  try  ^lloore's  1  11 


Thai  "ill  just  "rdll''  in  tlie  honey,  try  ^lloore's 
Strain  oritaliann,  the  losiilt  of  Vi  years'  careful 
breeding.  Reduced  prices:  Warranted  queens,  80c 
eacli;  3  for  S2.(m.  Tested,  II. (ill  each  ;  Select  te.sted, 
SL-jCi  eai-li.  Safe  arrival  and  satisfaction  g-uaran- 
teed.  Tho.se  wlio  have  never  dealt  with  me  I  refer 
to  A.  I.  Root,  who  has  purchased  of  me,  during  past 
12  years,  .583  queens.  Circulars  free. 
j'.  P.  .TfOORE,  :TIorgan,  Pendleton.  Co.,  Ky. 
i:jtfdVi        Money-order  oflii-e.  Falmouth,  Ky. 

BUFFALO,  N.  Y.     Unsurpassed  Honey  Market. 
BATTERSON  &  CO.     Responsible,  Reliable, 
Commission  Merchants.      ,sti,ib      and  Prompt. 


We  are  prepared  to  furnish  Ijee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates g-ladfy 
furnished,  and  correspondence  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  first -class  in  quality  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
aliigiie  sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling,  III.     Address  l-24db 

UITI.  itlfCUNE  A:  CO., 

Sterling,  IIHuoIm. 

C^ln  respoiKiirn.'  ti)  tins  .■nivi'iiiM-iin        ...111  mn  Gi.kaninoSl 

JENNIE  ATCHLEY'S  HOIVIE^ 

will  l)e  at  Beeville,  Bee  County,  Te.x. 
with  queens  again. 


in  1893,  ready 
igtfdl) 


SAFE,  DURABLE  FENCE;      ONLY  $80  PER  MILE. 
250  to  T  A  -MTV      n  WWTP  C!  save  one-half  the  cost 
B0«  payl^.n.i.11/  -  yy  VY  X^  XiXVO  gyp,-^  dangerous  barba 

A  tfVtf^rt-l-C  "'"^^  ■fJOO.OQ  per  f\ ^^Y^ 
#^{^  ^1  I  V9month  and  expenses  ^^CI9I  I 
Tlie  best  local  and  travellnt.'  aiients  wanted  every- 
where. Write  at  once  for  circulars  and  choice  ter- 
ritory; address  A.  G.  Hulbert.  I'atentee.  care  of 

^^^^.iiMf^^^^^st.  touii:  Mo: 

Fact<jry  Cataloi^ue  with  2(W  engraved  desltm-s  and 
prices,  sint  free  to  any  who  want  fancy  Iron  and 
wUework  or  city,  cemetery  and  farm  fences,  etc 


784 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Oct.  15. 


Special  Notices. 


Until  further  notice  we  will  pay  .5  cts.  eiicli  for 
Gleanings  for  May  1,  1890.  Rememl^er,  don't  nuike 
a  mistalie  in  the  number  or  year. 

PRICES   OF  DIFFERENT  FARM   PRODUCTS. 

In  our  locality,  about  75  cents  seems  to  be  what 
farmers  are  getting-  per  bushel  for  a  g-ood  many 
things.  Nice  apples  bring-  75  cents;  ditto  onions; 
ditto  potatoes;  and  I  tliinli  very  nice  wheat  would 
bring  about  the  same;  but  perhaps  more  sales  are 
made  for  about  70  cents.  These  prices  are  for  first 
class.  Of  course,  that  is  not  very  much  for  wheat; 
but  for  potatoes,  onions,  and  apples,  the  prices 
seem  to  l)e  pretty  fair.  A  good  many  apples  that 
are  small  or  gnarly  sell  as  low  as  60  or  even  50  cents; 
but  where  they  are  carefully  picked,  good  sized, 
smooth  and  sound,  I  think  tliere  is  no  trouble  in 
getting- the  above  figure.  Clover  seed  of  all  kinds 
is  away  up;  and  I  liave  been  wondering  wJiy  bee- 
men  do'  not  make  a  practice  of  raising  more  alsike. 
I  am  told  it  is  not  affected  by  the  midge  or  any  of 
the  enemies  of  the  common  red  clover. 


U.  S.  OFFICIAL  POSTAL  GUIDE. 

This  is  a  book  of  almost  1000  pages,  5.^x7M,  with 
monthly  supplements  of  about  40  pages.  It  is  pub- 
lished by  authority  of  the  P.  O.  Department,  and 
contains  an  alphabetical  list  of  all  postofflces  in  the 
U.  S.,  with  county  and  State,  a  list  by  States,  a  list 
by  States  and  counties,  showing  tlie  money-order 
offices,  domestic  and  international,  also  rates  of 
postage,  synopsis  of  postal  laws,  rulings  of  the  de- 
partment.'information  relating  to  postal  matters, 
and  general  regubitions  respecting  foreign  mails. 
It  is  a  book  tliat  ouglit  to  be  in  every  business  office 
that  has  mucli  correspondence.  The  regular  price 
in  paper  covers  is  $a.OO;  in  cloth,  $2.50,  including 
supplements  from  time  subscription  is  received  till 
July,  '93.  The  lai-ge  volume  is  mailed  early  in  Jan- 
viai-y;  but  subscriptions  should  be  sent  in  befure 
that  time.  We  are  able  to  club  the  paper  edition 
with  Gleanings  one  year  for  $3.40,  oi-  the  clntli- 
bound  edition  for  13.70. 


MORE   BOOKS  DA.MAGED  BY   WATER. 


We  have  some  more  damaged  books  to  offer.  One 
of  our  water-tanks  for  fire  protection  is  situated  in 
a  tower  above  the  vault  in  wliich  we  keep  most  of 
our  books.  This  tank  got  to  leaking;  and  the  water, 
working  through  tlie  walls,  has  made  a  damp  mold 
on  some  of  the  books.  We  offer  the  Christian's 
Secret,  paper  bound,  at  10c,  or  by  mail  for  15c.  We 
have  also  15  or  30  copies  of  Quinby's  New  Bee-keep- 
ing, in  cloth  and  gilt,  that  are  molded  on  the  front 
or  back  edge  so  as  to  disfigure  them  somewhat,  the 
damage  bt'ing  almost  entirely  on  the  cover.  This 
bot)k  sells  new  at  $1..5(t,  postpaid,  or  $1.40  with  other 
goods.  We  otter  t host'  damaged  ones  at  7.5c  each; 
by  mail,  «5c.  Some  that  are  damaged  on  the  back 
edge  have  weakened  the  back  so  they  will  not  hold 
togelher  very  long.  If  handled  carefully  tliej- will 
hold  togetlier  to  read  and  lay  by  for  reference.  We 
otter  these  for  50c  (xistpaid.  We  have  also  si'veral 
thousand  of  the  Abbott  lithograpli  IS-coloi-  labels, 
slightly  damaged— so  little,  however,  that  vou  will 
hai'dly  detect  it.    We  will  sell  these  at  $1.00  per  10(10. 


CARLOAD  OF  COMB  HONEY. 

We  have  on  the  way  a  carload  of  fine  alfalfa  comb 
honey  from  Reno,  Nevada,  to  arrive  within  a  few 
days.  This  comes  from  the  same  man,  W.  K  Ball, 
who  sent  us  such  fine  honey  two  years  ago.  There 
is  no  better  honey  produced  anywhere  than  the 
alfalfa  honey  of  Nevada  and  Colorado.  It  is  very 
thii-k,  light-colored,  mild,  and  of  verj-  fine  Havor.  It 
is  all  in  1-lb.  sections,  produced  with  separators;  is 
choice  white,  and  packed  mostly  in  34-lb.  cases, 
gbissed  one  side.  We  otter  it  at  the  following  low 
|)rices,  and  anticipate  that  it  will  go  rapidl.\'  at  this 
rate : 

In  lots  of  1,  2,  or  H  cases,  18c  per  lb. 

In  lots  of  4  to  8  cases,  17Xc  per  lb. 

In  full  crates  of  9  cases  each,  17c  per  lb. 

5  full  crates,  or  45  cases,  16!4c  per  11). 

Since  we  have  been  receiving  and  shipping  comb 
honey  put  up  to  ship  by  freight,  sevei-al  c:ises 
l^acked  in  a  crate,  with  handles,  we  have  not  lost  a 
pound  by  In-eakage,  and  we  don't  remember  to  have 


had  anj-  daitiage  reported  from  custximers  to  whom 
we  have  shijiped,  while  we  used  to  be  bothered  a 
good  deal  by  breakage.  We  mention  this  that  none 
may  be  deterred  fj-om  ordering  because  of  fear  of 
breakage  in  shipping.  Single  cases  by  express  are 
very  often  broken;  but  cra.es  of  several  cases  by 
freight,  rarely  if  ev^er. 


THE   O.  K.  LATCH. 


iiiiifiiiiiliiii 


MB*» 


liiiiiiiii 


Stop  that  door  from  slamming.  You  can  not  do  it 
more  easily  than  by  attaching  one  of  the  latches 
shown  above.  It  will  hold  the  door  shut  or  open.  It 
is  intended  for  doors  on  all  kinds  of  outbuildings, 
barn,  stable,  woodshed,  honey-house,  or  any  build- 
ing that  has  a  door  that  is  liable  to  slam  in  the 
wind.  The  latch  catches  automatically  either  way 
when  the  door  is  opened  or  shut.  It  works  so  nicely 
that  every  one  who  sees  it  wants  one.  They  are 
retailed  from  hardware  stores  at  25  cents  each. 
Tliey  are  made  in  this  county,  and  we  are  allowed 
to  make  an  introduction  price  of  15  cents  each, 
$1.50  per  dozen;  by  mail,  8c  each  extra. 

AUGITE   STOVE-M.\T. 

How  much  of  domestic  happi- 
ness is  marred  because  the  dishes 
prepared  for  dinner  are  scorched 
or  burned!  How  annoying  to 
have  something  boil  over  on  the 
stove,  as  it  is  likely  to  do  some- 
times with  the  most  vigilant 
watchfulness.  All  these  troubles 
can  be  avoided  by  using  tlie  stove- 
mat  shown  lierewith.  We  were 
somewhat  skeptical  about  it  till 
we  tried  it  in  our  home,  and  now 
we  are  convinced  that  there  is  nothing  that  can  lay 
a  better  claim  to  the  term  "  a  household  necessity." 
'The  mat  is  made  of  asbestos,  bound  with  sheet  steel, 
crumpled  around  the  edge,  9X  inches  in  diameter, 
and  is  indestructible.  Though  it  is  almost  as  soft 
as  felt,  it  will  not  burn.  You  can  place  it  directly 
on  the  blaze  of  a  gasoline-stove,  over  the  gas-jet, 
in  the  fireplace,  or  on  the  stove,  and  it  will  prevent 
burning  of  all  kinds  of  food  that  ordinarily  require 
stirring.  No  stiiring  is  i-equired  for  oatmeal,  milk, 
rice,  custards,  blanc  mange,  jellies,  butters,  catsui)S, 
apple  sauce,  etc.  In  fact,  nothing  will  burn  on  it. 
Coffee  will  not  boil  over  if  the  pot  is  on  the  mat; 
bread  toasts  nicely  on  it.  Try  it  and  be  convinced. 
For  the  nursei-y  there  is  nothing  equal  to  heat  the 
milk  and  food  for  the  baby.  If  a  grate  fire,  lay  the 
mat  on  tlie  open  fire.  If  the  mat  becomes  soiled,  do 
not  wash  or  scrape,  but  turn  the  soiled  part  next  to 
fire,  and  bui-ii  until  clean.  The  mat  regularly  retails 
for  35  cts.  We  will  furnish  them  at  30  cts.  each; 
$3.00  per  doz.  By  mail,  6  cts.  each  extra,  or  65  cts. 
per  doz.  We  will  give  one  free  postpaid  for  a  new 
subscription  to  Gleanings,  with  voiir  own  renewal 
and  $3.00.  

SECOND-HAND    FOUNDATION-MILLS. 

We  have  the  following  list  of  second-hand  foun- 
dation machines  which  have  accumulated  during 
the  past  few  months,  some  in  exchange  for  new 
machines,  others  from  those  who  have  decided  to 
buy  what  foundation  they  use.  We  give  as  fair  a 
descriptiiin  as  we  can  of  these  machines,  with  the 
price  at  which  we  will  sell.  We  can  furnish  sam- 
ples from  any  of  the  machines  to  intending  pur- 
chasers. 

One  6-inch  hex..  No.  N,  used  a  short  time  in  our 
wax-room;  in  good  order;  makes  fdn.  10  or  11  feet 
to  the  lb.     Price  $10.00. 

One  6-incli  hex..  No.  M,  extra-thin  mill,  in  splendid 
order.    Price  $10.t)0. 

One  6-incli  he.x..  No.  K,  thin  suriilus  mill,  in  good 
order.    Price  $9.00. 


isiv: 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


One  10-lncli,  round  I'oll,  Nd.  1..  hi  k'hxI  Didcr  for 
lljrht  brood  fdn.     I'rii-o  $U  (K). 

duo  UViiu'h,  roiiiui  coll.  No.  I,  for  li^rlit  or  nicdium 
fdn.:  in  >rot)d  Older.     Priro  tl4.(M). 

Ono  10-iMcli.  round  ci-ll.  No.  K,  old-styk'  frame; 
made  some  vears  a>ro.  but  ii.sed  scarcely  any,  and  in 
Kood  order.     Price  $14.00. 

One  liMncli.  rouTid  cell.  No.  C,  old-style  frame;  in 
fair  order.    Price  iJU'.OO. 

One  12-incli.  round  cell.  No.  D,  for  heavy  brood 
fdn.;  roll,  same  size  as  10-incli,  only  2  inches  lonjrer; 
one  of  the  original  Washburn  mills,  in  fair  order. 
Price  fl.'UlO. 

One  12-iach  Dunham  mill  for  heavy  brood  fdn.; 
not  so  g«H)d  as  the  above,  but  in  fair  order;  will  sell 
for  $12.00.  

CHOICE  WHITE  EXTRACTED   HONEY  WANTED. 

We  are  sold  out  of  extracted  honej',  and  have  a 
>rood  demand.  Those  havinii' it  foi' sale  will  confer 
a  favor  by  submittintr  a  sample.  Ti'll  how  much  you 
liave.  how  it  is  p\it  up.  and  what  you  want  for  it. 


KIND  WORDS  FROM  ODR  CUSTOMERS. 


HONEST,   EVEN  IF  CH()I^ER.\   DOES    COME. 

Mr.  Root:— Ton  will  find  inclosed  $20.00  to  apply 
on  my  ai'coiint.  This  is  the  best  I  can  i)()ssibly  do 
now."  If  1  suiAive  the  cholera  1  will  pay  you  the 
remainder.  If  I  die,  my  wife,  who  is  honest,  will 
pay  you  out  of  $;3000  life  insurance. 

Phoinix,  Ariz.,  Sept.  9.     J         John  B.  Hoover. 


I  have  just  returned  from  the  State  Fair,  where  I 
took  two  first  pi'emiums  on  comb  honey— first  on 
display  and  first  on  best  20  lbs.,  quality  and  mannei- 
of  putting  up  for  market  considered.  I  used  your 
12-lb.  cases  and  those  honey-labels  you  sent  me. 
The  labels  were  considered  very  neat  and  pretty. 
One  esLse  was  purchased  to  jro  to  the  World's  Fair. 

Harrison,  Minn..  Sept.  15.  N.  P.  Aspinwall. 


I  have  half  an  acre  in  a  vegetable  and  fruit  gar- 
den, and  read  with  great  interest  and  profit  your 
"  high-pressure  garden  "  department  in  Gle.\mngs. 
It  is  the  best,  most  interesting,  and  useful  publica- 
tion I  ever  read.  I  am  going  to  try  your  plan  of 
gardening  under  glass  this  coming  season,  so  far  as 
I  am  able  to  get  the  sash.  I  have  already  one  strip 
of  rye  up,  and  am  going  to  jjlant  more  to-morrow. 
Thanks  to  Gleanings  for  the  suggestion. 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  Sept.  16.  A.  R.  Gray. 


healing  the  sick,  etc. 

Never  mind  Finch's  rebuke.  He  failed  to  realize 
that  prices  are  generally  comi)etitive.  and  set  by 
the  world.  When  you  were  talking  about  prayer, 
and  healing  the  sick,  why  did  you  not  give  God's 
complete  plan,  as  found  in  James  5:  14,  15  '.'  It  is  a 
direct  command,  and  a  direct  promise,  without  an 
exception.  The  Lord  shall  raise  him  up,  right  away 
from  his  sick-bed.  We  know  he  will  raise  him  at 
the  resurrection;  but  that  is  promised  he  fore.  Tlien 
it  is  a  complete  forgiving  of  sins.  That  alone  is  a 
great  gain,  and  with  the  anointing,  why  can't  we 
take  God's  plans  ?    Will  you  ple;ise  consider  I  his  ':' 

Pottstown,  Pa.,  Sept.  4.  W.  W.  Kulp. 


A   KIND  WORD    INDEED,   AND   WITH   A   ^lORAI,  TO    IT. 

Frieml  Boot;— I  received  your  letter  of  June  11, 
1892,  containing  money  order  for  beeswax  I  sent 
you.  Vou  give  rne  more  than  the  market  price, 
saying  it  was  for  its  good  quality.  This  was  pleasing 
to  me,  and  exceedingly  gratifying  to  know  you 
were  pleased  with  Jhe  wax.  Thanks  for  your  gen- 
erosity. I  admire  your  i)rompt,  hontjrable,  and 
careful  way  of  doing  business.  As  I  held  ><)ur 
statement  for  the  beesAvax  in  my  hand,  contemplnt- 
ing  the  accuiate,  clear-cut  figures,  and  the  hand- 
writing iperrait  me  here  to  give  your  lady  cleik 
much  crerliti,  I  said  to  my  wife,  "This  exi)lains  why 
some  peoph'  succeed  when  fithers  fail."  I  am  grow- 
ing old,  and,  according  to  human  events,  will  soon 
have  to  quit  business.  Our  business  relations  have 
been  long  and  ph'asant  to  nie,  and  I  hope  they  have 
been  to  you.    May  your  life's  sun  set  in  a  clear  sky. 

Spring  Mill,  O.,  June  1.5.  J.  W.  Niman 


THE    WATKU-CURE    TRACTS. 

I  will  again  avail  myself  of  your  olfer  to  send 
waler-iMire  tracts,  such  as  you  sent  nie  free  of 
cost  some  time  iigo.  We  have  had  a  case  of  intlam- 
mation  of  Ihe  bowels  in  t  his  vilhige,  which  was  pro- 
nounced by  1  hree  piominent  physicians  as  incur-able 

the  patient  had  to  die,  loid  that  inside  of  24  hours. 
1  began  to  give  him  the  injections  according  to 
directions,  as  I  have  laki^n  tlieni  myself  for  two  or 
Ihi'ee  years,  and  the  patient  inunediately  felt  reliev- 
ed, and  in  three  days  resumed  his  work.'  The  result 
WHS  a  sensation  in  1  he  village,  and  m;inv  applica- 
tions for  ti'acts.  As  I  am  out  of  them  [  will  I'ely  on 
your  kindness  to  forward  me  300  more  of  tliem.  " 

Taftville,  Ct.,  Aug.  24.  P.  A.  Reeves. 


A    KIND  WORD   IN  REAL  EARNEST. 

Bra.  Root  :—J  am  a  con.stant  reader  of  Gleanings, 
and  I  have  greatly  enjoyed  reading  the  articles  un- 
der the  head  of  "Ourselves  and  Our  Neighbors."  In 
the  July  1st  issue  is  one  of  those  .irtlcles  that 
touched  the  most  delicate  cords  of  my  heart,  and 
awakened  the  deepest  sympatiiies,  and  touched  the 
teiiden'st  emotions  of  my  soul  and  my  nature.  My 
dear  old  brother,  you  have  struck  the  right  string 
this  time,  and  it  gives  "  no  uncertain  sound,"  but 
echoes  the  V(jice  of  (iod  and  his  Christ  in  his  holy 
word.  Continue  in  this  line;  and  may  God  give 
you  faith  and  utterance.  Vou  may  speak  and 
write  all  the  rest  of  your  days  on  this  text,  and  not 
exhaust  it,  for  it  comprehends  and  opens  up  the 
entire  field.  I  have  always  believed,  and  still  be- 
lieve, that  adultery  and  its  twin  sister  and  couplet, 
idolatry-,  weri;  the  great  sins  of  men  and  of  nations; 
tliat  all  otiier  sins  (except,  perhaps,  the  sin  against 
the  Hoi}'  Ghost)  were  only  collaterals.  O  my  brotherl 
let  us  look  around  us.  1  fully  indorse  the  sentiment, 
"The  sooner  we  believe  in  Satan,  exactly  as  we  are 
taught  of  him  in  God's  holy  word,  the  better  for 
humanity;"  knowing  him,  let  us  watch  him,  and 
study  his  operations  with  individuals,  with  church, 
and  with  state.  M.  W.  C.  Frazier. 

Carrizo  Springs,  Texas,  July  6. 


IS  THE  BOOK  OF  ,TOB  TO  BE  CONSIDERED  A  PABA- 
BLE  OR  A  REALITY  ? 

Mr.  Boot.-— I  often  read  with  much  interest  youi' 
lay  sermons  in  Gleanings,  and  sometimes  find  in 
them  ideas  worth  appropriating  for  my  own  ser- 
vices. Oftener,  peiliaps,  they  serve  me  by  their 
sugg-estiveness.  But  1  do  not  quite  like  the  idea  of 
"  taking  the  l)ook  of  Job  exactly  as  we  take  the  par- 
able of  the  prodigal  son."  My  objection  is,  that 
other  portions  of  Scripture  .seem  to  assume  clearly 
that  Job  was  a  real  man,  and  his  trials  a  reality. 
For  me  and  for  many  others  the  force  of  the  lessons 
wliich  you  draw  from  the  book  is  much  reduced  if 
the  book  is  to  be  counted  a  fiction.  We  read  in 
Ezekiel  14:14,  "Though  these  three  men,  Noah, 
Daniel,  and  .Tob,  were  in  it,  they  should  deliver  but 
their  own  souls,"  etc.  If  Jol)  were  a  fictitious  char- 
acter, this  would  be  much  like  grouping  together 
Dr.  Livingston,  Mr.  St;inley,  and  Robinson  Crusoe. 
Again,  in  James  5:11,  we  read:  "Ye  have  heard  of 
the  patience  of  Job,  and  have  seen  the  end  of  the 
Lord;  that  the  Lord  is  very  pitiful  and  of  tender 
mercy."  Here  is  no  hint  that  the  patience  of  Job 
was  less  real  than  the  Lord's  pity  and  tender  mercy. 
In  fact,  if  the  book  of  Job  is  only  a  parable  there 
was  no  exercise  of  the  Lord's  compassion.  Such 
are  the  views  of  at  least  one  interested  reader,  and 
one  of  his  reasons  tor  the  same. 

Lincoln,  Tenn.,  July  9.  David  Strang. 

[Many  thanks,  dear  friend  Strang,  for  the  addi- 
tional light  you  give  us  on  the  matter;  and  I  must 
confess  to  being  so  poor  a  Bible  reader  that  I  had 
never  noti<'ed  either  of  the  quotations  jou  make. 
I  accept  the  force  of  your  reasoning,  ;in(l  thank  you 
for  it.  Perhaps  1  might  say  that  I  leceived  my  sug- 
gestion, that  Job  might  be  only  a  parable,  from  one 
of  tlie  cU'i'gy;  and,  come  to  think  of  it,  I  believe  he 
oidy  stated  that  some  theologians  were  inclined  to 
accept  Job  as  a  sort  of  parabh\  Your  position  cer- 
tainly does  not  lessen  the  force  of  the  lessons 
taught  in  this  wonderful  book.  Come  to  think  of 
it  again,  it  seems  hardly  likely  that  the  peisonal 
wealth,  as  well  as  tlu;  names  of  the  childi-en  of  a 
purely  fictitious  person,  would  be  given  in  the  Bible. 
In  the  case  of  the  prodigal  son,  tlie  characters  are 
evidently  all  imaginary,  as  nothing  but  the  lesson 
of  forgiveness  is  taught ;  but  the  book  of  Job  is,  to 
a  great  extent,  the  history  of  that  man.] 


786  GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE.  Oct.  15. 

5  Per  Cent  Discount 
On  All  Goods 

Listed  from  pages  10  to  30  of  our  price  list,  wliich  are  ordered  between  now  and  Dec.  1st.  for 
next  season's  use.  Ttiis  does  not  apply  to  goods  on  other  pages,  except  those  mentioned. 
R  special  reduetion  of  20  cents  on  each  tcuo-^stopy  ehaff  hive,  ordered 
for  a  limited  time.  The  quantity  and  early-order  discounts  to  apply  also.  Special  prices  quoted 
on  sections  in  lots  of  2000  and  upward.  Name  the  quantity  and  size  when  you  write.  We  guar- 
antee as  good  a  quality  for  the  price  as  you  can  obtain  anywhere.  Dealers  should  not  fail  to 
write  us  before  making  contracts  for  another  season's  supply.     We  offer  special  inducements. 

R.  I.  {^OOT,  ]VIedina,  Ohio. 

Dovetailed  Hives,  Simplicity  Hives, 

SECTIONS,  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPL/ES. 

60-PAGE     CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


WU\  resDoricliiii.'  to  tlii.--  a(lv,-i  ti.-oiii.rii   irieiitiiiii  Gi.kaxin 


^l,  ^^   ^^   4r,.   4i^   4'''   -^^   4rr   4r^   4^^   -^^   4r^    4r^   4/>-   4r^   4/;-   4r^  -^r^   -^r^   4^   4i>-   -^   4y   4^   -^    -^   4?-   <fc-  jSj^ 
«5?^»  -c/i-    -«-    -»o-    -^^i-    ■<K-    <^    -i^    ^^    ■<^    -yy-    -'■^    -^    -iji-    ^    -^    "^    -iJJ-    -^    -^    -if>-    -^^    ^    -i^    -i^    -^    "-^    -ij>  "^T^ 


I  ^^  Bushel  Boxes.  I 

"^^*       \^^^^^^       We  make  and  sell  them  DIRT  CHEAP,  because  they  are  made  of      *^^* 


♦^4;.  \^^^^^      till'   icfiise  pieces   from   section    blocks — pieces   that  aie   good  and  Ai^ 

f"^  \,^e^  sound,  but  are  slight  I v  (iisi-olor.'d.     PRICE,  CRATE  OF  15  (13  IN  THE        '^ 

4f      FLAT  AND  2  NAILED  UP),  SI. 50  ;  10  CRATES  OF  15  EACH,  5  PER  CENT  OFF.  These  4f 
Uushel  Uoxcs  save  time  in  lo!\din£r  ;inil  nnkculing.  and  liin  room  in  the  C(^llar.  Send        ^, 

W      for  pamphlet  on  "HANDLING  FARM  PRODUCE,"  free.  '>!'^' 


A.  I.  Hoot,   IVIedina,  Ohio. 


rv 

^f,    4!-     <?!-     4-     4^      4>     4^     4-     4>-     <fc-     -^     <fe-     <fc-     -!fe-     -^     4>>-     <fc-     .<fc-     <?>     -,-$•-     4>-     4?-     ^     <?•/.     <fe-     .vfc.      <fc.     <fe.   «M^ 
^JS  -Vi-     <*>    -^-     -i*.-     -*-     "■^     -i}>     -^-     -ij^     -^     -^     "^     <{^     '.{^    -^     "^     "^     "■^     "-^     ''■^     "^-     "i^    "^     "^     <J^     '.^     ■i}-'-   fl^ 


ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

Bc3r  In  JVIind  ^^^''^^^ ^^^^*'^*^*'^^^'^*^*^^^'^^'^^"''^'^"  E3 stern  Brsnch 

where  our  Bee-keepers' Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and   prompt  shipment.     You   can   save   time 

and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.     We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal  • 

isbury  to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.     He  will 

be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 

Address  all  ordm-s, 

EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.   A.   SALISBURY,    Agent,    Syracuse,    N.  Y. 


IS'.r,' 


lil.KANINCS  IN   i^HH  CULTURE. 


791 


PATENT    WIRED    COMB     FOUNDATION 

HAS    \0    N\<:     l\     KI<«VO||.|<-|{  \  l||<:s. 


Muth'S' 


THIN     FLAT  -  BOTTOM     FOUNDATION      HOney  ^  EXtPaGtor. 


Ilan  iN'o   KlHli-boiK-  III   ^iirpliiK  IIoim-). 

ntMtijf  ilic  cloaiioat   is  UKiiall.s  workcii 
the  (luii'kost  (ii  am   Poimdiitioii  iimrle. 
.1.   V\N    l»KrSK\  A   SONS, 

Siilc  Mamitacturers,  5tf(l 

Spnnit   IJronk.  MontuniiuTV  '^ci  .  N.  Y. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

CLOSINC-OUT  SALE. 

Nn.  1  .■^rclioiis.  ^:.'.."iO  p.  r  M,  Full  (•(ilonics  of 
ln'cs  in  S-fr;iiiic  I..  Iii\r8.  $4.0(1  per  cnloiiy. 
Si'ikI  (nv  iciliirrd  li>l  . 

W.  D.  SOPER   Jackson,  Mich  ^otfd 


Square  Glass  iioney~Oat<s, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee»hives. 
Honey-Seetions,  &e.,  &e. 

Pepfeetion  Cold-Blast  Smokers. 

APPLY  TO  -^.^^.^-^^^.^.^s..^-.^ 

CHAS.  F.  MOTH  &  SOfl,  Cinelnnatl,  O. 


Send  lOKTt.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers.' 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


TAKE   NOTICE! 


Rarnpc'    Fnnt-Pniwpr    Miirhinprv        REFoke  placing- your  orders  for  supplies,  w 

Darneb      rUUl-rUWei      inaUIIIIICl  y.         D    for  prices  on  One-Picce  Basswood  sections,  I 


Head  what  J.  1.  Pakent,  of 
C'HAKi.TdN,  N.  Y.,  says  — "We 
cut  with  one  of  your  Combined 
Machines  last  winter  .50  chaff 
hives  witli  7-inch  cap,  100  honey- 
racks,  .500  broad  frames,  2,000 
honey-bd.xcs,  and  a  g-reat  deal  of 
other  woik.  This  winter  we 
liave  doubled  the  amount  of  bee- 
hives, etc.,  to  make,  and  we  ex- 
pect to  do  it  all  with  this  saw. 
It  will  do  all  you  say  it  will." 
Catalogue  and  Price  List  f;-ee.  Address  W.  F.  & 
JOHN  BARNES,  .54.5  Kuby  St.,  Kockford,  111. 

When   more  convenient,  orders  for  Barnes'  Foot' 
Power  Machinery  may  be  sent  to  me.    A.  I.  Root. 
23tfd 


rite 
prices  on  One-Piece  Basswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,  Shippinjr-Oates,  Frames,  Foundation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
14ttdb  New  London,  Wis. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

75c.     Golden  Queens  by  Return  Mail.    75c. 

For  beauty  and  l)usiiiess.    Safe  arrival  and  satis- 
faction fjuarantecd.    This  is  a  money-order  office. 
J    B.  €ASI<:,  Poi-tOrans;H,  Vol.  Co.,  Fla. 


VANDERVORT 
COMB -FOUNDATION  MILLS. 

Send  for  samples  and  reduced  price  list. 
itfd  JNO.  VANOeRVORT,  Laceyville,  Pa. 


Galvanized-WIre    Poultry-Netting    and    Fencing. 
The  Best  IVIade  at  the  Lowest  Price. 


We  handle  only  the  G.  &  B.  brand,  wliicli  we  consider  the  best  made,  as  it  is  made  of  wire  fully  up  to 
fraug-e,  and  has  three-strand  twisted-wire  selvage,  while  other  makes  have  only  two.  We  have  secured  a 
carload  from  tlie  factoiy,  ;it  a  special  low  price,  whii'li  we  arc  able  to  sell  lower  than  you  can  buy  it  any- 
where else  of  equal  quality,  and  lower 
than  we  have  ever  sold  it  before,  thoug-h 
we  liavi'  been  g-cttiny-  more  for  it  the  past 
t\\  n  ycai's  1  liMii  \vc  did  in  1S90.  This  car- 
load tliat  we  liave  imrchased  is  all  2-inch 
No.  19  netting,  the  size  generally  used  for 
poultrv  It  was  made  n'iiily  a  year  ago, 
nd  li.is  lost  some  of  the  liright  luster  of 
I  M  sli  new  goods;  and  it  was  for  this  reason 
loire  tliat  we  l)ouglit  it  lowcrand  arc  able 
o  s(>Il  It  cheaper.  It  is  guaranteed  I'qual 
ii  I  \ery  respect  to  fresh  new  goods  of  the 
b(  St  quality,  e.\cept  in  luster,  which  prac- 
u<  ilh  is  of  no  account,  because  tlie 
I  t  ightc  st  nett  ing-  liceonu's  dull  in  ;i  few 
u<  (  ks  <(fter  being  |)u)  u]).  We  have  in 
to(  k  all  widths  from  12  inches  up  to  60, 
which  We  can  furnish  at  tlie  following: 
1  I  ices  All  slii|)mcn1smust  bi'  made  from 
In  re  We  can  not  sliii)  from  New  York  or 
I  liK  ,igo  at  tlie.se  prices;  but  as  we  are  able 
to  SKure  tlirougli  rates  to  almost  all 
I  omts  from  here,  the  freight  will  be  little 
?!i-iacii  sLiipicM  lui  i)eluw,20c  per  lb. ;  'y  lbs.  or  over,  16c  per  lb. 
lili-olls.  Rolls  1.50  ft.  long. 

•*  s  7.5      :^in.  No.  19.  36  Indies  wide. 
l:i  (lO        "  ••       42 

IT  .5(1        "  "        48 

'£i  00        "  •'       6ft 


if  an}   iniiie  man 
Rolls  1.50  ft.  1. 

2-iii.  No.  19.  12  iiK 
IS 
24 
30 


II  sinppcu  1 1  oiii  ciiiiei   1  ii.\  . 


1  roll. 
*1  0) 

1  5  1 

2  00 
2  50 


5  rolls. 
■t  4  oil 


9  no 
12  00 


1  roll.    5  rolls.  10  rolls. 

if2  9.)  .$13  50  ■^26  00 

3  40       16  00  31  00 

3  73        17  .50  34  00 

4  7.5       33  00  44  00 


The  lot  includes  over  600  rolls,  most  of  which  are  48  inches  wide,  the  usual  size  used.  This  price  will 
last  only  as  long  as  the  stock  lasts.  You  will  do  well,  therefore  to  order  early.  The  above  prices  are  le.ss 
than  the  wholesale  quotations  to-day  on  netting  not  one  whit  better,  if  as  g(MKl.  If  you  want  other  sizes, 
or  shipment  from  New  York  or  Chii-ag-o,  write  foi-  our  f-pecial  2t-pag-o  netting  catalogue,  mailed  on  appli- 
cation. A.   I.   ROOT,   MEDINA,  OHIO. 


793 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  1. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Adulteration  of  Honey 8(1.") 

Alsike  and  Peavine  Clover  809 

Apiarists,  Qualities  of "»9 

Bees  Killing  Each  Other. .  MS 

California  for  Honey 801 

Cardinal  Flower 800 

Castles  in  the  Air 818 

Corncobs  as  Absorbents. .   .802 

Counti-y  Gentleman SOO 

Farming  Doesn't  Pay Sl-' 

Feeiiing.  Stacked-up-tiive..  .SOT 


Hanlon's  Island.  Queens  on. 806 

River.  Sprague's .799 

Hoffmtn  Frame  Criticised. 798 

Honey  to  E.xpositions 797 

Langstroth's  History 796 

Mirages 814 

Funics  Condemned 817 

Robbing.  When  Allowable  806 

Rambler  at  Clark's 803 

Sections.  Narrower 808 

Toba<co  Column 816 


$50.00  ^ 

t  *  Prize 

We   are   getting   up   a  club  for   the 

Ladies'  Home  Journal 

of  Philadelphia,  and  offer  the  above  prize  to  the  person  send- 
ing me  the  nn'st  subscriptions  to  that  pajier  before  Jan.  1st. 
It  is  a  large  dollar  pai)ir.  but  if  voti  will  get  up  a  club  of  2  or 
more  we  will  niaki-  the  price  70  cts.  per  year.  After  you  have 
sent  us  5  subscriptions  the  price  will  be  65  cts.  After  you  have 
sent  10.  60  cts.,  and  after  von  have  sent  us  25  subscriptions  we 
«-ill  send  it  full  year  for  55  cts  Reduced  rat«s  on  200(1  other 
papers.    Catalogue  free.    Rclrrence  A.  1.  Root.    Address 

C.  M.  GOODSPEED,  P.  M., 

Shamrock,  N.  Y. 

Cjrin  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Olkanings. 


Kind  Words  From  Our  Customers. 


I  can  procure  no  such  seeds  here  as  you  send  out. 
Melbourne,  Australia.  L.  T.  Chambers. 


I  received  my  queen  on  the  4tli.  She  commenced 
laying  at  12  o'clock  to  day.  and  filled  a  comb  on 
lioth  sides  with  eg'gs  while  I  walked  lialf  a  mile,  ate 
dinner  and  walked  back.  H.  D.  Hekkington. 

Plank,  Texas,  Oct.  10. 


Old  reliable  Gieanings,  Sept.  l.'i.  is  here,  brimful 
of  good  things  as  usual.  If  I  li ad  Rambler  by  the 
hair  I  would  try  and  pull  )i:ird  enoug-li  to  make  him 
stop  his  rambles.  Why,  one  may  laugii  himself  to 
death,  and  still  he  keeps  (m. 

Floyd,  Texas. Jennie  Atchley. 

AS   PLAIN   .\S   DAYLIGHT. 

I  read  in  your  bee-journal  that  you  could  not  un- 
derstand why  you  loved  the  outdoor  world  so  much, 
oi'  rejoiced  so  much  to  watch  vegetation  grow.  I  do 
not  think  it  strange,  for  are  you  not  a  Rootf  and  do 
not  your  initials  spell  A.  I.  R..  air? 

East  Killlngly,  Ct.  Mrs.  C.  F.  Brainard. 


Mr.  Root:— You  have  kindly  sent  me  Gleanings 
for  many  years.  1  have  enjoyed  the  i-eading  of  it 
greatly,  especially  your  religious  experience,  your 
homilies  on  scripture  texts,  your  manfully  contend- 
ing for  the  truth,  your  opposition  to  rum,  tobacco, 
and  all  evil.  May  the  Lord  encourage  you,  and 
greatly  bless  your  efforts  in  his  cause  and  for  man. 

I  am  the  first  missionary  that  came  from  America 
to.Tapan.  I  have  been  here  now  33  years,  and  liave 
hvvn  ))('iiiiitted  to  see  great  success  in  evangelizing 
tiic  .lapantse.  J.  C.  HEPBURN,  M.  D. 

Yokoliania,  Japan,  Sept.  27. 


Eastern  Supply  Hovise. 

We  furnish  everything  used  in  the  apiary,  and 
at  bottom  prices.    Illustrated  circular  free. 

I.  J.  STRINGHAM.  92  Barclay  St.,  N.  Y. 

21-20db  Please  mention  this  i)apev. 

OTfUMWA  BEE-HIVE  FACTORY. 

Bee-keepers,  look  to  your  interests.    Every  tiling 
n    the   line  of  bee-supplies   constantly  on    hand. 
Price  list  free.        GREGORY  BROS.  &  SON, 
l-23d  Ottumwa,  la.    South  side. 

Please  mention  this  paper 

SECTIONS^ 

$a.50  to  $3.50  per  .11.  Bee-Hives  and  Fix 
ture8  cheap.  NOVELTY    CO., 

6tfdb  Rock  Falls,  Illinois 

FOOTE  BROS.,  MEDINA,  O..  offer  S.  C.  W.  Leg- 
horns, D.  Brahmas.  and  S.  P.  Hamburg  cockerels 
at  low  prices.  19-30-21d 

SAVE  MONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 


BEE-HIVE   STUFF  FROM   MEDINA. 

The  Dovetailed  chaff  hives  came  through  all  O.  K.. 
every  thing  in  good  shape.  We  set  one  up,  and  every 
thing  went  together  in  flrst-class  order.  The  party 
is  well  pleased  with  them,  and  says  he  will  order 
more  this  fall.  All  the  hives  and  other  goods  I 
have  ordered  from  you  have  been  satisfactory  in 
every  respect,  and  I  will  continue  to  sell  your  goods. 

The  honey  crop  in  this  section  was  poor,  averaging 
about  2.5  lbs.  per  colony,  comb  honey.  Bees  are  in 
good  shape  for  winter.  J.  E.  Schheckengost. 

Kittanning,  Pa.,  Oct.  20. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 

WANTED.- To  exchange  Scotch  Collie  pups  for 
any  thing  useful  on  farm  or  in  l)ee-yard. 
15tfdb  N.  A.  Knapp,  Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  O. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  fox  -  hound  pups  for 
pointer  bird-dog,  breech-loadiny  or  Wincliester 
repeating  shot-gun  or  rifle,  or  any  thing  useful  in 
apiary.        J.  E.  Pkvoh,  Middle  River.  Iowa.    20-21d 


W 


ANTED.— To  exchange  bees,  typewriter,  jewel- 
ry, for  poultry  or  offers.  Dr.  Corya, 
Nebraska,  Jennings  Co.,  Ind. 


WANTED.— To  exchange  a  hea\T  power  saw-man- 
drel for  small  foundation  mill.    Also  saw-table 
for  light  power,  for  Barnes  saw.     W.  C.  Simons, 
21d  Arlington,  Wayne  Co.,  Pa. 


Mr.  Boof:— Until  recently  I  thought  I  might  meet 
you  and  Ernest  and  Mr.  Calvert  in  this  world.  I 
now  have  given  up  all  hopes,  but  trust  we  may  meet 
in  the  next.  I  am  25  years  old,  and  for  the  last  7 
years  have  seen  nothing  but  trouble  and  sickness. 
One  blessing  I  have  is  good  parents.  Life  is  sweet, 
and,  generally,  hard  to  give  up  by  one  of  my  age; 
but  for  God's  rich  promises  I  am  ready  to  try  the 
realities  of  another  world.  If  it  is  not  asking  too 
much,  please  send  me  a  word  of  consolation.  Re- 
member me  in  your  prayers.  Oh  how  I  wLsh  j'ou 
all  were  here!  A.  I.  Root,  continue  your  good  re- 
ligious talks  in  Gleanings.  I  hope  you  may  all 
live  long  and  do  as  much  good  in  the  future  as  you 
have  in  the  past.  Ira  J.  Whit.more. 

Longley.  O. 


Before  I  proceed  to  business  I  must  stop  "by  the 
way"  a  moment.  I  can't  thank  you  enough  for 
some  recent  articles  in  your  publication.  Now, 
some  people  call  me  a  queer  sort  of  preacher;  and, 
no  doubt,  judging  from  the  standpoint  of  50  years 
ago,  I  am.  I  liave  a  sort  of  theory  that,  for  one  to 
be  a  well-balanced  man,  he  must  develop  his  body 
as  well  as  his  head.  There  are  few  indeed  who  use 
themselves  up  by  overstudy.  It  is  rather  by  too 
little  exercise.  Well,  I  have  a  bicycle;  and  for 
times  when  I  can't  run  that,  I  have  a  miniature 
macliine-shoii.  with  a  fine  foot-power  machinist's 
lathe,  to  which  I  have  made  various  attachments. 
I  want  to  say  further  concerning  tiie  cycle,  etc.. 
that  I  am  41  j'ears  of  age;  began  my  ministry  quite 
early  in  life,  and,  in  consequence  of  my  schemes  for 
exercise,  I  do  not  remember  that  I  ever  lost  a  Sab- 
bath in  consequence  of  sickness.  Medicine  is  an 
entire  stianger  to  my  system.  A.  M.  Pipes. 

Sioux  Oit.v,  Iowa,  Oct.  8. 


lt>'.>2 


(iLKANlNCS  IN  HEK  CULTURE. 


703 


Hof^EY  Column. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

Nkw  Yokk.  -  •'^■i)i''t/.  —  Tin-  (IcDiaiid  for  comli 
and  oxtnictt'il  lumoy  is  ircxul,  witli  stock  i^nou^h 
I'Dmiiijr  ill  to  iin<ol  all  (iiMiiaiuls.  Exci'pl  iii^  fancy 
«T:iili'S,  wliicli  arc  iiol  \cry  plenteous,  we  have  this 
year,  so  tar.  recei\ed  as  niiirh  honey  .within  about 
:.t);i  cases' as  last  yoai'  already-.  'TIs  true  it  lias  sold 
nun-e  readily  than  last  year,  owinjr.  we  helieve,  to 
the  scarcity  of  honev  in  the  Western  States. 

Fancv  l-lh  ,  IT:  fancv  :Mli..  Vi7^\i;  lair.  Ml)., 
liail.-):'fair,  -'-Ih..  ll@l-,':  Ixickwheal.  1-lh..  lIKQill; 
•-'■U)-.  flgiltl.  Kxi  racted.  clover  and  hasswood,  S(rn8i4  ; 
buckwheat.     tkSit}.'* ;     St)uthein,     i\')@~5.      fifittwax, 

%®"^  ("•«  vs.   ISUAKT/ &  linos., 

Oct.  -22.  11(1  Hudson  St.,  Now  York. 


Nkw  Youk.  -Woiicj/. — Oonih  honey  continues  to 
arrive  freely.  I'p  to  date  we  received  61.5!)  crates. 
Fancv  "liile  is  m  j>-ood  demand,  and  flnii  at  ]5@17 
for  1-lb.  and  IJ^U  for  r^-lbs  The  demand  for  off 
vrades.  white  and  buckwheat,  is  ralhei'  limited  and 
these  (Trades  are  slow  scllini!'  at  fivnn  VZCo  14  for  1-ib. 
fair  while,  and  llOiAZ  for  ;i-lb.  IJuckwheat,  10(g/ll 
for  1-lb..  9  for  2-lb.  E.vti'acteil  in  {food  demand.  We 
quot«:  White-clover  and  ba.sswood,  8@8i4;  Southern 
70@7.'>  per  gallon. 

HiLDRKTH  BkOS.  &  SeGEI.KEN, 

Oct.  2.i.  28  &  30  West  I? roadway.  New  York. 

New  YoHK.-Ho/iry.— Fancy  1-lb.  sections,  clover, 
l.">@lt).  in  g-ood  demand;  off  {Trades,  white,  12@14. 
SU)W  sale.  Buckwheat  in  {iood  supply,  10@10i/4, 
paper  cartons  most  preferred.  Bee^iwax.  —  Pure, 
25'a)3fiV4.  demand  g'ood;  paraf .  wax,  T@8;  ceresin  wax, 
13^T/ l.i.  Thurbeh-Whyland  Co., 

Oct.  21.1.  New  York. 

Buffalo. —flo?iey. — The  lioney  market  continues 
iincbang'ed.firm  and  moderatedly  active,  with  insuf- 
Hcient  arrivals.  We  have  not,  in  fact,  any  winter 
supply,  and  would  like  several  tons,  therefore,  Im- 
mecliately;  assurinji-  all  that  can  possibly  be  ob- 
tained for  it  in  any  manner  here.  Moderate  sales, 
fancy  Mb.  condi,  \mi6;  do.  No.  2.  13@U. 

B.\TTERSON  A:  Co.. 

Oct.  1ft.  16T,  163  Scott  St.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 


Albany.— Hofiej/.  -The  lione.y-market  has  weak- 
ened >ome  under  increased  leceipts;  but  there  is 
no  accumulation  of  white  comb  honey. 

While  comb  selling  at  1.5(^17;  mixed,  14@1.5;  dark 
and  buckwheat,  lt)@ll;  extracted,  white,  T/MSVi; 
.•imber,  7(5*7)^;  dark,  6i4@7.    Beeswax,  •Z'!@'Z». 

H.  R.Wright, 

Oct.  14.  326,  328,  330  Broadway.  Albanv.  N.  Y. 


Minneapolis.— Ho/icj/.  The  market  is  picking-  up 
considerably.  The  supply  is  llfihl  and  the  demand 
is  extremely  heavy,  particularly  for  fanc.v  white- 
clover  honey  in  1-lb.  sections.  Choice  wliite-clover 
is  selling  at  1.5'§.16.  Fancy  wliite-clo\ei-.  Mb.,  18'^1!». 
Strained  hone,\  in  small  p  i  kages  S(?i,l(i;  blil.3Ull  lbs., 
sc.  J.  A.  Shka  cV-  Co., 

Oct.  13.    14&  16  Hennepin  .Ave..  Minneapolis.  Minn. 


MiLWAUKEK.  — Ho;i*'//.— The  receipts  of  hone.y  ari' 
ver.v  small.  Tiiere  is  a  good  demand  for  1-lb.  sec- 
tions; if  of  choii-e  (juality,  will  command  I8c  per  lb., 
and  ma.v  be  higher  if  very  perfect.  The  old  is  well 
sold  out.  and  shipments  of  new  will  do  well. 

Choice  1-lb.  secticms.  18@2ii:  same,  common,  V(<iHJ. 
Extracted,  white,  in  keirs  and  cans,  S(gi9;  dark,  'tdiM. 

Oct.  13.  A.  V.  Bishop. 

Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Portland     Honey.— Comb  honey  is  not   moving 
off  very  fast.     We  are  selling   light  ambei' comb  at 
l.yT' 16.  and  wliiti^al  lH<gil7;  extra  white.  17(5118.  Light 
amber  extracted  selling  at  8'/»  ;  extra  white,  ;it  9. 
Beexwar,  26'?'28  Lew.  Spiegl  &  Co., 

Oct.  12.  Portland,  Oregon. 

Kansas  City.— Wojtei/.— We  (piote:  Comb,  No.  1 
white,  Mb.  i-omb.  1(;@17;  same.  No.  2.  imi^;  No.  1 
;imber,  Mb.,  1.5fa!l6;  same.  No.  2,  12fr/a3.  Extracted, 
white,  7>^;  amber,  .i!^H.  The  recei)>ts  of  honey  are 
Very  light,  clean,  and  good.      Bei'^^iva.r.  22@2.'). 

Oct.  21.  Cle.mons-Mason  Co.m.  Co., 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Clkvelanu.— Hodcj/.  We  <|uote  the  following 
pi'ices  at  which  honey  and  beeswax  are  sculling  In 
our  market  to-day.  White-clover  honey.  In  one- 
pound  sections,  silling  from  17(?!il8i',  siiicilj-  Al. 
Second  gi'ade,  13r(;il4e.  Third  gi'ade.  l(Ki''iI2.  Betniriir, 
Al,  selling  from  2l('iV.'.')c  per  lb.  We  are  handling 
large  iiuanlilies  of  honey,  and  ai-e  prepared  to  han- 
dle for  parties  who  will  favor  us  with  shipments, 
and  will  make  prompt  returns  foi'  all  {jooils  con- 
signed to  us.  We  guarantee  sales  on  all  products 
handled  b.\  us.  Ueynolds  &  Williams, 

Oct.  27.  80  &  82  Broadway,  Cleveland.  O. 


Cincinnati.— Honey. -Demjind  is  good  for  all 
kinds  of  extracted  lioney  at  .')@8c  on  arrival.  There 
is  a  fair  demand  for  comb  honey,  at  l.')@16  in  a  job- 
bing way  for  best  white.  lireswdxis  in  fair  demand 
at  20@2.T  on  ari-ival.  for  good  to  choice  j'ellow. 

Chas.  F.  Muth  &  Son, 

Oct.  23.  Cincinnati,  O. 

Kansas  CiTV.—/fo?iej/. —There  is  a  good  demand 
for  honey,  but  a  very  ligfit  supply.  Price  of  1  lb. 
comb,  white,  17c.  Exti"i(le<l.  6'y7t  Btcswax,  2)l@2r). 
Hamblin  &  Bearss, 

Oct.  22.  .'>14  Walnut  St .,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


CHiCAOo.—Ho/iey.— Demand  for  white  comb  hon- 
ey is  steady,  and  we  get  18c  for  best  lines.  Dai-k 
honey  is  moving  at  13@,ir);  ext  i-acted  selling  at  6@9, 
according  to  quality.    Beeswax,  2.5. 

R.  A.  Burnett, 

Oct.  19.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111 


Detroit.— Honey. — Best  white  in  good  demand  at 
14®15.  Not  much  offered.  Extracted,  8c  for  light- 
colored.    Beeswax,  2.5@26.  M.  H.  Hunt, 

Oct.  19.  Bell  Braneli.  Mich. 


San  Francisco.  —  Honey.  —  We  quote  extracted 
honey  at  7^@7^c,  and  it  is  scarce  at  that.  Comb, 
1-lb.,  10@12;  2-lb.,  9(®12.    Beesinix.  24fr/,'„'6. 

Oct.  11.  SCHACHT,  Lemkk  \-  Steiner, 

■San  Francisco,  Cal. 


St.  Louis.— Hoh6j/.— No  change  in  comb.  Ex- 
tracted in  good  demand  at  5i4@6^.  We  will  give  6.^ 
laid  here  for  light-colored,  good-flavored  honey. 

Beeswax,  24^. 

Oct.  20.                                 D.  G.  TUTT  Gro.  Co., 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Boston.— Hoxey.— Best  white,  Mb.,  18@19.    Best 
extracted  white.  8@9;  dark,  6@7.    Beet^wax,  25. 
Blake  &  Ripley, 
Oct.  20.  Boston,  Mass. 

For  Sale.— 5000  lbs.  choice  white-clover  and  ba.ss- 
w'ood  hone.v;  all  in   1-lb.  sections,   packed  in  12-lb. 
.single-tier  crates,  delivered  at.R.  E..  16(;  jier  lb. 
21d  Fred  H.  Fargo.  Batavia,  N.  Y. 


W.ANTED.— 50.000  lbs.  of  choice  white  comb  honey. 
Address       Byi«on  Walker, 
17tfdb  Evart,  Mich.,       or       Wyalusing,  Wis. 


For  Sale.— moo  lbs.  buckwheat  comb  hone.v. 
20tfdb  D.  P.  Lashier,  Hooper,  N.  Y. 


For  Sale.     10  biirrels  choice  white-clover  honey. 
Will  put  it  up  in  almost  any  style  of  package  de- 
sired.    Price  on  ;ipi)lication.  SOtfdb 
K.MiL.l.  Baxter,  Nauvoo,  Hancock  Co.,  III. 


HONEY  WANTED. 


Spot  <'at>li. 


Hfu;lie!i.t 
.Harket 
Price. 
BATTERSON   £   CO.. 

Buffalo,  N.  y. 

I*lease  mention  this  paper. 


Cf\0  Qfll  F  A  No.  2  Corley  Saw  ."Will; 
pl^lA  OnuU.  3  head  blocks  with  patent  board 
dogs;  52-inch  Disston  circular  saw;  64feettrack. 
Capacity  of  mill  s0(J0  to  12.(KJ0  feet  in  ten  hours.  Mill 
is  nearly  lew,  Wariantid  to  be  in  first-class  run- 
ning order  M.H.FAIRBANKS, 

HOMER,  CORTLAND  CO.,  N.  Y. 
lir\n  respiiiullnir  to  tilis  advirtlsemciit  mention  Gleaninos. 


794 


GLEANINGS  IN   HEE  CUl/IliKK. 


Nov.  J. 


Winter  Losses 


Are  not  always  the  result  of  the 
same  cause.  They  may  come 
from  starvation;  from  poor  food; 
from  improper  preparations; 
from  imperfect  protection,  or 
from  a  cold.  wet.  or  possibly  a 
poorly  ventilated  cellar,  etc.,  etc.  Successful  wintering-  results  from  a  proper  combination  of  different 
conditions.  For  clear,  concise,  comprehen.sive  conclusions  upon  these  all-important  points,  consult 
"ADVANCED  BEE  CULTURE."  Five  of  its  thirty-two  chapters  treat  as  many  difforont  phases  of  the 
wintering-  problem.  Price  of  tlie  book  50  cts.;  the  REVIEW  one  year  mid  tin- book  for  $1.35.  Stamps 
taken,  either  U.  S.  or  Canadian.  New  subscribers  to  the  REVIEW  for  ISO:;  rci-ci\  »•  the  balance  of  tliis 
year  free  W.  Z.  HUTCHINSON,  Flint,  Nlich. 


Best  on  Earth. 


More  than  one  hundred 
thousand  Bingham  & 
Hetherington  Honey- 
knives  and  Bee-smok- 
ers in  daily  use.  Il- 
lustrations sent  free. 


Bingham  &  Hetherington, 

Abronia,  Mich.  7tfd)) 

OATMAN<S 

SOLSEBIira  AND  BEFAII!  KIT 

Consists  of  tiiepot.  soIiIit 
ing-irons.  folder,  an<l  soldiT 
ing-fluid.  with  tools  coinid'te 
as  shown  in  cut.  with  direc- 
tions for  soldering  different 
metals,  and  how  to  keepyoui- 
soldering -iions  in  shaije 
Whole  kit.  boxed,  K  lbs. 
Shipped  on  receipt  of  82.0ii 
Agents  wanted 


Q.  &  L.  OATMAN, 
8-7db        Medina,  Ohio, 


WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS' 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  can  he  had  at  De> 
Moines.  Iowa,  at  ROOT'S  PRICES  The 
largest  supply  business  in  the  West. 
Established  18^5.  Dovetailed  Hives,  Sec- 
tions, Foundation.  E.Ktractors,  Sniokeis. 
Veils.  Crates.  Feeders.  Clover  Seeds,  etc. 
Iniporleil  Italian  Quet  ns  Queens  and 
l!.e>.  Sainide  e..|>\  of  our  Bee  Journal. 
■  THK  WF.STEKN  P.EE  KEEPER,"  and 
1,.\TEST  C.VT.^Loin  F  ni;>ilcd  FREE  to 
Bee-keepers. 

JOSEPH  NYSEWANDER, 

Des  Moines,  Iowa. 


FOR  SALE. 


AUSTRAL/A. 

Wanted— every   beekeeper   in    Austr;dia  to  send 
for  my  larg-e  illustrated   cat;iU)g-ue  of  bee-keepers' 
supplies,  Anierlciin  queens,  etc.,  etc.    Post  free. 
18-23db       H.  !•.  JOKKS,  (.uudiui,  Queensland. 

Please  niejition  this  paper. 

25   THOU'E    B,  P.  ROOK 
OOCKERKIiS. 

Also  a   few  choice  S.   C.  W.   Leg-horn   Cockerels. 
Good  healtliv  birds.    For  prices  address  with  stamp, 
a0-31d  WILL  HA  .  LEY,  McConnell,  III. 

Ofin  FERRETS,  a  tine  lot  of 
0\J\J  srotch  4'oIIfe  Pnps  and 

";;■«  vi^' "'js^    a  trtdned  bird-dog' for  sale.    Price 
i-;^**^?i^pi   list  free.         N.  A.  KNAPP, 
e  <,^^  Rocliester,  Loratn  Co., 

'    ^"       IStfdb  Ohio. 

Ti-enii'nt    iiienficm  Cl.KAXDJGa. 


tS"In  responding  tt^  t 


V\MS\CKV 
O^  KV.V  VWUOS. 


Murray  e,HEiss.=''o^'H'ir° 


VIOLINS 


GUITARS 


MANDOLINS 


Please  mention  this  paper. 


TTTANTED.—Kelial)le  parties  to  distribute  and 
''"      coUect  for 

Well  worth  $1,011  in  iiiiy  family.    Will  send  sample 
and   full   instructions  by  mail  for  3.5  cts.  in  stamps, 
returnable   if     iu)t    satisfactory.     Address     J.    C. 
Frisbee,  Gen'l  Agt.,  173  M;ii)le  St..  Denver,  Col. 
Reference.  A.  T.  Root,  Medina,  Ohio.  8-24db 


RETAIL 

— AND— 

WHOLESALE. 


T>VV  SUPPLIES 

1  y  1    1  A    i     Everything  used  in  the  Apiary. 

M^  M^  m^  Greatest  variety  and  largest  stock 
in  the  West.  New  catalog-,  54  illustrated  pag-es, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       E.  KEETCHMEE.  EED  OAK,  IOWA. 

Please  uieiitinn  this  paper.  '2tfdb 

Fig-gs  and  Plants.  Fowls,  Poultry-books  and 
Papers;  flnelv  ill.  circular  free.    Address 
GEER  BROS.,  St.  Marys,  Mo., 


pALL 

Ittfdb 


Or.        H.  B.  GEER.  Nashville,  Tenn. 


i'i  -»-    -y--    -?»>    -w 


■^^    -.v>    vy^ 


<^    ..v,    <^^    jy,    ^, 


<?-,     <^     <fe.     <^     -v.-     ■»-     -XT'     <fr     ■»'     <V'     ■», 


^^     ^,      <^     <^  jt; 


Porter  Spring  Bee-Escape,     a  Great  Success. 

We  guarantee  it  HI  be  f;ir  superior  t(i  all  othiTs.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  ilozen.  you  do 
not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prnve  satisfactory  in  every  way,  return  tliem  by  m.-iil  with- 
in 90  days  after  receii)t.  and  we  will  i-cfuud  your  money.  PRICES;  Eiich.  by  nitiil.  postpaid, 
with  full  directions,  2ir;  jier  dozen.  ^'Z.-Z'^  Send  for  cii-riilar  and  tl'stinlonial^^.  Siiiii)ly- 
dealers.  send  for  wholesale  pi-ices,    lotrdi)  R.  &,  E.  C    PORTER,  Lewistuwn,  III. 


if  -i«-     -i«-     r»-     rM- 


-A-      <»■      -M 


<»^      -«•      '/J-      ■«-     -«•      •«>     -«-     ^     -«-   ' 


The  Oldest,  Jjarg-est,  Best  and  Only  Weekly 
Bee-Paper  in  America.    Sample  Copy  Free. 

— :  o2  pages — $1.00  a  Year  :  — 


GEORGE   W.  YORK  &   CO.. 


Address 
-^     199  Randolph  St.,  CHICAGO.   ILLS 


TO  NEW  SUBSCRIBERS— FROM  NOW  TO  JAN.  1,  1893,  20  Cents;  TO  JAN.  1,1894,  $1.00. 


•  DELVoTEbL,.         _.. 

•To  -B  E.  ELS'-iierC^--'- 

•MDHOMEL-     «^ 
•INTELKEST^ 


!ATED 


UBlliHCDBYg^rrtPOl' 


Vol.  XX. 


NOV.  1,  1892. 


No.  21. 


57'/?y4r  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MIUUER. 

I'm  sokky  for  Bittcnhfiider's  loss.  He's  a 
roal  nice  fellow. 

VVii.i.  AX  ESf  APK  make  quicker  work  in  day 
time  or  at  night? 

Gkaping  honey  is  a  coming  topic  for  discus- 
i^ion  in  Britisli  Bcc  Journal. 

Commission  mkx.  this  year,  are  sending  out. 
offering  to  buy  honey.    That  tells  its  own  story. 

(>.  B.  Bakkows  says  he  doesn't  know  of  any 
use  for  a  valve  in  a  smoker.  They're  better  in 
theory  than  in  practice. 

And    now   the  Americnn    Bee  Jonrnal  has 


stray 

I  don't 
going 
But 


gone    to    calling    names— calls    me    a 
strawer."    Et  tu.  Brute? 

Harp  coax,  is  in  botli  of  my  cellars. 
propose    to    repeat    the    experiment    of 
tlirough   another  winter  without    fire, 
wish  i  had  a  warm<'r  cellar. 

Henhv  Alley  sounds  a  warning  against  in- 
troducing (jueens  that  produce  five  -  banded 
bees.  He  says,  "As  surely  as  you  do  it,  your 
apiaries  will  be  ruined,  and  you  will  soon  give 
up  keeping.bees.  in  disgust." 

"The  old  reliable  ■'  Avu:riv<in  Bee  Jour- 
nul  has  washed  its  face,  combed  its  hair,  and 
put  on  a  spick  and  span  new  holiday  suit  which 
it  means  to  wear  52  times  in  the  year.  It's 
really  gotten  up  in  delightful  manner. 

NoN- smokers,  in  the  last  graduating  class  in 
Amherst  College,  have  gained  in  weight  24  per 
cent,  over  the  smokers:  in  height,  37  per  cent; 
in  chest  girth,  42  per  cent;  and  in  lung  capac- 
ity. 8j',;i,  cubic  incnes. — Medical  Newfi. 

(riRDLi.N(v  grapevines  makes  them  bear  young- 
er, makes  larger  fruit,  but  are  you  sure  it  makes 
-■■finer"  fruit,  friend  (Jreen  "(p.  770)?  Girdled 
grapes  that  I  have  seen  were  finer  in  appear- 
ance, but  decidedly  inffrior  in  quality. 

Huc-ouGiL  even  the  worst  cases,  says  Medical 
and  Siinjical  .Tonriail.  can  be  cured  by  a  tea- 
spoonful  of  pulverized  sugar  wet  with  an  equal 
quantity  of  wine  vinegar,  taken  at  one  dose.  I 
suppose  honey  vinegar  would  do  just  as  well. 

Some  fruits,  apples,  berries,  etc.,  whilst  of 
tine  quality,  are  such  poor  bearers  that  they 
are  not  worth  raising.  Isn't  it  so  with  lindcuis? 
and  if  we're  to  cultivat<  them,  may  we  not  just 
as  w(!ll  have  the  best?  I've  noticed  a  big  dif- 
ference in  their  productiveness. 

E.  F.  <iuiGLEY  says  the  cause  of  swarming  is 
nature.  Well,  if  that's  all  I  guess  we  can  man- 
age it.  It's  nature  to  laise  lots  of  drones,  but 
we  stop  that  by  cutting  out  drone  comb.     Xow 


tell  us,  Bro.  Quigley.  "  what  in  nater''  is  the 
particular  thing  that  makes  the  swarming,  and 
we'll  fix  'euL 

Augite  stove-mat,  page  784.  No  wonder  it 
won't  burn  with  such  a  name  as  that.  But  my 
wife  says  it's  just  the  thing  she  needs;  so  send 
your  wagon  around  with  one,  friend  Root.  If 
the  wagon's  too  busy,  send  a  boy,  or  a  man- 
Uncle  Sam,  for  instance. 

Prof.  Cook,  in  a  stirring  article  in  American 
Bee  Jouniaf,  is  very  positive  that  some  of  the 
$750,000  annually  appropriated  for  agricultural 
research  should  be  used  directly  in  the  interest 
of  bee-keepers.  But  bee-keepers  are  too  mod- 
est to  clamor  for  their  rights. 

Bee-escapes  don't  always  work  alike.  We 
read  how  nice  it  is  to  put  them  on  at  night  and 
find  the  bees  all  down  by  morning,  but  I  put 
one  over  a  strong  colony,  and  the  bees  were  not 
all  below  the  escape  till  the  end  of  a  week. 
That  was  in  the  first  part  of  October. 

Those  raspberries  that  are  ever-bearing. 
Don't  pin  too  much  faith  on  them.  I've  had 
them.  They'll  give  a  nice  crop  once  in  a  while 
(they  always  bear  on  the  new  shoots),  but 
again  they'll  do  nothing  for  a  long  time— alto- 
gether too  cranky.  I'll  be  surprised,  friend 
Root,  if  you  give  them  ground  room  three  years 
from  now. 

I've  been  laid  up  with  a  lame  back.  To 
turn  over  in  bed  was  exquisite  torture.  I've 
enjoyed  it— enjoyed  the  thought  that  so  little 
of  my  life  I've  been  unable  to  get  around,  and 
the  thought  that  I  have  such  kind  friends  when 
I  can't  take  care  of  myself.  I  might  have  for- 
gotten it  but  for  this  little  spell.  I'm  nearly 
myself  again. 

The  new  celeky  culture.  You  know  what 
it  is.  No  banking  up  'to  bleach.  Well,  you 
ought  to  see  my  bed.  Got  the  plants  from  Me- 
dina. Of  cour.s(>,  the  plants  were  more  or  less 
green  when  I  got  them,  but  in  two  weeks  there 
wasn't  a  green  spot  on  the  bed— nor  a  white 
spot  either.  Grasshopi)ers  cleaned  it  to  the 
ground.  -Saved  ^me  lots  of  watering  and  ma- 
nuring. 

TitAr  KLAP-.iAcK  ACT.  |).  768, "is  a  dangerous 
affair.  If  Bro.  Wilder  misses:  thaf^flap-jack  as 
it  comes  down  he'll  make  a  desperate  effort  to 
recovei'  it;  his  jaws  will  come  together  with  a 
snap,  and  his  tongu(!  will  be  a  good  deal  short- 
er. Pull  down  your  trousers  legs,  comb  your 
hair,  and  look  u[)  a  wife,  Bro.  Wilder,  to  turn 
your  flap-jacks  in  the  orthodox  way.  If  for 
nothing  else,  do  it  as  an  example  Jor  Rambler. 

Does  freezinc;  hurt  comb  honey?  Generally 
speaking,  yes,  very  decidedly— cracks,  granu- 
lates, leaks— in  fact,  frozen  comb  honey  is  gen- 
erally ruined  as  a  first-class  article.  But  not 
always.    I  knew  two  cases,  one  in    Illinois,  one 


796 


(J  LEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Ni>v.  1. 


in  Pennsylvania,  where  honey  was  frozen  all 
winter  in  an  attic  without  injury.  But  it  had 
been  roasted  in  that  attic  through  the  summer. 
At  least  some  honey,  if  rich  enough  and  thick 
enough,  is  not  hurt  by  freezing. 

•'Savarms  WITHOUT  QUEENS  wiU  not  double 
up  by  going  to  a  strange  hive."'  says  friend 
Dibbern,  p.  765.  If  he  means  swarms  that  have 
clipped  queens,  so  that  the  queens  can  not  go 
with  them,  I'm  sure  the  rule  does  not  hold  good 
with  my  bees.  I  can't  see  how  It  would  make 
any  difference  whether  the  queen  were  fastened 
in  the  hive  or  tumbling  around  on  the  ground: 
still,  facts  can  not  be  disputed;  and  if  it  proves 
true  In  the  case  of  self-hivers.  it's  a  big  item  in 
favor  of  hi  vers. 


LANGSTROTH'S  REMINISCENCES. 

HIS  EARLY  CAREER  ;  THE  BRE  kT>   AND  BUTTER 
REBELLION  AT  YALE  COLLEGE. 


My  father,  wishing  to  give  me  the  advan- 
tages of  a  college  education,  placed  me  in  the 
preparatory  school  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, then  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  James 
Wil banks,  who  was  a  good  classical  scholar,  and 
had  the  faculty  of  inspiring  his  pupils  with  a 
genuine  love  for  the  verses  of  Ovid,  Vergil,  and 
Horace.  We  committed  hundreds  of  lines  to 
memory,  many  of  which  I  have  never  forgotten. 
It  was  a  lesson  never  to  be  forgotten,  to  hear 
him,  all  alive  with  intense  satisfaction,  repeat 
those  noble  lines  of  Horace: 

Justum  et  tenacem  propositi  vii'um, 
Nou  civium  ardor  prava  jubentium,  etc. 

Mr.  Wilbanks  was  a  disciplinarian  after  the 
very  straightest  sect  of  the  Old  School.  If  I 
was  late,  and  had  no  excuse,  I  always  stepped 
up  to  his  desk,  and  held  out  my  hand  and  took 
my  punishment  with  as  much  grace  as  I  could. 
The  rod!  the  rod!  this  was  the  universal  arbi- 
ter, from  which  there  was  no  appeal.  I  once 
pronounced  the  word  "a-»)ii-cus"  as  though  it 
were  "am-i-cus."  In  a  thin  voice,  so  shrill  as 
almost  to  resemble  a  squeal  (lean  almost  im- 
agine that  I  still  hear  it  ringing  in  my  ears)  he 
cried  out  to  me.  "^7*^i-i-cus,  Lorenzo!  I'll  arn- 
i-cusyou!  That  word  is  a-mf-cus!"  and  down 
came  his  rod  with  such  an  effective  emphasis 
that  I  never  forgot  to  say  a-mi-cus. 

But  although  he  used  the  rod  so  freely,  it  was 
only  in  tlie  way  of  what  he  thought  his  duty, 
and  I  never  associated  his  name  with  any 
thought  of  cruelty.  He  made  me  a  good  Latin 
scholai'.  and  his  memory  will  ever  be  a  pleasant 
recollection. 

I  entered  the  freshman  class  of  Yale  College 
In  the  fall  of  1837.  Strange  to  say,  notwith- 
standing my  early  passion  for  investigating 
insect  life,  I  can  not  remember,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  trifling  observations  upon  the 
habits  of  glow-worms,  that  I  took  the  slightest 
interest  in  my  old  pursuits.  My  attention  was 
mainly  given  to  mathematics  and  Jtelle-lcttrcs 
studies,  and  I  was  always  among  the  successful 
competitors  for  excelling  in  English  composi- 
tion. I  roomed,  in  my  freshman  year,  at  the 
house  of  my  college  guardian.  Prof.  Denison 
Olmstead.  who  had  charge  of  the  college 
meteorological  observations,  and  who  inspired 
me  with  a  great  fondness  for  his  favorite  pur- 
suits. 

In  the  summer  of  1838  occurred  what  will 
ever  be  famous  in  the  history  of  Yale  College 
as  the  great  "Bread  and  Butter  Rebellion." 
The  students  were  all  required  to  board  in 
commons,  unless  they  could  prociu'e  a  physi- 
cian's certificate  that  their  health  required  a 
different  diet.    The  summer  was  unusually  hot. 


The  bread  was  not  always  sweet  nor  the  butter 
fresh,  and  loud  were  the  complaints  made 
against  the  regular  fare.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
different  classes,  a  resolution  was  unanimously 
passed  that  the  students  should  show  their 
dissatisfaction  by  absenting  themselves  one 
Monday  morning  from  the  dining-hall.  Word 
had  come  to  our  venerable  president,  Jeremiah 
Day,  of  what  the  students  purposed.  So  after 
morning  prayers,  which  he  usually  conducted, 
he  addressed  them,  in  his  wonted  kind  and 
courteous  manner,  telling  them  that,  if  they 
had  causes  of  complaint  about  their  fare,  they 
ought  In  a  respectful  way  to  make  them  known 
to  the  faculty,  whose  interest  it  certainly  was 
to  have  them  remedied.  He  closed  his  appeal 
by  affectionately  warning  us  against  any  hasty 
and  improper  proceedings,  which  could  only 
result  in  evil.  But  our  passions  were  too  much 
inflamed,  and  we  were  too  much  under  the  in- 
fluence of  those  who  had  planned  the  original 
demonstration,  to  listen  to  any  thing  our  good 
president  could  say.  So  when  the  bell  rang  out 
the  summons  for  breakfast,  crowds  gathered 
around  the  dining-hall.  None  entered:  but  all. 
with  loud  shouts  of  defiance,  expressed  what 
they  thought  to  be  a  proper  sense  of  their 
v/rongs. 

Before  dinner  the  classes  met  again  for  con- 
sultation, and  their  leaders  now  advised  that 
they  should  decline  to  take  any  meals  in  com- 
mons until  they  had  sufficiently  expressed  their 
indignation  for  the  kind  of  food  which  had 
been  served  to  them,  and  had  obtained  assur- 
ances from  the  faculty  that  their  grievances 
should  be  redressed.  Thus  was  inaugurated  an 
absolute  rebellion  against  the  constituted  au- 
thorities. I  narrate  these  events  more  at  length 
because  of  the  important  influence  which  they 
had  upon  the  formation  of  my  character.  Be- 
fore entering  college  I  had  promised  my  parents 
to  obey  its  laws,  and  to  give  them  no  occasion 
to  regret  the  sacrifices  which  they  were  mak- 
ing in  my  behalf.  I  saw  that  the  course  which 
we  were  now  pursuing  was  a  direct  violation  of 
that  pledge;  and,  without  consultation  with 
any  one,  1  determined  to  retrace  ray  steps,  and 
to  go  into  the  dining-room  at  the  next  meal, 
even  if  I  went  alone.  At  a  meeting  of  our  class 
I  announced  this  determination,  saying  that  we 
all  knew  that  we  were  violating  our  matricu- 
lation pledges,  and  that,  while  I  did  not  pro- 
fess to  be  governed  by  a  higher  sense  of  right 
than  others,  I  did  intend  to  redeem  as  far  as  I 
could  the  promise  which  1  had  made  to  my 
parents. 

I  left  the  meeting  after  these  remarks,  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  remonstrate  with 
me.  and  to  assure  me  that,  if  I  persisted  in  my 
intentions,  I  should  be  treated  by  the  whole 
class  with  merited  contempt.  The  hour  for 
dinner  arrived,  and  the  students  were  assem- 
bled in  unusual  numbers,  as  the  report  of  what 
I  meant  to  do  had  become  generally  known. 
Yells  of  execration  greeted  my  appearance,  as 
alone  I  ascended  the  steps  leading  to  the  din- 
ing-hall: stones  were  thrown  at  me:  and  one 
student,  more  daring  than  the  rest,  drew  a 
pistol  and  threatened  to  shoot  me.  Nothing, 
however,  could  movi'  me.  for  I  was  nerved  to 
such  a  pitch  of  determination  that  I  would 
have  submitted  to  instant  death  rather  than 
change  my  purpose. 

In  the  afternoon  of  that  day.  my  guardian. 
Prof.  Olmstead,  who  knew  nothing  of  my  in- 
tentions until  all  was  over,  informed  me.  that, 
by  vote  of  the  faculty.  I  had  been  excused  from 
entering  the  hall  again,  and  that  my  safety. 
and  his  duty  to  my  parents,  demanded  that  he 
should  prevent  it.  I  told  him  that  they  might 
kill  me,  but  that  I  would  never  yield  to  them: 
and  when  I  entered    again,  quite  a  number. 


1  f*<VJ 


(JLHAXINIJS  IN  l{KI':  CULTURE. 


797 


iiuist  of  wlmm  I  iliiiil<  wi'ic  |ii'ot'(>ss()rs  of  rclijr- 
ion.  were  cmlioldciicd  In  (iitff  w  itli  inc 

'IMii'  issue  of  tliis  atVaii' was.  ilial  sonir  stu- 
<lt'iil,s  wiTc  t'\(ii'lli'(i  from  collcfK'.  all  fi>cilations 
\V(>r(»  suspended,  aiui  tlie  students  returned  to 
thoir  homes.  Only  aftef  siRuinp:  due  aixiloRies 
\\ei-e  they  allowed  to  lesume  tlieif  studies,  at 
till'  betfinninyr  of  the  next  eollefje  yeai'.  The 
I'oufse  which  I  had  taken.  thouRli  it  was  at 
first  so  unpopulaf.  in  the  end  made  me  a  host  of 
friends.  It  was  pfohahly  the  turninfr-i)(>int  in 
my  life,  fof  my  natural  disposition  often  in- 
I'lined  me  to  yield  my  own  convietions  of  duty 
in  ofdef  to  IxMni  till'  popuhtf  side.  It  would  l)e 
diflieult  to  toll  how  nineh  I  owe  to  that  "  Bread 
and  IJutter  leliel.lion."         !>.  L.  Lano.stkoth. 

(ClDitillKCtl.) 


SHIPPING     HONEY    FOR     EXHIBITION    PUR- 
POSES. 

now    IT   IS   DONK   OVKK    IN    EXfiLAXD. 

.Some  two  or  three  years  ago.  when  Mr.  C.  N. 
Ahbott.  of  the  firm  of  Abbott  Brothers,  was 
here,  he  exhibited  to  us  some  samplesof  various 
bee-appliance.s  used  over  in  England:  and 
among  other  things  he  showed  us  a  shipping- 
crate  provided  with  spiral  springs,  so  that  a 
case  of  choice  comb  honey  could  be  put  therein 
and  shipped  to  a  distant  market.  With  such  a 
contrivance  the  case  could  be  dropped  or  tum- 
bled around  on  the  floor,  and  no  damage  occtn- 
to  the  honey,  because  the  spiral  springs  absorb 
the  concussion.  We  thought  at  the  time  we 
would  give  a  description  and  illustration:  but 
we  had  quite  forgotten  it  until  by  chance  we 
were  looking  over  a  back  number  of  the  Bcc- 
keciici'x'  Record  for  May,  1891.  In  this  we  found 
an  article  with  engravings,  describing  much 
the  same  arrangement.  As  we  are  approach- 
ing the  time  when  many  of  us  will  be  thinking 
of  shipping  our  honey  to  the  World's  Fair,  and 
placing  it  on  exhibition,  we  have  concluded  to 
n-produce  the  article  entire,  with  engravings, 
of  course,  the  method  shown  below  and  de- 
scrilied.  is  altogether  too  expensive  for  ordinary 
shipments:  but  where  it  is  desired  to  send  ex- 
hibition honey,  and  particularly  a  crate  of 
extra  choice  combs  so  that  it  shall  arrive  at 
the  exhibition  grounds  in  perfect  order,  it  may 
be  advisable  to  use  the  method.  "It  is  English, 
you  know;"  but  the  "  English,  yon  know,'"  are 
far  ahead  of  us  in  honey  exhibits. 

If  we  can  do  any  thing  by  way  of  inducing 
exhibitors  at  hone\  shows,  who  may  read  these 
papers,  to  bestow  a  little  consideration  on  the 
unfortunate  and  usually  overworked  •'Hon. 
Sees.."  and  others  who  have  charge  of  the 
■■  staging."  we  shall  be  aiding  in  the  removal  of 
a  source  of  frequ<;ut  troul)le  and  annoyance  to 
these  latt<'r  gentlemen  which  is  altogr^ther  in- 
excusable: and  the  worst  of  it  is.  it  frefpieiitly 
liappens  that  those  who  take  most  pains  in 
packing  their  exhibits  lor  transit  to  tht;  shcnv 
give  quite  as  much  trouble  as  those  who  take 
least:  for  the  time  and  labor  involved  in  un- 
packing and  repacking  some  exhibits  is,  as  we 
know  from  personal  experience. '"  a  caution." 
We  therefore  propose  to  show  how  bee-keepers, 
who  aspire  to  "show"  honors  may  send  their 


dozen  sections  or  t  heir  do/en  jars  of  extiacted 
hoiu'y  l)y  rail  to  the  show,  and  have  them  tiu- 
packi'd.  stat,'ed.  repacked,  and  ret-in'ued  saf(!lv 
witli  the  minimum  amount  of  trouble  to  afl 
conciM'tied,  and  with  no  great  outlay  fora|)pli- 
ances. 

The  cut  (I'ig.  1 1  represents  a  crate  for  hold- 
ing a  dozen  oiie-iiound  sections;  and  as  no 
great  amoiintof  skill  is  involved  in  its  construc- 
tion, it  may  l)e  said  that  any  amateur  joiner 
can  make  it  for  himself.  It  is  a  box  wit  hin  a 
box.  tlie  inner  one  resting  on  six  s[)iral  siirings 
fastf'iied  to  th(^  bottom  of  the  outer  tiox.  while 
the  inner  one  is  pulled  down  a  little  by  a  strip 
of  leather  at   each    corner,   as    showii.    This 


FIG.    1.    A   SHIPPING -CRATE    FOR   HOLDING    COMB 
HONEY   FOR  EXHIBITION   PURPOSES. 

form  of  cryte.  without  the  lid.  was  first  intro- 
duced by  a  well-known  lirm  in  188(1.  and  it 
answers  the  purpo.se  admirably.  The  lid  we 
had  made  for  our  own  use.  and  its  construction 
will  be  at  once  seen  in  the  cut.  The  lower  or 
inner  lid  is  of  thin  board  cut  small  enough  to 
fit  easily  inside,  close  on  to  the  tops  of  sections. 
The  upper  one  is  of  the  same  light  wood,  with 
cross-pieces  at  each  end.  of  three-quarter-inch 
stuff',  and  a  strip  of  the  same  forms  a  handle  to 
lift  by.  Five  springs  are  fixed  between  these 
two  lids  and  fastened  to  both,  .so  tliere  is  no 
risk  of  one  being  lost.  A  stout  screw  driven  in 
at  each  corner  forces  this  double  lid  close  down 
on  to  the  sections,  and  kee])s  them  firmly  in 
place.  As  all  sections  sent  to  shows  must  be 
glazed,  no  other  glass  protection  is  used.  The 
inner  box  is  made  \'.t%  inches  long  by  8^^  inches 
wide,  so  there  is  room  for  a  small  roll  or  wedge 
of  corrugated  paper  to  be  slipped  down  at  the 
outside  of  each  row.  which  keeps  them  firm  in 
place,  and.  wh<>n  withdrawn,  allows  the  sec- 
tion to  l)e  lifted  out  readily.  Except  to  cau- 
tion the  maker  not  to  cut  the  end-pieces  of  the 
crate  so  that  the  screws  are  driven  into  the  top 
of  the  grain,  and  to  have  all  it-  parts  strongly 
nailed  together,  no  further  instructions  are 
needed  Utv  making,  save  a  close  inspection  of 
the  cut. 

For  (>xtracted  iioney  in  glass  jars,  make  a 
strong  box  divided  into  twelve  partitioned 
squares,  as  shown  in  cut  (Fig.  I').  The  exact 
size  of  these  squares  is  determined  by  the  par- 
ticular make  or  form  of  the  honey-jar  u.sed, 
but  they  are  made  suth'cieiitly  large  to  hold  the 
jar  comfortably  when  the  latter  is  encircled  by 
a  fold  of  coirugated  paper.  The  bottom  of 
eacli  jiortion  has  also  a  square  of  the  same  pa- 
per on  which  the  jar  rests.  A  strong  lid  hinged. 
on  the  inside  of  which  is  nailed  a  square  of 
corrugated  paper  as  shown,  completes  the  box, 
while  the  height  of  the  jars  is  so  arranged  that 
the  ridged  portion  of  the  paper  rests  close  on 
the  screw-caps  and  keeps  all  firm.  A  single 
screw  in  the  centei'  of  lid  at  the  front  fastens  it 


798 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  1. 


down;  and  when  a  strong  cord  or  rope,  with  a 
nail  driven  through  it  at  the  bottom,  to  keep  it 
fast  to  the  box  and  prevent  its  going  astray,  is 
tied  around  the  whole,  with  a  label  on  the  top 
as  before,  the  package  is  ready  for  traveling 
any  distance  without  breakage. 


FIG.   2.    A   SHIPPING  -  CKATE     FOR    EXTRACTED 
HONEY. 

The  saving  of  trouble  and  labor  to  the  offi- 
cials of  a  show  when  dealing  with  honey  pack- 
ed in  this  form  is  simply  astonishing.  The  cord 
is  untied,  the  single  screw  drawn,  and  the  jars 
lifted  out  without  disturbing  the  packing  one 
bit,  or  losing  any  of  the  parts.  There  is  no 
littery  mess  about;  the  box  is  put  away;  when 
wanted  after  the  show  is  over  it  is  ready  for 
dropping  the  jars  into,  and  the  honey  is  safely 
repacked  for  the  return  journey  in  about  five 
minutes. 

Those  who  have  had  to  do  with  shows  will 
know  what  this  means,  and  we  therefore  ven- 
ture to  express  a  hope  that  exhibitors  will  earn 
the  gratitude  of  officials,  and  at  the  same  time 
conduce  to  their  own  satisfaction,  by  following 
our  advice  in  the  matter  of  '"  packing  honey  for 
shows." 

It  will  be  observed,  that,  in  packing  comb 
honey  for  traveling  to  shows,  spiral  springs  are 
relied  on  for  safeguarding  it  from  damage;  and 
for  glass  jars,  corrugated  paper  is  made  to  act 
as  the  "  buifer  "  against  breakage.  Both  arti- 
cles are  very  inexpensive,  the  springs  costing 
only  a  few  pence  at  any  ironmonger's,  while 
corrugated  paper  is  sold  at  less  than  a  penny 
per  superficial  foot.  Unlike  a  bee-hive,  no 
great  accuracy  is  required  in  making,  so  that 
amateur  joinering  is  peculiarly  suited  for  mak- 
ing both  section  crate  and  box  for  jars.  At  the 
same  time  any  appliance  dealer  will  make  them 
for  a  very  small  cost  when  it  is  understood  that 
only  rough,  strong  articles  are  required. 

It  sometimes  happens  that  persons  have  to 
assist  in  staging  and  unpacking  who  are  not 
accustomed  to  handling  honey,  and  these  gen- 
tlemen are  placed  at  a  double  disadvantage 
when  bad  packing  has  to  be  dealt  with.  Re- 
ferring to  persons  unaccustomed  to  handling 
honey,  and  the  many  "slips"  they  make 
through  inexperience,  we  may  conclude  this 
paper  with  an  illustration  from  our  many  ex- 
periences. Some  fifteen  years  ago  we  had  as 
regular  customers  for  honey  the  establishment 
in  the  North  known  as  the  headquarters  of  the 
Mormon  community  at  the  port  of  embarkation 
from  this  country  to  the  Salt  Lake.  The  chief 
elder  or  otticer  in  charge  was  a  very  nice  fellow 
indeed,  highly  intelligent,  well  read,  a  man  of 
much  travel,  and,  but  for  his  peculiar  religion, 
a  gentleman  with  whom  we  could  have  got  on 
very  well  indeed,  especially  as  he  knew  some- 
thing about  bees.     He  was  especially  fond  of 


good  honey,  and,  moreover,  was  a  first-rate 
judge  of  its  quality.  We  took  especial  pride 
in  supplying  him  with  our  best,  and  he  always 
paid  us  Ls.  6d.  per  pound  for  extracted  honey  in 
bulk. 

The  season  in  question  was  a  good  one,  and 
the  honey  in  Cheshire  was  extra  fine.  So  our 
friend  sampled  out  a  quarter-hundredweight; 
it  was  put  into  a  large  stone  jar  and  taken  a 
distance  of  six  or  seven  miles  to  his  place  by  a 
special  messenger  of  our  own.  who  carried  it 
all  the  way.  The  honey  was.  after  the  long 
journey,  safely  handed  over  to  a  servant,  and 
by  him  carried  down  a  dozen  stairs;  and  two 
minutes  after  it  left  his  hands  our  messenger 
was  asked  to  '"comedown  and  see  what  could 
be  done,  for  the  servant  had  dropped  the  jar  1  " 
He  went  and  found  the  jar  broken,  the  contents 
all  over  the  kitchen  floor,  and  the  culprit  a 
standing  lesson  in  handling  honey  by  an  inex- 
perienced carrier! 


DIFFICULTIES  WITH  THE  HOFFMAN  FRAME. 


FAIH   AND   C'.\NDn)   CUITICISMS. 

The  honey  crop  in  this  section  is  over  about 
June  1.  It  was  Ijelovv  the  average  this  year, 
owing  to  late  frosts  after  fruit-bloom,  and  very 
dry  weather  in  May.  An  average  taken  in  this 
county  would  give  perhaps  40  lbs.  of  comb 
honey  per  colony.  The  bees  have  abundant 
stores,  however;  and  as  we  never  lose  any  colo- 
nies on  account  of  the  '•  winter  problem  ''  there 
is  no  cause  for  complaint.  Fortunately  for  us, 
we  have  no  winter  problem.  Bees  will  gather 
pollen  freely  at  Christmas  time  if  the  weather 
is  fine,  as  it  was  last  December. 

I  have  used  the  new  Hoffman  frames  this 
season,  by  way  of  trial,  in  1.5  hives,  all  trans- 
ferred colonies.  I  am  afraid  they  will  not  do 
for  this  latitude.  Dr.  Miller's  prophecy  is  ful- 
filled very  exactly.  That  sliding  of  frames, 
and  handling  them  in  groups,  of  which  I  had 
pleasant  visions,  has  gone  where  other  dreams 
go.  To  separate  those  frames  now.  after  six 
months'  use.  is  suggestive  of  candy-pulling.  By 
and  by  it  will  suggest  the  firing  of  toy  pistols. 
What  I  shall  do  with  them  next  year  is  a  ques- 
tion which  my  prophetic  soul  does  not  like  to 
dwell  upon.  The  horizontal  wiring,  three  wires, 
with  medium  brood  foundation,  gives  beautiful 
results:  the  combs  are  fine.  I  do  not  like  the 
new  top-bar  with  beveled  comb-guide.  The  bev- 
el seems  to  act  as  an  incentive  to  the  bees  to 
build  burr  and  brace  combs  all  over  the  top- 
bars.  This  in  Dovetailed  hives.  The  old  thick- 
top-bar.  li\'  inches  wide,  ">'  inch  deep,  with  flat 
comb-guide,  gives  results  so  much  better  that  I 
shall  certainly  use  that  kind  in  future.  For 
spacing  the  thick-top-bar  frames  I  use  the  or- 
dinary double-pointed  tinned  carpet-tacks.  One 
of  these  is  driven  longitudinally  into  the  top- 
bar,  an  inch  from  the  end.  on  the  left,  facing 
you.  Turn  the  frame  around  and  drive  anoth- 
er. They  project  /,;  iu.  from  the  top-bar.  These 
can  not  be  glued  fast;  frames  are  easily  moved, 
and  the  whole  thing  is  a  comfort  in  handling. 
We  shall  have  to  come  down  to  metal  of  some 
kind  in  those  parts  of  frames  which  can  be  pro- 
polized.  A.  T.  Peete. 

Branchville,  S.  C. 

[We  have  before  expressed  the  fear  that  the 
Hoffman  frames  would  not  answer  in  certain 
portions  of  the  South,  and  in  those  warm  coun- 
tries where  propolis  is  gathered  more  freely 
than  here  in  the  Northern  or  Middle  States; 
but  notwithstanding  that,  just  the  other  day 
an  oi'der  came  from  Cuba  for  .">0(X)  Hoffman 
frames,  the  party,  we  believe,  having  already 
tried  a  few  during  the  past  season.     We  have 


1  S'.fJ 


(;m:axin(;s  in  hek  cui/niRE. 


noddiilil  tliiit  llif  •^t;il)lis  alii'adv  ii'lVtifd  id  hy 
other  cori't'spomlcnts  would  answer  vci'y  iiii-cly; 
lull  ilie  I'ommon  run  of  l)eo-l<(>ept>i"s  would  not 
drive  iluMii  in  just  far  enoufrh  to  Rive  exaet 
spai'iiiii:  and.  of  i-ourse.  iliefe  is  that  old  objec- 
tion of  tlieii'  beinj;  in  the  way  of  the  honoy-knife 
in  uneappini?. 

In  repaid  to  the  lioffnian  ffames  in  our  own 
apiai'y.  we  would  say  that  we  have  just  been 
out  in  the  apiary  and  manipulated  them  in 
eoloiiies  that  are  the  worst  propoli/.ers — llie 
hybrids.  We  found  no  special  difliculty  in 
handJini;  them,  but  we  nnilize  that  tliere  are 
som<'  who  would  not  like  them.  e\(Mi  in  our  own 
yard. 

In  resiii'd  to  the  burr-coiuhs  on  the  new  HolT- 
inan  to|)-bars,  your  experience  is  at  variance 
with  our  own.  and  with  the  reported  experience 
of  others.  Altliough  we  had  a  very  heavy 
honey-flow,  and  the  bees  crowded  every  bit  of 
available  space,  the  top-bars  were  left  intact 
so  far  as  the  wax  acrumulations  were  con- 
cerned.] 


SPRAGTJE'S  AUTOMATIC  HIVER. 


now    IT    WOKKS,  KTC. 

My  hiver  has  proved  to  be  a  perfect  success. 
I  send  you  a  drawing  and  explanation  of  it  as 
you  requested.  The  tin  slide  is  a  very  impor- 
iant  adjunct.  8lideitin  place,  and  it  changes 
the  hiver  into  a  bee-escape  from  the  old  hive  to 
ihe  new. 

I  have  just  placed  a  new  hive  with  one  frame 
of  brood  and  two  empty  combs  by  the  side  of 
an  old  one,  and  put  on  the  hiver  with  the  tin  in 
place.  In  two  days  nearly  all  the  bees  from 
the  old  hive  were  in  the  new  one.  with  five 
queen-cells  started.  You  see  that  it  will  be  a 
success  so  far  as  yetting  the  bees  is  concerned. 
If  some  of  them  should  return  to  the  old  hive 
when  the  swarm  comes  back,  they  can  be  got- 
ten with  one  minute's  labor. 

I  want  it  called  a  hi\er  and  not  a  swarmer. 
Wlu'u  the  bees  are  caught  I  want  them  hived, 
and  not  caught  in  a  tra|)  for  me  to  hive.  It  is 
cheaper  for  me  to  keep  the  required  number  of 
Dovetailed  hives  and  use  them  than  to  keep 
around  a  stack  of  bee-traps. 


SPRAGl'E  .S  AUTO-MATIC    ItlVlUi. 

Fig.  1  shows  the  old  hive  moved  two-thirds 
its  width  to  the  right.  Fig.  2  is  the  new  hive 
occupying  two-thirds  ol  the  space  where  the 
old  one  stood.  Fig.  3  shows  the  hiver  in  place. 
F'ig.  4  is  a  hiver  leaning  against  the  hive,  giv- 
ing an  inside  view.  This  should  be  three  inches 
square,  inside  measure.  Fig.  ."»  is  a  square  tin, 
to  be  placed  against  the  square  zinc  in  the 
hiver  after  the  swarm  bus  returned.    The  hole 


is  to  lit,  the  mouth  of  the  cone,  changing  the 
hivei'  into  a  h(>e-escape. 

The  zinc  in  the  fronloflhe  liiver  is  placed 
diagonally  from  liie  fi-ont,  uppei-  edge  to  the 
back  lower  edge,  the  end  of  which  (its  closely  to 
the  little  S(|uare  zinc,  leaving  one  half  of  the 
square  zinc  for  the  b(^es  to  work  through  with- 
out having  to  pass  through  the  large  zinc  which 
is  to  catcli  tlie  swarm.  (A)is  the  (sn trance  to 
the  old  hive;  (ui  is  the.  entfance  to  the  new 
hive.  The  hiver  is  held  in  plac(>  by  means  of 
one  nail  driven  into  the  hive  and  another  into 
the  bottom-board,  and  connecting  these  with 
stovepipe  wire. 

My  method  of  using  it  is,  to  catch  the  swarm 
in  the  new  hive;  place  the  super  from  the  old 
one  on  the  new  one;  slide  the  tin  in  place  to 
drain  it  of  bees  and  prevent  further  swarming; 
also  to  make  the  new  swarm  strong.  I  then 
move  th(!  old  hive  to  a  new  stand,  and  all  is 
done. 

The  cone  should  be  33.;  inches  long,  with  an 
apex  ^4  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  This  allows 
them  to  carry  the  dead  bees  through  it  without 
clogging,  and  it  works  all  right. 

While  I  can  see  no  improvements  to  be  made 
upon  this  now.  some  one  else  will.  Let  such 
have  a  chance. 

Haskinville,  N.  V.  (Jeo.  H.  Spkague. 


THE  QUALIFICATIONS  OF  AN  APIARIST. 

SOME    (JO()l>    IILNTS    FROM    (i.    M.  DOOI.ITTI.K. 

As  the  labors  of  the  season  draw  to  a  close, 
and  the  long  winter  evenings  are  soon  to  be  up- 
on us,  I  thought  that  I  might  be  excused  if  I 
were  to  say  aiew  words  on  what  I  consider  the 
duty  of  the  apiarist  along  the  line  of  spending 
these  evenings  in  such  a  way  that  we  may  be 
gaining  in  knowledge  regarding  the  pursuit  we 
have  chosen  in  life.  Having  once  chosen  a 
pursuit  in  life,  it  becomes  all  to  look  after  that 
pursuit  with  all  diligence;  and  in  no  business 
engagement  is  this  more  imperative  than  when 
the  culture  of  the  honey-bee  is  to  be  the  occu- 
pation; and  in  no  way  can  this  be  done  to  better 
advantage  than  in  reading  the  bee-literature 
of  the  day.  How  often  have  I  tried  to  get  cer- 
tain persons  to  take  a  bee-paper,  or  to  send  for 
a  good  book  on  bees,  only  to  be  met  with  cer- 
tain excuses  which  went  to  show  that  the  per- 
sons addressed  would  not  make  a  success  In 
bees.  A  man  who  is  not  willing  to  put  a  few 
dollars  into  the  liee-reading  of  to-day  shows  by 
that  very  thing  that  he  will  not  make  a  success 
of  it;  for  if  he  has  the  right  kind  of  lov(^  for  the 
little  busy  bee  he  will  devour  all  the  reading  on 
the  subject  which  comes  in  his  way,  as  eagerly 
as  a  hungry  man  eats  his  dinner.  It  is  just  this 
hungering  and  thirsting  after  knowledge  re- 
garding the  practical  part  of  bee-keeping  that 
insures  success;  and  unless  a  person  does  so 
hunger  and  thirst  after  knowledge  along  some 
specuil  Utic  of  the  many  industries  of  the  world, 
he  or  she  will  never  make  a  success  at  any 
thing.  One  of  the  reasons  why  there  are  so 
many  ■■  calamity  howlers  "  in  the  world  to-day 
is  because  there  are  so  many  who  are  more 
interested  in  loafing  around  and  listening  to 
idle  gossip  than  tht^y  are  in  thcMr  chosen  pur- 
suit in  life,  and  take  more  interest  in  sitting 
around  the  saloon  or  the  store  than  they  do  in 
studying  on  something  that  will  lift  them  up 
financially  and  morally,  or  make  them  of  use  in 
the  world.  Besides  Gleanings,  take  all  the 
other  liee-papers  which  you  possibly  can:  and. 
before  any  of  these,  be  sure  to  get  at  least  one 
good  book  on  be(>s.  Why  1  say  procure  the 
book  or  books  lirst,  is.  that  no  man  is  ready  to 
understand   the    bee-papers  till    they  are    ac- 


800 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  1. 


quainted  with  the  elementary  principles  of  our 
pursuit.  There  is  scarcely  a  week  passes  but 
that  I  got  lists  of  questions  which  I  know 
wouldn't  have  been  asked  had  the  writers  a 
good  book  on  bees,  and  had  they  read  that  book 
understandingly.  From  these  papers  and  books 
the  mind  is  to  be  stored  with  useful  knowledge 
which  can  be  put  into  practical  use  as  soon  as 
the  season  of  1893  opens.  When  I  first  com- 
menced bee-keeping,  I  procured  the  "  Bee- 
keeper's Text-book  "  and  "  Quinby's  Mysteries 
of  Bee-keeping,"  and  subscribed  for  the  Ameri- 
can Bee  Journal  and  the  Bee-keepers'  Journal, 
the  two  latter  being  all  the  papers  devoted  to 
bees  there  were  at  that  time.  By  the  reading 
of  these  I  was  greatly  benefited;  and  from  the 
writings  of  E.  Gallup.  L.  L.  Langstroth,  M. 
Quinby.  A.  I.  Root,  Adam  Grimm,  and  many 
others,  1  learned  my  A  B  C  in  bee  culture. 

My  first  year  of  experience  in  bee-keeping,  by 
way  of  putting  the  things  which  I  had  read  in 
practice,  resulted  in  13  lbs.  of  comb  honey  and 
one  swarm  from  the  two  I   had   purchased  to 
commence  with,  in  the  poorest  season  I   have 
ever  known  in  all  of  the  23  years  I  have  kept 
bees.    The  next  season  I  obtained  about  25  lbs. 
of  surplus  from  each  colony  I  had  in  the  spring, 
on  an  average.     At  the  end  of  the  fourth  season 
I  chronicled  an  average  of  80  lbs.  comb  honey 
as  the  average  surplus  from  each  colony  in  the 
spring.    During  these  four  years  I  had  studied. 
read,  and  practiced  all  my  wakeful  hours  about 
the  bees,  having  keen  enjoyment  in   doing  the 
same,  for  I  never  spent  an  hour  in  my  life,  even 
up  to  the  present  time,  in  work  pertaining  to 
bee  culture  without  its  being  a  real  pleasure  to 
me;     and    this  was  brought    about    by   those 
winter  evenings  when  I  first  began  to  read  up 
on    the    subject.    Many   a    night   have  I   lain 
awake  from  one  to  three  hours,  planning  how 
to  accomplish  some  result  I  desired   to  achieve 
in  regard  to  the  practical  part  of  apiculture, 
which,  with  the    help   of    what    I    had    read, 
caused  me  to  accomplish  what  I   had  sought 
after.    I  have  found   that,  if  I  would  succeed. 
as  far  as  possible  I  should  read  mainly  those 
articles  which  came  from  the  pens  of  practical 
bee-keepers,  for  such  were  the  ones  who  made 
a  success  of  their  calling,  and  told  how  they 
did   it.      If  you   wish   to  learn  mechanics,  the 
mercantile    pursuit,  or  farming,  to  whom  do 
you    go  —  the    man    who    allows    weeds    and 
briers  to  grow  up  all  over  his  farm  and  in  his 
business,  or  to  the  man  who  makes  a  success  of 
his  every  undertaking,  year  by  year?     To  the 
latter,  of  course;  and  so  we  should  do  in  bee- 
keeping matters.    I  know  that  many  of  our 
most  practical  bee-men  do  not  write  for  publi- 
cation, and   for  this  reason   we    can   bring  in 
visiting,  during  the  winter  months,  as  another 
help  along  this  line  of  our  qualification.    Then 
we   have  our  bee-conventions,  which  are  held 
for  this  special  purpose;  and  while  the  cost  may 
be  considerable,  if  we  improve  the  time  as  we 
should  we  can  learn  more  than  enough  to  make 
that  cost  good,  besides  the  benefit  which   we 
derive  socially. 

All  of  these  things  are  great  helps  to  us.  and 
should  be  eagerly  sought  after,  as  they  will  be 
if  we  have  a  natural  qualification  for  the 
calling  which  we  have  chosen.  If  any  person 
loves  something  else  more  than  he  does  to  study 
into  bee-keeping,  and  does  this  only  as  a  sort  of 
duty,  let  him  be  iissun^d  that  he  has  mistaken 
his  calliuir.  and  thn  sooner  he  leaves  it  and  go(-s 
to  that  which  at  all  times  gives  him  pleasure, 
the  better  he  will  be  off  in  this  world's  goods, 
and  the  better  it  will  be  for  the  world. 

If  there  are  any  who  read  this  who  have  no 
love  foi-  any  thing,  except  to  sit  around  all  win- 
ter, vvhiling  away  thr  time  in  that  way.  let  me 
say  to  them   that  the   world   would    have  been 


better  off  without  them,  and  that  these  lines 
were  not  intended  for  them,  unless  they  caa 
turn  over  a  "new  leaf."        G.  M.  Doolittle. 
Borodino.  N.  Y..  Oct.  18. 


CARDINAL  FLOWER. 


SOME  OF  PROF.  COOK'S  STATEMENTS  REGARDIN6 
IT  reviewed;  not  a  HONEV-PLANT. 


On  page  926,  1888,  Prof.  Cook  gave  us  an  inter- 
esting article  on  the  cardinal  fiower,  or  Lobelia 
cardinalis,  and  speaks  of  it  as  a  honey-plant. 
In  a  postscript  he  noted  the  fact  that,  in  corre- 
spondence with  him,  I  had  questioned  the  state- 
ment that  the  cardinal  fiower  furnished  any 
nectar  for  the  honey-bee;  but  from  evidence 
which  he  received  through  friend  Hilton,  of 
this  place,  he  was  confident  that  I  was  mistak- 
en, and  that  another  plant  must  be  enrolled 
among  those  which  produce  honey. 

On  p.  3.51,  1889,  and  afterward  in  corri'espoud- 
ence  with  Prof.  Cook.  I  explained  my  position 
to  him.  He  stated  to  me  that  he  himself  had 
never  seen  a  bee  on  the  cardinal  flower,  and  re- 
quested me  to  make  investigation  to  ascertain 
the  facts  in  regard  to  the  matter.  This  I  have 
done,  and  am  now  ready  to  give  the  result  of 
four  years' observation. 


cardinal  fj.oweu. 

To  bring  the  matter  clearly  to  the  mind  of  the 
reader  I  will  (juote  a  passage  from  Prof.  Cook's 
article,  in  which  he  nicely  describes  the  flower; 
but  I  am  certain  he  draws  some  unwarranted 
conclusions.  Please  read  it  carefully  :  and  if 
you  are  not  familiar  with  the  flower,  observe 
the  cut  closelv.    He  says: 

'■  The  corolla  is  irregular.  These  flowers  need 
the  visits  of  the  bees  greatly;  and  let  us  see  how 


CT.KAXlNtJS  IN  BEE  CUI/rURE. 


SOI 


lidspiiahlf  they  iiiul' rt;il<c  lo  In-.  Xntc  (lie  tlntr 
Imuiil  i>itiils.  Thni  )ii't  milti  smj  roiiif.  hij  th(  ir 
brujht  Inns,  hut  hij  tin  rcstjiti  fodtsfiinln  iiliiili 
tliiii  I'.f'V'"  the  irfiiriilHi  X.  As  oiin  lu>  si'(<m  in  llic 
tii:iir«>.  till'  stamiMis  air  uiiiti'd.  hotli  by  tlicir  til- 
amiMits  ami  aiitlitM's,  aiul  so  Inrni  a  tiibi'  aroiiiid 
th«' pistil.  In  tiio  iipini'  llowors  that  arc  opi'u. 
wo  siM-  the  authors.  The  stylo  hoars  a  tuft,  or 
brush,  which,  by  growth,  pusln-s  out  of  the  sla- 
moii-tub(>  after  tho  llowcr  opens,  thus  hnishhni 
utf  the  iittUiii.  Alter  il  pushes  nut.  the  hi-lolxd 
siiiinui  o/)(;i.s.  See  tln'  lowei-  llowofs  in  the  liir- 
ufo.  Thus  wo  see  tlu'  polliMi  is  shod  liist.  and  so 
those  tlowefs  uiust  have  the  aid  of  tho  boos. 
The  pollen  is  dropped  before  the  stigma  is  ma- 
tured. At  the  base  of  the  stylo,  upon  the  ovary, 
is  ;v  eoiiiints  scrret'uni  of  (lelieiiius  ue<t<tr.  The 
boos  come  eafforly  for  this  iioftar.  and  thus  un- 
consciously cross -fertilize  the  s(>veral  llowers. 
Ev»'n  as  good  a  botanist  as  Prof,  tloodale.  of 
Harvard,  says. 'The  cardinal  llowor.  however. 
has  so  long  and  narrow  a  corolla-tube //(«?  the 
hces  tire  }(U(tl>le  to  reaeli  the  iie>-t(ir.  which, 
moreover,  is  .so  vatenj  that  they  do  not  in  this 
case  resort  to  thoir  frequent  expedient  of  biting 
through  the  corolla  to  got  at  it."  " 

Prof.  Cook  then  criticises  Prof,  (ioodale's 
statement,  and  concludes  with  tho  following: 

■■  We  now  know  that  this  cardinal  (lower  is  a 
most  excellent  honey-].lant.  If  1  succeed  in 
showing  everybody  that  they  onght  to  plant 
cleome  for  their  bees,  I  will  next  try  this  lobelia." 

The  italics  in  the  above  (luotation  are  mine. 

Now  in  regard  to  my  investigations.  During 
the  past  four  seasons  I  have  repeatedly  visited 
patclies  of  the  cardinal  tlowei'  in  a  region  where 
there  are  plenty  of  bees,  and  also  plenty  of  the 
Howers.  and  have  never  seen  a  bee  upon  the 
(lowers.  Neighbor  Ashcraft,  who  for  two  years 
handled  one  of  G.  E.  Hilton's  out-apiarios.  and 
who  is  a  wide-awake  bee-keeper,  has  done  the 
same  with  like  results.  I  am  certain  that  Prof. 
Goodale  is  correct.  The  nectar  found  in  the 
blossom  is,  as  he  says,  watery,  and  also  rank, 
and  I  have  always  found  it  limited  in  quantity, 
and  not.  as  Prof.  Cook  states.  "  cojiious  and  de- 
licious." The  cardinal  tlowor  blossoms  just  at 
a  time  when  the  bees  are  searching  every  nook 
and  corner  for  honey.  Would  it  seem  possible 
that  they  would  ignore  the  flower  if  there  were 
any  nectar  there  which  they  could  get  at,  even 
if  it  is  poor?    I  think  not. 

As  regards  those  footstools:  A  bee  resting  on 
Ihose  throe  ^jotals  could  not  possibly  reach  the 
nectar,  owing  lo  the  size  of  the  flower;  and 
then  tho  nectar,  what  there  is  of  it,  is  at  the 
bottom  of  that  long  tube,  entirely  walled  in,  and 
decidedly  inaccessible  to  the  honey-bee.  In  all 
the  llowers  I  have  examined,  the  bee  would 
need  a  tongue  much  longer  than  himself,  and. 
in  some  cases,  two  or  three  times  as  long,  in  or- 
der to  reach  the  nectar.  The  close-fitting  top 
of  the  tube  would  not  be  the  least  difficulty  th(! 
boo  would  have  to  overcome.  I  am  positive 
that  no  honey-bee  can  gather  honey  from  La- 
belia  carcUnnlifi.  And.  by  the  way,  friend  Cook, 
did  you  ever  see  a  bee.  when  gathering  honey, 
stop  to  rest?  But  you  will  say  that  a  bee  must 
have  a  foothold.  Granted:  but,  as  just  staled 
above, a  bee  on  those  petals  could  do  nothing 
but  rest. 

Now  comes  up  the  que.stion,  "How  are  the 
flowers  fertilized,  if  insects  do  not  do  the  work?'" 

The  lower  flowers  maiure  first,  and  in  such  a 
manner  that  their  pollen  is  shed  before  the 
stigma  opens,  hence  the  stigma  must  receive 
its  fertilizing  pollen  from  another  (lower.  At 
tho  time  that  tho  lower  ^tigmas  are  waiting  for 
pollen,  the  upper  ones  ;ire  just  shedding  their 
pollen:  and  what  is  more  natural  than  that,  as 
it  is  wafted  downward,  some  of  it  should  rest 
ufion  the  stigma  below,  and  do  the  work  nature 


intended  it  to  do?  Nor  is  this  so  miicli  chance- 
work  as  would  appear  at  lirst,  because,  for  each 
stigma,  or.  Ix'ttor.  for  each  ovule,  there  are  hun- 
dreds of  grains  of  pollen  ripened.  This  process 
goes  on  as  t  he  (lowers  mature  on  uj)  th*;  stalk. 
Another  i'ai-l  tending  to  prove  this  is,  that  the 
highest  (lowers  mature  no  seed. 

I  am  afraid  that,  when  Prof.  Cook  wrote  his 
article,  ho  forgot  what  he  has  so  often  taught, 
and  wisely,  too,  that  careful,  practical,  personal 
observation  is  of  much  more  value  than  hearsay 
evidence.  Prof.  Cook  received  his  information 
from  friend  Hilton,  who.  in  turn,  received  it 
from  another  party.  I  am  certain  that  this 
other  party  was  mistaken  in  the  source  of  his 
honey. 

In  what  I  liave  written  T  have  spoken  point- 
edly: but  I  believe  friends  Hilton  and  Cook  will 
take  no  offense,  for  botii  are  lovers  of  the  truth, 
and  gentltuiien  for  whose  honor  and  scholarship 
I  have  much  respect. 

By  the  way,  neighbor  Hilton  has  just  been 
nominated  to  represent  this  county  in  the  State 
Legislature;  and  although  the  writer  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  opposition  party,  he  will  not  be  sur- 
prised if,  after  Jan.  1.  our  energetic  bee-keeping 
friend  would  be  known  as  the  Hon.  G.  E.  Hil- 
ton. \V.  E.  Goui.i). 

Brookside.  Mich..  Oct.  1:.'. 


HONEY  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


PKioi:  uioiiTs  TO  hi:e-i!Ange.s;  axotiii<;k  view 

OF   THE   MATTER. 

In  a  recent  trip  from  Newhall  to  Mojave, 
from  Mojave  to  Needles,  and  from  Needles  to 
San  Bernardino,  I  had  an  opportunity  for  ob- 
serving the  honey-plants  under  various  condi- 
tions of  climate  and  at  varying  altitudes.  In 
the  vicinity  of  Newhall  the  three  varieties  of 
sage  we  have  here  are  found  on  every  hill:  but 
as  our  train  went  puffing  along  up-gi"ade  they 
became  noticeably  less  until  after  passing  Ac- 
ton, where  none  were  to  be  seen,  being  replaced 
by  the  wild  buckwheat.  So  it  was  in  coming 
over  tlie  range  between  the  desert  and  San  Ber- 
nardino; first  the  buckwheat,  and  then  in  the 
warmer  climate  of  the  lower  altitudes  came  the 
sages.  After  leaving  San  Bernardino  the  train 
passed  through  much  waste  country — thousands 
of  acres,  apparently,  which  was  unfit  for  culti- 
vation owing  to  the  vast  quantities  of  rocks 
which  covered  it.  In  among  these  rocks  the 
white  sago  grew  thicker  than  I  ever  saw  it  else- 
where. There  were  no  apiaries  in  sight  from 
the  train,  but  surely  there  are  many  located 
where  there  is  such  a  grand  field  for  bees.  Up 
near  the  top  of  the  range  above  San  Bernardi- 
no some  l)ee-man  had  an  apiary  of  several  hun- 
dred colonies  located  about  fifty  feet  from  the 
railroad  track.  I  felt  envious  of  him  when  I 
thought  what  little  trouble  he  was  put  to  in 
getting  his  honey  aboard  cars,  in  comparison 
with  myself  who  have  to  haul  fourteen  miles 
over  the  worst  of  roads. 

Frotn  what  I  can  hear,  apiaries  located  at 
high  altitudes  are  more  sure  of  a  crop  than 
tho.se  located  in  the  valleys  where  the  sages 
thrive.  It  is  probably  owing  to  the  greater 
rainfall  which  takes  place  among  the  moun- 
tains. Sometimes  there  are  heavy  rains  in  the 
mountains,  when  the  valleys  and  foot-hills  do 
not  get  a  drop.  The  honey,  after  getting  above 
the  sago-line,  is  generally  dark.  The  season, 
too.  is  later,  which  makes  it  practicable  for  the 
valley  bee-men  to  practice  migratory  bee-keep- 
ing. Two  years  ago,  after  the  honoy-flow  in 
my  locality  had  entirely  ceased,  two  mountain 
apiarists  came  to  my  place  to  purchase  some 
foundation.     Their  bees  were  swarming,  and 


S()2 


GLEA^l^'GS  IN  KEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  1. 


storing  in  sections  quantities  of  honey  which 
they  gathered  from  milkweed.  I  subsequently 
heard  that  their  crop  was  a  good  one.  Now.  in 
a  straight  line  their  location  was  only  some  fif- 
teen mill  s  from  mine,  and  in  that  vicinity  was 
plenty  of  unoccupied  territory.  Had  there  been 
a  wagon-road  to  their  locality,  instead  of  mere- 
ly a  very  lough  mountain  trail,  I  could  have 
moved  a  couple  of  hundred  of  ray  best  stocks 
over  there  and  made  a  big  protit  by  so  doing. 
Even  this  season,  which  has  been  so  genei'ally 
bad  for  the  foot-hill  bee-keepers,  has.  I  under- 
stand, been  a  good  one  for  the  apiarists  located 
in  theTehatchipi  Mountains,  a  district  in  which 
there  is  plenty  of  snow  during  the  winter  time. 

Bees  are  now  working  on  goldenrod  —  that  is, 
where  they  can  tind  any  to  work  on,  for  it  is  a 
very  scarce  plant  with  us.  I  am  unable  to  as- 
certain why  it  is  so  scarce.  I  tind  it  in  small 
patches  at  both  high  and  low  altitudes,  on  clay 
and  on  sandy  soil,  seeming  to  prosper  every- 
where. It  is  nowhere  plentiful.  The  alder- 
trees  along  the  creeks  have  furnished  a  gener- 
ous supply  of  honey-dew.  It  will  come  in  very 
handy  foi'  those  apiarists  whose  bees  have'not 
gathenni  enough  honey  the  past  season  for  their 
own  sulisistencf. 

Th'  me^quite.  which  Arizona  apiarists  praise 
so  hislily  as  a  honey-plant,  is  very  abundant 
near  Needles,  along  the  Colorado  River.  There 
are  no  bees  in  that  vicinity,  and  it  is  doubtful 
whether  they  could  exist  there,  as  the  country 
on  each  side  of  the  river  is  a  desert,  and,  with 
the  exception  of  cotton  wood -trees  along  the  riv- 
er, there  is  nothing  growing  which  would  fur- 
nish honey  except  the  mesquite.  It  would  be  a 
hard  matter,  too,  to  keep  the  combs  from  melt- 
ing down,  as  the  mercui'y  sometimes  registers 
there  128°  Fahr.  in  the  shade,  and  11.5°  at  mid- 
night is  not  unusual.  The  boundless  desert  by 
which  the  place  is  surrounded  is,  no  doubt,  re- 
sponsible for  such  extreme  heat — a  desert  in 
size  as  large  as  New  Jei-sey:  and,  unless  there 
are  minerals  on  it,  the  whole  of  it  not  worth  a 
bunch  of  wooden  toothpicks.  It  is  probably 
here  that  most  of  those  queens  die  which  arrive 
from  the  east. 

In  a  section  like  this,  where  new  comers  are 
constantly  engaging  in  the  bee-business,  and 
old  hands  starting  out-apiaries,  the  matter  as 
to  the  rights  of  prior  locators  on  a  range  as- 
sumes importance.  Some  of  the  bee-men  hold 
that  he  who  first  gets  possession  of  a  range  has 
rights  which  others  should  respect.  Some  lo- 
cate wherever  they  think  it  will  be  profitable 
for  them,  and  it  is  on  that  matter  of  protit  that 
the  whole  question  hinges.  "Self-preservation 
is  the  first  law  of  natui'e  ;  "  therefore  if  a  man 
tinds  that  he  can  make  a  greater  profit  by  en- 
tering into  competition  on  a  good  bee-rang(> 
than  by  going  to  some  poor  ibut  unoccupied 
range,  it  is  his  duty  to  himself  and  family  to  do 
so.  I  can  not  see  why  a  bee-keeper  should  be 
more  exempt  from  competition  than  a  mer- 
chant. A  store-keeper  who,  because  of  prior 
location  in  a  village,  should  protest  against  an- 
other's starting  there  would  be  laughed  at.  The 
bee-keeper  who  desires  to  possess  in  entirety  a 
range  can  best  do  so  by  so  stocking  it  with  bees 
that  any  experienced  person  can  see  that  it  is 
unwise  (that  is,  unprofitable)  to  locate  there. 
An  inexperienced  person  generally  manages  so 
badly  that  what  little  honey  he  gets  makes  no 
difference  in  the  other's  crop;  and  when  locat- 
ed near  an  expert  they  are  generally  crowded 
out  after  a  year  oi-  two. 

If  I  wished  to  start  another  apiary  I  would 
get  an  unoccupied  range  if  I  could;  biit,  failing 
in  that,  I  would  locate  near  the  most  ignorant 
and  indolent  bee-keeper  I  could  find — some  fel- 
low who,  occupying  a  range  capable  of  giving 
fifteen  or  twenty  tons  in  a  good  season,  nevei' 


gets  more  than  from  two  to  four  tons.  The  suc- 
cessful apiarist  had  better  make  up  his  mind  at 
once  to  be  'crowded,  as  the  unsuccessful  ones 
will  never  attribute  his  big  crops  to  superior 
brains,  but  to  a  superior  range,  and  will  move 
their  bees  in  to  share  with  him. 

Wii,i.iAM  G.  Hewes. 
Newhall.  Cal..  Oct.  .5,  1892., 

[You  have  presented  to  us  another  view;  and 
while  a  store-keeper  has  no  reasonable  right  to 
object  to  another  coming  and  setting  up  in  the 
same  line  of  business,  it  is  possible  that  also  a 
/>ee-/ft'f/K'r  first  in  the  field  has  no  right  to  ob- 
ject to  another  locating  an  apiary  on  the  same 
territory.  But  are  the  two  cases  altogether 
parallel?  Somehow,  if  we  had  gone  into  a  lo- 
cality, and  had  demonsti'ated  that  it  vas  a 
grand  location  for  bees,  and  with  that  field  had 
secured  large  crops  of  honey,  we  think  we  should 
be  somewhat  mad  if  some  other  chap  should 
come  and  locate  with,  say.  a  hundred  colonies 
within  half  a  mile  of  us  and  cut  down  our 
yields  by  one-half.  The  other  fellow  would,  in 
all  probaoility.  not  have  located  there  in  the 
first  place  had  he  not  seen  we  were  making 
money.  Some  moral  right  is  due  bee-man  No. 
]  for  discovering  for  himself  a  good  field. 

This  is  a  hard  question  to  settle,  and.  in  all 
probability,  you  will  hear  from  Dr.  Miller  on 
the  other  side.  Of  course,  there  is  no  Idw 
whereby  the  bee-keeper  first  in  the  field  could 
secure  the  privilege  of  that  field  all  to  himself. 
The  only  thing  he  could  do  (and  that  is  out  of 
the  question)  would  be  to  buy  up.  say,  five 
thousand  acres  and  allow  no  other  bee-keeper 
to  occupy  that  land.  He  then  has  a  proprieta- 
ry right  to  the  whole  field.  Five  thousand 
acres  would  give  a  bee-flight  of  about  a  mile 
and  a  half.  Unless  the  bee-keeper  has  un- 
bounded faith  in  his  locality  he  can  not  afford 
to  pay  even  nO  cents  an  acre.  The  matter  as  at 
present  adjusted  is  a  case  of  the  survival  of  the 
fittest,  as  you  intimate.  The  one  who  is  the 
best  bee-keeper  will  crowd  the  hardest,  and  at 
last  crowd  the  other  man  out  entirely.  Perhaps 
this  is  right.] 


THE  RIGHT  KIND  OF  ABSORBENTS. 

(.UorXI)    COKNf OHS. 

Much  has  been  said  pro  and  con  about  ab- 
sorbents versus  oilcloth  for  winter  covering  for 
bees.  With  many,  absorbents  and  upward 
ventilation  seem  to  be  syiionymous  terms,  and 
that,  if  oilcloth  be  not  used,  upward  ventilation 
is  the  result.  This  is  a  mistake.  With  chaff 
cushions,  I  will  admit,  you  have  more  upward 
escape  of  air  than  is  good:  the  chaff  is  too  light, 
too  cellular,  and  not  porous  enough.  You  want 
a  heavy,  denser  substance  than  chaff — one  with 
more  cdpillnry  force  that  will  transmit  the 
largest  amount  of  moisture  with  a  minimum 
amount  of  heat.  Air  is  the  vehicle  that  carries 
both  moisture  and  heat,  and  the  medium  which 
will  transmit  the  largest  amount  of  the  former 
and  the  least  amount  of  the  latter  is  the  best. 

.\fter  experimenting  with  variou-  substances 
the  well-known  absorbent  power  of  corncobs 
induced  me  to  try  them,  using  them  whole  and 
filling  the  interstices  with  dry  fine  sawdust, 
whicli  answei'ed  very  well.  Afterward  I  had 
them  ground  at  a  feed-mill,  and  filled  the  boxes 
three  inches  with  this  meal,  and  I  want  noth- 
ing else.  Cobs  chopped  and  mixed  with  dry 
sawdust  do  well.  This  is  practically  a  non- 
conductor of  heat,  and  it  is  dense  and  porous, 
and  lias  the  capillary  force — like  blotting-paper 
— to  carry  moistui'e  to  the  outer  atmosphere. 
To  illusti'ate   this  capillary   force,  suppose  we 


IS'.fJ 


•  JLKANINUS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


so.s 


liiiild  ;i  iii'w  lii\c  fnuii  IiiiiiIht  sawod  iraiis- 
V(>i-S('ly  fmir  iiu-lios  thii'U  sides,  ends,  ami  cover, 
joints  liernietii'aily  sealed.  This  would  cer- 
tainly tie  a  waiin  hive,  and,  with  tlie  capilhiries 
or  pores  of  the  linnber  directed  from  within 
outward  yon  would  nevei'  lind  a  drop  of  water 
condense(i  on  the  inside  a^  long  as  the  tenipeia- 
ture  w  ithin  was  above  freezing,  and  tin-  surface 
free  from  propolis,  liees  in  their  natural  lionies 
have  tiH>  benetit  of  tliis  capillary  force. 

Yon  say  in  the  May  issue  that  bees  seem  to 
get  alonji  and  build  up  belter  in  the  spring  with 
the  oilcloth  covering.  That  is  undoubtedly  so. 
and  for  the  simple  reason  that,  at  that  time, 
they  need  the  water  that  is  condensed  on  the 
und(>r  surface  for  their  brood,  which  they  for 
many  days  at  a  time  are  unable  to  go  out- 
side and  get.  At  this  season  the  absorbents 
should  lie  removed  and  the  oilcloth  substituted. 

Washington.  Ind..  Oct.  10.     .1.  A.  .Sf  iddkk. 


RAMBLE   NO.  70. 


HAMHI.KIi  .S  KXPEHIKNCK  IN  I>IVlX(i  ON  A  KAXCH 
ALOXK. 

Z  I  believe  I  have  had  occasion  to  remark,  that 
even  those  bee-keepers  who  live  an  isolated  and 
lonely  life  are  generally  qn.ite  fraternal.  If  you 
happen  to  drop  in  upon  them  from  the  out-side 
world,  and  have  any  new  s  to  tell,  or  reading- 
matter  to  dispose  of.  it  is  eagerly  sought,     fn 


stranger  with  it:  and  of  all  countries  this  is  one 
of  the  greatest  in  the  spirit  of  toleration  for  a 
man's  opinions  and  nu'thod  of  life,  and  it  is  well 
that  it  is  so. 

Although  Mr.  Clark  (mentioned  in  iiamble 
()'.i)  is  a  ben(>dict  he  is  full  of  that  fraternal 
spiiit.  and  stands  not  upon  ceremony  in  the 
limitations  of  distance  and  previous  acciuaint- 
ance  as  to  his  neighborly  feelings.  1  have 
known  this  to  be  the  case  when  we  have  travel- 
ed together  around  the  mountain,  or  far  over 
the  plain:  and  I  .soon  leai-ned  that,  when  he 
wished  "t(j  talk  with  that  man  jiisi  a  minute," 
and  left  me  in  possession  of  the  wagon,  the 
minute  lengthened  out  inordinately.  In  all 
such  cases  I  was  very  thankful  to  have  with  me 
my  long- wind  Wat(irbnry  watch:  and  as  the 
minutes  lengthened  I  would  commence  to  wind, 
and  usually  complete  the  .job  upon  Mr.  C.'s 
return.  While  waiting  at  one  place  I  varied 
the  exercise  by  making  an  inventory  of  what  I 
saw  in  a  bedrootn.  Of  course,  the  Ixtdroom 
was  a  detached  building,  but  had  in  it  two  beds, 
a  work-bench  with  tools,  and  a  good  supply  of 
bee-hive  material,  several  bags  of  Egyptian 
corn,  with  evidences  of  mouse  work:  a  shoe- 
makers's  bench,  wire  netting,  shovels,  rocking- 
chair,  wagon-wheel,  manure-fork,  six  chains, 
ropes,  boots  and  shoes,  wire,  tin  cans,  and  other 
things  loo  numerous  to  mention.  The  occu- 
pants of  the  beds  seemed  to  be  haggard  and 
worn.  On(!  was  on  the  bed  and  another  on  a 
box.     It  was   evid(>nt    that   their  surroundings 


xn 


m  It 


'if^' 


^■'.   •■• 


>   .Is. 


OFF    Foi;    rilli   SEASHORK. 


Some  corner  of  the  cabin  will  be  found  a  few 
books,  standard  works.  Itoili  poetry  and  prose. 
and  perhaps  the  walls  are  adorm^d  with  prints 
from  the  illustrated  papers.  A  very  good  idea 
of  the  character  of  the  man  can  be  obtained, 
sometimes,  ai  a  glance.  In  the  cabin  of  a  lone 
dweller  yf  tiie  mountains  I  found  a  great  arrav 
of  flashy  pictures  and  clipitings  from  the  Police 
Odzettc,  -dnd  it  needed  ni.  words  to  reveal  tin' 
condition  of  the  occupant  -  mind.  In  another 
cabin,  though  the  owner  was  living  there  onlv 
occasionally,  several  copies  of  the  Free  Thinher 
and  kindred  papers  were  loiind.  giving  an  un- 
mistakable indication  a-  lo  his  belief.  But 
whatever  a  man's  belief,  he  will  seldom   bore  a 


were  admirably  fitted  to  give  them  an  overdose 
of  the  nightmare. 

Though  Mr.  C,  while  on  our  trips,  would 
have  several  of  these  inlmitr  talks,  and  spend 
considerable  neighborly  time  helping  those 
afflicted  with  balky  horses,  we  usually  made 
the  home  ranch  by  chore  time.  This  humdrum 
of  ranch  life  I  noticed  was  having  a  depressing 
eflfect  upon  Mr.  C.  while  Mrs.  Clark  was  com- 
pletely prostrated.  It  was  of  prime  necessity 
that  they  should  go  to  the  seashore  for  their 
health;  and  in  order  that  they  might  go.  the 
Rambler  consented  to  stay  during  their  two 
weeks'  absence,  and  care  for  the  ranch.  Mr. 
Wilder  was  off  again  in  the  mountains,  and  his 


804 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  1. 


pony  and  colt  needed  a  master,  and  all  of  our 
apiaries  needed  a  little  looking  to.  Then  there 
were  bands  and  bands  of  quail  that  needed  to 
be  put  on  toast.  I  knew  the  two  weeks  could 
be  well  put  in,  and  was  not  at  all  lonesome 
when  I  saw  the  big  covered  wagon  drawn  by 
three  horses  depart  with  camping  and  gastro- 
nomic outfit,  and,  with  them,  four  of  the  young 
men  and  maidens  from  Bloomington.  My  ani- 
mate companions  were  170  swarms  of  bees.  100 
hens,  a  cow,  heifer,  a  spotted  yearling:  Ben, 
the  white  dog.  a  trio  of  cats,  and  a  double- 
barreled  shotgun,  the  latter  to  aid  in  preparing 
the  quail  for  market. 


rambler's  experience  ox  the  kaxch. 

As  to  how  I  enjoyed  myself  and  kept  dull 
care  away  will  be  better  understood  by  giving 
you  a  letter  I  sent  to  Mr.  Clark  after  I  had 
managed  things  for  a  week: 

Mr.  W.  E.  CInrk  — 

Mil  Drar  Sir;— Agreeably  to  promise  I  would  in- 
form you  that  I  am  still  in  the  land  of  the  living-, 
and  <iiU  cllnffing-  to  your  ranch.  It  is  the  same  with 
all  of  your  domestic  critters,  fxccpt  that  old  brown 
hen  with  a  lop-sided  red  peduncle  on  the  t<ip  of  her 
head.  She  was  asphyxiated  during-  a  sandstorm 
that  liowled  around  here;  liut,  don't  mourn  over  the 
old  hen;  tliere  has  been  a  large  increase  in  the  hen 
family.  Ten  remarkal)ly  liealtliy  chickens  havt> 
been  hatched,  and  are  doing  well.  Since  y<.u  went 
away  I  liave  put  seven  heus  in  purgatoi'y  on  siioi-t 
j'ations— they  Wiinted  to  sit. 

The  big  tank  of  water  lasted  uutil  Sunday,  wlien 
Mr.  S.  came  over  and  1  drew  u\>  240  gallons.  I  knew 
something  would  hapi)en,  and,  sure  enough,  one  of 
his  horses  kicked  and  broke  a  tug,  and  the  vei-y 
next  day  some  animal  rubbed  aroutul  the  faucet 
and  let  "off  the  whole  240  gallons.  I  laid  it  to  the 
dog,  and  got  the  shotgun  to  execute  him;  but  evi- 
dence being  wholly  circumstaiUial,  and  the  water 
having  been  placed  there  in  violation  of  the  moial 
law,  I  submitted  to  Providence  and  reprieved  the 
dog.  I  irrigated  the  cattle  for  three  days  by  lead- 
ing them  to  the  spring.    It  takes  15  gallons  of  watei 


to  irrigate  one  full-grown  cow  fcjr  one  hot  day.  The 
weather  is  a  trifle  hot— 98°  in  the  shade. 

Mr.  Clark,  I  don't  know  that  you  know  it,  but  that 
spotted  yearling  of  yours  is  afflicted  with  the 
jamborees.  It  jamboreed  me  across  your  cornfield 
head  first,  scooped  a  peck  of  dirt  down  my  back, 
and  lost  my  Waterbury  watcli.  I  now  lead  the  cat- 
tle with  a  long  rope;  have  blood  in  my  eye,  and  the 
shotgun  in  hand. 

Tlie  bees  are  gathering  a  great  amount  of  water 
on  these  hot  days.  They  rob  out  half  a  barrel  of  it 
regularly. 

Wilder's  gentle  pony  also  served  me  a  diry  trick. 
I  tried  riding  her  to  the  picket  rope  without  a  hal- 
ter.   She  ran  and  bucked  and  rebucked,  and  bucked 
again,  giving  a  fellow  a  flj-ing-all-to-pieces  sensation. 
1  alighted  quick,  and  sat  down  in  the 
sand  to  collect   my  physiology.    I  now 
use  a  bridle. 

I  liope  this  will  find  you  improving 
in  health.  Don't  hurry  home  on  my 
account.  Everything  is  lovely,  and  I'll 
stick  to  the  ranch  if  it  busts.  I  found 
my  Waterbury.  Yours,  etc., 

Ramblek. 
P.  S.— I  haven't  made  any  butter  yet; 
couldn't   find    the    skimmer.    Send    me 
word  where  it  is.  R. 

P.  S.  No.  2.— l,((^'r.— Never  mind  the 
skimmer.  The  dog  lan  off  with  the 
churn-dasher.  Dog  and  I  will  take  care 
of  the  cream.    Don't  hurry  home.      R. 

Along  with  my  other  entertain- 
ments I  would  have  an  occasional 
caller,  a  wayfarer  who  had.  perhaps, 
lost  his  way  on  what  he  would  call 
a  desert.  One  sturdy  Dutchman, 
with  a  donkey,  strengthened  the 
word  "desert"  by  prefixing  "mill- 
dam  ■'  without  the  '"  mill." 

My  neighbor  S.,  who  kept  my 
water-tank  replenished,  found  a  stone 
one  day  which  he  called  silver  ore. 
and  in  a  few  days  he  came  over 
again  with  a  divining- instrument 
to  locate  the  vein.  Fortune-tellers 
and  spiritualists  had  told  him  that 
he  was  going  to  strike  a  rich  mine, 
and  he  was  full  of  faith.  The  instru- 
ment was  an  ounce  bottle  filled  near- 
_y  full  of  biick-red  substance,  the 
main  ingredient  being  quicksilver. 
After  climbing  to  the  vicinity  of  the 
supposed  vein.  Mr.  S.,  nearly  out  of 
breath,  remarked:  "Say!  it  tires  a 
feller  right  smart  to  climb  up  hyar." 
A  tripod  was  made  by  tying  the  ends 
of  th'-ee  laths  togethei'.  The  bottle 
was  suspended  like  a  plummet.  After 
bringing  it  to  a  dead  rest  it  soon  began  to 
swing  to  and  fro.    The  philosophy  of  the  thing 


DIVINIXG   FOR  SILVER. 


is,  that,  as  it  swings,  if  there  is  mineral  near  it 
will  swing  out  further  that  way.  As  the  bottle 
swayed  more  and  more.  Mr.  S.  loudly  e.vclaimed. 
"Thar  she  draws!  she  draws  that  way.  There's 


IHifJ 


lil.EANlNGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


8()5 


rioli  luiiit'ral  Ihmc  soiiicw  har.  Why!  an  old 
prospootor  iniKlit  tramp  around  liyar  a  thou- 
sand yoaiN  ami  m'V(>r  lind  a  hit  of  or(\  while  we 
niiglit  stumhlf  rinht  on  to  it.     Don't  ycr  see?" 

After  tryinji  the  diviniiii^-machine  in  several 
places  the  wind  beiraii  to  int(>rfere  with  opera- 
tions, and  the  discovery  nf  the  mine  was  post- 
poned indeliniteiy.  WhiN'  Mr.  S.  could  see  it 
swing  one  way  mon'  than  ihe  other,  I  could  not. 
It  was  a  clear  case  of  faith,  and  a  lack  of  it. 

There  are  many  in  ("alifinnia  who  think  they 
may  stumble  upon  untold  wealth,  and  still  plod 
through  all  their  lives  and  never  lind  it.  The 
bright  dreams  and  anticipations  of  hnding  it 
are  probably  as  pleasurable  as  the  attainment 
of  the  substance  itself. 

Our  friends  returned  safely  from  tholr  camp- 
ing and  bathing  t«^)ur  on  schedule  time,  niucli 
invigorated  in  body  and  spirits,  and  ready  for 
the  further  duties  of  ranch  life.  Feeling  a  de- 
sire to  rest  from  the  two  weeks  of  ranch  life.  I 
retired  with  the  pony  to  the  quiet  recesses  of 
Wilder  Canyon:  and  in  that  lonely  place  th(?se 
lines  are  written  hv  the  Ramhi-kk. 


ADULTERATION  OF  HONEY. 


SOMETHINti    FHO.M    Mi;.    I.ANUSTKOTII. 


Friend  Root:— It  begins  to  look  as  though  we 
had  nearly  got  to  bed-rock  on  the  adulteration 
question.  Our  good  friend  I'rof.  Cook  lias  done 
a  very  great  service  to  all  honest  producers  of 
and  dealers  in  pure  honey.  As  you  say.  "'  If  it  is 
indeed  true  that  glucose  adulteration  can  be 
easily  detected,  it  is  a  grim  fact  that  will  make 
evil-doers  tremble."  1  fully  indorse  what  Prof. 
Cook  says.  "  We  know  that  honey  is  largely 
adulterated:  but  almost  always,  if  not  always, 
by  feeding*^  glucose.  This  can  be  detected. 
Thus  we  can  successfully  light  this  evil.  Prof. 
Wiley  will  help  us.  Let  us  declare  the  battle 
on.'' 

Yes.  let  us  declare  the  battle  on:  and  if  we 
march  under  the  banner  of  the  IJee-keepers' 
Union  we  may  expect  that,  in  due  time,  the 
victory  over  (jJucose  will  be  won. 

I  believe  that  you  are  safe  in  saying.  "  Prac- 
tically, then,  glucose  is  the  only  article  that 
can  be  used  as  an  adwlicvdut.  at  a  projit.  You 
say.  further.  "'Sugar  may  possibly  be  iised,  but 
we  doubt  it."  Now.  if  cither  pure  sugar  syrup, 
of  light  co\or.  Of  (iiiy  mil  til  re  of  this  grade  of 
syrup  with  the  highest  grades  of  honey  should 
be  fed  to  bees  to  have  them  produce  a  choice 
•luality  of  comb  honey  for  the  market,  it  mat- 
ters nothing,  even  if  chemists  should  be  unable 
to  detect  this  i)roduct  from  honey  entirely  gath- 
ered by  the  be(!S.  Without  entering  into  par- 
ticulars, it  is  enough  to  say  that  all  experience; 
shows  that  iioVihuj  can  he  projitdhhj  fed  to 
iiees.  to  be  worked  up  into  choice  comb  honey. 
I  know  that  it  has  been  suggested  that  a  protit 
might  be  made  by  emptying  choice  sections  of 
white-clover  honey,  and  thi-n  inducing  the  bees 
to  fill  them  with  a  cheapei-  substitute;  but  if 
glucose  has  l)een  used  in  the  process,  detection 
is  sure;  and  without,  then'  will  be  no  margin 
left  for  proHt.  Dark  gradi  s  of  liquid  honey  are 
too  cheap  to  make  it  worth  while  to  sugar 
them.  Prof.  Cook  shows  how  we  could  feed  our 
bees  a  syrup  made  of.  say.  one-third  honey  and 
two-thirds  cane  syrup,  and  the  chemists  could 
not  detect  it:  nor  could  i  he  consume^-;  but  as 
it  will  not  pay  to  do  this,  it  will  not  be  done. 

There  is  still  a  question  which  I  wish  to  sub- 


*  Feeding  is  a  slip  of  the  pen,  for  Pi-of.  Cook  sa>  >. 
"  Bee-keepers  do  not  adulter:ite.  Dealers— wholesiile 
dealers — do  this:"  but  dealers  do  not  fee^l  glucose ; 
they  itae  it  oidy  for  inixiiuj. 


mit  to  our  friend  Trof.  Cook:  Suppose  that 
one-third  choice  extracted  honey,  say  wliite 
clover  or  linden,  be  mixed  with  two-thirds 
choice  whittvsugar  syrup,  and  the  Ix'es  allowed 
to  do  nothing  to  the  mixture,  can  the  chemist 
or  consumer  detect  the  difference  between  this 
mixture  and  the  i)ure  li(|uid  honey?  Why  this 
(juestion  is  ask(>d  will  he  better  understood  if  I 
quote  from  the  lirst  edition  of  my  work,  "The 
Hive  and  Ilonev-bee,"  published  in  the  spring 
of  18.53,  pages  33V).  337: 

Dissolve  two  pounds  of  the  purest  white  sugar  in 
as  much  hot  water  as  will  he  just  necessary  tio  re- 
duce it  to  a  syrup;  take;  one  pound  of  the  nicest 
wliite-clover  honey  (any  other  light-colored  lioney 
of  good  flavoi'  will  answer),  and,  after  warming  it, 
add  it  to  tlie  sugar  s.vrui),  and  stir  the  contents. 
Wiien  cool,  this  compound  will  l)e  pronounced, 
even  l)y  the  best  judges  of  honey,  to  be  one  of  the 
most  luscious  articles  whicli  they  ever  tasted,  and 
will  be,  by  almost  ever.y  one,  preferred  to  the  un- 
mi.xed  honey.  Ketined  loaf  sugar  is  a  perfectly 
l)iire  and  inodorous  sweet;  and  one  ])ound  of  lione.v 
will  communicate  the  honey  flavor  in  lugh  perfec- 
tion to  twice  that  quantity  of  sugar;  while  the  new 
article  will  be  destitute  of  that  smarting  taste 
which  honey  alone  so  often  has.  .  .  .  If  desired, 
any  kind  of  flavor  may  be  given  to  the  manufac- 
tured article;  thus  it  may  be  made  to  resemble  in 
fragrance  the  cla.ssic  honey  of  Mount  Hyniettus,  or 
itniay  have  the  flavor  of  the  orange-groves,  or  the 
delicate  fragrance  of  beds  of  roses  washed  with 
dew. 

While  tho.se  who  choose  may  make  this  mix- 
ture for  their  own  u.se,  it  would  surely  l)e  dis- 
honest to  sell  it  to  the  public  as  pure  honey. 
Dealers  who  wish  to  maintain  a  high  character 
for  strict  integrity  should  sell  nothing  but  pure 
honey.  '      L.  L.  Langstkoth. 

Dayton,  ()..  Oct.  (1. 

[We  are  glad  you  called  attention  in  a  foot- 
note to  what  is  manifestly  a  slip  of  the  pen 
from  Prof.  Cook.  As  we  stated  in  our  last  issue, 
page  7(iO,  we  do  not  believe  that  bee-keepers 
feed  glucose,  although  just  one  and  only  one 
case  of  the  kind  has  come  to  our  knowledge. 
Referring  to  the  mixture  of  sugar  and  honey, 
described  in  the  extract  from  your  book,  we  are 
afraid  we  shall  be  treading  on  dangerous  ground 
if  we  give  any  sort  of  countenance  to  it.  In 
the  first  place,  we  do  not  believe  that  such  a 
mixture  would  be  profitable.  Sugar  is  coming 
up,  as  you  are  well  aware,  in  obedience  to  the 
sugar-trust.  In  the  second  place,  we  feel  sure 
that  wi'  should  be  able  to  recognize  sugar  and 
honey  at  once  by  the  taste,  because  we  have 
already  had  some  experience  in  that  line.  It  is 
recommended,  in  some  of  the  bee-books,  to  keep 
syrup  from  granulating  that  is  to  be  fed  to  the 
bees  for  winter  use.  to  put  in  a  little  honey. 
We  did  so  last  season,  but  not  to  sell  it:  and 
although  we  could  detect  a  slight  honey  taste, 
a  peculiar  flavor  of  granulated-sugar  syrup, 
such  as  is  used  on  pancakes,  was  very  easily 
recognized.  We  have'uo  doubt  that  consumers 
would  like  it,  but  W(;  are  strongly  of  the  opin- 
ion that  they  would  also  detect  the  sugar.  We 
know  perfectly  well  Mr.  Langstroth  did  not 
reproduce  the  recipe  simply  that  bee-k(!epers 
might  try  it  nowadays,  but  only  to  ascertain 
whether  such  a  mixture  would  be  recognized  as 
puri'  or  mixed  honey. 

Asifle  from  all  other  considerations,  it  would 
be  very  unwise,  if  not  inimical  to  the  sale  of 
pure  honey,  for  be(;- keepers  to  put  up  sugar 
and  honey  as  an  article  of  sale  as  good  and 
wholesome  a  sweet  as  sugar  syrup  is.  We  want 
no  siibstiiutes  resembling  honey,  that  will  enter 
into  comp''tition  with  it.  While  the  bee-keeper 
himself  might  be  perfectly  honest,  and  sell  it 
for  exactly  what  it  is.  a  dealer  less  scrupulous 
might  bottle  it  and  sell  it  as  pure  extracted 
honey,  leaving  off,  as  adulterators  usually  do, 


80<3 


GLEANIIS'G.S  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Xov.  1. 


the  name  of  the  producer.  The  following  letter, 
forwarded  to  us  by  a  prominent  commission 
house  in  the  West,  will  explain  itself: 

I  will  send  you  a  sample  of  honry,  and  say  that  it 
is  composed  of  pure  injiiedifnts.  such  as  su^ar,  bee 
honey,  and  a  few  otlier  articles,  wliicb  are  all  pure. 
I  have  been  selling  it  around  tlie  country  here  at  70 
cts.  a  gallon.  It  cost  quite  a  bit  to  manufacture. 
I  sell  it  under  tlie  name  of  "artificial  lioney," 
"  honey  syrup."  I  can  send  it  in  one-gallon  cans  or 
kegs,  or  any  way  to  suit  the  iiurchascr.  Please 
state  wliat  you  can  give  for  it,  and  pay  the  fieigbt. 

For  obviovis  reasons  we  leave  off  the  name  of 
the  writer. 

However  honest  he  may  be  in  stating  the 
truth  in  regard  to  the  ingredients  of  the  so- 
called  honey,  we  are  not  so  sure  that  he  would 
be  unwilling  for  the  dealei'  to  .«e]l  it  as  pure 
honey.  We  tasted  some  of  thi'  stuff,  and  it  was 
simply  vile.  If  you  can  imagine  houey-dew, 
sugar  syrup,  glucose,  and  a  little  cheap  per- 
fumery mixed  together,  you  may  get  some  idea 
of  what  it  tasted  like.  We  woiild  no  more  set 
it  on  the  table  as  an  article  of  food  than  we 
would  introduce  into  our  stomachs  some  semi- 
poisonous  mixtures.  The  house  that  forwarded 
the  letter  on  to  us.  apparently  thought  the 
mixer  intended  in  the  first  place  to  palm  it  off' 
as  pure  honey;  but  in  response  to  their  inquiries 
he  finally  admitted  as  above  that  there  were 
certain  other  ingredients  besides  the  bee  honey. 
No,  it  won't  do  to  give  countenance  to  such 
things. 

Litter.— 8\nce  writing  the  above,  the  Bec- 
lieepvrs'  Revieiv  for  October  has  come  to  hand, 
and  we  notice  that  we  differ  somewhat  in  opin- 
ion with  the  editor  and  Prof.  Cook  in  regard  to 
sugar  fed  honey.  We  know  these  same  differ- 
ences are  honest  differences,  and  it  is  possible 
that  we  may  be  wrong  in  our  position.] 


SOME  THINGS  ABOUT  ROBBING. 


MII.t.KK     TKLI.S     ITS     UNDK.i;    WHAT     f'lUf   f.M- 
STANCES    IT    MAY    UK    AI.LOWKD. 


Friend  Root: — That  item  of  your  exp(>rience 
on  page  78".'  is  quite  interesting  reading,  and  I 
think  you  are  somewhat  at  fault  that  you  do  not 
give  us  more  of  the  details  of  your  own  apiary, 
particularly  the  bad  things.  I  am  glad  you  have 
learned  that,  under  proper  management,  robbing 
is  not  such  a  dangerous  thing.  It  is  hard  to  know 
just  what  is  the  right  ground  to  take  in  this 
respect:  for  few  young  bee-keepers,  until  they 
have  had  some  sad  experience,  have  any  just 
conception  of  the  danger  connected  with  rob- 
bing. 

I  would  give  something  to  make  my  assistant 
as  afraid  of  robbing  as  I  am.  In  former  years  I 
had  such  a  .severe  breaking-in  that  the  sight 
and  sound  of  a  single  robber  when  I  am  at  work 
strik<'s  me  with  alarm.  But  Emma  has  not 
had  the  same  experience,  and  can  work  on 
placidly  with  the  music  of  robbers  about  her. 
I  say  10  her.  "You  must  be  very  careful  oi-the 
robbers  will  get  the  start  of  us.'" 

'■()hl  I  guess  not.    I  haven't  seen  any  yet." 

"Why.  don't  you  see  them  there  this  vei'y 
minute,  right  under  your  very  nose?"  and  the 
emphasis  I  give  is  perhaps  not  as  pleasant  as  it 
ought  to  be:  for  if  there  is  any  thing  that  de- 
moralizes me  it  is  to  have  I'obhers  offer  their 
assistance  when  a  brood-chamber  is  open.  So 
it  is  that  it  is  considered  not  the  orthodox  thing 
to  say  any  thing  in  favor  of  allowing  bees  to  do 
the  least  thing  in  the  line  of  robbing.  Too  oFi- 
en.however.it  is  the  interference  of  theolli- 
cious  bee-keeper  that  makes  mostof  thetroubl'-. 
A  weak,  queenless  colony  is  attacked;  and  tli'- 
only  thought  in   his  mind  is,  that  that  thiuLr 


must  be  stopped.  So  the  hive  is  taken  away, 
perhaps  put  in  the  cellar  for  a  time,  and  the 
robbers,  not  tinding  their  prey  in  its  proper 
place,  pounce  upon  the  nearest  hives,  which,  in 
their  turn,  are  taken  away  and  thus  the  trouble 
spreads. 

On  another  occasion  a  similar  case  occurs, 
but  the  bee-keeper  is  in  blissful  ignorance  of  it: 
and  the  first  thing—in  fact,  the  only  thing — 
that  he  knows  about  it  is,  that  the  hive  is 
completely  cleaned  out— cleaned  out  several 
days  befor(>  he  noticed  it.  In  that  case  no 
harm  is  done.  The  colony  was  not  worth  sav- 
ing, and  perhaps  it  was  a  good  thing  to  have 
the  honey  transferred  where  it  would  do  more 
good. 

I  very  much  doubt  the  coriectness  of  the 
time- honored  tradition,  that,  if  a  bre  once  does 
any  thing  in  the  line  of  robbing,  she  will  never 
return  to  honest  labor  afterwaid.  You  know 
very  well,  that  when,  by  reason  of  had  weather, 
the  honey  flow  suddenly  stops,  can-  must  be 
taken  not  to  start  robbing;  and  if  by  some 
carelessness  it  is  started,  and  perhaps  20  pounds 
of  honey  robbed. thousands  of  bees  being  en- 
gaged in  the  plunder,  if  the  next  morning 
opens  up  clear  and  bi-ight.  honey  yielding  freely, 
every  bee  in  the  apiary  will  seem  to  be  hard  at 
work.  Where  are  the  thousands  that  yester- 
day were  robbers?  Don't  tell  me  that  none  of 
them  have  gone  back  to  honest  ways. 

Last  spring  the  disastrous  losses  left  a  large 
number  of  hives  untenanted;  and  the  combs, 
numbering  more  than  a  thousand,  hafi  more  or 
less  honey  in  them.  The  fuller  contbs  were 
convenient  to  put  in  colonies  needing  them,  but 
a  great  many  had  only  a  little  honey  in  them. 
What  was  to  be  done  with  them  ?  They  might 
stand  as  they  were,  btit  on  the  whol<^  it  was 
perhaps  belter  that  they  should  be  emptied  out. 
Perhaps  you  may  remember  that  they  were 
hung  overhead  in  the  cellar.  W''ll.  the  door  of 
the  cellar  was  left  open  and  the  bees  were 
invited  to  take  possession.  They  promptly 
accepted  the  invitation. 

Now.  there  were  two  things  that  surprised 
me.  Ouf  was.  that  it  took  the  bees  so  short  a 
time  to  clean  mit  those  combs.  Another  was, 
that  it  took  them  so  short  a  time  to  settle  down 
quietly  after  they  got  through  th(^  job.  For  a 
half  a  day  or  a  day  after  the  honey  was  gone 
there  were  more  or  less  bees  searching  through 
the  cellnr.  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  there 
was  nothing  in  the  apiary  to  indicate  that  any 
thing  unusual  bad  been  going  on. 

Another  thing,  if  you  allow  a  section  of  honey 
to  stand  out.  the  bees  will  tear  it  all  to  pieces. 
These  combs  I  have  been  telling  about  were 
not  torn  at  all.  Whether  it  was  that  they 
were  tougher,  or  that  the  bees  had  so  large  a 
surface  to  work  over,  I  do  not  know:  but  I  am 
inclined  to  the  opinion  that  bees  do  not  tear  old 
combs  .<o  badly. 

When  the  clover  harvest  closed,  what  little 
there  w  as  of  it,  all  sections  were  taken  off'.  A 
goodly  number  of  supers  had  so  little  done  in 
them  that  th(!  best  thing  was  to  hav<-  the  bees 
clean  them  out.  A  somewhat  large  experience 
in  trying  to  get  bees  to  empty  sections  on  or 
under  the  brood -chamber  made  me  dissatisfied 
with  that  sort  of  thing.  So  one  day  a  number, 
perhaps  1.").  of  such  suix'is  were  piled  up  in  the 
cellar  in  such  a  way  that  not  a  very  large  num- 
ber of  bees  could  enter  at  a  time.  They  were 
promptly  cleaned  out:  and  ;.'4  hours  after  the 
work  was  finished,  there  was  no  commotion  in 
the  apiary.  The  same  thing  was  I'epeated 
with  a  larger  number,  and  with  the  same  re- 
sult. 

Now  I'll  tell  you  what  I  think.  If  you  had 
allowed  the  bees  to  work  on  those  combs  that 
you  had  piled  up,  without    restiicting  their  en- 


IS'.t'J 


(JLKANlNCiS  IN   BEK  CULTURE. 


H()7 


tfiiiiri' sii  niiu-li,  llic  result  wimld  have  brcii  the 
same.  pnn'idtHi  you  did  not  lake  the  i'Oiiil)s 
away  till  after  the  bees  had  emptied  them,  and 
iiad  irt)t  disiMJiirajred  wurkiiiK  (tvef  them.  Tiie 
\\  iiKJe  matter  lies  jiisi  in  this:  If  hrcs  jjet  In 
fohhiiiR  you  must  uoi  taUi'  away  eviTv  thiiifr 
they  ai'e  working  at.  hut  leave  them  to  woik  on 
that  very  same  spot  until  they  aic  satisjicd 
that  tliey  have  tinished  up  th(>  work  them- 
selves. I'erhaps  it  may  ilo  to  emjjty  out  a  hive 
tliey  are  wofkinjj  at.  providing  the  hive  itself 
is  left,  and  nothing  ahuut  its  appeafance  ehanji- 
ed:  i)ut  !  thiniv  I  would  fat hei- leave  some  t'oinl) 
in  til'-  hive  for  them  to  work  at.  1  fancy  I  see 
A.  1.  K.  shake  his  head  when  he  ivads  this,  sav- 
ins;. "That's  dangefous.  \V<>  can't  be  too  car-e- 
ful  al)out  the  mattei-  of  i-ol)l)ing.  and  haidiy 
ouirht  to  puliiish  any  thins  of  tiie  kind."  \'et 
the  whole  ti'uth  ousrlii  to  be  known.  I'm. just 
as  much  afraid  of  rol)bei's  as  you  are:  but  I 
believe  it's  well  to  be  posted  on  all  points;  and 
witli  that  never-failing  safeffuard.  the  footnote. 
I  feel  sure  all  will  be  well.  C.  C.  Mii.T.Ki!. 

.Marengo.  III. 

[We  indor.so  evcu'y  thing  you  say:  and.  like 
yourself,  we  are  afraid  of  rol)bing.  and  only 
wish  that  our  helpers  regarded  it  with  ilie 
same  fear.  We  can  not  ourselves  endure  to 
have  even  a  single  rohb(>r  liovering  over  the 
frames,  while  our  helpers  think  nothing  of  it  to 
have  as  many  as  lialf  a  dozen.  To  use  a  col- 
loipiial  phrase,  we  liave  been  ■■through  the 
mill."'  and  know  th(^  bad  results  of  allowing 
the  bees  to  pilfer  from  liive  to  hive.  While  we 
hold  robbing  in  great  fear,  wo  are  inclined,  on 
the  other  tiand.  to  let  the  bees,  under  C('rt(tiii 
circumstances,  help  tli(MnS(»lvf\s.  A  year  ago 
last  summer,  at  the  Shane  yard,  as  a  result  of 
transferring  the  bees  on  to  Hoffman  frames,  we 
liad  a  Quantity  of  old  crooked  combs  in  home- 
made loose  frames— too  crooked  to  be  used  in 
ni'W  frames.  Instead  of  transferring  these  we 
carried  them  a  few  rods  from  the  apiary  and 
laid  them  in  the  shade  of  a  tree:  but.  mind  you. 
we  did  not  expose  them  until  we  had  tinished 
work  in  the  yard.  On  one  or  two  occasions  we 
Wi.ited  long  eriougli  to  witness  the  restilt.  The 
bees  pounced  on  to  the  combs  in  a  p(>rfect 
storm,  and  speedily  emptied  them  of  every 
thing  sweet.  The  next  day  we  returned  and 
found  the  apiary  coinparatively  quiet,  nor  were 
there  any  dead  bees  at  any  of  the  entrances,  as 
a  result  of  previous  conflict.  One  time,  we 
remember  very  distinctly  of  .setting  a  couple  of 
combs  under  a  tree  a  few  rods  aw  ay.  while  we 
were  in  the  midst  of  our  work.  All  at  once  the 
bees  began  to  be  cross,  and  to  pilfer  over  tlio 
top  of  the  hive.  The  lirst  incominsr  lad(Ui  bees 
notiiied  those  already  in  the  hives  that  honey 
was  to  be  had  aoincirlicrc.  As  we  have  noticed 
many  times  before,  they  began  to  huni  aiound. 
and,  veiy  naturally,  turned  to  tin'  hives  where 
we  were  working,  because  they  had  not  yet  dis- 
covered the  .source  of  honey  from  whicii  the 
first  supply  was  obtained.  It  is  needless  to  say 
we  stopped  right  then  and  there. 

MOHK    .\1!<»1"T   THAT    S  r.\C-KKI  >-!' I'- 1 1 1  V  I : 
FKKDING. 

Now.  \\<"  would  by  no  means  ad\ise  the  >cat- 
tering  of  paitially  tilled  comlis  a  few  I'ods  from 
tlie  apiary  where  it  is  located  near  dwelling- 
houses:  but  in  out  yuids  situated  as  was  the 
one  nientione<i.  nearly  :i  (luarterof  a  mile  away 
fnjni  buildings,  it  may  tie  done  at  times  to  ad- 
vantage. Tiie  |jlan  that  can  always  be  pursued 
safely  where  it  is  de-ired  to  empty  out  combs 
containing  a  little  hoiiey.  is.  to  place  them  in 
hive^  stacked  up  two  or  three  iiigh.  with  a 
small  entrance,  as  ex|iiaiiied  in  our  editorial  on 
page  l^'l.  While  these  stacks  of  hives,  we  know 
by   experi(>nce.  ran   lie   placed   right  near   the 


driveway,  and  yei  horses  and  persons  can  go  by 
without  the  least  interference.  w(>  would  not 
recommend  it. 

This  plan  of  feeding  creates  an  artificial  con- 
dition of  things  during  a  ileartli  of  honey — that 
is.  a  deailh  from  natural  sources  much  like 
that  when  honey  is  coming  in  freely  from  th» 
tlowfM^s  in  nature's  own  way.  Instead  of  rob- 
bers Hying  arounil  and  stealing,  they  are  giv(Mi 
something  to  do:  and  the  result  is,  that  we 
liav<'  been  able,  during  the  past  hnv  days,  to 
go  on  with  oiir  work  of  uniting,  etc.,  in  the 
apiary,  with  very  little  interference  from  rob- 
bers. And,  again,  we  oliserve  the  honey  itself 
is  being  distributed  throughout  the  apiary,  not, 
as  we  should  naturally  suppos(>,  in  the  strong- 
est cfilonies.  but  with  a  very  fair  and  even  dis- 
tribution ihroiighout  all  the  hives.  Our  Mr. 
.Spalford  said  that  lu^  could  see  the  result  of 
this  open  air  feeding  in  the  hives.  Queens 
were  beginning  to  breed,  and  every  thing  was 
ffoing  on  just  as  if  nature  had  taken  a  sudden 
l)oom.  Nearly  every  apiarist  every  spring  has 
a  few  comlis  containing  a  little  honey:  and 
what  a  good  effect  this  kind  of  outdoor  fe(!  ling 
may  have  in  stimulating  brood-rearing  at  tiie 
tinn^  of  year  we  most  desire  it,  with  so  little 
labor,  the  n-ader  can  figure  out  for  himself, 
Besides  the  increased  amount  of  brood -rearing, 
he  will  have  a  lot  of  nice  clean  dry  combs,  no 
more  tempting  to  robbers  later  on  in  the  season. 

We  are  sure  that  bee-keepers  have  not  yet 
experienced  the  many  advantages  that  may 
accrue  from  this  kind  of  feeding.  They  have 
known  of  it.  it  is  true,  but  have  not  as  yet  util- 
ized it.  Now.  doctor,  while  we  may  be  at  fault 
for  not  giving  more  details  of  the  work  in  our 
own  apiary,  we  hope  we  have  redeemed  our- 
selves, at  least  temporarily, 

P.  S. — A.  I,  R.  has  witnessed  the  results  of 
this  stacked-hive  feedfng  (i  hi  Miller,  and  ac- 
knowledges that  it  is  a  success  in  more  ways 
than  one.  .4t  first  he  felt  a  little  skeptical 
about  it.  and  was  slightly  alarmed  lest  we 
"  boys  "  might  be  getting  ourselves  into  trouble,] 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 


15KITI.SII    ]U-.I';-KKKI*KKS  AND   THE  WORLD  S    FAIR 
.\T   CHICAGO    I.\    IS'.)?;. 

As  w'ill  be  gathered  from  a  perusal  of  the 
proceedings  reported  in  this  issue,  the  interest- 
ing discussion  which  took  filace  at  the  monthly 
meeting  of  the  British  Be(»- keepers"  Association 
on  Wednesday  last,  on  the  subject  of  sending 
an  exhibit  of  British  honey  to  Cliicago.  resulted 
in  a  unanimous  resolve  on  the  part  of  the  A.sso- 
ciation  to  take  immediate  steps  for  putting  the 
project  into  practical  shape.  To  do  this,  it  is 
obviously  necessary  to  secure  the  cordial  co- 
operation, and.  we  trust,  willing  assistance,  of 
bee  kee|)ers  themselves. 

Had  The  season  of  is<r>  been  a  thoroughly 
good  one.  with  abundance  of  honey  in  the 
homes  of  all  who  k(^<'i)  bei-s  in  the  I'nited  King- 
dom, little  difficulty  would  havi'  lieen  experi- 
enced in  getting  together  an  exhibit  of  a  couple 
of  tons  of  nectar  as  a""sample"of  what  our 
islands  yield:  but.  unfortunutely,  the  results 
have  at  best  been  only  moderate,  and  in  con.se- 
quence  the  fiefd  on  which  we  have  to  work  is 
considerably  reduced,  and  the  enthusiasm, 
which  otherwise  would  have  Vieen  aroused,  pro- 
portionately lessened.  However,  the  committee, 
in  order  to  meet  this  difficulty,  have  hit  upon  a 
plan  by  which  a  good  show"  of  honey  maybe 
secured  without  taxing  either  the  pockets  or 


808 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  1. 


the  (bee)  patriotism  of  our  bee-keopers  to  any 
but  a  very  small  extent. 

Without  pledging  ourselves  to  exact  details, 
it  may  be  said  that,  in  substance,  the  plan  is  to 
invite  contributions  of  honey — good,  of  course — 
in  quantities  of  five  pounds  and  upward,  to  be 
forwarded  in  bulk  or  otherwise  to  a  depot  at  a 
given  center  (probably  Liverpool,  as  the  port  of 
departure),  where  it  will  be  received  by  repre- 
sentatives of  the  B.  B.  K.  A.,  for  bottling,  pack- 
age, and  transhipment  to  Chicago.  An  impor- 
tant point  to  be  borne  in  mind  by  gentlemen 
interested  in  the  project  is,  that  the  honey  sent 
need  not  be  tJte  product  of  the  exibltor^s  oivn 
bees;  the  only  proviso  being  that  the  locality  in 
which  the  honey  is  gathered  must  be  stated,  so 
that  many  who  would  have  sent  their  own 
honey  in  a  good  season  will,  by  purchasing 
from  those  less  able  to  give  av.ay  their  produce, 
be  enabled  to  further  the  scheme  at  a  very 
small  cost.  Further,  the  name  of  each  donor 
will  appear  on  his  portion  of  the  exhibit. 

Seeing  that  an  opportunity  of  staging  British 
honey  alongside  that  of  other  countries,  in  so 
prominent  a  manner  as  the  Chicago  Exhibition 
offers,  is  not  likely  to  occur  again  in  our  gener- 
ation, we  hope  that  our  readers — with  whom 
the  matter  may  be  said  to  entirely  rest — will 
rise  to  the  occasion  and  lose  no  time  in  making 
known  to  the  secretary  of  the  B.  B.  K.  A.,  or  to 
ourselves,  the  extent  to  which  they  are  willing 
to  assist.  The  exhibit  will,  no  doubt,  be  seen 
by  several  millions  of  persons  of  all  nationali- 
ties; it  also  goes  without  saying,  that  Auii^rican 
bee-keepers  will  welcome  a  good  display  from 
the  mother  country;  and  as  all  cost  and  trouble 
connected  with  it  will,  as  already  stated,  be 
borne  by  the  B.  B.  K.  A.,  we  trust  to  hear  with- 
out delay  from  intending  donors,  in  order  that 
an  approximate  idea  may  be  ai'rived  at  with 
regard  to  the  amount  of  space  to  be  applied  for. 
Preliminai'y  inquiries  maybe  addressed  to  this 
office,  or  to  the  Secretary  of  the  B.  B.  K.  A.,  at 
Kings  Langley. — British  Bee  Journnl,  Sept.  29. 


A  LITTLE   FOLIK-YEAR-OLD   DAUOHTKK  OF   MRS. 

.JENNIE   ATCHLEV   WHO   CAN   CAGE   BEES 

AND   QUEEN    IX    A    MAILINOCAGE. 

I  must  tell  you  of  a  visitor.  It,  was  a  little 
wee  tot  of  a  four-year-old  baby  girl  who  came 
to  see  me  not  long  since.  She  astonished  all  in 
the  apiary  by  coming  up  to  where  I  was  caging 
queens.  She  took  hold  of  a  cage,  and,  almost 
too  fast  for  the  eye  to  perceive  what  was  going 
on,  caged  the  bees  and  queen.  I  learned  from 
her  how  to  put  the  bees  in  a  cage;  but  we  just 
had  to  console  ourselves  by  considering  the 
source  whence  she  came.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Mrs.  Jennie  Atchley.  W.  R.  Graham. 

Greerville.  Texas,  Oct.  8. 

[Well  done  I  If  Mrs.  Atchley  will  send  a  pic- 
ture of  the  little  girl  we  will  introduce  her  to 
our  readers.]  

WHY   DO   THE     BEES     KILL     MEMBERS    OF   TIIKIK 
OWN    FAMILY? 

Prof.  Cook: — I  mailed  you  some  dead  bees 
from  a  colony  that  kills  numbers  of  their  own 
family.  I  asked  Bro.  Root,  of  Medina,  about 
them.  He  says  that  I  must  be  mistaken — that 
they  must  l)e  drones,  referring  me  to  the  A  B  C. 
What  do  you  think  is  wrong  with  them?  The 
colony  is  strong,  active,  and  has  lots  of  stores. 
I  am  positive  they  are  not  robbers,  as  I  have 
only  one  colony  of  blacks  or  hybrids,  as  they 
are.  All  my  other  colonies  are  pure  Italians. 
or  nearly  so,  and  can  easily  be  distinguished 
from  this.  This  is  why  I  send  from  this 
colony  for  examination.  My  Italians  act  the 
same  way.  They  pull  them  down  from  the 
combs,  and  drag  them  out  in  the  same  manner 


as  they  do  the  drones,  but  they  sting,  very  near- 
ly all  of  them,  which  they  do  not  always  do 
with  drones,  as  they  often  carry  out  drones  and 
let  them  look  out  for  themselves,  guarding  their 
entrance  well,  and  not  permitting  them  to  en; 
ter.  But  the  samples  I  send  you  are  nearly  all 
killed  by  the  bees  themselves.  I  wish  you 
would  examine  samples,  and  give  result  through 
Gleanings.  J.  M.  Fisher. 

Reading,  Pa.,  Oct.  3. 

[Prof.  Cook  replies:] 

These  bees  seem  very  small.  I  presume  that 
they  are  ailing  in  some  way.  and  so  are  rejected. 
Such  bees  should  be  fully  studied  by  a  compe- 
tent bacteriologist.  He,  perhaps,  could  show 
cause.  A.  J.  Cook. 

TWO   GOOD    POINTS  IN   FAVOR   OF   THE   NAR- 
ROWER   SECTION. 

This  question  came  up  twice  at  our  State 
convention,  but  no  discussion  on  the  subject 
was  made.  Eugene  Secor  thought  that  wide 
sections  are  not  capped  ovei-  as  soon  when 
nearly  two  inches  tiiick — a  thing  of  consider- 
able importance — while  W.  C.  Frazier  felt  quite 
sure  that  eight  to  the  foot  would  be  the  nearest 
right.  D.  Benton,  my  neighbor,  uses  seven  to 
the  foot,  and  I  feel  sure  that  his  sections  are' 
capped  sooner  than  mine,  which  are  IX  inch, 
and  do  not  stand  so  much  in  need  of  separators 
as  do  mine;  and  if  sections  were  eight  to  the 
foot  would  they  not  be  built  much  straighter, 
and  be  ripe  and  capped  nearly  as  soon  as  built? 
To  be  sure,  if  full  sheets  of  foundation  were 
used  this  would  be  one  point  against  these  very 
narrow  sections.  I  think  that  quite  good  combs 
might  be  built  in  them  by  using  starters  only; 
but  I  presume  that  the  untasty  drone  comb 
would,  with  the  latter  plan,  be  built.  The 
grocers  here  will  pay  only  10  cts.  apiece  for 
sections  of  comb  honey;  and  if  they  were  built 
eight  to  the  foot  then  we  could  sell  our  honey 
at  home  at  a  fair  profit — about  as  good  as  1.5  cts. 
per  lb.  I  know  it  has  been  claimed  that  it 
would  not  be  an  honest  pound;  neither  are  V4 
sections  an  honest  pound;  and  I  can  .see  no 
dishonest  act  about  selling  sections  by  the 
piece.  I  have  sjient  much  thought  on  this 
matter,  and  I  hardly  know  which  wonld  be  best 
for  us.  Frank  Coverdale. 

Welton,  la..  Oct.  11. 

[We  can't  discover  that  there  is  any  cheating 
when  honey  is  sold  by  the  section.  If  you  can 
get  more  money  for  narrower  sections,  use 
them.]  

A   GOOD   season   FOR   BEES. 

This  has  been  a  good  season  for  bees  in  this 
vicinity,  where  they  have  had  the  necessary 
care  and  attention  that  bees  have  got  to  have 
to  make  a  success  with  them.  Our  principal 
honey- flow  has  been  from  basswood  and  buck- 
wheat, some  from  goldenrod  and  other  wild 
flowers.  I  have  managed  my  bees  for  increase 
and  comb  honey.  I  had  four  swarms  in  the 
spring.  Three  were  quite  weak.  I  now  have 
1:3  strong  swarms,  and  have  taken  off  350  lbs.  of 
comb  honey.  The  honey  season  was  over  here 
Sept.  15.  R.  S.  NoDDiNs. 

Fenwick,  Mich..  Oct.  12. 


BEES  NEVER  IN  BETTER  SHAPE  FOR  FALL. 

There  has  been  no  frost  to  kill  fiowers  yet. 
and  bees  are  still  making  their  living.  They 
have  never  been  in  better  shape  to  winter  than 
they  are  this  fall.  Hives  are  full  of  good  thick 
well-sealed  honey,  and  plenty  of  young  bees 
;ire  hatching  now,  and  some  of  the  queens  are 
^Till  laying.  I  got  a  fair  crop  of  honey,  and  fine 
;i-  to  quality,  mostly  extracted.     I  have  been  in 


ItilC 


GLKANlNdS  IN  HKK  CU  I/rURK. 


8(KI 


this  Statf  tfii  years,  and  this  is  thf  tiisi  fall 
that  lias  hiMM)  workfti  aflor  Si'pt.  ■-'().  and  sonic 
swarms  arc  now  Uiliinir  drones  liiat  have  hccn 
raised  laieiy.  \Vm.  Iiuk. 

Minnea|ioiis.  Minn..  Oct.  U). 


A    (iOOl)   Flow   OF    IIOXKV. 

I  started  tiic  winter  witii  <tri  coh)nies.  1  had 
to  t><'d  .*3t).(K)  wortli  ol  sngar  to  provision  tlicm 
for  winter.  Tiiis  I  did  not  do  until  the  last  of 
September — too  late  tor  brood  raising.  What 
little  lioney  they  had  was  honey  dew .  Only 
live  died  thrtiuffh  the  wiiitei'.  and  tliey  were 
Miicenless.  The  first  of  April  I  had  sd  colonies. 
The  weather  was  very  unfavorable — wot  and 
cold  no  to  the  middle'of  June.  At  this  date  I 
had  only  4:5.  and  half  of  them  furnished  no  sur- 
l>lus.  I'increased  to  TO  by  artilicial  swarming, 
and  took  1100  ibs.,  mostly  exti'actcd,  gathered 
largely  from  alsike  clover — as  tine  honey  as  1 
ever  took.  I  have  HXK)  lbs.  ready  to  take,  of 
fall  honev:  and  if  frost  keeps  otT  this  mouth  I 
shall  get  another  thousand  from  not  more  tlian 
2.1.  spring  count,  so  1  am  not  discouraged. 
There  is  us  good  a  How  now.  Oct.  1<>.  as  I  evei" 
saw.  largely  from  heartsease  and  Spanish  nee- 
dle. Bees  are  building  comb  almost  as  well  as 
earlier  in  the  season.  There  will  be  no  discount 
in  wintering  this  winter.  They  are  raising 
pls>nty  of  brood.  I  iuui  a  swarm  soiue  three 
weeks  ago. 

ALSIKE    AND    I'EAVINE    ri,(»VEK. 

I  had  tnade  up  my  mind  one  of  our  dry  sum- 
mers, that  peavine  clover  is  the  best  of  honey - 
plants:  hut  this  year  bees  did  not  work  on  it  at 
all.  while  alsike  was  good.  It  did  not  com- 
mence blooming  until  the  middle  of  June. 

New  Sharon.  la..  Oct.  10.    Geokoe  Bkiggs. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


Prove  all  thing's;  hold  fust  tliat  which  is  g-ood.— 
I.  The.ss.  .5:21. 

A  few  davs  ago  one  of  our  readers  mailed  me 
a  paper  entitled  the  3//'/( '"(/*' u  Afcv-seuf/er,  extra. 
It  comes  from  Adrian.  Mich.,  and  i.s  dated  Sept. 
17.  1892.  He  wrote  me  at  the  same  time,  that, 
if  1  would  just  read  St.  John's  speech  in  said 
paper,  he  would  be  very  much  gratified.  I  have 
read  it.  and  I  am  very  glad  he  sent  it  to  me.  I 
wish  everv  man  and  woman  in  the  I'nited 
States  could  r^ad  it.  It  may  Vje  that  the  state- 
ments that  St.  John  makes  are  not  all  true:  il 
may  also  he  that  some  of  them  are  misleading: 
but"  for  all  that,  I  wish  everybody  might  read 
it.  But  I  ijropose  to  consider  only  one  small 
part  of  it:  and  while  I  consider  it.  I  feel  how 
utterly  unable  I  am  to  handle  such  matters.  I 
know  I  am  ignorant  of  politics;  and  I  have 
been  blamed,  and  it  seems  to  me  I  have  been 
somewhat  abused  because  I  am  ignorant  and 
confess  mv  ignorance.  (Jently.  dear  friends.  A 
ladv  of  mv  acquaintance  once  took  our  good 
pastor  to  task  (she  did  it  very  mildly,  of  course; 
because  he  did  not  preach  tonpentncc  more 
strongly.  He  replied  that  Ood  called  him  to 
preach  "Christ  Jesus,  and  not  to  preach  temper- 
ance particularly,  and  this  I  wish  to  make  as 
one  plea  for  my  ignorance.  I  feel  that  (iod  has 
called  inc  to  preach  in  my  own  way)  Christ 
Jesus.  I  am  well  awue.  when  I  say  this,  that 
I  have  done  it  but  |)Oorly  and  imperfectly.  I 
have  wandered  from  the  dear  Savior  more  than 
once.  May  he  give  mc  grace  and  strength  that 
I  mav  not  wander  from  his  dear  name  w  hen  I 
speak  to  you  to  dav.  .Vnotlier  thing.  I  have  not 
the  physical  strength  lo  read  and  study  up  mat- 
ters   of   government    and    state.     My    nervous 


strength  fdi' menial  work  even  now  is  limited. 
Daily  and  liourlv  1  must  decide  what  has  the 
greatest  call  on  iliis  reinainiim  strength.  I  can 
read  but  little  compared  wit  h  what,  !  used  to 
read  in  former  yc^ars.  In  view  of  this,  what 
should  I  read  next  to  my  Bible'.'  God  surely 
calls  upon  me  to  keep  posted,  al  least  to  some 
extent,  in  regjii'd  to  matters  of  government.  I 
love  my  native  land.  1  am  proud  f)f  our  great 
republic,  even  with  its  grievous  faults  and  fail- 
ings: and  vvhiMi  these  faults  and  failings  are 
held  iij)  to  my  face,  so  to  speak,  what  can  7  do 
to  bring  about  a  better  state  of  affairs?  lean 
trust  in  God,  i.nd  I  can  ask  him  to  direct  me; 
and  thi'U  1  mean  to  follow  that  direction  so  far 
as  my  strength  and  wisdom  will  permit.  Now, 
dear  friends,  after  I  have  done  this,  please  do 
not  complain.  Voti  may  .siifyye-s-t  to  me,  if  you 
choose,  ttiat,  from  xjanr  point  of  view,  I  am  not 
voting  as  I  am  praying;  but  please  do  not 
tJinur  such  remarks  at  me,  and  insist  that  I  am 
not  honest  and  sincere  necause  I  do  not  see  my 
way  clear  to  vot(!  just  as  you  do.  And  now  for 
my  brief  extracts: 

A  few  nioiUiisafro  an  old  eliurcli  deacon  said  to 
me,  "St.  .John,  I  am  redliot."  I  said.  "Thank  the 
Lord,  deacon.  I  iiave  Iieeii  waiting  for  sometliinff 
to  thaw  you  out  for  tiie  last  ten  years.  What  is  the 
mattery"  Siiid  he,  "I  have  jusi  learned  that  the 
government  i.s  pionioting' the  beer  business." 

After  reading  the  aliove.  and  a  little  further 
along,  I  confess  that,  for  the  time  being.  I  was 
like  the  old  deacon.  If  I  wasn't  "redhot."  I 
felt  desperate,  if  that  is  the  right  word.  I  was 
ready  to  stand  u])  and  declare  that  these  things 
should  no  longer  be  .so.  no  niatter  what  il  cost 
or  what  the  sacrifice.  There  are  certain  crises 
in  our  lives  when  we  almost  feel  justified  in 
say'ng.  "  If  this  thing  is  going  to  cost  us  our 
lives,  then  our  lives  will  have  to  go  in  the  at- 
tempt." I  felt  a  good  deal  that  way  at  the 
time,  and  I  feel  a  good  deal  that  way  even  now. 
Now.  here  is  what  made  the  old  deacon  "red- 
hot:"! 

I  said  to  the  old  deacoji,  "  Yea,  I  Think  I  know 
what  j-oii  mean.  Vou  refer,  no  doubt,  to  a  pam- 
phlet recently  g-otten  out  by  the  Department  of 
State,  in  relation  lo  'Malt  and  Beer  in  Spanish 
America;'"  and  lie  said.  "Yes,  I  guess  that  is  it." 
I  said.  "I  know  it  is."  T  sent  on  and  g-ot  one.  and  I 
have  it  here.  Just  listen  to  the  title  of  this  work, 
published  b>-  our  government: 

"DKl'AUTJIENT   OF  STAT?:— AIDuTO   BREWERS. 

"Mah  and  Beer  in  Spanish  America."  Where 
would  you  think  such  a  document  emanated  from  ':' 
Naturall.v  fi'om  llie  brewers,  wouldn't  you ':*  N'es. 
But  let  us  see  wliat  it  .says.  "Report  of  the  consuls 
of  tlie  United  Stales,  in  answer  to  a  circular  letter 
from  tlie  Deparlment  of  State,  in  relation  to  malt 
and  lieer  in  Spanish  America.  Putilislicd  at  the 
pul)lic  piiiiting-oltice  at  Washington,  I).  ('."  (Preach- 
ers. tea<'hers,  tjuinmers.  saloon-keepers,  tramps,  and 
thugrs  ail  chip  in  to  Idol  tlie  liills  for  tins  document. i 
"All  recjuevts  foi'  these  repoits  should  be  addressed 
to  the  Secretary  of  State. "  Let  me  read  you  the 
circular  letter  that  preceded  this  disgraceful  docu- 
ment: 

Department'Jof   Stale, 'Washington,'  D.  C.  Dec.   15. 

1889. 
To  till  Cniistildr  Offiieis  III  III,  Vnitrd  Stntesli)i  Mexiro, 

Criilnil  iiiid  Smith  Aineiica,  aud  llir  VTc^t  Indiei^: 

Ge.ntle.men:— Some  ol  the  leading  malsters  and 
brewers  in  the  Cniled  States  have  requested  tlie 
department  to  procure  information  relative  to  the 
mall  and  tieer  trade  in  your  respective  districts. 

Tlie  information  desired  covers  such  points  as  the 
following: 

1.  The  imports  of  malt,  and  whence  imported; 
duties  charged  thereon  ;  cost  of  same  per  bushel, 
whether  imported  or  locally  prepared,  etc. 

3.  The  Imports  of  beer  and  whence  imported;  in 
hottli-  or  wood,  and  duties  cliarged  thereon;  kinds 
of  t.eer  most  .suitable  for  local  consumption;  detail 
concerning'  prices,  wholesale  and  retail,  of  foreign 
and  domestic  beer,  etc 


810 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  1. 


3.  How  imported  malt  and  beer  arc  placed  on  the 
market,  etc. 

The  motive  of  this  circular  being  the  enlargement 
of  American  trade,  you  will  not  confine  yourselves 
to  the  above  interrogatories,  which  are  to  a  large 
degree  suggestive  only,  but  will  give  as  much  in- 
formation as  possible  concerning  every  phase  of 
the  malt  and  beer  business,  so  that^tlie  malsters  and 
brewers  of  the  United  States  may  fully  understand 
the  requirements  necessary  to  successful  trade  in 
each  di.strict. 

All  foreign  weights,  measures,  and  money  sliould 
be  stated  in  American  equivalents. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  servant, 

Wm.  F.  Wharton, 
Assistant  Secretary. 

Listen,  citizens:  I  read  from  the  report  of  Warner 
P.  Sutton,  one  of  these  consuls.  He  says:  "If  the 
duties  were  reduced  one-half,  we  could  easily  send 
in  a  million  dollars  worth  of  our  beer." 

You  will  notice  that  St.  John  reads  the  above 
from  a  government  document.  The  date,  how- 
ever, is  Dec.  15.  1889.  I  read  tlie  rest  of  his 
speech  clear  through  anxiously,  to  notice  wheth- 
er, during  the  last  three  years' that  have  passed, 
something  hadn't  been  done  to  change  or  stop 
the  business  of  e.xtendinir  the  beer-trade  in  for- 
eign lands  where  we  are  sending  missionaries  to 
preach  Christ  Jesus.  Then,  again.  1  reflected 
that  we  as  a  people  have  different  ideas  con- 
cerning the  beer-trade.  I  supposed,  however, 
that  the  government  itself  had  only  07ie  idea. 
While  in  Arizona  and  California  1  asked  in  dif- 
ferent places  and  at  different  times  in  regard  to 
intemperance  among  the  Indians.  I  was  great- 
ly rejoice<l  on  being  told  tliere  was  very  little 
of  it.  Saloon-keepers  may  sell  liquors  to  white 
men,  but  not  to  Indians.  The  laws  of  the 
United  States  are  terribly  severe  on  anybody 
who  sells  intoxicating  liquors  to  the  Indians. 
I  think  my  brother  at  Tempe  told  me  that  it 
was  a  penitentiary  offense  to  sell  an  Indian  a 
single  drink.  If  a  savage  becomes  intoxicated 
he  is  crazy.  He  knows  no  restraint  such  as  a 
white  man  generally  does.  His  old  savage  na- 
ture tiiat  has  been  under  control  and  very  quiet 
a  few  years  breaks  out  witli  the  fury  of  a  mad 
man.  It  would  not  do  at  all  to  let  Indians  have 
access  to  drink  as  we  do  white  men.  If  I  am 
making  a  blunder  in  this,  there  are  certainly 
those  among  our  readers  who  can  correct  me. 
I  know  that  I  am  at  least  partly  right  about  it. 
Well,  then,  how  is  it  that  this  same  government 
of  the  United  States,  that  has  taken  such  pains 
to  keep  liquor  from  the  Indians,  proposes  to  cii- 
coura(je  the  very  thing?  You  may  say  this 
scheme  of  sending  our  beer,  and  teaching  for- 
eigners oi'  savages 'to  drink,  is  outside  of  the 
United  States— it  is.  in  SmdJi  America.  What 
sort  of  reasoning  is  that?  Why,  there  is  some- 
thing terrihly  wrong  about  the  management  of 
our  affairs,  surely.  This  William  F.  Wharton 
is.  I  believe.  Assistant  Secretary  of  State  of  the 
United  States.  Perhaps  I  am  only  exposing 
my  ignorance  further  and  further.  Never  mind. 
Perhaps  Gleanings  can  not  give  very  much 
publicity  to  this  document;  but  it  can  give 
some:  and,  even  though  its  readers  may  be 
corn})<ir((tlvclij  few,  they  are  earnest,  intelligent, 
and  thinking  men  and  women.  I  know,  because 
I  read  your  letters. 

Some  of  you  will  tell  me  that  \Jtie  government 
of  the  United  States  is  a  peculiar  institution: 
that  it  is  a  pretty  hard  matter  to  have  it  even 
consistent  in  all  its  branches  and  ramifications; 
and  I  presume  some  allowance  should  lie  made 
for  this.  Others  will  tell  me  that  it  is  r»7i  cor- 
ruption and  greed  and  bribery,  any  way.  1 
think  I  know  this  latter  is  not  true.  It  is  the 
best  government,  the  most  Christian  govern- 
ment, that  can  be  found  on  the  face  of  the 
earth:  and  I  believe  it  is  the  best  govern- 
ment under  which  a  poor  man  can  live.  If 
it  is   not.  where   is  there  a />ett//' one?  and  are 


people  flocking  to  it  as  they  are  Hocking  to  our 
shores?  A  great  many  times,  when  people  find 
so  much  fault  with  our  laws  and  law-makers, 
and  of  our  government  in  general.  I  feel  a  good 
deal  like  saying.  "'  Why,  my  good  friend,  if 
things  are  so  mrfiil  bad  here,  why  don't  you  go 
off'  to  live  in  some  other  country,  where  they 
are  honest  and  righteous,  and  upright  and 
pure?"  Well,  it  transpires  tliat  this  govern- 
ment is  even  now  pushing  the  beer-trade  into 
foreign  countiies,  right  along  side  by  side  with 
our  missionaries;  and  I  think  I  have  before 
heard  it  intimated  that  whisky,  and  other  in- 
toxicants to  be  sold  to  the  natives,  often  go  on 
the  same  vessel  with  the  missionary.  If  this  is 
true,  what  shall  be  done  about  it?  In  one 
.sense  I  do  not  know;  but  when  I  say  I  do  not 
know,  of  late  there  comes  up  in  my  mind  again 
and  again  a  fiagment  of  a  little  hymn: 
1  am  weak,  but  tliou  art  mighty; 

and  we  Christians  Know — or.  at  least,  we  ought 
to  know— that  one  man  with  God  on  his  side  is 
more  than  a  match  for  hundreds  or  thousands 
of  the  ungodly.  The  first  thing  to  be  done, 
then,  is  to  be  sure  that  God  is  on  our  side.  Of 
course.  God  does  not  take  sides  or  change  sides; 
hut  if  he  does  not.  he  do.  because  we  are  weak 
and  human,  therefore  we  want  to  be  on  tiod's 
side.  But  who  shall  tell  us  which  is  God"s  side 
and  which  is  not?  He  himself  will  tell  us  by 
his  Holy  Spirit;  if  we  seek  his  counsel  and  his 
aid  he  will  certainly  make  it  plain  to  tis  sooner 
or  later  what  his  wishes  are:  and  this  is  a  very 
comforting  thought  to  me.  It  is  not  my  duty 
to  depend  u})on  anybody  as  to  wh;it  I  should  or 
should  not  do.  *"  Him  That  cometh  to  me  I  will 
in  nowise  cast  out."  I  wish  to  make  another 
quotation.  This  time  I  am  going  to  quote  St. 
John  himself.     Here  is  what  he  says: 

OOVEKNMENT  COMPLICITY    IN  THE   BUSINESS 

Did  you  ever  think  of  it,  you  church  people,  that 
our  government  is  in  partnership  with  this  business? 
It  runs  every  distillery  just  as  much  as  it  runs  the 
postofflce.  Its  officer  carries  the  distillery  key ;  he 
unlocks  the  building  in  the  morning,  and  locks  it 
up  at  night. 

My  impression  is,  that  the  above  is  rather 
extravagant.  Well,  if  it  is  not  true,  that  mak- 
ing whisky  is  getting  to  be  like  managing  the 
postal  department,  what  is  true?  I  think  there 
is  some  truth  in  it,  from  a  little  circumstance 
that  came  under  uiy  observation  a  year  ago. 
One  of  the  boys  who  used  to  work  foi'  us  went 
to  Oberlin  to  school,  and  is  now  principal  of  the 
schools  in  a  small  town  in  our  State.  I  visited 
his  school,  and  objected  to  a  certain  loose  way 
they  had  in  that  community.  Certain  big  boys, 
who  looked  as  if  they  were  more  at  home  in  a 
doggery  than  in  a  schoolroom,  had  a  fashion 
of  coming  to  school  and  calling  themselves 
"visitors.'"  The  visiting  was  done  by  going 
and  sitting  by  tlie  nice-lookiug  girls,  and  whis- 
pering silly  things  in  their  ears  during  recita- 
tion. Of  course.  I  did  not  licar  what  tlie  whis- 
pering was — I  judged  only  by  the  result.  As 
soon  as  school  was  closed  I  made  a  vehement 
l)rotest.  Our  young  superintendent  said  it  was 
a  "fashion"  they  bad  in  that  neighborhood, 
and  it  could  not  well  be  stopped  without  mak- 
ing a  commotion.  I  pi'essed  my  point  as  fol- 
lows: 

"  Why.  go  to  the  directois:  state  the  case  to 
them:  give  them  your  opinion  in  regard  to  the 
matter,  and.  with  tlieii'  sanction,  let  the  com- 
motion come.  I  would  stoji  it  or  I  would  hand 
in  my  resignation.'" 

•'Mr.  Root,'"  said  he.  "if  you  knew  the  di- 
rectors as  well  as  I  do.  I  don't  think  you  would 
undertake  it.  The  principal  one  is  the  largest 
owner  in  the  governmi'nt  distillery  right  over 
there  on  the  side  of  the  hill.     He  is  the  most  in- 


18«12 


CLKANlNdS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Kli 


llufiitial  man.  and  is  w.'ll  olV;  bin  lie  woiiUi 
think  this  matter  of  the  inttMTuptioii  of  the 
>tiulit's  so  trillini;  that  it  is  not  wofth  while  to 
Tuiike  a  fuss  ahoiii  it." 

■•  litit.  Miy  friend,  thr  interruption  of  the 
Nn<(/i<'.v  is  a  small  matter.  If  that  fellow  who 
was  in  here  this  afternonu  should  go  and  sit  hy 
a  dautrhter  of  oiuir— yes.  I  have  a  «irl  just 
ahout  the  asre  of  that  one,  between  fourteen 
and  lifteen— if  that  low-lived  fellow  should  go 
and  sit  in  the  seat,  beside  lier.  and  whisper  and 
look  at  her  as  he  looked  into  tliat  honest,  child- 
ish face  half  an  hour  airo.  1  eould  hardly  re- 
strain myself  from  givinu'  him  a  horsewliii)|)infi. 
Ifthatiiirl's  mother  had  seen  what  was  going 
on  here  this  very  afternoon  she  would  he  like 
an  enraged  tiger,  and  slu'  ouglit  to  be." 

I  liad  heard  a  good  deal  about  the  govern- 
ment distillery,  their  nie-i'  apparatus  and  beau- 
tiful building,  and  I  walked  over  and  took  a 
look  at  it.  It  was  not  running  then:  in  fact,  it 
hadn't  been  running  for  some  time:  but  I  looked 
in  through  the  windows,  and  saw  the  nice  ap- 
paratus, tiie  beautiful  furniture,  the  tine  build- 
ing, built  without  regard  to  expense,  and  pon- 
dered. Such  a  i)uilding  looked  out  of  place  in 
that  poor  little  town.  Near  it  was  a  neat  little 
otWce.  A  sign  over  the  door  proclaimed  it  to  be 
the  olhce  of  Governmeni  Inspector  of  Liquors. 
lean  not  remember  the  rest  of  it.  Our  young 
superintendent  had  an  entertainmenl  at  the 
close  of  his  school,  to  show  the  proliciency  of 
the  scholars.  They  charged  an  ailmission  Fee, 
and  he  had  worked  hard  that  th<'y  might  hav(> 
sulttcient  proceeds  to  purchase  a  library  for  the 
town  and  school.  The  pupils  and  teachers  all 
did  their  best,  but  they  succeeded  in  raising 
only  a  paltry  sum.  say  between  S:iO  and  $30. 
The  saloon-keeper  across  the  way  made  h's 
boast  that  he  took  in  over  $100;  and  my  young 
friend  said  there  was  a  steady  stream  of  men 
and  boys  from  the  hall  where  the  exercises 
were  held,  across  the  way  to  the  saloon,  <liirin<j 
Uti'  irh{jle  of  the  e.rercixr.H.  and  yet  this  was  a 
little  town  of  less  than  a  thousand  inhabitants. 

Now,  then,  friends,  if  .St.  John  and  I  have  got 
things  wrong,  will  some  wise,  honest,  kind 
friend  set  us  right?  I  do  not  care  what  polit- 
ical party  you  belong  to:  and  it  surely  does  not 
make  any  difTerence  wheilier  you  l)elong  to  tlie 
same  church  I  do  or  not:  but  I  hope  that,  when 
you  attempt  to  set  me  right,  you  will  do  it  vvitii- 
out  bias  or  prejudice.  St.  John  says  that  igno- 
rance and  prejudice  are  the  worst  enemies  we 
have  to  battle  with.  May  God  liave  the  mercy, 
gooflness.  and  love,  to  deliver  us  from  both. 

You  may  think  I  am  getting  discouraged  anil 
disheartened  lately.  No.  I  am  not.  I  am  full 
of  faith  in  my  country.  My  faith  in  (iod  is 
stronger.  I  am  sure,  than  it  ever  was  before: 
and  my  faith  in  you,  deal-  reader,  is  hi'ight  and 
clear.  I  love  my  fellow-men — yes.  I  love  them 
while  it  grieves  me  to  the  heart  to  know  that 
they  think  our  institutions  may  be  built  u])  by 
sending  beer  and  liquors  to  South  America. 

No  doubt  it  is  a  good  thing  to  get  "redhol" 
occasionally,  as  the  old  deacon  did;  but  we 
want  to  be  sure  we  are  right  beff)re  we  go 
ahead:  we  must  not  be  in  haste  to  think  evil: 
but,  in  the  language  of  our  text,  we  as  Chris- 
tians must  prove  all  tilings  and  hold  fast  to 
that  which  is  good.  Temperance  people  and 
Christian  people  often  barm  the  very  cause  so 
dear  to  their  hearts  by  want  of  charity  and 
perhaps  want  of  the  virtue  expressed  in  the 
little  text,  ■■  Thinketh  no  evil."  Let  me  illus- 
trate: A  few  days  ago  an  individual  came  to 
me  and  commenced  som'thing  in  this  wise: 

"  Mr.  Root.  I  presume  you  are  not  aware  of 
the  amount  of  liquor  that  is  sold  right  heie  in 
our  town,  even  though  we  have  no  saloons. 
You    are  surely  not  aware  that  a   liquor-car 


comes  to  our  station  here  every  .Sundav  morn- 
ing before  daylight,  bringing  lieer  and  other 
liiluoiN  that  are  hurried  off  to  peopled  (-(hilars  to 
be  afterward  retailed  out  and  divided  around. 
And  perhaps  you  would  not  believe  me  if  I 
should  tell  you  tiiat  some  of  your  own  iiands — 
some  that  yon  regard  as  most  faithful  and 
trustworthy,  are  engaged  in  this  work.  Now, 
what  I  want  is  a  little  money  to  set  a  detective 
at  work  an<l  to  go  into  these  people's  cellars  and 
show  up  to  the  litjlil  of  ilay  the  iniquity  that  is 
going  on  here  in  our  midst." 

"  Hut.  my  friend,  you  are  surely  mistaken 
in  saying  that  any  of  oi/r  help  is  in  this  busi- 
ness, even  if  such  a  business  exists." 

"Indeed.  1  am  not;  and  if  yon  will  consent  to 
believe  your  own  ey(>s,  just  get  an  oflficer  of  the 
law  and  see  w  hat  vou  will  tind.  Of  coursi;.  you 
would  not  believe  that  >our  friend  X  and  your 
friend  '\'  and  your  friend  /  w(!re  in  any  work  of 
this  kind.  Hut.  Mr.  Root,  you  have  yet  to 
learn  how  eager  tlussci  German  people  are  to 
turn  a  i)enny  when  they  think  they  can  do  it 
without  being  discovered." 

Now.  I  think  I  know  our  Medina  people  pret- 
ty well;  and  I  have  always  thought  I  knew  my 
German  helpers  pretty  well;  but  as  my  inform- 
ant went  on,  the  poison  began  to  enter  my 
heart.  However,  I  had  the  good  sense  to  insist 
that  the  thing  was  impossible,  even  wiiile  I 
began  to  think  these  people  might  be  capable 
of  such  evil.  1  knew  that  a  very  good  Chris- 
tian woman  lived  at  at  least  one  of  the  places 
mentioned,  and  I  suggested  that  surely  no  such 
proceeding  could  go  on  there  without  her  con- 
sent or  knowledge:  but  my  informant  said 
something  like  this: 

"This  good  woman  of  whom  you  speak  did 
at  first  stoutly  object,  and  refuse  to  have  any 
thing  to  do  with  it:  but  by  and  by  she  said  less 
about  it.  then  kept  still,  and  is  now  as  active  in 
making  money  out  of  it  as  any,  and  even  her 
rhilclren  are  helping." 

I  liegan  saying  to  myself,  "  What  an  awful 
story  of  depravity  is  this  I  Surely  sin  and  Satan 
(tre  abroad  if  this  thing  be  true."  But  I  kept 
these  feelings  back,  and  simply  said, 

"No,  I  will  not  give  ten  nor  even  .ftve  dollars 
toward  employing  a  detective.  My  experience 
with  detectives  has  not  impressed  ine  very  fa- 
vorably. I  will,  however,  go  to  some  of  these 
friends  and  get  at  the  bottom, of  this  matter." 

"Ohl  you  must  do  no  such  thing;  you  will 
put  them  on  their  guard,  and  make  it  impossi- 
ble for  us  to  get  any  clew.  I  was  afraid  when 
I  came  to  you  tiiat  that  was  just  what  you 
would  want  to  do." 

Within  a  few  minutes  I  met  one  of  the  par- 
ties mentioned.  He  was  busy  drawing  dirt. 
When  I  asked  him  if  he  could  stop  just  a  min- 
ute he  replii'd.  "'Oh,  yesi  certainly;"  and  as  he 
jumped  from  his  load  and  stood  by  my  side 
with  his  franlc,  tuanly  countenance.  1  felt 
asliamed  of  my  suspicion,  and  felt  more  like 
asking  (lod  to  forgive  me  that  I  had  ever 
thought  an  honest,  hard-working  man  like 
himself  could  be  secretly  engaged  in  the  whis- 
ky-traftic.  In  fact.  I  felt  so  much  ashamed  of 
myself  that,  without  touching  the  point  at  all. 
I  said.  ■■  .\.  do  you  know  what  I  want  to  talk  to 
you  about?" 

He  at  once  smiled  in  his  straightforward, 
honest  way,  and  replied,  •"  Yes,  Mr.  Root,  I 
guess  I  do." 

•'  Well.  X,  how  much  truth  is  there  in  what  I 
have  just  heard  ?" 

He  dropped  his  head  just  a  little,  and  then 
he  went  on  something  like  this:" 

"Mr.  I\oot.  you  know  my  wife  has  a  baby, 
and  she  do(!S  not  gel  along  very  well,  and  is  not 
very  strong.    The  doctor  said  I  should  get  some 


812 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Not.  1. 


beer  for  hor,  and  I  did  so,  and  it  is  in  my  cellar. 
T  tell  you  the  whole  truth  about  it." 

'•  Very  good,  X.  If  the  doctor  told  you  to  get 
some  beer  for  your  wife,  it  is  your  own  business, 
and  not  that  of  anybody  else,  that  I  know  of : 
only  I  tliink  the  doctor  is  mistaken  in  some  of 
his  ideas.  The  only  thing  about  it  that  inter- 
ests us  is,  have  you  sold  or  given  away  any  of 
this  beer  that  you  got  for  your  wife?" 

"No,  Mr.  Root,  I  have  not.  and  I  am  not  go- 
ing to." 

"And  you  are  quite  willing  that  I  should  go 
up  to  your  house  and  look  through  your  cellar, 
as  I  have  been  told  to  do?" 

"  Why.  to  be  sure.  Mr.  Root.  We  should  be 
glad  to  have  you  come  up  to  our  house  any 
time,  and  go  into  the  cellar  or  anywhere  else 
you  want  to  go.  Nothing  would  make  us  ?nore 
glad  than  to  have  you  come  and  see  us;  but 
please  come  upstairs  too.  and  see  the  baby." 

The  genial,  kindly  good  nature  that  beamed 
in  his  face  as  he  spoke  the  last  words  placed 
him,  without  a  doubt,  very  far  higher  up  (even 
with  his  beer  for  his  wife  and  baby),  than  the 
person  who  had  tried  to  poison  my  mind  by 
telling  me  these  false  and  wicked  stories. 

"  Look  here,  X,  have  you  any  idea  why  this 
person  should  come  to  me  with  such  a  string  of 
falsehoods  as  this  ?  " 

"  Why.  yes.  We  had  trouble  about  building 
a  sidewalk.  She  threatened  me.  and  said  if  I 
didn't  do  as  she  wanted  me  to  she  would  go  to 
f/ou  and  gee  me  turned  off." 

'■  And  did  you  believe  that  anybody  could 
come  to  me  and  get  one  of  ray  good  friends 
turned  off  when  he  is  doing  his  duty  as  well  as 
he  knows  how?  " 

•'  Why,  Mr.  Root.  I  didn't  think  you  would  do 
so:  but  yet  it  troubled  me  a  little,  after  all." 

One  other  of  the  three,  a  most  careful,  con- 
scientious boy  who  goes  regularly  to  Sunday- 
school,  and  tries  to  do  right  as  well  as  he  knows 
how.  actually  cried  when  I  canje  to  him  about 
it.  I  do  not  know  but  my  faithful  little  friend 
felt  hurt  to  think  that  I  should  even  inquire  in 
regard  to  such  a  charge:  any  way.  he  ought  to 
have  felt  so,  and  I  beg  his  pardon  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heai't.  Now.  do  you  see  the  mor- 
al ?  "Prove  all  things:  hold  fast  that  which 
is  good."  When  you  are  getting  "  red  hot  "  in 
regard  to  the  iniquity  there  is  in  this  world,  go 
slow.  Don't  be  in  haste  to  believe  all  that  is 
told  you.  Some  astounding  things  are  said, 
and  once  or  twice  in  my  life  I  have  heard 
statements  from  the  speaker's  stand  that  were 
almost  as  much  out  of  the  way  as  the  story  I 
have  told;  and  when  you  hear  such  stories,  be 
careful  how  you  repeat  them.  Don't  even  tell 
your  wife  until  you  have  first  gone  straight  to 
the  one  who  is  accused:  then,  if  nothing  else 
can  be  done,  hold  the  offender  up  to  public  gaze. 
I  earnestly  hope  that  this  charge  that  our 
government  is  even  ?ion'  at  the  present  time 
helping  to  push  the  liquor- traffic  into  foreign 
countries  is  a  mistake.  No  harm  can  come 
from  giving  it  publicity,  any  way.  because  the 
charge  is  already  being  made  and  scattered 
broadcast.  Let  us  go  forward  hand  in  hand, 
with  malice  toward  none  and  charity  for  all: 
and  if  it  be  really  true,  as  St.  John  has  it,  that 
ignorance  and  prejudice  are  the  worst  foes  we 
have  to  fight,  let  us  fight  ignorance  and  preju- 
dice; but  let  us  first  get  thoroughly  acqunitited 
with  them.  Let  us  visit  them  in  their  homes, 
that  we  may  know  whereof  we  speak;  and  thpu 
let  us  apply  the  remedy  with  the  love  of  Christ 
Jesus  in  our  hearts.  '  Let  us  love  eyew  oitr  e/)- 
emies  while  we  are  full  of  energy  and  godly 
zeal  in  bi-inging  them  to  justice,  providiuK 
mitliimj  rise  w\\\  turn  them  from  the  error  of 
their  ways. 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


BY     A.      I.      ROOT. 


FAKMING     doesn't    PAY. 

Of  course,  I  can  not  undertake  to  go  over  all 
the  reasons  why  farming  doesn't  pay  at  the 
present  time;  but  some  of  them  have  come 
under  my  observation  to  such  an  extent  that  I 
want  to  speak  of  it.  In  running  about  the 
country  on  my  wheel  I  am  again  and  again 
forced  to  the  conclusion  that  farmers,  at  least 
many  of  them,  do  not  work  as  people  do  in 
factories  or  at  mechanical  trades.  Of  course, 
many  mechanics  get  better  prices  than  farmers 
do.  If  you  employ  a  stone  or  brick  mason  he 
commences  at  7  o'clock  sharp  in  the  morning, 
and  works  till  (i  at  night.  He  does  not  stop  to 
gossip  nor  to  tell  stories — seldom  to  eat  even  an 
apple.  He  works  hard,  steadily,  and  busily, 
straight  thiough  the  ten  hours.  For  this  ser- 
vice you  pay  him  perhayjs  three  or  four  dollars 
a  day,  and  he  ought  to  have  it — that  is,  when 
you  consider  how  much  he  has  to  stop  on  ac- 
count of  the  weather,  and  how  he  puts  in  when 
the  weathpr  is  favorable.  You  may  say  it  is 
not  right  for  everybody  to  work  every  day  like 
that.  Well,  may  be  it  is  not:  but  if  I  were  on  a 
farm,  and  a  mortgage  were  hanging  over  me. 
I  think  I  would  work  just  that  way.  Yes.  T 
know  some  farnu'rs  do  \\ork  that  way.  and 
some  work  hnrd  even  twelve  or  fourteen  hours 
a  day.  and  wear  themselves  out:  but  these  are 
extremes.  The  great  biilk  and  mass  of  farmers 
do  nothing  of  the  kind.  A  few  days  ago  I  was 
in  a  country  town  several  miles  from  home,  so 
late  that  it  was  not  wise  for  me  to  think  of 
going  home  on  my  wheel  in  the  dark;  so  I  stay- 
ed over  night,  intending  to  start  out  at  the  peep 
of  dawn.  But  I  was  urged  so  hard  to  stay  to 
breakfast  that  I  concluded  to  do  so.  Now,  this 
little  town  is  a  community  of  farmers.  Almost 
every  man  in  the  town  has  a  farm,  more  or  less, 
back  of  his  home.  A  good  many  of  their  farms 
are  mortgaged,  and  there  has  been  considerable 
talk  at  their  farmers'  institutes  to  the  effect 
that  farming  does  not  pay.  I  do  not  think, 
however,  that  very  many  of  them  have  got 
where  they  talk  of  repudiating  their  debts;  l3ut 
it  seemed  to  me  there  were  quite  a  good  many 
who  have  not  very  much  energy  nor  ambition 
in  Lifting  the  mortgages.  I  got  up  a  little  later 
than  my  usual  time.  As  nobody  was  stirring  I 
took  my  wheel  and  lan  ai'ound  the  town  some. 
The  weather  was  beautiful,  and.  in  fact,  it  was 
one  of  these  beautiful  October  days  we  are  just 
now  having.  The  roads  were  hard  and  firm. 
Our  own  big  team  has  been  drawing  two  tons 
and  a  half  of  coal  at  a  load,  right  along,  be- 
cause the  roads  are  so  nice  and  the  weather  so 
favorable.  It  was  just  the  time  for  farmers  to 
be  out  and  moving  as  .soon  as  they  could  see. 
Yes.  if  I  were  going  to  lift  a  mortgage  (come  to 
think  of  it.  that  is  exactly  what  I  am  doing)  I 
think  I  should  have  my  breakfast  long  before 
the  sun  is  up,  and.  under  some  circumstances, 
even  before  real  broad  daylight.  Well,  while  I 
was  waiting  for  i)eople  to  get  up  I  thought  I 
would  run  around  the  town  and  look  at  the 
homes.  How  many  people  do  yon  suppose  I 
found  moving  as  I  went  past  say  thirty  or  forty 
neat  and  tidy  homes,  little  and  big?  I  do  not 
know  just  what  the  hour  was.  but  it  was  be- 
tween six  and  seven.  I  caught  a  glimp.se  of 
only  two  individuals — a  woman  and  a  boy.  As 
I  did  not  see  any  smoke  coming  out  of  the 
chimneys  I  concluded  theii'  getting-np  time 
was  generally  about  7  o'clock.  Some  of  them — 
I  do  not  know  how  many — finished  their  break- 
fast about  S  o'clock.  On  another  occasion  I 
visited  one  of  our  country  towns,  starting  after 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


813 


breakfast,  rode  12  miles,  and  found  ihc  nuin  1 
waiitod  to  soc,  just  Ki'ttinfj;  up  from  the  hrcaU- 
fiist-tablo.  Perhaps  he  lias  no  moitfjaKe  to 
lift,  so  it  is  his  own  business.  Hut  in  f^oing 
about  th(>  country  as  I  have  been  doing  lately 
(and  I  think  I  never  eirculated  among  '"our 
homes  "  and  "our  neigh hors"  in  all  my  life  as 
F  have  of  late)  it  has  seemed  to  me  as  if  a  great 
part  of  the  farmers  seemed  to  think  it  vacation 
time,  or  they  are  ofT  at  a  summ(>r  resort;  or 
that,  during  the  month  of  October,  crertj  day  is 
SiDKUtij.  No  doubt  farmers  suffer  many  wrongs 
that  ought  to  be  righted;  but  1  am  sure  it  is 
al.so  true  that  they  do  not  put  in  as  many  hours 
of  good  steady  hard  work— or,  at  least,  a  great 
many  of  them — as  do  our  masons,  our  carpen- 
ters, or  those  who  work  in  factories  where  they 
are  working  for  wages.  This  mattx^r  of  stop- 
ping to  talk  and  visit,  and  talking  i)olitics.  Is,  I 
am  sure,  nftcti  carried  to  too  great  lengths.  My 
conscience  would  trouble  me  if  [  were  to  do  it. 
I  believe  in  being  sociable,  and  perhaps  I  need 
to  cultivate  this  very  virtue;  but  my  conscience 
would  trouble  me.  if  my  crops  were  suffering,  if 
I  should  stop  to  visit  when  the  weather  is  so 
favorable.  May  be  these  friends  had  no  crops 
tliat  were  suffering;  but  I  tell  you  the  thrifty 
farmer  <»?»v(i/.v  has  work  that  is  crowding  when 
the  weather  is  nice. 

Ijet  me  give  you  just  two  (jictures  that  have 
lately  come  under  my  eye.  One  day  a  train  was 
obliged  to  stop  on  a  side-track.  I  felt  as  if  it 
were  wicked  to  waste  my  time,  so  I  strayed 
across  the  lots  into  a  barnyard.  The  |)ro[)rietor 
declared  tliat  farming  didn't  pay.  I  looked 
into  a  hen-roost  near  by.  and  the  manure  was 
piled  up  almost  to  the  jjerches.  There  were 
great  wagon-loads  of  poultry  manure  that  had 
probably  been  there  for  years.  I  could  )iever 
stand  it  to  stay  on  a  farm — I  should  be  home- 
sick and  disguste — dif  1  were  obliged  to  stay 
amid  such  surroundings  as  I  saw  that  morning. 
I  exhorted  him  somewhat  about  his  i)oultry 
manure,  but  he  had  no  heart  nor  energy  for  any 
thing— the  business  did  not  pay. 

Now  for  picture  second:  Yesterday  a  man 
brought  me  a  load  of  Hubbard  squashes.  They 
are  scarce  this  year,  and  I  told  him  I  would 
give  him  2  cts.  a  pound  for  some  nice  ones.  I 
paid  him  ?=7.t)l  for  what  he  had  on  his  light 
spring  buggy.  Then  li(^  infortned  me  that  they 
grew  o]\  four  K(pi(ire  nulx  of  ground — just  one- 
fortieth  of  an  acre.  I  asked  him  what  fertilizer 
or  manure  he  used.  He  said  he  did  not  use 
(iny;  hut  I  thought  I  saw  a  sort  of  twinkle  in 
his  eye.  Then  a  neighbor  let  out  the  secret. 
lie  cleaned  out  an  old  poultry-house — no,  nol — 
"chicken-roost"  1  mean -and  he  got  so  much 
manure  he  did  not  know  what  to  do  with  it;  so 
he  spread  it  out  on  the  four  rods  of  ground.  He 
worked  it  in  after  a  fashion,  and  planted  pota- 
toes. The  ground  was  too  rich,  and  he  did  not 
get  any  crop.  Last  spring  he  plowed  up'  the 
same  ground  very  thoroutrhly.  so  as  to  g(!t  more 
dirt  mingled  in  with  the  manure,  and  then 
planted  potatoes  (ujdln.  .Somebody  told  him  if 
Hubbard  squashes  were  |)lanied  among  pota- 
toes the  bugs  would  not  bother  thetn.  .So  he 
put  a  squa-^h  ^(hM  in  every  other  liill  of  every 
other  row  of  those  potatfies.  Sure  enough,  those 
bugs  ni'ver  touched  those  s(|uashes.  Do  you  know 
why?  I  do,  if  you  do  nut;  and  I  can  imagine 
every  bug  going  off  holding  its  nose  in  distrust. 
because  of  that  |)Oultry  manure,  strong  enoiigli 
to  sicken  an  ox.  to  say  nothing  about  a  tiny  little 
bug.  Did  this  manure  come  from  the  same 
roost  I  looked  at?  Well,  perhaps  not;  but  it 
was  off  in  the  same  direction,  and  the  moral  is 
just  the  same,  any  way.  I  do  not  know  how 
much  the  man  got  for  the  potatoes  on  that  four 
rods  of  ground.  1  undei  stood  there  was  a  good 
crop,  and  that  the  squashes  did   not   hurt  the 


potatoes  a  speck,  and  rliv  vcrsd.  of  course, 
they  didn't.  You  ean  grow  two  crops  on  the 
sam(>  ground,  witliout  a /x'f  of  trouble,  if  there 
is  food  enough  for  both.  I  am  not  sure  but  that 
the  shading  froiTi  the  liot  sun  was  a /K/ifrtf  to 
both.  Did  you  evi^r  notice  how  things  grow 
when  they  liave  got  so  large  as  to  cover  entirely 
and  shdde  the  ground?  W(>1I,  here  is  an  in- 
stance of  two  crops  grown  on  the  same  ground. 
ihic  of  the  crops  yielded  at  the  rata  oi  $:S04. 40 
per  acre.  Keturns  from  the  other  have  not 
yet  come  in.  Is  there  not  a  little  bit  of  day- 
light leaking  througii  the  clouds  when  we  con- 
sider the  facts  brought  out  in  the  above  little 
story  ? 

You  may  ask  why  1  am  buying  Hubbard 
squashes  and  paying  3  cts.  a  pound  for  them. 
Well,  /  have  been  backsliding.  My  creek- 
bottom  land  was  under  water  so  much  1  decided 
to  put  tlie  scjuashes  u|)  by  the  windmill;  and  1 
put  them  on  a  piece  of  ground  that  I  have  own- 
ed for  only  a  little  over  a  year.  It  is  under- 
drained,  but  it  has  not  yet  been  manured  up  to 
the  highest  notch;  so,  instead  of  getting 
squashes  by  the  ton,  I  got  how  many?  One 
good  big  ivIieeUxirrow-lodd!  I  thought  once 
thatl  too  would  quit  farming  because  it  did  not 
pay;  but  since  it  leaked  out  how  that  man 
raised  his  great  crop  of  Hubbard  squashes.  I 
tliink  I  shall  gather  courage  and  keep  onfarm- 
in<j. 

MARKET- GARDENING  FOR  NOVEMBER. 

Even  during  this  poor  season  we  have  occa- 
sional glimpses  in  the  way  of  pleasant  sur- 
prises. We  are  just  now  selling  the  finest 
Snowball  6auliflower  we  ever  raised.  I  think 
the  seed  was  sown  about  the  1st  of  .luly. 
While  heading  up.  the  weather  has  been  so 
cold  that  we  have  had  no  trouble  from  the 
green  cabbage-worm,  nor  from  insects  of  any 
sort.  And  another  thing,  we  took  pains  to  tie 
the  leaves  up  in  a  bunch  over  the  heads,  just 
as  they  were  lieading  out.  The  seed  is  exactly 
the  same,  namely.  March's  Snowball  cauli- 
rtower.  that  gave  us  in  the  spring  sprangly, 
sprawling  heads,  scarcely  fit  for  any  thing. 
They  are  now  compact,  nice,  and  more  like  a 
great  snowball  than  any  thing  else.  As  W"  get 
from  !()  to  1.')  cts.  a  pound  for  them,  some  of 
them  bring  2.")  -cents  a  head,  and  1  guess  there 
are  100  nice  heads  on  four  rows,  each  perhaps 
.50  feet  long.  We  also  had  four  rows  of  carrots, 
one  foot  apart,  rows  about  4(K)  feet  long.  The 
wetness  drowned  them  out  so  many  times  that 
there  was  not  more  than  half  a  stand.  Not- 
withstanding, we  have  about  :$0  bushels  of 
carrots.  Where  the  plants  were  not  drowned 
out.  they  are  so  thick  that  they  have  crowded 
each  other  out  of  the  ground;  and  in  some 
places  almost  a  peck  of  carrots  would  come  out 
in  a  lump,  some  of  tlunn  so  large  as  to  v\eigh 
live  pounds.  We  have  just  sold  2.5  bushels  at 
forty  cents  per  bushel.  At  this  rate  the 
carrots  would  give  us  a  crop  worth  about  ?^40f) 
an  acre.  The  crop  had  very  little  work  put  on 
it  after  sow  ing  the  seed.  and.  indeed,  was  not 
even  thinned  out.  I  havc^  been  assured  by  good 
stockgid^N  ITS  that  a  busliel  of  carrots  is  worth, 
on  an  average,  as  much  as  oats  for  cows,  horses, 
or  almost  any  other  farm  stock.  Almost  every 
domestic  animal  is  passionately  fond  of  carrots. 
And  this  reminds  me,  that  one  day  I  went  to 
carry  a  basketful  of  carrot^  tliroiigli  the  pasture 
lot.  The  .Jersey  cow  was  determined  to  have 
them,  ami  I  was  eqna  ly  determined  that  she 
should  not;  and  before  we  got  done  with  each 
other  we  had  quite  a  little  ■"circus"'  there  in 
the  midilli'  of  tlu;  lot.  She  came  out  ahead,  too. 
for  sh<;  got  quite  a  i)ortion  of  my  basketful, 
even  if  she  did  not  get  all  of  them.  F'or  sevei'al 
years  we  hav(!  had  trouble  in  disposing  of  our 
surplus  carrots,  turnips,  and  mangels;  but  this 


814 


GLEANiNGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  1. 


year  I  thought  I  would  try  putting  a  notice  in 
our  county  paper,  and  we  have  had  purchasers 
for  almost  all  of  them,  right  from  the  field. 
Sometimes  it  pays  to  tell  people  what  you  have 
got  a  surplus  of. 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM   A.  I.  ROOT. 


The  parched  jirouiid  shall  become  a  pool,  and  the 
thirsty  land  springs  of  water.— ISA.  35:  7. 

MIRAGE;    IRRIGATION;    ANCIENT   I)WELI>INGS   IN 
ARIZONA.   ETC. 

Arizona,  with  all  its  grotesque  features,  has 
something  more  wonderful  still  in  its  mirages. 
Many  people,  however,  have  never  seen  these 
wonderful  visions,  if  so  I  may  term  them,  be- 
cause they  have  not  watched  for  them  and 
been  ready  to  see  what  is  to  be  seen;  in  fact,  we 
did  not  have  a  good  treat  in  this  line  until  just 
as  we  were  leaving  the  Territory.  We  took  the 
train  at  Tempe  before  daylight,  and  the  sun 
was  rising  when  we  were  a  few  miles  away 
from  Maricopa.  I  was  on  the  lookout,  and  was 
rewarded  by  seeing  first  a  magnificent  suspen- 
sion bridge  in  the  clouds,  just  over  the  tops  of 
the  mountains.  These  bridges  are  perfectly 
level  and  straight,  and  T  judge  the  mountain 
vapors  have  something  to  do  with  it,  for  they 
often  seem  to  settle  to  a  water  level;  and  right 
along  this  level,  a  slender  thread,  as  it  were, 
seems  to  run  from  one  mountain  to  another. 
Now.  this  might  be  easily  explained  were  it  not 
that  this  thread  is  frequently  cut  up  by  regular 
ci'oss-beams,  say  like  the  ties  on  a  I'ailroad, 
only  they  are  so  wonderfully  exact  and  even  y 
spaced  that  one  would  think  it  was  a  piece  of 
the  finest  mechanical  work.  While  you  watch, 
the  scene  changes,  and  you  are  treated  to  a 
series  of  dissolving  views.  As  we  came  into 
Maricopa,  a  wonderful  mountain  reared  its  top 
clear  up  amid  the  skies.  By  and  by  an  aim 
shot  out  of  the  side  of  the  mountain,  some- 
thing like  the  horn  of  an  anvil.  In  fact,  the 
whole  mountain  began  to  look  like  a  huge 
blacksmith  anvil.  While  we  gazed,  the  horn 
began  slowly  to  grow  in  length,  and  to  stick 
out  further  and  further  into  the  sky.  Pretty 
soon  the  point  of  it  narrowed  down  to  a  sort  of 
neck,  and  finally  it  broke  off.  Even  though  it 
did  break  off,  however,  it  did  not  drop,  but  re- 
mained suspended  in  the  air.  Then  a  sort  of 
loop-hole  made  its  appearance  in  the  middle  of 
the  anvil  near  where  the  horn  started  out;  and 
this  hole  kept  enlarging  until  you  could  see  ol> 
jects  on  the  other  side.  While  this  was  going 
on,  a  tall  rock  or  spire  was  all  at  once  discov- 
ered near  the  lailroad  track.  It  was  as  straight 
as  some  of  the  great  chimneys  in  manufacto- 
ries. As  it  was  near  the  track,  near  the  line  we 
were  soon  to  take,  I  congratulated  myself  that 
we  could  soon  run  up  to  it  and  see  what  it  was 
like.  I  felt  sure;  there  must  be  some  sort  of 
rock  to  give  foundation  to  the  illusion:  but 
when  a  bystander  told  me  there  was  no  rock- 
there  at  all,  and  that  those  wonderful  ranges 
of  mountains  we  had  been  admiring'were  not 
mountains  at  all.  I  could  not  believe  his  words. 
In  fact,  it  seemed  as  if  my  senses  were  a  good 
deal  more  reliable  than  his  statements.  The 
grotesque  mountains,  and  this  wonderful  rock, 
were  in  plain  sight  for  perhaps  a  couple  of 
hours,  although  they  changed  form  ca  :good 
deal.  Imagine  my  liisgust,  when  we  took  the 
train  and  arrived  at  the  point  where  the  rock 
ought  to  be.  to  find  nothing  whatever — just  the 
plain  level  surface  of  the  desert.  Sometimes  a 
rock  or  mountain  would  be  plainly  visible  while 


we  were  standing  on  one  side  of  the  railroad 
track,  but  just  as  plainly  invisible  when  we 
stood  on  the  other  side;  and  this  made  me 
think  that  the  iron  track,  so  perfectly  straight 
and  true,  running  away  into  the  distance,  had 
something  to  do  with  that  wonderful  shaft  of 
rock  that  seemed  to  shoot  almost  into  the  sky. 
The  books  tell  us  that  this  mirage  is  a  reflec- 
tion of  something  that  exists  somewhere  else. 
Well,  now,  there  is  not  any  such  great  bridge 
anywhere  in  that  region:  and  there  is  not  a 
mountain  that  looks  like  a  blacksmith's  anvil; 
and  why  should  these  things  grow  and  shape 
them.selves?  You  may  suggest  that  it  was  only 
a  queer-shaped  cloud  or  vapor;  but  this  would 
not  explain  the  cross-ties  and  other  forms  of 
architecture.  It  was  quite  evident  that  nature 
seemed  to  delight  in  sporting  in  a  certain  form 
of  regularities.  Things  would  be  spaced  off 
into  distances  so  exactly  equal  that  there  was 
no  "happening"  about  it.  The  reflection  of 
the  sands  of  the  desert  has  something  to  do 
with  it:  and  on  the  great  prairies,  along  the 
wSouthern  Pacific,  through  the  whole  South,  I 
saw  iiow  and  then  long  strips  of  horizon  with  a 
streak  of  either  sky  or  water  underneath.  The 
great  cornfields  in  Dakota  sometimes  produce  a 
similar  result.  I  suspect  that  these  appear- 
ances are  produced  by  the  same  phenomena,  to 
a  considerable  extent,  that  show  a  ring  around 
the  sun  and  moon  before  a  storm — the  same 
thing  that  produces  what  we  call  "sundogs;'" 
and  these  latter  are  sometimes  accompanied  by 
beautiful  geometric  circles,  as  you  may  have 
noticed.  We  have  been  told,  however,  that 
there  is  really  no  circle  around  the  sun  and 
moon  at  all — it  is  "  all  in  your  eye  " — at  least,  so 
scientists  tell  us.  just  as  a  rainbow  is '•  all  in 
your  eye,"  and  that  there  is  no  rainbow  at  all 
across  the  heavens,  and  never  was  and  never 
will  be.  Nevermind.  We  enjoyed  the  mirages 
of  Arizona  fully  as  much  as  we  ever  enjoyed 
looking  at  a  great  city  or  great  steamships  or 
great  fireworks;  in  fact.  I  think  I  enjoyed  them 
a  little  more,  because  the  mirage  is  the  work  of 
iwture.  and  the  other  is  the  work  of  m(tn. 

Before  leaving  Arizona  with  its  wonderful 
natural  scenery  I  wish  to  mention  a  pleasant 
visit  that  my  ijrother  and  I  paid  to  A.  .1.  King, 
for  so  many  years  editor  of  the  Bec-kcepcrs' 
McKjazlne.  That  magazine  was,  as  you  may 
know,  conducted  a  great  many  years,  had  a 
large  subscription  list,  and  certainly  came  next 
to  the  American  Bee  Journal  and  Gleanings. 
Friend  King  is  away  ott'  in  the  desert,  almost 
alone  by  himself.  One  can  not  say  there  is  no 
other  dwelling-house  in  -sight,  for  you  can  see  a 
house  thirty  or  forty  miles  on  the  deserts  of 
Arizona,  if  you  have  a  telescope  equal  to  the 
need.  On  page  628,  1891.  friend  King  gave  us 
some  enthusiastic  reports  of  this  strange 
country.  Well,  his  anticipations  have  not  all 
been  realized.  1  believe;  and  just  at  the  time  of 
our  visit  an  unusual  frost  had  made  his  fruit- 
ranch  look  rather  sad  and  dreary.  His  wife 
was  away  at  the  time,  and  he  and  his  boy  were 
living  alone  amid  their  fruit-trees  and  shrub- 
bery. The  boy  was  engaged  in  clipping  off  the 
tops  of  the  small  orange-trees  where  they  had 
been  frosted.  Right  close  by  his  house  are 
some  specimens  of  giant  cacti  that  make  one 
stand  and  gaze  in  open-mouthed  wonder.  I 
guessed  they  were  ".'Oor  :.'.■>  feet  high;  but  friend 
King  said  the  tallest  was  ovei'4u  feet:  and  when 
I  asked  about  the  rapidity  of  their  growth,  he 
said  he  thought  they  grew  very  slowly:  for  dur- 
ing the  three  or  four  years  he  had  been  on  the 
place  he  had  not  been  able  to  detect  any  growth 
at  all. 

Before  I  forgt't  it  I  wish  to  tell  something 
about  the  hot  season  of  Ai'izona.  Please  re- 
member it  Is  almost  as  hot  there  nights  as  it  is 


1892 


C.LKANINIJS  IN  liEK  CULTURE. 


815 


ill  the  clayiinic:  and  there  is  so  little  dew  tliat 
people  sleep  outdoors  in  th(>  dooryard.  witlidiii 
any  st>it.  oi  troubl«>  from  dampness.  In  fai-t. 
there  are  times  w  hen  onidoors  is  ahuut  all  the 
place  where  one  can  sleep.  Dnring  this  heated 
tornt  there  are  no  flies  to  botlier  cattle  and 
horses:  in  fact.  I  believe  they  have  very  few 
Hies  or  any  thinii  of  thai  sort  at  (inn  season.  It. 
may  be  too  iiot  for  the  Hies,  oi'  may  be  they  have 
not  fiot  introduced  yet. 

I  am  now  ij<.>infr  to  tell  you  a  wonderful  story. 
.\  man  who  was  tradiuix  in  my  brother's  drug- 
store brought  in  some  e^'tis  and  set  tliem  down, 
and  forsiot  to  take  them  when  he  went  out. 
They  linally  set  the  egj^s  back  on  a  shelf,  think- 
ing tlii>  owner  wotild  be  back  for  them  sooni-r 
or  later.  Time  passed,  and  the  eggs  were  for- 
gotten until  somebody  heard  chickens  peeping: 
and.  sure  enough,  theie  they  were,  breaking 
their  way  out  of  the  shells,  without  any  help 
from  incubator  or  moiher  hen:  and  yet,  witli 
exceedingly  high  prices  for  both  poultry  and 
eggs,  nobody  has  ever  yet  utilized  tliis  wonder- 
ful opportunity  for  h;i\ing  a  self-tnanaging 
incubator.  .lust  think  of  it— buy  your  eggs. 
spread  them  out  and  take  care  of  the  chickens 
when  they  hatch!  I'eriiaps.  however,  the 
weatlier  is  not  always  as  favorable  as  it  hap- 
pened to  be  at  just  that  particular  time.  I  am 
daily  expecting  to  hear  of  soiue  wonderful 
tilings  from  this  queei-  Tei'ritory  of  Arizona. 
Yes.  and  there  are  some  magniticent  enlerprlses 
already  underway.  One  of  the  tirm  of  U.  M. 
Ferry  X:  Co..  of  Detroit.  Mich.,  has  already  pur- 
chased some  immense  tracts  of  land  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Tempe.  and  they  are  con- 
structing enormous  iriigating  -  canals  —  yes. 
canals  is  the  word,  for  some  of  them  would  run 
a  canal-boat,  without  question.  These  irrigat- 
ing-canals  take  the  water  from  Salt  River, 
through  tracts  of  country  as  yet  unused;  and 
already  they  have  demoiistrated  what  may  be 
done,  by  their  success  on  little  patches,  in  mak- 
ing the  wilderness  blossom  as  the  rose.  It  is 
reported  that  Ferry  is  going  to  raise  his  seeds — 
at  least  a  great  part  of  them— in  this  wonder- 
fully favorable  climate.  While  we  were  there, 
an  immense  machine  for  excavating  was  being 
drawn  bv.  I  think,  sixteen  or  eighteen  horseo. 
A  suitable  plow,  attached  to  the  great  engine, 
turned  a  fuiTow  directlv  on  a  moving  platform. 
This  platform  was  carried  upon  rollers  until  it 
dumped  the  dirt  down  on  the  side  of  the  canal. 
Th(!  consecjuence  was,  the  banks  were  just  as 
round  and  even  as  a  landscape  gardener  could 
make  them.  Tliey  kindly  invited  us  to  get  up 
on  the  machine  and  go  a  "bout  "with  them. 
When  I  looked  away  in  the  distance,  however, 
and  asked  them  how  far  one  of  those '■  bouts '" 
meant,  and  was  informed  that  it  was  two  milcj^ 
long.  I  did  not  feel  able  to  spare  the  time.  To 
see  work  of  this  kind  going  on  away  out  in  the 


♦Since  the  above  was  written,  our  stenoRrapher, 
W.  P.  Root,  .sugge.sts:  "The  larvae  of  Hies  and  simi- 
lar insects  can  not  develop  in  a  climate  so  destitute 
of  moisture  as  is  that  of  Arizona.  The  conii)k'le 
desiccation  of  meat  that  occurs  wlien  e.vposod  in 
such  arid  climates  as  lh;i I  of  Arizona  and  parts  of 
Palestine  is  well  illu.strate(l  in  the  case  of  Samson, 
who  found  the  carcass  of  a  lion  which  he  had  lately 
slain,  and  it  was  so  dry  that  the  bees  had  filled  it 
with  Comb.  This  showh  t  hat  the  tiesh  was  odorless 
and  hard,  and  heiii-e  nol  moist  enough  to  furnish 
larvK-  the  means  of  suli-~istence.  which,  as  in  the 
ease  of  all  forms  of  life  in  their  first  stages,  consists 
almost  entirely  of  li<iuid  fnod.  It  might  he  suggest- 
ed, then,  that  the  bees  ni.idea  mistake  in  building 
in  such  a  place  if  their  larvie  could  not  develop; 
but  it  must  be  reinembereil  that  the  l)ei's  can  and 
■do  supply  the  necessary  moisture  to  thiir  larvae, 
while  flies  pay  no  attention  to  theii's  after  the  egg  is 
Jaid." 


wilds  of  an  uninhabited  desert  was  w  me  not 
only  wonderful,  but  most  fascinating.  It  v(!ri- 
lies  the  words  of  Holy  Writ:  "For  in  the?  wil- 
derness shall  waters  break  out,  and  streams  in 
the  desert.  The  parched  ground  shall  become 
a  i)ool,  and  the  thirsty  land  springs  of  wati-r." 

All  along  this  river,  great  <'nti'r'|)rises  of  this 
kind  are  starting  u():  and  the  only  limit,  so  far 
as  I  can  see,  will  i)e  when  all  the  water  shall  be 
utilized.  Even  then,  by  means  of  dams,  great 
rescM'voirs  will  be  hlled  fi'om  the  waters  that 
run  to  waste  in  the  winter  time.  Still  further, 
where  water  runs  through  these  desert  sands, 
great  quantities  of  it  percolate  through  the  soil 
and  are  lost.  Cementing  tin;  sides  and  bottotns 
of  these  ditches,  as  they  do  at  Riverside,  Cal., 
will  increases  the  amount  of  water  for  irrigat- 
ing, very  considerably. 

Oh,  yes  I  I  must  tell  you  about  the  ruins  and 
the  broken  pottery.  Every  little  while  on  these 
desert  places  we  meet  with  mounds,  or  sand- 
banks. Where  this  sand  is  scooped  away, 
ancient  dwellings  are  disclosed;  and  th(!  ground 
all  about  these  dwellings,  and.  in  fact,  all 
through  this  moun.d,  is  thickly  strcnvn  with 
broken  [jottery — not  only  plain  pottery,  but 
fragments  of  painted  and  decoiated  ware. 
These  fragm(mts  are  oftentimes  so  plentiful 
that  they  almost  seem  to  cover  the  ground.  It 
is  like  tramping  around  the  pottery-shops  here 
in  the  East.  T|ie  decorations  seem  to  run  in  a 
pariicular  line  of  ornamentation,  indicating 
that  the  people  were  a  great  deal  alike,  or  had 
the  same  habits  and  fashions.  Implements  for 
grinding  theii'  corn  are  also  found.  In  fact. 
.Arizona  is  full  of  curiosities  to  make  glad  the 
heart  of  the  arclueolosist.  One  commences, 
when  he  Hrst  sees  these  things,  to  load  himself 
down  with  specimens.  Finally,  when  he  dis- 
covers they  are  everywhere,  he  loses  interest 
and  enthusiasm.  It  has  been  thought,  I  be- 
lieve, that  these  relics  were  left  by  the  mound- 
builders;  but  when  we  discover  that  the  present 
inhabitants— that  is,  the  Indians— still  grind 
their  grain  with  utensils  very  similar,  and 
ornament  and  paint  their  pottery  in  a  manner 
quite  like  these  broken  fragments,  the  conclu- 
sion forces  itself  upon  our  minds  that  these 
very  Indians  may  have  done  this  work  thou- 
sands of  years  ago.  They  certainly  used  Salt 
River  for  irrigating,  inuch  as  we  do  now,  for 
great  irrigating-canals  are  found  almost  every- 
where. In  fact,  one  company  utilized  one  of 
ihese  ancient  water-courses  to  an  extent  that 
saved  them  several  thousand  dollars:  and  I  am 
told  that,  even  up  on  the  mesas  on  the  moun- 
tains there  are  remains  of  irrigating-ditches 
showing  that  the  Indians  must  have  had  a  sys- 
tem of  canals  that  carry  the  water  to  points 
that  would  seriously  trouble  our  best  modern 
hydraulic  engineers.  How  did  the  sand  get 
over  these  ancient  dwellings?  Well,  it  has 
been  suggested  that  it  is  the  work  of  the  wind. 
Any  .sort  of  obstruction  in  the  desert,  even  a 
bush,  catches  the  sand,  and  it  piles  up  around 
it:  and  as  ages  pass,  it  is  not  strange  that  con- 
siderable hills  are  jiiled  up  in  just  the  way  that 
snow  frequently  piles  up  into  immense  snow- 
banks, where  it  lies  on  the  ground  and  accumu- 
lates for  a  long  time.  

Orange-growing  in  Arizona  is,  in  my  opinion, 
as  yet  haidly  settled.  Last  season  a  carload  or 
two  of  the  tinest  oi'anges  that  perhaps  evcir 
grew  ;inywhere  were  put  on  the  market,  and 
they  claim  they  can  produce  them  several  weeks 
earlier  than  in  California.  Since  then,  how- 
ever, a  severe  frost  has  made  considerable 
havoc  with  the  same,  trees  that  bore  this  nice 
fruit.  Perhaps  some  of  our  Arizona  readers  in 
the  vicinity  of  Ph(enix  and  Tempe  will  tell  me 
how  the  trees  "panned  out"  since  the  time  of 
which  I  speak. 


816 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  ] . 


Tobacco  Column. 


CONDITIONS  UNDER  WHICH    WK    GIVE    SMOKERS  TO  PERSONS  WHO 
STOP  USING  TOBACCO. 

First,  the  candidate  must  be  one  of  those  who  have  given  up 
tobacco  in  consequence  of  what  he  has  seen  and  read  in  this 
department.  Second,  he  promises  to  pay  for  tlie  smoker 
should  he  ever  resume  the  use  of  tobacco  in  any  form,  after 
receiving  the  smoker.  Third,  he  must  be  a  subscriber  to 
Gleanings.  Any  subscriber  may.  however,  have  smokers  sent 
to  neighbors  or  personal  acquaintances  whom  he  has  labored 
with  on  the  matter  of  tobacco-using,  providing  he  give  us  his 
pledge  that,  if  the  one  who  receives  the  smoker  ever  uses  to- 
bacco again,  he  (the  subscriber)  will  pay  for  the  smoker  The 
one  who  receives  the  smoker  in  this  case  need  not  be  a  sub- 
scriber to  Gleanings,  though  we  greatly  prefer  that  he  be  one, 
because  we  think  he  would  be  strengthened  by  reading  the 
testimonials  from  time  to  time  in  regard  to  this  matter.  The 
full  name  and  address  of  every  one  who  makes  the  promise 
must  be  furnished  for  publication. 

Send  a  smoker  to  Samuel  Roach.  If  he  uses 
tobacco  again  he  will  pay  for  the  smoker.  His 
address  is  Amity.  Pa.  H.  W.  VanKirk. 

Washington,  Pa^^ 

Having  been  a  subscriber  to  Gleanings,  and 
being  induced  to  give  up  the  use  of  tobacco 
thereby.  I  now  claim  a  smoker.  If  I  ever  use 
the  weed  again  I  will  pay  for  the  smoker. 

A.  H.  Cooper. 

Tanners,  Gilmer  Co.,  W.  Va.,  June  27. 


My  soil.  C.  H.  Otis,  who  has  smoked  and 
chewed  for  ten  years,  has  agn^ed  to  quit  for 
good  if  you  will  .send  him  a  smoker.  I  will  pay 
for  it  if  he  ever  commences  again.         I.  Otis. 

Dunlap,  Har.  Co.,  la..  June  T. 

My  boy  Pearl  has  been  using  tobacco  for  the 
last  two  years,  but  has  agreed  to  quit  off  if  you 
will  send  him  a  smoker.  If  he  begins  again  I 
will  pay  for  it.  R.  G.  Ma.sox. 

Duncan's  Falls,  O.,  July  13. 

Please  send  a  smoker  to  Thomas  Gore,  Cass- 
ville,  Ga..  for  a  tobacco  pledge.  If  I  ever  know 
him  to  use  tobacco  again  I  will  pay  you  for  the 
smoker.  R.  W.  J.  Stewart. 

Bowls,  Gordon  Co.,  Ga..  July  :.'4. 

You  will  please  send  me  a  smoker,  as  I  can 
conscientiously  say  that  it  was  from  reading 
your  journal  that  t  was  influenced  to  make  the 
resolve  to  give  up  the  use  of  tobacco.  I  prom- 
ise that,  should  I  ever  use  the  weed  again,  I  will 
pay  you  for  the  smoker.  J.  W.  Boasi:. 

Rising  Star,  Texas,  June  21. 

I  quit  tobacco  last  May,  and  I  think  I  am  en- 
titled to  a  smoker  if  any  one  ever  was,  because 
it  is  through  you  that  I  ijuit.  May  you  live  to 
give  smokers  to  thousands  more  is  my  wish.  If 
I  ever  use  the  weed  again  I  will  pay  for  two 
smokers.  R.  F.  Hetrick. 

Ceresco,  Neb.,  Sept.  12. 

Walter  and  Joe  Green,  sons  of  my  neighbor, 
say  they  will  quit  tobacco  for  a  smoker  each.  If 
they  get  them  they  understand  the  conditions. 
I  have"  been  watching  for  sonuUhing  t(}  grow 
out  of  this  tobacco  business  in  the.se  parts,  and 
here  are  the  first-fruits.  It  seems  to  me  that 
this  expensive  and  Hlthy  tobacco  habit  will 
some  time  in  the  future  be  considered  unlit  for 
our  good  Christian  people.  W.  H.  F^mukv. 

Water  Valley.  Miss.,  July  2t;. 

I  have  a  man  working  for  me.  and  he  has  ta- 
ken to  bees  like  a  duck  to  water;  and  as  he  has 
been  reading  your  journal  considerably,  and  I 
too  have  explained  the  Tobacco  Column  to  him. 
I  have  got  him  in  the  notion  of  giving  up  the 
habit  of  using  tobacco;  and  I  am  sure  he  would 
appreciate  a  smoker  if  you  would  send  him  one. 
and  I  promise  to  pay  for  it  if  he  ever  uses  tobac- 


co any  more  —  that  is.  so  long  as  he  is  under  my 
jurisdiction.  He  has  four  tine  colonies  of  bees. 
and  he  takes  great  pride  in  them.  His  name  is 
John  S.  Peters.  T.  V.  Jessut. 

(Jreeley.  Col.,  July  8,  18«<2. 

Find  inclosed  an  order.  Two  of  the  smokers 
are  for  parties  who  have  given  up  the  use  of  to- 
bacco. I  will  vouch  for  them,  and  will  watch 
them  closely;  and  if  they  ever  use  it  again  I 
will  piiy  for  the  smokers.  The  names  of  the 
parlies  are  Alex.  P.  Callen  and  Barek  E.  Tur- 
ner, both  of  this  place.  M.  M.  Cai-len. 

Moravia.  la.,  June  2.5.  1892. 


I  have  a  grandson  who  assists  me  in  the  bee- 
business.  He  had  become  an  inveterate  tobac- 
co-worm, and  I  insisted  on  his  quitting  off'  en- 
tirely. The  other  day  he  said  he  had  quit  to- 
bacco—  had  not  used  any  for  a  month,  and  he 
had  determined  to  stay  quit.  He  says  he  wants 
me  to  write  to  you  to  send  him  a  smoker  upon 
your  usual  terms.  If  you  send  it  I  will  vouch 
for  him.  and  pay  for  it  if  he  breaks  his  promise. 
His  name  is  M.  H.  Sims.  F.  M.  At.i,en. 

Renfroe.  Ala..  July  9.  1892. 

A  neighbor  of  mine.  Milo  Hiler,  called  at  my 
place  the  other  day  to  see  if  I  had  a  second- 
hand smoker  to  sell.  Knowing  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  using  tobacco  I  put  your  proposition  to 
him.  In  reply  he  said  that,  three  days  befor(\ 
he  had  given  his  heart  to  God.  in  "a  revival 
meeting,  and  that  the  next  morning  in  his  own 
home  he  prayed  to  God  to  remove  his  tobacco 
appetite,  which  he  has  done.  As  he  had  taken 
the  pledge  before  I  .spoke  to  him.  I  told  him  I 
did  not  know  whether  he  was  entitled  to  one. 
but  that  I  would  write  and  tell  you  the  circum- 
stances: and  should  he  be  entitled  to  one  under 
your  offer  he  will  pay  for  the  same  should  he 
resume  the  habit.  E.  S.  Dart. 

Sparta.  Mich.,  July  2(1. 1892. 

[To  be  sure,  he  is  er. titled  to  a  smoker,  friend 
D.  Judging  from  my  own  experience,  I  think  it 
quite  likely  the  temptation  to  use  tobacco  will 
come  back  again — not  that  the  grace  of  God 
will  ever  diminish,  but  that  friend  Hiler  may. 
as  time  passes,  now  and  then  forget  his  sacred 
pledge.  The  smoker  may  possibly  prove  to  be 
an  object-lesson  and  a  reminder.] 

I  see  your  Tobacco  Column  is  getting  to  have 
many  names  in  it.  I  had  a  party  here  the  oth- 
er day  to  whom  I  sold  five  Dovetailed  hives. 
They  were  burned  up  at  the  station.  I  had 
quit  using  tobacco  myself,  and  I  told  him  that 
tobacco  was  hurting  him.  He  had  sour  stom- 
ach about  all  the  time,  and  a  doctor  giving  him 
medicine  that  did  him  no  good.  I  told  him  to 
let  the  tobacco  alone,  and  then  he  would  be  all 
right:  so  when  he  came  the  other  day  for  more 
hives  he  said  he  was  much  better,  and  not  trou- 
bled much  with  sour  stomach.  I  told  him  your 
terms  about  a  smoker,  and  he  said  he  would 
pay  for  it  if  he  ever  used  tobacco  again  :  and  if 
he  doesn't  do  so  I  will.  His  name  is  Samuel 
Roach.  H.  W.  VanKihk. 

Washington,  Pa..  April  9. 

As  I  am  an  invalid,  and  have  been  for  years,  I 
am  obliged  to  employ  help  in  my  ai^iary.  I 
have  had  a  boy  to  help  me  for  two  or  three 
years  past.  He  is  Id  years  old  now.  He  has 
been  using  tobacco  for  some  time  past.  I  told 
him  of  the  Tobacco  Column,  and  told  him  if  he 
would  quit  the  use  of  the  filthy  weed  you  would 
send  him  a  smoker.  He  tlien  wished  to  see  the 
Tobacco  Column.  After  reading  the  conditions 
under  which  he  could  get  the  smoker  lie  prom- 
ises me  that  lie  will  agree  to  all  the  conditions 
therein  stated.    Should  he  commence  it  again  I 


IS'.rJ 


(il.KANlNtiS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


817 


will   piiy  for  ilic  sim)kt'r.     His  iiiiiiif  is  Wi'siiv 
Khiiii'liiirt.  V.  S.  Tiioiunoion. 

('hiliic'otlif.  Mo..  July  '.".i,  IS'.f.'. 

Friend  liiint:  I  licn-w  ilii  inclose  a  i-iippiiii; 
from  tl\i>  Fort  .'>mith  />('i/i/ 7'/;;i«'.s' of  .Inly  .!.  1 
tlioiiglit  you  would  perhaps  like  it  for  your  To- 
Inu'oo  Cohimn: 

rHAHLEY   WAI  r.ACE  DEAD. 

Yi'Sti'iday  uuiriiinji-  Cliark'y  Wallaco,  son  ol'  Mike 
Wallai'o,  hi'valliod  liis  la,sl  at  his  father's  irsititMicH' 
■<m  Twelfth  St.  His  illness  was  Idiig-  and  jniinful, 
and  was  ea\ised  \n  the  I'.xci'ssive  u.se  of  eijiiirettes. 
He  was  a  lirijrht  In'iy,  ami  jiave  promise  of  making'  a 
tine  man,  as  he  had  many  line  traits  of  eharacter; 
luit  he  liCM-ame  addicted  li>  the  use  of  the  deadly 
eijrarette.  His  lather  and  mother  were  eonslantiy 
in  attendance  at  his  bedsit k'  duriiifr  his  lung:  illness, 
and  all  tlial  medical  skill  could  do  was  done  to  alle- 
viate his  snlft'rinjrs. 

Mike  Wallace,  the  hoy's  father,  is  one  of  our 
most  [irosperous  Inisiuess  men.  and  his  many 
friends  sympathize  with  him  and  his  wife  in 
their  heroavemciii.  We  have  a  law  in  this 
State  which  prohibits  the  sale  of  cisai'ettes  to 
any  one  under  1(1  years  of  age:  but  W(>  liave 
some  men  among  us  who  care  very  little  for  the 
law  so  long  as  there  is  a  dime  in  sight.  The 
man  who  had  been  selling  Charley  the  cigar- 
ettes was  arrested,  and  fined  .^10  for  his  offense, 
which  I  deem  a  light  penalty  for  what  is  but 
little  hettei'  than  murder.  Z.  Wei.i-s. 

Fort  Smith.  Ark..  .Iiilv  4. 


-3e"PAGEs7xlO 
00  P£BY£ARj 


For  our  light  arttictiou.  whicli  is  but  for  a  moineiit.  worketh 
for  us  a  far  iin>re  txceeding  weig-lit  of  (floi-y.— II.  COR.  4    17. 


This  is  a  great  year  foi'  honey  '/(^c  but  not 
received.  

Some  one  is  doing  some  very  excellent  edito- 
ial  work  in  the  Cdtiadidii  Bee  Journal.    Some 
of  it.  at  least,  sounds  like  .Jones  the  bee-man. 


TiiK  editor  of  the  Xd ira ska  Bee-keeper  ■■iay~. 
he  has  attended  one  State  and  three  county 
fairs  this  fall,  and  at  none  of  them  has  he  heard 
a  good  word  spoken  for  the  I'unic  bees. 


The  old  e.vploded  sting-trowel  theory  —  bees 
capping  over  honey  with  their  stings  as  trow- 
els, and  injecting  bee-sting  poison  into  the  cells 
—  is  now  going,  or.  rather,  trying  to  go,  the 
rounds  of  the  press  again. 

.\s  will  b(!  seen  in  another  column,  the  IJritish 
bee-keepers  have  detinitily  arranged  for  an  (ex- 
hibit of  Uriiish  honey  at  ilie  World's  Fair.  We 
may  rest  assured  that  oiii  English  cousins  will 
make  a  line  exhibit.  In  theirown  country  they 
excal  us  in  honev  and  bee  shows. 


We  are  getting  reports  now, that  a  solution  of 
salt  water  fed  to  the  bees  in  syrup,  or  sprayed 
direct  on  tiie  combs,  does  not  cure  bad  cases  of 
bee-paralysis  inameless  Ix^e-disease).  As  tlie 
disease  sonu'times  goes  ofl  itself,  it  may  be  ques- 
tioned whetlmr  it  does  any  good,  even  in  mihl 
cases.    How  is  it.  friends? 

We  have  just  received  from  the  W.  T.  Fal- 
coner Co.  samples  of  their  new  Falcon  sections. 
In  our  judgment  they  are  the  nicest  of  any 
thing   heretofore   put  upon  the  market  by  any 


maker.  Our  wow  section-machinery  will  lie 
tloiu'  in  a  few  weeks,  at  which  tinu;  we  hope  to 
make  a  product  fully  their  e(|ual.  To  make 
any  thing  better  would  be  impossilile. 

\\k  regret  to  announce  that  the  health  of  .Mr. 
.1.  iluckle,  business  manager  of  the  Britisli  Bee 
.InnrnaJ.  has  been  sucli  that  he  has  been  obliged 
to  give  up  his  work.  Our  business  relations 
with  Mr.  Iluckle  have  been  very  pleasant,  and 
we  hop(»  that  si  rest  will  restore  him  to  healtli. 
The  business  hitherto  done  at  King's  Langley 
will  be  transferred  to  17  King  William  St".. 
Strand,  \V.  C.  London,  where  all  communica- 
tions for  the  B.  B.  J.  should  be  addres.sed. 


The  October  RevleAV  contains  a  couple  of  ex- 
cellent half-tones  showing  the  exhibits  of 
Hunt  and  Hutchinson,  reference  to  which  was 
made  in  oui-  editorial  on  page  710,  for  Sept.  15. 
Hoth  these  exhibits  were  unique  in  their  way. 
and  we  had  intended  to  "  do 'em  up'' in  haJf 
tones,  bat  the  daylight  photos  were  too  poor  to 
be  worked  up  satisfactorily.  Bro.  Hutchinson 
succeeded  in  giving  some  good  pictures  from 
fiash-light  photos  which  we  judg(i  were  taken 
later.  

We  regret  to  announce  that  the  oflice  of  the 
Pnxiressive  Bee  kcti>cr.  of  rnionville.  Mo.,  was 
destroyed  by  tire  last  month.  I5ro.  Quigley  lost 
the  back  numbers  of  his  journal,  including 
books,  papers,  and  other  stock.  Although  there 
was  no  insurance,  and  the  loss  a  severe  one,  the 
I'riKjrcxsivc  Bee-keeper  w\]\  be  issued  just  the 
same,  the  subscription-book  having  been  saved. 
Hy  the  way,  there  are  too  many  bee-keepers 
and  supply-dealers  who  go  without  insurance. 
At  the  low  rates  usually  secured,  no  one  shouUI 
think  of  going  without  protection. 

(H'l'i'K  a  number  of  our  friends  (well  meaning, 
of  course)  take  the  liberty,  without  orders  or 
first  writing,  of  sending  iis  queens  that  thev 
have  after  uniting.  Along  with  the  queen's 
comes  a  card  asking  us  to  credit  on  account 
what  we  can.  It  seems  like  a  hard  thing  to  do. 
but  we  are  obliged- to  send  the  queens  right 
back  by  the  next  mail,  as  we  have  no  u.se  for 
them.  We,  like  all  the  rest  in  tlie  North,  are 
uniting,  and.  of  course,  have  a  surplus  of  queens 
on  hand  of  our  own  raising.  Our  stocks,  as  we 
advertise,  are  bred  fiom  selected  mothers. either 
in  our  own  yards  or  in  the  yards  of  our  regular 
(^ueen- breeders  in  the  South.  It  would  not  be 
lair  nor  right  for  us  to  accept  queens  from  eve- 
rybody, and  send  them  oui  to  our  customers. 
The  xtock  might  be  just  as  good,  but  we  have 
no  assurance  or  guarantee  of  it. 

HARD  ON  FUNICS. 

We  extract  the  following  from  the  CaiiadUtn 
Bee  Jnurnal  for  October  15: 

Tlie  Funics  are  the  biffffest  fraud  ever  put  on  the 
l)ee-keei)ing  woild.  I  g-ot  one  twelve  m(>nth>  ago  to 
see  if  it  woukl  improve  the  yield  of  an  (jut-apiary  1 
am  operating.  She  turned  out  fertile,  and  the  titty 
colonies  in  that  yard  are  nio.stly  pure  Funics  itho.s'e 
that  are  left,  I  mean),  luuing- killed  and  replaced  a 
number.  The  Funics  sling  woisc,  and  tlie  sting  is 
more  painful.  The  <iueen  is  more  difficult  to  tiiid. 
and  they  prefei'  to  fill  I  he  lirood-chamber  with  honej- 
rather  than  store  above.  I  adveitised  them  in  the 
spring:,  and,  judging  from  the  letters  I  had,  I  eould 
have  sold  hundreds,  if  I  had  not  given  my  eustoni- 
ers  my  opinion  of  them. 

Avery,  La.  H.  Fit/,  Hakt. 

Some  of  our  friends  will  renuimber  that  we 
were  severely  scored  because  we  told  some  hard 
things  about  the  Funics.  The  above  from  the  • 
Canadian  Bee  .lnurnal  looks  as  if  we  told  some 
straight  facts,  and  thus  saved  some  of  the 
friends  from  investing  early  in  the  season  in 
some  verv  undesirable  bees. 


818 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  1. 


THE   COUNTKY   GENTLEMAN. 

I  H.WK  many  times  of  late  felt  like  expressing 
my  gratitude  and  appreciation  to  the  agricultu- 
ral journals  of  our  land.  I  do  not  feel  like  say- 
ing liiat  any  one  of  them  is  the  best  agricultu- 
ral paper  published,  for  it  would  be  a  good  deal 
like  comparing  my  friends  and  relatives.  Some 
e.\cel  in  one  thing  and  some  in  another.  I  have 
often  felt  like  saying,  however,  that  there  is 
something  about  the  Country  (JeiitlcnKut  that 
renders  it  specially  valuable  to  me.  I  have  oft- 
en wondered  who  it  is  that  keeps  such  a  steady, 
keen  eye  on  every  thing  that  goes  into  its  col- 
umns: and  I  have  finally  concluded  that  it 
must  be  some  old  veteran  in  agriculture — some- 
body who  knows  what  has  been  done,  and  what 
is  likely  to  succeed  and  likely  to  fail — some  one 
who  is  fully  fDinpetent  to  put  o.i  the  brakes 
when  a  lot  of  us  are  inclined  to  start  off  in  er- 
ror. Another  thing,  there  is  a  sort  of  dignified 
gentility  about  this  periodical  that  makes  one 
think  it  is  rightly  named.  It  costs  a  little  more 
than  some  other  papers  :  and,  by  the  way.  it 
usually  costs  something  to  move  in  the  best  so- 
ciety, and  to  have  for  your  companions  learned 
and  intelligent  men.  Sometimes  1  have  thought 
that  this  \  eteran  who  answers  so  well  and  so 
wisely  almost  any  question  that  may  be  asked 
pertaining  to  agriculture,  was  a  little  conserva- 
tive: but  it  is  a  pretty  good  fault,  after  all:  and 
I  am  real  glad  that,  among  all  our  various  pe- 
riodicals of  this  sort,  we  have  at  least  one 
Country  Gcntleinoti. 


mating  choice  queens  to  choice  drones  0.\ 
hanlon's  island. 

A  SHOKT  time  ago  a  firm  in  Canada  advertised 
that  their  queens  were  mated  to  hand-picked 
drones  on  Hanlon's  Island.  A  resident  of  To- 
ronto (he  has  moved  away  now)  wrote  us  short- 
ly after,  that  there  were  no  bees  on  Hanlon's 
Island,  and  that  the  mating  of  queens  there 
was  all-  a  myth.  We  promptly  wrote  to  the 
parties  in  question,  for  an  explanation.  They 
assured  us  that  it  was  a  fact,  and  referred  us  to 
the  names  of  several  parties  as  proof  ^  among 
them  Mr.  John  McArthur.  881  Yonge  St..  To- 
ronto, who  bred  the  queens  for  them. 

It  seems  Mr.  M.  has  had  in  mind  the  mating 
of  choice  queens  to  choice  drones  on  this  island 
for  ten  years  or  so  back:  but  until  188'.i  it  was  so 
barren  that  bees  could  not  be  supported  there 
except  at  an  expense.  At  that  time  the  city  of 
Toronto  spent  over  a  hundred  thousand  dollars 
in  beautifying  and  improving  the  island:  and 
it  is  now  stated  that  it  blossoms  like  the  rose, 
and  will  support  a  large  apiary.  Mr.  McArthur 
took  advantage  of  the  situation  and  put  upon 
the  island  some  choice  stocks,  and  has  been  ex- 
perimenting for  three  years  back  with  the  mat- 
ter of  mating  queens  to  drones  of  his  own 
choosing. 

The  island  itself  is  two  miles  from  the  city,  by 
a  bee-line,  while  the  bees  that  have  been  used 
for  experimental  purposes  were  a  mile  and  a 
half  further,  on  the  other  side  of  the  island- 
quite  a  safe  distance  formating.  Mr.  M.  pro- 
poses to  raise  queens  there  the  coming  season: 
and  as  it  is  a  great  pleasure-resort,  ferry-boats 
go  back  and  forth  every  thirty  minutes,  and 
hence  orders  for  queens  can  receive  prompt  at- 
tention. This  may  seem  like  a  little  free  ad- 
vertising: but  when  a  bee-keeper  has  enler- 
priSf-  enough  to  take  advantage  of  a  good  thing 
we- feel  like  encouraging  him:  for  it  would  in- 
deed be  very  desirable,  and  a  great  boon  to  bee- 
keepers at  large,  if  we  could  take  drones,  say 
from  Mr.  Doolittle,  and  choice  queens  from  Mr. 
Manum's  honey  strain,  and  have  them  crossed. 
In  si)eaking  of  this  we  do  not  forget  D.  A.  Jones" 


experiments  in  the  same  direction  on  some  isl- 
ands in  Georgian  Bay.  The  Islands  being  bar- 
ren of  nectar-bearing  blossoms,  the  enlerprise 
was  abandoned  on  account  of  the  expense. 

The  great  trouble  all  along  in  queen-rearing 
has  been  the  inability  on  tlie  pai't  of  bee-keep- 
ers to  perfectly  isolate  and  so  pei'petuate  certain 
desirable  characteristics  in  certain  bees:  and  it 
is  only  those  who  have  easy  access  to  an  island 
who  can  do  so  with  reasonabh'  cei'tainty  of  suc- 
cess. Say.  Dr.  Mason,  what  is  the  m:iiter  with 
your  appropriating  a  small  island  off  from  To- 
ledo, and  running  a  rival  establishment  to  the 
Canadian  entei'prise?  You  know  you  like  to 
"  give  it  to  the  Canucks." 


CASTLES    IN    THE    AIR;    ULUNDERS   OF   A   BEGIN- 
NER :    OlTT-AJ'IAltY    IDEA    CARRIED    TO   EX- 
TREMES,   ETC. 

A  CASE  has  recently  come  to  our  knowledge 
where  a  beginner  bought  an  out-yard,  with  lit- 
tle or  no  previous  experience  with  bees,  contain- 
ing 100  colonies.  As  to  whether  they  are  paid 
for  yet  we  can  not  say.  With  these  he  had  high 
anticipations,  and  proposed  to  secure,  the  first 
year,  fifteen  thousand  pounds  of  honey.  The 
bees  were  hybrids:  and  in  order  to  improve  his 
stock  and  get  more  honey  he  ventured  to  Ital- 
ianize them  at  once — a  doubtful  venture,  so  far 
as  tlie  honey  was  concerned,. and.  so  far  as  the 
bees  were  concerned,  wlien  they  could  least  af- 
ford it.  Without  counting  the  cost  of  advertis- 
ing space,  he  ordered  several  insertions  of  a 
two-inch  advertisement.  Now,  hybrid  queens 
do  not  usually  sell  for  more  than  30  or  40  cents. 
He  continued  to  advertise  until  he  had  paid  out 
as  many  dollars  as  he  could  possibly  get  for  his 
queens.  His  next  step,  so  W(i  are  informed,  was 
to  divide  his  100  colonies  into  yards  of  20  stocks 
each,  these  yards  being  anywhere  from  four  to 
eight  miles  apart.  His  locality  was  sufficient  to 
have  supported  almost  100  alone,  to  say  nothing 
of  going  to  the  expense  of  dividing  them  up 
into  four  or  five  apiaries,  and  traveling  miles  to 
get  to  them,  besidescarting  stuff  back  and  forth. 
Did  he  secure  his  fifteen  thousand  pounds  of 
honey'.'  Not  quite.  As  nearly  as  we  can  a.scer- 
tain,  he  obtained  less  than  one  thousand  pounds. 
The  probabilities  are,  that  his  honey  cost  him  a 
great  deal  more  than  he  will  get  for  it  in  the 
markets:  and  as  to  the  hybrid  (jueens  sold,  his 
net  profit  was  nothing— yes.  worse  than  nothing 
— and  winter  is  staring  him  in  the  face. 

You  may  say  a  man  is  a  fool  to  go  into  bee- 
keeping in  such  a  luad  sort  of  way.  We  fear 
there  are  some  who  do  something  nearly  as  bad. 
They  are  crazed  over  the  out-apiai-y  idea,  big 
crops  of  honey,  big  prices,  and  go  to  moving 
their  bees  away  from  home  when  they  had  bet- 
ter keep  them  all  in  one  yard,  even  though  they 
do  not  do  quite  as  well.  One  year's  experience 
is  usually  sufficient  to  drive  them  out  of  the 
business  entirely.  No  one  should  think  of  es- 
tablishing out-apiaries  until  his  home  apiary 
has  got  at  least  beyond  7r>  colonies:  and  even 
with  :.'00  he  had  better  not  have  more  than  two 
or  at  least  three  out- yards:  but  a  great  deal  de- 
])ends  upon  the  locality.  Some  places — in  Cuba, 
for  instance — will  support  .500,  and  others  less 
than  50. 

Let  us  rehearse  briefly  the  mistakes,  some  of 
which  many  make:  In  the  first  place,  in  the 
case  mentioned,  our  beginner  bought  too  heavi- 
ly; second,  he  requeened  his  apiary  when  they 
could  the  least  afford  it:  third,  he  faih^d  to  con- 
sider that  the  price  of  his  product  was  too  low 
to  warrant  much  expense  in  advertising;  fourth, 
he  ought  to  have  kept  his  bees  in  his  home 
yard  instead  of  scattering  them  into  out-yards. 
Lastly,  his  great  castle  in  the  air  obscured  so- 
ber, intelligent  judgment. 


liiHl"? 


(}LEANIN(^S  IN  UEE  (  Ur/rURE. 


SI'.t 


i  wnflT  li 

^    I             1  hat    quaint      ^  |-^,> 

^    !  old  expression  ot      h4  I-  ^ 

4^>^\  our     forefathers     """  l--^i> 

^*^l  is  so  apt.      We  think  ot"     f7r  irvIV  IKIf^  '^^ 

^\  it  daily  when    we  look      KVlUUlnVl  |^ 

^    I  hack  ten  years  and  recall      — ^^— =— — ^— »— — —  j    ^ 

^    I  how  Victor  Bicycles  have  outstripped  all   rivals.  \^ 

^^-1            What   a    pudding-    we    have    in    the   Victor  1^^ 

^  Cushion  and    Pneumatic   Tires,   Victor    Spring  !    ^ 

^^\  Fork,  and  the  like.  i-^^ 

^  ••{            No  wonder  Victors  lead !  j"  ^ 

^  -I            Let  us  send  you  a  catalog.  |    ^ 

S^l                  OVERMAN  WHEEL  CO.,  'l^ 

<y       I  SPRINGFIELD  BRANCH:                                                    128  Worthington  St.  H^9 


DAVIS,  HUNT  &  CO.,  Agts., 
Cleveland,  Ohio. 


B.  HENDRICKSON,  Local  Agt. 
Medina,  Ohio. 


IF  YOU  WANT  BEES    bee-hives,  sections,  etc. 

We  nuikt'  tlic  best  goods  aucl  sell  them  cheap. 

Our  8(1 'lions  are  lar  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  woild. 

Our  g-oods  are  known  as  the  best  tliroughout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalog-ue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS    CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

Bee  -  Keepers'  ^  Supplies. 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates i^ladly 
furnished,  ,iiid  correspondence  solicited.  Ourgroods 
are  all  flisi  >lass  in  quality  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
nlogue  neut  lire.  Reference,  First  National  Bank. 
Sterling-.  III.     Address  l-24db 

Sterliiig,  Illiuoii*. 

Srin  respDiirllnL'io  thi<  ii.iv.iti>eiii.-nt  mention  GLEANINGS, 


Thai  will  just  "foil''  in  the  hotiey,  try  iTIoorri'ii 
Strain  of  ltall»nH,  the  lesult  of  13  years'  careful 
breediriK.  Reduced  prices:  Warranted  queens,  80c 
each;  '.i  Un-  I3.1HI.  Safe  arriv^al  and  satisfaction 
guaranteed.  Those  wlio  have  never  dealt  with  me 
I  refer  to  A.  L  Root,  who  has  purchased  of  me,  (hir- 
ing past  12  vears,  .583  queens.  Circulars  free. 
J.  P.  .nOORE,  .TIoru:aii.  Pendleton.  €0..  Ky. 
13tfdb        Money-order  oflii-e.  Falmouth,  Ky. 


Hlea>e  ment! 


I  this  papei'. 


NEW  YORK  CORRESPONDENCE 


FOR    home:  studv 
243  BROADWAY    N  .Y. 
INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE 


13331 


BUFFALO,  N.  Y.     Unsurpassed  Honey  Market. 
BATTERSON  &  CO.     Responsible,  Reliable, 
Commission  Merchants.      ,gtf,ib      and  Prompt 


JENNIE  ATCHLEY'S  HOME 

will  be  at  Beeville,  Bee  County,  Te.\.,  in   1893,  ready 
with  queens  again.  19tfdb 


SAFE,  DURABLE  FENCE;      ONLY  $80  PER  MILE. 
if  "  LAND  _  OWNT!T?S«ayeo/;e-/ia//t/jecos1 
60c  pflf -LiAI)!  U-\JY/  a  iiiXiO  „„„.^  dangerous barba 

r^H^XSt  I  V^month  and  expenses  ^^ClOII 
The  best  local  and  traveling  agents  wanted  every- 
where. Write  at  once  f  I  ir  circulars  and  cholceter- 
rltory;  address  A.  G.  Hulbert,  Patentee,  care  of 

Factory  Cfttaloifue  with  200enKraved  designs  and 
prices,  s«ntfree  to  any  who  want  fancy  Iron  and 
wliework  or  city,  cemetery  and  farm  fences,  eto« 


820 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  1. 


Special  Notices. 


Remember  onlj'  a  month  remains  before  the  early- 
order  discount  drops  from  5  to  4  per  cent.  Get  your 
orders  in  early  and  secure  the  largest  per  cent  off. 

Until  further  notice  we  will  pay  5  cts.  each  for 
Gleanings  for  May  1,  1890.  Also  for  the  Dec.  1  No., 
188t5.  Remember,  don't  make  a  mistake  in  the  num- 
ber or  year.  

DAMAGED  yUlNBY'S  NEW  BEE-KEEPING. 

The  50  ct.  class  of  these  books  mentioned  in  last 
number  were  all  gone  in  a  few  days,  and  several 
orders  had  to  be  filled  with  the  8.5-ct.  class.  We  still 
have  a  few  of  these  left  at  85  cts.,  postpaid,  or  75  cts. 
with  other  goods.  Have  sold  some  of  the  Abbott 
lithograph  labels,  slightly  damaged,  at  Sl.OO  per 
1000,  and  still  have  a  good  supply  of  these,  as  well 
as  the  perfect  ones  at  $1..")(). 

HONEY  MARKET— COMB  AND  EXTRACTED. 

As  we  go  to  press,  our  car  of  comb  honey  has  just 
reached  us  from  Nevada.  There  are  1142  ~'4-lb.  eases 
in  the  car.  From  our  notice  of  tlie  honey  two 
weeks  ago  we  already  have  considerable  of  it  en- 
gaged. The  prices  we  made  are  low  and  compare 
favorably  with  the  general  market  reports.  Tliey 
are: 

In  lots  of  1,  2,  or  3  cases,  18c  per  lb. 

In  lots  of  4  to  8  cases,  ITMc  per  lb. 

In  full  crates  of  9  cases  each,  17c  per  lb. 

5  full  crates,  or  45  cases,  16V4c  per  lb. 

Since  we  have  been  receiving  and  shipping  comb 
honey  put  up  to  ship  by  freight,  several  cases 
packed  in  a  crate,  with  handles,  we  have  not  lost  a 
pound  by  breakage,  and  we  don't  remember  to  have 
had  any  damage  reported  from  customers  to  whom 
we  have  shipped,  while  we  used  to  be  bothered  a 
good  deal  by  breakage.  We  mention  this  that  none 
may  be  deterred  from  ordering  because  of  fear  of 
iM-eakage  in  shipping.  Single  cases  by  express  are 
very  of  ten  broken;  but  craves  of  several  cases  by 
freight,  rarelv  if  ever. 

We  have  had  very  little  response  to  our  re<iiiest  in 
last  issue  for  offers  of  extracted  hone> ,  and  what 
we  have  received  show  that  there  is  a  scarcity  of 
choice  extracted  Iioney,  and  it  is  commanding  a 
good  price.  Many  of  the  samples  submitted  are 
rather  inferior  in  quality.  We  have  secured  some 
of  as  fine  honey  as  we  ever  saw.  It  comes  from  the 
nortlieast  corner  of  New  York  State.  We  are  obliged 
to  ask  for  it  10  cts.  a  lb.,  in  bO-lb.  cans,  two  cans  in  a 
case.  It  is  so  nice  that,  with  the  i)resent  condition 
of  the  market,  it  is  well  worth  the  price.  It  is 
light-colored,  very  lieavy  in  body,  of  a  fine  flavor, 
and  almost  pure  clover.  If  ordered  at  once,  we  can 
.supply  a  limited  quantity  of  it  f .  o.  b.  at  Massena 
Springs,  N.  Y.,  at  954  cts.  per  lb. 


stantlal  improvements  in  the  way  of  honey-gates, 
and  in  the  bottom  of  the  can  itself,  all  of  which  will 
be  thoroughly  apiireciated  by  the  i)ractical  bee- 
keeper. Although  great  improvements  have  Vieen 
made,  the  prices  will  remain  the  same.  See 'our 
catalogue.  

OUR   NEW  OUTSIDE  WINTER-CASE. 

The  reports  of  this  year  and  our  own  experiments 
last  winter  justified  us  in  the  belief  that  a  sealed 
cover  for  outdoor  wintei-ing,  with  packing  material 
above  and  around  the  brood-nest,  was  the  correct 
method.  In  accordance  with  this  idea  we  modified 
our  winter-case  for  Do%'etailed  hive  by  giving  it  a 
telescope  covei  (see  cut      This  pei  mits  of  using-  the 


_^>-=-«^ 


OUR   NEW    WINTER  (    ^SE 

old  cover  on  the  hive. without  disturbing  the  sealing 
and  at  the  same  time  affords  iietter  access  for  pour- 
ing your  packing  material  around  and  on  top  of 
the  hive.  The  bottom  inside  edge  of  the  case  is 
stopped  up  with  padded  sticks  as  before,  so  that  the 
space  between  the  hive  and  the  case  is  closed  up. 
We  do  not  tliiiik  it  necessary  to  go  to  the  extra  ex- 
pense of  an  extra  bottom  for  the  winter-case.  It  is 
not  the  bottom  that  is  to  be  kept  warm,  but  the  top, 
and  that  should  be  sealed  and  protected.  Our  ex- 
tensive experiments  last  sea.son  prove  this. 

PRICES   FOR  8-FUAMB  DOVETAILED  HIVE. 

New  dovetailed  winter  case,  including  cover  and 
padded  .sticks,  50c  each;  10  for  U  50:  or  lUO  for  $40.00. 
Winter  case,  nailed  and  painted.  75c  each;  10  for 
$6.50.  For  those  who  want  winter-cases  for  their 
Simplicity  10-frame  Uovei ailed  hive.s,  the  price  will 
be  10c  each  more  than  above  prices. 


IMPROVEMENTS  IN    EXTRACTORS. 

While  we  have  made  great  improvements  in  hives, 
the  old  original  Novice  honey-extiactor,  as  well  as 
the  Cowan,  has  received  its  share  "f  attention.    No 

ciianges  or  im- 
IHovements  liave 
bien  made  except 
those  that  liave 
been  .suggested  by 
practical  ex  tract - 
ed-honey  nien  and 
practical  mechan- 
ics. There  seems 
to  be  a  general 
preference  for  a 
bevel  gear,  with 
crank  at  the  side 
of  the  can.  Re- 
sides that,  it  .seems 
to  be  necessary, 
on  account  of 
breakages,  to 
make  the  arm 
reach  clear  across 
the  can.  All  our 
extractors  for  is9;i 
^vill  be  made  wit li 
the  new  gear. 
Parts  of  the  old 
NEW  NOVICE  EXTRACTOR.  gearing  will  be 
kept  in  stock,  to  make  repairs  for  extractors  already 
in  use.    Besides  the  gearing,  we  liave  made  .stil> 


DODEl  AHl-:i(HON    l>APt;K-WEIGHTS. 


Two  years  ago  we  made  a  special  importat  ion  f  nmi 
Germany  of  KIOO of  the  beautiful  gla^s  paper-weights 
of  whicii  the  above  is  a  very  poor  ie|)resentation. 
Nothing  would  be  min-e  appropriate  for  a  bee-keep- 
er, as  it  illustrates  the  mathematics  of  the  honey- 
cell  to  perfei'tion.  It  is  such  a  beauty  that  any- 
body will  be  iileased  and  delighted  with  it.  No 
matter  which  way  you  turn  it,  you  will  be  charmed 
by  new  beauties.  The  above  cut  gives  the  actual 
size.  When  we  found  it  in  Chicago  it  was  retailing 
at  50  cents;  but  buving  1000  of  them  we  got  them  at 
a  figure  that  enables  us  lo  sell  them  at  20  cents 
each,  or  6  for  ifl.OO;  one  dozen  for  $1.80.  IJy  mail,  3 
cts.  extra  on  one;   12  cts.  extra  on  ti,  or  20  cts.  extra 


1S92 


GLEANINCJS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


H-.'l 


jifi'  (iiizeii    fur  piisttiK*'.  't'ld  piu'kiiifr  to  prcvint  in- 
.1iir\.     W(>  will  send  one   fn'r   postpaid    for  ;t    now  j 
-iili-otiiHion  to  (;i.EAMN(;s  witli  fl.lKl;  oi-  for  a  iit'W  | 
-iihs.'riplioii,    Willi    your  ow?i    I'ciii'wal.    witli    ^r.'.dO,  1 
alHl."M'ls.  for  postaRt',  wc  will  send   two:   or.  if  joii 
prolci,  we  will   send   one   and  a  ropy  of  any  of  t  lie 
followiiiK  books.  >o\i  pa.\inn'  postap"  i')  rts.t:"  Merry-  ' 
lianks  and    His   XoijrlilMir:   Sicppiiix"   llcavciiwai'd;  i 
Cliristian's  StH-ri't  of  a  Happy  Life,  paper;  Koliinson  ' 
("riisoc.  paiu'r;  or  any  d'  ilio  following,  iind  we  will 
pay    postajii":     Hi-visfd     Ni-w   'IVslanu'nl;    Ten  i-ciil 
Dictionarv;  ("Inld's  Oni -svlliililc  I'riiiier. 


KIND  WORDS  FROM  OUR  CUSTOMERS. 


••  HlOHl'KKSSl'KE        OAliOKMNO,    AM)    SO    MISTAKE. 

Tlu'  followinK  ii^  IHit  in  iliis  dt'j)artnuMit  because  It 
cairu'  too  lato  to  fj-o  anywlu'io  I'Ise: 

Fii' ml  Ri>iit:~  I  notici-  in  last  Gi>eamn(1s  that  you 
speak  of  the  new  rolor\-  ciilturi'.  Well,  we  liave 
tried  it.  not  on  a  larRe  scale,  Init  siilticiently  so  to 
warrant  tis  itliat  is,  me  .ind  familyt  in  makinfr  a  siie- 
■  ■ia I  effort  the  i-omin^  season  in  that  direction,  that 
our  tinances  may  be  incieased  somewhat.  We  think 
we  can  get  tenortwehc  dollars  per  rod  out  of  it 
very  easily,  with  just  a  sinjjle  crop,  while  two  crops 
inn  he  irrown.  Yes.  it  requires  (ilenty  of  manure 
and  water.  The  manure  can  be  i>ut  on,  but  how  to 
water  these  beds  is  the  iiuestioii.  We  tliinkwe  can 
water  on  a  small  scale  quite  satisfactorily;  but  on  a 
lurpo  aiea  it  is  wliat  will  '"ffet"  jiardeners.  No 
doubt  some  way  will  be  devised  as  we  progress  in 
IK  ir  culture  of  garden  products.  Some  plan  shows 
itself  when  it  is  needed. 

THE  NEW  ONION   CULTURE. 

This  --uits  Us  pretty  well  after  trying  it  two  sea- 
sons. I  will  enlarge  a  little  on  it  as  we  learn.  We 
have  grown  onions  weighing  a  pound  iind  even  a 
pound  and  a  quarter,  and  have  done  it  <iuite  easily 
too.  We  are  just  titiding  out  that  it  is  not  the  gi-eat 
amount  of  land  plowed  or  seed  sown  that  gives  good 
returns.  It  is  that  which  is  well  taken  care  of  that 
tills  the  market -wagon  and  brings  in  the  cash.  Can 
any  one  tell  why  it  takes  a  man  a  lifetime  to  learn 
a  few  simph'  things?  ('.  H.  Wei>ch. 

Krumiov,  Summit  Co..  <).,  Oct,  24. 


sKLi.iNf;  (;ai«i)EN   imjoducts  for  good  prices. 

Ml .  A.  I.  Ri)((/;— Some  of  the  readers  seem  to  have 
become  excited  about  the  exorbitant  prices  that 
you  have  (;harged  for  onions;  and  as  it  involves 
principles  of  morals  and  finance  it  seems  to  us 
worth  di.sc-ussing.  But  we  don't  think  the  true  so- 
lution of  the  matter  ha--  been  re;iehed.  A  person 
who  possesses  advantjtges   not  attainable  by  others 

is  in   the  |)ositi f  a  monopolist,  and   should   not 

push  his  a<lvantages  to  suoh  an  extent  as  to  be  oji- 
pressive  to  those  who  lia\e  been  less  fortunate.  F. 
H.  Finch  seems  to  ha\e  been  In  such  a  position  on 
tliat  Dakota  farm,  and  he  acted  in  a  very  honorable 
maiinei';  but  "circumstances  alter  cases."  If  I 
understand  it.  A.  I.  Root  had  no  such  monopoly  of 
location  or  soil,  but  merely  did  what  any  othi-r  per- 
son could  ha\e  done.  Hut  the.\-  all  chose  to  do 
soniething  else,  or  to  do  nothing,  even  at  the  risk  of 
not  getting  any  onions  ai  any  price.  Tn  that  case 
tliey  can  not  corni>lain  at  being  charged  all  tlie 
onions  were  worth.  If  e\  erj'body  had  neglecte<l  t^) 
plant  onions  they  could  not  have  been  obt;iined  at 
aiin  price.  Tlie  advantagi^s,  therefore,  that  A.  I. 
Root  (jl)tained  were  tiie  lesultof  industry;  and  to 
refuse  to  take  the  highest  price  they  would  bring 
would  be  to  deprive  labor  of  its  just  reward.  It  is 
all  well  enough  for  a  peison  who  chooses,  to  raise 
things  and  partly  yivr  them  away;  but  it  is  a  detri- 
ment to  those  who  may  wi.sli  to  engage  in  the  same 
business  for  a  living.  Resides  this,  (/ici/i);  labor  to 
others  may  encourage  idleness.  If  anybody  wdiils 
to  give  away  any  thing,  hi  him  gi\e  to  the  pimr  and 
the  unfiiititiiati  who  cat:  not  helj)  themselves,  and 
not  to  tliose  who  (YUi.  Horace  ('ochr.\.n. 

McLean.  O..  Oct.  12. 


A   KIND  W  >RD  INDEED. 


Brotlit  r  Font ;— Altliou^  h  we  are  strangers  in  Uesli, 
yet  I  feel  that  we  are  united  spiritually.  I  got  ac- 
quainted with  you  thrcjugh  Gleanings.    My  father 


took  it  when  I  wa- a  girl,  and  lia.-<  coni  inued  to  take 
it  for  ji-ars.  I  enjoyed  reading  Our  Homes,  and 
received  much  infoimat  ion  and  benetll  fromlliem. 
One  piece  that  paiiicularly  taught  me  an  important 
lesson  was  one  Hial  had  a  sentence  in  which  I  read 
something  like  this:  "(iiils  should  not  say  or  do 
any  thing  that  they  would  not  like  their  moHn-r  to 
know,  or  boys  theii-  father."  'I'hat  sentence  so  im- 
l>ressi'ii  my  mind  I  was  led  to  praitice  it,  and,  I  can 
say.  with  grand  success  too.  In  keeping  company 
I  ne\tM'  forgot  this;  and  while  this  was  such  a  good 
lule  foi'  me,  I  tliitdv  it  worth  (;on unending  to  others. 
I  would  that  all  Noung  folks  would  try  this  rule- 
make  a  confidant  of  their  mothei';  leH'all  of  their 
affairs  to  her.  and  ask  her  ad\  ice  as  I  did.  Well,  T 
am  married  now.  and  have  two  nice  cliildren.  I 
made  a  visit  to  my  parents  this  spring;  and  while 
at  home  I  again  had  the  pleasure  of  enjoying  a  very 
refreshing  piece  from  (ii.EAMNCis.  The  text  was. 
"If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God. 
who  giveth  to  all  men  lilierally.  and  upbraideth 
not;  and  it  shall  be  given  him."  This  pi(;ce  was 
liked  by  .several.  Pa  said  that  he  had  read  it  several 
times.  I  brought  the  book  home  with  me;  and 
Sunda>-  eveiung,  when  we  were  enjoying  tlie  pres- 
ence of  a  few  friends  and  relatives,  that  piece  was 
read  and  very  much  appreciated,  ^o.  Rro.  Root,  I 
extend  many  thanks  to  you  for  those  articles  and 
others.  1  would  say.  go  on  in  the  work  that  God  has 
called  you  to  do.  It  can't  be  told  just  all  the  good 
that  you  have  done.  "Cast  thv  bread  upon  the 
waters,  for  thou  shall  find  it  after  many  days." 
The  Lord  reward  you  according  a*  you  have  been 
faithful,  and  abundantly  bless  you.  " 
Carrollton.  III.,  .June  :5'l).  "Mattie  R.  Meek. 


THE  DOVE-TALED  HIVE. 


A    HOOSIER   POEM. 


You  may  talk  about  the  progress  made 

in  movable-frame  hives; 
Of  menny  things  accomplished  we  have 

worked  at  all  our  livt  s; 
Frum  the  log-gum  in  the  orcherd 

to  the  chaff'  hive  on  the  lawn, 
Of  the  patent  fancy  fl.vtiiies  that  wuz 

failures,  dead  and  gone; 
Of  the  freaks  and  foolish  noshens 

never  hearn  tell  of  afore. 
And  the  menny  new  depaitures 

in  the  apiievultuie  lore; 
But  thare's  nm  thing,  I'm  a-thinkin', 

that's  ferever  bound  to  be— 
That's  the  dove-taled  hive,  my  reeders, 

and  hit's  good  anutt'  fer  me  I 

Sum  prefurs  to  use  the  Langstruth, 

sum  the  Adare  and  Queenbee; 
Sum  hit  is  that  hev  the  Headon ; 

others.  Rule's  Simplexity; 
And  thare's  others  that's  a-gittin' 

little  "crosswize"  frian  the  rest. 
In  a  different  "  frame"  set  up  a  klaim 

fer  holdin'  of  the  best; 
Menny  fellers  take  the  Long  Ideer. 

and  run  hit  all  alone; 
Sum  ain't  satlerstied  with  ennj  — 

'eei)t  a  patent  of  their  own  : 
And  I've  hearn  tell  of  .sio/i  fossils 

holed  up  in  a  holler  tree- 
Hut  t  lie  dove-taled  hive,  my  reeders  ! 

Hit  is  good  anuff  fer  me  1 

Oh  the  rlove-taled  hive's  so  handy, 

hit's  so  cheep  and  easy  inade 
Thai  hit  lays  the  hull  gee-po.ssy 

of  the  otliers  in  the  shade  I 
Aiid  1  know  thare  ain't  no  pictur 

that's  so  jileasin'  to  the  eye. 
Than  to  see  hit  chucked  clean  full  of 

honey,  filled  up  three  .stories  high; 
And  the  yaller,  liummin'  'Talyens, 

with  their  bodies  podded  out. 
With  the  necktar  frum  tht;  clover, 

jest  a-buzzin'  all  abi)ut— 
Geemses  rivers,  but  the  likens 

is  a  purty  sight  to  see  ! 
Fer  the  dove-taled  hive,  my  reeders, 

hit  is  good  anutt'  fer  me  '. 


.Vlexandri;i,  Ind. 


Evan  Ei.i.ery  Edwards 


822  GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE.  Nov.  1. 

5  Per  Cent  Discount 
On  All  Goods 

Listed  from  pages  10  to  30  of  our  price  list,  which  are  ordered  between  now  and  Dec.  1st,  for 
next  season's  use.  This  does  not  apply  to  goods  on  other  pages,  except  those  mentioned. 
R  special  peduetion  of  20  eents  on  eaeh  tcuo^stopy  eliaff  hive,  ordered 
for  a  limited  time.  The  quantity  and  early-order  discounts  to  apply  also.  Special  prices  quoted 
on  sections  in  lots  of  3000  and  upward.  Name  the  quantity  and  size  when  you  write.  We  guar- 
antee as  good  a  quality  for  the  price  as  you  can  obtain  anywhere.  Dealers  should  not  fail  to 
write  us  before  making  contracts  for  another  season's  supply.     We  offer  special  inducements. 

R.  I.  t^OOT,  JVIedina,  Ohio. 

Dovetailed  Hives,   Simplicity  Hives, 

SECTIONS.  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

A     FULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGE    CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J-  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


CF"lii  respoiiiliiii-'  to  tliis  advi-i  ti!-eiiifiu  mention  Gi.kanin 


«^5r  .ili--i/Jr-4(i-<t^-i{^-^-iJ^-iJS--SJ!--!{>     -i^     -i}J-     -!}i-     -!JS-     -4ji-     -SJi-     -ij^     -i^     -i»i-     -i}i-     r^     -SJi-     -iJS-     -^    -i(r    -i{S-     -l^  ^Sf 

,,  ^^  Bushel  Boxes. :: 

*^^*      ^^^^^^'       ^^'^  make  and  sell  them  DIRT  CHEAP,  because  they  are  made  of  *^^* 

-^4-        ^^^^^^^     ^■li'^'  refuse  pieces   from   section   blocks — pieces   that  aie  good  and  ^^i- 

^<^            \1^^            sound,  but  are  slightlv  discolored.    PRICE,  CRATE  OF  15  (13  IN  THE  '^ 

4f      FLAT  AND  2  NAILED  UP),  $1.50  ;  10  CRATES  OF  15  EACH,  5  PER  CENT  OFF.  These  -H* 

Bushel  lioxessave  lime  in  loading  iind  uuloadins.  and  bin  I'oom  in  the  cellar.  Send  ^, 

W      for  pamphlet  on  "HANDLING  FARM  PRODUCE,"  free.  ''><t 

*  R.  I.  Root,  IVIedina,  Ohio.  tt 

•Jt^   -ifc     -:?>    v?5-     -■?'-     -.■?>     <v5-    -•?>    -^    -"^    -cfc-    4f/-    <fc-     <?■-    •-•?>    <^    -■?><?>    <?J-     <?>     ^-fe-    <fc-    -A-    <?^     <fc-    -^     <?>    -cfc-  ^i* 

^i^   "^^      "'"^~■     -^~-     -^      -'{^     ■^~"     "^     -5{>      -i*>      ^     -iji-     -i{>      <*.'      -Jf-     "J^     -;*>     -i{i-     -iJJ-     -iji-     -^■-     -^<-     -!{.-     r^     -i{>      <j>      '.{>     •'J^    •jj^ 

ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the   East  should 

Bcdr  In  JVIind  ^^^^  ^^^  ^"■^^  established  at  Syracuse  an  E3stcrn  BrBDch 

u  iicre  our  P.ee-kcepers' Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and    ijrompt  shipment.     Von   can   save   time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Pranch.     We  liave  engaged  Mr.  V.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.     lie  will 
l>e  phrased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  Kept  in  stock. 
Addri<s  all  onieis. 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.   SALISBURY,    Agent,    Syracuse,   N.  Y. 


IS'.vi 


(CLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


827 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Hasswoo.l.To(Jf..w   «Sli 

Bees  mill  Kriiil 8t> 

Hios.  K<v.'  l)iMilo.1 8.M 

Hi'o-tii'o  111  (,>ivtriin 8.V.' 

Cnnliiial  I'lowf  r 834  i 

Comlis.  Nine  or  Ten 8Mi 

Ciinseron  N'oiiswnrming...84l  ' 

Exti-aeUir.  Osbviru's SX< 

Kuii     84-'  < 

Gluoosr  V:xiieriiiieuts MR  I 

Il.Mi,  y.  Siiir:ir  l.vl 833,  Sfiil  i 

liiiliiiK  Oiph.iii:i)ro 8;R)  ' 

liiir..<ln.iu;;.  Poolittle  on...83'' 

IrriKaliKii   810 

Liui(rsti*>tli'.-i  History 8:>J 


LcttiU'c  ill  Winter ,.84(1 

t.iu-iitioii.  rriorily  ol' 83« 

M.I  Iff  Hi  It'll 8VI 

Muslii  .loiii.s 8."i8 

Novice  of  Om ST* 

I'oUeii.  To  Ueinove 8JJ0 

c,>uniiiiiliiu>.  H«'cs  in 8*4 

Uiieeiis.  Selliiitr  Poor 851 

Hainbler  in  Siinday-scliool  841 

KoUbintf,  Hasty  oii 843 

Roses 843 

Section-press,  Bal)Cock'3.  ...851 

SluiiiKuin 851 

Smoker.  Tlie  Crane 837 

Wheel  ol  IS'.i.' 846 


HoNEr  Column. 


CITY  MARKETS. 

Buffalo.— i7o»ie}y.— The  hotiey  market  is  virtually 
uiiL'haug'ed;  reasonably  active  at  15@16  for  fancy 
1-lb.  comb.  Ill  a  few  instances  a  little  more  is  ob- 
tainable. No.  3,  12@U;  li  and  'Z  lb.,  13®  14.  Dark 
buckwlieat.  etc.,  from  12c  downward,  as  to  actual 
condition.  We  are  still  in  need  of  a  g'ood  many 
tons  for  our  winter  trade,  and  feel  entirely  safe  in 
assurin.sr  eonsig-nors  that  it  is  impo.ssible  todo  more 
with  it  than  can  be  done  in  this  market.  We  will 
advance  all  that  it  is  wmth,  or  those  who  do  iiol 
wish  to  consign  will  do  us  a  favor  to  write  us. 

BATTEHSdN  cXc  Co., 

Nov.  9.  167, 16it  Scott  St.,  Bulfalo,  N.  Y. 


CHic.A.oo.~HoH€y.— Fancy  wliite  comb   honey   is 
scarce,  brings  18c  and  dtniiand  good— dark  grades  of 
comb  are  very  slow  of  sale.    E.xtracted  steady  at 
.6@9c,  according  to  quality,  color,  and  tiavor. 
R.  A.  Burnett, 

Nov.  9.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111 


Boston. — Honey.— Wc  quote  our  hone.v  market  a 
little  slow,  a  car  of  California  comb  lioiie.v  having 
arrived  and  selling  at  Itw'  17c.  and  the  Vcnnoiit  sell- 
ing slowly  from  17@18.  E.xtracted.  ^(g,!}.  /i<t.sica.c,  27. 
Blake  &  Ripley, 

Nov.  10.  Boston,  Mass. 

Ci-EVEL.\XD.  —  Hooey.  -  Oiie-ixiund  sections,  Al 
white  honey,  17@18c;  second  grade,  111// Hi;  dark,  i:j 
.@14.  Bicsi/'iLJ-,  18@23,  according  t(j  quality.  Beeswax 
is  rather  dull  sale  at  present. 

Reynolds  &  Williams, 

Nov.  9.  80  &  83  Broadway,  Cleveland,  O. 


Detroit. — Honey. — Comb  honey  in  fair  demand 
at  i:3(&il4c,  and  for  best  wliite  15  could  lie  had.  Ex- 
tracted, white,  8@8J4.    Bnswax,  3.5. 

Nov.  10.  M.  H.  Hunt,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


Cincinnati. — Honey.— There  Is  a  good  demand  for 
honey,  with  a  scant  supply  of  all  kinds.  Extractc^d 
brings  C'^Sc  on  arrival;  comb  honey  sells  at  14@16c 
in  tile  jobbing  way.  Altliougli  honey  is  scarce, 
there  is  no  demand  for  dark  comb,  liecswax  in  in 
good  demand  at  33@35i-  on  arrival  for  good  to  choice 
yellow.    Supply  Is  good.      ('has.  F.  Muth  &  Son, 

Nov.  9.  Cincinnati,  O. 

Kansas  City.— Honew— We  quote:  Comb,  ,Vo.  1 
white,  Mb.  comb.  17@1>';  same.  No.  2. 1.5©;,16;  No.  1 
amber,  1-lb.,  16^17;  .same.  No.  2,  100,12.  E.xtracted, 
wliite,  7@7X ;  amber,  .^cMj.  The  receii>ts  of  comb 
honey  are  light,  demand  good.    BKCswn.r,  3(i@3r). 

Nov.  10.  •  Cle.mon.s-Mason  Co.m.  Co.. 

Kansas  Cit.y,  Mo. 


St.  Louis.— Honey.— There  is  no  material  change 
in  tlie  market  except  strained,  which  shows  an  ac- 
tive dem;iiid.  We  quote:  dark  comb,  8@l(l:  medi- 
um, liKf/ 1l':  white,  Ifif^IT.  Extracted  dark,  in  bar- 
rels, .i^f^S'/^;  medium  light.  r,%Cd,6;  light,  6)^. 
/iw.sicax.  |irime,  24.  D.  G.  Tutt  Grocer  Co.. 

Nov.  10.  St.  Louis.  Mo. 

Kansas  City.— Hon^i/.— There  is  a  good  demand 
for  honey,  but  a  very  liglit  supply.  Price  of  1  lb. 
comb,  white,  17c.  Extractcnl,  6(y,7'.  Hccsutix,  3:J@25. 
Hamblin  &  Bbarss, 

Nov.  10.  .514  Walnut  St..  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


New  Vouk.  Hinicv.-'Vhv  market  is  good. 
Buckwheat  lionc>  in  1-lb.  .scci  ions  liriiig  \0^(fiA\ifi; 
Inickwhcat  lioney  in  3-11).  set'tions,  no  demand. 
Clover  honey  in  1  lb.  sections,  glassed,  and  paste- 
boiird  boxes,  in  good  demand  for  fancy  at  17c.  clo- 
ver, in  2-lb.  sections,  I4@iri.  Extract efl",  clover, Sfgao. 
Chas.  Israel  &  Bros., 

Nov.  12.  no  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


For  Sale.— 5000  lbs.  choice  white-clover  and  bass- 
wood  honey;  all  in  1-lb.  sections,  packed  in  13-lb 
single-tier  crates,  delivered  at  R.  R.,  I6c  per  lb. 
21d  Fred  H.  Fargo,  Batavia,  N.  Y. 

For  Sale.— 10  barrels  choice  white-clover  honey 
Will  put  it  up  in  almost  any  style  of  package  de- 
sired.    Pric(M)n  application.  20tfdb 
Emil  .1.  Baxter,  Na,uv()o,  Hancock  Co.,  El. 


WANTED.— Farmers  in  the  cotton  States  to  know- 
that  lintless  cotton  is  now  the  biggest  discovery 
in  America.  Lint  less  cotton  yields  notliiiig  but  lint- 
less  cotton  seed,  and  is  a  very  valuable  plant  in  this 
age  of  cotton-seed-oil  mills.  Price  from  Nov.  1,  $1.00 
per  pkg..  one  quart  in  each  pkg. 

R.  H.  Campbell,  Madison,  Morgan  Co.,  Ga. 

Eastern  Siipply  House. 

We  furnish  everything  used  in  the  apiary,  and 
at  bottom  prices.    Illustrated  circular  free. 

I.  J.  STRINGHAM,  92  Barclay  St.,  N.  Y. 

21-20(lb  Please  mention  this  paper. 


pOR 


RALF      ^*  ^"-   '^  Corley  Saw   ItlUl; 

uni_L..  3  head-blocks  with  patent  board 
dogs;  .53-inch  Disstoii  ciicularsaw;  64feet track. 
Capacity  of  mill  8000  to  13,(i(ii)  feet  in  ten  hours.  Mill 
is  nearly  new.  Warranted  to  be  in  first-class  run- 
ning order.  m.  H.  FAIRBANKS, 

HOMER,  CORTLAND  CO.,  N.  Y. 


WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS' 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

.^ROOT'S  UOdDS  ean  l,e  had  at  Des 
-J^  Moines.  Iowa,  at  ROUT'S  PRICES.  The 
y  largest  supply  bu.siness  in  the  West. 
Kstablishea  188.5.  Dovetailed  Hives  Sec- 
tions, Foundation.  Extractor.s,  Sinokers, 
Veils,  Crates,  Feeders.  Clover  Seeds,  etc. 
Imported  Italian  Queens  Queens  and 
^"^.K-^  Siunple  eopy  of  our  Bee  Journal, 
•THE  WESTERN  BEE-KEEPEH,"  anj 
latest  CATAHlCiUE  mailed  FREE  to 
Bee-keepers. 

JOSEPH  NYSEWANDER, 
Pes  Moines,  Iowa. 

OAVE  MONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
*^  ta,  Georgia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.  Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 

UT ANTED.— You  to  know  Lintless  Cotton  yields 
TT  from300t()40innishelsof  sei!d  to  the  acre,  on  n'cTi 
land.  It  is  .iiist  what  is  claimed  for  it.  How  can  it  be 
a  humbug?  $l.i"l  per  pkg.;  eai-li  i)kg.  contains  1  qt. 
R.  H.  Cami'BELl,  Madison,  Morgan  Co.,  Ga. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 

WANTED. -To  exchange  Scotch  Collie  pups  for 
any  thing  useful  on  farm  or  in  bee-yard. 
IStfdb  N.  A.  Knapp.  Rochester,  Lorain  Co..  O. 

WANTED.— To  exchange  a  heavy  power  saw-man- 
drel for  small  foundation  mill.     Also  saw-table 
for  liglit  power,  for  Bsirnessaw.      W.  C.  Slmons, 
21d Arlington.  Wayne  Co.,  Pa. 

WANTED.-To  exchange  English  Beagle  hound 
pups,  best  dogs  on  eartli  for  hares  or  rabbits, 
for  Winchester  shot-gun  or  double  gun  of  modern 
style,  or  otters.     D.  S.  Hall,  So.  Cabot,  Vt.     Sltfdb 

WANTED.— A  young  man   to   look  after  a  small 
apiary  and  make  himself  generally  useful  In  a 
store  and  oraiige-grove. 

H.  Price  Willia.ms,  Richmond,  Fla. 


WANTED.— Second-hand   printing-press,   7Mxl3!i, 
or  near  this  size.    Give  description,  price,  etc. 
J.  F.  Michael,  German,  Darke  Co.,  Ohio. 


828 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


EHGIHES. 

Yes,  we  build  a  few.  We  have,  ia  connection  with  our 
large  bee-plant,  a  first-class,  well-equipped  machine-shop, 
in  which  we  build  all  kinds  of  bee-hive  macliinery,  saw-man- 
drels, saw-tables,  dovetailing-machines,  foundation-mills, 
extractor-gearings,  etc.,  and,  when  our  men  have  nothing 
else  to  do,  engines.  These  are  upright  in  style,  and  econo- 
mize floor  space.  They  are  built  under  the  special  supervi- 
sion of  an  expert  machinist  of  many  years'  experience.  The 
rods  are  all  of  finished  steel.  The  cross  heads  and  slides  are 
of  the  substantial  locomotive  style.  The  cylinders  are 
lagged  with  Russia  iron,  and  are  brass-bound.  The  boxes 
are  babbitted,  and  can  be  easily  taken  up  for  wear.  The 
piston  -  head  is  provided  with  two  expansion  -  rings.  The 
bright  parts  shine  like  a  dollar.  The  governor  is  a  Waters, 
substantial  and  reliable.  We  have  three  of  these  engines 
running  in  our  works.  One  has  been  running  two  years, 
with  excellent  results.  Making  them,  as  we  do,  during  our 
dull  season,  thej'  are  immeasurably  superior  to  the  oi'dinary 
engines  of  their  kind,  and  the  price  is  low,  considering  the 
very  fine  quality  of  the  work.  Price  of  the  2X-horse-power 
engine,  governor  and  govener-belt,  all  ready  to  attach  to  a 
boiler,  $75;  5  h.  p.,  $100;  IK  h.  p.,  $12.5;  10  h.  p.,  $150.  These 
prices  are  net,  although  we  will  make  the  usual  discount  for 
cash.  If  you  want  a  thoroughly  well-made  engine,  you  can 
'lot  do  better  than  to  select  one  of  these,  providing  the 
range  of  power  is  within  what  you  need.  While  we  com- 
pete in  quality  of  workmanship  we  can  not  compete  in  price 
with  some  of  the  cheap  engines  oh  the  market. 

fl.  I.  t^OOT,  MEDlflfl,  OHIO. 


B7  W.  I.  OHAUBEELAIN,  A.  U.,  LL.  D., 

Formerly  Secretary  of  the  Ohio  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
and  late  President  of  the  luwa  State  Agiicultural  Col- 
lege.   At  present  Associate  Editor  of  the 
Ohio  Farmer. 

This  is  a  valuable  companion  to  our  other  rural 
books.    It  embraces  the  experience  of  forty  years 
of  one  of  our  foremost  practical  agriculturists,  who 
has  laid  with  his  own  hands  over  15  miles  of  tile. 
(  Price35c;  by  mail,  40c. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  MEDINA,  Ohio. 

Stanley  Automatic  Reversing 

HONEY  -  EXTRACTOR. 

AsaiiiiDunced  in  a  late 
number  of  Gleanings, 
we  have  leased  from  G. 
W.  Stanley  the  right  to 
make  his  automatic  ex- 
tractor, and  we  bought 
from  E.  R.  Newconib  liis 
stock  of  materials  and 
niai-liines  unsold.  This 
stock  consists  of  about 
twentj- -  five  machines, 
two  and  four  frame.  To 
work  it  off  quick,  and 
•rive  us  a  chance  to  put 
lit  machines  of  our  own 
iiake,  we  offer  tliese 
^^    ^  ^  machines  as  long  as  they 

~~" — i^^  last,  at  one-fourth  off  old 

prices.  We  will  sell  the 
two-frame  ntachines  as 
they  are  for  i«.00;  the  4-frame  for  $12.00.  They  are 
crated  ready  for  shipment,  with  crank  direct  on  the 
center-shaft.  We  will  attach  our  new  horizontal 
gear,  as  shown  on  page  14  of  our  catalogue,  for  $3.00 
each  extra. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio. 


LITHOGRAPH  LABELS 

Zxa.  12  Colors,  a.-b  $1.50  per  lOOO. 

The  13  colors  are  all  on  each  label.  They  are  ob- 
long in  shape,  measuring  21^x2?^.  They  are  about 
the  nicest  labels  we  ever  saw  for  glass  tumblers, 
pails,  and  small  packages  of  honey.  We  will  mail 
a  sample,  inclosed  in  our  label  catalogue,  free  on 
application,  and  will  furnish  them  postpaid  at  the 
following  prices:  5  cts.  for  10;  25cts.  for  100;  $1.00 
for  500;   fi.75  for  1000.  A.  1.  Root  Medina.O., 

A  Four-Color   Label  for  Only  75 
Cts.  Per  Thousand. 

Just  think  of  it!  we  can  furnish  you  a  very  neat 
four-color  label,  with  your  name  and  address,  with 
the  choice  of  having  either  "  comb  "  or  "  extracted  " 
before  the  word  "  honey,"  for  only  75  cts.  per  thou- 
sand; 50  cts.  per  .500,  or  30  cts.  for  250,  postpaid.  The 
size  of  the  label  is  2>^xl  inch— just  right  to  go  round 
the  neck  of  a  bottle,  to  put  on  a  section,  or  to  adorn 
the  front  of  a  honey-tumbler.  Send  for  our  special 
label  catalogue  lor  samples  of  this  and  many  other 
pretty  designs  in  label  work. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  ITIedina,  O. 

Cash  for  Beeswax! 

Will  pay  2;ic  per  lb.  cash,  or  26c  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  29c  per  lb.,  or  33c  for  best 
selected  u-ax. 

Unless  you  put  your  name  on  the  box,  and  notify 
us  by  mail  of  amount  sent,  I  can  not  hold  myself 
responsible  for  mistakes.  It  will  not  pay  as  a  gen- 
eral thing  to  send  wax  by  exvress. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  Ohio 


1 803 


820 


(U.KANINC.S  IN   KKIO  CULT U RIO. 

STEEL  WIRE  NETTING  and  FENCING. 


GALVANIZED  AFTER  BEING  WOVEN. 


4&-^n 


-'-''^•:v;''^-5S^  ■■'■■:■  \r-' — >==---  * 


The  rut  above  illustrates  some  of  the  many  uses 
to  which  tliis  wire  netting  and  fencing-  may  be  put 
about  tlie  home.  You  will  notice  back  of  the  house 
a  poultry -yard.  Probably  I  lie  greater  part  of  tlie 
netting' heretofore  sold  liiis  been  used  for  fencing- 
poultry,  and  nothing  can  be  devised  that  is  cheap- 
er, better,  or  more  durable. 

it  is  the  ciieapest,  costiiiji-  less  than  7.5  cts.  per  rod 
for  posts,  staples,  and  all.  It  will  last  a  lifetime, 
and  never  needs  repairing!'.  Iieciuse  it  can't  get  out 
of  order.  Beitig  galvanized  after  it  is  woven.  It  will 
never  rust.  It  is  easily  pul  up  and  taken  down.  It 
can  not  be  blown  down,  as  the  wind  goes  right 
through  it.  On  this  account  you  don't  need  very 
lieavy  jiosts  where  the  fence  is  used  for  poultry  on- 
ly. It  does  not  keep  out  the  light  and  fresh  air,  so 
needlul  to  poultry.  It  is  neat  and  ornamental,  and 
always  Un^ks  well  if  properly  put  up.  It  is  so  invis- 
ible that  fowls  can  not  see  1  he  top,  and  will  not  tij' 
over.  You  can  see  inside  ;is  well  as  if  there  were  no 
fence  at  all. 

But  the  uses  of  wire  netting  are  becoming  more 
and  more  diverse.  If  you  wish  to  let  poultry  run, 
and  have  flower-beds,  or  choice  crops  that  you  wish 
to  keep  from  them,  all  you  need  is  some  of  the  light- 
est netting,  not  over  one  to  two  feet  wide,  stretched 
around  as  shown  in  cut  abn\  e.  This  can  be  attached 
temporarily  to  light  stakes,  and  (juickly  removed 
when  desired.  For  holdinfr  u))  green  i)e:is"and  beans, 
tomatoes,  and  other  such  crops,  nothing  could  be 
cheaper  or  more  convenient  than  the  light  narrow 
netting,  12  or  IH  inches  wide.  You  notice,  by  table 
of  prices  below,  that  the  liuht  weight,  No.  20,  3-inch 
mesh,  is  only  *>iic  a  roll.  1.5'i  ft.  long,  12  in.  wide.  This 
is  indestructible,  and,  if  proiterly  handled,  can  be 
used  year  after  year,  over  and  over  again.  You 
could  not  furnish  any  thing  else  half  as  good  for 
the  money;  and  the  time  of  putting  this  up  and  tak- 
ing care  of  It  again  after  the  crop  is  gathered  is  In- 
signiticant  compared  with  sticks  or  brush,  or  any 
thing  else  that  can  be  used. 

For  stock  fences  the  heavier  weights  are  used,  or 
the  cottage  fencing,  which  is  extra  heavy  and  well 
made.  There  are  a  great  many  makes  of  netting 
and  fencing,  and  it  is  needless  to  say  that  some  are 
inferior  to  others.  We  still  liandle  the  G.  &  B. 
brand,  the  same  as».we  have  jilways  .sold  since  we  be- 
gan selling  this  c-lass  of  goods,  because  we  believe 
it  t(j  be  the  best  value  for  the  money  of  any  on  the 
market.  The  goods  for  this  year  are  better  than 
ever;  being  made  of  stiff  steel  wire  it  will  not  kink 
and  get  out  of  shape  so  easily.  Our  contract  for 
the  coming  year  enables  iis  to  make  very  low  prices. 
The  3^inch  mesh  we  are  able  to  offer  at  about  34  less 
than  la.st  year,  and  other  sizes  over  10  per  cent 
lower,  or  as  low  as  we  have  ever  been  able  to  sell  it 
before. 


COTTAGE  GATES. 

There  are  many  sizes  of  these  gate.s,  made  with 
plain  and  ornMuiental  top,  all  of  which,  with  many 
other  interesting  things,  are  listed  in  our  2S-page 
netting  and  fencing  c-atalogue,  mailed  on  applica- 
tion. Gates  like  above,  3  feet  wide,  are  worth  $3.V0 
each,  3  feet  hifih :  ^•Z.sr,  for  34  feet  high,  and  $3.00  for 
4  feet,  including  latch  and  hinges;  with  plain  top, 
30c  each  less.  We  do  not  keep  these  in  stock,  but 
ship  from  New  York  or  Chicago.  This  is  also  true  of 
most  of  the  netting  and  fencing  listed  below.  We 
have  in  stock  at  Medina  all  widths  of  2-inch  No.  19, 
and  also  3-inch  No.  2U,  12  Inches  wide,  for  pea  and 
bean  ti'ellis. 

We  are  prepared  to  make  special  low  prices  to 
dealers,  and  those  who  buy  in  large  quantities.  On 
goods  shipped  from  New  York  or  Chicago  we  must 
add  25  cts.  for  c;irtage  on  each  shipment,  large  or 
small.  When  j-ou  pick  out  from  the  table  what  you 
want,  and  deduct  the  discount  for  quantity,  if  ,5 
rolls  or  more  are  ordered,  then  add  25  cents  for  cart- 
age. The  following  table  gives  our  net  price  per 
roll  of  all  sizes,  in  lots  of  from  1  to  5  rolls.  On  orders 
for  5  rolls,  deduct  5  per  cent;  10  rolls,  10  per  cent;  2.5 
rolls  or  moie,  15  per  cent.  Less  than  full  rolls  or 
parts  of  roll  cost  double  the  full  roll  price. 
^Size^  1  Price  1  roll  150ft.  long  and  fol'wing- widths. 


.c 

.  p 

s 

z^ 

12 

18 

24 

30 

36 

g 

in. 

in. 

In. 

in. 

in. 

3  in 

20 

$  6.) 

90 

1  20 

1  .50 

1  80 

3  " 

19 

70 

1  05 

1  40 

1  75 

2  10 

3  " 

1« 

9J 

1  35  1  80 

2  25 

2  70 

3  " 

17 

1  20 

1  »)  2  40 

3  00 

3  60 

3  " 

16 

1  50 

2  25  3  no 

3  75 

4  .51) 

3  " 

15 

1  90 

2  85  3  80 

4  75 

5  70 

3  " 

14 

2  .50 

3  75  5  00 

6  25 

7.50 

2  " 

20 

90 

1  35  1  80 

3  25 

2  70 

2  " 

19 

1  00 

1  50  2  00 

2  .50 

3  00 

2  " 

18 

1  ;^i 

I  95  2  60 

3  25 

3  90 

2  " 

17 

1  70 

2  .55  3  40 

4  25 

5  10 

2  " 

16 

2  10 

3  15  4  20 

5  25 

6  30 

2  " 

15 

2  90 

4  .35  5  80 

7  35 

8  70 

I'/e 

20 

1  20 

1  8.) 

3  40 

3  00 

3  6ii 

IH 

19 

1  40 

2  10 

2  80 

3  .50 

4  2H 

IH 

18 

1  80 

2  70 

3  60 

4  50 

5  40 

IH 

19 

2  20 

3  30 

4  40 

5  .50 

6  6J' 

1  " 

20 

2  40 

3  60 

4  811 

6  00 

7  20i 

1  " 

19 

3  SO 

4  20 

5  60 

7  (Ml 

H  40 

1  " 

1« 

3  30 

4  95 

6  61 

H  25 

9  90 

^ 

20 

3  60 

5  40 

7  211 

9  00 

10  Kdj 

r4 

19 

4  30 

6  45  H  60 

10  75 

12  9(ll 

Cott 

iige-lawn.and  ga 

•deu  IViicii 

2" 

U    4  0.J6  00  8  1)11 

lu  nil  ];.'  0(1 

X 

or  1 

inci 

sta 

jles 

for  a 

L)0\-e, 

42    1    48 


in. 


in. 


60 
In. 


10    3  40 
45   2  80 
15    3  60 
20    4  80 
25    6  00 
65    7  60 
75  10  00 1 12 
15    3  60:  4 
.50'  4  00:  5 
55    5  20j  6 
95    6  80    8 
a5    8  40  10 
15  11  6  I  14 
20    4  80    6 
9U    5  60i  7 
30    7  20    9 
70    8  80  11 
40    9  6il  12 
8^1  11  20  1+ 
55  13  2(1  10 
60  14  40  IS 
(15  17  20  21 
lier  roll  of 
(Ml  itj  00  20 

■  per  lb. 


72 
in. 


3  60 

4  20 

5  40 

7  20 
.50  9  00 
.50  11  40 
50  15  00 
.50  5  40 
00  6  (K) 
.50  7  .SO 
.50  10  20 
.50  12  60 
.50  17  40 
00;  7  20 
00:  S  40 
0(J-10  80 
00  13  20 
(lO  14  40 
(Id  16  HO 

50  19  SO 
00  21  60 

51  25  SO 
10  rods. 
00  24  00 


A.  I.  ROOT, 


MEDINA,  OHIO. 


830 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


^^  •i  <         1—^       •         1      1^  •  was  evidently  not  tlie  intention 

To  Damn  with  raint  Praise  ofheKevwmF  cake  when 

*   ^^  be  wrote  the   following-,  which 

is  clipped  from  an  essay  on  "Apicultural  Literature;  Its  Influence  and  Effects,"  written  by  Mr.  Clarke, 
and  read  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Missouri  State  Bee-keepers'  Association: 

"The  Bee-kfepefs'  Rkview  comes  nearer  to  my  ideal  of  what  a  bee-journal  should  be  than  any  other 
as  yet  extant  on  this  continent.  It  is  not  without  its  faults,  but  they  are  mainly  tliose  which  time  and 
experience  will  correct.  Mr.  Hutchinson  does  not  gret  offended  when  they  are  pointed  out,  but  courts 
criticism  and  hails  correction,  deeming-  it  a  friendly  act  to  point  out  an  error  in  opinion,  expression,  or 
grammar  He  is  both  courageous  and  courteous.  He  is  willing  to  give  all  a  fair  hearing.  An  accom- 
plished bee-keeper:  a  natural  born  editor,  who  takes  to  literary  work  as  a  duck  takes  to  water;  a  man 
with  the  enthusiasm  of  both  his  callings— bee-kceidng  and  literature— I  see  in  Mr.  H.  the  rising  star  of 
bee-iournalism.  I  am  glad  he  is  already  so  highly  appiei-iatcd,  and  hope,  as  I  believe,  that  his  shadow 
■will  never  grow  less.  In  the  Bee-keepers'  Review  we  have  the  ablest,  broadest,  most  intelligent,  manli- 
est and  freest  exponent  of  apicultural  ideas  that  has  yet  appeared  in  the  western  world.  These  expres- 
sions of  opinion  are  spontaneous,  unbought,  disinterested,  and  made  from  no  other  motive  than  the  pro- 
motion of  the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number  of  bee-keepers." 

Reader,  if  the  foregoing  is  true,  you  ought  to  be  a  subscriber  to  the  Review.  If  you  think  the  praise 
extravagant,  then  send  ten  cents  for  three  late  taut  different  issues  of  the  Review,  and  judge  for  your- 
self. The  Review  is  $1.00  a  year;  remainder  of  the  year  free  to  new  subscribers  for  1893.  Review  and 
"Advanced  Bee  Culture  "  for  ^1.25.    Stamps  taken,  either  U.  S.  or  Canadian. 

W.  Z.  HUTCHINSON,  Flint,  Mich. 


Best  on  Earth. 


More  than  one  hundred 
thousand  Bingham  & 
Hetherington  Honey - 
knives  and  Bee-smok- 
ers in  daily  use.  Il- 
lustrations sent  free. 


Bingham  &  Hetherington, 

Abronia,  Mich.  7tfdb 


OATMAN'S 

SOLDERINa  AND  EEPAIE  KIT 

Consists  of  fire-pot.  solder- 
ing-irons, solder,  and  solder- 
ing-fluid,  with  tools  eompl'tt 
as  shown  in  cut,  with  direc- 
tions for  soldering  different 
metals,  and  how  to  keep  youi 
soldering-irons  in  shape 
-Whole  kit,  boxed,  12  lbs 
Shipped  on  receipt  of  %9. 00 
Agents  wanted. 

Q.  &  L.  OATMAN, 
8-7db       Medina,  Ohio. 


AUSTRALIA. 

Wanted— every  bee-keeper  in  Australia  to  send 
for  my  large  illustrated  catalogue  of  bee-keepers' 
supplies,  American  queens,  etc.,  etc.    Post  free. 
18-23db       H.  \a.  JONES,  Goodiia,  Queensland. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


Q(\(\  FERKETS.  a  fine  lot  of 
0\J\J  Scotch  Oollle  Pnps  and 

a  trained  bird-dog  for  sale.    Price 
list  free.         N.  A.  KNAPP, 
_  _  Rochester,  Lorain  Co., 

'"'^=^^^^^^       IStfdb  Ohio. 

^^In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Glkantngs. 


Murray  &Heiss.^^'o^^h\|'^° 


VIOL   NS 


GUITARS 

MANDOLINS 


Please  mention  this  paper. 


RETAIL 

— AND— 

WHOLESALE. 


T(^V  SUPPLIES 

1  VI    1  1    1    Everything  used  in  the  Apiary. 

JL^  mmAmJ^  Greatest  variety  and  larses»t  stock 
in  the  West.  New  catalog.  54  illustrated  pages, 
free  to  bee-keepers.       B.  KEETOHMEE.  EED  OAK,  IOWA. 

Please  mention  this  paper.  2tfdb 

PA  I  I    Eggs  and  Plants.  Fowls,  Poultry-books  and 
rnl-U    Papers;  flnelv  ill.  circular  free.    Address 
"  GEER  BROS.,  St.  Marys,  Mo., 

lltfdb  Or,        H.  B.  GEER,  Nashville,  Tenn, 


g;^  ^     <fe.     <fe.      Jv^     4r^     ^     <$^     -A^      jfe-     -^      <v>     4r'     -Cfe-     -^^     -^^     4rr-     -<fe-     -^^     ^^  _^^^^^^-^_4^__^f>__;^;:__^;^_^/^;__^^:__^^;^h. 


Porter  Spring  Bee-Escape,     a  Great  Success. 

We  guarantee  it  to  be  far  superior  to  all  others.  If,  on  trial  of  from  one  to  a  dozen,  you  do 
not  find  them  so,  or  if  they  do  not  prove  satisfactory  in  every  way,  return  them  by  mail  with- 
in 911  days  after  receipt,  and  we  will  refund  your  money.  PRICES:  Each,  by  mail,  postpaid, 
with  full  directions,  2nc;  per  dozen,  $2.25.  Send  for  circular  and  testimonials.  Supply- 
dealers,  send  for  wholesale  prices.    lOtfdb  R.  &.  E.  C.  PORTER,  Lewistown,  III. 


t?  -*S-     -«•     ^*i- 


Ji>     -i«-     •:«-     -!«•     •»;•     -«•     -*!■     •'JXr 


Menriun  Gleanings 


"J^r     -^     r»-     •»•     rK^     -«-     r«-     ri«-     -i*-     rSji-  ' 


The  Oldest,  Larg-est,  Best  and  Only  Weekly 
Bee-Faper  in  America.    Sample  Copy  Free. 
— :  o2  pages — $1.00  a  Year  : 


Address  GEORGE  W.  YORK  &   CO., 

^     199  Randolph  St.,  CHICAGO.  ILLS 


TO  NEW  SUBSCRIBERS— 3  MONTHS  FOR  20  Cents,  or  from  now  TO  JAN.  1, 1894,  $1.00. 


•  DE.VOTED 

•1o-BE.EL^r^    ... 
•ANDHoNEV-7't 
•MDHOMEL-    <^' 
•1NTE.PIEST4) 


uBiiiHEDbY  (£;^1  •  rtp  0  r 
ioorerYeaf^^  \©)    Medina  Ohio 


Vol.  XX. 


NOV.  15,  1892. 


No.  22. 


Stray  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 

TnK  BEES  now  spend  much  time  in  medita- 
tion. 

To  PAiN'T  HIVES,  a  writer  in  UApiculteiir 
uses  propolis  dissolved  in  alcohol. 

The  British  bke-keepers  seem  quite^  en- 
thusiastic about  making  a  good  show  at  the 
World's  Fair. 

If  you  haui.  bees,  do  it  as  soon  as  possible, 
so  they  can  be  sure  of  a  fly  before  going  into 
winter  quarters. 

It  looks  straxgk  to  see  in  the  French  bee- 
journals  the  Clark  and  Hill  smokers  quoted  at 
the  same  price,  and  the  Bingham  less  than  the 
other  two. 

If  the  horse  in  40  years  has  increased  from 
2:40  to  2:04.  Secor.  in  .-1.  B.  J.,  thinks  careful 
breeding  might  make  the  bee  beat  its  present 
record.    And  why  not? 

The  aktificiax-  r  omb  of  Pastor  Wamstoif, 
with  full -depth  cells,  it  seems,  is  made  with 
cells  on  only  one  side.  In  Germany  it  is  sold 
for  about  45c  per  pound. 

Do  Tou  take  Gleanings  and  never  yet  had 
ABC?  Better  stop  a  year  when  your  time  is 
out  with  Gleanings,  and  get  the  A  B  C— that 
is,  if  you  can't  afford  both. 

Finished  hauling  bees  home  Oct.  2.5.  Never 
had  them  more  heavily  stocked  for  winter;  so 
if  I  didn't  get  any  crop  to  sell,  at  least  I  don't 
have  to  feed.  Always  something  to  be  thank- 
ful for. 

President  Secoh  iA.  B.  J.)  would  like  to  see 
Apis  dorsata  introduced,  but  adds,  •'  I  have  no 
hope  that  they  will  prove  an  acquisition."  But 
he  thinks  a  hundred  years  of  cultivation  might 
mollify  their  tempers. 

Mr.  Editor,  do  stop  letting  Rambler  tell 
about  those  "bands  and  bands  of  quail  that 
needed  to  be  put  on  toast."  It  makes  my  mouth 
water.  But  then,  what  does  the  old  bach 
know  about  making  toast? 

Chas.  Dadant  Thinks  nine-tenths  of  the 
bee-keepers  in  France  are  yixi-s^es,  or  box-hive 
men.  and  nine-tentlis  in  this  country  mohilLstes, 
or  movable-comb  men.  I'm  afraid  he's  too 
complimentary  to  tliis  country. 

"Can  the  findei:  of  a  bee-tree  on  my  land 
claim  the  bees  and  honey  ?"  is  in  substance  a 
query  in  A.  B.  J.  The  answers  are  varied 
enough  to  make  oti*-  who  reads  all  of  them  con- 
clude that,  if  the  tinder  of  the  land  removes  the 
tree  without  injuring  the  honey,  he  is  liable  to 
trespass  on  the  bees. 


Box  HIVES  have  more  consideration  across 
the  water  than  here.  The  Centralblntt,  an  ex- 
cellent German  bee-journal,  devotes  a  page  of 
each  nunibei'  to  hefjiniiers  with  box  hives. 

That  bevf.l  edge  on  the  under  side  of  the 
Hoffman  top-bar  is  a  good  thing  to  give  extra 
stiffness,  only  I  believe  my  bees  do  just  a  little 
better  when  no  bevel  is  cut  away  at  all,  but  the 
whole  top-bar  left>^  thick. 

"Bices  IN  their  natitral  homes  have  the 
benefit  of  this  capillary  force,"  says  friend 
Scudder,  p.  S03,  speaking  of  pores  in  the  wood. 
That  points  toward  the  value  of  porous  sur- 
roundings; but  its  force  Is  somewhat  impaired 
by  the  fact  that  the  bees  seem  to  do  all  they 
can  to  stop  up  the  pores  with  propolis. 

A.  Teynac  reports  an  experiment  in  which 
five  colonies  with  queens  raised  under  violet 
light  stored  5  per  cent  more  honey  than  five 
colonies  equal  in  all  other  respects,  except  that 
their  queens  had  been  raised  under  ordinary 
light.  It  reminds  one  of  the  blue-glass  craze 
that  swept  over  this  country  a  few  years  ago. 

M\  PATCH  of  Chapman  honey-plant,  after 
being  well  cultivated  till  it  had  a  good  start, 
was  left  untouched  till  this  year,  when  a  good 
crop  of  hay  was  taken  from  the  ground  with 
never  a  stalk  of  the  honey-plant.  It  will  not 
hold  the  groinid  any  more  than  Indian  corn. 
As  a  honey-plant  I  doubt  its  great  value,  even 
if  it  would  grow  without  cultivation. 

Make  sure  that  mice  do  not  make  havoc 
with  bees  wintered  in  cellar.  Close  up  all  en- 
. trances  with  heavy  wire  cloth,  three  meshes  to 
the  inch.  Don't  wait  till  they  are  cellared,  for, 
as  soon  as  the  bees  become  dormant  with  cold, 
the  mice  will  take  up  quarters  in  the  hives,  and 
it's  no  good  to  shut  them  up  after  they  are  in. 
Shut  them  out  while  the  bees  are  lively. 

An  ESTABLisirED  REPUTATION  is  woi'th  Some- 
thing among  bees  as  well  among  men.  When 
a  colony  is  set  in  a  new  place,  or  brought  from 
another  apiary,  you  need  to  give  it  more  pro- 
tection against  robbing  than  another  colony  of 
equal  strength  that  has  always  been  there. 
Bees  bent  on  mischief  will  give  it  a  thorough 
trial  till  they  find  what  stuff  it  is  made  of. 

Did  you  ever  notice  that,  if  you  put  brood- 
combs  in  an  upper  story,  not  allowing  the 
queen  to  go  up,  not  only  will  the  cells  become 
emptied  of  brood  but  of  pollen  as  well  ?  Before 
the  days  of  excluders,  I  kept  upper  stories  for 
extracting,  a  small  auger-hole  between;  and, 
no  matter  how  much  pollen  was  tbere,  it  grad- 
ually disappeared,  although  there  was  no  brood 
present. 

That  Hoffman-frame  trouble,  that  friend 
Peete  so  graphically  describes  on  page  798, 1  do 
not  believe  will  prohibit  their  use  in  his  local- 
ity.   In  the  spring,  when  the  propolis  is  hard 


832 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15 


enough  for  his  "  toy  pistol  "  act,  it  will  not  be 
such  a  tremendous  job  for  him  to  scrape  oflf  the 
surplus  propolis.  But  I'm  just  a  little  skeptical 
about  that  knife-blade  edge  being  best  in  that 
locality — or  anywhere  else. 
dChapman  honey-plant  has  quite  a  "  boom  " 
in  Deutsche  linker.  Five  liundred  bees  visit 
each  plant  daily  in  good  weather;  cultivated 
for  bees  alone  it  pays  a  high  rent:  it  is  an  or- 
namental plant;  after  blooming  it  makes  good 
fodder  for  ?5tock,  and  it  grows  and  flourishes 
without  care.  A  fine  showing;  but  among  all 
the  thousands  in  this  broad  land  who  tried  it, 
if  there  is  a  single  one  who  thinks  it  of  value 
enough  to  occupy  the  ground  will  he  please 
arise  and  be  counted  ? 


LANGSTROTH'S  EEMINISCENCES. 


THE    CIKCUMSTANCES    OF    HIS    CONVERSION    IN 
COLLEGE. 


During  my  college  course  my  studies  were 
considerably  interrupted,  and  once  entirely  sus- 
pended, by  severe  attacks  of  melancholia,  a  full 
account  of  which  I  have  already  given  to  the 
i-eaders  of  our  bee-journals. 

Until  my  senior  year  I  felt  no  interest  in  per- 
sonal religion,  and  yet  it  was  my  special  good 
fortune  to  secure  the  friendship  and  intimacy 
of  the  most  religious  men  in  my  class,  some  of 
whom  assured  me  that  my  course  in  the  rebel- 
lion had  won  their  admiration  and  respect.  As- 
sociated intimately  with  us  were  quite  a  num- 
ber who  did  not  call  themselves  Christians.  I 
believe  that  I  can  truly  say  that  we  aimed  to 
cherish  a  higii  sense  of  honor  and  purity,  and 
that  our  mothers  and  sisters  might  have  heard 
without  a  blush  our  most  private  conversations. 
Since  I  have  mingled  freely  with  men,  I  am 
quite  persuaded  that  what  I  have  said  of  the 
tone  of  our  conversation  is  very  far  from  being 
a  common  experience;  and  I  grieve  to  say.  tliat, 
even  among  men  whom  the  world  calls  respect- 
able— nay,  even  among  those  who  call  them- 
selves religious — conversation  may  too  often  be 
heard  which  is  very  far  from  promoting  that 
purity  of  heart  enjoined  upon  us  by  the  Savior. 

In  our  senior  year,  an  Amherst  student  named 
Peter  Parker  joined  our  class.  Although  not 
distinguislied  for  scholarship,  he  was  remarka- 
ble in  awakening  a  deeper  religious  interest 
among  Christian  men.  and  in  acquiring  the  re- 
spect of  many  who  had  hitherto  been  indiffer- 
ent to  religious  considerations.  I  was  then  liv- 
ing without  prayer,  and  without  leading  my 
Bible.  I  was  taken  sick,  and  Mr.  Parker  visit- 
ed me.  His  prayers  and  conversation  moved  me 
much;  but  as  soon  as  I  recovered  I  tried  to 
avoid  him  as  much  as  possible.  Joining  me  one 
day  after  recitations  were  over,  he  proposed  a 
short  walk.  I  knew  very  well  what  his  object 
was  ;  but  I  consented,  fully  intending  to  get  rid 
of  liim  as  soon  as  possible.  VVe  walked  and  we 
talked,  until  moved,  as  I  now  beli(^ve,  by  the 
Holy  Spirit.  I  went  with  him  to  the  room  of 
Prof.  Goodricli  to  ask  him  what  I  must  do  to  be 
saved.  This  holy  man  had  been  for  some  time 
unusually  earnest  in  his  prayers  for  a  revival  of 
religion  in  Yale  College.  He  seemed  to  feel 
that  he  could  not  endure  the  thought  that  our 
class  should  leave  college  while  so  few  gave 
any  evidence  that  they  meant  to  consecrate 
themselves  10  Christ.  I  was  the  first  one  who 
had  sought  his  counsel.  How  he  talked  with 
me,  how  he  prayed  with  me,  how  lie  wept  for 
me  and  with  me,  only  those  who  knew  him  well 
can  fully  understand.  I  left  his  room,  feeling 
that  I  coul  '  never  rest  until  I  had  found  for- 
giveness and  peace  in  a  Savior's   love.    The 


blessed  work  spiead  from  one  to  another.  Noah 
Porter,  afterward  so  eminent  as  president  of 
Yale  College:  Lyman  Atwater,  in  time  to  be- 
come a  familiar  name  in  the  classic  halls  of 
Princeton,  and  many  others  prominent  for 
scholarsliip  in  our  class,  were  brought  out  of 
darkness  into  the  marvelous  light  of  the  gospel 
of  Christ.  Nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  hope- 
ful conversions  were  numbered  among  the  col- 
lege students,  and  multitudes  from  the  resi- 
dents of  New  Haven.  Our  class,  which  was  so 
soon  to  finish  its  course,  had  its  destinies  entire- 
ly changed  by  this  gracious  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit;  and  if  doubters  of  revivals  of  religion 
could  read  the  life-record  of  those  who  were 
then  converted,  few  of  them,  I  believe,  would 
be  doubters  any  longer. 

There  was  one  classmate  from  the  South,  a 
gentleman  by  birth  and  education,  of  the  name 
of  Seddon,  quite  noted  for  his  profanity  and 
boasted  infidelity.  When  reproved  by  his  asso- 
ciates he  would  readily  admit  that  it  was  an 
ungentlemanly  practice  to  swear,  and  then  with 
an  oath  say  that  he  could  not  help  it.  Coming 
one  day  to  my  room  he  spoke  to  me  substantial- 
ly'as  follows  : 

P"  Langstroth,  I  see  that  a  great  change  of 
some  kind  has  come  over  y.ou,  and  I  want  you 
to  tell  me  frankly  all  about  it."  After  listen- 
ing with  deep  attention  he  said, '"  You  know  that 
I  have  called  myself  an  infidel;  but  I  confess  to 
you  that  I  desire  to  believe  in  the  truth  of 
Christianity.  What  books  would  vou  advise  me 
to  read?  " 

While  recommending  "Paley's  Evidences  of 
Christianity,"  I  said  to  him.  "Seddon.  by  all 
means  read  the  Bible."  Soon  after,  lie  came  to 
one  of  our  prayer-meetings.  Only  a  few,  how- 
ever, knew  for  what  purpose  he  came.  Many 
thought  that  he  sought  to  learn  how  to  make 
the  scoffing  prayer-meeting'^  which  they  were 
holding  a  greatt-r  success.  With  most  he  gain- 
ed as  little  credence  as  at  first  Saul  of  Tarsus 
found  among  the  persecuted  Christians.  Not 
long  after,  he  invited  me  to  his  room  ;  and 
wlien  I  asked  him  if  he  had  read  Paley's  Evi- 
dences he  said  that  he  had  not.  for  he  never  was 
sincere  in  his  professions  of  infidelity.  He  then 
handed  me  a  Bible,  and  asked  me  to  read  what 
was  written  on  one  of  its  blank  leaves.  It  was 
the  words  of  a  loving  Christian  mother,  express- 
ing the  hope  that  her  dear  son  would  make  that 
book  the  guide  of  his  life.  "  INIy  mother,"  said 
he.  "  gave  me  that  book  when  I  left  home  for 
college,  and  I  promised  her  to  read  it  every  day. 
Until  quite  recently  it  has  lain  entirely  neg- 
lected at  the  bottom  of  my  trunk.  Langstroth, 
can  any  one  who  has  such  a  praying  mother  as 
I  have  — can  any  one  who  has  daily  seen  the 
godly  life  of  such  a  mother  as  mine — ever  come 
to  believe  that  there  is  no  truth  in  the  Christian 
religion  ?  " 

O  Christian  mothers  1  if  you  have  sons  who 
have  strayed  ever  so  far  from  the  paths  of 
righteousness,  get  new  strength  as  you  read 
this  story.  The  cords  of  a  praying  "mother's 
love  were  twined  around  the  heart  of  that  poor 
boy.  even  in  his  hours  of  deepest  degradation, 
and  at  last  he  was  saved.  He  did  not  live  to 
complete  his  college  course,  but  died  full  of 
faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  Before  his  last  sick- 
ness, conversing  with  liim  alone  in  his  room,  I 
asked  him,  "  Seddon,  have  you  never  been 
tempted  to  swear  since  you  became  a  Christian? 
Don't  you  remember  you  often  said  that  you 
could  not  help  swearing  ?"  With  a  smile  upon 
his  face  he  pointed  to  the  tongs  which  lay 
against  the  stove,  and  said,  "  Langstrotli.  not 
long  ago  I  had  a  very  large  fire  in  that  stove; 
and,  thoughtlessly  taking  hold  of  the  tongs, 
they  blistered  my  fingers;  and  as  I  flung  them 
from   me  one  of    the  old   horrid   imprecations 


iSivj 


GLEANINCJS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


833 


I'uiiH'  to  \\\o  very  tip  of  my  toiiunc;  but.  tliaiik 
(toii.  1  w  as  able  to  i-liol^c  it  down." 

1  joiiu'il  tlH>  l'olliuri>  ('oiiKn'jratioiial  Church 
in  the  spriuji  of  1S:?1.  and.  after  graduation,  en- 
tered tli(>  Thooloffii-al  Seminary  of  Yale  College. 
My  fatiier's  business  had  now  become  so  much 
embarrassed  that  li<'  could  fiive  me  no  further 
assistance.  1  knew  how  nuiiiy  applicants  the 
American  I']ducati(Mi  .S()ciety  had  from  candi- 
dates for  tlie  ministry  wlio  were  just  bcfiinninjj 
to  get  a  liberal  education,  and  1  felt  strongly 
persuaded  that  if.  with  a  college  course.  I  had 
not  sulMcient  energy  to  complet(>  my  th(>ologi- 
cal  studies  from  my  own  earnings,  j  gave  but 
poor  evidence  of  having  any  call  to  preach  the 
gospel.  I  th(M-eforc  took  classes  in  some  of  the 
schools  for  young  hulii's  in  New  Haven  while  I 
pursued  my  theological  studi(>s.  Aftt>rward  I 
taught  in  a  school  opposite  West  Point,  and.  in 
thi'  fall  of  is:u,  became  a  tutor  of  mathematics 
to  the  freshman  cla-s  in  Vale  College. 

While  in  the  tutorship  I  had  sotne  very  pleas- 
ant experiences.  ar.d  never  suffered,  like  many 
of  my  predecessors  and  successors,  by  being 
smoked  out  of  my  room  or  having  my  windows 
broken,  etc.  I  attribute  my  escape  "from  these 
and  other  annoyances  to  a  somewhat  natural 
courtesy  of  manner,  but  very  largely  to  the 
strong  personal  interest  which  I  took  in  my 
students.  If  I  found  any  of  them  getting  be- 
hindhand in  their  studies.  I  was  always  ready 
to  offer  them  private  instruction,  without  any 
charge.  All  such  kindness  was  fully  recipro- 
cated, as  the  following  incidents  will  show: 

In  winter,  prayers  and  recitations  were  before 
sunrise.  I  had  for  some  time  been  feeling  quite 
unwell,  and  one  morning  I  overslept  myself. 
Roused  by  a  knocking  at  my  door.  I  opened  my 
eyes  and  realized  at  once  that  1  was  late.  I 
dressed  as  fast  as  1  could,  and  on  opening  my 
door  I  found  a  deputation,  who  politely  inform- 
ed me  that  my  class  was  waiting  for  me,  as 
they  knew  that  my  state  of  health  had  proba- 
bly caused  me  to  sleep  over.  By  immemorial 
custom,  for  the  first  time,  I  believe,  broken 
over,  when  a  tutor  failed  to  be  on  hand  his 
class  waited  about  live  minutes,  when,  if  he  did 
not  appear,  they  rushed  out  of  the  room,  filling 
the  adjoining  halls  with  yells  of  exultation 
which  proclaimed  their  tutor's  delinquency  to 
all  in  reach  of  their  voices.  It  seems  that,  after 
waiting  for  me  the  usual  time,  just  as  they  were 
about  to  disperse,  a  student  whom  I  had  be- 
friended plead  with  them  to  hold  on  for  a  mo- 
ment, reminding  them  of  my  kindness  and 
courtesy,  and  proposed  that  a  deputation  be 
chosen  to  inform  me  that  they  were  still  in  the 
recitation-room. 

A  few  weeks  later  the  same  experience  from 
a  similar  cause  befell  me,  and  again  a  deputa- 
tion from  the  class  \\  aited  upon  me.  If  the  first 
occurrence  was  a  suliject  of  more  than  common 
talk  among  instructors  and  students,  the  second 
one  attracted  much  more  notice.  After  I  reach- 
ed my  class  I  thanked  tliem  with  deep  emotion 
for  their  kind  consiijeration,  but  assured  them 
that,  if  I  made  ancither  sleep-over.  I  believed 
they  would  be  jusMfied  in  following  the  old 
custom.  L.  L.  Langstrotii. 

(nntinucO. 


STIGAE-FED  HONEY. 

WHAT    THE    DADANTS   THINK   OF    IT. 


What  is  honey?  T'rof.  Cook  answers:  "  Honey 
is  digested  nectar.  Every  one  understands  that 
honey  Is  the  liquid  product  of  bees,  which  they 
store  in  the  cells  of  their  combs.  .  .  .  That 
honey  is  digested  nectar  is  j  ust  as  true,  although 
not  as  evident  to  the  unlearned.  .  .  .  Diges- 
tion is  simply  changing  our  food  so  that  It  can 


be  absorbed.  .  .  .  Many  substances,  like  al- 
bumen and  cane  sugar.  .  .  .  must  be  chang- 
ed-- digested  —  before  absorption  can  take 
place."  (Something  in  defense  of  sugar  honey), 
Bcc-kecpos'  Review,  page  2(W. 

According  to  the  above  quotation,  all  the 
savants  who  do  not  accept  this  assertion  of 
Prof.  Cook,  that  honey  is  digested  nectar,  even 
tliv  best  (lutluiiitics  in  dicniistry,  \n  Europe  as 
well  as  in  America,  are  unlearned.  To  my 
knowledge.  Prof.  Cook  can  boast  of  being  the 
(irst  who  w  i-ote  that  the  inure  or  less  (■(nnplete 
change  of  food  by  its  mixture  with  the;  gastric 
juice  is  digestion,  for  the  simph;  fact  is  against 
such  a  theory.  As  soon  as  some  cooked  starch 
is  introduced  into  our  mouth  and  masticated, 
our  saliva  mixes  with  it.  Then  this  starch, 
before  going  down  into  our  stomach,  is  more  or 
less  transformed  into  glucose  by  the  chemical 
action  of  our  saliva.*  It  is  the  same  with  the 
nectar  gathered  by  bees,  which  is  more  or  less 
transformed  in  their  honey-sac,  by  the  saliva 
or  juice  of  their  glands,  before  going  into  their 
true  stomach. 

Of  course,  as  no  savant  will  say  that  the 
starch  is  digested  before  going  into  the  stom- 
ach, I  can  not  see  how  it  can  be  admitted  that 
the  nectar  is  digested  before  going  into  the  true 
stomach  of  bees.  I  say  trne  stomach,  for  "  the 
honey-sac  acts  as  a  temporary  reservoir  for  the 
collected  nectar"  (Cowan).  Furthermore,  ac- 
cording to  the  well-known  English  chemist, 
Bloxam,  digestion  is  the  change  of  the  food 
into  chyme  by  the  gastric  juice,  the  bile,  the 
pancreatic  juice,  the  intestinal  fluids,  and  the 
separation  and  absorption  of  the  chyle  contain- 
ed in  the  chyme. 

Milne  Edwards,  of  Paris,  wrote  that  digestion 
begins  by  the  mastication  of  the  food  and  ends 
by  the  absorption  of  the  chyle  and  the  defeca- 
tion. 

I  could  quote  scores  of  savants  who  agree 
with  the  chemists  just  named,  and  I  challenge 
Prof.  Cook  to  find  any  one  of  them  teaching 
that  digestion  consists  only  in  the  mixture  of 
the  food  with  the  gastric  juice  and  its  more  or 
less  complete  transformation.  But  this  criti- 
cism is  not  the  main  purpose  of  my  article. 

Prof.  Cook  writes:  "If  honey  produced  by 
feeding  bees  with  cane  sugar  is  entirely  whole- 
some, of  which  there  can  be  no  doubt;  .  .  . 
if  our  best  chemists  class  it  with  the  best  honey 
from  choicest  plants,  does  it  not  stand  to  reason 
that  it  can  be.  may  be,  and.  we  say,  ought  to  be, 
a  product  with  no  tarnished  fame  or  reputa- 
tion ?  .  .  .  Let  tis  not  cry  knavery  or  fraud, 
but  candidly  investigate  the  matter;  and  if 
this  course  does  offer  a  right  and  justifiable 
means  of  increasing  our  profits,  let  us  adopt  it" 
(Review). 

The  main  argument  of  Prof.  Cook  is,  that 
snch  product  is  wholesome,  and  that  the  chem- 
ists class  it  with  the  best  honey  from  choice 
plants.  Let  us  suppose  that  1  am  so  dextrous 
in  counterfeiting  greenbacks  that  all  the  most 
learned  chemists  and  all  of  the  best  engravers 
pronounce  my  papers  as  true,  would  it  follow 
that  I  am  right  and  honest  in  making  and  put- 
ting them  in  circulation  ?  It  would  rob  nobody, 
since  every  one  of  my  greenbacks  would  be 
accepted  as  the  ones  issued  by  the  government. 
No  doubt  1  would  rob  the  nation  of  their  value; 
but  the  man  who  would  sell  sugar  syrup  as 
honey  would  not  only  get  money  on  false  pre- 
tense, but  would  make,  alsp,  a  disloyal  competi- 
tion with  the  honest  bee-keeper.  He  would 
not  be  more  honest  than  a  money-counterfeiter, 
and  he  would  ruin  our  business  by  destroying 
the  confidence  of  our  customers.  So  Mr.  Cook 
would  have  acted  wisely  if,  instead  of  boasting, 

*Dlctionnaire  de  Medecine  de  Littre  et  Robin. 


834 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


in  several  papers,  of  the  results  of  .more  or  less 
scientific  tests,  he  would  have  kept  them  to 
himself.  But  neither  science  nor  practice  has 
yet  given  its  last  words  on  this  question.  Fur- 
thermore, my  experience  in  this  matter  inclines 
me  to  predict  that  the  adulterators  will  meet 
more  difficulties  than  are  anticipated;  yes,  even 
if  those  who  try  do  not  succeed,  it  is  certain 
that  the  unwise  articles  written  by  Messrs. 
Cook  and  Hutchinson,  far  from  benefiting  the 
bee-keepers,  will  have  a  bad  influence  on  the 
market. 

I  am  glad  to  see  our  old  friend  Langstroth 
agreeing  with  us  on  the  dishonesty  of  selling 
sugar  syrup  as  pure  honey. 

CABDINAL    FLOWER    (LOBELIA). 

As  a  confirmation  of  what  Mr.  W.  E.  Gould 
wrote  in  Gleanings,  page  800.  I  can  say  that 
there  is.  near  the  short  path  leading  from  our 
home  to  our  shops,  a  plant  of  cardinal  flower. 
I  saw  it  every  day,  for  years,  during  the  flower- 
ing season,  yet  I  have  never  seen  a  single  bee 
on  it.  Nevertheless,  it  gives  very  small  seeds 
in  abundance,  so  there  is  a  proof  that  it  doesn't 
need  the  visits  of  bees  to  be  fecundated.  The 
lobelia  family  contains  very  poisonous  varieties; 
among  them  are  the  syphilitica  and  the  iiiflata, 
or  Indian  tobacco-plant.  Of  course,  such  qual- 
ities can  not  attract  bees.        Chas.  Dadant. 

Hamilton,  111.,  Nov.  3. 

[Not  knowing  that  the  elder  Dadant  was  pre- 
paring an  article  on  the  subject,  Camille  P. 
wrote  the  following:] 

Friend  Ernest: — No,  no,  no!  a  thousand  times 
no!  You  are  not  wrong  in  your  position  against 
the  selling  of  sugar  fed  to  bees  under  the  name 
of  honey.  Such  a  thing  is  no  more  nor  less  than 
adulteration,  unless  the  consumer  is  told  what 
the  article  is;  and  whenever  he  is  told  what  it 
is,  he  will  be  unwilling  to  pay  honey  prices  for 
it,  or,  for  that  matter,  to  buy  it  at  all.  Hutch- 
inson is  doing  the  reverse  of  what  he  should  do 
if  he  wants  tlie  support  of  the  honey-producers. 
It  would  be  just  as  wrong  to  sell  sugar  under 
the  name  of  honey  as  it  would  be  to  sell  honey- 
dew  under  the  name  of  clover  honey.  Let 
every  tub  stand  on  its  own  bottom. 

Yours  for  true  honey, 

Dadant  &  Son. 

[It  seems  to  be  understood  by  both  A.  I.  R.,  else- 
where, and  the  Dadants,  that  Mr.  Hutchinson 
and  Prof.  Cook  intended  that  this  sugar  comb 
honey  should  be  sold  as  the  pure  product  of  the 
hive.  The  writer  feels  sure  that  both  intended 
that  it  should  be  sold  for  only  what  it  is.  Mr. 
Hutchinson's  editorial,  however,  on  page  274 
of  the  Retriew,  which  we  publish  in  another 
column,  rather  leaves  the  impression  (not  in- 
tentional, we  are  sure)  that  the  sugar  comb 
honey  was  to  be  sold  as  the  pure  article  from 
the  flowers — that  is,  no  statement  to  be  made 
as  to  whether  it  was  pure  honey  or  something 
else.  From  what  correspondence  we  have  had 
with  Mr.  Hutchinson  relative  to  the  same  point, 
we  are  certain  that  he  did  not  so  intend  it;  and 
while  we  disagree  with  him  as  to  the  probable 
tendencies  of  the  advocacy  of  sugar  comb  hon- 
ey, we  feel  it  but  justice  to  him  that  this  state- 
ment should  be  made. 

It  seems  to  us  there  is  one  point,  incidentally 
referred  to  by  C.  P.  Dadant  above,  that  has  not 
been  sufficiently  brought  out  ;  and  that  is,  if 
sugar  comb  honey  can  be  produced  at  a  cost  of 
$7..50,  and  sold  for*S!20.00  (as  alleged  by  Mr. 
Hutchinson  in  another  column),  that,  sooner  or 
later,  competition  will  bring  the  cost  of  pro- 
duction and  the  selling  price  nearer  and  nearer 
together,  because,  on  the  assumption  that  the 
consumer  knows  what  he  is  baying,  he  will  very 
soon  figure  out  for  himself  the  difference  be- 


tween cost  and  selling  price.  So  great  a  margin 
could  not  possibly  be  realized  unless  the  fact  of 
the  origin  of  the  .sugar  honey  were  concealed, 
and  the  honey  sold  as  a  pure  article  from  the 
flowers;  hence  we  argue  that  large  profits  can 
not  be  obtained,  except  dishonestly.  We  know 
Mr.  Hutchinson  well  enough  not  to  question 
his  motives,  and,  for  the  most  part-,  his  good 
judgment;  but  we  feel  strongly  Impressed  by 
the  fact  that  dishonest  persons  will  make  bad 
use  of  the  knowledge;  and  that  the  daily  pa- 
pers, which  have  no  love  for  nor  interest  in  our 
pursuit,  will  make  "capital."  to  the  .serious 
detriment  of  the  interest  of  the  bee-keeper. 

Some  may  wonder  that  we  should  give  so 
much  space  for  the  discussion  of  a  subject  that, 
we  fear,  presages  injury  to  our  pursuit;  but 
now  that  the  discussion  has  (drcady  been  open- 
ed in  another  journal,  and  the  practice  of  feed- 
ing bees  sugar  syrup  to  produce  honey  favor- 
ably commented  on,  is  the  reason  why  we  feel 
it  our  duty  to  use  our  influence  against  what  we 
consider  a  dangerous  position  on  the  part  of  our 
esteemed  cotemporary  ihe  Review  ;  for  among 
our  beekeeping  exchanges  there  is  no  paper 
that  we  prize  more  highly.]  E.  R.  R. 


THAT  MAMMOTH  STEAM  HONEY-EXTRACTOK. 


A.   W.  OSBURN,  OF  CUBA,  EXPLAINS  ITS  MERITS. 


Mr.  Editor: — That  steam  power  extractor 
has  been  in  every  sense  satisfactory.  The 
points  of  excellence  about  my  extractor  (when 
run  by  steam)  are  so  many  that,  to  properly 
describe  them  all.  would  make  this  article  much 
too  long  for  Gleanings,  so  I  must  content  ray- 
self  by  naming  a  few  of  them  only. 

I  will  speak  first  of  the  superior  work  that 
it  does,  which  is  all  that  any  one  could  desire; 
in  fact,  it  does  the  nicest  work  of  any  thing  I 
ever  saw  in  the  shape  of  an  extractor.  Why,  I 
will  try  to  tell  you.  The  upright  shaft  being 
fastened  solid,  both  at  top  and  bottom,  there  is 
no  tremble  nor  shake  to  the  reel;  and  it  mat- 
ters not  whether  the  reel  is  evenly  loaded  or 
not.  If  it  can  not  move  at  top  or  bottom,  it 
must  run  true.  Now,  it  will  not  take  a  man 
long,  who  has  extracted  much  honey,  to  see  the 
great  advantage  in  this,  in  more  respects  than 
one.  First,  on  account  of  the  reel  running  so 
perfectly  true  there  is  no  jar  nor  shake  to  the 
comb;  and  on  account  of  this,  the  machine  can 
be  run  much  faster,  without  injury  to  the 
comb:  and  where  there  is  brood  in  the  combs, 
not  one- half  as  much  brood  will  be  thrown  out 
by  my  machine  as  with  the  ordinary  hand  ma- 
chine,.because  the  honey,  being  heavier  than  the 
larvEe.  goes  out  first,  and  no  one  can  judge 
or  tell  any  thing  about  what  the  difference 
is  in  the  work  done  by  my  steam  power 
extractor,  or  that  done  by  a  hand  machine. 
When  I  tell  you  what  I  have  said  is  true,  and 
you  take  into  account  the  great  difference  in 
centrifugal  force,  my  reel  being  7  feet  3  inches 
in  diameter,  and  making  260  revolutions  per 
minute,  the  centrifugal  forc(>  of  it  is  13  times 
greater  than  one  2  feet  across,  making  the  same 
number  of  revolutions,  and  still  it  throws  out 
nothing  like  the  amount  of  larva?  that  the 
hand  machine  does.  Does  it  throw  the  honey 
out?  Yes,  it  does,  better  than  any  thing  else  a 
man  ever  saw  in  the  shape  of  an  extractor;  and 
Is  it  not  a  little  more  pleasant  and  satisfactory, 
too.  to  sit  down  and  rest  while  the  extractor 
and  engine  are  doing  such  satisfactory  work 
for  you?  I  think  it  is.  I  have  had  as  good 
men  to  work  for  me  as  ever  turned  an  extractor; 
but  I  never  had  one  that  was  willing  to  kill 
himself  trying  to  get  the  hcmey  (ill  out  the 
combs  with  a  hand  machine. 


1^1, -J 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEK  ClM/rURE. 


83n 


My  rxtiacMiir  is  imt  a  ipvcrsiblc  niafliiiic,  as 
you  know,  and  I  am  not  disposed  to  say  any 
tliini?  of  till'  r('V('i>ilii('  inaoliincs.  any  nioro 
tluin  tiiat  I  liavo  ihvim'  had  Ihoni  do  work  so 
satisfai'toi'v  for  ine  ;i-  the  non-reversitdo  oik^s. 
1  iiavc  used  tun  dillrri'iit  makes;  one  1  owned, 
and  t lie  other  I  did  not.  Tliere  is  just  as  much 
ditTf'renoe  in  extracting  honey  witli  my  exti'acl- 
or  run  by  sti^ani.  and  iind(Mlaking  to  do  tlie 
same  work  witli  a  iiand  machine,  as  there  is  in 
sawing  wood  witli  a  bucksaw,  or  doing  the 
same  work  with  a  uood  steam  outfit.  I  have 
pi'o)iably  tui'ued  an  extractor  to  tlii'ow  out 
about  as  mucli  iiom.v  as  most  nu'ii:  but  1  don't 
want  any  nutreofii.  I  am  perfectly  willing  to 
let  some  one  else  have  that  pleasure  and 
honor.     ' 


OSBUEX  .S     MAMMOTH     HONEY  -  EXTKACTOR — IN- 
•SIDE   VIEW   ONLY. 

Now  in  relation  to  the  cheapness  or  the  cost 
of  the  two;  i.  e.,  steam  or  hand  power,  to 
operate.  To  run  my  e.xtractor  properly,  say 
from  7  in  the  moriniig  till  4  in  the  afternoon, 
will  take  not  to  exceed  40  cents'  worth  of  coal; 
oil,  .5  cents,  and  in  that  time  you  can  throw  out 
10.000  lbs.  of  honey  if  you  have  it  to  throw  out. 
But  suppose  you  have  but  ;30(X)  lbs.  to  get  out. 
Is  it  not  much  pleasanter  to  do  it  by  steam 
powiM'  than  by  hand'.'  Was  not  the  first  ex- 
tractor ever  made  a  great  improvement  over 
the  boy's  way  of  getting  the  honey  out  of  the 
comb  by  swinging  the  comb  fastened  to  one 
end  of  a  string  over  his  head.  Any  man  will 
say  yes.  I  will  figure  the  cost  of  the  two  meth- 
ods, steam  or^iand  power,  from  our  standpoint 
here,  where,  in  the  best  localities,  hundreds 
upon  hundreds  of  colonies  can  be  kept  in  one 
apiary,  and  such  a  plant  as  1  have,  is'  so  far 
anead  of  hand  machines  that  there  is  no  com- 
parison between  the  two.  I  will  let  you  figure 
the  cost  in  your  coimtry,  where  only  small 
apiaries  can  be  kept  in  a  place,  and  hand  power 
and  small  machines  are  always  used. 

A.   W.  OSHURX. 

Hunta  Brava,  Cuba.  W.  I.,  Oct.  19. 

[Very  recently  we  built  a  mammoth  honey- 
extractor,  for  a  party]  in  Cuba,  the  same  con- 
structed after  the  manner  of  the  one  used  by 
.  A.  W.  Osburn.  Aft^r  it  was  completed  we  took 
a  photo  of  it.  with  a  workman  standing  beside 
it;  and  the  result  given  above  will  give  the 
reader  some  conception  of  its  size.  The  engrav- 
ing shows  the  internal  arrangement  for  extract- 
ing ','1  combs  at  a  time.  Altliough  Mr.  OsbUrn 
does  not  say  so,  we  presume  the  same  is  set  up 


in  a  large  wooden  tank,  the  upright  shaft  being 
.socketed  to  llu^  ceiling,  and  to  a  substantial 
blearing  in  the  bottom  of  thr>  tank.  A  pulley  Is 
supposed  to  lie  put  on  the  end  of  the  horizontal 
shaft,  or  about  when^  the  man  stands.  This 
pulley  is  then  connected  with  tin;  engine  direct. 
The  other  pulley,  just  below  the  bciveled  gear, 
is  d(>signed  to  receive  the  brake,  as  so  large  a 
machini',  when  in  full  motion,  would  not  stop, 
probably,  under  a  minute  or  two,  unless  braked 
down.  The  upright  shaft  is  3  inches,  and  the 
horizontal  '3,',;  in  diameter.  The  suppoi'ting- 
arms  are  rods  of  steel  ■/(  inches  squan^  making 
the  whole  insid(i  reel  7  feet  IS  inches  in  diameter, 
and  the  bev(il(>d  gear  is  13  inches  in  diameter. 
The  combs  are  held  in  a  perpendicular  position 
by  an  inside  ring  midway  between  the  bottom 
and  top  of  the  reel  and  two  inches  from  the 
wire  cloth.  To  reverse.  th<^  combs  must  be 
lifted  out  in  the  good  old-fashioned  way,  and 
set  in  again  the  other  side  to. 

Mr.  Osburn  is  probably  correct  in  regard  to 
this  machine's  freedom  from  vibration.  Other 
things  being  equal,  the  larger  the  reel  the  less 
the  vibration  due  to  any  slight  eccentricity.  It 
seemed  to  ns  it  was  strong  enough  and  heavy 
enough  to  hold  a  man's  weight  at  its  periphery, 
and  we  have  no  doubt  that  it  will  do  its  work 
perfectly.  Of  course,  such  a  large  extractor  as 
this  will  be  useful  in  only  a  very  few  localities 
in  the  world — such  localities  as  would  furnish 
nectar-bearing  flora  for  live  or  six  months  in 
the  year.  W(!  doubt  whether  it  would  be  prac- 
ticable in  many  places  even  in  California.  For 
the  great  majority  of  bee-keepers,  the  two- 
frame  extractor  is  sufiBcient;  and  even  four  and 
six  frame  reversible  extractors  have  a  capacity 
ample  for  the  needs  of  the  most  if  not  all  of  the 
largest  extracted  -  honey  men  in  the  United 
States.] 


SOMETHING    FURTHER    ON   THE    INTRODUC- 
ING  SUBJECT. 


FREELY   GIVE,   FREELY'  RECEIVE. 


Well,  well!  it  seems  that  Doolittle's  article 
on  page  ()17  was  read  with  a  "relish"  by  Dr. 
Miller;  and  if  my  correspondence  is  any  crite- 
rion to  go  by,  that  article  was  read  with  much 
"relish"  by  many  others.  It  is  "kinder  fininy" 
that,  when  a  "man  is  down,"  folks  will  all  "prick 
up  their  ears  "and  be  more  interested  in  his 
being  douyn  than  they  an^  in  the  man.  or  in  all 
he  has  done  for  the  good  of  the  world  in  all  of 
his  previous  life.  Let  a  minister  of  the  gospel 
fall  into  an  error,  and  how  the  newspapers  of 
the  land  will  jiublisli  it.  so  that  all  eyes  will  see 
it,  while  all  of  his  life  may  have  been  spent  in 
doing  good  up  to  that  time,  without  a  single 
word  of  encouragement,  or  words  of  cheer  being 
said  to  help  him  bear  the  burdens  the  Master 
has  enjoined  upon  him.  or  so  that  he  might 
have  sl'uinned  the  pit  into  which  he  fell,  or  been 
of  still  greater  usefulness  in  the  world.  What 
I  have  to  say  in  this  article  is  not  said  in  a 
fault-finding  spirit,  but  with  the  hope  that  we 
as  bee- keepers  may  be  led  into  a  broader  plain, 
and  up  to  a  higher  elevation  along  the  line  of 
what  shall  be  the  "greattiSt  good  to  the  great- 
est number." 

Soon  after  that  article,  on  my  failure  to  in- 
troduce a  queen,  appeared  in  print,  I  began  to 
be  showered  with  letters,  and  I  almost  wish  it 
were  the  proper  thing  to  give  all  of  those  letters, 
with  the  names  attached  to  them,  in  the  col- 
umns of  Gleanings.  It  would  seem  that 
many  — yes.  very  many  — have  forgotten  the 
great  doctrine  of  the  "brotherhood  of  man," 
and  the  one  desire  which,  taking  possession  of 
the  hearts  of  many  of  the  people,  seems  to  be  to 


836 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


get  all  they  can  by  hook  or  crook  of  the  things 
of  this  world,  no  matter  what  becomes  of  the 
poor  fellow-beings  from  whom  they  can  obtain 
it.  I  had  prided  myself  in  the  thought  that 
bee-keepers  as  a  class  were  not  so  selfish  as  the 
rest  of  the  world;  but  since  that  article  I  have 
about  come  to  the  conclusion  that  they  are 
made  up  of  about  the  same  material  as  the  rest 
of  mankind.  Some  of  the  letters  received  were 
kind  and  sympathizing;  some  were  glad  I  wrote 
as  I  did,  for  it  expressed  their  condition  exactly, 
and,  as  Dr.  Miller  says,  "gave  them  a  bit  of 
comfort  to  think  that  others  besides  themselves 
are  sometimes  beaten  by  the  bees."  Such  as 
these  gave  me  comfort;  but  others  were  very 
different.  As  a  sample  of  one  class,  I  give  this 
from  one  of  the  largest  queen-breeders  in  the 
world:  "Ah,  ha!  I  see  by  Gleanings,  page  617, 
that  Doolittle  has  forgotten  how  to  introduce 
queens.  Let  me  say  that  I  have  not  lost  a 
single  fertile  queen  by  introducing  in  five  years. 
Probably  you  know  that  certain  conditions 
cause  failure."  And  that  was  all  there  was 
relative  to  this  subject  of  introducing  queens  in 
that  letter.  As  a  sample  of  another  class  I  give 
this:  "I  see  in  Gleanings  for  Aug.  1.5,  over 
your  signature,  a  piece  in  which  you  say  you 
do  not  know  of  any  sure,  easy  way  of  introduc- 
ing queens.  I  use  a  plan  that  is  sure  and  easy, 
and  T  have  never  failed  myself,  nor  did  I  ever 
hear  of  any  one  else  failing  that  introduces  as  I 
do.  If  you  would  really  like  to  know  how  to 
introduce  a  queen  easily  and  safely,  and  with- 
out a  failure,  I  will  tell  you  how  for  a  small 
consideration.  I  should  like  some  Italian 
queens  for  my  own  use;  and  if  you  have  them 
you  can  cheaply  pay  me  for  mv  advice." 

In  1870 1  wrote  my  first  article  for  publication, 
and  my  bee-keeping  life  is  familiar  to  all  the 
readers  of  Gleanings  and  other  bee-papers; 
for  I  have  never  done  "any  thing  in  a  corner," 
but  have  given  all  of  my  successes  and  reverses, 
together  with  all  my  plans  and  methods,  to  the 
public  as  freely  as  I  would  to  my  own  family, 
always  realizing  that,  through  the  philanthropy 
of  others,  I  have  attained  the  success  I  have 
achieved.  After  having  thus  given  all  that  I 
know  of  bee-keeping  to  the  world.  I  am  asked 
by  some  to  give  still  further  of  what  I  have 
wrought  out  by  "sweat  and  muscle,"  to  buy 
something  which  should  have  been  as  freely 
given  to  the  world  as  I  have  given  what  I  havi^ 
done,  and  am  laughed  at  by  others,  and  told 
that  "certain  conditions  cause  failures,"  without 
even  a  hint  at  what  those  conditions  are  or  how 
they  may  be  avoided.  When  a  young  couple 
start  out  on  life's  voyage  they  "put  all  their 
energies  together,  that  a  comfortable  and  happy 
home  may  be  made.  The  husband  does  not  try 
to  defraud  or  take  advantage  of  the  wife,  nor 
the  wife  the  husband;  but  both  work  together 
for  the  accomplishing  of  the  same  object — the 
blessedness  of  a  comfortable  home.  If  God 
gives  them  children,  both  parents  and  children 
work  together  to  make  both  life  and  home  a 
pleasure.  The  children  do  not  try  to  defravid 
the  parents  nor  the  parents  the  children,  but 
all  work  together  for  the  happiness  of  nil. 
Now,  I  wish  to  say  that  what  i«  good  for  that 
family,  as  pictured  above,  is  good  for  the  great 
family  of  bee-keepers  in  this  nation  and  in  the 
world.  Still  further,  what  is  good  for  the  fam- 
ily is  good  for  a  township;  what  is  good  for  a 
township  is  good  for  a  county;  what  is  good  for 
a  county  is  good  for  a  State;"  what  is  good  for  a 
State  is  good  for  a  nation;  and  what  is  good  for 
a  nation  is  good  for  the  world.  May  God  help 
us  to  get  out  of  this  state  of  not  loving  our 
neighbor  as  ourselves,  and  come  out  into  the 
glorious  light  and  liberty  of  the  gospel  of  our 
fjord  and  Savior  Jrsus  Christ.  "  Freely  ye  have 
received,  freely  give." 


Before  closing  I  wish  to  say  that  two  or  three 
very  kindly  wrote  out  their  plans  in  full  and 
sent  them  me.  telling  just  how  they  introduce 
queens.  These  I  wish  to  thank,  especially  so 
as  they  give  me  the  privilege  of  having  the 
plans  published  to  the  world  through  any  paper 
I  might  wish  to  give  them.  The  reason  1  do 
not  give  them  is  because  the  essential  features 
of  these  plans  have  appeared  in  our  bee-liter- 
ature of  the  past;  but  the  willingness  they 
showed  is  just  as  deserving  as  if  the  plans  were 
new.  G.  jSI.  Doolittle. 

Borodino,  N.  Y. 

[Friend  D.,  like  yourself  we  have  letters  every 
little  while  from  people  who  say  they  have  not 
lost  a  queen  in  introducing,  in  five  years,  or 
that  they  have  not  lost  one  in  a  hundred;  and 
it  always  troubles  me  to  receive  such  letters, 
knowing,  as  I  do,  how  frequently  the  very  best 
of  us  make  sad  failures.  In  fact,  there  is  hardly 
a  thing  laid  dgwn  iu  bee  culture  that  is  not 
likely  to  turn  out  so  contrary  to  our  previous 
experience  or  expectation  that  the  whole  indus- 
try seems  to  be  a  series  of  surprises,  and  they 
are  not  always  "  happy  surprises "  either.  I 
think  that,  if  I  were  to  set  about  it  in  real  ear- 
nest, I  could  introduce  05  queens,  without  a 
failure;  but  I  should  have  to  work  hard  and 
take  a  good  deal  of  time  with  some  of  them.  In 
introducing  imported  queens,  where  they  are 
worth  several  dollars  each,  we  have  abundant 
experience  in  the  matter — yes.  experience  when 
it  is  a  pretty  serious  thing  to  lose  even  one.  So 
far  as  \  know,  no  plan  has  ever  been  discovered 
that  is  infallible:  and  these  people  who  claim 
that  they  have  something  of  the  sort  that  they 
can  not  communicate  unless  they  receive  a  con- 
sideration should  be  shunned  at  the  outset  as 
bad  and  wicked;  and  the  poor  fellows  seem  to 
be  so  much  behind  the  times  that  they  do  not 
even  know  that  most  good  people  read  their 
real  motives  at  a  glance.J  A.  I.  R. 


PRIORITY  OF  LOCATION. 


DK.    MILLER   ANALYZES    THE     POINTS     BROUGHT 
OUT  BY   W.   G.   HEWES. 


The  problem  you  have  tackled  on  page  802, 
Mr.  Editor,  is  by  no  means  an  easy  one.  You 
say  you  would  be  mad  if  you  had  found  a 
grand  location  for  bees,  and  some  other  chap 
should  bring  KX)  colonies  and  settle  beside  you. 
But  what  dot's  that  prove?  Wouldn't  you  be 
just  as  mad  if  you  had  found  a  grand  location 
for  a  shoestore,  and,  after  settling  there,  the 
other  chap  should  come  and  scoop  you  out? 
Don't  you  think  "  some  moral  right  is  due  shoe- 
man  No.  1  for  discovering  for  himself  a  good 
field"  as  well  as  the  bee-man?  Please  don't  be 
too  one-sided. 

Take  the  case  that  friend  Hewes  hints  at. 
Mr.  Lazicus  has  struck  a  "  grand  location," 
capable  of  giving  in  a  good  season  20  tons;  but, 
through  shiftlessncssand  lack  of  sufficient  bees, 
he  gets  only  one- tenth  that  amount?  Is  the 
whole  of  creation  to  stand  off  and  look  on  while 
he  does  the  dog-in-the-manger  act?  Will  it 
not  be  better  for  Mr.  Upandatit  to  sit  down 
beside  him  and  get  that  other  18  tons— that  is, 
unless  hecanfind  an  unoccupied  location  where 
he  can  get  20  tons  ? 

But  suppose  Mr.  Upandatit  is  settled  on  his 
20-ton  spot,  and  Mr.  Lazicus  hears  of  his  big 
yelds.  comes  along  with  100  colonies,  and  sits 
down  and  gets  2  tons  of  the  crop.  How  would 
Mr.  U.  like  that?  He  could  hardly  object,  if 
friend  Hewes  is  correct  in  saying,  "An  inexperi- 
enced person  generally  manages  so  badly  that 
what  little   honey  he  gels  makes  no  difference 


1  S\)-.' 


(;lk.\n'i.\c;s  in  hee  culture. 


8:^7 


ill  llif  other's  i'i\)|i.""  Hut  i-^irt  that  talking 
soiiu'what  at  random,  friend  llcwt^s?  Suppose 
Mr.  V.  lias  (■nou!iiii  liccs  to  lick  up  all  tlu'  int-lar 
that  is  prodiiiM'd.  and  prcts  a  crop  of  'JO  tons. 
Then  suppose  Mr.  I ;.  conies  with  his  100  colo- 
nies and  trets  otl'  the  same  Kround  a  crop  of ".' 
tons.  Is  iliere  any  kind  of  nianafrenient  on  ihe 
part  of  !..  that,  will  make  the  difference  to  U. 
any  less  tiiaii  J  tons  ? 

Hut  it  ninsi  not  he  forgotten  that  L.'s  bees 
must  have  something  for  their  own  consump- 
tion; and  as  it  is  cstimati'd  that  each  colony 
consumes  about  (■)()  Ills,  per  annum,  it,  will  lake 
3  tons  for  100  colonies.  That .'?  tons,  added  to 
the  crop  of  J  tons,  makes  5  tons  that  L.'s  bec^s 
have  gathered  from  the  flowers.  Will  you 
please  tell  us  how  1>.  can  manage  so  badly  tliat 
there  will  not  be  just  r>  tons,  clean  cut,  taken 
out  of  U.'s  20  tons?  1  think  yon  would  oiiject 
with  some  force,  probably  with  a  force  of  about 
a  tons,  against  the  coming  of  L.;  yet  it  is  ditVi- 
cult  to  see  how.  in  the  first  case,  you  are  going 
to  let  U.  come  in  on  L..  and  in  the  last  case  re- 
verse the  matter.  Who  is  going  to  properly 
draw  the  distinguishing  line?  I  am  not  saying 
which  is  the  right  way:  I  am  only  showing  the 
difficulty  in  the  case. 

The  ground  is  taken,  that,  whenever  a  man 
can  better  himself  by  it,  it  is  his  duty  to  enter  a 
field  occupied  by  some  one  else,  on  the  ground 
that  "  self-preservation  is  the  first  law  of  na- 
ture.'" But  the '•  liist  law  "  is  not  always  the 
best  law.  There  is  a  higher  law  that  says. 
"Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself." 
Moreover,  it  is  not  always  tru(!  that  "'self- 
preservation  is  the  (list  law  of  nature."'  It  is 
not  true  among  bees.  Every  worker-bee  is 
ready  to  lose  its  life  for  the  sake  of  the  rest  of 
the  colony.  Its  motto  is  not  "self-preserva- 
tion."" but  "•  the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest 
number:"  and  are  not  our  civil  laws  based  on 
this  very  motto? 

With  this  motto  in  mind.  I  think  it  will  not  be 
so  very  hard  to  see  why  the  case  of  the  bee- 
keeper is  not  e.xactly  parallel  to  that  of  the 
merchant.  Suppose  that,  in  a  village,  there  is 
one  merchant  and  one  bee-keeper.  Another 
merchant  takes  up  liis  abode  in  the  village,  and 
also  another  bee-keeper.  Upon  which  acces- 
sion will  there  be  the  most  self-congratulation 
among  the  villagers?  Hear  Mrs.  Jones  say  to 
Mrs.  Smith.  "Isn't  it  nice  that  we  have  a  new 
store?  The  old  store  had  no  competition,  and 
we  just  had  to  pay  whatever  they  asked.  Now 
we  can  have  our  choice  of  the  two  places."  But 
you  will  hear  no  such  remark  about  the  new 
bee-keeper,  for.  if  the  ground  was  fully  occu- 
pied by  the  first  m;in.  he  can  not  and  will  not 
sell  honey  any  cheaper  than  before,  for  he  can 
not  afford  it  so  well  now.  It  is  very  true,  that 
the  first  merchant  could  afford  to  sell  goods 
cheaper  when  he  held  the  ground  alone,  but,  as 
a  rule,  he  does  not  till  competition  compels  him, 
consequently  competition  secures  "  the  greatest 
good  to  the  greatest  number.'' 

But  Mr.  Hewes  says,  ''I  can  not  see  why  a 
bee-keeper  should  be  more  exempt  from  compe- 
tition than  a  merchant."  Candidly,  I  can't 
either.  Is  he?  One  year  I  raised  half  as  many 
strawberries  as  we  could  use  in  our  family.  My 
neighbor  did  the  same.  Each  of  us  ate  all  we 
raised.  Was  there  any  competition  between 
us?  Certainly  not.  The  next  year  we  raised 
more,  and  used  them  up  the  same  way.  There 
was  no  more  competition  than  before.  The 
succeeding  year  we  raised  them  by  the  acre, 
and.  of  course,  sold  the  most  of  them.  Then 
competition  began,  and  each  of  us  had  to  sell 
our  berries  for  a  little  less  than  if  only  one  of  us 
had  been  in  the  field.  Do  you  notice  that  there 
was  no  competition  till  there  was  selling?  Our 
raising  berries  did  not  make  competition,  but 


our  KcUUuj  did.  Is  it  not  the  same  way  with 
honey?  I  nev(>r  knew  tiie  time;,  since  I  com- 
menced the  business,  that  I  had  not  competi- 
tion. Wlii'ther  1  sold  half  a  pound  to  a  home 
customer,  or  shipped  a  carload  to  a  distant 
point,  there  were  always  others  ready  and  anx- 
ious to  sell  to  my  customers,  and  competition 
with  them  always  influenced  my  price.  Hut  if 
a  man  comes  in  and  spoils  my  field  for  both  him 
and  m(\  I  don't  call  that  competition  any  more 
than  I  would  call  it  competition  for  a  merchant 
next  door  to  another  to  pile  up  empty  boxes  on 
the  sidewalk  so  that  customers  could  hardly  en- 
ter'either  store. 

To  be  continued,  if  the  editor  permits. 

Marejigo.  111.  C.  C.  Millp^k. 

[Then>.  now,  doctor,  your  logic  has  mixed  us 
all  up:  in  fact,  we've  almost  forgotten  on  which 
side  of  the  fence  we  were.  To  tell  the  truth,  we 
tried  to  be  on  the  fence.  At  all  events,  we  shall 
not  try  to  collect  ourselves  till  we  hear  from  you 
again  on  the  subject.] 


THE  NE"W  CRANE  SMOKER. 


rrS    CONSTRUCTION,   AND    HOW    IT    CAMK   TO    KK 
INVENTED. 


For  many  years  I  have  felt  that  there  was 
need  of  a  better  smoker  than  any  now  offered 
in  our  bee-journals.  Broken  springs,  burned 
bellows  leather,  clogged  blast-tubes,  burnt 
clothing  from  sparks  that  escaped  from  the 
base  of  tlii'  lire-barrel,  a  large  hive  containing 
a  good  colony  of  bees  burned  up,  the  scarred 
trunk  and  limbs  of  an  apple-tree  beneath  which 
it  stood,  and,  above  all.  the  constant  feeling 
that  followed  me  that  I  ought  to  get  a  larger 
supply  of  smoke  with  a  stronger  blast  for  the 
efTorl  I  made,  set  me  to  thinking  whether  a 
better  smoker  could  not  be  made.  As  the 
smoker  is  the  most  important  tool  of  the  api- 
arist, it  is  very  desirable  to  have  it  as  near  pi'r- 
fect  as  possible.  Even  if  it  costs  a  little  more 
at  first,  the  time  saved  will  soon  pay  the  differ- 
ence. Not  only  do  we  want  an  instrument  that 
will  noteasily  get  out  of  repair  or  scatter  sparks, 
but  we  want  one  that  will  give  a  large  or  small 
volume  of  suioke  at  the  will  of  the  operator. 

Some  years  ago  I  constructed  a  smoker  with 
two  leather  valves,  the  upper  one  placed  in  the 
mouth  of  a  wooden  air-flue  connecting  with  the 
base  of  the  fire-barrel.  While  this  smoker 
seemed  to  give  me  more  smoke,  and  a  stronger 
blast,  than  any  other  I  had  seen,  it  did  not  fully 
satisfy  me.  Having  to  make  some  new  ones 
last  winter,  I  began  anew  to  study  the  whole 
question,  giving  it  more  time  and  thought  than 
I  had  before  b(!en  able  to  do.  I  made  a  great 
variety  of  valves  and  connecting- flues.  What 
I  wanted  was  a  smoker  easy  to  operate,  that 
would  not  readily  clog  with  soot  or  creosote,  or 
get  out  of  Hipair,  and  that  would  give  the 
strongest  blast  and  volume  of  smoke  possible. 
The  results  of  my  ellorts  are  before  you. 

A  .3-inch  barrel  is  fastened  to  a  GxS-inch  bel- 
lows, by  two  pieces  of  K-inch  hoop  iron.  Each 
piece  is  lient  about  K  way  around  the  barrel, 
and  fastened  by  wire,  and  then  bent  at  such  an 
angle  as  to  give  the  greatest  strength,  and  then 
bolted  to  the  bellows.  The  bellows  springs  are 
on  till'  outside,  one  on  each  side  of  the  bellows, 
and  fastened  by  metal  clasps,  and  can  be  re- 
moved at  will,  and  made  stronger  or  weaker  to 
fit  the  hand  of  the  opiM'ator.  They  are  so  made 
that  it  may  be  said  they  will  neither  break  nor 
w<'ar  out.  For  my  own  u.se  I  fasten  a  hook  to 
the  small  end  of  the  bellows  between  the  springs 
to  hang  the  smoker  to  the  edge  of  the  hive 
while  at  work,  and  find  it  very  convenient. 


838 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


To  secure  the  strongest  blast  of  air  through 
the  fire-barrel,  filled  with  all  sorts  of  combus- 
tible material,  and,  perhaps,  a  layer  of  ashes 
and  spent  fuel  upon  the  grate,  it  is  necessary  to 
have  a  closed  air-flue  between  the  bellows  and 
base  of  the  fire-barrel.  Bat  if  we  connect  with 
a  metal  tube,  large  quantities  of  smoke  and 
sparks  will  be  drawn  into  the  bellows  when  it 
opens,  and  that  will  soon  ruin  it,  besides  caus- 
ing the  fire  to  go  out  unless  the  bellows  is  kept 
in  constant  motion.  There  appear  to  be  only 
two  ways  of  getting  around  the  difficulty:  Ei- 
ther we  must  use  a  blast-tube  partly  or  wholly 
cut  off,  which  does  not  entirely  prevent  smoke 
and  sparks  from  being  drawn  into  the  bellows. 
and,  besides,  appears  to  weaken  the  blast,  and 

Eermits  sparks  to  drop  upon  the  opei'ator  or 
ive-packiug,  or  we  must  place  a  valve  in  this 
blast-tube,  or  air-flue,  in  such  a  way  that  it 
will  open  when  the  bellows  closes,  forming  with 
the  air-flue  a  closed  passage  from  the  bellows 
to  the  fire-barrel,  and  then  instantly  close  to 
prevent  smoke  being  drawn  into  the  bellows. 


SECTIONAL  VIEW  OF  CRANE    SMOKER. 

An  illustration  of  this  principle  is  seen  in  the 
diagram.  Fig.  1.  The  slightest  pressure  upon 
the  bellows  opeus  the  valve  F.  near  the  center 
of  the  bellows,  and.  with  the  air-flue  E,  forms  a 
closed  air-flue,  or  blasi,  from  the  bellows  to  the 
barrel.  As  soon  as  the  pressure  is  removed,  or 
the  air  in  the  bellows  exhausted,  the  valve  in- 
stantly closes,  thus  preventing  any  smoke  from 
entering  the  bellows.  The  valve,  being  closed 
when  the  smoker  is  not  in  use,  permits  a  suffi- 
cient draft  of  air  through  the  open  mouth  of 
the  air-flue  to  keep  the  fuel  burning  in  good 
shape.  Tills  valve  is  hinged  at  one  end,  and 
plays  loosely  into  a  slot,  N,  Fig.  2,  on  either 


THE   CRANE   SMOlvER. 

side  of  the  mouth  of  the  air-flue.  That  no  air 
may  escape  arouna  the  valve,  a  piece  of  fle.xible 
leather  is  stretched  across  the  valve  on  the  in- 
side of  the  bellows,  with  a  hole  through  it  open- 
ing into  the  valve. 
The  grate  is  so  constructed,  that,  with  the 


strong  blast,  I  have  had  no  trouble  with  ashes  or 
sparks  coming  down  into  the  air-flue.  The 
diagrams  make  the  working  of  this  smoker  so 
plain  that  I  need  not  explain  further.  Its  ad- 
vantages must  be  evident  to  any  experienced 
bee-keeper.  It  will  be  seen  that  no  smoke  or 
sparks  can  be  drawn  into  the  bellows,  nor  can 
any  sparks  drop  or  fly  from  the  base  of  the  fire- 
barrel  into  the  clothes  of  the  operator  nor  into 
the  packing  of  the  hive. 

I  have  not  been  troubled  with  any  creosote — 
that  sticky,  tarlike  substance  that,  in  most 
smokers,  runs  down  the  sides  of  the  smoker  and 
over  your  hands,  not  unfrequently  soiling  the 
sections.  Almost  any  kind  of  fuel  can  be  burn- 
ed in  this  smoker,  after  a  fire  is  once  started. 
My  assistant  told  me  that  he  worked  my  smoker 
for  half  an  hour  on  nothing  but  green  grass.  I 
would  not,  however,  recommend  grass  as  the 
best  fuel.  This  smoker  does  not  easily  get 
choked  with  soot  or  creosote;  yet,  if  in  careless 
hands,  or  from  long  use,  the  air-flue  or  metal 
valve  gets  coated  with  soot  it  can  be  easily  and 
quickly  taken  apart  and  thoroughly  cleaned, 
so  it  will  work  as  well  as  when  new;  and  al- 
though so  easily  taken  apart,  when  put  together 
it  is  one  of  the  strongest  smokers  made.  The 
barrel  can,  in  a  moment,  be  taken  off  when 
worn  out,  and  replaced  with  a  new  one. 

More  important  than  any  thing  else,  so  far  as 
my  experience  goes,  this  smoker  will  throw  a 
much  larger  volume  of  smoke  with  far  greater 
force,  with  the  same  kind  of  fuel  and  the  same 
effort,  than  any  other  smoker.  It  is  not  always 
necessary  to  use  large  quantities  of  smoke,  nor 
desirable;  but  when  you  do  want  it,  you  are 
apt  to  want  it  very  much;  besides,  one  can 
work  much  more  rapidly,  if  he  has  an  abun- 
dance of  smoke  in  reserve,  than  without  it,  and 
time  is  money. 

Some  lime  ago  I  was  at  work  opening  a  hive, 
when  the  bees  became  very  angry,  and  declared 
war  in  earnest.  I  closed  my  eyes,  took  my 
smoker,  and  gave  a  few  puffs  of  smoke  about 
my  person.  On  opening  ray  eyes  I  could  not  see 
even  into  the  hive  I  had  open  before  me.  so 
dense  was  the  smoke.  In  a  moment  more  the 
smoke  drifted  away  and  I  was  left  to  finish  my 
work  without  interruption,  and  was  master  of 
the  situation. 

In  this  section  it  is  rare  that  we  have  much 
honey  to  be  gathered  after  basswood  bloom; 
and  in  a  poor  season,  like  the  past,  aln\ost  every 
hive  has  to  be  fed  to  fit  them  for  winter.  How 
much,  can  be  told  only  by  careful  examination, 
as  bees  are  mostly  in  large  hives,  and  weighing 
them  is  impracticable.  Heretofore  I  have  found  « 
it  very  difficult  to  look  them  over  until  cool 
weather,  on  account  of  robbing.  This  year  I 
looked  over  a  number  of  yards  of  bees;  and  al- 
though the  weather  was  warm  most  of  the 
time,  and  robbers  very  abundant,  I  lifted  al- 
most every  comb  in  every  hive  without  any 
serious  trouble  from  robbing.  In  fact,  I  worked 
with  as  little  fear  from  robbers  as  I  usually  do 
in  a  good  flow  of  honey.  An  assistant  with  a 
good  smoker  in  hand  made  robbing  an  unequal 
gamt;;  and  after  trying  it  for  two  or  three  hours 
each  day  they  would  usually  give  it  up.  Per- 
haps the' kind  of  fuel  had  something  to  do  with 
it.  I  used  old  cotton  and  bui'lan  cloths  that 
had  been  used  over  the  biood -frames,  and 
gnawed  by  the  bees  until  wonhle.ss.  I  will  say, 
just  here,  that  there  is  reason  to  believe  that 
propolis-coated  rags  or  cloths  are  the  very  best 
materials  for  smoker  fuel  to  be  had.  They  will 
last  longer  than  any  thing  else  I  have  tried. 
The  smoke  will  tiot  stain  the  whitest  section, 
as  I  have  found  clear  wood  smoke  will  do.  It 
has  a  pleasant  odor,  and  is  less  offensive  than 
any  other  smoke;  and.  more  important  still, 
this  smoke  will  quiet  the  bees  quicker  and  more 


ISiC 


ULKANINCJS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


839 


perfectly  than  any  1  liavi'  heretofore  used. 
Kut  to  use  siu'li  old  rairs  to  the  best  advantage 
nniuires  a  smoker  wiili  a  stroiij;  l)last;  tor,  as 
soon  as  tOie  propolis  warms  and  softens,  the 
rags  are  ai)t  to  seMie  i()i,'uther  and  prevent  the 
air  from  passing  throuirh  tlie  smoker. 

From  what  I  have  written,  it  may  seem  as 
though  1  were  somewhat  eiithusiasiie  over  the 
good  qualities  of  nuj  smohvr;  but  1  have  little 
fear  but  tliat  any  other  bee-keeper  who  has  many 
colonies  of  bees  to  handle,  who  may  give  it  a 
fair  trial,  will  be  equally  enthusiastic  in  its 
praise.  J.  E.  Ckank. 

Middlebury,  Vt.,  Oct.  3-J. 

[When  the  Crane  smoker  was  first  illustrated 
and  described  in  the  Bee-heeijers'  Rcvieiv,  we 
were  prejudiced  against  it,  because,  up  to  that 
time,  all  arrangeiuents  in  bee-smokers  for  pre- 
venting smoke  from  going  into  the  b(>llows  by 
means  of  a  valve  connected  lo  a  continuous 
Hue  to  the  tire-box,  had  proved  to  be  complicat- 
ed, and  a  failure.  But  as  Mr.  Hutchinson  spoke 
highly  of  it  we  were  op(m  to  conviction,  and 
soon  after  wrote  to  Mr.  Crane,  asking  liiiu  to 
send  on  one  of  his  smokers,  which  he  did.  We 
were  delighted  with  it  at  once;  and  then  we 
saw  that  it  was  diflicult  to  understand  tlie  real 
principle  without  seeing  the  implement  itself. 
But  we  trust  that  the  painstaking  care  we  have 
given  to  the  new  eiiun-avlngs  will  enable  our 
readers  to  catch  the  idea.  Perhaps  we  should 
add  that  the  little  valve  F  G.  Fig.  1.  just  the 
moment  the  bellows  is  compressed,  lifts  up  to 
the  position  shown  by  the  dotted  lines,  making 
a  continuous  canal  oi-  tlue  to  the  smoker-cup; 
and  as  long  as  pressure  is  exerted  upon  the  bel- 
lows, the  air  can  shoot  on  uninterruptedly  into 
the  opening  N.  i-^ig.  :.':  but  just  the  instant  it  is 
released,  and  long  before  the  suction  of  air 
backward  can  take  place,  the  little  valve  F 
drops  back,  in  obedience  to  a  little  spring, 
effectually  ])reventing  any  return  of  air  or 
smoke  into  the  bellows.  It  is  impossible  for 
smoke  to  come  in  contact  with  the  valve,  and 
hence  it  will  remain  clean.  In  the  month  or  so 
we  have  used  it,  the  valves  have  betm  perfectly 
clear  of  creosote  accumulations.  The  grate  is 
oiuitted.  l)ut  is  fastened  into  a  swedge  just 
before  I).  Fig.  1. 

Id  our  opinion,  there  is  no  sinoker  that  has 
ever  been  produced  that  will  yield  the  volume 
of  smoke  that  this  will:  and  for  blast  i«t  is  fully 
eqiuil  to  the  Clark.  The  only  trouble  we  see 
with  it  is.  that  the  slmt-otT-valvc  device  must 
be  made  mechanically  perfect;  and  while  ours 
have  w-orked  for  us  u  month  very  nicely,  it  is 
possible  that,  in  a  year  or  so  of  lime  it  might 
give  trouble.* 


BASSWOOD  AND  ITS  PROPAGATION. 


WHY    IS    IT    I.Ml'KACTK  AHLK    TO    GROW    IT    FIJOM 


Why  doesn't  basswood  seed  germinate,  and 
produce  plants?  I  am  induced  by  J.  A.  Green's 
question,  on  page  770.  lo  ask  this  question,  as,  in 
all  my  ol)scrvation.  covering  a  p(;i'iod  of  several 
years.  I  have  never  bi-en  able  to  lind  a  single 
-needling, (n'en  under  f)ld  trees,  where  the  ground 
was  covered  with  seed.  We  are  told  that  stock 
feed  upon  the  young  plants,  and  it  is  very  likely 
true,  as  most  of  the  old  trees  here  are  found 
growing  upon  steep  bluffs  and  places  where 
stock  can  not  go.  Exp(;rinients  with  seed  mixed 
with  sand  in  boxes,  kept  over  winter,  both  in 


cellar  and  exposed  to  freezing,  have  resultf'd  in 
failure.  Now  is  the  time  of  year  that  seed  is 
ripcs  if  it  ev(M'  is;  and  I  would  ask  thos(!  who 
have  succeeded  in  making  it  grow,  to  tell  us 
how  to  keep  tlu^  seed  over  winter,  and  how  to 
handle  it  to  have  it  grow.  It  is  one  of  the 
greatest  drawbacks  that  w((  have  in  the  plant- 
ing of  this  valiuible  honey-tree,  that  the  tn^es 
are  hard  to  get  in  any  quantity  of  suitable  size 
for  rapid  planting.  I  see  you  have  taken  them 
out  of  your  late  catalogues.  From  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  tree  to  sprout  from  the  roots,  one 
would  su|)pos(!  it  might  \m  propagatcnl  fi'ora 
small  root-cuttings,  like  the  black bcu'ry  ;  but, 
again,  we  lind  all  sprouts  attached  to  the  main 
stump,  and  none  growing  from  buds  or  eyes 
upon  the  snuill  roots.  L.  C.  Clakk. 

Granada,  Kan.,  Oct.  22. 

[Friend  C,  basswood  seed  does  germinate  and 
produce  plants,  providing  you  learn  how  to 
make  it  do  so.  In  the  first  place,  the  seed  must 
be  gathered  and  sown  as  soon  as  it  is  fully  ma- 
tured— usually  in  September  or  October.  A 
coating  of  wood  dirt  or  forest  leaves  over  the 
seed  seems  to  l)e  beneticial.  Sometimes  per- 
haps 75  per  cent  of  the  seed  will  grow,  but  usually 
not  more  than  half,  and  sometimes  only  25  and 
even  10  per  cent.  If  you  can  find  a  piece  of 
basswood  forest  where  no  stock  is  pei-niitted  to 
pasture  on  it  at  all.  you  can  usually  lind  plenty 
of  young  basswoods.  We  have  taken  from  our 
price  list  only  the  small-sized  bassv.o')ds.  The 
reason  is,  we  sold  out  and  did  not  .succeed  in 
getting  young  trees  so  we  could  get  tliem  at 
our  formei-  prices.  It  can  be  propagated  by 
cuttings;  but  sowing  the  seed  is  usually  the 
cheapest  and  best  way.  The  subject  of  raising 
the  cuttings,  and  also  planting  and  sowing  the 
seed,  has  been  fully  written  up  in  some  of  our 
back  numbers— perhaps  a  dozen  years  ago.] 

A.  I.  R. 


THE    INDIAN   ORPHANAGE  OF  INDIAN   TER- 
RITORY. 

WHAT   IT   IS,    AND   ITS   WORK. 


I<«^«r.— Since  the  above  was  written,  tlie  smoker 
g-ot  a  little  wet;  the  wood  swelled,  and  stopped  the 
valve. .  Tills  part  of  tlie  smoker  might  be  made  of 
metal;  taut  this  would  make  it  quite  expensive. 


Friend  Root: — Knowing  that  you  and  many 
of  your  readers  are  interested  in  missions  as 
well  as  in  bees,  I  thought  I  would  write  a  little 
in  regard  to  my  trip  to  the  Cherokee  Nation, 
Indian  Territory.  I  had  two  objects  in  view  in 
coming  here.  One  was,  to  look  up  the  Teri'ito- 
ry  as  to  its  probable  value  as  a  bee  country: 
and  the  other,  to  visit  and  inspect  the  (Jospel 
Mission  and  Indian  Orphanage,  conducted  by 
my  friend  .1.  E.  Wolfe  ai^d  his  good  wife,  who  is 
an  educated  Cherokee  lady.  The  orphanage 
farm  and  wood-working  shop  arc  situated  five 
miles  west  of  Vinita.  I.  T..  in  a  most  beautiful 
plain,  surrounded  by  gently  rolling  hills  and 
naiTow  strips  of  timber  skirting  the  numerous 
small  streams.  I  find  the  orphanage  the  nucle- 
us of  what  may  some  day  result  in  great  good  to 
this  whole  TeiTi lory.  They  have  a  shop  40x60 
feet  in  size,  devoted  mosily  to  the  manufacture 
of  chairs.  Since  coming  here  I  have  made  some 
Langstroth  hives,  and  left  them  a  full  set  of 
patterns,  so  that,  in  the  future,  they  can  keep 
be<is  along  with  their  other  branches  of  farm- 
ing, which  comprises  all  kinds  of  crops  and  gar- 
dening suitable  to  this  locality  of  short  mild 
winters  and  long  pleasant  summers. 

This  is  a  non-.sectarian  mission,  and  the  chil- 
dren are  taught  simply  Jiible  Christianity;  and 
the  aim  is.  lo  give  them  a  fair  education  and 
fit  them  for  a  u.seful  life.  The  children  are  in- 
dustrious, liappy,  and  bright,  and  live  and  work 
together  as  harmoniously  as  any  family  of  sis- 
ters and  brothers. 


840 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


As  regards  bee-keeping,  there  is  a  great  abun- 
dance of  fall  flowers,  especially  goldenrod, which 
seems  to  cover  the  prairies;  but  as  they  have 
no  while  clover,  basswood,  nor  alfalfa,  I  do  not 
think  it  would  pay  to  keep  many  bees  in  a 
place,  thei'efore  it  is  not  a  country  for  bee- 
keepers; but  for  gardening,  stock-raising,  and 
fruit-growing,  I  think  it  is  fine,  and  in  time  it 
may  become  a  fair  bee-country. 

If  there  is  any  one  who  has  boys'  and  girls' 
clothing,  or  a  dollar  to  spare  for  a  worthy  Chris- 
tian work,  I  would  say  both  are  much  needed 
here  now.  They  talte  in.  feed,  and  educate  the 
little  destitute  Indian  orphan  boys  and  girls,  in 
order  to  make  Christian  men  and  women  of 
them.  It  is  a  great  undertaking,  as  there  is  so 
much  expense  connected  with  getting  the  nec- 
essary buildings  up  and  the  farm  open<»d.  All 
this  has  been  undertaken  on  ihe  plan  pursued 
by  George  Miiller,  of  Bristol.  England;  but  in 
time  it  may  be  made  self-supporting  to  a  great 
extent,  as  they  have  1.500  acres  of  fine  land  on 
which  are  water,  wood,  good  building  stone, 
and  a  coal-bed.  With  all  these  natural  advan- 
tantages.  and  a  fine  climate,  where  is  there  a 
better  place  to  establish  such  an  institution  ? 

Vinita,  I.  T.,  Oct.  31.  H.  Lathrop. 


RAISING  LETTUCE  IN  WINTER. 


BY   E.  C.   GREEN,   OF   THE   OHIO   EXPEIMMENT 
STATION. 


li'rf.eH'? -Root;— In  reading  your  book,  "  What 
to  Do  and  How  to  be  Happy  While  Doing  It," 
I  find  there  is  a  great  deal  said  about  growing 
lettuce  in  the  winter;  and  while  the  rules  laid 
down  in  that  book  were  not  followed,  and,  in 
fact,  I  had  never  read  them  carefully,  yet  the 
plan  or  way  of  raising  lettuce  given  there, 
especially  the  one  by  Mr.  Davis,  is  so  similar  to 
what  wehave  hit  on  that  it  seems  to  me  they 
might  be  called  the  common  sense  of  lettuce- 
raising.  There  is  no  great  secret  about  the 
matter — not  much  more  than  there  is  in  raising 
a  crop  of  corn,  if  the  conditions  are  right;  but 
there  is  the  trouble.  If  you  have  flues  that 
smoke,  and  glass  that  lets  in  but  half  of  the 
light,  and  such  drawbacks,  you  will  not  be  able 
to  raise  a  good  ci'op  of  lettuce  any  more  than 
you  would  a  good  crop  of  corn  on  poor  worn-out 
land,  with  no  manure  to  put  on  it,  and  bad 
weather  to  contend  with. 

We  started  this  winter  with  a  house  that  was 
almost  as  light  as  outdoors,  the  glass  being  KJx 
24  inches.  We  heated  with  hot  water,  so  there 
was  no  smoke,  dust,  nor  fumes  of  any  kind  to 
injure  the  young  plants,  and  the  soil  was  as 
good  as  we  knew  how  to  make  it;  and,  as  Mr. 
Davis  says,  "the  better  care  and  attention 
given  the  crop,  the  better  success  you  will 
have."  To  illustrate  what  care  and  careful 
attention  will  do,  I  will  say  that,  during  the 
first  part  of  the  winter,  by  close  watching  we 
succeeded  in  keeping  our  greenhouse  almost 
free  from  that  pest  known  as  plant-lice,  by  tSie 
use  of  tobacco  dust;  but  as  we  grew  more  let- 
tuce, and  had  more  work  to  do,  our  vigilance 
relaxed  somewhat,  and  the  little  plant-sucker 
multiplied  until  now  we  are  well  supplied  with 
them.  But  now  they  are  attacked  by  a  disease 
that  bids  fair  to  exterminate  them,  the  disease 
being  a  fungus  which  is  similar  to  the  one  we 
often  see  on  house-flies,  and  called  by  scientific 
men  Empusa  inuscw.  They  have  not  been  so 
bad  as  to  show  any  efl'ects  on  the  crop,  however. 

Starting  in  with  favorable  ciroumstances, 
and  being  able  to  control  the  plant-lice,  we 
have  been  able  to  grow  a  large  amount  of  let- 
tuce, which  brought  fair  prices,  and  to  catTy 
on  a  number  of  interesting  experiments.    Our 


first  was  on  the  different  distances  apart  in  set- 
ting the  plants  in  the  bed.  Our  conclusions 
were,  that  six  inches  was  the  best,  all  things 
considered;  less  than  that  crowds  tjhe  plants; 
and  more  puts  too  few  plants  on  a  given  space 
to  be  profitable. 

Our  fertilizer  experiment  was  not  very  sat- 
isfactory. We  made  several  tests  with  the 
nitrate  of  soda:  but  in  no  instance  could  we  see 
any  good  done  by  it.  I  have  seen  results  from 
other  stations  where  it  has  been  used,  and  it 
does  not  seem  to  increase  the  crop,  but  makes 
the  plants  rot  worse.  I  should  have  liked  to 
try  guano,  but  it  was  not  included  in  the  fer- 
tilizers that  we  tried. 

Our  experiment  with  sub-irrigation  was  one 
of  the  most  interestiuff  that  we  have  tried,  and 
it  showed  the  mo<t  decided  results;  but  we 
have  not  come  to  any  definite  conclusion  on  the 
subject,  for  it  has  not  been  tried  in  enough  dif- 
ferent ways  to  speak  with  certainty;  but  I 
believe,  from  what  I  have  seen,  that  this  meth- 
od of  watering,  combined  with  a  good  mulch 
on  top  of  the  bed,  will  do  more  to  help  keep  the 
rot  in  check  than  any  other  way.  The  rot.  or 
lettuce  mildew,  has  been  one  of  our  serious 
troubles  in  the  work,  and  there  seems  to  be 
complaint  from  other  sources.  I  was  in  one 
house  this  winter  that  had  nearly  ten  thousand 
plants  in  it  that  were  nearly  ruined  by  the  rot. 
I  hope  something  can  be  found  that  will  pre- 
vent it  in  a  measure.  E.  C.  Green. 

Columbus.  O. 

fThe  communication  above  was  sent  us  over 
a  year  ago;  hut  by  some  blunder  it  did  not  get 
into  the  journal.  Prof.  W.  J.  Green,  brother  of 
the  writer  of  the  above,  visited  us  a  few  days 
ago,  and  he  said  this  matter  of  sub-irrigation 
was  giving  some  most  encouraging  results  with 
other  crops  than  lettuce,  both  in  the  greenhouse 
and  in  the  open  air.] 


IRRIGATION— RAISING  WATER    FOR  BY  EN- 
GINES, WINDMILLS,  WATER-WHEELS,  &C.    ' 


SOMETHING   TO   THE     POINT,   FROM    ONE   OF   OUR 
FRIENDS  IN  THE  IRRIGATING  REGION. 


Friend  Root: — Your  correspondent  who  wishes 
to  know  something  about  power  to  raise  water 
24  feet  to  irrigate  a  two-acre  garden  should  not 
invest  in  a  wheel.  It  would  take  an  iraiuense 
wheel  to  lift  the  water  so  high,  and  the  expense 
with  a  wheel  is  sometimes  quite  heavy.  Of 
course,  this  depends  somewhat  on  the  charac- 
ter of  the  stream  and  the  floods  that  may  occur. 
Our  first  settlers,  acting  independently  of  each 
other,  used  wheels;  but  now  that  there  is  coop- 
eration in  securing  a  water  supply,  wheels  are 
seldom  used. 

There  is  no  patent  on  the  old-style  wheels; 
but  a  new  one,  to  rise  and  fall  with  the  stage 
of  water,  has  been  patented.  What  its  real 
merits  are  I  can  not  say.  Looking  at  the  ques- 
tion from  this  distance  I  think  your  correspond- 
ent would  best  use  a  windmill.  Perhaps  instead 
of  a  tank  he  has  a  good  location  for  a  small 
reservoir.  In  this  case  a  reservoir  might  be 
preferable. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  make  celery  ground 
too  wet.  The  ground  could  lie  kept  constantly 
wet  from  the  windmill  while  running,  without 
danger  from  following  rains.  If  the  windmill 
should  stop  running,  the  crops  would  not  suffer 
for  ten  days  or  two  weeks,  even  if  there  is  no 
rain. 

If  the  "new  celery  culture"  is  followed  .(that 
of  close  planting  so  that  the  plants  do  not  need 
banking),  a  great  deal  of  water  will  be  required; 


IS'.VJ 


(.{LEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


841 


howovcr.  tli(>  ainoimt  of  liuul  to  be  irrijralrd  is 
too  small  to. justify  murli  i'\|h'iis(>.  even  llioufili 
vory  I'losc  iToppiiiiX  tir  loilowoil.  In  many  rases 
our  pt'oplc  uso  a  steam  pumi)  for  liftitijij  water, 
with  entire  satisfaction;  hut  tliis  is  too  expen- 
sive for  a  two-acre  trartlen,  unless  the  pump 
could  he  used  for  other  purposes  as  well. 

There  are  many  thiiiRs  to  be  taken  into  ac- 
count in  irrigating  besides  securing  a  supply  of 
water.  Where  the  supply  is  sliort,  the  saving 
of  water  is  a  study  in  itsidf.  The  alvantages 
of  irrigation  sliould  not  be  conceded  to  the  arid 
region  alone.  Irrigation  is  essential  to  com- 
plete success  in  high  pressure  gardening  in  al- 
most any  country.  E.  BitAYTON. 

Tueblo.  Colo. 


LADIES'  Conversazione. 


THE  CONSER  PLAN  OF  NON-SWARMING. 


MKS.    AXTELL   EXPI-AINS   WHAT   tT  IS. 

I  believe  that  the  Conser  plan  of  non-swarm- 
ing will  pay  much  better  than  taking  away  the 
queen.  We  never  could  succeed  in  getting  the 
bees  to  work  so  well  for  comb  honey  (and  that 
is  the  kind  of  honey  we  take,  except  a  very  lit- 
tle extracted  each  year  to  supply  the  few  calls 
we  have  for  it)  as  wlicn  tliey  have  a  vigorous 
laying  queen  in  the  hive.  The  more  vigorous 
the  queen,  the  greater  the  quantity  of  honey 
gathered  from  that  hive.  I  fully  agree  with 
Mr.  Conser  when  he  says,  "No.  indeed;  the 
queen  should  be  kept  at  all  times  at  home  when 
the  bees  are  so  busy  "  as  they  are  in  swarming 
time. 

The  Conser  plan  of  non-swarming  is,  to  ar- 
range a  hatching-box  in  the  center  of  three 
hives,  one  on  either  side  and  one  at  the  back  of 
the  box.  connecting  the  box  with  each  hive  by 
a  ^-inch  tube  between  the;  hive  and  box  about 
the  center  of  the  brood-comb.  In  the  center  of 
the  tube  is  a  queen-excluding  piece  of  zinc  to 
keep  the  queen  from  going  into  the  hatching- 
box.  The  box  is  divided  into  three  apartments 
— one  apartment  for  each  hive.  There  being 
three  together,  there  are  bees  and  brood  enough 
to  keep  each  other  warm  at  that  time  of  the 
year.  Each  apartment  is  covered  with  a  piece 
of  heavy  ducking  that  keeps  two  covered  while 
the  third  one  is  being  manipulated. and  over  all 
is  a  board  cover  like  other  hives.  Each  little 
apartment  has  its  own  entrance  from  th(»  out- 
side. The  hives  should  be  put  into  groups  of 
three  before  swarminir  time  comes,  by  moving 
them  a  few  inclies.  oi-  a  foot,  each  day,  or  by 
placing  them  in  that  position  when  brought 
from  the  cellar;  but  all  should  be  good  coloni(!S, 
and  the  queen  laying  in  the  outside  combs. 

Eight  or  ten  days  before  the  honey  season 
opens  from  white  clover,  stock  the  hatching- 
box  from  brood  from  the  hives  thus  :  Open  one 
of  the  hives  and  hunt  out  the  queen,  and  lift 
out  the  comb  that  she  is  on.  and  hang  it  on  the 
comb-rack,  or  lean  it  against  the  liive  until 
ready  to  place  back.  Take  out  two  combs  tilled 
with  capped  brood  (Hot  unsealed,  but  capped 
brood)  and  place  them  with  the  adhering  b<'es 
in  the  apartment  of  the  hatching-box  that  is 
connected  with  the  liive,  first  closing  up  the 
entrance  of  the  tube  that  leads  back  into  their 
own  hive.  Leave  the  tubes  closed  for  48  hours; 
leave  the  outside  entrance  open — at  least,  we 
did;  but  he  did  not,  in  his  directions  to  us,  say 
whetiier  it  should  be  h-ft  open  or  shut. 

The  comb  the  queen  was  on  should  be  return- 


ed to  her  hive  with  an  empty  comb  placed  on 
each  side  of  the  comb  she  was  on.  Treat  tho 
two  other  hives  in  the  same  way  as  the  one  de- 
scribed. In  eij/htorten  days  the  same  treat- 
ment should  be  gone  over  again,  this  tim(!  using 
the  two  combs  in  the  halching-box,  and  one 
empty  one.  returning  them  to  the  parent  hive 
and  placing  one  on  each  side  of  the  comb  the 
queen  is  on,  as  l)efore,  and  taking  out  three 
combs  of  capped  brood  and  placing  them  in  the 
hatching-box  as  before;  but  the  tube  need  not 
be  clo.sed  this  time,  as  there  will  now  be  bees 
enotigh  that  have  learned  to  stay  in  the  hatch- 
ing-box to  care  for  the  brood.  I  should  think  it 
would  not  be  out  of  place  to  brush  oil'  part  of 
the  bees  when  taken  out  of  the  hatching-box, 
but  he  did  not  direct  us  so  to  do,  and  we  did  not. 

At  this  second  manipulation  place  the  surplus 
cases  on  the  hives,  as  the  hives  are  now  very 
full  of  bees,  and  will  immediately  start  to  work 
in  sections  if  bait  combs  are  given  them.  In 
about  a  week  or  eight  days,  go  over  the  treat- 
ment again,  and  jiut  a  second  surplus  case  on 
under  the  first.  If  the  surplus  cases  were  small 
they  may  need  three  by  this  time  if  honey  is 
coming  in.  From  two  of  the  hives  thus  treated 
we  got  a  few  more  pounds  of  honey  than  from 
any  other  hives  in  the  apiary.  In  the  other 
colony  the  queen  failed,  and  I  took  it  for  grant- 
ed she  was  dead,  as  I  found  queen-cells  and  saw 
no  eggs  or  larva\  so  I  gave  them  a  queen,  and 
at  the  next  manipulation  I  found  cells  and  the 
old  queen,  so  I  broke  up  that  colony.  The  two 
colonies  did  not  swarm.  We  'applied  somewhat 
the  same  principle  to  other  colonies,  that  of  giv- 
ing the  queen  more  room,  none  of  which  swarm- 
ed; but  we  found  queen-cells  in  hives  that  I 
think  had  old  queens;  but  by  taking  out  one 
comb  in  the  center  once  in  six  or  seven  days — 
the  same  comb  each  time  — and  destroying  the 
cells  we  saw.  there  was  no  swarming  from  those 
hives.  We  did  not  look  very  carefully  for  cells. 
I  think  this  year  was  not  a  very  bad  one  for 
swarming.  The  honey  came  in  slowly  at  Hrst, 
and  we  gave  plenty  of  room,  so  they  did  not  get 
the  swarming  fever  badly,  as  in  other  years. 

The  plan  of  giving  an  empty  comb  in  the  cen- 
ter frequently,  and  each  time  taking  the  same 
comb,  as  I  have  mentioned,  and  also  mentioned 
m  this  journal,  works  well,  gives  nearly  as  good 
results  as  the  Conser  plan,  as  that  comb  can  be 
used  to  build  up  nuclei,  and  the  strength  of  the 
colony  is  kept  up  by  th(>  remaining  combs,  and 
the  bees  worked  well  in  th(!  sections.  Our  hive 
is  not  very  well  adapted  to  the  Conser  plan  of 
manipulation,  having  the  closed -end  frames 
resting  on  tiie  bottom- board,  and  hive  clamped 
at  the  side:  but  any  hanging  frame  that  will 
admit  of  frames  being  taken  out  of  the  center, 
would,  1  think,  work  better.  Working  only 
three  hives,  after  the  Conser  plan,  hardly  gives 
a  fair  trial.  I  think  we  shall  want  to  try  more 
another  year  before  fully  deciding,  though  I  am 
satisfied  that  the  queen  needs  more  room  rather 
than  less  than  the  usual  size  of  brood-nest. 
True,  it  leaves  a  very  large  colony  at  th(!  close 
of  the  honey  harvest;  but  they  will  gather 
enough  more  honey  to  make  up  the  difference, 
and  will  (ind  and  store  honey  longer  than  small- 
er colonicrs.  I  believe  that  such  large  colonies, 
if  the  brood-nest  is  left  alone,  will  always,  or 
nearly  always,  have  enough  to  winter  on,  even 
if  the  fall  harvest  is  short. 

The  Conser  plan  is  patented,  or  a  patent  is 
applied  for  ;  but  if  It  works  as  well  as  I  think  it 
will  with  the  hanging  frames,  it  will  soon  pay 
one  who  uses  the  hanging  frame  to  use  it,  even 
if  he  does  have  to  ijay  ten  or  fifteen  dollars  for 
a  sample  hive  and  a  right  to  use  it. 

If  the  plan  itself  does  not  come  into  general 
use  it  may  lead  to  something  that  will.  Even 
if  it  does  not  prevent  <(?<  swarms,  it  would  pre- 


843 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


vent  so  many  that  swarming  would  be  manag- 
ed easily.  True,  in  reading  over  the  plan  it 
looks  as  if  it  were  considerable  work  to  carry  it 
out;  but  it  is  not  so  much  as  if  the  bees  were 
left  alone  to^warm,  and  the  work  can  be  done 
at  one's  leisure,  when  not  in  a  hurry  in  the  heat 
of  the  day,  with  half  a  dozen  swarms  all  need- 
ing to  be  cared  for  at  once. 

If  a  person  has  but  a  few  colonies,  and  wishes 
to  make  the  most  of  them,  I  think  it  will  pay, 
or  some  similar  plan,  so  that  we  can  keep  enor- 
mous colonies  together,  as  they  do  so  much  bet- 
ter work  in  sections,  and  do  not  have  to  be  con- 
stantly watched;  and  if  a  person  has  a  great 
many  colonies,  and  help  is  scarce,  that,  or  a 
similar  plan  or  plans,  will  pay  to  care  for  a  part 
of  the  colonies,  that  the  colonies  that  are  not 
thus  treated  may  be  more  easily  cared  for.  and 
thus  make  swarming  more  easy  for  the  apiarist. 
But  with  all  the  plans  that  are  followed,  we 
must  or  ought  to  have  one  of  the  B.  Taylor,  or 
a  similar  device,  to  catch  the  swarms  if  they 
come  faster  than  we  can  easily  care  for  them.  I 
feel  quite  in  favor,  also,  of  taking  out  a  comb 
of  brood  from  the  center  of  a  few  colonies  every 
few  days  from  the  colonies  that  are  the  most 
difficult  to  watch,  and  the  most  likely  to  lose 
swarms  from.  I  don't  think  it  necessary  to  put 
an  empty  comb  in  each  time.  If  the  lower  half 
is  empty  after  the  second  time  of  changing,  I 
think  it  would  answer.  Such  care  of  colonies 
can  be  taken  in  the  cool  of  the  evening  or  morn- 
ing, and  at  one's  leisure. 

IN  BEE   CULTURE. 
Let  him  who  wishes  to  XL, 

Or  wlio  aspires  to  B  most  Y's, 
Remember  this:   A  Y's  man  O's 

Much  of  his  wisdom  to  his  I's. 

And  he  must  not  liis  ears  XQ's; 

But  ears  must  hear  and  I's  must  C, 
And  lie  must  all  his  senses  U's 

Who  hopes  a  Y's  man  e'er  to  B. 

Mrs.  L.  C.  Axtell. 
Roseville,  111.,  Nov.  1,  1893. 

[The  Conser  plan  of  non-swarming,  if  we  un- 
derstand it  correctly,  is  simply  a  scheme  for  the 
getting  of  populous  colonies  in  small  hives;  and 
the  presence  of  but  little  brood  in  the  hives  at  a 
time,  we  suppose,  takes  away  the  desire  for 
swarming.  ''Ve  question,  however,  whether  the 
plan  will'worK  even  generally;  and  even  if  it 
does  do  so,  the  laDor  and  machinery  involved 
would  be  more  than  the  caring  for  the  swarms 
in  the  ordinary  way.  Just  think  of  hitching 
the  hives  nearer  together  every  few  days  to  get 
them  in  a  triangle,  equally  distant,  and.  after 
that,  shifting  brood-combs  every  ten  or  sixteen 
days  into  the  hatching-box  I  Besides  all  this 
there  is  the  expense  of  the  connecting-tubes, 
and  holes  in  the  sides  of  the  hives.  Even  if  the 
plan  should  secure  more  honey,  the  cost  per 
pound  would  be  much  more  than  by  the  old 
way.  If  our  surmises  are  incorrect,  we  should 
be  glad  to  be  set  right.l 


FUN. 


SENSIBLE   SUGGESTIONS   FROM    MISS   ANNA   B. 
QUILLIN. 


"Oh!  I  just  kn;e  to  do  things  to  shock  peopl<> 
— it  is  such  fun!  and  if  I  don't  do  something  to 
wake  up  this  town  before  I  leave  it,  I  miss  my 
guess." 

So  said  a  gay  young  girl  of  seventeen,  bright, 
attractive,  and  full  of  life;  a  petted,  only 
daugliter,  and  an  heiress  in  her  own  right,  she 
held  what  would  be  considered  by  many  an  en- 
viable position  'n  the  world. 


"  Why,  Marta  Belgravel  you  don't  mean  ta 
say  you  are  going  to  engage  in  any  new  mis- 
chief?" said  one  young  girl  of  the  group,  with 
very  evident  surprise,  both  in  tone  and  manner. 

"And  why  not?"  was  the  reply  of  Marta, 
accompanied  by  a  saucy  toss  of  her  head.  "I 
do  think  this  is  the  most  'dead  and  alive'  old 
place — one  never  can  have  any  fun  here.  Well, 
I  am  not  going  to  '  give  myself  away.'  but  in  a 
week  ontwo  I  am  going  to  have  two  of  the 
jolliest  girls  you  ever  saw.  to  pay  me  a  visit; 
and  then,  look  out  I  if  we  don't  shake  up  this 
old  town,  I'll  be  surprised." 

"Weill  I  should  think  you  had  had  enough 
of  that  sort  of  thing,  Marta,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Oh,  I  am  going  to  have  some  fun,  and  I  don't 
care  what  people  think  of  it.  I  am  going  away, 
and  will  be  gone  all  winter,  so  it  will  not  make 
any  difference  to  me  what  they  say  about  me, 
for  I'll  not  be  here  to  know  it." 

A  number  of  girls  out  shopping  had  met:  and 
as  they  paused  for  a  few  moments  near  tlie  door 
of  a  store,  this  fi-agment  of  their  conversation 
was  overheard;  and  I  wondered  how  many  of 
our  girls  think  as  did  Maria.  Dear  girls,  do 
any  of  you  think  that  it  doesn't  make  any  dif- 
ference what  people  think  or  say  of  you? 
Marta  has  gaini^d  the  unenviable  reputation  of 
being  "rather  wild,"  and  "quite  fast."  Have 
you  ever  thought  it  didn't  make  any  difference 
if  people  considered  you  in  that  light,  and  ap- 
plied those  terms  to  you  ?  Do  you  think  it 
doesn't  make  any  difference  if  you  engage  in 
questionable  "  fun,"— flirt  or  correspond  with 
strangers;  play  practical  jokes:  and  do  various 
mischievous  things  that  may  injure  or  annoy 
others?  My  dear  girls,  one  little  thoughtless 
act.  which  you  may  designate  as  "only  fun," 
may  so  smirch  your  character  that  years  of 
right  living  will  not  efface  the  stain.  It  may 
seem  fun  at  the  time;  but,  oh  the  bitter,  bitter 
fruit  it  may  yield  to  be  eaten  in  the  years  that 
follow! 

There  is  much  to  enjoy  in  life — many  innocent 
pleasures,  and  it  is  right  to  enjoy  them  and 
have  "good  times;"  but  when  there  is  any 
questionable  fun  on  hand,  count  well  the  cost, 
and  be  not  persuaded  to  enter  into  it.  else  the 
time  may  come — yes,  it  is  almost  certain  to  come 
— when  regret  will  be  your  guest.  As  a  certain 
poet  has  expressed  it, 

—  "  the  heart  bleeds. 
And  pale  reg'ret  comes  weltering-  in  tears." 

Esau  sold  his  birthright  for  a  mess  of  pottage. 
Dear  girls,  do  not  run  the  risk  of  losing  your 
good  name  for  what  is  falsely  termed /)/w.  Do 
not  be  too  familiar  with  boys  or  men.  nor  allow 
them  to  be  so  with  you.  Shun  any  one  who 
would  tempt  you  to  do  any  thing  your  parents 
would  not  approve.  And  when  friends  give 
advice,  and  warn  you  of  the  pitfalls  that  may 
beset  your  pathway,  take  it  kindly.  Perhaps 
they  may  not  express  themselves  in  the  kindest 
and  best  manner,  but  you  should  understand 
that  they  speak  because  they  have  your  best 
interest  at  heart,  and  you  sliould  take  it  in  the 
spirit  in  which  it  is  intended.  Do  not  think 
they  are  trying  to  cheat  you  out  of  any  whole- 
some pleasures  when  they  are  only  trying  to 
save  you  from  sorrow  and  suffering. 

Have  respect  for  the  opinions  of  good  people; 
and  to  gain  their  respect,  and  to  deserve  it.  is 
no  light  matter — not  a  matter  to  be  treated  with 
indifference,  but  as  something  to  be  prized. 
Take  this  thought  with  you.  and  remember  it 
always:  A  good  name,  a  pure  character,  is  the 
most  precious  earthly  possession  any  one  can 
have.  Therefore,  dear  girls,  guard  yours  well. 
Anna  B.  Quillin. 

Ipava,  111.,  October,  1892. 


18U2 


(U.KANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


843 


ROSES. 

I>1{.    MIM.I.I!      rKI.1.8     WHAT     UK     KNOWS     AMolI' 
TIIKM;    TItKIU   PHOPAOATION,  KTC. 

In  H  foot-iiolt>  on  \)SXko  774  I  am  "  rpspcctfully 
called  upon  to  iinswci"  some  questions  about 
roses.  Mr.  Editor,  do  yon  roali/.c  wiiat  a  dan- 
g(M"ous  tliinjr  it  would  lio  to  turn  me  loose  on 
the  pages  of  (ii.KANiM.s  with  sneh  a  topic  as 
"RoS'S"?  Why!  it"s  part  of  my  creed,  that 
God  inad(>  the  beautiful  tilings  of  the  world  for 
us  to  enjAy:  and  [  b<'li(ve  that,  if  tlie  l)oys  and 
girls  of  our  homes  were  more  geneially  encour- 
aged to  cultivate  a  taste  for  tlow('rs,  there 
would  be  less  danger  of  their  going  astray  in 
their  search  for  ph^asures. 

Passionately  fond  of  llowers,  of  late  years  my 
attention  has  been  conlined  almost  exclusively 
to  roses.  No  other  llowei-  has  so  many  admir- 
ei-s,  and  it  is  likely  thai,  through  all  time,  the 
rose  will  continue  to  Ih>  queen.  How  I  wish, 
friend  lioot.  you  could  be  heie  when  the  roses 
are  at  their  best  I  I  am  very  sure  you  would 
become  enthusiastic.  Why  I  there 'lasn't  lieen 
a  day  since  roses  began  to  bloom,  with  no  bud 
to  be  seen.  Shortly  after  the  middle  of  May. 
Count  d'Espresmenil  offers  its  first  opening 
buds  with  its  brilliant  green  foliage;  then  an- 
other and  another  of  (he  beauties  opens  out. 
varying  from  pure  white  through  all  the  shades 
of  pink  and  red  to  almost  black,  and,  again, 
from  the  lightest  tint  to  a  substantial  yellow; 
and  when  winter  finally  freezes  up  the  bushes 
solid,  it  will  be  with  here  and  there  a  bud  or 
flower.  .lust  now  I  have  been  out  and  counted 
some  si.xty  buds  in  various  stages  of  develop- 
ment. Some  of  these  will  open  out;  but  as  it  is 
now  the  very  last  of  October,  some  of  them  will 
never  get  to  be  more  than  buds,  for  in  this  cool 
weather  they  develop  very  slowly. 

To  answer  Mrs.  Fisher"s  question,  grafting  is 
very  little  used  in  this  country  in  propagating 
roses.  Hudding  is  somewhat  used,  and  layering 
occasionally,  but  the  great  majority  of  roses 
are  raised  from  cuttings.  Besides  these  four 
ways  of  increasing  roses,  there  is  a  fifth,  and  it 
is  the  way  mine  are  usually  increased — that  is, 
by  buying.  Except  a  few  kinds  that  can  not 
easily  be  raised  from  cuttings,  you  cau  buy 
small  roses  and  have  them  sent  by  mail  for 
about  a  dime  each.  Larger  plants  can  be  had 
for  an  increased  price. 

For  outdoor  culture  you  can  have  almost  any 
kind  of  roses:  but  if  you  live  in  the  North,  the 
perpetuals.  or  hybrid  rcmontants.  are  the  ones 
to  get  for  a  number  of  years'  growth.  Let  me 
cau f ion  you.  however,  that  perpetuals  are  not 
perpetual  in  their  blooming.  They  will  give 
you  a  full  crop  in  June,  and  an  occasional 
bloom  or  set  of  blooms  afterward.  Roses  don't 
bloom  nearly  as  well  on  bushes  as  they  do  in 
catalogues. 

But  I'll  tell  you  a  trick  worth  knowing.  As 
soon  as  the  buds  are  big  enough  to  be  .seen  on 
my  remoiitants.  I  carefully  pick  them  all  off  i)y 
pinching  with  thumb  and  finger  nails,  and  I 
try  to  keeji  them  all  picked  off  till  about  the 
time  the  common  June  or  annual  roses  are 
done  blooming.  In  spin-  of  my  vigilance,  some 
of  them  will  escape  notice  till  they  are  so  largt; 
that  I  have  not  the  h<art  to  pick  them  oft',  .so 
that  quite  a  showing  will  be  left,  giving  nu;  no 
trouble  to  cut  two  bushels  on  a  .Sunday  when 
they  are  at  their  best,  and  from  that  to  one  or 
two  vases  tliroughout  the  season,  to  decorate 
the  church.  You  see.  if  you  allow  them  to- 
bloom  at  their  own  -weet  will  they  will  (;x- 
haust  their  strength,  giving  you  a  mass  of 
bloom  when  everybody  has  roses;  but  if  you 
don't  let  them  bloom  w  hen  they  want  to,  they'll 
keep  at  it  afterward. 


But  it  will  not  do  pick  off  the  l)uds  of  an  an- 
nual bloomer,  for  they  will  not  bloom  out  of 
their  season.  Moss  roses  (and  nearly  all  mosses 
are  annual)  I  cut  back  savagely  in  spring,  cut- 
ting back  half  or  two-thirds  uf  1  h(U)ush.  and 
they  giv(;  finer  blooms,  liesides  riiaking  them 
later.    Mosses  are  among  the  very  hardiest. 

None  of  the  hybrid  remontants  (please  re- 
member that  "remontant"  is  the  right  name 
for  what  are  (juite  commonly  called  "  perpetu- 
als") have  any  shade  of  yellow,  and  I  doubt 
w  hether  there  <'ver  will  be  a  yellow  remontant. 
If  you  want  yellow  ro.ses  outside  of  the  June 
i-oses,  you  must  have  teas.  Although  the  teas 
are  luore  tender  than  the  remontants,  they  are 
more  abundant  bloomers,  and  for  house  culture 
away  ahead. 

Let  me  tell  you  the  secret  of  success  with 
hou5e  roses,  at  least  at  our  house.  It  is,  simply 
to  wash  th(!  plants  at  least  once  a  wcn^k  with 
soapsuds.  Hold  the  plant  over  a  dish-pan  of 
hot  soapsuds,  and  drench  it  thoroughly.  Then 
dissolve  hen  manure  (other  will  do)  in  water, 
and  pour  som(>  of  the  liquid  part  on  the  .soil  in 
the  pot  every  week  or  so. 

You  may  enjoy  I'ooting  some  cuttings.  In 
February,  March,  or  April,  take  a  cutting  two 
or  three  inches  long,  having  on  the  end  of  it  a 
bud  half  blown  or  more:  cut  of!' the  bud,  stick 
the  cutting  in  the  ground,  and  cover  a  tumbler 
over  it. 

There,  I  suppose  that's  all  the  room  roses 
ought  to  have  in  Gleanings,  and  I  haven't  said 
half  I  wanted  to.  .    C.  C.  Mim,ek 

Marengo,  III.,  Oct.  31. 


A  BEGINNER'S  EXPERIENCE  WITH  ROBBING. 

SOME    OF   HASTY'S  EARLY   EXPERIENCE. 


For  some  time  back  E.  E.  Hasty  has  been 

writing  an   interesting  series  of  articles  in  the 

Bcc-/ccepcr.v' RciJ/ew,  entitled  "Comments  on  a 

Beginner's    Day-Book. "     In    the    last    article 

there  is  one  paragraph  that  is  so  interesting 

and  so  well   told  that  we  place  it  before  our 

readers.    The  first  sentence,  in  fine  print,  is  an 

extract,  written  years  ago,  from  the  day-book, 

following  which  is  his  comments: 

"October  5th.  Contracted  the  entrance  to  stop 
robbing'." 

The  apiary  previously  to  any  purchase  had 
been  almost  totally  neglected  for  some  time. 
Where  swarming  prevails  as  it  does  here,  a 
percentage  of  the  colonies  in  the  yard  will  turn 
up  queenless  late  in  the  season,  get  weak,  in- 
fested with  fertile  workers,  and.  very  likely, 
infested  with  larval  bee-moths  also.  A  carni- 
val of  robbing  out  these  new  colonies  had  been 
held  in  my  brother's  apiary,  and  he  was  too 
busy  farming  to  interfere.  I  interfered-  on  one 
occasion,  I  remember.  A  colony  not  far  from 
my  window,  at  which  I  heard  a  rumpus  every 
morning  before  I  was  up.  I  shut  up  tight.  I 
knewMtwas  not  good  for  bees  to  be  shut  up; 
but  I  pitied  this  colony  so— attacked  at  untime- 
ly hours  so  tnany  days  in  succession  and  hold- 
ing out  against  it  notwithstanding  the  disad- 
vantage of  having  no  regular  bottom-board, 
that  I  fixed  things  and  shut  them  in— surely  be 
destroyed  if  I  didn't,  you  know.  Well,  it  turned 
out  that  they  were  not  being  robbed  at  all. 
They  wei-e  simply  a  particularly  enterprising 
nation  of  robbers;  and  the  hot  weatlier,  with 
the  additional  heat  which  they  made  by  trying 
to  get  out.  melted  the  whole  establishment 
down  and  drowned  the  pirates  in  their  own 
stolen    honey  —  a   tolerably    fair    greenhorn's 


844 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  1.5. 


caper.  Aflcr  that  you  can  imagine  I  let  things 
alone:  and  robbing  reached  such  a  pitch  that  a 
good  colony  would  be  attacked  and  the  ground 
covered  with  dead  l)efore  the  assailants  would 
haul  off.  This  seemed  to  be  very  shocking  at 
the  time;  but  at  present  I  do  not  regard  it  in 
exactly  the  same  light.  The  bees  that  got 
killed  trying  to  rob  in  the  fall  are  not  young 
enough  to  last  for  next  spring  work,  I  reckon. 
It  is  better  that  they  clean  out  every  thing  that 
can  not  make  a  royal  fight,  than  that  all  these 
odds  and  ends  of  unseaworthy  colonies  should 
try  the  stormy  Atlantic  of  a  hard  winter  just 
as  they  are  without  keeper's  care  or  comrade's 
cribbage.  But  of  course  I  was  just  right  in 
promptly  putting  each  surviving  colony  in 
shape  to  defend  itself.  And  Apiarius  had  bet- 
ter be  the  robber  whan  robbing  needs  to,  be 
done. 


THOSE  IMPORTED  QUEENS  IN  ftUARANTINE. 


w.  r.  FRAZiER  s  experiencp:. 


"  Quarantined  "  was  one  of  the  fii'st  things  I 
saw  in  Gleanings  of  Oct.  1.5th.  I  had  meant  to 
write  you  that  I  had  found  a  quarantine  not  es- 
pecially conducive  to  the  safe  ai'rival  of  queen>. 
but  had  neglected  it.  I  rec«^ived  my  September 
importation.  It  was  detained  in  quarantine 
about  15  days.  There  was  one  queen  more  than 
half  of  them  that  came  through  alive.  There 
was  quite  a  number  of  orders  awaiting  thi;m. 
which  I  tilled  on  arrival.  After  all  orders  were 
filled  I  had  four  queens  left,  therefore  I  was 
obliged  to  discontinue  the  sale  of  them.  These 
queens  cost  me  about  $3.00  more  tlian  I  got  for 
them:  howc^vei'.  that  cuts  no  figure,  as  such 
things  have  happened  before. 

There  will  be  considerable  hunting  to  find 
some  one  on  whom  to  put  the  blame  for  killing 
the  queens.  Certain  it  is,  the  party  in  Italy 
who  sent  them  is  not  to  blame.  That  impoiaing 
will  be  rather  risky  the  coming  season,  I  do  not 
doubt;  however,  we  can  all  go  to  breeding  the 
golden  bees  and  make  our  fortune. 

My  imported  queens  and  their  daughters  are 
now  quiet,  clustered,  and  have  ceased  rearing 
brood.  I  have  about  five  goldens.  They  have 
from  two  to  three  combs  of  brood.  Whether 
this  is  a  good  thing  at  this  season,  I  leave  for 
practical  bee-keepers  to  judge.  It  would  not 
do  for  me  to  say.  I  am  prejudiced;  I  am  inter- 
ested in  other  bees;  I  import  a  few  dozen  each 
year  from  Italy.  But,  seriously,  I  have  had 
them  for  three  years,  most  of  the  time.  The 
time  I  did  not  have  them  was  in  the  early 
spring,  and  they  always  all  died  in  winter,  ex- 
cept in  the  season  of  ISiKD-'iil.  I  have  never  yet 
taken  a  pound  of  honey  from  them,  and  have 
nearly  always  had  to  feed  them.  I  may  be  out 
of  luck.  May  be  I  get  my  queens  of  the  wrong 
breeder:  but  I  have  bought  of  several,  and  the 
result  has  been  the  same.  In  the  South  these 
bees  may  do  very  well;  but  they  don't  seem  to 
do  here. 

Why  can  we  not  have  a  trial  of  these  bees  ahd 
the  daughters  of  imported  queens  at  some  of 
our  experimer.t  stations,  or  by  sonu^  of  our  large 
honi'y-producers,  or  both?  There  would  be  no 
use  in  having  any  thing  but  a  friendly  contest- 
no  use  betting,  or  donating  any  thing  except  the 
queens.  If  they  are  better  honey-gatherers,  or 
will  make  more  points  by  the  scale  as  adopted 
by  the  North  American  Association,  then  I  wish 
to  purchast!  queens  of  that  strain.  If  the  daugh- 
ters of  imported  queens  score  more,  then  there 
can  be  found  breeders  who  have  them  to  sell. 

Atlantic,  la.,  Oct.  2;.',  1892.     W.  C.  Fkaziei;. 

[We  should  be  very  glad  to  see  the  imported 
Italians  compared  critically  with  our  home-bred 


strains.  We  have  so  far  found  the  imported  to 
be  the  most  uniform  in  mai'kings  and  general 
characteristics.  With  us  they  are  the  gentlest; 
and  while,  perhaps,  not  the  best  honey-work- 
ers, they  are  the  peers  of  any  home  stock.  Some 
may  disagree  with  us;  but  it  should  be  remem- 
bered that  we  have  opportunities  for  compari- 
son equaled  by  no  others.] 


RAMBLE  72. 

HOW     SUNDAY-SCHOOLS     ARE   A    DETRIMENT   TO 
HONEY-PRODIfCriON. 

The  above  statement  may  sound  somewhat 
strange:  and,  though  made  by  the  Rambler, 
who  has  always  been  in  favor  of  and  has  sus- 
tained the  good  moral  work  of  the  Sunday- 
schools,  it  does  not  follow  that  he  is  opposed  to 
Sunday-schools.  On  the  contrai'y  he  hopes 
that  this  ramble  will  strengthen  certain  people 
to  help  along  the  moral  forces.  The  fact,  how- 
ever, remains  that  both  the  secular  schools  and 
the  Sunday-school  have  a  potent  influence  in 
the  above  direction.  Two  miles  northeast,  and 
directly  in  front  of  the  apiary  managed  by  the 
Rambler,  is  the  embryo  town  of  Blooraington, 
on  the  S.  P.  R.  R.  When  I  first  went  out  to 
the  apiary,  nearly  a  year  ago,  there  were  only  a 
few  scattering  houses,  or.  I  should  say,  cabins, 
in  the  brush.  Irrigation  has  been  extended  to 
the  plac(\  and  other  houses  begin  to  dot  the 
plain.  As  soon  as  there  were  a  few  children 
seen  playing  around  the  cabin  doors,  the  par- 
ents, in  most  cases,  being  good  eastern  people, 
bethought  themselves  of  organizing  schools: 
and  though  the  children,  all  told,  numbered 
less  than  40,  a  schoolhouse  18x30— yes.  18x30  is 
what  an  eastern  community  would  build  for  the 
accommodation  of  a  much  larger  number  of 
children — but  here  people  seem  to  have  larger 
ideas,  and  even  the  small  towns  have  splendid 
school-buildings:  and  Bloomington.  not  to  be 
outdone  by  het  neighbors,  built,  not  an  lSx30, 
but  a  •?.3(XX)  schoolhouse.  two  stories  in  height, 
.several  large  rooms,  a  tower,  a  bell.  Hag- pole, 
and  "old  glory  "  proudly  waving  above.  This 
new  structure  for  the  education  of  Young 
America,  and  the  transforming  of  all  nationali- 
ties into  Americans,  had  scarcely  been  sided  up 
and  the  floor  laid  than  the  aforesaid  Sunday- 
school  put  in  an  appearance.  If  the  secular 
school  had  got  started  first,  then  my  statement 
would  have  fitted  that:  but  it  seems  that  tiie 
Sunday-school  is  always  stepping  in  ahead  of 
every  thing  else,  and  drawing  people  toward  it: 
and,  also,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  weather  is 
not  a  disappointing  factor  in  relation  to  out- 
door gatherings,  the  .Sunday-school,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  a  building,  had  just  as  lief  organize 
outdoors. 


STARTING    .\   SUNDAY -SCHOOI,. 

In  my  Sunday-school  experience  in  the  East 
I  have  heard  some  well-meaning  but  purse- 
worshiping  people  advertise  their  disbelief  in 


1802 


».LEANIN(}S  IN  BEE  CUI/rURE. 


S4r 


iiiissi(>n;ir\'  \\nrl<.  ami  iiiaiiy  a  Siiiultvy-scliool 
MiptTiiiti'iiiifiit  lias  laisi'd  a  iiifUKiM'  sum  once  a 
yi-ar  to  send  to  the  hoiiic  mission  to  aid  in  tin' 
fsial>li>lnn<-nl  of  Siuidav  -  scliools  in  the  faf 
West.  Haviiiu  wjtiu'sscii  ilic  laisiiifiof  funds 
on  om-  sidr  of  tlif  oonlincnt.  it.  was  with  genu- 
ine pleasure  tiiat.  I  s\  itiicsscd  tlic  plaiitiuK  of 
tli»' sci'd  in  this  far  wt'SttTu  land.  It  liaiijii'in'd 
in  this  way: 

The  new  sctth-rs  drsii-fd  a  Sunday-school, 
and  an  acont  of  the  home  mission  hapixMicd 
alonir.  Tht'St'  mi>si(iiiari<'s  afc  always  handy. 
They  oan  sih^  what  is  iioinji  to  be  a  new  town  a 
Ions  way  otf.  and  ai'c  ready  to  put  up  with  any 
ini-oiivt'iiicnoe  if  they  ean  only  organize  a  Suii- 
day-seliool.  In  this  case  the  S(>ats  were  boards 
mounted  on  saw-horses  or  nail -kegs,  and  the 
preacher's  desl<  was  a  few  boxes  pih'd  up. 
The  legs  of  the  urchins  dangled  from  the  seats 
tliiit  were  too  high  foi-  them,  and  ,<()nie  were  so 
short  that  they  didnt  dangle  at  ail.  but  their 
toes  stuck  straight  u|)  just  ov<m'  tht;  edge  of  the 
board,  while  they  seemed  to  take  great  interest 
in  the  proceedings.  After  the  Sunday-school 
w  as  organized  the  agent  electrified  the  audience 
by  stating  that  the  Land  and  Water  Co.  had 
offered  ten  acres  of  land,  selling  price  .*1(»0  per 
acre,  and  two  building  lots,  to  the  first  denomi- 
nation who  would  build  a  church:  and  as  his 
denomination  was  well  represented  in  the  set- 
tlement, there  would  be  a  church  ready  for 
occupancy -before  Christmas. 

That's  the  go-aliead  and  hopeful  way  they  do 
business  in  this  country;  and  the  teacliing  I 
wish  to  convey  is.  that  money  devoted  to  the 
hoini'  missionary  work  was  well  invested  in 
this  case,  as  I  have  no  doubt  it  is  in  a  great 
majority  of  cases:  and  the  schools  like  this  one 
became  at  once  .self-supporting.  So.  ray  friend, 
whatever  your  opinion  may  be  in  mi-sionary 
work  in  general,  do  not  fail  to  give  liberal  aid 
to  the  home  mission  cd'  your  respective  denom- 
inations. It  will  aid  to  plant  the  standard  of 
good  morals  in  many  an  embryo  town. 

The  next  point  is  the  cutting  oft'  of  honey 
resources.  In  a  previous  ramble  it  was  stated 
that  the  apiaries  around  this  valley  had,  dur- 
ing the  past  poor  season,  produced  many  tons 
of  honey.  It  was  drawn  mostly  from  the  val- 
ley, which  is  well  covered  with  all  kinds  of 
wild  bushes,  including  sage,  wild  buckwheat, 
and  honey-plants  too  numerous  to  mention. 
Thn  establishment  of  ."^unday-schools  means  the 
rapid  digging  up  of  honey-plants,  and  their 
places  will  be  filled  with  cultivated  lields.  Of 
course,  it  is  a  pleasure  to  see  the  wild  covering 
of  the  plain  rolled  up  like  a  scroll,  and  see  the 
reclaimed  lands  dotted  with  thrifty  homes. 
The  rapidity  with  w  hich  it  is  being  done  is 
shown  by  the  fact  tliat  two  large  colonies  of 
thrifty  and  steady  Dunkards  have  taken  up 
about"  120(J  acres  of  these  lands,  and  will  soon 
commence  digging  and  ini|)roving.  and  proba- 
bly the  first  thing  will  be  the  establishment  of 
a  Sunday-school,  afii'r  their  peculiar  belief. 
\  decline  in  honey  production  will  follow,  and 
it  is  hardly  possible  that  fruit  and  alfalfa  cul- 
ture will  ever  take  the  place  of  the  tnore  pro- 
lific sage  in  the  secn'tion  of  hotiey.  Next  in 
order  will  come  the  conflict  between  the  fruit- 
men  and  the  bees  in  the  foot-hills:  and  I  can 
safely  say  that  the  Sunday-school  is  not  in  this 
Hght:  for  the  man  that  poisons  and  burns  bees 
is  usually  if  not  altogether  outside  of  Sunday- 
sciiool  influence. 

15KES   AM)    FRUIT— THK    I!K.\I.   SITIATION. 

Upon  this  point  of  the  abuse  of  the  rights  of 
bee-keepers  I  have  an  array  of  facts  that  will 
harrow  up  the  sympathetic  feelings  of  every 
bee-keeper  in  the  land.  As  a  prelude  to  fuiure 
articles,  I  wish  to  give  a  brief  account  of  a  visit 


!♦>  (ilendiile  and  the  home  of  Mr.  Woodbury. 
Wiiile  in  Los  Angeles  in  Se|)t<'ml)er.  and  whil<' 
having  a  friendly  chat  with  Mr.  Hrodix-ck. 
who  should  run  against  iis  but  our  old  friend 
and  veteran  bce-kee|)er  Mr.  Corey,  of  Santa 
i'aula  !  Having  a  few  hours  to  be  profitably 
spent.  Mr.  1{.  advised  us  to  nui  out  to  (Ilendale 
and  interrupt  the  <ven  tenorof  Mr.  Woodbury's 
ways:  and  about  10  a.  .m.  found  us  safely  on 
the  ground:  but  instead  of  finding  Mr.  W. 
walking  around  in  a  civilized  way,  we  found 
him  under  ground — or,  in  other  words,  in  tljat 
tunnel  previously  mentioned  in  (Ji.E.^NiNds. 
The  tunnel  had  progres.sed  inward,  and  then 
downward,  like  a  well;  and  down  there  in  the 
water  was  Mr.  Woodbtiry.  Peering  up  he  re- 
marked. *•  W<'ll,  what  can  I  do  for  you?"  But 
before  I  could  tell  him  I  wanted  a  job  at  tun- 
neling. Mr.  Corey  thrust  his  head  over  the 
opening.  It  was  recognized,  and,  "Oh,  hoi 
that's  you!"   came   from   the  well;  and   when 


How  mi:,  woodhuhv  gets  ot'T  of  his  tuxnei,. 

Mr.  C.  said  the  other  head  was  the  Rambler's, 
there  was  another  exclamation,  "  Ah,  ha!"  and 
a  great  kicking  and  splashing  of  water  followed 
as  he  swung  himself  up  to  his  ladder,  which 
was  secured  at  the  top.  and  lacked  several  feet 
of  reaching  the  bottom. 

When  upon  the  surface  we  found  Mr.  W.  a 
very  pleasant  bee- man,  and,  of  course,  the 
apiary  of  about  W  colonies  neatly  arranged  on 
terraces  was  looked  at  and  discussed.  Mr. 
W.  is  not  only  enthusiastic  in  bee-managetnent, 
but  also  in  fruit  culture,  and  has  a  good  show- 
ing of  figs,  oranges,  and  small  fruits.  The 
raspberries  were  bearing  a  second  crop,  and 
we  picked  several  fine  clusters:  and  although 
Mr.  W.  cultivates  raspberries  on  his  ranch, 
without  injury  from  the  bees,  a  neighbor 
was  irritating  him  because  the  bees  were 
destroying  /a-s  raspberries,  and  was  threatening 
all  sorts  of  vengeance  against  them.  ]Mr.  W.'s 
bees  wv.Vi'  the  only  ones  in  sight,  and,  of  course, 
came  in  for  their  share  of  all  of  the  blame. 
The  reason  why  Mr.  W.'s  raspberries  were  un- 
injured in  the' immediate  vicinity  of  the  bees 
was  from  the  fact  that  the  berries  were  picked 
before  they  became  overripe,  while  the  neigh- 
bor allowed  his  berries  to  get  beyond  that  peri- 
od, and  were  really  worthless  for  shipping. 
Still.  Mr.  W.  ottered  to  pay  damages,  and  was 
really  thinking  of  selling  his  bees,  which  were 
a  source  of  considerable  revenue  to  him.  Mr. 
Corey  and  I  strongly  advised  him  to  stand  by 
his  rights  of  priority,  for  he  had  been  on  his 


846 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15.  n 


ranch  several  years,  and  was  among  the  first 
settlers.  We  also  advised  him  to  join  the 
Union  and  let  his  neighbor  run  against  some- 
thing that  might  astonish  him. 

When  we  came  away  we  felt  as  though  we 
had  cheered  up  our  friend,  and  we  hope  he  will 
remain  cheered  up. 

When  we  departed  we  called  upon  a  fruit- 
drying  concern;  and  from  the  foreman,  who  is 
also  interested  in  bees,  we  learned  that,  in  dry- 
ing peaches  or  any  other  fruit  that  is  fumigat- 
ed with  sulphur,  the  bees  seldom  if  ever  touch 
it,  while  the  yellow  wasps  will  continue  their 
depredations.  Our  foreman  threw  in  the  re- 
mark, that  many  fruit- men  didn't  know  the 
difference  between  wasi)s  and  bees,  and  were 
always  n-ady  to  curse  them  all  under  one  head, 
and  put  all  the  blame  on  the  apiary  that  might 
be  in  sight. 

We  stopped  at  the  fruit-drying  camp  for  din- 
ner; and  after  seeing  the  chief  cook  scour  the 
knives  and  forks  by  jabl)ing  them  down  ijito 
the  ground  a  few  times,  we  returned  to  Los 
Angeles,  feeling  well  repaid  for  our  journey,  or, 
at  least,  that  feeling  was  enjoyed  by  the 

Rambler. 


THE  WHEEL  OF  1892. 


WHAT  ITS   PROBABLE     EFFECT   WILL    BE,   PHYS- 
ICALLY,  FINANCIALLY,   AND   MORALI-Y. 


Lest  some  of  the  friends  may  complain  that  I 
am  taking  up  too  much  space  for  the  wheel 
business,  I  wish  to  say  that  we  have  added 
eight  extra  pages  to  this  issue,  in  order  to  make 
up  for  this  long  article  that  seems  to  me  should 
come  in  right  liere,  if  we  expect  to  keep  up  ful- 
ly with  the  times. 

In  taking  up  this  matter,  as  I  feel  moved  to 
take  it  up,  the  first  thing  tiiat  confronts  me  is 
the  fact  that  a  great  part  of  our  people  have 
but  little  money  to  spend  for  wheels  or  any 
thing  else  in  that  line.  Bee-keepers,  as  a  rule, 
have  had  another  poor  season,  and  farmers 
generally,  as  well  as  market-gardeners,  have 
had  a  rather  hard  time.  In  consequence  of  un- 
favorable weather,  the  crops  have  been  poor 
and  labor  has  been  high.  There  seems  to  be  a 
little  discrepancy  here;  and,  by  the  way,  do 
not  these  •' calarnity  "  people  lose  sight  of  this 
very  discrepancy?  If  one  of  the  farmer's 
troubles  is,  that  labor  is  so  high  that  he  can  not 
afford  to  hire  men,  then  surely  the  laborers 
must  be  the  gainers  if  he  is  the  loser.  These 
men,  therefore,  who  work  for  higli  wages  are 
the  ones  who  can  afford  to  buy  the  wheels; 
and  I  believe  it  is  the  class  generally  who  work 
for  wages  who  are  the  owners  of  wheels. 
Notwithstanding  this,  however,  a  great  amount 
of  money  is  being  invested  in  wheels.  As  I 
write,  th(>.  wheel  of  1893  is  a  craze.  Perhaps  I 
should  apologize  for  using  the  word  "  wheel  " 
instead  of  saying  '"Safety  bicycle;"  but  I  feel 
satisfied  that  any  word  that  is  on  the  tongue  of 
so  many  people  so  constantly  should  be  a  short 
one.  Most  of  you  remember  when  we  used  to 
say  "telegraphic  dispatch."  Go-ahead  Young 
Amei'ica,  however,  could  not  tolerate  two  such 
long  clumsy  words,  and  pretty  soon  "  telegram  " 
came  of  itself.  No  one  stopped  to  inquire 
whether  it  was  in  the  dictionary  or  not.  By 
and  by,  even  "  telegram  "  was  too  long  and 
hard  to  remember,  and  now,  at  least  in  busi- 
ness circles,  the  plain  simple  term  "wire  "  has 
taken  its  place.  If  a  man  is  going  rapidly  on  a 
moving  train,  he  can  call  to  liis  friend,  "  Wire 
me  at  my  expense;"  and  there  are  lots  of  such 
contingencies  in  every  busy  man's  life,  where 
he  has  but  a  moment  to  make  his  wishes  under- 
stood.   A  hired  man  is  going  in  one  direction  to 


the  field,  and  another  is  going  in  another  direc- 
tion. Before  they  are  out  of  sight  the  boss 
wants  to  make  suggestions  and  give  orders  to 
both  of  them;  therefore  we  want  plain  simple 
words  that  everybody  may  understand.  For 
this  reason  I  say  "  wheel."  A  few  days  ago  a 
traveling  man,  a  strangei',  left  a  pair  of  valua- 
ble gloves  on  our  lunch  counter.  One  of  the 
waiters  brought  them  to  me  just  as  his  carriage 
was  disappearing  in  the  distance,  drawn  by  a 
couple  of  smart  ponies.  I  stood  with  the  gloves 
in  ray  hand,  my  mouth  wide  open,  waiting  to 
decide  what  to  do.  Somebody  sang  out,  "  Jump 
on  your  wheel  I"  Almost  before  the  words  were 
out  of  his  mouth  I  was  pushing  on  the  pedals. 
I  kept  him  in  sight  enough  so  I  could  see  him 
turn  the  corner,  then  the  team  started  rapidly 
down  a  decline.  By  this  time  I  was  just  flying. 
I  could  not  make  him  hear,  so  I  outstripped  his 
ponies,  and  ran  in  front  of  him  while  he  was 
going  down  a  pretty  steep  hill  at  a  pretty  good 
rate.  He  was  a  good  deal  surprised  when  I 
brought  his  team  to  a  standstill,  and  I  was  too 
much  out  of  breath  to  do  any  thing  more  than 
extend  to  him  his  gloves.  -Now,  there  are 
thousands  of  times  in  life  when  the  wheel  will 
help  us  out  of  such  emergencies.  It  afforded 
me  no  little  gratification.  I  assure  you,  to  dis- 
cover that  I  could,  when  circumstances  make  it 
necessary,  "run  faster  than  a  horse;"  and  I 
sometimes  tell  the  friends,  after  I  have  made  a 
long  trip,  that  I  can  not  only  run  away  from  a 
horse,  but  that  I  can  almost  eat  like  one.  If 
the  latter  expression  is  too  sla,ngy,  you  can  skip 
that  part  of  my  talk. 

So  much  by  way  of  introduction.  It  illus- 
trates, however,  that  the  wheel  is  destined  to 
be  something  more  than  a  craze.  The  results 
secured  by  it  are  too  substantial  and  important 
to  be  a  craze  and  nothing  more.  Last  week 
Mr.  Calvert  wanted  to  attend  a  church  confer- 
ence, nine  miles  distant.  He  did  not  wish  to  be 
out  of  the  office  any  longer  than  necessary.  He 
made  the  distance  on  his  wheel  in  just  45  min- 
utes, notwithstanding  he  weighs  174  lbs.,  and  a 
sprained  ankle  has  been  troubling  him  for  two 
years  past,  making  it  very  difficult  for  him  to 
walk  even  half  a  mile.  In  fact,  physicians 
have  been  telling  him  for  a  few  months  back, 
that,  if  he  keeps  on  his  feet  as  he  has  been  do- 
ing, he  must  submit  to  a  painful  surgical  oper- 
ation. Well,  his  sprain  has  iVn proved  since  he 
lipgan  riding  the  wheel  instead  of  going  on  foot. 
The  philosophy  of  it  seems  to  be  in  the  fact 
that  tlie  weight  of  the  body  is  supported  on  the 
wheels.  The  wheels  have  pneumatic  tires, 
and  the  ball  bearings  have  been  so  perfected 
that  the  wheels  probably  move  with  less  fric- 
tion than  any  thing  the  world  ever  knew  of  un- 
til within  recent  times.  As  a  piece  of  mechan- 
ism this  modern  wheel  is  the  achievement  of 
the  present  age.  You  may  say  a  horse  and 
buggy  will  do  at  least  pretty  nearly  as  well; 
but  it  takes  a  good  deal  of  time  to  hitch  up  a 
horse;  and  it  is  rather  expensive  to  keei)  one  so 
that  you  may  have  it  ready  at  hand  to  be 
hitched  up.  While  the  wheel  costs  almost  as 
much  (that  is,  it  does  just  now)  as  a  moderate- 
priced  horse  and  buggy,  it  requires  no  hitching 
up,  no  feed,  and  there  can  not  very  well  be  any 
cruelty  to  animals  ta  attach  to  it,  even  if  for- 
gotten and  neglected. 

Probably  one  of  the  great  results  brought 
about  by  the  wheel  will  be  that  one  may  live 
five  or  ten  miles  out  of  the  city,  and  easily  be 
on  hand  during  business  hours,  and  that,  too, 
without  any  expense  worth  mentioning.  Of 
course,  we  must  have  better  roads  than  we  find 
in  country  districts  or  country  towns,  if  we  ex- 
pect to  use  the  wheel  in  all  kinds  of  weather. 
And  this  wheel  business  has  already  awakened 
our  people  to  the  fact  that  one  of  the  greatest 


1892 


(ir.RANINUS  IN  HKE  (.;U  LTLIRK. 


SJT 


\vas(t>S(if  the  picsi'ut  lime  is  in  permitting  our 
roads  to  bt'iii  suoli  sininicfui  coiHiitioii  as  Micy 
anMiiiriiiff  a  ureat  pan  of  llic  ycai'.  Ordinary 
country  roails.  Iiowcvn',  answer  very  well  foi- 
thi'  w  iiccl  wlicn  it  is  not  inudiiy.  I  have  my- 
self made  45'.j  miles  in  a  day!  without  any 
fatigue  worth  mentioning.  Ernest,  as  you 
know,  easily  niaki-s  (K)  or  75:  and  exports,  un- 
der favoralilo  (.'iriMimsianees,  make  not  only  KX) 
miles,  hut  •.'()()  and  even  moic  liave  Ix'cn  made 
in  spei'ial  eases.  The  w  heel  will  enal)le  us  to 
save  money  in  many  \\  ays.  On  |)age  (ITC)  I  told 
you  ahout  my  nice  litlh'  field  of  liuckwheat  that 
did  not  got  sown  until  .luly  liOlh.  It  was  cut  in 
just  (M)  days  from  the  time  of  sowing.  When 
the  crop  was  very  fairly  cured,  and  n^ady  to 
thrash.  1  noticed  the  barometer  was  falling 
rapidly,  indicating  a  storm.  It  was  Saturday 
afternoon.  Four  miles  away,  somcl)ody  told 
me,  they  were  thrashing  buckwheat  that  very 
day.  I5y  the  aid  of  my  wheel  I  was  on  the  spot 
in  twenty  or  thirty  minutes.  They  told  me 
that,  if  my  load  of  buckwheat  could  be  run  up 
by  the  machine  by  two  o'clock,  they  would 
thrash  it  for  mc  and  I  conld  take  it  right  back 
home.  The  buckwheat,  grain,  and  straw,  were 
driven  into  the  tool-sliiHl  just  before  the  rain 
commenced  falling,  and  I  secured  at  tlie  rate  of 
over  ">()  bushels  of  nice  grain  pen-  acre.  The 
next  day  after  the  rain,  Ihe  ground  was  har- 
rowed up  with  the  cut-away  harrow,  and  rye 
took  the  place  of  the  buckwheat.  Somebody 
has  called  this  a  fast  age.  Well,  the  wheel  will 
help  us  to  make  it  a  fast  age,  and  U  ^vlll  help 
us  to  secure  our  property  speedily  from  storms 
and  other  vicissitudes. 

Outdoor  riding  and  outdoor  buggy-riding  and 
horseback-riding  have  been  recommended  for 
ages  for  the  health:  and  very  much  has  been 
accomplished  in  this  way.  Outdoor  air  is  un- 
questionably far  ahead  of  any  system  of  venti- 
lation for  rooms  warmed  by  artificial  heat:  and 
horseback-riding  has  given  much  better  results 
than  buggy-riding  becau.se  of  the  thorough 
shaking  up  and  the  exercise  to  a  certain  extent 
given  to  the  rider.  But  horseback-riding  is  not 
for  a  moment  to  be  cotn pared  to  riding  a  wheel. 
To  get  the  best  results  from  outdoor  air.  the 
rider  needs  to  take  the  pUice  of  the  horse,  and 
furnish  the  motive  power.  Vou  may  say  that 
many  patients  are  unalile  to  stand  such  vUdent 
exercise.  But  it  need  not  be  violent.  On  a 
smooth  level  road  it  is  much  easier  than  walk- 
ing— that  is,  if  you  ride  slowly.  Of  course,  there 
is  a  constant  temptation  to  ride  fast  when  you 
can  do  so;  but  for  some  strange  reason  that  I 
can  hardly  explain,  I  have  never  yet  heard  of 
anybody  who  suffered  because  he  rode  too  fast 
or  too  far.  He  may  have  been  pretty  well  used 
up  for  the  tihie  being:  but  sleep,  food,  and 
drink,  restore  one  so  quickly  that  it  .seems 
almost  too  good  to  be  true.  I  have  been  told 
there  is  only  one  disease  for  which  the  wheel 
is  not  to  be  advised,  and  that  is  heart  di.sease. 

And  now  a  word  in  regard  to  the  moral  results 
that  may  be  expected.  The  following,  which 
we  clip  from  the  B'lcydbig  World  of  Oct.  7,  has 
been  going  the  rounds: 

Says  the  Chrialinn  Socctorjy,  of  Hartford :  "Tlie 
great  enemy  of  a  proper  nbservance  of  the  SabVjatli 
Is  not  the  saloon,  great  :is  tliat  is:  it  is  tlie  bicycle. 
It  Is  our  opinion,  that  the  bicycle  causes  more 
young  men  to  nefrlect  church  and  Sunday-school 
than  almost  any  thing  else." 

I  am  very  well  awar«!  that  there  is  a  great 
deal  of  Sunday  riding.  A  young  friend  of  mine 
rode  127  miles  in  one  day.  and  that  without 
feeling  it.  so  he  said;  and  then  added,  in  a  little 
lower  tone,  that  that  day  was  Sunday.  I  ftdt, 
of  course,  very  sad  to  liear  him  say  it.  and  I 
have  felt  sad  to  notice,  through  the  BicycliiKj 
World,  accounts  of  century  clubs,  or  clubs  who 


have  made  a  hundi'ed-nule  lide  in  a  day,  and 
see  the  remark  that  so  numy  of  these  rides  wt're 
made  on  Sunday.  It  is  a  well-known  fact,  tliat 
livei-y  stables  do  more  business  on  Sunday  than 
on  any  other  ilay  in  the  week.  .\nd  I  presume 
this  is  trui'  north,  south,  east,  and  west.  It  is 
wrong,  and  it  ought  not  to  be;  and  their  pat- 
rons, as  a  matter  of  course,  are.  very  few  of 
them.  Christian  people.  Ministers  do.  perhajis. 
to  some  extent,  patronize  livei'y  stables  to  reach 
theii'  api>ointments:  anil  in  cases  of  sickness  it 
is  uniiuestionably  right  to  go  to  a  livery  stable: 
for  even  tin-  Master  himself  said,  '"  It  is  lawful 
to  do  well  on  the  Sabbath."  A  great  part  of 
the  world  will  persist  in  regarding  Sunday  as  a 
holiday;  and  to  have  a  good  time,  they,  of 
cour.se,  want  to  ride  out  into  the  country  or  at- 
tend the  various  gatherings  or  excursions  that 
of  late  have  been  geiting  to  be  so  much  of  a 
custom  to  be  held  on  Sunday.  Now.  right  here 
the  wheel  comes  in.  It  takes  the  place,  to  a 
certain  extent,  of  horse  and  buggy.  If  some- 
body is  in  pursuit  of  enjoyment  simply,  and  his 
solemotive  is  to  have  a  good  time,  without  any 
regard  to  the  Sunday  question,  he  will,  of 
course,  learn  to  ride  the  wheel.  He  very  soon 
discovers  that,  if  he  wants  to  have  an  enjoyable 
time,  nothing  else  in  this  world  can  so  add  or 
contribute  to  the  enjoyment  as  riding  on  the 
wheel.  If  there  is  to  be  a  VUnner,  and  you  wish  to 
enjoy  it,  just  ride  an  hour  or  two  before  eating. 
The  faster  you  ride,  the  more  you  will  enjoy 
your  dinner'.  If  there  is  to  be  sight-seeing,  or 
if  you  are  going  to  visit  a  circle  of  friends  or 
boon  companions,  nothing  that  has  ever  been 
discovered  will  make  you  so  bright  and  good- 
natured  as  a  good  long  ride  on  the  wheel.  Yes, 
we  may  go  further:  If  a  minister  wants  to 
preach  a  good  sermon,  or  if  a  teacher  wants  to 
do  justice  to  his  clas.ses.  nothing  else  in  the 
wide  world  will  so  wake  him  up  and  stimulate 
him  to  do  his  very  level  best,  as  this  new  sort  of 
muscular  exercise,  to  be  taken  in  the  open  aii'. 
May  be  the  CJirlstinn  Secretary  did  not  mean 
to  compare  the  bicycle,  in  point  of  morals,  with 
the  saloon:  and  perhaps  the  editor  had  no 
thought"  of  saying  that  the  wheel  bids  fair  to 
be  as  deraoraliihm  in  its  tendency  as  the  saloon: 
but,  dear  Christian  friend,  just  think  of  that 
expression  as  it  stands.  The  saloon  no  doubt 
calls  men.  old  and  young,  from  our  churches; 
but.  by  the  way.  is  it  not  a  mighty  step,  a 
mighty  stride,  for  instance,  from  church-going 
to  saloon-going?  It  hardly  seems  as  if  such  a 
step  as  that  is  madefall  at  once.  My  experience 
teaches  me  that  it  comes  more  about  in  this 
way:  The  church-goer  begins  to  find  fault  with 
the  minister  and  his  preaching;  ♦hen  he  goes  to 
picking  at  Christians,  and  claims  they  are  not 
what  they  ought  to  be.  Pretty  soon  he  says  he 
can  stay  at  homi;  andrread,  and  get  more  good 
than  he  can  by  going  to  church.  Then  he  be- 
comes tired  of  staying  indoors,  and  feels  that 
he  would  like  to  cultivate  the  social  element. 
He  strays  over  to  the  neighbor's,  then  gets  out 
on  to  the  streets,  and  Jinally  patronizes  the  sa- 
loon. Perhaps  some  of  our  young  nien  are  de- 
bating whether  they  shall  attend  church,  as 
conscientious  and  good  people  direct,  or  whelh-  ■ 
er  they  shall  go  where  they  can  have  most  fun 
for  the  time  being.  In  this  case  it  may  be  that 
the  church  and  saloon  both  hold  out  induce- 
ments in-  one  sense  of  the  word.  Suppose, 
however,  this  new  craze,  the  wheel,  comes  in 
right  here.  He  goes  neither  to,"the  church  nor 
to  the  saloon.  He  goes  of!'  into  the  country,  on 
a  wheel- ride.  1  do  not  say  that  this  is  the 
thing  to  do.  mind  you,  for  I  feel  sad  to  .see  any 
young  man  go  out  on  his  wheel  on  Sunday  be- 
cause he  can  not  afford  to  take  the  time  week 
days.  But  let  us  go  back  to  the  question. 
Where  would  you  rather  have  a  boy  of  yours 


848 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


found  on  Siindaj-— in  the  saloon  or  off  in  the 
country,  on  a  wheel?  Of  course  you  would 
rather  have  him  at  (  burch  and  iSunday-school 
than  at  either  of  the  places.  But  suppose  it  is 
either  the  wheel  or  the  saloon.  Is  there  any 
one  who  can  for  a  moment  think  of  calling  one 
as  good  as  the  of/if  r/  If  he  goes  to  the  saloon 
he  has  already  braved  conscience  and  public 
opinion.  He  knows,  without  being  told,  that 
he  is  on  the  road  to  ruin.  He  voluntarily  seeks 
the  society  of  the  lowest  and  most  depraved? 
But  is  it  so  with  the  wheel  ?  A  great  part  of 
wheel-riding  is  done  in  no  company  at  all:  in 
fact,  it  is  hard  work  to  keep  side  by  side  with  any 
one.  If  you  get  too  close  you  are  liable  to  have 
a  collision;  and  when  any  part  of  your  wheel, 
your  body,  or  even  your  clothing,  touches  any 
thing,  you  lose  your  center  of  gravity  and  down 
you  go.*  The  saloon  is  social  in  its  tendencies. 
For  reasons  given,  the  wheel  can  never  be  very 
social— that  is,  while  you  are  riding.  The  sa- 
loon favors  late  hours:  the  wheel  emphatically 
directs  that  all  riding  be  done  by  dayliglit.  It 
is  dangerous  to  ride  after  dark,  especially  in 
the  country.  The  wheel  takes  you  out  into  the 
free  open  air,  usually  into  the  country,  araid 
the  trees  and  green  fields,  and  God's  clear  sky. 
The  surroundings  are  calculated  to  ennoble, 
and  this  wonderful  new  exhilaration  from  ve- 
hement exercise  stimulates  one's />e.sf  thoughts 
and  feelings.  It  is  the  greatest  encouragement 
I  ever  felt  toward  godliness.  In  fact,  it  leads 
one  to  look  u])  to  God  with  gratitude  and 
thanksgiving.  The  atmosphere  of  the  saloon, 
physically  and  morally,  tends  to  W7/  spiritual- 
ity. I  believe  the  tendency  of  the  wheel  is  to 
encourage  a  healthy,  wholesome  spirituality. 
I  am  sorry  tliat  our  boys  are  riding  so  much  on 
Sunday:  but  if  the  wheel  is  going  to  be  the 
means  of  drawing  our  boys  out  of  the  saloons 
on  Sunday,  I  feel  that  it  is  inducing  them  to 
make  a  tremendous  step  in  a  hetter  direction. 
If  we  can  get  our  boys  into  the  open  air.  I 
think  our  chances  are  ever  so  much  lietter  for 
saving  them.t  I  have  wondered  what  our  young 
men  have  said  when  they  met  this  paragrnph 
in  the  BicycWKj  World.  I  am  inclined  to  think 
they  have  said  to  themselves,  "Why.  that 
Christian  Secretary  is  an  old  mossback.  He 
has  stayed  cooped  up  in  his  office  so  long  that 
he  does  not  even  know  wliat  is  going  on  in  this 
great  country  of  ours."  And  by  the  way.  dear 
friends,  I  do  fear  that  a  good  niany  of  Uv«  who 
are  professing  Christians  are  in  great  danger  of 
meriting  the  title  of  "  mossback."  When  the 
Endeavor  Society  was  first  started,  the  biggest 
part  of  our  ministers,  and  perhaps  the  greater 
l)art  of  onr  old  deacons,  frowned  on  the  new 
venture,  and  I  myself  was  guilty  of  suggesting 
that  we  had  organizations  and  societies  enotigh. 
We  turned  a  cold  shoulder  toward  it,  and  ser- 
mons were  delivered  in  some  pulpits  against  it. 
But   the  movement  was  of  ^Tor7'.s-   appointment. 


*  It  is  sulci  tliat  a  very  polite  wheel  rider  once  sim- 
ply l)ruslied  a  lady's  arm  while  he  was  riding-  by  the 
side  i)f  a  canal.  It  threw  him  out  of  l)alaiice,  and 
down  lie  went  iiitci  the  water,  and  under  it.  As 
soon  as  he  could  get  his  head  above  the  liquid  he 
blubbered  out  an  apology  for  his  rudeness  in  having- 
ridden  so  near  her. 

•♦-Once  more:  It  is  just  beginning  to  be  discovered 
that  experts  on  the  wheel  must  not  u.se  either 
strong  drink  nor  tohacc-o.  The  man  wlio  uses  to- 
bacco will  surely  fall  behind;  and  I  believe  that 
quite  a  few  of  those  who  ride  wheels  have  abandon- 
ed tobacco  on  this  account.  Tobacco  strikes  a  sure 
and  deadly  blow  at  the  best  muscular  development. 
May  the  Lord  be  praised  that  we  are  .iust  beginning 
to  find  this  out.  I  have  before  spoken  of  the  fact 
that  those  who  make  great  rides  on  the  wheel 
choose  milk  in  place  of  alcoholic  drinks  or  even  tea 
and  cofifee. 


and  not  of  man's,  and  it  pushed  through  all 
opposition,  and  it  astonished  the  world  by 
showing  what  it  could  do  and  what  it  is  doing. 
Now.  I  believe  the  wheel  too  is  of  God— a  won- 
derful and  precious  gift  to  the  present  century. 
Why,  just  think  of  it  I  almost  everybody  must 
do  miles  and  miles  of  walking.  Business  men 
spend  a  great  part  of  their  lives  in  walking. 
They  wear  out  their  boots  and  wear  out  their 
bodies  in  slowly  tramping  here  and  there.  A 
man  can  walk  four  miles  an  houi-;  and  even 
four  miles  an  hour  is  very  fatiguing  to  many 
people.  With  the  wheel,  eight  miles  an  hour 
is  a  slow  gait.  With  fair  roads,  almost  any 
one  can  make  twelve,  and  the  boys  often  make 
sixteen  without  a  bit  of  trouble.  Ernest  rode 
five  miles  in  sixteen  minutes,  and  I  presume  he 
could  liave  gone  five  miles  more  in  the  next 
sixteen,  without  a  bit  of  trouble.  This  was  on 
a  smooth  race- track,  however:  but  the  road 
was  not  a  bit  better  than  most  of  our  country 
roads  sliould  be,  and,  I  verily  believe,  will  be. 
Just  think  of  iti  when  you  are  in  a  hurry,  and 
it  is  desirable  for  you  to  see  a  good  many  peo- 
ple in  a  short  time,  with  tlie  wheel  you  can 
almost  annihilate  distance.  Best  of  all,  when 
you  come  to  talk  to  somebody  on  business  you 
are  in  a  good  frame  of  mind.  In  fact,  it  is  a 
daily  surprise  to  me  to  find  that  there  is  an 
invention  right  here  before  us  that  will  make  a 
sour  and  crabbed  man  good-natured.  Yes,  I 
have  purposely  tried  the  experiment  of  getting 
on  the  wheel  just  before  supper-time,  wlien  1 
felt  weak  and  nervous,  and  fidgety  and  cross. 
I  have  tried  it  when  I  felt  sure  that  nothing  in 
the  world  could  help  me.  In  half  an  hour  I 
was  strong,  well,  bright,  happy,  and  cheer- 
ful, and  pleasant  to  my  wife  and  children. 
May  be  this  is  making  a  confession.  Can't 
help  it;  it  is  too  good  (not  too  good  to  be  true) 
to  keep  to  myself.  Our  boy  Hitber.  only  nine 
years  old,  takes  the  same  wheel  that  I  ride, 
and  runs  all  over  the  country  with  it,  even 
though  he  can  not  touch  the  pedals  with  his 
feet  much  more  than  half  the  way  round.  Aft- 
ei'  school  he  gives  us  a  series  of  gymnastic  per- 
formances out  in  the  street  between  the  house 
and  factory.  The  wheel  stands  still  for  him — 
at  least,  it  looks  as  if  it  did.  While  he  climbs 
on,  it  looks  as  if  he  were  going  up  a  series  of 
steps  upstairs.  Then  he  gets  first  on  one  side 
and  then  on  another:  puts  his  feet  over  the 
handle-bars,  side-saddle  fashion,  stands  upon 
the  pedals  without  sitting  on  the  seat  at  all, 
and  yet  I  can  not  remember  that  we  ever  saw 
him  get  a  fall.  When  suppertirae  comes  he  is 
rosy  and  happy  from  the  exercise  that  it  gives 
him.  A  few  days  ago  a  man  was  wanted  who 
was  about  a  mile  and  a  half  away.  It  was  over 
some  pretty  long  steep  hills,  but  Huber  thought 
he  could  master  them.  He  did  the  errand  and 
was  back  so  soon  that  I  scarcely  missed  him 
from  his  play.  It  is  the  nicest  and  most  whole- 
some sport  in  the  world  for  cliildren,  and  th(U-e 
is  real  utility  in  the  sport.  It  brings  all  man- 
kind closer  together.  At  our  prayer-meeting 
last  week  some  of  the  old  people  asked  what 
should  be  done  with  restless  hoys  who  want 
exercise,  and  who  want  to  go  out  into  the 
country  on  Sunday.  I  ventured  the  suggestion 
that  the  boys  should  be  permitted  to  get  on 
their  wheels  and  go  to  a  Sunday-school  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  just  two  miles  away. 
I  said  that,  if  the  boys  would  take  a  seat  in  oin^ 
of  the  classes,  and  listen  to  the  instruction,  and. 
as  soon  as  school  is  out,  ride  straight  home,  I 
should  not  fear  that  such  an  amount  of  Sunday 
riding,  and  for  such  a  purpose,  would  result  in 
any  thing  bad. 

A  little  way  back  I  spoke  of  a  race- track 
where  our  boys  do  a  great  deal  of  riding.  It  is 
true,  we  have  wheel-racing  like   horse-racing; 


1  SiVJ 


(;li<:aiMN«;s  in  hkk  (■ui/ruuK. 


MO 


Itiii  so  fill'  iIh'  1.1'aj.nir  of  Amciifiiii  Wlu'clincii 
liavi'  so  v(>luMiitMitly  (tpposiMl  an.v  lii'ltiiic  or 
)Ziiiiil)linK  tliat  MO  I'iisli  pri/rs  have  as  yd  Ihmmi 
allowod  -tlial  is.  amont:  the  Icafiiir.  'I'lir  man 
or  hoy  is  expelled  who  is  rouitd  ijiiilly  of  het- 
tiiig  or  framhlinir.  or  even  rimniiiK  for  a  cash 
nrizt'.  The  prizes  are.  all  of  them,  soiiielhiiif; 
npsidos  cash,  and  the  \viiiiM>r  is  put  uiidei-  honds 
not  l»>  sell  his  prizes.  Sctmeofthem  have  al- 
ready a  dozen  wiieels:  and  tlie  qneslion  is.  wiial 
they  ar(Mo  do  with  them.  I  ihinU  our  leasne 
should  he  commended  and  encouraged  in  its 
steady  and  persistent  stand  against  gambling, 
or  running  for  money  priz(^s. 

Now  just  a  word  in  n  i.Nird  to  the  expense  of 
wheels.  When  sewing-machines  (irst  came 
around,  they  cost  from  ^=7.')  to  •*!()()  that  is.  a 
good  one  did.  In  course  of  time,  however,  ma- 
chines equally  good,  if  not  the  same  thing, 
were  sold  for  si2  and  •■<1.").  I  think  there  is  no 
((uestion  but  that  the  same  thing  will  be  true 
in  regard  to  wheels.  At  the  present  tinu'.  how- 
ever, there  seems  to  lie  dilhcnlty  in  making  a 
really  substantial  wheel  for  much  loss  than 
from' ?12.")  to  Sl5().  Manufacturers  give,  as  an 
excuse  for  these  high  (irices.  that  they  are 
obliged  to  warrant  wheels,  no  inatter  how 
much  tiiey  are  banged  and  slammed  about  by 
beginners.  My  own  wln'cl  has  received  knocks 
already  that  it  would  seem  the  best  of  iron  or 
steel  could  scarcely  be  expected  to  endure. 
There  have  been  some  trifling  breaks,  but  in 
every  case  a  new  piece  has  come  promptly, 
without  charge,  to  replace  the  broken  one. 
Now,  then,  instead  of  condemning  the  modern 
wheel,  and  calling  it  a  piece  of  the  Devil's 
machinery,  shall  we  not  take  it  as  a  gift  of  God. 
and  strive  by  every  means  in  our  power  to 
have  it  used  in  a  way  that  may  glorify  his 
holy  name? 

Before  closing,  permit  m<^  to  say  a  word  to 
those  who  meet  wheels  on  the  roads,  and  feel  it 
to  be  a  nuisance  to  turn  aside  a  little  to  give 
them  room.  A  good  Christian  man  of  my  ac- 
(piaintance  seemed  a  littU;  surprised  a  few  days 
ago  because  I  expected  him  to  givi'  me  a  part 
of  the  road  liecause  the  hubs  were  so  rough 
outside  of  the  beaten  track  that  no  wheel  could 
be  expected  to  go  over  them.  He  said,  as  I 
passed  them.  "  Why  I  has  a  body  got  to  turn  out 
of  thi-  road  for  them  things?"  I  confess  that  it 
may  seem  that  it  is  asking  too  much  to  expet-l 
a  big  heavy  team  to  turn  out  of  the  beaten 
track  .just  to  let  a  wheel  go  by.  Hut.  dear 
friends,  please  remember  that,  even  though  a 
wheel  can  outstrip  a  horse,  the  rider  is  not  ex- 
pected to  possess  the  brute  streiujt)!  of  a  horse. 
It  is  a  nmn's  muscles  against  a  horse's  muscles. 
Which  is  the  best  able  to  get  out  of  the  beati'U 
track  wliere  it  is  a  little  rough?  I  think  I 
might  have  turned  out  and  given  my  friend 
the  whole  road:  but  it  would  have  refpiired 
immense  strength  on  m\  part,  and  have  given 
me  a  pretty  thorough  jolting  besides.  Where 
the  sides  are  tolerably  -mooth.  I  prefer  to  turn 
out:  and  where  I  meei  a  team  witli  a  great 
load  I  often  dismount  rathcrr  than  put  them 
to  much  trouble.  Ordinary  Christian  courtesy 
should  dictate  what  is  jjroper.  In  many  towns 
wheels  have  been  banished  from  the  sidewalk 
by  ordinance.  Crowding  us  out  of  the  public 
highway  filsn  would  be  a  little  unkind.  'J'he 
law.  I  believe,  has  pronounced  the  wheel  a  v<v 
hide:  and  every  vehicle  of  whatever  descri()- 
tion  is  entitled  by  law  in  half  of  the  road.  Of 
course,  we  meet  coarse,  greedy,  unfeeling  peo- 
ple. r)urown  State  of  Ohio  is  guilty  of  having 
a  man  of  this  latter  cla-s.  who  would  not  give  a 
lady  rider  part  of  the  road:  and  when  he  had 
crowded  her  ofT  to  wh<re  the  road  was  rough, 
he  drove  his  wagon  over  her  wheel,  after  .she 
had  fallen  in  trying  to  turn  out  for  him.    After 


that  he  refused  lo  permit  her  u  1 1  to  be  plac- 
ed on  his  load  till  she  coulfl  get  lo  the  neari'st 
town.  The  lea"ue  took  the  matter  up.  however, 
and  I  presume  our  stupid  frii'nd  has  found  out 
ere  thistnat  wheelicfij/ir/i.  at  least,  have  rights. 

/-(Wrr.  -Carrying  packages  and  even  burdens 
on  the  wheel  is  another  mattt^r  that  is  almost 
undeveloix'd  as  yet.  My  attention  was  first 
called  to  i<  when  I  saw  a  young  man  not  twenty 
years  old  lak'e  a  girl  wlio  wi  ighs  so  or '.to  pounds, 
iettmg  her  stand  witli'her  feet  on  the  coasting- 
rests,  and  leaning  back  on  th(>  handle-bar. 
He  carried  her  around  without  any  ajiparent 
effort  for  sonu'  little  time.  Some  of  yon  may 
sugg(>s1  that  it  is  easier  to  carry  a  nice-looking 
girl  weighing  so  or  HO  pounds  than  it  is  a  pack- 
age of  merchandise  that  weighs  only  :'.(»  or  40. 
This  may  be  true;  but  I  have  been  having  fun 
lately  in  carrying  our  mail  to  the  postoTlice. 
We  are  half  a  luile  froiu  the  office,  and  it  is 
necessary  to  make  five  trips  during  each  24 
hours.  We  used  to  hire  a  small  boy.  and  some- 
times it  took  him  an  hour  to  go  to  tlie  postoflice 
with  his  wheelbarrow,  do  a  few  ei-rands.  and 
return.  Before  I  knew  it  one  of  our  older  boys 
was  carrying  and  bringing  the  mails  on  his 
wheel.    One  day  I  S|)oke  almost  reprovingly: 

"  Why.  Fi'ank.  you  have  not  got  your  mail.'" 

"  Oh  I  yes.  I  have.  I  got  back  .some  time  ago.'" 
But  when  I  looked  questioningly  he  answered. 
'■  Why.  I  go  every  day  now  on  my  wheel,  and 
yesterday  it  took  me  only  eight  minutes  by  the 
watch." 

Well.  I  saw  the  point.  I  borrowed  of  Ernest 
his  package-carrier:  and  by  strapping  on  a 
half-bushel  basket  I  now  carry  30  or  40  lbs. 
without  a  bit  of  trouble.  A  wheelbarrow  is  not 
to  he  com jKi red  with  it  ioi  ease  of  transporta- 
tion: and  when  you  talk  about  comparing  the 
wheelbarrow  to  a  wheel  in  speed  — whew  I 
Now.  if  the  burdens  can  be  supported  low 
down,  say  by  the  coasting-rests,  or  still  fur- 
ther down,  near  the  ground,  the  diflficulty 
of  keeping  the  balance  would  be  very  much 
reduced:  and  I  feel  certain  that  there  is 
no  way  in  the  world  whereby  the  strength  of  a 
man  can  cairy  100  or  even  :.'tKt  pounds,  to  be  at 
all  compared  with  the  ball  bearings  and  the 
|)neumatic  rubber  tire  In  the  town  of  Oberlin 
I  saw  the  mail-carriers  delivering  and  gather- 
ing the  mail  on  w  heels.  I  do  not  know  how  far 
this  fashion  has  l)een  adopted:  but  I  do  know 
that  it  is  going  to  be  one  of  the  shortest  cuts  in 
business  the  world  has  ever  discovered:  and 
what  has  been  heretofore  painful  drudgeiy  may 
be  a  delightful  pastime.  This  paragraph  is  dic- 
tated after  having  carried  a  large  package  to 
the  postoflice:  a  message  to  a  railroad  depot 
beyond:  a  purchase  made  at  the  drugstore:  a 
deposit  made  at  the  bank:  an  order  delivered 
at  the  meat-market:  a  bill  for  repairs  paid  at 
the;  wagonshop:  anothei-  bill  for  repairs,  in  an- 
other part  of  the  town.  These  commissions 
took  m<'  in  different  directions  all  together  a 
couple  of  miles,  and  yet  I  was  back  in  about  25 
minutes,  and  I  did  not  make  any  effort  to 
hustle  around  either,  and  came  home  feeling 
reffeshi  d  and  glad.  One  of  the  most  ditiicult 
posts  to  (ill  in  all  our  establishment  has  been 
that  of  the  rnessengei'  boy:  and  I  never  expect- 
ed to  see  the  time  when  I  could  do  it  myself 
projitdhhi.  and  at  the  same  time  have  fiin 
while  doing  it. 

I  have  all  my  life,  as  you  may  know,  been 
fond  of  ••  rushing  things."  I  do  not  wish  to  be 
bard  on  the  friends  aroutid  me.,  neither  do  I 
like  to  be  hard  on  horses  when  1  am  driving 
them:  but  tlnre  are  many  times  in  my  life 
when  every  thing  and  everybody  seems  too 
slow  for  my  mood.  A  great  deal  is  to  be  ac- 
complished in  a  certain  time.  I  want  to  be  in  a 
dozen  places  at  once.    Now,  the  wheel  comes  in 


850 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


right  here,  and  tills  a  '"  long-felt  want."  You 
can  hardly  imagine  what  a  relief  it  is  to  my 
feelings  to  know  that  I  can  push  the  wheel  to 
my  heart's  content.  If  I  want  to  make  a  cer- 
tain point  or  a  certain  place,  there  is  nothing 
to  hinder,  and  no  wrong  done  to  anybody,  pro- 
viding I  do  not  run  over  tliem,  even  if  I  do  just 
'•  make  the  gravel  fly  "  in  fetching  a  combina- 
tion of  events  around  to  a  certain  climax: 
therefore  you  can  readily  understand  why  I 
say  so  often  to  myself,  "  May  God  be  praised 
for  this  new  and  precious  gift."' 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 


NOVICE  OF  OLD — AN   OPEN    LETTER. 

Dear  Novice: — Now  a  novice  no  more,  it  gives 
me  much  pleasure  to  grasp  your  hand  and  say 
with  whai  zest  I  I'ead  your  productions  in  the 
"  Old  Reliable,"  when  it  was  conducted  by  the 
lamented  Wagner.  Your  "  trials,  troubles,  and 
tribulations"  were  amusing  when  so  humor- 
ously described  over  the  nom  de  plume  of 
"Novice;"  but  I  doubt  that  they  were  the 
source  of  much  satisfaction  to  you,  although  I 
judge  you  endured  them  very  philosophically, 
even  if  you  were  but  a  "novice."  I  wish  you 
would,  when  the  spirit  moves  you,  give  us  the 
history  of  your  early  apiarian  experiences,  be- 
cause it  would  not  only  "renew  the  youth  "  of 
many  who,  like  myself,  are  in  the  "sear  and 
yellow  leaf,"  but  would  convey  much'  instruc- 
tion to  the  "tyro"  in  apiculture.  Permit  me 
to  suggest  a  title  for  the  (forthcoming?)  work; 
viz.,  "Reminiscences  in  Bee-keeping."  After 
you  ceased  writing  for  the  A.  B.  J.,  I  lost  track 
of  you  until  lately,  in  the  August  number  of  the 
Progressive  Bee-keeper^  I  learned  that  you  are 
still  alive  and  making  things  "  hum;"  in  fact, 
there  is  something  very  e(r(l?'(!C.st  in  your  busi- 
ness methods.  So  you  would  like  to  know  who 
the  "  Assistant  Editor  "  of  our  CmiddUin  Bee 
Journal  is?  Well.  Bro.  Novice,  if  you  will 
faVor  the  apiarian  department  of  our  Industrial 
Exhibition  (which  is  held  annually  in  Toronto 
during  SeptembeV)  with  your  presence,  I  doubt 
not  you  will  be  most  cordially  welcomed  and 
lionized  (you  know  we  Britishers  are  fond  of 
lions)  by  the  aforesaid  "Assistant  Editor." 

I  intended,  when  I  liegan  this  "screed,"  to  tell 
a  snake-story;  but  if  I  do  not  go  to  bed  very 
shortly  I  shall  probably  dream  of  snakes  which 
will  require  the  services  of  a  doctor  to  tinker  at 
the  internal  economy  of  Octogp:nakian. 

Amigari,  Ont.,  Oct.  24. 

NINE    OR    TEN    COMBS   IN  A  TEN-FRAME    HIVE — 
AVHICH? 

Is  it  of  any  benefit,  to  40  to  50  colonies  of  bees 
that  are  kept  for  extracting,  to  have  in  the  up- 
per case  or  extracting-super  nine  frames  instead 
often  ?    Is  it  not  more  convenient  for  extract- 


DR.  MILLER       RILED. 

The  British  Bee  Journal  has  just  "  riled  "  me 
by  one  of  its  proceedings;  and  as  ray  anger 
would  cool  off  before  it  crossed  the  ocean  1  11 
vent  my  spite  on  Gleanings.  I  refer  to  the 
bad  practice  of  printing  articles  with  the  name 
of  the  writer  at  the  end  instead  of  the  begin- 
ning. In  a  late  number  of  the  B.  B.  J.  an 
article  contains  a  statement  somewhat  startling 
in  character;  but  whether  it  shall  be  received 
with  implicit  faith,  or  be  considered  a  mere 
whim,  depends  something  upon  the  reputation 
of  the  writer.  So  I  looked  for  the  end  of  the 
article,  with  the  question,  "  Who  is  the  writer?" 
The  only  reply  I  got  was  the  very  unsatisfacto- 
ry one,  "To  be  continued." 

The  succeeding  number  is  now  before  me. 
Turning  somewhat  eagerly  its  pages,  I  find  the 
continuation  of  the  article,  only  to  find  again  in 
the  place  for  the  signature,  "  To  be  continued." 
How  long  this  state  of  affairs  is  "to  be  contin- 
ued "  I  do  not  know;  but  in  the  meantime  all 
the  readers  who  are  intei'ested  in  the  article  are 
"to  be  continued"  in  a  state  of  mind.  Of  course, 
no  fault  can  be  found  if  we  admit  that  it  is  the 
right  thing  to  have  the  writer's  name  given  at 
the  end.     But  isn't  it  a  bad  plan  in  general  to 

put  the  name  of  the  writer  at  the  end?  When  j,  .>  q,,  ^^jj]  j^  j^other  again  the  same  time? 
you  read  an  article  in  a  bee-journal,  don  t  yoii  ^ye  are  using  the  Langstroth  10-frame  hive, 
always  look  first  to  see  who  IS  the  writer  ?   And     141^  jpt 


if  the  name  of  the  writer  is  the  first  thing  to  be 
read,  why  shouldn't  it  be  the  first  thing  lyrlnt- 
edf  Is  there  any  good  reason  for  having  it  at 
the  end?  "Takes  less  room  at  the  end?" 
Why,  you  can  print  it  in  just  as  small  type  at 
the  beginning  as  the  end,  and  surely  it  will 
take  no  more  room  one  place  than  the  other. 
"Yes.  but  it  doesn't  look  so  well."  Now.  look 
here,  Mr.  Printer:  are  the  comfort  and  conven- 
ience of  your  thousands  of  readers  to  give 
way  for  your  notions  of  typographical  appear- 
ance?   Out  upon  you  1 

Now,  it  mav  be  that,  if  (ii-EANiNGS  would 
take  up  this  matter,  and  try  to  show  the  guilty 
parties  the  error  of  their  ways,  at  least  some  of 
them  might  be  induced  to  amend. 

Marengo,  111.  C.  C.  Miller. 

[Well,  now,  doctor,  we  (that's  the  junior  ed- 
itor and  the  printers)  are  glad  that  you  are 
riled,  not  at  our  esteemed  cotemporary  the 
British  Bee  Journal,  but  at  (Jlkaning.s,  for  it 
is  easy  to  see  you  intended  to  give  us  a  clip 
over  the  shoulders  of  the  B.  U.  J.  Our  custom 
has  been  to  put  the  name  of  the  writer  at  the 
end  of  the  article.  We  have  wanted  it  at  the 
beginning:  but  A.  I.  R.  doesn't  take  kindly  to 
it.  May  be  if  you  will  keep  your  wrath  nursed 
up  we  shall  be  able  to  make  the  change.  Jok- 
ing aside,  we  will  put  the  signature  wherever 
our  readers  desire  it.  In  removing,  let  us  know 
your  preference.] 


14)^  inches  inside  width.        Jacob  Wagner. 
Amana,  la.,  Oct.  17. 

[The  only  reason  for  using  9  frames  instead 
of  10  in  a  ten-frame  hive  is  because  some  bee- 
keepers seem  to  think  there  is  an  advantage  in 
having  the  frames  a  little  wider  spaced— that 
is.  13-2  instead  of  l-'s  from  center  to  center.  If 
the  apiarist  is  not  careful  in  spacing,  th<>  combs 
will  in  time  be  bulged  wider  and  wider:  and 
the  result  is,  he  is  obliged  to  take  out  one  of  the 
combs  so  he  can  get  in  the  nine;  but  with  those 
who  are  beginning  to  use  self-spacing  frames, 
crooked  and  bulged  combs  will  soon  be  things 
of  the  past.  In  our  own  experience,  we  get 
more  brood  from  l^s'-inch  spacing  than  from 
lio';  we  also  get  truer  and  better  combs.  This 
matter  was  fully  discussed  on  page  491,  18t)0. 
Perhaps  we  ought  to  say  this:  For  extracting, 
there  may  be  an  advantage  in  having  9  combs 
in  a  ten-frame  super,  because  the  nine  will  hold 
the  honey  of  the  ten.  and  the  nine  can  be  un- 
capped in  a  little  less  time  than  the  ten.  But 
we  question  somewhat  whether  the  honey  is  as 
nic(^ly  ripened  in  deej)  cells  as  in  the  shalhav.] 


HOAV   TO   GET    POLLEN  OT"T   OF   THE   COMBS. 

After  extracting  the  honey  from  the  brood- 
frames  or  extracting  -  frames,  is  there  any 
known  means  or  way  that  the  pollen  can  be 
taken  from  the  cells  without  injury  to  the 
combs?    I   believe  it  has    been    so    stated    by 


1S92 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


851 


sonHMiiio  (1  do  not  ronu'Hil)or  jusi  wlicic).  ilial 
in  conilis  stoivd  iiway  witjumi  honey  in  thcni. 
tho  poll<M\  hocomcs  so  dry  lliat  tlu'  bees  will  not. 
uso  it.  If  tliiit  ho  tiic  case,  it  won  Id  be  to  lli(> 
dotrinuMit  of  tiiP  beo-Uccpcr. 
(Jnnn  Cily.  Mo.  .l.\s.  A.  Ad.vms. 

[Tln>  hi>st  nso  you  can  make  of  tlic  |)oll(>n- 
stoivd  ooinbs  is  to  liold  tlicni  over  till  next 
spring.  thiMi  sivo  tliom  to  the  l)r'os  to  stiinulato 
brood-ivarinsi.  It  is  a  difTirnlt  niattor  to  get 
polliMi  out  of  tb(^  combs  artificially.  It  lias 
bt'cn  I't'coninicndod  tosonk  siicb  comix  in  watci' 
fofatimc  and  tluMi,  with  a  stream  from  a  liv- 
drant  or  tiri'-punip.  wash  out  llic  pollen.  We 
have  never  tried  it  but  the  plan  is  said  to  work.) 


BAHCOClv's    SKCTION-I'HKSS. 

I  inclose  berewirli  a  pencil  sketch  of  a  section- 
press  of  my  invention.  It  is  not  patented. and 
can  be  built  for  .50  cts.  It  is. a  free  gift  to  all 
bee-keep(M's.    Please  pass  it  around. 


The  dotted  lines  are  a  rack  to  Iiold  the  open 
sections.  Prepare  a  bundle  and  place  them  at 
your  right.  Put  them  on  the  rack,  a  handful 
at  a  time.  H.  C.  Babcock. 

Lemoore.  Cal.,  May  6. 


THE   AM.-WOOD    FRAMES;     .SETTLING     POOR 
QUEKN.S. 

I  am  thoroughly  converted  to  the  all-wood 
old-style  frame,  but  I  am  not  prepared  to  ac- 
cept the  extra  wide  and  thick  top-bars  and  the 
Hoffman  frame.  I  want  the  old-style  all-wood 
frames.  but'I  want  the  top-bars  an  even  inch 
wide,  and  the  same  thickness  as  now,  ^^'.  That 
width  will  give  us  a  %  bee-space  between  the 
frames  when  combs  are  spaced  \%  fi-om  center 
to  center.  I  hope  Mr.  Koot  can  be  induced  to 
make  this  change,  and  make  it  a  standai'd  for 
all-wood  old-stjie  frames,  end-bars  one  inch, 
bottom-bars  Js.  the  same  as  now. 

I  have  no  sympathy  with  the  practice  of  sell- 
ing a  poor  quality  of  queens  to  other  people. 
Selling  to  others  stock  that  we  know  to  be 
worthless  is  very  poor  morals.  1  favor  breed- 
ing to  the  highest  possible  standard.  vSome 
bees  are  good  comb-builders,  others  are  not.  I 
once  bought  a  liigh-pric*  d  select  tested  queen. 
She  was  all  she  was  represented  to  be;  but  her 
bees  would  never  build  an  ounce  of  comb  in  the 
upper  story.  They  would  swarm  as  .soon  as 
the  brood-chamber  was  full.  Iler  daughters 
and  granddaughters  were  the  same.  Other 
bees  in  the  same  yard,  w-ith  the  same  treat- 
ment, built  surplus  com!)  right  along  with  but 
little  or  no  swarming:  therefore  I  have  adopted 
a  rule,  that  any  queen  that  swarms  out  from 
under  empty  sections  meets  a  violent  death  as 
soon  as  I  can  replace  her.  The  same  rule 
should   apply  to  queens   that  will   not  winter  a 


cohpnylhai  went  inin  winter  in  good  condition. 
1  have  im  sympathy  for  kind-hearted  people 
doctoring  uit  a  sick  colony  in  the  spring,  to 
savr'  a  worthless  (pieen.  Some  people  seem  to 
regard  a  queen  as  so  much  cash.  So  she  is.  if 
she  i.>.  a  good  one:  but  if  worthless,  slie  is  no 
better  that)  any  other  bee;  in  fact,  she  is  worse, 
for  she  will  raise  a  lot  of  drones  to  mat*-  with 
and  spoil  some  good  queen.  Good  wintering 
should  be  a  strong  point  in  selecting  breeding- 
queens. 

In  my  yard,  some  colonies  will  pile  in  the 
liurr-comhs.  while  others  will  leave  the  frames 
comparatively  clean.  If  all  other  conditions 
and  qualilications  are  equal.  I  supersede  the 
biui'-comb  queens;  the  same  way  with  queens 
whose  bees  are  vicious.  They  are  supersed- 
ed as  soon  as  it  can  be  done  witliout  loss.  I 
am  one  who  thinks  a  careful  selection,  from 
generation  to  gi'iieration,  of  the  bee-life,  will 
make  great  improvement  in  the  stock.  Do  not 
sell  inferior  queens.     Kill  them. 

PlIII>0  S.  DiLWOHTH. 

Ingram,  Pa.,  Nov.  .3,  189:.'. 


SLUMGUM    FROM    THE   SOI.AR   WAX-EXTKACTOR; 

W.  H.  SOMERFORD   SAYS  THERE   IS  VAI,- 

lAUI-E   WAX    IX   IT. 

Friend  E.  R.  Root: — After  carefully  reading 
II.  R.  Boardman's  report  on  page  771,  Oct.  1.5.  in 
regard  to  the  slumgnm.  or  residue,  from  a  solar 
wax-extractor  having  no  wax  left  in  it,  I  will 
back  your  assertion  by  giving  my  experience 
concerning  solar  wax-extractors,  for  I  used  a 
large  one  in  Cuba,  where  the  sun  does  shine 
even  hotter  tlian  here.  Th(>  size  of  it  was  ;i(ix44 
in.;  and  for  melting  cappings  it  was  good 
enough;  but  when  it  came  to  melting  up  old 
foul-brood  combs,  or  any  other  comb  that  had 
been  used  in  the  brood -chamber,  it  was  not 
what  I  wanted,  for  it  would  always  leave  from 
25  to  40  per  cent  of  the  wax  in  the  slumgum,  or 
so  much  that  a  hired  man  did  all,  or  nearly  all, 
of  his  cooking  with  it  while  it  was  in  constant 
use.  And  some  piles  of  the  same  slumgum 
from  the  solar  extractor  had  been  thrown  out, 
and  luid  been  in  the  weather  for  perhaps  as 
long  as  thre(!  or  four  years,  until  it  liad  been 
burrowed  through  by  aiits,  and  soaked  by  rain, 
and  heated  by  sunshine  until  the  time  I  took  it 
up  and  cooked  it  in  a  300-gallon  brass  sugar- 
kettle:  and.  to  b(^  sure,  I  secured  a  fine  lot  of 
very  good  dark  wax  that  the  solar  extractor 
had  lost  in  slumgum.  In  fact,  I  consider,  after 
using  a  ?.00-gallon  brass  kettle  to  render  over  a 
ton  of  wax  in,  that  any  solar  extractor  is  very 
wasteful,  except  in  cappings:  for  experience 
has  taught  me  that,  to  get  wax  out  of  old 
combs,  they  must  be  soaked  thoroughly,  thiui 
boiled,  and  stirred  and  skimmed  of  all  tloating 
wax,  then  stiired  and  left  to  simmer  down  and 
cool.  When  cool,  and  soaked  on  top,  take  the 
cake  out  and  set  it  up  edgewise;  then  with  a 
sharp  hatchet  or  ax  peel  oif  or  divide  the  cake 
as  near  the  top  as  you  tind  little  round  shotlike 
lumps  of  wax.  When  divided,  break  up.  re- 
soak,  and  again  boil  the  half  containing  wax, 
wiiYiacid;  and  what  is  lost  I'll  guarantee  will 
not  be  sufticient  to  run  a  thrasher-boiler,  as  Mr. 
Boardman  did,  in  place  of  coal. 

W.  W.  SOMEKFORD. 

Navasota,  Texas,  Oct.  33. 


TREGO'S   FIVE-BANDED  BEES;    THEIK  GOOD  TEM- 
PER UNDER  AGGRAVATING  CIKCUM- 
STANCES. 

I  notice  in  a  copy  ot  the  American  Apiciil- 
tiirist  (p.  124),  Alley's  comment  on  your  de- 
scription of  the  behavior  of  your  Punic  colony, 
where  he  says,  in  the  fifth  sentence.  "'There  is 
not  a  colony  of  any  race  of  bees  that  would  not 


852 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


behave  as  bad,"  and  yet  was  it  not  claimed 
that  the  only  time  it  was  possible  to  make  the 
Funics  sting  was  during  swarming  time?  Al- 
low me  to  tell  you  how  I  served  the  colony  of 
onr  five- banded  breeding  queens.  It  is  raining 
to-day,  with  north  wind;  temperature  6(5°,  and 
I  have  just  been  testing  our  goldens  to  see  if  I 
could  make  them  sting.  Here  is  the  way  I 
went  at  it.  If  any  one  can  tell  me  a  better  way 
to  make  them  sting  I  will  try  it: 

I  removed  the  cover  with  a  jerk,  took  off  the 
enamel  cloth  ditto;  lifted  out  a  frame  of  brood, 
and  gave  the  hive  six  kicks,  severe  enough  to 
make  it  bounce;  then  I  blew  my  breath  on  the 
bees  in  puffs,  and  gently,  after  which  I  moved 
my  hand  rapidly  over  the  frames,  then  took  up 
a  bee  and  mashed  it  thoroughly  to  get  the 
poison  scent,  and  again  moved  my  hand  over 
them  and  blew  on  them;  but  not  one  stung  me 
or  stood  in  the  air  before  my  face.  When  I  got 
through  kicking  the  hive,  the  air  was  full  of 
bees;  but  they  simply  arose  from  the  combs, 
circled  around,  and  piled  in  at  the  entrance; 
and  before  I  closed  the  liive  (which  I  did  as 
soon  as  I  got  through  teasing  them)  all  were  on 
the  combs  or  inside  of  the  hive,  and  perfectly 
quiet.  All  of  this  with  no  smoke  near,  nor  has 
there  been  to-day  nor  for  weeks.  We  draw  on 
this  colony  nearly  every  day  for  brood  to  start 
queen-cells;  and  yet  we  liad  to  extract  their 
combs  clean  three  times  to  make  it  safe  for 
the  queen  and  bees  for  us  to  handle  the  combs 
during  July,  which  shows  that  they  have  plen- 
ty of  energy  in  the  right  direction. 

Swedona,  111.     S.  F.  Trego. 

bee-hunting;  a  good  find. 

Dear  Friend  Root: — While  camping  out  for 
a  week  last  August,  within  25  miles  of  Mt. 
Hood,  besides  bringing  down  some  fine  game 
our  party  had  the  pleasure  of  cutting  a  bee-tree. 
Early  in  the  morning,  with  axes,  a  saw,  iron 
wedges,  a  maul,  and  tin  pails,  we  started  for 
the  forest,.  The  bees  had  awakened  before  us, 
and  a  fine  string  of  workers  pouring  forth  from 
a  hole  about  20  feet  from  the  ground  in  the  side 
of  a  huge  fir-tree  indicated  a  good  find.  After 
the  usual  amount  of  sawing,  chopping,  and 
driving  of  wedges,  down  came  the  tr<^e  and  out 
came  the  bees.  They  were  angry  at  receiving 
such  treatment,  and  began  to  resent  it  as  only 
an  angry  bee  can.  It  is  needless  to  say  they 
were  not  around  long  until  they  made  them- 
selves felt.  After  some  sawing  and  chopping 
we  got  at  the  honey,  and,  besides  securing  a 
good  colony  of  bees,  we  got  about  forty  pounds 
of  honev.  J.  W.  Jenkins. 

The  Dalles,  Or.,  Oct.  20. 

[Why,  friend  J.,  if  you  were  really  a  whole 
week  within  35  miles  of  Mount  Hood,  why 
didn't  you  tell  us  something  more  about  it,  and 
something  more  about  that  wonderful  country? 
The  thouglit  of  Mount  Hood  as  I  saw  it  fairly 
makes  mv  heal't  bound  now.  I  was  not  then 
able  to  climb  mountains;  but  I  shall  remember 
the  glimpses  I  got  of  it  whenever  we  had  a 
clear  sunny  day,  as  long  as  I  live.] 


thirty-four  pounds  per  colony;   a  good 
word  for  hoffman  frames. 
With  the  help  of  the  A  B  C  and  Gleanings 
we  have  secured  an  average  of  34  lbs.  per  colo- 
ny, spring  count,  with  every  stock,  except  one, 
amply  supplied  for  winter:  no  honey  until  after 
July  4.     Your  improved  Hoffman  frame  on  tin 
rabbets  gives  entire   satisfaction.    Thanks  to 
friend   Bobbins  (page  725)  on  "  How  to  Prevent 
Increase."    I  think  I  can  make   the  plan  work- 
all  right,  as  I  practice  something  similNar. 
Corunna,  Ind.,  Oct.  19.  S.  Farrington. 


the   hive   AND   HONEY'-BEE. 

This  book,  written  by  Langstroth,  revised  by 
Dadant,  and  translated  by  the  latter  into 
French,  has  lately  been  given  the  honors  of  a 
re-translation  into  Russian,  by  Mr.  G.  Kandra- 
tieff,  editor  of  the  Russian  Journal  of  Apicul- 
ture, and  Director-in-Chief  of  the  Imperial 
Opera  at  St.  Petersburg.  The  worl<  is  an  exact 
translation  of  the  P>ench  edition,  and  con- 
tains 482  pages.  This  is  a  new  honor,  both  for 
father  Langstroth  and  the  Dadants,  which  is 
indeed  well  merited. — American  Bee  Journal. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


For  our  lig-ht  affliction,  whicli  is  but  for  a  naoment, 
workeTh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
weig-ht  of  glory .—11.  COR.  4:19.  .  r" 

Lay  up  for  yourselves  treasures  in  heaven,  where 
neitlier  moth  nor  rust  doth  corrupt,  and  where 
thieves  do  not  break  througli  nor  steal.— Matt.  6:20. 

Pardon  me,  dear  friends,  if  I  continue  to  talk 
about  this  matter  that  has  come  up  so  often  of 
late  in  regard  to  our  outdoor  rural  industries. 
A  certain  class  of  people  have  been  saying  that 
farming  doesn't  pay;  and  there  has  been  a 
strong  tendency  for  our  boys,  to  say  nothing 
about  the  older  ones,  to  fall  in  line  and  hunt 
around  for  something  else  to  do,  because  every- 
body knows  that  farming  doesn't  pay.  I  tell 
you,  farming  does  pay;  and  before  I  get  through 
I  feel  sure  that  a  great  part  of  you  will,  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent,  agree  with  me.  The  pro- 
fessing Christians  among  our  readers  should 
certainly  agree,  even  if  others  do  not.  I  am  not 
going  to  teach  farming  under  this  head— not 
this  time,  any  way;  but  my  remarks  in  that 
direction  will  come  rather  under  the  second  of 
the  two  texts  I  have  chosen. 

A  few  weeks  ago  it  was  announced  in  our 
Saturday  afternoon  prayer-meeting  that  the 
semi-annual  conference  of  the  Congregational 
Churches  of  our  county  would  meet  in  Litch- 
field. INIedina  Co.:  and  then  the  pastor  called 
for  delegates.  There  were  several  nominations. 
The  first  person  could  not  well  go;  ditto  the 
next;  the  third  one  said  flatly  that  she  wouldn't 
go;  and  then  the  office  of  going  as  delegate 
began  to  be  pushed  from  one  to  another  as  if  it 
were  some  very  disagreeable  piece  of  drudgery, 
and  that  it  was  a  kind  of  imposition  to  ask  any 
one  to  go  as  a  delegate  only  nine  miles  from 
home.  Now,  I  have  not  been  at  conference  very 
much  for  a  good  many  years;  in  fact.  I  had 
fallen  into  a  way  of  thinking  that  it  was  well 
enough  for  people  who  had  no  regular  employ- 
ment, but  that  business  men  could  not  be  ex- 
pected to  neglect  business  and  go  and  sit  two 
whole  days  listening  to  dry  sermons  preached 
by  country  clergymen,  during  the  middle  of  the 
week.  Does  the  above  sound  rather  harsh  and 
uncharitable?  I  think  it  does;  and,  to  tell  the 
truth.  I  am  ashamed  of  it:  but  I  have  been  get- 
ting, for  a  few  years  back,  into  something  like 
that  way  of  thinking.  This  Saturday  after- 
noon, however,  they  carried  the  matter  rather 
to  excess,  and  I  felt  ashamed  of  myself.  I  arose 
to  my  feet  and  said,  "  Friends.  I  will  go  as  a 
delegate  if  you  wish  me  to;  and  at  this  season 
of  the  year,  when  we  have  comparatively  little 
business,  I  will  take  any  office  and  perform  any 
duties  the  church  may  call  upon  me  to  perform, 
as  well  as  I  know  how.  During  the  spring  and 
summer  months,  when  our  business  is  at  its 
height,  I  hope  you  will  excuse  me  from  such 
duties,  and  also  excuse  Ernest  and  Mr.  Calvert. 
There  are  times  when  it  is  a  Christian  duty  to 
stand  at  your  post  a  good  deal  as  a  locomotive 
engineer  is  expected    to  stand    at    his    post." 


lSi>-' 


GLEANlNtiS  IJS'  BEE  CULTURE 


S53 


Ki'om  tin-  iiuHiM'iu  1  sidoil  lip  and  \ olimlccrcd 
to  take  tlir  ollii-o  thai  noliody  waiiti'd.  I  tVIt 
happit-r.  I  was  plad  wlicii  tlie  day  ranic  to  y:o 
to  coiifofciu'i',  and  a  sjiccial  spiritual  blessing 
se«^nied  to  attend  nie  during  tlic  whole  session. 

A  word  aiumt  dry  sermons,  ete.  There  was 
jnst  one  sermon  thai  iiii.uht  be  ealled,  by  a  good 
many,  dry  and  belli  ml  th(>  times.  It  was  a 
revival  of  liie  old  doctrine  of  ek-otion.  If  any 
of  you  do  not  know  what  that  is.  don't  stop  to 
inquire— you  are  just  as  well  off.  A  young 
minister,  who  delivered  the  sermon,  received  so 
much  criticism,  right  and  left  (of  course,  good- 
natured  and  kindly  criticisnu.  that  very  lik(>ly 
he  wil!  not  i)reach  in  that  line  much  mor(\ 

The  pretty  country  churdi  was  tilled  with 
people,  and  tliey  were  bright,  wide-awake,  in- 
telligent people,  fully  up  to  the  times,  even  if 
they  were  mostly  farmers  and  farmers'  families. 
In  fact,  a  great'part  of  tlie  blessing  I  received 
came  from  tlii>  fact  that  1  was  among  not  only 
laboring  people,  but  good,  pure-minded,  godly 
people— those  who  are  not  only  intelligent  and 
well  educated,  but  who  love  righteousness  and 
hale  iniquity— gathered  together  to  talk  over 
the  evils  that  threaten  the  church  of  .lesus 
Christ.  To  get  acquainted,  and  lay  plans  for 
protecting  our  people  and  our  church,  was  cer- 
tainly inspiring. 

The  sermons  and  lectures  were  not  all  from 
country  clergymen,  either,  for  we  had  some 
rare  good  talks  from  college  professors  who 
stand  high  in  our  State  and  nation;  and  one  of 
these  forms  the  subject  of  my  talk  to-day. 
Prof.  H.  C.  King,  of  Oberlin,  O..  gave  us  a  lec- 
ture in  the  evening  on  (>ducation  and  its  relation 
to  community.  In  this  talk  he  presented  us 
with  a  lot  of  statistics  that  had  been  gathered 
with  considerable  pains  and  expense.  He  first 
asked  the  question.  *•  \^'liere  do  our  college 
graduates  and  our  great  men  in  the  interests  of 
education  come  from  ■?  ■'  Most  people  have  got 
into  a  way  of  thinking  that  tdw)i!i  and  riiies 
offer  great  advantages  in  the  way  of  education. 
Come  to  think  of  it.  1  rather  think  they  do. 
And  then  most  people  jump  at  the  conclusion 
that  it  is  a  misfortune  for  a  boy  to  be  obliged  to 
grow  up  in  the  country.  He  has  not  the  facili- 
ties for  getting  about  among  the  people  that  a 
town  boy  has.  He  can  not  attend  lectures, 
meetings,  and  the  various  societies,  that  the 
town  or  city  boy  does,  and  for  various  other 
reasons  he  labors  under  a  great  disadvantage; 
and  on  this  very  account  our  farmers  give  up 
the  farm  and  move  itito  town  in  order  to  facili- 
tate giving  their  children  an  education.  If  a 
toirn  boy  enjoys  advantages  that  the  farmer's 
boy  does  not.  the  great  (Mies  must  afford  still 
greater  advantages;  therefore  the  city  boy, 
especially  if  his  parents  are  v/ell  to  do,  so  he 
does  not  have  to  work  all  the  time,  would  be 
likely  to  far  oustrip  the  town,  village,  or  coun- 
try boy.  Good  logic,  isn't  it?  But  facts  are 
proverbial  for  being  stubborn.  Let  us  turn  to 
the  hard  statistical  figures. 

How  many  successful  and  really  valuable 
college  graduates  are  brought  up  in  the  city, 
and  with  all  the  advantages  of  the  city?  Less 
thao  three  i>er  cent.  I  do  not  suppose  you  are 
astonished,  for  you  have  heard  this  before. 
Prof.  King  did  not  say  any  thing  about  success- 
ful husineKfi  men:  but  I  want  to  ask  you  to  look 
about  your  own  home  and  see  where  your  great 
and  good  men  come  from — you  may  include 
men  of  capital,  if  you  choose,  but,  plea.se,  only 
those  who  are  making  a  good  use  of  their  capi- 
tal— who  are  using  it  to  help  community  in 
general,  and  hold  up  tin-  standard  of  righteous- 
ness and  purity  so  far  as  he  can.  Where  do 
these  men  come  from  ?  Were  they  brought  up 
in  a  city,  with  the  advantages  that  at  least 
moderate  wealth  gives?    I  think  you  will  agree 


with  me  that  it  is  just  tl tiier  way.     Moder- 

ate-si/,ed  towns  jiave  furnished  rather  more 
good  rising  men  than  the  citii's;  but  the  (//•cat 
ImlUoi  the  colli'ge  graduates— the  men  of  lirain, 
lione,  and  muscle,  come  fiom  the/arz/i  or ftiriii- 
inij  rillages.  They  are  children  of  parents  who 
did  not  make  farming  iiay  in  the  sense  that 
most  iieople  would  use  it.  S'ou  all  know  |)retty 
\»('ll,  1  think,  if  you  use  good  seiise  and  look  at 
the  matter  sqv;arely.  that  the  farms  and  farm- 
ing towns  are  eonstrtntly  furnishing  boys  of  in- 
tegrity and  worth  to  fill  important  and  fesjjon- 
sible  places.  These  boys  are  the  outcome  of 
something  that  made  it  necessary  for  them  to 
work  hard  for  a  living.  The  boy  who  is  brought 
up  in  ease,  whether  in  town,  city <- or  country, 
never  amounts  to  verv  much— that  is.  this  is 
a  great  gen(>ral  rule.  There  are  exceptions,  of 
course.  Some  boys  will />C(/r  ease  and  i)amper- 
ing,  and  still  dev(>lop  into  great  and  good  men. 
But  it  se(»ms  that,  to  develop  to  its  highest 
extent,  either  the  physical,  mental,  or  moral, 
there  must  be  an  incentive  that  nothing  can 
give  except  poverty,  or,  at  least,  moderate  pov- 
erty. Why.  you  know  it  by  your  own  experi- 
ence. The  most  profitable  schooling  I  ever  got 
in  my  lif(!  was  whiMi  I  was  obliged  to  walk  two 
miles  and  a  half  every  morning,  and  chop  all 
the  wood  besides,  for  a  fair-sized  farmhouse 
and  farmer's  family.  Yes,  one  year  before  this 
I  had  the  advantages  of  a  city  school.  I  was 
living  with  relatives,  and  didn't  have  very 
much  to  do.  The  high  school  was  so  near  my 
home  that  I  had  quite  an  easy  time  of  it.  A 
sudden  change  to  wood-chopping,  a  walk  of 
two  miles  and  a  half,  and  farmers'  fare,  built 
me  up  bodily,  mentaJUj,  and,  I  hope.  rtwraUy. 

Why,  it  is  only  the  same  thing  that  has  come 
to  light  in  the  wheel  business,  mentioned  in 
other  columns  in  this  issue.  God  intended  that 
w'e  should  use  our  brains  and  muscles — yes,  he 
expected  us  to  use  them  vigorously.  If  we 
don't,  they  will  become  dwarfed  and  "compara- 
tively useless.  Prof.  King  told  us  that  statis- 
tics show  plainly  and  overwhelmingly  that  the 
men  who  stood  in  the  front  as  the  saviors  of  our 
nation  were  those  who  had  been  brought  up  in 
the  country  or  in  country  villages — villages 
where  the  greater  part  of  the  people  are  farmers 
and  have  their  farms  near  by  their  homes.  Of 
course,  there  is  an  advantage  in  living  where 
there  are  sidewalks  and  good  roads.  We  can 
train  our  muscles  in  some  better  way  than 
pulling  our  feet  out  of  the  mud  and  clay.  There 
is  also  an  extreme  in  both  directions,  JNo  doubt 
many  boys  have  been  deprived  of  the  advan- 
tages of  education  because  of  extreme  poverty; 
but  a  hundred  more  have  suffered  because  they 
had  to(i  cdKji  a  time.  Now  then.  The  very 
men  and  women  who  have  been  complain- 
ing, getting  disheartened  and  discouraged,  and 
possibly  getting  soured  because  farming  does 
not  pay,  may  have  been  greatly  blessed  in  what 
they  regarded  as  a  calamity  and  a  misfortune. 
Why,  my  good  friend,  your  earnest,  heartfelt 
prayers  have  been  answered  by  this  very  thing 
you  lament.  You  have  been  praying  for  the 
influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  for  a  spiritual 
revival  in  your  heart.s,  and  in  the  hearts  of 
your  families.  God^  could  not  answer  that 
prayer  and  give  you  fhe  worldly  prosperity  you 
had  in  mind  at  the  same  time.  In  his  infinite 
loving  kindness  he  has  spared  you  from  great 
trials  and  great  calamities  that  would  have 
been  sure  to  come  with  wealth.  We  have  been 
told  a  little  fable  where  a  good  man  held  out  a 
valuable  coin  and  apiece  or  gingerbread  to  a 
child.  ■■  Which  will  you  have?  "  said  the  phi- 
losopher. The  child  chose  the  gingerbread, 
without  any  hesitation.  My  friend,  are  you 
going  to  choose  the  gingerbread  ? 

A  very  good  friend  of  mine,  who  worked  hard 


854 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


all  his  life  ou  a  farm  made  the  remark  that  he 
had  earned  just  about  enough  to  educate  his 
children — no  more.  One  of  them  bids  fair  to 
become  one  of  the  leading  ministers  of  the  day. 
Suppose  this  man  should  say  that  farming  does 
not  pay,  and  keep  in  mind  only  the  low  level  of 
worldly  prosperity  in  dollars  and  cents.  He 
who  brings  up,  educates,  and  furnishes  the 
world  with  a  man  who  can  stand  up  before 
men,  even  in  our  gi'eat  cities,  and  teach  men  to 
love  righteousness  and  liate  iniquity,  has  done 
a  thousand  times  better  than  if  he  had  accumu- 
lated— shall  we  say  millions?  Why,  the  com- 
parison is  ridiculous.  If  you,  my  dear  friend, 
have  brought  up  and  educated  eVen  one  boy  or 
one  girl,  and  have  placed  that  child  where  it 
will  battle  for  the  right  and  put  down  the 
wrong,  you  have  laid  up  treasures  in  heaven, 
and  that  is  exactly  what  our  text  means. 
CjWhat  does  money  amount  to  in  comparison 
with  something  that  will  help  the  world  toward 
righteousness  and  purity?  In  the  effort  to 
educate  your  children  you  may  have  incurred  a 
mortgage  that  sickness  or  disaster  may  prevent 
being  paid,  even  at  the  time  of  your  death. 
Which  is  better — to  die  with  your  property 
unincumbered,  and  leave  your  children  with  no 
education,  or  to  feel,  in  your  dying  moments, 
that  you  have  fitted  them  to  take  care  of  them- 
selves, and  battle  for  the  right,  even  though 
your  legacy  be  a  mortgage  for  them  to  lift  and 
pay  ?  Why,  what  boy  or  girl  is  there  who 
would  not  gladly  and  lovingly  lake  up  the  task 
of  paying  off  such  a  mortgage?  The  education 
may  have  lifted  them  from  darkness  into  light: 
and  a  little  earnest  hard  work  that  may  be  re- 
quired in  lifting  the  mortgage  will  give  them 
just  the  hardship  they  need  to  a  perfect  devel- 
opment of  character;  and  it  often  takes  our 
boys  and  girls  not  only  from  20  to  30,  but  from 
30  to  even  almost  40,  to  become  so  fully  matured 
and  so  rooted  and  grounded  in  industry  and 
good  principles  that  they  will  be  able  to  with- 
stand temptation.  Perhaps  you  have  been 
tempted  to  feel  sour,  and  may  be  you  have 
caught  the  infection  and  contagion — for  I  re- 
gard it  as  nothing  else— so  you  are  just  now 
ready  to  move  oflf  from  the  farm  and  go  to 
town.  Don't  do  it.  I  am  sure  worldly  prosper- 
ity is  not  only  more  dangerous,  but  more  dam- 
arjiiig  in  the  end,  than  what  thousands  regard 
as  poverty.  '•  What  shall  it  profit  a  man  if  he 
shall  gain  the  whole  world  and  lose  his  own 
soul  ?  ■' 

Now  then.  Would  more  worldly  prosperity 
te'nd  to  the  saving  of  your  soul  and  the  souls  of 
your  children  :  You  may  say  that  you  would 
risk  it,  but  J  u'oi<i!d?i,'t.  The  present  age  and 
the  times  seem  to  make  the  temptation  greater 
than  ever  before,  to  believe  that  money  is  the 
one  thing  needful.  Beware  of  Satan's  prompt- 
ings and  suggestions,  and  pray  that  God  may 
give  you  grace  to  say.  "  Thy  will,  not  mine,  be 
done."  Very  likely  he  lias  given  you  just  what 
the  Preacher  of  old  asked  for — '"Give  me  neither 
poverty  nor  riches." 

r  Please  do  not  understand  me  as  recommend- 
ing mortgages  as  a,  rule.  At  the  present  time 
a  mortgage  on  the  farm  or  farming  lands  is  to 
be  avoided,  and  to  be  incurred  only  as  a  last 
extremity.  But  we  should  remember  this: 
There  are  things  a  thousand  times  worse  than 
a  mortgage  on  your  propei'ty.  You  had  better 
have  a  mortgage  on  your  property,  and  lose  it, 
than  to  go  through  life  living  on  what  belongs 
to  other  people— or,  if  you  choose,  stealing  from 
your  neighbors  in  a  way  that  the  law  can  not 
touch  you.  I  have  known  people  who  awed  bills 
right  and  left — bills  at  the  grocer's  for  sugar 
and  flour;  bills  for  coal,  etc.,  who  could  have 
paid  all  these  things  by  putting  a  mortgage  on 
their  homestead.    Better   put  a  mortgage  on 


your  homestead  and  io-se  it  than  to  steal  after 
this  fashion  from  your  neighbors.  Farming  is 
not  the  only  thing  that  does  not  pay;  and  when 
your  grocer,  through  competition,  sells  you 
sugar  so  close  to  cost  that  his  profit  hardly  pays 
for  the  string  and  paper  to  do  it  up,  it  is  a 
wicked  thing  to  evade  paying  him  simply  be- 
cause he  can  not  collect  it  legally.  In  fact,  you 
have  no  business  letting  him  try  to  collect  it. 
Yes,  there  are  some  tjiings  worse  than  mort- 
gages. Y"ou  had  better  have  your  home  mort- 
gaged, and  lose  it,  than  to  see  your  children 
take  the  downwai'd  road  to  ruin,  because  you 
kept  them  out  of  school,  that  their  work  might 
obviate  the  necessity  of  a  mortgage.  Letting 
them  grow  up  ignorant  and  vicious  is  worse 
than  to  incur  a  mortgage  and  lose  it. 

But  there  is  a  better  way  yet,  and  I  am  sure 
that  God  will  always  direct  us  in  a  way  that 
we  may  avoid  wronging  our  neighbors  and 
avoid  keeping  our  children  out  of  school,  and 
avoid  mortgages.  To  reduce  expenses,  give  up 
luxuries.  My  good  old  mother  used  to  make 
starch  out  of  potatoes,  to  save  buying  it;  and 
she  used  to  twist  up  papers  enough  to  last  all 
winter,  so  she  could  light  the  lamps  without 
using  a  match  —  thus  saving  matches.  Of' 
course,  this  was  years  ago;  but  getting  back  to 
this  sort  of  economy  even  now  would  help  us 
out  of  the  trouble,  and  do  us  good  besides.  Of 
course,  we  want  to  be  reasonable  and  rational. 
When  matches  are  only  a  penny  a  box  it  will 
not  pay  you  to  twist  papers  unless  you  are  badly 
out  of  work  and  want  something  to  do.  But 
there  are  thousands  of  things  that  our  grand- 
parents did  without,  and  were  comfortable  and 
happy  too,  that  we  might  do  without,  and  find 
more  comfort  and  happiness.  Of  course,  I  do 
not  mean  to  recommend  the  shortsighted  penu- 
riousness  that  n\sults  in  loss  instead  of  gain. 
At  one  of  the  Endeavor  meetings  I  repeated 
in  substance  the  point  made  by  Prof.  King. 
Before  I  had  sufficient  time  to  sit  down,  the 
president  of  the  county  union  Endeavor  society 
repeated  in  clear  ringing  tones  the  first  of  my 
two  texts: 

For  our  light  alfliction,  whicfi  is  but  for  a  mo- 
ment, worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory. 

Now,  do  you  not  see  the  wonderful  meaning, 
and  with  what  inspiration  Saint  Paul  chose 
those  wonderful  words?  The  fact  that  farming 
does  not  pay,  or  does  not  pay  very  well,  is  really 
our  ■'  light  affliction  '' — that  is,  we  look  at  it  as 
an  aflliction;  but  it  is  really  for  the  time  being 
— '•  but  for  a  moment."  as  Paul  has  it;  and  then 
just  think  of  the  grand  summing-up — '"work- 
eth for  us" — that  is  exactly  it.  If  we  are  pa- 
tient, industrious,  and  faithful,  the  whole  thing 
works  out  itself.  And  what  is  the  final  ending? 
Whv,  "a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight 
of  glory."  Y"es.  "gZo?'!/"  is  the  word.  When  you 
keep  on  farming,  even  though  you  are  tempted 
to  be  discouraged,  and  think  it  does  not  pay,  if 
you  endure  to  the  end  your  reward  comes — not 
in  finer  houses  than  your  neighbors  have,  nor 
in  broader  acres,  necessarily;  but  in  seeing 
your  children  grow  up  accustomed  to  work  and 
hardship.  They  learn  ou  the  farm  to  brave 
tlie  storm  and  the  wintry  blast;  they  learn  to 
jrrefer  the  stimulus  of  sunshine,  frost,  and  out- 
door air,  to  any  stimulus  that  saloons  or  wine 
parties  can  give.  They  learn  to  tliank  God  for 
the  opportunities  he  has  given  them  among 
men.  rather  than  because  they  are  obliged  to 
work,  and  then  take  that  other  step  and  accuse 
their  neighbors  of  being  cheats,  and  to  wind  up 
by  saying  there  is  no  room  in  this  nation  of  ours 
for  honest  men. 

Is  it  not  sad,  dear  friends,  to  think  there  are 
those  among  us  who  have  become  so  deluded 
and   led  away  as  to  give  voice  to  such  senti- 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  1{EE  CULTURE. 


85;") 


luiMits.  and  tlicn  fold  lluMr  liaiuls  and  give  up? 
Why.  tlit'sc  "  liirlit  alllicIioMs  "  arr  answers  to 
ouv  pniycrs.  'iMn-y  arr  fnmi  (iod's  own  hand. 
Tlit-y  arc  ivallv  cxhihitions  and  indications  of 
liis  lovinsi  l<indn('ss:  and  yet  we  oflcntinirs 
grnnibic  and  i-onipiain.  .Xrc  tluTt' other  occu- 
pations that  give  us  iiu>  same  discipline  and 
drill  as  does  farming?  Wril,  I  hope  there  are; 
but  why  do  not  the  statistics  and  our  observa- 
tion show  us  tluU  tiiese  other  occupations  fur- 
nish as  many  scholars,  teachers,  and  real 
sturdy  stalwart  itwii  (in  the  best  sense  of  the 
word)  as  do  the  farmers'  boys  of  our  LTnited 
States  of  America?  1  am  proud  of  the  fact 
that  my  early  life  was,  at  least  the  greater  part 
of  it.  spent  on  a  farm,  and  a  ratlu'r  poor  farm  at 
that.  I  would  rather  be  a  fdDiier,  and  wear 
farmers"  clothes,  and  put  up  with  a  farmer's 
hard-s}tit)s.  than  to  have  the  linest  otlice  in  the 
tinest  city  that  our  laud  can  furnish:  and.  come 
to  think  of  it.  it  seems  to  me  tiiat  I  have  hetird 
something  a  good  deal  in  that  line,  with  a  little 
different  wording.  Let's  see:  "  I  had  rather  be 
a  doorkeeper  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  than  to 
dwell  in  the  tents  of  wickedne.ss."  The  word 
"doorkeepef"  means  one  who  stands  on  the 
threshold:  from  which  we  see  that  David  would 
rather  enjoy  the  ?C((.st  of  (rod's  favors  than  to 
enjoy  for  a  season  all  the  tinsel  and  glitter  of  a 
wanton  life,  only  to  be  cast  away  from  God's 
favor  at  the  end.  What  better  exhibition  of 
common  sense  could  there  be? 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


FARMING  DOESX  T  PAY. 

A  few  days  ago  I  saw  two  good  stout  men 
and  a  team  standing  in  front  of  our  tool-house. 
As  they  did  not  seem  to  be  doing  any  thing, 
pretty  soon  I  got  around  to  where  they  were 
and  inquired  what  they  were  waiting  for.  They 
said  they  were  sent  after  the  potato  digger, 
but  it  was  gone—  somebody  must  have  borrovv- 
.ed  it.  I  do  not  know  how  long  they  had  stood 
there,  but  there  they  were  when  I  came  around. 
I  felt  sure  it  was  there,  right  in  its  place,  hang- 
ing tipinplaiu  sight,  over  the  mannrt^-spreader, 
and  there  \lwas.  Perhaps  they  did  not  .see  it 
because  it  was  hanging  up.  It  was  not  hung 
so  high.  howev(?r,  but  that  a  man  could  reach 
it  easily  while  standing  on  the  ground.  In 
fact,  it  was  the  most  conspicuotis  object  in  the 
whole  tool -house.  You  say,  perhaps,  that  this 
was  only  an  accident,  and  that  such  things  hap- 
pen with  the  best  of  us.  Perhaps  they  do;  but  I 
can  not  believe  that  any  ical  live  wide-awake 
man— one  who  is  interested  in  his  business, 
and  anxious  to  get  to  work,  would  make  a 
blunder  like  this.  We  estimate  two  men  and  a 
team  worth  .50  cents  an  liour;  early  in  the 
morning  they  ought  to  bf  worth  a  little  more, 
if  any  thing;  and  it  always  worries  me  exceed- 
ingly to  see  a  team  witli  tuen  standing  idle. 
Sometimes  one  of  them  stops  to  tell  stories,  to 
look  at  the  daily  paper,  to  talk  politics,  and  that, 
too,  while  all.  the  rest  hav(;  to  await  his  move- 
ment. I  said,  .some  of  theift.  I  did  not  mean  the 
horses,  and  I  think  I  had  better  beg  their  |)ardon. 

Now  about  this  matter  of  saying  things  "ain't 
there'"  when  th^y  are  riglit  in  plain  sight.  In 
employing  all  sorts  of  ludp  I  have  had  a  good 
deal  of  this  kind  of  work.  Such  blunders  are 
almost  always  made  by  hdlf-licftrtcd  people. 
One  who  likes  to  dig  potatoes,  and  knows  he 
has  something  worth  digging,  who  has  got  his 
work  all  planned,  and  enjoys  making  things 
tly,  will  see  at  a  glance  every  thing  there  is  in 


the  tool-shed,  even  though  il  lie  lilled  up  with 
various  tools,  as  ours  is  almost  the  year  round. 
It  is  a  positive  sin  to  have  so  little  interest  in 
your  work,  and  so  little  energy:  and  if  you 
think  you  are  going  to  gt!t  a  living  in  this  way, 
you  will  b(!  disappointed  at  every  turn.  Aft(^r 
you  have  found  that  fdrimiKj  doesn't  |)ay,  and 
have  tried  something  else,  you  will  liud  that 
there  is  not  a)u,i  thing  that  pays,  unless  you 
wake  up  and  shake  yourself,  and  put  your 
wliole  heart  and  soul  into  your  work.  When  I 
plan  for  a  certain  job,  I  go  out  before  break- 
fast, or  just  befoi-e  dinner,  and  notouly  see  that 
the  right  tool  is  in  idace  and  in  order,  but,  if  it 
is  not  too  heavy.  I  get  it  out  in  front  of  the 
tool-hous(>.  Then  I  get  the  appropriate;  double- 
trees and  neckyoke,  and  have  them  on  the 
spot.  My  the  way,  we  have  two  doubletrees 
and  two"  neckyokes,  just  to  avoid  having  the 
team  and  men  stand  still  while  somebody  runs 
away  across  th(>  lots  after  one  or  the  other. 
Just  now  farming  Is  close  business,  I  admit, 
aud  therefore  we  must  make  it  our  constant 
study  to  avoid,  hindrances  and  delays.  If  we 
are  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  men  work  for  us 
who  are  dull,  we  must  keep  them  in  mind  and 
keep  an  eye  on  them.  The  two  men  I  have 
been  ^^peaking  of  are  not  working  for  me.  I 
think  they  are  raising  potatoes  on  shares;  so 
when  they  could  not  see  the  potato-digger,  it 
was,  mostly,  their  own  loss.  Perhaps  I  should 
explain  that  said  potato-digger  is  one  of  the 
shovel-plow  kind— that  is,  a  shovel-plow  with 
some  rods  sticking  out  behind.  It  will  dig  a 
pile  of  potatoes  in  a  day,  and  do  it  quickly  and 
easily.  The  only  drawback  about  it  is,  about 
ten  lier  cent  or  more  of  the  potatoes  are  liable 
to  be  left  on  the  ground.  If  you  are  going  to 
fit  your  ground  for  wheat,  you  can  take  them 
out  after  the  harrow  throws  theiu  out  on  the 
surface.  Some  of  them  you  will  i)robably  nev- 
er get  at  all.  and  you  will  have  ••  volunteer  " 
potatoes  for  the  next  season. 

HAPPY  SURPKISE.S. 

I  have  talked  to  you  several  times  about  the 
happy  surprises  a  Christian  has  a  right  to  ex- 
pect. That  is  not  quite  it,  either;  for  if  we 
were  expecUiuj  them  all  the  while  they  would 
not  be  .s((v7>r(.vf.s'.  Perhaps  I  should  put  it  this 
wav:  H(!  who  does  his  duty,  and  tries  to  have 
his'heart  right  before  God",  will  be  continually 
meeting  with  happy  surprises;  and  these  happy 
surprises  are  among  the  brightest  things  one 
meets  in  this  world.  And  I  think  a/ormeralso 
has  a  right  to  ha|)py  surprises  —  that  is.  if  he  is 
a  good  farmer,  and  is  honest,  faithful,  and 
hard-working;  and  if  a  man  is  bo(/i  Christian 
and  farnu^r,  these  surprises  ought  to  make  him 
very  happy  indeed.  Well.  now.  I  am  not  a  very 
good  Christian,  and  I  am  surely  a  vn-y  poor  ex- 
ample in  farming  :  but  for  all  that,  God  sees  fit 
to  cheer  my  way  with  many  happy  surpris/'S,  to 
overbalance,  as  it  WM-re.  the  disappointments; 
and  there  are  three  of  these  siu'prises  that  I 
wish  to  tell  you  about  to-day.  The  first  one  is 
in  our  New  "Rose  celery.  While  I  was  in  Cali- 
fornia our  boys  started  some  New  Rose  celery 
along  with  the  other  kinds.  The  plants  became 
too  large  to  stay  in  the  greenhouse,  and  they 
had  to  be  put  somewhere;  so  we  made  two  rows 
aud  a  half  down  in  the  creek-bottom  grounds. 
It  was  .so  wet  we  sort  o'  tramped  them  into  the 
mud;  and  then  the  rains  and  floods  came,  and  I 
made  up  my  mind  that  that  lot  of  celery  plant- 
(>d  out  so  early  was  just  another  waste  of  time 
and  (expense.  "It  held  its  way.  however,  after  a 
fashion,  until  some  time  in  July.  By  this  time 
some  of  the  lowest  portions  were  drowned  out 
entir(;ly;  so  we  took  the  half-row  and  filled  out 
vacancies,  and  that  left  us  just  two  rows  forty 
rods   long.     When  we  filled  out  the  rows  the 


So(5 


(1  LEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


plants  lakt'ii  up  were,  some  of  them,  large 
enough  for  market:  but  they  were  green,  hard, 
and  unbleached.  These  plants  grew  nicely; 
and  this  convinced  me  that  celery  can  be  moved 
at  almost  all  stages  of  gi'owth;  and,  if  done 
properly,  ii  will  grow  right  along. 

Some  time  during  the  fall  these  two  rows  of 
celery  began  to  be  something  immense.  We 
banked  it  up  as  well  as  we  could,  but  other 
crops  had  been  planted  so  near  it  that  there 
was  no  dirt  and  no  room  to  get  any.  I  thought 
of  drawing  on  some  boards;  but  the  other  crops 
that  were  crowding  the  celery  would  be  injured 
by  tramping  and  handling  the  boards,  and  so 
w'e  banked  it  all  we  could,  and  let  it  go.  think- 
ing to  bleach  it  in  the  cellar  after  it  was  taken 
up.  Saturday.  Nov.  .5,  we  decided  to  draw  it  in, 
as  there  had  been  several  pretty  hard  freezes. 
How  much  do  you  suppose  we  got  from  those 
two  rows  forty  rods  long?  Six  great  iraqon- 
loads  of  celery  !  That  is  a  stunner,  is  it  not? 
But  wiiat  do  you  think  the  heaviest  plant 
weighed?  Just  9  lbs..  I'oots  and  all,  aftei'  we 
had  shaken  off  all  the  dirt  we  could  pound  off. 
Now.  then,  if  any  celery-grower  umong  the 
readers  of  Ctleaning.s  has  had  celery  like  that, 
let  liim  ••  stand  up  and  speak  his  piece."  Where 
would  the  •■new  celery'culture"  be  if  nil  the 
plants  grew  like  that?  To  tell  the  truth,  it  was 
rather  a  new  celery  culture  of  itself.  It  had 
suckered  out,  and  each  sucker  was  as  large  as 
an  ordinary  stalk  of  celeiy.  One  immense  root 
held  them  all  together.  I  wonder  how  these 
folks  who  sell  all  sorts  of  celery  by  the  dozen 
would  manage  with  this  crop.  Of  couise.  this 
weight  included  green  leaves  and  all  ;  but  I 
think  that  that  one  stalk  would  trim  up  at 
least  ()  lbs.  of  celery — that  is,  when  properly 
bleached.  In  regard  to  the  quality,  the  suckers 
that  were  underground,  and  thoroughly  bleach- 
ed, were  the  most  delicious  of  any  thing  in  the 
celery  line  I  have  ever  tasted  in  my  life.  The 
hands  who  were  taking  it  up  tried  it,  and  all 
decided  in  the  same  way.  The  two  rows  were 
planted  four  feet  apart,  and  they  were,  perhaps, 
from  six  to  ten  inches  apart  in  the  row.  This 
great  growth  was  due  to  the  gravelly  sub-soil 
thai  underlies  the  rich  loam,  and  which  held 
the  water  during  our  recent  dry  spell,  so  that 
the  celery  kept  right  on  growing.  The  ground 
had  also  been  heavily  manured  for  several 
years  previously.    Surprise  No.  3  is— 

GROWING   MTJSHKOOMS   BY   STEAM   HEAT. 

More  than  a  year  ago  we  tried  growing 
mushrooms  in  the  cellar.  The  heat  of  our 
manure  was  too  far  spent,  I  presume,  when  the 
spawn  was  put  in,  so  we  never  got  any  mush- 
rooms. While  I  was  in  California  the  boys  tore 
down  our  mushroom-bed  and  used  the  manure 
in  various  places.  They  said  it  was  all  dead, 
and  of, no  use.  Along  in  April,  something  very 
much  like  mushrooms  began  to  grow  in  the 
greenhouse  between  the  radishes  and  lettuce. 
I  asked  one  of  them  about  it,  and  he  said  it  was 
toadstools  that  came  from  some  old  manure 
they  had  bought.  These  toadstools,  however, 
grew  in  such  wonderful  profusion  that  they 
had  to  be  pulled  up  like  weeds,  to  get  them  out 
of  the  way;  and  several  basketsful  were 
dumped  on  the  compost-heap.  It  did  occur  to 
me  several  times  that  these  might  be  edible 
mushrooms;  but  I  did  not  get  time  to  have 
some  of  them  cooked,  and  so  the  matter  was 
dropped  and  forgotten.  A  few  days  ago  those 
same  toadstools  began  to  come  up  again  on  the 
same  beds.  These  beds  were  over  the  new 
agriculture,  and  the  exhaust  steam,  that  has 
been  turned  on  since  we  commenced  using  the 
steam  to  warm  the  factory,  down  under  those 
stones,  seems  to  have  been  just  the  thing  to 
suit  the  mushrooms.    Of  course,  the  ground  is 


rich.  This  time  I  took  some  over  home,  and 
Mrs.  Root  cooked  them  for  supper.  They  were 
the  most  delicious  mushrooms  I  ever  tasted: 
but  to  make  sure  that  they  were  not  poisonous 
we  just  tasted  them  all  around,  and  then  set 
the  dish  away  until  the  next  morning.  Ex- 
haust steam  in  many  cases  will  certainly  be 
c?icn2Jer  than  manure,  to  furnish  the  requisite 
heat.  SomeoftlH^  agricultural  papers  tell  us 
that  the  manure  fi-om  spent  hot-beds  is  just  as 
good  as  or  better  than  it  was  befoi'e.  This  is  cer- 
tainly a  mistake,  as  you  will  see  by  the  tomato 
book.  If  not.  why  do  those  who  use  manure 
hot- beds  on  a  large  scale  throw  away  the  resi- 
due as  so  much  sawdust?  Now  for  surprise 
No.  3: 

TILE      DRAINAGE      ALL     PAID     FOR     WITH     THE 
PROCEEDS   OF  A   SECOND   CROP  IN  A  SIN- 
GLE  SEASON. 

The  advertisement  in  our  local  paper  resulted 
in  selling  our  turnips  and  cabbages  to  such  an 
extent  that  we  were  obliged  to  buy  more  to 
supply  the  demand.  A  farmer  living  five  miles 
away  brought  me  a  load  of  beautiful  cabbages 
and  turnips.  I  asked  him,  of  course,  how  he 
managed  to  get  such  a  crop  of  fine  vegetables 
during  this  disastrous  season.  Said  I,  "  What 
manure  did  you  use,  friend  K.?" 

"  Why,  Mr.  Root,  did  not  use  any  manure 
at  all." 

"  Look  here,  my  friend;  I  know  by  the  twin- 
kle in  your  eye  that  you  did  something.  Now, 
what  was  it?" 

"  Well,  these  things  grew  on  a  piece  of  new 
land.  It  was  upland— in  fact,  on  one  of  the 
highest  hills  in  the  county.  A  year  ago  last 
spring  I  underdrained  it.  and  put  on  potatoes. 
Then  I  gave  it  a  good  manuring.  Last  spring 
the  drainage  did  not  seem  to  be  quite  sufficient, 
so  I  put  in  a  second  series  of  underdrains  and 
did  a  good  job.  fixing  it  according  to  my  own 
notion.  I  had  a  good  crop  of  potatoes  this  year, 
and  they  sold  at  a  good  price.  After  the  po- 
tatoes were  off  I  bought  some  purple-top  globe 
turnip-seed  of  you,  and  sowed  the  whole  piece 
to  turnips."; 

Here  he  stopped;  but  there  was  still  a  twin- 
kle in  his  eye  that  encouraged  me  to  question 
him  more,  and  he  finally  said: 

"  Well,  Mr.  Root.  I  have  received  money 
enough  from  the  turnips  alone  from  that 
ground  to  pay  for  all  the  tiles  and  all  the  ex- 
pense of  laying  them." 

Now.  here  is  a  story  for  the  Drainage  Jour- 
nal, which  is.  I  think,  the  biggest  it  has  ever 
had.  I  am  quite  a  Yankee  at  questioning,'as 
you  know,  and  so  I  went  oJi: 

"  But,  Mr.  Kraver,  you  must  have  taken 
some  pains  to  market  your  crop  in  order  to  get 
that  amount  of  money  out  of  the  turnips." 

"  Well,  yes.  I  have  worked  pretty  hard  for  a 
month  back  in  selling  my  stuff.  Yesterday 
morning  I  got  up  at  half-past  two  so  as  to  get  a 
load  of  turnips  and  cabbages  into  Akron  in 
good  season.  I  sold  them  all  out.  and  got  home 
at  night  with  the  cash  in  my  pocket.  I  do  not 
get  up  that  early  every  morning,  mind  you;  but 
I  can  do  it  when  circumstances  seem  to  de- 
mand it." 

rjl  paid  him  almosi?$10.00  for  the  load  of  stuff 
he  brought  me.  and  it  was  not  much  more  than 
half  a  load  either.  I  think,  if  he  tried  hard,  he 
could  get  on  that  wagon  enough  to  bring  him 
S2.5.00,  and  the  team  he  had  could  draw  it. 
Now,  fi-iends.  how  does  this  sound  when  we 
hear  so  much  about  farming  not  paying? 
Medina  County  is  really  about  as  poor  a  por- 
tion of  the  State  as  any  we  can  find,  for  truck 
gardening;  and  this  ])iece  of  ground  in  ques- 
tion is  certainly  not  f(?)orc  the  average. 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE"  CULTURE. 


85-; 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM  A.  I.  ROOT. 


NKW    MKXUO. 

This  Toiritory  is  mucii  liki'  Ari/mui  in  many 
respects.  Our  trip  throujili  it  on  the  iSonlhern 
Pacitio,  howt'ver.  in  the  nu)nlli  of  February, 
did  not  pn'S(Mit  tlie  Ivautifui  scenery  in  tlieway 
of  vefietation— tlie  vegetation  of  iiie  desert — 
that  I  found  three  years  airo  in  tiie  niontli  of 
November.  On  my  lirst  trip  the  cacti  and  oilier 
dt'sert  plants  \vei"e  just  tinisliiuff  their  season's 
growtli.  and  I  saw  many  beautiful  llowers.  In 
February,  however,  the  new  growth,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  winter  rains,  had  just  start(>d. 
The  geological  wonders.  howev(>r,  in  the  way 
of  rocks  of  ditt'erent  colois,  mountains  and 
desert,  were  as  attractive  as  ever.  They  did 
not  interest  Mrs.  Root,  however,  quite  as  much 
as  they  did  myself.  I  presume  she  was  getting 
to  be  tired  out  with  so  much  travel. 

Our  first  stop  was  at  El  Paso,  on  the  Rio 
Grande.  The  town  of  El  I'aso  had  grown  to 
such  an  extent  in  three  years  that  I  could 
scarcely  find  a  single  landmark  to  remind  me  of 
the  town  as  I  saw  it  on  my  visit  before.  It  is 
not  a  tincn  any  more,  however,  for  it  is  a  tine 
city.  There  is  no  end  of  beautiful  buildings, 
and  buildings  of  great  size  too.  I  had  an  in- 
vitation from  one  of  the  readers  of  Gleanings 
to  call  on  them  at  Las  Cruces.  Now  just  a 
word  about  the  names  of  these  Mexican  towns. 
They  are.  for  the  greater  part,  named  after 
some  geographical  feature,  or  in  honor  of  some 
of  the  saints  in  the  calendar  of  the  Roman 
Catholics.  Thus,  El  Paso  means  '•  The  Pass," 
probably  because  it  is  here  that  a  great  bridge 
is  located  at  the  Rio  Grande,  and  the  various 
government  houses  for  duties,  etc.  In  fact, 
this  great  bridge  separates  (or  unites,  let  us 
hope)  the  I'nited  .States  and  Mexico:  and  as 
El  Paso  is  the  point  where  exchanges  are  made, 
the  business  relations  of  the  two  countries  was 
probably  the  reason  why  Ei  Paso  received  such 
an  influx  of  business.  It  is  certainly  destined 
to  be  one  of  the  great  cities  of  the  region.  Mrs. 
Root  preferred  to  remain  alone  at  El  Paso  while 
I  went  out  on  the  Atchison.  Topeka  X-  .Santa 
Fe  railroad  to  meet  my  friend  Mr.  Thomas 
Brannigan.  one  of  our  Medina  County  men  wfio 
went  to  New  Mexico  some  twelve  years  ago. 
A  little  out  of  El  Paso  is  an  immense  smelting 
furnace  for  working  the  product  of  the  mines. 
One  can  scarcely  form  any  conception  of  these 
great  structures,  belching  forth  smoke  and 
flame,  until  he  sees  them.  To  carry  on  these 
mining  industries  profitably,  it  is  very  likely 
that  the  wealth  of  some  great  corporation  is 
needed.  The  buildings  and  apparatus  are 
beautiful:  and  standing,  as  they  do,  out  among 
the  rocks  and  mountains  and  desert  plains,  they 
look  strange  enough.  I  suppose  one  reason  for 
the  location  pretty  well  outoftovvnisbecau.se 
of  the  smoke  and  poisonous  gases  that  are  lil)er- 
flted.  These  latter  are  sent  forth  in  such  vol- 
ume. I  am  told,  they  .sometimes  kill  all  the 
vegetation  in  the  vicinity.  In  the  desert  of 
New  Mexico,  however,  then'  is  not  much  to  kill, 
unless  water  is  brought  on  for  irrigation.  You 
will  notice  by  the  map  thai  the  \.  T.  i^J:  S.  F. 
Railroad  goes  along  the  banks  of  lh(!  Rio 
Grande.  The  woi'ds  Rio  Grande  mean  the 
great  or  grand  river:  and  when  one  speaks  of 
the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande  you  would  nat- 
urally think  it  -something  fine.  To  tell  the 
truth,  however,  there  are  not  any  banks  at  all 
— that  is,  most  of  the  timi':  and.  in  fact,  there 
is  not  any  river  at  all  a  gn-at  part  of  the  time. 
During  my  visit  in  February,  the  Rio  (Jrande 
was,  every  now  and  then,  entirely  dry — that  is. 


so  far  as  the  eye  could  sec.  The  stream,  what 
there  was  of  it.  passcKJ  down  through  the  porous 
sand  and  gravel,  and  then  came  out  again  to 
the  sight  w  hen  the  soil  siuMued  mon;  compact.* 
Alnu)st  every  thing  seemed  a  desert  waste  until 
we  reached  Las  Cruces. 

The  Rio  Grande,  like  many  of  the  desert 
rivers,  changes  its  bed  .so  frequently  during 
times  of  great  freslu'ts  thai  it  is  a  serious  and 
unceasing  trouble  to  the  railroaders.  Every 
little  while  the  road  is  washed  away,  and  must 
be  built  (igain  on  a  miw  course.  I  presume  that 
some  time,  by  the  aid  of  irrigation  plants,  the 
Rio  (irande,  and  other  desert  rivers  will  be  held 
in  restraint.  The  name  Las  Cruces  means 
"Th(!  Crosses,"  coming,  probably,  from  the  old 
mission  churches  and  their  adherents. 

.Just  as  we  were  coming  into  the  place  one  of 
the  pas.sengers  pointed  out  to  me  the  home  of 
my  friend.  lie  has  charge  of  an  apiary  belong- 
ing to  a  well-to-do  oflicial,  in  some  government 
capacity,  if  I  am  correct.  This  home,  or  plan- 
tation, as  it  might  be  called,  seemed  like  an 
oasis  in  the  desert.  It  was  a  large  two-story 
frame  building,  such  as  we  see  here  in  the  east, 
but  it  was  surrounded  by  large  broad  piazzas, 
more  like  those  of  the  planters'  houses  in  the 
South.  As  soon  as  I  made  myself  known  I  was 
welcomed  by  the  proprietor,  and  all  the  rest, 
with  the  greatest  hospitality.  The  grounds,  the 
surroundings,  and  the  fruit-gardens,  were  all 
beautiful;  and  the  contrast  is  all  the  more 
marked  when  one  can  go  around  through  the 
town,  because  this  seems  to  be  almost  the  only 
building  in  the  place  that  looks  like  what  we 
would  call  a  house.  The  town  is  very  old;  and 
I  hope  the  friends  there  will  not  feel  hurt  when 
I  say  it  looked  to  me  more  like  a  village  of  mud 
houses,  fit  only  for  savages  or  the  inhabitants 
of  some  far-away  islands  of  the  sea  that  we 
read  about.  Even  the  stores,  groceries,  and 
hotels  were  made  of  this  same  adobe  brick — 
brick  simply  dried  in  the  sun. 

When  I  first  came  into  the  town  I  went  into  a 
store  to  inquire  my  way.  I  saw  the  sign, 
■'  Store,"  over  the  doorway,  and  I  thought  they 
could,  of  course,  give  me  the  information.  In 
the  first  place,  there  was  not  a  window  to  the 
store;  and  when  I  got  inside  I  could  not  see  any 
goods — at  least,  nothing  that  I  should  call 
goods;  and,  furthermore,  there  was  not  any- 
body in  the  store  who  could  talk  a  word  of 
English— I  confess  to  getting  a  little  homesick. 
However,  after  friend  Brannigan,  with  a  nice 
modern  carriage,  with  a  couple  of  smart  ponies, 
drove  me  around  the  place,  I  felt  a  little  more 
reconciled— at  least,  I  did  after  I  got  out  into 
the  country  and  saw  the  fruit-ranches  and  the 
alfalfa-fields.  We  visited  a  bee  and  fruit  ranch. 
The  proprietor  showed  me  some  orchards  and 
gardens  away  out  there  in  the  desert,  that 
would  do  credit  to  almost  any  home  in  the 
suburbs  of  our  great  cities;  apples  and  grapes 
and  raisins;  yes,  and  honey  of  their  own  rais- 
ing. He  showed  me  his  little  garden  of  exotic 
plants:  and  then  he  asked  me  if  I  would  like 
to  see  them  haul  and  spread  manure,  the  way 
they  do  to  produce  these  imm(-nse  growths  of 
fruit,  irei's.  and  all  sorts  of  vegetation.  Well, 
they  do  not  use  any  manure- spreader  at  all  in 
New  Mexico.  They  just  make  an  irrigation 
canal,  and  take  the  thick  muddy  water  from 

*  Unless  immense  reservoirs  are  constructed  to 
catcli  and  store  tiie  waters  duriiiK  the  wet  season,  I 
do  not  see  how  irrigation  is  to  be  carried  raucli  fur- 
tlicr  witli  water  taken  from  the  Rio  Grande.  In 
fact,  I  am  told  there  are  a  g-reat  manj'  points  where 
every  bit  of  water  in  the  river  is  appropriated.  By 
digging-  down  throujrli  this  loose  porous  gravel,  that 
permits  an  underground  current,  and  making  tight 
cement  bottoms,  no  doubt  a  large  amount  ot  water 
can  be  secured,  and  this  will  probaljly  be  done  soon. 


858 


GLEANING^  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


the  Rio  Grande.  They  run  this  through  the 
grounds,  and  the  water  is  so  nasty  and  muddy 
that  it  leaves  a  thick  scum  or  sediment  wher- 
ever it  flows  over  the  ground.  This  sediment 
is  equal  to  concentrated  manures  for  fruit,  al- 
falfa, or  almost,  any  thing  else.  Why.  the 
rushing  waters,  laden  with  their  fertilizing 
treasures,  made  me  almost  wild  to  have  a  ranch 
in  New  Mexico:  but  then,  when  I  thought  of 
those  mud  huts  for  homes,  that  were  almost  the 
rule  in  that  region,  I  felt  almost  homesick 
again. 

May  be  Las  Cruces  has  more  real  houses  than 
I  gave  it  credit  for.  But  Mrs.  Root  was  not 
along;  in  fact.  1  had  not  seen  her  for  four  or 
five  hours!  This  was  by  far  the  longest  period 
we  had  been  separated  since  slie  met  me  in 
San  Francisco.  Besides,  we  were  both  begin- 
ning to  feel  a  terrible  longing  for  home  and  the 
children.  With  all  these  explanations  it  is  not 
very  strange  that,  instead  of  staying  two  or 
three  days  at  Las  Cruces,  I  began  to  make  in- 
quiries in  regard  to  the  first  train  back  that 
evening.  At  suppertime  my  resolution  was 
somewhat  shaken  by  meeting  some  of  the  min- 
ers from  Organ  Mountains.  These  mountains--, 
in  fact,  had  considerable  of  a  look  like  my  old 
friends  Superstition  Mountains.  There  was 
not  any  turret  nor  battlements  away  up  in  the 
clouds,  but  there  were  some  sharp  peaks  that 
looked  more  like  church-spires  than  they  did 
like  mountains.  An  old  miner  who  had  received 
an  injury  in  the  mines  told  me  a  good  deal 
about  them,  and  said  people  had  climbed  up 
those  spires,  and  they  all  gave  me  a  pressing 
invitation  to  go  up  and  see  the  miners  work  in 
those  mountains  next  day.  Friend  Brannigan 
said,  further,  that  there  were  some  mountains 
right  back  of  these  that  were  almost  as  white 
as  snow,  and  it  was  not  snow  either:  it  was 
mountains  of  gypsum,  or  plaster  of  Paris.  By 
the  way,  I  had  had  a  glimpse  the  day  before  of 
one  of  these  gypsum  mountains.  All  at  once  I 
startled  the  passengers  by  exclaiming,  "Just 
see  that  white  mountain!  What  can  it  be?" 
They  all  jumped  to  the  window  and  caught  a 
glimpse  of  it.  Then  the  train  whirled  us 
among  the  hills,  out  of  sight:  and  when  we  had 
got  to  the  spot  where  we  thought  it  ought  to 
be,  it  was  not  there  any  more.  A  good  many 
explained  its  disappearance  by  saying  that  it 
was  a  mirage:  but  I  am  sure  it  was  a  plaster- 
of-Paris  mountain.  The  railroad  did  not  hap- 
pen to  go  where  we  could  get  a  glimpse  of  the 
mountain  again.  For  several  days  after  leav- 
ing Las  Cruces  I  felt  bad  to  think  that  I  did  not 
shake  off  my  feeling  of  homesickness  and  go  off 
and  explore  those  wonderful  mountains.  Never 
mind:  when  we  get  out  of  debt  again— if  we 
ever  do— perhaps  the  boys  will  send  me  off  to 
finish  my  explorations.  In  the  next  issue  I  will 
try  to  tell  you  something  about  the  strange  city 
of  Paso  del  Norte,  just  across  the  river  from 
El  Paso.  It  gets  its  name,  probably,  from  this 
branch  of  the  Rio  Grande,  "'  del  Norte  "  mean- 
ing the  northern  branch. 


A  KIND    WOIID  FRO.M   AUSTRALIA. 

Friend  Boot:— Let  me  thank  you  for  the  good  I 
have  got  from  your  ))ooks,  particularly  "What  to 
Do."  etc.  That  book  did  me  good,  and  strengtlieiicd 
my  liands.  I  was  feeling  in  the  dark,  and  your 
gleam  of  light  showed  the  track.  Deep  cultivation, 
heavy  manuring,  and  good  stufif  are  my  text-words, 
and  J  have  succeeded  very  well  in  small  things, 
such  as  strawberries,  tomatoes,  fruit,  and  poultry, 
and  the  best  shops  jump  for  my  produce.  Besides 
this,  you  have  heliJed,  by  your  writings,  other  poor 
men  over  here,  and  encouraged  tliem  and  taught 
them.  Let  this  platitude  of  ours  sometimes  dwell 
in  your  mind,  and  repay  you  for  your  trouble. 

Sidney,  N.  S.  W.,  Sept.  19.  T.  A.  Board. 


C36T>AGEs7xlO 
ii^S  PERYEAPj 


For  a  small  moment  have  1  fors-aken  thee.— ISA.  54 :  7. 

We  have  to-day.  Nov.  10.  a  heavy  fall  of 
snow,  and  eveiy  thing  looks  decidedly  like 
winter.  We  usually  do  not  have,  much  snow  in 
our  locality  before  the  first  of  December. 

We  have  just  been  advised  of  the  safe  arrival 
in  Australia  of  two  or  three  Italian  queens  that 
we  sent  from  Medina  some  forty  days  ago.  We 
sent  out.  toward  the  latter  part  of  the  season, 
something  like  three  dozen,  and  so  far  have 
heard  from  only  four  or  five  queens. 


Ouii  friend  J.  M.  Jenkins,  the  supply-dealer 
of  Wetumpka,  Ala.,  has  ere  this,  we  presume, 
taken  a  new  helpmeet.  There  was  a  brief  inti- 
mation of  the  coming  event  in  a  letter  oidering 
another  lot  of  catalogues  for  1893.  Gleanings 
extends  congratulations. 

We  omitted  to  state,  in  our  footnote  to  Mr. 
Crane's  article  on  page  837.  that  he  has  a  cone, 
or  sleeve,  of  pejforated  metal,  that  slips  right 
over  the  cone  top  of  the  smoker.  This  sleeve 
has  an  air-space  between  it  and  the  cone  proper, 
and.  tieing  fastened  securely,  the  top  may  be 
removed  without  burning  the  fingers. 


expebiments  with  glitcose:   how  the  bees 
take  to  the  pure  stuff. 

It  has  been  intimated  several  times  of  late, 
that  bee-keepers  feed  glucose  to  bees  to  get 
comb  honey.  We  have  all  along  doubted 
whether  this  would  be  practicable,  and  accord- 
ingly, during  the  past  summer,  we  ordered  a 
small  keg  of  the  finest  glucose  made,  to  test  the 
matter  for  ourselves.  We  knew  the  bees  would 
not  take  to  it  very  kindly,  but  were  greatly 
surprised  to  find  that  we  could  not  get  them  to 
even  smell  of  it:  and  Mr.  J.  B.  Hains,  of  Bed- 
ford, Ohio,  who  wished  to  prove  the  fallacy  of 
the  thing,  says  this  is  his  experience.  We  ex- 
perimented with  three  colonies  of  different 
temperaments,  and  they  all  seemed  alike  to 
regard  it  with  the  same  disfavor.  Finally  we 
thought  we  would  see.  one  day.  if  we  could  not 
force  it  down  'em.  We  dipped  our  finger  into 
it,  and  allowed  the  glucose  to  st?"eam  all  over 
the  cluster  of  bees:  and  while  we  were  watch- 
ing them  they  did  not  even  take  the  pains  to 
lick  each  other  off.  and  we  believe,  if  we  had 
dosed  them  much  more,  the  whole  colony  would 
have  been  killed. 

When  the  stuff'  first  came  we  thought  we  would 
sample  it.  It  looked  beautiful,  clear  as  crystal, 
and  as  thick  as  nice  well-ripened  honey  on  a 
winter  day.  We  sampled  it.  taking  a  good  big 
spoonful.  The  first  sensation  was  not  particu- 
larly bad;  but  as  the  stuff  began  to  melt  in  the 
mouth  it  was  almost  nauseating.  It  reminded 
us  very  forcibly  of  old  rotten  potato  parings. 
(We  never  eat  such  things,  but  judge  of  their 
quality  by  tho  smell.)  We  invited,  in  turn, 
several  others  to  taste  it,  and  they  all  regarded 
it  as  positively  bad. 

Now,  the  point  of  all  this  is  right  here:  If  it 
is  impossible  to  make  bees  take  pure  glucose  of 
the  finest  quality,  it  is  impossible  to  produce 
pure  glucose  comb  honey  by  feeding:  and  all 
the  talk  we  have  had  regarding  the  possibility 
of  making  glucose  comb  honey  is  a  waste  of 
words— that  is.  if  our  experiments  were  con- 
ducted   carefully.      This    is  possible,  and,   we 


18".i2 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


859 


fear,  may  be  done:  Twenty  or  thirty  ix-r  cent 
of  glucose  maybe  added  to  honey,  and  fed  to 
bees:  luit  tli(>  pure  artieh^,  ik-vim'. 

Aixain.  tlie  nasty  Ihivor  ol  glneose  is  so  cliai- 
aetcristie.  tliat  we  believe  we  oonld  deteet  tiie 
smallest  (|uantity  of  it  in  himey.  cither  eonib  or 
extracted.  We  believt'  we  would  about  as  soon 
rely  on  a  carefully  educated  taste  as  on  an 
elaborate  analysis,  lioth  together  ought  to  be 
accept^'d  as  good  proof  of  the  purity  or  impurity 
of  honey. 

We  want  to  give,  right  here,  fair  warning 
that  those  chaps  who  are  adulterating  with 
glucose,  or  conu»mplate  doing  so.  had  better 
go  slow.  In  the  lirst  place,  it  is  impracticable 
—  yes,  impossible  —  to  get  pure  glucose  comb 
honey.  In  the  second  place.  2.")  or  .W  per  cent 
mixtures  will  tell  their  own  tale. 

Ldtcr. — Since  writing  the  above  we  have  had 
the  pleasure  of  a  visit  from  John  II.  Larrabee. 
lately  of  the  Michigan  Apicultural  Experiment 
Station,  at  Lansing.  In  consequence  of  his 
connection  with  llie  station  he  has,  of  course, 
made  many  experiments  in  apiculture  :  and 
among  tliem  was  feeding  pure  glucose  and  glu- 
cose mixtures  to  bees.  Ibc  pure  corn  syrup, 
the  bees  almost  refused  to  take,  although  by 
starving  them  to  it  he  has  got  them  to  store  in 
a  very  few  cells.  Practically,  then,  his  experi- 
mentwould  agree  with  ours  mentioned  above. 
By  putting  from  2.5  to  .50  per  cent  of  glucose  into 
sugar  syrup  or  honey  he  could  get  them  to  take 
it.down. 

Mr.  Larrabee  will  go  back  to  Vermont,  and 
commence  again  on  his  own  account  the  busi- 
ness of  honey  production.  He  is  a  progressive 
and  intelligent  bee-keeper:  and  although  he  is 
not  now  conn(>cted  with  an  experiment  station. 
we  hope  he  will  not  entirely  give  up  the  field  of 
investigation.       

MORE   ABOUT   THOSE    FUNICS;     OXE    REDEEMING 
QUALITY. 

Some  of  our  friends  may  be  Interested  in 
knowing  how  those  Funics  are  behaving  of 
lati'.  We  have  been  watching  them  narrowly 
ever  since  our  first  reports.  Regarding  their 
bad  trails,  we  have  nothing  to  take  back,  but. 
on  the  contrary,  we  are  sure  that  we  did  not 
condemn  them  any  too  severely.  But  among 
all  their  naughty  habits  it  would  be  a  little 
singular  if  we  did  not  discover  at  least  some 
partially  redeeming  quality.  Well,  we  have 
found  o/ie.  They  are  th(;  best  defenders  of 
thi'ir  home  against  robbers,  of  any  race  of  bees 
we  have  ever  known.  Indeed,  when  the  rob- 
bers are  the  worst,  we  find  we  can  pull  the 
cover  off  their  hive  and  leave  their  combs  ex- 
posed for  hours  at  a  time;  and  although  the 
robbers  will  at  first  pounce  on  to  them  fiercely, 
in  a  few  minutes  they  begin  to  find  they  have 
"  got  the  wrong  pig  by  tlie  ears,"'  and  then  th(iy 
hover  about  more  cautiously.  Those  "  little 
black  devils,"  as  one  of  the  boys  calls  them, 
will  stand  in  military  array  along  the  edge  of 
the  top-bars;  and  the  first  robber  bee  that 
comes  within  smelling  distance  will  be  met,  on 
the  wing,  and  perhaps  jerked  down  heiwecui 
the  combs,  and  that  is  the  last  of  Mr.  Kobb(!r, 
for  two  or  three  Funics  will  very  soon  tinish 
him*  up.  Our  experiments  were  made  some- 
what late  in  the  season:  but  we  believe  it 
would  be  safe  to  move  the  rover  off  at  any  lime 
of  the  year,  if  the  hive  be  well  shaded.  This 
trait  is  a  very  desirable  one;  but  at  the  same 
time  it  is  overbalanced  by  so  many  bad  on<;s, 
that,  if  all  Funics  are  as  naughty  as  ours  (and 
reports  seem  to  show  it),  bee-keepers  having 
them  will  soon  brimstone  them.  We  might 
add.  in  this  connection,  that  this  same  skill  in 

*  We  suppose  we  oug-ht  to  say  her,  l)ut  her  is  too 
effeminate  liere.— E.  R. 


def(uiding  their  home  renders  them  terrific 
roi)bers,  for  no  ordinary  bee  is  a  match  for  a 
Funic  in  a  hand-to-hand  combat.  One  time 
last  summer,  when  the  bees  got  to  robbing,  we 
notic(>d  tliat  there  \\-ere  two  Funics  l(j  one  Ital- 
ian, helping  themselves  to  tin'  ill-gotten  gains; 
and  this,  notwithstanding  there  were  L'OO  times 
as  many  of  the  yellow  bees  as  of  the  black 
in  the  apiary.  Suppose  the  situation  were  re- 
versed, and  the  honey-house  door  should  be 
left  open — what  then  ? 


THE   RURAL   XEW-YORKER. 

After  I  liad  given  the  Country  Gentleman 
such  a  comijliment  as  I  did  in  the  last  issue,  I 
felt  a  little  troui)led  to  think  it  might  look  as  if 
I  intended  to  place  it  ahc^ad  of  the  Rural  New- 
Yorker.  Well,  in  some  things  I  do  think  it  per- 
haps a  littler  better  authority;  but  on  the  other 
liand,  the  Rund  has  done  a  woik  in  testing 
new  things  recommended  to  the  farmer,  and  in 
sifting  out  frauds,  that  no  other  agricultural 
paper  has  done.  In  fact,  our  enterprising  seeds- 
men can  hardly  start  an  old  thing  under  a  new 
name  without"  having  th(^  Rural  come  after 
them  with  a  sharp  stick  in  double-tjuick  time. 
There  is  som(d)ody  back  of  the  Rural  Xew- 
Yorker,  with  such  a  real  honest  energy  and 
vim  that  it  tempts  us  to  smile,  even  if  he  does, 
in  his  vehemence,  bear  on  a  little  too  hard  at 
times.  Long  live  the  Rural  I  and.  in  fact,  it 
has  lived  long  already,  for  I  remember  walking 
two  miles  and  a  half  to  ray  grandfather's,  more 
to  look  over  the  Rural  than  almost  any  thing 
else  when  it  was  first  started,  about  forty  years 
ago.  Another  thing,  the  Ruj-al  is  broad  and 
comprehensive.  It  takes  in  the  topics  of  the 
day,  the  new  enterprises,  and  the  general  news. 
It  upholds  godliness,  and  it  sits  down  on  tobac- 
co and  whisky  with  no  uncertain  sound.  Even  ' 
if  it  is  an  agricultural  paper,  it  makes  it  its 
business  to  pitch  in  lively  when  our  country  de- 
mands the  help  of  all  good  men.  Again,  it  was 
one  of  the  first  to  inaugurate  the  plan  of  getting 
opinions  of  eminent  men  on  all  the  serious  ques- 
tions of  the  day.  Last,  but  not  least,  it  has  just 
r<^duced  the  price  to  only  81.00  a  year.  If  they 
are  going  to  keep  it  up  to  its  standard,  and  keep 
up  its  many  and  varied  illustrations,  as  they 
have  done  in  years  past,  it  will  be  almost  ridic- 
ulously cheap  ;  and  no  one  need  be  afraid  to 
take  it  into  the  family  circle  and  have  every 
one,  from  the  smallest  child  up.  look  at  its  pic- 
tures and  read  it  all  through.  I  said,  a  little 
time  ago,  that  it  did  not  give  place  to  advertise- 
ments of  patent  medicines.  It  seems,  however, 
that  it  does  accept  certain  kinds  of  advertise- 
ments of  this  class.  I  do  not  think  even  this 
best,  but  perhaps  the  Rural  folks  are  right  and 
I  am  wrong.  It  is  their  own  affair,  any  way. 
A.  I.  R. 

THCSE  IMPORTED  QXTEENS. 

We  have  just  been  advised  by  our  forward- 
ing agents  in  New  York  that  they  received 
breeder's  certificate,  and  advices  from  Havre, 
that  crates  of  Italian  bees  were  to  arrive.  They 
notified  us  that  the  packages  could  not  be  found 
on  the  manifest  of  the  steamer  when  it  came, 
nor  did  they  receive  any  notification  from  the 
steamship  company  or  United  States  customs 
regarding  the  arrival  of  bees.  The  queens  came, 
however,  and  on  investigation  they  and  all  the 
bees  were  found  to  be  absolutely  dead  from 
fumigation  on  account  of  the  quarantine  i-egu- 
lations  for  the  prevention  of  the  cholera  epi- 
demic then  threatening  to  enter  the  port  of 
New  York.  We  refused  to  receive  them,  of 
course,  and  we  suppose  ere  this  they  have  been 
burned.  The  case  is  a  little  peculiar.  While 
the  breeder  in  Italy  is  supposed  to  deliver,  or- 
dinarily, queens  to  us  in  good  order,  it  is  hardly 


860 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


fair  that  the  shipper  in  this  case,  Miss  E. 
Bianconcini,  of  Bologna,  Italy,  should  stand  all 
the  loss.  There  is  no  hope  of  getting  any  dam- 
ages from  the  quarantine  authorities,  as  they 
are  governed  by  the  motto  of  the  greatest  good 
to  the  greatest  number.  In  this  case  we  pro- 
pose to  stand  half  the  loss,  and  even  then  it  will 
be  rather  heavy,  as  a  consignment  of  fifty  im- 
ported queens  is  rather  expensive.  As,  in  all 
probability,  quarantine  regulations  will  be  in 
force  again  next  summer,  it  is  quite  doubtful 
whether  we  shall  be  able  to  get  any  more  im- 
ported queens  for  another  season's  trade,  for  it 
would  be  utterly  useless  to  have  bees  shipped 
over  only  to  be  fumigated  to  death  with  sul- 
phui'.  We  have  sold  out  all  we  had,  except  one 
or  two  queens  almost  superannuated,  that  we 
kept  right  along  just  because  they  were  raising 
such  nice  queens. 


DO  BEES  MAKE  HONEY  OUT  OF  SUGAK?    FEED- 
ING StJGAK.  AND  SELLING  THE  PRODUCT 
AS  HONEY. 

This  matter  was  so  emphatically  settled 
years  ago,  that  feeding  sugar  will  not  make 
honey,  that  I  am  a  little  surprised  to  see  it  com- 
ing up  again.  I  am  still  more  surprised  that 
our  good  friend  Prof.  Cook,  and  the  editor  of 
the  Bce-heepers'  Review,  should  seem  to  be 
teaching  in  that  line.  In  the  back  numbers  of 
Gleanings  are  recorded  some  very  careful  ex- 
periments in  this  direction.  In  order  to  satisfy 
myself  I  fed  a  single  colony  of  hees  a  whole  bar- 
rel of  sugar.  Sections  were  tilled  and  capped 
over  so  as  to  rival  in  beauty  almost  any  thing 
that  could  be  brought  forward  in  the  way  of 
honey  made  from  nattiral  sources.  But  it  was 
not  honey  at  all.  We  uncapped  the  sections 
and  removed  the  liquid  honey,  as  our  friends 
would  call  it,  and  placed  it  in  sauce-dishes 
right  beside  the  syrup  before  the  bees  had  had 
it  at  all.  I  did  not  find  anybody  who  detected 
a  particle  of  difference  in  the  taste.  It  was 
sugar  syrup  before  it  was  fed  to  the  bees,  and  it 
was  just  exactly  the  same  kind  of  sugar  syrup 
after  the  bees  had  put  it  in  combs  and  sealed  it 
over.  Very  likely  many  people,  without  think- 
ing, would  call  it  honey  because  it  was  in  honey- 
comb; but  ever  so  many  did  say  it  tasted  like 
sugar  syrup,  when  they  were  not  told  any  thing 
about  it.  Another  thing,  it  did  not  pay.  In 
every  one  of  my  experiments  the  excessive  feed- 
ing caused  the  bees  to  go  to  rearing  brood  and 
secreting  wax.  In  fact,  the  wax  scales  fell  to 
the  bottom  of  the  hive  so  they  could  be  scraped 
up;  and  the  conseqtience  was,  the  sugar  cost 
more  than  the  honey  could  possibly  be  sold  for. 
I  know  there  is  a  wider  margin  between  the 
price  of  sugar  and  that  of  nice  comb  honey  just 
now:  btit  I  am  sure  that  no  one,  even  now,  can 
pay  expenses,  even  if  the  product  is  sold  at  the 
highest  market  price,  and  sold  as  honey. 

At  different  times  in  the  history  of  the  honey 
business  tliere  have  been  found  people  foolish 
enough  to  undertake  the  matter  on  a  large 
scale;  but  every  such  attempt  has  been  a  fail- 
ure. Furthermore,  I  am  sure  there  are  a  dozen 
well-posted  bee-keepers  who  are  living  now, 
w^ho  made  the  same  experiments  I  did,  and  the 
result  was  just  as  I  have  stated  it.  The  whole 
thing  is  old,  and  has  been  gone  over  repeatedly. 
Very  likely  some  other  additional  experiments 
have  been  made  since  this  matter  has  been 
revived,  during  the  past  season;  but  if  the  ex- 
perimenters will  own  up,  I  am  sure  they  will 
agree  to  what  I  have  stated  above.  On  page 
274  of  the  Review  for  October  we  find  the  ed- 
itorial I  have  alluded  to,  as  follows: 

SHAIiL|WE  RAISKDSUGAR  HONEY? 

Last  spring  I  cut  ofif  the  discussion  upon  this 
question  because  even  its  bare  mention  caused  so 


much  excitement  that  it  seemed  impossible  to  rea- 
son coolly  or  secure  fair  decisions.  Recently  pub- 
lished reports  showing'  that  even  tlie  best  chemists 
and  a  class  of  forty  students  could  detect  no  differ- 
ence between  "^sugar  honey"  and  tlie  best  lioney 
from  basswood  and  clover  have  again  brouglit  the 
subject  to  the  surface.  If,  as  Mr.  Hasty  has  said, 
sugar  honey  gratifies  the  eye.  tickles  tlie  palate, 
and  nourislies  the  body:  if  it  fulfills  every  require- 
ment of  floral  honey;  if,  as  Prof.  Cook  says,  it  is 
honey,  why  need  it  not  become  a  legitimate  product 
of  the  apiary? 

OppositiDu  to  discussion  has  been  urged,  on  the 
ground  that  sugar  honey  could  be  product'd  only  at 
a  loss.  "  If  it  can't  be  raised  profltalily,  wli\-  discuss 
its  production  ?"'  "Let  some  one  raise  a  iiound  of 
sugar  honey  at  a  profit,  jwsi  one  ptnind,  '  tliey '  said, 
and  then— perhaps."  These  were  some  of  "the  ex- 
pressions used.  To  settle  this  point  I  have  been 
experimenting  a  little  the  past  season.  From  the 
feeding  of  150  pounds  of  sugar  I  have  secured  13.5 
pounds  of  finished  comb  honey.  The  sugar  co.st 
$7..50;  the  honey  would  certainly  sell  for  $20.00. 
This  honey  has  been  awarded  fiisi  ]iicnnum  at  fairs, 
been  furnished  to  neighbors,  and  plai-ed  before  vis- 
itors; yet  its  origin  has  never  been  suspected.  This 
has  been  done  simply  as  an  ex^ieriment,  and  has 
completely  proved  what  I  already  believed  to  be 
true. 

Now,  if  sugar  honey  can  be  raised  at  a  profit;  if 
it  is  really  and  truly  honey,  I  ask,  in  all  seriousness 
and  earnestijess,  what  are  the  objections  to  its  pro- 
duction and  sale?  There  is  no  occasion  for  indulg- 
ing in  fiorid  rhetoric  and  exclamation-points;  sim- 
ply laj"  aside  preconceived  notions;  allow  reason  to 
reign  supreme,  and  coolly  and  calmly  saj'  why  this 
extension  of  the  bee-keeping  industry  would  be 
wrong  or  work  any  injury  to  the  pursuit. 

I  think  there  is  no  better  time  than  the  present  in 
which  to  settle  the  question,  and  I  propose  to  de- 
vote the  November  Review  to  its  discussion.  Prof. 
Cook's  article  will  answer  for  a  "  leader  "—a  much 
better  one  than  I  could  write. 

A  visitor  came  into  our  office  a  few  days  ago 
and  picked  up  the  Review  and  read  the  above; 
then  he  made  a  remark  something  like  this: 
"Mr.  Root,  what  would  one  unacquainted  with 
our  industry  say  to  find  this  in  one  of  our  lead- 
ing bee- journals?  And  suppose  some  of  our 
newspapers  that  wanted  to  make  a  sensation 
should  copy  the  above,  and  pass  it  around. 
What  would  be  the  effect  on  our  industry  '?  "  I 
went  carefully  over  the  whole  thing  a  second 
time,  to  see  whether  any  thing  was  said  against 
selling  the  product  as  honey  produced  by  feed- 
ing sugar:  but  there  is  not  a  word.  I  am  not 
at  all  afraid  it  can  amount  to  any  thing  like 
the  oleomargarine  fraud,  as  there  is  mojicy  in 
the  latter,  and  I  am  sure  there  is  not  in  feeding 
sugar.  Furthermore,  there  is  not  any  thing 
known  that  can  be  fed  to  bees,  so  as  to  make  it 
pay,  that  will  compare  with  even  poor  honey. 
It  might  in  looks,  but  I  am  sure  it  would  not 
please  customers.  If  the  thing  were  possible, 
how  does  it  happen  that  no  such  product  has 
ever  been  successfully  placed  on  the  markets? 
When  there  is  a  poor  yield  of  honey,  prices  go 
up,  and  the  markets  are  often  destitute  of  a 
decent-looking  article.  It  will  not  do  to  say 
that  people  have  not  found  it  out;  for  it  has 
been  discussed  and  proposed  ever  since  bee- 
keeping has  been  an  industry.  Almost  every 
bee-keeper  in  the  business  suggests  it  sooner  or 
later;  and  unscrupulous  venders  of  new-fangled 
hives  and  new-fangled  secrets,  from  Mrs.  Cot- 
ton up,  have  proposed  feeding  sugar  and  selling 
the  product  as  honey. 

How  about  friend  Hutchinson's  experiment 
where  the  product  tasted  like  honey,  and  could 
be  made  at  a  profit?  Well,  my  opinion  is,  that, 
by  some  hook  or  crook,  some  honey  was  gathered 
at  the  time  of  the  experiment,  thus  increasing 
the  yield,  and  giving  it  a  honey  flavor.  I  am 
sorry  to  reflect  on  one  so  accurate  as  the  editor 
of  the  Review  is,  but  I  can  think  of  no  other 
explanation.  A.  I.  R. 


lSi>2 


GLEANINGS  IN  HKE  CUI/rURE. 


861 


a 


FUDDINQ  (3 


That    quaint 
old  expression  ot 
our     forefathers     """■ 
is  so  apt.     We  think  of 
it  daily  when    we  look 
back  ten  years  and  recall 
how  Victor  Bicycles  have  outstripped  all  rivals. 

What  a  pudding  we  have  in  the  Victor 
Cushion  and  Pneumatic  Tires,  Victor  Spring 
Fork,  and  the  like. 

No  wonder  Victors  lead ! 

Let  us  send  you  a  catalog. 

OVERMAN  WHEEL  CO., 

SPRINGFIELD  BRANCH:  128  Worthington  St. 


DAVIS,  HLNT  &  CO.,  Agrts. 
Cleveland,  Ohio. 


B.  HENDRICKSON,  Local  \gt., 
Medina,  Ohio. 


r^iiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^ 


-^    Math's  — 

Honey  -  Extraetop. 

Square  Glass  Honey-Jans, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee-hives. 
Honey-Seetions,  &e.,  &e. 

Pepfeetion  Cold-Blast  Smokefs. 

APPLY  TO  .v-^-v^^-^^^^-rv^N^^^ 

CHAS.  F.  IVIOTH  &  SON,  Cineinnati,  O. 


& — SendlOct.  stamj)  for  ■'Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
Please  mention  this  paper. 


TAKE   NOTICE! 

DEFORE  placing-  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
"    for  jtrices  on  One-Piece  B;i.s.swoik1  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives,  Shipping-Crates,  Franit-s.   Foundittion,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
14tfdb  New  London,  Wis. 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

NEW  YORK  CORRESPONDENCE 


BEE-HIVES,   SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  the  Ijest  goods  and  sell  them  clieap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  g-oods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world. 

Our  goods  are  known  as  the  best  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS    CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

Please  mention  this  i)aper. 


FOR    home:  studv    ■■■■■■■■i™ 


243  BROADWAY    N  .Y.       PRfn 
INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE  Ullij 

I'l'i.M   ni.-nti.m  this  i.:i|..-r 

BUFFALO,  N.  Y.     Unsurpassed  Honey  Market. 
BATTERSON  &  CO.     Responsible,  Reliable, 
Commission  Merchants,      .k,,  „,      and  Prompt. 


Bee  -  Keepers'  ^  Supplies. 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies pronii)tly  Mild  a1  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladly 
furnislit'cl.  and  ciirrcsiiniidencesolicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  first-class  in  quality  and  workmanship.  Cat- 
ttlngue  sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling,  111.    Address  l-24db 

Win.  OTcCUNE  A;  CO., 

Sterling;,  Illiuolnt. 

JENNIE  ATCHLEY'S  HOIVIE 

will  l)e  at  Beeville,  Bee  County,  Tex.,  in   1893,  ready 
witl)  queens  again.  19tfdb 

$i     Golden  Queens  by  Return  Mail.     $i 

For  beautj-  and  business.    Safe  arrival  and  satis- 
faction guaranteed.    This  is  a  inoncv-order  ollice. 
J.  B.  CASK,  Port  Orange,  Vol.  t'o.,  Fla. 

CLOSING-OUT  SALE^ 

No.  1  Sections,  $3..50  per  M.    Full  colonies  of 
bees   in   8-frame  L.  hives,  W.OO  per  colony. 
No.  1  Alsike  clover  seed,  .JS.Oti  per  busliel. 
Send  for  leduccd  list. 
W.  D.  SOPER,  Jackson,  Mich.  30tfd 

In  writing  to  advertisers  please  mention  this  paper.|   |  Itfdb 


862 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


Special  Notices. 


GLEANINGS   FREE  THE    REST  OF  THIS  YEAR  TO   NEW 
SUBSCRIBERS   FOR   1893. 

As  is  our  usual  custom  we  make  the  above  offer 
to  assist  our  present  readers  to  introduce  Glean- 
ings to  their  friends.  We  will  in  addition  g-ive  you, 
as  a  premium  for  all  new  names  secured,  a  cash 
commission  of  25  cents  on  eacli  new  subscription. 
It  must  be  a  new  subscription.  A  changre  from  one 
member  of  a  family  to  another,  or  any  like  device, 
would  not  be  securing  a  new  subscription,  there- 
fore we  prefer  that  you  send  your  own  renewal,  if 
due,  along  with  the  new  subscription  secured. 


3-INCH    netting  of  no.  19  AND  20  WIRE    NOT     FUR- 
NISHED. 

At  the  last  minute,  just  before  going  to  press, 
and  after  our  itage  on  wire  netting  is  printed,  we 
find  that  the  manufacturers  had  so  little  demand 
for  the  light  weights  of  3-inch  netting  wire  No.  19 
and  -S).  that  they  do  not  list  them  this  year,  and 
therefore  the  cheapest  thing  we  can  furnish  for  pea 
brush  is  either  3  inch  No.  18,  or  2  inch  No.  20,  both 
of  which  cost  90c  a  roll,  1  foot  wide  ;ind  1.50  ft.  long. 
Please  make  a  note  of  this  in  connection  with  what 
we  say  in  full-page  announcement. 

MAPLE   SYRUP. 

If  we  can  not  offer  much  in  the  way  of  extracted 
honey  we  are  prepared  to  furnish  choice  maple 
syrup,  in  one-gallon  cans,  at  $1.00  per  gallon  in  10- 
gallon  lots  or  more.  For  a  less  quantity  we  charge 
ll.lO.  We  shall  not  be  able  to  furnish  much  maple 
sugar  till  the  new  season  opens  in  the  spring,  as 
we  bought  up  and  sold  last  spring  all  of  this  that 
we  could  get.  There  is  plenty  of  gO(jd  syrup  in  this 
vicinity,  which  we  can  procure  and  furnish  at  above 
prices,  and  guarantee  it  strictly  pure  maple. 

HONEY   PRODUCED  WITH   THE  DOVETAILED  HIVE. 

In  connection  with  the  honey  described  opposite, 
we  are  most  pleased  with  the  fact  that  it  was  pro- 
duced in  our  Dovetailed  hives  with  section-holder 
arrangement.  After  Mr.  Ball  got  his  first  lot  of 
these  hives  three  years  ago  and  put  them  in  use,  he 
wrote  that  he  could  secure  from  ]><,  to  H  more  honey, 
with  less  work,  than  with  the  old  stj'le  L.  hives  he 
was  using,  and  he  has  since  had  several  carloads, 
and  will  have  another  carload  within  a  few  weeks. 
We  regard  this  as  one  of  the  best  testimonies  we 
can  have,  that  this  hive  is  a  success. 


DISCOUNTS  FOR  EARLY  ORDERS. 

Only  two  weeks  remain  in  which  to  secure  the  .5?r 
early-order  discount  on  hives  and  supplies  for  next 
season's  use.  After  Dec.  1st  the  discount  drops  to 
4%.  Quite  a  number  have  taken  advantage  of  this 
offer,  and  we  expect  to  hear  from  many  more  during 
the  next  two  weeks.  If  you  who  have  dealt  with  us 
are  getting  better  offers  nearer  home,  and  prefer  to 
have  our  goods  so  as  to  be  uniform  with  what  you 
have,  we  trust  you  will  communicate  with  us,  stat- 
ing circumstances,  and  we  will  try  to  arrange  prices 
to  your  advantage.  We  don't  want  all  the  trade 
there  is,  but  desire  to  hold  present  customei'S  and 
make  new  ones  as  well. 

PRICE  OF  WIRE   NETTING  REDUCED. 

We  have  just  made  a  new  contract  with  the  man- 
ufacturers for  our  sui>ply  of  wire  netting  and 
fencing  for  the  coming  year,  and  we  call  your  at- 
tention'to  our  ad't  on  another  page,  where  you  will 
flud  that  prices  are  greatly  reduced.  They  are  not 
quite  as  low,  however,  as  the  special  carload  we 
offered  two  months  ago.  Of  this  we  have  sold  out 
all  the  18,  24,  and  60  inch ;  but  we  still  have  a  stock 
of  the  other  widtlis.  As  we  have  an  extra  large 
stock  of  the  4-foot  on  hand  we  will  make  the  follow- 
ing very  low  prices  on  this  width  only  fi-om  now  till 
.Ian.  1st,  1893,  and  for  shipment  from  here: 

1  to  4  rolls,  only  $3.50  per  roll. 

5  to  10  rolls,  only  $3.40  per  roll. 

10  to  20  rolls,  only  $3.30  per  roll. 

25  rolls  or  more,  $3.20  per  roll. 
These  goods  ai'e  fully  equal  to  any  thing  we  have 
heretofore  sold,  and  these  prices  can  not  be  dupli- 
cated anywhere,  and  are  offered  for  only  a  limited 


time  in  order  to  reduce  stock.  Remember  the  size 
Is  2-inch  mesh.  No.  19  wire,  4  feet  wide,  and  are  full 
rolls,  150  feet  long.  The  other  widths  in  stock,  and 
prices,  are  as  follows,  all  2  inch.  No.  19: 

1  roll.         5  rolls.        10  rolls. 
12  inches  wide    $1  00         $  4  50       .  $  8  50 
30        "  "  3  50  12  00  22  00 

36        •'  "         2  80  13  50  26  00 

42        "  "         3  25  15  50  30  00 

^-inch  staples  for  above  at  15c  per  lb. 


CLOSING-OUT  PRICES   ON  SECTIONS. 

While  we  do  not  acknowledge  that  the  first  qual- 
ity sections  we  have  been  furnishing  the  past  year 
are  inferior  in  any  res])ect  to  any  heretofore  fur- 
nished liy  any  manufacturer,  we  have,  nevertlie- 
1  ess,  realized  that  perfection  was  not  yet  attained, 
nor  the  cost  of  making  reduced  as  low  as  it  (jught  to 
be.  We  have  felt  that,  unless  we  did  impiovo  our 
method  of  making  sections,  we  might  get  lieliind  in 
the  race.  It  is  our  constant  aim,  in  all  kinds  of 
goods  we  make,  not  so  much  to  get  the  price  down 
to  the  lowest  offered  anywhere,  but  to  furnish 
goods  of  superior  quality  so  that  the  slight  increase 
in  price  over  some  offers  made  shall  be  much  more 
than  made  up  in  quality.  During  the  past  year  es- 
pecially we  have  made  great  advances  in  this  direc- 
tion, not  only  in  our  own  judgment,  but  also  in 
the  opinion  of  great  numbers  of  our  customers  who 
have  expressed  themselves.  We  have  planned,  and 
are  building  improved  machinery  for  making  sec- 
tions, which  will  cost  upward  of  $1000  or  more,  by 
which  we  hope  not  only  to  cheapen  the  cost  of  m.ak- 
ing,  but  also  and  more  especially,  to  make  them 
more  uniformly  perfect  in  workmanship  and  tinish. 
They  will  be  smoothed  both  sides  in  a  specially 
built  machine,  and  reduced  to  a  uniform  thickness. 
These  machines  are  not  yet  completed,  and  will 
hardly  be  in  operation  for  several  weeks  yet;  but 
they  are  far  enough  along  so  we  look  with  assur- 
ance for  the  anticipated  results.  Now,  to  come  to 
the  subject  set  at  the  head  of  this  notice,  we  have 
in  stock  over  a  million  of  choice  sections  made  in 
the  old  way.  They  are  choice  goods,  well  made,  and 
as  good  as  any  one  can  reasonably  ask  for;  but  we 
have  too  many  of  them;  and  in  order  to  work  them 
off  we  propose  to  offer  them  at  prices  that  will  make 
them  move  if  there  is  anybody  in  want  of  sections 
at  all.  The  surplus  is  of  other  widths  than  the 
standardly.    We  have  about 

250,000    l}s  inch,  open  top  and  bottom; 
70,000   lii     •*  ' ' 

1.50,000   19.i ' 

350.000   7  to  foot        

60.000   1%,  7  to  ft.,  and  1\%  in.,  open  4  sides. 
We  will  furnish   any  of  the  above  for  a  limited 
time  at  the  following  net  prices,  which  are  not  sub- 
ject to  any  early  order  or  other  discounts,  and  for 
cash  with  order: 

1000,  $3.50;  3000,  $7.00;  5000,  $11.00;  10,000.  $30.00. 
Those  who  can  use  a  larger  quantity  will  please 
write,  naming  the  quantity  wanted.  We  have  also 
some  8.5.000  of  Mi  inch,  and  40,000  of  \\l  inch  No.  1 
cream  sections  that  we  offer  in  connection  with  the 
above  at  $2  00  per  1000;  5000  for  $9.00,  or  10,000  for 
$17.00.  These  are  choice,  well-made  sections,  except 
in  color.  The  retail  price  of  our  No.  1  white  sec- 
tions, standard  size,  will  hereafter  be  $3.00  for  a 
single  thousand,  and  a  deduction  for  greater  quan- 
tities, up  to  5000,  of  'ZVi  per  cent  for  each  additional 
1000,  making  2000  at  $5.85;  3000  at  $8.55;  4000  at  $11.10, 
and  5000  at  $13.50.  Prices  of  larger  quantities  on  ap- 
plication. 

NEVADA  COMB   HONEY. 

As  our  car  of  comb  honey  just  arrived  as  we  were 
going  to  press  for  la-st  issue,  we  did  not  have  time 
to  report  on  it  after  opening  up.  Now  that  we  have 
an  opportunity,  we  desire  to  say  that  it  is  the  finest 
lot  of  comV)  honey  we  ever  set  eyes  on,  and  you 
don't  have  to  credit  our  eyes  alone  for  tliis  asser- 
tion. All  who  have  seen  it  add  a  like  testimony. 
Mr.  J  A.  Buchanan,  of  HoUiday's  Cove,  W,  Va., 
who  handles  many  tons  of  honey  every  year,  and  a 
good  judge,  writes,  in  remitting  for  18  cases  re- 
ceived: "This  is  the  finest  lot  of  honey  we  have 
had  for  years.  It  came  in  perfect  condition." 
Some  brokers  in  Cleveland  wrote  inquiring  prices; 
and  when  they  found  our  prices  one  to  three  cents 
higher  than  they  had  been  paying  for  good  white 
honey  they  thought  they  could  not  do  any  thing 
with  it;    but  after    seeing  it  they  changed  their 


1892 


15I.EANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


863 


iniiuts,  IIS  tin-  Di-iiors  :iri'  i-diuiiiK- in  freely  fi-oiii  lliein. 
Notliiii>r  would  please  us  hettiT  tliim  to  iilace  a 
seetioii  of  t  his  bcaiilit'nl  honey  on  t  he  1  able  of  each 
of  our  readers,  if  I  hat  wi'ie  [lossihle.  Some  of  the 
S€H'tions  aie  snow-white,  and  tilled  i-leaf  out  to  the 
wo»h1  on  both  sides,  top  and  bottom,  witho\it  a  sin- 
vlo  pop-eel  1  next  the  wood,  but  a  |>f rfect  sheet  of 
white  ■•appin^'.  Tliey  are  also  filled  so  full  thaf 
there  is  a  net  weiyht  of  ~.">  to  2.S  lbs.  of  hoiu>y  in 
many  of  the  eases.  thou>rh  they  eontaiii  only  24 
sections  1"»  inehos  \\U\r. 

If  you  haven't  enoufrh  honey  for  your  home  mar- 
ket, ami  are  not  too  fat-  away,  oi'der  a  crate  of  this 
and  you  will  have  no  trouble  in  sellin^r  it  alanood 
priee.  A  single  ease  or  two  are  not  so  likely  to  ship 
safely  as  four  or  more,  whieh  we  ean  Orate  ioj^'ether 
in  sueh  a  way  as  to  earry  without  breakage.  The 
priees  at  whieh  we  sell  are: 

In  lots  of  1,  2,  or  3  cases.  18c  per  lb. 

In  lots  of  4  to  8  cases,  IT'jC  per  lb. 

In  full  crates  of  9  cases  each,  I7c  per  lb. 

Five  full  crates,  or  4.5  cases,  16>ic  per  lb, 

orn   NEW  OUTSIDE   WINTER-CASE. 

The  reports  of  this  year  and  our  own  experiments 
lust  winter  justified  us  in  the  belief  thaf  a  sealed 
cover  for  outdoor  winterinjj-,  with  packing  material 
above  and  around  the  brood-nest,  was  the  correct 
method.  In  accordance  with  this  idea  we  modified 
our  winter-case  for  Dovetailed  hive  by  giving- it  a 
telescope  cover  (see  cut).    This  permits  of  using  the 


OUR  NE\V   W1NTE1{-(ASE. 

old  cover  on  the  hive  without  disturbing-  the  sealing 
and  at  the  same  time  affords  better  access  for  pour- 
ing your  packing  material  around  and  on  top  of 
the  hive.  The  bottom  inside  edge  of  tlie  case  is 
stopped  up  with  padded  sticks  as  before,  so  that  the 
space  between  the  hive  and  the  case  is  closed  up. 
We  do  not  think  it  necessary  to  go  to  the  extra  ex- 
pen.se  of  an  e.xtra  bottom  foi-  the  winter-case.  It  is 
not  the  bottom  that  is  to  bo  kept  warm,  but  the  top, 
and  that  should  be  sealed  and  protected.  Our  ex- 
tensive experiments  last  season  prov-e  this. 

PRICES   FOR  8-FltAME  D()^^;TAIL.EU  HIVE. 

New  dovetailed  winter  ease,  including  cover  and 
padded  sticks,  .50c  each;  10  lor  ■'f4..50;  or  100  for  $40.00. 
Winter  ca.se,  nailed  and  i)ainted,  75c  each;  10  for. 
?6.50.  For  those  who  want  winter-cases  for  their 
Simplicity  10-frame  Dovetailed  hives,  the  price  will 
be  10c  each  more  than  above  prices. 


GARDENING  FOR   NOVEMBER  15. 

We  take  it  for  granted  that  crops  are  prettj'  mucli 
all  gathered.  In  our  locality  we  sometimes  let 
cabbage  and  turnips  stand  until  Thanksgiving.  It 
is  rather  risky  for  cabljage,  however,  and  sometimes 
risky  for  turniiis.  At  other  times,  however,  t  uriiips 
make  quite  a  growth  during  this  mouth  and  the 
first  of  next.  On  this  account  we  almost  always 
have  a  late  sowing  that  may  or  may  not  amount  to 
any  tiling.  Parsnips  and  vegetable  oysters,  of 
course,  will  stand  any  weather.  All  you  need  to 
look  out  for  is  that  they  are  not  frozen  fast  in  the 
ground  when  tlie  market  offers  a  big  price  for  them. 
The  real  gardening,  then,  must  be  under  glass. 
Cloth  will  answer  at  this  season  of  the  year  for 
protecting  plants  that  are  already  up  and  grf)wing; 
and,  under  favorable  circumstances,  in  might  do  to 
start  some  seeds.  But  these  must  be  moved  into 
the  greenhouse  later,  or  els*;  glass  must  take  the 
place  of  cloth. 


The  most  important  \-egetal)le  to  push  just  now  I 
know  of  is  (ir.-ind  Kapids  lettuce.  The  intensive 
gardener  should  ha\-e  lettm-e  in  all  stages  of 
growth  every  month  in  the  year,  Seeds  sown  under 
glass,  right  oil  now,  will  comi-  up  and  make  consid- 
eiable  gi-owth,even  though  you  have  no  heat  from 
manure  or  steam.  Sei'dling  plants  may  also  be 
ti-ansplanled.  1  wo\dd  put  them  7  inclies  apart 
each  way.  making  the  rows  so  that  the  i)lants  form 
an  e()uil.-iteral  triangle,  one  plant  at  each  corner,  as 
explained  on  page  l:.'l  of  the  tomato  book.  At  this 
season  of  the  year  1  would  lathei-  have  lettuce  in 
the  cold-frame  th,-in  iti  the  greenhouse,  because  you 
can  remove  the  glass  whenever  theie  is  a  warm 
rain.  If  the  jdaiits  are  i)ut  the  distance  apart  I 
have  recommendeil  in  the  above,  there  will  be  no 
danger  of  rotiior  disi^ase,  pi-oviding  you  air  them 
and  give  them  i-ain  wheiievi^-  the  weather  will  pei^ 
mit.  There  is  not  much  danger  from  the  sun  so  far 
south  as  it  is  now.  of  the  plants  getting  too  hot, 
even  if  the  glass  is  left  on.  Better  h)ok  out  in  the 
middle  of  the  day,  however,  if  the  sky  is  very  clear. 
If,  when  yoii  tilt  one  of  the  sa.shes,  hot  air  and 
steam  come  out,  your  i)lants  are  in-otty  near  the 
dangei--i)oiiit,  and  need  air.  We  have  some  very 
nicetirand  K.-ipi<ls  seed,  received  of  Eugene  Davis, 
the  originatoi-,  that  we  can  furnish  as  follows: 
>i  oz.,  5c;  ouiure,  1.5c;  pound,  $1,75;  5  lbs.,  $7  50. 

The  plant  that  would  come  next  to  lettuce,  in 
our  opinion,  would  be  spinacli.  Ounce,  5c;  pound, 
25c;  5  lbs,,  $1.00.  This  is  even  more  hardy  than  let- 
tuce, iind  will  grow  all  winter  long  under  glass, 
providing  the  sash  are  put  a  little  apart  to  give  air; 
or,  better  still,  have  the  sash  made  of  glass  slats, 
which  I  have  lieretofot-e  descril)ed.  Corn  salad  will 
also  do  well  if  ti-eated  like  tlic  spinach. 

You  can  sow  Ei-lipse  beets  now  under  glass.  As  it 
takes  beets  a  long  while  to  grow,  they  will  be  just 
right  for  greens  in  February.  We  got  15c  per  lb. 
for  beet  greens  for  a  long  while  last  sea.son.  Eclipse 
beets,  oz.,  5c;  pound,  .50c;  5  lbs  ,  $2.00. 

If  you  have  neglected  pnniding  cabbage-plants 
for  the  cold-frame,  you  can  sow  the  seeds  now  un- 
der gla.ss.  They  will  bear  almost  as  much  exposure 
as  spinach.  We  can  furnish  March's  best  strain  of 
Jersey  Wakefield  stock  seed;  ounce,  20c;  pound, 
$2. .50.  Cauliflower  is  a  little  more  delicate  than  cab- 
bage, but  you  can  manage  it  if  you  take  a  little 
more  pains. 

Cress,  or  pepper-grass,  is  about  as  hardy  as  let- 
tuce.   Ounce,  8c;  pound,  50. 

Egyptian,  or  winter  onion-sets,  will  do  nicely 
managed  as  spinach  under  glass.  If  the  sets  are 
put  out  now  f  hey  will  be  fit  for  bunch  onions  in 
January  and  February.  Per  quart,  10c;  peck,  75c; 
10c  per  quart  extra  if  ordered  by  mail. 

I  think  Ameiican  Wonder  peas  can  also  be  raised 
profitably  under  gla.ss.  We  are  going  to  make  a 
trial  of  it  this  season,  and  report. 

Ivadishes  are  even  easier  to  raise  under  glass  than 
lettuce.  Scarlet  Globe  will  give  the  earliest;  but 
Wood's  Early  Frame  furnishes  nicer  radishes  a  lit- 
tle later.  Prices,  ounce,  10c;  pound,  75.  If  any  of 
the  above  seeds  are  wanted  by  mail,  add  to  the 
usual  price  9c  per  lb.  for  postage  and  packing. 


DADANT  SHALLOW  EXTRACTINOSUPEiiS. 

In  rai.siiig  comb  honey  it  is  generally  considered 
best  to  give  the  bees  only  as  much  room  as  they  can 
occupy  at  once,  usuall.v  one  supei-.  Considerable 
ln-at  is  re(piired  in  comb-building  and  the  work  of 
the  hive;  and  if  given  onl.v  the  amount  ot  room  they 
can  easil\  occupy  they  will  work  with  better  effect 
than  if  gi\ en  I  wii-i-  as  nuich  room  as  they  need.  The 
same  aigumenf  will  aijply  in  securing  extracted 
honey:  but  as  the  full-sized  frames  are  generally 
used  for  this  purpose,  it  was  not  so  easy  to  contract 
the  amount  of  space  to  the  capacity  of'an  ordinary 
supei-.  For-  this  reason  there  seems  to  be  a  demand 
for  shallow  exlracting-supei-s;  and  this  Is  no  new 
idea,  for  many,  especially  the  Dadants,  have  been 
using  it  a  number  of  years.  To  meet  this  demand 
with  the  i-i-gular  Dovetailed  hive,  we  are  making 
shallow  t(xtracting-fi-ames,  414  inches  deep,  outside 
mc^asure.  ju.st  like  the  old-style  all-wood  frames, 
without  a  comlvguide,  and  giving  about  4  inches  in 
depth  of  comb  surface.  By  putting  8  of  these  in  an 
ordinary  super  (the  same  super  used  to  hold  4if 
sections)  without  follower,  and  spaced  1^4  inches 
from  center  to  center,  you  will  have  an  extracting- 
super.  True,  you  will  have  more  frames  to  handle; 
but  the  uncapi)ing-knife  will  easily  reach  clear 
across  the  frame,  and  you  can  pare  off  the  capplngs 


864 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE 


Nov.  15. 


very  rapidly ;  besides,  two  of  these  f  I'ames  will  go  in 
the  place  of  one  L.  frame,  in  an  ordinary  extractor. 
We  offer  these  hives  with  one  or  two  supers,  as  No.  8 
and  9,  at  the  same  price  as  the  No.  1e  and  Ni).  2e.  If 
any  prefer,  they  can  use  a  hive  from  the  b(jt  torn  up, 
made  up  of  shallow  supers  and  fnimes.  two  of 
which  count  the  same  as  one  body.  We  do  not,  how- 
ever, recommend  this  style  of  frame  for  brood- 
chamber,  as  they  are  not  self-spacing-,  nor  do  we  ad- 
vise this .  plan.  

AUGITE  STOVE-MAT. 

a^  How  much  of  domestic    happi- 

ness is  marred  because  the  dishes 
pi-epared  f or  dinner  are  scorched 

r'<*X  or  burned!  How  annoying  to 
ii^  have  something  boil  over  on  tlie 
stnve,  as  it  is  likely  to  do  some- 
times with  the  most  vigihmt 
watchfulness.  All  these  troubles 
can  be  avoided  by  using  the  stove- 
mat  sliown  herewith.  We  were 
somewliat  skeptical  about  it  till 
we  tried  it  in  our  home,  and  now 
we  are  convinced  that  there  is  nothing  that  can  lay 
a  better  claim  to  the  term  "  a  household  necessity  ' 
The  mat  is  made  of  asbestos,  bound  with  sheet  steel, 
crumpled  around  the  edge,  9X  inches  in  diameter, 
and  is  indestructible.  Thougli  it  is  almost  as  soft 
as  felt,  it  will  not  burn.  You  can  place  it  directly 
on  the  blaze  of  a  gasoline-stove,  over  the  gas-jet, 
in  the  fireplace,  or  on  the  stove,  and  it  will  prevent 
burning  of  all  kinds  of  food  that  ordinarily  require 
stirring.  No  stirring  is  required  for  oatmeal,  milk, 
rice,  custards,  blanc  mange,  jellies,  butters,  catsups, 
apple  sauce,  etc.  In  fact,  nothing  will  burn  on  it. 
Coffee  will  not  boil  over  if  the  pot  is  on  the  mat; 
bread  toasts  nicely  on  it.  Try  it  and  be  convinced. 
For  the  nursery  there  is  nothing  equal  to  heat  the 
milk  and  food  for  the  baby.  If  a  grate  fire,  lay  the 
mat  on  the  open  fire.  If  tiie  mat  becomes  soiled,  do 
not  wash  or  scrape,  but  turn  the  soiled  part  next  to 
fire,  and  burn  until  clean.  The  mat  regularly  retails 
for25cts.  We  will  furnish  them  at  20  cts.  each; 
$3.00  per  doz.  By  mail,  6  cts.  each  extra,  or  65  cts. 
per  doz.  We  will  give  one  free  postpaid  for  a  new 
subscription  to  Gleanings,  with  your  own  renewal 
and  $3.liO.  

SECOND-HAND    FOUNDATION-MILLS. 

We  have  the  following  list  of  second-hand  foun- 
dation machines  wliich  have  accumulated  during 
the  past  few  months,  some  in  exchange  for  new 
machines,  others  from  tliose  wlio  have  decided  to 
buy  what  foundation  they  use.  We  give  as  fair  a 
description  as  we  can  of  these  machines,  with  the 
price  at  which  we  will  sell.  We  can  furnish  sam- 
ples from  any  of  the  machines  to  intending  pur- 
chasers. 

One  6-incli  hex..  No.  N,  used  a  short  time  in  our 
wax-room;  in  good  order;  makes  fdn.  10  or  11  feet 
tothelh.    Price  $10.00. 

One  6-iich  hex..  No.  M,  extra-thin  mill,  in  splendid 
order.    Price  $10.00. 

One  6-inch  liex..  No.  K,  thin  surplus  mill,  in  good 
order.    Price  $9 do. 

One  10-inch,  round  cell.  No.  L,  in  good  order  for 
light  brood  fdn.     Piice  $14  00. 

One  10-inch,  round  o'll.  No.  I,  for  light  or  medium 
fdn.;  in  good  order.    Price  $14.00. 

One  lOinch.  round  cell,  No.  E,  old-style  frame; 
made  some  years  ago.  but  used  scarcely  any,  and  in 
good  order.    Price  $14.0  (. 

One  10-inch,  round  cell.  No.  C,  old-style  frame;  in 
fair  order.    Price  $13.00. 

One  13-inch,  round  cell.  No.  D,  for  heavy  brood 
fdn.;  roll,  same  size  as  10-inch,  only  3  inches  longer; 
one  of  the  original  Washburn  mills,  in  fair  order. 
Price  $1.5.00. 

One  13-inch  Dunham  mill  for  heavy  brood  fdn.; 
not  so  good  as  the  above,  but  in  fair  order;  will  sell 
for  $13.00.  , 

SECOND-HAND  MACHINERY. 

During  tl\c  past  few  months  we  have  bought  up 
several  ourtits  of  machinery  for  making  bee-keep- 
ers' supplies;  and  if  any  of  our  readers  or  their 
friends  contemplate  putting  in  machinery  we  are 
prepared  to  fit  you  out  from  cellar  to  garret  with 
everything  vou  need  in  engines,  boilers,  machinery, 
shafting,  pulleys,  hangers,  belting,  saws.  etc.  The 
following  is  a  partial  list  of  the  second-hand  ma- 
chinery we  have  to  sell.  If  you  desiic  further  par- 
ticulars we  shall  be  pleased  to  hear  from  you. 


One  30-H.  P.  Pishkill  horizontal  engine,  rebuilt, 
and  as  good  as  new ;  would  cost  new,  $400;  will  sell 
for  $200. 

,  One  .5-H.  P.  horizontal  engine  and  boiler,  with  en- 
gine mounted  on  boiler,  in  good  running  order. 
Price  $160. 

One  34-inch  two-roll  Fay  sandpaper  machine,  near- 
ly new.    Price,  new,  $450;  will  sell  for  $175. 

One  V-groove  section  machine,  nearly  new.  This 
is  our  make,  old  style,  with  screw-feed;  sold  some 
years  ago  for  $75;  will  sell  now  for  $40. 

One  cutter-head,  with  table  complete,  for  cutting 
entrances  to  sections.  Old  style,  but  nearly  new, 
and  in  good  repair.  Price,  new,  $35.00;  will  sell  for 
$15.00. 

One  double-head  tenoning-machine,  especially  ar- 
ranged for  making  the  combined  rabbet  and  miter 
joint  of  the  Simplicity  hive,  but  can  be  used  for 
making  sash  and  window-screen  frames,  etc.  We 
could  not  build  such  a  machine,  and  sell  it  for  less 
than  $150;  we  will  sell  this  for  $60. 

Two  extra  large  saw-tal)les  for  general  use,  to  cut 
off  or  rip,  with  counter-shaft  attached  to  frame; 
worth  new,  %nO  each;  will  sell  for  $30  each. 

Two  four-piece  section-machines,  as  good  as  new. 
they  cost  new,  i;85  each;  we  will  sell  them  for  $30 
each . 

Also  a  large  lot  of     shafting,   pulleys,  hanger 
belting,  and  saws,  too  numerous  to  mention  here. 


THE   O.  K.  LATCH. 


iiP^.BB^''l' 


mm^< 


^^o 


''<''''''"4illliililili||||||||iiii' 

Stop  that  dooi'  from  slamming.  You  can  not  do  it 
more  easily  than  by  attaching  one  of  the  latches 
shown  above  It  will  hold  the  door  shut  or  open.  It 
is  intended  for  doors  on  all  kinds  of  outbuildings, 
I)arn,  stable,  woodshed,  honej'-house,  or  any  build- 
ing that  has  a  door  that  is  liable  to  slam  in  the 
wind.  The  latch  catches  automatically  either  way 
when  the  door  is  o|)ened  or  shut.  It  works  so  nicely 
that  every  one  who  sees  it  wants  one.  They  are 
retailed  from  hardware  stores  at  35  cents  each. 
They  are  made  in  this  county,  and  we  are  allowed 
to  make  an  introduction  price  of  15  cents  each, 
$1..50  per  dozen;  by  mail,  8c  each  extra. 


HEMS     FKUIT-PKESS. 


These  are  a  very  handy  and  useful  instrument 
nbt  only  for  mashing  potatoes,  as  shown  in  the  cut, 
Wut  especially  for  making  fruit  jams  and  jells.  It 
is  a  press  and  strainer  combined.  It  is  likewise  an 
excellent  thing  for  pressing  wax  outof  oi.l  combs 
when  you  melt  them  up.  We  have  sold  a  great 
many  of  these  in  the  past,  but  the  manufacturers 
advanced  the  price,  and  they  have  not  been  selling 
so  rapidly  since.  We  laid  in  a  good  stock  when  the 
price  was  advancing,  and  the  prices  we  have  been 
offering  are  as  low  as  the  wholesale  prices  made  by 
the  manufacturer.  To  make  them  move  off.  now 
that  tliey  sliould  be  in  demand,  we  offer  the  follow- 
ing prices:  30  cts.  each.  By  mail,  50  cts.;  1  doz.,  by 
j-reight  or  express,  $3.00;  or  a  box  of  3  doz.  for  $8.25. 


1892 


GLEANINHiS  IN   BEE  CULTURE. 


8()5 


Keepers  Supplies. 


Oflii  ri'spomiinif  to  this  inivoitiseiiiriil  iiiciilloii  ULKANlNOa, 


lome 
Made 
Net- 
ting. 


Cash 


SAFE,  DURABLE  FENCE;      ONLY  $80  PER  MILE. 
LANT)  -  OWNERS  save  one.half  the  cosi 
Xja.a  A/  -  VVY  m  Xi  JXO  ^^^j^  dangerous  barba 

A  fy^^ri-fc  "'"'"'  $^"0.00  per 
^^^  ^1 1  \.^month  and  expenses 
The  best  local  and  travellnR  agents  wanted  every- 
where. Write  at  once  for  circulars  and  cholpe  ter- 
ritory; address  A.  G.  Hulbert.  Patentee,  care  of 

^^^£Mf^^(^St.  Louli:  Nlo; 

Factory  CatalOKue  with  200 enj^raved  designs  and 
prices,  8«nt  free  to  any  who  want  fancy  Iron  and 
wire  work  or  city,  cemetery  and  farm  fences,  eto. 


5  Per  Cent  Discount 
On  All  Goods 

Listed  from  pagos  10  to  30  of  our  price  list,  which  are  oi'dered  between  now  and  Dec.  1st,  for 
next  season's  use.  This  does  not  apply  to  goods  on  other  pages,  except  those  mentioned. 
fl  special  peduetion  of  20  cents  on  eaeti  tmo~stopy  ehaff  hive,  ordered 
for  a  limited  time.  The  quantity  and  early-order  discounts  to  apply  also.  Special  prices  quoted 
on  sections  in  lots  of  2000  and  upward.  Name  the  quantity  and  size  when  you  write.  We  guar- 
antee as  good  a  quality  for  the  price  as  you  can  obtain  anywhere.  Dealers  should  not  fail  to 
write  us  before  making  contracts  for  another  season's  supply.     We  offer  special  inducements. 

R.  I.  t^OOT,  JVIedina,  Ohio. 

Dovetailed  Hives,  Simplicity  Hives, 

SECTIONS,  EXTRACTORS.  ETC. 

A     F^ULL     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPLIES. 

60-PAGE     CATALOGUE. 


Itfdb 


J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 


twin  rusijoniiiiifr  to  th 


ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

BCBr    In    Mind  ^^at  we  have  established  at  Syracuse  an  EBStCm    Br3nCh 

where  our  Bee-keepers'  Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and   prompt  shipment.    You  can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.    We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  lake  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.     He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders. 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.  SALISBURY,    Agent,    Syracuse,   N.  Y. 


866 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Nov.  15. 


Bernard's  Parallel=Jaw  Crucible=Steel 

Pliers. 


A  year  ago  we  called  attention  to  some  new  pliers 
with  parallel  jaws,  and  their  advantages  over  the 
old  kind. 


smaller^  the  rtiedium  size  will  cut  No.  10,  and  small- 
er; and  the  large  size  will  take  wire  up  to  No.  7,  and 
cut  it  with  ease.    You  can  also  trim  off  the  end  of  a 


This  cut  shows  the  ilat-nose  plier  and  the  way  it 
works.  You  see  that  tlie  jaws  are  not  only  parallel, 
but  the  throat  is  open,  so  tliat  the  article  you  grasp 
with  them  can  be  passed  right  through.  By  this 
means  you  can  make  them  answer  nicely  as  a  wire- 
stretcher.  We  now  have  not  only  the  flat-nose  but 
also  the  round-nose,  and  the  flat-nose  with  cutting 
attachment. 


wire,  and  sharpen  it  like  a  wire  nail.  With  a  set  of 
these  pliers,  in  an  extremity  you  could  make  wire 
staples  or  hog-rings  out  of  nails;  and  there  are  times 
when  the  want  of  such  articles  is  more  than  the 
pliers  will  cost.  The  jaws  of  the  small  size  open  ^; 
of  the  middle  size.  ,>, ;  and  of  the  large  size,  f^.  The 
3  sizes  of  each  style  are  i)i,  5X,  and  6}i  inches  long. 
They  come  rather  high  in  price;  butwlien  compared 


i^ 


The  advantages  of  these  pliers  over  the  ordinary 
ones  are  so  obvious  as  hardly  to  need  mentioning. 
They  have  a  compound  leverage  6  to  1,  which,  added 
to  tlie  advantage  of  the  jaws  being  parallel,  gives  a 
powerful  grip.  Tlie  cutting-pliers  will  cut  any 
thing  you  can  get  into  them  except  hardened  steel, 
such  as  steel  si)rings  and  music  wire.  The  com- 
pound leverage  is  so  great  that  you  will  be  surprised 
to  see  how  easily  they  cut;  but  if  you  attempt  to  Cut 
hardened  steel  you  will  ruin  them.  They  are  fully 
warranted;  and,  if  injured  in  legitimate  use,  will  be 
replaced  by  the  manufacturers.  For  cutting  wire 
they  are  away  aliead  of  Button's  or  any  other  wire- 
cutting  pliers  made.  As  the  cutters  have  a  chisel 
edge,  and  on  one  side,  you  can  drive  a  wire  nail  in  to 
within  k  inch  of  the  head,  and  then  cut  the  head 
tf,  which  (-an  not  be  done  with  Button's  or  similar 
iers.     The  smallest  size  will  cut  wire  Nu.  13,  and 


with  ordinary  tools  they  are  cheap.  The  manufac- 
turers' name  and  address  are  stamped  on  every  pair, 
and  they  are  f  ullj'  warranted.  They  are  made  liy 
the  Wm.  Schollhorn  Co.,  who  have  a  wide  reputation 
fur  their  star  brand  of  shears  and  scissors,  and  this 
is  sullicicnl  guarantee  of  their  quality.  We  shall  be 
pleiisi'd  to  sujiply  them  at  the  following  prices;  and 
as  we  l)uy  iheni  in  gross  lots  we  are  able  to  make 
special  prices  to  dealers  wlio  wish  to  keep  them  in 
stock. 

Lengtli  i)i 

Flat-nose  Bernard  pliers,   each 45c 

RDund-no.se    "  "  "     ioc 

Cutting  "  "  "    7l'c 

Postage  extra,  either  style 04c 

Please  notice    carefully  the  printed  slip  in  the 
jaws  of  the  cutting-pliers  when  you  receive  them. 


5X 

6% 

BUC 

«(lo 

6Uc 

80c 

9.'c 

$1.1.5 

06c 

08c 

A.  I.  Root, 


Medina,  Ohio. 


HATCH  CHICKENS  8Y  STEAIVl 

WETH  THE  IMPROVED 

EXCELSIOR   INCUBATOR. 

■";5"^3<?''^?^^_  TlioiisiiiKls     iki    Siic- 
-^^ssmsssna     Tui^T      im-?*-*!'!!!  Operation. 

'Kafeos'iSS^SJj ,  ,| •     I    SIMI-LIC.     rKHFKrr.     and 

gftSfilir-a-V— a  j  iijjffl!*  ^ ELF-KK<:  V LA  TlSi;. 

SSJr-^fSfT  <;uarante«'il  tohatcha 
"    9    \ly  'areer  percentage  of 

1  fr  fertile  eggs.at  less  cost, 
rit'-ii  I  0^  than  any  Other  Incubator. 
a--.        J  Sendfic.forlUuB  Catalog, 

uade.  YUr^  Circulars  Free. 

GEO.  H.  STAHI>,  Pat.  A  Sole  M£r.,«|nincy,Ill, 


;^"In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLKANiKGa. 


OTTUMWA  BEE-HIVE  FACTORY. 

Bee-keepers,  look  to  your  interests.    Everything 
n    the    line  of  bee-supplies    constantly  on    hand. 
Price  list  free.        GREGORY  BROS.  &  SON, 
l-23d  Ottumwa,  la.    South  side. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

SECTIONS. 

$2.60  to  $3.50  per  ITI.    Bee-Hives  and  Fix- 
tures cheap.  NOVELTY    CO., 

^tfdb  Rock  Falls,  Illinois. 

i3r\a  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 


IS'.rJ 


(}lp:anin(;s  in  hee  culture. 


871 


S.  T.  FISH  8t  CO., 

Commission    rOerehants 


(Irccii.  Dried.  aii<l  K\a])()i"iU'<l 
Fi'iiits.  Hoiioy,  Butter.  Cheese. 
Eii'i^s.  Potatoes.  Poultry,  and 
drain. 


189  South  Water  St.,  Chicago,  111. 


We  make  a  specialty  of  our  HOHEV  DEPRl^T|VIHfiT,  and  sell  our 
receipts  throughout  the  United  States.  We  have  export  connections 
whom  we  supi)ly  when  prices  reach  such  point  as  to  permit  foreign 
markets  placing  orders  with  us.  We  are  opposed  to  adulteration  in  any 
form,  and  will  positively  not  sell  anything  but  pure  honey.  Send  your 
adulterated  honey  elsewhere,  but  your  inxre  honey  WE  WAflT.  We 
make  liberal  ad\ances  on  consignments,  and  accept  goods  on  a  limit. 
What  Have  You  to  pesxr  by  entrusting  goods  to  our  care  ?  Nothing. 
We  are  responsible,  and  refer  you  to  any  bank  or  to  Gleanings.  To 
those  who  wish  to  sell  at  home  we  beg  to  advise  we  are  buyers.  We 
ask  your  correspondence,  which  will  receive  immediate  response. 

Respectfully.  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co. 


Gut  this  out  and  pl;ice  in  your  honey-house. 


Mention  Gleanings. 


y-^^aa^  c  of  ^C  Keepers  Supplies. 


BSSEUiiaSlf] 


fcyiu  respoiiuiug  to  uiis  uuveixiseiuciit  ineiiiiuu  UL,KANINa& 


Dovetailed  Hives,   Simplicity  Hives, 

SE-Cr/OA/S.  EXTRACTORS,  ETC. 

FUl-L     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SUPPLIES. 

eO-RAGE     CATALOGUE.  Itfdb 

J.  M-  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 

C^lii  responding  to  tlds  advcitiM-Munt  mention  Gi.kaNINGS. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

Bcdr  In  IVI In d  ^'^^^^^"*^^^*^®^'^^*^''^^®^^''^^''^'^"^*''^"  E.3 stern  Brdnch 

'A  lien;  our  Bee-keepers"  Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and   prompt  shipment.     You   can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.     We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.    He  will 
be  pleased  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders. 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.   SALISBURY,   Agent,    Syracuse,    N.  Y. 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  1. 


Contents  of  this  Number. 


Adulteiatiug  Honey 897 

Bain,  J.  M.,  a  Fraud 890 

Basswood  troni  Seed 885 

Bees  Dead  on  Comb 881 

Cardinal  Flower 88;! 

CeleiT  in  W  inter 893 

Extractcii-,  Boiudnmn's 885 

Fi-anii-s,  NumhtT  Wlied 897 

Gri;enhuuse.  <  lur  New 893 

Hunibuiis  and  Swindles 889 

Lang:strbth's  History 876 

Location,  Prior  RiMrlit  to. . .  .888 


Oak-galls 883 

Paralysis  of  Bees         887 

Paso  del  Norte 89U 

Passageways,  Winter..        .880 

Rambler  on  California 887 

Salt  Remedy 888 

.Slumg-um.  More  About 883 

Spanish  Wui-cls 882 

Sugar  Fed  f  ( ir  Honey 897 

Sugar-honey  Discussion 878 

Walking-sticks 883 

Wintering  in  California       881 


CONVENTION  NOTICES 


Tlie  National  Bee-keepers'  Association  will  meet  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,  Dec.  27—29.    See  our  editorial  columns. 


The  bee-keepers  of  Eastern  Iowa  will  meet  at  Maquoketa.  in 
the  City  Hall,  Dec.  14  and  15.    F.  Covf,bdai.k,  Sec,  Welton,  la. 

The  eighteenth  annual  meeting  of  the  Vermont  Bee-keepers' 
Association  will  be  held  in  the  city  of  Burlington,  Dec  "-iSth  and 
29th.  1892.  Every  one  interested  in  apiculture  is  earnestly  de- 
sired to  be  present.  As  a  bee-keeiiers"  association  we  know  no 
State  lines,  but  will  gladly  welcome  all  that  come,  regardless 
of  their  residence  Programs  will  be  published  soon,  for 
which  address  H.  W.  Scott.  125  Brooklyn  St..  Barre.Vt. 


The  Ohio  State  Bee-k,eeiiers' annual  convention  will  be  held 
in  the  parlor  rooms  of  the  Chen  y  Hotel,  Wasliint;ton  C.  H.,  O., 
Dec.  27  and  28.  An-angements  are  made  tor  l',;  railroad  fai-e  on 
all  roads  leading  into  Washington  ;  viz.,  B.  &  O.;  C  H.  &,  D.; 
Panhandle,  and  Toledo  &  Ironton.  Also  reduced  hotel  rates. 
Miss  Dema  Bennett,  Sec,  Bedford,  O. 


The  Illinois  State  Bee-keepers'  Association  will  meet  at  the 
Statehouse,  Springtield,  Dec.  14tli  and  1.5th  Railroad  rates  have 
been  secured  on  the  certificate  plan.  Hotel  rates  have  also 
been  secured.  We  hope  for  a  large  attendance.  The  Illinois 
State  Short-honi  Breeders',  Swine-lnvedcis'.  uml  Sheep-breed- 
ers' A.ssociafions  will  meet  the  same  week  at  I  lie  same  jilace. 
J.  A.  Stone,  Sec,  Bradfordton,  111. 


The  Southwestern  Wisconsin  Bee-keepers'  Association  will 
hold  its  next  annual  meeting  in  Boscobel,  Grant  Co.,  Wis.,  on 
the  13th  and  Uth  of  January,  1893.  commencing  at  10  a.m.  All 
members  of  the  association  are  requested  to  be  present,  as  the 
following  officers  are  to  be  elected :  President,  vice-president, 
secretary,  assistant  secretary,  and  treasurer.  Blank  reports 
will  be  sent  to  each  member  of  the  association  for  1892,  with 
instructions.  A  cordial  invitation  is  extended  to  all  bee-keep- 
ers, and  especially  to  those  who  would  like  to  join  us.  Each 
member  will  be  notified  at  least  one  month  before  said  meet- 

Benj.  E.  Rice,  Sec. 


The  27th  annual  convention  of  the  Michigan  State  Bee-keep- 
ers' \ssociation  will  be  held  in  the  Senate  Chamber,  Lansing, 
on  Tues(la,\  and  Wednesday,  Dec.  13  and  U.  The  following  is 
the  prograiii : 

Morning  scission,  Dec  13.— Se<Tetarv's  reiiort  of  last  meeting; 
apiM.inting  coniinittees;  recci>tinn  of  members;  adjouiniiient. 

Afteino.m  si'ssion. -Annual  address  bv  Prest.  R.  L  Taylor; 
Adulteration,  H  D.  Cutting;  Shall  we  feeil  cane-sugar  synip  tor 
honey!  W.  Z.  Hutchinson;  Question-box;  reception  of  mem- 
bers;' adiournment. 

Evening  session.— Experiments  in  bee-keeping.  Professor  A. 
J.  Cook;  Has  the  bee-escape  come  to  stay!  S.  M.  West;  Ques- 
tion-box; rei-eiition  of  members;  adjouniment. 

Morning  sessitm,  Dec  U.— Few  bees  and  nnich  attention,  ver- 
sus many  b"es  and  littk'  attention,  B.  L.  Walker;  Shall  we  go 
out  of  the  bee  business?  T.  F.  Bingham;  reception  of  members; 
adjouniment. 

Afternoon  session.— Deciding  on  next  place  of  meeting;  elec- 
tion of  offic.  is;  report  of  committees;  financial  report  of  sec- 
retary; How  can  we  stimulate  the  market?  Jas.  Heddon;  Carni- 
olans,  lia\e  tliey  come  to  stay?  E.  R.  Root;  miscellaneous  busi- 
ness; ail  journnieiit. 

Reduced  railroad  r.ites  can  be  had  by  applying  at  your  ticket 


offic 


G.  E.  Hilton,  Sec,  Fremont,  Midi. 


KIND  WORDS  FROM  OUR  CUSTOMERS. 


The  queen  with  the  one-frame  nucleus  arrived 
Saturday  evening-.  I  found  all  in  good  condition, 
which  demonstrates  that  you  have  long--distanee 
shipment  of  aueens  and  bees  down  to  perfection. 
The  bees  are  as  gentle  as  kittens,  so  I  am  well 
pleased.  Geo.  W.  Brodbeck. 

Los  Ang-eles,  Cal.,  Oct.  24. 

THE  NEW  WATER  CURE  FOR  CHOLERA. 

Pj-ie/u(  Ho(»f;— Thanks  for  the  water-cure  tracts. 
I  will  endeavor  to  place  them  where  they  will  do 
the  most  good.  Keith,  of  Mother  and  Child,  now 
says  Hall  has  accomplished  much  good  by  advising 
large  injections.  The  cures  of  cholera  cases  in 
Europe  by  this  simple  process  are  suflBcient  to  in- 
duce every  intelligent  person  to  save  a  physician's 
bill  if  taken  in  time.  H.  M.  H. 


Please  accept  my  thiinUs  fui-  ;i  package  of  "A  new 
method  of  treating  diseases  without  medicine."  I 
was  askirig  a  noted  physician  of  this  city  what  he 
thought  of  the  method.  Strange  to  saj ,  he  had 
never  heard  of  it.  He  liim.se if  was  ti-oubled  with 
persistent  constii  atioii.  1  gave  him  one  of  your 
pamphlets.  He  liecanie  interested,  and  this  morn- 
ing informed  me  he  ihou.trht  it  a  good  thing;  in 
fact,  had  proven  it  in  his  own  case.  Verily  the 
physicians  can  and  do  learn  many  important  things 
from  tlie  laity.  E.  L.  Simmons. 

New  York  City,  Oct.  31. 


THE  WHEEL  OF  1893. 

Friend  Root:—!  have  just  read  vour  article  in 
Gleanings  of  Nov.  1.5.  on  "The  Wheel  of  1892."  I 
want  10  thank  you  for  it.  "  Well,"  you  say,  "  that's 
strange.  '  Perhaps  it  is,  l)iit  I  am  glad  1  read  it  all 
the  same,  for,  while  I  hiive  looked  kindly  on  the 
advent  of  the  wheel  it'or  it  has  come  to  Phoenix 
quite  numerously  of  late),  and  lealized  some  of  its 
usefulness,  I  had  never  thought  of  half  the  things 
in  its  favor  until  1  read  your  article.  Your  com- 
parison of  the  wheel  as  against  the  saloon  as  a  de- 
moralizing agent,  together  with  your  description  of 
its  practical  usefulness,  is  sd  jenod  tliat  I  wish  every 
intellujcnt  objector  could  read  it;  for  then  their  ob- 
jections would  surely  be  no  more.  While  I  am  a 
professing  Christian,  and  often  read  your  sermons, 
as  I  call  your  Home  talks,  and  have  been  thinking 
after  you.  on  the  line  of  God's  blessing,  yet  I  had 
not  thought  of  the  Safety  bicycle  as  one  of  God's 
special  blessings  until  I  read  what  you  think  about 
it,  and  I  believe  you  ai-e  right:  and  I  want  to  say 
right  here,  that  1  thank  God  for  right-thinking  men 
who  give  the  public  the  benefit  of  their  thoughts. 

Phoenix.  A.  T.  J.  P.  K.  Irvine. 


A   KIND  WORD  INDEED. 

Friend  Rnot: — J  have  just  found  leisure  to  read 
the  first  column  on  page  3  of  your  illustrated  cata- 
logue and  price  list.  I  can  tell  you  one  great  secret 
of  your  building  up  and  holding  such  an  immense 
trade.  Vears  ago  you  acquired  the  name  of  dealing 
honestly,  and  it  has  stuck  to  you  ever  since.  Every 
man  who  once  buys  of  A.  I.  Root  not  only  buys 
there  again,  but  advises  his  bee-keeping  friends  to 
buy  there,  so  that  you  have  tliousands  upon  thou- 
sands of  men  who  are  living  advertisements  of  j'ou 
everyday  in  the  week,  including  Sunda.v;  and  as 
long  as  you  make  everybody  believe  you  are  honest, 
and  give  them  as  good  bargains  as,  or  a  little  better 
than,  they  can  get  anywhere  else,  why  should  they 
not  overwhelm  you  witli  orders  ?  Without  any  in- 
tention of  flattery,  I  can  tell  you  that  you  have  a 
reputation  that  you  may  well  be  proud  of. 

Marshalltown,  la.,  Nov.  28.  O.  B.  Barrows. 

P.  S.— I  am  associating  with  bee-keepers  in  the 
West,  and  therefore  know  what  1  am  talking  about. 

I  know  of  one  bee-keeper  in   the  Stale  of ,  and 

another  in  the  Statt'  of ,  who  have  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  confoundedly  ><clfi><h.  O.  B.  B. 

\My  good  friend,  we  are  exceedingly  obliged  to 
you  for  the  above,  which  is  certainly  extravagantly 
kind.  There  is  also  a  grand  moral  to  be  gathered 
from  your  letter.  It  doe,"  pay  to  work  hard,  and  t6 
"suffei- long  and  be  kind,"  in  j'our  efforts  to  build 
up  a  business.  I  do  not  mean  that  we  have  done  all 
you  give  us  credit  for  doing,  but  we  have  certainly 
trifd  to  do  so.  Your  postscript  also  points  an- 
other moral;  and  if  I  were  to  name  the  States  you 
have  mentioned  in  your  letter.  I  presume  a  great 
part  of  our  readers  would  readily  guess  at  least 
the  first  letter  of  the  two  names,  because  these  poor 
friends  of  ours  have  been  so  thoughtless  as  to  let 
their  selfishness  and  greed  stand  right  out  before 
the  world.  I  mean  this:  They  should  have  recogniz- 
ed beforehand  that  such  business  transactions 
would  be  terribly  damaging  to  the  reputation  of 
any  mtiti  who  wants  to  get  a  reputation  for  being 
fair  and  square  in  business  matters.  I  am  weU. 
aware,  too,  good  friend  B.,  that  everybody  does  not 
see  even  my  poor  self  in  the  light  you  do.  Some 
might  think  your  closing  words  belong  to  me;  and 
I  have  been  afraid  sometimes  that  they  might  be- 
long to  me  just  a  little.  On  the  other  hand, there 
are  those  who,  perhaps,  have  been  pleased  with 
their  business  deal  with  tlie  two  parties  alluded  to 
in  your  postscript.  Let  us  try  hard  to  "  abstain 
from  all  appearance  of  evil."]  A.  I.  R. 


is'.vj 


ChKANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


873 


Honey  Column. 


CITY  MAUKETS. 

Nkw  Yokk.  //()»u'j/.— Wliiio  cuiiib  honey  isni'i-lv- 
iiijr  in  siiilicii'iit  (|imiiliiiis  to  supply  tin-  diMiiaiul, 
whicli  is  >!i"t<iii''illv  slai'kcniiijr  oil.  K-iiii-v  stoi-k,  1- 
Ib  ,  soils  at  l.V./ Hi;  ^'-lli..  P-V./  i;{.  Kair  whito.  1-11).. 
12<rfcia;  3-U).,  11<'.  TluTo  is  nioi-c  hui-lvwlu'at  lionoy 
on  tlu>  inat'ki't  than  Iho  (K'luaiul  fi-iniiri's.  and  it  is 
iio<'t'ssary  to  sha<K'  pncrs  in  ordei'  to  t'H'i-ct  sales. 
We  quote:  l-lh.,  jrlas'sed  of  in  paper  ho.xcs,  10(g)l()H  ; 
uiijrlii-ssed,  !l(5iU);  3-lli.,  itf.  Kxtrai'ted.  ciovei'  aiul 
ba.sswood.  8(^>u';  huckwheat,  ti((i,fi>4  ;  Southi-fil.  T0@ 
76  perjral.    /Jo'.smvi.c  dull  at  •_'.V'il2C. 

HlI,DRKTll   HUOS.  &  SEGEr>KEN, 

Nov.  26.  2S  &  ;50  AVest  Uioadway,  New  York. 

Albany.— Hfi/ic;/.— We  have  received  up  to  date 
30(.K)  eases  of  conih  honey  and  217  packages  of  ex- 
tracted. We  bcliev)'  the  bnik  of  honey  pmdiu'ed  in 
this  .section  lias  now  been  ni:irket»'d.  Piii-es  are  not 
<]iiite  a.s  tlrni  on  buekwlieat.  but  are  well  sustained 
on  elover.  whit'li  continues  scarce.  We  quote:  fan- 
ey  white,  17;  ^--ocxl  white.  1  l(ajl6;  buckwheat,  10@11. 
Larvre    sections  Ic    less.      H\tracted.   lijrht,  7X@H; 


-larjre    - 

dark,  6>i@7. 
Nov.  12. 


Ch.-vs.  McCui.i.och  &  Co., 
.393-397  Bioadwiiy,  Albany,  N.  Y. 


Buffalo.  —  H();i*f/.  —  Honey  market  unchang-ed; 
prices  remain  firm,  apparentlj-  with  reasoiiabl.y 
good  prospects.  Very  fancy  1-Ib.  comb,  niostly  15® 
16c;  No.  2.  13@14;  No.  3.  8®12.  Buckwheat.  ■7®12. 
Very  choice  extracted,  7@8;  common,  (5(5.7.  We  still 
need  a  liberal  supi)lj'  for  late  winter  trade.  Would 
be  g'lad  to  hear  Irom  any  of  those  havinjr  it. 

Hattkhson  &  Co.. 

Nov.  19.  167. 169  Scott  St.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 


;I?New  \'i)KK.—//i()(e)/.— Honey  moving  pretty  livelj', 
with  good  supply  of  Ijuckwheat;  clover  not  so  plen- 
tiful. Oni-lb.  fancv  clovei'.  I.')(gil7;  fair,  1"J@  1.5;  2-lb. 
fancy,  13®14;  2-lb.  fair,  11(0,12.  Buckwheat,  1-ib.,  10 
@11;  2-lb.,  9.  Extracted,  clover,  8@10;  buckwheat, 
6@7;  Southern,  per  gal.,  6S@7.5.  /icojcoT,  2.5@27. 
Chas.  Israel  &  Bros.. 
Nov.  21.  11"  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


New  YouK.ifo/(C{/.— Fancy  1-lb.  sections,  clover, 
in  good  demand  at  14®15.  Buckwheat,  1-lb.  sec- 
tions. 1  i®ll.  Little  demand  for  oft  grades.  Breg- 
W(IT  is  Worth  26@26^.  and  there  is  not  ver.v  nuich  in 
the  market.  Thukber-Whvland  Co., 

Nov  23.  New  York. 

Albany.— Jfonej/.- -The  lioney-market  is  quiet  and 
steady,  with  stocks  light  and  crops  nearly  all  on  the 
market.  White  comb,  l.")(ail7;  mixed,  13(5>14;  dark, 
lOtgill.  Extracted,  white.  8@8'/2;  mixed,  7^57 >^ ; 
dark,  7.    Beeswax.  27@28.  H.  R.Wright. 

Nov.  21.         326,  ;328,  ;mi  Broadway.  Albany,  N.  Y. 

M1NNE.4.POLIS.— Ho/ic;/.— We  quote  market  as  fol- 
lows: One-lb.  .sections,  fancy  white,  19@20;  choice 
white,  17(g<18:  choice  dark.  14(0(1.5;  common  dark,  12 
®13c;  California  white,  16  Strained,  in  10-lb.  pack- 
ages, 11;  in  kegs  and  barrels,  8(^9^4. 

J.  A.  Shea  &  Co., 
Nov.  22.   14&16  Hennepin  Ave.,  Minneapolis.  Minn. 

CixcixxATi.— Honey.— There  is  a  good  demand  for 
hone.v.  with  a  scant  supi)lj-  of  all  kinds.  Extracted 
brings  6(g*8c  on  arrival;  comb  honey  sells  at  14®  16c 
in  the  jobbing  way.  /i<v.<ii((j;  is  in  fair  demand  at 
22®2.5c  for  good  to  choice  j'ellow  on  arrival. 

('HAS.  V.  MuTH  &  Son. 

Nov.  21.  Cincinnati,  (). 

Detroit.- Hd/jej/.— Comb  lionej-  in  fair  demand 
at  13®14c,  and  for  best  white,  15  could  be  had.  Sup- 
ply not  large.    Extracted.  8(^8'^.    Berawdx,  25@26. 

Nov.  21.  M.  H.  Hunt.  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 


Boston.— ifnjifj/.  C(unb  honc-v  Is  .selling  a  little 
slow.  Prices,  best  1-lb..  17(rjr,lH.  Extracted  is  selling 
well  from  8®9.     BirKwax.     None  on  hand. 

Blake  &  Rii'ley, 

Nov.  22.  Boston,  Mass. 

CmcAao.  -Ho/If J/. -There  is  little  change  in  this 
market.  Stocks  are  largc-r  than  they  have  been  at 
;iny  previous  time  this  .season,  Best  whiti'  brings 
18c.     Extrac-ted,  (l@9c.    /ic«;«itv(.r.  2.5c 

R.  A.  Burnett, 

Nov.  19.  161  So.  Water  St.,  Cliicago,  HI 


Kansas  City.  —  f7o7iej/.— Demand  good,  supply 
large.  White  1-lb.,  17c.  Extracted,  6@S.— Beesii'((.c. 
—None  on  market.  Hamblin  &  Bearss, 

Nov.  22.  514  Walnut  St.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


Kansas  City.— //onejy.— We  quote:  Comb,  No.  1 
white,  Mb.  comb,  17®18;  amber,  1.5®16;  dark.  10@12. 
Extracted,  white,  Kw'i'-A;  amber,  ')@(i.  Bcctfuxix,  'M@ 
25.  CLEMON.S-MASON  Com.  Co., 

Nov.  23.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

St.  Louis.— Ho/icy.—Denumd  continues  good  for 
extracted  at  5H®6H  in  barrels.  Comb  is  steady  at 
1()@,16.     Be^xinix,  prime,  24J1C. 

D.  G.  TuTT  Grocer  Co., 

Nov.  21.  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

San  Francisco.  —  Hujipj/.— Extracted  nearly  all 
sold,  and  held  at  7®75f .  Com  I)  honey  scarce  at  12® 
13.     Beeswax,  2.5@27. 

SCHACHT,  LeAICKE  &  StEINER, 

Nov.  Zi.  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

For  Sale.— Extracted  honey  at  8c  per  lb. 

M.  ISBELL,  Norwich,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  V. 


Wanted.— White  comb  lumey  in   one-pound  sec- 
tions. J.  T.  Carson  &  Co., 

325  W.  Main  St.,  Louisville,  Ky. 


Foit  S.\le.— 10  barrels  choice  white-clover  honey. 
Will  put  it  up  in  almost  any  style  of  package  de- 
sired.   Price  on  application.  2Uifdb 
Emil  J.  Baxter,  Nauvoo,  Hancock  Co.,  111. 


TI/" ANTED.— I'ou  to  know  Lintless  Cotton  yields 
Vt  from  201  to4ii(i  bushels  of  seed  to  the  acre,  on  rich 
land.  It  is  ,iust  wliat  is  claimed  for  it.  How  can  it  be 
a  humbug  V  81. (X)  per  pkg. ;  ein-h  pkg.  contains  1  qt. 
R.  H.  Campbei>l,  Madison,  M(jrgan  Co.,  Ga. 

Olippnc     Prom   Best   of   Stock     1QQQ 

l^UCmib  By  Doolittle's  Method    AO»<5 

Utfdb  .1.  B.  CASE,  Port  OrHiige.  Fla. 

HOOT'S  BEE 

DOVETAILiED     and      SUPPLiIES 

HIVES  FOf^  SAIiE 

W.   K.   BflLiLi, 

Box  483,  Heno,  fievada. 

^•OR  SAliE.— One  light  power  mandrel;  2  eight- 
"■  inch  saws;  one  cutter-head,  Jg  of  an  inch  wide; 
also  a  number  of  eight-frame  hives,  some  new,  and 
.some  second-hand.     Will  sell  cheap. 

WILLIAMS  BROS.,  Burdick,  Ind. 

WANTED.— Farmers  in  the  cotton  States  to  know 
tliat  lintless  cotton  is  now  the  biggest  di.scovery 
in  America.  Lintless  cotton  yields  nothing  but  lint- 
less cotton  seed,  and  is  a  very  valuable  plant  in  this 
age  of  cotton-st^ed-oil  mills.  Price  from  Nov.  1,  $1.00 
per  pkg.,  one  quart  in  each  pkg. 

R.  H.  Ca.mpbell,  Madison,  Morgan  Co.,  Ga. 


CLKVEL.\ND.—Ho(icjy.— Honey  is  being  bought  at 
1.5@16  for  No.  1  white;  No.  2  grades.  12@14.  F.  O.  B. 
at  shipping  points.  Berfoni.r,  18®2(l.  Honey  more 
lively  than  last  week.      Rev.vof.ds  &  Williams, 

Nov.  19.  80  &  82  Broadway,  Cleveland,  O. 


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874 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  1. 


The  Bee= 
Keeper's 


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■  DELVoTL 
•To-'E.E.E.^ 

•andHoNEY-,. 
•AHDHOMEL-     -n' 


l\^    \§)     f^EDINAOHlO 


Vol.  XX. 


DEC.  1,  1892. 


No.  23. 


Stray  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 

FixisHKi)  cp;li.aiun«;  my  bees  Nov.  in. 

That  sugak-hoxkv  discussion,  I'm  a  little 
afraid,  will  be  easier  started  than  stopped. 

Wii.\T  -V  COMFORT  to  know  the  bees  are  all 
snug  and  warm  when  the  wind  howls  freezing 
cold! 

Ii,i,ixoi.-<  HKR-KKEPERS  have  asked  the  State 
for  at  least  SIOOO  to  make  a  display  at  the  big 
show  next  year. 

Dox't  brkei)  from  a  queen  whose  colony 
died  in  wintering,  is  advice  I  lately  received.  I 
don't  believe  I  would. 

Naxcv  Hanks"  owner  thinks  it  quite  impor- 
tant that  horses  should  have  earth  to  eat.  in 
order  to  have  good  dig>stion. 

That  Iowa  max  at  Atlantic  has  a  scheme 
that  he  is  quietly  pushing  by  which  he  may 
come  in  a  length  ahead  of  government  in  in- 
troducing Apis  dfjrsntn.    Success  to  him  ! 

The  ix)Xgestevexixgs  are  now  here,  and  it's 
a  good  time  for  the  younger  members  of  the 
fraternity  to  do  a  lot  of  reading-up.  No  danger 
but  the  veterans  will  read  all  they  can  get  hold 
of. 

Mv  WIFE  SAYS  I  must  hereafter  label  all  my 
"Straws"  thus:  ''This  is  a  joke,"  or,  "This  is 
sober  earnest."  since;  one  man  understands  as 
"  sarcasm  "  what  I  meant  as  honest  commenda- 
tion. 

~I  Hoi'E  Doolittle  will  not  be  discouraged 
from  telling  of  his  downfalls  because  so  many 
are  ready  to  tell  him  how  to  introduce  queens. 
I  always  like  to  see  him  down,  as  it's  such  fun 
to  see  him  get  up  again. 

Allex  Prixgi.e  has  been  appointed  Super- 
intendent of  the  Canadian  Apiarian  Depart- 
ment at  the  World's  Fair.  lie's  the  kind  of 
man  tliat  rolls  up  his  sleeves  and  goes  to  work 
when  he  has  any  thing  to  do. 

SquASHRS  are  u-ually  kept  in  cellars.  Amer- 
icnn  Gardeninrj  says  that  is  the  vei'y  worst 
place.  Keep  them  in  a  dry  place  where  the 
thermometer  never  goes  below  .50°.  As  well  try 
to  keep  a  cracked  egg  as  a  squash  that  is  crack- 
ed or  bruised. 

To  PRESERVE  COMB.S  from  the  ravages  of 
worms,  it  is  quite  important  to  keep  them 
spread  well  apart  through  the  summer,  and  it 
is  also  important  in  winter  where  th(!re  are 
mice.  Leave  an  inch  or  two  of  space  between 
them  and  they  are  not  so  convenient  for  nest- 
ing, neither  will  the  midril)  be  so  lik(?ly  to  be 
dug  through. 


Following  the  bad  example  of  the  A.  B.  J.. 
the  C.  B.  J.  hns  been  calling  me  names  too. 
After  being  lashed  into  a  fury  by  reading 
"stray-sawing,  sway-stawing.  stay-strawing, 
straw-swaying,"  rtiy  jaws  cramped  sol  couldn't 
read  the  rest. 

That  young  man  that's  steering  the  good 
old  A.  B.  J.  is  trying  to  start  a  quarrel  between 
Mrs.  Atchley  and  me  by  saying  one  can  use  a 
typewriter  better  than  the  other.  But  he  can't 
make  a  break  between  two  such  old  cronies  as 
we  are,  can  he,  Jennie? 

Illinois  has  set  a  good  example  to  other 
States.  The  Illinois  State  Association  resolved 
to  ask  that  some  of  the  $15,000  appropriated  to 
each  State  by  the  Hatch  Act  should  be  u.sed 
for  the  benefit  of  bee-keepers,  with  J.  A.  Green 
to  look  out  for  their  interests.  A  good  move 
and  a  good  man. 

Why  do  bees  •'  rake  "  ?  is  thus  answered  by 
I.  W.  Wykoff:  "They  are  getting  wood  to  make 
a  kind  of  paper  to  seal  their  brood.  They  work 
mostly  on  the  inside  of  the  hive.  The  cocoons 
in  the  cells  are  made  the  same  way."  I  think  a 
hive  would  be  moth-proof  if  the  inside  were  all 
metal,  so  they  could  get  no  wood  to  weave  a 
cocoon. 

Whiteavash  for  HIVES.— Dr.  Tufts,  in  Amer- 
ican Bee-keeper,  says  he  prefers  whitewash  to 
paint  for  hives.  Eighty  cents  buys  material 
for  130  hives,  preserves  the  wood,  and  in  Louisi- 
ana, where  it  is  important  to  keep  hives  daz- 
zling white  on  account  of  the  hot  sun,  he  finds 
he  can  do  it  better  and  easier  with  whittnvash 
than  with  paint. 

Fooled  A<iAiN!  My  bees  were  in  good  shape 
to  go  into  the  cellar  the  last  of  October,  but  I 
thought  nice  weather  would  last  awhile.  In- 
stead of  that  the  thermometer  went  down  to  19, 
then  to  15,  and.  as  soon  as  a  day  came  when  a 
few  bees  flew,  I  got  them  in  cellar.  It  looks 
now  like  settled  cold  weather,  and  I  don't  know 
of  any  thing  gained  by  their  being  out  since  the 
last  of  October. 

Keep  up  with  the  times  by  taking  a  good 
bee-paper.  Gleanings  for  instance.  But  you 
can't  keep  up  unless  you  first  catch  ujj.  and 
you'll  make  rather  limping  work  trying  to  catch 
up  by  means  of  periodicals.  The  way  to  catch 
up  is  to  get  a  good  text-book  like  the  ABC, 
mastei'  it,  and  then  with  a  good  bee-paper  you 
can  keep  up  with  the  procession  without  being 
all  out  of  wind. 

A  novel  method  of  introducing  queens  is 
given  by  John  Poindexter,  in  A.B.J.  When 
he  has  a  troublesome  colony  that  kills  every 
queen  given,  he  gives  them  a  good  smoking, 
raps  on  the  hive  a  few  minutes,  smokes  the 
queen  in  at  the  entrance,  closes  up  the  hive, 
loads  quickly  on  the  wagon,  and  drives  seven 


876 


GLEANINGS  IN    l!EE  CULTLIKE. 


Dkc. 


miles  tf>  his  othpr  ai)iary.  keeping  bees  confined 
til!  after  dark.  Succeeds  evej'y  lime.  Wouldn't 
it  do  as  well  to  have  a  small  boy  pound  on  the 
hive  as  long  as  it  would  be  ingoing  seven  miles? 

In  avinterinct.  Hasty  says  in  Americdu  Bee' 
keeper  that  •'  a  cluster  formed  touching  the  top. 
and  stores  below  them,  is  very  much  safer  than 
a  cluster  formed  away  down,  and  stores  above 
them."  His  idea  is,  that  moisture  will  collect 
on  the  stores  above  and  drench  the  bees.  I  be- 
lieve in  lots  of  stores,  but  Hasty's  argument 
looks  rather  against  it.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
bees  insist  on  storing  above  instead  of  below. 

A  SMOKER  without  a  cut-off  blast  is  spoiled 
by  smoke  getting  into  the  bellows,  and  with  the 
cut-ofl  the  blast  is  weakened.  For  a  long  time 
I  have  said  that  a  valve  should  stop  the  air 
from  returning  through  the  blast-tube  of  the 
Clark  smoker  into  the  bellows,  but  the  manu- 
facturers said  it  couldn't  be  done.  The  Crane 
smoker  is  certainly  aimed  in  the  right  direction. 
After  I've  tried  it  a  season  I  can  tell  whether  it 
has  hit  the  mark  aimed  at. 


LANGSTROTH'S  REMINISCENCES. 


UNRULY  students:  makriage. 


The  faculty  liad  been  annoyed  for  some  time 
by  students,  whose  class  had  been  earlier  dis- 
missed, coming  slyly  to  the  door  of  a  recitation 
room  and  thundering  upon  it  with  a  heavy 
stick  of  wood.  If  the  tutor  went  to  the  door, 
of  course  the  culprit  decamped:  and  the  laugh 
which  followed  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to 
catch  him  was  often  quite  mortifying.  The 
annoyance  at  la-t  became  so  great  that  the 
faculty  passed  a  resolution  thai  the  first  student 
detected  in  the  act  should  be  dismissed  in  dis- 
grace from  the  college.  One  morning  after  dis- 
missing my  division  I  found  that  I  had  left 
behind  me  the  book  in  which  I  marked  the 
standing  of  the  students.  Returning  to  get  it. 
as  I  opened  the  door  into  the  hall  I  saw  a  stu 
dent  battering  with  all  his  might  upon  an  ad- 
joining door.  As  soon  as  he  caught  sight  of  me 
he  ran  through  the  hall  into  the  open  air.  In- 
stead of  pursuing  him  I  left  the  building  in  the 
opposite  direction:  and  as  I  entered  the  hall 
of  one  of  the  dormitories,  through  which  1 
thought  he  might  be  coming,  he  did  not  notice 
me  until  he  was  fairly  brought  to  a  stand  by 
running  right  into  my  arms.  Imagine  his  con- 
sternation:     Calling    him     by    name.    I    said. 

" .  is  that  you '?  " 

*'  Yes.  sir,"  was  the  reply. 
"Then  you  can  come  to  my  room  after  break- 
last." 

Became;  and  as  I  addressed  him  he  looked 
as  though  his  fate  was  sealed,  but  that  he  must 
try  to  brave  it  out  as  well  as  he  could.  He  was 
a  young  man  of  good  ability  and  generous  im- 
pulses, but  he  had  fallen  under  bad  inlluences. 
and  was  rapidly  losing  his  standing  for  scholar- 
ship. His  father  had  written  to  me  sevei'al 
times,  with  deep  anxiety,  and  I  had  done  all 
that  I  could  to  save  his  boy.  My  heart  was 
moved  at  the  sight  of  him.  and  I  said,  "  You 
know  the  resolution  passed  by  the  faculty  con- 
cerning this  offense?  " 
'•  I  do.  sir." 

"You  know  that  duty  may  compel  me  to  I'e- 
port  your  case  ?  " 
He  assented. 

"Now,  I  can  not  bear  to  do  it.  Here  are  the 
letters  which  I  have  received  from  your  anxious 
father.  I  want,  if  possible,  to  save  you;  and  if 
you  will  give  me  your  word  of  honor  that  you 
will  try,  from  this  time,  to  do  your  duty,  I  will 


never  say  a  word  to  any  one  about  the  event 
of  this  morning." 

He  burst  into  tears,  grasped  my  hand,  and, 
with  every  appearance  of  sincerity,  gave  me 
the  promise:  and  he  kept  it.  Some'years  after, 
at  a  meeting  of  his  class  on  commencement 
wtek.  I  was  invited,  with  some  other  of  the 
tutors,  to  dine  with  them.  After  dinner  this 
young  man  related  these  facts,  saying,  "  When 
I  went  to  Tutor  Langstroth's  room  I  was  des- 
perate: for  I  felt  that  I  should  be  dismissed, 
and  that  the  disgrace  would  almost  break  my 
good  father's  h'^art.  Probably,  if  the  letter  of 
the  law  had  been  carried  out.  I  should  have  been 
ruined;  but  the  kindness  of  Tutor  Langstroth, 
his  moving  appeals,  and  the  generous  confidence 
which  he  gave  me.  melted  my  heart,  and,  under 
God.  he  saved  me." 

I  will  venture  to  give  my  readers  a  very  short 
story  of  love  and  courtship.  One  of  the  young 
ladies'  schools  in  New  Haven,  where  I  taught, 
was  under  The  care  of  Mrs.  Harriet  Tucker, 
her  chief  assistants  being  her  daughters.  From 
my  first  acquaintance  with  this  family,  the 
second  daughter.  Miss  Anna,  possessed  for  me 
peculiar  attractions.  One  day  she  brought  me 
an  algebraic  problem  for  which  she  could  find 
no  solution:  indeed,  that  problem  had  been  sent 
by  an  instructor  in  some  college,  to  Pres.  Day. 
as  one  which  could  not  be  solved  under  his  re- 
quired conditions.  I  furnished  her  with  several 
st)lutions  which  fulfilled  these  conditions.  Be- 
ing like  myself  of  a  mathematical  turn.  I  gave 
her  ingenious  solutions  of  other  problems.  One 
thing  led  to  another,  and  I  eventually  found 
thi.t  the  arrow  of  the  god  of  love  could  be  tipped 
quite  effectively,  even  with  a  mathematical 
point:  so  that  I  afterward  used  to  say,  laugh- 
ingly, that  I  won  my  wife  by  mathematics. 

experience  in  the  ministry. 

During  my  tutorship  my  health  was  far  from 
being  strong,  and  I  performed  my  college  duties 
and  pursued  my  theological  studies  under  great 
drawbacks.  I  occasionally  suffered  from  my 
head  trouble,  but  never  fell  under  its  complete 
control.  In  the  winter  college  vacation  I 
preached  as  a  candidate  two  Sabbaths  in  An- 
dover,  Mass..  and  received  an  almost  unani- 
mous call  to  become  pastor  of  the  Old  South 
church  and  congregation.  It  had  become  con- 
siderably dividid  in  trying  to  settle  a  pastor, 
and  its  leading  deacons  strongly  urged  me  to 
accept  the  call,  my  theological  teachers  also 
advising  the  same.  In  following  this  advice  I 
probably  made  one  of  the  great  mistakes  of  my 
life.  Some  ."iOO  names  were  enrolled  on  the 
church  catalogue;  my  health  was  poor,  and  the 
duties  of  a  minister  in  such  a  large  parish  were 
very  arduous.  One  of  my  fii'st  pastoral  visits  to 
the  sick  called  iiic  about  four  miles  from  home 
in  the  morninu.  and  another  visit  the  same  day 
called  me  in  the  afternoon  as  far  in  an  opposite 
direction.  As  the  Theological  Seminary  was 
situated  in  tht^  bounds  of  the  parish,  and  many 
of  its  pupils  were  teach(M-s  in  its  Sabbath- 
school,  it  was  obvious  that  a  young  man  in 
poor  health,  and  with  very  few  written  sermons 
ahead,  would  find  his  position  as  pastor  of  such 
a  prominent  church  an  unusually  difticult  one. 
The  more  1  reflected  on  the  great  responsibili- 
ties which  I  was  about  to  assume,  the  more  I 
felt  that  the  evpei-imeut  was  very  hazardous, 
and  I  ought  to  have  listened  to  the  monitor 
within.  If  I  had  accepted  a  smaller  charge,  it 
would  have  been  far  better.  I  was  settled  over 
this  large  parish  in  May,  LSSG.  and  was  married 
to  my  beloved  wife.  Miss  Anna  M.  Tucker. 
Aug.  2'Z  of  the  same  year.  I  had  an  affectionate 
people  who  treated  me  with  great  considera- 
tion, were  willing  that  I  should  exchange  pul- 
pits quite  frequently  with  neighboring  minis- 


JW,. 


-"W^Vl- ■^BMteiP  :■■'«:?*■  V.---    ,,       **:"" 


I..  L.  LAXGSTROTII.  PIIOTOGRAPUKD^UV    RFVN(  >I,l).s.  DAYTON,  OHIO.      SKE    I'.    8'»7. 


878 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  1. 


ters.  or  have  the  professors  in  the  seminary 
often  occupy  my  place.  Still,  the  necessary 
work  was  evidently  beyond  ray  strength.  At 
that  time  few  of  our  Congregational  ministers 
preached  without  a  written  manuscript.  About 
half  of  my  time  I  took  only  notes  into  the  pul- 
pit. Years  after  I  left  Andover,  some,  who  had 
heard  me  extemporize  while  they  were  theo- 
logical students,  reminded  me  of  the  pleasant 
but  novel  experience  it  was  to  them  to  hear  a 
preacher  who  did  not  read  his  sermons. 

My  congregation  was  famous  for  aged  per- 
sons, and  I  often  recall  the  venerable  array  of 
white-haired  men  at  the  heads  of  the  pews. 
The  widow  of  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  almost 
one  hundred  years  old,  soon  sent  for  the  new 
minister  to  pray  with  her.  although  she  was  so 
deaf  that  she  had  not  for  years  been  able  to 
hear  a  prayer.  I  always  had  an  unusually 
strong  and  clear  voice;  so  I  thought  I  would 
try  the  experiment  of  making  this  aged  woman 
hear  a  few  words  of  prayer.  Kneeling  beside 
her  chair,  as  close  to  her  ear  as  possible,  I 
prayed  very  slowly,  but  in  as  loud  and  emphatic 
a  tone  as  I  possibly  could.  Rising  from  my 
knees,  after  a  short  prayer,  I  saw  tears  rolling 
down  her  furrowed  cheeks  as  ^he  exclaimed. 
"  O  dear  Lord !  I  have  heard  a  prayer  again  I  I 
never  (expected  to  hear  another  prayer,  but  I 
heard  every  word  that  you  said,  and  you  did 
not  Hcreum  at  m^  either!"  After  this  it  was 
thought  that  the  new  minister  could  almost 
make  the  deaf  hear;  but  he  could  not. 

Dayton,  O.  L.  L.  Langstkoth. 

Cuntiniud. 


THE  SUGAR-HONEY  DISCUSSION. 


THE     KEAL       POSITION     OF     THE     BEE-KEEPERS 
KEVIEW;    BY   W.   Z.    HUTCHINSON. 


Readers  and  correspondents  of  the  bee-jour- 
nals have  little  to  complain  of  in  regard  to  the 
unfairness  of  the  way  in  which  the  journals 
treat  them  or  the  subjects  that  come  up  for 
discussion.  I  think  that  nearly  all  of  them,  if 
not  all  ot  them,  are  fair  in  this  respect — they 
are  willing  that  all  should-  have  a  hearing;  and 
for  this  reason  I  feel  sure  that  Gleanings  will 
allow  me  to  define  my  position  on  the  sugar- 
honey  matter.  The  main  reason  why  I  desire 
to  make  this  explanation  is.  that  almost  every 
one  seems  disposed  to  jump  to  the  conclusion 
that  I  am  advising  fraud. 

When  that  first  article  came  from  friend 
Hasty,  I  think  that  I  felt  very  much  as  some 
of  tlie  brethren  do  now.  I  thought,  "  Why, 
Hasty  is  advising  adulteration."  I  did  not  see 
how  I  could  publish  it.  I  sat  down  to  argue 
the  case  with  my  erring  brother.  To  my  sur- 
prise, I  could  not  combat  his  views.  (They  yet 
remain  unanswered.)  The  gist  of  his  argument 
was  that  bees  do  make  honey;  that  nectar,  even 
though  evaporated  to  the  consistency  of  honey, 
would  not  be  honey:  that  nectar  is  almost 
wholly  cane  sugar  which  the  secretions  of  the 
bees  change  to  glucose  or  honey.  This  being 
the  case,  he  ai'gued  that  it  mattered  not  where 
the  bees  secured  their  cane  sugar,  as  the  prod- 
uct would  be  honey.  This  appeared  reasonable, 
and  I  remembered  that,  when  feeding  honey 
for  winter  stores.  I  had  often  tasted  of  the 
product  and  thought  that,  unless  I  knew  its 
source.  I  should  have  pronounced  it  honey.  It 
had  always  been  the  policy  of  the  Review  to 
allow  any  one  to  be  heard,  even  though  his 
views  were  not  orthodox.  I  remembered,  too, 
that  many  of  our  blessings  come  in  disguise, 
and,  not  being  recognized  at  first,  they  are  oft- 
en opposed.  I  knew,  of  course,  that  the  idea  of 
feeding  sugar  to  make  honey  was  not  new, 
but    that  it  really    became    honey  was    new. 


Heretofore  it  had  been  called  adulteration.  I 
expected  that  the  article  would  call  forth  se- 
vere criticism,  but  was  surprised  at  the  turn 
affairs  took.  Almost  every  one  seemed  to  miss 
the  true  spirit  of  the  article,  and  the  cry  of 
fraud  was  raised  when  there  had  not  been  the 
least  intimation  that  the  product  was  to  be  sold 
for  any  thing  else  then  what  it  really  was. 
This  hurt  my  feelings  more  than  I  can  tell. 
I  was  willing  to  admit  that  1  might  be  lack- 
ing in  judgment:  but  to  be  accused  of  uphold- 
ing fraud,  when  that  was  furthest  from  my  in- 
tention, was  hard  to  bear. 

The  article  was  published.  Later  I  gave  the 
criticisms  that  were  received.  Then  I  was 
still  further  surprised  to  see  others  come  to  my 
defense.  A  wordy  war  seemed  about  to  fol- 
low. I  asked  my  readers  whether  it  would  be 
best  to  allow  it  to  go  on.  and  some  good  friends 
of  mine  plead  so  earnestly  that  it  be  stopped 
that  I  cut  off  the  discussion,  temporarily  at 
least,  even  though  many  wished  it  continued. 

It  soon  bobbed  up  serenely  again,  however,  in 
the  shape  of  articles  from  Prof,  Cook,  showing 
that  even  chemists,  students,  and  Coofcs-  could 
not  distinguish  sugar  honey  from  the  best 
clover  and  basswood.  It  seemed  to  me  that  it 
would  be  a  good  time  to  decide  upon  what 
honey  really  is.  and  I  asked  Prof.  Cook  to  write 
an  article  headed  "  What  is  Honey?"  It  ap- 
peared in  the  Oct.  Review,  and,  to  my  surprise, 
it  was  actually  a  defense  of  the  Hasty  view  of 
the  matter.  The  subject  was  again  fairly 
started,  and  it  seemed  better  to  allow  it  to  go 
on  and  have  some  kind  of  a  decision  arrived  at 
than  to  try  to  smother  it  and  have  it  bursting 
out  in  unexpected  places.  I  wish  that  all  who 
are  interesti^d  in  the  matter  could  have  the 
November  Review  and  read  the  views  of  Hasty, 
Doolittle.  R.  L.  Taylor.  Dr.  Miller,  and  others 
on  this  knotty  question.  Don't  think  that  the 
arguments  are  all  on  one  side,  for  both  sides  are 
very  fairly  represented. 

Some  seem  to  think  that  the  editor  of  the 
Review  is  advocating  the  feeding  of  sugar  to 
produce  honey  to  be  sold  as  fioral  honey. 
Neither  he  nor  any  of  his  correspondents  have 
advised  such  a  course.  The  editor  has  never 
advised  the  raising  of  sugar  honey  except  as  an 
experiment.  All  that  he  has  advised  aside  from 
this  is.  in  view  of  the  assertions  of  such  men  as 
Messrs.  Cook  and  Hasty,  that  the  matter  shall 
receive  "discussion  and  experimentation.  It 
seems  as  though  most  of  the  writers  wish  the 
question  decided  without  discussion.  Is  this 
wise?  Remember  that  "  he  who  can  not  reason 
is  a  fool;  he  who  dare  not  is  a  coward;  he  who 
will  not  is  a  bigot." 

The  Review  has  no  pet  implement,  race  of 
bees,  nor  theory,  to  puff  or  boom.  It  tries  hon- 
estly to  find  out  which  is  best,  and  thi^i  make 
known  the  fact.  In  a  line  running  across  its 
title-page  may  be  seen  the  following:  "Devoted 
to  the  Interests  of  Honey-producers."  To  the 
best  of  my  ability  I  am  making  the  Revieiv 
what  it  (Jlaims  to  be.  The  editor  of  Gleanings 
writes  as  though  the  Review  were  advocating 
the  raising  and  sale  of  sugar  honey.  As  I  have 
already  said,  it  is  simply  trying  to  find  whether 
such  a  course  is  advlKdhie.  A  correspondent 
wrote  me  a  few  days  ago,  "  The  Amerlcdn  Bee 
Journnl  and  Gleanings  are  here,  and  I  see 
they  contain  not  a  word  about  sugar  honey. 
Silence  is  one  step  more  favorable  than  opposi- 
tion; but  it  strikes  me  that  silence  on  a  ir.lhot 
subject  is  not  the  way  for  a  leading  journal  to 
remain  a  leading  journal."  Gleanings  is  cer- 
tainly a  leading  journal,  and  it  has  now  taken 
up  the  subject:  bufiit  says  that  it  has  done  so 
only  that  it  might  oppose  the  Review,  which  it 
considers  is  taking  a  wrong  course.  The  Review 
has  no  other  object  than  to  arrive  at  the   truth. 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


879 


1  bt>li('vc  that  (Jlkaxinos  lias  the  samo  ohjoct. 
Now  let  Gi.KANixcs  show  to  tlif  li< vhw  that, 
tlu' pi'oiliiiMioii  and  sale  of  siijiar  honey  will  be 
to  ilie  (lisatlvantiitfc  of  lice-kec^pers.  and  s<m> 
how  (|iiii.-l<iy  the  licrii  ir  will  o[)pose  tlw  prae- 
tiee.  It  desires  most  sincerely  to  work  for  lln^ 
pood  of  hee-keepers.  and  it  will  not  work  in  the 
wi-on}i  direction  after  its  errors  are  pointed  ont. 

Ml'.  .\.  I.  Koot  says  that  thr  practice  of  rais- 
ing sncar  iioniy  is  not  new;  that  it  has  l)eeii 
tried  liefort-  many  times,  and  abandoned.  \lo 
alst)  asks  why  it  has  not  been  prodnced  in  limes 
of  scarcity.  Thi-re  aiv  three  reasons:  First,  it 
Iki";  heri'tofore  been  looked  upon  as  adnltiMa- 
tioii:  si'cond.  the  prici'  of  siif^ar  has  been  so 
hiirh  that  it  would  not  be  prolilable:  third,  bee- 
keepers have  not  had  sutlicient  practice  to  en- 
able them  to  manage  the  l)usiness  in  a  success- 
ful manner.  For  instance.  Mr.  Root  tells  of 
his  non-success  in  feeding  a  barnd  of  sugar  to 
our  eo/o/i;/.  I  could  not  repress  a  smil(>  as  I 
ri'ad  it.  Almost  om- of  the  (irst  things  that  I 
learned  in  feeding  back  was  that  bees,  after  be- 
ing fed  awhile,  become  fat  and  lazy. .so  to  speak. 
They  secreted  large  quantities  of  wax.  but 
wen-  of  littli^  value  as  suirers  of  hon(>y  from  the 
feedi'f.  This  matter  of  feeding  back  for  the 
production  of  comb  honey  is  really  a  distinct 
branch  of  bee-keeping,  and  one  that  must  be 
learned  before  it  can  be  successfully  followed. 

Some  have  objected  to  the  raising  of  sugar 
honey  on  the  ground  that  it  will  lower  the 
price  of  honey.  All  spcm  to  forget  that  the  cost 
of  sugar  honey  will  always  be  that  of  floral 
honey  plus  the  cost  of  the  sugar  and  the  trou- 
ble and  expense  of  feeding.  In  the  experiment 
that  I  made  the  present  season,  the  .?7..50 
was  only  the  cost  of  the  sugar,  a  fact  that  the 
editor  seemed  to  have  overlooked.  I  might  say, 
still  farther,  that  the  feeding  was  done  after  the 
flow  from  clover  and  basswood  was  past  and 
the  bees  were  hanging  in  masses  on  the  outside 
of  the  hives.  No  honey  was  coming  in.  The 
greatest  care  was  needed  to  prevent  robbing. 
It  may  lie  questioned  whether  there  would  be 
suflHcient  profit  in  raising  sugar  honey  to  war- 
rant its  production.  It  is  a  fair  question,  and 
it  was  to  settle  just  such  questions  that  the 
discussion  was  started:  but  some  say  that  even 
discusHion  is  not  advisable.  Please  show  us 
why,  and  we  will  immediately  drop  it. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  call  to  mind 
the  time  when  the  editor  of  Gleanings  advised 
the  use  of  grape  sugar  for  stimulative  feeding. 
Public  opinion  was  opposed  to  its  use,  and  Mr. 
Root  was  ol)liged  to  give  it  up,  although  lie 
believed  that  he  was  in  the  right.  I  defended 
him  at  the  time,  and  used  a  barrel  of  the  sugar, 
and  would  use  it  now  if  it  were  not  that  cane 
sugar  is  cheaper  for  that  purpose.  "It  may  be 
that,  while  I  believe  that  the  course  that  I  am 
now  ptirsuing  is  right,  public  opinion  nuiy  be 
so  opposed  to  it  that  I  shall  be  obliged  to  keep 
quiet  on  the  subject:  but  there  is  one  consola- 
tion—the  truth  and  right  will  eventually  pre- 
vail. 

I  can  not  more  appropriately  close  than  by 
thanking  Ernest  II.  Root  for  his  generous  words 
in  defi'use  of  my  honor  and  integrity.  They 
warmed  my  heart  in  a  way  that  it  has  not  been 
warmr^d  in  months.  W.  Z.  Hutchinson. 

Flint,  Mich.,  Nov.  10. 

[We  are  very  glad  to  get  this  article  as  it 
shows  more  clearly  Mr.  Ilutcliinson's  position; 
i.  e.,  that  he  did  not  intend  that  sugar  comb 
honey  should  be  sold  as  floral  honey.  We 
should  have  preferred  to  omit  any  footnote  in 
reply;  but  as  Mr.  H.  asks  one  or  two  questions 
we  will  try  to  make  ourselves  more  clearly  un- 
derstood. We  believe  that  the  advocacy  of 
sugar  comb  honey  is  ill  advised — not  because 


honest  bee-keepers  will  mak(!  a  bad  u.se  of  the 
knowledge,  but  that  their  middle  men  custom- 
ers, l(\ss  scrupulous,  perhaps,  seeing  that  th<( 
honi'y  is  beautiful  in  apitearance.  would  be 
sorely  tempted  to  sell  it  as  floral  honey,  and 
some  would  siu'cly  do  it.  If  the  transactions 
were  between  the  bee-keeper  and  the  consumer 
direct,  and  if  we  could  be  sure  that  the  bee- 
kee|)er  loo  were  as  conscientious  as  is  fri<Mid 
Hutchinson,  we  would  raise  no  olijection. 
Right  here  we  can  not  do  better  than  to  make 
a  short  extract  from  a  private  letter.  The 
writer,  whose  name  we  withhold,  says: 

It  seems  to  me  very  unfoitunato  jusl  ;it  tliis  time, 
when  we  are  coiisidei'iiiK  the  l)est  way  to  flfrht  the 
ndulteriitioM  of  liotiov.  Ihiit  lliis  sul)j(>ct  of  feeding 
sujrar  for  honey  sliould  lie  broujjht  u]>  and  almost 
indorsed  l)y  sonic  of  tli(>  lending  liee-keepers  of  tlie 
land.  Jt  i*^  a  jireat  pity,  it  seems  to  me,  that  any 
one  sliould  l)e  so  unwise  as  to  inflict  a  discussion  of 
sufiar  honey  on  us  at  tliis  time. 

To  sum  it  all  up,  then,  in  a  word,  it  is  the 
fear  of  consequi'nces  that  may  result  from  such 
a  discussion:  Fiist.  the  use  that  secular  news- 
papers may  make  of  it;  second.  {\w  use  that 
dishonest  dealers  may  make  of  sugar-  fed  honey 
produced  by  honest  bee-keepers. 

The  strength  of  Prof.  Cook's  position,  and.  in 
fact.  Mr.  Hutchinson's  also,  seems  to  be  in  the 
assumption  that  sugar-fed  syrup  when  stored  in 
the  combs  is  lioney.  Prof.  Cook  may  be  right: 
but  as  good  an  authority  as  Thomas  Wm. 
Cowan,  of  England,  editor  of  the  BritWi  Bee 
JrniriKtt.  a  scientist  of  the  front  rank.  Chas. 
Dadant,  and  others,  disagree  quite  emphatical- 
ly with  him,  and  as  yet  we  can  not  regard  the 
experiments  made  by  Prof.  Cook  as  being  con- 
clusive. 

We  had  concluded  that  we  would  insert  no 
more  articles,  either  pro  or  con.  on  the  subject; 
but  among  those  we  have  received  protesting 
against  sugar  honey  is  one  from  Mr.  Herman 
F.  Moore,  attorney-at-law.  Chicago.  In  former 
years  Mr.  Moore  sold  tons  and  tons  of  honey  in 
some  of  our  large  cities,  directly  to  consumers; 
in  fact,  we  know  of  no  one  who  has  had  more 
experience  In  selling  honey  to  consumers  direct, 
in  large  cities,  than  our  friend  Mr.  Moore.  He 
writes  as  follows: 

Friend  Root:— I  have  heen  reading' with  some  in- 
terest and  .some  indignation  the  articles  in  recent 
numbers  of  some  of  the  bee-journals  on  feeding 
susar  to  malic  lioncy,  and  selling  the  product  to 
the  pul)lic  as  lioney,  or  as  wliat  it  really  is,  sugar 
syrup  in  eonibs.  I  do  not  l)elicvc  lliat  fiicud  Hutcli- 
inson,  with  all  Ins  lil)erality  ill  rcKurd  to  cnlai-ging 
the  spliei'e  of  the  lice-lieeper's  act  ivily  and  profits, 
would  be  wiJlinti-  also  to  .just  ify  any  amount  of  lying 
or  decei)tion  that  would  be  necessary  to  sell  his 
pi'oduct.  IJiit  this  is.  without  any  doubt,  the  logical 
result  of  such  reasoning.  Cotton-wool,  lard-butter, 
wood  nutmegs,  sugar-honey,  are, in  their  vrrij  name, 
a/iV',  and  in  tlicir  i-ela1ioii  to  the  connnercial  world 
they  are  a  fraud.  Dealers  in  frauds  tnust  Iw.  In- 
stance tlie  lumdreds  of  fraudulent  shortlived 
schemes  developed  constantly  to  catch  the  unwary. 
The  great  public,  and  the  individuals  who  compose 
it,  are  not  i)erf(>ct,  by  any  means;  but  they  demand 
now,  moi-e  than  ever  before,  honorable  _and  true 
dealing  in  all  tilings,  and  condemn  tor  ever  all  who 
fall  short.  To  illustrate.  1  ask  one  "of  my  thousand 
c-iistomei's,  "Do  you  wish  half  a  dozen  quarts  of 
honey  on  m.v  ne.xt  trip  V  " 

"Is'  it  pure  ?" 

"Yes,  sir."    (Lie  No.  1.) 

"What  kind  of  honey  is  it?" 

"  VVIiite-clover  honey,  sir."    (Lie  No.  2.) 

"  Is  this  new  lioney?" 

'•  Yes,  sir."    (Lie  No.  3.) 

"  Is  it  real  bee-honey  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir."    iLie  No.  4.) 

"  D<)  you  feed  sugar  to  your  bees?" 

"No,  sir."    (Lie  No.  5.i 

"  Did  you  ever  know  of  any  one  who  did  ?  " 

"  No.  sir."  (Lie  No.  6.) 

"  How  do  .you  know  this  is  pure  honey  ?  " 

"fMy  own  bees  gathered  it."    (Lie  No.  7.) 


880 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  1. 


And  so  on  indefinitely.  All  tliese  questions,  and 
many  more,  will  be  asked  by  the  public  in  their 
effort  to  avoid  getting-  .something  spurious.  But 
suppose  we  wish  to  be  honest  with  our  trade,  and 
tell  the  truth  at  all  co.st.    We  then  converse  thus: 

"Mr.  Smitii.  on  my  next  trip  I  will  deliver  to  any 
of  my  customers  who  desire  it  .some  nice  sugar- 
syrup  honev." 

"What  is  that?" 

"Oh!  I  liave  a  new  method  of  making  honey  now 
on  my  farm.  I  mix  up  a  barrel  of  nice  granulated 
sugar,  Al  quality,  with  water,  in  a  boiler;  and, 
when  dissolved  and  cool,  I  feed  it  to  my  100  colonies 
of  bees,  and  they  build  beautiful  white  combs,  just 
like  this,  and  fill  them  with  the  nice  clear  sugar 
syrup,  and  cap  it  over  nicely,  so  you  could  not  tell 
but  the  bees  had  gathered  it  from  field  flowers  " 

"I  don't  think  I  should  like  it  to  eat  on  my  table, 
sir;  but  as  I  have  bought  of  you  for  some  years, 
and  was  alwaj's  pleased,  I'll  try  some;  what  are  you 
going  to  ask  for  it  ? '" 

"Twenty-four  cents  a  pound,  sir,  and  that  is  cheap 
for  such  pretty  white  combs  in  1-lb.  sections." 

"How  much  a  pound  did  you  pay  for  the  sugar 
you  fed  your  bees  ?  " 

"  Oh !  that  has  nothing  at  all  to  do  with  it,  sir;  the 
time  of  the  bees  is  very  valuable,  and  tliey  really 
change  it  into  lioney  in  putting  it  into  the  combs. 
I  buy  the  sugar  cheap  in  large  quantities,  4X  cts. 
per  lb.,  but  it  costs  lots  to  get  it  into  the  combs,  and 
it  costs  lots  to  deliver  it  to  my  customeis." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  am  sorry;  but  I  will  buy  me  10  lbs.  of 
granulated  sugar  in  the  morning  for  50  cts.,  and 
add  5  lbs.  of  water,  and  make  15  lbs.  of  honey  just 
as  good  as  yours.  By  this  I  shall  save  the  difference 
between  50  cts.  and  $;3.60— a  saving  of  $3.10  on  15  lbs. 
of  honey;  and  my  wife  can  make  up  enough  on 
Saiurday  to  last  a  week." 

Here  is  another  customer.  "  How  d'  do,  Mr. 
Jones?  Don't  you  want  some  of  my  nice  sugar- 
syrup  honey?" 

''Sugar!  Syntp!  Honey!  Get  out  of  my  store, 
you  miserable  elieat  !  " 

"  Why,  Mr.  Jones,  didn't  I  always  sell  yau  nice 
honey  ?" 

"No,  sir.  That  first  lot  was  nice— tiiey  always 
bring  the  fir.st  lot  nice;  it  was  white  and  clear,  just 
like  pure  lioney,  but  tliat  next  lot  was  brown,  and 
tasted  different.  You  told  me  there  was  a  differ- 
ence in  honey,  and  I  almost  believed,  bein's  you  was 
a  pleasant  feller,  and  spoke  fair;  but  now  I'know  it 
was  a  lie,  for  I  alters  knew  all  honey  was  alike;  and 
you  dare  to  otter  me  sugar-.syrup  honey  !  Tliere's 
the  door,  and  never  come  in  here  again.    Git ! " 

There  is  great  objection,  in  my  opinion,  to  the  use 
of  the  terms  "digested  nectar."  "Digested  "  means 
"separated  into  nutritive  and  innutritiovis  ele- 
ments"—Webster.  Any  other  meaning  is  unusual 
and  rare.  The  use  of  this  term  in  relation  to  honey 
would  seem  to  indicate  that  the  honey  was  swal- 
lowed by  the  bees,  subjected  to   the    action    and 

juices  of  their  digestive  organs,  and  then up 

into  the  wax  cells  to  be  used  as  human  food. 

With  all  respect  to  our  chemists,  and  in  view  of 
the  serious  mistakes  they  liave  at  times  made  in 
essential  matters,  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  evapora- 
tion is  the  only  chemical  change  lioney  undergoes 
in  the  cold  or  elsewhere.  I  should  be  glad  to  know 
the  result  of  more  searching  investigation  along 
this  line. 

The  question  of  suppressing  discussion  and  muz- 
zling the  public  press  is  one  that  comes  up  at  all 
times  and  in  all  lands.  In  our  own  free  America 
(the  best  country  on  earth)  this  question  has  been 
settled  in  favor  of  absolute  freedom,  without  regard 
to  the  injury  it  may  do  a  particular  person  or  class. 
The  only  remedy  seems  to  be  a  suit  for  damages 
against  the  offending  party;  and,  however  mucli 
we  as  bee-keepers  may  deprecate  any  discussion  in 
our  bee-journals  that  may  put  our  business  in  a  bad 
light  before  the  public,  we  have  no  remedy  but  tliis. 
Let  each  one  who  writes  be  sincere,  and"  keep  the 
best  interests  of  bee-keepers  at  large  in  view,  and 
deal  with  the  public  in  a  truthful,  straightforward 
manner,  not  indicating  that  we  have  any  skeletons 
to  hide  in  dark  closets.  To  the  public'the  fact  of 
having  a  secret  is  of  itself  a  suspicious  circum- 
stance, for  it  knows  that  right  and  truth  need  not 
fear  the  light.  Herman  F.  Moore. 

Chicago,  111.,  Nov.  21. 

And  another  writes,  whose  name  we  are  also 
at  liberty  to  give,  as  follows: 
Ml-.  Root:— Yonv  notes  on  the  sugar-honey  ques- 


tion, p.  834,  are  right  to  the  point.  It  is  too  bad  for 
such  men  as  Hutchinson,  Cook,  and  others  among 
the  headlights,  to  even  speak  in  favor  of  sugar  hon- 
ey, even  if  it  were  a  fact  that  sucli  might  be  made. 
East  Constable,  N.  Y.  H.  P.  Langdon. 

As  some  of  the  criticisms  may  seem  a  little 
harsh,  though  not  intended  to  be  so.  it  were  no 
more  than  fair  that  Prof.  Cook  and  Mr.  Hutch- 
inson have  an  opportunity  to  reply  if  they  so 
desire;  after  which  we  think  it  would  be  better 
to  close  the  discussion.] 


"WINTER  PASSAGEWAYS. 


DOOLITTLE   BELIEVES   THAT   WINTER   PASSAGE- 
WAYS  ARE   OF   NO   MATERIAL    BENEFIT; 
CAUSE  OF  BEES  DYING  AWAY 
FROM   THE   CLUSTER. 


A  correspondent  writes  that  he  thinks  that 
much  of  the  loss  of  bees  in  winter  comes  from 
'■  chill,  or  the  impression  of  cold  on  the  bees 
occupying  the  outer  ranges  of  comb  during  sud- 
den changes  from  warm  to  very  cold  weather. 
Especially  is  the  loss  very  considerable  from 
this  source  where  the  comb  passages  are  defi- 
cient, as  in  such  case  the  detached  clusters  are 
unable  readily  to  join  the  main  cluster,  and  are 
not  in  sufficient  numbers  to  maintain  the  re- 
quisite degree  of  heat,  hence  are  lost.  What  is 
your  opinion  in  this  matter?" 

In  the  above  our  cori'espondent  brings  up  a 
subject  which  was  discussed  at  length  several 
years  ago,  when  there  was  a  "craze."  as  it 
were,  for  "winter  passageways"  through  the 
combs.  The  argument  then  brought  forth  was, 
that,  on  the  first  cold  spell,  the  cluster  of  bees 
was  obliged  to  contract  in  order  to  maintain 
the  necessary  heat  required:  and  in  doing  so, 
those  occupying  the  outer  ranges  of  comb,  be- 
ing in  a  sluggish  state  from  the  influence  of  the 
cold,  failed  to  pass  up  and  around  the  combs 
quick  enough  to  keep  up  with  the  receding 
cluster,  hence  were  left  to  perish  with  the  cold. 
To  obviate  this  loss,  winter  passageways  were 
recommended  thi'ough  the  center  of  the  combs, 
made  by  boring  holes  through  them,  or  by  hav- 
ing a  curled  shaving  suspended  in  each  frame 
when  the  swarm  was  hived,  so  that  the  bees 
would  of  themselves  leave  such  passageways 
when  constructing  comb.  By  this  means  the 
outer  bees  had  direct  communication  with  the 
cluster  or  main  body  of  bees  in  the  center  of 
the  hive,  so  that,  even  though  partly  stiffened 
with  cold,  they  could  easily  recede  so  as  to  keep 
up  with  the  main  cluster.  As  the  bees  would, 
as  a  rule,  fill  up  these  passageways  each  sum- 
mer, it  was  found  to  be  quite  a  job  to  make 
them  each  fall,  when  some  one  proposed  boring 
a  hole  in  the  side  of  the  hive  at  the  proper 
place,  when,  with  a  square  stick,  pointed  at 
the  end,  which  was  to  be  slowly  "  wormed  "  (so 
as  not  to  kill  the  bees)  through  to  the  opposite 
side  of  the  hive,  and  thus  make  a  passage 
through  all  the  combs  at  once,  thus  making 
quite  a  saving  of  labor.  Where  such  passage- 
ways are  desired,  probably  there  is  no  better 
way  of  securing  them  than  this  last,  as  the 
holes  in  all  of  my  older  hives  testify  that  I  used 
it  on  a  large  scale  in  the  past,  so  I  should  know 
something  about  it.  However,  it  was  soon 
found  that  the  bees  would  remain  and  die  with- 
in half  an  inch  of  these  holes  in  the  combs; 
and  as  said  holes  were  quite  a  damage  to  the 
combs  (the  bees  filling  them  with  comb  of  the 
drone  size  the  ne.xt  sea.son),  the  practice  of 
making  such  passageways  has  been  generally 
given  up,  I  believe.  Some  who  still  cling  to 
the  idea  use  what  is  known  as  the  "  Hill  de- 
vice "  above  the  combs,  as  a  sort  of  compromise, 
which  is  better,  if  any  thing  must  be  used;  but 
after  careful  experiments  with  the  above,  the 


IS'.fJ 


liLKA.M.Ni.N  l.N    KKK  tUl.TURE. 


881 


writor  has  discarded  tlic  whole  of  tliem.  be- 
lieving tliero  is  not  enousli  siaiiied  toeonipen- 
sate  for  tlie  trouble. 

Tliat  tlie  bees  would  die  witiiiii  an  ineli  or 
less  of  siieh  pussaiiew  ays,  as  s|)ol<eii  of  above, 
and  ttiat  stu-h  death  of  bees  rarely  oeeiiired  ex- 
cept dnriiii:  tiie  liist  heavy  freezi' each  fall.  I<d 
me  to  investjirate  tin'  matter  closely,  said  in- 
vestigation proving  to  my  mind  that  these  bees 
died  fnnn  lack  of  vitality  (or  old  age)  rather 
than  fioin  the  cause  assigned.  Tsnally  we 
have  cool  cloudy  weather  from  two  to  four 
weeks  before  the  tirst  severe  cold,  so  that  the 
old  b(H>s  lio  not  leave  the  hive  to  any  extent  to 
die.  as  they  do  all  through  the  siimnn'r  months, 
so  that  the  number  of  dead  bees  dying  from 
this  cause  would  be  considerable,  providing 
none  were  chilled.  Hnt  at  this  time  of  year, 
instead  of  dying  at  once  these  old  bees  seem  to 
linirer  along  for  a  i-liance  to  get  (nit  of  tin'  liivc 


gain  of  dead  bees  seemed  to  be  made  among  the 
combs  with  each  expansion  and  contraction, 
while  the  advocates  of  these;  wintc^r  passage- 
ways state  that  this  loss  is  kept  up  ev(^ry  time 
it  warms  up  and  turns  cold  again,  all  winter. 

There  is  one  way  to  prove  all  these  things; 
and  that  is,  iiy  setting  apart  a  certain  number 
of  coloiues  and  making  passageways  through 
the  combs,  whih;  another  number  like  the  Hrst 
are  left  without.  A  careful  comparison  of  the 
two  lots,  during  tin-  ivfuAe  winter,  will  tell  who 
is  corn'ct  in  this  matter. 

Borodino,  N.  V.,Nov.  17.  (I.  M.  Duouttle. 

[Mr.  Doolittle  may  be  and  probably  is  right 
regarding  the  g(Mieral  cause  of  small  knots  of 
bees  dying  away  from  the  cluster.  Some  three 
or  four  years  ago,  in  a  chaff  hive  a  whole  col- 
ony died  on  the  combs.  It  was  a  very  cold 
w  inii'f.  and  the  bees  ])robably,  durin<r  a    severe 


111  Al     DIKI)    ().\    A    COMI!    OUinX*.    WINTKK. 


10  die.  and  so  gather  in  little  clusters  of  two, 
three,  six,  or  more,  in  a  place,  where  they  re- 
inain  in  a  sluggish  state  till  caught  by  extreme 
cold,  or  a  chance  is  offered  for  a  flight. 

I  well  recollect  one  year  when  a  fine  warm 
day  occurred  iinmediately  preceding  the  first 
very  cold  weather.  The  bees  all  fiew  nicely, 
and  at  evening  I  was  surprised  to  find  sluggish 
bees  clinging  to  th<;  board  walks,  fences,  etc., 
all  about,  while  close  examination  showed 
them  all  around  on  the  grass  and  ground.  This 
season  I  had  the  same  thing  occur,  only  to  a 
far  greater  extent,  as  the  most  of  the  colonies 
with  which  I  go  into  winter  quarters  are  com- 
posed of  united  nuclei,  hence  had  many  old 
bees  in  the  hives.  After  their  flight  the  14th  of 
November  (the  23d  day  of  October  being  their 
last  previous  flight).  I  found  little  knots  of  bees 
all  about  on  the  corners  of  tht;  hives,  on  the 
grass,  ground,  and  walks,  to  an  e.xtent  beyond 
what  1  ever  saw  before.  When  I  saw  these 
knots  of  bees  several  years  ago.  I  believed  then, 
as  I  do  now.  that  I  had  discovered  the  real 
cause  of  the  nuitter.  and,  sure  enough,  no  little 
clusters  of  dead  bees  were  to  be  found  about  in 
the  hive  that  winter,  nor  do  I  think  there  will 
be  this  winter,  but  all  were  clustered  compact- 
ly for  winter  without  passageways.  Then, 
again,  I  have  often  noticed  that  these  little 
knots  of  bees  were  left  to  die  only  with  the 
first  contraction  of  the  cluster,  as  afterward  no 


"  cold  snap,"  starved  to  death,  although  there 
was  plenty  of  good  sealed  sugar  stores  within 
two  inches  of  the  cluster.  It  was  a  nice  large 
colony,  and  the  bees  were  scattered  over  the 
combs  as  natural  as  life.  One  could  scarcely 
believe  thetn  to  be  dead,  so  natural  were  they. 
It  occurred  to  us  that  we  could  secure  a  good 
picture,  because,  you  know,  they  would  "hold 
still;"  but  the  result  is  not  as  satisfactory  as  we 
expected  to  get.  A  glauce  at  the  picture,  which 
has  not  heretofore  been  printed, shows  no  honey 
in  the  comb,  but  there  were  stores,  and  plenty 
of  them,  in  the  next  two  combs.  Evidently 
these  bees  died  of  starvation.  No  doubt  many 
of  our  readers,  in  outdoor  wint(>ring,  have  wit- 
nessed the  .same.  In  all  our  experience  we  have 
scarcely  one  out  of  2{X)  colonies  die  in  this  way.] 


THE  WINTERING  PROBLEM   (1)  IN  CALIFOR- 
NIA. 

WI.VTKi:  FI-OKA  FOB  Hi;KS — WHAT,  AND  WHEN  IT 
OPENS   UP. 

In  most  of  the  States  of  our  I'nion  the  winter- 
ing })roblem  is  the  most  serious  one  which  con- 
fronts the  bee-keeper;  but  in  the  warm  climate 
of  California  and  of  the  (iulf  States,  "  winter- 
ing'"does  not  rise  to  the  dignity  of  a  problem. 
Even  in  these  places,  however,  there  are  some 


882 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  1. 


precautions  to  be  taken  and  some  things  to  be 
done  for  our  little  pets  ere  they  enter  upon  the 
season  of  rain,  frosts,  and  enforced  idleness. 

The  tirst  thing  to  be  done  is,  to  see  that  each 
colony  has  an  abundance  of  honey.  Twenty 
pounds  is  plenty,  not  only  for  wintering  but  for 
springing;  and  where  the  supers  are  taken  off, 
some  pounds  less  than  that  amount  will  be  suf- 
ficient. 

The  next  requisite  is,  to  see  that  the  hive  is  a 
snug  one;  that  is.  that  there  are  no  chinks  by 
which  cold  air  can  enter  and  warm  air  leave 
the  hive,  especially  near  the  top:  then  reduce 
the  entrance  so  that  only  one  or  two  bees  can  go 
in  at  a  time,  and  all  the  precautions  necessary 
for  safe  wintering  have  been  taken.  Very  sim- 
ple; yet,  for  lack  of  them,  thousands  of  colonies 
are  lost  every  winter. 

Most  apiaries  run  for  extracted  honey  are  left 
with  the  supers  on  during  the  winter.  My  ex- 
perience is,  that  it  is  much  better  to  take  them 
off,  as  the  stocks  build  up  faster  in  the  spring, 
and  swarm  earlier.  I  leave  the  extracting- 
combs  in  the  supers,  spreading  them  so  that  no 
two  touch,  piling  the  supers  three  or  four  high, 
placing  a  tight  cover  over  them  to  keep  out  the 
rain,  and  then  I  pile  on  rocks  to  hold  the  whole 
fast  against  the  winds.  There  is  no  trouble 
from  moths  until  April,  at  which  time  I  replace 
the  supers  on  the  hive.  Mice,  however,  will 
ruin  the  combs  if  they  can  get  at  them. 

My  estimate  of  twenty  pounds  of  honey,  or 
even  less,  for  wintering,  may  seem  too  small  a 
quantity  to  those  who  have  read  in  the  text- 
books that  thirty  pounds  is  about  the  right 
amount.  But  remember  that  the  instructions 
given  in  the  books  are  for  northern  climates, 
where  for  six  or  seven  months  the  bees  will  have 
no  other  food  than  that  thirty  pounds.  But 
here  in  California  our  bees  can  gather  honey 
every  month  in  the  year,  if  the  weather  is  fa- 
vorable. In  localities  where  nianzanita  is  plen- 
tiful I  have  seen  enough  gathered  from  that 
source  in  January  to  make  (juite  a  showing  in 
the  hive;  and  thetillaree  (spelled  incorrectly, but 
I  believe  in  Anglicizing  all  foreign  words)  in  g^ll 
parts  of  California,  excepting  the  deserts  and 
snow-clad  mountain -tops,  furnishes  considera- 
ble honey  by  Feb.  ISth;  and  when  near  the  sea, 
or  in  other  warm  localities,  some  two  weeks 
earlier  than  this. 

With  me,  November  and  December  are  the 
only  months  in  which  the  bees  gather  practic- 
ally nothing;  but  it  may  be  different  with  apia- 
ries located  but  a  few  miles  away:  for  in  this 
mountainous  country  the  climate,  and.  conse- 
quently, the  vegetation,  differ  with  the  alti- 
tudes. Nearness  to  the  ocean  has  also  its  ef- 
fects on  the  climate.  At  the  town  of  San  Bu- 
enaventura, which  overlooks  the  Pacific,  win- 
ters in  which  any  frost  is  noticeahlo  are  the 
exception,  and  the  busy  little  bee  leathers  hon- 
ey all  winter  long  from  the  strawberi'y-plants 
blossoming  in  the  Chinamen  s  truck-gardens. 
Again,  at  Cowhanger  Pass  (a  corruption  of  the 
Spanish  word  "Cahuenga,"  pronounced  luih- 
wain-(jah).  which  is  high  up  in  the  mountains, 
but  located  in  what  scientists  call  the  Thermal 
Belt,  there  is  never  frost,  and  tomato- vines  grow 
with  the  luxuriance  of  Jack's  beanstalk— an 
historical  plant  well  known  to  tht;  youths  of 
our  land.  I  have  read  of  vines  of  this  kind  (to- 
matoes, not  beans)  which  had  attained  to  the 
length  of  80  feet;  but  then,  one  must  not  believe 
everything  he  reads  about  California.  It  is  a 
great  country,  no  doubt,  and  excels  in  many 
things,  the  least  of  which  are  not  its  liars.  But 
I  am  wandering.  From  winter  honey-plants  to 
tomato-vines  and  prevaricators  is  quite  a  jump. 
From  a  lowly  bee- hive  to  the  top  of  a  eucalyp- 
tus or  Australian  gum  tree  is  also  a  good  jump, 
but  one  which  the  little  bees  take,  and  in  mid- 


Winter  too,  for  I  have  heard  them  humming 
very  numerously  among  its  blossoms  on  Christ- 
mas day. 

The  pepper- tree  is  worked  upon  in  winter  as 
well  as  in  summer.  In  fact,  they  are  liable  to 
burst  forth  into  bloom  almost  any  time,  in  which 
peculiarity  they  ai'e  the  counterpart  of  the  gua- 
temote  (a  shrub  growing  in  damp  ground),  on 
whose  blossoms  I  see  my  bees  are  at  work  to- 
day, and  on  which  they  will  continue  to  work 
every  favorable  day  until  spring,  with  blossoms 
more  to  the  bees'  liking,  causes  the  guatemote 
to  be  neglected.  I  have  just  made  a  little  cir- 
cuit of  about  200  feet  around  my  house,  and  in 
that  little  space  on  the  fith  day  of  November  I 
find  my  bees  working  on  six  different  kinds  of 
flowers.  I  doubt,  though,  whether  they  are  get- 
ting enough  from  them  to  live  on.  as  they  are 
very  keen  at  robbing,  only  yesterday  "  cleaning 
out"  a  weak  stock. 

SPELLING   OF   SPANISH   AVORDS. 

Now  in  defense  of  my  incorrect  spelling  of 
Spanish  words.  Most  of  the  names  of  places 
here  are  in  that  language,  and,  besides  which, 
the  Americans  have  adopted  a  great  many  oth- 
er words,  such  as  vaquero  (pronounced  vah-kay- 
ro,  meaning  a  herder),  and  cheniesatl  (a  bush), 
and  which  they  pronounce  most  abominably. 
For  instance,  vaiiuero.  the  Americans  pronounce 
biick-kai-ro.  and  rhcmcscdl  they  caU  Jim  my -sal. 
Cowhanger,  the  place  mentioned  as  wheie  there 
is  no  frost,  is  spelled  Cahuenga,  as  already  ob- 
served. Now.  1  mainUiin  that,  if  we  are  not 
able  to  give  to  these  words  the  Spanish  twang, 
we  should  spell  them  according  to  our  pronun- 
ciation, just  as  John  Bull  has  transformed  the 
celebrated  London  driveway  from  "■  Route  en 
Roi  "  (King's  Road)  into  Rotten  Row. 

VViM.  G.  Hewes. 

Newhall,  Los  Angeles  Co.,Cal.,  Nov.  .5,  1892. 

[Yes,  yes.  by  all  means  Anglicize  those  hard 
Spanish  names. 

Later. — After  reading  the  above  we  were  in- 
clined to  indorse  Mr.  Hewes'  suggestions,  and 
did  so  in  the  footnote  as  above  ;  but  our  proof- 
reader, who  understands  Spanish,  takes  issue 
with  us  both,  in  some  respects,  in  this  pleasant 
and  facetious  manner.  His  points  are  so  well 
taken,  after  all,  that  we  shall  have  to  conclude 
it  were  better  to  leave  the  names  as  they  are, 
for  the  most  part.] 

The  suggestions  of  Mr.  Hewes  in  regard  to 
•'  Anglicizing  "  Spanish  names  in  California  are 
very  ill  advised.  If  th(>  people  there  see  fit  to 
change  the  word  Conejo  (meaning  rabbit  or 
jack-rabbit)  to  Jacksburrow,  and  have  it  so 
spelled  in  the  Postal  Guide,  as  the  junior  editor 
means  above,  no  objection  can  be  raised;  but 
to  ask  the  postal  authorities  to  deliver  a  letter 
directed  to  Cowhanger  when  Cahuenga  (Kah- 
wain-gah)  is  the  official  name,  is  unreasonable. 
If  it  is  necessary  to  change  foreign  words,  why 
have  we  not  found  it  out  in  using  Indian  names 
for  nearly  half  the  States  in  the  Union,  besides 
cities,  lakes,  rivers,  etc..  by  the  thousand?  How 
would  it  do  if  the  people  of  Michigan  were  to 
concludi'  that  they  can  not  say  Kalamazoo,  for 
instance,  and  twist  the  word  to  Kalamityhowl- 
er?  or  Dowagiac  to  Doodenwhack?  or  Chicago 
(meaning  a  polecat  in  Indian)  to  Shecowgo,  in 
hon(ir  (if  the  historic  cow  whose  potent  kick  laid 
that  city  in  ashes?  Mr.  Hewes  speaks  of  the 
Spanish'hinguage  as  having  a  "  twang."  That 
is  a  mistake.  It  has  no  twang.  For  beauty  of 
sound,  it  probably  has  no  rival  in  the  world,  ex- 
cept Italian.  It  has  no  sound  that  we  do  not 
have  in  English,  and  it  is  spelled  in  a  purely 
phonetic  manner —  Fiiadeltia,  for  instance.  It 
has  but  five  vowels— a.  c.  i.  o.  u.  pronounced  as 
if  they  represented  the  English  letters  f(/i.  a,  e. 


IS'fJ 


(;LKANIN(i?<  IN   UKEc;ULTURE 


883 


!(,<)((.  Tlu'  letter  V  lias  the  soiiiid  of  I.  This 
pnablos  a  pupil  to  learn  t(»  reuti  it  (luito  well  in 
one  lesson,  while  a  foriMi:ner  t'an  learn  ours  only 
by  stiuiyiiiu  a  \vi)r(l  at  a  liine.  and  that,  too,  hy 
the  helpni  a  teacher,  ll  is  vi'ry  uiuli'^iraliie  to 
eliant:(>  the  names  in  California,  except  in  some 
obsiMire  instances.  Why  would  its  chief  city 
sound  any  better  if  oalhnl  Saint  {•'raiicis.  or  the 
capital  if  spelled  Sacrament".'  San  Hiiena  Ven- 
tura means  (Jood  Luck  personilied  int>i  a  saint: 
San  Jacinto  means  St.  Hyacinth:  San  Diego 
moans  St.  James,  or  Holy  .Mm  as  some  mif^ht 
■•  Anglicize"  it.  The  names  in  California.  Xew 
Mexico,  and  Ari/ona,  for  one  who  understands 
Spanish,  are  almost  as  got)d  as  a  book  of  travels 
in  those  .States;  and  even  in  English,  how  much 
is  contained  in  such  words  as  (iood  Hope.  Cape 
Desolation,  Cape  Farewell.  Iceland.  (Jreenlaiid, 
<^tc. !  A  very  valuable  feature  could  be  added 
to  our  schools  by  teaching  the  pupils  to  pro- 
nounce the  names  found  in  foreign  countries. 
Some  of  them  look  hard,  and  can  not  be  pro- 
nounced with  our  alphabet;  but  by  knowing 
how,  the  words  become  as  soft  and  musical  as — 
Cowhanger.  for  instance.  Let  the  old  luimes 
found  in  the  I'nited  States  remain  as  they  are. 
to  show  how  the  nations  of  the  earth  have 
brought  their  treasures  into  it.  The  Spanish 
have  left  an  air  of  romance  in  that  part  of  our 
land  which  they  settled,  and  it  seems  too  bad  to 
dispel  that  romance  by  the  introduction  of  our 
everlasting  "centers."'  "villes."  "burys."'  etc. 
The  English  language  grows  fat  by  browsing 
on  all  others. 


CARDINAL  FLOWER. 


PROF.  COOK  IJEI'LIES  TO  W.  K.  Gori-D  .*<  CIIITICIS.M 
OX    I'AGK   800. 


1  am  glad  that  Mi'.  (Jon Id  has  corrected  ine  in 
the  matter  of  the  cardinal  f1ow<r.  From  the  re- 
ports I  had.  I  supposed  there  could  b(;  no  ques- 
tion but  that  the  bees  did  secure  honey  from  it. 
I  did  not  see,  from  the  data  which  1  received 
from  api)arently  the  most,  reliable  authority, 
that  there  could  be  any  doubt. and  so  I  wrote  as 
I  did.  1  am  satisfied  that  Mr.  Gould  is  correct, 
and  I  take  his  reproof  very  kindly.  We  should 
be  very  careful.  befor.»  we  generalize,  that  our 
facts  (tre  facts.  The  best  of  men  make  mis- 
takes, and  I  shall  be  more  than  ever  careful 
henceforth  that  reported  facts  are  genuine. 
Again  I  thank  Mr.  fJould. 

0.\K-GAr,I>.S,    OK   OAK-APPLES. 

Mr.  Allen  Bartow,  Milan.  O..  sends  me  sever- 
al oak-galls,  and  the  gall-Hies  which  cause 
them.  He  says  that  the  insects  are  very  ninv 
and  singular  to  him.  Jle  requests  that  I  e.\- 
plain  their  life  economy  through  Gleanings. 
The  four-winged  gall-flies  belong  to  the  same 
great  order  of  insects  that  contains  our  bees — 
the  Hyincnojitcid.  They  belong  to  the  gall-fly 
family,  or  Cyuiiiuht'.  The  cynips  are  usually 
black,  short,  four-winged  flies,  with  a  very  ob- 
tuse abdomen.  This  looks  as  if  it  had  "been 
pushed  up  from  behind,  and  is  like  that  of  the 
bees,  wasps,  ants,  and  parasitic  hymenoptera.  in 
that  it  ends  in  a  sting,  or  ovii)ositor.  As  tliese 
flies  lay  their  eggs  they  irritate  the  leaf  or  stem, 
and  this  causes  an  extra  How  of  sap  to  the 
place,  and  the  result  is  excessive  growth,  or  the 
galls,  which  are  familiar  to  all.  These  galls 
surround  the  eggs,  or  larv;e  after  the  eggs 
hatch,  and  thus  the  gall  serves  both  a-^  home 
aiid  food  for  the  immature  or  larval  gall-lly. 
We  may  say  that  toe  gall  is  simply  increased 
growth.  If  the  stem  or  leaf  is  hairy,  the  gall 
veil!  very  likely  be  spinous.  Some  of  the  galls 
are  very  smooth  and  beaiiti  ful.  They  are  found 
mostly  on  oak-trees,  though  not  exclusively,  as 


the  rose  cynip  infests  the  rose-bush,  and  causes 
galls  on  it.  Odd  as  it  seems,  each  Hy  produces 
a  peculiar  gall,  so  that  the  galls  are  as  distinct- 
ive as  are  the  Hies  that  i)roduce  them.  Why 
the  irritating  i)uncliire  of  one  Hy  should  produce 
one  kind  of  gall,  and  that  of  anf;ther  something 
ililVerent,  is  not  easily  ex|jlained.  May  be  the 
|)oison  differs  in  quality  or  quantity,  and  possi- 
bly the  wound  may  vary  in  extent,  and  so  con- 
trol the  size  and  character  of  the  gall.  We  oft- 
en raise  not  only  llui  gall-Hies  from  the  galls, 
but  also  guest-flies.  In  this  case  a  sort  of  tramp 
Hy  takes  advantage  of  the  gall  and  lays  its  eggs 
in  it.  and  its  young  also  feeds  on  the  gall.  These 
guest-Hies  are  nearly  as  numerous  as  are  the 
gall-Hies.  Sometimes  the;  males  are  in  different 
kinds  of  galls  from  the  females.  In  many  cases 
no  males  have  been  foiuid.  It  may  be  that 
some  of  these  species  are  parthenogenetic,  like 
plant-lice  and  our  drone-bees  —  produced  with- 
out males  and  sperm-cells.  It  is  easy  to  secure 
the  gall-flies.  The  only  precaution  is.  not  to 
pick  the  galls  from  the  tree  till  the  larv;e  are 
mature,  else  the  galls  will  dry  up  and  the  lar- 
val gall-Hies  will  starve. 

WALKIN(;-STIf'KS. 

I  have  receiv(>d  some  walking-sticks  from  Mr. 
C.  L.  Parker,  Mentone.  Ala.  These  are  well 
named,  as  they  look  like  sticks  with  stick-like 
legs.  W(!  have  one  in  the  north— Did iiperome- 
ra  feinorata  —  which  is  green  when  young,  and 
brown  when  mature.  I  was  specially  glad  to 
receive  these  from  Mr.  Parker,  as  they  were 
new  to  our  collection.  I  am  not  sure  of  the  spe- 
cies, but  I  think  it  may  be  ^47ii.so/;(n;7>/(()  hu- 
prestokles.  The  male  is  very  much  smaller 
than  the  female.  They  were  mating  as  I  took 
them  from  the  box  in  which  they  came.  There 
were  also  eggs  in  the  box.  They  live  on  leaves 
and  twigs,  which  they  so  closely  mimic  that  it 
is  hard  to  Hnd  them.  They  feed  on  the  foliage, 
but  are  rarely  so  abundant  as  to  do  serious 
harm.  They  drop  their  eggs  from  the  trees  in 
which  they  dwell,  and.  when  very  abundant, 
the  dropping  eggs  make  one  think  of  a  rain  or 
hail  storm.  They  belong  to  the  same  order  of 
insects  that  contains  the  crickets,  locusts,  and 
grasshoppers.  A.  J.  Cook. 

Agricultural  College. 


THAT  SLUMGUM. 


SOME  INTERESTING   EXPERIMENTS  WITH  THE  SO- 
LAR wax-extractor;  how  to  get  ali>  of 

THE   WAX   OUT   OF   THE   SLUMGLT.M. 


I  read  with  interest  H.  R.  Boardman's  article 
on  p.  77L  also  the  offer  you  make  in  your  foot- 
note. I  want  you  to  make  your  test  thorough. 
Surely  much  wax  remains  in  the  refuse;  when  it 
mak(!S  so  good  a  (ire.  Sometimes,  however,  its 
burning  quality  might  come  from  propolis, 
which  is  almost  ecjual  to  wax  foi  fuel. 

Last  spring  we  had  a  lot  of  stock  to  transfer, 
both  with  and  without  frames;  also  a  like  lot 
of  hives  in  which  the  bees  winter-killed.  In  all 
these  the  honey  was  from  one-fourth  to  three- 
fourths  candied.  Nearly  all  of  them  were  old 
combs,  some  very  old,  and  many  with  pjollen. 
Then  the  query  was.  how  to  get  this  separated 
into  feed  honey,  wax,  and  slumgum.  We  could 
not  feed  the  honey  by  letting  the  bees  caiTy  it 
out  of  the  combs,  for  they  would  waste  the  bulk 
of  the  candied  honey  by  "■  kicking  it  out  of 
doors."  The  honey  thus  wasted  would  be  worth 
mon;  than  the  combs  or  wax.  To  render  by 
sU'am  or  water  applied  directly  would  waste 
much  honey;  so  dry  heat,  by  mt^ans  of  the  solar 
wax-extractor,  seemed  the  best  way  to  do  it. 

My  heart  was  set  on  having  a  jumbo  solar 


S84 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  1. 


(it's  set  yet,  only  more  so  than  before);  so,  early 
in  April  I  bought  some  double-strength  glass, 
cut  from  broken  store- windows,  showcases,  and 
such.  It  cost  me  ?2.50  at  the  price  of  single- 
strength  glass,  and  made  a  sash  about  2  ft.  10 
in.  X  6  ft.  6  in.,  and  I  very  soon  had  a  solar  wax- 
extractor  at  work  in  the  yard.  The  thing  is 
built  on  wheels,  two  at  one  end  and  one  at  the 
other,  one  of  them  being  pivoted  like  a  bed- 
caster.  This  makes  it  convenient  to  pull  about. 
and  to  wheel  into  the  honey-house  to  unload 
and  I'eload  when  robbers  are  bad.  From  April 
to  October  that  extractor  has  been  at  work,  and 
has  turned  out  over  300  lbs.  of  wax  and  over 
1000  lbs.  of  feed  honey  that  was  mostly  candied 
in  the  combs.    The  wax  is  No.  1  in  quality. 

After  accumulating  two  or  three  barrels  of 
the  refuse  I  experimented  on  it.  Some  was 
soaked  four  weeks  in  water,  and  cooked  by 
steam  applied  direct.  Some  was  soaked  several 
days  in  a  mixtureof  water  and  concentrated  lye, 
so  strong  it  was  a  slick,  soapy  mass,  and  it  was 
cooked  by  steam  applied  direct,  with  the  mass 
in  a  bran-sack.  I  used  steam  under  pressure, 
and  turned  a  jet  of  steam  into  the  center  of  the 
mass.  I  tried  first  by  having  a  false  bottom 
made  of  slats  about  six  inches  from  the  bottom 
of  the  barrel,  and  the  sack  in  this,  so  the  wax 
would  drip  below  and  run  out  at  the  bottom. 
This  brought  out  some  wax,  but  left  plenty  to 
make  a  good  tire.  I  then  plugged  the  hole  at 
the  bottom  of  the  barrel,  and  filled  the  barrel 
with  water,  so  that  the  whole  mass  was  sub" 
merged.  I  then  applied  the  steam-jet  as  before 
—  that  is.  to  the  center  of  the  mass  in  the  sack. 
The  jet  was  applied  for  nearly  half  a  day,  with 
stirring,  turning,  and  prodding  the  sack.  As 
fast  as  wax  would  accumulate  on  the  water  it 
was  skimmed  off.  until  it  seemed  that  scarcely 
a  bit  could  remain  in  that  sack.  I  tlien  took 
the  sack  out.  At  first  it  contained  about  four 
bushels  of  the  slumgum;  but  now  it  was  reduc- 
ed by  washing  out  pollen,  etc..  until  it  was 
about  a  bushel.  I  then  put  it  under  moderate 
pressure.  This  caused  the  wax  to  flow  "  from 
every  pore,"  resulting  in  one  or  two  pounds 
more  of  wax.  I  then  again  put  the  whole  mass 
into  cold  water,  when  the  wax  appeared  in 
small  grains  throughout  the  whole  mass,  about 
as  butter  does  just  as  it  begins  to  gather  when 
being  cliurned.  I  now  have  a  barrel  of  this  ref- 
use soaking  in  lye-water,  and  will  experiment 
to  .see  what  wax  can  be  gotten  from  it. 

The  refuse  used  in  these  experiments  was  the 
I'esult  of  rendering  over  200  lbs.  of  wax.  using 
mostly  those  old  combs  and  hive-scrapings,  etc. 
The  result  was  something  over  20  lbs.  of  wax 
that  was  much  darker  than  the  first,  as  gotten 
by  solar  heat.  lioth  because  we  had  to  keep 
the  solar  extractor  going  in  order  to  get  our 
comb  all  rendered,  and  because  we  expected  to 
subject  the  refuse  to  the  second  process,  it  was 
not  as  thoroughly  drained  in  the  solar  as  it 
might  have  been.  Ilowevei',  the  wax  received 
from  it  paid  about  ■■?2.oo  a  day  for  the  time  en- 
gaged in  putting  it  through  the  process. 

I  am  confident  that  neither  the  solar  nor  steam 
process  comes  near  getting  the  wax  all  out.  Old 
combs,  pollen-filled,  together  with  dead  bees 
and  such,  make  such  a  m"ass  of  refuse  that  a 
great  amount  of  wax  is  retained  in  it.  in  spite 
of  all  my  efforts  so  far  to  remove  it.  I  find,  how- 
ever, that  we  need  a  large  solar  extractoi'.  and 
then  not  load  it  too  heavy.  If  the  refuse  be 
drawn  back  to  the  upper  end.  and  spread  out 
thinly  on  a  rather  steep  incline,  ami  left  there  a 
few  days  in  the  hottest  weather,  and  for  about 
four  weeks  when  not  so  warm,  very  much  wax 
will  eventually  be  drained  out  that  can  not  be 
gotten  out  in  two  or  three  days' time.  If  the 
solar  extractor  be  large  enough,  and  the  stuff 
left  in  it  long  enough,  I  think  more  wax  will  be 


extracted  than  by  steam  or  water.  The  feed 
honey  alone  thatcan  be  obtained  by  using  a  solar 
extractor  abundantly  pays  for  the  instrument, 
besides  the  other  points  of  advantage.  But 
what  I  want  to  know  is  an  equally  cheap  meth- 
od of  getting  the  rest  of  that  wax  out  of  the 
slumgum.  R.  C.  Aikin. 

Loveland,  Col.,  Nov.  7,  1892. 

[Your  experiments  are  interesting  and  valua- 
ble, and  we  believe  the  results  at  which  you  ar- 
rived are  correct,  as  they  confirm  to  a  very  great 
extent  our  own.  From  old  tough  and  black 
combs  it  is  exceedingly  hard  to  get  the  wax  all 
out.  The  Dadants  recommend  first  pulverizing 
them  during  cold  freezing  weather.  At  that 
time,  being  very  brittle,  they  will  work  up  very 
fine.  Now.  then,  the  best  way  to  render  this,  so 
far  as  we  know,  is  to  spread  this  pulverized 
comb  thinly  over  the  bottom  of  a  large  solar 
wax-extractor.  Allow  it  to  stand  that  way  for 
several  days  in  the  hot  sun,  stirring  it  occasion- 
ally in  the  mean  time,  so  as  to  present  new  sur- 
faces to  the  sun.  After  it  seems  to  have  drained 
out  all  the  wax  there  is  in  the  slumgum.  clean 
out  the  extractor,  put  the  contents  into  the 
slumgum  box  or  barrel,  and  be  sure  to  cover  it 
tightly,  because  the  moth-worms  will  very  soon 
begin  work  on  it.  After  a  barrel  or  so  has  accu- 
mulated, put  it  into  a  cheese-cloth  (or.  prefera- 
bly, burlap)  bag,  as  large  as  can  conveniently  be 
put  into  a  receptacle  in  which  it  is  to  be  further 
treated  with  hot  water  slightly  acidulated  with 
sulphuric  acid.  Get  the  water  to  boiling,  and 
with  a  stick  punch  the  sack  underwater;  and 
as  the  wax  rises,  skim  it  off  on  the  surface  of 
the  water.  Last  of  all.  remove  the  sack  with 
its  contents  from  the  boiling  water;  quickly 
place  it  in  a  press;  squeeze  it.  putting  on  all  the 
pressure  possible,  and  considerably  more  wax 
will  ooze  out  in  small  pellets. 

The  solar  wax-extractor  will  take  out  perhaps 
nine-tenths  of  the  wax  :  but  there  is  yet  left 
that  tenth,  which  must  be  removed,  as  far  as 
possible,  by  the  agency  of  hot  water,  sulphuric 
acid,  and  the  wax-press.  Even  then  there  is  a 
little  left  that  may  be  removed  by  continually 
working  at  it.  but  it  is  a  question  whether  it  is 
worth  the  time  consumed  in  doing  it. 

a  THE    RESULT    OF    THE    EXPEBIMEJJT    OX    THE 
BOAKDMAN    SLTTMGUM. 

Referring  to  the  slumgum  of  H.  R.  Boardman, 
and  our  challenge  to  him  to  send  on  a  couple  of 
bushels  and  we  would  prove  there  was  wax  it, 
we  have  this  to  say :  He  '^ent  on  the  slumgum. 
and  by  the  scales  it  weighed  about  2.")  lbs.  We 
put  itthi'ough  the  "  mill  "—that  is.  the  sulphu- 
ric- acid  treatment — in  connection  with  the  wax- 
press.  Well,  how  much  wax  do  you  think  we 
secured?  Just  one  pound!  We  scarcely  know 
whether  Mr.  Boardman  or  ourselves  have  the 
better  of  the  argument.  He  may  be  surprised 
that  we  got  so  much,  and  on  the  other  hand  we 
are  surely  disappointed  in  getting  no  more.  On 
this  basis  we  should  get  about  3  lbs.  of  virgin 
wax  from  perhaps  a  barrel  of  Mr.  Boardman's 
slumgum.  If  there  is  one  thing  that  we  have 
proven,  it  is  that  Mr.  Boardman"s  lai'ge  solar 
wax-ext)'actors  do  the  work  very  nuich  more 
thoroughly  than  we  had  supposed  ;  and  we 
can  account  for  the  stuff  making  such  good  fu- 
el, only  on  the  ground  that  it  must  have  con- 
taineda  large  amount  of  propolis,  as  Mr.  Aikin 
suggests  above.  It  is  well  known  that  propolis 
melts  at  a  much  higher  temperature  than  wax, 
and  it  is  possible  that  the  heat  of  the  solar  wax- 
extractor  is  not  sufficient  to  have  any  percepti- 
ble effect  on  it.  It  is.  therefore,  left  nicely  dis- 
tributed through  the  refuse. 

Some  time  ago  we  illustrated  the  Boardman 
solar  wax-extractor.    As  many  of  our  old  read- 


1892 


(i LEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


8sr. 


oi-s  liavc  jxissilily  rdriioiicii  wluit  it  is  liko,  and 
soiiu'  of  «>iir  iK'w  (tncs  would  Iil\o  to  sec  it  loo,  we 
pivst'iit  tlic  cntriaviiii;  aiiaiii  from  p.  50.  .Ian.  l.'i, 
WM.     A  dcsi'iiptioii  will    iianlly  hr   ncci'ssary. 


BOAKDMAN  S   SOI.AR   WAX-EXTRACTOK. 

We  might  mention  tlial  the  curved  runners  not 
only  make  the  machine  portaWe,  but  permit  of 
its  being  tilted  at  any  angle  to  the  sun. 

We  should  like  to  hear  from  othei's  who  have 
had  experience  with  the  solar  wax-extractor, 
and  particularly  as  to  how  to  get  every  particle 
of  wax  out  of  the  refuse  and  the  cocoons.  This 
matter  is  not  so  valuable  to  the  foundation- 
maker  as  it  is  to  those  who  render  out  their  old 
combs  for  the  wax  which  they  send  to  the  man- 
ufacturer.] 


BASSWOOD  AND  ITS  PROPAGATION. 


WIIV   ITS   SEEDS   DC)   NOT   GROW. 

A  few  years  after  coming  to  this  country, 
from  the  old  continent.  I  sowed  seeds  of  bass- 
wood  in  order  to  get  plants  and  trees,  when  of 
suitable  size,  for  my  near  neighbors,  to  be  plant- 
ed on  the  roads  along  their  farms.  Most  of  the 
roads  in  France  are  lined  with  trees  such  as 
basswood,  elms,  walnuts,  ashes,  etc.;  besides, 
there  is.  in  the  city  where  I  was  educated,  a 
promenade  about  two  miles  long,  with  four 
rows  of  lindens,  of  which  the  trunks  are  three 
feet  in  diameter  or  more.  About  (10  years  ago  I 
asked  my  grandfather  how  old  those  trec^s  were, 
adding  that,  probably,  lie  had  seen  them  plant- 
ed. He  answered.  ■•  When  I  was  of  your  age 
they  seemed  about  as  large  as  they  are  now." 
So  these  basswoods  were  planted  several  hun- 
dred years  ago. 

The  remembrance  of  the  Vjeautiful  foliage, 
delicious  perfume,  and  agreeable  shade  of  these 
rows  of  trees,  together  with  the  prospect  of  in- 
creasing the  honey  harvest,  had  induced  me  to 
make  the  expense  of  raising  these  lindens;  but 
not  one  seed  in  one  hundred  germinated.  As  I 
had  sown  them  in  s[)ritig.  I  tliought  that  the 
seeds  were  too  dry.  and  <<>  the  next  summer  I 
sowed  seeds  just  gatheicd.  Those  did  not  suc- 
ceed any  better  than  the  lirst  ones.  Then  the 
following  summer  I  broke  some  seeds  to  find,  if 
possible,  the  cau>^e  of  my  failure.  X(»ar'ly  every 
one  was  eaten  inside  by  worms.  .\b(jiit  two 
years  ago  Mr.  KM.  I'.ertrand.  editor  of  the 
Revue  Iiiterndtioiuilc.  wrote  me  that  one  of  his 
friends  desired  to  get  a  few  pounds  of  .Amf^rican 
basswood  seeds  to  raise  trees,  and  distribute 
them  among  his  neighbors.  I  sent  iiiiri  a  few 
hundred    seeds    only,  to    show   the    conditions 


which  prevented  the  American  l)asswood  from 
growing  from  seeds.  As  these  seeds  are  eaten 
by  small  in.sects.  it  would  proobably  be  possible 
to  kill  them  before  laying,  or  to  jirevenl  them 
from  laying  by  spinying  i.undon  piirpli'  or  otiiei' 
iiisecliciiies  on  the  treses  just  after  their  bloom- 
ing. 

1  hope  that  Mr.  L.  C.  Clark,  or  some  other 
bee-keeper,  will  try  this  spraying,  and  report  in 
Oleaninos  the  results  obtained. 

CuAs.  Dadant. 

Hamilton,  111.,  Nov.  21.  IS'Xl. 


RAMBLE  NO.  73. 


advice    about     emigrating    to    CALIFORNIA; 
QUESTIONS   ANSWERED. 


Since  I  came  to  this  beautiful  southland,  the 
laud  of  sunshine  and  flowers,  and  the  home  of 
the  fragrant  rose,  where  the  rich  green  leaves 
of  the  orange  and  the  lemon  never  wither,  and 
their  blossoms  (ill  the  air  with  fragrance,  the 
hive  with  honey,  and  the  fruit  gives  health  to 
the  body  and  inspiration  to  the  soul:  and  es- 
pecially since  A.  1.  Root  and  I  have  written 
about  California  bee-keeping.  I  have  not  been 
flooded  with  letters  of  inquiry,  but  have  receiv- 
ed as  many  as  three  in  one  day,  and  usually 
two  or  three  a  week,  which  shows  that  there  is 
something  of  an  interest  in  relation  to  this 
Stati!  as  a  country  in  which  to  gain  a  livelihood, 
and  perhaps  wealth  in  this  world's  goods  and  a 
hope  for  future  bliss. 

This  ramble,  then,  is  written  for  the  purpose 
of  answering  a  multitude  of  past,  present,  and 
future  questions:  and  all  of  these  persons, 
either  young  or  old.  who  have  a  desire  to  emi- 
grate to  California  will  please  read  this  Ramble 
ten  times,  feel  their  pulse,  and  say,  if  they  can. 
'■•  No  temjo  nwhi"  (nothing  is  the  matter  with 
me,  as  the  Spanish  say). 

In  the  tirst  place,  California  consistsof  a  large 
area  of  land  and  not  a  great  deal  of  visible 
water.  Much  of  the  land  hangs  up  edgewise, 
and  well  up  toward  the  heavens.  There  is, 
however,  enough  rich  level  and  rolling  land 
and  charming  valleys  to  support  an  immense 
population.  Water  is  iiiade  visible  by  tapping 
the  mountains  and  valleys,  and  the  effect  is 
magical,  for  the  baiTen  desert  is  made  to  blos- 
som with  vegetable  life.  As  to  climate,  there 
is  no  country  in  the  world  where;  one  can  select 
just  what  suits  him  as  well  as  in  California. 
If  you  delight  in  a  temperature  of  11.5°  in  the 
shade,  many  of  the  interior  towns  will  fill  the 
bill  during  the  summer  months.  If  you  prefer 
arctic  breaths,  climb  the  mountains  into  the 
regions  of  perpetual  snow.  In  fact,  any  grade 
of  temperature  can  be  selected,  and  that  is  the 
boast  of  California. 

The  State  is  bounded  on  the  west  by  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  I  mention  this,  because  many 
seem  to  forget  it:  and  when  they  get  here  they 
sit  down  upon  the  shore  and  shed  tears  over  the 
overwhelming  fact  that  this  is  the  end  of  west- 
ward emigration.  In  a  great  many  instances, 
instead  of  taking  a  rational  view  of  the  situa- 
tion, they  turn  around  and  b(>rate  all  California. 

California  is  called  the  Colden  .State,  and  it 
deserves  the  name.  There;  have  been  rich  dis- 
coveries of  the  precious  metals,  and  sudden  for- 
tunes have  been  made:  but  remeunber  that, 
alongside  the  lucky  man.  there  have  been  a 
thousand  who  have  toiled  all  their  lives,  and 
tlien  died  poor.  Remember  that  even  the  man 
who  first  discovered  gold,  and  picked  it  up  by 
the  handfuls,  died  a  poor  man;  therefore,  my 
friend,  don't  let  the  alluring  idea  get  into  your 
head,  as  it  does  into  many,  that  vou  can  pick 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  1. 


up  gold  in  the  Golden  State;  for,  go  where  you 
will,  in  valley  or  remote  mountain,  you  will 
find  the  mark  of  the  prospector's  pick  or  shovel. 
The  ground  has  been  well  inspected.  There 
are  yet  undiscovered  gold-mines,  but  the  novice 
will  hardly  find  them. 

The  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  making  the 
various  products  grow,  is  at  present  producing 
more  gold  for  California  than  are  her  mim^s  of 
yellow  metal.  If  you  wish  to  enter  the  ranks 
of  this  class  of  workers,  I  will  answer  the 
questions  that  have  been  directed  to  me.  and 
thereby  try  to  aid  you  in  a  decision  for  future 
action. 

The  majority  of  my  questioners  are  bee- 
keepers, and  are  not  only  anxious  to  keep  bees 
but  to  secure  a  fruit-farm  in  connection  with  it. 
There  are  ranches  where,  in  some  ca-es.  beps 
and  fruit  are  kept:  but  the  cases  are  excep 
tional.  The  fruit- ranch  di  stroys  all  wild 
flowers  that  produce  the  large  yields  of  honey; 
and  unless  the  ranch  is  well  back  in  the  foot- 
hills, where  bees  from  it  can  reach  the  sage  and 
other  wild  flowers,  the  apiary  will  have  to  be 
planted,  as  it  usually  is,  in  some  remote  place, 
to  secure  the  best  results:  therefore,  to  keep 
bees  and  run  a  fruit-ranch  will  necessitate  two 
locations.  Continuous  employment  can  not  be 
secured  on  a  bee-ranch.  The  bees  need  but 
little  attention  for  sev(m  or  eight  months.  In 
the  other  four  or  five  the  main  work  is  done, 
and  men  and  boys  are  then  hired.  Some  bee- 
keepers run  their  help  in  gangs,  going  from  one 
apiary  to  another  during  the  extracting  season. 
Others  put  a  man  in  an  apiary,  and  expect  him 
to  be  enough  of  a  hustler  to  care  for  it.  The 
pay  for  such  a  helper  is  all  the  wav  from  !?25  to 
$50  a  month.  At  $2:^  a  month  he 'is  boarded; 
but  at  $nO  he  boards  himself. 

There  are  hut  few  chances  to  work  apiaries 
on  shares.  Where  they  can  be  found,  the  right 
man  can  do  bettei-  than  io  work  by  the  month. 
Bees  and  apiaries  are  as  salable  property  as 
horses  or  cattle,  and  many  apiaries  change 
hands  every  season.  Above  all  other  plans.  I 
would  advise  those  who  come  here  to  do  so 
prepared  to  purchase.  Easy  terms  are  usually 
granted,  and  a  small  apiary  in  a  good  season 
can  be  increased  to  quite  a  large  one.  An  ex- 
perienced bee-keeper  can  easily  double  his 
number,  while  many  have  increased  ten  to  one 
hundred— remember,  in  a  good  season.  The 
time  to  buy  is  from  January  to  March.  Colo- 
nies can  be  purchased,  all  the  way  from  .*1.00  to 
*.5.00:  the  average  price  is.  perhaps.  $3.00.  The 
11.00  colonies  are  in  nondescript  boxes.  The 
f.").00  colonies  are  in  good  movable-frame  hives. 
Con-idering  every  phase  of  the  business,  I  know 
of  nothing  else  that  can  be  started  into  with  so 
small  a  capital,  and  which  gives  so  sui'e  and 
(luick  returns  as  bee-keeping.  The  above  does 
not  apply  to  a  person  who  never  managed  bees, 
but  to  a  man  of  experience,  and  a  moderately 
good  season. 

Southern  California  has  been  the  center  of 
the  bee-industrv  for  several  years;  but  in  the 
northern  counties  there  are  many  splendid 
localities  for  bees  that  are  as  yet  unoccupied,  n 

rsCxi  to  the  production  of  honey,  information 
in  I'elation  to  friiit-ranches  is  sought.  Fruit- 
ranches  are  usually  sold  in  5.  10.  and  30  acre 
lots:  the  average  is  about  10  acres.  The  chief 
fruit  here  is  the  orange,  with  a  s[)rinkling  of  all 
other  fruits.  A  fruit-ranch  of  any  kind,  except 
grapes  and  small  fruits,  is  several  years  getting 
into  bearing.  Raisin  grapes,  perhaps,  bring 
the  quickest  and  most  permanent  returns. 
These  fruit-ranches  can  be  purchased  on  easy 
payments;  but  the  purchased'  should  he  careful 
to  have  some  money  ahead,  or  some  business  to 
earn  money  (an  apiary,  for  instance),  or  he  may 
wake  up    some    morning  in    arrears,   and   his 


ranch,  with  what  improvements  he  has  put 
upon  it,  is  taken  possession  of  again  by  the 
Land  &  Water  Company.  Many  such  episodes 
happen  every  year. 

Fruit-lands  unimproved,  but  under  irrigation, 
are  held  at  fi-om  .*100  to  f350  per  acre.  Some 
companies  give  a  perpetual  water-right,  while 
others  collect  a  tax  for  the  number  of  inches  of 
water  used  annually.  Improved  lands  with 
bearing  orchards  are  held  at  SIOOO.  and  even  up 
to  S^SOOO  an  acre.  A  twelve  year-old  orange- 
orchard  in  full  bearing  will  give  a  profit  of  $1000 
an  acre. 

The  style  of  houses  that  people  live  in  liere  is 
of  great  variety.  Just  now  aiound  Redlands 
there  are  scores  of  tents.  During  a  greater  por- 
tion^ of  the  year  a  tent  will  be  comfortable. 
Some  prefer  to  sleep  outdoors,  and  gain  liealth 
in  so  doing.  A  tent  is  preferable  to  many  of 
the  shanties  that  are  occupied.  Almost  any 
kind  of  covering  will  do  until  the  rainy  season 
commences.  In  December  and  January  the 
cold,  though  not  below  24°  above  zero,  takes 
hold  quite  severely.  Rain  is  not  continuous,  as 
many  suppose,  but  it  comes  down  freely  for  a 
few  days,  then  there  is  a  week  or  more  of  beau- 
tiful weather:  so,  ordinarily,  what  is  called  the 
"  rainy  season  "  is  not  any  more  so  than  Eastern 
people  have  all  the  time. 

Lumbei'  is  more  expensive  than  in  the  East, 
and  a  good  house  will,  therefore,  be  quite  a 
luxury.  In  this  portion  of  the  State,  wood  and 
coal  are  scarce  and  dear.  Oak  wood  is  $8.00  a 
cord:  chemise  roots.  $5.00  a  load;  soft  cotton- 
wood.  $3.00  a  cord:  choyo,  a  species  of  cactus, 
and  sunflow^er- stalks,  are  gathered  for  fuel. 

The  cost  of  living  here  is  more  than  in  the 
East.  Good  board  is  25  cts.  a  meal,  or  $4.00  a 
week:  a  furnished  room  $4.00  to  .$10.00  a  month. 
A  person  can  board  himself  for  about  $2.00  a 
week,  and  so  thousands  "  bach  "  it  on  this  coast, 
and  live  well,  and  have  more  luxuries  and 
greater  variety  than  he  gets  in  a  dining- hall. 

From  the  number  of  idle  men  about  our 
towns,  I  doubt  whether  permanent  employment 
can  be  had  by  the  year  on  a  ranch  or  in  the 
trades.  There  are  times  when  everybody  is 
busy;  then  come  the  idle  days.  There  is  but 
little  done  in  the  manufacturing  line,  and  the 
surplus  labor  is  not  absorbed.  A  new  comer 
has  not  so  good  a  chance  to  get  work  as  one 
who  has  been  here  a  year  and  has  made  some- 
thing of  a  reputation.  Wages  by  the  day  is 
usually  $1..50  to  $2.00.  The  laborer  finds  himself, 
except  his  dinner.  On  the  large  ranches,  away 
from  towns,  he  is  boarded  on  the  ranch,  and 
sleeps  as  described  in  Ramble  07.  The  trades 
are  quite  full,  and  the  carpenter  and  brick- 
layer complain  that  there  are  too  many  for 
profit.  .Still.  I  have  heard  of  no  starvation -or 
want  in  that  quarter.  Ready-made  clothing 
can  be  purchased  liere  nearly  if  not  quite  as 
cheap  as  in  the  East,  while  clothing  made  to 
order  will  cost  more. 

A  person  in  Kansas  asks,  "Shall  I  bring  my 
teanC?"'  It  would,  perhaps,  pay  a  man  no  fur- 
ther east  than  Kansas  to  bring  the  team  if  it 
is  worth,  say.  $300.  Good  horses  are  in  demand, 
and  teamwork  is  sought  after.  Very  good  fur- 
niture can  be  purchas(^d  here  at  second-hand 
stores,  at  reasonable  rates. 

In  relation  to  shipping  bees  from  the  East,  it 
would  hardly  pay  unless  a  car  is  chartered  for 
other  things,  and  then  a  few  colonies  of  a  choice 
strain  could  be  put  in  as  well  as  not.  Ten 
colonies,  say.  and  a  lot  of  hives  in  the  flat,  would 
give  an  outfit  that  could  soon  be  increased  to  a 
fair  apiary.  Still,  it  is  a  question  whether  it 
would  pay  to  ship  them.  Government  land 
can  be  found,  but  it  is  in  remote  districts,  and 
not  subject  to  irrigation  without  much  labor  to 
develop  water. 


1892 


tJLKANINCJS  IN   MIOK  CULTURE. 


887 


TluM'iiiK-atiaiial  advaiitiiKcs  arc  good  uiilcss 
a  sottlciut'iil  is  luadi'  in  a  remote  portion  of  tlic 
State,  (.'alifornia  ()ro\  id<'S  line— yes.  elegant, 
— soiiool-buiidings.  'riii>  on(>  d(>scril)ed  in  the 
last  lianilile  is  a  fair  sample.  Care  is  also  taken 
for  the  i)roper  qnaiilii-alion  of  the  teaeher.  'I'he 
standard  of  excellence.  I  tiiinU'.  is  higher  than 
in  many  Kastern  Slates,  ami  the  pay  thoy  re- 
ceive is  |)ropnrtionati'ly  higher. 

Religions  work  is  very  active  all  over  this 
coast.  All  of  the  ortliodox  cluirches  are  repre- 
sented, and  some  that  are  not  so  orthodox.  In 
nearly  evei'y  town  of  .'iiioo  population  or  ovei'. 
the  V.  M.  c".  A.  is  an  activ(>  force.  The  Salva- 
tion Army  is  aggressive  and  progressive.  In 
California  is  exercised  the  greatest  amount  of 


prolilahh^  investments  are  always  o()en  in  the.se 
new  growing  towns;  and  a  tract  purchased  now 
will,  in  a  veiy  few  years,  double  in  value.  A 
journey,  however  brief,  to  this  coast,  will  en- 
large your  ideas  in  relation  to  the  great  and 
glorious  couiitiy  of  which  you  ai'e  a  citi/,(m.  If 
yon  hav(>  but  a  latent  jiride  in  your  nation  as 
yon  have  seen  it  in  the  East,  nniler  tliese  skies 
what  is  latent  will  be  fanned  into  a  patriotic 
Hame.  and  the  old  stars  and  stripes  will  ever 
after  have  a  new  meaning  to  yon,  as  they  now 
also  have  to  the  Ramblkr. 

[Our  readers  will  notice  that  this  article  of 
Rambler's  is  conspicuous  on  account  of  the 
absence  of  any  engravings  accompanying  it. 
The  Rambler  thought  it  might  be  a 
pleasant  change  to  the  readers;  but 
the  more  we  thought  of  it,  the  more 
we  felt  impressed  that  the  usual 
Ramble  would  look  lonesome.  Well, 
it  so  happened  tbat  our  artist  came 
to  our  rescue.  lie  was  thinking  how 
lonesome  Rambler  must  be  off  on  the 
ranch  keeping  house  all  by  himself; 
and  as  his  mind  turned  toward  the 
World's  Fair,  he  began  to  speculate 
as  to  whether  the  Rambler  would  be 
present.  A  picture  came  before  his 
mind;  and.  of  course,  being  an  artist, 
it  naturally  found  expression  in  mate- 
rial form,  and  ire  couldn't  resist  the 
temptation  to  place  it  before  our 
readers,  for  you  know  tbe  Rambler  is 
a  single  man. 

It  seems  that  Dr.  Miller  and  A.  I. 
R.  have  been  rather  worpying  be- 
cause Rambler  has  been  dwelling  in 
single  blessedness.  Perhaps  this  will 
give  them  a  gleam  of  hope.  The 
Rambler  has  given  us  no  authority  to 
speculate  as  to  his  future  prospects; 
and  if  the  picture  above  will  not  rep- 
resent the  true  status  he  must  lay  all 
the  blame  upon  our  artist.] 


RAMBLEK   AT   THE   WOI?I>D's   FAIR;     "BARKIS    IS 

willin'." 

toleration,  religious  and  otherwise.  We  go  to 
church,  and.  while  listening  to  the  sermon,  per- 
haps the  musical  notes  of  a  hand -saw  or  the 
staccato  of  a  hammer  is  heard  in  the  back  yard 
of  a  man  who  is  not  so  conscientious  about  the 
use  of  the  Sabbath  as  we  are.  Or  there  may  be 
wafted  to  your  ears  the  distant  report  of  a  gun. 
This  man  seeks  his  recreation  on  vSunday  in 
hunting  rabbits  or  quail.  No  one  seems  to  have 
much  concern  as  to  how  his  neighbor  spends 
the  day.  lie  is  a  law  unto  himself  in  that 
respect"  and  that's  what  we  call  toleration — 
something  the  world  has  been  trying  to  learn 
for  the  past  several  thousand  years,  and  isn't 
the  world  better  to-day  under  this  broad  spirit 
than  under  the  iron  heel  of  persecution,  and  the 
"  thou  Shalt  not ''  of  creed  ? 

I  have  given  the  above  facts  in  relation  to 
this  portion  of  California.  I  have  no  advice  to 
give,  but  am  desirous  for  every  would  be  em- 
igrant to  act  upon  his  own  judgment.  1  would 
not  advise  parties  to  tear  themselves  away  from 
passably  good  circumstances  at  a  sacrifice;  for 
in  all  such  cases  there  is  more  or  less  hardship 
and  some  disappointments  to  endure  in  a  new- 
field  of  action.  Our  bright  skies  are  somewhat 
shaded  with  sandstorms;  and  during  the  dry 
months  the  dust  is  •' numerous;"  but  when  it 
comes  to  a  choice  between  mud  and  dust,  dust 
does  not  afHict  when  we  ride  against  the  wind; 
but  mud  we  have  to  take,  wind  or  no  wMnd.  It 
is  an  excellent  plan  to  first  come  and  see  the 
country,  and  find  a  location.  The  family  can 
then   be    brought    out.     With   a   little    money. 


BEE  PARALYSIS. 


EXPERIMKNTS    IX     REGARD     TO     THIS     DI.SEASE. 


During  the  early  part  of  the  season,  Mr. 
P'ord.  as  below,  purchased  a  colony  of  bees 
with  a  queen.  Bee  paralysis  subsequently  de- 
v(!loped,  and  he  wrote  us.  asking[^for  particulars 
for  treatment.  We  advised  him  to  try  the  salt 
cure.  He  did  so.  but  it  seemed  to  have  no  effect, 
and  the  bees  continued  to  grow  worse  and 
worse.  It  seemed  to  be  a  peculiarly  aggravated 
case  of  the  disease,  and  we  desired  our  corres- 
pondent to  keep  us  fully  informed. 

Desiring  to  experiment  further  with  my 
diseased  bees,  and  thinking  there  might  be  some 
infection  in  the  combs  or  hive.  I  transferred  the 
colony  a  few  days  since  to  a  new  hive,  giv- 
ing them  new  comb  and  a  frame  of  sealed  comb 
from  a  healthy  colony.  They  are  dying  at  a 
more  rajtid  rate  than  before.  Robbers  have  be- 
gun to  assail  the  diseased  colonies,  and  I  think 
that  they  will  soon  clean  them  out  in  spite  of 
all  that  I  can  do. 

A  friend  has  suggested  that  the  disease  might 
be  foul  brood.  I  find  that  the  few  cells  of  brood 
left  are  apparently  healthy,  and  the  combs 
appear  normal  in  every  particular,  so  far  as  I 
can  see.  My  experience  will  tend  to  elucidate 
the  cour.se  to  be  pursued  by  the  apiarist  in 
handling  Colonies  affected  with   bee  paralysis 


8S8 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  1. 


hereafter.  If  the  disease  is  infectious,  at  least 
one-third  of  my  colonies  will  get  it,  through  the 
agency  of  the  robbers,  who  are  now  plundering 
the  diseased  colony  not  transferred.  I  have 
come  to  the  same  conclusion  reached  by  you — 
that  bie  paralysis  is  an  affection  resulting  from 
some  intiiraity  in  the  queen,  or  some  hereditary 
disease.  Is  it  possible  that  it  may  result  from 
breeding  from  the  same  stocl<:  for  a  long  time? 
When  I  began  to  Italianize  my  apiary  I  resolv- 
ed to  buy  my  queens  from  as  many  breeders  as 
I  could  conveniently,  for  ihe  express  purpose  of 
securing  ultimately  the  strongest  vitality  in  ray 
new  Slock  by  the  admixture  of  many  strains.  I 
do  not  know  whether  there  is  any  thing  in  the 
notion  or  not. 

1  believe  the  disease  is  not  contagious  or  in- 
fectious, and  that  it  does  not  result  from  the 
food  the  bees  take.  If  I  am  mistakiii  on  these 
points  I  shall  probably  lose  most  of  my  bees.  I 
would  have  removed  the  diseased  colonies,  but 
I  thought  that  the  infection,  if  there  was  any. 
would  be  carried  by  the  stray  bees  that  would 
seek  refuge  in  other  colonies,  their  hive  being 
removed.  T.  S.  Fokd. 

Columbia,  Miss.,  Nov.  5. 

[We  have  never  discovered  that  the  disease  is 
contagious.  It  seems  to  be  wholly  hereditary, 
and.  so  far  as  we  can  remember,  we  have  put 
healthy  colonies  into  hives  formerly  occupied 
by  bees  afJected  with  bee-paralysis,  with  no 
subsequent  bad  results  on  the  healthy  bees. 
However,  it  is  possible  that,  in  aggravated 
caS'  s.  !-uch  hives  might  transmit  the  disease, 
and  we  hope  our  correspondent  will  keep  us  in- 
formed as.to  the  result.  We  suggest,  as  a  last 
resort,  that  he  remove  the  queen  and  introduce 
a  healthy  one.  If  the  trouble  is  wholly  heredi- 
tary, this  ought  to  cure  the  trouble  ;  at  least  it 
has  done  so  in  our  own  yards  so  far. 

Since  writing  the  above,  the  following  has 
come  to  hand,  giving  the  other  side  of  the  salt- 
cure  question.] 

THE   SALT   KEMEDY   A   SUCCESS. 

Friend  RqcA: — Permit  me  to  give  my  experi- 
ence a-5  to  what  is  supposed  to  be  paralysis,  as 
stated  in  (Jleanings,  page  817.  I  think  it  was 
in  the  spring  of  1889  that  the  disease  first  made 
its  appearance  in  my  apiary,  when  I  commenc- 
ed to  Italianize.  T  gave  a  statement  through 
Gleanings,  page  845,  18U1,  as  to  the  salt  cure, 
which  I  then  was  fully  persuaded  was  an  ef- 
ectual  cure  for  the  disease  called  bee  paralysis. 
I  have  continued  to  make  use  of  a  strong  so- 
lution of  salt  water  ever  since,  by  the  use  of  a 
toy  squirt-gun,  once  a  week  during  the  season, 
from  spring  till  tall,  through  the  entrance,  all 
over  the  bottom- boards,  and  no  one  could  possi- 
bly have  had  more  healthy  and  beautiful  leather- 
colored  bees  than  I  had  when  the  spring  of  1892 
appeared:  and  as  the  weather  continued  wet 
and  cold  I  decided  to  abandon  the  salt  cure,  and. 
up  to  about  the  middle  of  May,  not  a  bee  that 
I  could  see  showed  any  signs  of  the  so-called 
paralysis,  while  others  around  this  section  had 
nolici^d  their  bees  somewhat  affected.  On  Sun- 
day morning,  about  May  15,  at  8  o'clock  I  notic- 
ed a  wonderful  commotion  among  the  bees. 
Tiiousands  upon  thousands  scrambled  from  the 
hives,  and,  after  a  few  jumps  up  and  down, 
would  be  dead,  and  they  seemed  to  be  about  a 
half  larger  than  their  usual  size.  The  sight 
was  so  horrifying  tome  that  I  hastened  to  the 
hous(^  to  tell  my  good  wife  that  all  of  our 
bees  were  dying  and  that  I  was  real  sick  at 
heart,  and  didn't  know  what  was  the  cause  nor 
what  to  do.  I  just  felt  like  sending  for  the 
physican,  not  for  the  bees,  but  for  myself;  but 
just  at  this  conclusion  my  wife  had  come  in  and 
said.  "  Let  us  try  to  do  something  to  save  some 
of  them."    She  proposed   to  make    some    salt 


water  and  sprinkle  the  bees.  "  Good!"  said  I; 
and  we  hastily  warmed  three  gallons  of  water 
with  one  teacupful  of  salt  (chloride  of  sodium) 
added  thereto.  Stripping  the  oilcloth  fi'om  the 
hives,  with  dusting-brushes  we  thoroughly  wet 
combs,  bees,  and  all,  while  the  bees  continued 
to  pass  out  and  die.  However,  as  soon  as  the 
water  began  to  drop  tlu'ongh  on  the  bottom- 
boards  we  noticed  hundreds  of  bees  eagerly 
sipping:  and  in  one  hour's  time  but  compara- 
tively few  bees  were  passing  out.  I  said  to  my 
wife  that  I  didn't  believe  there  were  any  more 
bees  to  come  out;  but  on  examining  we  found  to 
our  surprise  a  fair  showing  of  bees  and  lots  of 
brood  in  all  stages  down  to  eggs,  and  not  a 
queen.  I  am  fully  satisfied  that,  if  the  dead 
bees  had  been  gatliered  up,  a  half-bushel  would 
not  have  held  them.  I  know  this  may  look 
fishy,  but  such  are  facts.  In  three  days  another 
sprinkling  was  given  in  a  lighter  form,  as  here 
and  there  a  bee  was  seen  to  drop:  and  we  con- 
tinued the  remedy  as  stated,  and  to-day  luy 
bees  are  bright  and  beautiful,  and  no  visible 
symptoms  can  be  noticed  that  paralysis  ever 
existed,  if  paralysis  it  was.  Who  can  tell? 
There  was  no  time  but  that  brood,  capped  and 
uncapped,  together  with  combs,  all  had  a  clean 
and  bright  appearance,  and  no  offensive  odor 
that  I  could  ever  discover. 

I  want  to  state  further,  that  bees  both  old 
and  young  seemed  to  be  affected  alike.  Now, 
did  the  salt  water  check  the  disease  or  did*it 
not?  I  jnost  emphatically  answer  yes,  in  its 
broadest  sense.  One  of  my  brother  bee-men 
stated  to  me  one  day  last  week  that  he  could 
not  see  that  it  was  of  much  benefit  to  his  bees; 
but  such  seems  to  be  the  evidence  about  the 
cure  of  foul  brood;  so  I  am  a  firm  believer  in 
the  efficacy  of  the  salt  cure.       J.  A.  Golden. 

Reinersville.  O.,  Nov.  8. 


PRIOR  RIGHTS  TO  A  LOCATION. 

DR.    C.   C.    MILLEK   continues   HIS   CASE. 


"  Of  course  there  is  no  law  whereby  the  bee- 
keeper first  in  the  field  could  secure  the  privi- 
lege of  that  field  all  to  himself.  The  only  thing 
he  could  do  (and  that  is  out  of  the  question) 
would  be  to  buy  up,  say,  five  thousand  acres 
and  allow  no  other  bee-keeper  to  occupy  that 
land.  He  then  has  a  proprietary  right  to  the 
whole  field."  That's  what  you  say,  Mr.  Editor, 
on  page  802.  I  doubt  whether  any  one  will 
raise  any  question  as  to  the  correctness  of  your 
position.  Taking  it  as  standing-ground,  let  us 
see  if  any  thing  can  be  built  upon  it. 

If  I  am  not  mistaken  there  are  places  in  Cali- 
fornia, or.  at  least,  were  in  earlier  days,  with 
plentiful  pasturage  for  bees,  but  worthless  for 
other  purposes.  At  any  rate,  it  is  not  very  dif- 
ficult to  imagine  such  a  place.  Now,  suppose  a 
person  should  buy  a  tract  of  .5000  acres  of  such 
land  from  the  government,  no  one  would  dispute 
his  perpetual  right  to  occupy  it  exclusively  for 
bees,  at  least  so  far  as  to  locate  colonies  upon  it. 
But,  as  you  hint,  he  could  not  afford  the  price 
asked  fcir  it.  He  could  say  to  the  government, 
'•  It  is  absurd  for  you  to  ask  me  ••?1.25  an  acre 
for  such  land,  for  it  is  utterly  worthless  for 
any  purpose  except  bee-pasturage.  No  one 
will  buy  it  for  any  other  purpose;  and  if  you 
hold  it  at  such  a  high  figure  it  will  be  occupied 
by  tjeekeeping  -squatters,  quarreling  among 
themselves  as  to  possession.  Better  sell  it  to  me 
at  5  cts.  an  acie  than  to  get  nothing  for  it.'' 
And  if  government  is  sensible  it  would  reply, 
"All  right.  As  there  seems  to  be  no  possible 
chance  that  it  will  ever  be  good  for  any  thing 
else,  we  may  as  well  have  $2.50  for  it  as  to  give 
it  away,  as  we  are  now  doing." 


1892 


(JLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


88(t 


Can  you  s«>o  any  thiii);  wnmg,  so  far.  in  tlir 
transaction?  Hut  tlic  Rovt'rnmt'nt  nii>ihl  say, 
'•  It  is  truo.  the  land  is  wortliii'ss  cxi-cpt  for  bcf- 
kt'opins;  liut  soint'dav  it  may  turn  out  valuable 
for  sonu^tliinp  olso.  NVc  an'  willinj,'  lo  !(>t  you 
iiavc  it  as  you  dt'siri'.  for  iMM'-kccpiii!^  jjuiixiscs 
only;  but  in  oaso  thorc  should  be  sui-li  a  cbauiri' 
in  tilt'  I'oursf  of  tinu-  as  to  luaUc  tin'  land  di'sii- 
ablc  for  fanning,  uc  rt'scrvi*  thf  right  todisjiosc 
of  the  land  for  that  i)urpos(\  still  leaving  your 
title  intact  as  a  bee-keeper.  In  other  words  wo 
sell  you  tlie  riglit  to  the  MXK)  aeres  as  bee-pas- 
turage." Would  tliere  be  any  thinir  wrong  in 
such  a  transaction?  You  will  see  ihat.  in  such 
a  case,  M  farmers  might  occupy  the  land  witii 
10<)-acre  farms,  without  in  the  least  interfering 
witii  the  bee-keeper. 

liut  suppose  the  .')()  fanners  Mrst  occupied  the 
land,  neither  of  ihem  having  any  desire  to  reap 
its  advantages  as  b('(>- pasturage,  and  having 
bought  it  with  the  express  stipulation  that  they 
were  to  have  no  control  over  the  bee- pasturage, 
would  it  not  be  entirely  pioperfor  the  bee-keep- 
er to  buy  the  bee-pasturage  of  .'lOOO  acn-s  from 
the  government?  You  don't  see  any  thing 
wrong  in  that,  do  you?  Well,  my  friend,  if 
that's  all  right,  why  wouldn't  it  be  a  good  thing 
for  the  government  to  dispose  of  the  bee-keep- 
ing privilege  of  the  land  all  over  these  United 
States? 

"Oh:  that's  easily  answered."  yon  say.  Gov- 
ernment can  sell  only  that  which  is  in  its  pos- 
session. If  it  had  reservt>d  bee-keeping  privi- 
leges when  it  disposed  of  its  land,  then  your 
proposal  might  be  all  right;  but  it  has  already 
sold  all  right  and  title  to  the  land  without  any 
reserve,  so  it  has  nothing  to  sell. 

Yes.  that  sounds  all  right;  but  the  "  greatest 
good  to  the  greatest  number  "  is  the  rule  :  and 
whenever  it  is  for  the  general  good,  the  govern- 
ment takes  possession  where  it  pleases.  I  have 
a  warranty  deed  that  is  suppo.sed  to  give  me  a 
clear  title  to  a  piece  of  land  that  measures  100  l3y 
f)0  rods.  I  think  it  is  as  good  a  title  as  any  one 
has;  and  yet  I  find  I  have  only  a  modified  right 
in  the  land  after  all.  A  strip  two  rods  wide  was 
needed  for  a  public  road,  so  three-fourths  of  an 
acre  is  taken  off  for  that.  True.  I  can  raise 
whatever  crop  I  please  on  the  land,  that  does 
not  interfere  with  public  travel,  and  so  can  hold 
the  land  against  all  comers  for  agricultural 
purposes;  but  any  one  who  wishes  can  travel 
over  it.  If  I  should  take  a  notion  that,  because 
1  own  the  land.  I  own  every  thing  on  it.  and  be- 
gin to  shoot  right  and  left  at  the  bii-ds  upon  it,  I 
should  soon  find  out  my  mistake.  There  was  a 
time  when  I  owned  all  the  birds  on  the  place; 
but  it  was  found  out  that  the  public  good  de- 
manded tliat  innocent  insect-eating  birdsshould 
be  preserved,  so  the  law  took  away  my  birds 
from  me.  saying.  "'  Let  them  alone;  they  are  no 
longer  yours."'  So  you  will  readily  see  that,  if 
it  should  be  considered  for  the  public  good,  the 
same  public  would  not  hesitate  to  lay  its  hand 
on  all  the  bee-keeping  interests  in  the  land  and 
control  tliem.  But.  without  further  pursuing 
this  line  of  thought.  I  want  to  repeat  to  you  a 
little  conversation  I  had  the  other  day  with  my 
friend  Bangs.  We  liad  b<  I'u  talking  this  matter 
over,  and  finally  Bangs  said.  '•  I  tell  you,  it's  no 
use  talking  ;  you  caJi'l  make  things  any  ditl'er- 
ent  from  what  they  are;  and  that  notion  that, 
by  some  hocuspocus,  you  can  let  one  man  own  a 
piece  of  land  and  yet  not  be  allowed  to  keep  all 
the  bees  on  it  he  uleases.  is  all  Doppycock." 

1  saia,  "Bangs,  wouia  you  mind  answering  a 
few^  questions?  " 

"Of  course  not.'"  said  he;  "  fire  away  all  the 
questions  you  like." 

"  Well.""  said  I.  "  please  tell  me  who  owns  the 
nectar  distilled  by  the  flowers  on  my  place".'" 

"Well,  now,'"  said  Bangs,  "I  didn't  know  you 


had  a  distillery  on  your  place;  but  if  you  mean 
the  sweet  that's  in  the  clover-blows,  why,  of 
course  that's  yours,  just  the  same  as  every  thing 
on  the  place."' 

"  Do  you  tiiink  your  bees  ever  work  on  my 
(lowers?"'  said  I. 

'•  I  reckon  they  do,"  said  Bangs.  "'They  say 
liees  woik  two  or  tliree  miles  from  home,  and 
mine  are  only  half  a  mile  ofT." 

■'  Sup|)ose  i  should  put  out  some  poison  to  kill 
your  bees." 

'■  I  guess  you  ain't  likely  to  do  that,"  laughed 
Bangs.  "  It  would  ki;l  more  of  your  bees  than 
mine."' 

"  Well.  .lack  Wilson  has  no  bees,  and  our  bees 
work  on  his  clover.  What  if  he  should  put  out 
poisoned  syrup?" 

"Look  here,  now,"  said  Bangs, '*  Jack  Wil- 
son ain't  that  kind  of  a  man."' 

"  Why.  of  coui'se  not,"  said  I.  seeing  I  wasn"t 
getting  on  any.  "  But  suppose  I  had  no  bees  and 
was  mean  enough  to  put  out  poison  for  yours." 

"  Why.  I'd  show  you  mighty  quick,  if  I  could 
prove  it  on  you.  You'd  have  to  pay  pretty 
steep  for  damages." 

"  Well,  suppose  I  should  sue  you  for  what 
your  bees  took  otf  my  place.  How  much  could  I 
recover.  Bangs?" 

Bangs  broke  out  into  a  hearty  laugh.    Then 
he  said.  "  Why,  that  thing's  been  settled,  dead, 
sure,  long  ago,  that  bees  are  freebooters,  and 
can   go  where   they  please,  so  they  don't  sting 
anybody." 

"  So.  then,"  said  I,  "  I  can  do  nothing  to  keep 
your  bees  from  taking  my  nectar;  and  if  they 
do  take  it  I  have  no  redress,  but  must  just 
stand  it." 

'*  That's  about  the  size  of  it."  said  Bangs. 

"  See  here.  Bangs,  I  thought  you  said  all  the 
nectar  on  my  place  belonged  to  me."  A  curious 
look  began  to  steal  over  Bangs'  face.  Pushing 
my  advantage.  I  said.  "  It  seems  to  me.  that's  a 
rather  queer  kind  of  property  that  anybody  else 
has  as  much  right  to  take  as  I,  and  I  can't 
drive  them  away  nor  get  any  pay  for  what  they 
take." 

"Well  now.  I  declare  to  goodness,"  said 
Bangs,  "I  hadn't  never  looked  at  it  just  that 
way  before.     I  never  had,  for  a  fact.'' 

"'Don't  worry  over  that.  Bangs.  Y'ou're  not 
the  only  one  who  hasn't  seen  things  straight. 
I  think  Prof.  Cook  was  the  first  one  I  ever  re- 
member putting  that  matter  in  its  true  light. 
He  doesn't  agree  with  me;  l)ut  in  a  convention 
at  Chicago  I  heard  him  say.  "'  It  may  as  well  be 
understood,  lirst  as  last,  that  the  man  who  owns 
tlie  land  doesn't  own  the  nectar  on  it."  Audi 
think  any  reasonable  person  will  admit  that,  if 
nectar  is  |)ublic  property,  there  is  no  reason  wjjy 
the  goveinment  may  not  dispose  of  it  in  any 
way  that  may  be  most  for  the  public  good.  And 
if  it  be  for  the  general  good  that  bee-keeping  be 
cari'ied  on  by  those  who  make  a  special  business 
of  it,  then  it  is  possibly  only  a  matter  of  time 
when  there  will  be  no  rhore  talk  about  a  man's 
moral  right  to  his  territory,  but  by  purchase  or 
otherwise  he  will  have  a  legal  right.  In  other 
words,  be  will  own  the  territory  needed  to  get  a 
crop  of  honey,  just  as  much  as  a  man  now  owns 
the  territory  he  needs  to  raise  a  crop  of  pota- 
toes." C.  C.  Miller. 

Marengo,  III..  Nov.  11. 


HUMBUGS  AND  SWINDLES. 

Our  readers  will  remember  that  we  have  fre- 
quently spoken  of  the  swindles  emanating  from 
J.  M.  Bain  and  his  aliases  from  Zanesville,  O., 
or  little  towns  adjoining.  He  is  now  receiving 
considerable  sums  of  money  for  a  new  fraud. 


890 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  1. 


particulars  of  which  are'given  in  the  following, 
which  we  clip  from  the.i  Rural  New-Yorker  of 
Nov.  19: 

2  Itfappears  that  the  unjailed  bird,  J.  M.  Bain,  is 
back  of  tlie  new  swindling'  dodge  of  selling  "  black 
pepsin  "  for  increasing  t)ie  amount  of  butter  to  be 
churned  from  a  given  amount  of  cream.  An  ex- 
tract from  this  scamp's  letter  was  given  last  week 
(see  page  741).  It  is  a  fraud  and  a  humbug,  a  scheme 
well  worthy  of  one  who  has  robbed  thousands  of 
women  by  his  fraudulent  schemes,  in  the  guise  of 
plating-maclitnes,  incubators,  pure-bred  chickens, 
eggs,  valuable  new  seeds,  and  other  delusive  tempt- 
ations. Tlie  fraud  has  letters  sent  to  an  alleged 
"  Cliemical  Co."  in  New  York  to  avoid  detection  and 
make  his  absurd  offer  more  plausible.  To  their  dis- 
grace, be  it  said  that  several  agricultural  papers 
have  printed  this  stuff. 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM   A.  I.  ROOT. 


PASO  DEL  NORTE. 

In  crossing  the  great  bridge  that  separates 
the  United  Stales  from  Mexico,  wo  were  obliged 
to  pay  an  extra  fare  of  ten  cents  on  the  street- 
car; and  in  just  a  few  minutes  we  were  in  a 
foreign  country.  One  would  hardly  believe 
that  simply  crossing  a  river  like  the  Rio  Grande 
— a  river  which  is  many  times  not  a  river  but 
only  a  dry  gravelly  bed— as  I  have  said,  one 
would  hardly  believe  it  possible  to  find  the 
change  we  meet  in  going  from  El  Paso  to  Paso 
del  Norte.  The  people  are  different  and  the 
buildings  are  different.  It  is  true,  we  meet 
many  Mexicans,  Spaniards,  and  Indians  in  El 
Paso;  but  across  the  river  the  people  are  all 
alike  unless  it  be  an  occasional  visitor  of  the 
American  type.  The  Mexicans  seem  to  be  a 
quiet,  inoffensive,  and  peaceable  folk.  As  there 
are  many  visitors  we  find  fruit-stands  and  curi- 
osity stands  at  almost  every  turn.  In  fact,  in 
this  mild  climate  these  litill'  stands  for  traffic 
and  trade  stand  outdoors  the  year  round. 
Things  are  very  cheap  in  Mexico,  and  pennies 
are  in  common  circulation.  In  the  way  of  eat- 
ables you  can  get  more  for  a  penny  of  almost 
any  thing  than  you  want.  Perhaps  one  reason 
for  the  latter  fact  is  that,  as  you  pass  along 
with  your  cakes  or  pies  in  your  hand,  a  glimpse 
into  the  dwellings,  with  the  doors  wide  open, 
makes  yon  fear  that  some  of  the  dust  and  dirt 
may  have  got  kneaded  into  the  cakes.  Atone 
place  a  Mexican  was  supplying  a  hungry  crowd 
with  chunks  of  something  from  a  great  dish- 
pan.  It  was  probably  pieces  of  sweet  potato, 
or  yam,  fried  in  fat  of  some  kind.  They  passed 
in;,  their  pennies,  and  he  cut  off  slices  which 
they  took  in  their  greasy  fingers.  While  we 
were  thinking  of  sampling  this  delicious  luxury 
— at  least  the  people  seemed  to  think  it  so — the 
vender  noticed  some  crumbs  of  the  potato  stick- 
ing to  his  big  knife.  Without  a  bit  of  hesita- 
tion he  licked  his  knife  clean  with  his  tongue, 
and  then  went  on  in  a  very  businesslike  way 
slicing  oft'  more  for  the  people.  Mrs.  Root  took 
umbrage  at  this  proceeding,  and  not  only  re- 
fused to  make  a  purchase,  but  she  would  not 
buy  their  candy,  cakes,  nor  any  thing  else,  un- 
til we  got  across  the  river  into  Uncle  Sam's  do- 
main once  more. 

On  the  adjoining  page  I  have  given  you  a 
picture  of  one  of  the  oldest  churches  in  Ameri- 
ca, liut  I  am  not  ready  to  take  a  look  at  the 
chur<'h  just  yet.  I  want  you  to  notice  the 
dwellings  at  the  left  hand  of  the  picture.  This 
is  a  fair  type  of  the  streets  and  dwellings  of 
Mexico;  but  they  are  rather  finer  than  you  find 
anywhere  else,  because  they  are  on  the  street 
close,  by^the  old  church.     Please  notice  those 


sticks  projecting  along  where  we  should  see 
the  eaves.  I  saw  these  all  through  the  Mexi- 
can towns  and  finally  I  asked  somebody  what  it 
meant.  "Why,  bless  your  heart,"  said  he, 
'•  those  are  the  eavespouts  that  carry  the  water 
off  ovei-  the  sidewalk."  The  roofs  of  the  build- 
ings are  made  of  weeds  and  straw,  covered  with 
clay,  or  "  dobe,"  pronounced  do-by.  They  sel- 
dom have  rains  hard  enough  to  wet  clear 
through  the  dobe  straw  roof.  But  when  there 
is  enough  rain  falls  these  spouts  sticking 
through  the  wall  carry  it  away  from  the  build- 
ing, else  It  might  wash  out  the  dobe  sides  and 
dobe  foundation.  The  floors  are  of  the  same 
clay,  or  dobe.  stamped  hard.  I  suppose  the 
grease  and  dirt  that  get  on  the  floor  in  the 
course  of  years  make  the  floor  a  little  harder, 
for  that  too  is  stamped  in.  These  floors,  how- 
ever, are  generally  swept  clean,  and  the  door- 
yards  are  swept  clean  and  tidy  also,  sometimes 
for  quite  a  little  distance.  The  abundant 
sweeping  gives  the  dooryards  a  rather  pretty- 
lookiiig  appearance,  and  then  the  ground  is 
generally  stamped  very  hard  and  firm  all  around 
the  doorway  by  the  abundance  of  children  that 
troop  about.  I  am  glad  to  notice  that  the 
children  are  fast  getting  hold  of  the  customs  of 
the  United  plates,  and  I  believe  they  <tU  go  to 
school,  although  every  thing  seems  to  indicate 
that  these  people  are  just  emerging  from  a  sort 
of  at  least  semi -heathenish  state.  They  act 
much  like  the  Indians  I  have  described.  They 
are  backward  about  talking  much,  especially 
with  foreigners;  and  when  you  try  to  talk  with 
them,  many  times  their  swarthy  faces  are  tinged 
with  a  blush  of  embarrassment^.  They  evident- 
ly recognize  us  as  their  superiors  in  many 
things.  I  am  inclined  to  think,  however,  that 
they  think  their  religion  better  than  any  thing 
we  have  to  ofter. 

And  now  about  this  old  church,  built  some- 
where about  the  year  1550.  I  thought  I  had 
the  date  in  my  notebook,  but  I  can  not  find  it. 
Any  way,  it  was  built  so  long  ago  that  the  door 
which  you  see  in  the  shadow,  on  the  right  hand 
of  the  tower,  swings  on  a  pole  instead  of  on 
hinges,  as  in  modern  times.  The  bottom  of  the 
pole  stands  in  a  hole  made  in  a  block  of  wood, 
and  the  top  sticks  through  a  hole  in  a  piece  of 
block  above,  and  the  door  is  built  fast  to  said 
pole  ;  and  when  you  open  the  door  the  pole 
turns  around  withthe  door.  The  winding  stair 
is  worn  by  the  tread  of  many  feet  for  centuries. 
There  are"  two  bells  in  the  tower— a  large  and  a 
small  one.  The  audience-room  of  the  church  is 
very  neat  and  tidy.  At  the  further  end,  candles 
are  burning  all  day  long,  and  priests  and  other 
officials  are  constantly  going  through  some  rite 
or  ceremony.  But  the  strangest  part  of  it  all  to 
me  was  to  see  people  going  into  and  out  of  the 
church,  apparently  at  every  hour  of  the  day. 
Some  of  them  simpty  went  inside  and  dipped  a 
finger  into  a  little  stone  tank  of  "  holy  water." 
With  the  wet  finger  they  then  made  a  cross  on 
the  forehead,  and  with  bowed  head  they  went 
out.  Fine  ladies,  servant  girls,  business  men, 
and  even  children,  did  the  same  thing.  They 
seemed  to  take  in  the  phice  of  worship  on  the 
way  to  and  from  business.  Sometimes  pack- 
ages of  merchandise  were  laid  down  while  the 
owners  went  in  to  pay  their  vows.  Many  of 
th(»  worshipers  knelt  on  the  stone  floor,  and,  I 
sui)posed.  breathed  a  prayer,  although  I  did  not 
hear  it.  Others  went  up  nearer  to  the  lighted 
candles,  and  approached  certain  holy  inclos- 
ures.  Sometimes  they  went  inside  as  they 
knelt  in  woiship.  As  I  looked  on  I  felt  moved 
by  the  spirit  of  the  place  and  the  people.  A  girl 
came  along  with  some  packages  which  she  had 
probably  purchased.  She  had  the  appearance 
of  a  girl  who  works  out.  She  laid  her  bundles 
down,  approached    thee  holy  water  with  a  sober 


ISVfJ 


(JLKANlNli.s  IN   UKV:  CULTURE. 


891 


89r? 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dkc.  1. 


and  solemn  look,  then  she  knelt,  and  I  either 
saw,  or  imagined  that  I  did.  her  lips  moving  in 
prayer.  I  do  not  know  what  she  said,  of  course; 
but  is  it  not  possible — nay,  likely — that  she  was 
honest  and  sincere,  while  something  like  the 
following  passed  through  her  mind? 

"Holy  Father,  help  me  to  be  better  than  I 
have  been.  Give  me  grace  to  be  more  gentle 
and  kind  to  tjie  baby.  Help  me  to  be  more  pa- 
tient, even  when  my  mistress  is  unreasonable; 
and  e'^pecially.  O  Holy  Father,  help  me  to  over- 
come my  growing  habit  of  telling  fibs  and 
falsehoods,  (iive  me  courage  from  on  high  to 
confess  my  faults,  instead  of  telling  little  lies 
to  screen  myself  and  creep  out  of  them.  Help 
me  to  otvn  up  when  I  have  been  forgetful. 
Help  me  in  my  efforts  to  avoid  evil  companions 
that  I  know  are  harmful.  Help  me  to  love 
more  this  thy  holy  church,  and  forgive  all  my 
many  sins.  Amen."  Our  stenographer  suggests 
that  he  fears  I  have  been  stretching  my  imagi- 
nation on  the  side  of  charity.  Well,  the  truth 
is,  that  neither  he  nor  I  know  just  what 
thoughts  and  emotions  are  in  the  hearts  of  these 
people  when  they  kneel  in  that  old  clurch  where 
thousands  have  knelt  before  them.  Of  course.  I 
should  want  every  prayer  to  be  made  in  the 
name  of  Christ,  for  "  no  man  cometh  unto  the 
Father  but  by  the  Son;"  but  from  what  I  know 
of  them,  this  is  not  their  way  ;  and  our  ste- 
nographer again  suggests  that  their  address 
would  more  likely  be  made  in  the  name  of  the 
"  holy  mother''  than  to  the  Holy  Father.  But 
even  if  that  be  true,  I  trust  and  believe  that, 
with  the  large  business  traffic  that  is  now  open- 
ing in  Paso  del  Norte,  with  us,  thoughts  of  God 
and  Christ  may  soon  be  carried  in;  and  I 
hope,  too,  that  there  may  gradually  commence  a 
practical  form  of  praying,  even  if  they  have  not 
done  it  already,  instead  of  formulated  prayers 
and  mechanical  actions  without  heart  or  spirit 
in  them. 

I  told  Mrs.  Root  that  I  was  not  going  away 
without  taking  some  part  in  their  religious  ser- 
vices; perhaps  she  feared  that  I  too  was  going 
to  kneel  and  pray  on  that  stone  floor.  I  did  not 
feel  quite  called  upon  to  do  that,  however,  buti 
did — what  do  you  suppose?  Why,  I  dropped  a 
nickel  into  a  little  box  that  had  an  inscription 
over  it,  soliciting  funds  for  the  purpose  of  keep- 
ing up  the  church  and  its  services.  Some  of 
you  may  think,  perhaps,  that  civilization  in  its 
progress  should  tear  down  and  obliterate  this 
sort  of  religion — especially  when  we  recall  the 
bloodshed  and  crime  and  superstition  that  have 
been  more  or  less  attached  to  it  in  times  past. 
Now.  I  can  not  agree  with  this.  Of  course,  I 
know  very  little  about  the  whole  matter;  but  I 
should  like  to  see  that  very  church-building, 
those  very  services,  and  the  same  people  that 
frequent  them  now.  gently  molded  over  to  some 
practical  religion.  May  be  it  can't  be  done,  and 
has  never  been  done;  but  I  tell  you,  friends,  the 
universality  of  Christ's  religion — that  good  time 
that  Habakkuk  foresaw  when  he  declared  that 
the  "knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall  fill  the  earth 
as  the  waters  cover  the  sea,"  and  that  Daniel 
foresaw  when  he  said  that  the  stone  cut  out  of 
the  mountain  should  fill  the  earth,  is  even  now 
at  hand— a  kingdom  that  Christ  said  should 
stand  against  all  the  assaults  of  the  enemy  ;  a 
time  when  his  prayer  will  be  answered  for  the 
unity  of  all  his  people.  The  Endeavor  Society 
is  making  a  big  stride  in  that  very  direction,  or, 
at  least,  in  a  direction  that  will  bring  harmony, 
close  acquaintanceship,  and  brotherly  love  be- 
tween the  members  of  various  religious  organ- 
izations we  now  have  scattered  over  the  world. 
The  walks  in  front  of  this  old  church,  the 
stone  edgings,  and  the  shrubbery,  give  one  a 
glimpse  of  Mexico.  The  inscriptions  were  all 
in  an  unknown  language,  so  we  could  tell  but 


little  about  them.  The  fine  monument,  with 
its  little  enclosure,  in  the  foreground,  we  judge 
to  be  quite  modern.  Our  proof-reader  tells  me 
that  the  inscription,  seen  in  the  photography 
reads.  "  A  Benito  Juarez  " — "  In  Honor  of  Ben- 
ito Juarez,"  president  of  Mexico. 

The  dogs  are  quite  plentiful  in  Mexican 
towns  and  streets.  Two  of  them  you  notice  are 
even  now  in  view.  The  big  one  at  the  left 
looks  so  exactly  like  the  chap  that  walks  over  my 
glass  sash  across  the  way,  smashing  the  glass 
at  every  step,  that  I  fairly  ache,  every  time  I 
look  at  the  picture,  to  chop  off  that  tail  of  his 
that  sticks  up  in  tlie  air  so  like  a  flag;  only,  if  I 
could  choose  just  where  to  have  it  cut  off.  I 
would  let  the  ax  fall  just  back  of  his  ears.  You 
will  notice  a  goat  standing  in  the  shade  of  the 
president's  monument.  Goats  are  also  quite 
plentiful  in  Mexico,  and  they  are  just  as  nasty 
there  as  anywhere  else.  The  Mexican,  seen 
with  something  on  his  head,  with  his  shawl 
wrapped  about  him.  looks  like  the  fellow  who 
was  selling  fried  yams.  Perhaps  he  is  moving 
off  to  another  part  of  the  towti  to  find  a  fresh 
lot  of  customers.  The  young  trees  visible.  I 
judge  to  be  the  beautiful'umbrella-tree.  When 
they  get  a  little  larger,  their  beautiful  foliage 
ranges  itself  toward  the  sun  and  light,  almost 
like  shingles  on  the  roof  of  a  house,  and  it  is  a 
veritable  great  umbrella,  affording  a  delicious 
shade,  which  is  needed  in  Mexico  almost  every 
day  in  the  year 

Oh!  I  forgot  to  tell  you  that,  as  we  passed  out 
of  the  church,  we  noticed  some  lettering  on  the 
stones  undei-  our  feet,  and  we  were  informed 
that  the  former  priests  and  oiiticials  of  the 
church  have  their  resting-places  under  these 
very  stones,  so  that,  while  we  Avere  standing  on 
the  walk,  we  were  really  stepping  over  "the 
tombs  of  the  prophets."  The  dates  went  back 
to  the  15,  16.  17.  and  18  hundreds. 

Now,  as  I  try  to  tell  what  we  saw  tliere  I  am 
aware  that  I  have  doubtless  drawn  some  very 
erroneous  conclusions.  If  so,  I  wish  some  read- 
er of  Glea.nin6s,  who  is  competent,  would  set 
me  right.  I  should  be  especially  glad  to  know 
something  more  of  this  strange  religion  that 
has  scattered  the  ruins  of  these  old  mission 
churches  throughout  such  a  large  part  of  our 
land — ruins  that  go  back  almost  to  the  discov- 
ery of  America  by  Christopher  Columbus. 

In  many  of  the  shops  we  saw  beautiful  speci- 
mens of  Mexican  onyx  and  Mexican  filigree 
jewel-ry.  This  filigree  jewelry  is  probably  more 
artistic  than  anything  else  in  that  line  made 
in  the  world.  Some  of  it  is  so  fine  that  it  re- 
quires a  magnifying-glass  to  see  the  spiderweb 
wires  that  form  the  beautiful  scrollwork  and 
frostwork;  and  I  am  told  that  the  greater  part 
of  it  is  made  entirely  by  hand.  The  material  is 
chemically  pure  silver.  The  shopkeepers  urge 
visitors  to  buy.  because  of  the  saving  of  all 
duties  and  customs  ijetween  foreign  countries. 
In  fact,  iit  Paso  del  Norte  they  import  laces, 
precious  stones,  and  every  thing  in  that  line, 
from  all  parts  of  the  world,  free  of  all  customs 
duties.  "It  costs  you  only  ten  cents  to  come 
over  here,  and  ten  cents  to  go  back  again,  and 
you  can  save  dollars  by  making  your  purchases 
here,"  urged  a  shopkeeper.  But  I  insisted  that 
we  should  show  the  goods  we  had  purchased, 
and  offer  to  pay  customs,  as  we  went  back  over 
the  bridge.  At  this  our  friend  put  up  both 
hands  in  disgust.  "Why.  put  the  goods  in  your 
pocket,  and  I  assure  you"— and  he  brought  his 
hand  down  with  emphasis — "that  they  will 
never  say  a  word,  and  you  will  not  have  a  bit 
of  trouble."  I  tried  to  make  him  understand 
that  that  was  not  the  point  at  all.  If  it  were 
contrary  to  the  laws  and  regulations -between 
the  two  countries.  I  did  not  want  the  goods  in 
my  pocket,  and  I  did  not  want  to  save  tlie  duty. 


1892 


(}LEANlNliS  IN  HKK  CULTURE. 


893 


1  do  not  know  whctlicr  he  bolonged  to  llic  old 
church  or  not;  btit  it  was  evident  tlnit  ills  re- 
ligion did  not  taiic  in  (>v<mi  a  {lUinpsc  of  any  sort 
oisudi  religion  as  I  tried  to  explain  to  him. 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


BY      A.      I.      ROOT. 


VKGETAIU-K-GAROKNINO    FOK    PKCKMRKK. 

Tlie  principal  vegt^talile  to  raise  under  glass 
is  lettuce:  and  1  think  tlie  (Jrand  Rapids  lettuce 
lakes  the  precedent  now  |)relty  iniich  all  over 
tiie  United  Slates.  Tlie  higgesi  demand  usual- 
ly comes  in  the  month  of  February.  In  some 
localities,  perhaps  it  is  a  little  later  —  say 
ihrongh  March  :  but  during  l-'ebruary  and 
March  the  demand  has  always,  so  far  as  1  know, 
been  beyond  the  supply,  and  a  great  many 
times  vei'y  high  prices  are  realized.  During 
last  Febriuiry  ami  March  it  lirouglit  from  1.")  to 
'20  cts.  a  lb.  at  wholesale,  and  retailed  at  from  30 
to  4U.  We  sold  it  for  a  nickel  per  ^  lb.  It  was 
put  up  in  little  paper  bags.  There  seems  to  be 
a  general  craving  for  greiMi  stufT  just  before  the 
approach  of  spring,  and  no  doubt  this  craving 
is  natural,  and  th(»refore  we  may  suppose  it  ex- 
ercises a  beneficial  effect  on  the  health. 

Well,  as  it  takes  about  '.todays  to  grow  (Jrand 
Rapids  lettuce  to  perfection,  if  you  have  not 
already  sown  your  seed  you  want  to  get  right 
at  it  now.  The  seed  may  be  started  in  a  box 
placed  in  a  window,  in  some  room  where  the 
temperature  will  be  about  right,  and  the  win- 
dow should  be  one  that  will  afford  as  much  sun 
as  possible.  The  plants  may  grow  in  the  boxes 
for  the  first  four  weeks.  I  believe  the  best  let- 
tuce-growers usually  transplant  twice.  This 
not  only  makes  a  stronger  root,  but  it  is  econo- 
my of  space,  (iive  the  plant  more  room  as  fast 
as  it  needs  it,  and  not  any  faster.  In  the  latter 
part  of  January,  and  during  Feburary,  lettuce 
will  do  very  well  in  a  cold-frame.  It  should, 
however,  be  pretty  well  hanked  up  with  manure 
around  tiie  sid<^s;  and  when  the  weather  is  very 
severe,  a  shutter  or  straw  mat  should  he  put 
over  the  sash.  Cold-frames  and  hot-beds  are 
cheaper  than  a  greenhouse — that  is,  the  first 
cost  is  less;  but  after  you  get  to  doing  very 
much  with  these  latter  appliances  you  wili. 
sooner  or  later,  want  some  sort  of  glass  structure 
that  will  permit  you  to  get  inside  and  work 
during  cold  or  stormy  days.  Every  one  who 
farms,  or  who  hires  hands  for  working  in  the 
ground,  sooner  or  later  finds  it  cheaper  and 
more  convenient  to  hire  his  help  l)y  the  year.  In 
this  way  the  man  becomes  accustomed  to  the 
ways,  knows  where  things  are  planted,  and  in 
many  ways  is  oftentimes  worth  double  the  price 
of  a  green  hand,  even  though  the  latter  has  the 
same  ability.  W^ell.  if  we  hire  help  by  the  year, 
what  shall  we  do  with  tlemi  in  winter  time  or 
during  stormy  days  in  spring  and  fall?  And 
this  is  just  where  a  greenhouse  comes  in.  How 
shall  we  made  a  structure  for  this  purpose 
cheapest? 

A    CHKAP    WAV     OF     MAKIXft     A     COI.D     GRKEN- 
HOUSE. 

One  of  our  greenliouses  has  been  so  much 
shaded  by  the  new  buildings,  made  necessary 
by  the  enlargement  of  our  business,  that  I  have 
been  for  some  time  thinking  that  it  would  have 
to  be  moved  to  some  point  where  we  could  have 
every  bit  of  the  sunshine.  In  fact.  I  Iiave  never 
had  a  greenhouse  in  my  life,  until  within  the 
past  ten  days,  where  it  had  nil  the  sun  in  the 
months  of  December  and  .January,  from  morning 
till  night.    Now,  such   structures,   exposed    to 


dampness,  frost,  and  sunshine!,  rot  out  very 
(luickly — especially  the  part  that  comes  next  to 
the  ground.  Stcuje  is  (?xpensiv(\  and  it  conducts 
frost  in  a  way  that  makes  it  not  just  th(>  thing. 
How,  then,  shiill  we  have  our  glass  su()[)orted 
in  souHi  way  that  will  lie  dm-able  and  frost- 
proof, to  a  hirge  extent?  I  will  veil  you  what  I 
did.  I  purchased  pine  lumber, '.'xd.  in  lengths 
from  ■.'<)  to  30  feel,  long.  Then  1  hunted  up  all 
the  old  iron  pipe  I  could  find,  about  an  inch  or 
an  inch  and  a  quarter,  outside  diameter.  You 
can  get  discarded  gaspipe  in  almost  any  collec- 
tion of  old  iron:  or  if  you  go  to  the  plumber's  or 
repiiir  shops  you  can  almost  always  find  second- 
hand pipe  that,  can  be  had  at  a  very  low  figure. 
(hiv  long  string-pi<'ces,  2x6,  are  Norway  pine  or 
hemlock  —  something  durable,  and  that  will 
hold  nails.  With  an  expansion  bit  we  bored 
holes  in  these  strips  about  0  feet  apart.  The 
holes  are  to  go  in  the  narrow  way,  and  reach 
almost  tiirough  the  narrow  stick  —  say  to  a 
depth  of  4  inches,  the  holes  lieing  of  such  size 
that  the  pipe  will  drive  in  snug  and  secure. 
Now  these  ii'on  pipes  or  iron  stakes  an;  to  be 
driven  into  the  ground.  We  drive  tliem  into 
our  soil  from  2^j  to  4  feet,  the  depth  de- 
pending upoH  how  far  they  are  to  ris<'  above 
the  ground.  You  can  stretch  a  line  and  drive 
the  pipes  first,  and  then  drive  your  piece  of  tim- 
ber over  them  afterward.  Sticks  supported  in 
this  way  make  the  plates  for  the  glass  sash  to 
rest  on.  For  the  center  pieces,  the  pipes  reach 
out  of  the  ground  about  4  feet;  then,  by  sinking 
the  paths  between  the  beds  down  a  foot  and  a 
half  or  two  feet,  there  is  no  diflficulty  in  walk- 
ing all  through  the  structure  if  you  walk  in  the 
paths.  Such  a  structure,  containing  4.5  sashes, 
we  put  up  last' week  in  about  four  days.  It  is 
warmed  by  exhaust  steam  running  in  tiles  back 
and  forth  under  the  beds.  These  iron  pipes  are 
the  only  support  the  building  has.  Around  the 
outside  of  the  structure  we  board  up  to  the 
plates  with  some  kind  of  cheap  lumber,  and 
something  that  does  not  rot  easily  —  say 
chestnut,  hemlock,  or  Norway  pine.  After 
boarding  we  banked  up  with  dirt  almost  to  the 
sills.  This  boarding  is  fastened  to  the  iron 
pipes  by  common  staph'S  large  enough  to  go 
around  the  pipe  and  clinch  in  the  Ijoards.  In 
this  same  way  we  board  around  the  beds,  leav- 
ing the  paths  between  the  boarding.  The  main 
roof  of  the  building  is  made  of  32  sash:  4  rows 
of  8  each,  running  east  and  west.  These  32 
sashes  have  only  a  slight  inclination  to  the 
south,  except  the  extreme  southern  row.  which 
comes  down  to  the  ground  with  quite  a  sharp 
slant;  then,  to  get  the  evening  and  morning  sun, 
we  have  a  row  of  sash  on  the  east  and  west 
sides,  sloping  down  to  the  ground  like  the  row  on 
the  south  side:  and  on  the  north  side  we  have  a 
similar  row;  but,  as  the^re  is  no  sun  to  catch 
with  these,  instead  of  coming  clear  down  to  the 
ground,  the  lower  edge  of  the  sash  rests  on  a 
support  about  three  feet  from  the  ground.  The 
structure  is  i)articularly  for  raising  veg(>table- 
plants;  and  by  the  first  of  May,  or  perhaps  a 
little  later,  and  when  frosts  are  no  longer 
to  be  feared,  the  sash  are  all  to  be  lifted  6ff'  and 
piled  up.  We  have  practiced  this^for  a  great 
many  years,  and  we  find  it  much  more  satisfac- 
tory than  a  greenhouse  where  the  glass  is  not 
movable.  When  the  sash  are  all  stripped  off, 
and  the  plants  receive  the  full  benefit  of  all  the 
lat(!r  summer  showers,  it  is  just  a  sight  to  see 
them  boom. 

KAISI.Nfi    fELEKV    IN   WI.NTER   TIME. 

I  am  reminded  of  this  matter  this  Thanks- 
giving morning  by  the  tremendous  demand 
there  is  for  our  White  Plume  and  Self-blanch- 
ing celery.  Our  stock  is  so  nearly  exhausted 
that   we   have  had   to   put    the  price  for  the 


894 


(J^LEANl^t.^  IX   lilOE  CULTURE. 


Ukc.  1. 


best  at  15  cts.  per  lb.,  and  yet  the  supply  is  not 
nearly  equal  to  the  demand,  and  never  has 
been.  This  new  celery  culture  that  has  been  so 
much  talked  about  opens  a  way  for  raising  cel- 
ery in  winter — yes,  even  out  of  dooi'S,  and  we 
have  got  one  bi-d  about  8  feet  wide  by  7.5  long, 
where  the  celery  is  just  growing  beautifully. 
Some  of  the  largest  might  do  for  table  use  now; 
but  it  would  be  a  pity  to  take  it  while  it  is  less 
than  half  grown.  Last  night  we  had  a  temper- 
ature of  only  15  above  zero:  but  the  celery  is  as 
yet  unhaniu'd.  Of  course,  it  is  protected  with 
boards  all  around  and  sash  on  the  top.  The 
boards  are  about  a  foot  and  a  half  wide,  and  we 
have  banked  dirt  nearly  up  to  the  top.  We  are 
just  now  making  preparations  to  supplement  the 
dirt  with  coarse  strawy  manure.  The  manure 
will  bi'  right  on  the  garden,  where  we  want  it. 
and  all  that  leaches  out  will  go  down  into  the 
dirt  and  around  tbe  celery.  As  the  bed  is  8  feet 
wide,  and  the  sash  are  only  6  feet  long,  a  board 
one  foot  wide  is  laid  on  flat  and  nailed  along  the 
north  side,  and  a  similar  one  along  the  south 
side.  These  boards  are  nailed  to  strips  that 
connect  the  stakes,  these  strips  running  right 
under  the  sash.  With  plenty  of  coarse  strawy 
manure,  and  possibly  some  shutters  over  the 
sash.  I  think  the  celery  can  be  kept  in  such  a 
pit  all  winter.  I  am  not  sure  that  any  glass  is 
needed  at  all.  covering  the  whole  bed  with 
boards;  but  as  this  has  not  grown  as  large  as 
we  wanted  it.  I  thought  the  glass  would  help  it 
to  grow  during  nice  spells  in  winter. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


For  the  flesh  lusteth  ag-ainst  tlie  Spirit,  and  the 
Spirit  ag-ainst  the  flesh.— Gal,.  5:17. 

It  seems  a  little  singular,  friends,  that  I 
should  choose  the  above  for  my  text  to-day, 
when  I  can  remember  so  vividly  how  I  used  to 
dislike  these  very  words.  Away  back  in  child- 
hood, in  reading  or  hearing  read  portions  of  the 
Bible,  where  it  spoke  of  "  lust  "  and  •'  lusteth.'" 
"Spirit."  "'flesh,"  etc.,  how  dry  and  dull  and 
unmeaning  the  words  used  to  be  I  I  used  to 
feel  very  much  like  sa\ing  what  a  friend  said 
to  me  in  jail  one  Sunday  afternoon  when  I 
started  to  open  the  Bible.  Said  he,  "Mr.  Root, 
I  have  got  so  sick  of  that  sort  of  stuff  that  I  ab- 
solutely can  not  bear  to  hear  it."  There  was 
good  reason  in  his  ca*e.  however,  why  he  should 
dislike  any  thing  from  the  Bible  just  then.  He 
was  just  recovering  from  a  drunken  spree,  and 
had  been  giving  lust  full  swing;  and  he  had 
crushed  out  the  Spirit  or  all  the  spirituality 
that  he  might  have,  had  in  his  sober  moments. 
And  now  herein  lies  the  divinity  of  the  Bible. 
It  is  dull.  dry.  and  unmeaning — yes.  I  know 
that  by  experii'nee— to  those;  who  do  not  pro- 
pose to  listen  to  its  pleadings.  Sometimes  men 
say,  "  Well,  I  guess  after  all  this  world  is  about 
all  there  is  to  it,  any  way.  and  for  my  part  I  am 
going  to  get  just  as  much  out  of  tlie  world  as  I 
can  before  I  die.  If  I  run  against  other  people, 
or  other  people's  happiness,  they  must  look  out 
for  No.  1."  They  do  not  often  put  in  the  word 
"happiness,"  but  they  include  it  all  the  same. 
Such  people  decide  as  a  matter  of  course  that 
there  is  no  future,  and  no  God.  A  God  of  just- 
ice would  be  very  inconvenient  to  one  in  such 
a  state  of  mind,  and  hence  "The  fool  saith  in 
his  heart,  thci'e  is  no  (xod." 

It  is  only  within  a  short  time  back  that  I 
have  begun  to  comprehend  fully  what  that 
word  "  Spirit "  in  the  text  means.  In  our  recent 
Sunday-school  lessons,  where  the  Holy  Ghost 
has  been  mentioned  several  times,  I  have  been 
noticing   the  note  in  fine  print  at  the  bottom  of 


the  lesson-helps,  saying  that  the  American  re- 
visers would  substitute  •"  Holy  Spirit "  instead 
of  "  Holy  (rhost."  Now,  that  word  "  Ghost," 
even  when  the  word  "  Holy"  comes  before  it, 
and  when  both  words  are  capitalized,  has  al- 
ways been  more  or  less  repulsive  to  me.  Since 
I  have  gotten  over  all  my  childish  superstitions 
in  regard  to  gho'^ts,  and  I  since  have,  through 
the  light  of  Christ  Jesus.  learn(^d  to  fear  noth- 
ing but  }ils  displeasure,  the  word  ghost  has  had 
an  unpleasant  sound,  and  it  brintrs  up  unpleas- 
ant recollections.  If  you  say  ""  Holy  Splrif''  it 
divests  the  expression  of  all  these  unpleasant 
recollections  and  the  Holy  Spirit  is  what  gives 
us  spirituality.  How  I  do  love  that  word 
"spirituality"!  In  talking  with  some  people 
we  see  that  their  thoughts  are  all  about  the 
world  and  worldly  things.  Tliey  are  (dl  world- 
ly. Sometimes  we  say,  "That  vvonuin  (or  man) 
does  not  seem  to  havea  particfe  of  spii  iiuality." 
.Sometimes  I  am  obliged,  while  waiting  for 
something,  to  listen  to  the  conversation  that  is 
going  on  about  me.  A  good  many  times  it  be- 
comes my  duty  to  entertain  people.  Oh  howl 
do  love  to  find  something  spiritxud  about  them! 
How  I  do  love  to  discover  that  it  is  an  easy 
matter  to  lead  them  away  from  worldly  things 
up  to  something  higher — to  something  spiritual ! 
And  now  for  the  statement  of  our  text,  "  The 
flesh  lusteth  against  the  Spirit,  and  the  Spirit 
against  the  flesh  ;  and  they  are  contrary  the 
one  to  the  other." 

It  seems  a  little  strange,  sometimes,  that  we 
as  human  beings  should  have  both  a  spiritual 
nature  and  a  fleshly  nature.  By  the  way,  that 
word  "  flesh  "  is  one  that  used  to  trouble  me. 
The  word  "  trouble  "  is  not  quite  strong  enough, 
however.  I  think  I  have  told  my  good  old 
mother  that  such  words  disgusted  me.  This 
was  the  time  when  I  was  about  eighteen  or 
twenty.  I  knew  a  great  deal  more  then  than  I 
do  novV — or.  at  least,  I  thought  I  did.  I  used  to 
talk  "  evolution  "  to  her  then,  and  tried  to  per- 
suade her  that  evil  would  finally  go  out  of  fash- 
ion or  get  behind  of  its  own  accord.  Dear  mel 
what  a  doctrine!  When  your  garden  gets  ta 
growing  up  to  weeds,  and  the  weeds  are  out- 
topping  the  potatoes,  suppose  you  excuse  your 
farming  by  explaining  to  your  friends  and 
neighbors  that,  in  the  course  of  time,  the  weeds 
would  diminish  in  vigor,  and  the  potatoes 
would  get  ahead  of  them  and  crowd  them  out 
of  existence.  Wouldn't  that  be  a  bright  kind  of 
philosophy  and  reasoning?  Why.  you  would  call 
such  a  man  an  idiot.  You  would  say  to  him, 
"  My  good  friend,  your  potatoes  are  about  ruin- 
ed already.  There  never  can  be  a  good  crop, 
and  your  only  possible  chance  for  even  a  poor 
excuse  for  a  crop  is  to  get  right  at  it  this  min- 
ute, yank  these  big  weeds  out  by  the  roots, 
shake  oft'  t»lie  manure  and  rich  soil  clinging  to 
said  roots,  and  lay  the  weeds  down  between  the 
rows  for  mulch  for  your  poor  abused  and  long- 
suffering  potatoes."  If  you  get  right  at  it  now, 
and  look  sharp  that  not  another  weed  gets 
a  foothold,  you  may  possibly  have  a  few  good 
potatoes.  Hut  nothing  but  th(!  most  prompt, 
earnest,  and  immediate  effort  can  give  you  any 
crop  at  all."  Just  so  with  spiritual  things  and 
fleshly  things.  They  are  as  much  opposed  to 
each  other  as  those  great  weeds  are  opposed  to 
potato  growing.  If  you  want  to  raise  potatoes, 
the  weeds  must  be  kept  down  from  the  start.  If, 
however,  you  want  to  raise  weeds,  and  have 
made  up  your  mind  that  you  don't  want  any 
potatoes  at  all.  you  had  b(^tt.i'r  pull  your  pota- 
toes up.  Come  to  think  of  it.  I  don't  believe  it 
would  make  very  much  difference,  however, 
whether  you  pull  them  up  or  not.  The  potatoes 
(although  the  plant  is  a  rank  grower  when  it 
has  a  fair  chance,  loving  cai'e.  and  kind  treat- 
ment)   would,    under   ordinary    circumstances, 


(il.HAMNt.S  IN   I;KK  CULTUliK. 


85)5 


m!il<i>  no  hfiulway  at  all  aniii"^'  tlif  raiilv  coiii- 
nuMi  weeds,  .lust  su  with  spiritual  IhiiiKs. 
SpiriMiality  will  not  jiruw  in  your  heart  with- 
out t-a  re  ami  I'neonraijeinent.  Voiir  spiritnaii- 
ty  will  he  dead  ami  iroiie  unless  yon  look  alter 
it,  water  it  with  love  and  kindness,  and  keep 
llie  weeiis  friMn  shadinix  and  crowdinjj  and 
choking  it.  Does  some  one  say.  "  Well.  \Nhai  is 
ihe  use  of  spirilnality,  any  way".'"'.'  Why. 
spirittialily  is  what  maki^s  ns  men  and  women 
in  (!od*s  own  imasie.  inst(>ad  of  wild  beasts. 
What  a  hideous  thinn  is  a  wild  heasi!  Perhaps 
you  have  seen  eonlliets  lieiween  h(»asts  of  prey 
and  their  viotinis.  Sontetimes  the  victim  is  of 
suoli  si/e  that  it  and  its  natural  (Miemy  are  pret- 
ty well  matched.  I  have  seen  a  dog  and  a  wood- 
ciiuck  stand  in  about  this  relation  to  each  other. 
Tlie  (log  for  a  time  seemed  to  almost  fear  a 
contest.  I"'inally  he  summoned  all  liis  savage, 
ferocious  iiatuie.  ]\y  barking,  and  showing  his 
teeth,  he  wrought  him.-elf  np  to  state  of  rage 
and  frenzy.  Then  lie  pounced  upon  the  poor 
cornered  victim,  and  in  tlie  most  savage  and 
cruel  way  proceeded  to  tear  him  limb  from 
limb.  .Such  sights  give  us  pain,  or  ought  to; 
but  they  give  us  a  glimpse  of  the  low  brute 
nature.  People  who  learn  to  love — by  the  way, 
the  word  "'  love"  is  not  the  oue  after  all,  fq;'  it 
seems  sacrilege  to  use  it  in  thatsense;  but  what 
I  mean  to  say  is  this:  Even  men  and  women 
may  develop  a  low  taste  for  scenes  of  ferocity 
and  bloodshed  ^o  that  they  look  on  with  satis- 
faction in  seeing  one  animal  d(>sir(,y  anoLluM". 
Dog-tights,  cock-lighting,  bull-lights,  and 
things  of  this  class  are  an  illustration.  After 
they  have  seen  an  animal  "■  drag  the  berating 
heart  to  light"  fnjm  his  victim  then  Satan  puts 
it  into  the  heart  to  demand  that  the  tierce  wild 
animal  shall  try  his  low  brute  nature  iu  a  con- 
test with  a  human  being;  and  wiiei-e  there  is  a 
chance  that  a  in<tn  may  be  killed,  instead  of  an 
animal,  thousands  wiU'llock  to  see  it.  Wliile  in 
Paso  del  Norte,  mentioned  in  another  column, 
Mrs.  Root  and  I  visited  the  arena,  where  they 
hold  their  bull-tights.  It  was  a  cheap  wooden 
structure,  and  its  size  indicated  they  did  not 
have  very  large  audiences.  They  can  not  have 
them  in  the  United  Stales.  The  Humane  So- 
ciety has  put  an  end  to  it;  but  Mexico  has  not 
as  yet  got  far  enough  advanced  in  civilization 
and  Christianity  to  do  the  same  thing.  When 
they  have  these  bnll-tights,  however,  they  are 
adverti.>;ed  for  hundreds  of  miles  away.  The 
people  come  from  the  I'nited  States  to  see  them. 
They  always  have  them  on  Sundny.  Isn't 
that-  a  little  signiticant?  and  it  is  point  I  am 
coming  to  a  little  further  on. 

Well,  the.se  things  I  have  described  are  types 
of  the  lowest  and  most  degrading  order  of  let- 
ting flesh  rule  instead  of  the  Spirit.  No,  nol 
hold  on.  A  bull-tight  does  not  compare  in  low 
sensuality  with  a  prize-light  between  two  men. 
Isn't  that  true  ?  There  is  not  a  specimen  of  the 
animal  kingdom  but  that  stands  hUjher  up  in 
the  scale  of  animals  than  the  two  men  who  thus 
■consent  to  pound  iiiul  biuise  each  other  because 
th(!  populace  demand  it.  Why,  it  is  often  urged 
that  these  men  have  no  unkind  feelings  toward 
each  other  at  all.  and  no  sort  of  grudge.  Be- 
fore the  contest  they  ai-e  as  pleasant  toward 
each  other  as  a  couple  of  brothers,  and  it  is  just 
so  after  they  get  through.  If  a  man  were  to 
insult  you  or  some  of  the  weaker  members  of 
your  family,  and  yon  were  to  pound  and  bruise 
him.  we  miglit  say  there  was  some  excuse  for  it; 
and  even  some  Christian  people  might  say. 
"Served  him  right.''  Hut  this  prize-lighting  is 
a  cold-blooded  affair.  Men  bi-uise  eacli  otlier. 
and  mar  the  image  that  Ood  has  made,  with  the 
same  coolness  and  deliberation  as  that  with 
which  a  butcher  would  put  his  victim  to  death. 
I  suspect  that  it  is  the  gambling  craze  that  lies 


at  the  l)otI()m  of  the  w  hole  of  it.  Satan  likes  to 
link  his  agencies  together.  When  the  nmn 
light,  then  other  men  give  loose  to  their  unscru- 
pulous greed  to  rob  each  other  of  theii- earnings. 
They  take  money  without  equivalcint.  It  is  not 
(piile  highway  lobbery.  because  l)oth  i)arli(!8 
(•onseni  lo  it.  The  party  who  is  I'obbed  is  not 
drunk  with  //'/u'vA;/,  but  he  is  drunk  with  the 
Udiuhlhiii  craze,  with  a  tierce  passion  to  take 
the  money  or  property  that  l)elongs  to  his  ncMgh- 
bor.  without  ('([uivalent.  Why,  what  an  awful 
thing  gambling  is,  any  wayl  Did  you  ever 
thiuK  of  it?  A  young  man  in  my  emi)loy — yes, 
a  boy  who  for  years  sat  under  my  teachings  at 
on(^  of  the  mission  Sunday-schools,  after  he 
grew  up,  and  while  in  my  employ,  I  found  he 
was  spending  all  his  earnings  in  <jni»hlli><j.  I 
talked  to  him  about  it,  and  lie  frankly  owned  it 
up.  Said  I.  "  Why,  look  here,  my  young  friend. 
Can  yon  look  me  in  tlie  face  and  own  uji  that 
you  witiitedlo  take,  or  were  wiirnnj  to  take,  or 
did  take,  the  hard  earnings  of  your  comrades 
and  friends  simply  because  you  won  it  in  a 
game  of  cards?"  He  did  not  reply  in  words, 
hut  nodded  whih^  he  cast  down  his  eyes,  as  his 
clii'ek  Hushed  somewhat  with  shame.  "  Why, 
could  you  b(^  happy  with  the  money  in  your 
pockets  that  they  had  worked  slowly  and  pain- 
fully for  during  past  weeks  and  months?  Is  it 
possible  that,  iu  this  enlightened  and  intelligent 
country,  with  such  a  mother  as  you  have  had, 
and  such  brothers  and  sisters,  that  you  could 
(V(mt  the  money  l^elonging  to  somebody  else, 
without  working  for  it?  What  has  got  into 
you?"  He  assented  to  all  I  had  to  say,  and 
gave  me  a  feeble  sort  of  promise  to  do  better. 
But  he  was  in  Satan's  toils,  and  I  fear  he  is  yet. 
He  behaved  almost  exactly  as  do  those  who  are 
crazy  for  strong  drink.  In  fact,  the  two  are 
twin — v\  ill  it  b(;  wiong  if  I  say  twin  devils  in- 
stead of  twin  eoilsf  Well,  if  you  are  so  foolish 
and  thoughtless  as  to  let  either  one  of  them  get 
hold  of  you,  you  may  look  back  some  time  and 
say,  "  Brother  Root  was  right.  He  called  the 
thing  by  its  right  name." 

These  fleshly  lusts  grow  upon  us  amazingly. 
They  extend  tneir  roots  and  tendrils  until  they 
get  all  over  us;  and  aftei-  you  think  you  have 
shaken  them  off,  you  will  lind  tin;  old  roots 
and  tendrils  clinging  there  still,  until  it  seems 
as  if  you  must  tear  yourself  to  pieces  to  root 
them  out  and  make  them  let  go  their  hold.  God 
knows  that  /  know  something  about  it,  even  if 
my  most  intimate  friends  do  not  suspect  it. 

We  used  to  have  a  Jersey  cow  that  was 
taught  to  tear  down  the  fence  around  our  pas- 
ture lot.  The  way  we  taught  her  to  have  such 
amazing  skill  with  those  little  hooked  horns  of 
hers  was  by  a  careful  system  of  education.  No, 
no!  I  do  not  mean  careful— I  mean  careless. 
Every  time  she  broke  out  and  got  into  the  sweet 
corn,  we  patched  up  the  fence  a  little  better. 
She  was  young,  restless,  and  intelligent,  and 
she  finally  began  to  enjoy  the  ftin  of  ripping  up 
things  with  those  sharp  horns  of  hers  as  fast  as 
w(!  could  icpair  the  breeches  with  barbed  wire 
and  clinched  wire  nails.  She  soon  learned  to 
use  her  horns  as  dextrously  as  a  carpenter 
would  use  the  claw  of  his  hammer.  After  she 
had  pried  out  the  nails  sufficiently,  and  pulled 
out  the  staples  with  her  horns,  then  she  would 
push  against  the  fence  until  she  could  hear 
something  crack.  Then  she  would  work  with 
her  horns  once  more,  then  she  would  cret  her 
head  in  a  hole,  and  lift,  .so  as  to  pull  the  posts 
out.  Finally  she  would  march  oil'  with  a  part 
of  the  fence  on  her  back,  a  good  deal  as  Samson 
did  when  he  carried  off  the  gates  of  Gaza. 
After  we  got  it  tight  all  around,  then  she  would 
make  a  tour  of  inspection  and  investigation,  go 
clear  round  the  whole  lot,  and  look  out  the  best 
spot  to  begin  operations.    Why.  I  have  .some- 


896 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  1. 


times  wished  that  I  had  a  carpenter  who  pos- 
sessed her  skill  and  intelligence,  especially  in 
tearing  things  doii'M.  Now,  what  do  you  sup- 
pose my  cow  story  has  to  do  with  fleshly  lusts? 
Why,  that  is  exactly  the  way  fleshly  lusts  oper- 
ate when  they  get  the  start.  It  is  not  a  coiv. 
mind  you,  that  is  implanted  within  the  most  of 
us,  but  it  is  a  ravenous  ivild  beast — a  fierce, 
savage,  cruel  animal  that  knows  no  more  mercy 
than  the  wildest  and  most  ferocious  tiger  that 
ever  trod  the  earth.  Perhaps  you  think  I  am 
going  to  extremes  on  total  depravity.  Well,  I 
get  my  information  very  near  home.  I  have 
had  tussles  with  that  wild  animal;  yes,  and  I 
am  having  them  more  or  less  right  along.  But 
for  the  grace  of  God,  what  should  I  be  and 
where  might  I  not  be  at  this  moment?  Now, 
what  I  want  to  tell  you  is  this:  That,  after  you 
have  given  way  to  fleshly  lusts,  like  the  Jersey 
cow  they  will  be  on  the  lookout  for  a  weak 
spot  somewhere.  If  you  give  way  to  one  low 
depraved  passion,  the  next  one  will  clamor  for 
admission  also.  If  strong  drink  is  your  weak- 
ness, and  you  are  where  no  strong  drink  can  be 
had,  Satan  will  suggest  transgressing  in  some 
other  way:  and  when  one  has  let  the  bars 
down,  so  to  speak,  and  indulgence  has  been 
granted  to  one  fleshly  lust,  the  others  crowd 
through  like  a  drove  of  wild  beasts.  The  bars 
are  down,  the  gate-keeper  is  trampled  under 
foot,  and.  instead  of  a  human  soul  created  in 
God's  own  image,  the  spiritual  part — the  God 
part — is  gone  entirely.  Why,  we  have  evidences 
of  this  state  of  affairs  every  little  while.  Not 
long  ago,  in  a  neighboring  town  a  man  quari'el- 
ed  with  his  wife.  He  struck  her  a  blow  that 
liilled  her.  Before  he  knew  whether  she  was 
dead  or  alive,  he  rushed  out  of  the  house,  tore 
down  the  street  to  where  a  train  of  cars  was 
coming  attached  to  a  locomotive.  He  cast  him- 
self in  front  of  the  locomotive:  and  before  any- 
body could  see  what  he  was  doing,  or  stop  hira, 
he  was  a  mangled  corpse. 

Just  one  other  illustration  of  a  human  heart 
that  has  opened  the  gates  toward  all  evil,  and 
quenched  the  Godlike  spirit  entirely.  History 
tells  us  of  a  certain  proposed  mutiny  on  board  a 
vessel  at  sea.  Before,  however,  they  had  put 
their  plan  into  execution,  it  came  out,  and  the 
ringleaders  were  hanged,  and  dropped  into  the 
sea.  A  writing  was  discovered,  outlining  their 
plan.  They  were  first  to  murder  the  captain, 
and  all  the  officers  that  were  not  in  the  scheme. 
Then  they  were  to  put  to  death  and  throw  over- 
board the  passengers,  and  the  vessel  was  to  be 
converted  into  a  piratical  craft.  Now  bear 
with  me  while  I  mention  just  one  other  clause 
in  that  hellish  compact.  The  women  were  also 
to  be  put  to  death  except  such  as  they  consider- 
ed fit  for  their  purpose.  After  a  time  these 
.  were  to  be  put  to  dt'ath  also.  There  you  have 
it,  friends,  the  whole  picture  of  a  human  heart 
given  over  to  fleshly  lusts,  and  yet  quite  a  num- 
ber on  board  that  ship  volunteered,  and  signed 
an  oath  to  go  into  this  hideous  work.  The 
ringleader  of  the  plot  was  the  son  of  respect- 
able parents  in  good  standing,  and  he  had  had 
at  least  a  respectable  bringing-up.  You  see, 
these  crimes  go  hand  in  hand.  When  a  man 
consents  to  one  of  them  Satan  says,  "  Here,  you 
might  just  as  well  give  free  rein  in  other  direc- 
tions as  in  this  one,  after  you  have  enlisted  in 
my  service." 

Now,  dear  friends,  where  is  the  remedy  ? 
Why,  it  is  right  before  us  in  our  text.  The  in- 
fluences of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  heart  of  man 
are  constantly  rebuking,  checking,  and  holding 
back  these  low  animal  cravings.  When  God 
breathed  into  man  the  breath  of  life,  he  gave 
him  his  spirituality.  "  Behold  the  Lamb  of 
God  that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world." 


36"Pages7x10 
PER  Y£At>J 


My  biethion,  count  it  all  joy  when  ye  fall  into  divers  tenipta- 
tioris.— James  1:2. 


We  have  on  hand  already  orders  for  seven 
carloads  of  goods  for  1893,  and  a  prospect  of  more 
coming  in  before  the  1st  of  January. 


If-  you  are  expecting  to  go  to  California  to 
keep  bees,  or  run  a  fruit-ranch,  be  sure  to  read 
Rambler's  article  in  this  issue.  Read  it  anyhow. 

The  North  American  Bee-keepers'  Associa- 
tion will  hold  its  annual  meeting  in  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  on  Dec.  27,  28,  and  29.  This  time  has 
been  set  to  take  advantage  of  the  usual  holiday 
railroad  rates.  Further  particulars  will  be 
given  in  next  issue. 

We  have  just  received  a  correction  to  be 
made  in  W.  T.  Falconer's  advertisement,  ap- 
pearing on  the  las*  page  of  the  cover.  As  the 
correction  came  too  late,  we  will  here  state 
that  their  price,  S2.50  per  1000,  applies  to  4^ 
sections,  l^f  only.  When  this  stock  is  sold  out, 
the  regular  prices  will  take  effect. 

Prof.  Cook  says,  in  the  American  Bee 
Journal,  that  most  if  not  all  of  the  States  have 
well-equipped  laboratories  in  connection  with 
their  experiment  stations,  where  analyses  of  all 
suspected  honeys  can  be  made  free  of  charge. 
This,  as-  he  says,  would  make  it  easy  for  any 
one  to  investigate  any  suspected  sample. 

The  last  Review,  containing  the  sugar-honey 
symposium,  is  at  hand.  As  nearly  as  we  can 
gather,  nearly  all  the  writers,  while  they  do  not 
actually  condemn  the  practice,  confess  to  some 
anxiety  as  to  the  bad  consequences  that  may 
result  from  its  agitation.  Perhaps  none  such 
will  ever  come;  if  so.  no  one  will  be  more  pleased 
than  we.  . 

It  is  one  thing  to  court  honest  criticism,  and 
another  to  accept  it  as  honest  when  rendered; 
many  are  capable  of  the  first,  but  few  are  equal 
to  the  second.  Mr.  Hutchinson  is  one  of  the 
few  who  are  capable  of  both.  Although 
Gleanings  has  criticised,  almost  severely,  the 
policy  of  the  Bevlexv  on  the  sugar-honey  ques- 
tion, its  editor  accepts  it  in  a  kindly  spirit,  and 
as  an  honest  expression  of  difference  or  opinion 
— just  what  we  want  it  to  be — although  one  less 
fair  might  try  to  construe  it  as  the  pessimistic 
wrangling  of  a  rival. 

Now  that  the  date  of  the  national  convention 
at  Washington  has  been  settled  (Dec.  27  to  29), 
many  of  us  will  be  wondering  what  the  best 
route  will  be  for  us  to  take.  In  talking  with  a 
prominent  railroad  man — one  who  has  no  ax  to 
grind— he  recommended  the  bee-keepers  to  the 
I'ennsylvania  lines  west  of  Pittsl)urg.  and  to 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  east  of  Pittsburg  as 
the  best  and  most  accessible  route  to  Washing- 
ton. We  can  leave  wSt.  Louis,  Chicago,  Indian- 
apolis, Cincinnati,  Toledo,  and  Cleveland,  so 
as  to  arrive  in  Pittsburg  on  the  morning  of  the 
26th.  From  this  point,  if  we  do  not  get  togeth- 
er before,  we  can  go  in  a  body  to  Washington, 
and  have  a  chance  to  pass  over  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Railroad  by  daylight,  see  the  famous  Horse- 
shoe Curve,  and  the  beautiful  Susquehanna  and 
Juniata  Rivers.  "A.  I."  himself  expects  to  be 
one  of  the  crowd. 


1S'.12 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


SS>7 


Ai.»>.\"«i  witli  thi'  L;iii«sirotli  Ivoniiiiiscciiccs 
w««  prt'Sfiil  u  fiill-iipiin'  vi<>\v  of  llic  " ■^r^iuul  old 
niiui  "■  a><  liP  iiou  appears  in  his  latter  days. 
Till"  liaif-tonc  is  copied  liom  a  piciurr  laUcii  by 
a  bro-kccpcr  and  ainal*'iir  phototriaplicr.  who. 
si't'iiifi  .Mr.  I.ansrstroth  in  a  park  near  his  home 
ill  Dayton.  ()..  took  a  shot.  Tin-  artist,  if  we 
reinenibtM"  correctly,  was  a  Mr.  Reynolds,  of 
Dayton,  and  we  hereby  acknowledge  our 
thanks.  Although  tho  picture  was  taken  near- 
ly two  years  ago.  it  shows  our  much  respected 
friend  and  benefactor  exactly  as  he  is  to-day. 
In  our  next  issue  wi-  will  siiow  a  handsome  bust 

fncture.  taken  when  ho,  was  in  the  prime  of  his 
ife — one  large  enough  to  l)e  framed.  By  the 
way.  we  hope  these  Reminiscenct^s  and  jior- 
traits  will  remind  some  of  the  friends  wlio  look 
on  that  kindly  face,  of  their  forgotten  self-as- 
sumed obligation — that  annuity  fund. 

FKKinNG  bkp:s  sugar  to  make  iioxey. 
Pkku.\1's  there  is  not  much  need  of  any  thing 
more  being  said  on  this  subjeci:  but  a  point 
occurs  to  me  here  which  serves  to  show  how 
incongruous  is  the  whole  thing.  Bee-keepers 
all  over  our  land  have  beiMi  feeding  sugar  syrup 
for  winter  stores  ever  since  the  first  bee-journal 
was  published.  If  this  sugar  syrup  remains 
very  long  in  the  combs  it  is  almost  sure  to  gran- 
ulate, and  different  substances  have  been  used 
to  prevent  this  granulation;  and  our  veteran 
friend  Doolittle  has  given  us  the  very  best  rem- 
edy for  said  granulation:  namely,  adding  a 
small  quantity  of  reitl  honey.  Now,  if  sugar 
syrup,  after  being  fed  to  bi-es,  becomes  honey. 
what  an  absurdity  to  think  of  adding  real  hon- 
ey to  something  that  is  (dready  real  honey  I 
Once  in  a  great  while  there  may  be  trouble 
from  real  honey  candying  in  the  cells.  This  is 
very  rare  compared  with  the  dilTficulties  we 
have  with  sugar  syruji  turning  back  to  dry 
sugar  so  it  rattles  out  of  the  combs.  Just  one 
thing  more:  In  that  report  about  the  forty 
students,  it  is  stated  that  they  were  unable  to 
detect  the  sugar  syrup  from  basswood  and 
clover  honey.  If  this  Tueets  the  eye  of  anv 
of  those  forty  students.  I  wish  they  would  stand 
up  and  tell  us  if  it  were  really  true  that  they 
could  not  tell  /jr».s.sji'oo(7  honey  from  sugar  syrup 
after  it  had  been  fed  to  the  bees.  The  sti-ong 
aromatic  flavor  of  basswood  is  so  well  known 
and  universally  recognized  that  it  floes  not 
seem  possible  that  (iinjlKnlij  could  taste  one;  and 
then  the  other,  and  pronounce  them  ailke  in  any 
respect.    Isn't  there  some  mistake  ?       A.  I.  R. 

ADULTERATING    HONEY — IS   IT   I'RACTICED  ?      IF 
SO.  W'If.\T    SHALL   WE    DO   ABOUT   IT? 

In  the  Aincric(i)i  Bee  Jouriidl  for  Nov.  IT. 
Prof.  Cook  has  an  able  article  in  which  he 
shows  the  extent  to  which  honey  is  adulterated. 
As  chemists  are  now  able  to  successfully  detect 
all  sorts  of  honey  mixtures,  he  urges  that  our 
States  adopt  good  laws,  such  as.  for  instanci;. 
Michigan  has.  In  his  opinion,  the  National 
Bee-keepers'  Union  is  just  the  organization  to 
f^nforce  them,  becau-e  good  laws  will  not  en- 
force themselves.  Undei-  the  very  able  man- 
agement of  Mr.  Newman,  and  with  a  modified 
constitution,  he  thinks  the  I'nion  could  nuike 
things  lively.  In  the  ni'xt  Amerlcdn  Bee  Jour- 
iKil  Mr.  Newman  replif;s.  So  far.  he  says,  not 
one  of  the  members  of  the  Union  has  asked  to 
have  the  organization  reorganized. 

Right  here  may  we  suggest  that  people  gen- 
erally will  not  express  themselves  unless  given 
an  opportunity  to  votfe.  If  the  General  Man- 
ager would  state,  in  a  circular  letter,  the  desir- 
ability of  having  the  constitution  changed,  and 
submit  to  them  a  voting  blank,  which  they 
could  return,  we  feel  sure  that  every  one  would 
ask  for  the  change. 


But  to  return:  The  present  (ieneral  Manager, 
on  accoiintof  ill  health,  feels  that  he  is  unable 
to  assume  such  added  resiiousibility.  It  would 
need  a  youtiger  man,  ln'  thinks — one.  full  of 
vigor  and  push.  Mr.  Newman  is  ^/k;  man,  but 
if  he  is  not  available  wi'  would  recomuKMid 
som(^  bee-keep(>i'  who  is  also  a  lawyer  and  legis- 
lator— such  a  person,  for  instance,  as  K.  L.  Tay- 
lor. With  a  B(!e-keepers'  Union  of  '){M)  mem- 
bers, its  chief  could  be  salaried,  and  yet  have 
necessary  funds  for  carrying  on  the  "work  of 
sei'uring  evidence,  and  aiT(!Sting  and  prosecut- 
ing the  guilty  parti(?s.  But  how  about  the 
membership?  We  feel  that  a  very  large  num- 
ber of  our  own  subscribers  (and  this  will  be 
true  of  the  constituency  of  other  bie-papers) 
would  till  a  membership  blank  and  planlc  (If)wn 
a  dollar  if  a  return  envelope  were  placed  before 
them. 

The  reason,  we  think,  why  there  has  not 
been  a  more  hearty  response  before  is  because 
we  have  not  yet  given  those  who  are  (^/Y/Zt/ent 
about  writing,  an  opportunity  to  express  them- 
selves. At  any  rate,  it  would  not  cost  a  great 
deal  to  try  the  experi'uent.  Out  of  our  over  ten 
thousand  paid-up  subscribers,  to  every  one  of 
whom  we  would  "submit  blanks,  we  fe(>l  pretty 
sure  we  could  get  pretty  close  on  to  2000  who 
would  become  members  of  that  organization. 
The  present  Union  does  not  offer  enough  sub- 
stantial benefits  to  make  the  mass  of  bee-keepers 
feel  the  necessity  of  enrolling  their  names. 
But  a  Union  that  could  not  only  defend  them 
against  disagreeable  neighbors,  but  could  also 
ferret,  out  and  cairy  on  succe.ssfully  prosecu- 
tions against  adulterators — in  fact,  champion 
th(>  rights  of  bee-keepers  in  all  things,  would 
offer  sutticient  inducements  to  call  out  a  large 
support  from  bee-keepers.  We  should  like  to 
hear  from  our  pi'ominent  contributors,  for  next 
issue,  as  well  as  from  the  General  Manager 
through  the  Ainericnn  Bee  Journal.  There  is 
yet  time  enough  for  us  to  get  the  matter  in  such 
shape  that  it  can  be  presented  before  the  nation- 
al association  at  Washington. 


THE    WIRING    OF   FRAMES — TO   WHAT    EXTENT   IS 
IT   I'RAf'TICED  ? 

There  has  been  considerable  discussion  of 
late,  particularly  in  Canada,  as  to  the  advisa- 
bility of  wiring  frames.  Some  have  gone  so  far 
as  to  hold  that  very  little  of  it  is  done  now  by 
practical  bee-lteepers.  It  so  happens  that  we 
supply  all  the  tinned  wire  used  in  this  country, 
a  large  part  of  it  in  Canada,  and  in  Australia, 
the  manufacturers  of  that  article  not  caring  to 
job  to  more  than  one  house.  We  find.  V)y  look- 
ing over  our  books,  that  we  sold,  last  season, 
over  two  tons  of  No.  :iO  tinned  wire,  and  that 
during  'a  very  poor  year  for  bee-keepers.  It 
takes  anywhere  from  <>  to  10  ounces  of  wire  for 
a  hundred  brood-frames,  and  this  goes  to  show 
that  anywhere  from  700,000  to  about  1.(K)0.0(Xi 
1) rood-frames  were  ivlred  during  the  last  sea- 
son; and  in  a  fairly  good  year  it  will  not  be  un- 
reasonable to  suppose  that  the  number  would 
reach  fully  L.'iOO.oW).  From  these  figures  it  is 
pretty  evidcMit  that  the  great  majority  of  intel- 
ligent be(!- keepers  practice  wiring,  iiolwith- 
standirg  a  few  prominent  bee-keepers  argue 
that  it  is  a  useless  expense  and  a  waste  of  time. 
We  have  heard  this  argued  soberly  in  conven- 
tions :  and  one  or  two.  we  remember,  seemed  to 
think  it  conclusive  that  wiring  was  uniKccessa- 
ry,  simply  because  they  never  liad  a  comb  break 
down  in  moving  bees  nor  in  (extracting.  It  is 
well  to  I'emember  that  "one  swallow  does  not 
make  a  summer:"  and  it  should  also  be  remem- 
bered that  colonies  on  fixed  frames,  with  combs 
wired,  can  be  handled  much  more  rapidly  than 
colonies  on  loo.^e  frames  not  wired.  Th(!  ex- 
pense of  wiring  100  frames,  if  it  is  done  at  odd 


898 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTUKK. 


Dec.  1. 


hours  wlicn  tlie  bt'e-kceppr  can  not  do  much 
else,  is  about  lOcts.  per  100.  The  expense  of  a 
few  broken-down  combs,  meaning 'loss  of  bees 
and  loss  of  time  in  fixing  up  in  the  busy  season. 
to  say  nothing  of  the  extra  caution  in  handling 
the  whole  apiary  on  wired  combs,  more  than 
pays  for  the  expense  of  having  every  comb  in 
the  yard  wired. 

HONEY    NOT    GRANULATING     NOT    NECESSARILY 
ADULTERATED. 

Some  of  the  friends  have  of  late  been  sending 
us  samples  of  honey  which  they  assume  to  be 
adulterated,  and  ask  that  we  commence  pro- 
ceedings against  the  guilty  parties  at  once. 
With  one  or  two  exceptions  we  have  pronounced 
all  such  to  be  strictly  pure,  genuine  product 
from  the  flowers.  One  sample  sent  in,  of  beauti- 
ful thick  clover  honey,  having  a  trace  of  bass- 
wood,  was  as  clear  as  crystal.  It  had  been 
standing  on  the  she\f  something  over  a  year, 
and  our  correspondent  thought  that,  as  it  had 
remained  uncandied.  it  must,  of  course,  be  adul- 
terated Willi  glucose.  The  honey  was  so  thick 
and  thorouglily  ripened  that  it  did  just  what  it 
ought  to  do — remain  liquid.  We  have  had  sam- 
ples of  basswood  and  clover  honey  remain  clear 
for  three  years,  and  yet  we  knew  the  goods  to 
be  strictly  pure.  The  fact  that  honey  remains 
liquid  for  a  year  or  so  is  no  sure  evidence  that 
it  is  adulterated,  and  we  regret  that,  through 
the  agency  of  honey-labels,  the  impression  is 
conveyed  that,  unless  the  honey  does  granulate, 
it  is  not  pure.  It  is  a  fact,  however,  that,  when 
it  does  candy,  it  is  pretty  good  evidence  that  it  is 
pure;  but  it  does  not  by  any  means  follow  that, 
when  it  does  not  do  so,  it  is  adulterated.  It  is 
well  known  that  pure  California  sage  honey  isn't 
apt  to  candy  at  all.  Now,  while  we  are  discuss- 
ing ways  and  means  for  putting  down  adultera- 
tion, let  us  not  go  to  the  other  extreme  of  call- 
ing a  good  many  samples  glucosed,  and  so.  very 
possibly,  place  a  ban  upon  the  honesty  of  repu- 
table bee-keepers  and  dealers. 


COMMISSION   MEN   AND   THEIR  RELATION  TO  THE 

HONEY-PRODUCER     IN     THE     FIGHT 

AGAINST     ADULTERATION. 

We  have  received  excellent  reports  in  regard 
to  the  manner  in  which  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co.,  com- 
mission merchants  of  Chicago,  treat  their  pa- 
trons. Of  all  the  commission  houses  in  the 
West,  we  believe  none  are  working  more  dili- 
gently for  the  suppression  of  all  kinds  of  adul- 
teration in  honey  than  S.  T.  Fish  &  Co.  They 
realize,  as  does  every  commission  house,  that 
adulteration  does  harm,  not  only  to  the  bee- 
keeper, liut  to  the  seller  of  pure  honey.  One  of 
their  salesmen,  at  the  Chicago  convention,  pi'o- 
posed  that  every  commission  house  tha,t  quotes 
prices  of  honey  in  the  bee-journals  be  requested 
to  make  an  affidavit  to  the  editors  of  the  bee- 
journals,  to  the  effect  that  they  furnish  only 
pure  honey,  and  that  the  names  of  such  houses 
furnishing  such  affidavits  be  published  before 
the  bee-keeping  world.  The  only  objection  we 
see  to  this  is,  as  was  also  suggested  at  the  conven- 
tion, that  men  are  so  dishonest  as  to  adulterate 
would  also  be  dishonest  enough  to  furnish  a 
false  affidavit.  While  we  do  not  believe  that  the 
commission  men  who  quote  prices  in  (Clean- 
ings would  refuse  to  furnish  us  affidavits,  as 
above,  yet  at  the  santie  time  they  might  feel  as 
if  their  nam<»  and  reputation  would  be  worth 
more  than  all  the  affidavits  that  could  be  pro- 
duced. However,  we  should  be  glad  to  receive 
responses  from  all  the  hon(>y-sellers  who  will  be 
willing  to  work  with  us,  and,  in  fact,  with  all 
the  publishers  of  bee-papers,  for  the  suppression 
of  adulteration  in  honey,  and  at  the  same  time 
furnish  such  evidence  as  may  be  in  their  pos- 


session, of  persons  adulterating,  or  .place  where 
the  same  is  practiced.  The  source  of  such  in- 
formation would,  of  course,  be  held  in  strict  con- 
fidence by  us. 

We  feel  thoroughly  impressed  with  the  belief 
that  producers,  honest  honey-buyers,  and  hon- 
ey-sellers should  combine  together  in  a  union  so 
as  to  fight  successfully  the  common  enemy. 
Such  an  organization  might  do  nothing  more 
than  this:  Prove  that  but  little  or  no  adultera- 
tion was  practiced.  At  all  events,  the  mere  fact 
of  such  an  -Organization  being  in  existence 
would  go  a  long  way  in  preventing  both  those 
who  contemplate  adulterating  from  doing  so, 
and  those  who  have  in  the  past  been  engaged  to 
a  greater  or  less  extent  in  the  business,  from 
continuing  in  it.  We  have  many  good  laws 
that  rarely  if  ever  need  to  be  enforced;  but  it  is 
necessary  to  have  them  on  the  statute-book, 
simply  because  of  their  moral  force. 


IT   is   NOT   (iOOD   THAT   MANC SHOULD  BE  ALONE. 

—GEN.  2: 18. 
At  the  end  of  one  of  Dr.  IMiller's  Straws,  on 
page  79.5,  he  exhorts  Bro.  Wilder  to  look  up  a 
wife,  etc.  This  thing  has  b(  en  on  my  con- 
science for  ^ome  time.  When  I  read  of  the 
lonely  ranches  where  bee-men  stay  year  in  and 
year  out,  without  a  woman  in  the  house  or 
out  around  the  house,  it  really  troubles  me.  I 
remember  the  lonely  ranches  I  visited.  I  re- 
member the  sad  and  lonely  attempts  that  some 
of  the  bee-keeping  brethren  were  making,  and 
perhaps  are  making,  at  housekeeping.  Now, 
please  do  not  understand  me  as  saying  that  I 
have  any  thing  to  complain  of.  Many  of  these 
bachelor  ranches  were  neat  and  tidy.  Money 
enough  had  been  expended — yes.  and  more  too 
— but  yet  the  place  was  not  a  home.  I  just  won- 
der how  these  poor  fellows  can  stand  it  to  live 
so.  If  there  is  anybody  in  the  world  who  might 
be  expected  to  get  weary  of  life,  and  think  of 
taking  the  life  that  God  gave  them,  it  seems  to 
me  it  would  be  these  people  who  think  them- 
selves obliged  to  live  amid  such  surroundings. 
Again  and  again  in  California.  Arizona,  and 
other  western  places,  we  approached  something 
that  looked  like  a  home.  When  we  got  nearer, 
the  symptoms  I  had  learned  to  dread  became 
more  and  more  painfully  apparent.  No  matter 
how  much  money  is  expended,  there  seemed  to 
be  a  listless  air  of  death  about  the  whole  sur- 
roundings. It  was  a  shadow  of  a  home  without 
the  substance.  The  life  had  departed,  or  else 
had  never  been  there  at  all.  A  ivoman's  touch 
was  wanting.  Now.  friends,  it  is  wrong  and  it 
is  wicked.*  There  are  thousands  of  women 
living  alone,  with  comparatively  nothing  to 
do.  If  you  live  and  die  that  way.  it  is  just  com- 
mitting a  sort  of  wholesale  suicide;  for  what 
would  be  the  result  if  all  men  followed  your  ex- 
ample? Yes.  Bro.  Wilder,  and  all  the  other 
brethren,  clear  through  from  A  down  to  Z,  for 
heaven's  sake  look  up  some  good  woman  who 
will  be  glad  of  the  chance,  and  let  her  bring 
life  and  animation  into  that  lonely.,  deserted 
hoiue  of  yours.  Do  not  let  that  deathlike  still- 
ness hang  over  the  place  you  call  Jiome  an 
hour  longer.  Remember  that  Bro.  Root  himself 
said  it  was  not  right,  and  God  himself  said  it 
too,  when  the  human  family  was  first  inaugu- 
rated: "And  the  Lord  Gofi  said.  It  is  not  good 
that  man  should  be  alone." 

*  If  our  Chinese  brethren  insist  and  persist  in  liv- 
ing' after  that  fashion  wlien  they  come  to  our  shores, 
let  them  do  it — no.  no  I  I  wouldn't  let  them  do  it.  I 
would  tell  them  that,  unless  they  bring  their  wives 
and  children,  like  wliite  folks,  tliey  can  not  set  foot 
on  our  shores;  and  then  either  make  them  go  back 
or  send  by  next  ship  for  Mrs.  "  Jolin  Chinaman  "  to 
come  along  and  bring  the  children. — A.  I.  R. 


1SI)2 


(iI>HANIN(;s  IN   KKK  ClM/rURK. 


Hft'.t 


M(n???n?n????nmmn?????nti4 


FACILITIES? 


Look,  where  you  will,  there's  no 
bicycle  jjlant  so  grandly  complete  as 
the  one  devoted  exclusively  to  the 
manufacture  of  Victor  Bicycles. 

For  years  the  work  has  gone  on  — 
and  still  at  it — of  making  a  model 
home  for  the  best  bicycles  the  world 
ever  saw. 

No  other  bicycle  j-lant  (ompares 
with  this  one,  as  no  other  bicycle  com- 
pares with  the  Victor — or  is  ever 
likely  to. 

Victor  catalog  for  the  asking. 


OVERMAN  WHEEL  CO. 

SPRINGFIELD  BRANCH;     i  28  WORTHINGTON  ST. 


THAT', 
IT. 


rmuiuuii 


BEE-HIVES,   SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  the  best  g-cM)d>  ;iii(l  sell  Ibem  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  tiie  world. 

Our  goods  are  known  as  the  best  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

e  G.  B.  LEWIS    CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 

Bee  -  Keepers'  *  Supplies, 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies promptly  and  at  lowest  rates.  Estimates  gladly 
furnished,  and  correspondence  solicited.  Our  goods 
are  all  first-class  in  quality  and  '.vorkmaiisfiip.  Cat- 
alogue sent  free.  Reference,  First  National  Bank, 
Sterling.  111.    Address  l-24db 

Win.  Meet  NE  A:  CO., 

Sterling,  Illinolfn. 
^7*In  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GLEA^1Na8I 

JENImIe  ATCHLEY'S  HOME 

will  be  at  Beeville,  Bee  County,  Tex.,  in  1S93,  ready 
with  queens  again.  19tfdb 


—    IWuth's — -^ 

Honey  -  Exti^actot^. 

Scfuare  Class  Horiey-Jans, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee-hives. 
J4oney-Seetions,  &e.,  &e. 

Perfection  Cold-Blast  Smokers. 

APPLY  TO  -..^^^^^^^-^^v./-^^^^ 

CH^S.  F.  JVIUTH  &  SOl^l,  Cincinnati,  O. 

&— Send  lOet.  stamp  for  "Piactieal  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
Please  mention  tills  paper. 

TAKE   NOTICE ! 

DEP'ORE. placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
"    for  prices  on  One-Piece  Basswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hives.  Shipping-Crates,  Frames,  Foundation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
Wtfdb  New  London,  Wis. 

Plea-se  mention  this  paper. 


NEW  YORK  CORRESPONDENCE 


PATENT    WIRED    COMB     FOUNDATION 

HAS    NO    SA<;    I>    BK4>OI>-FKA.7IKS. 

THIN     FLAT  .  BOTTOM     FOUNDATION 

HafD  No  FlKli-bone  in  Nurpluiii  Honey. 

Being  the  cleanest  is  usually  worked 
the  quickest  of  any  Foundation  made. 
J.  VAN  nKl  SEN  &  SONS, 

Sole  Manufacturers,  5tfd 

Sprout  Brook,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Plea.se  mention  this  paper. 


r> 


HEEHEI 

home:  studv    ■■•^■■■i^ 


FOR 

243  BROADWAY    N  .V. 
JNTRODUCTORY  LECTURE 

I'leasf  mention  this  paper. 

BUFFALO,  N.  Y.     Unsurpassed  Honey  Market. 
BATTERSON  &  CO.     Responsible,  Reliable, 
Commission  Merchants.      ,stt,ib      and  Prompt. 


900 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  1. 


Special  Notices. 


NEVADA    COMB    HONEY. 

Scarcely  a  month  lias  past  since  the  carload  ar- 
rived, and  at  this  writing  it  is  over  lialf  gone.  If 
any  of  our  readers  desire  to  secure  any  of  it  they 
will  need  to  apply  early.  See  last  issue  for  descrip- 
tion and  price.         

CHOICE  EXTllACTED   HONEY. 

E'  We  have  a  little  nice  extracted  honey  in  60-lb. 
<-ans  at  10  cts.  per  ib.  We  have  also  secured  five  or 
six  kegs  ;160  lbs.  each)  of  very  nice  basswood  ex- 
tracted, that  we  can  sell  at  9  cts.  per  lb.  There  is 
still  seven  or  eight  hundred  pounds  of  choice  clover 
extracted  left  at  Massena  Springs,  N.  Y.,  which  we 
offer  at  9  cts.,  cans  to  be  returned. 


DAMAGED  QUINBYS  ALL,   SOLD. 

Orders  are  still  coming  in  for  the  damaged  books 
mentioned  a  mouth  ago.  The  "  Quinby's  New  Bee- 
keeping "  that  were  damaged  are  all  sold;  but  we 
have  plenty  of  the  pei  feet  copies  at  $1.5j.  postpaid. 
We  still  have  a  good  supply  of  tlie  sligiitly  damaged 
Christian's  Secret  of  a  Happy  Life  at  15  cts.  each, 
postpaid,  or  10  cts.  if  sent  witli  other  goijds  by 
freight  or  express. 

EXTRA   EARLY   AMERICAN   PEARL  ONION   SEED. 

We  have  finally,  at  tliis  late  date,  succeeded  in 
getting  5  ll)s.  of  this  seed  that  has  been  called  for  so 
much;  but  it  is  very  scarce,  and  consequently  very 
high.  Tlie  best  figures  we  can  give  will  be  aS  fol- 
ows  so  long  as  it  lasts:  if  ounce,  15  cts. ;  ounce,  .50 
cts.;  Vz  lb..  $3.00;  1  lb.,  $5..50.  The  above  prices  in- 
clude postage.  Our  experiment  last  season,  of 
starting  the  plants  in  the  cold-frame,  was  a  success, 
although,  owing  to  the  great  wetness  after  lliey 
were  put  out  in  the  fields,  we  did  not  get  as  many 
nice  onions  as  we  have  heretofore,  nor  did  they 
mature  as  early,  nor  get  tu  be  quite  as  large  as  t  liose 
from  sets  planted  the  fall  before.  As  many  wei-e 
unable  to  get  sets,  however,  tne  ne.xt  best  thing  for 
them  to  do  is  to  buy  tlie  seeds,  as  above. 


HOO-    .J   C.)MB   FOUNDATION. 

In  connection  with  the  announcement  of  special 
prices  on  sections  in  last  number,  we  spoke  of  the 
fact  of  our  greatly  improving  the  quality  of  goods 
of  our  manufacture.  This  is  especially  true  of 
comb  foundation.  Dadant's  toundation  has  an  en- 
viable reputation,  and  the  manufacturers  deserve 
credit  for  the  high  standard  of  excellence  they 
have  set.  We  desire  to  say,  however,  the  founda- 
tion we  are  now  making  is  equal  in  every  respect  to 
Dadant's;  in  fact,  we  are  "conceited"  enough  to 
think  that  it  is,  in  some  respects,  superior.  Here  is 
a  testimonial,  just  received  in  the  mail  as  1  write 
this,  which  is  quite  a  surprise,  unsolicited  and  un- 
expected: 

I  can  get  goods  cheaper  in  Chicago,  but  they  do 
not  keep  the  new  style  of  separators,  and  I  like 
your  f(juiidation  better.  It  seems  to  me  that  your 
light  brood  does  not  buckle  as  much  as  Dadant's 
medium  lirood.  I  had  some  verj'  nice  t'onibs  built 
on  your  foundation  the  past  season. 

Bishop  Hill,  111..  Nov.  25.  D.  Lindbeck. 

We  should  like  the  privilege  of  showing  you  how 
nice  our  foundatioi'  is,  by  sending  you  a  sample, 
which  we  shall  be  i)leased  to  send  free  on  request. 
We  do  not  hesitate,  too,  to  "guarantee  every  inch 
of  our  foundation  equal  to  the  sample  in  every 
respect."  We  are  just  filling  one  order  from  "a 
■western  dealer  for  tweuty-four  Inindred  pouiuh,  hi'- 
sides  a  number  of  others  not  so  large.  As  we  run 
our  mills  by  steam  power,  we  can  certainly  make  it 
as  cheaply  as  any  one.  Write  for  samples;  and  if 
you  can  use  200  lbs.  or  over,  ask  for  dealers'  prices. 


THE   SCNDAV-SCHOOL  TIMES. 

Doubtless  must  if  ni)t  all  nf  our  readers  know 
what  a  Sunday-school  is.  You  iiiaj'  also  know  of 
t\w  Siiiiildii-Siliiiiil  TinK'.s,  ;i  most  excellent  Iti-page 
weekl>-  fni-  Sunday-school  workers,  published  in 
Philaiielphia,  Pa.,  at  )B]..")0  per  annum,  but  which  we 
are  able  to  club  with  GLEANiN(is  at  ifl.T5  for  the 
two,  and  both  mailed  from  this  odice.  The  year  be- 
gins this  month,  and  you  wlio  wisli  to  take'  advan- 
tage of  this  offer  should  lo.se  no  time  in  sending  us 
your  orders. 


THE   (JOLDEN    RULE. 

Probably  not  all  of  our  readers  are  as  familiar 
with  the  Voung  People's  Society  of  Christian  En- 
deavor, which  lias  been  refi^rred  to  occasionally  in 
the  Home  talks  ol  the  senior  editor.  I  take  it  that 
most  of  you  do  kuow  of  it,  not  only  from  reading 
your  papers,  but  from  contact  with  it  in  your 
church.  To  those  who  do  not  know  of  it  I  will  say 
that  you  will  do  well  to  address  the  United  Society 
of  C.  E.,  ,50  Bromtield  St.,  Boston,  Mass..  for  Chris- 
tian Endeavor  literature,  for  I  can  assure  you  it  is 
fully  as  important  in  the  work  of  the  church  as  the 
Sunday  scho;)!  itself.  There  is  also  a  weekly  paper 
published  for  Christian  Endeavor  workers,  called 
the  Oolden  Rule,  at  47  Franklin  St.,  Boston,  and  this 
brings  me  to  the  subjcect  of  this  notice  I  can  not 
give  you  an  adequate  idea  of  the  value  of  this 
paper.  Drop  a  postal  to  the  above  address  for  a 
sample  copy,  and  examine  it  for  yourself.  It  claims 
to  be  only  16  pages,  but  they  have  given  twenty  and 
over  for  several  months,  and  from  all  appearances 
they  will  keep  it  up.  It  contains  each  week,  among 
other  very  excellent  things,  tlirilling  letters  fiom  F. 
E.  Clark,  D.  D.,  founder  of  the  Christian  Endeavor 
society,  who  is  now  on  a  trip  around  the  world  in 
the  interest  of  Christian  Endeavor.  The  regular 
price  of  the  paper  is  $3.00  a  year.  We  are  able  to 
offer  it  clubbed  with  Gle-^vnings,  one  year  each,  for 
$2.00  only.  New  subscribers  to  either  for  t893  will 
receive  the  remainder  of  this  year  free.  In  order- 
ing, be  kind  enough  lo  stale  whether  you  are  a  new 
subscriber  or  renewal  to  the  Golden  Rule,  which  now 
has  about  100,000  subscribers.  It  is  so  good,  how- 
ever, that  we  wish  it  might  have  twice  the  number. 


THE    NEW   TOMATO    BOOK. 

Among  the  nianj'  pleasant  notices  we  have  receiv- 
ed from  the  press,  we  select  the  following  from  the 
Americdn  Aijrieidturist : 

Tomato  Culture.— in  three  parts.  Part  First 
—  Tomato  Culture  in  the  South.  Part  Second  — 
Tomato  Culture,  Especially  for  Canning-Factories. 
Part  Third.  Plant-Growing  for  Market,  and  High- 
Pressure  Gardening  in  General.  A  Practical  Book 
for  those  who  work  under  either  Glass  or  Cloth  as  a 
Protection  from  Frost.  By  J.  W.  Day,  D.  Cummins, 
and  A.  I.  Root.  Medina:  A.  I.  Root,  1892.  135  pp., 
il.,  16mo,  paper 

The  first  part  of  this  industrial  book  is  written  by 
an  exceedingly  practical  Southern  planter,  who 
works  in  the  fields  among  his  men,  and  shows  them 
how  by  working  himself.  J.  W.  Day  has  made  a 
practical  success  of  hot-beds  and  cold-frames  cover- 
ed with  cotton  cloth  instead  of  glass,  in  which  to 
start  the  plants  for  the  hundreds  of  acres  of  toma- 
toes he  raises  yearly  for  the  Chicago  market.  The 
second  part  is  written  by  an  equally  practical 
Nortliern  grower  of  tomatoes,  D.  Cummins,  who 
successfully  heats  his  plant-beds  with  steam  sent 
through  drain  tiles.  The  third  part,  telling  how  to 
support  a  family  on  one-fourtli  acre  of  gLound,  is 
written  by  A.  I.  Root,  who  claims  relationship  with 
every  boy  who  raises  popcorn,  chickens,  honey, 
strawberries,  or  tomatoes,  and  thinks  that,  when 
our  great  nation  of  people  can  otter  the  boys  en- 
couragement In  tlie  way  of  good  prices,  we  shall  be 
on  the  roaii  to  bettei' things.  He  pi'aises  especially 
those  boys  wiio  go  into  tlie  fields  and  work  for 
themselves  under  (Jod's  clear  sky  instead  of  hang- 
ing around  ilu-  factories,  begging  for  a  cliance  to  be 
"bossed."  The  raising  of  lettuce  and  onions,  and 
the  marketing  of  garden  crt)ps,  is  fully  treated. 
Sold  by  Orange. I udd  Company  Price,  postpaid,  40 
cents. 

('AHFORNI.\.>S,  ATTENTlOxV. 

We  have  completed  arrangements  with  the  firm  of 
G.  G.  Wiekson  &  Co.,  who  do  business  both  in  Los 
Angeles  and  San  Francisco,  to  keep  a  general  stock 
of  (jur  supplies  at  both  places  for  the  convenience 
of  California  bee-keepers.  We  expect,  by  Jan.  1st, 
to  send  a  carload  to  each  point.  We  can  not,  of 
course,  send  a  full  line  of  every  thing  we  advertise 
in  our  catalogue,  but  will  send  a  good  general  line, 
including  comb  foundation  and  foundation-mills; 
Novice  and  Cowan  extractors,  2,  4,  and  6  frame; 
8-fiiiine  Dovetailed  hives;  sections,  1%.  1%,  and  7  to 
foot,  and  many  things  too  numerous  to  mention. 
We  commend  oui'  California  customers  to  this  firm; 
and  as  soon  as  you  read  this,  if  you  will  at  once  sit 
down  and  write  to  them,  naming  the  list  of  goods 
you  are  likely  to  require,  they  will  thus  be  enabled 
to  get  what  you  need,  including  all  odd-sized  things 
that  could  not  be  well  kept  in  stock.      Your  prompt 


isy2 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CUI/rURE. 


<Ml 


attention  tn  ihi->  will  iidI  cinl.\-  sissisi  tlu-tn,  bill  be  a 
fjrioat  benoHt  lo  you. 

RENO,  NKV..  AM)  VICINITY. 
Our  I'liciids  In  and  artumil  I{ono,  N('V..will  do  well 
to  write  lo  W.  K.  Hall,  of  Kiiio.  with  a  list  of  their 
needs  in  the  line  of  bee-keepers' supplies.  We  are 
just  loading  a  eat' of  DoNclailed  hives  and  sections 
for  liives  wliieli  he  writes  are  all  sold,  and  he  will 
want  another  ear  wlien  this  om-  arrives.  [,et  him 
kinn\  what  jdu  in't>(l.  that  lie  may  Ret  it  for  you  in 
lii-  next  carload. 

OKKCON    .\M1    WASHINC.TON. 

Boe-keepcrs  in  these  States  should  write  to  F.  i^. 
Posson  &  Son.  Poitland.  l)iejr.,  for  priei^  list  of  bee- 
keepei->'  supplies.  Wo  are  just  loading  for  tliem 
two  carloads  of  supplies,  eomprisinja-  a  good  g-eneral 
line,  and  includiiifr  over  a  ton  of  oonib  foundation. 
Consider! iijr  t lie  liiKli  freights  in  less  than  carload 
lots,  you  can  do  better  by  dealinji-  with  them  direct 
than  to  send  us  your  orders. 

UKE-KEEI'KUS  OK  MAHVI.ANI)   ANI>   DELAWARE, 

and  those  easily  reached  from  Baltimore,  will  ])Iease 
take  note  that  we  have  arranged  for  the  sale  of  our 
supplies  in  that  territory  with  the  Maltiinore  Farm 
Implement  Co.,  of  Bjiltimore,  Md.,  and  now  have  an 
order  for  a  carload  to  be  sent  to  tht^m.  Write  them, 
with  a  list  of  your  requirements  for  the  coming 
season. 

OTHER    DEALERS. 

Our  friends  in  Central  and  Eastern  New  York  and 
New  Eng-land  will  bear  in  mind  that  we  have  quite 
a  full  line  of  supplies  on  hand  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
with  F.  A.  Salisl)ury  in  charge.  He  will  be  pleased 
to  hear  from  you. 

Those  in  the  vicinity  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  hardly 
need  leminding  that  a  full  line  of  our  supplies  is 
kept  there  l)y  Jos.  Nysewander,  and  we  shall  be 
loading  a  car  for  that  point  within  a  few  days. 

The  bee-keepers  of  Colorado  can  obtain  our  sup- 
plies from  Barteldes  &  Co.,  of  Denver,  who  keep 
quite  a  full  line,  and  issue  a  price  list  which  thej" 
will  be  pleased  to  mail  on  application. 

Later  on  we  may  announce  the  names  of  other 
dealers  in  other  localities  where  you  can  obtain  our 
goods  witliout  sending  so  far. 


RENEW   EARLV. 


The  time  is  near  at  hand  when  the  paid  subscrip- 
tion of  many  of  our  readers  will  expire.  Probably 
none  of  you  like  to  be  in  arrears  any  better  than  we 
like  to  have  you.  As  an  inducement  for  you  to  act 
promptly,  and  setid  in  your  renewals  before  the 
time  expires  for  which  you  have  paid,  we  offer  you 
the  choice  of  the  following  premiums.  Now,  please 
note  carefully  the  conditions  on  whicli  we  make 
this  offer.  Those  wlio  are  in  arrears  can  not  claim 
a  premium  till  they  first  pay  up;  then,  if  the.y  re- 
mit for  a  year  in  advance,  they  may  for  that  claim 
a  premium.  Tlie  premium  must  be  claimed  when 
tlie  subscription  is  sent;  it  can  not  be  allowed 
afterward.  Postage  for  mailing,  and  full  sub.=crip- 
tion  of  $1.00.  must  be  sent  to  secure  the  premium, 
and  it  must  be  sent  lief  ore  your  subscription  ex- 
pires. 

The  list  of  i)reniiums  from  which  you  may  sek^ct: 
DZIEEZON'S  THE0E7.  a  pamphlet  of  50  pages,  in  paper 
cover;  price  10c  posti)aid,  or  sent  free  on  above  con- 
ditions  Tliis  is  something  that  every  entiiusiiistic 
lover  of  the  honej'-bee  slionld  lead. 

THE  CHEISTIAN'S  SECEET  OF  A  HAPPY  LIFE.  This  b(X)k 
should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  c)ne  who  desires  to 
live  a  happ.v  life,  and  who  does  not '!  It  is  so  popu- 
lar that  over  50,000  have  been  sold  since  its  nublica- 
tion  a  few  years  ago.  We  received  from  tne  pub- 
lishers as  many  as  l:i5(J  in  one  shipment.  This  edition 
was  revised  and  enlarged,  so  that  the  book  now 
contains  over  200  pages.  Price,  cloth  bound,  50  cts. 
In  paper,  25  cts.  Postage  extra,  8  cts.  for  the  cloth 
and  6  cts.  for  tlie  paper  bound.  A  large  reduction 
will  be  made  in  quantities.  The  cloth  book  given 
postpaid  for  two  subscriptions,  or  the  paper  for  one 
new  subscrrption  with  yotir  own  renewal.  Clotii 
edition  given  with  your  own  renewal  only,  and  35c 
extra,  with  8i-  postage;  the  paper  edition  for  1.5c 
extra  and 'c  postage.  We  have  some  slightly  dam- 
aged paper  edition  that  we  will  give  free  with  your 
renewal  and  5c  for  postage.  If  you  .send  one  new 
name  with  your  renewal  you  may  select  any  three 
premiums  that  we  give  for  a  renewal,  being  sure  to 
include  the  postage;  or  you  may  retain  3.5c  in  cash 
for  your  commission. 


PEABODY'S  WEBSTEE'G  DICTIOHAEY.  :.'5.000  words  and 
1th  rases.  . I  nd  ilhisl  rated  with  L'5n  engraxings;  cloth 
Ixiund.  'I'his  Is  the  on(>  we  ha\e  been  selliii^r  for 
years  at  15  els  We  thought  we  had  done  something 
wonderful  when  we  offered  so  large  a  dictionary  for 
15  els.,  but  we  are  now  able  tosell  them  for  a  alnie. 
.lust  think  of  it :  Postage  e.vtra.  5  cts. 
"one-syllable  TEIMEE.'^ti.vH;  4S  pages,  full  of  pic- 
tnre>;  soinelhinM  i  hat  will  always  be  wanted  .as 
long  as  there  are  i  hildren  in  our  homes.  Post.age 
:i  cents. 

POULIEY  FOE  PLEAGUEE  AND  PEOFIT.  48  pages,  km\  20 
illustiations.  A  complete  little  book  of  instruc- 
tions. It  treats  of  the  best  varieties  for  pleasure 
and  piotit ;  how  to  house  and  yard;  how  to  manage; 
how  to  feed;  diseases,  incubation,  etc.  It  fe  a  25- 
ceiit  book;  but  by  getting  1000  of  them  we  can  sell 
th(>m  ft)r  10  cents.     Postage  1  ct. 

THE  H02SE  AND  HIS  DISEASES.  Hy  Dr.  B.  .1.  Kendall ; 
UK)  pages  and  many  illustrations.  Over  500,000  of 
these  books  ha\('  been  .sold,  because  they  are  so 
poi)ular  and  complete,  for  a  small  liandl)ook.  It 
gives  the  symptoms  of  most  diseases,  and  treat- 
ment for  the  same.  This  is  another  25-cent  book 
that  we  got  down  to  a  dime  by  taking  1000  of  them. 
Postage;!  cts. 

SILE  AND  THE  SILKWOEM.  This  is  a  complete  work 
of  instruction  on  silk  culture,  by  Nellie  Lincoln 
Kossiter.  a  inaclical  silk  culturist;  32  pages.  "Silk 
culture  is  the  favorite  pursuit  of  many  ladies  In  our 
land;  and  all  who  are  interested  will  find  this  little 
work  very  instructive.  The  price  printed  on  it  is 
35  cents,  but  we  sell  them  for  10  cts.    Postage  1  ct. 

NEW  TESTAMENT,  NEW  VEESION.  iU  pages,  printed 
in  nonpareil  type.  This  should  be  in  the  possession 
of  every  student  of  the  New  Testament.  Even  if  it 
does  not  t'ome  into  common  use,  it  is  helpful  to 
know  what  chantres  ill  translation  the  New  Version 
gives.    Postage  5  cts. 

JOHN  PLOUGHMAN'S  TALES  AND  PIOTUEES.  By  Charles 
Spurgeon;  13h  pages,  and  a  picture  on  almost  every 
page.  John  Plougliman  talks  plainly,  and  makes  a 
good  point  in  every  talk.  It  is  by  no  means  dry 
reading,  either.    Postage  3  cts. 


AUGITE   STOVE-MAT. 

How  much  of  domestic  happi- 
ness is  marred  because  the  disnes 
I)reparvd  for  dinner  are  scorched 
or  burned!  How  aiiiajyiiif;  to 
have  something  boil  o  er  on  the 
stove,  as  it  is  likely  tj  do  some- 
times with  the  most  vigilant 
watchfulness.  All  these  troubles 
can  be  avoided  by  using  the  stove- 
mat  shown  herewitli  We  were 
somewhat  skeptical  about  it  till 
we  tried  it  in  our  home,  and  now 
we  are  (-onvinced  that  there  is  nothing  that  can  lay 
a  better  claim  to  the  term  "a  household  necessity  " 
The  mat  is  mad(>  of  asbestos,  bound  with  sheet  steel, 
crumpled  around  the  edge,  9>^  inches  in  diameter, 
and  is  iiidesi  tuctihle.  Though  it  is  almost  as  .soft 
as  felt,  it  will  not  burn.  You  can  place  it  directly 
on  the  blaze  of  a  gasoline-stove,  over  the  ga.s-jet, 
in  the  fireplace,  or  on  the  stove,  and  it  will  prevent 
burning  of  all  kinds  of  food  that  ordinarily  reiiuire 
stirring.  No  .stirring  is  required  for  oat  meal,  milk, 
rice, custards,  blanc  mange,  jellies,  l)utters,  catsups, 
apple  sauce,  etc.  In  fact,  nothing  will  bui'ii  on  it. 
Coffee  will  not  boil  over  if  the  pot  is  on  the  mat; 
bread  toasts  nicely  on  it.  Try  it  and  be  convinced. 
For  the  nursery  there  is  nothing  equal  to  heat  the 
milk  and  food  for  the  baby.  If  ;i  grate  fire,  lay  the 
mat  on  the  ojien  fire.  If  tla;  mat  becomes  soiled,  do 
not  wash  or  scrape,  but  turn  the  soiled  part  next  to 
fire,  and  burn  until  clean.  The  mat  regularl.v  retails 
for  25  cts.  We  will  furnish  them  ni'M  cts.  each; 
$3.00  per  doz.  By  mail,  6  cts.  each  extra,  or  65  cts. 
per  doz.  We  will  give  one  free  i)()stpaid  for  a  new 
subscription  to  Gi^e.vninos,  with  vour  own  renewal 
and  $2.00. 

MORE   ABOUT  THE  STOVK-MATS. 

That  augite  stove-mat  proves  to  be  one  of  the 
best  things  we  have  discovered  in  the  way  of  house- 
hold conveniences,  for  many  a  day.  We  have  dis- 
posed of  two  gross  in  less  than  two  months,  and 
now  have  5  gross  on  the  way  from  tlie  factory.  We 
can  make  special  prices  in  quantities  of  a  gross  or 
more.  You  ought  to  see  the  women  who  use  It 
smile,  and  you  will  do  so  too  If  you  will  try  it. 


<)02 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dkc.  1. 


lome 
Made 
Net- 
ting. 


50c  per^ 


SAFE,  DURABLE  FENCE;      ONLY  980  PER  MILE. 
859  to  T  A  "Mjl      OTXrVF-T?  R  i"^"^  one-half  the  cost 
BOATiefXjilXVii  -  U  W  X^  J2jJX.O  ^y^,-^  dangerous  barba 


J^  ^^^%»%^gt  make  $200.00  per  g^  o  0 1^ 
§\^^^tW^ month  and  expenses  ^^09fl 
The  best  local  and  traveling  agents  wanted  every- 
where. Write  at  once  for  circulars  and  choice  ter- 
ritory; addressA.  G.  Hulbert,  Patentee,  care  of 

Factory  Catalogue  with  200  engraved  designs  and 
prices,  B«nt  free  to  any  who  want  fancy  iron  and 
wire  work  or  city,  cemetery  and  farm  fences,  et«. 


AUSTRALIA. 

Wanted— evoiy  bee-ketinv  in   Austr.ili;i   to  send 
for  my  large  illiastrate<i  ciitalogue  of  bee-keepeis' 
supplies,  American  queens,  etc.,  etc.    Post  free. 
18-23dl3       H.  li.  JOIMIiS,  Uuodiia,  Queensland. 

f  lease  mention  this  paper. 


SPRAY 


Wormy  Fruit    >!^^ 
and  Leaf  Blight  X, 
ot  Apples,  Peir'- 
Cherries,  and  Plums 
prevented ;  al«o  <j  i  ipe 
and  Potato  Rot— by 
<;prayingwith  »»l-xlilN 
Doulile  Acting  LxceKior 
.S.ir.iving  Outfits.     Best 
in  the  m.irket.  Thousands 
in  use.  Catalogue. describ- , 
ing  all  insects  injurious  to 
fruit,  mailed  Free.   Address 

WM.STAHL.Quin^'v  T 

C^In  ru&poiulm^  lo  Lhis  advertisement  inentiuii  Gi 

Qnn  FERKETS.aflnelotof 

0\l\J  8eotcli  Collie  Pups  and 

\^i^  a  trained  bird-dog  for  sale.    Price 

[List  free.         IV.  A.  KNAPP, 

_  Roeliester,  Lorain  Co., 

^=^^^^       IStfdb  Ohio. 

dTIn  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gleaninqs. 

Barnes'  Foot-Power  Machinery. 

Read  what  J.  1.  Pakent,  of 
Chahlton.  N.  Y.,  says— "We 
cut  with  one  of  j'our  Combiued 
Machines  last  winter  .50  chaff 
hives  with  7-inch  cap,  100  honey- 
lacks,  .500  broad  frames.  2.000 
honey-boxes,  and  a  great  deal  of 
other  work.  This  winter  we 
liave  doubled  the  amount  of  bee- 
hives, etc..  to  make,  and  we  ex- 
pect to  do  it  all  with  this  saw. 
Tt  will  do  all   you   say  it  will." 

Catalogue  and  Price  List  free.     Address  W.  F.  & 

JOHN  BARNES,  .545  Ruby  St.,  Rockford,  III. 
When  more  convenient,  orders  for  Barnes'  Foot^ 

Power  Machinery  may  be  sent  to  me.    A.  I.  Root. 

23tfd 

VANDERVORT 
COMB -FOUNDATION  MILLS. 

Send  for  samjiles  and  reduced  price  list. 
itfd  JNO.  VANDERVORT,  Laceyville,  Pa. 

OTTUMWA  BEE-HIVE  FACTORY. 

Bee-keepers,  look  to  your  interests.    Every  thing 
n    the   line  of  bee-supplies   constantly  on    hand. 
Price  list  free.        GREGORY  BROS.  &  SON, 
l-23d  Ottumwa,  la.    South  side. 

Hlease  mention  this  paper. 


SECTIONS. 

?si4.50  to#3.50  per  .11.     Bee-Hives  and  Plx- 
ture».  «liea|..  NOVELTY    CO., 

"tfdh  Rock  Fall'i,  Ihinois. 

I^"ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  Gi-KiNLNca 

Sasterxi  Siipply  ZZoiise. 

We  furnish  every  thing  used  in  the  apiary,  and 
at  b   ttom  prices.    Illustrated  circular  free. 

I.  J.  STRINGHAM,  92  Barclay  St..  N.  Y. 

■Jl-2«dlj  Please  mention  this  papei\ 

rAR  Qfll  r  *  ^'*-  '^  Corley  Saw  Mill: 
p  \JV\  OfnUC..  3  head-blocks  with  patent  board 
dogs;  .5.'-inch  Disston  circularsaw;  64feettrack. 
Capacity  of  mill  .soiJO  to  13,UU0  feet  in  t(  n  hours.  Mill 
is  nearly  new.  Warranted  to  be  in  tirst-class  run- 
ning order.  M.H.FAIRBANKS, 

HOMER,  CORTLAND  CO.,  N.  Y. 

WESTERN    BEE-KEEPERS' 
SUPPLY  HOUSE. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  can  lie  liad  at  Des 
'.M..ines.  Iowa,  at  HOOT'S  PRICES.  The 
laigt-st  supply  business  in  the  West. 
Ksral)lishedl88.').  Dovetailed  Hives.  Sec- 
iions.  Foumlation.  Extractors.  Smokers, 
Veils.  Crates,  Feeders.  Clover  Seeds,  etc. 
Imported  Italian  Queens.  Queens  and 
Bees.  Sample  copy  of  our  Bee  Journal, 
■THE  WESTERN  BEEKEEPER."  and 
LATEST  CATALOGX'E  mailed  FREE  to 
Bee  keepers. 

JOSEPH  NYSEWANDER, 

Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

1  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  GleaNINOS, 


SAVE  MONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augms- 
ta,  Georj?ia,  for  his  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wholesale  rates.  4tfdb 


HATCH  CHICKENS  BY  STEAM 

WETH  THE  IMPROVED 

EXCELSIOR   INCUBATOR. 

TlioiisatwlK    ill    Suc- 
cessful Operation. 

SIMI'I.i:.     I'EKFECT.    and 
SKLF-  RKi;  I  LA  TIXG. 

(iuaranteecl  to  hatch  a 
largJT  percentage  of 

fertile  egg-'.at  less  cost, 
than  any  other  Incubator. 
Send  tic.  for  nins  Catalog. 
__  Circulars  Free. 

GEO.  H.  STAHl.,  Pat.  4  Sole  Mfr.,aiiincy,Hl 


lyill  respuiiuliig  to  tui»  uaveiu 


:1L  liieulluJl  Lt, 


A  Four-Color   Label   for  Only  75 
Cts.  Per  Thousand. 

Just  think  of  it!  we  can  furnish  you  a  very  neat 
four-coliir  laljel.  with  your  name  and  address,  with 
the  choice  of  having-  either  "comb  "  or  "e.xtracted  " 
before  the  word  "honey,"  for  only  75  cts.  per  thou- 
sand ;  50  cts.  ijer  500,  or  30  cts.  for  2.50.  postpaid.  The 
size  of  the  label  is  3.!^xl  inch— just  right  to  go  round 
the  neck  of  a  bottle,  to  put  on  a  section,  or  to  adorn 
the  front  of  a  honey-tumbler.  Send  for  our  special 
label  catalogue  for  samples  of  this  and  many  other 
pretty  designs  in  label  work. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  Medina,  O. 


18<>2 


(;1>HAN1X(;S  IN    I'.KH  ClII/riJliK. 


(K)7 


Root's  Goods  for  the  West. 

Bee=  Keepers  of  the  West 

Slioiild  (•(•nu'inlx'r  that  wh'  ha\c  cslablished  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  a 
WESTERN  BRANCH  where  a  full  line  of  Bee-keepers'  Supplies  are 
kept  for  sale.  You  can  save  time  and  freight  by  ordering  from  our 
Western  Branch.  We  have  engaged  Jos.  Nysewander  to  take  charge 
of  this  business,  who  will  give  all  orders  good,  careful,  and  prompt  at- 
tention.    Send  for  his  price  list  for  "1)3.     Address 

Joseph  Nysewander,  Des  Hoines,  Iowa. 


Keepers  Supplies. 


Ill  writing  aUvertiseis  please  mention  this  paper 


Dovetailed  Hives,   Simplicity  Hives, 

SHCr/O/VS,  EXTRACTORS.  ETC. 

FULL.     LINE     OF 

BEE-KEEPERS'     SU  PPL/  ES. 

60-PAGE    CATALOGUE.  Ufdb 

J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Alabama. 

C^'.n  ri!spo ri      1.  llij,  .idMi  li   I  Ni,  rii    imi.ti.m  (i  l.KAN  JM.-.. 

ROOT'S  GOODS  FOR  THE  EAST. 

Bee-Keepers   of  the  East  should 

BCdr    In    IvIinCl  that  we  have  established  at  Syracuse  an  ESStCm    BTBIICh 

ub(!reoiir  Bee-keepers' Supplies  are  kept  for  sale,  and   prompt  shipment.    You  can  save  time 
and  freight  by  ordering  from  our  Eastern  Branch.    We  have  engaged  Mr.  F.  A.  Sal- 
isbury to  take  charge  of  this  business,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.     He  will 
be  ploasod  to  send  you  a  list  of  goods  kept  in  stock. 
Address  all  orders, 
EASTERN    BRANCH,    F.  A.   SALISBURY,   Agent,   Syracuse,   N.  Y. 


Bee  -  Keepers'  *  Supplies 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  bee-keepers  with  sup- 
plies promptlj' and  at  lowest  rates.  Estiniatesjrhifll) 
furnislied,  and  oorrespoiidenrc  solicitfd.  Onr  }r(ii>ff>  I 
are  all  flrst-i.-lass  in  quality  aiul  workmanship.  '"■ 
nhigiie  neiit  free.  Keferenl-e.  First  N;ili()n;il  Mank 
Sterling,  HI.    Address  l-24dl) 

JXryi.  ,lloCI  NE  A:  <"<».. 

Sterliiii;.  |||fnoiiii. 
■isfr'ln  responding  to  this  advertlBement  mention  OLKANIKQ& 

JENNIE  ATCHLEY'S  HOME 

will   be   at   Greenville,   Hunt  Countj,  Tex.,  in   1893, 
ready  witli  queens  a^iiin.  19tfdb 


OllPPriQ     From   Best   of  Stock.    1QQ5 
ttueeilb  By  Doolittle's  Method.  ^OiJO 


lltfdh 


J.  B.  <A>»K,  Port  Orange,  Fla. 


VIOLINS 


GUITARS 

MANDOLINS 


0?  ^\-V  v\\\A05. 


Murray  ^H  El  ss."':'o^'h^.|"' 


Please  mention  this  paper 


CAI  I    Epgs  and  Plants.  Fowls,  Poultry-books  and 
rHl-U    Papers;  finely  ill.  circular  free.    Address 
'  GEER  BUGS.,  St.  Mary.s.  Mo., 

Utfdb  Or,       H.  B.  GEEK,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Please  mention  this  paper 


908  GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE  Dec.  15 

STEEL  WIRE  NETTING  and  FENCING. 

GALVANIZED  AFTER  BEING  WOVEN. 


The  cut  above  illustrates  some  of  the  many  uses 
to  which  this  wire  netting-  and  fencing  may  be  put 
about  the  liome.  You  will  notice  back  of  tlie  house 
a  poultry -yard.  Probably  tlie  greater  part  of  tl»e 
netting  heretofore  sold  has  Ijeen  used  for  fencing- 
poultry,  and  nothing  can  be  devised  tliat  Is  cheap- 
er, better,  or  more  durable. 

It  is  the  cheapest,  costing  less  than  75  cts.  per  rod 
for  posts,  staples,  and  all.  It  will  last  a  lifetime, 
and  never  needs  repairing,  because  it  can't  get  out 
of  order.  Being  galvanized  after  it  is  woven,  it  will 
never  rust.  It  is  easily  put  up  and  taken  down.  It 
can  not  be  blown  down,  as  the  wind  goes  right 
through  it.  On  this  account  you  don't  need  very 
heavy  posts  where  the  fence  is  used  for  poultry  on- 
ly. It  does  not  keep  out  the  light  and  fresh  air,  so 
needful  to  poultry.  It  is  neat  and  ornamental,  and 
always  looks  well  if  properly  put  up.  It  is  so  invis- 
ible that  fowls  can  not  see  the  top,  and  will  not  tiy 
over.  You  can  see  inside  as  well  as  if  there  were  no 
fence  at  all. 

But  the  uses  of  wire  netting  are  becoming  more 
and  more  diverse.  If  you  wish  to  let  poultry  run, 
and  have  flower-beds,  or  choice  crops  that  you  wish 
to  keep  from  them,  all  you  need  is  some  of  the  light- 
est netting,  not  over  one  to  two  feet  wide,  stretched 
around  as  shown  in  cut  above.  This  can  be  attached 
temporarily  to  liglit  stakes,  and  quickly  removed 
when  desired.  For  holding  up  green  peas  and  beans, 
tomatoes,  and  other  such  crops,  nothing  could  be 
cheaper  or  more  convenient  than  the  light  narrow 
netting,  12  or  18  inches  wide.  You  notice,  by  table 
of  prices  below,  that  the  light  weight,  No.  30,  3-inch 
mesh,  is  only  90c  a  roll,  1.50  ft.  long,  12  in.  wide.  This 
is  indestructible,  and,  if  properly  handled,  can  be 
used  year  after  year,  over  and  over  again.  You 
could  not  furnish  any  thing  else  half  as  good  for 
the  money;  and  the  time  >>f  putting  this  up  and  tak- 
ing care  of  it  again  after  the  crop  is  gathered  is  in- 
significant corn|)arc(l  with  sticks  or  brush,  or  anj' 
thing  else  that  can  be  used. 

For  stiK-k  fences  the  heavier  weights  are  used,  or 
the  cottage  fencing,  which  is  extra  heavy  and  well 
made.  There  are  a  great  many  makes  of  netting 
and  fencing,  and  it  is  needless  to  say  that  some  are 
inferior  to  others.  We  still  handle  the  G.  &  B. 
brand,  the  same  as  we  h;ive  always  sold  since  we  be- 
gan selling  this  class  of  goods,  because  we  believe 
it  to  be  the  best  value  for  the  monej'  of  anj'  on  the 
market.  The  goods  for  this  year  are  better  than 
ever;  being  made  of  stiff  steel  wire  it  will  not  kink 
and  get  out  of  shape  so  easilj'.  Our  contract  for 
the  coming  year  enables  us  to  make  very  low  prices. 
The  3-inch  mesh  we  are  able  to  offer  at  about  H  less 
than  last  year,  and  other  sizes  over  10  per  cent 
lower,  or  as  low  as  we  have  ever  been  able  to  sell  it 
before. 


COTTAGE  GATES. 

There  are  many  sizes  of  these  gates,  made  with 
plain  and  ornamental  top,  all  of  which,  with  many 
other  interesting  things,  are  listed  in  our  28-page 
netting  and  fencing  catalogue,  mailed  on  applica- 
tit)n.  Gates  like  above,  3  feet  wide,  are  worth  $3.'i'0 
each,  3  feet  high;  $2.85  for  3i  feet  high,  and  $3.00  for 
4  feet,  including  latch  and  hinges;  with  plain  top, 
30c  each  less.  We  do  not  keep  these  in  stock,  but 
ship  from  New  York  or  Chicago.  This  is  also  true  of 
most  of  the  netting  and  fencing  listed  below.  We 
have  in  stock  at  Medina  all  widths  of  3-inch  No.  19. 
Everything  else  listed  below  will  be  shipped  from 
New  York  or  Chicago. 

We  are  prepared  to  make  special  low  prices  to 
dealers,  and  those  who  buy  in  large  quantities.  On 
goods  shipped  from  New  York  or  Chicago  we  must 
add  35  cts.  for  cartage  on  each  shipment,  large  or 
small.  When  you  pick  out  from  the  table  what  you 
want,  and  deduct  the  discount  for  quantity,  if  5 
rolls  or  more  are  ordered,  then  add  25  cents  for  cart- 
age. The  following  table  gives  our  net  price  per 
roll  of  all  sizes,  in  lots  of  from  1  to  6  rolls.  On  orders 
for  5  rolls,  deduct  5  per  cent;  10  rolls,  10 per  cent;  25 
rolls  or  more,  15  per  cent.  Less  than  full  rolls  or 
parts  of  rolls  cost  double  the  full  roll  price,  because 
of  trouble  of  unrolling,  measuring,  etc.  Always 
order  full  rolls  if  possible. 
— Size-^  I  Price  1  roll  150ft..  long  and  fol'wing  widths. 

*'  12     18     24     30        36       42    '    48       60       72 
in.      in.      In.      In.      in. 


Sin 
3  " 
3  " 
3  " 
3  " 
2  " 
2  " 


3  80;  4  75 
5  00]  6  35 
1  80;  2  25 
3  00    2  .51' 

3  25 

4  25 


20  I*  90  1  35  1  80!  2  25    2  70    3  15^  3  60    4  50    5  40 
1  20  1  8(1  2  40    3  00    3  6(i    4  2u'  4  80    6  00    7  20 

1  50i3  35  3  0(1  3  75  4  50  5  25  6  00  7  .50  9  00 
5  70  6  65  7  60  9  50  11  40 
7  .50    8  75  10  00  12  ,50  15  00 

2  70    3  15    3  60    4  50    5  40 

3  00  3  .50;  4  00  5  00  6  00 
3  90  4  55  5  2tl  6  50'  7  80 
5  10    5  95,  6  80    8  5010  20 

5  25  6  30  7  35!  8  40  10  50  12  60 
7  25  8  70  10  15' 11  6"i  14  50  17  40 
3  00  3  60  4  20;  4  80  6  00;  7  20 
11  403  10  2  80  3  50  4  20  4  90  5  60  7  OOi  8  40 
ll  80  2  70  3  60,  4  ,50  5  40  6  30!  7  20  9  0010  80 
3  30  3  30  4  40  5  .50  6  60  7  7o!  8  80  11  00,13  20 
j2  40  3  60  4  80'  6  OO'  7  20    8  40l  9  60  12  00  14  40 

2  8014  20  5  601  7  00    8  40    9  80  11  30  14  00  16  80 

3  3014  95  6  6(1  8  35  9  90  11  55,13  30  16  50  19  80 
'3  6015  40  7  20  9  00  10  80  12  60  14  40  18  00  21  60 
'4  30i6  45  8  6010  7^n  90  15  0517  20  21  50l25  80 

3^  or  1  inch  staples  for  above,  15c  per  lb. 
28-page  netting  and  fencing  catalogue  free  on  re- 
quest. 


1  9013  85 

2  50  3  75 
I  90  1  35 
1  00' 1  50 

1  30' 1  9512  61) 

1  703  .55|3  40 
|2  10i3  15  4  20 

2  OO'l  35  5  80 
1  201  80!3  40 


A.  I.  ROOT, 


MEDINA,  OHIO. 


(JI.KANINCS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


'.K)'.» 


Honey  Column. 


MiNNICAPOM 


CITY  MARKETS. 

Ai.ii.vNY.  Hoiiiii.  \Vc  liavi'  ii'L'ohfd  lip  lo  (|,i(e 
JC'S^  cast's  <if  i-oiiil),  iiiul  '^ir^  l)l)ls.,  kojyrs.  and  tin 
packages  i>f  extracted  liinu'y.  and  liave  but  a  very 
small  stock  of  either  at  present  i>ii  liaiid.  After  tlie 
holidays  tlii>  demand  foi'<-oml)  lioiiey  iis\ially  drops 
rijflit  otl,  and  extracted  he«:ins  to  move  freely;  but 
tins  season  extracted  bejraii  to  sell  eailj-;  iind  at 
present,  slock  on  hand  is  already  quite  small,  which 
would  indicate  hijrher  prii-es  latt'ron.  Comb,  sell- 
iiijr  slowly  at  \WH\  for  wliite  clo\er:  !t;".lU  for 
buckwheat.  Larjre  sections,  Ic  per  lb.  less.  Ex- 
tracted, lig-ht.  8®!';  dark,  7@S. 

Dei-.  10.  ('HAS.  Mcculloch  &  Co., 

393-:W;  Broadway,  Albany,  N.  Y. 


Nkw  Voi{K.—  //i)(iei/.— Demand  for  comb  honey 
slacking  oH' a  little;  supplv  sulTicieni  for  demand. 
We  <|uote  as  follows:  1-lb.,  fancy,  l.")@17;  fair, 
l-.'di.U;  2-lb..  fancy.  i:J@U;  fair.  10@M2;  Mb.  buck- 
wheat, 10@11:  2-lb..  it.  Rxtracted,  clover  and  bass- 
wood,  t<Ci';  buckwheat,  6@7;  Southern,  per  gal., 
68@T.5.     Bcr.sic(i.r,  ~'6(^U'8. 

Chas.  Israel  &  Bkcs., 

Dec.  8.  110  Hudson  St.,  New  York. 


HdiKji.  We  ran  report  toyou  IhlH 
week  a  siilendid  market  on  lionnv.  Kancy  white 
.selling  at  M-;  clinice  at,  ITf'.IS.  i)ark  at  14@15c; 
common  broken  lots,  12c.  ytiained,  in  10-lb.  kegs. 
IOC  12c;  large  bsirrel.s,  8c. 
Hec.  9.  .].  A.  Shka&Co., 

14&  16  Hennepin  Ave.,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

Detroit.— HoMej/.—Cotnb  honey  in  fair  demand. 
Best  white,  U@lo.  Exlracted,  msVi.  Beeswax, 
25@26. 

l>cc.  8.  M.  H.  Hunt,  Bell  Branch,  Mich. 

Kansas  City. —  //oncy.— Demand  good,  supply 
large.  White  Mb.,  17c.  Extracted,  mS-— Beeswax. 
—None  on  market.  Hamblin  &  Bearss, 

Dec.  7.  514  Walnut  St.,  Kan.sas  City,  Mo. 

For  SALE.-lOfM)  lbs.  of  well-ripened  extracted 
honey  in  Hull),  square  cans,  2  in  case.  Sample  by 
mail  u|ion  request.       E/ra  Bakr,  Dixon,  111.        24d 


Boston.— Honey.— Comb  honey  is  selliug  slow- 
very  much  slower  than  we  like  to  have  it;  and  it  is 
our  experience  that,  when  we  start  honey  at  a  high 
price,  it  sells  hard  right  through  the  season.  We 
quote  you  our  market  nominally,  at  17@18c  for  best 
white  honey,  Mb.  sections.    Extracted,  8@9. 

Beeswax. — None  on  hand. 

Blake  &  Ripley, 

Dec.  9.  Boston,  Mass. 

Kansas  City.— iIo?ie!/.— The  demand  is  fair  for 
coml),  and  good  for  extracted.  We  quote:  Comb, 
1-lb.,  white,  lfi@17;  amber,  12@1.5;  extracted,  white, 
'%  ;  amber,  5@t).    Beomxix,  22(525. 

Cle.mons-Mason  Com.  Co., 

Dec.  8.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

New  York.— fT'iiiry. —Fair  demand  for  choice 
clover,  Mb.,  at  14@15;  2-lb..  i:i@14.  Buckwheat  Mb. 
paper  cai>s  wanted.  Buckwheat  selling  iit  9@10X, 
according  to  quality  and  style.  Bceswaj-. —There  is 
DO  change.  Thurber-Whyland  Co., 

Dec.  8.  New  York. 

Buffalo.— Honey.— Choice  clover  honey  is  selling 
in  our  market  at  present  at  lij@16;  No.  2  grade, 
11(5-13;  buckwheat,  9@]0,  less  our  commission.  Our 
market  is  light,  and,  no  doubt,  liberal  amounts 
<-ould  be  handled  here  satisfactorily. 

Batterson  &  Co., 

Dec.  7.  167,  169  Scott  St.,  Buftalo,  N.  V. 


Chicago.— Honey.— Arrivals  are  equal  to  the  de- 
mand, and  tliere  is  quite  a  little  that  is  not  up  to 
gofid  grade  that  sells  slowly.  Best,  white  comb 
brings  18c.    Extracted.  0(3^9.     lire.iun.r,  22Cj2.'>. 

R.  A.  BUR.NE'IT, 

Dec.  7.  Ifil  So.  Water  St..  Chicago,  111 

Cincinnati.— Honey.— Demand  i«  fair  for  extract- 
ed and  comb  honey,  with  a  f;iir  suppl3-.  Good  ex- 
tracted honey  brings  6:^s  on  arrival.  Best  white 
comb  honey,  14(g>16  in  a  jol)bing  way.  Bee^u-ar  is 
in  fair  demand;  arrivals  good.  It  brings  22(^2.5  for 
good  to  choice  yellow  on  arrival. 

Chas.  F.  Muth  &  Son, 

Dec.  7.  Cincinnati,  O. 

Clevel.\nu.— Honey.— A  No.  1  white  honey  in  Mb. 
sections,  15;  No.  2.  12.  Market  slow  and  well  filled 
up.    Beeswax.  •£i@Zi.    Demand  good. 

Reynolds  &  Wii^liams, 

Dec.  7.  80  &  82  Bro;idway,  Cleveland,  O. 

St.  Louis.—Honey.— Choice  white-clover  honey  in 
1-lb.  sections  is  rather  scarce,  and  selling  at  17(5'18; 
goo<l  fair  stock  from  14<«.16;  broken  and  dark,  ,-<f(7ilO; 
extracted  honey  in  barrels,  from  .5(^6;  in  cans,  7(5*8. 
The  indications  are,  that,  tor  the  next  two  months, 
honey  will  be  in  demand  at  full  quotations. 

Beeswax.— Prime  stock  sells  readily  at  24;  choice 
selections  worth  26.  W.  B.  Westcott, 

Dec.  8.  St.  Louis,  Mo. 


For  Sale.— Three  bbls.  and  twelve  60-lb.  cans  fine 
Spanish-needle  honey.  Emil.I.  Baxter, 

Nauvoo,  Haneoek  (Jo.,  111. 


luteresfcin^^  Monthly  for 

The  Family  and  Fireside 

Welcome  in  every  Home. 

lliurgre  Premiums  for  Clubs. 

Sample  Copy  sent  Free. 
o ■ 

Thomas  G.  Newman, 

117  Southwestern  Ave., 
CHICAGO,      -      -      It,LS. 


FOR  SALE.      About    1700  lbs.  of  pecan  nuts. 
Samples  sent  to  any  one  making  an  offer.  24d 

R.  A.  Jansen,  Wharton,  Tex. 


Wants  or  Exchange  Department. 


117  ANTED.- To  exchange  20  acres  fine  land,  ad- 
»i  joining  Garden  City,  Kansas.  AH  under  irriga- 
tion; 10  acres  in  alfalfa,  10  in  garden,  for  cash,  San 
Diego,  Cal.,  city  or  country  property,  or  offers. 

H.  L.  Graham,  850  6th  St.,  San  Diego,  Cal. 


WANTED  —To  exchange  one  Spencer  repeating 
ritle,  value  $8;   also  a  good  small  printing-office 
complete,  worth  $14.    What  have  you  to  otferV   24-ld 
W.  H.  Laws,  Lavaca,  Ark. 

WANTED.— To  sell  or  exchange  a  Daisy  garden- 
diill.    New.    Edgar  Easterday,  Nokomis,  111. 


KIND  WORDS  FROM  OUR  CUSTOMERS. 


I  could  not  do  without  Gleamn(js,  for  I  have 
received  $r).()i)  worili  of  money  from  it  besides  the 
good  reading  in  the  Home  talks. 

Deshler,  Ohio,  Nov.  18.        Thomas  Obeklitner. 

our  bushel  boxes. 

I  am  glad  to  say  that  those  "shooks"  were  as  good 
as  they  could  be— not  a  poor  stick  in  the  lot.  I  hated 
to  order,  for  fear  of  getting  a  lot  of  stuff  not  worth 
making  up,  and  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  compliment 
you— or,  rather,  give  you  your  d&e— un.solicited. 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Nov.  11.  C.  E.  Rum.sey 


A    KIND   WORD    FOR  THE  AVHEEL. 

I  have  read  with  much  interest  your  article  on 
the  wheel,  and  can  indorse  all  j'ou  say  about  it.  I 
have  used  the  bicycle  for  six  years  and  now  have 
my  third  wheel,  lo  keep  up  with  the  improvements. 
My  two  boys  have  wheels  also,  and  the  way  we 
economize  time,  while  taking  comfort,  health,  and 
jileasure,  is  something  remarkable.  I  .suppose  the 
improvements  will  be  still  surprising  for  the  next 
six  years,  and  we  must  and  will  have  better  roads 
by  the  advent  of  tlie  bicycle.  W.  O.  Sweet. 

West  Mansfield,  Mass.,  Dec.  9. 


910 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURh:. 


Dec.  15. 


Best  Articles  from  Best  Men^ 

With  the  Dec.  issue  the  Bee-Keepers'  Review  is  five  years  old.  This  last  number  of  the  fifth  year  Is 
unique.  Its  editor  asked  eacli  of  .several  of  the  best  bee-keepers  to  write  what  he  ithe  bee-keeper)  consid- 
ered the  bfxt  article  he  ever  wrote.  Each  was  to  go  over,  in  his  mind,  tlie  bee-keeping'  of  the  past,  see  how  it 
had  progressed  first  in  this  direction,  then  in  that;  met  this  obstacle,  then  that;  then  consider  the  bee- 
keeping' of  the  present,  its  needs  and  necessities;  and  then  try  and  give  the  best  advice  possible  to  give  in 
a  single  article  as  to  the  course  that  bee-keepers  ought  to  pinsuc  in  the  future  to  tnake  their  pursuit  more 
pleasant  and  profitable.  If  you  wish  to  know  in  which  direction  the  leadi'rs  in  apiculture  believe  that 
bee-keepers  ought  to  work  to  better  their  condition,  send  lu  cents  for  the  Dec.  Review.  With  it  will  be 
sent  the  Oct.  and  Nov.  issues.  By  the  way,  the  Nov  number  gives  the  views  of  such  men  as  Doolittle, 
Taylor,  and  Miller  upon  tliat  vexed  question  ot  "  Sugar-Honey  Prolutition."  There  will  also  be  sent  a  sheet 
upon  which  are  printed  nearly  a  dozen  portraits  of  the  Review's  leading  correspondents  (among  them  the 
editor),  together  with  a  list  of  all  tlie  special  topics  that  have  been  discussed,  the  numbers  in  which  they 
may  be  found,  and  the  prices  at  which  they  will  lie  sent.  A  proixisition  is  silso  made  whereby  these  back 
numbers  may  be  secured  at  /(«f/  price.  Tlie  price  of  the  Review  is  Sl.tO  a  year.  The  Review  one  year  and 
"Advanced  Bee  Culture,"  for  $1.25.    New  subscribers  for  l.s93  get  the  last  three  issues  of  this  year  free. 

W.  Z.  HUTCHINSON,  Flint,  Mich. 


Best  on  Earth. 


More  than  one  hundred 
thousand  Bingham  & 
Hetherington  Honey- 
knives  and  Bee-smok- 
ers in  daily  use.  Il- 
lustrations, sent  free. 


Bingham  &  IHetherington, 

Abronia,  Mich.  7tfdb 

FOR  SALE.  Nineteen  colonies  brown  bees,  in 
movablc-f lanie  hives.  Most  of  them  hung  on  im- 
proved Ibitlnian  frames.  Contain  now  honey  enough 
to  pay  for  some.  Will  sell  for  $3,00  pew  colony,  as 
they  stand,  if  taken  at  once. 

John  Davis,  Gerlona  City,  Ark. 

A  NEW  INVENTION  in  FRAMES. 

No  more  crushing  of  bees,  no  sticking  together  of 
frames.  The  Hoffman  frame  thrown  in  the  shade. 
Send  a  postal  and  learn  all  about  this  new  Frame 
and  manner  of  using  in  hives,  it  you  want  to  see 
or  learn  something  that  will  please  you  write  to 

N.  BOOMHOWER,  Callupville,  N.  Y. 

tW^n  resimndins  to  tlii.s  arJvertI«>Broent  mfintioT"  Glkavinuv 


D 


ON'T 


purchase  a  Self-Hiver 
until  you  have  read 
about  the  Perfection 
in  our  18-page  circular. 
Sent  free.    Address  24-tfdb 

HENRY  ALLEY,  WENHAM.  MASS. 

Bee-flives- 

Dovetailed  or  othei'wisc     All  kinds  of  bee-supplies. 

Write  for  free  catalogue. 

W.  H.  PUTNAM,  River  Falls,  Pierce  Co.,  Wis. 


fow,  I've  Got  You 

Just  read  our  won- 
derful offer— nothing 
like  it  heard  of  before 
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Mention  Gleanings 


r*--i«--».--4«-r«-.i*i..i»i--K--itt-.i«--«S-tj: 


•To  -B  E.  e:=>  •  ••*^>0» 

•MDHOMEL-     *- 


uBLiiHED  BY  g^  rrtp  0  I' 


Vol.  XX. 


DEC.  15,  1892. 


No.  24. 


Stray  Straws 

FROM      DR.     C.     C.     MILLER. 

Mkrijv  Christmas  1 

350  MILLION  people  talk  Chinese;  105,  English; 
100.  Hindoo:  80.  Russian:  4.5,  German;  38. 
French. 

A  CORRESPONDENT  asks  what  insurance  com- 
panies insure  bees  against  fire,  etc.  I  don't 
know.     Who  does'? 

The  Review  has  been  gathering  statistics  as 
to  the  queen-trade,  and  estimates  not  less  than 
20,000  queens  sold  in  1893. 

Golden  Carniolans  are  mentioned  in 
Imhern  RiincUchfUi.  with  the  word  ''humbug" 
occupying  a  very  near  position. 

British  bee-keepers  are  to  have  in  London 
a  competitive  exhibition  of  the  honey  intended 
for  the  World's  Fair,  before  it  starts  for  this 
side  the  water. 

For  dysentery,  the  Medical  Brief  says  one 
of  the  best  remedies  is  two  or  three  eggs  daily, 
beaten  up  lightly  with  or  without  sugar.  This 
for  people,  not  for  bees,  n^  i     , 

A  "sFiiUES^'oF^ARTiCLEs  by  P.  Bols.  ou  "  The 
Science  of  Bee-keeping."  is  being  published  in 
the  B.  B. ./..  and  R.  A.  Grimshaw  follows  with 
a  second  series,  making  fun  of  the  first. 

"A  NUCLEI  "  is  something  spoken  of  quite  too 
often.  There  is  no  such  thing,  any  more  than 
there  is  "  a  women."  You  may  have  a  "nu- 
cleus:" but  if  more  than  one,  then  they  are 
"  nuclei.'' 

The  Washington  cona'ention  is  now  set 
for  Dec.  27-39;  but  as  yet  no  light  is  giv(>ii  upon 
the  one  thing  that  .'^ome  of  us  want  light  upon, 
so  as  to  know  whether  we  can  afford  to  attend — 
the  railroad  fare. 

R.  McKj^ght  was  supposed  to  need  icdtching 
by  the  Ontario  Bee-keepers'  Association,  so 
tiiey  mttclted  him  with  a  valuable  gold  watch, 
"in  appreciation  of  el'ficient  services  rendered 
to  the  association." 

"Slumgum"  is  a  word  tliat  I  have  seen  used 
a  number  of  times.  Will  you  kindly,  tfjl  us, 
Mr.  Editor,  what  it  means,  and,  if  possible,  its 
derivation'?  Is  it  a  word  that  ought  to  go  into 
use  as  a  straight  English  word  ? 

Prof.  Cook  says,  A.  B.  J..  "  I  do  not  believe 
mating  bees  in  confinement  can  ever  be  made  a 
success."  How  can  you  say  that,  professor,  in 
the  face  of  successes  reported'?  But  somehow 
those  successes  were  never  capable  of  repetition. 

Do  YOU  KNOW  of  any  bee-keepers'  terms  not 
to  be  found  in  the  dictionaries,  or  any  that  need 


different  definition?  If  you  will  send  them  to 
me  I  will  try  to  see  that  they  are  all  straight  in 
the  great  "  Standard  "  dictionary  soon  to  be  is- 
sued. 

Carrie  B.  Aaron  relates,  in  A.  B.  J.,  that 
she  intends  to  keep  a  colony  continuously  at 
work  throughout  the  coming  winter  in  a  heated 
glass  balcony.  Her  experiments  will  be  watch- 
ed by  bee-keepers  with  more  interest  than  hope- 
ful ness. 

A  STRIKING  case  of  the  cure  of  facial  neural- 
gia is  reported  by  P.  C.  Gress.  M.  D..  in  A.  B.  J. 
It  was  effected  by  a  single  sting  in  the  eye,  and 
the  doctor  thinks  if  six  or  eight  stings  had  been 
used  the  patient  would  have  been  killed  instead 
of  cured. 

"  Does  it  pay  to  paint  hives?"  is  asked  in  A. 
B.  J.  Nearly  all  say,  "  Yes;"  but  Messrs.  l3oo- 
littie.  Secor.  and  Cook  agree  with  me  that  it  is 
a  matter  of  looks  rather  than  economy.  I  sus- 
pect, however,  that  it  may  be  economy  to  paint 
flat  covers. 

Enlarging  the  field  of  the  Bee-keepers' 
Union  so  as  to  make  it  include  prosecutions  for 
adulteration,  if  it  will  swell  its  ranks  to  '3(X)0,  as 
Gleanings  thinks,  would  be  a  grand  move  in 
the  right  direction;  and  I  shouldn't  wonder  if 
Gleanings  is  right. 

A  common  error  is  to  suppose  that,  in  set- 
ting a  weak  colony  in  place  of  a  strong  one  in 
order  to  strengthen  it,  it  is  important  that  the 
chancre  be  made  when  the  largest  number  of 
bees  are  out.  There  will  be  just  as  much  gain 
if  the  change  is  made  at  midnight. 

Laying  workers.  Mrs.  Atchley  says  in  A.  B. 
J.,  sometimes  commence  work  just  about  the 
time  the  queen  is  hatched,  or  a  little  before, 
then  stop  after  the  queen  gets  fairly  down  to 
business.,  On  this  account  she  thinks  breeders 
are  sometimes  fooled,  and  send  out  virgin  for 
laying  queens. 

One  of  the  French  bee-journals  does  not 
sacrifice  clearness  of  meaning  for  brevity  in 
selecting  a  name.  Its  luime  is  La  Culture 
Ratlonelle  de-s  Abeilles.  or  "  The  Rational  Cul- 
ture of  Bees."  If  the  full  name  must  be  given 
with  every  quotation  from  it,  it  doesn't  need  a 
copyright  to  prevent  many  extracts. 

What  ails  the  proof-reader  of  Gleanings? 
In  last  "Straws"  he  puts  John  for  .las.;  and  by 
changing  the  place  of  quotation-marks  he 
makfis  me  father  the  idea  that  a  metal  hive 
would  be  moth-proof — an  idea  whose  credit  I 
should  not  like  to  steal  from  Mr.  Wykott'.  Bet- 
ter turn  off"  that  proof-reader  and  get  a  Prohi- 
bitionist.   Or  were  the  mistakes  all  mine  ? 

That  usu.\lly  cheerful  writer,  E.  E. 
Hasty,  is  very  blue  in  the  C.  B.  J.,  over  the 
advance  of  civilization.    Clean    tillage  leaves 


91:2 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dp:c.  1.' 


no  fencerows  for  bee-plants,  and  the  lindens  are 
disappearing.  Hurry  up  that  short- enrol  I  aed 
red  clover,  friend  Hasty,  and  we'll  teach  stock 
to  eat  melilot:  and  then  with  buckwheat  and 
white  clover  we're  not  so  desperately  bad  off. 

"After  moke  than  25  years'  experience.'" 
says  that  usually  careful  writer,  C.  H.  Dibbern, 
"we  know  of  no  other  industry  that  offers  so 
many  opportunities  to  a  poor  man  as  bee- keep- 
ing to  get  a  start  in  life."  Some  of  those  who 
are  asking  what  other  business  they  can  unite 
with  bee-keeping  so  as  not  to  be  obliged  to  give 
it  up,  will  scratch  their  heads  when  they  read 
that. 

A  NEAT  EXPERIMENT  is  reported  by  F.  H. 
Richardson,  in  A.  B.  J.  Into  four  cages,  each 
containing  a  drop  of  honey,  were  turned  re- 
spectively one,  two,  three,  and  four  bees  with 
empty  sacs.  "All  quickly  found  their  drop  and 
began  business.  The  two  bees  diminished  their 
drop  very  considei'ably:  the  three  cleaned 
theirs  up  very  nearly;  the  four  cleaned  up  and 
'licked  the  paper;'  while  the  one  lonesome  bee 
undoubtedly  wished  it  had  two  more  sacs. 
Now,  this  proved  that  one  drop  was  just  about 
three  bee-loads." 


LANGSTROTH'S  REMINISCENCES. 


EARLY    PASTORAL   EXPERIENCES. 


The  Rev.  Samuel  Phillips,  the  first  pastor  of 
the  South  Andover  Church,  served  his  people 
about  sixty  years.  He  was  a  man  of  very 
marked  peculiarities.  It  is  related  of  him,  that, 
if  any  head  of  a  family  was  absent  from  church, 
and  he  knew  no  cause  for  it,  his  practice  was  to 
call  upon  such  as  soon  as  he  could,  to  inquire 
why  he  was  absent.  Perhaps  this  habit  of  his 
had  something  to  do  with  producing  that  un- 
usual punctuality  in  attending  divine  services 
which  I  think  I  never  saw  equaled  anywhere 
else.  The  church  records  kept  by  him  were 
written  in  a  hand  nearly  as  legible  as  print.  In 
looking  over  his  lists  of  baptized  children  I 
found,  with  scarcely  an  exception,  that  every 
child  had  a  Scripture  name.  From  one  of  the 
old  men  I  had  the  following  characteristic  an- 
ecdote: 

One  morning  a  father  presented  his  infant 
daughter  for  baptism.  Being  asked  her  name 
he  replied.  "Betsv." 

"Betsy!"  said  Dr.  Phillips— "  Betsy !  that  is 
no  Christian  name;  it  is  a  heathenish  name.  I 
suppose  you  mean  Elizabeth." 

"No.  sir,"  responded  the  man;  "I  mean 
Betsy." 

Proceeding  to  administer  the  rite  of  baptism. 
Dr.  Phillips  said,  in  a  loud  voice,  and  with  a 
strong  emphasis  on  every  syllable  of  the  name, 
"  E-liz-a-beth,  I  baptize  thee."  etc. 

The  father  was  so  angry  that  he  went  stamp- 
ing down  the  aisle  with  his  child  in  his  arms, 
crying  out  repeatedly  in  a  loud  voice,  "  This 
child's  name,  I  say,  is  Betsy!  this  child's  name 
is  Betsy!" 

In  Dr.  Phillips'  time  no  fires  were  ever  kindled 
in  the  church.  From  a  large  old-fashioned 
fireplace,  in  a  dwellinghouse  near  by,  the  live 
coals  were  pj-ocured  for  the  women's  footstoves. 
No  doubt,  when  the  mercury  outside  was  far 
below  zero  it  must  often  have  sunk  inside  to  a 
very  low  temperature.  The  men  could  then 
keep  their  feet  from  freezing  only  by  frequently 
stamping  upon  the  floor;  and  I  have  been  told 
that  the  noise  was  occasionally  so  great  that  it 
was  next  to  impossible  to  hear  the  words  of  the 
preacher. 

At  the  time  of  my  settlement  the  congrega- 


tion was  composed  very  largr^ly  of  farmers. 
There  was  one  member  of  the  church  who  came 
more  than  once  to  the  minister  to  complain  of 
the  pride  of  his  brethren  and  sisters.  To  him 
the  strongest  proof  of  their  unchristian  pride 
seemed  to  be  the  painted  outside  of  their  houses 
and  the  carpeted  inside.  One  day  when  he 
came  with  his  usual  complaints  I  said  to  him, 
"Let  me  tell  you  a  story.  In  ancient  times 
there  lived  a  philosopher  by  the  name  of  Plato, 
who  kept  a  large  school  for  the  instruction  of 
the  Athenian  youths,  and  he  had  carpeted  the 
doors  of  his  academy.  Now,  there  was  an  old 
man  among  his  acquaintances,  named  Diogenes, 
who  lived  on  the  plainest  food  and  in  the  mean- 
est way.  One  day  when  Plato  was  instructing 
his  classes.  Diogenes  entered  with  his  feet  all 
dripping  with  mud.  Striding  over  the  floor 
with  great  demonstrativeness.  and  splashing 
the  mud  as  he  goes  upon  Plato's  elegant  rugs, 
while  the  pupils  looked  on  with  astonishment, 
he  cried  out  with  a  loud  voice,  •  Thus  I  trample 
on  the  pride  of  Plato!'  The  philosopher  looked 
up.  and,  smiling  upon  him,  only  replied, 'But 
you  do  so  with  greater  pride.'  Then,  appeal- 
ing to  my  complaining  brother,  I  asked  him  if 
he  had  never  thought  that  perhaps  he  was 
prouder  of  his  unpainted  house  and  its  naked 
floors  than  others  were  of  the  things  which 
offended  him  so  much.  Perhaps  for  the  first 
time  he  felt  that  he  had  made  a  mistake  in 
being  so  censorious,  and  he  actually  acknowl- 
edged to  his  young  minister  that  it  might  even 
be  that  he  had  as  much  or  more  pride  than  he 
had  laid  to  the  charge  of  others. 

Ministers  are  often  annoyed,  especially  when 
young,  by  church-members  who  gather  up  all 
the  current  scandals,  seeming  to  think  it  their 
special  duty  to  empty  them  upon  him.  One 
such  person  otn'U  obtruded  himself  upon  me.  in 
spite  of  my  decided  manife'^talion  of  unwilling- 
ness to  listen  to  him.  I  at  last  induced  him  to 
discontinue  his  visits,  by  the  following  treat- 
ment: As  soon  as  he  opened  his  budget  of  evil 
things  said  and  done  by  church-members,  I 
turned  from  him  and  gazed  intently  on  a  corner 
of  the. ceiling,  and  he  could  get  neither  word 
nor  look  from  me.  Taking  at  last  the  hint  I 
intended,  he  left  me,  and  never  came  back  upon 
similar  business. 

My  father  had  two  paper-mills  in  the  vicinity 
of  Philadelphia,  which  required  him  to  keep 
team  horses  and  horses  for  travel;  so  I  early 
learned  to  manage  a  horse.  But  I  certainly 
knew  very  little  about  the  practical  details  of 
life.  One  day  a  carpenter  was  making  some 
repairs  upon  my  barn;  and  from  some  questions 
that  I  asked  him  he  found  out  that  1  did  not 
even  know  how  to  drive  a  nail.  I  knew  very 
well  that  I  was  quite  an  adei)t  in  splitting 
boards,  and  first  learned  from  him  that  a  nail  is 
a  wedge,  and  how  to  drive  it.  Never  having 
had  any  experience  in  ministerial  matters,  so 
that  I  coulil  learn  how  a  parish  should  be  treat- 
ed. I  doubtless  made  many  mistake^. 

I  have  often  thought  what  an  admirable  dis- 
cipline it  was  for  a  young  man,  studying  for  the 
ministry,  to  be  in  the  family  under  the  eye  and 
instruction  of  some  able  pastor  who  could  im- 
part to  him  not  only  theological  knowledge, 
but  that  practical,  common-sense  way  of  deal- 
ing with  parishioners  for  want  of  which  so 
many  pastors  fail.  They  now  go  to  a  theologi- 
cal seminary  and  hear  lectures,  and  learn 
theoretically  their  future  duties;  but  often  they 
enter  upon  them  lamentably  ignorant  of  what 
they  might  so  easily  have  learned  in  a  pastor's 
family. 

THE    SLAVERY    QUESTION. 

In  the  senior  year  of  my  college  life  the  ques- 
tion of  slavery  became  very  prominent.    Presi- 


1S'.I2 


GLp]ANIN(iS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


!»]3 


avi/i^ 


"Wo^/^^y 


914 


GLEANIKGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  15. 


dent  Day  always  strongly  desired  its  abolition, 
but  he  did  not  agree  with  many  of  the  methods 
pursued  by  our  prominent  anti -slavery  men.  In 
his  judgment,  even  the  formation  of  ami-slave- 
ry societies  in  the  North  was  a  mif^take.  He 
thought  their  natural  tendency  was  to  irritate 
Southern  men.  and  turn  them  away  from  mak- 
ing any  practical  efforts  to  change  their  institu- 
tions. I  once  heard  him  say,  "■  If  a  door  is  part- 
ly open,  and  you  for  some  reason  wish  to  have  it 
opened  wider,  it  would  not  be  wise  to  use  such 
irritating  language  as  could  only  end  in  having 
the  door  slammed  in  your  face."  I  heard  Wm. 
Lloyd  Garrison  lecture  in  a  church  at  New  Ha- 
ven. Many  Southern  students  were  present, 
and  great  offense  was  given  tliem  by  the  oppro- 
brious epithets  which  he  so  vehemently  bestow- 
ed upon  all  slaveholders.  I  could  easily  see  that 
their  sense  of  justice  was  often  violated,  and 
that  they  could  not  fail  to  be  provoked,  by  his 
strong  denunciations  of  their  Christian  fathers 
and  mothers.  I  suppose  it  would,  at  that  time, 
have  been  an  inconceivable  idea  to  Mr.  Garri- 
son that  ■'  men-stcalers."  as  he  called  all  slave- 
holders, could  possibly  be  real  Christians.  Tlie 
cries.  "  It  is  a  lie!  you  ai'e  a  liar!  "  were  hurled 
at  him  by  those  who  truly  believed  that  he  de- 
served such  epithets,  and  the  meeting  broke  up. 
I  believe,  in  confusion.  Some  years  later  I  read, 
in  a  Portland  paper,  an  angry  controversy  car- 
ried on  between  John  Neale  and  Mr.  Garrison, 
long  before  the  latter  became  prominent  as  an 
anti-slavery  agitator.  One  sentence  dwelt  long 
in  my  memory,  and  inspired  a  strong  dislike  to 
Garrison.  The  purport  of  it  was,  that  Neale 
might  live  to  be  proud  some  day  of  the  connec- 
tion of  his  name  with  that  of  Garrison:  "  For" 
(I  quote  from  memory)  "  it  is  my  determination 
to  make  the  name  of  William  Lloyd  Garrison 
known  wherever  the  sun  doth  rise  and  set."  To 
"  make  the  name  of  William  Lloyd  Garrison 
known"  seemed  to  me.  for  a  long  time,  to  be  too 
much  his  leading  motive.  If  it  was,  he  lived  to 
rise  nobly  above  it  in  his  subsequent  career.  It 
may  well  be  doubted,  whether  the  steps  which 
led  to  the  overthrow  of  slavei'y  could  ever  have 
been  taken  by  men  who  did  not  possess  the 
Lutherlike  spirit  of  Garrison  and  his  associates. 
But  what  if  he  had  possessed  a  stronger  spirit 
of  love?  or  if  he  had  been,  as  it  were,  a  Luther- 
Melancthon  embodied  in  one  soul?  But  God 
raised  up  a  Luther  and  a  Melancthon,  out  no 
Luther-Melancthon. 

In  the  Andover  church,  as  in  so  many  others, 
there  were  wide  and  irreconcilable  differences 
of  opinion  as  to  what  ought  to  be  done  by  church 
action  on  the  slavery  question.  One  of  my  own 
church- members  came  to  converse  with  me  one 
day.  on  this  (to  him)  all-engrossing  theme.  We 
differed  widely:  he  grew  more  and  more  excited 
as  his  voice  rose  higlier  and  higher  in  fierce  re- 
monstrances. In  a  lull  of  the  storm,  a  tapping 
was  heard  at  my  study  door:  and  when  I  open- 
ed it  my  wife  stood  therewith  tokens  of  surprise 
if  not  alarm  on  her  countenance.  My  angry 
parishioner  subsided  at  once,  and.  taking  her  by 
the  hand,  he  said,  with  a  pleasant  smile,  "  Did 
you  think  that  I  was  abusing  your  good  hus- 
band? I  know  I  lost  my  temper,  for  which  I 
apologize  to  you  both;  but  let  me  assure  you 
that,  however  much  we  differ  on  the  question  of 
slavery.  I  believe  that  we  honestly  differ,  and  I 
think  that  there  is  no  man  in  the  parish  who 
loves  your  husband  belter  than  I  do,  or  would 
go  further  to  serve  him." 

It  is  by  no  means  certain,  that,  if  Garrison 
and  his  co-agitators  had  been  able  to  obey  more 
fully  the  Savior's  injunction,  to  be  "wise  as 
serpents  and  harmless  as  doves,"  they  ever 
could  have  brought  about  a  peaceable  solution 
of  the  slavery  question.  Before  the  war,  how 
many  wise  and  good  men  sought  to  prevent  the 


sword  from  being  drawn:  and  during  the  bloody 
struggle,  how  many  cried  out.  in  the  words  of 
the  prophet,  "  O  thou  sword  of  the  Lord,  how 
long  will  it  be  ere  thou  be  quiet?  put  up  thyself 
into  thy  scabbard;  rest,  and  be  still,"  to  be  "ans- 
wered only  by  the  words  of  the  same  prophet, 
'■  How  can  it  be  quiet,  seeing  the  Lord  hath 
given  it  a  charge,  and  he  hath  appointed  it?" 
Perhaps  this  very  passage  suggested  to  Lincoln 
what  he  said  about  the  blood  shed  by  the  lash, 
and  that  to  be  shed  by  the  sword. 

In  the  autumn  of  1856  I  heard  Theodore  Par- 
ker preach  a  thanksgiving  sermon  in  Boston, 
from  the  text,  "  The  harvest  is  past,  the  summer 
is  ended,  and  we  are  not  saved."  He  gave  it  as 
his  opinion,  that  the  last  opportunity  for  the 
peaceable  settlement  of  the  slavery  question,  in 
this  countiy,  had  passed  by  unimproved  ;  and 
then  he  uttered  those  prophetic  words,"  Slavery 
shall  perish,  buther  suv  shall  (jo  down  in  a  sea 
of  blood!  ^'  It  is  easy  for  us  now  to  see  how 
much  better  than  most  preachers  or  statesmen 
he  read  the  signs  of  the  times. 

Dayton,  O.  L.  L.  Langstroth. 

Continued. 


MANTJM  INTEODTJCING  VIRGIN  QUEENS. 


PRACTICAL     SUGGESTIONS     FROM   A.  E.   MANUJi; 
THE    VALUE  OF   HATCHING   BROOD. 


I  was  talking  to  the  bees,  and  said:  :   - 

"There,  take  that,  and  we  will  see  if  you  will 
accept  this  queen." 

"  Hello.  Manum!  what  are  you  trying  to  do 
with   those  bees  all  shaken  out  in  front  of  the 
hive?"  asked  Mr.  Charles  McGee,  as  he   made    ■ 
a  call  on  his  return  home  from  his  own  apiary,    , 
which  is  located  eight  miles  distant. 

"Well.  Charles,  you  have  caught  me  this.! 
time,  sure.  I  have  always  claimed  that  my-, 
method  of  introducing  virgin  queens  was  sue-  ' 
cessful:  and  while  it  is,  as  a  rule,  yet  I  find  an  > 
occasional  colony  that  gives  me  more  or  less 
trouble;  and  while,  formerly,  not  over  two  per 
cent  of  my  virgin  queens  have  failed  to  be  ac-. 
cepted,  this  year  I  think  all  of  five  per  cent 
have  missed,  and  the  second  queen  has  been 
given,  while  this  colony  have  killed  the  second 
one.  and  I  have  just  given  them  the  third  one." 
••  What  do  you  attribute  the  failiu'e  to?" 
"  Well,  Charles,  to  my  mind  there  are  two 
causes.  One  is,  the  lack  (or  dearth)  of  honey 
in  this  locality.  The  bees  being  idle,  they  are 
more  sensitive  and  irritable,  and  lience  more 
particular,  perhaps,  about  accepting  queens; 
and  then,  again,  owing  to  the  press  of  work,  I 
have  given  some  of  my  colonies  queens  too  soon 
after  removing  their  old  one;  and  in  many 
cases  I  have  been  obliged  to  give  them  queens 
that  had  been  hatched  several  days,  and  that 
had  remained  in  the  nursery  cages  that  were  in 
colonies  which  had  laying  queens;  and  having 
neglected  to  feed  these  colonies  regularly,  and 
as  bountifully  as  I  ought,  the  colony  became 
enraged  nt  having  hatched  queens  within  their 
hives.  They  tried  to  kill  them,  but  could  not. 
as  these  virgins  were  safe  within  the  nursery- 
cages.  In  many  instances,  when  I  would  go  to 
these  nursery  colonies  for  a  queen  I  would  find 
the  cages  balled  by  enraged  bees,  and.  of  course, 
the  queens  within  became  excited,  and  more  or 
less  scented  with  the  poison  emitted  from  the 
enraged  bees.  Therefore  this  condition  of 
things  I  believe  to  have  been  one  cause  of  the 
non-acceptance  of  so  many  queens.  I  tell  you, 
Charles,  there  are  many  little  things  which  we 
are  liable  to  overlook  or  neglect,  which  are  the 
real  cause  of  some  of  our  failures;  we  should, 
therefore,  be  watchful  of  little  things." 


ISifJ 


(tLeanings  in  hee  culture. 


<.)I5 


•'  Do  you  thiiiU  this  colony  will  now  accopl 
this  tliird  iiin'cn?" 

••  Yes.  I  do.  bociiiisc  I  have  preparpd  thorn  ex- 
pressly foi"  luM".  In  the  lii'st  place,  as  soon  as  I 
found  they  had  killed  the  second  one,  I  gave 
iheni  hatchinc  Itrood.  I  was  careful  not  to  give 
them  a  single  cell  containing  eggs  or  larv;o — 
ntit  i>m'.  Al  till'  end  of  foni'  days  from  the  time 
of  giving  ihem  the  hatching  brood,  thi^y  were 
in  the  same  condition  that  they  wei-e  fifteen 
days  from  the  time  their  old  queen  was  remov- 
ed, and  hence  in  tlie  light  condition  to  accept  a 
virgin.     IJut.  in   order   to  make  a  sure  thing  of 

^'l,  I  sliook  the  bees  olT  the  combs  in  front  of  the 
live,  as  you  see,  and.  after  re  arranging  the 
combs  in  the  hive.  I  placed  a  young  virgin 
queen,  not  over  tliree  hours  old,  on  the  top-bars. 
and  let  her  run  down  among  the  young  b(H^s 
that  adhered  to  the  combs;  and  as  I  have  taken 
ihefuitlicr  precaution  to  sprinkle  the  bees  with 
sweetened  water,  that  they  may  be  well  filled 
on  entering  the  hive.  1  feel  quite  sure  the  queen 
will  lie  unmolested." 

■'  Have  you  other  queens  to  introduce  to- 
night?" 

■■  Yes.  but  not  in  this  way.  There  is  a  colony 
on  the  next  row  that  have  a  laying  worker,  as  I 
discovered  tnis  morning:  but  I  could  not  stop 
then  to  lix  them  up.  as  I  had  urgent  work  to  do 
in  another  apiary.  li'  you  will  wait  I  will  show 
vou  how  I  do  it.  First,  I  will  go  to  the  nursery- 
hive  and  get  a  (jueen.  I  want  a  very  young 
queen   for  this    purpose.    There — there   is  one 

t'ust  hatching  in  this  corner  cage.  I  will  take 
ler.  I  will  put  the  cage  she  is  now  in  in  my 
pocket,  to  keep  her  warm.  Here  is  the  hive 
with  the  laying  worker.  I  will  first  remove  all 
this  drone  brood  and  every  queen-cell  they 
may  have  started,  and  give  them  this  comb  of 
hatching  brood.  You  will  see  that  I  have  de- 
stroyed and  removed  every  larva  and  egg:  now 
I  will  place  the  queen  on  the  comb  right  among 
these  hatched  and  hatching  bees;  and  now  I 
place  the  comb  in  the  center  of  the  brood- 
chamber.  Now  I  will  put  in  these  three  empty 
combs  to  take  the  place  of  those  that  contained 
drone  brood  started  from  the  eggs  laid  by  the 
laying  worker,  and  now  the  work  is  done." 

••  Well.  Maiium.  you  have  cleared  up  some 
things  which  puzzled  me.  You  know  I  am  run- 
ning one  of  my  apiaries  after  your  method  of 
removing  queens,  and  I  like  it  very  mucli — 
much  better  than  I  thought  I  would.  But  some 
of  my  virgin  queens  have  been  rejected,  and  I 
was  at  a  loss  to  know  how  to  account  for  it; 
but  I  think  now  all  is  clear.  I  had  thought  of 
giving  my  queenless  colonies  queen-cells,  and  I 
called  to  night  to  ask  you  about  it.  If  they 
will  accept  a  queen-cell,  that  will  save  all 
trouble  of  fussing  with  (lueens.  I  saw  in  the 
Review  a  few  days  ago.  that  one  man  in  Colo- 
rado gives  his  bees  ceils  instead  of  hatched 
queens.    What  do  you  think  of  it?" 

"Don't  you  do  it.  Charles — at  least,  not  as  a 
rule.  I  have  done  so  occasionally,  at  some  out- 
apiary,  when  only  two  or  three  colonies  needed 
queens,  and  1  had  none  for  them;  and  to  save 
an  extra  journey  I  have  given  such  colonies 
queen-cells;  but  usually  1  have  had  trouble 
with  these  colonies,  in  one  way  or  another,  if 
the  cell  given  them  contains  a  good  qu(!en, 
which  is  not  always  the  case,  and  she  is  accept- 
ed, which  is  also  'not  always  the  case,' they 
are  Unhle  Uj  swarm  out  with  her — more  so  than 
if  a  hatched  queen  is  given  them— at  least,  that 
has  been  my  ••■xperience.  I  therefore  prefer  giv- 
ing a  hatched  queen,  becausi-.  in  addition  to  the 
reasons  I  have  already  given  you,  I  can  select 
my  queens  before  introducing,  and  use  none 
but  the  best;  whereas,  by  the  cell  method  one 
has  to  '  go  it  blind  '  to  a  certain  extent.'" 

•'When  introducing  virgins  at  what  you  call 


the  propter  time,  viz..  I'l  days  afti^r  removing 
the  old  queen,  do  you  liiid  there  is  any  choice 
as  to  how  the  queen  is  given  to  a  colony?" 

'•  Y'es,  Charli'S,  I  do.  I  have  tried  various 
ways,  such  as  runninic  them  in  at  the  entrance 
just  at  night,  at  midday,  and  in  the  morning; 
bv  removing  one  of  th(^  combs  and  placing  her 
on  it  among  the  bees  and  then  returning  the 
combs:  by  iilacing  her  on  the  top-bars,  and, 
again,  by  letting  her  in  through  a  hoh^  in  the 
hoiieyboard  by  shaking  a  portion  of  the  bees 
from  the  combs  in  front  of  th(^  hive,  and  drop- 
ping the.  queen  among  them.  IJnt  I  have  suc- 
ceeded best  by  the  simple  way  of  letting  her 
run  in  from  the  top  of  the  sections.  I  simply 
raise  one  corner  of  the  enameled  cloth  just 
enough  to  expose  one  of  the  openings  between 
secticms  and  lay  the  nursery  cage,  containing  the 
qu(HMi,  ov<'r  this  opening,  with  wire-cloth  side 
down:  then  draw  the  slide  and  wait  a  moment 
for  the  queen  to  run  down  into  the  sections, 
and  the  work  is  done.  No  matter  how  many 
tiers  of  sections  may  be  on — the  more  the  bet- 
ter. While  I  have  succeeded  with  all  the  vari- 
ous ways  I  !iave  mentioned.  I  pnifer  running 
them  in  through  the  sections;  and  why?  Be- 
cause by  this  method  the  bees  in  the  hive  are 
undisturbed.  th(^  operation  being  performed  so 
quickly  and  quietly;  and  the  bees  find  them- 
selves at  once  in  possession  of  a  queen,  without 
knowing  whence  she  came;  and,  having  enter- 
ed from  the  '  attic,' she  is  first  introduced  to 
loaded  bees  just  from  the  field,  or  quite  young 
bees,  both  of  which  are  indisposed  to  quarrel; 
and  in  making  her  way  down  through  the 
sections  she  takes  on  the  scent  of  the  colony, 
which  gives  her  an  unquestionable  passport, 
and  all  is  safe. 

"When  you  call  again,  Charles,  I  will  tell 
you  something  of  my  new  method  of  manage- 
ment, where  bees  are  allowed  to  swarm  with- 
out giving  an  increase  in  colonies." 

Bristol,  Vt.,  Dec.  3.  A.  E.  Manum. 

[We  are  always  glad  to  get  articles  from 
Manum,  because  they  "smack '"  so  strongly  of 
practical,  every-day  experience.  It  is  indeed 
true,  that,  in  order  to  have  success,  there  should 
not  be  any  eggs  or  unsealed  larvjB— nothing 
that  will  give  them  any  hope  of  rearing  a  queen 
themselves  They  are  then  in  good  condition, 
realizing  their  helplessness,  to  accept  a  virgin; 
and  a  lot  of  young  bees  in  the  hive  goes  a  long 
way  to  establish  peace.  Hatching  brood  is  al- 
ways good  capital.  Mr.  Manum'sidea  of  hav- 
ing a  queen  pass  down  through  the  sections 
among  voung  bees  and  loaded  field  bees  is  ex- 
cellent.! 


SUGAR-FED  HONEY. 

.JUST  A  WORD   OF   EXI'LAX.VnON,   AND   NO   MORE 

DISCU.SSION  I.S  cakf;d  for  at  present. 


Editor  Gleanings :  — I  thank  you  most  sin- 
cerely for  allowing  me  to  clearly  define  my 
position  on  the  sugar-honey  question,  but  I 
have  iiad  my  "sav  "  so  fully  that  I  have  noth- 
ing further  to  offer.  Lik(^  yourself,  I  think 
nothing  will  be  gained  by  continuing  the  dis- 
cussion at  present.  There  may  be  an  article  or 
two  more  in  the  December  Review,  and  possibly 
a  slight  editorial  reference  to  the  matter,  then 
the  subject  will  be  dropped  for  other  important 
topics  that  are  pressing  for  recognition. 

If  you  will  allow  me,  I  should  like  to  explain 
in  regard  to  the  one  or  two  points  touched  upon 
by  "  A.  I.  R."  on  page  897.  The  first  point,  that, 
if  sugar  fed  to  bees  becomes  honey,  then  there 
is  an  absurdity  in  adding  real  (floral)  honey  to 
prevent  crystallization,  is  answered  by  "  A.  I. 


916 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  15. 


R."  when  he  admits  that  ?onie  floral  honey 
granulates  in  the  combs.  I  doubt  whether  the 
addition  of  flreiveed  honey  would  prevent  the 
granulation  of  sugar  fed  to  bees,  if  there  was 
any  inclination  on  the  part  of  the  sugar  to 
granulation.  In  fact.  I  think  that  the  addition 
of  the  honey  would  aid  the  niattei'.  A.  I.  R.'s 
experience  is  different  from  mine  when  he  says 
that  almost  all  sugar  fed  to  bees  will  eventual- 
ly granulate.  I  have  fed  a  great  deal  of  sugar 
for  winter  stores,  without  the  addition  of  any 
thing  to  prevent  gianulation.  and  granulation 
has  occurred  so  seldom  ihatitdoes  not  seem 
worth  mentioning.  There  is  a  differencr  in 
sugar  as  regards  this  matter  of  granulation, 
just  as  there  is  in  natural  honey.  Most  sugar 
when  fed  to  bees  does  not  crystallize;  most  nec- 
tar when  gathered  by  bees  does  not  granulate; 
some  kinds  of  either  will  granulate,  hence  I  see 
no  argument  in  this  point. 

If  Bro.  Root  will  read  carefully  Prof.  Cook's 
article  in  the  October  fJeuicff.  also  the  extract 
taken  from  the  College  Speculum.,  he  will  see 
that  the  students  did  not  pronounce  the  sugar 
honey  "  basswood."  They  ■"  pronounced  it  un- 
doubtedly honey,  and  of  excellent  quality."  It 
was  the  chemical  analysis  and  not  the  taste 
that  classed  the  sugar  honey  with  that  of  the 
finest  clover  and  basswood. 

Thanking  you  again  for  your  generosity  and 
fairness  in  allowing  me  the  use  of  your  columns 
to  make  my  position  clearly  understood,  I  am 
as  ever  yours,  VV.  Z.  Hutchinson. 

Flint,  Mich.,  Dec.  .5. 

[We  are  yet  to  hear  from  Prof.  Cook,  at  which 
time  we  expect  to  copy  his  Review  article.] 


REPKODUCTION  IN  THE  BEE. 


SOME   THINGS   NOT   YET   EXPLAINED. 


The  patient  efforts  spent  by  our  ancestors 
upon  our  inherited  knowledge  are  almost  always 
overlooked,  underestimated,  or  ridiculed.  In 
the  light  of  our  present  knowledge,  crystallized 
from  concentrated  study  of  ages,  the  mistakes 
made  by  the  ancient  naturalists  and  students 
floundering  about  in  complete  darkness  seem  to 
be  or  are  too  often  treated  as  inexcusable.  Of 
no  subject  is  this  more  true  than  of  the  repro- 
duction of  the  honey-bee.  A  little  thought, 
however,  and  a  brief  comparison  with  the  re- 
productive systems  of  the  better  known  and 
more  approachable  animate  beings  will  suggest 
a  reason  for  much  of  the  seemingly  wild  guess- 
work with  which  the  habits  of  this  little  work- 
er were  distorted.  So  complete  a  departure — 
reversal,  almost — of  the  more  observable  laws 
of  nature  was  well  calculated  to  foster  erroneous 
ideas. 

In  a  general  way,  we  now  understand  the 
functions  of  the  three  branches  of  the  bee- 
family — the  drones,  queen,  and  workers.  But 
who  would  expect  to  encounter,  in  a  herd  of 
several  thousand  wild  cattle,  a  single  cow,  a 
few  bulls,  and  the  vast  body  of  the  herd  sexless, 
or  practically  so?  No  wonder  Shakspeare  pen- 
ned of  them.  "They  have  a  king  and  officers 
of  state;"  and  when  we  come  to  the  remark  of 
the  ancient  naturalist  Aristotle,  that  "some 
say  the  rulers  produce  the  young  of  the  bee," 
we  should  rather  be  surprised  that  they  had 
learned  so  much  about  them  as  they  had.'  Nor 
were  all  tiie  great  mistakes  on  this  subject 
made  in  the  earliest  times.  Virgil,  about  the 
time  of  Christ,  makes  the  assertion  that  a  cus- 
tom, said  to  have  once  existed  in  Egypt,  to 
replenish  weak  swarms,  was  to  suffocate  a 
young  bullock,  cover  the  carcass  with  flowers, 
the  worms  appearing  in  the  decomposing  flesh, 


and  hatching  into  bees,  being  utilized  to 
strengthen  the  depleted  colonies.  Virgil,  how- 
ever, states  this  only  as  a  historical  fact,  leaving 
it  for  Englishmen  of  a  later  century  to  gravely 
repeat  it  as  a  practical  truth. 

In  1017  an  English  physician.  Joseph  Warden, 
in  a  volume  entitled  "The  Feminine  Kingdom; 
or.  the  True  Amazons,"  gave  many  hitherto 
unkown  facts  about  the  bee,  among  which  was 
the  assertion  that  the  queen  was  at  the  same 
time  ruler  aiftl  mother  of  the  colony.  An  Eng- 
lish bee-keeper  by  the  name  of  Butler  is  also 
said  to  have  understood  this  at  even  an  earlier 
date. 

A  little  further  back  I  said  we  all  now  under- 
stand the  methods  of  reproduction  in  a  general 
way.  Let  me  now  add.  audin  o  general  way 
only.  With  all  our  boasted  nineteenth-century 
knowledge  there  are  a  good  many  things  in  this 
subject  quite  undetermined.  In  the  hope  of 
adding  something  to  the  knowledge  of  some 
one,  this  article  is  written.  Let  us  now  consider 
the  uses  of  each  member  of  the  hive,  and  in- 
quire into  the  reproduction  and  development  of 
each,  beginning  with  the  queen. 

Everybody,  perhaps,  knows  that  the  queen- 
cell  is  larger  than  the  worker-cells,  and  opens 
downward.  Into  this  an  egg  is  placed;  just  how 
is  still  disputed.  Some  claim  to  have  seen  the 
queen  deposit  it  there  herself,  while  others  are 
as  certain  it  is  carried  there  by  workers.  If  all 
things  are  favorable,  the  larva  becomes  a  queen 
in  16  days.  Previous  to  this,  by  about  8  days, 
the  old  queen  leads  a  portion  of  the  swarm 
away  to  other  quarters,  giving  her  young  suc- 
cessor undisputed  sway  from  the  first.  This, 
however,  is  in  case  the  weather  and  conditions 
are  favorable.  If  the  young  queen  hatches  be- 
fore the  colony  is  ready  for  her.  the  workers 
confine  her  in  her  cell,  and  care  for  her  there 
until  the  conditions  are  more  favorable. 

On  being  released,  her  first  act  is  to  make  a 
tour  of  the  hive  and  destroy  every  embryo 
queen  that,  if  allowed  to  hatch,  would  in  time 
become  her  rival.  If  this  destruction  is  inter- 
rupted by  the  workers,  or  incomplete  for  any 
reason,  a  second  swarm  is  usually  the  result. 
This  destruction  is  rendered  the  easier  by  the 
victim  of  it.  who  leaves  one  end  of  the  cocoon 
open,  and  thus  exposes  hei'self  to  just  sueh  an 
attack.  The  queen -bee  seldom  makes  any  use 
of  her  sting  except  to  destroy  rival  queens. 

If  the  weather  is  bad,  and  the  honey-flow 
ceases,  the  workers  not  infrequently  destroy  all 
queen-cells  and  thus  stop  all  swarming  for  the 
season— a  method  the  keeper  himself  sometimes 

resorts  to  for  the  same  purpose.  _  

rPerhaps  the  most  curious  fact  connected  with 
the  bee  colony,  and  the  one  that  has  been  the 
least  explained,  is  the  action  of  the  swarm  when 
a  queen  is  lost.  If  the  colony  is  healthy,  and 
there  is  brood  in  the  hive  not  over  three  days 
old,  worker  larva;  are  removed  to  queen-cells, 
where  they  are  fed  on  the  "  royal  jelly,"  and  in 
the  course  of  time  become  full-fledged  queens. 
That  the  extra  nourishing  and  stimulating  food 
should  increase  the  size  of  the  bee  receiving  it, 
and  perhaps  reduce  the  time  required  for  hatch- 
ing, just  as  plants  are  hurried  along  by  the 
forcing  process,  is  not  so  very  remarkable.  But 
that  the  larva,  which,  by  the  regular  course  of 
nature,  would  develop  in  21  days  to  a  sexless 
member  of  the  family,  of  short  life,  small  size, 
gingery  disposition,  and,  withal,  a  strong  ven- 
eration for  a  queen,  could,  by  the  magic  influ- 
ence of  more  commodious  quarters  and  better 
food,  become  in  five  days  less  time  a  much  larger 
member,  with  a  fully  developed  sexual  organi- 
zation, a  strong  dislike  to  attack  any  except 
another  queen,  for  which  their  hatred  is  deadly, 
a  greatly  prolonged  life,  and  the  physical  and 
character  peculiarities  almost  entirely  opposite. 


IS'.i'J 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


1(17 


is  I'crtiiiiily  siirprisiiin.  and,  in  our  prosont,  in- 
coniplflt'  ixnowicilgi'  on  the  siibji'i-t,  wlioliy 
unuooonnlahlo.  After  ail.  tho  ancients  were 
not  entirely  alone  in  llieir  ignorance.  The 
fad  itself  was  first  annonnced  in  1771  by  a 
Saxon  clersiyniun:  Imi  the  explanation  we  are 
vet  to  announce.  With  charactnisiic  thrift  we 
have,  however,  promptly  adapted  the  discovery 
to  our  commercial  instincts,  and  (Hieen-raising 
is  neither  an  iinproiitable  noT  a  su peril nons  in- 
dustry. 

I'nlike  the  worker,  going  and  coming  con- 
stantly, the  queen,  all  things  being  right  with- 
in, seldom  if  ever  leaves  the  hive  except  on  her 
"bridal  tour.""  or  when  preparing  to  lead  a 
swarm  to  pastures  new.  The  tirst-mentioned 
outing  she  takes,  if  the  weather  is  favorable. 
the  tiiird  day  after  hatching.  If  unsuccessful 
she  repeats  the  trip  until  fertilized.  This  must 
be  wiiliin  "Jl  days  or  she  will  be  barren.  The 
danger  to  the  entire  colony,  attendant  upon 
the  llight  and  exposure  of  the  queen,  is  lessened 
by  th(^  considerable  number  of  drones,  or  males; 
a  number,  in  fact,  that  many  are  inclined  to 
wonder  at.  considering  that  there  is  but  one 
female,  and  she  recpiires  to  bo  fertilized  but 
once  in  a  lifetime.  This  always  takes  place  out 
of  doors  and  while  on  th(>  wing. 

Sterility  does  not  prevent  the  laying  of  eggs. 
Indeed,  when  the  (pieen  has  been  lost,  a  worker 
has  been  known  to  produce  eggs.  But  these,  as 
well  as  those  of  the  unfertilized  queen,  invari- 
ably produce  drones.  Thus  the  one  great 
known  law  governing  reproduction  in  all  its 
branches  is  established.  Fertilized  eggs  will 
produce  workers  or  queens  as  they  are  reared  in 
a  worker  or  queen  cell,  while  unfertilized  eggs 
invariably  produce  drones. 

Wilder  Gkahamk. 


ANOTHER  BEE-ESCAPE. 


.SOI.AK    WAX-EXTRACTOK    IN    CALIFORNIA 
USES   AND   AHUSE.S. 


Friend  Root:— I  send  you  with  this  letter  a 
model  of  my  bee-escape.  It  was  invented  two 
seasons  ago.  After  a  number  of  successful 
trials  I  was  on  the  point  of  telling  about  it 
through  Gleanings,  when  I  found  a  case  in 
which  it  did  not  work,  evfui  after  the  escape 
had  been  on  several  days,  so  gave  it  up;  but  as 
I  see  Dr.  Miller  reports  (page  79.^)  a  like  expe- 
rience; and  I  presume,  with  some  of  the  im- 
proved bee-escapes,  I  am  emboldened  to  send 
on  mine.  I  have  tried  it  along  with  some  made 
on  the  plan  of  the  Reese  cont;  escape,  and  I 
have  seen  the  Dibbern  star  escape  used.  This 
does  better  work  than  either  of  those.  In  fact, 
in  most  cases,  after  a  few  hours,  the  super  is 
practically  free  from  bees.  Whenever  I  have 
used  it  I  have  placed  a  super,  filled  with  empty 
combs,  beneath  the  one  which  I  wished  to  re- 
move, having  the  (iscape,  of  course,  between 
the  two  supers.  It  may  not  do  so  well  if  this 
extra  super  is  not  used. 

If  you  will  examine  the  model  you  will  see 
that  the  large  holes  through  the  tin,  by  which 
the  bees  are  to  make  their  exit,  have  been 
punched  from  the  upper  side.  This  makes  a 
rough  riin  around  the  hole  on  the  under  side, 
and  over  which  the  bees  will  have  to  climb  in 
order  to  pass  from  the  brood -chamber  to  the 
super.  This  they  do  not  like  to  do,  but  will  try 
to  pass  through  the  small  holes,  whose;  under 
surface  is  smooth,  and  which  are  intentionally 
made  a  little  too  small  for  that  purpose.  The 
I  cleats  around  the  escape  on  the  upper  side  are 
to  make  the  bee  s]tace  beneath  the  super 
frames,  and  on  which  the  super  is  to  rest. 

Several  strips  of  tin,  instead  of  one.  as  in  the 


modid.  may  be  used.  This  permits  of  a  great 
many  passageways  and  the  rapid  emptying  of 
the  super.  You  will  also  see  that  the  bees  in 
the  super  have  a  passage  to  the  outside,  which, 
1  believe,  is  a  favorite  way  with  our  British 
cousins.  I  lind  a  great  many  leave  the  super 
by  this  route.  Noticing  the  unusual  light,  they 
go  to  investigate,  fly  outside,  and  invariably  re- 
turn to  the  hive  by  the  entrance  in  the  brood- 
chamber. 

GETTINO    THE    WAX    l-IJOM   THE   SLU.MGUM. 

I  have  been  kept  indoors  to-day  by  our  first 
rain  this  season — a  glorious  oik; — live  inches 
having  fallen  in  twenty-four  hours,  or  about 
half  as  much  as  has  fallen  in  the  preceding 
nineteen  months.  Besides  the  building  of  the 
bee-escape  which  I  send  you,  I  have  built  a 
great  many  castles  in  the;  air,  relative  to  the 
big  honey  crop  I  am  going  to  make  next  year, 
enthused  thereto  by  this  glorious  downpoiu".  I 
have  also  put  in  some  time  between  whiles, 
melting  wax.  The  wax  rendered  was  mostly 
lu'w  comb  and  scraps  of  foundation,  with  per- 
haps a  dozen  old  combs.  In  rendering  it  I  tried 
.\ii!S.  axtell's  plan. 

This  was  spoken  of  in  a  recent  article  by  her 
in  Gleanin(^s.  It  consists  in  boiling  and 
straining  twice  the  cocoons  and  other  refuse 
left  after  melting  old  comb.  The  result  rather 
surprisi  d  me,  as.  from  the  second  boiling  and 
straining  of  pi-rhaps  a  gallon  measure  full  of 
slumgum.  I  pressed  out  a  full  pound  of  wax. 

When  I  can  get  at  old  combs  on  a  frosty 
morning,  and  crush  them  to  powder,  then  soak 
24  hours  before  rendering.  I  always  feel  satis- 
fied that  I  have  got  all  the  wax  from  those 
combs.  I  believe  this  method  frees  the  wax 
from  the  cocoons  as  entirely  as  does  rendering 
them  with  acid.  In  fact.  I  was  rather  disap- 
pointed on  rendering  some  combs  with  sulphur- 
ic acid.  From  what  I  had  read  I  inferred  that 
the  cocoons  were  entirely  disintegrated — eaten 
up — by  the  acid;  but  after  rendering  some  old 
combs  by  that  method  I  could  not  see  but  that 
the  cocoons  looked  the  same,  and  were  as  capa- 
ble of  absorbing  wax  as  when  rendered  without 
acid. 

Sun  extractors  can  be  profitably  used,  only 
with  new  comb.  When  old  brood-combs  are 
rendered  that  way.  the  cocoons  absorb  a  large 
part  of  the  wax.  Some  of  our  bee-men  have  a 
practice  of  going  through  their  hives  every  few 
years,  and  cutting  out  all  black  coinbs,  re|)lac- 
Ing  them  with  foundation;  and  although  the 
sun  extractor  is  considered  among  the  necessa- 
ry appurtenances  at  an  apiary  here,  so  unprof- 
itable has  the  melting  of  these  old  combs  in 
them  been  found  that  I  have  known  persons  to 
use  such  combs  as  an  auxiliary  to  the  woodpile. 
Our  neighbor,  after  culling  out  old  combs  from 
an  apiary  of  300  colonies,  had  a  pile  of  them 
which  loomed  up  like  a  small  mountain,  lie 
cogitated  for  two  years  what  to  do  with  these 
combs.  He  was  positive  that  it  did  not  pay  to 
melt  them  in  the  sun  extractor.  One  day  he 
touched  tire  to  the  pile,  and  a  good  many  dol- 
lars' worth  of  wax  went  up  in  flames.  Of 
course,  it  would  have  been  better  to  melt  them 
in  his  sun  cxti'actor  than  to  do  this,  although 
burning  them  was  on  a  par  with  the  idea  which 
instigated  the  cutting  of  the  combs  from  the 
hives  in  the  first  place. 

If  the  apiarists  who  play  such  tricks  ivould 
read  the  bee-papers  and  t(!Xt- books  they  would 
know  that  old  combs  have  as  much  wax  in 
them  as  new  ones,  it  only  being  more  difficult 
to  get  out,  and  on  this  subject  they  would  get 
many  pointers,  as  instanced  by  myself  from  the 
perusal  of  Mrs.  Axtell's  article.  I  will  add, 
that  the  style  of  solar  wax-extractors  in  gener- 
al use  here  are  capable  of  being  much   improv- 


918 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  15. 


ed.  Of  all  extractors  of  this  kind  which  I  have 
seen,  I  like  best  one  with  a  curving  bottom,  like 
the  Doolittle,  illustrated  in  your  catalogue,  as 
in  it  it  is  convenient  to  get  at  the  slumgum 
with  a  paddle,  and  press  the  wax  therefrom. 
Newhall.  Cal.,  Nov.  27.  W.  G.  Hewes. 

[When  Mr.  Hewes'  model  first  came  to  hand 
we  made  fun  of  it,  not  knowing  from  whom  it 
came:  but  after  discovering  its  source,  and 
having  confidence  in  our  correspondent,  we 
thought  differently  of  it.  It  would  be  difficult 
to  show  the  real  principle  of  it  by  an  engraving, 
and  we  would  therefore  explain  that  a  strip  of 
tin  is  mounted  in  an  ordinary  honey- board. 
Through  the  tin  are  punched  holes  just  large 
enough  to  let  the  bees  through  one  way.  As 
they  are  punched  with  a  large  awl  a  ragged 
burr  edge  is  left  tapering  to  an  opening  large 
enough  to  admit  a  bee  from  the  side  in  which 
the  awl  pierced,  but  not  from  the  reverse  side. 
The  only  difficulty  that  occurs  to  us  is,  it  would 
be  impracticable  to  get  the  same  excluding 
burr  edge  every  time.] 


KAMBLE  NO.  74. 


KAMBLEK   AT  WHEELER  &   IIUNT'S. 

"  Founded  in  1887.  Headquarters  of  the  Bear 
Valley  Irrigation  Co..  having  water  for  the  ir- 
rigation of  half  a  million  acres.  The  largest 
Irrigation  enterprise  in  America.  Products- 
Oranges,  lemons,  peaches,  apricots,  raisins,  and 
honev." 

Thus  runs  the  legend  in  relation  lo  the  young 
and  thriving  town  of  Rodlands.  located  in  the 
upper  end  of  the  San  Bernardino  Valley,  with 
the  lofty  San  liernardino  Mountains  for  a  back- 
ground. It  is  no  wonder  that  people  look  upon 
the  location  as  another  Switzi'rland.  From 
some  of  the  heights  in  the  suburbs  of  the  town, 
grand  views  of  thn  valley  and  its  orchards  can 
be  obtained.  Headlands,  as  I  have  before  stated. 
is  the  headquarters  of  the  honey  producing 
firm  of  Wheeler  A  Hunt.  Back  a  little  from 
the  city,  and  in  the  foothills,  are  located  the 
Mound  City.  Brookside,  San  Mateo,  and  the 
Yucaipe  apiaries;  fourteen  miles  to  the  we>t. 
near  Riverside,  is  the  Jurupa  apiary;  and  sixty 
miles  away,  in  San  Diego  Co..  is  the  Fall  Brook 
apiary,  which  was  purchased,  I  believe,  from 
Mr.  Harbison.  The  rest  are  in  Langstroth  and 
a  modified  form  of  the  Langstroth  and  Simplic- 
ity hive.  Mr.  Wheeler,  the  senior  member  of 
the  firm,  has  attended  somewhat  to  the  supply 
business,  and  has  never  been  an  active  worker 
in  the  apiary.  His  son  Frank,  however,  has 
every  year  taken  charge  of  an  apiary,  and  is  an 
expert  manager  of  bees.  During  the  past  year 
Mr.  Wheeler  has  been  interested  in  the  devel- 
opment of  the  Rose  gold-mine,  in  the  San 
Bernardino  Mountains,  and  in  which  he  is  one 
of  the  largest  stock-holders.  The  mine  has 
recently  struck  a  great  amount  of  ore  well  load- 
ed with  gold,  and  Mr.  W.  finds  that  this  source 
for  raising  the  golden  shekels  is  more  rapid 
than  getting  them  through  a  bee-hive. 

In  relation  to  bees  and  honey,  Mr.  Hunt  has 
been  the  active  field-iuanager  of  the  firm.  Mr. 
Hunt  formerly  lived  in  Iowa,  and,  besides  own- 
ing bees,  he  was  an  extensive  dealer  in  honey, 
selling  it  in  all  large  towns  in  Iowa.  Illinois. 
Kansas,  and  Missouri.  The  older  readers  of 
the  American  Bee  Journal  may  remember  a 
little  controversy  between  Mr.  Hunt  and  Mr. 
Van  Dorn,  of  Missouri.  The  latter  accused 
Mr.  Hunt  of  selling  glucosed  honey.  Mr.  H. 
callet  for  an  analysis  of  his  honey,  and  the 
result  was  a  complete  exoneration    from    the 


charge.  Mr.  H.,  however,  says  that  dealers  did 
adulterate  honey,  and  invariably  used  the 
darker  grades  for  that  purpose. 

About  six  years  ago  Mr.  Hunt  threw  up  his 
honey-trade,  and  came  to  California  to  engage 
exclusively  in  its  production.  His  first  venture 
with  bees  was  very  successful;  13.5  colonies 
were  rented;  increased  to  200,  and  yielded  307 
lbs.  to  the  colony.  The  next  year  he  purchased 
bees  ;  and  from  about  400  stocks,  which  he 
valued  at  $8(X),  he  realized  63500  from  the  sale 
of  honey.  With  this  grand  result  there  came  a 
desire  to  own  all  the  bees  in  California.  No, 
perhaps  not  quite  so  much  as  that.  We  will 
say  a  large  number.  Enlisting  the  interest  of 
Mr.  Wheeler,  a  large  number  of  colonies  were 
purchased,  and  the  business  entered  into  on  a 
larger  scale.  Heretofore  Mr.  H.  had  worked  his 
apiaries  for  extracted  honey;  but  now  a  change 
was  made,  and  a  portion  of  the  apiaries  were 
worked  for  comb  honey.  The  past  three  sea- 
sons have  not.  however,  been  remarkable  for 
heavy  yields,  and  especially  for  comb  honey, 
and  Mr.  H.  expresses  many  sighs  of  regret  that 
he  ever  changed  at  all  from  the  extracted  plan. 
The  out-apiaries  have  been  worked  during  the 
honey-season  with  hired  help,  and  the  helpers, 
many  times,  have  been  more  of  a  damage  than 
a  blessing.  An  inexperienced  man  is  liable  to 
extract  too  close,  and  then  feeding  must  be  re- 
sorted to  in  the  winter,  which,  even  in  this 
climate,  is  not  a  pleasant  job.  The  prices  paid, 
and  the  kind  of  help  wanted,  have  been  ex- 
plained in  the  previous  Ramble.  In  two  of  the 
apiaries,  Brookside  and  San  Mateo,  there  is 
something  of  a  mixture  of  Cyprian   blood,  and 

ClMPLlC  ITV 
OF 


it  is  of  that  kind  that  Mr.  Mendelson  told  us  of 
that  will  sting  a  stovepipe  until  it  is  expected 
to  squeal.  A  helper  in  one  of  these  apiaries 
employed  his  spare  hours  in  picking  bee-stings 
from  his  clothing  and  various  portions  of  his 
body,  and  thus  obtained  a  box  full.  These 
apiaries  will  be  worked  another  year  by  Messrs. 
Powell  and  Zanft.  and  we  wish  them  a  comfort- 
able time.  Mr.  Hunt  is  a  rapid  worker  with 
bees,  and  his  methods  were  admirably  touched 
up  in  the  American  Bee  Journal  about  a  year 
ago  by  Mr.  H.  Hill,  of  Pennsylvania,  a  former 
employe. 


Mr.  Hunt,  like  all  progressive  bee-keeper.s  is 
continually  studying  up  short  cuts  and  im- 
provements in  management.  In  order  to  stimu- 
late in  the  spring  by  feeding,  each  L.  hive  is 
permanently  fitted  with  a  Simplicity  feeder, 
as  shown  in  the  sketch.  A  hole  in  the  end  of 
the  hive  allows  the  bees  to  gain  access  to  the 


y20 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  15. 


feeder,  and  a  hole  in  the  cover  to  the  portico 
allows  the  feeder  to  be  filled,  and  outside  bees 
can  not  molest. 

The  apiaries  of  this  firm  make  a  fine  appear- 
ance, as  will  be  noticed  by  the  photo.  There  is 
one  convenience  in  a  dry  climate:  If  the  few 
weeds  are  cut  after  the  rainy 
season,  there  will  be  but  little 
more  hoeing  necessary  for 
many  months,  and  the  apiary 
has  a  clean  appearance. 

The  extractors  used  are  all 
of  the  old  California  style, 
with    a     four -frame     basket. 


some  of  which  are  hung  in  a  large  wooden  tub. 
The  highest  number  of  colonies  owned  by  these 
gentlemen  has  been  about  1500.  The  past 
three  bad  seasons  have  reduced  the  number  to 
about  1200.  If  increase  is  desired,  however,  a 
good  season  would  boom  ilie  colonies  to  an 
astonishing  extent.  As  an  experiment,  Mr.  H. 
increased  18  colonies  to  100.  and  secured  f200 
worth  of  honey;  but  that  was  a  boom  season. 

"  Headquarters  "  is    a  fine  brick 

building,   and   the  entire  first  floor    

is  filled  with  hives,  supers,  and  all 
the  paraphernalia  of  a  bee- busi- 
ness. Hives  and  foundation  are 
made  here.  In  dipping  wax  sheets, 
Mr.  Hunt  uses  a  gang  of  four  dip- 
ping-boards, making  8  sheets  at 
every  dip.  In  the  line  of  putting 
together  sections  and  putting  in 
foundation.  Mrs.  Hunt  and  Arthur, 
the  12-year-old  boy,  are  very  ex- 
pert. 

Bees  propolize  so  much  around 
the  ends  of  the  top- bars  of  brood- 
frames  in  this  climate  that  Mr. 
Hunt  makes  his  hives  large  enough 
to  give  a  bee-space  around  the  end 
of  the  top  -  bar;  and  to  insure 
against  the  frames  moving  end- 
wise, another  shoulder  is  cut  on 
the  end  of  the  frame,  to  fit  the 
metal  rabbet,  and  the  frame  is 
held  secure.  Mi\  H.  would  like  to 
try  the  Hofl'man  frame  here,  but 
would  want  the  top-bars  made  on 
the  above  plan. 

As  before  stated,  the  apiaries 
are  located  back  in  the  foothills. 
These  hills  are  cut  up  by  many  ravines, 
or  gulches— or,  as  the  Spaniards  say,  nrroyns. 
The  ridges  between  are  veritable  hogbacks, 
and  some  of  them,  upon  which  a  trait  leads, 
are  not  adapted  to  safe  riding,  especially  if 
the  horses  are  subject  to  shying.  Mr.  Hunt 
rattled  the  Rambler  over  one  of  these  hogbacks 


at  the  imminent  peril  of  his  plug  hat  and  um- 
brella. Mr.  Hunt  is  something  of  a  genius; 
and,  though  his  mind  has  never  become  inflam- 
ed with  the  gold-mine  fever,  he  expects  to  strike 
it  rich  upon  something  in  the  mechanical  or 
speculative  line.  During  the  honey  season  the 
energies  have  been  running  at 
high  pressure;  and  when  the  slack 
time  comes  they  must  find  some- 
thing to  feed  upon.  At  present 
Mr.  H.  is  working  up  a  grand 
scheme  to  supply  the  world  with 
"  Herba  Santa"  cigarettes.  Herba 
santa,  or  "  blessed  herb."  grows 
luxuriantly  in  this  climate;  and, 
besides  being  a  honey  shrub,  it 
has  ever  been  known  as  a  me- 
dicinal herb  of  great  importance, 
a-<  the  name  signifies.  The  leaf  is 
uf  the  lanceolate  order,  and  is 
covered  with  a  glutinous  substance 
that  gives  the  leaf  a  high  polish. 
When  eaten  they  have  a  highly 
aromatic  taste;  the  leaves  work 
readily  into  cigarettes;  and,  be- 
sides their  medicinal  qualities,  Mr. 
Hunt  has  made  the  above  discov- 
ery; and  while  th(<  Rambler  has 
about  as  much  faith  in  the  medici- 
nal qualities  of  the  smoke  as  he 
had  in  the  divining  instrument, 
still  "Herba  Santa"  cigarettes 
wraitped  in  harmless  paper  would 
certainly  be  an  improvement  over 
the  death-dealing  tobacco  cigar- 
ette; and  with  this  end  in  view, 
Mr.  Hunt  regards  the  scheme  as 
highly  philanthropic.  The  Herba  Santa  facto- 
ry is  not  started,  however,  and  the  scheme  is 
not  brewing  so  strong  as  it  did  a  few  months 
ago. 

I  suppose  the  senior  editor,  when  in  Califor- 
nia, noticeii,  in  the  windows  of  curiosity  stores, 
great  numbers  of  horned  toads,  taxidemiized 
and  mounted  upon  cai'dboard,  and  looking  as 
natural   as   life.     Mr.  Hunt  and   the  Rambler 


have  hunted  horned  toads;  and,  as  they  are 
easily  hunted,  captured,  and  prepared,  we  have 
a  scheme  for  putting  several  carloads  on  sale  at 
the  World's  Fair,  at  50  cts.  each.  There  is  a 
bonanza  greater  than  a  gold-mine  in  it.  Plunt- 
ing  them  among  the  cactus  bushes  might  fray 
out  our  pants  a  little;  but  consider  the  bags  of 


1S92 


GLEANINGS  IN  HEE  CULTURE. 


021 


shekels  that  would  romo  in.  Our  i)linis  an>  well 
diMintnl;  :iud  from  tli(>  skctoli  you  observe  that 
our  solu'iiio  looks  well  on  papiM". 
,  It  may  he  oonsidiMvd  hy  some  that  bee-keepers 
sliould  not  indiilsie  in  the  elaboration  of  such 
soliemos;  but  tliat,  perhaps,  is  one  liisadvan- 
tage  bee-keeping  rests  und(>r  in  this  eliinate. 
Tlie  actiye  season  is  for  oi\ly  a  few  tntmths.  and 
then  there  is  ample  time  to  indulge  in  seheines 
or  business,  and  too  often  tlw  other  things  ab- 
sorb time  that  should  be  devot(Hl  to  the  bees. 

The  great  need  of  bee-ke(>ping  in  California 
is,  to  make  it  an  all-the-year-round  business; 
and  to  that  end  W(>  ought  to  rejoice  at  the 
scheme  of  Messrs.  Ilutcliinson  and  Cook  in  re- 
lation to  sugar  feeding  to  make  honey.  With 
our  Chino  and  a  dozen  other  beet-sugar  fac- 
tories, and  endless  summer,  we  could  flood 
Michigan  knec-dcci)  with  that  kind  of  honey. 
The  Rambler  will  immediately  visit  the  Chino 
sugar-factory  and  give  you  tiae  results  of  our 
researches. 

Although  Messrs.  Wheeler  &  Hunt  have  so 
many  apiaries  around  Redlands.  there  are 
many  others;  and  we  may  at  .some  future  time 
describe  some  of  them  to  you;  but  for  the  pres- 
ent, adio-s  .says  the  Ramblkr. 

[That  there  are  advantages  in  having  top- 
bars  as  illustrated,  can  not  be  denied.  We  have 
thought  some  of  making  frames  that  way.  but 
could  not  see  our  way  clear  to  do  it,  because  it 
would  make  an  expensive  change.  In  moving 
bees  over  rough  roads  there  would  be  danger 
that  the  frames  would  hop  out  of  place,  and,  of 
course,  one  end  \\ould  dropdown  and  spoil  the 
whole.  Taking  it  all  in  all,  we  question  very 
much  whether  it  would  be  wise  to  make  the 
change,  even  if  it  would  not  break  up  the  uni- 
form length  of  all  Langstroth  top-bars.] 


STAKVING  INDIA. 


FUKTHER  rARTICULARS  FRU.M  MR.  FRANK  VAX 
ALLEX. 


Mr.  A.  I.  R')Ot:—l  have  received  by  this 
day's  overland  mail  from  Europe,  which 
reaches  us  once  a  week,  the  .S34.80  which  your- 
self and  your  customers  have  so  kindly  sent  me. 
We  have  indt^ed  had  a  hard  time  with  tlireat- 
ened  and  actual  famine  in  South  India.  In 
many  districts  actual  famine  has  prevailed, 
relief  works  by  Government  being  the  only 
means  which  has  prevented  the  utmost  distress. 
For  several  months  we  were  stared  in  the  face 
by  the  prospects  of  the  fearful  famine  scenes  of 
187G  and  1877  being  rejifaii'd.  when  upward  of 
.i,00(J.(XJO  people  are  estimated  to  have  died  from 
actual  starvation,  diarrho-a,  and  famine-fever. 
The  prompt  action  of  the  English  Government 
has  tided  over  for  us  now  a  critical  time,  and 
prospects  are  much  brighter:  and.  though  this 
is  so,  times  are  very  hard,  and  the  prices  of 
grains  in  some  cases  almost  toucliing  famine 
rates.  There  are  some  of  our  Christians  among 
the  natives,  who  barely  get  one  meal  a  day. 
The  effects  of  a  serious  scarcity  last  for  some 
time;  by  this  we  are  cheered,  that  it  is  only  tlie 
remnants  of  the  recent  serious  scarcity,  and 
that,  as  we  have  now  had  good  rains,  the  crops 
will  soon  begin  to  come  into  market,  and  the 
high  prices  will  be  reduced.  The  slate  of  affairs 
now  in  South  India  is  well  represented  by  this: 
Rice  (the  staple  food)  is  .53^  measures  for  a 
rupee.  The  usual  price  is  8  measures  for  the 
rupee.  A  rupee  is  about  3.5  cents,  and  the  wage 
of  the  mass  of  the  people  is  about  (3  or  8  rupees 
a  month.  A  "  measure  "  is  a  little  more  than  a 
quart. 


My  work  in  India  is  tliat  of  a  medical  mis- 
sionary. I  have  a  hospital  and  dispensary  in 
Madura  (pronounced  Mad-ju-ra).  European 
medicine  is  aj)preciated  liere  in  India,  due  to 
its  intrinsic  valuci  and  thecfTectof  the  influence 
of  the  English  (iovei  iim(!iit.  My  dispensary  is 
thronged  every  morning  with  those  seeking 
either  simply  medicine  or  (dse  surgical  relief. 
Last  year  I  treated  (with  the  help  of  my  two 
'*  dresours,"  or  native  medically  qualified  men) 
a  little  over  38,<)00  cases  (including  new  and  old 
ones). 

Our  dispensary  and  hospital  has  an  excellent 
name  for  miles  about,  and  it  is  not  in  the  least 
unusual  for  i)atients  to  come  40  miles  in  a  bul- 
lock cart,  for  treatment;  and  sometimes  they 
iiave  come  more  than  1(X)  miles.  Of  course,  the 
majority  of  my  patients  come  from  Madura 
and  th(^  immediate  surrounding  villages.  Last 
year,  [)atients  came  from  :24G  diflensnt  villages, 
near  and  remote.  Such  a  work,  as  a  well-known 
medical  work,  is  a  Christian  light  that  shines 
brightly  in  such  a  heathen  country  as  India. 
It  is  the  means  of  making  many  friends  for 
Christianity.  It  has  always  been  tlie  policy  of 
our  mission  to  have  tnedical  work  that  the 
people  may  see,  as  they  perhaps  might  not  oth- 
erwise, our  disinterested  motives,  and  know 
that  we  seek  only  their  best  good.  They  get 
an  insight  into  our  motives  through  our  medi- 
cal work  which  they  otherwise  would  not  in 
most  cases.  They  know  that  the  door  of  our 
dispensary  is  always  open,  day  and  night:  that 
medicines  are  to  be  had  without  money  (unless 
they  choose  to  pay  for  them;  but  the  great  ma- 
jority do  not  do  so),  and  that  the  hand  of  the 
missionary  doctor  is  ever  ready  to  help.  A 
good  deal  of  the  money  for  my  work  comes 
from  America.  I  get  also  good  local  grants, 
and  my  wealthy  patients  often  give  me  most 
liberally  for  my  hospital.  From  this  source 
alone  I  have  received  this  year  about  one- third 
of  my  whole  expense  for  the  year.  I  try  to 
make  this  country  bear  as  much  of  the  expense 
as  possible,  but  the  great  majority  of  the  peo- 
ple are  very  poor  indeed. 

Perhaps  you  would  like  to  look  at  a  few  of 
the  cases  in  my  ward.  In  one  bed  lies  a  man 
who  came  suffering  with  what  is  called  "  Ma- 
dura foot."  The  foot  becomes  diseased  with  a 
peculiar  fungus  which,  by  the  way.  is  found 
only  in  the  Madura  district  in  South  India,  and 
here  it  is,  unfortunately,  very  common;  begins 
to  swell,  becomes  painful;  later,  disorganizes; 
and  there  is  but  one  remedy,  and  that  is,  re- 
tnoval.  This  man's  leg  was  amputated  just 
below  the  knee.  He  is  entirely  well  now,  and 
goes  home  to-day  (of  course  on  crutches).  He 
asked  me  for  a  new  "cloth."  A  "  cloth  "  is  the 
name  of  a  straight  strip  of  cloth,  rather  less 
than  a  yard  wide,  and  a  yard  or  two  long, 
wound  about  the  hips,  and  falling  to  the  knees. 
This  is  the  one  garment  worn  here  by  the  poor- 
er classes.  As  a  rule  I  give  only  food;  and 
when  he  asked  for  the  cloth  I  told  him  I 
couldn't  do  it;  but  I  shall  now  spend  a  very 
little  of  this  money,  which  you  have  sent  me, 
for  him,  and  try  to  impress  on  him  that  it  is  the 
gift  of  friends  thousands  of  miles  away  who 
have  never  seen  him  and  never  will,  but  who 
wish  him  only  good. 

Another  case  in  a  bed  not  far  from  his  is  that 
of  an  old  woman  who  fell  on  a  jagged  piece  of 
wood,  tearing  away  her  entire  breast.  It  was 
a  most  ugly  wound,  but  she  is  now  rapidly  re- 
covering, and  will  go  home  in  a  few  days.  An- 
other woman  is  suffering  from  a  large  and  seri- 
ous abcess.  Near  by,  in  another  bed.  lies  a 
little  boy.  about  eight  years  of  age,  who  was 
brought  here  by  his  father  about  two  weeks 
ago.  He  had  fallen  from  a  tree  and  broken  his 
arm    iust  above  the  elbow.    The  mother  had 


922 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  15. 


taken  him  then  to  a  native  medicine  man  who 
put  on  a  number  of  thin  bamboo  strips  (very 
good  splints),  but  had  bound  them  down  very 
tightly  with  wyths  of  coeoanut  fiber.  The 
little  fellow  was  moaningand  crying  when  they 
brought  him  here.  The  whole  arm  was  dead, 
from  the  tight  pressure  applied.  In  fact,  it  had 
been  so  for  three  or  four  days,  and  was  quite 
offensive.  He  had  high  fever,  and  no  doubt 
would  have  soon  succumbed.  I  amputated  at 
the  shoulder,  and  he  is  now  nearly  ready  to 
leave  the  hospital. 

I  could  write  pages,  and  scarcely  know  where 
to  stop,  but  will  do  so  now.  Thanking  you 
again^and  those  who  have  kindly  made  up 
this  sum  to  send  out  here  for  use  among  these 
people.  I  beg  to  remain  youi's  very  sincerely. 

Madura,  Nov.  9.  Frank  V^an  Allen,  M.  D. 


BASSWOOD  AND  CLOVER  HONEY. 


HOW   AN    UNEDUCATED    TASTE    FAILS     TO     DI,>- 
TINGUISH   THE   DIFFERENCE. 


Friend  Root.'— Gleanings  came  to  hand  to- 
day, and  I  noticed  your  editorial  on  "feeding 
bees  sugar  to  make  honey."  In  reading  your 
question,  if  it  were  really  true  that  those  stu- 
dents could  not  tell  basswood  honey  from  sugar 
syrup  after  it  had  been  fed  to  the  bees,  it  struck 
me  that  I  could  offer  a  probable  explanation  of 
that  fact.  As  you  may  be  aware,  our  apiary  is 
situated  almost  in  the  business  part  of  the  town 
of  Niagara  Falls.  We  have  one  window  of  a 
building  facing  the  street,  fitted  up  with  a  fine 
display  of  honey,  which  attracts  many  custom- 
ers, so  that  we  dispose  of  nearly  all  our  honey 
directly  to  the  consumer.  Often,  when  a  cus- 
tomer asks  for  honey,  I  will  say,  "Which  do 
you  prefer,  the  clover  or  basswood?" 

"Well,  I  don't  know.  What  is  the  differ- 
ence'?" 

"The  difference  is  in  the  flavor.  Taste  them 
and  see  which  you  like  best." 

"  That  tastes  pretty  good.    What  is  it  ? '' 

"That  is  basswood;  now  try  this." 

"Why,"  he  remarks  in  surprise,  "I  don't  see 
any  difference;  both  taste  alike  to  me." 

"  Does  it  ?    Well,  try  the  basswood  again." 

"  Oh.  yes  I  I  see  now  there  is  a  great  difference 
in  the  flavor." 

I  have  tried  it  many  times,  and  it  is  almost 
invariably  the  case,  that,  if  the  basswood  is 
tasted  first,  the  average  customer  does  not  de- 
tect any  difference  between  tlie  two  kinds  of 
honey;  but  if  the  order  is  reversed,  and  the  clo- 
ver tasted  first,  its  milder  flavor  is  noticed  at 
once,  and  generally  preferred. 

Niagara  Falls,  Ont.  W.  H.  Brown. 

[You  are  probably  correct.  After  eating 
basswood  honey  we  have  oftentimes  been  un- 
able to  get  the  full  flavor  of  certain  kinds  of 
sauce.  In  a  similar  way.  novices  might  fail  to 
detect  the  difference  between  basswood  and 
clover  honey.] 


WHICH  WAY  SHOULD  HIVES  FACE  ^ 

G.   JM.   DOOLITTI-E    PREFERS   THE   SOUTHE.«iT. 


Question. — "All  things  cousidered.  which  way 
should  hives  front,  in  order  to  obtain  the  most 
profit  from  the  bees — east  or  west,  north  or 
south,  where  they  are  wintered  on  the  summer 
stand?  and  which  way  when  they  are  wintered 
in  the  cellar?  " 

If  I  am  to  understand  by  the  last  part  of  the 
question  that  the  inquirer  thinks  that  it  makes 
a  difference  which  way  the  hives  face  while  in 


the  cellar,  I  will  simply  say  that  he  is  making 
a  mistalve,  for  I  can  not  see  how  it  could  make 
any  possible  difference  in  a  cellar  of  even  tem- 
perature and  total  darkness.  If  there  is  a  win- 
dow to  the  cellar  which  admits  light,  it  is  bet- 
ter to  darken  the  window:  yet  at  my  out-apiary 
cellar  thi^  people  don't  want  the  cellar  dai'k,  so 
I  face  the  hives  away  from  the  light,  and,  so 
far  as  I  can  see,  they  wiutei'  just  as  well  as  in 
a  perfectly  dark  cellar.  But  to  the  other  ques- 
tion, which  way  should  they  face  while  on 
their  summer  stands?  Some  .seem  to  think 
that  it  malces  no  difference  which  way  the  hives 
face,  but  I  think  otherwise,  especially  in  win- 
ter. I  have  had  hives  facing  almost  all  points 
of  the  compass,  and  those  doing  the  poorest 
faced  the  north,  while  those  facing  the  south- 
east invariably  did  the  best.  I  have  lost  colo- 
nies in  winter  facing  the  north,  when  those 
facing  the  south  and  east  would  have  good 
cleansing  flights,  and  be  in  good  shape  for  an- 
other long  cold  spell,  the  others  not  flying  at  all 
on  account  of  the  sun  not  shining  on  the  en- 
trance, hence  died  with  diarrhea,  as  it  is  called,. 
by  not  having  a  chance  to  void  their  excrement. 
Again,  in  summer,  bees  in  hives  facing  the 
sun  will  generally  work  longer  each  day  than 
will  those  whose  entrances  the  sun  never  shines 
upon.  Once  more,  the  prevailing  winds  are  from 
southwest  to  north,  in  this  locality;  and  where 
hives  face  the  west  or  north,  more  stores  are 
consumed  in  keeping  up  the  heat  of  the  cluster 
where  the  prevailing  winds  blow  directly  in  at 
the  entrance,  carrying  off  the  heat  generated 
by  the  bees. 

INCREASING   COLONIES. 

Question. — "Having  17  colonies  of  bees,  and 
wishing  to  increase  them  to  50  next  season,  I 
should  like  to  know  the  best  way  of  doing  it 
and  still  get  some  surplus  honey." 

I  large  increase  of  bees  and  surplus  honey  at 
the  same  time  is  something  which  is  not  very 
likely  to  occur;  still,  there  are  ways  in  which 
it  is  sometimes  accomplished.  One  of  these 
ways  would  be  to  let  the  bees  swarm  naturally, 
hiving  the  first  and  second  swarms,  returning 
those  which  came  out  after  the  second.  Put 
sections  on  the  tiist  swarms,  having  them  in 
contracted  brood-chambers;  and  if  the  swarms 
come  early  enough  in  the  season,  box  all  the 
old  colonies  as  soon  as  the  young  queens  com- 
mence to  lay.  A  still  better  way  would  be  to 
keep  the  colonies  from  swarming  as  much  as 
possible,  hiving  the  few  swarms  which  did 
come  in  contracted  brood-chambers  as  above, 
and,  six  days  after  any  swarm  issued,  divide 
the  old  colony  into  nuclei  with  a  queen-cell  for 
each.  Occasionally,  as  needed,  to  keep  those 
not  having  swarmed  from  taking  the  swarming 
fever,  take  frames  of  brood  from  them  and  give 
to  the  nuclei,  thus  building  them  up.  Replace 
the  frames  of  brood  taken,  with  frames  filled 
with  comb  foundation,  thus  preventing  the 
building  of  drone  comb.  If  successful,  as  you 
should  be,  seven  of  the  colonies  swarming  would 
give  all  the  increase  needed  to  make  the  fifty, 
thus  leaving  ten  to  roll  up  all  the  surplus  they 
Dossibly  could  were  the  same  ten  worked  for  no 
increase. 

RIPENING  HONEY. 

Question. — "What  is  the  best  plan  of  ripen- 
ing honey  where  we  can  not  afford  to  wait  until 
it  ripens  in  th(!  hive?  " 

I  am  not  sure  that  there  could  be  a  locality  or 
circumstances  where  "  we  can  not  afford  to 
wait"  for  the  bees  to  ripen  the  honey  in  the 
hive.  We  used  to  think  we  could  not  afford  the 
combs  to  use  in  tiered-up  hives  necessary  to 
wait  till  the  end  of  the  honey  season,  but  I  now 
think  this  a  mistake.    Not  affording  the  combs. 


i8'.v: 


(U.EANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


92:1 


tho  hccs  liaii  to  rrmaiii  iilli'  while  Ihc  honey 
wiis  hein;r  sealed,  wliii'h  was  a  loss  of  time,  so 
tlie  lioiiey  was  exlrai-ted  every  three  or  four 
days,  when  it  was  thin  and  nntit  for  use;  but 
invtltes<>  days  of  comb  foundation,  niuch  the 
iietter  way  is  to  tiei'  up  the  hives,  adding  foun- 
dation as  needed,  lelling  the  l)ees  seal  the  hon- 
ey as  far  as  possible,  wlien  it  is  to  be  liroughi 
inio  a  warm  room.  and.  when  thoroushly 
warmed,  it  will  be  little  more  work  to  extract 
it  than  it  would  In-  were  it  taken  from  the 
hive  when  two-thirds  sealed,  as  was  consid(»red 
the  proper  time  years  ago.  Honey  obtained  by 
this  tiering-up  plan  is  superior  to  that  secured 
in  any  other  way,  increasing  the  demand  for 
extracted  honey  in  the  markets,  instead  of  de- 
creasing the  demand  as  the  honey  of  ten  to  fif- 
teen years  ago  did. 

If  you  Huist  ripen  honey  out  of  the  hive,  I 
know  of  no  better  way  of  doing  it  than  to  place 
it  in  tin  cans  holding  from  two  to  three  liundred 
pounds  each,  putting  these  cans  in  a  tempera-, 
ture  which  can  be  maintained  at  from  90°  to 
100°  for  a  month  or  so.  leaving  the  top  of  the 
can  open,  and  tying  cotton  cloth  over  it  to  keep 
out  tiie  dust  and  insects.  If  you  have  the 
means,  and  are  in  a  hurry  to  have  the  honey 
ripened,  it  can  be  done  by  slowly  running  the 
honey  over  a  zigzag  evaporator,  which  is  kept 
at  the  proper  temperature  by  heated  w  ater  or 
lamps,  so  that  it  will  ripen  it  fast,  and  yet  not 
scoix'h  or  change  the  flavor  of  the  honey.  But 
let  me  advise  you  to  let  the  bees  take  care  of 
the  ripening  part.  G.  M.  Dooijttle. 

Borodino,  N.  Y..  Dec.  ]. 


A  SUGGESTION  FOR  CHRISTMAS. 


I)K.  MILLER  TEI.L.S  WHAT  TO  GET  FOR  THE  GOOD 
WIFE. 

This  is  not  about  bees.  But  I  want  every 
man  who  has  a  wife  he  cares  for  to  read  it;  also 
ihe  young  >nian  with  a  sweetheart — a  sweet- 
heart that  will  soon  be  his  wife.  I  want  to  say 
something  to  you  about  getting  a  Christmas 
present  for  yotir  wife.  You're  troubled  to  know 
w  hat  to  get.  Perhaps  you  can  think  of  noth- 
ing appropriate,  or.  if  you  do  think  of  some- 
thing, it  costs  too  much.  Now  look  here.  John; 
it  isn't  altogether  what  a  thing  ousts  that 
makes  it  valued.  It's  more  the  amount  of  love 
and  thoughtfulness  that  seems  to  be  in  the  gift 
—  at  least,  with  a  sensible  woman;  and  you 
know.  John,  your  wife's  a  sensible  woman. 

I  don't  think  a  box  of  candy,  no  matter  how 
costly,  beautiful,  or  delicious,  is  the  best  thing. 
It  isn't  the  finest  compliment  to  her  good  taste, 
suggesting  that  she  has  no  taste  except. that 
connected  with  the  gustatory  nerve.  Besides, 
she'll  divide  it  with  you,  and  it  looks  too  mucli 
like  getting  something  for  yourself.  And  it's 
eaten  up  right  away,  and  that's  the  end  of  it. 
Something  for  herself  alone,  something  that 
lasts,  is  better. 

I  knew  a  man  who  had  money  enough  so  he 
didn't  need  to  count  tlie  cost;  and  every  Christ- 
mas, whatever  else  he  might  get  her,  he  gave 
his  wife  a  pound  bottle  of  "■  White  Rose"'  per- 
fumery, her  favorite  kind.  It  had  the  merit  of 
frequent  use,  constantly  reminding  her,  when- 
ever she  used  it,  that  it  was  her  iiusband's  de- 
sire to  give  her  pleasure.  Being  repeated  each 
Christmas,  it  lacked  the  merit  of  novelty  and 
surprise. 

A  periodical  is  appropriate.  If  your  wife  has 
not  some  such  paper  as  the  Ladie's Hume  Juur- 
nal,  it  will  please  her  more  than  a  gold  ring 
costing  three  times  as  much.  Twelve  times  in 
the  year  it  comes  as  a  fresh  gift. 


But  I  know  of  something  that  will  just  exactly 
suit  her.  and  it's  something  that,  y(ni  can  alTorcl. 
Yon  know,  John— or  if  you  don't  I  do— that 
you're  not  as  good  to  your  wife  as  when  you 
first  married  her.  Oh  I  now  don't  go  to  getting 
into  a  passion  because  an  old  friend  tells  you 
the  jilain  tiul  h.  Of  course,  you  don't  conn'  home 
drunk  and  abuse  her.  as  does  Urad  Simpson, 
the  old  wretch,  and  your  wife  thinks  you're  one 
of  the  best  of  men;  but  then,  you  don't  show 
that  same  tender  care  for  her  that  you  did  when 
you  wei'c  courting  her.  Now,  if  you  can  give 
her  the  same  lover  she  had  then,  one  who  is  all 
thi>  time  trying  to  make  things  easier  for  her, 
and  trying  to  help  her,  it  will  be  the  most  ap- 
propriate present  you  can  give  her,  and  a  rare 
surprise  as  well. 

To  particularize,  suppose  every  morning, 
when  she  puts  on  oatmeal  to  cook  (you  know 
she  thinks  it  better  to  cook  it  on  the  stove  with- 
out a  farina-boiler),  wliile  she  is  trying  to  do 
two  or  three,  other  things  and  at  the  same  time 
keep  the  oatmeal  constantly  stirred  to  prevent 
its  burning,  suppose  you  take  her  place  at  the 
oatmeal  stiiTing.  Your  face  may  as  well  be 
roasted  as  hers,  and  it  will  make  her  feel  young 
again  to  think  that  she  has  the  old  John  of  long 
ago  back  again. 

Or,  if  she's  boiling  some  milk,  and  is  so  busy 
with  other  things  that  there  is  danger  of  its 
boiling  over,  it  will  not  hurt  you  a  bit  to  watch 
it  for  her. 

Y"es,  I  expected  just  that  reply  from  you,  that 
it  would  be  very  nice  to  help  your  wife,  and 
you're  sure  she  would  appreciate  it,  but  that 
you  have  something  else  to  do  and  can't  spend 
all  your  time  over  the  cook-stove. 

Well,  now\  I'll  tell  you  just  how  you  can 
manage  it,  John,  to  do  the  little  acts  I  have 
specified,  and  a  hundred  others;  to  do  them  not 
only  one  morning,  but  every  morning,  noon, 
and  night  of  every  day  in  the  year,  and  itsha'n't 
cost  you  a  minute  of  time,  and  only  2(5  cents  of 
money.  Send  2()  cents  to  A.  I.  Root  and  tell 
him  to  mail  you  one  augite  stove-mat.  If  you 
want  to  be  extra  kind  to  her,  send  for  two.  for 
my  wife  thinks  she  needs  two.  I  almost  wish 
you  didn't  need  to  send  to  friend  Root,  but 
somewhere  else,  then  you  wouldn't  think  I'm 
writing  this  merely  as  an  advertisement;  but 
then,  I'm  not  going  to  stop  doing  what  I  know  is 
a  real  favor  to  you.  just  because  it  comes  in  the 
form  of  an  advertisement;  and  when,  for  such  a 
small  outlay,  you  can  get  so  much  help,  and 
help  of  the  most  efficient  kind,  too.  I  feel  very 
sure  I'm  doing  a  great  favor  by  telling  you 
about  it. 

I  had  an  augite  stove-mat  sent  by  mail. 
When  it  came  I  didn't  feel  as  hopeful  about  it 
as  before  I  saw  it.  It  looked  like  a  piece  of 
))asteboard  bound  with  tin.  likely  to  burn  up 
the  first  time  it  got  over  a  hot  tire.  Rut  my 
wife  said  she'd  give  it  a  fair  trial.  First  she 
laid  it  on  the  hot  stove  for  ten  minutes  before 
putting  anything  on  it.  I  don't  know  the  ob- 
ject of  that,  but  it  was  according  to  directions. 
It  didn't  take  fire  and  burn  up.  Then  she  set  a 
pan  of  milk  on  it.  By  and  by  it  began  to  puff 
up  as  milk  does  when  it  boils.  She  thought 
she'd  better  take  it  oft,  so  it  would  not  boil  over 
on  the  stove.  I  told  her  it  would  be  nothing 
so  terrible  to  have  it  all  over  the  stove,  and  she 
let  it  boil  for  a  long  time.  It  puffed  up  in  a 
very  threatening  manner,  but  never  dared  to 
boil  over.  She  was  quite  jubilant  on  finding 
that  the  bottom  of  the  pan  was  not  at  all  burnt 
— only  a  thick  coaling,  easily  scraped  otf. 

Then  she  put  on  it  a  dish  of  oatmeal  to  cook. 
After  letting  it  cook  a  long  time  she  came  with 
a  glowing  face  to  tell  me,  "  It's  a  perfect  suc- 
cess!   Oh,  it  will  be  swch  a  help!  " 


924 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


t)EC.   lo. 


Then  she  tried  a  corn-starch  pudding.  "  It's 
a  supreme  success."  came  the  report:  and  then 
with  unusual  enthusiasm  she  recounted  some 
of  the  things  in  which  the  new  mat  would  be 
such  a  help. 

Now,  I  feel  sure  that,  when  you  get  one,  you 
will  thank  me  for  calling  your  attention  to  it, 
and  your  wife  will  be  very  thankful.  I  shall 
send  for  a  number  to  give  as  Christmas  presents 
to  friends,  and  I  hope  friend  Root  has  a  large 
stock,  and  that  Christmas  may  take  them  all. 

Marengo,  111.                              C.  C.  Mii.lek. 
^    I    ^     

TIN   COMB. 


RESULTS  OF  EXPEKIMENTS  IN  THIS  LINE   IN 
GERMANY. 


We  give  below  a  free  translation  of  what  C. 
J.  H.  Gravenhorst  says  on  the  above  subject,  in 
his  journal,  lllustrierte  Bienenzeitung : 

Concerning  the  tin  comb  of  Mr.  J.  Steigel,  of 
Pernersdorf,  near  Jetzelsdorf,  Lower  Austria, 
we  made  a  brief  reference  in  Vol.  11,  and  are 
to-day  in  condition  to  inform  our  readers  fur- 
ther. The  next  thing  to  do  to  make  this  comb 
profitable  to  the  bee-keeper  is,  so  the  inventor 
informs  us  in  a  letter,  to  render  it  as  acceptable 
to  the  bees  as  the  natural  comb.  At  best  we 
should  beware  of  cells  only  15  mm.  deep  (§  of 
an  inch),  when  the  bees  require  tho.se  that  are 
from  25  to  27.  In  the  latter  respect  they  should 
be  comparable  with  the  natural  product.  These 
combs  remain  absolutely  broodless,  are  fully  as 
light  as  natural  comb,  and  actually  surpass  the 
latter  in  durability.  Furthe»',  the  inventor 
says,  they  are  the  best  swarm-regulator.  Steigel 
wants  a  s-trong  colony  with  only  as  much  nat- 
ural comb  in  the  brood-nest  as  the  bees  need 
for  rearing  colonies  up  to  the  requisite  strength; 
otherwise  he  gives  them  tin  comb  alone. 

That  such  combs  will  be  as  strong  as  common 
combs  in  extracting,  nobody  will  doubt.  Mr. 
Steigel  is  also  of  the  opinion  that,  with  tin 
combs,  the  hitherto  non-extractible  heath  hon- 
ey can  be  taken  out.  Such  honey  always  tears 
wax  comb  in  extracting.  If  that  proves  to  be 
the  case,  tin  comb  for  bee-keepers  who  harvest 
heath  honey  will  be  of  great  value.  Suppose, 
however,  that,  in  spite  of  this,  the  heath  honey 
should  remain  fast  in  the  comb,  then  the  hopes 
of  the  inventor  will  not  be  realized. 

He  thinks  he  can,  without  difficulty,  construct 
a  coDib  whose  middle  wall  can  simply  be  with- 
drawn, so  that  the  cells  will  then  form  a  hex- 
agonal network.  Perhaps  one  might  replace 
the  cells  with  double  bottoms,  the  first  of  which 
is  perforated,  the  second  covering  the  first,  but 
which  can  be  removed  at  extracting  time.  We 
must  confess,  however,  that  we  have  no  faith 
in  this  idea.  Attempts  to  extract  heath  honey 
from  the  Steigel  combs  have  hitherto  been 
found  impracticable — at  least,  no  reports  have 
as  yet  reached  us.  Very  likely  the  present  year 
has  been  unfavorable  thereto. 

For  more  than  ten  or  fifteen  years  the  Ameri- 
cans have  tried,  with  various  materials,  includ- 
ing tin,  to  make  foundation.  But  all  such  at- 
tempts have  been  failures.  But  perhaps  the 
American  tin  used  was  not  prepared  in  the 
same  manner  that  the  Steigel  was,  and  so  was 
less  available.  In  regard  to  the  preparation  of 
his  tin  comb,  Mr.  Steigel  reports  to  us  the  fol- 
lowing: 

Tin  strips,  of  the  finest  zinc-tin,  No.  1,  as  wide  as 
the  cells  :ire  to  be  deep,  are  shoved  through  a  small 
cogrg-ed-roUer  work.  They  receive  thereby  the  shape 
shown  in  the  cut.  These  cell-strips,  so  prepared, 
are  now  cut  with  common  shears,  lour  or  six  at  a 
time,  in  pieces  as  long  as  the  comb  is  to  be  broad, 
and  laid  together,  thiis  forming  cells,  two  of  which 


are  shown.  Now  begins  tlie  putting  togetlier  of  the 
comb  on  a  board  as  laige  as  tlie  required  size  of  tlie 
comb.  On  tliis  lioard  tlie  stiiiis  are  now  ))ut  up 
edgewise,  after  the  edges  of  eontact  are  fastened 
together.    After  a  short  time  the  finished  comb  is 

Edtre  of  tin  >trip  as  it  leaves  the  cog-woiTcT 

raised  from  tlie  board,  and  then  follows  tlie  wax 
bath.  The  bottomless  comb  is  dipped  twice  in  melt- 
ed wax— the  fli'st  time  entirely,  and  the  second  time 
only  a  millimeter,  so  that,  Oa  the  surface  of  the 
wax,  a  thicker  layer  will  form,  which,  when  neces- 
sary, the  bees  can  use  to  d.aw  the  cell  out  to  its 
full  length.  Tlie  comb  now  receives  a  bottom,  serv- 
ing as  a  middle  wall.  Now  take  u  slieet  of  tin,  some 
five  or  six  millimeters  larger  than  the  comb  is,  and 
bend,  by  means  of  two  strips  of  wood,  the  edge  of 
the  tin  over  so  as  to  form  a  shallow  dish.  Tliis  is  to 
be  placed  on  a  warm  stove,  spread  over  with  wax, 
and  the  comb  laid  on  it.  In  this  way  the  one-sided 
comb  is  made  ready.  Two  one-sided  combs  will  form 
a  two-sided  one.  The  combs  are  fastened  in  the 
frames  with  little  pegs.  The  placing  of  the  tin 
•  combs  goes  on  so  rapidly  that  one  person  can  make 
40  or  50  a  day. 

Mr.  Steigel  has  prepared,  at  different  times, 
in  liis  primitive  way.  cells  of  full  depth,  made 
of  pure  wax.  As  with  the,  strips  of  tin,  he 
places  his  strips  of  wax  together.  But  these 
are  not  manipulated  with  the  rollwork,  as 
shown  above,  but  with  an  apparatus  similar  to 
the  Ritsche  wax-press.  The  strips  of  prepared 
wax  are  immediately  placed  in  a  frame,  and 
separated  by  means  of  a  partition  of  tin,  glass, 
or  wax.  Although  this  manufacture  of  comb 
with  cells  full  depth  might  be  carried  on  easily 
and  satisfactorily,  yet  Mr.  Steigel  will  make  no 
more,  of  wax,  for  sale,  as  it  does  not  pay.  Fre- 
quently such  comb,  before  using,  is,  from  some 
unforeseen  reason,  found  to  be  useless;  and 
especially  is  this  found  to  be  the  case  in  trying 
to  ship  it.  The  finished  comb  can  be  most  ad- 
vantageously made  at  home  by  the  bee-keeper 
himself;  and  where  he  wishes  to  do  so,  he  can 
get  the  necessary  press  of  Mr.  S. 


•SOMETHING    MORE     ABOUT     THE    MATILIJA 
CANYON. 

ANOTHER     GLIMPSE     OF     THE    WONDERFUL    RE- 
GION  WHERE   THE   HOT   SPRINGS   HOLD 
FORTH. 


The  accompanying  engravings  were  sent  us 
shortly  after  my  return  from  California  last 
spring;  but  we  were  having  !-o  many  California 
views  just  then  we  decided  not  to  use  them  un- 
til a  little  later.  With  the  two  pictures  comes 
the  following  description: 

A.  I.  Root  :~J  mail  you  with  this  a  view  of  my 
apiary,  also  a  view  of  the  canyon  looking  up  and 
westward  from  it.  It  is  located  in  the  Matilija 
Canyon,  four  miles  above  the  hot  springs  you  visit- 
ed. If  you  had  continued  your  trip  that  far  you 
would  have  been  well  repaid.  There  are  several 
hot  springs  one  mile  below.  They  are  much  hotter, 
and  afl'ord  move  water,  than  the  lower  ones.  They 
are  not  so  accessible,  therefore  not  as  well  known, 
but  are  even  superior  to  them  for  the  cure  of 
rheumatism  and  similar  ailments. 

The  mountain  liack  of  the  apiary  is  a  most  beauti- 
ful one.  It  is  as  higli  as  or  higher  thautlieones  near 
the  lower  springs,  and  is  covered  from  base  to  sum- 
mit with  an  even  growtli  of  evei'green  chapparal. 
The  California  lilac  [CeautithiiK  Tli!iisifloni.'<}  predom- 
inates. It  presentsa  beautiful  siglit  wlieii  in  bloom. 
It  commences  to  bloom  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain, 
and  a  zone  of  blue  extends  upward  day  by  day  till 
the  summit  is  readied.  Only  a  small  portion  of  the 
apiary  is  shown  in  the  view,  as  I  have  320  colonies. 
Tlie  range  does  not  yield  phenominal  crops,  but  we 
seldom  have  an  entire  failure,  and  it  luis,  perhaps, 
during  the  past  four  years,  made  as  large  an  aver- 
age as  any  apiary  in  the  county.  J.  J.  Kapf. 

Ventura,  Cal.,  March  1. 


.).  J.  KAPP'S  APIARY,  MATILIJA,  CAl. 


;*» -an^iftsjata 


1802 


r,LEANIN(JS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


937 


Our  iratliMs  who  liavo  onr  back  voIiiuk's  will 
liiul.  by  tuiiiiiiij  to  tho  issii(>  for. Ian.  1,  ISSli,  a 
ItMigtliy  lifsrriptioii  of  tliis  canyon,  witli  the 
Ojai  liot  s|>riiiirs.  cW.:  also  an  I'xrt'iltMit  pii'tiirc 
of  tlio  numntain  si-oiicry.  'Plu'y  will  also  rc- 
nicnibrr  an  aci'ount.  of  th(>  visit,  we  made  iiisl, 
.lanuary.  wbcn  Mrs.  IJoot  was  aloim.  IJi^forr 
taking  my  bath,  friend  Wilkin  and  I  imshcd 
ahead  np  to  an  a|>iary  beyond  iho  hot  sprinjis. 
Tlie  proprietor,  however,  was  not  at  hi>in(».  I 
foil  sad  to  think  that  we  eonld  not  go  any 
further,  for  if  we  did  weeould  not  reaoh  home 
by  niijrht:  and  just  now  it  seems  to  me  as  if  I 
could  not  stand  it  unless  1  could  make  certainly 
one  more  visit  to  this  wonderful  canyon,  taking 
time  enough  to  explore  it  to  my  heart's  content. 

The  apiary  presented  in  the  picture  i.s  one 
just  beyond  where  we  commenc(>d  to  retrace, 
our  steps.  The  tnM>s.  with  their  dense  sluuhnvs, 
and  the  bi'autiful  shrubs,  are  covei'ed  with  foli- 
age clear  up  to  the  niountain-peak.  Vou  can 
not  see  it  in  the  picture:  but  in  the  photograph 
the  soft  feathery  foliage,  some  of  it  almost 
equal  to  the  down  of  the  ostrich  feather,  makes 
some  of  the  views  rival  any  thing  to  be  found 
in  our  cultivated  gardens.  U[).  up,  up.  those 
great  mountains  loom,  until  the  sunshine  is  so 
cut  oir  that  sunrise  and  sunset  are  but  a  few 
hours  apart,  even  during  a  summer  day.  In 
the  other  picture  the  canyon  opens  out,  giving 
one  a  view  of  the  mountain -peaks  beyond:  and 
away  up  liere,  where  it  woultl  seem  a  horse  and 
buggy  would  never  travel  (and  I  think  they 
never  do  travel,  unless  it  is  in  the  river-bed 
during  low  water),  somebody  has  started  a 
home.  Yes,  and  it  is  a  real  home,  even  if  it  is 
away  from  civilization:  for  if  you  look  closely, 
just  between  tlie  two  buildings  you  will  catch 
a  glimpse  of  a  figure.  Some  woman  has  con- 
sented to  go  away  off  here  in  the  wilderness, 
and  make  a  veritable  home  indeed.  I  suppose 
friend  Kapp  stays  out  here  only  during  the 
honey  season,  for  you  will  notice  his  letter  is 
dated  at  Ventura:  but  it  seems  to  me,  as  mem- 
ory goes  back  to  those  days  of  enjoyment,  that 
there  is  no  place  on  earth  where  the  natural 
scenery  lias  stirred  my  soul  as  those  glimpses 
during  my  brief  visit  to  the  Ojai  springs  in  the 
Matilija  Canyon.  Ordinarily  Mrs.  Root  is  com- 
pletely used  up  by  a  buggy-ride  of  only  eight 
or  ten  miles;  but  on  this  occasion  she  rode 
nearly  if  not  quite  forty  miles,  and  felt  scarcely 
a  bit  of  fatigue.  I  ascribed  it  to  that  soul -stir- 
ring scenery  that  I  felt  sure  must  lift  her  as  it 
did  myself  almost  away  from  earthly  things. 
She  says,  as  she  looks  at  the  pictures,  and 
memory  goes  back,  that  it  seems  almost  like  a 
dream:  but  it  was  ii  hedutif  id  dream,  and  one 
whose  memory  will  long  be  cherished.  Friend 
Rapp,  if  you  continue  to  hold  forth  we  may 
make  vou  another  visit  still. 


Ud/es'  Conversazione. 


WOMAN  AS  A  BEE-KEEPEK. 


Our  space  is  usually  so  crowded  with  original 
matter  that  we  generally  do  not  find  room  for 
papers  read  at  conventions;  but  the  one  read  by 
Mrs.  J.  N.  Heater,  of  Columbus,  Neb.,  at  the 
annual  State  convention  of  the  Nebraska  bee- 
keepers, is  so  pertinent  and  to  the  i^oint  that  we 
reproduce  it  for  this  department. 

Personally,  we  see  no  occasion  to  draw  sex. 
race,  or  color  lines  in  our  calling,  the  whole 


matter   n^sting  entirely,  jis  it  does,  in  one  word 

-adaptability. 

iiife  is  a  frt>e-for-all  race,  and  I  mwer  did  feel 
willing  to  grant  to  the  "  lords  of  creation  "  (ex- 
clusive right  to  any  tiling,  and  I  always  con- 
tended that  I  hud  just  as  good  a  ri«hl  to  whistle 
as  my  brother  had  losing,  aufi  exercised  it. 

We  all  kiiow  the  most  famous  milliner  in  the 
known  world,  as  well  as  the  most  noted  cooks, 
are  men.  They  have  invaded  our  territory, 
and.  worst  of  all.  carried  off  the  laurels.  ,So,  by 
way  of  rinaliation.  we  have  a  perfect  right  to 
cross  any  boundaries.  I  have  never  considerc^l 
it  a  compliment  to  woman  to  be  asked  if  she 
could  make  a  success  of  bee-keeping,  as  it  casts 
a  strong  relkn-tion  upon  her  mental  as  well  as 
her  physical  aiiilit.y.  I  always  believe  any  man 
or  woman  capable  of  accomplishing  whatevei- 
any  other  man  or  woman  has  accomplisiied, 
until  they  have  tried  diligentlv  and  made  a 
failure  of  it. 

There  are  three  all-essential  requisites  for 
eitlier  man  or  woman  to  possess  in  order  to  b<! 
successful  bee-keepers:  viz.,  grit,  grace,  and 
generosity.  Grit  is  called  to  a  severe  test  when 
one  poor  season  after  another  follows  in  un- 
broken succession  for  a  number  of  years,  and  it 
takes  long  sighs  and  close  figuring  to  make  the 
ledger  pages  balance.  Grace  is  to  be  exercised 
when,  after  your  tenderest  care  and  all  vour 
sentimental  talk  about  your  "little  pets,"  these 
same  little  pets  administer  to  you  a  stinging 
rebuke,  into  which  they  have  thrown  all  the 
venom  at  their  command,  because,  perchance, 
you  have  dared  to  meddle  with  their  affairs. 
And  generosity  is  to  be  practiced  in  full  mea- 
sure when  your  competitor  attempts  in  any 
manner  to  appropriate  your  customers  to  his 
own  profits,  by  giving  him  full  details  as  to  his 
duty,  and  forgiving  him  for  his  wickedness. 

In  this  one  pursuit  we  are  all  aware  that  the 
master  can  not  dictate  to  the  worker,  and  per- 
haps this  very  fact  has  more  to  do  with  woman's 
success  in  the  business  than  any  other  one 
thing,  so  used  has  she  become  to  watching  for 
'•just  the  right  time"  before  she  ventures  to 
give  her  cotnmand.  She  carries  the  same  pre- 
caution into  her  apiary,  where  she  must  as 
closely  watch  her  opportunity  before  making 
a  demand  for  any  thing  if  she  expects  to  ob- 
tain it. 

No  woman  is  so  stupid  as  to  suppose  for  a 
moment  that,  if  she  were  to  give  her  bees  sec- 
tions early  in  the  spring,  they  would  go  right  to 
work  in  them,  simply  because  she  was  the  mas- 
ter—or mistress— and  they  were  working  for 
her.  Oh.  no  I  She  has  worked  on  that  line  too 
long  for  that.  She  will  commence  by  being  real 
good  to  them.  She  will  overhaul  every  frame; 
in  the  hives,  putting  them  into  the  best  possible 
condition;  then,  if  they  are  short  of  stores,  will 
give  frames  of  well-ripened  honey  carried  over 
for  this  very  purpose,  or  feed  them  tempting 
sugar  syrup,  either  of  which  will  cause  them  to 
build  up  rapidly — which  is  just  what  she  wants 
them  to  do.  When  she  has  beguiled  them  into 
filling  their  hive  to  overflowing  with  bees, 
and  has  take  jirecaution  to  have  it  so  at  a  time 
when  she  knows  there  will  be  an  abundance  of 
honey-producing  plants  in  bloom,  she  continues 
her  kindness  to  them  still  further  by  giving 
them  a  case  of  sections  all  nicely  filled  with 
foundation;  and  the  poor  deluded  little  dupes 
rush  into  tliose  sections  pell-mell  and  fill  them 
witli  honey  in  less  than  no  time.  That's  just 
what  that  deceitful  woman  has  been  plotting 
for  since  early  spring,  and  she  gets  it. 

I  need  not  enumerate  the  many  women  in 
foreign  lands,  as  well  as  our  own.  who  stand 
with  those  at  the  very  head  of  our  business. 
Aside  from  those  who  are  writers  as  well  as 
apiarists,  and  wlio  are  well  known  to  us  all 


928 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  15, 


through  their  well-written  articles,  there  are 
hordes  of  practical  women  patiently  working 
away  in  silence  who  are  in  our  ranks,  and  mak- 
ing a  success  of  bee-keeping. 

These  aie  but  a  few  thoughts,  briefly  touch- 
ed upon,  and  we  now  leave  it  with  the  wiser 
ones  to  suggest  further  why  we  should  or  should 
not  enter  into  this  field  of  labor  to  possess  it. 


THE  LIftTJOR-TRAFFIC. 

SHALL  THE  UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT    PUSH 

THE    LIQUOR-TKADE    INTO   HEATHEN    LANDS 

AS   IT   WOULD   ANY   PRAISEWORTHY  AND 

LAUDABLE   INDUSTRY  ? 


Prove  all  things;    liold  fast  to  that  which  is  good. 

Very  few  of  my  "  sermons,"  as  my  friends  are 
pleased  to  call  them,  have  called  forth  more 
comment  than  the  one  with  the  above  text:  and 
the  fact  that  every  letter  received  thus  far, 
whether  on  one  side  of  the  question  or  the  other, 
has  been  characterized  by  such  perfect  fairness 
and  kind  Christian  courtesy,  that  I  am  compell- 
ed to  say  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  "  May 
the  Lord  be  praised  that  we  have  so  many  good 
and  pure  men  in  our  land  so  ready  to  hold  the 
fort  against  the  stream  of  iniquity  that  seems 
destined  to  keep  rushing  in  against  us."  We 
have  space  for  only  two  of  these  letters;  and 
after  these  two,  I  think  it  will  be  best  if  the 
other  good  friends  will  excuse  us  for  dropping 
the  matter  for  the  present. 

Friend  Root:— I  have  just  read  "Ourselves 
and  Our  Neighbors"  for  November,  and  am 
much  interested.  Doubtless  you  will  receive 
numerous  comments  thereon,  and  T  am  minded 
to  have  my  say  among  the  rest.  I  know  it  is 
hard  for  all  to  see  things  alike,  and  I  often  say, 
let  a  man  have  what  views  he  will  on  religion, 
politics,  or  what  not,  so  long  as  he  is  honest  and 
seeks  to  be  intelligent  in  his  advocacy.  I  must 
respect  them,  howsoever  contrary  they  may  be 
to  my  own. 

They  are  few  whose  opinions  command  so 
great  respect  from  me  as  your  own,  all  because 
of  their  simple,  charitable,  yet,  withal,  earnest 
advocacy  ;  and  it  is  this,  above  all  else,  that 
makes  me  wish  that  you.  and  all  like  you,  with 
your  mighty  powers  for  good,  might  be  active 
politicians  in  the  true  and  best  sense  of  the 
word. 

You  confess  your  ignorance  of  political  and 
governmental  aflairs,  and  express  a  wish  to  be- 
come better  informed,  in  all  of  which  you  again 
command  my  highest  esteem.  They  only  can 
be  saved  who  feel  their  need  of  salvation. 
Nevertheless.  "  I  have  somewhat  to  say  unto 
you." 

You  hint  at  Christian  duties  regarding  citi- 
zenship; yon  express  your  patriotisnL  and  you 
declare  your  faith  in  God  for  the  righting  of 
governmental  wrongs;  yet,  after  the  mostcai'e- 
ful  reading,  I  fail  to  learn  from  your  sermon 
(I  use  this  word  because  of  its  adaptability) 
whether,  in  your  opinion,  I  ought,  on  next 
Tuesday,  to  vote  the  Republican,  the  Democrat- 
ic, the  People's  party,  or  the  Prohibition  ticket, 
in  order  to  advance  Christ's  kingdom  in  tiiis 
glorious  land  of  ours.  We  take  pride  in  the 
fact  that  we  are  a  self-governing  people;  yet, 
if  I  am  not  mistaken,  there  is  only  one  little 
moment  in  the  whole  year  that  you  and  I  exer- 
cise our  kingly  prerogative.  We  castour  ballots, 


and  thereby  exercise  our  divinely  imposed  duty 
of  self-government.  For  another  whole  year 
we  are  utterly  shorn  of  personal  authority  ;  yet 
we  are  responsible  to  both  God  and  man  for 
all  the  consequences  of  our  deJeyotoZ  power.  I 
feel  that,  in  casting  my  ballot,  I  have  a  grave 
responsibility  resting  on  me.  I  earnestly  desire 
to  cast  it  on  God's  side,  effectively  if  lean,  but, 
if  not,  then  as  my  earnest  protest  against  the 
Devil's  side. 

We  claim  our  land  as  the  Christian's  land. 
Can  there,  then,  be  any  better  way  of  preaching 
Christ  Jesus  than  in  stirring  up  God's  people  to 
a  proper  sense  of  their  duty  to  hold  our  land  for 
Christ,  and  to  oust  the  Devil  and  all  his  hellish 
crew?  Are  Christians  who  pray  "Thy  kingdom 
come  "  in  the  line  of  duty  and  consistency  when 
they  delegate  their  kingly  powerof  governing  to 
parties  and  politicians  who  have  been  and  are 
turning  over  our  land  to  Satan  by  legalizing 
and  licensing  a  traffic  that  is  one  of  the  chief,  if 
not  the  greatest  of  obstacles  to  Christian  prog- 
ress? I  believe  God  never  does  any  thing  for  us 
that  we  can  and  ought  to  do  for  ourselves. 
With  all  reverence  for  Almighty  Power.  I  am 
free  to  declare  he  can  do  nothing  for  an  indif- 
ferent, lazy  people,  no  matter  how  many  nice 
prayers  they  may  say. 

I  believe  the  evils  of  intemperance  will  be 
promptly  banished  from  our  land  when  God's 
people  set  about  doing  that  for  which  they 
pray.  But  people  can  not  be  forced  into  the 
right  way.  Such  as  you,  with  your  charitable 
zeal,  are  called  of  God  to  persuade  men  to  come 
up,  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty. 

Now.  friend  Root,  as  I  said  before.  I  am  en- 
tirely ignorant  as  to  your  political  affiliations. 
For  aught  I  know  you  may  be  as  earnest  a 
Prohibitionist  as  myself;  but  if  so  I  heartily 
wish  and  pray  that  you  may  be  led  to  make  it  a 
practical  part  of  your  Christian  doctrine  and 
teaching.  J.  M.  Brown. 

Wheelersburg,  O.,  Nov.  3. 


Mr.  A.  I.  Root: — After  reading,  on  page  800, 
what  you  say  when  you  "  felt  desperate,"  I 
would  suggest  that  you  re-read  in  a  back  num- 
ber your  own  sermon  on  the  text:  "Not  by 
migVit  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit."  In 
Russia  it  is  possible  that  the  Czar,  by  the  exer- 
cise of  absolute  power,  might  inaugurate  and 
carry  forward  a  reform  that  was  not  approved 
by  a  majority  of  the  people;  but  in  this  country 
the  government  is  merely  the  agent  or  the  ser- 
vant of  the  people,  and  is  utterly  powerless  to 
enforce  reforms  not  approved  by  a  majority  of 
the  people.  The  "  moonshiner  "  who  murders  a 
revenue  ot'ticer  is  held  for  trial  where  the  crime 
is  committed,  and  is  usually  tried  and  acquitted 
by  a  jury  of  his  friends.  The  enforcement  of 
law  in  any  community  depends  largely  upon 
the  people  in  the  community.  Before  the  ad- 
vent of  "local  option"  a  saloon  could  not  live 
in  Oberlin,  while  in  other  towns  the  saloon 
thrives  in  open  defiance  of  law. 

Educate,  elevate,  reform  the  people,  and  the 
government  will  be  reformed.  It  is  to  be  re- 
gretted that  so  many  reformers  are  so  careless  in 
handling  the  truth.  This  statement,  that  the 
government  "runs  every  distillery  just  as  much 
as  it  runs  the  postoffice,"  may  fairly  be  char- 
acterized as  a  falsehood.  It  is  just  as  fair  and 
just  as  truthful  to  say  that  the  State  govern- 
ment runs  your  factoi'y  and  market  garden.  At 
certain  times  an  officer  calls  on  you  to  list  your 
property  for  taxation;  and  as  a  part  of  the  ma- 
chinery required  to  secure  the  tax  n)i  irhisky,  a 
government  officer  is  in  constant  attendance 
at  the  distillery.  A  "  government  distillery  "  is 
a  distillery  that  pays,  according  to  law,  the 
taxes  levied  by  the  government.  God  is  cer- 
tainly notion  the  side  of  the  distillery  and  sa- 


18<t2 


(iLKANlNGS  IN   BEE  CU  LTU  KK. 


'.m 


loon.  Is  it  not  prohiihlt'  iliiit  (iod  is  also  iiul 
/»/?}/ on  the  side  of  llic  ifformcr  w iio  iii't,'lcrts 
"to  be  strirtlv"tiiitlifiir.'  K.  M.  Kkynolds. 

East  Sprinirtii'ld.  ()..  Nov.  7. 


Heads  of  Grain 

FROM       DIFFERENT      FIELDS. 


HKKS     M.\K1NG     TIIEIK     HOME     IN    AX     OUANGK- 
TRKE. 

I  thoiifilit  I  would  write  and  tell  of  a  rathci' 
unooinnion  swarni  of  hccs  1  found  i,lu>  other  day. 
No  one  afouiid  heic  lias  heafd  of  it  l)(^for<>,  al- 
though you  mention  it  in  your  A  B  C  as  some- 
times happening  in  California,  so  I  thought 
you  might  like  to  hear  about  it.  I  was  work- 
ing in  my  brother's  grove:  and  as  I  pa.ssed  an 
orange-tree  I  heard  a  loud  buzzing  noise.  At 
first  I  thought  it  was  tH(>s.  but  ]ook(>d  in  the 
tree  and  saw  a  large  piece  of  honey-comb  about 
a  foot  long  and  half  a  foot  wide,  hanging  from 
a  branch.  At  first  I  could  not  make  it  out: 
but  I  soon  found  that  the  bees  had  pieces  of 
comb  in  other  ])arts  of  the  tree.  A  lot  had 
dropped  down  and  caught  on  a  lower  branch. 
The  bees  were  working  on  it.  and  seem  to  be 
doing  pretty  well.  They  seemed  to  be  very 
tame,  and  did  not  try  to  sting  at  all;  in  fact,  a 
man  put  his  hand  in  and  pulled  some  bad  comb 
out  from  underneath,  without  disturbing  ihem 
at  all.  The  tree  was  a  star  orange- tree,  which 
grows  thick  right  to  the  ground.  It  was  about 
8  feet  high,  and  was  almost  in  the  center  of  a 
<)0-acre  grove  which  has  had  no  flowers  in 
it  for  eight  or  nine  months,  and  so  had  no  spe- 
cial inducement  for  them  to  stay.  Judging 
from  the  amount  of  comb,  they  must  have  been 
there  about  three  months,  and  it  is  a  wonder  it 
was  not  found  before.  We  (my  partner  and 
myself)  hived  it  last  Tuesday.  At  first  the 
bees  were  rather  wild,  and  tried  to  sting;  but 
we  soon  smoked  them  quiet.  I  think  tliere 
must  have  been  robbers  there  before  we  came. 
The  bees  stayed  in  the  hive  all  right,  but  we 
shall  probably  have  to  feed  them,  as  they  did 
not  have  much  honey.  W.  M.  Frith. 

Lane  Park,  Cal.,  Nov.  12. 


HOW   TO   MAKE   SUGAR   SYRUf    THAT   WILL     NOT 
GRANULATE.  WITHOUT    HEAT. 

Mr.  Rout: — In  response  to  your  letter  in  re- 
gard to  making  syrup  by  tiie  cold  process.  I  beg 
to  state  that  I  make  the  syrup  for  Mr.  Dcar- 
dorff,  as  well  as  all  we  use  here  in  the  store,  by 
that  process,  as  it  is  by  far  the  most  satisfactory, 
since  it  does  not  granulate  nor  sour.  Go  to  a 
druggist  and  get  a  half-gallon  percolator  and 
fill  it  with  granulated  su^ar;  then  pour  on 
water,  and  allow  it  to  percolate.  You  will  find 
this  to  produce  a  hcdvy  syrup,  and  superior  to 
any  made  by  the  boiling  process. 

Canal  Dover,  O.,  Nov.  7.  Cha.s.  Haas. 

[We  are  not  acquainted  with  a  percolator, 
but  would  be  of  the  opinion  that  it  would  be  too 
expensive  for  the  average  bee-k(!eper.  We 
once  recommended  feeding  bees  with  a  syrup 
made  by  pouring  cold  water  on  sugar.  It 
answered  very  well;  but  we  obtained  better 
syrup  by  the  use  of  hot  water,  and  we  believe 
all  bee-keepers  now  pretty  much  agree  with  us.] 

FIELD   CLOVER. 

Prof.  A.  J.  Cook:— I  send  you  herewith  a 
branch,  root,  and  bloom  of  a  weed  to  be  named. 
It  grows  from  two  to  three  feet  high,  and  blos- 
soms in  October,  and  some  years  furnishes  quite 
a  little  amber  honey  of  good  body  and  quality. 
Tell  us  through  Gleanings  something  about 


the  plani.  Here  it  gni'>  under  several  lociil 
names.  It  can  l)e  found  growing  all  through 
our  high  yellow  nine  lands.  A.  V.  Bnu\\  n. 

Huntington.  Flii.,  Nov.  5, 

I'rof.  Cook  replies: 

This  is  a  very  interesting  plant.  It  belongs 
to  the  pulse  U)r  bean  and  clover)  family,  l)ut 
looks  very  much  like  an  aster,  or  composite 
plant;  It  is  known  in  the  botonies  as  "  field 
clover,"  or  Petalofitetniin  corymbosris.  Gray 
says,  "In  Southern  pine  barrens,  it  is  a  very 
pretty  plant."  It  resembles  the  asters  so  close- 
ly that  I  had  hardly  a  doulH  of  its  alTinities 
until  I  showed  it  to  Prof.  Wlieeler,  when,  upon 
looking  at  it.  I  found,  as  Prof.  W.  told  me,  that 
it  was  really  a  leguminous  plant.     A.. I.  Cook. 

Ag'l  College,  Mich.,  Nov.  l(j. 


i)t>  bees  gather  honey  fkom  more  than 
one  source  at  once? 

I  have  seen  it  asked  in  your  juuiutil,  "'Do 
bees  caiTy  in  honey  from  different  kinds  of 
flowers  at  once?  "  This  last  summer  I  was  in  a 
potato-patch,  just  as  it  was  in  blossom,  and  I 
noticed  a  bee  gathering  honey.  It  would  lly 
from  the  potato- blossom  to  the  wild  mustard, 
and  so  on  till  it  at  last  flew  off  in  the  direction 
of  the  apiaiy.  I  am  sure  from  this  that  bees  do 
carry  in  honey  from  different  kinds  of  flowers 
at  a  time.  William  Peckham. 

Solsville,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  26. 

[When  honey  is  scarce  from  all  sources,  bees 
are  pretty  apt  to  get  their  nectar  where  they 
can.  If  basswood  is  in  full  bloom,  and  the  blos- 
soms are  yielding  well,  the  bees  will  notice 
nothing  else,  as  a  rule.  A  few  will  be  found 
working  on  clover,  simply  from  force  of  habit, 
even  though  more  honey  could  be  obtained 
from  the  basswood.J 


BEES  AND   FRUIT. 

We  clip  the  following  from  the  Query  depart- 
ment of  the  San  Francisco  Examiner  of  Nov.  3: 

Tothe  Editor  of  tilt  Exami)icr— Sir:  1.  Will  honey- 
bees puncture  tliroug-h  the  skin  of  sound  grapes  to 
gain  access  to  the  nectar  ?  2.  Why  were  laws  passed 
compelliiifr  bee-keepers  to  move  their  bees  outside 
the  limits  of  fruit-gTowing-  districts  V 

East  Riverside,  Cal.  A.  F.  Unterkiuchek. 

The  editor  of  the  Exdiniiier  replies: 
[1.  No.  Tiiey  have  no  insti-ument  tliat  will  puncture 
grape-skins.  If  you  doubt  tliis,  try  the  experiment 
of  shutting  bees  up  with  sdund  jirajii's.  They  will 
be  unal)leto  get  any  nouiisliment  iimn  the  g-rapes, 
and  will  starve  to  death  if  kept  there  long.  ;i.  A 
case  of  misintiirmation.  The  grape-growers  have 
seen  bees  emjity  giapesof  their  juice,  and,  without 
investigating  further,  have  decided  that  the  bees 
broke  the  skins  ] 

(QUEENS    TO    AUSTRALIA. 

We  clip  the  following  from  the  Too woomba 
Chronicle.  Atistralia: 

A  few  days  ago  Mr.  Ale.\.  Main,  of  Eton  Farm  Es- 
tate, who  is  an  enthusiastic  bi-e-keeper,  received  an 
Italian  queen  from  Mr.  A.  I.  Root,  the  famous  bee- 
keeper of  Medina,  Ohio,  U.  S.  A.  The  royal  insect 
was  carefully  pjicked  in  a  ncal  little  wooden  palace, 
with  4(J  wo7'kers  as  C(jitipanioiis,  and  suiM'lied  with  a 
store  of  candy-  Tlie  journey  from  Ohio  to  Too- 
wo<imba  occupied  ;J7  days,  and  the  queen  arrived  in 
|)erfect  health,  but  27  of  her  companions  died  on  tli<> 
trip.  Mr.  Hani  hopes  to  have  some  Italian  colonies 
in  operation  this  year. 

Will  bees  smother  if  left  under  a  snowdrift, 
with  hives  out  of  sight,  sealed  covers,  and  fly- 
hole  open  clear  across,  and  ground  descending 
enough  for  good  drainage  when  the;  snow 
melts?  M.  Nevins. 

[Probably  not,  but  we  should  prefer  to  keep 
the  entrances  clear.  Melting  snow  might  maki; 
an  entrance  sealed  with  ice.] 


930 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  15. 


OURSELVES  AND  OUR  NEIGHBORS. 


Poverty  unci  shame  sliall  be  to  liini  that  reTuseth 
in.struction;  but  lie  that  regai'deth  reproof  shall  be 
honored.— Prov.  13:18. 

I  have  felt  moved  to  take  up  the  subject  ex- 
pressed in  our  text  because  of  some  trying 
experiences  I  have  had  duiing  the  past  few 
months.  It  is  on  a  matter  which  I  have  written 
and  spoken  about  many  times  befoi'i-;  and  it  is 
a  matter  ihal  is  tioubiing  and  vexing  the  souls 
of  ^ome  of  the  best  of  our  American  people  just 
now.  What  I  mean  is  this  matter  of  work  and 
wages.  It  seems  to  me  that,  in  the  nature  of 
things,  a  great  part  of  humanity  are  destined 
to  work  for  somebody  else.  The  farming  class 
of  community  are,  perhaps,  more  their  own 
bosses  than  almost  any  other  calling:  but  yet 
the  farmer  can  not  do  very  much  business  un- 
less he  employs  help  of  some  sort:  and  then 
comes  this  vexing  matter  of  finding  somebody 
who  will  do  a  fair  and  honest  day's  work,  with- 
out constant  ^upei-visioii.  If  the  farmer  works 
with  his  hired  man  all  day  long,  there  is  com- 
paratively little  trouble;  but.  like  other  occu- 
pations, the  emuloyer  fiflentimes  gets  a  hired 
man  for  the  express  purpose  of  doing  his  man- 
ual labor  that  he  may  be  thus  spai'ed  to  look 
after  and  ovei.see  other  things  pertaining  to  his 
occupation.  Tiiere  are  thousands  of  people  out 
of  work,  and  they  do  not  seem  to  know  why 
tliey  are  out  of  work.  The  worst  part  of  it  is, 
they  won't  lielieve  it,  won"t  accept  or  won't 
heed  it  if  you  tell  them  plainly  ivhxj  they  have 
nothing  to  do:  and  others  say  right  out  that 
they  would  rather  continue  to  loaf  than  to  come 
right  down  to  business.  What  I  mi^an  is  this: 
Mriny  of  our  best  and  most  successful  ravmers — 
T.  ]i.  Terry,  perhaps,  heading  the  list — declare 
they  will  have  no  man  at  w<,rk  on  their  prem- 
ises who  drinks,  swears,  or  u.<es  tobacco.  Well, 
a  great  part  of  those  out  of  \\  ork  would  rather 
remain  out  of  a  job  than  to  give  up  the  things 
mentioned.  Oh  yes!  they  will  jjror«isc  to  give 
them  up.  or  keep  the  fact  concealed,  that  they 
are  guilty  of  any  of  these  bad  practices;  but 
sooner  or  later,  like  murder,  it  comes  out. 

Now,  I  am  not  going  to  dwell  on  the  above 
three  things  in  this  talk  just  now.  There  is 
something  that  is  continually  coming  up  that 
is  just  as  bad  as  any  of  the  things  I  have  men- 
tioned, and  I  do  not  know  but  it  is  a  little 
worse,  and  perhaps  it  keeps  mote  families  in 
suffering  and  want  than  the  things  I  have  men- 
tioned— that  is.  when  they  do  not  all  go  to- 
gether. The  thing  I  have  in  mind  is  a  lack  of 
conscience — a  want  of  honor  or  manliness:  a 
disposition  to  cheat  in  one  way  or  anothei  just 
as  soon  as  an  opportunity  is  open.  The  fore 
part  of  our  text  hits  exactly  the  outcome— 
'■  poverty  and  shame."  The  habit  of  cheating 
is  exactly  like  the  habit  of  strong  drink  or 
swearing,  or  giving  way  to  temper,  or  using 
tobacco.  It  gets  a  hold  upon  the  human  heart, 
and  it  is  like  pulling  teeth  to  weed  it  out.  Ali 
first  I  Thought  of  saying  what  I  intended  to  say 
to-day,  directly  to  our  helpers.  When  they 
get  their  money  Saturday  night  it  counts  to 
them  in  an  envelope.  On  the  outside  of  this 
enveloi)e  is  a  record  of  the  number  of  hours  and 
minutes  each  has  worked  during  the  week. 
I  do  not  know  how  many  of  these;  helpers 
read  these  neighborly  talks  in  Gleanings;  but 
the  ones  who  are  in  the  habit  of  cheating  in 
their  work  probably  do  not  read  them.  I  hav«! 
many  times  asked  them  the  question.  No  won- 
der they  do  not  like  to  hear  any  of  this  kind  of 
talk.  Neither  do  they,  as  a  rule,  attend  the 
noon  services.  Although  it  is  not  often  the 
case,  even  professors  of  religion  do  sometimes 


so  lose  their  spirituality  that  they  get  into  these 
habits:  and  it  is  a  sad  fact  to  chronicle,  that 
women,  as  well  as  the  men,  get  led  astray  in 
this  very  way.  I  know  I  am  finding  fault  with 
my  fellow-men;  but  may  God  give  me  love  and 
charity  while  I  find  fault  in  the  line  I  am  doing 
to-day.  At  this  season  of  the  year,  as  usual, 
great  numbers  are  coming  to  me  for  employ- 
ment. It  seems  as  if  the  number  were  greater 
now  than  ever  before.  A  good  many  quite  good 
workmen  in  diflerent  trades  and  occupations 
come  to  me  and  i)ropose  to  work  for  any  wages 
1  think  proper  to  give.  Perhaps  they  have 
learned  by  past  experience  that  I  am  in  the 
habit  of  giving  liberally  for  fair,  honest  ser- 
vices, no  matter  what  the  agreement  may  be. 
I  like  to  do  a  little  better  than  I  agree;  and  by 
the  way,  friends,  this  is  one  of  the  grand  secrets 
of  success  in  this  world:  Be  careful  what  you 
agree  or  promise  to  do.  and  then  do  a  little  bet- 
ter than  you  agree.  The  world  is  full  of  people 
who  fail  continually  in  sticking  to  their  prom- 
ises and  agreements;  but  those  who  make  it  a 
point  to  do  a  little  more  than  they  agree  to  do, 
right  along,  are  scarce,  I  tell  you. 

Our  people  all  work  by  the  hour.  For  many 
years  they  marked  down  on  a  slate  when  they 
commenced  work  and  then  marked  on  the  other 
side  of  the  slate  when  they  stopped  work.  Thus 
each  one  was  permitted,  as  far  as  the  demands 
of  business  would  admit,  to  commence  and  stop 
when  he  chose.  With  the  great  bulk  of  our 
help  this  plan  worked  very  well.  Nine-tenths 
of  our  people,  or  perhaps  even  mere,  would 
mark  down  on  the  slate  exactly  when  they 
commenced  and  when  they  stopped.  But  dur- 
ing all  these  years  when  we  practiced  this  plan, 
there  was  almost  constantly  some  person — per- 
haps some  of  the  younger  ones — who  would  dis- 
cover the  slate  was  not  watched  very  closely, 
and  they  would  begin  marking  a  little  earlier 
or  a  little  later,  as  the  case  might  be,  so  as  to 
get  more  pay  for  the  time  they  actually  worked; 
that  is,  if  they  came  ten  minutes  after  seven, 
and  nobody  was  around  to  watch,  they  would 
mark  it  seven  o'clock.  When  one  was  caught 
at  this  he  was  watched;  and  when  we  found  it 
was  a  regular  plan,  and  not  a  mistake,  the 
matter  was  referred  to  myself.  Oh  what  tussles 
with  the  powers  of  darkness  I  have  had  in  this 
very  line!  Just  after  the  verse  I  have  quoted 
for  my  text,  there  is  one  containing  this  start- 
ling truth:  "It  is  an  abomination  to  fools  to 
d(;part  from  evil."  Just  think  of  it.  friends! 
Did  you  ever  hear  a  truth  more  pointedly  or 
vividly  expressed  ?  The  one  who  is  caught  in 
this  sort  of  deliberate  cheating  seems  to  take  it 
for  granted  that  he  must  get  out  of  it  by  lies, 
no  matter  how  many  it  takes  to  get  him  out. 
As  I  write  now.  I  can  not  remember  that  I  ever 
found  a  person  who  fairly  and  squarely  owned 
up  to  this  sort  of  thing.  The  text  I  have  quoted 
calls  such  people  "  fools."  It  seems  hard  and 
strong,  does  it  not?  Well,  just  listen:  Almost 
every  sinner  in  this  line  follows  pretty  much 
the  same  track.  At  first  he  says,  "Oh!  I  work- 
ed overhours  the  other  day.  and  did  not  make 
any  charge  for  it.  and  so  I  jtist  marked  a  little 
more  time  on  my  slate,  and  thought  it  would 
be  all  right."  My  reply  is,  however,  "  Look 
here,  my  friend,  several  of  us  have  been  watch- 
ing you.  You  cheated  in  your  time  not  only 
Monday,  but  Tuesday;  and  on  Thursday  you 
cheated  in  the  forenoon  and  afternoon.  We 
have  also  watched  you.  and  taken  pains  to  find 
out  whether  there  ^v  as  any  overwork  or  any 
thing  that  might  possibly  excuse  you  for  this 
sort  of  irregularity.  We  have  let  the  matter 
go  until  you  are  fenced  in  on  every  side.  There 
is  nothing  for  you  to  do  but  to  confess  your  sin 
and  ask  (Jod  to  forgive  you,  and  then  turn  over 
a  new  leaf  and  do  better."    You  would  think 


iSivj 


(;i.i<:anmn(js  in  i{EE  clilturk. 


•.131 


tho  ii1h)vi>  wotild  bviuii  a  confession.  woiildiTt 
you?  Hut  it  doos  not.  1  have  tt)ld  tlic  i"nlpi;it 
that  I  had  had  lony;  I'xpt'riiMU'i'  iu  this  matter: 
that  tlie  I'XiMiscs  he  made  weri'  the  same  ones 
that  others  had  used  years  before:  init  it  did 
not  malve  any  dinereni.'e.  and  I  iiave  told  al 
least  thirc  pet^ple  that  liie  only  explanation 
that  eould  possitdy  he  ffiveii  was,  tliat  they  had 
taken  leave  of  tlieir  senses,  at  least  for  a  little 
time,  and  did  not  know  w  liat  they  were  doing: 
and  I  guess  each  one  of  them  oreferred  to  accept 
that,  or  tried  to  make  me  l)elievt».  that  it  was  a 
case  of  ■■  temporary  insanity  "'  ratlier  than  con- 
fess that  he  liad  tried  [ostcul  frotii  the  one  who 
was  so  kind  as  to  relieve  liis  distr<'sses  by  giv- 
ing him  employment. 

A  word  at)ont  this  matter  of  acting  the  de- 
tective in  iirder  to  lind  out  beyond  mistake 
whether  a  ci^rtain  one  inul  d>'libvi-ately  gone 
into  dishonest  pra.-tices  oi-  whet  lur  it  was  only  a 
mistake  that  miglit  occur  on  one  side  as  well  as 
the  other.  Doing  this  sort  of  detective  business 
has  done  more  to  wear  me  out  and  break  down 
luy  nervous  system  than  almost  any  thing  else 
in  tiie  woi-ld.  Some  of  you  may  say.  "  Why, 
brother  Root,  wiiy  do  you  bother  with  such 
people  at  all?  I  would  not  have  theiu  on  the 
premises,  not  even  if  they  would  work  for  noth- 
ing.'' 

Well,  I  have  thought  that  way  a  good  many 
times.  I  am  afraid  Satan  has  suggested  it  to 
me  very  often.  The  trouble  lii-s  right  here:  1 
once  knew  of  a  church  that  was  going  to  have 
its  ntembers  pure,  and  tlu^y  commenced  turning 
people  out.  I  finally  began  to  remonstrate,  but 
was  told.  "  Mr.  Root,  we  are  going  to  purify  our 
church,  even  if  we  expel  every  last  member." 
Yon  know  how  it  turned  out.  They  kept  on 
expelling  until  the  church  was  shut  up;  and  by 
some  (jueer  freak  it  seemed  as  if  those  they 
kept  in  were  wor.se  than  those  they  turned  out. 
I  do  not  mean  by  this  that  all  our  hands  are 
given  Xo  chedting— God  forbid.  I  simply  mean 
that,  if  we  turned  off  every  one  who  uses  to- 
bacco, or  cheats  iu  his  time,  or  is  forgetful,  or 
makes  mistakes.orisslow.  or  quick- tempered,  or 
given  to  puttering,  or  who  is  crabbed,  and  dif- 
ficult to  deal  with,  or  wlio  lacks  in  judgment, 
etc.,  we  should  not  have  anybody  left.  The 
greater  part  of  these  faults  ami  failings  can  be 
cured.  A  plain,  kind  talk  with  the.one  who  is 
at  fault  usually  results,  as  th(!  text  has  it,  "  He 
that  heareth  reproof  shall  be  honored."  People 
who  own  up  to  their  faults  and  failings  will  get 
over  them,  as  a  rule,  unless  it  is  this  grievous 
sin  that  I  have  spoken  of — a  d'liberate  deter- 
mination to  i<teal. 

Well,  after  having  had  so  much  trouble  with 
the  markings  on  the  slate,  we  procured,  at 
much  expense,  a  registering  time-clock.  This 
we  have  had  for  three  or  four  y<'ars.  When  one 
comes  to  work  he  selects  tiie  envelope  fi'om  the 
rack,  with  his  name  printed  on  it.  pushes  it  un- 
der the  stamp  attached  to  the  clock,  strikes  the 
knob  witli  his  hand,  and  the  hour  and  minute 
are  printed  on  the  envelope.  He  can  notchange 
it  nor  make  it  any  different,  even  if  he  would, 
because  the  time  clerk  wovdd  see  it  if  he  did. 
No  changes  are  to  be  made  without  her  per- 
mission or  sanction.  This  gets  us  out  of  the 
trouble,  doesn't  it?  Oh  dear  me!  It  gets  us 
out  of  one  kind  of  trouble,  and  perhaps  it 
makes  it  a  little  harder  for  tlK)se  who  are  dis- 

eosed  to-be  dishonest  and  untruthful.  In  ex- 
orting  people  to  temperance,  we  are  often  met 
by  remarks  like  this:  '"You  will  never  stop 
drunkenness  in  this  world.  If  you  shut  up  the 
saloons  they  will  get  it  out  of  the  drugstores. 
People  will  get  it  by  hook  or  by  crook,  when 
they  want  it  badJv.'"  Now.  I  do  not  believe 
much  in  this  sort  of  logic:  but  there  is  an  ele- 
ment of  truth   iu   it.   after  all.     You   can   not 


nuike  people  lionest  by  building  lences  around 
them.  We  recognized  this  in  tiie  beginning  of 
our  l)usiness:  and  W((  have  fewer  locks  and  keys 
—fewer  rigid  rules,  atui  fewer  detectivi^s.  than 
[XM'haps  any  other  similar  institution.  We  rely 
upon  the  lionor.  int('grii>.  and  conscience  of 
our  people,  ami  we  get  along  pretty  well.  I 
wish  I  miirlit.  sio|)  liere,  because  I  dislike  to  drag 
tilings  to  light  that  might  wound  like  cutting 
with  a  knife.  Rut  sometimes  the  knife  must 
be  used:  and  I  fee!  tluit  what  I  have  to  say 
may  help  perhaps  thousands  to  break  away 
from  their  sins,  and  may  be  lo  get  lieiter  wages 
than  they  ai'e  gelling  now.  The  text  says.  ••  He 
that  regardeih  icproof  shall  be  honored;"  and 
the  reproof  I  am  about  to  give  you  may  be 
needed  by  a  good  many  people  who  are  working 
for  somelxxiy  else. 

During  the  past  few  months  we  have  had 
dull  times  in  our  factory.  Only  a  few  were 
kept  in  each  of  our  rooms,  and  it  would  have 
been  policy  for  us  to  keep  only  the  most  faith- 
ful: but  sometimes  circumstances  seem  to  de- 
mand that  we  should  favor  some  who  can 
hardly  take  car(>  of  themselves  unless  they  have 
something  to  do.  Common  humanity  would 
seem  to  demand  this.  I  have  learned  to  dread 
dull  seas(uis,  becaus<^  at  such  times  there  is  al- 
most always  a  sort  of  half  heartedness  about 
the  work.  People  do  not  accomplish  as  much 
when  they  are  making  up  work  ahead,  as  when 
orders  are  crowding  them;  therefore  loose 
ways  get  in  upon  us.  We  have  had  a  political 
campaign,  and  there  was  quite  a  tem[)tation  to 
talk  politics  instead  of  attending  to  work.  Is 
this  right?  When  you  have  liired  out  to  work 
for  a  man,  and  have  agreed  on  so  much  a  day 
or  hour,  is  it  right  lo  use  those  hours  In  discuss- 
ing the  political  affairs  of  our  country?.  Per- 
haps there  is  a  revival  meeting  in  your  neigh- 
borhood. After  you  have  sold  your  time  to  a 
certain  neighbor  for  an  agreed  sum  of  money, 
is  it  really  honest  and  Christianlike  for  you  to 
occupy  this  time  in  talking  about  religion?  I 
think  not.  Of  course,  we  expect  everybody  to 
be  courtious  and  neighborly,  even  If  he  is  em- 
ployed by  somebody  else:  but  whoever  hires 
out.  should,  if  h<^  wishes  to  get  the  best  possible 
pay  for  his  services,  regard  the  contract  like  a 
promissory  note — "  For  value  received  I  promise 

to  pay hours  of  work  for  my  neighbor."    If 

your  neighbor  hire^  you  to  assist  in  a  revival 
of  religion,  why.  then,  of  course,  it  is  your  duty 
to  carry  along  your  Bible,  quote  texts,  exhort, 
etc.:  but  if  the  understanding  is  that  you  are 
to  build  fences.  I  think  he  would  have  very 
much  more  respect  for  your  religion  if  you.  dur- 
ing those  working  hours,  refu.se  to  discuss  or 
even  consider  the  matter  of  politics,  or  religion 
either. 

There  is.  however,  a  kind  of  religious  talk 
that  I  think  no  employer  would  object  to.  even 
during  working  hours.  Suppose  one  workman 
should  say  to  his  companion.  "Mr.  Brown,  if  I 
were  a  church-member,  as  you  are,  I  hope  it 
would  prevent  me  from  using  my  employer's 
time  to  light  my  pipe,  and  take  a  smoke  just  as 
you  are  doing  now."  1  do  not  mean  by  this 
that  I  Would  want  men  to  stop  their  work  to 
discuss — at  least  not  at  any  very  great  length — 
the  tobacco  habit.  But  it  would  be  qruti;  prop- 
er and  right  to  talk  religion  this  much: 
"Thank  you.  Mr.  Brown;  but  I  will  not  take 
any  tobacco  if  you  please.  I  started  out  a  few 
days  ago  to  be  a  Christian,  and  I  think  a 
Christian  ought  not  to  use  tobacco." 

In  times  past,  on  these  pages  I  have  more 
than  once  spoken  in  very  high  terms  of  women 
as  wage-earners.  My  conscience  has  troubled 
me  sometimes  for  fear  I  had  given  them  too 
exalted  a  position,  or  that  I  had.  may  be,  gone 
to  the  Quixotic  extreme  of  imagining  that  all 


932 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  15. 


womankind  are  saints.  If  any  one  has  ever 
had  that  opinion  of  me,  I  think  he  will  get 
over  it  when  I  finish  what  I  am  going  to  say 
now.  Some  way  it  always  seems  as  if  it  were 
ever  so  much  worse  for  a  woinan  to  act  dishon- 
estly than  for  a  man;  and  therefore  some  of  my 
sorest  trials  have  been  in  dealing  with  women 
in  this  very  line.  Where  work  is  all  done  by 
the  hour,  as  it  is  here,  there  is  a  constant 
temptation  to  certain  ones  to  want  to  get  in  as 
many  hours  as  they  can,  or,  at  least,  have  the 
hours  counted,  and  at  the  same  time  do  the 
least  possible  amount  of  work.  I  have  known 
women  who  got  so  hardened  in  this  sort  of 
thing  that  it  seemed  almost  as  if  they  made  it 
a  study  to  see  how  they  could  do  the  least 
amount  of  work,  and  make  it  count  the  largest 
number  of  hours.  In  the  basement  to  our  stores 
there  are  several  rooms  that  are  not  very  well 
lighted.  They  were  too  low  to  get  in  large 
windows,  and  the  small  windows  are  often 
covered  with  piles  of  merchandise.  Well,  more 
than  once  I  have  found  women  in  these  dark 
rooms,  as  we  call  them,  standing  in  idleness, 
that  they  might  get  credit  for  more  time.  The 
foreman  of  their  apartment  had  told  them  that 
it  was  quitting  time;  but  by  loitering  about  they 
could  get  in  fifteen  minutes  or  half  an  hour 
more.  As  they  received  only  small  pay,  and  as 
this  was  a  matter  of  only  four  or  five  cents,  I 
often  let  it  go,  thinking  it  was  not  worth  mak- 
ing a  fuss  about;  but  it  was  just  as  I  have  been 
telling  you.  If  a  sinner  escapes  detection  in 
little  things,  he  gt^ts  bolder  and  bolder.  One  of 
these  women  accomplished  so  little  that  the 
foreman  told  me  he  asked  her  to  put  her  work 
all  in  one  place  so  he  could  see  how  much  she 
did  during  the  afternoon.  At  night  she  showed 
a  very  good  record,  and  he  was  beginning  to 
think  he  had  been  mistaken,  and  that  she  was 
doing  more  work  than  he  supposed.  Pj-etty 
soon,  however,  one  of  the  other  hands  said  he 
saw  her  carrying  a  quantity  of  finished  work 
from  another  part  of  the  room  to  mix  in  with 
her  own.  One  who  getsso  consciencn-hardened 
in  m(7iute.s  soon  lays  hold  of  property  without 
scruple. 

In  many  of  our  departments,  where  work  will 
permit  of  it,  we  have  hands  to  work  by  the 
piece.  In  this  case  they  do  not  keep  their  time 
at  all,  and  one  might  think  the  problem  was 
solved,  and  that  piece  work  ended  the  tempta- 
tion. Don't  be  too  sure.  I  have  known  w  omen 
— yes,  bright-looking  intelligent  women — who, 
when  they  worked  by  the  piece,  would,  if  op- 
portunity offered,  mix  in  finished  work  that 
they  were  paid  for  the  week  before,  so  that, 
when  the  foreman  came  to  count  their  work, 
they  got  pay  the  second  time  for  the  Sdvie  work. 
Now.  dear  friends,  please  bear  with  me  when  I 
lay  just  one  mor(!  sin  to  the  charge  of  woman- 
kind. I  have  known  at  least  two  who.  while 
doing  the  very  things  I  have  been  describing, 
would  be  singing  fragments  of  hymns  to  try  to 
make  me  believe  they  were  honest,  and  loved 
God's  word  aiid  his  holy  teachings — '"stealing 
the  livery  of  heaven  to  serve  the  Devil  in."* 

*Aiid,  by  the  way,  such  .'spectacles  iis  this  do  more 
to  injure  tlie  cause  of  reliM'inn  than  pii'haps  any 
other  one  thing  in  the  world.  I  haAc  seen  young- 
people  whose  sense  of  honesty  and  tiulli  had"  been 
outraged  by  tlie  sight  of  professors  of  relijiinn  who 
did  sucli  tilings  as  1  have  described  until  it  seemed 
as  if  thej'  would  l)e  eml)ittered  toward  Cliristianity 
for  tlie  rest  of  their  lives.  Tliey  say,  "Tlie  whole 
tiling  is  ju.st  cant  and  hypocrisy;  and  so  mucli  of  it 
is  put  on  for  the  sole  purpose  of  getting  a  better 
chance  to  steal,  that  I  beg  to  be  excused  from  ever 
going  in  with  that  crowd  at  all."  I  want  to  put  just 
one  more  tliouglit  in  this  footnote.  How  much  is  a 
man  or  woman  worth  in  business  wlio  goes  to  worli 
in  tlie  way  I  have  described  ?  When  we  liire  people 
we  do  it  with  the  understanding  that  they  shall 


It  pains  me  to  the  heart  to  tell  these  things; 
but  my  prime  motive  in  doing  it  is,  that  these 
poor  deluded  friends  may  know  that  such 
things  can  not  be  done  without  its  being  known. 
When  I  let  itpass.  thinking  it  was  a  little  matter 
to  make  a  fuss  about  it,  others  noticed  it  and 
came  to  me  about  it  until  it  seemed  to  be  well 
understood,  and  yet  the  poor  deluded  woman 
thought  nobody  noticed  or  knew  what  she  was 
doing.  Sin  blinds  not  only  the  conscience,  but 
the  eye  and  the  judgment.  Sometimes  it  is 
hard  to  convince  an  intemperate  man — that  is, 
after  he  gets  sober — that  he  went  reeling 
through  the  streets  so  that  everybody  noticed 
it  and  talked  about  it,  while /le  was  perfectly 
sure  that  he  walked  as  straight  and  natural  as 
need  be.  So  with  the  whole  round  of  sins. 
Satan  persuades  the  poor  victim  that  he  has 
succeeded  in  deceiving  the  whole  wide  world, 
when  ordinary  good  judgment  and  common 
sense  ought  to  have  told  the  poor  deluded  one 
what  a  fool  he  was  making  of  himself.  I  have 
wondered  what  must  have  been  these  people's 
thoughts  at  these  times,  of  God's  all-seeing  eye; 
and  then  it  comes  back  home  to  me,  the  fact 
that  I,  too.  am  a  sinner.  My  faults  and  in- 
consistencies, perhaps  many  of  them,  in  God's 
sight  are  almost  as  bad  as  the  ones  I  have  been 
narrating.  There  is  a  strange  passage  in  the 
sixth  chapter  of  Genesis,  to  the  effect  that,  at 
one  time,  God  almost  or  quite  repented  of  hav- 
ing made  man.  My  grandfather,  who  was  a 
skeptic,  used  to  be  fond  of  quoting  it — that  the 
infinite  God,  the  great  ruler  of  all  and  over  all — 
did  things  at  times  that  he  was  sorry  for  after. 
I  used  to  wonder  why  such  a  passage  should  be 
in  the  Bible;  but  now  I  begin  to  get  a  glimpse 
of  the  great  truth,  even  in  that  strange  expres- 
sion. God  iionored  us  by  making  us  free  agents; 
and  if  we  go  wrong,  and  commit  sin.  we  do  it 
of  our  own  free  choice.  We  are  all  sinners. 
We  all  choose  voluntarily  folly  and  sin.  rather 
than  truth  and  wisdom:  and  when  I  look  into 
my  own  heart,  recognizing  that  God  knows  it 
all,  just  as  I  know  it  all.  I  have  sometimes  of 
late  thought  it  would  be  nothing  strange  or  un- 
reasonable if  he.  an  inlinite  being  of  truth  and 
love,  should  have  been  sorry  more  than  once 
that  he  ever  created  and  gave  liberty  of  thought 
and  action  to  such  a  poor  miserable  stumbling 
sinner  as  A.  I.  Root.  But  let  us  not  be  cast 
down,  dear  friends.  Let  us  only  feel  the  more 
earnestly  that  we  need  a  Savior;  oh  I  I  need  a 
Savior  more  than  I  can  tell  you.  I  need  the 
help  and  influence  of  Christian  friends  and 
companionship;  I  need  the  spiritual  uplifting 
power  of  the  prayer-meetings  and  the  church 
of  God.  If  I  should  stay  away — if  I  were  to 
receive  no  Christian  counsel  or  encouragement 
from  friends  around  me.  it  seems  to  me  as  if  I 
should  surely  be  lost.  I  need  your  prayers,  I 
am  sure,  and  we  all  need  the  prayers  of  each 
other. 

Now,  if  there  is  one  among  my  readers  who 
is  working  for  wages,  and  has  been  tempted 
into  any  of  the  things  I  have  mentioned  in  this 
talk,  let  him  read  our  text  again.  "Poverty 
and  shame  shall  be  to  him  that  refuseth  in- 
labor  for  tlie  building  up  and  development  of  tlie 
institution  they  are  worlting  for.  Wliile  tliey  put 
money  into  their  own  pockets,  by  so  doing  they  are 
to  put  at  least  some  into  tlie  Institulion.  Itisex- 
pected  to  be  a  little  riclier  or  better  ott  for  the  work 
they  do.  Now,  instead  of  enriching  their  employer, 
suppose  they  bend  all  tlieir  energies  towai-d  trans- 
ferring liis  i)rop(>rty  into  their  own  I'oclsets.  How 
much  wages  should  sucli  a  one  receive?  Had  Jie 
not  better  pay  double— yes.  four  times  as  much,  or 
more — for  an  lionest  and  conscientious  person  of 
the  same  alMlity  ?  Most  surely.  And  now,  friends, 
I  liope  you  are  catching  a  g'limpse  of  the  reason 
why  at  least  a  great  many  unfortunates  do  not  suc- 
ceed in  getting  work. 


1 «'.!-' 


(JI.KAXINCiS  IN  HEE  CHI/rilRE. 


'.m 


striii'tion.  I  linno  soiiio  inslriHMiuii  is  to  ooiiic 
to  yod  ill  tliis  talk  to-day.  I'lcasc  IxMicvc  your 
old  frioiid  wlicn  lu'  tells  you  that,  if  you  give 
way  to  tlu'st'  trmptatious,  cvimi  in  ilic  slijilucst 
dcfrivc.  llicy  will  firow  in)oii  you  like  wccils  in  a 
rifii  soil;  and  please  iielieve  me.  too.  when  I 
tell  you  that  your  friemls  as  well  as  your  eiu- 
ployor  probably  know  all  about  it.  May  be 
they  tliiiik  it  is  a  small  matter— too  small  to 
make  a  fuss  about:  but  tiiey  foe!  sad  and  sor- 
rowful wliile  tliey  note  it.  It  is  a  great  blemish 
oti  your  I'haiaeter— yes.  a  thousand  times  worse 
tlian  some  physical  defeet.  espi-cialiy  among 
womankind,  who  like  to  appear  well  and  look 
well  before  the  world.  Why,  dear  sister,  this 
thing  mars  not  only  your  spirituality  and  en- 
joyment in  life,  but  it  hurts  you  more  in  the 
eyes  of  all  good  men  and  gocni  women  than  any 
physical  defect  you  can  think  of.  And  then 
remember,  again."  that  last  great  truth  that  I 
have  been  trying  to  teach  you  to  day:  "It  is 
an  abomination  to  fools  to  depart  from  evil." 
Suppose,  after  what  1  have  told  you.  and  even 
after  liaviiig  read  this  printed  [)age.  these 
friends  of  whom  I  have  spoken  should  go  I'ight 
on.  continuing  to  do  this  very  thing  when  op- 
portunity offers.  Why,  you  would  say  such  a 
one  is  a  fool  and  an  idiot,  and  that  is  jnst  what 
the  Bible  says. 

I  have  felt  troubled  about  speaking  thus 
plainly  to-day:  and  I  have  prayed  over  this 
neighborly  talk  perhaps  more  than  over  any 
other  one  during  the  whole  past  year:  and  as 
I  close.  I  am  breathing  a  prayer  to  the  great 
Father  above,  that  he  may  so  bless  and  sancti- 
fy this  poor  work  of  mine  that  its  faults  and 
blemishes  may  be  passed  by  and  only  the  grains 
of  truth  be  gathered  in.  And  may  the  result 
and  summing  up  of  it  all  be.  through  Christ 
Jesus,  to  you  a  merry  Christmas  and  happy 
New  Year:  for  please  believe  me.  dear  friends, 
when  I  tell  you  theic  can  be  no  real  merry 
Christmas,  nor  happy  New  Year  either,  with- 
out honesty  and  truth  in  our  hearts,  that  we 
may  make  there  an  uhldlmj-place  for  the  love  of 
Christ  Jesus — he  who  came  down  to  earth  on 
Christmas  day  to  be  a  Sdrior  to  all  who  feel  the 
need  of  something  that  out]/  a  messenger  from 
the  great  God  himself  can  give. 


Notes  of  Travel 


FROM  A.  I.  ROOT. 


OSTRICHES    AND    AN    O.STRICH-FARM. 

Just  as  sure  as  you  are  alive,  I  finished  up 
our  travels  in  Arizona  without  saying  a  word 
about  the  ostrich-farm.  It  is  a  few  miles  out 
from  Ph(enix.  among  the  alfalfa- fields.  You 
see,  the  alfalfa  is  just  the  nicest  feed  in  the 
world  for  ostriches.  They  will  live  and  thrive 
on  it  when  it  is  green:  and  if  put  through  a 
cutting-box  when  it  is  dry.  they  eat  it  with 
great  avidity.  By  the  way.  there  is  something 
funny  about  the  way  the  ostrich  eats.  lie  will 
gobble  up  a  great  lot  of  dry  alfalfa,  and.  of 
course,  it  has  got  to  go  somewhere:  so  it  forms 
itself  into  a  sort  of  wad.  or  ball,  and  then  com- 
mences making  a  slow  passage — perhaps  I  had 
better  say  voyaKf — down  tliat  long  cranelike 
neck.  Imagine  a  lump  as  large  as  your  double 
fist  slowly  making  its  way  from  the'head  of  the 
bird  toward  the  body.  The  neck  is  so  distended 
that  the  lump  of  food  is  plainly  visible  all  the 
while  the  ostrich  is  eating.  Well,  we  hired  a 
livery  team  and.  drove  out.  The  streets  in 
Pho'nix  and  the  roads  in  the  suburbs  were  just 
about  as  bad  as  or  even  worse  than  any  that  can 
be  met  here  in  our  Medina  County  clay;  and  as 


we  were  there  during  the  rainy  season,  it  was  a 
pretty  big  task  to  get  even  four  miles  out  of  the 
city.  W<^  crossed  (luitea  number  of  the  irrigat- 
ing canals  that  one  meets  everywhere.  an<l 
found  the  ostriches  in  an  alfalfa-field  bordi-red 
by  beautiful  large  blanching  cot  ton  woods  that 
grew  on  the  banks  of  an  itrigaling  canal.  We 
first  got  sight  of  the  old  original  trio  of  birds. 
Imagine  a  Miahma  rooster  so  tall  that  his  head 
is  almost  as  high  as  a  man  on  horsel)ack,  and 
tlH'ii  you  can  get, an  idea  of  something  what  tlie 
"  papa  ostrich  "  looks  like.  In  disposition,  how- 
ever, the  IJrahma  comitarison  does  not  ap|)ly. 
The  disposition  of  the  game-cock  is  not  quite 
the  thing  either,  for  the  ostrich  is  more  like  an 
enraged  bull  when  you  go  around  the  inclos- 
iire.  We  decided  not  to  go  inside  of  his  domain, 
as  liis  looks  and  actions  were  so  warlike.  I{ut 
in  an  adjoining  lot  was  a  brood  of  chicks.  Some 
of  these  chicks  were  pretty  nearly  as  tall  as  the 
old  fellow,  but  they  were  much  more  slender, 
and  they  had  a  timid  look  and  demeanor  that 
made  one  think  of  young  turkeys.  As  we  ap- 
proached their  inclosure  they  came  up  also,  and 
peered  at  us  with  great  liquid  eyi'S.  Their 
slender  legs  did  not  look  as  if  they  could  do  one 
much  harm:  but  notwithstanding,  I  was  a  little 
afraid  of  the  strange  creature.s.  My  brother 
Jess,  however,  crawled  through  the  fence,  and 
went  out  among  them.  They  evidently  expect- 
ed something  to  eat.  vSome  of  them  acted  a 
little  bit  vicious;  and  I  think  quite  likely  that, 
if  we  had  run  and  acted  freightened.  they 
might  have  pursued  us. 

A  young  ostrich  is.  in  many  respects,  unlike 
any  other  kind  of  the  furred  or  feathered  tribes. 
They  have  a  peculiar  tipping  and  swinging 
gait  that  tempts  one  to  laugh:  and  it  is  more 
like  a  young  miss  of  sixteen,  who  begins  swing- 
ing herself  and  putting  on  airs,  than  any  thing 
else  I  can  think  of.  I  hope  none  of  the  young 
misses  who  read  Gleanings  will  take  offense  at 
this,  for  I  want  to  say  that  young  ostriches  are 
remarkably  graceful— at  least  most  of  the  time. 
Jess  tried  to  see  whether  they  would  shoo,  like 
geese  and  turkeys.  They  did  not  shoo  very 
well,  but  he  finally  got  them  to  cantering  down 
the  lot:  and  when  they  spread  their  wings  so  as 
to  catch  the  breeze,  it  was  one  of  the  finest 
sights  that  ever  met  my  eyes.  I  should  think 
there  were  ten  or  twelve  in  that  brood,  of  near- 
ly full-grown  chicks.  f  * 

Pretty  soon  my  eye  caught  sight  of  another 
inclosure  with  a  low  picket  fence  around  it.  Of 
course,  no  ordinary  fence  would  hold  a  full- 
growMi  ostrich.  He  would  straddle  right  over 
common  farm  fences.  This  last  inclosure,  how- 
ever, was  about  the  sort  you  see  around  a  gar- 
den to  kei'p  chickens  out.  And  what  do  you 
suppose  we  found  inside?  Why,  a  whole  brood 
of  chicks  not  much  larger  than  ordinary  turkeys.. 
Oil!  but  weren't  they  pretty  I  and  they  were 
just  as  cute  and  full  of  fun  as  a  lot  of  well-fed 
and  mischievous  chickens  and  turkeys.  They 
would  pretend  to  fight  each  othei-.  and  tlien 
make  the  oddest  grimaces,  spreading  their 
wings,  and  jumping  as  if  they  were  in  their 
native  deserts.  You  may  wonder  where  the 
Kodak  was.  We  managed  to  corner  up  the 
chicks  so  as  to  get  the  group,  and  I  had  snapped 
it  once,  and  was  just  getting  ready  for  them 
again,  while  Jess  was  making  them  gallop 
down  the  lot.  I  must  remark  here,  there  was 
no  dwelling  near  the  ostrich-farm;  and  as  our 
time  was  limited  we  had  not.  found  out  where 
to  get  permission  to  make  our  investigations. 
The  tem()tation  was  .so  great,  when  we  got  in 
among  the  birds,  tliat  we  were  really  making 
ourselves  at  home.  At  just  the  crisis  mentioned, 
however,  the  keeper  came  on  the  scene.  I  pre- 
sume he  was  not  very  much  pleased  to  se,^  a 
couple  of  strangers  chasing  his  birds,  and  point- 


934 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  15. 


ing  some  sort  of  machine  at  his  tine  brood  of 
chicks.  I  made  haste  to  make  my  best  apology, 
and  to  tell  him  we  were  going  to  take  their 
pictures,  and  that  we  would  send  him  a  maga- 
zine describing  his  ostrich-farm.  They  have  a 
little  coop  to  stay  in  nights;  and  as  it  was 
winter  time,  the  keeper  drove  them  into  their 
inclosure  and  locked  them  up.  I  think  these 
fellows  were  only  four  months  old.  The  next 
brood,  if  I  remember  correctly,  was  nearly  a 
year  old.  The  old  trio  were  full  grown.  An 
ostrich  is  worth  from  6.500  to  61000.  Their  eggs 
are  worth  65.00  each,  and  are  about  as  large  as 
the  head  of  an  infant.  You  remember  what  I 
said  about  eggs  in  Arizona  hatching  while  on 
the  shelf  in  a  store. 

Well,  this  temperature  makes  it  easy  to  hatch 
out  ostriches  at  just  the  right  season  of  the 
year.  Even  if  the  mother-bird  does  not  cover 
all  the  eggs,  the  chances  are  very  good  for  a 
good  hatch.  I  think,  however,  that  four  or  five 
chicks  are  as  many  as  they  get  at  a  hatching. 

There  were  two,  and   perhaps  three,  mature 
feijiales.    I  w^anted  a  Kodak  view  of  the  old 
bii-d   himself;    and  I   wanted,   above  all  other 
things,  to  get  him  while  he  was  on  the  "  war- 
path."   I  suggested  to  the    proprietor  that  I 
could  go  around  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lot, 
crawl  through  the  fence,  and  have  my  Kodak 
all  ready,  so  that,  when   he  discovered  I  was 
right  in  the  inclosure.  I  could  take  his  picture 
when  he  got  the  proper  distance  from   me.  and 
crawl   through  the  fence  before  he  would  have 
time  to  tear  me  to  pieces  and  chew  me  up.    The 
keeper  thought  Jt  was  a  rather  risky  experi- 
ment, but  yon  know  it  is  right  and  proper  that 
we  should   take  some  risks  in   the   pursuit  of 
science.    He  told  me  I  had  better  look  out,  but 
said  that,  if  I  was  willing  to  take  the  chances, 
all   right.    1   was  considerably  excited   at  the 
time:  but  I  remember  of  thinking  I  would  like 
to  take  the  picture  also  of  my  brother  Jess  as 
he  watched  proceedings.    From  his  childhood 
up  he  has  always  been  full  of  mischief,  and^  he 
has  not  got  over  it  yet,  even  if  he  is  toward  tifty 
years  old.     Ever  since   he  was  a  small   boy,  a 
peculiar  comical  expression  comes  into  his  face 
when  any  mischief  is  going  on.     Mother  could 
always  tell  when  we  had  been  doing  any  thing 
wrong,  by  a  look  at  Jesse's   face;   and  when  I 
proposed  to  brave  the  lion  in  his  den.  and   then 
get  out  through   the  fence  with  my  apparatus 
before  he  could  catch  me.  .less  just  entered  into 
the  spirit  of  the  adventure  with   his  old-time 
boyish    love  of  sport  and   mischief.    He  kept 
close  to  me.  ready,  I  suppose,  in  the  event  that 
he  and   the  keejjer  would  have  to  turn  in  and 
help  to  deliver  me  from  the  enemy.    I  crawled 
through   the  fence,  and   challenged   the   foe  to 
mortal  combat.    Oh!  but  you  should  have  seen 
him  bristle  up  and  paw  the  gravel,  like  an  in- 
furiated   beast.      He    spread     his    wings,   and 
pranced   up  and  down,   taking    that    peculiar 
ostrich  step  I  have  been  trying  to  describe:  and 
then  he  came  down  on  me  like  a  rush  of  mighty 
waters.    It  was  a  hard  cross  to   lake  my  eyes 
from   the  bird   and  look  at  my  camera  in  order 
to  get  it  properly  adjusted.    One  thing  troubled 
me— I  could  not  see  just  how  near  he  was  when 
I  snapped  the  btittou.     I  >ucci'eded.  however,  in 
getting  every  thing   much  to  my  heart's  con- 
tent; and  even  thougli  I  hadn't  the   hundredth 
part  of  a  second    to  spare,   I   said    to  myself, 
'•There,  old   fellow,  that  picture  will  be  worth 
a   hundred    dollars  if  you    succeed    in   getting 
through  that  hole  in  the  fence  before  his  majes- 
ty demolishes  vou.  Kodak  and   all."    I  pressed 
the  button.    There  was  a  confused  rattling  in- 
side of  the  camera,  that  did   not  seem   quite 
right.    I  hoped,  liowcwer.  that  it  was   the  ex- 
citement of  the  moment,  that  made  me  imagine 
it;  and,  didn't  I   just  get  through   that  fence 


lively,  as  my  Kodak  rolled  in  one  direction  and 
I  in  another,  while  I  picked  myself  up  out  of 
the  alfalfal  There  was  luy  enemy  rubbing  his 
breast  against  the  top  rail  of  the  fence,  and 
fairly  dancing  up  and  down  while  he'  bellowed 
forth  his  rage.  He  tried  to  reach  me  with  his 
open  mouth  and  tierce  beak;  but  as  the  head  of 
a  full-grown  ostrich  is  not  very  much  larger 
than  your  double  tist.  the  head  itself  is  not  very 
formidable.  It  was  those  wicked  clawlike  heels 
of  his  that  he  was  itching  to  tv/ist  around  so  as 
to  give  me  a  stroke. 

In  many  respects  an  ostrich  resembles  a  fierce 
domestic  fowl.  His  preamble  before  doing  any 
thing  is  something  like  the  strutting  of  a  tur- 
key gobbler;  but  he  kicks  with  an  aim  that  is 
usually  unerring  when  no  obstacles  are  in 
the  way.  I  do  not  know  whether  they  have 
ever  killed  human  beings  or  not;  but  I  have 
been  told  they  would  in  short  meter  if  a  man 
were  unarmed.  If  he  has  a  club  in  his  hand,  a 
good  muscular  stroke  across  the  long  slender 
neck  disables  the  ostrich;  but  at  the  same  time 
it  knocks  a  thousand  dollars  or  more  out  of  the 
pocket  of  the  owner;  so  the  keeper  has  two 
reasons  to  avoid  '•  picking  a  quarrel  "  with  his 
birds.  I  do  not  know  whether  the  mother- 
ostrich  scratches  for  her  chicks,  and  leads  them 
about  like  a  mother-hen,  or  not;  but  I  would 
give  quite  a  little  sum  of  money  for  the  privi- 
lege of  spending  a  day  or  two  where  I  could  see 
the  chicks  when  newly  hatched,  to  learn  more 
of  the  strange  instinct  that  governs  these  won- 
derful creatures. 

Do  you  ask  where  the  pictures  are?  Well, 
my  dear  friend,  when  we  got  to  New  Orleans  I 
had  my  Kodak  overhauled,  and  was  told  that, 
when  i  snapped  my  machine  on  that  big  os- 
trich. I  had  got  to  the  end  of  the  roll  of  films— 
that  is,  I  had  taken  my  sixty  pictures.  When  I 
snapped  it  that  last  time  the  film  pulled  off, 
and  every  one  of  the  views  taken  on  the  ostrich- 
farm  was  spoiled.  You  see,  I  lost  my  book  of 
instructions  that  goes  with  the  instrument,  and 
therefore  I  did  not  keep  account  of  how  many 
pictures  I  had  taken,  and  hence  this  mishap.  I 
I  am  very  sorry  indeed  that  I  can  not  present 
you  the  pictures  I  so  fondly  anticipated  having 
accompany  this  description.  But  if  Providence 
permits,  and  I  continue  to  feel  as  well  as  I  do 
now,  I  think  thi;  readers  of  Gleanings  may 
feel  sure  that  thev  will  get  them  some  time. 


High-pressure  Gardening. 


SOMETHING  ABOUT  WAGONS. 

Every  market-gardener,  and  I  should  say 
every  farmer,  who  expects  to  do  very  much 
business,  should  have  at  least  two  wagons. 
During  the  busy  time  a  successful  man  can 
not  alford  to  lose  the  use  of  his  team,  and  pos- 
sibly that  of  a  hired  man,  because  the  wagon 
must  be  reijaired.  We  have  a  blacksmith  of 
our  own,  right  here  on  the  premises;  but  not- 
withstanding that,  we  can  not  well  get  along 
without  an  extra  wagon.  A  good  many  times 
our  regular  wagon  contains  a  heavy  load,  when 
a  sudden  demand  from  some  other  direction 
makes  it  necessary  to  unload.  I  bought  a  very 
stout  low-down  wagon,  or  truck,  that  was  a 
great  deal  out  of  repair  by  being  left  out  in  the 
wet.  for  only  6S.00.  Ky  paying  out  nearly  as 
much  more  on  it.  we  have  a  wagon  that  does 
nicely  for  emergencies:  and.  when  something 
gives  out  on  our  regular  wagon,  the  team  is 
hitched  on  to  tliis  one.  and  the  work  goes  on 
with  scarcely  a  moment's  delay.    This  gives 


1892 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


935 


tli<>  blaoUsmith  plenty  of  tinit>  to  do  a  Kood  job; 
and  if  tlii>  wiKxlwork  is  to  hi-  n\adt'  new,  it  i-aii 
bt'  painlt'd  i^vcn  two  coals  before  it  is  put  on  lo 
the  innddy  roads  ajiain.  Uy  the  way.  I  never 
can  stand  it  to  see  a  big  beavy  team,  witb  a 
jroixl  stout  eOirient  man.  loalinff  at  tiie  l)laci<- 
sniitii  shop  wiiile  repaiiinfr  is  beinfi  done.  If 
the  sliop  is  several  miles  oil  — 1  woukhri  have 
a  shop  several  niilt>s  otT— 1  would  have  a  hired 
man  who  could  do  a  little  at  it:  or,  better  still, 
I  would  pet  some  tools  and  do  it  myself  oi\ 
stormy  days;  and  rifjhl  here  is  where  the  sec- 
ond wagon  comes  in.  If  your  lielj)  is  low-i)ri(M»d 
help,  it  is  not  so  bad.  Hy  the  way.  wIkmi  1  liave 
a  good  stout  team  and  a  good  wagon  I  can  not 
bear  to  put  thom  into  the  hands {)f  an  ineOicient 
man.  If  vou  have  a  man  who  i<  competent  to 
look  carefully  after  the  feeding  of  His  team  in 
order  that  they  may  do  their  best,  and  look 
carefully  after  the  way  the  wagon  is  used— one 
whose  judgment  is  good  as  to  how  much  the 
wagon  and  hoi-ses  can  di-aw— you  will  need  to 
pay  him  a  pretty  good  price:  and  when  you 
have  got  a  good,  willing,  and  intelligent  man. 
it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  be  and  the 
team  make  every  hour  count,  when  the  weather 
is  suitable.  Why.  a  few  days  ago  it  became 
necessary  for  us  to  move  some  coal,  and  I 
found  they  were  starting  out  with  a  little  over 
a  ton  at  a  load.  After  I  got  things  fixed  to  my 
notion,  our  big  team  m')ved  tiro  tons  and  a 
half,  and  the  roads  were  not  good  either.  With 
the  former  loads  there  was  no  profit  in  the 
transaction.  With  two  tons  and  a  half,  how- 
ever, we  made  a  very  good  thing  of  it. 

HAPPY   SURPRISES. 

After  the  poor  season  for  outdoor  garden- 
stuff,  happy  surprises  come  in  very  acceptably 
^at  least,  they  do  with  me:  and  the  one  I  have 
found  in  the  last  few  days  is  a  big  one.  I  tell  you 
—at  least,  it  is  a  big  one  to  m''.  I  think  I  shall 
have  it  for  a  Christmas  present.  You  know 
how  much  T  have  said  about  hot  springs,  and 
lamented  that  none  of  them  were  ever  used  for 
heating  greenhouses,  outdoor  beds,  or  any  thing 
of  that  soi't.  SometinifS  it  has  almost  seemed 
as  if  I  tiDtst  have  a  hot  spring  of  my  own.  But 
then,  in  the  region  where  the  liot  springs  are 
found  there  is  not  any  need  of  greenhouses,  and 
greenhouse  pioducts"  would  not  command  the 
prices.  probat)ly.  that  they  do  here.  I  did  not 
know  bow  I  coiild  get  a  hoi  spring  hen;  without 
digging  a  well  so  deep  as  to  strike  the  subter- 
ranean reservoirs.  A  jet  of  gas  might  do  it, 
but  either  would  cost  a  good  deal  of  money. 
Now.  what  do  you  think  '?  (lod  has  sent  me  a 
hot  spring  right  at  my  own  door.  Nay,  better 
still:  it  started  right  in  that  new  greenhouse  I 
told  you  about  in  last  issue.  The  t«>mperature 
is  not  that  of  one  of  your  mild  springs,  either. 
for  the  water  is  almost  boiling  hot.  I  had  been 
praying  that  God  would  bless  my  efforts  in 
both  teaching  and  i)raelicing  intensive  garden- 
ing: and  the  blessing  came  within  three  or 
four  days  after  that  prayer.  Oh!  there  is  not 
anything  miraculous  about  it  after  all:  but  it 
is  a  precious  gift,  and  I  am  very  thankful  for  it, 
nevertheless.  When  I  described  that  new 
greenhous*!  on  page  8'.i;^.  I  told  you  it  was  to  be 
warmed  by  exhaust  steam  running  in  tiles 
back  and  forth  under  the  beds.  Exhaust  steam, 
you  will  remember,  has  been  already  for  more 
than  a  yrsar  running  undera  part  of  our  garden. 
Well,  about  a  hundred  feet  from  the  green- 
house was  this  six-inch  tile  ihal  carried  the 
exhaust  steam.  After  the;  l)uildiiig  was  all 
finished  it  occurred  to  me  that  I  had  made  no 
provision  for  water  inside  of  the  house:  and 
then  I  remembered  that  I  might  have  laid  a 
water-pipe  at  the  same  time  this  six-inch  tile 
was  put  put  in,  for  at  one  point  it  runs  very 


near  one  of  our  undei^'iound  watei'-pipes. 
Then  it  occurred  to  me  that  1  could  <lig  up  tiie 
tile  at  a  point  inside  of  the  grr-enhouse,  and 
push  a  ;'| -inch  galvanized  iron  i)ip(!  right  back 
througii  the  tile  until  the  end  came  to  the 
waler-|)ipe.  It  was  a  siioil  job  to  do  it:  and 
wliile  doing  it  it  did  occur  to  me  that  the  ex- 
haust st(>am  would  warm  th<^  water  so  that  it 
would  be  about  the  right  ti'mperature  to  water 
the  plants.  Weil,  you  may  think  we  were  all 
stupid:  but  it  was  a  downright  surprise  to  me 
when  I  first  opened  the  valve,  lo  find  the  water 
was  almost  boiling  hot.  Before  we  could  put  it 
on  the  plants  it  would  have  to  be  cooled  otT.  I 
was  as  badly  off  as  those  friends  in  Sun  .lacin- 
to,  who  ran  their  spring  wali>r  into  a  great  big 
tank,  and  wailed  for  it  lo  cool  off  so  it  would  be 
fit  to  drink.  At  the  same  lime,  they  purchased 
wood  to  warm  the  rooms  of  their  sanitarium. 
We  did  not  do  so  badly  as  that,  I  rememlx'r 
of  thinking  that,  if  I  had  a  hose  long  ent)Ugh 
to  go  clear  around  the  greenhouse,  and 
then  turn  on  the  water  very  slowly,  it  would 
probably  be  cool  enough  by  tl>e  time  it  reached 
the  sprinkler.  Then  I  said.  "'Why.  you  old 
stupid!  just  run  an  iron  pipe  clear  around  the 
greenhouse,  and  your  building  can  be  heated 
by  hot  water."  I  supposed  I  scratched  my  head 
a  little  then,  for  pretty  soon  it  burst  upon  me 
that  I  could  put  my  hot-water  pipes  overhead, 
right  under  the  sash,  and  then  I  should  have 
overhead  heating  while  the  tiles  under  the  beds 
would  give  bottom  heat;  and  the  very  day  the 
idea  came  into  my  mind,  with  the  assistance  of 
one  man  the  pipes  were  up.  But  I  was  stupid, 
even  then.  I  supposed  the  water  would  have 
to  be  shut  off  so  it  would  just  come  in  drops,  or 
perhaps  run  in  a  small  stream.  I  thought  that, 
if  I  let  it  run  at  all  fast,  so  much  cold  water 
going  through  the  pipes  would  chill  them  off. 
Now.  the  surprise  was,  to  find  that  the  heat 
liberated  in  the  condensation  of  that  exhaust 
steam  through  100  feet  of  tile  would  keep  a 
good -sized  stream  of  water,  and  the  pipes  as 
well,  so  hot  they  could  not  be  touched  with  the 
hand.  After  \varming  my  house,  there  is  hot 
water  to  spare — enough  to  run  ever  so  many 
more  hot  beds  or  greenhouses.  My  friends  sug- 
gested, however,  that,  as  the  engine  runs  only 
during  the  day.  my  hot  water  would  be  missing 
when  most  needed,  during  the  night.  But  even 
this  is  not  true.  The  tile,  that  carries  the  ex- 
haust steam  is,  perhaps.  J8  inches  under  ground. 
The  ground  is  hot,  and  stays  hot,  not  only  over 
night,  but  over  Sunday:  and  this  Monday 
morning,  when  the  thermometer  stood  at  only 
15°  above  zero.  I  was  agreeably  surprised  to  find 
my  hot-water  pipes  quite  warm,  although  a 
steady  stream  of  water  had  been  going  through 
them  day  and  night.  You  see,  lo  get  the  higli- 
est  temperature  in  the  pipes,  we  gauge  the  size 
of  the  stream  of  water  by  the  valve:  and  to 
keep  the  pipes  the  warmest,  it  needs  a  pretty 
good-sized  stream  at  the  outlet.  Y"ou  might 
think  at  first  that  this  would  draw  on  our 
reservoir  supplied  by  the  windmill:  but  the 
windmill  has  been  standing  idle,  wailing  for  a 
job.  for  months;  so  the  exhaust  steam  and  the 
windmill  together  have  giv(>n  me  a  sj^ring  of 
boiling  water  that  costs  abseil utely  nothing. 

I  have  mentioned  all  this  in  detail,  because  it 
does  seem  lo  me  thai  it  is  almost  a  sin  lo  pay 
out  so  much  money  for  coal  and  wood  while  the 
exhaust  steam  from  thousands  of  engines  is 
going  to  waste  out  in  the  open  air.  When  you 
see  steam  issuing  from  any  sort  of  shop  or 
factory,  and  spouting  out  into  the  frosty  air. 
you  can  remember  that  tons  and  tons  of  coal 
are  being  sent  away  in  vapor.  All  that  is  need- 
ed is  to  send  this  jet  of  exhaust  steam  into  a 
line  of  common  draining  tile,  of  size  adequate 
lo  the  amount  of  sieam.    Of  course,  we  do  not 


936 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  15. 


want  to  put  a  back  pressure  on  the  engine. 
Lay  these  tile  a  couple  of  feet  under  ground. 
They  had  better  be  on  an  incline,  the  lowest 
point  being  right  near  the  engine.  This  gives 
a  draft  of  hot  air.  At  the  end  of  the  tile  there 
can  be  some  sort  of  cheap  chimney  or  stack, 
although  this  is  not  absolutely  necessary.  Now, 
run  your  iron  pipe  or  pipes  along  through  this 
tile  so  as  to  receive  the  latent  heat  from  the 
condensed  steam;  then  take  this  hot  water  into 
your  greenhouse,  dwelling-house,  or  anywhere 
else  you  choose,  and  regulate  the  heat  by  gov- 
erning the  amount  of  water  that  escapes.  I 
presume  likely  the  same  hot  water  might  be  used 
over  and  over  again  after  heating  the  plants  or 
dwellings  by  hot  water;  and  this  would  be 
quite  a  saving  over  taking  cold  water  from  the 
hydrant  and  letting  it  go  to  waste  while  still 
hot.  By  the  way,  does  anybody  know  of  a 
firm  that  makes  an  apparatus  for  heating 
buildings  hy  hot  water  by  utilizing  the  heat 
from  exhaust  steam?  You  will  notice  that  the 
apparatus  I  have  described  is  a  very  cheap  one 
— that  is,  when  made  as  ours  is  made. 

THAT   XEW   GREENHOUSE. 

So  many  questions  have  been  asked  in  resard 
to  this  that  we  are  preparing  some  engravings 
for  it  in  the  next  issue.  This  morning,  Dec.  13, 
I  noticed  a  large  squash-plant  coming  up  in 
one  of  the  beds  right  over  one  of  the  six-inch 
drain -tiles.  This  tile  is  at  least  two  feet  below 
the  surface  of  the  bed  where  this  vine  came  up; 
and  the  glass  aijove  the  bed  is  not  more  than 
two  feet  distant  from  the  plant;  yet  a  tempera- 
ture of  1,5  above  zero  did  not  affect  tender  plants 
in  the  least.  Perhaps  I  should  repeat,  that  all 
our  experiments  with  exhaust  steam,  under 
ground,  are  with  a  ten  H.  P.  engine.  During 
the  daytime  it  rarely  does  as  much  as  five  H. 
P.;  but  after  the  electric  lights  are  put  on  in 
the  factory  it  runs  up  to  fully  ten  H.  P.,  and 
then  the  greenhouse  and  cold-frames  get  a  good 
warming-up  that  takes  them  safely  through 
the  night. 

THE   VALUE   OF   A   BAROMETER. 

Our  new  greenhouse,  as  you  will  remember, 
is  covered  with  sashes — 4.5  in  all.  Well,  while 
we  were  building  it  we  got  them  all  in  place 
one  afternoon.  None  of  them  were  fastened, 
however.  In  fact,  we  had  not  as  yet  got  ready 
to  arrange  the  fastenings  so  that  they  could  be 
stripped  off  in  the  spring,  as  I  have  mentioned. 
There  was  not  a  breath  of  air  stirring,  and 
every  thing  seemed  to  indicate  that  there  would 
be  no  danger  in  leaving  them  over  night,  any 
way.  But  I  ran  over  and  looked  at  the  barom- 
eter. To  my  astonishment,  it  was  away  down. 
Yes,  the  fall  in  only  a  few  hours  had  been  such 
as  to  indicate  a  tremendous  storm  of  some  sort. 
I  hurried  back,  got  some  long  strips  of  wood, 
and  1  presume  some  of  the  men  thought  I  was 
rather  vehement  about  having  those  strips 
wired  over  the  sash  so  securely.  Next  morn- 
ing, when  I  first  met  one  of  the  foremen  his 
remark  was,  "Well.  I  declare.  Mr.  Root,  I  am 
agreeably  astonished  to  see  your  greenhouse  all 
safe  and  sound.  When  I  heard  that  fearful 
blow  last  night  I  felt  sure  those  loose  sashes 
would  be  blown  all  over  the  neighborhood." 
And  so  they  would  have  been  had  it  not  been 
for  the  barometer's  timely  warning.  I  have 
had  a  little  exptirience  with  wind  taking  loose 
sashes,  and  it  has  taught  me  to  watch  the 
barometer  when  we  stop  work  at  night,  under 
such  circumstances.  Its  timely  warning  saved 
me  a  good  many  dollars. 

ONION- SETS  IN  THE  OPEN  GROUND  .\I,L  WINTER. 

I  never  fail  to  have  onions  winter  all  right. 
In  the  first  place  T  set  them  deep:  then  if  they 
freeze  up  I  take  my  double  wheel-hoe  and  put 


on  the  turning-plows,  straddle  the  row,  and 
throw  the  dirt  to  the  onions:  then  in  the  spring, 
if  I  wish  them  to  mature  and  make  large  on- 
ions, put  on  the  curved  hoes  and -throw  the 
dirt  airoy.  H.  C.  CAR.MiriiAEL. 

Morristown,  Tenn. 


And  God  saw  that  tlie  wickedness  of  man  was  great  in  the 
earth,  and  that  every  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  lus  heart 
%vas  only  evil  eontlnually.— GEN.  6:  5. 

Quite  by  accident  this  is  a  good  deal  of  a  Cal- 
ifornia number.    

Dec.  8,  1892,  we  sent  to  the  India  famine  suf- 
ferers $7.65  more,  which  had  been  contributed 
by  readers  of  Gleanings. 


Prof.  Cook  has  just  sent  in  another  article 
on  the  sugar-honey  matter,  in  reply  to  the  ar- 
ticle of  Charles  Dadant  and  others:  but  it  came 
too  late  for  this  issue,  and  will  therefore  appear 
in  our  next — Jan.  1. 

Every  thing  in  California  depends  upon  the 
amount  of  rainfall  at  this  season  of  the  year. 
Reports  show  that  copious  rains  are  beginning 
to  come,  and  California  bee-keepers  are  wearing 
a  broad  smile.  Given  enough  rain,  and  the 
honey-crop  is  assured. 

We  have  not  mude  any  very  great  promises 
as  to  what  we  were  going  to  do  in  the  way  of 
getting  out  a  holiday  number;  nevertheless,  we 
have  been  trying  to  get  up  something  a  little 
extra,  and  will  let  the  pages  of  this  journal 
speak  for  themselves.  We  have  been  obliged  to 
add  eight  extra  pages  in  order  to  get  in  the 
extra  matter. 

We  are  pleased  to  announce  that  George  E. 
Hilton,  of  Fremont,  Mich.,  was  elected  to  the 
State  Legislature  by  a  large  majority,  running 
about  a  hundred  ahead  of  his  ticket.  We  don't 
know  any  thing  about  his  politics,  and.  indeed, 
it  were  better  that  we  do  not,  because  we  as 
bee-keepei's  all  over  the  country  can  make  our 
congratulations  more  hearty  in  the  hope  that 
he  is  on  our  side. 

We  have  given  our  readers  our  usual  full  and 
copious  index.  That  for  the  engravings  is  par- 
ticularly full,  and  shows  that  Gleanings  is 
just  what  it  claims  to  be— an  illustrated  peri- 
odical. The  peculiarity  of  the  index  to  corres- 
jxjndents  is.  that  it  is  smaller  than  those  of 
former  years.  This  shows  that  we  now  have 
fewer  and  better  contributors — those  whom  our 
subscribers  mention  the  most  in  their  letters, 
and  whose  writings  they  seem  most  to  enjoy. 


The  last  mail  from  Australia  shows  that 
nearly  all  the  queens  we  sent  to  that  country  in 
the  early  fall  arrived  in  good  condition,  and 
that,  too,  despite  our  fears  to  the  contrary  on 
account  of  the  cholera  quarantine  regulations 
and  oflicial  oificiousness  from  the  foreign  postal 
authorities.  On  account  of  our  success  we  have 
several  orders  on  hand  to  send  more  queens  by 
next  mail.  It  is  now  too  late,  on  account  of  the 
cold,  to  send  any  until  next  spring — say  about 
May  15th.  (Queens  to  Australia  go  via  San 
Francisco,  and  the  trip  over  the  mountains  at 
this  time  of  the  vear  chills  them  to  death.    Our 


1S02 


IJI.KANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


'.137 


siuTt'ss  in  iiiiiiliiii;  is  chiclly  n\\  iiijj  to  \ho  fact 
tlial  wi'  arc  carcl'ul  to  select  the  rinht  time  of 
the  year.  

Kamim.kh.  (Imiiig  1S<t3.  will  s(>nd  some  views 
and  sketches  of  hees  ami  hee- keepers  in  Mexico, 
as  well  as  of  other  ijortions  of  th(>  I'acltic  Coast. 
He  is  a  \(>rital)le  raiiiltler— Iw  can  not  i<eep  still. 
He  likes  to  >jel  around  and  see  folks,  and  we 
are  jrlad  tliat  he  does,  hecaiise  he  is  somehow 
able  to  make  all  the  rest  of  lis  see  with  his  eyes. 
The  Langstroth  biojiraphitvil  skinches  will  con- 
tinue, witli  illustrations,  into  1S'.)3.  The  Remi- 
nisccMices  will  have  more  to  do  with  bet^-keepers 
and  bee-kt'cpiiig  of  the  early  days.  There  will 
be  brief  sketches  of  the  lamented  Samuel  Wag- 
ner—the first  editor  of  the  Ainencdu  Bee  Jour- 
nal.awA  oiu'  to  whom  the  bee  keepers  of  the 
present  day  are  iluiebted  much.  Vou  can  not 
alTord  to  let  your  subscription  run  out. 


MORK  ABOUT  COMB  FOUNDATION. 

In  calling  attention  in  our  last  issue  to  the 
superior  quality  of  Roofs  foundation,  as  now 
made,  it  was  not  our  purpose  to  detract  from 
the  popularity  of  l)adant"s.  The  testimonial 
inserted  may  be  understood  in  that  way,  as  we 
examine  it  more  carefully:  but  we  did  not  so 
intend  it.  Our  friend  whom  we  quoted  may  be 
an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  the  Home  of  the 
Honey-bees,  and  overstated  the  matter,  for  we 
can  hardly  believe  that  his  statement  would  be 
borne  out  by  the  facts  generally.  Dadant  & 
Son  make  excellent  foundation,  which  is  ac- 
knowledged the  standard,  and  they  deserve  the 
patronage  of  those  in  want  of  this  requisite  of 
all  progressive  bee-keeping. 


"  BEES,  HONEY.  AND  HOME   INTERESTS." 

We  copy  the  following  editorial  from  the 
American  Beekeeper: 

Old  reliable  Gleanings  in  Bee  Cultuke  will 
have  to  cliang-e  its  name  unless  it  sticks  closer  to 
the  text.  The  November  15th  number  contains 
twenty-nine  pages  of  reading-matter  (exclusive  of 
advertisenienis  .  and  there  are  lourteen  pages  of 
matter  wliich  does  not  bear  on  the  subject  of  l)ee- 
keeping  in  the  least.     Wherefore  is  this  tlius  ? 

Quite  true,  neighbor  Merrill:  but  there  are 
some  other  things  that  are  true  also  which  you 
have  failed  to  mention.  When  I  occu[)ied  so 
much  room  in  our  issue  for  Nov.  1,  1  distinctly 
stated  that  we  had  printed  and  added  to  that 
number  eight  extra  pages,  so  that  no  one  might 
find  fault.  Another  thing,  (ii.EANiNGS  is  not 
devoted  exclusively  to  bee  culture.  On  the 
front  page  of  every  issue  you  may  read,  "  De- 
voted to  Bees.  Honey,  and  Home  Interests." 
Now,  inasmuch  as  it  has  over  ten  thousand 
subscribers,  and  lias  had  for  several  years,  and 
continues  to  hold  its  own,  it  seems  to  me  it  is 
doing  pretty  well;  is  it  not?  A.  I.  R. 


THE   WHEEL,  FOR  CARKVING   BURDEN.S. 

On  page  849  I  spoke  about  a  low-down  pack- 
age-carrier. Well.  I  have  beeii  using  one  for 
about  a  month.  It  supports  a  sack  of  mail 
right  over  the  front  wheel.  The  principal  part 
of  the  weight  comes  on  the  foot-rests,  and  it  can 
be  lifted  oflF  from  the  machine  oi'  dropped  back 
in  its  place  in  a  second.  With  it  I  carry  'JO  lbs. 
of  mail  with  ease.  You  see,  that  would  make  a 
pretty  fair  wheelbarrow  load,  and  you  sit  on 
top  of  the  wheelbarrow  and  ride,  besides.  Thus 
far  this  winter  neither  ice,  snow,  nor  rain  has 
prevented  me  from  making  my  five  daily  trips 
to  the  postoftice— half  a  mile  away— and  hack 
again.  Yesterday,  the  13th,  the  stone  pave- 
ments were  so  icy  that  people  kept  on  their  feet 
with  difficulty;  but  the  inflated  rubber  tire 
carried  me  safely  with  a  big  sack  of  mail,  even 


over  llial  ic.\  tlagging,  where  it  was  cfinsifler- 
ably  on  an  incline.  You  see.  I)y  taking  upon 
myself  the  office  of  messenger-boy  I  get  regular 
open-air  riding  every  working  day,  no  matter 
what  the  weather  may  be,  and  I  scarcely  ever 
finish  my  tripwilliout  a  feeling  in  my  heart, 
'■  May  (!od  tie  praised  for  tliis  wonderful  ih'W 
gift."  I  think  it  is  going  to  give  health, 
strength,  life,  animation,  and  enthusiasm  to 
thousands  during  the  new  year  of  1893  tliat  is 
just  before  us. A.  I.  R. 

THE   WASIIINOTON    rOXVENTIOX. 

Every  patriotic  American  citi/.en.  at  least 
.some  time  in  his  life,  should  make  a  pilgrimage 
to  the  Mecca  of  his  country — Washington. 
There  may  never  be  a  bettcsr  opportunity  for 
some  of  the  bee-keepers  to  visit  that  city,  and 
take  along  their  wives.  If  they  feel  that  they 
can  not  afford  to  go,  simply  for  what  they 
might  "pick  up"  at  the  convention,  they  cer- 
tainly can  for  the  sake  of  the  many  interesting 
things  they  will  see  before  and  after  in  the  city. 
W'e  have  liad  a  number  of  inquiries  about  this 
meeting;  and  if  this  means  any  thing  there  will 
be  a  large  attendance. 

We  expect  to  be  present  ourselves — that  is, 
A.  I.  R.  and  E.  R.  R.;  and  it  will  give  us  f)lea- 
sure  to  shake  hands  with  our  old  friends,  and 
any  new  ones  that  we  may  run  across.  Do  not 
forget  that  one  of  the  pleasures  of  all  bee-con- 
ventions is  the  usual  hand-to-hand  face-to-face 
meetings  with  bee-keepers  whom  we  have 
known  long  over  the  printed  page,  but  whom 
we  have  not  seen  before.  Some  of  the  best 
things  we  ever  got  at  conventions  were  picked 
up  between  sessions  from  some  of  the  brethren 
who  felt  a  little  shy  about  telling  what  they 
knew  before  the  whole  convention. 


OUR   ROUTE   TO  WASHINGTON. 

In  Ernest's  editorial  in  regard  to  the  conven- 
tion in  Washington,  on  page  896  of  last  issue, 
when  he  suggested  that  bee-keepers  should  get 
together  at  Pittsburg  on  the  mornlufj  of  the 
2(itli.  it  never  occurred  to  him  that  the  :i()th  was 
on  Monday,  and  that,  in  order  to  make  said 
point  of  meeting,  some  of  us — perhaps  many  of 
us— would  have  to  travel  on  Sunday.  It  is  a 
little  unusual,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  it  is  a 
little  unfortunate,  to  have  the  first  day  of  the 
convention  on  Tuesday.  Hut,  on  the  other 
hand,  if  we  should  put  it  on  Wednesday,  the 
last  session  would  come  on  Friday  afternoon, 
and  many  of  us  could  not  well  reach  home  by 
Saturday  night.  This  would  necessitate  Sun- 
day travel,  or  else  spending  both  Saturday  and 
Sunday  in  Washington,  starting  home  Monday 
morning.  I  suppose  this  is  a  matter  that  de- 
volves upon  tiie  conscience  of  each  and  every 
individual;  and  yet  the  (juestion  will  come  up, 
'•  Bro.  Root,  some  of  us  would  like  to  know 
what  you  and  Ernest  propcjse  to  do  under  the 
circumstances."  We  propose  to  take  another 
route,  in  order  to  avoid  Sunday  travel,  and  this 
will  take  us  into  Wheeling  at  7:4.5  I'.  M.  From 
there  we  shall  take  a  train  direct  to  Washing- 
ton, leaving  Wheeling,  rla  the  H.  i*t  O..  at  13:2.5 
A.  M.,  and  arriving  at  Washington  at  12:10  i*.  .m. 
3 A.  I.  R. 

L.   L.   LANGSTROTH  —  IMPORTANT    TO   AEI..    BEE- 
KEEPERS. 

On  page  913  of  this  i.ssue  w(>  take  pleasure  in 
presenting  to  you  a  large  portrait  of  the  Rev. 
L.  L.  Langstroth.  This  picture  was  taken  by 
our  own  artist  here  in  Medina,  seventeen  years 
ago.  when  Mr.  Langstroth  was  making  iis  a 
visit.  It  shows  him  in  the  prime  of  his  life,  and 
the  possession  of  health  and  mental  vigor,  and 
is  a  very  good  likeness  of  him  as  he  then  ap- 
peared. 


938 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  15. 


It  is  Christmas  time,  and  many  of  us  would 
like  to  have  some  little  Christmas  souvenir  to 
place  in  our  homes.  We  know  of  nothing  more 
appropriate  in  the  home  of  a  bee-keeper  than  a 
nicely  framed  picture  of  father  Langstroth. 
Surely  there  are  hundreds  who  would  like  this 
picture.  Mr.  L.  is.  at  present,  beginning  to 
suffer  again  from  his  old  head  trouble,  but  not 
so  much  but- that  he  can  enjoy  and  appreciate 
any  little  attention  or  service  from  his  bee- 
keeping admirers.  Now.  to  help  him  in  his 
declining  yeais.  and  to  give  him  a  slight  token 
of  the  appreciation  of  bee-keepers  all  over  the 
land,  we  will  sell  these  portraits,  mounted  on 
large  sheets  of  plated  paper,  suitable  for  fram- 
ing, for  2.T  cts.  each.  Of  this  amount,  20  cts. 
will  be  credited  to  Mr.  Langstroth's  account, 
and  5  will  be  retained  by  us  to  cover  the  cost  of 
printing,  mailing,  etc.  If  you  send  in  your 
orders  promptly,  we  will  try  to  see  that  the 
pictures  reach  you— at  least  the  most  of  you,  if 
not  too  far  distant,  before  the  2,5th — Christmas. 


THE   MEETINGS  OF  THE  NORTH   AMERICAN;    WHO 
ARE   ENTITLED   TO   ATTEND. 

Several  have  written,  asking  whether  they 
would  be  permitted  to  attend  the  convention  of 
the  North  American,  at  Washington,  if  they 
were  not  members.  Most  assuredly,  they  would 
be  welcome.  Quite  a  few  have  attended  the 
meetings  in  the  past,  without  enrolling  them- 
selves. The  president  always  invites  those 
present  to  become  a  member  by  handing  in  a 
dollar,  because  there  are  e.\penses  to  be  met; 
and  it  does  seem  is  if  those  who  come  and  listen 
ought  to  be  willing  to  pay  that  much  for  the 
privilege  of  hearing  the  best  thoughts  from  the 
best  men.  Ladies  are  always  enrolled  without 
paying.  As  editor  of  Gleanings  we  will  take 
the  responsibility  of  saying  that,  should  there 
be  any  one  who  comes  on  this  invitation,  pays 
a  dollar,  and  then,  at  the  close  of  the  conven- 
tion, thinks  he  has  not  received  the  worth  of 
his  dollar,  if  he  will  present  himself  to  us  be- 
fore we  leave  for  home,  with  a  statement  of 
the  fact,  we  will  refund  the  dollar  at  our  own 
expense.  But  let  us  emphasize  this  fact:  The 
convention  is  open  to  everybody.  If  any  one 
feels  as  if  he  can  not  afford  to  pay  the  dollar 
down,  and  become  a  member,  let  him  come  any- 
how. Most  of  us  have  to  pay  from  SIO.OO  to 
S25.00  dollars,  including  railroad  fare,  for  the 
privilege  of  attending  this  North  American 
convention;  and  the  very  fact  that  we  do  so  is 
good  evidence  that  we  think  it  pays. 


queen-bees      now     admitted     THROUGH     THE 

MAILS     TO     ALL     THE     COLONIES    OF 

AUSTRALIA. 

On  page  783.  for  Oct.  15.  our  readei'S  will  re- 
member that  there  was  some  doubt  as  to 
whether  the  postal  authorities  would  allow 
queens  to  be  sent  to  New  South  Wales,  Austral- 
ia. Mr.  W.  S.  Pender,  of  West  Maitland,  N.  S. 
W..  has  kindly  interested  himself  in  the  matter 
of  keeping  the  authorities  well  posted  as  to  the 
needs  of  the  bee-keepers,  and  we  are  now  grati- 
fied to  see  that  he  has  been  successful  to  the 
extent  that  there  is  a  strong  probability  that 
queen-bees  will  hereafter  be  admitted  to  all  the 
colonies  of  Australia.  The  following  letter, 
received  from  the  secretary,  at  the  general 
postofflce  at  Sydney,  will  explain  itself: 

Gknek.\l  Postopfice, 
Sydney,  Oct.  .5,  1893. 
Mr.  W.  S.  Pendrr: — Adverting  to  my  communica- 
tion, dated  the  23d  of  June  bist,  I  am  directed  to  inti-. 
mate  that  iiitellijieiice  has  now  been  received  from 
tlie  London  I'ostal  ;ml  hoi-ities  to  ilie  effect  that  the 
British  Postal  Regulations  proliibit  the  transmission 
of  any  living-  creature  tliroiigh  the  post,  and  it  is 


not  considered  expedient  to  make  an  exception  in 
favor  of  bees,  even  If  sent  by  '•  letter  "  post.  It  is 
pointed  out,  that,  accordingr  to  the  International 
circular,  issued  by  the  Berne  Bureau,  experience 
shows  that  bees,  forwarded  by  post,  sometimes  re- 
main alive  from  seven  to  ten  days,  Ijut  may  die 
after  the  tliird  or  fourth  day  of  the  journey,  and 
tliat,  therefore,  apart  from  considerations  of  postal 
exi)ediency._tliei'e  is  reason  for  believing  tliat  it 
would  be  impossible  to  arrange  for  an  exchange  of 
live  bees  by  post  between  England  and  Australia, 
the  transit  being  too  long  for  bees  to  reach  their 
destination  alive.  As  regards  the  interchange  of 
live  bees  inte)coloniaUy,an6  between  tliis  colony  and 
tlie  U)ntcd  Statrg  nf  Amrika,  I  am  to  state  that  the 
different  Australian  colonies  have  given  their 
consent  to  the  interchange  of  bees,  and  steps  are 
now  being  taken  which,  it  is  not  improbable,  wilt 
lead  to  the  colonies  generally  agreeing  to  exchange 
the  articles  in  question,  with  other  Union  countries 
(including  the  United  States  of  America),  willing  to 
exchange  such  articles  with  them.  Of  course,  as 
previ(jusly  stated,  any  packets  containing  bees,  re- 
ceived here  from  America,  will  be  delivered. 
I  have  tlie  lionor  to  be,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 
S.  H.  Lambton,  Secretary. 

We  hope  our  correspondent  will  keep  us  post- 
ed as  to  the  further  developments. 


"SLUMGUM"  —  WHAT      DOES      IT       MEAN.      AND 
WHENCE   DOES   IT   COME '?— SEE   P.   911. 

Dr.  Miller  wants  to  know  the  derivation 
and  meaning  of  '"slumgum.'"  It  is  a  word  that 
was  coined  by  H.  R.  Boardman.  to  designate  a 
certain  leavings,  exclusive  of  the  wax,  after 
melting  old  combs.  W^e.  in  turn,  gave  further 
countenance  to  the  word  by  allowing  it  to  be 
used  repeatedly  in  our  columns,  as  it  was  sug- 
gestive, and  seemed  to  express  better  than  any 
thing  else  the  article  which  it  was  made  to  rep- 
resent. We  might  substitute ''wax  refuse"  or 
"wax  residue,"  as  both  would  be  more  legiti- 
mate English  expressions,  but  not  so  precise. 
'"Wax  refuse"  or  "wax  residue"  might  mean 
the  ordinary  collections  of  pieces  of  combs  and 
little  particles  of  burr-combs  that  will  accumu- 
late in  the  apiary,  but  which  have  not  yet  been 
subjected  to  a  refining  process.  The  word 
"slumgum"  gives  an  idea  of  dirt  skimmings, 
or  refuse,  of  the  poorest  sort,  and  at  the  same 
time  hints  at  a  trace  of  wax,  propolis,  etc.  We 
hear  of  the  slums  of  the  city.  "Slum"  is  de- 
rived from  the  word  "slime;"  and  Webster,  in 
his  second  definition,  defines  it  as  a  mucilagi- 
nous or  glutinous  substance.  Gum— well.  we.  all 
know  what  that  is.  It  is  a  good  old-fashioned 
orthodox  word.  As  new  processes  come  up  in 
the  arts  and  sciences,  it  becomes  necessary  at 
times  to  coin  new  terms;  and  while  these  terms 
should  not  be  incorporated  <td  libitum  in  dic- 
tionaries, they  have  their  proper  place  in  glos- 
saries devoted  to  the  science  to  which  they 
appertain.  All  our  correspondents  have  so  far 
seemed  to  accept  "slumgum"  at  once,  and 
so  far  have  adopted  it  as  a  term  that  is  both 
precise  and  suggestive. 

In  reference  to  the  quotation-marks,  Dr.  Mil- 
ler failed  to  make  them  in  the  copy,  and  so  we, 
made  a  guess,  to  the  effect  that  the  last  sen- 
tence was  an  inference  of  his  own.  The  reader 
will  notice  that  the  paragraph  in  question 
(p.  875)  was  (ill  the  work  of  Mr.  Wykoff. 


.VPICULTURAL     TERMS   TN    THE   INTERNATIONAL 
DICTIONARY  IN  NEED  OF  REVISION;    DR. 
MILLER  AT  WORK  ON   THE   STAN- 
DARD  DICTIONARY. 

Wkbstkr"s  International  Dictionary,  while 
it  is  a  work  of  which  we  Americans  may  justly 
be  pi-oud.  and  while  it  is  unusually  accurate 
and  full  in  its  definitions  and  terms  when  ap- 
plied to  the  arts  and  sciences  in  yencrctl.  in  the 
line  of  apiculture  it  sadly  needs  revising.  When 


IS'-.n 


(iLl<:ANIN(;s  IN  HP:K  CULTURE. 


93it 


iho  work  was  under  preparation,  and  uniring 
t.lial,  unless  sonietliinu:  \\(>re  done,  flio  new 
\Vehsl<M''s  Intei'iuUioiial  would  contain  Mie  same 
iiu'orreel  apicuiiural  terms  as  t.lie  old  one.  we 
wrote  to  tli(>  pnhlisliers.  i-allins  their  attention 
to  them,  and  askins;  Mu'in  to  submit  such  terms 
for  revision  to  Dr.  C.  ('.  Miller,  a  li(>e-k(M'per 
and  a  seholar-one  who  would  he  entirely  com- 
p(>tent  to  do  the  work  satisraetorily.  not  only  to 
hee-keepers.  hut  to  men  of  letters.  The  pub- 
lishers acknowledged  our  letter,  and  promised 
to  do  something  of  the  kind:  but  it  seems  that 
imthing  was  ever  done,  and  the  work  came  out 
with  many  iiuu'curate  detiniiions,  and  notice- 
able omissions  that  ought  to  have  been  iiu'or- 
porated,  because  they  are  now  a  part  of  the 
language.  For  instance,  "extracti'd  honey,"' 
now  used  in  all  market  quotations,  and  used  on 
almost  every  table  in  the  land,  is  not  mentioned 
at  all.  Again.  "'  l)ei>-glu(>  "  is  delined  as  a  "  soft, 
unctuous  matter  with  which  bees  cement  combs 
to  the  hives."  "  Unctuous  ""  means  greasy  or 
oily.  Every  bee-keeper  knows  that  propolis  is 
not  greasy,  and  that  bees  do  not  with  it  fasten 
the  combs  to  the  hives:  they  have  another  use 
for  it.  A  superficial  observer,  howeve-r,  might 
make  such  a  definition  as  given  above  by  glanc- 
ing at  the  inside  of  an  old  bo.x  hive.  Again, 
*•  bee-bread  "*  is  defined  as  a  '•  brown,  bitter  sub- 
stance found  in  some  of  the  cells  of  honey- 
comb." Hee-bread  may  be  brown,  red,  yellow, 
orange,  or  green.  If  it  is  ever  bitter,  we  were 
not  aware  of  it.  Once  more,  the  International 
makes  no  distinction  between  a  colony  and  a 
awarm:  and  the  definitions  of  both  are  exceed- 
ingly faulty.  We  might  go  on  and  give  a  num- 
ber "of  other  examples,  but  these  will  sufifice  to 
show  that  apiculture  has  not  received  the  same 
painstaking  care  in  that  magnificent  work  that 
other  subjects  of  equal  importance  have  done. 
Funk  &  Wagnalls,  of  New  York,  are  prepar 
ing  a  dictionary  that  will  fully  rival  Webster's 
International.  Being  aware  of  the  errors  in  the 
International,  we  begged  of  the  publisliers  of 
the  .Standard  not  to  go  and  do  likewise,  and  re- 
ferred them  to  Dr.  Miller.  They  replied  very 
courteously  to  our  letter,  and  stated  that  it 
would  give  them  pleasure  to  follow  out  the  line 
of  our  request.  A  few  days  ago  we  received  a 
letter  from  Dr.  Miller,  announcing  that  he  had 
been  employed,  by  the  firm  above  mentioned, 
to  do- that  work.  The  long  and  the  short  of  the 
whole  matter  is.  that  we  shall  have  at  least  one 
dictionary  that  will  give  our  industry  proper 
recognition;  and  bee-keepers,  at  least  for  the 
present,  when  this  work  comes  out,  will  take 
pleasure  in  referring  to  it  as  the  "  Standard  "  so 
far  as  it  relates  to  the  subject  of  bees.  Perhaps 
we  should  add,  in  this  connection,  that  Dr. 
Miller  would  be  glad  of  suggestions  from  bee- 
keepers generally  as  to  what  words  should  be 
properly  incorporated  in  the  dictionary. 


TIIK  COWAN  r:.\I'II)  EXTIJACTOIt:    WHO  FIRST  DK- 

visp:n  thp:  inxfiED-DooH  i'hinciple  of  the 

CO-MB-I'OCKETS? 

A  FEW  days  ago  we  received  a  copy  of  a  pat- 
ent on  an  extractor,  taken  out  by  (t.  W.  Wil- 
liams. Oct.  7th.  187'.t.  the  same  having  been  sent 
us  by  the  attorneys,  presumably,  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liams. His  solicitors,  understanding  that  we 
were  manufacturing  the  Stanley  extractor  un- 
der license,  called  our  attention  to  the  fact  that 
the  Stanley  patent,  issued  in  1S84.  was  an  in- 
fringement on  th(!  Williams  pateut.  under  date 
of  1879.  and  in  proof  referred  us  to  the  second 
claim,  which  reads  as  follows: 

2.  In  honey-extractors,  the  sliaft  b,  provided  with 
radial  arms  c,  and  hing-ed  foraniinous  c-oinb-liDlders 
(/.  constructed  and  conil)ined  for  operation  substan- 
tially as  described  and  shown. 


Ky  referring  to  the  drawing,  we  see  that  tiiis 
claim  covers  all  (^xtfactors,  the  Cowan  as  well 
as  the  Stanley,  the  revolving  pockets  of  which 
are  hinged  at  one  side,  duor  fashion,  in  such  a 
way  as  to  allow  the  combs  to  be  reversed  with- 
out renu)val  from  the  extractor.  While  the  at- 
torneys for  Mr.  Williams  had  evidently  in  mind 
only  ih(^  infringement  of  the  Stanh'y.  it  is  evi- 
dent that  the  Cowaii  also  would  be  an  infringe- 
ment, providing  it  was  not  made  and  described 
at  a  prior  date.  Now,  we  have  made  and  sold 
some  few  Cowan  extractors,  and  w((  expect  to 
sell  a  good  many  more;,  and  hence  we  were  in- 
terested at  once.  Hy  refer'ring  to  that  excellent 
little  book,  '"  Thii  li(ie-keeper"s  Guide."  written 
by  Thomas  William  Cowan,  we  find  that  lie 
made  and  introduci'd  the  Cowan  Rapid  reversi- 
ble extractor.  t)ic  xanie  thtnij  we  are  now  mak- 
ing, in  187.1.  For  further  evidence  we  referred 
to  the  BriUsh  Bee  Journal  for  that  year:  and 
on  page  117.  Oct.  1,  we  find  the  same  described 
in  detail.  The  editor,  after  describing  a  num- 
ber of  ingenious  devices  which  wei'e  exhibited 
at  the  Crystal  Palace  Bee  and  Honey  Show, 
which  took  place  Sept.  21.  'Si.  and  ;.'3,  187.'),  says 
this  of  the  Cowan  Rapid: 

Tlie  "Rapid"  also,  by  Mr.  Cowan,  was  a  much 
more  ing-enious  affair,  and  attracted  considerable 
attention.  It  is  all  iron;  and  its  revolver,  wiiich  has 
no  perpendicular  spindle,  has  two  wire  cases,  hlngr- 
ed  at  opposite  corners,  into  wliich  tlie  unsealed 
combs  are  to  be  placed;  and  wlien  the  honey  is  ex- 
tracted from  tlie  outside  cells,  their  inner  sides  are 
swung-  round  to  the  approximate  sides  of  the  re- 
volver, and  the  honey  slung-  out  without  their  re- 
moval being-  necessary.  There  may  be  some  little 
difficulty  in  g-ettinji-  tlie  eomljs  into  tlie  wire  cases, 
as,  vinless  quite  strait;lit  and  even,  their  sides  would 
l)e  abraded;  but  a  little  injienuityon  tlie  p;irt  of  the 
inventor  will  overcome  tliat  ditliculty.  One  other 
defect,  as  it  appears  to  us,  consisis  in  tlie  fact  that, 
to  obtain  the  revei-sal  of  the  cDmbs.  a  portion  of 
eacli  side  of  tlie  square  revolver  is  taken  up,  which 
otherwise  would  permit  of  tlie  use  of  larger  coniljs 
witliin  it.  Some  outside  observers  considered  that 
the  iron  revolvers  would  soon  become  rusty,  and 
spoil  tlie  honey,  forgetting  tliat  the  machines  were 
simply  patterns,  new,  and  hand-made,  and  probably 
unaware  that  all  future  machines  will  be  perfectly 
galvanized  throughout. 

The  description  is  so  minute  and  accurate, 
and  as  it  occurred  just  exactly  four  years  before 
the  date  of  the  Williams  patent,  any  court  to 
whom  the  matter  might  be  referred  for  decision 
would  at  once  declare  the  Williams  patent  null 
and  void  for  want  of  novelty.  This  would  also 
render  null  and  void  a  similar  claim  in  the 
vStanley  patent,  although  it  would  not  affect  the 
validity  of  the  claim  covering  the  automatic 
reversing. 

THE  bee-keepers'  UNION— SHALL  IT  BE  RE- 
ORGANIZED? AND   IF  SO.  HOW   SHALL 
IT  BE   DONE? 

In  response  to  our  editorial  on  page  897,  of 
last  issue,  Mr.  Newman  has  sent  in  the  follow- 
ing, the  same  Ijeing  also  submitted  to  other  bee- 
papers: 

I  have  carefully  read  the  editorial  on  page  897  of 
Gr^EANiNOS  f(jr  December,  and.astlierein  requested, 
I  will  offer  a  few  remarks  on  tlie  matters  at  issue. 

Mr.  Rin)t  desii'es  me  to  "state  in  ;i  circular  letter, 
the  desiraliility  of  having  the  conslitution  changed, 
and  sul)mit  to"  the  members  of  tlie  National  Bee- 
keepers' Union  a  voting-blank,  with  return  printed 
envelope."  etc. 

Tlie  advocates  of  the  measure  should  certainly  be 
the  ones  tf)  sliow  the  "desirability  of  the  change;  " 
and  if  Mr.  Root,  or  any  other  one  of  its  advocates, 
will  undertake  that  (hity.  I  will  iiuote  it  in  my  forth- 
coming Annual  Report  and  <-:iil  foi- a  vote  on  the 
suljjecl.  As  I  have  never  ndvuratcil  the  measure,  it 
would  lie  quite  out  of  place  for  ine  to  champion  the 
measure  l)efoi-e  the  members  of  tlie  Union.  I 
will  act  in  an  impartial   manner,  and  refrain  from 


940 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec. 


the  discussion,  simply  to  get  the  full,  free,  and  un- 
biased vote  of  the  members  of  the  Union. 

I  hope  to  have  my  8tli  Annual  Report  ready  about 
Dec.  30,  and  then  the  wliole  tiling-  can  in  it  be  laid 
before  the  memberslilp,  and  tlie  matters  to  be  voted 
upon  can  be  included  in  tlie  regular  voting-blank 
for  officers.  Tliis  can  be  done  without  extra  ex- 
pense to  the  Union,  and  will  settle  the  wliole  ques- 
tion in  a  legitimate  Hud  authorized  manner. 

Bro.  Root  very  generously  otfers  to  send  out  10,- 
000  circulars,  votiny-blaiiK-s,  and  i-eturn  envelopes  to 
his  subscribers.  Why,  tli;it  will  cost  $100  for  postage 
alone,  besides  printing  and  stationery.  Why  not  re- 
quest all  the  bee-periodicals  to  devote  one  advertis- 
ing page  to  the  Union,  and  print  thereon  a  circular 
and  voting-blank?  Then  ask  the  subscribers  to  fill 
up  the  voting-blank  and  inclose  with  a  dollar  for 
annual  dues,  to  the  Manager.  That  will  save  hun- 
dreds of  dollars,  and  still  get  at  all  the  intelligent 
and  progressive  bee-keepers  of  America  at  one  and 
the  same  time. 

If  this  meets  the  views  of  the  advocates  of  the 
measure,  I  will  get  up  a  voting-blank,  and  send  an 
electrotype  of  it  to  all  the  bee-papers,  for  publica- 
tion as  suggested. 

I  will  send  this  letter  to  every  bee-paper,  and  en- 
deavor to  get  the  views  of  tlie  editors;  and,  if  the 
proposition  is  agreed  to,  we  will  send  the  electrotype 
in  time  for  the  first  issues  of  each  periodical  in  1893. 
I  will  also  do  any  thing  that  seems  wise,  which 
may  be  suggested  by  other  pers(jiis;  and  1  hereby 
request  any  one  who  has  suggestions  or  ideas  on  this 
subject  to  offer,  to  send  ihem  to  me  at  once— for 
"  in  the  multitude  of  counselors  there  is  wisdom," 
said  an  ancient  sage.  Thomas  G.  Newman. 

Chicago,  HI,  Dec.  9,  1892. 

Mr.  Newman  is  quite  right.  It  would  not  be 
the  thing  for  him  as  General  Manager,  or,  as  it 
were,  presiding  officer,  to  take  sides  in  the  dis- 
cussion. If  Prof.  Cook,  the  one  who  proposed 
in  the  American  Bee  Journal  for  Nov.  17,  page 
665,  that  the  Union  accept  new  functions,  will 
make  a  motion,  stating  the  desirability  of  the 
change,  we  will  most  cheerfully  second  it.  If 
this  motion  is  submitted  to  the  General  Man- 
ager, in  writing,  the  same  can  then  be  again 
submitted  to  the  members  of  the  existing 
Union,  with  whom  alone  rests  the  power  of 
modifying  the  Constitution,  by  vote. 

With  regard  to  submitting  blanks  and  circu- 
lars to  otir  subscribers.  Mr.  Newman's  plan  is  a 
better  one — more  feasible  and  practicable;  and 
Gleanings  will  cheerfully  give  space  to  the 
consideration  of  the  question,  in  the  manner 
indicated. 

The  time  is  growing  exceedingly  short  before 
the  convention  takes  place  in  Washington;  a 
proof  of  this  will,  therefore,  be  submitted  to 
Prof.  Cook  direct,  to  save  time. 

Mr.  Newman's  management  of  the  Union  has 
been  so  wise  and  efficient,  that,  if  it  will  be  out 
of  the  question  for  him  to  act  as  chief,  he  cer- 
tainly should  be  retained  as  assistant  or  adviser, 
in  the  event  of  the  change;  then,  if  necessary, 
let  younger  blood  do  the  work. 


THE    WASHINGTON   CONVENTION  ;   REDUCED 
RAILROAD    RATES. 

The  following,  in  rc^gard  to  the  North  Amer- 
ican convention  which  is  to  take  place  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  on  the  27th.  28th.  and  29th  of  this 
month,  has  just  come  to  hand  from  the  secreta- 
ry, W.  Z.  Hutchinson: 

THE  NORTH  AMEKICAN   BEE-KEEPERS'   CONVENTION. 

The  North  American  Bee-keepers'  Society  will 
hold  its  33d  annual  convention,  Dec.  27,  38,  and  39,  at 
the  Randall  House,  corner  Pennsylvania  Ave.  and 
15th  Sts.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

This  hotel  is  new,  handsomely  turnished,  and  first 
class  in  all  its  appointments,  and  is  the  most  cen- 
trally and  beautifully  located  of  any  hotel  in 
Washington.  The  regular  rates  are  $3.00  a  day;  but 
to  those  attending  the  convention  they  will  be  only 
$3.50.  Besides  this,  if  only  fifteen  members  stop  at 
the  house,  a  hall  in  the  hotel  will  be  furnished  free. 
Otherwise,  the  charge  for  the  hall  will  be  $5  00  per 
day.    Of  course,  there  are  other  cheaper  hotels  to 


which  those  who  choose  can  go.  Rates  as  low  as 
f  1.75  can  be  secured.  Or  a  room  at  $1.00  a  day  can 
be  obtained,  and  meals  taken  on  the  European  plan. 
The  convention  will  be  held  when  iiU  railroads 
will  give  a  round-trip  ticket  for  the  price  of  one  and 
one-third  fare.  It  may  be  well  to  explain,  howtver, 
that  these  rates  are  given  only  for  hjcal  traffic.  In 
other  words,  a  person  who  has  to  pass  over  more 
than  one  road  cjin  not  buy  a  thnntgli  ticket  and  take 
advantage  of  the  reduced  rates.  In  order  to  take 
advantage  of  the  reduced  rates  he  will  be  obliged 
to  first  buy  a  round-trip  ticket  over  his  own  road; 
then,  up(jn  reaching  the  next  load,  buy  one  over 
that,  and  so  on.  It  may  be  possible  that  a  limited 
return  ticket  coUld  be  bought  nearly  as  cheaply  as 
to  pay  these  locally  reduced  holiday  rates  Let  all 
consult  their  ticket  agents  in  regard  to  this  before 
buying  their  tickets.  The  trunk  lines  would  have 
granted  reduced  rates  (one  and  one-third  fare),  but 
there  must  be  100  persons  present.  Should  there  be 
less  than  lUO  present  holding  railroau  certificates, 
the  reduced  rates  would  be  withheld.  Shouid  we 
adopt  the  certificate  plan,  and  then  the  attendance 
be  less  than  100,  there  would  be  bitter  disaiipoint- 
ment  aiid  loss,  as,  had  the  members  not  r.riirrtrd  to 
return  at  one-third  fare  upon  presentation  of  their 
certificates,  they  would  have  taken  advantage  of 
other  reductions.  As  it  now  is,  those  living  on  roads 
leading  into  Washington  direct  will  be  all  right, 
while  those  coming  over  more  than  one  road  can 
manage  as  suggested. 

PROGRAMME. 

FIRST   DAY— TUESDAY,  DEC.  37. 

Afternoon  Session— 3:00  p.  m.— Payment  of  an- 
nual dues;  reception  of  new  members  and  distribu- 
tion of  badges.  "President's  Addi'ess,"  Eugene 
Secor,  Forest  City,  Iowa.  Discussion.  "Grading 
Honey,"  Dr.  C.  C.  Miller,  Marengo,  111.  Discussion. 
Question-box. 

Evening  Session— 7:30  p.  m.  —  "  Self-hivers,"  E. 
R.  Root,  Medina,  Ohio.    Discussion.    Question-box. 

SECOND  DAY— WEDNESDAY,  DEC.  38. 

Morning  Session— 9:30  a.  m. —"  Detecting  the 
Adulteration  of  Honey,"  Prof.  A.  J.  Cook,  Agricul- 
tural College,  Michigan.  Discussion.  (Prof.  H.  W. 
Wiley,  U.  S.  Chemist,  is  expected  to  be  present  and 
join  in  the  discussion. I  "Varieties  of  Bees  and 
Their  Characteristics,"  Frank  Benton,  Washington, 
D.  C.    Discussion.    Question-box. 

Afternoon  Session— 3:00  p.  m.— "  What  the  De- 
partment of  Agriculture  Ought  to  Do  for  Apicul- 
ture," P.  H.  Elwood,  Starkville,  N.  Y.  "  \n  hat  the 
Department  of  Agriculture  Has  Done  and  Can  Do 
for  Apiculture,"  C.  V.  Rile.y,  Government  Entomol- 
ogist, Washington,  D.  C.  Discussion.  Question- 
box. 

Evening  Session— 7:30.— "Shall  the  Scope  of  the 
Bee-Keepers'  Union  be  Broadened?"  T.  G.  Newman, 
Chicago,  111.    Discussion.    Question-box. 

THIRD  DAY— THURSDAY,  DEC.  39. 

Morning  Session.— Selection  of  place  for  holding 
next  meeting.  Election  of  officers.  Report  of 
committees.  Completion  of  unfinished  business. 
Question-box.    Ad.journmeut. 

Just  a  word  in  regard  to  the  fewness  of  the  topics. 
Some  of  the  topics  are  of  unusual  importance,  and 
deserve  most  thorough  discussion.  It  is  very  unsat- 
isfactory to  have  an  important  discvission  in  full 
blast  cut  off  short,  and  perhaps  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee, in  order  to  give  room  to  the  next  topic.  A 
full  convention  can  bring  out  all  the  points  much 
more  fully  than  a  few  men  in  a  committee  room. 
One  suggestion  leads  to  another,  and  "in  the  multi- 
tude of  counselors  there  is  wisdom."  The  questions 
in  the  Question-box  (often  of  importance)  are  fre- 
quently referred  to  a  committee  to  be  answered.  A 
discussion  in  full  convention  is  much  more  likely 
to  bring  out  the  truth.  If  any  one  lias  any  topic  or 
question  that  he  would  like  discussed,  and  will  not 
be  pre.sent  to  ask  for  its  discussion,  let  him  write  to 
me  at  once  and  I  will  see  that  the  matter  is  brought 
to  the  notice  of  the  convention.  Tlie  discussion  of 
a  topic  often  leads  to  another  wliich  it  would, be 
very  desirable  to  discuss,  but  lack  of  time  prevents. 
It  is  believed  that  the  above  programme  will  allow  a 
reasonable  time  for  the  discussion  of  these  interest- 
ing side-questions  that  are  continually  springing 
up.  W.  Z.  Hutchinson,  Sec. 


lS9:i 


(iLKANlNliS  IN  HEE  CUI/rURE. 


INDEX  TO 

GLEANINGS  IN   BEE  CULTURE, 


FOR  THE  YEAR  ISD'l 


Absorbent* •">! 

.\hsi>rlient!<  Favored 332 

Alisoilient*  in  Winter XB 

Absorbents  v.  Sealed  CoVs.198. 

Absorbents.  Moistui-e 128 

Adulteration  of  Honey  67.69J. 
760,  «05.  897 

After-swarms 207 

Albany  Convention  Notes..  17 
Alfalfa.  When  to  Cut.. 290. 324, 
465 

Alsike 165 

Alsike  Clover 666 

Alsike  and  Peavine  Clover  809 

Alum  for  Snakebites 206 

Analysis  of  Honey 688 

Anto'nv  Bumpke's  Scrape. ..200 

Ants,  Plants,  and  Bees 131 

.\nts  in  Hives        576 

Apiarist,  Wages  of 27 

Apiarv  in  Cuba 6,>I 

Apiary  of  J.  F.  Melntyre  . .  .364 

Apiarv  on  Platform 162 

..\piarv,  Hoffman's l-Vi 

.\piary .  Locating  an 285 

Apiarists,  Qualities  of 799 

.Aprieots.  California 344 

Arizona 707 

Arizona  Honej' 700 

ArtesianWell 470 

Artistic  Studies     ..619 

,\u>-tralia, Queens  to.      98,929 

Bain,  J.  M..  a  Fnuul 89J 

Band~  on  Bees 710 

Birs,  Closed-end 279 

Basswood 558 

Ba,:i.-woo<l,  To  Grow 839 

Basswood  fi'om  Seed 88"> 

Basswoods,  Planting 769 

Battery,  Electric 411 

Battery,  Lewis'  710 

Bees  on  Cherr) -blossoms,..  27 

Bees  in  Te.xas 13! 

Bees  in  Pumpkin,, i:« 

Bees  Cutting  Combs 170 

Bees  of  Italv 319 

Bees  Allowed  to  Uake  Wax,415 

Bees  Hived  in  Pants 422 

Bees  of  India 449 

Bees  at  Fairs  .594 

Bees  Doctoring  each  Other,61o 

Bees  Carrying  Bees — 622 

Bees  Killing  Eich  Other.     .808 

Bees  and  Fruit 845,929 

Bbl's  in  Orange  tree —   — 9i9 

Bees  Dead  on  Comb 881 

Bees  Visiting  Various  Flow- 
ers       921 

Bees.  Carrying  to  Cellar — 409 
Bees.  Kive-banded,  Good  ..  27 
Bees.  Five-banded ,  ,.548, 667,  851 

Bees,  Moving.        368 

Bees.  How  to  See 363 

Bees.  Nursing  Them 498 

Bees,  Large  Italian .574 

Bees.  To  Start  in  Sections.  .583 

Bees,  To  Ventilate 724 

Bees,  Distance  to  Breed 666 

Bee-disease,  New 595 

Bee-di!.ease.  Peculiar 59 

Bee-escap:-.  Hewes' 917 

Bee-keeping  in  Germany.,  361, 

416 
Bee-keeping  North  and  So'h  647 
Beekeeping.  Migratory — 585 
Bee-kings  of  California.   ,...542 

Bee-moth 331,  648 

Bee-tree  in  Oregon 8,52 

Beeswax,  Trying 734 

Beetles.  Lads'-taird 617 

Bicycles 122.123 

Bicycles  for  Girls 675 

Birds  that  Kill  Bees 622 

Blacks.  A  Plea  for 29:p 

Black  Mangrove 665 

Blast-tube.  To  Clean 883 

Blowing  on  Bees 580 

Books,  Rural 780 

Bordeaux  Mixture. 780 

Bottom-bars  Narrow 97 

Bouquet  of  Wax 23 

Bounty.  Object  of 82 

Bounty,  Dr.  Miller  on 80 

Bounty,  Government 81 


I  Bounty  Not  Desirable  118 

Bounty  Discussed 1,59 

Krcad,    I'otat.>  ball 24 

Bromiilc  of  Potassium. ,  27 

Brood.  Injured 7IK) 

Brood-combs 664 

lirood-frames.  The  Best .57 

Bottom-bars,  Doolittle  on. 4.50 

Bount.v,  Elwood  on 197 

Bug,  Stinging , .  7.S9 

Bumble-bee— A  Poem 98 

Burns 734 

Burr-combs 51 

Burrcombs.To  Prevent  283, 648 

Buttertlies 734 

California .      69;< 

California  Association  169 

California  Vegetation  ...    293 

California  Beekeepers .504 

California  Apiaries .542 

California  for  Honey 801 

Canadian  Crops " 579 

Canadi.an  Imiiroglio     .  117.  298 

Can  Iv   fiM-  Winter IB 

r.iiiily  f,,r  Feeding 88  96 

Carivun.  Matilij.a   924 

C:ai)ital  and  Labor...  673 

Cardinal  Flower  ....800,834  883 

Cases,  Outside  Winter 2!I6 

Cases.  Surplus 451 

Castles  in  the  Air 818 

Celery  culture.  Nivens'  ,,.779 

Celery  in  Winter      893 

Cellars,  Damp  26 

Cell-cuiis.  Doolittle .520 

Cells  Outsi.le  Row ,576 

Cliatr  Boxes       4i5 

Chipmunk  P  .em 414 

<,'hristm,as 923 

Chronicle  of  Picnic .500 

Closed-end  Fr's  in  Aust'Ila.  94 

Cloth  over  PIant>beds 297 

Clover.  Sweet,  in  the  South,  91 

Clover.  Alsike 165 

Clover.  Field 929 

C.)b.s  and  Kernels 8.  234,  644 

Colonies,  Weight  of 285 

Ci)lonies,  Doubling 326 

Colonies,  DitTerences  in .547 

C(donies,  Increasing 922 

Colorado  Letter 85 

Colorado 3fi4 

Colorado,  Iowa,  Wisconsin..503 

Columbian  Etposition 18 

Comb.  .Vrtifleial  103 

Comb.  Tin 9 '4 

Combs.  Crooked        547 

Combs.  Preserving .548 

Combs.  Old,  To  Render 26 

Combs  Empty 239,  453 

Combs.  To  Get 230 

Combs.  Old  Drawn  239 

Combs.  Drawn-out 229 

Combs.  Vine  or  Ten 8,50 

Combs  and  Moths 735 

Comb-guide,  .MoMed 26 

Comb-honey  Production.  .661 
Conser  on  Non  swanning,.,8tl 
Contraction,  Theory  of,,. 
Contraction  in  Harvest... 
Cook  on  Half-tone  Cut.. 

Corey.  J.  G 

Corncobs  as  Absorbents 
i^ost  of  Extracted  Honey, 
Country  Gentleman 


,243 
.548 
171 
812 
231 

806 

Cover  of  Chaff  Hive 27 

Covers  for  Hives  ...  7fis 

Covers.  Sealed  ,127, 168,  327,  'MX 

465.  939 
Cowan  Rever.-ible  Basket,,  51 

Cowan  Extractor      ,366 

Cow-killer,  Hairy 616 

Cranks 413 

Crop  of  1892 .594 

Cuba,  Craycraft  on 22 

Cuba  Letter         ,574 

Cuban  Apiaiies 651 

Cuoimber-,  To  Cook 667 

Cummins.  Visit  to 660 

Cultivating  for  Health 468 

Currant  woi'ins 515, g|A 

Dadant  and  Hambaugh ,59 

Daisy  Fijundation  Fa.stener  49 

Debts,  Repudiating 473 

Detioit  Exposi tion 710 


Diarrhea,  Bee 763 

Dielionaries,  Inaccurate, , ,  .938 

Disease.  I'icu    ar 730 

Histanees,  I'ixed 61 

Distance.  Fixed,  A  Bad 203 

Dileliin:;.  Tools  lor  340 

Doolittles  M.'lhod 170 

Drinking  When  Warm 73  9 

Drone  Comb,  Cuttin     733 

Drones  and  Qiieens 4.52 

Drones  Congregating. ,.452, ,5,38, 

Dude  Hee m 

Diisf  ins  .\piai-y 512 

Ear-tiunipet 663 

E.ir-triunpet  Recoramended702 

Kit  on  Canyon 291 

Editor  m  (Colorado     28 

Editor  ,ir  H.  A.  March's..         99 
Electricity.  Wiring  by  297,  343, 
385,  476 

Elwood's  Address 44 

End-bar,  Ving  Sides I33 

Epilobium : ^■j 

Ernest's  Tour 697 

Ernest  at  Dr.  Mason's 729 

Escape,  P.irter's,  a  Success.290 

Essays  at  fonventions ,52 

Eugene  Stcor 317 

Excluders,  Propolized 207 

E  vperiments  in  Apiculture,360 

Extracted  Honey.  Poor 121 

Extr.cting  from  Supers 88 

Extraitor  Gearing .50 

Extractor,  Baa  ■  dman's.771. 885 

Extractor.  Cowan  243.  366 

Extra.-tor.  Doolittle 385 

Extract. ir.  G  .old 194 

Extractor.  Osburu's 835 

Farm  Hands  in  California.. 696 

Farming  D.iesn't  Pay 812 

Farm .  Quarter-acre .549 

Farming  v.  Bees 18 

Feeder  Made  of  Quart  Can..771 

Feeder,  Manum's 275 

Feeder.  Johnny-cake 421 

Feeders 331 

Feeding,  Stacked-up-hive.  .807 

Florida 37,.;.  413 

Florida.  Tabulated  Report  285 

Fi..ur,  H. line  made 510 

Fl.,uers,  Wax 166 

K...11I  tor  Out-apiary 4,'i8 

Foul  Brood  .386 

Foul  Brood  in  Nebraskal.'is,  362 
Foul  Br.iod.  Spontaneous,, 453 

Fotd  Brood.  Apparent 774 

Foul  Brood.  False 674 

Foul  Brood  Not  in  Nebr'ka.205 
Foundation  for  Br,  Cham'r,169 
Fouudati..n,  Imbedding  .  .50 
Fountratiou,  Tlii.kne*fs  of  ,  68 
F..iindati.in,Tliin  and  Fresh244 

Foundation,  Hatch  on 230 

Foundatb.n,  Exper's  With,.2.38 

Foundation.  To  Restore 334 

Foundation-fasteners  .377  ; 

Foiindation-r.)ller,  Eclipse..240 
Frame,  Reversibl.-  Hoff'n  ,,  25 

Fr.une,  Holfm.in 620 

Frame,  Niw  Hotlinan 47 

Frame,  Non-lnirr-comb.  ..68. 119 

Frames.  Fastening ,50 

Fr.imes,  Fixed,  Axtell's 97 

Frames,  Wiring 50.  ,'!28 

Frames.  T.iol  to  Wire 511 

Frames.  Close. lend 127 

Fr.ames,  "Jiinihi-r  Wircil 897 

Frames  Wired  by  Electr'ty.297 

France's  ReiKirt  611 

Fruit,  C.>ld  Process 664 

Fuel  for  Smokers .583 

Fun       842 

Garden  City 104 

Gardening  vs.  Apiculture,.  27 

Oemm.ll.F.A 374 

Giidling  Trees  769 

Glass  Bott  I..,  Bees  in  128 

Glucose  ExiiHiiments 858 

Glueosing  Hone.v 93 

Glucosing  in  Chicago 16;j 

(lOvemmcnt  .\id 228 

Grading  Honey...   43,68 

Grading,  Albany 154 

(irading,  The  Chicago 1.57 


Grading,  Dr.  Miller  on.. 166, 189 

410 
Grading— A  Compromise.  ,,4.54 
Grand   Rapids  Convention.  55 

Grap.v  niC-ililornia 669 

Gr.iy.  Lilt  her  W..  .r.^g 

Gr.  .  nli..iis,-.  I  lur  \|.\v  893 

Hal. it  ..I  ()l..seivalion...'.'.',;694 
HaNl..irs  Island,  Queens  on, 806 

Harilil)  .,n  Honey 448 

Heat     Aitilicial 418 

He.it hen.  Confirmed 694 

Hewitt,  John 520 

Hibernation 4.5,98 

Hibernation,  by  Elwood,,  .124 

Hind.ios.  Starving .591 

Hive,  Hill. I.aid,   ,    li 

Hive.  Hovitai'd,  Improved  247 

Hi\  .s  l.ii-  K.-irmers 537 

Hives,  speeil  in  Hand  ling.  .406 
Hn  .s,  Kaciiig  Southeast 922 

Hi\  e-e;ilts    339 

Hive-liol.hy  Riding...;.'.',.';    54 

Hive--ha,le.  Day's 496 

Hlvel.A    ey's 702 

Hiver,  A llev's  Latest 540 

Hiver,   Dibbern's 9 

Hiver,  Dibble's 373,  456 

Hiver,  Pratt's 199 

Hiver,  Sprague's 799 

Hi  vers.  Automatic 164 

HotVinaii's  Success 46 

Hi. ttni  Ill's  Residence  .,,,89,90 

Hollin.in  Flames     702 

Hott'man  Frame  Ahead 7.38 

Hotfimn  Frame  Criticised, 798 

Holy  Land 645 

Holy  Spirit's  Influence ,519 

Honey  Company 773 

Honey  Ghicosed 32 

Honey  in  Windows 132 

Honey  from  Orange .577 

Honey  from  Sugar 202 

Honey  Graded  by  Dealers.  622 

Honey  Statistics" 629 

Honey  to  Expositions 797 

Honey.  Bountv  on 13 

Honey,  Estimate  of  Cost  ,,  .56 
Honey.  Grading..  19,22,  43. 191. 

281,363.496 
Honey.  Frazier's  Grading..  93 

Hotiey,  To  Granulate 32 

Honey.  Cost  of,119. 121. 184— 189 

Honey.  Cost  of— Elwood 272 

Honey.  Artificial  Comb 139 

Honey.  Artificial 212.  .511 

Honey,  Adulterated 254 

Hon.y,  I'oison 205,289 

Hon,,\,  Kvapoiating  ,,,206,207 

Hon.y.  Kipeiiing 922 

Honey.  How  Injured 231 

Honey,  Extracted,  Cost  of.  .230 

Honey,  Fall 230 

Honey.  Objections  to 235 

Honey.  Comb  and  Extrae'd.6.55 

Honey,  Selling 689 

Honey,  Sugar- fed,.,  ,833.  860. 915 

none\. Taste   of 922 

Honey-ilew  Bad  Feed 31 

Honey-dew  in  Cellar 303 

Honey  jumbles .583 

Hope 583 

Hose,  Rubber 616 

Hot-beds.  Steam 741 

Hum  I  nigs  and  Swindles 889 

Hutcliinson  in  Medina       ,,  21 

Imbedders 240 

Incori.oration  of  N.A,B.K,A  17 
Increase,  Preventing  ,,239,494, 

■Jio 

Increase  bj'  Purchase 324 

India.  Starving 921 

Indian  Orphanage 839 

Indian  School  '.552 

Intro. lucing.  Failures  in..  ,617 
Intro. Uii-ing.  Doolittle  on, ,.835 

Introiliicing,  Manum 914 

Introducing  Queens 700 

Intro,  lucing 724 

Iron,  Galvanized 464 

Irrigation 840 

Italians  Ahead 334 

Italians  that  are  Black 27 

Italians  in  California 654 

Italians  in  Italy 83 


942 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  1.5 


Italians,  Ho«-  Graded 18 

Italians.  Purity  of  13 

Jnkes,  How  to  Tell 5(W 

K.'iweah  Colony 28 

Keller,  Helen 24:. 

Kellogg,  Dr 374 

Kei'osene  lor  Robbiug   ...    281 

Kodak  Fiend 59 

Labor.  To  Lessen  4.'>7 

Lady-bug-!        51.'> 

Langstriith  in  Medina 476 

Langstroth's  Trouble.  .J>72.  608 
Lang-troth's  History .  .761,  796. 
832'.  876  917 

Laying  Workers     69J 

Lettuce — 471 

Lettuce  in  Winter  — 84(i 

Leucophylluni  Texanuni 7(il 

Lippia  Lanceolata 617 

Liquor-traflli; 9?8 

Lizards 693 

Location,  Doolittle  on —      10 

Location.  Priority  of 836 

Location.  Prior  Right  to  . .  .888 

Locust.  Mammoth  — 731 

Man  Who  Knows  It  All 47 

Man  or  H  i ve  ? 8.') 

Mantis.  Pra.ying 701 

Manum  Meditating IfiS 

Manum— That  Honeymoon.  168 
Manum  Running  5  ApiarieslS8 

Manum's  Letter 493 

Manura's  Bad  Report .'>85 

March,  H.  A 6t 

Melilot 16 

MeIilotu.'!Alba     91 

Mendelson.M.  H 462 

Migratory  Bee-keeping 66r> 

Milk  and  Honey 418 

Mil kweed 615.  623  740 

Miller  Riled 8.=.ii 

Miller's  Outburst 510 

Mirages .814 

Missouri,  "Pretty  Good  for"  25 

Moles  in  Apiary 27 

Monster  Ahead .583 

Moth,  Walnut 731 

Mountain  Laurel 206,377 

Moving  to  a  Xe  v  Place  212 

Moving  to  Out-apiaries 380 

Moving  Apiaries 622 

Murray,  R.  V 502 

Mushrooms 8.56 

Muth'=  Labels 558 

Muth  Vindicated.     689 

Neighbor.  Who  is  Our!.732,  733 

Non-swarmers 701 

Novice  of  Old 8.50 

Nuclei,  Nursing 698 

Oak-galls 883 

Ohio  Convention 165 

Old  Mission 212 

Olmstead's  Straws 582 

Onion,  Prizetaker 205 

Onion-sets 249 

Oiiii>n-sets  in  Winter 741 

Onion,  KLfViitian,  etc..     296.  297 

Oni'iii.   Kgvptian 741 

Ontario  B.  K.  A.  Secedes.... 105 
Orange-blossom  Honey  ..334, 385 

Ostriches 9,33 

Paint 287 

Paint  for  Hives 429 

Paint,  Cheap 734 

Paralysis,  Bee 201,  887 

Paris  Green 616 

Partnership 122 

Paso  del  Norte 890 

Passageways.  Winter,.        ..880 

Patents 31,  385 

Patents  and  Gleanings 4.53 

Peas  in  the  Fall 740 


Pecos  Valley  676 

Peppermint  in  IntroducingTOO 

Philo'sGluer 242 

Phonograph 2.54 

Photos  of  Bee-keepers 330 

Plant-beds 588 

Planting  for  Bees 203 

Pollen  Substitutes 2.54 

Pollen.  To  Remove..  .  ..8.50 
Poplar  Honey,  Grading  it.  .170 

Potatoes  in  Colorado 662 

Poultry-book,  Geer's 298 

Poultry-raising 25 

Prices."  Running  Up  7.39 

Production,  Cost  of 282 

Propoli*  on  T  Tins 331 

Pioiiolis  on  Tin 581 

Proii..lis  aiiil  Hoff.  Frames. 746 

Proi)nli,s  on  K^cluders 333 

Propolis,  To  Prevent 283 

Propolis,  Boiling  it  Off 419 

Protector,  The  West  582 

Piotection .  Outdoor 168 

Punics  or  Tunisians .51 

Funics  in  Medina 385,492 

Punios  Discussed 538,  5.59 

Punics  as  Stingers 702 

Puni -s  Condemned 817 

Punics.  History  of 584 

Panics,  T.-m|ier  of 162 

Punics,  Price  of 319 

Punics.  Cross 431 

Punics,  Benton  on ,504 

Punics, Bad  Report 66.) 

Pure-food  Bill 453 

Put-in-Bay.  Wine  at 774 

Quarantine.  Bees  in 844 

Queen  Restriction .    164 

Queen.  Lay'g.  in  Parent  Col.  10 

Queens,  12  to  Australia 69 

Queens.  Mating  Habits  of .  ..193 

Queens,  Raising 284,619 

Queens,  Three  in  a  Hive 334 

Queens,  Two  in  Colony 416 

Queens,  Losing  616 

Queens,  Barren 701 

Queer«  ,  Mailing 782 

Queens  Dying 206 

Queens  Sent  11..500  Miles 232 

Queens  to  Australia,  First. .160 

Queens  to  .Australia. .580 

Queens,  a  la  Doolittle 737 

Queens,  Selling  Poor 851 

Queen-excluders  for  Ext'g.  .420 

Oueen-excluders .575 

Rain  in  California 420 

Rambler  in  Lansing 11 

Raml>ler  at  Heddon's .53 

Rambler  in  Chicago 95 

Rambler  in  Utah .544 

Rambler  in  Salt  Lake  City  129 

Rambler  in  California 161 

Rambler  in  Sacramento 196 

Rambler  in  San  Fi-ancisco  .236 

Rambler  on  the  Pacific 276 

Rambler  at  Bonfoey's 3211 

Rambler  in  Temescal 369 

Rambler  in  Ventura  Co...  407 
Rambler  at  :Mendelson's. . .  .461 
RaniMcrin  Matilija  Can'n  .507 

Raniblir.it  Kiverside .576 

Ranihlir  in  his  Cabin 613 

Rambler  and  the  Skunk.... 657 
Rambler  at  John  Smith's  .695 

Rambler  on  Grayback 726 

Ramliler  at  Jurupa 766 

Rambler  at  Clark's 803 

Rambler  in  Sunday-school  844 

Rambler  on  California  887 

Rambler     at      Wlieeler     & 

Hunt's 918 

Rambler's  Hive-hobby 119 


Raspberries,  Ever-bearing  781 
Reporters  at  Conventions. .  13 
Reports  for  Daily  Papers. ..  67 

Reproduction  in  Bees 916 

Restrictors,  Cost  of 405 

Retailing-cases 325 

Robbers,  To  Catch 333 

Robbing,  Hasty  on 843 

Roses 843 

Rheumatism  and  Bees.        .699 

Rhubarb 380 

Robbing,  AVhen  Allowable  806 

Roses 774 

Salt  for  Foul  Brood 84,195 

Salt  Remedy 888 

Sand  in  Hen-houses .740 

S:in  Diego 294 

Santa  Cruz  Island .543 

Scaraba?ids .497 

Science,  Unscientific        737 

Scouts 737 

Sealed  Covers 451 

Sealed  Covers  in  Cellar 511 

Section.  A  Standard 19  765 

Sections.  Narrower 808 

Section-rase.  New  D .500 

Section-former   Philo's  ...  212 

Section-press.  Babeock's 8.51 

Self-hivers..372,  373,  280,  459,  6.52, 

764 
Separators.  Thickness  of..     15 

Shijiiiing-cases 325 

Sidiliglitsat  Albany 20 

Silk-M..th 696 

Silver,  To  Test  739  I 

Skunks 6.55  I 

Slumgum 851 

Slumgum  Defined 938  I 

.Slumgum,  More  About 883  ] 

Smart  weed 775  j 

Smoker,  Bingham .521 

Smoker.  The  Crane 837 

Smokers 698 

Smokers  and  Fuel 663  j 

Snow  and  Honev  67 

Songs.  Bee-keepers' 583  [ 

Sour-gum  Tree 4.57 

Space  Under  Frames 323  i 

Spanish  Words 882  , 

Speckled  Beauty— Story.. ..702, 

735  772 

Spiders,  Fish-killing 667 

Spraying  Fruit .58.  61 

Spiayiug  Trees 19,192,322  ' 

Sjiriiig  DwinfUiiig    278 

St:ivt(i>  in  Wired  Frames..  26 
Starters.  l.'iOO  an  Hour.        .  .2.".3 

Steam  as  Manure 430 

Strawberries  in  60  Days 249 

Strawberry.  Everbearing..  .103 

Strawberry  Talk 514 

Straws,  Comments  on 242 

Straws  from  Ohio 611 

Stringer.  Tommy 245  ! 

Sugar,  Pure,  lor  Bees |28  i 

Sugar  vs.  Honey 81 

Sugar  Fed  for  Honev 897 

Sugar  Syrup  9;9 

.Sugar-biiiipv  Discussion 878 

Sulpburic-  .Acid 3?.2 

Supers.  When  to  Put  on.... 656 

.Superstition  Mountain 775 

Surprises.  H.-ippy 935 

Swarnui>.  .\utomatic 318 

Swarincr,  Automatic 92 

Swarmer.  Pratt 281.  318,  4.59 

Swarming,  To  Control *  18 

Swarming,  Cause  of 612,762 

Swarming.  Consor's  Plan..  .621 

Swai-ming  Controlled  460 

Swarms.  Returning 116 

Swarms,  To  Prevent 329 


Swarms,  When  to  Expect..  .409 
Swarms,  To  Make  Cluster.  .461 

Sweet  Clover 91,548 

Tallow  vs.  Propolis,  etc 283 

Tan  weed  Honey 738 

Tempe,  Editor  in 741 

Terracinsr  a  Field 704 

Theory,  Two-mile 371 

Tin  in  Missouri 622 

Tinker  on  Hoffman  Frame. 169 

Tobacco  Column 255,816 

Tobicco-dust 155 

Tobacco  Story 648 

Tomato-book,  Chap,  from  .660 

Tomato-worms 661 

Tools  for  Digging 340 

Tools,  Home-made 581 

Top-bars,  Wide .51 

Top  bars.  New  Plan 334 

Transi erring.  Easy 782 

Traps,  Tinkering  with 27 

Transplanting  to  the  Field. 341 

Tunisian  Bees 51 

Tupelo,  or  Sour-gum  Tree    4.57 

Undei  draining 424 

Underselling 659 

Union,  A  New 610,690 

Union,  Reorganization  of..  939 
Vaseline  vs.  Burr-combs..    283 

Ventilating  Our  Homes 167 

Ventilation  Through  Hive    24 
Ventilation,  Upward.  ...128.  327, 
421 

Vinegar,  Honey 316 

Virgin  Queens,  Trade  in...  163 
Virgin  Qutens,  Shipping... 666 

Wagons  on  Farm 934 

Walking-sticks 883 

Wash  on  Hillsides 741 

Water  Cure 298 

Water-willow 666 

Watering-place  for  Bees.... 737 

Wax  Bouquets 23 

Wax  Flower  - 166,  376,  499 

Wax  Scales         701 

Wax  Secielicn 202 

Wax  Sheets  on  Glass 334 

Wax  at  Entrance .509 

Wax-melting 84 

Wax,  Rendering 20 

Wax.  Se.rction  of  .539 

Webster's  Had  Advice 511 

Wewa  hit  {'Ilka  .Apiaries 456 

Wheel  of  1892 846 

Wheelbarrow.  Hive 366 

Whitiwcjd  Honey .511 

Wiley's  Report 386 

Wilev,  Prot 409, 4.30,629 

Wiley  Vindicated 536 

Willow  herb 57 

Wilson's  Peak 207 

Windmills  for  Irrigation., 740 

Wings,  Injury  to 207 

Wings  Injured  in  Escapes.. 284 

Winter  Problem— Pierce 126 

Wintering  in  Calif(u'nia       881 

Wintering.  Cellar 366  368 

Wintering,  Outdoor 48 

Wintering,  by  Mrs.  AxteI1...133 
Winteiing.  Preparing  for.. 691 

Wires.  To  Imbed 241 

Wiring.  Keeney 333 

Wimien  as  Apiarists 927 

World's  Fair.  Space  in 2,54 

World's  Fair 498,541,   49 

Wormwood 666 

Worms  in  Honey 653 

Worms,  Sulphuring 772 

Writing  for  the  Journals. .  .275 

York.  G.  W 495 

Zinc.  Perforated 429 

Zinc,  Propolizing 169, 284 


Index  to  Contributors. 


A, '26  622;  Adams  W  S,  108;  Adams  Jas  A,  8.51  ;  Adason  .las,  OX; 
A  Gleanings  Reader,  620;  Alley  Henry, '280  373  .541 :  Ames  A  F, 
340;  Anderson  Thos  A. '207 :  Andrews  Rev  James.  421  548;  Ander- 
son HCL,. 580;  Arbuckle  J  A,  169;  Arundell  TF  Mi's.  4211;  Aspin- 
wall  W  P.  27  ;  Atcbloy  Jennie  700  ;  Atkinson  J,  606;  Atkin  R  C. 
884;  Averv  R  D.  368;  Axtell  Mrs  L  C,  25  62  97  133  167  203  ,324  377  419 
458  500  621  664  699  704  734  737  773  842;  Ayres  G  F,  3:i3. 

Babcock  H  C.8.51;  Baird  E  J.  648  ;  Baker  J.  421  ;  Baldridge  M.  ' 
M  84  1;')7  191  666;  Baldwin  A  .1.401;  Baldinsperuir  P  H  131  .5.38 
701;  Barb  J  S..511;  Bateiii:ni  S  II.  OS;  l!:i\t,.v  K  J.  170;  Beekeep- 
er's Review.  702  843;  Benlou  F.  J.'.u  .',04;  I'.l.ike  F  A .  739;  Blaiiton 
OM,7.39;  Blow  T,S3;  Bo:i;  diiian  K  K.  17  771;  IVilton  T.91;  Bow- 
man J.  702;  Bi-avtonE.841;  Britisii  Bee  Journal,  51  ,539  774  8(!8; 
Bright  W  H,  774;  Brisbane  G  W.  169;  Brown  A  F.  287  334,585 
920;  Brown  J  M.  928;  Brown  W  H.922;  Buihanan  W  1,498;  Bu- 
chanan J  A,  232;  Burnett  R  A,  497;  Burr  J, 38;  Buttertield  E  A. .363. 

Camp  HG.  95;  Campbell  J  M,342;  Case  W  W.  27;  Case  J  B, 
421;  Chambeis  L  T,  775;  Cluirchill  E  P,25;  Crib  R  J,  68;  Clagett 
J.  622;  Clark  L  C,  839;  Clayton  C  H.  .506;  Clickenger  E,  27; 
Cleveland  (i  W,  666;  Clovci-,  W  R,  207;  Coe  O  R,  461;  Coffin  C  P, 
92;  Coggsliall  W  L.  195;  Common  J  R,700;  Comstoek  J  H,  651 ; 
Comstoek  FS,771;  Condif  J.  610;  Cook  A  J ,  H23  Sil  361  405  429  498 
537  548  617  633  666  667  688  697  698  701  702  731  738  7.39  808  883  939 ;  Corey  J 
G,  737;  Coverdale  F,  808  ;  Craycroft  F  L.  23  ;  Crane  J  E,  516  839; 
Crane  F  M,  738;  Cullinan  W  J,  87  690;  Curtis  C  B,465;  Cutler 
Clara,  623;  Clarke  W  F,  98. 

r^Dadant&  Son,  116  316  834;  Dadant  C  P,  128  199  834  885;  Dages 
WE,  412;  Danzenbaker  F.,327;  Dantzler  E   E,92;  Dart  J   S,  .548; 


Dayton  C  \V.  406  .".114;  DeWitt  M  H,.342;  Dibbern  C  H.  10  281  4.59 
765';  Dibble  W.  .373. 4;")6  703;  Dillworlh  PS  8.51;  Dixon  T,61  68; 
Donc:>stei  11  W,  170;  Doolittle  (i  M.  U  46  86  120  160  185  2.34  276  285 
327  372  409  451  510  547  576  618  69;  724  763  800  8.36  881  923;  Draiier  A  N,  13 
16  619;  Duggan  L  A.207;  Dyke  S  A,   164. 

Easlerday  ES,667:  Edwards  E  E  775:  Elliott  T,  .363;  Eihvood 
P  H,  45  125  1.55  193  229  274;  Enos  J  B,  369;  Evans  M  M,  538;  Ewing  R 
C,  159. 

Farrington  S,  8.52;  Farnsworth  J.  694;  Faucett  H  P,  740;  Fer- 
guson W,  664;  Fisher  J  M,  808;  Fish  S  T  &  Co.  22  690;  Fisher  J  R, 
774;  Finch  FH.659;  Fletcher  J  T  206;  Fletcher  A  P.  26  169;  Foi-- 
man  Mrs  A  R.  333  888;  Ford  T  S.  622;  Fox  E,  763;  France  E,  49  123 
231303  612  463  649;  Franklin  J,  27 ;  Fradenburg  G  E,739;  Frazier 
W  C,  14  93  649  844'  Frith  W  M,  929;  Fultz  J  E,  98. 

CarnesF.  334;  Gemmell  F- A,  330  ;  Gilstrap  W  A  H.290;  Gil- 
strap  J  (i.-:S;  (;(ddsborongh  A  T,  737;  Golden  J  A  ,  207  329  888 ; 
GravtMlicis'  I' J  H..-<62418;  Green  EC. 296  840;  Green  J  A  44  81 
89  129  7Tim;i3  3.'!'.i-,S4  326;  Grahame  W,  917;  Graham  WR,  808;  Grei- 
ner  K.  Ki?  -f.Q  645;  Greiner  T,  733;  Grove  J  W,289;  Gtiisingly 
473;  Gould  E  W.  801. 

HallamshireH  A.  163;  Hallenbeck  Mrs  A  L,  25  203  667;  Harri- 
son Mrs  L,  332  376  4.57  499  .548  735;  Hart  H  F,  84;  Hart  W  S,  611  665; 
HassettB,  119;  Harmer  W,.548;  Hatch  C  A,  230  .582;  Heddon  J, 
279  451  454;  Herman  M.  170;  Hewes  W  G,  332  .542  6,55  69  4802  882  918; 
He--s  A  J.  7,38;  Hilton  GE,  98  121;  Higdon  W  D,628;  Hohart  O  J, 
27;  Holtermann  RF,  195  662;  Hollenbach  G  L,  439;  Howell  EE, 
740;  Hul)bardGK,15;  Humphrey  F  M,  702;  Hutchinson  W  Z,  21 
202  879  916;  Hughes  W  H.  500;  Hyatt  O  H,  740;  Haas  C,  929. 


IS'.fJ 


(;i.KANIN(;S  IN   KEK  GUI -TURK. 


W.i 


livhio.I    V  H.  ;i)ii     Islioll  M.:i|ii;   Islmiii  II  U.  ;i4(l;  lsrm-1  C   7(5(1, 

JiiiiK'siiii  A.  X'V:  .U'iimuMi"!  C  K.  »:)(;  .lonkins  J  M.  UH^  Jenkins 

J  W.  8.V,';  .lotrerv  H  I,.  6(17;  Ji'.ssnp  T  V,  8.%  IfiK  6«»;  .lolin-^on    K  W, 

Kloi-k  .1  S.  (XJ.-.;  Kiilk'lit  H,  M\. 
ljini"nt  A..f74;  IjiMonlnirni' .1  H  IIH;  l.iuiK'stio'h  L  L  449  49r:)ll 
.'.S'a7S:.|0««;i(»9  7CI  ;97tl(iS!W;l  87X:  I.aiU'lu'ster  1!  P.lfiS:  Lnncl.  n 
HIVSKO;  I.iiir:«lif(>  .1  II.  191  2(:> -^8.1  541);  l.iiriiibeeW  t)  ;t28;  Lnti- 
«nerO  A.«7  I9t;  l.allirop  H,  ::«4.S4  «lil;  I.nw  »  W.r.7.'.:  Lee  F.29;i; 
LevPsv  ES.-.W;  Linswik  Xullii'.  :«7;  Lonl  l>L,»2.':  Lovelaiul  N 
E.  510;"  Li.we  F  D.  421  «6:. 

MixMtMi  UL..'ill:  Maniini  A  K.  I.'i9  ICS  189  27.-)49i:>8"i;  Mi'Uley  J 
II.  4V.';  M.ml.'M  )I.7(I2;  Miiitin  J  H.  702;  Ma.-»<.n  A  B.  ."idl  6.".(l; 
MnssicT  K.2«.V,';  Ma.-li  .1  A.  1711;  Mntli^ws  R  .1  98:  MfDonnell  1{ 
W.,VSIMVC  MoKiiilnnt-.l  CS;  M.Kvov  W.  290  429;  M  (il.iile  K.  CU; 
Moliilvii-.l  K.  IfSIKkiillii:  .M.-llw.iin  A  T.:t|ii;  MiKincv  .t  Co.  170; 
MoSnv  K..Vk;;  Mfiuli>ls,.ii  .M  II.  i:U.vi:i;  M,  IK-n  A  B.  282:  Mt-leher 
J  C.  1711:  MichiiHl  J  K.  ICS;  Miller  S  i;.414:  Mill-r  S  F.  170;  Miller 
I' C  7  Ifi  48  ri2  79  81188  ll.'i  IIS  151  Kii  l.S;t  l.sil  191  ■;()1227  244  271  28S  SI.". 
318  SSii  Sf*)  40:t  411  4Ifi  447  4.'i."i  491  49.'.  ."I'^ll  .".:C.  ri7l  .■|7(>  fii'7  6i:i  i;43  (>.i3  (Wfi 
687r>9;l7-'3  72.'>7.'>9  7(">fi79.).sii7  8.)l  .S37  84:!SiOS7.i.S89  ;  M'ller  P  I)  7.!ll; 
Miller  W.r.-J2:  Miller  Bros.  7.H7;  Moershel  \V.29II;  Mooie  N  V,2I16; 
Moon'HF.  880;  Mull  Ml  S.I  .M,2.'>;  Miir.loik  .1  V  .'.74  739;  Murray 
R  V.  628  667  774;  Murray  C  H.  616;  Murray  K  A,  .".112. 

Nash  J  A.  41.'.;  Nelson  S.  46.-.;  Xellis.1  H.47  91  I.'.S;  Newman  T 
G.  .'•2  691  940;  Nevins  M,  929;  Xippert  J,  738;  Noddins  KS,  808. 

Oototrenarinn,  8.50;  OInistead  Mrs  C  H.  649;  Olmstead  C.  414 
68S;  i)neof  Them.414;  (Isbnrn  A  W,83.'.;  Ozniun  L.  170. 

page  L  J.  SS.t;  Patten  R.  16.".;  Peabody  U  H.  :i34;  Peabody  Dr  C 
H.  26  ;  Pearee  C.  69  ;  Peck  W  H   H  &  Co,  616  ;  Peele  .V  T.  789; 


Pender  VV  S.  580;  Perelvall  P  1),  4n.'>;  IVtltt  S  T.  519;  Phllo  K  W, 
242:  I'lereed  R.  127;  Popploton  ( )  ( ).  548;  Porter  R  &  K  C.207; 
Porter  Rev  TC  2(c!;   Pratt  K  L,  199  281  318  4BI1;  Peekham  W.  929. 

Qiiilliri  Anna  B  842 

RaifsdaleM  F.'M:,  Riiinl.ler.  13  .'.;,  tW  l.'ll  162  197  237  278  322  371409 
4.".:i  4(14 .5(9  .i4Ci  579  fil.'.  (i:.9  (19(i  768  805  84C.  887  ;  Reploif  le  U  B.  208:  Kev- 
nolds  R  M.  118;  RhudeH  R  I.. 775;  Riee  M  M.(27:  Ronl  J.  511; 
R...i  011,1.27;  Rollins' n  (*  K.  122  72C.;  RoeseS,774;  l{ossAS,:M2; 
Ru-sell  H.  421 ;  R  T  W  ;i34;  Ripp  .1  .1.  924. 

S  :W3;  Salisbury  F  A.  85  666;  S.iilder  .1  A.  803;  Scobie  Mieh 
580;  S.TUiTKs  W  M.170;  Seeor  K.  198  .'184  695;  Se"inann  VV  XKi: 
Shake. lord  .1  T  7:i8;  Shipp  Mrs  T  B.  58:.;  Shriek  S  A.  •;«:  .Slier  J 
T,  701:  SiiiKinton  J  S.  27;  Sion  A.  liiU;  Slaulmnjrh  .1  377;  Small- 
wood  L  C.  473;  Smith  U  K,27;  Sonierli.rd  F  ()  •-'90  461;  Si.merCord 
W  W.  851 ;  So;.er  W  I).  511 ;  Sprai^iie  (J  II,  460  799;  StaclielbaiiHen 
L,  132:  Stagsa  J  C.  421 ;  S:evenson  W,  421;  Stehle  R.ol5;  Sten- 
Kcr  S  T,  769;  Stuart  W.  007:  Bweet  C  T.  200. 

Taylor  R  L187:  Templin  L  .1.  364;  Torral  K  Y.  738;  Thomas 
CK.  83  188:  Tinker  (}  L.  119  169  2S0;  Todd  E.  1.33;  Tolan  L  B,  170; 
Townley.l  H,  420;  Trego  S   F.  852;  Trumper  EH.  774:  Tweed  M 

Unterkireher  A  F.  929;  Upton  WH,  26;  Urie  W.809. 

Vandervort  F,  710;  Vanilrutf  W  S.  .52;  Van  Petten  J  F  170; 
Van  Allen  F  922;  Van  Auken  Vi^,  290;  Vining  .1.  306. 

Wa^-ner  J.STiO:  Walker- B  W.  164:  Walker  . I  E.  5]5;  Walrath  G 
A,  134;  WeaverZS  32".;Welil>  I.  B.  701 ;  Welili  nil.4!1;  WellerG 
H.  461;  West  N  O.  3ti7  582700;  West  Kiiiilv  lO.lBH;  \Vliit.' ('  290- 
White  V  82  160  342;  Whitinu:  E  M  :)2t;  Whittenl.urL-  .1  l)!207: 
Wliitaker  E  H.29ii;  Willits  E.32;  Williams  L.  .'«9  73'.;  Wilson 
Emma  97  133  168 .325  .'Wl  420  458  621  664  772:  Wilki  11  R,  364  420;  Wild- 
er H  E,  775;   Wood  D,  27;  Wood  J,  6.50. 


Index  to   Illustrations. 


Alley's  Automatic  Hiver.  Old-style.372,  540 

.\piarv,  .1.  .T.  Rapn's,  Matilija, Cal 925 

Apiary.  Ripp's  Black-bear: 508 

Apiarv.    Dustin's 512 

ApiarV.  R:inil)ler's  Rivereide 613 

Apiarv,  Fiill-l.looded  Cuban 651 

Apiarv.  II.  E   Wilder's     767 

ApiarV.  B.rrr.i   v's  in  California 320 

Apiarv,  M.Intvre's         365 

Apiai-^-,  Wjldrose  Park .'570 

Apia  IV.  Mis.  M(Intyre'sQueenrearing407 

Apiarv,  Euealyiitus 237 

Apiary,  Mendelson's 463 

Apiary,  Michigan  Ag'l  College II 

Apiary.  Hoffman's 90 

Apiary  on  Stilts 102 

Ai.iarv  of  Wheeler  &  Hunt 919 

.\l«iarvin  the  Salt  Lake  Valley S44 

AiTaii»reni(  nt  of  Hive.s  by  JiUius  Hoff- 
man  1.52 

Ai-te-iair  Well         <69.  470 

Aiit'.iiiatie  S.ir  hiver,  Dibbein's 9.  765 

Babe,  .ck  Se.t  i.  .11  press 851 

Barr.'W  .  KiUk'ht's 366 

Basket-splints.  Hnw  to  .Make 237 

Batterv  f..r-  Wir  e  iniheilding 412.  710 

Bedhiiiis  rnil.r-  Ranrl.h-r- 95 

Bees  that  rjieil  on  the  Comb     881 

Bee-bnish.  Hatch's 581 

Bee-escape.  Lairabee's  "282 

Bee-keepers.   Representatives   of  the 

East  and  West   .505 

Beetle,  L:\dvbii-d   617 

Bottle  for  Wintering  Bees 128 

Bunco,  by  .Jupiter  I Rjinibleri  130 

Cages.  D  .olitll.'s  Foreign  Mailing 233 

Califoniia  Bieke.pers  305 

California  Hone.\  tr..irig  to  Market 

California  .\i)iary  on  Stilts 

Camp  Wilson 

Can't  Make  My  Hair  Stand  on  End. 

Canyon  Falls  iTi-avels> 

Cardinal  Flower' 

Ca.se.  ( )ur  New  Winter 

Case,  I)aiizenb.'tker*.s 


..162 
.210 
.277 

.470 
..800 
.  820 

.248 


Ca-ses.   Shipping.   Single   and    Double 

Tier '. .325 

Catholie  Church.  Old.  in  Mexico 891 

Clorh  Cold  frame"        381. .382 

Coffee.  Rambler  Mivking 615 

CoinbofD.-ad  Bees 881 

Comb  Honey,  Broken,  How  Stored  in 

Germany .362 

Cook's  Class  in  Apiculture 11 

Corey,.!.  G.  Portrait  of  171 

Com-shel ler.  Improved 510 

Court  of  th;-Coronarlo  Hotel 338 

Cowan  Rapid  Reversible  Basket 51 

Cowan  Extractor,  How  to  Revei-se 243 

Crane's  Smoker 8:)8 

Cuban  .Vpiarv,  Full-blooded 6.51 

D    .Siiri>lus  Cas4- 248 

Daisy  Founiat ion-Fastener 49 

Daisy  Foiindation-i-oller .iO 

Day's  Cloth  Cold  frames 381.382 

Day's  I'ian  f-.r-  Terracing 704 

Devil's  (;.iie.S-spi.  Canyon 336 

Dibble's  SVlf-hi  ver      373.  455 

Divinin_'  for  Silver..   804 

Doolittle's  Foreign  Mailing-cages....  2.^3 
Dovetailed  Hive,  Lastest  Complete. ..  .247 
Dovetailed   Super,   with  Slotted  Wood 

Separators 24TL 

Electricitj'  for  Imbedding  Foundation  412 
Electincit.y  for  Imbedding  Wires  into 

Foundation 710 

Eucalyptus   Apiai-j-  237 

Extractor  Gearing,  Horizontal 50 


Extractor-basket,  Cowan 51 

Extractor.  Oshuin's  Mammoth 835 

Extractor,  Xew  Novice       820 

Extractor-,  Honey,  Coming  to  Grief .320 

Extractor.  Reversible,  Gould's 194 

Famine  in  India 591 

Farm  Hand  in  California 696 

Fastener.  Daisy 49 

Feeder,  Manuin 275 

Flapjack  Act 768 

Foundatioii-imbedders,  Hainbaugh's.  .'240, 

211 
Foundation,  Putting  on  Wired  Frames328 
Foundation,    Wiring    by    Electricity 

Dage's 412,"  710 

Frame,  Hunt's 918 

:  Gardening  under  Glass,  X  Acre.  Ideal. 549. 
.5.50.  551 

Gearing,  Extractor,  Horizontal .50 

Gemmill,  F.  A,  Portrait  of 374 

German  Queen-cage 417 

Golden's  Method  of  Putting  in  Fouiula- 

tion  328 

Grape  Cnltrire  in  California 668 

Haiiiliairtrh'slmbedder  and  Roller 241 

H;ii-vi  .-ting  with  Traction  Engine 379 

Hatch's    U'vel 581 

Hay  g;i(her-iirg  m  Indiana 95 

Hiver   Aiitniii.-ilii-,  Spr-ague's 799 

Hivei,  Airt atrc.  Alley's  01d-stlye..372,  540 

Hiver-.  AirtonL;ilii-,  Alley's 280 

Hiver-,  Autoriratic.  Pratt's  Latest .318 

Hiver.  Autorrratie.  Piatt's  First 199 

'  Hiver,  l)il.lil.-'s 373,  4.55 

!  Hiver-.  Arrtoriiatic,  Dibbern's 9.765 

Hive.  D.ivetailed 247 

Hive    Hirliliard 14 

Hive  I1..I1I.V  Riding 54 

Hi  ve-Mi  a  per-  and  Chisel 464 

Hobbies  illustrated        54 

HoCiiiiin's  Apiary 90 

Hoffman  Frames  Put  together  ivrong.. 511 

Hogbaik.  Riding  Down  a 920 

H  .t-beds  uirder  Glass.  }^  Acre.  ..549.  .5.50.  651 
Hirrit   anil  Kainbier  in  the  Homed-toad 

Business         920 

IiirI.ecMlrrir  l".ai-rl.  H:niil>augh's 241 

lndi;iri  S1I1....I  in  C.i  lifcrriia   .5.53 

ImlKiri-  and  tli.-  Blirr.l   Fiddler 708 

Kislioii  Itiver,  Mouth  of  646 

Lairgstr-oth.  L.  L 913 

Langstroth.  L   L.,Full  Figure  of 877 

Lari-abee's  Bee-escap? 282 

Ln-'  A ri<reles  Con v(?ntion  Illustrated.... 278 

I.'.S  \ii_:.|.,  Tropical  Scenery  at 293 

I  .Mniiuiii  M   .liiating ". 158 

,  Mariuin    I  I  -r .■ 275 

I  .Manh.  H.  A.  Por-trait  of 65 

Ma r-eh's  Yacht 99 

Matilija,  Looking  up  the  924 

Mel nt vie  in  his  Apiary- 365 

Meirdelson   M.  H.,  Portrait  of 462  ! 

Meriililsoii'-^MJces,  How  they  Get  there. 462  1 

.M.ndclsorr's  Aj.iary      463  ' 

Mexicarr  Dugs   " 579  [ 

,  Migrating  to  California  ApiaiT 408  | 

Mountain     Canyon     near    Mclntyre's 

iTiavelsi ."....  335 

Mountain.  Going  Down  (Travels) 2.50 

Murray,  R.  V..  Portrait. of 502  I 

Museum,  Rambler  at  12  j 

Orange   and   Lemon  Exhibit  in  Call-       1 

fomia .578  1 

;  Orange-growing ^ 625 

Oiange-orchard,  with  Plclters  at  Work6'24 

Oraplione.  or  London  Ear-tnimpet 663 

Osbum's  Mammoth  Extractor 835 

1  Out-apiarj-,  Migratilig  to 408  | 


Pants.  Boy  and  the  Bees.... 422 

Philo's  Automatic  Section-for-nier 242 

Pine  tree  Point 209 

Plant-beds,  Boards,  how  Fastened .588 

Plant  beds 589 

Poison  Laurel 206 

Pratt's  Latest  Airtomatie  Hiver 318 

Hratt'sFirst  Swarm-hly.  r 199 

Problem  BeiiiL:   Solved  by   Hambaugh 

and   l>;Ml;nri        80 

Rabbel-,  A.l,|n-i  merit  to  Top-bar 334 

Raiiililei   (iaih.  ling  Cantalouties 161 

Rambler  anil  tin-  Chinaman 196 

Rambler  at  a  Standstill   in   the  Moun- 
tains  197 

Rambler- at  the  Los  Angeles  Rumpus.. 278 

Rambler-  in  NririiPi-nris  Dust 369 

Rariiblei-on  the  War-  path 507 

Rambler    Taking   a    Ride    on   Rough 

Roads  irr  Calili.'-nia 507 

Rambler- Read  v  tor  a  Ramble 728 

Rambler  Cliniliiir;^-  Gtavb.ack 7'29 

liarirhlei-at  the  World's  Fair  887 

Rambler-.  ;iird  How  he  Struck  it  Rich.. .321 

Rambler.  Taking  him  by  Surprise 371 

Itambbr's  Eiri    rv  Wlieel .53 

Rimbler 's  Rev:  1  ii-  on  the  Train 129 

Ra.blei-'s   Pi.i-ket-eleaners 161 

R:irrrbler-'s  Dr-(-:irri 321 

Rambler's  Baclnlor's  Headquarters. .  .614 

Kambler-'s  ( 'irlr  n:ir  y  Department 668 

Rarrrliler-'s  Kxpi  1  ierrce  off  on  theRanch8(i4 

Reg.-il  W:ilnirl  Motli 731 

Rescue.  Ccirrrin;;  to  (Trayels) 251 

Reversible  Extractor   Gould's 195 

Riverside.  Cal.,  Motley  Crowd  in 577 

Scfarahseids 497 

Scrapers,  H.atch's 581 

Seashore,  Rambler  off  for. 803 

Secor-.  Errgene.  Portrait  of 317 

Secti<irr-ease.  I> 248 

S(  ct  rorr-pr  ess.  Ha  bcock's 851 

Sespe,  nri  lire  B;iriks  of        .545 

Shade  fur-  Hives.  Day's 496 

Slii|ipirig-(i-ate  lor-  Extracted  Honey. .798 
Slriiijiirrg  cr.ates  lor  Exhibition  Puriio8e797 
Sliipi.iiig-case.  Single  and  Double  tier.. 325 

Showcases  for  t Ire  World's  Fair 498 

Simplicity    Feeder    in   Portico    of   L. 

,      Hive 918 

Skunk  and  the  Rambler- 657 

Smoker-.  Crane's 838 

Solar  Wax-extractor,  Boardman's 885 

Sprague's  Autorrratie  Hiver 799 

Stone's  Original  Roller-fastener 240 

Straw  Skep  of  (Jerriiarrv .361 

Straws.  California  and  lIlinolB 546 

Sunday-.scliool,  starting 844 

Terracing  and  Irrigating  in  California237 

Terracing.  Day's  Phiii  for 704 

Tile-drainage  Tools. 340 

Toads.  Homed 920 

Tools  for  Tile-tlr.-iinage,  How  to  Use. . .  341 

Tools  for  Tile-dr:iinage 340 

Top-bars,  Adjust iicnt  to  Rabbet^s 334 

Tr-aiisplanting  wii  h  and  without  Ben-j- 

boxes 382 

Tropical  Scenery  at  Los  Angeles 293 

Tunneling  for   Water   at  Mt.  Wilson 

( Travelsi 291 

Watering  Bees,  Dustin's  Apparatus 513 

Whitewater  Basin 726,  727 

Wint.r  Case .  New 820 

Winter- Problem  Solved 60 

Wintering  Bees  in  Glass  Bottle 128 

Wiring  Frames.  Tool  for  511 

Woodbury  and  liis  Tunnel 845 

York,  G.  W.,  Portrait  of 495 


944 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dec.  15. 


CONVENTION  NOTICES. 


The  National  Bee-keepers'  Association  will  meet  at  Wasliing- 
ton,  D.  C,  Dec.  27—29.    See  our  editorial  columns. 


The  annual  meeting-  of  the  Ontario  Bee-keepei-s'  Association 
will  be  held  in  the  town  of  Walkerton,  Ont.,  Jan,  10.  U.  12, 1893. 
All  interested  are  cordially  invited.  W.  CousE,  See. 

Streetsville,  Ont.        

The  eighteenth  annual  meeting  of  the  Vermont  Bee-keepers' 
Association  will  be  held  in  the  city  of  Burlington,  Dec  28th  and 
29th,  1892.  Ever}'  one  interested  in  apiculture  is  earnestly  de- 
sired to  be  present.  As  a  bee-keepers'  association  we  know  no 
State  lines,  but  will  gladly  welcome  all  that  come,  regardless 
of  their  residence.  Programs  will  be  published  soon,  for 
which  address  H.  W.  Scott,  12.-)  Brooklyn  St..  Barre.Vt. 


The  Ohio  State  Bee-keepeis'  annual  convention  will  be  held 
in  the  parlor  rooms  of  the  Clirrrv  Hotel,  Washington  C.  H.,  O., 
Dee.  27  and  28.  Arrangenunts  an-  made  for  1>^  railroad  fare  on 
all  roads  leadina:  into  Wasliiimtou  ;  viz.,  B.  &0.-,  C,  H.  &D. ; 
Panhandle,  and  Toledo  &  Ironton.  Also  reduced  hotel  rates. 
Miss  Dema  Bennett,  Sec,  Bedford,  O. 


The  Southwestern  Wisconsin  Bee-keepers'  Association  will 
hold  its  next  annual  meeting  in  Boscobel,  Grant  Co.,  Wis.,  on 
the  13th  and  Uth  of  January.  1893,  commencing  at  10  a.m.  All 
members  of  the  association  are  requested  to  be  present,  as  the 
following  officers  are  to  be  elected:  President,  vice-president, 
secretary,  assistant  secretarj-,  and  treasurer.  Blank  reports 
will  be  sent  to  each  member  of  the  association  for  1892,  with 
instructions.  A  cordial  invitation  is  extended  to  all  bee-keep- 
ers, and  especially  to  those  who  would  like  to  .loin  us.  Each 
member  will  be  notified  at  least  one  month  before  said  meet- 
ing. Benj.  E.  Rice,  Sec. 

Boscobel,  Wis. 


Special  Notices, 


DISCOUNTS   FOR  EARLY  ORDERS. 

Only  two  weeks  remain  to  this  month  and  year  in 
which  to  secure  the  4-per-cent  discount  for  early 
orders.  Jan.  1, 1893,  the  discount  drops  to  35o,and 
in  February  to  2 <^o.  We  have  been  g-etting  a  nice 
lot  of  orders,  taking-  advantage  of  tliese  discounts, 
and  trust  we  shall  get  many  more. 


NEW  EDITION   OF  OUR  C-ATALOGUE. 

Between  now  and  Jan.  1st  we  sliall  have  a  new 
edition  of  our  c:\  alugue,  to  the  number  of  3.5,000, 
ready  to  mail.  We  are  also  at  work  on  the  March 
1st  edition,  which  will  be  entirely  reset  in  new 
type,  and  electrotyped.  Of  tliis  edition  we  hope  to 
put  out  10(i.(i(Ni  or  more.  If  any  desire  a  copy  of  the 
Jan.  1st  edition,  send  in  your  request,  and  you  ivill 
receive  it  promptly.  Tiiere  are  quite  a  few  changes 
from  the  last  edition. 

MORE  DEALERS  IN  ROOTS  SUPPLIES. 

Bee-keepers  in  Dixie  can  obtain  manj-  of  our 
goods  from  J.  M.  Jenkins,  Wetumpka,  Ala.,  and 
those  he  makes  himself  are  doubtless  equally  good. 
Tliose  in  Southern  Colorado,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Kocky  Ford,  can  secure  what  they  need  in  our  line 
tliroutili  Henry  F.  Hagen,  ot  that  place,  who  will 
have  a  carload  within  the  next  few  weeks.  We  liave 
still  other  distributing  points  in  view,  but  arrange- 
ments are  not  sufficiently  complete  as  yet  to  make 
further  announcements  in  this  i.ssue. 


HONEY  M.ARKET. 

Comb  lioney  has  not  been  selling  so  readilj'  since 
our  last  Christmas  time  is  almost  here,  and  sales 
should  ha  better  at  this  time.  We  still  have  several 
hundred  cases  of  the  clioice  Nevada  lione.y,  men- 
tioned in  former  issues,  and  we  should  be  pleased 
to  hear  from  those  who  need  such  honey. 

Extracted  honey  of  good  quality  seems  to  be  very 
scarce,  and  in  good  demand.  We  can  furnish  extra 
nice  in  60-lb.  square  cans  at  10c  per  lb.,  or  in  160-lb. 
kegs  at  9'/^.  We  have  3  such  kegs  at  Bowling  Green, 
O.,  that  we  will  sell  at  9c  there  for  a  prompt  order. 


TRA.INLOAD  OF  SEEDS  AND  BEE-SUPPLIES. 

Our  two  carloads  of  betvsupplies  for  F.  L.  Posson 
&  Son,  Portland.  Oregon,  left  here  on  the  evening 
of  the  13th  for  Chicago,  where  they  will  join  a  train- 
load  of  seven  or  more  carloads  of  seeds  from  D.  M. 
Ferry  &  Co.,  to  the  same  tlrm.  This  si)ecial  train  is 
expected  to  leave  Chicago  on  the  30th,  via  the  C.  & 
N.  W.  and  Union  Pacific,  and  will  make  daylight 
runs  most  of  the  way.  you  may  see  notices  of  it 
in  the  papers  along  the  way;  and  those  living  on 
this  route  may  get  a  glimpise  of  the  train  if  they 
are  on  the  lookout  for  it. 


AUGITE  STOVE-.MATS,   AGAIN. 

Since  our  last  issue  was  msiiled  we  have  sold  over 
three  gross  of  these  mats,  and  they  will  no  doubt 
make  as  many  housewives  happy.  See  Dr.  Miller's 
article  on  another  page;  and  if  you  have  not  al- 
ready ordered  one,  make  haste  to  do  so  before 
Christmas  is  past.  Price  30c  each;  by  mail,  6c  extra; 
6  postpaid  for  $1.40;  one  dozen  by  express,  $3.00; 
by  mail,  65c  extra.  Except  to  far  distant  points,  a 
dozen  will  go  cheaper  by  express.  We  furnish  6 
dozen  for  $11.00,  or  13  dozen  for  $31.00.  Send  on  your 
orders.  

U.  S.  OPFICI.AL  POSTAL  GUIDE. 

This  is  a  book  of  almost  1000  pages,  5J^x'i'M,  with 
monthly  supplements  of  about  40  pages.  It  is  pub- 
lished by  autliority  of  the  P.  O.  Department,  and 
contains  an  alphabetical  list  of  all  postofflces  in  the 
U.  S.,  with  county  and  State,  a  list  by  States,  a  list 
by  States  and  counties,  showing  the  money-order 
offices,  domestic  and  international,  also  rates  of 
postage,  synopsis  of  postal  laws,  rulings  of  the  de- 
partment.'information  relating  to  postal  matters, 
and  general  regulations  respecting  foreign  mails. 
It  is  a  book  that  ought  to  be  in  every  business  office 
that  has  much  correspondence.  The  regular  price 
in  paper  covers  is  $3.00;  in  cloth,  $2. .50,  including 
supplements  from  time  subscription  is  received  till 
July,  '93.  The  large  volume  is  mailed  early  in  Jan- 
uary; but  subscriptions  should  be  sent  in  before 
that  time.  We  are  able  to  club  the  paper  edition 
with  Gleanings  one  year  for  $3.40,  or  the  cloth- 
bound  edition  for  $2.70. 

MUSHROOMS  — HOW  TO  GROW  THEM. 

The  above  is  the  title  of  a  new  book  published  by 
the  O.  Judd  Co.  It  is  written  by  William  Falconer. 
I  suppose  tliat  most  of  you  know  that  mushrooms 
are  quite  fashionable  .iu.st  now.  If  you  pay  a  dollar 
for  a  dinner  on  a  dining-room  car,  on  any  of  our 
leading  railway  lines,  you  will  be  likely  to  see  mush- 
rooms on  the  bill  of  fare.  You  won't  see  very  large 
dishfuls  of  them,  even  then.  At  present,  mush- 
rooms are  seUing  in  Boston  and  New  York  at  a  dol- 
lar a  pound,  retail.  The  business  is  constantly  in- 
creasing, and  more  and  more  gardeners  or  florists 
are  putting  them  under  their  plant-beds  every  year, 
but  still  the  price  keeps  up;  and,  by  the  way,  mush- 
rooms are  not  such  an  expensive  dish,  after  all. 
They  taste  more  like  oysters,  perhaps,  than  any 
thing  else,  and  a  very  few  of  them  will  make  quite  a 
dishful  for  a  family — that  is,  they  will  give  a  mush- 
room flavor  to  a  meat  pie,  or  a  stew  large  enough 
for  an  ordinary  family.  For  our  family  .^  lb.  does 
very  well;  and  away  back  here  in  Medina  we  are 
quite  content  to  get  15  cts.  for  H  lb.  If  you  want  a 
whole  pound  the  price  is  .50  cts.  Since  I  told  you 
about  growing  them  by  steam  heat  we  have  had 
them  right  along,  and  1  expect  to  have  some  for 
supper  when  I  get  through  writing  this  editorial.  I 
am  going  to  the  postofflce  with  the  mail  on  my 
wheel,  however,  first.  You  see,  that  gives  me  an 
appetite.  May  be  you  would  like  to  grow  mush- 
rooms. Well,  the  book  I  started  out  to  tell  you 
about  gives  the  fullest  possible  directions,  in  plain, 
easy  language  that  every  one  can  easily  understand. 
Anybody  who  likes  to  make  garden  can  raise 
mushrooms;  and  as  they  do  not  need  a  bit  of  sun- 
light, any  out-of-the-way  place,  under  the  cellar- 
stairs  or  aii.ywhere  else,  where  it  will  not  freeze, 
will  gi'ow  !liem  to  perfection.  The  book  contains 
173  pages,  and  is  full  of  nice  pictures  The  advertis- 
ed price  is  $1.50.  It  seems  to  me  rather  too  much, 
therefore  I  am  going  to  otter  it  for  $1.35,  even  if  I  do 
not  make  very  much  profit.  I  presume  the  publish- 
ers excuse  tiiemselves  for  asking  a  large  price  by 
saying  that  it  is  the  first  book  of  the  kind  ever  pub- 
lished in  America.  After  T  have  had  a  little  more 
experience  I  will  tell  you  how  to  do  it,  in  my  garden 
talks  for  the  coming  year.  All  the  expense  besides 
labor  is  the  stable  manure.  Nothing  else,  so  far  as 
r  know,  will  grow  them.  But  the  publishers  claim 
that  the  manure  is  worth  just  as  nnich  for  the  gar- 
den afterward  as  before.  It  niMy  be  worth  as  much 
foi-  some  purposes.  If  you  want  the  book  by  mail, 
add  6  els.  extra  for  postage  and  packing. 


SECOND-HAND    FOUNDATION-MILLS. 

We  have  the  following  list  of  second-hand  foun- 
dation machines  which  have  accumulated  during 
the  past  few  months,  some  in  exchange  for  new 
machines,  others  from  those  who  liave  decided  to 
buy  what  foundation  they  use.    We  give  as  fair  a 


18'VJ 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


•H.I 


(IcscriptioM  as  we  I'iiii  of  tlii'sc  iikicIiIiu'S,  Willi  tlic 
priro  III  wliii'h  we  will  sell.  \Vc  eviii  fin-nisl)  sam- 
ples from  any  of  llio  niachiiies  U)  iiitciuliiiK  pni'- 
cluiscrs. 

One  ()-iiu-li  liox..  No.  N,  used  a  short  tinio  in  our 
wax-roiiin;  in  jrood  order;  makes  fdn.  l(i  or  11  feet 
to  the  111.     Price  $l(t.(M). 

One  rt-incli  hex..  No.  M.  exira-thin  mill,  in  splendid 
order.    Priee  f  HUH). 

One  6-inch  hex.,  No.  K.  iliiii  smpUis  mill,  in  tiood 
oi-der.     Priee  $i>.(iO. 

One  in-iiit'h.  round  cell,  No.  I<,  in  jirood  order  for 
lijrht  l)ro..d  fdn.     Price  «4  (Ki. 

One  in-inch,  round  cell,  Xo.  I.  for  Hiwht  or  medium 
fdn,:  in  jrood  order.    Price  !?U. (Hi. 

One  Id-inch,  i-ouiid  cell.  No.  E,  old-stylo  frame; 
made  some  veai's  into,  hut  used  scarcely  any,  and  in 
gotxl  order.     Price  f  U.Oil, 

One  Ut-inch.  ri>iind  cell.  No,  C,  old-style  frame;  in 
fair  order.     Price  ^lU.OO. 

One  Pi-inch,  round  cell.  No,  D,  for  heavy  brood 
fdn,;  roll,  same  size  as  l((-inch,  only  3  inches  long-er; 
one  of  the  oi-iffinal  Washburn  mills,  in  fair  order. 
Price  $1.5.00. 

One  12-inch  Dunham  mill  for  heavy  brood  fdn.; 
not  so  good  as  the  above,  but  in  fair  order;  will  sell 
for  $t.MW.  

SECOND-HAND  MACHINERY, 

During  the  pa.st  few  months  we  have  bought  up 
several  outfits  of  machinery  for  making  bee-keep- 
ers" supplies;  and  if  any  of  our  readers  or  their 
friends  contemplate  putting  in  machinery  we  are 
prepared  to  tit  you  out  from  cellar  to  garret  with 
everything  you  need  in  engines,  boilers,  machinery, 
shafting,  pulleys,  hangers,  belting,  saws,  etc,  Tlie 
following  is  a  partial  list  of  thi'  second-hand  ma- 
chinery we  have  to  sell.  If  you  desire  further  par- 
ticulars we  shall  Vie  pleased  to  hear  from  you. 

One  3o-H,  P,  Fishkill  horizontal  engine,  rebuilt, 
and  as  good  as  new ;  would  cost  new,  $iuO;  will  sell 
for  f  300. 

One  5-H,  P,  liorizontal  engine  and  boiler,  with  en- 
gine' mounted  on  boiler,  in  good  running  order. 
Price  *1.")0. 

One  24-inch  two  roU  Fay  sandpaper  machine,  near- 
ly new.    Price,  new,  .$450;  will  sell  for  $175. 

One  V-groove  section  machine,  nearly  new.  This 
is  our  make,  old  style,  with  screw-feed;  .sold  some 
years  ago  for  $75;  will  sell  now  for  $40. 

One  cutter-head,  with  table  complete,  for  cutting 
entrances  to  sections.  Old  style,  but  nearly  new, 
and  in  good  repair.  Price,  new,  12.5.00;  will  sell  for 
$15,00. 

One  double-liead  tenoning-machine,  especiallj'  ar- 
ranged for  making  the  combined  rabbet  and  miter 
joint  of  the  Simplicity  hive,  but  can  be  used  for 
making  sash  and  window-screen  frames,  etc.  We 
could  not  build  such  a  machine,  and  sell  it  for  less 
than  $1.50;  we  will  sell  this  for  $60, 

Two  extra  large  saw-tables  for  general  use,  to  cut 
Oflf  or  rip,  with  countei-sliaft  attached  to  frame; 
worth  new,  $50  each  ;  will  sell  for  &)  eacli. 

Two  four-piece  section-machines,  as  good  as  new. 
they  cost  new,  $85  each;  we  will  sell  them  for  $30 
each. 

Also  a  large  lot  of    shafting,   pulleys,  hanger 
belting,  and  saws,  too  numerous  to  mention  liere. 


RENEW   EARLY. 


The  time  is  near  at  hand  when  the  paid  subscrip- 
tion of  many  of  our  readers  will  exi)ire.  Probably 
none  of  you  like  to  be  in  arreai-s  any  better  tlian  we 
like  to  have  you.  As  an  inducement  for  you  to  act 
promptly,  and  send  in  your  renewals  before  the 
time  expires  for  which  you  liave  paid,  we  offer  you 
the  clioice  of  the  following  premiums.  Now,  please 
note  carefully  the  conditions  on  which  we  make 
this  offer.  Those  who  are  in  arrears  ctn  nf)t  claim 
a  premium  till  they  first  pay  uj);  then,  if  they  re- 
mit for  a  year  in  advance,  they  may  for  that  claim 
a  premium.  The  premium  must  be  claimed  when 
the  subscription  is  sent;  it  can  not  be  allowed 
afterward.  Postage  for  mailing,  and  full  subscrip- 
tion of  $1.00,  must  he  sent  to  secure  the  premium, 
and  it  must  be  sent  hefore  your  subscription  ex- 
pires. 

The  list  of  premiums  from  which  you  may  select: 

DZIEEZON  THZ0E7,  a  pamphlet  of  .50  pages,  in  paper 
cover;  price  10c  postpaid,  or  sent  free  on  above  con- 
ditions. This  is  .something  that  every  enthusiastic 
lover  of  the  honey-bee  should  read. 

THE  CHEISTUN'S  SEOEET  OF  A  HAPP7  LIPE.  This  book 
should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  one  who  desires  to 


live  a  happy  life,  and  who  docs  not  'i  It  is  so  popu- 
lar that  over  .50,(HH)  ha  vi-  been  sold  sin(!e  its  pnl)lica- 
1  ion  a  few  years  ago.  We  received  from  the  pub- 
lishers as  nnuij' as  l^'iOin  om- shipment.  'I'his  edit  ion 
was  re\iscd  and  enlarged,  so  that  the  book  now 
contains  over  :J(1()  pages.  Price,  cloth  txniiid,  ild  cts. 
In  naper.  25  cts.  Po.slage  extr.-i,  H  els.  for  Ihe  cloth 
;nul  «  cts.  for  the  pajter  bound.  A  largt;  reduction 
will  be  niade  in  (|uantities,  Tlu^  cloth  book  given 
post  I  laid  fi  r  two  subscriptions,  or  the  p.iper  foi-  one- 
new  siibsci  i-ption  with  your  own  renewal,  ('loth 
edition  given  with  your  own  renewal  only,  and  ;J5c 
exli;i,  Willi  8c  postiige;  the  paper  edition  for  1.5c 
extia  and  .";c  postage.  We  have  some  slightly  dam- 
aged paper  edition  that  we  will  give  free  with  your 
renewal  atid  5c  for  postage.  If  you  .send  one  new 
name  with  your  renewal  you  may  select  any  three 
premiums  that  we  give  for  a  renewal,  being  sure  to 
include  the  postage;  or  you  may  retain  25c  in  cash 
for  your  coniiiiission. 

PEABOUr'S  WEBSTER'S  DICTIONARY.  25,0(H)  words  and 
phrases,  and  illiist  rated  wit  h  2511  engravings;  cloth 
l)ound.  This  is  the  one  we  have  Ikhmi  selling  for 
years  at  15  cts.  We  thought  we  lia<i  done  something 
wonderful  when  we  offered  so  large  a  dictionary  for 
15  cts.,  but  we  are  now  able  to  sell  them  for  a  dime. 
Just  think  of  it:     Postage  extra,  5  cts, 

ONE-SYLLABLE  PEIMEE.r^6x8;  4S  pages,  full  of  pic- 
tures; something  that  will  always  lie  wanted  as 
long  as  there  are  children  in  our  homes.  Postage 
3  cents, 

P0ULTE7  FOE  PLEASUEE  AND  PROFIT,  48  pages,  and  20 
illustrations.  A  complete  little  book  of  instruc- 
tions. It  treats  of  the  best  varieties  for  pleasure 
and  profit;  how  to  house  and  yard;  how  to  manage; 
how  to  feed;  diseases,  incubation,  etc.  It  is  a  3.5- 
cent  book;  but  by  getting  1000  of  them  we  can  sell 
them  for  10  cents.    Postage  1  ct. 

THE  HORSE  AND  HIS  DlfSEASES.nBv  Dr.  B.  J.  Kendall; 
100  pages  and  many  illustrations.  Over  500,000  of 
these  books  have  been  sold,  because  they  are  so 
popular  and  complete,  for  a  small  handbook.  It 
gives  the  symptoms  of  most  diseases,  and  treat- 
ment for  the  same.  This  is  another  25-cent  book 
that  we  got  down  to  a  dime  by  taking  1000  of  them. 
Postage  3  cts. 

SILK  AND  THE  SILKWORM.  This  is  a  complete  work 
of  instruction  on  silk  culture,  by  Nellie  Lincoln 
Rossiter,  a  practical  silk  culturi.st;  32  pages.  Silk 
culture  is  tlie  favorite  pursuit  of  many  ladies  in  our 
land;  and  all  who  are  interested  will  find  this  little 
work  very  instructive.  The  price  printed  on  it  is 
25  cents,  but  we  sell  them  tor  10  cts.    Postage  1  ct.a 

NEW  TESTAMENT,  NEW  VERSION.  4;M  pages,  printed 
in  nonpareil  type.  This  sliould  be  in  the  possession 
of  every  student  of  the  New  Testament,  Even  if  it 
does  not  come  into  common  use,  it  is  helpful  to 
know  what  changes  in  translation  the  New  Version 
gives.     PostaaeS  cts  '  ■-      J 

JOHN  PLOUQHMAN'S  TALKS  AND  PICTURES.  By  Charles 
Spurgeon:  12s  jiages,  and  a  jnctureon  almost  every 
page.  John  Plongjnnan  talks  plainly,  and  makes  a 
good  point  in  every  talk.  It  is  by  no  means  dry 
reading,  either.    Postage  3  cts. 


He  Sugar^le  Siar-Busl 

BY 

AUTHOR   OF  THE 

HEK-KKICI'ER'S  GUIDE,  INJUUIors  IJi 

SECTS  OF  MICHHiAX,  ETC. 

The  name  of  the  author  is  enough  of  itself  to  rec- 
ommend any  book  to  almost  any  people;  but  this 
one  on  Maple  Sugar  is  written  in  Prof,  Cook's  hap- 
piest style.    It  is 

-«  PROFUSELY  +  ILLUSTRATED,e^ 

And  all  the  difficult  points  in  regard  to  making  the 
very  best  quality  of  Maple  Syrup  and   Maple  Su- 
gar are  very  fully  explained.    All  recent  inven- 
tions in  apparatus,  and  methods  of  making 
this  delicious  product  of  the  farm,  are  fully 
described. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  MEDINA,  Ohio. 


<)46 


GLEANINGS  IN  BEE  CULTURE. 


Dkc.  15. 


'lome 
Made 
Net- 
ting. 


SAFE,  DURABLE  FENCE;     ONLY  $80  PER  MILE. 
SS"  ^  TiANT)  -  OWWE"R.S  save  one-half  the  cosi 
BOe  pflf-ti-n-l^i^  -yjMM  Si  XjJXO  ^^^j^  dangerous  barbs 
ro4.     M  «v^r»+0  '""''^  $200.00  per^\^^|_ 
A%{^dlX9moni/7  ancf  expenses  ^^oSlI 
The  best  local  and  traveling  agents  wanted  every- 
where.    Write  at  once  for  circulars  and  choice  ter- 
ritory; jMldreesA.  G.  Hulbert,  Patentee,  care  of 

Factory  Catalogue  with  200  engraved  designs  and 
prices,  8«nt  free  to  any  who  want  fancy  Iron  and 
wire  work  or  city,  cemetery  and  farm  fences,  etc 

please  mention  this  paper  2; 


BEE-HIVES,   SECTIONS,   ETC. 

We  make  the  best  g-oods  and  sell  them  cheap. 

Our  Sections  are  far  the  best  on  the  market. 

Our  Works  turn  out  the  most  goods  of  any  facto- 
ry in  the  world. 

Our  g-oods  are  known  as  the  best  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Europe. 

Write  for  free,  illustrated  catalogue  and  price  list. 

G.  B.  LEWIS    CO.,  WATERTOWN,  WIS. 

Itfdb  Please  mention  this  paper. 


Spray 


your 

Fruit 

!Ci'\;^f#f  Trees 

^if^jr^jW       and 

^t^^--  Vines 

V,  ormj  rniit  .mil  Ii  if  l.li_lit  o(  \pples,  Pears, 
Cherries  and  Plums  prevented  ;  also  Grape  and 
Potato  Kot— by  spraying  with  Stahl's  Double 
Acting  Excelsior  Spraying  Outfits.  Best  in  the 
market.  Thousands  in  use.  Catalogue,  describing 
all  insects  injurious  to  fruit,  mailed  Free.  Address 

WM.  STAHL,     QUINCY,  ILL. 

t^ln  responding  to  this  advertisement  mention  (Cleanings. 

VS7\  ^.  Onn  I'ERRETS,  aflnelotof 

i^-i\^;^    X         OUU  Seotoli  Collie  Piips  and 
■-.*,        .  i\'^-l:Si  a  trained  bird-dog  for  sale.   Price 
^0Ll^^y^-  ■     1  list  free.  N.  A.  KNAPP, 

ci^:^-^  .^'i^  Rocliester,  lioraiu  Co. 

IStfdb  Obio. 


TAKE   NOTICE! 

BEFORE  placing  your  orders  for  SUPPLIES,  write 
for  prices  on  One-Piece  Basswood  Sections,  Bee- 
Hi  ves,  Shipping-Crates,  Frames.  Foundation,  Smo- 
kers, etc.  PAGE  &  KEITH, 
14tfdb  New  London,  Wis. 

Please  mention  this  paper. 


NEW  YORK  CORRESPONDENCE 


FOR    home;  stud>  

243  BROADWAY    N  .Y.       PRfn 
INTRODUCTORY  LECTUREliilli 

Idb  I'lease  nuniion  buis  pu.|jci. 


HOOT'S 

DOVETAIUED     and 
J4IVES 

W.    K- 


BEE 

SUPPlilES 

FOl^  SAliE 

BflLiLi, 


SECTIONS. 

$2.50  to  $3.50  per  lU.    Bee-Hives  and  Fix- 
tures clieap.  NOVELTY    CO., 

etfdh  Rock  Falls,  Illinois. 

^P*In  responding  to  tills  advertisement  mention  Gleanings. 

Sastern  Siipply  Souse. 

We  furnish  everything  used  in  the  apiary,  and 
at  bottom  prices.    Illustrated  circular  free. 

I.  J.  STRINGHAM,  92  Barclay  St.,  N.  Y. 

21-20db  Please  mention  this  paper. 


Honey  -  E:^traGtot^. 

Squafe  Glass  j4oney-Jai»s, 

Tin  Buckets,  Bee-hives. 
Jloney>-Seetions,  &e.,  &e. 

Perfeetion  Cold-Blast  SmokePs. 

APPLY  TO  -^.^-^^^^^^v^-^^v.^-^^ 

CH^S.  F.  IVIUTH  &  SOfl,  Cineinnati,  O. 


S. — Send  lOct.  stamp  for  "Practical  Hints  to  Bee-keepers." 
Please  mention  this  paper. 

BUFFALO,  N.  Y.     Unsurpassed  Honey  Market. 
BATTERSON  &  CO.     Responsible,  Reliable, 
Commission  Merchants,     igtfdb      and  Prompt. 


SAVE  MONEY.— Send  to  J.  P.  H.  Brown,  Augus- 
ta, Georgia,  for  liis  price  list  of  supplies.    Hives 
and  foundation  at  wliolesale  rates.  4tfdb 


HATCH  CHICKENS  BY  STEAM 

WETH  THE  IMPROVED 

EXCELSIOR   INCUBATOR. 

Tliousatirts    ill    Siic- 
oewsful  Operation. 

SIMPLE.     PERFECT,    an 
SELF-ItEGVLATISG. 

Ciuaranleecl  to  hatch* 
larger  percentage  of 

fertile  eggs,  at  lessrost, 
than  any  other  Incnbator. 
Send  6c.  for  Elns  Catalog. 

Circulars  Free. 

GEO.  H.  STAHL,  Pat.  4  SoleMfr.,Quincy,Ill. 


tS'"Pli'a.He  mention  Olkanin«s. 


Box  483,  Reno,  JSievada. 


A  Four-Color   Label  for  Only  75 
Cts.  Per  Thousand. 

Just  think  of  it!  we  can  furnish  you  a  very  neat 
four-color  label,  with  your  name  and  address,  with 
the  choice  of  having  either  "  comb  "  or  "  extracted  " 
before  the  word  "honey,"  for  only  75  cts.  per  thou- 
sand ;  50  cts.  per  .500,  or  30  cts.  for  250,  postpaid.  The 
size  of  the  label  is  2>^xl  inch— just  right  to  go  round 
the  neck  of  a  bottle,  to  put  on  a  section,  or  to  adorn 
the  front  of  a  honey-tumbler.  Send  for  our  special 
label  catalogue  for  samples  of  this  and  many  other 
pretty  designs  in  label  work. 

A.  I.  ROOT,  ITIedlna,  O. 


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